Chapter 20 – Power and Intrigue
The scream from the crowd would have woken the dead; SJ could imagine the bodies of the fallen turning in their graves in response. The stand shook from the power of the air that blistered the crowd as Rasper swooped low, screeching. This was his opening move, introducing the Chancellor and his entourage to the first sight of the wyverns. SJ even saw blades being drawn from scabbards of the Chancellor's personal guard as everyone ducked.
SJ had a broad grin on her face, knowing what was going to happen beforehand. Even Zigferd and Alice had flinched from Raspers' dramatic entrance as he sped across the dock area and out into the lake, no more than several feet from the surface, white-topped waves whipped up by his passing. His speed and agility seemed to contradict his powerful, muscular form. He was by far the largest of the wyvern, and he knew it.
Kibble cackled, sitting on SJ's shoulder in utter glee at the spectacle. As Rasper turned towards his first target, the telltale sign of him opening his jaws as he prepared an acidic ball before spitting it towards the first floating target. The targets were made of straw, and the acidic ball hit them in their centres. The power of the strike was almost flipping the floating target over. As Rasper immediately banked sharply upwards and turned back towards the dockside and his second target.
He completed this with a further four, his moves purposeful and dramatic in every detail, the aerial skill of these beasts on full display. The final target was a hogling carcass positioned on a cart on the dockside. It was a safe distance from the crowd, who sat in awe of his aerial prowess as he unleashed his final acidic ball at the hunk of meat. This final target was explicitly designed to show how devastatingly effective the wyvern's acid attacks could be as the hogling was struck and the stench of burnt flesh immediately permeated the air.
SJ glanced at the Chancellor, who was sitting wide-eyed, many of his personal guard still holding their drawn weapons or at least the hilts of their swords, as Rasper swooped low once more as he sailed over the top of the stand again. Once again, causing many to squeal in surprise and shock.
As Rasper left the area, the crowd erupted in cheers, and the Chancellor turned to Zigferd. He had taken a handkerchief from his jacket and mopped his brow.
"That was an impressive opening," the Chancellor said, as he attempted to remain calm, although it was clearly visible that he had been as shocked as the rest at the wyvern's prowess.
Zigferd grinned at the Chancellor. "And it's all thanks to the little beastie," he said, indicating Kibble.
Kibble stood like a proud father basking in Zigferd's praise as the Chancellor spoke.
"Indeed," the Chancellor just nodded his head in approval.
"He hasn't seen anything yet," Kibble chuckled happily in SJ's ear. SJ couldn't help but smile at her companion's comment.
Lorna strode purposefully out into the centre of the dock area as the cart with the smouldering remains of the hogling carcass was moved away.
"Ladies, gentlemen and esteemed guests. Now that you have witnessed the capability of a single wyvern, we will show you their ability when they are being ridden. We will be performing several aerial displays to show you the true nature of these amazing beasts." The crowd again cheered in response, many having witnessed the aerial battles before knowing what to expect.
The time passed in a haze as the wyverns performed flawlessly under the watchful gaze of Kibble. Not once did Kibble have to interject or say anything to any of them as they completed the pre-planned flight to absolute perfection. It wasn't just the aerial prowess of the wyvern that stood out in the display; it was the skill and control of the riders and their performance, which was just as, if not more, impressive.
As the final flight came into land on the dockside, the five riders climbed from their mounts and took centre stage. The other five riders, who had also performed, joined them as they took a bow.
As the crowd started to quieten, the Chancellor stood and started down from the stands, before SJ or Zigferd could react. Zigferd just shrugged as he stood and followed the Chancellor, who strode forward towards the riders. They sprang to attention as he approached, and Lorna bowed deeply as he neared.
"Chancellor," Lorna said as Cristy was walking the wyvern line, feeding each of them a treat for their performance.
"I wished to say how wonderful that display was. The ferocity and control of these beasts are unmatched. I've seen gryphons in flight, but even they would feel threatened by such a well-structured team."
"Thank you," Lorna said, bowing again. "All the riders have trained exceedingly hard to be here today as the chosen flight members."
"What a spectacle they have given as well. If this is what five wyverns are capable of, think what a larger force could do."
The comment was thought-provoking, to say the least, but the only reason the flight even existed was Kibble and his position of authority over them. Without his presence and control over them, it would likely be that these wyverns would be the feral beasts that many knew them as.
The wyverns all took their snacks from Cristy and sat perfectly still, their scales gleaming brightly in the brilliant sun.
"May I?" the Chancellor asked as he started to approach where Rasper stood.
"Of course," Lorna responded.
The Chancellor walked forward, showing no fear as he approached the larger of the wyverns. As he neared, he lifted his hand towards Rasper. Rasper leaned forward, extending his neck as he sniffed the Chancellor's hand, before snorting and making the Chancellor laugh. "Unfortunately, I have no snacks for you," he said. The Chancellor then walked the line and held out his hand to each of the wyverns in turn. They all sniffed his hand in response. As the Chancellor turned back away from Grifter, the last in line, he muttered quietly; the words reached SJ's heightened hearing. "This changes the balance of power in the entire region."
