Battle of lindly, p.18
Battle of Lindly, page 18
She laughed as she shook her own dice in the cup, “I am betting to share your bed.”
Victus nodded but then began shaking his head in amusement. Both of them slammed their cups down on a count of three. Victus allowed her to call hers first, “ Three green, one red.”
Victus called, “Two green. Two red.” Both of them lifted their cups to reveal that Victus had missed all of his. They were all blue.
Jess snickered as she got three of the four right. “Points to me then.” For the next few hours, they laughed and played games together. Having their own personal celebration and reunion. Although they were eager to explore their passion for each other, they allowed it to develop naturally and without any pressure. They had a deep regard and affection for each other that could only develop over the time in their past and they each found pleasure in simply being close. Their love was already complete, but the physical expression of it was the exclamation point at the end of the sentence.
Biddy had been scrutinizing his imps and fire ants like a hovering mother hen. He wanted everything to be perfect. The wooden sculpted visage of himself was a crescendo of sorts in the power of his fire and was good for a laugh. The food would be that of the divine, he checked and tasted everything thing his little fire imps made and scolded them when they made something too spicy, befitting their own palates and not those around. “No. No. No. Chuewpa! That is far too hot. We need savory and sweet. Not just fire and heat! Add more sugar and for the meat, it should be glazed with a mixture of herbs and oil. You brush it over and allow it to cook into the meat. The taste should be a perfect balance of sweet and savory, exploding on your tastebuds,” he instructed forcefully but added, “With a hint of heat." The small fiery imp, wearing a little chef hat made himself flash more red in anger, tossing his little ladle to the ground and began squeaking in its fiery language. Biddy understood the creature was upset because some of the other imps were not listening. Biddy nodded and clapped his small hands together. "Okay listen up, all of you." The fire ants stopped carrying little twigs and Biddy pointed a stubby finger at the fire ants building and quickly added, "Not you— you keep building." As all the little imps encircled Biddy he began, "Everyone. Chuewpa is the master chef second only to me. We have to do this right and as a reward for doing such a good job, I will make you a lava bath." Little squeaks of cheers could be heard and they all began to scramble back to their jobs. However Biddy stopped them, "BUT!” he shouted and the fire imps froze, “If you do not do a good job and you rush the food? I will turn you all into water imps and you will never play with fire again." With that, all the imps screeched and began to work methodically and carefully. They hated water and wanted nothing to do with it and the idea that they could be turned into a water imp made it very clear that their master was serious. Biddy knew this was all nonsense as he could not turn them into a water imp even if he wanted to but the result had the desired effect. Confident his imps were preparing everything properly, he moved away from them towards Aris and Serin.
Both were sitting side by side, facing away from everyone with their fingers intertwined. Aris overheard the gnome approaching and stood up quickly, speaking up a bit– "That's when we heard the horns."
Aris theatrically began pretending to tell the story of the fight again and both children blushed as Biddy unabashedly smiled and said, "Ah young love!" Biddy looked over them curiously as they both were uncomfortable as if guilty. "Do not be ashamed of your feelings for one another. It is natural and healthy." He studiously marched past them both motioning for them to follow. Serin looked to Aris and Aris followed Biddy into the woods outside of prying eyes. Biddy began a small casting spell which left a door just sitting in the middle of the woods.
Serin looked over at Aris and asked in a whisper, "You are going to do that rune thingy?"
Aris shrugged at the unreadable gnome as he twisted his head to her, "I hope so."
Biddy turned from his spell casting just as the door materialized. "This is a dimensional door that will hide us here in plain sight but allow us privacy for the ritual. Are you certain you wish to do this? I pledge to you that it will not be pleasant. Very painful and it will require all of your mental faculties and even your heart."
Aris' face was firm much like his father, determined and confident as he said, "I am ready Master Mage."
Serin grabbed Aris' arm, pulled him close, staring at him full of worry, "Are you sure? I don't want you to be hurt. Is it worth it?"
