Chapter 15 -- The Crusade of Dreams -- B.E.Z
- Chronology (OG: February 12th - 2013 | IG: June of 2022)
- June of 2022
- Castle Bosiljevo lies just east of the foothills of the Dinaric Alps, twilight and night fall far sooner than the mortals who live in the shadow of my castle would probably like, but it has always suited me well enough.
- As usual, I had risen long after the setting of the sun. Had my mentor Nystor been present, he would probably have explained it as a function of my budding relationship with the Abyss and in all likelihood, he would have been correct. Regardless,I was in the top room of the high-tower. I had just swept back the thick black curtains and thrown open the narrow windows to the fragrant night air. In doing so, my attention was draw down to the sprinkling of insignificant lights that represented the village of Bosiljevo, Croatia. My supernatural senses could not, at that time, reach all the way to the village; but at that moment, I easily imagined that the last laborers of the day had already hurried home and barred themselves in for the night. Despite their renewed fear of the castle and its new residents, they were in no danger from me, as I had already dined that night.
- Then as if borne on the nocturnal summer wind or by silent black birds, I heard the disembodied voice of the Ravnos vadoma, Madame Mina. It was not the wind, imaginary birds or madness, however easy it would be to believe these things. I had seen far too much to believe it was my sanity that was lacking. London had changed all that, made me aware of just how much I did not understand about the really real world.
- I turned from the window and walked across the nearly empty round room, to a single ornate walnut table upon which a single silver candlestick rested, small and simple. The candle stick had been carved in imitation of a 17th century French style that I had found particularly attractive. It possessed a crystal flue to shield it from stray currents of air. In the table's single drawer lay a box of common wooden matches for lighting the candle. I withdrew a match from the box, closed it and struck the match. Golden illumination exploded into the room, it made my shadow caper and the room to twist. I quickly removed the crystal flue and lit the candle, then snuffed the match.
- The acrid smell of the dying match was pivotal, as the sense of smell is central in the process of memory. I crushed the cold match in my cold hand as I walked over to the only other furnishing in the room. The chair was a throne, one crafted in the 16th century for a Croatian prince, meant to remind those who saw it of his power and wealth. Now, other than myself, only the servants ever saw it when they came to clean this room of broken matches and dust.
- I seated myself and listened to the vadoma's rambling rant about the events taking place in Istanbul in recent nights. I replied aloud out of habit and then thought better of it; it would not do to have the servants think me insane, as well as eccentric. Her voice was husky, as if she were a courtesan whispering in my ear after lovemaking. Not that I fancied Madame Mina, though beautiful in a simpering kind of way, she would have been far more trouble than her succulent beauty would have been worth.
- She wanted to discuss plans for returning to Istanbul, finding and entering the haven of the Assamite sorcerer Kateb Zeke. I offered some thoughts and stratagems, but ultimately, little in the way of a plan came about because of our mystical conversation. And then, the night was near its end. I ended my side of the conversation by offering my aid, if the vadoma could find a way for me to help her in her quest to recover Zeke's library.
- During our conversation, I carried on my nightly ritual of trying to snuff the candle with the shadows that it cast. To date, I had been unsuccessful, but eventually, I felt confident that I would find a way to douse the candle-flame and perhaps other forms of light. But with day coming, I closed and locked the windows, pulled the drapes close and snuffed the candle with a conscious breath. I then began the long descent to my subterranean suit and the safety my light-less chambers.
- Ironically, a few nights later, it would be the Tremere who would solve our dilemma for us. One of the Tremere of Istanbul, I forget which, contacted me and asked if I would come to the city and help take Kateb Zeke's haven before the Assamites succeeded in doing so. Of course I said yes, what else does an archon of Clan Tremere do? A few hours later, I was on a Lear jet headed for the Turkish capital. I chose to bring my personal guard as well, as it would not do to be killed out of hand by some blood starved Saracen before I had learned all I could about the Abyss.
- The plane landed at a small airstrip on the outskirts of Istanbul. I was met by the local Tremere envoy and escorted to a staging area. The Tremere are nothing if not generous in providing for their hirelings before a battle: thaumaturgically enhanced weapons, armor and ammunition. It was the one factor that I would miss most when I eventually terminated my employment with the Warlocks. I was also informed that Madame Mina was to join our strike force as soon as we moved into the zone of conflict.
- Had I known then, what lay in store for me, I might very well have terminated my employ with Clan Tremere a bit prematurely. But, in many ways, our ignorance of the future is a blessing, for those trial and tribulations that common sense would have us avoid, are the very things that make us stronger, if they do not kill us outright.
