Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “And, what are your conclusions, Officer Paden?” the woman – Governor Aranka – asked.

  “According to officer Efisio, a Medathero drinker, and officer Zeta, a Kazofen drinker, the port city on Yihartec Island was properly constructed. Fantine was there during our investigation, and we informed her that she was not at fault. An external force acted upon the city, causing it to shatter,” Paden said.

  “The central bank may or may not continue its business relationship with Fantine, if we need more of her architectural and construction services. However, what of this external force? Any threat against the central bank’s assets concerns me greatly. What explanation can you provide, Officer Paden?” Governor Aranka asked.

  “We do not have an explanation, Governor Aranka,” Paden said.

  “Then your investigative work is incomplete, Officer Paden. This underperformance will be reflected in your payment,” Governor Aranka said.

  CHAPTER 5: Dynasty of Knowledge and Madness

  Polyxene altered the crystal structure of her diamond armor to create an aperture around her mouth. Through this opening, she drank a new potion of highly purified Kazofen Ocean waters from her vial. Then, she sealed the aperture once again, fully protecting herself from the flow of time because of the temporal refraction induced by those modified gems which encased her body. Four million three hundred thousand (4300000) years of experience, knowledge and skill were just the beginning, and she had a determination stronger than even diamond to live without end.

  Next, she glided across the crystal floor of her fortress toward a six (6) foot wide circular basin with walls three (3) feet high, wherein she kept the one hundred seven (107) yellow-green gems remaining from among those she recently acquired. These gems were a hazard, a mystery and an opportunity all at once. If she could discover the correct way to manipulate them – without releasing energy too quickly and creating a concussive blast so powerful that it endangered her – she could split the Dead Waters and release their power. That was the claim, and it was her intention to achieve the same benefits. Every failed experiment wasted more of the yellow-green gems, however, and her limited supply limited her options.

  Polyxene reached into the basin and took hold of three (3) of the yellow-green gems. She applied her powers to examine these unusual objects closely. Although her entire body – and, therefore, her fingers – was inside the diamond armor and touched only those diamonds, she was able to act through this crystal encasement. She subtly vibrated the structure of the armor and connected with the yellow-green gems separated from her fingers by the thin yet extraordinarily powerful diamonds to which she owed her longevity. She inspected the low-level structure of the yellow-green gems and probed for regularities she understood and found some. Yet, she found so much more that she could not comprehend. These were not citrine, amethyst, zircon, beryl, topaz, opal, quartz, diamond, ruby, emerald, sapphire, onyx, aquamarine, garnet, or any other gemstone with which she was familiar. These yellow-green gems were not even combinations thereof, which would have been quite recognizable and modifiable, no matter how complex. They defied her attempts to understand them, which was infuriating.

  She wished she had a lover, though she only ever used her companions to manipulate them into useful services. But if she did have a lover – someone for whom she truly cared – she would have strangled and murdered him right now just to release her burning rage over her inability to decipher the structure of the yellow-green gems. Love was trash to her – the ultimate distraction. Power over the waters – and over crystals – was everything. The Kazofen Ocean was worth more than blood and she cherished it. She loved it. That ocean was her only true companion, and she constructed her fortress within this mountain surrounded by that vast supply of nectar, giving her endless access to its wealth of power.

  Polyxene lamented that she could not partake of the other oceans, yet she was faced with the same choice as everyone else. Kazofen was the finest choice and gave the greatest advantages – crystals could do nearly anything, and she could mold them into myriad shapes for nearly any imaginable task. They could contain images, harness sunlight, bend sound, reveal secrets hidden in darkness, refract time, resist impact and even entrap spirits. That last ability might just be the key to meeting her needs once again. She glided across the crystal floor of her fortress toward the first ruby spire wherein there was a familiar, swirling blackness.

  “Evethixomar! Stand at attention to receive your orders!” she said.

  The swirling blackness in the first ruby spire came to a standstill in response to her words.

