The Silver Sphinx

 

“Broken hearts are stolen goods.”
Arborean proverb 

 

 

Third Lower Day of Savorus, 126 HR

Amariel had entered Sarin's office two hours after First Light, as always. Uncharacteristically for him, the factol had not yet been present and had only entered the office via the access to his private rooms five minutes after her arrival. He had apologized for being late and said that he had to clarify something with his children. Through the half-opened door, Amariel had heard two girls arguing in Celestial about a stuffed unicorn. It had probably been Amarys and Harika, Sarin's third and fourth daughter. Amariel had smiled and replied that he should take all the time in the world, to which he had grumbled that they would surely like that. Then he had closed the door behind him and the children's voices had fallen silent. By now, Amariel knew the names and ages of all of Sarin’s and Faith's children, but it had taken her a while to memorize them. There were nine of them, after all, plus Yaëlla, whom the couple would soon adopt. She had once asked her brother Killeen why Sarin and Faith had so many children, significantly more than was common for human couples in Sigil. He had explained that this was because Faith's mother hailed from the realm of the goddess Nekhbet. She was also known as Eileithyia, a goddess of birth and expectant mothers. In her realm, in Heliopolis on the Arcadian layer Buxenus, it was common for couples to have many children, and Faith had continued this tradition along with her siblings. Amariel had always found it intriguing that the Arcadian Nekhbet was also part of the Olympian pantheon under the name Eileithyia and thus also had a realm on Arborea. The reasons why she covered a profoundly lawful as well as a very chaotic Upper Plane were much discussed among scholars. Since Amariel was now closer to Sarin and thus also to his family, she had recently dared to ask Faith for her opinion on the matter. Faith had admitted that she had of course also asked herself this question. In the end, she had come to see it as a symbol that a good-aligned goddess of birth was there for all women, regardless of whether they felt strongly or not at all committed to rules and laws. And regardless of whether she was Nekhbet or Eileithyia. This had made sense to Amariel and she found it a positive and welcome view.

While she waited, she walked back and forth a few times in the office and finally stopped in front of a map of Iironda. Sarin's native land on Ortho, as she knew. She had often wondered what it would be like there. She knew a few basic things that she had read in an encyclopedia about the geography and cultures of Ortho. But she was sure that only someone who hailed from a place or had lived there for a long time could truly describe the essence of a realm or a world. However, she also knew that Sarin's relationship with the Homeworld was strained and therefore tried not to talk about Ortho unless absolutely necessary. She winced a little when the door to Sarin's private rooms slammed shut because the factol had returned. She turned around quickly, but the paladin had, of course, noticed that she had been looking at the map of Iironda.

“You are interested in my homeland, decuria?” He had raised his right eyebrow slightly when he asked the question, but he didn't seem annoyed about it – perhaps a little surprised.

“I ... no, sir. I mean, yes, but it's just ...” She bit her lip when she realized she was getting tangled up in her words. She cleared her throat apologetically and started again. ”As you say, it's your home, Factol. So I was wondering what it's like there. And whether you ... well, whether you miss it sometimes.”

It was the first time she had dared to ask him such a personal question, and her heart beat a little faster in fear that he might take offense.

But to her relief, he smiled. “Yes, sometimes,” he answered openly. “Although I don't miss much about Ortho, I do miss my home Iironda from time to time. Perhaps you would like to accompany me the next time there's a sitting of the Octade. I'll show you the capital Han then.”

Of course, as his aide it was her job to accompany him on official trips – and yet the thought put her in a flurry. She sighed inwardly. And there she had assumed to have her feelings under better control by now. What a fool she had been. But she managed to nod and smile as if it were no big deal. “That would be great, Factol,” she replied. “I'd be glad to do so.”

As always, he gave no indication of noticing her little internal struggles in any way, but took a seat behind his desk to discuss the day's business with her.

She pulled up a chair, sat down opposite him and ran her hand over the stack of papers she had prepared. “We have reports here about a portal in the Market Ward that causes many unintentional passages,” she explained. ”This is partly due to its location in the side entrance of a café and partly to the very common key – an appetite for Celestial cinnamon rolls.” She smirked briefly and when she looked up, she saw that her factol was also grinning a little.

“I see,” he replied. ”Has the portal already been examined in terms of type and destination?”

“Indeed, Factol.” She nodded. ”A portal analyst of the Guvners has determined that, despite the heavenly connotations of the key, the destination is unfortunately the gate town of Ribcage, and thus a rather uncomfortable environment. Fortunately, however, it is a one-way portal and it is also temporary. The wizard in charge suspects that it will exist for no longer than two weeks.”

Sarin made a brief note. “Good, then it's probably sufficient to cordon off the area for that period of time and put up a warning sign. Anyone who absolutely wants to get through may do so, of course. We don't want to be accused of arbitrarily blocking a portal.”

