Quintessential Tales: A Magic of Solendrea Anthology (18 page)

“Tiadaria—”

“He was there, Adamon.” Her voice was cold and hard. “I’m not emotional, I didn’t imagine it. He was there. Even if it was just for a moment. If he wasn’t, how do you account for the farmhouse bursting into flames?”

“You control the powers of the sphere, Tiadaria. Just because you use them in a martial manner doesn’t mean that you’re not capable of any of the other powers that Quintessentialists wield. It’s not outside the realm of possibility that you started the fire yourself. If you managed to convince yourself that—”

She rounded on him, her eyes blazing. Tiadaria’s fists were balled at her thighs
, and Adamon took a step backward.

“You weren’t there! You didn’t see it. You can’t be certain, because there’s no way for you to be certain, right?” Tiadaria took a twisted pleasure in using his own close-minded logic against him. It felt good. It felt right.

For a moment, Tiadaria was sure he was going to argue the point. At long last, he spread his hands in supplication and shrugged.

“You’re right, of course. I wasn’t there, so I can’t be certain.”

She knew that it was unlikely that he’d ever believe that Wynn had come to her. It didn’t matter. As long as he was willing to believe that she had seen it, even if he doubted it, that was enough. It meant that he was willing to play by his own rules, and she could accept that. At least for as long as they were to be partnered together. She wiped the last of her tears away with the heels of her hands. By the time she looked back at Adamon, he had turned his back on her and was investigating another body.

“G’morning,” a timid voice said from a darkened doorway.

Selma stood in the doorway, rubbing the last of the night from her eyes. The mid-morning sun gave the child an almost radiant quality. There was something about her, an indomitableness of her spirit, which made Tiadaria think that Tionne had failed in her quest to twist this child into a macabre mimic of her own image. Tionne may have succumbed to the darkness she had witnessed and been a part of, but Selma never would. She’d fight against the dark with every fiber of her being.

“How are you, Selma?” Adamon asked, getting to his feet and walking to the girl.

“Better now.” The girl paused, looking around at the bodies that littered the cobblestones outside the small inn where she’d spent the last hours of the night and first hours of the morning. “What happens next?”

Adamon glanced at Tiadaria, then back to the girl.

“Well, what do you think happens next?”

Selma made a sour face and waved a tiny hand at the rapidly rotting corpses of the
pumpkin creatures.

“These need to be cleaned up. No one will want to live here with those nasty things scattered about.”

Tiadaria giggled, and Adamon shot her a look, then threw back his head and laughed. It was the first time that Tiadaria had heard him laugh and it was strange to see such a normally stolid man having a good guffaw. He reached down and ruffled Selma’s already none too neat hair.

“True enough, youngster. True enough.”

The three of them, for Selma wouldn’t let them work without her, began stacking the bodies to burn. Toward the middle of the afternoon, they paused in their labors and sat on the edge of the town fountain to have a meal of sharp cheese and hard biscuits. Tiadaria had a thin wedge of cheese nearly to her lips when she stopped and shot a look at Adamon.

“Do you hear that?”

“I do.”

Tiadaria dropped the cheese and her scimitars appeared from her scabbards as if summoned. Adamon got to his feet a moment later, his cannon in his hand. The noise grew louder
, and Tiadaria flipped into sphere sight, preparing to cast out through the town to see what the nature of this new threat could be. A crowd of commoners poured into the main street from the far end. It appeared as though those who had abandoned the town in its darkest hours were now returning.

“Daddy!” Selma screamed, dropping the cheese and biscuits and running to a harried looking blond man at the front of the crowd.

The man stopped short, blinking as if he didn’t quite credit what he was seeing or hearing.

He sank to his knees, folding the young girl into a tight embrace.

“Selma? Oh, Selma! I thought I’d lost you for sure.”

Tiadaria felt as if her smile might break the sides of her face. She dropped her swords back in their scabbards. Adamon was a little more wary. He lowered the cannon, but didn’t slip it back into the holster until the throng of townspeople had gathered around them at the fountain.

Luka and Selma were the first to approach. The man’s bloodshot eyes were wet with recent tears.

“Thank you. Thank both of you, for saving my daughter. I thought for sure she was lost.”

“Now you can begin anew,” Tiadaria said, inclining her head to acknowledge the thanks. “I can’t promise that things are as you left them, but you’re safe now.”

It took several hours for Tiadaria and Adamon to extricate themselves from the profuse thanks and offering of gifts the people of Havenhedge seemed to think was necessary and befitting for the heroes who had liberated their town. At long last, they left the town gate, which already had a new guard posted, and made their way up the hill toward where they’d left the horses. That seemed like a lifetime ago, Tiadaria thought as she walked, glancing back over her shoulder to see Selma still standing at the gate.

