by C S Vass
“Then it’s pointless,” Martin said quietly. He had given up trying to escape the ropes that bound him and there was a sick look about him. “Haygarden can’t hope to compete against such powers.”
“You have the willpower of an earthworm, boy,” Aiyana said angrily. “Does he know how to use the Tome Vaenti? Do we know what ends he seeks to use it for? What else do you know, Geoff? There are too many unanswered questions for my liking.”
“Rodrick’s plan is one of utter chaos. In Morrordraed there are many old and evil forms of magic, and it would seem he has encountered enough of them to become thoroughly fascinated with the possibilities. It’s become clear that Rodrick has not gone on a single trip to Morrordraed, but rather has been there many times.”
“Many times?” Aiyana furrowed her brow. “What madness is that Geoff? Making a single trip with Tellosian scryers scanning every inch of the border for him is implausible enough. You expect me to believe that he’s been back and forth on multiple occasions?”
Geoff sighed. “There’s not time for doubt,” he said. “It seems Lawrence Downcastle has been quite busy. My agents tell me that Downcastle has been engaged in a deep study of portal magic. Rodrick and the Vaentysh Boys haven’t been traveling to Morrordraed by sea. Lawrence Downcastle must have been taking them with magic.”
“Why would he do that?” Fiona asked. “What’s he planning?” It was everything she could do not to get her hopes up that this would be her chance to finally capture him. She had tried for so long, come across so many disappointments.
“With Lawrence Downcastle’s knowledge of portals supercharged by the Tome Vaenti, Rodrick hopes to create a single enormous portal that will stay open indefinitely—presumably until he has time to conquer the city. You see, Morrordraed is home to many ancient monsters and beasts that died out of Tellos long before even the Vaentysh Kings first came ashore.”
“But why—”
“Because it will suit his needs,” Hightower interrupted. “There is so much chaos in the city already, and with Haygarden’s government weakening the Empire has muscled itself in. Rodrick hopes to shift that balance again and make Haygarden ungovernable for the Empire even if that means setting mythical beasts loose on the city.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Martin said. “If they do that, then everyone is going to hate them. Who would have any sympathy for the Vaentysh Boys if they released a bunch of monsters in Haygarden?”
Geoff Hightower sighed. “You have served your city during peace, boy, but you don’t know how the game changes in war. First, information is unreliable and comes from multiple sources. It’s entirely possible the Vaentysh Boys could deny responsibility, even set rumors through all the inns and temples in the city that some other group is responsible. Yet even if people undeniably come to realize who has caused this terror, he will still find his hand strengthened. He could simply choose to hold the city ransom until the people grant the Vaentysh Boys power through right of conquest, so long as they’re capable of closing the portal.”
The room grew very quiet. Not for the first time, Fiona felt a searing rage and embarrassment at what her brother was capable of doing to the city he once swore to defend. “Then we have no choice but to find him,” she said at last.
“I agree,” Hightower said.
“Then once again you find yourself in need of information only I have, old man,” Aiyana said. All eyes in the room fell on her.
“You know where Rodrick is?” Fiona asked.
“I do.” She smiled like a cat in cream. “Yet the Forgotten have a history that I’m sure you are all very well-acquainted with. We don’t take kindly to betrayal, and there are several debts to be repaid. First and most importantly, my brother’s corpse has not yet turned cold. The boy must die.”
Fiona’s sword was halfway out of its sheath when Geoff Hightower placed a hand firmly upon it. “No, Aiyana. That will not be.”
“He killed my brother under false pretenses. Or are the rumors about how you stay up late at night clenching your precious honor just fairy tales for the children of Haygarden?”
“I came down to a bloodbath,” Geoff said. “And you’ve been operating a criminal organization for a very long time. Your claims right now do not concern me nearly so much as the survival of this city.”
Aiyana’s eyes were full of venom. “Your city will be a seething pit of blood and ashes before the next full moon if I choose not to cooperate with you, and right now I hardly see why I should.”
