Heretic Spellblade

by K D Robertson

  Leopold gave Anna a look. “Good enough?”

  “You sound like I’m torturing you,” Anna whined. “It can’t be that bad, can it? You live in the capital and deal with royal politics all day long.”

  “And here I am on a delightful holiday, but you’re making me carry out my duties as if I’m still in the stuffy halls of Aleich.” Leopold winked at Nathan. “Now, shall we go inside?”

  Chapter 18

  Once inside, Anna forced them to attend to the immediate issue first. Nathan allowed the Ciana conversation to drop, for now.

  The meeting room was a recent addition to the keep. Nathan always preferred more casual or military-esque rooms when he with others. Sitting rooms with a few sofas, or a war room where everybody could stand around a map or other point of interest.

  But Anna had visited two weeks ago and complained about the lack of a proper meeting room. Apparently, a large table and chairs are necessary. Nathan hated the trappings of nobility and the boring halls of power that he had dealt with in his homeland of Falmir, but he let Anna get her way this time.

  Everybody sat around a single long table. Nobody sat at either end, not even Leopold. Anna showed open annoyance at that fact, gesturing to Leopold with her eyes, but he ignored her.

  Ciana tried to remain standing. Leopold then forced her to sit next to him. Sitting opposite Leopold was Fei, whose tail moved at a thousand miles per hour. It moved so fast that Nathan could hear it.

  Nathan finished summarizing the situation. The only person who appeared interested in what had happened was Ciana, whose concern visibly grew the longer that Nathan talked. He ignored her.

  “How come you never mentioned what the leyline disruption would cause?” Anna asked, her face marred by a scowl.

  “If I say ‘you never asked,’ will you be angry?” Nathan tried.

  Anna’s glare answered his question.

  “You know now, don’t you?” Leopold suggested.

  “That explanation is somehow worse,” Anna said, turning her ire on Leopold. His smile didn’t move an inch.

  “I didn’t want to induce unnecessary panic,” Nathan explained. “While leyline disruption can cause a demonic invasion, it often doesn’t. It wasn’t until I had confirmed other matters, such as the involvement of the Federation with the bandits, that I suspected what was happening.”

  “Quite a fast conclusion, I must admit,” Leopold said. His eyes bore into Nathan. “Especially as Vera said something different. That you believed a demonic invasion would occur before you confirmed that a Federation Champion was involved.”

  Had she? Nathan didn’t look at Vera, but he imagined she might be avoiding his gaze right now.

  In truth, Nathan had been grasping at straws during his conversation with Vera. She had doubted his belief that the Federation would go to war with the Empire. He needed something that would prod her into action, and he had found it. But the idea that the Federation had genuinely been trying to disrupt the leylines in an attempt to cause a demonic invasion?

  That thought had never seriously occurred to him before he saw Sunstorm meeting with Sen. He had thought the idea to be too heretical for any Bastion to attempt.

  “The demonic portal here was too passive,” Nathan explained, trying to talk his way out of any suspicion. “All the energy had to be going somewhere. The Federation were behaving suspiciously, but I’ll admit I never seriously thought they were trying to cause a demonic invasion.”

  “But you think they are now?” Leopold pressed. His smile remained firmly in place.

  Ciana looked between Leopold and Nathan, her eyes overflowing with panic. She rocked back and forth in her chair, but refused to say anything. Everybody else in the room stared at her, but Leopold and Nathan ignored her.

  “Sen has admitted that the Federation taught her how to disrupt the leylines with the cairn,” Nathan said, gesturing to the spellblade sitting next to him. “We battled with a Federation Champion by the name of Sunstorm in our territory. The leyline disruption has ceased now that I’m disabling the bandits. Systematic leyline disruption over the course of several months would have resulted in a new demonic portal opening at the cairn, if we hadn’t stopped it.”

  Ciana froze. Her gaze slowly shifted from Nathan to Leopold.

  The room remained silent, although Anna continued to look annoyed. Kuda took the opportunity to slip in and provide coffee and tea cakes for everybody.

