The Darkest Hour tst-2

by Martin Hengst

  As the quintessentialist began speaking the words to activate the gate, Tiadaria understood why it was taught to masters of the order and no one else. It was an incredibly complicated and elaborate ritual, with several iterations of invocation that got progressively more complex. Faxon completed the ritual and Tiadaria had half a second to wonder if he hadn’t performed it correctly when there was a brilliant flash of blue-white light and she had passed into the Quintessential Sphere.

  This was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Slipping into the sphere while she was fighting was a transition of consciousness. Her soul, her essence, was split between the physical realm and the sphere. The gate had pulled her entire body into the sphere and she felt a terrifying disassociation from the Solendrea she knew. Shadowy mountains and rivers flashed by them incredibly fast. Some were nearly tangible. Others were faint and shimmering, ancient memories of things that had long passed from the surface of the world. Tia closed her eyes, but it didn’t help the sensation. Her mind, her body, and the sphere were inexorably linked.

  Just as Tia was certain that she was going to completely lose her grip on reality, another blue-white flash heralded their arrival. The afterimage of the flash left her partially blind. She could barely make out a similar ring of stones to what was erected in Ethergate. Someone grabbed her by the arm and pushed something hard and round into her hands.

  “Take this,” a voice said in her ear. “You’re going to need it.” Tia heard other voices offering similar advice to Wynn and Faxon. It took her a moment to realize that the object in her hands was a metal bucket. She managed a single step forward before a wave of nausea dropped her to her knees. Drenched in beads of cold sweat, she made use of the bucket she had been given. She heard retching behind her and knew that Wynn and Faxon were having an equally difficult time with the adjustment.

  Powerful hands lifted her from under her arms and helped her walk to a cot along the wall. She was laid down and Tia had never been so thankful for a flat surface. She wasn’t sure if she laid there for minutes or hours, but eventually the horrible feeling of unreality passed and the sickness with it.

  When she opened her eyes, she found Faxon standing over her, offering her a caramel from the pocket of his robes. She groaned and he gave her a half-smile.

  “Trust me, the sugar will help.” He waited until she took the sweet and moved on to the next cot, offering Wynn a confection.

  Tia unwrapped the caramel and chewed on it, trying not to focus on the roiling of her stomach. Within a few moments, she was feeling better enough to sit up, though standing was still out of the question. She pushed herself up on the cot, leaning against the wall. Faxon leaned against the wall between their cots and slid to the floor, drawing his knees up nearly to his chest.

  “A little warning would have been nice,” Tia said. She wanted desperately to be angry with Faxon, but she didn’t have the energy.

  “Sorry,” he replied, sounding just as tired and wrung out as she felt. “I was afraid that if I warned you about it, you’d have balked at coming. Or thought I was trying to scare you.”

  “That was certainly not what I expected,” Wynn said weakly. He had managed to sit up, but was still looking extremely ill. Tia would tease him about practically anything, but not this.

  “Be that as it may, we are in Overwatch now. The worst of it is over.” Faxon leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes.

  “Well, if nothing else, it answers a question I’ve had since I learned about the gate,” Tia said, trying to find a positive thought to cling to.

  “What’s that?” Faxon asked, without opening his eyes.

  “Why the gate couldn’t be used to stage an attack. If that kind of reaction is universal…”

  “It is,” Faxon assured her. “The only creatures on Solendrea not affected by gate sickness are the Pheen and they probably aren’t affected because they don’t need the gate to travel through the Quintessential Sphere. They can do it by innate ability.”

  “What’s a Pheen?”

  “Wynn?” Faxon passed the question off to his apprentice.

  “The Pheen are an extraordinarily powerful race of magic users. They are bipedal, twelve to fourteen inches high, have wings, and two rows of teeth.”

  “Tell her the rest,” Faxon said. Wynn wrinkled his nose.

  “The rest is rumor and conjecture. The Pheen claim that they created Solendrea and every living thing on it. They claim that they remain as impartial observers. I think it's a load of horse apples. There are those, however, who take the sprites at their word.”

