by Tim Paulson
Oh...
Yes she did.
“What about Marian?” Mia said.
“I'm sorry who?” Harald asked.
“That might work... but how?” Aaron said.
“Will she allow you?” the baroness asked, eyes fixed on Mia.
“I believe so. Besides... I don't think we have any other choice,” Mia said.
“I'm sorry but who is Marian?” Harald said from the table.
“How will you get her to Valendam?” Aaron asked.
“You leave that to us,” the baroness said as she looked at Vex, who nodded. She paused, collecting herself. “I believe my good friends and family... that we have a plan. Mia and Marian will provide the distraction while Vex, Henri and I enter Veil and destroy their device.”
“What about my son?” Henri said.
“Once we've secured their machine, we'll bring your son to us. It's safer for him that way,” The baroness said.
“You can do that? Wait, forget I asked,” Henri said with a sigh. “As long as you try, I'm willing to help.”
“What are the rest of us supposed to do while you're off at Veil having all the fun?” Celia said, looking somewhat deflated.
“You and Aaron are to stay here and protect Giselle and the children, as per our original agreement Celia,” the baroness said.
“What about my brother in law?” Aaron said with a sigh. “When he wakes I expect he'll be a problem.”
The baroness nodded thoughtfully. “He's much like his father at that age, young and foolish. Vex I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to have him confined to one of the residence rooms once his bath is over. I'm worried he might leave and go get himself killed. When I get back I'll have a talk with him.”
“And we'll be safe here in this... mausoleum?” Aaron asked.
The baroness nodded. “Absolutely. No one knows this city is here. It's been lost to history and it's protected by very powerful sorcery. However, if you're concerned, I can have Vex provide you with a token that will allow you to command the acolytes while we're gone.”
“If you wish it,” Vex said.
“I suppose that's good,” Aaron said.
The baroness stood. “Mia and Henri, please ready yourselves. We should leave as soon as possible.”
Henri was looking at her.
Mia didn't see it so much as feel it, like the prickling heat on your skin from a sweltering summer day.
They ought to talk, it was important they clear things up. She made a sideways motion of her head, trying not to be noticed again by Celia, but it seemed she was preoccupied with moping about being left behind.
Mia left the main hall and proceeded down one of the corridors a short ways toward the living quarters before turning back. The first thing she saw was two of Vex's skull headed acolytes carrying a snoring Liam. Right behind them was Henri. He came closer than she'd expected him to. It was both unnerving and intense. He must have seen some part of the war within her on her face.
“What's wrong?” he asked.
Tell him about the kiss, that it was a mistake, that you were under a spell. “I... I don't trust the black wizard,” she said.
Henri nodded. “Nor do I but I don't see that I have any choice. Your mother seems to trust him.”
“The baroness is not my mother.”
“Oh... I'm sorry. I just thought... She's very familiar with you,” he said. His deep brown eyes searched her face, probing for her feelings, genuinely concerned he'd offended her. Why did he have to be so nice?
“It's complex,” she said.
Best not to mention her status as the baron's adopted daughter and definitely not the possibility of her betrothal to the snoring crusader who'd just been carted through.
Henri frowned. “Are you alright? What troubles you?”
Mia you fool. He can see right through you.
She looked up at him. “I'm worried about Adem.”
His eyes softened even more. How was that possible?
“I thank you for that. Especially given what happened to you... Did the baroness truly remove that curse?”
“I...“ No, tell him no. “Think... Probably yes.”
“I'm glad. I'd hate to think that you... weren't yourself,” he said. His eyes searched hers. He was so gentle, so open. She wanted to kiss him, a lot. But he would push her away again, so it would be stupid.
“The... Yeah, be careful around the ghoul.”
“Do you feel he is being dishonest?”
“He's proven he's a liar. When we first met him he was pretending to be an old woman,” she said.
“But he also saved Adem's life.”
“And then used him to start his machine, so I've gathered.”
Henri nodded. “Mmmm, yes and he had no problem using you like a slave either. I worry about you.”
Mia grimaced. There it was. How like a man to assume she couldn't take care of herself. Had she not proven herself when she threw his body to the dirt back at his poor excuse for a shop?
“Don't bother. I can take care of myself,” she said.
He didn't become angry though. He merely smiled.
“Please don't be angry,” he said softly. “I only mean that I couldn't bear to see you controlled like that again. It's wrong. We're not toys for wizards, we're people.”
“Yes,” she said.
Mia thought to tell him how she felt. What if he laughed at her? What if he brushed her off again. She might just strangle him if he did that.
“Also...” Henri said, his eyes on the floor.
“Yes?” she said.
“I'm sorry for pushing you away... I...”
She waited, his eyes looked up into hers, through hers.
“I didn't mean to make you angry. I wasn't that... Ugh.” He looked pained.
She put a hand on his forearm. “I understand. If you don't want me... I-”
“No!... It's... It's not that,” he said.
