by Jeremy Dwyer
“How can she help? She didn’t exactly stop him last time,” Torin asked.
“Everywhere the ghost of Tychon sails, he’s going to kill hundreds more people. Irina knows a few things about the spirit world, and has a grudge against him, so she might be willing to share some real words of wisdom,” Akantha said.
“This sounds like wishful thinking. You don’t know what she has to offer, do you?” Fritz asked.
“Someone who is motivated to help usually has at least their determination to offer, and that’s not to be overlooked,” Pradrock said.
“Even though she’s a ghost?” Torin asked.
“I’m not sure if that makes her more or less useful,” Fritz said.
“Set your course for the Way of Raza’Deptorum,” Pradrock said.
Massimo drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial and was energized. He looked out to the north, and guided Akylas, who steered the ship, sailing north across the Gradaken Ocean.
CHAPTER 21: Darkness upon the Empires of Corruption
On Haza’Kedro’Maral Island, in the Pirovalen Ocean, Governor Lux was waiting in the Trading Center Five building. He was sitting on the floor, in his private quarters, hoping for news of his hired mercenaries, including Murtagh. When the door opened, and Governors Parry and Sullivan entered, he was disappointed, but did not show it.
“Governors Parry and Sullivan. What brings you here on this occasion?” Governor Lux asked.
“Governor Lux, we bring news of a change of power,” Governor Sullivan said.
“A new ruler – known as King Xander – has taken control of both Ihalik and Meridianus,” Governor Parry said.
“He is said to be using illusionists to deceive the masses, creating monuments giving the appearance of great wealth, and he is using songs and other tricks of the mind, to enchant the masses and press them into service,” Governor Sullivan said.
“The report is from a Chronicler, who learned of the deception when a cloud of darkness descended over the illusions for a brief time, during a confrontation with a woman who denied the king,” Governor Parry said.
“And this king executes those who do not proclaim his greatness,” Governor Sullivan said.
“A king who would create illusions of wealth to deceive nations on two (2) continents will eventually make plans against this financial institution, to seize its assets,” Governor Lux said.
“Duchess Uliana intends to make a peace treaty with him,” Governor Sullivan said.
“Wait, then, while I consider our disposition in this matter,” Governor Lux said, and then he drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from his vial. He was energized and reached out into the spirit world, calling to a spirit but not vocalizing anything the other governors could hear.
~~~
Through his link to the invisible – but very real – spirit world, Governor Lux contacted Havatissa, and asked of the spirit: “What of this King Xander? How shall we halt his progress before he attempts to steal our wealth?”
A voice spoke into the spirit of Governor Lux, such that only he could hear it, saying: “With thisss king, make peaccce, with a promissse of wealth. In return, ssseek protecssshun for the temple for the worssship of the sssunsss.”
“Why should we seek to protect the interests of the sun worshippers?” Governor Lux asked, again through the spirit world, so that only Havatissa could hear, and his question was not audible to the other governors.
The voice spoke privately, again, into the spirit of Governor Lux, saying: “The vain king will be angered by the worssship of the sssunsss, and he will make plansss to dessstroy the temple.”
The entire spiritual conversation lasted a mere minute, and it seemed to Governors Parry and Sullivan that Lux was calculating his next move.
~~~
“You will go with the duchess,” Governor Lux said.
“She intends to deceive the king. Yet, I question her ability to do so,” Governor Parry said.
“All war is deception. She intends to use the Torches of Majesty to intimidate this king, no doubt. This is no peace envoy. Do not allow yourselves to be likewise deceived,” Governor Lux said.
“What are we to gain by going, then?” Governor Sullivan asked.
“This king is a liar, which is obvious, because he is hiding something of great importance – or concealing his inadequacy – behind the illusions. The king is both powerful and greedy, which is also obvious, because he has expanded his kingdom greatly, and likely intends to continue. The king is arrogant, which is obvious, because he killed those who would not proclaim his greatness. So, you will offer wealth to placate his greed, and insist only that he respect this island territory, along with the temple of the suns which is being erected upon it,” Governor Lux said.
