by Philip Blood
We soon came to a medium sized lake, caused by a dam on the far side. There was a massive sluice to the left, which took any excess rise of the Celadon fed lake off into the original canyon where the river had once tumbled down to the sea. This saeran made dam and sluice diverted the majority of the Celadon river right into the city of Poseidon. That fair looking city was perched on the white shoreline cliffs. On the far side of the city, the river water fell in several waterfalls, plunging down to join the ocean several hundred feet below the city.
Due to the dam ahead, we had to exit the river from the lake, where there was a massive dock structure to handle river boats bringing trade items, food or raw materials downriver to supply the city. There were lots of saerans about, working the docks. I had wondered if we would find the capital under siege, but I guess there were enough mages within the walls to deter that kind of long-term attack, at least so far.
Chapter Ten
Now would I say something that wasn't true?
I'm asking you sugar
Would I lie to you?
-Eurythmics
The dam also worked as a kind of immigration check, since no one could go through underwater, they had to exit here, and could, therefore, be processed. We were escorted to an official looking structure and eventually, brought into some minor official’s office.
We lied, claiming to be from a village upriver. I let Hydan do the talking; he knew all the lingo and location names. He claimed we had come to the city to report on troop movements by Morgain’s forces, and the loss of several villages. He used the destroyed Inn as one such piece of news.
The official checked a record book and then said, “Yes, we already have a record of that.”
“Oh,” Hydan said, looking crestfallen, but then said, “There was also an assault on the village of Pelen which only took place a few days ago.”
The official scanned his book and then said, “No, I have no record of that attack.”
“And, we found a place where the enemy was building a dam in the Celadon!”
He looked extremely skeptical at Hydan’s statement.
Hydan shrugged, “I will need to speak to a commander in the military to go over the details.”
“You can tell me,” the saeran proclaimed.
Hydan shook his head, “Though I’m sure you are very good at your job, I must speak to a military official, I cannot even tell you why only that I was tasked with this mission. However, I will tell them what a thorough and well-run office you have here, it is truly impressive!”
The official pondered for a moment, and then took out a piece of glossy looking paper and scrawled on it with what looked like a dorsal spine barb of some fish. He then handed the paper to Hydan and said, “Fine, I will send you to the military compound in the city, here is your entry writ, but you will be under escort to the compound.”
Two bored looking saerans were assigned to escort us to the city.
We had to hike down a switchback path to rejoin the Celadon River where it exited the dam. There was a dock, and our escorts had us enter the river at this stage. It wasn’t too far to the city from there, so we stayed on the surface. I could see where the wide river went right under the outer wall, passing through a tight mesh of bars at the surface.
“Aren’t you afraid attackers might come under the wall in the river?” I asked one of our guides, whose name turned out to be Benker.
He smirked at me. “First off, those Husks of the enemy can’t stay in water, so there is no danger there, and if they sent any of those purple saeran traitors, they would be in for a surprise on the other side.”
I got to see what he meant a moment later. After ducking underwater to get under the surface grates, we had to surface a moment later in a pool on the other side. The River continued on through another massive grate, but this one went all the way down to the bottom. We were in a kind of half bowl. The outer wall surface behind us was flat, but the inner walls were in a half circle, with arrow slits, going all the way around. This was a kill zone, anyone surfacing here had no way out other than up onto land, in a zone which had no protection at all. There was not even a gate to break down. Our guides had us wait while they put our writ, which had turned out to be made of some waterproof cured fish skin, into a basket which was lowered from the top of the wall. Then they had a brief conversation with the guards above and eventually a platform was lowered down which could take about twenty people.
“How do they get the trade goods and other things shipped down the river into the city?” I asked Benker.
“There are other lifts outside the walls which can hoist up supplies,” he answered.
Then we reached the top of the wall, where there were several armored guards waiting. They had not drawn any weapons and were actually looking quite bored.
That was until someone in a nearby guard tower suddenly squeaked in a loud voice which was almost undecipherable, “Mages!”
All of the saeran guards around us yanked out their weapons and aimed them at our group, and Benker and his partner backed away from us, with terrified looks.
“Which one is the mage?” the Benker demanded loudly.
The same squeaky voice called down, “They’re all mages!”
“ALL OF THEM!” Benker bellowed, and gripped his weapon tighter.
Hydan raised his hands slowly, palms showing. “No need for violence here, we come in peace, as enemies of the Island Witch! I am Hydan, a Friare, this is Toji, a Bakemono, Myrka a Tarvos and Nicholas, one of your own Sivaeral wizards.”
The odd voice from the tower exclaimed, “A Tarvos! They are aligned with the Derkaz!”
“This Tarvos is not with the enemy! She is oath bound to this Sivaeral wizard!” Hydan said, pointing at me.
Toji spoke loudly, “I can confirm this, on the honor of my House.”
That made the hidden person with the squeaky voice pause, Bakemono honor was legendary. “Then, if you are no threat, you will not be opposed to being disarmed and bound!”
