Tales of a Horse Thief, Cycle 2 Part 8b
Tanfardi had figured out what had happened to make using the existing gates so dangerous. When his people had decided to park their planet in orbit around this world there were more subtle effects than just the massive destruction across the surface. The addition of another moon had changed the planet’s position and rotation, basically all the old navigational calculations were no longer valid. So, unless a gate was actively linked to another, you were unlikely to end up exactly where you had intended to go. This rendered the gates less useful with a significant increase in the likelihood of a catastrophic failure.
Thankfully with a few decades of astrological observation he would be able to recalculate the coordinates of the previously built gate system. Of course he would not know if a specific gate had also been physically moved or destroyed over the past ten thousand years, nor did he know where any of the gates had been built after he had been placed in suspension. He had a great deal of work ahead of him.
Unfortunately he had not been able to find any answers to where his people might have hidden themselves. He had pieced together a lot of information about ellodran cities, citadels and Rover Halls, many or most of which should have gates. However, just the fact that the Arcanium had this information made it unlikely any of these places were where his kin had hidden. Also much of the information that was available to him was not of much use, second and third hand accounts, written on scrolls or books by beings who did not have orderly, disciplined minds.
Despite the pride the GreensBridge Mages Guild took in the Arcanium and the library at the university, the lack of memory crystals meant that their knowledge storage was down right barbaric. Well, perhaps not barbaric, but only a step or two away from being the literal case.
It was also much more time consuming to process the information that was available. He had been there a bit over fifteen days, a little more than a fortnight. Technically he was now an adult as well, having reached his one thousandth year. Not counting the nearly ten thousand years he had lain in his ruined house in a state of suspension.
If disaster had not befallen his people there would have been a celebration with family and friends. To his knowledge everyone he had been close to was now dead. He had not had to declare a vocation, nor choose his first mate. Instead, he was searching for information that likely did not exist within the archives he had available to him.
The most promising information he had come across were recent accounts of explorers and adventurers who had happened across half-men and ellodran in states of suspension. Most of these had happened within the last couple hundred years and it was assumed that in most cases this was likely self induced. A desperate attempt to avoid the annihilation of the Queen’s Bane.
Another tidbit of information that might prove useful regarded the wild-elves. Seemingly his people had come to greatly respect these primitive elves. From what he had read, this change in attitude happened as a result of his people learning that the wild-elves were not savages, as had been initially assumed. Instead, they chose to live simple lives, close to nature and were deeply connected to the harmony between the physical and spiritual worlds. A philosophical choice rather than a degradation of their development. In the years after the Third Elemental War and previous to the Bane, the wild-elves and the ellodran had often found common cause and regularly assisted each other.
He had also learned of an order within the wild-elves, called Watchers. These were individuals who would take a few centuries or even millennium and observe the comings and going of the various species at a specific point. Often these were great cities, but other times there was mention of Watchers at specific points of power within the natural world. If a location was both of these things, then you could be fairly certain there was a wild-elf somewhere in the area.
Earlier in the day he had come across information that confirmed his suspicion that GreensBridge should be one such place. He was now waiting for an opportunity to talk to the Grand Magus, who according to his information knew the local Watcher. Though presently the Magus was involved in meetings with the city’s leadership. Apparently some of the population had seized a section of the city and had blocked traffic from coming or going to the west.
Unfortunately, emerging from his studies seemed to be an indicator to the half-men that he was available for discourse. So, while the Grand Magus had insured he would have privacy for his research, anytime he was not in his room or engaged in study, one or more of the half-men would approach him.
Typically they had questions for him or were seeking lore that they were sure he must have. More often than not the lore they sought was of an arcane nature, often that of the greater keys. He understood why they sought this knowledge but he was reluctant to pass on the information he did have. For his people, such things had been learned over decades, sometimes centuries. When one learned powerful knowledge, one should take the time to deeply understand the implications of using such power.
