CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Stargazers

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Bram avoided a confrontation with the manse’s guards by promising to pay for the broken gate, and with a hefty bag of griffins, earned entry into the coven house as guests instead of prisoners. From the expansive main hall that looked as shabby as its exterior—the trappings of once-great fortune in decline—the party was ushered into a dusty sitting room where they waited for a coven representative to meet with them.

“The tea’s quite good.” Having pulled off her hood, Rowan now enjoyed another sip of the tea a servant had brought into the sitting room. “Oh, do sit down, My Prince. Fretting about won’t hasten our host’s arrival.”

As usual, waiting was a challenge for Bram, who, like Hajime, was pacing around in the room. Though, unlike Hajime, who, along with Bridget, marveled at every sorcerous bauble they discovered, Bram’s attention remained fixed on the closed door.

“I’ll see what’s keeping them,” he proposed.

“Or”—Rowan patted the seat next to hers, with bits of dust flying at her touch—“you could sit and enjoy the tea whilst we wait.”

Bram sighed, though he gave in and sat next to her.

Funnily enough, the door to the sitting room opened as soon as the prince chose to quiet his impatience. A lanky, pale-faced, blue-eyed man with chin-length dark blue hair—the racial trait of a Shamvalan—who wore an embroidered silk robe of varying green tones appeared through the open doorway.

“I apologize for the wait,” he said in a quiet, genial tone that carried no hint of a Shamvalan’s highland accent. “I thought I might dress appropriately first since we have such important guests visiting.”

Strangely, the Shamvalan’s face—the long-hooked nose over the lips that were painted blue, the high cheekbones, and the narrow chin—was a face that Bram thought familiar. It took him a second longer to realize that this sorcerer who’d entered the room had been the same servant who’d brought them tea earlier. Undoubtedly, he had also been the guard whose long-fingered hands received the bag of griffins Bram had bribed the coven with.

I see I’m not the only one adept at disguises…

“You clean up nicely,” Rowan said in greeting.

She too had noticed the Shamvalan’s identity.

“And you’re even more beautiful than the rumors claim, Lady Rowan,” he replied.

It seemed this Shamvalan was also practiced in intrigue.

“I am Ravi Samal, Vice Master of the Coven of Stargazers.” The Shamvalan introduced himself with a bow to Bram, showing he indeed knew who had come to call on him.

“Do vice masters usually serve tea to guests?” Rowan asked.

“Sadly, you’ve visited at a time when many of my coven have gone off on an expedition. I do what I can while I mind the house.” He flashed Rowan with a pleasant smile. One he turned on Bram next. “Despite being understaffed, those who remain are capable sorcerers who can provide excellent services to our new governor… So, how can we help?”

Though the prince was certain Ravi Samal was hiding something behind his smile, he didn’t dislike this obvious attempt to show off one’s ability in information gathering. And so, looking more favorably at their host, Bram said, “We’ve come to bargain.”

“Oh?” One of Ravi’s painted blue eyebrows hitched upward. “What sort of bargain?”

The prince was glad that the Shamvalan seemed interested. Had he shown the slightest hesitation, Bram would have left without sharing his proposal because he couldn’t risk revealing the great undertaking to potential enemies.

“It’s well-known that the Coven of Stargazers are talented summoners.” Bram started things off with a bit of flattery. “Lotharin needs your coven’s talents now so we might rise from years of fetid waters to touch the sky.”

“Lotharin,” Ravi repeated as if he thought the prince’s choice of words was interesting.

This was Bram’s intent. Within that one speech, he revealed his great ambition while also setting himself as the people’s representative.

A sheepish smile flashed on Ravi’s face. “Forgive me for saying so, Your Highness, but the people don’t know their new governor…and those that do—”

“Think very little of me.” Bram finished the Shamvalan’s thought. “I’m aware.”

He made a show of glancing around the room, his gaze pausing at the obvious signs of decline around them.

“I hear the people of Bellen hold you in the same regard these days,” Bram said provokingly.

