That Hadyn thing
Aug. 14th, 2006 09:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
measured_wordsI have decided on a name for my Hadyn story: Shadows. it is really not just about Hadyn anymore anyway, though he will still be one of, if not the, key player(s). I ahve also decided that in order to help the flow of things when i do big time jumps, I will collect the smaller sections into larger chapters. So, here is all of chapter 1 - the only new bit is right at the end. Coming up shortly will be 2.1. Enjoy :)
Shadows – Chapter 1
The great cat prowled along the forgotten hallways of the compound. Her keen hearing picked up sounds of bodies moving about the upper levels but she paid them little mind. She could smell the members of her pathetic pride, scampering after rats and secrets in the darkness, afraid of displeasing their mighty mistress. She growled low in her throat. Hadyn was hiding from her again.
His rising panic had roused him from a nap. She's called to him, tried to calm him, but to no effect. And then he'd fled, seeking refuge in is Rope Trick spell. If she'd been with him... But no. She'd been bored, and returned to his makeshift den to nap. She stretched, the padded upstairs to the library. This wouldn't do.
"I don't know what I said," the girl was explaining. "We were just talking about my research, and Seijun."
So that was it.
Volaris shook his head. "It's not your fault, Kyla. Don't worry about it." He turned to Teah. "He'll be alright."
There was a question in his eyes, and in his scent. Humans. The girl missed these cues and, seeking reassurance rather than the truth, was placated. Volaris was more clever, smarter, but he didn't really understand her master any better. Teah turned, flicking her tail and heading for Hadyn's refuge.
Volaris never knew what to make of Teah. He knew she possessed more than animal cunning, and her intelligence was greater than that of most familiars. She understood common, and possibly other tongues, though she didn't appear to be capable of speech. She was fiercely protective of Hadyn. He'd head stories from Valentine of how easily she could rend men and other races limb from limb, and how fast she healed. She was, point of fact, a little worrying. She minded Hadyn extremely well, but even that wasn't necessarily reassuring. He didn't know much about animals himself, and was never sure how to read her responses. Was she worried now? Annoyed? In the end he decided that his apprentice merited more of his attention that the strange beast or her master.
"Hadyn's just touchy. A little self-absorbed. Try not to take him too seriously."
"I guess so."
"Well, what did you find out, then?" He smiled, encouragingly. Kyla was shy, and nervous about the quality of her research, even though it was generally excellent.
"Umm, not very much." She looked away, burying her eyes and nose in her notes. Volaris wondered how she ever managed to have any kind of conversation with the surly wizard. "I was just reading up about the different properties you can invest in magical weapons, and, um, I was asking him how he thought they would react with the bloodgorge, and why the pure white stone would be so effective against demons. If we had* some bloodgorge, maybe we could do some tests, I thought, but Seijun was made with divine magics, and I don't know how it would relate or is maybe, um, Shevan or Galawyn would help or if they are busy..."
"We can look into that for certain. If you have any specific theories or tests, write them down and I'll talk to them about it."
Kyla nodded, happy to get back to her work. They might not have much to go on at the moment, but new ideas were important. Their resources were very limited afterall. They hadn't know what they'd be facing during the flight from Exia, and there'd been little opportunity to rescue important reference material. Now that they knew their primary enemies to be demons, or some kind of demonic cult, their lack of specific information was an even greater issue. Having a cluster of great minds and dedicated researchers was great, but it would be better if they had anything to work with.
Even better if one of their number wasn't dangerously unstable.
Kyla didn't know anything about Hadyn, of course. The prince knew, as did Tavik, along with himself, Shevan, Lendrck, and those few who'd been working with him when his particular situation came to light: Valentine, Sterling, Triskin, and Piove, who was rather volatile herself. Piove was at least easily distracted and with some patience she could be directed and managed. Hadyn was more complex, and his ill moods less fleeting. He was a different kind of dangerous.
Hadyn was not native to Keth. He came from some other plane, though he had been around for a number of years now. Previously, he'd spent time traveling the planes, either through some innate power or by using some special item. He'd been fleeing.... something. According to Triskin, he'd seen his parents assassinated and he believed their killers were chasing him. It didn't seem especially credible, or rational, but then neither did Hadyn.
At some point, he'd arrived at one of the Infernal Planes. There, he'd made a deal. He'd traded away art of himself for a different, darker power. It had lain dormant, but as time passed it became more and more difficult for him to repress. Then, when investigating the demonic cult's activities in Trylith, it had finally manifested fully. His appearance and personality became demonic - horns, wings, fangs, and evil impulses. Eventually, Hadyn'd regained control of himself. A potion provided by a local cleric of Kaedus helped him retain that control, so far, but his supply was limited and the potion difficult to reproduce.
Now, Hadyn stuck close to the resistance headquarters., where he was less exposed to physical dangers. Pain and injury served as catalysts for his transformation. He'd helped Volaris secure the facility against scrying and other offensive spells, and Volaris had also observed his familiarity with various protective and warding spells. He had his own room, guarded with additional permanent protectives, and often seemed to live entirely out of his Rope Tricks, where he could be assured an even greater measure of privacy.
Teah's appearance at the library suggested that this was where Hadyn had taken refuge now. Volaris sighed as he settled back to work himself. There wasn't anything to be done about it at the moment, bit the young mage would really be best served by learning to relax some, and appreciate rather than fear the mysteries of the world. It would put him in a much better frame of mind for dealing with his problems. Life was too short to indulge
in neuroses.
Hadyn stood at the window, staring out into the world. Teah lay across his bed, relaxed but alert. Her eyes were on the door to his room but her ears twitched from time to time, listening in case he emerged from his refuge. Her loyalty and dedication were somewhat reassuring and he tried to concentrate on that rather than the flood of panicked terror that overwhelmed his mind.
