How many eternities had passed? Kaleb could not know, for each second under the great foot of the demon felt like an aeon. Madness threatened the will of the light that dimmed in his heart, connection to divinity had been severed. There was no way for him to know the consequences of his death.

The sand that clenched his chest began to give way, a sudden release of tension that uncoiled from his ankles. Like one of the great sky balloons of Norman Karess, he began to rise through the black underwaters of Uxhandrikal’s lair.

Uxhandrikal.

The name Kaleb had been tasked to learn, to sing into the blade that resided with those still in flesh, what a cruel price to pay for such knowledge he thought. A gift only a Demon of immeasurable viciousness could bestow upon only the most foolhardy of men.

Why was he plucked from the sharp sands? Was he being retrieved so that the demon may look upon him and gloat further? Or perhaps like a prized item of a collector's inventory, he enjoyed perusing his wares with pride, regaling to himself the tail of how it came into his possession.

Uxhandrikal stirred in the darkness and reverberated with fury. The sonar wave pulsed and rippled through Kaleb, transforming the dull ache that hummed in his mind into a sharp sickle that scraped over his brain.

“Insult! Below you belong, below you will return!” The Demon bellowed.

Dark tendrils wrapped themselves around Kaleb’s body, try as they might, they slipped from him as if he was coated in grease. The Demon felt weak. Had they done it? Yes! Victory, victory had been achieved, Iridia, Flencer, Esme, the Elves…they had broken the spell and freed the forgotten.

Kaleb twisted in the water, fizzing it up as he desperately searched for the silhouettes of other unfortunate souls that were now offered the sanctuary of an afterlife in peace.

The light of the living world was consecrated over the surface of the water, clarity grew as he continued to float upwards. Two legs above him were treading the water. Kaleb began to pull himself as he felt his strength returning. He pulled himself up and pushed up out of the water. He took a gasping breath. He felt the warmth of life expand from his chest outwards, the burning heat of its power caused him a moment of pain until it faded into a comforting warmth. His eyes adjusted and the person before him spoke.

“Kaleb. Are you well?”

Kaleb blinked away the blur. “Esme?”

She bowed her head, her face was pale and a scar was drawn across her face, much like the one the Wendigo had given to him. “Time is short.”

“How long have I been…”

“Listen. You are to return, tell me you have secured the Demon name.”

“Indeed.” Kaleb looked around, no land. He looked up, no sky, just a bright whiteness that glared down with a hot smoulder. “Where are we.”

“It matters not, Iridia must succeed, you must ensure that.”

“How are you here?”

“I am a Scion.”

Kaleb closed his eyes. “How long have I been dead?”

“Minutes.” Esme’s voice grew weaker.

“I am sorry for how I treated you, Esme,” Kaleb spoke with sincerity, the joy of life had refilled his body, his strength returning along with a dose of humility. He brought his arms around her. “We should go.”

“You will go…” Blood streamed from the corner of her mouth.

Kaleb frowned, “Esme?”

Esme’s body was tugged down and forced Kaleb to pull her back up. “Esme!”

Her head lulled and her eyes flickered. “Kaleb, you cannot fail.” She kissed him softly on the lips.

“Come with me.”

“I cannot…”

“Why?”

“I cannot…” Her body went limp.

Kaleb pulled her close, clutching tightly, the pull came again, this time strong enough to pull them both under some. He kept her close to his body.

“The Scion is mine, and so are you!”

“Release me, Kaleb, lest you be snared once more…”

“I shan’t!”

“You must…”

“No!”

“You must go back, you must take its name with you, lest we all suffer this fate…including the heart.”

“I can’t let you go.”

She went silent.

Kaleb held her tightly, he could feel her wounds and the weakness in her form.

“Release me…”

Kaleb closed his eyes and let his arms go limp. Esme was pulled from him, her hand trailed down his arm and her fingers caressed over his. Into the darkness, her body descended. Forlorn and in a state of mental decay, Kaleb floated up once more. He resurfaced and snapped up, awakened in the room where he had died what seemed a thousand years ago.

