Aphonion Tales (New posts 6/13, 6/15, 6/19)

[Cerebral Paladin]

As they walked the halls back, a disheveled young man in the livery of Quickford skidded to a stop in front of them and leaned in towards Dame Brionna. He whispered, “My guards have joined yours. Your troops were under attack in the merchant quarter, so we came to their aid.”

“Under attack? By whom?”

“Three men, in clown make-up.”

Dame Brionna turned to her companions. “The harlequins are attacking the guards we sent with your scribe to recover the documents. I will send for a detachment of church knights to reinforce them.”

“That’s a good idea,” said the young man. “I doubt my guards can last much longer.”

“We can get aid to them faster than that,” said Alistair. “Where’s that ensign from the Sky Guard?” Within a minute, orders had been relayed to the voller defending the skies of Canberry City to make its way to the merchant quarters and to engage the harlequins there.

An image of a young man in the uniform of a lieutenant in the Sky Guard appeared after a short while. “We are approaching the battle, your grace. I will keep you informed of its progress.” The image flickered as the lieutenant attended to his other duties, and then became clear again. “Bloody hell! We had to fire the artillery into them.” The lieutenant paused. “Begging your pardon, your grace.”

“Did you defeat them?”

“Oh, certainly. The artillery is sufficient to kill any small group of warriors, I should think. What should we do about the wounded guards that the harlequins were fighting?”

“Pick them up and bring them back to the palace, along with any documents that they may have.”

“Aye-aye, your grace.”

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

Within a few minutes, the voller was gliding down to the air dock. The same lieutenant scrambled down the gangplank and saluted the Archducal Council. “We have all of the surviving guards aboard. They also had a large wagon full of documents.”

“Can you tell us anything about the attackers?” asked Dame Brionna.

“Not much, I’m afraid, Captain. They were a strange group…”

“How many?”

“Four, ma’am. But they were fighting in the most bizarre way. Dancing around like the clowns they were dressed as but knocking people about with their bare hands. Most of the people I’ve heard of that are effective that way are guild assassins, but we don’t have any of those in Canberry…”

Kit felt no need to correct his misapprehension, but decided to have her people investigate. If these were guild assassins, she should be able to find out a fair amount through her own assassins guild. “None of them survived for questioning?”

“No, Dame Katherine. The artillery is effective, but… Oh, they also threw around several small vials, but that seems to have been just a distraction.”

“Vials?” asked Dame Brionna. “But that means…”

“Plague,” said Alistair. “Call for Bishop Hogsworthy. We’ll need to check the entire crew for disease.”

“Yes, your grace,” said Dame Brionna. “But the rest of you need to return to your chambers, first. I’ll take care of determining who has been infected and having them cured.”

Alistair wanted to protest but knew she was right, and simply nodded and turned to leave.

As they walked away, Kit said to Dame Brionna, “Make sure you check Master Weighthand and his family.”

“Don’t worry, we will.”

Dame Brionna initially asked Bishop Hogsworthy if he could detect the infection and lead the efforts at curing it, but while detecting the disease would be a mere orison, the bishop had not prepared it that day. Father Waters, however, was able to perform the detections, and began the process of sweeping through the voller and designating people for other priests to heal. Most of the crew had been infected, as well as Master Weighthand’s family, Kit’s scribe, and the documents, but they had caught the disease quickly enough, and responded with enough clerical magic, to prevent any lasting harm. With the crisis dealt with, Kit’s scribe took the records into a private chamber and began the laborious process of cataloging and deciphering them.

While Dame Brionna attended to those matters, Kit sent word to her agents to investigate the Harlequins. She passed on the information that the Council believed that they were both guild assassins and drowan religious fanatics who worship Algaroth as a god. The combination was strange enough that she was optimistic about the likelihood of getting useful information back.

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

Mahler, meanwhile, began his briefing on trade. “Our trade is recovering, slowly, but we lost a great deal when the South Kingdoms fell and our exports have still not fully recovered. Ten years ago, sixty percent of our exports went to the South Kingdoms. Now, most of our exports go to the Spice Lands, with only insignificant trade with the refugees. After the Spice Lands, Enclaves and the Eastern Trade Federation are the next most important, with the Barony of Augurt following them. Exports to several of our trade partners in the south have also been hurt by the damage to their economies from losing the South Kingdoms trade. Exports to Flame have remained stable over the last ten years and are significant, although a smaller amount than the others.”

