Private Tales Dark Discipline

[Rathu Belzad]

He worked at his shop, his chosen spot serving as a good vantage point towards the slave market a short distance away. Every now and then he would give her a look; the fact that he was near and keeping eye would provide some reassurance at least. There was only so much business to conduct towards the end of the business day, but he'd manage to sell a few items to some prospective buyers. At least with the shop, it was easy to both keep tabs on events and remain inconspicuous at the same time; it was an alibi that often served him well.

The day would come and go, and with the heavy bustle of all the other shopkeepers packing up their wares so too did Rathu, taking the coin he had made through the day, along with the remainder of his clothing back home. He looked over towards Iris one last time before departing for the day; he'd return first thing in the morning the next day.

* * *
Once the group containing Iris was brought out, Rathu slipped out from behind his shop, joining other prospective buyers; quite a few of them shop owners themselves. He had more than enough Denalii to make the purchase, placing the coin into the hand of the waiting soldier. Another of the shopkeeps would make a remark at the transaction.

"Expanding the business, Rathu? Things going well?"
"Oh, very. So many clients, but there's only so much one person can do"
"Hah, that's always how it goes. Luck to you!"

He smiled and thanked him before departing with Iris in tow. It would be a fair distance back home, and no sooner than the pair made it there safely was Rathu finally able to free her from her bindings for good.

"Well, here you have it. My humble abode." He remarked warmly, gesturing a welcome as he tossed the bindings on a table with a metallic clatter.

 

[Cinder]

Iris was indeed reassured by his watchful eye. And when they finally got back to his home and her bonds were tossed she said, “thank you. I very much appreciate it.”

She then asked, “you did keep the book Lord Cinder gave to me right? I need to study his teachings while we plot. I need to be prepared for our next adventure. This won’t be over so quickly, let me tell you.”

 

[Rathu Belzad]

"I'm glad I could be instrumental in seeing a fine disciple added to our ranks." he replied with a wide grin.

"And of course, why here it is." He answered, smile still on his face as he reached for one of the drawers, unlocking it with a metal click before rolling it out to reveal the very same book before her.

"This won’t be over so quickly, let me tell you.”

"Oh, I'm glad you think that way too; it's always so much more fun to go slow and draw it out..." He had little doubt that she would do well, indeed.

 

[Cinder]

"I'm glad I could be instrumental in seeing a fine disciple added to our ranks." he replied with a wide grin.

"As am I."

"Oh, I'm glad you think that way too; it's always so much more fun to go slow and draw it out..." He had little doubt that she would do well, indeed.

She chuckled, "I mean I don't think that we will get him into the catacombs overnight. We will need to earn his trust. And that will take some time."

 

[Rathu Belzad]

"Of course, tongue in cheek there; no doubt it'll take some work to even begin. But we've a start; I can visit tomorrow under the pretenses of tutoring. Granted, I didn't learn much college magic out in Elbion, but I shouldn't have much problem fooling folks who are even less wise in its ways.

But as you say, it will take time, yes. All we can do for now is try to ply their trust and gain any useful information; that'll determine our next move." He replied in agreement.

"Assuming I even get the position – no guarantees of that. I'll be off to visit them soon and see for myself."

 

[Cinder]

"Of course, tongue in cheek there; no doubt it'll take some work to even begin. But we've a start; I can visit tomorrow under the pretenses of tutoring. Granted, I didn't learn much college magic out in Elbion, but I shouldn't have much problem fooling folks who are even less wise in its ways.

But as you say, it will take time, yes. All we can do for now is try to ply their trust and gain any useful information; that'll determine our next move." He replied in agreement.

"Assuming I even get the position – no guarantees of that. I'll be off to visit them soon and see for myself."

"And my role? Shall I tend your stall while you tutor this child, if you do? Or shall I remain here and work on your goods for you? I do need to do something to help you at least, and my attending your stall will definitely keep me in plain view." She said to him. "It could also keep your cover intact, since people will know why you purchased me to begin with."