Thanks to Ser Anthony’s report, Bram had come to Bellen knowing that the Stargazers were the least recognized among the walled city’s three covens. It wasn’t always so, but something had happened to their coven in the past year to influence their decline to the point that its vice master handled even the menial task of serving tea to guests.

“How long has it been since you received a commission from the city lord?” Bram asked.

“Not in a long while, considering the state of this abode,” Rowan weighed in.

Ravi frowned. “Your point?”

Bram didn’t mean to offend, but discussing the coven’s decline was his way of sweetening the bait he was about to dangle under Ravi’s nose.

“Come under me, and I won’t just commission you for simple magic tricks… I’ll give you wealth, honor, prestige…and even a worthy purpose,” he proposed.

Ravi’s eyes widened slightly. “You…want to sponsor us?”

“More than simply sponsoring you, we would like to put you to work on a great undertaking,” Rowan clarified.

Bram could picture the cogs turning inside the Shamvalan’s brain, and he wondered if Ravi would notice. Bram hoped he would. He’d brought such stellar examples of their product just to see if Ravi had sufficient skill to detect their true nature.

“You mentioned our summoning talents…” A pale blue light sparked in the depths of the Shamvalan’s irises. This pair of glowing blue eyes flitted toward the faces of the three otherworlders behind Bram and Rowan. “I assume you mean them… Your companions aren’t from around here.”

Rowan smiled. “He noticed it quickly… Impressive.”

“Could other members of your coven easily discern the truth of my companions like you have?” he asked.

“Thanks to recent trends, not many sorcerers practice the Summoning Arts,” Ravi explained in a disappointed tone. “Our coven is the only one in Lotharin, though not many of my brethren have the eyes to see what mine can detect.”

“What do you see?” Hajime asked curiously.

“I see the distortions in your forms like flecks of stardust clinging to your bodies. It’s the same effect that appears whenever we summon an elemental from another realm,” Ravi revealed, adding, “Though you seem to possess actual bodies instead of an astral form… Astounding.”

Bram glanced sideways at Rowan just in time to see the smugness flash on her expression.

Ravi noticed too.

He inclined his head toward her in a sign of respect. “The rumors about you were downplayed, Lady Rowan.”

“‘Tis a simple task”—Rowan placed her empty teacup on the table—“that I wouldn’t mind showing you should your coven decide to accept our proposal.”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Learning rare and advanced sorcery was a great incentive for any sorcerer, but Bram could still see the hesitation on Ravi’s face.

“To be able to summon humans from another world…it’s an unprecedented accomplishment,” he admitted, though he sighed soon after. “But it’s also a crime with grim consequences…”

Ravi bowed his head.

“Apologies, Your Highness,” he said. “I cannot accept your offer of salvation at the risk of committing taboo…”

Bram raised his hand. “That’s not exactly true.”

“But it is,” Ravi insisted, further explaining, “It’s explicitly stated in Section Seven of Article Sixteen of the Sorcerous Codex, detailing the proper rites and regulations of the Summoning Arts… The summoning of living beings in their entirety is expressly forbidden, for a complete being of mind, body, and soul may not be bound in contract with their summoner. To summon such existences risks bringing havoc to the world should such beings — demons, elementals, spirits, and the like — prove hostile to the people of Aarde.”

“Then we’ve not broken the law of the Codex,” Bram insisted back.

Rowan giggled.

Ravi couldn’t help but look confused. “You didn’t summon these otherworlders?”

“We did,” Bram admitted.

“Then—”

“But we never summoned them in their entirety… Only their souls were brought to Aarde,” Bram revealed.

“Only their souls…” Ravi’s gaze drifted over to the otherworlders.

All three of them waved back at him.

Ravi’s brow creased. “But their bodies—”

“Created through sorcery,” Rowan cut in—to which Bram added, “Right before they signed a contract with us.”

“We couldn’t cause havoc without the prince’s say so… Not that we’d want to,” Bridget added.

“Blessed Pallas,” Ravi breathed.

