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DKP 5-33 A truth and a lie
🕑 Added 2020-09-21 04:16:21 +0000 UTC
Thayle walked boldly down the lane heading for the gates of the city. She decided not to wear her armor or robes of station, and instead slip in unnoticed in a plain dress. She carried her gear in her pack but hoped there would be no need to display them so soon.
Mordholm was an old city with thick walls and streets that looked tired all those years ago when she first visited. It hadn't changed much since the days of her youth, except the women in green armor on its walls.
Thayle passed through a gate guarded by ten men in full armor, and a two dozen more in padded coats waiting in the yard behind. It was obvious the city was on high alert, and the presence of women of Ulustrah on the walls didn't bode well. Rather than carry the heavy pack to the temple, she took a room at a nearby inn and stowed her equipment. The only thing she took out with her was the sword, unwilling to leave such an artifact unguarded. It looked odd at her waist while she wore a dark blue dress with white frills, but nobody seemed to notice. In fact, many people carried weapons of their own.
The innkeeper could tell her little about the women on the walls. All he knew was that the women of Ulustrah were swarming into the city and taking a very aggressive stance against Astikar. The local temple to Astikar was already abandoned and being used as a second base for the women.
Thayle made her way into the streets, determined to learn more and find her answers. The streets were full of people who looked angry or afraid, going about business with an ear listening for the alarm. With a bit of luck, she found a woman of Ulustrah walking down the street and hurried to catch her.
“Priestess,” Thayle called to turn the woman about. She slowed to a fast walk and approached the woman who glared out from under a simple helm.
“What is it?” the woman asked in a terse voice. “We aren’t blessing the crops this year.”
Thayle was taken aback by the blunt remark but pressed on approaching to talk with her.
“I am sorry, but I am not here for a blessing,” Thayle said. “I wanted to know why your women are on the city walls.” The priestess glared in silence, looking Thayle up and down before finally deciding to talk.
“Are you new to the city?” she asked.
“I am,” Thayle said politely. “I just arrived an hour ago. I was here once a long time ago when I was younger.”
The woman nodded, studying the response in her aura. “Then I suggest you keep your visit short and go back to your home. This is no place for a flower.”
Thayle wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or an insult. She studied the woman’s light to see irritation and annoyance to be talking to her.
“Does my asking you questions bother you?” Thayle remarked.
“I am not here to answer questions,” the woman said with a wave of her hand. “We are at war, and not blessing the populace.”
“So you have abandoned your oaths of kindness,” Thayle said, folding her arms and smiling to see the red flare in the woman's light.
“We have done no such thing!” the woman snapped. “But we have to conserve our strength. A blessing wasted on crops of fertility might be needed to heal later. A life of one of our sisters could be lost.”
Thayle nodded but kept her smile, noting how it annoyed the woman. “You seem to have plenty of women on hand. I doubt a few blessings would hinder you.”
The woman sneered and turned about, walking off without saying another word. Thayle watched her go in shock. Never had she seen a woman of Ulustrah be so rude. She decided to make her way closer to the temple and see what she could learn.
The first thing she noticed was the wall that was only meant to separate the courtyard from the street was reinforced. It had been raised to twice its previous height, and a proper wooden gate replaced the once elegant metal bars. Fifty women in full armor stood on the upper lip, with twenty in the gateway itself. The door was shut behind them as they stood in full armor and shields.
“Hold!” one of them called and stepped forward. “The temple is closed to the public.”
“Why?” Thayle asked in alarm.
“By orders of commander Alayse, no one but a member of Ulustrah’s order is permitted inside.”
Thayle nodded and then looked to the right where a patch of dirt contained some flowers. She sang a quick tune and brought those flowers to life, causing them to grow rapidly. Pleased that she had proven her right to pass, she was shocked to see the looks on the women's faces.
“Is something wrong?” Thayle asked.
“You should be ashamed of yourself,” the guard said. “Wandering the streets in a dress when our order is being attacked on all sides. Why haven't you come to aid the temple and help guard our goddess's greatest relic?”
“I have come to the temple,” Thayle said, folding her arms. “I traveled a long way to get here for that very reason. I have even had to kill priests of Astikar in my journey.” She added that last part so that they could see the truth of it in her light. Some of them smiled, and others whispered to one another as the speaking woman bowed with a slight nod.
“Forgive my rash assumption then. I was surprised to see you out of armor when we are in open war.”
“I have just arrived and placed my armor in a local inn. I wasn’t aware I needed to approach a temple of the goddess of harvest and fertility armed for battle.” Again the woman nodded but kept a firm voice.
“These are dangerous times, and we must be ready for any eventuality. This very temple was attacked by bandersooks and the men of the west. Assassins and priests of Astikar killed many of the city guards and nearly caused a massacre in the streets.”
Thayle remembered Tavis and Ayawa's report on their efforts here and the details of the narrow escape. She was sure the women of her order had no idea the role they played in opening the gates and rescuing the people.
“I would like to speak to whoever is in command,” Thayle said with a firm tone.
“New women are to report to captain Nalli,” the woman said and pointed into the yard.
“And who does captain Nalli report to?” Thayle asked.
The woman looked annoyed that Thayle had dared to ask the question. She stood straight and threw her head back as a frown shadowed her face.
“Governess commander Alayse is in charge.”
“Alayse is still here?” Thayle asked in shock.
“Governess Commander Alayse, the woman repeated. “Don’t ever forget her rank again.”
Thayle could see the woman’s aura flaring with anger and decided it was better to move on and investigate. “My apologies, I would like to go inside now.”
