CHAPTER 28: THE GOD OF SECRETS

A man appeared from behind the statue of Lord Anton with a casual stride. He was tall, and slim with a slender, young face. He dressed in a long navy-blue overcoat that hid a stylized, custom fit armored singlet. His perfectly pompadoured dark blue hair, smooth sky-blue colored skin, and vibrant but subtle aura, identified him immediately. Norrin was in the presence of yet another Azuri.

“Bravo Nassima,” The Azuri said as he slow clapped his hands in a mocking manner, “The sweet speech you gave Lord Anton even touched my heart. Who could deny how beautiful your words were! In truth, I was expecting blood and death, specifically Norrin’s, but I congratulate you on your success nonetheless.”

“Who is this?” Norrin asked a clearly vexed Nassima. The Azuri did not seem to pose any threat; however, the smug and sarcastic tone of his voice had her exasperated.

“Dreven.” She answered with a sigh.

“Aww, not happy to see me?” Dreven replied taunting her with his tone. “When I heard you were free and had given your powers to this…person…I had to come see it for myself. Fortunate for me, I didn’t have to travel far.”

“You’re the one responsible for the enchantment on this city?” Norrin asked.

“Oh no, that was all Lord Anton. I may have whispered some things in his ear now and then, but those were only suggestions. He is the one that made it happen. But that’s all in the past now I guess.” Dreven said as he put his hands in prayer position and looked into the sky in facetious manner. “Love does conquer all it seems.”

Right away, Norrin grasped why Nassima was so annoyed with this new Azuri.
“You ready to go?” He announced to Nassima and began to leave the plaza. Except Dreven cut in front of him to block his path with his tall frame.

“Norrin, Norrin, Norrin…” Dreven’s voice dripped with condescending tones, “You must not leave quite yet. I have just arrived, and I would like to learn more about you.”

“Oh, but Dreven, …I really don’t have time for this.” Norrin responded with the same condescending tone in return.

“Oh ho! How bold he is!” Dreven smirked. “Yes, I would very much like to learn more about you Norrin. So please do not rush away in such a hurry. Nassima doesn’t mind us chatting for a while, do you dear?”

“What do you want?” Nassima demanded to speed things along.

“To the point I see. Well, I just want to make sure little Norrin here is helping you because it is something he wants to do. Not something that he has been ordained to do by an Azuri Goddess.”

“I already informed Norrin that the Azuri are not Gods and Goddesses. He knows better than to follow a command like a blind sheep,” retorted Nassima.

Dreven ignored Nassima’s statement and flashed a slick smile while moving to put his arm around Norrin’s shoulder. Norrin dismissed the move by ducking out of range. He knew the Azuri was trying to curry favor with him and was not falling for it. Unfazed by the dismissal Dreven continued his spiel.

“Listen, we all know my orhrin is searching for her body, but I am trying to figure out what is your motivation in this entire venture. What has the great and powerful warrior Nassima offered to you in return for your help?”

“You do not have to answer him.” Nassima interjected.

“It’s just a simple question, Norrin. You are free to speak; we are all friends here. So, what did she promise in exchange for use of your body? Power? Riches beyond belief? …Her body?”

Strike him down the voice in Norrin’s mind commanded and he called forth Light’s Reach. His patience with the Azuri and his words was reaching its limit. Dreven did not flinch at the appearance of the weapon. He gave a proud grin knowing he accomplished his goal of pushing Norrin buttons. He pushed back his overcoat to reveal the shining rapier he concealed on his hip. He rested his hand on its hilt and gave Norrin a wink. Nassima appeared with a bright flash between the two of them, in order to keep the situation from escalating.

“No, this is not the way Norrin. There are rules, and since we are bonded, they are rules you must follow too. He knows this, he was just testing you. I know he is an annoyance, but he won’t leave us in peace, until we finish playing his game.”

“I’m tired of playing games with Azuri!” Norrin countered, staring down Dreven. Dreven in turn glared back with another satisfied grin.

“Did I touch a nerve? It was a simple question.”

Norrin recalled Light’s Reach and scowled at the Azuri in front of him.

“Fine,” he snarled, “Yes, Nassima did promise something. She vowed to rid the land of the monsters, so they are no longer a threat to us humans. We then will be able to live our lives as we choose. We will be able to live free.”

“And you believe this?” Dreven said with a loud fit of laughter in Norrin’s face. “Wouldn’t that put you and your Chaser brothers out of a job?” He asked with mock concern while stroking Norrin’s bandero.

“A sacrifice I am willing to make.” Norrin responded as he pulled the bandero away.

“Oh, so she did promise you the riches!” Dreven laughed again.

Norrin looked to Nassima once more, “I’m done with this!” He snapped while stepping towards the eastern gateway. But Dreven once again blocked his exit.

“No, don't leave yet because I want to make sure I get this straight. Nassima promised you the chance ‘to live free’ by driving out the monsters. But come on Norrin, do you really believe this will happen? You must know driving away the monsters will not bring humanity the freedom you long for. Nassima for sure knows this because she already accomplished that feat in the past. Want to guess what happened? I’ll tell you; there was no freedom for humanity, instead she was betrayed by the very people she was helping. So, why would she subject herself to that again?”

