by Jon Bender
“That was something to watch,” Tamrick said. The green robe he wore had a long tear along his ribs stained by blood, but the man seemed to be in a good mood which irritated Jaxom for some unknown reason. “Watching those dead men rip into the Southerners almost made me as fearful as I think they were,” he continued when Jaxom was not forthcoming with a response.
Jaxom cringed at that now knowing what was bothering him. The way the risen had acted at the end was brutal and feral, as if they truly were evil creatures. He was responsible for what they had done creating terror with sheer violence and carnage. “It was necessary,” Jaxom said darkly trying more to convince himself then the other mage. “We were both tiring and the larger battle is still to come.”
“Do not mistake my meaning, I agree it was needed. I just have never seen anything to match that before,” he replied.
Jaxom nodded to the green mage then noticing that the risen fire mage was moving towards them. Tamrick raised his hand to cast but Jaxom grabbed his arm before he could release the magic. “She is one of mine and no longer a threat,” Jaxom said.
The fire mage was in bad shape having several slashes and cuts all over its body, one deep cut burrowing half way through the leg causing the risen to limp as it moved. Jaxom was tired and still expending energy but he reached down to repair the damage the risen had received during the battle. With all of the gapping wounds now closed leaving behind thin white scares on the pale flesh, Jaxom leaned back up to find a confused Tamrick looking at him.
“Why would you heal her? The fight is over and it is clear you are exhausted, why not just release her as you did the others?” he asked.
“She may still be useful,” Jaxom replied.
“You don’t mean…?” Tamrick said shocked, looking from Jaxom to the emotionless risen mage then back again.
“Yes that is exactly what he means,” a voice said from behind them. Jaxom turned in his saddle to see Darian riding double behind Danika with the risen ice mage walking next to them. Jumping down he walked near the fire mage to get a closer look at her. “Your magic is truly amazing Jaxom, how many do you think you could control at one time?” he asked.
“I don’t know honestly, I have noticed that it takes more energy to animate a mage than it does anyone else,” Jaxom replied.
“The idea that you can control even one mage’s power is astounding by itself,” Danika said. She too would have seen the risen ice mage casting at Darian’s command, something that Jaxom had not even known was possible less than an hour ago.
“Perhaps we could move this to somewhere not here,” Tamrick said looking around at the motionless forms on the ground.
Jaxom really looked at their surroundings now that the green mage had said something. The hundreds of dead men and horses surrounding them was something that he had put from his mind, and he was disturbed at what he could become accustomed to. What was worse was that he knew some of the lifeless bodies had been put there by him. As he looked at the dead, he found one with his eyes and mouth wide open in a silent scream, this neck having been ripped out. Jaxom had a flash of one of the risen, his risen, ripping the young man’s throat out with its teeth. Feeling an overwhelming urge to be away from the area he started walking his horse away and commanding his two risen mages to follow. The rest looking to each other for a moment, soon moved after him until he finally stopped in area of clear field. Looking back he saw soldiers moving among the fallen, collecting weapons and strapping them to horses in bundles. Others were still picking up the wounded and carrying them to a spot where the survivors had moved to, most sitting on the ground alone or in small groups. He could imagine what was going through their minds right then. Thoughts of the loss of friends and the secret ones that told them they were grateful it had not been them.
A shadow passed overhead just before the two durgen landed a short distance away, both Adriana and Brenin jumping down from their saddles. The huntress started at a run towards him and he dismounted to meet her on the ground. She slammed into him wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing him deeply, they stayed like that for a long time before someone coughed reminding them they were not alone.
Brenin was standing close by when Jaxom broke the embrace and shook his friend’s hand. “I saw you on the ground running around like a mad man a few times, but I lost sight of you towards the end and I feared…”
“We are all here and that is what matters,” Jaxom replied.
“So this beautiful woman is who I owe my life to,” Tamrick said as he dismounted to walk up to the group of friends.
Jaxom looked quizzically at the man, then Adriana. “I helped him when we first arrived,” Adriana explained.
“General Blackburn was wrong when he said there was only three mages, I faced both an ice and fire mage alone. You are lucky you already seem to have won her heart otherwise I would have proposed right here on the spot,” Tamrick said with a laugh.
Jaxom smiled at Adriana but the mention of Nelix reminded him that he had yet to see both him and Celia. Looking about he found them still mounted among the survivors nearby. Waving his hand above his head he got his attention both moving to the small group at a trot.
“Did either of you see what become of the southerners?” Nelix asked Adriana and Brenin.
“We flew over the trees and it looks as if they are in full retreat General,” Brenin answered.
“Good,” Nelix said. “I know you all have the urge to sit for a while and enjoy our victory but we have no time for that. The sooner we get back to the King the sooner the wounded can be treated and we can get some rest. I will need you two to scout around us as we make our back,” he said speaking to Adriana and Brenin who nodded. “Okay let’s get going, I want to be eating a warm meal and sleeping under a tent before nightfall.”
