Ars Magica Chapter 6

Chapter 6 - Damia Awakens and Vermögens’ Surprise

Wednesday Night at Slyth Torr:

Heru~Gurtha paces around his study while waiting for his potions master to finally make his appearance; he didn’t have to wait long.

Saxon Stevens knocks lightly on the study door before entering. He quickly notes the impatience in his lord’s mannerisms then speaks quickly, “Milord, I’ve the Memoriam Restorium Draught ready. I made enough for five doses. I also have an interesting bit of information about Van Pelt.”

“Really Saxon, please enlighten me. What’s going on with Van Pelt?”

Saxon states almost happily, “It appears Milord that Van Pelt has been removing things from the Rutherford ancestral vaults without permission. In a surprising move the Dwarves reclaimed everything taken and even charged interest and replacement fees on money and broken artifacts.”

Not to surprised by the act of thievery but interested in how he came by the knowledge Heru~Gurtha inquires, “How did you come by this knowledge Saxon? I can’t believe that Van Pelt would tell you outright that he’d been taking the Savior’s possessions without his permission.”

With a disgusted smirk Stevens replies, “He called Hera and I up to his office late the other night… he’d apparently been perusing a tome on wards that he’d ‘borrowed’ from the vault when it disappeared from between his hands followed by about 20 different magical objects and numerous other books from all around his office. We walked in on him mumbling and stumbling about his office in a near fit. Then one of those scarlet notification letters appeared on his desk telling him that Rutherford had demanded the return of everything taken from his vaults without his permission since the death of his parents. They also demanded the return of all his vault keys. He decided to try and keep a couple back: they charged him the full 1000 avatiir per key and changed them all anyhow. Apparently all the funds he’s had withdrawn whether he did it himself or not, have also been charged to his vaults since most of his lot don’t have two penits to rub together. The Dwarves made sure that Rutherford got everything back that had been taken. Van Pelt has been screeching, screaming and plotting revenge for the last two days. His tantrums made it near impossible to brew the Memoriam Restorium Draught.”

It was then that something truly frightening happened; Kiran Ryder, the Dark Lord Heru~Gurtha whose very name causes fear, started laughing and laughed for a solid five minutes.

He sobered up quickly though and on a very serious note states, “That’s wonderful news Saxon. The more off balance he is the more mistakes he makes; the better for our side. He’s driving Rutherford right into our arms. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves though Saxon, call Devid in; we’ll have the two of you take a dose of the Draught and move forward from there.

Stevens leaves through the door beside the fireplace that leads to his masters private library and comes back a few moments later accompanied by Devid McCrey; they approach the still somewhat happy Heru~Gurtha with trepidation.

“Ahh… Devid good… good; here is the memoriam draught I had Saxon brew up for us. I want the both of you to take it. Devid let’s start with you because I think you have been tampered with the most.

Devid takes the proffered vial of vomit green liquid, hesitates a moment then knock it back in one gulp; the sudden greenish tint to his face telling them how vile the liquid truly tastes. It was only moments later that he falls to his knees, starts keening softly then tearing at his face in abject horror of what he was remembering. Heru~Gurtha wraps his arms about him pinning his hands to prevent him hurting himself.

Tears running from his distraught eyes he looks up at his master crying softly, “? How could I…? How could I? We… we were soul bonded. How could he remove that memory? How could I forget my mates…? My daughter, he took my daughter and has killed all my mates!”

Saxon dropped to his knees beside his friend, “Devid, it’s not your fault. It’s Van Pelt. He interfered, he played with us like we were chess pieces, and he decided that your mates would be dangerous to his plan. It’s NOT your fault. I don’t know why or how he took your daughter but Devid; he doesn’t have her anymore. She’s here! She’s back with us. She is healing in a bedroom upstairs Devid and she’s going to need you!”

It took quite a while to settle Devid down and into thinking clearly. He was finally realizing that it was Van Pelt’s fault that his parents interfered in his bonding and forced a civil marriage with the bitch from the abyss on him. It was Van Pelt’s fault that everything went wrong in the Pentiad bond (well a lot of that was the bitches fault too but could have been prompted by Van Pelt.) and they ended up living apart. It was Van Pelt’s fault that he forgot about his mates, their bond and his beautiful child.

A soft knock from the door turned all their attention in that direction; Heru~Gurtha states, “Come in!”

The door opens slowly and a young bruised dark haired young woman was standing there somewhat unsteady on her feet holding a royal blue parchment that was edged in gold.

She softly addresses Heru~Gurtha, “Grandfather it appears that I need to go to Vermögens as soon as possible; it seems they’re frantic in trying to contact me.”