Age of Asango - Book II Read online

  As they came then to the grand entrance, the two soldiers standing guard immediately saluted, one of them shouting: "Greetings, Legate Darius."

  Darius gave a quick nod and then turned to Kota. "This is where we part, but maybe we can do a little sparring this evening."

  Kota grinned. "It would be an honor." He pressed his fist into his palm and bowed.

  Darius watched his young friend go and then walked into the temple. As soon as he entered, he saw Otho standing in the middle of the hallway, his wizened eyes immediately locking on Darius's. Unlike Lady Gretis, the old bishop had most certainly aged. His beard had gone mostly gray, and some of the man's surpassing muscle mass had begun to lose its definition. He looked tired and nervous.

  "Darius, I had heard you were seen at the edge of town," Otho said with a gruff smile. "You made excellent time getting here."

  "Sir," Darius said, saluting.

  "Yes-yes," Otho said with a tense nod. "I'm very glad to see you. Please come into my office." He gave a sharp gesture down the hall.

  "Of course," Darius said. He was surprised to see the usually boisterous man so flustered. He followed Otho at a brisk pace through the halls of his old home.

  "How have you been?" Otho grunted as they passed into his office.

  "Quite well, sir. What's going on?"

  Otho walked around his desk and dropped into his chair, causing it to creak a great deal. "This is going on," he said, tossing a rolled piece of paper that looked to have been sealed with the wax mark of a spear-tip, the insignia of the Nemesai. Darius opened the scroll and read:

  Bishop Otho Vegen,

  I have been considerably disappointed that you have refused my requests to commit men to the apprehension of the vile heretic, Cassian Asango. Per my previous letters, he continues circulating literature throughout our empire that denounces our holy church. As I am sure you know by now, he has assembled an extremely poor translation of the Holy Enumis and has begun distributing to the common folk, as if they had the education and capacity to understand scripture! He seeks to 'empower' these ignorant fools to construct their own interpretations of the Gods’ words. Men like you and I, who fought in the demon war, know what the arrogance of man can unleash upon this world.

  Further, Asango is using passages from his own translation to argue that the actions of my holy order are illegal! Any educated man with half a brain can decipher that the heretic’s 'essays,' as he calls them, imply that the people have the right to rise up against our church's holy hand of justice! There can be no greater sin under the eyes of the gods! This kind of dangerous writing will plunge our great world into chaos and bring the wrath of the Gods down upon us all! He must be stopped!

  I am convening a conclave of the heads of our church to settle the matter officially. On the eighth day of the month of Thorus, you will be present in our holy city of Anthos or forfeit your vote on the matter.

  --Bishop Cromlic

  "Gods!" Darius exhaled when he finished reading.

  "Yes-s-s," Otho said. "He threatened to do this in his last letter. Cromlic's been sending me requests all summer for troops. The man doesn't think he can take the Starborn down with less than three hundred of my finest men—especially not with that dragon Cassian has." Otho's voice sounded furious.

  "I'm sorry, sir," Darius said. "What are you going to do?"

  "I'm going to present myself to the damned conclave and cast my vote. I am sure you will be pleased to know I will be voting against arresting Asango. That doesn't mean it won't happen. Gods!" He gazed up at the ceiling and shook his head. "This is a disaster. The church arresting a Starborn! It has never happened before." He looked at Darius and said: "I actually like the boy. He's done more for this order than any of his siblings. Hell, he replenished our supply of dragon's tears, which hadn't been done in forty years. When I have an especially dangerous mission to send my men on I, go to Cassian for help, and more than a handful of times it has been because of him that my men have come back alive—that includes you, of course, Darius." Otho slammed his fist down on his desk and hissed: "Why the hell does the boy have to be so damned reckless?"

  "Cassian is Promethiock's chosen one. How can the church even consider taking action against him?"

