measured_words (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
measured_words) wrote2007-02-05 12:39 am
measured_words) wrote2007-02-05 12:39 am
Shadows 2
I'm only posting this as it is there only Shadows chapter not posted as a single installment, woot.
Shadows – Chapter 2
She looked the letter over again. It had come the day before and when she’d read it. She’d wanted nothing more than to tear it to pieces – shred it and then shred Emmerson, and Deryc, and Noren, and any other Espada unfortunate enough to cross her path. Unfortunately, there had been only Galawyn, demurely overlooking yet another of the High Priestess’s outbursts, and whispering a quiet prayer when she thought Shevan’s attention was directed elsewhere.
But everything was worse in the mornings. She’d gone through the morning’s devotions. She’s felt hollow, empty. Guilty. She missed the calming certainty her faith used to bring her. Esthalos still knew her – he still granted her spells – but she no longer felt close to Him. She no longer drew comfort, or strength, from him, when she needed it most. It made her anxious. And everyone expected more from her. Expected too much, even, and then couldn’t listen to or accept her decisions. Everything was frustrating. All anyone ever did was point out what she was doing wrong. All she did was listen for a voice that no longer answered.
Except that maybe he had. Maybe.
Shevan,
I hope you don’t think I was put up to this. I wasn’t. I offered to write to you after I learned of your troubles. I’m not sure if you knew, but Noren Alders sent a message to the High Templar about you. Just a short note, I’m sure you can imagine but concerning. He was asking for guidance, not betraying you in any fashion, so please don’t see it that way. Details are vague, but he was worried that you were losing your way – losing your faith. He said you’d been put in a real trying position.
I’m sorry to hear this, Shevan. I remember what you were like at the seminary – sharp, confident, capable. Full of faith. I know it’s been a long time since we spoke. We’ve both been busy getting on with life, serving in our own ways. I’m sorry for that as well. I never imagined we could lose touch, and I didn’t see it when it did. I don’t know if you feel the same way about how things went. But that’s all in the past.
I’m writing this because you are my friend, and I heard that you needed help. I’m not sure with what, I mean if it is the people, the job, or something more concerning. I want to be a better friend. I want to help you – to give you guidance if that’s what you need, or support, or just honest friendship. I hope you know that you can trust me, always.
If you like, I can come to you. We’re getting a little short on men up here, but I know that Deryc would understand how important this is. But you are welcome, and more than that, wanted, here. Please come, Shevan. Let me, let us, help you, even if just for a little while. It sounds like it would do you some good to get away. Consider it, at least. I hope to hear from you or, even better, to see you soon.
Sincerest regards,
Emmerson Wayde
Of course she remembered Emmerson. They’d been in training for the priesthood together years ago. She remembered staying up late at nigh, walking under the stars, or drinking coffee with Leia and Elise or Ander, discussing points of theology. She knew what had happened to Leia and Ander. A few minutes difference and it might have been one of them here in Shinkyo, head of the entire order, instead of her. Elise had gone north to the ----------- Kingdoms after graduation. And Emmerson to the Espada. No one had been surprised by that, but she had always been a little sad. Not quite disappointed – it suited him too well. Just sad to see him go.
Yesterday, after an afternoon of insolence and incompetence, balanced out with more bickering with Volaris over this idea of a council and what their priorities should be, the letter had seemed most unwelcome. Another person who thought her incapable, and thought they knew what was best for her. In the hollowness of her morning prayers, however, she’d found herself rethinking that position. It was hard to imagine Emmerson being insincere. She cold go, and wash her hand of her responsibilities. Let Galawyn and Volaris taste the same bitter fare that they had placed before her. They weren’t ready for it, but she hadn’t been ready either.
The anger in her mind was sharp enough to cut, but she was the only viable target. Shevan knew her thoughts were unfair. It would be hardest on Galawyn. She was a good priestess – faithful and wise. But young and inexperienced. She would grow into her role, if she survived it. And Lynel would never put her into the same position he’d placed Shevan. Head of her order by default, she’d been given the responsibility of managing the Loyalists as well. The jobs were at odds with each other. As High Priestess of the Church of Esthalos in Exia, she should be the moral compass of the cause. But they asked her for things that se knew little about – asked her to step into greyer and greyer territory. No wonder Esthalos had grown distant.
It would be hard on them, but she couldn’t achieve anything here except hr own destruction. It would have to work out. And the Espada, especially Emmerson, might be able to help her. Maybe what she needed was a change. Or to be able to see, directly, the fruits of her efforts.
She felt better once the decisions was made. She considered making a public announcement or waiting until Lynel and Chancellor Tavik returned, but dismissed both these possibilities. She didn’t want any more drama. She didn’t want to see any gloating or satisfied faces. She didn’t want any pity, either – she’d rather just leave and be done with it. The prince would understand, she was sure, after the words they’d exchanged before he’d taken off again.
She looked around the room. She would pack first, then call in Galawyn and Volaris. And then she’d go north to the keep where Emmerson waited.
--------------------------------
Ishitaka Ryushin was a healer in the house of Lord Osana Hikaru . Lord Osana was a cousin of Souta Shigeru, Daimyo of Shinkyo. Ishitaka, then, occupied quite a prestigious position, as Hadyn had learned over the past week. The older man was part priest, part alchemist and herbalist. He had a number of duties, but the most important of these in his master’s eyes was the care of Osana Meiko, his lordship’s daughter and heir. After their initial meeting, the two scholars had spent more time together, comparing notes on various subjects.
Hadyn liked Ishitaka well enough, though he was extra cautious to conceal his appearance and association. The Daimyo was as yet ignorant of the Loyalist presence in his territory, and he would not welcome the news. Lynel’s enemies were powerful and the Southern empire would not want to attract their attention. If they were discovered (an event that seemed inevitable given the spy in their midst), they would be forced to relocate. Hadyn figured that if the leaders of their group were at all clever they should already be preparing for this eventuality.
But maybe cleverness alone wouldn’t be enough. He trusted Volaris more than Shevan for a lot of things. He was smart, and quick thinking. His judgement wasn’t clouded by adherence to a hypocritical faith. But he wasn’t always forward thinking. He wasn’t devious enough. And now that he’d had the command, such as it was, foisted upon him until the prince’s return, he’d begun relying more heavily on both Hadyn and Kyla. Hadyn wondered if maybe be ought to look into alternatives himself.
The added responsibility also complicated his interactions with Ishitaka. He had less time, and it was often difficult to excuse himself. Ishitaka was fortunately also busy, most often with his charge. He mostly dealt with Meiko in the mornings, after which she was given a mild sedative. It helped keep her quiet.
This afternoon, Kyla was in charge of the lab. She was beginning to show signs of stress, but Hadyn credited her for lasting so long given her shy and high-strung nature. He was meeting Ishitaka to discuss distillation techniques for some of the plants they’d been collecting. Their knowledge was very complimentary: Hadyn had learned many techniques up north that were new to the Southerner, and he had experience with plants Ishitaka had only read about. The reverse was also true.
Hadyn cast a subtle Alter-Self spell as he left the compound. He wouldn’t be unrecognizable to those who already knew him, but he seemed less alien. Volaris told him he looked like a jaundiced Half-Elf – good enough. He hoped that anyone who had a chance to see him up close in this guise wouldn’t think to scrutinize him if for some reason he met them unexpectedly and was unprepared. He’d taken to using the spell anytime he was going out and there was a chance that he might have to interact with anyone. He had other spells to cover his efforts, and they were rapidly becoming part of his daily routine. They weren’t quite as ingrained as his other stand-bys like Alarm, Rope Trick and Lightning. He didn’t even need to see a book anymore to refresh their place in his memory.
He arrived at Osana’s palace and was greeted by a pair of the lord’s guards, as usual. Instead of being admitted and directed to his host’s location, however, Hadyn found himself being escorted to the priest’s chambers. He quelled, barely, his rising panic, wishing that Teah was closer. He let the incantation for Dimension Door run through his mind. There was always a way out. And Teah would come for him, was maybe already on her way. But what was happening?
