by Inlo, Jeff
"I need to remain here for a few moments to ensure the break has closed completely," Haven revealed after quickly ending her spell.
"I will have elf guards watch over you," Birk declared, and then the elf captain turned to Ryson. "With Rivira and the dieruhnes removed, we face but five serps and the wizard that holds them together."
"That's fine," the delver replied. "It's time we had another talk with the serps, but this conversation is going to go much differently."
"Neltus is inside with them," Birk reminded.
It was Jure who replied, and he did so with unassuming clarity.
"It doesn't matter."
Chapter 32
Ryson, Birk and Jure entered the mansion unopposed. They made their way to the large dining room and found the serps waiting in their respective chairs. Rather than stand before them, Ryson began to circle the table. Jure and Birk watched as the delver gracefully stepped past each serp and slightly grazed each one's shoulder with the palm of his hand or a single finger. He was sending a message that he could reach them with ease and there was nothing they could do to stop him.
The serps stared coldly at nothing in particular. They made no comment and did not react to the delver's touch. They appeared like statues of vipers, sculpted to portray absolute indifference but inherently dangerous despite their seeming apathy.
"Nothing to say?" the delver asked as he continued to stalk about the serps. "That's surprising. The last time I was here, you had a lot to talk about. You told me about Bol Folarok and how you would turn him over to the algors. You warned me about the mess that would make, the suffering it would cause. I'm sure you already know that I did it for you. It didn't turn out to be such a mess after all. The algors were quite understanding... and forgiving."
The serps remained quiet but they were not inactive. They communicated with each other silently through the waves of Neltus' magic. They understood the perils before them, at least they believed they did.
They were reassured when the delver took the lead. The other alternatives were not as appealing. They knew the elf captain would dispose of them in a heartbeat and the wizard was powerful enough to blast them into nothingness, but the delver was softhearted and naive. They believed they could gain an advantage as long as they were patient and allowed the delver to remain in control.
"Doesn't seem as if you want to answer," Ryson noted. "Maybe you have something else in mind. Are you going to try to take control of my thoughts?"
Desiv responded immediately, making it clear they posed no threat to the delver's authority.
"That would be a pointless exercise. The wizard would be able to sense any such manipulation, and he is powerful enough to stop us."
"So you're just going to sit there?"
"You have come to see us," Desiv declared. "We expect you will make certain demands. We await your desires."
"That's it? You're just going to let me dictate what happens? I would have guessed you'd be slightly annoyed that we took the elf from you, or that we sent away your demon friends."
"We were always willing to return Petiole. We made that clear to you on your first visit here. If you wish to return him to the elves or the dwarves, we wish you luck in that endeavor."
"Luck? I doubt that. You were willing to start a war between the algors and the dwarves the last time I was here, and I think you'd like to see a conflict between the elves and the dwarves. Or am I wrong?"
"You distort the situation. We only wished to offer the algors the opportunity to judge Bol as the dwarves had judged Petiole. If you have convinced the algors to be merciful, we congratulate you."
Ryson knew that Desiv was only twisting words to make it appear as if the serps never acted with malice. He wouldn't allow such a charade to continue. He ceased circling the table and took a position directly across from the serp who had apparently taken the lead.
"You're forgetting a few things. The last time I was here, you did more than just threaten to turn Bol over to the algors. You threatened to destroy Connel."
"That was our dealing with Enin, not you. It was necessary for us to get his attention. We brought flood waters to the edge of Connel—that is true—but we were careful not destroy anything." Desiv then nodded to Jure. "Your wizard friend here is aware of that."
"I'm aware that you used Rivira to create that flood," Jure added as he joined the conversation with growing disgust. "Just as you used her to try and kill us."
"We thought we were being attacked. We defended ourselves. You can't blame us for that."
"I thought you said you were willing to turn Petiole over freely," Jure declared, highlighting the inconsistencies in the serp's defense. "Now you're stating it was an attack? Which is it?"
"If you wanted Petiole, you should have asked for him. Instead, you surrounded our home with elf guards, fired arrows through a window and took him without so much as a warning. How is that not an attack? If anything, we responded with restraint."
"And what about the dieruhnes?" the wizard questioned.
"What about them? They were here to protect the elf elder from harm. Petiole was taken so abruptly that they were concerned for his safety. And as I see it, the demons did not attack you, you attacked them."
"Is that what happened near the entrance to Dunop?" Ryson demanded. "One of those demons thrust an arrow into the forehead of a dwarf sentry. Was that self defense?"
"Actually, it was. The dwarf sentries killed one of the demons. What happened after that cannot be blamed on the dieruhnes."
"Why were they even there?"
"As I said before, it was their task to protect the elder elf. Petiole wished to deliver a declaration to the dwarves. He believed he had the authority to do so."
"And I wonder where he got that idea from."
"I assume he obtained it from elf tradition. He believes he is the rightful leader. He is the elder of the camp with the proper lineage. We can ask the elf captain about that."
"Petiole was removed as the elf elder and delivered to the dwarves for his inexcusable crimes," Birk stated firmly. "He has no authority."