Teah. If nothing, and no one else (who else was there? Lemdrick?), he had Teah. (He’d taken off on some hopeless mission to which he was ill-suited, with that woman.) Teah would stay. Teah understood. (Sithra. She’d ruined him, ruined everything. Encouraged him to wallow in hopelessness. Gave him sex as comfort, as a drug that dulled his mind. Ruined everything. Disgusting!) She was his friend, his loyal companion. She’d stay, no matter what. She’d chosen him. (What is Lendrick who’d talked to the Chancellor, Prince, and worst of all, Shevan, about him?)
No.
It wasn’t, of course not. (But maybe he’d conspired with Valentine. Told them he was dangerous. Couldn’t be trusted. Keep watch. Don’t let him go off. Keep him drugged. Use him. Trap him.)
They wouldn’t. (Of course they would, of course, run, escape…)
It was always a hard fight. His breathing was shallow, and he was beginning to feel dizzy. There was no where to sit inside the sphere except the sloping floor, and then he couldn’t see Teah. His rational mind had no other anchor. He should let her in. She could help. He couldn’t do it. He focused on his breathing. He should go out and make some tea that would calm his nerves. He could leave the access open to the rope trick. It would be there, safe, if he needed it. He could sit with Teah. Breathe. The flood of negative thoughts did not abate, but he fought through them. He pushed away both the fear and the whispering evil that trailed it, offering him visions of revenge and other terrible possibilities in a muted echo of his own voice.
Hadyn opened the door. Teah looked back at him with her large golden eyes, her ears perked and tail flicking side to side. He could sense her concern but kept her out of his mind for now. Crossing to the small stash of instruments he’d borrowed and pilfered from Volaris’s lab, he lit a small burner and selected some dried herbs from the bundles that hung over the work area.
A few moments later, he was seated at the small wooden table where he took all his meals alone. Teah rested on her haunches beside him, and he rested one hand on her neck. In the other, he held a small cup up to his face as he inhaled the steam, eyes closed.
The herbal infusion calmed him as he breathed, forcing him to relax and take deeper breaths. Eventually he took a sip of the tea. It was potently bitter, far stronger than when he’d first started using the herb to control his panics. This was partly due to his increased familiarity with plant based medecins, but it was lately necessity that drove him to use increased proportions of certain tonics and extractions that went into the concoction. His tolerance was increasing, and the attacks came on him more frequently.
The past seven months that he’d spent in Shinkyo represented the longest stretch of time that he’s spent anywhere since Exia, and possibly even larger than that say. At last when he’d been working for Alient, there had been a fair amount of traveling involved. Now, though he was not technically confined to the compound, it was difficult for hi to find acceptable excuses to escape for longer than a few hours. Despite all the precautions they’d taken, he felt less and less secure the longer he remained.
There was also the matter of the spy. Someone, or something, was feeding information to their enemies, locally if not on a larger scale. A spy was suspected, security measures were increased, and fingers were pointed. The spy could be anyone of those who claimed allegiance to the cause if not directly to the prince. Their numbers were increasing rapidly of late. Despite the number of other likely candidates, Hadyn found a fair number of fingers pointed his way. He blamed Shevan.
The High priestess of Esthalos, God of Justice, hated him, and the feeling was mutual. Like so many Esthalians, she was a hypocrite. She was also stupid, unstable, and mean. Though Hadyn himself was no pinnacle of sanity, nor entirely elliglible for any congeniality award, he knew he was clever – one of the smartest contributors to the cause, certainly. He wasn’t a hypocrite, either.
He took another sip of tea, trying to push aside the unhelpful negativity. Shevan thought him untrustworthy, but so what? He knew he wasn’t. So far, there were no serious repercussions from the situation save that some of the guards made an especial effort to hassle him if he tried to leave the compound for any reason. He needed to go out today, if there was still time.
:How long?: He thought his query to Teah.. He’d been in the library with Kyla when the panic attack struck, but he’d lost track of time in the rope trick, gripped by what he thought of simply as The Fear. She raised her head slight y, flicked her tail, and stood. She purred softly as he stroked her deep black violet fur.
:Some hours.: Her voice, a sharply resonant feminine tone, echoed in his mind. Volaris had established a permanent mental link between them, partly in exchange for Hadyn’s assistance in warding the compound. They could also speak to each other aloud, through the regular rules established between a mage and his familiar, but this arrangement suited both of them better. :Are we going out?:
:Yes.: Teah purred in response. A few hours. Two, maybe. Teah didn’t often bother to measure time the same way as other sentient races. It was less meaningful to her. Hadyn suspected she’d also found her own ways in and out of the compound, but she kept them to herself. Tamara, a Druid and a follower of Kaedus, had introduced a number of stray cats to the compound to help reduce the rat population and prevent the ingress of any polymorphed spies. Teah had killed the first few out of boredom, and organized the survivors to serve her and keep watch over the secret ways. She’d tell him if there were ever a problem she couldn’t handle.
Still, she always seemed pleased to be able to leave with him. It meant leaving the city for the forests and fields nearby, where there was better hunting and better prey. He never asked what she killed – better not to know. She was smart enough to know that though they might seem easy targets, humans made poor prey in the long run. Usually. Still, Teah enjoyed the hunt and humans were rarely much of a challenge.
Hadyn finished his tea, and stood. Sometimes it made him lightheaded, or he’d see flickers at the edges of his vision for a few hours. Once he’d mixed the proportions entirely wrong in his panic, and he’d been laid flat in bed for days with a migraine,. His nerves, at least, had been like steel the following week. It was almost worth it. They were going out now to search for a new plant he’d read about in a tome on Southern herbalism and healing. If he could harvest any nearby, he could perhaps prepare a replacement that presented fewer side effects.
