Chapter 46: A View of Civilization
The sea patrol kept them busy for a little bit longer, asking some more questions around the Heirs’ magical items. They didn’t seem to care much about their destructive capacity but rather the danger of some kind of magical plague or anything that could self-replicate. With just a few questions they ferreted out the ax that could turn the target into an undead, but quickly clarified that it could only make a single undead at a time and the magic couldn't spread. Then they backed off a little ways, maintaining pace a few hundred feet away from the Grace of the Mists.
“That didn’t seem like a very serious inspection,” Nathan said, watching the little craft as it glided smoothly over the swells. “They didn’t seem worried about our skills much at all. Just our items.”
“You are with me, and summoned by Sarya herself. I have named you Questorkiller, and they do not wish to offend a guest of your status.” Eolinne dipped one shoulder in a shrug. “They also hold a symphony of skills to detect danger before it enters the city. Keihona has masterful compositions of many paths, especially those related to defense. This city has stood through Endings. It will not fall to a curse of Quaz.”
Khachi raised a bushy eyebrow. “How many Endings?”
“That is a secret of Kalis. If the sayings are truthful, it was founded after the ending of Wrath, but that was long ago.”
That would mean it survived three. Storm, Deicide and Elements.
They stood in silence for a little while, watching the dark landmass up ahead grow more resolved. They’d been sailing towards it for days without seeming to get much closer. But that was the effect of the curvature of Davrar - you could see things from very far away, and they’d get clearer as you approached and there was less atmospheric distortion. Now it was close enough Nathan could pick out some mountains as little bumps on the horizon.
Eolinne broke the silence. “We shall arrive after the sun departs. If you wish to be well-rested, there is time to nap.”
None of the Heirs seemed interested, so Nathan spoke for all of them. “I’d prefer to see Keihona. It’s not every day that you get to see a city this old.”