The Villainous Cause #8 -- Ebonseed & the Dark Sentencer

As facial expressions go, the clenched jaw that worked the grinding teeth attached to it was clear proof that what he was hearing was having a negative impact on Ebonseed’s demeanour. He alleviated his irritation by saying, “I’m meant to be alright with this news?” He frowned and didn’t try to mask his displeasure. He was a being unused to having to hide his emotions. It was novel as it was unwanted, “I should perhaps be grateful to hear it?” he sneered.



“Gratitude is for the servant receiving something from his master that is merely necessary.” said the man across from the bulky presence of Ebonseed.



Ebonseed didn’t wait to add, “Or the slave, a reprieve from the lashing, you might as well say.”



“Do you consider yourself enslaved to me Ebonseed? I took your work towards our mutual goals to be freely given and enthused. If you’re working for me under duress, I can treat you more appropriately.”



Ebonseed’s cheek sunk between his molars as he tried to formulate a clever response. He had never liked the man much. Working with Vaxus, the so-called Dark Sentencer was not a job, because jobs were rewarding. Working with Vaxus was definitely more like service. Ebonseed had no liking for it. He was not a servant, not by anyone’s measure. It was fortunate for Vaxus that he hadn’t suggested he was the man’s lesser subordinate. Vaxus wasn’t stupid. Ebonseed had conquered worlds with his followers. Many called him Overlord. The work with Vaxus had begun to chafe. Ebonseed planned a bloody coup against Vaxus. Officers of the Fleetline were positioned to act on Ebonseed’s command. Timing was critical. Ebonseed waited for just one thing. He needed to know the Hunter’s location.

The Hunter was Vaxus’s other main ally. Ebonseed feared the Hunter for his simple ability to kill. It was as simple as that and as complex. So overwhelming was the Hunter’s effortless dealing of death that watching him slay, was like awaiting a partly cloudy morning’s rain to water crops and getting a weeklong torrential downpour instead. Vaxus called the Hunter’s ability, his base design. Ebonseed wondered if that meant that the Dark Sentencer had actually had a hand in making the Hunter. That would explain certain things but not everything. More likely the base design referred to how the Hunter had grown. That said, nobody that Ebonseed had found in the Third Realm could say they had seen the Hunter’s youth. Some he'd queried had said that the Hunter was Death Corporeal. Ebonseed could well-believe it. The Hunter could kill without effort. His arms were capable individually of mayhem upon a body that belied an arm's singularity and lack of leverage -- excepting these four arms of the Hunter. When all four limbs were placed on a body, the mind raced the spirit contained therein to flee fastest.



To Ebonseed this could mean one main thing: The Hunter was older than he or Vaxus and a thing of the earlier Realms, either the first or second. Ebonseed grimaced again. The Hunter had simplicity and complexity and that was troubling. It never seemed to bother Vaxus. Ebonseed had tried to get something of a concerned frown out of the Dark Sentencer as many times as could be considered sensible. Vaxus had no apparent worry over the Hunter.



The Hunter had to be considered in regards to Ebonseed’s coup. His strength would be a problem if he was anywhere close to the Fleetline.



Ebonseed tried, “With what happened subsequent to the death of the Amberite, I imagine you will need to involve yourself more in the affairs of these Princes?”



“I might. It depends on a series of variables that I haven’t finished examining. The leaders among the Princes are difficult to anticipate. Even the stoic ones can and often do make their random leanings known. This touch of Chaos in them is a concern.”



“Then use the most chaos-touched among them; Fiona, Brand and Random. These are more predictable in their greater touch of chaos. They can be counted upon to do as they must, as we can predict them to.”



“True, there are elements in the Principal of Humanity now, that there wasn’t just weeks ago, however. These changes to the lineage could be used effectively. Then there is the one I sacrificed, however unwittingly, to the Void. Having placed my palm on him, I now have a greater appreciation for what he brings.”



“Brings? From the Void? That’s not right surely?”



“He managed to affect an escape. I’d be surprised by his next appearance but only if I were as prone to taking things as you do. Face value has little worth to me... others see this differently, going so far as to wear masks. To these, who cannot bear to allow illumination upon their faces for fear of being undone, I have little respect.”



Ebonseed silently seethed at he man’s impertinent comments. Vaxus probably didn’t even realise how rude he was. Better to let it go. The coup was close. Vaxus would feel the pains of torment soon enough. Ebonseed would remind the man of his transgressions, once the coup was completed.