  “I have a new mission for you,” Polyxene said.

  “What will you have me do this time?” the voice of Evethixomar asked, vibrating through the structure of the first ruby spire that was his prison. His voice was angry and he did not hesitate to demonstrate his discontent. He resented this mortal woman – however ancient and powerful she might be – for entrapping and subjugating him. Demons worked to corrupt and destroy mortals, yet this woman got the better of him, limiting his opportunities. His greatest delight was bringing ruin to mortal men and women, as well as tempting the occasional weak-willed or selfish angel to give in to his false promises of freedom and glory. Encased as he was, these pleasures were no longer within reach unless his jailer permitted them.

  “I have a little war for you to wage,” Polyxene said.

  “It will be my pleasure! Please do tell me more!” the voice of Evethixomar said excitedly and delightedly, through the first ruby spire.

  “Find a great warrior – brave to the point of arrogance, bold enough to lead an army and strong enough to succeed in battle,” Polyxene said.

  “There are many such warriors to choose from. Who do you want them to attack?” the voice of Evethixomar asked through the first ruby spire.

  “I want this warrior to lead an assault on the castle of Lunete Bazavador, which stands on Mezkarilith Island in the Dead Waters Ocean,” Polyxene said.

  “I know where the castle is. I know the warrior to send. The castle walls will fall and the enemy will be eliminated completely,” the voice of Evethixomar said through the first ruby spire.

  “Only if I wish for it to be so, and I do not. This is a small scale war, and the victory conditions are quite different from what you might expect. This warrior is to demand entrance into the castle, and to be wed to Lunete of Bazavador. He will produce an heir by through their marriage,” Polyxene said.

  “Do you really believe that the marriage will proceed in the way you describe? Do you not know that Lunete of Bazavador is a madwoman who sacrifices her new husbands on their wedding nights before creating portraits of their corpses?” the voice of Evethixomar asked through the first ruby spire.

  “Yes, I know! That is why this is a war, you pathetic little demon! Lunete’s soldiers are numerous, highly trained and have strict orders to battle against this attempt by your warrior. They will not allow him to actually consummate the marriage. No man has ever touched her intimately. The first who does so will rule her castle and the powers within it, which extend far beyond the island. I know these things because I have my sources. Do not question me on this matter,” Polyxene said.

  “This is a challenge, then. I accept it. I have a powerful warrior in mind who will sail across the oceans to meet with Lunete of Bazavador and join with her to produce an heir,” the voice of Evethixomar said through the first ruby spire.

  “I await the results,” Polyxene said.

  ~~~

  Despite his encasement within the ruby spire, Evethixomar had influence and power within the spirit world sufficient to command lesser demons and evil spirits to do his bidding. He issued orders to them and they worked to influence mortals in far off places.

  ~~~

  In the central eastern coast of the continent of Waderav, Duke Lodovico stood in a field outside of his castle, facing two (2) brigades of his soldiers, each having five thousand (5000) warriors, all drinkers of the waters of the N
abavodel Ocean. A small man stood next to the duke, awaiting instructions.

  Duke Lodovico addressed his troops, saying: “I thank you, each and every one, for your service, enforcing my laws, ensuring taxes are collected from the farmers and miners in my villages and the adjoining villages of other dukes, barons and counts. They are so pathetic, and surrender their harvest so easily, however, that I am disappointed. Not in you, of course. I am disappointed in myself. I haven’t expanded my territory quickly enough. I haven’t taken enough from the weaklings who surround us. I haven’t led you into enough battles to conquer what so rightly belongs to each of us. This lack of expansion is not for fatigue – never that. The ‘tiger waters’ flow through each of us. Nor is it for contentment – that is too far off. There is so much more land to conquer that we can never be satisfied. Even if we take all of Waderav, the world is so much larger. Rather, we need a greater challenge – a conquest worthy of our power. There are only so many peasants to beat, bruise and tear into bloody shreds before the others simply surrender to our demands. This is hardly a test of our strength, and gives us so little for our time. You see, time is what we lack. Not strength. Not determination. It all comes down to time. It’s always that. Our greatest enemy is time. There simply isn’t time enough to seize the wealth all around us. We need to pursue larger prey. Killing a few villagers wins us a village. What do we have now? Thirteen thousand five hundred twenty-nine (13529) villages, by my last count. Perhaps five (5) square miles each. That only sounds like a lot, but it really isn’t. Only two (2) of my brigades stand before me. Four (4) more brigades are marching under my second in command, General Arawn. What will he bring us? Will it be enough? He will succeed and bring us something – of that I am certain. Yet, it won’t be enough. Of that, I am also certain. Why? Because of time. We simply need more time to take more land and achieve all that we can. There is so much more each of us has to offer. What next? How quickly? Where? When? These are the pressing questions.”