“Protect the temple of the suns!? How is that sensible? The temple is a waste of our wealth on a religious ritual, and not a thing for us to defend,” Governor Parry said.
“Are we now forming an alliance of convenience with Duchess Uliana? Is this not our chance to let her fail?” Governor Sullivan asked.
“The insistence to not attack the temple of the suns will only serve to anger the arrogant king, and he will strike back against the temple in revenge. Then, Duchess Uliana will be forced into a conflict, and she will fail,” Governor Lux said.
~~~
Mercator traveled about the southern regions of the world to carry on his gem trading business. Inland travel was best – whether on foot or by horseback or by riverboat – since different regions had different market conditions and some gemstones commanded a greater price in the proper place.
He would buy the pieces at a price he knew to be reasonably low, and he knew what prices were high, low or average because he tracked all of his previous sales in a book, which he organized by types of gems and by territory.
Lately, travel was more difficult because of the darkening skies, and so he proceeded more slowly than usual. He decided to make the most of the circumstances, by spending more time in each town and village to buy and sell what he could, and traveling mostly when enough suns aligned to give him a brighter path. All the suns were partially eclipsed – how and why, he did not know – so it took more of them to cluster together to give ample light to safely travel. He heard talk in different locales about navigators – the ones who drank the Atrejan Ocean waters to hear the sounds of the stars – being unable to do so under these skies. Those that tried failed and felt crippling pains. Instead, those who drank the Lujladia Ocean waters – to gain the powers of light – were best able to navigate when the dim light of too few eclipsed stars simply made travel nearly impossible.
Mercator spent days and weeks on this slow journey of gem trading, while winding through the continent of Ihalik. He eventually made his way southward to the Admiral Ramalaxis Bridge, the land bridge that connected southern Ihalik to northwestern Meridianus. A river wound through the narrow land bridge, and he followed its course by walking along the bank. Here, he expected to be able to trade in a number of his blue topaz, as they commanded a higher price in this region for various cultural reasons.
He found a small town, built only a few miles south of the head of the river – and at the northern extent of the land bridge – where he could set up his wares on tables. He rented wooden tables from a local carpenter for the price of a single silver coin each day, and then rented a room at a local inn for the price of two (2) gold coins each night.
Before sleeping each night, he would carefully count his stock, to be sure all sales and purchases were recorded correctly, and that his counts of each type of gem were at least approximately correct.
In his accounting, Mercator again came across the black onyx and examined it closely. It was cold to the touch – a fact which he hadn’t really noticed before. Then, however, he considered that it was in the shape of a candle, a fact which he had noticed before, but now realized was more significant. The wick that protruded from it seemed to be genuine, and
he wondered if it would hold a flame, which could make for easier navigation in the twilight brought by the partially eclipsed suns. He held the black onyx candle up to a lit candle on the wall and the wick of the black onyx candle caught fire.
The room, however, did not grow brighter. Instead, the flame gave off no light at all: it was dark, which was extraordinary. Mercator wondered if it was because the flame was burning the crystal and sending its black onyx ash into the air around the flame. Unfortunately, Mercator thought, he could not look closely into the crystal structure of the onyx, because did not drink of the Kazofen Ocean waters. That would have revealed to him so much more, he imagined, and would have improved his business if he could cut the gems himself, instead of having to pay someone else to do so.
Instead, Mercator had chosen to drink of the Trerada Ocean waters, which gave him fine looks and – much more importantly – robust health needed to be a traveler. He worried little about illness or fatigue on his journeys. More than once, he had been the target of violent robbery attempts, but these left no lasting injury, and the deep scars from the loss of a finger were gone, and the finger grew back as if no attack had taken place, all due to the Trerada waters. For that, he was grateful. Perhaps, he thought, it wasn’t so unfortunate a choice of waters, because without those, he would likely have been crippled or dead, whereas the Kazofen waters would have only made him a few percent wealthier.
