Shadows 10
Sep. 27th, 2007 11:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
measured_wordsWriting....slowing down.... School....sucks....
Shadows 10
Hadyn sat outside, staring blankly into the shallow pool. The lotuses had hall closed their blossoms for he night, and koi flitted darkly between their stems. Teah rested quietly beside him, watching the fish and dreaming of bigger prey. The wizard sat immobile, but his mind was restless.
He knew he should be sleeping, but lately he would just lie down, mind racing – waiting. Waiting for something to happen as soon as he let down his guard. He knew it was counterproductive to wear himself out this way. He was long accustomed to insufficient rest, but this was pushing him to new extremes and he wouldn’t be able to keep it up much longer. His attempts to circumvent his own self-destructive thoughts had all failed so far. He fought the effects of sleeping draughts, and the tonics to calm his mind had less and less effect. He still had some of the fear quelling potions that Lendrick had given him, but those worked better in full panic attacks. They didn’t last long enough to help with this constant state of nervous tension. His own supplies were running low, especially bitter haglia, and it was getting harder to escape he manor to take care of his own errands. Ever since he’d accused Abe of hiding information that could be useful to stopping the cult, she’d limited his freedom and time. They didn’t trust each other and the situation was unlikely to change.
The timing was poor. Knowing that Ja’yari was out there, searching for him – to kill him – made him feel harried. His concentration was shot and he could tell this displeased the old hag as much as his perceived insolence. Hadyn was a powerful wizard. He lived in what was probably the most secure city on the continent. He had allies (at least one) who would come to his side in minutes if called. He had Teah. He had, in desperation, a demon that was as committed to the preservation of his self as Hadyn. But he didn’t feel *safe*.
He frowned, digging his long fingers into his familiar’s dark fur. :Take me there.:
She rose without response, leading him into the shadows. He paused, pulling the words for Greater Invisibility from his scattered memory. They came more easily than he’d feared: maybe this really would work.
Teah directed him out into the city streets. He couldn’t see her, but could sense her movements through their telepathic bond, and followed down into the lower city. They moved away from the grander manors of the rich and noble, past the smaller domiciles of the less rich merchants, and into the arena of the ignored and overlooked. More people walked the streets here, even at night, and Hadyn’s frayed nerved turned them al to potential dangers. Nevermind that he had spells that could kill half the street if necessary – he was aware of his irrationality, but it rarely seemed to matter. It was one of the reasons he was reluctant to try this plan. It might not work – it might just give him further cause for paranoia.
Teah looked for him, showing through her eyes the dark crevice in the alley that she pushed her way through. Hadyn found it a few minutes later, with Teah waiting just inside the dingy basement. This was in the market quarter, and she had watched the place for a solid week to be certain of its safety. This section was scarcely used because it wasn’t secure enough to protect any goods from theft. A thick wooden door at the other side of the room was barred with rusty chains. Discarded rags and broken glass proved that the area had been used by some of Shiroeki’s homeless, or its less reputable underclass, in the recent past.
:Down here,: she thought at him, poised over a dark hole in the floor. It had been covered by a sheet of heavy wood, but Teah had already shoved it aside. It looked quite dusty save for a few paw prints. :There are no fresh scents: she confirmed, looking back at him once before she leapt into the pit.
Hadyn waited, peering down into the opening before he lowered himself down. It was round, with stone walls like a well, but there was a stone floor about fifteen feet down. He brought a rope, and secured the grapnel as best he could to one of the stones in the wall before he climbed carefully down. He could have used a spell, but wanted to save his strength just in case.
The shadows, at least, held few threats. Teah could easily navigate by scent, and Hadyn could see well enough even in the in the pitch black tunnels. After he retrieved his rope, she led down through a complex of what appeared to be disused sewers. Hadyn was briefly reminded of his explorations of Trylith’s sewers with Piove, Valentine, Sterling, Triskin, and the other local knights of Esthalos. Hopefully he would not encounter any undead down here, or any Crimson Sorcerers. Surely Teah would have seen signs though – he trusted her senses.
The rock of the walls was covered in lichen and moss which thrived on the trickle of water that dripped down from the city above, leaving occasional shallow puddles on the floor. Hadyn did his best to avoid these, but his long kimono trailed through some despite his efforts. He would have to clean up before he returned to the villa. He was considering this, and also the extra equipment he would need to transport to make this work (having already made some inquiries with some discreet local vendors), when Teah stopped at a threshold and looked back.
He stepped past – the chamber looked adequate at first glance. The stone walls were reinforced with brick here, and the space was bisected by a sturdy looking archway.
:Nothing but rats has been here in many years,: Teah reassured him. Hadyn was already inspecting an Imperial glyph carved into the arch, marking the reign of the Emperor during whose reign it had been built. If he was reckoning his dynasties properly, it meant this construction was several centuries old.
:It will serve,: he replied after some further consideration. :Have you explored beyond this point?:
:Yes. More tunnels, more rats. That is all.: She sat in the doorway, tail flicking back and forth. She was watching him, trying to assess his feeling. Teah was worried, he knew, and was hoping this undertaking would settle his mind. Or at least provide some needed distraction.
He sighed, hoping for the same. He could bring in more equipment tomorrow, but he needed to at least temporarily secure the shelter first. Two of his more destructive spells effectively sealed the exits, caving in the ceiling of the tunnels outside. The rubble was loose enough to allow some airflow, but would prevent all but the most determined from finding the chamber. He cast Alarm, planning toward the place more thoroughly later.
Hadyn paused, considering briefly the venture he was about to undertake. Then, carefully assuming an air of confidence, he shrugged. Pulling out of his pack a sharp knife, a shallow glass basin, and a wineskin that contained a solution of seawater and certain preservative herbs that he had prepared ahead of time, he spoke – not sure if he was addressing himself or Teah.
