A brown robed young man padded softly down a marbled floor, marvelling at how deserted the place was despite it being the middle of the day. Located beneath the Pillar of Heaven, this temple was once the most important and carefully guarded building in the city, and yet now, it seemed as though only ghosts lived here. The corridor ended in a large set of double doors, and the young man carefully set his tray laden with bread and fresh fruits on a side table before taking a moment to compose himself.
“Fathers?” he called softly after knocking on the door. “I have brought your afternoon refreshments.”
The door swung open at once to reveal a wizened old man wearing a white cassock that was trimmed with gold.
“What took you so long?” he snapped.
The young man bowed his head at once. “I’m sorry, Father, I’m new and I still…”
“Enough with your excuses…” the old man’s voice trailed off and he frowned at the young acolyte. “Is that blood on your robe?”
The young man smiled sheepishly as he looked down at the splattering of blood on the hem of his robe. “My, how careless of me.”
The old priest gasped as a blade pierced his belly. The young man’s smile didn’t waver as he carefully set the limp body on the ground. Inside the room, six white clad priests were standing in a runic circle formed from black granite that had been laid alongside white marble on the floor. The priests were focused on reciting a prayer. Meanwhile, another two rested on a couch set in a corner. None had noticed the new arrival or the death of their colleague. The young man smiled to himself and closed the door silently behind him.
The Pillar of Heaven was a stone obelisk that towered over the heart of the Holy City. It appeared to be carved from a single piece of stone and stood almost a thousand feet tall. Artek stared at its gold topped cap as it gleamed in the morning sun and marvelled at the fact that it had been built by the hands of men.
“You know, your gaping at every little thing like the wide eyed farm boy you are was funny at first,” came Erini’s voice from behind him. “But it’s growing a little old now.”
Artek heaved a sigh and stepped back from the window. “What do you want?”
“You’ve been summoned,” she replied.
Artek frowned. “By who?”
“By whom,” Erini corrected him.
“Eh?” Artek asked, giving her a blank stare.
“It’s by whom…” Erini paused and rolled her eyes. “Never mind, it’s not important. The Captain has called for you. He is meeting with the vice-captain in the library, and they need someone to serve drinks.”
“Find someone else,” Artek snapped before turning back to the window.
“It’s a great honour, you know,” the bitterness was raw in Erini’s voice.
“Then it shouldn’t be difficult to find someone else,” Artek smirked without turning around.
“The Captain instructed me to remind you that you said you would do anything, so long as you got paid,” the contempt was bare in Erini’s voice. “And to point out that you have just been paid in advance for a year just yesterday.”
Artek clicked his tongue irritably. He couldn’t help but feel he had been manipulated. However, couldn’t find any fault in the elf’s argument either. “Fine.”
“You’re such a mercenary,” Erini said, spitting the word as though it was venomous. “Oh, and the Captain said to bring the sword.”
Artek hesitated and glanced at the sword that was leaning against the far corner of his small room. He’d been having nightmares since they’d left Drendire. He hadn’t remembered a thing about them once he’d woken up but only felt a lingering sense of rage and frustration. He wasn’t sure if they were because of the horrors he’d seen, or because of the strange spell the Captain had cast on his sword, but he had gotten little sleep in the week since then.
Hesitantly, he picked the sword up and felt energy surge through his body. It felt foul this time, and he chalked it off to his imagination. When he reached the door, Erini remained leaning against the frame, blocking his path.
“Come find me after you’re done,” she ordered imperiously. “You can ask for me at the entrance to the noble quarters.”
Artek blinked in surprise. “Why on earth will I do that?”
Erini heaved an exasperated sigh. “So I can grill you about the meeting.”
Artek raised an incredulous eyebrow.
“A lady has asked to speak with you,” Erini said. “The gentlemanly thing to do would be to entertain her.”
“It’s a good thing I’m no gentleman then,” Artek replied before pushing her gently but firmly out of the way.
“Uncouth lout!” Erini shouted after him.
Artek suppressed a smile as he walked down the corridor. He arrived at a large staircase and took a moment to get his bearings. He wore a pin of the Vermillion Company on his breast that distinguished him from the clergymen who moved briskly and with purpose through the quiet halls. They treated him with respect to his face because of the pin, but when he carried the sword, he could hear their whispers when they thought they were out of earshot and knew that he didn’t belong. He wondered if he ever would.
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“Bear with it,” he hissed to himself as he began down the stairs. “Endure it for two years and you’ll never have to worry about money again.”
“The honoured lords are waiting for you in the library,” a man wearing a plain brown robe announced, pointing up the stairs.
“I knew that,” Artek snapped irritably.
The man scarcely bothered to hide the contempt in his smile. “Of course you did.”
His smile quickly turned to fear and by the time Artek realized why, his sword was half out of its scabbard. With great effort, he sheathed it and managed to mutter a quick, “thank you,” before hurrying up the stairs. The monk too fled as soon as the youth’s back was turned.
Artek quickly found the library’s double doors on the third door and to his surprise, they opened just as he arrived.
“Good, you’re finally here,” a melodious voice observed.
Artek blinked and looked up to see a tall, broad shouldered elf holding the door open. Where Ereldred exuded an air of grace and nobility, this new elf had an intensity and an air of controlled fury about him. He was staring fixedly at the sword at Artek’s side.
“Is that the sword?” he asked curtly.
Artek nodded.
“Give it to me.”
Something about the elf compelled Artek to obey without question, and he was holding his sword up before he realised it. The elf touched it and frowned before turning to Ereldred, who was standing at a table in the room behind him.
“You broke the first seal,” his words were an accusation.
“I thought it was a risk worth taking,” Ereldred replied without looking up from the large map that had been laid out before him. “As you can see, the creature bound within has long since lost itself.”
