Revelation (Seeds of Humanity: The Cobalt Heresy)

by Caleb Wachter

  House Listoh’s library was even more impressive, at least artistically, than the new High Magister Arch Magos Rekir’s—and that was saying something. The number of volumes was probably about equal, but the way the entire room was laid out was absolutely astounding.

  The center of the circular chamber was itself a circle a full story below the entry door where I stood. There were four staircases leading up and out of that lower section to the landing where I was standing, and there was even another, higher, level of book-filled shelves which could only be accessed via rolling ladder like I had seen in movies with old libraries.

  The total shelf area was far in excess of Arch Magos Rekir’s library, but the reason there were likely no more volumes in this particular library than in that one was because each book was set face-out on the shelf. Each book’s cover was in full view of anyone standing in the room, and there was at least a foot of space between each book making it unnecessary to remove the book from its resting place if one merely needed it for a quick reference. Rekir’s library had been more traditional, with only the spines facing outward, allowing his smaller shelf space to contain a similar number of volumes.

  Seated in a large chair, similar to the Victorian chairs I had seen in antique catalogues, was the person I had come to see: Journeyman Marizzi von Magenta of House Listoh. She was a tall, thin woman in her mid-twenties with long, platinum-blond hair and sharp cheekbones. Her grey-blue eyes snapped up from the book she had been reading when I entered the room, and she beckoned for me to join her with the barest hint of a gesture with her fingers.

  I obliged, marveling as I did so at the incredible display of House Listoh’s assembled knowledge, both magical and mundane in nature. Books were arranged by size as much as anything else, which once again maximized the available shelf space. I estimated that this library held at least four times as many volumes as House Wiegraf’s, and these books were undoubtedly far more valuable on an individual basis. I couldn’t even hazard a guess at the value of their library.

  Before I sat down in the chair opposite Marizzi, I bowed courteously. “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” I said graciously. “I appreciate your House making an exception to standard protocol.”

  Her grey-blue eyes flashed up and she closed the book she had been reading, placing it on the small table next to her hand. “You did mention that doing so might benefit House Listoh’s standing in some way,” she said coldly, her steely eyes locking with mine. “I only hope you understand that House Listoh is somewhat less prone to the…volatility which the lower Houses experience. Improving our standing is generally something which is beyond the ability of a House such as yours, which is why my Matron insisted that I take this meeting. She believes you to be an intelligent man and therefore unlikely to waste our time.” She took a glass of water from the same table on which she had placed the book before finishing, “I, however, have yet to form such a generous opinion.”

  The bitch was just as cold as she had been the last time I’d met with her, and I knew that I would be lucky to get out of the library without starting the equivalent of World War Three.

  I drew a silent breath to calm myself before continuing, having expected exactly this kind of reception. “I can see that it would be best if I just cut to the chase,” I said just as coldly before continuing with smug satisfaction, “but frankly, this is probably above your pay grade. We need someone higher ranked in here—at least a Magos—before we do this, but preferably not your Arch Magos.” I smirked darkly as I unslung the satchel from my aching shoulder, having carried the thing nearly every moment since returning to the Imperial City, “We probably shouldn’t involve her in this just yet.”

  Her jaw clenched tightly and her eyes seemed to explode out of her head with incredulity, and she stood slowly from her chair. “House Listoh was gracious enough to allow you to interrupt one of the most important events of the year with your foolish request for an audience, yet even after being granted your request, you brazenly insult the representative her elders have selected!” She stretched her long, wispy arm and pointed toward the door, “I think it best you leave before my superiors learn of your folly!”

  I shook my head, really enjoying the momentary shift in our little balance of power. “I doubt your superiors would appreciate you kicking me out just yet, especially considering I come bearing gifts,” I chided, patting the shoulder bag emphatically as it rested between my legs.

  Her eyes were locked with mine for a few seconds, before she looked down at the bag with the barest hint of curiosity. “House Listoh’s elders are deep into their preparations for tonight’s readings, and have no wish to be disturbed,” she said defiantly, folding her arms across her narrow chest. “If you tell me what you have brought, I could perhaps conduct your proposal to them.”

  “Not going to happen,” I assured her with a playful wag of my finger. “You need to get a Magos down here and soon…preferably one you trust to keep a secret, in the event House Listoh decides to accept my offer.”

  Marizzi’s eyes narrowed, and I knew I had her. “What could you possibly possess that would be so valuable?” she asked with obvious interest in spite of herself.

  I shook my head. “I’m not saying another word until a Magos walks through that door,” I insisted, pointing at the door she had tried to show me a minute earlier.

  She considered it for a moment and finally said, “Wait here.” She glided out of the room in a nearly-hypnotic display of grace I had only seen from ballerinas on TV.

  I sat there in silence for what seemed like an eternity, without a single sound to keep me company. Their library had been really well soundproofed, and the party a mere hundred feet away failed to make even a whisper of a sound.

  I was just about to stand up and check what book she had been reading when the doors opened. A short, curly-brown-haired woman of middle age strode into the room with the bearing of an angry school teacher, and she was followed by Marizzi.