As if the revelation of these otherworlders caused him to feel lightheaded, the Shamvalan was forced to sit on the couch opposite Bram’s and Rowan’s. It would be a while later, after a full swig of the zesty tea, when he finally found his voice again.

“I suppose you’d want us to move to Bastille,” he began.

At last, the vice master seemed ready to bargain in earnest.

“There are too many eyes and ears at the capital. A nice house in the countryside might be better,” Bram answered, with Rowan adding, “Have you heard of a town called Reise?”

“No,” Ravi admitted as he poured more tea for her.

“You’ll like it.” She took back her teacup. “It has all the amenities one could need. Or it will soon enough.”

Bram briefly explained that he would build new facilities in Reise to serve as the operations center for their great undertaking. This would include the large summoning hall that was crucial to their plans.

“Your lodgings shall have enough space to fit all your research materials, including the large Stargazing Mirror I noticed on your roof,” Bram promised.

“That would be appreciated…” Again, hesitation flashed on Ravi’s face. “You promised to give my coven wealth, honor, and prestige… I assume all of this will be tied to the new purpose you have in mind for us?”

Bram noticed Rowan scratch the tip of her nose. This was the sign they’d agreed upon beforehand to subtly explain that she could glean no disturbance in Ravi’s emotions that could suggest deceit. It would have been better if she read his mind more accurately, but such an act required casting a spell that an experienced sorcerer would most certainly notice.

Still, Bram thought Ravi could be convinced. Not just because of Rowan’s lure of newfound power, but because he could see a glint of desire in the Shamvalan’s eyes. Bram had seen such a look enough times among the favored courtiers of the Sovereign’s court to know its meaning.

“We’ll need many hearts and minds to help Lotharin prosper.” The prince made a show of glancing over his shoulder. “Hearts and minds that have yet to be tainted by the customs of the Imperium.”

Realization flashed on Ravi’s face.

“You want to summon more otherworlders to Aarde…” His gaze drifted to the trickster who was sipping her tea. “…Much more than Lady Rowan alone could handle.”

Bram nodded.

Ravi gulped. “What will you do with such a large force…?”

Again, realization flashed on the Shamvalan’s face.

“The brewing conflict with the north…you plan to use otherworlders against Rhyneland,” he deduced.

“Conflict may be the most immediate concern,” Bram admitted, “but we also plan to use the knowledge of the other world to elevate the people’s quality of life.”

“How?” Ravi asked.

“Better roads, for one,” Bram answered quickly.

The prince couldn’t help frowning while he recalled the Sovereign’s Road that they’d taken north to Bellen and compared its rough stone path to the paved gray roads of the glass city in his visions. He was determined that such roads be made in Lotharin.

“Healing Arts more advanced than the Imperium’s,” Bram added.

Skepticism flashed on Ravi’s face.

These days, the ‘Healing Arts’ was quite advanced. Sorcery that could restore even lost limbs, herbal medicines to combat plagues, and even divine rites that stave off curses, the Sovereign’s court spared no expense in improving the quality of health of the Imperium’s citizens.

“They have a cure for the malignance,” Bram revealed.

Ravi’s eyes widened.

Despite recent advancements in the healing arts, malignance, like old age, was the one thing that could not be cured. The appearance of its tumors in a body was akin to a death sentence on Aarde. It was such a powerful curse that many covens were dedicated solely to solving its ghastly riddle.

“Is this true?” Ravi’s questioning gaze drifted to Chris who looked to be the most reliable of the trio.

Chris nodded. “But it’ll still depend on what kind of cancer y’all got and how far along it is.”

He raised three fingers.

“Anything under stage three and it’s doable,” Chris explained, his brow creasing when he added, “Stage four’s terminal. At that point, it’s in the hands of the Almighty.”

Excitement filled Ravi’s face. “What kind of sorcery does your world wield?”

“We don’t use sorcery,” Hajime answered.

One of Ravi’s painted blue eyebrows hitched upward. “Then how do you cure the vile malignance?”

