Requiem
Session Thirty-Five of the Notoriety of Kings Campaign

Terday, 23 Heathaze 204 [continued]

After sending Jhasik back to the palace, Nicos, Elias, Brack, Ravenna and Drasha bundle out of the Raithborne Townhouse and scan up and down the street. Nicos sees a finger of flame floating in the air away to the left, and beckoning him into side street. Nicos leads the way down the alleyway. Unlike the alleys in the Gutterhive, this is a wide and sewage-free tract of road – they are in the nice part of town, after all. The flaming finger stops in front of a high wall, where it continues to beckon as it floats over the top and in to the garden on the far side.

Drasha says that this is home of Silivor, the marquess of Hanilly – or more accurately, one of his homes, for he has two in Uris. Nicos has not come this far to be stopped by a ten foot wall, and he jumps agilely over to land with painful yell in a hawthorn bush. Shredder sails over the wall in a single bound, and lands next to Nicos, hungrily. Drasha soon joins him, but Elias has to help Brack who is finding it difficult to scale such a height wearing all the armour that he is.

On the other side, the party are standing in a small a tract of wilderness on the edge of a very well tended garden. Beyond the foliage, the group can just catch a glance of a well-tended lawn and a house beyond of prodigious dimensions. "Hang on," announces Nicos, "I'll burn my way through." – "No you don't!" comes a deep-throated and familiar voice from beneath a near-by tree. Turning the party see the huge red-bearded form of Belerus Rothsman.

"Nicos!" Rothsman cries cheerfully, slapping Nicos on the back with a piledriving hand. The ex-first flame of Infernus is in good humour, and is pleased to see everyone even Brack (whom he has never met before). He seems to trust Nicos, and has obviously returned to Uris for a purpose. "The Church of Fire is desperate trouble," he says. "Tarrashar is a villain. He was behind Van Caspan's death. He wanted the war. He wanted to destroy our Church. He didn't succeed, but he came close. If it wasn't for me and Varamil, the enclave would have expelled the Church of Fire, and then where would we be? It makes my blood boil that he continues in his office. The fact is simple: he has to be brought down."

Nicos agrees. It is good to find someone who corroborates the story Boudewijn told him yesterday. However, what can they do to bring down a firewalker? He discussed that with Elias this morning. There are obvious dangers in fragmenting the church of fire. "Not if we have the right, Firewalker," says Rothsman. "I've always wanted to be Firewalker. I've never hidden it. Frankly I'd be damn good." Nicos doesn't really agree with that, but any argument he can mount is made redundant by Rothsman's next statement.

"But I'm never going to be Firewalker. There are too many people who see me as a disruptive influence," he smiles wryly. "too many who think I was still up to my armpits in what happened in the Village. What the Church needs is a new firewalker. Some one young and uncorrupted. Someone who isn't seen as either too radical or too entrenched in the old ways. Someone famous."

Elias can feet his heart sinking and his blood pressure rising as realisation dawns in Nicos. "You mean me, right?" Rothsman says that he does. Nicos is well known and popular. He doesn't see the fact Nicos isn't a first flame to be a problem. "Yes, only First Flames can be Firewalker, but you'll be First Flame soon enough. Get some money together and rebuild Scaldarnus, no-one would question your right to be the First Flame of that place. Then once you're settled you can begin your move to take over from Tarrashar. It won't be easy, but I believe that by New Year we can sufficient support to topple the bastard. What do you say to that?" Nicos agrees wholeheartedly with the plan. He says that he has been trying to get some money together to rebuild the church, and he thinks he has found an excellent source of cash.

"One of your backers! I said I would be one of your backers!" stammers Elias as Drasha gives him a withering look. "It's all very well to promise Umbrian money to help your friends, Elias, but it is money that should be spent on the barony and the people of the barony. The previous baron took his responsibilities very seriously." – "What? What was he going to spend it on. Name one thing!" – "Flood defences," counters Drasha so quickly, Elias can tell she has a list of about eighty other things. "We've had a very dry spell recently. If we get a lot of heavy rain, over a short space of time then the Uri will flood and a great deal of farmland will be washed away. Baron Leston was implementing a programme of flood defences." Elias just nods.

Rothsman chuckles at the situation with Elias and Drasha. He gives Elias what he is thinks is good advice, but Elias would rather not have received it. Rothsman and Nicos discuss Tarrashar and his activities at greater length. Rothsman retells the events of the investigation into Van Caspan's death at the end of Suntask, and says that if it wasn't for him and Varamil, the Church of Fire would have been expelled from the Covenant. Tarrashar is dodgy and dangerous. He doesn't like the way he has appointed Vina Leikey as the new first flame of the Grand Conflagration. As a fire eye, Tarrashar can see whatever she sees. "Vina Leikey," says Rothsman wistfully. "I knew her when she was younger. She wasn't always such a cold hearted bitch with a broom up her arse. No. There was fire in her, I can tell you." Rothsman then explained how he knows Vina had fire in side, and Elias's can feel his cheeks burning.