  “You have business with House Listoh,” the woman said, rather than asked, in a tone that matched her demeanor as she marched down the stairs toward me. Her robes bore the markings of Master in House Listoh, which meant she at least held the rank of Magos.

  I stood up in spite of my intention to remain sitting throughout the entire engagement. There was just something about this woman that made me want to say ‘Yes, ma’am!’ but I thankfully managed to hold my tongue in that regard.

  “I do,” I replied with a polite bow. The bag was on the floor between my feet now, instead of on the chair between my legs, and I reached down to pick it up. It must have weighed at least forty pounds, and my arm was just now recovering from the numbness caused by having it strapped across my shoulder all day.

  The short, angry woman made her way down to the lower level where I was standing, and stood impatiently in front of me. “I would hear your offer, and quickly, Journeyman,” she demanded.

  I hesitated before insisting, “Your name, Magos?”

  She squinted at me as though trying to determine if I was something whose fate was to be scrubbed off the windshield, or if I was even worth her time to do so. Eventually she relented. “I am Magos Tamara von Azure, Second Tier Master of House Listoh. And you are?”

  I walked over to her with the bag in hand and set it gently down on a nearby table. “I’m Journeyman Jezran ‘Cobalt’ Wiegraf, and I believe House Listoh has need for the contents of this bag,” I said nonchalantly. I had to enjoy the pole position as long as I held it, and I admit it was every bit as fun as I had thought it would be. “But if I’m mistaken, then I offer my most humble apology and will be on my way.”

  The woman looked to Marizzi, who shook her head slightly. Magos Tamara looked back to me with that same, angry school teacher expression before opening the bag. Her expression conveyed that she immediately recognized its contents, and her eyebrows shot up in unguarded surprise.

  I smiled serenely and sat down in my chair. When the woman said no
thing, I saw Marizzi’s curiosity get the better of her and she leaned over to see what was in the bag.

  “Where did you get this?” asked Tamara, whose tone was now considerably more respectful—but also considerably more wary.

  Marizzi couldn’t control the look of shock which covered her face for a good five seconds, eventually composing herself and closing her gaping mouth.

  “Where I got it isn’t part of this phase of our negotiations,” I said instructively. “But whether or not House Listoh is interested in my mythicite is.”

  I knew that House Listoh had a greater actual need for mythicite than any other Great House, since most of the contracts they struck with the creatures bound to their service were purported to require a quantity of the material. Even for a House as large and powerful as Listoh, it was likely difficult to acquire the mysterious mineral in any great quantity.

  Apparently, the Great Houses kept the stuff as a kind of phantom arms race, as even the ones who didn’t have a need for it stockpiled mythicite for the sole purpose of keeping it out of their rivals’ hands. The amount I had brought—forty pounds—wasn’t enough to change the landscape of Veldyrian any time soon. But it was probably worth more than I suspected House Wiegraf’s entire holdings were worth—and I knew there was plenty more where it came from.

  The woman sat down slowly in the chair next to the bag, and Marizzi followed her lead by sitting down in the chair she had occupied when I first entered the room.

  “I must ask again, however,” Tamara insisted, “where did you get this?”

  I shook my head. “That isn’t something we’re going to discuss just yet, but I assure you that this material was acquired legally by House Wiegraf and that its source will soon be a matter of public record.” I leaned forward, elbows on my knees before continuing. “I was hoping that House Listoh would like its name next to House Wiegraf’s, as co-claimants?”

  Marizzi’s eyebrow shot up. “Why would you offer to share such a rich find?” she blurted.

  Her Master scolded her with her eyes before turning her attention to me. “Because he knows he cannot hope to protect such a rich claim once the other Houses learn of the find,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “Quite so,” I agreed, glad not to have to dance around the issue any longer than absolutely necessary. “And I also know that House Listoh could never allow such a rich find to be funneled directly into the veins of her greatest rival, which is why I came to you first.”

  Marizzi looked like she was about to protest, but she was instantly silenced with a wave of Magos Tamara’s hand. “You are correct,” she confirmed coldly. “We could never allow that to happen.”

  I leaned back in my chair. “And rather than destroy the find—which I’m sure is one of the many options you must consider during your coming deliberations,” I said with a pointed pause, “I propose a joint venture. I’ve already secured the area legally under Imperial Doctrine, with my Master’s—Magos Antolin Wiegraf’s—assistance. I personally confirmed today that the claim is officially recognized by the Inner Circle; all The Guild needs to do is agree to help House Wiegraf secure the area from threats foreign and domestic, and we can make our treaty official—splitting the mythicite equally.”

  Magos Tamara regarded me silently, and I held my poker face well enough that I was actually proud of myself. The truth was that I had been walking around with the equivalent of forty pounds of uncut, golf-ball-sized diamonds for the whole day and nobody had discovered it. My nerves were shot, and here was a woman who had subtly insinuated that her house wasn’t above wiping my find off the map with little more than a flick of the wrist—probably along with whoever knew about it, which unfortunately included me.

  “Just how rich is this find?” she asked finally. “Before I can consider your proposal, I must have a rough estimate.”

  I shook my head again. “I have no idea how big it is, but that,” I pointed at the bag, “barely scratches the surface no matter what the total volume ends up being, which I am confident is at minimum one hundred times that amount.”

