WAR: Blind Spots

“It’s called a blind spot.” 

Mandisa’s sour expression remained the same, Neverlin sighed.  Time was short and the concept complex, but he knew Mandisa required a more comprehensive explanation to ensure her participation. He must focus, but found himself distracted with the impudent Fenixx at Mandisa’s side.  It irked him terribly to watch this concupiscent jackal sniffing around the priestess.  The Herald had a taste for Tempests. Last week Sekhmitt, this week Mandisa…next week who knows, perhaps Satet-Ka. Neverlin wondered briefly if Mandisa would cave to the demon’s steady stream of smooth lines and juvenile innuendos.  He blocked the thought from his mind and breathed deeply, setting to his task. 

The Necromancer reached into a leather pouch and pulled out two coins; one copper and one silver.  He clicked the coins together between his long fingers looking to the sky in thought and began. “Within our normal field of vision dwells a tiny place known as the blind spot.  The point lies along the line where the optic nerve leads back into the brain.”  He paused, taking a moment to glance at the pair of coins in his hands before continuing. “A small object in that precise line of sight becomes invisible.” 

Mandisa looked curious but unconvinced, stating impassively “Prove it.” Neverlin knew she required nothing less.  The Teacher approached her calmly, holding the copper coin about a hands length above her right cheek. “Close you left eye” he directed.  Mandisa complied, raising her left hand to cover it.  Neverlin raised his other hand, touching the silver coin to the copper.  “Keep your eye on the silver piece, and then tell me when the copper disappears” 

Neverlin slowly pulled the silver coin away from the copper.  When the coins separated approximately 12 inches, Mandisa gave a slight gasp.  Smirking, she dropped her hand uncovering the left eye.  “It’s one of your sorcerer tricks.” She mocked flippantly.   Neverlin shrugged off the disbelief.  “No, it's much simpler.  As I said, each eye has a blind spot, however we are not aware of the blind spot because generally our eyes work together to form images.”   

Mandisa nodded. “I see, so the left perceives the blind spot for the right, and the right for the left” Neverlin smiled and clicked the coins again. “Exactly.  The blind spot becomes evident when you isolate your right eye by covering the left.   When your right eye followed the silver coin, eventually the cooper coin entered the blind spot, disappearing from your field of vision. Your mind conjured a background to compensate for the empty space.  The brain offsets the void, creating its own reality.”  Neverlin ceased clicking the coins, giving Mandisa a frightening grin. 

“This is part of what I have done to Kemena.  I am a blind spot on her mind.” 

He continued, his voice rising in volume with each sentence. “Her eyes see me, her ears hear me, she may even feel me…but her brain does not register my presence.  Just as your brain filled the void of the coin, Kemena’s brain creates a reality to explain my presence.  If Aureleus speaks to me, even in front of her, she will ignore it.  Her brain compensates, inventing its own reality.  If someone talks about me, her mind responds on the subconscious level, acknowledging someone was there, but unable to identify who and, more importantly, unconcerned that she cannot…as I do not exist.” 

Mandisa appeared deep in thought.  Neverlin smiled, watching the tender wrinkle in her brow relax.  Without responding she simply whispered. 

Renewal.

 *********************************************************************** 

Dry desert wind whipped Neverlin’s blond hair across his face as he relaxed against the ancient golden archway.  As he basked in the last rays of the setting sun, he watched a raven circle lazily over the apex pf the Pyramid.  It swooped down towards him suddenly, alighting nimbly on his shoulder.   The Necromancer produced a cloth pouch filled with seed, but became distracted when he cast his eyes down the steep steps, and frowned.  Arm in arm, Fenixx and “Arine” ascended the stairs at a lover’s leisurely pace.  Arine tossed her hair and smiled coquettishly at the handsome Herald.  Watching Mandisa flirt with that puerile lotus smoker, even in ruse, caused Neverlin’s fists to clench until his knuckles turned white.  He closed his eyes, breathing in the hot air, and expelling the brooding rage with a sigh, he could hardly afford to be jealous now.

Neverlin tore his attention from the pair and fixed his gaze instead on the enormous bronze doors of the Pyramid.  The wedding ceremony had concluded and the foreign guests began meandering about the grounds overawed at the primeval structure’s beauty.  Most paid Neverlin no mind, their eyes wandering over the thousands of intricate glyphs and impressive statues.  The northerners pointed and gawked wide-eyed at wonders most had probably only heard stories about.  

Neverlin seethed, this was sacred soil. 

A mere generation ago, Cimmerians were flayed alive for even seeing this holy site.  Today, the Nobility treated them like tourists and Stygia’s theocracy became dangerously tolerant of the trespasses.  Neverlin shook his head solemnly, perhaps only he possessed the courage to set things proper.

Finally, Aureleus and Kemena exited through the enormous gates of the pyramid. Kemena had a bright look about her, gazing up in child-like wonderment at the Pyramid.  She pulled her husband quickly from statue to statute chattering excitedly.  Aureleus, by contrast looked positively bored, but humored her enthusiasm with the occasional head nod.  After about the seventh statue, Aurelius drew her close and whispered to her with a devilish grin. Kemena giggled, shooting him a surprised look and smacking his arm in mock reproach.