 

[Rathu Belzad]

"Indeed, it would avert suspicion, explain my absence, and put you in position to overhear the news and rumours that tend to float through the marketplace. Wise with suggestion and observation, Iris, I'd suggest the same myself. That said, I don't think showing up to the legatus as a tailor myself will suffice..." he remarked as he walked through his house towards his closet and plucked out grey robes from within it.

"This plus a disguise should do the trick. If they're in need of a mage, I can rest assured they won't have the arcane ability to see through it. I'll get changed and set the disguise once I've escorted you back to the marketplace. We do need to maintain he illusion of master and slave." he added in explanation, and handed her the robes along with the other goods she might have needed.

"Let's be off then."

They walked back though the streets to reach his stall again. Once Iris was settled in, Rathu was off. In a well-hidden spot he invoked the one and only spell he carried from Elbion; altering his appearance through illusion. Within a moment he appeared as a man 30 years older than he was, with a moustache and wispy beard. After donning the robes as well, he made his was to the legatus's estate and approached whomever was on guard duty.

"Pardon me young man, I've heard tell Legatus Markus is in need of a magic tutor?"

 

[Cinder]

"This plus a disguise should do the trick. If they're in need of a mage, I can rest assured they won't have the arcane ability to see through it. I'll get changed and set the disguise once I've escorted you back to the marketplace. We do need to maintain he illusion of master and slave." he added in explanation, and handed her the robes along with the other goods she might have needed.

She nodded, "much as I hate it I have to agree. I will be of more help to you maintaining your public appearance than getting involved with the Legatus. She donned her slave's garb again and held out her wrists. "Let's just get there. I have no desire to draw this out."

So with her wrists in iron manacles again she was brought back to the stall, and to keep up the appearance, her wrists were then shackled to the stall itself. The chains were long enough for her to reach anything a customer needed, while preventing her from leaving. "Good luck."

"Pardon me young man, I've heard tell Legatus Markus is in need of a magic tutor?"

"He has called for one, yes. Come with me sir." The guard said before leading him into the house and to the legatus.

 

[Rathu Belzad]

She nodded, "much as I hate it I have to agree. I will be of more help to you maintaining your public appearance than getting involved with the Legatus. She donned her slave's garb again and held out her wrists. "Let's just get there. I have no desire to draw this out."

"A necessity for now, until the fateful moment we can both be involved in the chaos." he responded, securing the shackles for the trip back down to the city's marketplace once more. The trip was quick as it was before, and soon he secured her to the stall as would be fit for a slave:

So with her wrists in iron manacles again she was brought back to the stall, and to keep up the appearance, her wrists were then shackled to the stall itself. The chains were long enough for her to reach anything a customer needed, while preventing her from leaving. "Good luck."

"Thanks, take care until I return." He replied before taking his leave from the stall.

He has called for one, yes. Come with me sir." The guard said before leading him into the house and to the legatus.

"Wonderful; and absolutely." He replied with a nod and walked alongside the guard until he was in the company of the Legatus himself.

"Ah Legatus Markus sir; I thank you for your time. My name is Aulus; I've arrived in response to your request for arcane tutoring; I'm an experienced man of magic and would like to offer my services." He introduced himself, both politely and formally from the doorway of the legatus; waiting there tactfully until the legatus beckoned him in.

 

[Cinder]

"Ah Legatus Markus sir; I thank you for your time. My name is Aulus; I've arrived in response to your request for arcane tutoring; I'm an experienced man of magic and would like to offer my services." He introduced himself, both politely and formally from the doorway of the legatus; waiting there tactfully until the legatus beckoned him in.

The legatus, seated at a desk, looked up, and dismissed the guard. "I'm glad you have come." He said once the guard had left. "Follow me, I will introduce you to the student you will be tutoring."

He stood up and beckoned him along. "I myself have no talent for magic, neither does my wife, so where exactly my son's capabilities come from we do not know." He said as he walked down the corridors of his home with Aurus. "But they are quite potent and he has been difficult to control. This will be your main task, getting his magic under his control."