Rothsman is more serious about the creation of a tenth Fire Eye to replace Leikey in Tarrashar's service. "How is that important?" asks Nicos. "We've never been a church for tradition." – "True," says Rothsman, "but there has only ever been nine fire eyes. Ever. It was laid down in the Korvast Scrolls. I don't know what the reason is, but then I'm not a scholar. I only know that it's important, and shouldn't be changed by anyone. Particularly not someone like Tarrashar."

"We shouldn't meet for long," says Rothsman. "Whatever Tarrashar may say about welcoming me back with open arms, I'm sure he has people after me, ready to put a knife between my shoulders. If you need to contact me you can leave a message at the Cloven Skull for Red Beard." Rothsman wishes them farewell, and the group head back over the wall and make their way to the palace. Nicos is quite pleased with this turn of events, but it does nothing to solve his immediately problems of Julian, Boudewijn and Rio.

In the meantime, Ellyboodle and Raza have returned to the palace and journeyed to the apartments of King Yaddagon. When the pair arrive in the king's tower they see a scene of frenzied activity. The king is at his desk reading, signing and stamping papers at high speed. Servants whistle through the room carrying his orders away with them. He is a man putting his affairs in order before the end, and thanks to Raza he has a chance to do so. Alberdark stands next to him pontificating, while Aylisha sits at the back of the room, her face a picture of concern.

"Raza!" cries the king, accepting the monk like an old friend. "Come and sit here and talk to me." Alberdark is entirely underwhelmed to see one of the Chosen of Narramac appear. He evidently believes that Raza is hastening the king's death, not prolonging it. Raza enquires to the king's health. Following his own uses of the sword to stave off the effects of alcohol, and the subzero temperature of an eagle-back ride across Kerikal, he is absolutely terrified that the sword's power is going to wane and the king is going to drop down dead. He actually came to speak to Aylisha, not to Yaddagon, and as soon as he can, he makes his excuses and walks over to the noble woman. Elly does her best to help some of the paper balancing servants, and then helps them pick up all the paper they have dropped.

"Aylisha, I need to talk to you privately," he says. "No one will overhear us." replies Aylisha with such utter certainty that Raza is convinced that she has a magical means to make it so. Raza takes a deep breath because what he has to say is difficult. "You remember Archdruid Tular?" he asks. "We thought he was an ally, and we placed complete trust in him, but he turned out to be a Malificent." Aylisha nods grimly. "You are worried that I will turn out to be like the Archdruid? That I am an enemy in disguise?" Raza nods. Aylisha doesn't appear offended by Raza's words. She smiles at him and relates her history.

"All the court knows the story of Aylisha Allenkai. I was originally a noblewoman from Narrisham. My father was Ulwyn, Count of Arawn in the duchy of Westerland. When he died without a male heir a baron called Tursep was raised to take over the running of the county. I was only a girl at the time, and no provision was made for me. Fortunately my sister's husband took me in. That is what the court believes," she pauses briefly. "It is untrue. I am not Aylisha Allenkai. Aylisha Allenkai perished in a fire when she was seven seasons of age. I have taken her identity as a means to get close to the king. I have done this because it was the only way I could get close to the king. He needs me. I believe that Fate needs me to be here now and keep the king alive for as long as I can."

"Who are you?" Raza asks. It is not an unreasonable question, but Aylisha shakes her head. "And now we come to the same doubts you faced with Tular. I cannot tell you who I am, who I really am. I cannot even speak of it. You will just have to trust me." That statement echoes Narramac's words too closely for Raza's liking. "Are you an elf?" he asks. "No," says Aylisha. "I am not an elf. Look at it this way, Raza. The information I have just told you is enough to have me arrested and incarcerated. Possibly put to death. My position is entirely in your hands. But if I am removed the king will die within a week. Not because I wish it, but because I am the only thing that is keeping him alive. When I came to Brack in the White Suite garden it was because I feared that enemies of the king, such as Count Kristus and Linley Caled were on the verge of discovering exactly what I have told you. That is why I have asked for you help. So, I say again, will you trust me?"

Before Raza can answer there is a knock at the door and a servant enters. "Your majesty," he begins, "The Chosen of Narramac and the Lady Drasha request an audience." The king stands, "Show them in, show them in!" Ravenna, Elias, Nicos, Brack and Drasha file into the room. Alberdark sinks in his chair at the sight of them. At least, Raza notes as he moves to join his companions, Brack left Shredder outside.

"Please sit," says the king. "Move up Alberdark. I was just discussing with the chamberlain the route of the Norandon succession. I have decided to name an heir. Not that I believe that doing so will make any practical difference. With the churches and the nobles indifferent to him, I am certain that ex-duke Galahyde will march into Uris as the new king, but I will be damned if I'm going to allow history to record that I agreed with such a king. I will name someone whom I do approve of. Unfortunately I haven't worked out who as yet." – "I have a few ideas," says Ravenna quickly. "There is no way Ralyon Artusi will ever be king," says Yaddagon flatly.

Nicos takes advantage of the slight pause in conversation to fill the king in on his problem. He speaks of Rio and of Wren, of Boudewijn and the Bombastics. Finally he tells Yaddagon of their plan, and the part that Narramac is willing to play in it. he asks the king to pardon Rio so that Narramac can remove the Bombastic conditioning from her. "The Lord Narramac agreed to this?" the king asks with a trembling voice. Nicos nods emphatically.

