Uldyssian felt the dragon recede. He was no longer needed for what the human had to do.
The son of Diomedes used his powers to gaze one last time at those dearest to him—Mendeln, Achilios, and Serenthia. There were two things that he had to do before he continued. With what he could safely command, Uldyssian set about making things right for his brother and friends.
That finished, Uldyssian looked up, but he stared not at the sky. Instead, he gazed far beyond, to that place and time the dragon had revealed to him.
Within, the fury that he kept imprisoned struggled to be free.
It was time. Uldyssian smiled once more—and began to send it forth. The light that erupted shone across the grasslands, across the jungles, across all of Sanctuary. Yet it did not harm, but rather soothed. It touched all living things and made certain they were healed of whatever ill the coming of the edyrem and the near destruction of the world might have caused them.
Uldyssian then drew it together again and let it pour out into the beyond, where it spilled in all directions. He felt the pressure building up again—this time for the final moment—and readied himself and his world for it.
And when it came, it did so with an explosion of pure energy that ever so briefly shook Sanctuary to its foundations. Uldyssian roared, not because of pain but rather the sheer ecstasy of his transformation. He was no longer a mere human but something of which even the angels and demons could not conceive. He was Sanctuary for one moment, and all that surrounded it. His presence dwarfed that of Trag’Oul…of any being near. His consciousness spread out above his treasured world, where he looked at it one last time.
Then, finishing what had to be done, what he desired to be done, Uldyssian ul-Diomed let himself scatter throughout all, his passing from the mortal plane marked for those below by a fiery yet arresting flash of light that did not frighten but rather gladdened.
And forever, whether any knew it or not, would change the world of Sanctuary.
Mendeln was the first to realize that something was amiss. In fact, it was so obvious to him that he was surprised people were not screaming.
The grasslands had been completely restored. Brown and green blades waved gently in a slight breeze. Mendeln cautiously surveyed the area with his dagger and found no malice in the plants.
But he did find something else, the reason for the edyrem’s quiet. They were all as still as statues.
No, not all of them. There were two figures moving toward him, two welcome—and startling—figures.
Achilios and Serenthia—and both looking very much among the living.
They stared at him with equal wonder, clearly as mystified not only about what had happened to their surroundings but also themselves. Mendeln was certain of the cause of the latter, at least.
“Uldyssian,” he told them, his voice shaking. “Uldyssian did it.”
“But how can that be possible?” the archer asked, unable to cease smiling. He was the Achilios they had all known so well, even the torn gap in his throat gone. “How?”
“That is a question that even they are debating heavily,” answered the voice of Rathma.
They turned to find the Ancient looking more haggard, more his centuries-old age. His hair had gray in it, and lines coursed his once-youthful visage. In contrast to the trio, Rathma did not look at all cheerful.
And when they followed his outthrust finger, they saw why.
Five there were of the towering, winged figures, five who radiated such might as to make the host that had flown down into Sanctuary look like children.
“The Angiris Council,” Inarius’s son breathed. “They can be no other. My father spoke of them. The Council has come to our world.”
Mendeln shivered at such a sight. “But why?”
The Ancient glared at the newcomers. “As we are the only ones unfrozen, it behooves us to find out.”
He led them toward the angels, who stood in a half-circle. As the four approached, Mendeln began to hear—and feel—their voices.
And even more astounding, the landscape abruptly shifted. It became a grand chamber of gleaming crystal and diamond carved with a perfection that no human artisan could reproduce. Gigantic statues of other winged champions loomed over the interior. The floor was composed of the most intricate of marble mosaics, with patterns that made no sense to Mendeln but were utterly beautiful and very difficult from which to tear his eyes.
But no less beautiful—and terrifying—were the five themselves.
THERE IS NO NEED FOR THIS DEBATE TO CONTINUE…. OR TO HAVE EVEN BEGUN, declared a majestic angel with robes of royal red and a shining breastplate upon which the image of an upturned sword blazed. THE PATH IS OBVIOUS…. WHAT HAS BEEN WROUGHT BY THE TRAITOR MUST BE UNDONE! LET THE HOST FINISH WHAT IT BEGAN, EVEN IF WE MUST CUT THROUGH A HUNDRED RANKS OF DEMONS TO ACCOMPLISH IT!
SHOULD WE NOT DEAL WITH THE RENEGADE FIRST, IMPERIUS? asked one whose robes were a softer blue and who seemed, as angels appeared, a female. AND LEAVE THIS MATTER FOR ITS OWN TIME?
THE MATTERS ARE ONE AND THE SAME, the first retorted. One gloved hand thrust to the area between them, and suddenly Inarius—shackled by black streaks of energy—knelt in the midst of the Angiris Council. FROM HIS CRIMES WAS THIS ABOMINATION CALLED SANCTUARY CREATED! JUDGE ONE, AND YOU RIGHTLY JUDGE BOTH, AURIEL!
