by Jeremy Dwyer
In the end, Count Perceval sent them all away, and only five (5) more were asked to return, all on that same day.
When the six (6) women, including Genevieve, all returned, Count Perceval danced with each of them, in turn, and asked them a simple question: “Why should a Count see fit to marry a woman such as you? Give me just one (1) reason.”
Their answers were: “Because I am the most beautiful” from two (2) of the women, “Because I love you” from one (1) woman, “Because I can give you an heir” from one (1) woman and “Because I am royalty” from one (1) woman and “Because I hold within me a burning fire that will light your castle by the night” from Genevieve. She was referring to her knowledge of chemistry, but Count Perceval took an altogether carnal meaning from it and was greatly attracted to her, and whispered in her ear: “Stay tonight.” To the others, he said: “Leave after this dance, and I will send for you after a while,” but he never did send for them.
“I accept your marriage proposal, Genevieve,” Count Perceval said to her.
“I am yours to love, my lord,” Genevieve said.
Then, Count Perceval sent one of his assistants to call for a Chronicler of the Oath in a nearby village to come and witness their vows and record a marriage contract, which was taken back to Emeth after a while.
~~~
For the next twenty-seven (27) years, they lived in the appearance of wedded bliss, but no heir was ever produced. Countess Genevieve was not sure if Count Perceval was incapable of producing a child, or if she was naturally barren, but it mattered little to the Count. He had stamina and enjoyed their carnal relations on many occasions by night. By day, he proceeded to build his wealth through his farms and through his occasional piracy.
As time went on, Genevieve would take a small amount of money that Perceval gave her upon request and spend it on books and supplies, delivered by their court concierge, a thirty-seven (37) year old man named Renato, who was a drinker of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean and a master of weapons. He carried considerable money on him to purchase that which the Count or Countess required, so he needed to fend off bandits with his masterful combat skills. Renato also used his powers from the waters of the Lujladia Ocean to create illusions to distract and confuse, rather than kill his would-be attackers. He knew that it was better to not let an enemy get too close, lest a quick blade get the better of him one day.
Genevieve continued her experiments over the years, and became an expert in purifying the Trerada Ocean waters which she drank, which let her keep her appearance despite her advancing years. By the age of fifty-eight (58), she looked as young as when she was fifty-three (53), and this was somewhat pleasing to Count Perceval, who was now fifty-nine (59) and liked younger women. Genevieve was not vain, or lustful, but she knew that physically pleasing the Count was essential to staying married to him, and staying married to him was essential to staying rich, which was essential to purchasing access to the fine books and laboratory equipment and copious quantities of materials for her experiments.
~~~
Renato brought back many books from Emeth for Countess Genevieve, as well as glass tubes and flasks from glassblowers in the nearby villages. He also brought back news from Emeth, including the warning of the tiara and the Ahitan woman named Victoria.
Renato gave his report to the Count and Countess, saying: “I must inform you, my lord and my lady, of some discomforting news. A woman lives today who descends from the people of ancient days and savage traditions. Her name is Victoria, and she has come into possession of a terrible thing. It is a tiara, an item of legend, said to give control over all of the oceans, and their magic, and with it, she plans to bring much suffering and loss.”
“This is dreadful. Is this Victoria an attractive woman? How old is she?” Count Perceval asked.
Countess Genevieve wondered if the man’s mind had gone completely mad.
“Who are these ancient people,” Genevieve asked?
“They are the Ahitan Empire, and they are ruled completely by women, who despise men, and murder them in their youth. They had their power from an evil spirit, but they were defeated long ago, with the help of many, including the Jenaldej Empire, and the Hidden Paladins, who fight from the darkness,” Renato said.
“All women? How many women are in this empire?” Count Perceval asked.
“I do not know. However, the woman known as Victoria is in hiding, until she is ready to strike,” Renato said.
“For what is she waiting?” Countess Genevieve asked.
