by Joe Jackson
*****
It took less than a week for Kari and Eli to reach Sarchelete on the swift wings of the griffons. Markus’ warning about wild griffons in the mountains was prudent, but proved to be unnecessary. They passed over grassy plains, mountains, and the coastal flatlands without issue. Eli had never been to the holy city before, and he took a few minutes with Kari to survey it from a nearby hilltop before they made their final approach. It was exactly as Kari remembered it from her trip there three years before, and she pointed out the grand temple of Gori Sensullu to Eli, capping the northern temple district of the city. Eli was clearly impressed by the sight.
Kari continued to stare at the grand temple of Gori Sensullu as they admired the city’s beauty at a distance. She thought of her world’s dead creator, and what secrets he had left behind in the Temple of Archons. She considered it might be possible that Kaelariel knew what was inside, and simply didn’t bother to tell anyone else: that the god of freedom and death was keeping his father’s secrets to himself. It had to be something of immense power for the demon kings to be interested in it, but Kari couldn’t imagine what that could be if Gori Sensullu hadn’t seen fit to tell anyone else about it. She knew only that she was Salvation’s Dawn, reputed to be a part of the key to opening the great seal of the Temple. What that ultimately meant, she wasn’t really sure, other than that the demons would be very, very interested in her.
They rode their griffons on the ground for the remaining distance to the city, to avoid being viewed as attackers. They were directed to the south gate, where there was a stable that could house their griffons during their stay. They left Muireann and Dougal in the care of the stable master who, just as in Barcon, seemed familiar with Lord Lajere’s mounts. Kari supposed Lord Lajere probably made frequent trips to the holy city, and may have done so extensively while training his students. With their mounts taken care of, Kari and Eli made their way into the city proper.
Eli had never been to the city, and Kari had only been there a couple of times herself. She wasn’t qualified to give the half-corlyps a tour, but it didn’t seem to matter. The way he walked purposefully toward the northern quarter, where the grand temples were located, Kari assumed he wanted to see Danilynn first and foremost. There would be time enough to take in the holy city and its beauty after he’d made good on his promise to Kari. She wondered if he would accompany her to see Attir Surallis first; she wanted to check in with Zalkar’s high priest before she indulged her curiosity about Bosimar’s past.
“I need to see Master Attir Surallis before we go see Danilynn,” Kari said. “He’s the high priest of Zalkar’s church and the Order, and I was told to see him since I was headed here.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Eli returned, and Kari nodded.
He shrugged his agreement, and followed her to the stairway that led to the plazas of the grand temples. Just as on her last visit, Kari washed her feet before ascending, a tradition considered more polite than necessary, and Eli did so as well after he watched her. Kari wasn’t sure what Eli’s relationship with the pantheon was like; he never spoke of following any one deity, and it didn’t seem he understood the significance of the foot-washing. As with several things since they’d met, though, he followed Kari’s lead to be accommodating, if nothing else.
Kari led Eli to Zalkar’s temple, the second one on the right, and he followed her inside without hesitation. It was still early in the afternoon, so the church was empty but for the few acolytes reciting prayers or cleaning. Kari pulled out her dog tags and approached the altar, and one of the acolytes nodded and entered the back room. Kari drew her swords and placed them tip down to the floor before she bowed to Zalkar’s altar. She stayed on her knees longer than she ever had before, suddenly so much more thankful to be a high-ranking servant of the god of law and patron of demonhunters. Her relationship with him had changed a great deal during this latest mission, and she made a conscious effort to show him that. She glanced at Eli as she rose to her feet, and he bowed his head respectfully toward the deity’s altar.
Attir Surallis emerged from his office, and dismissed the acolytes with a gesture. He looked just like Kari remembered him: a handsome, middle-aged human with the crew cut that was so popular among Zalkar’s priests. He was wearing a white robe trimmed in light blue, similar to the first time Kari had met him. Attir approached and studied Eli, but once he stood before Kari, he waited while she saluted him, and then he offered a handshake.
“Karian Vanador, or I should say Lady Karian Vanador,” he said in greeting. “It is good to see you again.”
