"The Baron will see us now!" ordered an Inquisitor leading a group of Land's Guard.
"He will send for you when he is ready!" responded the attendant feeling no intimidation. "You forget where you are Leecher!" The attendant spat.
Leecher is the term applied to the elite in the Inquisition of Order, those charged with supplementing power and draining the gift from weavers who fail to pledge service to the realm. It is an ancient Order that, besides being under the rule of the Great Council, align with Chaos.
Although the attendant is supposed to have been in collusion with the Order of Chaos, he still felt disgust for those who drained the Essence from others. It is among the first rules of sentience that draining Essence of another is to be held highest above all crimes. This means that to take the Essence of another leads to damnation of one's shi. Even a member of the Order should not be cavalier to the ancient laws of the Telukukal.
"Baron we invoke the right to request assistance,” the Inquisitor demanded.
"I will give you what I see fit Leecher! Do not presume to speak to me with authority you do not possess,” Fallon spat back. "What is it the Order want of me and my people now?” he demanded.
"Baron,” the Inquisitor now humbly asked, “we seek only to request more able men to aid in the hunt for an unknown power beyond our reach,” the Inquisitor asked, visibly intimidated.
It is not like an Inquisitor to show weakness to another, yet the Baron invoked a fear from the man that he could not explain to himself as he cowered. "We only bring the request of the Order Sir. We do not wish to insult you,” the Inquisitor meekly replied.
"What is it you wish of my men?"
"We seek a young man; a boy really. He appears to have a gift that the Order wishes to posses. That is all I know,” the Inquisitor responded.
"I will send my men to find this boy! I will advise if and when we locate him,” he answered. Fallon obviously had another agenda behind his eagerness, but he must not allow the Inquisitor to discover it.
***
Shuran woke with a start. "Someone has sent me an image!" Shuran screamed. Shuran told the others of what he saw in his vision.
A massive green drakkon smiling, a group of green eyed robed figures collected in a room, a young drakkon, and an Inquisitor cowering before a dark figure. These images caused alarm in Shuran but he felt calm when he said, "These are images sent to warn us but we are not yet discovered,” Shuran said.
"How do you know this message was sent?" Andra asked.
"It felt as though someone was reaching out to me but it was different. It felt like a request for permission to send me the images,” Shuran said.
"It would be wise to limit your acceptance of messages in such a manner. A sending can easily be turned to a location spell. However, if it is as you say and a drakkon was there then perhaps…"
Andra stopped speaking indicating the thought would not be completed now. "I must leave and check what is transpiring to the West,” Andra finished and went out to gather supplies. Andra instructed Shuran to continue on his course of lessons and storing power in the crystal shard.
Shuran spent the next several days going through his lessons and spending afternoons with Bastien. When he sensed the crystal shard would take no more Essence he put it away and went to the cave hideaway he and Bastien often spent time at.
Shuran many times sat within the cave staring at the multicolored quartz formations protruding from the walls. He had not thought much of them before, but now he wondered if they could be used to store Essence.
He searched around the walls for stones that would easily come loose. Every so often he would coax them out by asking the rock to let them go. He wondered at how easy it was becoming to work with the elements. He wondered still what the elemental power of electricity was as he had experienced it.
‘Lightening is the purest form,’ Andra had told him, but he still did not understand.
Shuran gathered his new crystals and took them back to the cabin. He was tired from filling the rest of Codger's shard so he would not attempt trying anything with these until he had rested.
***
Twelve guards stood in the meeting room of Castle Drakkfoth. Fallon called them to task on behalf of the Inquisitors. They were dressed in black leathers from shoulder to toe. Upon their heads they wore helmets that seemed to conform to the wearers skull. Only their green eyes and mouths were exposed.
Each carries a pair of long curved swords upon their back that they reach from opposite shoulders. These are men from the elite guard of Drakkfoth and they have all pledged their lives to the Baron and his region.
The Baron entered the chamber and quickly scanned the group before taking position directly in front of them. “You all have been briefed by the commander. I expect that you will find the boy and report directly back to me. You are not to engage at this time.” The Baron gave the men a final nod and they took their leave.
As the Baron turned to sit upon his throne, a large white wolf approached form the shadows and casually walked up to him. “You do not approve?” the Baron asked the wolf.
The great beast continued her approach and shifted from wolf into a fair skinned and mysteriously attractive woman. The think long white fur seemingly melted into her form to flow around her as a billowing gown of the purest white silk. She took the seat next to the Baron and stared out to the guards leaving the throne room.
“It is not for me to question your motives nor your orders father,” she responded with only the hint of a smile upon her porcelain face.
“And how has your task been coming along Barurbe?” Fallon inquired of his daughter.
“Little change father as you know, but that does not mean she will not recover. I only hope that my uncle succeeds in his task. Has there been any word of him?” Barurbe asked as she turned to her father.
“His whereabouts are currently unknown. My brother does not always include me as council, but I trust in what he is doing. Everything hinges on him completing what he set in motion.” The two got up from sitting and headed out of the throne room by means of a secret exit.
