Icarus Awakens

“Is this good? Nothing nearby?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to tell Daniel we are safe?”

“I think he knows. Maybe he’s sleeping. Maybe too far.”

“Ah. Here, I will remove your armor.”

Tak undid various latches and clasps that bound the armor to Hunter. The ringcat stretched gratefully when it was done, finally free of the metal that had encased him for over a day. Though the two could communicate telepathically through their bond, the freedom to speak without drawing attention was another Hunter enjoyed. “We could hunt. Seek prey.”

“If you are hungry perhaps. Otherwise, advancing will take time. A few hours for me, maybe the same since you are new. Are you sure you can advance?”

Hunter dragged a track through the sand with a paw absentmindedly. “Yes. Maybe. Haven’t tried.”

“It is good to have waited. You can waste what you have if you are not careful.” Tak brought himself to the ground in a cross-legged position. The two had chosen the top of one of the dunes near the city for their advancement, in opposition to Evalyn and Lograve who both elected to stay in the inn. Leaving the city to get here had been no problem since Tak was relatively unassuming, even with an armored ringcat by his side. “How much do you think you have?”

“Daniel says 12.”

“Oh, that is a lot! But I think I am close to that. I will have to think about what I want. Anything you want to talk about before we start? I will have to be quiet after. You too, probably.”

Hunter circled to the other side of Tak, away from the pile of armor, and laid down himself. The sand was warm, and the day would grow hot as the sun continued to rise. Despite his species’ ability to tolerate most natural environments, Hunter was attuned to the grasslands of his spawning. With time that might change, but today it was as if his senses were muted. The air was too dry, and the sounds too muffled. “What should I do? Which attribute?”

“What did Daniel say?”

“He said to consider charisma. Too low.”

“That is smart. But also dumb.” Tak shook his head. “The difference will not get worse until you level up again. Why not make yourself stronger, or faster? We will have to fight soon, and you do not have many special things to attack with. I want to work on my intelligence. It is more difficult for my class, but it is important.”

“Double Cut is good,” Hunter pointed out. It was the strange way of attacking both he and Tak could do if close enough together, but not too close. It did tire him in a way he’d previously associated with using his roar or springing attack, a sense of mana loss the nascent Awakened Ringcat could better appreciate following his transformation. Simply coordinating swipes from both their paws, as Tak had to transform his hands to use the attack, would have been enough. Even so, Hunter suspected the attack harmed prey more than it should.

“Double Cut is good,” Tak acknowledged. “But it can be better. Whatever you think is best, you should do it. Just do not rethink or things can go bad.”

Somehow, Hunter felt the chances of that were lower with Tak here. It didn’t have to do with their bond, but the comfort he felt in Tak’s presence that even Daniel’s couldn’t provide. That wasn’t to say Hunter valued Tak’s friendship more, but on a certain level, the Totem Warrior understood him better and didn’t need as much said between them. He doubted Daniel would want to come out here in the sun to advance. “What happens when I am done?”

Tak already had his eyes closed but answered as if it wasn’t a bother at all. “You can wait for me. Or try another, if there is time to, though it gets harder the more you try each day. For me, advancing intelligence always feels like I am doing it after another already. Very annoying.” The Totem Warrior reached for the wooden toy tied to his back as if to set it loose, then thought better of it. “Then we’ll head back.”

“Back to the city?” Hunter asked hesitantly.

“Yes! Unless you don’t want to?”

Hunter’s head sunk further into the sand, the tips of his fangs tearing twin canals into it. “Bad place.” The words were mumbled.

“Yes, and no. It would not be as bad if you did not look different. Oh!” Tak looked up brightly. “I see what Daniel meant. Maybe you can get a power to disguise yourself. Most of those are charisma, I think.”

“Won’t make me stronger,” Hunter grumbled as if annoyed at Tak for going back on his previous argument.

