Bones of the Earth (The Equilibrium Cycle Book 1)

by Jason A. Gilbert

  "It's the second largest city in the Confederacy," Laila answered.

  "Anything else? Our young friend here knows little of the Confederacy," Icarus said, motioning to Connor, who smiled awkwardly.

  "Do you want a history lesson?" Laila said sardonically.

  "It might pass the time," Icarus answered.

  "All right." Laila took a moment to gather her thoughts, remembering her lessons with Clara. "After Artus Socratis liberated Terus, he turned his attention to Balon—”

  “Liberated?” asked Connor. “From who?”

  “Their despotic ruler. After years of abuse from the people of old Terus, Artus Socratis united the people of the Plains and finally fought back against the Teruns. Within a few months, Artus had successfully taken control of Terus, throwing down the former king. But rather than step into the void left by the previous ruler, it’s said that he looked to his people for a better way to rule. One that was not based on luck of birth or strength of war. So the seeds of the Confederacy were planted. However, it was not until Artus liberated Balon as well, hoping to spread those seeds, that the actual foundations of the Confederacy were established.” Her voice had taken on a lecturing tone, emulating Clara. She felt a tightness in her chest, thinking of her former housemaid.

  "Foundations? What do you mean?" asked Connor.

  "Our whole way of life. Artus Socratis founded the entire idea of the Consulate, the Guardians, and the Artisan castes. By separating people at an early age by their particular affinities, he believed that a more peaceful society could exist. The cities that make up the Confederacy now were little more than battling tribes before Artus established his caste system. And, well, there haven't been many wars since then. And that was nearly five hundred years ago."

  Connor nodded.

  "That is true. But, you speak from memory. Do you really believe that the system works?" asked Icarus.

  Laila took a moment before answering. "I'm not sure anymore. I used to think so. Even the day I met you, I had decided that I at least could work within the system and try to make a difference. I always thought my father was able to do that through his position. But...I don't know. After Torin and everything that happened... The whole idea of the Confederacy was to keep power out of the hands of an individual or even a small group. Torin seems too powerful. And that shouldn’t happen. Even Father feared his growing power, and in the last weeks, it’s clear to me that it’s difficult to move against him. I…I don’t know…" She let the thought trail off.

  Icarus nodded. “And what of the Togati?”

  “What do you mean?” Laila responded.

  “How do you think they feel about their place in your idealized system?”

  Laila considered for a moment. Clara had always seemed happy. But there had been moments where Laila could see otherwise. Even the day before her test, when Clara had alluded to the difficulties of the Togati. They were afforded protection under the Confederacy and allowed to live and serve in the city. But once someone had been placed in the Togati, there was no way to regain Citizenship, and not even their children were allowed to try. Thus, the number of the Togati had steadily increased over the years, while the number of Citizens had not.

  “I don’t know. I guess I never thought about it that much. I always looked at it from the perspective of a Citizen.”

  "Sorry. I digress, child. I do not expect you to have the answers. It’s simply something to consider when looking at the world you live in. Please, tell us about Balon," said Icarus.

  "There's not much to tell. After Balon came under the rule of the Confederacy, Artus officially established the Consulate and the populations of both cities were placed into their respective groups. Any who didn't want to abide by the dictates of the Confederacy were free to leave and forsake their Citizenship. Only a small number did, choosing to find their own path, seeing Artus Socratis and the Confederacy as just another form of tyranny. Many went to the south. To places like Custos, I would guess. Others left the continent, traveling across the oceans. That was the only time that forsaking of Citizenship had ever happened, that I know of. At least, until a few days ago."

  Laila once again fell silent. Icarus put his hand on her shoulder briefly.

  "Thank you. What your history lessons don't teach you is that Balon was, long ago, home to many of my order."

  "Really?" Laila asked, her interest piqued.

  "Yes. Before your Consulate cast us out, many of the Magi resided in Balon. It was, for a time, the largest repository of our history and teachings following the Collapse."

  "Collapse of what?" asked Connor.

  "The collapse of the Moon Kingdom."

  "You mentioned that place before," Laila said. "I thought it was just an old story."

  "It is. A very old story, but a true one nonetheless. But that is a tale for another time. Regardless, even after the Magi were cast out of the Consulate, Balon did not destroy all their records of us, and there are still vaults of Magi learning hidden through the city. That is what I hope to find while we are there. I'm still unsure of many things, and I hope to find some trace of guidance while we are there. But we will have to be careful; I'd rather not have a repeat of what happened in Terus."

  Laila lowered her head. "I'm sorry."

  "It was not your fault, Laila. The incident served its purpose. I would have wished for a better departure for you, but such is the way our fates lie, and I'm afraid the incident will not be the last, nor the most difficult."

  With that Icarus fell silent, and they continued their walk toward Balon. They set up camp to the west of the main road, away from the riverbank. Laila slept fitfully through the night. She was still not used to sleeping on the ground, but her restlessness was tinged with a small degree of excitement. Balon was a city of the Confederacy, and the presence of that familiarity tomorrow would be a welcome change from the dirt and struggle of the road.