:Let’s go:
Matteo Atremi was a relatively young Aldryn elf, only 175. He’d been studying music at the university in Exia before the invasion, and supplemented his lifestyle by working in the city guard. It was common for elves to pursue their education at a slower pace, and Matteo was no exception. He’d found the daily experiences in the guard more engaging, in any case, and as he had centuries to complete his degree, he‘d begun taking fewer and fewer courses and pursuing them at an even slower pace. Meanwhile, he’d increased in rank in the guard, and eventually been promoted to work in the palace, under the supervision of Gordon Fenning in the intelligence branch. He’d been on duty on the Night of the Crimson Death, when figures masked and robed in deep red had whirled through the city, spreading terror, chaos, and death. Matteo had helped protect the prince’s entourage during the flight after they’d found king Cedric murdered. They’d headed to Shinkyo, and that was where he found himself now, standing guard at the entrance to the underground compound that served as the prince’s headquarters.
The complex itself was borrowed from one of the Southern lords who supported the cause of Exian Liberation. The Masks, henchmen of the Holy Church of Salistrom still controlled the city and kept the citizens hostage. Now, if their intelligence was reliable, Exian forces were marching on Trylith, the Den of Sin and Thieves, the Great Northern Whore. Trylith was infamous for the number of warring criminal organizations that infested all levels of the city. It was the main port city of the north, and could muster a sizable naval force, at least in theory. If the church of Salistrom managed to control that navy, they would be extremely difficult to defeat. It had been more than a week since prince Lynel’s mysterious return from his secret mission, and his subsequent departure for the north. This time, he’d taken more support, drawing from the ranks of those who’d pledged their assistance to the cause. Mostly, it was the same group that had recovered the sword Seijun, plus the chancellor. That left Shevan in charge.
She hasn’t calmed down any since the prince’s return, which had been everyone’s hope. She riled against anyone who questioned her leadership. He’d heard various rumors flying around the compound, that Caena had talked her into forming a council based on the group that had advised King Cedric, or that she was leaving, or that she was mad. The first seemed unlikely, the third was nearly certain. Some people were just not meant to be in charge, and if this was the case, he could only hope that the second rumor was also true.
Matteo’s main concern was not with Loyalist administration, though, but with security. The day before the prince returned, the High priestess had let out publicly that there was a spy in their midst. She’d tightened security, taking some measure that seemed logical, but she was unwilling to listen to suggestions. Increasing the door guards from one to two made sense. He’d never fully accepted the earlier reason for cutting it back in the first place. Yes, their numbers had been low, and there were other concerns, but Gordon had always stressed the importance of good security.
He was still unsatisfied with their password system. Having one code word that never changed was ludicrous. Yes, their allies were fairly sparse, and it might be difficult for newcomers to identify themselves. Agents whose missions took them away from long or undeterminable periods of time would find it difficult to keep up with a randomly changing passcode, but there were ways around that as well, and Matteo could think of several.
He sighed. No one really liked guard duty, and he often found his mind wandering like this. He glanced over at John, who was stifling a yawn. Despite the fact that Elves didn’t need sleep, Matteo found himself mimicking the human soon enough. For all their security concerns, the truth was that almost no one even came to their hideout. There was a regular crowd who left to go out in the evenings, often coming back as late as the next morning. He was a member of that bunch often enough when off-duty, and knew them all fairly well. Servants sometimes left to run errands, but the majority of the Loyalists were fairly sedentary. There were still few enough of them around, especially since the prince had taken such a large crown up to Trylith.
Matteo stretched, and was surprised briefly to see someone approaching the exit. It was Hadyn, one of the most reclusive members of the cause. He rarely even attended the emergency meetings, and never ate in the communal hall. Most people ignored him, but there were two small but vocal camps which either defended or decried the elusive wizard. They both included a number of people who had either worked or traveled with him. They all seemed to know something they didn’t talk much about, and Matteo’s training inclined him to interest in these types of secrets.
There were other elements that added to the mystery. The first was his ties to the Alient Company, the group contracted by Gordon himself to investigate the warring Churches of Salistrom in Exia before the fall. The second was that he’d been among the group that had accompanied Gordon to the south to Shinkyo, before his boss had given up the ghost, as the humans said, and released his spirit from the magic binding it to another man’s body.
The third element of mystery was the large purple-black feline prowling down the corridor behind him. She didn’t fit Matteo’s understanding of what a familiar should be. She didn’t fit the description of any animal he’d ever heard of, either, not in the most outlandish songs he’d heard. She could be some kind of exotic panther, but she wasn’t. Her colour was wrong. Her build, though powerful, was too slender and her tail, with its wispy tuft, too slim. Her eyes were too intelligent, even for a familiar.
He nudged John, who started into alertness and blinked at Hadyn as he approached.
“Oh, hey.”
“I need to go out for a bit.” He sounded guarded.
“Well, we’ve got the log now.” John gestured at the register. Hadyn nodded, scowling slightly as he leaned over to scribble in his information. He walked out without another word. The two guards looked at each other and shrugged, but Matteo remained curious.
“Is he always like that.”
“Pretty much, yeah.” John, always casual, shrugged again. He saw the mage somewhat more frequently since he’d started his own studies in magic. Matteo was pretty certain that the interest was a direct result of John’s growing interest in the shy Kyla Smith, though he continued to deny the insinuation. “He’s all paranoid, mostly, but he’s really smart so maybe it all evens out. What did he put down?”
The elf was already reading the register, trying to decipher Hadyn’s hasty scrawling. “Getting supplies for something? Hmm. Alchemical supplies?”
“Yeah, Volaris had a list of stuff he wanted for the lab. Maybe he needed something?”
“Probably.” It didn’t really matter. The higher-ups – those who liked Hadyn, anyway, seemed to give him a lot of leeway, and Volaris was certainly one of them. He could put anything down and never get seriously questioned. The same was true of just about everyone, though. One of the druids had even gone as far as to scratch out something in some language none of the guards could read, which Kyla later translated as ‘none of your damned business.’ The ledger was only ever going to trick people who were bad at keeping their lies straight, and whoever the mole was, they were certainly too clever to fall for that.
