Mark of the Fool

Chapter 683: The Chamber at the Center of Creation

Alex already felt like a criminal.

The army of wizard-warriors eyes were fixed on them as the young wizard and his companions stepped from the floating disk. Alex could almost feel suspicion emanating from them as their eyes followed him.

The two iron golems watched Claygon and Theresa, titanic iron fists clenching and unclenching in preparation to protect the wizard-council.

Around them, enough wizard-warriors to stop an army of demons, stood at the ready.

This feels like when I was in that interrogation room with those two officers when Leopold set those demons loose in Generasi. Alex thought, as a broad shouldered warrior stepped in front of him.

The young wizard tilted his head back, looking up.

Looking way up.

Actually, this is much worse than when I was being interrogated, he thought.

The warrior towering before him was a lion-beastman, taller than Thundar and even broader of shoulder. A jagged scar ran down his right cheek and his leonine eyes seemed to look first through Alex, then Theresa.

His nostrils flared.

Black lips twitched, revealing gleaming, dagger-like fangs.

Alexander Roth? the beastman growled, his voice reverberating through Alexs chest.

Yes. The young wizard said, meeting the beastmans eyes.

They stared at each other.

There used to be a time when the mere presence of the lion man would have sent him into fits of terror.

But now?

Hed faced worse things than lion-men. Ravener-spawn, unholy champions of dead gods, monsters, greater demons, and hed even witnessed that dead gods corpse lying draped across his throne. Hed fought alongside Baelin and his cabal, Drestra the dragon, Claygon and

Grimloch. Just Grimloch alone.

Compared to any one of them, this beastmanwhose body language spoke of lethal skillseemed to pale in comparison when Alex looked at him closely.

Come to think of it, I think Theresa could probably take him, he said to himself.

The lion man abruptly broke off eye contact, looking at Professor Jules instead. And you are Professor Vernia Jules?

Yes, I am, she said. Mr. Roth and I have been called to present ourselves before the council.

You are not late. Good. They get into a bad mood when youre late, the lion man growled, looking back over his shoulder.

Beyond the receiving room, iron golems, and army of wizard-warriors, Alex noticed a hallway running from left to right. Across from that hallway was a pair of light coloured metal doors.

While the doors Alex and his companions had passed through were crafted of brass, these double doors looked to be platinum. The same circle of wizards was repeated in the centre of these doors, except the wizards were surrounded by carvings representing the four dragon statues perched on the columns outside.

Glyphs of protectionand lethal magical trapsblazed with power along the door frame; Alex couldnt imagine anyone breaching those doorsexcept for Baelin. He swallowed his mounting tension.

The council is presently with another petitioner, the leonine wizard-warrior said. Theyll be with you shortly. He looked at Theresa and Claygon. You are?

The huntress and the golem identified themselves.

Black lips twitched.

The lion mans fangs gleamed behind them. You wont be permitted in the council chamber, but if you'd like, you can either wait downstairs or in the waiting area to your right. And for security, you must surrender all weapons while youre here.

Theresa looked ready to protest, but slowly drew the Twinblade instead and handed it to the beastman. He took a good long look at the swords.

Magnificent workmanship. They look very well maintained. You clearly treat them well.

Theresas eyebrows rose in surprise. T-thank you.

But the lion man made no reply, only stepping aside and pointing to an iron construct. That golem will escort you to the waiting area. He then addressed Professor Jules and Alex. You may wait here.

Theresa turned to Alex, paused, then wrapped her arms around him, squeezing the breath from her yelping fiance as she lifted him from the ground and pulled his face to hers for a long deep kiss.

Good luck, she whispered, stepping back. I love you, Alex. May the Traveller protect you.

She walked away.

Claygon was next.

Oh no, Alex groaned, rubbing his aching ribs, but the golem was already reaching for him, lifting him off his feet, trapping him in another bear hug.

Four iron arms held him like they would never let go.

