2 days later
I stood up after chalking the basic spirit channeling ritual in the barn. Scott was with me, having just received another treatment for his lungs. Today was the first day he took two treatments, and I wasn’t happy about that. Just like he wasn’t too happy about me performing actual necromancy in his barn. I had tried reassuring him that I wasn’t fully resurrecting Eric, just calling his spirit. He still insisted on supervising. Something about having a responsible adult around when casting complex magics.
“I call upon the spirit of Eric. Cast through his body, I call his spirit from the embrace of Loreli to answer questions in this realm before he may gain his final rest. Spirit Call.” The runes around the circle glowed the green of undeath before flashing white. A pale blue cylinder that was mostly transparent appeared, with Eric standing above his body.
“Long time no see cousin.” He taunted.
“Silence Spirit!” my voice thundered, amplified by the magic of the circle. He shuddered in either fear or agony, it was hard to tell. Not wanting this to take too long, I started the interrogation. “What happened to Argos?”
He fought my compulsion, but my will proved to be stronger. “Destroyed by the second bear.” He muttered.
“How many people in Necropolis knew what you were leaving for?”
“Just your father.”
“Were you in contact with him?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I didn’t want him to steal the legacy from me when I took it from you!” He snarled, rushing forward only to be repelled by the barrier of the ritual.
“Eric, I sever all ties binding you to this realm. Return to Loreli until the time of your rebirth comes.” With a slash of my hand, the ritual ended and Eric’s spirit disappeared. His body burst into a green flame that consumed everything, even the ashes.
“At least cleanup is easy.” Scott muttered. “Think he lied?”
“No.” I shook my head. The knowledge must have been lost over the years. “Summoned spirits like that can’t lie. They can refuse to answer if their will is stronger than the summoner, and they can hide the truth with tricky wording, but they can’t outright lie. Let’s go to bed. You’ll need your rest.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
2 days later
Unknown POV
“Think we’ll make it in time?” Andrea, the priestess of Callumen asked for about the fiftieth time in our trek. A timid little thing, almost everything about her reminded me of a mouse. Around 5 feet tall, she had light brown hair that was straighter than some arrows. A tiny nose, blue eyes and a few freckles on her cheeks completed the look.
“No.” I answered. There was no chance we could get there before the necromancer. “We’re either walking in to a burned out village full of undead, or they managed to fight them off. I hope one of you has a healing ability. I know there isn’t a true healer in the village.”
“Inquisitor Cane, what do we do if they lost?” Vance, the priest of Loreli, asked. He wasn’t in the greatest of shape, but had made an admirable effort to get up the mountain with us. Slightly taller than Andrea, he was also a good bit older. He might have had a decent figure earlier in life, but it had obviously slipped away with age. Despite the silver in his hair, he did have sharp eyes and a sharp mind.
“Well, if that happens. You two are to head back down the mountain with all haste. I’ll buy you some time.” I said, patting the mace that hung from my hip. It wasn’t the first one I had been issued by the Order, but it had been through several battles with me. “Now be quiet, we should be coming up on the entrance to the village.”
Despite our desperate pace, it had still taken us three and now a half days to get where we were. We got the bare minimum of firewood to last us through the night, eating trail rations and rising before the sun to make sure we got the most out of each day just to get here. I was glad we did, and cautiously hopeful since I heard the faintest hint of voices and working on the wind. Ten minutes later and we were walking around the bend to see an odd sight. There was a group of villagers looking over a half wall, talking to each other.
“Could just burn it? It’d let us get to the wall here as well.”
“And what do we do if the melting ice puts out the fire? Do you have any idea just how badly damp, burnt fur smells?”
“No. You do?”
“Yeah. And it’s not something I want to relive, be it in this life or the next.”
“HO! THE VILLAGE!” I called out, smiling as I recognized Father Tomas in the group that turned to look at me. There were a few older gentlemen with the bearing of the military on them, an older lady hunched over with age but still carrying what looked like a pot of tea, and a pre-teen for some reason.
“Inquisitor?” Tomas called back.
“That the only name you have for me Tomas?”
“Cane?” He called out, heading in my direction. I strode forward and wrapped him in the only hug straight men were allowed to give each other: one arm around the shoulder with a few claps on the back before backing off.
“Sorry it took so long to get here, but climbing the mountain road in winter isn’t nearly as fun as it sounds.”
