Chapter 47: 47
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\tGan, who had already heard the whole story and was waiting for Orison's return, reported. "The girl here has Morrel's get. It's confirmed but really early in. Fvaris clan was going to take her to some secure location along with some other girls . Morrel got them to hold off taking Little Lan by owing them a favor which Elder Fvaris' father immediately called in." To the side, he whispered low in Orison's ear, "They gave him the other breath potion and sent him into the hole, the place we went to where you got hurt bad."
\tOrison looked at Ruolan and asked, "To the best of your knowledge, did Granny Xia or Elder Fvaris have anything to do with this?You know what? It doesn't matter. Is there anything you don't have with you right now that you absolutely must have to the point you'd risk your freedom to get it?"
\tRoulan thought for a moment and shook her head.
\tLike rolling thunder clouds in the distance, Orison rumbled. "Gan, as soon as I get Elder Liu on to his island, I want you to get everyone's things together. I was done with these a**holes the second they let that Domain elf set a trap for me in the council house. This whole thing was just a way for me to break free faster. In spite of everything, we haven't even gotten through this island skirmish and some Fvaris b*****d is setting up the next ploy."
\tOrison turned to the old hedge witch. "Medea, do you have enough fire in your bones to make sure Calix doesn't get himself killed doing something stupid for three weeks?"
\tThe old woman cackled and said, "Even the gods can't keep stupid men alive but if you've got the coin, you'll buy the best advice I have for him. That's all I can promise."
\tOrison nodded and said, "Name your price."
\t"Fifty gold and a writ of passage to you land for if I make myself unwelcome here," The witch said steadily.
\tThe young mage replied, "Done, but you need to make up your mind for certain whether you want to stay here or make your way to me when you're done. I'll not have an elderly person crossing half the known world by herself."
\t"One last grand adventure it is then but who will stay to accompany me?" Medea said.
\tOrison turned to the group of people he had rescued and said, "I need a volunteer... Thank you, but the four of you are recently divested Domain soldiers. Too many bad things could happen to an obsidian elf and a gold elf guard traveling through Centerland with little more than a piece of paper to protect themselves from accusations with."
\tTo the lack of the group's surprise, the offer of volunteer that Orison accepted was from the only Centerland lineage person in the room, a fourteen year old boy who's father was an unknown Domain soldier. Given to Avenar as a gift when he was eight, the boy had endured four years as the commissar's toy and two more being trained as an infiltrator. The boy had buried his hate deep and resisted the mental programming parts of his training as best he could. Another two years and it was likely he'd have been lost to the darkness Avenar attempted to instill within him.
\tIf Orison hadn't had the Danann Key to 'unlock' and 'repair' the boy's will among other things the conduit considered locked and damaged, confirming that the boy's father was dead, he'd never have been able to fully trust the Centerland teen. Avenar's methods contained magical means as well as mundane and this was a small test the young mage had concocted on the fly. With the boy's willingness to volunteer being the last hurdle, Orison had decided to add him to the roster of his inner circle.
\tThe young mage took the boy to his office and closed the door. "We haven't got a lot of time before I have to finish affairs with Elder Liu so let's get to it. First off, I need a name to call you because the one given by that filth isn't a proper name and doesn't ever bear repeating. Do you have one in mind or do you want help?"
\tThe boy's dull, world weary eyes met Orison's. "Something simple and easy to remember will do, lord."
\tUnpleasant goosebumps pebbled his skin as Orison said, "No need for the 'lord' business. Orison is fine... How about Gaelen or Duran. The meaning of the first is 'firm mind in difficulty' and the second is 'firm and enduring person'."
\t"Duran then, Orison," the boy said.
\tOrison nodded and said, "Alright, Duran. Keep your eyes centered on my chest and try not to blink."
\tAs Duran's eyes locked on to him, Orison summoned out every skill book copy he had left, one at a time and opened. They were of no use to anyone in his core group as they had either already read them previously before Orison acquired them again, were about subjects that held no interest to anyone or, in Droya's case, didn't possess the spark of talent the world had deemed necessary to get their benefit. Books on the heavier armors, smithing, shield work and the leftovers all unloaded their knowledge with that spark of something extra that had come in the items 'dark night of horrors' bestowed.
\tBelatedly, Orison realized that the world wasn't reacting as poorly to the changes catalyzed in Duran, making the bit of 'aloe gel' he'd wheedled out of Morrel to study, unnecessary. He theorized offhandedly that it probably had something to do with the world's 'energy tax' on the items used to do it as compared to when they were receiving 'dark night's' benefits without any contribution. He also observed that whatever Beta had done to exploit the loopholes in his wishes, or perhaps due to the majority of granted essence being filtered through skill books, Duran had lost none of his Centerland ascetic despite also having been 'aged and trained up'.
\tWhile taking a couple of minutes to copy over some novice spells he thought would be useful for Duran, a cursory spirit sight scan informed Orison that the boy might be nearly as 'primed for climbing' as his other three teammates but the extra something that all the rest had was little more than a seed of possibility in Duran. Orison considered that having such a possibility of self guided growth might not be as sure of a success but in the long run might actually be superior, as the boy would make it more uniquely his than the others had a chance to.
\tOrison prepared a 'care package' of equipment and funds then bundled up the boy who had passed out at the edge of spiritual and mental rupture, laying Duran down in his own room. After administering a little of his most precious potions to help Duran adjust, Orison laid a note along with the new novice spell book and care package beside the bed. After leaving the room, he cast his dubious Lock spell on the door and informed everyone that Duran would be up and about within a couple of hours.
\tTaking Gan to the side, Orison asked discretely, "Is Morrel still alright and how much time do I have left before Xia's time limit with Avenar is up?"
\tGan's eyes widened. "How do you- yes, he's still alright. My best guess on the second is that it's already up. Even if it isn't, about a minute ago Elder Liu sent a clansman to ask what the hold-up was."
