ASMSG Scifi Fantasy Paranormal Emagazine March 2014 | Page 28

“Please,” Eschandel said, “continue.”
Mikhel wiped sweat from the edge of his neck as he looked
around the room. “I’m part of the research team from
DunDegore. As you know, we’ve explored the ruins for decades.
The old Behersker city goes down for miles. We’ve only
uncovered the first 50 levels. Usually we find trinkets – tools,
dishware, data disks. Yesterday we found something else.”
“Spit it out already,” Sirion said. “We don’t need an archeology
lesson.”
“Yes, sir.” Mikhel’s ears turned red. He glanced at Latimer but,
unable to look the leader of the guild in the eye, he focused on
Eschandel. “We found a sword. At first, we assumed it was a
sculpture, perhaps part of a statue we had yet to discover. No
one’s ever found a Behersker weapon. There’s considerable
doubt they actually had conventional weapons. But it proved to
be anything but ornamental. The blade was translucent yet
harder than any metal, even darkstone. The hilt was opaque and
appeared to be crafted from onyx. It’s also impervious to
damage. We tested it against fire, electricity, acid and blunt force.
No effect. When we tested its reaction to fieldbending we began
to realize exactly what we’d found. It seemed to eat every spell
we threw it at. The archeologists asked me to examine the sword
because of my area of expertise. Starfall.”
“By the Oak.” Latimer covered his mouth with trembling
fingers, eyes no longer clear. He glanced at Eschandel. The
younger fieldbender nodded and closed his eyes.

attuned to inter-dimensional activity. Two days ago there was
activity like we’ve never felt before. After hours of investigation
we discovered the cause. Something came into our world. Think
of it like a meteor that smashed through the walls of our
dimension instead of crashing down through our atmosphere.
Whatever it was, wherever it came from, it didn’t close the portal
it created. As long as it remains open, other things may enter our
world.”
“And what say you, Sage?” Latimer stared down at his hands.
The Sage cleared his throat. “I say Sirion needs female
companionship more regularly. There is nothing more annoying
than someone who claims to be a skeptic but is truly a fascist.
Whatever happened, I felt it too. Two days ago. It was similar to
the opening of a foramen but more...raw. Dangerous. I have no
idea what caused it and, as you know, I despise not knowing. We
all knew there was a possibility the Void wouldn’t hold forever.
If there is any chance it’s compromised we have to alert the
Great Castles. You should send envoys to the Valgt’til and the
Redgraves.”
“I tend to agree.” Latimer placed his hands, palm down, on the
table. “At worst, we appear over-prepared for battle. But if we
say nothing and there is a crack in the Void, well, we can’t take
that risk.”
Sirion grumbled. “I’ll have
companionship regularly.”

you

know I

get

female

Eschandel chuckled, a wide grin on his face.

“From the look on your face, sir, I see you understand.” This
time Mikhel was able to look Latimer in the eyes. “The sword
has inscriptions visible only when exposed to Akashic energy.
The script wasn’t Behersker. It was Sirian. The sword has a
name.”

“Hardly the most pressing issue at hand,” Latimer said. “Sirion,
I’ll send you back to DunDegore with our friend Mikhel. Help
verify it’s truly the Sword of Kassandra. Your skepticism will
come in handy. If it is, we need to safeguard it. Something that
powerful in the wrong hands could be disastrous.”

“The Sword of Kassandra,” Latimer said. Mikhel nodded.

“You mean the Quadumvirate, I suppose.”

The room became deadly silent as if everyone had forgotten how
to breathe.

Latimer stood and looked around the crowd. “We need to move
quickly but keep this quiet. By any oath you hold sacred, this
news cannot leave this room. Trust no one. The Quadumvirate
has spies everywhere. I’ll head to Castle Grygar myself.
Eschandel, I’ll leave you in charge in my absence.” He turned to
a middle-aged man in red robes, “Bahrza, I’ll send you to Castle
Redgrave. Your connections in the court will get us a quick
audience with the royal family.”

Sirion shook his head. “Preposterous. The Sword of Kassandra
is locked in the Void.”
“Correction,” Eschandel said. “It was locked away. It’s not
anymore. If you want more evidence let me introduce you to
Leinda Farthing. She’s our ambassador to the geognosts. She
studied with Defksquar some years ago, which makes her the
best expert available. I’ll let her explain why she’s here.”
A woman dressed in deer-hide pantaloons and an unbleached
tunic stepped out from the crowd. Her long brown hair was
pulled back in a tight ponytail. A tribal tattoo decorated the
length of her neck: a dragon
“The head of my guild sent me here to deliver a warning,” she
said. “I’m sure you all know we specialize in manipulations of
foramen and the magnetic subweb of our planet. We are highly

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The Sage raised his hand before speaking. “It would probably be
in our best interest to notify the Nizarians as well.” Latimer
nodded. “That’s as