Chapter 51: The Politics of the Forum

Chapter 51: The Politics of the Forum

Faline wasnt a great cook. In fact, she was pretty terrible. At least she was able to warm and soften the preserved pemmican, mixing it with a bland grain. He tried to ignore the burnt edges.

Nathan didnt consider himself much better, but hed lived on his own for more than a year before hed come to Davrar. He could manage eggs or a stir-fry. Unfortunately for them both, the cooking equipment was enchanted and Faline wanted to keep it that way, so she handled the cooking.

Over dinner Faline described their next move. Trust my word, we should stay hidden for tonight. I want a building sense of smoke and blood in the city, not a spree of sudden attacks. I want news of the killings to spread across Giantsrest, leading all to wonder what may come next.

What does come next? Nathan asked, awkwardly trying to scratch his back through the heavy mage robe shed given him. Are we going to find somebody else from this hedonist faction and kill them so they start getting paranoid?

Falines answering smile was a picture of menace. No. We will find a gathering. A party if one occurs, a meeting if one does not. The is always a party in Giantsrest, and tomorrow morning I will hunt it down. Then we will strike.

Can I come? I want to train up some skills, and sneaking around the city has been good for skill ranks so far.

Faline rolled her shoulders in a languid shrug. As your flame calls. You are a good companion to have, making barriers of adamant evaporate like mist. The assassin stood, casually tossing her plate into the sink. Clean up, and we can become comfortable. She spoke with a suggestive lilt, and sauntered over towards the bedroom.

Nathan grumbled, getting to his feet and thinking about what was about to happen. Faline had been trying to seduce him ever since theyd entered the city. He wasnt sure if she was about to proposition him or if she was waiting for him to make the first move. The intent was clear either way.

Im of half a mind to go along with it. Shes impressive, powerful and hot. And whos never had a fantasy of a lover who can change shape and even sex? Exciting in all sorts of ways. But Im also not sure I trust her, and thats a bigger deal.

He frowned as he scrubbed at the plates under the cold water of the tap. There was plumbing in the apartment, but it was limited to a single cold water tap in the kitchen and a running trough in the bathroom. But he was glad that doing the dishes meant he had a chance to think this decision through. While it would certainly be exciting and fun to get into it with Faline, it would be an extra risk. Being attracted to somebody hot was one thing, but having sex in the middle of enemy territory with the only person who could guide him through that territory seemed dumb.

Its like something out of a Bond movie, where he sleeps with somebody and you immediately know theyre either going to betray him or die. This isnt a spy movie, but theres certainly the risk that sleeping with Faline goes terribly. Under these conditions we cant exactly have a one-night fling and go our separate ways if it doesn't work out. The initial posting of this chapter occurred via N0v3l.B11n.

Though - Davrar wasnt Earth, and it didnt have the same social paradigms. Both he and Faline were adults, and if they talked about it then maybe they could have some great sex without complications. Nathan certainly wanted to on a physical level. But there was still doubt in his mind, reservations that wouldnt quite go away.

I think she used social skills to influence me towards killing people back in Halsmet. Im not sure about that, but I did notice that I was only able to really stand up to her after my [Mental Fortress] Development.

The thought triggered another memory, and Nathan remembered the aftermath of the battle against Giantsrest. Hed stood over dozens of surrendered mages with Kia arguing for mercy on one shoulder and Faline promoting slaughter on the other.

I got a rank of [Mental Fortress] when I told her no. That reinforces but does not confirm my suspicions. Why didnt I notice it at the time? Was there another mental skill, or did I just have too much to think about at the time?

Are the dishes clean yet? Faline asked from the bedroom of the apartment. She stood silhouetted wearing a dressing gown of sheer fabric, almost a negligee. It was a dark purple but thin enough to show the paleness of her skin through the fabric. She wasnt wearing any underwear.

Nathan sighed, looking down at the dishes and realizing that theyd been clean for a little while. He set them to dry, and met Falines smoking gaze.

Decision time. Ultimately Im worried that Im a tool to her, and this might just be a way for her to control me. As long as Im careful here I can always say yes later, when were not literally in the heart of Giantsrest. When things arent quite so complicated, and I trust her more.

He nodded as he came to his decision, making sure to engrave his choice into his memory. He wouldn't change his mind unless he had good reason to. He met Falines eyes and gestured towards the couch in the sitting room. Ill sleep there. I can use my bedroll if you dont have spare blankets.

Mental Fortress 7 achieved!

The beautiful woman looked at him with an unreadable expression before responding with a single syllable.

Ah.

There was a volume of meaning packed into the word, conveying disappointment at his refusal and assurance that she wasnt upset. The sultry look she shot him over her shoulder as she turned away communicated that the offer was still open.

Now lets just see if she keeps pushing.

They left the apartment early the next morning with an imperceptible distance between them that hadnt existed before. Faline wasnt quite so familiar with him, but she still flirted mildly and got into his personal space a few times. She managed to skirt the line masterfully, backing off right before he was about to bring it up every time.

Nathan decided to let things lie. They were here to destabilize an empire, and he wanted all of their focus on that task. We should have different disguises today. Those mages might have told somebody that a young couple were looking for the Stedsts. Maybe two brothers? Nathan suggested.

Faline shook her head dismissively. An attractive appearance makes information gathering an easier target. She pursed her lips. I can be your younger sister, recently graduated from the academy. She pulled out the pink robe of an entertainment mage for herself and gestured for Nathan to reuse the same enslavement mage robe as before.

