Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

  Potion Voyages®

  Book 9: Ruin & Reliance

  By Jeremy Dwyer

  Copyright 2019 Jeremy Dwyer

  All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except in the case of brief quotations for the purpose of articles or reviews, without express written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real locations, objects, events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental, and not intended by the author.

  Potion Voyages® is a registered trademark of Jeremy Dwyer.

  (Last Revised Monday, December 9, 2019)

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I’d like to thank my wife, Rachel, and our son, Ethan, for allowing me to work the long hours required to write this book.

  Ebook Cover Design was done by http://www.ebooklaunch.com.

  Visit the official website at http://www.potionvoyages.com for more information.

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1: Reports of Danger and Escape

  CHAPTER 2: Mandates of Governor and Duchess

  CHAPTER 3: Eons of Wealth and Corruption

  CHAPTER 4: Examination of Light and Crystal

  CHAPTER 5: Dynasty of Knowledge and Madness

  CHAPTER 6: Lady of Greed and Impatience

  CHAPTER 7: Plans for Oppression and Desolation

  CHAPTER 8: Journey into Waste and Corruption

  CHAPTER 9: Policies of Review and Improvement

  CHAPTER 10: Rituals of Burning and Harvesting

  CHAPTER 11: Monitoring of Operations and Personnel

  CHAPTER 12: Plans for Slavery and War

  CHAPTER 13: Price of Labor and Materials

  CHAPTER 14: War of Greed and Anguish

  CHAPTER 15: Warriors of Mind and Machine

  CHAPTER 16: Rituals of Marriage and Death

  CHAPTER 17: Corruption of Money and Spirit

  CHAPTER 18: Mountain of Stars and Spirits

  CHAPTER 19: Pursuit of Maps and Schemes

  CHAPTER 20: Struggle of Flesh and Fire

  CHAPTER 21: Knowledge of Temple and Stone

  CHAPTER 22: Costs of Living and Learning

  CHAPTER 23: Threats against Bank and Throne

  CHAPTER 24: Rise of City and Suspicions

  CHAPTER 25: Fortresses of Knowledge and Greed

  CHAPTER 26: Obsessions with Stones and Stars

  CHAPTER 27: Profits of Bankers and Nobles

  CHAPTER 28: Perils in Mountain and Forest

  CHAPTER 29: Price of Business and Travel

  CHAPTER 30: Acts of War and Betrayal

  CHAPTER 31: Approach to Enemies and Profits

  CHAPTER 32: Collection of Souls and Gems

  CHAPTER 33: Guests of Deception and Malice

  CHAPTER 34: Guests of Pain and Suffering

  CHAPTER 35: Cities of Peace and War

  CHAPTER 36: Increase of Knowledge and Danger

  CHAPTER 37: Entrapped by Stone and Crystal

  CHAPTER 38: Island of Abundance and Danger

  CHAPTER 39: Gathering of Ingredients and Threats

  CHAPTER 40: Protection of Wealth and Advantage

  CHAPTER 41: Master of Plants and Animals

  CHAPTER 42: Schemes of Lust and Greed

  CHAPTER 43: Ship of Fortunes and Hopes

  CHAPTER 44: Source of Purpose and Joy

  CHAPTER 45: Sources of Corruption and Truth

  CHAPTER 46: Search for Thieves and Traitors

  CHAPTER 47: Mixing of Fire and Poison

  CHAPTER 48: Spread of Fire and Poison

  CHAPTER 49: Ruin of Territory and Authority

  CHAPTER 50: Orchard of Seeds and Stones

  CHAPTER 51: Island of Betrayal and Vengeance

  CHAPTER 52: Garden of Secrets and Fears

  CHAPTER 53: Plans for Battle and Empowerment

  CHAPTER 54: Pearls of Knowledge and War

  CHAPTER 55: Quests for Stars and Seeds

  CHAPTER 56: Positioning for Wealth and War

  CHAPTER 57: Sounds of Armies and War

  CHAPTER 58: Power of Hope and Love

  CHAPTER 59: Power of Prayer and Fear

  CHAPTER 60: Battle of Spirit and Might

  CHAPTER 61: Weakness of Leadership and Marriage

  CHAPTER 62: Power of Stealth and Blade

  CHAPTER 63: Mystery of Destroyer and Captor

  CHAPTER 64: Valley of Peril and Death

  CHAPTER 65: Difference in Land and Journey

  CHAPTER 1: Reports of Danger and Escape

  Aura stood on the deck of a ship as it sailed eastward across the Pirovalen Ocean and away from the Port of Illumination. She was astonished and relieved by all that had just occurred. Now, she was at a loss for what to do next. Her son, Arik, was still in the arms of her sister, Kassia, who stood beside her. Kassia’s friend Daley stood nearby, as did Claudia.

