Luminaries & Lies Read online

  Potion Voyages®

  Book 6: Luminaries & Lies

  By Jeremy Dwyer

  Copyright 2017 Jeremy Dwyer

  All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except in the case of brief quotations for the purpose of articles or reviews, without express written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real locations, objects, events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental, and not intended by the author.

  Potion Voyages® is a registered trademark of Jeremy Dwyer.

  (Last Revised Saturday, December 15, 2018)

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I’d like to thank my wife, Rachel, and our son, Ethan, for allowing me to work the long hours required to write this book.

  Ebook Cover Design was done by http://www.ebooklaunch.com.

  Visit the official website at http://www.potionvoyages.com for more information.

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1: Testimony in the City of Truth

  CHAPTER 2: Questing for Wealth in Ancient Castles

  CHAPTER 3: Secrets of the Suns in the City of Myth

  CHAPTER 4: Intrigue in the Shadows of Emeth

  CHAPTER 5: Search for Knowledge in Emeth

  CHAPTER 6: Warning of the Affluence of Evil

  CHAPTER 7: Rise of the Kingdom of Blue Sunfire

  CHAPTER 8: Burden of the Darkness on Tired Souls

  CHAPTER 9: Venture into the Land of Death and Darkness

  CHAPTER 10: Entangled by a Game of Chance

  CHAPTER 11: The Music of the City of Myth

  CHAPTER 12: Lost Treasures of a Broken Man

  CHAPTER 13: Report of the Rise of Other Kingdoms

  CHAPTER 14: Finding a Map to the Darkness

  CHAPTER 15: Following a Map to the Darkness

  CHAPTER 16: Divide between Mother and Daughter

  CHAPTER 17: Vendetta against the Voice of Seduction

  CHAPTER 18: Guardians of the Voice of Seduction

  CHAPTER 19: Allocation of Resources for Reconstruction

  CHAPTER 20: Builders of the Ships of the World

  CHAPTER 21: Recruitment of Crew and Capabilities

  CHAPTER 22: Haunted by a Spirit of Cruelty

  CHAPTER 23: Rise of the Kingdom of Yellow Sunfire

  CHAPTER 24: Promise of Knowledge of Immortality

  CHAPTER 25: Secrets of the Mind of an Outsider

  CHAPTER 26: Revelation of an Underground City and Beyond

  CHAPTER 27: Challenge to the Heralds of the King

  CHAPTER 28: Request to the Bankers of the World

  CHAPTER 29: Hatred of the Keeper of Dark Secrets

  CHAPTER 30: Puzzled by the Vases of Poison

  CHAPTER 31: Search for an Island of Shipwrecks

  CHAPTER 32: Discovery of the Island of Crossings

  CHAPTER 33: Calling of the Wild into the Darkness

  CHAPTER 34: Distracted from the Crossings of the Waters

  CHAPTER 35: Hiding of the Voice of Seduction

  CHAPTER 36: Telling of a Rescue and a Deception

  CHAPTER 37: Concealing of the Inheritance of Wealth

  CHAPTER 38: Cold and Cruelty in the Darkness

  CHAPTER 39: Pursuits of Hate and Darkness

  CHAPTER 40: Commitments of the Servants of the Suns

  CHAPTER 41: Wisdom of the Spirit in the Castle

  CHAPTER 42: Condemnation of the Avarice of the Suns

  CHAPTER 43: War against the Arrogance of the Suns

  CHAPTER 44: Seeking the Darkness within Stone

  CHAPTER 45: Journey through a Storm in the Shadows

  CHAPTER 46: Collision of Paths in the City of Myth

  CHAPTER 47: Battle for the Darkness in the Shadows

  CHAPTER 48: Departure from the City of Myth

  CHAPTER 49: Searching for Opportunity and Prosperity

  CHAPTER 50: Laying the Foundations of New Kingdoms

  CHAPTER 1: Testimony in the City of Truth

  The Persistent arrived at the shores of Emeth and the crew and passengers looked on with amazement – the city had not been damaged in the slightest by the many tempests.

