From Chapter Twenty: darkness gathers

When Gester Rainsword opened his eyes he demanded to be freed at once.  He felt foggy and weak from his long slumber, and as I had been instructed, I fed him with good, nourishing food every four hours and gave him plenty to drink.

When I told him that my hands were tied and he found that he could not appeal to me as a friend to release him, he threatened to use his magic to escape.  I had been told to inform Lady Whitelore when he roused from his slumber.  She had told me he would not be able to perform any magic for the first day, and that if he threatened to use it against me, she could easily place a glyph against his craft on the wall of his cell.

I told him that if not for me, he would have been executed by the enemies he had made on both sides of the war by his refusal to surrender.  To this he said he did not need the mercy of conquerors and cowards.  He called me a collaborator and called for death to the queen.  I left him hastily to get Whitelore.

When the Lady came to place her ward against his magic, she spoke of Imprizix and the things she had heard of her and Twaingart.  She tried to warn me, but I would not listen.

After she had drawn the glyph to contain the captive wizard, I took her to the storage room for her to review his belongings.  I needed to know what he could and could not keep in his cell.

Certain objects would allow him to use his fire magic, even in the face of her powerful glyph.  These were clearly not allowed.  Others she approved and said were harmless.  When she came to one thing, she mused quietly and said, “this is your call.”

It was a translucent orb fettered to a pedestal.  It glowed a soft radiance and it went from clear to opaque like a deepening fog.  Towards the surface, the clarity of the orb shimmered like a lens.  It gleamed from fires within and without.

“What is it?” I asked.

“This is the skrye-empyreal.  It is a device from which one may gaze across vast distances and see many things, chiefly that which is near another skrye-empyreal.  Through it wizards talk and share knowledge.  It will keep him company and keep him from feeling so confined.  But it may also be used to plot against you or plan an escape.  So again, this is your call.”

“When I have time,” I decided, “I will allow him to use it under supervision.”

“Then I caution you, Zombiac.  Do not go near this thing when its power is evoked.  If Baelbozurg or any of his allies has such a device, they will learn of you and you will surely be in danger.  Everything you have wrought and all of your friends will be in peril.  I will have the time.  I will do it.  Warn your wizard friend never to speak of you.  The malice of Baelbozurg may be wielded against our lands.”

I sighed deeply.

“He will learn someday.  Perhaps soon.  I think the time will come when I must face him anyway.”

“Not now!” cried Whitelore, “you are not in control of yourself.  You are under the power of someone dangerous.  Not while Imprizix eats at your soul and drains you of your strength.  You will perish, Zombiac!  You will perish!”

“I have found love.  I have a family.  Why must you resist this?”

“Because it is not what you think it is, Zombiac!” she uttered, bitterly, “your friends love you, Gughtrip loved you!  You will be weak, devastated, perhaps even dead, before you learn.  And do you think the Crown will come to your aid once Baelbozurg has threatened Levinhudnia?  Zombiac, rather than risk war against a powerful wizard, they will deliver you to him themselves!”

Her words almost penetrated the web of lies I lived in, but even in the presence of Lady Whitelore the pleasures of my drunken rutting with Imprizix blinded me.  My own lust had overtaken me.  Made me think and say things I would never have imagined.

“Are you jealous, Lady Whitelore?” I said, “do you tell me these things because you desire me for yourself?  We are alone, my lady.  If you wish to have an affair, you may try to seduce me. See what it gains you!”

I balled a fist up.  Whitelore withdrew, aghast.

“I don’t know you anymore!” she gasped in horror, “where is our champion?  What have you done with him?”

She fled.  I thought I may have seen tears in her eyes.  I can not remember anymore.  I had become perverted.  I wielded lust and power against my friends.