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Simurg	By : Cynthermes Category: A through F > The Cronnex Series Views: 1292 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: The Cronnex and its characters is explicitly owned by Trewin Greenaway and no profit has been made out of this fiction.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
The first rays of the sun flooded into the window of his straw-made bed. Cinder sat up and yawned. Sleep was a vital necessity to keep his human form. He instinctively clutched the dagmast pendant and swiftly recalled yesterday’s events. Two herbalists and an enchantress managed to see through his deceit of mortality. Yet it didn’t matter. He made up his mind.
Today he agreed to accompany Elyn for sightseeing in town. The boy was still stricken with grief and it was up to his ‘ferryman’ to cheer him up. Maybe they can even visit Corintha and look for the boy’s uncle. But he knew that it was a halfwit’s thought and Miermi wouldn’t approve. Strange, he thought. He felt an incredible affinity with the pair ever since he sailed with them on the seas of Mariana.
He stood up, fixed his bed and headed towards the bath.
A wooden bucket and steaming water awaited him and he looked down on the furnace to see his father’s face smiling at him. He briefly wondered if his memory had been altered when the man fell asleep. “I’ll accompany you to the inn. I have to talk to Miermi.”
Cinder’s face almost fell but Alfrund remained cheerful as before. The herbalist continued to tend the furnace where the ceramic tub was connected. “Tell me if the temperature is to your liking.”
“I think it’s just right.” He replied and shyly beamed back. Their foster father spoiled his sons. He treated them like how a servant would care for princes.
The brunet undressed and immersed himself on the aromatic tub. The water was almost at boiling point but it was nothing compared to his body’s real temperature. After a short dip he took the wooden bucket to splash himself with water and started to scrub himself with a sponge.
“Will you go with Miermi to Corintha?” Alfrund asked suddenly making him drop the sponge.
“I don’t know Father.” Cinder replied uncertainly. Perhaps this was the man’s foresight he had noticed before. Ra’asiel told him that there are mortals who were blessed with magic powers resulting from a communion with Gesryma’s half-immortals. He nearly blushed when he learned of this account. The amethyst god never failed to mention that Niccas had a lot of conquests… The Opposing One had an unfathomable expression when he said this. And being the Phoenix-incarnate was probably a blessing and a curse in disguise as well…
“Never mind.” The herbalist said dismissively.
Elyn practically jumped on him the moment they entered Aurella’s inn. The curly-haired blond boy didn’t notice the little staring match between two prominent herbalists. He tugged and dragged the brunet into the direction of the town square. Cinder looked alternately at both older men while he planted his sandal-clad feet firmly on the rocky ground.
“Master Alfrund.” The long bearded Miermi cleared his throat.
“Master Miermi.” The graying brown-haired Alfrund greeted the same. “I believe we have to talk.”
The younger herbalist fished a bottle beneath his sleeve and hid it with the same speed when the sorcerer gave a little nod of understanding.
Elyn stopped his tugging and now looked quizzically at this stranger and his grandfather.
The brunet lad noticed that neither of the older men bothered to invite the other to sit down. Moreover he and Elyn seem to vanish in the background.
“Elyn dear, you can go with Cinder to explore the outskirts of town but the square is off limits. Be careful and you can leave now.” Miermi’s stone face somewhat softened when he addressed his grandson.
Cinder took that as his cue to leave with the all-complacent boy. He quickly excused himself and gave his foster father a squeeze on the shoulder before they left.
When both lads were gone, Miermi abruptly lowered some of his shields and gave his apologies. “We can talk upstairs for more privacy, if you like.”
Alfrund agreed and both herbalists went to the private room Miermi shared with his grandson. The older one motioned for them to sit on the wicker chairs with a small wooden table.
“Would you like some tea?” The elder one offered.
“No thank you. I just brewed one this morning.” Alfrund politely declined.
“Too much calmative dulls the senses.” The sorcerer commented wryly and spontaneously a veil of concealing magic wrapped around them. “If you think I came here to harm your charge I didn’t. Probably you have learned that Jedah had been attacked two nights ago. My daughter Mabelle was killed and you know what Elyn is.”
“No… Not this again.” The middle-aged man shook his head disbelieving.
