Epilogue

A Message from Silvermarket

Thomas rushed toward the Academy Tower with a huge grin on his face. Growing up as a Jöln, even in Silvermarket, he had never been one to pray to Cent. But today he would be sure to head to the temple of the lucky god after he was done.

“Five gold coins.” He muttered to himself, still in shock. Five gold coins that man had given him, and five more promised upon delivery of the letter. Even if the recipient, whoever he was, stiffed him a coin or two, that was still more than he could have expected to see in as many years. Already his mind rushed with what to do with the wealth. To the Silver Row first, he’d guess, to get himself a nice coat. He might outgrow it in a few years, yes, but a treat was deserved in such times. Besides, his mum wouldn’t mind so long as he brought her a nice bolt of new cloth for her to make herself a gown.

It didn’t take long for Thomas to reach the massive structure, the center of learning in the entire empire, and it loomed over the entirety of the Arcanum District. Staring up at it, Thomas gaped. Even if he was a Jöln, he had no illusions that it would seem just as massive to one of the taller folk. Men and women in all sorts of attire bumped passed Thomas, jostling him in spot as he realized he had stopped in the middle of a busy walkway. Muttering a quick apology to the older magi, he didn’t want to be turned into a goat or whatever it was they did here, Thomas rushed toward the large open entry.

Stepping into the main entry hall of the tower, Thomas’s eyes grew wide taking it all in. The hall itself was larger than most buildings he’d seen, with at least a hundred people milling about. Some sat at disparate tables reading from dusty tomes, others walked in small groups discussing one thing or another. More impressively, massive round platforms wide enough for five or six men to stand atop rose through the air, crystals pulsing brightly beneath them. It seemed like the tower was hollow along the inside, stretching up high above him.

But it was those who stood around crystals, large floating blue chunks that glowed with a gentle pale blue light, that drew his attention. Streams of light seemed to flow from them, back and forth through the crystal. He could see the air around them bending and contorting in odd ways, as though the air around it was being molded like dough.

“Might I help you child?” A crisp woman’s voice nearly made Thomas leap from his skin. Turning, he stared up at tall, stately Sherya woman with emerald eyes and grey streaked brown hair done up in a stately bun. She reminded him of his Aunt Meredith. “Well child? Speak.” Very much like his Aunt Meredith.

“I’m… I’m fine thank you.” He tried to look around her, searching for the doorway he had been told to find. This was bad. The man who had given him the letter that lay in his chest pocket had impressed how important it was to send this letter quietly. He wouldn’t disappoint.

Trying to push past her, she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back. “And where do you think you are going young man?” She scolded, a look on her face that made it clear she was unimpressed.

“I… I have a message I need to deliver mistress.” Thomas grumbled. Scanning the wall, he found the door he had been told to go through. The north side servant’s entrance, the man had said that was the way.

“Well pass it here then and I can make sure it reaches its destination.” She held him by the collar still, but her other hand was proffered to accept his letter. That would not do, there was another five gold waiting for him up this tower and he was not about to let this old Sherya hag take it from him.

“I can’t do that.” He tried to explain, her lowered brow didn’t move an inch.

“Well if you will not comply with protocol then you can not…” She trailed off, staring out past Thomas, her eyes narrowing to near slits. “Heleras! Shelmanon! You both know that fire is strictly prohibited in the common areas!” She shouted suddenly, nearly causing Thomas’s ears to bleed. Dropping him, she took a step before turning back on Thomas quickly. “You better be right there when I get back boy.” She snapped before lifting her skirts and rushing across the massive room.

Thomas slowly adjusted his coat as he watched her stomp off. Stay here she had said, not bloody likely. As fast as his little legs would move him, Thomas ran to the servant entrance, not slowing down a bit until the door was firmly closed behind him. Pressing his back against the door, he breathed heavily. That, in his opinion, was far too close.

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Pushing off the wall, he scanned the dark hallway looking for… there. A staircase, wide enough for three Fereni to climb abreast. It was a steep staircase, leading up in a tight spiral, but not so steep that Thomas would have to literally climb each step. Thankfully, he had dealt with staircases like that before.

The strange man who had given him the letter had told him he’d find who he was looking for behind the gold fringed door with ten crystals marked out on it. Just climb the stairs until he saw it and knock. The man had been odd though, and if he got to the top of the too-tall tower without seeing the door then Thomas might just have to cut his losses and count the five gold he had received as a win enough. Still, he would need to avoid that old Khazimi man who had given him the letter, something about him reeked of danger.

