by R N Skye
The inside of the long rectangular compartment was lit from panels similar to those that were at the station. To Ava the air inside the compartment smelled slightly of pine and she thought she could detect cool air blowing silently from unseen vents in the ceiling. There were no other passengers on board, only empty seats that lined both sides of the coach with large windows running along both sides that offered an exceptional view of the surroundings.
Ava followed Laura’s example and took a seat next to her; wondering what would happen next. Unlike a ride on a horse drawn coach or carriage she felt no sense of movement but was amazed that as soon as the doors closed the building she had just left slid away at an incredible speed.
“This is amazing,” started Ava as she hurried and looked in the direction they had just left behind and then looked over her shoulder to the all but existent sunset.
“I really wish you could see it in the day time,” commented Laura. The view is something to behold. “We will get you settled tomorrow and in a day or two when there is time we can take the overland back to hill station again as a sight-seeing trip.”
Ari opened the door and invited Shane in. “Where you followed?” Ari asked just to see what Shane would say.
Shane hesitated a moment and replied, “I’m pretty sure no one saw me.”
Ari laughed out loud as if Shane had just shared the punch line of a very funny joke. “I suppose not.”
Shane looked around the large room that appeared to be more a small suite as it contained two large beds, a pair of armoires, a kitchenette with a table with a pair of chairs, a sitting area with a couch and two comfortable looking chairs, and a bathing room with toilet.
“Make yourself at home,” directed Ari. “I’m using the bed and armoire nearest the window; you can take the one nearest the door.” He added as he crossed the room and sat down in one of the large chairs.
Shane walked to the bed indicated and un-shouldered his pack setting it at the foot of the bed.
“Time to put our cards on the table,” began the older man. “As I said before my name is Ari Desmond. I believe you know my niece Ava,” as Shane was about to open his mouth Ari held up a hand. “Let me finish we will have questions and answers after the presentation.” The older man laughed at his own joke.
“First a little bit about me. For the last fifteen or so years I have been in the employ of the Crown Special Services or CSS. To put it mildly and leave out the morbid details I have been involved in everything from cloak and dagger to skull and duggery. I spent most of that time loyally serving King Allion the Second. When his son took the throne I began to have my doubts as to whether or not I wanted to continue my career; so I took steps and began transitioning to what you might term the family business; which I believe Ava may have shared a little information on what that entails. Earlier today I quit my job and the King thinks I’m dead; which is significant as the king is the one that ordered my death. My face is not the same as the one that those that knew me in the kings employ, as you may have noticed at the tavern this evening from, our meeting earlier today at the game.
Something else you should know. I am a Wonstrowd educated magetech and I am also very good at gathering information. I also know that you have achieved some significant breakthroughs on glyph magic that, if you aren’t careful, will make you the target of every artifact manufacturer in Infin, especially the crown.
Now before you start with your questions I would like you to observer the following visuals.” Ari got up and opened his armoire revealing his play back screens and activated the playback of Shane coming to the door.
After viewing the images of his materialization of him and his backpack Shane sank to the bed and sat heavily. “Are you really Ava’s uncle?” Shane said solemnly realizing that either way he was going to have to trust the former agent.
“Watch this.” Ari touched a few glyphs and images of a large group of people gathered around an extremely long table were laughing and talking; enjoying what appeared to be a holiday meal. Shane immediately recognized a two or three year younger Ava and her Mother and Father. Sitting next to them was the man standing in front of him. Ari touched a couple of more glyphs and sound began to accompany the video. He recognized the voices of Ava and her parents and couldn’t help but smile as he observed Ava banter with Ari about who knew what in relation to their artifact knowledge.
“Satisfied?”
Shane nodded. After a brief pause while Ari switched his viewers to reveal several other scenes Shane said, “I guess if you are Ava’s uncle then it’s ok to share what I know.”
“Hold that thought,” said the older man as he closed the armoire doors and started walking to the door of the room. “Do me a favor and step into the bathroom out of sight please.”
Shane stood and started toward the bathroom when there was a knocking at the door. Ari waited for him to close the door behind him and then he answered the knocking at the entrance. After a few long moments Ari called for Shane to come out. Stacked neatly on the floor were several large boxes.
“I took the liberty of moving you out of your dorm. I hope you don’t mind. Its seems that Lundi morning you were going to be officially requested to join the Crowns special artifact team and with that would have come soldiers and guards that would make our departure from the city a little difficult. I presume you weren’t going to take the IDAD up on their offer, were you?”
“How did you know about that?” asked Shane.
“Shane,” Ari laughed, “Before this evening, if it had anything to do with the Crown, IDAD, or the government of Infin, I knew it. Who do you think vetted you and Ava for access to all of those proprietary artifacts that your research group always had at their fingertips?”
Shane yawned and rubbed his jaw to relieve the painful reminder of his brawl earlier. “I’m a bit tired, do you mind if I turn in? I can fill you in on what information I have in the morning.”
