The Maker of Entropy

by John Triptych

  “What did he do?” Zeren asked.

  “Fumal Led realized that in order to put a stop to it all, he needed to reach the Oracle and assassinate her,” Hitijin said. “And now it seems he has failed.”

  Syviss’s dwelling was at the opposite end of the crag. It was a modest abode built from piles of rocks formed together, with a hole in the middle of the ceiling to allow the pungent smoke from the fire pit to dissipate into the sky above. At the far end of the single room was a flat slab of rock which served as a bed. After tucking in her daughter using the fur covers, Syviss sung a gentle song until the child had at last fallen asleep.

  Zeren sat cross-legged while staring at the fire pit. He had removed his armor and boots, but they were within easy reach in case he needed them. Once the meeting with the Council had ended, Syviss offered him a place to stay for the night at least. The howling winds echoed through the crag, making a shrill and eerie bellow coming from the outside.

  Pouring some water into a cup, she walked over and knelt down beside Zeren, offering him the drink. “You did not eat much. Here, perhaps some more water would help.”

  He looked up at her, his hand quickly grasping her extended wrist, which made her gasp in surprise. “That child cannot be Fumal Led’s daughter. Tell me who she really belongs to.”

  Syviss’s lips trembled. “B-but I tell you the truth. Fumal Led is indeed my husband, and I have remained faithful to him. Please, you are hurting me.”

  Sighing with frustration, he let go of her forearm. “You know so little of what a Magus truly is, woman.”

  “What do you mean? I have lived with Fumal Led for many cycles.”

  Zeren pointed at the sleeping child. “If you had bedded him to conceive her, then you would have known it could not be done. Like every Magus, Fumal Led had to go through the emasculation ritual. Without his loins, he could not father children.”

  “If you wish to broach such a subject, then I can tell you I have lain with him, and his loins were like any other man’s.”

  Zeren’s eyebrows shot up. “That cannot be true. Fumal Led was emasculated. I know this for I had occasionally seen him naked having grown up in his presence.”

  She shook her head contemptuously. “And I tell you he had a full set of loins. Since you are a Magus, are you emasculated as well?”

  He looked away. “No. My brother and I were the exceptions, but that was only because our father was the Grand Magus, and it was he who refused to allow his children to participate in that sacred ritual.”

  “Then there are exceptions,” Syviss said softly. “You had not seen Fumal Led for many cycles, yes?”

  Zeren nodded. “Yes. When he left the walls of Lethe behind I had thought him lost, for everyone believed there would be nothing but death beyond the city.”

  “Fumal Led never told me much of his origins,” she said wistfully. “I would sometimes hear him murmur things while he was dreaming, but I could only wonder if they were the truth. All I can tell you is perhaps he found a way to heal his loins while he was travelling across the wastes before finding us.”

  Zeren remembered the effects of Rion’s blood upon his injuries. Ingesting the precious vitae seemed to have healed even the old wounds he had acquired, and rejuvenated his entire self to the point where he felt youthful again. Perhaps Fumal Led had encountered someone like the boy, and had regrown what had once been lost. In this strange world anything was possible.

  “I had told him not to go,” she said softly. “But his sense of justice and the desire for a better world drove him on, despite the dangers. He could not even bring himself to say goodbye to Thalena.”

  “You describe him just as how I remember him,” Zeren said. “Fumal Led always had a cause. Even when the fight was not over, he would move ever onwards, always seeking out and dealing with the unjust. If only he had stayed with me in Lethe, he could have seen the great changes I helped to bring about.”

  Syviss smiled faintly at him. “He did mention to me he was raising a boy once. Perhaps he must have been speaking about you. Fumal Led believed the moment his task was done he would move on, for he had a restless spirit. You may not have realized it at that time, but he may have already known you were ready to succeed on your own, and that is why he left you when he did.”

  Zeren thought about what she said for a few moments. “You speak with great wisdom. I had not realized I was a part of his plan to bring about change to Lethe. Now that it has occurred it seems I am suddenly aware of what his true intentions were for me.”

