Oath and Kingdom [The Swordbreaker Archives]

Chapter 25: New Names and Faces

A few of Dryn's childhood friends died within the next one hundred years of his life.  It was a curse he understood would eventually come.  Those who remained with him knew the consequences of long life too.
Bol was one of them.  He changed in those years, now burdened by aching bones and exhaustion of living.  In human years, he would be in his seventies.  Still, he held to his energy and his mind, every waking moment enveloped with knowledge.
Dryn felt burdened by the deaths of his friends.  There were two new Martials in his lifetime, and all of his human teachers died within the last thirty years.
Somedays, Dryn felt the loss.  Others, it was refreshing to know he could make an impact in the world during his long life.
Dryn was newly Maestered about twelve years prior, his skill in translation and even speaking the Numen language strengthened by his teachings.  He understood the Numen histories, at least what had been discovered up until then.
The accounts of the Numen agreements still bothered him.  There was no other information by the Numen themselves, their journals gone.  Only the accounts of men and their companion soldiers murdering innocent Numen.
Even with the heartbreak and pain endured by them,  Dryn knew he needed to continue his work despite the consequences of emotion.
Dryn struggled with it for a long time, part of the reason the grand maester would not allow him to become a maester.  His emotional attachment to his work was too great.  So much so, he kept dreaming he was being killed, thinking shadows were watching him, and believing all of the people who have helped him thrive over the years would turn on him and kill him.
Now, he was complacent.  He knew the other scholars and mages would protect him at any cost.  So, he remained in the citadel.  Through every expedition to Asherah, he never asked to join.
He still felt trapped within the walls of this city sometimes.  He was free to travel the mountains just outside the city, but as years passed he saw the sunlight less and less.

Dryn watched the city streets below.  High within the citadel, he could see all the way to the gates.  There was a crowd gathering just within, ready to welcome a group of scholars, mages and soldiers from Darhan and Dal Vanis.
The King's mage was here for a visit.  He would be meeting with the head mages, maesters and the grand maester to discuss new laws from both the Scholar Society, and the king's politics.
It is a meeting to maintain peace with the societies and how the country is ruled.  Dryn was never invited to these meetings that occurred once a year.  Not until today.
He sat quietly in the meeting chamber, staring out the slitted window of the highest room.  He could see the scholars greeting the city folk, and being escorted up towards the citadel.
"You look like you have seen a ghost," Bol stated, staring at Dryn from where he sat in a chair by the door.  He was also invited to this meeting.  Together they would try to convince the king's mage to include Numen history into the curriculum.  "I understand you are worried about others seeing you, but you needn't worry so.  They are under contract not to harm you."
"They should not need a contract.  This is a free city, no one should be harmed for being different."
"You know why they must enter a contract.  Numen are free to kill anywhere else."
"Numen no longer exist, Bol," Dryn glared at him, covering his white complexion with the hood of his robes.  He looked almost human when hidden in shadow.  Or at least animus.  "Once I am dead they are truly gone."
When the newcomers finally arrived, they gathered into the room, the highest ranks sitting at the table in the center of the room.  Everyone else sat at the edge, sliding into seats against the walls.  A bench reached all the way around the perimeter of the room in front of them, acting as a table.
Dryn sat a few seats from Bol near the doorway, a newcomer sitting between him.  She was human.  Still too young to be a maester, but old enough to understand politics.  Possibly an apprentice of a specified master.
She did not look at him, her eyes trained on the table in the center of the room.  Towards the grand Maester and the King's mage.
She looked almost frightened.
Servants and other scholars brought food and wine to the tables.  Many of them quieted, waiting for the servants to leave so they could start.  The King's mage's eyes wandered around the room, his eyes finally landing on Dryn, remaining there until the doors closed and everyone grew quiet.
"It seems that the rumors are true," The King's mage stated.  "No matter, let's begin."
The scholars looked confused by his claim, still unaware of Dryn's presence.  Bol nudged him, all of their companions watching him.  They knew this was a risk, but they needed to proceed and ensure Dryn's safety and possible welcome into Scalgorian society.
When no one spoke, the King's mage started again.  "Let's begin.  Grand Maester, would you like to start?"
