by Jeremy Dwyer
“The machine that constructed the wall in Baradaxa would accelerate our progress, would it not?” Duchess Uliana asked.
“Perhaps, if it can be made to work precisely according to our needs. Yet, the design for the temple is intricate, and a mere wall – no matter how grand its scale – does not compare. We are nearing completion, Duchess, as I give the temple all of my focus, so we will have little need of such a machine,” Blazer Luken said.
“We shall learn more of the construction machine when the opportunity presents itself. Though you are focused on this work, I will not lose sight of other important things,” Duchess Uliana said.
~~~
After leaving Thalkalana via the riverboat in the cave going slowly upstream, Nov’Talod found himself inside of a cavern with stairs leading downward into a trench. He followed these stairs down and saw that there were numerous paving stones in the trench, and they had numbers carved on them – starting at thirty-eight (38) and decreasing from there.
Nov’Talod looked closely at the stones and suspected that there might be a trap associated with them. He recognized their shape – each was a square with quarter circles cut out of the corners – and had little doubt that many of the stones were triggers. The numbers were likely indicators of which paving stones were safe, and which were not, but he did not know the rule which governed them. Nowhere on the walls or ceiling or floor could he see any clue, so it was not a matter of solving a mathematical puzzle.
Instead, Nov’Talod drank anew of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean from the vial he carried and he was energized. Time flowed slowly through him, so that fast moving events could be perceived at a slower pace. He walked along the stones, and some had blades that sprung up as he stepped on them, but his reflexes – due to the time dilation he experienced – were adequate to respond and move him out of the way before actually being pierced. When he reached the other end of the trench, he climbed a set of stairs at that end and found himself in a cave filled with stone idols.
Nov’Talod left the cave and found himself up in the mountains, looking down on one of the oceans, but under a dark sky which he could not explain.
He meditated for a while – relieved to finally have escaped the clutches of Serfex, after ninety (90) millennia of being kept in a cage to be studied by that mad inventor. He had not seen the oceans in their fullness – only the small quantities of Ursegan Ocean waters he had been given to drink – and was greatly pleased by his freedom. However, freedom was not to be wasted: instead, he would use it to gain knowledge. The first part of that endeavor required him to go down the mountain and visit a nearby seaport.
When he arrived in the seaport along the eastern coast, he saw signs at the docks indicating that the Medathero Ocean was to the east, the Trerada Ocean was to the southeast and the Kazofen Ocean was to the northwest, and that he was standing on the Glivoran Trail land bridge.
Nov’Talod then considered the question of where to go, and listened closely to the talk of sailors nearby. He learned that the darkness in the sky had been spreading, and that those who drank of the Atrejan Ocean waters could no longer safely hear the stars. Instead, they felt intense pain, and learned nothing, and many died this way. He also learned that a tyrannical ruler – King Xander – had taken hold of Ihalik and Meridianus and was now in Waderav, using trickery including illusions and music to control the populations. Furthermore, he learned of the great wall that surrounded Baradaxa in the northeast, turning it into a fortified city, and that millions had gone there seeking refuge from the king and from the darkness.
Now, it seemed, that he would have to decide how to profit from the dangers around him. The king was not reasonable or trustworthy, so it might be wise to meditate in the Temple of Quiet Purity, where he had learned much in the past. He had no money, so booking transport on a ship heading west toward the Way of Raza’Deptorum was not going to work.
Nov’Talod drank anew of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean from his vial and was energized again. He identified a small ship that would suit his needs – a thirty-five (35) foot long vessel that could be steered by just him – and walked up the boarding ramp.
“We’re not ready to leave yet! You weren’t given permission to come aboard,” a man on deck said.
Nov’Talod reached the top of the boarding ramp and stepped on deck.
“I’m ready to leave. And so are you. Only, we have different destinations,” Nov’Talod said. He moved quickly, because time for him was slowed, and so many things could happen in a short span of time, and he could coordinate them all. He thrust a small knife into the man’s neck, and then threw the body overboard. He then proceeded to kill three (3) other men on board with the same speed and method, casting all of their bodies into the Medathero Ocean.
Nov’Talod then took the wheel of the ship and pulled levers to lower the pivot-enabled double mast to the sides of the ship and form sailwings. The ship then took to the air and he sailed it due west, steering between the mountains of the Glivoran Trail and the ship touched down in the Kazofen Ocean. From there, he continued sailing west.
~~~
From their cave in the mountains of the Colossal March Warpath, Pandaros turned his thoughts to acquiring yet another luminary.
Pandaros was not fully recovered, but was much stronger than before. While resting, he drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from his vial and was energized. Then, he reached into the spirit world and called out so that only a certain spirit could hear, saying: “Lead me to yet another luminary, that I may have the power, to bring darkness to the sky, and learn the hidden secret.”
A voice spoke back into his spirit, so that only he could hear, and it said: “Along the Road of Kovoxxxotu, a passssssage you can find, leading into the catacombssss, holding the bonesss of the thievesss of agesss passst. Therein, a mazzze you will ssscour, and find the hidden prizzze. Now, blood you mussst ssspill to pay for thisss sssecret, and more blood mussst alssso be paid sssoon for passst unpaid debtsss.”
