NOVPUBChapter 212: Plans Within Plans, Zyna POV
Zyna retired to her apartments after another meeting for the city’s defense. Telha was on the tributary, and its expansive docks on the river and sea made it difficult to defend. The city had long relied on being too large to effectively attack or capture, with nearly half a million souls within its walls—twice the population of the next biggest city on the continent. Thousands of retired, pensioned legionnaires and soldiers within would also answer the call to defend the walls.
Even now, agents of the Empire were visiting them and making sure their armor and weapons were ready when called upon. They were being told they would not be ordered to march, only to defend the walls of Telha. Zyna knew that was a lie. If things got desperate, the Emperor would break that promise.
Zyna appeared in her room, the teleport bracer sending electric shocks through her body. She sat in front of the mirror to get her hair under control. She inhaled deeply, and there was no odor of cooking food in the air. She sighed and walked into the kitchen, and paused. All was quiet, and no food was ready for her. Cornelius had finally come for him last night.
She had admonished herself for lusting after the young man, but his otherworlder naivete, carefree demeanor, and amazingly focused work ethic stirred dormant emotions in her. She had acted like a lusty teen after watching a stallion take a mare. She had never planned to have another child and locked away her desires, no matter how many times the Emperor solicited a potential suitor for her.
Eryk also reminded her of her lover when she was a mage commander. Taurus had the same wavy black hair, always had a stupid grin, and never took anything too seriously. Taurus had been her first shield, advisor, and was twice her age when she took over the company. He was the only son of a minor Baron who was too poor to pay for his son’s First Citizenship. Taurus volunteered for the legion, hoping to claim a pension one day and take over his father’s small estate on the coast. In their years together, Taurus guided her on leadership and so much more.
It was not uncommon for female mage commanders to seek pleasure from their men. Due to Zyna’s powerful fire affinity and spell arsenal, she had been given an experienced company of legionnaire volunteers to protect her. Zyna ravaged the Empire’s enemies with her firestorms. As they traveled across the Empire in their duty, Taurus’ father passed, and his estate was seized by the duke of the province for taxes owed. Zyna promised him they would regain his father’s estate and raise a family after they completed her service.
They eventually had a daughter, Mila. While Mila was young, Zyna was assigned to the Mage College as an instructor. Her legionnaires were stripped from her and reassigned as she had no need of them at the College. As Mila grew, Taurus and Zyna’s plans to marry cemented. Then, the Emperor decided it was time to push back the trolls in the Agorian swamp. Taurus’ new mage commander perished with all his men in a failed sortie deep into the swamps.
When Zyna learned of his death, she went into a rage and portaled to the Agorian swamp and burned everything she could—frequently coming close to burning her aether channels, but enjoying the warning pains throughout her body when she got close. Hundreds of trolls died to her rage, and only the connection to Mila kept her from sacrificing herself in her wrath.
Her actions earned her many titles in the Empire, such as Fire Witch, Flame Harbinger, and Dragon’s Fiery Breath, among others. It was not long before the trolls hid in underground burrows and refused to venture forth in fear of the Empire’s Fire Witch. The Emperor named her High Mage of Fire, raised her to First Citizen for her service, and gave her Taurus’ father’s barony. Still, resentment lingered for her. The Empire had ordered her lover to his death.
Baroness Zyna moved to the tiny barony on the coast to raise their daughter. She retired from the Mage Academy, and the years were good on the northern coast. Mila was like her father, always grinning and loving life. It saddened her when she took her tablet testing at sixteen, and she was found powerful in both fire and celestial magic.
Mila went excitedly to the Mage College, and all too soon, she was commanding her own mage company of legionnaires. Mila sought to make her mother and father proud, but instead, she was killed two years later when the Emperor sent her company to repel the goblin hordes in the south. It was one of the worst surges in a century, and more soldiers, legionnaires, and mages should have been sent to confront it. But the Emperor was too fearful the Bartiradians would take advantage on the Eastern border.
The loss of Mila was the end for her. She had lost her love and precious, innocent daughter. Antonia found her soon after, and it did not take much time to convince her that the Empire needed change.
