B.T.V. --- Session 16 Prologue: Devore, Sziene and Bruienne

Bakabarre was an ordinary alchemancer. He’d made good on his alchemist sister's dream of him becoming someone better skilled than herself. The nature of his mind’s training seemed, even when he tried to show her how easy it would be for her to learn from him, to be beyond her. She had never held that against him. He cared for her just as deeply as she showed others her pride in his achievements. He was lucky to have her in his life. Once he’d performed this last series of duties for Uilverforce, he’d have her back and they could get on with their lives.


His living quarters aboard ‘Radulian’s Quicksilver’ were cramped. Nothing to be done about that, all quarters aboard a lococobra were the same, small size. Some people he’d know were enamoured of the miniaturized features that were necessarily designed into the cabins -- Bakabarre wasn’t one of them. His eyesight struggled to keep things in focus. Too many days spent watching closely for signals of ghost light reactivity to various experiments had cost him some of his vision. Small handles, small sinks, small switches, small cups – they were all large nuisances. His work could go on. Could. It must go on. Eirathey’s mind depended on it.



His sister had been made into a 'hobble'. It was Uilverforce’s doing. He’d been the Jhereg who'd arranged it. Bakabarre was too much the alchemancer to blame the enlivener who’d done the actual casting. Like himself, the woman had to do as she was made to. She probably feared for some people close to her, just as he did for Eirathey. Unless he did everything asked of him, Bakabarre knew his sister had no chance for replevination. He had the means and the enlivener’s assurances of aid. He’d managed that much before Uilverforce had dragged him farther into this situation. Bakabarre just needed to get out of it. Uilverforce was the man he had to help, there was no way around it. The Jhereglord had sworn what had to be a binding oath to release his sister to him, when the plan was completed. Bakabarre had to trust that Uilverforce was at least afraid of the gods, even if he showed no concern for any other authority on or off Axildusk.


Uilverforce was either a sorcerer or knew one extremely well. Bakabarre hadn’t been able to figure out which it was. The man showed a total understanding of method. Uilverforce’s teleports were always exact. His mental contacts were sharp and precise, never failing to catch Bakabarre when he was available. Bakabarre was leaning toward Uilverforce being a caster of some type – enlivener possibly. That, or he had control of a sorcerer that was so complete, the caster had no choice but to answer all Uilverforce’s questions about sorcerey.


Bakabarre felt Uilverforce was likely an enlivener because of the three swords the man carried, when he carried them.



Uilverforce was able to summon the swords. They were, in Bakabarre’s opinion, most certainly a threesome of blades; made in the same making, formed of a singular thought, while meant for a trio of possibilities. The man’s control over them was astonishing. Bakabarre had watched Uilverforce draw one of the blades and set it to spinning on the air around him. The swords were long enough that this posed a serious practical risk to anybody getting near Uilverforce. The Jherglord might add another sword, or both others, to create a proper commotion about himself. The swords never touched each other while they spun. They formed an intricate, interlaced form that made it frightening to contemplate trying to avoid if you were to try to get close to the man.



Bakabarre knew that this was only one of these spinning ‘gaalas’ tricks. They aided Uilverforce in his psychic contacts. They also could be made to surge in any direction the Jhereglord wished. Bakabarre had seen both men and doors hacked into bits more than a few times. The only thing Bakabarre wasn’t sure of was how much the swords managed on their own. Once, when he’d been particularly irritable, Bakabarre had come right out and asked Uilverforce, “Are they morganti too?” Uilverforce had looked at him cooly, drawn one of the swords and said, “Why don’t you ask it?” Bakabarre didn’t trust any inanimate thing that he might speak with. An alchemancer is by learning, wise to the dangers of the inanimate. Compounding is the alchemist’s trade; composition is the alchemancer’s art. Something that is made that has sentience is a threat to those who control the inanimate elements of the world. It’s something of a feud that few are aware about.


The ‘Quicksilver’ slowed, slowed some more and eventually rested. Bakabarre was on his feet when that moment arrived. He knew to be at the meeting carriage quickly or face derision from the more physically capable Jhereg aboard the ‘cobra. They were merciless in their tapping if they sensed that this upset somebody. Bakabarre had learned to shrug off their ‘witticisms’ but that didn’t mean he wanted to give them more fuel. He arrived along with several others. These were Uilverforce’s most – trusted men, wasn’t correct – useful associates. In his defence, Uilverforce was only slightly less in danger from them, than they were from him. Bakabarre knew this much of Jhereg ways. It wasn’t an easy path to follow, being a Jhereg. That was why other Houses could be accepted into Jhereg ranks. People not born Jhereg chose the House as a last resort. If somebody was that desperate, who was anyone else to deny them their choice? Uilverforce had made Bakabarre the offer to promote him into the Jhereg. Bakabarre hadn’t laughed and that had saved his life, in all probablity. Bakabarre didn’t want to be Jhereg. He had challenges with practising his art that were tough enough, without adding being of the House of Jhereg to them.



Uilverforce spoke, “Fellows. It’s time.”


There were a couple of happy comments made softly.