Ishitaka looked grave, the usually calm set of his face seeming a little sterner. Nevertheless, he bowed politely and there was tea prepared.
“Please sit with me, my friend. I apologize for your reception, but we have received disturbing news this morning, and Lord Osana is made wary of receiving foreigners into his home.”
“What news?” He knew he should be a little more decorous, but couldn’t quite manage it. His host beckoned him forward again, and Hadyn moved up to kneel before the low table. He two guards bowed and stepped outside the room, closing the door behind them. He could smell the tea, an herbal concoction. There were some elements in it that he cold distinguish and recognize, but others were unfamiliar. If he’d suspected that anything was amiss before he came, he could have prepared better. If. Always if. He did the best he could, but it seemed that for all his precautions he was too often caught off-guard by these situations.
Ishitaka poured the tea. First a cup for his guest, and one for himself. “The Daimyo has been informed that the exiled prince of the Northern city of Exia, his highness Lynel Bourne, has take up residence in this very city along with his allies and subjects - aided by local agents and without the knowledge or permission of his Excellency, Daimyo Souta.” He gestured to Hadyn, who picked up his teacup and hesitated, his mind racing.
The prince, and the Loyalists, were discovered, then. Had they found the compound? If not, it would only be a matter of time. More importantly, had they linked him to the group? And if so, what would they do? They couldn’t hold him. Ishiaka knew he was a wizard but his understanding of the magical arts was vague. Things worked differently in the South, and true wizards were not as common. As far as he was aware, there was no institution comparable to the University in Exia. Ishitaka lifted his own cup and drank.
“I see you are surprised to hear this also, Zanne. It has become a dangerous time to be a Northerner.”
~Teah, find Volaris. Tell him we’ve been discovered. He might already know, but be sure. The Daimyo knows we are in the city, if not where we are.~
~I will make him know.~
Hadyn set down his cup. “I had no idea.”
‘My friend, please drink with me. I know that you are of a nervous disposition, but my Lord Osana wishes to speak with you. You must relax.”
It just got better. But he’d dealt with worse. This was just an interview. And if he could quell this rising panic, he could pull it off. He needed something, though, before it overwhelmed him. It wouldn’t do to succumb to The Fear here, but he could feel it building at the edges of his mind. He took hold of the tea cup once more, unsurprised to see his hand shaking slightly. He swallowed the hot liquid all at once. It tasted sweet, with a suspicious bitter aftertaste. He hadn’t used the haglia in this, had he? Hadyn had taken to mixing a pinch of the powdered flowers into his tea mix in the mornings. He’d already had some that day, or else he might not have made it this far. But it was dangerous to take too much. Ishitaka couldn’t have known. No…. Not known, but maybe guessed.
The concoction worked quickly – more quickly than he’d expected. He felt his anxieties slipping away. It didn’t matter. His host nodded, setting the teapot aside.
“Alright.” Hadyn spoke after a… moment? A minute? “I’m alright.” He felt disassociated. Ishitaka must have taken something earlier to offset or neutralize the… something. Or was it… No. Something else? He blinked. Osana wanted to speak to him. He had to be careful. Was the priest frowning? His mind couldn’t reconcile that image. There was something whispering at him, but it didn’t sound right.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. Fine. Your lord wants to speak with me.”
“Very well.” Ishitaka rose. Why was he so slow? “Please come this way.”
He stood up, faster than he’d intended. Lights swam. He felt dizzy. Or – no. That was just the tea. It wasn’t him. Everything was fine.
HADYN
“What?”
YOU NEED ME. HE DRUGGED YOU. TRICKED YOU. MAKE HIM PAY.
He didn’t see where the voice was coming from, but it was familiar. Where were they? Ishitaka didn’t seem to know either. He looked very confused.
“Its alright,” he told the voice. He wasn’t afraid. He still had his spells. He still knew the words.
~Hadyn!~
“Teah?” Was she here? Why? He gathered his thoughts to send her assurances of his wellbeing through their mental link, but his thoughts swirled blackly in on themselves. He thought he heard Ishitaka calling for the guards, and then he hit the floor.
-------------------------------------
“He will be alright.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes, Lord Osana.”
“What happened?”
“I…. I am no certain.”
“What did you give him?”
“A strong sedative tea.”
“A sedative? Why?”
“He has a weak liver.”
“You are sure of that?”
“It is easy to observe.”
“And this tea?”
“Should not have done this!”
“Then why?”
“Perhaps, if he’d taken something...”
“I‘m not interested in suppositions.”
“Apologies, my lord.”
“Is he one of them?”
“It does seem likely.”
“When he wakes, tell me.”
“As you wish, my lord.”
Teah moved back from the branch as it creaked ominously under her weight. She could hear but not see into the room. Ishitaka and his lord. It sounded as though, if they had meant Hadyn any harm, it hadn’t been this. She knew he wasn’t awake – she could feel his dreaming mind racing through unpleasant memories and equally nightmarish imaginings: his dead parents, betrayal by his extended family, capture, death. Worse. Ever since she’d consented to be his familiar, she’d been able to sense his emotions. They were always frantic, and more so when he dreamed. She often found it difficult to rest herself during the worst of his nightmares, and preferred to hunt. Let the little deaths she caused count towards his revenge. Ahhh, if only.
She’d come as soon as she could once she’d known there was a problem. She’d gone to Volaris when she’d received his first message. It hadn’t taken him long to understand that she had something important to convey. Figuring out how he could understand her was a different matter. There were no druids around, nor any others who could easily speak with animals. The girl one who helped Hadyn with the lab suggested a spell, but it was not one either she or the head wizard had memorized. They’d gone to find a scroll while Teah’d paced impatiently. She’d felt everything go wrong then, had called out, and lost him. It could have been worse – she’d felt the demon there, struggling to gain control in his moment of mental weakness.
She hadn’t waited. Her news was important, but not as much as her master. A growl of frustration, and she’d been off. She’d seen armed guards as she tore through the back alleys – they would learn their plight soon enough without her.
She’d never accompanied Hadyn to the stranger’s den, but she had tracked him part way previously. Once she’d reached the area, she searched more carefully for his scent. Hadyn kept to better used streets than she preferred, and in the full light of the afternoon, they were well populated and devoid of convenient shadows. She’d ignored the frightened shrieks and done her best to sling along surreptitiously, but it was impossible. She’d shrugged off a few tossed stones and bricks, and warned off anyone more determined with a growl or hiss. She’d slowed some when she’d felt the dreams begin, but Hadyn’s anxiety was her own as well. At least she’d known that his dangers were not immediate. She’d slipped into the gardens of another estate, then made her way over the walls until she arrived at the palace where she’d determined her master had went. She’d scouted around, and wound up here.
Teah leaped down from her perch, claws leaving deep gouges in the ornamental tree. In the distance, she could still hear heightened voices of some of the humans who’d accosted her in the street, arguing with the guard at the estate she had just left. It would be difficult to hide here, but harder to gain entry into the high-walled mansion, with its strong outer doors. So what to do? Hadyn would need her when he awoke, whenever that was. At the moment, she was hungry, and she smelled prey. Surely she could think and hunt at the same time.
She was aware that hunting game in the cultured gardens of powerful humans could potentially be very dangerous, but to feed when she hungered and to kill in times of rage or fear or frustration were powerful instincts. She couldn’t reach Hadyn, but she didn’t have to stray far. The garden was permeated with the scent of deer – urine, sweat and musk. There were maybe twenty, all in good health as far as she could tell. None stood out in terms of dominance – the humans were the masters here. They’d built the walls, planted the trees, shrubs and grasses, and they walked the trails and left pans of mixed grains and fruit to supplement the herd’s grazing.
