Chasmfall (The Weirkey Chronicles Book 4), page 11
"I'm not sure how much of an impact we can have."
"Come on!" One of the Blacksilver Rulers appeared beside them, most of her face one giant bruise but tugging them to rise. "All of this is for nothing if Dhan can't finish his work!"
Though reluctant to do anything, Nauda forced herself up. While the most injured were treated, the rest made their way to the mouth of the cavern. The dust storm appeared to have died down... or perhaps it had been entirely consumed. Even the air above felt scorched, and she saw destroyed spires everywhere, annihilated by the battle between Authorities.
Before any of the Blacksilver soulcrafters could throw themselves into the fight, one of the spires exploded. Dhan emerged in the shower of stone, wrapped in a burning cloak of cantae. Even Nauda's senses could tell that he'd managed to fully absorb a new sublime material. More importantly, his soulhome was completely fresh compared to the drained Asplundat Authorities.
"Is the Asplundat Movement going to war?" Dhan didn't shout, but he put enough cantae into his voice for it to echo over the entire battlefield. "Think carefully before you strike."
"You... you scattered cities are nothing." One of the enemy Authorities wiped blood from his lips, but he drifted groundward. Many of their chariots had been destroyed, but the Asplundat soulcrafters began to gather their dead and injured to retreat. "When it comes time for the true battle, we will seize sublime materials that make this seem like nothing."
"Maybe you will. But today, you will retreat without taking any more life."
It seemed that they would. For all the ferocity they'd shown in battle, the Blacksilver soulcrafters showed no bloodthirst in victory. Instead they began to gather together, even the injured. Too many had died for them to celebrate, but the outcome was unquestionable.
"Huzzah." Tythes lounged on top of one of the remaining spires, waving a wine skin hard enough to slosh wine in all directions. "Approbation and veneration all around. You are all very brave and strong. I feel like I should have been given the dewfossil, for coming in and helping."
"Why are you here?" Dhan lowered his voice as he floated down beside Tythes, but Nauda could still make out the words. "We asked for no help from House Crimson."
"Oh, my father was just worried about the Assplund... Aspund... about the Movement taking out the lesser Houses. Sent me to... well, I can't quite remember the instructions part. But count my help as a gift, alright?"
"Your help is appreciated, but you cannot expect us to accept such an explanation."
"I very much can." Tythes tossed his wine skin to Dhan, then slid down the curve of the spire, spiraling until he was swallowed by one of the caverns.
Though that bore thinking about later, Nauda wasn't worried about either of those Authorities. Instead she searched the wreckage for Janne, finally spotting her sitting atop the primary outcropping. Many of her robes had been burned away, revealing only more robes underneath. She looked immensely weary, but Nauda didn't particularly care.
Instead she gestured to Theo, who thankfully generated one of his fields without objecting. It took them up to the outcropping easily enough, then as soon as the world was righted, Nauda stalked across the top to confront Janne.
"You knew this would happen, didn't you?" Nauda barely waited for an answer, since the look in the older woman's eyes was enough. "We risked our lives for House Blacksilver. I think we deserve some real answers."
Chapter 11
Theo had been entirely supportive of Nauda's demand for clear answers, but given the amount of cleanup, they didn't come immediately. He'd almost thought that they'd been forgotten when they were summoned back to House Blacksilver. Yet when they entered the lush central chambers, the one to greet them was the last Authority. Karchibol, he thought the old man's name was.
"Take a seat." Old as he was, he stood with his back straight and his arms tucked behind it. "This information will eventually become public knowledge, but for now, it isn't to leave this room."
After exchanging a glance with Nauda, Theo sank onto one of the low cushions. Fiyu folded her legs under her beside them, hands on her knees awaiting instruction. The old Authority looked as though he was about to break out a chalkboard to lecture them, but merely spoke with his arms behind his back.
"I know the three of you are outsiders to Fithe. Do you know our world outside of Norro Yorthin?"
