The Children of the White Lions: Volume 02 - Prophecy

by R. T. Kaelin

  It took Jak—and most of the people in the room—several moments to make sense of the revelation.

  Sergeant Trell sighed heavily, Commander Aiden let a whispered curse slip, Lady Vivienne shut her eyes and dropped her chin to her chest, her blonde hair draping before her face. The room was deadly quiet until a log in the fire popped as an air pocket burst.

  Kenders spoke first, disbelief dripping from every word.

  “Are you suggesting Duke Vanson is one of the Cabal?”

  Sergeant Trell said, “It would certainly explain a few things.”

  “It certainly would,” agreed Lady Vivienne.

  “Is he the God of Chaos?” asked Nikalys. He sounded as if he already accepted the implausible premise. “Or one of the others? Strife, Pain, or Deception?”

  Facing Nikalys, Tobias said, “An excellent question and the first thing I asked Nelnora myself. As to her answer, I will give it to you word for word and suspect you will be as unsatisfied by it as I was: ‘I do not know. No one does but him.’”

  Jak waited, expecting more. Nothing else came.

  Sergeant Trell muttered, “Is that all?”

  Tobias shifted his gaze to the soldier.

  “Sorry, Sentinel, but that’s all I have.”

  “You know,” began Lady Vivienne softly. “Duchess Aleece always suspected something like this.” Pressing the tips of her fingers together, she said in a quiet, ponderous voice, “I did not want to believe her.”

  Jak—along with everyone in the room—stared at the baroness and offered some exclamation of surprise. Unable to help himself, Jak took a step forward and snapped, “I’m sorry. You suspected the Duke of the Borderlands was of the Cabal? And you kept it to yourselves?”

  The baroness leaned forward to rest her elbows on the desk, settled her cool green eyes on him, and said, “There was no need to share it with you.” Her tone was as casual as though she had mentioned that the clouds looked like they had rain in them for tomorrow.

  Jak’s eyes widened a fraction. Jabbing a finger at Nikalys and Kenders, he exclaimed, “They are the blasted Progeny! Should they not know when it involves, oh, I don’t know, the Cabal!”

  Lady Vivienne glared at him, pressing her lips together so tightly that they turned white.

  Before she could respond, Commander Aiden spoke up, saying, “I agree, my Lady. We all should have been told.” His tone was firm yet infinitely more polite than Jak’s had been.

  Shooting a glance at the older soldier, Jak asked, “You didn’t know, either?”

  The commander continued glaring at the baroness, clearly upset.

  “No. I did not.”

  “Nor did I,” rumbled Broedi.

  The hillman’s words stunned Jak. He could not believe they would keep such information from a White Lion.

  Lady Vivienne held up her hands and said, “Before you all toss me into the sea, I ask you to hold a moment and listen to my precise words. Duchess Aleece suspected the duke was of the Cabal. She did not know. Years ago, Duke Vanson used to be a reasonable soul and an excellent ruler, which meant his recent irrational and irresponsible behavior was one of three things. He was either suddenly and grossly incompetent, mad as a gray-haired tanner, or—and we thought this highly unlikely for all but the last turn—making illogical, outright cruel decisions because of deliberate, sinister intent.”

  Broedi continued to glare, apparently dissatisfied with Lady Vivienne’s explanation.

  “You should have said something to me.”

  Staring up at the hillman, Lady Vivienne snapped, “When you share all your secrets, Broedi, I will share mine!”

  Khin’s thin voice drifted through the room again.

  “Does your shared acrimony solve some issue of which I am unaware?”

  Jak stared into the back corner where the ancient aicenai stood, staring at the rest of the room with his ice-blue eyes.

  Having drawn the attention of everyone, Khin said, “Who knew what and when they knew it does not matter now. I care only what must be done next. As should the rest of you.” When everyone remained quiet, properly chastised, Khin directed his gaze back to Tobias. “Continue with your tale if you will.”

  Tobias, a somewhat bemused look on his face, gave one last quick glance between Broedi and the baroness before saying, “Well, there’s nothing more to add, truly. Nelnora closed the window, explained that the armies of Sudash were marching east, and told me my time with her was complete. She pointed to the door and told me to send in Nundle.” With a quick wave of his hand, he motioned in Nundle’s direction and announced, “I’m done. The stage is yours.”

