by Jani Griot
“I was told that you were the type to mentally work over those you do dealings with but is all this necessary?” retorted Ochloc. “I assumed you were the man of business you were rumored to be, but all of this has nothing to do with the unification of our families.” The king leaned over and scoffed as close to the man’s hood as he dared to get.
Carter once again faced Aemillious before speaking more toward him than his father, a disrespect to the king so obvious it made his skin crawl. Aemillious felt the building pressure of his father’s power as any Omni with the ability to sense univers could. And something told Aemillious that Carter held the same ability, yet the merchant king only spoke with the purest of smiles.
“Doesn’t it though, my king? Have everything to do with the joining of our families? I mean, slaves in your kingdom are displaying traits of the old bloods more often, as if they weren’t purged by you and your father. As if your father ignored the warnings sent to us from the highest realm and built a kingdom off the tainted power of the very same old bloods we are supposed to kill. I don’t know what is worse—that your father sought to build beauty out of such a blasphemous thing or that you now sell the scraps of that once budding potential,” stated the man sternly.
Silence filled the room and Aemillious dared not look at his father. He’d long ago formed his own conclusions about his natural gifts. Indeed, none of this conversation was necessary. Everyone in the room knew a secret. And everyone knew what everyone else was thinking. Aemillious thought it best to not speak the words, but here was this old bastard, doing just that. And the prince and the king had little choice but to allow it.
Ochloc clenched his left hand into a fist at his side. Aemillious feared his father would beat the elderly man, but he did not. He merely sighed and continued to speak in a somewhat calm tone, with a feigned polite smile. “The actions of my father have nothing to do with us mortals. For a time, yes, we were a kingdom at the forefront of magic, but after we lost the Sandmaker, we no longer had our direct tie to the highest realm as the Sky Kingdom and those from the waves do, but my daughter, regardless of who her grandfather was, is still worth more than some kingdoms entirely, even you cannot dispute this.”
Aemillious noted that his father hadn’t truly addressed the merchant king’s complaints but had still spoken honestly, at least from what he was aware.
“Name your price, slave king. In return, I will set up a trading post on the opposing side of the river near the Shadeless tree, away from the dangers of the roaming jungles, and your son will marry my daughter, a ruse boy,” commanded the merchant king. His voice left no room for discussion. Everything clicked into place when Aemillious, shocked, looked at his father and saw nothing of surprise reflected back to him.
“Father, what is happening?” asked Aemillious. No answer came. His father only stared toward Carter, confirming minor details of their deal, as Aemillious sunk into the depths of his mind, trying not to listen as men moved the piece that was his life.
Why would I want some little girl with the power of ten, when I could add another Omni to my collection? The words slipped into Aemillious’ mind. The voice of Carter rang like instruments as he used synapse to communicate with the young Elementalist. I just want you to know I’m aware of the young Khalif’s actions toward your father and even of your involvement. Aemillious looked up, opening his eyes in dread at the man’s message. Only to settle himself as the man continued, to both speak audibly to his father and mentally to him.
I don’t plan on telling anyone. I just would like to know why the prince of slaves wants his father dead, as I would kill millions to be able to speak a single word to my own?
Aemillious thought to himself, continuing to listen to the men’s conversation. A discussion that showed just how little some valued the lives of others. There were, in fact, many reasons he wanted his father dead. But the offense that stood out the most to him was the people he’d lost to the man’s actions. His mother. His closest friend. His grandfather, and even the man who taught him the laws of univers.
“The last measure of business I have to offer you is the retrieval of the lost girls. I’d only require small things in return, and have reason to believe my guard should be able to find and return them here to their owners within a reasonable amount of time, maybe relieving some of the tension being brought to you by the court…?” asked Carter, certainly already knowing what the king’s answer would be.
Aemillious watched as the man played his father like a game built for children.
This is why, said Aemillious into the mind of the merchant king, the measure of my father’s abilities when it comes to violence and warfare are nearly unmatched, but as a leader, he is far from designed for the task. All of his actions will only lead to more death and loss. His unbalance is mirrored in his success. Everyone can say he is a savage as many do, but that’s before they need slaves, or meet his blade. Power may not corrupt absolutely, but who can truly resist using power for selfish gain, may it even be to save the life of a loved one?
Aemillious let the men finish and watched as Carter rose slowly to his feet and began a slow walk toward the exit. He felt he hadn’t answered the man’s question as truthfully as he could and was unsure that he would get another chance to be so honest about the hatred he held for his father. Through synapse, Aemillious finally spoke the truth:
the pleasure of revenge.
Carter stopped in his slow amble and looked back toward the prince. Aemillious could only see his smile and wondered if the merchant king knew just how much he was growing to admire the man who’d talked to his father as if the king of Vassilious were a slave himself.
“Forgive me, Carter, it seems your intellect might have distracted me even more than I was aware. I forgot to ask what you need for the retrieval of the ruse boys,” said the king.
Your father’s a creature of habit, as are most of us. Remember that, Aemillious.
