jmclarke
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Chapter 613: Broken Glass
🕑 Added 2023-06-21 21:37:23 +0000 UTC“If I might have a word,” Merzhin’s voice came inches from behind Carey.
The young woman yelped, the specimen jar in her hands slipped to the rocky ground at her feet.
Glass shattered, gleaming like crystals as she whirled, finding herself face to face with an apologetic Saint of Uldar.
“Oh, I am so sorry!” he bent down, quickly picking up shards of glass.
“No, no, stop!” she cried. “You need gloves, you’ll cut yourse—Ah.”
A line of red ran from one of Merzhin’s fingers.
“It’s alright,” he said, not looking up at her or even pausing, continuing to gather glass despite the red dripping on the ground. “I have this. I can fix this.”
“No, you’ll hurt yourself!” she crouched before him, picking up jagged fragments of glass with the sturdy alchemist’s gloves she’d been wearing to pack her specimen containers, tools, and ingredients she’d be needing to conduct experiments in the field.
“I am Uldar’s Holy Saint: I can fix such wounds with ease, once the job is done,” he said. “Uldar’s glory blesses me. …it blesses us all.”
There was an odd quality to his voice as he uttered those words, but Carey couldn’t quite grasp what it was.
‘It almost sounds like he’s in pain,’ she thought, before dismissing it. ‘Oh, don’t be silly, Carey, of course he’s in pain. He cut himself.’
“What are you doing?” she asked as he scooped up the last bits of glass.
He held his hand over the glass, then spoke: ‘Holy Uldar, as you relieved your flock of the Great Drought, please wash away the blood on this field.’
His hand glowed with divine light, and water rained from his fingers, washing away the red.
“There, all clean,” he said, still not meeting her gaze.
“Really? You’re going to wash away blood from broken glass before healing your own wounds? Merzhin, you really must take better care of yourself,” she chided him.
“Ah, priorities. I must fix the problem, then fix the perpetrator,” he said, divine light now playing over the wound on his hand. In seconds, it was gone.
“Perpetrator?” Carey scoffed. “Merzhin, it’s only a bit of glass. We have more specimen jars than I can count. If I’d been carrying the ingredients for today’s experiment, then yes, you definitely would be justified in apologising to me and Professor Jules: they’re too expensive and volatile to be dropping. But, fortunately, everything’s all safely in my pack, since I’m responsible for running the experiment today: ah…the joys of heading into third year. But anyway, about this jar.”
She took the broken glass to the portable sharp-disposal bin.
“One jar won’t be missed,” she said, dropping the pieces into the bin. “You’ve committed no major crimes,” she teased him.
“I was careless, and needed to take responsibility for that,” he said, still not looking at Carey.
“Really now, it’s only a piece of glass, Merzhin. You shouldn’t beat yourself so thoroughly, but…oh, will you look at me? You’re making me feel like some stern school mistress with your head hanging low like that.”
Sheepishly, the Saint raised his head. “I…apologise for scaring you.”
Something about the way he looked at her—his large eyes wide—tickled at her spirit.
She began to shudder. Then giggle. Then finally broke into a low, rolling laugh.
“What? What’s wrong?” he asked, his boyish features twisted with worry.
“Nothing is the matter, Merzhin!” She raised her hands as though asking for mercy. “I think it’s just simply so absurd. I’ve never seen you so shame-faced, and yet it’s over such a trivial thing.” she kept laughing. “Now what is it you wanted to talk about?”
“First, let me apologise for the broken glass,” he insisted.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine, then. ‘I forgive you, Merzhin, Saint of Uldar’. Is that what you wished to hear?”
The relief on his face was so earnest that it actually caught Carey by surprise. His slight shoulder’s visibly relaxed. “That is good. That’s a relief. In any case…” he paused, as though each word he uttered would decide the fate of Thameland. “I want to discuss a matter of faith with you, Carey.”
Instantly, her heart dropped.
