Thomas ran his hands over his face. He was warm and in bed, but not alone. The first rays of dawn were peeking in through the curtains of the Inn turned command villa. The recent days had been so stressful. Commanding the army and facing down the evils of war unleashed on people who by all rights were family had drained him. Since meeting her, talking with her had become a necessary respite from his duties and the pressure of his position. Her stalwart faith gave him hope. She saw the better side of their Holy Lord of Light and knew he meant well. It was why he allowed those who cared like Thomas and like herself to take up command though they both spoke out against the war.
Ana stirred and clung to his arm. A happy little smile showed on her tired face. Thomas's eyes wanted to wonder about her exposed body, but he matched her gaze. Or tried she leaned forward and kissed him and for a blessed moment he forgot all his worries again.
She pulled away, smiling with her eyes closed, whispering soft laughter leaving her lips.
“Don't look so guilty. It's fine. We are both Blessed in his Light.”
“That's not exactly what I'm worried about. If I could I would stay here with you the whole day, but I can't allow myself the dalliance. There's so much evil at work. Even in our own ranks. I must face it. Whatever dubious evidence we have found in Istania's temples our actions have only pushed her followers further away from the Light of Truth. If we are to scourge them where are they to turn, but into the darkness? I have to wonder if that is why Istania secreted the books away, keeping them instead of burning them as we should have upon finding them. Instead we need them as evidence to show our Lord's innocence and prudence to the other Gods.”
“If only you could be in several places at once.” Ana teased him.
Thomas nodded. Her skin against his arm as she came close sent shivering lightning up his spine. She laughed and ran her hands down his arm. She manipulated his hand so that it might touch where she directed. Then she displayed a fond and glowing smile on her face as Thomas's cheeks colored and filled with heat.
Thomas let out a breath and laughed in spite of himself. Anastasia's fingers found his own and instead of continuing to tease him embraced his arm. -Which was almost worse, but Thomas relaxed nonetheless.
“I wish my team were here, or at least more than two people I could trust.” Thomas grumbled.
It wasn't like him to complain, but he really could use help here. No doubt Lieutenant Percival already held various notes for him sent his way late in the night or early this morning.
“You have my help, there's good people in the forces brought with you, and assuming Ivan's alright somewhere we'll find him one of these days. He'll be a big help. I promise.” Anastasia assured him.
Thomas nodded again, and held tight to her hand. With the other he rubbed his face and temple. The stress was getting to him and he knew it. If it hadn't been he never would have let Ana sweet talk him into bed. His memories of the night before played at his mind and his conscience waggled a finger at his own thoughts. Fine. Maybe he had his own role in that, but she was his only outlet. Dueling with Darrak, or meditating with Lyrica would have done just as well, but Ana was hurt and feeling as lonely as he was lately.
“I've sent messages to our new forces looking out for anyone with his description. I haven't heard anything back yet, but I made sure to let them know it was only of passing importance. Seeing to their duties protecting the people and reestablishing order should be their focus.”
“What about the Killer?” Ana asked, her fingers clenching tightly around Thomas's. She even pressed his arm more firmly against her body seeking comfort though it provided little for Thomas.
“No news of who or what they are yet. I traveled back to see the village once again to see if I could pick up the trail going the other way, but there was nothing. It hadn't helped that it rained, washing away what little corruption there had been in the first place. All I have is that the person in question seems to have stolen a potent alchemy item from the healer's store. I've been having trouble finding a replacement for that lost item though they have been willing to accept payment.” Thomas answered.
“No leads with the sleeping magic then?” Ana asked.
“Not yet. Thanks to you and some others though word has been spread to look for anyone who could source that type of magic in the area. The Clergy will find it eventually. No one with sparks like that will be able to hide away for very long unless they are very high level.”
“What Class of Job are you expecting for that sort of wide area magic?”
“Advanced or beyond. Though whoever they are, they are fairly covert or using a potent magical item.” Thomas answered, and sighed.