“What is our involvement with the Inquisitors?” Barurbe asked Fallon as they walked along the hidden corridors of the castle. “
We must collaborate with them in their pursuit of this boy. He is an ever changing variable to the success of our ultimate goal.” Fallon was being uncharacteristically cryptic with his answers Barurbe took note.
“I will as always do as you ask father, but I worry that defiance of the Inquisitors will not go well with the Great Council,” she observed.
“The Inquisitors do not work under the direction of those old fools of the council in this. They are taking their orders from the Order of Chaos and their dark leader,” Fallon stammered in walking for a brief moment.
“What is it, father?”
“I am concerned with the shifting in the balance. Whatever the order is up to, goes beyond what the prophecy spoke of I fear. This leader of theirs has not seen fit to share his plans and I worry they will interfere with ours.”
***
The Order of Chaos was having a meeting of their own as the Baron sent out his men. “The Baron has sent his men out as you requested Isten.” The Inquisitor stood with eyes downcast awaiting further instruction.
“You will not report this to the Council. Our movements do not involve them at the moment. Once we understand this unknown factor in our plans, then I will solicit the Council’s advice,” Isten finished and then got up to leave the chamber.
“I want you to watch the Drakkian Guard’s movements. Fallon was a bit too willing to give the assistance of his elite.” Isten turned as he left.
“Do you fear treachery Isten?” the Inquisitor questioned.
“Treachery, although not beneath a Drakkian, is not something Fallon is capable of. The Baron will do as he is told and find a way to include his own agenda whatever that may be.” Isten paused before dismissing the zealots in
attendance. “I want reports on anything suspicious in the Baron’s movements or those of his Elite Guard.”
Before Isten could leave he sniffed the air and held his hand below his nose. “Step out and address the order, kashshaptu!” Isten said sitting back down.
A hunched figure approached the assembly and passed slowly each zealot, eyeing them and making nods or sounds of surprise. She was taking in the full membership of this dark organization and who the leaders where. A kashshaptu from the Mist Swamps would not normally involve themself with the ways of the rest of Aurderia, but she wanted something and Isten knew it.
“Are you not surprised to see one of my coven here in your secret keep?” The witch hissed as she stopped by the fire set in the large hearth.
“I have little patience for games kashshaptu, nor do I wish to suffer your stench any longer than necessary. What do you want?” Isten, clearly agitated by the witch’s presence, could not afford to offend the coven.
“We have had a vision. We know what it is you seek. We wish to offer our assistance.” The witch stood staring over the fire, her wiry black hair streaked with grey and full of knots, dirt and the occasional spider. She turned to face Isten and noticed his slight shiver as their eyes met. She smiled at him showing the few blackened teeth in her mouth as a deep cackle erupted from her mouth.
Isten dismissed the rest of the members from the chamber and came to stand as close as possible without being accosted by the stench of rot and filth that clung to the witch from the equally noxious swamps. “What is it you want? The coven does not normally leave the swamps nor get involved with Aurderian affairs.” Isten is more than just irritated by the witch but must hear what the coven wants.
“What we want is inconsequential compared to what it is you are doing. Your actions affect all of us Assinnu Isten and we want assurances. You will give us what we want and we will lead you to the boy!” the witch shifted around to give Isten a knowing look.
“How do I know your information is useful?”
“You will not until your zealots get there, however I can tell you that he has been with the Moon Mother since his birth!”
The color seemed to drain from Isten’s face as the witch let out another of her horrible cackles. “Yes, there was a third child and he grows strong.”
“What do you want in return?” Isten asks while holding back his concern over this revelation.
“We want a small sample of the priestess’ blood.”
***
Isten found the men of the Land’s Guard, Inquisitors, and Drakk Elite Guards assembled outside the keep’s stockage. The yard was small but suitable for the keep. There is rarely time when the stockades are used or needed since the Order works in secret and the keep is well guarded by spells and few know of its existence.
“You ride for Birchshire. The boy has been living with an old woman. I want the boy returned here alive if possible.”
One of the Inquisitors steps forward, “What of the hag or others in the boys company?”
“Kill them if they get in your way.” Isten left them to their preparations and headed back into the castle to get the witch what she came for.
“What is the purpose of this sample?” Isten did not like this arrangement, but in light of the information, he had no choice other than to comply.
“Coven business is not your concern Assinnu Isten. We look after ourselves and will continue to stay out of your affairs unless they become a danger to us.”
Isten noticed two things. One, the witch kept addressing him by his full title among the order. Two, the witch has shed her smug facade in favor of one of determination and urgency.
“Why do you address me by my full title?”
Without looking at Isten, the witch continued walking the dark halls, “It is what you are, is it not? Would you prefer I address you by your true name?”
Again Isten found himself flush of all color. Knowing that the coven knows who he truly is unsettles him, but it may not matter for long. Once the boy is taken or eliminated, nothing will be able to stop him. Isten turned at a noise. From where he stopped he saw, then dismissed, the shadow of a bird leaving a perch on the window and head out into the night.