Miermi sighed. He can empathize with his friend’s reaction. Being the light nithaial’s closest guardian weighed heavily on Alfrund’s then young shoulders.
“You don’t need to be involved. We just need to speak with Fei to safely travel Corintha and we’re off to Visfern.” The sorcerer explained.
“The underground has been sealed off if that’s what you plan to use to get to Visfern.” Alfrund quickly delivered him the bad news.
“They are that quick?” It was the older man’s turn to frown.
“They have Porphoras as war tactician. He visited me last night.” They were really in a tight situation. It sounds like war was brewing again.
“I can’t believe Porphoras could be so corrupted! It was his folly that his charge suffered so much.” Miermi’s moss green eyes squinted as if he was in pain himself.
Alfrund couldn’t agree more. When he firstly encountered Niccas, the boy was so damaged that even his most powerful herbal concoctions had the effect of plain water. To be in so much agony in that young age was a misery no one deserved to endure.
But now, Elyn could suffer the same if he wasn’t meticulously cared for.
“Maybe we can speak with the king. I will arrange for an audience and maybe he will listen…” The younger herbalist trailed off. Negotiation was foolish. Corintha was one of the kingdoms the Ishman fanatics, Daughters of Luna inhabited. The Ishman Faith is the prominent religion and one of the Head Mistresses; Katharine is a minister of the royal court.
“Your boy is somehow connected to Ra’asiel, did you notice? If those witches and petty assassins would continue persecuting the neutral people, I’m afraid even Cinder is in danger as well.” The sorcerer threw in, determined to spill the beans.
“Do you base your judgment on his dagmast pendant? It could be anything. Even you, I remember have one.” Alfrund swiftly countered. “Is that the reason why you gave him this?” He placed the Nectar bottle on the table with an audible clack.
“Call this my bizarre intuition but the instant I laid eyes on that pendant, I saw Ra’asiel’s image flash before my mind’s eye.”
As if by accident, the younger herbalist caught a pentacle-shaped mark glow on Miermi’s unprotected hand. The owner of Astral’s mark instinctively slipped his ‘ogled’ hand under his sleeve.
“The Nectar bottle’s seal was broken when I inspected it. Where you the one who unsealed it?”
The sorcerer nearly laughed out loud at the other herbalist’s intense facial expression. He looked like about to faint if he got the wrong answer. Well a pity, really.
“Well he’s alive this morning, so I think he can keep the bottle.” Miermi answered offhandedly.
Conflicting emotions flashed on the younger herbalist’s face. One moment he looked like he was about to lash out then retained his composure on the next second. They were a little bit older to act like impulsive herbalist apprentices. It almost reminded them of old times… almost.
Miermi’s mark of the unknown god earned him eight wasted years in a prison tower. This unfortunate event separated them when they were training under Anisor. Alfrund was eleven and Miermi was twenty when members of the Order of Guardian Circle took the latter into custody. The reason? Miermi started to show signs of possessing ancient powers and was said to be very dangerous.
Alfrund had looked up to him like an older brother and confidant. This was the very first and traumatic experience of someone he cared for being taken away and he could do nothing. The ash-blond Miermi was cuffed with a mystic metal called mythral to channel his ‘dark powers’ away.
But Miermi didn’t let his confinement and mythral cuffs hinder his learning. He was able to continue mastering the arts of sorcery under an emissary of Astral himself. Therefore, he was herbalist by day and sorcerer by night and when the situation calls for it.
Alfrund on the other hand became Anisor’s most favored and most talented apprentice. He was born to be a prominent herbalist and became a member of the outer circle himself. Later he learned that his elder colleague became a member of the inner circle upon the change of headship.
Both herbalists have met and became friends with the master alchemist Porphoras within the Order.
Then some of the elders and inner members of the Order formed different sects of their own before and during the heat of the last war. The Order of the Guardian Circle was ultimately disbanded. The others who formed the other sects became the fanatics of the Ishman Faith this day.
These fanatics wouldn’t comply with the turning of the Great Wheel. They rebelled against the turn of power from Gesryma to Ra’asiel. They simply refused a Trinity of worship and persecuted anyone who was not human or not inclined to Gesryma’s absolute reign.
