The Sword Of Midras Part 16

Yes, and so?

Each of the ancient blades reflected the Virtues in some degree or another, Grannus said. This particular blade was known as Eye of the Scales. From what we have learned, it reflected three of the principle Virtues espoused by the Avatars from before the Fall. One of them was true sight.

It gives you better vision?

No, better perspective, Sequana said. It strips away the facade of pretense to see the underlying truth: a viewpoint beyond personal bias or prejudice. The references we have found to the sword are incomplete and in some places contradictory. Some say it was wielded by Lord Brinist in ancient times, while others a.s.sign it to other Avatars of legend.

It has two other aspects as well, Boreus added. Although so far the texts have only agreed on true sight. Perhaps further research may be of help in this matter, and we have granted permission to both Loremaster Zhal and Loremistress Lanilan to access those texts we have that refer to your blade.

Again, interesting, Aren insisted. But why did the sword of some long-dead Avatar choose me?

Because the sword does not empower you. Sequana bowed slightly as she spoke. You empower the sword. It is your honesty that opened this aspect of the sword, not the other way around.

And it is that honesty to which we are appealing. We need you to save the treasure of Opalis, Grannus said. If we are ever to find our way back to our home, the treasure must be kept safe, and we believe the sword chose you for that purpose. Our powers are failing, our devices weakening"

Look, you have the wrong man, Aren said, shaking his head as he stepped backward, away from them. Im not the guy who saves the treasure; Im the guy that plunders it!

But they are coming! Sequana pleaded. They will be here in a matter of days, and we do not have the strength to stop them!

Coming? Aren asked. Whos coming?

The Westreach Army of the Obsidian Empire, Grannus said. Couriers from the caravans have brought word that the army is marching down the broken road and may reach Jaanaford as soon as three days from now.

Aren was dumbstruck. The Westreach General Karpasics army?

You must find a way to stop them from finding our treasure, Boreus insisted.

Are you out of your t.i.tan minds? Aren shouted. Karpasic is my commander! Im an officer in the Westreach Army! Im supposed to help them conquer and plunder any city under their siege!

Grannus c.o.c.ked his head to one side. Then perhaps in that case you would like to see the treasure?

Aren gaped.

Would you?

Aren felt the fire go out of him. He was truly baffled. Of course.

Grannus motioned Aren to follow him down the long hall where he had originally arrived in the citadel. He approached one of the side double doors in the hall and threw them open.

The room held ranks of shelves, each of which was filled with books, scrolls, and inscribed plates.

Grannus walked across the hall and opened the other set of doors. That revealed another room filled with bound papers, maps, and scrolls.

The acc.u.mulated knowledge of the last three centuries, Grannus said. We have spent the wealth of Opalis to gather as much of the wisdom and learning of your known world as possible.

What do you see, Aren? Sequana asked.

Aren rested his left hand on the pommel of his sword.

He saw the truth.

He drew in a long, shuddering breath.

Karpasic believes the city to be a treasure house, Aren said quietly.

And when he finds that the treasure is the written word on parchment? Boreus pressed for an answer.

He will do what he always does, Aren answered simply. He will burn it.

CHAPTER.

20.

Unwilling Help Jackals! Trevan roared, slamming his fist down on the wide table, causing the various maps scattered across its surface to jump. Worse than jackals carrion birds at the heels of jackals!

Syenna picked up the scroll before it had stopped rocking back and forth on the top of the table. They stood in the map room of the Legion barracks.

This missive, Syenna said as she unrolled it. They cannot possibly mean what you say.

Oh, they mean it, all right! Trevan pushed himself away from the table and began pacing once more behind it. Read it! Its all there in the fifth paragraph from the top!

Syennas eyes moved down the page. In moments, she found the section and began to read aloud. It says, The Warlords of Resolute sympathize with the concerns of their fellow n.o.ble warriors of South Paladis, but reports of military activities throughout the region have caused the council in Resolute to reevaluate their strategic position against these insurgents of unknown strength and location.

Keep reading! Trevan seethed.

The council is resolved to abide by their agreements with the Elders of Opalis, their rightful representation of the t.i.tans who rule them, and the people whom they protect, and shall, in due course and at the proper time, support the cause of their defense with. Syenna paused, glancing over the top of the scroll at Trevan. What does this mean, in due course and at the proper time?

It means they are not coming, Trevan snarled. They are worried that the force marching in our direction is either a feint, or part of a greater strategy on the part of the Obsidians to strike against Resolute while her armies are engaged with us far south of their city. Maybe they are right. I dont know. But what I do know is that theyre leaving us on our own. They wont risk leaving their own city defenseless just to defend ours.

What about Norgard? Syenna asked.

