Death's Sword Book 1: Finding and Seeking

Chapter 21, part 1: Day 28

The meeting of the Council was not going well. "How long is it since a klchzak-devil was last seen running free? Three hundred, four hundred years? How long since the Inquisition last dealt with a case of possession? Two hundred years? It is only the fear of denouncement and investigation that has prevented the great houses calling for the disbanding of the Inquisition long before this. Yet now, just when that idea is being spoken aloud, suddenly you come to us with tales of sightings, suspicions of possession and nonsense about a lost sword found. What very convenient timing!" Kanmu Minatoshi's voice dripped with sarcasm and scorn. Fujiwara Chang sat up straighter as he answered the head of the College of Elements, "Klchzak have been seen, the reports are reliable."

"Reports from the Inquisition and their puppets! Hardly reliable!" interrupted Minatoshi, snarling. Chang continued, totally ignoring his rival, "Namarth has been found and klchzak have been seen and killed – witnessed by the Graf von Merkheim und Vartansberg. Surely you would not call the Graf 'unreliable'?" There was steel in the old man's voice. Minatoshi spoke out again, shouting loudly, encouraged by his audience's failure to join their voices with Fujiwara Chang's, "Seen and killed, you say – so they are no longer a threat! A couple of survivors, now dealt with!"

"We have the loudest warnings of movement amongst the tuigrahan for decades, the clans are on the verge of civil war, the Emperor and the Regent are at odds and," here Chang rose to his feet, turning with a swirl of red and gold nearsilk to glare over the assembly of wu-jen, "we have dispute and manifold disrespect in this chamber!" His voice had risen to a roar. He continued, voice quieter, more subdued, "All of this happening at the same time, do you think it is a coincidence?" Sarcasm and scorn added bite to his words. "This turbulence, playing one off against another, is precisely what the klchzak delight in creating. It is exactly what they need whilst they strive to break free. If we do not unite and stand firm together, we face disaster." The furious exchanges continued, clear sides forming and the council dividing as never before.

"Well?" The voice, though beautifully melodic, was full of ominous overtones. Gleymingorn made an ornate gesture with his hands, one that expressed profound regret, sincere apologies, and an indication that those involved would be punished. He said nothing. There was a pause. Haefingarmu did not move, sat staring balefully at his chief minister. Gleymingorn decided he had to give further details. He swallowed; his mouth was dry. "The tengu was traced across the plain and into the mountains. He went to the dwarves, my lord." He kept his eyes fixed on the king's face, studying it for the least sign of any reaction. There was none.

"The rock-grubbers," said the Elven king, "He went directly to those earth-worms and you did not manage to stop him." His voice remained level, unchanging. Gleymingorn prepared for the worst. It came. "You failed me!" roared Haefingarmu suddenly, leaning forward in his chair, "You let that scheming little bird escape! You will be lucky to keep your head over this, Gleymingorn. Lucky indeed." The king's opalescent eyes were full of sparks and flames. "The last report we had from that accursed rebel that you chose as an agent was at Vartansberg. He thought Namarth was headed west, into the wilderlands. We all know what that means. Very well," decided Haefingarmu, "You will lead two cantrefs to Vartansberg, Gleymingorn. Move swiftly; the rock-grubbers dwell closer to that fortress than we do. We cannot leave Namarth untended any longer. Recover it from the wilderlands if you have to, but I want that blade where Elven minds can guide it. I most definitely do not want that black elf-killer controlling it. Once that is done, I shall decide what is to be done with you. Now go."

The king turned away from his chief minister, ignoring the others' gestures of polite leave-taking and submissiveness. "Cemraedru, I place you in charge of our southern and eastern borders. Move with three cantref as swiftly as you may. This thing is going to blow up in our faces if we are not very careful." A tall, slim, unusually dark elf with a scar down his left cheek bowed and dismissed himself. Haefingarmu turned his glare on the remaining members of his court, "Well?" he asked, "What other actions do you suggest that I initiate?"