“It's fortunate if some things stay locked away.”

- A memory of the Old Ones.

***Atlantis***

***Magnus***

“...think that the assassination of human leaders is a clumsy way to stop further conflict. It might work for the moment, but it'll destabilize human society in the long run. The humans might even find ways to strike back. Let's not give them sufficient reason to do so.” The elder ends the first part of his speech.

He just looks up at the various clans, studying every leader before he goes on. “But don't misunderstand. I think that even the most moderate ones under you must have realized that ignoring the fae is no longer an option. By now, it is undeniable that the fae are actively seeking conflict. The longer we allow them to believe that they are untouchable in Fairy, the bolder their actions will get. Let's not wait until we are on the receiving end when one of their games succeeds completely.

“I belong to the faction which supports active pursuit of the fae. Let us attack them wherever they hide. This shall be no longer a conflict of passive defence. I think the situation forces us to take whatever action is necessary to ensure our safety. For that purpose, I request to assemble an offensive task force...”

I let out a deep breath as the elder drifts off into rambling. He's made his point, so why does he have to spoil a good speech by boring everyone with details.

“Finally this whole issue is going somewhere,” Tina crosses her arms in front of her chest and smiles.

She joined us in my pulpit soon after Sely and I sat down to wait for the first speaker. Fiacre and Cecilia stayed behind to watch the kids. Seeing that the elder doesn't have anything of interest to say, Tina turns her attention to us and smiles maliciously. “I leave my sister for a few days and your territory gets attacked?”

I purse my lips and allow myself some time to think about the meaning of her words. “It's not like I can anticipate what the fae will do next. If the women hadn't charged head first into the whole situation, I could have called Lindwurm to end the whole mess alone. It wasn't like the fae, or the hobgoblins, brought anything to the field that could stop a wyrm.”

She squints her eyes at me. “Yes, about that. How did you manage to tame a wyrm? I heard that they are quite intelligent and ferocious creatures, which makes it hard to tame them at all.”

I smile. “There are ways.” I certainly won't tell her that Lindwurm isn't really tame in the sense of the word. Grandfather Hatlix was the first Bathomeus who came to an 'agreement' with her. The agreement is simple. We bring her food and don't get eaten. Of course, being the one who brings food means that she will protect us.

Lindwurm is a rather lazy creature, so she prefers being fed to having to hunt in the sea. Feeding an untamed wyrm without ending up on the menu is the tricky part. To be honest, I have no idea how Grandfather Hatlix did it. He took the secret to his grave. Lindwurm likes me well enough by now, but I have no idea how to deal with a wyrm that had no prior training. I was introduced to Lindwurm when I was little.

But I don't want to advertise my lack of knowledge to the head of another clan. “Speaking of information... How did it go with finding Gavin? It seems like the earth opened up and swallowed him whole, together with his goons.”

The corners of Tina's mouth curl downwards in displeasure. “Nothing. He must've dug a really deep hole to hide in. We've interrogated everyone who was caught at the compound again and again, but they know nothing of value. They were useless pawns who were kept in the dark about what was really going on in their clan.

“They knew about the obvious things, but they didn't have the spine to do something about it. Gavin used them to cover his escape. While we were occupied with subduing everyone who was frightened into submission, he escaped with his loyalists. It's a shame that you kept none of the ones who invaded your territory alive. They might have known a little more.”

She raises an eyebrow, enquiringly. “I've had time to think about your story. The one about your first encounter with Sely. I noticed that you rushed over the part where you caught her half brother. I think his name was Tetrach? What did you do to him in the end?”

I shift in my seat, carefully avoiding Sely's eyes. “I interrogated him, and he knew nothing of interest, so I disposed of him.”

Tina doesn't allow herself to get distracted by my answer. “You've evaded the question again. How did you dispose of him? Did you interrogate him with the awareness that his mind could be influenced by one of Gavin's spells? Now that we know about his practises, we might find some form of mental blockade.”

Sely pokes my side. “Come on. Tell us. I won't be mad either way. Surely you have realized by now that I don't give a shit about the Hammon side of my family tree.”

I avoid their eyes.

Tina starts smiling. “So he is still alive!”

I shake my head. “He may be alive in the strict sense of the word, but I doubt that he'll be of much use to you. I've made sure that he is no longer a threat.”

Sely clears her throat. “What did you do him? Lobotomise him and store away his body? Why the heck would you do that!?”

I shrug. “I didn't exactly lobotomise him. I never bothered to learn the medical skills for that.”

Tina answers the second part of Sely's question. “There are some spells and rituals which require a living, breathing body as a focus, or as a sacrifice. Depends on the spell.”

The two women needle me with questions while I watch the rest of the gathering, but I don't answer any of them. They'll see for themselves soon enough. In the end, the elders hold another vote. This time about whether we should actively seek ways to attack Fairy.

There is a lot of snarling and screaming, as everyone tries to add their own opinion. At last, it's decided that once someone has found a way to effectively attack Fairy, we'll meet again to coordinate a real strike at the heart of the fae's power. Even on the way home, I hold my mouth shut. By the time we arrive in my mansion's entrance hall, the two women are glaring at my back as if I am a villain.