  Placing the cup of water beside him, she leaned sideways, stretching her elbows. “And now here you are, following in your mentor’s footsteps once more. I know of some here who owe their lives to my husband. I could have them ferry you close to the Khanate holdings so you may return to your expedition. Is that what you wish?”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I do not want to return just yet,” Zeren said. “I wish to learn more about your husband’s plans to deal with the Maker.”

  Syviss gave him a surprised look. “You desire to carry on with his quest to bring peace to these lands? But you seem to be of a different nature.”

  “Fumal Led taught me everything, and I owe him my life. Avenging his death is the least I can do for respecting his wishes.”

  Chapter 14

  Orilion frowned while staring into his half empty cup of algae wine. Another eventide feast had been announced, and he now sat at the Khan’s table, facing the somewhat subdued congregation had been invited along with him. Both the Khan and his wife the Khatun had gone to confer with Chief Wulfgen’s tribe about the disappearances of Miri and Rion, and so all three were not present at this banquet. Lord Vorconis continued to stay at his own holdings somewhere in the Eastern Marches, refusing the Khan’s summons. The whole thing was coming to a head, and it seemed a conflict was very near.

  In order to help alleviate the growing hostility within the Khanate, Wulfgen’s son Tozhem announced a celebration, with both Orilion and the expedition’s sole remaining protector Todrul as guests of honor. Only a few tribal representatives were present, and it was mostly the Khan’s courtiers who made up the small crowd now feasting at the Great Cavern. Even the musicians playing the flute and drums were subdued, orchestrating a bland, listless melody over and over again.

  Orilion sighed quietly after taking another sip of wine. He had been called before the Khatun Nuada and her cronies a few days before, and was questioned about Miri and the boy’s sudden departure. He made his excuses, saying he had not been told of anything, nor did he know of their destination. Even though the conversation between the Khatun and Wulfgen was civil, the questions became so pointed it felt like an interrogation. In the end, neither he nor his crew were punished, but now there were Zaash tribal guards stationed just outside of his guest chambers, keeping watch over his every move.

  He turned to his left and glanced at Todrul, who was sitting beside him, looking equally perturbed. “You should put a smile on your face, my friend. We must keep up appearances.”

  Todrul grunted as he took another long draught of wine and quaffed it down in one gulp. “You are the Lethean nobleman, not I. Perhaps it is better if you smile for us both, for I am not very capable of making such deceptions.”

  “I know you are not happy at our recent occurrences,” Orilion said softly. “But we must endure until Miri or Zeren returns.”

  Todrul grimaced. His whisper carried a rasp of frustration. “The crew is not in good spirits. These new guards watch over them too closely, and all we can do is wait? We are nothing more than prisoners now. Many of us want to return to Lethe and never come back to these accursed lands.”

  Orilion placed his hand on the protector’s elbow. “We must have patience. I am well aware we are but hostages in this ongoing feud between these groups, but we have neither the numbers nor the weapons to do anything about it.”

  Todrul knew he was right. There was nothing else to do but to enjoy the Khanate’s seemi
ng hospitality, for now anyway. He snapped his fingers, gesturing at a nearby hovering servant to bring him more wine.

  Lorrt was sitting to the right of Orilion, and his demeanor was strangely different. The youth only sipped at his wine twice during the past hour, apparently unwilling to get drunk during the feast. While he still had a sullen look in his eyes, he seemed uncharacteristically quiet, as if expecting something. To the right of the Khan’s son sat Tozhem and his wife Karan, their baby daughter having already retired for the eventide after being taken away by the attendants. The feast was beginning to wind down, and quite a few members in the audience were already staggering from the alcoholic effects of the copious amounts of wine being served.

  Sensing it was time for him to speak, Tozhem stood up and raised his cup. Like Lorrt, he had only drunk a few sips of wine in order to remember the oration he had been preparing. “Loyal tribes of the Khanate, I would like to thank you all for coming here this eventide. I realize the invitations to this feast were done in haste, and I am sorry if not everyone could have been present for this festival. Nevertheless, I believe I shall offer you good tidings, and you will be well pleased to hear of it.”

