Sensing the moment was rocketing out of control, Sajiix pulled away, his own hands caressing her cheek and lingering there. “We cannot lose sight of what must be done,” he told her. “Besides, if your enthusiasm continued, I would think you were more excited by the white of my robes.”
She laughed gently, allowing her Dhama to continue his search.
“I can feel it is near,” Sajiix said. “The moment I find my foci, I will give that fool something he has never…”
Kaelyn removed herself from the desk the moment Sajiix’s voice stopped, knowing he had discovered something. “What is it?”
“My foci,” he said, “along with six other pieces.”
“What?”
Sajiix felt bile rising in his throat. His own amethyst ring was sitting in a small drawer along with six other foci of different orders. A necklace studded with rubies lay entangled with a silver pendant that had a yellow topaz in its center and two sapphire rings of different design sat against a gold ring of emeralds and a copper ring with small diamonds. These belonged to other Magi that were either being held prisoner below or they were removed forcibly. Either way, Chancellor Tevic would answer for it. Scooping up the foci pieces, Sajiix jammed them within one of the pockets of his borrowed robes.
“Focus your concentration,” Sajiix said to Kaelyn, all hint of playfulness gone. “It is time we paid a visit to Chancellor Tevic.” He then slid his amethyst ring upon its customary place on his right hand. “Let us hope he resists.”
***
Tienn was able to exit the building without incident and breathed a sigh of relief as the night washed over him. Moving away from the glaring brightness of the temple, Tienn glided silently through the shadows to a small copse of whitebark trees that stood as the halfway mark from the temple to the gate tower. He crouched near the tree trunks, his purple skin melding perfectly with the night’s shadows. Unless a wandering cleric, priest or paladin happened by this late and physically bumped into him, they would never know he was there.
He watched the small side door of the temple, waiting for the disguised Sajiix to exit and the longer he waited, the more apprehensive he grew. After a short while, he cursed himself for leaving the troublesome Magi to his own devices inside the temple. He had nearly convinced himself to go back inside and drag Sajiix out by his ear when the sound of a booted foot crunching an autumn leaf sounded behind him.
His rapier was out in a flash, the point touching Ayce’s jugular as the mercenary raised his hands in surrender. “What are you doing?” Tienn whispered harshly, replacing his sword.
“Did you find Sajiix?” Ayce asked softly. “Aren’t you supposed to be bringing him and his apprentice back toward the tower?”
“Sajiix decided that he was not leaving until he found his ring,” explained Tienn.
“His ring…?” Ayce looked confused for a moment and then his face switched from a quizzical stare to one of horrific understanding. “You mean, you let Sajiix run loose in the High Temple of Diathanos…? Have you forgotten how quick he is to lash back at anyone he feels has wronged him?”
Tienn sighed. “I was hoping that he had grown out of that phase.”
“If not, we’re going to have the entire House of Diathanos on our backsides,” Ayce said glumly.
Tienn nodded. “Sacrifice is an easy word to say when it comes to friendship.”
***
Sajiix strode briskly through the wide halls of the temple, his head no longer bowed. Somewhere behind him, Kaelyn was following. Her invisible spell was still working strongly as they approached the heart of the temple. It was late and there were few priests roaming around, but Sajiix was quite sure that their luck would run out the deeper they moved into the cathedral. He truly did not care whether they discovered him or not. He was determined to confront Tevic again and demand to know the whereabouts of the Magi that had left their foci behind. The problem was that he had no idea if Tevic was still within the temple’s walls and he had no way of knowing where his personal quarters were placed.
He marched on, hoping he would not have to cross the threshold of the actual cathedral. Unlike some Magi, Sajiix believed in the faith the clerics and priests had over the seven gods of Vasalius. He could not say he knew the gods existed, but the belief these men and women held was real enough to grant them special abilities that differed greatly from those the Magi were able to achieve. And not one location held greater faith than a god’s central cathedral.
Sajiix would be as helpless as a newborn.