\tOrison said, "In the last couple days, you could go wherever anyone else was without asking around. I figure your 'map' has some interesting feature or two you discovered but weren't sure enough to tell anyone about yet. Besides, you were cool as a breeze under Ruolan's worry which isn't your style, Gan. I'd say you almost give a sh*t as much as me about the rest of our 'family'. Now, if you were worried when I came in, it would have been a whole other story... and f*ck the Elders. If I wasn't in such a hurry to find a way to cut ties with this sh*thole I'd want to kill them all for watching me get trapped by that Domain douche and not lifting a finger."
\tOn the off chance he may not return, Orison informed the four elven guardsman of his clan an alternative travel arrangement he hoped would be unnecessary. With Gan in tow, Orison strode over to the Domain suite and informed the Liu clansmen there that the 'hold-up' was due to Xia not returning his slave in a timely manner. Ignoring their follow-up questions, he made his way to the beacon and used it's signature coupled with his tie to the collar to call Avenar to him.
\tHe felt the tug but his gold elf teleporter did not appear. Trying one more time to call, Orison sent his spirit sight with it experimentally. It didn't leave out of his short radius in any particular direction as he expected. Instead, it lead Orison into the depths of the Fvaris compound.
\tOrison howled, "That selfish, greedy b*tch!"
\tStepping outside, he turned to the Fvaris compound and screamed at the top of his lungs. "Bring me my slave now or I'm sending a golem to fetch him. Elder Liu doesn't have time for your exploitation. He still has his island to claim!"
\tHearing his name, the Revivalist leader speed walked his way to Orison and said, "Enlighten me."
\tOrison said benignly, waving his hand towards the Fvaris compound, "It would be my pleasure, Venerable. The old greedy c*nt has my slave somewhere in the ground over there."
\tA large handful of Fvaris clansmen came pouring out, throwing shade at Orison and denying his 'outrageous' claims. One of the older men walked over to Elder Liu and stated that Orison was plotting something and that their clan elder had ran into unexpected problems due to false information, trapped with Avenar on the island Fvaris was reclaiming.
\tOrison turned to the Fvaris clansman and said, "So you won't mind this..."
\tRealizing the only thing he'd probably get back from his slave was a broken body minus relic slave collar, he was finished playing nice.
\tIn ancient elvish, he said, "Fight after death."
\tOnce said, Orison willed his slave return. With a pop of displaced air, Avenar shambled out of the Domain suite, pieces of building and gold skinned body parts belonging to his attempted rescuers shuffled out of his way. A damning small plume of dust raised from a piece of ground to the side of the Fvaris compound.
\tWith saintly expression, Orison said, "My goodness. I thought that would be perfectly safe since he was supposed to be much further away. But why would he be exactly where I said he was instead of where your honest and trustworthy personage claimed him to be? And what's this? Domain elves? I'm going to be honest. I had no idea it was that deep of a betrayal. She was even selling out all the other council members."
\tElder Liu, who had been ready to turn on Orison, smashed his staff into the man's head as the clansman lunged for Orison. "No one is touching this legate until I get my use of him."
\tOrison turned to Elder Liu and said, "From my best estimate, you have fifteen minutes at full capacity before his soul burns out and the collar breaks. Make plans for a boat trip back."
\tElder Liu frowned and said, "So you're giving this thing to me?"
\tOrison nodded and said, "You and your clan are adept at using the dead. I'd just get people killed trying to make it force cast. Fourteen minutes and counting, Elder. I doubt you care if Fvaris clan members try to kill me or not. I sure as sh*t don't. She's about to realize I've been f***ed for the last time so now I guess it's your turn. Enjoy, and watch your back."
\tElder Liu shouted at the remaining Fvaris clansmen, "The Centerland soldiers are coming with me so I'd advise against taking hasty actions or when we return the name of this city might become Liu Enclave. For once, your dowager owes explanations."
\tOrison turned to Nadir and Calix as Elder Liu had the undead elf open a way, sending a target team of controllers and corpse puppets to secure the magic circle room. "Don't try to back out. Just go. The future of the embassy and post's safety lies in your cooperation with the other four council members now. Since it's a wartime scenario and I have no formal military training, I'm empowering Nadir with consul legate authority aside from two orders. Calix remains acting embassy captain and I still control missives until I take administrative leave."
\tAs Calix went with the first batch of Centerland soldiers, Nadir said, "In the end, you're not much different than them. You could be leaving us for death."
\tOrison said, "We were dead men from the moment we stepped on this island. I've kept us alive for over two months off the back of my own work. Now it's your turn to bust a** for awhile. I think I left it much better than it was given to me. Especially since any Domain agreements with the New Fvaris council or whatever it'll be called in the near future, are a pipe dream now. Or do you disagree?"
\t"Brazen of you to say so within my earshot, Legate," Elder Liu said.
\tOrison turned to the elder and said, "Why is that? I know you're going to kick Centerland's a** out of here as soon as you're done with them too. I'm just trying to be honest and insure it's with them alive instead of ashes in the wind. Isn't that fair enough?"
\tThe elder paused and said, "Daggers on the table instead of underneath, is it? That suits me fine. Mutual use until one is no longer needed. Not a bad bargain. Let's hope the legate coming isn't stupid and that's just how it will play."
\tAs the soldiers and clansmen disappeared in one curtain of light after another, Orison thought, "If you had continued on the path Xia paved you would have been done with us both by spring, now it'll likely take two years. That's plenty of ways to drive new wedges and obstacles all over the place."
\tSeeing Xia's revealed hand, it was no surprise that in a couple of minutes members from both Progressive clans came knocking on his door while Orison prepared a stack of missives he planned on sending off tomorrow at the trade post.
\t"Legate Cantrip, sorry to interrupt but our elders are trapped on the islands and they've already had incidents of threatening transmissions. With the little support they have, it would be impossible for them to hold on without supplies and boats would take too long," a woman nearly as old as Xia looked, said.
