measured_words (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
measured_words) wrote2007-05-18 01:18 pm
measured_words) wrote2007-05-18 01:18 pm
Shadows 9.4
Took me long enough :o One more section on this, which is mostly written but not typed, to come...
Shadows 9.4
Volaris felt a twinge of guilt, and then suppressed it. He’d just had too many other responsibilities, especially since the problems with the Dragonkin and their masters. Lynel was rubbing off on him too much. He’d satisfied himself that Matteo was safe and relatively stable, and concentrated on other matters. What could a week of a few more days have really mattered? The Elf was recovered now. He’d sent for Jane Lorella and Galawyn, and the three waited in the transport room. There were guard stationed outside to escort them through to the warded room in the laboratory that Kyla was setting up – Hadyn’s brief report hadn’t been very encouraging.
He felt the stirring of magic half a second before they all came into view: Hadyn and Teah, Piove and Valentine, Triskin and Sterling. And Matteo. Hadyn had warned him, but it was still a shock. Volaris inhaled sharply – he was hardly recognizable. They were all given a moment to recover by Piove, springing up on her toes and looking at Valentine imploringly.
“Come outside and see the mountains!?”
Behind her, Volaris nodded to the Espada – he wouldn’t be needed. Piove would just be distracting, especially if she got bored.
“Bien sûr chérie.” He smiled.
“Triskin, I believe His Highness wanted to talk to you about finding some flying mounts for some of our people, if you’d be up for that.” She was very pregnant now, and might not be inclined to set out on anything too tricky when her child was due so soon. The small Elf cocked her head pensively, and nodded.
“I’ll see what the Prince has to say, at least. I might have some ideas.”
“I’ll go as well,” Sterling added – he knew his cues. “If Lynel is going to try and hijack one of my best captains, I might as well go along for the ride.” He turned to Matteo. “Good luck, friend.”
Volaris waited patiently for the others to say their goodbyes and take their leave until Hadyn, Teah, and Matteo were the only newcomers remaining. Hadyn seemed even more on edge than usual, not entirely surprising considering what had happened the last time he’d visited. It was probably for the best that Caena and Reason weren’t around. He hoped the young wizard could hold it together for the time being.
“So.” The others were waiting for his orders. Galawyn looked composed, Jane concerned, and Matteo anxious. Hadyn seemed unsurprisingly peevish and distracted. “Matteo, its good to have you back. Galawyn is gong to take care of you for the moment. I need to talk to Hadyn. Afterwards, I know Lieutenant Lorella is keen to speak to you. I’ll see you shortly – I’m sure you’ll be looking better.” He smiled, glad this loose end was tied up and hopeful that the young Elf would be alright. He might also have valuable information about the Cult and their activities in the South.
“This way.” Galawyn took charge, leading her patient out towards the labs. She’d really grown into her role in the past few months. Matteo nodded to the wizards and limped after her. Jane followed, leaning over to whisper to the Elf.
Once they were gone, Volaris turned to Hadyn. “What have you found, then?”
“Not as much as we would like. Whatever is keeping him hidden works similarly to Nondetection – it mainly blocks discerning magic from the Divination school, but he can still be contacted telepathically. I couldn’t dispel it – it acts like an item, even though he isn’t carrying anything. I haven’t tried a targeted dispel – I wasn’t prepared for this kind of thorough examination today, and I didn’t have access to my scrolls.”
“That’s alright – I don’t know that any of us were expecting this right now. But you didn’t see any evidence of potentially dangerous rituals?”
“Not dangerous to us.”
Typical Hadyn – sometimes he displayed a rather disturbing lack of empathy. “What about to Matteo?”
“He should be alright. Some of his scaring suggested a dedication of some kind, but he was never properly sacrificed and from what you’ve told me, he’s already had the effects of any curses he was under removed.”
“I’ll ask Galawyn if she can look into it anyway.” A dedication ritual was a way for priests to mark the souls they were sending to their Gods. He didn’t like to think about what use the Lich King might have for the cult’s sacrifices, but the fewer he got, the better. “Anything else notable?”
“Nothing your priestess won’t be able to fix, surely. Will you be needing me for anything else? I have my own affairs to tend to in Shiroeki.”
“Actually, yes – if you don’t mind saying at last long enough to ferry some of the others back, there are some other matters I’d like your opinion on.”
Hadyn frowned. “I’ll be in the lab.”
