Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

“Massa, what is happening? Are my servants dying without my permission?” Duke Jovan asked.

  Massa drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power to connect to the spirit world. He concentrated to learn the fate of the servants nearest to the castle. “Perhaps one (1) in thirty (30) of your farmers and miners has died, my lord. Others are sick, but it is not clear that they will die. You will be best served by staying here, until this danger passes through and leaves your territory,” he said.

  “They complained about too much work. Now, they will have their rest, unlike me,” Duke Jovan said.

  “You look well, my lord, unlike a sick or weary man. Sleep will keep you well,” Massa said.

  “You are not my doctor, Massa,” Duke Jovan said.

  Fenella placed both her hands on Duke Jovan’s right hand and said: “I will stay with you, my beloved lord, day and night. When you rest tonight, take me with you, and I will make certain that your sleep fulfills your every need. Your good health is my purpose,” Fenella said.

  “How strange! Both Fenella and Rexana call me their beloved lord,” Duke Jovan said.

  “I will serve as your eyes to oversee your land, day and night, my beloved lord,” Rexana said.

  “Your devotion is…charming. But it won’t charm me, Rexana,” Duke Jovan said.

  Brant and Zoe entered the throne room. “I’ve been watching what’s happening. It’s getting faster,” Zoe said.

  “How good of you to disturb us with even worse news,” Duke Jovan said.

  “We know that we’re just your guests, and we don’t mean to overstay our welcome, but this red mist is some kind of poison. It’s moving westward at one hundred seventy-nine (179) miles per hour. When I first caught sight of it, it was moving at around one hundred sixty-two (162) miles per hour. I see the far edge of it, so it will be gone soon, but it’s killing your crops and dropping your farm workers,” Zoe said.

  “When they die, they leave their pain behind. I envy them,” Duke Jovan said.

  “Hopefully, it kills off a few of the robber barons that ruin life for everybody else,” Brant said.

  “Many of them deserve to suffer horribly. Death would be too easy an escape for their cruelty. They need to suffer like they made me suffer,” Duke Jovan said.

  “I don’t care if they feel pain. I just want them dead,” Brant said.

  “All that I care about is making them feel pain. You don’t truly understand what I went through, and what I still go through, every day and night. Memories hurt every bit as much as the original horror. Time does not heal the evil done by the former lord over this land against me and my family,” Duke Jovan said.

  “If they’re alive, they can keep causing problems,” Brant said.

  “Brant! Enough! Drop it! We fight when and where we have to fight, but we don’t have to talk about it all the time. We’ll leave as soon as we can before we end up aggravating our host,” Zoe said.

  “Nothing you can say can make my life any worse. Stay here until this red blight passes. Then, go and do what you must,” Duke Jovan said.

  “I will do what I must to comfort my beloved lord,” Rexana said.

  “Return to your post and keep watch, Rexana. My enemies are still roaming the land, spewing their lies and corrupting minds. When you see them – and they are holding their silver cups that are empty of water because they are filled with deception – come back here and report their position to me immediately!” Duke Jovan said.

  “Your anger is undying and it is killing you. With every breath and every heartbeat, you curse your enemies instead of loving life and receiving love from those who desire you. You are in so much pain, my beloved lord. Let go of your pain and take hold of me,” Rexana said.

  “I will take hold of my enemy! When you find the cult of liars, I will lead my army to destroy them so they can never deceive anyone again! They speak death, so they shall soon have their fill of it. I will make sure they taste the bitterness of defeat and destruction! They will never again taste victory! Their banquet will never be held!” Duke Jovan said.

