Of Burgundy Family/The Daemon Saga/Chapter Four
Contents
Chapter 4: The Golden City
Part 1: Black Omens
Captain Ferdinand
Since the order to march had been given, there seemed to be a release of tension. No disturbance last night, and Lord Brackern no longer acted agitated or distressed. One might almost say he was normal, until one looked into his eyes. There was a gleam of fanaticism there, and a fixed focus on the task at hand.
When Ferdinand saw that, he was afraid. Just how far would his Lord go? How far was he already? It seems that the messengers never had any luck in locating Verdi Woodrick to come to their aid.
At least they made a stop in Golden Farrow to repair, and it looked like they would be staying the night. Perhaps aid might be found for him here?
However, during the night, several men from the local tailor came bearing new tabards for the archers - a picture of a mighty Knight with a golden glowing lance, rampant above some sort of slain beast of evil aspect.
He shuddered to see it.
The blood turned to ice in his veins when he heard the new name the unit had been given: The Daemon Slayers.
Part 2a: A Chance Meeting
Khephera
As Khephera came back from training her men she saw some men rushing through the city. There was a familiar face leading the bunch, although there was something odd. She had never seen the man in such state, he looked.. rather.. exhausted and frustrated at the same time. His armor was disheveled, muddy and bloody.
Khephera thought about the paperwork waiting for her and she became somewhat moody. Then she remembered, Brackern, that was the man. She had thought she'd recognize him easier, but he had tested her memory witht this show. They were almost upon her, and him being a known knight of Caerwyn, she could not ignore him.
"Lord Brackern! How nice to see you." She had already noticed that he would not want to talk, but miraculously he stopped in front of her. "My Archon. How fares you?" He gave a slight bow and his men stayed bowed while Brackern had risen again. " I am well, thank you. She gave him a smile. You, however, look like you have seen a ghost. Would you care to tell me what happened?"
Part 2b
Once Archon Khephera had asked "...what happened?", Brackern looked away past her to the south, and a distant look entered his eyes. "What happened..." he muttered to himself.
After several moments he looked back to Archon Khephera, and his eyes seemed to clear and he appeared somewhat more lucid.
Taking a long, slow piercing look at Archon Khephera, he then spoke again.
"What has happened ... ... Yes, perhaps it is best that you know. My apartment is but a short walk away. Would you care to join me where we can talk in more comfort and privacy?
Part 2c
Khephera
When Brackern asked her to walk with him to his appartment she thought about asking him to the palace. After a couple of seconds she thought he'd want to be in a comfortable place and being familiar witht he setting would be best. "Of course, I will walk with you. Will you excuse me for a minute?"
She headed back to the training grounds and told her captain to order the men readied to leave. "We will probably not leave for another day, but I want the men to be ready. It seems there will be some complications."
She returned to Brackern and when he saw her return he started towards her. When he had reached her he pointed the way to his appartment, "It is over there." He told his men to stay behind for a bit. When they had started walking again Khephera turned her head and decided to make some small talk until they arrived. "How is Mozyr doing? I heard the people are very happy about their Viscount."
Part 2d
When Lord Brackern heard Archon Khephera ask about Mozyr, it took him a few moments to respond, as if his thoughts had been elsewhere.
He replied absently; "They seem well enough. A few complain about taxes, but that is to be expected...I believe there has been a drought there, but fortunately there is a large stockpile of food for the good Duke's waggons never seem to reach it...so long as they have enough food, and coin for a bit of something extra, they are happy."
By this time they had come to the residence, a tasteful small townhouse. The door opened before Lord Brackern could even move to open it - the servants were as diligent as ever.
They made their way up the stairs from the street level to the living-area, then through onto the patio. It overlooked a small, lush garden, with the pleasant sound of water falling from the simple yet elegant marble fountain in the middle, and as the coolness of night descended, the sweet fragrance of jasmine wafted on the breeze.