  “I took a risk when I allowed you into the academy,” Leopold said abruptly, lowering his mug. “Your father spoke ill of you. And most suspected you of seeking vengeance, given you had just been disinherited. There were other rumors as well. But those who dealt with you—at least without knowing your background—spoke well of you.”

  Nathan remained silent. In his timeline, he had never found out why he was allowed to become a Bastion or what made him “better” than his counterparts. He had outlived his entire class. His master had never thought much of him, at least publicly, but Nathan had been given dangerous postings. By proving himself, Nathan rose in status and power. He gained Champions faster than others and eventually became a legend. A Bastion with a trigem Champion, and later, several trigem Champions.

  So Leopold’s words keenly interested Nathan. Even if they applied to his false past.

  “Your father has a reputation,” Leopold said. “Your falling out with him piqued my interest. Surely a man who has lost everything will see the world differently? It seems I was right. You’re sharp. The meisters noted that you devoured information in the academy. And now you’re forging a reputation within mere weeks of arriving.”

  Nathan blinked. Somehow Leopold’s opinion applied to both the false him and the real him.

  A man who had lost everything. As sure a description of Nathan as any, he felt.

  “You agree with his assessment of the Federation?” Anna asked. She bit her lip, her eyes moving nervously between the two Bastions.

  “What do you think of his assessment, Anna?” Leopold asked.

  “Are you kidding me?” Anna shouted. “You already know this.”

  “And now I am asking you to repeat it in his presence.”

  Anna rolled her eyes and crossed her arms with a huff. “He’s right. I’ve been telling you ever since my father passed away that the Federation has been moving on Gharrick County. This isn’t about tolls anymore. The bandits attacked my town.” She glared at Sen, who grimaced and looked away.

  “I see. And you, Vera?” Leopold asked, turning his attention to the redheaded sorceress.

  “I don’t see any flaws in his theory. A monogem Federation lurking near our borders is one thing, but actively helping to disrupt the leylines? Even if they weren’t trying to cause a demonic invasion, it’s still an act of war,” Vera said.

  Leopold nodded. He stroked his bare chin.

  “Leopold!” Ciana cried. She stood up. “Why are you doing this? He’s clearly right.”

  Finally, Leopold and Nathan looked at Ciana. Both of them hid their smiles, although Sen prodded Nathan in the side and glared at him. Clearly Sen had noticed his odd behavior.

  “It seems my ward believes in you, Nathan,” Leopold said after a brief pause.

  “I appreciate your backing, Ciana,” Nathan said. Then he froze.

  She hadn’t been introduced yet. Leopold had skipped introductions earlier, presumably because everybody recognized him.

  Ciana’s face lit up as if it were on fire. She dropped into her chair and mumbled something inaudible. If anyone noticed Nathan’s mistake, they didn’t comment on it or raise an eyebrow. Leopold patted Ciana on the shoulder and winked at Nathan.

  “Indeed, your assessment is correct,” Leopold said. “Sorry for the runaround. I was curious to see if opinion may sour when confronted.”

  Despite his front as a genial old man, Leopold was a savvy political player. He couldn’t be the Emperor’s right-hand man if he weren’t. Anna scowled at Leopold before straightening up in her cha
ir.

  “I believe you asked about Ciana earlier?” Leopold continued. “Her path is not yet set. Unicorn beastkin are exceedingly rare. The Empire may not practice slavery, but the same cannot be said of other nations, and many nobles would stop at nothing to have her in their household.” Leopold’s face darkened, and Nathan felt his pulse quicken.

  Nathan made a mental note not to get on Leopold’s bad side. The man genuinely terrified him in a primal way.

  “As such, I am training her as my ward. I don’t know whether she’s a better fit as a Champion or a Bastion yet, but I don’t want to predispose her to either choice.” Leopold paused.

  Nathan nodded. “Becoming a Champion is a one-way path.”

  “I thought that was only if she received a gem?” Vera said.

  Leopold glanced at Nathan, who shrugged. Vera was making an assumption there. Fei had told her about the one-way path bit, but many people already knew about it. If Vera believed that it was because of a gem, then that was her choice.

