Convergence of Tides
Anguis Trigon, Final Phase
The Orca cut through the turquoise waters, quiet save for the hum of its engines. The tension was thick in the confined quarters, the air filled with dread and the promise of coming bloodshed. It was the calm before the storm. Figuratively, and quite literally. When the ship began making its final approach toward the surface, the waters began to grow darker, turbulent.
Caesar disappeared behind a black veil as clouds rolled in, darker and thicker, raindrops starting slow and then falling in sheets. Nervously, the men and women aboard the sub looked at each other. From a sunny day to torrential rain in mere moments: if they expected to have the element of surprise, that hope was washed away.
Captain Driweus finally broke the silence. "The sea needs storms to prove it is powerful," he declared loudly, "but every storm must end with a calm sea. Steer into the wind, ride it out, let the shamans exhaust their strength! We have more. For Pelagia! For Araevis!"
The crew of the imperial ship joined in the shout, lifting fists on high, and some of the surfacers got swept up in the enthusiasm with them.
The Orca breached the surface, and through the pouring rain, they could see the docks up ahead, amid a mire of smaller fishing vessels that had already been scuttled in the earlier attacks.
Aelflead had never seen such stercore before.
Together with the others who had fought to defend the royals the night before -- Aeria, Dante, Deniisis, Ignis, Keydis, and Red -- Aelflead stood in a large room in the palace above the waves. It might have been a small banquet hall, but the long table was bare. A pair of thrones sat behind a smaller table, and First Prince Caput sat in one of those. "First you all but tell us to get fucked and now you've got the balls to ask us for help?"
"I said no such thing. I recall thanking you all for your bravery." Caput had a coldness in his words. He regarded Aelflead sidelong and then his bright blue eyes shifted to Aeria. "I am indeed asking for your help. Asking, not ordering. You all came to serve at the emperor's pleasure, but I am not my father. You are not obliged to honor my request, and it will hold no bearing on the rewards already promised to you. You railed about being kept in the dark, I believe. Leave if you so desire, but after I have shed all the light I have to offer." Caput rested his elbow on the arm of the throne and his chin upon his raised fist. His eyes closed. The dark bags under them suggested that he had slept little, if at all, since their prior meeting.
"I met with Drars Ulupi last night. That is no minor title. A close approximation might be 'prophet,' and they hold similar sway over the naga as our prophets hold in the Arcanum." He outlined what he had learned from the fierce shaman, through her conduit. He shared the story of how the statues had been taken from the former velen kingdoms, and how it interrupted their purifying pilgrimage. He shared how it affected the young ophidians, who had never received the blessing of Serpens at all, the hardest.
Caput opened his eyes. "I have had the displeasure of speaking with Ulupi in the past, when we were first learning of their shamanistic capabilities. Given the chance, she would tear my head from my shoulders, and I would not pass on the opportunity to bury my sword in her breast. Yet I do not doubt her words. It rings true with the actions at the feast last night, rings true with what we've seen on the battlefield." He scowled, staring off into space, grinding his razor teeth together. "The worst of it was learning that the naga did seek a parlay. At least a half dozen envoys from the Chlorae alone who never returned to their tribes. I know not how many came from other tribes."
"You executed envoys under a banner of peace?!"
"I ordered the execution of snake-tailed spies who tried to slither into the city, probably assassins sent to kill you or your siblings!" Thadal snapped back. His flamboyant clothing was gone and his upper body was wrapped tightly in bandages. Despite copious amounts of healing magic, his wound refused to close cleanly, and continued to darken the bindings. He sat on the edge of the Ocean's Throne, pale but stubbornly sitting up straight, matching his son's stare.
"Envoys! Sent to negotiate the return of relics that you stole from their homes!"
Thadal laughed derisively. "Velen relics from velen kingdoms! Those are remnants of our history, the legacy of our people. They never belonged to the naga in the first place."
"You should know that the other two prisoners were not controlled by magic," Caput continued. "They were bought. One through promises delivered by a demon, the other by one of the traitors you killed." He sat up straighter, gripping the armrests so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "Let it be known here and now that I will not demand a price in blood for carved stones, nor pay a price in velen blood. … but I have no sympathy for anyone that would raise a weapon against my family. Fath… we are responsible for this war, but for those who would harm children, they brought their deaths upon themselves. If you had any misgivings about your actions, cast them aside!"
