Chapter 89 - Chance Encounter

Selera stalked down the broad corridor, her leather boots leaving the sound of soft footfall. Her eyes almost sparking with frustration. Wrenna had been correct in her assumption; the Chancellor was unavailable and would be back later in the day. Elonus, the Chancellor’s assistant had discussed it with her, informing her that the Chancellor was currently at the largest storage bunker with an investigative team. He explained that the whole city had been aware of the explosions that had happened up the coast, then the reports from the harbour, the delivery of the torn and burnt flag from the Lychen’s Fiddle. Fearing the worst, the Chancellor himself has gone to investigate the claim that some items had been removed without his knowledge during the night in previous days.

She passed a group of scholars, some giving her disapproving looks in her attire. Their voices rising in a smattering of hushed debate in her wake. Everything was as normal, the hushed voices and shocked glimpses that she was alive and the occasional greeting and those asking her if she was well after such a trial. She had replied in tense tones, there were many who were genuine, but the ease at which her arrival and the events of the morning had been generally ignored, put her on edge. The corridors were no more populated then the norm, those going about their daily duties, and meeting with others in the Hall of Study.

Turning the final corner before reaching the workshop she inherited from her parent’s upon her arriving at the Enclave, she passed a man who seemed out of place. His attire of the desert, yet of finery despite its purposeful nature. He was resting on a bench that overlooked the gardens of the atrium, eyes closed and calm. She slowed her walk, passing at a whisper, glancing down to the garden to see Wrenna still speaking with the woman who came to meet her earlier. Reaching the passage that led to the workshop, she looked back, frowning. He was still there, his back against the pillar and for all appearances, asleep.

Ducking into the passage, she entered a small foyer and then started up a set of spiral stairs; she preferred this entrance over the large doors that opened to a small rail that ran the length of this arm of the fortress. She surmised that they were originally store rooms that were repurposed as workshops and places of learning, not that it mattered now. Reaching the top of the stairs, she entered another short passage and walked to the end, pushing open a single door. Light flooded from the windows and into the room, casting long shadows as the sunlight hit shelves and stacked boxes. Of all the rooms on this side of the wing, this was the smallest, a private study and workshop area that was in an obscure enough position to be overlooked by most. Allowing for the research of old world tech infused with magic without drawing curious eyes.

Selera glanced around, immediately taking stock of the room, her lips creasing into a tight line,“Bastards! Good for nothing…Amateurs.” she growled under her breath.

The whole room had been investigated, it was neat and tidy but nothing was where she left it. Not that it would matter. She quickly paced over to the windows that looked over the defensive wall and down to the harbour. Crouching, she drew a dagger and carefully slid its tip between two panels on the low wall under the window. Selera lips turned up, rewarded by a faint click, the panel suddenly came loose and she pulled it free, leaning it aside. Exposing a generous cavity filled with a small case and two leather haversacks for hiking. She smiled, firstly lifting the small case out and placing it on a nearby table before returning for the haversacks. Resting them against the same table Selera quickly shifted to a bench, opening the drawer and started pulling out items, laying them out carefully.

She stopped, hearing a faint knock at the door, the light in her eyes faintly lit in anticipation.

“Excuse me, I heard movement and let myself in.” a man’s voice calmly came to her from across the room.

Selera looked up, her keen eyes quickly finding him standing at the open door. It was the man from the hallway, his eyes gold and shimmering, visible to her even from across the room.

She nodded to him, “You may enter.” she said, before looking back to the drawer, pulling out measuring instruments and dumping them on the table.

Selera quickly glanced up again, noting his approach and quickly appraising him, “You are an elf.”

“Is it that obvious?” he asked, his voice filling the room despite its lack of volume.

She nodded, pulling the base out of the drawer, exposing a small compartment, “What brings you here? If you were approached by the Enclave for your expertise I suggest you leave immediately and get as far away from here as possible.”

“Is that what you are doing?” he asked, leaning against a bench.

She looked at him, smiling grimly.

“You consider them amateurs? I heard your outburst.” he said.

Selera calmly removed a satchel full of documents from the compartment, before dropping the lid back in place.

He frowned, “Because they are human?”

She stopped, opening the bag and quickly checked its contents, “No, because they believe themselves superior and above reproach, that way of thinking is not born of wisdom…Your business?”

He nodded, smiling slightly, “I came here to meet with someone who may be able to help. I have come across a trinket, some type of device in my travels. There were some writings that came with it that pointed to a location nearby, some of the other items it was found with have led me to search for more.”

She glanced at him mometarily, closing the satchel and strapping it down, “There are many locations near here that survived the catastrophy. What is your reason to be here, in this room, now?”

“I had approached the Chancellor, and I was told there is a man who has knowledge of what it could be. By chance, are you his assistant? I have business to attend to, and I need to know when he will be returning.”

Selera let out a half-hearted chuckle, “Assistant? There is only myself.”

