“This is going to be hard,” Ari said with feeling.
Saturday May 4th 1624th year of the First Great City
Lessons
They were in the Great Lady Dothranan's ornate dining room on the forty-second floor of Dothranan Manor. The room was about ten yards wide by fifteen yards long and was floored with white marble. The table was of white polished wood and looked like it could seat a dozen people comfortably. There were softly glowing globes all about the room, and large open windows on the west wall overlooking the Hold and West Vallad.
Siri stood in her gauzy white dress and passed a stone with a glowing green rune over the food on the table. Great Lady Dothranan, Nigel, and Thorel stood in the large lavishly decorated room and watched.
“Ma'am, what does that stone do?” Thorel asked her. That stone looked the same as the ones the guards had passed over the food at the banquet last night, and he was insatiably curious about why.
“It's a venom stone. If the rune turns red, it has found poison in the food,” Siri said evenly.
“I would never do something like that!” Nigel said aghast.
“Don't be offended Mr. Riks. It is done to any food or drink the Mistress will touch, just to be certain. Another could have done it without your knowledge. There are many people in the kitchens,” Siri replied.
“Of course,” Nigel said queasily at that idea. “Um, if someone did... what would happen to me ma'am?”
“You would be arrested, but I am certain the Mistress would use the truth seer to see if it was you,” Siri said calmly returning the stone to her case.
Nigel gulped and took a deep breath.
Thorel asked Ari; “That's what you did to me in the Apprentices Tower, isn't it Milady?”
“Yes. It is simple and requires little power. But is quite useful to determine if a person is truthful,” Ari said dryly. The sunlight coming through the windows illuminated her golden hair, making her seem to glow.
Nigel exhaled in relief at that idea.
“Of course, when the perpetrator was found, they would be interrogated and then likely hung,” Siri said with a serious look into his eyes.
I'm safe then. But that whole idea scares the shit out of me. Nigel thought with relief.
She is a Noble and has an enemy that has recently attacked. Thorel thought. It seemed good sense but is also a frightening reminder that this decision had a price.
“Let us try this meal,” Ari said as she pulled her high collared red dress up and seated herself gracefully.
Siri, Thorel, and Nigel seated themselves at the table. Ari sat at one end, with Siri next to her. Thorel sat at the other end, with Nigel to his right as instructed.
The Great Lady began eating slowly and looked to be sampling the different flavors. She took one bite from each dish while Nigel watched nervously.
“It is good. Different from what I am accustomed to though,” Ari stated plainly.
At least I didn't offend her with it. Nigel thought seriously. “Thank you, Milady.”
The Mistress nodded to him. “If you wish, I will accept your service. You must still acquire your degree in this skill though.”
“Of course, Milady. May I consider it for a time?” Nigel asked.
“Very well,” the Great Lady said, looking nonplussed. “Let us consume this.”
Everyone began eating.
Thorel was surprised. It was one of the best things he'd ever eaten.
“I underestimated your skill, Nigel,” He said quietly.
Nigel smiled broadly at him.
“I look forward to seeing how much you improve with your Chef's degree,” Siri said seriously.
“Thank you, ma'am,” Nigel replied with a smile. Miss Fenel did not seem to be one that gave out compliments any more easily than the Great Lady.
They finished the meal quietly.
When the meal was finished, the Great Lady looked at Nigel; “You are dismissed,” she said.
He hadn't expected it to end quite like that. He blinked and stood, confused. Did I do something wrong? He wondered. “Of course, Milady.”
Siri stood as well. “Do you require anything further at this time, Mistress?”
“See to it that we are not disturbed, unless necessary,” she commanded.
“Yes Mistress,” she replied with a bow.
Two women entered as soon as they left and quickly cleared the table.
Thorel had noted during the meal that two new spirits were attached to her. If he wasn't mistaken, he'd seen them among the crowd at the feast yesterday. This made thirteen in her ethereal flock. At least these two looked more at peace than the others.
“Milady..,” Thorel began.
Ari held her hand up in a gesture to wait. She looked at him seriously from her end of the table.
The maids finished their work and bowed to her. The Great Lady ignored them. They left, closing the door behind them.
“You were saying?” She asked.
“Well, Milady I was going to ask if the new spirits you had were the same ones I saw with people at the feast,” Thorel said evenly.
Ari replied looking directly into his eyes; “Yes. Two of the three I spoke with were willing to bargain. As part of your first lesson, I will tell you this now: it is possible to take a spirit without the person's permission. But if one is thought to be doing so, the Wizards Council will investigate immediately and determine the truth of it. If they are found guilty by a majority, the offender will be instantly put to death. Records are kept. All transactions must be accounted for.”
That added layers to Thorel's knowledge. This bargain is taken more seriously than the sale of land, for one.
“Others have done that, haven't they Milady?” If they hadn't, there would be no need for such a law. He realized.
She stood tall and looked at him. “Yes.”
“That is where the stories started then, isn't it? But it was spirits, not souls,” Thorel looked at her seriously.
She nodded positively. “It was a dark week. In the year 685, there was no such law. Wizards did as they would with the spirits who had attached themselves to commoners, paupers, and slaves. But even the uneducated understand what we are doing when we take one by force.”
