Secret of the Sunstones, Part 1: The Wanton Kingdom

Chapter XXXVII : Cursed

Midday of Tertius, Fourth Day of Autumnmoon

Bram was relieved to see Matthias finally conclude his transaction with the herbologist. The old man seemed happy, which meant the voyage to Rungholt would soon be underway. All that remained was the promise he made to Géorg to treat his anonymous patient.

The one-armed merchant lived in the Saladina suburbs. So he led them past the inner city, beyond the carts, travelers, and beggars, which he explained were a mess because of Saladin’s disorganized urban planning. Apparently, the city was a victim of expansion without regulation. Infrastructure struggled to keep up with demand. Roads were filthy. Water was in short supply. And sewers were backed up, all the time.

When they finally reached Géorg’s small abode, it was one of many, nestled along a sandy street between taller buildings. The home was part of a line of shacks, erected on natural sandstone, which covered most of the city. Bram caught sight of a few children playing pigskin, while a stray cat licked its paws in a shady corner.

After a day in the hot sun, the ground radiated heat, and the air felt like an oven. Bram’s cotton garments stuck to his skin, and he itched every time his hemp sack brushed against his shoulders. Even with Yuri’s aeons lightening the load, it was still heavy. Even so, he dared not let the bag’s contents leave his grasp. One peek at his Gnostic armor by any of the locals would raise alarms and get him into big trouble.

Géorg beckoned the group inside, which was dark except for glints of sunlight through small horizontal slits near the ceiling. They were intended as vents, but they did little to keep the room cool. The light diffused through frayed cloths, which Géorg pushed aside to illuminate the room. In the far corner lay his supposed patient—a woman sleeping atop cotton sheets and a mattress made of straw and cornhusks. A few apple cores and a banana peel lay neatly in a bowl by her side.

Bram’s sack slid through limp fingers. He drifted toward the bedside in a daze, only half-processing what he saw. The other half, refusing to accept it. He thought he heard voices, but they were muffled and distant.

“Do you know her?”

He couldn’t respond. The woman consumed his attention. He dropped to his knees and grasped her hands. Time slowed as he ran his fingertips along her skin. It hardly seemed real. It had to be a dream. A nightmare.

“Do ya know this woman, Bram?”

His heartbeat quickened as he comprehended the patient. Eyes closed, gently breathing, skin covered with cuts and bruises. He wanted to know what happened, but she couldn’t even see or hear him. Sweat oozed through his pores. His body shook.

“Bram! Do you know her?”

A hand landed on his shoulder, breaking his trance. His breath caught, and his gaze shifted to Géorg, who stood by his side. He looked between the woman and the one-armed man, trying to jar his brain back to reality and make sense of the jumbled mess in his head.

All he could manage was a whisper. “Yes. Her name’s Rosa.”

Géorg nodded. “Ah. She never mentioned name. I figured, why not help wealthy woman find family. But she refused. I think, perhaps, she found trouble, instead.”

Bram snapped into focus, determined to learn what happened. “Where did you find her?”

“In ravine at base of Zeugma Pass. She, uh … fell from trail, above.” He grunted. “Hard to believe, I know. Surviving such fall … is miracle. No broken bones. Just, eh … knocked out. I bring here, she woke and answered questions. Now, she sleeps again.”

Bram was wary of explaining too much. “She’s an accomplished sorceress and must have cast a spell to break her fall.” Her lips looked pallid. He felt along her neck and head. “What’s this? A fever?”

Géorg confirmed. “Yes, noticed earlier. Found barbs of endrake when examining body. Figured, must be infection. I go to store for herbs, but, uh … found you instead.”

“Let me see her,” Matthias demanded, pushing his way to the bedside.

Bram allowed the scholar to examine her, but he remained close. He held her hand, but his insides felt like a ball of rubber bands, ready to burst. He had so many questions.

“Did she say who pursued her?”

Géorg shook his head. “No. We spoke, maybe one minute or less. She tells me: does not trust, no further details. So I leave.”

“Welp, she’s in no condition t’ tell us now,” Matthias reported. “Her temperature’s dangerously high. We need t’ bring it down. Now.”

“What?” Géorg sputtered, eyes wide. “Was fine, moments earlier. Infections don’t set so fast.”

Matthias scowled as he examined her more closely. “She’s been cursed. It’s a kind of magical disease. Something a rogue wizard must’ve done.”

