When the time arrived, Rivanon had Elemix meet her in the conservatory. Elemix noted the decor was being updated to something more Thalassan. Her guard captain nodded and closed the doors as she left. “Magus. It has been a long trip and I have much still to do. What brings this need for urgency and privacy?”
“It is a personal matter, but I wanted to inform you of it in an informal setting so it would not come as a surprise in court.”
She looked askew and slightly tense, bracing for the unexpected.
Elemix looked nervous then but he forced his way through it.
“I wanted to let you know that I have come to have very strong feelings for the Lady Amelie de Gamache, and I believe we could be very happy together. I know she feels the same, but I want to respect all formal customs regarding this and as such I am here speaking on it with you. Assuming you and all the others required are in agreement, I should like to begin a formal courtship.”
Rivanon’s tenseness lessened, “Yes. Amelie,” she said with her characteristic smile. “She and I were childhood friends. She is a bit older than me, but her family has been friends of my father’s for years. Father, her godfather, arranged her first marriage to a young knight who sadly passed in battle before the marriage could be completed. Usually two years of mourning are required, but as they did not marry, a mere year should be enough. Is this truly what you want?”
“It is,” said Elemix.
He was firm in his answer. While he could not deny he still had feelings for Rivanon, he knew they could never be realized. He wasn’t a noble, and she had never so much as really given him any indication she might want him to fight for her. He knew in his heart that he had genuinely come to like Amelie. He didn’t know her well enough to know if he loved her, but he knew he missed her when they were apart, and he found himself thinking of her often. Thinking of her always made him feel better. She had always been so kind to him when she had no real reason to do so. He couldn’t think of anyone else he had met that he was more fond of and he wanted to know her so much better.
“In truth I don’t know her all that well, but I can’t deny my feelings for her, and I want to know her so much more. That is why I am hopeful we can begin a courtship.”
She nodded, “That is why courtship exists. The Temple cannot abide by divorce. It took my father years to do so from the bitch queen – sorry, Lady Millicent.” It was obvious to Elemix that Rivanon still hated her step-mother.
She continued with a smile returning to her face, “but I perhaps will do this for you. I can send message to father about your request. You will then need to write her father, meet with her mother, and the like. Emmeline knows all the proper forms and should you trust your cousin on this matter, she can help. The rest they say is up to you.” Elemix could tell she knew something more. She added, “I have to ask you a few things. The first is about us. I know you wished for something between us – and we are friends that perhaps in another life would have had a chance – maybe. This past winter we discussed it and put it behind us. Is it still behind you? Is Amelie someone that will make you happy? Are you doing this because you feel you have to?”
“I truly hope she will make me happy and I her. I am not doing this because I must. I am doing this because I feel it is right. But as I said I don’t know her well enough yet to know that.
If we court and we learn it is not a good match, will it be an insult to everyone if we do not eventually marry?
Trust me I am not making this decision lightly.”
She smiled, “very well then. You have my blessing. I’ll pass it on to father. You have more to do then.”
“Thank you again.
On another matter I must inform you that I will be leaving for Derrien soon, and after that Caberet and possibly Breven before I return. There is some research I must perform that I feel is vital to us learning more about Azenkuul. If there is a threat brewing there, I want to know as much about the layout as possible so that we can be as prepared as possible to counter it.”
“I do not mind you leaving, but what is so vital about Azenkuul? I understand some goblins have taken part of the ruin as a home. Father scoured the area last year, why can we not simply do the same thing? Is there something more to this? If there is a threat you must fully inform me about it before you go off on your own and take things into your own hands. I do not want a hornet’s nest stirred up without due cause.” she said with authority.
“I don’t know if there is a threat, but I want to be prepared in case. That is all this is for now.”
She was unconvinced, “if you don’t know there is a threat, how does going south help that in any way? If you suspect something you must tell me. I am sending more men up to set up another outpost on the south bank. If there is a pending danger you owe it to them to tell them; or is there some secret to Azenkuul that hasn’t been found in half a millenia of looting, mapping, and spelunking? Why does it draw your attention Elemix? I ask as the Baroness of this land and keeper of my father’s duty. I also ask as the host of refugees we plan to settle up there. Will they be in significant danger?”
“In the attack at the Vale someone very powerful opened a magical gate and from that gate came a score of very powerful creatures. Many of them were pale of skin, as though they had been underground for some time. They also attacked in the evening which could mean they had a distaste for sunlight also indicating they were from underground. The only place of significant size that I am aware of North of here that had not been investigated in recent times is Azenkuul. By the way, whoever cast that gate and summoned a truly terrifying creature never showed himself.
Now, I have no way of knowing where they came from. I merely suspect it might have been from Azenkuul and that is why I wish to learn all that I can about that area. If I believed there was an active threat there or had any hard evidence that there is, I would of course report it.
Shouldn’t we do what we can in case there is some threat there? Isn’t that why we set up an outpost farther North?”
She thought for a moment. Then she said, “We set the outpost for hillmen and goblin raiders from the high valleys. Azenkuul perhaps as well. But nothing save a few rogue goblins last year has been sighted in the dead mountain for a quarter-century and nothing of consequence for hundreds of years save if you go into the depths. My tutor as a child told me that that mountain was huge inside, but a jumbled chaos of broken caverns, stairs to nowhere, and crevasses to depths when none dare tread. If you find evidence in your travels or have further information bring it to me. I don’t want anyone in that place without my explicit permission. Rumor has it that this Morgan witch-woman was sighted up near there. Where she appears, trouble follows – so I take your idea very seriously. Indeed, I can go one further for you. I can arrest this Morgan so you can question her and find out what she knows. Maybe she IS the sorcerer that gated in the pale goblins and the dark undead?”