  Early the next morning, they reached the large, ornate bridge that spanned the river and led them to the west entrance of Balon. The large stone span reached up gracefully over the river. As the road approached the bridge, two large pillars rose up on either side. Both were topped by intricately carved creatures with demonic countenances. Icarus called them gargoyles. The bridge itself was an impressive feat of engineering, rising up almost twenty feet above the river, allowing for the passage of the smaller boats that made the journey to the smaller settlements to the south along the river. There were supports twenty feet from the bank on either side of the river, but the remaining hundred feet or so was completely open to the passage of the river.

  Laila stopped as they reached the peak of the bridge and looked down at the boats passing by. She stood, absorbing the sounds of the nearby city, remembering her home. Connor stood next to her, watching the boats with his own sense of amazement. Laila found herself again wondering what his home was like and how different it must be for him to be so amazed by the things that she had often taken for granted in Terus. Once they were done taking in the view from the bridge, Icarus ushered them down the other side and into the wide gates of Balon.

  As they entered, Laila noticed the Guardians standing at attention on either side of the gate. They were fully armed and armored, leather chestplates marked with the blue eagle over a blue line, the sigil of Balon, greaves covering their thighs, and swords strapped to their backs. She wondered why they were so armored. The Terus Guardians rarely went fully armed in the city itself. Those who patrolled at night often carried blades, but the city had been safe for so many years that the need for full battle regalia was unnecessary. She shrugged, passing it off as the differences between the cities.

  Icarus led them down the main road toward the city center. Laila noticed that the dress of the people of Balon was different from Terus. Most people wore tunics underneath the familiar robes, all of varying color. It gave the population a colorful variation that Laila found pleasant. It made Balon seem brighter than Terus. She fiddled with her own simple travel
robes, brushing dust from the road self-consciously. Icarus eventually led them into a small inn near the city center and secured two rooms, one for himself and one for Connor and Laila. They gathered in Icarus's room shortly after.

  "I do not plan to stay here long," Icarus began. "Did you notice the guards at the gate, Laila?"

  She nodded. "It seemed strange. Does it mean anything?"

  "I'm not sure, but it doesn't bode well. I have other misgivings, but I'll keep those to myself for now."

  Laila turned to look at Connor; her own frustration at not knowing was not reflected in Connor's face, and he seemed to just accept what Icarus said without question.

  "The library I need to find is supposed to be on the south side of the city, near the river. Laila, I'd like you to come with me. Connor, you'll stay here. Watch for anything unusual."

  Connor began to protest, but Icarus raised his hand to silence him. "I know. But you don't know the ways here. Laila does. It will be easier to blend in with her." Connor looked deflated. "And it is equally important that you keep an eye out. I've had a sense that something is out of place since last night."

  "Aye, Magus," Connor said, lowering his head.

  The discussion over, Laila stood and followed Icarus out of the inn. It was not quite midday yet, and the two of them walked casually through the streets. Had it not been for the difference in dress, Laila could have sworn she was still in Terus; the similarities were everywhere. That was the Confederacy's purpose, she remembered, to make their society homogenous.

  Craftsman and merchants worked at their small shops or carried their goods to the city center. They passed a small potter’s shop, and a young man stood in the shadow of his awning, working a pottery wheel. Laila found herself missing Dio. He had always been so kind to her, even with her childishness. She wondered what he might think now, after she’d forsaken her Citizenship. Though the reason for that decision was even more damning than the action itself—she was a Magus. He would likely despise her for that alone, just as most of the Citizens of Terus would. She did not know how she would ever go home.

  Her shoulders slumped as her thoughts weighed her down. Icarus seemed not to notice, weaving in and out among the streets and buildings. Every once in a while he would stop near a wall or a statue and examine it. Laila could not see any distinguishing marks, but Icarus would run his hand along the surface of the object, his eyes closed partially, murmuring to himself. Slowly they made their way south, into the older part of the city.

  The buildings here were made from ancient clay, and much of it had eroded away. Terus had an old town like this, but it was one of the well-kept areas. This part of Balon looked like it had not been taken care of for years. Many of the buildings looked abandoned, and the press of people in the streets had significantly thinned. Icarus picked up his pace now, turning down different paths, searching for something. Laila followed.

  They finally came to a high wall near the river. Icarus stood in front of it for a moment. From the look of area, Laila thought it must have been one of the oldest parts of the city. The wall that Icarus was examining rose up nearly ten feet and was worn smooth, dotted periodically with holes where the ancient clay had degraded to the point that the river could be seen through the structure. Icarus walked up to the wall and placed his hand on it gently. Laila looked up and down the street they were on, hoping no one happened along. Icarus hummed quietly, a rhythmic sound, deep and slow. Laila began to feel a slow ripple down her spine, not the surge that she was almost familiar with now, but a gentle flow. The stone of the wall began to change. Icarus pushed gently against it and it gave way to his hand, sliding into the wall and then to one side. A small doorway was revealed.

  Laila stepped up next to Icarus, glancing anxiously down either side of the street. "Is this what you were looking for?"

  "Yes, child." His voice sounded strained.