What about them? Trevan huffed.

Their armies recently completed a campaign of conquest just beyond the Pillars of Night, Syenna said. She pushed a number of maps out of the way before finding the one she sought and then pointed at the spot to the west. They have two armies encamped right now, here in Willowvale. I understand that they are only of partial strength, but they could be here in a matter of no more than two days if"

The armies of the Norgard Empire crossed the Pillars of Night last night"Trevan nodded as he gazed at the map"down Superst.i.tion Canyon at the western edge of the South Paladis Plain.

Excellent. Syenna smiled with relief.

And then immediately encamped at the mouth of that same Superst.i.tion Canyon, Trevan concluded.

They stopped? Syenna was having trouble believing what she had heard.

Yes, they are at the western edge of our prairie, simply waiting until the Obsidian Army has done most of the work for them, Trevan said, gritting his teeth as he spoke. They are more than happy to let both the defenders of Opalis and the attackers of the Obsidians bleed each other white on each others swords before they arrive to fulfill their agreements with the Council of Might. In this particular case, being late is, for them, far better than never arriving at all.

You mean theyll wait until Opalis has fallen? Syenna gaped.

Yes, they will wait. Trevan spoke the words as though he were spitting them. Then once we have fallen, the city has been plundered, and the Obsidian Army has been weakened, then the glorious legions of the Norgard Empire will show up at our gates as liberators. How grateful will whatever remains of our citizenry be to accept their dictatorial rule!

But the others, Syenna said, her voice rising both in pitch and volume. The rest of the Council of Might, surely they would not allow"

You know as well as I do that Etceter depends more upon the sea for its defense than any standing army. Trevan sighed. His eyes continued to be fixed on the map as though if he looked at it long enough or hard enough, it might reveal a miracle to him that he had somehow overlooked. But even so, there are not enough merchant ships to properly convey the army you do have across the Bay of Storms, and if you tried to march them overland, you would have to pa.s.s through Midmaer and the Blackblade Mountains both of which are now part of the Obsidian Empire. Ardoris is even farther from us than Etceter, and on the wrong side of Midmaer even if they could get here in time. The only remaining member of the vaunted Council of Might that might come to our aid are the Guildmasters of Aerie"and they wont because they stand to profit more from having Opalis in the hands of Norgard than to remain independent.

Then we need to hold out against the siege, Syenna insisted. Give the baroness and the shogun Tsuneo time to relieve the siege and attack Karpasics army from the rear. Weve sent word; all we need to do is hold out until they arrive.

That could be a long time, Trevan said.

Do you have somewhere else to go? Syenna asked.

No. Trevan smiled ruefully. Nowhere in particular.

Neither do I, Syenna continued. But that doesnt mean everyone must stay. Shouldnt we evacuate the city"get everyone out who is not needed for the defense"while there is still time?

Evacuate them to where? Trevan asked, pointing back down toward the map. Should we send them west into the welcoming steel of the Norgard Empire? Or east toward Jaanaford, directly toward the approaching Obsidian Army? North across the open prairie in the direction of Resolute, where just a few elements of the Obsidian Army could hunt them down to extinction or perhaps south, where they could be caught on the sh.o.r.es of the Sea of Storms? There is nowhere I can send the citizens of Opalis that is safer than within these walls, and there is no safety here, either.

What about Captain Bennis? Syenna asked as she gnawed at her lip. Hasnt he been speaking with the t.i.tans directly?

From when they first brought him into the citadel until as late as yesterday, yes. Trevan nodded, straightening up. Whats your point?

Well, the t.i.tans are supposed to be the font of all wisdom, Syenna urged. They must have had a purpose in choosing him to have audience with them now.

Ive lived here for all my life, Trevan said, and Ive never once seen the t.i.tans. If they have some plan as to what we might do to defend the city or defeat the Obsidians, they have not communicated it to me nor, so far as I know, to Captain Bennis either. Still, they apparently did choose him. If he has a plan, however, I would be very much obliged if he would show up and tell me what it is.

Where is he? Syenna asked, glancing about them despite the fact that the room contained only the two of them.

Hes back in the citadel, I suppose. Trevan shrugged, crossing his ma.s.sive arms over his chest. Not that I know how Aren gets in or comes out of it. I saw him earlier this morning, but he seemed in too great a hurry to speak with me or answer my questions. One thing he made clear to me, however, is that he no more has the answers to this problem than I do. He then turned toward the door, yelling. Centurion!

A warrior of Opalis launched himself in through the door as though he had been waiting outside on a spring. Yes, sire!

Im worried about the defenses on the Long Wall, Trevan said. I want to see the stonemasons in charge here immediately. How is the crop gathering coming?

