Splintered Loyalties

by S. B. Sebrick

  The elements around the Pavilion shifted slightly as additional moisture seeped into the area. Every eye was fixed on the Malik and he was making sure, subtly, that his audience remembered his words well. Suddenly, despite only seeing glimmers of the Malik's cloud-like frame through his elemental vision, Keevan couldn't shake the feeling the Malik was staring directly at him. He relinquished his elemental vision, meeting Morgra's gaze with a nervous nod of acknowledgement.

  "With the loss of the Great Crystal, Issamere finds itself in dire straits," Malik Morgra said, stretching a plate mail covered arm out toward the city behind them. A thin streak of gold peaked up over the distant mountains, bathing the Etrendi District in morning light that had not yet reached the lower districts. "Without the crystal's protection, our people are more vulnerable to the elements than ever before, particularly to purpose fever or icing out. Floods and heavy rains have fallen un-tempered. Therefore, in order to better protect our people, the High Priestess, Lanasha Talivar and the High Priest, Pyran Ignius have agreed to assign the majority of their acolytes to key parts of the city. We will provide through elemental command, the protection the Gods gave us so generously through the Great Crystal."

  A murmur of agreement and knowing smiles passed through the Persuaders near the Pavilion, while the students with Keevan gasped and whispered in surprise. The Temples were heavily recruiting lately, now their reasoning was obvious. Keevan had seen through his elemental vision, the scope and full reach of the Great Crystal. To replace such a thing with hundreds of Tri-Beings, constantly charged with maintaining their emotions to a certain degree, seemed like a tall order. But the Malik's impressive display inspired one to believe such a course was quite possible.

  "Each Persuader student will be assigned a group of Suadans and Beletokans to patrol each morning or evening. You must ensure that they are keeping their assigned elements in check. Any cases in your assigned area of citizens icing out or suffering from purpose fever, will be considered your personal responsibility, and you will be brought before the appropriate Temple, along with the acolytes in question, for judgment."

  Malik Morgra continued speaking for a few more minutes, going into the history of the Temples and marking this time as a great era of cooperation between the Temples and the Malik. Keevan's thoughts wandered though, watching the Tri-Beings around him maintain their complete focus on the speaker. No one else likely heard the implications behind Morgra's words. They would assign temple acolytes under the watchful eyes of Persuader students along the streets of Issamere.

  The acolytes were the weakest of the Temple initiates, with either the shortest elemental fields or the weakest control. That meant the priests of the Temples, the true masters of the elements, were already assigned positions in the Etrendi District, ensuring far greater protection for the city's elite, than would be afforded the Haustran and Rhetan populations.

  For all the Malik's talk about protecting the populace, Keevan couldn't help but consider that mixing the temple's most experienced with their inept would offer the greatest opportunities for training and therefore protect more people. Not to mention granting equal protection to all citizens. The Malik's system guaranteed elemental protection among the elite, but left the poorer populations vulnerable. Anxiety coiled within Keevan. This was just the setup Zerik could take advantage of, if the rebel leader played his cards right.

  "Now, on top of watching your assigned acolytes, you will also report to the guard stations currently positioned over the various entrances to the catacombs beneath Issamere," The Malik continued, pulling Keevan's attention back to his words. "While the Watcher's defenses are out of commission, protecting our city from beneath falls to each of you. No one is permitted within those tunnels and anyone caught trespassing will be dealt with by their Head Persuader."

  Keevan stifled a gasp at that decision. A quick glance to either end of the row revealed no such discomfort from the other students. The Persuaders looked after the Malik's personal interests, or pursued serious criminals like murderers or smugglers. Assigning the Persuaders to dealing with the catacombs, rather than the city guards, implied the Malik expected to find something down there his personal agents needed to deal with. Were Zerik's men using the catacombs? What other reason would the Malik have for putting his own agents in those dark, lifeless tunnels?

  A sour realization settled over Keevan. The last few weeks of training had pushed him in so many ways and filled so much of his time, he'd fallen out of touch with the rest of Issamere. He watched Morgra with suspicion. Was this the Malik's plan? To busy the Sight Seeker to the point of exhaustion, so Keevan's elemental vision couldn't get in Morgra's way?