“Kaleb!”

The voice was familiar but distant, he blinked and shook his head as he came too.

“Kaleb…you’re alive.”

“Bloody ‘ell! She did it.”

“My Lord…it’s good to see you awakened.”

Kaleb rubbed his face with his gloved hand, the course leather a stark contrast to the numbing cold of the ocean of souls that he’d bathed in. He sniffed and sat up. Hands grabbed at his arms and chest to help steady him. “Is everyone ok?”

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“Fine…well, apart from…” Flencer looked back at the body by Kaleb’s feet.

“Who?”

“Emse, my lord…she took upon herself the burdens of your body.”

Kaleb brought himself to a stand, he felt great all things considered. “I saw her, she pulled me from the depths.”

“Seems she traded places with you,” said Flencer.

“How did she do such a thing? Such a power…” said Morgan.

Kaleb knelt beside her and kissed her cold lips. “I will free you…” he whispered.

Iridia stood quickly, “Company.”

In marched a hodge podge of guardsmen and Orc gang members, a rabble of debate amongst them.

“Halt!” Called Iridia.

They stopped and eyed each other with knowing looks. Kaleb paid them no mind for the moment.

“Oi, Paladin…” An Orc had stepped forward and elected himself speaker. “I fink we need to have a word.”

Kaleb crossed Emse’s arms over her chest and rose slowly. “I am the Paladin of Port Farlow now.” He raised his chin, but my stay here will be short.

An Imperial guard stepped beside the Orc. “What does that mean for us? We’ll be eaten alive out here!”

The Orc chuckled.

Kaleb pursed his lips. “I suggest you work together because there is an evil that pours from the mouth of Angelspree and the surrounding lands, I have witnessed it, ensure the gates are well manned.

They looked at each other with slight confusion, shoulders shrugging, yet they showed no aggression. The dead bodies surrounding the party made it clear this was a fight that was not worth their time nor the pride in any duty they’d been sworn to uphold.

“Secure the area!” Kaleb boomed.

They rustled a moment and set out in different directions, chattering and grumbling. Some stayed to drag the bodies away. Kaleb stopped two of the Imperial guardsmen and advised them they were to secure Esme’s body for proper burial.

***

The party sat in a cosy lounge room within the centre tower. For a time it was silent, they were recovering in their minds the actions that had played before them. Each had taken a turn to wash up and dress down. The moment of calm was welcomed.

Kaleb broke the silence, “I have learned the Demon’s name.”

They all looked at him.

“What’s its name?” Flencer grunted.

“I cannot speak it, I have tried to several times, but it fills my tongue with a heat that stuns it, but like a prod, it is burned into my eyes, I cannot forget the name…even thinking of it draws blood in my mind.” Kaleb winced.

“Then how can we sing it into the blade?” Iridia leaned against Morgan as he stroked her hair.

“A problem the Elves may be able to solve…”

Flencer nodded. “The Elves are the wisest of all, mhm…they shall solve the riddle and draw from your mouth I am sure.”

“I am also sure the price I’ll pay will be great.”

“Surely not…” Morgan piped up.

Iridia nodded in agreement with Morgan.

“Iridia…you are becoming a fine Paladin, you must be ready to stand in my place when the time comes.”

“You will lead us to victory in this battle.” Her jaw stiffened as she spoke, but the quibble in the last word betrayed her surety.

“What is our next move?” Flencer shuffled in the armchair.

“We secure port Farlow—”

Flencer butted in. “We don’t have time to secure this place, without leadership a civil war will break out, no Paladin, no law, we should take a boat now in the night, make way for the Foglands.”

Kaleb nodded along with Flencer, “I agree partly, but we do have time to try, tis all well and good that we venture from here…but we need a place to return to.”

Flencer scoffed, “You would do better beaching the boat down-shore, even if you secure the governance of this port, there is no chance it’ll resist what is coming, as I said, no Paladin, no chance.”

