Chapter 255: Unpleasantness_Millennial Mage

Chapter 255: Unpleasantness

 T was able to mostly pull herself back together by the time that they reached the main audience hall, where Sanguis sat in his chair, listening to reports and directing the after-battle clean up.

 From the snatches T had heard and processed on the rtively short walk, the two attacking Houses had been driven back with massive casualties. The House of Blood had lost some soldiers, but far fewer than the Houses of the Rising Sun and Acidic Tide.

 When the group loosely surrounding T entered the audience chamber, a hush fell over those present.

 Sanguis stood, meeting his Eskaus gaze. Pir Be-thric?

 Dead, it looked like a Pir of the House of the Acidic Tide managed to nt a working within his flesh before she was ovee.

 The Pir of the House of Blood cursed. Why is her mouth bound?

 T, for her part, sat in a chair that was off to one side, without being out of the way. She moved carefully, being sure not to make sudden movements as well as allowing the guards and others to keep a healthy distance as she took her seat.

 She felt exhausted, and she just wanted to be alone in her grief.

 Mostly, though, she just felt numb.

 Sanguiss eyes flicked to T. As he took in therge gap left around her, they widened.

 Paun nodded. Her cor was triggered, though the pieces have evidence of both void and acidic magics throughout their structure. My belief is that that shouldnt have been enough to trigger the device.

 Sanguis growled. But you said the Acidic Tide Pir is dead?

 His Eskau nodded. Her Eskau as well.

 Thats something at least. He huffed augh. More than something. That makes six Eskau and Pirs of those two Houses lost, and we only lost one.

 Meain growled.

 Sanguis held up his hands. Be-thric was a loss, and a frustrating one at that. His death hurts our House incredibly, but our two brazen adversaries have paid a phenomenally high price for their attack.

 That seemed to mollify the elf, if just barely.

 Clear the room, save Eskau, adjuncts, and myself.

 Everyone else departed, and the doors were closed after them.

 Sanguis had four adjuncts with him at the moment. That was either the privilege or burden of being head Pir for this city. He had more to manage, so he had more adjuncts to help with the management.

 Gallof was there as well, and Thron stayed as befit his station.

 All told, there were ten of them remaining in the room, including T.

 Sanguis returned to his seat. First, we address the unpleasantness in the room.

 Thron and Gallof stepped forward and knelt, speaking as one, in a clearly ceremonial fashion. We swore our lives in service of a Pir of the House of Blood, and he has passed to the next world. Our service is at an end.

 Ts eyes widened. What?

 She felt an odd moment of disjointment as she waited for agreement that would nevere.

 Tears returned to her eyes. Oh, t. Im so, so sorry. If Id been faster

 Meain nced her way, eyes softening slightly before she refocused on the Pir.

 Sanguis grimaced. By right, tradition, andw, you are each given a choice: Simple, quick death to bring honor to your family within the House of Blood and to elevate their position, or exile for yourself and your family.

 Gallof spoke first. I choose death, that my kith and kin would be allowed to serve and rise through the House of Blood.

 Sanguis nodded. Let it be so. Once the other matters are settled, it will be done. Your service was honorable; may you depart our House with honor.

 Thank you, Pir Sanguis.

 The Pir turned to Thron. And you?

 Ive no family in the House of Blood, Pir. I am grateful to the House of Blood and would part ways without enmity.

 T blinked. He was a ve, and if he had never served Be-thric and me, hed have remained a ve to Gallof. This is an absolute win for him.

 She hesitated, considering, the slow gears of her unenhanced mind struggling to continue the thought. Though his position as adjunct was arguably better than whatever hell have after exile.

 Yet again, she felt the odd sinking feeling of expecting a familiar voice to chime in, before remembering that that voice was gone. t is gone

 T had hope that she could get t back soon, but that didnt fill the void that was present in the moment, nor quell the fear that she would die before t could be restored.

 Sanguis nodded once again. Your service was honorable; may you depart our House with honor.

 Gallof looked to Thron and smiled consolingly. Thank you for your service, my friend.

 Thron smiled sadly in return. Thank you for pulling me from the mines.

 There was a moment of silence before Sanguis sighed and looked to Paun. Now, my Eskau, what is to be done with Eskau Tali?

 The obsidian man frowned. That depends on the circumstances of Be-thrics demise, my Pir.

 Thron cleared his throat. Begging your pardon, Eskau, Pir.

 Sanguis raised an imperious eyebrow. Yes?

 As I am still an adjunct to an Eskau of the House of Blood until this matter is settled, I wish to speak.

 I will listen.

 I see no advantage to the House of Blood in determining Eskau Talis ountability or innocence in the death of her Pir.

 Meain nodded. I agree, but I would hear his reasoning.

 Sanguis looked between them. As you say, go on.

 Thron cleared his throat. If she were to be found guilty, the House of Blood would be forced to execute her. That would require a fine be paid to the City Lord, and doing so would show weakness to the other Houses.

 The Pir nodded slowly. Yes, being forced to execute Eskau Tali would beless than ideal.