\tSighing, Orison took out the last teleport scroll and said, "On this is the key to the the island circles. Either use it to send some people and supplies or get a teleport specialist to copy the configuration. If you'd like to rely on Elder Liu's generosity, perhaps he'd use the slave's last dying moments to give aid."
\tJudging by the sour looks on their faces, it would be a hard choice of who got reinforcement and supplies. Taking a little pity on them, Orison advised them to send double to the Speaker of the Left's island. Water current was with the flow on her side and a boat could be sent between in under an hour. They already knew that but having someone point it out saved them precious time in argument. He also told them that time was of importance and when finished they should have the circles dismantled to avoid retribution.
\tThe old hedge witch walked over and rubbed Orison's cramping shoulders as she said, "Time and time again they turn to you for help and then plot actions in the dark that would bring you harm. Have you grown to hate us?"
\tOrison sighed and shook his head. "They bank on the last action I've done as being the last use I have. At the end of the day all of you are just trying to reclaim your home and survive. Treating one stranger honorably isn't worth anything in the face of greater chances of survival and prosperity. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm no saint and I'm holding personal grudges here. It's just that I can understand. A lot of lives count on this city working out."
\tThe old woman smiled, showing off a set of false ceramic teeth that must have cost a fortune for a poor lady. "Then, to balance up all that ingratitude, let me show you what I found behind that hideous self portrait you stole from the Domain suite. Maybe it will brighten your mood some and show you that not all of us are ungrateful wretches no matter how Abyss bent on survival we are."
\tWith a word to be careful, she peeled back a corner of the portrait's backing to reveal two tightly rolled scrolls and a single sheet of vellum that looked like a map. Activating spirit sight, Orison saw that the scrolls were more teleport scrolls but with two separate choices of destination for one, far from each other by the math in them. The sheet of vellum, when seen through spirit sight revealed those destinations to be the Domain's and Northland's colleges along with a secret storage facility which was the only destination for the first scroll and only if one had saw the vellum to fill in it's coordinates spot.
\tOrison may not be capable enough yet to do the whole spell himself but he could certainly fill in the missing math. While trying to remove the vellum, it flared up into smoke and ash, removing any chance of Orison reverse engineering the academy formation sequences for future scrolls. The scroll that contained them was warded against such a use as well.
\tOrison sighed wistfully and said, "Why me and not Fvaris after I was gone? I'm certain Xia will bounce back. I haven't done much but cut off her plan to toss me aside for the opportunity to open trade with the Domain."
\tThe old woman cackled and said, "What reason has she given YOU to do anything for her? That woman has made more promissory notes to the common people than her bony backside can cover more than once, all the while waiving the reputation of the Fvaris Clan's golden scales of fairness. Young Cantrip, she would have watched the fisherman and farmers she couldn't use starve with cold indifference while putting a finger on that scale to keep it looking even.
\t"You made sure we would have something to eat through this fall and winter. Believe that the little people around here will remember you long after these large clans have forgotten. Pretty speech made, I'm also certain YOU won't forget a favor and let an old woman mooch off you during her waning years. You're even leaving me a strapping lad to keep me company on the lonely road to your house. I've not grown so old I can't tell which side of the biscuit has the honey on it."
\tOrison said, "Bet your boots... Pretty sentiments made, I'm hoping an old healer can help said strapping lad untangle the knots in his heart and head along the way. He has wounds no magic I know can heal. A bit of responsibility to shoulder, some elder's wisdom and a road to shed his old life on sounds like a good recipe for recovery to me...
\t"Oh, one last thing. If Calix can't appreciate your presence or Nadir lets this place fall to the Abyss in a hand basket, feel free to leave early. The last stretch of your journey's going to land on the edge of mid fall so if the weather turns bad early, wait it out in Widow's Weal at the bottom of the pass."
\tUncomfortable or just unaccustomed to being fretted over, Medea said, "Well, get on then. No one can miss you if you're not gone."
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\tGan, who had already heard the whole story and was waiting for Orison's return, reported. "The girl here has Morrel's get. It's confirmed but really early in. Fvaris clan was going to take her to some secure location along with some other girls . Morrel got them to hold off taking Little Lan by owing them a favor which Elder Fvaris' father immediately called in." To the side, he whispered low in Orison's ear, "They gave him the other breath potion and sent him into the hole, the place we went to where you got hurt bad."
\tOrison looked at Ruolan and asked, "To the best of your knowledge, did Granny Xia or Elder Fvaris have anything to do with this?You know what? It doesn't matter. Is there anything you don't have with you right now that you absolutely must have to the point you'd risk your freedom to get it?"
\tRoulan thought for a moment and shook her head.
\tLike rolling thunder clouds in the distance, Orison rumbled. "Gan, as soon as I get Elder Liu on to his island, I want you to get everyone's things together. I was done with these a**holes the second they let that Domain elf set a trap for me in the council house. This whole thing was just a way for me to break free faster. In spite of everything, we haven't even gotten through this island skirmish and some Fvaris b*****d is setting up the next ploy."
\tOrison turned to the old hedge witch. "Medea, do you have enough fire in your bones to make sure Calix doesn't get himself killed doing something stupid for three weeks?"
\tThe old woman cackled and said, "Even the gods can't keep stupid men alive but if you've got the coin, you'll buy the best advice I have for him. That's all I can promise."
\tOrison nodded and said, "Name your price."
\t"Fifty gold and a writ of passage to you land for if I make myself unwelcome here," The witch said steadily.
\tThe young mage replied, "Done, but you need to make up your mind for certain whether you want to stay here or make your way to me when you're done. I'll not have an elderly person crossing half the known world by herself."
\t"One last grand adventure it is then but who will stay to accompany me?" Medea said.
