If Telrin was the right hand of the Devourer, then Wilson was the left. Neither of them really liked each other and Telrin was sure Ken never really bought the story about the death of the Devourer. It didn’t matter though, Ken was not stupid enough to fight Telrin despite their grievances against each other. This night would make everything a bit more explosive, Telrin wouldn’t be shocked if he had to kill Ken before the night was over. Ken liked Mary and wanted her, Ken was also sure Mary liked Telrin and only kept him around for fun. Telrin had tried to kill two birds with one stone by stationing them together, Telrin had hoped Ken and Mary would be together. From the messages Mary had sent, Telrin was sure that did not happen. Every message she addressed him as my Warlord, this would be an interesting night.
“You are just in time” Mary said cheerfully as opened the door wider. “We were just getting ready for some company”.
“What kind of company” Telrin asked.
“The kind that needs killing” Ken replied. “The three unarmored have moved from their base of operations and have been hiding a few blocks over. I think they plan on making their move tonight”.
“Save the strongest of the three for me” Telrin replied. “He will not die this night and will serve a purpose”.
“You mean she will not die my Warlord” Mary replied with a smile. “I cannot do much mind reading with her being so far away, if she was in the room I could tell you everything you wanted to know. I do know that the strongest of them is a woman and she plans on attacking tonight”.
“Well then she will be spared” Telrin replied. “That girl may be the answer to our problems, one of you are going to have to take charge of her and return home”.
“What makes this girl so important?” Mary replied somewhat angry.
“I know word of Trum’s demise has reached you along with what Alan could do” Telrin began. “Anyone he created also has the same ability. I plan on using the girl to make two more Sullied, from them a training facility will be opened taking only the best fighters. The other one of you will be in charge of collection”.
“Collection?” Mary asked.
“The process of turning a normal human into an Unarmored leaves them with a desire to please their creator” Telrin began. “I want to start collecting members of the Knights of Justice and whoever else fits that standard. That will require the kidnapping of many people, only my most trusted can be given this task because I want it completed”.
“I have heard about Alan” Ken replied. “I was unsure if the rumors were true since you never told us why you favored him”.
“Because you didn’t have a need to know” Telrin replied. “You do now. Choose between you two of who will lead the school and who will collect. I need the answer by morning, if the woman attacks tonight then we should be able subdue her. The only problem I have is if you can take her henchmen”.
“They are so low powered it wouldn’t even be a fight” Mary replied.
“Trum had less power than both of you” Telrin replied. “And he rarely used his gift, I doubt any of you would willingly enter a life or death battle with him”.
“You sound as if you think they might split up” Ken said.
“They will” Telrin replied. “Once they see I am here they will separate. Only a fool would willingly get into a fight with me. The last one who would have was Trum and even he decided not to in the end”.
“If one of us will be creating a secret school, and the other one will be out collecting, who will watch this woman we are capturing?” Mary asked.
“You both will until I send someone from the mountain here to relieve you” Telrin replied. “Whoever relieves you will take charge of her.
The three Unarmored waited until the darkest part of the night to attack, Mary laughed as she saw them get into position and called out her security force. They were sizable and well armed, perhaps they would make excellent Sullied. Mary would need to find other men to replace them.
“They are in position” Mary replied.
“Can you just control them from here?” Telrin asked. “The enemy Unarmored?”
“Not even I am that strong” Mary laughed. “If I had physical contact with them I could break through their defense. But let's get physical, it is more fun and my men need a bit of a work out”.
“They are withdrawing” Ken said. “Someone must have sensed three of us”.
“I thought they did not have the capability” Telrin said looking at Mary.
“Maybe one of them was gifted with the talent” Mary replied. “It will not matter in the end. Well let’s go greet them”.
“If they separate, remember I have the strong one” Telrin replied. “If any of you kill her it would not be a good night”.
Telrin was not surprised when the three started to flee, it was hard to see them in the dark but his power let him read their aura. They split up and went three different directions, Telrin kept on the girl but soon discovered a weakness. He was in full armor and riding a Destrier trying to chase someone down who weighed a lot less and probably on an Azardian traveler. The traveler would outpace him by a lot, Telrin looked at the gate guards and told them to follow. Telrin was happy his appearance was well known, being seven and a half feet meant any Fale soldier knew his appearance and it was unlikely any would challenge him. Reaching the girl would be a long journey but before long both Mary and Ken should be on their way to find him.
The girl took a straightforward route, Telrin had to change horses at each of the small towns he passed and gathered more men. They were sent ahead to stop her and were adequately threatened on what would happen to them if she died. He couldn’t trust either Ken or Mary with those instructions, Mary was jealous and Ken was angry he wasn’t the leader and despite working with the Devourer he wasn’t even one of Telrin’s generals. Telrin supposed he now was though, maybe the man would become easier to deal with since he most likely would be over a secret school. The sun started to come up and Telrin was tired, best part about being the warlord is that he could just take a carriage and driver from the next town and force them to continue the trip while the girl couldn’t rest. Telrin was about to stop at the town he saw coming up when he could feel the girl. She was cornered by his men and was only twenty minutes ride away at the most. By the time Telrin reached her he could feel one of the other Unarmored coming up from behind him. The man must have lost Mary or Ken and was now heading to save his creator, whoever he lost was probably not that far behind him.