“Mia! Come, we have much to do!”
It was the baroness from up the hall.
“I'm coming!” she called back. Mia turned to go but Henri's hand was on her elbow. An electric thrill spread through her.
“Please be careful,” he said.
“I always am,” she lied.
“We can talk again after this is over?” he said.
She nodded, and left.
In the room she'd been assigned Mia grabbed two more knives which she stashed in the folds of her belt. The stone that Harald had written the glowing mark upon made its way into her pocket as well. The mark itself no longer glowed but the shape of it remained. Perhaps the baroness could make it work again. It might prove useful.
When Mia returned to the main chamber everyone was gone except for the baroness, the talking toy Harald and the cloaked black wizard who still sat in the same chair.
“Tell her exactly what I told you. You understand what you're doing?” the baroness asked, addressing Harald on the table.
“Yes, yes, child's play,” Harald said, waving a yarn hand.
“Good, go then.”
There was a bright flash and Harald was gone.
“What? What was that?” Mia said.
The baroness turned to her, a slight smile on her lips. “Finished having your intimate conversation with the tall dark blacksmith?”
Could everyone see it?
“I don't know what you're talking about!” Mia said.
Vex stood and approached the baroness. His long black cloak and smooth steps made it seem like he was gliding across the floor. It was unnerving, even for Mia.
The baroness looked over to the ghoul. “Yes?”
“To proceed as we discussed I will need to move the smith and his boy,” Vex said.
“You may do so,” the baroness said. “Only once for each. We are all to meet up in Valendam at the Falaxilum stones. You're sure they're there?”
“Yes,” Vex said. “They are buried with the dead.”
“Mmmm. Sure.” She s
tared at Vex for a moment then turned back to Mia. “Shall we?”
“Also...” Vex had a single clawed finger raised.
“Yes?” the baroness said.
“I will need leave to do what's necessary to free the boy of his condition.”
The baroness narrowed her eyes. “As long as you do not harm him... You may.”
Vex nodded.
Mia folded her arms. “So how will we get to-”
There was a flash and their surroundings changed. The black floors and spiraling walls had been replaced by normal cut stone. They were in a small dark room with no windows. It was lightly furnished with just a small desk, a single chair and some shelves.
The baroness stood next to her. She looked surprisingly haggard compared to only moments ago. They were quite close together but the light was low, perhaps that was all it was. Unfortunately she could see no door or window to use.
“Where is this?” Mia asked.
“This is the entry room for castle Aeyrdfeld. Anyone who uses sorcery to enter this castle will be directed here. Don't touch anything,” the baroness said, stifling a yawn with the back of her hand. “Forgive me.”
“It makes you tired?”
“Yes. When you're a living person using the power drains your mind until you can no longer stay conscious. Healing Giselle yesterday was... challenging. I should have recuperated last night as I slept... but I didn't sleep well,” she said.
Mia sighed. “Me either.”
“I don't... want to alarm you... but... I may need... a bit of a rest.”
“Fine, but how do we get out of here?” The stone walls were smooth without even the hint of a doorway.
“Oh... it's there,” the baroness said as she dropped heavily into the chair, slumping.
She appeared to Mia to look more than just tired, she looked older, as if some force had drained years of life away in only moments. There were bags under her eyes and each and every crease in her face seemed deeper, like a yawning chasm. Her skin sagged and her pallor had changed to a sickening gray.
“Stop staring. I know what I look like,” she said.
“What's happening to you?”
“It's... it's normal. I just need... a little rest. That's all,” the baroness said, every word a struggle.
“How do I get out of here?”
“The door can be seen...”
“How? How can the door be seen?”
“Veil,” the baroness said, her eyes fluttered closed.
No amount of shaking would wake her.
Mia was on her own.
Chapter 19
"My lungs sting, my legs ache and my heart is pounding. I've been pushed harder and farther than I thought I could go and my body is screaming at me. But those tantalizing rumors of gold continue to drive me forward."
-Letter from a Pyrolian soldier to their beloved, 1543
“Is that what we're going to do?” Henri said, pointing at the empty space where Mia and the baroness had been standing until they'd disappeared as if plucked from existence.
“Yes,” Vex said. Several of his skull headed attendants were filling a cloth pack with various items. The wizard's attention was focused on this, not Henri.
After the morning's draining and breakfast Adem had been removed to something called a creche with the rest of the children. Vex had assured him it was a place where the children would be safe, that it was designed for entertaining and educating children. Still, it nagged at him when Adem was out of sight.
So much had happened of late, so many dangerous situations, it was hard to let go. Moreover, a simple glance about at the skeletal decor, the undulating black surfaces, made him wonder what passed for entertainment and education for a wizard like Vex.
Whatever doubts Henri had about Vex's intentions, the baroness had pledged to help his son, as had Mia. Thus far much had been done to prevent Adem's death, that was surely the case.
