Reality's Plaything 5: The Infinity Annihilator

by Will Greenway

  Idun and Euriel both came dressed in ceremonial furs, blouses and kilts festooned with jewels and patterned with silver thread. Vanidaar and Azir were likewise dressed in the fashion of Aesir nobility, wolf-pelt ruffs and studded leather jerkins with polished rings of brass.

  Greetings and pleasantries were exchanged, taking on truly relaxed tone as the allies of the Baronian war were finally starting to lose the edge from being keyed up for days on end.

  Shortly after the arrival of the Kergathas, Loric and his wives Cassandra and Desiray were admitted. They brought with them their eldest daughters Cassin and Annawen, and their huge counterparts Sindra and Drucilla. Desiray’s two sons, Caldorian and Sebenreth along with their wives trailed in shortly after. A few steps behind them, a Kriar contingent consisting of Marna, Dulcere, Eladrazelle, Quasar and Eclipse entered. The Kriar matriarch was escorted by willowy Dominique, while burly Corim, looking smart in his black and silver Protectorate regalia, held Dulcere’s arm.

  From the way everyone dressed it was apparent that even though this was a casual after-war gathering that everyone was choosing to put on their brightest and most shiny faces.

  In a group by themselves came the three physicians, Wysteri, Mercedes, and Octavia. Along with them was the unlikely presence of Vera. Mercedes and Octavia each held one of her arms and the two were coaxing her along. Arm in arm Dorian and her husband Brin, moved at the rear of group, their positioning and the way they moved suggesting they were there to catch the little G’Yakki should she decide to bolt.

  Last to enter were Jhaan, Kalindinai, and Ryelle. The T’Evagdurans while not in full royal regalia, were handsomely attired in fine silk and lace.

  As large as Malbraion’s main area was with nearly fifty people the chamber seemed full. No one minded though, lounging together knee to knee and shoulder to shoulder. Though titles and rank were being acknowledged, nobody was standing on formality. Bannor felt the relaxed camaraderie, some were brothers and sisters in blood, others in allegiance, birthright, and arms. There could be no doubting that after everything they had faced, they were all family.

  As the entourage awaited breakfast, many wished he and Sarai well in their upcoming marriage and expressed enthusiasm for the festivities following the nuptials.

  “And what shall the newly-weds be doing for the quarter-moon after the ceremony?” Loric asked, looking at both of them.

  Bannor glanced at Sarai. “Sleep?” he said in a sheepish tone.

  Sarai elbowed him. “Father owns an estate down on the mirage coast in Pedon. I hear the beach sand is the color of crushed sapphire, and the fruit is the best on Titaan. I got the idea talking with Tal’s wife Terra, she said that they love to relax there in the winter. Terra said as part of our wedding gift, Tal would gate us down there.”

  Mirage coast? When did they decide that? He sighed. They truly were married. The ceremony was just a commemoration of that fact.

  This was apparently a well considered plan because Kalindinai was smiling and nodding, no hint of demur in her eyes or mentions of security issues. So, apparently it had already been discussed with her. Ryelle and Janai also seemed to be in on it. So, obviously, he was the only one who it hadn’t been discussed with.

  “An interesting choice of location,” Corim said, leaning back in his cushions by Dulcere. “I hear the dress customs are very liberal. The cult of Meliekki is quite popular there with the ladies.”

  “Meliekki?” Wren repeated.

  Corim nodded.

  The blonde ascendant shook her head. “No wonder Tal likes to vacation there.”

  “Eh?” Bannor said frowning at her.

  Radian glanced at Ziedra, whose brow was furrowed much like Wren’s. He rubbed his wife’s shoulder and leaned forward toward Bannor. A glint flashed in his dark eyes. “Bannor, lean into it—trust me.”

  “Have Sarai get the milk bath,” Azir chimed in. “I hear it’s great for the—ah—skin.”

  “The ritual milk baths in the temples. I’ve heard good things about that!” Sarai said pointing at him. “I’ll have to try it!”

  Azir made a thumbs-up gesture and winked at Bannor. he telepathed privately.

  Ziedra scowled at Azir. Glowing lavender eyes narrowed. The other ascendant noticed her attention and leaned away and brushed back his hair. He shrugged with an innocent expression.