“Shall I begin?”
He really hadn’t had much of a recovery period so far. The Loyalist command had made well meaning promises, but Matteo understood that in a war like this, they couldn’t afford to limit their available manpower. A week after his return (and against Galawyn’s advice), he’d gone to the Shrine of the fallen with a raiding party. They’d met nothing but disaster well before they’d made it far into the surrounding woods. The blighted area he’d encountered had spread well beyond the forest, through the little village, and beyond. What was more, the area was now infested with powerful demonic entities. Unless the cult had chosen to let him escape before, they had only come into the area after his escape. The rebels hadn’t made another attempt on the shrine since.
After that failed mission, he’d agreed to act as a liaison between the local Aldryn and a band of Exian refugees who were being resettled on the Elven lands. He’d barely begun reading through the background files that Lorella had amassed on the situation when Volaris had side tracked him again. This time the mission was a secret expedition into Exia itself. They’d at least succeeded in their goals there, which turned out to be the rescue of a Loyalist contact who really hadn’t needed the help.
Matteo had limited his own involvement in the mission after the initial phases of getting people safely into the city, and making contact with some locals. The rest of the team – many of the same people he’d accompanied back to the Shrine – had then taken a more high-handed approach than he’d felt comfortable with. Instead, he’d taken a chance to do some personal reconnaissance.
He’d made his way home, to where he’d lived with his half-sister Lirain before the fall. The house was boarded-up and empty – the neighborhood was too close to the university. The house itself had been thoroughly looted, erasing any sign of what might have happened to his family. Their neighbors had either fled or been taken up the steps to the Ziggurat, never to return alive. He hadn’t had time for a more thorough investigation. Everything was still frustratingly up in the air, and it was difficult not to fear the worst.
When he’d returned, he’d started back with the files on the refugees. Spending time among his own people would be the closest thing to a break he was likely to get. Matteo wasn’t too distressed reading about the unruliness of the refugees. He was better trained to handle this type of operation than most. Some of them were former guardsmen, also, and he’d served with some of their leaders if he hadn’t known them personally. It was a bonus he hoped would help him gain their trust and cooperation. The only real snag now was that quite a lot of time had elapsed since the Loyalists had been able to send anyone with authority to manage the situation.
Marla Hearthstone, the woman currently handling the camp, was a place holder. She had been recruited into the Intelligence Service from the guards after the flight from Exia. While Lorella trusted her to keep an eye on the situation, she wanted someone with more experience making the decisions. This was especially true as they knew the cult had contact, perhaps even a plant, in one of the refugee bands involved. Marla would brief him once he arrived, and stay to provide extra support.
Now he was almost ready to leave. The camp was a four day journey on horseback, and the exact location of Fort Cedric was still being kept a secret for security purposes. He’d packed only basic equipment. Either the refugees or the Aldryn would take care of him. Volaris had some qualms about this assumption on his part, and one of the main sources of tension between the groups initially had been the resource strain the Elves were experiencing from hosting the Exians. But the latter were supposed to be learning to take care of themselves, and Marla reported that with druidic support they’d started some late harvest crops. As for the Aldyrn, well, Matteo was one of them. Even if he didn’t have direct kin ties to the people of Lenysa, they would welcome him openly.
There were other reasons for packing light. Marla had brought out a lot of the basic materials necessary for the operation’s smooth running already. Her reports indicated that she had a more than purely functional base camp, and was just waiting for someone to come and help her run it. There was also the matter of transportation. The Loyalists had needed to put a moratorium on teleportation due to the spells expense, and had instead purchased a number of flying mounts. He’d asked if he might be allowed the use f one. Not only would it more than halve his travel time, making an aerial approach would make it easier to disguise the location of the keep. It was much more difficult to track a fast flying hawk than a man on horseback, and it was likewise easier to cover more ground from above, and thus to locate and track any cult activity in the area. Of course, the hawks couldn’t carry as much weight, but that was a small price to pay, in his mind. Finally, a flying mount would be a great help if he and Marla needed to make a quick escape for any reason – as long as they didn’t have to carry anything else.
He looked into the satchel he had packed one more time, and shouldered it. Lorella wanted to see him before he reported to Volaris, and he headed down to the guard office to meet her. There was a bit of a wait when he arrived, as she was in conference with Captain Yara. Matteo could hear raised voices through the thick wooden door, but couldn’t discern more than a few words. He glanced around, but there were too many others around paying discreet attention to the muffled shouting for him to feel comfortable prying more deeply. As curious as he was, it wouldn’t do to get caught spying on his superiors. It would be hard to explain.
Instead, he closed his eyes and listen more carefully, realizing that he could pick out three rather than just two voices. All three were female, and his guess was that Lorella was shouting, and even speaking, the least. She was quiet by nature, and had probably been caught in the crossfire of someone else’s argument. Too intriguing! And he did have more discreet methods of investigating.
“Gordon,” he whispered, but could already see the former spymaster slipping out of his shadow, pressing up to and carefully through the stone wall. All the Elf had to do then was sit back and smile at anyone who passed by the office and peered towards the source of the shouting.
“There are simply some secrets you are not qualified to keep, Zanne. Your knowledge is great, but it must remain second to mine.”
Hadyn narrowed his eyes in annoyance. “You’re old, master-teacher.” He fairly spat the last words.
“If I die, it will be left to others of the Quiet Sages to collect all I have learned, not you. Your knowledge is second *only* to my own . Live with that.”
Abe’s face was flat, but Hadyn had been around her long enough to know when he’d annoyed her. Well good. “We’ll see.”
She snorted. “Ingrateful beast. Gather your things and your creature. We will be traveling to your Northern city of Bellaboca.”