\tOrison turned to the group of people he had rescued and said, "I need a volunteer... Thank you, but the four of you are recently divested Domain soldiers. Too many bad things could happen to an obsidian elf and a gold elf guard traveling through Centerland with little more than a piece of paper to protect themselves from accusations with."
\tTo the lack of the group's surprise, the offer of volunteer that Orison accepted was from the only Centerland lineage person in the room, a fourteen year old boy who's father was an unknown Domain soldier. Given to Avenar as a gift when he was eight, the boy had endured four years as the commissar's toy and two more being trained as an infiltrator. The boy had buried his hate deep and resisted the mental programming parts of his training as best he could. Another two years and it was likely he'd have been lost to the darkness Avenar attempted to instill within him.
\tIf Orison hadn't had the Danann Key to 'unlock' and 'repair' the boy's will among other things the conduit considered locked and damaged, confirming that the boy's father was dead, he'd never have been able to fully trust the Centerland teen. Avenar's methods contained magical means as well as mundane and this was a small test the young mage had concocted on the fly. With the boy's willingness to volunteer being the last hurdle, Orison had decided to add him to the roster of his inner circle.
\tThe young mage took the boy to his office and closed the door. "We haven't got a lot of time before I have to finish affairs with Elder Liu so let's get to it. First off, I need a name to call you because the one given by that filth isn't a proper name and doesn't ever bear repeating. Do you have one in mind or do you want help?"
\tThe boy's dull, world weary eyes met Orison's. "Something simple and easy to remember will do, lord."
\tUnpleasant goosebumps pebbled his skin as Orison said, "No need for the 'lord' business. Orison is fine... How about Gaelen or Duran. The meaning of the first is 'firm mind in difficulty' and the second is 'firm and enduring person'."
\t"Duran then, Orison," the boy said.
\tOrison nodded and said, "Alright, Duran. Keep your eyes centered on my chest and try not to blink."
\tAs Duran's eyes locked on to him, Orison summoned out every skill book copy he had left, one at a time and opened. They were of no use to anyone in his core group as they had either already read them previously before Orison acquired them again, were about subjects that held no interest to anyone or, in Droya's case, didn't possess the spark of talent the world had deemed necessary to get their benefit. Books on the heavier armors, smithing, shield work and the leftovers all unloaded their knowledge with that spark of something extra that had come in the items 'dark night of horrors' bestowed.
\tBelatedly, Orison realized that the world wasn't reacting as poorly to the changes catalyzed in Duran, making the bit of 'aloe gel' he'd wheedled out of Morrel to study, unnecessary. He theorized offhandedly that it probably had something to do with the world's 'energy tax' on the items used to do it as compared to when they were receiving 'dark night's' benefits without any contribution. He also observed that whatever Beta had done to exploit the loopholes in his wishes, or perhaps due to the majority of granted essence being filtered through skill books, Duran had lost none of his Centerland ascetic despite also having been 'aged and trained up'.
\tWhile taking a couple of minutes to copy over some novice spells he thought would be useful for Duran, a cursory spirit sight scan informed Orison that the boy might be nearly as 'primed for climbing' as his other three teammates but the extra something that all the rest had was little more than a seed of possibility in Duran. Orison considered that having such a possibility of self guided growth might not be as sure of a success but in the long run might actually be superior, as the boy would make it more uniquely his than the others had a chance to.
\tOrison prepared a 'care package' of equipment and funds then bundled up the boy who had passed out at the edge of spiritual and mental rupture, laying Duran down in his own room. After administering a little of his most precious potions to help Duran adjust, Orison laid a note along with the new novice spell book and care package beside the bed. After leaving the room, he cast his dubious Lock spell on the door and informed everyone that Duran would be up and about within a couple of hours.
\tTaking Gan to the side, Orison asked discretely, "Is Morrel still alright and how much time do I have left before Xia's time limit with Avenar is up?"
\tGan's eyes widened. "How do you- yes, he's still alright. My best guess on the second is that it's already up. Even if it isn't, about a minute ago Elder Liu sent a clansman to ask what the hold-up was."
\tOrison said, "In the last couple days, you could go wherever anyone else was without asking around. I figure your 'map' has some interesting feature or two you discovered but weren't sure enough to tell anyone about yet. Besides, you were cool as a breeze under Ruolan's worry which isn't your style, Gan. I'd say you almost give a sh*t as much as me about the rest of our 'family'. Now, if you were worried when I came in, it would have been a whole other story... and f*ck the Elders. If I wasn't in such a hurry to find a way to cut ties with this sh*thole I'd want to kill them all for watching me get trapped by that Domain douche and not lifting a finger."
\tOn the off chance he may not return, Orison informed the four elven guardsman of his clan an alternative travel arrangement he hoped would be unnecessary. With Gan in tow, Orison strode over to the Domain suite and informed the Liu clansmen there that the 'hold-up' was due to Xia not returning his slave in a timely manner. Ignoring their follow-up questions, he made his way to the beacon and used it's signature coupled with his tie to the collar to call Avenar to him.
\tHe felt the tug but his gold elf teleporter did not appear. Trying one more time to call, Orison sent his spirit sight with it experimentally. It didn't leave out of his short radius in any particular direction as he expected. Instead, it lead Orison into the depths of the Fvaris compound.
\tOrison howled, "That selfish, greedy b*tch!"
\tStepping outside, he turned to the Fvaris compound and screamed at the top of his lungs. "Bring me my slave now or I'm sending a golem to fetch him. Elder Liu doesn't have time for your exploitation. He still has his island to claim!"
\tHearing his name, the Revivalist leader speed walked his way to Orison and said, "Enlighten me."
\tOrison said benignly, waving his hand towards the Fvaris compound, "It would be my pleasure, Venerable. The old greedy c*nt has my slave somewhere in the ground over there."