Bram thought of Virgil. His heart sank, but his lips were sealed.

Matthias obviously noticed. “Ah saw that look. Ya know somethin’, don’t ya?”

Bram didn’t want to expose his knowledge to a group of strangers. The more he said, the more difficult it would be to keep the truth straight later.

Matthias regarded him crossly. “Out wit’ it, Lad. This young woman’s life might hang in the balance!”

The scholar’s words hit home. Yet, if Bram came clean now, he might alienate his companions and threaten his path forward. He clenched his hands and gritted his teeth, but there was no way around it.

“I … might know who’s responsible.” He choked on his words, holding back his fury. “When I left on my journey, Rosa was still in Angkor. But if Géorg found her at the base of the Zeugma Pass, she was either trying to find me, or … flee a known enemy.”

“Tell me,” Matthias pressed. “Who would’a done this?”

Bram frowned. “I can’t be certain, but the bastard I know is cunning and cruel. His name’s Virgil Garvey, and he’s a powerful wizard. He’s also the kind of monster who’d trigger a magical illness in case his prisoner escaped.”

Géorg’s and Matthias’ eyes were locked on him. He couldn’t stop now. “I’ve seen Virgil break the Scholar’s Creed and use forbidden magic on others. He’s … under King Richard’s protection. And soon … Richard intends to promote him to First Advisor.”

Matthias sneered, his eyes aflame. Bram knew that scholars faced prejudice all their lives, because laymen distrusted their magic. Scholars rightly feared anything that affirmed this bias or deepened the divides, especially when those in power allowed it to happen unchecked.

The old scholar placed a gnarled hand on Bram’s shoulder. “Ah don’t know much about Virgil Garvey, but Ah do know one thing.” His voice was strong and confident, different from before. “This lass means a lot t’ ya, so ya ‘ave my word. Ah’ll do everythin’ Ah can to save her.”

Bram felt relief, and he backed away from Rosa’s body to give the scholar space.

Matthias grabbed a small wooden table and stool and began preparations. Meanwhile, Bram and Géorg fetched supplies—herbs, a bowl, utensils, vials, and a jug of water. Matthias removed a bag from his waist, which was filled with various powders and compounds.

“Get me a cloth an’ dampen it,” he ordered.

Bram poured water from the jug onto a towel and placed it in the scholar’s outstretched hand.

Matthias spoke a few words, and a thin frost appeared on the surface. He handed it to Bram. “Wipe her body, ‘specially ‘round her forehead.”

Géorg’s eyes went wide. “That was wizardry! Thought you were sorcerer.”

Matthias huffed. “Ah’m ambisanguinous, dammit!” But he quickly calmed himself. “I’m famous all ‘cross Vineta. Don’t tell me no one’s heard o’ me here?”

Bram explained. “It’s rare. Long ago, in the village where I grew up, I heard a rumor about a man who could cast both types of magic. But you’re the first I’ve ever met in person.”

Matthias grunted and returned to his work. When he finished the herb poultice, he poured the putrid smelling paste into one of the vials. Bram brought a hand to his nose, holding back the urge to gag.

The scholar snapped his fingers. “Ah need a syringe.”

The one-armed man rummaged through a series of drawers until he found one. He handed it over hastily. “Is not sterile.”

The old man took it, nonetheless, and spoke more words of magic. A flame ignited at the tip of his finger, which he used to disinfect the needle. He filled it with the vile liquid and injected it into Rosa’s arm. He touched the point of injection and mumbled more words. A faint blue glow appeared, winding around the pathways of her veins.

“Di—di-di-sease.” The room focused attention on Yuri, who had nearly vanished from notice. “Z—z-z-zag—”

She struggled to pronounce the words, but Matthias reassured her with a smile. “Don’t worry, Child. T’will all be better soon.”

But he was wrong. Rosa’s whole body convulsed. The scholar dashed to her side and pulled her eyelids open. Her pupils were pinpoints.

“Dammit! Her body’s rejectin’ the serum!”

Bram fell to his knees and grasped her hand. “Please ….”

Matthias stood up and spread his arms, whispering words of magic. A blue glow surrounded his body, causing the hairs on Bram’s neck to stand straight out. The walls of the shack swelled under his power. The light dimmed. And a supernatural howl shook the tiny shack. Bram looked around, but whatever spectral force had been awakened, it was not visible to mere mortals.

