The Twisted Gate

by Matt Glicksman

  "That's right." The excluded priest stood and picked up his shield. "Listen, I'm sorry to leave so abruptly, but I really need to go. I guess I'm skipping breakfast today."

  "Skipping breakfast? Ha! That's the dumbest fangling thing I've ever heard. At least take some bread."

  Eriph snagged a roll from the merchant's plate.

  Cross threw his hands up. "Hey! I said some bread, not my bread!"

  "Thanks, I owe you one."

  The merchant grumbled as the excluded priest slung the shield across his back. Eriph devoured the roll as he exited the inn. Outside, he basked in the warmth of the sun. He prayed he was right about the Prima's desire to work with the Death Gods. This could be the start of something incredible. He glanced up and down the street. Prior to his Exclusion, he had lived in Alovajj for an entire year, training with Founder Brahawee, and so he knew the city well. As he crossed the street and made his way to the Scriptorum, Eriph thought back to the previous morning in Royal Oak.

  He had planned to wake up at daybreak, but his encounter with the two iymed by the royal oak had forced him to sleep for an extra couple of hours. He had just donned his brown robe when a knock came at the door.

  "Who is it?"

  "Mashira."

  The excluded priest was silent. There was no way he heard that correctly. "Sorry? Who is it?"

  "Mashira. Prima Mashira."

  The man practically leapt toward the door to open it. Standing on the opposite side of the threshold was the Candelux leader.

  "Your Luminescence, I wasn't expecting you."

  "I know." Mashira stretched her lips into some semblance of a smile. "I heard you were still in the city and wanted to come see you before you left."

  "Uh, sure. Come in." Once the Prima had passed through, Eriph went to close the door, but something blocked the way. A paladin forced the door back open and entered after Mashira.

  "I see you brought company." The excluded priest checked for any other guests before shutting the door.

  Mashira gestured toward the paladin. "This is my bodyguard, Lady Sundancer, Champion of the Light."

  "Wait. The Lady Sundancer? You brought a champion bloodseeker to protect you from me? Wow! You don't trust me that much?"

  "Amusing, but she's not for you."

  Eriph wondered about the reason for the visit. Even though he wasn't expecting a positive answer, he needed to ask anyway. "Have you reconsidered my Exclusion?"

  Mashira pursed her lips. "No, unfortunately, that is final. But, despite all of that, you've been very helpful to us. Archdon Feranis told me of your actions when the Marksman attacked you all near Nesinu."

  "Really? I thought he left that out of his report."

  "Officially, yes, he did. But, he made sure I knew. Also, Archdon Omana explained to me what happened last night by the oak. I wanted to thank you."

  "No problem."

  Mashira chuckled nervously. "I'm not sure what to do with Don Millan, though. I mean, the Blessing of the Fallen Angel?"

  Eriph matched her laugh. "Yeah, I was a little surprised myself. If you want my advice, go easy on him. He's a good kid. Actually, I'm surprised he's so faithful to Candelux considering Don Skully was his mentor."

  "I suppose you're right. It'd be unfair to hold him accountable for the actions of his teacher. He just needs a push in the right direction."

  Eriph sensed there was something more to her visit. "Was there anything else?"

  Mashira didn't answer right away, almost as if she was conflicted about answering the question honestly. "No, I guess not. I thought I'd come to see you and offer my thanks in person. And, to wish you well."

  "I appreciate that. Though I may have broken the rules in your eyes, I still hold the philosophies of our guild…of your guild close to my heart."

  "May the angels watch over you, Eriph."

  "And you as well, Your Luminescence."

  The Prima, with Lady Sundancer close behind, opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Eriph knew this might be the last time he'd be able to speak with her. "They can help, you know."

  Mashira peered over her shoulder.

  The excluded priest leaned against the doorframe. "The Death Gods. That's why you really came to see me this morning, isn't it?"

  The Prima didn't appear to be upset, and she wasn't leaving, so he continued. "They can help. Deep down, you know they can help. They know things you couldn't possibly imagine."

  "A little premature, don't you think?"

  "You tell me. Nesinu? Nolka? Malarekita? Maybe the major cities can stay safe, but what about all the other towns out there?"

  "Even if the Council decided to take such a drastic measure, why would the Death Gods help us after everything that's happened between us?" Mashira asked.

  "To stop Verago. Yes, mistakes have happened on both sides, but they can be forgiven. They need to be forgiven. We need to move on, together."

  "Perhaps, one day. But so far, we've done just fine without them."

  Before Mashira could leave, Eriph hopped into the hallway and blocked her path. Sundancer advanced on the excluded priest, but the Prima held up her hand and halted the bloodseeker.

  "Eriph, what are you doing?"

  "Please, Your Luminescence. Hear me out."

  "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid there's nothing more to discuss."

  "Fine, I understand. Just let me say this. If you change your mind, I'd be honored to request their help on your behalf. You know where I'll be. You know how to reach me."

  ✽✽✽

  Two guards greeted Eriph at the entrance to Moultia Palace and escorted him toward the throne room. Seven hundred years ago, as Thoris united the four tribes into one kingdom, Alova remained separate. The city-state was ruled by their only monarch, Queen Ezmirelda, and this palace had been built for her. After her death, though, she left no heirs, and so the nobility of Alova decided to join the kingdom and use the palace as their home. Centuries later, the Amulet of Yezda mysteriously appeared in the forests outside the city, infecting wanderers and transforming them into demons. It wasn't long before the dark creatures set their sights on Alova. With no knowledge yet of holy energy, the city was defenseless against the constant attacks. The palace was the last part to fall. It was then that this cursed place was renamed Alovajj, the city of demons.

