Blood & Besiegement

by Jeremy Dwyer

  Gerwulf looked up from his drink, then he stood up and saw Alistair. Gerwulf spoke gruffly to him and said: “The party’s over. I’ve got business now.”

  “Go on,” Sebastian said quietly, while nudging Alistair.

  “I’ve heard that when you left, you were accompanied by one of the women who lived in my town,” Alistair said. He didn’t want a fight over this – he didn’t really care about the woman.

  “Who told you that?” Gerwulf asked, angrily.

  “Lots of people talk at these parties,” Alistair said.

  “Lots of people drink! They’re drunks! Don’t listen to ‘em!” Gerwulf said.

  Sebastian probed Gerwulf’s mind, and found that the woman and her two (2) sons were being kept locked in his room of the inn, bound and gagged.

  “Tell him to let them go,” Sebastian said quietly, while nudging Alistair yet again.

  “Would you be willing to introduce me to her?” Alistair asked, trying not to make an enemy, as he was no good in a fight.

  “There is no her! Don’t listen to drunks. Don’t listen to that guy, either. He’s puttin’ ideas in yer’ head!” Gerwulf said.

  “Ask him if we could talk, privately, in his rented room at this inn,” Sebastian said quietly, nudging Alistair yet again.

  “Perhaps we could enjoy a drink in your room, talk about old times,” Alistair said. It was always a good time for a drink, Alistair thought.

  “We can drink here! Buy me another drink, how about it?” Gerwulf said and sat down.

  “Alright,” Sebastian said quietly, nudging Alistair another time.

  Alistair and the four (4) farm town men, along with Sebastian, all approached Gerwulf’s table.

  Along the way, Alistair purchased a round of drinks – thick lagers – from the barkeep and brought them to the table. The lagers were made using the waters of the Dead Waters Ocean, so that anyone could drink them, regardless of their waterbinding.

  Sebastian did not sit down or drink, but stood back at a safe distance and probed Gerwulf’s mind. He found the number of the rented room, and where the keys were kept: in a bag the yellow-bearded man had behind his seat. He continued to monitor Gerwulf’s mind for any sign of violence.

  Gerwulf began drinking, and Alistair started talking to him, asking: “So, where are you off to next? Maybe you could bring back some more of those little jade carvings. Where do you get them from?” Alistair liked the green carvings because they were conversation pieces at his parties.

  Sebastian thought this was tasteless, but it might also be a useful distraction.

  “They’re not jade! It’s emerald! Can’t ya’ tell? Don’t ya’ know anything?” Gerwulf said.

  Sebastian gestured to one (1) of the four (4) farm town men about the bag behind Gerwulf’s seat and the keys within it. The farm town man slid his seat to be close enough to reach them.

  “So, tell me, where do you get this emerald? I trade in all precious stones, and am willing to pay for a quality cut,” Sebastian said to Gerwulf.

  “I’ll sell you emerald. But don’t you worry about where I get it from. It’s emerald – eight (8) platinum coins for the big ones – that’s all you need to know,” Gerwulf said.

  “How big are the big ones?” Sebastian asked. He used his telepathic powers to help focus Gerwulf’s mind on the conversation, and distract him from what was going on behind him.

  The farm town man reached behind Gerwulf and opened the bag.

  “This big,” Gerwulf said as he held his thumb and forefinger apart by a half-inch.

  “That’s not worth eight (8) platinum coins unless the cut and clarity are perfect,” Sebastian said.

  “I set the price! You don’t like it? Drop dead!” Gerwulf said. The anger was useful to Sebastian – it meant that Gerwulf was distracted from the activity behind him.

  The farm town man reached into the bag and found the keys with his hands.

  “Fair dealings are necessary if I’m going to deal with you at all. There are other sources for emeralds, you know,” Sebastian said.

  “Mine are better! Good luck emeralds! Everybody who gets ‘em has good things happen to them,” Gerwulf said.

  Alistair had another drink, and this made Gerwulf want to drink again, so he did.

