This seemed all very interesting, but was this a waste of her time? Did any of this relate to her case? Aside from the ambassador’s warforged sentry, what connection could there be between her case and House Cannith?
She felt a surge of disappointment. No mention of Breland or the war. Charoth was a sinister-and certainly fascinating-figure, but this wasn’t giving her any indication that she was on the right path.
Soneste committed the article to memory in a manner of seconds then searched through the next few editions. Nearly one month later, a follow-up article appeared within the Chronicle, no doubt a result of Charoth’s emergence.
House Cannith Admits Forgehold Disaster
Olarune 13th, 996 YK
KORTH-Representatives from the Cannith enclave in Korth released a statement on Zor regarding the destruction of the Orphanage facility in 992. In Zarantyr, the former director of the forgehold, Lord Charoth Arkenen, came forward with news of his survival and his subsequent rebuke of House Cannith.
The statement revealed that the Orphanage was a research facility that focused on the sentient aspects of warforged creation. While most creation forges in the late 980s produced the rank and file units that House Cannith sold to the Five Nations, the Orphanage worked to augment the warforged mind. Even warforged titans, the behemoth constructs that preceded the standard models, were continually assembled and upgraded within the Orphanage.
According to the statement, a conflagration of elemental power burned within the subterranean facility in Therendor of 992, prompting Lord Zorlan d’Cannith, regional viceroy at the time, to dispatch a rescue team to the hidden site. A thorough search of the wreckage concluded that none of the forge personnel could have survived the devastation.
“Had we known of the director’s survival, the outcome of this story would be very different,” Baron Zorlan d’Cannith told the Chronicle following the statement. “Lord Charoth is a man of singular grace and remarkable vision. The tragedy that befell him and its effect upon his business decisions today are a loss to us all.”
When asked for comment, Lord Charoth politely complied. “The Thronehold Treaties have ordered House Cannith to destroy their creation forges, a decree I heartily commend, but had I been present during the peace talks, I would have pushed for the destruction of all existing warforged. They are obsolete in this time of peace and remain only as a reminder of the weapons of war the Five Nations have inflicted upon one another. I am ashamed for my part in their construction and will have nothing to do with them ever again. I have no desire to return to the life that I once knew.”
The former director was severely scarred by the mysterious destruction of the Orphanage facility and believed dead for four years. Refusing Jorasco healers to treat him, Lord Charoth said only that the damage he suffered could not be undone.
Lady Irenta d’Jorasco, an administrator of Jorasco’s hospital in Korth, explained further. “When we visited his estate, Lord Charoth claimed that his body was scarred by energies from a damaged creation forge. I cannot speak to the destructive properties of such devices. That is not our province. I can, however, confirm that Positive Energy, such as that channeled by the Mark of Healing, can be deadly if not used correctly.”
House Cannith’s statement did not include the whereabouts of the Orphanage forgehold. Added Baron Zorlan, “We have explained all that we can. The locations of our forgeholds remain classified. This incident changes nothing.”
Soneste was unable to find anything else within 996 YK pertaining to Charoth or anything at all mentioning Gamnon ir’Daresh. She wanted to search through the 997 editions, but it would have to wait. She had to meet up with Jotrem or he’d be asking questions. Then she’d have to lie.
Soneste sighed. This was her investigation. Why did she have to answer to anyone?
Even so, the 997 editions couldn’t be as vital. Even the highly regarded Korranberg Chronicle dared not scrutinize any of the dragonmarked houses too much. She committed the second article to memory and called for the gnome clerk.
Interlude
Daylight shone through the window, but the man in the velvet-padded chair remained oblivious. The door to the small room closed again, but he’d made no acknowledgement of his visitor. Instead, the memories that cycled through his mind continued.
Another voice calls out to me now.
“Master Erevyn is not to be disturbed,” my assistant responds in my defense.
I set my tools down, resigned to address the matter. I turn to look at the speaker, but I know it is Leonus, my sister’s eldest and a good man. I’ll not berate him, of course, but he knows better than to interrupt me.
“Sverak, it’s all right.” I climb down the maintenance ladder as my assistant backs away with a sleight bow. His movements are respectful, as always, but unnecessary. I have come to think of him as a colleague.
My nephew approaches me, wiping soiled hands upon a rag. He looks tired, having worked at the birthing pods since morning.
“What is it?”
He glances nervously at Sverak. “Uncle …”
“Speak, Leonus. Please.” I am mildly irritated. My work is too delicate for trivialities. What can’t wait?
“Uncle, Lord Charoth is returning tomorrow. We just received word from Korth.”
I feel apprehension, a small measure of fear inside me. I knew the day would come, of course. The director has been away for many months now. It has seemed the Orphanage had been neglected in favor of the Cyran forgeholds. It had only been a matter of time. He was director, not I. I suppose I expected to be more prepared. That’s all.
“Thank you, Leonus. Get back to work. We all have much to do.”
My nephew walks away. Sverak stands before me now. I feel the sleight touch of his hand on my arm. He has always been affectionate. Unusually so.
“Master, why do you worry?”
Chapter TEN
Mol, the 9th of Sypheros, 998 YK
As expected, Jotrem had little to offer from his side of the investigation. He’d been unable to speak with the clothier Vorik ir’Alanso directly, but he’d returned with a gray shirt and black vest for Soneste-the gloomy tones that passed for Karrnathi fashion.
There was suspicion in his eyes when he’d approached her. Of course, the subtle power she’d implanted in his mind had long since worn off. She accepted the clothing with a tense smile.
“We stay together now,” Jotrem said without further comment as they walked to the Ebonspire.
“Agreed,” she replied, plotting her next method of shaking him.
She recounted her interview with Charoth, omitting only her personal observations about the mysterious lord. She also described in brief what she’d found in the Korranberg Chronicle, not telling him that she could recite it perfectly.
“I see no obvious connection between Lord Charoth and the ambassador,” Jotrem said, “and no motive on Lord Charoth’s part. What has he to gain?”