The woman's frown didn't leave her face, but she did turn and motion to a woman by the gate. That one beat on the door and told somebody on the other side to open and allow a priestess inside. Thayle was ushered in as if they were glad to be rid of her. The gate slammed behind her as she arrived in a yard full of surprises. There were tents in neat rows, and racks full of swords along the walls. Fifty women dressed for battle stood ready to one side, and their eyes followed her as she crossed the yard.
It had been over ten years since she was last in this courtyard with its flowers and artwork. She was an acolyte back then, chosen to come here and receive her water, and the blessed sight. Above on an upper floor was a bowl large enough to be a bath. It was carved from a single piece of green crystal and blessed by Ulustrah herself. Its waters were intensely magical, and any woman who drank even a sip of them was granted the aura sight. There was no place on the planet more sacred than this to her order. The bowl was unique in all the world, though legend had it that there was once a matching blue bowl.
Thayle made her way across the yard and saw the trouble coming before it even arrived. A woman in green plate with a golden wheat pattern on her chest came directly at her, a scowl so angry Thayle wanted to grip her sword.
“What fool woman prances around in a dress when our enemies are just outside our gates?” the woman demanded as she arrived just steps away.
“And you are?” Thayle began, but the woman ordered her silence.
“I am Captain Nalli,” the angry woman replied. “Where is your armor priestess?”
Thayle folded her arms and took a menacing stance as she met the woman’s glare.
“I left it at the inn,” she replied. “I didn’t think I needed to dress for combat to come to a holy temple.”
“Then you are a fool,” the woman scoffed. “I have enough fool girls in this temple already. If you keep that glare on me, I will have you scrubbing pots until your fingers wear off.”
Thayle leaned in closer so she could whisper and not draw too much attention.
“I want you to take a careful look at my aura,” she said and waited for the woman to scoff and fix her gaze. “I outrank you, and you had better bite your tongue when you address me.”
The woman’s face went white as she looked Thayle up and down her aura telling the truth.
“Are you a grand priestess?” the woman asked, her lips trembling.
“Higher,” Thaye said firmly. “I have no intention of sharing anything more with you. All I want from you is where to find Alayse?”
The woman looked angry as Thayle addressed Alayse by her name alone, but wasn’t willing to challenge her.
“She is in the temple, leading the defense of the temple from the alter.”
“So she has taken a place of love and worship and turned it into her command center for bloody conflict,” Thayle surmised.
“Governess commander Alayse brilliantly defended this temple against a major attack,” the woman argued.
“I have heard about that,” Thayle replied. “I would like to hear the details from Alayse herself.”
“If you walk into that room and are not a prime, she will skin you and cast you from the upper floors,” the woman replied.
“Thankfully, I outrank the primes as well,” Thayle said, leaving the woman with a shocked look on her face as she walked away. She headed for the temple's great doors, covered in silver metal shaped to look like trees. The guards at the door attempted to stop her, but she made them watch her aura as she told them she was allowed inside.
Inside the once grand hall with its white marble pillars and long green tapestries was now a barracks with tables down the middle aisle. At the far end was a great white marble bowl rested under a beam of sunlight streaming down through ancient roots. An altar of green stone carved to resemble a tree stump and emblazoned with the image of a doe stood five steps above the floor. Here stood Alayse, decked out in her armor as she spoke with two other women. Even from here, Thayle could hear the anger in her voice as she gave orders and demanded information. All around the room were other women all of high rank staring as she walked up the center aisle in her dress. Whispers circled the room until, at last, Alayse noted her approach and looked over with confusion.
“Who let you in here?” she demanded as Thayle reached the steps.
“I did,” Thayle replied. “I am allowed to go where I please, especially the temples of my Goddess.”
“Thayle?” Alayse said in a shocked voice. “Well, if it isn’t the source of our suffering.”
Thayle walked to the bottom of the steps smiling up as Alayse folded her arms.
“I am here to find out what is going on,” Thayle said in a firm tone.
“What is going on?” Alayse laughed. “The same that always happens when you crawl out of your hole. I am fighting the battles left in your wake. First, the desert prince, then assassins, and now the order of Astikar. You are to blame for all the deaths and destruction that has befallen our order. You led Gersius to our temple in Eastgate and convinced that fool who is soft on you to shelter him.”
“Watch what you say,” Thayle said, her voice showing her anger. “Prime Arlin is the chief prime of the order, and deserves more respect.”
“His weakness for you dragged us into this war. He should never have allowed Gersius inside our walls,” Alayse retorted.
“He allowed it because Gersius was telling the truth. He never attacked Whiteford or intended to harm anyone other than the Doan. The Father Abbot betrayed him, then made up a story, lying about what Gersius did.”
“It doesn't matter if it was true or not,” Alayse argued. “The price our order has paid is too high. Gersius isn't our fight. We shouldn't be dying for him.”
“So, the truth isn't worth fighting for?” Thayle asked.
“What truth is worth the destruction of our order?” Alayse asked. “And for what? A man who doesn’t even belong to us? Let him fight his own battles with his dragon, if that part of the rumor is true.”
“He does have a dragon, and her name is Lilly,” Thayle said, now annoyed at Alayse. “And if you think insulting prime Arlin will make me made, insult Lilly, and we will draw swords.”
“And I will beat you again,” Alayse said with a sneer. “Now, get out of my temple unless you have some reason to be here.”
Thayle smiled and looked around, taking in the condition of the temple. She took a deep breath and then fixed her gaze on Alayse.
“Why are you here?” Thayle asked.
“We are defending the temple. It has already been attacked once because of your mistakes,” Alayse countered.