The girl had followed them through the town and out to the gate, only stopping when Adamon had told her, gently, but sternly, that her place was with her father. Luka would need her help, Adamon told her. They had a lot of cleaning and rebuilding to do. Selma reluctantly agreed and promised to stay by the gate and only watch their departure until they were out of sight.

“I suspect things will be back to normal in no time,” Tiadaria said, almost to herself as they walked.

“No doubt. Especially if that little girl has any say in the matter.”

Tiadaria found herself smiling again, and did so until the crested the ridge and found Nightwind and the dappled pony, just where they’d left them. Nightwind nickered happily, dancing about at the limit of his tether.

“I’m glad to see you too,” Tiadaria laughed, slapping the steed affectionately on the neck.

“Let’s go home.”

In short order, the mounts were tended, loaded, and they were back on the trade road that would lead them back into Dragonfell. As they reached the first turn, Adamon stood in his stirrups and looked back the way they had come, as if by concentrating hard enough, he could see the little town tucked away in its valley.

“I’m going to miss the little one,” he said, his voice wistful. “She reminded me of my daughter.”

Adamon settled back into the saddle and spurred on his mount, leaving Tiadaria staring after him, her mouth agape. She spurred Nightwind forward, bringing the larger steed into stride with the pony.

“Wait a minute, Adamon. You have a daughter?”

Adamon didn’t answer. He turned his mount onto the trade road and began the journey back toward Dragonfell.

Tiadaria followed.

Welcome adventurer! Come in, sit down. You look exhausted after such a long journey. Which backwater town did you say you were from? Don’t want to say? That’s fine. Everyone deserves a fresh start if they want one. You’ll get no chastising for me. Who am I, you ask? That’s as good a place to start as any. Let’s begin.

My name is Jotun
. I’m the Head Archivist here at the Great Library in Blackbeach. If there’s been a book written about what you want to know, you’ll find it here. What’s that? No time for books? My, you are eager to get out in the world and make a name for yourself, aren’t you? Fret not, I can tell you everything about the world of Solendrea that you need to know to get out there and start exploring on your own.

Say, before we get started, m
ind handing me that skin of wine slung over the back of the chair? We’ve got a lot of talking to do, and talking is thirsty work.

Pronunciation Guide

There’s some folks and some places that have some pretty strange names. Can’t have you making a fool of yourself when you’re out and about, now can we? Let me give you this list of people, places, and things that might not sound exactly as you’d expect. It might save you a little trouble as you head on down the road.

Cities
and Settlements

It’s hard to know where you’re going when you have so many options to choose from. The Human Imperium, situated as we are on the eastern side of the continent of Mizdan, has some of the oldest and largest human cities and settlements. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t others out there that are just as popular. Here’s a quick rundown of the most impressive or important sites.

Dragonfell—The capital of the Human Imperium, the city of Dragonfell marks the place where the last known dragon on Solendrea was slain. Nestled in the protected recess of the Crystal Bay, Dragonfell is home to the second largest seaport in the Imperium. Originally confined to the cavern where the dragon kept his treasure horde, the city has spilled out into the surrounding hills and valleys. Dragonfell is known throughout the Imperium is a major trade hub. The central market square is a draw for tourists across Mizdan. Notable features include the King’s Palace, the dragon skull above the cavern entrance, and the alabaster statues of the Three Brothers who stand watch over the city.

Blackbeach—Named for the fine black sand that makes up the beaches around the city, Blackbeach is a stronghold for the Quintessentialists in the Human Imperium. Home to the Academy of Arcane Arts and Sciences, there are more mages in Blackbeach per capita than any of the other Human settlements. Blackbeach has the largest seaport in the Human Imperium and is home to the Imperium Navy. Traditionally, the Imperium Navy was berthed at Blackbeach as a deterrent to the ancient Quintessentialists tempted to overthrow the King. As knowledge and enlightenment has spread, the Navy is no longer docked at Blackbeach out of necessity. Notable features include the Great Library, the Great Tower of High Magic, and the Academy of Arcane Arts and Sciences.

Ethergate—Originally a Xarundi settlement, the Xarundi were driven from the area during the Grand Conquest. Humans razed the Xarundi city and erected their own buildings on the foundations that were left behind. Outside the official border of the Human Imperium, Ethergate came to be known as a haven for rogue mages and iconoclasts. Governed by a Council of Elders, the city maintains a loose alliance with Blackbeach. High walls protect the city and are manned by stewards selected by the Council. Notable features include a large reliquary of magical artifacts, eleven arcane libraries, and some of the best taverns in all of Mizdan.

