Hall of the Immortals

Chapter 6: The Birth of a Paladin 

Oark moved cautiously toward Solara and put his hand on her shoulder. Her body tensed at his touch and she shirked away from him. Trembling she moved further away from the window and stood in the corner.

"Your family has gathered outside. I shall dismiss them and you and I will discuss what has happened here." He turned and passed by Durrak he was weakly fading as Oark departed the room. Upon explaining to her family that Solara had left while he was gone and that if they should find her then they should inform the guard to tell him. Walking back inside the sight he saw sickened him. Solara was hunched over Durrak, feeding from his now lifeless body.

"Solara." He spoke gently and she stirred, her eyes blackened as though darkness itself had entered her spirit. She spat blood on the floor as she rose to her feet.

"The moment of my death I saw Death but as he reached out to touch me I awoke." Oark shuddered visibly, "I feel... stronger, faster."

"I'm sorry this has happened to you Solara."

"Are you?" She turned sharply to look him in the eye. "You caused this, you volunteered a descendant." Oark shook his head.

"I did not know any of this would happen." Solara scoffed.

"Yet it has happened." She moved to Oark and struck him as hard as she could in the side of his head. His vision darkened and in a moment he was unconscious, for the first time in days Oark rested without torture. As he woke and his vision cleared it was dark out and Solara was gone. His heart was heavy and his head hurt as he moved from his bedroom into the entry room. Death stood over the fireplace, a fire roaring vivaciously in the hearth.

"Am I dreaming again?" Oark asked out loud. Death shook his hooded skeletal head.

My daughter has transferred her curse onto a mortal. This Solara. I went to claim her spirit and she fled from my touch.

"Why are you here?" Oark was hesitant at the appearance of Death in his dwelling. The curiosity of why the benevolent being was present disturbed him.

Sidh has grown inconsolable. My daughter has created something I cannot undo.

"Can you take back the curse you laid on her?" Oark asked, he could hear the hopeful tone in his own voice.

No. When I laid the curse I poured my divinity into the curse. It cannot be undone by me.

"Why are you here?"

You must stop her mortal. She cannot gain immortality without taking the blood of a mortal. You have a mortal body yet an immortal spirit. ...and I have lost my influence on this realm.

"Your influence? You are Death itself." Oark was confused by what Death was saying and it was clear. Perplexed he sat in one of his wooden chairs and Death moved and sat in the chair opposite to him. The humanized action struck Oark as strange behavior from such a being.

Little known to mortals are the gods of the gods. They are ancient and all but not existent in our realms. They created all and even I know little of them. They looked down on me, my curse, and struck me from my divine rights. I exist now only as a shade. As punishment for my transgressions against my own daughter they have cursed me. Now when a spirit needs taken to the realm of Death a fragment of my very soul itself is torn from me and ushers them. They cannot see me unless they saw me prior to the curse I laid on Sidh.

"Solara saw you, she said as much to me." Despite Oark's own reservations towards Death he couldn't help but feel hopeful that this curse was temporary. It would prove beneficial to both of them should Death regain his full strength and influence in the world.

Solara was greeted by me when she was young. She had been sick with a severe fever, her father prayed to me to spare her. I approached him and he exchanged two spirits for hers.

"He... he murdered two people to save Solara from your touch?" Oark was in disbelief over this revelation.

The father and the mother gave their lives to postpone her death.

"I see." Oark sat back in contemplation over these revelations. The hour was growing later and now there were two to be hunting and slaying. "What do we do now?"

Kill Solara before she can inform Sidh of her ability to make others with her curse.

Nodding Oark rose and moved toward the door. Death remained sitting as he left the dwelling and the conversation behind him. He wondered why Death had revealed so much to him, he felt that there was a feeling of regret in the tone that Death had used. He couldn't be sure but he knew regardless that Death was correct. He had to stop Solara, and he had to stop her before she met with Sidh. He ran down the path toward the city gates but did not see her anywhere. Leaving the city he gazed upon the slightly rolling grasslands outside. There upon the hill which Solara had stood the two nights prior, she stood once more. Oark approached and saw clearly that Sidh also stood on the hill. The pair watched him as he approached in silence.

"Greetings Sidh, daughter of Death."