\tA large handful of Fvaris clansmen came pouring out, throwing shade at Orison and denying his 'outrageous' claims. One of the older men walked over to Elder Liu and stated that Orison was plotting something and that their clan elder had ran into unexpected problems due to false information, trapped with Avenar on the island Fvaris was reclaiming.
\tOrison turned to the Fvaris clansman and said, "So you won't mind this..."
\tRealizing the only thing he'd probably get back from his slave was a broken body minus relic slave collar, he was finished playing nice.
\tIn ancient elvish, he said, "Fight after death."
\tOnce said, Orison willed his slave return. With a pop of displaced air, Avenar shambled out of the Domain suite, pieces of building and gold skinned body parts belonging to his attempted rescuers shuffled out of his way. A damning small plume of dust raised from a piece of ground to the side of the Fvaris compound.
\tWith saintly expression, Orison said, "My goodness. I thought that would be perfectly safe since he was supposed to be much further away. But why would he be exactly where I said he was instead of where your honest and trustworthy personage claimed him to be? And what's this? Domain elves? I'm going to be honest. I had no idea it was that deep of a betrayal. She was even selling out all the other council members."
\tElder Liu, who had been ready to turn on Orison, smashed his staff into the man's head as the clansman lunged for Orison. "No one is touching this legate until I get my use of him."
\tOrison turned to Elder Liu and said, "From my best estimate, you have fifteen minutes at full capacity before his soul burns out and the collar breaks. Make plans for a boat trip back."
\tElder Liu frowned and said, "So you're giving this thing to me?"
\tOrison nodded and said, "You and your clan are adept at using the dead. I'd just get people killed trying to make it force cast. Fourteen minutes and counting, Elder. I doubt you care if Fvaris clan members try to kill me or not. I sure as sh*t don't. She's about to realize I've been f***ed for the last time so now I guess it's your turn. Enjoy, and watch your back."
\tElder Liu shouted at the remaining Fvaris clansmen, "The Centerland soldiers are coming with me so I'd advise against taking hasty actions or when we return the name of this city might become Liu Enclave. For once, your dowager owes explanations."
\tOrison turned to Nadir and Calix as Elder Liu had the undead elf open a way, sending a target team of controllers and corpse puppets to secure the magic circle room. "Don't try to back out. Just go. The future of the embassy and post's safety lies in your cooperation with the other four council members now. Since it's a wartime scenario and I have no formal military training, I'm empowering Nadir with consul legate authority aside from two orders. Calix remains acting embassy captain and I still control missives until I take administrative leave."
\tAs Calix went with the first batch of Centerland soldiers, Nadir said, "In the end, you're not much different than them. You could be leaving us for death."
\tOrison said, "We were dead men from the moment we stepped on this island. I've kept us alive for over two months off the back of my own work. Now it's your turn to bust a** for awhile. I think I left it much better than it was given to me. Especially since any Domain agreements with the New Fvaris council or whatever it'll be called in the near future, are a pipe dream now. Or do you disagree?"
\t"Brazen of you to say so within my earshot, Legate," Elder Liu said.
\tOrison turned to the elder and said, "Why is that? I know you're going to kick Centerland's a** out of here as soon as you're done with them too. I'm just trying to be honest and insure it's with them alive instead of ashes in the wind. Isn't that fair enough?"
\tThe elder paused and said, "Daggers on the table instead of underneath, is it? That suits me fine. Mutual use until one is no longer needed. Not a bad bargain. Let's hope the legate coming isn't stupid and that's just how it will play."
\tAs the soldiers and clansmen disappeared in one curtain of light after another, Orison thought, "If you had continued on the path Xia paved you would have been done with us both by spring, now it'll likely take two years. That's plenty of ways to drive new wedges and obstacles all over the place."
\tSeeing Xia's revealed hand, it was no surprise that in a couple of minutes members from both Progressive clans came knocking on his door while Orison prepared a stack of missives he planned on sending off tomorrow at the trade post.
\t"Legate Cantrip, sorry to interrupt but our elders are trapped on the islands and they've already had incidents of threatening transmissions. With the little support they have, it would be impossible for them to hold on without supplies and boats would take too long," a woman nearly as old as Xia looked, said.
\tSighing, Orison took out the last teleport scroll and said, "On this is the key to the the island circles. Either use it to send some people and supplies or get a teleport specialist to copy the configuration. If you'd like to rely on Elder Liu's generosity, perhaps he'd use the slave's last dying moments to give aid."
\tJudging by the sour looks on their faces, it would be a hard choice of who got reinforcement and supplies. Taking a little pity on them, Orison advised them to send double to the Speaker of the Left's island. Water current was with the flow on her side and a boat could be sent between in under an hour. They already knew that but having someone point it out saved them precious time in argument. He also told them that time was of importance and when finished they should have the circles dismantled to avoid retribution.
\tThe old hedge witch walked over and rubbed Orison's cramping shoulders as she said, "Time and time again they turn to you for help and then plot actions in the dark that would bring you harm. Have you grown to hate us?"
\tOrison sighed and shook his head. "They bank on the last action I've done as being the last use I have. At the end of the day all of you are just trying to reclaim your home and survive. Treating one stranger honorably isn't worth anything in the face of greater chances of survival and prosperity. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm no saint and I'm holding personal grudges here. It's just that I can understand. A lot of lives count on this city working out."
\tThe old woman smiled, showing off a set of false ceramic teeth that must have cost a fortune for a poor lady. "Then, to balance up all that ingratitude, let me show you what I found behind that hideous self portrait you stole from the Domain suite. Maybe it will brighten your mood some and show you that not all of us are ungrateful wretches no matter how Abyss bent on survival we are."
\tWith a word to be careful, she peeled back a corner of the portrait's backing to reveal two tightly rolled scrolls and a single sheet of vellum that looked like a map. Activating spirit sight, Orison saw that the scrolls were more teleport scrolls but with two separate choices of destination for one, far from each other by the math in them. The sheet of vellum, when seen through spirit sight revealed those destinations to be the Domain's and Northland's colleges along with a secret storage facility which was the only destination for the first scroll and only if one had saw the vellum to fill in it's coordinates spot.