  “Yes, my lord,” Rexana said. She drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from her vial to be energized with the powers of light and far sight. She cloaked herself in false light, vanishing from everyone’s view. Then, she departed from the throne room and exited the castle. Rexana returned to her post and kept watch by gazing far out into the distance, over two hundred forty (240) miles in each direction. Her exceptional long range was how she earned her position of service to Duke Jovan.

  ~~~

  An outpost of Redfire Sentinels was stationed on Ebralidar Island in the Ursegan Ocean. From inside the lantern room of a lighthouse that stood on the island’s tallest hill, a fifty-six (56) year old man watched in all directions. He drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial to maintain the energy necessary for his powers of light and far sight. He caught sight of a red mist moving westward at three hundred seventy-one (371) miles per hour. He ran downstairs and opened the door to a bedroom. “Kadi’Arix! Wake up! You need to send a message!” he yelled.

  The young man lying on the bed woke up and said: “What is it? Why do you keep bothering me, Iptok’Varal? You know that I am not well.”

  “Things will get worse very quickly. A danger is approaching from the east. A red mist is passing over ships, and the sailors are becoming ill as it reaches them. The cloud is moving at three hundred seventy-one (371) miles per hour. The wind speeds are not even fifteen (15) miles per hour, so they are not carrying it,” the older man – Iptok’Varal – said.

  “Let me send a warning. Maybe that can help,” the young man – Kadi’Arix – said. He drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean to be energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars and communicate through the red suns. Before sending his message, he received earlier messages and said: “This has already hit three (3) other outposts – Quendagil Island in the Gradaken Ocean, where it was first seen; then Fintomieth Island in the Trerada Ocean; then Cradana Island in the Pirovalen Ocean. But that’s going eastward, and they reported lower speeds. If you’re saying it’s going westward, it must be crossing the whole southern hemisphere.”

  “What is this red mist?” Iptok’Varal asked.

  “Nobody knows, but according to the messages I received, it’s destroying crops and making people sick. They’re coughing up blood,” Kadi’Arix said.

  “Tell them it’s moving in the opposite direction. The red mist is only one hundred fifty-seven (157) miles east of this island and closing in,” Iptok’Varal said.

  “I will,” Kadi’Arix said. He concentrated and then transmitted the information about the speed and position of the cloud of red mist.

  “The ‘time waters’ vapors emitted by this ocean could slow the red mist down…or speed it up, just like they do to ships sailing across it. That might explain the high speeds we are seeing,” Iptok’Varal said.

  “I need to go see her, before something bad happens to her,” Kadi’Arix said.

  “Traveling now won’t be safe. You waited too long. You should have requested to be stationed with her years ago. Ressa’Bidrik won’t wait forever,” Iptok’Varal said.

  “Every time I see her, it’s like rolling dice. Sometimes she wants me. Other times, she can’t stand me. And half the time she doesn’t know what she wants,” Kadi’Arix said.

  “If you spent more time together, it would be easier for her to decide,” Iptok’Varal said.

  “She’s thirty-eight (38) years old already. She needs to make up her mind,” Kadi’Arix said.

  “How old are you?” Iptok’Varal asked.

  “I’m thirty (30),” Kadi’Arix said.

  “That’s old enough. You should have made up your mind already. You need to make your interest clear to her. Then, she can decide, instead of wondering why you’re all the way over here, oceans apart,” Iptok’Varal said.

  “I guess you’re right. I ha
ve to go there. If we survive this toxic red mist or whatever it is when it passes over the island, I’ll go and tell her,” Kadi’Arix said.

  CHAPTER 50: Orchard of Seeds and Stones

