I, Dacien

A Story by Onyx Tao
© 2012 Onyx Tao

I, Dacien by Onyx Tao is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://onyx-tao.sofurry.com.

Chapter Fifteen: interlude III

The silence at the Sycllan Council felt like a tangible weight. General Januisz sat stiff and rigid, staring into space. General Wolachya slumped in his chair, contributing to the general malaise with a brooding withdrawal. General Andrei simply sat, waiting for someone else - anyone else - to break the tension after General Sandor had held up the blue pearl with anything but a triumphant smile. Only Timas didn't look any different; Timas was always silent unless ordered to speak.

It was finally, after a long, long, silence that grew that much harder to break, that General Ladislas finally asked, "Is it confirmed?"

General Sandor simply waved his hand at Januisz.

"Yes. Lord Fog was ... selected. Confirmed as Patriarch. Lord Teodor of Lycaili," Januisz said heavily.

"Zachiah, I thought you said," General Ladislas said. "Or Michael."

"Yes," said General Januisz. "Obviously I and my staff were wrong."

"Obviously," said Ladislas. "I heard a rumor that there was other news. Bad news."

General Januisz's face tightened. "Yes. The roan has proved just how unstable he is. He ... made a public announcement. About us. Called us brigands. Offered an amnesty."

"Is that the worst of it?" asked Ladislas, as if he knew exactly what else had happened.

"No," said Januisz, wondering if somehow Ladislas had known. Was one of his staff secretly reporting to him? "Somehow ... he's connected us to Scylla."

The long silence was even deeper than before.

"Am I to understand," General Wolachya asked softly, "that this upstart lowblood has publically linked us to Scylla?"

"Yes," said General Januisz. "I have a mostly verbatim copy of his remarks."

"In ... in what venue?" asked Andrei.

Januisz managed, somehow, not to grit his teeth. "At his confirmation."

"Hardly good news," Ladislas said softly.

"No," said Sandor. "But ... is that the worst?"

"There is the matter of the amnesty," Januisz said. "Lord Teodor has offered an amnesty to anyone not directly involved in the attacks. Anyone but us, more or less."

"Creator's folly," swore Casimir. "Kill him. I propose we kill him immediately."

"The first attempt failed," Andrei said. "Miserably. He is now on guard."

"We got Cresphontes," Casimir said.

"Somehow, they killed the entire commando team. All of our direct action teams have repeatedly encountered stiff, and very effective resistance," Andrei said. "And we do not have an unlimited supply of commandos. In fact, of my thirty commandos, fifteen have been lost. That's half. At any time, eleven are on our outer perimeter, and another two in the inner perimeter. This leaves me with ... count them yourself, two remaining commandos that I can commit to action. Two."

"Where did Sandor ..."

"Sandor took his personal commandos, and those of Lad and Casimir," Andrei said. "Because mine were committed to Cresphontes. It seemed like the logical thing to do, Lycaili is far more remote than the House of the Lost, and my teams are used to operating so."

"Perhaps we should replace you with Sandor," Januisz said.

"Sandor was also permitted to lead his team. My teams were in a pure-commando mode. I am beginning to think that is a severe disadvantage," Andrei snapped. "Sandor, suppose you'd given only your commandos instruction, and they'd concentrated on Chelm."

"It ... would have gone worse," admitted Sandor. "I don't know how much worse, but assuming he was as effective in personal combat as he was with that knife - and I still have no clue how he threw it - we could have lost several commandos, perhaps even failed, since they were under instructions to capture, not kill."

"Could have?" pressed Andrei. "I want your honest appraisal of your expectation. Timas?"

"I expect the mission would have failed, worse than it did. I expect we would have lost some, and possibly all, of the assigned commandos," Sandor said.

"Truth."

"I will not assign another blind mission," Andrei said bluntly. "I have no qualms about losing commandos - that's what they're for, but I do have an issue with losing them and failing the mission. If you want to vote to replace me with Sandor - do so."

"I do not seek that," Sandor said quickly. "General Andrei, I have no qualms about the quality of your organization. I do not think I could do, well, significantly better."

