Prologue:
Signs of battle marred the meeting hall. The smell of death and blood upon the room. The representatives from Ilus, the Molten Fist and the Infernal Marauders were talking to one another in a huddle.
The food tables had been largely forgotten.
The sliced meats and cheeses looked really nice. Petor thought to himself as he stood guard over Lyra, bound to a chair with Valter behind her with his hand holding a sword. He’d made both of their armors, but Petor’s came in separate sections, breastplate and bracers. With a helmet he wore occasionally.
Valter’s—his armor entombed him, interlinked without a gap. A second skin he wore as comfortably or if not more, than his own skin.
Valter looked almost relaxed, but Petor knew he could move in the blink of an eye if needed. Lyra looked like she was having trouble keeping her eyes open, her wounds had been bound but left untreated.
The Molten Fist’s spy master, turned puppet of the Geraxi Empire—Desari’s old home.
The woman in question dropped off the two Scorpion bodies to Mya who was writing out a ritual on a spare section of stone.
Desari stood up to her full height, her purple eyes no longer glowed, the mana calm in her veins. Her face could have been a mask for all the information it gave.
It was only when she was with the other horsemen she allowed her face to relax and show her true emotions. The way she gripped her sword and the determination in her eyes, piercing through the reality they were in.
She was bracing herself for what was coming, readying herself. She shared a terse few words with Mya. Bandoliers of pistols covered her armor, her sword at her hip. While Desari’s gear had a reserved feel to it, Mya had added gold thread in designs wherever she could and had several earrings upon her ears of various precious stone and metal.
Mya stood from her ritual, dusting off her hands, before taking off her captain’s tri-corn and raking her hair back, securing it in place by putting the hat back on, talking with Desari throughout.
Desari nodded her head, leaving Mya for the three groups talking among one another. Mya walked around her ritual, eyes flicking over the runes and lines.
Petor felt the mana around Lyra shift, his eyes snapping to her. With a flex of his will, it never reached her. He’d created a space two feet around here with all of its mana removed. It had taken a lot of concentration at first, now it was largely automatic.
The leeched mana kept him alert and topped up his reserves, the steady flow passing through his core, split four ways, to Valter, Desari and Mya.
He’d already quietly drained Lyra of mana, leaving her to rely on just her body.
The chatter between the three groups came to a close as Desari said something to them. Torin, the leader of the Molten Fist forced himself to turn to face Lyra and walk over.
She tried to straighten in her chair as much as possible. Their faces a mirror of one another, grim, steady and understanding of what was going to happen.
Petor shifted his muscles, keeping them limber, shifting his spear. He shot a glance at Valter, he tilted his head in acknowledgement.
Torin’s footsteps came to a stop away from Lyra, Sarnai Hellfire, High Captain of the Infernal Marauders moved to the side with her party, watching with crossed arms.
Ilus’ Council Leader Egrin stood on the other side, Ikor, Zedna, Penrik and Jana fanning out to create a half-circle. Desari stood just away from them, her eyes glowing faintly, one hand upon her spell book, the other resting lightly on her sword.
Elara, stood back from Torin, her hand on the hilt of her sword, pushing it down against the straps that held it.
“Give it to her,” Torin said.
Desari drew out a piece of paper, a written contract. She offered it towards Torin, Elara moved over instead and took it, reading it. She nodded to Desari who moved back to her position near the council.
Elara walked up to Lyra. She grimaced, rolling her shoulders as she passed through the region Petor was leeching.
“This contract binds you to tell the truth, any lie that you perform will cause you immense pain until you reveal the truth. You will not die from it. Put blood on the contract and infuse it with your mana.”
Elara produced a dagger.
“I’d tell you the truth if you asked anyway,” Lyra said, putting out her thumb. Elara cut it and put the contract on the armrest of Lyra’s chair.
She pressed her thumb to it and mana ran through her channels and into the contract. The ink shimmered with inward light.
Elara took the contract back away and Lyra shifted in her seat wearily.