"I have a few things I wish to discuss with you for the king.  Most of which inquire about one of our specified studies at the citadel.   We have discovered a fair amount about lost languages and histories.  From many different cultures.  There is one in particular that is only studied here at the citadel, and not at our sister college in Dal Vanis."
"You speak of the Asheran histories.  Am I right?"
You would have never known the tension in the room if you could not feel it, for the silence remained as still as ever.  The only instance out of place were the wide-eyed looks of the King's men and the scholars of Dal Vanis.
"You have unlocked the mystery of the Numen unlike any other scholarly community.  I dare ask, how much?"
The grand master looked taken aback.  He was not sure exactly how to proceed as the King's Mage glared at him challengingly.  Clearly, he was not a fan of the Numen.
"Most of it is in pieces, but we do have a timeline from their extinction to one-hundred years prior of large events that occurred not only on the mainland, but also on Asherah, hidden from our knowledge.  We have also discovered the possibility they did not originate in Asherah."
"Anything political?"
"We do have their most recent form of beliefs as well as how they rediscovered the world and their beliefs began to shift with the contact of mainlanders."
The mage considered this for a long time, then he suddenly turned to Dryn.  "I understand why this has been an easy feat for you.  You have someone with direct knowledge of the language.  My concern, though, is how accurate can it be?  When did you arrive here, Numen?"
Dryn turned to the grand maester to see if he would relieve Dryn of the question, but he understood the Mage's direct address to Dryn.  He would have to answer for himself.  He looked around the room, many staring.
The young woman next to him seemed to be really looking at him for the first time.  Unlike the others, she seemed genuinely pleased and excited, rather than terrified.
Dryn removed his hood and stood.  Many shifted back in their seats.  "I came here as a child.  After the attack on the Northern Wood.  I retained my knowledge of the language because it was the only one I knew fluently when I arrived.  I was learning Scalgorian at the time, so I was able to communicate with the previous Grand Maester to plead a case and earn a place as a scholar here."
"So, you have been here over one hundred years and no one knew outside of Haendar.  Tell me, why was the king neglected to be informed?"
"Because the old king would rather knowledge die than see a Numen alive."  Dryn paused, surprised to not recognize the voice.  Surely, it was Bol who had spoken.  Until the woman beside him stood up.  "Or do you not remember why your old master left the Capitol to return to Dal Vanis?"
He stared at her, but understood the truth of it.  The only reason his master agreed to apprentice him to become the new King's Mage in his place was because the cruel king was close to his death, his heir more welcoming to new ideas.  He trained the new mage to weigh consequence and possibility.
That's why the King's Mage quieted at her words, instead of defending the decisions of the prior leaders of the country as he normally would politically. 
"When the knowledge reaches the rest of the world that a Numen is not only still alive, but welcome into a powerful society, the entire world will be after Scalgoral and the Scholar Societies.  In due time, we will all be desecrated."
"Then we do not tell them," Bol spoke for the first time.  "The only ones who need to know are the Scholar Societies, and the King who offers his accommodation and pilgrimage when necessary."
Pilgrimage.  Dryn never thought it possible for him, but if welcomed by the king, he may be offered a change to go to Asherah, and to find the history that is missing.
That was all Dryn wanted to do.  Go to Asherah and find what he felt was missing.  Dryn pondered the idea as the King's Mage considered Bol's idea.
"I will bring this to the King.  I am not sure how he will react to the Numen, but I do know he will not push away the possibility of broadening our history.  I will allow you to stay here.  He does not need to see you as proof, nor do I think it wise for you to leave here.  I must say I am surprised you lived this long without anyone knowing of your existence."
Dryn watched the King's Mage sit back down, ready to continue with the business at hand.  There was much for the society to discuss with each other, and the King's Mage.
As they all agreed to keep Dryn from anyone's knowledge outside this room until the King decided his fate, they continued on discussing how to bring this knowledge to the rest of the society without the rest of the world finding out.
Dryn knew of two others who knew of his existence.  The current Archmage, and the current Head of the Scholar Society.  The pair of them learned of his existence when he was still a child, and kept it quiet.