Suddenly, an unseen force pulled Rosa up from the mattress, stretched out her arms, and arched her back. She floated upward, her muscles firing all at once, straining to flex, almost to the point of broken bones.

Matthias’s face contorted. “Ah … cannot … grab hold!”

Sweat rolled down his face. Veins protruded. Eyes bulged. All while Rosa’s face twisted in agony.

The force was too strong, and Bram feared losing her. “Please, stop. We need to try something else. Her body can’t take it!”

It wasn’t clear if Matthias heard or not, but his magical link broke and Rosa’s body fell to the mattress. The old man collapsed, and Géorg rushed over to help.

His breathing was weak and labored. “Ah don’t understand. Ah know the magic’s supposed to be there, but … it’s somethin’ foreign. I’ve never seen anythin’ like it.”

Rosa’s face drained of color, and her body went limp. Bram dampened the cloth and wiped the sweat from her brow.

“Don’t die on me, Rosie. Just hang on ….”

His heart was breaking. He took her hand and embraced it, feeling its waning warmth. As the seconds passed, he doubted his past decisions. He should have never left her in Angkor. He should have done something more to protect her. He shouldn’t have blindly followed Richard’s orders. Tears squeezed from his tightly shut eyes.

He felt a tug on his arm. It was Yuri, and her eyes glistened just as much as his. She carefully removed his hand and took his place at Rosa’s side. He didn’t understand what she intended, but he trusted her completely.

She clasped her hands together, as in prayer, and mumbled the words of an ancient language. A golden hue surrounded her, different from the cold blue of Matthias’ magic. Yuri’s aura was calm and soothing, and Bram was overcome with its beauty.

“Excuse me?”

Bram heard a female voice. He turned around and was startled to see what looked like three old women, hunched over and wearing brown robes. But under their hoods, something looked odd. The first to remove their hood exposed what could only be described as a bloom of mushrooms and fungal flora in the shape of a face.

Géorg backed away so fast he nearly slipped and fell.

Even Matthias widened his eyes in disbelief. “Sylvians?”

The one who spoke earlier turned up their nose. “Hmph. Obviously, we’re Sylvian. I’m Muriel, and this is Agnes and Violet. Ladies …?”

The other two removed their hoods, each showing a different spread of fungal species. Their colors were different, too: Muriel had an orange tinge, Agnes was green, and Violet, predictably purple.

Muriel spread her fungal arms impatiently. “Well? Did someone here call for help or not?”

She cocked her head to the side, waiting patiently for an answer. But the room appeared to be in a stupor.

Bram stumbled forward to seize the opportunity. “Yes!”

He suspected these creatures were more of Yuri’s aeons, and the child had summoned them on Rosa’s behalf. He wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass by. He moved away from the bedside to make her more visible.

“This is Rosa. She’s been infected with some kind of curse. Please, if you know any way to help her … she means so much to me.”

At first, Muriel shrugged and stared at him blankly. But then Yuri came forward and took hold of his hand.

Muriel recognized the child in an instant. “Yuri, Darling! It’s been ages.”

The three Sylvian ladies shuffled forward and fawned over the young child.

“My, how you’ve grown.”

“So handsome.”

“Yes, becoming quite a beautiful human, I must say.”

Yuri smiled and grunted, pointing her finger back to Rosa.

Muriel looked at the deathly pale woman atop the mattress as if noticing her for the first time. “Oh, my. She doesn’t look well at all. Come, ladies, let’s see what we can do about that.”

Yuri seemed pleased as the Sylvian ladies bobbled over to Rosa’s bedside.

They spoke among themselves while Bram waited with bated breath.

“Oh, dear, this looks serious.”

“I’ve seen this before.”

“Do you remember what we did last time?”

“It was so long ago.”

Muriel shushed her companions and turned back to Bram. “We can help this young woman survive, for now. But it won’t be permanent.”

The one named Agnes continued. “This is a very powerful curse. The best we can do is contain it temporarily.”

Violet explained more. “You’ll have a few days, perhaps a week at most, but then you’ll need to find a more permanent solution.”

Bram was grateful just to make it through the day. “Please, do what you can.”

The three creatures nodded and returned to hovering over Rosa. Joining fungal hands, they worked their magic. Golden particles descended onto Rosa from above, creating little pools where they landed, almost like melting snowflakes. In moments, the color returned to Rosa’s face, and she returned to a very peaceful sleep.

When it was done, the Sylvian ladies waved goodbye to Yuri.