  As he shuffled to his chair, his walking stick cracking on the stone floor, Nikalys said, “Hold a moment. That’s all? After refusing to see you for two-hundred years, she shows you the ruins of Gobas, asks you to leave…and you listened?”

  Tobias stopped in his tracks, stared at Nikalys, and said firmly, “At first? No. I asked my questions and said my piece, but she ignored me entirely. All she would say was, ‘Send in Nundle, please.’ Over and over. Once I tired of talking with myself, I shared a few sharp words with her and I left.”

  “Truly?” asked Nikalys, his eyes narrowed.

  “Are you naming me a liar?” demanded Tobias.

  “No, not at—”

  “What would you have had me do, young man? Sit down in the chamber and refuse to leave? Would that have helped things?”

  Nikalys shook his head.

  “I suppose not.”

  Tobias glared at Nikalys a moment longer, nodded once, and said, “Again, the stage is yours, Nundle.” As he moved to his chair and started to climb into it, Nundle hopped from his, spun around and started speaking immediately, clearly excited.

  “I was more than surprised when Tobias came out and told me that Nelnora wanted me to come into the chamber. Nevertheless, I went in—terribly nervous. As she was for Tobias, Nelnora waited on the dais for me, but with three windows arranged behind her, not just one. Tobias did not tell us about Gobas until later, which is a good thing, I think, else I would have been even more terrified than I was. I probably would have thought she was going to show me something awful. Goodness, what if—”

  Kenders gently interrupted the tomble, saying, “Nundle?”

  Jak was glad she was the one to stop him. Lady Vivienne’s face revealed she was moments away from being more direct.

  Kenders prompted, “What did Nelnora show you?”

  An embarrassed grin spread over the tomble’s face.

  “Right. Sorry. Well, I hurried to the dais, up the stairs, and then stood there, waiting for her to say something. But she didn’t. She stayed completely silent and simply pointed to the windows. So, I looked.”

  His face bunched up in confusion.

  “In the first, all I could see was a door. A tall, black stone door set in a white granite wall. A round, silver plate was bolted to it, an inscription upon, I think.”

  “You think?” prompted Sergeant Trell.

  Nundle nodded.

  “It was not Argot, but the markings looked familiar.”

  “What were they?” asked Jak.

  “And where was the door,” added Kenders. “Where did it lead?”

  Shrugging his shoulders, Nundle said, “I asked those questions and more, but instead of answering me, Nelnora pointed to the middle window.” Again, his brow furrowed in confusion. “In that one, I saw a single flower with purple, pointed petals and a bright yellow center growing in white sand.”

  Jak glanced around the room, happy to find everyone wearing the same baffled expression he was confident was upon his face.

  “Again, I tried to ask what I was seeing, but she ignored me and pointed to the last window. There I saw an old stone statue of a cat of sorts, crumbling and falling apart. It was toppled over on a plaza overgrown with weeds and vines.”

  Jak’s confusion only grew.

  Glancing around the room, Nundle said, “After that, she pointed
to the doors. I asked about the windows again, but she just stood there, silent. She would not even meet my stare. After a few terribly awkward moments, I left.”

  Lady Vivienne asked quizzically, “She never said anything to you?”

  Nundle glanced back, peering over the top of the oaken desk.

  “Not a word, my Lady.”

  “A door, a flower, and a ruined statue?” mused Sergeant Trell. “What do they mean?”

  Nundle shook his head.

  “I have no idea, Nathan.”

  “She is the Watcher of the World,” said Nikalys. “They must be places across Terrene, yes?”

  Shrugging again, Nundle said, “I thought the same, but where?”

  “And why?” added Kenders softly.

  “She must have had a point,” muttered Commander Aiden.

  “The Celystiela always do,” rumbled Broedi.

  “How does that help anything?” mumbled Kenders.

  Most everyone in the room stared at each other, all wearing similar expressions of bewilderment. Khin and Broedi were the only two who remained stoic and composed. The hillman had regained control of himself.

