"Very well," Sir Marcus said, "though I will warn you a great deal of what I'm about to say you already know. However, it is always good to summarize information before moving on...
"The only thing out of the ordinary from last night was that certain people were missing from the meal: Estaphon, my steward, and a fourth emissary from Tryvali. We did have guards scouting out the castle the entire time, but a great deal of our force were focused on the immediate safety of the guests and the royal family. After the initial fire broke out, it is hard to say what was out of the ordinary, other than no one seems to agree on what caused the fire or where it started. As for the spark, or fire cracker...yes, that would make sense. We also interrogated the servants and guards thought to be at the place the fire started, but they all gave us different answers as to where it started. And since there's no damage or trace left...that is a separate issue all in itself." Sir Marcus paused for a second, and Estaphon walked across the great hall to join them. "Good timing, Estaphon. Perhaps you have some new knowledge that will clear this situation up for all of us?"
"Knowledge, yes. Clear up...not quite," Estaphon says, sitting down with the royal family. "The steward is still talking to the remaining witnesses of the event...but their stories all match, and as such provide no new information. While he has been doing so, I was sitting in my study scrying for an answer." Sir Marcus groaned irritably, but Estaphon ignored him, "It was an illusion." He said with finality, as if it that should explain everything. There was a silence in the group.
"I can see that you will be of no help," Sir Marcus said, rubbing his temple.
"Illusion?" Athenos said darkly, "how is that possible?"
"We do not know," Estaphon said, "and Psamathe doesn't seem too intent on telling me -"
"Who's Psamathe?" Rozen asked. He felt a surge of irritation from Sir Marcus as if he was settling in for a very long story. The children of the royal family, their breakfast finished, were starting to grow restless. Queen Margarite took them and left, Princess Aleiya trying to follow. Rozen held out a hand to stop her, and she sat back down. She didn't seem too happy about the prospect, but as long as she wasn't asked any questions...
"Psamathe is not a who, or a what," Estaphon said, his eyes glazing over as if he was no longer in the room.
"She is a goddess," Sir Marcus said curtly. Athenos raised his eyebrow.
"No, not that either," Estaphon said, "she is both...she is a bridge between this world and that world. She was human at one time...but ascended. She will further ascend, one day, but first she must accomplish something here, and she must find someone to do it for her. It is perhaps in this group that it is-"
"To the point, if you will," Sir Marcus said.
"Alright, illusion. Illusion magic is an art that had been lost centuries ago, intentionally. It had become a softer version of the darker forms of magic, as it was used only to deceive someone. In fact, there are still some ties to it in our enchantments, that although it might be intended for good it has been corrupted, and has enabled...petty thieves," Estaphon glared at Edwin before continuing, "but illusion is quite different. Where enchantments enable the possibility of such corruptions, illusion magic is a corruption."
"There are several steps between Illusion and Necromancy," Athenos said abruptly. That would explain it - the reason most magic had suddenly disappeared from the world. He began to see how any of the magic of old could be considered 'corruptable...' from element control to conjuration... "besides, last I checked, channeling was on that list of illegal arts, is it not Estaphon? Scrying is a form of that, isn't it?" Athenos was learning to distrust Estaphon...as for Psamathe, he still did not know.
Estaphon struggled to respond. "The bigger picture-"
"Enough of this squabble," Sir Marcus said, fuming, "I will not have these idle attacks made on my court wizard. Back to the topic at hand. The illusion." A hush fell over the group.
"Ah yes. The illusion. Well there isn't much more to say about it. The illusion was created in a way so that the source is unknown. And since illusion was a dead magic, we don't know how that could have happened, we can't even speculate. Even the courts' copies were destroyed when the time came. Unless something was hidden..." Estaphon chuckled. Rozen felt a sudden perk of interest from Aleiya. He turned to her, and she instantly became flustered. If she was going to say something, she wouldn't now.
"What about the mysterious death of the 79 guards sent out to investigate? What about the one still alive?"
"The mysterious death of the 79 guards...we are not sure."Sir Marcus said, "Many of their bodies were not recovered, and the only knowledge we have for sure that they died is based on the soul survivor's babbling. He is on the brink of insanity, and we fear to push him. He is resting on the second level barracks. In fact," Sir Marcus said turning to Dan, "we thought that you would become the same fate. It is extraordinary that you are making such a speedy recovery. You are the only one to have seen the shrouded character and lived to tell it in an understandable manner."
All attention turned to Dan. He recounted what little he knew of the case - the attack from Lester and Edward, the hideous (though nondescript) figure that emerged from the room. But he had not seen its original form, only heard its voice.
"So, we have it on pretty good authority that the Tryvali are behind it, but we don't know how they accomplished it or why," Sir Marcus said with finality. "There is that map that Athenos has. And the babbling guard upstairs. But if you talk to him you must be careful not to upset him too greatly. We are still interested in his safe recovery."
"The better question is, how does this fit into the king's disappearance?" Rozen asked.
"We do not know."