by Andrew Rowe
My eyes moved back to the wreckage, the survivors picking up the wounded. My jaw tightened. This was just a warning attack and it had already claimed lives.
A portion of that was on me, for my role in getting Vera out of that prison.
I had little doubt that someone else would have freed her if I hadn’t. The recently dead body in front of the cell was proof enough that other people could get into the same room. But would it have played out differently if whoever else had stumbled into that cell had asked more questions? If they’d just freed that child and left her behind? Or freed Keras and left the other two?
I didn’t know if that would have made things go better or worse. All I knew is that people were dead, and that I’d played a part in it.
I’d never fix that. No amount of service would give their lives back. I told myself I’d find their names, maybe do something for their families when I was older and more influential, but it felt hollow. Insufficient.
First, I needed to keep things from getting worse.
Then, I’d find out who was pulling the strings on this whole mess.
And if it was Vera? We’d have a reckoning very soon.
***
Professor Orden appeared in front of us before we managed to make it to the academy gates. I tensed, hand going for my sheathed sword before I recognized her, and I let it rest on the hilt even after I did.
I wasn’t quite sure who I could trust at this point.
True, Orden teleporting us here had managed to resolve the attack much earlier than it might have been otherwise. I was grateful for that. But her whole connection with the Voice of the Tower meant she was deeply involved with something, and I didn’t know who or what she was actually working for.
It was about time to get some real answers.
“Lyras.” Teft sounded exhausted when he spoke, his tone tinged with obvious frustration. “Can you get us to Commander Bennet? We need to talk.”
Professor Orden shook her head. “I need a minute to rest — mana is too depleted. I’ll walk with you, though. Is everyone safe?”
Ah, so now she’s concerned. I’m touched.
Teft gave her a curt nod. “Barely.”
“Sufficient.” She turned her head toward the rest of us. “I’m sorry to have sent you children into danger. Normally, I’d abhor sending you to take a risk like that — but I knew Corin had a chance to end this conflict. And he did. Well-done, Corin.”
I raised my right hand, showing her the brand. Her eyes widened just slightly. “Not without consequence. He’ll be back in a week with reinforcements if we don’t do what he wants. I need to find someone for him and bring her back to the tower.”
Orden took a step closer, tilting her head as she examined the mark. “I... that is most unfortunate. But manageable, I should hope.”
“You seem to know more about my new adornment than I do.” I flexed my hand in the air, suddenly self-conscious. “Care to share?”
Orden folded her hands in front of her. “There are multiple types of visage marks. Some are permanent signs of a visage’s favor, and they confer abilities similar to an attunement. This one, however, appears to temporary. It’s designed to ensure that you successfully complete the task you’ve been charged with.”
I raised my hand, looking at it with my attunement active for the first time. The glow that simmered from the burned flesh was a deep blue. Sapphire, I realized. Sweet Goddess. I guess levels higher than Emerald actually do exist, even if it’s possible that only the visages have that kind of power.
It wasn’t feeding power into me, though. It wasn’t like I suddenly had a Sapphire aura myself. Experimentally, I tried to reach into it to draw mana out of the mark, but I couldn’t even feel anything there. Apparently, it wasn’t meant to be a tool for my use.
“Any idea what it might do?” I lowered my hand.
Orden shrugged. “I’ve never seen one of Katashi’s marks. Visage marks are usually themed to the visage. My assumption is that if you don’t complete the task, it will most likely ‘judge’ you. I’m sure you can figure out for yourself what that entails.”
I briefly contemplated how difficult it would be to safely remove my hand.
Jin stepped up beside me, speaking for the first time I could remember since he lost consciousness. “Katashi would not have chosen you if you could not succeed.”
I wasn’t so certain about that, but I appreciated his confidence. “Thanks, Jin.”
“It is nothing. You must focus on your task. Put your doubts aside.”
I nodded. “Right. Katashi gave me a limited period of time to find someone. I should probably start immediately.”
Teft put a hand on my shoulder. “We’re in no shape to be dealing with any sort of danger right now, Corin.”
I flinched away from his touch. It was probably supposed to be reassuring, but I didn’t have the best experience with authority figures holding me. “Right. We’ll rest first.”
Orden started walking toward the academy and we followed in her wake. “Care to fill me in on what you’ve discovered?”
I wasn’t so sure that was a good idea, but maybe I could make this work. “Sure, but only in trade.”
“Whatever do you mean, Corin?” She glanced back over her shoulder at me.
I narrowed my eyes. “Not in the mood, Lyras. You’ve been looking into this — or things related to it — for months. And you cut me out of it, only to throw me and my friends,” I gestured to the group for emphasis, “straight into danger as soon as it was convenient for you. People are dead because we didn’t solve this sooner. I’m done with secrets, at least among the people here. I’m going to tell them what I know, and you’re going to fill in the blanks.”
She sighed. “You do realize you’re exposing them to more danger by getting them further involved?”
I scanned my group of friends. “Anyone not want to know what’s going on here? We can cut this discussion short and resume it later if anyone wants an out.”