  “Champion gems are permanent, yes,” Leopold said. “But all Champion and Bastion enhancements are permanent. One can never stop being a Champion or Bastion.”

  The frown on Vera’s face suggested she didn’t understand. Neither Nathan nor Leopold helped her.

  They had an oath to uphold. Many secrets of Bastions needed protecting. That the Federation had tried to cause a demonic invasion using the leylines was proof of that. Not even other Bastions could be completely trusted.

  Nathan felt like he suddenly understood why his old master never told him much. Had this sort of thing happened in the past? Had older Bastions questioned each other and found that the only way to protect the world was to withhold knowledge? Nathan didn’t know. He didn’t even know if that was the right choice.

  “Um, Leopold,” Ciana spoke up.

  “In a minute, Ciana,” Leopold said. He patted her on the shoulder again. “Speaking of gems, I have a gift for you.”

  One of the functionaries from earlier brought in a small velvet bag. Within it was a small wooden box embossed with the golden emblem of the Emperor. Leopold held his hand over it for a second, and Nathan felt a pulse of power enter the box. Then Leopold slid it across the table.

  Three gems sat within the plush confines of the box. An amethyst, a diamond, and a sapphire. Nathan’s fingers shot to the amethyst first. He lifted it out of the box, held it up, and silently probed it with magic.

  “I wasn’t sure which would be most suitable for young Jafeila,” Leopold continued. “Her meisters spoke highly of her abilities, but none were entirely certain of what path to suggest. I heard about her speed, and chose suitable gems to supplement such a Champion, although the abilities from each gem are flexible.”

  “Um,” Fei tried to say. Her ears flattened as Leopold turned his attention to her and she quietened. Her tail stuck bolt upright.

  Nathan ruffled her hair, and she slowly calmed down.

  “I’ve changed my enhancement to both speed and strength,” Fei said, quiet enough that a pin drop would overpower her voice. “Will these gems suit me still?”

  Leopold smiled, and it was a genuine smile, unlike his poker face. “Of course. The amethyst is perhaps more single-minded as far as gems go, favoring strength and offensive abilities. But diamonds are easily the most flexible of physical enhancement gems, and the sapphire offers great variety if you wish to utilize gem abilities more.”

  “They’re fairly standard gems for physical fighters,” Nathan added. “And especially for a young Champion. More daring gems can be dangerous to rely on.”

  Nathan returned the amethyst to the box, noting the way Fei’s eyes followed his every move. The box remained on the table for the rest of the meeting, but he kept it firmly shut and within arm’s reach.

  “Thank you, Bastion Leopold,” Nathan said.

  Leopold waved him off. “I can spare a few gems. The question is: can Jafeila support one? The academy trained you, so you should know how to gem Champions. But given the coming storm, you will need a monogem Champion now more than ever.”

  Even a dullard could read Leopold’s hidden message: Nathan needed to handle this by himself. At least for now.

  There was a war on, after all. Or close enough. Leopold’s Champions were needed elsewhere within the Empire.

  “Leopold,” Ciana mumbled. “There’s something else.”

  “Is there something else, Nathan?” Leopold asked him.

  Test after test with this old man.

  Nathan squared his gaze at Ciana, who blushed and looked at the table. He waited patiently for her to look back at him. Almost a minute passed.

  Eventually, she raised her head and looked him in the eyes. Her breathing quickened.

  “I’m not going to bite,” Nathan said gently. “You’ve been nervous ever since I gave my original report.”

  “I know,” Ciana mumbled. Leopold’s hand rubbed her shoulder, and she took a deep breath, her fluffy ears twitching.

  “I assume you want to see the portal then?” Nathan said. “I can’t imagine why else you’ve been so antsy since I mentioned the leyline disruption ceased.”

  Chapter 19

  The gate leading to the portal was as nondescript as before. Nothing appeared to have changed on the outside, save for a pair of soldiers standing guard outside of it. They saluted as the party approached.

  “You’re not patrolling the interior?” Leopold asked. He seemed surprised that the gate was closed.