They left the safehouse shielded by Falines skills until they reached a neighborhood where two mages wouldnt be remarked upon. Then they found a local cafe where ten mages were engaged in a freewheeling discussion. Unsurprisingly the gossip centered around the maneuvering of the various groups as they tried to grab power from the sudden vacuum that had resulted from the death of so many powerful and prominent mages during the battle. The current focus seemed to be trying to figure out how the death of the Stesdt couple fit into the political maneuvering that dominated the city.

Nathan did more listening than talking, but he did speak up a few times where there was an obvious gap. He kept Falines advice in mind, trying not to say anything falsifiable while suggesting twisty motives for the murders on the parts of the Nails and the archmages.

Low-tier Disguise 8 achieved!

The chief gossipmongers seemed to be the trio of mages who owned the cafe. They held court from a raised plinth, resting on overstuffed couches. The three of them generally agreed that the murder had been caused by the favors accumulated by the couple, though it was uncertain if the killer had owed a favor and not wanted it called in or if theyd wanted to prevent the Stedst from providing those favors to an ally.

The mana doesnt flow clean for either path, said one of the three atop the plinth. The thin-faced man shook his head disdainfully. It is a time of ascension, but some mages see only the truth of the fist, and not the waste of a senseless killing.

Faline seemed satisfied that theyd extracted all the gossip they could and led him on, closer to the center of the city. There Nathan caught his first glimpse of the base of the Ascendant Academy, where the colossal grouping of towers merged into a monolithic structure. From here it was obvious that the Academy wasnt built with the same methods as the rest of the city.

Many of the buildings of Giantsrest had decoration, especially here in the heart of the city. But the portion of the Academy that fronted onto the square looked like a cathedral, built huge and with aesthetics as a primary goal. And that aesthetic was magic. Enormous stone carvings reminded Nathan of mana flows for various spells, and perpetual examples of the spells hovered above each if the massive carvings. The very architecture made it clear that this was a place to learn magic, and you could likely learn small Insights by just studying the exterior architecture. But the grand entryway was closed, and several exquisitely carved fifteen-foot golems stood before them to guard the way.

Faline directed them towards the other end of the square, where there was a kind of forum area. Several dozen mages were gathered to speak and to listen, taking turns to cast their voices wide from enchanted podiums. A tall older man in an orange robe was speaking authoritatively, and everybody listened attentively to his words. ... Baduds imminent recovery is a prophecy of doom for the greedy. Heed my warning. If you should reach your hand upwards, you will lose your fingers.

Several mages sent evaluating glances towards Nathan and Faline as they approached, quickly checking them over. They failed whatever the test was, and were summarily ignored as irrelevant.

The next speaker was a sharp-faced young woman in the red robe of a war mage. She stood on a second platform and clasped her hands together in a Giantsrest salute. This is a time of ascension, when prophecies are resolved and Giantsrest rises, or falls. Those very words mean that it is time to reach upwards. It is time for every mage to rise beyond what they are capable of, that our great empire itself will be borne upon the swell of our magic. Many have died, and their duties lay empty.

The war mage gave the salute again, this time towards the orange-robed man who had just finished speaking. Lecturer Tirof dho Favis, I hold your words with respect. But I would raise my hand to say that those who reach upwards now do it to fulfill the responsibilities of those who have fallen, not to seize their riches. To tell us to shackle our mana now is to deny Giantsrest the loyal children it needs to seize glory.

The crowd seemed receptive to her words, with approving murmurs breaking out across the gathering. Most of those who spoke were younger and stood closer to the womans side of the forum. She wasnt without supporters.

We risk a splintered spell. Said the other man. If you think only of the glory of Giantsrest, wait until the founder and the archmages decide upon a path. Then once the path is set, follow their words.

His tone was a bit dismissive, and it clearly rankled the woman. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a second, regathering her calm. Then she opened them and spoke in a sharp but measured tone. If we are to aid Giantsrest, we must contribute to the decisions that are made. Many who led are dead, and you will not find new leaders by acting as the Nails. Bring those who wish to strain their Insight into the discussion. We will Develop ourselves into what Giantsrest needs, and act according to the decisions we contribute to making.

The subtext of what the woman was saying was clear. She was ambitious, and was offering her allegiance and that of her followers in return for a place at the table. There was also a threat in her words, that they would not listen to the older leaders of Giantsrest if they didnt feel like they had a voice.

The assassin sighed with relief, her blades flashing back into the sleeves of his black robes as she grabbed the snake-golem and began feeding it into her dimensional pouch. Good. Now the door?

Nathan nodded, wiping his forehead with the robe that marked him as a Nail. Then he set to work disabling the door alarms.

Status of Nathan Lark:

Permanent Talent 1: Aura of Antimagic 9

Permanent Talent 2: Perfected Body 9

Permanent Talent 3: Airwalking 4

Class: Void of Magic level299

Deepened Stamina: 8627/9270

Void of Feeling

Antimagic Momentum

Raging Thrill

Implacable Inertia

Unarmored Resilience

Magic Anathema

Airborne Agility

Hand-to-hand Expertise

Voluminous Aura

Denial of Wizardry

Mana Severance

Class: Magekiller level 125

Regenerative Focus: 1262/1350

Catastrophic Blows

Battle Stealth

Mage Infiltration

Forgettable

Unsuspecting Strike

Antimagic Stealth

Spell Redirection

Lethal Index

Utility skills:

Battle Meditation 10

Inspiration 1

Acceleration 2

Wizard Senses 4

Alertness 5

Wizards Intuition 3

Effortless Dodge 1

Mental Fortress 7

Tutoring 2

High-tier Tumbling 10

High-tier Noticeability 4

Low-tier Disguise 9

Mid-tier Battle Cry 7

Mid-tier Aura Manipulation 5