  The farm town man pulled the keys out of the bag, carefully, and Gerwulf didn’t notice. The other three (3) farm town men sat around the table and looked closely at Gerwulf, who occasionally, nervously, looked at them. They sipped their lagers, maintaining their sobriety and focus, while their presence served to keep the yellow-bearded man focused on looking forward.

  “What kind of good luck?” Sebastian asked. He didn’t believe in any such thing, but wanted to keep Gerwulf talking so he would remain unaware of the covert activity around him.

  “They get rich!” Gerwulf said.

  Sebastian read the mind of the farm town man and realized that he had the keys. He didn’t make eye contact, because that might have led Gerwulf to notice what was going on.

  “Could you bring me one hundred (100) of your best emeralds? I’ll pay the eight (8) platinum coins each. If they’re good, I’ll buy more,” Sebastian asked.

  “Ya’ got yerself a deal!” Gerwulf said, and then he stood up.

  When the yellow-bearded man turned his back for a moment, Sebastian looked to the farm town man who now had the keys and whispered the room number to him.

  ~~~

  That farm town man made his way quickly through the hallways of the inn and to the indicated room. After unlocking and opening the door, he found the woman and her two (2) sons inside, released them from their bindings, then waited in the hallway for a signal that it was safe to leave.

  ~~~

  “Do you have the emeralds on you?” Sebastian asked.

  “I have some on my ship. I’ll bring some now and some later. First, you pay me,” Gerwulf said.

  “Fair enough. Here’s payment for two (2) of them, so I can test their quality,” Sebastian said, and he handed sixteen (16) platinum coins to Gerwulf, who eyed up the coins, bit into them, and was satisfied.

  “I’ll get yer’ emeralds now,” Gerwulf said, and he walked out of the pub, heading toward the docks where his ship was moored.

  ~~~

  Sebastian gestured to the second farm town man to bring out the first from the hallway. He did this, and saw that the woman and her two (2) sons were behind the first farm town man. They all left – Sebastian, Alistair, the four (4) farm town men, the woman and her two (2) sons – without Gerwulf noticing.

  ~~~

  When Gerwulf returned to the pub with the two (2) emeralds taken from his ship, there was no one there to receive them, but he still had the sixteen (16) platinum coins, so he wasn’t terribly upset. The upset came when he returned to his room and realized that his slaves had been freed.

  ~~~

  On the way back to the farming town, the woman thanked the men for rescuing her and her sons. They told her that Sebastian orchestrated this, and also found the slave trader.

  “Thank you so! How can I ever repay you? You are a true leader, whom we can trust with our lives,” the woman said. Her sons also thanked Sebastian. The woman kissed Sebastian on his hands and on his cheek to show her gratitude.

  Sebastian delighted in this praise, and then made his next move.

  “We need to talk,” Sebastian said to Alistair.

  “What would you like to talk about?” Alistair asked.

  “You need freedom to live as you please. This town needs a mayor. Let me take it off your hands,” Sebastian said.

  “It’s quite expensive, and a very sizable investment,” Alistair said.

  Sebastian read Alistair’s mind and learned what he had paid for the town. He took out a small piece of paper and a writing implement from his coat, wrote down a number with an offer of one hundred million (100000000) platinum coins, then handed it to Alistair.

  Alistair looked at the number and asked: “Is this an ac
tual offer?”

  “Once I sign it with my marking, yes,” Sebastian said.

  “I accept!” Alistair said, thinking of what he could do with the money, and the parties, and the adventures.

  Sebastian took the piece of paper, placed an official mark on it and handed it back to Alistair.

  Alistair signed it with a mark of his own, and then took the paper with him to the bank in the nearby city of Dalavar to record and process the transaction.

  Sebastian took up temporary residence in the mansion at the center of the farm town. While situated there, he immediately began to meet with the townspeople, introducing himself, and listening to their concerns.

  He sent some of the townspeople to visit his primary estate, elsewhere in Baradaxa, and inform his servants there that some of them were to come here, bringing one of his other airships.

  When the summoned servants arrived, he dispatched several of them to purchase the appropriate Gradaken Ocean waters, various seeds and construction materials and to hire builders. Then, Sebastian proceeded to order the construction of newer and better homes for the townspeople, and provide for all their needs, out of his vast wealth. He was known to them for his generosity and compassion, and he thereby gained their loyalty.