So, when he knew something they were asking about, he would give a tidbit of advice or a simpler key than what they were seeking. Something to help them in their quest for knowledge, but not enough to give them rapid access to things that he considered beyond their intellectual maturity. The biggest issue, as far as he was concerned, was that he did not have the time to oversee such instruction properly. At least not until he had made every effort he could to find his people.
As he waited in a well arranged seating area, not far from where the Grand Magus’ office was, Gethelrad Jindesh joined him. She was one of the half-breeds, nearly as powerful in ability as the Magus or himself. She was also fairly young, having been born less than two hundred years ago as a result of the union between one of GreensBridge’s mages and a revived ellodran.
“Do you mind if I join you?” She carefully arranged the skirts of the dress she was wearing and sat.
“Of course not, Gethelrad. I’m waiting to speak to the Grand Magus.”
She smiled, “I prefer Geth.”
“Ah. What brings you here, Geth? Business with the Magus?”
“No, I was wanting to talk to you.”
“What did you wish to talk about?”
She paused, looking him over. He could not tell if she was appraising him or stalling as she collected herself. She, unlike most others here was fairly difficult to read. “I was wondering if we could talk about mating?”
“Mating?”
“Sex, reproduction.”
“Ah. Is there something specific I can clarify for you?”
She laughed, “I’m well versed in the act thereof. No, I’m more interested in talking about mating with you.”
“With me?” He had never considered such an act with someone outside of his species. Though, if he had given more consideration to what had been taking place, regarding his people’s inability to reproduce over the past couple thousand years, then he might have expected such a question. As it was, he was caught trying to process the request and the implications thereof.
“Yes. Given the fact that you were suspended and not on this world when the drake’s cursed our people, I suspect you may be fertile. Therefore, a union between you and myself should produce viable offspring. Offspring that would be of a purer bloodline.” She regarded him calmly.
His initial instinct was to turn her down. In fact, he was somewhat repulsed by the idea. However, he was aware that there may not be other options available to him. If he could not find the rest of his people or if he did find them and there were in fact no viable women with whom he could mate with… Would there be better options? It was unlikely.
They gazed at each other in silence for a number of moments before she added, “I know I’m not familiar with how our people wold have gone about such a union, or proposition. I do feel though, that we have an obligation to at least try. I am also willing and available to help you in your efforts to find our people, as it is something that I also have an interest in.”
He found her offer more compelling, seeing how she had reasoned out the situation. As well, the offer of help was generous. “May I have some time to consider your proposition and to follow up on some local leads?”
“Of course Tanfardi. I reside here in the Arcanium. Perhaps I should leave you to your meditations?”
“Thank you.”
She smiled and left. He watched her go, wondering what she did here in the Arcanium. He had never seen her in red, was she an active member of the guild? He would have to compile a number of questions for their next meeting. Did she even know who her father had been? Had it been her father who had been ellodran? Did she know if she was in fact fertile? There would be many questions.
A while later the door to the Grand Magus’ office opened and the grey-haired woman of indeterminate age who served as his assistant stepped into the hall, “The Magus has returned. He will meet with you now, thank you for waiting.”
The office of the Grand Magus, like most of the rooms in the Arcanium, was on the small side. It was a wall to wall clutter of books and artifacts. Though the place was clean, Tanfardi had not been able to figure out how things were organized.
Once they had settled into a couple of chairs and the Magus had asked for some tea and biscuits to be brought, he looked expectantly at Tanfardi, “Have you discovered something important?”
“Not specifically. I did however find reference to you knowing the local Watcher, who resides in the grove.”
“Ah. I see.” His expression might have been one of disappointment, perhaps regret.
“Is it a thing that could be done? For you to introduce me to the local Watcher?”
The Magus regarded him for a while, stroking his beard a few times, then he sighed, “I guess, under the circumstances, that could be done. When were you hoping to do so?”
“Perhaps we could proceed after your repast?”
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