Thorel felt like a wide-eyed child listening to one of Korin's stories at this moment; his interest was so piqued.
Maybe his mother did have a basis for her feelings. He now felt horrible for having judged her so harshly and was very glad he had not seen her.
“It is a matter of some debate as to what specifically sparked it, but what is certain is that over one-thousand Wizards were killed during the uprising. Being killed in their sleep, poisoned, stoned by mobs, and having groups of former Legionnaires suddenly attack one in the street, by distance or from behind. A Wizard cannot use their power constantly, and must, therefore, be aware in order to take action. They did not spare those with the sight who were not Wizards either. This was when only four of the Great cities had been completed,” she said.
Thorel was stunned. He had never heard of anything like this, ever. It was hard to imagine, Wizards being slaughtered in such a way. They would have killed him too, had they known about him, even though he was not a Wizard yet.
“The Crown Legion was slow to respond. It is believed that many Officers were sympathetic to the uprising. The violence only ended when Queen Surundi the third had the Wizards Council formed, and ordered every Noble from the lowest to the highest to bring their people under control. It was then the Pact of Giles was signed by all parties. Further violence was put down swiftly, but our numbers compared to the sightless have never reached what they once were,” she recited.
“This pact made this law?” He asked with interest.
She arched an eyebrow at him.
“Milady!” He said shaking his head, trying to empty it of distraction. He had become so engrossed in what she was telling him; he had completely forgotten his manners. That could have serious consequences, and
he knew it.
She giggled softly. He'd made a fool of himself, obviously.
Her features smoothed quickly. “Yes,” she replied.
“I had the necessary books brought for your lessons. Come this way,” she said as if nothing had happened, and began walking.
Thorel followed her and wondered how foolish she thought he was now.
* * *
It was easy to take the size of Vallad for granted when one grew up here. But it took on a whole new dimension when you happened to be looking for one person, and didn't know where they lived.
Nigel had been looking for Eliel for a few hours now. He'd been to ten different taverns already. He'd bought quite a few drinks with the gold he'd been paid for making the Mistress a meal today.
He smiled at that. An entire gold coin for a single meal. His eyes had bugged when he took his note from Miss Fenel to the treasurer's office on the second floor of the manor, and they gave him a gold coin.
“There must be some mistake. I only made a meal, ma'am,” he'd said to the woman he'd spoken with.
“No sir, there is no mistake. According to this note from Miss Fenel, you made a meal for the Mistress, and she was satisfied with it,” the bookish looking woman said.
“What if she hadn't been satisfied with it?” He'd asked.
“Then I doubt we would be speaking. Have a good day, sir.”
That had completely floored Nigel. If Thorel wasn't busy with the Great Lady, he would have taken him out for drinks to celebrate. He thought about his other friends: Kam, Brol, and Fitch had all joined the Legion together. He hadn't heard from any of them in over a month. He'd been so bored since they'd signed up. But he wasn't about to join the Legion just to stay with them, he had plans for his life, and fighting wasn't in any version of them.
That left one person: Eliel. She was fun, he just didn't know where the hell to find her. So he started looking. Oh sure he knew plenty of other people, but he was looking for someone who was fun, not just a flattering hanger-on that would run off as soon as his coin dried up.
Alright, number eleven. Let's see if this one is the charm, he thought. He'd already burned nearly three silver on his little quest here between carriages and drinks for him and his informants. If this wasn't the one, it wouldn't hurt his feelings to have another drink just because he could.
But he wanted the Listing Lady to be the right bar. He was getting tired of looking.
* * *
He was a quick study and asked mostly intelligent questions.
Thorel had passed the first three written assignments for the first two days of class. He had a ninety percent grade at this moment. She was pleased enough with his work, although she'd hoped he would do better.
He was doing the second days study assignments at the moment. She could not imagine reading the book in her lap, it would be too far away for her to read quickly.
The clock on the hearth showed a quarter past the twenty-second hour. Her parents' sitting room had been mostly remade since she had become Mistress. A couch, a large comfortable chair that Thorel occupied at the moment, a low table, and the desk were all that remained of what had been here.
The tapestries and paintings that used to hang on the walls had been replaced by the most useful portions of her library. The shelves covered all the walls except the hearth, the doors, and the window. They were tall enough that Ari had to stretch to get one from the top shelf.
There were also several books on her desk right now; she was actively studying two at this time. She was scribbling useful notes on a loose page.
She rolled the remains on the disabled detonation stone to look at and compare the blasted rune patterns with one of the diagrams she had found on the subject. It was ironic that her late stepmother's personal notes had contained some of the most useful information on the subject she'd found.
She was certain she could not only deactivate one now, but also that she could make one safely. Ari smiled with a wicked glint in her eyes.
“I'm finished, Milady,” Thorel said from beside her.
Ari reacted instantly, a Magikal barrier erecting. Her chair fell behind her as she stood quickly. She turned with her dagger in hand.
Thorel took an instant step back with his open hands out to cover his midriff. His eyes were on her blade. “Milady!” He yelled in shock.