  ~~~

  Alistair took his newfound wealth and purchased a ship whereon he sailed the seas, hosting lavish parties. Sometimes, the drunks fell overboard, and were never heard from again. Alistair had no difficulty finding more fools to join him at every port he visited, however.

  CHAPTER 32: Power and Land

  Cassius knew that the powers of the Ihalik Empire were now under the command of the one known as Lavakara. He was purported to be a great warrior, and the word spread of the training exercises to prepare his troops. It became known that the preparations were against the rise of the Ahitan Empire, which very few wanted to see succeed.

  Cassius considered his own assets – these crystals that had been specially cut, and the capabilities that they had – and planned on exchanging some of them for something he now needed, which was land.

  Cassius had no intention of giving up all of the crystals, as he held on to ones of great value over time. He had some unique ones, such as the lightkeeper that retained the hideous appearance of Prince Octavian before his disfigurement was cured, and the extraordinary crystal that dispelled the ghosts inside of Duke Hagan’s castle. These were never for sale, as he anticipated future uses for them.

  However, the arsenal that had been developed, with the help of his assistant, Liora, was far too large for him to personally utilize, and it would be more fitting to sell it to a military force. As he was most familiar with the continent of Ihalik and that is where Lavakara now ruled the empire in which Cassius once held an advisory position, he decided that he would present an offer to him.

  While in one of the rented rooms they kept, Cassius took ten (10) fresh crystals of each type – the blue, red and yellow ones – from their supply. He placed these into a pouch which he kept in a pocket in his robes. “There are powers who would pay considerable sums for the use of these crystals. This is an opportunity for you to become quite wealthy, my dear,” Cassius said to Liora.

  Liora was afraid to work with this murderer, but she didn’t see any value in saying anything to upset him, either. “To whom shall they be sold?” Liora asked.

  “To a reasonable client, only, who pays a reasonable sum,” Cassius said. He would be willing to deal with almost anyone – Lavakara of the Ihalik Empire, or even the Jenaldej Empire military, if the price was right – but not with the Ahitan Empire. He wanted to see them fail, and had no intention of enabling the chaos they would bring. Only a fool would do that, he thought.

  “Who did you have in mind?” Liora asked.

  “The local authorities and powers. We shall visit them at once,” Cassius said, and took hold of his walking stick. Liora followed him. They left their rented room and traveled over land by chartering an airship, and approached the northern palace as closely as they were allowed. Then, they left the airship and set foot on the ground and were met with a captain of the guards.

  “Identify yourself, and your interests,” the captain of the guards ordered Cassius and Liora as they stood before him.

  “My name is Brynmor,” he said, using an alias he had previously used. The name Cassius was known in Ihalik, and he didn’t wish to advertise it, as there may be old enemies still here.

  Cassius continued, saying: “This is my assistant, Tara.” He wanted her to remain unknown, as well.

  “What is your interest here?” the captain of the guards asked.

  “We have things to sell, that may be of interest,” Cassius said.

  “We have purchased all that we need. The Supreme Commander will decide what else is needed, and from whom to purchase it. We have no time to waste talking to you,” the captain of the guards said.

  “Perhaps I could save you time, more than you would waste by talking to me,” Cassius/Brynmor said.

  “Prove your worth in business, that I may see fit to inform the Supreme Commander of your presence,” the captain of the guards said.

  Cassius/Brynmor considered this, and then drew one of the yellow crystals from a pouch in the pocket in his robes. He placed the crystal atop his walking stick and then used it to burn a hole through a stone on the ground, astonishing the captain of the guards.

  “Perhaps a weapon such as this is a match for a sword, or an arrow, and would be of interest to your Supreme Commander,” Cassius/Brynmor said.

  “Follow me,” the captain of the guards said, and led Cassius/Brynmor and Liora/Tara to the palace.

  “Supreme Commander, visitors wish to meet with you and offer their wares,” the captain of the guards said to Lavakara, in his private room, while Cassius/Brynmor and Liora/Tara waited in a hallway.

  “Who are these visitors?” Lavakara asked.

