Pages | Chapter 8.5 | Greenwood's Captive

[marsgemwrites]

Not so elusive anymore.

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Chapter 8.5. Greenwood's Captive

Joseph was sat in his study drinking red wine and quietly reading a book. He had calmed down since the ordeal the other day with Wayne and was now figuring out the best way to return home.

He'd gone over every possible way in his head over the years. All of them he'd tried, all of them he'd failed. Joseph quietly placed down his wine glass and book and stood up from his armchair, he'd had an idea. He decided that before he went through with this, he needed to contact his "Man-On-The-Inside" as it were.

Joseph walked over to a drawer, searching through the files, papers and other things he stored in there. He pulled out a leather folder bound with a cord binding it closed and placed it on his desk. On the front in bold, gold letters it read "ETHO". Joseph carefully untied the cord and opened the folder. It was full of papers and photos and information on the so called "elusive" man.

But the papers weren't what Joseph wanted. He rifled through the papers and found what he was looking for;  A bracelet with five, glowing beads on it. It was a string, nothing fancy, but it served it's purpose. Joseph carefully unfastened the knot tying the string and slid off a single, blue bead.

After retying the knot, the old man put the bead in his mouth and chewed it. He looked down at his hands, they were glowing bright blue with magic. Without missing a beat Joseph flung his hands at the potted plant in the corner of his study.

The plant slowly started to contort, the limbs growing outwards and starting to form a shape. Before long it became obvious that the plant was forming the shape of a man. Thinner vines stuck out of the plant man's head forming wild hair. Thick vines twisted and knotted into a torso and legs and arms. Tiny vines weaved together to form features of the man's face.

In places on the man there were deep gashes in the plant, like wounds. The gashes forming on his wrists, legs and abdomen.

The plant finished forming the man, he was like a puppet with a potted plant for strings. The man rolled his shoulders and stretched, "Aaah, that feels good." He said in a smooth voice.

"Hello, Etho." Joseph said thickly.            

"Hello master," he rolled his head around, "man, sleeping in a coffin for eighty years really does bad stuff to your body."

"Yes, well, sorry about that. Look, I need to consult you."

Etho raised his eyebrows, "Consult me, master? I am not an oracle, only a mere angel."

"Fallen angel," Joseph corrected, receiving a glare from Etho. He sat back down in his armchair and gestured for Etho to sit in the other one, "Now, a few days ago someone travelled from Earth to Sunreth."

The plant man took the offered seat, the plant's limbs trailed from his back hinting at where his wings had once been, "Someone you sent? Wasn't Liana's soul the only one from Sunreth that you had?"

"It was. I didn't send her through. Liana managed act of her own accord. She transported this woman, Erin Wayne, using a moonstone compass."

"How would this Erin Wayne have a moonstone compass?"

"She's the child that was sent here." Joseph said grimly.

Etho's mouth formed an O, "You said the child was a boy,"

"I thought it was, but no, it was a girl," He reached for his wine and sipped at the dark liquor.

"So Liana and Dorian had a daughter, not a son as Dorian lead you to believe…" Etho mused.

Joseph nodded, "Indeed. I'm not sure why Dorian would try to fool me,"

"You were in love with his wife and the reason she died, I think that would be why. He never trusted you." Etho pointed out simply.

The older gentleman pursed his lips, "Dorian Wicken was never a trustful man, I don't know what Liana saw in him."

"He was gorgeous, clever, kind, funny, and his morals were not questionable." Etho remarked.

"Sounds like you have a little bit of a crush," Joseph smirked, "I suppose you're right though, Dorian was a decent man, but he was weak."

Etho laughed, "You only think that because you're one of the most powerful hexers in existence."

"Maybe." Joseph muttered.

"Anyway, enough about Dorian, what did you need a consult on?"

Joseph relaxed back into his chair, "Well, I'm wondering if maybe Wayne being there might not be the worst thing. Of course it would be better if I'd gotten through, but this is a good opportunity to set up a plan B."

Etho tilted his head to the side, "How so?"