“It’s okay, my king. I understand that losing your prized slave may mean more to you than I can understand,” retorted the merchant king in such a way that Aemillious wondered at the undertones of the comment. He glanced to his father who only shook his head and waved his hand to dismiss the notion entirely. Aemillious shuddered when Carter’s chilling laugh echoed through his mind, distorting oddly in his head into musical notes.
“I only need two things, the twin ruse boys who remind me of my own daughter, and the location of the Sky Prince Khalif. I have unfinished business with the Thinker of Volantes!” Carter coughed into his hand. From what Aemillious could tell, it was rather…productive. The man reached that very hand out to Ochloc, who pretended he’d not seen it.
“Goodbye, Carter. It’s been an absolute delight,” the king said.
“The pleasure is all mine,” Carter replied. He wiped his hand on the silken curtains of the room before he exited.
Deals with Darkness
Khalif again found himself in a foreign kingdom, performing a ritual of dominion, passed down the generations since his ancestors were thrust from the highest realm. It was a brilliant collage of nearly every rune Khalif had learned or been taught.
He stood atop the keep’s highest viewing tower, focusing on hundreds of layers of univers, speaking arcana to further infuse the magics all while summoning forth some of the most ancient runes known by Elementalists.
Runes flickered in and out of the natural visual spectrum as Khalif twisted univers in his hands. To his powerfully trained eyes, the symbols for gravity and life energy collided sporadically, surrounding his palms in a circular shape. The runes for fire, water, and even poison flashed before colliding with the orb, like a tornado of spinning energy. He knew it would look like a distortion of light to any onlooker, but still focused every piece of his awareness, wanting to finish this phase of his plan before anyone could interrupt. His luck called for different outcomes than he desired.
“I feel it is rude not to announce one’s presence when approaching someone, e
specially if they do not notice your entrance,” said Carter as he laboriously crested the last portion of steps onto the tower’s roof.
Khalif’s shoulders tightened but he did not turn to face the man. Instead he continued to focus on the runes dancing at his fingertips, hoping the man wouldn’t be able to see him spinning univers through his gauntlets.
“You should relax when spinning such tremendous energies. But I am not here to stop you. I only wish to collect on my debts,” said Carter, walking closer as he spoke. Khalif eased up slightly but he would have to pay for this interaction. Either with blood, treasures he had no right to offer, or his life.
“If you mean what you say then let me finish my preparations without further distractions, please,” stated Khalif in as demanding a tone as he could muster. He often stood upon his pride as a named prince but there were still some for whom his name held absolutely no weight.
“I must say, I’m impressed that you can speak while controlling such an extravagant number of runes. And in your youth! Don’t feel a need to respond, now,” finished the merchant king, leaving Khalif to his task. So much of his mind was needed to wield the magic in his hands that he couldn’t plot how he would escape the man at his back. So he only poured more of himself into his work, closing his eyes and relying on the familiarity of powerful mental exertion.
When the mental construction was complete, a single rune of dominion sat between Khalif’s palms. The rune was the equivalent to a bomb full of gas that spread through the land and air after its detonation. Only the gas was a field of celestial runes from higher realms, and the detonation was Khalif’s command. Carter’s smile widened underneath his hood when Khalif turned toward him. He even clapped at the prince. Khalif detected genuine delight in the man’s gesture, and it almost warmed his heart. Almost.
“I know you are skilled with runes, but I guess I am curious as to exactly how long you think you can sustain their affects, knowing you split your mind for every source of energy you impact. Just doesn’t seem like an efficient plan, unless you have something that would ease your burdens,” said Carter, with what Khalif could presume was feigned ignorance and indifference.
“Only you would worry over the efficiency of a plan of such large scales. Sometimes it’s about the risk involved, and I believe you know that, Carter.” Khalif let go of the rune and forced it down toward the area below the kitchen, needing the rune to cover as much space as possible for his plan to work. It darted from his fingertips before vanishing like a glowing ghost through the floor of the kitchen below.
“Don’t try it, Khalif,” Carter said, before Khalif tried to take flight. The prince knew his chances of escape were slim, but by how much was the factor he missed entirely. He had only enough time to turn around before he smashed face-first into a red barrier that crackled like shattering glass temporarily before it fixed itself and vanished. An image of a large gold coin erupted into Khalif’s mind alongside a bell. The combination was enough to rattle his concentration, disorienting him so that he was unaware of where he was until he sat up from the tower’s roof.
“Did that hurt?” asked Carter, angling closer to Khalif. The Sky prince rubbed his forehead before looking upward, seeing nothing but clear night sky. He felt imprisoned. It was a new emotion for him, and the feeling only grew as his mind began to race for the first time in cycles.
“I only ask because this is a new type of magic a researcher of mine is developing, and it is supposed to redirect all force after absorbing the impact of energies sent in its direction. I recommend that you don’t….” Carter trailed off, his eyes directed at Khalif, who attempted to tap into the rune of his family. The brand on his chest flared as he tried to transfer himself outside the wall he’d seen above him.
The impact was like that of a waterfall dropping on his shoulders. He fell to his knees and dry heaved as bile rose but would not expel itself from his closed throat. Carter continued his slow walk toward the Sky prince, his cloak rippling under the expanding energy used in Khalif’s escape attempt.
