Blood & Besiegement

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “The ghost crew can’t be burned, but the old ships can catch fire quite easily. That talking torch is going to have an easy time sinking the ships, and us,” Claudia said.

  “He can’t be everywhere at once. We’ll just have to elude him, and work with better information,” Pradrock said.

  “What information are you thinking of?” Claudia asked.

  “Do you have some information about where my daughter is?” Caroline asked, surprised.

  “No. But I have an idea of how to derive it from what we do know,” Pradrock said.

  CHAPTER 16: Ocean and Music

  Rayner eventually succeeded at navigating the Ikkith Tar Ocean, after much trial and error. Then, they converted the ship to an airship and traveled south over the continent of Revod, and returned to sea level in the Medathero Ocean. They sailed southwest until they reached the mountainous land bridge where the City of Emeth was located.

  “This place is supposed to have all the answers, so maybe we’ll learn something about your little singing friend, here,” Rayner said.

  “Not all answers are revealed right away. And even if they are, you have to know where to look. Her location is still a mystery, and we need to take whatever information we can get and use it to our advantage,” Daven said.

  “Then we need to pay attention to what people are doing and saying,” Zoe said.

  “Yes. The Library of Tedorik is where public pronouncements are made of the knowledge that the Chroniclers bring back. That’s where we should go to learn of the latest news,” Daven said.

  They headed toward a large stone building – one that housed Verifiers and senior scholars as well as an auditorium for the sharing of chronicles that were not in confidence or whose period of confidentiality had expired – and awaited a pronouncement. Several thousand (1000) others were also there, and took their seats. In time, an authority arrived.

  The scholarly authority was a man named Placido, who had dark hair and a thin beard and mustache. He was four thousand eight hundred and thirty-three (4833) years old, but only looked to be between thirty-five (35) and forty (40) years old.

  Placido stood at a podium from which he declared to the audience the chronicles he had been given: “I have reports, from multiple sources, regarding the recent events observed in the solar movements. One (1) of the twenty-four (24) yellow suns has departed from its orbit, and left disarray in the skies, presenting some difficulties for navigators who find directions by following the paths of the suns, after drinking of the Atrejan Ocean waters. Further, an apparently living entity, composed of fire, has descended to the ground and has issued threats and made attacks using weapons of fire. The fire entity may or may not be related to the changes in the skies and the aforementioned absent yellow sun. Additionally, the fire entity has insisted upon knowledge of the location of a girl named Taesa.”

  “Tell us what we don’t know,” Brant said, under his breath.

  “Shush,” Zoe said.

  Placido continued, saying: “Other reports include the appearance of a structure known as the Temple of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings on the Udovedaj-Pren Island in the Ikkith Tar Ocean. This structure consists of nine (9) blue towers, each six hundred thirty (630) feet in height; twenty-four (24) yellow towers, each four hundred twenty (420) feet in height; and thirty-seven (37) red towers, each two hundred ten (210) feet in height.”

  Neither Zoe, Brant, Rayner nor Daven were particularly interested in the architecture, but this did tell them – except Brant, who didn’t really care about numbers or think that deeply about them – one thing: someone got a close enough look at those towers to measure them so precisely, even if all they did was use a surveyor’s instrument from a distance. Chroniclers could be everywhere, but this announcer didn’t mention who it was. That suggested it was not an ancient, Ursegan Ocean water-drinking Chronicler of the Oath who actually measured the towers. Rather, it was probably an Obscure Watcher, traveling unannounced, who drank the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean and had the cloak of darkness around them. If so, then perhaps they got a close enough look to also see where Taesa was or could have gone. One could only hope, and this was only a distant clue, but it was something.

  After the announcement, Daven, Zoe and Rayner all approached Placido. Brant followed them, not knowing what they intended to ask.

  “What was the name of the Chronicler who measured the towers?” Daven asked.

  “There is no name attached to this report. It is merely information tested by the Verifiers, and passed on to me,” Placido said.

  “Which Verifier?” Daven asked.

  “Her name is Alyona,” Placido said.

  Daven immediately left and Zoe, Brant and Rayner followed. He walked through the halls and looked for where the Verifiers – who had distinctive attire – might be congregating, but could not find her.

  “It’s a long shot. I wouldn’t put my hopes on it. If they’ll tell you who recorded it. If the recorder saw the girl. If the information is even useful. That’s too may if’s,” Rayner said.

  “I agree, but we should ask, anyway. Small clues can breach large gaps,” Daven said.

  “Small clues can lead us on long chases after nothing,” Zoe said, thinking of some bad information she had received when hunting down a group of bandits in Waderav. It could have been a deliberate bit of misinformation, and was of no benefit.

  “Yeah, let’s not waste our time,” Rayner said.

  “Then where do you suggest we look?” Daven asked.

  “Fire gives off light, and we’re not going to miss that. Let’s look closely. We should all get a fresh drink, and get out of here,” Zoe said.

  “We’re on a hunt?” Brant asked.

  “Yes. After something we can see,” Zoe said.

  “Good enough. I’m not playing games looking for clues,” Brant said.