Teah knew that her earlier searching would have spread her scent though the whole enclosed area. She hadn’t been concerned then, and wasn’t now. She could smells fear as she approached, keeping to the shadows of the trees – fear and confusion. Instinct warned them of a threat, that death had come for them, but they had nowhere to flee or hide. They’d arranged themselves in a circle, the antlered males facing outward, rolling their eyes and snorting at the air for further signs of danger.
They were smaller than she expected – half the size of the normal deer she encountered in the area. Humans. Always tampering with nature, as she well knew. Perhaps she would need more than one kill here. She listened in her mind again, assuring herself that if her master was not well, he was at lest only dreaming. She committed herself to the hunt. She crouched and watched in her downwind position, satisfying herself that she knew what they would do. They would scatter. She could kill one easily enough, then chase down a second. Feeding would take the extra edge off her nerves. Yes. Teah charged forward, leaping at her prey.
As soon as she broke cover, they broke formation. She was too big, too much predator for their docile miniature brains to contemplate. One stood a fatal second longer than the others, lowering its antlers and pawing the ground. It managed to gore her shoulder as she barreled over it, knocking it off its feel. She tore into its soft belly with her back claws, her jaw closing around its throat and savoring briefly the salty tang of fresh blood. She left it dying on the ground to chase down the rest of her meal. The pain in her shoulder didn’t slow her any more than the earlier stones – she could already feel the flesh repairing itself, and forced herself to move faster. These deer were small, but quick.
But they truly had no place to where they could escape, and they were not clever creatures. They fled instinctively in all directions. Teah had been paying closer attention and made a sharp turn to the west and the direction of the closest wall. She could hear panicked snorts and calls as the animals unfortunate enough to have fled in that direction came up against the obstacle. Her second deer, driven by terror, fought harder than the first, but just as futilely. She took a hoof to the face, and it bit one of her ears. For that, she let it die slowly, ensuring that it knew no brief moment of triumph as it passed. She raked open its belly and dragged it back to the initial kill site so it could watch her consume its brother during its final moments.
She feasted. First on the warm internal organs, and then the tender grain-fatted flesh. She tried not to think, but to enjoy the moment. The arrow caught her completely by surprise, taking her in the chest and glancing off one of her ribs. She spun around and roared, only now smelling the hunter who had approached her from downwind when she was distracted. Of course. Something stirred in her mind.
There were three of them. The one who’d shot her was flanked by a large man wielding a weighted net and an armored woman with a blade drawn. Behind this trio was an inconsequential unarmed other, nervously eyeing her from his perceived safety.
“Five thousand apiece, my lord…. And twenty-one was an auspicious number, but nineteen, no, no… It killed two of them! Two!”
The archer nodded as he reloaded casually. “She, Hikaru. And she… is magnificent.” Teah knew that voice. “I want her alive.” Osana stepped back.
“Yes, my lord,” the woman answered. The man with the net stepped forward, appraising her. They all smelled of fear. Even the lord only masked it well for his underlings. He kept his bow drawn on her.
“What is it… is she?”
Osana frowned, not taking his eyes off Teah to look back. “You are the gamekeeper. You tell me. All I know is that she will greatly impress the court in Shiroeki. Take her.”
His warriors hesitated.
“Why does she not flee, or fight,” asked the one with the net.
“It is like she is listening to us,” the female added.
“Has all of my house been replaced with simpletons today? She is just an animal.”
She could take them all. The lord first, then the woman. She feared not the net – she was stronger than it, she knew. But did she want to win? They would bring her closer to Hadyn and she’d not need to hide. His dreams were becoming shallower, and he might be close to waking. She needed to stir these fools into action, then. She charged at Osana, cried out when the sword struck her twice in the flank, and howled when the net closed in around her. She lashed out beyond it, raking its wielder in the leg. He stumbled back. The woman cut her again. There was another arrow.
Enough.
She lunged forward once more, catching the woman this time and sending her sword flying. It was difficult to hold back so much, but it would be over soon. The net came again, and she let it take her. The heavy stones fell to the ground around her. The woman recovered her weapon and struck her across the back of the head. Her vision swam briefly, and she allowed herself to swoon in order to better feign unconsciousness.
They kept her netted, and the gamekeeper bound her forelegs clumsily. He still reeked of fear, though he stroked her fur cautiously through the netting. She felt defiled at the touch of such a lesser creature, and tried to think instead of Hadyn. She would not suffer such humiliation for any other. The warriors were dragging her now, the large one bearing the pain of his leg with no complaints. Someone had stopped his bleeding, but she didn’t dare open her eyes to learn more. She was lucky that the netting covered her healing wounds, else they might think twice about bringing her inside to the dungeons as Osana had ordered.
They wouldn’t get that far. The pair pulled her through a gate in the inner wall towards the palace proper. She could smell all this, and remembered the layout from her earlier reconnaissance. The priest, Ishitaka, met them in the courtyard to heal the wounded. So close! The lord departed, leaving his underlings to tend to their captive.
The priest approached and knelt beside her. He too deigned to touch her, but with more care. He was probing for wounds she no longer had.
“You fought the beast?”
“She was a mighty foe.”
“Miyaki almost lost his leg.”
“You dealt her many blows?”
“Yes, with sword and arrow.”
“I can find none.”
“What? I do not lie.”
“No, Haruta-san. She has healed.”
“Impossible!”
The priest was already backing away. The other two stared in astonishment as Teah’s eyes snapped open, but the woman was already reaching again for her sword.
Now.
She snapped her bonds. It took seconds to right herself and shake of the remnants of the net. She ignored the humans, seeking a more familiar scent as she bounded through the open doorway and into the twisted passageways of Osana’s palace. Up, she knew that much. Servants scattered before her. He would wake up soon, and he would need her. He would feel safer, calmer, for her presence.
She slowed upon reaching the third floor. Hadyn had visited several of these rooms recently. She sniffed at several doorways before latching onto the freshest scent. She simply batted away any obstacles until she came to the darkened room where he lay. The palace was in chaos, but she hunkered down beside her master, friend, and the only father she could remember, and watched. Let them try and harm him now.
-----------------------------
He’d woken from terrible half-remembered dreams with Teah by his side and the palace around him in chaos. He’d seen Ishitaka first and then, after a short consultation on his self-medication, he’d met Osana. The lord had not been in the best of moods, having lost two of his expensive ornamental herd, his man wounded, doors broken and his House, as he saw it, infiltrated. There was no sense denying his associations with the Loyalist cause, so Hadyn didn’t. His business with Ishitaka had been completely unrelated. He was not a spy. He intended the lord and his household no danger or disrespect. No, he would not sell Teah. Yes she was unique. Yes, she did understand everything he was saying, and no, she was not amused. And so on. Osana had his priest call upon the spirits to discern the truth of his answers to a barrage of questions. Once he was satisfied, the lord informed Hadyn that he would remain as a guest in his household, though he could send a messenger to his allies and retrieve some personal effects.
For now, he was allowed to rest. Ishitaka stayed to ensure his health and make private apologies for the harm he had caused. He also relayed that the Daimyo’s guards now stood outside the doors of the Loyalist compound and that when Prince Lynel returned, he would be invited to attend an audience. The messenger left with Teah in tow, and returned with Volaris. He brought some of Hadyn’s spellbooks and took back assurances that the younger wizard was alright, and safe in Lord Osana’s care.
Strangely, Hadyn did feel safe, or safe enough, where he was. The idea of having his movements restricted usually filled him with both fear and anger, but this situation was different. For one, any of the Loyalists that he’d be wiling to trust enough to aid him in his current state were too busy to do so. If he had to accept assistance from an unproven source, better it be one that he could easily walk away from. He didn’t completely distrust Ishitaka, for that mater – he’d probed his mind and sense that the regret the priest expressed was genuine. Apart from all of that, he knew he still had the upper hand in the palace, and even more so since Volaris had brought the books that gave him access to all his standard magical precautions. Everyone in the palace was terrified of Teah, and he was considered a member of a Royal household, even if Lynel was not precisely in favour at court. If Hadyn really wanted to leave, it would be impolitic, and impolite, to stop him.
