Ethan Wright and the Alchemist's Order, (Book 2) (7 page)

“My … Lor—” gurgled Ciprian desperately, but was interrupted by a loud
POP
that came from his face. Blood drooled from his nose but was immediately driven against the wall, splattering outwards in any direction it could escape.

Xivon watched Ciprian squirm a bit longer as he tested the alchemist’s work, and then released his grip on the sword’s hilt. The symbols instantly stopped glowing and Ciprian fell to the floor, holding his face.

Xivon knelt next to Ciprian and grabbed his chin. He directed the bloody-nosed Mitan’s face around as he examined the damage he had created. He seemed pleased with his work and focused his cold, grey eyes into the blue glow of the frightened Gilfangir resident. “You haven’t answered my question, Ciprian. Have you lost your nerve?”

Ciprian gulped as he tasted blood running down the back of his gullet. “No … my Lord, I haven’t! I swear!”

“I asked you to make an example of the alchemist known as Wegnel. An example that would inspire fear to anyone that desired to take his place with Dimon … and yet you wince at burning flesh?” Xivon looked disgusted and pushed Ciprian’s face away. He stood and was covered in his cloak offered to him by Seafarer.

Ciprian thought for a moment. “I … I just didn’t like seeing you in pain my Lo—”

“My Lord, my Lord,” mimicked Xivon. “You failed to make an example of Wegnel the alchemist and now I hear news of a replacement already filling his shoes. I am … disappointed, Ciprian.”

“Well … I stabbed him in the back — it was … most gruesome,” groveled Ciprian.

“You stabbed him in his back? I WANT HIS GUTS HANGING IN THE STREETS OF TIRGUARD!” boomed Xivon angrily.

Ciprian swallowed the blood that remained in his mouth and then wiped the bloody snot that continued to drool from his nose. “Yes, my Lord … I can go back, if you wish.”

“No … get my council ready — make sure Hitomi is among them.”

Ciprian bowed. “Yes … my Lord, right away,” he replied, hurrying to leave the room as quickly as Xivon would allow.

“Make sure he is there, Ciprian … or it will be your guts that hang through the city,” snarled the General.

***

Ciprian paced back and forth in the council chambers of Gilfangir. As the others started to arrive, he nervously took a seat. One by one the chairs around the long rectangular table started to fill up — all but two. The armchair at the head of the table bore the top half of a dragon’s head on the backrest. Finally, Xivon entered the room with his black cloak roiling behind him. The obsidian garment cast an endless sea of desolation which sucked all hope from the room. It instilled heart-stopping fear in whoever laid eyes upon the cipher. Xivon took his place at the table. The elongated black fangs of the dragon reached just over his brow.

“I called you all here today to discuss our trade agreement. Instead … I find that Hitomi is not yet present, so we will be discussing the finer points of how alchemy can make ones entrails … become, more … let’s say
external
, shall we?” announced Xivon as he glared at Ciprian.

“My … Lord — he does as he pleases,” groveled Ciprian, hands trembling with fear.

“Seafarer, what would it take to first dissolve all the flesh from Mitan bone?”

“He listens to no one but you, General Xivon!” begged Ciprian, standing up from his chair. Sweat beaded on his brow and his face turned raw and clammy.

Still hooded, Seafarer thought for a moment. “Well, we could use bead of the serpent — that could wear down the skin several layers—”

“Wait just a moment,” pleaded Ciprian. “We needn’t discuss—”

Just then a Mitan with a fierce blue marking walked into the room and calmly took a seat. He stared down at the table impatiently. His irritable expression made it clear that it bothered him to be there. His middle-aged eyes showed no fear as he ignored the dread emanating from the black cloak to his right.

Ciprian exhaled a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank the light,” he whispered to himself.

“We can discuss the finer points of flesh removal at a later time … now then — let’s begin our discussion,” snarled Xivon.

A man wearing a gold medallion and a long dark cloak raised his head. He spoke on behalf of himself and two others, sitting at his side. “We have secured Loka Tattur and wait for our chance to bond with the Oroborus known as Dimon. Once our chosen alchemist is bonded to the creature, we will hand over Loka to you. Until then, we are making him as uncomfortable as possible — as promised.”