‘The last thing I want to hear is you praising Uldar right now,’ she thought, looking around the camp hoping to find someone to save her. Unfortunately, no salvation was near. The expedition members were in the middle of planning the day’s excursion, preparing their gear and reconnecting after some time apart.
Many of the invisible barriers between the Thameish army and the Generasians had melted away, and folk now chatted, catching up like old friends.
No one looked like they were on the verge of leaving, or of needing her attention.
She knew that Tyris was away, out scouting surrounding mountains with Vesuvius, Watchers of Roal, and Thameish rangers.
No help would be forthcoming.
‘Well, it looks like I’ll just have to swallow my medicine as early as…right now, whether I planned to do so or not,’ she thought grimly.
“Well, I cannot say I am surprised,” she said gently, trying to bury her displeasure. Carey was definitely not looking forward to some big lecture on Uldar, and all the hiding of her true feelings that would require. She exhaled slowly, steeling herself. “You are St. Merzhin, after all. What is it about Uldar you wish to discuss?”
“It is not about Uldar,” his voice rose, and his eyes suddenly burned with zeal. “It is about you, Carey. I have reason to believe—from how you’ve been speaking lately—that you have wandered away from Uldar’s guiding hand. Am I right?”
Carey London’s thoughts stopped.
Of all the conversations she thought she would be having with Merzhin, this was among the very last.
Her mind whirled, panic seizing it, trying to find some lie or excuse to get out of the conversation.
But her silence seemed to spur him on.
“I knew it! Carey, you must come back to Uldar’s love,” Merzhin said, stepping toward her. His expression was like that of a forlorn child. “I…I would like to think that over the months we have fought beside each other that we…”
He paused again, searching for the right words. “...I would like to think that we’ve become something like…” His voice trembled. “...friends. And I do not want friends to lose their way.”
Silence followed.
Carey noticed eyes falling on them from nearby.
Some of the priests, who’d been planning the day’s journey with Watcher Hill, looked at the Saint in curiosity.
She cursed beneath her breath.
“Must we have this conversation now, Merzhin?” she whispered.
“Yes, I really think we should, I think we’ve already waited much too long,” he said. “Matters of the soul cannot wait.”
She sighed, looking at the surrounding wilderness. There were copses of trees among the boulders and ridges rising above either side of the valley, which the scouting teams had swept both last evening and this morning.
There was no sign of Ravener-spawn for at least a mile, according to the Watchers and Thameish rangers.
“Fine,” she said. “Then if we are to have this conversation, perhaps we should go elsewhere?” She looked meaningfully at the ridges.
He followed her gaze. “Yes, of course, privacy.” Merzhin laughed bitterly. “My fellow Heroes leave for the wilderness to have their secret meetings often enough. I should enjoy the same privilege as well.” The Saint nodded. “It was wrong of me to start such a personal conversation in the presence of others. You are right, we should move our talk elsewhere.”
“Mhmmm.” Carey nodded to a nearby ridge. “Over there?”
“Yes,” he agreed. “And don’t worry about Ravener-spawn, I shall protect you.”
She rolled her eyes. “There’s no monsters for at least a mile.”
Merzhin shrugged. “One never knows.”
Carey paused. “...I suppose you’re right, at that. Give me a moment.”
Quickly, the young woman went to fetch a few extra items from the supply cache, adding them to the gear in her pack.
A few more daggers.
More oil for her lantern.
Some rations.
These joined what was already in her pack: alchemical supplies, rations, water, some potions of body enhancement…
…and the vital item for today’s experiment.
Something she would have to be extra cautious with.
“Alright, I’m ready,” she said, strapping the pack to her back and returning to Merzhin. “I’ll lead, you follow.”
Together, the young woman and the Saint left camp, greeted the posted guards and made their way up the rocky terrain above the valley.
###
“So, you wanted to talk to me about my faith?” Carey asked, sitting down on a smooth boulder.
Merzhin and Carey hadn’t ventured far from the encampment; only about fifty yards to the west, and some twenty or thirty yards up the mountain side. They’d settled into a little crag shielded by boulders and a series of trees.
