Erebos cleared his through, looking to his companions for guidance before speaking. “Well, he wasn’t deemed a threat; he just had ideas that were contrary to our own ethical standards…”
Thoth silently conferred with his colleagues before he stepped in to take over. “Again, I must inform you that we have very little contact with those of the southern basin.”
“Was he not also a teacher? I have personally met with several of the man’s students completing their phase two training.” The Cardinal smiled as he briefly clasped Izarius’ hand in his own. “So the blame cannot be solely placed on the sect of necromancers in the southern swamps can it?”
Erebos looked to Thoth, seeking some sort of direction before he continued hesitantly. “That is true, yet…”
“Tell me Cardinal, how is it you know of his exile? Such knowledge is not made public.” Thoth sipped his brandy, as he looked the Cardinal over.
“Come now master sage, I am the hand of the gods in this region, how could I not know?” The Cardinal replied with a clever smile and cunning glint in his eyes.
Charles snorted in contempt and attempted to hide the sound behind a very fake sounding cough. Fortunately, the only one to notice were the King and Thoth, who’s not so subtle wink showed that he shared the sentiment. Spies are easy to hire, especially with The Orders coffers. Likely, this child was merely another’s puppet, or plaything. In The Order however, the two aren’t mutually exclusive, as some always have their fist firmly shoved up another, like a ventriloquist and his dummy.
“You’re telling us that this fiend was ousted from your cult and sent back into the general populace incognito?” Izarius threw up his hands. “How absurd!”
“Izarius, please calm down.”
The heavy lock turned over again, and the door opened a crack to allow Charles’ man to enter with a decanter of wine and several glasses, before slamming it shut and locking it once more. The Cardinal stopped the man and took a glass with a warm smile. The attendant poured him a glass of wine, bowed, and returned to the Duke.
“It is all in the past now, what we must concern ourselves with is moving forward.”
Thoth levitated a small flame to the king as he continued to search in vain for a match. The king lit his cigar and hesitantly blew out the magic flame.
“Yes, I request that an army be dispatched to Runandia immediately!”
Charles wiped his brow on a handkerchief and gave his man a puzzled look as he held out the decanter to him, as if he were expected to pour his own wine. The King rolled his eyes and puffed on his cigar.
“His daughter was enroute to Sorn when this whole mess broke out.” He clarified with a cloud of heavy smoke about his head.
“Out of the question.” Izarius snapped. “We must sever the head in Sarevon. No army will continue to march knowing their capitol is under siege. When he crosses back over the Tear, our forces in Aes Sidhe will meet his armies while Rhodarcium and Catharone take the capitol.”
“But my daughter—!”
“Is but one person Duke, we will not sacrifice an entire campaign for one little girl.” Izarius moved several figurines on the table. “The chancellor has authorized the use of twenty-thousand men to lead the attack on Sarevon. It should be more than enough as the bulk of Xanavene’s army is in the west.”
Thoth drained the last of his brandy and pointed the glass to the head of elemental magic. “She was one of yours, wasn’t she Lilura?”
“Alice yes?” She asked, tapping her finger against her lips. “I believe she was, bright lass, bit blind though. I’ll send out some inquiries, I’m certain there are a couple of magi left in Duvachellé.”
“And if they find her? What then?” Charles demanded.
“I’ll send my squire and several good men; they’ll bring her home Charles.” Céolsige pointed to a small desk behind Thoth. “Cigars in the center drawer if you’d like one old chap.”
“Well, I’ll certainly not refuse the King’s hospitality.” Thoth chuckled as he stood to retrieve the tobacco.
Charles relaxed and let out a sigh of relief. He snapped for the attendant’s attention and held up a glass for wine. The King’s squire was a combat veteran, the son of an Earl in Idathach, one of the children of the fey with no surnames. He was a competent young man, and more importantly, one his Alice was familiar with. While he would have preferred a larger escort to go retrieve her, he was confident enough that he would get the job done.