 And if she were to be found innocent, then we would be forced into two, far worse options. One, the cor failed in some manner, and we would need to pursue action against the City Lord that we can ill afford at this time. Two, we decide that our own Pir Be-thric made an error in hisst moments, and killed the very woman who had brought so much honor to our House and to him in particr.

 Sanguis was frowning. That istrue.

 The Pir looked troubled.

 What say you, Eskau Meain.

 Meain cleared her throat, tears still in her eyes. I mourn Bes death. But if Eskau Tali is responsible, I have no hope of revenge. She was created by Be-thric, against the will of the council, and her actions are, therefore, on him.

 Ts eyes snapped wide, and she looked to Meain with confusion. Shes just going to say it? Just like that?

 Thron had stiffened, and his head jerked as he tried to look at everyone at once.

 Ahh, so he didnt know.

 But the elf wasnt done, I choose, instead, toy his death at the feet of the Houses Rising Sun and Acidic Tide. I will be taking my sce in their fall or at least in their decimation locally. Too long have the other Houses looked down upon us, and too long has our founding family been whittled away. Now? Now, thest drop of that family''s blood has fallen. Be it myst act in Zeme, I will avenge them upon our enemies.

 Sanguis leaned back. And how does my Eskau view these matters?

 Paun looked to T, grimacing. The dasgannach infects her. Her survival is some quirk or oddity, and cannot continue for long. No one survives. That is the guarantee of the City Lord. He gave a rueful smile at that. If she were to survive, we would, once again, be in the position of having to bring action against him whom we cannot afford to oppose at this time. Treat her as dead. Consider the matter closed.

 The Pir looked to Meain. Youve trained her most recently. Does she have knowledge of the Doman-Imithe?

 The elf shook her head. I have given her basic lessons in its nature, but she has never learned how to enter or leave. Her inscriptions are lost, and without them her magic is insufficient to do naught but die in the broken world.

 Then, it is settled. She will be ced in the Doman-Imithe, like all gated human dead, permonw.

 Gallof spoke. If that matter is settled, I request Eskau Paun perform my execution.

 Sanguis nced to his Eskau before nodding. Granted.

 T didnt see Paun move, nor did she see Gallof die.

 I hate being without my enhancements. The world seemed lifeless, and it felt like a cloth sack had been pulled over her head. It wasparatively hard to see and hear, and processing what she did perceive was difficult in the extreme.

 Honestly, shed barely followed what had been said.

 Though, I would remain uninscripted and lesser, forever, if I could have t back More tears built in her eyes. She knew she wasnt being rational at the moment, but she was experiencing heavy emotional whish.

 Blessedly, if she got t back, shed have everything back, but she had a hard time focusing on that.

 Even as she began to spiral once again, she felt an oddpressure, reaching towards the magically worked steel band that sealed her mouth.

 She shuddered, her attention violently drawn to the dasgannach within her. As before, her mind interpreted the instincts and intentions of the thing.

 MINE?

 It clearly didnt have an intellect.

 It could sense the iron within the steel, but there was no clean path to the metal.

 As good as the seal was and as tightly as the metal was pulled against her flesh, there was still ayer of magic around the device that prevented direct contact with her skin, thus preventing the dasgannach from iming it.

 It clearly wanted to, but it would have to abandon her to do so, and it was unwilling to do that while some of her iron remained unimed.

 Thatthat is a bit terrifying, actually.

 T finally realized that people were speaking again, partway through the new conversation.

 Sanguis was nodding again. That is an excellent point. It would be the height of dishonor to strip an Eskau of our House of that which was bestowed upon her, when she has not been convicted of a crime.

 So, they dont want to rob me?

 One of his adjuncts looked incredibly pleased, but another opened their mouth in clear frustration.

 Before they could speak, however, Sanguis raised a hand. That said, we would be fools to waste those resources. The solution is obvious.

 Paun nodded. Someone will watch over her in the Doman-Imithe, and bring back her equipment after she dies. An Eskau is the best choice for this role.

 She sighed internally. Ah, they wont rob me, but theyre happy to take things from my corpse.

 She honestly couldnt me them. In truth, she was a bit surprised. Shed have expected them to demand the disgorgement of all of Kits contents then and there, but shed apparently misjudged them.

 Meain tsked. I will not spend my time thus. As soon as this matter is settled, I intend to purge toiri of two Houses. If I am not sated, I will purge Tralnor and Yendith of those Houses as well. We will see how I feel at that time.

 The obsidian Eskau frowned. Meain, the other Houses are not children. Do not kill yourself on their des in the name of revenge.

 She growled. Fine. She took a great breath. Once this city is purged, I will bend Eskau De-arg to aid me. Half a century of promised solitude should be sufficient to secure his assistance.

 Paun didnt look happy, but he nodded nheless. He would suffice, or you could call upon the Reserve.

 Meain hesitated. Theythey might be the better choice. Thank you for your wisdom, Blessed Paun.

 Sanguis cleared his throat. While I am d to know that we will not be losing another Eskau in the near future, the problem remains. I will not be without Paun in times such as these.

 The Pir frowned, clearly thinking.