  Duke Lodovico drank anew of the waters of the Nabavodel Ocean from his vial and was energized with the powers of speed and strength. He savored the feeling, knowing that he was ready to tear through powerful enemies, or the all too numerous and unchallenging weak ones. He was forty-four (44) years old yet he often felt like he did when he was twenty-one (21). Killing was ever the pleasure, though conquest and expansion of his territory was his greatest joy. He wanted the world – farms, pastures, mines, lakes and rivers, forests, swamps and deserts were valuable and he craved it all. The oceans themselves were the greatest wealth, if only because they gave him and his soldiers the power to take the land. He then turned to the small man standing next to him and asked: “Do you hear me, Camillo? Do you have answers to any of these questions?”

  Camillo drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from his vial and was energized. He reached into the spirit world, searching for answers of any kind that might please Duke Lodovico. He feared the man’s temper and wanted to placate him. A powerful spiritual entity spoke into the spirit of Camillo and said: “Take your army to the Dead Waters Ocean. On Mezkarilith Island, you will find the castle of Lunete of Bazavador. Your master, Duke Lodovico, is to enter the castle and be wed to Lunete. He must consummate the union and produce an heir through that woman. The resistance will be great; yet, through the union, your territory will be expanded, for the island holds authority over many powers far beyond its limits.”

  “Well, do you have answers, Camillo? Our troops are waiting. I am waiting. The world is waiting,” Duke Lodovico said.

  “I do, my lord. In the Dead Waters Ocean lies Mezkarilith Island. There you will find the castle of Lunete of Bazavador. You are to enter the castle, wed Lunete and consummate the union, producing an heir. By this, you will gain control over the castle, which confers authority over powers extending beyond the limits of the island,” Camillo said.

  “How do you know this, Camillo?” Duke Lodovico asked.

  “A spirit spoke to me,” Camillo said.

  “Let me understand this, Camillo. You are telling me that we need to go to that island, enter that castle and I am to wed this Lunete of Bazavador and she will give birth to my heir? And this will give me authority over the castle and the powers it contains and authority that extends outside the island?” Duke Lodovico asked.

  “Yes, my lord. That is what the spirit said,” Camillo said.

  “Why should I believe this? And what powers and authority does this castle provide? Is this worth my time, Camillo? Do you remember what I said about time?” Duke Lodovico asked.

  “I have the assurance of the spirit,” Camillo said.

  Duke Lodovico considered this and said: “We will go to this castle, and this woman will be my wife. I will have relations with her and she will produce an heir. If the reward is worth my time, then you will be rewarded, Camillo. I am trusting you, little man. Tell me that you are certain this is worth my time. Swear to me. If you have doubts, just admit them, and I will not hold you to this promise. If you say you are certain, then I will judge you by it.”

