A single laugh rang out from Ioaniss, “Ah, so refreshing to have someone just plainly ask for guidance. Indeed, a toast does end the meal. It is made by the guest of honor.”
Raising his glass as he rose from his seat, Alburet cleared his throat. “A toast to our generous host tonight, Sir Ioaniss Jones. Never in my life, on either world, have I had such an exquisite meal as I have had tonight. I thank you for the opportunity for this chance as well as graciously hosting my soon to be wife. May the gods smile upon you for the rest of your long years.”
After the toast was drunk, Ioaniss led them out of the dining room and down to the small library. The library was like the dining hall, small only in name. The room was easily fifty feet per side, all the walls lined with bookshelves that reached to the ceiling with a rolling ladder resting on each wall. Everything was done in oak, including the massive desk that Jones sat behind.
“Please, sit. Berk will be along with coffee shortly. Before we get started on the reason for you being here, I would love to hear about your pending nuptials.” Ioaniss sat back in his chair with his hands interlaced on his lap.
Chapter Ten
Alburet leaned back in the very well-padded chair he was seated in. “What do you know about the Crowley family?”
Ioaniss grinned, “Well, they have a very long history in this city. Let’s do recent history, though. Alistern is Stacia's father while her mother is a woman known only as Lilith who seems to have been unknown before she began to adventure with him and his friends. I did some research once I was told that she would be coming with you. My research turned up some interesting theories. My current theory is that Lilith is Alistern’s succubus. That would make all of his daughters half-bloods who do not show any signs of their demonic heritage. All of them lacking a single class amongst them does help bolster that theory.”
Stacia had gone stiff as Ioaniss spoke, her eyes shifting around the room as if seeking a way out. Alburet put his hand on top of hers as their chairs were right next to each other. “It’s okay, Stacia. Sir Jones says this is a theory. As such, I’m sure he hasn’t told anyone about it, as without proof it would be a horrible thing to claim.”
Ioaniss grinned, bowing his head slightly, “Indeed, it would. I have no desire to slander anyone’s name and my theory will stay with me alone. Do you even know the history of your line?”
Stacia seemed very leery as she shook her head, “Nay, not as such.”
“Well, then. One of your ancestors did a service to the crown, some time ago. The reward they received was the right to open and operate the tavern your family currently runs. It is why your family has never run afoul of the guards all these years, even though it is known that Necromancers and Summoners congregate there. When your father’s group broke apart following the loss of one of their members, he settled down to run the family inn. When his father died shortly after that, it solidified his position as the new head of the Summoners in the city. I’ve also taken the time to look into your mother’s history. The name Lilith has sprung up time and time again as the succubus of various Summoners in history.” He paused as Berk came back with the coffee for them. “Thank you, Berk. You may go for the next hour.”
Berk bowed, “As you wish, Sir Jones. I shall be waiting your summons in the green room.” He left the room, leaving an extra pot of coffee behind on the cart he had brought in with him.
“Where was I?” Ioaniss mused before nodding, “Ah yes, Lilith. She never did anything spectacular to make herself stand out but the records do not lie. My research shows that no two demons have ever shared the same name. It is almost as if the demon races come closest to immortality that we’ve seen. Which is to say, none of them have ever died a final death from old age, that we know of. So, now tell me about you two, please.”
Stacia glanced at Alburet, her worry clear in her eyes. Alburet took her moist hand in his steady firm grip, meeting her eyes with his calm gaze. “It’s okay, Stacia. Nothing bad will happen.” He turned his gaze to Ioaniss, “Why so interested in two such minor people?”
Chuckling Ioaniss shook his head, “Minor. You say that with such a straight face. You are the first person to retrieve any artifacts of the Forgotten Prison. More so, you were level six when you brought them to Vladimir. So no, I won’t consider you a minor person at this point. I also hear that you helped lead the guards on a new round of training here and at a few forts. On top of that, you are becoming known around town as a generous two-souled. To add more to this growing list, you seem to have found a person of this world to marry. So yes, all of these things lead me to become very interested, as a historian if nothing else.”
“When you say it that way it almost sounds like I’m some kind of aberration. I don’t think I’m too different from the rest of the two-souled, aside from one thing. But you were asking about us as a couple. The truth of that matter is Stacia made the first move, she seduced me. Not that many men wouldn’t have fallen for her. After some time, we seemed to become closer. I took her out with a few friends on her first hunt. Her father was quite upset over her wanting to go out with me, but finally let her. After that our connection seemed to grow more and eventually we decided to go further.”
Ioaniss’s brow furrowed, “Hmm, less interesting than I had hoped. Do you know why her father objected so much?”
“Flora,” Stacia said softly. “She was the druid Da’ hunted with. She was special to Unca Stewart. She died in the Dead Lands durin’ a raid against Experiment 9. It was her loss tha’ caused them to all stop huntin’ and settle down.”
“Correct, Stacia. She was one of the people who died on that raid, along with a number of the men from the fort in the area. That loss still haunts them all to a degree, I think. They were a group that had been making a name for themselves before that time.” He paused to sip his coffee before continuing, “Well, since that isn’t as interesting as I had hoped let’s move on to the reason I asked you to attend tonight. Tell me, Alburet, about where and how you got your hands on the book and letter opener, please.”
Alburet began to relay the story of how he came to own the two items. “As I understand it, the gods have decreed that when two-souled first come to this world they are supposed to appear in certain areas. Well, when I first crossed the bridge or portal between our worlds I was sent somewhere else. I appeared in a ruin that was infested with skeletons, so I did what my kind do. I went exploring. What I found was the intake wing of the Forgotten Prison.”
Ioaniss sat up straight, a bit of coffee sloshing out of his cup. He didn’t even seem to notice as he stared fixedly at Alburet. “You were there? You know where it is?” He cleaned his hand absently as his gaze stayed focused on Alburet.
A grin came to Alburet, “Possibly, if what Vladimir said about Traveler's Maps is true. Upon exploring the place, I found the book and letter opener in the records room. Hoping they might be worth something, I picked them both up. When I left the building I was greeted by a massive structure that must be the Forgotten Prison, as well as a gated area with a set of massive double doors. I was met there by a very challenging skeleton when I tried to leave. I was barely able to survive it. Finally, free to go, I must have triggered some long-delayed spell, as I suddenly found myself at the gates of the city.”
“Can I see your map please?” Ioaniss asked, his excitement clear.
Summoning his map to his hand, Alburet spread it out on the desk between them. “I wouldn’t even know where to think of looking.”