by Kyle Belote
Could he possibly know? the thought twisted in Xilor’s mind.
“How would you know of this?” asked Xilor, barely above a whisper.
“I’ve seen it,” Hadius responded. “I never told you I only saw the future and not the past. I chose to let you believe what you wanted.”
“Obviously,” said Xilor, finding confidence, “you can’t tell that well, considering you are here now where I placed you.”
“You’re right. I cannot see precisely, only possibilities.”
“Possibilities?” Xilor peculiarly asked.
“Yes, the future is not set, nor will it ever be set. When gazing into the future, you can change events just by seeing them. Like a pebble dropped into a pond, the water is still water; nothing changed except the movement, and only just. The prospective unfolding of time and events cannot dictate free will. Free will gives each being the ability to decide, act, or simply not to act at all. An unavoidable and unbeatable pattern.”
“I am tired of your riddles,” Xilor mumbled, rubbing his temples.
“Everything you do will be countered.” Hadius stopped, almost like in mid-sentence.
“Tell me more.”
“It is better for one’s destiny to unfold,” the cube advised.
“Riddles? Lies? Nothing but deceit? Tell me or I swear to make your memory a lot more painful and meaningless.”
“Do not forget that lies and deceit is your way as well.” Hadius sighed heavily. “Knowing what may come, you will strive to change it or make it happen. What may come is set or denied by your inquiry.”
“Out with it!”
“There are five doors in which the future will let you wander through. The first one is your ultimate victory. The only opposition is the man who was your first oppressor, and he will bury you under his heel. Judas Lakayre will defeat you and put an infinite end to your life, one that you cannot escape.”
Xilor mulled over the proclamation. He knew better than to interrupt. Hadius was doing what he desired, telling him the possibilities, so he understood the odds of his gamble.
“The second door will yield to your heart’s desire. You shall be the emperor of the Realms; everyone will answer fearfully at your feet, and you will discover lost magic. Immortality lies ahead. Through you, the Lord of the Underworld shall walk in the world of the Living.
“The third door is shrouded in shadow but through it, a tapestry of light guarded by a being of time and shadow, a Time Warden and you will be destroyed. To glimpse the Time Warden is to glimpse death but no gaze can pierce the shadowed cowl.
“The fourth door is strange. Nothing like this has ever transpired before, and nothing like this will ever transpire again. There is a magical being, a fallen angel of darkness and light who will crush you. This being is death for the death-bearer. You are the latter.”
This possibility intrigued Xilor more than the others. A fallen angel. He had never seen an archangel and didn’t think they existed, but if they did, he was sure he could overcome them when the time came.
“The fifth and final door reveal the angel and death united. Hand in hand, they conquer realms and worlds of realms in the arms of the cosmos. All bow to your relentless oppression and civilizations will crumble against the might of the angel.” Hadius breathed in deep and sighed noisily. “What you do with this knowledge is up to you. I suggest, however, that you let Destiny play as she will and not force her hand.”
“I shall trust my intuitions about what to do next.”
“Then be prepared to accept the consequences.”
“Who is this fallen angel?”
“Why are you so interested?” queried Hadius.
“I have never heard of this angel. If ever confronted by him, I may offer him a choice and place beside me.”
“Interesting outlook, but I never said it was a he. You will never get or grasp the simple fact that not all power lies within man alone. You overlook what you do not understand.”
“A woman?” Contempt gushed through his sneering voice.
“Yes, a woman! She possesses the powers of both her parent’s lineage, something that has not happened in a long time. The powerful bend and fall if she so chooses. She was much like you for a while, unaware of her true potential.”
“Then I will make sure she finds out what it is. Who are her parents?” Xilor inquired.
“It’s of no consequence; she is a Wcic …”
A sudden knock came from the door. Xilor looked down at the cube in his palm, peering at him, trying to catch any deceit. In a whirl, he placed the cube back in the cabinet.
Who the hell found me? No one knows of this room!