Neverlin appraised Aureleus secretly.  Like himself, Aurelius had blond hair, a strong jaw and deep, penetrating eyes.  If they stood side by side, some may mistake the two for brothers Neverlin mused. But the similarities ended there.  The Baron’s face wore the deep sun-baked creases of a warrior; whereas Neverlin’s smooth skin seemed ageless.  Aurelius wore a suit of used, but well maintained armor and wore the blood red cape of an Aquilonian Baron. 

Neverlin suppressed a smile, oh how rich.  This clown, a Baron?  He imagined the Lout one day strolling awkwardly aside some opulently dressed potentate, bumbling for the proper words.   The thought was sillier than a camel wearing a hat.

Approaching the next sculpture, Kemena suddenly beamed as her eyes looked past Neverlin and found her mother’s.  Agog with anticipation, she hiked up her azure robe a hair and skipped happily to embrace mama, who stood arms wide ready to receive her daughter.  Neverlin’s mood lightened dramatically watching Kemena’s breasts bounce delightfully as she loped along.  Neverlin was glad to see her, there was something about this woman that made his throat go dry.

 The women held each other tightly at the top of the steps.  “My daughter!” Mandisa cooed happily.  “Oh mama!” Kemena exclaimed in a breathless sigh.  Aurelius drew near the pair with a look of hawkish caution saying somewhat skeptically “Arine, good to see you again, Kemena has been very worried all these years.” Kemena did not seem to notice the tone, completely engrossed in prattle with Arine.  Mother and daughter chattered at ease in a desultory way about everything from family affairs to what flowers were in bloom at Fort Conviction. Neverlin rolled his eyes and tuned out the conversation, not wanting to waste any of his precious brain cells.

Aureleus’s attention also seemed to wane, and his eyes suddenly came to rest on the Necromancer, standing silently, watching them.  He placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder and stepped towards Neverlin and said “I don’t recall you being at the wedding.” While the Baron’s words seemed friendly enough, there was an undertone of challenge to the inquiry.  Neverlin extended his hands and bowed low, becoming obsequious.  “No, Lord Baron. I consider myself a faithful Setite, come merely to worship in this holy of holy places.” He replied in his smooth, affable tone.  Aureleus blue eyes searched Neverlin’s face, his brow furrowing in pensive thought.  “I’ve seen you before, haven’t I?”

Neverlin shook some kernels from the pouch into his palm before answering, then offered helpfully “Perhaps you deal in precious gems? I am called Neverlin, my family has crafted precious stones for centuries and I own the largest venue in the Khemi Market.”   Aurelius shock his head, placing a hand to his broad chin, replying flippantly “Nope, don’t think so.”  Neverlin shrugged and offered his hand to the raven on his shoulder, which eagerly pecked at the meal.  Then, a light of recognition sparked in Aurelius’s dark eyes and his jaw clenched reflexively. He glared at the Necromancer with undisguised hostility “No,” he corrected. “I’ve seen you on the battlefield in Tesso. You took up arms against the King and fought along side The Order. I remember you clearly now.” He growled accusingly.  Neverlin mentally noted the Baron easing his hand under his cape to rest on the pommel of his sword.

The Necromancer smiled cheerfully, waving his hand in a deprecatory gesture. “Now now, while I find myself flattered one as high as you would recognize my face from among the hundreds in combat that day, I shall remind you that conflict was over a long time ago.  I confess there was a time I served Nox Eternus, however that organization has since become defunct.” He grinned wryly, nodding in compliment “due, in no small part, to your actions” Aureleus shifted his stance, relaxing some but remained alert.  “I cannot say I am unhappy to see them gone.  While at one time I may have respected Damacai, he was lead afoul by that cowardly cult lead by Satet-Ka.  They dug their own graves.”  Neverlin winced at the astringent remark. Cowardly? What right did Aureleus have to take this supercilious attitude?  What did he know of our ways here in Stygia?

Neverlin composed himself quickly, lowering his gaze with a feigned hangdog look and pleaded “I understand you are a forgiving man Lord Baron, I beseech your pardon.” Aurelius swept the notion away with a wave of his hand. “I don’t care for beggars Neverlin. Stay out of Aquilonia and we’ll have no trouble, do you hear?’ Neverlin rose and the raven hopped from his shoulder to his outstretched hand.  He stroked the bird’s feathers and smiled at the Baron

“Perfectly.” 

“Good” Aurelius said simply.  He turned and placed a hand on Kemena’s shoulder. “Will your mother be returning with us to Fort Conviction?”  Kemena frowned while her mother answered remorsefully. “Sadly no, I am custodian of this Pyramid. My duty is here. But I do plan to visit often.”  The ladies embraced again holding one another a long moment before Aureleus said in a calm but firm tone “Kemena, we have a long ride a head of us.”

Aureleus and Kemena turned to the long stairway when Neverlin called out to the Lord and Lady. 

“Ravens are very curious birds”

Aurelius turned to face the necromancer. “And?” He asked wholly disinterested.  Neverlin caressed the Raven’s little head, watching it fondly as he spoke “You see, Ravens are very loyal birds, in fact when they choose a mate, they choose for life” he explained with a touch of excitement. Neverlin cocked his head, giving Aurelius a sly, side-ways glance.  “But sometimes, when the male raven is away, gathering twigs for their nest, the female will cheat on the male, mating with another.”

Aurelius shrugged “good thing we aren’t birds.”

“Indeed, a good thing indeed.”