This was news – he’d heard that the cult’s army had sent out a large contingent from Trylith, and that it as headed south into Castoria. “What do you want there?”
“I wish to examine specimens from this cult. According to your faction, they will have infiltrated their target well in advance of their march.”
“I’ve already given you the information we collected on the Crimson Masks.”
“It is not for you to question me, Zanne. You will prepare to gate us to the city in an hour. Meet me in the courtyard.” With that she walked out of the lab, hardly sparing a glance for Teah, who crouched menacingly outside the doorway.
:Her powers would not protct her from my claws,: she thought as the aged Southern woman passed by. Teah twitched her tail in annoyance.
:I’m sure I have tricks of my own she wouldn’t dismiss so easily, if it came to that.:
:Then why do you allow her to treat you as an inferior?:
Hadyn bristled. ;Nothing’s changed since we came here, Teah. I’m still trapped.:
:Of course.: The great cat turned and slunk into the shadows. She was keeping her opinions to herself – fine. Hadyn knew he could count on her regardless. He retreated further into the lab. It wouldn’t take close to an hour to be ready to leave. He was tempted to check on the progress of his spell instead – the clone he’d planted beneath the city – but he didn’t want to attract Abe’s attention.
He collected a few reference texts and some of his personal notes, but there wasn’t much other material he would need that he didn’t already have ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Even after the months he’d spend in the south, the impulse remained. Teah might fear he was growing complacent in this role, but she was wrong. More and more, the tight reign of Abe’s control chaffed. He felt trapped, and unproductive. She wasn’t teaching him enough to merit his complacency, either. He’d more than fulfilled his obligations to the Quiet Sages. He’d received a letter just recently from Ishitaka, talking about the discoveries they’d made in the Dwarven tunnels.
This expedition, he decided, would be telling. If Abe were as closed-mouthed as ever, he would call her on her treachery. If nothing else, he could unmask her hypocrisy to the rest of her scholarly brotherhood. He wondered if they would care. On a more personal level, it would be reassuring to know for certain whether she was a real enemy or only a stubborn and curmudgeonly old hag.
Less than an hour later, he was waiting outside in the courtyard watching the koi with Teah resting quietly by his side. She perked her ears as Abe approached. The southern woman was dressed for travel with a staff of her own and a small pack. Many of the objects she carried on her person gave off a magical aura – Hadyn had cast a detection spell in anticipation of her arrival. She never explained or even revealed her inventory, but they all held the same strange aura. It was not from any of the major magical schools Hadyn was familiar with. He’d studied it some, as the curse effect that she’d almost ruined his hand with carried the same aura under close scrutiny. He wasn’t confident that he was making any progress unraveling that particular mystery. It was closer to the divine magic he was familiar with on Keth than anything arcane, but with an alien flavour. Some of the Southern shrines he’d visited held some traces, but he’d rarely seen it cast.
Once she’d ascertained that he was ready to leave, Abe had Hadyn lead the way out of the city through one of the upper gates. He imagined that she was using even this as a test, perhaps of his familiarity with the city. Despite her age and small stature, he barely had to slacken his usual traveling pace for her to keep up. Once through the gates, however, she stopped him, and hired a carriage to carry them the rest of the way to the teleport sink. Teah followed on her own, keeping off the roads and away from nervous road patrols.
Hadyn had never traveled to Bellaboca proper. By the time he’d come that far south, Gordon and Walter had joined their small band, and they were avoiding the major population centers. He knew the high accuracy teleportation spells, but didn’t have them prepared that day. The sink outside the Castorian capital, however, should be strong enough to drawn them in as long as his aim was fairly close. He’d looked over Abe’s maps just I case, and traveling from sink to sink afforded extra assurances of arriving at the intended destination.
The exit procedures were much more lax than those required upon arrival at Shiroeki, and they passed through quickly despite the usual anxious glances that Teah garnered. Valentine had once suggested that he might consider leashing her whenever she needed to accompany them through public spaces. Teach herself had quickly let the Elf know just what she thought of his suggestion.
Abe provided he gem, and Hadyn cast his spell. A few disorienting moments later, they were standing in a small, though still impressive, structure. There was salt in the air here – Bellaboca was another port city. Though it was fresh ground for Hadyn, Sterling’s company had trade partners here. They passed through the entrance procedures, notably different and somewhat less bureaucratic than those at Shiroeki. Abe let Hadyn handle them all. That they were scholars from the South here to do research inside the city was apparently a good enough story for the bored-looking duty sergeant. Teah was on her best behaviour, but even so the Sergeant made a special note. Hadyn was displeased at being tracked this way – he was still a target for the cult, who no doubt had information on his familiar. On the other hand, it would surely be easier to discover their agents in the city if hey came to him.
Once through the sink’s gates, the pair made their way into the city to find accommodations. They settled on two adjoining rooms at the Silver Elk – a fancier place than Hadyn would have chosen for himself under normal circumstances, but Abe insisted that her age and experience were due a little luxury. Hadyn wondered what the staff would think when they were returning from their research trips, covered in sewer muck. He also wondered about the possibility of facing the cut in the wood paneled foyer, surrounded by rich tapestries depicting various hunting scenes…. In the end, it wasn’t his problem. He had his own matters to attend to, both to ensure his security, and to prepare for the coming investigation.
“I don’t think you’re very good at this,” the woman’s voice taunted in a sing-song tone. Marla Fayne shrank down into the b hollow between the tree roots, wishing she didn’t agree so fully with her pursuer’s assessment. She also wished that her back-up from the fort would arrive. It was weeks overdue, and at this point the situation had far exceeded the bounds of her training. The other woman stopped to chant the words of a spell, and a feeling of dread washed over Marla.
“I can see your terror, little spy. You’re not good enough to hide from me!” The footsteps drew closer, crunching ominously against the forest’s dry underbrush. Marla tensed, ready to bolt. “Ahh, there you are.”
