The sound of soft clatter of silverware and hushed voices loomed over in the dim lighting of The Hangman. Pyria and Elvira sat in a small and intimate booth where they had been served the finest meals Volheim had to offer. On two neighboring tables their bodyguards sat by and kept their eyes on the restaurant’s clientele.
“So…” said Pyria after the two of them had carefully danced around the topic all night.
“So…” Elvira echoed. “I understand that you are hesitant to ally with the Blackwoods. My family hasn’t exactly got the...cleanest of records.”
“And what records might those be?” asked Pyria with a warm smile. This was an act of faith. There were plenty of rumors regarding the Blackwoods but little of it was proven. But she wasn’t going to ask without giving a little. “My people stole land from the indiginous draug population, enacted skirmishes against them that could be labelled as little other than ‘cleansings’ before we ran them off to the hills. There is a lot of blood in our history. How much blood is in yours?”
Elvira’s eyes quickly scanned the restaurant for any prying ears and then she gave Pyria a solemn look.
“My family has delved into many ruins, unearthed horrible secrets and used them to make ourselves stronger. We studied hematurgy, chthonian conjuring and even wikkan rituals. And we have employed these schools of magic to safeguard our future.”
Pyria nodded. “And would we eventually find ourselves on the receiving end of these forbidden arcane arts to further your own political interests?”
Elvira gave a long and tired sigh. “That is a fair worry. After all, we have done that to our adversaries in the past. But we stand on the precipice of a great change. Allegiances are being forged, colonies are being conquered and soon these will see the formations of new nations.
“I’m not gonna lie and say that hasn’t been in the works for us. The dream of conquering settlements or winning them over through clever diplomacy to eventually create our own nation. One governed and run by the Blackwoods.”
“You aren’t really winning me over, you know.” said Pyria with a confused smile.
“But what we planned and what actually takes place are two different things. Plans fall apart when they come into contact with reality unless you accept your losses and adapt. Our dreams of an empire will never come to fruition and if we maintain the course then we´ll be left behind in the dust. We need an alliance and in order for alliances to work there needs to be complete trust between all parties.”
“And a little bit of desperation in order for those parties to take that leap of faith.”
The two of them smiled. Both of them enjoyed this elegant dance of words. Like a verbal display meant to seduce and entice that left the performer very vulnerable.
“I wouldn’t expect you to enter any kind of alliance that wasn’t beneficial to your people...and these kinds of relationships require giving in equal measure.”
“And Keystone has the military might and the mining resources that you want...so what can you give?” asked Pyria.
“Knowledge and innovations.” answered Elvira. “My family has gathered an immense amount of resources and made impressive technological advancements from the arcana we’ve unearthed. Not to mention the magical secrets we possess.”
The mention of their spells made Pyria feel uneasy. She wanted nothing to do with them...but she could think of a couple of members of the Keystone Council who would value such knowledge.
“Infinitum is growing more powerful by the day,” Elvira continued. “And no one is ready to stand and face them. But if we work together, if we share our resources and use our strengths to make up for each other’s shortcomings...we just might stand a chance.”
“But our two colonies won’t be enough.” added Pyria.
“I agree.” said Elvira. “There would be a wide open space between us that would be undefended...unless…”
Pyria didn’t need to ask what she was insinuating. There was only one major settlement between them. One renowned for its small but elite military and flourishing agriculture.
“Vothal Imm.” Pyria finished.
“If we can get them onboard with us in this alliance we could actually stand up to Infinitum. We could protect an immense amount of land and make sure that future generations get to live free out in this Frontier.”
Her usage of the word ‘protect’ instead of ‘control’ piqued Pyria’s interest. And the notion of using their allied power to give people the ability to ‘live free’ was definitely rhetoric...but it was rhetoric she could get behind. So far she had detected no lie in her eyes.
Pyria gave her a long and hard look and Elvira did not flinch from it.
“No schemes. If we do this we do this to protect our people.”
Elvira’s expression subtly changed from her normal somber one to one of genuine happiness. A smile of sincere joy.
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
* * * * *
FOB Valstadt was surprisingly lively that night. While Krongard burned in the distance the Legion officers and Magistry arcanists danced and drank. And one might argue that they deserved it. They had fought hard, lost much and somehow survived up until now.
The air was alive with a mixture of laughter, shouts and even the occasional subdued crying. Celebration came in many forms.
