Heir's Legacy

by Vlad ben Avorham

  Echal sat in silence, while the voice struggled with demons not yet tamed. Echal couldn't help but think back on a certain city and the people in it responsible for harming his family. He actually jumped when the voice began again.

  "I became that which they feared. I raised an army, and I marched through their cities. I burned whole cities to the ground and sacrificed the populace to gain the power to blight the land so that it wouldn't support even a single blade of grass for fifty years. Yes, it was a kind of madness. So the armies of the world united. I finally succeeded in the Blue Spire's goal of unity, but only by becoming what they all feared most. They managed to capture me only because I had exhausted myself past consciousness. They brought me here. They forced litchdom on me, to remove me from the wheel of rebirth, and then locked me in solitude until this day. You are the first person to hear my story, my confession, in a very long time. I tell you this so you know that my request is sincere, release me, or destroy that gem in the center so that I may finally go to my rest, either is probably justice for what I have done. Just do not leave me here alone with my thoughts for eternity."

  Echal let out a long sigh. "I believe you. You didn't hide the ugly parts." He hesitated for a long moment. "You have given me much to think about. I will return tomorrow to let you know what I have decided."

  The voice didn't even respond. It was obvious he was overextended and wrung out as well.

  Unconventional Solutions

  The family met over dinner, discussing all that they had heard. Mah'El affirmed that from his memories of that time, the story is basically accurate, at least in the broad strokes. Echal was torn. He spent an eternity under the stream of hot water trying to wash away the pain and similarities in the story to that of his father and himself. As Catrin enfolded him that evening he understood Harder's loss and his vengeance. He broke down and quietly sobbed into her shoulder until at last the tears were gone and he fell into a deep sleep.

  Somewhere in the night, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place for Echal. By morning he was resolved. He just needed to be sure what he wanted could actually be done. So he called to himself Sha and Ma'Li, and after two hours of research and preparation, he was ready to meet Harder Mclaughlinkor, and change both of their futures.

  "You've come back!" The voice exclaimed.

  "I told you I would."

  "You didn't tell me you'd be bringing," the voice twisted as he recognized the two companions, "an Elven Tzadi, and a Hedge Witch?!"

  "They are here because they will give my plan an actual chance at working, it gets us beyond what little trust we have of the other." Echal's voice dropped an octave and became flat. "If they can agree to work together, you can work with them. Think of it as part of your work from your days in the Blue Spire." When he was met with silence, he continued. "I am the son of General Mirron. A name which will have no meaning to you as you've been here, cut off from the world, for his entire life. He is the rightful heir to the throne of the Kingdom of NoVas. He chose not to battle for the throne in a vain attempt to spare the people a civil war. The various other claimants were not so scrupulous. They hunted him for the 'threat' he posed. They hunt me even now. What I have done both from need and from a sense of thwarted justice, let’s just say I have no right to be your judge. I also cannot risk just losing you up on the world. A war against the White Spire would cause even more destruction. So here is my offer. I will adopt you. You will be to me an obedient and dutiful son, and heir to the throne which I abdicate in your favor. I will be to you as a faithful father is to his first born beloved son. We shall swear these Oaths and these ladies," he gestured to the young women on either side of him, "will make certain it is binding. In this way, you will not be a threat to the world, and I will not have your death as another injustice upon my conscious."

  The voice actually laughed, "Oh clever, clever boy. Or should I say, father? Yes, let my fate be tied to one such as you. Together we will heal a fractured world, if it can be done."

  The binding Oaths took up most of the morning, and by the late afternoon, Jayen and Savon were bringing in a fresh orc corpse for their newest member of the family to inhabit.

  Reevaluation Time?

  A New Understanding

  It was difficult getting used to Harder. With a little effort, Sha and He managed to magically tamp down the general odor of a corpse that surrounded him. Sha was managing, mostly because of the amazing things he would claim, and then help her find in the books bearing the White Spire's own seal. The books locked away with him in the Red Spire were all books that predated his imprisonment, and they all spoke of things that were considered heresy by the White Spire's ruling body.

  It seemed to her as if they really had revised history and thaumaturgic theory and then sought to burry all evidence here with him. From her best estimations, they had succeeded for a little over fifteen centuries. Few even of the Elves would live that long, fewer still would have been more than children when this was done.

  Not the least shocking of revelations, her own brother Echal had the spark to become a Tzadi, and to a lesser extent so did her Pavel. Based upon what she was reading, not only could they be safely taught to be Tzadi, but by joining a male and female Tzadi were more powerful than either alone. It was the male Tzadi that could act as a union, a channel for multiple female Tzadi to work together without the normal difficulties. This would mean that enchantments that were all but impossible today, could be accomplished by five or six women working together with a male Tzadi to weave and channel their efforts. It seems there are some upper limits and some odd effects when trying to have groups work together when each group was joined by different male Tzadi but it certainly opened up a whole new opportunities.

