Episode Six: Revelations

Episode Six: Revelations

The trio run as fast as possible. Blood trails behind them. They make it to the alley where James awaits.

James holds up his hands to Marco, they emit a glow and all wounds healed but Marco is still in pain. Viridis is healed a mite as well. Castor simply slides down the wall and sits, exhausted.

They explain what happened to James while they head back to the cave.

Return to the cave, each collapses, immediately falling asleep.

Sunday morning, Ivetta is paid 13 copper pieces, she arrives as they wake up. Castor and Marco are both in the fetal position, Castor clutching her cross and Marco staring at the ceiling in pain.

Marco attempts first aid on Viridis but it doesn't do much. Ivetta makes a pain relief mix from herbs, after applying to her, Viridis perks up a bit. Castor, having been denied in helping bandage Viridis, leaves the cave and speaks to James.

He asks “what I can do for you?” He looks exhausted..

Castor tells him “I’ve decided to learn to control this power.”

James smiles and asks if the others wish to learn as well.

“I need to ask…”

“Of course, of course.”

“Thank you again for yesterday. I don’t know what- If- if you hadn’t… thank you.” She shyly retreats into the cave.

Castor re enters the cave, more than a little cross asks “why did you leave the cave?”

Viridis rants about what happened. Its all a bit disjointed and doesn’t make much sense.

She got into a fight with the guard at el Yassin’s. El Yassin himself was angry and forced her to work for the Jewish bankers. She then learned some sensitive information about criminal activities. Someone asked her how she traveled from Florence. “They're gonna find out I lied and tell el Yassin.”

Viridis is salty about being blamed for everything.

Castor says “I don't blame you but you could be a bit more careful.”

She turns to the group at large, “Do you guys want to learn magic?”

They are unsure they even have it. And there’s no test to find out.

Castor is obviously scared and asks if they'll learn it with him. Marco looks him straight in the eye and says “okay.” Smol smile from Castor. The others also agree.

She goes to get James. “Sir?”

“Please dont-dont call me sir. Call me Castor, that- that's my name. Everyone’s decided to learn… magic.” Because Ivetta and Castor need to work they decide they'll learn in the evenings. Ivetta will sneak out each night to join.

Back in the cave, they all sit around the fire.

“You asked me to spy on the man, el Yassin. He visits many high profile individuals in the area. Bankers, religious heads, military leaders. I can't tell what they talk about. What or who he is looking for, I cannot say. But he is very well connected. He has several guards and a doctor on staff. Your sister,” nodding at Viridis, “is conscious and attempting to leave. Guards stopped her from jumping off the balcony.”

The balcony is open to the street where he saw her. Castor suggests they write a note and help her escape. but there's not much they can do before finding that necklace. Ivetta needs to return because she told the guards around the palace she was going to mass.

Ivetta heads back to the palace. El Yassin weylays her. He grabs her arm. “Someone wants to speak to you.” And pulls her into this house.

Unaware of Ivetta’s situation, Castor asks James of his family, where he came from.

“I come from a small town called Hythe. I used to have a family. I studied with a master, then moved here. There’s supposed to be one member of Kaldin in each realm but it's difficult to be sure. I’ve never seen another kaldin, save my master. The higher in the clouds one travels, the more kaldien. At the top, there are places where they meet, the heads of the kaldin. Last my master said, the head was a chati. It is no easy thing to travel upward however, where the most powerful are. Some, very powerful people, can travel without waypoints, some use magic. It is said some create magical gliders and some make Inter Caelium their home.”

“What happened to your master?”

“My master is most likely gone. But I am here and I am bound by the kaldin to assist you.”

“How can we find other kaldien in different realms?”

“They have ways of finding you. The higher in the clouds, the more powerful the kaldin. There is less magic in the below islands. Kaldin are masters of disguise, I'm sure you would never have found me.”

He can teach them to levitate, move, disguise, and manipulate others. “Disguise will take some time to master though. I can disguise you when you need in the meantime.”

