A Roll of the Die - 1. Inception
Copyright© 2026 by Michael Loucks
Chapter 65: Day 85
"Time to go home," Milos said to Karla when they woke up the next morning. "We'll come back soon for the coronation. Sir Geoffrey will see to disposing of the trash."
"What do you think will happen next?"
"Robert and Miri have an enormous task before them. There is going to be unrest; there might even be a pretender to the throne from one of the distant relatives. I also fear action by Dania, or our ancient rivals, Pârsâ. The Black Crows will likely step up their sowing of unrest."
"In other words, we're going to be very busy," Karla observed.
"I think that is certain," Milos replied.
The pair ate breakfast, then gathered their things and settled the bill. They left the inn and walked to the stables, where they retrieved their horses.
"I want to get to Newtown as soon as possible," Milos said when they started out.
"Then let's go," Karla declared, kneeing her horse to a canter and pulling ahead of Milos, who kneed his horse and caught up with her.
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"I'm going to need your help with a special mission," Matthias said to Zoë very late in the morning.
"Me?" she asked in surprise.
"Yes. I need a mage, and only a mage, to assist me."
"I will do anything you ask."
"Then come with me, please."
Matthias led Zoë to the basement laboratory, and once they were inside, he closed and locked the door.
When Matthias uncovered the planar device, Zoë had to force herself not to step back; Kranos' handiwork still looked like a trap dressed as a miracle, and she was being asked to put her fingers on it.
"This device allows travel between planes and is powered by mana crystals. I am going to travel to my Original Plane and need you to operate the device. It requires ten charged mana crystals, which shatter on travel. Once you place them, they will not discharge, nor do they count against the natural limit of ten crystals. You'll send me to the OP, then replace the crystals. When I'm ready to return, I'll contact you to activate the device to bring me back."
"How will you contact me? Telepathy?"
"Not quite," Matthias said with a smile. "But it will seem like magic."
He retrieved the iPhone from the book where it was hidden, and which somehow kept it charged. He was curious how that worked, but that was a question for another day.
"This device will make a sound. On it, you will see an indication, and you simply touch the green image on the device. Once you do that, you put it up to the side of your face like this, and we will be able to communicate."
"Did you build that?"
"No. This device is common in my OP and allows you to communicate instantly with someone who has a similar device across great distances. In this plane, it will only work in this room. You'll need to stay in here the entire time I'm away."
"How long?"
"One full day, most likely, though you can leave for the privy. Someone will need to bring your meals."
"I will, of course, do as you say."
"The treatise on how to operate the device is vague about what will happen here, but it's possible a person resembling me will arrive here, but in a stasis field."
"Resembling you? How?"
"It would be the 'me' who exists in the OP."
"Very, very strange. When?"
"As soon as possible. I cannot miss the coronation, so it will depend on that."
"Are you convinced King Edward will be deposed?"
"Yes, I am. I expect it may have already happened, as the Conclave met yesterday afternoon."
Matthias returned the iPhone to the book and put the book back on the shelf. They left the laboratory and went upstairs to have their mid-day meal. After the mid-day meal, Matthias took his usual mid-day tour of the Estate, with Lilia joining him.
"I'm going to build a Keep and new living quarters, rather than try to refit the current with plumbing," Matthias said.
"Why?" Lilia asked.
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