by Andrew Rowe
Lydia breathed a sigh of relief, following Ulandir to a sitting room. “Make yourself comfortable. I will prepare some tea.”
Ulandir retreated from the room, still looking somewhat...off.
He’s likely been overusing a sorcery type related to knowledge. I must be cautious, or I may end up much the same.
[Is that what happened to me?]
Lydia was surprised to hear the response from the stone. She knew Vendria could hear her thoughts, but she rarely responded to them without prompting.
I don’t know, Vendria. I can try some more diagnostic spells on you again later, but I’m not a memory sorcerer. It’s not my area of expertise.
[I understand. I believe I am beginning to remember more, but...it’s all in fragments. I feel as if I was once something much more, but I don’t know what that means.]
We’ll work on it. You seem to be doing much better than usual.
[I believe the knowledge spells you have been casting on me have been helping...but I fear the effects may only be temporary. I sense my cognition waning with the changing of the seasons. I do not know why.]
Interesting. That lines up with some of my previous observations. I’ll see what I can find. I have some additional spells we can test when we leave the city, including one that may be able to link our minds. Perhaps that could help me explore the problem more directly.
[Is linking our minds safe?]
It has risks. We’ll try other spells first. I’ll save that one for an emergency, or if we exhaust our other options.
[I see. Thank you, Lydia. I appreciate your efforts.]
Lydia didn’t have long to wait. Aladir arrived in the sitting room a few minutes later, grinning brightly. “Lydia! It’s so good to see you.” His grin shifted to a conspiratorial look. “And a bit out of character for you to pay me a social visit.”
Lydia laughed, standing from the couch where she’d been seated. “I’ve been away for nearly a year. Is it so strange that I’d visit my partner upon my return?”
Aladir laughed, walking closer and opening his arms. “Not at all, it’s certain you’ve come up with a few ideas on how to make use of me by now.”
In spite of the cheer of his demeanor, there was something worrisome about Aladir’s message.
Still, she brushed it from her mind for the moment, stepping forward and accepting the offered hug. Aladir gave the best hugs. “I did miss you, and not just for your willingness to cooperate with my schemes.”
“Of course, but that’s always a part of it.” Aladir released her. “Come, tell me what’s on your mind.”
The pair sat on the couch, and Lydia took a moment to collect her thoughts and determine her approach.
Direct is likely best with this, she decided.
“I’ve been invited to pay a visit to Selyr. I suspect Sterling is there, and I plan to apprehend him.”
Aladir clasped his hands together. “You never think small, do you?”
“Rarely,” she admitted, “But this is something that needs to be done. We need to know who hired him, and if they’re a long-term threat to our order.”
“I don’t deny that, but I suspect your motivation may be somewhat more personal?” He gestured to her new ever-present companion — a walking cane, used to support the weight from her bad leg. She could move about without it from time to time, but it was difficult, even after Aladir’s own life sorcery had been used and all this recovery time.
“I won’t deny that I want some degree of closure, but less because of the leg. He killed one of us, and there needs to be justice for that.”
Aladir waved a hand. “I agree, of course. I simply don’t want you to do anything reckless.”
“I won’t. And I’d like to ask—”
Aladir interrupted her. “Give me a few days. I’ll need to file the paperwork to take some leave, then be seen somewhere public on vacation.”
She leaned over and hugged him again. “You know I wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t important.”
“Of course. And there must be a good reason you came here, instead of simply asking for backup through official channels.”
He phrased it as a statement, but the query was obvious. “Velas is coming with me, and I don’t know if I can trust her. I want you to come with us. I also want ideally at least one other paladin to tail us, off the books. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind an entire squad. But I need them be careful; I don’t want Velas knowing they’re around.”
“You’re an officer, Lydia. You could get a squad assigned to this yourself.”
Lydia shook her head. “After what happened with the paladin trials, I strongly suspect we have someone in a high position in our organization that’s directly working with Sterling. A vae’kes and multiple Thornguard getting into the trials... that implies either a high degree of incompetence or deliberate sabotage.”
“We investigated that pretty thoroughly while you were away. Vetted everyone even peripherally involved in the trials, as well as some other people with potentially suspicious backgrounds. All the former Thornguard members of the paladins were checked, as well as anyone connected with the Haven Knights. Poor Kestrel was under observation for months.”
Lydia tried to place the name. “Kestrel? The girl with Aendaryn’s gifts? Isn’t she Rowan Makar’s daughter?”
Aladir shook his head. “Makar adopted Kestrel as an adult. Kestrel’s birth name is Kestrel Haven. She’s been with us for years, but you can imagine why there were concerns. She went through extensive tests, though. Fires of purification, all that. I’m confident she’s clear.”
“That’s comforting, but did you find anything in the search as a whole? There’s a screening process to get into the trials. How could a vae’kes have gotten through that?”
“Void sorcery sounds like the most likely answer. We believe Sterling used void sorcery to prevent his own sorcery from being detected.”
Lydia frowned. “Void sorcery doesn’t do paperwork.”