Viridsis insists “do it now, I need to get my sister!” James looks to Castor and asks what his orders are.

“We should rest, Viridis, you’re still hurt. We should think this through.”

“Have you not had enough control over this group?” Viridis chides. Castor looks to the ground.

“We just need to plan, then we can go but we shouldn't rush off, unrested…”

Marco agrees and Viridis rounds on him too. “So none of you will help me?!”

"That's not- " begins Castor but she stops, looking at the dirt. "Of course we will."

James asks to see the waypoint and Castor gets it. Still swaddled in the shirt, she hesitates before giving it to him, “you won't d-disappear will you?”

“No, I can stop it.” He holds his hand over the cross. “Hmm, I thought so. It seems this has a dual purpose. In this realm it disguises the person touching it.” Curious, Castor takes the cross and touches it. Instantly, Castor looks Arabian even down to the clothes.

Marco exasperated cries “are you fucking kidding me?” Castor gasps

James looks at him and asks “do you have something to say?”

Marco says “I’m just in the dark with all this magic. How do I deal with all this stuff?”

“It is challenging but you will learn.”

Viridis is also pretty miffed, “dammit that could have been so helpful bEfoRe.”

James, in uncharacteristically angry voice says, “you all had no idea that that would happen! Any ill will toward Castor is misplaced. Magical items can kill you! I believe the decision not to touch it was wise.”

“Well, now we know about it so we should use it. Castor.” Virdidis closes in on Castor who stutters something about planning. Marco steps between them and tells Viridis to cool it saying, “Castor is right, we should plan ahead.” Gumpy, Vitidis agrees and they all decide to get some rest. Marco lies down. Viridis stands at the edge of the cave, fists balled. Castor can't rest with that shit happening so she goes on a walk outside the cave. Eventually she returns and sleeps. Patching herself up in the back of the cave in the dead of night.

They are all nice and well rested the next morning.

Castor suggests “we could disguise one of us as el Yassin to get Imillia out.” Viridis is very amenable to this plan startling the group. “Wait what? Are you okay Viridis??”

Marco stares into her eyes trying to see some kind of magical sparkle. Castor shouts for James.  He asks Viridis if he can look at her. Virids asks Castor to sit. She does, warily.

Viridis begins, “I’m sorry.” Castor and Marco look at each other, eyes wide. “I don't hate you Castor. There's just been some…” She re-adjusts. “Do you remember when we were at my house and I had to leave to get supplies a few times. Well, I wasn't getting supplies. I brought... someone with me. Then they turned into more people and they told me... things about you. Ever since we came to Mecca they’ve told me things like what to do and how to get out of situations. There have been more and more of them. The first one of them wasn't bad, it was good, my friend. These voices in my head, they told me things about you, things I believed. Last night, James helped me, they're gone for now but they might come back.” Viridis falls forward and Castor gives an awkward hug, she strokes her hair, comforting.

“If I may Viridis,” James says, “Castor you are the chati, your friends are attached to you in some way. Through your travels you will find magical people, objects, things and also spiritual beings. The demons, the angel. These beings can be malevolent or helpful, they can be unseeable and they can attach themselves to people or objects. One of them seems to have attached themselves to your friend. In regards to this, I am not sure what to do. But I can teach you the spell to keep them gone.”

Still holding her, Castor asks, “Viridis do you want them to be gone? You seem much more clear without them, but I don't want to tell you what to do so it's your decision if you want to learn the spell.”

“One is good, I'd like to keep one they’re my friend.”

“Can we do that, is it possible to separate them?” Castor looks to James.

“Regrettably, it is beyond my expertise to select which ones stay.”

Marco says, “I don't understand who you are if these people are influencing your decisions and personality Viridis!”

“I can leave the team, just stay here in Mecca.”

Castor protests saying “you’re a member of the team I won’t allow her to be here alone. We'll figure this out together, please don't go.”

Marco says “And besides who am I going to banter with?”

The group laughs at this. When it dies down Castor speaks shyly, “Well, now we’re sharing secrets, I, um, don't want to make this about me, but I um -I’m a girl.”