  “That’s my job,” Fei chirped. She froze when Leopold’s gaze turned to her and hid behind Nathan.

  “I don’t recall her meisters saying she’s so shy,” Leopold mused, his lips quirking upward.

  “She’s a fan,” Nathan said flatly.

  Leopold suppressed a grin and elbowed the air between them. For a geezer, he was a sharp one, and far more willing to play around than Nathan had expected.

  Stepping up to the gate, Nathan reached for power from the binding stone. Fei jumped in front of him before he could push the doors open.

  “I can open them,” she chirped. “I have my key.”

  Nathan smiled at her, then reached over top of her and gave the doors a shove. A tiny pulse of magical resistance pushed back at Nathan, but it melted when the binding stone’s power struck it. The doors opened a crack.

  “How come you don’t have to use a key?” Fei pouted.

  “I imagine because he’s the Bastion, and he sealed the doors,” Leopold said. His smile had slipped, and his eyes focused on Nathan. “A curious method to keep the portal secure. I presume the keys are enchanted?”

  “They are. It’s the same method used for vaults and treasuries. A small set of keys with an enchantment that can unlock the door, except the seal is coded to a specific magical signature.” Nathan shrugged. “I read about the technique in the academy. It’s used in Falmir.”

  “Is it?” Leopold’s smile returned. “Perhaps I’ll see if it works for any of my portals when I return. My Champions would appreciate being able to keep the demons on the other side without needing to watch the gate all day long. Although I imagine that some may use the closed doors as an excuse to ignore the portal longer than they should.”

  Nathan winced. More than one fortress had fallen because of Champions who didn’t investigate the portal regularly, and Bastions who weren’t paying attention. Out of sight, out of mind, was a dangerous mindset, but a popular one.

  “Can we go in?” Anna asked. “You’ve had me on edge since Nathan refused to properly answer Ciana.”

  Ciana ducked her head when at the sound of her name. Hiding a smile at Ciana’s shyness, Nathan opened the gate all the way.

  Gasps rung out. Fei shot through the open doors, her scimitar out, and gave the all clear signal. Sen drew her greatsword and took up a watch position beside Fei.

  The rest of them trooped inside afterward. Ciana looked around with a mix of apprehension and triumph, as if she wasn’t sure if she should be happy or t
errified that she was right.

  “I thought you said the portal was passive?” Anna said. She pointed at the bottom of the valley they stood in. “I’m no expert, but that looks pretty ominous. And there are demons here!”

  She was right. The tiny valley from earlier was no more. Worryingly, the portal now met expectations for what a demonic portal should look like, at least to a casual observer.

  The valley leading down to the clearing had broadened. An army could comfortably march toward the keep without breaking formation. Farther below, the clearing had expanded as well. The central mound had transformed into a massive set of craggy rocks reaching for the sky. Dozens of campfires had been built in the clearing, although only a few were lit.

  “Care to take care of the demons, Fei?” Nathan suggested. She was the reason so few campfires were being used.

  The demons barely had time to react before she careened into them.

  “Putting that speed enhancement to good work, I see,” Leopold said. Then he winced as Fei bisected a demon. “Or something else. A bespoke enhancement?”

  “She found the speed enhancement too restrictive,” Nathan said. “So I’ve combined the strength and speed enhancements to her liking. I’ve tweaked it a few times over the last few weeks, although at this point I think she just likes the process.”

  “Yes, young Champions get like that,” Leopold said drily. “This may be wrong of me to say, but I wonder what the goddess was thinking to make the process generate such emotions.”

  The nearby women stared at Leopold and Nathan in confusion. Sen hadn’t gone through the Champion enhancement process. Although Nathan had thought Vera had picked up on the gist of it, perhaps she didn’t realize it happened to every Champion.

  “Why aren’t you surprised by this?” Anna asked, gesturing to their surroundings. “Or worried? Or something?”

  “Because he’s been trained for situations exactly like this. Isn’t that right, Nathan?” Leopold turned to face Nathan, his poker face firmly in place and eyes twinkling.