“The courts can sort this all out later,” Hightower grumbled.
“You’re a fraud. Law and honor are everything to you, except for when it’s convenient to work with an underground group. Except for when it’s your own men that act like animals. They were invited here as guests and instead took coin from the Empire in exchange for assassinating us! Well, that’s correct isn’t it? Do you deny it?”
The metallic grey eyes of Aiyana fell directly on Fiona’s face. “I’m no assassin,” she said.
“So you didn’t take coin. You took something. You’re working with the Empire. You can’t fool me girl, I see right through you as clearly as I see through glass in sunlight.”
“Fiona,” Geoff’s face was deadly grave. “If there’s something that you know that could help us, now is not the time to withhold information.”
“Don’t waste your breath, old man,” Aiyana said. “The girl is full of treachery and lies. But it’s no matter. I will respect the terms of our agreement.” She gave Geoff a hauntingly dangerous look. “I just expect that you will respect them as well.”
For one long second Fiona saw doubt written all over Hightower’s face, and it terrified her.
“I do not go back on agreements," Hightower said gravely.
Fiona wondered what they were talking about, but didn’t have the chance to ask.
Aiyana grinned wickedly. “Yes, The Empire has sent one of their low-level agents to try to win Fiona’s trust in the hopes that she could lead them to Rodrick. A fool’s hope, obviously. If she had the slightest inkling where her brother was then one of them would be dead by now. But you’ve been deceived, Fiona. Smiley is no friend of yours. In fact, he already has your brother. You were to receive the message this morning, but I had my own people interfere. Smiley has also taken Donyo Brownwater, so if you ever managed to learn what the little miscreant was up to then now is the time to talk.”
“Smiley has Rodrick and Donyo?” Fiona gasped. “What is he going to do with them?”
“He insisted on only telling one person that. You yourself will have to go to them.”
“Why would you hide this from me?” Fiona shouted.
“Why would I do anything but have you all killed?” Aiyana said. “You came here to murder me. Brandon is dead. You, Fiona might have some use alive still, but that creature must die.”
She drew her sword and pointed it right at Martin’s head. A chorus of Hightower’s men drawing their blades answered. “There will be no more slaughter here!” Hightower roared. “Aiyana, we will speak of our arrangement later. Don’t you all see? If Donyo truly is working on some strange weapon that means it’s very possible at this moment the Empire has whatever it is along with the Tome Vaenti!”
“Then what can we do?” Fiona asked.
“You will have to get your wish,” Geoff Hightower said to her. His voice was filled with bitterness. “I would not have wanted it this way. You must go to him. I will rally a task force to assist you, but if we can resolve this without bloodshed, capture Rodrick, and free Donyo then I am willing to work with the Empire.”
Aiyana laughed. “Your convictions melt faster than a snowball in summer, old man.”
“You and I will conclude our business when this is over, Aiyana.”
“Of that you can be sure. But this boy stays with me. The laws of vengeance shall not be denied, my Lord Hightower.” Aiyana’s voice was high and mocking.
“You’re out-manned,” Fiona said bo
ldly. “If you think we’ll let you keep Martin then you’re insane.”
Aiyana didn’t so much as glance at Fiona. “Be careful what seeds you plant today, Lord Hightower.”
“Brandon planted his own seeds last year when he killed my best friend,” Martin said bitterly. “We worked together for over a year. He was a good man. He was there for me. And your brother killed him.”
“Then you know all too well the need to satiate revenge. Like magic, revenge is a fire that must be held without a torch. It will burn all who touch it. I know and accept the consequences of that. Do you, boy?”
“You are dealing with me,” Geoff said. “Aiyana, I will not place you in custody today, but neither will you get Martin. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly well.” She smiled, and her eyes were full of hatred. The contradiction in her face made Fiona shiver.