The voice was filled with a malice incongruously matched to the woman’s appearance. She looked like any other refugee: dirty, scrawny, and tired. But there were other details which cloaked her evil in an aura of innocence. Laugh lines. Greying hair and sparkling, merry, eyes. The months of travel had left her thin, but Marla had no trouble imagining her with a little extra weight. It rounded out, so to speak, the image of a friendly matron, always with a cookie or a sweet in hand for a hungry or lonely child. It would have been all too easy for such a creature to lure in the abandoned children who’d followed this band out of the city. No one else cared enough about them to do more than notice when they fell silent and turned into automatons, waiting for her command to release the demons she’d bound into their shells. Most had barely even noticed until it was too late.
Marla looked up into the sorceress’s face, noting how cruelly her lips twisted downward into a sneer, distorting her otherwise friendly features. Springing forward, Marla swung a kick upward, landing it firmly between her pursuer’s legs. The woman doubled over in pain, and Marla was off, scrambling to her feet and tearing back through the trees towards the safety of the other camp.
There was some kind of commotion in the camp when she arrived, out of breath from running. Marla was sure the witch wouldn’t have followed her this far – not with sentries posted from the newly formed constabulary. Some were just brutes and bullies. Thomas Zeltaire was doing the best he could to keep the recruits in line, so they tended to take it out on people where they’d be less likely to report. This meant mostly along the camp periphery. With so many itching for a fight, Marla felt she was safe for the moment.
She headed for the courtyard, as the camp’s central open area had been dubbed. Whatever was gong on was surely centered there, and it was also where she was most likely to find help for her own situation. As she approached, she was relieved to find that the disturbance had been caused by the arrival of her long-awaited back-up.
Normally, Marla would have waited patiently until Atremi had a chance to properly introduce himself to the Exian and Aldryn leaders, and until he’d taken care of all the associated formalities. She’d much have preferred to wait until the assembled onlookers had dispersed somewhat, but the situation was pressing. Threading her way quickly through the assembled group, she sidled up beside Atremi as he was listening to the introductions. He nodded first to her, and then to the few human and elven notables who’d gathered.
“Thank you all. I’m sure we have lots to discuss, but it seems like my attention is required elsewhere at the moment.”
Marla didn’t know Atremi well, but a cursory glance revealed changes. He was relaxed and confident, as she’d expected, but he also seemed to have a stronger sense of purpose and an alertness that was reflected in his bearing. He wore gloves despite the warmth of the day, and a closer look revealed a network of fine white lines scaring his face. On the other hand, she’s only ever regarded him as another guard previously, or even as a listless musician. Now that she knew his real role, if was possible that her perception had changed as much as he had himself… Maybe she just hadn’t been paying attention.
“I’m sorry to disturb you all,” she added, trying not to sound too self-conscious or alarmist, “but we might be in the middle of an emergency.”
Zeltaire, leader of the refugees, stepped up to take charge. “If this is a situation that involves my people, then I want to know about it.”
“Of course,” Marla ascented. Atremi had probably been extensively briefed on the situation here, but he lacked personal experience of just how abrasive certain personalities could be. Zeltaire was pushy – on the other hand, he kept his people fairly well in hand, and he seemed fairly competent. The local Aldryn were typically more reserved, still trying to keep themselves at a friendly distance. The liaison, a younger Elf called Luthryn, proved this by promising his aid, if needed. He and Atremi finalized perfunctory formal greetings before Marla led her superior away, Zeltaire in tow, towards her ten headquarters.
“What’s going on?” Zeltaire demanded as soon as they were alone.
Marla looked from him to Atremi, who nodded.
“I’ve found out cultist. She chased me back here. I don’t think she is powerful enough to attack this camp, and I doubt she is going to stick around the other refugees.”
“She?” Zeltaire prompted.
“Yes, an older woman – Mathilda Brewer. Doesn’t that sound harmless enough? I don’t know too much about her yet, but she is a mage of some power. She made the children of the other amp into Crimson Masks, so that they could cause havock when it would be most advantageous.”
“What does she look like and where did you leave her?”
“Dark hair, starting to go grey, down to her shoulders. Thin as all the others, clothes just as worn. She was wearing a long tunic over pants. She’s a little taller than me.” She gestured to give a better indication. “Grey eyes. I left her in the woods between here and the other camp. Closer to here, I think.”
“I’ll get some men and start searching.” Zeltaire nodded to the others, returned Atremi’s salute, and slipped back out the tent.
Marla looked to the Elf after the refugee leader had left. “What should we do, sir?”
Atremi shook his head. “So much for a settling in period. What else can you tell me about this woman?”
“Not much more than I’ve said already. I was at the other camp speaking to their leader, Andrew Keller, and was following up some leads I’d gathered. I think I startled her.”
“Did you have a chance to check out her tent? Or warn anyone else in her camp?”
“No, sir. I thought it was best to get out of there. I didn’t realize she’d follow me so easily. And I can’t confirm that she is working alone, either.”
“Alright, good job, Marla.” He smiled. “I feel like I’m hardly needed here at all!”
‘I wouldn’t say that, sir.” It might look like she had things in hand, but Marla sure felt overwhelmed. Her adrenalin rush had worn off, and she felt cold and a little shocked after the morning’s events. Having someone else around with more experience in these situations was a big help. Atremi certainly seemed to be dealing well with the chaos he’d stepped into.
“Well then. Let’s head back towards that camp. I want a chance to look through her things before it all gets looted. If she does have an accomplice, you can bet they’ll be by to clean up in short order.”
“Yes, sir.” She nodded. It seemed like a solid plan to her.
He looked at her and cocked his head, considering. She wondered if he might be about to say something else, but instead he just smiled again. “Lead the way, then, Fayne.”