He’d had plenty of time to speak with Ishitaka. After tending to Meiko in the mornings, he would come to converse with his guest in the afternoons. He’d tried to convince Hadyn to cleanse his system, at last temporarily, of all his medications, but he refused. Instead, they worked together to develop a more careful, and hopefully more effective, regime of teas and other herbal preparations. The Southerner never probed too deeply into why he needed these sedative treatments – their efficacy was as obvious as their absence. There were some issues to work around, however. For one, Hadyn was not the half-elf he posed as, and drugs often had a different effect on his system. He’d retreated into his cowl and relied heavily on his various disguise spells during his stay. He tried to explain these differences as allergies or intolerances to certain substances. Hadyn was familiar enough with his own physiognomy to guess what to expect in most cases, and Ishitaka learned quickly what to avoid.
The other complication was the strange silvery potion provided to him by Nhabu, priest of Kaedus, that helped him keep the demon in his mind at bay. It was part herbalism, part alchemy, and part magic – Hadyn had no idea what was in it. Triskin and Valentine had been resupplying him whenever their missions took them north to Trylith, but he didn’t know what would happen now that the city had fallen. Ishitaka was not Nhabu, not by a long shot, but he was undeniably gifted with potions and alchemy. Hadyn had learned much from him already. If anyone would be able to assist him, surely Ishitaka was qualified… But he couldn’t do it. He was sure the other man must know he was holding back secrets – if nothing else, he would be able to sense the magic that surrounded him and possibly discern the nature of the spells cast. Be he couldn’t, and didn’t want to, share. There had to be another way.
His reverie was disturbed when the new screen door slid open. Ishitaka bowed as he entered. Hadyn, who’d been half-heartedly taking notes from a borrowed volume of alchemical recipes, stood and returned the greeting.
“Prince Lynel, Prince-in-Exile of the City of Exia, has returned to Shinkyo with his entourage.”
“That is good to hear.” It was – no one had been precisely certain how the Loyalist faction had fared, other than that they’d helped prevent the loss of the Trylith navy and allowed the city’s defenders to destroy all the docks and facilities that would have made it too easy for Exia to gain access to all the shipping lanes of the North. He wondered if everyone had made it back, and if anyone had thought to contact them previously about the situation in Shinkyo.
“And, your prince has agreed to meet with the Daimyo.”
Hadyn nodded. Of course he would. He didn’t really have a choice. The Daimyo would likely offer Lynel the same extended hospitality that he was currently receiving from the cousin, and then be released. And then, they’d be evicted from the city. How long they would be given to relocate would depend entirely on the prince’s diplomatic skills.
It was strange to hear Lynel referred to as ‘his’ prince. Hadyn certainly never considered him such. He’d barely lived in Exia a year before the Fall. Heis allegiance to the cause was a complicated issue – as a member of the Alient Group, the strange outfit of semi-philanthropic mercenary-adventurers that had taken him in when he’d first arrived on Keth, it was personal. Their group, and his team in particular, had been set up to assist in the chaos leading up to the Night of the Crimson Death, and their leader, Alient himself, framed as one of he conspirators. Hadyn hadn’t really liked or trusted the old Elowyn as he seemed to know too much about secrets that at that time, Hadyn hadn’t yet breathed aloud to any soul on this world. But he could never dream him capable of willful collusion with the demon-corrupted church, or churches, of Salistrom. It was still unclear who all had been involved with the plot.
The second reason for his involvement with the Loyalists was Lendrick. His friend – one of few – had been devastated after they’d been forced to flee the city. The new regime had hunted Alient’s people as possible threats, and the people of the city had been unwilling to harbour them due to Alient’s perceived guilt. Lendrick had devoted himself to Exia – to its people and the spirit of the city. Losing and leaving everything had changed him, and not for the better.
But he’d still stuck with Hadyn, putting the paranoid wizard before himself in all things. In retrospect, it was clearly some kind of transference issues at work. Lendrick had been searching for a cause he thought he could win. They had lost heir other team members along the way, and been forced to rely heavily on each other to survive. Slowly, the half-elf had managed to break down his walls. Then they’d both gotten drunk one night at some dive in Trylith, and Hadyn had told his friend everything. Everything. And after what Lendrick had told him in return, after the warnings he’d given, he’d panicked. He’d fled the next morning while his companion had still been sleeping off his hangover. He hadn’t slept at all – he remembered that much.
Once he’d found out about the Loyalists, he’d contacted Lendrick at the earliest opportunity to inform him, and give him back some much needed hope. He’d stayed because he wanted to see Lendrick win back *his* city, and *his* dreams – not for Lynel’s crown.
And was that it? Was it really just guilt and a twisted sense of obligation or revenge that kept him here? He frowned. Was that enough? What else would he be doing?
“Zanne?”
He blinked.
“I see you are still having difficulties concentrating. We will have to further adjust for that.”
“Ahh. Yes. I was just thinking about Exia.” He shook his head. He’d been doing this since yesterday: he’d get distracted by some stray train of thought, and minutes would pass before he realized what was happening. He’d been making a concerted effort to keep control of these mental segues, but it was clearly an inefficient solution.
“The events in the North are most unfortunate. My lord and his esteemed cousin both remained convinced, however, that once your prince and his followers are removed from these lands, we will be better able to insulate ourselves from this growing evil.”
“Insulate? They can’t be that stupid.”
Ishitaka frowned.
“Really. There are already agents of Exia in Shinkyo. They’ve been here for months. Someone has been spying on us and interfering with our *local* operations. When I first arrived in the South over a year ago, we were already being harassed on our road here, again by local agents in league with the ‘evil in the North!’ It isn’t just in the North. *Someone* in your city has known our location for, as I said, *months*. And *after* our organization presents itself as a somewhat effective obstacle in their conquest of Trylith, *now* we are sold out to your Daimyo? They don’t want us to have an alliance here because it would be too advantageous for both of us.” He cut himself off – he could certainly elaborate, but he didn’t want to reveal any more than he already had. He found the Loyalists’s situation incredibly frustrating, and he was certain his tone was revealing in that regard.
“I am not gifted with much insight into politics,” his host rejoined simply. He was still difficult to read at times, even after Hadyn had spent so many days in his company. “However, it is clear to me that the loss of Exia should be concerning to any who consider themselves scholars and men of learning. The further loss of freedoms, in the North or otherwise, is likewise concerning.”
It was a start, at least. “What we really need at this point is information about our enemy. We lack allies, but if we did have them, we’d hardly be able to tell them how best to help. Exia’s University was a great repository of information that could have helped us and we only managed to retain… a fraction of a fraction of that. We need better books.”
“Have you ever heard of the Quiet Sages?”
Hadyn shook his head. He wondered if Volaris had.
“They have access to diverse lores long lost to others. The Sages view themselves as guardians of knowledge and secrets that could be dangerous in the hands of the unwise. Their order is very secretive and selective because of this. It is only possible to join their ranks by procuring an invitation from a member who is willing to vouch for one’s commitment to the protection of humanity. Even then, one must present proof to the others that one also possesses access to such esoteric information as might interest their membership.”
“I see.” Hadyn could think of several subjects on which he considered himself amongst the foremost experts on Keth. “Are you a member of this order yourself?”
“No. It is an honour I have long coveted, however my research is not yet sufficiently advanced to merit their interest.”
“But you think they might be convinced to aid us.”
Ishitaka spread his fingers and lifted his hands – a gesture inviting possibility. “Perhaps. I do know the names of some members locally. If yourself or some other member of your organization believes they have information that would interest the Quiet Ones, it may be possible to broker some kind of arrangement. I cannot say that they would invite someone from outside the Empire into their society, however.”
Hadyn’s mind was already racing, having considered and dismissed a number of secrets he could bring to such a table. But no. He knew just the thing to tell them – it could not fail to intrigue, and it would release him from an obligation he’d willingly taken upon himself on the trek southwards. He doubted the others traveling with him remembered that particular encounter, not after everything else that had happened on the road…”
“Zanne?”
