“Potions and elixirs?” scoffed Aakuta. “I would not think that someone of your intellect would be bothered with such nonsense.”
“Would be bothered?” huffed Lady Mystic. “Don’t go getting boring on me now, Aakuta. Magical power alone is all well and good when you are there to affect the outcome, but what if you are needed in more than one place at the same time?”
“I would rethink my priorities,” shrugged Aakuta. “Not everything is so important that it demands immediate attention.”
“Hmmph,” countered Lady Mystic. “Here is one for you,” she said as she lifted a beaker off the table. “This concoction is very close to replacing the lygrim fruit. I am sure that you have heard of the lygrim? It produces incredible stamina and strength, but it has the penalty of deep sleep after its use. I am refining a recipe that will yield the same benefits without the nasty side effects.”
“Hmm,” mumbled the dark mage.
“And this one,” Lady Mystic continued as she picked up another beaker. “This one will cause the victim’s skin to peel off. It is a most excruciatingly painful death. It’s very good for gaining cooperation of villagers. One example made of its power, and the threat to poison the well with it, and all of a sudden everyone wants to cooperate.”
“Child’s play,” scoffed Aakuta. “I can’t possibly imagine you needing the help of villagers.”
“Well,” sighed Lady Mystic, “how about this one then? Let this liquid mist in a wind of any magnitude, and all of the crops and animals downwind will become diseased. The disease will spread like a forest fire.”
“I think you just have too much time on your hands,” declared Aakuta.
“Could be,” admitted Lady Mystic. “It really has been boring around here lately. I do expect you to liven things up a bit. Perhaps today is the day to introduce you to Vand.”
“Just how are you going to arrange for me to meet him?” questioned Aakuta. “I doubt that he lets just anyone walk in off the street and say hello.”
Lady Mystic just smiled. “Put your hood up,” she said. “I don’t want anyone to see your face.”
Aakuta put down his soupspoon and pulled his hood over his head. He stood up and shoved the chair under the table. Lady Mystic smiled mischievously as she opened the door to the alley. After Aakuta exited the building, she waved her hand over the door to seal it.
Lady Mystic led the way through the streets of the city. She did not move along the narrow streets with shops as she had the other day, but kept to the broad avenues. As she turned onto a wide street leading uphill to the pyramid, Aakuta began to see the city in a different light.
Hundreds of soldiers were visible. Some lined the streets watching each passerby. Others directed caravans of kruls who were hauling large wagons of felled trees towards the shipyard and the mills that surrounded it. Patrols were coming from the pyramid as well as returning to it. The array of soldiers made the street appear as the entrance to a fortress rather than a temple.
“I hope there is a back way into this temple,” Aakuta said softly as he noticed some of the soldiers watching him.
“The rear entrance is for those who are to be sacrificed,” smiled Lady Mystic. “Are you sure you would like to use it? I could arrange it.”
One of Aakuta’s eyebrows rose, although no one could see it through his hood. “Perhaps a nighttime entrance with a suitable diversion would be better,” he said. “Is there any chance that you can get us through the front entrance?”
“I will get you inside,” smiled Lady Mystic. “Getting out will be your own problem.”
Lady Mystic’s smile was beginning to grate on Aakuta’s nerves. While he was grateful for the sanctuary that she had provided, he began to wonder if linking up with her had been a mistake.
As they neared the temple, the street turned into a broad expanse of steps leading up to the entrance door. Two soldiers manned every third step, one on each side. Aakuta frowned as the soldiers bowed slightly as they passed. He looked around nervously to see if he could abort the intended visit and sighed when he realized that it was far too late for such an option.
When they reached the top step of the long flight or stairs, two soldiers opened the wide doors without anyone asking them to. They also bowed as he and Lady Mystic passed by. Once they were inside the doors, Aakuta recognized the layout of the temple. It was identical to the Vandegar Temple in Fakara, except that it was pristinely maintained.
Lady Mystic led the way to the large atrium in the center of the structure. Aakuta gazed upward at the exposed edges of the many levels above him. Soldiers and black-hooded men were everywhere. Lady Mystic headed for the stairs, and Aakuta knew exactly where she was going. Climbing the stairs to the top level of the pyramid took a long time, and Aakuta had a chance to dwell upon how he would interact with Vand. Perspiration began to dampen Aakuta’s cloak and he cast a minor spell to halt the annoyance. As they reached the top level, Lady Mystic halted to catch her breath. She leaned on the rail and gazed down to the atrium’s floor.
“I do wish he would hold court on a lower level,” she sighed. “Such energy wasted on something so insignificant as stairs.”
“Do you make this climb often?” Aakuta asked as he wondered how the woman was able to just walk into the temple at will.
“Not that often,” smiled Lady Mystic as she turned and faced the ornate doors of the throne room. “I usually only have to climb two levels. My laboratory in the city is only used when I am terribly bored. Come, Aakuta. It is time for the show.”
A puzzled Aakuta turned and followed Lady Mystic towards the doors. Over twenty soldiers stood outside the throne room. They all bowed and an officer stepped forward to meet Lady Mystic.
“Does the High Priestess wish an audience?” the officer asked.
“Why else would I be here?” retorted Lady Mystic. “I have brought a foreigner who wishes to speak with the Emperor.”
Aakuta winced as the soldiers suddenly became alert. Their hands went to the hilts of their swords, but no weapon was drawn. The officer nodded politely and slid through the door that another soldier had opened slightly.
“I see there are some things that you did not share with me,” Aakuta whispered sarcastically.
“Perhaps you saw what you wanted to see,” chuckled Lady Mystic. “In any event, you never did ask what I did here. Now we shall see what you are made of, wizard.”
The ornate doors suddenly opened. The officer stood inside and ordered his men into the throne room. The soldiers immediately entered and formed a corridor through which Aakuta would have to walk. Lady Mystic took Aakuta’s arm and led him into the room. They marched between the two lines of soldiers until they stood twenty paces from the throne.
“You stay here,” commanded Lady Mystic as she let go of Aakuta’s arm.
Aakuta heard more footsteps behind him and turned to see even more soldiers filing into the room. When he turned back to face the throne, Lady Mystic was standing beside it whispering into the ear of the man on the throne. Sitting in the throne was a young man, no more than twenty years of age. His pale face and jet-black hair produced a stark contrast. His face was perfectly proportioned. Aakuta wondered how many bodies Vand had gone through over the ages.
“Remove your hood,” ordered the Emperor.
Aakuta reached up slowly and pushed his hood back. The Emperor’s eyes bored into him. Aakuta stared back.
“Grievous charges have been laid against you,” declared the Emperor. “It is said that you have murdered Zygor and Smarc. Is this true?”
Aakuta wanted to retort that a god would know the answer to that question, but he had no desire to die instantly.
“It is true,” Aakuta stated. “Zygor and Smarc were fools, as was Veltar.”
“You have caused me great harm,” snarled Vand. “You shall wish that you had not. You will scream for death for many days before you are allowed to die. Or perhaps, you will not be allowed to die at all. Your pain may supply me with much needed pleasure.”