Chapter Eleven - The Chimaera's Fall

The autumn shadows stretched long over Ulgotha as Savant Viggo Helmsman walked through the evening light. He took the long way home to Chimaera Estate, past the new Stronghold that was under construction in Keystone's Comfort. The reinforced dome was already taking shape, only six months into the project. Crossing through Bright Lace Park, the Savant took in the bright panorama of the changing leaves, one of the few places the turning of the trees could be seen inside the city.

Helmsman didn't normally come home except during the weekend any longer. Without a need for food or sleep, he spent his nights revising blueprints, doing paperwork, or mapping out one-man jobs. Today was a Thursday, but it was a special one--Agnes' sixtieth birthday. He'd let everyone out at five and given them Friday and Saturday off. This was to be nothing less than a celebration--he couldn't remember the last time he'd had a vacation.

He knew it had been more than eighteen months. He'd been undead for that long, and had been working constantly. Of course, there was quite a demand for Chimaera's construction aids and home appliances since the Battle of Ulgotha--there was still a lot of the city left to replace. Most estimates said it would take upwards of fifteen years to fully heal the city. There had been a lot of people killed--nearly a hundred thousand--but there were new immigrants to the city every day.

One face he'd seen less often lately was William Rainsford. He'd been taking time off lately due to declining health. Helmsman decided it was understandable--the man was in his fifties now, and had been working hard for more than thirty years with barely a break for all that time.

Helmsman reached the gate to his home, Chimaera Estate. He unlocked the gate and strode across the green lawn, admiring the few trees out front as they turned to vibrant red. He strode into the front hall, past the mithril alloy Chimaeric Guardian* and up the stairs.

"Agnes, I'm home early! And I've brought you something!" he called down the hallway.

"Just a moment, Viggo!" he heard her call back. "I didn't expect you home today! Give me a chance to put my face on, dear!"

"Nonsense, darling!" he said, throwing the door the bedroom open. "I love you no matter what you--"

The hand holding the flowers dropped to his side. The Savant's head drooped forward, and he retreated into the hall, shutting the door behind him. A moment later, a figure followed him.

"Well, Bill." said Helmsman. "I suppose this was inevitable."

"Viggo, I--" said Rainsford.

"No, I understand. She's a widow and you're a widower. And of course you've been spending a lot of time around here, ever since I stopped coming home during the week. It's only natural."

"I'm so sorry, Viggo--"

"And after all, there's things I can't do for her anymore." continued the Savant. "Since I'm a corpse."

"I didn't mean to--"

"Dammit, Bill!" shouted the Savant. "She's my goddamn wife! And you're my best friend! How did you think this would end!? Did you honestly think I would never notice!? You've known me for more than thirty years, Bill! The only things that have ever mattered to me were my laboratory and my family! And no matter how much time I may be devoting to one, I will never forsake the other! Get out of my house! Both of you! You can carry on all you like, but dammit, you will not do it under my roof!"

"Viggo--" said Agnes, coming to the door.

"Quiet, Agnes! Get out! And take that lout of a son of yours with you! You're not welcome here any longer!"

*

The sun set on Ulgotha, and Viggo Helmsman stood on the top of Chimara Estate's tower. He'd thought briefly about jumping, but decided all it would do was break some bones and require a housecall from a biomancer. Instead, he looked out at the sun going down over the spires of the city.

"Damn, how things have changed." he said to the city. "Damn, how things have changed."

*A gift given to Helmsman some years ago, it had been given a prominent place in the entryway of the Estate once the main building had been constructed. Constructed of Celestian mithril, the silvery statue of Chimaera Estate's namesake was said to bear an enchantment that would bring it to life if Chimaera estate were ever threatened. Though it had never been observed to move, the servants had reported that the statue grew noticeably warmer than usual during the Battle of Ulgotha.