Matteo wished he knew more about Hadyn and some of the other Loyalists. As one of the few people remaining with any kind of intelligence or counter-intelligence training, he was sure he could be making more efficient contributions. He also knew that he wasn’t nearly as competent as Gordon had been… yet. It would take him a while, but he could, and would, stick things through here. The cause was worth it, and he certainly had the time.
Outside at last. He felt no safer. Hadyn wrapped himself in his hooded robe. He knew his dress and mannerisms drew attention, always unwanted, but the robe still hid his appearance. Suspicion he could live with, but he didn’t want anyone getting too close a look. He took the shortest rout out of the city.
Once he passed into the forest road, he relaxed somewhat. Teah stood waiting at the crossroads. She made her own way as her more public appearances always drew attention. She could slink more quickly and more safely through the city’s dark alleys. Her tail twitched from side to side as he approached.
:Is it time to hunt?:
:Yes, but stay close.:
:Always,: she though even as she moved off again. She could have a few hours while Hadyn scoured the countryside for the plants and herbs he needed. Today he was keeping a special eye open for bitter haglia, that ultimate dream thief and calmer of nerves described by Hirakaga Issei in his comprehensive volume on Southern botany.
He felt calmer again after he stepped off the road and into the forest proper. Teah negated any threat from natural predators, and it was unusual to encounter any more than the occasional easily cowed peasant. There was no one here to see him, to judge or betray him. He’d left them behind for a time… but he still did not remove his cowl or allow himself to completely relax.
He had to be careful not to over-harvest. If the season were right, he would do what he could to ensure the survival of the various plant species he’d come to cultivate. The previous fall, he’d collected some seeds from the most useful and rare, hoping that he could germinate them if he moved away from this place. He followed his established routine, seeking previously marked patches of sorrels, roots, and flowers. The wild poppy he’d found were close to seeding – he’d need to collect more of them soon. He was cutting bark from a willow of proven potency when Teah’s mental voice reached him. He could sense but not see her hidden in a thicket off to the west.
:There is someone else here hunting leaves.:
:Where?: He straightened, hand tightening around the small knife he’d been using to scrape the tree. His staff was within easy reach, but it was not his weapons which he conceived of as his first defense against malicious intruders. He was already muttering the words of the Mage Armor spell, a small piece of cured leather in hand.
:Coming to you. North. He doesn’t smell like a threat.:
Listening very carefully, Hadyn could just make out the sounds of the stranger’s approach. He fought with conflicting impulses. Flee – best not be seen. It was safe, surer. Or stay – he was curious. Was this a coincidence? Was the stranger seeking him? Teah’d said that he was no threat, but was also collecting herbs. The city certainly had its fair share of herbalists and alchemists. They seemed almost as popular in the south as houses of healing dedicated to Enlil or Sirian in the north. The attitudes differed. In the south, people believed more strongly in spirits, and though temples and shrines were numerous, the common folk believed the anima could touch their lives as easily through more mundane methods. The curative properties of herbal concoctions were thus attributed as much to spirits as to preparation.
Hadyn has already noticed signs that ‘his’ herbs were also cultivated by others. The tree from which he’d been collecting bark was marked by other knives. A new instinct possessed him, strengthening his curiosity. Perhaps this person could aid him in finding some haglia, or teach him of some of the other secrets mentioned in the Hirakaga text and other tomes of Southern plant lore. The calming effects of the elixir he’d drunk before leaving the compound were still strong, and he won the battle against his irrationality. He waited, returning his knife to his belt pouch along with the leather.
The stranger emerged into view, startled by the presence of another. He was dressed finely in simply cut clothing – a bright green tunic with a pattern of silvery lilies and koi, over a pair of the wide legged Southern trousers in navy. His graying hair was pulled back in a neat knot. Recovering quickly, he bowed in greeting. Hadyn did likewise as the man addressed him in cultured Southern.
“Well met, stranger.”
“Hello.” Southerners were difficult to read. They were generally polite and formal with strangers, and their mannerisms were subtle. He thought the man seemed somewhat cautious – a fair reaction. It appeared that this was truly a chance encounter.
“I am Ishitaka, a healer with the house of lord Osana.” He paused. Hadyn could tell he was name dropping, and struggled to bring the context to memory. It was something Sterling had told him about, but he couldn’t recall the details. The stress of the introduction made it hard to concentrate. It was always a battle to decide which was the bigger risk – revealing his identity or getting trapped later by a lie. He compromised quickly – he could look into Osana later.
“I am Zanne… a traveling scholar.”
“Are you a scholar of our medecins?” He gestured to Hadyn’s basket of plants and bark.
“Something like, yes.”
:He smells nervous.: Teah again. She sounded disdainful.
:Maybe he senses you.:
:Perhaps.:
It was impossible to see Teah where she was hidden, but she had an effect on the woods, stilling everything else around. Other animals feared her. Hadyn has seen Ishitaka cast a wary glance in the direction of that stillness.
‘These woods can be dangerous for the unwary,” he now spoke, “though they are an excellent resource for botanicals.”
“I am very careful.” Was that a warning? Was he just making conversation?
“Of course. I see you have found some red dragon’s tears… This is the end of their season. You are fortunate.”
“I found a late blooming bush in a clearing west of here.” West, where Teah now waited. Ishitaka frowned slightly, but that was all.
“You are very fortunate,” he repeated. “I have been searching for dragon tears all of this past week… They are essential for a nerve calming preparation. But you are surely familiar with their properties. Perhaps you could show me this bush, if there are any left?
Hadyn considered. He had only taken what he needed to keep himself well supplied. If they weren’t harvested, the remaining outer leaves would turn black and fall off when the flowers died a few days from now. He had the uncomfortable idea that this man was somehow testing him, and he hated scrutiny of this kind. On the other hand, he was clearly well versed in just the lore that Hadyn was hoping to learn. He could always flee if he felt the need.
“I could. I could find it again. Perhaps you could assist me in return? I am looking for bitter haglia. Does it grow anywhere around here?”
