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

[Cerebral Paladin]

Kit nodded. “I’ll send him a message. With his wounds, we can’t ask him to come to us.” She closed her eyes. <<Grandmaster Farsensor? Are you aware of the Master Unbidden? He burns with the power of dust. We were wondering if the rate it affects him could be increased.>>

<<His metabolism burns too brightly. The Dust is taking him earlier than expected, because he uses it faster than he should. It could be accelerated, but I fear that it would do no good. He could not but notice, and he would charge the Archduke when he sensed the acceleration. You would merely force him to battle his way through your guard on your schedule.>>

<<Is it clear he will last to the coronation?>>

<<No. He will certainly live most of the time to then, and most drow would live many days past the coronation. But he might not.>>

Kit relayed this information.

“Are we agreed then that we should have Lord Davion challenge him?” Alistair asked his Council. “We can set the duel for immediately before the coronation is scheduled. If the dust kills him before the duel, so much the better.”

“I still think there has to be a better way,” said Kit.

“Can you think of one? We have to decide.”

“No. But there has to be something…”

“Hope of an easier way is not enough. I think we have to take this best chance and hope.”

“I have to agree, your grace.”

Kit nodded reluctantly. “Alright. I don’t like it, but…”

“None of us do.”

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

They sent for Lord Davion, as well as for Bishop Berry to join the Archbishop and Father Mondaven in prayer.

Lord Davion entered and inclined respectfully.

“If you remain willing, Lord Davion, we would ask you to challenge the Master Unbidden.”

“I will do so, your grace.”

“He burns brightly from the dust he has taken, so we wish you to schedule the duel for just before the coronation. With luck, the dust will consume him before the duel itself is fought. Also, you should know that he is giving his wealth away in the poor quarters. That is probably how you will find him most easily to deliver the challenge.”

“A wise decision, on the schedule. He has begun the ritual of divestment. He has misestimated how long it would take to find you, or at least to find you with honorable means.”

“Why does he give away his wealth?”

“It is the way of my people, when they know death approaches and that they will have no heirs. He must also be baffled by the existence of poverty. It is unknown in the Empire of Krashmere. Even the lowest goblin in the least horde of troops is fed and has its needs taken care of. I have never understood why there is such poverty in human lands, even lands such as yours with able and good-willed rulers such as Canberry.”

“We do what we can. There are none that starve within Canberry. That is about the most that we can ensure. Few human kingdoms can say even that much.”

“I know, your grace. I meant no criticism. In some lands, a bad harvest means hundreds or thousands will die. I simply do not understand. How can poverty persist, even in lands of plenty? Why do human lands not plan ways to prevent it? And how, when you cannot manage problems that the least of the elven realms avoid completely, can you be so strong in other ways? As I said, it is not that you are evil, or that you do not care or understand, and yet…”

“It is part of being human. The very things that make us strong--how quickly we can respond to new circumstances, for example--leave problems as well. We do not have time to solve our problems, and so we simply continue along, trying to address them as well as we can while worrying about what will happen next.”

Lord Davion nodded. “There is the ring of truth to what you say. In any event, that should explain something of why he acts as he does. He would understand far less than I.” The Noldar Lord inclined again. “I will go to deliver the challenge.”

<<Was this wise?>> asked the Eldar, in Kit’s mind alone.

<<The only thing we can do. There was no other way,>> responded Kit.

<<I shall speak to Lord Eiru and Lady Elberith and ask them to favor you.>>

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

Within the hour, Lord Davion returned. “He has accepted my challenge and has repaired to the Inner City, where he may be bathed, groomed, and dressed. He does not wish to die without looking his best. The dust burns rapidly in him; he may not live to see the challenge.”

“We know that your son is serving in the field with his army,” said Alistair. “If you wish to recall him, that you may see him before the duel, you may do so.”

“Thank you, your grace. I would not wish to disrupt his service. But he can apport. Perhaps I could summon him shortly before the duel.”

“We would not wish you to face the possibility of death without those you love. You may call him back anytime before the duel.”

“I thank you, your grace.”