“Yes. Give me the names.”
Shadows – Chapter 2
She looked the letter over again. It had come the day before and when she’d read it. She’d wanted nothing more than to tear it to pieces – shred it and then shred Emmerson, and Deryc, and Noren, and any other Espada unfortunate enough to cross her path. Unfortunately, there had been only Galawyn, demurely overlooking yet another of the High Priestess’s outbursts, and whispering a quiet prayer when she thought Shevan’s attention was directed elsewhere.
But everything was worse in the mornings. She’d gone through the morning’s devotions. She’s felt hollow, empty. Guilty. She missed the calming certainty her faith used to bring her. Esthalos still knew her – he still granted her spells – but she no longer felt close to Him. She no longer drew comfort, or strength, from him, when she needed it most. It made her anxious. And everyone expected more from her. Expected too much, even, and then couldn’t listen to or accept her decisions. Everything was frustrating. All anyone ever did was point out what she was doing wrong. All she did was listen for a voice that no longer answered.
Except that maybe he had. Maybe.
Shevan,
I hope you don’t think I was put up to this. I wasn’t. I offered to write to you after I learned of your troubles. I’m not sure if you knew, but Noren Alders sent a message to the High Templar about you. Just a short note, I’m sure you can imagine but concerning. He was asking for guidance, not betraying you in any fashion, so please don’t see it that way. Details are vague, but he was worried that you were losing your way – losing your faith. He said you’d been put in a real trying position.
I’m sorry to hear this, Shevan. I remember what you were like at the seminary – sharp, confident, capable. Full of faith. I know it’s been a long time since we spoke. We’ve both been busy getting on with life, serving in our own ways. I’m sorry for that as well. I never imagined we could lose touch, and I didn’t see it when it did. I don’t know if you feel the same way about how things went. But that’s all in the past.
I’m writing this because you are my friend, and I heard that you needed help. I’m not sure with what, I mean if it is the people, the job, or something more concerning. I want to be a better friend. I want to help you – to give you guidance if that’s what you need, or support, or just honest friendship. I hope you know that you can trust me, always.
If you like, I can come to you. We’re getting a little short on men up here, but I know that Deryc would understand how important this is. But you are welcome, and more than that, wanted, here. Please come, Shevan. Let me, let us, help you, even if just for a little while. It sounds like it would do you some good to get away. Consider it, at least. I hope to hear from you or, even better, to see you soon.
Sincerest regards,
Emmerson Wayde
Of course she remembered Emmerson. They’d been in training for the priesthood together years ago. She remembered staying up late at nigh, walking under the stars, or drinking coffee with Leia and Elise or Ander, discussing points of theology. She knew what had happened to Leia and Ander. A few minutes difference and it might have been one of them here in Shinkyo, head of the entire order, instead of her. Elise had gone north to the ----------- Kingdoms after graduation. And Emmerson to the Espada. No one had been surprised by that, but she had always been a little sad. Not quite disappointed – it suited him too well. Just sad to see him go.
Yesterday, after an afternoon of insolence and incompetence, balanced out with more bickering with Volaris over this idea of a council and what their priorities should be, the letter had seemed most unwelcome. Another person who thought her incapable, and thought they knew what was best for her. In the hollowness of her morning prayers, however, she’d found herself rethinking that position. It was hard to imagine Emmerson being insincere. She cold go, and wash her hand of her responsibilities. Let Galawyn and Volaris taste the same bitter fare that they had placed before her. They weren’t ready for it, but she hadn’t been ready either.
The anger in her mind was sharp enough to cut, but she was the only viable target. Shevan knew her thoughts were unfair. It would be hardest on Galawyn. She was a good priestess – faithful and wise. But young and inexperienced. She would grow into her role, if she survived it. And Lynel would never put her into the same position he’d placed Shevan. Head of her order by default, she’d been given the responsibility of managing the Loyalists as well. The jobs were at odds with each other. As High Priestess of the Church of Esthalos in Exia, she should be the moral compass of the cause. But they asked her for things that se knew little about – asked her to step into greyer and greyer territory. No wonder Esthalos had grown distant.
It would be hard on them, but she couldn’t achieve anything here except hr own destruction. It would have to work out. And the Espada, especially Emmerson, might be able to help her. Maybe what she needed was a change. Or to be able to see, directly, the fruits of her efforts.
She felt better once the decisions was made. She considered making a public announcement or waiting until Lynel and Chancellor Tavik returned, but dismissed both these possibilities. She didn’t want any more drama. She didn’t want to see any gloating or satisfied faces. She didn’t want any pity, either – she’d rather just leave and be done with it. The prince would understand, she was sure, after the words they’d exchanged before he’d taken off again.
She looked around the room. She would pack first, then call in Galawyn and Volaris. And then she’d go north to the keep where Emmerson waited.
--------------------------------
Ishitaka Ryushin was a healer in the house of Lord Osana Hikaru . Lord Osana was a cousin of Souta Shigeru, Daimyo of Shinkyo. Ishitaka, then, occupied quite a prestigious position, as Hadyn had learned over the past week. The older man was part priest, part alchemist and herbalist. He had a number of duties, but the most important of these in his master’s eyes was the care of Osana Meiko, his lordship’s daughter and heir. After their initial meeting, the two scholars had spent more time together, comparing notes on various subjects.
Hadyn liked Ishitaka well enough, though he was extra cautious to conceal his appearance and association. The Daimyo was as yet ignorant of the Loyalist presence in his territory, and he would not welcome the news. Lynel’s enemies were powerful and the Southern empire would not want to attract their attention. If they were discovered (an event that seemed inevitable given the spy in their midst), they would be forced to relocate. Hadyn figured that if the leaders of their group were at all clever they should already be preparing for this eventuality.
But maybe cleverness alone wouldn’t be enough. He trusted Volaris more than Shevan for a lot of things. He was smart, and quick thinking. His judgement wasn’t clouded by adherence to a hypocritical faith. But he wasn’t always forward thinking. He wasn’t devious enough. And now that he’d had the command, such as it was, foisted upon him until the prince’s return, he’d begun relying more heavily on both Hadyn and Kyla. Hadyn wondered if maybe be ought to look into alternatives himself.
The added responsibility also complicated his interactions with Ishitaka. He had less time, and it was often difficult to excuse himself. Ishitaka was fortunately also busy, most often with his charge. He mostly dealt with Meiko in the mornings, after which she was given a mild sedative. It helped keep her quiet.
This afternoon, Kyla was in charge of the lab. She was beginning to show signs of stress, but Hadyn credited her for lasting so long given her shy and high-strung nature. He was meeting Ishitaka to discuss distillation techniques for some of the plants they’d been collecting. Their knowledge was very complimentary: Hadyn had learned many techniques up north that were new to the Southerner, and he had experience with plants Ishitaka had only read about. The reverse was also true.
Hadyn cast a subtle Alter-Self spell as he left the compound. He wouldn’t be unrecognizable to those who already knew him, but he seemed less alien. Volaris told him he looked like a jaundiced Half-Elf – good enough. He hoped that anyone who had a chance to see him up close in this guise wouldn’t think to scrutinize him if for some reason he met them unexpectedly and was unprepared. He’d taken to using the spell anytime he was going out and there was a chance that he might have to interact with anyone. He had other spells to cover his efforts, and they were rapidly becoming part of his daily routine. They weren’t quite as ingrained as his other stand-bys like Alarm, Rope Trick and Lightning. He didn’t even need to see a book anymore to refresh their place in his memory.
He arrived at Osana’s palace and was greeted by a pair of the lord’s guards, as usual. Instead of being admitted and directed to his host’s location, however, Hadyn found himself being escorted to the priest’s chambers. He quelled, barely, his rising panic, wishing that Teah was closer. He let the incantation for Dimension Door run through his mind. There was always a way out. And Teah would come for him, was maybe already on her way. But what was happening?