“Nah, you got here just in time. Come, let me introduce you to everyone and get your opinion on something. We might get use of that mace of yours.” He headed over and started pointing people out. “This is Ben, Scott, Terrance, and Ellie.”
“Hello there dearie.” The crone said, stepping forward and shaking my hand. “I’m sorry for Tomas’ lack of manners. He’s a great priest, terrible host. Come on back to the church after you finish up here, I’ll have a few pots of tea to warm you up from the trip.”
“Um, if you don’t mind?” Andrea managed to get out despite the number of people.
“You two go ahead with her. If they’re this calm, I doubt there is any danger left.”
“Well, aside from what’s over the wall there.” Tomas said, instantly getting me on alert. I slowly relaxed once I realized that I was the only one who was tense. In the silence, I heard something odd. A scraping sound, but not quite like claw on stone. It was something else.
“Come on. It’s easier if you just look at it.” Following Tomas, I froze as I looked over the wall. A zombie bear was slipping on the ice, unable to get to its feet between the ice and the injuries it had sustained in the past. It was currently harmless, but that wouldn’t always be the case. It was also taking up the majority of the pass so it would be impossible to safely get on the other side and dispatch the creature.
“Seriously? A zombie bear?” I growled out, looking at Tomas.
“Hey, don’t look at me like that. I didn’t create it. And this is the last of them.”
“Last of them? THERE WERE MORE?” I stared at the friend I hadn’t seen in close to ten years, wondering just what he had been up to.
“Long story. Tell you in a bit. First, can you help a poor village out with their zombie bear problem?” he asked in a put upon tone.
“Yeah, sure.” I agreed. I really wanted to hear this story. “Callumen grant me the power to destroy this mockery of your life. Divine smite!” I used the shortened chant since I wanted to make sure there was enough power in the spell. Channeling my faith, I sent a bolt of power into the head of the poor creature. The divine power clashed with the undeath filth, erupting into a cleansing golden flame. It only took seconds for the head to be completely consumed and the spirit trapped within to be set free.
“Always a pleasure to see you at work.” Tomas chuckled. “Come on. We’ll tell you a few stories when we get to the church.”
“Sounds good. By the way, where’s that escapee you called in about?” I asked, pulling out the magic suppression cuffs I had brought with me.
“I’ll take those. You can meet him in the church.” He said, taking the cuffs from me. I followed him to the church, but didn’t really need a guide in such a simple village. Could it even be called a village with this few houses?
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Ellie, I can take it from here.” Tomas called out as we walked in. “Could you give us a half hour or so? We’ve got some important things to discuss. Maybe ask Helen if she can whip up a few of those pies of hers for these three?”
Ellie stared at Tomas for a moment before coming to a decision. Walking past me, she stopped to give the boy a quick hug. “You’ve nothing to be afraid of. Just tell the truth.” She whispered. Or at least tried to. Her hearing must be starting to go if she doesn’t realize just how loud her voice is. As she left, I took my seat but looked up when I heard a clanking noise. To my shock, the boy now had the magic suppression cuffs on.
“Oh gods that feels horrible.” He said, immediately sitting down in a chair and putting his head between his knees. “I’m gonna be sick.”
“Just breathe Terrance. It’ll pass.” Tomas said, patting him on the back a few times. “That’s it. Breathe in. Hold it for a second. Now out. In. Hold. Out.”
“Tomas?” I asked.
“I suppose it’s that time.” The boy said, managing to sit up. I could tell he still wasn’t feeling well with how pale his face was, but it was impressive that he had recovered this much this soon. “Good afternoon Mr. Inquisitor.”
“Inquisitor Cane.” I automatically corrected, watching Tomas wince out of the corner of my eye.
“Sorry. Inquisitor Cane. I’m Terrance, an escaped necromancer from Necropolis. I ask that you grant me one favor before judging me.”
“What favor is that?” I asked, eyebrow raised. “And you are already in my custody. I really don’t have to do anything.”
“I know you don’t. That’s why I put the bands on. I needed to prove to you and these two that I wasn’t like the other necromancers. Well. In more ways than one, but we’ll get there eventually.”
“Ok, stop prattling. What’s this favor?”
“I want you to help me save two lives.” He said, looking me right in the eye. For some reason, I couldn’t keep staring at those eyes.
Turning to Tomas, I asked, “What is he talking about? Necromancers don’t save lives.”