Xivon could not contain his rabid smile. “With the failure of Ciprian to secure an open position with the Oroborus, we find ourselves having to send a stronger message. We must instill fear into anyone that attempts to take Wegnel MacArthur’s seat at the side of the Oroborus known as Dimon.”

Ciprian squirmed in his chair, feeling the weight of judging eyes upon him. He felt the need to redeem his position at the table. “I will go again … I will spread human blood across the streets of Tirguard.”

“You have something against humans?” asked the man, his gold medallion swinging from a chain around his neck.

“The only good human is a dead one — you’d better watch your attitude, alchemist — I could just as easily spill your blood right here … in this very room,” grumbled Ciprian.

“That’s enough from you, Ciprian. Be kind to our guests or I’ll put you on Stonewolf duty,” hissed Xivon.

Overlooking Ciprian’s comments, the man with the gold medallion continued. “It was reported that Odin, friend of Loka, is currently bound to the Oroborus. Not only is Odin untrained in binding with such a creature … he isn’t even an alchemist — we assume the binding is only temporary. He would make an easy target.”

Xivon laughed with delight. “And at the same time, killing Odin would send a …
message
… to Ethan Wright. The kind of message that may get him interested in searching me out.” Xivon pondered for a moment. “Hitomi — you are the best assassin this world has ever seen. I want you to make a display of whoever is in the hut of Dimon.”

Hitomi sat motionless. “Your praise of my talent is appreciated, General Xivon, but I try not to make it a habit to make a mess of things,” he said with a pointed glance at Ciprian. “I use precise instruments and prefer my work is kept secret. Besides, precision … inside the hut of the most dangerous being in all of creation … is needed. This may not be the right task to assign me if you require a display, especially since there was already an attempt on Wegnel. No doubt there will be guards all about the area.” Hitomi’s eyes glistened with a fierce blue that matched the markings on his face except for a thin green line separating his pupil from his iris.

Xivon’s face contorted and the displeasure was instantly apparent to Hitomi.

“But if I had a distraction, I could easily split him open and push the corpse into the street before I leave, if that’s what you wish,” added Hitomi bluntly.

Xivon smiled. “I can give you the distraction of a lifetime, Hitomi … as I will be going along. I haven’t been to Tirguard … in years,” he added, laughing.

“Are we concluded then?” asked the alchemist with the gold medallion.

“Yes … alchemist. We are finished. I would, however, like to keep Seafarer; he has been most useful. Consider him a gift to me.” Xivon focused his cold grey eyes on the human contingent, giving them a demanding look.

The man with the gold medallion nodded. “Of course,” he replied. He and two others, having concluded their business, briskly left the room before any further demands could be made.

“What kind of distraction, my Lord?” asked Ciprian humbly.

“For once, Ciprian, you have asked an intelligent question.” Xivon clasped his fingers together and took a moment for himself. “I have been made aware of the sudden …
appearance
… of the Mortuus Manus bracelet.”

This captured everyone’s attention, including Hitomi, whose irritation quickly evaporated with the news. “The bracelet is in Tirguard?” asked the assassin.

Xivon gazed around the table to observe everyone’s reaction to the news. “Yes … the device had been hiding in an old Aeroseth library in Tirguard — recently unearthed by the current Castellan. The fool doesn’t even know what he has.” Xivon’s pleasure at releasing the news was suddenly overtaken by a great seriousness. “I want it made perfectly clear — there is
nothing
more important than getting that bracelet in my hands. If it requires killing our partnership with…,” he laughed, “or just killing the Alchemist Order altogether, then so be it — any problem with that, Seafarer?”

The hooded alchemist shook his head gracefully, indicating he had no issues.

“And if we should happen to run into Ethan Wright while in Tirguard?” asked Hitomi.

Xivon reached inside his cloak, pulled out a metallic arrow and set it on the table. “This,” replied the General.

“A torture arrow? Am I correct to presume … you do not wish us to kill him?” asked Hitomi, leaving the arrow where Xivon had placed it.

“You cannot interfere with the will of the Oroborus — the boy’s death will be on my hands. However … the one to sink this arrow in the boy’s alchemy hand will be rewarded … greatly.”

“To destroy the alchemy symbol…,” stated Ciprian, referring to the symbol most alchemists bear on their palm.

“…is to destroy the alchemist,” replied Xivon, “leaving him … well … ordinary.”

