The Artifacts Of Elios (Book 1) (20 page)

Ava left her cup as she had seen Laura do and followed her outside.

The sun was just barely showing over the horizon as it was slowly sinking into the night
but the platform was well lit from glowing panels that occupied the ceiling covering the platform, suddenly a long golden singular rail appeared on the ground just off the platform running both directions, disappearing into the distance.  With a rush of air a large white string of nearly a dozen rectangular coaches silently floating atop the golden rail glided quickly to a halt beside them.  A pair of doors on each section of the long conveyance opened simultaneously facing the platform.  As the doors opened Ava saw that the floor of the overland was the exact height of the platform; without hesitation Laura walked through the closest set of doors; Ava quickly followed.

The inside of the long rectangular compartment
was lit from panels similar to those that were at the station.  To Ava the air inside the compartment smelled slightly of pine and she thought she could detect cool air blowing silently from unseen vents in the ceiling.  There were no other passengers on board, only empty seats that lined both sides of the coach with large windows running along both sides that offered an exceptional view of the surroundings.

Ava followed Laura’s exampl
e and took a seat next to her; wondering what would happen next.  Unlike a ride on a horse drawn coach or carriage she felt no sense of movement but was amazed that as soon as the doors closed the building she had just left slid away at an incredible speed.

“This is amazing,” started Ava as she hurried and looked in the direction they had just left behind and then looked over her shoulder to the all but existent sunset.

“I really wish you could see it in the day time,” commented Laura.  The view is something to behold.  “We will get you settled tomorrow and in a day or two when there is time we can take the overland back to hill station again as a sight-seeing trip.”

Ari opened the door and invited Shane in.  “Where you followed?”  Ari asked just to see what Shane would say.

Shane hesitated a moment and
replied, “I’m pretty sure no one saw me.”

Ari
laughed out loud as if Shane had just shared the punch line of a very funny joke.  “I suppose not.”

Shane looked around the large room that
appeared to be more a small suite as it contained two large beds, a pair of armoires, a kitchenette with a table with a pair of chairs, a sitting area with a couch and two comfortable looking chairs, and a bathing room with toilet.

“Make
yourself at home,” directed Ari.  “I’m using the bed and armoire nearest the window; you can take the one nearest the door.” He added as he crossed the room and sat down in one of the large chairs.

Shane walked to the bed indicated and un-shouldered his pack
setting it at the foot of the bed.

“
Time to put our cards on the table,” began the older man. “As I said before my name is Ari Desmond.  I believe you know my niece Ava,” as Shane was about to open his mouth Ari held up a hand.  “Let me finish we will have questions and answers after the presentation.” The older man laughed at his own joke.

“First a little bit about me.  For the last fifteen or so years I have been in the employ of the Crown Special Services or CSS.  To put it mildly and leave out the morbid details I have been involved in everything from cloak and dagger to skull and duggery
.  I spent most of that time loyally serving King Allion the Second.  When his son took the throne I began to have my doubts as to whether or not I wanted to continue my career; so I took steps and began transitioning to what you might term the family business; which I believe Ava may have shared a little information on what that entails.  Earlier today I quit my job and the King thinks I’m dead; which is significant as the king is the one that ordered my death.  My face is not the same as the one that those that knew me in the kings employ, as you may have noticed at the tavern this evening from, our meeting earlier today at the game.

Something else you should know.  I am a Wonstrowd educated magetech and I am also very good at gathering
information.  I also know that you have achieved some significant breakthroughs on glyph magic that, if you aren’t careful, will make you the target of every artifact manufacturer in Infin, especially the crown.

Now before you start with your questions I would like you to observer the following visuals.” 
Ari got up and opened his armoire revealing his play back screens and activated the playback of Shane coming to the door.

After viewing the images of his materialization of him and his backpack Shane sank to the bed and sat heavily.  “Are you really Ava’s uncle?” Shane said solemnly realizing that either way he was going to have to trust the former agent.

“Watch this.”  Ari touched a few glyphs and images of a large group of people gathered around an extremely long table were laughing and talking; enjoying what appeared to be a holiday meal.  Shane immediately recognized a two or three year younger Ava and her Mother and Father. Sitting next to them was the man standing in front of him.  Ari touched a couple of more glyphs and sound began to accompany the video.  He recognized the voices of Ava and her parents and couldn’t help but smile as he observed Ava banter with Ari about who knew what in relation to their artifact knowledge.

“Satisfied?”

Shane nodded.  After a brief pause while Ari switched his viewers to reveal several other scenes Shane said, “I guess if you are Ava’s uncle then it’s ok to share what I know.”

“Hold that thought,” said the older man as he closed the armoire doors and started walking to the door of the room.  “Do me a favor and step into the bathroom out of sight please.”