“Morgan has the gift of foresight. She isn’t a witch, and though we have met several times I have never seen her use any kind of magic. She is however a gifted seer. I don’t think she can have a direct impact on events, but with her gift I think she can help certain individuals prepare for possible future outcomes. I have spoken with her on several occasions, and I don’t believe she has anything to do with what may or may not be happening within Azenkuul.
Whoever it was that did cast that gate magic was likely more powerful than I. I simply want to cover our bases should we at some point need such knowledge on the area. Also, I think when we are ready it would be a good idea to send a small party to scout out Azenkuul, If for no other reason than to prove my suspicions are unwarranted. But I don’t see any reason to do something like that immediately. Nor would I recommend such a course without the information I am seeking.”
Rivanon nodded, “Those are valid reasons and of use to the Barony and the League.” She then laid everything out on the table, “But Elemix what is the real reason. You’ve never lied to me before, but I can tell you are holding something back. You know I’m deeply insightful. You can trust me.”
“Very well. Because we are friends I will tell you this additional information and I will trust you to keep it private. But let me be clear I haven’t lied to you, nor shall I. I have withheld no information that would be permanent to your station or the people of Uzec.
You are right. There is another reason I want to learn more about the layout of Azenkuul and it is a personal one, which is why I have not mentioned it to you on any official level. Somewhere deep within the ruin of Azenkuul I believe there to be a teleportation circle that is still in tact. It is a powerful magical device that could have withstood the destruction of the mountain. If there is a way to access it, I hope to do so.”
Normally Elemix would stop there, but as he believed her to be a trusted friend he continued on.
Elemix tensed a bit for this next part. It was obviously something very difficult for him to speak about.
“A few days ago I learned that a dear friend and colleague has been captured and is being held for ransom half a world away. That teleportation circle if it does exist could be our way back if I am able to mount a rescue. Before you ask I cannot enlist the help of the Wizards guild for this. It would be much better for all concerned if the guild did not know of his capture, his rescue, or even the existence of the teleportation circle.”
She thought about it for a moment. “With winter coming, your friend may have a long, long wait. Compounded by the fact that the spellcaster who empowered the attack near Cerisey is still out there. Also, Father always said that that place was haunted by the ghosts of the dead dwarves destroyed by the Eterian Sorcerers. He would point out escaping steam or gas and call it their spectres trying to escape.”
“Did I ever tell you that Father, Millicent, and I went up there when I was eight years of age and went climbing up to the Great Chasm? She hated it, but father and I loved it. Back then it was relatively safe, with the mountain tribes at peace and the goblins gone for at least ten years at that point. We did make it a point not to go it. Grandfather considered the place a tomb, to be respected. I remember telling Amelie a ghost story Grandfather told about the Greyman – who goes after those who disturb the dwarven graves. Pretty relentless and scary, but just a fairy tale.”
“I did not know that.
I know the area will undoubtedly be dangerous. I am hoping I could manage to sneak in with a small team, find the portal, and get out without being noticed. Perhaps I could use some magic to aid me in doing so, but I need more information before I could even think about making such a calculated attempt.
In any case, the attempt in and of itself would also serve as a scouting mission.”
She laughed, “Elemix my friend, do you have any idea how large Azenkuul is?” She leaned back and said, “Old Cap said that it is at least a hundred thousand chambers, 90 percent of them collapsed, half filled with choking vapors, acid water or evercold ice that burns to the touch, and all of them twisted and turned so they don’t make sense to any but the mad or the most capricious of fey – who may as well be mad. You could get lost very easily. I won’t stop you, but it won’t be easy. Any monsters that live there are in the upper ruins, just subsurface or the are something very, very tough to withstand all of that in the deeps.”
“But none of that stopped treasure hunters or tomb robbers in the centuries past. Right before I was born a group went up there some five years after Father and Mother cleared the valley and Silverlake of the last goblins and Grandfather made peace with the tribes. This group went in and none came back save one who was quite mad. Father later went back and determined they fell into a crevasse. Now and again adventurers have gone up there. All of them found little, but they didn’t go too deep.”
“Just saying, it could take awhile,” she said. “Can you get out if you get trapped and don’t find the circle? The dwarven magic is said to still reign there, driven by ghosts who only let out whom they choose. Or so they say.”
“I honestly don’t know, but I plan to be as prepared as possible. I already know the general location of where the portal is likely to be.
If once I obtain all the information I can I don’t see a realistic possibility of success I shall look into other options which are few at best.
However, I will say that if there is one thing I am good at it is research. And I have many skilled contacts who are better at it even than I. If the information I need exists, we will find it.
I know I can get to my friend relatively quickly. The hard part will be getting back if there is no gate nearby for me to use.”
“Is your friend that far away?” she asked.
If my estimates are correct it could take half a year or more of travel to get there. That is assuming one could survive the dangers of the journey. Magical means could trim some time off of such a journey, as could use of rivers where possible, but yes he is very far away.
“You know, my distant uncle is a merchant – he could have one of his ships pick up your friend if you could get a message to the friend and to the ship captain. Depends on how far though. Half a year seems across the continent beyond Eteria east to fabled Itrasca, Aquillon, Arbonne, or even south-east to the oasis magical gardens of Al-Rasson. Wow. I think uncle’s ships go as far as Savonia though.” she added.
“He has been imprisoned and his captors are demanding a ransom of 10000gp. I think he could be rescued but it would require some planning. It is not as easy as him boarding a ship to return home I am afraid.”
“That is a lot of money. Well, do what you can. You have leave to go and help your friend.” she said.
“Thank you, my la… I mean Baroness.” Elemix bowed respectfully.
She got up and put a hand on his shoulder, “My friend, Lady is perfectly acceptable. Remember, I’m here for you if you need help. 10000 gold is a lot, but you need to borrow it, don’t hesitate.”