"This is out of the question," Alberdark snaps before the king can say anything else. "As Prophet of the Moon Faiths, the king has the theoretical right to demand anything of the sixteen true churches. But it is only theoretical – you may even call it ceremonial. The churches are left to govern themselves. Even during the war between your church and the Watchers, the king did not demand the cessation of violence. No king has ever commanded a church to do anything since the time of Yaddagon VIII and that ended very badly. The churches will not stand for it. They will be alienated. They will turn against His Majesty. And think of yourselves. Being Chosen of Narramac will not protect you from the displeasure of others. You seek to put yourself at odds with your own church, Nicos Allumiére."

"Yeah, well. I love her," says Nicos flatly regarding the king. "I will help you Nicos," says Yaddagon slowly, waving Alberdark into silence. "I don't think I have much to worry about from the churches in this late stage of my life. Raza has done so much for me over the past few days, I hope this can go some way to repay it. There is much to work out, however. All of you should attend the throne room at dusk this evening. We will have a proclamation ready by then."

Nicos thanks the king profusely, the doors open again and Captain Orthus enters at the head of a group of twenty soldiers. They stop and stand to attention in front of the king. "Ah. I am supposed to be inspecting the Daggers now am I not, Alberdark? I haven't inspected them in what seems like an age! Is there anything else?" Elias raises his hand slightly. "I see. Orthus, why don't you and your men wait for me outside." Orthus nods and turns on his heel. "You heard the man!" he yells at his men. "Move it soldier!" – "Yes, dad! I mean…… yes sir!" the young soldier who is evidently Orthus's son swivels around and marches from the room. Orthus throws an exasperated look at Alberdark and then marches after him, his face a thundercloud.

What is it, Elias?" asks the king. Elias tells Yaddagon of Baron Leston challenging him to the Rite of Horann, of the duel and Leston's death and Elias's subsequent absorption of Umbria and Drasha. "I see," says the king. "Well thank you for telling me, Lord Umbria. Leston was an excellent baron. Fair to his people and loyal to the king. He will be sorely missed. I expect nothing less from you, Elias. But tell me, how do you intend to reconcile your new position with your role as Chosen of Narramac. One that is likely to take you far from Norandor."

Elias confesses that he has been thinking about this. He wants to do the best by Umbria, but he knows that he is likely to be away from his barony (and perhaps the country) for long periods of time. Can Yaddagon help him in this matter? Can the king provide him with a seneschal or steward to help him rule? He confesses not to have gone through all of this with his wife. "Or indeed discuss it with her," Drasha mutters so that only Elias can hear. Suddenly, he knows he has put his foot in it again. The king is puzzled, "I could….. but look to you wife, Elias. She can help you much more adeptly than anyone I could appoint could. She is true, and has the justified reputation of being entirely honourable." Drasha colours slightly, as Elias thanks the king for his wisdom. His words muffled slightly, but the size nine he currently has wedged in his mouth.

Before the king can leave, Raza asks to speak to him privately. The king agrees and dismisses Alberdark and everyone else in the room, except the Chosen. Raza asks whether the king remembers their conversation of month's ago, when Raza asked him to provide them with a safe house for after he dies. The king says that he has not forgotten, and the process is well under way. He has not been able to do it himself, but has entrusted the task to another. The other is not Alberdark, but someone else the king trusts implicitly.

The Chosen now have to decide what to do next. Nicos is up for murdering Boudewijn, but agrees that it should probably be after the proclamation this evening. Maybe he should go to the market and make an appointment with Boudewijn for the fifth hour of morning, tomorrow morning, that way everyone can job him together. Ravenna and Raza agree to help, as does Ellyboodle. They all need to be there to make the most of their magic swords. Drasha says that she wants a quiet word with Elias (Elias shudders); Ravenna says that she is going to do some work tracking down the creditors on her uncle's list; Nicos and Brack will head to the market to talk with Eisen. Raza doesn't want to leave the king's side right now. He will go down with Yaddagon and Aylisha to inspect the troops. After than he will venture to Eurikas. Finding out why the Church of Fire only ever has nine fire eyes has just become a priority. They don't want to ask any of the Calafax worshipping churches because of the danger of their investigation finding its way back to Vina Leikey's ears. The Scriveners of Doom might be able to help. They will undoubtedly have a copy (or even the original) Korvast Scrolls in Eurikas somewhere. If they don't Raza says that he will get Narramac to teleport back to his monastery and see what is written about them there. And thus, the Chosen split up once more. Ravenna heads off on her own business, Elias and Drasha head to the White Suite, Nicos, Brack and Shredder to the market and Raza and Ellyboodle head with Aylisha and the king to the palace courtyard.

Aylisha says that it has been several seasons since Yaddagon had the strength to inspect the Daggers of Norandor. King Yaddagon leads the way through a series of plush corridors and down to the parade ground overlooked by both the king's tower and the White Suite. A hundred highly polished members of the Daggers of Norandor stand to attention in the blistering heat. Yaddagon's accompanying cadre of palace guards (led by Captain Orthus) form a perimeter around the parade ground. Raza looks for Orthus's son and sees him standing stock still as far away from his father as possible.