“Let the witch come forward.” Salmetu was sitting on a chaise chair next to a fire in a windowless room. Next to her laid a scrawny cat with dead eyes. The creature was growling instead of purring as Salmetu stroked its undead body.
Salmetu turned to face the witch and looked upon her with blacker than black eyes. Her appearance was now that of a full-grown woman and her movements were slow and deliberate. “I understand you wish a piece of me kashshaptu.” Salmetu spoke with a level voice.
“Just a sample of your blood my dear, nothing more is needed.”
Salmetu turned to Isten, “Leave us! I shall speak with the witch alone.”
Isten only briefly looked angered by being ordered out, but left without much hesitation.
“You cannot hope to achieve anything from the use of my blood kashshaptu.”
“We wish only to gain insight. Our visions are cloudy and this will help us to watch the new world emerge.”
Salmetu could not read deceit from this witch woman; she could read nothing at all. She pulled up her sleeve and drew a dagger across her arm. “Take what you need.”
As the witch moved forward she produced a corked bottle from within her robes. After unstopping the bottle she began collecting the blood as it ran from Salmetu’s open flesh. “When this is over my coven would like its seat back on the Council. We have longed for the old ways to return.” With that final statement the witch stepped to the fire and gave a knowing glance to Salmetu.
“It shall be done,” Salmetu answered as the she watched the witch nod and step into the flames to disappear in a column of brackish smoke up the chimney.
***
The group of guards and Inquisitors split into two groups to head to Birchshire. One group headed northeast on a direct path to the small village. The second group headed southeast for the Southern coast where they would take a ship along the coast of the Great Sea. Both groups should arrive in the area of Birchshire close to the same time.
The trip will take a full moon cycle at best, but there should be no worry of the boy leaving the safety of his current home. Fallon was concerned that the boy will resist and get himself killed by an Inquisitor or one of the Land’s Guard. He could only hope that one of his own men would be able to intercede without drawing suspicion.
Fallon walked the dark labyrinth of corridors formed millennia ago by liquid rock flowing through the grounds. He had left the castle by means of a secret exit behind his throne. As he neared his destination, the corridors began growing lighter from the room lit up ahead of him. As he entered the chamber, a group of women stopped what they were doing and left him with his charge.
Only his secret guest and daughter remained in the room. “There was a third child born that night.” Fallon was speaking to his daughter while watching the sleeping form below him. “My Elite Guard travel with the retinue from the Order to retrieve him.”
“What does this mean father?”
“I do not know. Perhaps when our guest awakens we will find out.”
Chapter Eight
Shuran and Bastien spent the entire day together in the woods around their cave hideaway. While cooking a rabbit for lunch, Shuran showed Bastien how he had been learning to use the Essence. Shuran knew that Moona and Codger feel strongly about keeping this a secret, but Bastien was his best friend. Shuran also knew that there was something inside Bastien, sleeping, and he wanted to awaken it for some reason.
“Shuran all I see is you staring at a crystal. You look as if you are going to shit your britches.” Bastien laughed at the expression Shuran gave him and they both laughed.
“I suppose this really proves nothing. Pick up that crystal in front of you and tell me what you feel,” Shuran instructed.
“I feel… I feel… like a dur holdi
ng a rock! Except how would a dur hold a rock with its hoof!” Bastien was laughing at Shuran.
“Here now take this one.” Shuran said handing over the shard he had just finished filling with Essence.
At first Bastien just held the stone and looked at Shuran. Suddenly his expression changed to surprise. “It tingles! It tingles a lot!”
“I would not have thought of it as tingling but it is a start.” Shuran was glad to have proven his suspicions.
“What do you mean I can weave? I am a mundane!” Bastien was both shocked and frightened. “My adda says that it is not safe to be a weaver anymore. Sanctions are being revoked or worse folks are disappearing. How long before the rats in the Council spread out to the farms and remote homes to search for weavers?”
Shuran saw his reasons for concern. “Look Bastien, we have nothing to worry about here and as long as no one sees us wielding or weaving, then what is the problem?”
Bastien was not convinced but he sat down to listen to what Shuran had to say.
Shuran explained how he could learn to defend himself and hide his abilities to remain unnoticed.
Bastien eventually lightened up when he thought more about it. “Maybe there would be a place for us in the Land’s Guard. They recruit weavers!”
“I am not so sure about that since they are working with the Inquisitors, according to Andra. The Inquisitors are not to be trusted.”
Bastien did not look convinced.
Over the course of the next cycle, Shuran and Bastien met each afternoon and all resting day, trying to see what Bastien could do.
He had already learned a few spells well enough. He could start fire and lift small objects with a word. Bastien was becoming very pleased with himself and Shuran was happy with his friend’s excitement.
One afternoon Bastien was pre-occupied and not concentrating on what Shuran was teaching him.
Shuran made it look easy to weave the Essence and he felt this might be upsetting his friend, slowing his progress. Shuran had not shown Bastien any wielding of elemental magic since he could sense Bastien was not capable. Beside he decided to keep that secret for now. He could not go back on all he had promised to Moona. “What is wrong with you today Bastien?”
Chronicles of Aurderia: The Balance Page 9
