She bent down and picked up the vase. She smelled the flowers and smiled. There was no note indicating the sender, or even if the flowers were meant for her, but she knew that they were. There were no other doors in the vicinity. She shook her head as she tried to figure out who was responsible for the gifts, but she could not. She thought briefly about her father and a possible attempt to make up with her, but she cursed at the idea almost as soon as it was formed. Vand would never apologize to anyone, and she didn’t want his apology even if he offered it.
Lady Mystic put the basket down and waved her hand before the door, but it had no effect. She frowned and reached out for the door handle. The door was unlocked, and it opened to her touch. She frowned as she realized that Vand’s goons had even destroyed her spell on the door. She kicked the door open and retrieved the basket.
As she entered the laboratory, she stopped and stared at the mess. Broken glass covered the floor and powders were sprinkled about. She stared at the stains on the floor where the liquids had already evaporated. She cursed again as she placed the vase and the basket on the empty table,
The first thing Lady Mystic did was to grab a broom. She started sweeping the debris into a pile. When she had it all gathered into a large pile, she went to the kitchen and retrieved the sheet of metal that she used to pick up sweepings. As she bent down to sweep the debris onto the metal sheet, she felt a presence behind her. She dropped both the broom and the metal sheet and whirled around to see who was there.
“You look like you could use some help,” smiled Xavo. “May I enter?”
“You are already in,” frowned Lady Mystic. “What do you want this time?”
“Nothing, actually,” smiled Xavo. “I just happened to be passing by and saw your door open. I thought I would check up on you and see if you are alright.”
“Why do I have trouble believing you, Xavo?” asked Lady Mystic. “Could it be because you have never offered help to anyone in your entire life? Or is it perhaps because I am too stupid to understand what you are really after? What exactly do you want, Xavo?”
“My, we are brutally candid this day,” replied the Disciple of Vand. “Is my reputation really that bad? Does everyone think of me the way that you do?”
“I cannot speak for others,” shrugged Lady Mystic as she bent to continue her cleaning task, “but my impression is that you don’t have a friend in the world. Now, why would that be? I mean you being such a nice and helpful person as you are?”
“Perhaps no one has ever really known me?” grinned Xavo. “Be honest with yourself, Lady Mystic. Have you ever put forth the effort to get to know me before you decided that I was a worm?”
“No,” laughed Lady Mystic. “I do not need to eat food to tell it is spoiled when I can smell the decay. I would like to tell you to go away because I am too busy to play games with you, but we both know that that is not believable. Just tell me what it is that you want, and we can stop playing this silly game. Either I will give it to you, or I won’t. It is that simple.”
“Ah,” sighed Xavo, “if only life were really that simple. I want your heart, Lady Mystic.”
“Not today,” Lady Mystic shook her head as she rose and dumped the debris into a bucket. “Maybe tomorrow you can have it, but today I feel like continuing on with life, and I need all of my organs. Tomorrow? Who knows? I may decide to let you have it. Why mine?” she asked after a moment’s hesitation. “You could have one from any slave. Why must it be mine?”
“That is not what I meant,” chuckled Xavo. “I did not mean it literally. I want your love, not your heart.”
Lady Mystic dropped the sheet of metal and stared at Xavo.
“What?” she asked with a look on incredulity. “The flowers? The basket? Were they from you?”
“They were,” nodded Xavo. “I thought that you would appreciate them.”
“I did,” Lady Mystic said haltingly. “I mean I do. I just don’t understand. Why?”
“Because I love you,” shrugged Xavo.
Chapter 18
Assembly of Lords
“There are female screams coming from the Pikata chambers,” declared Ophia.
“Are you positive it is from the Pikata chambers?” asked Emperor Marak as he gazed up at the stars. “These chimneys rise from a lot of fireplaces.”
“I heard the woman say Lord Rymaka’s name,” assured the air mage. “I am positive.”
“You have your chance, Marshal Chack,” stated Emperor Marak. “Do what must be done.”
Marshal Chack nodded and ran towards the door, while the Emperor paced the roof.
“Do I have to continue listening?” asked Ophia with a hurtful look. “Whatever he is doing to that woman must horrible. Her screams will haunt me for days.”
“No,” the Emperor replied as he stopped pacing. “Drop the air tunnel. We both have a busy day tomorrow. Let’s leave this problem with Marshal Chack and go to bed. It is out of our hands now.”
* * *
The Imperial soldier knocked loudly on the door of the Vessi chambers. When there was no answer, he knocked even louder. Eventually he heard loud voices from within the chamber and the door opened a crack to allow a soldier to peer out.
“What is it?” the soldier asked groggily.
“The presence of Lord Sebba is required,” stated the Imperial soldier.
“Is it morning yet?” the Vessi soldier asked.
“It is,” nodded the soldier, “although the sun has not yet risen. The matter is urgent. Notify your lord. We will wait for him.”
The door closed and reopened a few minutes later. Lord Sebba stood in the open doorway looking as groggy as his soldier had sounded.
“What is the meaning of this disturbance?” Lord Sebba asked with annoyance.
“Your presence is required,” stated the soldier. “We are to escort you.”
“To where?” frowned the lord.
“To a meeting of the Lords’ Council,” answered the Imperial soldier. “They do not like to be kept waiting.”
“One minute,” scowled the lord as he retreated into the chamber.
Lord Sebba returned in a few minutes. He had obviously struggled into his uniform for the meeting. The soldiers escorted the Vessi lord to the Lords’ Council chamber where the council was already in session. Lord Sebba was summoned to stand at the table by Lord Kiamesh who was chairing the meeting.
“Does the Lords’ Council have so much work that they must meet through the night?” scowled Lord Sebba as he stood looking at the six seated lords.
“We are early risers when the situation demands,” retorted Lord Kiamesh. “Today’s schedule will be shortened by the Assembly of Lords. We must meet beforehand to accomplish everything that needs to be done today.”
“And for what purpose am I here?” asked Lord Sebba.
“To resolve your boundary dispute,” declared Lord Kiamesh.
“Boundary dispute?” echoed the Vessi lord. “I have filed no protest over my stated boundaries.”
“Your boundaries, nevertheless, are in dispute,” interjected Lord Quilo. “In fact, all of the territory gained by the Vessi clan during the last year is in dispute.”
“By whom?” demanded the Vessi lord. “None of those clans even exist any more. There is no one to dispute my boundaries.”
“It is our understanding that your gains were accomplished in coordination with certain Jiadin men,” declared Lord Patel. “In fact, the vast majority of your forces were Jiadin.”
“What of it?” frowned Lord Sebba. “I can use whoever I want to use to fight my wars. There is no law in Khadora that forbids it. Lord Samert hired Jiadin warriors. What is the problem?”
“Hired?” asked Lord Faliman. “Do you have proof of payment?”