A Dagger of the Mind (The Imperial Metals)

by Daniel Antoniazzi

“Feed me…”

  “Open your eyes.”

  Vye opened her eyes as Frost took his fingers off her temples. They were no longer in the comfortable hideaway, but overlooking a beautiful metropolis. They were standing on a small ledge that surrounded the highest floor of the highest tower.

  Vye could tell immediately that this was a memory of some far off place. The architecture of the buildings was completely foreign to her. The entire city used some kind of rock in its buildings that gave it a yellow-gold color. The bustling marketplace, located about a kilometer from the Tower in which Vye was standing, was filled with people in strange garbs. Their skin tone and hair suggested that they were ethnically similar to Frost.

  “Welcome to Logeross, the Golden City,” Frost said.

  “I’ve never heard of it.”

  “I’m not surprised. It is a long way from your home, and hasn’t existed in your lifetime.”

  “Is this your memory? How old are you?”

  “This is drawn from my memories, yes. But it is not from my point of view. We are observing the memory as though we were ghosts watching the scene. Not walking through it as I did.”

  The top room of the Tower was empty except for cushions that circled the wall and a staircase carved into the stone in the center of the room. The wide open walls allowed the sun to shed its light across the open space, making the maize stones glow in a golden hue.

  There was only one man in the room, dressed in a green silk robe, ornately designed with arcane symbols. His hood was pulled over his head as he sat on one of the cushions, head down, meditating.

  “We are in the Allanha Se’Tai, which translates in your language roughly as the Tower of the Sun. This was the meeting place of an order of mages. Not to brag, but we were probably the most powerful mages ever assembled. We were the Order of Starfall.”

  Another man emerged from the stairs. He also wore a silk robe, and it was also decorated with symbols, but unlike the meditating man, his robe was red. When Vye got a good look at his face, she was able to identify him.

  “That’s you.”

  “Yes,” Frost said, eerily standing next to his memory counterpart. “When I was younger.”

  “Good morning,” the younger Frost said to the meditating man. The meditating man looked up and pulled down his hood and showed his face. Vye’s heart froze. She knew that face. It was a face that had haunted her nightmares for years. Even to this day, there was nothing that scared her more.

  “Good morning,” Argos responded.

  Vye moved closer to the seated mirage. It was definitely Argos, though he, too, seemed younger. His hair was a flowing light brown, instead of its later white. But his face was surprisingly unaltered. When he stood, he was still tall, even in this memory. He still towered over Vye, and both Frosts. Argos began a conversation with the younger Frost, while the elder Frost spoke to Vye.

  “Yes,” he whispered, “This is the same Argos you would later kill. At this time, he is just a young man. He was a very good mage, but he was more ambitious than was generally the custom for our order. Ah, here come the others. Please, Vye, stand with me by this doorway and don’t move around too much.”

  “I thought they can’t see us.”

  “More or less,” Frost admitted. “But let’s not take any chances.”

  “Wait, what are you talking about?”

  But Frost only hushed her and pulled her to the outskirts of the room. It was filling up quickly as men and women rose up from the stairway. There were twenty-four members of the Order of Starfall, each sitting on a cushion that was color-coordinated with their robes. Each gown had different symbols, though there were many repeated characters. Vye recognized two other faces in the crowd.

  “Wait, I know those two,” she said, pointing to the man in the gold robe, and the woman in the silver robe. The two who had attacked her in Hartstone.

  “That’s Helios and Selene,” Frost whispered. “They are the two I am most afraid of here.”

  “Why are we whispering?”

  “Because I lied to you, just a little. We’re not in a memory. We’re in the Dreamscape. I am essentially projecting a dream into your mind, and you are experiencing it.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “The Dreamscape is the land you visit when you’re dreaming. Most people only experience it in small fits and starts each night, as they sleep. But control over magic gives you a more complete access to the Dreamscape. You learn that there is a sort of structure to it, and that you can move around in it, and experience it. We’re whispering because the Dreamscape is all the same. We don’t have individual dreams. We have overlapping dreams.”

  “Shared dreams?”

  “It’s never as clear cut as that. If you dream of another person, and that person is also dreaming, they will sense it. They will often have a dream with you. But the dreams could be completely different. If we share a dream of a memory, each of us will remember different details. See things in different ways. But when we can control our dreams, we can share memories, thoughts, ideas... You can be affected, in the real world, according to what happens in these dreams.”

  “I’ve never heard of this before.”

  “That’s because as far as I know, only five people in this world know how to manage Dreamscaping. If you can’t control the Dreamscape, you will just have normal dreams. Occasionally, a very strong dream will scare you, or remind you of someone who’s dead, or inspire you to do something. But most nights, we just have normal dreams, and we can’t even remember them when we wake.”

  “So, these other people, if they happen to be dreaming now, they could become aware of you, because they’re in a dream of yours?”

  “Exactly. Of the five people I mentioned, four of them are in this room. My younger self, of course, Argos, Helios, and Selene. I am the second best at it. The best at it is the one who isn’t here. But we’ll get to him later as well.”

  “It seems there’s a lot to get to.”