  "Lastly, before you disperse to your instructors for your assignments, I will call upon Keevan Stratagar. Rise, Outlander," Malik Morgra said, holding one arm aloft.

  Keevan, startled from his thoughts, bounced to his feet. He rose so fast, he smacked his shin against the chair of the student ahead of him. Hissing in pain, and trying to look as professional as possible while hobbling on one leg, he stood at attention.

  Malik Morgra grinned. "That's the kind of enthusiasm we need among the Persuaders, just don't injure yourselves too badly, or Issamere's enemies will have an easy time of you."

  A low chuckle rumbled through the crowd and Keevan felt his face getting hot with embarrassment, or perhaps the true cause was the growing heat in the air. The moment he stood, he felt many of the Tri-Beings around him glaring in dislike or in Merkim's case, hatred. So many people staring at him was so unusual, Keevan felt a strong urge to dip back into the elemental plane, to clearly read their emotions. However, with hundreds of Tri-Being eyes watching his every move, flaunting the very power the people feared seemed like a dangerous idea.

  "My trusted Persuaders and their students," The Malik continued, once the laughter had settled. "This Sight Seeker will be in charge of using his views of the elemental plane to watch over Issamere's lower districts from this very spot. If you are lax in your duties to keep your charges in check, it will be as clear to the Outlander as if you were visibly sleeping on the job. Let that knowledge motivate you to give these new duties your best efforts. Issamere trusts you with her safe keeping, may the love of Suada watch over you and the strength of Beletok protect you."

  Keevan risked a glance in either direction, the demeanor of his peers hadn't improved. If anything, they were worse now. The last thing the Harbor Guild students wanted to hear was that the Outlander they were taught from birth to hate, was their new boss. He reached down and felt the satchel of Dancia powder still hanging from his waist. Persuader Madol must have known of these new responsibilities and moved to arm Keevan in advance, somewhat.

  Malik Morgra sat down, replaced by the Suadan High Priestess. Her dress' many loops hung lifelessly around her, the moisture in the air held in place by the Malik. "Now, all of you will meet with your trainers for your assignments along your various districts. You start at first light, so make sure to visit your acolytes and guards on duty before returning to your regular classes this morning."

  Slowly, one row at a time, each group of Persuaders rose and accepted their assignments and badges of office. Keevan couldn't shake the suspicion that Morgra's best Persuaders and the Temples' best priests were strictly working among the Etrendi, leaving the rest of the city in the hands of the less adept acolytes. He couldn't decide if the decision was a sign of great trust in the weaker Tri-Beings, or a hint of even greater incompetency on the part of the Malik. At least Keevan knew enough to keep such thoughts to himself.

  "This is the last thing we need," Urien whispered. "Between studying Issamere's laws, Persuader's training, combat practice and this, when exactly am I supposed to sleep and eat?"

  "Too bad you didn't sleep walk as a child," Keevan chuckled, "perhaps you could train yourself to sleep and eat at the same time. I heard of a blacksmith at the forger's district with such an affliction, he never stops to eat lunch because of the sheer volume he consumes
in his sleep each night."

  "Fat lot of good that does me," Urien grumbled, flexing his meaty hands into fists. "If I catch even one of Zerik's rebels, I'll make him pay for every sleepless night. If it weren't for them, we'd be resting right now, and our biggest worry would be passing Master Hadrian's sparing test."

  "Now, we have to keep these acolytes in line," Keevan said with a nervous gulp. "I'd hate to find out what kind of punishment the Council would cook up for us, if purpose fever hits our districts."

  "Exactly," Urien echoed, snapping his fingers. "I feel like if so much as one acolyte is caught asleep at his post, I'm the one getting punished. How is that fair?"

  "It's not," Keevan agreed, "but it does provide motivation."

  "Indeed."

