Sebine found a stick and picked it up, feeling the heavy weight in her hand. She waited for the right moment. Ahead, past a small clearing, she spotted the high priestess ducking into a small temple on the edge of a forest. Now was her chance. She darted forward and cast the stunning spell at the priest, feeling her heart pounding at the exertion. With the priest's body frozen and falling over, Sebine reached the man and clubbed him in the back of the head. She waited for the spell to wear off and anchoring herself against a tree stump, cast another spell and moved his limp body off into the deep brush.
Her heart thudded several beats in quick succession as she spied the appearance of the high priestess at the entrance of the small temple, her crafty eyes staring at her while Sebine strode towards her.
"You're getting old and slow, my pet." The woman reached out to touch Sebine, and in a panic, the Princess cast a quick stunning spell and shoved the high priestess into the temple. When the woman moved again and broke the spell, she cast it again, hoping the spell would still take while she tied the woman's hands behind her back. It worked, but the spell lasted fewer seconds, but still enough time to wrench the woman's arms around and shove her to the ground.
"If you resist me, I'll do worse things to you than simply stun you." Sebine seized the cord that held up the woman's gold robe, and tied her wrists behind her back. She removed the spell of self-illusion and glowered at the woman. "I need answers from you. If you provide them, I'll leave you unharmed and you can go back to fooling your flock of followers."
The woman laughed at Sebine, her eyes filled with derision and malice. "You think you can stop me by simply tying up my hands? I can speak a word, one word, and you'll find yourself erased from the world of the living and your body turned into worms."
"And before you can even attempt to speak I can have your tongue ripped from that wrinkled mouth of yours. Now shut up or I'll have you gagged! I don't want to fight you, do I make myself clear? And I don't want to join your religion and I don't want to interfere with your city either. I just want to talk to you and leave with my friend...that's it. You are no doubt concerned as to why your spell didn't affect me, and keep that in mind if you try and attempt any tricks."
The woman's eyes turned wary, but to Sebine's relief, also softened. "What is it you are so desperate to talk about?"
"Your spell caused the earthquake. I've no interest in questioning your morals for doing such a thing to your followers and not to mention wrecking your beautiful city, however I am interested in learning what you know."
"Why would I teach you a thing? Why would one with the powers of a goddess teach a mortal such as yourself?"
Sebine scoffed and shook her head. "You consider yourself as a goddess? Then why weren't you unaffected by my spell? Why were your eyes deceived by my illusion of your priest? I do believe you are quite mortal as myself. Where did you learn of your magic?"
"No one knows of my magic, and you won't be the first to discover the secrets of the earth god. My master taught me well and I made sure he died with a smile on his lips. No one else knows of my knowledge."
"Sounds pathetic to me. What good is knowledge if it can't be shared with others? Look at your situation, if you'd taught your priests your magic, then I would have had a difficult time assaulting you like this, and I wouldn't have taken the risk. But it was pretty easy to see that only you possessed the magical gift."
The high priestess gaped at Sebine as if she were a madwoman spouting heresy.
"Oh, how silly of me," Sebine said, her tone mocking. "If they knew you were causing the earthquakes instead of your god, then they'd likely rip you to shreds. Why not just declare yourself the earth goddess? Or a demigod sent to lead them out of darkness. And don't protest, it's not blasphemy if you are the one making the whole thing up."
The woman opened her mouth as if to protest, but confusion spread across her face and she only stared transfixed at Sebine.
"A word of advice, you might want to start by not killing your followers. You need people to grow your religion. And you almost destroyed your city, so there goes your wealth creation. A religion needs money and power to succeed. Next time, maybe just keep the earthquake localized around the temple. You do know how to control your magic? Make it stronger or weaker as you need?"
"I...I'm not sure what you mean," the high priestess sputtered, and for once seemed to genuinely listen to Sebine. "How do you control the power?"