Abra and Siv entered the central clearing where the main festivities took place in their finest ceremonial attire. While it was customary for officers to dress in suits of white and blue with all of their medals at full display, the valkyries had a different custom. They dressed in jet black suits that were adorned with dark purple filigree of strange eldritch patterns. Another way the military set them apart from the rest of the soldiers and arcanists.
As they entered there was a noticeable lul in the chatter as faces turned to witness their dark presence. For a moment Siv expected them to be asked to leave but then one of the heralds popped out as if from nowhere to greet them.
“Lady Attica, Lady Alister.” said the herald, a tall blond sunborn man with bright blue eyes and a surprisingly muscular frame for an arcanist. “Welcome to the festivities. Can I get you something to drink?”
And just like that, with a high ranking arcanist welcoming them, the crowd seemed to reluctantly accept their presence and go back to whatever they were talking about before.
“Uh, sure.” said Abra.
“Absolutely!” said Siv as they jovially clapped the man on the shoulder. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced.”
“Oh!” said the blond man as he smacked his forehead. “My name is Lorenzo. I’m a herald of the Inheritance program.”
“Well it is great to finally meet you.” said Siv with a warm smile.
Lorenzo smiled back happily before pointing at the central HQ tent.
“Drinks are over there. Come with me. The other heralds and the imperiate would love to speak to you.”
“Lead the way, good sir!” said Siv.
As the valkyries followed Lorenzo to the tent, Abra gave Siv an exhausted look. Abra was less of a people person than Siv, and Siv loved people.
As they entered the tent they were quickly greeted by various officers, generals, arcanists of the Order, heralds and eventually Imperiate Umah Gaelen herself. The archmage was the only one not dressed in a traditional military suit but instead an extremely revealing black dress. She wore no jewelry but instead all of her favorite trinkets were braided into her dreadlocks. The black dress was most likely a power move on her part for as the highest ranking person in this tent she could dress however she wished. And should anyone’s eyes wander over her physique she’d stare them down with her piercing gaze. She owned this crowd.
“I see you two finally decided to join us.” said Umah with a smirk.
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world.” said Abra.
“Really? You? Don’t forget, I know you Attica and they way you avoid crowds.”
Umah was clearly in a very good mood. And why wouldn’t she be? Thanks to her tactical wit she had led the Legion and the Magistry to key victories in Krongard.
“Here you go.” said Lorenzo as he handed both Abra and Siv bottles of beer.
They thanked him and both took a sip. The beer tasted great! Better than any beer they had had in ages.
“This is amazing!” said Siv.
“Specially imported all the from Bravatoa, Infinitum. Just for this occasion.”
The valkyries exchanged a look of being impressed.
“Damn.” said Abra. “Those ruukai sure know how to make their beers. Makes you wonder if they just party super hard in the Urthrad Empire everyday.”
“Doubt it.” said Lorenzo. “The ruukai fanatics think such things are beneath them. Which is probably why such things were abandoned when they left Infinitum. Plus, I don't think their faithful have much use for drinks or food any more.”
“True that.” said Siv and they hit their bottles together in salute.
Abra suddenly heard a familiar voice whisper into her left ear.
“If you grow bored of this crowd I have something to show you that you might find fascinating.”
Abra turned to see Umah walk away from them with a sly grin. Looking at the others it was clear that Lorenzo hadn’t noticed but Siv had clearly heard, thanks to their enhanced senses. Siv gave Abra a knowing smile and raised eyebrows. Abra just smiled and shook her head.
They continued talking to the high ranking party goers until Siv pulled Abra aside.
“Are you not gonna take her up on that offer?”
Abra shrugged. “I don’t know if I should. Something tells me it might be a bad idea.”
Siv gave her an indignant look of bewilderment. “Why is it a bad idea if you allow yourself to live a little. To move on, to just enjoy yourself for one night in your stupid little life.”
“I really can’t tell if you’re being supportive or…”
“Have. Torking. Fun. Like, now.” said Siv and nudged her towards Umah.
Abra laughed and was about to turn to walk the other direction when she realized that her friend was right. Maybe she did deserve to live a little. The two exchanged a knowing smile and then she changed course and walked to Umah.
The imperiate was talking to a general but when she saw Abra approach she immediately excused herself and met the valkyrie halfway.
“Hey.” said Abra.
“Hey.” said Umah.
“So you had something interesting to show me?”
Umah smiled wickedly. “Follow me.”