  “The city has no damage at all!” Emerond said.

  “Did you think that something would be allowed to happen to Emeth? The city is of truth, and it is protected,” Lady Onora said. She was well aware of the importance of the city – as were the Chroniclers of the Oath. Unlike many of them, however, she was very aware of the protection that the city had by a Guardian Angel.

  Neither Judith nor Ovid were surprised that Emeth had been spared, but they did not know why, for sure. Judith suspected, however, that a Guardian Angel like the one who had protected her in the flames of the forest of the Udovedaj-Pren Island was also responsible for deflecting danger from Emeth.

  Everyone left the ship to enter the city. They saw the facial expressions of those in Emeth, which did nothing to hide the fear that many had.

  As they entered the docks, an older man with dark skin and slightly graying hair approached. Next to him was a younger woman with blond hair, apparently in her mid-thirties, and her wrists had a cloth band with thirteen (13) interlocking diamond symbols on them. These were the markings of a Verifier of the Oath.

  “I have word that Victoria has been destroyed, and that the final blow was struck by someone on your ship,” the man said.

  “Indeed, she has, Danek,” Judith said.

  “Alyona here will verify the chronicles in your books,” Danek said.

  Judith and Ovid both handed over their books to Alyona.

  “She’s dead, and so are millions more people because of her,” Zoe said, scathingly.

  “The storms were powerful. They sank thousands ships and struck many shores,” Emerond said.

  “But not these shores. Interesting,” Zoe said.

  Daven looked around and wondered. The city in which he had taught music to so many stood strong and there were no signs of death or destruction by the storm.

  “Storms can be stopped…sometimes. Is that what happened here?” Daven asked.

  “The city has a guardian, and no storm was allowed to strike here,” Danek said.

  “Why couldn’t this guardian protect the whole world?” Zoe asked.

  “Evil is a reality that surrounds us. It is a choice that is made and must be acknowledged as such, rather than denied. The world must see evil for what it is. The truth of it is written here,” Danek said.

  “I’ve seen enough of it in my life. I get the point. I just want to put an end to these killers,” Zoe said.

  “That’s what we do. We break people like that,” Brant said.

  “As well you did…with the help of a far greater power,” Lady Onora said.

  “I’ve had enough war myself. It’s time to get back to life, back to business,” Rayner said.

  “Wishing for better doesn’t make it so. Prayer is what is necessary,” Romana said.

  “You pray. I’ll put some arrows through the problem, and whoever causes it,” Zoe said.

  “Faith in yourself is faith in the limited power you know you have,” Lady Onora said.

  “We did all that we could. Now, she’s dead because we hit her over and over. That’s within our limits, apparently. What good’s faith?” Zoe asked.

  “Where did your abilities come from?” Lady Onora asked.

  Zoe put her fingers on the vial of Lujladia Ocean water that she wore on a chain around her neck and held it out slightly, shaking it as she did so. “Here. That’s where it comes from,” Zoe said.

  “We can all say that,” Lady Onora said.

  “And that’s all you can say. There’s the water. That’s where the abilities come
from,” Zoe said.

  “For the longest time, they weren’t enough,” Lady Onora said.

  “Don’t get too confident in your own abilities, archer. Higher powers brought on Victoria’s defeat to no less an extent than you did,” Lavakara said.

  “Indeed they did,” Lady Onora said.

  “Suddenly, you have faith? I don’t remember you being anything other than a killer who wants to rule the world,” Zoe said.

  “I saw battles in places that you cannot see, no matter how much light you shine,” Lavakara said.

  “I’m sure you each have an interesting account to give in this matter. I would be glad to hear of each of these,” Danek said.

  “Indeed, there are many stories. I should like to hear of them all,” Guillermo said.

  Xal’Kativok/Xavier was still with them, and he intended to hear the accounts as well, so as to fill in more of his knowledge about this world, and survey their assets.

  “Follow us and give your testimony, according to your recollection, as best you can. You are not under the Oath; however, don’t say more than you can be sure of, unless you also state your uncertainty along with your account. Remember that the penalty for false testimony is the same as ever: death,” Alyona said.