  "Promethiock is something of a gray area in religion," Otho muttered, gazing down at the scratches on his old wooden desk. "Cromlic is making the argument that the dragon is essentially a criminal, theologically speaking. It is an argument that has been made before." The bishop rolled his eyes. "As you might imagine, the boy's writings have long upset the Diaphan priests, as he speaks against giving money to the greedy preaching arm of the church.” Otho gave Darius a sour look and said: "Translating the Enumis though… it’s causing all kinds of uproar. In truth, I don't know how any of the other bishops will vote at this point."

  "What a mess," Darius whispered.

  "Yes, I suppose that is an appropriate enough word," Otho said. "The Onkai exist to keep humans safe from demons; not to hunt our fellow man, let alone living miracles!" He rose from his chair and looked Darius in the eyes. "Anyhow, the reason I summoned you is that I wish you to act as Bishop while I am gone."

  "I—I am honored," Darius said, gazing down.

  "You don't look honored," Otho muttering, giving him an appraising look. "That's probably a good part of the reason you're the best choice." Otho walked around his desk and put his hand on Darius's shoulder. "I don't want to hand my life's work over to a man who is foaming at the mouth for power. I want to give it to a good man. Do your duty and do it well, soldier."

  "I will, sir," Darius said, his throat dry.

  "Good. I might as well set off this afternoon. My captains should be able to fill you in on everything you need to know. The academy more or less runs itself, though I like to go down and tell the students war stories every so often. It keeps them inspired," he chuckled, "or maybe it lets me feel inspiring." He gripped Darius's shoulder and said: "I trust you, my friend. I will see you in about five weeks with either good or terribly bad news.”

  Chapter 2:

  The Ball Guest

  I will not pretend that I see it as my holy duty to defeat Cassian. In truth, I respect many of his ideals, but he believes he can burn away centuries of tradition and force the empire to change nearly everything about itself. Cassian is my brother, and I love him, but I will kill him before I let him take the throne. He knows I can do it. I have trained half my life for our battle, and unlike Cromlic, I can see through all of his tricks.

  --Dimitris Singet,

  Starborn of the nineteenth generation

  Thalice gazed out from under the shimmering veil that concealed her elven face, her eyes taking in the wondrous spectacle of humanity before her. Castle Asango had been decorated on every wall with beautiful red and gold linens that hung down the height of the walls and swayed in the soft coastal winds. She could hear the wild music of a human orchestra inside, playing flowing rhythms for the mortal guests. The sun had begun to set into the ocean horizon, and already there were torches lit everywhere on great metal sconces. Tall guards stood at attention at every doorway, dressed in dark black armor that had Cassian's unmistakable insignia on it. How she longed to speak with him.

  Thalice could feel Cassian of course, as she always felt him. He undoubtedly sensed her presence as well, and he would come to greet her soon. For the moment, she stood observing the humans as they passed by her. Thalice had been afraid of these people once, long ago, before her dear one had changed her life. Now, strangely, she loved them. They were beautiful to her in all their flaws, the way they were beautiful to Cassian. For years, she had longed to move amongst his kind and learn more of their fascinating ways.

  "Good evening, miss," a male voice said from the darkness behind her. Thalice did not turn. No one was supposed to be able to notice her. Her cloak was enchanted to ward off the attention of mortals. Slowly, so that she did not disturb the folds of her cloak, she move
d her hand to the hilt of her short sword.

  "That is quite a lovely garment," said the voice.

  Thalice turned, readying herself to fight. She sensed no dangerous swell of energy, but the enemies of elves could be very subtle. What she saw surprised her: it was an elderly mortal man. He had long white hair oiled and combed back against his scalp and a neatly trimmed white beard. He stared at her with curious blue eyes that somehow bespoke of war and death and yet still seemed friendly.

  "Who—" she started to whisper, controlling the vibration of her voice so that only this man could hear her, but then her mind made the connection to an image she had seen in her dear one’s memory years ago. It was Cassian's favorite tutor, though the face was different, the wrinkles heavier, the hair whiter and thinner.