“For the world to cool, as the tiara will not give its power while the many suns are aligned and burn with their great heat and light,” Renato said.
“There isn’t much time, then, as the cooling will soon come,” Countess Genevieve said. She knew of the inferno – everyone did, because they could all feel it – and she knew of the reports that previous such solar alignments only lasted a few years.
“This news is troubling, indeed, my lady,” Renato said.
Countess Genevieve wondered about the tiara commanding the oceans, and if it meant that the one who wore it would have all of their benefits, despite already being waterbound to a single one (1) of them, which was the great limitation. This was fascinating at the same time that it was terrifying that such a thing would be in the hands of a murderer.
CHAPTER 8: Blood and Lies
Within the forest of Av’Tovenka Island, hidden within a hill, was a large stone building that was designed as a water-worshipper’s temple. The foundation of the building was thirty (30) feet below the ground, and extended forty (40) feet above ground as part of a forty-seven (47) foot high hill. The hill was surrounded by a trench of dead waters that was seventy-five (75) feet across, and approachable only by a boat. The temple within the hill was the shape of a pentagon, and each edge was two hundred ten (210) feet across. However, due to its concealment within the hill, this geometry of the temple was only visible from within, and not from without.
The temple had thirteen (13) rooms, and, while the rooms each had distinctive features and varied in width, they also had several in common: they had twelve (12) sides, each ceiling was sixty-five (65) feet in height, there was a jagged blue crystal in each corner which gave off light and extended from floor to ceiling, and there were thirteen (13) fountains. The fountains were arranged with one (1) at each of the twelve (12) corners of the room and one (1) at the center. The waters in each of the fountains at the corners of any given room were from one (1) of the twelve (12) great oceans, whereas the waters in the fountain at the center of the room were from the Dead Waters Ocean. Each fountain sent a jet of water nearly up to the high ceiling, where it then arced back down.
The rooms were connected to each other by locked doors, and only one person held all of the keys – the old woman named Tanith Orenda. She was one hundred ninety-two thousand seven hundred twenty-seven (192727) years old, and clever and cruel beyond the imagining of many. The waters of the Ursegan Ocean kept her alive all these millennia.
Tanith Orenda entered the Master’s Room – which she always kept completely off limits to everyone else – and she closed and locked the door, and then knelt down in front of a small indoor pond. The edge of the pond was at the level of the floor and went down to a depth of seven (7) feet. The perimeter had the shape of a dodecagon that was thirteen (13) feet wide at the diagonal. The pond was subdivided into twelve (12) trapezoidal and one (1) central, circular segment, each of which had one (1) of the ocean waters in it.
“What are your commands, my master?” Tanith Orenda asked, addressing her question to the demon named Matatirot.
As Tanith Orenda was not a drinker of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean, she had no special connection to the spirit world and could not easily communicate with the demon. Rather, she had to be surrounded by enough water – which was his domain in this material world – so that she could communicate with him
Matatirot spoke to Tanith Orenda, saying: “Raise a bloodline through the gi
rl who drinks of the Pirovalen waters. Make the Ahitan blood flow through her veins.”
Tanith Orenda said: “The power of the tiara will be of no use to her, as she is already waterbound. We will not be able to wield its power through her.”
Matatirot said: “The power of the tiara will only be needed for a while, and its power shall be through Victoria, who shall be your foremost and truest; yet, her barren womb is an obstacle around which you must navigate, for the Ahitan blood to proceed.”
Tanith Orenda said: “As you wish, master.”
After this, she rose from the kneeling position and unlocked the door to the Master’s Room, then entered the Great Granddaughter’s Room in which the beautiful and terrible Victoria was standing. This room was also kept locked and off limits to most people, and only Victoria and Tanith Orenda were ever allowed to be in it.
“We must speak now!” Tanith Orenda said, and then sat in a chair in the middle of the room. The chair was a strange white color, and a strange and jagged shape. It was, in fact, made of human bones taken from men who had been sacrificed to Matatirot in the twisted Ahitan rituals.