  Chapter 6

  After a few more minutes, their turn arrived. Keevan's row stood and filed to the right, circling around the array of empty chairs toward the pavilion, Merkim and his cousins leading the way. They shot sour glances in Keevan's direction as they filed ahead. Two servants accompanied Lanasha on the pavilion, wooden boxes in hand. The Suadan High Priestess withdrew a badge, accepting each Persuader's salute of office as he interlocked his fingers and bowed in turn, before pinning the insignia to each Persuader's collar.

  Not for the first time, Keevan noticed the lack of women among their ranks, making a mental note to bring up the subject with Persuader Madol later. Surely Malik Morgra had use for any loyal Tri-being, their gender notwithstanding. After all, without Bahjal's help, Keevan would not have survived his last encounter with Zerik's associates.

  The last few badges were given in silence, as they received their marks of office and met with their trainers waiting on the other side of the pavilion. Keevan spotted Hadrian's hulking frame looming up above the rest of the instructors. At least, the broad shouldered Rhetan wasn't hard to find.

  "It's been a while, Keevan," Lanasha said, pulling out a badge. For the first time, he got a close look at them. Each one held an engraving of a bird flying before the Suadan temple, a sea hawk with blue eyes.

  "High Priestess," Keevan echoed reverently, interlocking his fingers and bowing respectfully. He owed her his life, after a fashion. Without her intervention a month previous, the former Harbor Master would have slaughtered Bahjal and Keevan after they beat his test. "It is an honor to see you, as always."

  "Today, the honor is mine, dear boy," Lanasha said soberly, pinning the badge on Keevan's collar. Before he could question her reasoning, she pointed toward the lower districts of Issamere behind him. "Much of our hopes rest on your shoulders. The Malik would like a word with you."

  Even as she spoke the words, Keevan's anxiety settled in his stomach. There was something more to all of this, some purpose he couldn't put his finger on. But he was sure Merkim and his friends wouldn't take kindly to Keevan's sudden 'promotion', with most of Issamere following suite. Even as he stepped out of the line he could feel the eyes of students and Persuaders alike, few were kind.

  The Malik stood in the middle of the pavilion, facing the cliff's edge. His black robes hung loosely in the morning breeze, steel plate mail peeking out with every strong gust. The Malik didn't wear a sword, or a weapon of any kind, he didn't need any. Keevan walked alongside him, trying very hard not to envision how easily the Malik could incinerate him at will.

  "How can I be of service, honored Malik?" Keevan offered.

  "Honored Malik? Call me Morgra, you've earned that much," The Malik ordered, glancing Keevan's way with a warm smile. Keevan was surprised at how young Morgra looked, perhaps in his mid-thirties. Most Tri-Beings lived for a century before rising to the rank of High Priest or Councilor. The fact this Tri-Being achieved the rank of Malik at such a young age was reason indeed to heed his words.

  "Yes, Morgra," Keevan answered numbly. "I... was under the impression that after the Great Crystal was destroyed, I'd fallen out of favor with certain Etrendi."

  "I didn't say you'd earned my friendship, or even my trust, yet," Morgra said with a chuckle, stroking his clean shaven chin with a mailed hand. Keevan noticed that the palm of the gauntlet opened up to bare skin, but he restrained his curiosity. "But I've high hopes for you. In time, I think you can repay Issamere for the reckless way you dealt with the rebel, Kors."

  "I'm happy to serve however I can," Keevan offered, tugging at the collar of his uniform as the air turned hot and muggy. Morgra's influence kept this portion of the garden amply heated and Keevan's own anxiety wasn't helping. "How can I help?"

  "Just watch the lower districts with me, for a moment," Morgra ordered, his gaze still fixed on the sweeping view of Issamere's eastern half. "All these people trust me to watch over and protect them, at least, those who aren't already conspiring with my enemies. You will help maintain that protection, and watch over the city while we recover from the loss of the Great Crystal."

  "How?" Keevan asked cautiously. "I can't even light a candle without help."

  "A bit late to be playing the helpless card, isn't it?" Morgra echoed dangerously. "You circumvented the Watcher and broke the Great Crystal. Half my Council suspects you of colluding with Zerik. I just think you're unlucky, but if you are to prove your worth to me, you must do your part here."

