Castle & Conceit

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “I know this, Cassius. This magnificent castle – and this young woman’s delightful song – should all be recorded there,” Octavian said. The girl’s voice and songs delighted him, especially this last one called the Wanderer. Octavian believed that some things – such as this musical performance – were so valuable that they need to be recorded forever, even if other things had to wait. The girl and all her talent were in his castle and in his grasp, and she would be part of his timeless tale of glory. Because if her songs were considered beautiful, and if she was known to be under his command and ownership, then Octavian believed he would be glorified to even greater heights.

  Octavian then turned to Cassius and gave orders, saying: “Cassius: Inform Admiral Quadrus of our change in plans. He is to chart a course to Emeth immediately.”

  Cassius went ahead to the flagship – the Crystal Visage – and informed the Admiral. He took along with him the other advisors – Gregory and Nikolai – whose services he still needed.

  Soon thereafter, Octavian – along with a guard of one hundred forty-four (144) troops, Judith, Caroline and Taesa – made their way from the ice castle to the coast, and boarded the Crystal Visage. The flagship led a group of three (3) other ships and set sail for Emeth. After a two (2) day journey north across the Pirovalen Ocean, they arrived at the southern extreme of the land bridge known as Emeth, whereupon was the City of Emeth, to which the Chronicler’s Oath referred.

  CHAPTER 12: Welcome to Emeth

  The Crystal Visage had brought them to the shores of the same narrow land bridge which Octavian had visited twenty (20) years prior for his waterbinding to the waters of the Trerada Ocean. However, these were not the same shores, and the view was different from what Octavian had seen.

  There was a mountain range on the land bridge and numerous large structures covered the lower – and some of the upper – portions of the mountains. These were immense, and impressive even to the Imperial Prince. Some were as large in diameter as his ice castle; some were hundreds of feet high and narrow. Their styles varied between extremely ancient to relatively modern. Some did not look like buildings, but more like statues with carved inscriptions of historical events on their sculpted limbs and attire. This was only his second visit to this land bridge, but his first encounter with the City of Emeth, as these structures were known. Octavian thought that this place was like something out of an exaggerated children’s tale about gigantic buildings that reach into the sky. Yet, his eyes assured him that this was no exaggeration.

  Rather than being filled with envy of their scale, Octavian was filled with awe, and a desire to have his own legend written in such a place, with tales of his greatness featuring prominently, for the world and future generations unto eternity to read and marvel about.

  Imperial Prince Octavian, Cassius, Judith, Caroline and Taesa walked down the boarding ramp of the Crystal Visage. Octavian was surrounded by twenty-one (21) troops to guard him, and they surrounded the Imperial Prince. As the group stepped onto the shores of Emeth, Cassius pointed toward several buildings. He was familiar with the City of Emeth and had studied there often. Cassius said: “The libraries of Emeth are ancient beyond most people’s fathoming: some of them are as old as the verified historical records, which go back nearly four hundred (400) millennia. There are structures here from both ancient and modern civilizations. And every known skill is represented here by craft workers who practice and teach, to preserve the traditions and knowledge.”

  Caroline spotted an enormous sundial, made of thirty (30) stones, each perhaps one thousand (1000) feet in height as far as she knew. She saw that the stones were surrounded by a courtyard and a circular array of thirteen (13) fountains, each sending water up over two hundred (200) feet toward the sky and then arcing back down.

  “The religion of the suns is here. We can’t escape from that nonsense,” Caroline said.

  “It’s not that anyone here believes in such things. This is merely a record of the architecture. Some, however, is functional. Those fountains correspond to each of the twelve (12) great waters, and one (1) for the Dead Waters. Those waters are free for all, and their purity is higher than what naturally occurs,” Cassius said.

  Taesa and Octavian both looked up and saw that all colors of suns were in the sky now – blue, red and yellow – and that these shone through the fountain waters, forming a small aqua aurora. The combination of water and sunlight gave parts of the city a celestial, fantastic appearance that impressed them both.