Dryn's mind was not on the conversation at hand.  Instead, he was watching the girl next to him eagerly take notes in an ancient language Dryn had seen a few times.
It was a Dwarven language.  One Dryn remembered as a philosophical language to them, only spoken among each other.
She was not writing about the conversation, but about a Numen tale.  The only one really known to the public.  It was the first one he translated.  Many people learned of the tale from Numen who travelled here.  They told them the tale, knowing they would understand why Numen were wary of change.
He saw her write on the corner of the parchment, facing Dryn.  He turned away briefly, embarrassed she caught him watching.  His curiousity only deepened, so he turned to look again.
If you understand this, would you like to talk later?
Dryn scribbled a reply on his parchment, sitting back and returning his attention to the discussion.
He saw her peer at his reply, Yes.
"What do you suppose we do?  The archmage has disappeared.  We do not know where he went, or why he left.  He does not have an apprentice.  If he dies, then our society, and possibly the world, is doomed."
Dryn stared at the King's Mage, shocked by the news.  The archmage, known to reside in Dalmoore, disappeared.  If he was gone, then no one could save them from being destroyed by whatever came next.
"Does anyone know where all of his knowledge is kept?  Maybe we can elect another archmage."  The grand master of Dal Vanis's college spoke up.  As a master mage close to the archmage, he understood there might be matters that could help them if this were to happen.
"It does not leave them.  He took everything with him.  Generally, the only one who knows is the apprentice."  The King's mage stated.
"There is also one other idea that has not been mentioned," Bol stated as a matter of fact.  Dryn could see his eyes scanning, as if he was reading from something within his mind.  "I have read they do not keep physical knowledge it is all within the spell they tattoo on themselves.  It can only be transferred if there is no apprentice when the archmage dies and a chosen successor is born.  Maybe he doesn't have an apprentice because they have not been born yet."
"We do not know if that tale is true, Bol.  It was written long after the initial archmage died by someone who claimed he had spoken about it."
"But what if it is true?" Bol continued, but his thoughts were fleeting.
"Either way, it is worrisome.  We have not seen a better world than one with an archmage.  We need to prepare in case he has gone."  The King's mage looked around the room, wondering if someone might agree.
"Then we must prepare.  I do, however, believe if people are willing to listen to the Scholar Society, that as a whole the world can thrive," The grand maester stated.
Though some in the room seemed doubtful, there were many who began to understand his point.  With all of their combined knowledge and opinions, they could all act in the archmage's place.
"I will bring this up in the next grand master meeting to see what our community thinks."
"I think we should bring this meeting to an end.  If there is anything else anyone wishes to discuss, we will have one more meeting before we leave at the end of the week.  There, we will answer any questions from any scholars looking for insight."
They dismissed the meeting and filed out of the room, leaving Dryn, Bol, both grand maesters and the King's mage alone.
Dryn turned to watch the woman who sat next to him close the door, joining them on their private conversation.
The Grand Maester of Dal Vanis spoke first.  "I understand you wanted a private conversation, but this is my apprentice, Lady Elvira Vanders.  She is to succeed me when my time has come.  If there is anything to discuss with me, then she shall be included."
The King's Mage looked at her, surprised.  She was the only human in the room.  Much younger than the rest of them.  "Apologies, but I wish to know your age."
"I do not think that-" Bol started, but was cut off quickly.
"I am twenty one.  Yes I understand I am younger than all of you, and will probably die before I reach most of your ages, but I have a similar mental capacity to all of you.  In fact, if I am not mistaken, one hundred years in Numen age is about equivalent to the human age of twenty five."
Dryn smirked.  "That is accurate.  But if you heard earlier, I am over one hundred."
"What difference does a few years make?" An equivalent smile crept up her face.  Dryn admired her immediately.  "Besides, I have all the scientific knowledge of Dal Vanis memorized.  Though I may not know history like all of you, I do understand the implications of science and magic, and how it can benefit our future."
The King's Mage turned to the rest of them.  "Alright, then.  I suggest we finish this conversation quickly, before people become suspicious.  Let's start with how you survived that battle."
"What do you know of it," Dryn asked.
"I know that a dragon killed half my predecessor's men and the other half of the Numen that we were unable to kill."