Suddenly he heard voices approaching from the cathedral, voices in the midst of a deep discussion. From around the corner came the flowing white grandeur that was Chancellor Tevic. His head was turned to his companion, his hands outstretched as if to bring his point of view closer to his listener. Sajiix felt Kaelyn grip his shoulder from behind in a panicked way, but he had no need for her warning gesture.
Tevic’s listener was Cassius Deveres.
20
Sajiix averted his eyes just in time as Tevic and Cassius walked by, oblivious to his presence. Neither man noticed him dressed in the robes of a low-level priest of Diathanos. They carried on their conversation as Tevic discussed the future of Kaalé and what role the Guild would play in it. They walked down the hall to the second ornate door on the right, pausing for Tevic to open the door and allow Cassius entry. Tevic also left the door open; such was his confidence in the High Temple. He had no concern over who may have been listening – although he might feel different knowing that Sajiix was now standing next to the door. The Magi listened intently to the conversation, ready to move away should either Tevic approach or anyone in the hall see him.
Sajiix peered around the doorway. He saw a massive marble fireplace and a couch of white leather. He watched as Tevic poured himself a beverage from a crystal decanter he had on the mantle. He offered Cassius something, but the former knight refused, sitting on the sofa straight-backed and rigid as he always did. “Kaalé will become a Holy City, a destination for every worshipper of Diathanos to make a pilgrimage to,” Tevic was telling him. “We shall make this city the guiding light of Kaalmoore, leading the pure into an enlightened age that will surely set an example for every realm of Vasalius.”
“And what is it that the Defender’s Guild can do for you, Chancellor?” Cassius asked with an earnest face.
Tevic turned away from Cassius, facing the detailed fresco that adorned the mantle. “As you know, the Palidiamos have accepted Kaalé’s security as their own responsibility. These brave souls have done many wondrous miracles in converting the general populace and turning them to our cause, but there are those that still hide within the walls of my vision.”
“The Magi?” Cassius wondered.
“The Magi,” repeated Tevic, turning to face the Guild Master with a sneer. “They are an abomination, Cassius. You know this from personal experience, do you not? Your once dearest friend is a Magi and you still feel the sting of his betrayal!”
Sajiix felt the old familiar rage boiling in his blood. His hand wanted nothing more than to send a bolt of shadow energy at the Chancellor’s head.
“They suck the life out of everything they hold dear,” Tevic continued. “They have no allegiance to anyone but themselves. Even their own orders squabble and fight, pitting one against the other. They care for nothing but power. Power over others and power over the very gemstones they covet, never giving thanks to the true nature of their gifts.
“It is the will of Diathanos that the Magi be made to see the error of their tactless lives.”
“I am still not sure what you wish the Guild to do,” repeated Cassius.
Tevic smiled benevolently as though he were looking down upon a child. “I want you, as Guild Master, to make certain that any Magi that attempt to join your Guild are summarily declined and reported to me.”
Cassius nodded, finally understanding Tevic’s intent. “I originally had no intention of allowing Magi within the Guild’s walls. Your r
equest makes it that much easier to decree.”
Tevic’s confident grin became even bigger as he took a quick sip of wine. “Your cooperation will be noted positively, Cassius,” he told him. “I do not forget those that assist me to bask in the glory of Diathanos’ will. Events are transpiring that will finally reveal the light to the world…and you will be a part of it.”
Sajiix had to slide away from the door as his rage nearly drove him to enter the room and blast both of them with shadow magic. How dare that pompous, sword-addled buffoon ‘decree’ who could and who could not join the Guild? It was one of their own beliefs that everyone should have a chance to become a hero; to fight for what they believed in. It’s what the Guild was created for! A quick nudge from Kaelyn’s unseen hand made Sajiix return to the conversation.
“…and will assure the safety of Kaalé at the present time. With the Palidiamos working with the Defender’s Guild, nothing shall ever threaten the Diamond City again. From here, we shall shine the light, welcoming our brother and sister houses until we are one!”