“Yes, but other people would talk to you. Not be afraid. Or not, but that isn’t just it is it?” No answer. “Daniel, I think, does not like the wild. You do. I do. The city, it makes you feel bad?” Tak put a hand on one of Hunter’s front shoulders and rubbed it for a few seconds. “It is ok. People are different. Both of you are smart and I am not.”

“You are wise.” Hunter looked at his friend. “What you do know, you don’t doubt.”

“Thank you! But that is not the same.” Tak took his hand away and propped his head up on both hands, elbows on knees as he thought. “There is no good answer, but I think it is not a problem?”

“We are different,” Hunter protested. “Before, it was easy. Had to hunt. Had to survive. Dangerous, but good. Now, we could stay in the city forever.”

“But Daniel still wants to hunt, yes? You won’t be in the city forever. Some, but he will be out here some. Compromise! But that is still not a good solution for you?”

“Bad place,” Hunter repeated.

Tak eyed the Spires in the distance. “Is it the Spoke? I thought you could not sense it.”

“No. Too many. Too much. No escape.”

“Ah.” Tak looked at the distant walls. “Do you want to go back at all?”

“Have to.” Hunter’s tone was resigned with that.

“Yes,” he sighed melodically. “But maybe this is just adjusting. And we can keep coming here! Should go back before night, but now is fine to be out.”

“Hmm. Thank you.”

“You keep too much to yourself,” Tak laughed, swatting at Hunter’s shoulder this time. “Should speak more. Or think, when others are around. It is bad to let thoughts wait to get worse. We are both your friends, and that means we listen! But we are also talking too much now, I think. Better to have a clear head when advancing. Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes.” Hunter closed his eyes, not feeling relief exactly but a sense that the beast stalking him was now further away. “You are a good friend.”

“Thank you!” When there was nothing else said, Tak straightened his back and closed his eyes again, reaching out to a place within himself Hunter now tried to glimpse. Once, he wouldn’t have had to consider any method of growth other than by the consumption of others. Every day, the ringcat grew further and further from his humble origins. This would be another step, using the power he felt within him to make himself stronger. Hunter had seen how those around him had gained new and strange abilities, mostly in Daniel’s case who’d explained and offered to share all of them.

In truth, Hunter didn’t blame Daniel for what he liked. He wasn’t of this world and didn’t care for places not of worked wood or stone. While he did seem anxious near large groups of people, he had the luxury of ignoring the presence of those he couldn’t see. To Hunter, the city was a barrage of sound and scent. Even the large insect’s room had only muffled the noxious noises. And, it was a trap. Walls higher than he could leap, narrow passages guarded by those who would cut him down if he tried to run.

That was life. It was hard, even a dull terror at times, but at least now he was free. And, it wouldn’t be forever. Hunter chided himself for what he was beginning to think was an overreaction. Tak was right, he did feel better for talking about it. That had simply never occurred to the ringcat. Before and after meeting Daniel, life had been about enduring the worst. He’d have to get used to being an exception to his kind, and to the fact that there could be more to life.

To that end, Hunter drew further into himself. Sound and smell were still there, but outside the city they were easier to block out. Reaching an inner calm was possible here, and necessary. He knew that but didn’t know why he knew that. There was an instinct in his head that didn’t belong, nudging him in the right direction, hinting at what to do. It had come with his voice. At first, he’d worried this was another attempt to control him by outside forces, yet it was just him here. It was just something trying to help.

Hunter found the core of himself, thought once more about what the future would hold, and then opened his eyes.

…

“I just want to say, again, that this is kidnapping.”

“It’s not kidnapping,” the well-dressed man beside Thomas said with a tired frown that gave his face an overall scrunched-together look.

“So, I’m free to go?”

“No.”

“That arrest was bullshit by the way. Was that you?”

“I wish it was brother.” The other man rubbed a temple now as he waited. He wore a suit that showed the outline of the muscles underneath. Naturally gained, not from advancement. Thomas’ red hair was echoed in the one standing by him, though the Cleric lost a few centimeters over his counterpart.