  Score? What was that about? Obviously, he was missing something and… he glanced to Radian and then to Azir. It must be something good. Something good that Sarai didn’t know about—something that irritated the women who knew about it. He pondered the possibilities… Corim did mention something about having very liberal dress customs. Somehow that tied together with the cult of Meliekki was significant. He’d have to ask in private…

  Breakfast was served, the large banquet table humming with energy and mirth. The food, as always, tasted excellent. Sarai’s staff had obviously spent extra effort to create a larger than normal variety. He tried a little of each but focused on the spiced hashed tubers and meat-strips. A special blend of south-vale fruit-nectar was making people around the table roll their eyes and nod. After his first tart-sweet cup of the concoction he understood the appreciation.

  Shafts radiant light were bathing the eastern balcony when King T’Evagduran called for the attention of the assemblage. He stood up and brushed his pale hair back, glowing amber eyes bright but not intense. He smiled and put a hand over Kalindinai’s knuckles as he took a moment to survey the group.

  “Family, friends… allies,” he said in his deep voice. “I and the kingdom of Malan would like to officially welcome you to what I hope will be new era of strength and discovery. The last moon has been nothing less than taxing for the best of us. However, in our need, we overcame not only our enemies but opened our eyes to something far larger than the borders of this kingdom—the vaults of eternity.” He dipped his head toward Gaea. “We have gained a new mother, and new brothers and sisters of absolute trust and confidence.” He shook his head. “To the leader of a country, there can be no greater treasure than honorable associates. We give thanks for that boon. To all of you—a toast.” He raised his goblet. “To the bonds that will only grow stronger.”

  Around the table, people pushed back their chairs and raised their cups and greeted the elf lord’s declaration.

  After everyone had settled again in their chairs, King T’Evagduran took a few sips from his goblet and put it aside. “Now, to other matters, as all of you are painfully aware, the Baronian threat is not abated, it has simply been pushed aside for a few summers. We of Malan could choose to ignore the issue, leave it in the hands of others to play out for good or ill. In the past, this was the elven way, to observe events from afar and not get involved. Our oldest ancestors, the Silcanna, were star-travelers like the Kriar. It was only the finding of magic and kinship with the first of the great forests that changed their nomadic ways.” The King touched the arm-band of the shaladen on his arm. “I first put this shaladen on as simple necessity to protect my family and citizens.”

  T’Evagduran glanced down to Kalindinai who was looking up at him and sighed. “As this conflict progressed, I started feeling the scope of eternity and what lured our forebears to explore the stars. With only a night to think on it, I find myself already decided. Malan will not sit at the wayside awaiting what comes. We will put not only our personal strength into the endeavor, but the resources of our nation. However, our current policies for providing national support to entities who are not elven or Malanian are very restrictive. Rather than fight a constant battle with the noble houses over sheltering and patronizing outsiders, I wish to bring all our families together under the banner of Malan. Better, since I more trust the counsel of those present to those of the official houses, I have decided that the three major families here will each have a seat in the cadre of the Malan high council.”

  “Can you do that?” Loric said from a short ways down the table. “Won’t that make even more trou
ble?”

  “Initially, it will,” the elf lord answered with a nod. “And, as you are aware it will not be without its irritations for your families. It is politics after all.” He rubbed his hands together. “The Felspars already have influence in Corwin, Ivaneth, and Coormeer, so having your house officially reside here will be seen as favorable move that is expedient in terms of our relations with those nations.”

  “Not to be combative or anything, but what makes you think we want to move to Malan?”

  “Perhaps I misheard, wasn’t your current abode made unlivable by Hecate, and your whole clan has been outdoors since?”

  “We’ve been vacationing,” Loric answered in a dry tone.

  “I am certain there are sites in Malan as nice as your previous location.”

  “Vineyards, darling,” Cassandra said. “Think of the vineyards…”

  Loric grinned. “There is that I suppose.” He focused on King T’Evagduran. “So, how does that work. We aren’t a family of elves, the houses aren’t going to accept us or our counsel.”

  The King smiled. “Actually, you do have elven ties.” He gestured to Loric’s white-haired wife, Desiray.

  “Grandmother?” Desiray said with an incredulous tone.

