by Jeremy Dwyer
“Duchess, prepare to resist the poison by slowing time within you. Then, drink of it,” Kastor said to Duchess Sarita.
Duchess Sarita exercised her powers to slow time. She then drank the vial of poison and her throat started to burn. Her skin turned pale and her blood flow slowed. Her skin became necrotic, her heart stopped and her thoughts ceased. She was dead in a matter of ninety (90) seconds.
“Slowing time did not slow the poison. That is highly effective…and cause for concern. We must be cautious,” Kastor said. He became more fearful, because his only defense – the slowing of time – would not protect him from the lethal toxin.
“That is impressive. The cardinal mixed the ingredients expertly. The poison is just as lethal as crixalethicis, and even faster acting. All that remains is to have him make more,” Erikkos said.
“Not too much more,” Kastor said.
“The poison is no threat to us, Kastor, unless we drink it. We didn’t come this far to fail, or to succeed and then surrender out of fear of our own power,” Erikkos said.
“Continue mixing the poison, Cardinal. Afterwards, you are to begin work on making an antidote. We can’t be too careful,” Kastor said.
Cardinal Briar-Malgier continued mixing ingredients and filling with poison all four hundred fifteen (415) of the vials brought to him by the combatants under Lieutenant Plamen’s command. When the mixing was completed, the innermost group of one hundred four (104) warriors each held four (4) vials of poison, except for a single warrior who held only three (3).
Judith recorded all of this into her book, including a description of the grisly murder and the fact that the woman known as Duchess Sarita wore a vial marked with the symbol denoting Ursegan waters. That did not prove she had a pure potion of them, or that she had a recent drink of them. It didn’t even prove that the duchess had the proper waterbinding, and it was also possible that the symbol carved onto the vial was a deception to conceal her true waterbinding. Judith only wrote observable facts, but had strong suspicions that the situation was every bit as dire as it looked, meaning that the poison’s lethal action could not easily be slowed, if at all.
CHAPTER 42: Schemes of Lust and Greed
In the Scholar’s Path land bridge, in the Port of Hithagredil, a complex of stone and wood buildings comprised the administrative division of the city.
The central structure was a square stone building measuring six hundred thirty-two (632) feet in width and length and seventy-nine (79) feet in height. The offices within were occupied by clerical staff, merchants, bankers, labor union bosses and guild masters bickering and bartering over interest rates, industry prices and material costs. The largest office belonged to Mayor Langford and the door was closed.
Mayor Langford’s office was twenty-two (22) feet in width and length and eight (8) feet in height. Bookcases filled with stacks of papers lined the walls except for the narrow door to the west. Langford sat on the leather chair behind his cluttered desk, wearing only a bracelet with thirty-six (36) diamonds embedded in it. He enjoyed intense carnal relations with the woman who straddled him. After they achieved climax, the woman dressed and another woman undressed, sat down with the mayor and took him into herself to enjoy. After Langford pleasured that woman, she dismounted and dressed again. The mayor then dressed himself.
“You’re wonderful as usual, Mayor Langford. And so handsome and generous,” the first woman said.
“You deserve the best, Zenaida. And the best is me,” Mayor Langford said.
“You give me so, so much. But I want even more,” the second woman said.
“I’ll do anything for you, Meliora. I’m ready now,” Mayor Langford said.
“Anything?” the second woman – Meliora – asked.
“Would you do anything for me?” the first woman – Zenaida – asked.
“Of course I would, Zenaida. Are you ready?” Mayor Langford asked.
“I’m so ready, Mayor. I’m ready for you to sign these,” Zenaida said as she opened a folder on the mayor’s desk and pushed it toward him.
“What’s this, Zenaida?” Mayor Langford asked when he saw the stack of papers in the folder.
“Just the usual – approvals for the exchange rates for precious gems,” Zenaida said.
Mayor Langford took the pen from his desk and signed seventy-three (73) sheets of paper as quickly as possible.
“Thank you, Mayor,” Zenaida said as she closed the folder and took it.
“Will you sign my papers, Mayor?” Meliora asked as she opened a different folder on the mayor’s desk and pushed it toward him.
“What are these for, Meliora?” Mayor Langford asked when he saw the stack of papers in that folder.
“It’s just the approval for the audits of shipping containers,” Meliora said.
“That’s a big job. It’s done already?” Mayor Langford asked.
“It is a big job, Mayor. But don’t worry, it’s all done. I made sure everything was in the right place and every container was filled just like I expected. I just need you to sign here to give your approval,” Meliora said.
“You have my approval, Meliora. Every time we’re close together, things are in the right place, and I approve,” Mayor Langford said. He used the pen and began to sign the stack of two hundred forty-nine (249) papers as quickly as he could. He was visibly frustrated by the effort and said: “There’s so much here. This will take a while.”
“Just work as fast and as hard as you can, Mayor. I want it all. I want it now. Keep going until the end,” Meliora said.
Just as Mayor Langford finished signing the papers, Meliora closed the folder and took it.
“If that’s everything, I hope you’re both ready to take a lunch break,” Mayor Langford said.