Both he and Thomas were within the South, or Sun Spire. The magic inherent in the building from both mortal and divine attention had led to the creation of something close to what Daniel would call an escalator, only this one curved into itself and went from top to bottom. Elevating platforms also existed but were reserved for important business. This may have qualified, but Eddor Kaysian clearly wanted his brother to endure the longer ride.

Thomas, for his part, was unshackled and even had all of the things the guards had taken from him. One or two missing coins would have been expected after an arrest, but once they found out who he was not a thing was touched. Even if he was technically free, two of his brother’s spire guard detail were standing behind him. He wasn’t yet ready to see what would happen if he tried to run. “Where are we going anyway?”

“Someone wants to talk to you.”

“It’s not Dad, is it? Is this about me taking a class and running off?”

Eddor snickered in a way he probably didn’t mean to make him sound like a young teenager trying to hide in the ladies’ washroom. “I doubt it. You see, brother, I’m the new head of the family.” The man stuck up his chin proudly until Thomas snorted.

“By default? Wait, is dad alright?”

“He’s fine,” the man sneered. “But after Rodreick was found with his, heh, pants down our father rethought when to take retirement. It was about time.”

“Wait, that’s where he died? The Rose Spire, or lower city?”

“Rose Spire, brother.” Eddor gave him a knowing smile, then continued. “And Ytaya was killed on the Eye. I was there myself.”

“Damn,” Thomas said distantly, treating this like an actual conversation not held at sword point once the interesting details had come up. “The Mirage has gotten bold. Aren’t you worried?”

“About what? Small time sand rebels? They never really do anything in the city itself,” Eddor said, in stark contrast to established fact. “Rodreick was a fool and Ytaya was, well, a bug. What do you expect? They die every two decades even if you just stick them in the dirt. She was due for a burial soon.” The smile on his face didn’t drop for a second. “That whole faction is in chaos now. It’s been a week and they aren’t any closer to nominating a successor. Crest, Rodreick’s imploded too. It’s a good time to have a Council member’s ear. Just imagine if we’re left with three after this.”

Thomas ignored the self-serving comments and zeroed in on one of the important ones. “They can’t revive Ytaya? Or Fredreick, but it would be too long now.”

“Oh, they tried with Ytaya.” Eddor waved a hand disinterestedly. “It didn’t work. As far as Rodreick, there wasn’t enough left of him to bring back.” A troubled look momentarily crossed Eddor’s face before it cleared. “There’s no point though. All of Ytaya’s Legacy was stolen and no one knows enough to point the right finger. Who knows if they even still have enough to piece together another council member?”

“Huh.” Thomas glanced out one of the odd windows they passed on the way up. The stairs didn’t move as fast as he could climb them, but it would average out if they were going all the way up. “So where are we going?”

“That shark’s lair. The,” he waved a hand airly. “Fate whatever. I can’t remember the name of the species. It’s not important.”

“Why are you taking me to the Fate?”

“Come on, you should be able to figure that out. Although, he wants to talk to you as well.”

Thomas sighed. “Brother, you’re terrible at trying to sound mysterious.”

The man sniffed. “I have no idea what you are talking about. In either case, things have changed since you ran away from home and despoiled yourself. Not that I’m complaining though. House Rodamas made a very interesting decision a year or so after you left. They’re no longer a major player.”

“What?” Despite Thomas’ distaste for his brother, his affinity for gossip edged it out. “They’ve been one step from taking over from Rodreick’s house for, what, a century? Why didn’t they take his seat when he died?”

“They got a seat. In a way,” he laughed. “You missed quite the scandal.”

“What happened?”

“I’ll let you figure it out. You were always good at sticking your nose in other people’s business.” He smiled sharply at his brother, knowing what not knowing would do to the Cleric. “We’re almost here, after all.”

The interior of a Spire was, just like the exterior, reminiscent of a skyscraper. Each floor had a landing where the various ways to ascend met, pipes or other channels through the wall to funnel supplies up and waste down, and a certain cramped feeling that was at odds with the view you could get from any of the windows. Where it differed dramatically was the magic that blazed alongside water and sewage, powering many and various artifices added on over the years.