Must’ve used a lot of mana to get a bit into the contract with the rate I’m pulling it away. Small spells could still be used. Those that affected the body could possibly be still utilized. He filed the information away.
Elara folded the contract and put it in a pocket, returning to her place next to Torin.
“Why did you betray Molten Fist?” Torin asked, his words filling the hall. Mya’s feet moving on the stone the only other noises.
Lyra’s muscles tensed. “I never betrayed the Molten Fist. Not once. My actions were done to ensure our future. You were so focused on this that you stopped listening to us. The Scorpions reached out to me and made an offer. It was already in line with what you were doing and our actions against Ilus.” Lyra let out a dark laugh.
“What did they offer you?” Torin asked.
“Information, weapons and gear that would be effective against Ilus.”
“That was why you were so vocal on the weapon deals.” Elara said with a tone of understanding.
“I knew what would work against them, so I worked hard to change the deal with the Nether Forge to get the most effective gear,” Lyra said.
“And in return?” Torin asked.
“They joined with my company and unit. I kept them informed of the situation in Ilus. When the city was destroyed then their people would be allowed to loot it as they desired,” Lyra shrugged.
“What did you tell them?” Desari asked.
“I passed on all the reports we had on Ilus and our actions against them. Though I know they developed their own information networks.” Lyra jutted her chin towards the bodies near Mya. “I would bet they had a fair understanding of what we were doing at the very least. There were several agents active among the Cinderborn.”
“So they should know most of everything. They didn’t have the time to try and approach the Infernal Marauders because you weren’t on their radar,” Egrin said. “Though it looks like some of them were able to make contact and draw our own people into this conflict.”
“The Geraxi Empire isn’t going to let you go easily,” Desari said. “It is a stain upon all of them the loss of their army and your escape. Add in the losses that they have taken since we left. Destroying Ilus will—in their eyes—remove that stain and show others that they’re still strong.”
“Add in our knowledge that they’ll use to refine and enhance their fighting forces.” Ikor shook his head.
“It was agreed that Elara and I would be the only one to give questions,” Torin’s gravelly voice filled the space.
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“My apologies,” Desari bowed her head slightly.
“I will not let it go a second time,” Torin said.
“You’re Desari aren’t you?” Lyra grinned darkly.
Desari raised an eyebrow in response.
Lyra laughed, it was an ugly thing trapped in the back of her throat. “Did they ever hate you. I’d catch them at times talking about you. Called you a traitor when they were feeling generous. Though they said that you were dead.” Lyra frowned.
Desari’s impassive mask split into an ugly and terrible smile. “I was.”
Torin and Elara looked over, Sarnai and her people were intrigued.
The council didn’t flinch, they already knew everything.
Think that freaks out the others more than anything.
“Torin, I am interested in how did the Scorpions reach the Abyssal Plane?” Desari asked.
“Answer her question to me,” Torin said.
“I’m not sure, they didn’t talk about it,” Lyra said, sounding distant as she studied Desari.
“What other information do you feel is relevant?” Elara asked.
“I figured that they were from the material plane by how they acted and having a history with Ilus. Though they were supplied and supported by the Crystaline Dominion.”
Torin and Elara stilled, Sarnai drew in her breath through her teeth and turned her head, running her hand through the back of her hair. The others in her party looked similarly unsettled.
“They are a kingdom in the Abyssal Plane correct?” Egrin asked.
“Yes, one of the stronger and wilder ones—which is saying something in the Abyssal Plane,” Sarnai said. “They hail from the Mixed Regions, access to all of the elements and they use them. They’re ruled by Queen Iriana and completely loyal. Through fear or through blind worship. She’s set herself up and her family to be revered as gods. They control the crystal trade within the kingdom, from mining to manufacturing. With their crystals one can cast a fire spell and it comes out as a water based version. Same effect, different element.”
“That’s, intriguing,” Penrik held his chin. “They must act as spell books or rituals in a manner.”
