Usruldes the Wraith in pursuit

Cadrees and I could not make it from our observation post to the shrine quickly enough to stop the abduction of the Blessed Emily. I did not stop at the shrine since the pursuit was more important than anything else; however, as I flew past the building's wall, I mindcasted as loudly as I could that there was a stabbed healer on the fourth floor. I also flew past the Aybhas bell tower and started the bell ringing. I hoped that would suffice to rile the town. Last, I mindcasted the garrison fortress as I flew past. I sent a short prayer to Gertzpul pleading that he spares her.

Then I climbed for altitude as only an eagle can. My mount Cadrees and I knew each other well enough that he knew to climb first in pursuits. My clairvoyance was to the limits of the visible horizon so the higher I was, the better I could use my magic. It didn't matter if I was inside or outside: if it was between myself and the horizon, I could see and hear all. Good thing it wasn't raining or foggy since the weather cut my range in half---I have no idea why.

Both kidnappers were easy to spot. They were on griffins, which meant that someone sporting hefty magic was involved. I stayed high. Cadrees was so much faster than any griffin that I wouldn't lose them. They flew up the Salt River until just south of Two Ferry Island. They landed at a small farm, hiding the griffins in a barn and carrying the Blessed Emily inside what looked like a dark dwelling.

What worried me was the possibility of a charm of watching. I had to resort to occupying the mind of a skunk and waddled him right up to the front stoop of the house. Though there were no lights in the windows, someone opened the door to inspect the skunk. By this, I determined there was a charm covering the house and that it was working. I had the skunk cross the charm boundary several times until whoever was on watch duty got tired of looking at the trespassing skunk.

I left Cadrees on the side of the house opposite the barn. It wouldn't be good if the griffins smelled my eagle. I crossed the charm and immediately dropped and stayed still for at least a half bell. Then I crept up to the house and opened my mind to listening inside.

"...too small. What if I miss?"

"Don't miss."

"Easy enough for you to say since you're too cowardly to do it."

"Shut your face. Here, hold it still and I'll do it."

Then I heard a loud thunk.

"Stop the bleeding! Stop the bleeding!"

"I'm trying. We need a bandage."

"Use the one on her head,"

"We were told not to touch it, stupid."

"Here, let's do this."

"Good idea, that will work."

There was a pause of several minutes before they spoke again.

"They should be here by now. They're late."

I mindcasted to Cadrees to get under trees so he couldn't be spotted from overhead whenever these late people showed up. I became one with the darkness and waited. I didn't have to wait long. Three griffins and one flying horse with riders landed. They hid their mounts in the barn. The riders entered the house.

"Hand me the goods," a new voice said.

"Where's the finger?"

By this, I surmised that the thunk I heard was the detachment of one of the Blessed Emily's fingers. That's a bad thing to lose if you're an artificer like she is.

"Now, what about our pay?"

"We'll take care of that now." I heard the sounds of swords and scuffling. I could guess what form the payment took. Four people left the house, carrying the still unconscious Emily. While they entered the barn, I ran in the opposite direction for Cadrees. We were already gaining altitude when the four left the farm on their mounts. I followed them to an estate west of Is'syal which I recognized: the principal home of Lord Nirirgi, Kushamar's brother. One of the fliers peeled off to a small outbuilding while the other three entered Nirirgi's mansion.

I groaned to myself that I would need to scout out charms of watching all over again. I cast the first of what would be many charms of wakefulness on myself. It would be a long night.

Right after dawn, someone came out of the main house with a tray full of food and brought it to the outbuilding. By now, I was inside the charm of watching and was one with the tall grass.

"Why do you have her gagged? She can't speak, you know."

"I didn't know that."

"Take the gag off. It's not necessary to be deliberately cruel. Besides, the master is going to put our charm gem on her if the exchange doesn't go as he wants, so we won't need to keep her tied up."

"Is that wise?"

"The master wants her to make stuff for him. She's supposed to be some kind of genius artificer."

"Yeah, tell me another good joke. She's a Coyn. How can she be any kind of artificer? Coyn aren't smart enough for anything besides farmwork and cleaning. My mount's smarter than any Coyn."

"Whatever. I'll be back at midday with more food."

---

The Judgement of Lord Kushamar haup Blockit at the Fated Shrine of Galt

The Well of Galt wasn't enclosed like the Well of Mugash. It was a circular depression with a decorative red and white marble railing around it. It was surrounded by a walkway that could accommodate six Cosm walking side-by-side. The walkway was ringed with four tiers of marble seating. Lord Nirirgi was almost too late to be seated but no one gave him any thought.

Around the Well of Galt, the tiers were filled with nobles, royal ministers, city ward officers, and craft masters. The King and Queen sat together on ceremonial cushions of Foskos Blue embroidered in gold with the realm's emblem of a rampant griffin. Lord Fusso and Lord Hestyo sat together only a few hands away from the royal couple. Lord Nirirgi sat with Kushamar's wife who was released from house arrest to attend the trial. All the other members of Kushamar's immediate family were either under house arrest or residing already in the Black Tower of the citadel, excluding his youngest son in far-off Yuxviayeth.

