Heir of the Dark Lords

By BT Harris

Would anyone feel safe in a world; where magicians are outcasts because of the corrupted Dark Lords in history, where scientific pursuits are borderline between strange and amoral, and where mutants such as werewolves and werebears are invisible to the naked eye?

The Gathering of Power is a group founded by a magician, scientist and a were

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tea, but with Coffee Media
• Release date: May 21, 2024
• ISBN: 9781957893617

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Copyright © 2018 by B.T. Harris

Cover and Internal Design © 2024 by Tea With Coffee Media

Cover By Stasia Kasse/Tea With Coffee Media

Interior Book Design and Formatting by Kelsey Anne Lovelady via Canva/Atticus

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Tea With Coffee Media and the colophon are trademarks of Tea With Coffee Media

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Published by Tea With Coffee Media

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I, the author, would love to make a special acknowledgment to the late Brendan Smith. When I was revising the Heir of the Dark Lords for Amazon Publishing back in 2018, Brendan was recommended to me via a Fantasy’s Writer group on Facebook. Brendan was a splendid cover artist who provided his service for the Heir of the Dark Lords Volumes One and Two, as well as Aufterra Chronicles: Magical Odysseys. Brendan sadly passed away shortly before I started to work on Volume Three and War of Chaos, both were originally to complete Phase One to my Exteon Project.

When signing on with Tea With Coffee media, I knew this was a new path and a new look was needed but the old one was not forgotten. I would love to honor Brendan’s memory and work by sharing with you, the reader, the original cover for Volume One of the Heir of the Dark Lords series.

Thank you.

BT Harris

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Griffinglass is a place of power, immortals, wisdom, and the lore of the ancients. It is also the stronghold of the Order of Magicians. They gather and live here, away from the realm of mortals— mortals meaning humans that do not possess a prolonged life. In the center of the land stands the tall tower of the same name. Magicians are apprenticed here, tried here, to conduct missions for the balance of the realm. The tower is the tallest structure in Aufterra, and for the past millennia, has only been seen by the magicians who were members of the Order.

Under the top of the tower is the chamber where the Supreme Council of Elders meet to decide on the trials and missions of each magician. The room underneath that is the Griffinglass Archives, where the legends, feats, and histories of past magicians and the land of Aufterra are placed. It is also the home of the Duologue, which contains the detailed accounts of the beginning of the realm, the deities known as the Dreizehn, and the prophecies of the rise of Dark Lords and Heroes to help vanquish them. Only a selected few can read from the tome, but no one can read the entire contents. The reasons why that law is enforced are not indeed known but are bound by half-truths given by the Elders.

Sebastian dwelled on the early teaching his master imbued to him. His long red hair waved with the motion of his body. In front of him, holding a bronze colored Zweihander, was his master, Warwig.

Warwig gave a mocking sneer at him. His eyes were aged with experience, but the rest of his face had the look of a man in his thirties. Do not dwell on your confidence! he yelled. Keep your focus and save your pride for when the fight is surely over!

Sebastian held his stance. He was a shorter man, and thin, unlike his master. Feeling outmatched by his master’s superior body mass made him shudder. Master Warwig, when can I be allowed to cast spells?

When you have practiced using the energy that determines your physical gifts, not just nachtsune, his master replied. Now take that butter knife you call a sword and come at me.

Sebastian studied Warwig. Recalling his early teachings when he came to the Tower thirty years ago, he applied focus. Studying was one of the most important skills one could know inside and outside of battle. Sebastian shifted his attention towards his small gladius. Unlike Master Warwig's weapon, Sebastian's sword was made of a dull bronze material. When it came to the quality of their blades, Sebastian was outmatched. However, one of the main lessons of the exercise was to make an advantage out of a disadvantaged situation.

What kept on coming into Sebastian's mind was manipulating the nachtsune energy into making a sharper, more aggressive blade, which would give him the edge of a quicker and more lethal attack. However, his more experienced master could quickly dismiss the spell with a possible counter. Sebastian took a deep breath and continued to study his master.

Attempting to outmatch his opponent with quicker reflexes, Sebastian flicked into a running charge. Warwig saw what was coming, took the bait, and swung his Zweihander. Sebastian dodged it and tumbled behind him, but Warwig's swing continued its sway. The edge of the blade made a slight penetration into Sebastian's back.