"Well, if she's the daughter of Liana and Dorian then, in theory, she's a caster. Or at least part one, anyway."

"And if she's a caster she has an aura," Etho said, realising what Joseph was implying.

"Exactly. And auras do not obey the boundaries of universes. If two auras have connected, they will remain so for a short time. Given how powerful Liana was and how powerful I am, and if her daughter has even a fraction of her mother's strength, then our auras are should be connected for a good three months."

"You're suggesting that you contact her telepathically, aren't you?" Etho said.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm suggesting," he stood up and went to his window that looked out over the city, "I have to be strategic about this, though. She can't know it's me."

"So, what's your plan?" Etho asked, standing up and walking to stand by Joseph.

"Dreams. I'm going to send her dreams to get her to find the Erizul Guild. Then she can deliver a message to them that you're alive and you can get a portal for me."

Etho frowned, "The Erizul Guild is not only untrustworthy, but they also hate you."

"But they like you, and if you're in trouble they'll step up. I know how you Erimancers like to stick together," Joseph said, a twinkle of mischief in his eye.

"I hate that you're right," Etho grumbled. "Alright, how is this going to work?"

"I'm glad you asked, my minion of darkness," Joseph grinned, "I am going to send her dreams that lead her to the Erizul Guild headquarters. She will get curious and try to find it. Hopefully she's on the trail of the Order, she did have one of our pages with her when she was transported. Her search will lead her to Obrary if she tries to contact old order members."

"And Obrary is right next to Zopru." Etho said slowly.

Joseph nodded, "Exactly. Which is where the HQ is. Her dreams will get more powerful the closer she gets and soon she won't be able to resist. I will send her images of the members too, so when she meets them she knows them."

"And how will she know I'm supposedly in danger?" Etho queried.

"I'll show her the inside of your coffin." Joseph said matter-of-factly.

"But there's bittermist in there," Etho gestured to his gashes, "she'll get hurt."

"I see no problems here." Joseph replied darkly, "You should be happy, after eighty years I'm finally freeing you from your prison."

"I still haven't forgiven you for this," Etho spat, "you should have trusted me."

Joseph groaned and went back to his chair, "I've told you I'm sorry. I couldn't be sure if the contract would stretch between realms."

"You could have brought me with you, you didn't have to order me to bind myself down with bittermist then bury me alive!" Etho was raising his voice, a rare occasion for the fallen angel.

"Look, I made a mistake and I've apologised, it's been years! You should be over it my now."

"Well, I'm not. The only time I get to wake up is when you summon me, how many beads do you have left, Joe? You're not going to be able to contact me once they're all gone. Then what will you do?"

"Look, the plan will work. Erin Wayne will go to the Erizul Guild and they will free you then you will free me. It. Will. Work."

Comments

[scara]

I love this mini chapter, so much new information. Liana and Dorian, I want to know more about Dorian.

So Etho is not only a fallen angel but an erimancer too, interesting. And he's put himself into some sort of coma encased in bittermist so that Joseph can contact him.

Joseph has no regard for the suffering of others then. This chapter highlights his self absorption and fleshes out his character more while serving as a good introduction to Etho

[(Anonymous)]

Kill him kill him with death.

[(Anonymous)]

Which 'him' are you referring to? I personally vote for Joe.
-Observing Anon

[scara]

*raises hand* I also vote for Greenwood's demise

[marsgemwrites]

Joe's death wouldn't be the worst thing~

[(Anonymous)]

Well, that answers that question. The unknown creature called Etho is a fallen angel. And is somewhat very kind of dead. Explanations and stuff are very much appreciated. (::) (::)
-Observing Anon

[scara]

Again he's just mostly dead, not completely dead XD

Mars I'm sensing a theme here....:P

[marsgemwrites]

The theme of almost deadness! Yay!

[marsgemwrites]

I like answering questions, sometimes. It's a rare occasion, you guys should probably enjoy it while you can.

But yes, Etho is a fallen angel, he's a pretty cool character ^^