Marco exclaims, “Whaaaaaa. What do you mean?”

“I’m a girl. Long story short- mother wanted a boy, dad died and we were poor. Mother was real sick and well, boys make more. Viridis says “well, I did not see that coming and the voices did not tell me that. To be fair they said you were lying about something.”

Castor profusely apologises for lying to them all so long.

James says “you had good reason.”

Marco tells Castor “we accept and love you.” She tears up.

Through tears and smiles Castor asks “so Marco, any secrets from you?”

“Oh I, uh, want to be a scientist but I'm not smart enough.”

“Hey, no that's a lie! You are great! You can read and and and look at the stars to see which direction to go! You're going to be a great scientist some day!”

Big ol group hug.

Castor breaks the hug, “I need to go to work. Please, please stay here. Viridis agrees, Marco eyeing her warily. Castor looks Viridis right in the eye and says “I believe you,'' and flashes that crooked smile.

She enters into a long line to enter the palace; they search her for weapons and find the cross but don't take it. She meets up with Ivetta in the foyer. Who says in hushed tone, “I need to speak with you, in private.” they will be serving the prince again twenty minutes so they have time. “El Yassin pulled me aside yesterday and brought me to a meeting with a tall powerful man and he said he could get me anything if I poison the prince. I agreed he said he'd get me the necklace.” Castor expresses moral concerns as well as serious reluctance but says they should discuss this as a group later.

Castor looks guilty and worried while serving that day and the prince calls her out and asks “what is the matter my boy? I care for all my subjects and wish to hear what is wrong.”

Thinking quick, Castor responds “I heard an attempt was made on your life the other day.”

“Ah and you are worried for my well being, I assure you I have the best guards in the world fear not.”

After a long hard day of work, Ivetta sneaks out and leaves for the cave with Castor.

Upon entering the cave, Ivetta tells everyone to sit down, shut up, and listen, telling them about el Yassin’s detour of poisoning the prince.

“As the door to the meeting of the prince was closing. I saw the man. It's his son. The prince’s son is going to kill his father!”

Viridids gave el Yassin information about the princes’ monetary spendings as well as the fact that he’s selling weapons to the Christians. Viridis explains about the voices to Ivetta.

“Should we tell the prince his son is trying to kill him?” “But this probably a big ol conspiracy since el Yassin is involved and he's in touch with everybody.” they are undecided about whether or not to poison the prince.

At which point James teaches them the basics of magic. They work into the night, a tedious process. Lots of centering yourself, connecting to the energy of the universe. Teaches basic theory of magic. Reach to the energy in the universe. When one casts a spell, it's felt through the body. The more powerful the more tired you’ll feel after casting. There’s a certain amount of energy in the body but one can harness energy outside it. Feel tired when the energy is depleting. It varies from person to person, one might fall ill, be hungry, or tired, fatigued.

But if one were to use all the energy available in the body, one will die.

They retire quite late in the night after everyone has successfully levitated a small stone.

They plan for the next day: James will disguise Viridis as el Yassin to get Imilia. Marco will go along for support while Castor and Ivetta go to work and actively search for the necklace.

Returning empty handed, Castor and Ivetta find James unconscious at the cave entrance. Luckily, he’s just asleep, tired from using so much magic. Imilia is acting strange, muttering in Latin and staring into the void. Viridis says James checked and it's not a magical affliction.

As el Yassin, Viridis had the guards break down the door and got her sister out of his house.

Imilia gives a guttural scream.

Castor starts praying. Viridis says fuck it and joins her dragging Marco and Ivetta along.

They all feel a tingling sensation and Imilia begins to glow purple. Her eyes close and she falls asleep.

Castor raises her head from prayer, “Uh, guys, What just happened?”

James is still out for the count but his appearance has shifted. He now appears white with sandy red hair and freckles.

James wakes Castor in the middle of the night saying “Viridis needs you, wake the others.”

They shuffle out, Viridis is holding Imilia’s unconscious body. Castor helps hold her.