Shortly later, Father Mondaven returned from the chapel. “The Lady smiles upon you. She responded most forcefully. Chance will play no role. Skill will be all. I have the feeling that I will be paying for that spell for years, but if it helps his grace, it’s worth it.”

“If it helps his grace, you’ll be rewarded for years to come,” answered Dame Brionna. They thanked Father Mondaven and he returned to his temple.

While Alistair attended to some routine matters, Dame Brionna pulled Kit aside. “Alistair’s conduct with Princess Mirabelle was disgraceful, and he needs to be taught a lesson about that, but with the peril he faces through the duel, perhaps this is not the best time for it.”

Kit looked at Dame Brionna like she was insane. “You’re saying that maybe I should make up with him because he might die? Thanks, I figured that out on my own.”

“It’s just… he’ll be very afraid.”

“He’s not the only one who’s terrified about it,” Kit snapped at Dame Brionna, who looked abashed at not having thought enough about Kit’s feelings. “And if there’s even a chance that he might die… I haven’t forgiven him for what he did, but I’m not going to give up what could be our last days together either.”

Dame Brionna considered suggesting they would be reunited in the Heavens, but thought better of it. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t do something you would regret.”

“I understand, and thanks.”

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

When Alistair returned, Dame Brionna said, “Your grace, we need to make certain plans. You need to designate an heir, just in case, and…”

Alistair interrupted. “Yes, I know. And there are some specific things I’d like to take care of with each of you.”

They discussed the question of heirs at length, finally settling on the candidate that seemed best.

While Kit addressed other matters, Alistair talked with Dame Brionna about some specific additional preparations. He drew up letters-patent, conferring the title of Baroness of Lyneham and rule over all its domains on Dame Katherine and the heirs of her body. Technically, the grant would not be valid if the letters were not delivered to Kit while Alistair was still alive, but he figured that Dame Brionna would carry out his instructions despite the niceties of Canberry estates law.

When that matter was finished, Alistair said, “I would like you to come with me to speak with Lady Constance. There are a few magical preparations I would like to make as well, including checking whether the clone plan would still work. I still don’t think it will help for Kit to know about that.”

“Probably not, your grace. It would only increase her worries.”

They approached Lady Constance and explained the situation. “Would you still be able to make a clone from the sample we gathered if I’m killed by the magic of the duel? We know resurrection magic would not work, but cloning is different.”

Lady Constance pursed her lips in thought. “I’m afraid I cannot say for certain, your grace. The circumstances are so rare, you understand. There has been only one previous such duel fought on Drucien, ever.”

“Oh? Who were the combatants?” asked Dame Brionna.

“The father of the Controller of the Zorplona Aragoni fought on behalf of a human noble of the Broken Lands, while an Eldar bard championed the gnomish head of the Enclave that is now Glittertowers. But to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever tried to clone the losing principal in such a duel. There have been attempts at resurrection, and as you said, all have failed. No similar attempts have been made at cloning, at least to the best of my knowledge. As an arcane matter, it should succeed. There is no reason in conventional magic theory that would change matters from any other death. But the elven gods might intervene, so I cannot say for certain.”

Alistair nodded. “That makes sense. Based on what Lord Davion said, I suspect it is more likely to fail than not, but please attempt the cloning if Lord Davion is defeated and I am slain.”

“As you wish, your grace.”

“It would give us the opportunity to prevent another succession crisis, if it succeeded. That would be worth the attempt.”

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

Alistair paused. “There is another, more delicate, issue that I would like to discuss as well. As you may know, my grandmother placed a magical block on my fertility, to avoid any illegitimate children that could complicate the next succession. The block will dissolve of its own accord in four months or so.”

“A sensible precaution,” replied Lady Constance.

“Is there any way to counteract that? If I am killed, and the cloning fails, I would like to make sure that my line continued.” Alistair held up a hand to Dame Brionna to forestall objections. “I know that any posthumous illegitimate children would be unable to inherit the Archduchy. We would need a new Archduke immediately, not in many years. But my line might continue, and might inherit Lyneham.”