Patrick frowned, an uncharacteristic look of seriousness on his face. “People are getting hurt, Corin. I, for one, can’t turn a blind eye to that.”
Jin nodded. “It is as Patrick says. And Katashi has marked you; I am bound to see this through.”
Marissa scratched the back of her head. “Suppose I’m curious ‘bout all this, too.”
I turned to look at Sera.
She just tilted her head at me. “Don’t even ask, Corin. Of course I want to know what’s going on. Vanniv is staying, too.”
Somehow I’d forgotten about the six-foot tall stone man with wings and impressively chiseled — possibly literally chiseled — abs.
Vanniv put a hand over his chest. “Ooh, yes. I love secrets! Tell me all your secrets.”
Professor Orden rolled her eyes. “Sera, don’t be absurd. Put that thing away?”
She shrugged. “I could, but I’m not going to. Vanniv is not a thing. He’s an intelligent entity and he doesn’t like ceasing to exist, even temporarily.”
Interesting. Seems like Sera is thinking along similar lines to my own, even if she isn’t quite as firmly against violence.
Vanniv turned his head toward Sera, then back to Orden. “This pleases me. Let the revealing of secrets commence!”
Orden glowered at Vanniv. “Ugh. I’m tired of this discussion. If she wants a monster like you to bring information back to the tower, so be it.”
Professor Orden paused for another moment before continuing, “We need to move somewhere more secure before we have this particular talk. Corin, I will accept your ‘trade’, given the circumstances. We’ll walk a few more minutes while I regain my mana, then I’ll teleport us somewhere secure to talk.”
I nodded. “Very well.”
I hoped that a few minutes would give Teft enough time to recover some of his strength, just in case this went as badly as I imagined it could. I didn’t think anyone else had a splinter of a chance against Orden if she did decide to do us harm.
We walked in relative silence until Orden paused, deeming it time, and instructed us to join hands. We formed a large circle before, and then she spoke.
“Spirit of wind and air, I command you!
By the pact sealed between us, I invoke your power.
Rise around us and within us;
Carry us upon your ethereal wings to the place of greatest safety.
Veiled Teleport!”
And once again, we moved.
***
Fortunately, I didn’t throw up this time.
Apparently the ring had done its job. I’d almost forgotten about the headache I’d been suffering, and the pain from my nose had faded to a dull throb.
I remembered the whole incident with our last teleport as we arrived, and it occurred to me that Jin still had the ring, but that was probably for the best for now. Katashi had healed him, but I wasn’t sure how thorough that spell was. If he’d really had a lung punctured by a rib like I suspected, he probably needed the ring vastly more than I did.
Our surroundings were at least reasonably familiar, if only for their lack of décor. We were standing in a vast space of blackness, with no obvious floor or walls, and only a single floating torch shedding light.
It was the same place that Orden had taken me the first time we’d had a private talk, or at least one that was visually identical to it. I couldn’t assume it was the same one; I didn’t know enough about this space to know if there could be several of them.
Once we managed to get our bearings, Orden waved a hand toward the floor. “You may all sit.”
Patrick frowned. “What, on the darkness? Where even are we?”
“A safe place,” Orden replied. “And worry not, I will be hospitable.” She sat down, a chair appearing beneath her as she made the motion.
Dubiously, I attempted to sit as well, finding a chair beneath me a moment later. The others followed suit, save Jin, who remained standing.
Orden waved a hand at me. “I suggest you offer some context to everyone before we get into the more recent details.”
I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I suppose I should.”
Sera shot me a frustrated look. “Yes, I’m sure some of us would very much like to hear what you have to say.”
I glanced back at Sera. “I’m sorry, Sera. Professor Orden made it clear that this information could be dangerous. I was planning to tell you after I did some more research.”
She sighed. “Fine. Just don’t make more decisions about what I should know without consulting me?”
“I can’t promise that. Even implying the existence of a secret can cause problems. And I’m sure you understand the necessity for discretion on some things. You made a contract not to tell anyone about your summoned monster, for example.”
She drew in a breath. “You have a point, I suppose I haven’t told you everything either. Fine. I’m not going to make a big deal out of this. But try to be more considerate?”
I nodded. “I will. In the meantime, let me get this story out of the way.”
She waved for me to go ahead and I felt a hint of relief.
I turned so that I could face as many of our group as possible. They arranged their chairs in a circle, facing inward, so that everyone could see me while I was talking.
“Okay. So, I was in the tower for my Judgment when I found an unusual room. It had three jail cells in it, each of which contained a person. Two of them were conscious, the third was a young boy who was out cold.”
“The two people who were awake both asked for me to free them. I had a key from an earlier part of the Judgment, and I found a body on the floor of the room that was carrying a second key. We talked a bit, the young woman — Vera — tried to tell me that the masked man in the cell next to her was a criminal. Long story short, I opened the cells for Vera and the unconscious kid, then the other guy broke out on his own.”
Sera stood up, indicating she had a question, so I paused. “Yeah?”
Sera folded her arms. “Let me get this straight. You had two jail cell keys that worked on the cell doors?”