  While Aura searched for answers, Claudia drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from her vial and was energized with telepathic powers. She probed Aura’s thoughts to ascertain just how much she could trust this woman. Claudia knew that Aura had murdered two (2) of her own sisters out of jealousy. Claudia knew that it was Aura’s music that had subjugated nations – with populations numbering in the billions – into service to King Xander. She weighed this against the other fact: that Aura’s music had, moments ago, rescued all the children in a city – with a population of perhaps a few hundred thousand – from a ritual sacrifice. The numbers were not in Aura’s favor, although Claudia admitted to herself that mass murder of children would have been a greater evil than slavery. Still, Claudia was taken aback by Aura’s extremely violent temper – she had blood on her hands: that of her own sisters plus any she enabled Xander to spill.

  Kassia saw Aura’s hesitation, so she held out her hands and said: “Pray with me.” Aura joined hands with Kassia, unsure of herself and her faith, if any. Kassia then continued, saying: “God, who led us away from danger, lead us to safety.” She then drank anew of the waters of the Medathero Ocean from her vial and was energized. She considered carefully where they might go, and then said: “The Scholar’s Path. That’s where we should go. It has a stable economy – some farming, some mining, with plenty of opportunity for these people.”

  Claudia then turned her telepathic attention to probing Kassia’s mind and realized that this was the level-headed sister who could be trusted. Kassia had traveled the world, studying and researching the nefarious activities of the central bank. This, in fact, made Kassia a potential ally on her own mission. She knew that Kassia was aware that the Scholar’s Path land bridge was largely owned by the central bank, but it was carefully managed to be both placid and productive. She turned briefly to Daley and probed his mind: he was acting in agreement with Kassia, and provided her cover in darkness, while she led the way.

  “Then we will go to the Scholar’s Path,” Aura said. Her voice had a sing-song quality to it as the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean had given her considerable energy, which was largely – but not entirely – expended by the City of Lies song. The words resonated and charmed the passengers and crew.

  There were discussions among the passengers and crew on board the ship, and general agreement to continue sailing eastward, where they would reach the Scholar’s Path land bridge within a day.

  Claudia turned to Kassia and said: “We need to talk…in private.”

  “We stick together,” Daley said.

  “I know. We have something in common – a problem – and we all need to deal with it,” Claudia said.

  The Chronicler Alonso watched and recorded all that they said and did into his book.

  ~~~

  Governor Lux was on board a ship sailing northward ac
ross the Pirovalen Ocean, heading away from the Port of Illumination. He didn’t care for sun worshippers such as Duchess Uliana, as they were wasteful of the central bank’s resources. The song that he heard warned of ritual sacrifices to sun gods. He thus deduced that Uliana’s claim of requiring children to be registered, therefore, was a ruse: they were intended to be the sacrificial offerings. That would have been another waste – children should be disciplined, assigned a suitable waterbinding and gainfully employed. The central bank never approved of the sun worshippers’ religious practices, because there was no profit in them. There were demons commanding all of the solar religions, whereas better demons existed, at least according the central bank’s definition of ‘better’, which came down to optimal money management, leading to the acquisition of more resources and influence.

  Lux pushed through the crowd of hundreds of people on deck and found a small, unoccupied cabin. He entered, then closed and locked the door behind him. Therein, he drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from his vial and was energized with the power to connect to the spirit world. Lux then communicated with a familiar spirit: an entity which always made him uncomfortable, only because it was his medium to his superior officers, who made him extremely uncomfortable.

  The other spirit spoke into the spirit of Lux and asked: “What news do you bring?”

  “The sun worshippers – under Duchess Uliana – have attempted to capture and sacrifice the children in the Port of Illumination. Someone else – though I do not know who it was – became aware of their plan and warned everyone away with a song. Even Haza’Kedro’Maral Island had to be evacuated, because the children were headed there to be wasted at the site of the sun temple,” Lux said to that spirit so that only it could hear.

  “I will report this matter to the Premier Governors. You are to remain quiet and await their response,” the spirit said.