After shutting the doors to the cabinet, he rushed over to the hatch and threw it open. Vlukus stood before him and bowed.
“The army is ready to march, and the Xicx stand by awaiting your command, High One.”
“How did you find me here?” Xilor hissed.
“Since you created us, we can always feel where you are.”
That was a side effect he hadn’t foreseen.
Damn! “Never speak of this room to anyone.”
“Your will be done, High One.”
Xilor followed Vlukus through the winding corridors of Gryzlaud to the balcony overlooking the hold’s courtyard. A stirring of what Xilor could only call joy flowered within his chest. His army of goblins, the small, cruel, and twisted beings of different hues and shades marched under the cover of darkness, conjured by his power. For a long time had he yearned for the thundering sound of conquering footsteps.
Now, the Second Wizard’s War started in earnest.
***
Chapter 54 : The Temple
“Have you ever heard of Rumigul?” the voice asked Julie.
“Yes, the ancient magic–one most only speculate, one that corrupts.”
“Corruption,” said the voice, intrigued by her banausic knowledge of the arts, “is in the mind of the beholder, and in the eyes of all who are too foolish to realize that power–true power–can save. As far as being ancient, all magic is ancient, as history clearly states.”
“Your logic would seem sound, but I do not trust what I cannot see. Who are you?”
“I was once a pupil like you,” he said, his voice lightening for a moment. Julie detected a sly smile in his voice. “Young, foolish, naive, until I learned Rumigul and beyond. I discovered its secrets, the true power, and nature of magic.”
“That sounds like corruption to me.” Julie clipped. “My education is limited, but I’m pretty sure that’s what it is.”
“To understand the possessed depths, one must view all aspects; not just the arbitrary force-fed axiom through the Ages. Magic is old, older than we are. It is ever-changing and ever-evolving, and so, therefore, we must evolve and change as well,” he said mysteriously. “Corruption stems from Derengi, something I cannot do. Derengi is akin to the powers of the Lord of the Underworld. There are similarities between the two.”
“If you have something to teach me about magic, then I am listening, but,” she emphasized the word, “you haven’t told me anything solid yet. I still don’t know who you are.”
“Very well, I will tell you if you are willing to listen. My name is Rusem Giem. I was once lord of the lands south of the Melodic Mountains, King of the Stratu’Giem Domain.”
Not likely, she thought, rolling her eyes. “What happened?”
“I died.”
“A lot of people die here,” said Julie quietly, thinking back to the vision of Judas in the battle in some far off town.
He lies! the voice in her head screamed. They all lie, they want you for their end purposes, just like Judas did.
Shut up! she told the voice.
“Yes, many people do, most of the time without cause.”
“I didn’t realize you had to die for a cause,” Julie voiced solemnly. Her eyes flickered to the floor, catching a glimpse of Ava. “What did you do to Ava?”
“I put her to sleep.
This way we can talk without having to worry about being overheard and interrupted.”
“Is she hurt?”
“That would not bode well for trust, wouldn’t you agree?”
Julie mulled over his words, finding truth in them. “What is so important that she can’t be awake to hear?”
“From my past, I have never been able to trust fairies. They are conniving pests and only look out for themselves, never trusting anyone. There are many things, I could teach you, but I will impart one thing now that will serve you best. Think of it as an offer, a promise of more to come. This way, you will know who is lying to you, and you can find out why.”
“I find that hard to believe,” she doubted.
“Hold on to your beliefs, but with this new technique, you can be sure. Let me enlighten you,” Rusem pleaded.
“Alright,” Julie said warily. “You may teach me this, and if it serves me well, perhaps I shall return and learn more.”
“You won’t regret it,” he promised.
From the center of the pedestal, the sixth carving, a murky, white light arched out of the opening, streaming into Julie’s eyes. She could feel the tingling sensation dance throughout her skull, coming in waves. Comparative to the book, it barely registered, more like a gentle caress. A warning went off in her mind.