Sebastian glanced at his green and white robes. As the custom of all magicians, it was necessary to wear the colors of their master's robes. Sebastian felt a drop of blood run down his back. He knew it was not sweat because of the sting that came from the mark of Warwig's weapon. He glared at his Master and unleashed a lightning spell. Warwig held out his fingers in a pointing position. The lightning made a ball at his pointer and middle fingers and shot back at Sebastian, hurling him onto his back.

Stunned, Sebastian thought he still had much to learn before he could ever outmatch his master and become one himself. When Sebastian came to, he rose from the ground and looked at Warwig. How long are you going to wait before you teach me that counter?

Warwig smiled. That depends. How long are you going to rely on magic more than physical ability?

As if that matters? Magic is a source of the ultimate power!

Warwig shook his head. Though you are the most gifted learner, even the freshest apprentice has better wisdom than you. You must not only learn other skills than magic, but you must know that power is only a means to an end. Therefore, you need proper teaching from the most basic lessons. Listen well, my apprentice. We will end this brawl for now. However, you will speak to me about the earliest lessons you learned about magic. Moreover, you will repeat as much until you see the error in your efforts.

Sebastian growled. He came before his master and bent his knee. I apologize, Master. I mean no offense.

Your apology is accepted, but your intentions are immaterial. Now speak to me the basics of magic.

Sebastian swallowed and recited his earliest memories from when he first became an apprentice. As he spoke, a tickle in his throat irritated his focus. He tried drinking his saliva, but the tickle remained. It gave Sebastian a little croak in his voice. Warwig did not seem to pay much attention to Sebastian's irritation. The knowledge seemed to be endless for the apprentice. After finishing the last lesson from his memory, Sebastian grimaced at the throat tickle.

Sebastian swallowed again and looked down in an attempt to cough. Warwig smiled and said, Again.

After coughing, Sebastian looked at his master and repeated the lessons. Each time he finished, Warwig told him to speak it again. This cycle lasted several hours. Sebastian's mouth felt dry, and his tongue was hard to move. Warwig, with satisfaction, motioned for him to rise after Sebastian finally said, I believe I understand, Master.

What have you learned? asked Warwig.

Master, magic, in the sense of power, can be corrupt as the wielder. A magician can use his gifts in the attempt to help or to destroy, depending on his motives. That gives us the rights to pursue justice in the world…—Sebastian paused, remembering the disrespect that magicians received by mortals in the world of Aufterra—…even if the world doesn't want it from us. We grow and evolve into beings who can bring the world into balance from those who seek to destroy it.

Responsibility comes to those who have gifts in magic, Warwig agreed. Come, my apprentice, the Supreme Council of Elders await our presence.

What do they want from us? Sebastian asked in shock.

What do you think? Warwig replied. They believe it is time to test your abilities to claim the rank of master.

Sebastian was speechless. He felt overwhelmed with joy. He had undergone thirty years of training for this moment. Sebastian climbed each bar of the ladder toward becoming a master of magic, slowly surpassing other magician apprentices and arguably a few masters as well. He heard what the other apprentices called him: a prodigy. A gifted individual who excelled faster than anyone else. He also believed this to be true. Sebastian took pride in surpassing other apprentices, even if they were here for a longer time.

Sebastian remembered when Master Warwig first found him. He was seventeen years old and living with his mother in an abandoned house near the border of what was once Machtrod. His mother tried to fight off a pack of wolves with nothing but her bare fists, attempting to give salvation to her only son. When the wolves killed her, Sebastian was full of so much fear and anger that he screamed at the sky, and a sudden thunderstorm brewed, scaring off the wolves. Master Warwig was nearby, taking part in some excavation that the magician archaeologists were working on. Warwig noticed the storm suddenly appeared. He took heed, ran towards the source, and saw young Sebastian, unconscious. Warwig rationalized that Sebastian was a magician of tremendous potential. He brought Sebastian to Griffinglass and the young prodigy was appointed to be his apprentice.

Sebastian smiled. All his hard work was about to pay off. He was going to be a master! Well, if he passed the trial, that is. The test of an apprentice to a master would focus all his training into one task. It was not going to be easy, but Sebastian felt that if he could surpass the other apprentices, he could pass this trial just as quickly.

I am honored that you believe I am ready for the test, Master.

I do not, Warwig replied darkly. I believe that you are too arrogant and proud of yourself. You do not ask for help or focus on your other abilities. You are not reliant on your altruism, if you have any, or—

I understand! Sebastian said angrily, But why did you suggest to the Council that I am ready for the trial of mastery?