  Orilion twisted his head to hear Wulfgen’s son speak. He noticed Lorrt making subtle gestures to a number of people in the audience. When the feasting had began earlier, he had also observed the Khatun had taken most of the Zaash tribal guards with her when she and Khan Dural had decided to make a brief sojourn over at Wulfgen’s holds, ostensibly gathering their forces in preparation for a future clash with Vorconis. Consequently, only a few members of the Zaash were now present at the feast, and Orilion soon became aware that most of the guests were comprised of the Tooan- Chief Cinil’s tribe- and their allies. The young nobleman from Lethe was raised in the arts of subtlety, and he could tell something was afoot.

  Tozhem spread his hands out wide in a gesture of unity. “I have spoken privately with the Khan and the Khatun about this, and it is time I make my own mark upon the world. Since my bond parents are not here, then I shall speak for them.” He glanced sideways at Orilion, grinning confidently. “I hereby allow the expedition of Lethe to trade with whomever they wish. They have been patient with us, and now I must feel it is the right moment to offer their unique wares to all the tribes in the Sea of Dunes.”

  Slight gasps and applause came from the audience. This was unexpected and welcome news.

  “While I am sure we shall trade with them honorably and at a fair price,” Tozhem said. “I myself have the authority to trade on behalf of my father’s tribe, the Zaash. I can promise you the Lethean’s sand sail shall be loaded with all manner of goods upon their return journey to their fair city, for I shall command my tribe to open up their coffers for all manner of gifts that shall be given freely to our first known visitors outside of the legends told in the old stones.”

  There were a few claps of applause. Some in the audience pounded their palms on the table, the age old custom for expressing approval. A slight sense of hope began to permeate inside the cavernous hall.

  Lorrt suddenly stood up and faced his bond brother, who was already standing beside him. “You speak for the Khanate? You are nothing but a husband to my younger sister. I am the eldest son of the Khan, and when my parents are not here then I am the one who speaks for them, not you!”

  The entire Great Cavern suddenly became quiet. A number of people in the audience just stared at what was occurring at the Khan’s table, their eyes wide and mouths hanging open in shock. Even the servants who carried wineskins and pots of food had stopped, seemingly in midstride as they turned their attention to the two young men.

  Tozhem continued to smile, hoping to keep everyone at ease. “Pardon me, my dear bond brother, but you were present when the Khatun handed the authority over to me before they had gone.”

  Karan, his wife who had been dutifully sitting beside her husband at the far side of the table, nodded in assent. “I was a witness there as well, Lorrt. You know my husband tells the truth. Please sit down and enjoy the meats and wine.”

  Lorrt scowled. “No! It is not the Khatun who orders such things, but the Khan himself. You are not worthy to act as regent while he is away. By the old laws, it is the Khan’s son who has the authority, not you!”

  Tozhem’s chin trembled. He had not been prepared for such a public confrontation. Glancing quickly over to his wife, he seemed confused for a brief moment, seemingly not knowing what to say next.

  Karan got up and stood beside her husband. “You know the Khan is not well, and he defers such matters to our mother, Lorrt. You have disgraced us all this evening. I would suggest it is time for you to retire to your quarters.”

  Lorrt grimaced. “No, it is you and your traitor of a husband who has disgraced our family!” He pointed an accusing finger at Tozhem. “Our mother the Khatun is a whore who sleeps with his father!”

  Tozhem was taken aback. “How dare you speak to the Khatun and my father this way!” He turned to look at the guards at the far side of the chamber. “Men, take him out of this place! The Khan and the Khatun will deal with him when they return.”

  Just as the four Zaash tribesmen started moving towards Lorrt, two servants pulled out flintlock pistols from beneath their loose tunics and aimed it at the surprised guardsmen. Half the men in the audience also pulled out muskets and blades they had hidden underneath the tables they were eating from. One of the Zaash guardsmen near the entrance of the Great Cavern drew out his sword and tried to rush towards the Khan’s table, but one of the Tooan tribesmen locked back the firing mechanism of his flintlock and opened fire, hitting the guard in his leg. The wounded man fell to the floor, screaming in pain.

