The Flames of Deception - A Horizon of Storms: Book 1

by AJ Martin

  The tall, stick - thin man, with mottled, wafer-thin skin, rose surprisingly deftly from his seat given his obvious age and raised a bony hand. “Counsellor Pym,” he began, “What have you to say of these actions brought against you? Surely you are aware of the delicacy of our predicament? Why would you go against the Consensus in this matter?”

  Augustus rose from his seat, slowly and carefully, and adjusted his robes. His face was unyielding as he spoke. “It will perhaps come as little surprise to many of you that I originally opposed the will of the Consensus to capture the princess. My expression of distaste for the decision was made quite clear in the deliberations we have had these last few months. In my judgement the seeing stone made it quite clear the gods’ intentions for Princess Josephine: she is the one and only chance of stopping the Return.”

  “That is a matter of opinion,” Auric replied, but then motioned to Pym to continue.

  “Perhaps you are right. Perhaps it is just my opinion. The stones can be interpreted in many ways. But I remain definitively forward - thinking in my approach to matters of this world as they stand. And I believe Mahalia must face the future with an open mind if it is to remain standing as tall as it does in the politics of this continent.” He took a pause. “Faced with the strength of my convictions to revelations of the seeing stone, I took action to correct what I see as a fatal error in judgement by this realm.” The hubbub of the room grew louder again as he continued. “The world stands on a knife edge! We have not faced such a challenge in hundreds of years! The stone has shown us the solution to our problems: a young girl endowed with the power of the Akari. Should we let our bias of women using the power blind us to all that she could do for peace in this world?”

  “With respect, Augustus,” another voice boomed out, from a man who rose from his seat several rows back. “That was not your decision to make. All possibilities were discussed and the majority voted to contain the girl and fight the upcoming storm ourselves. The girl is too dangerous to be let loose!”

  “Our strength alone will not be enough.” Pym replied bluntly.

  “You doubt our abilities?” The man continued.

  “Malik, we may yield the earth power and we may have survived this long as a great country as a result of our relationship to it. But to think we are superior to anyone else, that our realm will last forever simply because we believe it will is to set ourselves up for a mighty fall. We must adapt and challenge our preconceptions if we are to continue. We are not powerful enough to stop this alone. I believe that with my whole being. And if we do continue down this path, Mahalia will fall.”

  “Treasonous talk!” Another man called out angrily, hammering his fists on the wooden pew in front of him.

  “You question my loyalty to this realm Fessalin, simply because I have the courage to speak out against conservative elements? I work to protect this council and the people of Mahalia in all things! Even from itself!” The room continued to echo with the arguments of the men, until the chancellor stood again on the podium and raised his hands.

  “My friends, I know you will agree that Councillor Pym has given a lot to this council over the years. I am convinced his actions are meant to be for the good of this realm.” He turned to Pym. “But you are naive if you think the girl can be trusted. She is a woman who can wield! How many women have we had to suppress over the years because of their behaviour with the powers?”

  “Too many,” Pym said through gritted teeth, and then raised his voice again. “And too many have been dealt with harshly simply because of their gender and our fear!” The room exploded again with voices. Another man raised his hand. He was a young looking wizard, with an upturned nose and a rounded face. The chancellor beckoned him to speak.

  “Tell me Augustus, have you disclosed the full extent of the prophecy to your apprentice? Is he aware of everything that is to come?”

  “I have told Matthias only what he needs to know. He is not aware of the Return, only of the dragon. I had hoped that with the princess brought to me and partly trained in her abilities, we could reach a new Consensus and that this subterfuge could be ended for the greater good. He didn’t need to know the rest.”

  “Then your actions are not all foolish, it would appear,” the man finished and sat back down, his harsh gaze boring into Augustus’s face.

  The room grew quiet for the first time, and the chancellor pulled from under the plinth a clear glass ornament the size of his fist, with spikes sticking out at all angles.

  “I think the time has come. You will cast your votes into the star of judgement and let us drawn an end to this. Do we continue with the current Consensus? Or do we follow Councillor Pym’s suggestion to aide the girl?” He let go of the object, which hovered above his head. All around him, wizards raised their hands. The star began to glow, shifting its colour from purple to blue. Finally, it settled on a blue hue, pulsing with a subtle hum, and the chancellor nodded. “It is settled. We continue along our current course and we will simultaneously work to retrieve the girl from Matthias.” Pym sat heavily back in his seat and lowered his head.

  The chancellor turned to him. “Councillor Pym, you have gone against the will of this council in open defiance of our laws and practices. You have seen the Consensus on this matter not once, but twice. Do you now accept the will of this council?”

  Pym looked up defiantly. He knew what he should say, to save his skin, but his mouth would not form those words. “No,” he said bluntly.