Victoria approached the old woman, knelt down and asked: “What words do you have for me, many thousands great grandmother?”
The old woman had Victoria’s respect and loyalty. As their family tradition demanded, a woman should respect her mother greatly, and her grandmother even more, and her great grandmother more still, and her great great grandmother to a still greater level. Tanith Orenda was more than great or great great along the family line – she was the five thousand eight hundred thirty-seventh (5837th) great grandmother of Victoria, and held immense importance. The old woman knew the legends, and which ones were true, and which were myth. Of some of these, she was the author, either having done great and terrible things, or having written false tales to mislead the world. She even knew the truth of the colossal statues, and had used her servants to spread much of the misinformation about them.
Tanith Orenda spoke to Victoria and said: “Bind the musical girl to your blood. Let her be one of us, and bear the daughters of the empire. The powers she has will be of great service to us. Say what you must to win her trust and love.”
Victoria replied: “I will make her my daughter by sharing my blood, many thousands great grandmother.”
“Good. Waste no time, child,” Tanith Orenda said.
Tanith Orenda remained in the Great Granddaughter’s Room and Victoria left, locking the door behind her.
~~~
Victoria went to the Scout’s Room, where several of their troops – all their warriors were women, as the Ahitan laws demanded – were waiting. In that same room, Taesa was waiting, and wondering why she was brought here.
“Taesa, we need to speak,” Victoria said.
Taesa looked at her, waiting for the words.
“In private. Please, come with me. This is very important,” Victoria said.
“Alright,” Taesa said, not seeing any alternative.
Victoria led Taesa to the Inquisitor’s Room, and locked the door behind her.
“We are all alone now,” Victoria said.
“Yes. You wanted to speak with me, in private,” Taesa said.
“I don’t really like being alone. But I am. Are you alone?” Victoria asked.
“What do you mean? I’m here with you,” Taesa asked.
“In life, do you have a companion? A love?” Victoria asked.
“No. I never dated – not steadily, at least. The boys my age were always too immature, or wild. I wanted to study, they wanted a completely different kind of life – one that neither of us was ready for,” Taesa said.
“Study? Did you spend much time at Emeth?” Victoria asked.
“Yes. There is no place like it, and it’s where my heart – and mind – always returns,” Taesa said.
“Knowledge is power, I will admit. However, a young woman should have a life that is more than just reading from books,” Victoria said.
“In those books, I found answers that I couldn’t find other places. I learned songs, and stories, and much of how this world works. I couldn’t just wait for someone else to show me. And some people lie, or just don’t know the answers,” Taesa said.
“Some answers can only be found by living, not by reading,” Victoria said.
“If this is about having a boyfriend, they didn’t know much. And they didn’t know how to discover what was new. If I wanted to explore this world, I needed to go my own way. If I depended on them, I wouldn’t know anything,” Taesa said.
Victoria liked Taesa’s answers. In fact, she almost wished that Taesa had been her sister, as the girl’s way of thinking was entirely agreeable. They could have been the very best of friends, under different circumstances. Victoria regretted, however, that she would have to lead the girl down a different path.
“You said you studied songs at Emeth?” Victoria asked.
“Yes, fascinating lyrics and music, from across the ages. Some of the oldest are some of the most interesting. The radiant harmonic techniques were developed two hundred twenty-three thousand (223000) years ago. They’re the ones that allow sound to bend light and darkness, and see things. Every now and then, the techniques get rediscovered, but they’re not easy to use. It’s how I saw the hidden towers, after stumbling into them,” Taesa said.
“Curses!” Victoria thought. This is the wrong girl to use for the old woman’s plot – she understands the ancient musical knowledge. Taesa is far too valuable, and powerful, to waste. Almost any other girl would be a better choice – there were prettier girls, who probably would have been far easier to frighten and manipulate into this scheme.
