Lord Finndenshin [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczM5QJpOe-R9A7-5Fm4S2KRp0lDJh4F_9CgV53sdcYxlUBg-djJHzZ6pvdTJZyHDsmWI1BNk289PWI-EpoXl9K3BD5tXSdYHp75mz5QYs0wUEX4Ld9c7nhcxoWTH3YBwOTgebxzMeEGqhaCEczu2i5DZ=w661-h992-s-no-gm?authuser=0]
Dazien had been kept collared, chained up, and gagged the whole way to Serenydi. Moving slowly through the air at weird angles that made no sense to him as the smaller and stealthier ship made its way towards the island city.
A few times he had thought they had forgotten he existed until Lukas walked in to shove a Crystal Mana Bit in his mouth. He remembered them talking about their fear of the Fading setting in on him, and he wasn’t sure how it hadn’t already with them starving him like this. Normally, that was what they referred to as the time when a Caster’s natural life cycle was over. It was what Elder Pualani was currently experiencing in her old age, where her magic was slowly but inevitably fading back into the Aether.
It was exceedingly rare for a Caster to experience it while relatively young. Extreme starvation was one of the best-known triggers, but he had read about a few other rare circumstances and curses that happened to trigger it as well during his time studying at the temple of the Mentor.
A Caster’s body needed magic to survive. Whether that was from Mana Bits or mana-infused food, it was still a requirement for their survival. For him, at Sapphire, he wasn’t entirely sure how long he could go before his body simply ate itself and disintegrated into ash, but it felt like any moment now.
When he was dragged to his feet and made to move, he weakly stumbled, not sure he could manage to try to make a run for it. He still tried to, however, and was beaten for the attempt. He wasn’t sure if he should be grateful or fearful for the fact that the guy called Lord Finndeshin made it a point to tell the others not to damage his face at all.
He had thought the plans the cultists had for him would include some sort of quick exsanguination followed by chopping him into bits, which he wouldn’t be alive to feel. Now, though, he wondered if they liked to play with their food before enjoying the meal. He wasn’t sure which outcome he would prefer, but the longer they kept him alive, the longer he had to escape or potentially get rescued.
The idea of getting rescued was quickly tossed out the window as the group of captives somehow managed to make their way through a maze of darkened corridors to what appeared to be a grand home on one of the upper levels of the city. Once there, they were all stripped of their belongings and cleaned up, much the way he remembered Vas doing before with that magical water hose.
He was forced to change into a simple, long, white tunic along with the others, many of whom he recognized from working on the Victor’s Tribute. They seemed to be lined up in a long hall and Dazien barely had his wits enough to focus on what was happening as his mana starvation was threatening to make him pass out on his feet. If only he could get this stupid collar off and hide in his [Armory], where he has a stash of Sapphire Mana Bits.
The door opening and a few people entering was enough to help him focus a bit better, and he was shocked when he recognized not only Lord Finndeshin, who had brought him here, but another stern woman following behind him. It was Captain Clisson herself, from the ship his teammate had half destroyed. Cries of relief came from some of his fellow prisoners at the sight of the woman, and she offered them a rare tight smile in return.
“I see that some of these are indeed the lost ones you mentioned,” Finndeshin spoke up as he led the newcomers along the hall. It took a moment for Dazien to realize that the people he hadn’t recognized were a set of potential buyers. Either Finndeshin sold slaves as his own side business, or this was just another method of funding that the Scarlet Banquet participated in aside from their dealings with the DOD.
“Cut the siva shit, Finndeshin. How much for their… ‘rescue,’ as you put it?” Captain Clisson said with a flash of anger and a glare.
“Well, who all are you claiming as yours? I’m willing to give you a fair price since I so appreciate some of the more… restricted items you usually manage to get through the wards to us,” he calmly replied, offering a slight nod of gratitude before gesturing to the line of captives propped against the wall, “Just let me know which ones, and I’ll just charge just a small fee for transporting and facilitating this… touching reunion.”
The Captain quickly began pointing out her crew members, then stopped as her gaze finally fell on Dazien. He was still gagged and collared, with his hands now chained behind his back after he tried to run, but he met her gaze evenly, hoping she would show him mercy.
She nodded at him and said, “He’s a noble scion I had on board, not crew. Said he was on a diplomatic mission for his House. How much ye lookin’ to charge fer him?”
Dazien’s face scrunched a bit in anger at the revelation of information that she really didn’t need to give up to the cultist, though at this point he could only assume Lukas Lumeris had given much more than Dazien had ever given the Captain. However, he wondered what she might have been trying to accomplish with that. Perhaps it was a warning that there were others that would come looking for him?
“A Sapphire Caste Shiny gemite is a rare commodity indeed,” the elf said with a slow nod, “I’m looking for ten Ruby Mana Bit at the very least for someone who might want to make him their play-thing, but I know the Scarlet Banquet would like to make use of him as well. So, if he doesn’t sell today, he’ll be staying with me until the cult has need of him.”
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She scoffed at him, “Ten Ruby Bits? Ye must not actually want to sell him if yer askin’ that price.”
“Like I said, he fills a need that we would need just compensation for.”