One such was the Fate’s suite, a set of rooms midway up the southern Sun Spire dedicated to Aughal’s sole member of the class. The last one had died of old age after hitting their wall, only making it to level 4. When Thomas had last been here, the shavi whose name even he didn’t know had been around level 3. He idly wondered how much stronger she’d gotten as Eddor rapped on an actual wooden door, a sign of her station.

To his surprise, a dusker opened it. Fortunately, the height of the floors in this Spire prevented this one from breaking apart its shell and they weren’t as creepy to look at like that. How does Guy stand them? Thomas received another shock as he observed the interior of the suite. “S-silver Eye?”

“Kaysian runt.” Sitting in one of the padded chairs in the room beyond the lounge was the very man himself. The silvered bird that had led the avianoid faction of the city ruthlessly for decades. Granted, the non-human factions stuck by whoever they appointed to the Council, countering the human’s greater numbers with loyalty, but Aucrest Seliri had even won over the support of some of the Human families. Even-

“No way.” Sitting beside Silver Eye was another figure Thomas recognized. He was good with faces. She was Alecia Rodamas, wife of Horacio Rodamas who had himself been one heartbeat away from the Council. “No way!”

“I see you’ve caught your brother up on current events.” Aucrest brushed a loose feather off his arm. “I assume, despite your self-appointed exile, you are still loyal to the city? We’ve brought you here to answer some questions. There are rumors that a new Artificer has entered the city and we’d like to make an approach to acquire their services.”

“Wait, we’re with him now!?” Thomas had assumed that his house, being human, had gone to either of the other active human factions following Rodreick’s death. How much of that faction did Seliri poach?

“Aucrest is a genius, brother.” Eddor nodded enthusiastically at Silver Eye, and Thomas wondered just how much it had taken to buy his loyalty. “Father was nervous about it, of course, but he’s not in charge now is he?”

“Your flattery aside, I am thankful for you intervening to bring your brother here. You may go, Eddor.”

“What? I thought-“

“I’m sure your time is better spent elsewhere. Go.” Aucrest added a tint of firmness to the last word, and Eddor didn’t have the courage to protest. He and his guard departed.

“So,” Thomas said blankly. “What’s to stop me from running out of here?”

“Nothing, of course,” Alecia replied brightly. “You are free to go.”

“Ok. Thanks?” Thomas reached for the door handle, knowing the stick was coming.

“But-“

There it is.

“We would have to issue warrants for all those you entered the city with.” The keenness in Aucrest’s eyes unnerved him. He would do it, and he had the leverage to. “Just until we can verify they don’t pose a threat to our city. The Thormundz did fall under their watch.”

“That doesn’t make sense! There’s no way any of them did that.”

Aucrest took a sip from a wide brimmed glass, not at all bothered by Thomas’ tone. “Maybe, but that’s all the reason I need.”

“Or,” Alecia offered. “You can answer our questions.”

Thomas stared at the two sitting close together. “You two actually married?”

“A matter of politics.”

“And convenience,” Alecia smiled.

Thomas nodded after a few moments. “Wow. Honestly, I get it. Both ways. You’ve got this, I don’t know, Bard and Hero thing going on but with you two it works.”

“Unlike your brother, kind words alone won’t grant you leave.”

“Just being honest.” Thomas shrugged and took a seat after regaining his footing. “I hate that I missed it. Was it a public wedding?”

“No, but you would have been invited.”

“Alecia, this is no time for banter.” Aucrest put the glass down and leaned forward. “The Fate is a valuable resource and there are several shipments later this afternoon I would prefer she protect, rather than continue to deal with this. Aughal is in a very tenuous position right now and the last thing we need is the Mirage hitting another caravan. All I’m trying to do here is help this city. So, are you going to make the wise decision?”

“Can I grab something out of here?” He got a put-upon expression out of Aucrest and a bemused giggle from Alecia. Not hearing a no, Thomas pulled out a bottle of wine and a glass from a strange cabinet. “Look, I know how things work here. I know the guy you’re looking for, that’s the truth, but I also know what you’d do to him.”