“I feel as though I am missing something. Or there's something hidden just under my nose that I cannot see. It's frustrating me to no end with all that is going on. Like an itch I can't take the time to scratch.” He admitted, once again venting his frustrations openly to Ana.
Ana nodded and cuddled his arm affectionately.
“Maybe I'll think of it if you tell me what it's about, or what you think it's about. I recently had one of my biggest itches scratched so I'm feeling rather clear headed if I'm being honest.” She volunteered playfully.
Thomas gave her a dry look, or tried to at least. Her beaming smile was a ready and effective riposte, and he couldn't help but give in and return the expression.
“That's the thing. It just seems obvious, and has my guts turning in knots. I can't imagine what it is.” He said, sitting up and gently peeling Ana from his arm. “If I could think of anything related to it then I would, but there's nothing I can bring to mind. It's just an instinct.”
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“When does it come to mind then?” Ana asked. “-Best to start from the ground up. So what brought up the feeling the first time you felt it?”
Thomas considered for a moment.
“The twisted being. The Killer I mean. He...he worries me.”
“You followed his trail back to the church in Istan, but that turned out to be where it started instead of where it ended right?” Ana asked.
Thomas nodded.
“It was the stronger of the two trails. I thought it an obvious deduction, but perhaps if I had Rik'Tak with me he would have been able to point out the tracks the killer had made coming in and out of the village and we could have gone from there. I just hadn't thought of it.”
Ana patted his arm.
“You can't be skilled at everything, and you can't guess the right thing all the time. You went with your best choice given what you had. -Now what about the Killer makes you think he or she is twisted?” Ana asked, a sheet of the bed held up in one hand making an imperfect shield for her body as the morning light spilled into the room.
Thomas looked away from her before his mind could be distracted and thought.
“He.” Thomas corrected, nodding to himself in certain recollection.
“He?” Ana asked.
“Yes, I'm certain the Killer is male. I've learned that he has stolen the book hidden away in the capital. I fear what dark secrets it may have contained and what he may have used to bring about his companion. I'm certain that the creature is a demon, and close to certain that it is the source of our sleeping magic. If we find her we will find our killer as well.”
“Then by finding either you can find and take care of them both?” Ana asked.
“I will kill the demon without hesitation, but that will not get rid of it entirely. The summoner must be dealt with or he can gather up the materials to bring about the demon again. The summoner I must save. If he is a follower of Istania and under some kind of curse as I suspect he might be the key I need to truly convince the other Gods that Istania was as guilty as Theadus suspected. If only he had given me time to investigate beforehand. I could have stopped so much of the madness...or at least that is how I feel at times. Likely had he not struck when he did we would be in an even deeper mess. It is hard to say, but I think of that too at times.”
Ana smiled at him, but her eyes were soft and concerned.
“Do you believe that Theadus did the right thing?” Ana asked. She must have asked the questions half a dozen different ways before now, but it was still an important question to ask and have the answer to.
What did Thomas think of his God's actions? It took him a good deal of time to answer.
“I think that there is some little proof of what he did as right, but I cannot help feeling unsettled that it happened while I was away and that in my absence he was so dismissive of my trusted companions. Had he listened and involved them, taken them into his service to root out this evil, I would have no doubts, but instead he struck with only the Light Bearers knowing his true intentions as soldiers were moved into position. I would like to say I trust his word on this, but I cannot say so without feeling the lie on my tongue. Perhaps if I were more experienced or older I would know the difference, but I feel a child lost in this sea of contempt.”
Thomas shook his head.
“Perhaps it was critical that I be away when he made his attack. To make his movement of such large forces seem mundane. His appearance could be held at bay of course, but my own would be noticed. Perhaps it is wrong to question my Lord at all, but I feel as though I should have been brought into the loop the moment I surfaced from the Dungeon, my team waiting, or an Imperial Courier waiting for me carrying signed documents at the least. Instead I heard the first news of what had happened from traveling adventurers who were frightened by the sight of me.”