I didn't. The council called me to bring you to them for your assignment. It find it odd because Master Charleq notified the council of my trial, not the other way around. If he were here, I would ask him myself how often this happens, but unfortunately, he is not. Now let us head up to their chamber. The Council should be waiting now, and it is unwise to leave the elders waiting.

Sebastian followed his master to the elevating slab—a giant piece of stone, one of thirteen, that levitated from floor to floor. This one went to the next level, which was the Griffinglass Archives. The next slab went to the council chamber. The origin of the slabs was unknown to ordinary apprentices. The pieces included engravings of runes that represented the founders of the Order of Magicians. There were seven founders whose names were lost to history. They were known by the seven types of Nachtsune: Rot, Weis, Blau, Grun, Braun, Gelb, and Schwarz. The presence of the founders’ runes symbolized the sacredness of the object, in this case, these levitating slabs.

Sebastian tried not to bother himself with these origins. He felt the need to get on with his test.

Stepping on the stone slab, Sebastian and Warwig were lifted to the Griffinglass archives. The library was immense, considering it was a whole floor of Griffinglass Tower. It contained endless amounts of tomes and scrolls, so many that it was impossible to see them all with the naked eye. Sebastian recalled an interest in them when he first arrived here. He was taught that knowledge is power, and he was eager to harvest enough of it. He lost interest because he found it feeble to be full of useless knowledge that might not benefit him. So, Sebastian ended his studies in the archives and focused on the spells that were taught to him.

Finding the other levitating slab, they were stopped by a guarding magician, who asked about their business in the council chamber.

We are summoned, Warwig said, holding out a parchment.

The guard examined the parchment and smiled towards Sebastian. You may enter, Master Warwig and Apprentice Sebastian.

They stepped onto the slab, and it rose to the top chamber of Griffinglass. Sebastian felt more excited than nervous. He would soon test the best of his abilities. Finally, he would no longer have the feeble title of Apprentice! It was the start of his legacy, his life-long mission, to rid the world of the banes of life's existence.

As they rose, the air thinned, and it became hard to breathe. Sebastian held his breath a little and released it when needed. He had never been in the Supreme Council's chamber before. Rarely would any apprentices go there other than to receive punishment for crimes against the Order of Magicians or to be given assignments to prove their worth for the rank of Master. It was no worry to Sebastian; it was time for him to face a Test of Masters.

The slab came to a halt at a high floor. It was not a chamber, but a hallway. Warwig stepped off the piece and started walking down the corridor. Sebastian's footsteps echoed behind his Master's. Large statues of Magicians thousands of years old and gone from existence lined the hall. Each was labeled with their name and heroic deeds. He was interested in one, but his interest soon drowned in the hopes they would raise one in memory of him one day. The image of Master Arothe and his Apprentice and lover, Keira, came into view. They were the last magicians to kill Dark Lords in the realm of Aufterra. There had not been a Dark Lord since their time, a thousand years ago. Still, there was a test to see if one was destined to be a Dark Lord. If one was intended, he or she would be sentenced to death. A gruesome fate no matter what age one was, but it was necessary to rid the world of evil.

Sebastian noticed the chamber entrance ahead, but it seemed the Elders were gathered in front of it. It was very peculiar to Sebastian, but he gave no care. He did not care if the Supreme Council was on the bottom floor of Griffinglass Tower, he would receive his assignment as soon as he was able to do so. Seeing the hooded figures did not make him nervous, but only heated dreams of joining their ranks. He walked with a stride and caught up with Warwig.

As the two magicians approached the Supreme Council of Elders, they bowed and chanted the creed of the Order: Through wisdom, unshackle and awaken.

Welcome, Master Warwig and Apprentice Sebastian, said one of the hooded Elders. Sebastian did not recognize the voice. He had heard the tone of many master’s voices, but he could not tell which master the elder was. To keep the lives of the Supreme Council protected from any spy or outside attack, they kept their identities a secret from the apprentices and sometimes from a few masters as well. You will face two tests, Apprentice Sebastian. Your first starts now. In ten minutes, you will walk into the chamber, by yourself. Come, Master Warwig.

