The study: compared to the other rooms I had seen in the estate this one was somewhat “cozy” – the ceiling was not as high as those in the rest of the rooms; this was a smaller room, the smallest I’d been in other than my guest chambers, albeit still able to seat about two dozen people comfortably with ample room for private discussions in the corners of the room. Whereas most of the house had some type of marble ornamentation this room had ornamentation of wood, beautifully and delicately carved wooden works of paper-thin bouquets and wreaths on the doorways and here and there along the walls. The room also looked a bit more contemporary then the rest of the house with more medium brown wooden panels, bookshelves, and tables; heavy, green drapes. Still opulent and impressive, just in less of an overpowering way.
I was having some tea, Opunenza some Port-like drink. Opunenza, “Soon to be ‘Sir’ Mathew.” I nod, “Maybe.” Opunenza, “What do you think about that, becoming ‘noble’?” I decided to be diplomatic, “I grew up on a small farm. I never expected to be anywhere near where I am today, or may be. I am thankful for every day I have.” Opunenza smiles and then gives the gesture so as to magically soundproof the room, “Now what do you really think about this knighthood?” I say, “The same as I said before when everyone could hear.” Opunenza turns his head slightly and nods. Opunenza, “You came into the Gift later in life than most. What has it been like knowing that you can bend nature to your will?” Me, small smile, “I do not actually do a lot of bending of nature. Magic is interesting. It is wonderful. A bit frightening. I am glad this happened when I was a bit older rather than in my teens or early twenties. I am not sure what would have happened.” Opunenza, “Indeed. Coming into the Gift when one is not yet well-formed can be quite disastrous. And has been for many.” A bit of a silence. Opunenza, “You have been training at the Academy for two, three years now?” Me, “About.” Opunenza, “They try and direct, counsel, students into some specific field of study. They did not always do that. I remember my time at the Academy, we had a bit more freedom to make our own curricula. Now that you have this new world before you what would you like to do with magic?” I think for a moment and take a sip of tea, “I thought my life was finally set, and that I could realistically expect what was before me. Then this magic thing shows up at my door. And it is like I do not know anything all over again. There is this whole new world of possibilities before me, and some dangers. There are the elves. There is danger with wielding magic. I could kill myself. I try to be a cautious individual and I know I need to tread carefully with the Gift. At this point I am too ignorant about magic to know what I would like to do with it. I know magic is not a toy. It can be a tool, a very useful one, if it is handled with respect. I will continue to proceed cautiously with it. Opunenza, with a bit of a pleased smile, “That is what I would expect someone of your years and station to say,” and he raises his glass to me and takes a sip, I raise my teacup to him and take a sip. Opuenza, “Now, what if you could do ‘anything’, absolutely anything. Your one wish come true. What would that be?” Me, smiling a bit, “I’ve heard, careful what you wish for, you might just get it.” Opuenza, “No consequences.” Me, “Hmm, no consequences. That is a wonderful fantasy.” Opuenza, “And what would yours be?” Me, “I actually use to think a fair bit about that when I was a younger man. If I could do anything what would I do? There is a story I heard, maybe just a regional story, about a man named, Logan, who is born with the ability to instantaneously heal completely from any wound. Even if you decapitate him the head will grow a new body. He never gets sick. Has not aged past thirty-five or so. In the story he lives at least until he is over a hundred and twenty. I use to think that if I had that type of power then I may have the time to do all the things I wanted to do, learn the things I wanted to learn, visit all the places I wanted to go to. Part of me still likes this idea of being like Logan and living a long, healthy life. Then, I became older and accepted the fact that for ‘most’ people you do not get to go and see what is on the other side of every hill. And there is too much to do, too much to learn. So I created a new dream: no money, no magic, no elves wanting to gut me, no politics, few to no worries. I just find some little place, cabin, cottage, what have you, a vegetable garden, some flowers, do a little painting, learn to play fiddle, and take long, leisurely walks thru some bucolic, pastoral scene of gently-rolling, green fields and hills.” Opuenza, “You would give up all you have?” Me, “Part of me would. At least some days. It is a wonderfully romantic, naive dream.” Opuenza, “It does have something of a poet’s vision to it. And I am glad you see that it is a bit naive.” Me, chuckling a little, “Luckily I have been too old for some time to not know how the world really works.” Opuenza, “I am glad to hear you say that as well. Some