"Should I tell one of them to bite?" Kibble giggled.
SJ almost balked at his flippant comment, as Dave laughed. "You do know the chancellor is a high-level warlock, don't you?" SJ whispered in response.
"He wouldn't have time to cast before he was gobbled up," Kibble remarked, huffing.
SJ slowly blinked, shaking her head at her companion's comment, but realistically, Kibble may indeed be right this close to the wyvern. She had never thought of them as a threat since, as hatchlings, they had accepted her alongside Kibble and obeyed her when she spoke to them. To her, they were part of her extended family through Kibble. To the rest of the normal beings in the township and especially the visitors, they were indeed rather vicious and scary-looking beasts.
"Very impressive," the Chancellor commented again to Lorna as he returned to Zigferd's side before turning to SJ. "We have Kibble to thank for this show today, I believe?"
Kibble let out a cry of happiness. To SJ, who understood his language, he said, "You do," very smugly. To everyone else listening, it sounded like a chirping sound. Once more, he stood proudly on SJ's shoulder, standing tall for all to see. Well, as tall as a miniature wyvern could stand, which wasn't very.
"Zigferd, we need to talk," the Chancellor said, turning back to him.
"Of course. Now that the spectacle is over, we have refreshments planned in the Hogling Arms, if you would grace us with your presence, before we move on to the next item on the agenda."
"Ah, yes. I'm looking forward to visiting the mine," the Chancellor replied with a smile. His perfectly sharp white teeth shone in the brilliant sun.
The crowd started to depart the stands after the event ended as the wyverns took off and would be travelling back to Farleck for a well-deserved rest. The streets were brimming with an almost carnival atmosphere as they departed the docks. Many of the residents had packed the surrounding streets and the dockside, who hadn't been fortunate enough to get a standing seat. Due to restrictions on the stand's size, they had held a lottery to determine which residents could sit there for the main display.
The Hogling Arms was going to be very busy, looking at the direction many in the crowd were going in.
"Should we go to the Wanderer's Rest instead?" SJ asked Zigferd as they headed towards the inn.
"No. I'm sure it will be fine."
The Chancellor's personal guard were ever present wherever he went, and even now they walked in their perfectly polished armour around him, providing him with the protection that he didn't necessarily require. At least their proximity, wearing full plate armour, made the residents move out of their way.
The main bar area was bustling at the seams when they arrived, so they went to the new entrance that led into the separate dining area. Inside the main table from the previous evening, a luncheon to die for was laid out. Platters covered its surface with a varied display of delicacies. Floretta had once again outdone herself with the way she presented the food.
"This looks delightful," the Chancellor said, collecting a plate and loading it with various treats.
SJ spoke to Alice while Zigferd hosted the Chancellor, showing him to a quiet area at the end of the room.
"I'm not needed at the mines, am I?" SJ asked.
"No. I'm also off the hook with that one. Shelly will be leading it on behalf of the town. You're more than welcome to come along if you wish to?"
"I did wish to speak to the chancellor about the wyverns, but I assume that it's what he is doing with him now."
Kibble squeaked on her shoulder as he hopped down onto a nearby table, before then going to the floor. SJ knew what he had said as he disappeared into the throng of beings moving between their legs, approaching where Zigferd and the Chancellor had moved to. SJ had almost told him not to go and eavesdrop, but was intrigued herself by what they were discussing, and he had said he would report back.
Alice watched him go, with a look on her face that said, 'I know what he's doing'. SJ just smirked at Alice, who shook her head in exasperation. They were discussing the next day's plans when a being approached them.
"Deputy Mayor, do you mind if I borrow the ambassador for a few minutes?" the voice asked.
SJ didn't recognise the voice, but knew the man who had spoken as she turned and saw the head of the Chancellor's personal guard. He had changed out of his plate armour and wore what could only be called plain clothes. He looked no different from the majority of beings who moved around the town daily; the only difference was the quality of his clothes and their materials.
"Brother Liam," Alice nodded in acknowledgement. "Of course."
"How can I help you?" SJ asked, a little taken aback by Alice's address to the man.
"Please. If I may speak to you privately."
SJ frowned but agreed as she led him out of the main room and through the main bar area to the quieter rear garden of the inn, before locating a bench away from others.
"So what do you need?" SJ asked.
"This may sound rather strange, but I have heard about your rapid progress and unique potential."
"Sorry? What do you mean by that?" SJ asked defensively.
"You have been training under one of my order for some time, and he has expressed that he has reached his limits in training. He is very skilled in the basic arts but lacks the practical experience I have. Therefore, I would like to offer my services."
SJ frowned. "You mean Brother Wilbert?"
"Yes, apologies, I may not have opened this conversation in the best way. Brother Wilbert contacted me about your continuing training."
