Chapter 17-434: Hazy Knowledge (1/2)
This was probably related to Shvaughn’s ongoing and enthusiastic investigations.
Even the Inquisitors of Harse, who loathed what she was, had to admit that damn, was she good.
There were some old and very tight ties between the Freemasons and the Alchemists, unsurprising since the Alchemists could be seen as the most elite of the guilds and crafters who generally flocked to the Freemason banner.
That meant that there were distinct ties to the efforts to deny Europe a Queen and America a King. Offers of Potions of Youth and the like went a long way towards bribing people, and threats of the best poisoners in the world taking an interest in you didn’t hurt, either.
Unfortunately for them, Shvaugn had eaten some of their old family connections, and at least three of their better assassins, following them back to their suppliers and Consuming them without much hesitation, too.
When those suppliers were the Vice Master Alchemist of France and the Master of Archives of America, along with half a dozen other prominent Alchemists, their apprentices, minions, and members of their families, well, the Alchemists could not have been too happy.
Shvaughn had naturally brought Legion in on that, splitting up the Consuming duties with them, and not at all incidentally creating more emotional ties between the two of them. Long-time allies, husband and wives, father and daughter, mother and son, bodyguards and long-time faithful servants to master, teacher and student, lovers... Shvaughn absolutely delighted in binding the two of them closer together.
The crusty old fossils who’d scrabbled after extra lifespan were now part of Hungry Kiss Warlocks who could reset their own ages... or take on the lifespan of Soulborn or dragons and simply not age at all. Both Shvaughn and Legion had informed me that the Alchemists really weren’t at all that opposed to their new status and duties at all, except for the whole burning on hellfire aspect of it.
Being super-sexy and powerful combat machines with exciting jobs was a big change of pace from endless experimentation and study, so I could certainly believe it.
In a generous exchange of inter-Faith knowledge, Heavenbound Hall had drafted literally hundreds of astounded and VERY eager Uruthimi and Trosans to consolidate, translate, decode, and disseminate hundreds of years worth of thousands of tomes and very much proprietary information from the Alchemist archives from both locations. Shvaughn was nice enough to supply all the needed ciphers, and arrange for generous remuneration from her Trosan minions.
By the time the Alchemists’ connections in both Churches realized where all the knowledge was coming from, it was much too late, and Alchemists all over the world were getting massive free downloads of formulae and research posted every hour. Nobody was interested in taking the information down or stopping the flow, except the distraught Alchemist Guild.
It didn’t help when those doing the translating could supply the proper paperwork that all the information had been released to them by parties with the authority to do so, genuine signatures, and some terrifyingly stern and adept lawyers with 7+ Ranks and Caster Levels chasing off all the agents trying desperately to stop this stuff.
Shvaughn was on her way to pay a visit to a new old friend, Eilixameister Habbendeuf of Austria, head of his own burgeoning Allegiance, a charismatic and outgoing Alchemist big in chemical and alchemical production, and one of the richer men in Europe.
He was also a person funding the establishment of dozens of Allegiances and balkanizing Europe so there wouldn’t be a True Queen there, smiling on the surface and making bland comments on unity while urgently arranging for anything but... and taking steps to make it that way. He was already planning to be the power behind some sort of coalition when everything started to fracture, without a doubt.
He was also the second most important Alchemist in Europe, but he had something of an ongoing difference of opinion with Master Alchemist Ibemecci, who worked out of Rome. Despite the Church, or perhaps because of it, the Alchemists had always had a formidable presence in Italy.
And now the Alchemists were specifically inviting me to sit down with them?
-Who specifically, Starsister?- I /asked with a grim quiet that didn’t bode well for somebody.
-The High Master and the Deputy Master, Lady Traveler,- the priestess /replied quickly. -It was a most amusing letter on gold foil, each word writing itself out in flame as I read the one before it.-
Well, sure, they had to display some style. Fifteen-hundred-year-old organizations were like that.
I frowned and considered my options here.
-Tell them two days, in the back garden of the Sylunar Temple there. I understand you have a nice pavilion we can use.-
-It will be done, Lady Traveler!- she /promised fervently.
I directed my eyes to that quiet Markbox that looked and listened and didn’t say much. -Brothers, I need something of a favor. Shvaughn, Legion, you need to hear this too...-
-------
August 4, 2019, Preugia, Italy, the Temple of Starry Dreams...
Most sacred sites of the Sylunar temples were open to the sky, as the Queen of the Moon and Stars was best worshipped under open sky.
When you are also the Patron of Silver Magic and have a lot of Powered servants, beautiful meditative gardens and artistry kind of go hand-in-hand. So, a private pavilion in the middle of a lily pond, soft fountains gurgling nearby, flowers blooming out of season, fish in bright and unnatural colors in the waters, and butterflies in a lot of hues and shades fluttering this way and that was practically a given.