He would watch the black wizard very carefully however. Mia was right, there was something off about him, something that felt broken, unclean. It was hard to put a precise wording to it, there was just a feeling deep in his gut that told him to be wary of this creature and he planned to.
“I want to come with you!” Celia said. Her hand gripped Vex's bandage wrapped elbow.
“You were asked to stay here,” Vex said without so much as a glance at the girl. Skull creatures continued packing items into the cloth sack under the wizard's watchful gaze.
“Why does that matter?” Celia said, her lips formed into a pout.
Henri's stomach churned with distaste for the girl's childishness. It took everything he had not to roll his eyes at her.
“It matters,” was all the wizard said in response. He pointed a long finger across the room. “Bring the lance also,” he said to the nearest creature. It moved to obey.
Henri knew the item Vex was talking about. He'd seen it placed on the table when Adem's tainted blood had been drained. It looked much like a veil blade, only smoother, with a glassy translucent look to it. Oddly it had a long blade like a sword but a long handle like a spear. Henri thought such a weapon ought to be relatively useless. It had too much handle to be effective in close and too little to be used like a real spear and keep an enemy at a distance. Even if the blade was infused with veil energy and could pierce anything, it would not overcome poor design.
Celia would not give up. She shook Vex's elbow. “I can help you. I'm very good with a blade and with poisons. Let me help you.”
“I can't,” Vex said, pulling his elbow from her grasp.
The wizard didn't say “I won't.” or “I don't want to.” he said he couldn't.
Celia picked up on this as well.
“Why?” she asked. “Is the baroness controlling you in some way?” There was a touch of anger in her voice.
“In a sense, yes. Now please, leave me be. The blacksmith and I must go.”
“Oh,” Celia said, at a loss. Her eyes burned with bitterness.
Henri shook his head.
Vex's red eyes glanced at Henri. “Celia, there is something you can do for me, two somethings.”
“Name it,” Celia said crisply.
The wizard stepped down to the very end of the great oval table in the center of the room. Here he began to draw on the surface with his fingers.
Pulling down Henri's veil goggles revealed a series of glowing lines, circles and arcane symbols of multiple colors being inscribed into the surface of the table. When the wizard completed his work everything spun and twisted and seemed to come together before finally disappearing completely, like nothing had happened.
“What did you do?” Celia asked.
“Your first duty is to monitor this table for me. It will begin to glow when we need the boy-”
“His name is Adem,” Henri said.
“Yes... Adem. He must be placed here.” The wizard patted the table. “In the center of the glow. He will be transported to us.
“I can do that,” Celia said.
“Good.” Vex nodded and fished in his robe for something, eventually producing a small skull attached to a silver chain.
Celia's eyes lit up, fascinated by the macabre item. “Is this for me?”
“No,” Vex said. “This is to be given to Aaron. Do you know where he is?”
Celia looked displeased. “Yes. He's with Giselle,”
Vex placed the amulet in her hand. “Give it to him. It's important.”
“I will,” she said.
Vex nodded once solemnly, then turned back to the part of the table where Henri stood and picked up the spear, looking it over.
Celia walked off, glancing back twice as she did.
Henri hoped she took her instructions seriously. He very much wanted to see if Adem could be cured by the woman on the other side of the gate, though Vex was making him feel less and less confident that was going to happen.
“What's the spear for?”
“It kills things,” the wizard said
as he pushed some items around in the pack with one hand and held the spear in the other.
“I'd gathered that.”
“It's not like one of the swords your people use where the abzu is used merely to augment the blade's cutting power. This is a Salmu warrior's weapon, an abatu lance.”
“What does it do?”
Vex put two hands on the weapon and raised it so the haft was tucked under his arm pit while the point was aimed forward like a musket. Then he pressed a glowing symbol on the weapon with his thumb and a bright lance of hot violet shot from the blade.
It impacted one of the columns on the other side of the room. There was no explosion, no sound of the report or the impact like you'd expect with a musket or a cannon, yet a significant chunk of the column had ceased to exist.
“Does that satisfy your curiosity?” Vex said, handing the lance to Henri.
“Not really, no. It only creates a hundred more questions,” Henri said as he studied the device. Was it firing a spell of some kind? How many times could it fire? Did it take time to reload like a musket? Was there anything it could not destroy?
Vex stared at him with those unnatural blood red eyes. “You think like a scholar. You're more interesting than you appear blacksmith, I'll give you that.”
“Thank you.” Henri said. He couldn't think of any other way to respond to something like that.
“Having the courage to ask questions is incredibly important. I've often felt that those who end up in challenging situations have seldom asked enough questions,” Vex said with one ghoulish finger pointed toward the ceiling.
“That's good becaus-”
Vex then waved his finger. “We haven't time right now. I'm sorry. Come,” Vex gestured for Henri to step in closer.
Henri complied, still holding the spear. Where was that button? He didn't want to accidentally remove his own face.
“This pack is for you. Please fasten it to your back. It contains several things we'll need.”