  “Bear with me for a moment. You see—”

  Vye noticed Selene was looking in her direction. Not just in her direction, but making eye contact with her.

  “Frost!” she called out, standing. This seemed to have no effect on anyone else in the memory, except for Helios.

  “Vye, quickly, clear your mind!” Frost said, waving his hands in a wide arc. Magical energy flared from his open palms. Vye shut her eyes and cleared her mind, a trick she had learned long ago. Suddenly, all the noise of the room was gone, replaced by the gentle crackling of a fire. Vye opened her eyes. They were back in the safe room.

  “They saw us,” Vye said, and while she hated to admit it, she could hear the terror in her own voice.

  “Yes, but that was inevitable. I had hoped to continue without interference from them, at least for a while. But Selene has gotten better at this than I remembered. We will have to watch out for her.”

  “Can’t we just not include her in future visions?”

  “No. We can’t exclude any of them. They are all important to the story.”

  “The story where I’m the last character?” Vye asked.

  “Yes. The story about why you had to die,” Frost answered.

  Chapter 19: Sandora and Landora

  Eric hosted Duncan’s company for several hours, until the sun rose. Duncan and Nuria recounted the tale of the battle in Hartstone in which, they said, Vye had been killed. Afterwards, he asked many questions about the two attackers, none of which Duncan or Nuria could answer to his satisfaction.

  “This riddle disturbs me,” Eric concluded. “As I said when you first climbed to the Lunapera, I have been tracking a powerful, magical force for days now. I must assume that it is related to this attack.”

  “What can we do to help?” Duncan asked.

  “We will have to rest before we can learn anything more,” Eric said. “But the bigger problem is time. I am escorting the Regent to Anuen in less than three days now for the Peace Festival. And since
Vye is dead, I am the only one left on the continent who can Shadow Travel.”

  “We must give them some assistance,” Orlean insisted.

  “We will,” he answered. “I will leave behind my best student to help you. But...”

  He glared at Sir Noble before falling into silence. Orlean realized what he was thinking.

  “There must be another,” he urged him, now speaking in the Turin language.

  “The twins are not well-trained enough,” Eric retorted in Turin, “And I will be with the Regent in a foreign country.”

  “What’s the matter?” Duncan asked, also in Turin.

  “It is nothing,” Eric said. “Let me set you a place to rest. I know you haven’t slept this night, but I think some of you haven’t slept well for several nights.”

  Eric had a cave nearby, where small cots and supplies were stored. The three Rone travelers were told to make themselves at home and get some rest. Duncan fell asleep immediately...

  ---

  Nuria woke first. Despite her fatigue when she had gone to bed, she awoke full of energy, as though seven hours of slumber had cleared her sleep slate. She could see that the others were still out, so she left the cave to get some fresh air.

  When she stepped out, she realized most of the day had disappeared. The sun was already settling over the western hills, and the shadows grew long. Nuria stretched her legs, and without even thinking, began to climb the side of the cave wall. When she was perched over the mouth of the cave, she saw a tree that crawled up the rock face. So she began to climb that.

  And that’s when she met Landora.

  “Hello,” Landora said. Nuria was startled to find someone else sitting in the same tree she had decided to climb. Unfortunately, she didn’t know the Turin language.

  “I’m sorry,” Nuria said, “I don’t know your language.”

  “It is alright,” Landora said in stilted Rone, “I know some of yours.”

  “My name is Nuria.”

  “I am Landora, a member of the Turin-Guarde. I am here to help you and your friends.”

  And as if to demonstrate, she hefted the young girl up to her branch, so the two could sit side-by-side. From this height, Nuria could see further out into the mountains and trees.

  “Where are Eric and Orlean?” she asked.

  “They had to leave, to prepare for the journey to your capital.”

  “Aren’t they going to Shadow there?”

  “Of course, but in the meantime, they need to take council over the news that you bring.”

  “You said your name is Landora?”

  “Yes.”

  “I know in the Turin tradition, siblings often have rhyming names...”

  “I do not understand,” Landora admitted.

  “Brothers and sisters. Their names sometimes sound the same.”

  “Yes. I have an older sister, Andora. And a younger brother named Andor.”

  “And no other siblings? Brothers or sisters?”

  “I had another. Sandora, my second oldest sister. But she died in the War.”

  “I see.”

  “You are worried,” Landora recognized, “Because one of your group is Sir Noble, who killed my sister?”

  “The thought did cross my mind,” Nuria said. But seeing Landora’s confusion, restated, “Yes. I am worried about that.”

  “Do not fear. My feud with Sir Noble is secondary to my allegiance to the Turin-Guarde. My Master has ordered me to accompany your group and keep you safe. I will not betray those orders.”

  “Can you really forgive him because you were ordered to?”

  “I have not forgiven him. I will never forgive him. But by my honor and my family’s name, I will do no harm to Sir Noble, and I will do my best to assure that no harm comes to him. Or to any of you.”

  “Looks like you’ll get to meet him now.”

  Nuria pointed down to the cave entrance, where the men were stumbling into the blinding horizon of the setting sun. Sir Noble was already back in his full gear. Dressed like the Knight he was.

  “Shall I introduce you?” Nuria asked, gently.

