The Spark

by Howell, H. G.

  At the base of the tower, which at one point served as the isle’s air dock, had seen a complete overhaul. Where once an emaciated guest hall sat, a broad, noble barracks and educational center rose in replacement. Red brick walls, new glass for the windows with fresh cast iron for the panes, and a solid cement foundation all drove home the ideology of growth and betterment Garius so preached.

  Katherine finished her meal and wine in quick passing. It had been dull, lacking salt and ground pepper, but she knew it would suffice. Returning to her room, she returned the tray to the desk, carefully placing the wine glass on top. Not really sure what to do with her time, Katherine sat upon the down mattress of the bed.

  Garius came calling soon after, ensuring all was well.

  “Of course ser,” she replied. “You are a wonderful host Garius.”

  “Thank-you, I do try.” His smile was charming, sincere almost. “I hoped we could walk today?”

  “A walk would be a wonderful, and welcome change.” Katherine admitted, trying to hide her excitement. It pained her thinking how pitiful she must seem to Garius, so eager for such a mundane thing as a walk.

  “Excellent,” His excitement was not so well contained as Katherine’s. He reached a welcoming hand towards her, offering it in way of companionship. “Come, let me show you my world.”

  Katherine’s heart raced excitedly as the rough calluses of his hand rubbed against the softness her palm. Katherine rose, ever looking deep into the bright eyes bidden behind the ornate pyrokinetic lenses. Her cheeks burned fiercely as the man she once loved helped her to her feet. She felt foolish, quite like a schoolgirl once more.

  Garius lead the way from the chamber, out into the waiting corridor.

  Soft cream wallpaper, emblazoned with flowing floral design and filigrees, worked to hide the masonry of the hallway. Tight, notched windows followed the contour of the tower; each being nothing more than a slight crevice in the wall, despite bringing in an array of bright light. A deep, ruby carpet followed the length and girth of the floor in either direction.

  “Such a lovely guise to the cold grey of the stone,” Katherine remarked as the pair continued down the long, circling corridor.

  “The bare stone reminds me of dungeons and cellars.” Garius said as sunlight from a nearby window caught the crystal of his lenses. “Both of which I am not overly fond of.”

  “Whatever the reason,” Katherine said, admiring the way the sunlight played with his slick, white hair. “It is a lovely change from the sterility of my room. Do not get me wrong, it is a lovely space, but the plain, pine walls are quite dull. Though, I suppose I should not complain overly much, for I could still be down in the dark.”

  The thought of her cell sent a shiver down Katherine’s spine, and a pang of guilt in her heart. Belle was down there still, being raped, molested and perhaps worse.

  “But you are not,” Garius said, clearly ignoring the sadness the memory brought Katherine. “So we need not think about it. Let us relish in the beauty of the day.”

  “I will tell you this Garius Syrah,” Katherine halted in front of a window, stamping her foot on the carpeted floor beneath. “We do not have to talk of it now, or ever, but do not presume to expect me to forget what happens in your dungeons at night.”

  “Katherine, my love,” he placed a hand on either of her shoulders as he turned to face her. “I do not presume to have even a smile from you. What happens down in the deep dark of this facility will be made clear by the setting of the sun.”

  “You intend to tell me?” Katherine’s brow furrowed, more out of disbelieve than anything.

  “No, I do not mean to tell you.” Garius said matter-of-factly. “I wish to do more than simply convey the Order’s purpose; I will do more than tell…I will show you.”

  Shocked into silence, Katherine followed her former love as he led her through the winding halls of his tower home.

  The cream wallpaper followed the pair, never ending its task of brightening the stone corridors. The carpet underfoot raced ahead of the one-time lovers, leading to a destination only known to Garius.

  The corridor came to an abrupt end as the pair entered into a wide gallery with steep stairs. The stair followed a straight path to an upper landing, as well as deep into the earth. High vaulted windows allowed the morning sun to illuminate the only spacious room Katherine had seen within the tower. Garius said nothing, nor did he ignore her, he simply continued to lead Katherine on his private tour.