  “Please follow us,” Danek said.

  At this, the group followed Danek to a large stone building known as the Great Library of Tedorik. They waited in a large room known as the Testimonial Chamber. Hundreds of seats were in the room and they were soon filled with many different persons: Chroniclers, Verifiers and scholars in every field. Guillermo made sure to take a seat up close to listen to the parts of the story he had not been there to witness.

  After just three (3) hours, Alyona had finished reviewing the books she received from Judith and Ovid and then she appeared in the Testimonial Chamber where everyone was waiting.

  “Will Imperial Prince Emerond of the Jendaldej Empire please address the attendees and give his testimony in the matter of the battle against Victoria?” Alyona asked while standing in the center of the room next to a podium.

  Danek stood next to Alyona where he listened and watched as she prepared to ask questions.

  Prince Emerond stood at the podium positioned in the center of the room – near Alyona – and began speaking: “We faced Victoria multiple times. The first time was in the Gradaken Ocean, where she controlled the water to make storms, and sea serpents attacked us. Daven used a song to cut through the storm because the water was rising high and striking at the ship, so we couldn’t get to Victoria. And there were sea serpents leaping up toward the ship. Romana was able to take control of the serpents themselves when they attacked our ship.”

  “How did that battle end?” Alyona asked.

  “Romana turned a sea serpent against Victoria, and General Joshua used the Spirit Sword to strike her,” Emerond said.

  “By what means did Romana turn this sea serpent against Victoria?” Alyona asked.

  “She’s a Gradaken drinker,” Emerond said.

  “What of this Spirit Sword? What is it? What damage did it do?” Alyona asked.

  “The Spirit Sword is not an ordinary weapon. It doesn’t do any damage to the flesh. It doesn’t draw blood. It marks a person, so they can be followed, wherever they go,” Emerond said.

  “Is that all that it does?” Alyona asked.

  “No. It seems to have an effect on fire. The creature of fire that first approached us on Udovedaj-Pren Island was driven away by the Spirit Sword when General Joshua held it against him,” Emerond said.

  “Where did you get this Spirit Sword? Did you make it?” Alyona asked.

  Danek knew what the Spirit Sword was, even if Alyona did not. He was troubled by the prospect of what the answer might be, but this questioning process was necessary, even if it led to some tangential questions whose answers were not necessary.

  “That has nothing to do with our battle against Victoria. Is it really necessary?” Emerond asked.

  “No. It is not. We are here to understand what happened in the battle at sea. Please move on,” Danek said, utterly relieved that this information was not to be made public quite yet.

  “Very well. What happened next?” Alyona asked.

  “Victoria called out to someone, and her ship disappeared from sight,” Emerond said.

  “You said you faced her multiple times,” Alyona said.

  “That’s correct. The Spirit Sword showed the way – blue lines of light on it pointed in the direction of the Elanatin Ocean. We arrived there and found another storm,” Emerond said.

  “So the Spirit Sword led you to Victoria in the Elanatin Ocean even though you had previously been in the Gradaken Ocean?” Alyona asked.

  “That’s right. Then, we felt a wave of hatred roll over us. We could hear – or feel – an emotion. It told us to kill ourselves,” Emerond said.

  “How did this battle end?” Alyona asked.

  “We got close enough and Joshua brought down a sword – a regular sword – and struck Victoria in the chest. She called out, again, and her ship disappeared, like the time before,” Emerond said.

  “You’ve described two (2) of your battles? Is that all?” Alyona asked.

  “No. Next, the Spirit Sword led us to the Nabavodel Ocean. We got to its edge, at the Colossal March Warpath. The storm was already too powerful for us to get out over the water,” Emerond said.

  “Was there a battle then?” Alyona asked.

  “Daven had another song. This one just stopped the storm in its tracks. It was more than I could have hoped for. We were able to get out over the Nabavodel waters and approach Victoria’s ship. We had a light scout on board who pointed the way to her ship,” Emerond said.