"Easy for you to say," Keydis spat out.
Caput cut her off, "Yes, it is." He stood up then and pulled a sheaf of papers from the floor next to his seat, spreading them across the table. A map of the western Copiae ocean had a red circle on it. "One of my ships, which was escorting volunteers from Hiemis, went down here. I've gotten word that most of the survivors were rescued and continued to Cautes Petram. However, our scryers have determined that the captain of that vessel is somewhere in the northeast, in naga territory. They can tell that he is alive, at least, but cannot see him or contact him through whatever barriers the naga have in place.
"I have already ordered my men to bring the statues from the Ocean's Throne. Ones who will listen to me over my father. They should be arriving soon. Every moment that passes is another moment that my soldiers and my citizens are in danger. That's why I need you.
"Pelagia commands many ships, airships, and submersibles. However, most would take at least five to seven days to get where they need to go. Most, except for three Sky Cutters. They can travel the same distance in one or two days. Ulupi has promised to halt aggressions for three days, and so we should have enough time to return the statue to the Chlorae tribes. She will demand more, but we will deal with that later.
"I am considering Captain Garus a prisoner of war. Prisoners do not last long in naga custody. Getting a statue to the northern Tenebrae tribes may be key to getting him back alive. We cannot afford to waste time. Miss Luxus, Grace tells me you're an engineer. If you know how to work an airship, I would ask you to take one of the Cutters, give the naga their statue, and bring my captain home.
"I have two pilots who trust in me enough to disobey my father's orders. I need a third pilot, I need you, Miss Luxus. The Cutters are small. With the statues on board, they can hold four, maybe five before their speed is compromised. I would ask some of you to go with my pilot heading to Ulupi. Keep him safe, make sure nothing goes wrong.
"After that, I could use some battle-hardened 'heroes' to accompany me west, to Flumen Petram. I've just received word that the city was taken by the naga, and that a counter-attack is imminent. I tried to issue a ceasefire, but our communications are being blocked. The reds are notoriously bloodthirsty, and I fear conflict is inevitable. I won't ask anyone to bleed in my place, however, not anymore, father's demands be damned. With myself and the pilot, that leaves room for three more."
Together with the others who had fought to defend the royals the night before -- Aeria, Dante, Deniisis, Ignis, Keydis, and Red -- Aelflead stood in a large room in the palace above the waves. It might have been a small banquet hall, but the long table was bare. A pair of thrones sat behind a smaller table, and First Prince Caput sat in one of those. "First you all but tell us to get fucked and now you've got the balls to ask us for help?"
"I said no such thing. I recall thanking you all for your bravery." Caput had a coldness in his words. He regarded Aelflead sidelong and then his bright blue eyes shifted to Aeria. "I am indeed asking for your help. Asking, not ordering. You all came to serve at the emperor's pleasure, but I am not my father. You are not obliged to honor my request, and it will hold no bearing on the rewards already promised to you. You railed about being kept in the dark, I believe. Leave if you so desire, but after I have shed all the light I have to offer." Caput rested his elbow on the arm of the throne and his chin upon his raised fist. His eyes closed. The dark bags under them suggested that he had slept little, if at all, since their prior meeting.
"I met with Drars Ulupi last night. That is no minor title. A close approximation might be 'prophet,' and they hold similar sway over the naga as our prophets hold in the Arcanum." He outlined what he had learned from the fierce shaman, through her conduit. He shared the story of how the statues had been taken from the former velen kingdoms, and how it interrupted their purifying pilgrimage. He shared how it affected the young ophidians, who had never received the blessing of Serpens at all, the hardest.
Caput opened his eyes. "I have had the displeasure of speaking with Ulupi in the past, when we were first learning of their shamanistic capabilities. Given the chance, she would tear my head from my shoulders, and I would not pass on the opportunity to bury my sword in her breast. Yet I do not doubt her words. It rings true with the actions at the feast last night, rings true with what we've seen on the battlefield." He scowled, staring off into space, grinding his razor teeth together. "The worst of it was learning that the naga did seek a parlay. At least a half dozen envoys from the Chlorae alone who never returned to their tribes. I know not how many came from other tribes."
"You executed envoys under a banner of peace?!"
