Champions of Serenity: Destiny Fulfilled

Chapter 8

Dreybrenic heard the summons from Chaos and scowled. What did the old reprobate want this time? Yell some more at how stupid he had been in failing to stop the prophecy from coming to fruition? Or perhaps it was another scheme to weaken the bonds between the two worlds, which if truth be told, Dreybrenic didn’t think worked so well to begin with.

Pushing aside the meal he had just been served, Dreybrenic changed from the tight leathers he was wearing into black crushed velvet robes. Then he cast the spell that would take him to his patron’s other dimensional palace.

Within a few moments, he was standing in a circular chamber made of gold brick with gold filigreed marble columns. Near the center was a large open fire pit glowing a lurid crimson and for all appearances was a bottomless chasm. Screams could be heard coming from the chasm and Dreybrenic studiously avoided even looking in that direction. A little beyond the pit was a circular dais with three steps leading up to it and four columns at the corners. Gauzy swathes of red and purple silk hung from the peaked roof over the dais and draped to the floor, held open at one side with ties around the marble columns. On the floor of the dais, cushions of many sizes and shades of red and purple were strewn. Reclining on the cushions in cherry and grape silk robes was Chaos.

Dreybrenic approached the dais and then prostrated himself below the lowest step. “My Lord, you summoned me?” His voice was soft, reverent, as he paid homage to Chaos.

“Did I?” Chaos asked bored, pouring some wine into a beaten gold goblet from a tray near the cushions he was lying on. He rolled onto his stomach and looked over at Dreybrenic and smiled. “Ah, yes, I did. It seems there is yet one last chance to disrupt the prophecy of Serenity. Remember that last little stanza, about your children?”

Dreybrenic lifted his head, frowning as he looked at Chaos. “My children? I didn’t realize you knew I had a woman carrying my child. And you are telling me she is having twins? And that they will survive this time?”

“I am aware of many things, Dreybrenic, not the least of which is the condition of Fini’s sister in your private chambers. I also know that within the next few months, she will be ready to give birth and you must allow two things to happen. “

Without stopping to consider the repercussions, Dreybrenic questioned Chaos’s will. “What do you mean I must allow two things to happen? My plans don’t include allowing anything to happen to either child or their mother.”

“Silence!” Chaos said his voice almost but not quite rising. The deadly intent was there and Dreybrenic remembered the last time he tried to cross Chaos’s will. “You will do what I say in order to have things happen as they are supposed to in the future. If you don’t, then I will take you apart myself, piece by piece and feed you to your own magic users. Am I clear?”

Dreybrenic nodded, once again prostrating himself on the floor beneath the steps of the dais. “As always, your will be done, My Lord. What do I need to allow to happen?”

“I think you already know. Jessie must be allowed to secret your daughter out of Hades and to somewhere else. When the time is right, you will know where she is and you will have some influence on her.”

“How do you know of this, My Lord?” Dreybrenic asked, wondering how any child he raised would ever consider turning on him. Then he remembered the Elven maiden he planted with a part of his soul. He would father at least one other child, even if the mother wasn’t aware of it.

“Don’t be stupid, Dreybrenic. You have handled everything but the Circle with a cunning that is admirable. You have held on to your conquests through a brilliant blending of fear and loyalty. It seems the only thing that you have trouble with is taking orders from me and carrying them out with anything appearing to be competence. Don’t question me in this and just allow it to happen. Let Jessie figure out where to send your daughter and what to do with herself, just don’t stand in the way of her doing it…and for the love of what you call a life, don’t let anyone know you are allowing it to happen. Can you do that much?”

Chaos watched as Dreybrenic struggled with himself to accept the words spoken so harshly about him. Then as he watched, Dreybrenic thought through what Chaos asked of him. “My daughter won’t be lost to me? Just hidden away for a time?”

Chaos nodded, waiting until his servant thought through the plan and agreed to it. If Dreybrenic didn’t agree, then Chaos would quietly go behind his back and make sure it happened. A little planning now would go a long way to creating havoc for tomorrow.