“Were you given no orders to march?” Thayle asked. “I have heard you were to march out and meet your commanding officer.”
Alayse laughed. “I was given orders and told to march right into the enemy's hands. They said I would meet Gersius there, not some commanding officer, and that he and his wives would lead the attack on Calathen. However, nobody seems to know where Gersius is, and I can no longer get verification or updates.”
“Why can't you get updates?” Thayle asked, confused by her statement.
Alayse looked angry to be answering the question, and her aura glowed with annoyance. “The same orders included instructions to send both of the temples scryers south to Kingsbridge. I am not marching my company into the fire without proof he will be there. We could be surrounded and slaughtered while we wait.”
Thayle was somewhat relieved that Alayse saw the danger in the false orders and wisely refused to act on them. The part about the scryers worried her, though, so she pressed a thought.
“Where are the scryers now?”
“They left on their own accord, sneaking off into the night when I refused to let them go. The temple is blind. I have no way to make contact unless I send a rider. I have sent seven, but not one of them returned, so I sent a full twenty-five to clear whatever is in the way. They should be back any day now.”
That explained why Eastgate couldn't make contact to verify if the reinforcements had arrived. The riders were probably being intercepted on the road by either the raven guard or the assassins. There was still a threat to the temple, and Alayse had rightly judged the trap, choosing to protect the holy building. Hopefully, the large force got through whatever was in the way, but Eastgate told her earlier today they had no contact. If the riders were due back any day now, then there must be some confusion.
“I have been in contact with Eastgate just recently,” Thayle said. “They reported no messengers from you.”
“I didn't send them to Eastgate,” Alayse snapped. “I sent them to Harperston. They have a temple scryer that can relay the message. My force should have arrived there just hours ago, and will be back when they have a reply.”
Thayle nodded as she plotted the location of the town. She passed through it years ago, on her acolyte's journey here. It was half a days ride at most and was another brilliant idea of Alayse. Thayle had to admit the woman was doing an excellent job under the circumstances, but she needed her to understand the situation and who was in charge.
“Then I will give you some news,” Thayle said with a smile on her face. “I have been traveling with Gersius. The Dragon Knights are marching on Calathen. They already have the first company with them, and you and the second company are to meet them for the attack on the city. I can tell you exactly where to meet him safely.”
“Under whose authority?” Alayse demanded.
“Mine,” Thayle replied. “I have been made Governess Commander General of the army of Ulustrah. All the companies answer to me.”
The room was silent as the two women beside Alayse looked to her for an answer. Alayse walked down the steps to stand before Thayle as her eyes went her cheek.
“You dare to come into this temple and claim to be the head of Ulustrah’s armies when you bare two marks of shame?” she said, her voice dripping with anger.
“Forgiveness,” Thayle corrected. “These are marks of Ulustrah’s love, proving that she forgives me for what I had to do.”
“They are sacrilege,” Alayse said, her lips curling in a sneer. “You will get out of this temple and this compound before I have you arrested.”
“You have no authority over me. On the contrary, it is I who hold authority,” Thayle replied.
“No one who carries such marks has any authority at all!” Alayse shouted. “I will bear such an insult to our Goddess no longer, get out, or I will cut you down where you stand!”
Thayle could see the rage in her light and knew she meant it. Alayse was not willing to move from the temple on her orders alone. She saw the marks as all the proof she needed to disregard anything Thayle said. There was only one way to convince her now, and she settled her gaze as she made her declaration.
“I am the champion of Ulustrah and appointed by the primes to lead her armies. Look now at my light and judge the truth.”
Alayse flared her nostrils and shook her head as the two women behind her looked uncertain.
“I will accept nothing until I have proper orders from the primes,” Alayse said defiantly. “For all I know, this is how you got those marks. You found some way to mask the truth, and Ulustrah has punished you for it. Will you soon have a third for this transgression?”
“How can you be so stubborn?” Thayle demanded. “You can all see my light, you know I speak the truth!”
“Without orders, I remain!”
Thayle could see it was hopeless, and to remain would end in bloodshed. Alayse didn't trust her and wasn't going to move from the temple. What Thayle needed was for Alayse to get proper orders from the primes. To do that, she needed to wait or find a scryer. If the two that belonged here were in Kingsbridge, then another would need to be found. She wisely chose to turn and leave the temple with Alayse hurling threats as she went. Orders swept the compound as she crossed it, and was practically thrown out the front gate.
She made her way out of the city, arriving to find Sarah curled in a ball, playing with a fire she held in her hand.
“Sarah?” she called, causing the dragon to look up.
“Are your armies getting ready to march?” Sarah asked as she clutched her hand tight, extinguishing the flame.
“No, there is going to be trouble here. The head of the second company refuses to accept my command until she receives proper orders. She can’t receive them because her scryers were ordered away.”
“So, what do you intend to do?” Sarah asked.
“Wait,” Thayle said with a shrug. “She sent a heavily armed group to a nearby city to use the scryer there. They should be back in a few days, and should have the answer she needs.”
“You are the champion of your goddess, a dragon knight, and a future empress. This woman needs to be put in her place. Why don’t I fly into your compound and help them see who is in charge?”
As much as Thayle wanted to see that, she knew it was folly. It was the same reason they didn't fly over the city earlier, and why she entered it alone. She was afraid the city would be on edge after the attack and would fire on Sarah with arrows and spells the moment they saw her. The last thing Thayle needed right now was an angry red dragon sweeping the city with fire. Worse, if she used a blessing of Astikar, her sisters there would refuse any orders of aid even if Prime Alrin arrived to deliver it in person. It might work if Lilly was here, she was smaller and less prone to burn the city to the ground, but Lilly was with Gersius.