“Su, I’m pleased too. The Emperor’s Progress is to be moved to the black siding. It will be used to form the final piece of what we have been creating there. For you – most of you – this will mean a temporary hiatus. We are only a quarter day from Adrilankha, three quarters of a day from Sylvaton. You will be free to decide which you will make your place until I call for you.”


The draegerans reacted with a palpable relaxation. The whole carriage seemed to ease itself. Bakabarre knew that he was not included in this part of Uilverforce’s speech. He remained tense.


“While you are all off practising wicking, those of us at the black siding will be at work. The ‘Progress’ and the other ‘cobras will be made ready for their special uses. This will take a few weeks, if we meet delays, two months at most. Readied, the ‘cobras will be sent to their chosen destinations. The eruptions will be timed precisely. Nothing left to random factors. I have foreseen all possibilities, don’t worry your precious boots about that. Any questions?’


“What about after the eruptions?”


“We will each have our tasks to perform. Depending on the city you are in, you might take out the council leaders there. Or if that isn’t what you’re asked to achieve, it might be that you seize a key strategic point. There will be the Imperials to deal with as well.”


“We’re not going to go straight at the army though? That’s a sure way to wind up beheaded.”


“Improve your looks, Cabasigh.” There was laughter at this comment. Uilverforce continued, “The Imperials will have much to contend with. We all have scores to settle with them. This will be your chance. In the confusion and the appearance of the jenoine, the Jhereg will finally have a say in more than the hidden movements in the cities. We will gain control. Remember,’ a living nobleman is twice as scared as a dead one’. With our allies moving through them, the Houses' elite will be three times as scared, trust me.”



“I’m scared too. Jenoine are evil. How can we trust them?”


Uilverforce nodded, “True, I don’t love the idea. But I have grown a fondness for it. The one called, Jade will do our bidding and tell the jenoine where to go, what to do and more importantly where to stop and when to leave. When they go, we will be left to pick at the pieces, before we pick up the pieces. I know you all will enjoy that.”


“It sounds like you’ve thought of everything.”



“I’ve tried. There are things none of us can manage. When these things appear, I will take care of them personally. For your contributions, you will recall the promises I have made to each of you. Your vengeances shall be met. It is good that we all have bones to pick, su?”



Bakabarre hid his distaste for the words of Uilverforce and the response he received from his lieutentants. Jhereg on the scent were dangerous and unpredictable. Uilverforce’s poison had taken them all. There was nothing that would prevent these men from attempting their mad scheme. To upend the cycle was insanity, there was no other way to think of it. Bakabarre understood the Jhereg desire, the reason for their acting as they planned. There were as many Houses between the Jhereg House and the throne as there could be. The Jhereg were at the bottom of the cycle. A long series of events and Houses in power had to unfold before the Jhereg could rightly expect to be in charge. It had always been this way. The cycle called for it. Jhereg were prone to moving surreptitiously always, with a view to controlling more than they should, when it wasn’t their time. Uilverforce had crystallized this nature into a revolutionary movement that threatened the empire.



Bakabarre asked, “Can you tell me what I will be doing? Where I will be positioned?”


Uilverforce said, “Why Alchemancer, I didn’t see you in the corner there. Your face is so bland, I had thought you were a ghost lamp. You will be with me. I want you close by me. Things are getting serious. The jenoine...can’t do enough to earn my trust. Colonel Jade may control them or he might be lying to us or he might be kidding himself. If the first, then I will want you to be making something to get control of Jade. He has no friends, loves or family on Axildusk so my usual methods will not work. I will require you to assist in this – this hold I want over him. He’s a strange one. His words of fate and predestination are a worry. He is confident that things will proceed as he plans. He’s too regular a sort for my liking. Too systematic, su? Luckily, I have you working always for my best result.”



"if not the first? What if this Jade is lying or just wrong?"




"I would be worried too, if I didn't have the one thing that Jade and the jenoine want. The empress. She is their desire. Gods know why. As long as she's in my security, Jade will do whatever I ask."



“Su, Jhereglord.”


"If we have things go against us, I will use her as the most useful tool in my box. Will it be the empire that sues best for her return? If so, we will do well from it. Jade will have to bid up the cost to get her to himself. If he is unrivalled, then we will be powerful beyond the wishes of sorcerers... So quiet? You have thoughts you’re not telling me.”



“Thoughts are like that, Uilverforce.”



“Caster, I will miss that about you. Your morganti-sharp tongue and your somewhat duller personality. What will I do for comedy when you depart?”



Balabarre said nothing. The Jherglord was extremely dangerous when being flippant. Bakabarre had witnessed several deaths at Uilverforce’s hands when he appeared most relaxed.



Uilverforce drew ghost light from his tattooed torso. His outstretched arms, were lit by the stuff. He clenched his fists clenched and the ‘gaalas appeared suspended as usual, at the small of Uilverforce’s back. Three blades in parallel. Three blades in sequence. In Draegeran, Uilverforce called them: Devore, Sziene and Bruienne -- Past, Present and Future. Bakabarre hoped that that at least the last named sword held something hopeful for him.