"I may have been the one to wake it up," Dryn stated.  "I was not near the fighting."
"How do you remember that?"
Dryn turned to Bol.  "Bol found me.  I told him about it after I became comfortable here."
"He's been here ever since," the grand maester said.  "He has been helping us create translated works of the Numen we retrieved from Asherah over the years.  When he became a scholar, we started to study the language itself.  Dryn has made quite some progress with this.  Some of us are fluid speakers now, and we have a full understanding of the language in written and verbal forms."
The King's mage look surprised.  "Well, I suppose you can keep on working.  If we can find some of their knowledge, it will help us in the long run, especially if the archmage does not return.  We should keep this short.  I do not want to keep my soldiers waiting.  They'll want some rest after the journey we just took."
The grand maester nodded.  "I have some townspeople downstairs helping with the lodging houses.  We'll have dinner every night before sunset.  Feel free to come to my office any time."
They departed, leaving the Grand Maester, Bol and Dryn alone.  Then Grand Maester turned to them.  "People are going to ask a lot of questions.  You can be open about what you are doing, but I suggest you do not go into detail about it.  Some of our findings are rather sensitive at present."
Dryn nodded in understanding, exiting the room with the two of them.  They made their way downstairs to the mess hall, where many gathered for a late lunch.  Some visiting scholars and mages wandered around talking with other scholars or ate quietly with groups of colleagues.
Dryn and Bol sat by Willoughby and his cousin, Asher, who already took some food for them and set it aside.  They ate quietly, Willoughby watching them from across the table.  Asher watched from next to Dryn, unsure he should speak up.  Only a scholar, he did not understand the workings of the Maester world yet.
Asher worked with Dryn a lot.  He focused on shadow and healing magic, and was even interested in history.  They had interesting conversations, but he found Asher to be a little overwhelming with his questions sometimes.
"Well, are they going to try to give you citizenship?" Willoughby asked.
Dryn looked up at his friend.  "It will not be official yet, but we think we made progress."
Willoughby smiled.  He scratched the greying hair on his face.   "Good. at least they are willing to understand.  I just hope they will allow you to work without restrictions."
"Do they think you are dangerous?" Asher asked.
Dryn sighed.  "Probably.  Numen are known to be powerful mages."
"Hmm, I hope they will see that they are wrong.  You are powerful, but you are a good person.  You're helpful to everyone."
Dryn sighed, taking a look around the room.  Many visitors were watching him.  Not many have seen what a Numen looks like, and even fewer ever met one.  Out of all of them, he bet less than a handful met a Numen.
Suddenly, someone sat next to Willoughby, throwing food as well as paperwork across the table in front of her.  The Grand Maester's apprentice from Dal Vanis, Elmira.
"Well, that was fast."  Dryn stated.
Bol gave him a weird look.  "What do you mean?"
Dryn turned to him.  "She asked to talk.  I did not think she meant immediately after the meeting."
"I could not wait.  I did not catch your name either."
Bol spoke up first.  "I admit I must protest to-"
"Bol, it is okay.  I do not see a point in hiding as these people know I am here.  My name is Dryn."
"Dryn," she nodded to him.  "It is nice to meet you."
She shuffled through some more paperwork, found what she was looking for, and turned to the two who were not in the meeting.  "I am Elvira."
"Willoughby, and this is my cousin, Asher."
"Nice to meet all of you.  I am sure you are wondering why I have randomly joined you when no one else seems interested to get to know you.  I, however, see a benefit in knowing those I will be working with.  Numen or not."
Dryn smiled at that.  "So, what is it you wanted to talk about?"
"I have some notes from one of the Numen excursions to Dal Vanis.  It is in the Asheran language, of course, so no one has been able to read it.  My Grand Maester had a feeling a day would come where we could translate it.  After signing that contract, I knew I needed to bring it."
The parchment looked similar to the ones he read all of those years ago, but the writing was different, done by someone else.  One of the other expeditions.
The subject, though, was rather unexpected.  It was not about Dal Vanis at all, but something about Callmandonia.
"It says something about the royal family in Callmandonia.  Something about a means to an end, or a means to a beginning.  The words he uses though, it makes it seem like an old story, not a claim of someone they met."
