Two

Sext, Ides of April

Cabinet, The Ivory Tower

One moment the cabinet of the Ivory Tower was empty save for three large easy chairs that all faced a delicately designed central pedestal table, the leg of which curved to form a statue of Death vomiting out an infant Heion.

The next moment there were two men in the room, one a young man with unruly hair in full ceremonial dress and the other a middle-aged man in a simple evening gown. The young man took his hand off the older man’s arm, took a step backwards, then promptly disappeared, leaving only the older man in the room. The older man immediately collapsed onto one of the chairs, leaned forward, and covered his face with his hands, shaking his head slowly from side to side.

Then the young man appeared again, this time holding the arm of a much older man, also in full ceremonial dress, bearing on his chest the cardinal and gold emblem of Maple.

“Thank you, Spark,” said the man bearing the emblem of Maple.

“My honour, Councillor Viltik,” said the young man in a bright, squeaky voice. Then he took a step back and promptly disappeared once more.

“Keys,” said Councillor Viltik to the middle-aged man still crouched over his chair. “You seem to be in a state of sorts.”

“Councillor Viltik,” said the man named Councillor Keys, still with his hands over his face. “One would be of unsound mind to not be in a state of sorts.”

Councillor Viltik made a sound somewhere between a cough and a chuckle and took a seat next to Councillor Keys. For a while they sat in a tense silence, until Councillor Viltik said, “Floyd is late.”

Councillor Keys raised his gaunt head and looked around the room blankly. “Of course he is,” he said.

Then, as if on cue, the young man appeared again, this time holding the arm of a tall man of indeterminate age, somewhere between his thirties and sixties, who looked lean and stocky at the same time, and had a solemn yet playful gaze. He delicately balanced in his free arm three glasses of dark red wine. He wore a flowing baize-coloured cloak.

“Gentlemen,” said the newcomer, placing the three glasses on the pedestal table. Then he produced a conversation piece, a small red flower, from within his cloak and placed it on the centre of the table. “I apologise for my delay,” continued the newcomer. The young man with unruly hair, who seemed paler than before, stepped back silently and disappeared.

“Floyd,” said Councillor Viltik.

“Councillor Viltik, a pleasure,” said Councillor Floyd, taking a seat. “How is Lady Viltik? A healthy baby girl, I heard.”

“Thank you, Floyd,” said Councillor Viltik. “But now is not the time for felicitations.”

Floyd smiled ambiguously at Councillor Keys, who returned an equally ambiguous stare.

“I suppose we should begin,” said Councillor Floyd. “First, I was heartbroken to hear of Cole. He was a good man.”

“He killed the guards before they could testify,” said Councillor Keys. “Where will we begin our search? We have no suspects, no witnesses.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Still, I believe you are the best equipped to conduct the search,” said Councillor Floyd, flatly. “No?”

Keys looked at Floyd, then at Viltik, who nodded briskly.

“He is right,” said Viltik.

“Councillor Floyd, your Connexion is far superior to mine,” began Keys.

“Councillor Keys,” said Floyd. “Were you not a prodigy? Did you not create that ruckus by discovering your own mentor’s infidelity when you were merely seven? There is none in all of Kaps who Senses Minds as you do, Councillor Keys. My specialty is in Transcending Minds, which is of little use for us here.”

Seeing that Keys had nothing left to say, Floyd continued. “What I can do, however, is to keep this tightly guarded. We do not want the people to know of this. That would cause unnecessary panic —”

“And more to join the Young Kardas,” said Viltik. “I have reliable sources confirming that Drina’s mercenary band has joined them.”

“The Child of Light,” said Floyd.

There was a brief, tense silence before Viltik began again, haltingly. “And they have published their manifesto. It is circulating amongst the people rapidly.”

“I have read it,” said Floyd. “It is heresy. It denies Heion. It denies the Rites. They ought to be executed under the Common Law.”

“And I believe,” continued Floyd, the cadence of his voice rising. “That finding and executing the members of the Young Kardas may lead to us to gain useful clues about our initial point of discussion, about who has stolen the Black Cloak. For are they not prime suspects in this matter?”

Viltik nodded grimly and Keys remained silent, gazing steadily at Floyd.

“I am concerned,” said Viltik. “About the relationship of Drina, the mercenary leader, with a certain Logan Floyd.”

If Floyd was flustered he did not show it when he said, “and what are you concerned about, Councillor Viltik?”

“They are known to each other,” said Viltik. “Are they not? If Drina has joined the Young Kardas, what is to say that the boy has not? You know your boy’s power, Floyd. The Young Kardas, until now have merely been a group of riffraff, posing no real threat, but with Floyd in their hands —”

“You are worried, Councillor Viltik,” said Floyd. “About one young man?”

“That one young man killed one hundred men in Reyken, Councillor Floyd,” said Keys, his voice trembling. “He killed them all himself. Not a single one of our men could land a strike on him.”

At this Floyd was silent for a while.

“Kate Rinehart,” he said finally.

“What of her,” said Keys.

“Councillor Viltik is concerned about the friendship between Drina and Logan Floyd, but we too have a close friend of Logan Floyd. We can send her to bring him back.”

“Councillor Floyd,: said Keys. “That Rinehart child is impossible to control. I do not think it would be wise to bring her into this… situation.”

“And who would you suggest, Councillor Keys, is better suited,” said Floyd. “One of your daughters, perhaps?”

At this Councillor Keys stood up, his lips trembling.

“Keys,” said Viltik, firmly.

“I am merely saying, Councillor Keys,” said Floyd. “That there are only a few in Drum who can match Logan Floyd in strength. Kate Rinehart is one, your eldest daughter is the other.”

“I’ll send Rinehart,” said Keys.

“Good,” said Floyd.

Keys sat back down uneasily.

“Well, I believe that covers everything we had to discuss today,” said Floyd, rising from his seat. “Councillor Keys will find us a lead regarding the Black Cloak, I will ensure that word does not spread about its disappearance, and… I suppose Councillor Keys will also send Rinehart to recruit Logan Floyd.”

After a moment of hesitation the other two Councillors also rose.

“Councillor Viltik,” said Floyd. “Perhaps you would like to go first? I need to have a word with Councillor Keys, privately.”

Keys’s jaw tensed. Viltik nodded grimly. The young man with the unruly hair appeared again. Viltik stepped forward towards him and held out his arm, which the young man held deferentially, and the two of them disappeared.

“You have been attempting to Sense my Mind throughout that entire meeting, Councillor Keys,” said Floyd.

Keys did not answer, only looked with wide eyes at Floyd.

“I understand our relationship is built upon mutual respect,” continued Floyd. “I would advise against attempting such a brazen and, of course, futile act again.”

The young man with unruly hair appeared again. He took Floyd by the arm then disappeared. Soon he appeared again and took the dazed Keys by the arm also. Then they disappeared and the room was empty once again, save for the untouched glasses of wine and the conversation piece on the pedestal table.