The Kriar made a little dip of his head and put his hands behind his back. The sparkles in the Kriar’s eyes dimmed. He seemed to feel the tension of the people at the table.
“Our friend Bannor mentioned the possibility that the Baronians might be operating out of Homeworld itself. Has that possibility been seriously considered?”
Chauser, who had a perchance for sour faces, made a particularly pained wince.
“Yes?” the King leaned forward, his cheeks starting to color. “No more elaboration than that?”
The Kriar gritted his teeth.
“Is Counsel Solaris aware of these inquiries?”
“What were Sabre legion’s findings?”
“So, given that, it has not been pursued?”
Chauser scrubbed his forehead in a very uncharacteristic display of agitation for a Kriar.
“I like not the delicacy of this matter, or the harboring of a murderous horde,” Kalindinai snapped, coming to her feet. “If they are indeed there, then the military should get a firm grip on its genitals, set matters straight, then deal with the political fallout.”
“Kal, behave,” the King said, pulling her back down to her chair. “You know as well as I do that this situation is not so different from a similar one that we must handle.” He focused on Tarkath Chauser. “While our resources are also limited, some elements of them are very effective, especially at seeing things otherwise hidden.” He cast his gaze toward Bannor.
Chauser let out a breath and folded his arms.
“I sure hope that’s true,” Kalindinai growled.
King Jhaan frowned at his wife. “Tarkath, we apologize for confronting you on this, but we do have a vested interest in the success of this mission.”
The Tarkath looked side to side like he might be overheard. He let out a breath.
Jhaan T’Evagduran rose and took the offered hand and shook. “Let us hope cooperation will continue to yield such promising results.”
Chauser nodded. He swung around and floated back down to the table where he had been.
“Well, that was a dignified end to an otherwise ugly situation,” Ryelle said. “I had no idea they were so impressed by the success of the battle.”
“If they acted impressed, it would reveal the false confidence they showed during the planning meetings,” Cassandra said. “They were prepared to get slaughtered.”
“So, Brother,” Janai said with a grin. “How does it feel to be right again?”
He took a sip of wine. On another occasion he would have enjoyed the flavor a great deal. Now, it merely quenched his thirst. “It’s not for certain. It just shows that it occurred to smarter people than me bells ago.”
“Chauser’s statement about one of the ex-Daergons hiding them just has a stink to it that must be true,” Cassandra said. “Especially, if they are collaborating to overthrow the council.”
“Well,” King Jhaan said. “That’s enough battle talk. We digested enough war. Let us feed our bodies and rest our minds. There will be plenty of opportunity for grim speculation later.”
Bannor was glad the King dropped the subject for the time being. He knew they would have to take some kind of drastic action. He just didn’t want to confront it before he’d had a chance to gather his strength and focus. Strange, when he wore a fragile mortal body he used to throw himself at the problem even when the danger was great. Now that there was less risk, he found himself wanting to take his time. The possible reasons for that were disturbing.
He pushed the troubling thoughts out of his head and focused on food and drink. Both he and Sarai consumed a prodigious amount of both. The talk of the table was light and entertaining. He found the Felspar matriarchs, Megan, Gabriella, and Elsbeth all to be fascinating conversationalists. He found himself simply listening to their voices. Mages, especially mages as talented as these ladies, simply had a mesmerizing way of speaking.
Sarai fielded a few questions concerning the wedding, things like what they would wear, what kind of entertainment was planned, and what they would do to celebrate the sealing of their nuptials.
“Thinking of the wedding, that reminds me,” Kalindinai said turning to Bannor. “We had an agreement.”
Lost in the moment, he stared at the Queen with a perplexed expression.
Kalindinai gestured and a set of jeweled pipes appeared in her hand. She held them up. “Remember?”
He blinked. “Oh. Ummm, now?”
“When better?” the Queen asked with an arch expression.
The others at the table gave him a little polite applause of encouragement.
“Uh, okay.”
The Queen handed the pipes down the table to him. He took them in his hand and massaged the smooth metallic surface. He glanced at Sarai. She smiled and nodded to him. He longed to see those glowing violent eyes again.
He fingered the pipes and looked around the table. “Pardon my not being very good at this yet.”
Bannor closed his eyes and thought of the pipe song he had played for Sarai in Malbraion hall. He remembered the tears that glistened on her cheeks. Sometimes it was amazing how something so simple could make the princess-who-had-everything happy.
He blew a pure unwavering note, not really thinking about the tune so much, but simply letting instinct guide him. The breaths were easy, and his fingers pulsed over the reeds as the ceremony song rose and fell. He stared into Sarai’s eyes, and then into the eyes of each of her sisters, and finally at the Queen. As the tune rose and fell through the scales of groom’s commitments, he looked at each of those fine ladies and played for each of them, adding flourishes and emphasis, Sarai’s determination, Ryelle’s wisdom, Janai’s passion, and Kalindinai’s power. The song trilled to its conclusion and head bowed, he pulled the pipes from his lips.
