17.9
Jewel turned away from the sight of the Sphinx gently whispering to the iron sculpture of Mathias’s head. Erhard had made it to surround the soul silver orb, something about concern that damage to it could harm or release the soul. The metal chime of the late High King’s voice a soft murmur back to the doting creature.
The Sphinx was curled around it protectively, with her hind most leg acting as a wall to shield the diminutive statue. Clearly interposing herself between the comparatively tiny shaped metal and the Court Wizard.
She had smelled the anger on the Sphinx when Erhard had restored the High King’s ability to speak and all that had come from it was near wordless cries for help. The Sphinx had soothed him, even without sight, without touch, without anything but words somehow the Sphinx had been able to soothe her ‘son’.
Brought him back from whatever horrified madness days in darkness and silence had given him.
Once it was clear that the Sphinx would remain preoccupied with soothing her ‘child’ from his terror Jewel had led the wizard back and away from the Sphinx’s alcove but quite far enough that she expected it could count as ‘leaving’,
“You left him in the dark.”
The wizard responded with as flat a tone as ever.
“An oversight, but it appears that the latest soul ingot cannot sleep or rest, even when deprived of speech, sound or sight. I did not anticipate this.”
Erhard had no contrition even to her wyrmish insight, just a stern kind of contemplation, an intensity of focus and then the same flat tone speaking loud enough Jewel could see the way the words caused a trembling tension and a stink of anger to rise off the Sphinx.
Her claws were flexing out and back in with the beat of her breath. Jewel took in a slow breath to steady her fire, exhaled with great care to avoid sparking some kind of wyrmish sorcery in her speech.
“You will not be able to take back Mathias from the Sphinx. After we depart I would guess you won’t even be able to approach the Sphinx without her attacking you. Mathias is apparently her son, and you have tortured him.”
The court wizard’s face actually shifted at that, creaking, groaning metal reshaping to a slight grimace. His burning eyes flaring brighter before dimming.
“That is unfortunate, I will have to procure more Cinnabar and Alum, extract and smelt the vital metals from both, forge a new elixir, then secure a living soul to imbibe it, This will delay the work that the High King Ordered, Lady Jewel.”
Jewel was not sure she would call what administering the elixir entailed as ‘imbibing it, nor did she recognize the ingredients he mentioned but Erhard’s tone made her sure they were quite expensive. He nodded at that, as if Jewel had not warned him that the creature behind him very likely would seek his death.
“I will also require another working from you to properly quicken the Elixir as well, preferably a much larger quantity then before, at least three doses, but if the ores allow more than a dozen would be preferable”
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Jewel glared at him before taking in a deep breath to fortify herself from performing any rash and emotional sorcery, the court wizard obviously saw nothing wrong with what he had done. Was he sinking too far into his truth? Was he becoming a Weird proper? Or was Erhard always like this?
She’d not really known him very well so far, either way he deserved a warning just in case he was growing blinded by his truth.
“How long will that take? The Electors have yet to decide on the new High King, without death hanging on his every limb the one they choose may very well cancel this project for all the horrors it has entailed.”
Erhard considered, another creak sounding from his face as the scowl from before deepened into a perplexed frown.
“The order from High King Mathias is unfinished, the only way that his successor could even attempt to stop my efforts would be to dismiss me as Court Wizard of the Realm, and the price for doing such would be one only a fool would dare to demand.”
She considered the wizard, his face far more like iron then it had been on their first meeting, he bent little at the joints now, there was a subtle straining of metal moved out of place with his every action.
He was not slow in any of his motions, but he shifted with great deliberation, even his breathing more a steady, groaning bellows than lungs of flesh and blood. His hair was no longer distinct strands now but more like woven iron in the shape of blades of grass curling as his beard once did.
“What price would that be? I can bring forth the concern with the Electors. If it is so dire they should be warned off a candidate likely of such foolishness.”
Erhard looked over to her, the fire of his eyes smoldering before with a creaking groan his face regained its calm composure, behind his flat tone and static face a relieved gratitude burned merrily.
“That would be most helpful, if the new High King should seek to dismiss me then I will be forced to take all nine hundred and seventy three of my halberdier armors. All the arms and tools I have sustained and all the metal works I have constructed in Burning Depths Ford. If I should be dismissed I will depart with them from this place to seek the completion of the Leuhtą Project without interference. A deal has been struck and paid for and my services will be rendered.”
Jewel could feel the truth of his statement echoing in the world, in the whisper of the sorcery that surrounded him.
Then with another nod he looked up at Jewel.
“I thank you again for your assistance in this matter Shining Countess of Viznove, Jewel of Rochford, when I have procured the raw ores and drawn out their metals into the purities and isolates needed for the Elixir I will contact you again. Whether it be sanctioned by the new High King or not, the work will continue.”
And with all he needed to say done he departed, in a clash of iron struck hard enough to make sparks Erhard Ironhand was gone.
Jewel looked towards the Sphinx and caught her gaze, not wishing to interrupt her time with Mathias’, they both exchanged a slow nod even as the beast’s lips moved softly around gentle soothing words for the static iron bust that now contained the soul of Jewel’s former liege.
This business seemed settled, In a manner that seemed stable if not satisfying, Jewel turned to depart, there would be another meeting of the Electors tomorrow, and if historical record was anything to go by another after that, for at least five more days. But only if she was lucky and it was a match for one of the quickest decisions the Electors had ever made in the recorded history of Cantor Reborn.
If Jewel was not blessed with favorable tidings, the Electors could end up in a stalemate for years to come.
She gave a shudder at the thought, then began to make her way through the gardens of the Menagerie, the sun was sinking towards evening and she and her household would be expected to join the other Elector’s entourages in the feasting hall for dinner.