Sebine resisted mocking the poor priestess for killing her master too soon, and instead sighed and gave the woman a sad smile. "It takes control and concentration, and the cooling of the emotions." She rubbed her belly and felt the power swirl inside.
"Why would you ever want to cool your emotions?" The high priestess shifted around until she leaned against the woven wall. "My master taught me that only through rage and ecstasy can one achieve the magical gift."
"I suppose that is one way...and I won't claim to know everything. I'm still young and learning myself. But my master taught me control, when I had none at first." Sebine caused the high priestess to rise off the ground, and the woman's eyes widened in fear. "Control is needed when lifting and moving things, otherwise I'd smash you through the roof." Sebine brought the woman gently back to the ground.
"How did you do that?" the high priestess said, and her expression turned to awe as she stared at Sebine. "Can't you teach me the spell?"
Sebine allowed a sly smile to cross her face. "Of course, if you teach me the spell to move the earth. And I promise to try and teach you how to controls the quakes. What other spells have you learned? Don't look suspicious, I'm not trying to steal from you. Whatever you teach me I'll provide a new spell in return. And trust me, my knowledge will help you grow your religion. That's what you want, isn't it?"
"Do you promise not to try an exert your power over my followers?"
"I can honestly say I have no interest in staying here in Rez'el any longer than I need to. As long as you can ensure me and my friend can get on a caravan to Shaar'el, I doubt you'll ever have to worry about seeing me again. Wait a moment, calm down... I promise not to exert any influence over your followers. Do we have a deal?"
The woman nodded and shifted her arms around. "Will you untie me now? I vow not to attack you, though in all truthfulness the spell of causing the earth to shake is the only offensive spell I know."
"But don't you use magic to control your followers? Their eyes turn black..."
"That spell I cast on you when I touched your forehead merely induced a vision to see Gaa'el, the god of the earth. Gaa'el is real and the control he exerts over his believers is real. I have nothing to do with that."
"I find that hard to believe." Sebine scowled at the woman. "So you are saying that my friend is now controlled by your god? His eyes changed to a pool of blackness." A shiver ran through Sebine at the thought of losing Tael, of him being overtaken by some dark, malevolent god.
"Gaa'el doesn't remove free will from his followers, though when we all come together like we do, singing and dancing and drinking of his wine, the strong bond of oneness with Gaa'el takes over." The high priestess sighed and seemed to struggle for the right words to say. "You haven't experienced it, but it's like swimming in a vast, warm pool filled with the thoughts and emotions of other believers, but deeper in that pool is a blackness so powerful, and so vast, that your toes only barely sense the strength and knowledge of it all. Does that make sense?"
"It sounds frightening..."
The woman laughed and bobbed her head. "It is frightening and beautiful at the same time. The essence of the mystery of the god of the earth lies there in that frightening immensity. We barely swim but for a tiny moment in that infinite sea, but each time we manage to take a small nugget of truth or wisdom from the experience. Some of us swim deeper than the rest, and remember more than the rest. But go too deep and you'll dissolve forever in the obliterating force of Gaa'el."
Sebine sensed the woman wanted to talk, so she remain
ed quiet, and let the high priestess speak. "Can you teach me the spell of illusion? And in return I would offer you the most useful spell you will likely ever learn..."
"Now you've peaked my curiosity. Tell me of this spell?"
A devilish smile spread over the woman's face. At the beckoning of the high priestess, Sebine leaned in and grinned at her whispered words.
Chapter Twenty-One
THE LAST THING King Braxion wanted to think about was whether or not to grant the dwarven slaves permission for conjugal visits with their wives. Why hadn't he thought of bringing administrative officials to handle the details of occupying several dwarven cities? Soldiers and sorcerers ruled Magrad and the two other cities he had conquered, and the dwarves worked tirelessly to produce the armor and swords needed to supply his army with the protection and offensive power required to combat the elves.