“If it makes you happy, sure,” Hydan exclaimed, and then said to me, “Tell your sorceress to stand down and let them bind her and take her weapon.”
I nodded to Myrka, “You heard him.”
She glowered at me briefly but said nothing.
Two guards approached warily, and I could see the terror in their eyes as they drew near. They all understood a mage’s power got stronger the closer you got to their body. But nothing happened to them as they took away Toji’s tantos, but when Benker reached for Myrka’s knife, she stated, “Be aware…”
That made Benker jump back, but since Myrka didn’t move, he swallowed and paused.
Myrka continued, “…I will get that back, and I will PERSONALLY hold you responsible should it not be returned.”
He swallowed, and then nodded. He then approached again and gingerly removed her knife.
They bound our hands behind our backs with steel manacles and then had us follow the officer. The entire way they kept us surrounded and never put down their weapons.
Benker and several other guards escorted us to what could only be called a cell, which was deep in a massive stone structure.
There we were left, though we were under constant surveillance.
“This is nice,” I said sarcastically.
Hydan shrugged, “They don’t trust mages, not these days. Most mages outside the cities are working for the enemy, all free mages were pulled back to defend these last strongholds. Some saeran mages are loyal, but more are on the Island Witch’s side. You can’t blame them for being suspicious.”
“Who spotted us?” I asked.
“No doubt one of their mages was in the tower, put there specifically to scan all new arrivals for Glyphs,” Hydan replied. “They can’t be hidden, not from another mage. Nor can they be changed.”
Eventually, Benker spoke through the door grate. “Everyone except the Sivaeral wizard, move back to the far wall.”
“Why?” Toji demanded.
The guard replied, “The Sivaeral wizard is being brought before the commander, where his loyalty will be tested.”
“We stay together,” Toji informed the guard.
Benker replied, “Those are not my orders.”
“Then go get new orders,” Toji stated.
I held up a hand to Toji and said to the guard, “What is this test?”
“We will see if you have embraced the Derkaz.”
I nodded, “And if I haven’t?”
“Then you will be cleared and released, but if you fail the test you will be put to death!”
“And my companions?” I asked.
“They suffer your fate, good, or bad.”
I nodded, “All right then, I’ll go take your test.”
Hydan put a hand on my shoulder and said, “You don’t have to do this, we can leave here at any time.” Then he gestured to the stone floor and drew a quick star shape in the air, though he didn’t actually start creating one of those fiery symbols yet. “For whatever reason, I sense no StarWards.”
“We came all the way here to get to their Hall of Records, and I haven’t embraced Derkaz, so what’s the problem?”
He shrugged, “True, but you will be without our protection once you are any distance away.”
I nodded, but called out, “All right, I have nothing to hide, so I will submit to your test.”
Benker called out, “Good, then step to the door, and the rest of you, fall back.”
My companions moved to the back wall and I stepped forward. The door opened and they quickly got me outside and closed the door.
My hands were still bound in the manacles as they led me up stairs and then down a wide hall and eventually into a large room; it was some kind of audience chamber.
A military officer, with a Nautilus Glyph, was standing to the side of an ornate chair, and he was holding a knife with intricately carved runes on the broad blade. Once I was placed before the chair, and the guards had backed away, he came toward me, and then took up position just behind my back where I could not see him without turning.
Another saeran male, wearing some kind of long blue ceremonial cloak which had embroidered nautilus symbols, entered and strode to the chair, and then took a seat. He had the nautilus Glyph on his left cheek, just like mine. Could this be the Archimage of Abal at last?
He looked at me suspiciously for a moment and then spoke in what could only be called a squeaky voice, all high and nasal, “I am Timarod, the Sivaeral wizard in charge of this city. Captain Nela, a wizard of the city guard, is standing behind you with a powerful Actuality Blade in his hand, you have heard of them?”
“Yes,” I answered.
He nodded, “Good, so you know you will not be able to do magic with such a blade so close. With just one false word, I will signal the Captain to sheath the blade in your back, and you will not be able to do anything to stop it. Do you understand?”
“Clearly,” I noted.
“Tell me your business in this city,” Timarod demanded in his squeaky voice, which hit a really unpleasant high note in his excitement.
You know, I just didn’t like Sir Squeaky’s tone, it just pissed me off, so I said, “I’d rather speak to someone in charge, not a flunky with an authority complex. Please take me to the Archimage of Abal!”
His saeran face turned a darker blue; I assumed this meant he was upset. Good; that made me feel slightly better.
He scowled at me and stated, “The Archimage is out of the capitol on important business.”
I was severely disappointed, but I hid that and stated, “Fine, then bring someone else of higher authority.”
He sputtered for a moment, and then gathered himself, and finally said, “Oberon is at the front, battling the Island Witch’s forces at Ouroboros, and our other mages are busy attending to the defense of this city! I am the highest Tier mage, so I am in charge here, so you WILL answer my questions or face dire consequences!”