Those present began moving out at a slow pace, it had not been a long day but all were tired. Jaxom himself was ready to lay down on the ground right there and sleep until morning, but they still had hours of travel left to make it back to the camp. Adriana gave him another quick kiss before she and Brenin climbed back into their saddles and took to the air. Jaxom climbed back into his own saddle and followed the other mages with his two risen in tow. Watching everyone go about their business he felt a sense of relief that all of his friends, and possibly new ones, had made it through today. It also made him wonder how the three that stayed behind in Ale’adar where doing. He was glad that they were not here, but at the same time wishing they were. Jaxom envied their being safe and comfortable behind the city walls.
Chapter 23
Da’san walked down the torch lit steps to the outer room of the cells, the damp air soaking in through his robes chilling his skin. Jerup and Cribble were both waiting for him at the bottom, talking to the three men who were on duty and another man in brown robes who Da’san assumed was an earth mage. After catching the dark priest last night, they had bound and gagged him before placing him in one of the barred rooms. He had only received word this morning at the temple that Jerup had asked for him to be present at the interrogation. Da’san had not been eager to take part in questioning the man, but his brother priests had said the Guard would not be equipped to talk to the dark one alone and that he should go. His brothers were also adamant that he needed to learn as much as they could, if they were to stop Or’Keer from subverting the followers of Sarinsha.
Noticing he had arrived, Jerup waved him over. “I am glad that you decided to join us,” the guardsman said.
“I am not sure what you expect me to do,” Da’san replied. “I have no experience in interrogation.”
“Perhaps you will have some insight which is why I wanted you here,” Cribble said. “This is magus Nimis, he will be joining us as well in case this priest decides that he no longer wishes to be confined.”
“A pleasure,” Nimis said. “Guardsman Jerup has been telling me of your part in the capture. I was thoroughly impressed by his description of your casting and hope you can g
ive me a demonstration some time.” He was a middle aged man with slight greying of his light brown hair at the temples. His face was calm and open causing Da’san to believe that the man would not speak something he did not mean.
“It is not casting as you do magus, but a gift from my goddess when asked for in prayer,” Da’san replied.
“Magic is magic my young friend, it does not matter where it comes from,” he said with a smile.
“As you say magus,” Da’san said not wishing to debate the matter. “Are we ready to go and speak to the prisoner?” he asked Cribble.
The captain nodded and grabbed a torch from the wall before throwing back the bolt on the metal door. Jerup picked up a bladder and a tray of food following the other man in, Nimis and Da’san following closely behind. The door closed with a bang behind them, casting the stone hall into darkness except for the light provided by the far spaced torches mounted on the walls. The captain led them down a short ways before stopping in front of the first cell. The light from his torch illuminated the interior of the small space showing the dark priest sitting against the back wall, his hands bound behind his back and gag in place. Da’san knew the man’s discomfort having experienced it for himself while being held by Alimar.
Cribble pulled a key from his belt unlocking the gate and stepping in. “I will remove your gag and bindings to allow you food and water. If you speak without being spoken to you will regret it. Nod if you understand,” he said.
The dark priest stared at the captain, and Da’san could see the hate in his eyes while he nodded his head slowly. Cribble placed the torch in a scone, then moving to the side of the dark priest untying his hands and the cloth holding the gag in place. When the captain had returned to his place, Jerup handed the bladder to the priest and placed the tray on floor in front of him. Coming to his feet the man guzzled from the water before picking up the plate of food devouring it all quickly. When finished with the sparse fare, he drank more of the water before looking to Cribble with the same hate in his eyes.
“Now we are going to ask you some questions, and how you answer will determine what happens next. Nod if you understand,” Cribble said to which the captive nodded again. “Good.”
The captain waved his hand forward and Nimis came forward raising his hand and casting his magic forth. The grey stone seemed to twist and shift against each other as it lifted from the floor, incasing the dark priest’s arms up to the shoulders. It had happened so quickly that the standing man was taken by surprise failing to pull and jerk his arms free before finally giving up.
“What is your name?” Cribble asked.
“Vanon,” the captive said.
“Last night you told me that you had tens of hundreds of Or’Keer’s followers in the city. I want to know exactly how many and the names of all the ones you know,” Cribble said.
The priest laughed an evil sounding wheeze. “Or’Keer will have the flesh flayed from your bones once he takes this city as his own.”
Cribble punched out, his fist connecting with the priests face on the cheek. It had happened so unexpectedly that Da’san had started forward only to be stopped by Jerup’s hand on his arm. Looking to the other man Jerup shook his head.
“How many do you have in the city,” Cribble asked again.
This time the priest remained silent only staring into Cribble’s eyes. Cribble released another punch with his other hand rocking the priest’s head back, then taking a step away waiting expectantly. Again the priest said nothing and Cribble released a flurry of hits to the man’s body until he was sagging and gasping for air, the stone entrapping his arms the only thing holding him upright. Da’san could take no more of this, they were not thugs who beat information out of people. He moved to stop the treatment when Jerup dragged him by the arm out in the hall and walked him out of hearing distance.