“Where has Smiley taken Rodrick and Donyo? Where does he wish to meet Fiona?”
“Her old manor in the Leaf District. Apparently it has just been sitting there, rotting.”
“Fiona, are you prepared to go there?”
She nodded without hesitation.
“I cannot risk joining you. There is too much to win should this go well. But we will be nearby with plenty of soldiers. I do not wish to ask this of you but if you succeed here today, then you could prevent a war before it has the chance to start while simultaneously driving the Empire out of Haygarden. You must exercise all of your caution. If Smiley wishes a ransom, you need merely tell him that we will pay it.”
“Fiona,” Martin’s voice was small and sounded as if it were very far away. “Be careful.”
Chapter Nineteen
The walk from the Stone District to the Leaf was the longest that Fiona could ever remember taking. Painfully, step by step, she prepared herself to meet Rodrick by simply banishing all thoughts of him from her head. This was to be a transaction, not a battle. Smiley would either execute her brother or ransom him to Haygarden which would also result in an execution.
As she journeyed upwards towards the mountain, she remembered Suomo’s odd question. The demon blade or the dragon? Which will you use? “Doesn’t matter to me in the least, old witch,” Fiona muttered under her breath.
She found herself wishing that she had better control over the manjeko. According to the Beast it was supposed to be an aid in fighting, but she had little practice with it that way and didn’t want to risk causing any unnecessary problems if it came to a fight. It won’t she told herself, over and over. She wouldn’t do anything stupid. She would be cautious like Hightower said. And then her long quest would finally be over.
She was there in what felt like too little time. The old house loomed in front of her like a giant squatting demon. Calmly, she pushed the door inward and stepped inside.
The room was dark. The last light of a setting sun shone through the window. There was still enough light to see her brother’s forest green eyes glitter darkly. He looked the worse for wear, the beard he grew was even less flattering in person than it had been when she saw him with the manjeko.
“Hello Fiona.”
She didn’t move a muscle. “Where is Smiley?”
He winked and pointed to a chair in the corner. Smiley was seated in it, a comfortable look washed over his face.
He was dead. Stab wounds blossomed all over his body like angry red flowers.
“So, what is this then?” she asked. “What happens now?”
“Now? We talk, just like the good old days. You used to get so excited when I would come home through that very door after being out for such a long time with the Brightbows. I must say that I feel that excitement now that it’s you who is coming home.”
He took a step forward. “Stop!” She warned.
“Very well.” He obliged. “Fiona I don’t want to hurt you. I never did. If the Vaentysh Boys have taught me anything it’s that blood is supremely important. You’re home now, and we’ve done Haygarden a great service by eliminating this Imperial snake.”
“If you’re really so proud why don’t we go up to Sandra Redfire and you can tell her everything that you’ve done?”
“Because Sandra Redfire is not going to rule here for much longer. The days of dukes and duchesses are gone. The days of the kings are dawning again.”
“You’re a lunatic.”
“There’s a place for you among us,” Rodrick said as if he hadn’t heard her. His voice was urgent, even pleading. Whatever else was going on Fiona knew he truly wanted her to join him. “Smiley was a boot-licker and as greedy as they come. But worst of all he worked in service to the Empire. Oh, and he was also a fool. He was going to double-cross you. You see, Smiley knew where I was all along. I was working with him.”
“I have some very serious doubts about that,” Fiona said. Why would Smiley work with Rodrick?
“Let me explain. You see, we paid him with gold stolen from the Merchant’s Guild after we robbed it two years ago. Surely you remember? Smiley was feeding us information about the Empire while lining his own pockets. That was one way we were able to evade capture. You see, this is why we’re destined to win Fiona. They don’t have values. They don’t believe in their cause. We do!”
“And what is your cause?” Fiona spat. “You’ve betrayed your post, your leader, and your city. So why don’t you tell me what you believe in?”