Why the flame on this candle was dark remained a mystery, but Mercator was curious to learn of the reason. He thought that, perhaps, a trick of the light indoors was making it harder to recognize. He opened the window to the rented room and looked outside and forgot – for a moment – the candle whose flame was mysteriously dark, because he was startled to see that the skies, outside, were even darker than before. The flame on the candle did nothing to alleviate this darkness, even when he held the black onyx candle in his hand, which was extended through the open window. Yet, he did not connect these things, as it was far too unreasonable to even think it.
~~~
Pandaros and Seleukos had booked passage on an airship to travel westward across Emeth. The ship then returned to sea level in the Trerada Ocean, heading southwest.
In their cabin on board the ship, Pandaros drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean and was energized. He called out into the spirit world and asked, in a voice that only a certain spirit could hear: “Where is this man named Mercator, that we should travel most directly to him?”
“The merchant isss now in the land bridge to the sssouth. Enter not Ihalik, for it isss under a new king, who will deccceive and conquer,” the voice said into the spirit of Pandaros, so that only he could hear.
“We must take this ship to the south, to the Admiral Ramalaxis Bridge. There, we will find this merchant,” Pandaros said, knowing very well the geography of the world, and which land bridges connected which continents and separated which oceans.
Seleukos stepped out on deck and immediately noticed a change – it was darker than before. He immediately returned to the cabin and said to Pandaros: “The skies are darker. Could it be that another luminary has been lit?”
Pandaros stepped out on deck and looked to see that the skies were, indeed, noticeably darker. He wondered who else could be lighting luminaries. Perhaps it was Amaltheia and Erikkos, he thought, but the transition was definite.
~~~
In his rented room, Mercator pondered the mystery for a short while, but soon grew tired. He then withdrew his hand from the window, closed the curtain, turned his back and then extinguished the flame from the dark onyx candle and rested on the bed.
~~~
As Pandaros stood on the deck of the ship, he saw the sky above suddenly grow brighter – or, he thought – less dark. Perhaps, he thought, it was not Amaltheia and Erikkos, because they would not have extinguished the flame, unless they were traitors, or had been apprehended.
Pandaros returned to the cabin and said: “A luminary has been lit, and then a luminary has been extinguished. Whether it was the same one, I cannot yet know. Still, we must be swift.”
~~~
Governors Sullivan and Parry returned to Trading Center One and met with Duchess Uliana.
“We are prepared to accompany you on this peace envoy, Duchess,” Governor Sullivan said.
“How are you prepared? Where is your peace offering of wealth to present to this king? We cannot go empty handed. If you don’t know that, you are a fool, governor,” Duchess Uliana said.
“The measure of wealth to give is yours to decide, Duchess. We will enter the vault and fill a chest with the valuables of your choosing and number,” Governor Parry said.
“Fill ten (10) chests with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires, even pearls. Dazzle the eyes, governor, or King Xander will be angered, and strike at us,” Duchess Uliana said.
“Will your blazers not protect you?” Governor Sullivan asked.
“How dare you mock or doubt me! The tone of your voice will get you killed, governor,” Duchess Uliana said. She was particularly irritable and tired, being six (6) months pregnant. Everything these bank governors said – and they were subordinate to her, because of the power of the Torches of Majesty to enforce her commands, so they were hardly governing – seemed irksome to her. She never trusted them, and never would, but they knew how the bank operated and could manage its daily workings efficiently, freeing her up to direct the Torches of Majesty who, in turn, directed the construction of the Temple of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings.
One (1) of those Torches – Blazer Luken – now stood nearby Duchess Uliana and said: “All three (3) of us are available to serve. Who will stay to guard the temple during the mission?”
“Blazer Luken, you will guard the temple and oversee its construction. Let nothing delay its progress. Call to Blazer Endrit and Blazer Darakizar. They will escort me,” Duchess Uliana said.