“Do you think this is the way the other Immortals are reacting? Could either Ra’asiel or Astral send their representatives to balance the division of power?” Alfrund asked to no one in particular.
“Could we be a new order protecting the so-called abominations of Gesryma?” Miermi chuckled. Everything was just too good to be mere coincidences.
The Immortals have their very own and mysterious ways.
Somehow he thought their positions have been reversed the moment they entered the sidewalk leading to the town square. Elyn was like a super-charged lightning rod that darted from one corner to the next. Only when they were about to enter the Agora that Cinder firmly clasped his upper arm. “No, Elyn. Your grandfather strictly forbids us to go there.”
“But why? Its broad daylight! I don’t think the demons will appear.” The boy’s aquamarine eyes were glued to the food stalls, small shops and the people bustling with activity in the marketplace.
“The demons are the least of your grandfather’s concern. There are people who can ferry close by that wants to harm you.” Cinder whispered with deep concern in his voice.
“Why would they? I never did them anything wrong.” Elyn said, forlorn. His energetic side completely vanished and he started to slip into his melancholy.
“No you didn’t. But there are evil people who wishes to harm you whatever the reason.” The brunet explained slowly. “Maybe we can go to the sea instead? We can collect shells or some precious things. You’re a good diver I observed.” Cinder smiled encouragingly.
At the mention of the sea, the blond boy’s eyes instantly lit up.
“Yes! I’ve never seen the corals here… I bet they are beautiful.” Now his hand tugged at the direction of the sea.
“We’ll go to the apex point of the island. It’s the opposite of the seaport and more peaceful.” And less chances to encounter those witches. Cinder mentally added. He was about to guide them to the narrow alleyway when that all-familiar aura of alchemy made him freeze. He dared not to look back as he walked in a steady but brisk gait. He and Elyn vanished into the next corner.
Flash of raven locks caught his attention as he sauntered near a crafts shop. He had forgotten what he was going to purchase and watched the pair with hooded eyes. For an instant he thought they were the half-immortal twins of Gesryma because of their hair color. But the blond boy was obviously too young and he focused on the other. This one looked a bit older still but when Porphoras gazed into his face, he stood awestruck. This young man was the splitting image of Niccas!
Then as if they sensed his presence, the pair walked on into the narrow alleyways and vanished. The alchemist quickly moved to follow them.
Even without the gooseflesh behind his neck, Cinder was sure that the alchemist was following them. The mercurial thread of his aura was proof enough. Maybe he can face off with this man in the privacy of the opposite shore. He hurried Elyn on and masked his apprehension with a cheerful smile.
When they reached the sandy shore hidden by a shade of marple trees, both lads removed their sandals and commoner’s garbs. They sat half-naked on the black sandy beach watching the waves roll. The mid-spring sun was warm but not enough to cause skin burns. The weather was fair and quite the opposite of Cinder’s thoughts. He knew that the alchemist would turn up any moment now. So he kept Elyn close to him as possible.
“What are we sitting around for? I thought we’re going to gather shells and dive for corals?” The blond boy’s perkiness was back. He nudged the older lad with his knee.
“I’m just admiring the view. It’s relaxing to just sit here all day…” The brunet said in a faraway tone.
“You sound like a lazy old geezer! How old are you, quite older than my grandfather?” Elyn teased and burst out laughing. He couldn’t help but join in the mirth. Their giggling died down when another pair of sandals crunched underneath the black sand. Both boys turned to the direction of an old man in a silken and mostly expensive grey surplice. He appeared to be older than Miermi with a sharply pointed nose, amber colored eyes, long, straight reddish grey hair that was tied in a low knot, and a prominent wrinkled brow.
“Can you kind-hearted lads show this poor old man the way back to the port? I seem to be a little lost.” He said scratching his bearded chin.
The alchemist was trying to gauge his reaction if he recognized him or not. Well too bad he didn’t. The only thing he knew was the man’s name etched in his mind and a few of Alfrund’s words.
Now that Cinder had seen the old man’s face, any traces of memory locked themselves up and the latter seemed to be disappointed when he showed him a blank expression. “I’m sorry but my brother and I were told not to talk to strangers.”