  “How did this battle proceed?” Alyona asked.

  “Three (3) men with blue fire came out of nowhere and threw flames at her. Then, Zoe hit her with an arrow from another ship. Joshua was able to strike her with a sword. Brant did, as well,” Emerond said.

  “Who were these three (3) men with blue fire?” Alyona asked.

  “They’re called the Torches of Majesty. We don’t know who they are, or what they want, but they can bring fire out of water and use it,” Emerond said.

  “You said Brant and Zoe struck at her from their ship,” Alyona said.

  “Yes. Their ship was sunk. They joined us, along with their navigator, Rayner,” Emerond said.

  “What then happened with Victoria?” Alyona asked.

  “We had to get out of there. Her ship disappeared again. We met up with her later in the Lujladia Ocean,” Emerond said.

  “What happened in that encounter?” Alyona asked.

  “We couldn’t get a good sighting on her. The light distortions were powerful and she projected illusions of herself. Judith suggested looking at the center of the storm to find the true cause and not be distracted by illusions,” Emerond said.

  “You said that Judith suggested this tactic. Do you mean trustworthy Judith who took the Chronicler’s Oath to tell the truth and to never interfere?” Alyona asked.

  “Yes. She was under the impression that Victoria served a demon, and so she was allowed to interfere,” Emerond said.

  Alyona knew this from having read Judith’s book of chronicles, but had to include it in her questioning for the public testimony to be more thorough.

  “Did this tactic prove useful?” Alyona asked.

  “With a little work, yes. Romana had us drop anchors and watch them sway in the water currents. We were able to figure out which ship was really hers, and approach,” Emerond said.

  “What did you see when you approached?” Alyona asked.

  “We saw the Hidden Paladins on her ship – one of them was already dead. And the Torches of Majesty landed on the ship. Judith warned us not to look into Victoria’s eyes,” Emerond said.

  “What was the meaning of this warning about Victoria’s eyes?” Alyona asked.

  “Something about her being able to hypnotize and control peop
le. That may be what she did to the Hidden Paladins and the Torches of Majesty,” Emerond said.

  “What occurred on Victoria’s ship?” Alyona asked.

  “Victoria sent more waves of water. Then, they started firing cannons at us. Then, Victoria fell and the hypnosis broke – the Torches of Majesty turned water into fire and used it to hit her. Then, the fire seemed to die without cause. The Hidden Paladins hit Victoria, and she brought on more waves of water, and knocked them off of the ship,” Emerond said.

  “Did Victoria win that battle?” Alyona asked.

  “No. But the Torches of Majesty turned their fire against the Hidden Paladins and killed them. Then, they left. Victoria called out and she and her ship disappeared, as well,” Emerond said.

  “Was this the final battle?” Alyona asked.

  “No. The Spirit Sword led us to the Atrejan Ocean next. The suns beat down more than they should have. We were able to get to her, though. We could hear a guiding song – by someone far away” Emerond said.

  “This guiding song allowed you to find Victoria?” Alyona asked.

  “Yes. Then, Brant and Joshua were able to hit her, as well as Zoe. And the Torches of Majesty were there again, and at least one of them hit her. Another fleet of ships even showed up. Victoria’s ship disappeared again, after that,” Emerond said.

  “Were there more battles still?” Alyona asked.

  “We next found her in the Ursegan Ocean. But there was nothing we could do. It seemed that time stopped. Arrows didn’t fly, and we had no way to get to her. So we left,” Emerond said.

  “So, Victoria won that battle?” Alyona asked.

  “You could say that. We had no way to stop her,” Emerond said.

  “Where did you next meet Victoria?” Alyona asked.

  “It was in the Pirovalen Ocean. The air was filled with a powerful song – Sail to Me – that called out to everyone. We felt it taking over us. We wanted to sail into the storm there. We couldn’t resist. Ships all over were sailing into the tempest and being destroyed,” Emerond said.

  “Who sang this song? Was it Victoria?” Alyona asked.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t see who she was,” Emerond said.