“They should.” Terrance said. “And I’m talking about Ellie and Scott. They saved me from a snowstorm when I first arrived. But more than that, Ellie is one of the purest souls I have ever seen in this world. It’s a damn travesty that her husband has the wasting disease. He would already have passed on if I wasn’t here, and even now I’m having to give him treatments twice a day to keep him alive. If I can’t get your help, he’ll be dead in a few days.”
“How can we help?” I was shocked when Andrea stepped forward, eyes blazing with intensity.
“Thank you.” The boy said, fighting the tears forming in his eyes. “I want your help to modify the lich creation ritual.”
“NEVER!” I shouted, standing and reaching for my mace. I had barely started to pull it when my vision was filled with the point of a wand. “Tomas?” I asked, shocked.
“Cane. Just. Would it kill you to hear the boy out? He’s earned it, at least from me.”
“For you, I will. But if his suggestion strays.”
“I know.” Tomas said as he sat down. I noticed he didn’t put the wand away, but that was fine. I too was a bit unsettled that he had drawn a wand on me to defend a necromancer. Motioning the boy to continue, he explained.
“Normally a lich binds a soul to a phylactery for eternity. Or until its destroyed. I want to get rid of those parts. All I want is for Scott and Ellie to live their lives together until the end.”
“So how do you want to change things? And Callumen wants you to consider the cost of things.” Andrea said, taking one of the boy’s hands in hers.
“To start, no phylactery. I’ll be binding Scott’s soul to his own body. Since he won’t be able to generate his own life force, I’ll also bind him to Ellie’s life. We’ll be talking it over with them first, but I expect that it’ll cut the life Ellie would normally have in half. She will essentially be his phylactery. And when she dies, so will he.”
“How romantic.” I heard Andrea mutter and I couldn’t help but curse the softness of the priests of life in my mind.
“So what are we needed for?” Vance asked the question that was burning in my mind.
“Permission.”
“Huh?”
“I want you two to ask permission to do this from your respective gods. And if they would participate in this ritual. I know it goes against the natural order. I just. It’s not right that a love like theirs is cut like this. I know if Scott goes, Ellie won’t be far behind anyhow. They deserve to spend as much time together as possible.” Tears were running down the boy’s face now, and I didn’t know how many shocks I could get today. A necromancer asking permission, and crying over the fate of someone they barely knew? Before I could reply, we all froze as we felt two presences.
“We don’t try and control much of our children’s lives.” A male voice came from Andrea. “However, doing this to continue a love reminds us of our early days.”
“I would gladly stay my hand from calling a child home.” Loreli said from Vance’s mouth. “You have our blessing, child of Ennoriah. We will add our power to the ritual, but there will be an additional cost.”
“Name it.” The boy said, and I sucked in a breath. Who the hell agrees to open ended bargains like that?
“Your faith impresses us.” Callumen said. “After the ritual, we will take the knowledge of how to do it from all your minds. This will be the one and only time this ritual can be performed. We must go, lest we injure our priests.” With that, the divine presences disappeared, Andrea and Vance dropping bonelessly into chairs.
“Cain?” Tomas asked.
“Who am I to go against the will of the gods?” I shrugged. “What can I do to help?”
“Just get me out of these cuffs. I can set up the ritual.” The boy said. Stepping over, I unlocked the cuffs and set him free.
“Thanks Cain.”
“No problem Tomas. But you owe me a story.”
“Right.” He said with an evil grin. “Take a seat. While Terrance sets everything up, I’ll tell you how the reincarnation of Melnon dropped by one snowy night.”
Melnon? MELNON? I slowly turned my head back to look at Tomas as I heard Terrance chuckling. Wait, where did he get chalk? And those candles?
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Several hours later
Terrance’s POV
I rocked back on my heels after I finished what I hoped would be the most intricate ritual circle I would ever make in my lifetime. The outside was three intersecting circles in a straight line. The outer circles intersected each other and created a small portion in the center. There were also two inner circle within the middle of the three large circles. They touched the outer portion of that central circle, and touched each other in the middle. The priestess of Callumen would take the eastern circle for the rising sun and the beginning of life. The priest of Loreli would take the west, where the sun rested. I would represent the central circle, fusing life and death into undeath.