Pandaros spoke, again in a voice that only the spirit could hear, saying: “I am still weak now, and no suitable offering is nearby. I will pay when I can, as the opportunity arrives.”
“Pay twiccce you will,” the voice spoke again, into his spirit, so that only he could hear.
Pandaros stood up and said: “Seleukos, please come with me. There is more work to be done, and more knowledge to be found.”
“Where are you taking him? Is this to find another one of those dark candles? Is this just to create more havoc and get us all lost in the dark, or even killed?” Amaltheia asked, clearly annoyed.
“An explorer must be bold, and what knowledge we find is only by abandoning fear – even fear of darkness and death,” Pandaros said.
Seleukos drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial. More darkness meant more demand for his light. Even if he couldn’t profit from Pandaros, he could leverage his powers elsewhere. “I’m ready,” Seleukos said.
“Don’t help him to destroy us. He doesn’t have any limits,” Amaltheia said.
“We’re here to explore, not to destroy. Don’t forget that,” Erikkos said, looking to both Seleukos and Pandaros.
“To learn something new, the walls of fear and ignorance must be destroyed,” Pandaros said.
Pandaros and Seleukos then left the cave and made their way down the mountain.
“Where exactly are we going?” Seleukos asked.
“The Road of Kovoxotu,” Pandaros said.
After reaching the shore, they booked passage on a ship sailing west over the Medathero Ocean.
CHAPTER 35: Promises to the Heralds of the Unfailing King
After King Xander was satisfied that the continent of Waderav had been fully subjugated and brought into his kingdom, he ordered that the Eminence of the Oceans – along with his fleet – should return to the palace in Ihalik.
Once the fleet returned to the port along the eastern coast of Ihalik, King Xander, Aura, Rivka and the C
hronicler Gisella took a small airship back to the palace. King Xander returned to the throne room and was accompanied by Gisella. Aura and Rivka went to their respective rooms in the palace. General Povaximus remained with the fleet, preparing the soldiers and sailors while awaiting their next orders from the king. The other heralds – ranking lower than Aura and Rivka – waited with the military personnel.
King Xander then called to his guards and said: “Bring me Rivka, that I may speak to her, privately.” As he said this, he looked at Gisella with an expression of condemnation on his face, which clearly meant that she was to leave. However, being a Chronicler of the Oath, she was not bound by any king, and so she remained.
~~~
One of the guards went through a side door of the throne room and down a hallway to reach Rivka, quietly knocking at her door so as to avoid the notice of anyone else. When the door to Rivka’s room opened, the guard said to her: “His Majesty wishes to see you, in private.”
Rivka left her room, quietly closing the door behind her, and she followed the guard.
~~~
While waiting for Rivka, King Xander spoke directly to Gisella, saying: “Are you to record all that you see and hear, even the private matters of a person? Is that not interference by your laws? Will you not leave us be? I command you to respect my privacy.”
“Under the authority of the Chronicler’s Oath, I am to record all matters truthfully, both great and small, and answer to no king or other leader, so that I cannot be denied entry,” Gisella said.
“Prying eyes are unwelcome in some matters, are they not? Would you stand by and watch the intimate consummation of a marriage?” King Xander asked.
“I would if it were of significance,” Gisella said. She had – on occasion – remained in the room to record which coupling actually did occur between specific persons when fidelity was in question, but she tastefully did not stare at the physicality of it, so as to respect the intimacy. The married couple – Archduke Neville Jalvinus of Prince Jalvin’s Crossroads and Lady Iseult of Southern Waderav – were not the ones locked in embrace that night, over two thousand three hundred fifty-six (2356) years ago, which was the night of their wedding ceremony. Instead, Neville had seduced the Countess of Marigold from Nataloridivu, an Oblate of the Sisters of the Red Suns. She had been pledged as virgin to the powers of the red suns, but his handsome looks and wealth – in blood money – excited her passions. The woman was attractive, of course, but Neville Jalvinus had no personal restraint. He had even tried to lure Gisella into a tryst, calling her the best looking Chronicler he had ever seen, but she declined for multiple reasons.
“Perhaps you should learn to respect boundaries. Yet, I cannot compel you to do so. Your personal character is at stake if your observation causes an obstruction,” King Xander said.
“I am here to record, not to judge or interfere. That is according to the Oath,” Gisella said.
At this point, Rivka arrived in the throne room, and both King Xander and Gisella could hear the door open to let her in.
“Rivka, approach the throne,” King Xander ordered.
Rivka climbed the steps to face King Xander, who was standing in front of his throne, with Gisella standing next to him, and it was clear to Rivka that they were in discussion and disagreement.
“How may I serve you, Your Majesty?” Rivka asked.
“Our taking of Waderav was a success, would you agree?” King Xander asked.
“Indeed, Your Majesty,” Rivka said, wondering why he would ask: the mission proceeded much as those in Ihalik and Meridianus.
“We accomplished this, according to our plans, and not with the assistance or reinforcements of another, would you also agree?” King Xander asked.