“I do not wish to alarm them any more than is necessary,” Thayle said. “All I need are her messengers to come back.”
“Why didn’t she send them sooner?” Sarah asked.
Thayle explained that she had, and none of them made it. So Alayse sent a much larger force that was due back any day, but she was afraid to delay. Gersius told her to take all the time she needed, but he also wanted to march as soon as possible. She hated the thought of being the reason he would have to delay.
“Not to mention what trouble that Yarvine might cause in your absence,” Sarah reminded her.
Thayle didn't even want to think about that now. While she was away, Yarvine was indeed the highest-ranking follower of Ulustrah in the camp. She was also hungry for control of the women and the larger army. The problems she could cause were too numerous to consider.
“I have no choice but to remain in the city and wait for her messengers to return.”
“What if her messengers don't return, or not with the orders you are expecting? False orders have already been sent by scryer. Who's to say they won't send more?” Sarah pressed.
“I will have to find another way then,” Thayle said as she saw the wisdom in Sarah's words. “There is no point in keeping you here. You should go back. Gersius needs you more.”
“I don’t like the idea of leaving you here alone,” Sarah said, lowering her head to look into Thayle’s eyes. “You are precious to me.”
Thayle smiled and ran a hand along Sarah's chin and leaned over to plant a kiss on her upper lip.
“I will be alright,” Thayle said soothingly. “Nobody knows I am here, but the women in the temple and they want to keep me out. I will wait nearby and watch for the messengers. When they arrive, I will confront her again and make sure she understands.”
“Gersius needs you at his side,” Sarah said. “You are a part of his strength.”
“No,” Thayle replied and stepped to the side to run a hand along Sarah's jaw. “He needs you at his side. Go back and help him organize his war. Have him contact Eastgate and tell them Alayse is still here, and her scryers received orders to go to Kingsbridge. Also, mention that Alayse refuses to accept my appointment to General until she hears it from a prime. The temple guards they sent have arrived and are protecting the city.”
“Then what?” Sarah asked.
“Wait a couple of days, then send Lilly to collect me. Have her bring the reply if you have it. Otherwise, we might have to go on without Alayse and her company.”
“If Lilly is here to get you, he will be alone,” Sarah pointed out.
“He won't be alone; you will stand with him and take our place until we return.”
Sarah's aura fluctuated from excitement to worry or panic.
“Sarah, relax,” Thayle laughed. “He value’s your strength and discipline. You are what he needs right now.”
“You are telling me to stand at his side in your stead,” Sarah choked. “What if I need your advice? I don’t know what to say to him.”
Thayle continued to run her hand along Sarah’s jaw, admiring the strength of those scales. “Just be yourself and help him,” Thayle replied. “You’re spending time with him, not asking him to bed. He needs advice about the march, and targets, and battle plans. Don't worry about the relationship that will happen on its own.”
Sarah nodded. “Why does this make me feel foolish?”
“Because it's what you really want, but you're afraid to take it,” Thayle said. “Now, go. I have some women to bring to heel. Tell Gersius to march if needs to, just have him tell Lilly where to meet him.”
Sarah stood up but lowered her head to look Thayle firmly in the eyes. “If these fool women hurt you, I will come back here, and this city will tell the tale of my anger for a thousand years.”
Thayle smiled to see how protective Sarah was and shooed her away. The down blast of the dragon's wings, blowing leaves in her hair as she took to the sky. With a sigh, Thayle turned around and headed back for the city. All she could do was wait. Sooner or later, the messengers would arrive, and if they didn't, maybe, she would be forced to use Lilly as leverage.
Gersius and Lilly followed Gedris into a hall deep in the keep where Ayawa and Tavis waited. They lounged near a doorway, looking up as he entered the room.
“So, what is this all about?” Gersius asked.
“We have no idea,” Tavis responded. “Gams is being very quiet about it all.”
“Where is he then?” Gersius asked, noting he wasn’t present.
“He went to check on something before you got here,” Tavis replied and tipped his hat lower.
Gersius looked to Lilly, who was more interested in talking to Gedris. The two women seemed to be giggling about something, so he let her be. He took a seat at a nearby table and let out a sigh.
“You seem stressed,” Ayawa observed.
“Thayle is away, trying to figure out where the missing second company is. I worry what Yarvine will do when she discovers Thayle isn't here to challenge her.”
“It’s you she should be afraid of challenging,” Ayawa laughed. “We all heard you threaten to kill her.”
“Most of the camp heard it,” Tavis added. “And I am sure those that didn’t have been told since.”
Gersius nodded in agreement and ran a hand through his hair. “It was very nearly a battle,” he replied. “One of her guards got in my way and put his hand on a weapon. I threw him into a wall before he did something foolish.”
“It was that bad?” Gedris asked from the side.
Gersius had forgotten that Gedris was a priestess of Ulustrah. She wore none of the markings, preferring to dress more like Ayawa in leathers or simple dresses. He looked up to see her and Lilly watching in concern as he nodded his head.
“I hope I have not offended you,” he said, addressing her.
Gedris shook her head and cleared her throat. “I know I am supposed to support my prime, but she has behaved like a spoiled child. She treats her flock like they are a burden and believes her position puts her above everyone. I am shocked she is a prime at all. The others are so humble.”
Gersius was grateful for her candid reply but knew that many women didn't share it. A number of them believed Prime Yarvine was the highest head of their order present, even above Thayle. If he and Yarvine came to open conflict, a significant number of them might turn on him. He needed Thayle to contest her right to lead and keep those forces in line. As he worried about the potential for disaster, a gentle hand came to his shoulder. He was surprised to see Lilly smiling down at him as she squeezed.