“Please wait here, Taesa. There’s something I need to do. I will return shortly. Hold that thought. There is so much more we need to talk about, and I don’t want to miss anything,” Victoria said.
~~~
Victoria made her way back to the Great Granddaughter’s Room, where Tanith Orenda was still waiting.
“Have you given your blood to her, many thousands great granddaughter?” Tanith Orenda asked.
“Not yet. I first need to speak to you,” Victoria said.
“What is it? Why have you not yet obeyed me?” Tanith Orenda asked.
“The girl is more than merely talented or fortunate, many thousands great grandmother. She knows – and understands – many things. She is a scholar of ancient music, and has learned how to use it to great effect. She used it to discover the towers hidden in darkness,” Victoria said.
“Yes. I know these things about her. That is why she is the perfect choice,” Tanith Orenda said.
“Her powers make her too valuable to be destroyed,” Victoria said.
“She won’t be destroyed. Yet, you seem worried about her, and she is not yet one of us, as you have already admitted,” Tanith Orenda said.
“I do not wish to dilute her powers with my blood,” Victoria said.
Tanith Orenda screamed. Then, she rose and slapped Victoria ferociously across the face, repeatedly, while Victoria just stood there and accepted it.
“Our blood is greater! How dare you suggest it would be a dilution of her powers! She is the weaker one with the inferior blood. Ours is the stronger and superior blood! What have you become?! Do you doubt our purpose or greatness?!” Tanith Orenda said, scolding Victoria.
“The blood and the oceans work as they do, many thousands great grandmother. I am the defective one, with a barren womb that gives no successor. Certainly, another woman can be found that would be a suitable vessel. Taesa would be a greater servant to us – a powerful ally – with her music. For certain, it is not the Ahitan way to take such as magnificent and powerful young woman and bring her weakness,” Victoria said.
“The girl must become one of us. Our blood will make her stronger, not weaker. Do not doubt this, child. Obey,” Tanith Orenda said.
“As you wish, many thousands great grandmother,” Victoria said.
~~~
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At this, Victoria left and returned to Taesa in the Inquisitor’s Room.
“Your face is red! You have a cut!” Taesa said to her.
“It is nothing, my friend. Please don’t worry about me. I want to hear more,” Victoria said.
“Are you sure? Is there something you want to talk about?” Taesa asked.
“No. Believe me. It is nothing to trouble yourself with. Please, let’s just talk about your studies. I find them completely fascinating,” Victoria said.
“I spent a lot of time researching those songs and techniques – time I was supposed to spend reading about philosophy and theology. These were more interesting. I think they can do even more,” Taesa said.
“Even more?” Victoria asked.
“I think that the songs can reach anyone,” Taesa said.
“What do you mean? Who do you want to reach?” Victoria asked.
“I haven’t seen my father in a long time – it’s been eight (8) years,” Taesa said.
“Why haven’t you seen him?” Victoria said.
“He died when I was twelve (12),” Taesa said.
“What do you remember of him?” Victoria asked.
“He was a very kind man and very wise. He drank the Medathero Ocean waters. He never traveled to Emeth, but he paid to have scholars bring back books they copied from there. He studied and shared what he learned with everyone. He taught several children in the town about math, astronomy, music, philosophy, geology, and anything else he could find there,” Taesa said.
“How did he die?” Victoria asked.
“He had cancer, and nothing we did – not the water, not the food, not the hopes and prayers – did anything to help him. That’s why my mother doesn’t believe in God or religion or anything. She even gets mad when people talk about the waters,” Taesa said.
“Why does your mother get mad when people talk about the waters?” Victoria asked.
“Because some people worship the waters, like they are some sort of deity. She thinks that a loving and powerful God would not allow a good person to suffer and die. Because of all the suffering that exists, God either lacks love or power or simply doesn’t exist. In fact, she once said that a person who looks in the mirror and worships what they see is less of a mental defective than a person who worships a God they can’t see. At least the person in the mirror can and will do something,” Taesa said.