A smile crept over King Braxion's face as he thought of smashing the elven army, and crushing their beautiful faces into splinters of bone and blood. How he hated their haughty smirks and silent sneers. Especially the dark elf that had visited Trikar so many years ago. Jolrath...that demon deserved a dagger plunged up his nostrils. The way he had dared to look at Queen Marinel still made him furious at the handsome, devilish elf. But it was still early in the building of the empire, and the dark elves had come to him promising a power over the high elves. He supposed he would have to stay his wrath for a time...
But he vowed that after the draenyx army broke through the elven walls on the border with Yhalan, nothing would stop him from plundering the elven capitol and murdering all who stood in his way. And maybe he'd even find himself a new queen...he'd always fancied elven women, so alluring and always unattainable. That would all change now. With the dwarves close to finishing arming the draenyx, their long, boring wait would be over.
And he didn't even feel the need to visit Naverstrom. He'd sent the powerful dwarven relic to Prince Xanthes and knew the only thing that mattered was conquering the elves and destroying their ancient relic that kept the Princes of Naverstrom imprisoned. Prince Xanthes seemed to know of the coming and goings of most of the world through his network of witches and sorcerers planted in kingdoms and lands far and wide. Let Prince Xanthes come to him, Braxion mused. Little luck of him escaping his prison, he thought. Better to keep my grandfather chained deep in the fetid wastes of that dungeon, scheming and inventing abominations for my army. And the draenyx were most certainly his army, and not Prince Xanthes. As long as the Prince stayed in Naverstrom... But wasn't that Braxion's plan all along? If he could stall the Prince.
Another tiresome-looking dwarf with a ridiculously long beard entered the throne room, and groveled himself before Braxion. The King waved his hand and commanded the midget to speak.
"It is my duty to inform you of the completion of the breastplates for your army. We only await the shipment of the greaves and leg armor, and of course the swords. The remaining pieces for the complete sets of armor are finished and ready for final strapping."
"Yes, yes, but when exactly will all this be complete? Be precise. You don't want me killing more of your woman-folk, now do you?"
The dwarf's face scrunched in anger but he did his best to contain himself. He scratched his beard and glanced off as if estimating. "The end of tomorrow we should be able to complete everything. And then you promise to leave our cities?"
King Braxion scoffed and pushed himself up to stand towering (for once in his life) over the dwarf. "How about I burn your filthy cities and command my army to rape every dwarf in the empire? Disgusting little midget. Once I get my armor fitted and dressed for war, then I'll consider leaving you to your own dark devices. Though I better not hear so much as a peep about dwarves ransacking human lands again!"
The dwarf grunted in disgust but bobbed his head and waddled out of the chamber. Braxion promised himself that the first dwarf he'd slay after they completed their crafting was this impertinent dwarven general. What was his name? Flan or Bran or Thran, something ridiculous like that. Why not just kill them all and wipe their greedy faces off the earth? Nothing would please him more...
After he conquered the elves, he would sail on swift ships and lead his army to the Malathians. He needed to write a missive and yelled for his Hakkadian secretary, an old crone who always treated him to indifferent glares. Was the wench somehow still loyal to Master Vhelan? He would have to correct that somehow, but the woman's immense powers of organization proved far too valuable to eliminate her. And she did what she was told.
"Send a letter to the shipbuilders of Cranth," said Braxion, and wrinkled up his nose. "Calculate the number of ships required to send our draenyx army to the Malathian Empire, to Erelim. They'll need to build the ships in time for sailing in two months time. Command the treasury in Trikar to release the funds necessary—"
"Pardon, Your Royal Highness, but the treasury is depleted from the skirmishes with the Malathians. And from our last figures, much of the gold to secure the dragons was stolen. The vast payments made to the Hakkadians have left little to fund—"
"You dare speak to me of this!" King Braxion stood and gripped his sword. "Are you not a Hakkadian? Where did all the gold disappear? For years we've made payments to keep Master Vhelan loyal to the service of Valance, and now he opposes me? To go against even his own people?"