Blazer Luken left the building and went to the construction site, where the Temple of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings was more than halfway completed. Blazer Endrit and Blazer Darakizar were both watching the construction process, and the bright flames that surrounded their blue skinned bodies gave ample light by which the workers could continue. There were required to assist, as well as to oversee and to protect.
“I shall stand guard over the temple construction. Both of you shall accompany Duchess Uliana to meet King Xander, ruler of Ihalik and Meridianus, and guard her while she arranges a treaty,” Blazer Luken said.
“Do you expect violence?” Blazer Endrit asked.
“Yes. But I also expect deception – he commands illusionists to deceive the subjects in his kingdom. There are also reports of musical enchantments and tricks of the mind, so be on your guard against telepathy,” Blazer Luken said.
“How can we defend against songs or attacks on the mind? We have powers by the stars, and no longer even enough to know their positions or movements,” Blazer Darakizar asked.
“We must be prepared to strike first, and swiftly, before an enchantment of any type could overcome us,” Blazer Endrit said.
“Join her, that I may now oversee the temple and this king should be kept away,” Blazer Luken said.
Blazer Endrit and Blazer Darakizar entered the Trading Center One building and met with Duchess Uliana.
Governors Parry and Sullivan – and twenty (20) of their banking clerks, working in pairs to carry ten (10) chests of jewels – stood nearby the duchess.
“We will take a ready ship and travel to meet with this King Xander at once,” Duchess Uliana said.
~~~
Mixed in with the crowd of bankers and traders, Danielle was watching and waiting. She drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from her vial, and was energized. She knew that Governors Parry and Sullivan were planning on rousing the ire of the king by warning him away from the temple of the suns, and she was pleased with their intentions.
Halina drank anew of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean from her own vial and was e
nergized. She continued to extend powers of darkness to cloak herself, Marzia and Roxanne. Marzia drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from her vial and was energized. She also read the thoughts of the bank governors, and was pleased that they intended to trouble Duchess Uliana. However, since they were assigned by Tanith Orenda to spy on – and even subvert – King Xander, they would be accompanying the Duchess on her false peace envoy and get close to the king.
CHAPTER 22: Construction of the Greatest of Walls
Fantine and Cassius were in the study in Sebastian’s estate, located in the north central region of the continent of Baradaxa near the coast. They looked at a diagram on a large table – over twenty (20) feet long by ten (10) feet wide – that mapped the coast line of the continent. Two (2) sets of six (6) markings were placed on the map, indicating where the interior and exterior pillars of the current constructor were located.
“A constructor slightly more than twice as large could protect the entire continent. The projection range of each pillar – those positioned along the original outer hexagon – can be extended to eleven hundred twenty (1120) miles by my calculations. Those pillars on the inner hexagon cannot be easily reused because they are significantly smaller and will not hold the crystals at the proper heights,” Cassius said.
“So, we will have to add another seven (7) pillars to the six (6) we have,” Fantine said.
“Correct, my dear architect. However, the proximity of the pillars to the ocean waters is what will increase their efficiency to that level – their present location is not adequate. We will need to relocate the existing pillars strategically, as well as to build the new ones,” Cassius said.
“The curvature of the crystals atop the pillars can be modified to absorb more light – I have something in mind. Also, we should have light benders work with us to provide more illumination, since the suns are now too dark to provide a full charge quickly enough,” Fantine said.
Cassius thought about this for a moment and said: “That may be necessary, unfortunately, in the interest of expedience.” He had been studying the book of castles – which he still kept with him and did not share with Fantine – so that he could deepen his understanding of crystal manipulations and improve the constructor. That book was deep in its mathematical insights regarding crystals, and it took even him a while to fully grasp the many layers of its meaning. Drinking the waters of the Medathero Ocean was essential to elevating his intellect to the necessary level to truly comprehend the book’s contents.