“And my son, I would get to keep and raise him. But I would lose Jessie and any chance of having more children…at least with her. You didn’t say that I couldn’t have children with other women. Okay, I’ll let Jessie go, along with my daughter. I’ll put a piece of my soul into the child now, tonight while Jessie is sleeping and that way I’ll always be able to control her or her offspring. I can do that. But that isn’t the only reason you called me here.”

Narrowing his eyes, Chaos wondered just what it was that Dreybrenic had planned with his so ready agreement. It was common knowledge that so far, even with the help of his magicians, the women Dreybrenic’s bedded to have children with have either proven infertile with him or die before giving birth. It was also knowledge, among the gods anyway, that Dreybrenic was stealing the magic from the very soul of Sandeenai itself to attempt to overthrow the gods and set himself up as the ultimate power in this world. Dreybrenic’s evil and ambition knew no bounds.

For his part, Dreybrenic wasn’t happy about letting Jessie go. Granted, the woman despised him and had attempted several times to kill herself and their unborn children, but she was lovely and had a strength about her that was rare in women. He enjoyed her company even if she didn’t enjoy his. And the thought of having and losing a daughter made his blood boil. Perhaps it was time to engage his plan of having Chaos removed as his patron. Then he would speak to another god for backing. Perhaps one with a little more power and creativity and who wouldn’t keep trying to shut down his plans for complete domination of Sandeenai.

Once Sandeenai was his, he could then turn his mind to other, even greater worlds to conquer. He thought again of that other world Chaos had shown him, the one with the other Circle. It had so much potential and had a magic all its own that Dreybrenic wanted to possessed. And after his taste of that Circle’s blue…he couldn’t wait to exploit her as well.

“Dreybrenic, are you listening to me?” Chaos sounded irritated, something that wasn’t a good thing for Dreybrenic’s peace of mind and body.

“I’m sorry, My Lord, I was thinking of how to arrange to allow Jessie to follow through with her escape and do it without supposedly knowing about it.” Dreybrenic said smoothly.

Chaos sighed and wondered why he was cursed with a servant who was brilliant when it came to dealing with inhabitants of Sandeenai but terrible when it came to dealing with the gods. “I said, Dreybrenic, the protections around the Haunted Forest are thin and about to fall. I would suggest a small hunting party to test it and then another invasion force. Shake up the Circle where they live, before they are aware they are once again a part of Sandeenai’s lifeblood.”

It wasn’t a mistake; there was a glint in Dreybrenic’s eyes when he heard that piece of news. It was one of the few times he was happy he came at Chaos’s summons to learn something new.

“My Lord, you have given me very specific orders concerning the Circle, and we both know how that has turned out. And if we look at the only other order you gave me, ‘take control of Sandeenai and become its one leader,’ and how that has turned out. Perhaps it would be best if you let me make the plans in how to deal with the Circle and see if that works any better than having orders from you on how to deal with them. It isn’t like I haven’t dealt with rebels before and know how to handle them.” Dreybrenic tried to sound humble even though he couldn’t help but feel just a little twinge of anger that in this one thing Chaos wouldn’t trust him.

Shaking his head, Chaos wondered just how blind one man could be to his nemesis. “Dreybrenic, it isn’t that I don’t trust you to deal with rebels. I do, which is why I have allowed you pretty much full reign over Sandeenai without interfering with how you are handling things. The thing you don’t seem to understand is these eight people are not ordinary rebels. These eight people have been selected since before you were even a twinkle in your mother’s eyes and before I remade you, to become the Champions of Serenity and of Sandeenai. They were chosen to destroy not only you, but to keep a very careful balance between chaos and order that I have a tendency to allow to tip into chaos a little too often. Their goal isn’t conquest or rulership; it’s simply to maintain balance. That is what makes them so hard to battle. If they were simply good or evil, then we could campaign against them and have Sandeenai itself wash over them like a tide and wipe them off of the face of the earth. But because they are a perfect balance within themselves of good and evil, chaos and order, they are the focus Sandeenai itself has been searching for.