“What do we export to the Spice Lands, anyway?” asked Alistair.

“They import all of their metals, most of their finished goods, and a good quantity of wine. We have major stakes in all of those trades, both with goods originating here and by transshipping goods from farther north.”

“You said that several countries have been importing less because of the damage from losing the South Kingdoms. Do we have any trade partners that are taking up the slack?” asked Kit.

“Yes… there were major jumps in trade with three areas between 5 and 10 years ago-- Masque, Enclaves, and Tang. Trade with Masque alone is up 1200 percent in the last ten years. And the trade with Masque continues to climb. Last year alone, there was an approximately one million silver increase in the value of our exports to Masque, from about 5 million to about 6 million.”

“Are there any other notable export markets we could hope to expand?” asked Alistair.

“We sell a fair amount to Singing Leaves, but there’s little hope of expanding that trade. The amounts are consistent year-to-year, down to the copper piece. All of our trade with Singing Leaves is handled through long-term treaties, not ordinary merchant work. We have had a major increase in trade with Tarsh, from about 140,000 silver to 500,000, but the distance will make it difficult to increase that much further.”

Kit said, “That’s probably just the impact of Archduchess Amelia’s embassy.”

Mahler nodded. “Turning to imports, the first thing to know is that we’re importing substantially more than we’re exporting. Our largest source of imports is the Spice Lands, and we import significantly more from them than we export to them. We also import large amounts from the Barony of Augurt. The other import statistic that leaps out is that we had a major increase in imports from Singing Leaves last year.”

“I would have assumed that our imports would also be steady and based on treaty,” commented Kit.

“Exactly. And year after year, the imports were steady, but there was a jump last year. I’ll ask around and see what caused it.”

Alistair nodded. “Sounds like a good idea.”

Dame Brionna returned with Father Waters and informed the Council of the fact that the plague had infected most of the crew but had been dealt with. Father Waters confirmed that none of the Archducal Council members had been infected.

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

“Dame Brionna, what do we know of Lady Deborah Brightspan’s mother? After Lady Deborah’s unusual death, her mother seems like the best lead we have.”

“Lady Deborah was the daughter of a cousin of the Duke of Brightspan and Lady Yvonne Caldra, the Earl of Caldra’s aunt. Lady Yvonne wasn’t precisely discarded by the Earl of Caldra, but… There were rumors that she was involved with the Unseelie Court, and that she had captured and tortured elves and even the occasional fey. She was conveniently married off to move her out of the family, and away from the attention of either her family or the Duke of Furrows. This would have been when Furrows was still more active, of course.”

“I’m surprised that my grandmother would have tolerated that. She may have escaped Furrows attention, but surely…”

“As far as I can tell, your grace, the late Archduchess had her investigated at some point, but was unable to turn up anything actionable. Because of Lady Yvonne’s rank, Her Grace the Archduchess would have needed firm evidence to take any official action. In any event, Lady Yvonne lived essentially alone after the death of her husband and disappeared many years ago. It is believed that she still maintains a small manor near the border of Brightspan.”

“How old would she be?” asked Kit. “I mean, assuming she’s all human and not a changeling or something.”

“She would be about 60. And everything we know suggests that she’s still human, although myth says that people with a particularly close association with the fey sometimes live longer than humans would naturally.”

“We need to check out her manor,” said Mahler.

“But we can’t do that directly,” replied Alistair. “Brightspan would consider it a mortal insult. We’ll have to ask him to investigate. I wonder if Bishop Hogsworthy can perform a Sending?”

Bishop Hogsworthy brightened at the honor of being called in to assist the Archduke, but then regretfully admitted that he had not asked for Sending that morning. Father Waters had, however, so after some discussion of the phrasing and careful word counting, Alistair handed the priest a written version of the message.

<<From Archduke. Believe Yvonne Caldra plotting with molydeus, dangerous. Suggest you search her manor in force. Expect danger and Unseelie support. Would appreciate any intelligence.>>

Father Waters then recited the Duke of Brightspan’s response. “He sends, ‘Your Grace. Message received. Wife informed. Reconnoiter with priestly support. Will inform of anything found. Brightspan.’” Father Waters shook his head at that last. “If he ever signs a message ‘Gary,’ you will know that you have his personal support, not just his allegiance.”

They thanked Father Waters and concluded that there was not much more to be done about Lady Yvonne until Brightspan reported the results of his raid.