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, too, Master,” Kari returned.
The high priest turned toward Eli. “And this must be Elias Sorivar, Jason Bosimar’s man,” he said, offering a handshake to the half-corlyps. Eli shook the high priest’s hand. “We lost track of you during the Apocalypse, and with Jason’s death, the Order as a whole lost contact with a lot of its former helpers. Master Sanstrom informed me through the Unyielding that you were quite a help to Lady Vanador in Barcon.”
Eli looked at Kari for a few moments, and Kari wondered what he was thinking. The half-corlyps turned back to Attir Surallis and said, “From the first time I talked to her, I knew I’d met another hunter like Jason. I think I’d follow this woman into hell itself.”
Kari smiled and chuckled, but Attir nodded his head. “Indeed, as would many of both the Order and Zalkar’s priesthood. There is already a lot of talk of her ascension to the position of Avatar of Vengeance, though the Unyielding still requires more before that promotion becomes a reality.” He turned back to Kari. “I understand you swore and fulfilled another Blood Oath?”
Kari wasn’t sure what to make of his tone. She thought perhaps he was shocked that she had sworn a Blood Oath, like she was abusing the power or calling upon it too often. After all, she had now used it in two consecutive hunts; she wondered if that was a bad thing. Kari didn’t feel as though she was using the power frivolously, but her doubts about her motivations began to creep up on her again after the high priest made his query.
“Yes, Master; was there a problem with it?” she asked somewhat nervously.
“A problem? No, of course not,” he answered. He gestured for his two guests to take seats. Kari and Eli sat beside each other on one of the benches, and Master Surallis sat facing them. “I wanted to ask how you felt when you swore this one; did it feel different at all?”
Kari hesitated, but then she remembered how she’d felt the night she’d sworn the Oath in front of Grakin. “It did. I felt like…like I needed it. Like it had been missing from my life for too long. Is the Unyielding displeased?”
Master Surallis shook his head. “No, Lady Vanador; quite the opposite,” he said quietly. “There is a fire that burns in you that we so rarely see these days. The Unyielding tells me this fire has burned in you since the first time you walked this world. He said that had you not died so young, he believes that you and Turik Jalar would have held the rank of Avatar of Vengeance at the same time.”
“At the same time?” Kari repeated. “I didn’t think that was possible. That hasn’t ever happened, has it?”
“No. Though it is not because it is impossible; it is just that difficult to find two people in the same generation in whom the fire burns that brightly. That fire burned in Turik Jalar, just as it burned in Jason Bosimar – and now it is showing that it burns in you, more so with each day and each mission that passes. The Unyielding still believes you will be Avatar of Vengeance; the passion with which you swear the Oath to him, and the focus you possess to see it through, leave him with no doubts.”
“I told you,” Eli said, and Kari shoved his shoulder lightly.
“I have to be honest with you about something, though, Master,” Kari said. She tried not to bite her lip, and to keep her nervousness under control. “My mate…is dying. He has Dracon’s Bane, just like I did when I was a young woman. I was planning to have another baby with him b
efore the disease advances too much further and–”
Attir Surallis put his hand on top of Kari’s own. “Then do as your heart bids you,” he said. “Do not take my words or the Unyielding’s faith as a demand, or an ultimatum. You are still a fairly young woman, and you are an asset to our lord and his Order, whether on the battlefield or as an administrator. When your children are a little older, you may find your inner fire burns even brighter.”
“I’m already finding it does,” Kari said.
“I had something made for you when Master Sanstrom passed along word of your success and the fact that you would be paying me a visit,” the high priest said. He called for one of the acolytes to bring him something, and the young man came quickly and handed a small wooden box to the high priest. Attir rose to his feet, and gestured for Kari to do the same. When Kari stood up, the high priest opened the box, and Kari saw that there was a brand new set of dog tags within.