Fatherif you need me, just callbe wellI love you and pleaseremember that Im close by the golem said, putting Alex down.

He turned from the young wizard, joining the huntress and their escort as they left the receiving room.

I love you both! Alex called after them. Ill see you soon!

His golem and fiancee gave him one last look of support before going down the hall and disappearing from view with their escort striding ahead of them.

You are a very fortunate man, the lion man said to Alex.

I know, the young wizard said. I know.

Lets hope your fortune holds, Professor Jules said, nodding to rows of seats on either side of the receiving room. Come on.

The alchemist and Thameish wizard sat beside each other, watching a timekeeper on the wall.

It slowly ticked toward salvationor doom.

Mr. Roth, remember what we spoke of. How we will handle this situation? she asked him.

I remember. I take it you do, too? he asked.

Of course.

Silence.

The timekeeper ticked closer and closer to noon.

The doors to the council chamber suddenly opened, and a wail of despair swept through the hall.

No, please! Mercy! Have mercy, I beg you! a man clad all in white pleaded. His wrists and ankles were shackled.

He wailed like a distraught baby as tears ran down his face.

A squad of officers dragged the struggling man through the receiving area toward the doors leading to the floating disk. A barristergarbed in black robes with her head lowshuffled behind them like she was in a funeral procession. The doors shut behind them with a very final sounding clang.

Two wizard-warriors whispered to each other, one pressed a pair of coins into the other ones palm.

What was that all about? Alex said.

The lion-warrior crossed his arms across his chest. That mans a good example of why crime doesnt pay in Generasi. It seems he thought he could kill his partner, make it look like an accident, steal the mans share of their business and get away with it. Today was his last appeal for mercy, which obviously failed and now hes facing: execution by the deleo in three weeks time. I guess you could say, things didnt go well for him. He said it all rather matter of factly.

Alex swallowed. Do they usually go well?

The lion man looked at him carefully. Do you want an honest answer?

Yes.

Not usually, the wizard-warrior said. The city runs on magic, ethics, logic, costs and benefits. Its rare that an emotional appeal works on the council.

Alex swallowed. ...right.

The lion man nodded at him before turning away.

Professor Jules threw him a worried look. Mr. Roth, I

The council is ready to receive the next appointment! a woman bellowed, stepping from the council chamber. She wore yellow silken robes, and a scroll was floating beside her bald head. Mr. Alexander Roth and Professor Vernia Jules, please come in! Officers Ferrero and Gustavo of the Generasi Investigative Unit, please come in as well!

Alexs blood ran cold.

He knew those names.

He remembered them in a stark white room, interrogating him about having a role in the demon summoner attacks.

What were they doing here?

Professor Jules stood, looking up at Alex in alarm. Mr. Roth, who is that?

Alex told her quickly.

The more he said, the paler she went. What would they

Youd better go in, the lion man said. The officers will be entering from the waiting area.

The professor and student looked at one another, nodded, then walked toward the open platinum doors. From the entryway burned an impenetrable wall of white light.

Ready? Professor Jules asked.

As ready as Ill ever be, Alex replied.

And together, they stepped into the light.

It took time for his eyes to adjustthe sunlight was brilliantyet there was a cool breeze caressing his skin, and fresh air filling his nostrils.

His eyes slowly adjusted to the bright light, leaving him stunned.

Inside the chamber where meetings of the ruling council of Generasi took placehed expected to find a display of lavish wealth and opulence.

Instead, he and Professor Jules were surrounded by nature, standing in what seemed to be an endless field of rippling grass gently swaying beneath a cloudless blue sky. The sun had reached its peak, beaming down on all while the breeze drifted across the field.

Behind them, a doorway floatedwhite light no longer obscured their view, allowing them to see the receiving room beyondand flanking them were two lines of wizard-warriors on either side of a gleaming white stone pathway.

And ahead?

The ruling council of Generasi hovered.

