Ascendancy Origins Trilogy

by Bradford Bates

  I watched as he composed himself briefly with his head down. He stood up and straightened his suit, his face now hidden behind his gentleman’s exterior. “After you,” he said.

  6

  John

  Sarah and I headed toward the armory after leaving Adam’s office. Since her sword and armor had been destroyed in her battle with the Ifrit, she needed to obtain some new gear. The fact that her armor had a hole eaten through it by Demon fire was something she failed to tell me last night. That was probably a good thing; I doubted if I would have been able to sleep had I known. The one drawback I had noticed from being in love with a warrior woman is that I worried about her a lot. We had dedicated our lives to a profession that traditionally had a shorter life expectancy. So far, we had been lucky, but would that luck hold?

  Entering the armory, I spotted Deacon right away. It was a funny nickname he’d earned for having created an enchantment that could pierce Demon flesh. It wasn’t too often that we tangled with pure Demons anymore; most of what we dealt with were minor Demons trapped in human shells. If there was a chance that we would be facing an actual Demon, we always carried Deacon’s blades.

  Deacon was a massive man, and when I say massive, I mean arms like tree trunks. Chest and body built like an ox. He was originally from Kenya but joined Adam here in the States when he made the move. He stood out from the other enchanters, not for the color of his skin, but because of the breadth of his massive shoulders. Even when covered from head to toe in a robe, you always knew which one was Deacon. He was always my first choice for any project. The man had a way with metal; he could make it sing.

  He looked up at me as I walked over with a smile on his face. “Deacon, can I bother you for a minute?”

  Quenching the blade he was working on, he gave me his full attention and said, “If I said no would you actually leave?”

  We both started to laugh because we already knew the answer. He pulled off his massive leather gloves and pulled me into a warm embrace.

  When we separated, I pointed toward Sarah. “Seems like my lady friend has need of a new sword and a set of armor.”

  Deacon sized her up with a look. “So what happened to your other set of armor?”

  Sarah moved forward and poked the large man in the stomach with her finger. “It must not have been built right. It seems the Demon’s fire just melted a hole right through it.”

  I did a quick double take on Sarah. I had been teaching her sarcasm, but sometimes, she still made it sound just like an insult. Sarcasm was a delicate thing. You deliver it with too much gusto, and people just think you’re an asshole, not enough and you sound like any other complainer. I was about to say something when I watched a wide smile break out on Deacon’s face. He had figured it out, and the man always liked a challenge.

  “So the Demon fire really ate a hole into your armor?”

  Sarah smiled back. “It sure did, but it held up long enough for me to strip it off.”

  “Interesting. I have a few ideas on how to improve it.”

  Their conversation faded as I walked further into the shop, looking at the different weapons and armor pieces on the shelves. These were some of the best blades crafted in the world. I pulled a pair of swords down and started to test them out. The weight seemed just a tad off in the left-hand blade. I guessed that was what I got for playing around with works in progress. I placed the blades back on the shelf and moved on. Making my way back toward Sarah, I heard a little sigh escape her lips. Deacon had already returned to the forge, so we spoke on the way out of the armory.

  Sarah was carrying her new set of armor, but had no sword. She gave me a slight frown and said, “Deacon did not have a sword large enough for me. He said that he will work on making me something special, but it won’t be ready for weeks. Adam had already commissioned us additional armor, so it was ready to go.”

  I had worked with Deacon and Sarah on the original design of the armor. It had taken us months of failed attempts before we had the basic design down. Deacon had worked wonders to enchant the armor to shift with Sarah as she changed forms. The enchantment was one of a kind. The first time you saw the armor expand from being on her five-foot-four-inch frame to being wrapped around an eight-and-half-foot Lycan, you couldn’t help but be impressed. After Deacon had the expansion properties just right, he’d started to add our normal protections to the armor, It would turn away most spells, bullets, and sword thrusts.

  I was happy Adam had had the foresight to order more armor for the pack; making each piece took a long time, so having backups on hand was a prudent plan. I put my arm around Sarah as we walked, trying to think of who else we could visit to obtain a new sword for her. I was sure some of the other enchanters would have something serviceable, but I would have preferred something made by Deacon. She needed a new sword now, and something we could count on not to break down during a fight. The only place I could think of to try now was the Brotherhood. Adam had offered them help before, so maybe Father Thomas would be open to outfitting us for this mission. I looked up at the sun. If we rode out to the monastery, it wouldn’t leave us much time for the hunt. It would be worth it, though, if we could get Sarah a quality blade.

  Sarah headed off to our rooms to get changed into her armor, and I went to the barn to saddle our horses. I would have tried to requisition one of our new cars, but the roads up into the hills still were not paved, and the last thing I needed was to get stuck out there with a broken tire.

  My mind wandered a bit as I walked toward the barn. The only thing that I really missed about Sarah’s old armor was that she used to shift naked. I know what others would probably be thinking, how could I be watching her change in a life or death situation? My question to them would be, how could I not? I finished indulging my thoughts about my girlfriend’s nakedness while walking the horses out into the courtyard. I was happy to be riding today. When doing work in the city, we did not get to have the pleasure too often anymore. Sarah joined me, and we mounted up and headed out to the Brotherhood.