  “The fountains of water are most impressive under the lights of the many suns – they form a delightful spectacle. I should like to have such fountains as those for my own empire,” Octavian said. He was greatly pleased, because the show of water and light was radiant beyond his own imagination, which was only ever occupied with thoughts of his own handsome appearance.

  They were soon approached by a young, golden-haired woman of thirty-one (31) years; an older man of sixty-five (65) years with a silver beard and mustache and another man who was dark-skinned, had dark hair and a clean-shaven appearance and appeared to be fifty-five (55) years old, with only a hint of gray hair.

  “I am Alyona, a Verifier of the Oath,” the golden-haired woman said.

  “Welcome to Emeth. I am Karpos, and I would like to guide you on your visit,” the older man with the silver beard and mustache said.

  “You are?” Caroline asked, looking to the man with dark skin.

  “I am Danek, mentor to both the Verifiers and Chroniclers,” he replied.

  “Greetings, trustworthy Judith,” Alyona said. “I see you are in the company of Imperial Prince Octavian of Ihalik,” Alyona continued.

  “How can you know?” Octavian thought. He only smiled, and allowed for the woman to explain herself. His hope was that his name had indeed spread far and wide, and he wished to have praises heaped upon him.

  As if anticipating Octavian’s question, Alyona continued, saying: “The irregular pentagonal silver sails of your vessel are of a craftsmanship that is generally only found in the coastal villages of Mertan, whose economic relations have been exclusively with the Ihalikites for the most recent two hundred eighty (280) years. Your own southern portion of the empire, inherited after the death of your father, Emperor Brennius, left you with sufficient wealth and standing as to afford the approximately twenty (20) tons of crystal to plate the ship’s hull, which can be visually estimated. Your brother, Leonides, received an equal portion, and would have been the only other person sufficiently wealthy. However, he was assassinated by his advisors who divided his wealth too many ways to afford the same quantities of material for their ships.”

  Judith wrote none of this down, as it was all public knowledge to begin with and already recorded in the archives of Emeth.

  “You are very perceptive. You must have given your life to careful study,” Caroline said to Alyona, as Caroline was most inclined to credit intelligence to purposeful study.

  “You likely drink of the waters of the Medathero Ocean. Your knowledge of events and your powers of discernment and deduction are impressive, especially for a woman so young,” Cassius said to Alyona, as he was just as inclined to give credit to the waters of the Medathero Ocean as he was to give credit to innate potential and study. He knew what those waters could do to focus the mind, since he personally drank of them.

  Caroline then turned to Taesa and said: “We’ve had too much excitement lately. But I am glad – very glad – you got to visit this place while you’re still young. I’m thirty-nine (39) and I never saw it before, and your father died before having the chance, and he was forty-three (43).”

  All this personal information Judith did record, as even the mundane was important: real people have real stories, and all these, too, were worthy of a chronicle.

  “And you must drink of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean,” Alyona said to Taesa. She continued, saying: “Without hearing your voice, I can see in the gentle way that you move and your perfect balance, that
you have a rhythmic nature, but lack the fine muscle tone of a dancer. This is usually the sign of having the skill of song, enhanced with much practice. Your skin has a subtle shine, typical of those of who drink from the enriched oceans, and so you have more than natural ability. My suspicions are almost certainly confirmed, furthermore, by the traditional symbols of music and song carved on the vial that hangs from the chain around your neck.”

  Taesa noticed that Alyona’s wrists had a cloth band with thirteen (13) interlocking diamond symbols embroidered on it.

  Alyona followed Taesa’s gaze and pointed to the cloth band, saying: “these are the markings of a Verifier. I will test the veracity of the chronicles in Judth’s book.”

  “You’ve impressed our new visitors enough, Alyona,” Karpos said. He continued, saying: “It is time for them to see more and learn more of Emeth.” Karpos turned to Judith and said: “And Alyona will be your Verifier, and you will present to her your book.”