  “An old man and young woman. They have something of interest – some sort of weapon – and they wish to sell it to us,” the captain of the guards said.

  “We have weapons – carefully forged swords and crafted bows and arrows. What need have we of their offerings?” Lavakara asked.

  “Theirs has a sharper edge, and can cut stone like I have not seen,” the captain of the guards said.

  “Drinkers of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean can mold stone and crystal to our needs. How is this worth purchasing?” Lavakara asked.

  “Their weapon works quickly, and is small – a staff with a crystal atop it,” the captain of the guards said.

  “Bring them to me, so that I may know,” Lavakara said. He drank the waters of the Nabavodel Ocean from the ornate vial he carried. He was doubly energized – both the strength and speed from the waters of Nabavodel, and from the special endowment given by the ornate vial, as if he had drunk of the Zovvin Ocean waters. He had to be ready to evade them if this was an attack, so he entered into the spirit world.

  The captain of the guards went into the hallway and told them: “You will be seen now by the Supreme Commander.”

  Cassius/Brynmor and Liora/Tara followed the captain of the guards into the room where Lavakara was waiting, and he was nowhere to be seen.

  Judith was there, however, and knew what had been said. She and Cassius recognized each other, from their time in Octavian’s presence. They said nothing to each other, however.

  A voice was heard, but the speaker was not seen: “Burn the stone pillar in the center of this room, boring a hole through it, but leaving it stand.”

  “Who is that speaking? I don’t see anyone,” Liora/Tara asked.

  “We shall do what the voice asks of us,” Cassius/Brynmor said.

  Cassius/Brynmor then pointed the walking stick with the yellow crystal on its tip and burned a hole through the stone pillar. The action was quick and precise.

  Lavakara appeared behind Cassius/Brynmor, ripped the walking stick from his hands with a strength that he could not oppose and held it for himself
.

  “You weapon is powerful and quick, old man. You want to sell this to me?” Lavakara asked.

  “That, and hundreds (100) more like it. There are others varieties, as well. Crystals for holding your airships aloft. Crystals for signals. They all hold their energy longer, because they are finely cut,” Cassius/Brynmor said.

  “How much are you looking to charge?” Lavakara asked.

  “Land is of interest to me. The southwestern portions of this continent have considerable resources,” Cassius/Brynmor said.

  “I will pay you in platinum coins,” Lavakara said.

  “And I will use those same platinum coins to buy land. Land that you own,” Cassius/Brynmor said.

  “Assuming it is for sale,” Lavakara said.

  “Do you not need your coins to purchase metal for your swords and sails for your ships?” Cassius/Brynmor asked.

  “What do you understand about borders and wars and territorial advantages? I’ve seen many wars, and land has value. I will pay you ten (10) platinum coins for each of these crystals. The other ones you mentioned, one (1) platinum coin each,” Lavakara said.

  Cassius/Brynmor considered this a fair, if not preferable, offer. He then said: “I accept the ten (10) platinum coins for these yellow crystals. I believe that you are undervaluing the others.”

  “Show me what signals you can send with the other type of crystal,” Lavakara said.

  Cassius/Brynmor smiled and took a red crystal from the pouch, then handed it to Lavakara. “Replace the yellow crystal with this one. Flick the crystal tip to and fro and it will illuminate. Then, summon one of your ship captains, at a great distance. Direct line of sight is not needed, because the crystal geometry is such that the light it emits can negotiate corners,” he said.

  Lavakara replaced the yellow crystal with the red, whipped it back and forth and it began to glow. Then, he pointed the stick with the red crystal out the palace window and it signaled to a ship that was deployed far out to sea in the Kazofen Ocean.

  Judith recorded all that she saw, including what the crystals could do, and Lavakara’s acceptance of two (2) types of crystal, but not the other. Judith remembered how Cassius was the manipulative advisor who controlled Octavian and the castle constructor machine, and she knew that he was both clever and dangerous. The powerful crystals he now had made him dangerous, yet again, and would enable him to exert more influence. Even though Cassius, personally, never shed a drop of blood in her presence, she saw a deplorable wickedness in him. However, the Oath forbade her from interfering to undermine his efforts.