“You knew where it was, so why didn’t you go get it yourselves?”
“Unfortunately for us, the amulet was buried in the same room where they dumped Shoel’s body. When we went down there to retrieve it, the amulet was locked inside of a metal box, and Shoel’s spirit was guarding it. The ghost told us to leave and when Molech ignored his warning, Shoel almost took his life.”
“Did Shoel remember you?”
“Lucky for us, he didn't, and allowed us to leave. A few weeks later, Molech came up with the idea to send the family down into the crypt and retrieve it for us. After I convinced them there was a way to wake Sybil, they went into the crypt and never returned.”
“You’re a disgrace. How many people did you send down there to their deaths?” Torhan got angry and reached over, holding the blade against his throat and pressed the edge tight enough to draw a bead of blood. “I should kill you for what you did.”
The priest grunted in discomfort. “Please spare me.” He pleaded. “I never wanted this life. I am a good man. The demons are to blame.”
Torhan relaxed his grip a few seconds later. “I’ll be right back. If you get free or try to escape, you’re a dead man.” He gagged the priest, stormed out of the room and went downstairs.
Katara and Sybil were sitting at the table. Torhan entered the room and motioned for Katara to join him in the other room.
“You didn’t hurt him too badly did you?” She asked once they were safely away from Sybil.
“No, but I wanted to kill him. I’m so angry right now. Everything Clodovea said was right; Molech coming to town and giving Sybil the gown and teddy bear, her parents going down into the crypt, and Shoel and his group. He claims Molech introduced them to a pair of demons, and they were manipulated into helping them.”
“What did they want with Sybil?”
“It has something to do with her ability to commune with animals, but he doesn’t know why the demons are so interested in her.”
“Did her parents know Molech?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What caused Sybil to fall into the deep sleep?”
“I think it was the gown.”
“And where did they get the gown?” Katara was quickly putting the pieces into place.
“He said the demons gave it to them.”
“So the gown must have special powers.”
“I believe so.”
“I wonder how long Molech has been dealing with demons. I need to speak with Piersum; watch Sybil.”
“Don’t tell him we killed Tole.”
She entered the room, walked over to the priest, and removed his gag.
“Are you a man of the cloth?” She asked directly.
He looked puzzled.
“Are you?” She demanded.
“I am.”
“Then how could you do what you did? You are solely responsible for the deaths of Sybil’s family and anyone else you sent down into that crypt.”
“You don’t understand. I was trapped. They forced me into helping them, or they would have killed me.”
“Forced?” Katara was getting angrier. “No one is forced. You had a choice before you met Molech, and after you met the demons, so don’t give me that.”
“I thought that I could make things right after we…”
Katara backhanded him across the face. “You should have stood up to them. You sent people to their deaths, you are a bastard!"
Blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth. “Please, I didn’t mean to. Give me a chance to make it right.”
“Make it right. MAKE IT RIGHT!” Katara was so angry; she gritted her teeth and then punched him square in the face, breaking his nose. Piersum was dazed for a few seconds. His eyes watered as blood flowed down from his nose, into his mouth, and then all over his clothes. “Have you ever heard of someone named Avalos?”
He shook his head, regaining his senses. “Are you going to stop hitting me?”
She nodded.
“I have heard the name before.”
“Tell me what you know of him.”
“I don’t know anything about him. I only heard the demons speak his name on several occasions.”
“Are you lying to me?” Katara took out her mace.
Piersum became very fearful. “I don’t know him; I swear.”
She stared into his eyes. “Describe the demons to me.”
Piersum went into great details. First, he described them in their human form and then their true hideous shape. “What’s going to happen to me?” He asked when he was finished.
“Do you feel remorse for what you did?”
Piersum shook his head.
“Since you cooperated and feel remorseful, we will allow you to live, but in exile.”
“Where?”
“With Tole of course, but you must make a vow never to return to this town.”
Piersum nodded in agreement. Katara gagged him and then left the room.
“We are leaving tonight when it’s dark.” She said to Torhan after she entered the room.
“What about Sybil?”
“Where are my mommy and daddy?” Sybil suddenly asked.
Katara walked over, bent down, and looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry sweetie but they are in a better place.”
“Better place?” Sybil started crying and hyperventilating.
“They’re safe from harm.”
“I want to see them.” Tears streamed down her face.
“You will someday.”
Katara and Torhan spent many minutes to calm her down.
“Where’s Rodle?” Sybil asked.
“We don’t know where your brother is.” Torhan answered.
“Do you want to live with Clodovea?” Katara asked.
Sybil nodded her head.
“After I come back we’ll deliver the priest to Shoel.” Katara said, took Sybil by the hand, and left.
After they were gone, Torhan went upstairs and had mixed emotions when he saw the blood all over Piersum’s face and clothes.
“I see you made her angry.” Torhan commented, taking out his knife and walking over to the bed.
Piersum eyed him carefully as Torhan cut the sheets into several pieces of cloth.