  Judith turned over her book to Alyona, who began to analyze its contents as she walked along with Judith and Danek. The trio departed from the others, and walked to a large stone building known as the Great Library of Tedorik.

  ~~~

  Karpos took Octavian, Cassius, Caroline and Taesa to the fountains and the sundial. Once there, Karpos said to them: “For those who are waterbound, whatever it is that you drink, you may drink of it here. As guests in Emeth, your wellbeing and comfort are in my care, so that you may be ready of mind to read the truth, and gain new experiences from your visit.”

  Taesa took the small wooden vial, perhaps nine (9) ounces in volume, that she was carrying on a chain around her neck and walked to the fountain of waters from the Pirovalen Ocean, whose name was clearly inscribed on the stone of which the fountain was made. The name was accompanied by the classical symbols that matched those on her vial. She placed the vial under the fountain and the spray of its waters quickly filled the vial, from which she then drank, and then refilled the vial. She did this for the other vials she carried, as well.

  Octavian gestured to Cassius, who handed to him a crystal goblet. Octavian looked at the goblet and saw his own reflection in it, and then let it be filled by the spray of the fountain of the waters of the Trerada Ocean, and then he drank from this goblet. Cassius himself drew a vial from his robes and filled it with the waters from the fountain of the waters of the Medathero Ocean and then drank from it.

  “My thirst is quenched,” Octavian announced.

  Karpos saw all this and said: “Your hunger for knowledge shall soon be sated by the fonts of knowledge around you. The Library of Ophion has much for our esteemed guests, and has knowledge from every domain of study.”

  “What knowledge is contained in all of those other buildings?” Taesa asked.

  Karpos went on, saying: “While the many halls of Emeth have vast records and give comprehensive details, their contents are limited to a single subject. The First (1st) Hall contains knowledge of the waters and oceans. The Second (2nd) Hall contains proofs and techniques of mathematics. The Third (3rd) Hall contains knowledge of light and the Fourth (4th) Hall contains knowledge of darkness. The Fifth (5th) Hall holds historical records of wars and conquerors while the Sixth (6th) Hall contains knowledge of time itself. The Seventh (7th) Hall contains charts of stars and the Eighth (8th) Hall holds knowledge of spirits.”

  “Spirits of the dead? What knowledge is there to be had? They’re already dead,” Caroline said.

  “You think that existence ends in death?” Cassius asked.

  “My husband died five (5) years ago. If he still exists, where is he? Why can’t I see him?” Caroline asked.

  “There are mysteries to every aspect of existence. Perhaps you should visit the Eighth Hall and learn for yourself,” Cassius said.

  “I wish for existence beyond death,” Octavian said.

  “Rest assured that your name shall never leave us, Your Imperial Majesty,” Cassius said.

  Karpos continued, saying: “Yet, these are not all. The Ninth (9th) Hall holds knowledge of animals and plants while the Tenth (10th) Hall contains knowledge of health, medicine and beauty. The Eleventh (11th) Hall is where we keep knowledge of crystals, stones and architecture and the Twelfth (12th) Hall holds records of songs and musical instruments, along with performances and practices.”

  “I would definitely like to visit the Twelfth (12th) Hall,” Taesa said.

  “You will, when the time is right,” Cassius said. He did not want the girl to neglect her talents or training, because her utility depended on her mastery of musical skill. The waters of the Pirovalen Ocean multiplied musical ability, but it had to be there and well developed begin with. Those waters were not quite like the waters of the Medathero Ocean, which enhanced natural mathematical ability many times over, but most people had at least some natural calculating skill. Musical ability was entirely absent in most people, counting as nearly zero (0), which could not be multiplied into anything of use.

  “Yes, you will. I think now is the right time, even,” Caroline said.

  “Not quite yet, my dear. We still have need of her talents,” Cassius said.

  “I shall send you here to study, and you shall return to me with a finer voice, to perform yet again, more impressively than before. Yet, today is not that day,” Octavian said to Taesa.

  Karpos then said: “Still, there are more. The Thirteenth (13th) Hall holds records of feats of strength and dexterity whereas the Fourteenth (14th) Hall holds records knowledge of mind and emotion. The Fifteenth (15th) Hall holds records of births, deaths and marriages while the Sixteenth (16th) Hall holds land surveys and reports of resources and commerce.”

  Karpos then led the group walked toward one of the smaller buildings known as the Library of Ophion. They entered and saw the many towering, interior walls – each over two hundred (200) feet high – with writings etched in stone upon them. Sections of writings were interrupted by steps of stone to higher levels. The information was utterly overwhelming.

  Octavian wondered how many times his name was already mentioned here, and how many more times it would be. Cassius appreciated this smaller library; yet, he preferred the other halls, whose knowledge on any given subject was much more comprehensive.

  Taesa read some of the writing about song while Caroline followed her, but they were kept in close proximity by the guards who had come along to protect Octavian. At no point were Caroline or Taesa allowed to move far away from the Imperial Prince.

  “I will leave you to your studies, and return in time,” Karpos said.