Some of the farmers are complaining about having their crops appropriated, the centurion replied. They say that they are not yet ripe for picking.

If the Obsidians burn down the fields, Trevan answered, they wont ripen any more than they already have"

Commander, Syenna interrupted. How long do we have before General Karpasic arrives with his forces?

Trevan eyed the centurion, contemplating whether such information should be given in front of the young warrior. In the end, he decided it no longer mattered.

Trevan cleared his throat before he spoke. The first elements pa.s.sed through Jaanaford earlier this evening.

That soon? Syenna whispered.

They must have force-marched down the Broken Road. Trevan nodded. By sunrise we should see the first elements moving toward us from the southeast.

Then war is come to Opalis. Syenna nodded.

There may still be time for you to escape, Trevan continued, a softness coming into his eyes that Syenna found unexpected in the warrior. You might take your loremaster and guard contingent at once south to the Ash Coast; Karpasic will be too intent on the city to be looking for a small group on the prairie"especially if you leave the captain here with us. From there, it may be possible for you to find a ship back home.

I very much appreciate what you are saying, Mikas. Syenna nodded with a wistful smile. I have already dispatched the guards to the coast earlier. Ive tried to get the loremaster to go with them, but he is obsessed with learning the nature of the Avatars sword and refuses to leave before he gets some answers from the captain.

And you? Trevan asked.

Lets just say that the shieldmaiden is searching for a few answers of her own, Syenna replied.

Syenna stepped out of the Legion barracks and into the eastern curve of Muse Way. Behind her, just beyond the barracks, was the towering facade of the Long Wall. Directly across from her on the other side of the avenue, the towers of the citadel soared overhead. On the avenue that ran along the base of the citadel foundations, the street was crowded with citizens, but their mood had changed completely from when she had last walked the cobblestones three nights before. The peoples eyes were cast downward as they walked, the light in them now dimmed, the spring in their step dulled. There was an undercurrent of resignation spiced with desperation in the air. Some few moved with frantic purpose; most of them shuffled listlessly. War was not yet upon them, but the antic.i.p.ation of it had already poisoned the city.

Syenna, however, felt frustration more than anything else. She had come to Opalis certainly on the command of the baroness, in whose service she was dutifully sworn, but not just in her service alone. Coming here had afforded her an opportunity she had longed for, and she had taken advantage of it as soon as said opportunity presented itself. But so far, the loremistress had been unable to provide her satisfactory answers, either to the question of the sword or Syennas own dilemma.

One problem at a time, she thought to herself.

The problem most immediately at hand was finding Captain Bennis. According to Aren, the gate into the citadel moved from place to place in the city, and you did not so much find the gate as the gate found you. This was all well and good so far as getting into the citadel, but leaving it was another matter. The gate would deposit those leaving at some random location in the city"always in a hidden place out of sight of others"and, according to Aren, had a tendency to leave the person disoriented for a time. Syenna did not trust the captain; the explanation sounded like a story Aren might invent to cover his escape.

With Karpasics army so close, Syenna was not about to let Aren out of her sight any longer than necessary. So, each evening after Aren visited the t.i.tans"where he had spent the day reading, according to the captain"Syenna took it upon herself to find him as quickly as possible before he had the chance to make a fool out of her.

She decided to walk northward this time, and try the narrow alleyways between the buildings just east of the North Gate first. She would then make her way over toward Elders Hall and try the alleys there while working her way around the inside of the city wall. She knew from the last couple of days experience that the citadel exit portal could be anywhere within the limits of the city wall, so one section was as good a place to start as another.

Syenna moved quickly through the spa.r.s.e evening crowd, circling past the northeast entrance to the central market, then ducked between the buildings to weave her way down the narrow pa.s.sages closer to the wall. The homes here were taller and housed several families within the same structure. An open sewer ran down one of the wider alleys. She stepped over it and turned another corner.

It was darker here than the pa.s.sage she had just left. A man in silhouette was a shadow leaning against the side of a building, waiting for her.

There you are, she muttered as she quickly stepped toward him. Its about time you gave me some answers to my questions!

She reached out for the mans shoulder, turning him toward her.

The man turned, raising his right hand. He had been slouching, but now he straightened to his six-foot height. A dim spark flashed at his fingertips, and an iridescent bubble suddenly floated at the mans shoulder, partially illuminating his face.

She stepped back in sudden shock.

I quite agree, said the man with the pale-green eyes.

Syenna instinctively reached for her sword, drawing it at once and knowing, somehow as she did, that she was too late. The man standing before her wore a black hooded tunic embroidered in intricate patterns with silver thread. She had long known the meaning of such clothing, and fear closed like a fist around her heart.

The man stood perfectly still as he spoke.