Gifted individuals unfortunately assume that because they have changed the world has also automatically changed, or will change, into some heavenly dream, just for them.” I nod. Me, “And what of you, Adriano? What would your one wish be, no consequences?” He smiles, “Who is to say my one wish has not already come true?” He takes another sip of his drink, swirls the glass slowly, “As far as the elves go you have more to fear from other humans. The Academy would not let the nobles of Avenmare endanger the Gifted with war with the elves. No doubt you have been informed of that history.” I nod, “How are things here in Appia as far as that goes?” Opunenza laughs a bit, “’I’ will not let the nobles endanger the Gifted. ‘I’ and my other Gifted associates will not let this happen. This is one of the reasons why I accepted being an advisor to the princes.” A bit of a pause. Opunenza, “I will be honest with you, I have been an advisor so long I feel as though I have become nothing more than a frustrated, old school marm failing to teach her students their letters.” I laugh a bit. Opunenza, “The nobles, most nobles, do not truly grasp how the world around them works. They are somewhat disconnected from reality. Usually they care more about dances, horse racing, and hunting down defenseless mammals than how the harvest is coming in.” I stay quiet and just let him vent. Opunenza, “With the Gift comes the responsibility to help shepherd society. Those of us that are Gifted will come to have insights into the nature of the world and the planes that few non-Gifted ever will. The Gift can be a burden as much as a blessing.” I nod and take a sip of tea. Opunenza, “Mathew, you are soon to be in a very unique situation, both Gifted, and part of the nobility. Both sides will be pulling at you, and you will be new to both worlds, relatively speaking. You may very quickly find yourself in the unenviable position of having to choose one side over the other. If you had to choose one, which would you defend – the lives of the Gifted, or the rights of nobility?” Without a pause, “As you’ve said, the Academy will not let the nobles put the lives of the Gifted at risk, so that issue is resolved. If I, and I alone, were making the decision, I would choose the lives of the Gifted over the nobles getting a bit more land and new titles. How does the saying go, ‘you can get another king tomorrow, but you’ll have to wait twenty years for more Gifted.’ Opunenza, “Very true.” I continue, “And there are, and of course always have been, some who have a foot in both worlds and most of them seem to navigate a course thru both without too much difficulty.” Opunenza, “Some. Sometimes a shiny, new patent of nobility causes people to forget from whence they came.” Me, “Yes, some do.” Opunenza, “Will you forget from whence you came?” Me, “Before I became Gifted, before it was publicly know that I was Gifted, I was reminded by ‘some’ nobles, regularly, of my commonness.” Opunenza, “The Regent of Rodent eRadification.” I nod, “Of course, now, ‘some’ nobles tell me that it was all in good jest – and ask me for loans and business advice.” Opunenza, “Of course they do.” Bit of silence. Opuenza, “Before,” circling and motioning his hand towards the walls and ceiling, “I too started with some amount of ‘commonness’. Just a simple, poor, farm boy. I, however, came into the Gift at sixteen. Initially, it was quite unnerving. My poor mother,” he laughs a bit to himself. He continues, “That was a long time ago, and this nation was a very different place than it is now. Really, just something of a rural backwater then. And now, after many years of teaching and cajoling, and sometimes instilling the fear of the gods in them, the nobles have made enough good decisions such that Appia is a wealthy, stable, modern nation, albeit one that lacks a certain culture and sophistication.” Me, “Really? Lacks culture and sophistication? One would not know that by visiting this estate.” Opunenza, small laugh, “Besides advising the nobles about the basic necessities for a stable society I have also endeavored to try and develop in them an appreciation for learning and the arts. A strong and stable nation should have a healthy appetite and display of intellectual pursuits as one of its foundational stones. Alas, my efforts at refinement and inspiration have gone seemingly for naught. All the nobles and business people see when they come here is gold.” Me, “That is a shame. There is so much more than gold here.” Opunenza, “I am happy you appreciate what you have experienced here, not all my guests do.” Me, “I do not see how they could not. The technical craftsmanship, the aesthetic of both the home and the art and ancient works you’ve collected. And the music, was some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard.” Opunenza, “Do you play or sing?” Me, “No, not much of either. My cousin, Anne, is the songbird of the family.” Opunenza, “So I have heard. Is she Gifted?” Me, “No.” Opunenza, “It is rare, but sometimes it does run in families. Perhaps, as with you, the Gift will develop in your cousin, Anne, later in life.” Me, “Perhaps.” Small