“Destroying such people, especially such people who have been granted special powers from the Gods themselves isn’t like hunting down and eliminating the Wer. If I thought you truly understood what it was you were up against, I wouldn’t feel I had to oversee your every move concerning them. But you still are thinking of them as ordinary people and that has to stop.”

Dreybrenic stood and started to pace in front of the stairs leading to the dais, careful to never actually touch those stairs. Chaos watched him, allowing him time to wrap his mind around what he was truly up against, if he could. When Dreybrenic stopped pacing and turned to Chaos, he had a look of confusion crossed with curiosity on his face.

“If they can have special powers from the Gods, why can’t I? Am I not your chosen champion, doing your work on Sandeenai as you have commanded? Just as they are doing the work commanded them by Serenity?”

“I was wondering when you were going to think of that and ask.” Chaos said, pouring himself some more wine and sipping it. Then picking up a grape, he slowly chewed it and then allowed it to slide down the back of his throat. Then he picked up a slice of thick crusted bread and spread a soft yellow cheese over it and took a single bite. Chaos watched as Dreybrenic did what he could to hide his annoyance and anger while waiting for Chaos to answer.

“The answer is simple. No. It was written long before any race stepped foot on Sandeenai that Serenity and Serenity alone would be able to have such special champions. The other Gods could have favorites and give special blessings and such, but none could be like Serenity’s. So no, I nor any other God or Goddess can have a champion like Serenity’s. And frankly, none of us would want to. You mortals are far more trouble than you are worth when all is said and done. You offer but a moment’s amusement and then – poof – you are gone. I suppose that is why there are so many of you, to keep the Gods from getting too bored.”

Dreybrenic felt the blood rise in his face and his hands clench at his sides. If Chaos were any other than a God and his patron, Dreybrenic would kill him with his bare hands. Yes, it was definitely time to seek out a new patron, if that were possible.

“Oh good grief, Dreybrenic, don’t get so upset over something so trivial. So you are nothing more than entertainment to me, so what? Aren’t you having a good time? Taking over an entire world, plotting to take over more? Having people from many races bow down and worship you, fearing your power over them yet drawn to you despite the fear? Don’t tell me that you don’t have servants just to please and entertain you, I won’t believe you if you did. I’m being honest with you, just as you should be honest with yourself. You don’t love Jessie, you keep her around because she amuses you and she’s one of the only women you’ve found that can carry your seed. You don’t care one jot for any of those toadeaters you keep in your court, you keep them because their petty maneuverings amuse you. Be honest, for once in your life and get over the fact that just because you are the top dog in the mortal planes of Sandeenai you aren’t the top dog in the immortal planes.”

That stopped Dreybrenic cold. It was true, all of it. He supposed his generals and town governors felt about him the way he felt about Chaos, if the truth were told. That didn’t mean he had to like it, in fact, that meant it was time for a shake up and a change. He didn’t want to keep around people who resented him enough to attempt to plot to overthrow him. He would see to it once he returned from Chaos’s realm.

“Very well, it is true, but that doesn’t mean I like to hear myself spoken of in such terms. I don’t suppose anyone does. So could we please maintain the illusion that I mean something more to you than a brief entertainment while my mortality lasts?”

“If it makes you feel better, Dreybrenic, you can pretend anything you like. Now, I would suggest you return to your palace, send off those men like I told you, and prepare to face the greatest challenge of your life. The Circle will be back in Sandeenai to remove you from your throne in less than a month. How long you keep that throne from the time they emerge will be up to you and your planning. And Dreybrenic, try not to disappoint me again.”

Chaos turned his back on Dreybrenic and finished eating his bread and cheese, knowing full well that his servant was angry enough to kill a lesser being. He wondered for a moment if Dreybrenic was plotting a way to bring him down. It wouldn’t be beyond the realm of possibility and that meant when Dreybrenic left; it was time to pay his dear sister Sheagnek a visit.

