The Countess and The Lady (Part 2)

Past stacks of books, past doors, up the stairs to the third floor. The younger Eldren thought that the Countess was taking her to the same small section of books she had read cover several times in her life. The Countess passed those books and through several more stacks, round corners, and down hallways, until they came to a wall.

The wall didn’t seem special, except for the beautiful tapestry which ran the width and about half the length of it. The delicate image of a rural town, farms, a river running through it, people working, and children running through the fields.

“For the full effect of the tapestry, you’ll need to remove your broach.” The Countess said.

Elizabeth removed her cameo broach with the wards on it and handed it to the Countess. It was almost instantaneous, the tapestry started moving. Or more the people in started moving. The children were actually running, the people doing their various tasks. A man was chopping wood, a woman getting water at the river, and another was beating a rug. Cows and horses were grazing. Elizabeth noticed then she could hear the water running, a soft breeze blowing and the children laughing. Next came the sounds of chopping wood and music - a lyre to be more precise, somewhere in the distance. It was unlike anything Elizabeth had ever seen before and the young eldren thought she knew almost everything that was here, at the guild.. How she could have missed something like this, was beyond her.

“That’s amazing. It is haunted, then?” She wasn’t touching it so couldn’t be psychometry and her broach protected against spirits but this was different from the way spirits were usually present.

“Yes, more than one spirit possesses it. There is a theory that those spirits are stuck in the past in their thoughts. This is what they see. Or it could be them showing their memories to us. Either way, only spirit mages can see the movements.” The older Eldren explained.

“Or hear the sounds.” Elizabeth wondered a little if that was common.

“You did hear them? I see. I could not be certain, as not every spirit mage can. It is more remarkable with the sound.” The Countess commented and Elizabeth agreed. “Now follow me.”

The Countess gave Elizabeth back her broach, then ran her hand lightly down the right side of the tapestry. “Now, follow me closely.”

The wall on the other side of the tapestry slide opened. Elizabeth was led through the opening and into a large library she had not known even existed. A book flew past her and was caught by a mage sitting at a table.

The Countess continued to lead the younger mage and explained. “This is an area normally only available to Empirical mages. The spells in here are quite powerful and are difficult even for the best mages."

"I understand." Elizabeth responded. "May I ask. Why are you showing me this area? I mean why are you trusting me enough to show me this?"

The older mage stopped walking for a moment and turned to look at the younger one. "Because, my dear, we all have secrets." Realizing the knot from the leather tie, she put her hand into the small pouch which hung across her body and pulled out something small, metal, round. The ring of the Order.

"You are a member?" The Countess could have said she walked on the moon, and Elizabeth might have been less surprised.

"As per your reaction, am I to assume your father did not give you this information?" The Countess did not seem overly surprised.

"No, he did not." Elizabeth replied.

"All the magic guild leaders in England, Russia and France are automatically made order members when they are sworn into the position. It is much easier than not being able to speak to us about issues in which our help might be needed.

The Countess continued walking until they came to a section, where she stopped. Elizabeth looked over the titles. Oddly enough the books pertained to religions and religious history. Not the Araunda per se though their religion was certainly covered.

"Here it is," the Countess exclaimed, pulling out a black book.

Elizabeth looked at the cover which was written in, "Is that Greek?"

"Yes, you do not know Greek?" The Countess asked.

"No, I do not," Elizabeth shook her head.

"Then, "the Countess pulled out another book, with a dark green cover. "Take this one instead. It is the translation into French. I am afraid we do not have the English translation as that is in the British Guild."

"French will be fine, thank you," the young Eldren took the book and sat down at one of the tables. The Countess sat at the same table. "The Children of the Sea?"

"Yes, they were a rather strict religious sect. They only lasted for about fifty years or so." The older Eldren started. "Mostly humans. They believed that all Araundan artifacts held special properties. "

"As in magical properties?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes," the Countess responded. "And those magical properties could be utilized by anyone. Of course, no Araunda artifact actually contains any such properties. They have been well tested. And as you are likely aware, non mages can not utilize magic. Still, these Children of the Sea would go through a lot of effort to gain any Araundan artifact."

"You said that they lasted for about fifty years, are they no longer then?" Elizabeth inquired.

"As far as anyone knows, they no longer exist but some of their beliefs do. There are some people who still believe these artifacts hold powers." The Countess explained. "What they thought the Visage would do, should be in that book."

Elizabeth went through the pages and found the one with The Visage of Nimue on the top, in big bold letters. It told some history, a little about Nimue and then she found it.

"Hold the Visage in your hand and read the inscription on the bottom, three times. This will grant you the answers you seek." Elizabeth assumed that meant that Doctor Lemaire was using it to figure out what was wrong with the serum and how he could fix it to achieve whatever his goal actually was. Then she read the next part. "Dust from the Visage can make potions and elixirs more powerful. "

The Countess nodded, "my guess is whoever took the Visage thinks it will grant them those powers."

The Countess stood up. "Feel free to borrow the book but do not let it out of your sight. We do not need that religion, and I use that term loosely, resurfacing. I have a meeting shortly but will escort you out."

"Thank you, I will be careful with this book. Elizabeth said.

As promised the Countess showed her out. Elizabeth made her way home. It was about one in the afternoon when she arrived home. First, put the book in the office, in a locked drawer. Then to see how Lorem was coming along.