The Aspect: The Cessation's Harbinger

by Ajax Lygan

  Tempest approached the desk, finding several books on the occult, blood magic, and ancient symbols. Above the desk, nailed to the wall, was a flat parchment with written information about the investigation. Each piece labeled a number which correlated with a spot on a large map of the nearby city. After reading through the final number’s entry and the date, he stopped.

  Tempest believed he had found their next step. He carefully pulled the parchments that didn’t have a cross marked on them and grabbed the city map they desperately needed. He sprinted up the stairs with a smile on his face.

  “What did you find?” Ella asked.

  Tempest flipped over the table, unrolled the map, and spread the parchment with its notes on the table. “These were the ones that were not crossed out, which I am inferring means they are still viable leads. This one describes the symbol on the amulet. The dagger goes back almost five hundred years. The parchment here says that it was awarded to the leader of an organization who helped vanquish an ancient evil that plagued Kerrbatuul.”

  Ella frowned, one finger tapping against her lips.

  “This organization assisted, when no other world leaders would,” Tempest continued reading the notes. “Sophia sent a request for her contacts in Kerrbatuul to see if they could find out more information about that event, as she could not find any historical references here.” He paused, turning to the next parchment.

  “This next parchment was information she had received from the armor smith in Halairim’s castle. In it, he broke down the metals used in its creation.” Tempest looked up at Ella. “You were right, the amulets are made from a rare alloy. It’s the same alloy they use to mint the coins for the Bank of Bothnan.”

  Tempest tapped his finger on the large words that were circled at the bottom of the parchment. “There’s only one thing left for us to do…follow the money.”

  9

  Blood Money

  “We’re getting close, Riika said, looking down at the map. “It should just be a few streets over.”

  “Any thoughts on how we want to handle this?” Tempest asked. “I mean, it’s not like we can just walk in there and ask if anyone is part of an evil organization trying to murder the Aspect.”

  Everyone shared a small laugh before Ella spoke up. “I think it’s safe to assume that it has to be someone within the bank with enough authority to make major decisions. The bank, itself, has massive control. There is a bank in every major city. This is the kind of reach we were thinking of back at Sophia’s.”

  “Maybe that’s what they want you to think,” Riika said. “Maybe it’s the guy who mints the coins that’s running the show.”

  Ella rolled her eyes at Riika’s smug smile.

  As they continued down the street, Riika jumped in front of the group and turned around, pointing at Tempest. “Wait a minute, don’t you have that account we found out about back in Ashwreath?”

  “That’s right,” he said, waving his finger. “They said I had to visit the primary office to find out about the account. There’s got to be something special about the account to require us to have to travel halfway across Iðna just to get the details about it.”

  “Oh, Feura’s fiery cunt, that’s it!” Ella shouted, resulting in Saïgra’s choked gasp followed quickly by Ella’s apology.

  Tempest and Riika wiped away their tears of laughter as Ella explained her epiphany.

  “I had been thinking about how someone had found out about Tempest. There were a lot of possibilities given the fact of our exploits and Tempest’s lack of restraint from telling Queens his secret. However, this just lines up too perfectly not to be it.” Her grin stretched nearly ear to ear.

  “Now stay with me for a minute. Let’s say this organization is deeply ingrained into the Bank of Bothnan. They would have complete access to records on every single being who owns an account. How? Because to open an account, or to access one, you have to identify yourself.”

  Everyone groaned in unison as they grasped the significance. “Everyone is unique at the basic level, but who is more unique than anything else on Iðna?” Ella concluded her explanation by pointing to Tempest.

  “If they knew what to look for, all they’d have to do is sit and wait,” Tempest said, rubbing his chin.

  The group stopped as the bank came into view. It was a perfect replica of the one they had visited in Ashwreath. Large white and gold stone architecture with giant decorative windows lined the exterior walls. Bright gold light illuminated the gray smoke around it, creating a divine beacon in the darkness.

  Tempest turned and stared at each of his companions. “We’re about to walk into enemy territory. Let’s stick close together and watch each other’s backs.”

  They each gave a nod before Tempest led them up the stairs toward the main entrance. Two guards stood at attention in golden full plate. One reached out their hand as the group came up to the door.

  “Good day sir and madams, please note that because of current events, all weapons will need to be checked as soon as you enter. You will also be required to take part in a mandatory search of your person and any bags you may bring with you. Anything confiscated or checked will be returned to you once you leave the premises. Are you prepared to comply with those demands?”

  Tempest looked at each of his companions, receiving their agreement before turning back toward the guard and nodding.

  As they entered the door, two guards intercepted them and immediately led them to a gated teller. One-by-one, Tempest and his companions handed over their weapons. Once finished, the two guards padded each of them down before checking the remaining bags. Saïgra was the first one done, given she carried neither weapons nor bags. When Ella turned toward the guards, they ran into their first complication.

  “What’s in all of those vials?” one of the guards asked.

  “Oh, just a variety of potions and mixtures.”

  “What’s their purpose?”

  “Medicinal.”

  “That’s a lot of medicine for one person. I don’t like it. Check them with the counter or you can stay outside.”

