Gathering

The rescue party arrives in the Hutcaiah capital.

14.

Gathering

 

As Aaron was being carried to the sacrifice platform, just outside of the gates of the Imperial Palace, a blue light flashed and eight people stood there, quickly looking around to see if they were seen.

A guard upon the wall of the Palace cried out in alarm upon seeing them, and for a moment the eight were sure their plan had already failed.

But then the guard saw Lysa standing amongst them and called down something to her.    Thanks to Carn’s spell, Lysa understood that he was asking if those with her were part of the Summer Moon ceremony.     Obviously the guard thought she was one of the priestesses, so Lysa nodded to him, raising a hand in greeting, then motioning for the others to follow her.     She had remembered not to speak, as Carn’s other spell would have sent her voice echoing across the city.   So as to not attract suspicion, they casually followed her, with their hoods pulled around them closely.

“We have no choice now but to use the location where we appeared as our rendezvous spot.     I’d hoped we would find something more suitable, but we don’t have time now.    Lysa, you and Bruce must remember this - Zeatt will watch for you there with a scrying device.   It may be very dangerous to get there, but hopefully we’ll be able to assist you.   The Temple is next door.”  Aedric whispered to Lysa as they walked and she nodded.  

 

The streets were thankfully empty, as it was near time for the ceremony.   It was obvious that the elite attended the festival, for in many of the houses in the city could be seen candle and torch lights.

“Apparently the common folk have to stay indoors during festival time.”   Snoe said to everyone softly.

“Thank Yesh for that.”   Mathlyn replied, “But we still need to get off the street.   We need to find a building that overlooks the temple so I can cast the spells at the right time.”

They carefully glanced around and found that adjoining the outer wall of the Temple compound was a three story building with few windows and a large open roof that looked over the temple grounds.

“I’ll wager that is where the Nueriah are quartered.”   Mathlyn said, looking to Snoe, who had taken the time to read all she could about the Hutcaiah.

“I know they are supposed to be housed next to the temple, so they can work there, so I’ll bet you’re right.”    The albino Queen replied, “They should all be working tonight, so maybe that roof would be a good place to have as our base of operations.”

They all agreed, so Amala softly sang a spell that Carn had taught her only days before - it was a Bard spell called ‘Placement’ and it was used to move a small group of people to any other place, as long as it was within clear sight of the Bard.

With a flash they appeared on the roof and after making certain they had arrived unseen, they all relaxed.

“Wow, it worked!”   Amala told her husband, who patted her on the back.

“Your first cast spell.”   He said to her, “Welcome to the community of spell casters.”

 

They all crouched down behind the parapet railing of the roof and looked over toward the Temple of the Moon.   

The Temple walls were nearly as high as the roof they had teleported to, but they could still see most of the Temple compound.     It was filled with people, all seated in a ring around the large step pyramid that was in the very middle of the compound.    Directly in front of the stone stairs that ascended to the top of the pyramid, was a space for the nobles of the Hutcaiah.    They sat on divans of deep blue material, attended to by slaves, while guards monitored the perimeter of their area.   

“I see Saret-Buyue-Serdi - he is the one with the silver crown.”  

Aedric told them, pointing out the Hutcaiah Emperor who sat in the middle of his nobles.

“He’s got a ring-side seat.”   Snoe commented with evident disgust.

Lysa suddenly let out a cry, pointing to a stone platform that rested at the base of the step-pyramid, a short distance from the group of nobles.  

“It’s Aaron!   They’ve bound him up already and placed him on an altar!”   Lysa remembered to whisper, but even that seemed quite loud, causing all the others to nervously glance around.     With her newly gained Elven sight, Lysa could make out Aaron’s face in the dim twilight of the fading sun.    His face was pale and he seemed gaunt.   She could see that his eyes were closed, but from her vantage point, she could not tell if he was breathing.

Bruce suddenly grabbed her, gently, but firmly forcing her to look into his face, “Lysa!   Shh!  Listen to me!   You cannot panic right now.   You must focus if you want to save Duke Aaron.   He still lives, but you must not let your emotions get the best of you.   Focus on your role!”