Her heart pounded, and she breathed heavily. She had forgotten he was even there for a moment. He could have killed her; she was a fool to have let herself become so absorbed.
She sheathed her dagger and dropped her barrier. She brought her breathing under control. The heart would slow later, she knew.
Two guards quickly opened the door from the hall. “Are you alright, Mistress?” One man asked with his steel in hand.
“I'm fine. Go.” She waved them out with more steadiness than she felt.
They bowed and closed the door as they left.
“Milady, are you sure? I didn't mean to startle you. I'm sorry,” Thorel said sincerely with a look of great concern on his face. He at least knew he erred, it seemed.
“Do not surprise me, I may mistake it for an attack. That would be unfortunate,” she said nearly steady now.
“Of course Milady, I'm sorry,” Thorel said sincerely.
She nodded and took her shoes off, reducing her height by two inches. She pulled up her red dress showing the black stockings she wore and gracefully knelt on the carpeted floor.
She gestured to the floor in front of her and waited patiently.
He knelt in front of her where she had indicated and waited patiently, with a look of concern.
“Do you have questions about what you read?” she asked.
“If I did Milady, I've forgotten them now,” Thorel said seriously.
She smiled slightly. “If they are important, you will remember them later.”
“Of course Milady,” he replied thoughtfully.
What kind of thoughts lay in this common man's head? Ari wondered at his expression.
“What are you thinking of?” She queried.
“Well Milady, I was thinking of what just happened when I accidentally startled you,” Thorel said.
“And? That is all?” She asked.
“It was exactly like when I'd accidentally surprised my guardian, Korin Quedesham, Milady.” He looked directly into her eyes. “I won't make that mistake again.”
“Your guardian was Korin Quedesham?” She asked seriously. That would explain a lot about what she sees in this man if the Hero of the Battle of Vox reared him. Ari could always remember names in a historical context.
“Yes, Milady. I have seen him react as you did before when I'd surprise him. He always told me not to seriously when I did. But once when I was sixteen I surprised him but I don't remember doing it. I awoke in my room with my mother hovering over me. She was holding a wet pack on my throbbing head,” Thorel recounted.
She nodded. “Many soldiers over time get combat fatigue. What you saw is a symptom of that. In fact, many who survived the Battle of Vox left the Legion immediately or committed suicide. Others became hopelessly addicted to alcohol and became paupers.”
She saw the shock at this information across his face. “Why Milady? What happened? My father died there, and Korin would never speak of it,” Thorel asked, showing a desperate need to know.
“I will tell you briefly, as there is one exercise I would teach you tonight,” she said, conceding to his curiosity.
He nodded, completely attentive.
“One evening in 1612, hundreds of Kryss stormed several Legion and House guard barracks in the Great City of Vox at the twenty-fourth hour. It is certain they escaped detection by using cloaks, and hiding their faces. That is why Legionnaires and House guards will stop anyone doing so now, and kill any who refuse to stop without warning,” Ari said.
“It's a good thing too, Milady,” Thorel said seriously. “When the Kryss was discovered the other night, it was two yards in front of me. The Crown
Legion saved me and Nigel.”
“Truly? Oh, I wish I could examine one of their corpses,” Ari said with a morbid interest.
“Well, they're corpses either way, aren't they, Milady?” Thorel asked.
“No. Many think they are undead, but that is another superstition. They are simply diseased people. The virus is spread by blood or saliva. Their strength, reflexes, and regeneration are greatly increased, but they require three times what a person would normally eat in red meat and bloody tissue to sustain themselves. They can starve quite easily, which is how many intact cadavers have been found,” she lectured.
Thorel started to speak, but the Mistress held her hand up for silence.
“What was left of Vox's defenders sent a message for immediate aid to Corwinthius. They fought their way out of the Great City, taking as many people as they could with them. Of the two million people living there, less than one-hundred-thousand left the city alive, and unchanged. Unfortunately, no Wizards were among them,” Ari said.
“Over the next two nights, the remaining Legionnaires and House guards held for reinforcements. Very few people came out after they did though. The rest were those who had been changed. Many of their former friends were among their attackers. Even women and children who had been changed attacked them,” she said seriously.
Thorel wore a look of horror.
Ari continued. “Half of the defenders' numbers were lost in the attempt to hold for reinforcements. Either being killed by Kryss or by their fellows to keep them from changing into Kryss. Commander Quedesham rallied what remained of them, and ordered makeshift trebuchets built. He knew they could hold no longer, and used the trebuchets to launch as much fire into the city as possible to burn every Kryss.”
“When the Kryss fled the flames of the city, they killed as many as they could. When the twenty-thousand mounted cavalry dispatched by House Fenel arrived, less than thirty-thousand of the defenders remained. The fresh cavalry turned the tide against the remaining Kryss and stayed with Vox's shattered defenders. More reinforcements arrived quickly after that. They watched and waited for one week while gathering strength. Then they entered the city to kill the Kryss that remained, and burned every corpse. Nearly two million had died when the toll was counted,” she said patiently.
Spirit of Magik (The Dothranan Chronicles Book 1) Page 12