  Three hundred thirty (330) men and women – all wearing tattered clothes and holding silver goblets – stood in a circle measuring five hundred twenty-six (526) feet across. They were positioned at the edges of a shady grove consisting of hundreds of rotted maple trees, each measuring as much as ninety-nine (99) feet in height. An attractive young woman – who was wearing many jeweled rings and bracelets – entered the grove’s southern edge and walked between the disheveled people. She was holding the left hand of a young and muscular man, who carried a bag in his right hand. They approached another, older white-bearded man who was dressed in silver-gray robes and standing in the center of the grove. The white-bearded man was holding a silver goblet like that of the people encircling them.

  “Isolda, did you bring us many good kaiyoyad seeds this time, or just more bad seeds and excuses?” the white-bearded man asked as the bejeweled young woman and her companion came close enough.

  “Yes, Osvaldus, I brought three hundred fifty (350) good seeds this time. Galehot is holding them,” the bejeweled young woman – Isolda – said.

  Isolda’s companion – the young and muscular man named Galehot – held up the bag.

  The white-bearded man – Osvaldus – knelt down and picked up a small stone, revealing a deep yet narrow pit in the ground beneath. The opening was five (5) inches across and a bright green light glowed from far down within. “Pour the seeds into the kiln. If enough of them are good, the banquet can begin,” he said.

  “You’re going to pay us first,” Isolda said.

  “I paid you for three hundred thirty-five (335) kaiyoyad seeds last time, and then learned that only three (3) of the seeds were good and true. I owe you nothing. Rather, you owe me. You owe all of us, and you delayed the banquet,” Osvaldus said.

  “We get paid for effort. We can’t promise results. There are too many risks. That’s why we charge so much,” Isolda said.

  “Prove that these seeds are as good as you claim, and then I will reward you,” Osvaldus said.

  Isolda released her handhold with Galehot, then made a fist with her right hand and held it up to Osvaldus’ face. She twisted her hand so that her thumb pointed downward. “Don’t try to cheat me, old man!” she said. The gems on her rings sparkled in front of the white-bearded man’s eyes.

  “You can’t threaten me. I rely on a much greater power for protection and strength. If you attempt to harm me or my fellow guests in anyway, you will be destroyed. The banquet must take place,” Osvaldus said.

  “If you don’t pay me now, your banquet is going to be canceled,” Isolda said.

  “Nothing can be allowed to interfere with the banquet. That holy and righteous feast of purity is the only way to save the world from the ruin brought on by the nectar of the wicked,” Osvaldus said.

  “We will ruin you if you don’t pay now! Don’t make me keep saying it, old man! I can break diamond, so I can break you!” Isolda said.

  “If you say that you can break diamond, you admit you drink the Kazofen waters,” Osvaldus said.

  “Yes. And do you know what that means? I can turn any stone or gem into a knife, or into whatever I want, and tear you apart in ways you can’t even imagine,” Isolda said.

  “I know very well what it means to drink the Kazofen waters, young and foolish woman. It means that you are impure, like the multitudes that drink any of those evil waters from the accursed oceans. All of you have caused suffering by your selfishness. You have turned away from the blessed truth and found power by drinking in demonic lies. Even your water vials are cursed by the impurity. That is why I, along with my brothers and sisters – fellow guests of the banquet – commit ourselves to drinking only the holy and righteous water. We drink only from these silver cups, and their luster is unstained by the wicked waters of the demonic seas,” Osvaldus said.

  “What power does that holy and righteous water give you? It’s obviously not enough to get those seeds on your own, is it?” Isolda asked.

  “It’s a holy and righteous power. You are tainted by the wicked nectar you imbibe, so you have no understanding or appreciation of the gifts we receive as guests of the Silver Cup Banquet,” Osvaldus said.

  “Galehot, take this old fool’s money,” Isolda said.

  “I have no money with me. Nor do I have any money in any bank – because you have taken it all under false pretenses, when we last met. You are as rotten as the maple trees in this grove. Yet, the red mist that poisoned them is nothing compared to the wicked waters that intoxicate you. You deserve all the money I have to give, which is none whatsoever,” Osvaldus said.

  “Then you get no seeds!” Isolda said. She turned away from Osvaldus and Galehot followed her as they walked back toward the southern edge of the grove and then into the forest beyond.

