Interlude - Tek’tar

“Terrible one. The ritual has been completed and the orb is powered.” The apprentice necromancer reported.

Tek’tar looked down on the groveling apprentice. ‘I am the only true necromancer sent to this backwater place. Why must I suffer these fools? At least they have some use.’

“Leave me. I must contact our master and I will not have trash like yourself bother him.” Tek’tar stated.

“Shall I send for Jek’jon, terrible one?” The apprentice asked.

Tek’tar backhanded the goblin knocking him to the ground. “Do not presume to think! Your mind cannot handle the pressure! No, I alone will speak to our master. If Jek’jon is not here that is his problem. Now leave me!”

The apprentice scurried out of the town hall as fast as his legs would carry him. His mother had warned him to not dabble in necromancy, but he had thought he knew better. Now the apprentice wished he had listened.

Once Tek’tar was alone, he activated the communications orb. He assumed a position of supplication as his master’s face appeared in the orb. “Greetings master. It is your most loyal servant Tek’tar.”

“Where is Gr’ex and Jek’jon?” Kit’erak inquired.

“Jek’jon is too busy with patrols and fortifications, master.”

Kit’erak’s voice echoed in the hall. “TOO BUSY?! You dare presume...”

“No, no master. I would never presume. I merely relay his disrespectful words.” Tek’tar quickly corrected.

“I will expect him next time you report, and I will deal with the insolence then. Now where is Gr’ex?!” Kit’erak replied.

“He and his squad are presumed dead, master. There has been no sign of him or his forces.” Tek’tar reported.

“DEAD?! Did you investigate? Whatever killed them is a threat and must be destroyed!” Kit’erak ordered.

“We have secured the town as you have requested and then we were starting to scout...” Tek’tar began to explain before he was cut off by his master.

“YOU FOOL! What makes you think I care about some pathetic town?! I sent you there to secure the Master Leyline Nexus!”

Tek’tar was confused. “M-master? We have sensed no such power nearby.”

“You are a fool! Do you not know anything?! The world you are on is reintegrating with the other realms. You haven’t sensed it as the mana density is not high enough and the first phase of the integration is not complete!” Kit’erak explained.

“I have never been to an unintegrated world master. What do you mean?” Tek’tar asked.

“I’m surrounded by idiots!” Kit’erak exclaimed before sighing and continuing. “Ugh. I’ll speak slowly so you can understand. When the first phase completes the hidden and dormant leylines will run all through this world. You at least know that when two leylines cross that is called a leyline node, correct?”

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

“Yes master.” Tek’tar quickly replied.

“Places of power can be built or naturally form in such locations. You know this as well, right?!” Kit’erak asked.

“Yes master. I have seen your place of power. It must be the most wondrous of all.” Tek’tar stated.

“Don’t be a fool. My place of power is formidable, but it pales in comparison to what is there.” Kit’erak replied.

“Master?” Tek’tar asked in confusion.

Kit’erak sighed again. “Ugh. That world will be contested with many forces. The more it reintegrates, the more forces we must contend with. Claiming nodes that have the chance to become a place of power are critical to gain a foothold in that world.”

“I understand, master.” Tek’tar said as he held his head high in pride.

Kit’erak fumed at his luck. Why did he send goblins there. His death knight will have to solve this matter once he is done laying waste to some place called Lost Angels. He had to negotiate with the Demon faction who already had a strong presence in some woods called Holly. He thought he recalled holly being poisonous so it would be fitting the demons were there.

Kit’erak shook his head. The Dark was not united, and it infuriated him having to placate factions he’d rather destroy, but that was his lot in life too. Even Kit’erak had a master.

Refocusing back on his idiot servant, he knew he had to tell him what was at stake. “No, you do not understand you moron! There are certain nodes that are considered a nexus and will be far more powerful than others. The continent you are on has over 10. Most of those had already been pledged to the Dark by those in power. One, however, was hidden more than the rest. That was until I discovered ancient texts from the time when the realms were connected.”

“What was so special about this one, master?” Tek’tar asked.

“That planet is ripe with untapped potential. It has such high potential that it has more than one leyline nexus with the chance to connect to the Infinite Nexus. Do you understand what that means?!”

Tek’tar had only heard of the Infinite Nexus as a legend or story. A realm that sat between all other realms. A place that is connected to everywhere else. He voiced his thoughts. “Master, isn’t the Infinite Nexus a fantasy story?”

Kit’erak’s eyes glowed with rage. “NO, YOU UNEDUCATED MORON!... The Infinite Nexus is the greatest prize! With it you can break connections, shatter the veils between realms, and gain power to rival the old gods! If one can find a connected leyline nexus they can use it to follow the power to that sacred realm. Then you just have to crack the door just enough to slip in. The nexus you are near, I believe is one of those rarest of connections. That is why it was hidden and that is why you are there, not some crappy human town!”

“Oh... forgive my ignorance master. Had I been told...” Tek’tar began to say but was cut off once again by his master.

“Enough! Of course, you were not told. If the other factions of the Dark learn what I suspect you would all be dead already. I only tell you now because your bumbling and ignorance has jeopardized the mission! Gr’ex’s portal was the one closest to the vicinity of where I believe the nexus will emerge. If he is dead, then whatever is there is a threat. One that you must destroy!”

“It shall be done, master.” Tek’tar promised.

“It better. Now tell me, how many undead have you raised?” Kit’erak replied.

This time Tek’tar knew he could report good news. “We have raised over 500 undead. I have a ritual in progress that should finish within another day or two at the maximum. Once completed I will create a few Undead Abominations. I will use them to lay waste to whatever threatens your plans in the north!”

Kit’erak pondered for a moment before speaking. “Hmmm. That is surprisingly acceptable. How many human slaves do you have left?”

“We have captured over 600 huemons from the surrounding area. Of that, only a little under a 100 are left. Most turned undead or used to feed my men.”

Kit’erak nodded. “Also, surprisingly acceptable. Keep the rest alive for now. See if you can find more. We will need as many as possible for blood sacrifices to open the way for me to enter that realm. Now focus on securing that nexus.”

Tek’tar bowed. “Yes, master. It shall be done.”

“I hope for your sake you are right. You do not want to find out what will happen to you should you fail me.” Kit’erak said before the orb went dark and the connection was severed.

“So, a nexus is nearby. And by the sounds of it, one that shall be more powerful than most. If I could claim it and not just securing it for master... I might have enough power to rival my master. Then no one will ever dare to cross Tek’tar or think to disrespect me again! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!” Tek’tar laughed evilly as he thought of all the slights, he would pay back to Kit’erak and anyone else he wanted.