Ishitaka looked grave, the usually calm set of his face seeming a little sterner. Nevertheless, he bowed politely and there was tea prepared.
“Please sit with me, my friend. I apologize for your reception, but we have received disturbing news this morning, and Lord Osana is made wary of receiving foreigners into his home.”
“What news?” He knew he should be a little more decorous, but couldn’t quite manage it. His host beckoned him forward again, and Hadyn moved up to kneel before the low table. He two guards bowed and stepped outside the room, closing the door behind them. He could smell the tea, an herbal concoction. There were some elements in it that he cold distinguish and recognize, but others were unfamiliar. If he’d suspected that anything was amiss before he came, he could have prepared better. If. Always if. He did the best he could, but it seemed that for all his precautions he was too often caught off-guard by these situations.
Ishitaka poured the tea. First a cup for his guest, and one for himself. “The Daimyo has been informed that the exiled prince of the Northern city of Exia, his highness Lynel Bourne, has take up residence in this very city along with his allies and subjects - aided by local agents and without the knowledge or permission of his Excellency, Daimyo Souta.” He gestured to Hadyn, who picked up his teacup and hesitated, his mind racing.
The prince, and the Loyalists, were discovered, then. Had they found the compound? If not, it would only be a matter of time. More importantly, had they linked him to the group? And if so, what would they do? They couldn’t hold him. Ishiaka knew he was a wizard but his understanding of the magical arts was vague. Things worked differently in the South, and true wizards were not as common. As far as he was aware, there was no institution comparable to the University in Exia. Ishitaka lifted his own cup and drank.
“I see you are surprised to hear this also, Zanne. It has become a dangerous time to be a Northerner.”
~Teah, find Volaris. Tell him we’ve been discovered. He might already know, but be sure. The Daimyo knows we are in the city, if not where we are.~
~I will make him know.~
Hadyn set down his cup. “I had no idea.”
‘My friend, please drink with me. I know that you are of a nervous disposition, but my Lord Osana wishes to speak with you. You must relax.”
It just got better. But he’d dealt with worse. This was just an interview. And if he could quell this rising panic, he could pull it off. He needed something, though, before it overwhelmed him. It wouldn’t do to succumb to The Fear here, but he could feel it building at the edges of his mind. He took hold of the tea cup once more, unsurprised to see his hand shaking slightly. He swallowed the hot liquid all at once. It tasted sweet, with a suspicious bitter aftertaste. He hadn’t used the haglia in this, had he? Hadyn had taken to mixing a pinch of the powdered flowers into his tea mix in the mornings. He’d already had some that day, or else he might not have made it this far. But it was dangerous to take too much. Ishitaka couldn’t have known. No…. Not known, but maybe guessed.
The concoction worked quickly – more quickly than he’d expected. He felt his anxieties slipping away. It didn’t matter. His host nodded, setting the teapot aside.
“Alright.” Hadyn spoke after a… moment? A minute? “I’m alright.” He felt disassociated. Ishitaka must have taken something earlier to offset or neutralize the… something. Or was it… No. Something else? He blinked. Osana wanted to speak to him. He had to be careful. Was the priest frowning? His mind couldn’t reconcile that image. There was something whispering at him, but it didn’t sound right.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. Fine. Your lord wants to speak with me.”
“Very well.” Ishitaka rose. Why was he so slow? “Please come this way.”
He stood up, faster than he’d intended. Lights swam. He felt dizzy. Or – no. That was just the tea. It wasn’t him. Everything was fine.
HADYN
“What?”
YOU NEED ME. HE DRUGGED YOU. TRICKED YOU. MAKE HIM PAY.
He didn’t see where the voice was coming from, but it was familiar. Where were they? Ishitaka didn’t seem to know either. He looked very confused.
“Its alright,” he told the voice. He wasn’t afraid. He still had his spells. He still knew the words.
~Hadyn!~
“Teah?” Was she here? Why? He gathered his thoughts to send her assurances of his wellbeing through their mental link, but his thoughts swirled blackly in on themselves. He thought he heard Ishitaka calling for the guards, and then he hit the floor.
-------------------------------------
“He will be alright.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes, Lord Osana.”
“What happened?”
“I…. I am no certain.”
“What did you give him?”
“A strong sedative tea.”
“A sedative? Why?”
“He has a weak liver.”
“You are sure of that?”
“It is easy to observe.”
“And this tea?”
“Should not have done this!”
“Then why?”
“Perhaps, if he’d taken something...”
“I‘m not interested in suppositions.”
“Apologies, my lord.”
“Is he one of them?”
“It does seem likely.”
“When he wakes, tell me.”
“As you wish, my lord.”
Teah moved back from the branch as it creaked ominously under her weight. She could hear but not see into the room. Ishitaka and his lord. It sounded as though, if they had meant Hadyn any harm, it hadn’t been this. She knew he wasn’t awake – she could feel his dreaming mind racing through unpleasant memories and equally nightmarish imaginings: his dead parents, betrayal by his extended family, capture, death. Worse. Ever since she’d consented to be his familiar, she’d been able to sense his emotions. They were always frantic, and more so when he dreamed. She often found it difficult to rest herself during the worst of his nightmares, and preferred to hunt. Let the little deaths she caused count towards his revenge. Ahhh, if only.
She’d come as soon as she could once she’d known there was a problem. She’d gone to Volaris when she’d received his first message. It hadn’t taken him long to understand that she had something important to convey. Figuring out how he could understand her was a different matter. There were no druids around, nor any others who could easily speak with animals. The girl one who helped Hadyn with the lab suggested a spell, but it was not one either she or the head wizard had memorized. They’d gone to find a scroll while Teah’d paced impatiently. She’d felt everything go wrong then, had called out, and lost him. It could have been worse – she’d felt the demon there, struggling to gain control in his moment of mental weakness.
She hadn’t waited. Her news was important, but not as much as her master. A growl of frustration, and she’d been off. She’d seen armed guards as she tore through the back alleys – they would learn their plight soon enough without her.
She’d never accompanied Hadyn to the stranger’s den, but she had tracked him part way previously. Once she’d reached the area, she searched more carefully for his scent. Hadyn kept to better used streets than she preferred, and in the full light of the afternoon, they were well populated and devoid of convenient shadows. She’d ignored the frightened shrieks and done her best to sling along surreptitiously, but it was impossible. She’d shrugged off a few tossed stones and bricks, and warned off anyone more determined with a growl or hiss. She’d slowed some when she’d felt the dreams begin, but Hadyn’s anxiety was her own as well. At least she’d known that his dangers were not immediate. She’d slipped into the gardens of another estate, then made her way over the walls until she arrived at the palace where she’d determined her master had went. She’d scouted around, and wound up here.
Teah leaped down from her perch, claws leaving deep gouges in the ornamental tree. In the distance, she could still hear heightened voices of some of the humans who’d accosted her in the street, arguing with the guard at the estate she had just left. It would be difficult to hide here, but harder to gain entry into the high-walled mansion, with its strong outer doors. So what to do? Hadyn would need her when he awoke, whenever that was. At the moment, she was hungry, and she smelled prey. Surely she could think and hunt at the same time.
She was aware that hunting game in the cultured gardens of powerful humans could potentially be very dangerous, but to feed when she hungered and to kill in times of rage or fear or frustration were powerful instincts. She couldn’t reach Hadyn, but she didn’t have to stray far. The garden was permeated with the scent of deer – urine, sweat and musk. There were maybe twenty, all in good health as far as she could tell. None stood out in terms of dominance – the humans were the masters here. They’d built the walls, planted the trees, shrubs and grasses, and they walked the trails and left pans of mixed grains and fruit to supplement the herd’s grazing.
Teah knew that her earlier searching would have spread her scent though the whole enclosed area. She hadn’t been concerned then, and wasn’t now. She could smells fear as she approached, keeping to the shadows of the trees – fear and confusion. Instinct warned them of a threat, that death had come for them, but they had nowhere to flee or hide. They’d arranged themselves in a circle, the antlered males facing outward, rolling their eyes and snorting at the air for further signs of danger.