Aris' eyes softened at the concern on her face and love in her voice. "I am certain and if you would join me, it would give me resolve to press on. Will you support me?"
She hugged him and wrapped her arms around him, "Of course I will Aris." Her voice lowered to a barely audible murmur, "I love you and will stand with you forever."
Aris whispered back, "And I you."
Biddy did not rush the youngsters and gave the time required for them both to turn and face him. "Ah, all set then?"
Holding hands, they both nodded confidently, "Yes, we are."
Biddy opened the door and walked through, leaving it open for them to follow. Upon entering the surrounding trees shifted to a dull grayish color and everything seemed the same except there was no wind or swaying of leaves. No birds chirped and the light was not the same.
Serin spoke amazed, "This is so cool. Did you freeze time? Are we on another plane?"
Biddy chuckled, "I have not frozen time but what a delightful idea. I will contingency that for later. No, this is another plane within our own plane. Difficult to explain but simply put we encompass the same realm but are seeing it through a different lens. Much like my goggles do when I am looking for different things." Serin nodded as if she understood. Biddy walked over and shut the door, "Now no one else will be able to enter."
Aris was still looking at the trees and sky as he turned to watch Biddy shut the door. "What now?"
The gnome walked over and gently ushered Aris to the center. "You stand here." Offering a wave to Serin he summoned a chair off to the side, "Please take a seat and try to remain silent." He pursed his lips and added, "Even if you are fearful of what you see or hear– do not speak. If you break our concentration or Aris' it could have dire consequences." Her eyes widened as she made her way to the seat. Not daring a word she sat quietly watching. Biddy pulled out the rune book he had gathered previously.
Aris looked at him curiously, "Have you had time to read it?"
The gnome was flipping pages and pulled out a small vial of what looked like sand. Aris could not tell the actual color because everything was gray. "I have read the important parts. Or at least my brain has absorbed what it needed to."
Aris had a brief moment of hesitation at Biddy's words but he stiffened and began to prepare his mind, dumping first his senses and awareness of his surroundings.
Biddy encircled Aris with the sand from the vial then said, "Now I need you to place your weapons in your preferred hands."
Aris reached and unsheathed both his dagger and sword, thinking that it did not matter to him which hand he used, as he could use them both equally. He decided that he would prefer to have the gladius in his left hand and the dagger in the right. He looked at Serin on the sidelines, meeting her eyes before he said, "I am ready."
Biddy nodded and stood before Aris, looking up at the young man. "Now before I begin, you need to understand that the transference of the weapons into runes on your arms requires body, mind, and soul. The weapons will be separate in the sense that you can still keep them holstered in your scabbards. However, they will be etched into your body and through that into your mind and your soul. I would offer you something to take the edge off but it would slow your mind too much and the endeavor would fail."
Aris stood straight as if he was about to fight. "I am ready, what must I do?"
Biddy smiled, pleased to see the determination and fortitude of this young human. He thought to himself, certainly this is Victus’ son and turned the pages of the book, finding the specific passage, the one which would begin the ritual.
Aris watched the gnome and asked again, "What do I do?"
Biddy, who was moments away from casting, stopped and replied, "Oh right, contingency– sorry. You only need to stand firmly in that circle and do not move from it. You also must not drop your blades. Keep your mind present on the task and focus your mind on melding with the weapons. Ignore everything around you and I suggest you keep your eyes closed. That way my casting does not disrupt your focus."
With that, Aris closed his eyes, he measured his breath slowly exhaling and inhaling. When Biddy began casting, his voice came from much farther away than before but Aris' eyes remained shut.
Serin sat watching, concerned but kept her words stuffed inside. She watched Biddy start his casting and saw gray beams shoot from Biddy's eyes and mouth as he spoke. They danced over Aris and the weapons in his hand. Like a small tornado enveloping the young man until she could see nothing but the whirlwind. Biddy's chanting was methodical and terrifying as his voice morphed into a booming thunderous voice. "Embraka dua gladi ete daga. EMBRAKA DUA GLADI!" His voice continued to chant over and over. Serin saw a lighter-hued ghost-like version of Aris step from within the storm. It was his soul– his eyes were closed and straining. She could see his face but it was disfigured in pain, yet said nothing. She gasped and grabbed her mouth to hold it shut.