“All that remains is its hatred, and its power,” the other elf snorted. “A dangerous combination.”
“Let him in, Aelgad,” Ereldred said. “And close the door.”
The stockier elf glowered at Artek for a moment before stepping aside to let him in. Once Artek was inside, the elf closed the door and locked it. The sound of the bolt sliding home caused Artek to jump. It felt as though he was trapped in the room with a pair of predators.
“Did you get the Council’s permission to remove the seal?” Aelgad asked without moving from the door.
Ereldred looked up from the map for the first time and gave him a pointed stare. “How could I have?”
The stockier elf broke into a rueful grin. “You’re going to get an earful from them.”
“I am aware,” Ereldred said before returning his attention to the map.
“This is why you drive them crazy, you know,” Aelgad remarked.
“I have little interest in the opinions of those who are able bodied but think their days of fighting are over,” Ereldred sighed. “Our crusade isn’t over, but they refuse to understand that.”
“If you are talking about our esteemed elders,” Aelgad began.
“Your esteemed elders,” Ereldred corrected him.
“You can’t blame them for being weary,” Aelgad continued. “They have fought for…”
“Weariness doesn’t come into the equation,” Ereldred snapped. “There is far more at stake for we Eternals if evil were to return. And to make things worse, we know what it was like before the peace. Besides, I have been fighting for far longer than they.”
“You are an admirable example to all,” Aelgad remarked and heaved a sigh. “So, even the mighty first platoon of the Vermillion Company was almost destroyed by a single coven of lesser demons. How far we’ve fallen.”
“Indeed,” Ereldred agreed. “Any word from second and fourth?”
Aelgad shook his head. “I fear they may have been wiped out. I was about to investigate Invere personally when I received your summons.”
“You would have died if they were present,” Ereldred paused and frowned. “It does feel like we walked headfirst into a trap, doesn’t it?”
“The Enemy is cunning,” Aelgad agreed. “This is a timely reminder.”
Ereldred looked up from the map and stared out the window in silence for a moment. At length, he said, “We should petition the Council for permission to use the Divine Armaments.”
Aelgad shook his head. “It’s funny you should mention the Council of Heaven. It just so happens that King Marik summoned me before I came here.”
Ereldred arched an eyebrow. Even a boy from the countryside like Artek knew Marik Dinlad was the most powerful King amongst the Faithful and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be privy to this conversation. He cleared his throat to remind the elves that he was still in the room. If they noticed him, they showed no sign.
“And what did His Highness want?” Ereldred asked suspiciously.
“He was concerned about the appearance of demons in his lands,” Aelgad replied and paused to let his words hang.
The other elf’s eyebrows shot up. “He has sharp ears. Did he say anything else?”
Aelgad shook his head. “He wants to speak with you in private. He said it was of the utmost importance.”
Ereldred sighed and turned his attention back to the map. “In that case, I’m afraid I will be extremely busy for the foreseeable future. You shall have to explain the situation to the Council in my stead, though I suspect most of them are already aware.”
The stocky elf grunted irritably. “Are you sure that’s wise, Ancient One? You should collaborate with him. You have so few allies on the Council as it is.”
“His support comes with strings attached,” Ereldred declared as he frowned down at the map. “Invere and Drendire… I just can’t see the connection.”
“And what strings might he be dangling?” Aelgad ventured.
Ereldred shrugged. “I’ve not given it any thought, but that is how their kind operates, isn’t it?”
Aelgad shot Artek a look and smirked. “Are you going to just let that slide?”
“I was actually wondering why I’m still here,” Artek remarked.
“Perhaps we wanted to hear your insight on human politics,” Aelgad said as he folded his huge arms across his chest.
“Then I believe it’s safe to say you’ve chosen the worst person in the Vermillion Company,” Artek replied evenly. “May I be excused?”
“Your induction into the Vermillion Company has not gone unnoticed,” Ereldred said. “Soon, your sword and your relationship with it will be revealed. I felt it prudent for you to have some understanding of the political situation before you are thrust to the forefront.”
“I have no desire to be some sort of circus attraction,” Artek objected.
“You know what you are carrying, don’t you, boy?” Aelgad asked hotly. “You need to be aware of your position.”
“I signed up to fight cultists, not demons, and certainly not to participate in court intrigue,” Artek objected.
“If you want to leave, you can do so at any time,” Ereldred reminded him. “If you wish to stay, certain things are expected of you.”
“It seems that the expectations grow with each passing day,” Artek grumbled.
“Do you wish to leave?” Ereldred asked.
“I’m thinking about it,” Artek replied.
“Well, decide quickly,” Aelgad said. “We can ill afford to be distracted by this matter.”
Artek swallowed when both elves stared at him expectantly. His hand went to the bag of coins on his belt and felt reassured by the touch. Aelgad noticed this and smirked.
“Your pay will have to be prorated if you are leaving us early,” Ereldred remarked.
“Then I will stay,” Artek declared. “For now.”
Aelgad’s lips curled into a sneer, and Artek was thinking up a retort when a jolt of electricity ran down his spine, causing him to gasp and sit bolt upright.
“What is it?” Ereldred asked sharply when he noticed the youth’s distress.
“I…” Artek began. He then began to gag as the overwhelming stench of sulphur permeated the room. Through the window, he could see that something else was amiss. It had been a clear day just moments before, but it was now as black as night outside.
“Something’s here!” Aelgad cried as he ran to the window with his hand covering his nose.
Ereldred reached the large window half a step behind his stocky companion. The two elves stood as still as statues as they looked out towards the Pillar of Heaven. Artek joined them and was greeted by a sight that shook him to his core.
“God in Heaven,” he gasped as he fell to his knees.