Chapter Eighty-Three: The Pieces Are Placed


    Member Tyrian was finally out of the hospital and working again, as was T’tam himself, and it relieved T’tam’s mind, but his daughter was still dead, and she couldn’t be brought back. It was clearly having a toll on Tyrian, who would often look around in a paranoid stupor to see if someone else had died.


    T’tam himself was having trouble in his life. His wife, his assistant, and his Member friend all knew he was hiding something, especially after he’d gone through the hospital, and all had grown colder to him because of it, although Rosia was trying not to show it and be as supportive as possible.


    Now another Member’s wife had been kidnapped, and it was strange. Member Thurri was neutral, so why would the Cult target him? Either way, the Sterkona had decided to support the kidnapping, which left a sour taste in T’tam’s mouth. Why would the Sterkona do that? The other members, and even most of Magefell, seemed to be on his side, Yue’s fame souring slowly. It didn’t make sense, but, then again, nothing with the Cult made sense. Wesron was happier these days, and that did not bode well for T’tam, who eventually decided he was done.


    Something must be done; the Cult was winning too much. The Cult knew all he was doing, so he would have to be very careful about it. That day—days before Member Thurri’s wife had been kidnapped, he had accidentally dropped a paper in front of someone, subtle enough to escape notice from any Cultist watching him, but obvious enough for the other person to notice. Hopefully, that someone would get it done.


    It took a week for him to get any response.


    — — —


    “Someone wants to talk to you,” Maddy told him, scowling. She’d never forgiven him for not explaining why she’d almost died, but T’tam had no choice. If he did explain it, she would die, that much was obvious.


    “Bring him in,” T’tam replied, thumbing the knife he’d bought recently. Every time anyone wanted to enter, he’d unsheathe it, preparing himself to fight whoever he needed. After everything he’d gone through after the battle, he didn’t take any chances.


    The woman who entered was not the person he’d given a note to: while this woman was ginger with well-toned muscles and a well-defined bust, the one he’d given the note to had been brown-haired, skinny, and completely flat-chested. Then again, he’d given the note to a man, and the person standing in front of him was a woman.


    “We’ve received your note,” the woman told him.


    “And? What did you find? Who’s we?” T’tam asked, folding his hands in front of him and smiling.


    “You may call me the Infinite,” The woman replied. “We want to know just as much about the Cult of Dautha as you do. We did some digging into the murder of Tyrian’s daughter and of the kidnapping of Tayaina.”


    “That’s what I asked you to do. I even told you all I knew,” T’tam responded, irritated. “Do you have anything you wish to tell me?”


    “Of course,” the Infinite replied. “But, more than that, we wish to talk. If I offer my evidence, I do not want any reward. All I want is to talk to you.”


    “Is that so?” T’tam asked. “Well, it’s only fair enough. Spill the beans.”


    “You were right. The Cult ordered the kidnapping of Tayaina.”


    “I knew it! Do you know who the person was?”


    “We suspect the Sterkona went about it.”


    “What? But she’s against all of it,” T’tam said sharply. “She can’t have done it. How do you know?”


    “We cannot tell you how, but we can say she kidnapped the wife.”


    “You don’t have proof, do you?” the Member asked.


    “We do not,” The Infinite replied. “But that is not all we have learned. We have also learned that you and member Tyrian may not be the only Members currently being blackmailed by the Cult. Three other Members may also be receiving letters and in danger of losing loved ones. Member Thurri himself was getting blackmailed, most likely. Our proof of that is this.” The young woman sent a package toward T’tam who caught it and looked around.


    “The Cult must be watching us now,” he said.


    “No, I guarantee they are not,” The Infinite replied.


    “Who are you? Who did I send the note to? I thought it was a simple page!”


    “Think again!”


    Grunting, T’tam opened the package, retching as he found the hand inside.


    “What is this?” He asked.


    “Long dead, we assume,” The Infinite responded. “It’s more a threat than anything. I would advise you to reach inside the package and remove the other object.”


    He did so, and inside, he found a letter, written in the Cult’s familiar handwriting.


    Never again disobeyed us. You did good in voting for Kol Guyhian, but you should never have tried to disobey us. For this, Tayaina will be taken and ingrained into the New World. It must be done. Take care of Icy well. He may die.


    Ciao, Your saviors.


    This is not a bluff Thurri. Soon, you will understand.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    “We intercepted this communication,” the Infinite told him. “I’m sure you yourself know their handwriting and can confirm how genuine this is,”


    “I could go to the parliament with this, and we could have the Cult—”


    “What? You expect the Cult to lose?” The Infinite scoffed. “No, you need to think better. Now is not the time to move against them. But now we understand their plot. I expect soon they will be asking you to make the wrong decisions, just like they did with Xander!”


    “Xander? What do you mean? Yue’s Xander?”


    “The matter is of no import,” The woman responded.


    “Do you have any other news?”


    “I do, but this one may unsettle you.”


    “Tell me anything, I am ready.”


    “Very well,” The Infinite told him. “We have it in good confidence that the Cult is planning to win the battle against the Horde but on their terms.”


    “What do you mean?”