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

Mahler returned to the Ministry of Trade to investigate the increase in imports from the Forest of Singing Leaves. He quickly found a tax collector who remembered the transaction that had caused the increase.

“Oh, yes… in addition to the ordinary shipments, we periodically purchase large arrays of high quality crystal from Singing Leaves. The Archduchy has made these purchases regularly for the last 200 years.” He stopped to check his notes. “But the next purchase by the Archduchy will not be for another 17 years. There was an additional shipment to the House of Caldra last year.”

“Do you know what the crystals are used for? ” asked Mahler. “They must be very important if a single shipment could cost 100,000 silver.”

“I can’t say that I do, m’lord. I suppose they must have a military use. The purchases are generally made by either the border duchies or by a field marshal, when they are on behalf of the Archducal house.”

“It didn’t occur to you to inform the Archduke when an enormous military purchase was suddenly made by one of the nobles?”

“Uh, no, m’lord. I’ll try to do so in the future…”

“Good. Can you tell me anything more about the delivery to Caldra?”

“It was signed for by one of the Earl’s relations. His aunt, Lady Yvonne Caldra, signing on behalf of the commander of the Earl’s regiments of foot.”

Mahler’s face tightened, and he hurried off to inform his friends.

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

Alistair, meanwhile, had asked the Eldar Farsensor to speak with them.

“How may I help you, your grace?”

“We’ve detected a psionic effect on one of the nobles, and we were hoping you could tell us more about it,” replied Alistair. “It is on the Duke of Brightspan.”

“Yes, I noticed that when he was within the palace. I didn’t comment on it because I assumed that you had placed it, or at least consented to it.”

“Why did you assume we placed it?” asked Kit.

“It was fairly long-term work, at least by your standards. The compulsion had been built over the course of years or decades.”

“What does it do?” asked Dame Brionna.

“It causes him to differentiate wrongly, judging people incorrectly. It causes paranoia. There is one woman-- perhaps not quite human, a half-human of some sort?-- who is immune to its effects. But from everyone else, he sees threats to his honor, intrigues, and shadows.”

“A half-human woman?” said Kit. “That would be the Duchess of Brightspan, with her devil blood. Was that part of the design? Maybe she placed it to keep him under her thumb.”

“No, the exception was not part of the design. It was more of a failure of the effect-- even the power of the compulsion could not interfere with the intense, pure love he felt towards the woman, the Duchess if you are correct.”

Alistair nodded thoughtfully. “It explains a great deal. His anger and distrust of the Archduchy may be natural, but it would have been greatly intensified by this effect. No wonder he assumes that we’re trying to break his family’s influence and oppress his duchy. The distance and distrust from his children and grandchildren would be a fear that they are only using him to seek power, and that they will inevitably bring dishonor upon him. And it also explains why there are no bastards except for the two older ones from before his marriage and presumably from before this effect.”

“Of course. He would assume that any possible mistresses were simply using him to get ahead,” said Kit. “Can you remove the effect?”

“No, that is far from my expertise and would be beyond my power. It would take at least a grand master redactor. And even then, it would take his knowledge and participation to do it properly. Even for a grand master redactor, the process would take weeks, and great care would be necessary in case there are traps woven into the pattern.”

“Would there be any way to remove it without his knowledge?” asked Kit. “He has a fear of psions that would make getting his cooperation difficult, and the paranoia would only make that worse. It may even have been a deliberate defense to make it harder to remove.”

“Possible, although more likely some part of his subconscious knows that he has had his mind altered and has reacted by fearing further attacks. As for removing it without his knowledge, it would be possible, but would require more patience than humans usually have. A grandmaster redactor, working from close proximity, could unweave the compulsion over the course of years.” The Eldar steepled his fingers thoughtfully. “It would have a side benefit, however. Unweaving the compulsion slowly would run no risk of triggering any traps.”

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

“Can you tell us anything about who placed it?” asked Alistair while they digested the news about how to undo it.

“Based on the power of the effect, I would have assumed elven or fey. There are some few human psions of surpassing power who might be capable of it, however.”

“By elven, would you include Noldar?”

“No, I should have been able to tell immediately if it were either Eldar or Noldar work. We have a unique artistry and skill, and they have a similarly unique and powerful perversion.”

“But fey… that would fit if the Unseelie Court were behind it,” commented Kit.

“Indeed, the Unseelie could be behind it, although drow would be just as likely,” replied the Farsensor.

