Revelation (Seeds of Humanity: The Cobalt Heresy) (40 page)

I had still never received an adequate explanation for the inconsistency between Veldyrian’s four hundred years of recorded history and the oft-stated ‘six thousand year history’ of the Empire itself. To my knowledge, Veldyrian had never actually hosted delegates from any other Imperial City and I had never even heard the names of such cities. It made me wonder at times if the whole idea of a six thousand year old civilization was a hoax; yet another example of top-down manipulation intended to yoke the oblivious masses to the wheels driving the great Imperial machine.

I shook my head as I knew that was a contemplation for another time. Gathered within the main hall were hundreds of people, many of whom were naturally wizards belonging to House Listoh, but there were even a few wizards belonging to other houses. My eyes searched the room until I found a familiar face, but it wasn’t a welcome sight.

Looking for all the world like the star quarterback at the dance after the big game, Pryzius was surrounded by a flock of cronies a half dozen strong, most of whom were from Houses I didn’t know except by their markings and standards.

Only one member of House Listoh was present: a diminutive, black-haired girl who probably had been assigned the loathsome duty of eavesdropping on the little cadre for the entire night. I actually pitied her for having been assigned the task.

House Listoh had a disproportionate number of women among its ranks since for some reason or another, women generally made stronger practitioners of Summoning magic than men. Of course, a slight advantage in the field of Summoning wasn’t the only reason House Listoh preferred to select women for inclusion in its ranks.

Pryzius was telling some apparently terrible joke but, naturally, everyone around him erupted into a chorus of laughter as though on command—which they might as well have been. I really didn’t want to deal with him right then, but right at that moment I caught his eye and he gestured for me to come over.

I didn’t like playing the lapdog but I hadn’t come to start a fight, so I knew I had to at least oblige for appearance’ sake.

“My good friend, Jezran Wiegraf,” he beamed, standing from his resting perch on a truly remarkable piece of wooden furniture whose purpose I couldn’t immediately ascertain. “Gentlemen,” he began, then added with a practiced bow to the House Listoh Apprentice, “and Ladies, you are in the presence of the only man to have been selected higher than myself in my College class! His abilities are truly legendary…” he trailed off before turning toward me with a look of mock confusion. “What exactly
are
your abilities, again? My memory becomes clouded in the presence of beautiful women,” he said with a hunter’s look at the raven-haired Listoh Apprentice.

I smiled as courteously as I could manage, but I was way out of my element at these kinds of events. Still, those stints on the high school debate team helped me from making a complete ass out of myself. “I’m clearly not as good with women as you are. I’m sorry, what was your name?” I asked politely as I turned to face the young woman, temporarily ignoring Pryzius and his cronies.

The petite Apprentice curtsied politely. “I am Gilai’el, Journeyman. Thank you for asking,” she said pointedly with an annoyed look at Pryzius.

 “Do not change the subject, Jezran,” said Pryzius in a jovial tone, but he was clearly trying to start something. “What are your exact abilities, anyway? They must be something significant to have been selected by such a prestigious house as Wiegraf.” He shook his head in mock sorrow as he continued, “Were our fates reversed, I would have been the one with the good fortune to be part of such an august organization. But I suppose I shall have to content myself with the meager means of House Tyrdren.”

I nodded solemnly. “Indeed,” I agreed, “yours is a great burden, and I know I speak for everyone present in saying we all admire how well you bear it.” I flashed a toothy grin as I finished, “You’re truly an inspiration to us all.”

Irritation flashed across Pryzius’ face and for the first time I noticed that among his cadre was none other than Kaven Urkalia, who looked even paler than he had when leaving the Magisterial Offices a half hour or so earlier. I couldn’t help a sneer from crossing my features, but I banished it quickly enough.

“Sleeping, is it not?” asked Pryzius rhetorically, and if he were a snake his fangs would have been pouring venom. “That is your great talent, yes?”

I folded my arms across my chest. “Something like that,” I agreed disinterestedly.