Lysa took several deep breaths and nodded.   Thankfully, the noise from those gathered for the festival kept them from hearing Lysa’s amplified whisper.

 “We are going to have some problem being close enough to help Lysa and Bruce.”   Mattleos said as he surveyed the temple compound.

“We can’t stand upon the temple pyramid”, Mathlyn reminded them, “That goes for you too, Bruce, invisible or not, for it will send out an alarm that will reveal you are there, even if they cannot see you.    I’d suggest placing you in between the seated nobles and the sacrifice platform at the bottom of the pyramid.    That should be clear and free of spells, and you’ll be near when Lysa is freeing Aaron.”

“Well, what about the rest of us?”  Aedric asked, “We don’t have invisibility rings and even with our Elven cloaks, we won’t be able to appear with everyone watching.    Most of the spectators are Elves, and that many of them gathered together in one place, all focused on the ceremony, means that some of them will surely sense something.”

“I think it would be the best for the rest of you to wait up here on the roof.”   Carn suggested, “Amala and I can use the Placement spell to get all of you down there in a flash.    By waiting up here, you can be sent to the needed location immediately without exposing all of you to danger.”

“So we just have to stand here and watch?”  Snoe asked her brother-in-law.

“It is better that way.    This way we can respond quickly if there is a problem and it doesn’t expose the rest of us to unnecessary danger.   If we were to be discovered while trying to hide down there, it could mess up the chances for Lysa, Bruce and Aaron.”

“You’re right, but it is so frustrating not being able to just swoop down and help.”  

 

Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden hush falling upon the crowd below.    

“I think the show is about to start.”   Aedric whispered, and a moment later a deep gong sounded twice.

“That is how their festivals begin.”  Snoe told everyone, “I read about it - the priestesses will slowly march across the courtyard, then up the steps of the pyramid, each of them dropping a sacred flower at the top before descending.    They will be chanting or singing a song asking the moon goddess to come.    When the last one has descended from the top of the pyramid and is seated next to the nobles, then the congregation will chant the goddess’ name, while looking at the top of the pyramid.”

“Lysa, that is when you must appear.”   Aedric told the girl.    Then the King turned to her brother, “Bruce, are you ready?     We’ll move you down to the space between the nobles and the altar.    As long as you are invisible when the spell takes you there, they shouldn’t notice anything other than perhaps a flash of light.   Hopefully they will think that is a sign from their goddess.    You know what to do.”

“Yes.”   The Orc said grimly, “I’m ready.”

Carn went over to him and softly sang the ‘Placement’ spell while looking down at the spot where he wanted Bruce to go.   The Orc slipped the invisibility ring on his finger after a reassuring glance to his sister.   He vanished, and a moment later there was a very faint flicker of blue light (that no-one assembled below seemed to notice) as he took his position.

“Remember, Lysa, you must think as if you were their goddess.   You must be confident and proud.   Act aloof and do not worry, we will be close by.    Don’t hurry too quickly to get to Aaron; we don’t want it to seem unusual.”

Lysa nodded and they all watched as the priestesses began their solemn procession toward the pyramid.     Each of the Mesen-gongzu-Yu wore a blue and silver robe and carried some sort of white lily.    They slowly walked, one after another, and none of the spectators spoke during the entire processional.    As the final priestesses began their ascent up the stairs of the pyramid, Lysa was gently pulled aside by Carn and Amala.

“Wear Aaron’s Autocaster until you get to him.”   Amala whispered to her and Lysa complied by slipping the ring on her finger.

“Lysa, you may not be able to hear the crowd’s reaction to your appearance, but do not pause, follow the plan.    Are you ready?”

Lysa nodded.

“Alright, I will begin the spell.   May Yesh protect and guide you.”   Carn said and immediately began softly chanting the Placement spell, while staring at the top of the pyramid.    Amala also began a spell, as did Mathlyn, though Lysa was not sure what they were casting.

 

‘Please Merciful Yesh, grant me success.’  She prayed silently as Carn’s spell ended, just as the foot of the last Mesen-gongzu-Yu stepped off of the pyramid.   

With a flash of light, Lysa disappeared and her performance began.