“If it pleases Your Majesty, I’d like to return to the matter of mounting an army against the Xanaviens.”
Céolsige tipped his glass in Izarius’ direction indifferently. He bit his tongue and pointed to the Thiudoricans.
“Jarl Jasper of Hallthor gives six thousand for the campaign; the other holds have vowed to match.”
“The Xanaviens desolated the countryside of Thiudoricus; we want their King’s head!” One of the bearded men added.
“And what of the beasts of Dusk? The stronger ones have broken through the barrier you’ve erected.” Céolsige leaned back in his chair as he puffed his cigar. “My primary concern is the defense of my kingdom’s citizens. I will not place all of our soldiers on one border and trust once bitter rivals to defend our flanks.”
“Nor would we expect you to.” All heads turned as Leucetius entered the chambers.
They looked around and murmured in surprise as no one had heard the doors open.
“Ah! Splendid! Let me introduce Bishop Leucetius of the Morning Star, he just recently returned from Elysia.” The Cardinal smiled and opened his arms to embrace the Bishop, unfettered by his mysterious entrance.
“Elysia you say? I thought she was given way to ruin.” Céolsige said as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
“And for the most part she has. But that is not the news I’ve come to present to you.” Leucetius took a seat and retrieved his pipe from his robes, lighting it as those in the room waited and watched him intently.
“It seems the last Knight of The Order; the Elysian side at least, mounts an offensive against the fiend Osric. He travels with temple staff of Therion and has made alliances with the nation of Rhode.”
“Rhode? Those savages?” Izarius spat in disgust. “Upon whose authority?”
“Hmm? Oh, upon his own. I have several of my own sect in his, well by all intents and purposes it would be considered an army at this point.”
Charles watched the man as he settled in. He did not trust him and motioned for his attendants to keep watch. The man reeked of a liar, one who considered himself a master manipulator. Unfortunate for him, it takes one to know one.
“An army? Under what flag?” Izarius made his way over to join the rest of the council by the Bishop.
“Well, no flag. My last message came just yesterday, it seems he intends to make port in Duvachellé, to march to Marquez and appeal to the King.”
“Do they expect success? How close is this knight to Osric? What is the size of his army?” Izarius shot question after question, not waiting for a response.
“That my friend is all irrelevant.” Leucetius chuckled, much to Izarius’ ire.
“Irrelevant! The balance of the world is at stake and you call it irrelevant?”
“Peace Izarius.” The Cardinal laughed.
“It is irrelevant because my dear knight will fail, and the balance you speak of will shift to the east.”
The council broke down with confused murmurs once more. Charles watched the man with interest; his eyes were far too clever. Whereas the young Cardinal held an arrogance unfounded, he was by tempered in patience and an iron will, in his experience a dangerous combination.
“Elysia must fall. Corruption mires any further use from within her borders. The Order must be, reformed if you will.”
“What do you suggest?” Céolsige took a seat on the armrest of a chair.
“I suggest that we let the knight keep this threat busy until we can regain control of our own borders. Once he has weakened our enemy sufficiently, we can reseat The Order in Catharone.”
More debate erupted as Leucetius smoked, unconcerned with the hornets’ nest he had shaken. Charles was still confused by the man; his motives seemed hidden and vague, though such an interpretation did not fit the man’s character. At least, it did not fit what he inferred was his character. Charles ground his teeth, certain that the Bishop was merely toying with them.
“And how do you propose we do this? What would it accomplish?” he asked, incredulous. “Do you really suggest we leave the entire continent to ruin? Just so you can get some perks? If you ask me, the source of The Order’s corruption sits smoking before us!”
“Charles, take a seat.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Your Majesty!” Charles recoiled at the unexpected rebuke.
“I said take a seat.” Céolsige replied sternly as he stared the Duke down.
He obliged after several tense moments, his expression one of feigned humility. “As you wish Your Majesty.”