“Don’t be so surprised, I’m not that mad at you,” she said silently over the bind. “I understand why you worry, but my heart tells me you don’t need to.”
“Thank you for being my comfort,” he replied wordlessly.
She stood behind him and rubbed his shoulders as Gedris joined Tavis and Ayawa. Gersius closed his eyes and enjoyed her touch for a few moments before the door opened. Gams walked in, dressed in his armor, his aged face showing the signs of concern.
“Where is your other wife?” he asked, noting Thayle's absence.
“I had to send her out to resolve a problem,” Gersius replied. “She will be back in a few days.”
“I hope that problem is Prime Yarvine,” Games said dryly. “She is going to make this whole endeavor a bloody nightmare.”
Gersius waved a hand and shook his head. “Thayle is in charge, that does not need resolving. She is out locating her missing company and checking why the temple in Mordholm isn't responding.”
“Does Yarvine know she isn’t here?” Gams asked.
Gersius sighed and shook his head, and he hoped it stayed that way until she returned.
“Well, let's move on to why you're all here,” Gams said and moved to stand across the table from Gersius. “When I got here, this keep was in need of repairs. I put crews to clearing our rooms and making new doors and furniture. There were some strange surprises that I am hoping you can resolve.”
“Me?” Gersius asked.
Gams shook his head. “Come on, boy, I and your family go way back. I served with your father, and I know your family built this keep.”
Gersius nodded slowly, his eyes fixed firmly on Gams. “They did, over a thousand years ago. It has been abandoned several times and rebuilt, but it was active until two hundred years ago. We used it as a safe location outside the rule of the empire.”
“Your family never trusted the kingdomes of the old empire,” Gams agreed. “So why did they abandon it most recently?”
Gersius paused to let Lilly’s rubbing soothe him and allow him to collect his thoughts.
“This was a major temple to Astikar. It was abandoned ten years after the grand temple in Calathen was built, and the bulk of the order moved there. One of my great grandfathers stayed here to the end, guarding the keep with a small garrison.”
“And nobody has been here since?” Gams asked.
“Not that I am aware of. My family still technically owns the land but has made no effort to use it for hundreds of years. Why are you asking me all this?”
Gams let out a rumbling “hmmm,” then turned and walked to the center of the room as all eyes followed him.
“This keep has a network of tunnels under it,” Gams began. “Somebody took the time to fill those tunnels in with rock and sand. They were hoping to bury something down there so no one would find it.”
“What would they bury?” Tavis asked.
“I don’t know,” Gams replied. “I was hoping he could tell me,” he added and nodded to Gersius.
Lilly leaned over to look at him as he shrugged slightly under her touch. “I have no knowledge of anything of importance being hidden here. As far as I know, a patriarch of my family spent his fading years here, and when he died, the servants returned to Taishan.”
“That patriarch was a member of the falcons, wasn’t he?” Gams asked.
Gersius nodded as Gams reached into a pocket and then tossed a metal object on the table.
“We found that in one of the tunnels I have already cleared,” he said as all eyes went to the silver diamond of metal with a red falcons head on it.
“You found this buried in the rubble?” Gersius asked.
“Yes,” Gams replied. “It was on the body buried with it.”
The gathered members were silent as everybody waited for Gersius to say something. He paused a moment to consider his thoughts. If a patriarch of his family had died in peace, he would have been given an honorable burial. To be entombed in the rubble of a lower passage meant he was sealed in haste, or to hide him as well.
“Was there anything else?” Gersius asked as he picked up the amulet and rubbed it between his fingers.
Gams straightened up and let out a sigh. “This body was beheaded.”
Gersius looked up from the amulet with concern as Gams began to pace.
“You can tell by the cuts on the bone, he died in violence and was sealed in a stairwell. Probably tossed in and debris poured on top.”
“I know nothing about this,” Gersius said.
“Then, you don't know why somebody went to the trouble to fill lower tunnels with enough material to require a crew of a hundred men working for weeks?”
Gersius shook his head as Gams let out another sigh. “I was hoping you could tell me if it was worth continuing to dig. I am putting a lot of effort in clearing these tunnels. Men have to carry it out a bucket full at a time.”
“I want the tunnels cleared,” Gersius said. “I need to know why they were sealed.”
“It will take time,” Gams replied.
“I am waiting for Thayle anyway, double the men on the task, and have the captured weavers assigned to lighten the loads.”
Gams smirked and nodded his head. “I knew this would perk your interest.”
Gersius nodded in return as the door on the far room opened, and Sarah walked in, dressed in a well-appointed red dress, with golden trims.
“Sarah!” Lilly cried and ran across the room, throwing her arms around the tall dragon woman. “I missed you.”
Sarah looked shocked for a moment, but then put her arms around Lilly and replied in kind.
Gersius looked over to see Ayawa, Tavis, and Gedris staring at him as he ran a hand through his hair.
“Something to tell us?” Tavis asked.
“Nothing,” Gersius replied.
“Don’t keep your parents in the dark,” Ayawa teased as Gedris started to snicker.
Gersius cleared his throat and leaned over the table so he could whisper.
“Lilly and Thayle want me to take Sarah as a third wife,” he said and glanced her way to make sure she hadn’t heard.
Ayawa shook her head as Tavis smiled broadly. “What is it with women and extra wives these days?” Gedris immediately swatted him as Ayawa laughed.
“That does no good. He never learns,” Ayawa added as Lilly and Sarah continued to talk on the far side of the room.
“So, what does she think about it?” Tavis asked.