Iridia raised her eyebrows, “I almost forgot you won’t be returning with us.”

Morgan smiled, “You’ll be a tree.”

“Or dead…” said Flencer with a sigh.

“Death brings with it a torture I would not give to the vilest of heathens now…” Kaleb changed the subject to something that had been under his claw since returning to the living.

“What do you mean?” Iridia cocked her head curiously.

“All that die are gifted to—” he held his head at the pain from thinking its name, “to that Demon.”

Flencer bit his lip, “I’ll still take the risk.”

“Admirable, it’s why I trust you.” Kaleb nodded. “As an ally and a friend.”

“I won’t let the party down.” Flencer smiled softly.

“Not on purpose I imagine,” Kaleb smirked. The part let out a light chuckle as the tension eased away and they fell back into a comfortable and sombre silence, enjoying the moment once more.

Their moment was broken by rapping at the chamber door.

“A moment of peace, never more, eh?” Flencer smiled and hopped off his chair and opened it, peaking out, still on high alert he held his crossbow behind his back. “Aye?”

“Someone has arrived at the gates, a person of interest.”

Flencer allowed the guardsman into the room.

“Who is it?” Kaleb stood.

“A man named Zeth, Paladin type, Your Lordship.”

***

They met Zeth by the stature of Farlow. He approached them quickly and with a slight limp. His features were harried and his hair was a fussy mess. “Kaleb, it’s good to see you, I suppose…”

“Do you have news from Angelspree?”

Zeth shook his head. “Yes…”

Iridia looked between the men, “And?”

Zeth's eyes glazed as he was wrenched back to the moment, “Ah, things are not good, I made haste to leave, they had a warrant for my arrest…they hanged Torina.”

“Why?” Iridia burst out with surprise.

Kaleb was not so shocked, however, “The Paladins have been targeted?”

“Indeed…there is a new master of House Zale hm…not a nice chap, old Rigasta, he’s quite the demon with weapons, built similar to you, Kaleb, not quite as powerful, but fills the role…”

Kaleb rubbed his chin. “We are making our way to the Foglands, you should come.”

“No.”

Kaleb’s eyes flashed with surprise. “Nothing remains here.”

“I must hold, Port Farlow, my master orders it.”

“Who is your master?”

“Esme, the Scion.”

Kaleb sighed. He described to Zeth the events that had unfolded, and what was once a crestfallen visage on Zeth's face soon became one of total defeat. He cried tears but did not stutter or blub. The pain of the world had pressed down upon the once chirpy and hopeful Paladin.

“Then there is nothing for it…” Zeth closed his eyes. “You must go, have the blade sung into…you still have the blade yes?” Zeth’s eyes bounced around in search of it.

“The blade is safe.” Kaleb placed his hand on Zeth’s shoulder.

Zeth placed his hand over Kalebs. “I will hold this place, I have rounded up several Paladins and a small garrison of soldiers uncorrupted.”

Kaleb pondered the offer, “How long can you hold?”

Zeth smiled. “How long do you need?”

Hope bubbled in Kaleb's stomach and he nodded. “I will deliver the blade unto you Demon Slayer, and we will finish this.”

Zeth nodded back, “I will be waiting.”

They each embraced and shared words of hope and comfort. The night was filled with preparations and a rounding up of crew for the ship they would set sail on. Zeth busied himself with bringing in and organising the troops he had mustered. It was rather impressive what he had achieved. The walls would make Port Farlow a considerable opponent for any military power in the region, but all walls fall.

Kaleb sat with the Hammer of Zale on the edge of the dock as he watched boxes being loaded onto the ship. “Have you seen a time like this, old master?”

Zale glowed. “No.”

Kaleb nodded mournfully.

“But, I would not have any other Paladin take up this chalice.”

“Thank you.”

“I wasn’t talking about you.”

Kaleb smiled as he watched Iridia explore the boat deck. “I know.”

The End of Book 1