Ishitaka nodded slowly. “It does, though it is also very rare. And very potent. I do not envy a patient in need of it. But yes, I can help you find some. It would be a fair arrangement.”
Hadyn nodded in return to his new companion, and they headed off west.
Shadows – Chapter 1
The great cat prowled along the forgotten hallways of the compound. Her keen hearing picked up sounds of bodies moving about the upper levels but she paid them little mind. She could smell the members of her pathetic pride, scampering after rats and secrets in the darkness, afraid of displeasing their mighty mistress. She growled low in her throat. Hadyn was hiding from her again.
His rising panic had roused him from a nap. She's called to him, tried to calm him, but to no effect. And then he'd fled, seeking refuge in is Rope Trick spell. If she'd been with him... But no. She'd been bored, and returned to his makeshift den to nap. She stretched, the padded upstairs to the library. This wouldn't do.
"I don't know what I said," the girl was explaining. "We were just talking about my research, and Seijun."
So that was it.
Volaris shook his head. "It's not your fault, Kyla. Don't worry about it." He turned to Teah. "He'll be alright."
There was a question in his eyes, and in his scent. Humans. The girl missed these cues and, seeking reassurance rather than the truth, was placated. Volaris was more clever, smarter, but he didn't really understand her master any better. Teah turned, flicking her tail and heading for Hadyn's refuge.
Volaris never knew what to make of Teah. He knew she possessed more than animal cunning, and her intelligence was greater than that of most familiars. She understood common, and possibly other tongues, though she didn't appear to be capable of speech. She was fiercely protective of Hadyn. He'd head stories from Valentine of how easily she could rend men and other races limb from limb, and how fast she healed. She was, point of fact, a little worrying. She minded Hadyn extremely well, but even that wasn't necessarily reassuring. He didn't know much about animals himself, and was never sure how to read her responses. Was she worried now? Annoyed? In the end he decided that his apprentice merited more of his attention that the strange beast or her master.
"Hadyn's just touchy. A little self-absorbed. Try not to take him too seriously."
"I guess so."
"Well, what did you find out, then?" He smiled, encouragingly. Kyla was shy, and nervous about the quality of her research, even though it was generally excellent.
"Umm, not very much." She looked away, burying her eyes and nose in her notes. Volaris wondered how she ever managed to have any kind of conversation with the surly wizard. "I was just reading up about the different properties you can invest in magical weapons, and, um, I was asking him how he thought they would react with the bloodgorge, and why the pure white stone would be so effective against demons. If we had* some bloodgorge, maybe we could do some tests, I thought, but Seijun was made with divine magics, and I don't know how it would relate or is maybe, um, Shevan or Galawyn would help or if they are busy..."
"We can look into that for certain. If you have any specific theories or tests, write them down and I'll talk to them about it."
Kyla nodded, happy to get back to her work. They might not have much to go on at the moment, but new ideas were important. Their resources were very limited afterall. They hadn't know what they'd be facing during the flight from Exia, and there'd been little opportunity to rescue important reference material. Now that they knew their primary enemies to be demons, or some kind of demonic cult, their lack of specific information was an even greater issue. Having a cluster of great minds and dedicated researchers was great, but it would be better if they had anything to work with.
Even better if one of their number wasn't dangerously unstable.
Kyla didn't know anything about Hadyn, of course. The prince knew, as did Tavik, along with himself, Shevan, Lendrck, and those few who'd been working with him when his particular situation came to light: Valentine, Sterling, Triskin, and Piove, who was rather volatile herself. Piove was at least easily distracted and with some patience she could be directed and managed. Hadyn was more complex, and his ill moods less fleeting. He was a different kind of dangerous.
Hadyn was not native to Keth. He came from some other plane, though he had been around for a number of years now. Previously, he'd spent time traveling the planes, either through some innate power or by using some special item. He'd been fleeing.... something. According to Triskin, he'd seen his parents assassinated and he believed their killers were chasing him. It didn't seem especially credible, or rational, but then neither did Hadyn.
At some point, he'd arrived at one of the Infernal Planes. There, he'd made a deal. He'd traded away art of himself for a different, darker power. It had lain dormant, but as time passed it became more and more difficult for him to repress. Then, when investigating the demonic cult's activities in Trylith, it had finally manifested fully. His appearance and personality became demonic - horns, wings, fangs, and evil impulses. Eventually, Hadyn'd regained control of himself. A potion provided by a local cleric of Kaedus helped him retain that control, so far, but his supply was limited and the potion difficult to reproduce.
Now, Hadyn stuck close to the resistance headquarters., where he was less exposed to physical dangers. Pain and injury served as catalysts for his transformation. He'd helped Volaris secure the facility against scrying and other offensive spells, and Volaris had also observed his familiarity with various protective and warding spells. He had his own room, guarded with additional permanent protectives, and often seemed to live entirely out of his Rope Tricks, where he could be assured an even greater measure of privacy.
Teah's appearance at the library suggested that this was where Hadyn had taken refuge now. Volaris sighed as he settled back to work himself. There wasn't anything to be done about it at the moment, bit the young mage would really be best served by learning to relax some, and appreciate rather than fear the mysteries of the world. It would put him in a much better frame of mind for dealing with his problems. Life was too short to indulge
in neuroses.
Hadyn stood at the window, staring out into the world. Teah lay across his bed, relaxed but alert. Her eyes were on the door to his room but her ears twitched from time to time, listening in case he emerged from his refuge. Her loyalty and dedication were somewhat reassuring and he tried to concentrate on that rather than the flood of panicked terror that overwhelmed his mind.
Teah. If nothing, and no one else (who else was there? Lemdrick?), he had Teah. (He’d taken off on some hopeless mission to which he was ill-suited, with that woman.) Teah would stay. Teah understood. (Sithra. She’d ruined him, ruined everything. Encouraged him to wallow in hopelessness. Gave him sex as comfort, as a drug that dulled his mind. Ruined everything. Disgusting!) She was his friend, his loyal companion. She’d stay, no matter what. She’d chosen him. (What is Lendrick who’d talked to the Chancellor, Prince, and worst of all, Shevan, about him?)