“I’ve heard whisperings of this little insurrection, did not think you lot would be damned foolish enough to actually try it.” Céolsige leaned over and dumped the ash of his cigar on the hearth. “Who’s the Knight?”
Charles rolled his eyes and took a sip of wine. It was he who informed the king of these whispers, though admittedly even he did not think it was so widespread, or even had the potential to become more than idle whispers by power starved old men behind closed doors.
“Does it matter your Majesty?” Leucetius asked cagily.
“It might. Who is it?” The King persisted.
Leucetius paused for several moments to toke from his pipe, the King waited unperturbed.
“Aichlan.” He said at length.
Céolsige chuckled. “See, now that does matter. As far as I know the only Aichlan in The Order at Elysia is the son of a cherished friend and national hero.”
“We can end the Xanavene menace and divide the nation equally.” Leucetius said, unfazed.
“And what would we want with that half-frozen wasteland?”
Leucetius held out his hands. “Then name your price.”
The King stood and paced before the fire, swirling his drink in one hand while holding a cigar in the other. “Who travels with him? I gather you’ve met him personally, correct?”
“I have.” Leucetius motioned for one of the clerics to bring him a glass of wine. “When I last saw him, he was with a Nun who should be dead if not for the current King of Duvachellé’s incompetence, her would be assassin, a Sorn infantrywoman, some Rhodeans and, your cousin.”
“My little Alice is alive?”
Leucetius took the wine from the cleric and flashed a smile in thanks. “Yes Duke, she is alive, and quite well. For now.”
Céolsige laughed heartily, causing nearly everyone in the room save the Bishop to jump with a start.
“You’ve certainly got a brass pair to dare and threaten me in my own bloody home.”
Duke Templeton snapped his fingers, and his ten attendants drew concealed swords with one hand from enchanted pockets in their trousers and summoned a spell with the other. They held their incantations on the tip of their tongues, daring any present to challenge the Mage Knights of Aes Sidhe. Izarius held out his hands, urging his men to stay their blades as the two knights defending the Cardinal drew their own. Leucetius watched calmly as he continued to smoke his pipe, the tension in the air was thicker than the tobacco smoke that hung about their heads.
“Perhaps I misspoke,” Leucetius said at length. “I did not mean that as a threat, merely an expression of the uncertainty surrounding us all at the moment.”
“Indeed.” The King nodded to the knights and they sheathed their blades, dispelling their magic with colorful flashes of light. “Perhaps you’ll take another go at it then? Hrmm?”
Leucetius shifted in his seat and took a sip of wine. “It is imperative that Osric be kept busy in Runandia, and it appears that Aichlan is intent upon doing that; however, I do not believe that he will gain the necessary forces to be successful in toppling the man.”
Charles reluctantly took his seat once more. If it were up to him, the Bishops head would already be rolling across the floor.
“Then we shall make sure that he gets the forces he need.” He spat haughtily.
“And Xanavene? Will you let them do as they please?” Izarius asked as the tension slowly abated. “I could truly not care less what becomes of her once justice has been dealt, she can rot for all it matters. My concern is that she is in fact punished. If that too is your intent, how do you plan on accomplishing this, coup d’état of The Order?”
Leucetius stared off into space as he smoked his pipe, seemingly lost in thought.
“Regardless of your own machinations, I will be sending an army to meet Aichlan, and I will be protecting my borders.” Céolsige said after several moments of heavy silence.
“Did you not say he heads for Marquez?” The Cardinal asked thoughtfully. “Perhaps we could convince him to hold there until reinforcements arrive. I believe that would serve all of our interests, wouldn’t it Leucetius?”
“They’d never allow it.” Izarius shook his head with disdain. “The people of Marquez are an arrogant bunch; they’d not suffer a foreign army to quarter in their city, regardless of the state of the world outside its walls.”
“I will speak to the King of Duvachellé, he will provide the rest.” Leucetius said, breaking his reticence. “Aes Sidhe will deal the final blow in Runandia, Catharone will rescue the floundering Elysia and Rhodarcium will crush Xanavene.”