  “This is too big to miss,” Zoe said.

  “And maybe a little too hot to handle. We have to be careful – we can’t confront the sunfire creature directly,” Daven said.

  “Water beats fire, doesn’t it?” Brant asked.

  “Why, that’s the most brilliant dumb thing you’ve ever said!” Zoe said to Brant, and kissed him.

  “Let’s not celebrate too soon. What did you have in mind?” Rayner asked.

  “Let’s get this thing wet and put out the fire,” Brant said.

  “Brute force, with a bit of brains mixed in. It’s a little shaky, but it’s better than nothing,” Rayner said.

  “Time for some drinks,” Zoe said.

  “Sounds about right to me,” Rayner said.

  They left the Library of Tedorik and went to the fountains of Emeth. There, as guests in the City of Emeth, they were free to drink of the waters appropriate to their waterbinding. The thirteen (13) enormous fountains provided ample highly purified waters taken from each of the twelve (12) great oceans, as well as from the Dead Waters Ocean.

  Daven filled several of his vials with the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from the corresponding fountain; he drank one immediately and then refilled it. He was energized and prepared for powerful songs, in case they would be needed. He considered the general sense of danger and fear and despair that he saw, and felt within, and wanted to turn despair into joy and fear into hope. His mind searched for words and phrases that had power to convey these feelings, whose effects would be greatly enhanced by the songs which the Pirovalen Ocean waters would enable him to sing.

  Zoe filled her vials from the fountain of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean. She drank anew and was thereby energized and prepared with long-range vision as well as the abilities to see around corners and see fast-moving objects.

  Rayner filled his vials from the fountain of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean. He drank anew and was thereby energized and prepared to listen to the suns, and possibly be confused, as the yellow ones, at least, were in disarray. Still, the red and blue suns could be useful, and he had to do something.

  Brant filled his vials fr
om the fountain of the waters of the Nabavodel Ocean. He drank anew and was thereby energized and prepared to break things and throw things and run fast enough to catch things to be broken and thrown. He loved that feeling, and even liked that these were sometimes called the “tiger waters,” because tigers were pretty tough and fast, and that was just what you needed in a fight, although Brant was much tougher yet much slower than others who drank those same waters – not everyone got quite the same benefits.

  They boarded their ship, and converted it to an airship, and began traveling northwest and they passed over the mountainous land bridge where the City of Emeth was located.

  “What can you see from up here?” Daven asked Zoe while they were still traveling in airship mode, one hundred twenty (120) feet above sea level, as that was the maximum safe altitude. The intense heat and light of the many aligned suns made it unsafe to remain at any height for long without protective covering, such as that given by the crystal archways.

  Zoe looked out as far as she could see, using the powers of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean that she had recently drank. Her range of vision was over four hundred (450) miles and way over the horizon, and over the curve of the world. She looked in various directions, and could see, over the Kazofen Ocean, to the northwest, that there was a distant flickering light.

  “That way, northwest. I see a flickering light,” Zoe said, pointing.

  “It could be a lighthouse signal. What pattern is the flicker?” Rayner asked.

  “It’s not a single point flicker. It’s multiple points of light, flickering on and off side by side,” Zoe said.

  “That sounds like a fire,” Rayner said.

  “It could be him. That’s where we need to go,” Zoe said.

  “Into the inferno, then,” Rayner said.

  “Hey. I thought you were in agreement,” Zoe said.

  “I am. I just need time to figure out how we’re going to douse this thing with water,” Rayner said.

  “You don’t know?” Zoe asked.

  “No. Do you?” Rayner asked.

  “This was your idea, Brant. What were you thinking?” Zoe asked, smiling at the big oaf that she loved.

  “I was thinking we could get him to chase us down into the water,” Brant said.

  “You mean take the ship down to sea level and have him chase us? What makes you think he won’t just send over one of his fireballs? He’s not going to set foot in the water,” Rayner said.

  “You agreed to this. What did you think he meant?” Zoe asked.

  “I figured we’d lure this thing into rough seas, and let a big tidal wave take him down,” Rayner said.

  “You can make tidal waves at will? Nice trick,” Zoe said.

  “They happen a lot, everywhere, if you wait a bit,” Rayner said.

  “When that hot head’s around, waiting even a little bit is not an option,” Zoe said.

  “I don’t think this tactic was sufficiently well thought out. Perhaps we need to reposition ourselves, and reconsider,” Daven said.

  “Wait. Maybe you can make tidal waves on demand, even if I can’t. A little song to shake things up?” Rayner said to Daven.

  “Nice. Let’s give it a try to see if it works,” Zoe said.

  “This is going to take a different way of thinking. Give me a moment,” Daven said. He drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from another of his vials, just to add to what he drank of earlier, and he was further energized. He started concentrating and various lyrics began to occur to him.

  While he was concentrating, the flame grew larger and started approaching.

  Zoe saw this and said: “The fire is getting larger, and closer. I think your moment is about up. Do you have something for us – like even a tune to hum?”