She cautioned herself, Knowledge shouldn’t be easy, but achieved through the process of education and dedication.
It was too easy. Perhaps she was accustomed to the struggle under Judas’ tutelage. Somewhere, in the back of her consciousness, she knew that was wrong, both the struggle and easily acquired knowledge. War raged within her. The enlightenment showed her how to bend circumstances, mold them to her will if she chose.
Dominating someone to do what I want could be a good thing, the voice reconciled.
It’s wrong to possess anyone’s mind or soul, no matter how dire the situation is!
Not even to save a life, to preserve it?
No, no life is worth the conquering of a mind.
Not even Judas’? Lily’s?
She answered with silence. The inner battle shifted, and she lost her moral ground. Julie would do anything to save Lily’s life. Feasibly Judas’, too. The voice sank its claws deep, taking root, dampening her conscience. She knew it would be the right thing, to save Judas and Lily, Kam, too.
She could wield abilities to end Xilor, but still, the conflict remained. She hadn’t lost herself, not yet, but she was close. Julie stood on a precipice, not wanting to fall into the breech, but the fortitude to continue her fight abated.
A part of her admired the man who brought her into this magical world; the other half detested him for the Corridor and Mr. Pleasure. That place was a turning point for her, changed her, altered their relationship. She tried to understand his logic and couldn’t. Turbulent anger flowed in her.
The light stopped, sudden, abrupt.
A man stood before her. He was older than she expected, his voice youthful.
Attractive, Julie smiled to herself.
An aura radiated about him, and his eyes reminded her of Judas, wise beyond his years. Her amber gaze scrutinized him from head to toe. He was a little taller than her, not by much, a whole head and then some shorter than Kam. The lust stirred within her, her insides burning with fire, strong, but not as much as with Lily and Kam. She clamped down introspectively.
Am I attracted to him or his aura?
“This,” the man said, “is what I looked like before I died.” If he noticed her lust, he didn’t give any indication.
Is it hot in here? “Pity you’re dead,” Julie demurred.
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t come back and see me again.” He stepped closer, the lust growing stronger, and held out his hand. Julie opened hers to receive him.
Shades of the Underworld where is Lily when I need her? He’ll have to do. Take me right here! she yearned.
Instead, he dropped something into her palm. A ring.
Fuck! she mentally screamed. What a huge disappointment.
“This is a teleport ring. It will bring you straight here to this temple. No need to go through the gatekeeper anymore. Whenever you decide that you’re ready, you can return.”
Her eyes swam, but as his image faded, so too, did the magelust.
Ava stirred. “My apologies, mistress. I am ashamed for falling asleep.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Julie assured her. “It was not your fault.”
“How long was I out?”
“No more than ten minutes,” Julie lied. She had no clue how long they were inside the temple. “Come, Ava, we’re leaving.”
Together, they stepped into the void and out the other side.
“Back already?” the unicorn asked.
“What do you mean?” Ava pondered.
“You just went in. I swear to you, I have yet to take my eyes off the portal, and you reemerged.”
A sense of unease rippled through Julie, and glanced back with uncertainty, letting her gaze linger for a moment. “Were done,” Julie intoned, finding her voice. “There wasn’t much to see.”
“Follow me,” the unicorn offered.
They returned to the gate in silence, Julie letting her mind drift to what transpired. They had been in there for at least ten minutes, she was sure of it, yet only seconds passed for the unicorn. She mulled over her recollection, fumbling with the ring that Rusem Giem had given her. She wanted to test her prowess of mind probing, the more she practiced, the less likely it would be detectable. When she grasped the ability, commanded it, she would turn her thoughts and will toward other talents. They would serve her needs, a collection, an arsenal at her disposal. And when the time was right, she’d confronted Xilor and bring an end to his reign.
By any means necessary.