Her eyes narrowed at the elf, who looked so out of place for the role he was filling with his noble bearing and high-quality outfit that wasn’t just trying to look fancy even as it showed off a decent amount of skin and impressive muscles. He had an air of sophistication that made it hard for Dazien to remember that he was basically the equivalent of the mid-tier villain that Vas, the cultist that had killed Snowbelle, had been.
Captain Clisson pulled him out of his thoughts as she walked over to him and glared into his face as though waiting for him to beg for his life, even through the gag. When he simply met her gaze evenly and with his posture as straight as he could manage, given his weakened state, she practically hissed at him.
“Yer god-favored teammate didn’t give a care to endangering my people. She didn’t try savin’ them. So why should I save hers? Yer group means nothing to me. The fate ye’ve earned means nothing. I’m done in dealin’ with noble pricks like you. Thinkin’ ye know what’s best and keepin’ secrets like a blasted Chosen bein’ on board. Perhaps the goddess of luck will be carin’ about ye more, but I don’t.”
Dazien returned her glare then, anger flaring in his chest as he moved forward towards the Emerald Caster in challenge, but Finndeshin already had a hand on his shoulders, keeping him at bay —which wasn’t difficult at the moment— “Well then, Captain, I’ll be holding onto this one and ask that you keep the knowledge of his whereabouts to yourself.”
She merely waved a dismissive hand at him and turned on her heels to usher the crew she actually cared about out the door and to their freedom. Nobody gave him a second look. Not even the other buyers, after overhearing the outrageous price he would cost them. However, as sales finished and the doors closed, leaving only Dazien left from the group of captives, Finndeshin turned and gave him a small twisted grin, “Now, what was that about a Chosen teammate? I don’t remember Mister Lumeris mentioning that part.”
Suddenly, Dazien suspected that the extra information the Captain had been so forthcoming with was less of a warning for them and more of a punishment for him.
“I didn’t mention it because she’s dead. Lost to the sea,” Lukas said from the other end of the hall, opposite where the buyers had come from. “Likely the same for his apparent lover who was Chosen by the Destroyer.”
“If a Chosen of the Destroyer was killed, I’m sure we would have heard about it. If it was those pirates you told me about, the Berg Siren nation to the west would no longer exist, and if it was from something we did, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“I believe it was actually the sea monster that did it, which I don’t think we can be blamed for.”
“Hopefully, the Destroyer agrees with you.” Finndeshin looked over toward the merchant before saying flatly, “Your services here are no longer required, Mister Lumeris. Heir Wayland will be officially under my purview now. My servant will take you to see High Priestess Vanderill, who you can make your case to, to which I will only confirm that this man was indeed brought to me by you.” He paused for a moment as he reassessed Dazien. “And I will also mention how you were the one who sold his hair. I’m sure she won’t be pleased since I’m quite familiar with how fond she is of purple.”
“I lost a lot during that raid in Tulimeir,” Lukas retorted, “A few Emerald Bits should at least help us reestablish here.”
“It won’t go nearly as far here as it would in Tulim,” Finndeshin retorted. “But leave us now. I have questions for him, and I don’t need your commentary. Unless there is anything else more prudent to add?”
Lukas seemed to contemplate that for a moment before slowly saying, “That Chosen teammate was his adopted sister, who was also the Regent of House Wayland and called the Saint of the Celestial Pantheon. She was a Sapphire Caste Wayfarer that had eight different deities grant their Soul Marks.”
Finndeshin looked as though his eyes were going to pop out of their sockets as he asked incredulously, “And you didn’t think to mention that at all during our flight here?”
“It doesn’t really matter if she’s dead, does it? I saw her get eaten by that sea monster.”
“If she’s dead, then that means this boy isn’t the heir of House Wayland. He’s its regent now, which makes him much more valuable, and if eight bloody deities were interested in his sister, do you really think they’d just idly sit by and watch her get eaten by a random monster or let him get sacrificed for the Maniac’s goals?”
“The Laws of Divinity should prevent—”
“Eight, Lukas! Eight gods against two! Did the Laws of Divinity protect your entire headquarters from burning to the ground?! Then you have a ninth to consider if the Destroyer’s Chosen managed to survive, and we have his lover held prisoner. Do you think I want the Destroyer to have an unhappy Chosen one?”
Lukas frowned but didn’t argue further as he simply shook his head.
“No, I bloody don’t!” Finndeshin yelled, punching the wall near Dazien’s head and raining splinters down from the massive hole it created. The stronger Emerald Caster glared daggers at Lukas before adding in a clipped tone, “Go see the High Priestess now and explain exactly who you brought to us to be used as a ritual component.”
Lukas simply grimaced and nodded as he moved towards the back door where the servant had been left waiting.
Finndeshin took a moment to brush the splinters from his fist and smooth his short hair before turning back to Dazien, removing the gag, and asking, “Answer me honestly, and I won’t make your diaphragm like the wall. Do you believe your sister and lover still live?”
Dazien tried to give his best smirk, brimming with all the cheekiness he could muster, as he answered, “You’re right to fear those gods. I believe those two will live far longer than either of us will.”