“Who, Sarah?” Gersius asked. “She has already told them she wants to be a wife.”
Tavis somehow smiled wider and tipped his hat up to look Gersius in the eyes. “So why isn’t she?”
“I hardly know her,” Gersius replied. “And she and I have a tendency to argue.”
“So you only like women who roll over and do whatever you say,” Ayawa asked.
“That is not what I said,” Gersius countered. “Lilly and Thayle both argue as well, but Sarah gets angry about it. She believes she is right all the time.”
“That didn’t stop me from marrying Ayawa,” Tavis said and took another swat from Gedris.
“I told you he doesn’t learn that way,” Ayawa said with a shake of her head. “I had to put a knife to his throat to get his attention once.”
“He should have better manners,” Gedris replied. “You are a wonderful woman.”
Gersius laughed and looked up to see Lilly holding both of Sarah's hands. He supposed it was inevitable. Sooner or later, Sarah was going to be a wife. He just wished there was some way to make it special, to mark her transition. Lilly suddenly glanced at him with a smile, and he knew she was reading his thoughts.
“I wish the bind didn't betray everything I am thinking,” he sighed.
“I think it's beautiful,” Gedris replied. “Lilly told me you can hear each other's thoughts and feel your emotions. You can even see into your dreams with a touch.”
“We can do all that and more,” Gersius said. “But keep that between us. I do not want my enemies to know of such an advantage.”
Gedris nodded as Ayawa put an arm around her and pulled her tight.
“I would never have believed I day would come where I would say this, but you deserve such a love,” Ayawa said. “I never knew how having a second would make me feel so at peace.”
“I can’t believe you are saying it now,” Tavis said and got a third swat. “Alright, I will stop.”
“You just have to hit him enough,” Gedris said as Ayawa rubbed her arm.
Gersius smiled at the exchanged and then looked up as Sarah approached them.
“I am instructed by Thayle to inform you she is staying in the city. The second company leader has refused to recognize her command and is attempting to contact the primes for orders.”
“Why would that be taking so long?” Gersius asked. “The scryers can get replies in hours.”
“Thayle said the temples scryers were given instructions to leave the temple and go to Kingsbridge. This Alayse has been sending horse messengers to a nearby town to use the scryer there, but they have not returned. She has been forced to send a large detachment to fight her way in and get her reply.”
Gersius didn’t like the sound of that. Somebody was trying to isolate the temple and keep it blind. Whoever that person was must have further plans for it to be going to such effort.
“So Thayle is safe inside the temple?” he asked.
“I don’t think so. She made it sound as if they rejected her and put her out. She may be staying in the city, but I doubt it is inside the temple.”
Now he was even more worried. Thayle was alone and not even under the protection of her order. Worse, she carried Ulustrah's weapon with her. He began to wonder if too big a risk was being taken and if Thayle needed to be recalled right away.
“She asked me to have you use the scryer here to relay a message to Eastgate and tell them that the temple no longer has any scryers and that Alayse refuses to accept Thayle's command over her. Also, she wishes them to know the temple guards did arrive and are currently protecting the entire city.”
Gersius nodded with a dour expression. “I will see that message sent immediately.”
“I don’t like her being away now,” Lilly said. “I can see the worry in your heart.”
“Something is still going on in that city, and Thayle is not adequately protected,” Gersius replied. “I wonder if she should be brought back immediately.”
“She believes the large force of messengers will be returning any day now,” Sarah said. “She wanted to stay and wait to see what the reply from the primes was.”
Gersius nodded, but it still left Thale exposed. He thought about sending additional women to act a bodyguard when Sarah spoke again.
“I am to request you send Lilly to recover her in two days. If you march, she wants you to tell Lilly where you are to meet. I can relay where Lilly should wait for Thayle to return.”
“I feel her over the bind,” Lilly said. “I can go right to her.”
“I offered to use my dragon form to impress on these women that Thayle was in charge, but she refused to allow me. She believes these women will attack, and I would do something rash in return. I am not certain you should fly into the city.”
Gersius saw an image of half the city burning as Sarah tore down buildings with a single blow. He looked up to see Lilly smiling as she watched it in his mind.
“I will send Lilly, but I am not comfortable with Thayle being so alone. We have numerous enemies now that would quickly take advantage of such an opportunity.”
“Only if they know she is there,” Sarah said. “I did not even fly over the city, and she entered in that plain dress of hers. I doubt anyone outside the temple understands what a treasure lurks nearby.”
Gersius was rather surprised to hear Sarah refer to Thayle as a treasure. Her voice even sounded confident, as if it was merely a matter of fact. He met her gaze as she took on a slight smile and glared right back.
“I suppose I will make do while Lilly and Thayle are gone,” he said.
Sarah nodded and stepped closer. “I will be here to help you. If you will allow me, I will help you plan your advance, and offer advice.”
Gersius felt Lilly swell with happiness over the bind but never took his eyes off Sarah. He wanted to see what she thought of the current situation and explained the tunnels. He then handed her the falcon emblem found on the body. He told her who the body was suspected of being and how his end did not coincide with the stories from his youth.”
“You should double your efforts to clear these tunnels,” Sarah said as she looked over the falcon emblem. “Somebody is trying to hide something, and it might be related to the falcons or Astikar.”
“She certainly thinks like you,” Gams said with a nod. “I will see to it the work crews are increased and keep you appraised of anything we find.”
Gersius nodded and walked closer to Sarah as she studied the amulet. “This has deep meaning to you?”
Sarah held it up between two fingers, her eyes looking distant and lost. “This was a symbol I saw often just before the end. Its meaning is very personal to me. That your family had members who were falcons is not surprising. You are obviously a man born of noble heritage, but why was this buried here?”