Shane stood and started toward the bathroom when there was a knocking at the door.  Ari waited for him to close the door behind him and then he answered the knocking at the entrance.  After a few long moments Ari called for Shane to come out.  Stacked neatly on the floor were several large boxes.

“I took the liberty of moving you out of your dorm.  I hope you don’t mind.  Its seems that Lundi morning you were going to be officially requested to join the Crowns special artifact team and with that would have come soldiers and guards that would make our departure from the city a little difficult.  I presume you weren’t going to take the IDAD up on their offer, were you?”

“How did you know about that?” asked Shane.

“Shane,”
Ari laughed, “Before this evening, if it had anything to do with the Crown, IDAD, or the government of Infin, I knew it.  Who do you think vetted you and Ava for access to all of those proprietary artifacts that your research group always had at their fingertips?”

Shane yawned and rubbed his jaw to relieve the painful reminder of his brawl earlier.  “I’m a bit tired, do you mind if I turn in?  I can fill you in on what information I have in the morning.”

“No problem,” replied Ari, I’m feeling a bit of a headache as well.  I was blindsided with a rabbit punch during that little post game celebration you had over at the Ox.”

Shane went to the boxes and began to rummage through them. He pulled out a set of clean
boxer shorts and a tee-shirt and headed for the shower.  “Do you mind if I go first?”

After his ablutions Shane exited the bath room toweling
off his hair still holding his shirt.  He sat on his bed and removed one of his scribes from his pack and began to script the simple healing enchantment on his shirt.

Noting his activity
Ari approached and watched him as he worked.  “I recognize some of those glyphs but not all, what is it you are doing?”

Shane continued to write as he answered.  “It’s a simple healing enchantment that heals over time.  It’s great for the bumps and bruises that you get from warball.  I thought I’d give it a go to see if it helped my jaw feel better by morning.”

“Amazing, simply amazing,” said Ari shaking his head.

“Why don’t you toss me one of your shirts and I’ll put it on yours see if it doesn’t help your headache.  I’m pretty new at this so I’m not sure all that it will heal.”

By the time Ari was done with his shower Shane was nearly finished with the second shirt.  Ari watched closely as he inscribed the final glyph.  Shane put the scribe pack into his pack and set it on the floor at the head of his bed and then held the first shirt and with a thought let his lumen flow into the newly written glyphs activating them.  Taking Ari’s shirt he repeated the process.  He tossed the shirt to the older man and with a grin said, “Take one of these and call me in the morning.”

Ari
laughed and shrugged into the shirt.  “Thanks.  Any chance you can teach me to do that?”

“I’m not certain, it was quite the process, but in the morning I can look into it.  If you are up to speed on your understanding of glyphs then all I’ll need to do is see if I can teach activation.  I’m not sure if it’s something taught or if it’s ability.”

“This is incredible.  My head ache is already subsiding.”

“You have no idea, from what I’ve learned so far the
possibilities for enchantments are only limited by your imagination and your understanding of certain physical laws and the rules of glyph magic.”  Shane climbed under the covers and mentally commanded the instructor to take the form of a small bedside portrait of Ava on his night stand and begin his nightly instruction.  Smiling he closed his eyes.  “Get the light please, will you?”

As the former agent reached to turn off the light he noticed the picture of Ava and the now snoring Shane he thought to himself, “I think for the first time in my life magetech might become fun.”

Except for the well-lit station the village of Yllyan was dark but for a few isolated windows of a few houses and buildings by the time the overland glided to a halt at the Yllyan station.  Laura led
Ava from the platform to a sidewalk that was nearly pristine.  Ava had never seen such immaculate construction even in the palace region in Jehhet.

A short walk later, Laura turned toward a
large house and proceeded up the walkway.  As they approached the door a light illuminated a handleless doorway.  At her touch the door opened and the interior automatically illuminated as well.  Looking around with a lightly worried expression Laura commented, “Guess Soaris is still out.”

Ava entered the spotless foyer and noted a small sitting room to the side.  Following Laura she continue
d past the sitting room which led into a larger room with sofas and chairs, several book cases loaded down with books of many sizes and colors.

“You must be starving,” said Laura as she walked past what Ava took to be a library or lounge and into an obvious kitchen.  “Please make yourself comfortable and I’ll throw something together.”

Ava sat at the small dinette in the corner of the kitchen and in a few moments Laura placed a plate that was piled with fruits, cheese, and what looked to be thinly sliced roast beef, in front of her.  Ava was famished other than a few snacks while watching the game she hadn’t eaten since breakfast.  Laura soon joined her with a plate of her own and two tumblers of chilled water.

As the two women began to eat the distinctive sound of an opening door grabbed their attention to the rear of the kitchen.  A door leading outside that Ava had not noticed before was closing behind the tall man that had transported her from the mess tent earlier that day
.