“Very good, Factol.” Amariel grinned again as she ticked off the point on her list and noted to assign a patrol. Of course, if they did nothing, some people would say that the Harmonium didn’t protect the citizens of Sigil. And if they cordoned off such an area, there was always at least one berk who would accuse them of blocking portals. The usual bickering in the City of Doors. She put the report sheet down and looked at the next one. “Ah yes, that matter. There are new indications of a smuggling ring that brings chaos matter from Limbo to Sigil without declaring it. It seems that there really is something to the rumors.”

Sarin shook his head with a sigh. “I really don't understand what people want with chaos matter. But fine, as long as they acquire and use it legally, they are free to do so. However, since that does not appear to be the case here, we should investigate. I'll have decurion Aranis Verûsa look into it; he has a good eye for these things.”

Amariel ticked off that point as well and looked at the next sheet. “Ah, that's interesting, Factol. There's an auction in the Clerks Ward in two days, where some interesting magical artifacts will be sold. It might be worthwhile to send someone and acquire a few items for the Harmonium.”

“Absolutely.” Sarin nodded. “Let prefect Fireheart do it - then half the people won't dare to bid at all.”

Amariel had to laugh heartily at this remark. In fact, the leonin Runako Fireheart was always a very impressive sight when he appeared in plate armor and with his full mane. “A well-calculated decision, Factol,” she replied.

The paladin smiled a little. “Well, everyone should act according to their talents. Prefect Fireheart has many of those, and intimidating people with his mere presence is definitely one of them.”

“It is noted, sir,” the half-elf replied, amused. “I will let the prefect know the time and place. Is there a specific budget?”

“That's for him to decide,” Sarin said. ”He is experienced enough in these matters.”

Amariel nodded. That was one of the reasons why Sarin was so popular with his people: Because he trusted them instead of constantly monitoring and controlling them. The fact that this trust had not been betrayed so far spoke for his attitude, even if not all factols had seen it that way in the past. Times that were fortunately behind them. So the half-elf put this sheet down as well and looked at the next report. “Ah yes, this is about the theft of shadows.”

Sarin raised his eyebrows. ”What was that, please?”

“Yes, you heard right, Factol.” Amariel studied the short message again. ”There have been increased reports of stolen shadows in the Clerks Ward. The affected citizens stated that their shadows mysteriously disappeared, often in the middle of the day and without them noticing it immediately. After losing their shadows, the victims felt strangely incomplete and complained of a feeling of emptiness.”

Sarin sat up in his chair and raised a brow in alarm. “This goes beyond bothersome but common crimes such as smuggling, vandalism or assault. It could be a serious and dangerous matter. Is there a pattern?”

“Possibly, sir,” Amariel replied. “The thefts have so far been concentrated in the Clerks Ward, particularly in areas near the Hall of Records and the Hall of Speakers. So far, mainly bureaucrats and scribes are affected who are members of the Signers or the Fated. Either because of the incidents’ proximity to the faction headquarters or the acts are concentrated there because these factions are priority targets.”

“Great,” Sarin growled. ”Rowan Darkwood will be on my doorstep soon. I really don't need that. May I have a look?”

He reached out for the report and Amariel handed him the sheet across the desk. As he read the details more closely, his expression darkened noticeably. “The way the shadows are stolen is still unclear ... Witnesses mention fleeting movements ... a cold breath of wind. Hm ... Victims report increased vulnerability to negative energy ...” He sighed. ”That sounds serious.”

Amariel nodded. “Unfortunately yes, Factol. There are rumors that a group of creatures from the Plane of Shadows are responsible. Others suspect a cult behind it, collecting the shadows for a dark ritual. But basically, we don't know anything concrete.”

“All right, then.” Sarin put the report down on a stack that Amariel knew was for urgent matters. “Decurion Nallart will investigate with a small unit. But for now, he should only gather information and take no personal risk! If he finds out more, he shall get a group of experts specially trained for such matters. I may accompany them myself. And he shall report directly to me.”

Amariel nodded and made a note. That was another reason for Sarin's popularity in the faction: He didn't hide behind his desk, but still led dangerous operations himself. She knew that his legates – Tonat Shar and her older brother Killeen Caine – had conflicting emotions on this. On the one hand, they appreciated their old friend's attitude, but on the other hand, they were also concerned that such a mission might one day prove fatal for him and that the Harmonium might lose one of its most beloved factols. Sarin had taken note of their objections - and dismissed them. He had said that the day he no longer dared to venture into the more dangerous corners of Sigil would be the day he should resign. Tonat and Killeen had accepted it with a smile that made it clear that they had hoped for that answer deep down. That had been several years ago, and Amariel had not yet been Sarin's adjutant, but a simple triaria, only present at the meeting because of her brother. But she remembered that she had approved of Sarin's attitude then as well as she did now.