Volaris let him go. As valuable as some of Hadyn’s contributions were, the wizard wasn’t an immediate priority. He’d deal with Matteo, and do his best to get back to Hadyn quickly afterwards. For now, the Court Wizard headed out in the direction the others had departed earlier. He was surprised to meet Kyla coming the other way.
“Galawyn’s having some problems.” His apprentice looked a little shaken.
He nodded, directing her back the way she’d come. “What do you mean?”
“She doesn’t know – he’s having trouble breathing.”
Bad, but it could be worse. At least Matteo was in good hands. He followed Kyla back to the lab, though he could hear the commotion before they arrived. The door guard – only one of them – looked worried. She stood aside to admit the mages. Inside, Galawyn was the calm focus of a chaotic scene. A panicked looking second guard held Matteo down as he convulsed, coughing and choking.
“Something is fighting my spell,” the priestess explained.
He didn’t need to hear more – the incantation for Dispel Magic was already on his lips. Matteo’s thrashing stopped soon after, though he continued coughing. The guard – John Cooper – helped him sit up while Galawyn fixed something for him to drink.
Volaris stepped further into the room. “What happened?”
Kyla answered first. “I’m sorry, Volaris. I didn’t have the spell ready. I didn’t expect anything like this today…”
“It’s alright. You can’t be prepared for everything every day.” He looked at the Elf. Galawyn’s spell hadn’t had time to complete, and some of his nastier wounds were only partly rewoven. It looked painful, but Galawyn was already seeing to him.
“Something was interfering with the regeneration – something keeping his lungs from healing properly.”
“What’s wrong with his lungs?”
“I don’t know yet. There is no obvious damage from the outside, but he’s had some magical healing, and any of the small scars could have originally been a lot deeper.” She looked to her patient. “I’m sorry, Matteo. This will help you sleep, and kill the pain.”
Matteo he seemed worn down and resigned as the priestess helped him choke down a vial of some clear liquid. He began to remove his shirt without prompting, no doubt guessing what was coming next.
Volaris turned to his apprentice. “Kyla, you don’t need to stay.” The war had changed her a lot, especially as she became more involved in some of the efforts beyond the relative safety of the lab and library. She’d matured a lot, but he still felt responsible for protecting her from the harshness of the world when he could.
“I’m okay.” She wasn’t, but she wanted to be. He frowned – but it was her choice. Galawyn was directing John on how to secure an already drowsy Matteo. He didn’t need to stay either, but Volaris knew the guard would stay as long as Kyla did.
Galawyn held the Elf’s hand, talking soothingly to him until the drugs took hold. The tension finally eased from his brow and the High Priestess began her examination.
“Hadyn mentioned that he has some kind of ritual scars – they couldn’t have caused anything like this?” Volaris approached to watch more carefully. He hoped Galawyn would be able to handle the problem as long as it was purely medical. Healing, he knew, had been part of her training well before she’d become the High Priestess after Shevan resigned. It was the cult he didn’t trust.
“No,” she answered, frowning. “This is a physical problem, but I see what he meant.” She probed Matteo’s chest carefully with her fingers, circling a cursive mess of thin white lines. Volaris could see the pattern they disguised. “I’m going to need a knife, small and sharp.”
Kyla nodded, fetching an appropriate instrument. She passed it to the priestess then stepped back, looking nervous. She pinched her lips together in a determined frown. Galawyn smiled reassuringly.
“Don’t worry. He’ll be fine.” She closed her eyes, poised over Matteo’s body, knife in hand. “Oh Father of Justice, let me right the wrongs done to this undeserving man, as you have shown me that the war against this foul evil must be won in battles small as well as great. With your blessing, I act for what is good and right.” She lowered the knife, cutting carefully into the flesh. The Elf grimaced in his drugged slumber, but didn’t wake up. Galawyn proceeded with graceful confidence, peeling back skin and muscle, probing into the open cavity.
Volaris leaned closer to watch. He’d never learned healing himself, but had attended some lectures on Anatomy at the University. Now that he thought about it, they had been offered by a priest of Salistrom.
“Here.” She pointed at a sack of tissue pressed up against his lungs. “This isn’t natural.” She loosened it carefully with the tip of her knife. It was only loosely connected by a few blood vessels.
“What is it?” Kyla, standing back a few paces, leaned in towards the operating table.
“I don’t know. It’s hard – I think there is something inside. But it shouldn’t be connected the way it is. And you can see where its damaged the lung.”