The alchemist chuckled. “You are much older to say such words reserved for a young boy.” He couldn’t help but stare straight to this young man’s red irises. They were absolutely not Niccas’ eyes. Was it possible for someone to have another person’s identical face but bearing no connection?
“Cinder, who is he?” Elyn had to grab the opportunity and call attention to himself.
“I don’t know him.” He stood up but prevented the boy from doing the same.
“Do you happen to be the lad rumored to be dropped by a dragon? The one who lost his memory?” Porphoras’ attention was still safely focused on him.
“Does a lost old man care for rumors than to get his way back?” Cinder didn’t care if he appeared to be rude. He wanted the old man to leave them alone and to prove him that he was not the one whom he appeared to be.
“You are a clever young lad. My name is Porphoras and I am an alchemist. Do you happen to know Alfrund the master herbalist?”
This old man was persistent! He had faced three already and this one had no better business than join the others in poking at his identity.
“Of course everyone in this town knows Master Alfrund the herbalist. Do you have sores or aches and decided to get lost in hopes of finding him, Master Porphoras?” His cold demeanor must be completely different from Niccas that he felt the man flinch inwardly.
“Very well lad, maybe there are others who are much more respectful to help me find the way.” Porphoras replied with mock-hurt and finally left them alone. But Cinder didn’t feel relieved. He knew that the old man would likely remain in town to confirm his suspicions. He also hoped that Elyn was safely away by then.
“Did that man do something bad to you?” The blond boy said with a curious face.
“What makes you think that?” The brunet allowed the boy to stand to face him.
“Your voice sounded so scary… I thought you were going to pounce on him.” This innocent statement made him blink. Did he really act as the boy depicted him to? His memory probably couldn’t remember Porphoras but his heart; he soon realized was heavy and filled with hostility.
“I thought he would do something to harm us. I was just on edge that’s why.” Cinder somewhat calmed down after a while and without warning bolted towards the waves shouting, “Whose first on the water?”
Two more days have passed and Cinder’s affinity to Elyn continued to grow. Together they proceeded to explore the apex of the island. They spent more of their time diving and swimming in the rather untouched waters on the opposite shore. The pair was almost inseparable as they collected shells, precious water stones and when they got lucky even pearls. This brought Cinder a source of living for Alfrund, spend a happy time with Elyn, and avoid meeting people with ill intent.
So far Porphoras didn’t cross paths with them though the Phoenix-incarnate was certain that he didn’t leave the island.
The two young lads would return to the inn when they were wrinkly enough to resemble prunes or when the curly-haired boy was hungry. Cinder observed that Miermi and his guardian are getting along like old friends. Whatever came between them must have dissolved already though the brunet still felt scrutinized under the sorcerer’s moss green eyes.
That evening Miermi and Elyn waited for Fei’s arrival. The herbalists were getting anxious to hear from him when they learned the lads encounter with Porphoras. Alfrund’s house was the nearest to the port so they gathered around the wooden table close to the furnace. The three of them shared an early supper while Cinder stirred the embers.
When Elyn noticed the brunet’s repeated lack of enthusiasm to eat he couldn’t help but get worried. “Cinder, why don’t you join us for supper? I keep observing that you wouldn’t even grab a morsel. Are you sick?”
Alfrund swallowed his clam soup the wrong way and started to cough. Cinder felt Miermi’s calculating stare at the back of his dark head. “I was cursed. The dragons made me drink a potion forbidding me to eat.” He half-lied.
“But won’t you starve if you don’t eat? How about water? Won’t you die of thirst? Were you not allowed to take any sustenance?” Elyn threw him a barrage of questions.
“They said sleeping will keep me alive. But for how long they don’t know.” The brunet answered in a reserved tone.
“But doesn’t that mean you’ll just waste away?” The blond boy was close to panicking when his grandfather pulled him back down to earth.
“Elyn, there are some things inexplicable in this world. Even Cinder doesn’t know how he has turned up that way, am I right lad?” Miermi’s eyes narrowed when they caught something flicker on the lad’s dark head. But then the brunet shifted and it was gone. Maybe the illumination of the embers was playing with his eyes.