Shadows 10
Hadyn sat outside, staring blankly into the shallow pool. The lotuses had hall closed their blossoms for he night, and koi flitted darkly between their stems. Teah rested quietly beside him, watching the fish and dreaming of bigger prey. The wizard sat immobile, but his mind was restless.
He knew he should be sleeping, but lately he would just lie down, mind racing – waiting. Waiting for something to happen as soon as he let down his guard. He knew it was counterproductive to wear himself out this way. He was long accustomed to insufficient rest, but this was pushing him to new extremes and he wouldn’t be able to keep it up much longer. His attempts to circumvent his own self-destructive thoughts had all failed so far. He fought the effects of sleeping draughts, and the tonics to calm his mind had less and less effect. He still had some of the fear quelling potions that Lendrick had given him, but those worked better in full panic attacks. They didn’t last long enough to help with this constant state of nervous tension. His own supplies were running low, especially bitter haglia, and it was getting harder to escape he manor to take care of his own errands. Ever since he’d accused Abe of hiding information that could be useful to stopping the cult, she’d limited his freedom and time. They didn’t trust each other and the situation was unlikely to change.
The timing was poor. Knowing that Ja’yari was out there, searching for him – to kill him – made him feel harried. His concentration was shot and he could tell this displeased the old hag as much as his perceived insolence. Hadyn was a powerful wizard. He lived in what was probably the most secure city on the continent. He had allies (at least one) who would come to his side in minutes if called. He had Teah. He had, in desperation, a demon that was as committed to the preservation of his self as Hadyn. But he didn’t feel *safe*.
He frowned, digging his long fingers into his familiar’s dark fur. :Take me there.:
She rose without response, leading him into the shadows. He paused, pulling the words for Greater Invisibility from his scattered memory. They came more easily than he’d feared: maybe this really would work.
Teah directed him out into the city streets. He couldn’t see her, but could sense her movements through their telepathic bond, and followed down into the lower city. They moved away from the grander manors of the rich and noble, past the smaller domiciles of the less rich merchants, and into the arena of the ignored and overlooked. More people walked the streets here, even at night, and Hadyn’s frayed nerved turned them al to potential dangers. Nevermind that he had spells that could kill half the street if necessary – he was aware of his irrationality, but it rarely seemed to matter. It was one of the reasons he was reluctant to try this plan. It might not work – it might just give him further cause for paranoia.
Teah looked for him, showing through her eyes the dark crevice in the alley that she pushed her way through. Hadyn found it a few minutes later, with Teah waiting just inside the dingy basement. This was in the market quarter, and she had watched the place for a solid week to be certain of its safety. This section was scarcely used because it wasn’t secure enough to protect any goods from theft. A thick wooden door at the other side of the room was barred with rusty chains. Discarded rags and broken glass proved that the area had been used by some of Shiroeki’s homeless, or its less reputable underclass, in the recent past.
:Down here,: she thought at him, poised over a dark hole in the floor. It had been covered by a sheet of heavy wood, but Teah had already shoved it aside. It looked quite dusty save for a few paw prints. :There are no fresh scents: she confirmed, looking back at him once before she leapt into the pit.
Hadyn waited, peering down into the opening before he lowered himself down. It was round, with stone walls like a well, but there was a stone floor about fifteen feet down. He brought a rope, and secured the grapnel as best he could to one of the stones in the wall before he climbed carefully down. He could have used a spell, but wanted to save his strength just in case.
The shadows, at least, held few threats. Teah could easily navigate by scent, and Hadyn could see well enough even in the in the pitch black tunnels. After he retrieved his rope, she led down through a complex of what appeared to be disused sewers. Hadyn was briefly reminded of his explorations of Trylith’s sewers with Piove, Valentine, Sterling, Triskin, and the other local knights of Esthalos. Hopefully he would not encounter any undead down here, or any Crimson Sorcerers. Surely Teah would have seen signs though – he trusted her senses.
The rock of the walls was covered in lichen and moss which thrived on the trickle of water that dripped down from the city above, leaving occasional shallow puddles on the floor. Hadyn did his best to avoid these, but his long kimono trailed through some despite his efforts. He would have to clean up before he returned to the villa. He was considering this, and also the extra equipment he would need to transport to make this work (having already made some inquiries with some discreet local vendors), when Teah stopped at a threshold and looked back.
He stepped past – the chamber looked adequate at first glance. The stone walls were reinforced with brick here, and the space was bisected by a sturdy looking archway.
:Nothing but rats has been here in many years,: Teah reassured him. Hadyn was already inspecting an Imperial glyph carved into the arch, marking the reign of the Emperor during whose reign it had been built. If he was reckoning his dynasties properly, it meant this construction was several centuries old.
:It will serve,: he replied after some further consideration. :Have you explored beyond this point?:
:Yes. More tunnels, more rats. That is all.: She sat in the doorway, tail flicking back and forth. She was watching him, trying to assess his feeling. Teah was worried, he knew, and was hoping this undertaking would settle his mind. Or at least provide some needed distraction.
He sighed, hoping for the same. He could bring in more equipment tomorrow, but he needed to at least temporarily secure the shelter first. Two of his more destructive spells effectively sealed the exits, caving in the ceiling of the tunnels outside. The rubble was loose enough to allow some airflow, but would prevent all but the most determined from finding the chamber. He cast Alarm, planning toward the place more thoroughly later.
Hadyn paused, considering briefly the venture he was about to undertake. Then, carefully assuming an air of confidence, he shrugged. Pulling out of his pack a sharp knife, a shallow glass basin, and a wineskin that contained a solution of seawater and certain preservative herbs that he had prepared ahead of time, he spoke – not sure if he was addressing himself or Teah.