“No problem,” replied Ari, I’m feeling a bit of a headache as well. I was blindsided with a rabbit punch during that little post game celebration you had over at the Ox.”
Shane went to the boxes and began to rummage through them. He pulled out a set of clean boxer shorts and a tee-shirt and headed for the shower. “Do you mind if I go first?”
After his ablutions Shane exited the bath room toweling off his hair still holding his shirt. He sat on his bed and removed one of his scribes from his pack and began to script the simple healing enchantment on his shirt.
Noting his activity Ari approached and watched him as he worked. “I recognize some of those glyphs but not all, what is it you are doing?”
Shane continued to write as he answered. “It’s a simple healing enchantment that heals over time. It’s great for the bumps and bruises that you get from warball. I thought I’d give it a go to see if it helped my jaw feel better by morning.”
“Amazing, simply amazing,” said Ari shaking his head.
“Why don’t you toss me one of your shirts and I’ll put it on yours see if it doesn’t help your headache. I’m pretty new at this so I’m not sure all that it will heal.”
By the time Ari was done with his shower Shane was nearly finished with the second shirt. Ari watched closely as he inscribed the final glyph. Shane put the scribe pack into his pack and set it on the floor at the head of his bed and then held the first shirt and with a thought let his lumen flow into the newly written glyphs activating them. Taking Ari’s shirt he repeated the process. He tossed the shirt to the older man and with a grin said, “Take one of these and call me in the morning.”
Ari laughed and shrugged into the shirt. “Thanks. Any chance you can teach me to do that?”
“I’m not certain, it was quite the process, but in the morning I can look into it. If you are up to speed on your understanding of glyphs then all I’ll need to do is see if I can teach activation. I’m not sure if it’s something taught or if it’s ability.”
“This is incredible. My head
ache is already subsiding.”
“You have no idea, from what I’ve learned so far the possibilities for enchantments are only limited by your imagination and your understanding of certain physical laws and the rules of glyph magic.” Shane climbed under the covers and mentally commanded the instructor to take the form of a small bedside portrait of Ava on his night stand and begin his nightly instruction. Smiling he closed his eyes. “Get the light please, will you?”
As the former agent reached to turn off the light he noticed the picture of Ava and the now snoring Shane he thought to himself, “I think for the first time in my life magetech might become fun.”
Except for the well-lit station the village of Yllyan was dark but for a few isolated windows of a few houses and buildings by the time the overland glided to a halt at the Yllyan station. Laura led Ava from the platform to a sidewalk that was nearly pristine. Ava had never seen such immaculate construction even in the palace region in Jehhet.
A short walk later, Laura turned toward a large house and proceeded up the walkway. As they approached the door a light illuminated a handleless doorway. At her touch the door opened and the interior automatically illuminated as well. Looking around with a lightly worried expression Laura commented, “Guess Soaris is still out.”
Ava entered the spotless foyer and noted a small sitting room to the side. Following Laura she continued past the sitting room which led into a larger room with sofas and chairs, several book cases loaded down with books of many sizes and colors.
“You must be starving,” said Laura as she walked past what Ava took to be a library or lounge and into an obvious kitchen. “Please make yourself comfortable and I’ll throw something together.”
Ava sat at the small dinette in the corner of the kitchen and in a few moments Laura placed a plate that was piled with fruits, cheese, and what looked to be thinly sliced roast beef, in front of her. Ava was famished other than a few snacks while watching the game she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Laura soon joined her with a plate of her own and two tumblers of chilled water.
As the two women began to eat the distinctive sound of an opening door grabbed their attention to the rear of the kitchen. A door leading outside that Ava had not noticed before was closing behind the tall man that had transported her from the mess tent earlier that day.
Laura stood and greeted the man with a warm hug and a peck. “I was so worried,” she said. Noting his dusty appearance she added, “go wash up, I’ll fix you a plate.”
The man strode to the kitchen sink and touched a glyph covered tap causing water to pour out and began to wash his hands while his wife busied herself with preparing another plate of food.
“I’m Soaris,” he addressed Ava, “I apologize for the lack of introductions earlier this afternoon but things were a bit rushed. Thank you for meeting our guest, Laura,” he said to his wife.
“Wild horses couldn’t have stopped me,” exclaimed Laura. “You do know that this is your son’s girlfriend,” She put the emphasis on girlfriend.
“You women are such romantics. Don’t get your hopes up, dear; I’m sure they are just friends.”
“I hope we are more than friends,” Chimed in Ava smiling at the older couples banter. “I told him how I felt at the pier before I boarded for the expedition. My fear is that the most handsome athlete on the warball team will forget about me before we get a chance to see each other again.”
“She’s got it bad,” Soaris said humorously to his wife.