The eleven high priestesses processed in, led by the Holy Kamagishi of the Fated Shrine of Galt in her red and white robes. On her head was the traditional head covering of a cloth-of-electrum veil held on by three rolls of white wool. All the other high priestesses wore the same. Kamagishi processed first since she was the host.

Foyuna of the Crystal Shrine of Tiki was next as the priestess from the oldest shrine in the kingdom, wearing robes of blue and yellow, followed by Lisaykos from the second oldest shrine in silver-shot grey with black facings and the white stoll of a shrine-certified healer. After her was the oldest high priestess, the Holy Fassex of the White Shrine of Landa in purple and black and the gold sash of an adept.

It didn't take long for all the priestesses to enter the well, in the order of when their respective shrines were founded. The array of different robes was colorful but formidable. The assembly of priestesses was the largest concentration of magical power in the kingdom and they would use that power to compel Lord Kushamar to speak the truth about his crimes.

"Bring forth Lord Kushamar haup Blockit, accused of land theft, murder, attempted murder, gross cruelty, and sacrilege," Kamagishi commanded. Two citadel guards escorted him to the door of the well. His clothes and face were dirty and his long silver hair was disheveled. He stood at the door and did not enter. Annoyed, Kamagishi bent her mind to pull him in and seat him on the judgment chair in front of the crystal. The priestesses then pointed their personal crystals at Kushamar.

"Lord Kushamar, we cast 11-fold compulsion and 11-fold truthfulness upon you," Kamagishi intoned. "You will speak when we allow you to speak and you will speak the truth without ommissions."

"Lord Kushamar, did you move your boundary stones?"

"Yes."

"Why did you move your boundary stones?"

"To obscure the ownership of the breeding farm, which was built on Lord Hestyo's land without his knowledge. If discovered, we would argue it was Lord Hestyo's breeding farm. We would only admit that we moved the stones and feign ignorance of the farm."

"What happened when the assessors confronted you about the boundary stones?"

"I offered them a bribe. They refused. They tried to flee. One got away. The other two were killed on my orders."

"Was the mass grave at the breeding farm created on your orders?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Too many Coyn died. We needed to get rid of the bodies."

"Why did you add a charm of compulsion to the charm gems?"

"Some buyers want docile Coyn who won't talk back or grumble. The charm of compulsion ensures that."

"Did you know that was illegal?"

"Yes."

"Have you heard enough, sisters?"

"Yes."

"Then I have one more question," Kamagishi stated. "Did any members of your family know of your illegal breeding farm or aid you in its operation?"

"My eldest son, Gandrohas, and my wife, Sassayos haup Surdos."

A murmur echoed through the high dome over the Well of Galt as all eyes turned to the silverhair woman sitting next to Lord Nirirgi. She leapt from her seat, levitated, and flew for the door. Before she reached the double door out of the domed chamber, there was a blinding flash. Sassayos' dead body struck the wall to the side of the door and fell to the floor with a sickening thud. The Holy Fassex covered her still painfully bright crystal with her hands until the light from it faded. Under the law, flight before judgment was considered the same as an admission of guilt and anyone could slay an escaped criminal.

Kamagishi gave a hand signal and two priestesses of Galt in red robes appeared and dragged the body from the chamber. Once the body was stripped of its valuables, now forfeit to the crown, an adept of Landa would take the body and dispose of it in the nearest of the Great Cracks under eruption.

The chamber was shrouded in silence as the body was removed. Most of the spectators were shocked given the esteem in which the House of haup Surdos was held. Lord Inorurk, Sassayos's brother turned white and dropped his head into his hands as he quietly wept.

Kamagishi broke the spell. "Sisters, are you ready to pass judgment on Lord Kushamar?"

"We are."

"The list of offenses is long. Is he innocent of any?"

"No."

"According to the Law of Landa, when there are four or more offenses, the worst punishment will suffice for all of the offenses. We have a puzzle, sisters since there are two punishments of death. Which then is the worst? Burial alive or death by exhaustion?"

"The death of exhaustion is exquisitely painful and can last more than a day," Lisaykos commented.

"Burial alive for a sinner brings the long silent terror of never escaping this life even after death until the death of the world," said Senlyosart of the Singing Shrine of Sassoo.

"Cruelty towards thousands is a crime never before recorded in all our history," said Sutsusum of the Hospitable Shrine of Gertzpul in her high and strangely ethereal voice. "So many little ones were sent to Gertzpul's arms so soon and for such a selfish greed. A special crime calls for a special death. Let Kushmar die from both penalties. Let him dig his own grave, deeper and deeper until he falls from exhaustion but yet still breathes. Then, still alive, the earth above him will bury him in the hole he dug himself."