"Greetings Oark, son of none." Sidh sneered and Solara chuckled, "You're late to the party." Clearly they had more than enough time to catch up on what had transpired. Oark felt his heart grow heavy and the weariness he'd experienced weighted on his shoulders. Despite this he unsheathed his sword.

"I'm not here with a hunting party, I'm here alone." Solara lunged forward and in a flash Oark was disarmed. She cocked her head sideways at him and discarded his weapon. Sidh cleared her throat,

"Now that I know of my ability to transfer this curse, Solara and I shall bring your kingdom to its knees. A sword will not save you nor the other mortals." She referred to him as a mortal, the words echoed in the night air. He felt she'd said it to insult him personally, and coupled with how she spat the word at him he was convinced of it.

"Sidh, we have no need for this. I offer myself as a tribute to you." Solara scoffed and laughed deeply. Moonlight glistened dangerously in her eyes and her fiery red hair twirled in response to her rocking in humor.

"You?! You offer yourself, how noble Asin-Ai." Sidh waved her down and Solara instantly sobered her composure and stepped back with her head bowed.

"There is no need to taunt him." Sidh looked Oark in the eye, "You shall not offer yourself as tribute as you cannot die. Your punishment will be in the loss of your own people, your descendants..." As she spoke her words trailed off. She stroked Solara's chin lovingly and pulled her close in a seductive embrace.

"Sidh, I-" Sidh shrieked, the shrillness of her voice piercing the air with defiance to the silence of the night.

"No Oark, son of none. You speak no more." She turned to leave grabbing hold of Solara's arm as she did so, "Your destruction shall be slow and painful, may your kingdom suffer." They started to walk down the hill as the hunting party circled the adjacent hill and caught sight of them. The two broke into a sprint racing away with inhumane speeds. As the hunting party arrived Oark told them that they had spoken, that they intended to destroy their world, and that they must prepare to fight them.

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"Call the council together. Immediately."

"Asin-Ai, it is in the midnight hours oh wise one. Surely, let the council rest and let the soldiers pull in those outside the city. Let us pull together all of our own and increase the guard around the city. They seem wary of directly fighting us unless they pick us off one by one. We pair our soldiers, should-" Oark waved his hand to silence the young soldier who spoke out. The man had unusually light colored hair and his beard matched the sun. He wore the traditional leather armor, typical of a foot class soldier. His sword was tied around his hip with a cheap bit of cord. He was a poor soldier but looking at the pride in which he walked it was evident he weighted much value in his servitude to Oark.

"These are wise words for a soldier, what is your name?" Oark rarely spent the time to learn the names of others, for their lives were so short. The boldness of this one made Oark feel like they almost had a chance, and Oark needed men like this young man around him.

"Garrick, son of Durrak." A disturbing chord struck inside of Oark at this revelation. Durrak's body still lay in Oark's dwelling, and here before him stood his son with all the wisdom that his father once showed.

"Garrick, walk with me back to the city, as we have things to discuss." As they walked Oark told him what happened to his father, who Sidh was, and what happened to Solara. Garrick wept silently as Oark told him of what had happened. They both spoke of Durrak as they approached Oark's dwelling. As they entered Oark was surprised to find Death was still sitting by the fire and acknowledged him returning. Without speaking Oark shook his head at Death and took note that Garrick did not notice the deity. With apprehension they went in and removed the body carefully. As they walked down the streets, many men offered to carry the body in Oark's place. He dismissed them all, this was his task and he would not allow others to bear this burden. In the light of dawn, Oark helped the son bury the father.

"My father loved the morning light, the first rays over the mountain." Garrick stood over his fathers grave and stared out onto the horizon.

"Thank you for helping me Asin-Ai." The young man wiped his eyes, clearing the tears present from his grieving, "You are indeed a kind ruler." The statement struck Oark oddly, and his mouth tasted bitter. Rather than airing his disagreement he simply nodded instead.

"Shall we go wake the council now Commander?" Oark asked Garrick casually, but the usage of title did not go unnoticed.

"My father was the commander of the city guard, Asin-Ai, and it is a title earned through dedication not by birth." His voice was flat but it was clear he was humbled by Oark referring to him in such a manner.

"Traditionally, yes I would have agreed with you. Given the circumstances and your own innate affinity towards tactic and command it is a title I feel would serve us best. The choice is yours, you may decline." Garrick quickly shook his head no and in a single motion bowed low to Oark.