Aris heard Biddy’s words in the distance, though he was only a few feet away and felt his weapons grow warm and then cold– from one extreme to the other, hot enough to scald his flesh and then cold enough to burn his flesh again. He grimaced and nearly fainted from the first wave but held on. His mind raced in chaos and shock but he reeled it in repeating his own mantra. Whispering it in his mind over and over again– "Family, duty, Serin. Family, duty, Serin. Family, duty, Serin." The waves of fire and ice washed over his whole body now. And he could feel himself shaking and dripping sweat. An icy wind enveloped him and pulsated into heat reverting back from one to the other. He clenched his jaw shut and focused on his mantra. "Family, duty, Serin." Each wave compounded and weighed him down. He was losing control; he could feel it, the pain was intolerable. He opened his eyes to see a ghost version of himself pulling from his body. Terrified, he closed his eyes and shouted, "FAMILY, DUTY, SERIN!" He held firm to the blades but his hands were shaking so badly that he did not think his body could handle it.
Serin watched Aris' soul and heard Aris’ scream from within the swirling wind. Then she saw his soul mouthing words over and over, the mantra but his soul began fading back towards the whirlwind. She clenched her mouth shut with both hands and fought every instinct she had to run over and grab him from the small storm. She reversed his mantra into one of her own in her head. "Family, duty, Aris. Family, duty, Aris." Thinking not of her own family but that family she found with Victus and Aris. She kept repeating it in her head– as if she was willing Aris to keep going, to hold on.
Aris' eyes remained closed and then he felt more pain than he had felt thus far. It felt as if both dagger and sword were being plunged into his flesh, into his arms, piercing his hands. He could feel them slipping into his very bones and flesh. He buckled under the pain, dropping to his knees, his eyes flashed open and he screamed again. "FAMILY, DUTY, SERINNNNNN!!!!!"
After what seemed like an eternity for Aris the pain subsided and he was able to rise. He closed his eyes again and focused on his mantra no longer feeling the blades in his hands, he felt them within him. He felt them as an extension of who he was– a part of him. Slowly the whirlwind stopped and Biddy's chanting ended. Aris opened his eyes, still standing in the circle, looked quickly over Serin, and smiled, then back to Biddy. "Did I do it?"
Before Biddy could respond Aris' eyes rolled and slid shut and he collapsed on the ground.
Biddy giggled, "Contingency! Hehehee you did it." His own vision returned to normal only after the young man had collapsed.
Serin, however ran over to Aris, screaming. "Aris! ARIS! You killed him!" she shouted, accusing Biddy.
Biddy was unconcerned and shook his head as he casually walked over to Aris. He knelt down next to Aris and the now sobbing Serin, he placed a hand on the boy's chest. "Not dead. His soul and body are intact. He is exhausted is all." Serin was crying and tried to wake Aris but to no avail. Finally, Biddy reached over and grabbed the young girl's hand. "You need to go sit back down."
She shook her head, through sobs said, "Nooo I need to stay here."
Biddy shrugged, rubbed his index finger into his thumb and produced an acrid smell of burning embers, so pungent that Serin gagged. Aris' eyes flipped open, "Did we do it?"
Biddy helped the boy up, grinning, "Yes."
Serin wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. "You are okay. You did it!"
Aris looked from her to the ground where his weapons lay, then looked back to Serin. "I could feel your thoughts, Serin. I could feel you pressing me on."
She smiled and hugged him again. "You did wonderfully." She sobbed into his shoulder softly.
Both Biddy and Serin helped the young squire to his feet. Biddy added, "Most grown men could not endure what you have done. Be proud of yourself."
Aris responded, a weary tone to his voice, "I could not have done it without the love I have for my family, duty, and Serin."