The hooded council and Warwig walked through the entrance of the Supreme Council chamber. Sebastian became impatient. What kind of test was this? To wait a minuscule amount of time to step in was just ridiculous. A thought came like a flash of lightning. What if they set a trap inside the chamber? Maybe he had to show his combat skills in front of the Council? Sebastian felt ready for a good fight. It was time to show off his skills in magic, and maybe prove to his master he could overcome any foe with magic alone.

When he thought it was a good time to enter the chamber entrance, he strode in with an eager pulse in his heart, prepared for battle. As he entered the chamber, he examined his surroundings. The primary colors of the room were red and gold. Arches that held the giant onyx gemstone above made the architecture stupendous, in the mortal eye at least, but that was Sebastian's opinion. He noticed the Elders in their seats on a pentagon-shaped stone. The thirteen seats looked to be made out of marble with a golden hue, just like the Pentagon stone itself. Master Warwig stood beside the marble stone, looking at Sebastian with a grim look.

Before Sebastian could approach the Elders, he felt a surge of energy go through him. He glanced around and noticed that he was between two statues of the Silver Ram, a legendary and mythological creature that was said to be the bringer of time: Past, Present, and Future. The eyes of the statues glowed blue. Beams of electrical surges ran through him. Sebastian screamed in pain and fell to his knees. All he wanted was to end the suffering, even if it meant his life. With as much focus and power he could muster, he rose to much agony and conflict and summoned a flame shield to surround himself. The red flames covered his body, and the blue electricity of the Silver Ram statues became a haze in the embers. Soon the electrical beams ceased, and the embers around Sebastian disappeared. He fell to his knees again and panted. Scheise! he gasped between breaths.

Congratulations, young Apprentice, came a voice—a woman, Sebastian deduced. You have passed your first test.

What was the point of that? Sebastian exclaimed with a hint of anger.

To see of your destiny, spoke another voice. It sounded like the voice from the hallway. You see, young Apprentice, no one whose destiny is to become a Dark Lord can enter this room. If you had been destined to become one, the Silver Ram statues would have killed you, no matter how powerful you are.

That made sense. Sebastian thought of the right way to react to such a test, but all that came to mind was, So, I suppose I passed?

A chuckle came from Master Warwig. Yes, my apprentice.

Why are you so humored? Sebastian asked, annoyed.

With all of your arrogance and self-justified selfishness, we thought you would have failed.

The Supreme Council laughed, but Sebastian just glared at his master. Finally, a faint smile formed as he said, At least I proved you wrong on something, Master.

Warwig frowned, but before he could say anything, the voice of the head Elder roared, You will learn respect to your master, Apprentice Sebastian! Then he paused. "When I first came here, a long time ago, I was much like you: arrogant, full of pride, and the want of putting good in the world the way I saw fit. However, I was wise enough to respect my master and to open my mind to logic and altruism, not the hunger for power to become one of the most powerful magicians in Aufterra! Your path often is the one that leads to the rise of a Dark Lord. We are more surprised than humored, young one.

Only once has a being who was likely to become a Dark Lord survived the test in this chamber. That was over a thousand years ago. However, you are considered among other Apprentices, a prodigy. We Elders agree that it is no mere exaggeration. Most Apprentices don’t become skilled in magic and combat for at least sixty years. However, you mastered magic, the harvesting of nachtsune, in thirty. That is no easy task even for the most skilled in our Order's history. Are you ready to face your trial for mastery, Apprentice Sebastian?

Sebastian nodded and bowed his head. Yes, Elder. I submit myself to the test of the Supreme Council of Elders.

There was a pause. Your test should be able to prove your abilities in not only magic but logic, teamwork, and physical ability.

Sebastian was flabbergasted. Do you mean that I will not be alone in this mission, Elder?

You will set off on your own, but—he chuckled— since teamwork is something you truly have inexperience in, you will be judged on how well you work with others. Our Elders who have foresight will take turns watching you from afar. As for the team itself, you will have to make your own.

This disgusted Sebastian. He could do anything by himself. How dare the Council give him this obscene objective!

Here is the test before you, young one.

Sebastian nodded his head.

You will go to the land of Dirkgor.—not far, Sebastian thought— "and find the whereabouts of the lost sword known as Nachtblade and retrieve it. Lastly, present it to us here in this room."

Sebastian had heard of the sword before. It was a blade that, wielded by one magician, killed two Dark Lords. Who the magician was, he had no idea. It was a story that was often told to the youngest apprentices. Sebastian was one of the many who thought it was just a myth. It was not, and neither was the detail that its last known place was in the nation of Dirkgor.