Aladir shrugged. “We looked into that, too. The Thornguard and Haven Knights had records for everyone we checked on. Someone must have prepared for this operation in advance, potentially years ahead of time.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
Aladir shook his head. “It’s more likely that preparation work was done from within those other organizations, not ours. But I understand your reasoning, and I’m not going to dismiss the idea we might still have Thornguard agents among us. Okay. I can find a way to make this work unofficially, but we’re going to be a little lighter on resources that way. Who do you want me to bring?”
“Ideally, people I know and trust, and that have the kind of power we’d need to potentially fight a vae’kes. Taelien would be ideal, but I know he’s assigned to something on the other side of the continent.”
“You really shouldn’t call him that until it’s officially sanctioned. I don’t really mind, but some of the other paladins find him using that title to be more than a little arrogant.”
Lydia winced. “He has the sword, and he can use it. I think he can rightfully claim the title...but I won’t make that argument right now. Either way, Salaris,” she used his personal name with conscious effort, “is out of the picture, at least for now. What about Kestrel? You’ve mentioned she was vetted heavily. She has Aendaryn’s gifts, so she might be able to cause a vae’kes harm. Can she be trusted?”
“Trusted in a fight, yes, and she wouldn’t stab us in the back. The problem is that she’s too trustworthy. She might have some difficulty with a mission that’s off the books. We’d have to keep her far in the background. And I mean far.”
“Very well, I’ll keep that in mind. Aside from artifacts and divine gifts, there aren’t a lot of things that can threaten someone like Sterling. I only know of one other person with Aendaryn’s gifts, and I don’t think bringing him is wise.”
“There are two more, actually,” Aladir noted.
Lydia blinked. “I know Keldyn Andys ha
s them, but I was hoping to avoid bringing someone who was a candidate during those trials. Who else manifested the gifts? Could we bring them?”
Aladir laughed. “I’m sure Lucas would be thrilled to be invited, but there’s a small problem with that.”
“What sort of problem? Could we find a work around?”
“He’s eleven years old.”
Lydia paused, considering... “No, I think perhaps that’s a bit too young.”
“Obviously.” Aladir rolled his eyes. “Have you paid a visit to Dyson yet?”
Lydia frowned, shaking her head. “No, why? Has he manifested gifts recently?”
“Because he’s your brother, Lydia. You should visit him while you’re in the city. And while he doesn’t have any gifts that I’m aware of, he is an excellent swordsman. Remarkably fast.”
“Landen and Velas are skilled and swift, and they couldn’t put a scratch on Sterling.” Lydia shook her head. “No, we need power, not just skill. And Dyson is young and reckless. He could...”
“He’s not a child anymore, Lydia. You should visit him before you leave, even if you’re not planning to take him. If nothing else, he’s more social than either of us. He may have some ideas on who else we should bring.”
“I’m not sure telling him would be wise... But you’re right. Perhaps I should at least see him while I’m here.”
Aladir smiled. “You should. I’ll put together a list of potential candidates for your review, and we can discuss them tomorrow.”
Lydia considered that, then nodded. “Very well.”
A few years ago, I would have been writing that list myself. I’ve been away from home for too long.
Aladir stretched, relaxing back against the couch. “Excellent. I’m certain you’ll be pleased to see some of the new talent we’ve acquired. In the meantime, how about you tell me about what you’ve been studying with Hartigan?”
Lydia relaxed, leaning back. This was a subject that she was much less stressed about, and much better prepared for. “Well, most of the focus was offensive sorcery, but he did teach me a bit of dominion marking theory that I think might interest you...”
She launched into an explanation, while Aladir stopped her from time to time to ask relevant questions.
It was the best evening Lydia could recall in ages.
Ulandir never did come back with tea.
***
The following morning, Lydia went in search for her brother.
Embarrassingly, she didn’t know where he currently lived. He’d joined the Paladins of Tae’os during the two years she’d been in Orlyn.
She’d seen him when she’d returned to Velthryn after that, but he’d always been the one to visit her. He had an uncanny habit of being able to find her anywhere near the citadel, and sometimes just around town in general.
It wasn’t sorcery, though. Dyson just had a better feel for people than she’d ever managed.
Lydia didn’t like feeling predictable, but she supposed it was acceptable in her brother’s case.
And, thinking in those terms, she still understood his drives relatively well, even if she hadn’t made as much of an effort to contact him as she could have.
It was too early in the morning to be drinking, even for Dyson. So she crossed the local taverns off her mental list.
That left a few other options.
I could put together a tracking spell that finds anyone nearby that’s related to me, Lydia considered. It wouldn’t be a difficult variant of my existing “Locate Person” spell.
But it’ll be more fun to puzzle this out manually, and see how difficult it is.
She checked the prayer fields at the citadel next, stopping to say a few words herself, but her brother was not among the many paladins saying their morning prayers. She did see a few people she recognized, though, and exchanged a few words with Makar before she left.
Makar hadn’t seen Dyson that morning, but she did have some useful advice — there was a combat demonstration happening at the stadium in a few hours.
After another half hour of fruitlessly checking the grounds, Lydia had breakfast, then headed to the Korinval Coliseum and searched the area for anyone familiar.
