Chronicles of Viltarion I - A Song of Stone and Iron

Chapter 9 - The Iron Elementalist

An ominous sound woke Doveran, who put on his helmet as soon as he sat up to look around.

"Who goes there?" he asked, sweat soaked under his metal mask.

"It is I, my lord." answered a trembling voice at the other end of the door.

Doveran let out a deep sigh.

"By all the elementals, Burges, what the hell do you want at this time of night?" he asked and kept his feet still on the floor.

"I beg your pardon, but the White Shadow has just arrived, he insisted on waking you... May I open up?" added the elementalist's servant.

But before he could insert his key into the bedroom door, Doveran opened the heavy wooden door, Burges stepped aside to make room in the corridor.

"The White Shadow, did you say?" he answered quizzically, hearing the nickname of the infamous assassin had cleared him completely.

"He comes from Mirel. He claims to have news of the assassin you sent there a fortnight ago..." His warrior said, as he watched him emerge from the darkened chamber.

"From Izun? What happened to that damn bird?" he asked as he adjusted his robes.

"He wouldn't go into details, and insists on talking to you."

"Ah," he sighed in annoyance. "Where is he?"

"Here. He's waiting downstairs." He answered as he began to lead his leader down the dark corridor, to bring him before the man who was trying to hunt Izun down.

Before he even saw the ominous individual, Doveran noted the presence of the infamous materialiser, who waited quietly in the foyer of his home and the house of nobles; where the envoys of the monarch of Asgun dealt with the Iron Elementalist at more appropriate times.

"My apologies for waking you." The White Shadow ducked his head slightly as he cleared his throat. I read your missive when we received the owl-masked materialiser in Mirel. Unfortunately, the young woman escaped from the dungeons only a few days ago, and I believe she now plans to come here to make an attempt on your life..." He added ruefully.

"You let her escape?!" Doveran raised his voice in fury. The paranoia that usually consumed him at night would only get worse in the face of all this. "How?!"

"One of my men made a mistake, thought she was an elementalist prisoner and removed her hood..." explained the White Shadow, embarrassed.

"Elementals..." sighed the iron elementalist. "How many days ago did this happen?" he asked.

"Four. If it hasn't arrived already, it must be about to. I would recommend that he hide from you..."

"I will not hide." He interrupted him and turned to the sentry who had woken him. I will stay in this very spot. Burges, build up the defences and assemble the Bronze Circle. I want you to search every corner of this damned city for her. Until you find her, I will not allow the vigilance of the noble house to be reduced." He watched as his subject nodded silently and left the room.

"I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news... Let me help your men search for her. I have a platoon resting in the Ochre Bard ready to assist you in any way you need." The sudden messenger apologised.

"You will help, indeed. I don't understand how you could have missed a mere helpless materialiser." He turned his gaze to the king's unworthy servant.

Ayonos, the White Shadow, seemed to react to the hurtful comment, as he ducked his head to confirm that he would be involved in the search for the fugitive.

"How many men do you have under your command?" Doveran asked.

"Four, counting myself."

"Any elementalists?"

"I am the only materialist in the group, my lord. That's why I think my men should be the ones preventing Izun from coming here, though I'm the one who has the best chance of catching her." He explained.

"All right... You will search my city. Here." The Kirut commander dug into one of his pockets, and pulled out a star-shaped, emerald-hued piece of metal. "This will help you identify yourself to soldiers who ask what you are doing, and I give you permission to search where necessary. Find it and make amends for your subordinate's stupid mistake..."

"As you command." He accepted the refined amulet and stowed it in a small dark satchel. The materialiser took his leave and bowed his head as a sign of respect, before leaving the hall.

"Damn cockroaches," he thought as he watched the dark figure leave his home, anger deep within him.

***

Once outside, Ayonos gazed up at the sky, at the stars that shone brightly on the moonless night, irritated.

"Coward..." he thought as he let out a sigh, before turning his steps towards the inn where his companions waited.

The White Shadow looked around curiously. He was not surprised by the lack of movement in the streets given the hour, but what caught his attention the most were the multiple soldiers that Doveran had stationed outside even before he had ordered the search for this fugitive...

Something else was going on in Kirut, and though the monarch of Asgun had ordered him to obey the nobles of his cities without delay, it was clear to him that if he found dirt on any of them, he would do everything possible to ensure the safety of the kingdom...