    “They plan to wipe out any non-cultist mage during the battle, or, if impossible, they will try to uproot them. The battle is not between the Horde and Magefell. It’s between the Horde, the Magefell Cultists, and the Magefell non-cultists.”


    “Damn,” T’tam groaned. “Do they not understand the severity of our situation?”


    “Of course they do,” she said. “Why do you think they’re planning something extreme like this? Now, what we must do is prepare any non-cultist mage, but how?”


    “How indeed?” T’tam furrowed his brow, then lightened. “I could talk to the Sterkona!”


    “No, the Sterkona may be compromised,” the Infinite replied. “But I may talk to her.”


    “Then I must talk to Helstrom.”


    “A fine idea, but a flawed one nonetheless. The Cult still keeps permanent tabs on you. Do not think that they would not know as soon as you talked to Helstrom. As soon as you walked in his direction, they would be alerted. You must send someone else, say, your page, on that mission, but give them something else to do as well, so it isn’t as suspicious.”


    “Why don’t you go?”


    “I have more important things to take care of,” The Infinite replied. “Now, have I provided enough information for me to deserve a talk with you?”


    “You have,” T’tam agreed. “What is it you wish to speak on?”


    “One thing only,” the Infinite said. “I wish to speak on myself.”


    “What do you mean?”


    “By now, you must have gleaned I did not act alone. After all, I use the pronoun we. That must be for a reason.”


    “I have realized that, yes. But so what?”


    “Well, suffice it to say for now, we are on your side. We have long opposed the Cult, but have now decided it is time to stand up and fight.”


    “Then why have I never heard of you?”


    “Because we’re subtle, and will stay that way, until we deem it is time to change that,” The Infinite told him. “All we wish is that you understand that and hear us out.”


    “How do you mean?”


    “Well, in opposing the Cult, we hope to change the Parliament, improve it. We hope to influence our own Members of Parliament, much like Duatha is influencing his own, except without the blackmail, of course.”


    “And how are you going to fight the blackmail?”


    “Leave that to us,” the woman responded. “But if you listen to us, and take our advice into account with your advice, then you shall be the first to truly oppose them.”


    “Why me?”


    “Isn’t it obvious? You’re the one opposing them the loudest.”


    “I’m also being blackmailed.”


    “Oh, Dautha won’t make you do anything you do not wish to do for now. It would be strange for Member T’tam to take a 180 from one day to the next, especially when he had to fight the Cult the way he did. No, for now, the Cult will mostly let you have your freedom, albeit with some restrictions. And you will obey the restrictions until we can break them.”


    “I don’t know if I trust you.”


    “Who else can you trust?”


    “How can you guarantee the Cult isn’t watching us?”


    “Fair point, but if the Cult were watching us, we would both be dead or dying, or your family would. You would’ve already received a letter from them. I cannot break the Cult’s power, but I can loosen it.”


    “So does that mean I can talk to others about this?”


    “I would advise not to. My power is not omnipotent or infinite, no pun intended,” The woman grinned. “The Cult will still have jurisdiction over you, at least for a while. But I advise you to keep advocating against them, to still investigate them, and keep up the work with Tyrian, because I fear he may still be a player in this game.”


    “When did politics get this complicated?” T’tam groaned.


    “Oh, I’m sure you joined for that exact reason.”


    Grinning, T’tam nodded. “That may be true, but it does not mean I enjoy all this. I miss the days when politicking with the Cult was subtle, just a phrase here or there, not kidnapping and murder and blackmail1!”


    “It is too late to change this,” The Infinite replied. “Times are changing, as I’m sure you know. You can’t live in the past anymore. The new world order is coming, and only the winner may decide that. War truly is coming, T’tam. Whatever side you’re on is up to you, but I would advise you to choose the right one.”


    “Is that a threat?”


    “No, a warning,” she replied. “Trust me, war truly is imminent.”


    “I know,” T’tam replied. “There’s a rumor going around Magefell, that I’m sure you know. The Apocalypse is coming, the many battle. Step one was the Battle of the Arena. Step two will be the battle with the Horde, and then step three will be another battle, then step four and so on until the world is destroyed. Do you believe in that rumor?”


    “It may be right,” The Infinite admitted. “But we cannot be sure of it. It is Better to focus on the present while looking to the future instead of the other way around. Now, your answer member T’tam. Will you help us or choose to stay in the throes of the Cult.”


    Sighing, T’tam gave his answer. “I will join you, albeit hesitantly. That does not mean I will agree with everything you say, or even that I will obey you.”


    “We agree,” She responded. “It is merely an alliance, but one that will be helpful for Magefell and the world beyond.” Standing up, the Infinite reached out her hand and shook his “Pleasure doing business with you, T’tam. May we win the coming battle and wipe out the Cult once and for all.”


    “Yes,” T’tam replied, showing her to the door. “I pray you can truly do what you are promising, and I shall trust you.”


    Opening the door, T’tam was shocked to see a pale Maddy, staring at him, her eyes wide and her face blanched more than normal. Her chest was heaving.


    “This is what was happening the whole time?” She asked. “I can’t believe it. Gods help us.”