“Tina!” Cecilia calls out upon seeing her sister's return. She engages in a long hug with Tina. “I didn't expect you to be back so soon.”

Tina smiles, but doesn't let her eyes off me. “Finding Gavin is a little harder than I expected. So far, I have to admit that I haven't found a single clue on his whereabouts.”

I sigh and survey the room. “Where are the others?”

Cecilia makes a dismissive gesture. “Oh, Annia and Kath wanted to see the wyrm, so Fiacre took them down to the wyrm’s pond. I was excluded because I didn't want to join the clan. Apparently it's a secret ritual of initiation. Besides, Hatlix already introduced me to his pet while he was still alive, so I excused myself from the event. Browsing Facebook and Wikipedia is much more interesting.”

Okay. I hope she doesn't evolve into a complete geek. I raise my voice to call out for a certain person. “Oilell? Where are you!?”

My call is answered immediately by the brownie. She appears in a blur of motion. To my surprise, she throws herself at me with tears in her eyes and hugs my waist. “Master! They took Mumu and Snuffler! First Oink and now them too.”

I roll my eyes and uncomfortably pet Oilell's head. “How many times did I tell you not to familiarize yourself with livestock? You know exactly why we are keeping the animals, yet you give them names.”

“I can't help myself! They are so cute. Totally unlike that big wyrm!” She shakes her head.

I pat her back. There is simply no way to help the fool. Lindwurm needs food like everyone else. “Oilell, I need the iron key.”

She stops sniffling and steps away from me. Then she disappears in a flash of movement and returns with a red pillow. On top of it is an iron key. She always keeps it hidden for me.

I take it and study the imbued security spell for any form of tampering. It would be bad if there is a problem with the key. It unlocks a sealed-off part of my reality marble. If the reality marble detects even the slightest attempt at gaining illegal access to that area, it will separate the entire area and disconnect it from space and time.

It would be extraordinarily difficult to reconnect it to the rest of the marble. In fact, it's entirely possible that the sealed off section might be lost forever, drifting through an endless sea of possibilities.

I return to the doorway and push the key into the keyhole. The magic on the key interacts with the doorway and I feel the spacial magic shift as it rearranges the laws of reality. Then I open the door for the women and invite them into the dark corridor which is looming beyond the doorway. “Welcome to the dungeon.”

Tina, Cecilia and Sely enter after a short moment of hesitation and I close the door behind us, plunging us into complete darkness. I guide my magic and concentrate it between my fingers. Ensuring that the spell is stable, I summon a light globe and press past Sely and the others. The corridor is narrow, so it requires them to step aside.

When I am in front, I lead the party to the first junction between three corridors and take the one which leads downwards. “This part of the reality marble is very old. The mansion and the surface area were added later. My ancestors started out by shifting this underground complex out of reality.” Reality marbles work by shifting space and time. They don't create or destroy, but it's entirely possible to lose access to the marble.

“This is a labyrinth,” Sely mumbles.

I nod. “It makes it a little harder to get inside.”

“Or out,” Tina adds.

I don't comment on her observation and continue to lead the way. After a few long minutes, we arrive at a slightly wider corridor with chests to the left and the right of the path. They look like small treasure chests, but each has a little hole at the top. A stalactite above each chest allows water to slowly trickle from above into the chests. The stalactites show how long some of the inmates have been here.

One of the chests is almost completely enclosed in a stalagmite. Sooner or later I'll have to remove the lime. Otherwise it'll close the hole at the top of the chest. Upon moving past the eleventh chest on the left side, it starts rattling, testing the heavy chains which are holding it in place.

I always find that unsettling, so I kick the chest. “Stop that! I've told you many times that I'll pour a bucket of oil inside and set you on fire if you make noise!”

The chest stops creating a ruckus and I continue onwards. Sely's disturbed voice echoes through the corridor. “What, or who, is inside that chest!?”

I shrug. “Don't know. Don't care. That one was before my time. I am sure there was a good reason to do so. What's down here is either too dangerous to be used, or committed great offence against the Bathomeus.”

We arrive at the thirty-seventh chest to the right and I kneel down to unlock the magical seal. Then I open the heavy oakwood lid and channel more energy to brighten the sphere of light in my hand. “Hello, Tetrach.”

I broke his spine at his waist, then I neatly folded him over backwards to place him inside the chest. He is additionally secured with heavy bands of iron which siphon off his magical energy. His mouth is sealed with a metal muzzle. If he wants water, he has to drink through his nose. Seeing me, he starts rolling his eyes and wriggles like the worm he is.

Cecilia raises an eyebrow. “Kinky!”

Tina narrows hers and looks back down the corridor, counting chests.

Sely places a hand in front of her mouth and looks at me accusingly. “Was that really necessary?”

I huff and point at Tetrach. “He tried to kill me with a rocket launcher and it fucking hurt!” Then I point at the chest next to him. “That one tried to take over my territory and blew up my first game store.” I continue on with recounting the crimes of the various inmates, at least the ones which I imprisoned.

When I am done, I turn around to listen to the reactions of the three women.

Cecilia doesn't seem to be bothered at all, while Tina shrugs. “At least you know how to hold a grudge.”

Sely looks defeated. “Let's just take Tetrach and get out of here.”