SJ was perplexed. Brother Wilbert had never mentioned anyone from his order. She believed he was a reclusive monk who lived only on the outskirts of Killic. "I had no idea that you knew Brother Wilbert."
"Yes. We trained at the same monastery."
There had never been a conversation about Brother Wilbert's past and where he had initially come from. He had lived in Killic for years. "He can't be a monk. He wears plate armour," Dave said.
That was true when he had arrived, and at previous times, he had been wearing plate armour, and SJ knew that monks couldn't wear armour. "But, I've seen you wearing plate? Monks can't wear plate armour."
"You are correct; we can't. I wear the plate only for ceremonial purposes. As you can see, this is how I am usually dressed. If I were wearing plate, I wouldn't be able to fight. It's too restrictive."
The man was middle-aged, possibly late thirties to early forties, with creases around his eyes, and his appearance was as neutral as you could get. Shoulder-length brown hair surrounded his clean-shaven face. He didn't wear any jewellery apart from a thin silver chain around his neck. He opened the top button of his tunic to reveal the small emblem that it held. She recognised it as the same emblem she had seen Brother Wilbert with. He was nondescript, so that in everyday crowds, he wouldn't even be noticed. She would have expected him to be wearing robes similar to those Brother Wilbert wore.
"Is the chancellor aware?"
"Yes. He suggested that I offer my services to you."
That surprised SJ. "Erm, he's a Legionnaire," Dave said, now himself surprised.
"You're a Legionnaire," SJ said, shocked. She hadn't even attempted to identify him.
His eyes filled with mirth. "I am, yes. Although I'm surprised you could identify me without me knowing."
"I have met very few Legionnaires since I have been on Amathera that I have even spoken to."
"Legionnaires are just a part of the system. We are no different from the majority of beings."
"That's not what I had heard. I've heard many stories of problems caused by Legionnaires and many being shunned."
"Yes. Some are due to their actions, and the guilds of Asterfal don't help matters with their continual bickering and challenges against each other as they attempt to earn improved dungeon rights. Some support the negative reputation some beings have of Legionnaires, but many who survive beyond their first decade eventually change. They have little choice but to decide if they wish to be accepted fully."
SJ hadn't thought about the dungeons for a long time.
"Found her," Dave said. "His AI is the same model as mine, so at least she has a personality. I can't speak to her directly, but I am aware of her."
Dave's comment about a female AI caught SJ off guard, and her face reacted. "Is there something the matter?" Brother Liam asked.
"No," SJ hastily replied. "I'm just a little surprised by your advance, that's all."
What level is he? SJ thought.
"Level 41."
"Can I ask you a personal question?" SJ asked.
"Please do. I have nothing to hide from you."
"How long have you been on Amathera?"
"One hundred and seven years."
"Wow."
Brother Liam smiled. "You know, in our ageing process, we age much slower than Amathereans."
"Yes, I'm aware. I know I have the potential to live for millennia."
"Indeed, you do. Your chosen race is one of the longest-living."
"If you knew that, why don't more people choose the option to live longer?"
"Ah. I suppose that's relative. My own experience, I'm sure, is different from your own, and I think that every Legionnaire has their own considerations around their decisions."
"How old were you when you arrived?"
Brother Liam looked quizzically at SJ before he responded. "If I told you when I arrived, I was twenty-five, although back on Earth, I had been in my fifties when I unfortunately had died."
The statement about his age changing wasn't something that SJ had ever discussed with Dave or Darren, for that matter. She hadn't ever considered the change in age, herself remaining the same age she had been originally from Earth.
"You're one hundred and thirty-two?"
Brother Liam smiled. "Yes. I am almost one hundred and thirty-three."
Age variance and life spans were still areas SJ hadn't fully got her head around. It was such a strange concept. "What made you decide to become a monk?"
"It felt like the right choice for me," he shrugged. "I could ask what made you choose to be an assassin."
SJ swallowed hard. It was evident that if he were as close to the Chancellor as she assumed, he would know all about her. She was trying to think back to any interactions with the Chancellor in which he might have been present, but couldn't picture anything.
Before SJ could respond, Brother Liam placed his hand up to his ear, brushing his hair aside. "I'll be right there," he said. SJ immediately recognised the clip he wore around his ear, similar to the one she had. "Apologies, the Chancellor requires me. May we continue this conversation later?" He asked as he stood.
"Yes," SJ said. She had so many questions to ask him. She knew Darren's history but was intrigued to speak to a man who had lived on Amathera for over a century, who was a Legionnaire.
"May I call on you this evening, after tonight's meal?"
"Yes. I will be at the Wanderer's Rest."
He nodded politely as he turned and walked away.
"Well, that was unexpected," Dave said.
'You're telling me. I never expected the head of the Chancellor's security to offer his services, training me, never mind the fact that he is a Legionnaire,' SJ thought.
"I'm going to see what I can find out about him."
'It would be nice to know more about him,' SJ thought, flummoxed by the interaction. The Chancellor had some questions to answer when she spoke to him next.
