Chapter 125: Spreading the Light of the Lodestar

Chapter 125: Spreading the Light of the Lodestar

“Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself.”

Desiderius Erasmus

It was morning once more and we had gathered for breakfast. I’d never really thought about it but the morning as the sun rose around 6 in the morning every day and we lost the light every day around 6 in the evening. I guessed this must mean we lived on the celestial equator of the world. The fact that we had 16 months but as near enough as I could tell 24 hours to the day meant that the world must be spinning a little quicker or had a slower orbit around the sun. I was not sure how to work that out exactly. I had learned a lot in my life but how to calculate the paths of the stars and complicated astronomical calculations were not something I had ever looked at before.

It was moments like this that I missed having the internet to look up how to do so. Recall helped immensely in remembering esoteric information I had once seen but if I had never looked at it before I had no way of remembering it without working it out for myself once more. My knowledge was enough for me to realise that we must be close to if not directly on the equator and wonder why I had never noticed it before. In retrospect, it also meant that any solstice celebration was no different to any other day with us living perpetually in an eternal equinox on the equator.

This fact had never impacted on our lives before. However, the fact that we were the furthest western island on the edge of the known compass continent. Added to the fact that we were on the equator meant that for a religion based all on cardinal gods, the light of the lodestar against the darkness of the lodestone meant that Wester Ponente was actually on the path of the pilgrims. Our place on the path all added up to a surprise visit. Or rather a visit that would be a surprise to some and not so to others.

An Archbishop of the Lodestar church was taking a sabbatical to circumnavigate the compass kingdom and had decided to visit our humble island on his journey before attempting to be raised to either an ordinal or a cardinal. His ascension was not guaranteed especially as there were only the four cardinal positions available in the whole church. Though there were also four ordinal positions as well but that was not a lot considering that the church covered the entire continent. It was difficult to accurately describe the Lodestar church, partly because we had never really attended, but also because it seemed to be a mix of so many different religions to me. As far as I could tell it seemed to be a mix of Catholicism, Mysticism and Buddhism with a ‘divine’ mandate to protect those who lived in the light of the lodestar from the creatures that might come out of the dark depths of the lodestone. It focused on helping the people to live balanced lives in the light of the Lodestar.

Our only warning of the event was a messenger pigeon that had been sent by the mayor of Wester Levante last week leaving us a short time to prepare for his arrival. If there was any consolation in his unexpected and unannounced arrival was that due to the petty politics between our family and the current priest meant our local priest Aravan would be completely uninformed of the Bishop’s imminent arrival. I took an inordinate amount of glee at imaging his face when the bishop arrived, and it was one of the few pleasures that would hopefully keep my spirits buoyed because his arrival would cause some personal problems for me.

Our peaceful morning breakfast with us waited on by Cora and Baldric had been broken by the message Des and Sinis delivered. They had all left to give us privacy for our discussion. They were trusted with a lot even though they were not family, but not everything by a long shot.

“The Light of the Lodestar, his four Cardinals and Ordinals will all be able to see your status.” Lady Acacia had informed us upon receiving the news that morning. The information once more changed my understanding of the world. I had grown used to the idea that you could not truly know a person’s strengths just by looking at them. It seemed that for some that was not the case.

“That is a given, what is questionable is whether this Archbishop will be able to do so too. Some can and some cannot but the fact that he is attempting his Compass Continent Circumnavigation with the hopes of being elevated does not bode well for us.” She continued. The message that the pigeon had brought was not long by any length but it had given us the following information. “Bishop Grigori aspiring Cardinal and entourage. Compass circumnavigation on Pilgrim Path, arrival 7 days.”

But she was not finished. “Generally, half of Archbishops can see or get a sense of your status while maybe a quarter of bishops. I have not brought this up before because nearly all priests have not raised themselves sufficiently high enough in either skills or levels to be able to do so and certainly not Aravan.” She said dismissively.

“However, as an Archbishop, Grigori could be anywhere between level 30 and level 70 and very possibly has such an ability with or without holding a shard of the Lodestar.” She cautioned.

“How do you know his approximate level without meeting him?” I asked, everyone had been so secretive about their levels.

“The traditional progress within the ranks of the Lodestar church is to first take up the métier acolyte which is much like a monk. You forsake worldly possessions and leave your old life behind you. Now if you take this route straight out of childhood then . . .” she paused, “It is easier to draw out a table for you than to explain.” And she quickly drafted a table explaining the process of promotion within the church.

As part of the laity or as a child - up to level 10

As an acolyte – up to level 20

As a deacon – up to level 30

As a priest – up to level 40

As a Bishop – up to level 50

As an Archbishop – up to level 60

As an Ordinal – up to level 70

As a Cardinal – up to level 80

While the Light of the Lodestar is rumoured to be approaching Level 100.

“Now you do not have to wait to get to level 10 before taking up a new métier but you will not be able to return to your old one. So, the standard advice within the church hierarchy is to aim for level 10 before taking on a new métier. There is obviously also politics involved that might not allow you take up or progress your new profession but on average that is their progression. Furthermore, there is no reason that you cannot have a métier prior to joining the Lodestar Church as an Acolyte in the first place. I fully expect him to be around Level 60 and capable of wielding the skill, Inspect, Observe or Analyse. This could be a problem for at least two of you.” She looked pointedly at myself and surprisingly enough Grandfather.