“If the secret is below us in the tunnels, we will find out soon enough,” Gersius replied.
Sarah turned to look at him as their eyes met, and Lilly came to stand beside her. “Your march will be delayed. It will give the enemy time to prepare.”
“Let them,” Gersius said. “Thayle is away, and I have problems in the camp to set right before I can march. What I need to know is how to reach the priests of Astikar in my path. Too many have died for a lie already, I need to know how to save them instead.”
Sarah nodded and took one last glance at the amulet before handing it back.
“You need something they cannot deny. A symbol that shows Astikar stands with you, not the Father Abbot,” she said.
“Can you be that symbol?” he asked. “Maybe if you showed you could call on the god's power.”
“I don’t think I will have the effect you want,” Sarah said with a shake of her head. “You need something more akin to a challenge of faith. Where the god himself is allowed to show who is right and who is wrong.”
Gersius nodded but couldn't think of how to manage it. If he could drag the Father Abbot before the whole of the brotherhood, then maybe, but that was as likely to happen as the earth mother showing up for tea.
“I will pray on it then. I will ask Astikar how I might accomplish this.”
Sarah looked at him with a raised brow. “You still call on Astikar?
Gersius nodded with a slight smile. “I pray to think him mostly. I thank him for my wives and for choosing me to walk this path. As painful as it has been, it was the only way to bring Lilly and I together. In turn, that brought Thayle into our lives to double my blessings. I owe that to him, and I will never forget it.”
Sarah was quiet a moment as the fire in her eyes flashed. Gersius saw terrible turmoil in her aura as she struggled with a thought before finally speaking.
“You are an amazing man. I wish I had known men like you before.”
“There are many like me, and some who are better,” Gersius replied. “But few are called to walk such a path where their character can be put on such a display.”
“Humble as well,” Sarah said and looked around the room. She noted Ayawa and Gedris standing close together, and Tavis smiling with his hat down. She looked over the two women and then back to Tavis. “They are both your wives as well?”
“I am as surprised by that as everyone else,” Tavis said.
Sarah nodded. “It seems you humans have changed much since I was imprisoned. Few women from that time were willing to make such an arrangement. I knew some, of course, but it was rare.”
“It helps if the women love each other, and not just the man,” Gersius said. “It makes the relationship harmonious.”
Sarah nodded. “So Thayle has told me.” She looked down as Lilly took her hand, and her aura flared with excitement.
Gersius took careful note of the change in her aura and realized he was worried over nothing. Sarah was in love with Lilly and Thayle. Even more, she was in love with him. He saw the light flowing from Sarah to them both as she looked back up with a slight worry to her eyes. He realized she was worried what he would think, so he turned to pace, paying the gesture no mind.
“So, I will send Lilly in two days. This will give Jessivel more time to contact his network of spies and see what he can learn about our mystery woman. You don't happen to know an ice dragon who went by the name Helen?”
Sarah looked concerned a moment, but she ultimately shook her head. “I am not familiar with that name as a dragon. I knew a few human women named Helen.”
Her answer was true, so Gersius moved on. “Then I will spread the word we are remaining in place for at least five days. Let the camp rest, and prepare for the long march. Also, no one is to mention Thayle is away. I want Yarvine to be ignorant of that fact.”
“A wise tactic, but her absence will be noticed,” Sarah said.
“Thayle has many tasks that keep her busy; I will answer any questions with that. Yarvine does not have to know what those tasks are.”
“I would be more than happy to step on the woman accidentally,” Sarah offered her smile slightly widening.
Gersius wanted to take her up on that offer but decided against it as Lilly giggled. He was happy to see she was enjoying this moment and turned to Gams, who was still watching nearby.
“Keep this dig as secret as you can. I do not want the spies in our camp to learn of it if I can avoid it.”
“That will be hard with the number of men I will have to put on it,” Gams said. “But I will do what I can.”
Gersius let be at that and hurried off with Lilly to find Jaylis and relay Thayle's message. He asked Sarah to join him again in an hour to go over the plans for the advance. She graciously accepted, and her aura dimmed when Lilly had to release her hand. Now he walked through the camp with six guards, two of Ulustrah, Astikar, and Balisha. Lilly took firm hold of his hand now and practically beamed with happiness.
“So when will you ask her?” he heard in his mind.
“You need to stop listening to all my thoughts,” he replied. “I don’t listen to yours.”
“You should,” Lilly replied silently. “I was thinking about Sarah.”
“I didn’t need to read your thoughts to know that,” he said.
Lilly shrugged and asked again as he glanced at her and replied. “Not now, we need to wait for Thayle to return.”
“But I won't be leaving for two days, and it will take me a day to get there and another to get back,” she said sadly.
“Thayle will want to be here for this,” Gersius replied. “It would be cruel to take Sarah while she was away.”
Lilly’s mood dipped but quickly recovered as she agreed he was right.
“Alright, but you ask her as soon as we are back,” she insisted. “It’s terrible that it took this long. What changed your mind anyway?”
“I have been thinking about all the visions we have seen and what they mean. I suspected several of them were of Sarah and her place with us, but the last vision made it obvious.”
“She was supposed to be your reward from Astikar,” Lilly interjected. “But you were still afraid to take her.”
He nodded and continued as they rounded a corner. “I was until I heard her call Thayle a treasure and saw her aura light up when you took her hand,” Gersius replied. “I have been concerned that she will not respond to you two as she does to me. I needed to be sure she loved you.”
“Please, she badly wants to mother Thayle and I.”