***
Chapter 55 : Meristal
The Kothlere Council Chambers always had a shine, an opulent sparkle to Meristal’s eye. Today, however, the room didn’t seem as bright or as beautiful. A dark mood rivaling the hue of the deep phthalo-blue carpets settled over the coming proceedings. To her, the chambers represented power, justice, prestige; to Judas, it represented oppression, vanity, irresponsibility. Since Kayis took office nearly a score past, the former Advocate of Law tended to agree with the warlock. Kayis was spoiled and tactless.
The decor always changed when a new Consul took office, a way of signifying their mark. Tapestries of the noble Houses, the Dathyr House, in particular, adorned the walls. Gossamer curtains, rods of gold and silver, black walnut and cypress wood–the latter imported from the Vikal Mountains near the Krey’s home–all mirrored the attitude of those in power: egotistical luxury. Though a charming man at times, Kayis’ ambition and alacritous rise made him drunk off his success. He wasn’t an only child, but might as well be, the youngest with his nearest sibling two Ages older.
After being discredited, and the Council exiled him, Kayis publicly shunned him. Avarice was a strong incentive in the Dathyr lineage. Launching a campaign with the title warlock as his platform, Kayis rose to prominence, claiming the highest office. The community feared what the title warlock represented more than they disagreed with his expulsion. Many still held Judas in high regard, but Kayis, seemingly born without a spine, lost his respect, long ago.
“Please,” Kellis, the goblin, offered, “be seated.”
Meristal took a seat at the table below the bench, the members looking down at her. A few aides bustled about, helping the scribes with parchment and ink, ready to record the proceedings. “Greetings,” she began stiffly. She folded her porcelain-white fingers in front of her.
“Please,” Lagelm said, flourishing a smile, his needle sharp teeth peeking through the gap in his lips. “For one such as you, it is our honor. How may we be of service?”
She paused to consider the faces of the collective. Some seemed interested in what she had to say, but others, like Kayis Dathyr, had their minds made up. The ancient rivalry
between Meristal and Daylynn twisted the latter to be less than inclined. Bile rose in her mouth recalling the cause of their animosity, but she trudged on, making sure to hide her displeasure.
“I’m sure grave word reached Ralloc that many trolls laid siege to Wizard’s Pass. Though a group of wizards and common folk were able to repel them, the toll exacted cost them numerous lives and the village itself.”
“Yes we’ve heard,” Kayis said dismissively. His voice turned impertinent. “Have you come with any fresh news, or have you come to plead the case of your loved one, making a name for yourself?” Though his power had blinded him to reality, he used his title as a right to belittle anyone or anything he chose, like a mad king to those he oppressed. He leaned back in his chair, reclined like a tyrant on a throne, a tight grin spreading.
“My name and my history are impeccable, beyond reproach from the likes of you, Consul. Thank you for your inquiry, though. And if you are referring to Judas as my loved one, again, you would be mistaken; he is not my loved one. Yes, I do come with fresh news, but the more you interrupt me, the longer it will take me to spit it out.”
An electric tension rippled through the chambers. Meristal’s placid face and neutral voice gave nothing away. Amethyst eyes held him, but she caught small smiles coming to a few delegates. Dathyr tried to undermine her, and she would not be cowed.
Kayis bristled and sat up, no longer slouching.
Meristal waited for a tantrum when Lagelm spoke up. “I am interested in what message she brings. I will not tolerate any more outbursts about her personal life,” he said brusquely, throwing Kayis a sour look of displeasure. “Please, Madam Raviils, continue with the news.”
Meristal was grateful for the vote of confidence. She wanted to express thanks with a glance but refrained from averting her eyes, knowing she would be the first to look away and lose whatever ground she gained.
She continued. “The trolls laid siege to Wizard’s Pass and the Elyfian Enclave sent troops to Shadow City. Vampires routed the contingent with the aid of goblins.”
“Curious,” Dathyr sneered, “the elyves marched to war without a declaration. I did not ask for assistance. I wonder where they got the notion. You? The renegade warlock?”