Father unlike Lady Acacia and I could not tell precisely what Grandfather had muttered but knew that he had not convinced anyone by his objection, “Would it really be unharmed Lady Acacia?” he turned to her for wisdom on the matter.

“The Lodestar would be unharmed by taking a slice off it, indeed this is how new branches of the church are formed.” She answered Kaius before adding to Grandfather, “Provided your father-in-law is suitably careful in collecting it.” Then when she saw the excitement on our mother’s face she continued to caution, “Though collecting and keeping the slice functional is a little more complicated than Arawn is implying it might be.”

“What are the complications? Seems simple to me, I take a knife, take a slice of the shard and bring it back here for you to use to learn your skills.” Grandfather shrugged. He appeared to be happy to solve yet another situation with the judicious application of a knife.

“While I am sure that with the appropriate skills a knife would a suitable enough instrument in removing a slice from the shard of the Lodestar. No, the complication is that when spreading the Light of the Lodestar the shards that are cut to form the seeds of a new Lodestar must be constantly supplied with Mana before being located once more on either a leyline or fount or simply just in an area high in mana density. If the seed of the Lodestar loses mana for even a single moment it becomes merely an inert crystal with the Light of the Lodestar lost forever. How do you expect to accomplish that?” she asked pointedly.

“I can be exceptionally quick when required to be. Are you implying that I don’t have enough mana for the task?” he asked and it was difficult to tell if he was actually offended or merely playing the part he had come to inhabit after years in the role as the gruff old grandfather.

It was Mother who came to mediate between the two. Not that they required particular mediation it was more to continue the conversation and possible prevent any more objections from Father. “Assuming that Grandfather can take a slice of the Lodestar unnoticed and without causing any harm to the original or any people.” She placated Kaius and added the qualifier to ensure Grandfather did not go overboard. “Then the next step is keeping it supplied with sufficient mana while it is moved. Yes?” she turned to Lady Acacia for confirmation.

“Yes.” She confirmed.

“Then we will accompany him in this heist.” She added determinedly.

“No, no! No that is not going to work.” Grandfather objected immediately. The geas might have been removed or ameliorated but a lifetime of protecting her meant that he still preferred her out of harm’s way or at least any harm that he was not directly in control of. “I can get myself in and out unseen and take a slice unnoticed. I am not going to be able to do that if I am dragging the entire Silversea family with me. I could manage maybe one person and that is if I am carrying them but no more than that. I am going to be moving at speed and my skills will only extend so far beyond my body to include my clothes and maybe a packback but that is it.” He continued to object.

But mother was not to be denied, “Very well then we will wait in the boat ready to supply mana for its journey to the island while you carry Kai to provide the mana for when it is first removed.” The possible threat to our family had galvanized mother into organizing the heist. We were after all still her children and anything that might be a threat to our futures was fiercely fought against.

“Putting aside the completely sacrilegious nature of the act we are contemplating. That will still leave us sitting on our island having to supply mana to our sliver of the Lodestar day in and day out. Where are you planning to place it? We have no chapel built or area high in mana here.” He had not quite given up on convincing us that this was a bad idea.

“The Blue grotto would be good. We are constantly spending our mana there in order to raise the pearls wouldn’t there be enough for the slice of the Lodestar to grow too?” I asked unsure if that would be enough to keep the light of the Lodestar alive and growing.

“No that would not be enough for the seed of the Lodestar to live let alone grow. Remember the majority of your mana is going to the pearls and they keep it to grow. No actually I believe I might have a solution to where it should be placed.” She answered seemingly surprised with herself to also be a providing a hiding place to facilitate our theft.

“You do?” Aleera asked the question I was sure we were all interested in hearing answered.

“The Lodestar Church might cover the Compass Kingdoms. But although wide in its spread and devotion that does not mean that each race celebrates it equally. We have no churches within the Elvish woods but that does not leave us without the Light of the Lodestar. Our shards of the Lodestar are hidden within or below the trees we live on and there is a reason for this.” She once more left us in suspense as she took another sip of her morning tea.

Aleera despite her levels in etiquette was too frustrated to wait patiently and honestly neither was I. “And?” we chimed in together.

“And . . .” she paused once more before relieving our frustration with an answer. “Your garden is not growing so spectacularly simply due to your large infusions of mana and fine fertilizer. Wanda’s skills are helping certainly but the one of the main supports for your garden is the tree. An Elendil tree is not called elf friend for only the leafy shade it provides us or the fine wood we can sing from it. No, the Elendil tree can both absorb and produce mana, it both gives to and takes from its surroundings. Its roots have been digging deeper into the mountain with each passing day searching for the ley lines that run through the earth as well as producing its own mana which due to the nature of the caldera stays within your garden nurturing your fruit, vegetables and herbs with greater growth than they would have achieved with just your infusions of mana.”

“It is?” Aleera asked excitedly.

“Of course. I was not merely suggesting you plant it to bring a little piece of home with me.” She answered.

“There we have a place to locate the shard. All the elements are there. The Thief and support,” she nodded to Grandfather and I, “The ship to sail away in and more support,” she gestured to Father, Aleera and herself, “Finally a place to hide our stolen item?” She inquired of Lady Acacia double checking that the tree suggested would suffice.

“It will take me a day to sing a heart grotto beneath the Elendil tree but you and Kai could help me in hollowing out some of the stone to speed up the process.” She explained the next steps we would need to take.

“Then it is decided, we will be stealing our own shard of the Lodestar tomorrow night.” Mother declared for the family.