Dreybrenic stared at Chaos’s back a moment, allowing his anger to build and then with the words of the spell, went back to his palace. His meal was cold and his servants had cleared it away. He knew that a new, hot meal would be ready when he was, but for the moment he wasn’t hungry, at least not for food.

Pacing in his main chamber, his mind raced over the words of his patron. Let Jessie and his unborn daughter leave him? Send a small hunting party to Tris’s forest to harass the Circle before sending in a large invading force? He was no more than a mild entertainment for the pleasure of his patron for as long as his patron cared to keep him around. Well, that at least he could change.

Walking to his work room, he called for candles, incense, blood, wine, and a selected scroll from his library. When his servants had brought them, he closed the door to his work room and prepared himself.

Taking off his robe, he coated his naked flesh with rose scented oil and lit a stick of sandalwood. He stood in the bluish smoke the sandalwood gave off, allowing the blending of the two perfumes to enshroud his body with a sheen of musk. Next he set up eight candles made from beeswax and blood as tall as he was and as thick as a child’s waist. Each candle had four wicks, one for each compass point. As he lit each wick on each candle, he offered a different incantation. When the smoke from the candles mingled with the heady scent of the rose oil and sandalwood incense, Dreybrenic read over the scroll to make sure he was inviting the correct God to his work room.

Inscribing the proper designs on the floor and walls with a mixture of blood and wine took several hours and Dreybrenic was starting to reach his limits. He called upon the reserves he had stored around his work room and Sandeenai in general to keep him going until he could finish the work he set himself.

When the last stroke of his special ink was in place, Dreybrenic prostrated himself on the cold stone floor of his work room and began the soft chant that would invite the Goddess Sheagnek to his palace. He placed all his will behind his call, gambling that it was strong enough to at least pique the curiosity of the Goddess long enough to entice her to his presence. Then he would let his words do the rest.

In her library, Sheagnek was pouring wine for Chaos when she heard the plea from Dreybrenic. She frowned and set the decanter on the table and took her seat, picking up her own goblet, staring at the amber liquid.

“What is it, dear sister?” Chaos asked softly, setting his own glass down and looking carefully at his sister’s face.

“I am being invited to visit your servant, Chaos. I am curious as to why he would ask to see me; he has never really paid much attention to me before. He normally seeks out Chah, Tziel, and Mhahluh, asking for advice and their blessings with different undertakings. I think I’ll go and see what he wants.”

“He probably wants to talk about the prophecy. He wants to know if he can change part of it to better suit his own plans. But enjoy yourself with him and perhaps we can resume our conversation when you return.” Chaos said and bowed, leaving his sister so she could go. But he had to admit, he was curious as well.

Dreybrenic was pleased when Sheagnek stepped into his work room and looked around. She was much lovelier than he expected and he hoped she would be receptive of his offer.

“My Lady, Sheagnek, I am Dreybrenic Greshinea and I have a proposition for you.” He made his voice as seductive as he could without seeming sleazy and he offered her his arm to lead her to a divan against a wall. When he had her seated, he offered her some wine and fresh fruit.

For her part, Sheagnek figured it was as Chaos had suggested and she was ready to play around with fate a little to teach this upstart his place. How dare he try to get her to change a prophecy set down by the Supreme Creator himself!

“I would like to switch my allegiance from Chaos to you, Lady Sheagnek.” Dreybrenic started, catching Sheagnek completely off guard. “I am beginning to feel that he isn’t taking Sandeenai’s plight as seriously as he should. He is more worried about children that might or might not come into play in the future and harassing Serenity’s champions far more than ending this terrible conflict and finally bringing peace to Sandeenai under a single ruler. My whole goal since taking power was to bring Sandeenai to peace, to stop all the interracial wars and conflicts, to put one set of laws upon Sandeenai so that anyone could go anywhere and know what to expect. Is that so horrible?”