“Laelianus is an arrogant and stubborn man.” Charles scoffed. “Convincing him of anything that doesn’t blatantly benefit him is something that quite frankly; I don’t believe you are capable of accomplishing.”
Leucetius chuckled and bit the tip of his pipe. Charles hadn’t expected such a response. Perhaps this man did more than fancy himself a master manipulator. He got the distinct impression that this man knew every contingency and had a plan to counter it, and it was terrifying.
“If I had not sent that Nun on some fool errand, that senile old pedophile Dorso would still sit on the throne. He knows as much and will do all in his power to keep me from spilling that particular detail. If he had been successful in having her murdered, I would tend to agree with you, but fortunately incompetence on his part and luck on mine left that particular bargaining chip in play.”
“I could not care less about your political machinations.” Izarius spat. “None of this explains why. As in why this blasphemy has been floated and why it is even being entertained.”
“All will become known soon dear Izarius.” The Cardinal chided.
“Yes, the days where Renata is anything more than an icon of The Order are coming to an end. It’s a shame that so many must suffer as a result, but…” Leucetius smoked as he lapsed into silence again, chewing the tip of his pipe.
“… I don’t know what to think of this reformation you seek to enact, but I do know that something must be done regarding this Osric. You will have the support of Aes Sidhe, but not until my own borders have been secured.” Céolsige blew a ring of smoke and swirled his brandy for several moments. “As for this little power play you posit, well, you shall be alone in that endeavor.”
“And Aichlan my King?” Charles pressed. “Surely you won’t-—“
“Of course not!” he thundered. “The man was damn near my brother. I’ll not allow his son to be tossed to the vipers, especially if he is looking after mine as I suspect is the case.”
Charles breathed a sigh of relief. His Alice was safe. While he did not know this Aichlan fellow personally, he did know his father, The General. If this boy were anything like his father, then Alice could not be in safer hands. At least, he hoped so.
“I shall relay the news of how many forces have been committed to the Chancellor directly; he will find a way to push this through the senate.” Izarius picked up one of the figures from the table. “But I do believe some strategizing is in order. Both in regard to battle plans and this grand undertaking of The Order. I take it you want for this to remain between present companies only?”
“That would be preferable.” Leucetius nodded.
“Aren’t you changing colors a bit too hastily Izarius?” Céolsige admonished.
“Your Majesty, I am but a soldier, it is not my place to question the politicians on their politics any more than they could tell soldiers how to kill the enemy and obtain victory on the battlefield. Yet if I must respond, then let it suffice to say that The Cardinal has my full confidence.”
Charles ceased glaring holes through Leucetius at the oddly earnest admission. He had simply assumed that The Cardinal had something over Izarius’ head; the fact that they could be friends had not even crossed his mind. The cynic in him refused to allow such a simple explanation however, and he began to think of other possibilities. The fact that they might have been possible lovers was first and foremost, but Izarius had too large a stick up his ass already to allow for that possibility.
“Well, where shall we begin?” he asked eagerly. “If Laelianus is indeed an ally of yours, should someone not draft a letter and send it posthaste?”
“We are far ahead of you.” Leucetius blew a cloud of smoke as the others leaned forward intently. “I merely need the good King’s seal and it can be off.”
Leucetius reached into his robe and removed a small parcel of letters. He shuffled through them before finding the one he wanted and handed it to the Duke. As he took the letter and looked it over, a bewildered expression formed on his face. A cold terror gripped his heart as sweat dripped from his brow. Everything they had discussed was written in neat Elysian script. He swallowed a hard lump in his throat and loosened his collar, trying to remain composed despite the fear that nearly paralyzed him.
“How the devil did you know to write this?” He smacked the paper with his hand. “This is nearly word for word what we’ve just discussed.”
“I value preparedness in all things.” Leucetius smiled.
“Pardon me.”