"And it was your little council that saw to Petiole's escape from Dunop," Ryson added, "or are you going to pretend you had nothing to do with that?"
"We have discussed this before," Desiv debated. "We believe the elf was unfairly held by the dwarves. We did nothing but free him from the harsh conditions of his unjust imprisonment."
Ryson grew angrier by the moment and he finally brought up the incident of pure violence that could not be denied. The serps might have hoped to hide behind excuses, but they could not deny their involvement in the act that caused Ryson immeasurable anguish.
"You can twist things all you want, but that's not going to save you. Your army attacked Burbon. Sy Fenden was brutally murdered."
Desiv, however, was just as quick to respond with yet another defense.
"That was Okyiq, not us, and it seems Okyiq has paid the price for his actions."
"And you're going to pay for yours," the delver growled.
Desiv believed he had played his hand well. He had made the proper justifications and deflected blame. He had also manipulated Ryson's emotions just enough to make the delver angry, but not so he would lose control. Desiv needed only to coax the delver into making a determination of punishment, one that the serp believed would be minimal or easily diminished.
"Your desire to chastise us is not a surprise," Desiv allowed. "We realize you have suffered personal losses and wish to punish us, even though we never actually committed a single act against you. Still, it is understandable that you would seek retribution."
"You're right about that, but it's not retribution. I'm going to make sure you can't hurt anyone ever again. First thing you're going to do is order your army out of Burbon, and I don't mean just sending them back into the forest. Someone is going to open a portal back to the dark realm and you're going to force them to go through. When they're back where they belong, you're going to
release your control over them."
The request was a bit of a surprise, but not one that would truly harm the serps. Over time, they could gather another army. Desiv, however, decided to make it sound as if the request was more burdensome than he actually believed.
"That is a rather large demand. We would not be against removing the creatures from Burbon. They attacked the town under Okyiq's control, not ours, but dismissing them entirely is a tall order."
Ryson was not impressed.
"I'm not done. From what I've heard, you're using Neltus' magic to maintain a link between each other. That ends now. He's going to take back his magic. He's also going to give back the magic you took from Enin that lets you keep watch over him."
"So you wish to break up our council as well as remove our army? I'm not sure we can agree to all of that."
"You're in no position to agree or disagree. The five of you, and Neltus as well, are all going to Connel. You've caused a great deal of trouble and you're going to have to pay for it. We're going to sort out what happened to the elves and the dwarves. Individuals from both races were killed during your schemes. We're going to find out who was responsible. Queen Therese and Shantree Wispon will have a say in what happens to you and how you're punished."
The serps were surprised at just how far the delver was willing to go. They would have been willing to make a token gesture to appease the delver, but they had no intention of going to Connel, nor were they about to face the wrath of the elves and dwarves. It was time they showed they were not completely powerless.
"I'm afraid that's impossible," Desiv declared.
"And I'm afraid you don't have a choice," Ryson responded without the slightest hint of doubt about what would eventually happen.
Desiv could sense the firm confidence radiate from the delver like light from the sun. It was clear the delver was in no mood for debate. Still, Desiv had one additional card to play, one he held to the last, but all the serps agreed it was necessary. With a malicious grin and a foreboding tone, Desiv revealed his own plans if they were dealt with too harshly.
"Then by all means, bring us to Connel. You have family and friends there, don't you? We have friends nearby as well."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ryson demanded.
"We know that the citizens of Burbon escaped to Connel. Even if we didn't, we can sense the concerns that are coming from your own mind. We are serp, and you can't close off your deepest secrets from us. You are angry about Sy Fenden, that much is clear, but there are others that mean even more to you."
Ryson understood the thinly veiled threat. Previously, the serps only prodded at his emotions, but they suddenly brought them to a boil. He looked around the table, from one serp to another. He could sense their probing. He knew they were reaching into his mind. They might not try to control him, but they gleefully grasped at his most chilling fears. Ryson knew the serps would endanger the ones he loved without hesitation, but it was a ploy he would not allow.
"You think you can hurt them? I won't let you near them."
"It won't be us you have to worry about. As I said, we have friends, friends with remarkable powers. How do you think we were able to free Petiole from the dwarf city? If we were able to smuggle enchanted stones into the dungeon of Dunop, how could we fail in finding certain refugees in Connel? We can call on assassins that you will never detect and your friends will never see. As fast as you are, you can't stop us. I can put out the command in an instant."
Ryson seethed, but said nothing. Fear clouded his judgment. He worried not about himself, but what the serps could do to those he cared about the most. The loss of Sy Fenden reminded him of just how vulnerable they all were.
The serps read the fear pouring out of the delver's thoughts. They fed on it, and one hoped to use it as a hammer to shatter Ryson's confidence.
"You have a wife, don't you?" Desiv questioned deviously. "She is currently in Connel... as is your pet. You seem to have a rather odd connection to a dog. I can sense it. You care a great deal about that animal. And your wife... Linda is her name. Your link to her is extremely deep. It would be a shame if anything happened to her, or the dog"
"Nothing will happen to them!" Ryson countered defiantly, but he could not hide his panic from creatures that could taste it.