“I’m saving my appetite for the party at the governor’s mansion tonight,” Zenaida said.
“It’s going to be so much fun. The governor’s parties are the best. Lots of rich, handsome men go there,” Meliora said.
“And so many lonely ladies,” Zenaida said.
“You’re not lonely, Zenaida,” Mayor Langford said.
“Not if you’re around,” Zenaida said.
“You enjoyed our time together, Meliora. Do you expect to find somebody more handsome or satisfying than me?” Mayor Langford asked.
“A woman needs to be sure she has the best. Of course, if you’re there, I’m sure the other men will have to wait in line for the ladies they want,” Meliora said.
“I’ll be at the party. You know that,” Mayor Langford said.
“Don’t keep us waiting. I don’t want to have too much fun without you,” Meliora said.
“You’re better than the competition…when you’re there,” Zenaida said.
“In a few hours, I’m done work. Then, I’ll go right there,” Mayor Langford said.
“We have to be going,” Zenaida said.
“And you know what you have to be doing, Mayor Langford,” Meliora said.
~~~
Zenaida and Meliora opened the office door and left. They exited the building and paid for transport on a riverboat heading south through the land bridge’s interior.
Inside their private cabin, Meliora drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from her vial and was energized with the power to manipulate crystals and stones. She pulled a pair of crystals from her coat pocket. With the first, she examined the low-level structure and said: “We’re still safe. The repair I made to the telepathic blocker crystal held tight.”
“Why did it crack?” Zenaida asked.
“I still haven’t figured that out. The diamond purity was high and there was no sign of extreme cold or heat. It wasn’t a sonic impact, because that would leave an audio waveform pattern in the fracture,” Meliora said.
“What about the sound dampening crystal?” Zenaida asked.
Meliora examined the low-level structure of the second crystal and said: “That one held together just fine – there was never any damage to it.
I keep them together all the time, so I can’t explain the difference.”
“If you keep them together, can’t a harder crystal scratch a softer one?” Zenaida asked.
“The hardness is identical. The structural differences that give them different functions aren’t related to the hardness at all. Shallow surface scratches wouldn’t even make a difference if they did happen, and they didn’t happen. The fracture was deep and affected the interior low-level structure, where the energy is reshaped, scaled and redirected,” Meliora said.
“As long as we’re safe at the moment, I’ll cool down and review the documents,” Zenaida said.
“Cool down? I’m already over him,” Meliora said.
“Really? He was good. I need it every now and then, and he sure delivers,” Zenaida said.
“I only enjoy it when I like a man. Langford’s just a beast,” Meliora said.
“Sometimes, I need a beast,” Zenaida said.
“He’s better than nothing, but I forget him as soon as it’s over,” Meliora said.
“It’s not that easy for me. I have to forget about him and get to work,” Zenaida said. She drank anew of the waters of the Medathero Ocean from her vial and was energized with the power of calm, rational thought. She focused on reading the exchange rate documents that Mayor Langford had signed and making careful calculations. “These exchange rates should be enough to perturb the markets and decrease the Jenaldej Empire’s profits another two point three (2.3) percent over the next year,” she said.
“How about the shipping container audits? Can you review those now?” Meliora asked.
“Sure. Let me take a look,” Zenaida said.
Meliora handed over the folder containing the audits.
Zenaida reviewed the documents quickly and precisely, focusing on the numbers and rapidly calculating totals, averages and variances. “This is correct. The discrepancies are large enough to offset the infusion of variable gems, prior to their expansion,” she said.
“Mayor Langford signed every paper, right?” Meliora asked.
“I didn’t see any missed signature lines,” Zenaida said.
“Good. Neither did I. Now that the official documentation for the infusion is complete and signed off, we won’t need him anymore,” Meliora said.
“Maybe not as the mayor,” Zenaida said.
“There are other men to fill your time and space. We need Langford dead so he can’t tell the little bit that he knows,” Meliora said.
“Can’t we just tie him up in a cabin somewhere and let him do the only thing he’s good at?” Zenaida asked.
“If anyone finds Langford and reads his thoughts, that will lead them to us. That’s why I gave him the diamond bracelet – it has thirty-six (36) telepathic blocker crystals on it, and he can wear it all the time, playing or working,” Meliora said.
“What’s there to worry about, then?” Zenaida asked.
“Forget Langford. Find yourself a bed warmer at the party tonight if that’s what you need. Plenty of brainless Trerada drinkers will be there. A few of them can keep you occupied,” Meliora said.
“I’m definitely ready to play again,” Zenaida said.
“Save it for tonight,” Meliora said.
~~~
Akylas steered the Resolute Traverser into the Port of Hithagredil and pulled levers to drop the anchor and extend the boarding ramp.
“Akylas, I suggest that you, Akantha and Torin stay with the ship. Fritz, Massimo and Jolene should come with me and investigate,” Captain Pradrock said.
“Sounds like a plan,” Akylas said.
~~~
Captain Pradrock exited the wheelhouse, followed by Fritz, Massimo and Jolene. “We’re going to have to ask some uncomfortable questions, and verify the answers,” Pradrock said.