"We've barely seen it except for a few trips," Nauda said. "I know this city is just one of many city-states known as the Ruling Cities."
"Norro Yorthin is one of the most powerful, controlling a large region of these plains, but yes, we are only one of many. I'll not lecture you on local politics, but you should know that all cities worth naming have at least one Stronghold-tier soulcrafter, while there is only one Dominion in all of the Ruling Cities. He sits in Dris Kolonb, which is a relatively small city that dedicates itself to matters that affect all cities."
He hadn't known anything about the specific continent, but it was a familiar story to Theo. "I'm guessing that the Ruling Cities are rivals except when it comes to outsiders... such as the Asplundat Movement?"
"Then you understand." Karchibol's lips thinned in displeasure, but he soon continued. "The Asplundat Movement is the second largest region on the Norron continent, controlling almost all the north. Their founder is a Dominion, and they have enough Strongholds and other soulcrafters to crush any individual city. Norro Yorthin doesn't border their territory, but we still faced them today."
"Is it because of the Chasm of Lamentations?" Fiyu asked.
"That's the secret we would prefer not get out. Usually, Chasm Invitations are divided among all the Ruling Cities. This year, the Asplundat Movement has been far more aggressive. They've stolen many Invitations from other cities, in some cases entirely removing them from the competition. It seems they intend to dominate the Chasm and use its sublime materials to further their conquest of the continent."
"This is not.. against the rules? They cannot be removed?"
Karchibol shook his head slowly, white hair rippling. "The Invitations aren't arbitrary limitations, they're required to enter the Chasm. Besides, the Ruling Cities make so much noise about anyone being able to earn their way in, it would look hypocritical to oppose them directly."
"So this year will be different than normal." Theo sat forward, considering the consequences. Odd past statements had all fallen into place, but he was unsure of all the ramifications. "Does that mean that the Ruling Cities will be working together? Lasaa Anklon's soulcrafters seemed eager to fight with us."
"Of course it cannot be that simple. We will still be squabbling with one another while the Asplundat Movement presents a unified face. Though today's conflict does have another upside: we've begun talks with Lasaa Anklon and they may be more amenable to cooperation."
"This Asplundat Movement uses common blueprints, and they saw our techniques... do we need to be worried that they'll be fully prepared for us next time?"
That earned an immediate snort from the Authority. "The Asplundat Movement's method of adaptation is to return with a larger army. Did you see their soulhomes? No imagination among them, just brutal force. Their souls are as dull as their architecture. If they had their way, they'd dominate the entire continent and force everyone to follow exactly the same blueprints."
Theo sat back, somewhat mollified. Since the default Asplundat blueprint didn't defend against his gravitational fields or singularity, he had much less to fear from the Movement than most. He shouldn't have been surprised they wouldn't adapt, since few could soulcraft countermeasures as quickly as Esaire had. They would also be a more predictable opponent, though their stronger soulcrafters no doubt branched out from the base blueprints.
Meanwhile, it seemed that Nauda had been thinking along entirely different lines. "Who else will be present at the Chasm?" she asked. "There are other forces on the continent, right? I heard something about a place called the Wavefront. Who all should we expect to be dealing with?"
"The Wavefront is a neutral power that protects the continent from the mud Fithans." Karchibol waved them aside. "Someone else can brief you on other cities that might oppose us, though many of our fiercest rivals will be right here in Norro Yorthin. But you're right, there will be others."
"From the Norron continent?"
"Well... no. There are credible rumors that a great empire of Tymetron will be sending representatives. Some say that the mud Fithans have stolen Invitations, though I'm skeptical of that. We've received word that the House of the Lost will be present, but they have often joined in the past."
"Then something's different this time." When Karchibol looked uncomfortable, Nauda pressed him further. "You've conducted this contest for decades and it's never been so intense. All sides sacrificed lives today. That doesn't make sense unless there's something more to it than a mere contest."