  "My name is Somar Dojinko," said the old man with a friendly smile. "And I must say it is my very dear pleasure to meet you, young lady. Lord Cassian certainly attracts the attention of the most magnificent sort."

  "How can you see me?" said Thalice.

  Dojinko’s grin broadened, and he displayed surprisingly white teeth for such an aged mortal. "I am afraid I have built up quite a resistance to mental magic," he said, tapping his temple and winking at her. "Please do not consider me a threat. Lord Cassian told me you would be coming. He is quite excited to see you again."

  Thalice smiled under her hood and let go of her sword handle. "You are his friend and confidante," she said. "I have felt impressions of you in Cassian's dreams, I think. Tell me, does he speak of me?"

  "Lord Cassian keeps much of himself locked away, as a Denigoth nobleman is expected to do," said Somar. "He speaks little of anything in his heart, but I could see in his eyes when he told me of the elf he met years ago that you are someone of profound importance to him."

  Thalice took a step toward this aged man and drew back her hood, allowing him to see her face. The two of them shared a bond, it seemed. They both loved Cassian. The humans around her might notice her now, but she could have only hidden her presence for so long anyhow. It ultimately mattered little. She had accepted the risks of interacting with the mortal world in order to share this night with her dear one.

  "Would you escort me in, general?" Thalice said, offering her arm. The title came to her very suddenly, though it seemed not from her own mind. Cassian was near—she could feel him—and stray thoughts and impressions were beginning to flow between the two of them.

  "It would be my deepest honor," said Somar. He locked elbows with her and slowly began to walk her in through the wooden doorway.

  "Will you help me understand how to conduct myself?" she whispered into his ear. "I have never been to a human ball before."

  "Once you fully remove that cloak, I think, everyone will see an elf girl, and all will be in awe. I doubt you will have to do much of anything to impress these people after that."

  They walked in through the enormous doors. The grand hall within was illuminated by the warm glow of dozens upon dozens of wall sconces and candle-lit-chandeliers. The several hundred people inside were dressed in finely tailored wool and vibrantly colored silks, and most seemed delighted to be in each other's company. Thalice hugged Somar's arm just a little tighter as she stepped into this crowd of humans.

  Her eyes fixed on Cassian very suddenly as he approached her. His wonderfully imperfect human face had grown more distinctive since she had last gazed upon it, and his hair had darkened to a deep auburn. He was taller and looked more like a man than a boy, though even back when she first met him, his green eyes had seemed ancient. He wore a simple high collared tunic accented with a square medallion hanging from a gold chain embossed with the Asango crest of a stallion's head. A rich crimson cloak was fastened at his neck with a simple round button of carved onyx. He looked almost astonishingly regal.

  "My lady," he said as he approached her, a brilliant smile on his face. He came very close and then dropped into a smooth bow. "It pleases me beyond measure to see you." He made a gesture, and one of his servants dashed to Thalice's side and held out his hands. With a dizzying wave of nerves, she removed the enchanted garment, revealing her blue silken dress to the room, along with the fact that she was an elf among them. "You look beautiful," Cassian whispered.

  Thalice felt herself blush, which was not something of which elves were ordinarily capable. Nearly all eyes in the ball turned to her, and a disturbing silence fell over Cassian's great hall. Even the musicians ceased playing. Cassian flashed her a smirk. She could feel his amusement, and it relaxed her. As she stood facing him, the sound of whispers began in every direction.

  "Thank you for coming," he said as if all the gaping eyes upon both of them did not matter in the slightest. Somehow, looking into his dark green eyes, becoming enveloped by his confidence, they did not bother her either.

  "Of course I came," Thalice whispered. She would have traversed any distance for him.

  He reached out and took her hand in his, and then he turned suddenly and faced the mass of people who stared at them both. "My friends," he said, his voice flowing with immense volume from every direction through an unbridled display of magical capacity, "this is Thalice of the noble house of Corostine. She is my honored guest, and I have invited her here to experience the hospitality that we humans have to offer." He cocked his head slightly in the direction of the musicians, making eye contact with one of them. Within a few seconds, they resumed the tune they had been playing, and the party began again.