“If they know the answers, I’ll find them,” Jolene said. She drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from her vial and was energized with the powers of telepathy and empathy.
“Even if they don’t know the answers, we have to find them. I’ll investigate the gem structure, to find the counterfeits,” Fritz said. He drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from his vial and was energized with the power to manipulate crystals and stones.
“The answers may be hidden. Thieves hide in the darkness. I will shed light on them,” Massimo said. He drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial and was energized with the powers of light and far sight.
“We’re dealing with fraud, which may not be immediately obvious. This city is governed by the central bank. If they’re counterfeiting gems, they are likely falsifying financial records and economic models. That will take some analysis,” Captain Pradrock said. He drank anew of the waters of the Medathero Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power of calm, rational thought. He led the way down the boarding ramp and into the port town toward a large building complex that served as the administrative division of the city.
Hundreds of people were moving away from the building complex and boarding dozens of riverboats. Jolene listened to their thoughts as well as the chatter. “They’re going to a party, at the mansion of Governor Marijus,” she said.
“That’s a big party, judging by the crowd. I count over fifteen hundred seventy-three (1573) people,” Massimo said.
“We should go with them. The governor is ultimately responsible for the financial activity in all the port cities of this land bridge and that of the ships passing through. His guests are likely to include the powerful, influential people, including the mayors of the port towns,” Captain Pradrock said.
“We didn’t receive invitations,” Fritz said.
“We did receive a shipment of precious gems that was improperly documented. That is more than an inconvenience, considering the severity of financial fraud the discrepancy entails. Perhaps the governor would be kind enough to discuss the matter with us,” Captain Pradrock said.
“I can’t argue with that. This governor owes us an explanation,” Jolene said.
“We can follow the crowd and blend in with them,” Massimo said.
“Yes. And be sure to pay attention to what everyone’s saying,” Captain Pradrock said.
“I’ll do more than that,” Jolene said.
“I don’t know what to expect, or how I can help at a party,” Fritz said.
“Just be ready if we need you,” Captain Pradrock said. He walked toward a riverboat and paid four (4) silver coins to cover the cost of transport for himself and his crew. He then boarded the vessel, followed by Fritz, Jolene and Massimo.
~~~
The door to Mayor Langford’s office burst open and he found himself face down on the ground, with his arms pinned behind his back, before he saw who did it. He felt someone grab his wrist and remove the bracelet.
“I can read his thoughts now,” a female voice said from under the cover of darkness.
“That could have been worse. I could smash your pretty face, you piece of trash thief. You’re no mayor,” a male voice said from under the cover of darkness.
“What did I do?” Mayor Langford screamed.
“It’s no use. No one can hear you,” a male voice said from under the cover of darkness.
“This guy’s just an idiot and a puppet. He signs whatever his ladies tell him to sign after a little romp,” a female voice said from under the cover of darkness.
“Who are these ladies?” a male voice asked from under the cover of darkness.
“I know their names. And I know where to find them. We’re going to this party at the governor’s mansion,” a female voice said from under the cover of darkness.
“If you don’t want us to break your neck, play along,” a male voice said from under the cover of darkness.
“What do I have to do?” Mayor Langford asked, still face down on the ground with his arms pinned.
“Go to the party, and introduce us to your ladies, and to the governor,” a male voice said from under the cover of darkness.
“You’ll see us when you need to,” a male voice said from under the cover of darkness.
“We need to get on a riverboat and follow the crowd to the governor’s mansion,” a female voice said from under the cover of darkness.
“No. We’re taking our own ship. Let’s go,” a male voice said from under the cover of darkness.
Strong hands lifted up Mayor Langford back to his feet. His arms were released but he felt a hand on his neck.
“Walk casually,” a different male voice said from under the cover of darkness.
Mayor Langford was led out of the building complex and toward the docks. He felt the hand pushing him upward along an unseen boarding ramp until he found himself on board a ship that was suddenly visible where there was no a ship a moment ago.
“Where am I?” Mayor Langford asked.
“Somewhere better than you deserve to be,” a male voice said from under the cover of darkness. That man, along with another man and a woman, all reappeared.
Mayor Langford tried turning his head around but the hand still gripped him.
“You can let go of his neck, Zeferino,” the first man said.
“Who are you?” Mayor Langford asked.
“Captain Fernao. Who are you? You’re obviously not a real mayor. You’re just a worthless thief. If you want to live – if you don’t want Zeferino to snap your neck – you’ll get us into this party and introduce us as your friends. I want to talk to these ladies you sign papers for. And I want to talk to the governor, while we’re at it. Saskia, tell me everything this dirt bag knows,” Fernao said.
“Your lady friends are named Zenaida and Meliora. That’s really all you know about them, along with how many times you fooled around with them. You’re a Trerada drinker. I can see that from your vial. Those women just use you to sign their papers. You don’t understand – or even care – what you’re signing,” Saskia said.
“I know what I signed – approvals for audits of shipping containers and exchange rates for gems,” Mayor Langford said.