  We reached the church just after noon; the priests were working out in the fields. My respect for the Brotherhood had always been based on the fact that these men lived their values. While I didn’t subscribe to everything they did, it was an honor to speak with people that were committed to a cause. Their work in the fields today would provide them with food as well as the ingredients to make the famous mead they sold. Sales from the mead coupled with donations to the church would allow the Brotherhood to buy and distribute clothes and food to the less fortunate. In truth, our only differences came about by the use of my gift. Any sign of magic made you a witch in their eyes, and witches were good for one thing only: burning.

  It was a good thing these men had not run into any of the real witches or warlocks around the area. They would be able to offer the Brotherhood a fight group of priests might not be able to win. Most of the witches and warlocks worked alone, so maybe with superior numbers, the Brotherhood would stand some chance against them. The good news for them was right now they did not stand alone. Father Thomas had extended an olive branch to Adam earlier this year, and we hope to keep that goodwill going. Coming here to ask for help unannounced might stretch that goodwill farther than intended, but it was worth a try.

  Dismounting, we tied our horses to the rail at the base of the church and started to climb the stairs to the entrance. One of the priests came from inside of the church and blocked our progress.

  I tried not to let my anger show, but might not have been as successful as I hoped. “We are looking for Father Thomas.”

  The priest pointed into the fields at a man with his shirt off furiously hoeing a new row for seeds in the garden. He stopped and walked over to some men trying to shift a large boulder from his path. I could see from here that all the men were straining but not having much success. I turned to thank the priest for the directions, but he had already moved away from us and back into the church. I guess our relationship had not progress
ed as far as I thought it had.

  I wondered, and not for the first time, if this trip would be a waste. If they were going to refuse us, then we needed to get out of here sooner rather than later. We walked down to speak with Father Thomas as he tried to help the men remove the rock. The large boulder shifted suddenly, and the men dropped it. A scream tore through the field as it landed on one of the men’s feet trapping it beneath its weight.

  Sarah darted forward easily vaulting the small fence boarding the fields. I rushed to keep up with her. If we got there soon enough, we might be able to save the man’s foot. Sarah reached the rock and single-handedly rolled it off the man’s foot and out of the way. Now it was my turn to act. I braced the injured priest’s foot in one hand and his mangled shin in the other and called on my gift. I watched as the bones slowly healed and the skin knitted back together. After a few minutes, the man was able to stand and mumbled, “Thanks,” as he walked away under his own power.

  Father Thomas reached out and grabbed my hand, giving it a hearty shake. “God works in mysterious ways. To think had you not been here, this man may have lost a leg.”

  “Maybe it was just a coincidence,” I said.

  “Young man, once you have faith there are no coincidences.”

  I just looked at the father and slowly shook my head, not sure exactly what to say next.

  Father Thomas took pity on me and continued to speak. “So what can I help you with today?”

  “Well, Father, we were hoping you could help us by furnishing us with a few new blades.”

  He gave me a look like I had completely lost my mind. “Tell me why would we share our blades with the Gifted, something that has been blessed by the lord himself to stand against any of the devil’s kin.”

  I shrugged to Sarah and started to turn away. It had been worth a try, but I didn’t have time to stay here and listen to the man’s rhetoric. As we were leaving, I told him, “I thought you would have wanted to help us avenge your slain brothers. We were heading to a nest of the Fallen to do just that.”

  To my surprise, Father Thomas started to laugh. I turned back around to face him. He walked over and put an arm around my shoulders and started leading me back toward the church. “Sorry about that. It was just a little misplaced preacher humor. I know the Gifted are not what we should be fighting against. In fact, it’s my theory that you were blessed by God. Hence the term Gifted.”

  I stopped walking, in shock for a moment. The father continued on toward the church, and I found my feet again and followed with Sarah at my side.

  Sarah gave me a little nudge in the side. “What’s the matter?”

  “I’ve just never heard anyone refer to us as being blessed by God before.”

  “With the number of lives you save and the fact that Adam has you slaying Demons, how did you think others would see you?”

  “I’m not sure. I’ve been doing this my entire life. I don’t know anything else.”

  “I can see where the father is coming from, and I think the humans would feel the same way. Not that the Gifted have always been dedicated to helping people. The Council for instance. I can see why some of the Brotherhood call them witches and warlocks.”

  We rejoined Father Thomas on the side of the church. I was still thinking about what he had said when he spoke again. “You said you may have tracked the Fallen that attacked us? I can spare a few blades as long as two of us can join you.”

  Sarah gave me a nod. “As long as you understand the risks. I cannot guarantee your safety.”

  “You have never been more right. Our safety is in the hands of the lord. As for weapons, let me show you what I have.” He moved toward the small door cut into the side of the church, gently placing his hand against it. I felt a small shift in the air around me. Father Thomas looked back at me. “We keep it warded against unlawful entry.”