Thomas put both of his hands to his head and rubbed his hair and temples as if that could relieve his brain of the stress caused by two nations at war. Ana's body at his back seemed to do a better job of it in spite of his best attempts to take care of it himself.
He tried to think of who might have motivation, knowledge, and access to the locations he had been. That seemed to get him nowhere until he remembered something Ana had said when they first met. The pieces came together in his mind, but he rejected the idea. He shook himself. No. No. That couldn't be right.
But his mind placed times and dates made on records. Estimates of times of death, and the trail of destruction he himself had walked back to what he thought was the source. Thomas's mouth went dry and his hands stopped on his head. He shook his head. There was too large a gap in time. Almost two weeks.
“It couldn't be him. It couldn't.” Thomas whispered.
“What did you say?” Ana asked, leaning close on his shoulder.
“Ivan. The Killer. I thought for a moment perhaps that he fit, but it was too long between the attacks and when the force sent to seize the Parish went missing. There was no one to check in and the veterans were overwhelmed with magic besides.” Thomas said, for the most part thinking aloud though his words were sluggish compared to his thoughts.
Ana seemed to go very still.
When Thomas looked over his shoulder her eyes were far away. When she finally focused again she gulped.
“There was a makeshift bed...like something made where a severely wounded person might be kept. With the supplies we found there and what was left...” Her face grew pained and afraid. “Ivan knew the Goddess very well. She lived with them there often enough, using one of her minor avatars to help raise the orphans and to teach and guide them...If we consider her guilty of what Theadus said, and allow for the time he must have spent taking care of whoever was wounded...”
Suddenly Ana looked to be sick to her stomach. She clasped one hand over her mouth and made a soft whimpering sound.
“But I was there. For years I was there, and she led me to Theadus Thomas. She couldn't...she wouldn't...” Ana said, her sadness breaking through her emotional walls. “I know you've had long talks with her. Whatever Theadus says it can't be true. There must be a misunderstanding!” Ana said, shaking her head and crying with as much frustration as she did sadness.
“And maybe it was part of her plans to bring you into the fold later as a corrupting agent. We'll never know. This is why I wish my Lord had used me to investigate her shady dealings and had her sanctioned. Then we might have answered and saved so much trouble and hurt.” Thomas answered, turning to take up Ana's hands and kiss them gently.
The act seemed to settle her a little and she came to him for a proper embrace. Thomas held to her, feeling her emotions roll in her head. Betrayal, anger, and bitter sadness all competing for the foremost position in her heart.
“We have to find him!” Ana sobbed. “We can't let anyone else find him if he's the one...if he's the one...” She couldn't finish.
Thomas held tight to Ana seeking to comfort her, but he felt stiff and weary. He felt left out of the loop and mistrusted. -And pained. Pained for everyone and everything that had suffered due to this conflict. He hated war, and only thought he had hated it before when it was against a people he didn't know or understand.
After some time a knock came from the door.
“One moment please.” Thomas called right away.
Ana flushed and pulled the blankets about herself. Thomas stood, and dressed as best he could in moments in trousers and a fresh tunic before going to the door. When he pulled the door open one of Commander Volkstead's men was there with a letter in hand.
“Sorry to bother you, Lord Hero, but the Commander said to bring this into your hands without delay.” The man said, presenting the article.
Hero, read the script across the face before the superimposed V over a horse shoe, the seal of the Volkstead house. Thomas took it up and thanked the soldier, giving him a casual salute, a fist to the top of the breast bone, as he sent him on his way.
Thomas broke the seal and read the words inside.
Thomas,
One of the Mages of the Illuminated Order has found evidence of wide area sleep magic used at an Inn in a small village near the town of Dentennek. The village is called Parsen's Way, and host to perhaps three hundred souls, but there is clear evidence of magic very similar to your recorded findings in this place. Come at once so the trail might not fade.
Steven Volkstead