“To be honest I didn’t know if the runes would see your displacement as movement, but since it did, I believe this is a successful project. Even your father will invest in barriers of this quality, maybe even as prisons.” The merchant king paused to examine his clean, well-manicured nails. He expelled a dry laugh before carrying on with his grandiose exposition. “The rumors of the sky fall upon all beneath its reign, as people from your kingdom often say, right?”
Khalif struggled to stand before he was able to rise. Perhaps the elderly man was well-versed in ancient magic, but Khalif doubted he was skilled in matters of physical combat. And even if he had once been a great warrior of some sort, surely the man’s arthritic frame could scarcely take a single blow.
Khalif drew his sword and Carter frowned before shaking his head at Khalif. Khalif forced down his fear at the smile he saw beneath unseen eyes. Was he truly trapped in this frail man’s clutches? He refused to be caged, as any from the Sky did.
Khalif crouched, moving to attack with everything he had. In the next instance he was completely airborne. His arm was out, stretched to its maximum. Then he heard the bell in his mind once more, and at the slight ting, he found himself frozen, mere feet in front of Carter, and still completely airborne.
“They are using the Sandmaker’s experiments to advance our understanding of univers so thoroughly that many feats have become possible, even for us mortals,” said Carter with a chuckle. He pointed upward and the prince’s eyes followed that indication to see an unmoving hourglass on its side, which slowly rotated counterclockwise. Carter had stopped his stride no matter how slow it may have been in Khalif’s eyes. He reached out to the folds of Khalif’s cloak and grabbed at something within.
Khalif laughed. “You, a mere mortal.” His body began to move backward in the direction he’d sprang from. He tried to yell further at the man but was not privy to the use of his own body until he was standing almost on the other side of the rooftop. Placed there like a game piece, waiting to be moved.
“I am a man of deals, contracts, and sometimes wagers. This is the tradesman’s way. My cohorts know this, as the king’s father knew this, but those were better times,” said Carter, sighing through his smile. The man had finally come to a stop, having what he wanted in his clenched fist.
Khalif pointed to Carter’s upended palm. “If the king knew just how much his father and you were allied, I imagine he would be even more discouraged from trading with you, but that won’t matter after I end his miserable existence. Who knows if I may want to trade with you after I am the new king of Vassilious? Perhaps that’s something you should consider when taking that from me.” Khalif was confident in his ability to overthrow Vassilious, thus inheriting the treasures of the sands. He decided not to disclose to the merchant that he would have to wait until that moment to be repaid, if at all.
Within Carter’s palm, rested a Sun Lion Diamond. The golden rose, surrounded by a cage formed of hardened light. Its petals flared open and closed slightly under the effect of the cage’s runes.
“I may be mortal, but I am not to be talked down to, boy. You force me to seek you out, and to add further insult you do not have the entire payment,” said Carter. His free hand gesturing only with the flick of a finger. Khalif felt a distortion as the hourglass above him moved slightly backward once more. Khalif’s body shifted into the moment just before he was going to use his family’s rune. Not wanting to let the energy rampage through his body, he was forced to complete the attempt again.
Wild energy smashed into him, knocking him to the roof once again. If he had been any less trained in the use of the rune, he would have more than likely died if it had grown unstable or veered outside his focus, a fact Khalif wondered if Carter knew or cared about. He would soon find out.
Khalif watched, bleary eyed and in a daze, as the hourglass moved clockwise after he almost failed to open his eyelids. He was still on his back, immobilized under Ca
rter’s well-controlled barrier.
Khalif rose back into the air—a decision he had not made for himself—and felt as if he were being pulled by puppet strings. Once he was back on his feet, he drew his sword, an action that also was not in tandem with his own wishes. Before he was forced to act, however, he was shifted yet again by a force he knew came from the mortal. It was the same manner in which he’d been moved when he failed to attack the merchant king the first time. Carter lazily took a few steps to the side with the frozen Khalif stuck adrift, midair, before him.
“Ah! Please, accept my sincerest apologies for that,” Carter spoke. Khalif detected, by the folds of the man’s cheeks, that he was suppressing a grin. “You see, I felt as though you were yelling and because you were acting as such, I was encouraged to raise my own voice, and, well, that was silly of me. Because I’m not here to argue with a child,” said Carter as he dropped Khalif dropped carelessly at his side.
Khalif groaned and rolled onto his back. He stared up at the man looming over him. Khalif shuddered when the light of the cage Carter held illuminated his cloaked features. The man’s pupils were like two roiling suns that beamed power. Khalif closed his eyes under the pressure of those twin suns, and he desperately wished for the moment to end.
“I do not know what manner of demon you are, Carter, but be gone with you! Free me now from this prison or my father will hear of this! I’ve always paid my debts, but your petty barbarism has crossed the line. I still need that flower for what is to come!” roared Khalif as he opened his eyes. He was enraged and ashamed of himself for invoking the power of his father. He hadn’t shown fear facing the god of Pandora herself, but something about this man, this… mortal, was different than any god, or titan he’d encountered.