"And nothing will happen," Desiv agreed, "as long as you're reasonable. Do you think we will just let you take us to Connel? There are punishments we might accept and there are others which we will not. I think you should consider everyone's well-being before you do anything rash."
"There is much you should consider as well," a familiar voice called out, but no one was sure from where it came.
Enin stepped into the room as if he passed through a break in space. He simply appeared, and everyone stared at his emerging presence. Even the serps revealed a surge of surprise... and a great deal of apprehension.
"You should not be here," Desiv blurted out. "We were willing to overlook your previous..."
"Be quiet!" Enin commanded with resounding anger and clear disgust toward the serps. "Where I go and what I do is no longer up to you. As to what you overlook, your judgments are irrelevant. There is only one judgment that matters. Mine!"
Turning away from the serps with complete revulsion, Enin wished to reassure his friend.
"Don't worry, Ryson. They're not going to hurt anyone again, especially not Linda or Stomps."
Though they would have argued the assertion, the serps did not get the chance to respond. To the surprise of all, Neltus acted first. He did not cast a spell, but rather reclaimed what was his. He ripped his crimson magic back from the serps, took every last remnant, and broke the connection that linked them as a council.
The serps turned with both anger and astonishment toward the spell caster. They found his expression of loathing unsettling and his deeper thoughts even more troubling. They sensed a new attitude in Neltus, one that replaced his fear. The scheming monsters believed his thoughts and his actions required a strong response.
Unfortunately for the serps, they were no longer connected. They could not pool their manipulative power or even communicate their intentions as they once did. The magic that allowed them to act as a council was beyond their reach, and as individuals, they had limited ability to act against the spell caster.
"You will pay for this," Desiv hissed at Neltus. "There will be no place you can hide from us. There..."
"He has nothing to worry about from you!" Enin interrupted menacingly, but then he quickly placed his attention solely on Neltus. "Why did you do that?"
"Because they deserved it," Neltus responded truthfully. "I didn't want to get involved with them. They held me over a barrel. I didn't have much of a choice, but I know what's going to happen now. I don't have to read minds to see that. I wanted to get in my shot while I had the chance."
"I'm not sure I agree that you're blameless. In fact, I know you're not. I'm not at all pleased with your involvement, but I have to say that this is one of the few intelligent decisions you've made on your own since I've known you. I hope to see more of that in the future."
"It is a decision he will pay for!" one of the serps cried out.
"No, he won't," Enin replied with disdain. "It's a decision that might have just saved him from a great deal of suffering, something you will not so easily avoid."
Every serp finally realized the great wizard of Connel had reached the limit of his patience. Even as a strong pulse of magic rebuffed any attempt to read Enin's thoughts, they could not ignore the burning resentment that radiated from the wizard like heat from a raging fire pit in the dark realm. They found only a small amount of reassurance in the guilt and self-recrimination pouring out of Enin's soul, for undeniable hostility followed swiftly behind. Each serp abruptly decided that momentary silence was the wisest course of action.
Neltus, however, was quick to explain himself.
"I didn't do it to save myself," the crimson casting wizard explained. "I did i
t because I'm still connected to you and I know why you're here. Before you dealt with them, I wanted to show them I had enough."
"I see, but keep in mind, that will only go so far in making up for what you've done. You'll still have to live with the mistakes you've made, just as I have to live with mine. We gave up our magic to these serps, we gave up a part of ourselves. That's not going to be easy for either of us to forget."
"I know," Neltus admitted. "That's why I took it back the moment you came here. I couldn't take the thought of them using me any more."
Enin knew exactly what Neltus meant. Despite their powers, they had both been manipulated. The serps did not take control of their minds, but maneuvered them into capitulation. There was no denying it, and it left them both bitter, as well as ashamed.
"Seems as if we both face a great deal of regret," Enin announced. "I know Ryson wanted to bring you to Connel, but that won't be necessary. As I said before, you're not completely blameless, but I see no reason to punish you further."
Rather than thank Enin, Neltus revealed an additional desire.
"I'd like to return the magic you gave me, but I want to get your approval first. I don't want to try and send it back without you knowing what I'm doing."
"I appreciate that. Return it to me now, and then leave here. What happens next will not affect you, and I assure you, you will not have to concern yourself with these serps ever again."
Neltus bowed his head slightly. He released the small sliver of Enin's magic that allowed the serps to watch over the wizard, and then he teleported far from Portsans.
With his magic returned and any link to the serps broken, Enin turned a harsh gaze upon the collection of manipulators who were nervously wondering what the wizard had meant. He decided to make it clear.
"You are not going to Connel," the wizard declared. "You are not going to be judged by dwarves, elves, or humans. You will be judged by me. You used my magic to watch over me, but it also allowed me to see your actions as well as your desires. I know the crimes you have committed, and I have absolute certainty over your malicious intentions."