Volaris stared at the pouch of skin, concentrating on his ability to discern magical auras granted by his permanent Arcane Sight spell. There was something there, he was sure, but he couldn’t quite pierce through it. “That’s it. Whatever has been hiding him is inside.” He had a sneaking suspicion about what it might be.
Galawyn nodded. She pulled the little pouch out carefully then severed the connecting tissue with one quick cut. It bled quickly and copiously, and the Elf’s lungs spasmed visibly. The priestess cast a simple healing spell to stabilize him, then carefully rolled back the skin and muscle she’d cut away. She used a scroll to cast a second Regeneration spell, and everyone watching waited tensely until it was clear that everything was working properly.
As soon as the tissue was severed, Matteo had become visible to magical detection. While she held the skin wrapped parcel, Galawyn was. It was… It was disturbed. Whoever had thought of this was very devious and even more depraved.
“Galawyn, can you cut it open? But be careful.”
She nodded, holding the sack of skin in still bloody hands. It was actually quite small, about two inches, round and slightly disc shaped. She ran her fingers over it and frowned.
“There’s two things in here.”
He nodded, casting a Greater Dispel as a precaution. He couldn’t tell if it had any effect, but he felt better.
Galawyn pulled out two discs, both about the same size. The first was an amulet, as he’d suspected. It was probably Nondetection, and fairly powerful. The second was a slim bone disc with arcane sigils on both sides. She passed it to him with a worried look. “A Symbol of Pain.”
“And an Explosive Rune.” He flipped it over, confirming his identification. “Nice little booby trap.”
“It’s sick.”
“Yes. But its over. He’ll be alright?”
“He’ll need rest after the spell finished its work, as his body is quite weak.”
“Let Jane and I know when he is awake. And thank you.” He turned to the others. “John, thank you for your help as well. You’re free to go, but you should keep what you’ve seen here in confidence. Do you understand?” He has several reasons for the order, but the biggest might have been morale. People’s spirits were low enough as it was without rumours of the extent of the cult’s great depravity spreading through the compound.
“Yes, sir.”
“Excellent. Kyla, come with me, please.” He turned to leave, knowing she would follow. She’d chosen to stay, which was brave. As his apprentice, he felt she also deserved a fuller explanation of what exactly had happened, but it was best done in private. Galawyn could see to arrangements for Matteo on her own, and he could check in on the elf after he was awake for a full debriefing.
Shadows 9.4
Volaris felt a twinge of guilt, and then suppressed it. He’d just had too many other responsibilities, especially since the problems with the Dragonkin and their masters. Lynel was rubbing off on him too much. He’d satisfied himself that Matteo was safe and relatively stable, and concentrated on other matters. What could a week of a few more days have really mattered? The Elf was recovered now. He’d sent for Jane Lorella and Galawyn, and the three waited in the transport room. There were guard stationed outside to escort them through to the warded room in the laboratory that Kyla was setting up – Hadyn’s brief report hadn’t been very encouraging.
He felt the stirring of magic half a second before they all came into view: Hadyn and Teah, Piove and Valentine, Triskin and Sterling. And Matteo. Hadyn had warned him, but it was still a shock. Volaris inhaled sharply – he was hardly recognizable. They were all given a moment to recover by Piove, springing up on her toes and looking at Valentine imploringly.
“Come outside and see the mountains!?”
Behind her, Volaris nodded to the Espada – he wouldn’t be needed. Piove would just be distracting, especially if she got bored.
“Bien sûr chérie.” He smiled.
“Triskin, I believe His Highness wanted to talk to you about finding some flying mounts for some of our people, if you’d be up for that.” She was very pregnant now, and might not be inclined to set out on anything too tricky when her child was due so soon. The small Elf cocked her head pensively, and nodded.
“I’ll see what the Prince has to say, at least. I might have some ideas.”
“I’ll go as well,” Sterling added – he knew his cues. “If Lynel is going to try and hijack one of my best captains, I might as well go along for the ride.” He turned to Matteo. “Good luck, friend.”
Volaris waited patiently for the others to say their goodbyes and take their leave until Hadyn, Teah, and Matteo were the only newcomers remaining. Hadyn seemed even more on edge than usual, not entirely surprising considering what had happened the last time he’d visited. It was probably for the best that Caena and Reason weren’t around. He hoped the young wizard could hold it together for the time being.