“Your grandfather’s right Elyn.” Cinder paused then turned to face them. “Though I know one thing for sure: Never incur the wrath of the dragons if you wish to enjoy the pleasure of dining.” He said playfully and all four burst out laughing.
Torches gathered around the port and a new ferryboat was approaching.
Alfrund squinted through the window overlooking the port. He saw his elder foster son running towards the house and burst through the open door. “It’s the sail from Corintha! Ms. Aurella’s already there ahead of you.” Tyler informed them excitedly.
“Really? Then let’s go meet my uncle!” In a flash, Elyn was by the doorframe jumping joyously.
“Slow down, Elyn dear.” Miermi chided and stood up. “We’ll go together.” He continued in a stern voice and Cinder’s danger instincts instantly flared up.
The door creaked shut and the five of them walked towards the shore without torches. Tyler looked confused but one look from his foster father and he didn’t voice an argument.
The ferryboat slowly approached but the darkness proved difficult to make out people on board.
Cinder felt a tingly feeling as the vessel drew nearer. The telltale signs of life surrounding the boat were strangely absent. However it seemed to glow with a considerable amount of magical aura.
They had blended themselves with the crowd gathered around the small port. Miermi looked on and his grip was firm on his grandson’s hand. He had an indecipherable expression on his face as the ferryboat docked by itself on the shore as if hauled by an invisible rope.
There was no walking, living, breathing person on board. The few people with torches who have gathered examined the deck while Miermi did his best to restrain Elyn from bolting from his side.
Tyler and Cinder with Alfrund’s permission helped the common folk search for signs of life from the vessel.
They didn’t need to turn the vessel inside out to find the ‘passenger’. It was in the form of a willow wooden coffin with strange markings on the lid. Cinder and Tyler’s group of friends carried the life-size box on the awaiting crowd arranged in a half-circle with their torches lowered to illuminate the object.
Aurella stood motionlessly at the center frontline with her torch. Her face was as pale as a specter. The people gathered murmured incoherent words of fear and malice. The sharp and dizzying whirl of suspense hung heavily in the air. And when the lid was lifted, a piercing shriek diverted the attention of most.
But not the group of six that laid their eyes on a wooden corpse, shamelessly carved into the shape of a man wearing a commoner’s tattered clothes. Those clothes belong to Fei; Aurella’s brown eyes widened in recognition. Her legs threatened to buckle beneath her and Tyler quickly seized her shoulders supporting her.
At the heart of the dummy was an embedded arrow containing a scroll. It was addressed to Aurella but the message was in a language she couldn’t understand.
Miermi and Alfrund took all these wearing grim expressions. They hastily ushered Aurella to the latter’s house where all six gathered and locked the door behind them. The small crowd respectfully left them while Tyler’s friends agreed to shelter the strange coffin in their shed.
The innkeeper burst into tears as soon as they settled down near the furnace. “I will make some tea.” Alfrund said and started to boil water from a medium-sized cauldron.
“Who could do such a thing? Why my husband? Why?” Aurella sobbed.
Now it was Miermi and Elyn’s turn to console her. “Calm down my dear. We’ve no proof that Fei is truly dead. Have a little hope.” He said softly yet fighting the tears himself.
“But those were Fei’s clothes! They were torn and…” The rest of her words were drowned with more sobs.
Elyn alternately looked at his grandfather and aunt helplessly. They were not through grieving his mother’s loss and this crisis had to come after.
Cinder and Tyler helped their father prepare the tea and filled six clay cups. They handed each with a steaming brew of fragrant chamomile tea.
“Here my dear. Drink this and you will feel a bit better.” Miermi took the cup from the brunet and gave it to the teary-eyed woman.
Aurella took it with trembling hands and may have spilled it if Cinder didn’t hold it with her. She mouthed a silent ‘thank you’ and took a sip.
When she calmed down she unfurled her palm to reveal the scroll. Miermi took it and examined it thoroughly. The scroll was addressed to Aurella but the message wasn’t ascribed in human letters.
Just as he predicted, the message was in Grazen tongue. Their enemies made sure that the only people who can understand the letters learned the language of the demons. But how can their foes learn that language if they utterly despised the very essence of it? Could some of the demons ally with the Daughters of Luna?