“I have been waiting to meet you” Telrin said as he looked down on the woman. She was very pretty Telrin thought with a curvy figure and nice breasts. Mary was right to be jealous of this one, even half sleep with short hair she was still better looking than many Telrin had seen.
“Then come over here and speak” the girl said holding a sword.
“I will break you” Telrin replied as he swung around his weapon. “I am going to give you the opportunity to give yourself up. I don’t mind breaking your legs and carrying you out. Either way you will come with me”.
“You killed my grandfather you bastard” the woman said as she swung her sword menacingly.
“You have to be more specific than that” Telrin laughed. “Although I don’t remember doing so”.
“My grandfather was Jerry Thompson” Celeste barked. “You sent your men to fight kill off the high council and they killed him. Either me or you will die today, you will not take me alive”.
“As in Jerold Thompson, the great Deciever?” Telrin said as he took a step back. Telrin could see the look on the woman’s face as her minion came up behind him. The man probably thought Telrin couldn’t tell he was there. Telrin turned around when the man was around twenty feet away and could have died of shock”.
CHAPTER 13
“You are alive!” Telrin Fallow said looking at Ezra. “How is this possible?”
“Prepare to die Telrin Fallow” Ezra said as he gripped the two swords.
“This ma
kes sense now” Telrin replied. “Only a master could have killed Trum, but you have been dead for over a decade”.
“What are you talking about?” Ezra said as he paused.
“The High Council and their trickery” Telrin replied. “It makes sense now, the descriptions I have been given about this Ezra that has been killing men all over the country. The deaths in Laton, at the high council and in Ramy. Ken Wilson, does he still live?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about Fallow” Ezra said as he took a step forward.
“I did not give the high council enough credit” Telrin replied. “Old Rexford must be behind this, they have changed you”.
“I have never met you before, I am a farm boy from the country” Ezra replied.
“You are the Devourer, Jospeh” Telrin replied. “Rexford Apprah is the second strongest Unarmored I have ever met when it comes to mind magic. When he struck you down they must have given you a new backstory and image. The fools were stupid not to kill you, perhaps they knew this meeting was bound to come and wanted to hedge their bets. With Jerold the Deciever I am not amazed this is the outcome”.
“I am not the Devourer” Ezra replied.
“Joseph you hate farms and the country” Telrin laughed. “Explain to me how to milk a cow? While we traveled together you were inept at everything except fighting. A farm boy would know how to start a fire, you had me do it when we were together. Tell me Ezra how do you start a fire?”
Ezra stepped back shocked, Alex had thought it was strange Ezra had no idea how to start a fire. Telrin continued speaking when he saw confusion on Ezra’s face.
“Something always bleeds through Joseph” Telrin said looking at him. “You were a master swordsman, farmers are not weapon masters. I am willing bet whenever you were taught to use the sword again you were always at the top of your class. Whenever you underwent Unarmored training again, I bet you were at the top of the class. Tell me you are not that stupid”.
“Liar!” Ezra screamed as he remembered his childhood.
“Okay farmer, how many animals did you have?” Telrin laughed. “The scar on your face, where did you get it?”
“A cow kicked me” Ezra replied.
“A cow gave you a sword wound?” Telrin said shaking his head. “Terrance Fowlin, head of the High Council gave you that wound during your battle. Name one person from your childhood then? If you can do that then when was the last time you talked to them? The High Council probably used their power to keep you under until the time was right. Jerold the Deciever can see different paths into the future, you were released and sent after me”.
“I do not know you!” Ezra screamed again.
“Everytime you kill an Unarmored, you take their abilities” Telrin replied. “It is the reason they called you the Devourer”.
“Liar, the Devourer is a woman” Ezra replied.
“And who told you that?” Telrin replied. “I bet it was Jerold, Rexford wouldn’t lie and Terrance would have been against the entire thing”.
“Rexford called the Devourer a woman” Ezra replied.
“Are you sure?” Telrin asked. “Rexford is not a liar but he would bend the truth. If you believed the Devourer was a woman he wouldn’t deny it. Tell me, was Terrance welcoming towards you? You killed his son and daughter when they tried to put you down”.
“Terrance hated me” Ezra replied.
“Of course he did” Telrin replied. “And Jerold sent you here knowing that one of us would kill each other”.
“You are an evil man” Ezra said as he walked towards Telrin.
“I am no more evil than anyone” Telrin replied. “Your precious Unarmored, when you came back from the goblin wars and started calling yourself Sullied they went after you Joseph. How welcoming are they to different sects of thinking. Surely you would have seen or heard of other Unarmored except for them. What about the Curious? Your parents were from that sect”.
“I am not the Devourer” Ezra said again as he paused.
“You are” Telrin replied. “Everytime you kill an Unarmored you feel immense pain as their powers are sucked into you. You probably have over thirty tendrils, more than anyone on record. Does Mary live Joseph? Did you kill her?”