“So.” The others were waiting for his orders. Galawyn looked composed, Jane concerned, and Matteo anxious. Hadyn seemed unsurprisingly peevish and distracted. “Matteo, its good to have you back. Galawyn is gong to take care of you for the moment. I need to talk to Hadyn. Afterwards, I know Lieutenant Lorella is keen to speak to you. I’ll see you shortly – I’m sure you’ll be looking better.” He smiled, glad this loose end was tied up and hopeful that the young Elf would be alright. He might also have valuable information about the Cult and their activities in the South.
“This way.” Galawyn took charge, leading her patient out towards the labs. She’d really grown into her role in the past few months. Matteo nodded to the wizards and limped after her. Jane followed, leaning over to whisper to the Elf.
Once they were gone, Volaris turned to Hadyn. “What have you found, then?”
“Not as much as we would like. Whatever is keeping him hidden works similarly to Nondetection – it mainly blocks discerning magic from the Divination school, but he can still be contacted telepathically. I couldn’t dispel it – it acts like an item, even though he isn’t carrying anything. I haven’t tried a targeted dispel – I wasn’t prepared for this kind of thorough examination today, and I didn’t have access to my scrolls.”
“That’s alright – I don’t know that any of us were expecting this right now. But you didn’t see any evidence of potentially dangerous rituals?”
“Not dangerous to us.”
Typical Hadyn – sometimes he displayed a rather disturbing lack of empathy. “What about to Matteo?”
“He should be alright. Some of his scaring suggested a dedication of some kind, but he was never properly sacrificed and from what you’ve told me, he’s already had the effects of any curses he was under removed.”
“I’ll ask Galawyn if she can look into it anyway.” A dedication ritual was a way for priests to mark the souls they were sending to their Gods. He didn’t like to think about what use the Lich King might have for the cult’s sacrifices, but the fewer he got, the better. “Anything else notable?”
“Nothing your priestess won’t be able to fix, surely. Will you be needing me for anything else? I have my own affairs to tend to in Shiroeki.”
“Actually, yes – if you don’t mind saying at last long enough to ferry some of the others back, there are some other matters I’d like your opinion on.”
Hadyn frowned. “I’ll be in the lab.”
Volaris let him go. As valuable as some of Hadyn’s contributions were, the wizard wasn’t an immediate priority. He’d deal with Matteo, and do his best to get back to Hadyn quickly afterwards. For now, the Court Wizard headed out in the direction the others had departed earlier. He was surprised to meet Kyla coming the other way.
“Galawyn’s having some problems.” His apprentice looked a little shaken.
He nodded, directing her back the way she’d come. “What do you mean?”
“She doesn’t know – he’s having trouble breathing.”
Bad, but it could be worse. At least Matteo was in good hands. He followed Kyla back to the lab, though he could hear the commotion before they arrived. The door guard – only one of them – looked worried. She stood aside to admit the mages. Inside, Galawyn was the calm focus of a chaotic scene. A panicked looking second guard held Matteo down as he convulsed, coughing and choking.
“Something is fighting my spell,” the priestess explained.
He didn’t need to hear more – the incantation for Dispel Magic was already on his lips. Matteo’s thrashing stopped soon after, though he continued coughing. The guard – John Cooper – helped him sit up while Galawyn fixed something for him to drink.
Volaris stepped further into the room. “What happened?”
Kyla answered first. “I’m sorry, Volaris. I didn’t have the spell ready. I didn’t expect anything like this today…”
“It’s alright. You can’t be prepared for everything every day.” He looked at the Elf. Galawyn’s spell hadn’t had time to complete, and some of his nastier wounds were only partly rewoven. It looked painful, but Galawyn was already seeing to him.
“Something was interfering with the regeneration – something keeping his lungs from healing properly.”
“What’s wrong with his lungs?”
“I don’t know yet. There is no obvious damage from the outside, but he’s had some magical healing, and any of the small scars could have originally been a lot deeper.” She looked to her patient. “I’m sorry, Matteo. This will help you sleep, and kill the pain.”
Matteo he seemed worn down and resigned as the priestess helped him choke down a vial of some clear liquid. He began to remove his shirt without prompting, no doubt guessing what was coming next.
Volaris turned to his apprentice. “Kyla, you don’t need to stay.” The war had changed her a lot, especially as she became more involved in some of the efforts beyond the relative safety of the lab and library. She’d matured a lot, but he still felt responsible for protecting her from the harshness of the world when he could.
“I’m okay.” She wasn’t, but she wanted to be. He frowned – but it was her choice. Galawyn was directing John on how to secure an already drowsy Matteo. He didn’t need to stay either, but Volaris knew the guard would stay as long as Kyla did.