  Directing her to the stair, he indicated they were to ascend to the upper landing. Katherine took the steps one at a time, feeling like a nervous child. Katherine did her best to maintain her composure, despite her mind running rampant over what secrets lay in wait. The activity brought upon a searing pain in her skull, which had all but grown too familiar. Gritting her teeth, Katherine forced the return of the sharp throbbing away as she followed Garius upwards.

  Upon reaching the upper landing the pair were greeted by a heavy iron door. Large studs lined the perimeter of the metal and a heavy bronze ring served as a handle. Garius reached for the ringlet, pulling the weighty door open with practiced ease.

  On the opposing side of the threshold a large, looming construction of copper and steel, pipes and cogs, glass and coils filled Katherine’s vision. The device sped high towards the rafters of the tower, while descending deep into the bowels of the earth. Intense blue light glowed from glass tubing, which followed a spiraling path as the varying metal pipes.

  Following Garius through the portal, Katherine’s feet fell on a grated steel gangway that followed the contour of the space within.

  Her eyes followed a copper pipe down to the bowels of the space, where large turbines, oscillating fans, rotaries and various other mechanical accoutrements whirred in a soothing precision. At the base of the room, and where all the glass tubing and piping converged, sat an oversized, obtuse invention that reminded Katherine of a very advanced cortex. Along the far wall a group of electrokinetics stood monitoring various dials and meters, adjusting their machine by pulling or pushing on a handful of levers.

  “You see, dear Katherine,” Garius said, resting his hands on a steel cross bar. “I am not the sole kinetic who holds similar desires in my designs.”

  Katherine joined Garius’ side as he admired his grand machine.

  “I would not have been able to create this wonderful device without the aid of an electrokinetic or two,” he smiled, proud of his achievement, “Some are former classmates that followed me after I left the thrice damned college.”

  “And the others?” Katherine asked, watching the men and women below as they went about their routines.

  “Lost sheep looking for a shepherd.” He smiled a sweet smile, not so dissimilar to that given from father to child. “I am not a vile man Katherine.” Garius insisted. “The work we do is for the people of Wynne. We strive to better their lives in ways only dreamt of.”

  Garius turned, resting his elbow on the railing. “Those kinetics?” he looked down over his workers, offering a wave to a man who noticed Garius’ stare. “They questioned the teachings of the Council and its college, and, in turn, found me. You see dearest, the Council’s preaching only inhibits our gifts. Here a kinetic is free to the one thing we have long been denied – choice.”

  Katherine looked to her former love, a strange feeling of pride building in her heart as Garius laid the first foundations of the truth to her. Smiling, Katherine placed her hand atop his. The passion of his words was endearing, and understandable. How these lost kinetics served to help Wynne Katherine could not quite fathom, nor could she understand the need for such secrecy.

  An immediate burst of azure light filled the room as a burst of electrokinetically induced charges sped through the tubings. Katherine jumped in fright.

  “Easy Katherine,” Garius laughed, pulling her in close. “It is not but the device.”

  Katherine looked at the now pulsating blue light within the glass tubing. “Wh
at is it?” her voice trembled.

  “It is but one of the many ways we will better Wynne.” He said, giving Katherine a soft, embracing squeeze. “From the base of this machine we are able to send pulses of energy into the sky, changing the existing energies to…well…whatever we so choose. From this one spot, I can control the very weather of the world.”

  Katherine looked back at the glowing construction. She followed its length first to the ceiling, then down to the roiling machinery below.

  “The salt-kin of Wynne will no longer have to dig in mines,” Garius continued. “Nor will they have to suffer frozen nights maintaining the roadways for the corrupted, pompous nobility. Soon the land of Syntar will turn from barren ice and snow to soft and fertile farmland. The poor families will finally serve a greater purpose to the province of Syntar, and Wynne, as the need for farmers will increase.”

