by Ryan McCall
“Thank you,” said Brenna and she turned away. She closed her eyes, trying to cool her frustration. That settled it, Mikono had known they were coming. She hadn’t moved the goods during the night or Selim and Snar would have seen it.
Devious thought Brenna. Masquerading her people as Varonites and then arranging a conflict with the Kartecs to distract us.
She would be certain that everyone they had arrested was interrogated thoroughly. But she doubted they would have anything useful. Barus and Inissa were Mikono’s main operatives. Catching someone lower than them on the food chain wouldn’t get them the kitsune.
Once back at the station, she watched the chaos as the horde of Kartecs and Varonites were brought in and put in the cells, waiting to be questioned one at a time. “Not exactly what I was expecting you to be bringing in sergeant,” said Niko.
“I know captain, but it’s all we have. Mikono saw us coming, somehow.” She was still angry at being tricked by the kitsune.
“So now what do you plan to do?” he asked.
“Inissa Renoch. We take her, get her to flip. Barus runs in the shadows, he’s too hard to catch. But Inissa appears to be Mikono’s more public lieutenant.”
“Well we have to do something soon. This war between the Stoneskins and Mikono’s people isn’t letting up. I received a fresh report while you were out leading the raid. A shootout in south Delkirk, five gang members and two bystanders dead. We only have a single suspect in custody; one of the Stoneskin orcs. He’s not saying a word.”
“Fuck,” said Brenna. It was turning into a full-fledged gang war.
“I don’t want this to get any worse than it already is,” said Niko. “Do whatever it is you must to catch Mikono and stop this. I’ll put Selim on Lorek.”
***
Isaac shook his in head in disbelief as he looked at the empty barrels in his church’s storeroom. The idea that one of his own members could peddle disgusting drugs through his church; he felt violated. The watch officers were long gone and he had cleaned the front area of the church. He slowly shut the door to the room and locked it. The lock was unbroken, and yet he was the only one with the key. Somehow the perpetrators had picked the lock; or even worse, they had a copy.
He walked to the altar at front of the main room and sat on his knees in prayer. “Varos, please give me the guidance I need. My own flock have turned to sin and betrayed not only my trust, but the sanctity of this place which bears your name. Where did I go wrong? Did I lead them astray somehow? Or is this punishment for a sin I have committed? Please show me my shape and tell me what I must do?”
A few moments later there came the sound of someone entering the church. He whipped his head around to see Inissa Renoch walking down the aisle towards him. She had a hell of a nerve coming here after this morning. When the watch officer inquired about her, everything had made sense.
“Cleric Gall,” she said, “I see you are praying in the aftermath of this outrage.” He stood up and looked at her coldly. “Not pleased to see me cleric?” she said in a mocking fashion.
“I thought your job was to protect our church from incidents such as this,” said Isaac. She was playing with him. “The watch had to intervene and arrest everyone. Fortunately they did not disrupt Varos’s holy shape.”
“I am sorry cleric, I was busy with another matter. As soon as I heard about the incident I made my way here.”
He didn’t believe a single word that came out of her mouth. “I see,” he replied and paced towards his office slowly. “Why don’t we step into my office and discuss how to resolve the situation?”
“After you cleric,” she said. He opened the door, stepped in then turned to let her inside. Suddenly she was right next to him and he felt a burning stab of pain in his mid-section. He gasped and Inissa pulled the knife out of his stomach, letting him drop to the floor. He looked up at her as she cleaned the blade with one of his ceremonial towels. He watched the red of his blood slowly stain the towel.
“I am sorry I had to do this cleric. We started off so well together. I feel we could have had a good working and religious relationship. But Mikono does not like loose ends and after today, you happen to be one.”
He raised his hand and pointed at her, “You…you brought tarcaine into my church and…”
Inissa shrugged. “It was convenient.”
Isaac clutched at his wound, he felt his blood pouring out. His vision was starting to get dark. “And the…high cleric, does…he…know?”
“Of course,” said Inissa, as she slipped her knife back into her belt holder. “He allows us the use of his churches and we compensate him for it.”
That was an even worse betrayal, the high cleric himself. “You violate your shape…the spirit of Varos…for mere riches?”
Isaac was struggling to keep his eyes open now. She stood there, as if waiting for him to die. “Looks like you’ll finally get to show Varos your shape earlier than you thought cleric so it’s not all bad is it? Say hello to Varos and the Creator for me.”
The last thing he saw before his eyes closed was Inissa throwing the bloody towel on his altar.
Chapter 25
“All stand for Magister Straiton,” said the hearing facilitator. Everyone in the room rose to their feet. Zuri was at a table near the front, opposite the magister’s desk. To her left was Headmaster Rai Chek. He was currently acting as the warden of Warded Spirals until a new archmage was selected. On her right was Yadra Torres. The necromancer had given her testimony first as the senior mage; now it was Zuri’s turn.
The magister slowly made his way to his desk and sat down. He had aged heavily since the last time Zuri had attended a hearing. What little hair he had left had whitened and his movements were much slower. As he put his hands on the desk, she noticed that his right one was frozen in a clawed position, stricken with a nerve condition.