A long discussion about the science and technology of Earth ensued with the Shamvalan enraptured by every word spilling from the otherworlders’ lips. At the end of their tale, it almost seemed to Bram that Ravi salivated at the prospect of introducing such novelties as toilet seat warmers, same-day delivery services, and carbonated beverages to Lotharin.

“I’m more hopeful for cinema,” Rowan remarked.

“These are the moving pictures you discussed?” Ravi confirmed.

“We just call them movies,” Bridget answered.

The thought of recording a celebrated play into a device and then sharing that recording with more people than could fit even the grand theaters of the Imperium’s capital seemed like such an innovative idea to the three Aarders. More importantly, the wealth such an industry could bring would certainly help Lotharin rise from its status of being the poorest of the twelve kingdoms and perhaps become a center of entertainment for the Imperium.

“Imagine,” Bram raised his hands in the gesture of ‘air quotes’ Bridget had recently taught him, “the sorcery of the Cinema Arts.”

“Such an innovation would make the sonusgraph obsolete,” Ravi whispered.

“What’s a sonusgraph?” Bridget asked.

Ravi pointed to a bronze box sitting on a nearby desk. When the Shamvalan snapped his fingers, the box popped open like a clockwork machine revealing its inner workings. It was a bronze horn wheeling around itself, its open half rising to the top while its pointed tip slid down to the base of a bronze plate. Mounted on that plate was a crystal cylinder with grooves engraved on its surface.

“This is a sonusgraph,” Ravi explained.

The crystal cylinder that was about the size of a soda can began to rotate clockwise so that the horn’s pointed tip slid along the grooves etched on its surface. A slight trembling raced up the bronze horn. When that trembling reached the top, a song began to play.

“Oh,” Bridget grinned in delight, “it’s like an old record player.”

The song playing on the sonusgraph had a mournful melody that accompanied a female bard singing of forlorn love and infidelity.

“I love a good ballad,” Bridget commented.

Hajime frowned. “Isn’t this too sad, Bridget-san?”

“The sadder the better,” she replied. “What’s it called?”

“Loveless,” Bram answered.

He’d sung this song himself a few times and could easily recall its tale; the nymph loved by a goddess who later spurned her after she’d been raped by that goddess’ husband, another god who’d been jealous of his wife’s lover.

From the corner of his eye, Bram caught Rowan’s frown. He assumed this was because she hated being reminded of the gods’ transgressions against their children, a tragedy he guessed she’d experienced herself once upon a time.

Ravi’s face turned contemplative. “Loveless could make an interesting story for one of your movies.”

“Then you agree with us?” Bram asked.

For the third time, he noticed hesitation flash on Ravi’s face.

“You’ve painted a picture of stars so dazzling that I would be a fool to refuse your offer, Your Highness…” Ravi bowed sincerely to Bram. “However, this isn’t a decision I can make without the master’s approval.”

From what he read in Ser Anthony’s report, the prince knew this was impossible.

“Your master…where is she?” Bram asked.

The hand that held Ravi’s teacup shook slightly. “You know she’s missing…”

Bram nodded.

It was written in Ser Anthony’s report that the master of the Stargazers had been missing for nearly a year. Right around the time that the troubles of the Red Forest began.

“How deep in the forest did your expedition go?” Bram pressed.

Ravi sighed. “A month’s ride to the west, in an unexplored region near the foot of the Vinland Mountains.”

Bram glanced at Rowan. “Ring any bells?”

“A few,” she conceded, “but I would have to go there to know for certain.”

“Y-You want to go?” Ravi asked.

The Shamvalan couldn’t keep hope from showing on his face.

“Should we manage to find your expedition…” Bram refrained from saying ‘rescue’ because he wasn’t certain anyone from their expedition would still be alive after all this time. “…Can I assume your coven will agree to serve me?”

“A thousand yesses!” Ravi bowed his head once more. Lower this time. “If you can bring them home, we will pledge ourselves to your cause.”

‘Ping!’

Right on cue, the party’s first quest notification arrived.

URGENT QUEST: Save the Master, Save the World!