  “I am certain, my lord. I do not speak with all spirits, but only those who have knowledge,” Camillo said. He was sixty-one (61) years old and deathly afraid for his future. He neither married nor had children because of his illness which left him too weak to work. The Zovvin waters were forced on him by his mother who used him to consult spirits and put hexes on her enemies. The Trerada waters would have restored his health, but the old woman had no concern for that. He was bitter over her mistreatment, but too loyal and sympathetic to fight back against his own mother. When she died, he was already fifty-three (53) and too old to do even simple physical tasks. It hurt him to stand for long, as his back ached and his knees and ankles were sore at all times. His only companions were spirits and he used them to find useful bits of information, which were mostly warnings of the next attack by a robber baron, so that he could hide. Camillo sometimes used the spirits to learn where he could go to find the coin purses hidden in the homes of the recently dead. He never stole, but begging didn’t work, so his sustenance came with difficulty and he paid for food with the found coins.

  “We will go at once. I have ships waiting along the coast. Eastward face! Forward march!” Duke Lodovico shouted, directing his troops. He led the way, with Camillo hobbling by his side.

  ~~~

  Polyxene glided across the crystal floor of her fortress toward the fourth ruby spire. Within was another, familiar swirling blackness.

  “Havatissa! Stand at attention!” Polyxene said.

  The swirling blackness in the fourth ruby spire halted its movements in response to her words.

  “I have another assignment for you,” Polyxene said.

  “It will pleassse me to ssserve you, my lady,” the voice of Havatissa said through the fourth ruby spire.

  “You have many servants who willingly serve you in exchange for promises of power. Within the castle of Lunete of Bazavador, on Mezkarilith Island in the Dead Waters Ocean, you are to offer an exchange with one of her servants. Lunete has considerable wealth hidden inside of her castle, and her courtiers would steal it were it not for their fear of the soldiers or the woman herself. You are to provide one of these servants with protection, in exchange for a small portion of that wealth. I am looking for something specific: the lightkeeper crystals she holds, which I am certain are of greater value than anything else she possesses. The soldiers will soon be distracted, so this servant needs only to wait for the crucial moment and take hold of what I want,” Polyxene said.

  “Like alwaysss, I am delighted to meet your needsss,” the voice of Havatissa said through the fourth ruby spire.

  ~~~

  Standing on the northern coast of Mezkarilith Island in the Dead Waters Ocean, the castle of Lunete of Bazavador was a quintet of towers, each being one hundred sixty-nine (169) feet in height, ninety-one (91) feet in diameter and joined by walls fifty-two (52) feet high, twenty-six (26) feet thick and seventy-eight (78) feet
in length. Each of the walls contained pentagonal corridors, six (6) feet on each side, connecting the towers.

  Inside the highest room of the northwestern tower, Lady Lunete arranged the severed limbs and head of her most recent husband on the stone floor. She carefully oriented the head to face upward so that the stunned and agonized facial expression was clear to see. Lunete held a blank lightkeeper crystal up to the window and the light of the many suns shone through, capturing an image of the dismembered body into the gem’s facets. The lightkeeper crystal also caught an image of Lunete, dressed in her black-and-red wedding gown, which was covered in symbols depicting gravestones and skulls interlocked like wedding bands. She exited the room and walked down the stairs to the first floor of the tower. There, she met with her assistants – a tall man and a very emaciated woman with a contorted face.

  The tall man was covered in carefully sculpted scars whose curved lines spelled out the names of Lunete’s favorite husbands.

  “Did your husband make for a handsome portrait, my lady? I will carve his name into my skin if he did,” the tall man asked.

  “He was adequate, but nothing special, Kauko. I’m looking forward to someone much more attractive, bold and brave,” Lunete said.

  “In time, you will find another brave and worthy man, no doubt,” the tall man – Kauko – said. He was twenty-nine (29) years old and very much desirous of Lunete for himself. However, he didn’t care for her terms and conditions of marriage. All men, so far, died rather than consummating the union. He wanted to be the man who lived and felt the pleasure of her body.

  “I would like a husband, my lady. I don’t need much,” the emaciated woman said.

  “What man would ever want you, Torhilda? You’re hideous beyond belief. A man would have to die before seeing you, or he would die immediately thereafter,” Lunete said.