“It is possible, your grace. But you may not wish to. The process is very unpleasant.”

“Unpleasant?” asked Dame Brionna, fearing the involvement of infernal powers. “Unpleasant how?”

Lady Constance cleared her throat. “I could stabilize a portion of his grace’s seed, so that it would retain its potency. Once the block expired, it could be used to impregnate a woman. But to do this, we would need to extract some of his grace’s seed, by inserting a catheter and… suffice to say, I do not think that his grace would enjoy the experience very much. But either I or one of my devils could perform the insertion.”

Alistair winced as he thought about it.

“No devils!” said Dame Brionna determinedly, terrified by the possibility that this would result in a tiefling heir.

Alistair nodded. “I think it would be best if you handled it. I know that you at least will not deliberately inflict more pain than is absolutely necessary. But despite the pain, I want to go through with this. Dame Brionna, perhaps you could wait outside? Oh, and summon Father Waters. I’ll want a cleric immediately afterwards.”

“Of course, your grace.”

After Dame Brionna left the coven chambers, Alistair looked plaintively at Lady Constance. “I don’t suppose we could have one of your devils extract the sample in a more pleasant manner?”

“I’m afraid not, your grace. There would be a risk of contamination, and the sample needs to be pure in order for the preservation magics to work.”

“Oh, very well then. But let’s give the priest time to arrive before we begin. I don’t want a wait.”

“I should think not.”

“Do you have any children, Lady Constance?” asked Alistair. After her services, he would be happy to grant her a minor title or similar reward, but at her age there was little point if she had no descendants.

“Oh, no, your grace. At least, I hope not. There’s a small possibility that from many years ago, but I don’t think so…” She saw Alistair’s brow furrowing at the idea that she could not be sure and added, “I experimented a little when I was young.”

“But… I don’t… What kind of…”

“Best not to dwell on it, your grace.”

Alistair decided that that was almost certainly true and nodded. “I think that’s Father Waters outside. If we could take care of this?”

“Yes, your grace.”

After an awkward, painful, and remarkably clinical experience, Alistair limped out to Father Waters, who quickly cast a powerful enough healing spell to both undo the incidental damage and to stop the pain. As Dame Brionna and Alistair returned to his set of rooms, he said, “If I do die, please bring the topic up with Kit at an appropriate time. I would never order her to, and I don’t want to discuss the idea with her now, but I hope that she might be willing…”

“I understand, your grace. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it, if it’s necessary.”

Alistair also took the time to write a long letter to Kit. They had the audience with Baroness Francesca scheduled for later that afternoon, but Alistair and Kit spent almost all of the rest of the time after he had dealt with preparations together. They did not discuss Mirabelle at all, and indeed, few of their discussions had much meaning. They were afraid, and in denial, and sometimes in tears, struggling to deal with the possibility. But mostly, they were together.

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

At the appointed time, they prepared for the meeting with Baroness Francesca de Borde-Wais. Dame Brionna and Alistair waited in a small reception room, without any other guards. Or at least, so it appeared. In reality, Dame Brionna waited with a projected image of Alistair, while the real Alistair, Kit, and Princess Cecilia waited in one of the secret passages that ran by the reception room and allowed them to look in.

A guard announced the Baroness, and a maid who had accompanied her passed a package wrapped in cloth to the Baroness before she entered, but did not accompany her in to meet the Archduke. As the Baroness walked in, she saw Alistair and froze, her face going completely white. Alistair could tell that she was terrified, but Dame Brionna also saw that she was very determined. Princess Cecilia murmured in the hallway, “oh, that poor dear… I didn’t know that it was possible to stand upright and be that frightened.”

The Baroness inclined deeply to Alistair, more like a client greeting a sovereign than like one noble greeting another, even a higher one. She was young--certainly no older than Alistair and Kit. Alistair guessed that she was as old as seventeen or eighteen, but also thought that she could be as young as fifteen, although she was very poised for a girl that age. Based on the signs of rank on her gown, she was no more than fifth in line for the Despot’s throne, well within the nobles who could prevail if the election were soon. However, her gown was also the most severe clothes imaginable.