She watched the trees from the rock.
Memories of the invisible monster that attacked the castle returned, but the Watchers had scanned the immediate area, searching for anything lurking there and had found nothing. The mountains were quiet, save for bird calls and the buzzing of insects.
The spot was far enough for their talk, yet close enough to call for help should they need it.
Now, as far as Carey was concerned, it was just a matter of getting this talk over with.
Pacing in the middle of the copse of trees, the Saint of Uldar mulled over his words. “The more we talk, the more I’m convinced that you have left the faith. You speak of Uldar not with any glowing awe, as befits him, but with something akin to dismissal. You speak of the cycle with bitterness and distrust. I have come to believe that you have lost your faith in Uldar. Is this true?”
Carey thought of how exactly to answer him.
A part of her wanted to just lie and get this over with…but she knew it would never work; Merzhin already felt her distrust for Uldar. Perhaps if she was as good at hiding her feelings as Alex was, she might be able to lie her way out of this.
But, she was not Alex Roth, who carried the knowledge of Uldar’s possible betrayal seemingly without burden. She was Carey London, and the burden of that knowledge had lain heavy on her. Heavy enough for Merzhin to notice her shoulders bowed beneath it.
She sighed.
“The truth is, Merzhin…” She chose her words carefully. A part of her wanted to trust the Saint; he seemed so earnest, after all. But so had so many of the priests she’d ever known. A partial truth would be needed here. “...I wonder where Uldar is. I wonder why he is not back to help us.”
“Many have asked that—” he began.
“Hold now, I am not done,” she said. “Is he truly worthy of our worship, Merzhin? Truly?”
His face blanched. “Is our god…worthy? Carey, it is us who must be worthy of him.”
“That goes both ways. Uldar helps us by granting his priests spells and giving us the Heroes,” she said.
“Exactly, his gifts are—”
“I’m still not done, Merzhin. So, where is he? You and I have heard the Initial Parables. Uldar used to walk among us, helping directly. His powers were great and his kindness unending; sometimes his love would be harsh, but no harsher than any parent’s love toward their children. He was not cruel to us. He fought our enemies alongside us. He united and protected these lands, taming the weather and helping the earth yield great bounty. So, where is he now?”
“He has ascended, Carey,” he said. “And left proxies for us.”
“But his proxies have been fighting the Ravener for how many cycles? Do we truly know? How many times have we fought over and over again, praying to Uldar in fear?”
Anger boiled in her now.
“How many times must we go through this? How much pain? How much death? How much is enough?”
Merzhin’s face began to grow red. “Carey, do not disrespect the deity who has protected us for all those cycles.”
“No. You’re wrong,” she said. “You protected us for all those cycles.”
He paused. “Pardon?”
“You, as in, you Heroes.” She pointed at him. “People like St. Avelyn, like St. Merzhin, like the Traveller.” A warmth spread through her as she uttered the Saint of Alric’s title. “Like Cedric, Hart, Drestra and all the other Heroes of the past, including the Fool. And where is Uldar, Merzhin?”
“He watches us, guiding us from his throne,” he insisted.
“And yet he does not speak to us? Why doesn’t he send more Heroes?” she asked. “Armies of spirits, of engeli? Nothing? Not even counsel? Let me ask you this. How does it feel when you pray to Uldar—begging for guidance—and all you get back is silence?”
The young man recoiled as though she’d struck him. “He speaks to us subtly.”
“But why?” she demanded, pulling a chain from beneath the neckline of her blouse. There was a tiny symbol of a lantern attached to it. The symbol of the Traveller. “The Saints of the past aided us directly. They provided guidance. They fought for us. The Saint of Alric dedicated her life to battling the Ravener and working to save our people. She fought in one cycle just to lose her life in the next…”
Carey swallowed. “I am not sure where I am spiritually, Merzhin. But I can tell you this, when I think of a Saint that gave her life and everything for our people…praying to her brings me warmth. But when I pray to Uldar? It brings me nothing.”
