Lights of agramont trilo.., p.10
Lights of Agramont Trilogy, page 10
“You have grenades?”
“Don’t tell her that. The wrath of a woman and explosives do not mix. I only wanted to help her, Orrentius. It was nothing more than that. Forgive me if I crossed a line, but you were unable to help and she could have drowned if I didn’t do something.”
“I know.” Serilom rubs Kriv’s shoulder. “You did the right thing. Don’t let what she said hurt you.”
Kriv scribbles something in the back of the book. “I couldn’t let another woman get hurt and I wasn’t going to ignore her cries for help. Never again.”
“What are you talking about?”
Kriv sighs then closes the book and secures the leather strap around it. “Nothing. I’m rambling.”
16
The black-haired man in crimson robes places his hands over the bronze braziers as he complains aloud. “Creator’s sake, is this what I’ve been reduced to? Learn to light your own damned fires. I swear! Some people are more worthless than Garonwon and his little rocks.““I heard that, Ravier. Just light the torches and stop complaining. I’ll have you know that flint and steel are some of my little rocks and without them, fires would be a lot more difficult.”
“Yes. And Ievas can rub sticks together and strike things with lightning. Everyone can make fire. I feel so needed.” Ravier says.
Garonwon steps into the main hall. “Tilidus can’t. He only has water.”
“So the one of you who can’t take my place is my worst nightmare come true. Perfect. Why did I agree to this?”
“Because The Creator needs us. If it makes you feel any better, Tilidus has found his replacement.”
“Great.” Ravier strokes his closely shaved beard. “Now we’ll have another complicated tricky man to make me feel stupid. It’s nothing against Tilidus himself. He’s a nice man, but every one of his mages is strange. There’s something wrong with each of them. I don’t know what he sees in them. They are either hell-bent on taking over the world, have some trauma from childhood that they try to hide by being complete lunatics, or they are depressed to the point of killing themselves. Tell me how The Creator plans on using them.”
“The Creator has a plan for every soul, Ravier.”
Tefelend steps into the room. “Do you four always argue like this?”
“We’re not arguing.” They reply in unison.
Ravier lights another brazier. “You didn’t tell me, who’s Tilidus’s replacement? How did he have time to find one when he’s been helping that whiny kid trapped in his dream world?”
Garonwon smiles. “Well, you’re the one who said all of his mages are weird.”
Ravier throws a log on the fire. “What? Oh hell. It’s him, isn’t it?”
“His name is Serilom Orrentius.”
“Orrentius?” Ravier turns to Tefelend. “Isn’t that your last name?”
Tefelend grins. “Yes, he is my son.”
“You’re the one who ruined everything and put the entire universe at risk.”
Tefelend’s smile vanishes. “Yes, that’s me.”
“You’re one of my mages, aren’t you?” Ravier asks.
“He’s all of ours.” Garonwon says with contempt in his voice.
“Oh yes. I try to forget terrible mistakes I make.” Ravier says.
Tefelend braces himself on the stone wall and rubs his face. “Wait, Serilom is Tilidus’s chosen successor?”
“Indeed.” Garonwon says. “Even the Honored grow weary. Do you realize that Tilidus hasn’t had a chance to relax in five hundred years? It wears on a person.”
“Serilom isn’t immortal, is he?” Tefelend asks.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Even I am not immortal. The four of us keep each other alive with our magic, but recently it has become so exhausting that a couple of us are planning to retire and begin the process of training our replacements.”
“But what about his magic? He’s not a mage anymore.” Tefelend says, still trying to clear his head and put the pieces together.
“Therein lies the problem. Tilidus, Ievas, and I are researching new techniques that may be able to help him. Also, I believe you wanted to know about the Lullaby Blade? Normally the Damned Ones are kept in balance by the Honored. However, when enough magic is misused, a rift can form and under the specific conditions, a darkness can appear and unleash a demon. When your spell was interrupted, the force that was unleashed, sparked by weeks of hedonistic rituals you performed, created that rare but ideal atmosphere for the corruption of baby Argrin. The Damned Ones twisted the baby’s soul and changed him into a demon. When Serilom uses the Lullaby Blade to defeat Argrin, it will absorb the demonic magic that Argrin has been using and trap it in the dream world. Serilom will then open the portal from his side and will be able to break free from Argrin’s magic bonds. But it is imperative that he has his magic. I am close to perfecting my little project that will allow us to experiment with Serilom’s magic ability.”
*
Serilom is sitting outside on the grass beside the river waiting on Alistiria to finish cooking dinner when his father’s voice comes into his mind.
“Hey son. While we’re waiting on the next part of the plan, could we talk for a while? I don’t know anything about you and I would love to get to know you.”
Serilom leans back on his hands. “Well what do you want to know? There’s not much for me to tell you.”
“How was your childhood? Did you go to school?” Tefelend asks.
“Ragne taught me everything I know.”
“Who’s Ragne?”
“My dad.” Serilom says. “Well, not really. You’re my dad. He took me in and cared for me all of my life. He is my friend and I work for him at the stables.”
“I see. Seems like he did a fine job raising you. What about women? Is your wife the first woman you’ve been with?”