Sheagnek listened to Dreybrenic’s words and in a way they made sense. Then she remembered how he had hunted down and almost slaughtered all of her special children: the Wer and the Mer. Why should she help him when he had hurt her?

“Put that way, it isn’t horrible. But Dreybrenic, you have made it your mission to wipe out my chosen children. You live in their stronghold, you mock their ways, and you relish the pain you continue to inflict on the few remaining Wer. Give me one reason that will satisfy me why I should even consider your offer let alone not tell Chaos of your duplicity.” Sheagnek wondered what this mortal would come up with. She read the anger in his face as she reminded him of the sins he had already committed against her. Then she read even more anger when he realized she not only wasn’t jumping at his offer, but that she threatened to let Chaos know so he would be punished for questioning his patron God’s will.

Dreybrenic took a moment to get his anger under control and to think of what he could say that would sway her to his way of thinking. He turned from her and took some sweetbreads from a sideboard and a pot of sweetened cream and offered them to her.

“I cannot, nor will I try, to explain my reasons behind the injury caused to your special children, the Wer. They were in the way and had to be dealt with, so I did it the only way I knew how at that time. I have since learned of other ways of dealing with them and I haven’t killed a Wer in almost a year. Nor will I apologize for looking for a better patron than Chaos. True, he made me what I am today and through his power and authority have I claimed rulership of Sandeenai. But just like my out growing killing off entire races to deal with rebels, I have out grown Chaos’s guidance and would like to allow other of the gods a chance to shape and mold the future of Sandeenai. I would love to have your hand be the one to shape the next chapter in Sandeenai. With me as your ruler on Sandeenai, doing your will, you can have that ability; an ability that so far only Chaos and Serenity have had. That is what I offer when I ask for you to take me as your champion on Sandeenai.”

Dreybrenic watched as she spread the sweetened cream on the bread and took a delicate bite. She looked at what she ate and smiled, enjoying his offering. Then she took a strawberry and ran it through the cream and ate it.

“I must say, that is a very tempting offer. But you have one thing wrong. All of the gods and goddesses have had a hand in shaping Sandeenai, not as prominent as Chaos or Serenity, but we have still played our part; as you well know from your chats with Tziel and Mhahluh.” Sheagnek stood and walked around the work room, looking things over.

The candles had burned down half-way and the incense had been replaced a few times. Dreybrenic was still naked, covered in oil and smoke. His body was pleasant and it had been a long time since she had had a mortal lover. She walked around behind him and ran a finger down his spine and across his buttocks. She then continued her circle of him and stood before his, facing him.

“I am curious, Dreybrenic, what is it you think I can do for you that Chaos can’t?” She hid a smile at the shock and surprise that flashed briefly across Dreybrenic’s face and then the cunning that sprang up in his eyes. He was very expressive, she thought, for one who knew how to read him.

Dreybrenic shivered at the touch of the goddess and wondered what it would be like to bed her. Then her question caught him off guard and it took a moment for him to think of something to say that wouldn’t sound like a child asking mommy for something that daddy already said no to.

“I want only what any man would like. Chaos said I must give up the woman I claim as my wife and one of the two children she is carrying. I don’t want to do that. I want my wife with me, as well as our two children. Is that too much to ask for? Oh, and I don’t like being told how to run my battle campaigns. That is all I would ask of you.”

Sheagnek did smile then. Now she understood. Dreybrenic didn’t like the fact that he had to bow to Serenity’s prophecy and he didn’t like Chaos interfering with his plans against the Circle. So he was coming to her, the goddess of prophecy and fate, to change those aspects he didn’t like. She didn’t have to wonder how many other things he would ask her to change, she knew the flavor of his mind now and it sickened her. It wasn’t that she wouldn’t enjoy sticking it to Chaos, but she knew that only Chaos could control his creation. Then she thought of one more thing. She could stick it to Chaos and still keep things going as they should.

“I’ll tell you what, Dreybrenic; I won’t accept the change of patronage. I am not stupid and I know that only Chaos can control what Chaos creates. But I will assist you in small ways that Chaos doesn’t know about to gain that which you desire.”