  Moments later, she could see for sure that the fire was on its way – it was Prince Kirdothet himself, who was traveling the world and searching for the girl and her songs.

  “It’s him!” Zoe screamed, as she could see the form of the sunfire creature, which had the shape of a man and traveled through the air with great speed.

  Moments later, they could all see Prince Kirdothet, and he could see them.

  “Bring me the girl whose voice reaches the kingdom of the sky!” Kirdothet demanded as he met them in the sky in their airship.

  “Daven! We need the song now!” Zoe screamed.

  Daven was focused – his mind had been on Taesa and the need to find her before this evil sunfire creature did. His mind also turned to the power that she had, and that he had, by the same waters of the Pirovalen Ocean. He believed that Taesa was genuinely more powerful, but that he had great power of his own, and great experience. He did, after all, dispel illusions. Now, he only needed to move the waters. The words came together, and he began singing:

  Let the waves of water hear us.

  Show us all their life and energy.

  Let the tides rise higher.

  Overcome the fire.

  Of its anger we now tire.

  Let the ocean set us free.

  Let the waves of water hear us.

  Douse the flames of hate and war.

  Let the tides rise with great power.

  Over the fallen star they tower.

  Extinguish it this very hour.

  The water gives us life and more.

  Let the waves of water hear us.

  Surround the enemy of peace.

  Let the tides rise and overtake it,

  And with their unstoppable might break it.

  Let the very sky forsake it.

  Let its fierce destruction cease.

  Let the waves of water hear us.

  The ocean overcomes this wrong.

  Let the tides rise and reverse it.

  Bring it down and curse it.

  Scatter and disperse it.

  Let its evil end by song.

  Mighty waves of water rose from the ocean that was one hundred twenty (120) feet below – the maximum height at which airships could safely travel before the passengers would be overexposed to the heat and light of the many suns above. The waves rose high enough and struck at Prince Kirdothet, covering his flaming body. He screamed in pain, and his fire dimmed considerably. At this, he quickly flew away, greatly weakened, but still quite powerful. Yet, as he left, trails of flame were left behind him.

  “Nice! Real nice!” Rayner said.

  “Now follow him and finish the job!” Zoe said.

  “Did you see how fast he flew away? I can’t match that speed in a chase. And if he can still move that fast, he’s too powerful and dangerous. But we’re definitely onto something!” Rayner said.

  “Best song I ever heard,” Brant said.

  “I agree. Let’s hold on to that one. We’re going to need an encore – not now, but later,” Zoe said.

  “Uh…we’re going to need something else now…like a new ship,” Brant suddenly said.

  “What?” Rayner asked.

  “Look!” Brant said.

  They all turned and saw that the front of the ship was ablaze. Kirdothet’s flames reached it during the brief time he was nearby.

  “He got too close to the ship!” Zoe shouted. She became angry at herself for getting too distracted by the conflict – it was rare for Brant to notice something before she did, or even before anyone did.

  “We’re about to get too close the water!” Rayner said. At this, he started to steer the ship – what was left of it – for the steepest possible descent he could manage without crashing.

  “Head that way. There’s an island about fifteen (15) miles,” Zoe shouted, pointing in a new direction to the southwest.

  CHAPTER 17: Knowledge of Blood

  Fallavakara arrived in the City of Emeth and left the ship, with no intention of ever repaying the captain who brought her there. Still, she didn’t kill him, as she intended to make further use of him, so his fate was not as bad as that of Captain Lyle.

  She visited the archives, in the Eighth (8th) Hall, t
o study spirit magic. Like the other halls, it was a great stone building hundreds of feet in height, and over a mile long, being a juxtaposition of many buildings, some ancient and others modern. Fallavakara didn’t spend much time here in her one hundred thirteen (113) years of life, and so was less familiar with the organization of the vast stores of knowledge than she should have been. Even the warlord, Lavakara, had taken great pains to familiarize himself with the halls of Emeth, and criticized her for not doing the same.

  Fallavakara noticed the markings on stone obelisks at the entry of the hall. These markings gave information about the contents of different sections of the hall, which indicated the different historical periods and locations in the world wherefrom the chronicles came. They had other markings indicating the subject matter, which were more useful in this situation, as Fallavakara knew little of ancient history or even modern geography. She wanted to study the magic of blood – which was related to spirit – and she searched the writings in different sections of the hall, but found nothing.

  In that hall at that time was a librarian – a thirty-three (33) year old woman by the name of Portia – who was quite intelligent and drank the waters of the Medathero Ocean. She saw an old woman with a disfigured looking face, and ascertained that she had been burnt in a fire. Portia considered the woman’s manner of dress and walking, but was unsure about where she might have come from, as these outward signs gave no clue.

  Fallavakara saw the librarian, and was hoping to gain her assistance. She approached the librarian and asked: “My dear, would you be so kind as to help an old woman find her way, and learn a thing or two about what is written down in this place?”

  “You don’t look well – will you even live long enough to make use of the information? I’m not sure that helping you is anything other than a waste of time, when others, who are younger and healthier, could benefit from my assistance,” Portia said.