  All evidence of the brutal massacre had been erased after the Death Gods reclaimed the city and made it impervious to demon attacks. As Eriph marched down the long corridor leading to the old throne room, it felt as if he had returned home. The doors opened to reveal the massive space and three figures, adorned in robes, seated at the far end.

  As the excluded priest neared the three men, the guards indicated for him to stop. Eriph placed his shield on the ground and dropped to one knee. He bowed to the man in the middle. "Founder Shinigami."

  Shinigami's robe was black with red trim. A red figure-eight pattern covered the majority of the vestment, and a stitching of a white skull adorned each of his shoulders. His features mimicked his robe with hair just as black and eyes with a hint of red. Once the Grand Overseer of the Brotherhood of Prevarra, Shinigami betrayed Verago during the Assault on Light's Haven. In the aftermath, he became the head of the newly formed Sect Eighty-Eight.

  "Eriph, welcome back."

  The excluded priest bowed to the man seated on Shinigami's right. "Founder Drevarius."

  Drevarius's extravagant robe was pleasing to the eye with its multiple shades of blue. His dark hair stuck out in all directions like an untamed bush. The only thing that kept it out of his face was a pair of spectacles on the top of his forehead. Before the Assault, Drevarius carried the title of High War-Mage and shared control over the Summa Arcana guild with High Pan-Mage Yewa.

  "Eriph, it's good to see you again. Have you come to stay with us for good?"

  "I have, if you'll have me."

  The war-mage nodded. "I'm glad to hear it. I'm sure Brahawee will be pleased most of all."

  "Tha
nk you." Eriph shifted and bowed to the man on Shinigami's left. "Founder Mortis."

  Mortis wore a dark-purple robe with a hood that kept most of his face in the shadows. His left sleeve was oversized, and an ornate dagger with a black-and-white handle protruded from his side. Not only was Mortis the brother of Prima Mashira, but he had been selected to join her Council following the Assault on Light's Haven. A few months later, when Mashira condemned Sect Eighty-Eight's practices and ordered the exile, Mortis was forced to decide where his allegiance would reside.

  "Eriph," Mortis said unenthusiastically.

  "Esteemed founders, I come before you today because I would like to join the Death Gods, not just as a citizen of Alovajj, but as an officer. In the time I've trained here, my eyes have been opened. I've seen pieces of the truth, and I wish to learn more. I also wish to bring an end to this war against the demons that has been raging for centuries. I believe the Death Gods have the best chance of doing just that."

  "Very well," Shinigami said. "As you're no doubt aware, in order to become an officer in our sect, one of the founders must sponsor you and vouch for you. And once you're accepted, if you're accepted, you are under the command of your sponsor. He or she will have the authority to strip you of your rank without question. Is that clear?"

  Eriph's heart raced. "Yes, it is."

  "I will let the other founders know about your intentions, and you'll be contacted when a decision is made."

  "I understand. I was wondering if I might be able to speak with—"

  "One moment." Mortis interjected. "I would like to be Eriph's sponsor."

  "Seriously?" Drevarius exclaimed.

  Mortis glared at the war-mage.

  Eriph knew where Drevarius was coming from because he himself was surprised. In his entire time training with Founder Brahawee, Eriph had barely heard a complete sentence from Mortis. "Uh, thank you, thank you."

  Shinigami smirked. "Well, that was easy. Excellent! Mortis, from now on, Eriph is in your care and under your watch."

  "The guards will show you the empty rooms in my wing of the palace," Mortis said. "Pick whichever you like."

  Eriph was dumbfounded. He'd been told stories about candidates having to wait weeks to hear back from the founders, only to end up rejected. But for some reason, Mortis jumped at the opportunity to sponsor him, and Eriph had no idea why.

  "Thank you. That's very kind. But before I go, I have one other matter to discuss."

  "Go on," Shinigami said.

  Eriph relaxed since the hard part was over. "No doubt you've heard about Royal Oak, the most recent in a string of attacks surrounding this new demon lord. Malarekita endured Corruption. Nesinu was erased from the map. The kingdom is in peril while the demon lord runs free. They need our help."

  "I agree. They certainly need help."

  "Then we should help them."

  Shinigami arched his eyebrow. "Should we? I'm not so sure. Prima Mashira and King Cato made it abundantly clear they want nothing to do with us. We were forced out of the kingdom. We had no choice but to take up residence in a demon-infested city. Even when there was an open line of communication, there was little benefit to it. They won't listen to us, and they don't agree with our methods."

  "And they weren't exactly happy after Deimor Outpost," Drevarius added.

  Mortis groaned and folded his arms across his chest.

  "Yes, yes, you're right," Eriph conceded. "And I'm aware of all of that. But it's different now. When they lost half of Royal Oak, they realized they don't know their enemy as well as they thought. They're willing to put past events behind them, work with you—with us—for the greater good of stopping Erynion and Verago."

  Shinigami tilted his head. "What makes you say that?"

  Eriph slid his hand into his pocket and retrieved a letter. "I come with a message from Prima Mashira."