“Yes,” he said ponderously, “your greatest ability—and, indeed, the keystone of your entire House—is only useful if your subject is asleep.” Pryzius laughed, and it was a hollow, false sound. “I admit I have some difficulty understanding exactly how such an art is worthy of inclusion among the Schools of Magic, so perhaps you would be so kind as to elucidate for us?”

“I think I’d rather not,” I replied lazily. “I’m pretty tired, and might need to lie down for a nap before tonight’s festivities get in full swing.” I yawned for dramatic effect, and Gilai’el Listoh couldn’t suppress a giggle as I did so. “My craft is one which demands constant attention and practice, after all.”

“Yes,” Pryzius agreed quickly, “I am sure that the unfortunate matter earlier this hour was a stressful one. I believe we would all understand if you required a rest after such a stressful encounter.” He shook his head sadly, “I do so wish you had notified me, Jezran. I could have averted the entire misunderstanding,” he shot a look back at Kaven Urkalia, whose face was beet-red with embarrassment.

I cocked my head as if confused. “Oh, that?” I replied in mock surprise. “I had forgotten all about it, to be perfectly honest. It probably didn’t even rank among the ten most interesting things to happen to me this week, if you want to know the truth.” I knew he had been the one to orchestrate the entire thing, and I enjoyed nothing more than sticking it to him in front of his cadre of sycophants.

“I believe Lady Marizzi is expecting you in the library,” interrupted an unfamiliar butler dressed in the same black and white uniform as the one who had greeted me at the door. “If you will follow me, my Lord?” he said to me. Without waiting for my assent, he turned and began to walk out of the Main Hall toward an adjoining hallway.

I bowed curtly to Pryzius’ cadre and then I repeated the gesture more politely to Gilai’el Listoh, who would get no such reprieve from her insufferable present company. Again, she curtsied politely by way of reply and our eyes locked for a moment as I thought I recognized her from somewhere. But the moment passed, and I headed off to follow the butler out of the Main Hall.

We didn’t walk far, perhaps only a hundred feet down one of the many corridors adjoining Listoh’s Main Hall when the butler stopped in front of a set of large, stone doors with frescos of animals inhabiting unlikely climates and terrain. One was of a male lion tramping through the snow, another was of a fish in the clouds, and yet another featured a pigeon-like bird swimming beneath the waves. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and I was uncharacteristically envious at the incredible quality of everything surrounding me inside Listoh Manor.

The butler knocked twice and I heard a woman’s voice from within. My heart was racing, and I had to force myself to calm down. It had been awhile since I’d had anything resembling a heart attack, and I really hoped to keep it that way for a good long while.

The butler opened the door and motioned for me to go through alone, and he quietly closed the massive door behind me after I had done so.

House Listoh’s library was even more impressive, at least artistically, than the new High Magister Arch Magos Rekir’s—and that was saying something. The number of volumes was probably about equal, but the way the entire room was laid out was absolutely astounding.

The center of the circular chamber was itself a circle a full story below the entry door where I stood. There were four staircases leading up and out of that lower section to the landing where I was standing, and there was even another, higher, level of book-filled shelves which could only be accessed via rolling ladder like I had seen in movies with old libraries.

The total shelf area was far in excess of Arch Magos Rekir’s library, but the reason there were likely no more volumes in this particular library than in that one was because each book was set face-out on the shelf. Each book’s cover was in full view of anyone standing in the room, and there was at least a foot of space between each book making it unnecessary to remove the book from its resting place if one merely needed it for a quick reference. Rekir’s library had been more traditional, with only the spines facing outward, allowing his smaller shelf space to contain a similar number of volumes.

Seated in a large chair, similar to the Victorian chairs I had seen in antique catalogues, was the person I had come to see: Journeyman Marizzi von Magenta of House Listoh. She was a tall, thin woman in her mid-twenties with long, platinum-blond hair and sharp cheekbones. Her grey-blue eyes snapped up from the book she had been reading when I entered the room, and she beckoned for me to join her with the barest hint of a gesture with her fingers.