"It would be an honor to my father's memory. I shall accept." Oark nodded to him while turning toward the center of the city.

"Follow me now to the council, we will discuss what has transpired and your appointment." They themselves proceeded in silence however as they were met with whispers. As the whispers of another victim stolen in the night, reached Oark's ears he quickened his pace. When they arrived at the hall of the elders it was little surprise to find them already gathered.

"-if we wait any further it will be massacre." Eburis, an elder among the elders stood before the assembly; adorned in light tan from head to toe, he wore modest robes in comparison to most of the council, however he was among those who most opposed Oark's authority among them. "We must seek defense for our people."

"I agree." Oark's voice boomed in the procession hall as he entered, "As it were, I should discuss with you how I intend to do so."

"Oark, Asin-Ai, please do so." Eburis yielded the floor and no other else spoke in opposition of giving Oark the floor. Taking a deep breath, Oark collected his thoughts carefully before he began.

"The safety of our people is the number one priority. As such, I have promoted Garrick to the position that his father had held until his untimely death at the hands of Solara." A ripple ran through the chamber but Oark couldn't allow them to oppose the appointment, swiftly he moved on in his debriefing, "Sidh has discovered through Solara, that she is able to create more monsters to terrorize our people. We must take immediate action in securing our people by bringing all within the city walls every night, reinforcing the walls, and increasing the amount of soldiers in every aspect."

"That seems drastic even for just a pair a monsters, surely you are capable of dealing with them." Eburis' tone was pointedly accustational.

"Solara has overpowered me just this night, the power of Sidh I cannot fathom." An uncomfortable murmur shifted through the assembly, "However, I request that the council heed my requests. We need to reinforce our defenses and add men at arms in every aspect." Oark paused allowing any in the assembly to respond. He was met with silence.

"We shall discuss how best to grant this request, Asin-Ai." Eburis sounded somber, but there was bitterness in his tone. Oark looked at the man and respectfully inclined his head towards him.

"We shall take our leave and begin preparing our soldiers."

"It is as you said," Garrick commented when the pair were safely away from the hall of the elders, "I shall pledge my loyalty to you Asin-Ai." Oark paused on the path and looked at Garrick in surprise.

"That is not necessary."

"Asin-Ai, it is necessary for me. Allow me this." Garrick's tone sounded hopeful as he dropped to his knees with his head bowed low. His armor clanged loudly as his knees hit the ground.

"If it pleases you then please do." Oark felt uneasy, but he understood that Garrick needed to do this in order for them to move on with trust between them. Given the circumstances it was apparent that his resolve had been shaken and needed to form a bond between them to find his resolution once more.

"I hereby do solemnly swear to pledge my loyalty, life, and honor to Oark, Asin-Ai." Garrick's hand shook unsteadily as he quickly drew a small blade from his belt side. Oark jumped back startled but to his dismay Garrick sliced his own hand. Blood running down his hand he pressed his palm to his forehead and bowed lower. "I swear my fealty to you as my lord, my liege, and my king. I swear this in the name of the Angel of Judgement." Oark gasped quietly as Garrick rose from the pledge, the oath he'd sworn had been of an old and ancient magic that Oark had thought was forgotten by the men of this age.

"Garrick..." Garrick shook his head.

"Do you accept my oath Asin-Ai?" Garrick kept his eyes anchored to Oark's feet as he held his breath in anticipation. Oark could dismiss the oath and it would not be bound by the Angel of Judgement. If Oark accepted then should Garrick ever betray him then he would face judgement by the Angel. Oark closed his eyes and contemplated the oath sworn to him.

"I accept." Oark opened his eyes and saw Garrick looking at him with what he could have sworn was joy in his eyes. Garrick turned his chin towards the heavens and Oark bore witness to what seemed like white light entering into Garrick's eyes.

"My liege, the Angel of Judgement has heard our prayer and granted me a boon to better serve you. She has given me her strength and wisdom." Garrick turned and looked at Oark, his brown eyes now clearly white. "My title is no longer serving my lord. For I am a paladin true."

"What say you my paladin?" Oark asked him with an air of admiration in his tone,

"We gather our soldiers and prepare for our battle tonight. I have little doubt we'll be assailed in the night." Garrick grinned slightly as he looked Oark in the eye, "Tonight we slay monsters."