  Ella huffed and glared as she turned toward the counter and began pulling out her vials and bottles. Once everyone had completed their check, Tempest went straight to the closest teller. A female satyr with golden rings strung around her horns greeted them with a smile.

  “Welcome to the Bank of Bothnan, how may I be of service to you?”

  “Hello,” Tempest started. “I actually visited the Bank of Bothnan in Ashwreath. When I attempted to open an account, I was told that I already had one open; however, I needed to visit the bank here to find out the details.”

  “Oh, well, that sounds exciting, I hope you had a wonderful journey along the way.”

  Tempest couldn’t help but let out a small laugh as the teller pushed a box and knife towards him.

  “Now if you’d be so kind as to provide your identification, I can check into this for you.”

  Tempest took the knife and cut a bit of his hair, allowing it to fall into the box. A burst of air shot up, sending several papers off of the teller’s desk.

  “Oh, that was unexpected. I’ve never seen that happen before.”

  Tempest watched as his information scribbled along the parchment once the teller took it.

  She took a moment to read through it before looking back up at Tempest. “It’s exactly as you said. Normally you would meet with the Patriarch, but he has taken leave given the current events. However, his second-in-command, Father Habernackle, should be able to assist in this matter. I will retrieve him momentarily.”

  “Thank you, that would be wonderful.” When the teller left, Tempest turned back to his companions.

  “Well, this is going great,” Riika said, whispering. “They’ve got twenty guards to each of us in this room, alone, and we’ve got no weapons.”

  “That’s not necessarily true,” Saïgra said. “I’ve got my magic, Tempest has his, and you’ve got your strength, Riika.”r />
  “I’ve also got my pouch of reagents, Ella added. “I might need to get a bit creative, but I’ll figure something out in a pinch.”

  “See, you’ve just got to have a little faith,” Tempest said, winking at Riika.

  “Sorry, you’re right, I just always feel naked without a weapon in my hands.”

  “I wouldn’t mind seeing that,” Tempest said with a smug smile, trying to lighten the mood.

  Ella smiled and just shook her head while Riika was oblivious to Tempest’s not-so-subtle attempt at flirting. Approaching footsteps pulled the group’s attention further in the room. A tall mousefolk man with black fur stood adjusting his oversized glasses after he nearly tripped over his gold and white robe.

  “G-Good evening,” the man stuttered. “I am Father Herman Habernackle, head priest and assistant to Patriarch Markov. And you are?”

  “Sir Tempest, neophyte of Meadow’s Crest,” Tempest said, shaking Father Habernackle’s outstretched hand. “These are my wardens, Lady Fleetfoot and Lady Treehammer. I am accompanied by my friend, Lady Saïgra, emissary from the Firegrove.” Tempest noted that the man’s hands felt clammy, and he could assess his racing heartbeat in his wrist.

  “I-It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please follow me.” Father Habernackle turned and led Tempest and his companions through a door to the side of the tellers. The door opened to a long hallway with office doors on the left and glass windows which overlooked a small conservatory in the middle of the building.

  “Sister?” Father Habernackle called out to a passing wulven dressed in a slim, fitted black and gold gown. “Would you be so kind as to grab two additional chairs and bring them to my office?”

  The wulven woman curtsied and headed to a room behind them.

  Father Habernackle opened the last door in the hallway and held out his hand. “After you.”

  Tempest hesitated, taking a moment to peer inside the office before entering. It was as lavish as the rest of the building, with fine deep wood furniture, multiple gold and jewel encrusted chests, and tall wooden bookshelves overflowing with rolls of parchment and books. On the far wall was a portrait with Father Habernackle standing next to an elefantin man who was wearing a robe that put the father’s to shame. On the elefantin’s head, was a white turban which had hundreds of strands of gold chain wrapped around it.

  However, what Tempest found extremely interesting was what he was holding in his hands. In one hand he held a gold and red scepter with the elefantin head symbol that represented Bothnan. In his other hand was a dagger that Tempest was confident was similar to the one depicted on the amulets they had found.

  The group entered the room and stood until a staff member brought two additional chairs in. Father Habernackle pointed toward the seats as he took his own. He reached for several parchments and laid them out on the table. Having to stand on his chair to read them, Father Habernackle scanned through them intently while Tempest and his companions sat, waiting. The father looked up a few times, smiled quickly, and continued to read the documents. After he finished reading the documents, he cleared his throat before he began.

  “One of the sisters told me that you traveled from Ashwreath, is that correct?”

  “Yes,” Tempest said, crossing his legs. “When I sought to open an account there, I was informed I already had one and would need to visit this branch to get the details.”

  “Well, we do appreciate you making the journey. The good news is that, yes, you do have an account with the Bank of Bothnan. However, due to some complications and unforeseen circumstances, there are stipulations and signatures required prior to releasing the account to your custody.

  “What kind of complications and unforeseen circumstances?”

  “Well,” Father Habernackle started pulling at the collar of his robe. “Until a few weeks ago, when I assume you had accessed this account, it was completely lost and unknown to us.”

  “How does that happen?”