They were smaller than she expected – half the size of the normal deer she encountered in the area. Humans. Always tampering with nature, as she well knew. Perhaps she would need more than one kill here. She listened in her mind again, assuring herself that if her master was not well, he was at lest only dreaming. She committed herself to the hunt. She crouched and watched in her downwind position, satisfying herself that she knew what they would do. They would scatter. She could kill one easily enough, then chase down a second. Feeding would take the extra edge off her nerves. Yes. Teah charged forward, leaping at her prey.
As soon as she broke cover, they broke formation. She was too big, too much predator for their docile miniature brains to contemplate. One stood a fatal second longer than the others, lowering its antlers and pawing the ground. It managed to gore her shoulder as she barreled over it, knocking it off its feel. She tore into its soft belly with her back claws, her jaw closing around its throat and savoring briefly the salty tang of fresh blood. She left it dying on the ground to chase down the rest of her meal. The pain in her shoulder didn’t slow her any more than the earlier stones – she could already feel the flesh repairing itself, and forced herself to move faster. These deer were small, but quick.
But they truly had no place to where they could escape, and they were not clever creatures. They fled instinctively in all directions. Teah had been paying closer attention and made a sharp turn to the west and the direction of the closest wall. She could hear panicked snorts and calls as the animals unfortunate enough to have fled in that direction came up against the obstacle. Her second deer, driven by terror, fought harder than the first, but just as futilely. She took a hoof to the face, and it bit one of her ears. For that, she let it die slowly, ensuring that it knew no brief moment of triumph as it passed. She raked open its belly and dragged it back to the initial kill site so it could watch her consume its brother during its final moments.
She feasted. First on the warm internal organs, and then the tender grain-fatted flesh. She tried not to think, but to enjoy the moment. The arrow caught her completely by surprise, taking her in the chest and glancing off one of her ribs. She spun around and roared, only now smelling the hunter who had approached her from downwind when she was distracted. Of course. Something stirred in her mind.
There were three of them. The one who’d shot her was flanked by a large man wielding a weighted net and an armored woman with a blade drawn. Behind this trio was an inconsequential unarmed other, nervously eyeing her from his perceived safety.
“Five thousand apiece, my lord…. And twenty-one was an auspicious number, but nineteen, no, no… It killed two of them! Two!”
The archer nodded as he reloaded casually. “She, Hikaru. And she… is magnificent.” Teah knew that voice. “I want her alive.” Osana stepped back.
“Yes, my lord,” the woman answered. The man with the net stepped forward, appraising her. They all smelled of fear. Even the lord only masked it well for his underlings. He kept his bow drawn on her.
“What is it… is she?”
Osana frowned, not taking his eyes off Teah to look back. “You are the gamekeeper. You tell me. All I know is that she will greatly impress the court in Shiroeki. Take her.”
His warriors hesitated.
“Why does she not flee, or fight,” asked the one with the net.
“It is like she is listening to us,” the female added.
“Has all of my house been replaced with simpletons today? She is just an animal.”
She could take them all. The lord first, then the woman. She feared not the net – she was stronger than it, she knew. But did she want to win? They would bring her closer to Hadyn and she’d not need to hide. His dreams were becoming shallower, and he might be close to waking. She needed to stir these fools into action, then. She charged at Osana, cried out when the sword struck her twice in the flank, and howled when the net closed in around her. She lashed out beyond it, raking its wielder in the leg. He stumbled back. The woman cut her again. There was another arrow.
Enough.
She lunged forward once more, catching the woman this time and sending her sword flying. It was difficult to hold back so much, but it would be over soon. The net came again, and she let it take her. The heavy stones fell to the ground around her. The woman recovered her weapon and struck her across the back of the head. Her vision swam briefly, and she allowed herself to swoon in order to better feign unconsciousness.
They kept her netted, and the gamekeeper bound her forelegs clumsily. He still reeked of fear, though he stroked her fur cautiously through the netting. She felt defiled at the touch of such a lesser creature, and tried to think instead of Hadyn. She would not suffer such humiliation for any other. The warriors were dragging her now, the large one bearing the pain of his leg with no complaints. Someone had stopped his bleeding, but she didn’t dare open her eyes to learn more. She was lucky that the netting covered her healing wounds, else they might think twice about bringing her inside to the dungeons as Osana had ordered.
They wouldn’t get that far. The pair pulled her through a gate in the inner wall towards the palace proper. She could smell all this, and remembered the layout from her earlier reconnaissance. The priest, Ishitaka, met them in the courtyard to heal the wounded. So close! The lord departed, leaving his underlings to tend to their captive.
The priest approached and knelt beside her. He too deigned to touch her, but with more care. He was probing for wounds she no longer had.
“You fought the beast?”
“She was a mighty foe.”
“Miyaki almost lost his leg.”
“You dealt her many blows?”
“Yes, with sword and arrow.”
“I can find none.”
“What? I do not lie.”
“No, Haruta-san. She has healed.”
“Impossible!”
The priest was already backing away. The other two stared in astonishment as Teah’s eyes snapped open, but the woman was already reaching again for her sword.
Now.
She snapped her bonds. It took seconds to right herself and shake of the remnants of the net. She ignored the humans, seeking a more familiar scent as she bounded through the open doorway and into the twisted passageways of Osana’s palace. Up, she knew that much. Servants scattered before her. He would wake up soon, and he would need her. He would feel safer, calmer, for her presence.
She slowed upon reaching the third floor. Hadyn had visited several of these rooms recently. She sniffed at several doorways before latching onto the freshest scent. She simply batted away any obstacles until she came to the darkened room where he lay. The palace was in chaos, but she hunkered down beside her master, friend, and the only father she could remember, and watched. Let them try and harm him now.
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He’d woken from terrible half-remembered dreams with Teah by his side and the palace around him in chaos. He’d seen Ishitaka first and then, after a short consultation on his self-medication, he’d met Osana. The lord had not been in the best of moods, having lost two of his expensive ornamental herd, his man wounded, doors broken and his House, as he saw it, infiltrated. There was no sense denying his associations with the Loyalist cause, so Hadyn didn’t. His business with Ishitaka had been completely unrelated. He was not a spy. He intended the lord and his household no danger or disrespect. No, he would not sell Teah. Yes she was unique. Yes, she did understand everything he was saying, and no, she was not amused. And so on. Osana had his priest call upon the spirits to discern the truth of his answers to a barrage of questions. Once he was satisfied, the lord informed Hadyn that he would remain as a guest in his household, though he could send a messenger to his allies and retrieve some personal effects.
For now, he was allowed to rest. Ishitaka stayed to ensure his health and make private apologies for the harm he had caused. He also relayed that the Daimyo’s guards now stood outside the doors of the Loyalist compound and that when Prince Lynel returned, he would be invited to attend an audience. The messenger left with Teah in tow, and returned with Volaris. He brought some of Hadyn’s spellbooks and took back assurances that the younger wizard was alright, and safe in Lord Osana’s care.
Strangely, Hadyn did feel safe, or safe enough, where he was. The idea of having his movements restricted usually filled him with both fear and anger, but this situation was different. For one, any of the Loyalists that he’d be wiling to trust enough to aid him in his current state were too busy to do so. If he had to accept assistance from an unproven source, better it be one that he could easily walk away from. He didn’t completely distrust Ishitaka, for that mater – he’d probed his mind and sense that the regret the priest expressed was genuine. Apart from all of that, he knew he still had the upper hand in the palace, and even more so since Volaris had brought the books that gave him access to all his standard magical precautions. Everyone in the palace was terrified of Teah, and he was considered a member of a Royal household, even if Lynel was not precisely in favour at court. If Hadyn really wanted to leave, it would be impolitic, and impolite, to stop him.