Kit reached out with her mind. She had a clear read on the Baroness’s thoughts, but what she heard as she listened worried her.

<< Oh, great Lord of Light, what am I doing here? He will not dare do to me what he did to my sister. They are not that powerful. People know that I’m here…>>

“Greetings, and welcome to our court. You wished to speak with me?” said Alistair’s image.

Baroness Francesca swallowed nervously before responding. She also glanced at Dame Brionna, but concluded that this was as private an audience as she would get, or at least as private an audience as she could both get and want. “Your eminent grace, I come before you on behalf of my sister Echila. I bring you greetings from the Principality of Korflock and from our barony. I bring this gift that you left with my sister, that she thought you should have. She regrets that she cannot be here herself, as she is in retreat at a convent in light of her condition.”

She advanced forward, holding out the package to Alistair. Dame Brionna moved to intercept her and to take the package herself; it was unlikely that anything could hurt the Archduke through the projected image, but there was no point in taking chances, or in revealing that the image was not the real Archduke. Besides, the image would not be able to physically hold the package, which could rapidly become very awkward. The Baroness and Dame Brionna did a small dance of maneuver as she tried to pass Dame Brionna and Dame Brionna resolutely moved to keep herself between the Baroness and the image. Finally, the Baroness admitted defeat and handed the package to Dame Brionna: a baby, perhaps a year or a bit less, stirring gently from the agitation but still basically asleep.

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

“You have our condolences for what befell your sister,” replied Alistair seriously, “but I must correct your misapprehension. I am not the father of this child. I have never met your sister, nor ever been to the Principality.”

The Baroness’s eyes widened. <<I never thought he would be so false as to deny that he had visited our lands altogether. I feared he would deny Echila and the baby, but not this.>> After a moment she composed herself. “But I saw you. You had dinner with my father, and claimed your right as a noble to our hospitality, for shelter and food. And Echila was most taken with you.” The last sentence became an accusation, with equal parts sadness and anger.

“And then the one who looked like me ill-treated her?”

“Yes! He… you!... forsook all chivalry and…” The Baroness broke off mid-sentence, but there could be little doubt what she was going to say.

“I swear to you, with Lord Glor’diadel as my witness and upon the honor of my family, that I did not do this thing.”

“Lord Alistair speaks truthfully,” vouched Dame Brionna. “He was not in Korflok when your sister was assaulted, and he could not be the father of her child. We fear that there is an imposter seeking to harm His Grace’s reputation, and using your sister as a tool to that goal.”

“But… but I saw him. And I know, he was the Archduke.” Still, Dame Brionna’s statement made her wonder. Dame Brionna was a Knight of Valor, and probably a paladin. Surely she wouldn’t lie in the face of an oath to Glor’diadel, even to protect her liege? Unless she was as false as he…

“No. You know that he looked like me--like someone you had never met before and are only seeing more than a year later. Magic makes it trivial to appear as someone else. Watch.” Alistair cast alter self, which as an illusion could affect the projected image, and transformed the image so that there were then two Dame Brionnas in front of her. “If you look very closely, you could probably spot errors in the disguise, and certainly I might say or do things while disguised as Dame Brionna that would give away the illusion.” He gestured and the illusion faded, returning to the image of Alistair. “But could you tell the difference, when looking at someone you had never met before, and comparing them only to rumors and story? And that was among the most petty of disguise magics. We fear that the imposter uses much greater magics, that he may inflict more harm. And so I swear to you: we will take in this infant, if you wish, and ensure that the child has a fine life and noble rank, as befits its mother. But I also swear that I am not its father and did nothing to harm your sister, though I fear my enemies did as a means to strike at me.”

The Baroness thought this over. <<The Archbishop is right to ban all arcane magic, then…>>

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

“Why is your sister in the convent now? Surely she has recovered from her injuries by now…”

The Baroness blushed a little and looked away. “Your grace, she is sullied by the loss of her virginity. Other nobles look down on her, treat her as unworthy… None will even think of marrying her. The Convent of the Silvery Veil does not judge her.”

