175 Prologue - Order (2/2)
”An unlikely prospect,” said the duchess. ”The girl is far too attached to her adventuring life and invoking the memories of her past will not sway her.”
”Perhaps,” said Monster as he looked at his fingers, watching them shift between human digits to claws to talons to tendrils. ”I can be of assistance?”
The duchess was firm. ”No. Beyond her own will, she is protected by the Easterner.”
A brief silence settled across the room.
”The Easterner, aye?” said Sea Shrike. ”Have Mindeye take another look at him. The foreign fool's likely nothing too special. I don't understand why we the mighty hold such caution against one scrawny man who looks like his skin's never seen a day under the summer sun.”
At the mention of the word 'Easterner', Mindeye froze again, digging herself deeper into Meld's warmth. The little girl desperately covered her ears with more vigor, her teeth chattering in abject fear.
Meld picked Mindeye up with a sigh. ”As insensitive as ever,” she said as she left the meeting room, patting Mindeye's head to calm her. She exited by simply walking through one of the walls, her form teleporting out.
”It makes no damned sense,” said Sea Shrike. ”I pity the poor little lass, aye, but what can she possibly see that renders her so mute?”
If I may interject,” said Monster.
”What is it, monster,” said Sea Shrike, uttering the word 'monster' not as a chosen hero's name, but as what the word meant literally – a beast.
”She displays signs of advanced mental trauma dependent on a single trigger, one that I have seen in the errant rages and distant stares of wartorn veterans, especially among those in the northern frontier whom face constant bombardment by Elven siege weaponry. It would be quite unwise to probe her further lest the condition of her mind fray and she becomes unusable as an asset.”
”Then get a Fortuna arcana mage, witch, whatever the damned job is, to get a read on the Easterner for once,” said Sea Shrike.
”Quite interesting. Yes, very interesting,” remarked Monster. ”The last time Mindeye was unable to get a read upon a being was when she attempted to reach into Torr Valeris, the domain of the dragons, and Meld speculated that was because the Elder Dragon of myth that the mountain is supposedly built atop yet still lives, its presence far too ancient and far too powerful to penetrate whether it be through conventional magic or our heroic might.”
”Apply that same speculation here, for regular clairvoyance fails against him,” said the duchess. ”Assume that the Easterner holds the military might of a country. We do not cross paths with him for the damage he may wreak upon this duchy that holds so many wondrous lives is unimaginable.
For now, he chooses a path of gentleness, and though he is making waves in the order of authority in Riviera, it is not anything too drastic. If anything, I quite like him there.”
”A being of that might left alone and unchecked in Riviera, one of the cardinal cities?” said Sea Shrike. ”And you like him there? Your highness, have you gone mad?”
The duchess raised her hand to check Sunstar from moving and responded with grace. ”This meeting was not called to discuss the matter of the Easterner.
I shall move on to our main topic of concern: the Sunspear of myth has landed in the far western ranges of the Hinterlands, and the demons have mobilized to retrieve it, or, more accurately, prevent anyone from wielding it.”
The duchess clapped her hands, and the table glowed, becoming completely white with shining magical energy. Writing in black light began to form atop the sheen of light, forming into detailed reports of the Sunspear's location, the demon army's movements, and possible courses of action to take.
Monster sat up for once, eyes widened. ”We have long known of the demonic horde's advance, but the Sunspear? Why, with that, we will become the mightiest nation upon this continent, no, the entirety of this world.
We may need not even need utilize him to best the demons.”
”I'd rather not use that sick old thing,” said Sea Shrike with a hint of disgust. ”Can't the sun child work his magic again? Tear the Burning One from limb to limb?”
”I have tried flying west,” said Sunstar. He crossed his arms. ”The demons have adapted. They have the means to defeat me with magic of foul nature that not the best of the Arcana can decipher. If I had stayed there any longer, they would have corrupted my mind.”
”Would it be wise for me to waste my time infiltrating the Fortuna?” said Monster. ”Sunstar is our sword and spear, but it appears the enemy has an apt shield readied against him this time. But my mind is wired quite…differently. Perhaps I can be the silent dagger that slips past their bulwark to slit their throat unawares.”
”Aye, I'd gladly abandon my post to ward off the demonic horde, too,” said Sea Shrike. ”The fate of humanity depends on this after all. The demonic rats have to cross past the vast breadth of the spiritshade river to fully pass the Hinterlands, and that connects to the oceans - I can bring the full might of the western and southern seas bearing down upon them.”
”If you two must be called, then I will call you. For now, do as I have instructed,” said the duchess calmly. ”If the demons concentrate their attack upon Soleil, then the elves may attempt to make use of our weakness. I cannot have more members of the Ascendant Order away from their posts.”
She glanced for the slightest of moments to Meld's empty set. ”The demons will make their way to the hinterlands. The primordial spirits in the Howling Groves will not hold them long. Then, they will crash down upon the plainsmen of the hinterlands.
The demons have no true strategy. They swarm and they overpower. There will be a chaotic, full-scale confrontation.
There, that will be the optimal environment to place our creature.”
”The hinterlanders are subjects of Soleil, too,” said Sea Shrike. ”And that thing knows not friend or foe. Even should it best the demons, it will not stop. It will condemn all the hinterlanders to death, and it may even head to Riviera.”
”The hinterlanders are subjects in name only,” commented Monster. ”Realistically, they could be sacrificed, and analytically, they are the most likely group within the duchy to rebel, considering the persecution they faced under Beaumont and the shaky acceptance they find even now. Their destruction also heralds the end of the primal spirits which stand in opposition to an unified faith of Light.
As the saying goes - two birds, one stone.
And, if the thing falls to the demons, then we are rid of its presence, and the demons will surely be vastly weakened. If it heads to Riviera, then Mindeye can pacify it. If she cannot calm the it, then, well, we will finally solve the mystery of the Easterner's power that you so very much wish to know, will we not?”
Sea Shrike leered at Monster. ”And the lives sacrificed for this stunt? What of them, monster?”
”What must be done, must be done,” said Sunstar. ”Unless you wish to oppose us so far from your beloved waters.”
Sea Shrike clenched his fists and then shook his head. ”I swore the last I would spill needless life was in overthrowing that rotten fool Beaumont. I sank thousands of ships in Sunclear Lake that day all for the sake of a greater peace, to not be slaves of the Elves, and that peace, I do see now.
But I cannot make that sacrifice again.”
”And I am not asking you to,” said the duchess. ”That is why I want you at your post to the south, defending our seas where it is most vulnerable. Do your duty as you would want to, fending against those with little to their name.”
”Then I'll stay here no longer,” growled Sea Shrike as he stood and left, his form vanishing when he hit one of the room's walls.
Vivienne looked to Sunstar, then to Monster. ”It appears then those remaining are simply all of like mind. I will brief Meld personally at a later time. Sunstar, come with me, and Monster, I trust you will live up to the name you have chosen for yourself.”
”It would be my utmost pleasure, though a tad bit tedious compared to vampire hunting,” said Monster as he bowed before heading off. The duchess and Sunstar left as well, leaving the meeting room entirely empty aside from the figure of Meld which materialized out from the wall, stretching out from a shadow an aged portrait cast down.