Clues of Chaos

By Gary Caplan

Clues of Chaos is honored as an 2015 International Book Awards Finalist in the "Fiction: Cross Genre" category.

After the mysterious death of a senator's sister in the country of Megalos, master wizard Leozanthicus is tasked with solving her heinous murder and retrieving weapons stolen from her estate. After recruiting loyal companionsâ including a Dawn Knight and a Mystic Knightâ to join him, the group embarks on a quest to discover the truth behind the chilling attack.

But their investigation only leads to more questions and takes a harrowing turn when they discover that the Chaos Warriorsâ an ancient enemy of more than just Megalosâ are mounting a large-scale assault.

As Leo closes in on the truth, more and more enemies surface as he uncovers a sinister conspiracy behind the planned invasion of the Chaos Warriors.

Forging ahead with assistance from a race of star people known as the Quarran, Leo discovers shocking evidence that proves the Chaos Warrior attack is far more imminentâ and far more dangerousâ than previously believed.

As treachery begets more treachery, Leo and his allies find themselves in a race against time to save their world against the Chaos Warriors and their evil horde.

Part mystery, part fantasy, Clues of Chaos is brimming with suspense and adventure that will have you racing to the end yourself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781500515287

Book preview

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Chapter 1

Murder Most Foul

Lady Seneca moved to her window in the upper balcony. In the dark, she couldn’t see what had made the sound. The breeze fluttered her nightgown partly open. She thought she saw movement but wasn’t sure.

Again, something scraped briefly along the outer wall of the villa estate where she lived. Moments later, several small thuds sounded, like an objects being dropped.

She opened the hardwood chamber doors leading to her suite’s entry chamber. Her serving girl stood, listening. She had recently brought Lady Seneca her night clothes after Seneca had left her bathing chamber minutes ago. Seneca motioned her over and whispered, Go ask the guards to investigate what is making those scraping sounds.

A short time ago, she had been preparing to go to sleep when she had become uneasy. She had inherited an ability a danger sense of sorts from her father. The uneasy feeling started first, followed by pressure on her head toward the direction the danger was strongest. To control the anxiety that usually occurred, she took deep breaths. The danger might be directed not at her, but at someone nearby. Her father, an alchemist who worked for the First Legion of the Praetor, had taught her how to be receptive to her senses. He said he learned it from one of the mystic knights.

Seneca sat on the bed briefly and recalled a short meditation her father taught her that helped her focus. Afterward she felt calmer, but the danger still seemed to be all around her and growing stronger.

Her family’s centurion, a capable old legionnaire named Nartis, knocked and then entered the waiting room area. As Lady Seneca went forward to greet him, a shadowy form on the other end of the waiting room moved behind him. Her danger sensation pulsed sharply, stronger than before.

Her husband had been the victim of an attack two years ago, and she was still sad about his loss. Sometimes she worried, as the circumstances of his death were unclear. He did not officially die in service to the legion, yet he was provided a proper military ceremony for a high-ranking officer. Those who investigated the prefect’s death said it was likely a military enemy.

As she looked at her centurion walk toward her, she saw a dark shadow and a pale hand grab Nartis’s shoulder from behind. She heard the sound of metal pushing through leather and a gasp escape her centurion’s mouth. Pain seared across his features and his greeting smile transformed into a grimace of pain as a dagger tip pushed through his shirt, welling blood. As he fell forward, eyes glowed in the hooded cowl of the attacker. She had a feminine face and visibly long incisor teeth. She swept across the intervening distance in a blur of speed, and Lady Seneca screamed.

Chapter 2

Senator’s Quandary

A relaxing, cool breeze blew as a house servant led Master Leozanthicus into the large, light-gray stone villa of Senator Barricus of Tosca. It was part of a compound of several villas and other buildings on the outskirts of the capital city of Megalos. Leo looked around the room with his piercing blue-gray eyes, noticing his surroundings while he waited for one of the senator’s aides. He wore the formal robes and tunic of a master guildsman that showed the symbols of his rank. His dark hair was combed back and set in a Roman style. Earlier a personal messenger had brought him a letter from Senator Barricus, asking for his help in a family matter.