She found Lieutenant Alaria Morwen near the entrance.
“You fighting today?” Lydia asked.
Morwen laughed. “You know I’d love to, but I’m just babysitting today. We getting you in there?”
Lydia shook her head, gesturing with her cane. “Afraid I’m still not quite ready for that yet.”
“Shame. You were a real pain back in the day. Wouldn’t mind seeing you teach the kids a thing or two.”
“I’m sure you’re doing plenty of that for both of us.” She paused. “Do you know if Dyson is participating?”
“’Course he is. You think he’d miss a chance to show off?”
No, not in a thousand years. “Good, I’ve been looking for him.”
“You want me to get you inside to talk to him?”
Lydia considered, then shook her head. “I’d rather not distract him before a fight. I’ll get a spot in the stands and watch, then find him afterward.”
“Your call, Hastings. Anything else I can do for you?”
“I wouldn’t mind a primer on the rules for today’s match.”
Morwen nodded. “It’s a barrier bout.”
Lydia knew the term; it meant a fight where the combatants were protected by sorcerous barriers of equal strength. The match would end when one barrier broke, preventing any injuries.
At least in theory. Taelien had nearly lost a hand in his match with Velas, due to a number of complications.
Morwen continued explaining the particulars. “Only two fighters are allowed in the arena at a time, but as soon as one is eliminated, someone can step in from one of the other entrances and challenge the winner. Priority to whoever steps in first. The ‘winner’ is whoever lasts the most rounds in the arena, but there’s no prize, aside from glory. It’s mostly for entertaining the crowd.”
Lydia frowned. “And there’s a fee for outsiders to watch, I take it?”
“Got it in one.” Morwen must have seen her expression change, because she added, “I don’t like it, either, but we have to raise money somehow. It’s not like we get a share of city taxes like the Thornguard.”
“I know. It just feels awkward demonstrating the gifts of the gods for something as base as money.” Lydia sighed. “But I suppose prayers don’t feed the populace.”
“Not unless we get a god of food added to the pantheon,” Morwen chuckled. “Or maybe if Eratar adds that to his list of titles. I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Neither would I.”
“C’mon,” Morwen waved, “If you won’t let me sneak you in, at least let me find you a decent seat.”
***
Lieutenant Morwen accompanied Lydia to a private box where a few other paladin officers were congregating, then headed back to...whatever she’d been doing near the entrance. Waiting for someone specific, maybe?
Or, based on the way Morwen had been searching the crowd with her gaze, maybe avoiding someone?
Her father, maybe, Lydia realized. They weren’t on great terms last time I checked.
Satisfied with the hypothesis, Lydia found a seat and settled in to watch the fight.
Rather than having an external announcer, this match had paladins stationed at entrances on opposite sides of the colosseum.
At first, Lydia expected that they’d each call out the names of the people entering from their side, but it didn’t turn out that way.
A paladin in full armor walked in from the left side, carrying a sword and shield. The guard waiting on that side of the arena made an announcement.
“On the blue side of the arena, we have Paladin Aiden Makar!”
Oh, one of Makar’s kids. I wonder who he’ll be up against.
A tall, brunette woman entered on the opposite side. She carried a spear. Lydia didn’t recognize her.
The same paladin that had spoken before concentrated for a moment, then announced, “On the red side, we have Squire Cassidy Ventra!”
The two fighters saluted each other and began to cross the arena. Lydia had a moment of surprise at the term ‘squire’ — it was unusual for a squire to participate in a demonstration like this — but she was more interested in the announcer.
Did he recognize Cassidy, or did he somehow learn her name during that brief pause?
She frowned, focusing on the announcer. He was wearing scale mail and Sytrian colors. A knowledge sorcerer, perhaps?
If he has a spell for identifying names at a distance, I really need to learn that. I should ask him about it later.
And he’s using sound sorcery to amplify his voice, too... That’s an excellent combination.
Cassidy closed the distance with speed, then slowed when she got close to striking distance. She took a tentative jab, but Aiden side-stepped it easily and stepped forward to try to close the distance.
As soon as Aiden pushed forward, Cassidy swept low, managing a glancing strike against one of Aiden’s knees. The impact wouldn’t have done any real harm, but it did activate Aiden’s barrier, showing a small crack.
Cassidy hopped backward, dodging a slash that probably would have fallen short anyway, and smacked Aiden a second time.
Those hits wouldn’t do a thing to Aiden under that armor, but they’re still triggering the barrier spell, Lydia realized. The squire knows she can’t actually hurt him, so she’s just taking advantage of her superior mobility and chipping at the barrier.
Aiden must have realized it, too, because he backed off instead of pressing his charge. He lowered his stance, blocking one of Cassidy’s strikes with his shield, and then stomped the ground.
Stone spikes shot up from the ground right beneath Cassidy. She danced backward, but one of them scraped along her leg, making a crack in her shield.
She let out a groan, then reoriented herself and charged back in, swinging at Aiden’s legs again.
Aiden was ready this time. He stepped in rather than blocking, swinging down, and cut the tip right off her spear.