Yaddagon is obviously enjoying himself immensely. He spots a few members of the Daggers that he knew seasons ago, and asks after their health and their family. This is not the infirm king that Raza first met in Suntask. This is a man willing himself to be young. But it is by Will alone. Yaddagon is more drawn and sallow of feature than he has ever been. It is obviously that he does not have long for this world, and doesn't look overly capable of surviving the next.

The king insists upon inspecting all hundred troops. He walks slowly along the lines. Aylisha is concerned about the heat. It's enough to make a hardened soldier a little dizzy, and indeed at one point Yaddagon pauses and wobbles on his feet. Both Raza and Aylisha rush forward, but the king catches himself and carries on as if nothing had happened. Eventually he returns to a marquis that has been erected in the ground and stands while he watches the highly complex and expertly choreographed manoeuvres of his army.

In the White Suite less choreographed manoeuvres are in progress. Drasha calls for Lucien as soon as she enters. Surprisingly, Robin appears. He says that Lucien is not in the palace at present. Elias jokes that he is probably taking his annual leave, but Drasha seems to have momentarily lost her sense of humour. She gives Robin her sword – "In case I forget myself and use it on my husband." – and ushers Elias into the lounge. She chases Misgon from the room and closes the windows and doors. Nicos and Brack, who were on verge of going to the market, sneak to one of the doors to eavesdrop. Crisis or no crisis, Nicos isn't going to miss this for the world.

"What were you thinking?" asks Drasha in such a coolly level tone that Elias shudders. Elias apologises profusely. He says that he continually makes bad decisions. The letter he sent to Drasha from Timberlake, embarrassing her now in front of the king. He tells her of the quest he left Tibrai upon eight seasons ago to drive off the dragon that took over Jotan's Point. How the dwarves of the Auld Kingdom wouldn't help him, and he drifted, directionless, winding up as a caravan guard for a gnomish merchant before embarking on Narramac's quest. He has neglected his responsibilities for a long time. "Now they are our responsibilities," says Drasha.

Drasha is still upset that Elias seems to value her so little that he went over her head to the king to get help in running Umbria. "I know Umbria. I was married to Joseph for eleven seasons. It might not be easy for a woman to administer a barony, but I could do it, I expect to do it. Elias, you're one of Narramac's Chosen. I know that after this ceremony on Caladay, the old wizard is going to be sending you and your friends off on another dangerous quest. I also know that when you go you're going to leave me behind. Someone has to govern Umbria, and I realise that it's not going to be you." Elias has difficulty finding words for the growing admiration of this woman. Drasha goes on to say that before Elias goes off gallivanting again, he must come to Umbria, he must meet the squires and see his people for himself. Elias agrees. He wants to see Umbria, and he wants to see Dralcarnus. He has no intention of be derailed from that again.

Nicos and Brack head off to the market before they are discovered. Once in the bustle of the market stalls and hawkers, Shredders catches scent of a butchers. With a leap he is suddenly dragging Brack through the crowd, innocent by-standers leaping (or being thrown) out of the way. "Shredder, stop!" yells the dwarf. "Heel!" Obviously Brack and Shredder are speaking a very different language. "I'll see you later then," says Nicos.

He soon meets Boudewijn's contact, Eisen – an unbelievably fat and sweaty man stripped to the waist. Eisen at first pretends not to know what Nicos is talking about, but eventually (and for a crown) he agrees to send a message to Boudewijn. Nicos arranges to meet his arch-nemesis at the fifth hour of morning. Nicos turns and heads back across the courtyard, at which point he is jumped by six men wielding longswords. Nicos is completely oblivious as two of his opponents miss him wildly. Then he is stabbed in the back and the penny drops.

"Brack!" Nicos tells, engulfing himself in a nimbus of flame and readying a couple of flame arrows. Brack does not hear Nicos's shout; but Shredder does. The orc-hound, who is currently standing atop a collapsed stall, gulping down whole legs of lamb with gay abandon, pricks his ears and turns. Brack looks to follow the dog's gaze and sees Nicos aflame across the market square, that is now rapidly clearing of people. Brack turns and legs it toward Nicos. Shredder is faster.

Nicos has been badly wounded and discovers, as he unleashes bolts of flame at his attackers, that they are protected from fire with a magical aura. He perseveres, hoping that help will come. Suddenly Shredder lands on the back of one of the swordsmen, five hundred pounds of angry dog pinning the man to the ground. Within a moment, Shredder has ripped out the man's spin from the back of his neck and killed him. Before Brack has even reached the fight Shredder has pinned a second opponent. Nicos reaches out and casts a haste spell on the dog. The result is a rampaging fury of tooth and claw that blends its way through Nicos's attackers. Nicos himself shoots one into a charred mess with a flame arrow, and Brack arrives to cleave one in twain, but the day truly belongs to Shredder.