\tOrison may not be capable enough yet to do the whole spell himself but he could certainly fill in the missing math. While trying to remove the vellum, it flared up into smoke and ash, removing any chance of Orison reverse engineering the academy formation sequences for future scrolls. The scroll that contained them was warded against such a use as well.
\tOrison sighed wistfully and said, "Why me and not Fvaris after I was gone? I'm certain Xia will bounce back. I haven't done much but cut off her plan to toss me aside for the opportunity to open trade with the Domain."
\tThe old woman cackled and said, "What reason has she given YOU to do anything for her? That woman has made more promissory notes to the common people than her bony backside can cover more than once, all the while waiving the reputation of the Fvaris Clan's golden scales of fairness. Young Cantrip, she would have watched the fisherman and farmers she couldn't use starve with cold indifference while putting a finger on that scale to keep it looking even.
\t"You made sure we would have something to eat through this fall and winter. Believe that the little people around here will remember you long after these large clans have forgotten. Pretty speech made, I'm also certain YOU won't forget a favor and let an old woman mooch off you during her waning years. You're even leaving me a strapping lad to keep me company on the lonely road to your house. I've not grown so old I can't tell which side of the biscuit has the honey on it."
\tOrison said, "Bet your boots... Pretty sentiments made, I'm hoping an old healer can help said strapping lad untangle the knots in his heart and head along the way. He has wounds no magic I know can heal. A bit of responsibility to shoulder, some elder's wisdom and a road to shed his old life on sounds like a good recipe for recovery to me...
\t"Oh, one last thing. If Calix can't appreciate your presence or Nadir lets this place fall to the Abyss in a hand basket, feel free to leave early. The last stretch of your journey's going to land on the edge of mid fall so if the weather turns bad early, wait it out in Widow's Weal at the bottom of the pass."
\tUncomfortable or just unaccustomed to being fretted over, Medea said, "Well, get on then. No one can miss you if you're not gone."
\tGan, who had already heard the whole story and was waiting for Orison's return, reported. "The girl here has Morrel's get. It's confirmed but really early in. Fvaris clan was going to take her to some secure location along with some other girls . Morrel got them to hold off taking Little Lan by owing them a favor which Elder Fvaris' father immediately called in." To the side, he whispered low in Orison's ear, "They gave him the other breath potion and sent him into the hole, the place we went to where you got hurt bad."\tOrison looked at Ruolan and asked, "To the best of your knowledge, did Granny Xia or Elder Fvaris have anything to do with this?You know what? It doesn't matter. Is there anything you don't have with you right now that you absolutely must have to the point you'd risk your freedom to get it?"\tRoulan thought for a moment and shook her head.\tLike rolling thunder clouds in the distance, Orison rumbled. "Gan, as soon as I get Elder Liu on to his island, I want you to get everyone's things together. I was done with these a**holes the second they let that Domain elf set a trap for me in the council house. This whole thing was just a way for me to break free faster. In spite of everything, we haven't even gotten through this island skirmish and some Fvaris b*****d is setting up the next ploy."\tOrison turned to the old hedge witch. "Medea, do you have enough fire in your bones to make sure Calix doesn't get himself killed doing something stupid for three weeks?"\tThe old woman cackled and said, "Even the gods can't keep stupid men alive but if you've got the coin, you'll buy the best advice I have for him. That's all I can promise."\tOrison nodded and said, "Name your price."\t"Fifty gold and a writ of passage to you land for if I make myself unwelcome here," The witch said steadily.\tThe young mage replied, "Done, but you need to make up your mind for certain whether you want to stay here or make your way to me when you're done. I'll not have an elderly person crossing half the known world by herself."\t"One last grand adventure it is then but who will stay to accompany me?" Medea said.\tOrison turned to the group of people he had rescued and said, "I need a volunteer... Thank you, but the four of you are recently divested Domain soldiers. Too many bad things could happen to an obsidian elf and a gold elf guard traveling through Centerland with little more than a piece of paper to protect themselves from accusations with."\tTo the lack of the group's surprise, the offer of volunteer that Orison accepted was from the only Centerland lineage person in the room, a fourteen year old boy who's father was an unknown Domain soldier. Given to Avenar as a gift when he was eight, the boy had endured four years as the commissar's toy and two more being trained as an infiltrator. The boy had buried his hate deep and resisted the mental programming parts of his training as best he could. Another two years and it was likely he'd have been lost to the darkness Avenar attempted to instill within him.\tIf Orison hadn't had the Danann Key to 'unlock' and 'repair' the boy's will among other things the conduit considered locked and damaged, confirming that the boy's father was dead, he'd never have been able to fully trust the Centerland teen. Avenar's methods contained magical means as well as mundane and this was a small test the young mage had concocted on the fly. With the boy's willingness to volunteer being the last hurdle, Orison had decided to add him to the roster of his inner circle.\tThe young mage took the boy to his office and closed the door. "We haven't got a lot of time before I have to finish affairs with Elder Liu so let's get to it. First off, I need a name to call you because the one given by that filth isn't a proper name and doesn't ever bear repeating. Do you have one in mind or do you want help?"\tThe boy's dull, world weary eyes met Orison's. "Something simple and easy to remember will do, lord."\tUnpleasant goosebumps pebbled his skin as Orison said, "No need for the 'lord' business. Orison is fine... How about Gaelen or Duran. The meaning of the first is 'firm mind in difficulty' and the second is 'firm and enduring person'."\t"Duran then, Orison," the boy said.\tOrison nodded and said, "Alright, Duran. Keep your eyes centered on my chest and try not to blink."\tAs Duran's eyes locked on to him, Orison summoned out every skill book copy he had left, one at a time and opened. They were of no use to anyone in his core group as they had either already read them previously before Orison acquired them again, were about subjects that held no interest to anyone or, in Droya's case, didn't possess the spark of talent the world had deemed necessary to get their benefit. Books on the heavier armors, smithing, shield work and the leftovers all unloaded their knowledge with that spark of something extra that had come in the items 'dark night of horrors' bestowed.