“It allows them to train up their forces in their own individual element to the highest degree, then in a battle they change out their crystals and they can use whatever element they want without having to learn the information on it,” Torin said. “It makes them highly capable dealing with people from different regions.”
“Do they create bindings with elementals?” Desari asked.
“No, they rely on just their casters, elementals can be much more fickle,” Sarnai said. “Also capturing elementals is sure to get reprisals from the stronger elementals that roam our regions.”
“Closer to the elemental planes,” Desari said, her mind focused on something else.
Ask her about that later.
“Deposits of crystals, like the ones that the Dominion used were found in the Cinderstein, though the Scorpions didn’t seem to care,” Lyra said. “Its how I knew they weren’t from the Dominon, if they were then they’d be doing everything they could to destroy them or send them back to the Dominion.”
“We’ll have to look if there are any left,” Ikor said.
Egrin nodded, but didn’t look away from Lyra.
“The Scorpions reported to someone in the Crystaline Dominion. Through their joking I’m pretty sure that when they died that person would be alerted.” Lyra shrugged.
Torin grunted, looking at Sarnai and then the Ilus council as if to ask them if it was enough.
“Well, shall we see what our scorpions learned?” Desari clapped her hands together, drawing the others attention.
Mya tossed a body into the center of the ritual with casual ease. Always the showwoman.
He saw the glimmer of mischief in her eyes even from where he stood.
Desari moved towards the ritual circle, the others trailing behind. Valter and Petor remained next to Lyra.
She slumped in her seat, Petor making sure not a wisp of mana reached her.
“How do you mean?” Elara asked.
“Well, we raise the dead back up and ask them a few questions,” Mya said, she snapped her fingers, her eyes alight with a ghostly flame that rippled through the ritual, hovering above different points before the dead scorpion in the middle arched its back, led upwards by its chest. Its wounds stained with dried blood, its armor and gear removed. White milky flames danced in its eyes.
“Are you a scorpion for the Geraxi Empire?” Desari asked.
“Yes.” The corpse grunted.
“What is your mission?” Desari continued.
“Insert ourselves into the ranks of the Molten Fist through our contact Lyra.” The dead’s voice was rough and coarse, its words seemed to come from her chest. “Use our position to develop a network. Report to our handler the progress of the mercenary company and on Ilus. Work to bring about the destruction of Ilus. If Ilus falls, gather as much gear and books as possible. Destroy all that we don’t capture. Sow dissent within the Molten Fist if we must extract.”
“Did you report anything outside of your mission?”
“We reported the rumors that Desari had been spotted here. Though it was unverified the information correlated.” The corpse shuddered and then rose back up, the eyes flaring and then returning to normal.
“What would be the impact of such information?” Desari asked.
“The information would leak in one manner of another. Your clothing and gear disappeared from the Avatar’s vault. Ever since he has been erratic. He’s sent out every scorpion to scour Etera for any signs of her.”
“What is the Geraxi’s plan here?”
“Use the forces in the region to weaken if not destroy Ilus. Take all that we can from the city, create infighting among the groups afterwards to cover involvement and bring them to their knees before we arrive to eliminate them all.”
“The Geraxi Empire intends to lead a campaign to the Abyssal Planes?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“The nations in Etera are all watching the Empire, they pin us into one location. They hold back for fear of the avatar. If we were to act then they would descend upon us in several directions. We need battles to strengthen our people, to claim resources and gain new allies.”
“A second battlefield for the Empire,” Desari clenched her jaw before quickly releasing it. “You said that he has sent out every scorpion, does that mean none watch the houses?”
“No.”
“And the Emperor agreed with this?”
“He did to his face, under the surface he has kept scorpions in key locations.”
“Is the Emperor worried?” Desari pounced on his words.
“Yes.”
“What are his worries?”
“The Avatar has become a direct line to the Geraxi Pantheon, he holds the faithful and ambitious in his palm. His personal power is greater than the Emperor can command. The Pantheon is using his position to force the Emperor and the Empire to increase their tithes. Where the Emperor used to trade with the Pantheon directly, now they have multiple ways around him.”