  ~~~

  The Chronicler Silvius was on board a ship heading northward across the Pirovalen Ocean, away from the Port of Illumination. The ship arrived in Emeth within one (1) day and the three hundred seventeen (317) people on board entered the city. Silvius approached the Library of Tedorik and met with Verifier Alyona, who stood and waited for Chroniclers to deliver their books of recorded events. He submitted his book to her and she began to review it, learning of the song and the escape from the Port of Illumination. While she assigned an adequately high confidence to the details of the account, she also found it appalling.

  “Silvius, come with me,” Alyona said, and she led him inside the Library of Tedorik, then into Danek’s private quarters.

  Danek was reading the books on his desk and he looked up when Alyona and Silvius entered. “What is it?” he asked.

  “Chronicler Silvius reports that the Port of Illumination – a constructed city around Haza’Kedro’Maral Island in the Pirovalen Ocean – was evacuated. A song was sung, warning that a ritual sacrifice was to be performed. Just prior to this, there was a summons to bring the children from the surrounding city to the island to be registered with the central bank. The music claimed that the summons was a ruse for attempted murder, and appeared to be convincing enough that thousands fled: Silvius counted fifteen thousand four hundred twelve (15412) in just his region of the city,” Alyona said.

  “The evil continues. This should not be a surprise to you, Alyona. We are now aware, and – unless this was recorded in confidence – the knowledge should be publicly disclosed. There is nothing more that we can do at the moment,” Danek said.

  “Should we not tell him?” Alyona asked.

  “I will tell him when I next see him,” Danek said, knowing that Alyona was referring to Sava’Tzefanya.

  “Duchess Uliana will try again. She holds authority over that island, is a leader among the sun worshippers and is almost certainly responsible for this. Children everywhere are unsafe because of her beliefs,” Alyona said.

  “I know that. All we can do is make this knowledge public, in the annunciation room, as we ordinarily do,” Danek said.

  “Not everyone goes there. Not everyone listens. We should do more. We can save lives,” Alyona said.

  “Our job is to record and to speak the truth, at the proper time – on many occasions, immediately; on others, only after the proper waiting time has elapsed. That is our mandate, by accepting the Oath to serve, be it that of the Chronicler or the Verifier,” Danek said.

  “I know. I just want more,” Alyona said.

  “Under our respective oaths, we will do what we must, and others will do what they must, yet we cannot do more than we are permitted,” Danek said.

  Alyona and Silvius left Danek’s quarters and then exited the Library of Tedorik. Alyona gave Silvius a new book into which to record events and he waited outside, looking for opportunities of interest.

  ~~~

  Under the cover of darkness were two (2) Hidden Paladins, members of unit number fifty-two sixty-one (#5261). They were waiting in Danek’s quarters and overheard the report from the Chronicler named Silvius. It was time to report this serious matter to their superior. Each of them drank anew of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean from their respective vials to renew their energies and thereby maintain their powers of darkness. They quickly left the room and exited the library. From there, they made their way across the City of Emeth and entered an obscured structure most people could not see – not even them. They found it by knowing exactly where to walk, which was along a trail leading up the mountains of Emeth. Once inside, they eased their powers of darkness and revealed themselves, wearing their thin-yet-strong armor, with their curved swords – the Vague Blades – carried across their backs.

  Another man stood before them, appearing nearly the same, though he held one (1) sword in each hand as well as carrying two (2) more swords crossed on his back.

  “Marshal, this is unit number fifty-two sixty-one (#5261) reporting,” the two (2) Hidden Paladins said.

  “Your report?” the Marshal of the Hidden Paladins asked.

  “It is from the Chronicler, Silvius. The Port of Illumination – a constructed city around Haza’Kedro’Maral Island in the Pirovalen Ocean – was evacuated after a song that gave warning about a ritual sacrifice. A cult of sun worshippers – led by Duchess Uliana – summoned children to the island for registration with the central bank. The song alerted the residents to the true, deadly purpose of the summons and they fled,” the two (2) Hidden Paladins said.

  “Return to your post,” the Marshal of the Hidden Paladins said.

  The two (2) Hidden Paladins of unit number fifty-two sixty-one (#5261) again exerted their powers of darkness and vanished from sight. Then, they returned to their previous location.