“Shall I begin?”
He really hadn’t had much of a recovery period so far. The Loyalist command had made well meaning promises, but Matteo understood that in a war like this, they couldn’t afford to limit their available manpower. A week after his return (and against Galawyn’s advice), he’d gone to the Shrine of the fallen with a raiding party. They’d met nothing but disaster well before they’d made it far into the surrounding woods. The blighted area he’d encountered had spread well beyond the forest, through the little village, and beyond. What was more, the area was now infested with powerful demonic entities. Unless the cult had chosen to let him escape before, they had only come into the area after his escape. The rebels hadn’t made another attempt on the shrine since.
After that failed mission, he’d agreed to act as a liaison between the local Aldryn and a band of Exian refugees who were being resettled on the Elven lands. He’d barely begun reading through the background files that Lorella had amassed on the situation when Volaris had side tracked him again. This time the mission was a secret expedition into Exia itself. They’d at least succeeded in their goals there, which turned out to be the rescue of a Loyalist contact who really hadn’t needed the help.
Matteo had limited his own involvement in the mission after the initial phases of getting people safely into the city, and making contact with some locals. The rest of the team – many of the same people he’d accompanied back to the Shrine – had then taken a more high-handed approach than he’d felt comfortable with. Instead, he’d taken a chance to do some personal reconnaissance.
He’d made his way home, to where he’d lived with his half-sister Lirain before the fall. The house was boarded-up and empty – the neighborhood was too close to the university. The house itself had been thoroughly looted, erasing any sign of what might have happened to his family. Their neighbors had either fled or been taken up the steps to the Ziggurat, never to return alive. He hadn’t had time for a more thorough investigation. Everything was still frustratingly up in the air, and it was difficult not to fear the worst.
When he’d returned, he’d started back with the files on the refugees. Spending time among his own people would be the closest thing to a break he was likely to get. Matteo wasn’t too distressed reading about the unruliness of the refugees. He was better trained to handle this type of operation than most. Some of them were former guardsmen, also, and he’d served with some of their leaders if he hadn’t known them personally. It was a bonus he hoped would help him gain their trust and cooperation. The only real snag now was that quite a lot of time had elapsed since the Loyalists had been able to send anyone with authority to manage the situation.
Marla Hearthstone, the woman currently handling the camp, was a place holder. She had been recruited into the Intelligence Service from the guards after the flight from Exia. While Lorella trusted her to keep an eye on the situation, she wanted someone with more experience making the decisions. This was especially true as they knew the cult had contact, perhaps even a plant, in one of the refugee bands involved. Marla would brief him once he arrived, and stay to provide extra support.
Now he was almost ready to leave. The camp was a four day journey on horseback, and the exact location of Fort Cedric was still being kept a secret for security purposes. He’d packed only basic equipment. Either the refugees or the Aldryn would take care of him. Volaris had some qualms about this assumption on his part, and one of the main sources of tension between the groups initially had been the resource strain the Elves were experiencing from hosting the Exians. But the latter were supposed to be learning to take care of themselves, and Marla reported that with druidic support they’d started some late harvest crops. As for the Aldyrn, well, Matteo was one of them. Even if he didn’t have direct kin ties to the people of Lenysa, they would welcome him openly.
There were other reasons for packing light. Marla had brought out a lot of the basic materials necessary for the operation’s smooth running already. Her reports indicated that she had a more than purely functional base camp, and was just waiting for someone to come and help her run it. There was also the matter of transportation. The Loyalists had needed to put a moratorium on teleportation due to the spells expense, and had instead purchased a number of flying mounts. He’d asked if he might be allowed the use f one. Not only would it more than halve his travel time, making an aerial approach would make it easier to disguise the location of the keep. It was much more difficult to track a fast flying hawk than a man on horseback, and it was likewise easier to cover more ground from above, and thus to locate and track any cult activity in the area. Of course, the hawks couldn’t carry as much weight, but that was a small price to pay, in his mind. Finally, a flying mount would be a great help if he and Marla needed to make a quick escape for any reason – as long as they didn’t have to carry anything else.
He looked into the satchel he had packed one more time, and shouldered it. Lorella wanted to see him before he reported to Volaris, and he headed down to the guard office to meet her. There was a bit of a wait when he arrived, as she was in conference with Captain Yara. Matteo could hear raised voices through the thick wooden door, but couldn’t discern more than a few words. He glanced around, but there were too many others around paying discreet attention to the muffled shouting for him to feel comfortable prying more deeply. As curious as he was, it wouldn’t do to get caught spying on his superiors. It would be hard to explain.
Instead, he closed his eyes and listen more carefully, realizing that he could pick out three rather than just two voices. All three were female, and his guess was that Lorella was shouting, and even speaking, the least. She was quiet by nature, and had probably been caught in the crossfire of someone else’s argument. Too intriguing! And he did have more discreet methods of investigating.
“Gordon,” he whispered, but could already see the former spymaster slipping out of his shadow, pressing up to and carefully through the stone wall. All the Elf had to do then was sit back and smile at anyone who passed by the office and peered towards the source of the shouting.
“There are simply some secrets you are not qualified to keep, Zanne. Your knowledge is great, but it must remain second to mine.”
Hadyn narrowed his eyes in annoyance. “You’re old, master-teacher.” He fairly spat the last words.
“If I die, it will be left to others of the Quiet Sages to collect all I have learned, not you. Your knowledge is second *only* to my own . Live with that.”
Abe’s face was flat, but Hadyn had been around her long enough to know when he’d annoyed her. Well good. “We’ll see.”
She snorted. “Ingrateful beast. Gather your things and your creature. We will be traveling to your Northern city of Bellaboca.”
This was news – he’d heard that the cult’s army had sent out a large contingent from Trylith, and that it as headed south into Castoria. “What do you want there?”