  "And that is?" Keevan asked, staring out over Issamere for some clue. The sleeping city, gently stirring from its slumber, offered no clues. His thoughts wandered to the starving Rhetans and their families. Without the Great Crystal's elemental influence, Issamere was more vulnerable than ever before.

  The rising sun peaked out over the eastern mountains, bathing the tips of the Suadan, Beletokan and Rhetan Temples in golden light. Immediately, a thousand elemental fields sprang to life around the city's lower districts.

  Some were weak, only reaching across a couple rooftops, others managed to cover half a city block. They sparkled with red and blue energy as their combined fields stretched out into the night sky, warding away moisture and drawing in heat. In the distance, Keevan recognized the faint glimmer of Danica, at the heart of each elemental field. The sheer cost of so many Danica tools left Keevan speechless.

  Morgra glanced at Keevan, grunting in satisfaction at the look on the Outlander's face. "The temples have been recruiting and training all month to acquire enough acolytes to pull this off. With the winter storms only months away, we'll need every able bodied Suadan and Beletokan ready to protect Issamere from the elements."

  "You want me to overlook all of them," Keevan said, his mind struggling to keep up with the full implications of his new charge. "I'll be able to tell you exactly which districts are best protected-"

  "And which acolytes aren't doing their duty," Morgra cut in. He patted Keevan's shoulder roughly. "I must admit, the loss of the Great Crystal was a difficult burden to bear, but I believe the people will become stronger for it. With this many Acolytes on hand, we'll be able to counter any enemy incursions with ease. At least, the enemies waiting beyond our walls."

  "Are you thanking me for damaging the Great Crystal?" Keevan asked.

  "Not quite," Morgra laughed, "Let's just say, I want you to learn, as I have, how to make the best of difficult circumstances."

  Keevan recalled the faces of the starving twins from the previous day. He didn't think Issamere was 'making the best' of anything, the Etrendi perhaps, but the Rhetans were far from safe. Surely, Morgra was aware of such strife, how could he not be? Did he just not care? Was he just like the Etrendi at large, purely focused on their own selfish ends?

  "This is an impressive effort, on the part of the temples," Keevan said, glancing over at the small army of Persuaders now dissipating through the garden's various paths. Morgra at least was indeed making the most of the situation. If the Malik played his cards right, he'd have the most accurate records of the Temples' elemental capabilities since Issamere was first founded.

  Keevan wasn't just repaying Issamere by babysitting the acolytes, he was repaying Morgra by helping him identify the Temple's strongest members. "But do y
ou think it will be enough to stop the flooding further inland?"

  "How'd you hear about that?" Malik Morgra asked, anger smoldering in his voice, "I understand Persuaders Hadrian and Madol have kept you rather busy."

  "Rumors I picked up," Keevan answered innocently.

  "Rumors I've tried to keep quiet," Malik Morgra countered.

  "Rumors then? Or fact?"

  Malik Morgra sighed in resignation. "I should know better than to keep truths from a Sight Seeker. I've considered sending a detachment of acolytes and Priests into the mountains above our farmlands, but the terrain is too vast even for the Great Crystal to cover. Here, Issamere bottlenecked the moisture washing in from the sea. To be honest, I doubt this force we see now will be enough to replace it. We may reduce the severity of the flooding, that is all."

  From his position on the pavilion, Keevan couldn't see Morgra's face, nor did the Malik ever make eye contact with Keevan throughout the conversation. The combination sent a chill of unease through Keevan's mind, even though Morgra's words were as warm and forgiving as one could hope, given the circumstances.

  "So, how is Issamere going to survive?" Keevan asked.

  "We have strong connections with the Harbor Guild," Morgra said, "They can keep us fed, in part on fish and mostly on trade goods until next spring. Granted, it will be an expensive venture. If they're ambitious enough, they may even demand we release the former Harbor Master, Derone Radahn from the dungeons."

  Keevan gulped at that prospect. He could only imagine the vendetta Derone would lay to Keevan upon his release. Had Keevan barely managed to survive Kors, only to find another dangerous enemy lying in wait? Suddenly, his trouble on the sparing pads with Merkim seemed a trifle thing indeed, when compared to his memory of Derone's lightning bolt.