Serilom smiles as he thinks of her. “She is. I’ve never been one for making friends or talking to people.”
“What do you do when you’re not working? Anything fun?” Tefelend asks.
“Does trying to sleep count? Nightmares aren’t usually considered fun, I guess. I do swim often when it’s not too cold because I love the water. Sometimes I write when I can’t sleep, but it’s mostly just rubbish. Other than that, I drink whiskey and try to avoid social interactions.”
“No gambling or watching plays or hunting?”
“I barely have money to live on, much less gamble with.” Serilom says. “The Creator knows the hatred I have for plays and bards. There’s no real reason for me to hunt. I don’t have a bow and if I killed something, it would take me years to eat it all.”
“Well there has to be something in your life that you are passionate about.”
Serilom pulls up a handful of grass and twirls the ends together. “I’m passionate about my wife.”
“Besides her. What about before you had her?”
“I had my magic. The water was what kept me sane and happy. It was the only thing that I had control over. Honestly, before all of this started happening, my life was simple, quiet, and boring … just the way I liked it.”
Serilom lets his eyes wander to the where the pale bard is bathing in the river, just to see if there is anything to what Alistiria had been talking about. The man’s flawless skin glistens in the sunlight as the water flows around his back and he dumps a bucket of water over his head. Serilom notices a light scar on the back of his neck and it looks out of place against the seemingly untouched skin. When Kriv turns around, Serilom blushes and hides his face again, but a relaxed grin crosses his face. Nothing. His fear dissipates as he again tells himself that his wife is wrong.
“Serilom, come look at what I found.” Kriv calls out to him.
“Dad, I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Take care.”
Serilom turns back to Kriv. “Can you bring it here?”
“No, it’s in the water and I’m naked. I don’t remember where I put my clothes.”
“Damn it.” Serilom curses under his breath as he searches for Kriv’s clothes.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll find them later. We’ll only look at each other from the chest up.”
Serilom rubs his eyes. “By the Honored, what have I gotten myself into?” He goes to the edge of the water and tries to avoid making eye contact with his friend.
“Aren’t you going to take your clothes off?” Kriv asks.
“Oh hell.” This isn’t going happen.
“What’s the matter? It’s not too cold anymore.”
Serilom clears his throat and twists the hem of his tunic in his fingers. “I’m just not comfortable being naked around people, especially other naked people.”
“Just relax. I’ll make sure you don’t see anything.”
“Ugh. Fine. But you owe me for this. Turn around and don’t look.”
“You flatter yourself thinking that I would want to. Why would I be interested in you when I can have any woman in Vernition with just a single song?” Kriv asks.
When Kriv turns around, Serilom undresses and enters the water. He stays as far away from the bard as he can and still be able to hear him. “What do you want?”
“I just wanted to talk to you away from your wife.”
Serilom sinks down in the water. “About what?”
“Have you ever heard voices in your head other than your father?”
Yep, he’s as loony as he acts. “No. I can honestly say I haven’t.”
“Oh. Never mind then.” Kriv says and stares at the water.
“You called me all the way out here just to ask me if I hear voices? What, like demons or something?”
Kriv sinks down in the water and glances around. “Shh. Don’t let them hear you. They could be watching us right now. Maybe it’s not demons. I hope it’s not demons. Do you think it’s demons?”
Serilom’s tolerance for Kriv is pushing its limits and his inevitable headache returns behind his eyes. “I’m not talking to you about demons. For all I know, you could be talking with my brother.”
Kriv glides his hand over the surface of the water. “Yah … that would be … bad …”
“I’m getting out now. Ali should have dinner ready. You’re welcome to eat with us.” Serilom says as he goes back on the shore and dresses.
“Toss me my pants.” Kriv calls.
“Come get them yourself.”
Kriv’s eyes turn dark. “Give me my pants, Serilom. It’s not funny.”
“They’ll get wet if you put them on in the water.”
“I’m not leaving the water without my pants.”
“By the Honored, I swear I won’t look. I’m not interested.” Serilom says.
Kriv splashes water at Serilom. “I’m not going to take that chance.”
“And I thought I was uptight about this.”
“Throw me my pants.”
“Or what?” Serilom asks. “Will you sing another annoying song at me? I’m so scared.”
Kriv is silent as he glares at the lost-mage.
“You’re actually upset about this.”
Kriv holds up a fist and shakes it at Serilom. “I swear on all that is good on this planet, I will have my vengeance. Don’t push me to a place that neither one of us wants to go. There are many ways to kill a man and I won’t hesitate to try them out on you if you don’t give me my damned pants.”
“Fine. Catch.” Serilom tosses them to him.
“Thank you. They’ll dry while I wear them.”
Walking together back up to the house, Serilom spots something on his door. “What is that?”
Kriv pulls it down, examines the paper, and reads aloud. “In order to promote prosperity and ensure safety in the royal capital city of Vernition, new decrees have been put into place under the direct order of our good King Levres. Effective immediately, any and all livestock must be branded and kept outside the city gates. Marriages must be first approved by the mage council.” Kriv looks at Serilom. “No doubt because of your little fiasco. Let’s see, more about horses, some new guidelines for taverns, oh wait. This is interesting. A mage tax.”