Barricus’s villa in the capital had several large rooms, some partly open to the sky, as this region had warmer and calm weather for a good portion of the year. The cooling breeze was reduced as Barricus’s security chief centurion, Tabula, met Master Leozanthicus at the first room. Tabula was the chief captain for Barricus personal guards in Megalos. He was dressed for the most part as a centurion would in a garrison. As he was now inside the villa he carried the transverse horse-hair crested helmet in his right hand his metal greaves had been buffed and were shining and his scabbarded sword worn on the left, like the Roman officers. Although he wore sandals instead of armored boots in the villa. He had curly silver hair, and his brown eyes always seemed to be looking for potential enemies. He led Leo further into the great villa. A young man and woman in bereavement robes were down the hallway. Leo noticed the woman had reddened eyes and tears lingered on her cheeks.

Tabula lead Leo down a different hall and into a private office to wait. Leo glanced around the room as he waited. Several minor Rumallian relics of varying value from the previous culture Megalos had once been a part of were on display. Barricus was somewhat of a historian. He collected objects to display in his halls. Tosca was a northwestern province that represented an old Rumallian house that was allied to the house of Megalos during the formation of the republic. Barricus’s estate in Tosca was full of such odd items and historical relics.

Leo became restless and sat in one of the chairs. He looked at the relic trophies that included a barbarian animal-totem headdress and waited for Senator Barricus to finish with an earlier meeting. It had been many years since his last visit to Tosca. Leo originally hailed from lands near the border of the country of Adjios in the southeast. Barricus and Leo’s father often talked about the history of the region. Leo was somewhat interested in history, but it was not his strength.

Leo smiled as he looked at the marble replica of the head of Hotan in the corner and of recalled one of his and Barricus’s favorite quotes of the famous consul and historian Hotan:

To write the history of the world is a task of infinite proportions. Each day a new chapter must be recorded.

It would be good to see his friend after the passage of so many years.

Leo traveled at times for learning, although he sometimes needed additional gold and silver to fund his travels or experiments. More recently, he had become known for his ability to locate thieves through a combination of intuitive detection and arcane methods. He developed a working relationship with a friend who was a Keldon mystic knight, and they collaborated on occasion to locate the thieves and deal with their threat.

Mostly because of his wealthy family ties, Leo slightly altered his name at times so that he would not be recognized as a frequent traveler at inns. Sometimes thieves targeted regular travelers or merchants after learning their predictable travel routes.

The messenger who originally contacted Leo indicated that Barricus wanted some discreet help with discovering some thieves. Leo realized there must be some political issue involved, as specially trained members of the local legion or constabulary would normally handle the problem. He heard some movement in the hallway and turned toward the entrance.

Barricus walked into the large study. He hugged Leo and grasped both his forearms in greeting. He had put on some weight but was still robust. He was dressed in a Roman-style toga with a black cloak draped over both his shoulders. He had dark curly hair with a touch of gray mixed in, and his brown eyes were clear, although some redness and moisture indicated he had controlled his emotions. This is a sad time for me, friend. My older sister is dead.

I had not heard. My condolences, Barricus, Leo replied as he touched his friend’s shoulder. He recalled Lady Seneca. She was a fairly pretty woman and, more importantly, was an influential person capable of leading and running her estate in Tosca.

Barricus, his brown eyes still heavy with his sister’s loss, said, Her death is part of the reason I wanted your help. Let us leave the villa and walk toward the senate and forum. I don’t want all of my family hearing this conversation.

Leo knew the senate buildings were only a league away, and the walk would be good. Barricus led him out of the villa. Walking around the house, Leo noticed the tall, thin Lombardy poplars scattered around the area. This section of the city was a partly manicured forest preserve with a mix of mature and old trees. Wealthy people lived in the large villas, like Barricus’s, that backed up to it.

Others walked along the stone paths that led to a well-kept road. Leo noted that the language in the main cites, where those with a Roman descent lived, was closer to the original Latin than that of the outlying areas or smaller cities and towns.

They moved away from the villa and continued along the garden route to the central city area. Leo said, You seem more composed than usual, my friend. Worried, perhaps.