 T had no idea what to do. I cant go to the Doman-Imithe. Certainly not under guard. I need to find a way to get this thing out of me!

 Still, she wasnt fool enough to interrupt. If she were them, shed execute her and be done with it. That wasnt confusing at all.

 In any case, she didnt want to tip them towards that seemingly sensible course of action.

 Sanguis looked up, considering Thron. Thorn. Would you do us onest service?

 Pir Sanguis?

 If you escort Eskau Tali into the Doman-Imithe, and watch over her until her final breath, securing her gear after the dasgannach has left her and perished, then we will grant you resources with which to start your new life, outside the House of Blood.

 Thron paled. Revered Pir. I do not have the ability to enter or leave the Doman-Imithe.

 Of course you do not. We will ce the two of you there, and all you must do is survive and be recovered. Items not near a sapient in the Doman-Imithe do not endure long, else we would simply recover themter.

 How long would I need to endure in that ce?

 Threeno, four days to be safe?

 I could die in that time.

 You could, it is a risk, but we are willing to pay you for that risk.

 If I seed. His tone was t, clearly not pleased with the proposal.

 Of course, no job pays before the work is done.

 Thron nced towards T seeming to consider something. Finally, he turned back towards Sanguis, grimacing. II will do this, but I want the right to im any one item from her Sanctum in addition to all other rewards, and I want assurances that my im will be uncontested.

 He wants the concept sword. Clever.

 Sanguis hesitated for only a moment before smiling. Granted.

 Hed clearly decided that whatever trinket or treasure Thron wanted, it was a worthy price to pay.

 More the fool, him. She felt like giving Thron a congrattory pat on the back, if his fortune wouldnte about only after her death.

 The dwarf and the Pir discussed the actual amount and contents of the reward for a short time before they came to an agreement.

 One of Sanguiss adjuncts drew up the contract, and the Pir and Thron each bound their power to the document. Paun and Meain did likewise, acting as witnesses and additional weight behind the agreement.

 And so, it is done.

 Meain pped her hands, blood still sttered across her face and armor. Am I needed?

 Only for onest thing. Sanguis gestured and another adjunct came forward. We must all sign and attest to this. I will see that it is delivered to the City Lord.

 The Pir, Eskau, and adjuncts all wove their magic into the simple document.

 Then, one of the adjuncts received orders from Sanguis and departed with the paper in hand.

 T barely caught a glimpse of it as it passed, and only its incredibly simple,rge print made her able to see what it said, Eskau Talis cor was triggered, and her body is to be deposited into the Doman-Imithe within the hour.

 Simple, to the point, and utterly true.

 Clever.

 t was not there toment.

 Meain stopped near where T sat. I am sorry things are ending this way, Tali. Id have liked to have met you before

 T frowned in confusion. What?

 The elf shook her head. But that was not meant to be. May your soul find peace.

 Without another word, the elf departed. Only then did Ts seemingly cially slow mind provide answers. She was saying that she wished she could have met me before Be-thric mind-wiped me.

 T had no idea how to process that, not really.

 Sanguis was talking again. Paun, Thorn, please see it done. Thorn, we will see you again in a few days.

 Thron bowed. As you say, Pir Sanguis. It was an honor to serve.

 Paun approached T. Will you need to be led, or can you follow?

 T sighed, exhaling a puff through her nose, then she tiredly pointed at the band.

 Ahh, yes. That should no longer be needed, but I advise you to only speak when spoken to. Do you understand?

 She nodded.

 He snapped, and the magics deactivated around the band.

 At that moment, a fascinating, and horrifying, thing happened.

 T felt the authority of the dasgannach reach out through her now direct skin-contact with the steel and seize all the iron with the device in an instant.

 That action had no outward consequences, but as the band expanded, opening to fall away, T once again heard the screech of intent and instinct tranted through her mind.

 NO! MINE!

 The cor puffed to dust, the carbon, and other elements falling free. The iron being jerked backward to pull hard against her skin, where it melded with the iron paint already covering her.

 Everyone in the room froze.

 What was that? Sanguis had only seen what happened out of the corner of his eyes.

 Paun frowned, taking a step back. The dasgannach imed and retained the iron from within the band of restriction.

 The Pir stood, walking to stand by his Eskau. That should not be possible.

 I concur, but these creatures were designed to exceed their own existence and then to die. The obsidian man scratched his chin. We need to get her into the Doman-Imithe, now. If it has mutated somehow, we do not want it loose within our hold.

 Wait, wait! Thron caught their attention. I dont want to be near it, if its acting unexpectedly.

 Sanguis red for a brief moment, then sighed. I can understand that, Elder dwarf. If you wish to simply depart, we will not stop you.

 Thron hesitated at that, seeming almost to shift from foot to foot, clearly weighing the danger with the suddenly increased potential risk. Finally, he shook his head. No. I will do as you have asked.

 It seems that a chance at a concept sword lessens the fear from many potential dangers.

 Palluan grunted. Then, we must hurry, before things deviate beyond our understanding once again.

MillionNovel

Chapter 255: Unpleasantness