Alistair scowled. It was what he had expected, but even so… “I know that she may want nothing to do with Canberry, for she believes that we attacked her, and in truth she was attacked by our enemies because of Canberry. But if she wishes, if she comes to Canberry, I promise you that she will marry well and will be treated with respect.”

“Thank you, your grace,” replied the Baroness, although perhaps the thanks were more of a formality than real.

“What of the child? As I said, though it is not mine, we will take it in if you wish. But if your family would rather raise it…”

“No, your grace. As long as you will neither kill him nor cast him out, he will have a better life here. My father would not cast him out, but he cannot bear to look on the babe. Every contact with him reminds him of my sister’s disgrace, and of his inability to protect her.”

“Very well. We will raise him and provide for him.” Alistair paused. “Let me ask you something. Did you consider attacking me? Seeking revenge for your sister by trying to kill me?”

Honest surprise crossed Baroness Francesca’s face, as Kit could verify by the surprise in her thoughts. “I did not even think of it, your grace. You are a great prince. I could not hope to succeed, and it would be beyond the pale for any such as I to dream of striking at you directly.”

<<Blast,>> thought Alistair to Kit. <<I had really hoped that she was the last assassin.>>

<<Yeah. We’ll have to keep looking.>>

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

“Does he have a name?”

“In the Principality, bastards of noble birth receive only the names of slaves. We thought it best to allow you to name him.”

“The names of slaves?” asked Alistair in confusion. “But then… is the Principality Paranswarmian, if slavery is legal? Why then did your sister go to one of our orders of nuns?”

“It varies from noble house to house within the Principality, your grace. Many follow Paranswarm, but some, such as my house, follow the Lord of Light. And likewise slavery is legal in some of our lands, but not in all. Most of the lords who permit slavery are Paranswarmian, but some of the Glor’diadelians do as well.”

“But the Church forbids slavery--its teachings on that subject are unmistakably clear.”

“Yes, your grace. And my family forbids slavery in our lands. But some of our neighbors stray from the Lord of Light’s teachings.”

Alistair turned to Dame Brionna and said, his voice cold with anger, “Make a note. After the coronation, we will send a message to each and every Glor’diadelian noble in the Principality that permits slavery, from the highest dukes and princes to the pettiest manor lord, informing them that the Protector of the Light has noted their apostasy and is displeased.”

“Yes, your grace,” replied Dame Brionna with enthusiasm.

“And give some thought to the right emissary to deliver that message. We may need to follow it with strength to enforce their repentance.”

The Baroness’s thoughts shifted from confused suspicion and fear to guarded respect, although fear still colored all of her thoughts. “My father will be most pleased to hear of this message, your grace.”

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

“Let me return to the issue of the imposter’s attack on your sister,” said Alistair. “Was the incident widely known?”

“Many know of the rape, your grace, but few of the perpetrator.”

“Are there other reports of similar misdeeds by his grace’s imposter?” asked Dame Brionna.

“There are whispered rumors, although none with this issue,” replied the Baroness, gesturing at her nephew. “The rumors elsewhere were of whippings and horrible abuse heaped on women. The noble houses that suffered those attacks were less careful about keeping it quiet.”

Dame Brionna stammered. “How dare he… The imposter… we will…”

“When we find who is responsible, they will die,” said the image of Alistair flatly.

“Yes, your grace,” replied the Baroness, curtsying. “Thank you, your grace.”

The image of Alistair looked at Dame Brionna for a moment to see if there were any further questions, then dismissed the Baroness. The Council quickly returned to its chambers. As they walked back, Alistair spoke emphatically to Kit, while Dame Brionna carried the baby. “I know that this was before we met, but I wanted to make sure that you know that I was telling the truth when I said that it was an imposter. I never even went to Korflok.”

“I know. I never thought she might be telling the truth.”

“I just wanted to make sure you knew that I would never do something like that. I know I haven’t always behaved perfectly, but…”

“Don’t worry. I knew that you wouldn’t, couldn’t have done something like that.”