"Huh.  That is strange," Bol shifted to read it, his eyes wandering over the page over and over, seeing it too.  "Do you think this is some historic prophecy?  Maybe they connected the family to their overall doom."
"The expedition fell to their deaths at the canyon.  A lot of scholars at Dal Vanis think they were killed by their guides.  We kept everything in case we could find someone to help us figure out if they felt like they were in danger."
"Did you bring anything else?"
Elvira shook her head.  "I honestly was not sure if the rumors were true.  I only brought some articles to read while we were traveling, and this."
Dryn looked at Bol, knowing they could not say much more.  If they gave away what they knew of the other expeditions, then the world would know that the Numen were attacked unfairly.  They did not ask for war, they were forced to die.
"I am sorry I cannot share more with you about it.  There really is not much else here."
She nodded.  "I understand you have been asked to keep quiet until the scholar world has full acceptance of Numen history and language.  And your existence.  I am just glad you at open to sharing it."
Dryn watched her curiously as she shoved everything back into her satchel.  "What do you study at Dal Vanis?"
She looked up at him surprised by the question.  "I study scientific and alchemical implications of magic.  How they connect.  Generally magic is not possible without scientific explanation.  The body has specific reactions and activations associated with magic.  Specifically the brain.  I am also studying how physical and mental states can affect accuracy and skill."
Bol looked astonished.  "That's an intense study.  But it makes a lot of sense.  The physical state can affect magic, and grief is known to change it too."
She nodded.  "A lot of people study the history and findings of magic.  Why not find a way to harness it, make you more or less powerful.  More in control.  Use it to advantage."
"Like in war," Asher suggested.
"War is the most common implication.  What if you could repair the world when it has been destroyed?  Or talk to dragons, make them see peace instead of fear and anger."
Dryn nodded.  "Good luck with the dragons.  They can be a mess."
Elvira laughed.  "I suppose I will have to see one first.  Your friend was the last documented sighting.  We know where it went, but we have not seen it since."
"Where did it go?"
"The West Cliffs in Scalgoral.  They are impossible to climb.  A perfect place to hide."
"Dragons live longer than any other being.  It could still be alive." Willoughby offered.  "They live over a thousand years."
Elvira looked down at the table, something else on her mind.  "I have always been curious of the physical abilities of Numen.  They are masters over their body, and it makes them extremely skilled in magic.  I have to admit I have a lot of questions for you.  When we get confirmation to move forward, I would like to meet again and we can exchange our knowledge.  Both of us can have a broader understanding."
Dryn smiled.  "I would like that.  Maybe you can help me find a way to ring back some useful memories.  I remember very little of my childhood before arriving here."
Elvira smiled.  "I will keep that in mind.  I should probably be going though.  I need to speak with my Grand Master before we find our lodgings."
She stood and made her way out of the mess hall, towards the stairs.
Willoughby smiled.  "I think you have an admirer."
Dryn shook his head.  "I am sure once word gets out of my existence, I will have more than just one.  I think it is best to keep quiet for now.  We do not know anyone's true intentions."
"I still see it as a good sign someone is willing to speak to you outside of Haendar.  I mean, the few travelers who have seen you over the years were terrified of you." Asher kept rambling, still wondered by what he just witnessed.
"We should go gather our things.  Ensure we are prepared for the long week ahead.  Make some new friends too.  I for one, have someone waiting for me in the library.  I will see you soon."  Bol took his time to stand, making his way slowly towards the library.
"Do you know who he is meeting with?" Asher asked.
Dryn watched him carefully.  He knew Asher was a curious character, but he was rather intrusive in people's personal lives as well.  "Someone he was in the war with.  An elf, if I remember correctly.  They share a similar interest in history."
"Do you know him?"
Dryn nodded.  "Yes.  He knows me.  We met when I was young.  We do not really speak though."  He paused for a while, sighing.  "I am going to my quarters to get some rest.  I wish to think over some of today's conversation."
Dryn left before either of them spoke, making his way back to his chambers.  He could not get Elvira out of his mind.  She was the only one who acknowledged him without seeing consequence.  If he could become a citizen and make his way into the world, Asherah would be his first stop.  He worried about what he would find.