"Truth," said the hybrid mage.

"No more, Timas," Sandor said. "We need to build up our reserve of commandos again."

"Agreed," said Ladislas. "The consensus, as I judged it previously, was that buying mongrels would not benefit us. Are we still of that opinion? Because, I was not, and I am not."

"I ... would rethink it," said Casimir.

"They're troublesome," muttered Wolachya. "And what if we buy someone attached to obsessives like Iudas and Dellios?"

"They have no reason to look at us," Andrei said. "We didn't buy Xerxes."

"Not my point," said Wolachya. "Simply that mongrels, on occasion, have persistent relatives. And, Andrei, tell me that Dellios' probing has come nowhere close to your operations, regardless of your involvement with Xerxes."

"I had nothing to do with Xerxes!" said Andrei. "Timas!"

"True."

"Again, not my point," said General Wolachya heavily. "The point was that both Iudas and Dellios are investigating the slave trade, closely. Iudas' involvement with money means that he becomes aware, eventually, of almost every sizable transaction. It flows through him, or one of his good friends, and they talk to each other. They may not mention exact dates, or exact sums, and they certainly do not discuss their clients with each other ... but they talk. And they borrow and loan between themselves."

"Should we have Timas pay a visit to Iudas?" asked Sandor.

"I ..."

"No," said Casimir. "He dines with Lord Tarragon once or twice a month. The thing is impossible."

"I was about to say, I did not think it would be a good idea," said Wolachya. "Iudas is not about to discover us, he just makes my life ... more interesting. I merely wish to avoid another one or two relatives looking for their bloodstock."

"A good thing," said Sandor. "Yes. We need to make sure we're buying ... embarassments, something the family wants to keep private."

"Then you approve of this scheme?" asked Casimir. "I thought you were uneasy at buying mongrels?"

"I ... Andrei cannot be expected to maintain the perimeters and on-call teams with so few commandos," Sandor said. "Perhaps each of the rest of us should draft ... two? ... of ours, and turn them over to Andrei. But that means we need to bring our forces up to normal at the earliest moment."

"I dislike it much," said Ladislas. "Very much. But ... I do not see any good alternatives. Two of ours to Andrei, yes, and ... seek to buy ... those who will not be missed. Andrei? Can you do that?"

"I will."

"Januisz?" asked Sandor. "You've had very little to say."

"I am concerned about this amnesty offer," Januisz said.

"What is it?"

"We do not have the details ... Lord Teodor announced it, but did not give the details," Januisz said. "I imagine the next report will have the details."

"You think one of our agents will turn on us?" asked Casimir.

"Not really, but ... think of the damage that would happen if one did," said Januisz slowly. "And if Lord Teodor were to publicly announce everything he learned?"

"Disaster," said Sandor. "It would be a disaster. What if he offers some kind of reward for intelligence on us? How good is Lycaili's intelligence, anyway?"

"Very good," said Januisz. "We have been unable to determine who runs it, nothing beyond a few likely participants. We think Teodor himself was high up, perhaps even the head. Keeping track of Teodor when he was - supposedly - at his estate was difficult. The estate is isolated and lies on unstable borders - perfect for quick travel, for a talented air mage. He could be anywhere he could twist a path.

"I thought that border was too unreliable for travel?"

"Timas?"

"It is too unreliable for multiple persons," Timas said. "If Lord Teodor wished to take only himself - then he could so so reliably. If he wished to take others, then that is difficult."

"But Teodor, Lord Fog, is said to be a brilliant mage. Perhaps he found some way around this?"

Timas shrugged. "The Master who instructed me said it could not be done."

"He wouldn't need to take anyone," Januisz said. "Undetectable, unstoppable, and he could hold the path open while he met with agents far away, or ... modified them. He has a serious reputation as a mindbender."

"Could that be how he got confirmed?" asked Casimir.

"Possibly, although ... he could have bamboozled that brown mage, Sasha, but I don't see how he could slip anything past Lord Winter," said Januisz. "We haven't been able to."

"Perhaps the mages are working together."