“Be seated,” he said in a hoarse voice. “Now I believe we are due to hear testimony from Mastermage Zuri Abeliah, are we not?”
“Yes sir,” said the facilitator. “Mastermage Abeliah, could you please relate to the magister and the rest of the hearing committee, the events leading up to the confrontation at the Blue Tower.”
She nodded and began with her testimony. “It began with the suicide of Kyle Dunn.”
She proceeded to give all the details, her discovery of his diary, the encounter with Paragon Sidonius and her fight with the archmage. After finishing she took a long sip of water.
Magister Straiton said, “We thank you for the testimony you have provided at this hearing Mastermage Abeliah. The committee and myself will withdraw to a closed room and make our final judgments.” The magister and the committee then proceeded to exit to the closed room on the left.
Zuri took another sip of water. “That’s it then, nothing left but to wait. Any idea as to what they’ll decide?” she asked Yadra.
“They’ll do something about mental magic. Everyone know it had potential for addictiveness, but nothing on the scale that Feyton used it. I know Paragon Phillips won’t be happy whatever they decide.”
Charles Phillips was the paragon of mental magic and was a heavy advocate of it being allowed more mainstream use. He argued that its addictiveness was only a problem if an unskilled mage used it.
“I’d be more concerned about Arnette Essex,” said Rai Chek. “She wants the Scepters to have a more direct hand in Warded Spirals and she has influence with several members of the committee.” He flexed the red scales of his arm, a sign of his concern.
“Given what’s happened, would that be so bad?” asked Zuri.
“You are joking aren’t you?” asked Rai, incredulity in his voice. “The military mages in control of the school? Before you know it Warded Spirals would be nothing more than a combat training facility, subject to the needs of the military.”
Zuri held back the angry remark she had on her tongue and said, “I only meant that the school could use discipline in light of Feyton’s corrupti
on.” She wanted to know that someone like Feyton could never become archmage again.
“In my experience mastermage, too much discipline all too often gives way to dictatorial rule” countered Rai.
“Try telling that to the two paragons, four mastermages and five students who have been in comas since Feyton’s death,” said Zuri. Rai blinked his large green eyes. He wasn’t used to one of his teachers addressing him in this manner.
The mages she mentioned had all fallen into comas at the exact moment Feyton died. It was a symptom of their mental tampering by the archmage and demonstrated how wide-spread his control and abuse had been.
Roughly half an hour later the committee emerged from the closed room and re-took their places at the front. Once they were seated, Straiton addressed the room.
“After careful deliberation, the committee of this hearing has decided that, in lieu of the abuse of power and authority carried out by Archmage William Feyton, there is a required need for Warded Spirals to have greater scrutiny when selecting candidates for promotion at all levels. The regular process will remain in place, but all positions will subject to approval by a team of high-level mages from the Hydrus Scepters.” Arnette Essex, deputy chief of the Scepters and one of the committee members, smiled at this statement.
Rai leaned over to Zuri and whispered, “Did I not say so?”
The magister continued, “In addition, the actions taken by Feyton and the minds he corrupted have proven to us that mental magic is far too addictive and dangerous. It will longer be taught at Warded Spirals.”
“What!” shouted Paragon Phillips. He stood up in the crowd seated at the back half of the room. “You can’t do this. This is an outrage, one man abuses his power and you-”
“Paragon Phillips,” said Straiton, cutting him off. “I suggest you calm yourself and not interrupt again or I will have the guards take you to the cells. Is that understood?” Phillips nodded and sat down as he eyed the guards who had taken steps towards him.
“Now as I was saying, mental magic will longer be taught,” said the magister. “It is far too dangerous. All research projects currently underway will be shutdown, with reports on the work filed and moved to storage. Copies will be kept in both Warded Spirals and the Scepter barracks. Anyone caught using mental magic without explicit permission from an oversight group will be subject to heavy penalties, including imprisonment or exile to Hidan.”
Zuri was surprised at that harshness of the punishment. The colony of Hidan contained a sizable penal settlement. The prisoners were subjected to back breaking work to supply the colony with water, a rare resource on the dry continent of Vinacia, or patrol the Arc lands. Either way, the survival rate was low and only the worst criminals were sent there. The magister was serious about preventing the use of mental magic.
“The aftermath of these events has left Warded Spirals with a number of empty roles. Until such time as a new archmage is decided on, Headmaster Rai Chek will take over as acting-archmage. Archmage Chek, you have the need for new paragons and the members of this committee have one request. We would like to see Zuri Abeliah take over the role of paragon of shadomancy. Do you have any objection to this?” Zuri was surprised. She did not expect to be eligible to be a paragon for several years.
“No magister, I do not,” replied Rai.
“Good. Mastermage Abeliah please stand,” requested Straiton. Zuri did so. “Do you accept this position?” he asked.
“No magister I do not.” The magister and several other of the committee members exchanged puzzled looks and the whispers crept around the room.
“Quiet please,” said Straiton. Then he looked at directly at Zuri. “May I ask why?”
