The Silver Sphinx

 

“Laws are power."

Factol Hashkar

 

 

First Void Day of Leagueheim, 126 HR

When Lady Diana announced Factol Hashkar as a visitor, Sarin knew immediately what it was about. Not even twenty-four hours had passed since he had summoned Yelmalis so abruptly, and he could vividly imagine that Hashkar had been anything but enthusiastic. Of course, he had exceeded his authority a little in this matter, the paladin knew that. He had planned to pay his colleague a visit and to apologize for his improper behavior. But apparently Hashkar had beaten him to it, and since the dwarven scholar was otherwise not prone to such quick decisions, this gave Sarin a good indication of his mood. So he instructed his concierge to let Hashkar in immediately and thought of a few words for the conversation that was about to follow. When the dwarf entered, the paladin stood up and bowed in greeting. Hashkar was, after all, by far the longest-serving factol of Sigil—after Skall, of course, but Sarin liked to mentally leave aside the lich. The Guvners' factol wore a noble robe made of dark blue fabric, lavishly embroidered with silver thread. Several silver rings were woven into his impressive white beard. The dwarf merely nodded at him in greeting and then took a seat in the chair that Sarin offered him. He examined the paladin intently with ice-blue eyes, clearly displeased.

“My dear Sarin,” he began without further ado. “I assume that you are aware of the reason for my visit at such short notice.”

The paladin nodded gravely. “I am, Factol Hashkar. And I assure you that I would have sought you out about this had you not approached me first.”

The dwarf snorted at this remark, but didn't give Sarin a chance to elaborate. “It is not usually in my nature to act so quickly and energetically,” he explained. “Nor do I enjoy it. On the contrary, my dear Sarin, such actions always give me an extremely unpleasant heartburn. And that is only the slightest of the reasons why I am annoyed. The obvious reason, of course, is Yelmalis. Or, to be more precise: the way in which you have arbitrarily and without authorization detached one of my administrators and my Chosen for a mission outside of Sigil.”

The dwarf glared at him sharply from under his bushy white eyebrows, and Sarin nodded immediately. “I can understand that, Hashkar, and I very much apologize for my transgression. I assume ... Yelmalis has informed you of everything?”

His colleague's expression now showed a trace of concern despite his displeasure. “Indeed he has.”

“Then you know what this was about.” Sarin sighed. ”I can assure you that I would not have acted in such an overbearing manner if the situation had not been so serious.”

He had hoped to appease the dwarf, but Hashkar raised his right hand in a reprimanding gesture. “I understand your motives, my dear Sarin. But it is your methods that are at issue here. You complain about Mallin and simply take one of mine with you, by force, without speaking to me first? You could at least have come yourself to present me with your concerns. I was literally just one floor away.”

Sarin felt like a reprimanded recruit under Hashkar's deprecating stare, and unfortunately the dwarf was absolutely right in his indignation. The comparison with Mallin's actions stung, but well-deserved so, as he had to admit to himself. He nodded guiltily at Hashkar's words. “I can say no more in my defense than that I was very worried and therefore willing to resort to unconventional means. That this happened to you, a colleague whom I deeply respect and esteem, actually puts me to shame. I formally ask your forgiveness.”

He stood up and bowed low before the old dwarf to emphasize his words. Only after a few seconds of silence did he look up to fathom Hashkar's reaction. His colleague was still giving him a stern look, but the formal apology seemed to have had the desired effect.

“All right.” The dwarf sighed and made a conciliatory gesture. ”I won't hold it against you. You and I have always worked well together, and I don't want this to come between us. Your apology is accepted.”

Sarin felt a sense of relief that his colleague was so forgiving. “Thank you, Hashkar,” he said, taking a seat again. “Even if our Chosen are in different groups, fortunately there is more to our lives than just the Prophecy. When it comes to Sigil and its well-being and safety, our factions are the closest allies one could imagine. And that is how it shall remain.”

The dwarf nodded kindly, and once this uncomfortable question had been resolved, a moment of silence fell over the room.

Hashkar leaned back in his chair and eyed Sarin thoughtfully, even gravely. “And now you have staked part of your own destiny as a kind of pledge. Are you sure that was a wise decision?”

The question stirred up unpleasant thoughts, and Sarin smiled, albeit pained. “What weight does a wise decision have in the face of our beloved ones' fate?”

“So speaks a man in whose life love plays a vital role.” Hashkar smiled warmly. “And as much as I'm happy for you on the one hand, Sarin, I'm also worried. Who knows what this might mean for your future.”

“No one can possibly guess,” the paladin replied with a sigh. “And believe me, I did not make this decision lightly. But it was about Juliana, I couldn't act otherwise.”

Hashkar's look grew more serious again, more inquiring. “The archbishop was a highly esteemed colleague of mine, and I am glad to know that she is still among us. Furthermore, I can guess what she means to you.”

Sarin's mother had died when he had been seventeen, four years after his father's death. For a long time, he had been unable to overcome the shock of losing her. Even as a young decurion in Sigil, this shadow had still hung over him. At first, Juliana had only been his superior, his commander. But over the years something had changed. Just as he had got closer to Killeen and Tonat, as they had grown together from comrades to good friends to almost brothers, so had their bond with Juliana deepened. She had taken them under her wing, encouraged them, supported them – but no one more than him. He had never pushed for any of it, and fortunately Tonat and Killeen had never held it against him. When Juliana had become factol, she had appointed him her legate in Sigil and two years later she had conferred the office to him. She had then devoted herself to the Archonites, but she had visited him and his family regularly in the City of Doors. Sarin was no fool. He knew that Juliana had taken on a maternal role in his life. “I assume you are guessing right,” he replied calmly to his colleague.

Hashkar nodded. “Then I am all the more pleased that you succeeded in saving her.”

“Yelmalis,” Sarin replied seriously. “Yelmalis succeeded.”

“That's right.” The Guvners' factol leaned back in his chair and looked thoughtfully at the large map of Ortho on the opposite wall. ”And by the Lady, I didn't suspect that he was capable of it. That his gift is already so strong. Nevertheless ... you made the pledge, Sarin. And you don't even fully understand what it demands of you. I can't say Yelmalis was happy about it. I'm not sure if he slept last night.”

“I'm sorry to hear that,” the paladin replied honestly. ”Please tell him he doesn't have to burden himself with this. It was my decision alone, he only carried it out.”

Hashkar looked at him seriously. “Just as a Mercykiller only carries out the sentence that my faction passes. But I am not Mallin, and Yelmalis is not Garush. So this matter will not leave his mind anytime soon.”

“Understandable.” Sarin felt the sting of a guilty conscience. He sincerely regretted having forced the young man into such a decision. “I have already told him this, Hashkar, but I am happy to repeat it in your presence: I am in Yelmalis' debt. Should he ever need anything that is within my power and compatible with the laws of Sigil, he should not hesitate to call on me.”

“Thank you, Sarin.” The dwarf nodded. ”I know that your word carries a lot of weight in Sigil, so this promise from you means more than from most.” Then a small grin played on his lips, raising his full, white beard slightly. “Well, lucky for you, my dear Sarin, that the time traveler is with the Fraternity of Order, and not with the Xaositects or the Doomguard.”

For the first time since the conversation began, Sarin had to laugh. “True. But you know what? Even then, I wouldn't have made a different decision.”

Hashkar sighed. ”I know, Sarin. That's exactly the problem with you.”