pause. Opunenza takes a drink, “I am curious, Mathew, it is well known what has happened with your cousin, Thomas. Is that why you decided to take up my invitation now?” Me, without hesitation, “Yes.” Opunenza, “What did you come here for?” Me, “To perhaps make a powerful ally outside of Avenmare.” Opunenza, “I appreciate the honesty.” I nod. Opunenza, “Were you going to tell me that at some point?” Me, “I do not know. Coming here was something of a calculated risk. I know ‘of’ your reputation, but reputation and reality can be two very different things.” Opunenza, “And now that you know me?” Me, “I cannot say that I ‘know’ you. I can say that we are acquainted. I may know a bit ‘more’ about you. It is not in my nature to jump into trust with someone, and usually that is not good for business.” Opunenza, “Yes. Trust can be a slow dance with many, small steps.” Opunenza takes a sip of his drink, “I have done much traveling over the years. I have been to Tova several times and I have yet to run across a Tovan with your unique accent.” I take of sip of tea, “There are a number of distinct dialects in Tova. Perchance you would not be familiar with them all, would you?” Opunenza, with something of a small, knowing smile, “Perchance I would not. As it turns out Appia has its own number of distinct dialects and I have been told my accent does not sound like any of them. I suppose all the years of travel mixed with the Avenmarian accent and splash of ancient magical jargon and phrases from my time at the Academy.” Me, with a small smile to match Opunenza’s, “That does sound reasonable.” Opunenza nods. Opunenza, “Back to this matter with your cousin, Thomas. My contacts at the Academy have briefed me about the nature of the murders. Possibly a cult of some sort, or a serial killer that would like things to look that way.” I nod. Opunenza continues, “It is fairly common for ritualistic killings to have some sort of ‘dissection’ as part of them, as well as some type of mind-altering substance being involved. Unfortunately based on the details of the killings that took place in Avenmare there are no exact matches to any cults or serial killings elsewhere that I am aware of.” I nod. Opunenza continues, “This part about a three-horned god may, as you have deduced, may have some relation to the three horned moons of fall and three horned moons of spring. But I have never heard of a specific three-horned god that requires sacrifices. There have throughout history, usually in small regions, been peoples that made various types of bloody sacrifices to some god or gods in hopes of a good harvest and for thanks of one. It is possible some members of a small, tribal-like community from a foreign land have emigrated to Avenmare and have taken their religious practice with them. It would not be unheard of.” I nod, “I have thought very much along the same lines. From what I have researched so far, it seems that none of the major religions, past or present, seem to fit what was done. Of course, if this is some small, tribal or regional religion linked to the horned moons we may have two more opportunities to witness their practices, which may be different for each moon.” Opunenza, “Yes. And your cousin may yet be a target.” Me, nodding, “Yes. That thought is ever-present.” Opunenza, “If I may, let me offer you, and both your cousins, refuge here if you so desire. I am sure your homes are well guarded. This estate, as delicate as it may look, I can assure is one of the most secure buildings in the world. All manner of wards and protections abound.” Me, “I thank you for your generosity. That is quite an offer, especially for someone you have just met.” Opunenza, “It is quite an offer, but how better to get the slow dance of trust moving between two people?” Me, “Thank you.” Opunenza, “Of course. I’m told you spent a great deal of time perusing the library this afternoon.” Me, “I did.” Opunenza, “You have quite the collection, do you not?” Me, “Very modest compared with yours, but it keeps me busy. Most of the books came with the purchase of the building.” Opunenza, “Anything catch your eye this afternoon?” Me, “A bit of everything really. I was trying to focus on histories, religion, legends, things of that nature.” Opunenza, “No doubt.” Opunenza casually sets his drink down on the small table next to his chair and gracefully stands up, “Feel free to browse any of the books for as long as you like. And if you find some to be useful to you, you may borrow them, for a while.” I follow his lead and put my tea cup and saucer down on the table next to my chair and get up, nod, “Thank you very much.” Opunenza motions for me and we exit the study, “I will reach out to my associates beyond the Academy and see what we may find about this matter with your cousin, Thomas. And hopefully the next time you visit it will not be because you and yours are imperiled in some way. Good night, Mr. Serig.” I smile and with a small bow of the head, “Good night, Mr. Opunenza.” Opunenza headed down the hall to his quarters, I went the opposite direction back towards the main guest/public section of the estate to explore the library further.