Zyna reached the kitchen to find two letters. One was addressed to her and one to Renna. She opened hers first. The near-perfect penmanship read:
Zyna,
I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I can't express how grateful I am, and I really hope we’ll always remain friends. I’ve cooked dinner for you and put it in the larder, and there’s a little package waiting there too. I left some essences for Renna and would appreciate if you could pass them along to her. Plus, there's a book for Ignis, Oh, and I stumbled upon some mage robes that I think a certain Elven summoner may have left behind. You can consider those a small gift from me, in appreciation for your help.
-Eryk
“That little weasel,” Zyna smirked. “You did have more of Traeliorn’s possessions.” Other than uncovering the tablet reader, Zyna had respected his space. She had only entered his small room that one time because she was shocked that Eryk had chosen one of the smallest rooms in the suite. There were large, opulent guest rooms he could have occupied.
She marched into the cold larder, and her jaw dropped. Large jars labeled apple-berry jam were on the shelf. A dozen caramel loaves were frozen and just needed to be heated, and large strips of meat hung. He must have emptied his dimensional space and left her everything he had left from the dungeon. It was a pity the aetheric bleed would ruin the restorative properties in a week.
The bag he mentioned was relatively easy to find. She opened it to find a small bag with an apex and minor air essence. Did he get these in the dungeon as well? Maybe in a reward chest. Zyna hoped Renna appreciated the magnitude of the gift. Any apex affinity essence carried immense value among the First Citizens.
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A heavy tome was on top, and this must be the book for Ignis. Her Elvish was terrible, and she couldn’t grasp the faded title. She paged through the smithing book, not thinking much of it, but paused as the illustrations clarified what this was. It was a step-by-step instruction manual for creating the mythical Elven chain mail.
She had seen the fantastical chain shirts in person, which were worth a king’s ransom. However, working the mythical mithril was incredibly difficult. The fool boy could have sold this book and lived in luxury in any kingdom on Desia. She shook her head, closing the book. She would give this to Ignis after the Emperor had been deposed. Otherwise, Ignis might get too distracted with trying to create the chain shirt herself.
She pulled the last item in the pack out and unfurled the bundle in the bottom. She tested it with her aether, and the robe shimmered as she held it. These were Traeliorn’s robes? Zyna had owned very few artifacts over her decades. This was partly due to her modest funds and lack of interest in such objects. She examined the robes in detail as she searched for damage or blood. Nothing. They were as pristine as if they were new. If Traeliorn owned them, then there should be more to them. He was one of the most powerful mages on the continent.
She carefully folded the robes and packed them away. She trusted a few mages who could use a revelation scroll on them. She would have to be patient and wait for the opportunity to broach the subject with Chancellor Evander. Yes, she decided, he would be fascinated by them if they were as powerful as she suspected and keep the secret. The only danger in wearing them was that someone from the Bartiradian Kingdom might recognize them as belonging to Traeliorn.
Zyna found some frozen meat buns Eryk had left for her and took them out to heat. It took some time to figure out the thermal stone on the oven. Even though she had repaired it for Eryk, this was the first time she had used it. An hourglass was nearby, and she took it into the common room to read while she waited.
She had been reading up on the last war with the orcs of the Boutan Caliphate. She wanted to make sure she understood their preferred tactics of the war clerics and warlords if they did try to besiege the capital.
Zyna paused and resisted showing surprise as she entered the common room. Antonia was seated on the sofa, sipping some tea. “Did he make it to training safely?” Zyna asked, a little concerned Antonia’s unannounced visit meant something happened to Eryk.
“The boy is fine. Did you learn anything about his origins while he was under your roof?” Antonia said while studying the fire mage.
“No. We never talked about it.” Zyna moved and sat across from Antonia and crossed her legs to get comfortable.
Antonia frowned, “The agents I sent to the village where he appeared didn’t find any signs of other otherworlders.”
Zyna arched her eyebrow, “Is that a problem?”
“He could be lying. All the records of otherworlders have them arrive in groups,” Antonia stated flatly.
Zyna shook her head. “I am certain he is not from Desia. He is a terrible actor when it comes down to it. He is as readable as this book.” Zyna placed the book on the cushion next to her.