  “You truly mean well, don’t you Garius?” Katherine asked as another pulsar raced to the heavens.

  “Aye.” He paused for a moment, as if lost in thought. “Truthfully? I desire more than simple weather manipulation. My heart yearns for a world of equality – a world where poverty is a nightmare of the past and where a kinetic is accepted and not shunned.” He pulled her in tight, resting his chin upon the top of her head. “There are many wrongs in this world m’lady. You know this as much as I. The Order is destined to set those wrongs right.”

  “Then why the kidnapping and rape?” Katherine blurted as a spark reminded her of the dark dungeons. Garius remained silent for moment. Katherine felt his body go rigid as the question took him unawares. She pulled away from his embrace and turned to face her one time love.

  “I will not lie to you dearest,” he smiled that sanguine smile again. “Nor will I tell you just yet. There is much to see first.” Garius extended his hand to Katherine, “Perhaps then you will understand.”

  Katherine eyed him suspiciously. She was curious to know why he yet again danced around the plaguing question of his prison. Reluctantly, she took his hand and let him lead her back the way they had first come. They re-tread the stair, and winding corridors, retracing the very steps they had previously taken to reach the weather machine. Every so often, Katherine looked at her lover, her captor, hoping for a sign of thought or emotion. His silence drowned the trust that had been growing and a building fear began to ferment in her gut.

  Finally, they reached a small stone archway, which housed a descending stairway. It was a steep flight, but short, ending in a shallow stone basin. Without hesitation, Garious led Katherine down the steps. His step was quick, well versed with the nuances of the stones beneath their feet. Katherine, on the other hand, went slow, trying to keep her feet upon the uneven, slick stair.

  “This is my private entrance.” He said when she joined him at the base of the basin. Garius gave a simple, yet no less than charming, smile. “Only myself and good Marcus know of its existence.”

  “And now me aswell?”

  “Aye, you aswell m’lady.” A dark cloud fell over Garius as he turned to face her. “If you know what’s good for you, you will speak naught of its existence.”

  The sudden venom in Garius’ tone caught Katherine off guard, sending chills up her spine. The change in attitude was all too familiar.

  “I…I’m sorry Katherine.” He turned away from her, hanging his head in apparent shame.

  Garius took a few heavy steps towards the nearby wall, letting his hand find a spot to hold his weight.

  “You must understand my love, despite my good intentions, I have many enemies.” He ran his other hand through his hair, like a man waiting for death to take him. “When I returned to Syntar I sought out my kin. The attempt proved to be moot.” His shoulders heaved as Garius let out a heavy sigh. “Being born into a salters world is much the same as being born as an ant – one face in a sea of similarity. I learned no one tracked the coming and going of the salt families, nor their births or deaths. I was the exception. I was the salt child of ill repute; I was the child who destroyed the Valvian embassy.”

  Garius turned to face Katherine again, his jaws clenched. “I was shunned, cast out like a dog. Through my investigating I learnt my parents were drawn, quartered and hung for my crimes. All because I was reborn as a kinetic and what the political fallout that rebirth brought to Syntar.”

  “Garius,” Katherine bit her lip, stemming a tide of emotions. “I’m sorry.”

  She took three quick steps and embraced her former lover. Tears of compassion trickled down her cheeks as he returned the gesture.

  “Please, don’t be.” He pulled from her embrace and searched deep into her eyes. “My kith were slain by the ineffectiveness and corruptness of the systems in which our world is run.” Garius’ charming smile returned as quick as it had faded. “Dearest, the death of my parents was the spark I needed to bring about the change the realm needs. If they had not died at the hands of an unjust system, Sysntar would still lay buried under the deep blanket of snow and ice. Children would be starving in the streets, or freezing themselves into an early grave.

  ‘Upon discovering the death of my parents,” he continued, “I vowed to forever change the world. I first sought funding by interested parties, for my ambitions would need financial backing. To my great surprise many of the noble families of Malefosse proved to be quite liberal with their wallets.”