The young girl blushed brightly and Biddy acknowledged him with a pat on the back. "You will be a great knight Aris Tin."
As Biddy led them both to the dimensional door to leave, Aris turned back to his weapons on the ground. "I need my blades before we leave."
Biddy's brow cocked sideways and he wiggled a finger. "Contingency master Aris. You already have them. Call them forth from within."
Aris took a few steps away from them and closed his eyes. He could feel the weapons as if they were already with him. He knew they were a part of him now and he willed them to his hands. Serin watched the blades on the ground turn to a grayish cloud and disappear into Aris' hands.
"WOW." She said, confounded and amazed at this type of magic.
Aris' eyes opened and he smiled wide. "It works perfectly."
Biddy chuckled, "It works as intended, well done. In time and practice, you will be able to recall them without even having to concentrate."
Aris nodded as he stuffed the blades in their respective scabbards. "Thank you Biddy."
Biddy opened the door and led them out. Aris hesitated as he looked at his hands, curious if they had actually been burned or frozen. No marks or signs of distress remained, it was as if it had never happened. But it did happen, he thought. He continued to look at his hands and wrists, looking at the tattoos freshly etched upon his arm– a bear emblem and a falcon, each denoting his father's dagger and his gladius. He thought that Biddy must have chosen to use the pummels as a representation of the weapons so if someone ever saw them, they would believe it to be a mundane tattoo and nothing more. He whispered to himself as he stepped through the door smiling, "Biddy's contingencies."
20
Biddy led the way back to camp, Serin trailing behind with Aris. She leaned into him, bumping him playfully. He pretended to ignore it, then unexpectedly he bumped into her back, smiling when she gasped in surprise. They both saw the lava giant in the distance and Aris asked, “Would you like to go see and talk to the lava giant?”
Biddy turned, a stern look on his face. “Contingency? No. Aris, you need to rest.”
Waving his hand dismissively, Aris retorted, “I am tired, but it’s not strenuous work talking to your lava monster.”
Biddy turned back towards the camp, “Yes, yes, you are right. But do be careful and don’t startle him. No... never mind. Ah dang, contingency. I am going to go with you. He is still uncivilized, so I need to be present in case he does something irrational, I suppose.”
Serin jumped up and down in excitement as she skipped off to see the beast who was supposed to be patrolling but from the booming words he kept shouting, he seemed to be more interested in butterflies. Aris and Biddy chased after the girl, who was almost running, trying to catch up by hastening their own steps.
A few hours had gone by in the commander’s tent, Victus and Jess laid in bed snuggling. They were staring into one another’s eyes when Jess spoke through the silent intimacy. “Do you still pray?”
The commander leaned on his elbow, sitting up slightly, “I pray daily.”
Jess nodded, she had known the answer, but she was nudging him towards a deeper question that truly interested her. “Whom do you pray to?”
Victus thought for a moment, thinking how best to answer her honest probe. “I do not pray to Asmolor nor to any of his children. Save for perhaps Kalisdel. Among the three gods– Eu’rok and his progeny, Malakas and her progeny, and Asmolor and his– she is the most worthy of veneration.” Realizing no interjection from Jess was forthcoming, he continued, “Yet she does not ask any human to worship her. So to her, I do offer up my prayers.”
Jess was curious and attentive, even as she knew his answer would not be brief. Victus paused and took a deep breath. “But I pray more to something beyond them. Two brothers and a sister claim to be the gods over all of creation. What of the other planets we can see? What of the inconsistencies we see amongst our own side? Asmolor claims to be the light of the universe, righteous and holy. However, his children, in particular Elivindel, the creator of the elves, are closer to his heart and the closest representation of him incarnate. They are cruel, haughty, and not worthy of praise. Something created them and set the laws of nature in motion. So I pray to the deity whomever or wherever he or she is. I see a more principled God, one of true justice and peace. Not one with petty squabbles and rivalries like Eu’rok and Asmolor and their sister Malakas. Something truly divine, not just powerful.”
