And when the Other shines so bright,

Our covenant to Her, we shall fulfill.

-Korek Song of the Covenant

Vallerian didn’t make it to the cistern’s exit before falling to his knees, loosing the contents of his stomach into the already tainted water. A glimpse of her golden braid, that was all it had taken. It was all that was left of her. All that was left of that… that stupid little girl. Vallerian sat bent over in the water, body shaking as he began to dry heave. He had warned her of poking her nose where it didn’t belong. He had warned her and encouraged her. A golden lyra, what was that to a lord? To a count such as himself?

“You fool.” He cursed himself, spittle dribbling out the side of his mouth. A few golden coins. Nothing to him, everything to a poor street child. More wealth than a street child was likely to see in their whole life, and he had tossed it to her like it was nothing. Like she was nothing. All she had to do was get him information, information that cost the girl her life.

Weakly, pathetically, he forced himself to look at it. To look at what little remained of the desecrated child’s corpse. To look at what he had done.

A bloody mess remained, floating in the water. Half a face, twisted and malformed by the daemon she had been used to summon. A daemon. Vallerian’s breath caught thinking of them and his eyes darted around franticly. In the dance of every shadow, he saw them still, as if the multi-eyed hounds still surrounded him, lunging at him still with razor sharp teeth. He had been helpless against them, had nearly died under their onslaught. She did die though. The thought wormed its way in, and he had to cover his mouth to not heave further.

“You knew her?” Kriss asked from behind, his hand falling upon Vallerian’s shoulder. Vallerian winced.

“Yes.”

“What was her name?” Kriss continued, a pained sympathy in his voice.

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“I…” Vallerian shook his head and looked away from the half-corpse. “I don’t know.” He had never bothered to ask. Just a useful tool for a lord’s games. Instinctively Vallerian checked the pocket sewn onto the inside of his doublet to be sure. He felt the blood vial. It was there as it was supposed to be. The girl was… was… she was gone. But his job was done. He had gotten Celeste’s blood, regardless of how broken and hollow she had become. Doesn’t matter how many lives you ruin along the way right? Vallerian grunted, the voice continuing to seep into his mind. It sounded like his old teacher.

Trying to distract himself –if only for a moment– Vallerian looked around. Fleshy mounds lay strewn across the cistern, now brightly lit by the dozen or so torches held by Faith Militia and Golden Hammers. The Golden Hammer himself was still here shouting commands as well, having arrived alongside Derenath of the Golden Rose who had already returned above.

They were some of the most powerful men in the faith, and within the kingdom for that matter. Better to avoid their attention if he could. Especially after witnessing what they had done to the daemons. Piles of flesh, that was all that remained of the Chaos spawn now. That was all that remained of…

There were nearly two dozen faith militia down here, and supposedly that again above, but it had mostly been the two Council of the Pantheon members who had done the work. Terrifying, bloody work that it had been. Just like…

Celeste had been carried out by the bishop, thankfully still alive from the last time Vallerian saw her. Gardinal had chased after her, an impressive sight with how broken the man had looked, even for him. The big guy always did need his next fix. They might need me, he realized, perhaps it would be best to head out and help. That’s why he needed to leave. Nothing else. Just that.

“Come on.” Vallerian spoke, steadying his voice as he rose. “Let’s get out of here. Check on Gardinal and the girl.” He began striding towards the entryway again, straightening his clothes and not looking at what he feared to see.

“My lord, if you need a moment, it’s alright to…” Kriss trailed off as Vallerian froze in spot, his fists white knuckled.

No. Unfortunate. Terrible. But necessary. Always necessary. He forced his hands to relax and turned.

“A moment? For what?” Vallerian said, flashing a grin. “Boy, you can’t get bogged down in all of life’s little trivialities.” Vallerian forced that smile, forced it till his jaw hurt. Then he walked out, not once looking at the golden braid that was seared in his mind. He didn’t look back to see if Kriss followed. Didn’t look back until the shadows were gone, and only the sun touched his face. The warm beams of light like the True Father’s judgement, beating against his skin. He pulled his hood up.