“What happened?!”

“She- she doesn't remember anything that happened. She didn't recognize me.”

“Did you tell James what happened with the praying?”

“Uh no.”

“What? What happened?”

“Well, we prayed and she glowed and then fell asleep.” Castor says, sheepish.

“What?!” He hovers his glowing yellow hand over her face and says “there's magic here now. There wasn't before.”

“What?! What did we do??” Castor be freakin “I just wanted to help! All we did was pray!”

He does not answer.

The next day there is no line to the palace and no one is searched. Ivetta and Castor hardly see the prince and take action on their lunch break. Castor had given the cross to Ivetta the night before, Ivetta transforms into the prince’s wife and they head to her chambers. One handmaiden stands outside the room. “Mistress back so soon, how may I serve you?”

“Nothing at this moment.” Ivetta enters the room, leaving Castor with the girl. Like a hotel room her chambers are impersonal. Ivetta searches the dresser and in the jewelry drawer finding Golden earrings, diamonds, rings, rubies, bangles, etc yet not the one she’s looking for. A little latch in the bottom of another dresser secrets a false bottom, holding a vial with a clear substance. Further exploration yields a small wood box under the bed, notes, quills, but nothing of import.

Catching Ivetta off guard a knock comes at the door, “Mother you know better than to keep me waiting. We need to talk.” he walks right in, looking around at the clothes removed from drawers. “What mess are you making now? What are you doing woman?”

“Reorganizing.”

He scoffs but continues, “You know those servants I talked about? They are good candidates, are they not? I'm so glad you were able to introduce me to el Yassin. He was most instrumental in our plan. Is everything in place? Give me a run down. I need to make sure everything is perfect.”

Castor sees the prince's real wife coming down the corridor. She tells the handmaid the prince needs to see his wife immediately.

Ivetta freezes, “I-uh well.”

“You are acting strangely. Lie down.”the prince’s son demands. Castor then knocks on the door and insists the prince’s wife go to her husband, he has summoned her. They yeet out of there.

Marco has been asking around town about the symbol. Turns out its the prince’s heirloom. A man said it was in the throne room during a ceremony.

Castor wants to leave a note telling the prince of the coup. Probably in the special place where the necklace is found. The plan is split up: Castor and Viridis checking the prince’s and his son's room while Marco and Ivetta check the conservatory and vault. Eventually, they scrap that and go simple- One of them disguised as the prince and 3 others as bodyguards and just go in and demand the necklace. The cross’ power is amplified and each of the four are able to shift but this takes the rest of its disguising magic.

VIridis plays the part of the prince. On their way into the palace there's a crowd in front of the gate. Going through the crowd, ‘the prince’ is spotted by ten men in cloaks. One shouts “there he is!” they all brandish knives, people scream in terror. This causes a panic and people run in every direction.

Castor starts shoving people out of the way and makes a kind of bubble as people move out of her way that people move around. Ivetta shouts to the castle guards “stop the men with knives. They’re trying to kill the prince!”

Viridis shouts “open the gate!” The four make it to the other guards who rush to defend their prince. They roll through the gate at the last moment before it slams behind them. The knife-wielding men disperse into the crowd. Guards surround the prince, ushering him inside.

The three ‘guards’ are separated from Viridis and are interrogated by the head guard “who was it? Who tried to end the prince’s life?”

“They had christian broadswords, sir. But we can’t say for sure where their loyalties lie.” He tells them to stay there, they’ll be needed to identify the men when they go to attack the Christians.

Viridis, still disguised, goes to the prince’s room accidentally waking the real prince. He thinks Viridis is his dead twin brother for a moment but he asks about their mother, how she is in Akhirah. Viridis says she’s just fine, enjoying herself. But ah, our mother is alive, you are an imposter! Vidridis turns the jig on him, accusing him of being an imposter and gets the real prince sent to the dungeon!

When the head guard returns he says “the prince wants to see you.”

The prince descending the stairs gives the three a smile, alerting them all is well. They head into the throne room. Behind the throne is a golden tabernacle. The guard asks for the key from the prince.

