Thanks for making it this far, everyone. I apologize for the amount of time that it is taking to finish this fic. Your reviews mean more to me than you know.
I left that place and traveled directly into the Black fortress of Kazas. The shimmer from my appearances never seemed to bother Doel as it did his soldiers. Perhaps he was only better at hiding it. I too had to conceal my distaste for the surroundings. The air reeked of lizard and decay.
Rather than greet me the self-proclaimed emperor said, "My spies tell me that the hooded man who has taken residence in Indels Castle is the Duchy's new tactician. What has drawn you to Basil?"
"Why have you drawn me away?"
Instead of answering my question Doel shifted on his throne and said, "My brother's son must be every bit the fool his sire was if he heeds the counsel of strangers." He shook his head and pretended to grumble to himself. "Surely someone taught him not to trust foreigners so intimately.
"You threatened my position with that pet of yours."
"Ravens are good omens in Basil as they are in Sandora." His voice was the slow and careful tone of one explaining a concept to a particularly slow child. "I would have thought you might research our culture before trying to spy within it."
I waited silently. This seems to agitate humans sometimes, though I don't quite know why.
"Maybe I misjudged you," he finally continued. "Perhaps you do not see the purpose in learning elementary Serdian beliefs because you fancy yourself worthy of more than humble espionage.
Was he truly worried that I would compete with him for the throne? I had not been sure of the reason for Doel's summons, but my pain-addled mind could never have conceived of this.
"Political advancement does not tempt me, Doel." Then I said something that, even then, I knew I might regret, "I'm searching for the location of an artefact."
"I had not taken your kind for scavengers."
"I must stay in this country until I have what we need."
"And I actually thought you would take your leave upon finding your maiden." He pressed his fingers to his temple as though I caused his head to ache. "Perhaps my wise-men may assist you."
"What I seek is not in Sandora."
"Otherwise, I might be the one with a new tactician in my employ?"
"Perhaps."
"Well, if Basilian antiquities are holding you captive, there is one expert minster who can set you free, but I'm sure you have already ferreted his name out for yourself. However, you may find unlocking his lips a very time-consuming task."
Without another word he lurched through the double doors of his throne room. I had no choice but to follow at his heels. We moved past the Sandoran ruler's sleeping quarters to the rooms that used to hold the archives.
Two of Doel's costumed magicians idled there. At our entrance they slinked to a book-laden table in one of the farthest corners and promptly began to scribble on manuscripts there. Doel led me to a desk with five drawers, pulled a key from the thick folds of his clothing and unlocked one. He held the contents of the drawer between his thumb and forefinger.
"My mages have wanted to test their… potion." His eyes gleamed as explained its use.
"So," I repeated the instructions, "Two or three drops of this and a thimble of Rootsaw-"
"Rootswitch." He corrected me immediately.
"And Noish will caw like one of your birds."
"You must find a way to isolate him yourself. I will not risk my spies for you." He said it as though he truly believed that I would have sought more of his aid. Before I could reply he continued, "But do hurry. My armies are sweeping through Basil's holdfasts in the south and west. My nephew's ministers will not long be able to help you.
I doubted that and told him as much. King Albert was not the child he remembered, and His Majesty surrounded himself with competent generals. Basil was positioned to defend against Doel's strategy. I enjoyed the play of emotions sifting across his face as the self-titled emperor realized the obvious.
"What will your service cost me, Wingly?"
"I serve no one and my assistance is more valuable than any of the treasures you have taken. However, the village of Seles is the home of the woman we discussed before."
"I see," Doel said warily. "That request is simple enough."
"Are there any suitable quarters here? Any staff that can be trusted with Emperor Diaz's own- "
"Procuring the wench is one matter. Allowing a foreigner to lord over my own household, regardless of how small a portion, is quite another," said Doel. "No servant of Basil will commandeer a room in the Black Castle."
He extended glass container of poison to me.
I considered his words. He would give me all I asked in exchange for the information that I already had and my resignation from King Albert's court.
"Hellena Prison will suffice until I have located the object." The words tasted like table-scraps left for a dog. I took the vial delicately. Doel might have "accidentally" allowed some of the fluid to dribble onto the outside.
"Don't worry," he said, showing more perception than I had credited him with. "I take care with dangerous things that will approach my family." He probably meant to implicate myself more than the liquid. "This vial is well sealed."
I didn't want him to detect any more of my mistrust so I pocketed the container nonchalantly though, at that time, I did not plan to use it. I suspected it would kill the old man regardless of my care with the dose, thereby exposing me to suspicion and ridding Doel of what he perceived to be a competitor. If the offer of help was genuine, Doel might conceive that he had the right to call a favor from me. The poison looked more appetizing than either option.
Doel and I then discussed the tactical information he needed. Later I would deliver more.
When I returned to Indels I asked myself: where would Minister Noish spend his time? I sought the library. It fit the rest of the castle. Other national leaders had more lavishly decorated ones, but Basil's library welcomed like an embrace. Elder tomes sat comfortably with newer codices and strategically placed wall torches and desk lamps lent an unmistakable warmth. This seemed to be a refuge where servants took breaks between the bookshelves and even mingled with lesser nobles. The number of women surprised me. Basil must have recently changed its cultural views on women's education. During King Carlo's rule even noble-women were rarely literate. A few of the girls may have been less interested in poetry than a chance to glimpse their king. Royal guards flanked a curtained area behind which the king probably studied. During the fruitless part of my search, I wondered if Noish might have been behind the curtain as well perhaps teaching King Albert. When I inquired two knights pretended not to understand my accent. A young page eventually told me that the minister favored a spot near the rear of the library. I found him scrawling something at a heavy oak desk. His bony hand tremored only a little. We exchanged polite greetings before I touched on my true purpose for seeking him.