  Tiadaria was not at all surprised that he took issue with the claim of world-building. For someone as eminently logical and rational as Wynn, the very thought of coexisting with the creators of the world must be about as natural as an eight-legged horse. In this particular instance, she was inclined to agree. She had a hard time believing that any race capable of preventing the Xarundi’s unstoppable thirst for violence would let them continue unchecked.

  Faxon finally opened his eyes and struggled to his feet. “If you two can manage, we really need to get moving. We don’t have much time and we have a lot to do while we’re here in Overwatch.”

  Tiadaria got experimentally to her feet. She was still a little wobbly, but it was manageable. Wynn was less than steady as well, but it seemed like they were ready to leave the gate room. The gate keepers sent them on with a nod and a wave toward the door. Tiadaria suspected that they needed to prepare for the next arrivals. Her next thought was wondering how much they got paid for performing this service. Whatever it was, it probably wasn’t nearly enough. Faxon led them down a short corridor and into the streets of Overwatch.

  Tiadaria was used to Dragonfell, Blackbeach, and even Ethergate, where life in the cities slowed down greatly after sunset. If the activity in the streets of Overwatch was any indication, this city didn’t come to life until after the sun left the sky. The streets were packed with throngs of people in the most outlandish dress Tia had ever seen. Those first few moments of their stay in Overwatch reminded Tia that she had a lot to learn about the world she lived in.

  It seemed that everywhere she turned, there was some creature, food, or thing that she had never seen before. She even caught sight of a Xarundi through the open door of a tavern, standing at the bar shoulder to shoulder with humans and at least one dwarf. She bridled at the sight and would have waded into the packed establishment ready for a fight if Faxon hadn’t restrained her.

  “This isn’t the Imperium,” he shouted in her ear. He had to. The din in the street was nearly deafening. “The rules are different here.”

  Different rules or not, Tiadaria wanted to get into that tavern. Faxon prevented her from causing a scene by taking her by the arm and guiding her, somewhat forcefully, through the crowded streets. She managed to catch a glimpse of Wynn trailing behind them. He looked absolutely terrified. Tia wasn’t sure if he had seen the Xarundi, or if this was just his natural reaction to the insanity unraveling around them.

  They turned down a side street that was slightly less crowded than the main avenue leading from Overwatch’s gate room. Now that they had a little more room to move, Tia wrenched her arm free of Faxon’s grasp. Getting back to the tavern now would be an exercise in futility. She’d have to bide her time, but she would find that Xarundi and ensure that it didn’t leave Overwatch. She was furious with Faxon and this time she wasn’t just going to let it slide. There was no reason for one of those creatures to be allowed to live…and sitting with humans as if it belonged there, no less!

  There was little she could do about it now, so as she followed Faxon through the twisting streets and alleys, she focused on the myriad of details that was assaulting her every sense. Brightly colored enchanted lanterns were strung on strings across the streets, throwing circles of light in all directions and casting weird shadows that seemed to have a life of their own.

  The din was constant, the noises of a hundred taverns, ba
rs, way houses, and brothels all combining to form a low and constant drone that made it difficult to think, much less hold a conversation. Several times they passed doorways and caught fragments of shouted conversations between patrons. More often than not, these fragments weren’t fit for polite company.

  The trio ascended a flight of stone steps so long that by the time they reached the top, Tia’s thighs were burning and both she and Wynn were out of breath. As Faxon let them pause a moment at the top to rest, Tiadaria realized that the noise had faded with their long ascent. She peered over the wall, delighted to find that the entire lower city was laid out for her to see, its bright colors and noisy revelry easily observed from this distance.

  “Wynn, come look at this,” she said, motioning to the young Apprentice. He came to her side and looked down. Wynn made a peculiar gulping noise and backed hastily away from the wall. Tia turned to see him standing as far away from the wall as the upper landing would allow, his face white. She rolled her eyes.

  “Wait, don’t tell me, let me guess. You’re afraid of heights?” Tia sighed, her exasperation with the young mage reaching new levels. She backed up against the wall, planted her hands atop it, and hoisted herself up, turning so that her legs hung in the open air over the lower city.