After the fight, Shredder settles down and begins to eat one of the attackers. "Why have you given him a taste for human flesh?" asked Nicos worriedly, as he flames off. As he does so he feels the molten breastplate slide of his body and land with a damp slap on the ground. Well, Elias can afford ten thousand of those now. It is at this point Nicos realises that he is completely naked – a good job that he has nothing to be ashamed off. Eventually, the militia arrive, but the Chosen of Narramac are granted much leeway in the city, and the pair are released after only a couple of questions. Brack is very pleased with his dog. He considers him to have been very aptly named. Nicos promises to get Shredder some steaks for his help. But the identity of the attackers bother Nicos. Who were they? If it hadn't been for Brack they would have killed him. Who wants him dead? Nicos starts making a very long list. Brack uses his axe to heal Nicos and himself, and they head back to the palace.

Meanwhile, Raza and Elly have reached Eurikas. While Elly examines what Scriveners of Doom wear underneath their smocks, Raza asks to see the Korvast Scrolls. The priests won't show him the original scrolls, but they do have a word-for-word copy in book form, stretching to eighty-seven volumes. Raza decides to enlist help in researching this information. None of the Scriveners present know why the Church of Fire only has nine fire eyes, but they will find out.

However, they do have news regarding the images of The End of Days that Raza explained to them yesterday. All the images that the monk related come from about eighteen different myths regarding the end of the world. The black sea may be the bile in the gullet of the dark one that will rise and burn away the land in fire and destruction. That is an ancient Vikallian myth. Very little is known in Urova of the Prophecies of Kallendros that the Vikallians have long used to foretell the future. Many translations of the Prophecies have been written over the years, some of which exist in Eurikas, but oft they are translations of translations and nothing is wholly accurate. The Black Sea is also mentioned in some of the teachings of the Odyssian Church. Should Sharrash ever be wholly displeased with Man then the world will contract and there will be no travel. The seas will turn black and devour ships.

The Justicians speak of the Great Trial where those of the faith found wanting will be cast out. They will be subjected to the greatest of tortures, that include being nailed to the prow of a ship, and return on the day of Judgement to herald the Great Trial (or the great test) where all will be cleansed of evil. The beetles Raza saw are reminiscent of the devil of Hadradan myth. When the Creator built the world one of his servants betrayed him. The Creator cast him into the underworld where he took the form of an enormous burrowing insect, and the name Daemonicus. Daemonicus gnaws at the foundations of the world and sends his servants to tempt Man. In the endtime he will rise from the ground, and the Creator will be forced to remake the world to destroy him. Or something like that.

Raza listens politely but is unimpressed by their findings. He wants to know the one myth or legend that brings all these things together. The Scriveners are convinced that there is one, but Raza is certain they could find it given time and money. The matter of the fire eyes is the most important task, Raza declares. Now he and Elly must hurry to get back to the throne room for Yaddagon's proclamation.

The Chosen of Narramac are reunited in the throne room and compare notes. "Eighty seven volumes?" Elias exclaims. "How much did that man write?" The appointed hour come and passes, and the king has not appeared. Raza suddenly begins to get very paranoid that Yaddagon has died while he wasn't looking. He tears out of the throne room and down the corridors where he almost runs into Alberdark. The chamberlain, with a sigh of deep boredom, explains to Raza that the king lives although he is much weaker than he was earlier in the day. Alberdark obviously blames Raza's damn fool magical meddling, although he doesn't say this openly.

Back in the chamber Elias is greeted by Count Dolanz. Dolanz has been asked to turn up by the king because this involves one of the terrorists who attacked Castle Caled (now his castle) back in Lollmeadow. Elias senses that this time Dolanz may not be on their side, and explains to the count exactly what has happened with Wren/Rio and how Nicos wants to do his best to save the girl. Dolanz gives this some close consideration. Wren was one of the leaders of the Bombastic cell that infiltrated the castle. Celestine's bodyguard was murdered and the princess herself was deeply threatened. "If Narramac thinks this can be done, then it can be done," says Dolanz slowly. "And if Princess Celestine can live with this then I can." Dolanz speaks to Nicos more seriously than he ever has on this subject. Nicos says that he loves Rio, and once she is saved, he wants to marry her. He asks if Dolanz is married yet. The count shakes his head. "No. The wedding with Rowena was put off after her father was imprisoned. It's funny, after taking the family into the castle and looking after them, Rowena seems more of a daughter than a wife. I'm not sure I can marry her now."

Dolanz stops speaking as Raza and Alberdark enter the room. They are soon followed by Celestine, Aylisha and King Yaddagon. The king looks remarkably feeble. Whatever effect Raza's sword has had on him is obviously on the wane. He sits down heavily on the throne and the room fills with silence. The Chosen look around for Narramac, but the old wizard is nowhere to be seen. Gaston arrives and sits himself below the king.

Almost immediately the doors to the outer chambers open and Vina Leikey, first flame of the Grand Conflagration is announced. The proud women strides swiftly into the chamber accompanied by six fire clerics. The third eye on her forehead burns with an orange light as she takes in the scene. Everything she sees, Tarrashar sees, Nicos reminds himself as the eye sweeps past his place. Leikey stops ten paces from the king and curtsies in a slow bob. "Summoned, I come Lord Prophet," she says.