Yes, I am worried. My sister was murdered. It was not a natural death. There is evidence of creatures and evil forces.

Murder? What level of investigation was done initially? Leo asked. What manner of creatures?

The legion’s investigators found signs of the spore of several animals, including some type of night crawlers. There were also some non-household dead left behind of what appeared to be northern barbarians and goblin mercenaries. As you may not be completely aware, Lady Seneca had a large household guard—over one hundred men and women led by an experienced centurion.

Do you know what happened? How many died defending? Leo asked. Night crawlers usually refer to creatures of the undead type, he thought.

Barricus continued. Andrius found all the guards dead. He is a priest of Diana’s temple, near the great lake in Tosca. He was a family friend and was going to visit Lady Seneca. He was supposed to meet with her, according to her planning ledger, around late morning the following day. He notified the legion and a local inquisitor of the calamity, and, being a responsible friend of hers, he kept the initial incident of her death from the public. The quaestionarius from the legion found evidence of murder and notified Lady Seneca’s son, who was with some cousins, and a courier notified me, as I was in the capital.

A terrible thing, my friend. So you want me to find out what happened.

Yes. I hope you can be discreet for as long as possible. The events will likely require me to return to the Tosca province. I still have to deal with a few citizens vying for contracts or position, and I find myself affected by her loss even now.

Leo nodded. I understand, Senator. There will be others with issues and agendas. He had heard of political scheming in the capital for which of the senators would be selected as the consul to replace old Zeraphus. The old consul was finally retiring to his villa in his home province, and Barricus was one of several senators up for consideration.

Barricus replied, Excellent. Then, if needed, I will help arrange your travel to Tosca.

That would be fine, and I will probably require some help. I have worked in the past with a colleague named Erios; he is a Keldon mystic knight.

I have already acquired some aid for you. One of the dawn knights was recommended to me. She seems to have a good reputation and will keep the family’s interests secure.

I see…Thank you. Leo thought, He really does want to control issues, and I still need some additional funds for my further studies and experiments.

Barricus continued, I think of the dawn knights as an order or division of the mystic knights, and, like the other special ancient orders, they have the authority of low justice as granted to them originally by the old Celinadion government and later by our republic. That authority may become useful during your search.

They walked closer to the buildings of the forum, not far from the senate halls of Megalos. People approached Barricus along the way, and he pointed them in the direction of his secretary. A few guards, who had been following discreetly at a distance to give Barricus privacy, closed the distance as they approached the senate halls. They intercepted a few people who were only able to say a brief greeting.

Leo squinted. There must be something else you have not told me yet.

Yes. Two issues, actually—one to be aware of and the other…the dawn knight can help you look into.

Leo said, Hm…two other issues.

First is that a son of one of our relatives, Tribune Orem, was also visiting the estate. I heard he may have been killed as well, although a body was not found—only blood in his bed. As the missing boy’s father is a tribune, he may also arrange to conduct his own investigation.

I see. And the other issue?

Barricus looked around. A large shipment of weapons, including spears, swords, and shields, was taken. It was held on my sister’s estate and was meant for part of the northern legion that defends the territories to the north and northwest of Tosca. Additionally, the company of Megalosian guards that helped transport the shipment was killed.

Leo’s family was friends with Barricus’s. When Leo was younger and still worked with his father and uncle in the family business, he and other family members visited with Barricus’s family. Leo’s family owned several foundries and made weapons, such as swords, for the legions.

Leo said, It seems that I may need some of my colleague’s help after all. As a senator for Tosca, Barricus commanded a military defense and likely replaced some of the weapon losses already out of his own provincial stores.

I recall your family’s ties to the weapon-making business, Barricus said.

Personally, I have not done much with the weapons business for years, and my uncle runs that family enterprise now; however, my friend Erios Keldarion is actively involved with many mercantile endeavors, including weapons. If he and his small organization were not the calm and somber type of merchants and instead were aggressive, my family would have less business in the weapons trade.

If you believe he will be discreet and of help, then he can help as well, Barricus said. Is he a thought reader, as I have heard about the Keldon people?

Leo said, Yes. He uses his various abilities discreetly. If, as you say, Chaos forces are involved, then I know he will be of great help.