  King T’Evagduran nodded. “Lady Daenaire’s house is on the fringes of the noble houses. They currently don’t have the strength to get a seat on the council but…”

  “They would if house Felspar were a part of house Daenaire,” Loric filled in.

  Jhann took a sip from his goblet. “Exactly. Lady Daenaire has been afraid to associate too closely with her great grand-children for fear of repercussions and further alienation of her family. We shall encourage the embracing of her extended family.”

  “I find that very savvy,” Vanidaar Kergatha said. “However, there is no such bond we could utilize to validate us as having elven blood.”

  King T’Evagdurn put up a hand. “Daar, now don’t be too swift. First, you and Euriel have long been a fixture here in Kul’Amaron. You are already well known. Euriel and Kalindinai are practically sisters, and truth be told, there is a great amount of jealousy in court over that fact. I thought about it, and you do have a link to the elves through Lady Idun.”

  “Pardon?” Vanidaar glanced down to the goddess who raised an eyebrow and brushed back her glowing gold hair.

  Lord T’Evagduran leaned forward. “Lady Idun, is not pantheon lady Freya your sister?” He looked down to the glowing goddess.

  Idun shrugged. “My step sister. We share the same father, Njord.”

  “Carellion is the acknowledged father of elves and Freya is matron to some of his many children. So, Idun is an aunt to the Istarnari, the heads of original five great elven houses. That makes Euriel first cousin to the lines of Dyzeln and Allanaar that currently hold the first and second seats on the council. A much higher pedigree cannot be claimed.”

  “Whoa,” Wren said. “I have elf cousins? Noble elf cousins? Wild.”

  “I hope Lady Idun will indulge us in making her seat here in Malan. I know she was already in the process of relocating her citadel to Titaan.”

  This statement caused eyebrows up and down the table to rise.

  Idun sighed, topped off her goblet and leaned back, sipping from her cup and watching the reaction.

  Euriel stared at Idun. “Mother?”

  Idun tilted her head. “Daughter?”

  “And?” Euriel prompted.

  “Child,” she narrowed glowing eyes. “I can have a house anywhere I want—I am a goddess you know.”

  “The pantheon lords are not supposed to live in the human worlds,” Loric said with a frown.

  “There’s no law, Vilesilencer,” Idun growled pointing a finger at him. “It was more of a consensus to avoid more irritations like the one you yourself authored. I am done with the Aesir. I am done with Odin and that troop of fools that coddle him. Hella’s words were well spoken when she said she was glad to be gone from him and the High Jury.” She rocked her head back. “My cult has few followers now.” She looked down the table to Wren and Azir. “The adoration of my grand-daughter and grand-son are enough for me. Still, I need space for my house and for my retinue which has grown over the millennia. I can’t just cast them off, so moving in with my son-in-law is obviously not an option.”

  “I am curious though, Jhaan,” Vanidaar said. “How did you know about this?”

  “Yes,” Euriel said, eying her mother. “I wasn’t aware of it.”

  King T’Evagduran took a sip from his cup and waved toward his daughter Janai.

  Janai’s eyes widened.

  “My little land baroness,” he said nodding. “She has been bullying, buying, and pushing out all the land owners in northern Coormeer. It was clear she was trying to assemble a single large parcel of land. I knew the land wasn’t for her, so it was just a matter of tracing back who she’d been negotiating with to find out who the interested buyer was.”

  Sarai slapped the table. “That’s why Tymoril and Kegari were in Coormeer.”

  Janai rocked her head back. “Moons of work—all that gold—wasted. Argh.”

  Idun raised a hand. “Do not despair yet, Child. I haven’t accepted your father’s deal. The Coormeerian land remains of great interest to me. The climate, soil, and views are all ideal.”

  “Yes,” King T’Evagduran said. “I don’t think I was prepared to annex a parcel quite so large for the house of Idun.”

  “Zounds, how much land is this?” Laramis rumbled with a frown. “In my country no less.”

  “A mere pittance,” Idun said with a dismissing tone. “About twenty leagues on a side.”

  “Leagues?” Wren squeaked.

  “That’s a pittance?” Vanidaar repeated.

  “The house isn’t going to fill up the whole thing is it?” Euriel wondered aloud.