  The chancellor nodded. “Then as chancellor I have no alternative but to imprison you for your actions. You have committed treason against your government.” He shook his head. “Do you have anything further to say to this council?”

  Pym stood again. He raised his head and broadened his shoulders. “There seems little mote that I can say and nothing it appears that would change the mind of this ageing and bigoted chamber. All I will say is that I fear you have gone against the will of the gods. They have chosen this world’s saviour and you have chosen to go against her.” His jaw set hard as he looked over the room. “You have signalled the downfall of Mahalia in your intransigence. When this city crumbles I hope you will remember my words and look back at this day with regret. I know I will.”

  Decisions

  135th Day of the Cycle, 495 N.E. (New Era)

  Josephine lay in Maryn’s bed, her face pale and her body thin. Thadius sat on a stool by her bedside, a weary head in his hands, his sword cast aside, and Matthias shifted his position against the far wall, where he studied his shoes. Luccius sat opposite Thadius, cured of the boils by Maryn’s lotion. His ears pricked as he heard the sound of birds and he looked up to the window where the sky was a black - grey blend, tinged by the pink light of a new day.

  “I barely noticed the night pass,” he said dreamily. “How long have I been sitting here?”

  “About five hours since the last time you asked,” Thadius answered glumly.

  The ansuwan shook his head and rose from his seat. “What are you thinking about?” he asked Matthias.

  “I’m trying to decide what to do,” he said, running his thumbnail across his bottom lip.

  “About what?”

  “Whether I should continue on to Crystal Ember.”

  “You can’t be serious?” Thadius exclaimed. “What do you possibly think you could do there on your own?”

  Matthias shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Without Josephine it’d be certain death facing Sikaris!” the knight added.

  “Maybe. Nevertheless someone has to try, don’t they? The prison could break any day now. Standing around here is not accomplishing anything and if Josephine... if she doesn’t...” He shook his head. “Someone has to try.”

  Maryn entered the room, wearing a woollen night - gown and carrying a tray with three steaming porcelain cups of tea.

  “I thought you could do with something to wake you all up,” she said. “My own blend of spiced tea. How is she?”

 
“There doesn’t seem to be any change,” Thadius said wearily.

  “Maryn, can you please try and knock some sense into Matthias?” Luccius asked. “He’s talking about going on his own to stop the dragon!”

  Maryn set the tray to one side. “You have a plan?” she asked him.

  “No,” said Matthias.

  “Ah. You have lost your mind then?” Maryn asked.

  “Possibly,” Matthias sniffed with a thin smile. “It should have worked by now, shouldn’t it?” he asked her. “I can tell by that look on your face that the answer is ‘yes’.”

  “It doesn’t look good,” Maryn replied. “However, she is still alive and that much is a miracle in itself. Perhaps in a few more days we will know for sure.”

  “It has been three days already. There is too much at stake to wait any longer,” he said. “I can’t stay here when the dragon could be freed at any moment.” He looked at Josephine. “As much as I want to.”

  “Fine. Go then!” Thadius said angrily. “We don’t need you. This mission is over.” He stepped forward, his black-ringed eyes glaring at Matthias. “If the princess wakes after you have gone I’m taking her back to Rina. I will fight off wizards or demons or whoever else decides they would like to try and hurt her.”

  “If she does wake up you have to follow me and get her to Olindia,” Matthias advised.

  “To do what? Get killed? Without any more training, what will she be able to do?” He stood. “This is all your fault! You and your scheming people! Why couldn’t you just leave her alone?”

  “You know what my people would have done if they had got to her first! Or worse, if those creatures had reached her first, she would be dead!” exclaimed Matthias.

  “Well, you’ve certainly done a great job of avoiding that out here, haven’t you? She’s coming back with me, to her father. The dragon be damned!”

  “You’re a coward!” Matthias spat. “Josephine would stay and fight! If she were awake she’d carry on if it meant she could save lives!”

  “Oh, I dare you to call me a coward again wizard!” Thadius bared his fists. “If you cared an inch about the princess you wouldn’t ask me to take her further into danger!”

  “I care about her more than I can say!” Matthias growled.

  “You barely know her!” Thadius barked.

  “Men,” Maryn muttered. “This house wasn’t built for such rigorous cockfights.”

  “Both of you just stop it! For the gods’ sakes! You aren’t helping anything!” Luccius yelled. He took a deep breath and ran his hands anxiously through his locks. “Matthias, if you need to go, then you should go.” He took a breath. I will stay here. If Josephine awakes… when she awakes, I will tell her where you’ve gone. Then it will be her decision as to what she does and where she goes!” He eyed Thadius with a piercing stare. “Whatever she decides, I will come and find you when I can. I’m not going to leave you on your own.”