The king settles himself uncomfortably in his throne and looks down on Leikey. "First Flame, it has come to Our attention that you are holding in your dungeons beneath the Grand Conflagration a member of the Bombastic Church who calls herself Wren. It has also come to Our attention that she is sentenced to death on the thirty-fourth of this month. Is this correct?" – "It is, Lord Prophet." – "We have reason to believe that this woman is not responsible for her own actions. That she is as much a victim of the Bombastic Church than those who killed by them at Castle Dolanz on 1st Lollmeadow of this year. What say you?"

Vina's face is expressionless, but her my is racing. "It is possible, my lord," she says slowly. "However, no means short of the most powerful magic has ever been found to discern and remove Bombastic conditioning. If this was the case, and this Wren has acted contrary to her previous character is not an issue. Whomever she was before such conditioning is dead. There is only Wren, and Wren must be punished. The Covenant is very clear on this matter, Your Majesty."

Yaddagon smiles harshly at the first flame. The moment is slightly spoiled as he erupts in an uncontrollable coughing fit, and has to be supported by Aylisha. He looks down at his hands and they are shaking uncontrollably. Raza moves to stand, to help the king, but a look from Aylisha keeps him in his seat. For a moment Nicos is worried that the king is not going to live long enough to pardon Wren, but eventually Yaddagon grits his teeth, and summons what little energy he has left.

"The Covenant is also clear on other matters, First Flame," he says weakly. "Should an individual proved to have been coerced into acting on behalf of the forbidden churches, magically or otherwise, then leniency must be shown. The degree of such leniency rests first with the Churches, but ultimately with the Prophet of Uros. With me. Would you agree that if this woman can be proved to be innocent of crimes, and cured of her Bombastic conditioning then she would deserve to go free?"

"Were such a thing possible, my lord, I would not only agree with you I would demand the woman's freedom," Leikey is a either a very good actress, or means what she is saying. "But how can such a thing be accomplished? There are none in Uris with the power."

"There is one!" Yaddagon exclaims, but the effort doubles him over. Aylisha catches him before he topples off the throne. Yaddagon spits blood upon the marble floor, then shaking away Aylisha he stands slowly. "The Lord Narramac will act in this matter. I ask this indulgence of the Church of Fire in all expectation of your assistance. Tomorrow morning the Chosen of Narramac will arrive at the Grand Conflagration and remove this prisoner. They will convey her to this chamber. You, or any lieutenant you deem worthy, may be sent as an observer. Once here, Lord Narramac will use his magic to save this girl. Will you comply?"

Vina seems to agree to the king's request with good grace, but the look she shoots Nicos is enough to curdle milk. As Alberdark said, Vina believes the king to have overstepped his authority in this matter. As soon as Leikey leaves the chamber a murmur whips around the assembled nobles. Aylisha takes the king into her arms and begins to walk from the chamber with his. Raza and Brack rush over to assist. Aylisha tells Raza that she fears his sword should not be used on the king again so soon. Brack says that his axe may help as it has recently demonstrated great healing power. Back in the king's quarters Brack tries to use his axe on Yaddagon, but the power fails to function. The dwarf reasons that it can only be used a certain number of times per day, and says that he will return in the morning to try again.

As the throne room empties, Nicos is voicing a different problem to his remaining companions. "Tomorrow morning? We agreed to job Boudewijn tomorrow morning!" After some discussion they agree to take Rio from the Grand Conflagration at dawn, so they can bring her here, Narramac can work his magic and they can still keep their appointment at Scaldarnus to kill Boudewijn. They ask Alberdark to arrange matters for them and determine to be at the fire temple at first light.

Zephday, 24 Heathaze 204

The surviving members of the Chosen of Narramac, along with Ellyboodle and Drasha, arrive at the Grand Conflagration a little after dawn. They had to wait for Brack to use his axe upon the king. The magic unleashed was powerful enough to impress Aylisha, and return colour to the dying face of the king. But he was still terribly weak. Raza did not use his own blade upon him for fear of the consequences.

At the Grand Conflagration, Vina Leikey regards the Chosen with ill-concealed dislike. She utters few words to Nicos except to say that she and eight trusted clerics will be accompanying them back to the royal palace. In short order Wren is brought up from the dungeons. Her hands are chained behind her back. A short length of chain between her ankles prevents her from moving at anything other than a hobble. She is still gagged, presumably to prevent her from casting spells. Nicos feels a dryness in his throat. This is obviously Rio, but when he looks into her eyes he doesn't see Rio staring back. He hopes that Narramac can change this.

It is a very odd procession that leaves the Grand Conflagration. Nicos is happy to carry Rio, but they make as slow a pace as they would waiting for her to hobble. The sun all ready begins to broil the city as the market traders begin to set up roadside stalls. Everyone in the group is alert to trouble, and it is not before Brack and Raza spot a figure calmly walking toward the group who looks remarkably like Boudewijn! Before they can react, Boudewijn raises his hand and a fireball streaks towards them.

Those individuals not fortunate enough to be immune to fire scatter, as the fire clerics are blown from their feet. In an instant, Brack, Raza and Shredder are racing as fast as they can toward Boudewijn. Boudewijn shoots a second fireball at the crowd, and turns to run. All is chaos in the market place. Stalls and market traders are on fire, rolling about on the ground desperately trying to put themselves out. Suddenly, six fire elementals spring into existence from the ether and a dense choking cloud of smoke materialises in the midst of the Chosen. They begin choking and coughing, and cannot see anything as the elementals press on towards them.

