Polar Opposites

It took Crystal an hour to set up the summoning circle.  Normally this would be attempted with plenty of reference materials and maybe even another ‘mancer or two around to double-check the proceedings.  Speaking with a ruler of the underworld was never undertaken lightly.  It seemed, however, that not only was Crystal taking this matter lightly, but she’d done it enough times to completely memorize the runic circle needed.

“So, what’s the deal with this Mihos anyways?” Ajiin asked.  The three were perched on a boulder nearby.  A cluster of penguins was at the base, watching with what beady eyes were left among the group.  Apparently, they were slightly miffed at Sabreur catching their brethren on fire and the trio had taken refuge shortly after the zombie fowl realized their mistress was no longer paying attention to their behavior.

“Underworld has seven rulers.  Legend holds that they were powerful ‘mancers who elevated to that position, either by their own power or some overlord we don’t know about.  They don’t talk about themselves very much, to be honest.  Over the centuries they’ve evolved from really powerful ‘mancers to otherworldly beings entirely.  Can’t be called human anymore, really.”

“So which one is Mihos?”

“He’s got a lot of names but Avatar of Vengeance sums it up rather nicely.  Used to get summoned a lot out of the seven as everyone thinks they’ve got some beef with someone and he’s the one who’ll handle it.  Course, it doesn’t really work that way, as true vengeance has to be deeper than just emotion – most of the time the person seeking vengeance has to be dead and request Mihos’s intervention in his own realm.  So he got tired of being pulled to the mortal realm, they are rulers of the entire underworld and are a bit busy after all, and started smiting people who called frivolously.”

“Last person who tried was the former headmaster of the Academy.  Got turned into a parrot for a week.  Did I mention some of the rulers have a sense of humor?”

The three fell quiet.  Crystal had started in with the verbal components of the casting.  Normally, there would be invocations of just about every form of ‘mancy around for a summoning, with voidmancy being the strongest, but Crystal seemed to be skipping a couple.  

Like the bindings. You know, the wards used to keep whatever is being summoned from getting out of hand and laying waste to the city or in this case, arctic landscape.

“I really hope she knows what she’s doing,” Langley whispered.

“I don’t think she even knows what year it is.  Reassuring, no?”

The circle turned into green fire.  It leapt up higher than Crystal was tall and swirled together and then branched out again to form the impression of a giant bird.  One last explosion of flame, and the circle was gone, and in its place stood a massive skeletal bird, eye sockets glowing green and the sun reflecting off the ivory wing bones.  A collar of worked gold, emeralds embedded around the geometric patterns, hung around its neck and rested on the breastbone.  The penguins all turned, stared, and then made for the water as a group.

“Well,” Langley said, “the penguins seem to have lost interest, so let’s go over and say hi.”

“Right.  So it can eat us.”  Ajiin slid off the boulder and shouldered his rifle.

“They can’t kill in this realm unless it’s within their bounds.  In Mihos’s case, vengeance.”

“Well, Sabreur did set her penguins on fire, so that might do us in.”

For someone being such a prophet of doom, Ajiin was making good progress towards the skeletal bird.  It was nearly three times as tall as the sniper and its beak appeared just the right size to bite someone’s head off.  At the current time it was hunched over, in deep conversation with Crystal, who appeared to be hanging off its neck vertebrae in a hug.

She let go when they got close.  The three stood there, shifting nervously, as the skeleton turned to regard them.

“And these are the three you are going with?” it asked.  Its voice was dry, like twigs after a grass fire.

“Yes, in a skimmer.  Won’t that be exciting?”

It stared at them for a long and uncomfortable moment before replying.

“Crystal, one of these is not a ‘mancer.  How about you show him your creations, I’m sure he would be very interested.”

“Langley,” Ajiin whispered, aghast, “he’s not talking about the penguins, is he?”

“’fraid so.”

Ajiin had just enough time to turn pale before his wrist was seized by a skinny hand and drug towards the waterside.  That left the twins alone with an unbound ruler of the underworld.  

“Right,” Langley said with a deep breath, “So, just for the record, we haven’t done anything deserving of vengeance.”

“Right,” her brother agreed.

Mihos shivered.  His body collapsed inward and the green fire burst forth once again, consuming the ivory bones and while the twins shrank back from this, he walked out of it in a humanoid form.

