The Right To Rule

Chapter 4

Asandria knew it was common knowledge that there were new Vulcans in the city. The Sanctuary was cold to the bone with Celestial, Watchers were on full vigilante. New Vulcans came and went at Betelgeuse but never twenty at once; after all, Vulcans were very solitary. It was hard to find a Vulcan in the company of another Vulcan. The ones at Betelgeuse knew there were Watchers, they do their best to behave. It was not ideal. Now and then there was a case of Vulcan not following the Ways of Life. Regardless, Betelgeuse was peaceful and Asandria didn’t credit the Watchers. Of course, they have a hand in establishing peace. Even now, they wanted to make sure it stayed the same. But Watchers have their own dark secrets.

I doubt the Banker will do anything to disturb the peace of the city, Asandria whispered to herself. He had so much to lose.

The Banker might have collars on his Vulcans, however, it was only a matter of time before few words were said, balls of fire thrown and the word peace will be bitter in the tongue. Asandria better finds anything related to blacksteel soon, hence it was the reason she was at the Sanctuary. It was one of the last places she had never imagined herself at; events of life were truly unpredictable, when she woke up today she didn’t have the faintest thought of coming closer to Sun Temple nor the Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary was a stronghold for Watchers at Scorpius, built in the fourth citizen section, it was like a beacon of light in the dark. It was on the western side of the city opposite the Sun Temple. Its four spires were even visible from Crown Hill; the Sanctuary was dripped with dark gray and red, wide and tall with a model of a castle.

One thing Asandria had always loved about the Sanctuary was their library, they have tomes that cannot be found anywhere in the Sky Kingdoms. There were so many books, scrolls, and tomes, Asandria had not even read half of them. If there was any information about blacksteel, the Sanctuary was the best place to find it. The library was open to anyone though Asandria knew there were restricted areas from elites and citizens, however, she was from a Founding House and that carry merit.

Asandria tried to ignore Celestial when she approached the Sanctuary. It made her shiver, she felt cold to her bones. She had never sensed as much Celestial as she was since she left Timeless Halls. She found other Watchers pacing uneasily in the passage leading to the library. Asandria was certain they were suffering as much as she was but they won’t let go of their Celestial, the more they touch Celestial the more they were aware, the better they can sense Radiation been touched. Watchers were always uneasy around Vulcans.

The main library was in the center of the Sanctuary, a floor below. Asandria went to an elevator. She sensed a tickle of Celestial coming from it, it was a Celestial artifact.

Within few seconds Asandria found herself at the library, the elevator opened directly at the library. It smelled of old paper and ink, brightly lit by white-lights hanging on the ceiling. In front of her were three desks each with a librarian. Before Asandria can approach a desk, a familiar face came out from the shelves, when she saw Asandria beamed with joy.

“Asandria, you look radiant as always. Not even a touch gray on the hair.”

Lourdes bear-hugged her before she can say anything. She smelled of dust and dry ink; Lourdes Makahelis lived at the library. Asandria had never seen her outside the Sanctuary. Lourdes was probably a century older than Asandria, petite and hair always in a tight bun. Her clothes were always bland lacking any vibrant and outdated by few decades. Today she wore a brown skirt with a matching jacket and flat sandals.

“I thought age will wipe your exaggerations,” Asandria replied smiling. She had not seen Lourdes in five years. Betelgeuse was broad enough for them not to cross paths. If she didn’t come to the Sanctuary she was certain twenty years can pass without crossing paths with Lourdes.

“I am looking for folktales regarding Vulcans, five century and older,” she quickly added before Lourdes can say anything.

“You never had any luxury of studying anything recently. I have come across the list of your requested books a few weeks ago,” Lourdes said.

Asandria allowed Lourdes to pull her by the hand like she was a toddler. Moreover, Lourdes was correct, Asandria never studied recent events. She desired history, years where she was not born. This was different too; nobody alive, as far she can tell, knew anything about blacksteel, and the best place to start was folktales, they might be a story but a story had to start somewhere. She only wanted a hint of it, either it was mentioned off-hand or in detail, the fact that it was mentioned will be enough.

“The sisters are on edge because of Vulcans at the city,” Lourdes said as she descended on the steps still holding Asandria’s hand. “But I was telling some sisters not while ago that there was nothing to worry about. We have not had a Vulcan outburst in so many years, Ways of Life was still followed.”