Offering the Archon a seat, two servants came bearing chilled carafes of wine, with biscuits and sweet-meats. Once the Archon was settled down, Lord Brackern stood up and began to pace along the edge of the patio.
Abruptly, he turned to the Archon and spoke: "You recall the loss of Royal Lucian, and several others, most recently Marshal Ibrahim?"
At a graceful nod from the Archon, he continued - pacing and speaking; "Ever has that been on my mind, and e'en as I swore to avenge Lucians' death, so I have been seeking the slim behind those heinous attacks.
"I have finally found my answer!" he emphatically stated, turning once again to Khephera. A watcher may perhaps have seen, or imagined they saw, a sudden blazing and flaring in Brackern's eyes.
"Whether by design, or chance, a being has been trying to torment me, sending horrific dreams. Assured in its power, it did not think that to influence me would leave a residual link back to it!"
As he continued to speak, he gradually got more worked up, and his voice took on a fiery and powerful taint.
"I have been able to ascertain who, and what it is that has been scourging our lands, and attacking me in my sleep - for they are both one and the same! A daemon named Occun Flameweaver, a daemon from the daemon kingdom of the Zuma!"
At the expression of Archon Khephera's face (shock? surprise? fear?) he continued: "Nay, fear not! In his overbearing confidence he has left himself open. I have...discovered a means to destroy him. Unfortunately I must be near him to destroy the filth. It is for this that I depart the day after tomorrow, to exact my wrath and revenge on this unfortunate daemon!"
Having said his part, he subsided somewhat, and seated himself again, taking a swallow of the wine and a handful of sweet-meats.
Part 2e
Khephera
Khephera sat silently while Brackern told his story. When he sat down and drank from his wine, she gave him an understanding look. "What you are saying seems somewhat unreal, although I truly do believe you. The death of Lucian has struck me too, since he was one of my oldest friends. Although it is said Sir Adalthas was struck by the same monster, I am quite unsure that is what happened to Sir Ibrahim Tuk. There were never found any remains, you know."
She took a sip of her own wine and nibbled on a sweet-meat. As they sat quietly for a minute Khephera shivered as she remembered Beaumains. He hadn't said goodbye when he left, at least, she thought he had left. She had last seen him a couple of months ago and then it seemed as if he had dissapeared from the world of the living.
She snapped out of her thoughts and rubbed her eyes. When she turned her head toward the viscount he worriedly gazed at her. "If you feel you must go slay this daemon I cannot stop you. Although it would be a loss to the lands were you to go." She stood up and looked at a plant, which looked to be groing well here. "Could you at least promise me to be careful? I'd hate to loose another good warrior. These.. things.. have cost Caerwyn too much already."
She looked at him and he could see how brow creasing into a worried look.
Part 2f
As Lord Brackern looked at the Archon, and the looked back, concern in her eyes, the sharp observer may have seen a flicker of doubt or indecision flicker across his features. Only a flicker, however, and no more.
Looking straight at her, he said; "Lady Khephera, my Archon, this task I must do, before another should die. I shall see what word I can find of Ibrahim and Beaumains in my travels."
Part 8: Conclusion
A few days after his meeting with the Archon, his mind had somewhat settled, although the delay chafed at him. "Damn the necessities of gold!" Brackern thought to himself vehemently.
Howbeit that may be, Captain Ferdinand witnessed that the rest in the city had been good for his Lord - he seemed calmer and for lucid, yet still as focused on this mad idea of traveling south.
He had even heard from scribe Aurelius that Lord Brackern had been reading some letters, and penning a few replies. Something he had not been doing of late. Perhaps there was some hope yet.
He had decided to ask Aurelius to try sneak out a letter to some freemen, in the hopes that they might have another relic...he figured that if corrupt relic appeared to have sent his lord over the edge...perhaps another could right the balance. The message should be reaching them soon...he could only hope.
Word was that they would be departing today.