  Wynn gave a strangled cry and Tiadaria looked over her shoulder to see Faxon shaking his head, one palm to his forehead.

  “Will you please stop trying to give my apprentice a heart attack and come on?”

  Tiadaria stuck out her lower lip, but turned neatly on her bottom and dropped off the wall. There was another short staircase that lead them into the heart of the upper city. After a few minutes walking from the lower city overlook, Faxon lead them to the entryway of the most ornate inn she had ever seen. He held up a hand.

  “Remember, you are a slave,” he pointed a finger at Tiadaria. “Act like it. And you are my servant boy. Remember your parts. I don’t want any undue attention while we’re here.”

  Suitably assured that his companions would remember and play their assigned roles, Faxon strolled through the doors. If the outside of the inn was opulent, the inside was unlike anything Tiadaria had ever seen, anywhere. It made the king’s palace in Dragonfell seem shabby in comparison.

  The thick crimson carpet under her boots was soft enough that they were actually leaving footprints. The walls were a rich, dark mahogany with a trim of gold that, Tiadaria was certain, was actual gold. The artwork that hung on the walls was captivating. Tiadaria had never seen paintings with such rich colors, or tapestries woven with such fine detail. She was beginning to feel like the smallest fish in a big fishbowl when Wynn whistled through his teeth. That he was just as impressed with the furnishings made her feel better.

  A short corridor lead them into a lobby dominated by four huge marble columns that extended the height of the building. A spiral staircase climbed up from one corner of the room with extravagant landings on the second and third floors. The banister was supported by a small army of animals hand carved into the ironwood with meticulous detail. In the center of the lobby a semi-circular counter was overseen by a man in a crisp black uniform of tailored pants and a well-fitting doublet.

  While Faxon spoke to the attendant, Tiadaria explored the lobby. Large glass display cases were scattered around the room, each one holding a different type of treasure. There was one display full of sparkling gemstones nearly as large as her fist. Another held an array of gold figurines in the shapes of creatures both mystical and mundane. Tia circled that case, delighted with the whimsy and artistic execution of the little statues. She glanced up to call Wynn’s attention to the figures and looked up into the snarling maw of a Xarundi.

  Her startled cry called Wynn and Faxon to her side immediately. She shrank back against them and was thankful when the apprentice steadied her. The Xarundi was clearly in an attack posture, why hadn’t it moved?

  “Is everything alright here?” The attendant had hurried over to them. Tiadaria thought this was as much a testament to his concern for the treasures in the room as for her wellbeing.

  “Everything is fine,” Faxon replied smoothly, taking the attendant’s arm and guiding him back toward the counter. “My slave was startled by your…unique display piece.”

  “Oh yes,” the man gushed. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

  Tiadaria couldn’t hear Faxon’s reply, but she looked back at the Xarundi and was chagrined to see that the eyes were black and dead. There wasn’t even a spark of the luminescent blue fire that normally burned in their eyes. She felt the blood creep into her face.

  “Are you alright?” Wynn asked quietly.

  “I’m fine. But that,” she jerked her head at the stuffed Xarundi perched on its smooth wooden base. “That’s just wrong. I hate the Xarundi…hate them…and I wouldn’t do that. That’s just not right.”

  “There is a certain barbarism to it,” Wynn agreed. Then Faxon was ordering them to attend him.

  The three of them climbed to the top of the spiral and Faxon opened the door to the corner room. Tia and Wynn carried their packs, and Faxon’s, across the threshold into the room. It was a suite with a common living area and two bedrooms. The suite was larger than the entire cottage she had inherited from the Captain. Faxon closed the door behind him.

  Tia dropped their packs on the floor and turned on Faxon. “That Xarundi in the lobby-”

  Faxon held up a hand to forestall her anger. “I told you, this isn’t the Imperium, or even Ethergate. The rules are different here.” He motioned around the room. “There are more than a few people in Overwatch who have more money than sense. The man who owns this inn is one of them. However, he owes me a life-debt and doesn’t ask questions. That makes it the perfect place for us to stay while we’re here. Which we won’t be, for long.”