  Laila brushed off the child comment. "Are we going to go in there?" She did not look forward to the prospect of climbing into some ancient door in a wall that looked like it would fall over in a heavy breeze.

  "We are," Icarus said, and then, without waiting for any further comment, he stepped through the doorway. Laila saw that the passage immediately turned to the right, parallel to the river. She hesitated for a moment, not sure she really wanted to follow Icarus in. She watched his heavy robes disappear into the darkness and down a series of steps. After a long pause, his voice echoed up from the darkness. "Come, Laila."

  She took a deep breath, trying to gather her courage, and then stepped into the darkness of the doorway. The smell of age immediately struck her. Stale air rolled up the stairs, rushing to meet the exit they had just opened. Dust covered the stone steps as Laila made her way down, following Icarus. When she had made it down the first few steps, Icarus placed his hand against the wall and the stone of the wall behind them slid back into place, plunging them into complete darkness. Laila gasped, placing her hands against the walls to steady herself. Slowly her eyes adjusted to a dim light emanating from a point in front of them. Icarus waited for a moment, allowing their eyes to adjust, and then began climbing down the stairs again.

  The stairs were steep, dropping down beneath the level of the street quickly. Laila wondered at how the tunnel had been built, dug into the bedrock beneath the city as it was. Though, if it had been made by Magi, magic probably had something to do with it, she supposed. Laila's legs began to ache before they reached the bottom. When they did, Icarus turned in the narrow hallway, and Laila stepped up behind him and stared in wonder.

  A large hall opened up in front of them. Laila looked around for the source of the light, but she could find none. It seemed to simply radiate from the walls themselves. The hall reached up to a ceiling that had to be nearly twenty feet above Laila's head; it arched gracefully, giving the hall a sense of depth. Shelves lined the walls, full of ancient books and parchment. A thick layer of dust covered everything. Icarus strode into the hall's center and looked around. There were a few stone tables scattered throughout, and they were covered in more books and scrolls. Laila was amazed at the amount of knowledge that must be held here. She had never seen so many books in one place, not even in the library of the Consulate.

  "There are so many!"

  "Indeed," Icarus responded. "This was one of the last repositories for the Magi. I only learned of it a few years ago myself, and this is my first time here. The sight is...heartwarming."

  Laila could hear the reverence in his voice. Icarus seemed lonely in his craft. She found herself again wondering what had happened to the rest of the Magi after they had been cast out of the Confederacy.

  Icarus walked to one of the bookcases. He ran his hand along the bindings, stopping every so often to read the writing on them. Laila walked to the opposite wall and looked at the dust-covered books. Those that had writing were often in a script that Laila did not recognize.

  "What is this language?" she asked.

  "Which one? There are several."

  "Oh," Laila said. "I don't recognize them."

  "That's not surprising," Icarus said without turning to look at her, continuing his meandering along the bookcases. "Many of these languages haven't been used in centuries. Some are even written in the language of the Moon Kingdom, which faded from use after its collapse two thousand years ago."

  "Wow..." Laila looked at the books, her own reverence building.

  Icarus reached the end of the wall of bookcases. "Ah, to spend more time here," he sighed. "Unfortunately, we have work to do."

  With that he walked to one of the stone tables. He glanced at the few books that lay open, their fragile pages covered in a thick layer of dust, and then gently closed them and put them to one side, clearing a space on the table.

  "What are we looking for?" asked Laila.

  "A book that recounts the teachings of the last Magusari," answered Icarus. "My hope is that it will give us some guidance on your path."

  "You don't know?"

/>   "I know some, but remember, it's been two millennia since there was a Magusari. Even when the Magi were still a prominent order, the Magusari was spoken of in hallowed tones."

  "If I even am the Magusari..." Laila deflected.

  Icarus smiled at her under his heavy brows, but said nothing.

  "The books should be organized. We'll just have to figure out what their system is." He pointed to the bookcase nearest to Laila. "Grab a few from that one and bring them here."

  Laila nodded and moved to the bookcase. "Why this one?"

  Icarus smiled again, chuckling. "We have to start somewhere."

  Ten

  Library

  Laila dropped her head onto the table heavily. They had been searching through the library for hours and still had not found what Icarus was looking for. Not that she had been much help. All she could do was walk the books back and forth and listen to Icarus's musings about the possible patterns of organization. They had found several patterns during their search. But each time Icarus thought he had it figured out, Laila would move to the next set of shelves and the pattern would change. The whole thing was an exercise in futility. There were hundreds of books, and there was no way they were going to find the one Icarus was looking for.

  "When do we give up?" Laila asked, not raising her head from the table.

  "Give up, child? It's only been a few hours," Icarus answered, standing in front of one of the bookshelves.

  Laila's eyes felt irritated from the strange light in the room. It had not changed the entire time they had been there, so she felt the passage of time more than she could see it.

  "Where does this light come from?" she asked, trying to distract herself from the monotony.

  Icarus did not turn to look at her as he studied the books. "It's earthlight, an old trick of the Magi, at least those of my order. Helpful in the dark." He reached out for one of the tomes and began flipping through the pages.

  "So you did this?" she asked.