  “Well that was a useful trip,” muttered Jak sarcastically. He stared at Broedi. “Wasn’t the purpose of the two of you going to see Nelnora to get answers? So far, all I hear is new questions.”

  “They found me,” said Tobias.

  Jak glanced at the tomble and said, “And I’m glad. But unless you can end this war right this moment all by yourself, I’m more interested in hearing what the Gods plan to do to help us.”

  A tiny smile touched Tobias’ lips as he said, “Excellent point.” Turning to Broedi he said, “Your turn, I believe.”

  As Nundle returned to his chair, Broedi took a few steps forward to reclaim his position beside Lady Vivienne’s desk and spoke, saying, “My time with Nelnora was much different than that of Tobias or Nundle.” His face appeared calm, yet his voice trembled slightly. “She shared a number of things with me, the first of which might come as a surprise to you. It certainly did to me.” He paused to glance around the room before announcing, “She claims the Celystiela are not meddling in mortal affairs.”

  Immediately, Jak scoffed, “Impossible.”

  He was not the only one who let out a quiet exclamation of disbelief.

  Waving a hand around the room, Jak said, “Look at us. Look where we all were four turns ago. Nundle in the Arcane Republic, Sergeant Trell a soldier in the duke’s army, Joshmuel and Zecus separated—one heading east, one heading west. Yet now we all find ourselves at the secret, hidden enclave headed by a baroness and funded by a duchess?” Staring at Broedi, he said, “You yourself said the list of perfect coincidences is too long to be plausible.”

  Broedi had nodded throughout Jak’s short outburst and now said, “Note that I said, ‘she claims,’ Jak. I did not believe her then and I do not believe her now. Nelnora will do whatever she must to keep balance. Lie, mislead, even kill. She would help level a city full of innocents if she could secure that neither good nor evil prevailed.”

  “So you believe she is lying?” asked Jak.

  “Will Mu’s orb rise tomorrow?” replied Broedi.

  “Why would she?” asked Zecus. “To what end? What is her goal?”

  “Her goal?” rumbled Broedi. He shook his head. “I do not know. But as to why she might lie, that I can answer. Unless an Assembly of seven consents, the laws of the Celystiela prevent them from meddling in the affairs of mortals.”

  Kenders slid forward in her chair and asked, “What would you call what she was doing with the three of you?”

  From the back corner of the room, Khin asked, “Tobias, what did the Goddess say to you?”

  The tomble eyed the aicenai carefully and said, “That the Sudashians are moving east.”

  Nodding, Khin asked, “What else?”

  Joshmuel added, “That she cannot see Duke Vanson.”

  Khin glanced back to the Borderlanders. If he was irritated that Joshmuel answered, he did not show it.

  “Correct. What else?”

  The assembled stared at one another for a few moments. Jak thought through Tobias’ report. He could not think of anything else.

  “Nothing,” muttered the Lady Vivienne. “She said nothing.”

  Khin smiled ever so slightly, the thin skin on his face stretching to the point where Jak was afraid it might rip like old, too-dry parchment.

  “Exactly.”

  Nikalys shifted in his seat, eliciting a series of wooden creaks from his chair.

  “I don’t understand. What’s that have to do with anything?”

  Jak thought he might know and said so.

  “Nelnora never told Tobias to do anything. And she simply showed Nundle the three windows. She never said a word to him, never told him what to do either.”

  “So…what?” asked Commander Aiden. “She goes out of her way to be obtuse simply so she can claim no involvement?”

  Lady Vivienne said, “It is an explanation that fits.”

  Broedi rumbled, “And the same one I arrived at myself. According to Nelnora, the Assembly responsible for the White Lions believes that we should be able to repel this threat from Chaos as we did the last.” He paused and stared at Kenders and Nikalys. “Along with your help.”

  “Are they blasted mad?” asked Kenders. “You had the armies of how many duchies then?”

  “Five,” answered Tobias.

  “And how many mages?”

  Broedi sighed and said, “A few thousand.”

  Kenders said, “And we have what? Thirty?”

  Lady Vivienne muttered, “Twenty-eight.”

  Tobias huffed, “That’s all?”