You will have to have an audience with Kaiser Zinward the Mark, King of Dirkgor, the Elder continued. "He, in his private library, has the entire history of the nation and journals of every King from long before Nachtblade went missing."

Magicians have been frowned upon in both mortal nations since the fall of the Tazdanes hundreds of years ago, Sebastian argued. Getting an audience with him could prove to be difficult.

Part of your test, said the Elder, amused.

Sebastian hesitated but controlled himself when he felt anger arise. I accept the mission, Master Elder.

You will go as soon as you are able. May the Dreizehn watch over you, young one.

Sebastian bowed. He and Master Warwig walked out of the chamber.

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Hendrik Brange, a scientist and historian, was standing in his observatory working on a glass sphere. To ordinary folk, it would be a fragile and straightforward piece of work, but to Hendrik, it was something far more. For the last five years, he had been working on an invention that would help research his latest project: the heavens.

Across the room, pointing out the window, was a giant scope. It was a narrow, bronze cylindrical shape standing on well-supported legs made from the same material. Inside the range was a complex matrix of functions for the tool to observe the heavens. Hendrik got the idea from a regular scope that generals and sailors used to watch the fields and seas. He figured, why not construct a way to do the same with the night sky? The glass sphere was the final piece of the puzzle.

When he first announced his project to his superiors, the Kaiser's Academy, they immediately cut his funding. Not all the way, for they had use of his talents, but they reduced it significantly so that it would be somewhat challenging to complete the project. The Academy thought it an intellectual crime to observe the heavens, where only the omnipotent can go. To Hendrik, supernatural and religious fears meant nothing. The sky played a significant part in Aufterra, and studying it would bring more insight on how the world functioned. How did the sky help the world function? Well, he only had hypotheses, but he was eager to see if they were real or utter fallacies.

Hendrik rarely smiled, but he was grinning to the extreme as he molded the glass from the heated furnace. Not a high quality one, like a blacksmith, but it was usable and safe to have in his observatory around all of his research tomes, papers, and scrolls. Molding the glass close to the right density—well, so he predicted—he breathed in the fumes, reminding him of his father who was, in fact, a blacksmith. The glass glowed a burnt orange. Close, Hendrik thought. The right calculated moment is concluding.

He chuckled. Hendrik dreamed of his observation, but quickly regained his focus on the glass. He used the metal rod to smooth out the edge of the sphere. Suddenly it happened. Exactly when I predicted it would, he thought.

He took the sphere, which was on the edge of another rod, and placed it in a small pool of water. Breathing regular air again, Hendrik took off his gloves and let the glass rest in the water. He sat down at his desk, took a quill and ink, and started writing notes. He was writing all too quickly, but the handwriting was neat enough that anyone could read it if he or she did not mind small print.

Hendrik looked at the small mirror at the end of his desk. He picked it up and examined his face. His brow was full and blonde as his long hair. His pale face was covered in ash, but it only made his green eyes more revealing. He rose from his seat. He was tall, a reliable 1.9 meters and he did not mind having the type of body that builds muscle rapidly. To Hendrik, the health of the body was just as important as the health of the mind. One of his past hypotheses was that the two formed a link so that each benefits the other in ways that no one could yet understand. However, he dismissed that experiment because he lacked the tools to study the human brain while the body was still alive. It was an experiment for future scientists.

He glanced around and smiled. He was going to get a visitor in a few seconds. How Hendrik deduced things like that was far beyond the understanding of his peers. He walked across the room and sat at a table that held a chess board. The Game of Intellectuals, as Hendrik put it. He glanced down and examined the board and placed the pieces back in their appropriate places. A knock sounded at his door. Come on in, Lieutenant Graves, Hendrik said aloud.

The door opened, revealing a dark-skinned woman. She was thin but highly athletic, yet only Hendrik could make a deduction like that, for he had seen her calves. She was dressed in Dirkgor military uniform that marked her as an officer of the guard of Kaiser Zinward the Mark. Her hair was a natural purple, a rare color among people of all countries in Aufterra. Regardless of the uniqueness of her appearance, she was a handsome woman in healthy eyes. However, Hendrik cared not to notice the subtlety of emotional stimulus that came from another's beauty.

How did you know it was me, Hendrik? she asked in a soothing voice.