  “That’s actually a brilliant question. In our contracts and accounts there are inactivity clauses. These clauses basically state that, if the accounts become inactive for x number of years, the bank will make a reasonable attempt to pay out the account in full to the current owner or next of kin, otherwise, if the amounts go unclaimed, the bank assumes control of the account and all existing assets within it.”

  The mousefolk man shrugged. “Now, it has been that way since the founding of the bank. However, it seems there was an exception on your ancestors’ account.”

  “Well, that’s good news.”

  “That’s one way of looking at it,” Father Habernackle said, sighing.

  Ella leaned forward and raised her hand. “Father, may I ask a few questions?”

  “By all means,” he said, slumping back into his chair.

  “What kind of account was this?”

  “It was a high interest savings account.”

  “Was the interest rate fixed or variable?

  “F-Fixed at an interest rate of two-point-seven percent.”

  “And how old is the account?”

  Father Habernackle jumped to his feet and hurriedly scribbled something onto a parchment and slid it across the table. “I know what you’re getting at. That’s the value of the coin in the account. There is also a retention vault we found tied to the account as well.”

  Tempest pulled up the parchment for everyone to see.

  “Four hundred… million gold?!” Riika yelled, jumping up out of her seat. “We’re fucking rich!”

  Tempest laughed as Riika ran around the room, kissing everyone on the mouth, including Father Habernackle.

  “We could buy all of Iðna with that much money,” Riika said, setting her chair back upright.

  Father Habernackle let out a small laugh, discretely wiping the orc’s spit from his mouth.

  “Well, not quite, however, it does make you the richest man on the planet.”

  “Even richer than the hydra?”

  “In liquid assets, yes, but I don’t think it would be wise to tell them that.”

  As Ella and Riika began hotly debating potential uses for the coin, Father Habernackle had to raise his hands and shout. “Please, please calm down! I understand you are all very excited, but as I said earlier, there are some complications.”

  The little man straightened his robe. “Let me be abundantly clear. There is absolutely no way the Bank of Bothnan could afford to pay you all of that in one lump sum. Doing so would entirely wipe the bank out, destabilizing the entire world’s economy.”

  “Well, that sounds like you and your God’s problem,” Riika said, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms.

  “Please be reasonable,” Father Habernackle said, holding up his hand. “This kind of contract should have never existed. That kind of money simply doesn’t exist.”

  “What do you mean, it doesn’t exist?” Riika asked, standing. “You just told us that’s how much we, I mean, Tempest, has.”

  “Yes, but…as I said, there are complications with that sum. The Bank will always honor its debts and agreements set forth, however, all we are asking for is a little flexibility.”

  Tempest sat up on his chair and held up a hand to Riika.

  “Father, I understand the situation that you are in and we in no way,” he said, emphasizing this with a stare at Riika, “would want to put the entire planet’s economy at risk, due to some self-righteous greed. That being said, I do believe Bothnan would want the bank to honor its agreement. I am more than willing to be as flexible as we can be.”

  The Father wiped his brow with a small handkerchief and smiled. “I appreciate that, sir. Here’s what we have proposed.” He pushed a sheet of parchment over to Tempest, along with a needle. “We can afford to pay you one hundred million over the next year. Then, for the next thirty years we will allocate ten million gold, payable directly into your account with an accrued interest rate under the current agreement. However, effective immediately, we will have to lower
the interest rate in accordance with the current offering—which is much lower, zero-point-nine percent. It will also require there to be activity in the account every three years, or the account would be declared dormant and closed immediately, forfeiting all assets within.

  Tempest turned toward his companions, who all nodded, agreeing to the new terms. Tempest poked his finger and let the drop of blood fall onto the parchment. A burst of air flew into the room, nearly knocking off the father’s glasses. He pulled the parchment toward him and began checking the form.

  However, his jaw dropped as he began scanning through the document.

  “No, no, no, this can’t be possible!” he screamed.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Tempest.

  “T-the form! It’s been rewritten to the previous agreement, only now the exchange rate is three-point-five percent, and it removed the inactivity clause!”

  “Well, can’t you change it back?”

  “N-no, the contract is magically sealed,” he said, holding his head. “H-how did this happen?”

  “Well, we have no need for all that money at this time,” Tempest said, standing. “However, I would like to visit the retention vault and see what’s been left there.”

  The father slowly nodded before hopping out of his chair. He took them down a perpendicular hallway until they reached the center of the building. Stopping, he beckoned to have everyone enter a small lift. Once everyone had boarded, he slid a metal gate closed and pulled a sequence of five levers on the wall.

  Grinding steel gears clicked as the lift descended into the lower vaults. After twenty feet, the back wall ended, sending a wave of heat into the lift. Behind them opened a giant chasm of fire, molten metal, and steel doors. The furthest doors from them had a waterfall of lava that flowed around the two large doors. Three dragon heads carved of steel hung above them.

  Molten lava spilled out of each of their mouths, creating an effective barrier to entry. In the middle, over the chasm, suspended over a river of flowing fire, was a circular platform connected to obsidian pyramids that hung by thick chains.