"I ordered the execution of snake-tailed spies who tried to slither into the city, probably assassins sent to kill you or your siblings!" Thadal snapped back. His flamboyant clothing was gone and his upper body was wrapped tightly in bandages. Despite copious amounts of healing magic, his wound refused to close cleanly, and continued to darken the bindings. He sat on the edge of the Ocean's Throne, pale but stubbornly sitting up straight, matching his son's stare.
"Envoys! Sent to negotiate the return of relics that you stole from their homes!"
Thadal laughed derisively. "Velen relics from velen kingdoms! Those are remnants of our history, the legacy of our people. They never belonged to the naga in the first place."
"You should know that the other two prisoners were not controlled by magic," Caput continued. "They were bought. One through promises delivered by a demon, the other by one of the traitors you killed." He sat up straighter, gripping the armrests so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "Let it be known here and now that I will not demand a price in blood for carved stones, nor pay a price in velen blood. … but I have no sympathy for anyone that would raise a weapon against my family. Fath… we are responsible for this war, but for those who would harm children, they brought their deaths upon themselves. If you had any misgivings about your actions, cast them aside!"
"Easy for you to say," Keydis spat out.
Caput cut her off, "Yes, it is." He stood up then and pulled a sheaf of papers from the floor next to his seat, spreading them across the table. A map of the western Copiae ocean had a red circle on it. "One of my ships, which was escorting volunteers from Hiemis, went down here. I've gotten word that most of the survivors were rescued and continued to Cautes Petram. However, our scryers have determined that the captain of that vessel is somewhere in the northeast, in naga territory. They can tell that he is alive, at least, but cannot see him or contact him through whatever barriers the naga have in place.
"I have already ordered my men to bring the statues from the Ocean's Throne. Ones who will listen to me over my father. They should be arriving soon. Every moment that passes is another moment that my soldiers and my citizens are in danger. That's why I need you.
"Pelagia commands many ships, airships, and submersibles. However, most would take at least five to seven days to get where they need to go. Most, except for three Sky Cutters. They can travel the same distance in one or two days. Ulupi has promised to halt aggressions for three days, and so we should have enough time to return the statue to the Chlorae tribes. She will demand more, but we will deal with that later.
"I am considering Captain Garus a prisoner of war. Prisoners do not last long in naga custody. Getting a statue to the northern Tenebrae tribes may be key to getting him back alive. We cannot afford to waste time. Miss Luxus, Grace tells me you're an engineer. If you know how to work an airship, I would ask you to take one of the Cutters, give the naga their statue, and bring my captain home.
"I have two pilots who trust in me enough to disobey my father's orders. I need a third pilot, I need you, Miss Luxus. The Cutters are small. With the statues on board, they can hold four, maybe five before their speed is compromised. I would ask some of you to go with my pilot heading to Ulupi. Keep him safe, make sure nothing goes wrong.
"After that, I could use some battle-hardened 'heroes' to accompany me west, to Flumen Petram. I've just received word that the city was taken by the naga, and that a counter-attack is imminent. I tried to issue a ceasefire, but our communications are being blocked. The reds are notoriously bloodthirsty, and I fear conflict is inevitable. I won't ask anyone to bleed in my place, however, not anymore, father's demands be damned. With myself and the pilot, that leaves room for three more."
Hollow thuds echoed through the sub as the Orca rammed past the flotsam and jetsam surrounding the docks, bringing the ship right up to the piers. On both sides of the vessel, crewmembers rapidly turned heavy wheel locks, and with a rush of air, the confines depressurized and hatches lifted up and out.
With a rallying cry, the imperial velen officers were the first to disembark, Driweus leading the way with his men. With less coordination, but just as much bravery, the volunteers -- most of them come all the way from Hiemis, even after being shipwrecked and left waiting for rescue for days -- charged out afterward. What greeted them was a vicious storm, with hurricane-force winds blasting the rain at them sideways while thunder rumbled and roared overhead. In the heavy grey downpour, visibility was almost nothing.
They didn't have to wait long for contact, though. Like a red wave, ophidians rushed the docks, swaying atop their snake-like tails, gripping swords and spears of razor-edged black nacre. There was no pattern to the attacks: these were the berserkers that had led the invasion. Even the juvenile naga were physically imposing, however, nearly as large as the average adult velen, with a thin armor of scales and tightly coiled muscles. They howled and hissed as they rolled in and attacked, lunging in with gnashing teeth and rending claws as much as with their weapons, even using their powerful tails to try to slam their enemies to the ground.
[1666/1666]
Notes and Map