I shook my head. I’d considered this irregularity before, too. “No, ordinary keys that seemed to be designed for rooms in the Judgment process.”
“And they worked on the cell doors, just like that?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
Teft stood and joined the conversation. “Implying that whoever created the cells designed them for people taking the Judgment to open them.”
I frowned. “Or maybe they were just magic keys, designed to open any normal lock...?”
Teft scratched his chin. “Unlikely. I’ve been through the Climber’s Gates several times and I’ve seen many magic keys, but they’re always tied to specific types of locks. Did the keys vanish after you used them?”
I nodded. “Yes, otherwise I could have just opened all three with one key.”
“That indicates a deliberate puzzle-like design, then, where you’re forced to make a choice on who to free. I can see why you originally interpreted it as merely a part of the Judgment; no true jail cells would be designed to be opened by keys found by any random person in the tower.”
Sera turned to Teft. “What would the point of locks like that even be, then? It obviously wasn’t just part of the Judgment, if he set real people free.”
Teft leaned forward against his cane. “I can see a few main possibilities. One is that the prisoners were intended to be freed at a specific time, but in a way that would make it look — both to the person with the keys and the people in the cells — like they were being ‘rescued’. I consider this fairly likely.”
He raised two fingers. “Two, whichever visage was overseeing the test wanted Corin to free a real prisoner to see the consequences of his actions. Highly unlikely.”
Teft lifted a third finger. “Three. The prisoners were meant to be freed, but the time and person who freed them were irrelevant. Perhaps because they’re meant to distract from something more significant. I consider this about as likely as the first option.”
All of which implied that I’d simply played into some sort of larger plot. This was both unsettling, since I’d been duped, and a little comforting in that it took away some of my feeling of guilt for my actions.
Ah, the sweet power of deflecting responsibility.
Sera said one more thing while she was sitting down. “Could one of the prisoners have been the one who set up the whole thing?”
I considered that. “Possible, although they would have to be exceedingly patient. The prisoners said they were in their cells for days. Maybe weeks? I can’t quite remember. I don’t imagine them setting up a situation where they’d be stuck in a cell for that long.”
“Probably not,” Sera replied.
Teft gestured to me. “We can think about this part more later. Please, continue the story.”
I nodded. “Okay, so now the prisoners are out. The unconscious kid is in bad shape, so we feed him some water. Then we make our way through the next couple rooms. We end up in this huge antechamber with a stairway to a higher floor.”
“That shouldn’t happen in a Judgment,” Teft cut in.
“Clearly it did,” Lyras replied.
“Anyway,” I continued, “Katashi himself is at the top of the stairs and he’s not pleased. Vera and I run for cover. Katashi gets into a fight with the masked man — Keras — and somehow Keras manages to hold him at bay. I still don’t know how that ended, because Vera and I grabbed the kid and fled.”
Teft and Orden exchanged meaningful looks. I kept talking.
“We get into the next room, which has a spire guardian. I give Vera my weapon and she handles it. Then she points it at me, takes the kid, and tells me not to follow.” I sighed. “So, then I’m by myself.”
By this point, I’d decided not to tell them about the book. It was very clear that Professor Orden wasn’t supposed to find out about it for whatever reason. So, I continued with a minor simplification. “This cl
oaked figure appears, tells me it’s called the Voice of the Tower, and it ushers me into another room. There’s a fountain in there. I drink, I get an attunement. Then it tells me to carry a message to Lyras.”
I gestured at Professor Orden, “And to leave immediately. Oh, and it gave me a sword. The blue shiny one. There was an exit door in the room, so I took it.”
Definitely wasn’t going to tell them about the little flask of water I took, either.
Professor Orden stood up. “And Corin did meet his responsibility to the Voice and carried the message to me. Thank you, Corin.”
I was glad to be done with my explanation, but I had a question for her in return. “I’d really like to know who — or what — that Voice actually is.”
She nodded. “And I suppose you deserve an answer, after all this. A bit of context first. I am a member of an organization that serves as observers and messengers for the visages. We are colloquially referred to as ‘Whispers’.”
Jin tilted his head toward her a little more suddenly than I was used to see him moving. That clearly got his attention.
Teft looked startled, too. “A Whisper? You never told me—”
“You didn’t need to know, darling. Don’t make a fuss right now, I’m explaining.”
Teft let out a growl and folded his arms, looking more agitated than I’d seen him.
Was there a...thing going on between these two?
I didn’t want to think about that.
Orden paced around behind her chair before continuing. “Each visage has dedicated Whispers, of course, but we all work toward a collective goal. I’m a Whisper of Tenjin. Unfortunately, I can’t let you know about the identities of any of our other members. Even telling you this much is unusual.”
I understood the logic there, but it was exceedingly frustrating.
She continued talking. “The Voice that Corin spoke to in the tower was... well, let’s call him my associate. He was evaluating Corin for membership in our organization, but I suspect that route might be difficult now. The mark on your hand makes you a tad too obvious. We tend to try to blend in.”