“You mentioned traps. Could the compulsion have other effects?” asked Dame Brionna. “Could the psion who placed it give the Duke commands or the like?”

“Oh, certainly. There could easily be a trigger action that would require certain responses. The trigger would usually be a word or gesture from a specific person. Normally, the response could be anything up to something suicidal. But over this many years, even suicidal actions might be possible.”

While the group considered all of the additional dangers that presented, Mahler returned and informed the Council of what he had discovered.

The Farsensor nodded. “Yes, the Earl of Caldra purchased a powerful array of crystals from us. We do not ordinarily sell objects of that power, but because of our alliance, we are willing to sell to the Archduchy and its vassals.”

“It all fits together,” said Dame Brionna. “Lady Yvonne was working with the Unseelie to affect the Duke of Brightspan, and now she’s strengthening her psionic powers for the coming conflict, or even to assist with the ritual. Why didn’t Singing Leaves tell us about the purchase?”

The Farsensor looked simply confused. “But… the purchase was made by one of your vassals. And we trust you. How could that create a danger? And I don’t understand. How could she be working with the Unseelie?”

Alistair tried to respond as gently as he could, remembering that the only incident in the entirety of elven history in which vassals betrayed their lieges was the original Kinslaying, and that had been based on conflicting loyalties to Gods. “Humans are not like your people. Some of our vassals plot against us. We think that Lady Yvonne has formed an alliance with the Unseelie and several demonic powers against us and against the Duke-- that’s why we think she created the psionic effect, and why the Unseelie involvement made sense.”

“But… then…” Horror filled the Eldar’s voice as he thought about this. “We provided a powerful array of crystals that was then used to make an Unseelie sept?”

“I’m afraid so. We’re working on finding out more information, and we’ll then take steps to solve the problems. In the meantime, we need to start thinking about how to undo the effect on Brightspan. Is the Minister of the Mind a redactor?”

“Yes,” replied Dame Brionna. “Grand Master Petrov Gilligav, of the Order of the Powers of the Mind.”

“We’ll have to consult with him, then. But I’m not sure how we’ll get the Duke to agree. And I worry that if we try to do it surreptitiously, we’ll make things worse if he finds out. Perhaps if we approached the Duchess about the issue?”

No one seemed pleased by that thought.

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

“What about Brightspan’s grandsons?” asked Mahler. “Can we be sure that they have not been affected as well?”

“Better to have the Farsensor examine them as well,” said Alistair.

A few minutes later, the two young pages entered the Council chambers.

The Farsensor nodded judiciously. “There is an effect on the older boy, similar to that on his grandfather, but it is already beginning to unravel. With him here, beyond the psion’s reach to continue building the compulsion and with friends and support naturally cutting against it, the effect is dissolving on its own. Within a few months it will be completely gone. There has not even been an attempt on the younger boy.” The Eldar shifted his attention back to the eleven year old and frowned. “His toe ring… did you know about that?”

The Council looked at the toe ring, and Alistair gestured to Kit’s page. “Abigail, you and the younger Brightspan page can go back to your play. We’ll need to talk to his brother a little longer. Oh, and could you ask one of the guards to send for Lady Constance? There are some other things I’d like to discuss with her.”

Abigail’s smile made it clear that she knew that sending for the head of the Archducal Coven was not an afterthought, but the two Brightspan pages seemed oblivious.

“Can you tell us where you got that ring?” asked Kit.

“My sister’s teacher gave it to me. Dame Bernadette of Tarsh. She said that she wanted me to have a friend, and someone to talk to.” The boy, only about 11 years old, looked very worried about the group’s focus.

Dame Brionna grimaced at that, but the rest of the Council maintained their placid expressions. “Does your friend live in that ring?” continued Kit. “Could we meet him?”

“I guess so…” The boy flexed his foot a little. A small devil appeared in a cloud of black smoke. The devil looked much like a boy the same age as his master, but with small horns, tiny leather wings, cloven hoofs, and a slight reddish tinge to his skin. The devil stepped in front of ___ protectively and looked at the adults surrounding them with suspicion.

Lady Constance entered and stopped in midstride. “My word… He’s barely out of larva. I would not have bound a devil that young…”

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

“Is he dangerous to young Lord Brightspan?” asked Dame Brionna, clearly hoping for an answer that would allow her to smite the devil where it stood.