“She was betrayed by you and your kind.”

“Oh no, no, no. We only did what we were asked to do, nothing more. See, she hasn’t told you the whole story, has she? So, what else is she keeping from you? What are her true plans?”

“Do not listen to him,” Nassima said.

Norrin found it odd she did not assert herself more against Dreven. The Azuri somehow unnerved her. A feat Norrin thought was impossible.

“I am only looking out for you, Norrin,” Dreven continued. “See how she tries to control you and tell you what to do. Leading you here and there to face unimaginable dangers. Aren’t you tired? You can end this right now. There is something she isn't telling you... something she hopes you won't realize on your own. What she doesn’t want you to realize is you are the one with the true power in this strange ‘relationship’ you have. Without you she wouldn’t be here. Her spirit would return to the source. She has to listen to you. You are in charge. You could do anything with this power you control. You could be king of all this land. You can take her power and keep it for yourself!”

“I can take her power and be king?” Norrin parroted Dreven’s speech, before quickly shaking the thought from his head.

Dreven’s words were slick like oil as they spilled out of his mouth. He was playing with Norrin’s mind and intoxicating his ego. Norrin’s head felt like a room being filled with black smoke as his own thoughts were being choked by Dreven’s enchanting spiel. Norrin searched out Nassima and saw there was more anxiety and concern on her face now than when he was facing the scorpinock. She felt there was something deeper happening to Norrin.

“Norrin you must not listen to him,” Nassima pleaded. “You know what he is saying is not right. This is his power, his enchantment. He fills people’s heads with doubts, distrust, and selfishness and feeds off their misery and remorse. He did the same to Lord Anton and drove him to madness.”

“And tell us what you do, Nassima!” Dreven barked back, “Tell us what earned you the title Goddess of Battle? What did you do with all that raw power you possessed? And what will really do when you get it all back? Will you keep your word to him? What about you deserves his trust?”

Dreven’s outburst broke his focus on Norrin. Giving Norrin just enough time to try and clear his head. His mind was swimming from the spell, but Dreven’s invocation of trust broke through to him. the word echoed through his head. Trust. Norrin did not trust, or even like, Dreven at all. On the other hand, Norrin had every reason to trust Nassima, and this trust gave Norrin the energy he needed to come to his senses. He would not so easily be swayed by Dreven’s words. The Azuri’s subliminal power was useless against Norrin’s true feelings for Nassima.

“You messed up Dreven, because now I see your game,” Norrin slurred his words at first, but as he shook through the spell his speech became steady and more confident. “Nassima has already earned my complete trust a thousand times. She has been by my side throughout the dark labyrinth, Doomswood, and inside this city. She has protected and guided me from the moment we bonded. I have seen her heart and I know her intentions are good. Your words are nothing compared to her actions.”

The pounding in Norrin’s head dissipated. He regained control of his thoughts enough to push Dreven’s suggestions to the back of his mind. Norrin stood tall and glowered at Dreven to show he had broken free from his incantation. He would not continue in any other conversation with the Azuri.

“What an impressive show of willpower,” Dreven said as he backed away, “Fine, I will let you pass, if that is your wish. But ask yourself this question Norrin. Has Nassima told you the whole story? She blames her imprisonment solely on us Azuri, but everything is not so simple. Find your own answers. Then maybe you will see that power is more valuable than trust.” He sneered before turning his attention to Nassima,
“My dear Nassima, a lot of things have changed but some things have remained. Ens a vueure thu pak, imanem rabotak tspendint.”

“Yes, we do.” Nassima responded with a threatening look in her eyes.

With those words Dreven departed. Disappearing into nowhere just as he appeared. Norrin breathed a sigh of relief and let his shoulders relax.

“Are they all like this? Talk, talk, talk. So annoying!” He joked to break the tension.

“I apologize Norrin. Thank you for dealing with him.” Nassima replied, her voice small and soft. A change of her character Norrin was surprised by. It seemed there was a history between the two Azuri that Nassima was keeping to herself, Norrin could see that much for sure. Even though curiosity was gnawing at him, he decided to not to pry into her past. His main concern was catching up to Graykeeper and the caravan. When that business was settled, he would pursue answers to all his questions.

“Don’t mention it,” Norrin replied, but did not look in her direction, instead focusing on the outlet of the Plaza. “Your ‘orhrin’ has delayed us, though. We must get moving, we’re losing daylight.”

Nassima nodded sensing the lingering questions Norrin had for her, “Dreven has caused a rift between us and wasted our time. It was a purposeful act to get under my skin; a skill Dreven excels at. I want nothing more than to explain our past to you Norrin, and I will when we have the time.”
Norrin smiled at Nassima’s offer, which helped ease his mind. Now, he only worried that they can reach the caravan before it hit the city limits. He moved with haste to the Eastern gateway of the city. They had to find out what was in the chest the Emissaries were carrying, before it was too late.