  She nodded skeptically as she considered my proposal. “House Listoh would be assuming the risk in such a venture,” she countered, and I felt relief wash over me as I knew she was going to agree, even if the percentages ended up being skewed in her favor. “We would require an eighty percent share.”

  “You’re just being greedy,” I said dismissively. “Fifty percent is more than fair, and House Listoh will arrange for the purification process. Also, The Guild gets to use their assayer for measurement of the final product, over which House Wiegraf retains the right to audit independently and without notice at any time.”

  Magos Tamara leaned forward and made a cutting motion with her hand. “Three fourths, if we are to do literally all of the work,” she insisted. “Do you know how expensive mythicite is to purify, and how volatile it becomes during the process?”

  “I don’t,” I admitted, “but I couldn’t go higher than sixty percent for The Guild, under any circumstance. This is literally the only thing House Wiegraf has going on, while it would just be one of many important operations for House Listoh. I can’t sign away our most significant asset like that.”

  Tamara leaned back in her chair and regarded me coldly. “You are of course welcome to seek a better offer from one of the other Great Houses of Veldyrian,” she suggested airily, and for a moment I thought I had overplayed my hand. “But two thirds is the lowest share we will accept under these conditions.”

  I could barely contain my smile. “Two thirds,” I repeated solemnly with a sigh, “in addition to unlimited access to House Listoh’s research library,” I indicated the books arrayed all around us, “for members of House Wiegraf, as well as the arrangement for dedicated transportation to and from the site, available on House Wiegraf’s request. I’ll also require The Guild’s assistance in transporting various sensitive materials to the site within two days from now.” I stood slowly and extended my hand. “You and I both know it’s a more than fair offer, and if you can agree to it then we have ourselves an accord.”

  Magos Tamara stood slowly and locked her eyes with mine. She thrust her small, thick hand forward and accepted my own. “I believe I can convince my superiors to agree to such an arrangement,” she said with a stiff nod.

  Marizzi stood slowly, clearly dumbstruck by what had just happened. With a single handshake, House Wiegraf’s power had multiplied at least tenfold—and maybe more like a hundredfold. But I wasn’t interested in Veldyrian politics; I just wanted to secure Coldetz for its people and it appeared that I had successfully done so, at least with regards to the Empire’s inevitable interest.

  Magos Tamara made her way briskly back up the stairs leading out of the room the way she entered. She turned at the top of the landing and regarded the two of us before chuckling. “You see, Marizzi?” she said, pointing a finger at me, “I told you that marrying him was wise.” With that, she turned and left the room, closing it quietly behind herself.

  After she had left, I turned to my ‘wife.’ “Now that all of that’s over with,” I said cheerfully, “I could really use something to eat. How about you?”

  The look of cold, impotent fury on her face was worth every minute of lugging that damned bag through the streets of Veldyrian.

  Chapter XXVII: Agreement, a Reading, and a Very Small Dilemma

  I spent a few hours going over the finer points of our treaty with Magos Tamara after she had received authorization to conclude the negotiations. Once I felt I had a grasp of the details as presented, I decided to go over them one last time.

  “So House Listoh agrees to the general terms I have outlined,” I began, my eyes having become pretty heavy over the course of the discussion, “and is willing to permanently station two of their members on-site to ensure security of the mythicite and its surrounding area, as well as to bear the burden of whatever legal battles might arise surrounding the validity of our claim.”

  Tamara nod
ded. “Should your representations prove accurate, The Guild agrees to provide legal defense for the claim as well as to physically secure the immediate area containing the mythicite,” she rebutted. “But seeing as you have still failed to provide a description of the ‘area’ to which you continue to refer, we must insist on this point, as our liability in this matter must be limited in some fashion.”

  “I understand that part,” I allowed. “After we’ve agreed and our agreement is officially recorded, the details of the area which I must insist on being policed will be revealed and not a moment sooner.”

  Tamara leaned forward, clearly just as tired of the wrangling as I was. “How large is the area we are discussing?” she asked wearily. “I must have some idea before agreeing to anything, even in principle.”

  It was a good question, and one I had hoped to forestall until a later date, but House Listoh was clearly experienced at this sort of negotiation. “The immediate area’s no larger than the Veldyrian city limits, and no smaller than the Great Tower,” I said, still unwilling to give up any critical details. “The force won’t be needed to physically police behavior of anyone who may enter the premises,” I assured her, “instead we’re mostly just talking about keeping the Veldyrian wolves at bay. For the immediate future, House Listoh’s name should provide enough of a deterrent so a token force of two of her Magos’ should suffice.”

  Tamara shook her head. “House Listoh would not permanently station two Magos,” she countered. I had expected to argue the point, and the topic needed to be broached sooner or later. “Our commitment would consist of one Journeyman and one Apprentice.”

  It was my turn to shake my head. “That won’t work,” I insisted, “because unless I’m mistaken, only a Magos can properly oversee the refinement of mythicite. The continual presence of at least one Magos-level member of House Listoh is necessary.”

  Tamara paused before admitting, “The mythicite will be processed here, in Veldyrian.”