Sajiix sucked in a breath and slowly pulled away from the door. What Tevic was suggesting had not been done in over a millennium – and for good reason. The last time the seven houses joined, they declared war on the Magi. This resulted in the deaths of thousands of Magi and clergy members, destroying cities and towns in every realm of Vasalius. No one was spared. It took decades for the world to recover. And it all started with a Chancellor suggesting that each house unite. If this was Tevic’s plan, then he and Kaelyn were in greater danger than he originally thought. The Chancellor would have no problem in imprisoning or murdering the two of them to hide his agenda.
An agenda that now encompassed the Defender’s Guild.
Sajiix could listen no longer. His first priority was to get out of the temple and find the Purestone before Tevic’s paladins did. Without the diamond, the Chancellor’s threats would be empty and with the gem in the hands of the Elementai, he would be less inclined to ‘remove’ the Magi from Vasalius.
The door they used to enter the temple was a short distance away. A short walk down one hall, a right turn, and then a jaunt through a smaller, less active corridor and they would be free. “Move back the way we came,” he whispered, knowing Kaelyn was still nearby. Sajiix stepped away from the door, bowed his head and walked back toward the connecting hall. For a moment, the Magi considered using his magic to disappear, but he feared the energy would alert any nearby clergy of his presence. It was no matter. His disguise would see him out.
Sajiix wondered how much Tienn and Ayce knew of Cassius’s new vision for the Guild. If Tienn had previous knowledge, he never would have agreed to sneak in and rescue him. Ayce was too open with his thoughts to keep it a secret, and he truly had no love for House Diathanos. No, Sajiix thought. It seems Cassius has played them all for fools – a choice Sajiix planned to exploit once the Purestone was safely in the hands of the Magi. Perhaps he could garner support enough to gain control of the Guild once more? Yes, Sajiix smiled. Then he would recruit every Magi that saw fit to enter and ram that up the Chancellor’s craw.
Sajiix was five steps from the right turn he needed to take when he heard a booming voice call: “You there! Halt!”
The Magi froze, cursing for not turning himself invisible when he had the chance. He urgently whispered, “Kaelyn, go on without me. If I cannot make it out, you need to return and relay everything to Arathim. Warn him of what is transpiring.”
Whether she heard him or not, he did not know, but two Palidiamos approached him from behind, and he no longer had time to confirm. A gauntleted hand firmly gripped him on the shoulder, turning him.
“Why are you up so late, brother?” asked one of them. “Do you not have morning prayer at the coming of dawn?”
Sajiix could barely hide his distaste for what he wore and what they perceived him to be. Both men looked at him shrewdly, their faces as similar as the armor they wore.
They sensed he did not belong.
Sajiix smiled ingratiatingly. “My communion with Diathanos keeps me from my soft bunk. I felt, perhaps, a little night air would do me good.”
The paladins’ brows came together, their hands inching toward their swords. Sajiix suddenly understood his mistake: No self-respecting priest of Diathanos would think that night air was good.
“…which is not to say that the darkened air of the foul night would be good for me, but perhaps the coming of the sun…as it tries to rise above the dark…the wind would…” Seeing that his audience was growing more alarmed, Sajiix gave up. Too much time had passed since the last time he tried to bluff his way out of a situation.
“Enough of this,” he snarled with self-disgust.
The Paladins had not even cleared the blades from their scabbards when the wall of amethyst energy struck them and knocked them to the floor. Sajiix turned and ran, his borrowed robes fluttering behind him like the wings of a dove. The sound of crashing armor alerted everyone nearby that something was amiss. Sure enough, Sajiix soon heard the calling of voices sounding a general alarm.
It suited Sajiix just as well. He was ready to fight his way out.
***
Tienn was still crouched next to Ayce outside the temple, trying to decide if he should go back inside to retrieve Sajiix when a blast of violet energy burst from the small side door, followed by the body of a clergyman of Diathanos. The man flew a good distance away, sliding to a halt on the grassy lawn. The cleric tried to get up, staggered once, and then collapsed to what Tienn hoped was unconsciousness.