Since Scott was closer to death, he would take the western of the smaller circles with Ellie in the eastern one. Their lives touched, and would soon be encased by an undead link. If they agreed to everything. Surrounding the circles were runes of protection and containment, as well as a mana gathering array that had gone down first to power the entire thing. As if scribing runes from a book I found in my ring was hard enough for the first time, they also had to have exacting placement. Some went outside the circles, some inside, and some straddled the line. If it hadn’t been for a lot of help from Vance I doubt I would have been able to do even half of the work. I could have copied the original ritual, but that wouldn’t work for us. Vance was instrumental in finding out what runes we needed to change and where to place them.
“Ugh, that’s harsh on the back.” I groaned as I straightened up.
“Glad it was you down there and not me.” Vance chuckled. “I’d have to do the ritual laying down instead of standing. But your work, it’s not half bad. Ever thought of becoming a ritualist?” Just then I heard Scott coughing from the other side of the door. As soon as his fit passed, he walked in with Ellie. Even now I could see how the treatments were affecting him. His cheeks were sunken and pale, with dark shadows under his eyes.
“Oh my!” Ellie exclaimed when she finally looked away from Scott. “Terrance, what’s going on?”
“Can you have a seat? We put most of the chairs in that corner to get the lines drawn.” I pointed, and Ellie pulled out chairs for her and Scott, making sure to stay away from the lines that were starting to gain a faint glow.
“Ok.” I said after taking a deep breath. “This is hard to say, so I’m just gonna dump it out there. Ellie, Scott is dying.”
“Oh I know dearie.” She said with a sad smile. “Did you really think I didn’t notice the coughing? Or how it would go away for a bit after you two snuck off?”
“I knew we couldn’t hide it from you dear.” Scott said, patting her hand. “Oh don’t give me that look Terrance. You took such pains to try and hide your treatments, I just had to play along.”
“Me too dearie. Thank you for finally coming clean though. It’ll make further treatments that much easier since you won’t need the excuses.”
“A joke. I’m a joke to them.” I shook my head, acting like I was well and truly upset. I couldn’t keep the smile from my face though. Too bad it couldn’t stay there for longer. “Ellie. Scott. I don’t think there will be any more treatments. The disease keeps coming back stronger and stronger. I can’t stop it.”
“I know son.” Scott said. “Ellie and I have talked. We knew this would happen, and we don’t blame you.”
“Shoulda known I couldn’t pull a fast one on a wily old soldier.” I said with a sad grin. “Guess I’m a few years too young.”
“Damn right.” He said, his laugh turning into a cough. “So. Why are we here? I’m assuming you aren’t taking a calligraphy class.”
“You’re right. We have a way to save you. But.” I stopped, looking at them. “You guys saved me, in more ways than one. Watching how deep you love each other. You showed me how love is supposed to look, not the warped version I grew up with. I can’t sit back and watch that love die.”
“All things die dearie. It’s now the world works.” Ellie said sadly.
“I know. And I won’t fight the world to stop that.” I said, knowing that’s what they feared from necromancers. “However. I am more than willing to use what power I have to ensure the two of you get the most time to spend with each other. This ritual will link your souls together. Ellie, you would use your life to keep Scott alive. Everyone has a limited amount of life force though. So you have a choice. Do nothing, and Scott will die within a few days. Or you can link your life through this ritual. Scott will live with you, but you will only live for half as long as you would have normally.”
“What happens when her life force runs out?” Scott asked.
“You both die and pass on to Loreli’s embrace. Together.” I said, tears in my eyes again. I had cried more in the past few days than I had in my entire life, and it was starting to get to me.
“I don’t think.” Scott started, but stopped when Ellie stood up.
“For once I get to protect my soldier. Come dear.” She said, gently pulling Scott to his feet.
“As you wish.” He said, following her to the circle. They quickly took their positions, though they insisted on holding hands. Taking my spot, I looked at Andrea and Vance to make sure they were both ready. Getting nods from them, we all started channeling mana into the circles. As they started to glow in shimmering colors, we felt the presence of the divines.
“As the god of life and the goddess of death, we bless the union of these souls so that their love may last a while longer. When the fires of your lives burn down to embers, you shall enter our embrace together. So we decree.” Vance and Andrea spoke at the same time, and their mana turned to a bright gold. That gold enveloped the green of undeath mana from me, and the entire ritual rose from the ground. Swirling in the air, it wrapped itself around their linked arms before turning into incredibly intricate black tattoos that covered their entire forearms. Suddenly the tattoos shrank to bands on their fingers, sealing with a flash of gold light.