It was far from a short climb when the staircase finally came to an end, and at its end lay the door with the gold fringe and ten crystals painted upon it. Who is this man? Thomas thought with shock. Must be important to stand so high in the tower. Or maybe not? If Thomas was important enough, he would surely keep his rooms on the bottom floor where they were easiest to get to. But, well, magi didn’t think like normal folk did they? Steadying his breath, both for the exhaustion of the climb and the excitement of the forthcoming coin, Thomas knocked on the door.

“Come in.” A stately voice called out after a moment, and Thomas tried the door.

It swung open smoothly, well oiled hinges not even creaking a bit, and stepping in Thomas marveled at the chamber. Or, well, chambers, as it seemed to be four roughly marked out spaces only separated by stone arches. All about the place sat huge crystals floating in the air, and more books than Thomas had seen in his entire life put together covered near every wall. Directly across from him, through two of the sectioned rooms, Thomas could spot an open doorway that led out to an open air balcony. Thomas swallowed nervously even thinking about that, as high up as they were right now.

“How might I help you, young man?” An old man in ornate robes, covered in all sorts of gold and seemingly beaded with crystals, eyed him warmly. The old man was Fereni by his height and brown eyes, but little of their characteristic musculature hung on the man. More bald than not, and with an oddly cut beard that only covered his upper lip and chin, the grey haired man reminded Thomas of his grandfather. He missed his grandfather.

“Ah, er, I have a message for you m’lord.” Thomas scrambled in his coat pocket, pulling out the folded and sealed piece of parchment. He didn’t recognize the seal, a fist clenched around a bag of coins, but Thomas wouldn’t recognize most seals save maybe the king’s.

The older man raised an amused brow and took the letter from him, breaking the parchment and scanning over it quickly.

“You must be tired from your climb young man.” The older magi mused almost absentmindedly. “Take some wine, it is watered properly for your age fear not.” He waved toward a small pitched on a nearby table surrounded by four silver cups. Shrugging, Thomas did as he was told. Chunks of peaches and pears floated in the pitcher among chunks of chipped ice and swallowing it down Thomas gasped at the cool sweetness. It was likely the most delicious thing he had ever tasted.

With a sigh, the older man folded the parchment up, and all of a sudden it burst into flames. In less than a heartbeat, ash fell through the air onto the carpet.

“How much did the man promise you? And don’t lie child, I can tell when children lie.” The old man seemed to study him, but Thomas had no intention of lying anyways. Honesty was a virtue of The Pantheon after all, and he was a good boy.

“Five gold.” Thomas swallowed, hoping the magi didn’t accuse him of lying. It was a hefty sum after all.

Nodding, the magi reached into his robes and pulled out six glistening coins. “An extra.” He said with a grin. “For being an honest young man. Now rush along young man, and don’t be seen leaving you understand?”

Thomas nodded with a grin then rushed toward the door before stopping.

“Right, one other thing m’lord.” He called out to the old man who had already turned away. Stopping himself, the old man turned and studied Thomas once more. “I nearly forgot, apologies for that. The man told me to tell you something. ‘X is dead now too. Be wary.’” Thomas shook his head. “Which to be honest I thought was a bit of a silly thing to say. Everyone’s talking about what that girl did so I can’t imagine you didn’t already know. Though I’m not sure she really is the lost heir like they say. Wouldn’t the king want his daughter back if she were?” Thomas prattled on, not really paying attention as he tried to remember what the girl had looked like. He had seen her, a few days back now, when she had marched through Silvermarket on the way to the palace.

A hand fell on Thomas’s shoulder. Almost jumping, Thomas stared up at the old man who looked back down at him with sad eyes. “I am sorry my boy.” The old man muttered. “He does like to cause trouble that one.”

Nervously, Thomas tried to pull away from the man. His arm was stronger than Thomas had expected though, and Thomas struggled in vain. “L… Let me go.”

“I can’t do that.” He shook his head, an honest disappointment in his eyes. “You seem like a good lad. A real shame he had to use you this way. But that was his way after all isn’t it? Blasted old sadist.”

Pain shot through Thomas’s shoulder. Staring down at the Magi’s hand, Thomas felt his heart freeze as glowing blue cracks spread out over his body. “P… please…” Thomas cried out, pain beginning to wrack his body.

“The world is an unfair place my boy, better that you are finished with it quickly.”

The cracks spread over Thomas’s body, tearing him into pieces. Every single inch of his skin screamed in agony, but not a word escaped his lips. Then all at once it was gone, the pain, the room, everything.