Oh, Miss Graves, Hendrik laughed, do you think my power of deduction has become rotten since we last met? Penelope Graves looked even more confused. It was almost forty-five seconds ago when I heard footsteps coming down the hallway. The footsteps were light and not heavy enough to be a typical man, for the lightest man in the city who could afford boots makes heavier footsteps than that. However, I noticed a few squeaking sounds coming from the boots. The only boots that make such a sound are those that are supplied to military folk, which are made from Dika leather. Since you are the only woman in the city that has military ties, I deduced you have come for another visit.

Penelope Graves smiled. You always seem to be on top of things, aren’t you, Hendrik?

Please sit, and let’s play a game.

Penelope sat across from Hendrik, gazing down at the chess table. Reaching for one of the white pieces on her side of the board, she took her first move. Why the dirty face?

Hendrik laughed. A feeble attempt to make a glass sphere. To act, of course, as a lens to the contraption that will allow me to observe the celestial bodies.

Penelope looked confused and whispered, Science.

Hendrik moved his pawn. So, to what may I owe this visit, Lieutenant Graves?

Penelope looked at the board with much thought and moved another piece. Let’s just say that I enjoy our conversations.

Hendrik pondered, gazed at the board, and started a stratagem that would confuse almost any opponent into a trap that would cost them their queen. What about our conversations in particular?

You’re the master of deduction, you should be able to figure it out, she stated with a smile.

Ah, young Penelope, the only way to do successful reasoning is to have variables to act upon. Just the topic of our conversations can be put into several raw variables to start.

Well, how do you master the reasoning of variables? she asked, moving a pawn.

How indeed. You see, my dear Penelope, the most successful practitioner of logic and reason uses such without emotion when making observations, to see the clearest in the world and the people around us.

So, one must sacrifice morality to act on the ability to reason?

Hendrik felt so shocked that he almost dropped his bishop. Who said anything about morality? The ability to act on an ethical choice should not become based purely on emotions, Lieutenant. For as I described in earlier days, emotions are the most significant cause of biased data and views. So, let me ask you something: if you were in a predicament that was testing your ethics, would you act on an emotional impulse that would cause a biased perspective, or would you rather put your vow of right and wrong in the sense of logic as your ally?

What if it was both, and I had the pleasure of settling the dispute in my vow? she asked, trying to play his game.

Then you would be no different from a person who sees pleasure in the suffering of other people, regardless of if they are friends or enemies. You would be, to the norms of society, a monster.

Penelope looked shocked and struggled to keep her focus on the game. I am not a monster, Hendrik!

Well, what do you call a person who sees pleasure in other people's suffering?

A Dark Lord?

Hendrik and Penelope both laughed. Then Hendrik placed his knight into play.

I saw what you were doing, but you held back, Penelope said, studying the board. Are you afraid that I will be able to counter your most beloved pieces? She smiled while moving a bishop to threaten the position of his queen.

Somewhat, Lieutenant, Hendrik said while placing his bishop for his trap. Do you wish to exchange a queen for a queen?

Penelope thought profoundly and moved her queen to safety. You put me on the retreat.

Not only. You seem anxious, Lieutenant. For you just moved your queen into the trap you saw earlier. Hendrik captured the queen with his knight. Tell me, what is wrong.

Penelope was silent as she reached into her robe that covered her uniform. She pulled out a parchment revealing an inscription with a drawing underneath it. We discovered this when we captured a thief in the Kaiser’s treasury. Please read it.

Hendrik took the parchment and read the message: The one of most importance is the one to steal. Receive it, and the reward will be yours. He examined the drawing. It was the sigil of the Order of the Night Serpent. The sigil showed a black two-headed serpent with gray flames emitting from the fangs.

Has the Order become poor? Hendrik asked Penelope.

They seem to be after at least one thing in particular. What that is we have only an abstract idea. So, I was ordered to get your attention on this matter.

I do not understand, Lieutenant. I am not a member of the Law Enforcement of Dirkgor. Why me, of all people?

Come, come, Hendrik. You should know that—

—my deductive ability can solve the case of a future theft?

Exactly.

Hendrik was silent. Your move, he finally said.

Penelope laughed and castled her pieces. Did I finally silence the great Hendrik Brange?

Unlike your chess tactics, you are improving in that area, Hendrik said, capturing her bishop.

However, unlike chess, my objectives are more important.