  ~~~

  Karpos walked the hallways of the Library of Ophion and made his way to a private room, wherein he locked the doors and sat at a desk. He drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from his vial and became energized. After this, he listened for the sounds of the stars – they were not audible sounds, but ones he could sense only because of those waters – and translated them into a chart representing the positions and the orbits of the seventy (70) suns of the sky. Karpos then compared this new star chart to the charts of stars he had made on prior days, weeks, months and years.

  Karpos noticed that the red suns and the blue suns were maintaining steady, elliptical paths but the yellow suns – as expected – did not. However, whereas he noticed that the paths of the yellow suns had previously stayed within broad limits, they appeared to be deviating even from those limits and crossing over them, following exotic and meandering routes across the sky. He started to perform a mathematical analysis of the deviations but the work was tiring on his old mind, so he rested. Karpos, however, did not wake from that rest, and passed away that very hour.

  CHAPTER 13: Wisdom of Antiquity

  Danek, Judith and Alyona entered the large stone building – though the structure was much smaller than the surrounding halls of Emeth – that was known as the Library of Tedorik. Therein, Judith went with Danek into his private study. Alyona went into a separate room to review Judith’s book of chronicle
d events and assess the level of confidence in the book’s entries based on the consistency of the details and several contextual clues.

  Although Danek had been introduced to the visitors, he was only willing to speak in great detail to Chroniclers or Verifiers. His fourteen thousand two hundred twelve (14212) years of accumulated knowledge was far too much for most people to bear. The waters of the Ursegan Ocean flowed through him, allowing him to slow the passage of time within himself to such an extent that he could live to this great age. Danek usually wished to speak freely, tapping into his vast stores of knowledge, so that the risk was too great of divulging secrets and betraying confidences if he spoke at length to anyone outside the circle of the Chroniclers and Verifiers of the Oath.

  Danek said to Judith: “I anticipated you, young Chronicler. Much is occurring in the world. Predictions from ages past are proving true – some would say they are prophecies fulfilled.”

  “Of what predictions do you speak?” Judith asked.

  “The prediction that the worshippers of the suns would take control of the land in the northwest. The continent of Nataloridivu has recently come under their authority, and their religion now dominates that area. They have always been a great danger to everyone due to their ritualistic killings. While it is not for Chroniclers like yourself to pass judgment on what you see and hear, I am no longer under than restriction, and can evaluate them from a different vantage point. I must tell you that the sun worshippers have ruled large territories in the past, and were tyrannical and oppressive. That they rose to power again is a matter of significance. In time, you may need to visit them and record the historical events present around them,” Danek said.

  “Tyranny’s ascent I am already witnessing,” Judith said. She continued, saying: “This Imperial Prince Octavian has seized excess power using his vast inherited wealth, and has used it to acquire opulence to satisfy his vanity, which matches any legend. He lives within a castle of ice and sends out his minions, demanding gemstones be given to him as tribute from the surrounding communities. He then has the crystals refined until his own reflection is clearly visible within them. When his demands are refused, he orders the massacre of the people living in those communities. Now, in addition to his confiscation of gems, this young woman – Taesa – has been pressed into service for her musical ability, so as to please Octavian and give him greater glory. The Oath is the truth I never doubt. Yet, it restrains us from acting against the threat of the great offenses such as those he will soon commit.”