He was tall.  Tall and skinny to the point of emaciation, birdlike with the long and bony limbs and a narrow, pointed face.  His hair was pulled into a braid down to his waist and resembled the plumage of a blue-green parrot in color.  He wore only a robe heavily decorated with gold thread and patterns in blue and green fabric, mostly of birds, although Langley caught a couple skeletons writhing in between the feathered tails.  The cold did not seem to bother him.

“Haven’t… done anything…” she whispered and he stopped before her.  Pressed a thumb to her forehead before either of them could react.  Langley’s face screwed up as if in pain and when he pulled away from her, she sank to her knees.  There was a click as Sabreur drew his pistol and pointed it at the avatar.

“No,” Mihos said, pointedly ignoring Sabreur, “but you’re going to do something that’ll warrant vengeance.”

“Put the gun away,” Langley panted, “Put it away!”

She stood and after a moment her brother complied.  His face was pale and he was trembling with anger.

“Don’t you dare do that to my sister again,” he said.

“Mortal, I’ve read enough minds to know how to do it properly.  Now, I suggest you reconsider your plans for my friend Crystal.”

“She’s a necromancer, you know our laws.”

“And I’m the ruler of the underworld, realm of the dead, and I’m telling you that she is an innocent and avenging wrongdoings against such as her is my duty.  I care not for your laws.”

By the waterside, the innocent in question was introducing Ajiin to the penguins.  He was trying to keep down his lunch as he patted one on the head.  Its ribs were showing and portions of the muscle tissue surrounding it was taking on the pink-green of rot.  The feathers were mostly gone from its body to reveal the sagging skin and tears where the wing had slid off entirely to leave only bone behind.  

“Why do you even care?” Langley asked of Mihos, “I thought the avatars were only concerned with the powerful and urgent matters of our world, if even that.”

He laughed and turned back to them, drawing closer.  The twins both backed up and he shook his head, still chuckling.

“Stormrider twins, have you met any necromancers besides this one?”

They shook their heads.

“Let me tell you about them.  They’re already committing a crime to even learn the art so they are usually not averse to other wrongdoings.  They’re an arrogant lot, thinking themselves the masters of death itself.  Good portions believe in the age-old mentality that necromancers are the chosen kind to unleash a swath of destruction upon the world and create a new order of undead under their control.  As such, they dress in black and wear lots of skull motives and tend to have a half-starved appearance about them.  They address me like I am just another creature to do their bidding – the whole skeletal aspect and all - and then are very surprised when I shift into human form and inform them that no, I’m not, and those wards they prepared aren’t really adequate to stop me from blowing their scrawny angsty ass into next week.  That and I suppose being around so many zombies makes them think personal hygiene isn’t necessary anymore.”

He paused for breath.

“Crystal is like a breath of fresh air.  Granted, she’s not all there, but it’s part of the charm.  You let the Cadre have her and I will personally eradicate you from this realm and drag you into mine for the rest of eternity.  It will not be pleasant.”

The twins had gone pale by this point.  Mihos glanced over at the waterside.

“Ah, looks like she’s done with your friend.  I’m so glad we’ve come to an understanding.”

“Yes, Mihos, perfectly clear,” Sabreur croaked.

Crystal stopped and beamed at the twins.  Ajiin was swaying on his feet, a bit green around the gills.

“Oh, you three had a nice introduction then?” she asked, “And Mihos even showed you his human form!  How sweet.  I like a bird better, cause he can fly me around sometimes.”

“And I would Crystal,” he said, “but I’m afraid I do have duties to attend to.  How about you go with these people now – they’ll take good care of you – and I’ll take care of your penguin friends.”

She hugged him again and then went bouncing back to Ajiin, asking to see his rifle.  He was coherent enough to refuse and make sure the safety was on, just in case.  Mihos just gave the twins another steely look, and then gestured.  His robes billowed about him like bird’s wings and then he was consumed by green fire and was gone.  Langley dissolved into a coughing fit.

“Sis!  You okay?  He didn’t hurt you with that mind-trick, did he?”

“No,” she gasped, “I just saw more of the avatar of vengeance than I ever wanted to see.  He’s got to wear something under those robes.”

Sabreur turned beet red and immediately regretted asking.  To cover, he turned and quickly set off for the town, back along the path they had come.  Ajiin fell in behind them, then Crystal, skipping as she did so, and finally Langley, adjusting her hat and attempting to regain her composure.  As she reached the crest of the ridge, she turned back and looked.  There was no sign of the undead penguins anywhere.  Mihos had indeed taken care of them, presumably by taking them into the underworld where they belonged.  She shuddered.  This was going to complicate things.

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