“I wish to examine specimens from this cult. According to your faction, they will have infiltrated their target well in advance of their march.”
“I’ve already given you the information we collected on the Crimson Masks.”
“It is not for you to question me, Zanne. You will prepare to gate us to the city in an hour. Meet me in the courtyard.” With that she walked out of the lab, hardly sparing a glance for Teah, who crouched menacingly outside the doorway.
:Her powers would not protct her from my claws,: she thought as the aged Southern woman passed by. Teah twitched her tail in annoyance.
:I’m sure I have tricks of my own she wouldn’t dismiss so easily, if it came to that.:
:Then why do you allow her to treat you as an inferior?:
Hadyn bristled. ;Nothing’s changed since we came here, Teah. I’m still trapped.:
:Of course.: The great cat turned and slunk into the shadows. She was keeping her opinions to herself – fine. Hadyn knew he could count on her regardless. He retreated further into the lab. It wouldn’t take close to an hour to be ready to leave. He was tempted to check on the progress of his spell instead – the clone he’d planted beneath the city – but he didn’t want to attract Abe’s attention.
He collected a few reference texts and some of his personal notes, but there wasn’t much other material he would need that he didn’t already have ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Even after the months he’d spend in the south, the impulse remained. Teah might fear he was growing complacent in this role, but she was wrong. More and more, the tight reign of Abe’s control chaffed. He felt trapped, and unproductive. She wasn’t teaching him enough to merit his complacency, either. He’d more than fulfilled his obligations to the Quiet Sages. He’d received a letter just recently from Ishitaka, talking about the discoveries they’d made in the Dwarven tunnels.
This expedition, he decided, would be telling. If Abe were as closed-mouthed as ever, he would call her on her treachery. If nothing else, he could unmask her hypocrisy to the rest of her scholarly brotherhood. He wondered if they would care. On a more personal level, it would be reassuring to know for certain whether she was a real enemy or only a stubborn and curmudgeonly old hag.
Less than an hour later, he was waiting outside in the courtyard watching the koi with Teah resting quietly by his side. She perked her ears as Abe approached. The southern woman was dressed for travel with a staff of her own and a small pack. Many of the objects she carried on her person gave off a magical aura – Hadyn had cast a detection spell in anticipation of her arrival. She never explained or even revealed her inventory, but they all held the same strange aura. It was not from any of the major magical schools Hadyn was familiar with. He’d studied it some, as the curse effect that she’d almost ruined his hand with carried the same aura under close scrutiny. He wasn’t confident that he was making any progress unraveling that particular mystery. It was closer to the divine magic he was familiar with on Keth than anything arcane, but with an alien flavour. Some of the Southern shrines he’d visited held some traces, but he’d rarely seen it cast.
Once she’d ascertained that he was ready to leave, Abe had Hadyn lead the way out of the city through one of the upper gates. He imagined that she was using even this as a test, perhaps of his familiarity with the city. Despite her age and small stature, he barely had to slacken his usual traveling pace for her to keep up. Once through the gates, however, she stopped him, and hired a carriage to carry them the rest of the way to the teleport sink. Teah followed on her own, keeping off the roads and away from nervous road patrols.
Hadyn had never traveled to Bellaboca proper. By the time he’d come that far south, Gordon and Walter had joined their small band, and they were avoiding the major population centers. He knew the high accuracy teleportation spells, but didn’t have them prepared that day. The sink outside the Castorian capital, however, should be strong enough to drawn them in as long as his aim was fairly close. He’d looked over Abe’s maps just I case, and traveling from sink to sink afforded extra assurances of arriving at the intended destination.
The exit procedures were much more lax than those required upon arrival at Shiroeki, and they passed through quickly despite the usual anxious glances that Teah garnered. Valentine had once suggested that he might consider leashing her whenever she needed to accompany them through public spaces. Teach herself had quickly let the Elf know just what she thought of his suggestion.
Abe provided he gem, and Hadyn cast his spell. A few disorienting moments later, they were standing in a small, though still impressive, structure. There was salt in the air here – Bellaboca was another port city. Though it was fresh ground for Hadyn, Sterling’s company had trade partners here. They passed through the entrance procedures, notably different and somewhat less bureaucratic than those at Shiroeki. Abe let Hadyn handle them all. That they were scholars from the South here to do research inside the city was apparently a good enough story for the bored-looking duty sergeant. Teah was on her best behaviour, but even so the Sergeant made a special note. Hadyn was displeased at being tracked this way – he was still a target for the cult, who no doubt had information on his familiar. On the other hand, it would surely be easier to discover their agents in the city if hey came to him.
Once through the sink’s gates, the pair made their way into the city to find accommodations. They settled on two adjoining rooms at the Silver Elk – a fancier place than Hadyn would have chosen for himself under normal circumstances, but Abe insisted that her age and experience were due a little luxury. Hadyn wondered what the staff would think when they were returning from their research trips, covered in sewer muck. He also wondered about the possibility of facing the cut in the wood paneled foyer, surrounded by rich tapestries depicting various hunting scenes…. In the end, it wasn’t his problem. He had his own matters to attend to, both to ensure his security, and to prepare for the coming investigation.
“I don’t think you’re very good at this,” the woman’s voice taunted in a sing-song tone. Marla Fayne shrank down into the b hollow between the tree roots, wishing she didn’t agree so fully with her pursuer’s assessment. She also wished that her back-up from the fort would arrive. It was weeks overdue, and at this point the situation had far exceeded the bounds of her training. The other woman stopped to chant the words of a spell, and a feeling of dread washed over Marla.
“I can see your terror, little spy. You’re not good enough to hide from me!” The footsteps drew closer, crunching ominously against the forest’s dry underbrush. Marla tensed, ready to bolt. “Ahh, there you are.”