  Sha was obsessed, all of this new information to process, and after only one night, and only from the books the White Spire had sought to hide. The archives of the Red Spire had yet to even be accessed. She refrained from waking everyone, she understood that they needed their sleep. She and Harder however, had no such need, and dawn was breaking before she realized it.

  She poked her head in beyond the curtain of Echal and Catrin's corner. "Wake up sleepy head, everything has changed. I even think we have a lead on where my mom and your dad may be!"

  Echal sat up his eyes refusing to open, "What?"

  "Harder, he doesn't have to sleep either. We've been working through some things...."

  "Rea, I know he's family now but don't you think we should at least make him prove himself before we believe he's solved a problem we couldn't our whole lives?" He was rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

  "Don't you think I've double checked him? Don't answer that your lack of sleep might make me turn you into a toad." she let out an exasperated sigh. "Of course now that I've ready how to do the tests, I can see what he saw, you'd just learn how to turn yourself back." She beamed a big grin at him. "Yep oh wool headed brother of mine, the entire world changed while you were sleeping." and just like that she bounced on her way, singing softly to herself as she went.

  Catrin slowly opened one eye. "She's awfully excited."

  "Yeah, she is. Maybe she's got a reason to be." He shrugged, and lay back down trailing his hand lazily down the small of her back and playfully swatting her bottom, "and maybe we can find out in an hour or so." he says with a grin.

  "Oh, no you don't! Don't start something we'll not be able to finish. It's already too late, everyone is awake, and you know they won't let us have the time needed." she whispered to him. All the while giggling and escaping from the covers. "Of course you could come wash my back? That might buy us a few minutes of privacy."

  Hard Decisions

  So it was, with hair still drip drying, Echal and Catrin noticed the family all gathered around eating breakfast. Harder was off on his own several paces away. Echal didn't want this to start off badly, "Harder, you may certainly join the rest of us." He called out.

  Harder just waved, "After breakfast. Certain realities of my n
ew existence make me an unpleasant table guest."

  Echal hesitated and then realized it was just one more obstacle to overcome in time. He nodded at Harder and tucked into his breakfast as Sha continued her excited report of last night's findings. By the time the food was gone, Echal realized that everything had indeed changed. Much of what they knew of the world was demonstrably false, as Pavel proved when after twenty minutes of effort actually managed to move his first object using only his magic.

  After breakfast, Echal had had enough of the pieces and parts. Calling for the rest to follow him, he made his way back to the Grand Council Chamber. Once there, he pointed to the large stack of books, "show me".

  So they did. Before Ma'Li arrived with lunch, it was beyond dispute. Now the only real question is what does it mean for them, and how does it alter their priorities? They would need a full family meeting, food stores were limited and they obviously couldn't carry all of this away and finding it again was far from a foregone conclusion. It was another day lost to debate and indecision. Echal knew it was his fault; they would follow if he would only lead. He just didn't know where to lead at this point. Everything in him said to run and find his Father. He didn't lack for a father figure, Jayen would gladly support him and help him work through this but it wasn't Jayen's place. This was bigger than Jayen, or even himself. This was world altering, century spanning, corruption and deceit. Most of all, he didn't want to be the one who had to set it right. He was too close to too much of it. His judgement was compromised.

  All of these thoughts were going through his mind as each member of his little family argued in favor of one course of action or the other. Only Ma'Li, Jan, and Pavel seemed to have very little to say. Echal sighed loudly, and everyone looked at him. He was just envious of the three, their duties and obligations were serving and protecting the family in very defined concrete ways. It didn't matter to them what decisions they made; they would work to care for those handling the larger responsibilities. They would do it with love and dedication and without complaint. They were still all looking at him and so he stood up. "Harder, I've all but made my decision. I want to hear from you one last time before I make the call."

  Harder shifted in his seat, the big orc body making the ancient chair creak dangerously. "My recent oaths are compelling me to search for your father. My personal demons are demanding that I storm the White Spire. Reason says you will make a wiser decision than I."