No.
It wasn’t, of course not. (But maybe he’d conspired with Valentine. Told them he was dangerous. Couldn’t be trusted. Keep watch. Don’t let him go off. Keep him drugged. Use him. Trap him.)
They wouldn’t. (Of course they would, of course, run, escape…)
It was always a hard fight. His breathing was shallow, and he was beginning to feel dizzy. There was no where to sit inside the sphere except the sloping floor, and then he couldn’t see Teah. His rational mind had no other anchor. He should let her in. She could help. He couldn’t do it. He focused on his breathing. He should go out and make some tea that would calm his nerves. He could leave the access open to the rope trick. It would be there, safe, if he needed it. He could sit with Teah. Breathe. The flood of negative thoughts did not abate, but he fought through them. He pushed away both the fear and the whispering evil that trailed it, offering him visions of revenge and other terrible possibilities in a muted echo of his own voice.
Hadyn opened the door. Teah looked back at him with her large golden eyes, her ears perked and tail flicking side to side. He could sense her concern but kept her out of his mind for now. Crossing to the small stash of instruments he’d borrowed and pilfered from Volaris’s lab, he lit a small burner and selected some dried herbs from the bundles that hung over the work area.
A few moments later, he was seated at the small wooden table where he took all his meals alone. Teah rested on her haunches beside him, and he rested one hand on her neck. In the other, he held a small cup up to his face as he inhaled the steam, eyes closed.
The herbal infusion calmed him as he breathed, forcing him to relax and take deeper breaths. Eventually he took a sip of the tea. It was potently bitter, far stronger than when he’d first started using the herb to control his panics. This was partly due to his increased familiarity with plant based medecins, but it was lately necessity that drove him to use increased proportions of certain tonics and extractions that went into the concoction. His tolerance was increasing, and the attacks came on him more frequently.
The past seven months that he’d spent in Shinkyo represented the longest stretch of time that he’s spent anywhere since Exia, and possibly even larger than that say. At last when he’d been working for Alient, there had been a fair amount of traveling involved. Now, though he was not technically confined to the compound, it was difficult for hi to find acceptable excuses to escape for longer than a few hours. Despite all the precautions they’d taken, he felt less and less secure the longer he remained.
There was also the matter of the spy. Someone, or something, was feeding information to their enemies, locally if not on a larger scale. A spy was suspected, security measures were increased, and fingers were pointed. The spy could be anyone of those who claimed allegiance to the cause if not directly to the prince. Their numbers were increasing rapidly of late. Despite the number of other likely candidates, Hadyn found a fair number of fingers pointed his way. He blamed Shevan.
The High priestess of Esthalos, God of Justice, hated him, and the feeling was mutual. Like so many Esthalians, she was a hypocrite. She was also stupid, unstable, and mean. Though Hadyn himself was no pinnacle of sanity, nor entirely elliglible for any congeniality award, he knew he was clever – one of the smartest contributors to the cause, certainly. He wasn’t a hypocrite, either.
He took another sip of tea, trying to push aside the unhelpful negativity. Shevan thought him untrustworthy, but so what? He knew he wasn’t. So far, there were no serious repercussions from the situation save that some of the guards made an especial effort to hassle him if he tried to leave the compound for any reason. He needed to go out today, if there was still time.
:How long?: He thought his query to Teah.. He’d been in the library with Kyla when the panic attack struck, but he’d lost track of time in the rope trick, gripped by what he thought of simply as The Fear. She raised her head slight y, flicked her tail, and stood. She purred softly as he stroked her deep black violet fur.
:Some hours.: Her voice, a sharply resonant feminine tone, echoed in his mind. Volaris had established a permanent mental link between them, partly in exchange for Hadyn’s assistance in warding the compound. They could also speak to each other aloud, through the regular rules established between a mage and his familiar, but this arrangement suited both of them better. :Are we going out?:
:Yes.: Teah purred in response. A few hours. Two, maybe. Teah didn’t often bother to measure time the same way as other sentient races. It was less meaningful to her. Hadyn suspected she’d also found her own ways in and out of the compound, but she kept them to herself. Tamara, a Druid and a follower of Kaedus, had introduced a number of stray cats to the compound to help reduce the rat population and prevent the ingress of any polymorphed spies. Teah had killed the first few out of boredom, and organized the survivors to serve her and keep watch over the secret ways. She’d tell him if there were ever a problem she couldn’t handle.
Still, she always seemed pleased to be able to leave with him. It meant leaving the city for the forests and fields nearby, where there was better hunting and better prey. He never asked what she killed – better not to know. She was smart enough to know that though they might seem easy targets, humans made poor prey in the long run. Usually. Still, Teah enjoyed the hunt and humans were rarely much of a challenge.
Hadyn finished his tea, and stood. Sometimes it made him lightheaded, or he’d see flickers at the edges of his vision for a few hours. Once he’d mixed the proportions entirely wrong in his panic, and he’d been laid flat in bed for days with a migraine,. His nerves, at least, had been like steel the following week. It was almost worth it. They were going out now to search for a new plant he’d read about in a tome on Southern herbalism and healing. If he could harvest any nearby, he could perhaps prepare a replacement that presented fewer side effects.
:Let’s go:
Matteo Atremi was a relatively young Aldryn elf, only 175. He’d been studying music at the university in Exia before the invasion, and supplemented his lifestyle by working in the city guard. It was common for elves to pursue their education at a slower pace, and Matteo was no exception. He’d found the daily experiences in the guard more engaging, in any case, and as he had centuries to complete his degree, he‘d begun taking fewer and fewer courses and pursuing them at an even slower pace. Meanwhile, he’d increased in rank in the guard, and eventually been promoted to work in the palace, under the supervision of Gordon Fenning in the intelligence branch. He’d been on duty on the Night of the Crimson Death, when figures masked and robed in deep red had whirled through the city, spreading terror, chaos, and death. Matteo had helped protect the prince’s entourage during the flight after they’d found king Cedric murdered. They’d headed to Shinkyo, and that was where he found himself now, standing guard at the entrance to the underground compound that served as the prince’s headquarters.