Galawyn held the Elf’s hand, talking soothingly to him until the drugs took hold. The tension finally eased from his brow and the High Priestess began her examination.
“Hadyn mentioned that he has some kind of ritual scars – they couldn’t have caused anything like this?” Volaris approached to watch more carefully. He hoped Galawyn would be able to handle the problem as long as it was purely medical. Healing, he knew, had been part of her training well before she’d become the High Priestess after Shevan resigned. It was the cult he didn’t trust.
“No,” she answered, frowning. “This is a physical problem, but I see what he meant.” She probed Matteo’s chest carefully with her fingers, circling a cursive mess of thin white lines. Volaris could see the pattern they disguised. “I’m going to need a knife, small and sharp.”
Kyla nodded, fetching an appropriate instrument. She passed it to the priestess then stepped back, looking nervous. She pinched her lips together in a determined frown. Galawyn smiled reassuringly.
“Don’t worry. He’ll be fine.” She closed her eyes, poised over Matteo’s body, knife in hand. “Oh Father of Justice, let me right the wrongs done to this undeserving man, as you have shown me that the war against this foul evil must be won in battles small as well as great. With your blessing, I act for what is good and right.” She lowered the knife, cutting carefully into the flesh. The Elf grimaced in his drugged slumber, but didn’t wake up. Galawyn proceeded with graceful confidence, peeling back skin and muscle, probing into the open cavity.
Volaris leaned closer to watch. He’d never learned healing himself, but had attended some lectures on Anatomy at the University. Now that he thought about it, they had been offered by a priest of Salistrom.
“Here.” She pointed at a sack of tissue pressed up against his lungs. “This isn’t natural.” She loosened it carefully with the tip of her knife. It was only loosely connected by a few blood vessels.
“What is it?” Kyla, standing back a few paces, leaned in towards the operating table.
“I don’t know. It’s hard – I think there is something inside. But it shouldn’t be connected the way it is. And you can see where its damaged the lung.”
Volaris stared at the pouch of skin, concentrating on his ability to discern magical auras granted by his permanent Arcane Sight spell. There was something there, he was sure, but he couldn’t quite pierce through it. “That’s it. Whatever has been hiding him is inside.” He had a sneaking suspicion about what it might be.
Galawyn nodded. She pulled the little pouch out carefully then severed the connecting tissue with one quick cut. It bled quickly and copiously, and the Elf’s lungs spasmed visibly. The priestess cast a simple healing spell to stabilize him, then carefully rolled back the skin and muscle she’d cut away. She used a scroll to cast a second Regeneration spell, and everyone watching waited tensely until it was clear that everything was working properly.
As soon as the tissue was severed, Matteo had become visible to magical detection. While she held the skin wrapped parcel, Galawyn was. It was… It was disturbed. Whoever had thought of this was very devious and even more depraved.
“Galawyn, can you cut it open? But be careful.”
She nodded, holding the sack of skin in still bloody hands. It was actually quite small, about two inches, round and slightly disc shaped. She ran her fingers over it and frowned.
“There’s two things in here.”
He nodded, casting a Greater Dispel as a precaution. He couldn’t tell if it had any effect, but he felt better.
Galawyn pulled out two discs, both about the same size. The first was an amulet, as he’d suspected. It was probably Nondetection, and fairly powerful. The second was a slim bone disc with arcane sigils on both sides. She passed it to him with a worried look. “A Symbol of Pain.”
“And an Explosive Rune.” He flipped it over, confirming his identification. “Nice little booby trap.”
“It’s sick.”
“Yes. But its over. He’ll be alright?”
“He’ll need rest after the spell finished its work, as his body is quite weak.”
“Let Jane and I know when he is awake. And thank you.” He turned to the others. “John, thank you for your help as well. You’re free to go, but you should keep what you’ve seen here in confidence. Do you understand?” He has several reasons for the order, but the biggest might have been morale. People’s spirits were low enough as it was without rumours of the extent of the cult’s great depravity spreading through the compound.
“Yes, sir.”
“Excellent. Kyla, come with me, please.” He turned to leave, knowing she would follow. She’d chosen to stay, which was brave. As his apprentice, he felt she also deserved a fuller explanation of what exactly had happened, but it was best done in private. Galawyn could see to arrangements for Matteo on her own, and he could check in on the elf after he was awake for a full debriefing.