  “I must meet him eventually,” Landora agreed. The two scampered down the tree. And though Landora was almost a decade older than Nuria, she was just as small and limber, and was a match for her furtive movements. She had the grace of a dancer. They descended over the side of the cave, coming face-to-face with Duncan and Noble.

  “I am Landora, a member of the Turin-Guarde and your guide in our lands. Orlean and Master Eric left me behind to help you.”

  “My name is Duncan. I’m here representing the Magistrate of Rone. I see you’ve met Nuria, our own mage,” Duncan gestured to the young girl. “This is Sir Noble, who’s just here to protect me.”

  “Landora’s older sister was Sandora,” Nuria said, thinking she was helping.

  And for a moment, Landora and Sir Noble glared at one another. Duncan was regretting his decision to bring him along more and more with each passing moment.

  “Listen--” Duncan began to explain.

  “Sir Noble, Master Duncan, as I have explained to Nuria, you have nothing to fear from me. I am honor-bound to be sure no harm comes to any of you. And in good faith, Sir Noble, I return your sword to you.”

  She extended the blade across her palms, presenting it to the Knight. Noble accepted the gift, bowing slightly and awkwardly, and sheathed his sword.

  “Shall we begin our journey?” Landora asked when the ritual ended.

  “You know where we’re going?” Duncan asked.

  “I know where to begin. Into the heart of the Turinheld. Into Argos’ Sanctuary.”

  “I thought the Lunapera was his Sanctuary.”

  “No. This is a mystical place, and many Turin have trained here to learn magic. But this is not where he would go to be alone. And even since his death, none have dared to enter that place. But if there are other powers in the world using magic on his level, then this place will likely be our best and closest clue.”

  “Is it dangerous?”

  “Almost certainly,” Landora said, before turning on her heel and striding off into the forest. Duncan and Noble exchanged a look of concern before the company followed behind her.

  Chapter 20: The Lady Vivian

  Twenty Years Ago...

  Michael knocked twice on the door.

  The small room on the fourth floor was rarely ever closed. It was a corner room that had been fitted with a few comfortable seats and a bookshelf full of perfunctory books. Michael’s father had bothered to call it the Study, but Michael wasn’t impressed.

  However, he did have reliable intelligence that Lady Vivian was in the room at the moment.

  “You may enter,” said the sonorous voice from the other side of the door.

  Michael found Vivian sitting in one of the very plush chairs, reading a small, leather-bound volume. She barely acknowledged him as he bowed.

  “Lady Vivian,” he said.

  “You didn’t bring my tea.”

  “No.”

  She looked up again.

  “You’re not the steward, are you?”

  “I am Michael Deliem, at your service.”

  “You’re Alex’s son?”

  “One and the same.”

  “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I’m sure.”

  “The pleasure is all mine.”

  “Of course it is,” she joked. “Please sit.”

  Michael chose a seat directly to her left, instead of the obvious available one across from her. His move was not a mistake.

  “What are you reading?”

  She leaned over sideways to show him the book, “Some boring old account of the winter of ’55.”

  “Why are you reading it, if it’s so boring?”

  “Not much else to pass the time with around here these days. Usually, Alex keeps me…busy, but he left yesterday.”

  “Take a walk with me.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t. Your father didn’t
even want me to meet you.”

  “You haven’t kicked me out of the room yet.”

  “Well, in here, it doesn’t matter. Perhaps the steward will show up with my tea someday, but otherwise we should be relatively undisturbed. But if we were to take a walk, someone would most certainly see us.”

  “How terrible that would be,” Michael said in a mocking tone, which elicited a smirk from Vivian.

  “You might not think very highly of me, Michael, but I know my place. I’m a mistress. I’m not supposed to advertise my presence around the Castle.”

  “Beauty such as yours can’t help but be noticed.”

  Vivian laughed a hearty laugh, but Michael felt it was directed more at him than with him.

  “Was that your attempt at flattery? I applaud your effort, I really do.”

  “It couldn’t have been that bad.”

  “Well…”

  “I mean, to earn that kind of laugh? I couldn’t have been that far off the mark.”

  “You were trying to tell me I’m beautiful? You’re going to have to do better than just calling me beautiful. You’re going to have to be specific. What about me do you find beautiful?”

  Vivian put the book down and sat up straight. Michael couldn’t be sure, but he thought she was puffing out her chest. He could swear she was trying to make her bosom even more prominent.

  “Come on,” she goaded him with a playful tone, “What’s the first thing you noticed about me.”

  Michael opened his mouth, but couldn’t figure out what to say.

  “You’re taking a long time. I’m starting to doubt that I’m beautiful at all.”

  “You have pretty eyes.”

  She immediately closed her eyes.

  “What color are they?”

  Michael didn’t answer. She opened her eyes, a boring shade of brown.

  “Not the most luminescent color you’ve ever seen, I’m sure.”

  “Your lips?” Michael tried.

  She leaned in closer to him, making an exaggerated pout.

  “Really? I’ve always found my lips to be somewhat commonplace.” She smacked them together. “I mean, perhaps if you had kissed them, you would know more about them. But are they really something to look at?”