The complex itself was borrowed from one of the Southern lords who supported the cause of Exian Liberation. The Masks, henchmen of the Holy Church of Salistrom still controlled the city and kept the citizens hostage. Now, if their intelligence was reliable, Exian forces were marching on Trylith, the Den of Sin and Thieves, the Great Northern Whore. Trylith was infamous for the number of warring criminal organizations that infested all levels of the city. It was the main port city of the north, and could muster a sizable naval force, at least in theory. If the church of Salistrom managed to control that navy, they would be extremely difficult to defeat. It had been more than a week since prince Lynel’s mysterious return from his secret mission, and his subsequent departure for the north. This time, he’d taken more support, drawing from the ranks of those who’d pledged their assistance to the cause. Mostly, it was the same group that had recovered the sword Seijun, plus the chancellor. That left Shevan in charge.
She hasn’t calmed down any since the prince’s return, which had been everyone’s hope. She riled against anyone who questioned her leadership. He’d heard various rumors flying around the compound, that Caena had talked her into forming a council based on the group that had advised King Cedric, or that she was leaving, or that she was mad. The first seemed unlikely, the third was nearly certain. Some people were just not meant to be in charge, and if this was the case, he could only hope that the second rumor was also true.
Matteo’s main concern was not with Loyalist administration, though, but with security. The day before the prince returned, the High priestess had let out publicly that there was a spy in their midst. She’d tightened security, taking some measure that seemed logical, but she was unwilling to listen to suggestions. Increasing the door guards from one to two made sense. He’d never fully accepted the earlier reason for cutting it back in the first place. Yes, their numbers had been low, and there were other concerns, but Gordon had always stressed the importance of good security.
He was still unsatisfied with their password system. Having one code word that never changed was ludicrous. Yes, their allies were fairly sparse, and it might be difficult for newcomers to identify themselves. Agents whose missions took them away from long or undeterminable periods of time would find it difficult to keep up with a randomly changing passcode, but there were ways around that as well, and Matteo could think of several.
He sighed. No one really liked guard duty, and he often found his mind wandering like this. He glanced over at John, who was stifling a yawn. Despite the fact that Elves didn’t need sleep, Matteo found himself mimicking the human soon enough. For all their security concerns, the truth was that almost no one even came to their hideout. There was a regular crowd who left to go out in the evenings, often coming back as late as the next morning. He was a member of that bunch often enough when off-duty, and knew them all fairly well. Servants sometimes left to run errands, but the majority of the Loyalists were fairly sedentary. There were still few enough of them around, especially since the prince had taken such a large crown up to Trylith.
Matteo stretched, and was surprised briefly to see someone approaching the exit. It was Hadyn, one of the most reclusive members of the cause. He rarely even attended the emergency meetings, and never ate in the communal hall. Most people ignored him, but there were two small but vocal camps which either defended or decried the elusive wizard. They both included a number of people who had either worked or traveled with him. They all seemed to know something they didn’t talk much about, and Matteo’s training inclined him to interest in these types of secrets.
There were other elements that added to the mystery. The first was his ties to the Alient Company, the group contracted by Gordon himself to investigate the warring Churches of Salistrom in Exia before the fall. The second was that he’d been among the group that had accompanied Gordon to the south to Shinkyo, before his boss had given up the ghost, as the humans said, and released his spirit from the magic binding it to another man’s body.
The third element of mystery was the large purple-black feline prowling down the corridor behind him. She didn’t fit Matteo’s understanding of what a familiar should be. She didn’t fit the description of any animal he’d ever heard of, either, not in the most outlandish songs he’d heard. She could be some kind of exotic panther, but she wasn’t. Her colour was wrong. Her build, though powerful, was too slender and her tail, with its wispy tuft, too slim. Her eyes were too intelligent, even for a familiar.
He nudged John, who started into alertness and blinked at Hadyn as he approached.
“Oh, hey.”
“I need to go out for a bit.” He sounded guarded.
“Well, we’ve got the log now.” John gestured at the register. Hadyn nodded, scowling slightly as he leaned over to scribble in his information. He walked out without another word. The two guards looked at each other and shrugged, but Matteo remained curious.
“Is he always like that.”
“Pretty much, yeah.” John, always casual, shrugged again. He saw the mage somewhat more frequently since he’d started his own studies in magic. Matteo was pretty certain that the interest was a direct result of John’s growing interest in the shy Kyla Smith, though he continued to deny the insinuation. “He’s all paranoid, mostly, but he’s really smart so maybe it all evens out. What did he put down?”
The elf was already reading the register, trying to decipher Hadyn’s hasty scrawling. “Getting supplies for something? Hmm. Alchemical supplies?”
“Yeah, Volaris had a list of stuff he wanted for the lab. Maybe he needed something?”
“Probably.” It didn’t really matter. The higher-ups – those who liked Hadyn, anyway, seemed to give him a lot of leeway, and Volaris was certainly one of them. He could put anything down and never get seriously questioned. The same was true of just about everyone, though. One of the druids had even gone as far as to scratch out something in some language none of the guards could read, which Kyla later translated as ‘none of your damned business.’ The ledger was only ever going to trick people who were bad at keeping their lies straight, and whoever the mole was, they were certainly too clever to fall for that.
Matteo wished he knew more about Hadyn and some of the other Loyalists. As one of the few people remaining with any kind of intelligence or counter-intelligence training, he was sure he could be making more efficient contributions. He also knew that he wasn’t nearly as competent as Gordon had been… yet. It would take him a while, but he could, and would, stick things through here. The cause was worth it, and he certainly had the time.