It might be a game to you, Lieutenant, but to me, life itself is a giant chess game. Those who rely on emotions often overlook their opponent's moves and are easily defeated. Unlike most people, I consider the king, rather than the queen, to be the most important piece because it represents life itself. It represents me, my motives. It is the commander of the pieces to achieve my goals and defeat my enemies. Everyone has a goal in life and must overcome the obstacles that stand in their way. Like chess, those obstacles are the equal pieces and the great demon, the other king that is; they are what you must conquer to get your life's end. Manipulation, cunning, and deductive logic are all part of the game, Lieutenant. Just as I trapped your queen earlier. You saw an opposing trap in the making, but I deceptively organized another one while you were in retreat, and you fell into it. You get to know a significant amount of information about a person by playing them in a chess match, and you get to know what kind of piece they are in the game of life. As for me, Lieutenant, I refuse to be a pawn.

Hendrik, what makes you think that you are a pawn?

Quite simple, Lieutenant, he said immediately. My whole life I was used; by women who succumb to lust, by powerful men who crave an easy target, by a family's cowardly attempts to exile one of their own, and certainly not least by the fear used by a demon of the mind. I refuse to give any role where I will be used to someone's selfish ends and desires. My question is what is in the treasury other than money? If there isn't anything of the sort, I have no interest in such a pitiful excuse for a case that you think needs someone of my caliber.

Penelope was silent and moved another piece. We will pay you for your duty, Hendrik. Kaiser Zinward would grant you any price you desire.

Check, Hendrik said. You haven’t answered my question, Penelope. What is in the treasury other than the coins of gold and silver?

Ficken, Hendrik! What makes you think that I will give you that kind of information?

Because, Hendrik started while Penelope moved her bishop, you seek an audience with me not only to see if I take the case but to do anything necessary to make sure I would.

Penelope was shocked. That is ridiculous!

I find it so, too. However, if a thief has indeed gotten lucky enough to get into the treasury before getting caught, it makes me wonder how desperate the Kaiser is to get me on the case… even if it means trying to seduce me by using a good friend who is the only female officer in the Capitol’s city limits.

Are you done? Penelope growled.

Not yet Hendrik responded. Checkmate.

Penelope stood up and yelled, You are a Ficken, arrogant, rotten…

Don't be rude, Penelope. Now, will you tell me what is in the treasury?

I can’t… I…

Hendrik stood up and walked to her. Is it against orders?

That should be obvious.

You can tell me, Penelope. We are friends, remember?

How can I trust…? She was stopped mid-sentence by Hendrik’s kiss. She hesitated before wrapping her arms around him. Hendrik, with swift motion, released her from her robe and then started on her uniform. She started on his blacksmith garb. It was not long before Hendrik's chest and Penelope's breasts were bared, followed by the shedding of their jerkins. They fell to the floor in a tangle of limbs, and Hendrik entered her. Penelope moaned while Hendrik gave motion. Oh, Hendrik… A few minutes passed and Hendrik released his essence.

He came to her ear and whispered, I do not love easily Penelope. You can trust me to take the case, can’t you?

She nodded. You are a brilliant man, Hendrik. Will you promise me that you will keep the hidden artifacts a secret?

It shouldn't be a secret from me to begin with. If I was going to take the case, I was going to figure it out anyway.

I could not reveal them to you unless you agreed to take the…OH! She moaned when Hendrik entered her again—this time with his tongue. When he finished, Penelope relented.

Okay, Hendrik. I will tell you, because I trust you. There are three artifacts in the treasury. One is a ring of unknown substance. Another is a talon fossil of a Tazdane. The last is a sword with a green blade that historians date at least hundreds of years. She paused and looked into his eyes with tears. Please tell me you will take the case.

Hendrik smiled and kissed her. You have my word, Penelope. On the condition that the Kaiser will see to the continuation of the funds to my research. Penelope looked hesitant. Shall I continue?

Yes, Penelope said. I will see to it that your research gets funded. She paused and smiled. Please do that again.

Hendrik pleasured her again, then they sat and rested, taking time between intervals of kissing looking to look into each other's eyes.

Won't you be missed? Hendrik said, looking at the sunset out the window.

Yes, Penelope answered, and she got up to put back on her uniform. Hendrik replaced his undershirt and jerkin. They kissed once more, and Penelope left.

With the shut of the door, Hendrik sighed and walked back to the small pool in which he placed his glass sphere. He used his bare hands and examined the field. Remarkable. I outdid myself.

He smiled at the thought of the past few hours. Not only had he made a perfect lens, but he managed to