He’d had plenty of time to speak with Ishitaka. After tending to Meiko in the mornings, he would come to converse with his guest in the afternoons. He’d tried to convince Hadyn to cleanse his system, at last temporarily, of all his medications, but he refused. Instead, they worked together to develop a more careful, and hopefully more effective, regime of teas and other herbal preparations. The Southerner never probed too deeply into why he needed these sedative treatments – their efficacy was as obvious as their absence. There were some issues to work around, however. For one, Hadyn was not the half-elf he posed as, and drugs often had a different effect on his system. He’d retreated into his cowl and relied heavily on his various disguise spells during his stay. He tried to explain these differences as allergies or intolerances to certain substances. Hadyn was familiar enough with his own physiognomy to guess what to expect in most cases, and Ishitaka learned quickly what to avoid.
The other complication was the strange silvery potion provided to him by Nhabu, priest of Kaedus, that helped him keep the demon in his mind at bay. It was part herbalism, part alchemy, and part magic – Hadyn had no idea what was in it. Triskin and Valentine had been resupplying him whenever their missions took them north to Trylith, but he didn’t know what would happen now that the city had fallen. Ishitaka was not Nhabu, not by a long shot, but he was undeniably gifted with potions and alchemy. Hadyn had learned much from him already. If anyone would be able to assist him, surely Ishitaka was qualified… But he couldn’t do it. He was sure the other man must know he was holding back secrets – if nothing else, he would be able to sense the magic that surrounded him and possibly discern the nature of the spells cast. Be he couldn’t, and didn’t want to, share. There had to be another way.
His reverie was disturbed when the new screen door slid open. Ishitaka bowed as he entered. Hadyn, who’d been half-heartedly taking notes from a borrowed volume of alchemical recipes, stood and returned the greeting.
“Prince Lynel, Prince-in-Exile of the City of Exia, has returned to Shinkyo with his entourage.”
“That is good to hear.” It was – no one had been precisely certain how the Loyalist faction had fared, other than that they’d helped prevent the loss of the Trylith navy and allowed the city’s defenders to destroy all the docks and facilities that would have made it too easy for Exia to gain access to all the shipping lanes of the North. He wondered if everyone had made it back, and if anyone had thought to contact them previously about the situation in Shinkyo.
“And, your prince has agreed to meet with the Daimyo.”
Hadyn nodded. Of course he would. He didn’t really have a choice. The Daimyo would likely offer Lynel the same extended hospitality that he was currently receiving from the cousin, and then be released. And then, they’d be evicted from the city. How long they would be given to relocate would depend entirely on the prince’s diplomatic skills.
It was strange to hear Lynel referred to as ‘his’ prince. Hadyn certainly never considered him such. He’d barely lived in Exia a year before the Fall. Heis allegiance to the cause was a complicated issue – as a member of the Alient Group, the strange outfit of semi-philanthropic mercenary-adventurers that had taken him in when he’d first arrived on Keth, it was personal. Their group, and his team in particular, had been set up to assist in the chaos leading up to the Night of the Crimson Death, and their leader, Alient himself, framed as one of he conspirators. Hadyn hadn’t really liked or trusted the old Elowyn as he seemed to know too much about secrets that at that time, Hadyn hadn’t yet breathed aloud to any soul on this world. But he could never dream him capable of willful collusion with the demon-corrupted church, or churches, of Salistrom. It was still unclear who all had been involved with the plot.
The second reason for his involvement with the Loyalists was Lendrick. His friend – one of few – had been devastated after they’d been forced to flee the city. The new regime had hunted Alient’s people as possible threats, and the people of the city had been unwilling to harbour them due to Alient’s perceived guilt. Lendrick had devoted himself to Exia – to its people and the spirit of the city. Losing and leaving everything had changed him, and not for the better.
But he’d still stuck with Hadyn, putting the paranoid wizard before himself in all things. In retrospect, it was clearly some kind of transference issues at work. Lendrick had been searching for a cause he thought he could win. They had lost heir other team members along the way, and been forced to rely heavily on each other to survive. Slowly, the half-elf had managed to break down his walls. Then they’d both gotten drunk one night at some dive in Trylith, and Hadyn had told his friend everything. Everything. And after what Lendrick had told him in return, after the warnings he’d given, he’d panicked. He’d fled the next morning while his companion had still been sleeping off his hangover. He hadn’t slept at all – he remembered that much.
Once he’d found out about the Loyalists, he’d contacted Lendrick at the earliest opportunity to inform him, and give him back some much needed hope. He’d stayed because he wanted to see Lendrick win back *his* city, and *his* dreams – not for Lynel’s crown.
And was that it? Was it really just guilt and a twisted sense of obligation or revenge that kept him here? He frowned. Was that enough? What else would he be doing?
“Zanne?”
He blinked.
“I see you are still having difficulties concentrating. We will have to further adjust for that.”
“Ahh. Yes. I was just thinking about Exia.” He shook his head. He’d been doing this since yesterday: he’d get distracted by some stray train of thought, and minutes would pass before he realized what was happening. He’d been making a concerted effort to keep control of these mental segues, but it was clearly an inefficient solution.
“The events in the North are most unfortunate. My lord and his esteemed cousin both remained convinced, however, that once your prince and his followers are removed from these lands, we will be better able to insulate ourselves from this growing evil.”
“Insulate? They can’t be that stupid.”
Ishitaka frowned.
“Really. There are already agents of Exia in Shinkyo. They’ve been here for months. Someone has been spying on us and interfering with our *local* operations. When I first arrived in the South over a year ago, we were already being harassed on our road here, again by local agents in league with the ‘evil in the North!’ It isn’t just in the North. *Someone* in your city has known our location for, as I said, *months*. And *after* our organization presents itself as a somewhat effective obstacle in their conquest of Trylith, *now* we are sold out to your Daimyo? They don’t want us to have an alliance here because it would be too advantageous for both of us.” He cut himself off – he could certainly elaborate, but he didn’t want to reveal any more than he already had. He found the Loyalists’s situation incredibly frustrating, and he was certain his tone was revealing in that regard.
“I am not gifted with much insight into politics,” his host rejoined simply. He was still difficult to read at times, even after Hadyn had spent so many days in his company. “However, it is clear to me that the loss of Exia should be concerning to any who consider themselves scholars and men of learning. The further loss of freedoms, in the North or otherwise, is likewise concerning.”
It was a start, at least. “What we really need at this point is information about our enemy. We lack allies, but if we did have them, we’d hardly be able to tell them how best to help. Exia’s University was a great repository of information that could have helped us and we only managed to retain… a fraction of a fraction of that. We need better books.”
“Have you ever heard of the Quiet Sages?”
Hadyn shook his head. He wondered if Volaris had.
“They have access to diverse lores long lost to others. The Sages view themselves as guardians of knowledge and secrets that could be dangerous in the hands of the unwise. Their order is very secretive and selective because of this. It is only possible to join their ranks by procuring an invitation from a member who is willing to vouch for one’s commitment to the protection of humanity. Even then, one must present proof to the others that one also possesses access to such esoteric information as might interest their membership.”
“I see.” Hadyn could think of several subjects on which he considered himself amongst the foremost experts on Keth. “Are you a member of this order yourself?”
“No. It is an honour I have long coveted, however my research is not yet sufficiently advanced to merit their interest.”
“But you think they might be convinced to aid us.”
Ishitaka spread his fingers and lifted his hands – a gesture inviting possibility. “Perhaps. I do know the names of some members locally. If yourself or some other member of your organization believes they have information that would interest the Quiet Ones, it may be possible to broker some kind of arrangement. I cannot say that they would invite someone from outside the Empire into their society, however.”
Hadyn’s mind was already racing, having considered and dismissed a number of secrets he could bring to such a table. But no. He knew just the thing to tell them – it could not fail to intrigue, and it would release him from an obligation he’d willingly taken upon himself on the trek southwards. He doubted the others traveling with him remembered that particular encounter, not after everything else that had happened on the road…”
“Zanne?”
“Yes. Give me the names.”