The twelve wizards were seated on silken cushions attached to white marble thrones floating a dozen feet in the air, facing each other in a circle. Below them were dozens of seats forming another circle of clerks, secretaries, aides, and bureaucrats.

An enormous scrolleasily as wide as Claygon was tallfloated just outside the circles, and a quill was busily scrawling notes along the parchment.

The yellow robed wizard entered the chamber after Alex and Professor Jules and made an announcement: Professor Jules and Mr. Roth may approach the council.

Yes, dont be shy. Lets get on with our meeting, shall we? Councillor Kartika called from her throne, her six arms resting on six armrests.

As one the two wizards walked along the white path, approaching the council. Alex took in each ruling wizard.

He recognised Kartika immediately, but some of the otherslooked interchangeable to him. Six of the council membersancient human men and womengreatly resembled each other, all with sharp eyes and distant expressions. The opulent robes they wore ranged from brightly coloured, to more muted silks, though all were lavishly embroidered. Their staves rested in stands carved into the sides of their chairs.

The other council memberswhile also opulently dressedwere far more unique in appearance.

A beastwoman, with owl-like features whose large eyes were shielded from the magical sun floating in the sky behind a pair of dark monocles, looked down at them. Her graceful wings were folded behind her.

Another councillor was an elf with hair like spun gold and a deceptively youthful face free of even the finest lines; he was familiar, and it took Alex a bit to place him. In the courtyard of the universitys main castle there stood two enormous statues: one was of an elderly human woman with plaits running past her shoulders, while the other was a tall, stately elven man.

This elf resembled the elven statue; a brother or cousin, perhaps?

Sitting across from the elf was an elephantine beastman, his wrinkles looked as deep as crags in parched soil.

Beside him was an entrancing looking woman with a hairless head, curving ram-like horns, and a complexion the colour of raspberries. Demon or devil-blooded, by Alexs guess. Beside her was a man with hair like spun silver, wings of blinding white feathers, olive skin, and a neatly trimmed beard.

A halo of power shone behind his head.

Engeli-blooded, maybe, Alex thought as he entered the circle.

Before himin the centre of the circlethe pathways white stones angled upward, forming a floating staircase, and a platform of white stone appeared in front of them.

Two chairs popped into being on the platform, facing away from the platinum doors leading into the council chamber.

The owl beastwoman gestured to the chairs. Have a seat.

The councils floating thrones shifted position, breaking the circle, forming a line before the floating platform, bringing them face to face with Alex and Professor Jules.

Keeping their expressions relaxed, the alchemists took the offered seatsfacing the ruling council of the City at the Center of Creation.

Today, the engeli-blooded man announced. We will be hearing from Mr. Alexander Roth of Thameland, and Professor Vernia Jules of Generasi. Councillor Kartika, if you would provide the details of this case.

Certainly, Councillor Solaris, Kartika said. My fellow council members, we have entered a lucrative alliance with the Kingdom of Thameland to the northwest. Through this alliance, we have gained access to dungeon cores, which is a revolutionary material that we are still studying.

Its quite remarkable, an ancient looking wizardwith a clean shaven head, and a white beard that fell to his feetsaid. My experiments with the substance have proven fruitful.

Thank you for that, Councillor Ebenhad, Kartika said. And for that reason, having access to the dungeon cores of Thameland is a boon to the city. To that point, King Athelstan Merciex and High Priest Tobias Jay have requested that Alexander Roth be exiled from Generasi, arrested, and turned over to their custody.

May we have the reasons for this repeated, for the record? said another ancient wizard with short, stark white hair, and eyes that blazed with green fire looking out from a deeply lined face.

Of course, Councillor Calliope, Kartika said. It is for religious and military duty. They accuse Mr. Roth of being an apostate and a deserter. Today, we will decide if that is true andif it iswhether or not agreeing to extradite Mr. Roth will be in the citys best interests.

She looked down at Alex. Today, we decide if it is Mr. Roths fate to remain in our city.