No. That was inconceivable. No demon would willingly submit to a human master or mistress… unless…
The skirmish on the seas of Mariana flashed in his mind. All three of them watched as the Lycans spontaneously exploded at the command of the demon flute. That couldn’t happen with magic alone. The bleak answer popped in his head: Alchemy.
He recalled that in one instance, Cinder’s spear struck something hard around a beast’s neck that the weapon flew out of his hands: A metal band with a transmuted impure fire stone.
Miermi felt nausea rising from the pit of his stomach. The method was so cruel and even bested a demon’s bestial instincts.
And when he and his grandson chanted Ra’asiel’s prayer on the night Jedah was attacked, the demons were about to back down… if not for the flute’s interruption.
“Grandfather, are you alright?” Elyn stared wide-eyed at the elder man’s greenish-discolored face.
Miermi hastily emptied the cup in one go burning his tongue in the process but didn’t care. Too many thoughts and possibilities somersaulted in his mind and in the end he realized he didn’t read a single word in the letter.
“Uncle… w-was it so horrible?” Aurella asked, her voice shaking.
“No, my dear I couldn’t understand a word from it.” Miermi denied breathing harshly.
Alfrund understood that this was a lie so it wouldn’t upset her more. But his friend’s repulsed reaction told another story.
The tiny scroll lay open on the table and blood-red eyes quickly scurried through the all-too-familiar letters with one sweep.
Aurella:
We have your husband captive.
Surrender your nephew to Corintha,
By tomorrow at sundown
And we will not turn the knob
Another degree
At the words ‘turn the knob’ Cinder visibly stiffened. He felt pain radiating through his human limbs and an image of the rack invoked itself in his mind’s eye. Though the source of memory locked itself he felt utterly sick, ran towards the window and managed to do what Miermi failed to.
He hurled the remains of the tea out of his body. Perhaps it was this mistake (drinking the tea) that made him vomit.
Alfrund was beside him already and didn’t miss the little ball of flame that consumed the traces of the vomit. The herbalist didn’t comment (he was used to seeing strange things with his younger son) and continued to stroke his back.
“I’m sorry. I guess now you know what happens when I take something by mouth.” He tried to lighten the mood by jesting.
Neither of them laughed and he lowered his head. Miermi cleared his throat and turned towards Aurella, “My dear I think I will remain here with Master Alfrund. Maybe we can decipher this message together. You must rest and tomorrow morning I will deliver you the fruits of our labors.”
“I’ll accompany her to the inn.” Tyler volunteered.
“No, I can return by myself.” She declined.
“Aurella dear, its better if he accompanies you. It is nighttime and unsafe.” The elder herbalist convinced her and faced the well-built man. “Can I trust you with my niece’s safety?”
“Yes Master Miermi.” Tyler straightened, nodding vigorously.
Alfrund and Cinder shared an amused look but said nothing.
Elyn wanted to stay and argued with his grandfather a bit before being allowed to remain glued (like a leech) to Cinder’s leg.
The sorcerer observed the growing affinity between the two with a strange fondness. He felt they were destined to be a pair of… he didn’t know exactly. Maybe soul mates or very close friends until the end of time. He really couldn’t be angry about Elyn’s sudden display of possessiveness over Alfrund’s charge.
His good feelings toward the boys lightened his mood and he managed to put his personal fears aside. He called Alfrund and they studied the contents of the scroll.
“This is terrible.” Miermi commented not bothering to lower his voice for the lads.
“Can you understand the message? I don’t have a clue on it.” The brown-haired herbalist shook his head on the foreign letters but then the next moment turned to his friend asking, “How grave?”
The sorcery for concealment rose when Miermi replied, “Very. They have taken Fei hostage to flush us out.”
Alfrund could see the strain on his older friend’s face. There was something he wasn’t telling. “Spill it Miermi, we’re on the same boat now.”
“The wooden corpse says a lot than this letter Alfrund. They have put Fei on the rack and threatened to kill him if we don’t surrender Elyn to the Order.” The sorcerer responded after a painful intake of breath. All his worry lines were visible in his mask-like neutral face.
All the color left his foster father’s face, Cinder observed. He didn’t risk looking down at Elyn whom he knew was safely dozing in his arms.
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Simurg