“Don’t you worry one bit.” Laura coddled taking Ava’s hand and patting it gently. “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this but the last letter I got from Shane said that he thought that he had met the one; the same letter that was nearly filled with details regarding a smart, beautiful, and inspiring lab assistant that he was dating that matches your description. And if there’s one thing that he got from his mother it is his loyalty,” she scowled at her husband. “No matter how unusual this family is we stand by those we love,”
Laura turned to her husband. “How did it go after you dropped off Ava? Are you going to have to destroy the Island?”
At this Soaris smiled widely. You’re not going to believe this but after I dropped off Ava I traveled to the Arc and sent a message to the Elders regarding the predicament and they sent two Lumen mages. They had me go distract the expedition teams, the army, and the navy; which I gladly did. I was able to create the illusion that pirates were on the way to attack. By the time I got back to the Island the city of Hylye was gone.”
“Do you know where it went?” asked Ava.
“That’s the amazing part,” Soaris said shaking his head. “I went to where the city used to be on the island and was met by the two Elios mages. They transported us to the hill station. You know the valley that runs west and south of the hill station, that’s where they put the city.”
“But we were just there,” Laura said. “The overland pulled out just as the sun was almost completely over the horizon.”
“You must have just missed it. I walked the streets with the two Elios mages and they told me that the move was successful. I asked if it was ok to occupy. All they said was that the city belonged to the Luion but they recommended that I wait for my son to make it safe. Then they promptly disappeared.
That leads my next topic of conversation to be directed to you, Ava. What has our son been up to that the Elios of all people are confident that he has the skills necessary to make a city safe?”
Ava shrugged. “When I last saw Shane he was working on creating an artifact that he had learned about partially from studying existing artifacts and partially from a dream he had had.” She then went into the details of Shane’s theories and his dream of the Arc and Laws of Wisdom and everything else that she could recall.
Soaris was silent when she finished her explanation; his expression one of a man that had just finished a very long race and rest was finally within reach,
“What is it Soaris,” his wife asked with concern.
“It’s Shane, he is the Dernier Chanson. He is the one that I have been preparing for,”
When Shane woke his jaw was feeling normal again; the swelling and pain was gone. His knuckles and other parts that had had minor bumps and bruises were all healed as well. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stretched and finally got up and began to dig through his boxes to see if he could find his razor. He looked over and noticed that Ari’s bed was empty. As Shane searched through the boxes he noticed that whoever had cleaned out his apartment had cleaned out everything. He found a lot of junk that he would have left behind if it were him that had gathered it up. While he waited for Ari to return he found his two large duffle bags that he usually used for packing gear for his trips home and stuffed then with his clothes and shoes; he kept one of the boxes for books and papers that he wanted to keep and the rest he used to box up all the other items he planned on throwing away. When he was done he had two duffle bags and a large box that contained everything he owned; Depressing he thought. Having completed his organization he took his now located razor and went into the bath room to shave.
Shane was just putting away his razor when Ari returned. “Here have some breakfast.” Ari tossed a paper bag on to Shane’s bed.
“Thanks,” said Shane as he sat on the bed and looked in the bag. “Mmmm, sausage egg and cheese on a croissant, where‘d you get this?”
“Roger threw it together for me. I would have brought you a cup of roasters but I figured it would be cold by the time I got it back here. I have instant in my top drawer if you want the front desk to bring some hot water.”
Shane smiled and grabbed his pack and retrieved the cup that he had enchanted with the hot and cold glyphs. “Hand me your can of instant.”
Ari opened a drawer at the base of his armoire and lobbed a can of the powdered caramelized dark roasted grain beverage to Shane. Shane scarcely paying attention snagged the flying can from the air with the practiced ease of a warball receiver
. He walked to the wash room and filled his cup with warm water then brought the cup back into the sitting area and put the cup on the short table in front of the couch.
“Watch this,” Shane said as he touched the glyph that made the cup contents hot. Immediately the water in the cup started wafting steam. Shane opened the can and stirred a couple of spoons full of the instant beverage into the hot water and soon the rich aroma of the hot cup of roasters filled the room.
“This was one of the first enchantments I learned,” explained Shane as he took a sip from the cup. “It’s a simple hot and cold sequence if I wanted to make it cold I could just touch here,” He pointed to a glyph on the cup. “By the way, how are your bumps and bruises this morning?”
“I woke up feeling like I had slept for a week and I haven’t felt this good in years.”
“It’s really quite simple. All the enchantments you’ve seen so far is the beginner stuff; the simplest enchantments that I could find to practice on. “I’ve learned a lot since and now that warball season is over I was planning on doing some serious experimenting.”
Ari grimaced with a serious expression. “I need to get you somewhere safe so that you can continue your research. If what I’ve seen so far is any indication then the world is going to change; drastically.”
“I was hoping to get proficient enough to teach Ava and see about getting her an instructor like mine; if she is able to control lumen enough to do activation then that would help a lot. She is an excellent researcher and analyst.”
“Can you teach anyone how to do that?” asked Ari.
“I’m not sure.” Shane went on to explain his tale on how he had learned about and then made the instructor and how he had looked up simple glyph enchantments to practice on,