\tBelatedly, Orison realized that the world wasn't reacting as poorly to the changes catalyzed in Duran, making the bit of 'aloe gel' he'd wheedled out of Morrel to study, unnecessary. He theorized offhandedly that it probably had something to do with the world's 'energy tax' on the items used to do it as compared to when they were receiving 'dark night's' benefits without any contribution. He also observed that whatever Beta had done to exploit the loopholes in his wishes, or perhaps due to the majority of granted essence being filtered through skill books, Duran had lost none of his Centerland ascetic despite also having been 'aged and trained up'.\tWhile taking a couple of minutes to copy over some novice spells he thought would be useful for Duran, a cursory spirit sight scan informed Orison that the boy might be nearly as 'primed for climbing' as his other three teammates but the extra something that all the rest had was little more than a seed of possibility in Duran. Orison considered that having such a possibility of self guided growth might not be as sure of a success but in the long run might actually be superior, as the boy would make it more uniquely his than the others had a chance to.\tOrison prepared a 'care package' of equipment and funds then bundled up the boy who had passed out at the edge of spiritual and mental rupture, laying Duran down in his own room. After administering a little of his most precious potions to help Duran adjust, Orison laid a note along with the new novice spell book and care package beside the bed. After leaving the room, he cast his dubious Lock spell on the door and informed everyone that Duran would be up and about within a couple of hours.\tTaking Gan to the side, Orison asked discretely, "Is Morrel still alright and how much time do I have left before Xia's time limit with Avenar is up?"\tGan's eyes widened. "How do you- yes, he's still alright. My best guess on the second is that it's already up. Even if it isn't, about a minute ago Elder Liu sent a clansman to ask what the hold-up was."\tOrison said, "In the last couple days, you could go wherever anyone else was without asking around. I figure your 'map' has some interesting feature or two you discovered but weren't sure enough to tell anyone about yet. Besides, you were cool as a breeze under Ruolan's worry which isn't your style, Gan. I'd say you almost give a sh*t as much as me about the rest of our 'family'. Now, if you were worried when I came in, it would have been a whole other story... and f*ck the Elders. If I wasn't in such a hurry to find a way to cut ties with this sh*thole I'd want to kill them all for watching me get trapped by that Domain douche and not lifting a finger."\tOn the off chance he may not return, Orison informed the four elven guardsman of his clan an alternative travel arrangement he hoped would be unnecessary. With Gan in tow, Orison strode over to the Domain suite and informed the Liu clansmen there that the 'hold-up' was due to Xia not returning his slave in a timely manner. Ignoring their follow-up questions, he made his way to the beacon and used it's signature coupled with his tie to the collar to call Avenar to him.\tHe felt the tug but his gold elf teleporter did not appear. Trying one more time to call, Orison sent his spirit sight with it experimentally. It didn't leave out of his short radius in any particular direction as he expected. Instead, it lead Orison into the depths of the Fvaris compound.\tOrison howled, "That selfish, greedy b*tch!"\tStepping outside, he turned to the Fvaris compound and screamed at the top of his lungs. "Bring me my slave now or I'm sending a golem to fetch him. Elder Liu doesn't have time for your exploitation. He still has his island to claim!"\tHearing his name, the Revivalist leader speed walked his way to Orison and said, "Enlighten me."\tOrison said benignly, waving his hand towards the Fvaris compound, "It would be my pleasure, Venerable. The old greedy c*nt has my slave somewhere in the ground over there."\tA large handful of Fvaris clansmen came pouring out, throwing shade at Orison and denying his 'outrageous' claims. One of the older men walked over to Elder Liu and stated that Orison was plotting something and that their clan elder had ran into unexpected problems due to false information, trapped with Avenar on the island Fvaris was reclaiming.\tOrison turned to the Fvaris clansman and said, "So you won't mind this..."\tRealizing the only thing he'd probably get back from his slave was a broken body minus relic slave collar, he was finished playing nice.\tIn ancient elvish, he said, "Fight after death."\tOnce said, Orison willed his slave return. With a pop of displaced air, Avenar shambled out of the Domain suite, pieces of building and gold skinned body parts belonging to his attempted rescuers shuffled out of his way. A damning small plume of dust raised from a piece of ground to the side of the Fvaris compound.\tWith saintly expression, Orison said, "My goodness. I thought that would be perfectly safe since he was supposed to be much further away. But why would he be exactly where I said he was instead of where your honest and trustworthy personage claimed him to be? And what's this? Domain elves? I'm going to be honest. I had no idea it was that deep of a betrayal. She was even selling out all the other council members."\tElder Liu, who had been ready to turn on Orison, smashed his staff into the man's head as the clansman lunged for Orison. "No one is touching this legate until I get my use of him."\tOrison turned to Elder Liu and said, "From my best estimate, you have fifteen minutes at full capacity before his soul burns out and the collar breaks. Make plans for a boat trip back."\tElder Liu frowned and said, "So you're giving this thing to me?"\tOrison nodded and said, "You and your clan are adept at using the dead. I'd just get people killed trying to make it force cast. Fourteen minutes and counting, Elder. I doubt you care if Fvaris clan members try to kill me or not. I sure as sh*t don't. She's about to realize I've been f***ed for the last time so now I guess it's your turn. Enjoy, and watch your back."\tElder Liu shouted at the remaining Fvaris clansmen, "The Centerland soldiers are coming with me so I'd advise against taking hasty actions or when we return the name of this city might become Liu Enclave. For once, your dowager owes explanations."\tOrison turned to Nadir and Calix as Elder Liu had the undead elf open a way, sending a target team of controllers and corpse puppets to secure the magic circle room. "Don't try to back out. Just go. The future of the embassy and post's safety lies in your cooperation with the other four council members now. Since it's a wartime scenario and I have no formal military training, I'm empowering Nadir with consul legate authority aside from two orders. Calix remains acting embassy captain and I still control missives until I take administrative leave."