  ~~~

  The Marshal of the Hidden Paladins drank the same water as did each of his officers – those of the Ikkith Tar Ocean. He carried the Vague Blade – which was aptly named, for there were several variations of the weapon, designed to cut through different strengths of materials. No single blade was adequate for all purposes, and this was a challenge. Usually, each unit would have two (2) or more different Vague Blades, meant to cover multiple possible situations. The Hidden Paladins were not prescient in any way, and they relied on their units being distributed across the world in strategic locations, under the cover of darkness, to maintain awareness and report. They had allies, such as the Redfire Sentinels, on whom they occasionally relied; yet, they were ultimately responsible to succeed even when their allies could not assist.

  His name was Corbin, and he was twenty-nine (29) years old, although he had set aside his name and identity to become a leader first and foremost: being the Marshal of the Hidden Paladins was an all-consuming responsibility and commitment. He was as much a trained warrior as any of those he commanded, and had the same powers of stealth through darkness. The rank of Marshal carried additional duties and demanded additional competencies: the study of military strategy and tactics, intelligence and counterintelligence and the design variations of t
he Vague Blade were all complex. Careful reading of the experiences – both the successes and failures – of former Marshals informed him. Though the waters of the Medathero Ocean were best for giving the power of calm and careful logical reasoning, some measure of ability in that direction could be attained by disciplined study. Probability theory, geometry and calculus were accessible subjects and the training given in the schools within the Jenaldej Empire was of a high quality, because it needed to prepare students for many alternative careers long before their waterbindings were determined at age twenty-three (23). Corbin’s own waterbinding came at age nineteen (19), when he had already left the Jenaldej home continent of Revod to join the Hidden Paladins as a cadet.

  During his two (2) years of training, Corbin honed his combat skills, both armed and unarmed. He learned to use nineteen (19) different variations of the Vague Blade – against granite; diamond; dead waters ice, light waters ice and dark waters ice; steel, iron and bronze and various alloys – and the consequences of choosing the wrong blade. If the correct blade was not available – in a small training unit, and unit sizes could vary considerably, that was occasionally a problem – alternatives had to be found. Even if a Hidden Paladin had a Kazofen Ocean waterbinding and used it to be able to manipulate the crystal structure of the blade or the material he was trying to cut through, there usually would not be sufficient time during combat to do this. It was best to find another way, such as by using the environment to their advantage – perhaps by picking up a sharp stone, or by reflecting a beam of sunlight off of a revealed blade, or even by starting a controlled fire to weaken the target. The stealth and surprise afforded by darkness would enable them to attempt many tactics and this was the reason that no Hidden Paladin had any waterbinding except for Ikkith Tar.

  Just as importantly, the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean that all Hidden Paladins drank provided the powers of darkness that had uses beyond merely hiding their presence: the dark brought the cold, and the cold could weaken many materials, making them shatter prone. All waters could be frozen, and the icy effects varied: freezing the Lujladia waters could create prisms or focusing lenses to bend light and burn their targets; freezing the Pirovalen waters could create echo crystals, reshaping songs and other sounds; freezing the Ikkith Tar waters themselves – a quantity of water other than what the person drank, of course – could create shadow crystals, enabling them to assemble makeshift structures to conceal something. Other possibilities existed, although each of these approaches had limitations determined by water purity. The Ikkith Tar waters the Hidden Paladins drank were nearly always highly purified by the work of a trusted alchemist who drank the Kazofen waters. The target waters they subjected to the freezing darkness were another matter, however, and the ice crystals had uncertain levels of purity and reliability. A Hidden Paladin needed to be fairly quick to adapt to the limitations of a situation, succeed at their missions and survive.