The two of them walked over to Umah’s personal tent. Abra was surprised at how barren it was. Barely a desk and a table but there were plenty of arcanum canisters.
“This is where you live?”
“Sort of.”
Abra took in the interior of the tent. “Where do you sleep?”
Umah’s eyes narrowed.
“Why do you ask?”
Abra felt her heart flutter with nervous energy. She smiled. “Just curious.”
Umah’s eyes lingered on her before she turned around and began moving her hands in complicated patterns. She spoke long sentences in paeric and a few of the canisters began glowing. And then something happened that Abra wasn’t expecting.
There, in the middle of the spacious tent, a tear opened up. It was as if reality rippled and folded to form a paper thin doorway into a dark but warmly lit space.
“What’s this?” asked Abra.
“My home away from home.” said Umah as she stepped in. Once on the other side she turned and Abra beheld her in a warm and comforting light. “Care to join me?”
Umah extended her hand and, after only a brief moment, Abra took it and stepped through.
She entered into a comfortably warm interior space with black marble walls and floors that made her think she had been teleported to a castle or fortress somewhere far away. But as Umah led her through the structure she soon saw sections where it was still under construction. But beyond it was nothing but darkness.
“So...where are we exactly? Where did you teleport us?” asked Abra.
Umah continued leading her through the high ceilinged corridors but looked back with a coy smile.
“Oh that wasn’t a teleportation spell. That was the Plane Slip spell.”
Abra looked confused for a moment. “You brought me to a different plane of existence?”
“Somewhat. I brought you to a pocket dimension of sorts. My pocket dimension in fact.”
Umah led her into a wide open chamber with an ornate hearth and a perpetual arcane fire. This was the only room that was properly furnished with a cozy bed, a table, a couple of leather sofas and a console in the corner.
“Nice. So this is why your tent was so empty. This is where you’ve been staying.”
Umah poured them both glasses of wine, handed one to Abra and sat down on a sofa. “Being the Imperiate of Warfare has its perks. This is definitely one of them.”
She then motioned for Abra to sit down next to her. Abra smiled, took a sip from her drink and sat down on the other side of the sofa.
“I must be very lucky to have been invited here, or do you invite every pretty girl you find here?”
Umah narrowed her eyes and ran her fingers through braided, red hair. “It just so happens that you’re the first one to come here other than me.”
Abra nodded and looked up at the ceiling. “Cool, cool, cool. Dope, dope, dope.”
* * * * *
Siv continued to talk with the other officers and generals but found them very clearly being courteous and polite. Their presence definitely unsettled them, but only a little. Which Siv enjoyed, but only a little. Lorenzo, however, was more than eager to talk with them. In fact he didn’t seem put off by the fact that they were a valkyrie at all.
“Alright, last question, I promise.” he said with a giddy smile.
Siv chuckled. “Hit me.”
“So when they awaken your valkyrie powers, you have to go on, like, a pilgrimage into the Void, right?”
“We sure do.” said Siv as they took a long sip of their drink.
“How does that work? Do you have arcanists on site to open up a rift into the Void and then close it later?”
“Oh no. You know how Praetoriana, the grand citadel of the Magistry, is built on top of a network of catacombs?” Said Siv with a little bit of theatrical flourish.
“You have one down there?”
“A very old one. Don’t worry. It’s fully quarantined with airlocks and everything. No void corruption can seep out from it. Anyway, when we come of age we are attached to a tether and then we enter the rift and stay in the Void until our powers awaken.”
“That sounds terrifying. How old are you when this is supposed to happen?”
Siv shrugged. “About twelve, thirteen. Something like that.”
“Just children. Must have been so terrifying.”
“Yeah. It was.”
“Are the rumors true? Did the Void come alive around you? Did you come across specters and other unspeakable forms that are said to inhabit the Void?”
“No.” said Siv with a smile. “Nothing like that. No one ever hears anything in there because there is nothing in there. Although, I did have a friend who said she heard someone whisper her name while she was there. But she was also insane, so…”
“So maybe not the most reliable witness.”
“Not really.”
“Still...so young. And then you were pushed into the Second Rebellion at what...age seventeen?”
“Fifteen.”
Lorenzo’s expression of curiosity gave way to a look of solemn sympathy.
“You were just a child.”
“I was old enough.” said Siv, shrugging it off and taking a long sip of their drink.
To be continued...
Comments (2)
See all