“Well, that can’t be good,” Ayce muttered.
Shouts could be heard coming from the hallway beyond the now broken door. Tienn waited until Sajiix poked his head out, looking cautiously to each side to make certain no one was waiting. The Magi then pushed his way past the once ornate door that was now hanging listlessly on one hinge.
“Return to the north tower,” Tienn instructed Ayce. “Make sure our people are together so we can exit this place immediately.”
“You got it,” Ayce grinned and then ran off into the night.
Tienn shook his head, simultaneously amazed and irritated that Ayce could be having such a grand time. The Guild was now involved with whatever dispute Sajiix and House Diathanos had – and Cassius was not going to be pleased about it. Tienn had a small hope that he and Ayce could get Sajiix out of Kaalé before Chancellor Tevic even knew they were involved. To do that, he would have to move swiftly.
Tienn ran out of the trees, allowing his natural camouflage to fade and signaled to Sajiix. Unfortunately, the Magi’s attention was upon what was behind him in the temple. Cursing softly, Tienn ran towards the broken entrance, his superior night vision scanning the area in front of him. Tienn let out a shrill whistle, a near perfect copy of a ravenox – a native bird of Excelicus. That caught his attention! Sajiix ran towards him, his face pinched with exertion and anger.
“We must leave this place, now!” Sajiix told him in a tone that Tienn remembered all too well – a tone that hinted at mortal danger.
“What did you do?” Tienn scolded. “Was there no way of leaving the temple without killing anyone?”
“I have not killed anyone, not yet,” Sajiix remarked dispassionately. “But, you must trust me when I tell you we are in grave danger and that there is no time to explain.”
A squad of four Palidiamos and two clerics burst out of the temple. The paladins scanned the darkness for the Magi while the clerics checked on the welfare of their fallen comrade who was attempting to stand once more.
“There never is,” Tienn grumbled, dragging Sajiix into the cover of the trees.
The two of them ran around the edge of the copse, keeping the trees between them and the paladins. Shouts rang across the wide expanse of the compound as the alarm spread further out. Globes of searing white light were thrown into the air, banishing the places a Shadow Magi could hide.
The north tower was in sight and was still quiet. A wide sw
ath of open field lay before them; a breadth that would make them quite visible as they ran for the tower. Tienn and Sajiix paused for a moment, the Magi’s breath coming out a bit faster.
“It has been too long since I last had to run from an enemy,” Sajiix said apologetically. “I’m afraid I have become unused to physical exertion.”
Tienn scanned the area ahead, seeing no one near the tower. “Well, once we get you clear of the temple, you can magic your way back to your tower in Vhaalia. By the way, what did you do with your apprentice?”
“She ‘magicked’ her way out,” he replied tersely. “That way, if I am recaptured, the Elementai will know what is going on here.”
“I had her word that she would not go to them!” he hissed. “The last thing we need is another gem war on our hands!”
Sajiix eyed him critically. “You don’t know how close to the truth you actually are, old friend,” he said ominously. Seeing Tienn’s face turn from determination to confusion, Sajiix waved his hand and said, “Forget about this now. I will tell you what I know as soon as we return to the Guild.”
“The Guild,” laughed Tienn in response. “Cassius will not…”
“I think you will find that Cassius has other matters at hand,” Sajiix interrupted. “Come, now is our chance.”
Sajiix dashed across the open space with Tienn trailing behind. Both reached the north tower unseen. The inner and outer portcullises remained open, giving hope that escaping without further confrontation was possible. From the darkness, Dorn’s huge figure emerged, his meaty hands hefting a two-headed axe easily the size of Sajiix’s head. The giant eyed the Magi warily, recalling the power that had battered him in the Guild.
“Where are the others?” Tienn asked him.
“Morgath up on tower,” Dorn used his massive finger to point upward. “Ro’byenn checks on outside of tower.”
Rage of the Diamond's Eye (The Guildsmen Series Book 1) Page 22