The small building continued to burn brightly into the night. The water brigade formed to convey buckets of water to the site of the fire succeeded only in preventing the fire from spreading to structures and vegetation nearby. The structure burned to the ground with everything in it, except Roulv Dania and the wooden box and its contents.
The next morning Roulv Dania was compelled by Accipiter to tell his story one more time. "No doubt a comrade of those you hunted and who were hunting you," observed Accipiter. "The sword is Ch'in made."
"But these were not Ch'in who attacked me," countered Dania. "I know the appearance and manner of the Ch'in. These were not Mongol either. I have seen them as well. They were unlike any I have ever seen before, as was the one who assaulted me last night."
Accipiter nodded his head. "Will you permit me to see the bronze vase?" Dania bristled at the request, but Accipiter interrupted him. "Roulv, I will place it back in your care immediately afterwards. You have my word."
Reluctantly, Dania reached for the wooden box. For the first time Civis and Titus could observe the exterior in detail. They watched as Dania's hands glided over the surface of the box, pressing here and pressing there, as pieces of the intricate design recessed below the lines of carving while other pieces extended outwards in unison with each piece that recessed. Civis looked at Accipiter, the question formed in his expression but not asked.
"It's a Ch'in puzzle box, Civis," said Accipiter. "The carving hints at the solution but it takes a knowing eye to find the points of the solution and to carefully apply it to the box." A soft click signaled that the lock had opened. Roulv Dania opened the lid and withdrew the bronze vase, giving it to Accipiter. There were Ch'in symbols, characters and illustrations finely carved into the metal of the vase. Accipiter studied it for several minutes silently and then as promised returned the vase to Roulv Dania. Roulv quickly placed the vase in the box and closed the lid hurriedly. Civis heard a click and saw the recessed and extended pieces of wood slowly return to their original positions scattered around and about the carving. Dania gave an audible sigh as he placed the box once more at his feet.
"You have indeed used the vase for the purpose intended, but not exactly, Roulv," began Accipiter. It is not a vase, it is an urn... a burial urn."
"Then I have used it properly?" asked Dania.
"It's purpose has been served, but it is not a simple urn for burial. It is the creation of a master of the black arts."
Dania's face took on that look that said "Do not speak of such things!" Accipiter noticed. "Dania, there are still those who have not heard any of the Teachings. It is one of those who fabricated this urn."
Civis could see the waves of emotion on Dania's face and moved to return the subject to the object. "Accipiter, you said the urn's purpose is served. Is it because it contains the ashes of Butara?"
"It is not a passive object, Civis. Just as the green artifact that affected Civi was not passive." Civis right fist clenched as if gripping a sword. "Go on," said Civis tersely.
Accipiter paused and then shocked each and every one of them with his revelation. "The urn seeks its content."
In the marked silence that followed Accipiter continued. "When empty, the urn calls on its servants, slaves of the master who created it, to find a mortal to fill its bowels. The mortal closest to the urn when its servants arrive is the targeted victim. Only when it contains this victim's ashes does the urn cease its beckoning."
Titus asked the next question. "Then why was Dania attacked last night?"
"Its master seeks the return of the urn, I suspect."
"And if the urn should be emptied of Butara's ashes?" Roulv Dania's question was on the minds of the others as well.
Accipiter paused a moment, frowning. "The urn will seek another victim; or if captured by the servants of the one who created it, be presented empty to its true intended victim."
"And who do you think is the intended victim? Caesar?" asked Civis.
Accipiter answered. "No, not your Emperor. It would be a member of the Royal Family of the Ch'in, most likely the Emperor or his First Wife if the markings mean what I think.""Sin Ying?" said Civis.
"Possibly," confirmed Accipiter. "So you see, Roulv Dania," said Accipter, turning to the stunned freedman. "Do not blame yourself for Butara's death. It was not of your doing, nor could you have prevented it. You have done well to not let the object fall into the hands of the servants of its creator. Very well indeed."
"So we destroy the urn and the threat is gone," said Civis with a hopeful expression, though unsureness was etched on its fringes.
"There is more, my friend," cautioned Accipiter. He saw Civis' expression disappear quickly followed by a weary sigh.
"There is always more, Gaius... Do not spare us. Go on, please."
"The urn can only be destroyed by its maker."
"In the land of the Ch'in?"
"Yes."
"How?"
Accipiter pursed his lips. "I don't know, but I know of one among the Ch'in who can read the symbols I cannot."
Civis saw the roll of the die even before the others. "And we must go there and do this because you are... in need of assistance." Only Civis among them knew Accipiter's nature and his constraints. Forever forbidden to Accipiter was the choice to directly intervene on behalf of mortals in matters that affected them, and Accipiter could not purge or neutralize naturally derived poisons once ingested or inserted into a mortal's body.
Civis studied Accipiter's face and his green eyes. There were hints of red among the blue and gold highlights. "And more yet?" the soldier said.
"Yes. Sin Ying's life is already at risk... and you three may be all that can stand in the way of the ones behind the plot."
"The journey is very long. How can we arrive in time to help?" asked Titus.
"Leave that to me," said Accipiter, glancing briefly at Roulv Dania. "It's your agreement to help that I seek."
Civis, Titus and Roulv Dania looked at everything in the room except each other. Finally, they all three, at almost the same time, looked at each other and saw on the faces of their nearby comrades the same decision forming even before the decision became words.
"For Butara," said Roulv Dania simply. "With Civis," said Titus, looking to his fellow Roman to see what he would say. Civis looked at Accipiter and then lowered his eyes. "I will have to tell Apolita."
"Tell her what, Civis?" said Accipiter.
"That the Silk Road demands my attention one more time. She will not be happy about this."
"I will do what I can," said Accipiter, a smile forming on his lips. And that, he concluded, might be more difficult than what lies in store for them at the eastern end of the Silk Road.
[This message has been edited by Civis Romanus (edited 11-30-2002 @ 01:39 PM).]