  Cassian turned his attention to her once more and held out his hand. "Would you do me the honor of a dance?" Thalice felt her heart flutter. This was wrong of course. Elf girls did not dance with human males, and certainly not in a human party where mortals were imbibing alcohol. "You will be all right," Cassian whispered in her ear, and she knew instantly he had been reading her every thought. This was utterly disarming and intimate at the same time.

  "Of course I will, if you wish it," she said. She took her dear one's hand, and the two of them walked to the center of the stone floor.

  Cassian glanced at the musicians, and they brought their slow-moving piece to an end and began a faster-flowing symphony. "Forgive me, my dearest Thalice, but we must put on something of a show," he whispered in her ear. Before she could answer these words, Cassian dropped into a smooth bow and then shot back up. His hands clasped with hers, and the instant they did, her mind was filled with many hours of careful dance instruction. Cassian had practiced for months for this single evening under the guidance of private tutors, sometimes even slipping into their minds and retrieving muscle memory, all of which he telepathically conferred upon her in the span of a brief second. Thalice felt her body begin to move. It knew exactly what to do. Her arms and legs mirrored Cassian's with perfect synchronicity. She became swept up in the fast movements of the dance, and happiness overcame her.

  This was how the young human had ruined her! She understood it more clearly than ever as she gazed into his deep green eyes and swung her body with his. Mortals, with their incredibly finite time, tasted of life with such fiery emotion, and her Cassian was a blazing sun.

  Thalice then felt the awe of the humans all around her. They were staring in wonder at the Starborn and the elf. Amidst the effortless movements her body made, she spoke telepathically:

  he answered back without a trace of shame.

  her mind almost screamed the word, but she buried her next thought: I would do anything for you, my love.

  Their bodies began to move faster and faster, and then Thalice felt the subtle flow of Cassian's magic course through her. It mingled with the energies of her elfish flesh, guiding them in ways she had never imagined. Suddenly the two of them were lifted up into the air. As they heard the shrieks below, their two bodies continued to move in rhythmic strides, no longer using the floor as a base from which to push but spinning and swaying with complete freedo
m.

  she heard him whisper in her mind.

  she answered back.

  Cassian willed his musicians to continue playing despite the growing shock and confusion from the crowd below. He had such magnificent powers of concentration. Their two bodies swayed and spun together in the air for several minutes, floating up to the beautifully carved dome ceiling of his hall where they danced upside down upon the surface for a few amazing seconds, and then they lowered back to the floor. When the music finally ceased, and the two of them separated and bowed to one another, the great hall erupted into thunderous applause.

  Cassian said, gazing into her eyes as they both rose.

  Thalice answered, and she held out her hand. Cassian took it and led her to a flight of carved stone stairs. Large, armed guards flanked the two of them from behind.

  "Here we are," Cassian said as he led her through a set of wide doors onto an enormous stone-tiled balcony that overlooked the lush landscape below. "I eat my breakfast here most days," he said, speaking with a soft affection in his voice. Behind him, she saw the guards form a wall in front of the doorway, their hands holding steadily on their sword-hilts. They were alone.

  Within a few seconds of the doors shutting Thalice felt the presence of a creature of enormous power, and she turned her head to see the breathtaking form of a young dragon flapping its great, bat-like wings in the dim starlight. This was Titus, Cassian's gift from the great Promethiock. It was her dear one’s companion and his servant, his ally and his child all in one. The creature dropped from the air onto the terrace floor in a tumult of pounding, scaly feet and claws clacking against stone. On four legs, its back was shorter than that of a horse, yet its long, flexible neck allowed the head to lift high above the two of them. The dragon plodded across the floor to where they stood, blazing yellow eyes fixed on Thalice.