Lord Enthir Heywood
I rode in a carriage with Ser Markus Kewell, the imperial investigator sent to manage the matter of Myr. As we thundered along the highway towards Greystone, I considered the girl herself and our interactions.
Reading Ser Kewell's initial investigative report before our meeting gave me a false estimation of her personality. She seemed willing to do anything to gain power, bending to lords, nobles, and gang leaders without hesitation. Yet, when faced with reasonable surrender with overwhelmingly generous terms, considering her crimes, she did not hesitate to destroy everything she had built to escape.
Power was not her goal. After a conversation with her old friend Simon, I realised the truth. Agency, that was what she desired, for peasants and women in particular, the ability to choose was foreign to them.
But was she a product of her upbringing? Or did that upbringing allow the true persona to come forth?
I’ve heard of men and women suffering far worse than Myr ever did during her upbringing, yet they gritted their teeth and endured. What was the difference in Myr compared to them? How could a girl commit so many crimes without hesitation? How does a woman turn from maiden to murderer? What was the answer?
“A bit for your thoughts, Enthir?” Markus said.
I looked over to my friend of many years. Tall, stringy building with brown, a face that seemed carved from marble, dressed in simple yet durable dark red clothing.
“Just thinking about our quarry. She is still something of a mystery to me.”
Markus raised a thick eyebrow, “How so? We know everything there is to know about her.”
I shook my head, “It’s not that.” I paused as I considered how to word my thoughts. “It’s the difference between her and any other person in her situation.”
“Mild sociopathic or psychopathic tendencies related to childhood trauma are not uncommon. Combine that with a willingness to risk herself and her safety for great rewards, and you have Myr.” He said as if his words were the perfect truth.
“Before, I agreed with you, but people like her tend to act towards self-preservation above all else. She didn't hesitate to risk death to escape me, even though that was by far the most dangerous path. She inspired actual loyalty with very little effort. Every one of her people refused to believe that she destroyed their homes and blamed me.” I shook my head, still surprised by the vitriol I faced.
Markus was silent, which was a sign that he was unsure of himself. “She is also an impressive manipulator, don’t forget that. Though that was surprising, even more surprising was Rennah’s response.” Markus furrowed his brow. “The anger, resentment, and demand for funds to repair all the destroyed homes. You know she’s actually following through with the repairs, particularly in that stretch of street Myr ruled. ”
I raised an eyebrow, “Truly? I suppose that confirms our suspicions. She did work with Myr to form a narrative, in case of a battle.”
Markus sighed, “Now, negative sentiment about the Magisterium is spreading, placing Myr on the side of the aggrieved party.”
I leaned back in the carriage and stared at the ceiling. “We need to curtail this spread before it gets out of hand.”
Markus nodded, “On that we can agree.”
Markus looked off into the distance, his normally self-confident and all-knowing countenance showing cracks.
“What is it, Markus? There’s something you’re not telling me,” I inquired. He held my gaze for a long moment, in my armor, few could.
“This case, it feels different.” He muttered.
“We’ve had rogue magi before. How is this any different? I asked.
Markus took a deep breath, “Myr, there’s something about her that gnaws at the back of my mind. Don't tell me you don't feel it, and just now I had a thought.”
“Go on.” I nodded. There was something about Myr that unsettled me.
“I’m a student of history, philosophy, and psychology. It’s what makes me effective as an investigator.” I sighed, preparing for one of his soliloquies. “Do you know what kind of person most commonly shares the attributes we assigned to Myr?” He held up a fist. “Ruthless practicality, combined with mild psychopathic tendencies. Obsessive commitment to one's own ambition regardless of social, religious, or political norms. The inclination to charm, threaten, lie, or cajole to enthrall others?” He held up three fingers.
If I didn't have my helmet on, I would be stroking my beard. His words brought forth my own worries about Myr.
“She’s not shown any indication of such ambition. Surely you don't think that is her end goal?”
He shook his head firmly, “No, though I miscalculated a bit in my initial analysis, leading to the debacle at Grenwood. I am beyond certain that she has no such ambitions.”