Outside at last. He felt no safer. Hadyn wrapped himself in his hooded robe. He knew his dress and mannerisms drew attention, always unwanted, but the robe still hid his appearance. Suspicion he could live with, but he didn’t want anyone getting too close a look. He took the shortest rout out of the city.
Once he passed into the forest road, he relaxed somewhat. Teah stood waiting at the crossroads. She made her own way as her more public appearances always drew attention. She could slink more quickly and more safely through the city’s dark alleys. Her tail twitched from side to side as he approached.
:Is it time to hunt?:
:Yes, but stay close.:
:Always,: she though even as she moved off again. She could have a few hours while Hadyn scoured the countryside for the plants and herbs he needed. Today he was keeping a special eye open for bitter haglia, that ultimate dream thief and calmer of nerves described by Hirakaga Issei in his comprehensive volume on Southern botany.
He felt calmer again after he stepped off the road and into the forest proper. Teah negated any threat from natural predators, and it was unusual to encounter any more than the occasional easily cowed peasant. There was no one here to see him, to judge or betray him. He’d left them behind for a time… but he still did not remove his cowl or allow himself to completely relax.
He had to be careful not to over-harvest. If the season were right, he would do what he could to ensure the survival of the various plant species he’d come to cultivate. The previous fall, he’d collected some seeds from the most useful and rare, hoping that he could germinate them if he moved away from this place. He followed his established routine, seeking previously marked patches of sorrels, roots, and flowers. The wild poppy he’d found were close to seeding – he’d need to collect more of them soon. He was cutting bark from a willow of proven potency when Teah’s mental voice reached him. He could sense but not see her hidden in a thicket off to the west.
:There is someone else here hunting leaves.:
:Where?: He straightened, hand tightening around the small knife he’d been using to scrape the tree. His staff was within easy reach, but it was not his weapons which he conceived of as his first defense against malicious intruders. He was already muttering the words of the Mage Armor spell, a small piece of cured leather in hand.
:Coming to you. North. He doesn’t smell like a threat.:
Listening very carefully, Hadyn could just make out the sounds of the stranger’s approach. He fought with conflicting impulses. Flee – best not be seen. It was safe, surer. Or stay – he was curious. Was this a coincidence? Was the stranger seeking him? Teah’d said that he was no threat, but was also collecting herbs. The city certainly had its fair share of herbalists and alchemists. They seemed almost as popular in the south as houses of healing dedicated to Enlil or Sirian in the north. The attitudes differed. In the south, people believed more strongly in spirits, and though temples and shrines were numerous, the common folk believed the anima could touch their lives as easily through more mundane methods. The curative properties of herbal concoctions were thus attributed as much to spirits as to preparation.
Hadyn has already noticed signs that ‘his’ herbs were also cultivated by others. The tree from which he’d been collecting bark was marked by other knives. A new instinct possessed him, strengthening his curiosity. Perhaps this person could aid him in finding some haglia, or teach him of some of the other secrets mentioned in the Hirakaga text and other tomes of Southern plant lore. The calming effects of the elixir he’d drunk before leaving the compound were still strong, and he won the battle against his irrationality. He waited, returning his knife to his belt pouch along with the leather.
The stranger emerged into view, startled by the presence of another. He was dressed finely in simply cut clothing – a bright green tunic with a pattern of silvery lilies and koi, over a pair of the wide legged Southern trousers in navy. His graying hair was pulled back in a neat knot. Recovering quickly, he bowed in greeting. Hadyn did likewise as the man addressed him in cultured Southern.
“Well met, stranger.”
“Hello.” Southerners were difficult to read. They were generally polite and formal with strangers, and their mannerisms were subtle. He thought the man seemed somewhat cautious – a fair reaction. It appeared that this was truly a chance encounter.
“I am Ishitaka, a healer with the house of lord Osana.” He paused. Hadyn could tell he was name dropping, and struggled to bring the context to memory. It was something Sterling had told him about, but he couldn’t recall the details. The stress of the introduction made it hard to concentrate. It was always a battle to decide which was the bigger risk – revealing his identity or getting trapped later by a lie. He compromised quickly – he could look into Osana later.
“I am Zanne… a traveling scholar.”
“Are you a scholar of our medecins?” He gestured to Hadyn’s basket of plants and bark.
“Something like, yes.”
:He smells nervous.: Teah again. She sounded disdainful.
:Maybe he senses you.:
:Perhaps.:
It was impossible to see Teah where she was hidden, but she had an effect on the woods, stilling everything else around. Other animals feared her. Hadyn has seen Ishitaka cast a wary glance in the direction of that stillness.
‘These woods can be dangerous for the unwary,” he now spoke, “though they are an excellent resource for botanicals.”
“I am very careful.” Was that a warning? Was he just making conversation?
“Of course. I see you have found some red dragon’s tears… This is the end of their season. You are fortunate.”
“I found a late blooming bush in a clearing west of here.” West, where Teah now waited. Ishitaka frowned slightly, but that was all.
“You are very fortunate,” he repeated. “I have been searching for dragon tears all of this past week… They are essential for a nerve calming preparation. But you are surely familiar with their properties. Perhaps you could show me this bush, if there are any left?
Hadyn considered. He had only taken what he needed to keep himself well supplied. If they weren’t harvested, the remaining outer leaves would turn black and fall off when the flowers died a few days from now. He had the uncomfortable idea that this man was somehow testing him, and he hated scrutiny of this kind. On the other hand, he was clearly well versed in just the lore that Hadyn was hoping to learn. He could always flee if he felt the need.
“I could. I could find it again. Perhaps you could assist me in return? I am looking for bitter haglia. Does it grow anywhere around here?”
Ishitaka nodded slowly. “It does, though it is also very rare. And very potent. I do not envy a patient in need of it. But yes, I can help you find some. It would be a fair arrangement.”
Hadyn nodded in return to his new companion, and they headed off west.