  Kenders pressed on, saying, “And you had eight White Lions then. Eight!” She looked between Broedi and Tobias. “There are only two of you left.”

  Lady Vivienne corrected her, saying, “Not true. There are eight White Lions. Only two are here.”

  With a dismissive wave of her hand, Kenders said, “Fine, but we have no idea where the other six are. You haven’t seen Miriel since she founded the Manes, my blood parents have disappeared. That leaves—what—three others unaccounted for?”

  Jak frowned. His sister was painting a very discouraging, yet wholly accurate picture.

  “That is no longer true,” rumbled Broedi. He paused, let out a slow sigh, and said, “I now know where we can find another of the Lions.”

  Chapter 22: Plan

  Nikalys stared at Broedi, surprised by the surge of hope flooding his chest.

  “First,” rumbled Broedi, shifting his gaze to Kenders and Nikalys. “Let me say that it is neither Aryn nor Eliza.”

  Nikalys exhaled, curious why he again felt relief at the information. He glanced over at Kenders and found an expression of genuine disappointment on her face. He wondered why he did not feel that way.

  Lady Vivienne leaned forward in her chair and asked, “Did Nelnora tell you where?”

  “She did.”

  “Wondrous,” exclaimed Jak. “Open a port and go get them. Then we’ll be slightly less vastly outnumbered and unprepared.”

  “Were it that simple,” rumbled Broedi patiently.

  Jak asked, “And why isn’t it?”

  “Neither Tobias nor Nundle have ever been to the Primal Provinces,” answered the hillman. He turned to look at Lady Vivienne. “And unless I am mistaken, neither has the magistrate.”

  “No, he has not,” said the baroness with a shake of her head. “Halawala is the closest he’s been, I believe.”

  Broedi dropped his head and loosed a quiet sigh of inevitability.

  “Which means that the three mages we have who can Weave a port cannot reach our destination.”

  “I could try,” suggested Kenders hopefully.

  “No,” said Broedi quickly. “We do not know what such an attempt might do to you.”

  Kenders glared at Broedi and said, “You could at least let me try.”

&n
bsp; “You will do nothing of the sort,” rumbled Broedi, his glare intense and firm.

  Kenders sat back in her chair and folded her arms.

  “Fine.”

  Nikalys kept an eye on his sister, half expecting her to leap up and try anyway.

  Lady Vivienne sat back in her chair and said with dejected sigh, “That leaves but one other option. One that will take longer than I would like.”

  Broedi nodded and said, “I agree, my Lady, but what choice do we have?”

  “None that I can think of,” murmured the baroness. Her gaze shot over Nikalys’ head to stare in the direction of the hearth. “Commander?”

  From behind, Nikalys heard boots scuffling followed by Commander Aiden saying, “I’ll head straight to the harbor and tell Captain Scrag to get the Sapphire ready.”

  Nikalys twisted around in his chair to stare at the soldier, surprised. The Sapphire was the lone ship in the enclave’s harbor.

  “Thank you, Jules,” said Lady Vivienne.

  The commander glanced at Sergeant Trell.

  “Nathan, you’re with me.”

  Sergeant Trell nodded and the pair immediately moved to the doors at the back of the room. As the oaken doors rattled shut, Jak stared to the baroness’ desk and asked, “What is that about?” His brother and the Borderlanders seemed equally confused by the soldiers’ sudden exit.

  Lady Vivienne answered, “Assuming we cannot create a port, which we cannot, the fastest way to the Primal Provinces is to sail over the Sea of Kings.” She glanced at Broedi and asked, “You agree, yes?”

  The hillman nodded.

  “I do.”

  The noblewoman nodded and stared around the room, her eyes darting over those still before her.

  “The only question that remains is who is going on the voyage.”

  Kenders stared at Broedi and asked, “Shall I guess? Not me.”

  Broedi gave her a slight smile.

  “I am sorry, but it is best you remain here and continue your studies with Khin.”

  She gave a short nod and said, “As I thought.” She turned a sharp eye to Nikalys. “And if I stay, that means Nikalys goes.”

  “Correct,” rumbled the hillman.

  Nikalys shifted his gaze to Broedi.