The library was designed in a circular fashion with two floors. The lower floor was mostly for books, every inch of its space was dedicated to shelves. There were rows and rows of shelves, some taller than others. There was a space reserved for studying but it was not much open as the one on the upper floor. Moreover, the shelves on the upper floor held books that were of little interest to Asandria.

“And what would say about what’s happening at Hamal? Last I heard no Watcher was allowed to cross the border and the five which were very confident have their heads on the spike.”

Lourdes paused for a moment. Watchers were banned at Hamal and its capital city of Amalthea was a dangerous place for a Watcher. But some Watchers were oblivious of it, they didn’t want to believe that after almost three thousand years a single Vulcan can find a will to define them.

“But that was two years ago, I am certain if Hamal wanted a conquest they would at least invade Azha or Perseus,” Asandria quickly added. Lourdes was a librarian, there was no need to frighten her.

Lourdes nodded, let go of Asandria’s hand and proceed through the shelves. For few moments Asandria followed behind silently.

“What do you think it would happen if Vulcans live as long as we do?” Lourdes asked as she took a book from the shelves without much reading its title and hand it to Asandria.

“To be honest, I wonder the same thing,” Asandria said, her mind paused on the thought of Walmer.

Moreover, the Vulcans will be superior to us in knowledge, Asandria echoed to herself. For only a few years they live, they show more desire for learning than anyone who touches Celestial.

“Then we don’t have to fear what’s happening at Hamal,” Lourdes said. “In few years it will be a distant memory such as the name of a Vulcan.”

Probably, there was something strange happening at Hamal, the way it has shut itself from Sky Kingdoms, chased away Watchers, and aligning itself closely with Barren Lands. No nation has ever done it since the Origin.

In thirty minutes Asandria had five books, to begin with. Lourdes helped her to find a study room in the furthest part of the library. Asandria also requested other books with refreshments. She was certain she was going to be at the library past the hour of resting. The study room was enough to accommodate two people low ceiling with a faded light, a chair, and a desk. There was also a lamp on the desk along with a stack of papers and ink beside them. She could have done the research back at the manor, however, she wanted endless access to books. Besides all Watchers were on edge, no Watcher was going to bother her.

For the next two hours, Asandria poured through her books without coming across any hit regarding the blacksteel. All folktales talked about how evil Vulcans were, one even went as far as saying Vulcans have horns on their heads, sharp teeth as long as the thumb. It was expected from folktales, Asandria was not disappointed. She went to the shelves and look for other books. This time she didn’t go for folktales, she will get someone to do that for her. She wished the Banker had told her where he had gotten his information that Rings of Fortune were indeed blacksteel or at least how they have arrived at Betelgeuse. It will be much easier. Asandria also knew the risks, it can take years before she can find anything related to blacksteel at the Sanctuary. The longer it took, the longer the Banker was overstaying his welcome. Vulcans and Watchers will cross paths eventually and Aram and his soldiers will do little good to stop them.

The Banker was not loved at all by Watchers.

Asandria walked back to the study room with two books each underarm, one was about a Vulcan’s journey to Titan from Izar, and the other was a fourth telling of the War of Light at Crux in 578 E.N. Asandria had not read much of the War of Light but she knew it was the largest-scale war between Vulcans and Watchers since the Origin. She was very confident she will get something related to blacksteel, it’s not war without weapons.

***

It’s been three days since the meeting with the Banker and Asandria had taken the liberty of inviting him to the manor. She cannot go to him, he was, after all, the one who was in need. In the time between she has been making trips to the Sanctuary to continue with her studies and on two occasions she sat with Lourdes for a tea while she was resting her head.

“What do you believe about history in general?” Asandria asked her while she sipped at her tea. They were sitting at Lourdes’ room which looked over the settlements of fourth citizens.

Asandria knew the woman for almost a century, yet this was the first time she has been in her room. They have met at the Sanctuary while Asandria was still fascinated by ruling and monarchy and Lourdes was her guide as Lourdes referenced books and tomes Asandria has to familiarize with. They have never been best of friends, Asandria tried to keep a fair distance from anyone who had to obtain a chain from Timeless Halls.

“Well…it defines our present; it acts as a guide and molds our belief,” Lourdes replied after a moment of thought.

“Then I am not far from the truth if I suggest history only tell us a story or event in order to believe in it,” Asandria continued.

“Certainly.”

“Let’s take the War of Light as an example,” Asandria said. “Can we believe it as truth?”

Lourdes sipped her tea and fall into deep thoughts. Asandria watched as the older woman slightly frown, her lips drawn thin and eyes distant.