"It is said that, after the Dragon Campaign, the Winglies gave the great powers of the continent three peace offerings. Is there any evidence of such a thing?"
"Certainly not," said Noish. "Children may wish fairy tales true, but the Winglies were embarrassed after the war and brimming with an eternal consternation of humans. Do you truly believe that they would gift us with magical items?"
"Perhaps just one," I replied.
He smiled sadly at me before changing the subject. "His Highness told me that you were interested in learning more Serdian history."
"Our king is perceptive," My answer seemed to please the minister so I asked about the Middle Age of Serdio.
"Gareth Langhorne wrote two histories concerning that time."
"I should like to read his thoughts."
"I would show you to them, but His Majesty has taken those volumes. He would have made a fine scholar if only had not been born a prince," said Noish with unmistakable fondness. "In fact he knows nearly as much as Serdian history as I."
"Perhaps there are other documents that you recommend?" Even if Noish claimed not to believe in the moon objects, I hoped that there were some books or papers that might hint me towards Basilian secrets.
"I have some discourses in my quarters which I can show you. A few of the letters use the old script, but I can explain it to you."
I doubted very much that I would need his help deciphering an obsolete alphabet, but a private lesson with the minister would provide me with an excellent opportunity to interrogate him. We set a date.
Noish and I next saw one another, not in private, but during a council meeting. I used the occasion to suggest a move that would ultimately expose Basil to one of Doel's hidden forces. The Sandoran ruler would gain the distant territory he craved and with it he would own footholds to the West and East of Basil's capital. However, Doel would be displeased to find that he too would suffer losses. It would not do for the war to end too soon.
The king liked my idea. It was well-crafted to be sure, but the Minister of Defense looked disquieted. He pushed both hands through his gray hair several times while studying the maps. He looked up at me and narrowed his eyes, but he did not voice his doubt to His Majesty, and the plan was set to be carried out.
Guilt accompanied me to my bedroom. King Albert had shown me only kindness and I was planning his army's demise in order to bribe a man that was no friend of mine. Other Serdians did not seem fond of me, but I did not yet wish to see even them suffer in this war on my behalf.
I sighed when I realized that my bed was occupied. I plucked a snake from between the covers. It was only a brown garden snake, not a venomous viper nor the asp that was once favored by assassins. Yet I found that sleep came slowly.
When I sought to meet Noish I encountered his assistants barring the way to the inner quarters. They glared down at me from behind a thick, wooden desk.
"Minister Noish wishes to speak with me."
Two of the attendants exchanged an incredulous look.
"He made an appointment." I tilted my head toward their ledger book.
The lead attendant checked the ledger for my pseudonym while his partner darted uneasy glances between myself and hallway behind me.
"Councilor," said a familiar voice. The knight Lavitz had approached in his quiet way. He made far too little noise for someone of his size. "Have you lost your way?" He asked as though he thought that during my entire employment in the castle I had never bothered to learn my way around.
"No, thank you for your concern, Captain. I am to meet with Minister Noish."
His green eyes narrowed very slightly. He turned to the attendants. The chief attendant continued scanning then stopped and looked at the first knight. The latter held out his hand and was given the book. "I'm afraid you will need to make other arrangements, Councilor," said Lavitz.
Inwardly I groaned. This was more than an inconvenience. Noish would confide nothing in me now. Declining his invitation would make me seem unreliable at best and deliberately troublesome if I tried to blame my absence on trusted attendants and a golden knight.
"The minister and all of the other councilors have already retired for the night," Lavitz said, "You should too."
When I turned away from them my eyes paused on a portrait of the royal family that adorned the south wall of the foyer. King Carlo had cut a dashing figure, stout and athletic even in formal-wear. His wife's delicate facial features and limpid hazel eyes were mirrored with startling accuracy in the son that she had not known. Lavitz's reflection appeared in the glass. His suspicious stare weighted on me as I left.
Instead of returning to my bedroom, I relished a small act of rebellion by deviating outside of the castle, deep into the gardens.
In the stillness of the night the Dragon Buster and I reacquainted ourselves. Before I even drew the flamed blade it called to me not with an audible shout, but a whisper that bubbled through my veins. It wished to be used again. As enjoyable as it would have been to wield its full power while flying dramatically above Basil I had to resist the impulse. My disguise needed to remain intact until after I had both the Moon child and the Basilian Moon object. Instead I satisfied myself with a taste of the legendary sword by practicing elementary techniques.
Normally, exercising my body allows my mind to flow peacefully and unimpeded, but now my thoughts were turbulent. Minister Noish surely would have been my best source of information. King Albert and even Doel had both praised his knowledge. Lavitz prevented me from using him. Eventually the steady cuts and thrusts, steps and lunges calmed me. But the sword filled my thoughts even as it cleared my mind. The plan took life in me. Another scholarly man lived nearby. I knew where to find the information I needed and Doel's urging had given me the means. After I finished practicing, I made the Dragon Buster dissipate, and peered toward Indels Castle. The towers stood silent with lighted windows like watching eyes. The leftmost one appeared no more remarkable than the other three, but it housed the royal chambers.
I drew out the glass vial and passed it from one hand to the other and thought of the man who gave it to me. If Doel meant to sabotage my plan, I could make him drink from his own concoction. And, if Serdians were so fond of birds, why not take two of them with one trap? Let Lavitz try to force his will with no weight behind his thinly veiled threats.
I decided to poison the king.
Let me know what you think about chapter 4.