Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

T he trip back down to the dungeon didn't take long since Fionna didn't pause to absorb like she had the first time. She headed straight for the Lomar's cell. The guards tensed at her approach.

"I just need a moment with him," she stated.

"The warlord said no one is allowed to visit," the burliest of them declared. He'd not been there earlier when she'd visited. The shift change must have happened in that short interim.

"The warlord granted me access so if you want to take issue with his order, go right ahead. I'm sure he'd love to hear why you think you can ignore his wishes."

The guards shifted with discomfort.

"Well?" She arched a brow.

The burly fellow sounded sour as he said, "The door stays open, and don't get too close."

"It's daytime. It will be fine."

She entered to find Lomar once more staring at the slit of a window.

"Back so soon?" He offered a wan smile. "Perhaps you'll do the kindness of ending this nightmare, seeing as how Kormac won't."

"Kormac?"

"Don't tell me he hasn't properly introduced himself."

She waved the inkwell. "He might have, but given everyone calls him warlord, it just seems easier. Not to mention, if I use anything else, people will be muttering even louder than they already are."

"Oh, and what are they nattering about?"

"Apparently, I'm his whore, you know, because a female diplomat doesn't exist." She rolled her eyes.

Lomar grinned. "In their defense, they don't in Srayth. Add to that you have Kormac's undivided attention, and I could see why they'd assume."

"It's ridiculous and misogynistic."

"Agreed, but old ways are hard to change."

"Only hard because men refuse."

"Not just the men," Lomar said with a shake of his head. "But we have made some advances. We no longer force widows to vacate their homes and return to their parents when their husbands die."

"That's ridiculous," she squeaked.

"Hence why Kormac's father made the change. We also no longer have arranged marriages. Although, that took several tragedies before Kormac managed to put a stop to it."

The warlord raised slightly in her esteem. "There is still a way to go."

"Yes, however, you can't rebuild a house in a day. Now, I assume by the items in your hand you've come to make that sketch."

"If you don't mind…"

Lomar sat cross-legged on the floor, hands on his knees, chest straight so she had a clear view of the glowing medallion.

The sketch didn't take long, the symbols fairly easy to reproduce, but as she put the sheets aside to dry, she didn't find herself in a hurry to leave. "Do you mind if I ask you about that cave where you think the affliction began?"

"What about it?"

"Describe it."

"Not much to tell. It was definitely man-made, the arch around the doorway carved with symbols we couldn't read. It had been blocked with stones mortared into place. Inside, there was more writing in the outer chamber, then a tunnel that lit up as we traversed it."

"Lit up how?"

Lomar shrugged. "Not by fire, if that's what you're asking. The ceiling simply illuminated as we neared."

"Most likely a spell," she murmured.

"The chamber at the end of the tunnel also had light when we entered, braziers that didn't have fire and didn't emit heat. The room was a good size, vaulted ceiling, many paces across. There was nothing inside it, though. No bodies, furniture, or objects of any sort. Although, it is possible they were removed by those who first discovered the cave. The walls had more of the writing, but the focal point appeared to be a section of glass with something embedded within."

"So you didn't remove anything?"

"No, why?"

"Often curses are attached to objects."

"I did cut myself on the glass. I ran my fingers over it and a chip in it caught my flesh and made me bleed. The same happened to Simon, the other fellow infected."

And there was the method of transference. "The warlord didn't touch it?"

"No, but even if he had, he's got protection."

"Oh? He didn't mention that."

Lomar slapped his forearm. "It's the bracers he wears, passed down from warlord to warlord. They glow when he comes close to me. They have some of the same sigils as the medallion." Lomar pointed to it hanging on his chest.

She'd not noticed the warlord's arms emitting light, but then again, he wore a long-sleeved shirt of thick material. "Interesting. I wonder if they were made specifically to counter the threat you encountered."

"I'd be more interested in knowing if there are more of these." Lomar clutched the medallion. "It will be hard to fight this new enemy if we have to worry about the minds of those who try."

"That's actually a great idea. Do you know where they store retired armor? Perhaps a treasure vault? Are there any antique shops in the town?" She also made a mental note to ask Amelia about the possibility of recreating the rune on the medallion and activating it.

"I don't know how much old armor we have stored. Unusable pieces are usually melted and reforged, but I do know of a place in town, not a store though. Lady Frieda. She lives in a house that's been in her family for generations. It's full of stuff, and I mean full," Lomar stated with an exaggerated widening of his eyes. "If anyone has a relic with these symbols, it would be her."

"I'll have to check her out. Thank you." Fionna rose with her parchment and Lomar offered her a faint smile.

"It is I who thank you. These past weeks I'd convinced myself I should spare everyone and end my life, but you have given me hope."

She could have dashed it by saying there were no guarantees, but she couldn't be that cruel to a man obviously suffering. "I will do my best, but it might not happen as quick as you'd like. I must research the situation a bit further, lest I make things worse."

"Do what you must, fair lady." He cocked his head. "Me thinks you are in trouble."

"Fionna!" She heard the warlord bellow from outside the cell.

She scrunched her face. "Clingy thing, isn't he?"

Lomar choked as he tried to not laugh. "Actually, this is a first."

Her lips curved. "I'd better go soothe him. Good day."

"Good luck," Lomar said as she exited to find a scowling warlord stalking down the hall towards her, the soldiers splitting apart to give him a clear path.

She waved and quipped, "You hollered?"