She tried not to let her mind wander and now pulled out an envelope, which she handed to Sarin. “This, Factol, is a letter from the Society of Sensation, addressed to you personally.”

Once more, he raised his eyebrows. “Is that so?” He leaned forward to take the envelope, opened it and read the letter inside.

Amariel recognized an elegant, curved handwriting and apparently couldn't hide a certain curiosity, because Sarin gave her a meaningful look. “It is an invitation to a banquet, hosted by the Sensates, to taste the culinary delicacies of different planes. And since it is an invitation from Lady Erin herself, I guess I have to attend in person.”

Amariel couldn't quite suppress a smirk. She had, of course, noticed that the Sensates' factol had intensified her contact with Sarin since their factions were linked to each other by an alliance regarding the Prophecy. “Let me guess,” she said. “You're supposed to bring your wife and maybe your older children, too.”

He put the letter down in front of him and looked at his aide, not without a certain amusement. “Ah, I see you know by now how this game is played. Very well, I'll attend and I will ask Faith to accompany me. Marinda, Yaëlla, Sirian and Sanya may come along as well if they like – the girls certainly want to. Please deliver a message to Lady Erin that I accept the invitation and don't forget to emphasize that it is of course with pleasure.” A certain self-irony now resonated unmistakably in his voice.

When Amariel nodded and had made a note to that effect, he seemed to remember something else. “But I don't want my daughter Sanya sitting next to a zombie princess again. After all, she's only thirteen. Please add that with all due courtesy.”

The half-elf had trouble suppressing a grin and nodded seriously. “Yes, Factol, I'll make a note of it.” She wrote it down, then paused before moving on to the next document.

Sarin, of course, immediately noticed that something was bothering her. “Is something wrong, decuria?”

“Um, no, sir, everything is fine. I just ...” She cleared her throat. “I was wondering if you had already spoken to Factol Mallin about this matter ...”

He smiled a little, though more in earnest than amused. “Decuria, I have let you in on this matter for good reason. You may use the word ‘Prophecy’.”

“Of course, Factol, I apologize.” She nodded. “Have you already spoken to Mallin about the Prophecy?”

“Not yet,” he replied curtly. Then he studied her for a moment and leaned back. “Go ahead.”

She looked at him questioningly. “Factol?”

“You wanted to say something about it.”

Sometimes she cursed his knowledge of human nature. Except for the fact that he didn't realize she was in love with him, he often managed to read her like a book. She shook her head apologetically. “That doesn’t befit me, Factol.”

“But I'd like to hear your opinion on it,” he encouraged her. “What were you going to say?”

She sighed, hesitated briefly, then pulled herself together. “I wanted to say that I understand why this is a difficult topic, given your ... our current faction alliances. But I think ... you should still talk to Mallin. I fear that otherwise there could be ill feelings between the Harmonium and the Mercykillers. And that would be unfortunate, sir.” She held her breath, fearing that she had been too forthright after all.

But he nodded gravely and stared thoughtfully at the documents in front of him. “That is exactly what my two legates have said.”

She smiled with relief. ”I am pleased to be in agreement with both of the factol's legates. And what does the factol himself think about this?”

“Unfortunately, the factol is aware that his legates and his adjutant are right.” Sarin cast an unhappy glance at the invitation to the Sensates banquet. “Ambar and Terrance will be reasonable, and Rhys is open to the idea anyway. Lady Erin is the problem.”

Amariel nodded seriously. “From a faction-philosophical point of view, that's understandable. But I'm sure she also knows that the Harmonium is an important ally. And she won't want to lose that.”

Sarin looked at her, perhaps a little surprised at her candor. He was about to reply when there was a knock on the door leading to the hallway. With a frown, he gave permission to enter.

The guard on duty, a blonde dwarven triaria, entered and saluted. “I'm sorry to disturb you, sir. But there is a paladin of Lathander and factotum of the Ciphers here. She says her name is Lady Morânia of Wolkenfels. She has just returned from a mission in Elysium and it would be very important that she can speak to you immediately.”

Amariel gave Sarin a quick glance and saw that the factol shared her concern. Why was Lady Morânia here to report and not Kiyoshi? Something unexpected must have happened – in the best case. In the worst ... Sarin nodded curtly and motioned for the dwarf to let Morânia in. Amariel fervently hoped that nothing terrible had happened in Elysium ...

 

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This is the last chapter of “The Deva Spark”, the second adventure that I played with my group as part of our “Shadows over Sigil” campaign, from May 22 to September 7, 2012.

The third part is “Dark Omens”.