The Hakkadian woman shrugged, completely unaffected by his outburst. "This I know nothing of, Sir, I merely report facts. Perhaps you'd do well to plunder gold from the dwarves?"
"None has been found!" Braxion exhaled and clenched his fist at the crone. "Damn hoarding dwarves. And I doubt the elves will be any different. One whiff of our invasion and they'll secret away their treasures..."
"I see," said the secretary. "Well, if that is the case, then let me suggest a few possible options. First, you could send a company of your draenyx and harass the shipbuilders into working for free, an option I don't recommend. Secondly, the bankers of Cranth have been craving independence and sovereignty, and would likely agree to build your armada of ships in exchange for their freedom. This is a good option, and would allow you to conquer them at some future point, although you would be breaking the legality of your own laws."
"And there is a last option? Go on, spit it out."
"You could go in even further debt to the bankers of Cranth, though at this point they'll surely demand assurances that you've won the war against the dwarves, and that you are likely to succeed against the elves. They are most cynical against the throne, especially after the fiasco with the Malathians. They've lost substantial trading incomes as a result of your treatment of the Malathian royals in Trikar."
"Bah!" King Braxion waved away the idea, but knew the woman's words were true. "And your recommendation?"
"Of course, the second option. They are unlikely to lend you more gold upon hearing of your future war against the Malathians. They'll demand independence and legal assurances that the Kingdom of Valance will respect that independence for at least a period of one hundred years. In addition, they will most certainly demand preferential trading status with the Malathians once you conquer their kingdom, and likely even insist on managing the Port of Erelim. How would you like me to proceed, Sir?"
"Yes, yes, as you say. Draft a letter and send it at once to the bankers of Cranth. We'll have our armada and our war with the Malathians, and they'll get their independence and trading rights. But insist on an aggressive deadline for our ships. I have a feeling the elves will fare poorly against our army."
She bowed and gave the King a sly smile as she left the room. Braxion wondered who really ruled the Kingdom, the man wielding the sword, or the woman wielding the pen? He knew the answer all too well...
Chapter Twenty-Two
WHEN A CHILLY breeze woke Tael from a dream of fog and fire, he found himself coughing at the memory of the smoke invading his lungs. He swallowed, finding his mouth parched and thirsty, and glanced around the vast chamber, realizing he was the only one rema
ining in the temple. What had happened after the high priestess had placed her hands on Sebine and him?
A wild, distant memory stirred within his mind, like the swirling of a hazy storm that strikes suddenly and leaves only disaster and ruin. He pinched his eyes together, trying to remember. Had he done something again that had angered Sebine and finally caused her to leave him? His clothes and breath reeked of old wine, and from the discarded jugs around him, he knew that some kind of a mad celebration to the earth god had taken place.
What did I do this time? Tael wondered, and scanned around the temple chamber for any hints that could bring to life a memory of what had happened. He looked at the now empty dais and remembered being summoned to the stage by the high priest. And then she placed her hands on Sebine and his forehead...and the vision!
He clenched his eyes shut as a flood of imagery and sounds filled his mind, of the earth god, Gaa'el, and of the frenzied celebration to the god that had taken place in the temple. Much of his memory was a blur of sights and feelings, but one thing was quite certain: Gaa'el was real. Tael could still feel the power of the god surging in his heart and causing his breath to choke up inside. The god's madness and vast power was frightfully real, and Tael didn't really want to know any more than what he'd discovered in the vision.
A movement off to the rear of the temple caught Tael's attention, and his heart leapt at the sight of Sebine walking towards him with another older woman. Fear lanced through him as he realized that the woman was the high priestess.
"You've slept the whole day?" Sebine said, her voice teasing and light. Tael instantly relaxed at the sound of her playfulness, and noticed that the high priestess seemed subdued and warm, unlike her haughty theatrics earlier in the day.
Tael rubbed his head, and squinted at the temple entrance. "Where did everyone go? I woke and my memory is a little foggy."
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