“We see his works, Carey,” his voice sounded frantic. “His works are mysterious, but they work. Look, he even brought us your friends! You’re all looking into the Ravener, seeking to end the cycle. That is Uldar’s plan.”
He turned his back on her. “You’re my friend. I don’t want sorrow to crush you, Carey. Uldar’s faith has blessed me with great power. It has kept me warm. His church has fed me. Taught me. It taught you, and all of us. I understand anger, that is only natural, but—even if you were angry at your mother and father—surely forgiveness and union is better than abandonment of bonds. You have fought with friends, and made up, have you not? Anger is natural, but I don’t want that to turn into something that drives you away from divine protection. No one deserves that…especially my friend.”
It took every ounce of her will to stop herself from screaming at him.
She wanted to tell him everything; about the evidence that those who believed in Uldar could control dungeon cores. That faith in their god brought control over something that was supposedly his greatest enemy…and that he’d failed to tell his people that.
But she knew she couldn’t.
She could only hope that—in time—all would become clear, and Merzhin could know a little more about what was really rotting in the centre of Thameland.
Taking a deep breath, she opened her mouth to speak to him calmly.
To offer comfort.
She never got the chance.
A large, calloused hand clamped over her mouth.
And a powerful force began dragging a struggling Carey into the stone.
###
Author's Note
Hello twenty-two cool fools, almighty chosen, wise sages, and mighty champions! Thank you for your support!
IT BEGINS. FINAL ARC OF BOOK 7. LET'S GOOOOO.
Cya tomorow!
Comments
Brotato
I appreciate the subtle hint that Carrie may or may not be carrying the ingredients for a nuclear bomb in her backpack
Dennis
I got no problem with her kicking some ass, it would be kind of entertaining if she tapped into Alex's frame of mind and thought of this as a great opportunity to experiment and gain experience.
Hammy
I hope Carry kicks ass and frees her self, while force the Saint to realize it is his own church attacking them with Ravaner spawn
mant06
That could be quite usefull if he decides to make the secret branch look like traitors.
Lola
I wonder if Alex’s camera can see the petrifiers with his phone? Better yet, I wonder if he can video record the whole fiasco to show the Thameland leadership that the church is working with the ravenerspawn?
Silver Beard
He screwed up though- the fool with his scholastic buffs figured out quick what he was up too. With magic he could destroy Uldar's plan.. so a patch was placed to make sure Uldar could keep earning favor. That's where we are in the story. Uldar is about to be forced to own up and he'll do anything he can to avoid it. All this lesser minion/protocols is just a gentle prelude to what comes next
Silver Beard
Uldar created the Ravener as a system of worship to gain power. Sorry if this is a spoiler. Uldar figured out quick to gain power he needed consistent worship but he recognized that folks forget over time so he came up with a system. He created the Ravener and provided a means to an end... so every 100 cycles he get a fresh infusion of worship. Keeping the battery topped off an all.
Fleetpanda
I’m guessing a full core. She’s going to use it to warp the stone away from her and start kicking a**
Loah
I think Uldar is the Ravener, somehow.
Silver Beard
Alex is going to need to confront them... and his Identity as the Fool is about to break.
Bunny Waffles
The real kicker to this whole thing is that all this bullshit has been in the name of "containment" by the Ravener, but that ceased to be an option when they told BAELIN what they found. Say what you will about the Ravener, but the chances of it managing to put that immortal Goat Wizard down is slim to none, and even if it did I suspect he probably left his notes for his Cabal to collect and I'm pretty sure a bunch of grieving Giga Wizards could wipe the Ravener and the possible God who MAYBE made it from existence with extreme prejudice. The info is out there, and short of some turbo-powered genocide, it ain't going back in the box.
Thomas Keller
Well, it was marked for its Volatility, so I'm leaning some sort of Chaos Essence by-product, *maybe* Dungeon Dust.