The female angel refused this argument. She was the most animated of the five, turning her head to each of the other four as she spoke. YOU HAVE ALL SEEN MORE THAN ENOUGH EVIDENCE THAT THESE CHILDREN OF THAT ORIGINAL CRIME ARE NOT THEIR PARENTS…AND NOT THE ABOMINATIONS THAT WE FIRST BELIEVED THEM.
“Where are we?” Serenthia suddenly whispered.
Rathma signaled her to be silent but then quietly replied, “We are both in the grasslands where we stood and in what, from the stories I know, must be the central meeting chamber of the Council in the legendary Silver City itself! The Council is judging our world, and I fear the verdict may yet go against us.”
Mendeln was shocked. “After all that Uldyssian did, the outcome is still in doubt?” Before he realized just what he was doing, he marched among the angels. “What right have you? What audacity! We are not vermin to be slaughtered!”
Imperius gazed down at him. AND YOU ARE NOT ANGELS, WITH THE RIGHT TO STAND BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
Mendeln was thrust back by an unseen force. He might have crashed into the others, but Auriel glanced at him, and he settled softly to the ground.
AND IS SUCH ARROGANCE NOW VIRTUE? she asked of her counterpart. THESE ARE HERE AT MY BEHEST AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE EARNED, THANKS TO THEIR COMPANION, THE RIGHT TO LISTEN TO WHATEVER THE FATE OF THEIR HOME.
Imperius did not reply, but if he had had a face, Mendeln felt certain that it would have glowered.
Rathma next stepped to the forefront. “You must give humanity a chance. They are capable of many wondrous things, if you will but let them survive! They have the possibility of truly becoming an integral part of the Balance—”
I SAY IT IS TIME TO VOTE, Imperius rumbled, utterly ignoring him.
LET IT BE SO, interjected a gray-clad angel who seemed neither male nor female in aspect. LET THIS BE DONE.
IT IS SECONDED! the first angel boomed triumphantly. WE BEGIN, THEN! I SAY THAT THE RENEGADE MUST BE FOREVER IMPRISONED AND HIS NEST OF DEMON-SPAWN ERADICATED! Imperius stretched out a fist and turned it downward.
Mendeln started to speak again, then saw the futility of it. The angels would pay no mind.
Auriel was quick to react to Imperius’s vote. She turned her fist upward, then added, LET THEIR POTENTIAL BE DEVELOPED…FOR IN THEM I THINK THERE IS A CHANCE THAT WE MAY SEE THE END OF OUR STRUGGLE AT LAST! The female angel looked to a fourth member of their council, a very gaunt figure whose robes were black and whose breastplate was likewise colored. WHAT SAY YOU, MALTHAEL? WILL YOU STAND WITH ME ON THIS?
A visible shiver ran through not only Mendeln but also the rest when the angel Malthael spoke. His voice brought nightmares of death to Mendeln
—a permanent, empty death.
WHATEVER THE CHOICE, IN THE END IT DOES NOT MATTER FOR ME…. I ABSTAIN.
Auriel leaned back in clear disappointment. Imperius, on the other hand, appeared satisfied. It was he who spoke to the next, the gray-clad one who had previously spoken. ITHERAEL, WHAT VERDICT DO YOU GIVE?
There was a pause, as if the fourth angel considered hard this question. THEY ARE THE GET OF ANGELS AND DEMONS, WITH THE TAINT AND PROMISE INHERENT…. LEFT TO GROW, THEY MIGHT BECOME MORE MONSTROUS THAN ANYTHING RISING FROM THE BURNING HELLS.
AND SO THEY MUST BE DESTROYED! Imperius insisted.
Itherael raised a finger. BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL TO SERVE THE LIGHT…A POTENTIAL THAT COULD SURPASS OUR OWN ROLES…AND SO I VOTE THAT THEY BE GIVEN THEIR CHANCE.
Mendeln’s hopes rose. The angels were at a stalemate. Even if Tyrael—certainly no friend of the humans—did as was likely and voted against them, it would end up a tie. Sanctuary would survive.
The four angels looked at the last. Tyrael had been staring at Inarius’s bound form as if in constant thought.
WELL, OLD FRIEND? asked Imperius. HOW WILL YOU CHOOSE, YOU WHO HAVE SEEN THEM AT THEIR MOST FOUL? WILL YOU VOTE WITH ME AND PUT AN END TO THIS MOST HEINOUS OF SPAWNING GROUNDS?
“What does he mean by that?” Uldyssian’s brother blurted. “The vote would be tied!”