He opened a door an inside sat an eight year old boy throwing fireballs at the wall, seeming to be frightened by the fire that kept appearing in his hand.

 

[Rathu Belzad]

"Follow me, I will introduce you to the student you will be tutoring."

He nodded at his words before responding and following behind the legatus as he led him through his house, and towards his soon-to-be pupil. "Absolutely."

He stood up and beckoned him along. "I myself have no talent for magic, neither does my wife, so where exactly my son's capabilities come from we do not know." He said as he walked down the corridors of his home with Aurus. "But they are quite potent and he has been difficult to control. This will be your main task, getting his magic under his control."

"A young prodigy on your hands?" he inquired after the Legatus's explanation, but he couldn't imagine the actual situation before him; a young child flinging fire as if it was physical object. He stilled his posture as he took in the scene before giving another tactful reply. "Ah, I understand exactly now, with the task before me. He has the magic part, not the control..." he replied before turning to the boy.

"Young man, I'm Aulus; I'm assigned to tutor you here; I'd like to help but I need to know of your magic. When did this power first find you?" Came his first inquiry and greeting to him.

 

[Cinder]

"Young man, I'm Aulus; I'm assigned to tutor you here; I'd like to help but I need to know of your magic. When did this power first find you?" Came his first inquiry and greeting to him.

"I don't know. I don't remember when I didn't have it." He said, still trying to get rid of the fire in his hand. "It's always been here."

 

[Rathu Belzad]

Pondered as he heard the child's explanation, without much clue as to the cause. It wasn't college magic; the powers appeared to be innate and uncontrollable. He had his own powers of fire granted recently, though no doubt starkly different from the fire powers the child displayed.

"Hmm..." He spoke in thought, wondering if he could sense or identify anything about the fire itself.

 

[Cinder]

“They’re always appearing on my hands, and it won’t stop.” The boy explained. The fire itself was strange, not natural even by magic standards. It wasn’t almost alive, seemed to have its own consciousness, but not one that was intelligent.

 

[Rathu Belzad]

"Quite unique...no control, the powers are just present..." he though out loud, briefly invoking his own powers of fire to summon a controlled handful of flame, inspecting it briefly. It lasted for only a moment before Rathu willed it away and pondered further.

 

[Cinder]

"You know what is happening?" The Legatus asked. "If so tell me. And if you help him control this, you will be well compensated.

 

[Rathu Belzad]

"I can rule out a fair bit; but magic this uncontrollable is a unique situation I've not seen." He replied, looking to the legatus with an expression of deep thought.

"I ponder whether these abilities are innate to him, or if they have found him. If the latter, it would no doubt be so in infancy. Tell me, has he been raised here all his life?" Rathu inquired. In all honesty he had no idea; if he could inspect and learn the layout of the house, that would be a fine start for his actual future plans for the poor victims dwelling within.

 

[Cinder]

Tell me, has he been raised here all his life?"

“That he has.” The Legatus confirmed. “He’s gone outside of the country once or twice.”

The boy flicked another fireball at the long-blackened wall. He looked at Rathu with a desperate gaze,

<=====>
​

Iris had sold a number of the things that Rathu had in his stall. Still annoyed at the shackles but she was focused on selling the goods and when no one was nearby she was reading into Book I of Cinder’s teachings.

 

[Rathu Belzad]

"May I ask where? If you believe these locations may have possible involvement; My current prognosis is an external supernatural force at work. I'd like to narrow down the possibilities; Nurum itself of course is the prime one, but awareness of others could be important too."

Rathu then turned to the boy, returning his look with a constructed expression of sympathy.

"Fret not lad, I'll be reaching the bottom of this. By my presence, you're already well underway towards getting that magic under control." He added in a reassuring tone.

 

[Cinder]

"May I ask where? If you believe these locations may have possible involvement; My current prognosis is an external supernatural force at work. I'd like to narrow down the possibilities; Nurum itself of course is the prime one, but awareness of others could be important too."