He realized that the whole room was silent. A knife clattered on a plate. He looked up. Everyone in the chamber was staring at him.
Bannor blinked. Was it that bad?
It didn’t sound like he messed it up too much.
Somewhere behind him someone started clapping. “Damn, Bannor, get any better and you’ll put me out of a job!”
He glanced toward the sound and saw Arabella on the tier below looking up. She brushed back her red hair and raised her cup to him.
Slowly others around the room started applauding, including the King and Queen.
Bannor felt his face grow hot. “Uh, does that mean I pass?”
Kalindinai rolled her eyes. “Yes, Bannor, that is sufficient.”
Sarai kissed him on the cheek. “Even better than the first time, my One…”
* * *
Chapter Twenty-One
Incarnations
« ^ »
I have been an elf, an elemental, an immort, a first one, and a valkyrie. Now, I’m going to be a bride, a wife and a mother as well. I am just glad that my One loves me in all my guises…
—Sarai T’Evagduran,
Third Princess of Malan
The supper eventually wound down, and after Megan’s arch inquiry as to how long Sarai would be staying in her sister’s shape, they decided to approach Wysteri and do the consultation.
They waited for the healer at the exit as people filed out, going to different berths that the King and Queen had established for them. Several of the valkyries who knew him from Gladshiem nodded to him and thumped him on the shoulder as they passed.
Wysteri and Mercedes and what had obviously become their mecha honor guard came out near the end. He noticed that mild Mercedes had a rosy glow to her cheeks that was far more than the product of being in a good mood.
“Good evening, Arminwen—Bannor,” Wysteri said to them with smile. The Karanganoi healer seemed in high spirits herself. “Am I to take it that you’ve decided to go ahead?”
“We have,” Bannor said. He looked to Mercedes. “Milady, are you all right?”
Mercedes leaned forward, made a sodden grin and raised a finger. “I am better than all right, thank you,” she slurred. “You know—” She blinked. “You know, fermented—fermented drinksh can affect your judgment?”
Sarai looked at the pale-skinned healer with a tilted head. “You don’t say.”
“Yesh,” Mercedes peered around with an owlish expression. “Ale, beer, stout, dry wines… bah, dain bramaging gear lubricant!” She held up a green flask. “Now thish…” She wavered and one of the mecha steadied her. “I never—I—it—it’s…goood!”
Sarai leaned over and peered at the label. “My father’s Dolondil stock.”
Bannor glanced at Wysteri. “Is she going to be okay?”
“She will be fine,” Wysteri said, rubbing Mercedes’ shoulder. “Sometimes we let our interface body succumb a little just for feel.”
“I don’t think she can feel anything,” Sarai said with a laugh.
Mercedes pointed a finger. “And feelsh great, thanksh for asking.”
“I take it she doesn’t get to let her hair down often?” Bannor said.
Wysteri leaned close. “Milord, please don’t mention it to Lady Bronawyn, she would be very cross.”
“Brat,” Mercedes mumbled. “Silver pin—hic—pinching little troll. She’s so mean sometimes. I tra—tra—treat her like my own daw—daw—like my child.” She sniffed. “She could show some—appresh—appresh—could be nice once in while.”
“I think you should take care of Mercedes first. We can wait.”
Wysteri bowed to them. “Come Mercedes, let’s get you someplace safe.”
Mercedes stumbled up to Sarai, and patted her on the shoulder. “Yer—you’re—not like that brat. You’re a goo—ghood girl. I can tell. I did—I did a great job on yo—your shape. Some—some of my bestest work.”
Sarai leaned back from the healer’s breath a bit. “Is that so?”
“Tippy—” She gestured with her finger and swayed. “Tippy… top. Cause—” She blinked. “Cause I like you. You didn’t take—didn’t take any of Bronawyn’s doo-doo.” She leaned in close to Sarai. “Ban—Bannor loves you a lot you know? Wha—what doesh that feel like?”
“Mercedes, come along,” Wysteri insisted, pulling on her.
“Oh o-okay.” She patted Sarai’s shoulder again and pushed away. “You en-enjoy that body. Wysty she—she’ll do a good job.” She thumped Wysteri on the back. “I taught her—taught her everything she knows.”
“Riiight,” Wysteri said, massaging Mercedes shoulders. “Come on.” The Karanganoi healer with the help of the two guards lead the sodden physician away.
Sarai stared after them until they were out of sight. “They are getting more and more human every time I encounter them. It’s starting to scare me.”