Instead of an irritated retort, Ebonseed offered, “A worthy prospect then. I would happily tweak his nose, that you might see the response? With my strength he would not be able to only observe. He would have to act and you would be able to get a sense of where the Amberites are looking to move. Will they support this Voidwalker or play their cards differently?”



“Unnecessary. I have placed someone among the Shrine to do this work. He will be more than enough reason to get the Amberites to react. As for the 'great escaper', I would doubt the Amberites would ignore a slight directed toward him. He has alliances birthing with them. I would learn nothing by their aiding him against you.”



“Unless I was successful. It would not be if they help, but in what degree.”



“As I said already, Ebonseed, I have placed the Hunter there. He aided in the action that came from my summoning the Incarnate on their threshold.” The corners of Vaxus’s mouth twitched in a small smile at the memory. “I shall savour the faces of that sodden king and his courtiers pulled as the Dragon rose from the depths of the sea that bears their family name. They will regret their ill-made decision to put their home in the material worlds. Whatever they sought by this, they have put Darkness among the lives of mortals, men and the rest.”



Ebonseed could not think much was wrong with what Vaxus had achieved. It was impressively done. For a moment he considered whether he should be looking to dethrone the man. The moment passed. Ebonseed was made to rule and rule everything. Vaxus needed to be deposed. There could be no sharing of position. Darkness Incarnate would see to that. It didn’t countenance fairness. It might be that Vaxus deserved better than the end Ebonseed had planned. That would be a good thing to mention to the man as he perished.



Ebonseed smiled and then to hide the reason for it said, “The Hunter is an excellent choice but I wonder if his methods aren’t too obvious? The Amberites have learned scheming from the Houses of the Logrus, after all?”



“I rely on their take and their confident deduction. The Hunter will prove to be too much for them despite what you say – because of what you say, in fact. By the time they learn what he can do, they will be too late to make a decent response. They are hamstrung by the series of events that have occurred to them. First their loss of Trump powers and now the Chaosways of the Courts being lost. With Shadow closed to them, they have only their individual means to get around. Our superior movement will be telling.”



“The Ways are all lost? I had heard something to confirm it but it seemed...”



“Darkness might have granted gifts as the Dragon of Chaos did on its appearance, but the Incarnate doesn’t make such spurious demonstrations. Instead, it has used its arrival to damage the connections and conjunctions of any who might oppose its desires. The Ways of Chaos are but an excellent example. The vessels of the Canticle and their Eldest foes will see their navigation systems and drives hampered similarly.”


It was news that the Fleetline would be slowed by the Incarnate's arrival. Ebonseed didn't think this would alter things unduly. Darkness's hampering movement would affect all not just his followers. Eldest Chaos would be inconsolable by movement restrictions, however. He knew many of these used their sinuous movements to confuse those they went up against. Truely the Incarnate One made the most of its appearance by doing this to the cosmos. Ebonseed wondered if the Outremare might be slowed similarly and couldn't think of a reason why t hey wouldn't be hampered. Why, even Dragon Time might be slowed. They were the two greatest exponents among Primordial Thought, the Everlong and the Incarnate. He'd been silent too long, he realised.




“So the Hunter won’t be on Axildusk long then? Something swift and then...?”



“You change the subject, and did I say that? You need to focus Ebonseed. Why would I commit the strength of the Hunter to the world of Shadow and then remove it? Your lack of strategic appreciation is deplorable. Luckily, I can offer you my thoughts when you next move to deploy the Fleetline.”



Ebonseed was careful not to look too pleased at this. He wasn’t a fool. Too great a show of gratitude might make the Dark Sentencer suspicious. Ebonseed tried to look only somewhat grateful and a little perturbed. He wasn’t an actor, but he felt he did a decent enough job hiding his level of delight. Let Vaxus believe that he needed the man’s help to manipulate the fleetline. It was already awaiting the call to action. Vaxus clearly had no idea what was about to happen. The Hunter wouldn’t be available to assist Vaxus. Ebonseed realised this meant that the Hunter would likely be trapped on Axildusk. Unless Ebonseed offered him an escape route from the world, the Hunter would fixed on the world of Shadow. The Hunter would be in his debt or even his long-term service. Ebonseed could use such a destructive individual.