“A host of only seven Vulcans marched from Titan hoping of getting to Europa faster by curving through Crux. By the time they cross the border between Barren Lands and Crux, their number was twenty and word of their march had to reach Timeless Halls by then.

“Seventy Watchers from Iron City and some major cities of Azha intercept the Vulcans at Crux following orders from the Halls. But those sisters never cross the border to Crux…”

Asandria understood Lourdes’ telling. She had read three books about the War of Light and all of them say the same thing. They tell how the war broke in the same manner, how Vulcans from Azha band together and attack seventy Watchers who were going to Crux.

“Skygods made us the memory of the world and time itself, for if men ever tried to forget, we should remind them.”

Asandria nursed her tea feeling its warmth rubbing against her palms. Watchers viewed themselves as the memory of the world, everything happened and they record it. In Lourdes’ point of view, Watchers were not victors but only the observer and the recorder of events of Sky Kingdoms, that was the sole reason they live as long as five-century and were blessed with the power of the moons. Then it went back to energies: Radiation and Celestial. Somehow Asandria felt the two were connected but she had no faintest idea how.

At the same moment, she thought of time before the Origin. She thought of Spiral Pulser, a force of darkness that swallowed everything in its way.

“Everything is connected to the Origin,” Asandria said after a long silence. “Sky Kingdoms as a whole.”

“However, taking a step back to history, something is missing,” Asandria added and she waited until Lourdes asked what was missing.

Lourdes gave it a thought. She didn’t rush into things, not quick to judge. She was not strong in Celestial, her mind was her strongest weapon. Though at first Asandria was afraid that Lourdes didn’t like any heated conversation, she was proven wrong. The woman had a wit for it.

“Men are capable of evolving, Asandria, I am sure what is missing throughout history we are not missing it.”

“Yes we are not missing it,” Asandria said leaning back on her chair.

She touched Celestial. One thing she had taken to heart from Timeless Halls was that energy cannot truly disappear which meant if it was given it can also be taken. In Lourdes’ room, there were at least three lamps all fueled by Celestial. Asandria held Celestial by her hand, it glowed a soft blue like it was hazed from its slumber. Controlling Celestial was all about will, the mind, and how strong it was. With Celestial she had in her hand she willed it to drain all Celestial around them. The lamps quickly extinguished and there were only illuminated by the soft blue light of Celestial.

“Sky Kingdoms has evolved to cater the needs of men and beasts by Celestial and little amount of Radiation,” Asandria said extinguishing her Celestial to leave them in the dark. “But if we can create artifacts using Moonstone, wouldn’t it be possible for Radiation to do the same?”

Asandria knew she was not treading on dangerous waters. She was not certain if Lourdes will keep their conversation, the Watchers were curious why Vulcans were at Betelgeuse and no Minister has told them. It was Minister’s business. Regardless, it didn’t mean they won’t figure it out, since the Banker’s meeting, every Minister who attend was on a mission. At least she didn’t give much away and she desired information, anything that might say the Watchers knew about the Rings of Fortune.

“I have no doubt it's possible but that’s Vulcan’s business,” Lourdes said. Lourdes also told Asandria she should visit either Iron City at Azha or Eurydice, Perseus, for there were sisters who were very skilled in artifact design.

Then maybe Rodfold was correct. Radiation artifact as possible. What did it need, Moonstone or blacksteel?

***

Asandria checked if everything was in order at the dining hall, Oslo was not joining them. He was going to be at an elite party with his family. He has been troubled by the fact that Rings of Fortune were not real, he wanted to get his mind off thus the party provided an excuse. At the moment she was telling him to be, there was nothing she can tell him but she knew he was angered. To him, it was a disgrace and disrespect to their family. Only if he was a Vulcan, the Sanctuary would be in ashes now.

The servants were busy making final touches. The table was long, dark wood, enough to accommodate twelve people. The chairs have a high back, soft purple velvet cushions. Plates were white and forks and knives were gold like stars in the sky. There was a vase of flowers at the center of the table; Asandria was not a flower person but she has to admit they have their own charm.

The high ceiling held a Celestial chandelier, blue crystals, shining brightly. The walls were made of glass to look over the city and the stars above. Asandria can see James by the port making his journey. She had drawn the curtains aside and lights of the city portrait. This was the first time in twenty years she had to play a hostess. She was not a Minister nor the owner of the manor. She lived there before she had the same blood as Oslo. Entertaining guests were beyond her rank.