“I know it’s not pretty but we do not have time to break the man’s will first,” Jerup said keeping his voice low.
“I don’t care,” Da’san replied. “This is not who we are.”
“Today it is,” Jerup said and Da’san thought he heard shame in his voice. “You heard what he said in the warehouse. Or’Keer is going to convert or kill everyone in the city and soon. If we do not do this many will die who do not have to, the information we get from that man may save them. It may save my family.”
Da’san was going to argue further until the other man had mentioned his family and he saw the look of fear for them in his eyes. The family who had taken Da’san into their home and made him feel welcome, could he really risk their lives because he could not handle what needed to be done. “There must be another way, and how do we know that he won’t just lie to us?”
“There is another way, we would deprive him of food and water. Giving him just enough to keep him alive but that could take weeks and that is time we do not have. As to knowing if he is lying, Captain Cribble has experience with tripping people up to find out if they are telling the truth. Sometimes a lie can tell you just as much as an honest word,” Jerup said.
He understood the need but still could not agree with the methods being used, and did not believe that they could trust any information they did get from the dark priest. Perhaps Sarinsha could offer guidance if he could speak with her. Normally he would simply pray to her when he needed power to exert her will, but something like this would require a more direct exchange with the his goddess. “I have an idea that may gain us the knowledge of what we are up against, knowledge that we know we can trust. I will just need some time with Vanon,” Da’san said desperate for the other man to agree. Jerup looked at him with doubt before nodding and leading him back in.
Inside the cell, Cribble was leaning against a wall as the dark priest caught his breath. New bruises on his face forming it into a swollen mass of black and purple. Jerup walked over to the captain and whispered in his ear. Cribble looked up to Da’san and moved out to speak with him. “Jerup says you think there is another way to find out what we need,” Cribble said.
“I think it may be possible. It may not work, but I think it is worth trying,” Da’san said.
The other man looked at him considering whether it was worth using time they may not have. “Okay, what do you need?” Cribble asked.
“For you to gag him again and be quiet while I attempt to commune with Sarinsha,” Da’san said.
The captain nodded and moved back into the cell, then replacing the gag and securing it with the cloth again. Walking into the cell Vanon looked at him suspiciously, and Da’san actually thought the man looked worried for the first time. Sitting down in front of the dark priest, Da’san crossed his legs and placed his hands in his lap. Words spilled quietly from his lips calling out to Sarinsha, asking not for a gift of power but to speak with her to hear her voice.
I hear you Da’san, why have you called me? A voice echoed within his mind sounding much like that of a soft playing of a harp, a sound so beautiful it almost brought tears to his eyes.
“My goddess, I must ask if you know of the dark god Or’Keer’s designs on those who give you their devotion.” Da’san asked. Humbled that his goddess would even deign to bless him with the honor of her voice. Many had tried throughout the history of the temple, but she had never graced them with her presence.
Of course my faithful priest. I am also aware of your efforts to stop him, hence the reason we are speaking now. What would you have of me?
Da’san realized that was not just an opportunity to find out what the dark priest knew, but to perhaps to learn more about Or’Keer himself. “My lady can you tell me anything about the dark god that would help us to stop him?” Da’san asked.
I know nothing more than you have already discovered, Or’Keer was not known to us until he began to influence the kingdoms of the world. He is newly born and we have searched for him here in our own realm, but still he remains hidden from us, she said. Da’san thought that he had heard a slight annoyance in her voice but dismissed it, thinking
that such a lowly human emotion was not something a divine being was capable of.
“Is it possible for you to intervene and help us defeat the forces Or’Keer had gathered here?” Da’san asked
This is not possible, the pact we made long ago with the mages has restrained my power in the world, she said. Again Da’san heard what appeared to be emotion in her tone, this time a red thread of anger twined with the golden sound of her voice.
Jaxom had told him what he had learned in Alimar’s palace about the Temple Wars, but Da’san had not been convinced of the book’s legitimacy. Pages written by men, then rewritten again hundreds of years ago by other men must assuredly have mistakes. The idea that men, even mages, could force his god to agree to terms seemed absurd. With Sarinsha confirming what Jaxom had learned, he now knew that it had happened. Forcing Da’san to consider what else in the book might be true. Had the gods made war on each other at the cost of countless human lives? The idea was disturbing, and he could feel a doubt work its way into the foundation of his faith. He mentally shook the thought away. No matter what happened in the past, Sarinsha had helped thousands of others by healing their illnesses and injuries.
Whatever the truth, it did not apply to the problem they had with the dark god. “My lady, I have before me a servant of Or’Keer. We believe that he has information that will help us to defeat his master but he refuses to offer it willingly,” Da’san said.