“I can’t leave you bleeding all over the place.” Torhan said and shoved one into each of his nostril to stifle the flow. Satisfied, he grabbed a chair, sat by the window, and looked at the falling snow.
Katara arrived at Clodovea’s cottage and knocked lightly on the door. A few seconds later a voice on the other side answered. “Who is it?”
“It’s Katara and I have a surprise for you.”
The door opened, and Clodovea’s eyes widened upon seeing Sybil. “How did you do it?” She asked.
“Can we come in?”
“Please do.”
Once inside, Clodovea grabbed Sybil and hugged her so tight that Katara thought she would never let her go. It made her heart full of joy watching the caretaker and child reunited. When Clodovea was finished, she led them to the table and poured tea for them.
“I can’t believe you saved her.” Clodovea said excitedly.
“It wasn’t easy.” Katara said and took a sip of tea. Putting down the cup, she went on to tell Clodovea how they revived Sybil and about Priest Piersum. Clodovea was shocked to hear about him and was relieved when Katara said he would be leaving tonight and would never return.
The conversation turned to the future and well-being of Sybil.
“Clodovea where’s her brother?”
“After she fell asleep, Mr. Lockington asked me to take him to his sister’s village so that she could look after him until,” she paused and looked down, “they returned.”
“Can you care for Sybil?”
The woman’s eyes lit up. “Of course, I can. I love the girl like she’s my own.”
“Good. I think you should take her to her aunt’s village just to be safe. Can you do that?”
Clodovea nodded.
>
“I must be going.” Katara said and got up.
Sybil came over and hugged her with tears in her eyes.
“Sybil, you’re a brave child.” The child hugged her tighter. “Good luck and please keep her safe.” Katara said to Clodovea.
“You gave me a purpose in life, and we can’t thank you and Torhan enough. Tell him thanks for me.”
While Katara was walking away from the cottage, she paused to take one last look at Clodovea’s home and saw two winter wolves walking up to the porch. The animals laid down in front of the door, and she realized they were there to watch over the girl.
When Torhan saw Katara walking toward the house, he got up and untied the priest from the chair, leaving his hands bound, and mouth gagged and led him downstairs. Katara walked through the door.
“Did you take care of Sybil?” Torhan said to her.
“She’ll be fine just like we discussed.”
“Are there a lot of people walking around?”
“Not many.”
Torhan placed furs on himself and Piersum, while Katara packed food and water into their backpacks. When they were ready, they left through the backdoor.
It was shortly after midnight when they made camp inside a small cluster of trees a few miles from the town. Torhan untied Piersum and removed his gag, while Katara lit a fire to help ward off the bitter cold.
“I’ve noticed that we’re not going toward Tole’s Grove.” Piersum stated.
“We’re not.” Katara answered and handed him bread, dried beef, and a waterskin.
“I thought that you said I was going to be exiled with him?”
“You are. We’ve relocated him to another location that both of you will find peaceful and quiet, and you can live out the rest of your lives.”
“Where?”
“We’ll be there tomorrow, so you’ll have to wait and see.” She smiled at him, and they started eating.
When they were finished, Torhan tied Piersum to a tree and took first watch while Katara slept. About an hour later, he grew tired and despite shifting his body constantly and occupying his thoughts of their task ahead, his eyes grew heavy, and he fell asleep. Maybe it was some sixth sense, or he heard them, but something woke Torhan just in time to see the three strangers entering camp. They were wearing gray traveling cloaks with their hoods pulled tightly around their heads, dark clothes, so they blended in with their surroundings, and carried long stilettos in their hands.
He watched them with his eyes barely opened. One of the thieves began waving his hands in a circular motion and grayness came forth and began engulfing the area. He recognized who they were and what was happening when the snowflakes froze in place in the air.
They were Chromos Lords, and he wasn’t sure if they were looking for him. He had his answer a few seconds later when one of the strangers took out a red gem from his pouch and held it aloft. It glowed and so did something on Katara, which Torhan quickly realized was the amulet of Insight. He watched them while inching his right hand over to the hilt of his sword.
“How did this end up in her hands? It was supposed to be with someone who lives in a mansion.” The one with the gem said.
“It doesn’t matter who has it. Just get it.” The one to his left said.
“It’s like stealing candy from a baby.” The third commented and began walking toward Katara.
The intruders were so preoccupied with their tasks, and confidence in their abilities; they did not see Torhan get up until it was too late. Torhan bull rushed the one holding the gem, and ran him through with his sword and then proceeded to the one who created the time stopping grayness.
The Chromos Lords, upon hearing their comrade die, turned around together, but it was too late for the one that stopped time, and he was beheaded while taking out his sword. Time resumed, and Torhan faced the remaining Chromos Lord with his long knife pointed directly at Torhan. Torhan’s scabbard glowed in response to the threat.
“How do you walk freely, when others can’t?” The Chromos Lord asked.