Antonia studied the book’s title with her eyes dancing quickly. “The Supreme Cleric will not attack Telha directly. My agents within the Caliphate borders are certain they will attack in the west.”
Silence hung for a moment before Antonia asked, “Were you aware he visited the Adventurer’s Guild in the lower city?”
Zyna’s mind raced as her face remained impassive. “I was aware. He has been experimenting with alchemy and sought some potions there.” Zyna cursed Eryk for putting her in a position of lying for him. Why didn’t he just ask her?
Antonia nodded, “That follows what I learned. He spent some time in their procurement room. He is either a terrible actor, as you say, or brilliant and has all of us fooled.”
“He isn’t hardened like most legionnaires. I would know if he was deceiving us.” Zyna defended him, which caused Antonia’s brow to rise in surprise.
Antonia seemed to be weighing something in her mind. “Do you have the blood sample?” Zyna pursed her lips but slowly nodded as she went into her room and retrieved a tunic with dry blood and a hole above her heart. Antonia looked at it and nodded. “Good. Was he aware the blood samples from conscripts are never sent to the Archive?” Antonia proceeded to fold the garment carefully.
“No,” Zyna replied tersely. Only those with a lineage who volunteered for the legion had their blood archived with the mages. It became convenient for the Empire to let everyone think all legionnaires could be cursed with abyssal magic or tracked with blood samples. Zyna knew Antonia had requested this sample as insurance. She was risking a lot with her faith in Eryk and placing him so close to Centurian Sergius.
“Good. Duke Octavian will supply fourteen loyal legionnaires when we move on the Emperor. I have two more mages in addition to Castile to support you as well,” Antonia stated with finality.
Zyna stopped her. “I still think it is a mistake placing Octavian on the throne. If Castile learns about it, she will not aid us, and it is her ability that is most needed to succeed.”
“Then she better not find out,” Antonia said forcefully. “Duke Octavian will not wear the crown long anyway. Focus on what you need to do. When the Emperor leaves the Palace, we will gather the collaborators and move. Do you know when that will be yet?”
Zyna narrowed her eyes. “He plans to march to the greatest threat with a thousand Imperial Legionnaires and ten thousand soldiers supported by more than two dozen mage companies. Whether it is the orcs, elves, or Bartiradians, I do not know. He has built massive defenses around the Titan ruins but seems ready to cede the Western Empire to the orcs to keep his hold of the ruins.”
Antonia’s eyes moved rapidly as she thought. “It is too soon. Delay him. Tell him you will march with him, but he must not march until I have everyone in position. If we fail, it will be the end of us and probably the Empire.”
“If he’s clear-headed enough to heed my advice, I will do everything in my power,” Zyna declared with a bitter taste in her mouth. She was too far down this path to change her mind. It was her hope that replacing the Emperor would prevent the Empire from collapsing under its own hubris.
“Good,” Antonia stood. “I need three mages capable of imprinting the spell form for sending messages. The new class of plebeians should start arriving soon. Here is a list of names Konstantin sent me with a high enough affinity in air magic to learn it. Hasten their imprinting process and prepare to send them to me when it is done.” Antonia didn’t wait for Zyna to respond before heading for the exit, her teacup still steaming.
Zyna questioned if she was on the right side of this? The Emperor had ordered her lover and daughter to their deaths with little purpose. However, her aid to this conspiracy was not about revenge against the Emperor. No, she told herself she was saving others from the same fate. If Emperor Octavian escaped Antonia’s plans for a short rule, then the Telhian Empire might be worse off.
Zyna retrieved the buns from the oven and walked to her bedroom, savoring them for their aether and taste. After eating the scrumptious dinner, she pulled out a bloody undershirt with a hole above the heart. The dry blood cracked as she handled it, and Eryk’s familiar scent filled her nose. She hadn’t decided which shirt to give Antonia, the one with Eryk’s blood or the one with pig’s blood, until she had been asked for it. The shirt with Eryk’s blood in her hand suddenly combusted into ash, showering to the floor. She hoped she had made the correct decision.
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