"Then Ianthos would have been the obvious choice," responded Januisz. "A violet would be far less conspicuous than a roan."

"And why would his first act be to imprison Xavien Lord Green?" asked Ladislas.

Januisz looked up sharply. "Did I mention that?"

"You should have," Ladislas said. "It seems like information we should have."

"I will have the report copied for you, General Ladislas."

"And I am also concerned about our agents in Lycaili," Ladislas said. "Perhaps we should withdraw them."

"There is no need. They are all loyal. Timas attests to them," said Januisz.

"They must guess we have agents," said Ladislas. "And they will hunt for them."

"They will find nothing," said Januisz. "They have impeccable cover, and their reports are oral to my factor in Venrir."

"No," said Ladislas. "I think we should withdraw completely from Venrir, Lycaili, and Ouroubouros. At the very least, Lycaili. They have surprised us unpleasantly over and over, and if they take one of our agents alive ... we lose much."

"They are safe," insisted Januisz. "And we must have eyes if we are to know how to attack."

"Why must we attack?" asked Ladislas. "Why must we continue this confrontation?"

"They started it," said Wolachya.

"We don't know that," said Ladislas. "And even if we did ... so what? Let us withdraw for a hundred, two hundred years."

"Lycaili sits on the gate to human lands! We must have that gate!"

Ladislas shook his head. "Our current course will not gain it for us, that is more than reason to change course."

"And I suppose you have a plan?"

"As a matter of fact ... yes. We do." Ladislas indicated the other two Pristine minotaurs. "Ungoliant and Tepes want that access every bit as much as we do. Ungoliant is willing to ban commandos, but ... they will want something for it. And so will Tepes."

"Mog Ford, you mean, and Howling Pass," said Casimir. "If Lord Teodor's attention is on us, then ... he might be willing to offer that, if he thinks it hurts us." The ebon minotaur turned to Januisz.  "Jan, it's ... not a bad strategy. And it gets us out."

Januisz just looked at Casimir.

"I won't vote against you, Jan, but I think ... I think it's worth considering."

"But we will still need eyes in Lycaili," Januisz said. "Unless you can replace them."

"My agent returned a little after your report came," Ladislas said. "I intend to retire that agent."

"Permanently?" asked Wolachya, sounding interested.

"He is not available for your training programs," Ladislas said coldly. "He is a pureblood, bloodstock, and loyal to our clan."

"Perhaps he would volunteer," said Wolachya. "For the good of the clan. Since he's bloodstock we could keep him to duties inside the inner perimeter."

"No," said Sandor, opening his mouth a moment before Andrei. The last Pristine general nodded to Sandor, who continued. "We surrendered Dusan because there was reason. I think it is not we who owe you a candidate. Perhaps ... perhaps the fellow who spilled the soup. And failed to report it. Lubor, wasn't it?"

"Lubor is bloodstock," growled Casimir. "And he did not spill soup, a human stumbled over him. He was given training too advanced for him. We cannot penalize him for his Master's error."

"We can keep him inside the perimeter," Andrei said with a smile. "And ... remind me, again, precisely whose error Dusan was converted for?"

"We had to, to show our agents that we cannot tolerate ..."

"Errors? For any reason? Such as spilling soup? Which is what his error led to, I point out." interrupted Andrei. "Such as spilling soup? And how exactly was Lubor being trained when he was spying on Iudas? When he was caught?"

"He wasn't caught!"

"They knew he was there,"

"They supposed it," Wolachya said. "He was not directly detected."

"Well, and he didn't have to be," said Andrei, angrily. "Lubor should be converted. He should have been converted when you discovered he'd lied about his mission going smoothly."

"He thought it had!" Casimir said.

"Which only goes to show how poor at thinking he is," said Andrei. "He should leave the thinking to those more capable of it. Dusan showed a great deal of promise, but Sandor and Ladislas agreed that we could not let something like that pass. But an Ebon seems to get a free pass, and ..."

"It is NOT because he's Ebon!" shouted Casimir.

"Oh? Should I ask Timas to verify that?" said Andrei coldly.