Silence fell on those gathered. The observers outside the Well of Galt were almost afraid to breathe lest they disturb the heavy quiet.

"I find it is right and meet so to do," stated Fassex of the White Shrine of Landa, the oldest of all the high priestesses. As the voice of Landa, she had great influence. "Do you agree, my sisters?"

"Yes."

"But where shall he dig?" asked Moxsef of the Shrouded Shrine of Vassu.

"The dunes of Rax," said Ashansalt of the Bountiful Shrine of Mueb. "Tomorrow, beginning at the second bell. Do you agree, my sisters?"

A final chorus said in unison, "Yes!"

Kamagishi walked to face Kushamar to cast one last compulsion, "Lord Kushamar, you have been judged and given your doom. You will return now to the Citadel peacefully. You will be brought peacefully in the morning to the dunes of Rax where at the second bell, you will begin your punishment. Accept your fate which was of your own making. How say you?"

"It will be as you say," Kushamar said, not able to stop himself from saying it.

"Lord Kushamar, come," one of the two guards called to him from the entrance to the Well of Galt. He rose and silently followed them back to his cell at the Citadel because he could nothing else despite the rage and bitter hate he felt.

Garki in his blue tunic with the gold sash around his waist as a personal servant of the King came running as fast as he could through the crowd under the shrine’s dome, dodging everyone in his path and miraculously bumping no one. He performed a running slide on his knees of at least 10 hands to stop a fingers width from the somber King, who was walking with the equally-somber Queen. With his right hand over his heart and his eyes on the ground, he held up a small box and a letter on parchment while gasping for air.

Imstay gave the boy an indulgent smile, which Garki couldn't see, and took the box and letter. He flushed bright red upon reading the letter and handed it to Aylem. He cracked open the box, peered in, and closed it with a grimace.

The Queen read the letter and all the color drained from her face. "Let me have the box, please," she said in a completely flat voice.

"You know what's..."

"Yes, I know, but I would like to see if it might be saved to reattach later."

"Oh, right, stupid me," he gave her the box. "Garki, please catch up to the high priestesses and ask them to meet me, in..." He tried to think what room would be both large enough and private enough.

"Make it my solar," the Queen suggested. "Since I seldom entertain, no one ever uses it but me, and it has more than enough seating, comfortable and rich enough for all eleven high priestesses."

"And have them please meet me and the Queen in her solar, immediately if not sooner, on a matter related to Lord Kushamar's judgment."

When Garki ran off, Imstay turned to Aylem who had her crystal out and was intent on casting some kind of charm on the contents of the box. "Can it be saved?"

"Yes, I think it should be fine. Someone thought to stomp on it a few times before boxing it up, but it only adds an extra step in putting things right. If they are still alive when this is over, they will wish they had died." She smiled with such concentrated malevolence that he got a chill down his back. He had personal experience with her vindictiveness.

"I take it that you have become fond of this Coyn who has kicked up such a fuss," he said neutrally.

"You could say that. Me and Lisaykos both." They started their walk back to the palace.

"Heldfirk said you saw the instant fire," his curiosity got the better of him. "What was it like? Heldfirk was not a very observant narrator of what he saw."

"The instant fire is several thin coating of minerals and potions at the end of a thin stick. There's a second part to it which is a piece of sandstone, not too coarse, that's been soaked in another potion called red phosphorus. When the stuff on the stick is dragged across the sandy texture of the stone in the presence of the red phosphorus, the ingredients react together to make a flame."

"You're mixing potions with potions. How is that not magic?"

"Not everything that reacts together is magic."

"Yes? Like what?"

"When you pour vinegar into milk and the milk curdles. That's not magic."

"Maybe it is magic and we don't recognize it." Imstay was feeling contentious and needed a distraction to keep himself from thinking about his uncle.

"Sour milk doesn't have an aura of magical energy," she sighed, guessing he was trying to avoid thinking about the trouble at hand. "It's not the least bit magical."

"Oh." He wondered how they would solve the current tangle with the Coyn. "What's she like, this Emily?"

"Shy. Standoffish. Not well socialized. Scared of Cosm. She's usually very serious. I think I've seen her smile three times. Self-reliant and self-sufficient. And smart. So smart it's scary. General Bobbo called her a crazy genius artificer and that's not a bad description. But there's no greed in her and no ambition, other than to have the freedom to experiment and make things. She's unique."

They walked for a moment in silence.

"And she's fragile," Aylem continued. "Small, fragile, and physically weak, even by Coyn standards. And if her kidnappers hurt her badly, I will make sure they die extremely slow painful deaths."

"I don't think I have ever heard of any Coyn being an artificer before," he remarked thoughtfully.

"There are artificers among the Sea Coyn," she replied.

"I guess there would have to be some," Imstay frowned, seeing cracks in some of the beliefs he had held all his life. It made him feel uncomfortable and unbalanced.