“Mage tax? What the hell is that? Read it, Tide-Storm or let me do it.”
“Due to recent events concerning an increase of magic used to commit crimes, regulations have been put into place restricting the unauthorized use of magic in the city.” Kriv clears his throat. “Thanks again to you and your antics.”
Serilom glares at him. “Just read it, bard.”
“Fine. Alongside these restrictions, any and all mages are subject to random searches and interrogation in the event of further crimes whether eminent or suspected. Effective with the posting of this notice, a mage tax is due from each mage regardless of status, ability, or current absence of magic. The sum of one thousand Den is to be paid to the Archmage by the last day of Springmonth.”
Serilom gasps and steadies himself on the side of his house. “One thousand Den? By the Honored …”
“It’s due a week from today. Tell me you have it.” Kriv says.
“Sure. I can find it somehow.” Serilom knows that the lie can harm him later, but his pride won’t let even his friend know how he feels inadequately prepared to provide for his wife. “What about you?”
Kriv waves his hand. “It’s no small sum but nothing I can’t manage.”
“Is there anything else?”
He holds up the paper again and scans over it. “Oh. Failure to comply with any of the decrees stated or future amendments to these laws will be punishable by use of force including but not limited to seizure of property, public flogging, and execution of loved ones.”
“Execution of loved ones? This is a joke right? What is going on behind those palace walls? They can’t treat us like animals. What about those that can’t pay the tax?” Serilom asks.
“I guess they are subjected to the punishments. I’ll go check on dinner.” Kriv goes inside.
A man steps out of his house and rips the notice from his door. After scanning over it, he comes up to Serilom. “Is this real?”
“Looks real to me.”
“This explains the women they took this morning.” The man says.
“They took women?” Serilom asks as he feels sick.
“Three of them, all wives of mages. They burn them to sacrifice them to a demon. Keep an eye on that wife of yours.”
“I plan on it.” Serilom says as he crumples up the notice and tosses it in the street.
17
The dark clouds of an approaching storm send Serilom home early just as the first few drops of rain touch the dusty streets. He finds the front door unlocked and pushes it open but stops when he looks inside at the overturned table, the broken glasses, and Alistiria’s cloak torn in half lying on the floor in front of the bedroom door. Fear and desperation creep into his mind as he pushes past the table and the misplaced chairs to the bedroom. He throws open the door. Alistiria is gone. They didn’t. They couldn’t have. This isn’t happening.
He runs out behind the house and calls for her, but there is no answer. Ragne. He takes off towards the stables.
Hooves slam against the road as a familiar three toned whistle sounds from behind him. Kriv rides up beside him. “Orrentius, where are you going? Get on.” Kriv reaches down his hand and pulls Serilom up behind him. “Hold on tight.”
“They took Alistiria.” Serilom says.
Kriv kicks the horse to run and they race through the city streets. “I know where to go. Why did they take her?”
“I couldn’t pay them the tax.”
“The mage tax? I still don’t understand that. You aren’t a mage.”
“I know. That’s what I told them, but they insisted. I didn’t think they would do this. Oh, by the Honored, I hope I’m not too late.” Serilom says.
“Serilom, I could have paid it for you. Why didn’t you come to me?”
“I didn’t think it was going to matter or I would have.”
“So what?” Kriv asks. “They are taking women as payment now? What kind of twisted politics is this?”
Serilom shakes his head. “You tell me.”
“Are they going to have their way with her or what?”
“They are going to burn her.”
Kriv turns to look at Serilom with wide eyes. “You’re not kidding, are you?”
“I am dead serious, Tide-Storm. They sacrifice them.”
He turns back to watch where he is going. “Sacrifice them to what?”
“Damned if I know. They said something about a spirit, maybe it’s a demon.” The dark realization slams into Serilom as he tries to wrap his mind around what he just said. A demon. Argrin. He lets out a pained groan.
“Are you all right? Orrentius?”
“No.”
“Talk to me, man.” Kriv says.
“Just get us there as fast as you can. I will explain later if we survive this.”
“You got it.”
They ride until they come to the plains where a large crowd has gathered around an ivory altar. Guards stop the horse and Serilom jumps off. He runs up to the crowd and what he sees withers away at his mind and soul. Alistiria.
The Archmage holds up his hands above her body as he speaks. “This woman is brought here today under the gaze of the Honored to be given as a sacrifice to the higher powers. Her soul will bring prosperity and happiness to Vernition. With her selfless gift, the Honored will provide fertility for our animals and our fields.”
Alistiria shakes her head violently and whimpers as she squirms beneath the ropes binding her to the altar.
“Stop. Let her go.” Serilom pushes through the crowd, but guards take his arms. The guards hold him back despite his protests and threats. Nothing he can do or say will make them release the iron grasp they have around his arms. The more he pushes against them and struggles to get past, the tighter their hands clasp his arms. A desperate need to save his wife drives him with a fury, but nothing he can do will break him free as the guards push him to his knees in the dirt. “Alistiria!” Serilom cries out and reaches towards her as someone lights the tender below the altar.
