109 Chapter One Hundred and Nine – The Fire and the Sword, Part I (1/2)
”You haven't felt Sama's Null,” Briggs sniffed, and leaned forward conspiratorially, the man matching him reflexively. ”Cold, smooth, and diamond. I wouldn't try charming her. She's Senior to all of us.”
The man straightened thoughtfully. ”Well, my Brothers are not prone to exaggeration. I felt the deaths of two great Interlopers reverberating through the manafield.” His dark eyes turned unerringly to the very spot they had died upon, the grass still stained white in two superimposed circles, then the places where the Carnage and Slaughter demons had died. ”She stirred the Land to feast...”
”That much vivus? Hell, yeah,” Briggs confirmed. He tilted his head, and the Firesword naturally settled on Sama, Tatting up foresters and wardancers. Those already Marked were gathered off to the side, eyes focusing on nothing as they gawked at The Map inside their heads, and helplessly added to it. Some were chatboxed, and moving their hands in silent synch and awe, testing the Marktell.
And realizing that yes, some people were indeed smarter, wiser, and more forceful then others, and in Markspace, it was wholly and completely obvious.
His eyes took it all in, silent, studying, analyzing. His gaze turned back to Briggs, who was watching a spinning centrifuge as he prepared to melt down some gold to make Amulets.
Cold Resist 1, Fire Resist 1. Ironblood Amulets, Sama had called them.
”I was told that you would forge me a Void-bound Sword,” the Firesword finally spoke.
Briggs inclined his head again. ”SHE will do that. She's much better than I am, at present. A Starter Sword, of course, unless you've adamant with you.”
The Void Brother shook his head once. ”Should I procure some first?”
”Not unless you're planning to get a post-Zieben-level Sword shortly. You're better off taking advantage of this opportunity to raise its Name as fast and far and possible. When you've got a few days of not fighting, sure, go get them. Or, better yet, just arrange for someone else to deliver them. Sama can make it during downtime, and you can transfer the Name anytime.”
The most widely known and feared of the Void Brotherhood thought that over. ”Does this Mark truly allow you to speak with someone over great distances freely?”
”By way of the back of Sama's mind, yes. You're basically talking in a room in the back of her head, so others can hear you.”
His dark eyes darted to her. ”So, she can hear everything?” he asked quickly.
”Yes. Rule One of Marktell: don't say stupid and embarrassing stuff in Marktell. Not that most people would dare...”
”My Brothers confirmed they can use this telepathy by physical contact.”
”Mark Resonance, yes,” Briggs named it dutifully.
”They also said that she has Marked people stretching the length and breadth of the whole continent.” His voice held a mild note of disbelief.
Briggs scratched his ear despite himself. ”Well, that shocked the Hell out of me, too. It turns out that while she was trapped in Nightmare, she built herself up an army of dream soldiers, and Marked them all. It seems all those Marks followed them dreams back to real life, and she and they didn't realize it until she sent out an Omnitell to everyone.” He harrumphed. ”There's about four thousand of them, and yeah, they're spread out all over the continent.”
”That is an extraordinary ability,” the Firesword murmured, eyes flashing.
”You do realize that any succubus could do the same thing, right?” Briggs huffed, and the Firesword blinked. ”No, the most amazing thing is that she stole the ability, not that it exists.”
”I see...” He was clearly mulling over the implications.
”You either trust her, or you don't,” Briggs offered. ”There's no control function, no shoving spells through it to control others, she's a Null. Of course, you're going to be in contact with a Deep Ten, and that's probably going to be a humbling experience.”
The deep eyes turned on him, weighing the options. ”My Brothers were quite enthusiastic about her. It was... rather unnatural,” he admitted, privately amazed at how seriously he was taking this young Ancient's words. Then again, this Ancient talked like an orator, not a primitive tribesman. The fact alone meant he was extraordinary.
”I imagine that kind of enthusiasm isn't something that comes to someone as disparaged as the Brotherhood. Likewise, the understanding of equals, instead of disdain and scorn. Add in the clarity of telepathic communication, and the ability to chat with so many others after so much isolation... I imagine they are still adapting.
”Oh, and the Shadowknife really wants to add your intelligence network to the Marked, letting him wield all sorts of nasty little tricks from halfway across the globe. If you can link up with other Brotherhoods elsewhere, and start sharing knowledge...”
The Firesword let out a grim breath, clearly wavering. ”That is a monumental amount of trust, young Master Briggs.”
”It is. But since you possess the ability to remove the Mark at any time, not exactly a risk to you.” Briggs shrugged. ”Once you see The Map and realize what a lot of people in a lot of places can do when they pool their talents in real time, I think you'll come around.”
”And this Soul Magic?” he pressed further, not having much knowledge of the art.
”Can't have a Vajra Soul without it.” Briggs glanced at him as he began to drop the molten gold into carved molds already filled with the silver for the other side, which he'd have to carve and trim appropriately. It didn't require much in the way of QL, so he'd be able to work quickly. The alchemical wash he'd treated them with would insure the two metals bonded as smoothly as electrum. ”And it will help immensely in your foundation. Imagine being able to slaughter demons and Feed the Land, rather then just sending them home, to come back again at the next opportunity.”
His Helix seemed to flash, subtle hue changes, like dim flames of every color imaginable. In the thaumaspectrum, it was probably a blaze of magic, the flames of the Fire and the Sword, the horrifying final sight of many a demented spellcaster.