Karchibol was silent for a long time, then sighed. "I believed that it was better not to speak of this, but the other two overruled me, if you insisted. Yes, something is different. The last time we ventured into the Chasm, there were a number of... irregularities. It seems that the knowledge has spread much further than we'd hoped."
The three of them sat and waited, clearly expectant. Karchibol watched them for a time... and then actually sat down, abruptly looking far more human than he had before. When he spoke again, he'd lost his precise diction.
"Ten years ago, the soulcrafters venturing into the Chasm of Lamentations unlocked a great vault that had never before been opened. Though they didn't get far, they did retrieve an ancient armament of troubling power. It has been called the Scepter of Separation, though we do not know its true name or who created it. When pointed at a soulcrafter, it... uncreates the bonds within their soulhome, at least temporarily. This could be used for reshaping work, but..."
"It could be used to kill," Theo said as the last facts came together. "Anyone struck by it would be temporarily crippled. I'm guessing that every Dominion on Fithe wants to acquire it in order to defeat their rivals?"
"I'm afraid it's even worse than that." Karchibol cast him a weary smile. "The scepter was activated several times before being lost in the Chasm, and it appears... remarkably easy to use. Even an Archcrafter is fully capable of wielding it, potentially against someone of a higher tier. And, no matter their tier, it still produces the unbonding effect."
"That's unbelievable. It was used enough that you're completely sure of its effects?"
"It can't entirely ignore cantae intensity, of course. Ten years ago, a Ruler used it to kill an Authority, and the scepter was damaged in the process. But the reverse... an Authority was able to instantly disable Rulers with it, possibly endlessly. So yes, Dominions could use it to break the balance of power, but it could also leave them vulnerable to Strongholds. The Ruling Cities hoped that the Scepter of Separation could be quietly controlled, but now it has become a threat that no power can ignore. Worst of all, everyone will be seeking to claim everything else the vault contains."
For a time Karchibol just sat wearily, and Theo didn't blame him. There were multiple questions, but they all spent a while turning that thought over in their minds. Armaments that could level the playing field between tiers were extremely rare, so he understood why a contest for sublime materials had become a war by proxy.
"There are additional complications." Karchibol's control abruptly returned and he rose to his feet smoothly, again an untouchable Authority. "If House Blacksilver were to acquire the scepter, we would give it to the leadership of the Ruling Cities in return for immense resources and favor. Such a power is better kept as a deterrent against warmongers. But others may not make the same decision. It is widely believed that if House Crimson acquires the scepter, they will use it to rule Norro Yorthin."
"So you need us to get it first," Nauda said, but Karchibol immediately shook his head.
"You will do nothing of the sort. The battle for the scepter will be among Authorities, if not Strongholds. You will participate in the Chasm as normal, acquiring sublime materials. Just because there is a greater prize does not mean that we can overlook all the other profits to be had."
That was more or less what Theo had been anticipating. Though Nauda looked displeased, she couldn't deny that they were out of their league in such a fight. Theo fully intended to ask about the exact location this scepter had been lost, in case his knowledge of the Chasm could bring them there first, but he didn't like the sound of the conflict at all.
Because of the risk, of course, but also because this sounded very much like something Vistgil might have schemed to strike his enemies...
Chapter 12
As Nauda inventoried every sublime material in her soulhome, she began to wonder if she was completely losing objectivity.
To her credit, she felt largely prepared to ascend. The surgestalk had continued growing, now pushing nearly a full floor into the sky above her soulhome. She'd finished applying the new layer of petals over her windows and other exposed parts of her soulhome in preparation for the event. Every chamber hummed with raw cantae.
To her detriment, there was so much more that could be done. Her supposed sensory chamber was filled with reasonably powerful materials but completely failed to grant her a new sense. Efforts to find sublime materials to strengthen her wards had been unsuccessful. She was still dissatisfied with the chambers in the tower separate from her soulhome. For that matter, there was still the barrier wall Theo wouldn't shut up about.