  ~~~

  Osvaldus knelt down and placed the stone back over top of the pit, concealing the green glow within. He stood up and said: “Brothers and sisters! Drink now from our silver cups, which are empty of the nectar of the wicked, and therefore blessed by containing nothing impure to stain them. We will patiently wait until the appointed day and hour of the Silver Cup Banquet, when we will drink the holy and righteous water.” He held his empty silver cup to his mouth and tilted it toward his lips as if drinking a liquid. The three hundred thirty (330) men and women at the edge of the maple grove followed his example and drank nothing from their empty silver cups.

  ~~~

  Isolda led Galehot to a clearing between fallen redwoods. In that open space was the Woodland Ranger Seven – an airship measuring sixty-two (62) feet in length with two (2) pairs of pivoting, double-masted sails. The vessel was docked on the forest floor, with its masts and sails swiveled to the sides and its boarding ramp extended. They climbed up the ramp, walked across the deck and entered the wheelhouse.

  “We need to get paid soon,” Galehot said.

  “He’s nuts enough to want the seeds, so I think he’ll find the money,” Isolda said.

  “How?” Galehot asked.

  “He’ll beg somebody else for it, and convince them that this banquet is a big deal. It’s a religion, so there’s always a million idiots willing to believe in it. At least a few of them will have some money,” Isolda said.

  “I’m six hundred thirty-eight (638) years old and I’ve seen a lot of idiots. I’m no genius myself, but not many people – and no rich people I’ve ever met – were dumb enough to believe you can make it in this life without picking one of the ocean waters. At least you have to drink the Dead Waters until you decide on a waterbinding for some kind of power, but you don’t have forever,” Galehot said.

  “They obviously drink the Dead Waters because they have to when they get thirsty. But even that makes them feel evil or cursed as they call it. Osvaldus is about as dumb as a man can get. I’m surprised he can even dress himself,” Isolda said.

  “He is dumb. But the rest of those people must be even dumber, because they follow him,” Galehot said.

  “I agree. Now let’s get back to our post,” Isolda said. She pulled on levers to retract the boarding ramp and elevated the Woodland Ranger Seven to thirty-six (36) feet of altitude. She then steered the ship southward, sailing slowly between the giant redwoods, until reaching the northern edge of the walled orchard. She steered the vessel around it, navigating toward the southern wall, and then pulled a lever to lower the ship to the forest floor.

  “Are we going to put the seeds back in the vault until next time?” Galehot asked.

  “That won’t be necessary. I’d rather keep these seeds on hand for a lucrative opportunity. The vault contains millions of them, so the few we have won’t be missed. After all, we’re the officers in charge of counting the seeds, so there’s no one around to accuse us of taking a few for our own benefit,” Isolda said.

 
“The central bank won’t ever send somebody to check on us?” Galehot asked.

  “When they do, we’ll convince them that everything’s present and accounted for,” Isolda said as she made a fist with her right hand and held it up, flashing her rings.

  “Does that work on everybody?” Galehot asked.

  With her left hand, Isolda tapped on the purple stone on the ring on her right middle finger. “This amethyst makes me very convincing,” she said.

  “I’ve seen you talk your way out of trouble with a few people. But the central bank governors can pull surprises on anybody. They have a reputation for getting what they want,” Galehot said.

  “I’ve been working for the central bank for eleven (11) years now. I know how they operate. You don’t need to remind me,” Isolda said.

  “You’re only thirty-two (32) years old. You haven’t seen everything and you haven’t heard a tenth of all the stories I have. We should be careful,” Galehot said.

  “You think you know more than me?” Isolda asked.

  “My six (6) centuries of experience counts for something. Besides, the Ursegan waters don’t just give me long life. I can notice little details, even when everything around me is happening fast,” Galehot said.

  “Really? Are you sure about that? Then tell me what you know about one little detail in the maple grove – what’s the glowing green light down in that pit they have?” Isolda asked.

  “I don’t know. The pit’s too narrow. I can’t find a way to get down there,” Galehot said.

  “I think I do know, and without getting down there. Do you see this crystal?” Isolda asked, tapping on the white crystal on her right thumb.

  “What’s that?” Galehot asked.

  “It’s a lightkeeper crystal. I caught an image of the source of the green light. It’s scintillating, not all over, but in parts,” Isolda said.

  “Meaning?” Galehot asked.

  “It twinkles like a star – a green star. The original suns that – according to some legends – used to shine in the sky ages ago,” Isolda said.