  “So what’s the plan?” Wynn had flopped into an armchair so ridiculously oversized that he looked like a child playing on his parent’s furniture.

  “The plan for the rest of the night is to sleep. In the morning, I have a meeting with someone. Then we need to get to the outfitter and get out.” Faxon stretched, his back popping audibly as he did so. “Tia, you take first watch. I’ll relieve you in a couple hours.”

  Without waiting for acknowledgment, he disappeared into one of the bedrooms and shut the door. Wynn looked after him thoughtfully.

  “Is it just me,” he said slowly. “Or is he acting really weird?”

  “I think he’s far more worried than he’s letting on and I think he’s not handling it very well. The sooner we find the relic and get back to Blackbeach, the sooner everyone can relax and get back to normal.”

  “I guess.”

  For once, Tiadaria couldn’t argue with the lack of enthusiasm in Wynn’s tone. They were both exhausted. At least he’d get to sleep for a few hours. That was something.

  Wynn bade her goodnight and left her to her duties. Tiadaria took her scimitars from her pack and settled herself in the chair that Wynn had vacated. She felt better with the steel laying across her thighs, even if the sensation of the steel so close to her skin wasn’t necessarily pleasant. Still, it would help keep her awake until Faxon relieved her. When he did, she was more than ready to climb under the blankets and sleep.

  * * *

  The bed was luxuriously soft and sleeping in it should have been the easiest thing in the world, but Wynn lie awake, staring up at the flickering lights from the city playing off the ceiling. Tiadaria was in the next room, standing guard, and it was to her his thoughts returned constantly. Incessantly. Refusing to let him sleep.

  Wynn almost wished Faxon hadn’t called her to task. He wanted to offer Tiadaria his hand, to feel that shocking spark between them. That tingling pain that told him that she was far more than she let on. Tiadaria was a rogue mage. He had known it almost from the time they had met, certainly from the moment they had touched, and for once in his life he didn’t care about rules or regulations, or what was right and proper. He wanted to feel her han
d on his, the link-shock dancing between them.

  She vexed him something awful, but it was different from the teasing he had endured at the hands of his peers, or others. When she poked fun at him, or flayed him with her wit, he could look in her eyes and see her humor dancing there. It was just her way and he’d rather have her quick jokes and jabs than any other’s tender whispers and soft caresses.

  What Tiadaria didn’t know, what she couldn’t know, was that she was the reason that Wynn hadn’t accepted censure as a viable option. Even now, as he lay looking up at the ceiling, he was terrified. He was scared of what they would face and even more scared of how he would react to it. He couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing Tia again, but if it meant standing his ground in a fight, he just wasn’t sure he could do it. Faxon’s threat was a horrible contemplation in its own right, but at least it was a known quantity.

  Wynn sighed. The coming dawn was beginning to chase night’s shadows from the ceiling. If he didn’t sleep now, it was going to be a very, very long day. He rolled over, willing his tumbled mind to settle, and tried to fall asleep.

  * * *

  The lower city was crowded during the day, but not nearly as packed as it had been the previous night. Faxon, upon returning from the meeting he wouldn’t talk about, had told them they were in for a special treat. They were going to the warehouse, he said, and no prodding would get him to give up any more detail. He seemed to be in a good enough mood though, so Tiadaria and Wynn opted to leave it alone.

  Faxon seemed to know his way around the lower city quite well, a fact that Tia would remember to ask him about later. He navigated with the ease of a local. He didn’t get turned around in the various blind alleys and false roads they often encountered. Faxon lead them down wide roads and smaller byways and they finally emerged at the edge of a wide but slowly moving river.

  Boats of every shape and size floated on the gently moving body of water. There were tiny little skiffs and massive trading vessels with three and four masts. Tiadaria was delighted. She had heard stories of great sailing ships and had sometimes seen them from afar on her duties in Dragonfell, but she had never been so close to them. She was happy to discover that Wynn was just as enamored with the boats as she was. He grabbed Tia’s hand and pulled her to the rope guarded pylons at the edge of the street, pointing at the ships with the brightest and most outlandishly colored sails.