“He’s been to each of the twelve temples as an infant. And as is customary every infant visits the households of each of the other great houses. So truly there is no telling. He has been out in the forests before, quite often, before they first started happening.”

"Fret not lad, I'll be reaching the bottom of this. By my presence, you're already well underway towards getting that magic under control." He added in a reassuring tone.

The boy nodded gratefully.

 

[Rathu Belzad]

“He’s been to each of the twelve temples as an infant. And as is customary every infant visits the households of each of the other great houses. So truly there is no telling. He has been out in the forests before, quite often, before they first started happening.”

Rathu nodded in a look of deep thought. "I doubt the cause would be such holy temples, or the great houses. That would imply a much greater problem indeed. The forests. Hmm. As I said, it may be best to rule out anything nearby. I would like to stay with the lay for today; to learn and take notes. But as I assure him I assure you; I'll see to his control over this."

 

[Cinder]

Rathu nodded in a look of deep thought. "I doubt the cause would be such holy temples, or the great houses. That would imply a much greater problem indeed. The forests. Hmm. As I said, it may be best to rule out anything nearby. I would like to stay with the lay for today; to learn and take notes. But as I assure him I assure you; I'll see to his control over this."

“I owe you good sir, you will be well paid.” The Legatus said to Rathu. The new he went to his son and said. “You’ll get better, I promise.”

And so Rathu was left with the child. And the Legatus returned to work.

 

[Rathu Belzad]

Rathu gave a tactful nod in response.

"I'll see to your money's worth, he shall be free of that fire soon." came his further words of encouragement before the legatus spoke to his son, leaving him alone with the child.

Rathu studied the uncontrollable fire the boy possessed, face contorting into studious expressions as if he held the magical expertise he had falsely claimed. Quizzical, quiet hums occasionally left his lips, he would milk the ruse long enough to kill time, but eventually broke the silence of his feigned insight to question the lad.

"I've seen you lob projectiles of fire...Lad, does the magic ever take other form?" He inquired. He was partly curious, but even more than that he was required to maintain his deception. Questioning was easy; it didn't actually require him to have any answers himself.

Regardless of how the boy would answer, Rathu would reach into his bag. After faking deep deliberation, he pulled out a text in foreign language that he himself didn't even know how to read. But to a mundane, or even a novice mage, it looked authoritative enough on the topic of magic. He turned the pages slowly, eventually stopping with an interested expression before turning to the boy.

"I think this might cover it. Please sit tight and allow me to review my text. I may have further inquiry yet, but we are off to a start." He addressed the boy in reassuring tone.

Black Cinders

 

[Cinder]

"I've seen you lob projectiles of fire...Lad, does the magic ever take other form?" He inquired. He was partly curious, but even more than that he was required to maintain his deception. Questioning was easy; it didn't actually require him to have any answers himself.

"No, just fire." He said. He kept flinging the fire away at the same wall when it flared up more aggressively. "Sometimes it will change colour. Sometimes it's blue, or red, or even white. But never anything but fire."

"I think this might cover it. Please sit tight and allow me to review my text. I may have further inquiry yet, but we are off to a start." He addressed the boy in reassuring tone.

"Okay. I'll stay here. And I'll try to keep it down." He said before sitting on the floor.

 

[Rathu Belzad]

Rathu flipped through the pages, shuffling through three chapters in his strange little book; all of them ultimately meaningless. Rather than study, Rathu was using this time to plan and consider his next steps. "Always present, different colours...Sounds like it could plausibly be empathy magic." he mused in thought. He truly had no idea if this was actually, and it didn't matter. He certainly wouldn't accuse the boy of empathy magic, not with how ill-regarded and fear-inducing the branch of magic was, but such a lie could prove useful. It could become a tool with which he can point fingers at others in the house.

"Tell me boy. I don't suppose there's pattern or rhyme or reason to the colours. Do you notice one or the other becomes more frequent when you're sad or angry?" He posed the question to the boy with his book in his lap, patiently awaiting his response.