The System Seas

“We’d be glad to leave,” Elisa said. “If that’s what you think is best.”

“We do. Of course, we can pay you, if you like.”

“No need.” Marco waved off the suggestion. “We’ve gotten a lot from this. I think you know that. We don’t want to be unfaithful.”

“Well, that’s settled.” The servant walked in a direction not quite opposite where the temple had been. “If you’d follow me, then, I’ll be glad to show you a way out that won’t draw attention. You are mostly unknown here, so we really just need to get you out of the palace grounds.”

They walked for a minute or so across manicured lawns, around perfectly trimmed bushes and hedges, and then eventually to a small, wooden shack of the kind gardeners used to store tools and supplies.

“The Overseer commissioned this tunnel to allow him to leave the palace discreetly when he wished. He wore disguises at such times.”

“Why wouldn’t he just leave normally?”

“He didn’t enjoy the attention. I don’t believe he was much suited to rule an empire, deep down. Of course, everyone recognized him anyway, but most were polite enough to not say so when they saw he was trying to be less than noticeable.”

The door to the shed creaked open, revealing only a stone stairway that dropped down just far enough to get them under the level of the ground. The servant motioned downwards and smiled.

“Our people thank you for what you are doing. Or would, if they knew the details of what you are doing. Can I make one humble request of you as you leave?”

“Sure,” Marco said. “If I can make one too.”

“Of course. My request is that you be successful out there. I’d ask you to be safe, but of course that’s not really in the cards for someone like you.”

“We’ll try.” Marco could feel the new temple power in him not only strengthening him, but supplementing the power of every temple in his control. It was fairly obvious why the servant would want more of that. They were probably already seeing gains over what Jare had been able to give him, and those only stood to get better as he and his crew did more things, seized more territory, and gained more levels. “We really will. It’s good for everyone here.”

“Agreed. Now, as for your request, let me know what it is, and I’ll be glad to help.”

“We’d like to get back to our ship as soon as possible, and we are all hungry. Could you arrange for…”

“Oh, sir, I’m afraid I’m a few steps ahead of you here. Don’t worry about any of that. I don’t want to hold you up, but I assure you there will be answers for those requests at the end of the tunnel.”

The assistant straightened his clothes. Marco didn’t know who was taking over the country now that Jare was gone, and it wasn’t any of his business. Somehow, though, he hoped it would be this man.

With one last nod, Marco ducked into the tunnel, followed by Riv, Aethe, and Elisa. They walked down the plain stone tunnel for about a mile, not seeing anything of interest besides a few tree roots that had managed to worm their way through the stone.

“I guess this is the way out.” Marco and the crew had finally come to a turn in the otherwise straight tunnel. It only continued on a few feet before meeting with a stone staircase headed up. “Let’s see what he has waiting for us.”

At the top of the staircase, they found themselves in a house. Not a home, Marco thought, since the furniture looked entirely unused, the space was spotless, and there were no decorations of the type families usually accumulated visible anywhere. But it was a house, complete with tables, a stove, and hallways that looked as if they headed towards completely conventional bedrooms.

Standing waiting for them were a cook and yet another scholar type.

“Glad to see you made it, sirs and ma’ams.” The cook bowed his head. “If you please, they had me make you some things to eat. Told me to let you take your time eating them, that you’d earned them. Please take whatever you’d like; there’s plenty. And let me know if there’s something you want that I don’t have, and I’ll get it.”

“I’m to help you get to your ship afterwards,” the scholar said. “Don’t mind me until you are ready.”

The team obeyed. It was hard to think much about an anonymous scholar when there were bowls of noodles, broth, and meat everywhere, filling the room with smells that could only come from someone who was used to cooking for the leader of a country.

They dug in, taking the instructions that there was no hurry to heart. A half hour later, they were all stuffed to the gills with calories and, thanking the chef, finally turned their attention back to the scholar.

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“Are you ready?”

“I believe so. You’ll lead us to our wagon?”

“Oh, no. I can do much better than that. If you’d please follow me, I’ll take you to the portal room.”

“Portal room?” Elisa’s eyes rose. “I didn’t expect you to have that. I suppose I should have.”

“Loop us in, Elisa.” Riv waddled after the others, obviously overfed. “It’s not like I know about this.”

“It’s an evacuation tool. It’s supposed to help heads of state flee troubles.”

“Can’t be,” Marco said. “That old man never ran from anything. I could tell.”

“That’s what it is. I don’t know what to tell you.”

“Technically, she’s right.” The scholar stopped near the edge of the next room and knelt. “The system describes it as an evacuation tool for important figures. It’s just that the Overseer never used it that way. We had to build one for him so he’d agree to live this far inland. It was a great expense, but…”

“But it made it so he could warp to the docks, sail to trouble, and hit it with a hammer?” Marco guessed.

“Something like that. Now, if you please, go ahead and stand in the center of the room. The circle itself should prompt you as to the next steps.”

The floor all around them began to shine with complex runes and glyphs, and the notifications followed soon after. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel✦fire.net