"What are you doing?"

She held up the sketches. "Sketching the images I needed."

"You shouldn't have come alone," he muttered as she joined him on the walk back to the main level.

"I don't need you to protect me. I am perfectly capable, and besides, you seemed rather busy with your mother." She tried to not snicker.

"My mother." He sighed. "First she was convinced I'd installed my concubine in the citadel, then when I reassured her that you were here on business, she went on a rant about how it wasn't proper for me to deal with a woman and to send you back and ask for a man."

"We have no male witches, although, I do hear they exist. Would you like me to leave so you can find one?"

"No," he growled. "My mother doesn't get to decide how I rule or who I treat with."

"Does she know that?"

For a second, she thought she might have gone too far for he abruptly stopped.

Then laughed.

"No, she does not," he chuckled. "I think she's part of the reason why my father stepped down. He got tired of her being in his ear, constantly challenging his edicts."

"I hope you reassured her that I was here on business only and not to seduce her son."

"I did, but knowing her, by this evening she'll be trying to introduce me to more women of marriageable age."

"How kind of her."

He slewed her a look. "How is that kind? I don't need her matchmaking."

"Are you sure about that? After all, you aren't getting any younger and I assume you want at least one heir."

He grimaced. "I do, but the thought of binding myself to one person…"

"I'm sure you can find one that will turn a blind eye to your philandering. I hear it's quite common with the royals elsewhere."

"I would never betray my vow," he snapped. "It's more I haven't found a woman that I can tolerate for any length of time."

"I can see how that would be a problem." The fact he wanted a wife he liked was actually a point in his favor.

"What of you? Do witches marry?"

"Some do, however, most forgo binding themselves and just have children."

"Children need a father."

"Do they? Mine died when I was young, mother, too, and I think I turned out just fine."

"That's a matter of opinion," his low rejoinder.

She could have been offended, instead she gave him a bright smile. "Poor warlord. You really don't know how to handle someone like me."

"Call me Kormac."

"And have your mother fly into an even bigger tizzy?" she teased.

"Yes. Let her bluster. I can handle it."

"But what of your poor father who has to listen to it?"

"Who says he listens?" Kormac winked at her as they emerged onto the main floor. "Where to?"

"My room." She waved the parchment. "Time for me to report to Amelia and get the librarians started on the search."

She headed up the stairs to her quarters, finding them already tidied. The bed had been made and the fireplace stoked with a fire that made the space toasty. A carafe of water had been left on the table with a plate covered by a dome. Removing it showed a selection of nuts, fruit, and cheese. Just the thing to tide her over to the evening repast.

She nibbled as she activated the mirror.

Amelia appeared looking frazzled.

"Is everything okay?" Fionna asked.

"It is now. A roc thought our contemplative tower might make a nice roost. We spent hours convincing it to go elsewhere."

"Did you succeed?" she asked.

"Let's just say our larders are full of meat, enough to last the winter. What of you, how goes it?"

"I met the patient." Fionna launched into a detailed description of everything she'd observed about Lomar, and by the end of it noticed Amelia's pinched features.

"He's been possessed by the evil I saw," Amelia murmured.

"We don't know that for sure. It could just be a clever spell making him act that way. Perhaps one that splits the personalities."

Amelia shook her head. "You don't believe that. From everything you've reported, it sounds as if we're dealing with a powerful, immortal entity that can act by seizing the body of another."

"Why do you say immortal?"

"By all indications, it's been hidden in that cave for centuries. No food, no fresh air. Flesh wouldn't survive in those conditions. We are most likely dealing with a spirit-based entity. Possibly one of the Ifrit."

"A what?"

"Ifrit, magic based being, hates humans, very violent. A reliable source that passed through a short time ago mentioned them."

"You think that's what we're dealing with?"

"I don't know, but it is possible. If that's the case, then we'll need to act fast as it seems the measures safeguarding this evil are starting to fail."

"Meaning if we act soon, we might prevent its escape. The warlord spoke of blocking off the cave."

"A temporary measure. A thing this powerful won't be deterred by a rock fall. The wards holding its prisoner will eventually fail. Preparations must be made for this thing's escape."

The word "preparation" had Fionna holding up the parchment with her drawings. "Have you ever seen this rune before?" She launched into an explanation of the medallion and its effect on Lomar.

Amelia turned quiet. "You say the warlord supposedly has bracers with the same symbol?"

"Yes. I was planning to seek out others, perhaps try my hand at making some."

"I have a few here, actually, stored in the vault. I'll have them flown out to you. But I'd hold off attempting to recreate them. Those were made with old magic, using a method long forgotten."

"In that case, I'll go on a hunt for some." She tapped at a drawing. "Do you know what the third symbol means? I couldn't figure it out."

"No, but I'm sure Cirie will find it." Cirie being the head librarian.

"Can you also have her see if we have anything about a warlord called Airiok?"

"I'll ask but I doubt we'll find much. The flooding of the lower levels from the swamp destroyed much. Many of the history books didn't survive the soaking."

"I'm hoping the warlord's library will have something for me. I'm going to head there now."

"Be careful, Fionna."

"Careful won't find me answers," she quipped before signing off.

She ate some more cheese as she contemplated Amelia's claim they couldn't kill what possessed Lomar. Kormac wouldn't like that. Nor did she. But that wouldn't stop her from seeking out a way to stop this thing before it got loose and murdered everyone.