Pouring himself a glass, he saw the Fate herself as he took a different seat just to mix things up. She was a strange creature with blue skin and no obvious way to tell gender, just like avianoids. Her head was flat and spread out, shaped roughly like an arrowhead with the point forming the snout. She had scales instead of skin, and functional ones rather than the pattern that layered on top of dusker flesh. The Fate was short, just above a meter tall, with a relatively long finned tail that just met the ankle. Even though she was lying back in a very fancy, overbuilt recliner, she looked uncomfortable.

“I have no idea what you are talking about. Aughal conducts its business within the purview of the laws of the greater kingdom.”

“I should mention my class lets me tell when people are lying.” Thomas delivered that line smoothly, but he guessed what Aucrest was about to say.

Silver Eye didn’t miss a beat, raising a hand and rubbing one of the few rings he wore. “Common people perhaps. I won’t mince words with you. Tell me who the Artificer is. Believe me, it’s in his best interest if you do.”

Thomas took a sip from his glass. “Let me get this straight. Two of the Council are dead, the Mirage is up your ass, the region next door just collapsed into a burning heap, and this is what you want to talk about?” Thomas’ calm demeanor changed in an instant. “Wait, you don’t even know about the thing!”

Aucrest and Alecia both raised an eyebrow. “What thing?”

“There’s this thing in the mountains stealing people’s souls!”

“Ridiculous,” Aucrest said dismissively, although the change in the man before him didn’t escape his notice. In her throne, Silora shifted but remained silent as he had asked her to. “I admit you aren’t as vulnerable to pressure as your brother made me believe. Either way, I am only here to discuss what is best for Aughal.”

Thomas’ rapid breathing slowed, realizing that what he had to say was too impossible to be believed here. Better that Lograve try while he raised the alarm in the Divine Quarter. Instead, he set down his glass and crossed his arms. “What’s in it for me?”

“I believe I have already covered the consequences.”

“What, and how long can you make those charges stick? The way I see it, my friends just have to wait until the Mirage gets to you.”

Alecia held up a quelling hand and tried a smile. “Now now, let’s not be unpleasant.”

Right on cue, Thomas thought, not blind to the game both Aucrest and Alecia were playing.

As if pre-planned, Aucrest took over after that. “You would be performing a civic duty. Acquiring the services of a rare class, especially one that does not come from our allotment, would greatly benefit Aughal. Favor for you and your house would naturally result from this. And, your friend would be assured a comfortable life where she, or he, could advance in safety. Arpan Morel is the perfect example of how such people can function independently while still enriching our society. I doubt I need to remind you there have been more unsavory practices in the past.”

Thomas nodded. “Sure, sure, but you got to Arpan too late. He was already self-sufficient, wasn’t he? What about your Fate here? Hey, you can leave the city whenever you want to, right?”

“Please do not distract Silora.” Silver Eye was back in control of the conversation, danger in his voice though he covered it. Somewhat. “She is in the middle of important work and cannot be interrupted. As for your question, you know her biology would prevent her from traveling too far outside the city.”

“Convenient.”

Aucrest looked almost uncomfortable as the conversation turned towards the Fate. “We stray from the topic yet again. Perhaps you need me to prove my threats are more than empty?”

“Maybe what I need is to take what I know to the other Council members?” The air chilled further as Thomas pulled out the only real threat he could respond with.

“That would be unwise, for someone so concerned with keeping their acquaintances out of our politics.” Despite whatever artifact on him was blocking his feature, Thomas still felt Aucrest was telling the truth here. Or, at least, he believed he was.

“Well, if it’s going to happen either way, might as well sell to the highest bidder right? That’s practically our slogan. Oh, wait, no that’s ‘Death to the Tyrant’. You know we killed one in the Thormundz too?” Thomas may have been wise enough to stop from saying what he did next, but he was starting to get a little annoyed. “You know, he kind of reminds me of you. Well, he did.”