Actually... Nauda left her soulhome and blinked in the shadows of her room. Still rather short, so there was time. She walked through the Blacksilver complex, searching him out. Hopefully he would be working with Fiyu, but she was certain that he would be soulcrafting in one of the usual locations.
Eventually she found him soulcrafting in a small courtyard, a defensive field placed around him. Nauda was puzzled until she saw Senka scampering around the edges, chewing on something absolutely filthy. The little creature finished chewing and then ran at Theo, only to be caught up in the field. Part of her body suddenly falling in the other direction, she flipped backwards and tumbled over the courtyard before flopping onto her back.
"Nauda Nauda!" Senka stared at her and blubbered. "Theo is being a dirty fumpet. Make Theo play with Senka!"
"Maybe not now, Senka." Nauda's words had absolutely no effect on her, of course, and she wriggled over, grabbing hold of Nauda's ankle.
For a moment she considered using her staff to bind Senka in place, maybe even keep her mouth closed. Eventually she decided that would be unkind, since Senka couldn't help whatever she was. Instead she extricated her leg and continued forward until Theo looked at her.
"I've continued trying to train her, to no avail." He sighed and lowered his field. "Sometimes it feels like she's trying to convince me not to."
"Senka just wants yummies, not work!"
"Ignore her. Did you want to ask me something?"
"Yes, actually." Nauda frowned over at Senka, who was running for them. A moment later, Theo dropped her into the air with another field. Her babbling reached a higher pitch, which was exceedingly annoying, so Nauda reached out to touch his knee and drew both their spirits into her soulhome. If she ignored her body just a little, she could hear nothing but the quiet natural sounds of her soul.
Though Theo looked over her soulhome with interest, he soon stopped and turned back to her. That was what she had been hoping, so Nauda overcame her last uncertainty. After swallowing one more time, she finally spoke her mind.
"You frustrate me sometimes, Theo, but I do respect you. I wanted your advice."
"From this humble soulcrafter? I assure you, I take no pleasure in explaining things to people." His smile at his own expense was just enough for Nauda to forgive him. She gestured for him to follow and walked closer to her soulhome.
"I want to ascend to Ruler, but... this absolutely has to work. I've seen what we'll be facing... no, the truth is I've only seen the beginning of it." Nauda slowly ran a hand over the vine-wrapped stone. "Do you think I'd be making a mistake, trying to ascend now?"
"Yes, definitely. I have no doubt that you could, but it's premature." Theo shrugged. "As you noted, I give my opinions pretty freely. What else do you want me to say?"
"How much of a mistake? I want to talk about the really advanced soulcrafting issues you always imply you know, the ones beyond Authority. So yes, Theo, I'm asking for a lecture. I need to get this right."
He was silent for longer than she expected, given the invitation to lecture, and then slowly drifted up to her roof. Nauda had to climb the vines to join him, not far behind. Though he stared skyward at first, his gaze soon shifted back down.
"When you ascend, the force from piercing the sky will rush through your soulhome, reinforcing everything. Generally speaking, for optimum soulhome design, you want the strongest materials you can possibly endure, held through as many ascensions as you can manage."
"But isn't it sometimes better to replace them? If we'd somehow gotten that dewfossil and could use it, wouldn't that be better than our current materials?"
"Most likely, but you shouldn't underestimate the strength of a sublime material that matters to you, carried through all your soulcrafting." Theo shook his head slowly. "Your basic construction has always been good. Excellent, even. These walls will only grow stronger over time as you ascend. But can you show me one of your strongest sublime materials?"
"Down here." Nauda flipped over the edge of one wall, sliding through the window into the room that contained the monstrous skull on its altar. Theo followed by drifting through the ceiling. To his credit, he didn't ask her about the origin of the skull, just considered the chamber.
"There's one thing you're doing absolutely right: keeping this powerful material through multiple ascensions. But... you really want my opinion?"