Dreybrenic bowed to her, seething that she still wouldn’t consider taking him even though she agreed to help him in small ways. When he looked up again, his face was composed and he smiled at her. “I thank you for the help you will give me. Tell me what I must do.”

Sheagnek was not fooled by the tightness in the casual seeming tone. She smiled and wondered what Chaos would say to her tampering. Chaos wanted to make sure Serenity’s prophecy was tripped up in the future; she would see to it that the prophecy still held the proper power. Dreybrenic wanted it changed completely so that he wouldn’t have to die and that he would retain full power over Sandeenai. And Tris just wanted to be left alone to enjoy her forest with her family and now the Circle. Sheagnek laughed then, knowing that none of them would truly get what they wanted, not ever.

“Alright, Dreybrenic, here is what you must do. Tighten your guards around Jessie as she nears the time of the birth but allow Jessie to select two personal handmaids of her own choosing. I will watch over the two she picks and let you know the plans she makes with them. Allow them to assist her as she asks them and when they carry out the plan, I will make sure you are in the right place at the right time to intercept them and regain control of them.”

Dreybrenic nodded this he could do and would do. He would appear to be following Chaos’s will while in truth, he wasn’t. “And about the Circle?”

“Not even Chaos knows exactly when the magical protection around their forest will fade. That is entirely in my control. Get your men in place and when they are ready, send me word and I’ll drop the protection. Just be prepared to lose whomever you send, I know Tris and I know she will do whatever it takes to protect her home.”

Dreybrenic nodded, pondering the Goddess’s words. “Is there any way she will have warning I am about to attack?”

“None.” Sheagnek smiled, knowing just how much trouble that would get her in when all was said and done, but didn’t fate and whimsy sometimes take that chance for the overall good of the final plan?

“Very well, I will let you know when they are in place. Is there a simpler way to contact you, or do you prefer the ritual?” Dreybrenic asked respectfully. He made plans in his own mind to further cultivate this Goddess if for no other reason than she was delightful to look upon and work with.

Sheagnek walked over to a filigreed wall sconce and fingered the sensual curve of the gold coming from the stone and wrapping around the candle. She looked over at Dreybrenic and gave him a seductive smile, running her finger slowly along the cool metal. “I enjoy ritual, but it seems to take too long for something as simple letting me know your men are in place. Keep a bayberry candle in this sconce, don’t light it. When you wish to contact me, light the wick with a stick of cherry wood and I’ll know you want to talk and I’ll come. The wick will appear unburned if this is done correctly. If it isn’t done correctly and the wick does burn, even a little, all deals are off.” The Goddess changed the white beeswax candle into the deep blue-green of the bayberry with a fresh white wick. Blowing Dreybrenic a kiss, she vanished before he could react.

Walking over to the sconce, he looked at it and smiled. She had liked him and would probably help him in the future as long as he kept this candle safe and sacred. When he ran his finger over the gold, it tingled with the Goddess’s magic and he smiled again. Oh yes, this is one relationship he intended to exploit to the best of his abilities.

Back in her library, Sheagnek watched Dreybrenic preen under the words of her parting. She chuckled to herself over what she was planning and wondering if she should let Chaos on in the little secret. Turning away from her window, she shook her head and sat down to begin work on yet another prophecy, this one belonging to Tukwilles.

Chaos turned away from watching his sister’s head and looked back into Dreybrenic’s work room. So, his servant was trying for a gentler master or mistress in this case. He wondered for a moment what Sheagnek would do with Jessie and the child and then let it go. He knew deep in his heart that Sheagnek would do whatever was necessary to protect her work, the great prophecy of the Supreme Creator. All he had to do was figure out the best way to punish Dreybrenic for his insolence.

Chaos sat back on his cushions and smiled, contented. He had wanted something to shake up the ease with which the Circle on Earth were going about rebuilding their lives and now, he had hit upon it. Sandeenai would call them and it would create a whole new batch of problems for them to work out.