“A divergence of Emperor and faith,” Desari crossed her arms, her eyes jumping back and forth. “The Crystaline Dominion, what part do they play?”
“Their queen has agreed to become a vassal of our Empire and one of the great houses in-name. She believes that she will gain the power to overtake the Emperor and become an Empress. We use her kingdom as a staging ground, the emperor trades with her directly, information has not yet passed to the other houses.”
“With his trades that information is sure to flow, especially if he wishes to send and army here to take the region around Ilus.” Desari laughed without mirth. “Always the snake. The Emperor will pit her against the other great houses, stir things up. It draws attention away from the Pantheon and to more immediate threats. As the houses quibble, he uses the armies to lead campaigns across the Abyssal Plane, gaining power through his people and running the Avatar ragged in the doing. The houses will pull the information out from the Dominion benefitting the Emperor without him having to take an active role.”
“The Crystaline Dominion is no small power,” Elara said.
“Undoubtedly and I will have to learn more of them.” Desari turned back to the dead.
“Scorpion, how does their power compare to that of one of the great houses?”
“Middling based on their fighting ability, high because of their secrets and unknown.”
“How many great houses are there?”
“Five at this time.”
“So, we’re going up against someone with five times the fighting power of the Crystaline Dominion?” Elara said as if they’d left all common sense behind.
“More like eight,” Desari said, not looking away from her victim. “Though they won’t be able to bring that all here. They have to keep their own interests protected from the different houses and the Empire defended against the other nations in the material plane along their borders.”
Sarnai let out a laugh that held no joy. “I’m starting to think we backed the wrong bird.”
“We’ll use our resources,” Desari gestured at the dead and Lyra. “To track down all of the Scorpions and ears in our midst. Build up the region stronger than ever by combining our forces together. Just one student of Ilus was able to defeat an entire Geraxi army. If we can forge our strengths together so that they cannot be seen separate from one another, we’ll defeat anything that the Geraxi throw at us.”
“So, you going to get all the information you can out of me and then kill me?” Lyra tilted her head, the back of her chair and bindings stopping her from looking at Valter.
“No,” Desari stepped forward, her eyes glowing. “Have you ever signed a soul binding contract Lyra?”
The woman’s eyes widened as she paled.
“What better way to remove those ears and keep our union clean than having the great Lyra Shadowend enforce it?” Desari said.
***
“So, how do you intend to win this fight?” Egrin asked as he slumped into a comfortable chair.
The rest of the council and horsemen found seats in the room—the same one they’d watched Cinderstein cease existing from.
“While I’d like nothing more than to face them in the field of battle. There is another way, much more insidious and terrible,” Desari turned to look at Mya.
“Aww, insidious and terrible, you flatterer,” Mya waved a hand at her face, affecting a blush.
A laugh escaped Desari. “I was meaning through the power of mercantile.”
Mya’s hand only moved faster as she crossed her legs and flapped her shirt with the other hand. “Is it getting hotter in here or is that me?”
Petor coughed his laugh into his hand.
“I want to ravage their supplies, have their soldiers wearing rags, using rusted weapons, without enough food and water when we smash into them. Cutting them up like rotten wood.”
“Are you sure that we can get our groups to truly blend together?” Ikor asked. “We’ve signed the contracts and made the oaths, hopes for the future.”
“Training will blend them together,” Valter said, removing his helmet to reveal his short black hair, his eyes, a deep red of dried blood. He scratched his salt and pepper beard framing his hardened face.
“How do you know?” Penrik asked, the thin man leaned forward, genuine curiosity in his eyes.
“In proper training it strips away the individual, it makes you part of the group, it breaks you down and rebuilds you. Old bonds, old thoughts are burned away and new ones take root. We’ll train them so hard that they’ll be so focused on getting the task done, they won’t care who’s on either side of them anymore. They’ll come to trust one another individually, instead of where they come from.”
“What will you need to begin Mya?” Desari asked.
“I already have everything I need,” Mya leaned forward, a hungry smile on her face.