“I have no evidence of assistance or reinforcements,” Rivka said, knowing not to mention her connection with the demon with anyone who didn’t already know. However, she wasn’t entirely sure that Gadamalto had not helped them – it’s just that the demon didn’t seem to help them when the sea serpents had attacked. If the king was looking to escape the bargain that was made, his position was not quite solid, however, because Gadamalto had seemed to help earlier during the battle in Meridianus.
“Excellent, Rivka. You are a pleasing servant, a herald of my kingdom, and you should be richly rewarded,” King Xander said.
“I am honored to so please you, Your Majesty,” Rivka said. She wasn’t sure what this meant, however, because the king seemed inclined to keep people serving in their most effective capacity, so promoting her to some other position seemed unlikely.
“Your guidance has been well received, and the kingdom has flourished – its borders have expanded – in part because of you. Were it not for you, our movements would have proceeded more slowly, and the fullness of the kingdom would not be reached for some time, affording me less time to lead it. I must thank you, Rivka, and give you something of great value,” King Xander said.
Rivka just looked and waited, nervous at what the king might have planned. She did not want him to use her to have more dealings with the demon, but she feared that he might just have that in mind so as to get out of his part of the bargain.
“My kingdom has not ended and it still expands, yet it will end, before it is born anew, to expand yet again. Yet, when – and through whom – shall it be reborn? A woman must carry my seed, and that woman shall be you, Rivka. I intend to have relations with you – this very night – so that the new kingdom has a leader in the next age,” King Xander said.
Rivka’s heart skipped a beat, and she was elated – almost to the point of being frightened: she wondered if this was a trick, as it was too good to be true.
“Guards, leave us,” King Xander said, and they did, closing the doors behind them, and waiting outside the throne room.
King Xander then looked at Gisella, and, with his eyes, he gestured for her to leave, yet she did not move.
Furious that he could not banish the Chronicler and that she chose to stay, King Xander chose to ignore her.
“Here? Now? Your Majesty, we have no privacy,” Rivka asked, surprised.
“It is only us. Forget everyone else,” King Xander said.
King Xander then placed his hands on her and began to caress her – first her neck, then her back and thighs. After this, she became excited and her womanly urges soared, so that she burned for his touch.
To have some privacy, King Xander took Rivka toward him, and walked her down the steps from the throne, and then led her to a door in the back of the throne room. Behind that door were the king’s private chambers with his bed.
Gisella followed them into the private chambers. King Xander and Rivka both felt nervous, but went into his bed, drawing covers over themselves.
The Chronicler watched the king and his herald as their movements turned to passion, but the covers gave them sufficient privacy and Gisella did not look under them. The look on Rivka’s face – and her cries of ecstasy – made it clear that she was being pleasured, and that would be evidence enough.
Gisella recorded all of this into her book, as it would also be evidence of the king’s lineage for future times, if Rivka delivered a child.
Both the king and Rivka clothed themselves and rose from the bed. Rivka was radiant, and King Xander said to her: “Wait in your room, and I will summon you again, tomorrow night, and the night after, until the seed has taken root.”
Rivka returned to her room and King Xander returned to the throne room. Each day, for the next twenty-nine (29) nights, they had relations when she was able.
Gisella recorded each of these encounters, observing only to verify that they had actually occurred, without any more intimate knowledge. However, the entire affair did rouse her own interests in having personal relations, when a suitable man presented himself. Her standards were high, but that wasn’t the obstacle, because she knew where to look for a companion. Rather, it was her career as a Chronicler, which demanded so much travel, and much of it was in places s
he knew to not look for a companion. While nothing actually harmful could happen to a bona fide Chronicler of the Oath, that didn’t mean she wanted to carry the child – if it should come to that – of an unsavory man who just happened to be available for a date and a night of passion. Javanda was her first choice of places in which to look for men – where a good number of them were wealthy and intelligent. However, Waderav and the Solkidian Trail – where the men were largely poor or bloodthirsty thugs – were both among her last choices of places. Gisella didn’t require a man to be extremely wealthy, but he had to be financially self-sufficient before she would consider a personal relationship.
~~~
Night after night of guards knocking on the door to Rivka’s quarters did not go unnoticed, however. After just four (4) nights of this, Aura went looking for her sister to discuss something on her mind and she saw that Rivka was unavailable. They spoke the next day and discussed Aura’s concerns – about how she had been having no good fortune with the men she met around the palace – but Aura noticed something suspicious about her sister, although she couldn’t quite place it.
Over the next several nights, Aura noticed that Rivka was regularly absent. Not knowing where to find her, Aura did what she was best at and drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean to become energized with the powers of music and sound. Not only could she sing powerful songs and otherwise manipulate sound, she could hear faint and distant sounds, and so she walked the halls of the palace in the evenings. The guards did not allow her to enter the throne room, but it was no matter.
In the distance – through the walls – Aura detected the faintest sounds and was able to focus on them and magnify them. They became unmistakable – the sounds of a woman crying out in passion while having intimate relations with a man and the woman was her sister, Rivka. The question was that of the man – she did not hear him call out, so she did not know.