I looked into his brown eyes, recognizing the smallest shadow of doubt in them. “What you mean to say is that she currently does not have such ambitions.” I had to ask, since this was his job. “Do you think it's actually possible for her to generate enough negative sentiment to actually affect the empire?”
Markus took a deep breath as he settled his thoughts, “Logically, no. The empire is thousands of years old. Alliances and bloodlines span generations.”
“There is still some doubt in your words.” I deduced.
He nodded, “She’s just one girl. Yet my bones tell me to be cautious.”
“You are correct, I do feel it. This one is different from the rest. It’s such a shame.”
“What do you mean?” Markus asked.
“Can you imagine if she were born in a family influential enough to be noticed by the magisterium. If she was raised with loyalty to the empire in her heart. Myr would have been the perfect candidate to keep that boy in check and stabilize his reign.”
Markus grimaced but didn’t respond; he knew I was right. He chuckled under his breath, “Given her preferences, I doubt the match would work.”
I shared the chuckle with him, “I suppose, but stranger things have been done to stabilize the imperial line.”
Markus silently nodded, then spoke, “Regardless, we need to avoid whatever catalyst could spark that desire in her.”
As Greystone approached in the distance, I said, “Let’s curtail this discussion for now. We need to learn what has happened in Greystone.”
Markus nodded, “Agreed.”
We entered Lowtown; the situation seemed dreary. Many buildings were damaged, and there were a few people in the pillories being punished.
“Greystone should be rather stable; something has happened. I’ll coordinate with the guard captain and meet with the count. You should begin your investigation into her actions.” Markus said.
Glancing at the peasants staring at our carriage with hate, I nodded in agreement.
~
I returned from my investigation of the manor. Markus, Merchant Enoras, the captain of the guards, and I stood in Enoras’s luxurious courtyard. The pudgy balding man was sweating like a pig even though the air had a comfortable chill. Markus was gritting his teeth as he read the report from the guard captain. Which, for a man like him, meant inside, he was boiling with murderous rage.
I couldn't blame him; the debacle of Myr's heist was a serious problem.
Markus asked Enoras, in a low and angry voice, “What was your response when you heard of your treasure being given to the citizenry?”
Enoras puffed his cheeks, “I ordered them returned. Many of those items are irreplaceable.”
“Meaning, you ordered your men to ransack homes, drag men and women into the streets, and demand the return of your valuables at knifepoint.”
“I had the count’s permission, and the items were stolen. Even after days of work, I don't even have one in ten of what was taken.” He said, defending himself.
Markus met my eyes, and I nodded and stated. “The reports are accurate.”
Enoras sighed in relief. I speared him with my cold gaze, “However, I have a few questions for you, Enoras.”
He stiffened, “That hidden vault, why did it not use any of the standard imperial surveillance or warnings systems. You have two magi at your disposal, and you didn't commission the work.” I continued speaking, not allowing him to lie to my face. “That only means you didn't want us to know of its existence. So you must have had something particular in there that Myr wanted. Everything else is a smokescreen for that item.”
He threw his eyes over to the captain of the guard, in a silent plea. “You. Leave us.” At my commanding tone, the man stiffened, saluted, then marched off, leaving us alone with Enoras.
“Orichalcum, if I had to guess, that’s what she came for. I bought it from Rennah. I don't know how she learned of it.”
I sighed in relief; it was a problem, but not too terrible. I looked to Enoras again, once more finding his countenance suspicious.
“Out with it. We will discover it in time. No point in dawdling.” I commanded.
He sighed and said, “I have some eyes in Lowtown. She threw out mostly gems, gold, and silver. She kept all the platinum.”
“And?”
He loosened his collar, “A crown from the Third empress.” Markus looked incensed by that fact, but I couldn't have cared less.
“And a scroll.”
“Scroll?” I asked.
Enoras shrugged, “It’s been in my family for decades, it was covered in those odd runes you magi use.”
A chill of pure terror crawled up my spine. I had to make sure. “Was it gilded? Were the runes written in straight lines, row after row, seemingly without purpose or reason?”
Enoras, blind to the enormity of what he just said, nodded and asked. “You know of it?”
If he weren't the single wealthiest merchant in the empire with connections even reaching the imperial family, I would have killed him on the spot in pure anger. No, not just him, his entire family line, just to ensure no such stupidity could be passed down through the generations.