These were different. They were platinum, and their outsides were ringed with solid turquoise, its light blue indicative of the deity who blessed them. “Karian Vanador, by the grace of the Unyielding, I hereby promote you to the rank of Hand of Zalkar. With this promotion and rank, you are now the highest ranking demonhunter, and therefore, you are now the head of Zalkar’s Demonhunter Order. The entirety of the Order’s staff is now at your command and disposal, and you will answer only to me or the Council of the Order. Congratulations.”
Eli stood and squeezed Kari’s shoulder proudly. “I told you,” he said again.
Kari was speechless. After everything Attir Surallis had said about Zalkar’s faith in her, and now with the promotion, she felt like she was dreaming. Kari had always dreamt of being the Avatar of Vengeance, but even after her resurrection, she’d wondered how long and how much work it would take to reach that rank. She was now a Hand of Zalkar, only two ranks below the coveted rank of Avatar, and she had been promoted by the high priest of Zalkar personally. She wasn’t sure if the Council of the Order had been consulted in the matter, but to be promoted by Attir Surallis was second only to a personal visit from Zalkar to do so - something that had understandably never happened before.
“By his grace and my will, I shall serve the Order all my days,” Kari said with a salute.
“Go home, relax, and have another child with your mate if that is what your heart desires,” Master Surallis said. “You have more than earned a rest.”
“Thank you, Master,” Kari said, and she had to stifle the urge to cry. She took off her old dog tags and handed them to the high priest. She then bowed her head so he could put the new ones on her, and she flicked her hair over the platinum chain so they would settle. She held them up and read the inscription: Lady Karian Vanador, Hand of Zalkar, T03172849. Just a few years before, seeing herself summed up so simply on her dog tags had made her question her worth. Now, though, she looked at the tags and understood that they said more than what was engraved: This is my servant, my right hand, who delivers my justice and my mercy in equal measure.
“No, Lady Vanador; thank you,” Master Surallis returned with a smile. He turned toward Eli then, and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Had I known you would be with Lady Vanador, I would have had a set crafted for you as well.”
“What?” Eli asked, and he did a double-take.
“Do not think the Unyielding has been ignorant to your contributions to our cause all these years,” the high priest said. “In light of your past service, and the aid you gave to Lady Vanador in this most recent mission, I have been given the authority to welcome you to the ranks of the Demonhunter Order, should you so choose to join.”
“I’ve never been very good at taking orders,” Eli admitted.
“Perhaps not from Jason Bosimar or Lord Allerius, no. However, I think you may learn to do so very quickly with a woman like Lady Vanador as commander,” the priest countered. “If you wish to join, the invitation is open. You will, of course, be required to attend the Academy to learn our policies and procedures in hunting, but I think you will have little trouble passing the physical portions of our basic training.”
“I’ll definitely think about it,” Eli said, at a loss. “When do you need an answer?”
“I do not require an answer. Should you wish to join, accompany Lady Vanador back to DarkWind and she will initiate you herself. She is now the head of the Order, you know,” the priest quipped, and the three laughed.
“Thank you; it’s an honor to even be asked,” the half-corlyps said, and it was his turn to chuckle as Kari squeezed his shoulder.
“Master, how well-protected is the Temple of Archons?” Kari asked.
“There is a full military unit camped at the base of the mountain on which it sits, and we have been rotating shifts of two to four demonhunters to keep watch over it as well,” the high priest answered. “Has there been a change in the threat to the Temple?”
“I’m not sure,” Kari answered. “We encountered the mallasti known as Emma again during this latest mission. At first, I thought maybe she was looking to get revenge for the fact that I helped stop her plans on Tsalbrin, but as the mission wore on, I started to suspect that wasn’t the truth. She had several chances to kill me, and though she left me in danger a few times, she never took advantage of those opportunities herself. She helped me indirectly in killing Turillia – the succubus I hunted in Barcon.”
“You think she seeks to manipulate you, perhaps?” he reasoned.
“Yes, because I found out at the missions’s conclusion that I am, in fact, Salvation’s Dawn,” Kari said.
The priest put his hand over his mouth while he studied Kari’s face. “This is actually quite a positive thing,” he said at length. “If it were anyone else that was Salvation’s Dawn, they might be in greater danger. However, the head of the Demonhunter Order being Salvation’s Dawn will make any attempts by the demons to capture them – you, I suppose – so much harder. I must ask, though: how do you know you are Salvation’s Dawn?”