Overwatch—Far outside the borders of the Human Imperium, the city of Overwatch has earned a reputation as a lawless den of thieves and mercenaries. While that reputation isn’t wholly inaccurate, it is greatly exaggerated. Overwatch is separated into two districts: the Lower City, consisting of the trade district, seaport, and common areas, and the Upper City, consisting of the art district, militia barracks, and individual baronies. In Overwatch, one’s personal property is their sovereign domain. Committing an act of trespass is a crime punishable by death. Notable features include the tallest waterfall in Eastern Mizdan, Gunther’s Warehouse, and the Baron’s Watch, the large compound of manor houses that look out over the Lower City.

Academy of Arcane Arts and Sciences - A sprawling complex of classrooms, offices, and support buildings, the Academy of Arcane Arts and Sciences is the crown jewel of Blackbeach. All Quintessentialists in the Human Imperium are sent to the Academy for assessment and instruction. Mages attend one or more of the three Schools of magic: the School of Sorcery, the School of Summoning, or the School of Enchantment. Notable features include the Great Tower of High Magic, the Hall of Wonders, and the Masters’ Concordance.

King’s Reach—The Human settlement at the farthest boundary of the Human Imperium, King’s Reach exists in a gray area between the lawlessness of the outlying cities and the strict laws of Dragonfell and Blackbeach. The small town is largely unremarkable, save for the reputation of a few residents. The Captain, Royce MacDungren, made King’s Reach his home in his twilight years. It was there that he met Tiadaria and passed on his knowledge and skills to her. After the Captain’s death at the Battle of Dragonfell, Tiadaria inherited his property. Later, Faxon would reside in the small cottage left for her there.

Frozen Frontier—Far beyond the rigid structure of the Human Imperium, past the independent cities of Ethergate and Overwatch, lies a region so inhospitable to life that only the most rugged and enduring souls can exist there. Buried in snow and ice, the Frozen Frontier is a land where death waits around every corner. If the sub-freezing temperatures don’t get you, the savage animals will. That is, if the Clans don’t capture or kill you first. Distant descendants of the first Humans to settle Mizdan, the Clans have been shaped and tempered by their environment. The men are rugged and brutal, the women and children property to be owned and traded. Notable features include the Frozen Sea, the Lodge of Heroes, and the Silver Spire.

Famous Faces

Mizdan, and other parts of Solendrea, have given birth to a host of heroes and villains. Some of these famous faces are quite active in the Human lands, while others seek out anonymity in the dark places of the world.

Tiadaria—Forged in the Frozen Frontier, this blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty is as dangerous as the land she hails from. A skilled warrior and tactician, Tiadaria works directly for Heron Greymalkin. She protects the Human Imperium from its greatest enemies. Tiadaria believes in acting first and talking later, an attitude that occasionally lands her in a tight spot. Taught to read by her mentors, Tiadaria loves getting lost in a good book, though she doesn’t often have the opportunity to do so.

Faxon Indra—This carefree Quintessentialist is widely considered the foremost authority on the Ethereal Realm and the magic that flows from that outer plane. His brown hair and beard have begun to gray over the past few years, but his age is no impediment to his boyish charm or sense of humor. No one knows exactly how skilled Faxon is in the magical arts and sciences. However, he is the only person in the history of the Academy to graduate from all three Schools simultaneously. Faxon has served as a teacher, diplomat, mercenary, and scholar throughout the years. He reports directly to the Head Master, though neither admits to his exact role. Faxon is a talented cook, but is often too busy to indulge in his hobbies.

Maera—The youngest Head Master in the history of the Academy, Maera is something of an anomaly in the Human Imperium. Her people, the Theid, are notoriously xenophobic and generally treat outlanders with distrust. When Maera’s parents emigrated to the Imperium, they left a culture with a much more open attitude toward magic for one with a much more restrictive worldview. Cultural differences aside, Maera has adapted well to life in the Imperium and provides objective and impartial leadership for the Quintessentialists.

Tionne—The only survivor of a Xarundi massacre, Tionne was taken from her village and became a ward of the Imperium. When her innate magical abilities were discovered, she was taken to the Academy and raised there. Deeply twisted by her experience, Tionne never recovered from the death of her family. Tionne is a skilled Quintessentialist, adept at twisting the Ethereal Realm to her own malicious goals. Formerly apprenticed to Faxon Indra, Tionne has a deep and abiding hatred for her former mentor.

Nerillia—Little is known of the reclusive Lamiad race, of which Nerillia is probably the most infamous example. Stone gray skin and deep red eyes make for an unsettling appearance and probably contribute to the Lamiad’s sinister aura. The Lamiad are known to be proficient in the use of mind magic, which is outlawed by most civilized nations, including the Human Imperium. In addition to the insidious nature of their magic, the Lamiad are capable of using their own pheromones to influence those around them.