“I will do this task for you, my Lord,” groveled Ciprian. He took the opportunity to snatch the arrow off the table, but his hand was immediately pinned down by Hitomi’s extraordinary reflexes.

“You, Ciprian … will be staying here — Hitomi will carry the arrow with him,” announced Xivon.

Hitomi picked up the arrow and stood to take his leave.

“One arrow?” said Ciprian under his breath, in disbelief of what was being asked.

“I only require one,” stated Hitomi.

“But … that’s an impossible shot!”

Hitomi shoved the arrow inside his jacket and walked out of the room, with no acknowledgement of Ciprian’s comment.

Xivon stood up to take his leave. “I am disappointed, Ciprian … you have indeed lost your touch — but calm yourself … I will find a use for you yet.”

Chapter 6
The Sad Lady

Ethan angrily marched down the street, intending to get some answers from Keavy on Edison’s surprise confession. He withheld his questions from the new alchemy professor while Marcus was present, as he was accompanying the alchemists to the academy.

The moonlight shone on the streets as the four figures walked silently in the dark. They approached the overhang of the academy. Keavy pushed his way through the stone wall, followed by Ethan and Auren. Marcus scratched his head at the spectacle in front of him, shrugged his shoulders and pushed forward with his hands. He closed his eyes to brace himself for impact and was immediately stopped by the stone wall. He felt around the featureless wall, looking for an area he could pass through.

“Wait,” shouted Marcus. “I’m still outside! Can someone let me in already?”

From inside the academy, Ethan heard the muffled pleas of the youth Guard bully and ignored them completely. He focused his anger on their new instructor. “How is it you can even get in here anyways?” snarled Ethan. “You’re not a Stone Sanctuary alchemist,” he added angrily.

Keavy started to speak when a voice answered Ethan from across the room. “I gave him a pass,” answered a familiar voice. “That didn’t go exactly as planned — but good enough I guess. I do say, I enjoy a good scandal,” said Edison, smiling.

“Edison?!” Ethan went to draw his sword at the sight of his confessed professor. As his hand approached the sheath, he remembered Heinrich had taken possession of the blade. Realizing his mistake, he nodded to Auren who drew his sword instead. Keavy instantly put his hand in front of Auren’s chest to stop his advance upon the history professor.

“What are you doing here?! Did you …
KILL
Wegnel?” choked Ethan. Not giving Edison time to answer, he continued his line of questioning. “You’d better tell me what’s going on! Answer me! What happened to him?!”

Edison looked surprised for only a moment. “Oh, you misunderstand. I didn’t attack Wegnel — just needed to give those idiots something to focus their attention on while we took care of business — part of the plan.”

“Aye, but ye may hae dain too good a job. Th’ Castellan is wantin’ a city wide search fur ye.”

“A part of the plan? To confess to
murder
?” asked Ethan in disbelief.

“Well, it was either that or let Heinrich put you in prison,” retorted Edison in an attempt to ease Ethan’s mind.

“Worry nae wee jimmy, he knows whit he’s doin’.”

“He knows what he’s
doin’
alright, there was blood on that dagger!” yelled Auren.

“Some strawberry jam left over from lunch,” answered Edison, smirking. He suddenly realized how upset Ethan was over the death of the alchemist and ceased his lightened mood. “I am sorry about Wegnel — you’ll have to trust me … we’ll find out who did it, but for—”

“You mean you don’t know?” interrupted Ethan.

“I’m afraid not … we think it could have been an assassin sent by Xivon. But until we get more evidence, we won’t know for sure.”

Ethan was quite disappointed at the lack of information on Wegnel’s killer, but at the same time felt relieved that his professor had no involvement in the matter.

“For now, we need to concentrate on replacing Odin as quickly as possible. You two will … wait, Ethan, where’s your sword?” asked Edison, looking about Ethan’s person for the blade.

Ethan clenched his fists and shook his head. “Heinrich took it,” he replied somberly.

“I see. I need you and Auren to go to King’s Point as fast as you can. You’re looking for a woman named Abbey Valisa — she is the new alchemist who will replace Odin,” ordered Edison. “I don’t know how much longer he will last bound to the Oroborus, so you must hurry.” Edison suddenly remembered Ethan’s involvement in freeing him and Auren from the pendulum during Auren’s test. “Ethan, take your bow with you — you can get a little practice on the way.”