\tAs Calix went with the first batch of Centerland soldiers, Nadir said, "In the end, you're not much different than them. You could be leaving us for death."\tOrison said, "We were dead men from the moment we stepped on this island. I've kept us alive for over two months off the back of my own work. Now it's your turn to bust a** for awhile. I think I left it much better than it was given to me. Especially since any Domain agreements with the New Fvaris council or whatever it'll be called in the near future, are a pipe dream now. Or do you disagree?"\t"Brazen of you to say so within my earshot, Legate," Elder Liu said.\tOrison turned to the elder and said, "Why is that? I know you're going to kick Centerland's a** out of here as soon as you're done with them too. I'm just trying to be honest and insure it's with them alive instead of ashes in the wind. Isn't that fair enough?"\tThe elder paused and said, "Daggers on the table instead of underneath, is it? That suits me fine. Mutual use until one is no longer needed. Not a bad bargain. Let's hope the legate coming isn't stupid and that's just how it will play."\tAs the soldiers and clansmen disappeared in one curtain of light after another, Orison thought, "If you had continued on the path Xia paved you would have been done with us both by spring, now it'll likely take two years. That's plenty of ways to drive new wedges and obstacles all over the place."\tSeeing Xia's revealed hand, it was no surprise that in a couple of minutes members from both Progressive clans came knocking on his door while Orison prepared a stack of missives he planned on sending off tomorrow at the trade post.\t"Legate Cantrip, sorry to interrupt but our elders are trapped on the islands and they've already had incidents of threatening transmissions. With the little support they have, it would be impossible for them to hold on without supplies and boats would take too long," a woman nearly as old as Xia looked, said.\tSighing, Orison took out the last teleport scroll and said, "On this is the key to the the island circles. Either use it to send some people and supplies or get a teleport specialist to copy the configuration. If you'd like to rely on Elder Liu's generosity, perhaps he'd use the slave's last dying moments to give aid."\tJudging by the sour looks on their faces, it would be a hard choice of who got reinforcement and supplies. Taking a little pity on them, Orison advised them to send double to the Speaker of the Left's island. Water current was with the flow on her side and a boat could be sent between in under an hour. They already knew that but having someone point it out saved them precious time in argument. He also told them that time was of importance and when finished they should have the circles dismantled to avoid retribution.\tThe old hedge witch walked over and rubbed Orison's cramping shoulders as she said, "Time and time again they turn to you for help and then plot actions in the dark that would bring you harm. Have you grown to hate us?"\tOrison sighed and shook his head. "They bank on the last action I've done as being the last use I have. At the end of the day all of you are just trying to reclaim your home and survive. Treating one stranger honorably isn't worth anything in the face of greater chances of survival and prosperity. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm no saint and I'm holding personal grudges here. It's just that I can understand. A lot of lives count on this city working out."\tThe old woman smiled, showing off a set of false ceramic teeth that must have cost a fortune for a poor lady. "Then, to balance up all that ingratitude, let me show you what I found behind that hideous self portrait you stole from the Domain suite. Maybe it will brighten your mood some and show you that not all of us are ungrateful wretches no matter how Abyss bent on survival we are."\tWith a word to be careful, she peeled back a corner of the portrait's backing to reveal two tightly rolled scrolls and a single sheet of vellum that looked like a map. Activating spirit sight, Orison saw that the scrolls were more teleport scrolls but with two separate choices of destination for one, far from each other by the math in them. The sheet of vellum, when seen through spirit sight revealed those destinations to be the Domain's and Northland's colleges along with a secret storage facility which was the only destination for the first scroll and only if one had saw the vellum to fill in it's coordinates spot.\tOrison may not be capable enough yet to do the whole spell himself but he could certainly fill in the missing math. While trying to remove the vellum, it flared up into smoke and ash, removing any chance of Orison reverse engineering the academy formation sequences for future scrolls. The scroll that contained them was warded against such a use as well.\tOrison sighed wistfully and said, "Why me and not Fvaris after I was gone? I'm certain Xia will bounce back. I haven't done much but cut off her plan to toss me aside for the opportunity to open trade with the Domain."\tThe old woman cackled and said, "What reason has she given YOU to do anything for her? That woman has made more promissory notes to the common people than her bony backside can cover more than once, all the while waiving the reputation of the Fvaris Clan's golden scales of fairness. Young Cantrip, she would have watched the fisherman and farmers she couldn't use starve with cold indifference while putting a finger on that scale to keep it looking even.\t"You made sure we would have something to eat through this fall and winter. Believe that the little people around here will remember you long after these large clans have forgotten. Pretty speech made, I'm also certain YOU won't forget a favor and let an old woman mooch off you during her waning years. You're even leaving me a strapping lad to keep me company on the lonely road to your house. I've not grown so old I can't tell which side of the biscuit has the honey on it."\tOrison said, "Bet your boots... Pretty sentiments made, I'm hoping an old healer can help said strapping lad untangle the knots in his heart and head along the way. He has wounds no magic I know can heal. A bit of responsibility to shoulder, some elder's wisdom and a road to shed his old life on sounds like a good recipe for recovery to me...\t"Oh, one last thing. If Calix can't appreciate your presence or Nadir lets this place fall to the Abyss in a hand basket, feel free to leave early. The last stretch of your journey's going to land on the edge of mid fall so if the weather turns bad early, wait it out in Widow's Weal at the bottom of the pass."\tUncomfortable or just unaccustomed to being fretted over, Medea said, "Well, get on then. No one can miss you if you're not gone."
