***
She looked up, slowly, the connection lost. He looked up as well. Gidas felt relaxed and refreshed. The Platen looked over at Lazerek. Only a few moments had passed.
“He is trustworthy and will not abuse your confidence.”
Lazerek nodded. He looked at Gidas,”Excellent.”
A thought occurred to Gidas,”Do you require this probe for all of your adjutants?”
Lazerek nodded,”Very astute.”
“How many pass this test?” He pressed.
“None so far,” Lazerek said, standing.
Gidas looked at the Platen woman.She was obviously ready to go, having done her part.
Lazerek walked her to the door and saw her out.Gidas saw the old mage hand her something discreetly.She lifted her hood as she stepped outside.
Lazerek resumed his place at the table and sipped his coffee. Apparently it was too cold, so he waved his hand over the cup and it was hot again.”Now, down to business,” the mage began,”I need to get many things done and get them done very soon. The time is ripe and I have decided to bring you in. It is my grandest and most sought after prize. It will give power beyond belief and wisdom beyond the ages. But I digress. It is a set of tools that we must procure! I have been searching for them for over half of my lifetime. And now I will have your assistance in this project.I have tested many adjutants and while many have promised loyalty unto death, none have ever passed the test of the Platen.This is truly a day ordained by the gods,” he said.
He finished off his coffee and beckoned Gidas to the far north end of his room.Lazerek’s room was luxurious. The furniture was the most expensive and polished wood, and gilded on every corner. His floor was covered with the most rare Shcheshtian carpets available and his walls were adorned with the most vivid tapestries.
As Lazerek neared the northern niche of his room, he waved his hands twice and the wall began to fold open, like a huge accordion.Beyond it was the door to the inner sanctum.
They stepped through the wall and it closed behind them. Light emanated from an unseen source.They stood in front of a small door. Lazerek opened it.
“Do not ever try to open this door on your own. If you do, it will kill you.”
“Yes sir.” Gidas doubted it.
The door swung open and revealed the sanctum itself.
The first thing Gidas noticed was the huge round desk that occupied the middle of the room. It was covered with writings, notes, maps and pictures.The room itself was round. A warm golden light from a small window above caught the dust in its beam. Scrolls, papers, and books with no apparent order or system covered everywhere he looked. There were hundreds of candles around the room. Some were fat, some thin, some tall some wide. The relative age of the candles could be ascertained by the amount of wax that had dripped down and pooled onto a table or paper. A fine dust hung about the room lingering and was as much a part of the room’s essence as anything else.The air was stale and smelled like mold, and it was so stuffed with documents and books that it was utterly silent.As Gidas glanced over them, he knew every language that was used in the documents.The door they had come in was the only way in or out. He had to maneuver around several stools and stuffed chairs to wend his way through. No sound escaped and none got in. The swishing of Lazerek’s robes was almost loud.
Books filled the wall that surrounded the room all the way to the ceiling. A ladder for reaching the top shelves was connected to the wall.Gidas had not seen so many books in a very long time.
“This is my project,” Lazerek said, opening his arms.
Gidas spotted a drawing of three swords.He moved some other papers that had fallen over it. The three swords were each different, but it appeared the same person had crafted all three. At the top of the page it said simply,”Saddig”.
“Saddig?That sounds familiar,” Gidas mused.
“Yes, the three Swords of Saddig; Attingere, Bellatrix and Valere,” Lazerek said.
“You are hunting the three Swords of Saddig?”
“Yes.”
“But haven’t people been hunting them for years?”
“Off and on.I have actually located one of the Swords.”
“Where is it?”
“South of here.I also know that another of them resides somewhere in a hidden temple of the god Saddig. But the third I have yet to locate. It does not matter though. If I can find two of them, they will lead me to the third.”
“Do you know where this temple of Saddig is?”
“Not at this moment, but once I have the first Sword, I shall focus all my efforts toward it. Even though I have scouts everywhere, it is much for one man to do.”
“This is what you need my assistance for?” Gidas asked.
“Yes.”
“Why now?” Gidas ventured.
“Because I have taken the first steps to procuring the first Sword, Bellatrix.”
“You know the Sword is Bellatrix?”
“I know.”
“How did you find the sword?” Gidas asked.
“By making great sacrifices.”