While she took upon herself the role of hostess, it was also vital she dressed up to her role. She wore a dark long dress, tight over her upper body, and have a flouring skirt. It was not decorated with gems, a color bold on itself.

After ten minutes the Banker and his lads were announced to Asandrai who had already seated at the head of the table enjoying a chilled win. She waved them to seat without standing up, she has already put much of an effort into this dining, no need to bow a lad young as Kepnes. Ah, most people in the city were younger than me with at least two centuries.

"Minister de'Mist won't be joining us?" the Banker asked as the servants started to dish.

"I am afraid he has to be somewhere else. Besides he won't understand half of the things we will talk about."

"Tell me, Rodfold, why are you afraid of dying? Most Vulcans embrace death, they never try to run away from it," Asandria asked the same question it was asked when she first met him.

"Skylady Asandria, if I answer that, would you tell me how old you are?" the Banker replied with a question of his own.

Asandria smiled brightly. Most people always want to know the exact age of anyone who touched Celestial, it fascinates them because they live more than a century without truly showing. Asandria looked like she was in her late thirties but she has lived longer than that. Ah, but the Vulcan was not going to know her age. Well, at least not today.

"I am older than you, that should be enough," Asandria replied.

"But you never get tired of living that old?" Pitt blurted out. A Vulcan lad earned a look from the Banker and the boy immediately looked at his laps.

There was a good thing about living longer than any other being, men or beasts, and it was a memory, and the Banker had something similar a few days ago. The ability to see the future generation, to see the world grow old around them, and to keep those memories intact without losing any drop. However, men were capable of love and once the heart knew about love, it was greedy and never want to let it go; moreover, death was part of life, he always took what was his. Losing the people you love was the worst thing of been partially immortal.

"We are what we are, Pitt, and we should fully embrace it," Asandria said.

There was a moment of pause as the Vulcans focused on their meals.

"Then let me ask another question, this one I hope you will be able to answer me. Tell me why you believe the original Rings of Fortune are blacksteel and are here at Betelgeuse?" Asandria asked.

"Are you familiar with War of Light?" the Banker replied with a question. Again.

We are supposed to play this game? I thought you wanted to live more than anything.

"To a certain extent, I have been reading about it for the past days but there was no mention of blacksteel," Asandria replied with a sigh.

"It was believed the Vulcans from Azha had blacksteel, of course, it is hearsay; but have you ever heard a Vulcan who had sneaked a Watcher? Touching Radiation or not?"

Asandria didn't answer. She had asked the same question to Lourdes while they were discussing the authenticity of the manuscript, no single writer had spoken of how the Vulcans were able to catch up with the Watchers. If they have blacksteel they can touch as much Radiation without been sensed. It was possible if it was one of the abilities of blacksteel.

"All Vulcans have blacksteel as a weapon, daggers, swords, and spears. The War of Light, after five-century from the Origin, gave Vulcans around Sky Kingdoms an idea that they can move around without been sensed; they all wanted that power but none had an idea what it was."

The Rings of Fortune were seven hundred years, there was a huge gap of years been the War of Light and Rings of Fortune. How did they made their way to Scorpius?

"In wake of War of Light, some Vulcans at Titan remembered the story of Lord-Vulcan Dexter de'Leras and the Gifted, the mighty of eleven Vulcans with swords dark as a night and powers of Skygods," the Banker continued once again. "Years after years Vulcans poured out of Titan searching for the power to make them the new Gifted while Vulcans around the world searched the power to make them invisible."

One other thing Asandria learned from Timeless Halls Vulcans of the current era were nothing compared to Vulcans before the Origin. Asandria had read in many writings mostly the years of 1200 E.N to 1300 E.N rises of Vulcans claiming themselves to be the Gifted.

The most documented writing was about a band of Vulcans who rouse at Uzza, Nekkar, in 1289 E.N and took over the city and proclaimed it as the capital of Nekkar and themselves as highkings. The War of Kings and Highkings lasted for three years. It was a war of words and letters, there has been much of a battle for the better part of two years and a half. That was as much as Asandria knew about a band of Vulcans without including the recent events at Hamal.

"That's all thousands of years ago," Asandria said as the servants cleared the second plate.

Asandria sensed that both Vulcans were keeping their Radiation in check, they were touching as a tickle of the Radiation as possible. Ever since the first day she went to the Sanctuary she had not sensed Radiation from all Vulcans whom the Banker had come with at Betelgeuse.

"Yes, and as years passed it became like a myth until 1500 E.N at Iron City the myth became a reality," the Banker said.