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They had been on the road for a week, nearing the borders of Salem. The company of each other had become precious, despite their differences; Thomas, grave and reserved, contrasted sharply with Edward, who was changeable and quick to anger. Today, however, a heavy silence of mutual discontent hung between them.
Their first clash had been at the start of their journey when Edward adamantly refused to sell his house and furniture or deliver the finished sculptures of St. Michael and the Devil to the church of St. Bavon. Instead, he locked up his possessions, leaving them to decay in solitude. Thomas couldn’t shake the unease of thinking about Edward’s abandoned home, blanketed in merciless sunlight, with daisies growing over Balthasar’s wife’s grave.
Despite these misgivings, Thomas was captivated by Edward’s allure. He had never felt such understanding and shared ambitions with anyone else. He knew little of Edward’s past, but he sensed a nobility about him, a penchant for luxury and refinement that set him apart. Even at the inns where they stayed, Edward always demanded the best accommodations and services, a preference that now strained their camaraderie.
Their recent disagreement stemmed from lodging options at a town fair. When offered lodging in a barn with merchants’ clerks, Thomas was willing, but Edward haughtily refused, leading to ridicule from onlookers. After a tense exchange with the landlord, they left the town, winding through the bustling fair before reaching a high road.
As they trudged up a steep incline, burdened by their belongings, they eventually veered off onto meadows bordering the road, collapsing on the grass in exhaustion. Despite Thomas’ frustration at their impromptu outdoor sleeping arrangement, he couldn’t deny the beauty of the place.
The evening sun bathed everything in a soft, enchanting light. The golden fields of grass, the tall red trunks of pine trees, and the rocks adorned with white flowers created a picturesque scene. Below them, the town nestled in the valley, its streets weaving up and down the slopes, leading to the church spire piercing the sky like a spearhead. Flags fluttered, including the Emperor’s banner above the city gate’s turrets, adding a sense of grandeur to the tranquil landscape tainted by their discord.
Thomas lay in the long flowering grass, relishing its soft touch against his cheek. He admired the rugged beauty of the grey rocks and the delicate white flowers that adorned them, as well as the majestic pine trees with their deep green foliage against the fading blue sky. As his weariness subsided, he cast a glance at Edward, noting his pale profile against the backdrop of the town below.
Edward sat nearby, cloaked in dark red, his gaze fixed on the town. The evening breeze gently tousled his hair, and he remained motionless, lost in thought. Despite their recent quarrel, Thomas found himself drawn to Edward’s remarkable skills and their shared understanding, contrasting sharply with the noisy company they had avoided by camping out in the meadows.
Edward broke the silence, acknowledging the tension between them. “You’re upset with me,” he stated.
Thomas replied calmly, “You acted rashly.”
Edward’s expression soured. “Oh, a fine friend you are!” he exclaimed. “You swore loyalty to me. How does that hold when we clash for the first time?”
Thomas, still composed, countered, “I’m not upset, and I’ve never opposed your whims.”
Edward retorted, “You paint me as whimsical—it’s untrue.”
Sitting up, Thomas observed the sunset painting the town and hills in crimson hues. “You’re as particular as a lady,” he remarked. “I’ve slept rough many times while you insist on comfort like royalty.”
Edward flushed. “I choose how I live,” he declared. “I come from noble stock, mistreated though it was. Let’s not argue, my friend. We share common goals and swore allegiance.”
With a nod, Thomas acknowledged their bond. “Indeed, we are bound,” he agreed, setting aside their recent discord in favor of their shared aspirations.
Thomas, with his striking features, turned towards Edward with genuine affection. “I do admire you greatly,” he confessed. “I don’t fault you for your weakness and fondness for luxury. Others have found me too gentle in the past.”
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Edward regarded him with a sly look. “So, I’m forgiven?”
Thomas smiled, the previous tension dissipating. “Indeed, I regret my ill temper. The sun was unforgiving, and our burdens were heavy up the hill.”
Collapsing onto the grass beside Thomas, Edward sighed dramatically. “Truly, I’m exhausted.”
Thomas observed him closely. Despite his weariness, Edward’s slender form and delicate features held a captivating charm. Thomas, accustomed to his own beauty, recognized Edward’s allure—the feminine grace of his hands and feet, his fair complexion, and even the strength hinted at by his jawline. Edward’s presence exuded a subtle fragrance of essences, and his attire added to his allure.