“And what do you think about that?” he asked.
Lilly squeezed his hand and shrugged. “She is a much older dragon, I would have allowed her to mother me even if she wasn’t a wife, but you told her no.”
Gersius nodded and pressed that point. “And you don’t see the problem with that?”
“What problem?” Lilly asked.
“She talks about how important you two are and how you deserve respect while demanding you respect her for her age as a dragon. She is very easy to get along with so long as you don't challenge her position.”
“She is just being a dragon,” Lilly sighed. “My mother was just as bad, if not worse. She beat that order of the scale stuff into our heads.”
“This is part of what I worried about. Sarah will change our relationship. I wanted to make sure the change was for the better.”
“It will be,” Lilly said. “She will change too, just like I did. I told you this already.”
Gersius hoped Lilly was right as they entered the large worship tent the women of Ulustrah used. A dozen smaller tents were attached to the sides for use as meeting rooms and private areas, but one was for the scryer. Gersius found Jaylis looking rather uncomfortable, but he refused to talk about why. He accepted the request to relay the information to Eastgate and promised to send it right away.
His next stop was the meeting tent they used on the road. Here the new order of Balisha was gathering, and he wanted to speak to them about the need for courage ahead. He looked at the faces gathered and realized that most of them were women. It seemed odd that this war was being carried forward by so many of them. Men often boasted that they fought to keep women safe, yet here they were in armor and carrying swords, determined to fight for themselves.
Lilly led them in song, and he spoke about the road ahead. Lilly used the bind to inform him that she had given her gift to Culver, and Gersius called him up before the gathered crowd. He anointed Culver as a dragon priest and presented him to the assembly. Lilly then spoke about how she would pick more to give her gift too, and that together, they would restore Balisha's worship to the empire.
This caused a round of cheers, and Gersius then took a moment to go over logistics. He discussed their armor and how its manufacture was going slow. Currently, there was only enough for a dozen outfits. They would be staying in place for nearly a week, and he intended to run the forges night and day. He was hoping to have triple the number of armor before they marched.
He and Lilly blessed them with Balisha’s love and then left to return to the keep their escort of guards watching. Just as they arrived at the gate of the keep, a dozen women stepped out to bar their way, before Yarvine stepped out behind them.
“Where is Lady Thayle?” Yarvine asked. “I have been looking for her all day, and nobody seems to know where she is.”
Gersius glared at the show of power, and his mood immediately affected Lilly, who growled ever so slightly.
“Governess Commander General Thayle is busy with a special task,” Gersius replied.
“And what is that task?” Yarvine asked a smirk on her face.
“None of your concern,” Gersius replied before looking over the women who barred his path. All of them were women of Ulustrah, and all had auras filled with anger as they looked at him. Already she was poisoning hearts and minds, undermining his authority. He would have to make a show of force, to make sure they understood who was in charge.
“I am a prime of Ulustrah, and Thayle answers to me,” she began, but Gersius silenced her.
“Thayle is above the primes and answers only to Ulustrah herself,” he said firmly. “She was chosen and given special privilege, if you object to that, take it up with your goddess.”
Yarvine's face twitched only slightly as she began to step to the side. “I can see you are an unreasonable man and prone to violence. It will do no good to try and set you straight; men like you only know how to bully others into submission.”
It was a setup. She had no intention of battling him over Thayle. She wanted to create a scene where he could be made to appear uncivil while she was ever the noble soul. The women were just mean to be witnesses, to spread how poor Yarvine was insulted. Any action he took now would only reinforce that belief and make it worse. He glared at Yarvine as her smile curled ever so slightly. She ordered the women aside to allow the bully to pass. Lilly went to go after her, but he took her hand and steered her away to the keep.
“How dare she treat you like that!” Lilly roared as they entered the planning room on the lower floor. “She said you were mean!”
“She is attempting to prove I am unfit to command. Just another warlord looking for personal power and control.”
Lilly folded her arms in anger and frowned as he made his way to the planning table. Hopefully, Yarvine would keep until Thayle returned; if not, he would have make arrangements. It would be so much easier if word came back from Eastgate about what to do about her. As he leaned over the table to look at the maps, the door opened, and Sarah strode in, her red eyes fixed on him for just a minute before she noticed Lilly.
“Is something the matter?” she asked.
“Yes!” Lilly roared. “That woman insulted Gersius and said he was a bully!”
Sarah looked to Gersius for clarification, and he told her about what happened.
“She dared to block your entry to the keep?” Sarah asked. “She is attempting to show that your power lies in her women and that she can deny you them.”
“She lured me into being very blunt with her, then used it as a pretense to show the present women I was not a friend of theirs.”
“She called you a violent bully!” Lilly shouted.
“Get rid of her,” Sarah said. “I will carry her to Eastgate myself and drop her on their doorstep if necessary.”
Gersius sighed and shook his head. “Getting rid of her for asserting her authority will cause open dissent in the camp.”
“You will have open rebellion if she is allowed to continue,” Sarah said. “That she found women to stand against you means she is gathering support. You will have a war inside your own camp before long.”
Gersius knew she was right but wasn't sure how to handle it. If Thayle were here, she could battle Yarvine for authority, but any move he made would be seen as an act of aggression, further dividing the camp. His only safe choice was to wait for Thayle to return and avoid confrontations with Yarvine in the meantime.
Comments
Markus Weber
take it easy my friend your health means more than a chapter on date. i really love your story and if you need to take a break for a weak or two to whatch out for yourself and your health then do so.
Sorry this was so late. I stayed up well passed my bedtime to finish it. I will sleep at work tomorrow and try not to shoot my other wrist.