I suppressed my annoyance, but there was no way I was telling this pompous fool about my missing memories, or mentioning any mission I might have been on for the Archimage, so I replied, “Fine, I have come seeking my parents, I lost track of where they live while I was off world. I came here in peace, as a loyal saeran,” I pointed out, stressing the word ‘loyal’.
“I see, and you have had no dealings with the Island Witch?”
I almost snarled at him, “That depends on what you consider ‘dealings’.”
I sensed the Captain behind me tensing, so I pulled back on my anger and said, “Her minions have attacked me, and my companions and they did manage to abduct one of our party, a Sivaeral sorceress of a young age.”
“Why was the Island Witch after you?” he demanded in his squeaky voice.
“I have no idea,” and then I added with a bit of sarcasm, “Maybe because we are mages, it’s just a thought.”
Timarod ignored my sarcasm and sat back into his ornate chair. I hoped a chair leg snapped and he fell on his bureaucratic ass.
Then I added, “Look, this is all very impressive, but the simple fact is the Island Witch took a girl I was sworn to protect, which has made her my enemy. Have you never heard the term ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’?”
“No, but you will answer my questions,” the mage proclaimed, and then he sat forward again and asked very intensely, “Have you embraced the Derkaz?”
I raised my chin slightly and said, “Not likely, Bub, though one of my companions uses that power as a Tarvos sorceress. However, she is bound to my service by an oath sworn on her Archimage, and has no dealings with the Island Witch, nor has she ever been on that bitch’s side or worked against the saerans loyal to the Archimage of House Sivaeral. In fact, this is her first trip to Abal.”
He pondered my words, and then said, “So you say, yet her presence leads to doubts about you, as does your attempt to enter our city without telling us you were mages. I will now perform a test to see if you are lying about the Derkaz; if you block me it will be seen as a sign of your guilt.”
“Whatever,” I answered.
A look of concentration came over Timarod’s face, but then after a few moments, he relaxed and said, “I sense no sign of recent Derkaz use in your soul.”
That was interesting; I guess the test could only discern recent usage. Not that it mattered in my case, I had never, to my knowledge, used the Derkaz, but I filed this away for future reference.
He continued, “Why did you attempt to come into our city by stealth?”
I shrugged again, “Look, Jack, we have not had good luck when we tell people we are mages, especially on Abal. Every time someone discovers that fact, they either attack us or send for the minions of the damned Island Bitch. All we wanted was a quick look at some records and we would have been gone, no fuss no muss, but you had to make this all complicated.”
He looked at me darkly, and then squeaked, “You will address me as Wizard, or Master Timarod! So your mission in our city was to spy?”
“No, not spy. As a member of the saeran race, I simply wished access to the public Hall of Records so I could search for my parents. What is the big deal, Wizard?”
“That is what I am attempting to ascertain. What is your Sivaeral Tier ranking?” he suddenly asked, like a cat pouncing on a string.
I saw no reason to lie, “I am a Third.”
There was a bit of a gasp from the surrounding guards, which I found odd.
I distinctly felt the presence of the Captain move away from me, which was interesting, since I couldn’t see him, but I just sensed it.
Squeaky said, “A Third! How is it I do not know of you?”
“Ya got me, maybe you should study the family tree,” I noted.
He continued, “Since you are a Third, and not tainted by the Derkaz, if I decided to let you use the Hall of Records what then would you seek?”
“I would find the location of my parents, and attempt to go see them, afterward I would then go find th
e bitch, Morgain, on her precious Mystical Island and wring her goddamned neck,” I replied pleasantly.
That last bit surprised him if I read the widening of his dark eyes and rapid blinking of his twin eyelids. Then he exclaimed, “You seem very angry with the Island Witch.”
I shrugged, “Actually, you have never seen me angry, but I am rather peeved at the witch bitch; she should never have taken Ziny. I plan to get that little girl back, and I don’t care if I have to kill a Dokkalfar Second, and her nasty reborn husband, to do it.”
He looked puzzled and said, “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about killing the Island Bitch, and her resurrected Hubby.”
“What are you referring to with this term, ‘hubby’?” Timarod demanded.
“Medrod, her husband, he’s back, and he was part of the assholes who grabbed Ziny, so I owe him,” I replied.
“You lie! Medrod is dead, killed by our Archimage!”
“Why would I lie about this? He may have been dead, but he’s walking and talking now, like a good puppet of his wife. Obviously, she has brought him back somehow.”
“How do you know this?” he demanded, and I think he was a little scared.
“Well, I saw him face to face.”
“If you did, and he is a now a necromage, how did you survive?”
I scowled and muttered, “Why do people always think I should have died?” But then I spoke louder and replied, “First off, we’re not sure he is a necromage, he didn’t look like one. He seemed to be a living breathing asshole.”
That made Timarod frown, and then he said, “Even as a Third, how can you possibly kill a Sivaeral Second and his wife, a Dokkalfar necromancer, who is also a Second, and both are wielding the Derkaz?” the little wizard demanded.
“I don’t know, but if they don’t give up Ziny, I’ll find a way,” I noted, and then added, “and I have another Third, and two Fourths who have sworn to help me in this quest.”