Everyone turned to Thoth as he sat, speaking into his brandy.
“But what of your Priestess? If I am not mistaken, they’ve all come from either Arlien or Elysia. How do you plan on getting around this not insubstantial obstacle?”
“The use of a Priestess that we find bearing resemblance to the last has become increasingly difficult.” Leucetius said, as he dumped his pipe into a waiting bin.
“I’d imagine.” Céolsige snorted.
“That’s not the reason, the reason is control. They have become increasingly difficult to manipulate for various reasons. That needs to be remedied. Her failure as gate keeper was just the stroke of luck we needed to act.”
“Manipulate? Who is greater than the Priestess?” One of the Thiudorican’s thundered. “I was briefed before coming to this, this, den of heresy, but the absurdities have gone too far!”
“I must admit I am in concurrence.” Izarius tossed the figurine he was holding back onto the table and leaned against it. “Well? What is it man? A valid question was posed.”
“What is what?” Leucetius asked innocently.
“Blasted old man is senile!” Izarius threw his hands in the air in exasperation.
“No, no, my impatient friend,” The Cardinal stepped forward and placed a hand on the Bishop’s shoulder. “You can cease the charades Cetius.”
“Hmm. In for a mile, I see? Very well then. I am the true head of The Order, I and three others.”
“Preposterous!” Izarius exclaimed.
“That bit of business is the most straightforward and honest you’ve been all afternoon Bishop.” Thoth said with a chuckle. “Now how do you plan on accomplishing all of this? All I’ve heard from you is one grand scheme after another, yet little to no moves to enact them.”
“Your excellency, who is this crazy old man?” Izarius implored.
The Cardinal gave him a look to freeze blood in his veins, and Izarius immediately ceased his protests. Leucetius glared at Izarius in annoyance before he turned back to address Thoth.
“There are two sexes, yes? Men are monks and the women are nuns, the Priestess is a woman, but what is her counterpart?” Leucetius freed his hand from his sleeve to partake of the cheese arrayed upon a platter that was nearby.
“Not sure I follow…”
“What is not widely known is that Renata the Savior was not a chaste and celibate woman, she had many children from several different men.”
“Blasphemy!” one of the Thiudoricans shouted as he made the Sign of The Dawn.
“The Order was not her undertaking alone either, she had a partner, and I use that word in all of its connotations.”
“What are you on about man?” The King asked, irritated with the constant ambiguity of the Bishop.
“Allow me Cetius” The Cardinal placed a ringed hand upon the Bishop’s shoulder. “Long ago, ancient orders dedicated to pagan goddesses had a council male priests who oversaw their temples. This council was known as a pontifex.”
“Is that not already the case?” Charles asked.
The cardinal slowly shook his head with a smile. “Yes and no, no man holds as much power as the priestess. In that regard, she is unchallenged. While I do not feel a male counterpart is the important piece, it is a simple fix and easy for the masses to accept.”
“They will also be married.” Cetius said through a cloud of pipe smoke. “To avoid further scandal and embarrassment as we have seen with your Aichlan.”
Céolsige attempted to look contrite but could not hid his grin nor stifle his snickering.
“Yes, that as well…” Eosphorous scratched his chin, looking less than thrilled at the prospect. “Allow me to reintroduce myself, henceforth I shall be Pontiff Eosphorous, the first Pontiff of Silex in nearly three thousand years.”
The room fell silent, for many the word still held absolutely no meaning, though according to The Cardinal, there was historical significance. Yet Charles knew, and because he knew, it made it even more ridiculous. They wanted to instate this boy —Eosphorus— as what essentially amounted to “King” of The Order. A smirk crossed Charles’ lips, but as he glanced around the room, he saw that he was the only one laughing. Even Céolsige was uncharacteristically deadpanned and silent. He turned back to the frail looking child in the mantle of Cardinals, whatever this new title entailed; it was far too much power for a single man. Particularly for some child puppet.