Very well. You may arrange to have his help as well.

They walked near the imposing senate buildings. Great one-hundred-foot-tall columns supported the huge front entrance of the multistory marble building. Silvery lines were scattered through the marble.

Barricus briefly greeted one of his assistants, who intercepted him near the entrance to one of the government buildings he carried an important document that required the seal of Barricus’s senatorial ring.

While waiting for Senator Barricus to finish his conversation with his assistant, Leo thought about what preliminary methods he would use to deal with the situation. He would work in an investigative mode to determine what happened at Lady Seneca’s estate, and he would rely on some of his arcane skills.

Using thaumaturgy and other arcane skills took talent and discipline. In the past, the Eldren—one of the first people to settle in the independent provinces of Adjios and Illuin—termed the process or discipline essence weaving. More recent arrivals brought to Archaeus from Earth called those users of the arcane, such as Leozanthicus, wizards or sorcerers. Others called the processes magic, and some of those in Illuin called it spell weaving.

Many practitioners of the arcane arts believed that this magic was a gift to be used wisely and responsibly. Its wards, lore, spells, and arcane weaves were often used to defend against the creatures of the Chaos realms. The study of the arcane was divided into categories. Those who mastered at least four categories and had knowledge and skills at an adept level in the rest were called archmasters or archmages. Leo had recently started working toward becoming an archmage, although his extended family’s activities and his own projects sometimes delayed his progress.

Barricus finished with his assistant and moved toward Leo, who was looking at the building and admiring a protective ward in the stone. The senator said, Now I will take you to meet with Darshalla the dawn knight. She indicated that she would meet us at Tolen’s Bath. They walked away from the Great Halls, and Barricus added, I do not want to be overheard by other senators or any tribunes in the proximity of the halls, where echoes of people talking can sometimes be heard. The running and churning water of the baths will drown out our conversation and prevent it from being overheard.

As a senator, Barricus was one of the regional governors for one of the roughly forty provinces that comprised Megalos. Most provinces had two senators. There were three consuls who were the elected central leaders of the Republic of Megalos. The consuls were usually the most senior senators and gave orders to the praetor of Megalos, who was the military leader of the army and in charge of all the legions. Each legion was commanded by a legatus and was supported by officers called tribunes and prefects, who were usually sons of a senator or legatus or from an influential family in military service. Of course, to have any notable rank, they had to be citizens of Megalos.

They walked along, looking at the sky as they exited the Great Halls where the senators debated and made new laws. Probably not wanting to be overheard about personal matters, Barricus began some general conversation. The nova in the sky seems to have grown over the year and is likely an omen of battles of the gods or probably the starlords.

The road they walked along was paved with thousands of square-cut stones. As they talked, Leo wondered about what might have happened in Tosca. It had been some time since they had such interesting conversations.

Leo replied, The scholars at the astronomical and astrological center here in the capital say that the nova is the result of a great explosion of a star in a different solar system and perhaps just the last radiance of an aging star. They have also speculated about the cause. Some, like you, think it might be from a battle of the starlords. By historical accounts, none of the starlords have not personally visited Archaeus for centuries, but some of their agents and servants have been seen.

Barricus nodded. Did you know that more men, another town of people, have appeared on the northern border? It’s been decades since men arrived from my ancestors’ home. They say they come from a town in the mountain region of Italy where the melting of early spring glacial waters caused a mudslide that would have destroyed the town.

This might start some anxious ideas, Leo said. It seems the Thurians, our enigmatic benefactors and hidden manipulators, are selecting more people and towns to bring here again, probably to add more potential soldiers to defend against the Chaos warriors.

Barricus sighed overtly. Ah, not more of them. The last time those warrior things came in any numbers, they destroyed many cities and towns of Megalos and across the neighboring city states.

It could mean the Thurians are aware of things we are not, such as that a new incursion of the Chaos warriors might be likely.

Barricus said, The common citizens know little about the Thurians and their plans. If some Thurians had not appeared and spoken with the leaders of the republic who had been assembled for the senior consul’s birthday celebration years ago, I would not have believed they were the ones responsible for bringing us here during my great-great-grandfather’s time.

Leo nodded in