“The Vaentysh Boys.” He said it so immediately, with such conviction, that it sent a chill down her spine.
“And what of your convictions, little sister? What do you believe in? I have my answers but from where I’m standing you look as lost as a baker in a battle.”
The question was a kernel of doubt in her stomach, and suddenly Fiona’s mouth felt dry. Was it possible that Rodrick had a point? She worked so tirelessly to find her brother but she still didn’t know what might come after. Especially since her best hope of leaving Tellos was a corpse in a chair. She thought of the vision the Beast showed her, of Rodrick’s dead body.
“What of Donyo?” she asked, trying to change the subject. The room was growing cold. “Where is he?”
Rodrick smiled. “That’s alright, you take as much time as you need to think over that question. It’s an important one after all. As for your friend, he remains unharmed for now. I know the drunk means a lot to you so I spared his life as a courtesy.”
“You do see how insane this is, don’t you?” Fiona asked. “You do see that this can’t possibly end well.”
“I have the Tome Vaenti, Fiona. Do you know what that means…yes, you do. I can see it in your eyes. You’re not a fool like the rest of them. You understand the power that I control. And I also have this.”
He reached into his shirt and pulled out a dusty scroll.
“Your first good idea of the evening. You should write a strongly worded letter to Sandra Redfire if you find yourself unhappy with our current government institutions. I think you’ll find it much more satisfying than conspiracy and betrayal.”
“Mock me all you want Fiona. I know you’ve heard the architect has been up to some secret plot. This is the fruit of his labor.”
Fiona arched an eyebrow, uncertain if she should believe him. “Very well. What is it?”
“A magic scroll meant to thwart my efforts. He must have uncovered it while digging through the sewers long ago when he helped construct the passage to the Moonwood. It’s ancient Vaentysh writing, but the magic of it had long gone out. Until Donyo repaired it.”
It was so unbelievable that she snorted. “Are you trying to tell me that Donyo Brownwater, master drunk of Haygarden, is some sort of mage?”
“Far from it,” Rodrick admitted. “But he didn’t need magic to work on this. Just logic and math. There are calculations and formulas on here that even I can’t begin to understand. It is not a magic of power, but a magic of the ancient philosophers. But even if I don’t understand how he did it I know what this scroll does and I don’t need to understand more than that.”
“It’s supposed to create a magical portal to an inaccessible world. One that could contain even the most ancient and powerful magical forces. One that could contain, say, the Tome Vaenti. He thought to use this to take my toy away, you see. But as with most magic this one has a profound weakness. In that weakness I will find my greatest use for it. For all the magical power this scroll possesses, it is simple parchment. You see, Fiona, it burns.”
Rodrick uttered a single incomprehensible word and a ball of fire appeared in his hand. It consumed the scroll with savage fierceness and then puttered out of existence without leaving so much as a pile of ash behind.
“Donyo is going to be angry if he’s sober enough to remember making that.” She was desperately trying to keep her calm, but if what Rodrick had said about that scroll was true then something tragic had just happened.
“Haygarden is going to fall to me the way barbarians of this land fell to the Vaentysh kings so long ago. By right of conquest. That scroll was the only thing that could stop me. It was meant to destroy the Tome Vaenti, but now this sacred text is here to stay and with it I will wield the powers of a god.”
Rodrick opened the Tome and began chanting rhythmically. Fiona didn’t know what was happening, but she could feel the presence of a powerful magic, something old and dark that scared her to her core. A fleeting bizarre image of some ancestral sea demon flickered through her mind as quickly as the brief light of a struck match.
Acting on instinct she immediately reached inside herself for the manjeko, and the world turned grey.
* * *
Reality swarmed angrily around her. Rodrick was frozen in place, but the outline of his body was shimmering with a strange light, as if everything else in the room was real but he were only a mirage. She took a step forward and found that it was as difficult as if she were walking along the bottom of the ocean floor with iron boots.
“Fiona!”