“I can only imagine. My knowledge of the three swords is somewhat lacking. All I know is people begin hunting for them every few years and when no one locates them, the hunting slacks off.”
Lazerek nodded.”When a hunt for the Sword begins, individuals seeking glory generally begin it. It is the ultimate prize, and they would simply locate it to add another trophy to their wall. A waste really, they are too simple minded to truly appreciate what the swords can do.” He sat down, and motioned for Gidas to take a seat. Gidas looked around and found a large, comfortable chair with lots of cushion.He eased into it and listened to Lazerek.
“The Legend of the Three Swords of Saddig is over four thousand years old,” he began.”Almost five thousand now.
“The story goes thus: The god Saddig was in love with his cousin, the goddess Zora. She was quite beautiful, and he was enamored of her.He decided to make her a gift and created three swords: The one imbued with the power of magic he entitled Valere which means ‘caring magic’ in the ancient tongue, the sword filled with the savageness and agility of a fighter he named Bellatrix, meaning ‘death stroke’, and Attingere, which means spirit. It was imbued with the spirit of the father god Ooln.The Swords were truly magnificent works of art, crafted by Saddig himself, and kissed by Ooln to grant them their powers.
“Well, when Saddig brought the swords to Zora and placed them at her feet, she laughed at him and said he was a fool! She cared naught for him, and had no goodwill toward him.In a fit of rage, Saddig was about to cleave her in two, but Bzok, her brother, rescued her.Saddig fought Bzok for two days and nights, and using the power of the Swords, killed him.
Zora fled, but Saddig pursued her and smote her as well.Upon seeing the dead body of Zora, Saddig was overcome by what he had done and flung his three swords to the earth, not caring where they landed. Ooln himself later banished Saddig from Godhome for his misdeeds. Saddig was cast to the earth and here he has wandered since.”
“Where is Saddig now?”Gidas asked.
“No one knows. As far as I can tell, he does not walk among us.Perhaps he is still in remorse over what he did.Gods think and live differently than you or I.”
“That is amazing. So what do we do now?” Gidas asked. He leaned forward in his chair.
“I have already sent a group of men ahead to scout the area.They have been instructed not to make any moves until I get there. They are only to observe and nothing more.I don’t want any of those fools making a mistake.”
“I hope you sent Sicari, they are the best.”
Lazerek paused, with a look on his face that wondered how he should take that last statement,”Yes, I sent a small group of them…with an Osaban Priest.”
Gidas looked up sharply,”Osaban?”
“Yes,” Lazerek said. He pursed his lips.
“You may have a lot of unnecessary deaths on your hands. Osaban priests kill for fun and th
eir conjuring is truly evil.”Gidas was not too keen on the Osaban Priests or their magic.
“A few pitiful deaths do not concern me.”
Gidas leaned back and looked at the ceiling.”So you are saying that someone has one of the swords to the south, Bellatrix?”
“Yes.”
“And you know one is in a temple?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask another question?”
“Certainly,” Lazerek said.
“You said that Bellatrix is south of here? Does that mean that someone is wielding it?”
“No, they are more likely hiding it.”
“Why?If I had one of the most powerful talismans ever crafted, I would be using it.”
Lazerek shook his head.”No. Remember when I told you that Saddig is in the land? Well he is hunting for his swords. If he can somehow locate the Three Swords, he will have enough power to face Ooln and demand his place back in Godhome. If someone is wielding the Sword, Saddig will sense the magic being used and begin looking.Any person who would wield a simple Sword against a god, even a Sword as powerful as Bellatrix, would be a fool indeed.But if one were courageous enough and lucky enough to find all three Swords, he may be able to challenge a god. He could possibly even claim godhood for himself.That is dominion, that is power.”
“So what do we do now?” Gidas asked.
“My assassins are surely where they need to be, and any one who gets in their way or attempts to thwart their plans will be dealt with.The Sicari are one thing, but the Osaban are another.
“The Osaban are trained from the time they are small children to kill. It is part of their worship of the god Lo. This priest and I have a certain…agreement.He will, at some point I am certain, attempt to abscond with the Swords and take their power for himself, but for now I have him where I want him.”