“A wizard who aided us in Barcon found out inadvertantly,” Kari answered, saying the last carefully.
“How many others know of this?” the high priest prodded.
“Myself, Eli, the wizard Dominick Harrington, and Lord Kaelin Black,” Kari said. She saw the high priest’s mouth tighten when she mentioned the Earl’s name, so she added, “All of them have sworn to keep it a secret; they know what’s at stake if the demons find out.”
“Very good. This is fascinating,” Master Surallis said, and Kari almost chuckled at how he had echoed Dominick’s typical reaction to things. “I will consult with the other high priests of the pantheon, and see what we can find out with regards to Salvation’s Dawn. Our assumption has long been that Gori Sensullu passed this gift down through the generations, so that one day he could open the Temple for whatever reason. However, with the creator’s death and his son’s seeming indifference to the Temple, we began to suspect that perhaps Salvation’s Dawn was no longer of use. Let me see what we can find out through cooperative study and prayer.”
“Is there anything I should do in the meantime?” Kari asked.
Master Surallis waved off her concerns. “No, Lady Vanador. Even in light of the fact that you are Salvation’s Dawn, you should change nothing about your life or the way you conduct yourself. Continue to slay demons that are a threat to you or our world, and do not think that you should hide yourself from the dangers they pose. Gori Sensullu did not create the gift of Salvation’s Dawn so that it could be hidden in a cellar; you are a light for all the world to see. And the demons will come to know that trying to capture Salvation’s Dawn and use it for their own ends can lead only to their own destruction.”
“I understand, Master,” Kari said, and she bowed her head. “I won’t be staying long; I’ll be leaving for DarkWind tomorrow morning. But it was a pleasure to see you again.”
“The pleasure was mine, Lady,” Master Surallis said. “Farewell to you, and to you as well, Mr. Sorivar.”
/> Eli bowed to the priest, and followed Kari out to the streets. He regarded her under the strong afternoon sun, and Kari figured he was wondering about the fact that she was Salvation’s Dawn. She realized after a minute that he probably had no idea what Salvation’s Dawn even was. Whatever the case, he didn’t ask her any questions. He simply gestured across the way toward Garra Ktarra’s church, and then led her to where he suspected they would find Danilynn Stahlorr.
Chapter XXV – Full Disclosure
The church of Garra Ktarra was unlike any other that Kari or Eli had ever been inside. The interior was kept dim: the front doorway and the windows were shrouded so the room was only a few shades above darkness, just enough so that humans could still see. The air was warm and quiet, heated by the same ensconced torches that shed minimal illumination, and whose gentle lapping was nearly the only sound. The air was full of the scent of incense, though it was light and pleasant, not overpowering as it could be in some churches. Within moments of entering the church, Kari found that she felt relaxed and at peace, and the quiet sigh that escaped Eli said that he felt the same way.
The floors and walls were made of marble, and there were columns set about the room so as not to obstruct the view of the altar. The altar itself stood on a short dais in the back of the main chamber, but it was not the altar that drew the attention of the visitors. Instead, their gazes were drawn to the wall behind the altar, where, halfway up, a pair of engraved, glowing green eyes stared at them with a cold intensity. The eyes may have been carved into the stone, but between their enchanted glow and the way the dim firelight of the torches danced around them, they seemed very much alive. Transfixed by the eyes, neither Kari nor Eli saw the rir priest as he approached.
“The eyes of the Night Runner see all,” he greeted them.
Kari turned toward the priest and hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should bow or salute him. She went with the latter, tapping her fist over her heart with a bow of her head, and Eli bowed politely. The priest, an elder terra-rir with the white hair and green eyes typical to his kind, bowed his head to his guests. His eyes were glowing slightly in the dim light, but Kari could see well enough to make out the age lines on his snout and around his eyes. She guessed he'd been quite handsome in his younger days, and age had given him a wizened charm.