“I’m sure you didn’t mean that as a threat.” Alecia laughed, failing to break the tension.

“You think your class gives you power, boy. In your time away, it seems you have forgotten that that is not how we do things here.” Aucrest extended a finger towards Thomas, only for the hand to be dragged away by his wife.

“Husband, do not be hasty-”

“I don’t need you, do you know that!?” Aucrest seethed. “Aughal can find this Artificer one way or the other, and if you think this is the hard way, then you’ve been gone from this region too long. Tell me what I want to know before things get unpleasant.”

Thomas was pretty sure this wasn’t meant to be a direct threat, but he continued as if it was. “What about my brother? We don’t get along well, sure, but if there’s one thing he cares about it’s his image. Letting his kin out to dry, just after taking his role, wouldn’t say the best things about him. Especially after he just crossed over to your side, across racial boundaries no less. He’s not that much of an idiot to let any action against me stand, or else everyone will just see him as your vassal.” Thomas patted an object at his waist. “Oh, and right, my class. Might not make me your equal, but good luck having anyone you care about healed, or Hand forbid, revived after the church learns about what you did to me. And if Quala finds out?” He shook his head. “She fought a dragon. I doubt she’d have trouble knocking you out of the sky.”

Instead of falling further to anger, Aucrest composed himself, taking a sip from his own neglected glass. Then, he chuckled. “What did your father do to drive you out? You would have made quite the head of House Kaysian. Flights above Eddor, that’s for certain. An actual ally instead of a stevedore playing the part. It’s a shame that’s no longer possible.”

Thomas was taken aback by the wistfulness that had suddenly entered Aucrest’s tone. It was like he’d realized anger wasn’t getting him anywhere and had burned it off. Either that or it had been an act from the beginning. “Dad didn’t do anything. It’s just not my thing. Neither is selling out my friends for quick coin. You don’t even need me, you’ve got a Fate.”

“Recent events have shown us her powers have their limits,” Aucrest replied, keeping the mood calm now. “But, in the end, you are correct. I don’t need you, you would have just made things easier. I’ll let you go. I’ll admit, you’re too well-situated and too clever to adequately press. But this isn’t over. You know, as well as I do that it’s talent that makes or breaks a region, and rare classes are no exception to that. We can’t let this opportunity slip through our fingers, or fall into the wrong hands.”

“Right. Glad to see everyone’s following the law here.” Thomas stood. “Alecia, Silver Eye, congrats on the wedding again. Really, I get it. Also, by the way, met your daughter in the Thormundz. I get the connection there too. Looks like Kaysian’s not the only one to have a family member get a class.”

“I will deal with Tlara in my own time.” Thomas smiled, right before he had to suppress a look of horror. The Beastmaster didn’t have any reason to keep the secret. “And as we are technically political allies, I suppose I should tell you good day.”

“Don’t be a stranger!” Alecia called out to him as Thomas stood, placing the wine bottle back instead of swiping it. It just added to the strange feeling Thomas got as he left, wondering exactly what Aucrest was worried about when he hinted at things getting worse. Either way, he had to get to Daniel before Aucrest found Tlara.

…

Back in the focus chamber, Silora was still tense. If Thomas hadn’t been the centerpiece of the conversation, it would all have been over. She’d stopped breathing when he called attention to her. He had been right there. Her treasure. Her way out. If they had been alone, she might have been able to escape that day. Especially if these friends he mentioned were capable. Because what only she and, hopefully, two others knew was that Thomas possessed a power valued far greater than any other. Artificers, Assassins, and Fates were practically guaranteed to show up at some point. The recent awakening of an Assassin in the region was proof of this, even if you had to wait years.

What Thomas had was a power that only developed in certain people, and only then at complete random without regard to how many or how few a region had. Aucrest didn’t seem as desperate to acquire the Artificer as Claret, who’d offered threats and promises in kind if Silora found the elusive rare and told no one but her. That being said, the Silver Eye would do anything to monopolize Thomas. In the end, what price could you put on the power to bring someone back from the dead?