“Thank you for your assistance, Lord Enoras. Can you provide us with a place to gather our thoughts on the matter?” Markus asked calmly.
~
We stood in a smoking room in a detached house from the manor, which was well decorated and beautifully furnished.
As soon as we were in private, Markus picked up a wine bottle sitting on the center table and, in anger, threw it against the wall.
“Worthless, moronic, feckless, worm.” He raged as he paced back and forth.
“Of all the possible reactions to her actions, he chooses the absolute worst response. This act will spread through the empire like a plague. It will be told in every tavern, inn, and brothel. There will be songs and plays written for generations. That damned fool.”
He sat down on a soft chair and kept speaking, “It was a master stroke on her part. Of course, a commoner merchant would do everything he could to get his goods back, firmly placing Myr as the savior and the wealthy and noble as the enemy. Her speech was tailored for that specific purpose. She made sure to hammer home the idea that they would try to take it back. And with that action, every peasant in the entire bloody empire will now see her in a favorable light, crippling our information-gathering efforts.”
He sat down, staring at the ceiling. I chuckled under my breath; somehow, I found humor in the ridiculous situation.
“And what is it you find so funny, Enthir?”
“Have you forgotten the scroll?” I asked.
“Right, you seemed ready to kill the man. What is its significance?”
“I’m reasonably sure it’s a Crimson Manuscript.”
Markus was silent for a full minute before he spoke again, “So, we have a woman sowing dissension in the empire, ruthless enough to murder magi and nobility, guilty or innocent alike, to achieve power, who is now in the possession of a Crimson Manuscript.”
“That is the situation.”
“I thought they were all destroyed,” Markus said.
“There were hundreds of them; it's not surprising a few are still around.”
Markus calmed, returning to normal. He always reacted to extreme stress by dissociating from it. “Explain it to me from a Magus’s perspective. How dangerous is Myr, having one in her possession?”
“Myr, at best, would be classified as an above-average or maybe exceptional talent in magic. Her progress, while fast, isn't unparalleled. No magical item she has made was outside of expectation. Her creativity, though, is commendable, perhaps due to not having any standardized training.”
Markus remained silent, knowing that I was leading to a conclusion. “It took decades and some of the greatest minds to decipher the first of them. Over time, it became easier, but it still took years for even a single scroll. Even if Myr were the greatest genius of our time, she still couldn't decipher it in her lifetime. Not without access to the archives.”
Markus nodded in acceptance, “Which is why you’re calmer than I am.”
“Indeed, though for a few seconds my mind did jump to the worst possible conclusion.”
“What if, by some miracle, she does decipher it?” Markus asked.
“Then we hope that she finds no useful runic definitions. Remember the black tar eruption was an accident, yet it claimed three hundred thousand lives.” I sighed and suggested, “Perhaps we should change our tactics, use a massive force to flush her out.”
“No, her very existence is a threat now. Killing her will make her a martyr for the commoners, and even a small crack in the foundations can topple an empire. Even worse, we don't want her fleeing south. So long as she believes that the rewards of remaining in the empire are greater than the risk, she will not flee.”
“What do you propose?”
“This fire she has lit in commoners; fighting it will only lead to an even larger conflagration. We must allow it to burn itself out. Myr should be killed in silence. We will never announce her death, and even after she dies, we will operate as if she is still active. Over time, the fire she has ignited will be starved without her. She will fade away and become just another story to be told in taverns and alehouses.”
“She wants power, yes?” Markus said.
“Without question,” I nodded.
"What was the significance of her keeping the platinum?"
"Mostly like she wants to test its efficiency in an arcane circuit, which will certainly open a new paradigm for her."
"Yes, I'm aware of platinum's use in magic. Her next step is obvious, then." Markus nodded, and his eyes sparkled.
“Do you have a plan?” I asked.
“The beginnings of one, for now, I’m quite sure she’s heading to the imperial capital.” Markus was silent for several minutes before speaking, “Drop the bounty by half and remove the reward of noble titles and lands.” A vicious smile came over Markus’s face. “It’s about time we stop getting in her way.”