  Matthias stepped back and nodded. “Alright,” he said after a pause. He brushed past the knight who stood defiantly rigid, nostrils flaring. He could have been made from wood his back was so straight. Matthias knelt by Josephine’s side, and his face grew soft. Fumbling by her side, he picked up her hand and stroked it softly with his thumb.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t keep you safe,” he whispered. “I’m sorry I lied to you. Both times. I should have told you the full truth from the start. I was trying to protect you. I hope whatever else you think of me, that you will believe that.” He took a breath. “I may not have known you very long,” he continued, “but I am all the better for being in your company.” His words caught in his throat and he had to steady himself. Then he laughed under his breath. “All these years and then you come along.” He shook his head. “Why now, so late on, must I have found you?” He stopped and turned to look at Maryn. She smiled at him. Matthias turned back and then, leaning forward, kissed the princess on the forehead. “Goodbye Josephine.” He placed her hand down by her side, stood, and turned away, making his way to the door. At its entrance he paused, a hand on the frame and then after a beat turned to the others. “I was never very good at leaving in the middle of an argument. You aren’t a coward Thadius. We couldn’t have made it this far without you.”

  The knight nodded begrudgingly. “That is big of you to admit,” he said gruffly.

  “The truth is, I care about you all. You have joined me on this journey to protect the princess and I...” he stopped. “Never mind. You should all just get as far from here as you can, in case the worst happens.” Then turned again and disappeared downstairs. Maryn followed him down to the shop floor. As he grabbed his bag and threw on his coat, she stood in the doorway, watching him.

  “What?” he asked her.

  “Why does it have to be you? This is the council’s doing! They are the ones who can’t decide which side of the fence they should be on! It’s not you who should be going to face the dragon but them! They should have sent as many wizards as they could to escort Josephine, not argue about whether or not she should be imprisoned! And now you have to pick up the pieces! Why would you still blindly follow them after all their mistakes?”

  “Maryn, I love you dearly, but you never did understand,” Matthias said.

  She shook her head. “No, and I never will.” She folded her arms. “You’re an idiot,” she said.

  Matthias smiled. “I’ll miss you too.” He buttoned his coat. “Thank you for trying to help,” he said, taking his sword from where he had propped them behind the counter. “Perhaps this will come in handy after all.” He tied it back to his belt, stuck his staff around the straps on his back, and hefted his bag, opening the door. “I’ll be alright, you know. You wish you could get rid of me so easily.” He turned and walked down the path, and didn’t look back. Maryn watched him disappear around the corner, and then made her way back upstairs.

  “He’s gone,” she said to the others. Luccius let the back of his head bang against the wall, and his ears drooped.

  “Our journey together is over then,” he whispered.

  “I still have his pendant,” Thadius said suddenly, feeling around his neck at the metal arrowhead. “I’m surprised he didn’t ask for it back.”

  “Oh no,” Luccius grimaced.

  “What’s wrong?” the knight asked.

  “The only time a wizard would ever relinquish the pendant is when they are going to die,” Maryn advised.

  Thadius shook his head. “He gave it to me ages ago.”

  “That’s different to leaving without it,” she said.

  “And that makes you think he is going to die?” Thadius questioned.

  “When a wizard dies, their bond is broken with the pendant. The crystal at its heart is linked to the wizard who bonds with it. The metal around it dissolves to prevent it being stolen and used against Mahalia.” She shook her head sadly. “He left it with you here because he has no further use for it where he is going. He knows he’s not coming back.”

  Repellent

  Day of the Cycle Unknown, 495 N.E. (New Era)

  Josephine’s eyes widened as Taico Grimm towered over her.

  “You! Get away from me!” She kicked back in the water, and gasped. “I do not know how you are here but-”

  “I poisoned you princess,” he said. “A concoction not used in many centuries, apparently. You were supposed to be dead by now. But you always were stronger than you looked. Your mind seems to be fighting me.”

  “Who are you?” she asked. “Why do you speak like you know me so well?”

  “I do know you princess,” he replied. “I know how much of a disappointment you are! But I am here to straighten things out, once and for all.” A crossbow materialised in his free hand where the sword had been. “Think of me as a manifestation of the poison that fills your veins. A part of the man you have known that remains to finish the deed.” He aimed the crossbow. “Sweet dreams, princess.” He pulled the trigger.

  Josephine dived, the arrow sailing ab
ove her head, funnelling into the water. Desperately she pulled herself downwards, deeper. If this was her mind, however altered, however changed, then surely she could get away from here? A popping sound of bubbles made her spin around. A crossbow bolt pierced her right shoulder and she cried out, air escaping from her open mouth. Blood poured from the wound and blotted the ocean.