Shredder springs on to Boudewijn arriving moments before the others. He brings the cleric to the ground and starts to pull out his spine. Raza arrives and punches Boudewijn in the face. He goes down in a single blow. By the time Brack has arrived it is all over. This strikes the pair as a bit weird. After all, Nicos always built Boudewijn up as the world's greatest criminal mastermind. Something is very wrong. The face of the fallen Boudewijn flickers and is replaced with that of a down and out. Raza notices that in his hand he carries a thin metal cylinder. A device used to cast the fireballs, evidently. This is not Boudewijn, it is a distraction.

Back in the cloud, Nicos and Elias bump into one another. Nicos is still searching for Rio while Elias is searching for Drasha. Quite where Ravenna and Ellyboodle have got to is anyone's guess. Elias feels the heat as a fire elemental passes close-by. The smoke cloud shudders as one of the clerics, perhaps Vina Leikey herself, tries to dispel it, but weathers the spell.

Raza catches sight of Nicos leaving the cloud with Rio slung over his shoulder. He is making his way through the frantic crowd to a building on the side of the square. Raza, Brack and Shredder race over to join Nicos, and tell him that the Boudewijn they killed was a distraction. "He must be out there somewhere!" says Nicos. "See if you can find him, I'm taking Rio to safety." Raza looks at Rio still chained and gagged and flung over Nicos's shoulder. She isn't struggling at all, she seems to be sleeping. Odd. "We're staying with you," says Raza slowly. "What if Boudewijn came after you, you might need our help." Nicos looks distracted for a moment, and then nods. "Okay," help me get to that abandoned house.

Raza and Brack help Nicos into the doorway of an abandoned building. The cleric stands in the doorway, Rio still over his shoulder. "Shredder will protect you," says Brack authoritatively. Shredder looks at Nicos and sniffs suspiciously. Suddenly there is a flash of magical energy and the smoke disappears. Vina Leikey surveys the scene. The elementals have gone as well. They were no more than illusions. Brack and Raza catch sight of something odd. Nicos and Elias are crawling over to an prostrate Drasha. They double take from that Nicos to the Nicos before them. The Nicos before them smiles, and drops a fireball at his feet.

Elias and Nicos look up as an enormous explosion takes away the front of an abandoned building on the other side of the square. Then Nicos sees himself, with Rio over his shoulder, jump into the building. He is fast, but not fast enough. Shredder pounces onto his back and the pair fall forward. Nicos leaps to his feet and charges over while Elias tries to wake up Drasha.

Brack and Raza jump through the doorway after the figure they reason to be a disguised Boudewijn, and plummet down a thirty foot hole. They land on a large magical web spread over the bottom of the shaft. Shredder is also stuck in the web while a wounded Boudewijn and the unconscious Rio are making their way across the sticky strands with no trouble at all. Raza and Brack are well and truly stuck. Their liberation comes in the form of Nicos who, surrounding himself in a fire aura, leaps into the building and falls through the webs immolating them instantly. Nicos, Brack, Shredder and Raza land heavily on the ground. Looking up they see Boudewijn disappear through a doorway in the wall. He moves supernaturally fast. Nicos assumes that he must have hasted himself. "Kelton! Rembrandt!" calls Boudewijn. "Help me you bastards!" Boudewijn's cries receive an immediate response as Kelton and Rembrandt's voices resound ethereally around the room.

"That wasn't the deal Boudewijn!" – "You know that." – "We said we'd help." – "Just not directly." – "Wouldn't want us to get in trouble would you?" – "Wouldn't want that?" – "Find the portal and escape." – "If you can!" – "And watch out for that axe." Boudewijn ducks as Brack's axe sales over his head. He dashes off as Nicos chastises Brack for lobbing missile weapons at Boudewijn when he is carrying Rio. They begin to scramble after Nicos's nemesis.

Meanwhile Elias, Drasha, Ravenna and an invisible Ellyboodle have arrived at the house. They notice the pit and jump over it. Elly rides on Elias's shoulders steering him with his ears. The four race into the building and down a flight of stairs. The other group quickly loses the hasted Boudewijn. They come to a fork in the path. Shredder evidently wants to go one way, and there is blood on the floor leading in that direction. Nicos is not sure. Boudewijn is very tricky. In the end, Brack, Shredder and Raza head one way and Nicos goes the other way alone.

Shredder keen nose soon takes Raza and Brack to a big pile of meat. Boudewijn has tricked them again. There is another exit to this room, leading to a staircase. They can hear the sound of feet powering down it. In a moment, Elias, Ravenna and Drasha have arrived in the room. It dawns on them that Nicos must be pursuing Boudewijn alone.

Nicos races down a corridor. He's not sure what purpose this building was originally put to, but it is a labyrinth. Suddenly he stops as a figure materialises in front of him. It is Kelton (or Rembrandt – he really can't tell). "Whoa there, Nicos!" says Kelton. "You're on the wrong track, my friend! Boudewijn went down a passageway to the right, back there. A secret passage." Nicos regards the sorcerer suspiciously. "Why should I trust you?" – "Why? Because Boudewijn just isn't very likeable. The man's a skunk. We're hoping that you'll skewer him."