Rathma wore a sorrowful expression. “An equal vote, it seems, means no decision in our favor and, thus, no reason to let us live.”
Mendeln could not stand for it. Once more, he dared step forward. “How can you so casually condemn us? You claim to be servants of the Light, yet you callously execute what you deem not worthy! My brother could have destroyed you all, but he did not. All he wanted to do was save his home and his people, even though it cost him his life.”
Imperius looked prepared again to remove what he obviously considered an annoyance from his sight, but Tyrael spoke, his tone demanding the attention of all.
THIS WAR HAS GONE ON SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, AND THERE IS NOT ONE OF US WHO HAS NOT GROWN WEARY…YET EVER DO WE ANSWER THE CALL TO BATTLE.
The other winged guardians nodded.
Pointing at Inarius, Tyrael continued, THIS RENEGADE DID LEAD OTHERS INTO THE CREATION OF WHAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN, WHAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN! HE CAUSED THE UNTHINKABLE, AND IF I HAD BEEN THERE, I WOULD HAVE FOUGHT ALL TO PREVENT IT…
They were doomed. Mendeln saw that. His only hope now was Trag’Oul. Surely the dragon could do something. Mendeln tried to reach out to the creature but could find no trace.
BUT I WAS NOT THERE…AS WERE NONE OF YOU, Tyrael reminded his counterparts. AND SO THIS THING GREW…AND GREW…UNTIL IT BECAME WHAT NONE COULD FATHOM, WHAT NONE COULD HAVE EXPECTED! THIS PLACE CALLED SANCTUARY HAS BROUGHT FORTH SUCH AS WE HAVE NEVER WITNESSED, THINGS I MYSELF CALLED ABOMINATIONS! Before Imperius could interrupt, Tyrael pressed, BUT ABOMINATIONS DO NOT FEEL SUFFERING, THEY DO NOT STRUGGLE FOR ONE ANOTHER AGAINST GREAT ODDS AND THEY DO NOT…THEY DO NOT…OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL…CHOOSE…YES…CHOOSE TO COMMIT SUCH GREAT SACRIFICE FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS.
Mendeln felt the hope rising among his companions, even the generally dour Rathma. Was it possible of Tyrael, of all the angels?
WE SACRIFICE, responded Imperius. OF WHAT DIFFERENCE WAS HIS?
WE SACRIFICE BECAUSE WE MUST…BECAUSE IT IS PART OF OUR CALLING! WE DO IT BECAUSE IT IS OUR DUTY AND NO MORE! THE MORTAL, ULDYSSIAN UL-DIOMED…HE CHOSE TO SELFLESSLY GIVE HIMSELF BECAUSE HE CARED FOR HIS COMPANIONS! IT WAS NOT HIS DUTY…BUT HIS DESIRE. Tyrael looked at each of the other judges, ending with Imperius. I DID CALL THEM ABOMINATIONS…AND I WAS WRONG! MY VOTE IS FOR THEM…FOR I WOULD SEE WHAT THEY MIGHT BECOME…AND MARVEL IN IT.
It was only by the strongest of efforts that the humans held their relief inside. Mendeln’s cheer was tempered by the fact that the five still acted as if the matter was not at an end.
SO IT IS DECIDED, Imperius declared with a slight hint of bitterness unbecoming an angel. BUT WHAT DO ANY OF YOU NOW SUGGEST BE DONE TO PREVENT THE BURNING HELLS FROM SPREADING THEIR TAINT ACROSS THIS WORLD YOU HAVE SAVED? ARE WE TO HAVE A HOST STAND GUARD OVER THIS…THIS SANCTUARY?
He no sooner asked this than a deep, bloodcurdling chuckle caused all to look around. Imperius summoned a sword of fire.
“This is a peaceful visit, oh, councilors,” rasped a voice like a nest of angry vipers. “Peaceful—if you would have it so.”
A shadow crossed them then, a shadow of such darkness as Mendeln had never witnessed. With it came a sense of evil that reminded Uldyssian’s brother of another…Lilith.
YOU OFFER PARLEY…LORD MEPHISTO? Auriel asked the shadow. YOU…NOT YOUR BROTHER?
The shadow coalesced somewhat into a tall, macabre shape that instantly brought to Mendeln’s mind the monstrous morlu or, worse yet, their heinous master, Lucion, who, like Lilith, was also offspring of this sudden and dread visitor.
“My dear brother is beside himself. Therefore, I, who am also supreme, do indeed offer parley—and more! I offer…a truce.” Although Mephisto remained mostly hidden in shadow as Uldyssian had said his brother Diablo had done, what was evident was still more than enough to set Mendeln’s nerves on edge. “A pact that shall relieve the situation this one brought upon us.”