Gidas had a sense that there was more to that relationship than Lazerek was saying, but kept his thoughts to himself.He didn’t like Osaban Priests, or their sloppy tactics. They were a ‘kill first, talk later’ type and when they were caught, merely killed more to escape.They were excellent fighters, second to none only because they did not care whether they died or their opponent did. Gidas did not want to think about their conjuring magic. It was pure revulsion to him.
Lazerek sat forward,”Of course my young adjutant, we will be leaving the premises shortly. I am eager be off. I have planted seeds across the lands with my minions. They are spreading the word that the search for the Swords is begun.Once everyone in the land thinks the hunt is afoot, there will be just the right amount of chaos for us to proceed, unnoticed.”
“Then what is the goal of your assassins?”
“They are locating Bellatrix, so when we arrive we will wrest it from the fool who thinks to hide it.”
Gidas nodded,”Sounds like a good plan.”
Lazerek looked up in a sharp motion,”Of course it is a ‘good plan’. Do not presume to think that you and I are partners. We will work together, and will be cordial to each other. You will show the proper deference to me, especially in public, and you will properly edify me when situations call for it. But do not be obsequious, I hate fake. Am I understood?”He peered at Gidas, his leathery lips pursed again.
Gidas was taken aback. He was completely unprepared for that tongue-lashing.
“I understand completely,” Gidas said, with as much deference as he could muster on short notice. Was this mage insane?He would need to play this game very carefully to avoid getting burned.Lazerek watched him as a cat watches a mouse.
“Now begin preparations for our departure from Akilade. I want to be gone in two days. I have already prepared the group that will accompany us. Although I hate it, I will ride horseback.” And without notice, he was back to being normal.
“Yes sir.”Gidas began planning his game.He must be careful. Even though this mage was obviously a little off, he was still very dangerous. Perhaps his slight madness made him even more dangerous. Gidas would have to be on his toes.He saw Lazerek as a sleeping baby. You had to tiptoe around and hope it didn’t wake.
Gidas stood as Lazerek did and let the old mage open the door.He left the mage’s quarters and went down to the stables.
At the stables he met Braison, the stable master.Braison was an old, bent over man. He had only one good squinty eye. His hair was never combed and always shot out in different directions.
“Greetings,” Gidas said.”I need to get Praeceptor Lazerek’s horse ready to travel.”
“When will you be departing?” Braison asked.
“Two days.”
Braison looked at him with his odd eye.”You Lazerek’s new apprentice?”
“Yes sir.”
“Aye, I’ll get it ready for ye.”
“Thank you.”
“You need a horse too?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“You traveling with Lazerek?”
“Yes.”
Braison walked to Lazerek’s horse.”Ought to be mindful of that old wizard.”
“How so?”Gidas asked. This is just what he needed, some insight into the mage.
“He’s an odd one, he is. Older’n dirt too.”Braison arrived at the bay where Lazerek’s black steed was.
“Older than dirt?”Gidas asked.Braison looked older than dirt. Braison looked like he invented dirt.
“Sure thing.” Braison stopped and turned his eye on Gidas,”Word has it he’s about two hundred-fifty years old.”
“That’s not possible,” Gidas said. No one lived that long.
“Not sayin’ what’s possible and what ain’t. All I’m sayin’ is he’s over two-hundred years old.”
What had the mage said about the tonic he kept around his neck? It was from the Hetereki.”
“He doesn’t appear to be more than forty-five, maybe fifty,” Gidas said.
“Aye, its magic boy,” Braison said, tapping his finger to his skull and squinting his one good eye.
“If you say so,” Gidas said.Lazerek could not be that old.There was no magical fountain of youth.No spell you could utter every morning that would keep you young. Lazerek, it appeared, was full of surprises.
“You’re his fourth apprentice,” Braison said.
“Really, what happened to the last three?” Did he really want to know?
Braison opened the stall and led the horse out.”Don’t know. The last one was about seventy years ago, if memory serves. He was here one day and gone the next. Rumor has it he made Lazerek mad and the mage got rid of him.” The old man dragged his rough finger across his wrinkled neck.”I was just a boy then. But old Lazerek, he still looks just like he did then. I reckon if he shaved off that old beard and cut that hair of his, he’d look barely forty.”
“Great,” Gidas said. Was this how Lazerek got rid of the adjutants who didn’t pass the Platen test?And how did he stay so young?
Gidas had a lot of questions he wanted answered.