“In light of what has happened I no longer feel comfortable teaching at Warded Spirals. I would like to request to join the Hydrus Scepters.” And she glanced over at Arnette, who had an approving look on her face. “I have proven myself in battle and I am in favor of your new laws. I want to be part of the process of magical security that you are enacting,” she replied.
Before the magister could give her an answer Arnette Essex spoke. “I have no problem with this request magister. She is correct and she would be a valuable asset for the Scepters to have.”
“As you wish,” said Straiton. “Zuri Abeliah, as magister of this hearing, I officially name you to the Hydrus Scepters; your transfer to take effect immediately.”
She bowed her head. “Thank you sir,” she said and sat down.
The remaining matters were administrative, Zuri wasn’t interested in the details. Once the hearing ended, Arnette Essex caught up with her in the corridor. Her light auburn hair bounced around her shoulders, contrasting with the woman’s coal-dark skin. She touched Zuri on the shoulder. “Zuri, I was hoping I could speak to you for a moment”
“Of course,” replied Zuri. “I do answer to you now after all.”
Arnette chuckled. “Well we have to go over the arrangements, but that can wait until you are initiated. I wanted to say that I’m glad that you requested to join us. Your actions are commendable. The Scepters need individuals like yourself, if we are to defend our empire.”
Zuri found Arnette’s phrasing odd. “Has a war started that I don’t know about?”
Arnette smiled and shook her head. “Of course not. But as the empire’s military mages, we always have our eyes focused on defense. The downside to being the richest and most powerful nation in the world is that it inspires the greatest jealousy.”
Arnette was certainly patriotic, though Zuri shouldn’t have been surprised. The Scepters had a reputation for staunch defense of the empire.
“I know you don’t have military experience, so you may find our methods of operating intrusive, but it works. It’s kept us defending the empire for over a thousand years. I’ll come by your office tomorrow for our first official meeting. After that I’ll show around the Scepter barracks and training ground.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Good,” replied Arnette, “until tomorrow then.” The deputy chief of the Scepters walked off and Zuri was left with her thoughts about her new position.
Chapter 26
Siobhan Mason was tapping her hands on the desk. Tessa stopped mid-sentence and asked, “Sorry. Was I rambling?”
Siobhan gave her an exasperated look. “You came in here to ask for my opinion on how to deal with your sister, but you looked like you needed to vent. I figured it was better if you let it all out,” she replied. “I know you had your disagreements with your father, but wouldn’t now be the time to put that aside and repair your relationship with her?”
“You don’t know her like I do, Siobhan,” said Tessa. “She’s utterly ruthless. Creator knows what she’ll do, now that she’s in charge of Typhon Trading.”
Siobhan looked at her, skepticism on her face.
“Don’t give me that look,” protested Tessa. “I’m not being paranoid. The look on her face when the LRC showed up at our father’s wake; I haven’t seen her that angry since she was humiliated by Sarah Logan at the Imperial Day celebration. Tegan never let that go. She hired investigators to dig into every aspect of her life, smeared her with every ugly rumor she could think of and the girl ended up killing herself in shame after her insider trading in the Peniton colony trust was revealed.”
“Your sister didn’t invent that, the evidence was there to be found,” Siobhan pointed out.
“No she didn’t, but everything else she did helped contribute to the girl’s suicide,” she replied. “The Logan family still refuses to do any business with Typhon.”
“Socialist protestors aren’t my area of expertise. You should talk to Kao, he is the minister of industry after all,” said Siobhan.
“That would be a pointless waste of time and you know it.”
Minister Marawn Kao was an Alkon-born drakon and a well-known hard-liner when it came to labor activists. During the Factory Halts of 1692 he had ordered Imperial troops to stop the strikers. The s
trike ended as the soldiers moved from province to province suppressing the strikers. Over three hundred people had been killed as a result and the ensuing aftermath had resulted in larger worker’s unions and the formation of the LRC as a national organization.
In the subsequent years, strikes became more common place and while many companies had recognized the growing tide and established better benefits for their employees, there were many that still took a rigid stance against workers’ rights.
Tessa herself thought that the rights of workers should be more respected. Her attitudes on that particular issue had been one of the many reasons for falling out with her father. Cormac Mordain had been as reactionary as they come. He had regarded protestors and strikers in his corporation as traitors. Tegan had unfortunately inherited his distaste for them as well.
“Yes, you’re right,” said Siobhan. “I’m on the same side of you on this. It is best for unions and businesses to negotiate. Much like I think it is better for nations to negotiate rather than go to war. It’s too bad everyone can’t be as reasonable and progressive as we are.”
Siobhan developed a thoughtful look on her face. “There is one thing you could do.”
Tessa waited for Siobhan to continue, but she appeared reluctant. “What’s your idea?” she finally asked.
“You could talk to the emperor,” said Siobhan.
The last thing Tessa needed was the other ministers think she was getting above them by taking issues directly to Emperor Lawrence. “I could, but I’d be better off diving into the darkest hells. Kao would squeeze me with everything if he heard I went over his head and was messing in his patch,” she said. “No, I’ll have to resort to threatening my sister with the one thing she cares about above all else, money. Being treasury minister does have its perks.”