A green, scaly hand thrust forth from the shadow to condemn Inarius. The renegade flared bright in defiance.
Imperius took over the situation from Auriel. WHAT PACT IS THIS THAT YOU PROPOSE?
A hint of great, sharp teeth momentarily flashed into sight where the demon’s head should have been. “We, like you, made false assumptions about this place, false assumptions about the creatures spawned by both our kind.”
A blazing red eye materialized, then winked in the direction of Auriel, who utterly ignored it.
With a chuckle, Mephisto added, “But Sanctuary is much more than we envisioned! All you said is true, and we would let it grow and see where it leads, good or ill, untouched by either side.”
AND WE SHOULD TRUST THE WORD OF YOU, mocked Imperius.
“This world cost me my children, both who sought its survival. I would also have it grow for their sakes.”
To Mendeln, at least, the unsettling thing about the demon lord’s answer was that he believed Mephisto. Believed him in part, that is. Certainly, the only reason Lucion and Lilith had tried to preserve Sanctuary and humanity was so that it could serve the Burning Hells.
But even believing the demon a little was unnerving. It showed the subtle influence of Mephisto’s tremendous power.
The angels were clearly not very trusting of the intruder, but Tyrael suddenly stepped beside Imperius.
IF YOU WOULD WISH A TRUCE, LORD DEMON… WOULD YOU CAST YOUR MARK ON A PLACE CHOSEN BY ME?
Mephisto seemed to hesitate. “Show me, and it shall be done—but only if something is in turn given to me by right of the aspect of justice you champion.”
The angels glanced at one another. Imperius nodded to Tyrael.
SPEAK WHAT IT IS, the latter said to the shadowed form.
Again, the taloned hand thrust forth—at the prisoner. “Him…let he whose crimes are already legion among you now be cast to me to pay for my loss—and the sealing of the truce, as it happens.”
Inarius did an odd thing upon hearing this. He laughed. He laughed loudly until Imperius, with a contemptuous wave of his hand, caused all sound from the captive to cease.
IF IT IS AGREED, YOU WILL CAST YOUR MARK? asked the haughty angel.
“Before the eyes of all—and even these,” Lord Mephisto concluded, his red orb shifting around to survey Mendeln’s group.
Even as the demon proclaimed this, the chamber faded, and once more they stood on Sanctuary, but in a slightly different location. The rubble of the Cathedral of Light surrounded them.
“The humor of angels,” Mephisto mocked.
Imperius pointed at the center of what Mendeln realized was the great chamber where the Prophet had likely preached
to the masses. THERE RESTS A POINT OF FLUX! A POINT WHERE THIS WORLD WAS SEALED TOGETHER…YOUR MARK.
Uldyssian’s brother expected to watch the demon lord draw some symbol in fire, but instead, Mephisto raised his hand to where the teeth glinted, then bit deep into his own limb.
A black substance oozed from the bite, and this the demon let drip onto the spot the angels had chosen. As it touched, there was a searing sound, and several red runes suddenly materialized above the stain. They turned twice in a circle, then sank into what passed for Mephisto’s blood. The black substance melted into the floor, vanishing.
Of the wound, there was also no more trace. Mephisto withdrew the hand into the shadow. “And now…him, yes?”
The Angiris Council looked down as one at Inarius, who refused to cease laughing madly.
YOU HAVE BROUGHT THIS UPON YOURSELF, BROTHER…declared Tyrael.
From out of the shadow burst a score of inky tendrils. They wrapped eagerly around the renegade angel. Without effort, they dragged him back into the darkness with them.
His voice seeping with satisfaction, Mephisto murmured, “And the cavern and the find within?”
Imperius shifted as if angry. Tyrael replied, FOR WHAT SHALL BE NEEDED TO BE DONE THERE, ANOTHER PACT MUST BE MADE.
“Agreed.” The orb shifted yet again to the humans and Rathma. “And now?”
Achilios reached for his knife. Serenthia gripped her spear, and even Mendeln sought his dagger. Rathma did nothing.
It was Auriel who interjected. FOR HIS SACRIFICE, THEY SHOULD ALL BE ALLOWED TO REMEMBER.
THAT WILL NOT DO, Imperius declared.
“No,” agreed Mephisto, who seemed to take relish in watching Imperius’s reaction when the angel realized that the pair agreed with each other. “That firstborn,” he added, meaning Rathma, “and his kind…they may remember, for they are few, and their day is already over. The rest, though…if they are to grow, they must begin at the beginning.”
From the background, Itherael responded, HE IS CORRECT.
Auriel wished to argue, but her comrades were clearly as one on this.
THEY SHALL BEGIN ANEW, agreed Tyrael.
The Sin War Box Set: Birthright, Scales of the Serpent, and The Veiled Prophet Page 94