  Catrin just reached up and took his hand. He spared a moment to smile and her and enjoy the simple warmth of her support. "So, here is the plan. We pack up what we can carry from here. We do not disturb the wards on the passageways. They've served to protect this place for fifteen centuries; they will just have to suffice for another few years." Savon's face fell, but he didn't argue with the decision. "We will try to find out what happened to my father and Sha's mother all those years ago. The kingdom has been in turmoil for decades, and the world since the fall, our family has not been whole for too long. We fix up our own house. We gather our strength. Then we put to rights the NoVasian throne, as it is hard to work when you are being hunted. Lastly, the White Spire has robbed generations of the truth, but those who run it now had no active part in the act. We will expose them and release the truth back into the world. Let their reaction to the revelation of the truth, determine their guilt." He stopped speaking for a moment. He looked around the table and saw most heads nodding and most faces setting in to determined purpose. Savon alone seemed to look regretful. "Savon, if you have something to say, say it now."

  He cleared his throat. "I've spent more than half of my life in service to your father. I feel like a father to you myself. You are making a mistake to abandon this. Someone will find it, and the knowledge stored here..." his voice faded as words to describe it failed him.

  "I see." Echal thought maybe he did see. "Mah'El come forward."

  Ma'Li stepped forward, "Yes, honorable son?"

  Echal shook his head. "No Ma'Li. I need Mah'El to answer me directly, he needs to surface for this or I will have my Tzadi pull him out to answer. I will not be dissuaded in this." He felt Catrin's grip tighten on him.

  Ma'Li's body moved, but it was Mah'El's deeper more serious voice. "Echal Mirron you summon me?"

  "You had to have known this history. You lived through it the same as Harder. Why have you withheld it from us?"

  "Ah. I see, I didn't explain to you what I did not know except as rumor, and now my hosts lover has challenged your decision and I become suspect?" The sarcasm was almost hidden, but only almost.

  "The thought has crossed my mind. You still didn't answer my question so answer me direct to relieve my concerns." With Echal the tone was not sarcasm; it was thinly veiled threat. Mah'El understood it too for his tone had changed when he replied.

  "While it is true that I experienced the same time as Harder Mclaughlinkor, I did not experience it in the same way. My host at the time was a surgeon in a fishing village. I spent all of my time trying to repair the damage done by all Tzadi. I was not privy to their inner councils, nor was I in a position to guess. Moreover, I do not think you need to assign any special outside influence to Mr. Franxman. It was he who spent a whole winter studying the ancient texts, and it was he who led you here. Do you think he wants to see it abandoned so casually?"

  Echal nodded and let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Thank you Mah'El. You have set my mind at ease. I apologize for the necessity of the question, but before I can answer Savon, we all need to be sure we are truly all on the same page." He turned to Savon who is looking hurt, "Savon, I too look upon you as a father figure, and fully understand that without your efforts I wouldn't be here and the solution to our woes wouldn't be at hand. Still, I want you to trust me; we are not making a mistake. We are withdrawing strategically because we do not have the food and supplies and manpower to claim and hold our find. We will leave subtle markers. Clues we can use to find it again. So that when we return, and return we damn well will, it will be with enough force and supplies that it can't just be taken from us, or we can't just be starved out."

  Savon's head bowed and Echal could see the tension release. "You are correct of course. Rule one, it is only yours, if you can defend it."

  "So it is decided, we leave in three days. Enjoy hot food and hotter showers while you can, and get what rest you can between scavenging and packing. We begin the hard march home after."

  Travel Plans

  Echal and Savon were scanning the hastily drawn map that they had made on their journey here. Discussing if it were better to try to use their old camps or choose new locations to be less predictable. Harder had been watching them for several minutes before he spoke up. "If I may?"

  Echal and Savon waved him to the map almost as one gesture. He looked at the map and made a gesture and said a word under his breath. Overlaying the drawn map, an illusion of the land fell out upon the table. "Is this still mostly accurate?"

  Echal coughed and Savon whistled. "Nice trick. The land features are the same but none of the villages exist. This is all over run by goblin kin now." Echal answered him.

  Harder grunted, "This is not difficult. When we have time I will gladly teach you Until then, I think you may find this of greater interest." He moved his hand to a spot west of the Spire about forty miles. "This is one of the Old Ways of the Fae." Seeing their incomprehension he explained, "I see you're not familiar. They weren't popular to use even in my day as there are dangers. Still with some prudence and discipline, they can take you from here to say the White Spire, in less than a day. To a location much nearer the gate I suspect your father of taking, in a little over an hour."

  "Such a thing exists?" Savon sounded incredulous.

  "What would persuade someone to give up such a valuable resource?" Echal said disbelieving.

  Harder shook his head. "As with any deals with the fae one must be very careful. The Compact only protects those on the path who stay on the path. Any deviation for a
ny reason and the pact for you is forever broken. This means you enter the realm of the Fae and they claim you for trespass. The winter fae will eat you before they kill you. The summer fae will glamor you and enslave you until you die. Neither is anything you want, and they will use illusions and spells to draw off the unwary traveler."