“Of course I killed your flunky” Ezra replied.
“Then search my mind” Telrin replied. “She was one of the best using the ability, I am sure you can get through my mind. My armor prevents many from using their gift on me, let me lessen the strain”.
Ezra watched Telrin undo his breastplate and drop it to the ground. Ezra read his mind and staggered. Telrin Fallow was telling the truth, Telrin was many things, he was a murderer, a rapist and a tyrant. He also was a hero and had saved many during the goblin wars. Telrin also had tried to kill him, Ezra was the former Warlord and Telrin saw the chance to sieze power and kill off all of his enemies and took it. Telrin had met Jerold and tried to kill the man a few times, Jerold was everything Telrin said and more.
“We are not alone” Telrin said as he grabbed at his breast plate.
Ezra could feel a great force of men coming from the south, what was even more was that Celeste started moving away, flanked by men Ezra had thought belonged to Telrin. The men had crossbows and fired, Ezra spun around and took five of the shafts down as two barely missed Telrin. Royster was behind him and struck, Ezra barely got out of the way as Telrin struck the man with his weapon and took him out. Three arrows slammed into Telrin’s back, Ezra cut down the ones aimed at him. Celeste was on her horse and riding away towards the incoming force, the men she had also jumped on their horses and started riding. Ezra looked down at Telrin who was barely hanging on to life.
“It looks like we are even” Telrin said as blood started falling from his mouth. “You must kill me Joseph. If you do not then my death will be for nothing. At least if you take my power, I can eventually pay back the council through you. You better hurry though I can't last long and I bet that force will be looking for you. There is a man I have hidden, a field hand. He is in Laton, find him and rebuild the order”.
Ezra was confused but knew he must kill Telrin and did so. He found it impossible that old Jerold had played him, it was no way the way the man could have known all of this. Ezra tried using his power on himself, he discovered a block had been put into his mind that was steadily weakening. Everytime someone contradicted his fabricated life the block weakened. Telrin had practically smashed it down and now Ezra knew what to look for he took it completely apart. He was Joseph Gilley and was raised by the Unarmored. The man he thought was his father was an instructor who hated him when he was younger. Ezra needed to leave, he could find allies with the Fale. Jerold was the Deciever and probably saw this happening. Celeste was placed with him, she was too quick to give her body up to Hopkins. That never made sense to Ezra, the girl never made a move on him the entire time they were traveling and he was sure he looked better than Hopkins. She was placed to get the power, Ezra would have made a fine oblivious soldier to help out their cause. Ezra turned to look for a horse, all of them had arrows sticking out of them. Ezra would have to hide and get back to Kass another way, the men Telrin thought were his were just plants by Jerold. The men coming now probably represented Azard and would have a fight if they made it to Kass.
EPILOGUE
Ezra could see the men coming for him, he had to admit Jerold had covered all of his bases. The field hand Telrin sent Ezra to find was already working for Jerold, together they had increased the size of the Enlightened tremendously and had taken over the remnants of Azard. Jerold had assassinated the High Council and fled, he had even killed most of Azards rulers. Ezra wondered if the man saw the big war he was now in coming. Killing the royal family and trying to assume control was easy, the hard part was keeping control. Telrin before he died had turned two high level Fale officials who started making their own Unarmored and only answered to Tenkay. That great army now found itself in a fight with Fale who had taken over Sully once Telrin die
d and now had anyone that could fight throwing itself at Azard. Jerold had to deal with two wars now, the one against the Fale and the shadow war Ezra was launching.
Ezra had figured out the weakness both Celeste and Tenkay’s Unarmored had, there was a limit to the amount of Unarmored they could create. Hopkins was able to create lesser Unarmored, they could use their little tendril for about a minute and they could not project it very far. They could only detect people in their immediate presence, about 50 paces away and had very limited emotion reading capability. Celeste and Tenkay were one of these Unarmored, their creations though were weaker by half. Ezra already knew their tendril was only a couple of feet and would not last past thirty seconds, he had trained Royster and Derrick but now he found out even more. Unarmored like Royster were the final stage of creators. They could make their own Unarmored but those people only had about ten seconds worth of tendril and could not make anymore Unarmored. This kept Celeste and Tenkay busy creating more Unarmored, Ezra had used all of it to his advantage.
Celeste and Tenkay were easy to spot, they were low powered as far as Unarmored went but they were twice as powerful as the people they created. The people each one of them created were easy to spot by Ezra, they all had the same amount of power and those they created were also easy to tell apart. Jerold had Celeste and Tenkay make Unarmored and then had those Unarmored make more and swear alligance to the Triumverate, the name Jerold, Celeste and Tenkay were going by. Ezra was unsure what happened to Albert, he had not heard of the man since the mountain but Ezra had other things to worry about. Ezra had made it a point to kill all the Unarmored Celeste created after he was sure they had created others. This left a bunch of Unarmored that were not under any kind of compulsion running around. Those men were starting to make trouble for Jerold, more trouble would find him now though.
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