  He stepped into the dark space and started heading down a flight of stairs. Torches lined the wall, bathing the spiral staircase in dancing shadows. He continued down until he reached another door set into the stone. He followed the same process to remove the ward and then waved for us to follow him inside.

  The large armory was more than I had expected. Weapons lined the walls to either side of the large room. Gold armor was placed on racks in the center of the room. It was an impressive display; one that might have rivaled our own.

  “Tell me what you are looking for, and I can point you in the right direction.”

  Sarah spoke first. “I need a large, two-handed sword, something that would be too big for most men to lift.”

  Father Thomas pointed along the wall on the right. “You should find what you are looking for over there, and for you?”

  When we had arrived at the monastery, I had no intention of getting new blades. Looking around the room, I could see that I would be foolish to pass up the opportunity. The Brotherhood’s renown at crafting the finest swords in the world was not idle praise. I was still taking in the beauty of the room around me, but turned my attention back to the father. “I need two identical short swords.”

  Father Thomas pointed toward the left side of the room. He stayed back by the door as Sarah and I inspected the weapons. I could already tell that I would have a hard time choosing what to take. All of them were magnificent. As I continued down the line, I spotted two identical Gladius swords. If they were balanced right, they would be perfect. Picking them up, I moved through a couple moves testing the weight and balance. I was surprised at the ease with which the swords moved through the air. Father Thomas had said their blades were blessed. Could they have actually been enchanted? I slid the blades home and walked back to meet Father Thomas by the door.

  He smiled as I walked up. “Very nice choice.”

  I couldn’t help but smile back. These two blades put the work of even Deacon to shame. Wouldn’t it be something if we could have him work with the Brotherhood to learn this craft? Something I would have to bring up with Adam next time I saw him. I watched Father Thomas’s eyes widen and could only guess that Sarah was walking back toward us.

  I turned to follow his gaze and could see why his eyes were so wide. The sword Sarah held was as tall as she was. Strapped to her back, the tip was only about four inches off of the ground, and the hilt stuck out easily a foot over her head. A sword like that probably weighed close to a hundred pounds, most likely a little bit more. More than Sarah. If I didn’t know what she was, I would have laughed. Standing in front of me now, she bore the sword’s weight with ease.

  He motioned for us to exit the room first. “Go ahead and start up the stairs. I will be right behind you.”

  I felt the air shift again as he warded the door behind him. After exiting the church, we slowly made our way around toward our horses. Some of the priests gave us questioning looks; some of them stared at us with rage in their eyes. We ignored all of them; there was work to be done.

  There were two horses tied to the post next to ours. Father Thomas slid around me and took the reins of one of the animals. He pointed toward the man now mounting the other horse. “This is Brother Samuel. He will be the one joining us today.”

  The father spoke with calm confidence, as if we were just taking the horses out for a ride and not wading into a nest of the Fallen. When we mounted up, Sarah and I shared a look. I knew exactly what she was thinking. We had a job to do, and we couldn’t let these two men get in the way of that. If they were in over their heads, they would have to find a way out of it on their own. We rode out of the gate with Father Thomas and Samuel close on our heels.

  We rode quickly, but the journey back to the outskirts of the city was taking too long. We had to get into the nest before the sun set, before Dimitre had a chance to move. Sarah found what we were looking for; it was a large entrance to the drainage systems that ran underneath the city. I used my gift to burn away the metal holding the grate in place. Sarah stepped forward and rolled the large grate to the side, while I secured our horses to a nearby tree. />
  Hopefully, the scrub brush would be enough to keep the horses partially hidden from view. The sound of the grate moving would have been enough to alert the Berserkers to our presence if the nest was close enough. I hoped that it was. I was in my element now and spoiling for a fight. It was nice for a change to go into a fight not having to worry about being seen. I was not going to be taking any prisoners no matter what Adam had said, unless somehow Dimitre gave up without a fight, possibly not even then. I was happy to kill any member of the Fallen that we came across; killing a bloodsucker always brightened my day.

  Sarah and I took the lead entering the tunnel. Father Thomas and Samuel stayed about six feet behind us, giving us plenty of room to work. I called on my gift and brought blue light into my hand. From behind me, I heard Father Thomas whisper, “Handy trick.” Sarah stepped in front of me and as silently as possible shifted into her Lycan form. I gave a little shudder as I heard her bones break and reform. The process wasn’t easy, but she shifted more quickly than any Lycan I had ever seen. I heard Samuel give a small gasp from behind us, but no sound came from Father Thomas. He must have figured it out already from the size of the sword she had picked.

  My eight-foot-tall werewolf led us further into the tunnels, easily carrying her giant sword in one hand. We made several turns, and I followed her without question. I knew that she would have memorized the map before we got here, and if anything, her nose would always point us in the right direction. I thought I was hearing the click of nails against the concrete walls. I told myself it had to be the echo from Sarah’s paws, but I wasn’t convinced. I kept an eye out on the tunnel in front of us.