“No. Indeed, he’s so young, that he’s not particularly evil. In the natural order of things, he would enter the service of a more powerful devil that would inculcate in him the beliefs of the Hells.”

“I don’t want him to be sent back to the Hells. He’s my friend!” said the young lord.

“No one’s going to take your friend away,” said Alistair. “I have a friend of my own like that.” He thought, <<Stythus, please come here.>> As the djinni squire flew in, Alistair gestured. “See?”

Lord Brightspan relaxed a little at that.

“And do you want to stay here?” Kit asked the devil.

“Oh, yes. I quite like it here. And he’s my friend, and he needs me.”

“Do you serve any of the more powerful devils? Or worship any gods?” asked Alistair, worried that the devil would lead Lord Brightspan to Paranswarm instead of Glor’diadel.

“Oh, no. None of the other devils have whipped me into obedience, or beaten me until I agreed to follow one of their gods.” The devil thought for a bit. “But I have liked some of the things that the priest of Glor’diadel has said in the services I’ve been to with ___.”

Lady Constance raised an eyebrow. “With that, he might even revert…”

“Revert?” asked Alistair.

“To his natural form. After all, devils are originally fallen angels.”

“If you would both like, we could have a priest of Glor’diadel talk with you all the time,” said Alistair. “He won’t whip you ever, but if you want, he could help lead you towards the Light.”

Lord Brightspan nodded, still nervous.

“I’ll make a note, your grace,” said Dame Brionna. “I should think we’ll want a theologian, and a particularly open-minded one at that.”

Mahler looked at the devil thoughtfully. “Were you given any orders besides to be a friend and confidant of Lord Brightspan?”

The devil looked at his friend and then nodded. “Dame Bernadette also said that I was to keep him safe.”

“Safe from whom?”

“From the terrible woman. She looks like a hag, only human, only not all human. She’s turning into something.”

“Turning into something?” asked Dame Brionna. “Like a devil?”

“No, not like me, and not like him,” the devil gestured at Stythus, “or like him. Well, a little like him,” the devil gestured again towards the Eldar, “but different. She has her fingers everywhere.”

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

Lord Brightspan could see that this was interesting the adults and added, “We figured it all out, but then she went back into the hills. We followed part-way. She has a keep in the hills.”

“Could you show us on a map?” asked Alistair.

They both nodded and the group went to the map room, where the devil pointed it out. “She followed a secret bath, from the Necropolis below the City, to the keep, and then on to here.”

The Eldar shook his head sadly. “The grotto of the Old One. It was a powerful Unseelie place, but I had thought it kept in check by the Seelie Court.”

“She’s fortified the keep,” said the devil, “and she built a circle this last year. That’s why we couldn’t explore any further.”

A look of despair gripped the Eldar’s face. “Then it is true… we provided crystals to the Unseelie to build a new circle. I will need to inform the Queen of our error.”

“We will do our best to recover the crystals and undo the damage, I assure you,” said Alistair.

“Do either of you know anything else about the terrible woman?” asked Dame Brionna.

Lord Brightspan nodded. “She has a brood of kids-- meaner than any other kids I’ve ever met.”

“I thought her husband died many years ago.”

“Oh, they aren’t his. Only her older children are his. I don’t know who the father of the new children is.”

The devil looked away and fidgeted uncomfortably.

“Yes?” asked Kit. “You have an idea?”

“Well… I think it might be the thing under the Necropolis.”

“We can’t get into the Necropolis. There are magics, and there are too many things watching the tunnels. But there’s something very evil in there,” said Lord Brightspan. After a while, he said thoughtfully, “We like your city more. The people are nicer.”

“Most of them are,” added the devil, nodding.

“Which of them aren’t?” asked Kit.

Lord Brightspan looked a little nervous. “There are two men floating in the air near the ruins of the Earl of Caligshire’s compound. I hope it isn’t bad that we’ve been watching them.”

“No, certainly not,” said Alistair. “But how can you see them?”

“I just can… sometimes I can see things about people that other people can’t.”

Alistair held out a closed fist. “Can you tell me what’s in my fist?”

Lord Brightspan concentrated and frowned. “Not quite. But it’s shiny, and I think it protects you…”

Alistair opened his hand, showing the piece of orichalcum within. “You definitely have the sight-- a valuable gift for a high noble. We’ll have to make sure you learn to use it.” And to avoid making embarrassing social gaffes, he thought to himself. “Now then, what can you tell us about the bad men?”