The voice was filled with a malice incongruously matched to the woman’s appearance. She looked like any other refugee: dirty, scrawny, and tired. But there were other details which cloaked her evil in an aura of innocence. Laugh lines. Greying hair and sparkling, merry, eyes. The months of travel had left her thin, but Marla had no trouble imagining her with a little extra weight. It rounded out, so to speak, the image of a friendly matron, always with a cookie or a sweet in hand for a hungry or lonely child. It would have been all too easy for such a creature to lure in the abandoned children who’d followed this band out of the city. No one else cared enough about them to do more than notice when they fell silent and turned into automatons, waiting for her command to release the demons she’d bound into their shells. Most had barely even noticed until it was too late.
Marla looked up into the sorceress’s face, noting how cruelly her lips twisted downward into a sneer, distorting her otherwise friendly features. Springing forward, Marla swung a kick upward, landing it firmly between her pursuer’s legs. The woman doubled over in pain, and Marla was off, scrambling to her feet and tearing back through the trees towards the safety of the other camp.
There was some kind of commotion in the camp when she arrived, out of breath from running. Marla was sure the witch wouldn’t have followed her this far – not with sentries posted from the newly formed constabulary. Some were just brutes and bullies. Thomas Zeltaire was doing the best he could to keep the recruits in line, so they tended to take it out on people where they’d be less likely to report. This meant mostly along the camp periphery. With so many itching for a fight, Marla felt she was safe for the moment.
She headed for the courtyard, as the camp’s central open area had been dubbed. Whatever was gong on was surely centered there, and it was also where she was most likely to find help for her own situation. As she approached, she was relieved to find that the disturbance had been caused by the arrival of her long-awaited back-up.
Normally, Marla would have waited patiently until Atremi had a chance to properly introduce himself to the Exian and Aldryn leaders, and until he’d taken care of all the associated formalities. She’d much have preferred to wait until the assembled onlookers had dispersed somewhat, but the situation was pressing. Threading her way quickly through the assembled group, she sidled up beside Atremi as he was listening to the introductions. He nodded first to her, and then to the few human and elven notables who’d gathered.
“Thank you all. I’m sure we have lots to discuss, but it seems like my attention is required elsewhere at the moment.”
Marla didn’t know Atremi well, but a cursory glance revealed changes. He was relaxed and confident, as she’d expected, but he also seemed to have a stronger sense of purpose and an alertness that was reflected in his bearing. He wore gloves despite the warmth of the day, and a closer look revealed a network of fine white lines scaring his face. On the other hand, she’s only ever regarded him as another guard previously, or even as a listless musician. Now that she knew his real role, if was possible that her perception had changed as much as he had himself… Maybe she just hadn’t been paying attention.
“I’m sorry to disturb you all,” she added, trying not to sound too self-conscious or alarmist, “but we might be in the middle of an emergency.”
Zeltaire, leader of the refugees, stepped up to take charge. “If this is a situation that involves my people, then I want to know about it.”
“Of course,” Marla ascented. Atremi had probably been extensively briefed on the situation here, but he lacked personal experience of just how abrasive certain personalities could be. Zeltaire was pushy – on the other hand, he kept his people fairly well in hand, and he seemed fairly competent. The local Aldryn were typically more reserved, still trying to keep themselves at a friendly distance. The liaison, a younger Elf called Luthryn, proved this by promising his aid, if needed. He and Atremi finalized perfunctory formal greetings before Marla led her superior away, Zeltaire in tow, towards her ten headquarters.
“What’s going on?” Zeltaire demanded as soon as they were alone.
Marla looked from him to Atremi, who nodded.
“I’ve found out cultist. She chased me back here. I don’t think she is powerful enough to attack this camp, and I doubt she is going to stick around the other refugees.”
“She?” Zeltaire prompted.
“Yes, an older woman – Mathilda Brewer. Doesn’t that sound harmless enough? I don’t know too much about her yet, but she is a mage of some power. She made the children of the other amp into Crimson Masks, so that they could cause havock when it would be most advantageous.”
“What does she look like and where did you leave her?”
“Dark hair, starting to go grey, down to her shoulders. Thin as all the others, clothes just as worn. She was wearing a long tunic over pants. She’s a little taller than me.” She gestured to give a better indication. “Grey eyes. I left her in the woods between here and the other camp. Closer to here, I think.”
“I’ll get some men and start searching.” Zeltaire nodded to the others, returned Atremi’s salute, and slipped back out the tent.
Marla looked to the Elf after the refugee leader had left. “What should we do, sir?”
Atremi shook his head. “So much for a settling in period. What else can you tell me about this woman?”
“Not much more than I’ve said already. I was at the other camp speaking to their leader, Andrew Keller, and was following up some leads I’d gathered. I think I startled her.”
“Did you have a chance to check out her tent? Or warn anyone else in her camp?”
“No, sir. I thought it was best to get out of there. I didn’t realize she’d follow me so easily. And I can’t confirm that she is working alone, either.”
“Alright, good job, Marla.” He smiled. “I feel like I’m hardly needed here at all!”
‘I wouldn’t say that, sir.” It might look like she had things in hand, but Marla sure felt overwhelmed. Her adrenalin rush had worn off, and she felt cold and a little shocked after the morning’s events. Having someone else around with more experience in these situations was a big help. Atremi certainly seemed to be dealing well with the chaos he’d stepped into.
“Well then. Let’s head back towards that camp. I want a chance to look through her things before it all gets looted. If she does have an accomplice, you can bet they’ll be by to clean up in short order.”
“Yes, sir.” She nodded. It seemed like a solid plan to her.
He looked at her and cocked his head, considering. She wondered if he might be about to say something else, but instead he just smiled again. “Lead the way, then, Fayne.”
