Parthava Cities Part 4

"What was that about?" Rufus asked.

"How badly do you want Haley back?" Margu queried.

Rufus fell silent, then answered, "Anything."

"Then help me. Understand what I'm up against," Margu said, his eyes widening. "Those guards are no match for you, and sooner or later, forces from Arslan or some other deity will come. When they find what's here, even the gods will tremble and bury it, never to be unearthed."

"What do you want me to do?" Rufus asked.

"I can sense your power. You are more formidable than any warrior in our city. No one can harm you. With your help, I can overthrow the council, ensure the texts are not only preserved but studied," Margu explained.

"You're asking me to help you take control of the council?" Rufus inquired, his voice steady but tinged with concern. "To ensure the preservation and study of these texts?"

"Yes," Margu replied firmly. "The current council is blinded by fear and tradition. They refuse to delve into the vast knowledge we hold. With your help, we can change that. We can uncover secrets that have been hidden for ages."

"What do you want me to do?" Rufus repeated.

"Your power is unmatched here. I feel it—a tremendous force emanating from you. To a Simurgh rider, you would be a formidable opponent. With your assistance, I can sway the people, and ensure no unnecessary harm comes to them," Margu suggested.

Rufus considered Margu's proposal. The thought of entangling himself in Erebar's internal politics was intimidating, but the potential rewards were compelling. If these ancient texts could unravel the mystery of Haley's condition, the risk might be justified.

"But what about the consequences? Overthrowing the council will not go unnoticed. There will be repercussions—from the citizens and the deities alike," Rufus noted, weighing the potential consequences.

Margu nodded, acknowledging the risks. "Indeed, there will be challenges. But think of the potential rewards. Knowledge that could redefine our understanding of sorcery, divinity, and the cosmos. Isn't that worth fighting for?"

Rufus noticed the fervor in Margu's eyes; he was driven by his obsession.

"I'll need to think about it," Rufus said hesitantly, feeling pressured. He recalled Haley's gaze when she was tempted by forbidden knowledge.

Margu appeared impatient but decided not to press further. "Fine, take your time to think about it."

~~

Rufus walked alone through the city. As he moved through the market, someone called out, "You were the human friend of Margu, right?"

It was Diod.

Rufus turned to see Diod approaching him. The sorcerer's presence was unexpected, and Rufus was immediately cautious yet intrigued by this sudden encounter.

"Yes, I am," Rufus replied cautiously. "And you are Diod, I presume?"

Diod nodded, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "Indeed, I am. I couldn't help but notice your discussions with Margu. He's quite a passionate individual, isn't he?"

Rufus chose his words carefully, aware that his response could have implications. "Certainly, he's passionate about his beliefs. We've had some interesting conversations."

Diod glanced around to ensure privacy before continuing. "Margu tends to be... impulsive, driven by his desires for knowledge and power. While his intentions might be noble, his methods can be... questionable."

Rufus listened intently, sensing that Diod might have an alternative perspective or offer.

"Margu has proposed a... radical approach concerning the council and the ancient texts," Diod said, his tone indicating a mix of concern and curiosity. "What's your take on it?"

"I have no interest in that. Do what you want with that, but I and many others might gain some knowledge that may help them. Don't you agree? That there are benefits?" Rufus asked.

Diod smiled and began to tell a story, "Over hundreds of years ago, we were plunged into chaos. Sorcerers have found many great secrets, not just in our city but in all the cities of the Parthava Valley, which possess such great texts, crafted by the unknown. Because only sorcerers can understand the divine texts, and use them to conjure the divine winds, they were chosen as the leaders, the lords of all cities, such as here in Erebar. But unfortunately, we sorcerers are cursed,"

Diod paused, his expression turning somber. "We are cursed with a relentless thirst for knowledge, a desire that often blinds us to the consequences of our actions. We are easily taken advantage of by those who wish nothing but harm to all existence, and they themselves are old beings... demons. In our pursuit of understanding the divine texts, we often tread a fine line between enlightenment and madness."

Rufus listened, intrigued by Diod's candidness.

"Centuries ago," Diod continued, "the sorcerers of Erebar and the other Parthava Valley cities wielded incredible power. But with that power came arrogance. The more we delved into the texts, the more we craved more knowledge. Not all texts could be deciphered by the sorcerers, so, blinded by greed, the sorcerers sought help from demons.

"They gave it, of course as demons are eager to make deals, but it led only to downfall. Every city then grew defensive of the texts they had and envious of what another city owned. War began, with demons switching sides, ensuring the bloodshed continued for long. Only when Cyrus intervened did the war stop. He banished the demons into the mountains. For now we were saved

"His sons, Xerxes and Arslan, wished to destroy us all. They feared us, the gods themselves, but Cyrus didn't. He forbade us from studying any more of the scriptures and made us swear not to delve any deeper, so we do not repeat history."

Rufus pondered Diod's words. "I'm not going to delve into anything that could have consequences for any of you or the other cities. I just want to find one single thing, and I am willing to turn every stone to find it."

"Yes, but Margu is not. He is obsessed with learning more. Once you have discarded something that is not useful to you, Margu is sure to use it to satiate his own curiosity," Diod cautioned. "He is not a bad man, but please, let's do this the right way. Don't get swept away by Margu's restlessness to learn more. We do not know what we might unleash."

"What do you propose?" Rufus asked.

"Let me personally review the records that already exist. I will scour them and help you. All of us sorcerers of the council will. Let's see if we can help without delving into the scriptures hidden in the tunnels," Diod pleaded.

Rufus understood that what Diod was proposing was reasonable. He then left, not uttering a single word as Diod called after him, "Think about it. You do not have to become a tyrant to save what is precious to you."

~~

Rufus returned to the palace of Margu. He saw Suomi in the study, poring over all the scrolls and books she could find, taking notes with her instrument, the kantele, close by.

She began to play a tune, reading through notes she had taken, using texts and formulas in a book for inspiration. As she played, she created a small cloud, which dissolved into rain and poured onto a pot. A plant immediately grew from it, sprouting into a tall vine.

"You seem to have found something interesting," Rufus observed with a smile, watching Suomi like a child playing with a new discovery.

"There is so much knowledge here. Texts describing theories that the Parthava sorcerers have written and documented for centuries. Every sorcerer has added their own theories, and Margu even allowed me to include the sealing sorcery we used to seal and destroy the Night Screamer," Suomi explained.

"Hmm. How does it compare to the divine texts underground?" Rufus inquired.

"Nowhere close," Suomi admitted. "I only saw a glimpse of what was there, but everything was so complex. It's one thing to know how to make the wind blow or the rain fall. It's another to manipulate space, dimensions, or even the soul of a living being."

Rufus was having a hard time. He felt like the indecisive child he had been decades ago. He went upstairs, with Margu noticing him, aware that he had yet to make a decision. His servant was whispering something in his ear.