Obsidian Ridge

Chapter Eleven

Quinn watched the king pace back and forth across the sitting room floor. Each time he crossed in front of the open balcony doors, he would look out at the obsidian- citadel floating over the water, just outside of the docks. It was as if the man thought that maybe, just maybe, if he willed it to be, the whole thing would simply disappear.

Despite his best efforts, the Obsidian Ridge didn't budge.

The sound of footsteps drifted up the stone stairway, adding their rhythm to that of the king's pacing. Then the guest who belonged to the footsteps arrived-unannounced-inside the king's sitting room.

"King Korox," said Senator Divian, barging into the room, "might I have a word with you?"

Quinn stepped between her and the king, blocking her path. He didn't go for his weapon, but he left himself enough room to grab it if the need arose.

The senator pulled up short. "What is this?" She looked past Quinn to the king.

Quinn didn't budge. "I'm sorry, Senator," he said, raising his hands to make it clear he meant her no offense, "but you came in unannounced. I'm afraid I'm going to have to search you for weapons." He took a step closer. "Please lift your hands over your head. This won't take but a moment."

The senator took a step away from him. "You will not lay a finger on me." Her voice dropped very low. "Touch me, and you will regret it."

"Quinn," the king said. "It's fine. The senator can be trusted."

"I'm sure you are right, my lord," replied Quinn, not backing down. "Senator Divian is without a doubt above reproach, and I give her my sincerest apology. But since we have a magical fortress floating outside our window, illusions and doppelgangers are not outside of the realm of possibility."

The senator dropped her hands and stood up straight, tugging the front of her robe down and tightening her cloth belt. "Yes, of course," she said, clearly miffed at having her trustworthiness called into question, but also seemingly swayed by Quinn's argument.

"I will not touch you," continued Quinn, running a hand through his blond hair, "but perhaps the senator could humor me by answering a few quick questions." He took a step back, toward the king, and tried to smile. "Just to let us know that you are indeed who you… well, are."

Senator Divian crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. "Very well," she said. "Ask your questions."

"When did King Korox's wife die?"

"That's common knowledge," she said, glancing at the king. "Just after he took the throne."

"Yes," replied Quinn. "And what did she die from?"

The senator, a little taken back by the question, gave Quinn a sideways look. "That… that too is well known," she said. "She contracted a rare and difficult to treat disease, which ultimately proved to be fatal."

Quinn nodded. "Yes, and how did she contract it?"

Senator Divian uncrossed her arms. Her posture seemed to soften, as if she were saddened by this line of questioning. "She was… she was doing research, at my behest, in the catacombs just outside of Dajaan." Her gaze dropped to the floor, and her shoulders slumped. "We never learned what she contracted it from."

Quinn stepped aside. "I am sorry for bringing up such painful memories, Senator. Please forgive me." He bowed to her, and took a position at the edge of the room.

Senator Divian nodded but didn't say anything.

After a moment, the king crossed to her and touched her on the shoulder. "Perhaps we should talk in my private chambers," he said.

Nodding her agreement, she followed him out of the sitting room.

King Korox closed the double doors that led into his private chambers and turned to face the senator.

"I apologize for Quinn," he said. "We're all very much on edge with this… thing hanging over our heads. He is no exception."

Senator Divian took a deep breath and tried to regain her composure. "Can I ask you a question?"

The king nodded. "Of course."

"Do you blame me for the death of your wife?"

King Korox was stunned by her candor. "How can you think that?"

"It's just that-" She shook her head. "It's nothing." She wrapped her arms around Korox's waist and laid her head on his chest.

The king returned her embrace. "She knew the dangers of going into the catacombs. And she went willingly. I do not blame you for anything."

The senator looked up at the king and smiled. "I just didn't want to think that…" She paused, looking into his eyes.

Korox leaned down and kissed the senator, cutting off the end of her thought.

"Thank you," she said, releasing the king from her embrace. "I'm sorry. Sometimes I just feel a little awkward. Though it is not common knowledge to most people that your late wife was helping me with research, it is common knowledge to you. I would hate it if you thought my actions were responsible for you losing your wife."

"Do you think I would invite you into my private chambers if I did?"

She shook her head. "No. I do not think you would." Turning away from the king, she strolled to the other side of the room-to the other doors that led out to the private terrace. Throwing them open, she looked out at the forest and the roads beyond, leading south.

Korox watched her as she moved. "But now I have a question for you."

"And what is that?"

"Do you think it is too soon?"

The senator looked back at the king. "Too soon for what?"

"Too soon for us?" he said. "The queen has been gone for less than a year. I don't wish to betray her memory."

"I think the queen would not want you to be alone," replied JDivian. "I like to think she would approve-that she would have picked me to look after you in the event of her death."

"Do I really need that much looking after?" he said, chuckling.

The senator turned back to the view, nodding. "Oh yes. More than you know."

The king came up behind and placed his arms around her. "From here you can't even see the Obsidian Ridge. If only this were the case in every window of the palace."

"Have you thought about what you are going to do?" she asked. "When you find Princess Mariko?"

The king sighed. "You mean if I find Princess Mariko," he said. "It's been two days, and still not a sign of her."

The senator continued to look out at the view, talking over her shoulder. "Either way, if you're not going to give this Magus Xeries what he wants, then we need to prepare our alternatives." She turned around.

"And what do you think those are?" He curled up his fist, unfurling one finger. "Fight? Our army is useless against such a foe." He unfurled a second. "Flee? The evacuation plans are progressing as fast as they can. Still, I'm not even Sure we can move everyone far enough away to avoid his wrath." The king lifted a third finger. "We've already tried negotiating." He threw both hands in the air. "What else is there?"

"Magic," she replied.

The king shook his head. "We don't even know the true extent of this man's power yet. For all we know, he's not even cast his first spell."

"Perhaps," she replied. "But I've been thinking. What if all of this is just parlor tricks meant to scare us into submission?"

The king gave her a forced smiled. "I know what you are trying to do." He touched Divian on the shoulder and let his fingers slide down her arm. "But while downplaying the power of the Obsidian Ridge may comfort me in the short term, the simple fact of the matter is that we both know Xeries means what he says. You yourself said there are powerful wards protecting the black mountain from magical spying and infiltration. If you can't break through, then I'm afraid there is no one in Erlkazar who can."

Divian squeezed his hand, trying to smile back. "Yes, there is powerful magic surrounding that place. But what we do not know is if Xeries put them there himself, or if they are the result of artifacts he possesses."

The king tilted his head. "Even so, just to possess such things must mean he has some power. At the very least he is tremendously resourceful."

"True," said Divian. "But so far, all we've seen him do is make a stone obelisk appear out of thin air. An apprentice wizard could do that."

The king shook his head. "Divian, you can give up on this now. Your effort is appreciated, but I know you don't believe that. It would be foolish to underestimate this man-if he is indeed a man-after what we saw happen to that unit of soldiers. And you are not fool."

"I am just worried about you. That's all," she replied. "Even kings need hope."

"Yes, we do. And I thank you for recognizing that," replied Korox. "But to muster enough magical force to drive Xeries out of here, even if he isn't as powerful as we think… it would require us to gather nearly every mage in Llorbauth, and then some. We'd be dealing with magical forces that quite frankly haven't been mustered since the Time of Troubles."

"While I will admit that I did come here to lift your spirits, I am not entirely convinced that my idea is without merit." She slipped her hand around his waist again. "Gathering the spellcasters-a convocation of mages-is not a bad plan. Besides, what other choice do you have?"