  “Of course not,” Idun said with a roll of her eyes. “But I need enough space around it so that my retinue doesn’t scare the neighbors. It also needs farming space and resources, and places where some of my long time servants can retire to build homes of their own.” She shrugged. “I can make my official seat Malan if that suits some shared purpose. However, I am moving to Titaan and I need no-one’s blessing.”

  Loric was frowning at the goddess but didn’t say anything. Vanidaar and Euriel looked somewhat nonplussed but not upset. Bannor didn’t really understand the consternation. Where did a god sleep? The answer was obvious. Anywhere they wanted to. It sounded to him like Idun planned to keep to herself and be as isolated from mortal affairs as she could.

  Bannor noticed that Marna was staring at Idun. He wasn’t quite sure how to gauge her emotion, the Kriar were so very difficult to read at times. Envy? He wasn’t sure how that tracked.

  “We will discuss the details at a later date,” King T’Evagduran said. “There are other maneuverings necessary to get the appropriate status for the house of Idun, but with the contacts that we have recently made… I don’t anticipate a problem.” The elf lord took another sip from his goblet, studying the faces up and down the table. “Some few days ago, We had a memorable conversation with Lady Cassandra concerning potential harm caused by extended contact with the Kriar people.”

  Bannor saw the Kriar straighten in their chairs, glances cast toward Cassandra, who shrank down in her chair somewhat.

  T’Evagduran raised a hand in a soothing gesture. “The Lady spoke not to any intentional malfeasance on the part of responsible parties, but more to the indirect harm that comes as a byproduct of their abundant wealth.” He paused, his gaze going to the three mecha who sat bracketing Vera. The little G’Yakki seemed to have relaxed some since first being dragged into the gathering. She seemed to feel his attention along with the others. “Truly, I have felt the temptation that Kriar artifice magic represents. It is a subtle and powerful lure, miraculous healing, near infinite creation, and vast knowledge made available at the merest whim… it—is—staggering. Despite that, it is the Kriar th
emselves that wonder at the potency of their own power when compared to arcane magic. Indeed, it is arcane magic that has been the source of much woe in their past. Further, it is the magic of Chyrith that threatens us in the future. We must learn to combat that magic and we must do so quickly. While we have able mages like Gaea herself, Loric, Elsbeth, and Aarlen—it’s going to take more—much more. It is my opinion that the Kriar and their ability to research, architect, and innovate are our best hope to raise our magic to the enemy’s level.”

  Loric stood up. “Jhaan, now wait…”

  T’Evagduran cut him off with a slash of his hand. “Lord Felspar, let me speak my peace. I am well aware that you guard the integrity of magic. The Silcanna guarded magic every bit as well as Numinorians without erasing themselves. I know from conversations that Marna and Eladrazelle have been pursuing magic. They have been bullying and cajoling one of their own kind, Theln, who we recently learned is the patron of the Valharesh family. I propose that we teach the Kriar magic—but on our terms.” He looked down the table to Marna and the others. “No artifices, no mecha, it must be true magic—Gaea’s magic. If Marna, and any other Kriar wish to temporarily give up their artifices and study magic, then we will make that venue here. Those that accept tutelage must take an oath to never to modify, improve, or otherwise pervert the magic. Innovations must come from within the arcana itself. If at some point there is a desperate need to alter our rules, then it will be so decided by Magocratic council.” He looked to his wife. “Does that cover it?”

  Kalindinai bowed her head. “It does, my One.”

  Bannor looked at the five Kriar. He saw some agitation in their auras. T’Evagduran’s offer, as outrageous as it seemed—interested them. At least, he saw in Marna’s eyes that giving up her artifices was not the heartbreak he would have expected.

  “Now,” Lord T’Evagduran started again. “Apart from the magic, I see great value in the counsel of the Kriar. In my own discussions with the Marna, Dulcere, Eclipse, and Chauser I have found a people that have a very close association with nature. In fact, I believe they need to get away from their metal ball and live in the sun among the trees again. If house Solaris wishes to get back to its tree-spirit roots, then the house of T’Evagduran will sponsor that return. The house of Solaris would, of course, administrate the arcane school that will be not just for Kriar but for all students. Would that be of interest?”