Broke Knights
Are we guessing bomb, anti spawn gas, invisibility mixed with core dust, or something more exotic?
Leeland
Eh, after being reminded of the dangers, she did fetch her fighting pack and "todays experiment". So i bet she is not all that helpless. Also, i sure hope the "experiment" is one of the nukes made from dungeon stuff. That could be a nasty surprise for the kidnappers. And using it might blow the lid right off the whole conspiracy...
Thomas Keller
Evidence suggests that Carr's gonn end up pulling off some *bullshit* with the Secret Ingredient for today's experiment
ZCochraine!%
The church just kidnaped a student and member of the Generasi expedition. Looking at this stimulation from the outside, it seems the said did something to make her disappear after some kind of disagreement, he’s top suspect even if he’s the hero. His issues with outsiders might also means he says the wrong thins and make the diplomatic situation worse. And Baelin doesn’t like or trust priests by default (yes he’s smarter then that that but its the politics of this). And by whatever means that the church think would make Alex and the others come, when coinciding with this situation, Baelin might be there to let Alex tell him this, and so he’d be there to help, if also only to prove to the kingdom that their church isn;t as wholly good as they thought.
Code Reed
Oh joy. A damsel in distress. My favorite. I hope she at least does something to help turn the ride of the battle to rescue her. There is little more I dislike in a story than a febble female getting resued. It's always frustrating.
NexusBoi
Only real problem with Baelin getting involved is contacting him in the first place. Maybe some high up Generasi officials have a way to while he’s doing errands for his cabal mates but I doubt it
ZCochraine!%
If Baelin besides/is needed to show up and do stuff himself, I hope Merzhin (and obviously the rest of the church and its secret part) get to see power to rip apart a landscape and take hold of people and object on such a scale, like ripping apart their underground complex to ensure all the documents are intact and everyone there is apprehended. Just to learn how thoroughly screwed they are now that they pissed of one of the most powerful wizard in the enter world, snd just how powerless the heros are in comparison to the outside world. And for the Saint, how unless their faith truly is.
Rglobal1995
Totally agree, but that makes me super excited to watch some version of Generasi wizards (and maybe the heroes) giving the church a serious butt kicking.
ItWasIDIO!!
Like ya that was also a thought but with this chapter with what Carrie said this brings this theory to mind & I kinda like it cuz if ravager was working for or is Uldar would he not be capable of making those angels & not need zealots with blind faith
ItWasIDIO!!
👆
Kris Piskorski
I believe the revener is just uldars creation to keep generating faith through the cycles and the despair, a very might golem of sorts
M van Dongen
Blind faith removes the need for thought. As evidenced by them working with Ravener spawn.
NexusBoi
Man the priests couldn’t have been dumber in doing this. Like you can get the lack of thought with the Ravener spawn, they’re just hunting for the Usurper but do they seriously believe that kidnapping her in broad daylight after everyone seeing her leave with the SAINT won’t cast any suspicion on them? Generasi wouldn’t let such an odd disappearance go un-investigated, let alone Alex and the Cabal, and all the evidence would point straight towards the church: disappearing after going off with the Saint (even though this is coincidental), having a known (or soon to be discovered through questioning) crisis of faith both out of Thameland and in it while being around priests, the fact she knows the truth about the dungeon cores (which the priests don’t know) and the simple fact that she disappeared away from Generasi owned land. It couldn’t be more obvious. I get its ‘bait’ but they’re so blatantly ignorant about Generasi’s power that they genuinely believe they can kill everyone involved in the ‘conspiracy’ and have their church suffer little to no consequences. Maybe they have some master plan meaning they get away but I just can’t see how without some major higher up intervention, which would cast even more doubt on the church as a whole
Keeley Wilkinson
Ahhh the end ! Darn the cliff hanger
ItWasIDIO!!
And so we shall start seeing how the secrets may fall and yknow this chapter makes me think maybe uldar isn't the ravager (this has been my main thought process) maybe the ravager killed him and took his place to start this cycle stuff