Nicos walks slowly backwards away from Kelton. To his right he sees a crack in the otherwise featureless wall. There is a passage down that way. Kelton smiles at him. "Oh come on. When have we ever been enemies?" Nicos nods and turns down the passageway. He is twenty paces from the entrance when he hears Kelton close it behind him. "Good luck!" says the sorcerer.

Nicos races down a short corridor to a round chamber beyond. In the centre of the room is an archway containing a green flickering light. The portal Kelton and Rembrandt mentioned earlier! Boudewijn is running toward the portal, and before Nicos can stop him, he jumps through. But the 'portal' doesn't take Boudewijn any where. The light flickers and goes out. A final prank from the sorcerers. There is no escape for him. Boudewijn curses and puts Rio gently on the ground. The illusion has gone now. Boudewijn faces Nicos. He is badly wounded and knows it. He glances down at Rio. "You've won," he says. "Take her. Just let me go."

But Nicos isn't in the mood for talking. "Die you scum-sucking son-of-a-bitch!" he yells. Boudewijn side-steps Nicos's thrust and imbeds his own sword in Nicos up to the hilt. Nicos staggers backward. Now he and Boudewijn are equally wounded. Boudewijn steps forward. "Let's end this, Nicos. I don't want to kill you." – "But I want to kill you!" Nicos screams. Nicos fights Boudewijn back across the room, and with a flurry has disarmed his enemy. Boudewijn is defenceless and has no means of escape. He stands, helpless before Nicos, and raises his hands. "You got me," he says. A maniacal grin flickers across Nicos's face as he moves in for the kill.

"Nicos!" comes a shout from the other side of the chamber. Rio is awake, and has managed to force the gag from her mouth. "Don't kill him," she says flatly. "What? Why? – "Just don't kill him." Nicos looks from his Rio to his sword to Boudewijn and back again. "But I have to kill him. If I don't he'll be arrested and then he'll escape and take over the world." – "Please, Nicos." There's something in Rio's eyes that Nicos hasn't seen before. She doesn't want Boudewijn to die, and Nicos is scared to find out why. He lunges and stabs Boudewijn, wiping a particularly smug smile from his enemy's face. He then stoops and binds the wound. Boudewijn won't die today. He looks at Rio for approval, but she just looks sad.

There is a grinding sound as the rest of the group charge down the secret passage after Nicos. Ellyboodle spotted the secret door even when closed, and now the group is together again. Boudewijn is bound, and Nicos releases Rio from her bonds. He isn't taking her back to the palace chained like an animal. Rio does not speak, she looks utterly defeated. Nicos has a bad feeling about this.

Outside, Boudewijn is handed over to the church of fire for incarceration and the Chosen, Rio and Vina Leikey head to the royal palace for their meeting with Narramac. "You understand what's going to happen?" Nicos asks Rio. She nods. "You are going to kill Wren," she says. This was not the answer Nicos was looking for. It is true, however. He is asking Narramac to eradicate the personality he doesn't like in favour of one he does. Boudewijn loved Wren enough to risk everything to save her at the end. However, Nicos doesn't dwell on such doubts. He wants Rio back and that is all that matters to him.

In the throne room Wren (for she is not Rio yet) flinches at the sight of Celestine and Dolanz. Nicos gently rests his hands on her shoulders. Yaddagon is not present, neither is Gaston. Alberdark says that the king is still resting after the trauma of yesterday and that he is fortunate to be alive. Gaston seems to avoiding Narramac. The old wizard sits languidly on the throne puffing on a dog end. "Bring her hear, Nicos," he says. "Let's get this show on the road."

Initially, Wren does not go to Narramac willingly, but when she realises that she cannot escape this she walks over to him proudly, with all grace of someone walking toward their execution. "This will not be easy," says Narramac. "Bombastic conditioning is about changing minds with words, not magic. To undo something with magic that was not caused by magic is exceptionally difficult. But I can do it. Rio, I want you to relax." Before Wren can say that the old wizard can't hypnotise her, she is in a deep trance. Narramac places his hands on either side of Wren's head and utters a powerful incantation. Ravenna and Nicos glance at one another. He is casting a Wish spell. This spellcasting will cost Narramac dearly. The room is filled with the flickering of magical lights for ten minutes, and Narramac's brow is daubed with sweat by the end of it. At length he breaks contact and collapses into the throne. His breaths are laboured as is he has run a marathon. "It is done," he wheezes. "Wake her."

Nicos comes forward tentatively. He stands before Rio and takes her by the shoulders. At his touch her eyes flicker open. As she gazes at him, her brow furrows slightly, and then her eyes open in wide astonishment. Now Nicos sees the thing that was lacking from Wren. The spark that made Rio, Rio has returned. "Welcome back, kid," Nicos says. Rio flings her arms around Nicos's neck and drags him down into a long kiss. As she does so she is engulfed in a nimbus of fire, a second later Nicos is also aflame. They stand in the middle of the throne room, as their fire auras intertwine. The flame of Calafax a beacon of their rekindled love.

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