The man frowned slightly, “My apologies, there must have been a misunderstanding. If you are the one I am looking for. I will pay well just for a few moments of your time.”

Selera looked at him, “Keep your coin, I will tell you what I can. But for your own sake as one of my kinsmen, please leave this place today. I am sure you saw the spectacle this morning, the whole city was in uproar, those that are not human will be in danger.”

Frowning slightly, he approached, “Really? Is it so bad here for the elder races?”

She nodded, a serious expression on her face, “You are lucky that I returned. I will be leaving the Enclave today, permanently.”

Selera gestured for him to follow her to a nearby table with an assortment of magnifying glasses and tools. She watched him reach into his clothing, retrieving a non-descript pouch and handed it to her before walking over to the window, distracted. His short white-blond hair shining in the morning light.

“There is a nice view of the docks from here, give me a moment to have a look at what you brought.” she said, her eyes on the stranger while she opened the pouch, emptying it into her hand.

His wordless reply went unheard as Selera looked at the item in her hand, her breath catching, anxiety clenching around her chest like a vice. An armature of black and white dragons surrounded a darkened flaming sun, its familiar weight solid and real in her shaking hands. She quickly turned it over, a gold fire wreathed moon. Flipping it back over again she inspected it quickly, the sun did not gleam with inner life. She looked up, staring at him, trying to force her voice past the pain in her chest.

“How did you come into possession of this device?” she said, her voice desperate.

“It is a long story.” the man said, his back to her, his attention on the scene of the harbour.

Selera narrowed her eyes, biting at her upper lip, her voice small and fractured, “If you don’t mind me asking, what is your name?”

“Martyn Septye, Lord in another part of the world.” he looked out from the window over the harbour, his golden eyes settling on the remaining masts of the Lychen’s Fiddle.

Selera stared at his back, her discussion with Alletair and Illias still fresh in her mind. He turned and met her eyes, frowning slightly at her recognition.

“If you recognise my name, I would guess that you are familiar with the ship The Northern Wolf?” he said, his golden eyes flickering as she nodded.

“So, here is where she has been hiding.” he said to himself, glancing back to the distant ship.

“I am a spell-runner aboard the Wolf. In these waters she is known as the Lychen’s Fiddle.” she said, watching him carefully.

“Spell-runner? Is Illias not aboard? This morning’s spectacle was his doing was it not?” he asked simply.

She swallowed hard, feeling his eyes on her, “He is and yes.” Selera said, watching Martyn’s golden eyes.

He nodded with a small smile, “Good, that is assuring to know, Wife of Alletair the Stormbringer.”

Selera looked at him in shock, “How did you? Stormbringer?”

He smiled at her, tapping his chest, “You bear his mark, and you are wearing the gift I sent. I apologise, I was unable to make it to the ceremony.”

Martyn looked back over the harbour while Selera’s hand instinctively went to her necklace, “What happened to her? She is missing a mast.” he asked.

Selera stood, leaning against the table, her voice strained, “The Wolf? We were ambushed three days ago. I...I, I am sorry, I,” Selera said, tears in her eyes, shaking her head, “I can’t, you have one, how?”

He glanced at her, “I do not know what troubles you, but I came here to ask if any had knowledge of this type of device. What it could be, or if any had been come across. I had heard a year or so ago there were experts here. As I am passing through, I hoped to meet with them.”

She nodded, “You would be referring to my late parents, for the best part of a year I had taken over their role here.” she glanced at the device on the desk, “It looks the same, exactly. The notes alluded to more than one. I just did not expect...”

Martyn watched her carefully, “There are more than one, the writings point to six or even eight. Many years ago, one of these was brought to my attention, more recently I have tracked down two more. You have seen this before?”

Selera nodded, fighting to control herself, “Eight? Three days ago, one was in my possession.”

“It is not now?”

She shook her head, “During the ambush, when we were attacked, I lost my younger brother and sister to it. The foolish girl activated it.” she stared at him, “Where did you get this? The other two you have found, was their sun golden, like it was alive?”

Martyn stared at her, his eyes growing hard, “You still have not told me your name, wife of Alletair.”

She looked as him, his golden eyes unwavering and intense.

“Selera Desilantre.”

She watched him as he leaned forward, his hands on the table.

“Selera, we must leave now. This instant.”

“Why should I, why do you think you can just order me to…?” she said, her eyes wide as he stared hard at her.

“I am your employer and I need you to accompany me. You have an hour to settle your affairs here. Gather what you need, we will meet my partner at the Wolf.” he said forcefully and strode from the room.

She stood in shock. momentarily at a loss for words before chasing after him, catching him at the stairs, “Lord Septye, I can not,” she stopped silent as he turned, those golden eyes looking up and settling on her, unwavering in their intensity.

“Do you not want help with finding your twin siblings?”

Shadow of the Eclipse: Chapter Timeline

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