I obliged, marveling as I did so at the incredible display of House Listoh’s assembled knowledge, both magical and mundane in nature. Books were arranged by size as much as anything else, which once again maximized the available shelf space. I estimated that this library held at least four times as many volumes as House Wiegraf’s, and these books were undoubtedly far more valuable on an individual basis. I couldn’t even hazard a guess at the value of their library.

Before I sat down in the chair opposite Marizzi, I bowed courteously. “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” I said graciously. “I appreciate your House making an exception to standard protocol.”

Her grey-blue eyes flashed up and she closed the book she had been reading, placing it on the small table next to her hand. “You did mention that doing so might benefit House Listoh’s standing in some way,” she said coldly, her steely eyes locking with mine. “I only hope you understand that House Listoh is somewhat less prone to the…volatility which the lower Houses experience. Improving our standing is generally something which is beyond the ability of a House such as yours, which is why my Matron insisted that I take this meeting. She believes you to be an intelligent man and therefore unlikely to waste our time.” She took a glass of water from the same table on which she had placed the book before finishing, “I, however, have yet to form such a generous opinion.”

The bitch was just as cold as she had been the last time I’d met with her, and I knew that I would be lucky to get out of the library without starting the equivalent of World War Three.

I drew a silent breath to calm myself before continuing, having expected exactly this kind of reception. “I can see that it would be best if I just cut to the chase,” I said just as coldly before continuing with smug satisfaction, “but frankly, this is probably above your pay grade. We need someone higher ranked in here—at least a Magos—before we do this, but preferably not your Arch Magos.” I smirked darkly as I unslung the satchel from my aching shoulder, having carried the thing nearly every moment since returning to the Imperial City, “We probably shouldn’t involve her in this just yet.”

Her jaw clenched tightly and her eyes seemed to explode out of her head with incredulity, and she stood slowly from her chair. “House Listoh was gracious enough to allow you to interrupt one of the most important events of the year with your foolish request for an audience, yet even after being granted your request, you brazenly insult the representative her elders have selected!” She stretched her long, wispy arm and pointed toward the door, “I think it best you leave before my superiors learn of your folly!”

I shook my head, really enjoying the momentary shift in our little balance of power. “I doubt your superiors would appreciate you kicking me out just yet, especially considering I come bearing gifts,” I chided, patting the shoulder bag emphatically as it rested between my legs.

Her eyes were locked with mine for a few seconds, before she looked down at the bag with the barest hint of curiosity. “House Listoh’s elders are deep into their preparations for tonight’s readings, and have no wish to be disturbed,” she said defiantly, folding her arms across her narrow chest. “If you tell me what you have brought, I could perhaps conduct your proposal to them.”

“Not going to happen,” I assured her with a playful wag of my finger. “You need to get a Magos down here and soon…preferably one you trust to keep a secret, in the event House Listoh decides to accept my offer.”

Marizzi’s eyes narrowed, and I knew I had her. “What could you possibly possess that would be so valuable?” she asked with obvious interest in spite of herself.

I shook my head. “I’m not saying another word until a Magos walks through that door,” I insisted, pointing at the door she had tried to show me a minute earlier.

She considered it for a moment and finally said, “Wait here.” She glided out of the room in a nearly-hypnotic display of grace I had only seen from ballerinas on TV.

I sat there in silence for what seemed like an eternity, without a single sound to keep me company. Their library had been really well soundproofed, and the party a mere hundred feet away failed to make even a whisper of a sound.

I was just about to stand up and check what book she had been reading when the doors opened. A short, curly-brown-haired woman of middle age strode into the room with the bearing of an angry school teacher, and she was followed by Marizzi.

“You have business with House Listoh,” the woman said, rather than asked, in a tone that matched her demeanor as she marched down the stairs toward me. Her robes bore the markings of Master in House Listoh, which meant she at least held the rank of Magos.

I stood up in spite of my intention to remain sitting throughout the entire engagement. There was just something about this woman that made me want to say ‘Yes, ma’am!’ but I thankfully managed to hold my tongue in that regard.