“That seems to be the mystery your race can’t figure out.” Torhan smirked. “What do you want with the amulet?”
The Chromos Lord knew he was clearly at a disadvantage with his skills and smaller weapon. “I’d rather die than tell you.”
Their conversation woke Katara and when she saw the stranger, with his back to her; she took hold of her mace, knelt up, and struck his right forearm. The impact shattered his bone in three different places causing him to scream, drop his weapon, and then fall to his knees while gripping his arm with his other hand. Torhan walked over and kicked him in the shoulder, sending him tumbling backward.
Katara was on her feet. “What the hell happened?” She asked, noticing the other two dead men.
“They were after the amulet of Insight.”
Priest Piersum was now awake.
“How did they enter our camp so easily?” Katara was clearly upset.
“Remember when I told you about the race called Chromos Lords?” She nodded. “Here are three more of them. They entered our camp, stopped time and were about to take the amulet from you. The scabbard is immune to their abilities, and I was able to surprise them.”
The Chromos Lord turned his head when he overheard Torhan talking about the scabbard. He thought that if he could only get the item away from him, then he could stop time and kill them. He got to his knees and was about to lunge after Torhan when the scabbard glowed again drawing Katara’s attention. She hit the Chromos Lord in the left shoulder with the mace and shattered his collar bone, rendering the limb useless, and sending him to the ground reeling in pain. The scabbard’s glow ceased.
“Kill me.” The Chromos Lord begged through gritted teeth.
“Not yet. You have some questions to answer first.” Torhan said and dragged him over to a nearby tree, propping him up against the trunk and then tying him up.
“You don’t have to kill him.” Piersum said.
“Is that what you thought about when you sent Sybil’s family to their deaths?” Katara barked at him. “If you don’t mind your business, then you’ll be next.”
“You’re no better than Molech, or the demons.”
His comment struck a nerve with her, and she walked over and punched him in the face, and then grabbed him by the front of his furs and pulled him closer to her face. “We are different than you or them.” She then punched him in the face again, knocking him out.
“Now for you.” Torhan said to the Chromos Lord. “What does this amulet do?”
When he didn’t answer Torhan removed the dagger from the scabbard and cut him across the left cheek. The Chromos Lord winced in pain and tried to show a brave face. Torhan opened his cloak and cut through his shirt.
“We have all day for you to get acquainted with this dagger.” He said and cut the man across the chest very slowly causing him to scream. “Let’s start over, what does the amulet do?”
The pain was too much for him to bear, so he decided to talk. “The amulet itself is useless, but when you add the stones it allows the owner to see the past and future of people, places, and events. So the more stones you insert, the further you can see, meaning specific days, weeks, months, and even years and that is why we seek it.”
“Is that all it does?”
“Yes.”
“Why does your Order want it?” Torhan pressed.
“To be able to see the future is an advantage my master would like to own.” Suddenly, the Chromos Lord remembered a conversation he had with one of his brethren a few weeks ago. “You’re the one my brothers spoke about. The one from the cave, aren’t you?”
“It is me.” Torhan boasted proudly. “If you continue to cooperate, I might allow you to leave and deliver a message to your kind.”
“And what would that be?”
“To stay clear of me, or I will kill them if they ever cross my path.”
Katara approached, and Torhan noticed something was on her mind. “Are y
ou okay?” He asked.
She looked over at the unconscious priest. “I’ll feel better after we drop him off. What did you find out about the amulet?”
“He says the amulet will allow the user to see the past and future of people and places.”
“So what do the other stones do?” She asked the Chromos Lord.
“They serve a unique function once they’re added to the amulet.”
“How did you hear about the amulet?” Torhan asked.
“We possess a book, written in an ancient language that talked about items of great power scattered throughout the land, and this is one that we wanted. Did you know about the amulet’s powers?”
“No.”
“Then why were you in the cave if you weren’t looking for the stone?”
Torhan ignored his question. “How are you able to stop time?”
“I’m not telling you our Order’s secret.” The Chromos Lord said it out of instinct. “I’d rather die.”
“Well I’ll tell you one thing for sure. If you don’t answer our questions, you will, and it will be very excruciating.”
“Fine. I’ll tell you what I know if you let me leave.” He bargained.
Torhan and Katara looked at each other and nodded their agreement.
“So, how are you able to stop time?” Katara asked him again.
“It’s really hard to explain, but I’ll try. We don’t stop time; we manipulate and bend the very fabric, so that it appears that we do.”
“But how?” Katara asked.
“Like I said it’s really difficult to explain if you’ve never studied our skills.”
“Where is your Order located?”
“We are not from your world.”
“World!” Torhan exclaimed.
“Maybe world is too strong of a description it’s more like another plane somewhere in the folds of time itself.”
“How many are in your Order?”
“Our numbers are down to fifty. You alone are responsible for the deaths of several top students.”
“Well it was either me or them, so don’t fault me.”
A Demon's Quest the Beginning of the End the Trilogy Box Set Page 77