  A general melee quickly erupted. The Zaash guards tried to force their way over to Tozhem and his wife in order to protect them, but they were quickly cut down by musket fire and daggers. Orilion drew back towards the side walls of the chamber, with Todrul placing himself in front of the Lethean nobleman as a protective shield. The remaining Zaash in the cavern tried to put up a fight, but they were quickly overwhelmed due to superior numbers and complete surprise. After a few moments, most of Wulfgen’s men were either dead or dying, their blood pooling on the bare stone floor.

  Lorrt withdrew a dirk that had been hidden underneath the table where he sat and held its sharpened point to his bond brother’s throat. “You Zaash ass worm, I will make you pay for taking my birthright away from me.”

  Karan tried to intercede, placing her hands on Lorrt’s tunic and attempting to pull him away. “Stop this madness!”

  The Khan’s son shoved her backwards, sending Karan sprawling to the floor. Tozhem cried out and knelt down beside his wife. Holding onto her shoulders, he looked up at Lorrt, a sense of growing hatred in his eyes. “When my father comes back, I shall make you pay dearly for this.”

  Lorrt sneered at him. “You are nothing without that backstabbing father of yours.”

  Tozhem cursed as he stood up and made a grab at Lorrt, but another man came up from behind and smashed the butt of his musket against the back of Tozhem’s head. The young man fell beside his wife who began wailing as she cradled her stunned husband. Four men converged on the couple and began to pull them back up on their feet.

  Lorrt pointed towards the entrance of the cavern. “Get them to the sand sail, hurry.” He turned to look at Orilion and Todrul, who remained stationary and on guard by the wall. “Come with us now- there is not much time!”

  Another Tooan tribesman came rushing into the chamber from the tunnel behind the Khan’s table. His spent musket had a bayonet attached to its muzzle and there was some blood on his leather gambeson. “We attempted to rush the bedchambers, but the Zaash guards put up a spirited defense, we need more men if we are going to get to the child.”

  A loud, droning noise began to stream along the numerous tunnels of the cavern complex. Someone had raised the alarm. A dozen of the men were already half-carrying Karan and her dazed husband towards the exit. Lorrt
’s sister cried out for her child before one of the men abducting her placed a leather rag over her mouth before hauling her away. The ones in the congregation who were not part of the ruse could only stare in bewilderment as they stayed at their tables, being carefully watched by the remaining Tooans and their allies.

  “Disregard the child, we have what we need.” Lorrt said to his accomplices before glancing at Orilion and Todrul once more. “Come, Lord Vorconis awaits us. I can offer you sanctuary at his hold.”

  Orilion narrowed his eyes. The attack had been surely planned. “What of the rest of my crew?”

  Lorrt shook his head. “We do not have the numbers to take on all of the Zaash in this hollow. They must remain here.”

  Orilion let out a deep breath. “But if I go forth with you, then we cannot leave them here- my men shall all be killed!”

  “If you stay they may kill you all anyway,” Lorrt said. “The deed is done. Now you must choose your allegiance. Are you with me?”

  Orilion bit his lip. Miri had told him not to take any sides in the ongoing row within the Khanate, but his hand had now been forced. The fate of his crew hung in the balance. For a short while he contemplated staying behind, but he sensed Lorrt’s faction now had the upper hand. The Zaash had a fearsome reputation, but with Wulfgen’s son as prisoner, the rebels could dictate how the game would be played out. He didn’t like the Khatun and her willingness to hand Rion over to the Exalted, but the fate of his crew also lay in his mind.

  “Choose now,” Lorrt said. His remaining men were rapidly moving towards the exit.

  Orilion nodded. “I shall go with you, but you must escort me out of this place with a dagger at my throat.”

  Lorrt was puzzled. “Why?”

  “There are others observing us as we speak,” Orilion said softly. “They will serve as witnesses and state I was also abducted. You must do this in order to spare the lives of my crew. If the Khatun finds out I have gone freely with you, then the lives of my crew will surely be forfeit.”