Wysteri returned a short time later and bowed to Sarai. The purple-haired healer’s face was flushed, she was obviously embarrassed by the display. “Arminwen, I hope you do not get the idea that such things happen often.”
Sarai looked at Wysteri with one eye closed. “Dealing with Keshira Bronawyn on a daily basis would drive anyone to drink.”
Wysteri led them to another part of the Kul’Amaron, one that Bannor had been to many times, the royal infirmary. He had spent altogether too much time there recovering after his battle with Odin. Even though magical healing had sealed his wounds, it was many treatments and foul tasting medicines to get a measure of his strength back. Even as recently as two days ago, simply climbing over a fence had been painful.
The contents of the infirmary didn’t appear to have changed much, there were still a dozen pallets arranged in the long rectangular chamber. A couple of large stone operating slabs sat at the further end where books, herbs, and apothecary equipment were all arranged on shelves and counters. The one thing that stood out as different was the floor and walls. The stone gleamed as if the dull gray surfaces had somehow been polished to perfect smoothness. If there was a single spot of dust in the chamber, Bannor felt that even using the powers of his nola he’d be hard pressed to find it.
“My,” Sarai said looking around with hands on hips. “You sure cleaned up in here.”
“Some of the artifices I use are very sensitive to dirt.”
“So, I take it Mother plans to use your services in an official capacity?”
Wysteri nodded. “General medical consultation, nothing too far in advance of the healing already performed here. My special services will be more private.” The mecha moved down to the far end of the room, gesturing them to follow.
As they approached the blank wall, a bluish-light pulsed in the healer’s golden eyes. A door-sized piece of the wall faded out revealing a short passage ending in another door.
Sarai ran her hand along the edge of the opening. “Was that an illusion covering the opening? I know this space didn’t exist before.”
Wysteri shook her head. “A little Kriar magic.” She pointed to a pair of black boxes that protruded down from the middle of the passage ceiling. She gestured them in.
When all three of them were across the threshold she looked up at the boxes and the light flickered in her eyes. A beam of red light lanced out from the boxes sketching back and forth across the opening in rapid lines. Where the light moved, the wall reappeared. In only a few heartbeats the opening had been replaced by solid material.
Bannor ran his hand against the surface. It was cool to the touch and solid. Sarai knocked on it with her knuckles. The material made a clonking that must be metal and not stone.
Sarai looked back at Wysteri. “That’s a pretty secure door.”
The mecha bowed. “It is meant to be. The stone in this area has been augmented by a hand’s worth of metal that is four times more durable than Elven mithril.”
“A hand’s worth?” Bannor held up his fist. “What are you trying to keep out?”
“The dreads could be back, could they not?”
He closed his eyes. “Good point.”
“I had the engineers integrate gate distortion and teleportation prevention within this lab,” Wysteri
said as she stepped to the door. She placed her hand on a black square near the threshold and the metal slid aside revealing another chamber considerably smaller than the outer area.
As Wysteri stepped in, an eerie greenish light illuminated the room. Tiny bluish traces shot back and forth across the glossy surface underfoot as she stepped out toward middle of the chamber. The whole room hummed with potential. Clear crystalline disks, each about a pace across, were situated two to each wall. Thousands of filaments ran up the walls from them and across the ceiling to a black hemisphere that hung down from the ceiling over an elaborate metal table. Aside from the table there was a cylinder that was, to Bannor’s eyes, almost identical to the ones that had created his body and those of the other ascendants. Along the back wall was a counter with shelves above it. Three rectangular crystals with lines of glowing symbols scrolling through them sat on stands protruding from the flat surface. Raised grids of buttons were situated in front of each of the crystals. In the far corner stood a black cube, out of which ran thousands of glowing filaments that seemed to connect into everything in the room. Multicolored jewels pulsed in the machine’s surface.
Sarai looked around the chamber with an uncomfortable expression. It did look and feel—alien. There could be no doubt about the power in this place though.
“Wysteri,” Sarai asked. “Didn’t my mother request to see this?”
The healer looked back. “She said she would come hold your hand if you wanted.”
His fiancé folded her arms. “Mother said that? She was so adamant about being involved earlier.”
Wysteri rolled her gold eyes. “She watched me perform three or four dozen procedures. To be honest, I think she grew bored of it. It’s really only interesting if you’re designing or doing diagnosis.”
Sarai looked around, still obviously uncomfortable but not wanting to show it. Bannor put his arm around her. She immediately snuggled close.
“So, what are these things?” she asked indicating the table, cylinder, and the crystals with a wave of her hand.
Wysteri gestured to the metal table and touched something on its side. With a humming whine the table pivoted up so that it was standing nearly perpendicular. Bannor noticed that the bed was slightly concave and that tiny blue jewels laid out in a grid covered its surface.
Reality's Plaything 4: Savants Ascendant Page 31