"This is not an argument we should be having," said Januisz. "Please. Sandor?"

"I agree," said Sandor. "Move on."

"Vote," said Andrei. "I vote we continue this discussion."

"No. No good will come of it," said Casimir.

Januisz shook his head, and then said, "No."

Ladislas was silent, and then said, deliberately, "Continue the discussion, and then turned to stare at Sandor.

Sandor shrugged, unwilling to override the other two Pristine generals. "Continue. I am sorry,"

"Not sorry enough to quash the topic," said Casimir.

"Cas," and Januisz laid a hand on the other Ebon's shoulder. "They do have a point."

"This is different!"

"In that Lubor is your current bedwarmer?" asked Andrei.

"He's bloodstock," said Casimir. "Dusan wasn't. That's the difference."

"We need commandos," Ladislas said. "And he can continue to be bloodstock, after he's converted."

"We don't convert bloodstock," said Casimir.

"We don't often convert bloodstock," said Sandor. "We have."

Januisz looked at Sandor. "We have, but, could I, ask, as a favor, a personal favor, from you to me, that we put this discussion off until our next council? Just ... give us some time?"

"So that you can assign your precious Lubor out-perimeter, so he is conveniently unavailable?" asked Andrei.

"Let him be confined as if he were awaiting conversion, and we can move on," said Ladislas. "That is as much compromise as I feel like offering, today."

"Would that be acceptable?"

"No," said Casimir. "Absolutely not."

"It would," said Januisz, looking away.

"Jan!"

"It will be acceptable," said Wolachya, slowly. "Absent a decision, he will be freed, of course. All we are granting is time. We are not agreeing to convert him."

"Yes. Fine. Nor not to," agreed Andrei. "That's what tabling the discussion means."

"That would be ... five to one. Lubor to be confined," Sandor said, "to be released after our next council." The Pristine general looked around the table, but nobody added anything. Casimir crossed his arms and stared angrily at Andrei, who returned only a bland look.

"I believe we'd decided to step down our campaign in Lycaili, and press for access through Ungoliant and Tepes?" asked Sandor.

"Yes," said Januisz, and Wolachya nodded.

"Good. And we'd direct Andrei to see if he can find some low-profile bulls to acquire for conversion," said Sandor.

"Did we decide that?" asked Januisz. "I don't remember a consensus."

"Vote, then," said Sandor.

Januisz shook his head, and then said, "I don't like it, but ... yes."

"Yes," said Ladislas, simply.

"Yes," said Wolachya. "But low profile. I don't want anyone coming after them!"

"Yes," said Andrei.

"No," said Casimir.

Sandor sighed. "No, although it hardly seems worth voting. Andrei, you may proceed."

"I have a question," said Ladislas. "For General Januisz."

"Of course," said Januisz.

"I know I suggested pulling your agent - or agents - from Lycaili," said Ladislas. "But if you're not going to do that, we need to know how they made the Scylla connection."

Januisz nodded. "I've already instructed them to find out, and I suspect my agent is already working on that."

"Does it matter?" asked Sandor. "I mean, if they've made the connection, it's a little late."

"It matters," said Januisz. "We need to know what happened, why they know - and how much they know. They obviously don't know where to find us, or they never would have sent anyone to the House."

"So what do they know? I doubt even a wild blade like Lord Teodor would reveal everything he knew," Januisz said.

"We need to find out more about him, too."

"I've instructed our agents in Ungoliant and Tepes to get their information on him." Januisz said. "We'll have all the information we could want in a few days."

"Good," said Sandor. "It seems to me that we've exhausted the potential for useful discussion, so if there is nothing else?"

"Yes," said Casimir. "One thing. What about Lord Teodor's son?"

All of them looked at Timas for a moment, and then five of them looked back at Casimir.

"What about him?" asked Sandor.

"Perhaps he would be leverage, the way we'd thought Bryant might be?"

The six of them looked at Timas, for a long moment, before General Sandor asked the question. "Timas? Did you wipe the roan hybrid already?"

"Yes," said Timas.

This time, none of them broke the silence.