“It was lovely seeing you,” Violet told them.

“Please, call on us again, sometime,” Anges followed.

Muriel address Bram. “Sorry to leave so soon, but those are the rules. Yuri can explain it to you. Ta, ta.”

In a puff of smoke, the Sylvian ladies disappeared.

Bram looked around the room. Géorg appeared to be in a state of shock, while Matthias looked like a boy about to receive presents on Solstice.

“Ah can’t believe it ….”

He approached Yuri, who slowly shrank back, almost looking apologetic. Bram was ready to intervene when the old scholar raised his hands defensively.

“Please. Ah mean the child no harm.”

He reached forward and slowly removed the bonnet from Yuri’s head, releasing her delicate white locks upon her shoulders.

There was no point stopping him. He had already seen enough. Géorg looked confused, but Matthias seemed to have confirmed his suspicions. He replaced the bonnet, carefully tucking her hair back inside. The child looked at him innocently.

“Thank you, Yuri. That was a very good thing ya did just now.”

Géorg looked apoplectic. “Please explain. What just happened?

“Hmph.” Matthias crossed his arms. “Looks like our friend Bram was keepin’ a li’l secret all this time. This child’s a direct descendent o’ th’ Ancient Gaians.”

Géorg still looked confused. “The religious order?”

Matthias shook his head. “Folks ‘ave followed the Gaian religion for centuries, but long b’fore that, there was a civilization that supposedly garnered favor wit’ the Goddess herself. White hair’s a telltale sign, but more important is what we just witnessed: the magic to summon spirits o’ the planet. Aeons! Ah’ve read about Sylvians, but no one’s ever seen evidence. Yet here they were. Three o’ them! By my beard, the fabled gold manna is real! The third school o’ magic, and Ah got to see it wit’ my own eyes!”

He looked like he could hardly contain his excitement. Bram wanted to know more, of course, but one question was far more important to him.

“What about Rosa? You heard the three ladies. How do we cure her permanently?”

Matthias stroked his chin. “Aye, they stopped the illness from spreadin’, but only by containin’ it with powerful magic. Whatever infects this poor lass is resistant to standard red and blue manna. We can’t destroy it, but … perhaps we can extract it, somehow. Anyway, without Yuri and the three Sylvians, poor Rosa wouldn’t ‘ave made it.”

Bram felt the weight of Matthias’ words, but he held back from explaining what he and Rosa knew about the sunstones. Even if Matthias believed him, he might be less willing to help, if he understood what Angkor intended to do with them.

The old scholar continued. “At any rate, we’ll need professional facilities to even attempt a full extraction. A fully equipped medical center, and a circle o’ sorcerers, working in unison. Unfortunately, none o’ these can be found in Saladin. We’ll need to go to Rungholt and use theirs. And Ah suggest we leave soon.”

Bram was ready. “How fast can your magic take us?”

Matthias suddenly looked sheepish. “Unfortunately, things ‘ave changed. Ah can no longer take us usin’ magic.”

Bram’s anxiety returned. “But you said we could travel to Kitezh together.”

The old scholar nodded. “Aye, with limitations. Back when it was jus’ you and the child, Ah thought, maybe. But after what Ah just went through, I’m spent! Ah could barely take myself, let alone three passengers. Our best bet now’s to go by viscar.”

Bram’s heart dropped. “But that’ll take days! Rosa doesn’t have that long!”

Géorg cleared his throat. “Eh, perhaps can help. Have sandskipper. Can cut travel time in half. You cover costs, I take.”

“Don’t you worry, Mister Töller,” Matthias promised. “Ah’ll cover expenses.”

Bram faced the old scholar. “That’s very generous. Are you sure?”

The old man winked. “Ah’m sure we can work somethin’ out.”

Bram hated the idea of being indebted, especially with something so vague. “I don’t think I can agree to any open-ended transactions.”

Matthias chuckled. “Don’t worry. It’s not like Ah plan t’ extort anything you wouldn’t be willing t’ give. Ah just wanna ask Yuri a few questions. For academic reasons, ya understand.”

Bram was still wary of any leverage the scholar would have over him, but he had no other choice. For Rosa’s sake, he was compelled to accept.

“Alright.”

Géorg seemed pleased. “Is settled. Stay here. Will return, ten minutes. Tops.”

Bram nodded. He would need to trust his new companions. For now, anyway. He hoped he wouldn’t regret it.