Thinking fast Castor says, “My prince, you must have dropped it when we came through the gates.”

Viridis says, “I must have the contents!”

The guard is perplexed and decides to retrieve the locksmith. In the meantime, they start to bash the tabernacle which is embedded in the wall. The guard and locksmith arrive and he gets the battered box open. At last, the golden necklace sparkles, within their grasp.

Of a sudden, men with swords and painted red faces line up, blocking the door. The prince's son stands ahead of them. "Father, I need to speak with you."

Marco tells Viridis “grab the necklace.” A short vision when Viridis picks up the necklace: several people circled, a dark square in the center of the room. All bow at the same time. Another vision of man on horse at dawn riding up hill with crescent moon emblazoned on a banner.

Viridis hands the necklace to Castor at Ivetta's prompting.

Immediately, everybody, save Castor herself, is frozen in place. She kinda wanders around for a second like ??? She then tries to grab her friends and gtfo when she hears footsteps in the hall. A grandfatherly voice speaks, "Castor." Through the row of guards with facepaint  comes an Indian looking man who speaks again, "there's no need to do that," gesturing to Castor's desperate attempts to gather her friends. He leans, with both hands on his wooden cane, propping himself up.

"Who-who are you? What happened to everyone? What's going on?"

"I know you have many questions young Castor, but time is short. I am you. We have been here before."

"You're another chati."

He smiles, "now you are getting it. I left this trinket here for you. For your quest.  Many chati have wasted away in order to get to you. You are special. One day you will know. One day you will remember."

"I- thank you. What is your name?"

"Chati."

"No, no your real name."

"Castor, we are chati we have no true names, we only serve God. Now, It seems you have gotten yourself in quite a mess."

"Uh, yeah that...happens a lot." She looks down, fiddling with her cross necklace.

"I can help you, I sense that you do not wish to hurt them."

"No, I-I don't. I don't want to lose control ever again. I don't want to kill."

"I can help you, just tell the prince's son and his guards to do what you want, I will make it happen. Order them and they will do what you say."

"I-"

"Time is short, do you understand?"

"Y-yes! Thank- Thank you."

Castor is back to where she was before, just having taken the necklace from Viridis and it looks like time hasn't progressed.

But there's no time to think, Castor knows what to do.

In a voice filled with a thousand voices she says:

"Seize the prince’s son! He and the queen are traitors! He was working with a man, el Yassin, to bring about a rebellion that would place him on the throne. It was they who stirred up the Christians and Jews alike, all to take the crown and its power. Take him, find her and el Yassin imprison them and all who helped them. The true prince will dole out justice to the traitors."

A wave of magic pulses through the throne room as Castor's eyes glowed a moment. The prince’s son drops his sword, guards taking him away before the metal even settled to the floor. The men with painted faces also drop their weapons. Completely docile, they follow the prince's son to the dungeons. None stopping to even ask questions, Marco, Viridis, Ivetta, and Castor leave the palace as fast as possible.

They stop a moment at el Yassin's house to spring their trusty steeds from his stables. Luckily they aren't stopped.

They ride to the mountain top, where they bid farewell to James. Castor asks him to come with them but he says he must stay there and guide other chati that may come. And with one last "thank you," they ride into the desert.

The first night they all dream of finding the edge of the desert. During the 2 day journey they feel huge rumbles in the ground and in the night they hear otherworldly sounds that raise the hairs on the back of their necks. A bubble surrounds them, protecting them from a sandstorm. At last they reach the edge. As like before they find a solid clear surface on which to walk. Castor takes the first step onto the nothing and the next part of their journey begins.

They walk a while and are, again, enveloped in a purple bubble. Their stomachs drop as they fall.

The purple dissipates. Salty wind whips through their hair, the sturdy wood creaks below their feel, a white flag, a stark, red cross emblazoned upon it flaps gently in the breeze. The four stand atop the deck of a ship.

Startling all of them, a man shouts, "Land ho!"

TBC