  “Garius, I don’t understand.” Katherine tried to wrap her mind around the apparent hypocrisy Garius was showing. “If you felt so wronged by the nobility and their systems, why go to them for support?”

  “Strange isn’t it?” He chuckled. Garius shook his head, almost in disbelief himself. He walked back over to the stair and took a seat upon a low sitting step. Katherine gathered herself and joined him, crossing her legs like a proper lady as she sat upon the rough surface of the stone. “At first,” Garius began, “the intent was to instill fear of uprising into their gold laden hearts. It did not take long before I learned that they, too, were sick with our systems and the image it created of Syntar to the rest of Wynne. But they were frightened, Katherine, frightened. These people knew what had to be done to bring about the change we all sought. That change, however, goes against the Council’s mandate and the nobility feared to invoke the wrath of the Council.”

  Katherine shifted uneasily on the step, the throbbing in her skull beginning to drum a dreadful beat once more.

  “So, that’s how you became funded?” She asked, trying to distract herself from the pain.

  “Aye,” Garius smiled, proud of his achievement. “But the plans had only just begun. One stipulation the nobility invoked was to operate in secret until such a time our connections could no longer be concealed. It is a rather necessary nuisance. If the Council were to catch wind of our dealings, all of our hard work would be destroyed before it would even begin.

  ‘So, I put word out into the streets of Malefosse,” Garius continued, “looking for men and women to serve the newly established Imperial Order. I knew the salt families were perfect for this work. They are poor, so the pay enticed them. They are many, so my ranks filled quickly. Most importantly, they are nobody to the world. Their loss means nothing, just as their word is nothing if one were to ever be captured.”

  “You’re using your own kind?” Katherine’s brows raised, shocked to hear Garius speak of his own kind as if they were nothing more than a means to an end.

  “They are not my kind.” Garius spat, hints of that dark tone sitting on the edge of his voice. “They proved as much when they turned their backs on me when I returned. They deserve all they will get in the days to come.”

  He rose from the step, dusting the seat of his pants.

  “Wynne will be rebuilt love.” Garius offered his hand to Katherine, helping her from her seat. “The blood of the meek, and of the unjust will serve to fertilize the seeds of the future.”

  “What of the injustice here in your halls?” Katherine asked as Garius walked to the far side of the basin, sea
rching for something. “What of the vile men in your employ? The raping of innocent woman, Garius, how is this meant to better Wynne?”

  “We all do what is necessary, dearest.” He grunted, pulling on some hidden lever. The wall before them slid to the side with a low grinding of stone against stone. Darkness waited on the other side, appearing like a deep, yawning mouth of a great beast of legend.

  “The fundamental problem,” Garius continued, joining her side. “Is that not all men will take to heart the lesson’s we teach. Many come to us vile and remain vile until the end. There are some gaolers who twist our teachings to fit their own sordid desires, while many others enjoy playing games with the women we keep.”

  “Then why let it persist?” Katherine watched Garius step towards the wide opening, turning to give her a sad smile.

  “To control these men would only serve to let the mentality of the corrupt systems we left behind take control once more; to make these men conform to an ideal approach would make me no better than the world I have vowed to change.”

  Katherine chewed her lip as silence fell over the small basin. She learned much of Garius’ plans and desires, its strengths and its flaws, yet she still felt there was much and more he had not yet revealed to her. Katherine wondered if he indeed meant well, or if the nobility of his quest served a deeper motive – a motive dark and terrible. Her heart had never been so torn. On one hand, she feared the unspoken and yet to be revealed truths, for the hints of malicious intent never seemed far from her mind. Yet, on the other side of the coin, she was swept by this man’s passions for a better world.

  Garius cleared his throat, distracting Katherine from her thoughts. He stood in the center of the newly revealed doorway, back to her. Garius raised his left arm, letting his long, graceful fingers brush against the stone ceiling. He kept his right arm low, but turned the hand upwards in a bowl like shape. The air began to crackle and snap as a warm stirring current filtered into the basin.