As Thomas admired him, Edward spoke dreamily. “This place is heavenly—so sweet.”
The gentle breeze carried scents from the pines and wildflowers, creating a serene atmosphere as dusk settled over the valley. Edward teased Thomas about returning to the town’s rowdy revelry, but Thomas expressed contentment with their current tranquil surroundings.
As darkness enveloped the landscape, Edward posed a profound question. “What are your aspirations in life? If we achieve great power, what would you do with it?”
Thomas was momentarily stunned by the inquiry, his mind racing with possibilities. He looked out at the fading world, feeling a surge of ambition. “I would seek greatness,” he murmured. “Like Flaccus Alcuin, like Abelard, like St. Bernard.”
“And I would surpass them all,” Edward declared boldly, “as great as the Master we serve can elevate us.”
Thomas shivered, contemplating the implications. “The ones I mentioned served God.”
Edward’s gaze sharpened. “How can you be sure? Many holy men attained their status through unconventional means. I, for one, would not settle for simple woolens when I could wear golden silks.”
The night descended like a shroud, casting the town below into a flickering array of lights while the stars adorned the sky above. In the meadow, the breeze whispered through the long grass and the pine branches, adding an eerie soundtrack to the unfolding conversation.
“I’m just a beginner,” Thomas admitted after a moment’s silence. “I’ve dabbled in necromancy from a book, but it’s... it’s not right.”
“Why hesitate?” demanded Edward.
“It’s sacrilege,” Thomas replied slowly. “A grave sin.”
Edward chuckled darkly. “I care not for angels or saints.”
“Peace,” Thomas pleaded, feeling a cold sweat forming on his brow from the terror creeping in.
A tense silence followed, broken only by Edward’s quick breaths rising from the grass. Eventually, he spoke in a calm tone, revealing his innermost desires. “I crave immense wealth, boundless power. I want nations at my command... but my ambition knows no bounds.” He sat up abruptly, placing a hand on Thomas’s arm. “If the dark forces offered you that, wouldn’t you accept?”
Thomas recoiled inwardly. “You would! You would!” Edward exclaimed. “And gladly trade your soul for it.”
Thomas remained silent, lying still as he gazed at the human lights in the valley, beyond which twinkled the stars. Edward continued, a hint of sinister allure in his voice. “I confide in you because I value our bond—that I reveal the secret of my future power...”
“It’s my secret too,” Thomas interjected quickly. “I’ve already done enough to invoke the Church’s eternal wrath.”
“The Church,” Edward echoed thoughtfully. Fearless and daring, his thoughts at that moment would have chilled Thomas to the bone had they been voiced.
As the town’s lights dwindled one by one, plunging the valley into darkness, Thomas folded his cloak as a makeshift pillow and lay in the fragrant grass. Sleep eluded him, haunted by the exquisite yet tormenting beauty of the place, reminiscent of Paradise but tainted by the horrors he was entangled in.
His dreams turned tumultuous, his sleep filled with restless moans. Meanwhile, Edward paced in the shadows, the dew settling on his uncovered head. Wrapping himself in his mantle, he defied the darkness with calm eyes, pacing back and forth until exhaustion finally claimed him, and he too succumbed to the deep slumber of the night, only to awaken abruptly, seated upright in the embrace of the pines’ haunting whispers.
As the dawn crept in, casting a purple haze over the landscape under the pale green sky, the pines stood stark against this eerie backdrop, their whispers adding a haunting melody to the scene.
Edward, awakened by the light, approached Thomas who still slumbered peacefully. His eyes, filled with a mix of awe and dread, lingered on Thomas’s serene face. The light slowly filled the valley, creating a mystical aura as clouds gathered on the horizon. Edward, feeling a chill in the air, wrapped his mantle tightly around himself as Thomas stirred awake.
With a sudden start, Thomas called out, “Edward, is that you?” jumping to his feet. Edward, caught off guard by the urgency in Thomas’s voice, turned back, his expression tense. “What’s wrong?” he asked in an odd tone.
Thomas, trying to shake off the remnants of his unsettling dreams, brushed his hair back. “I don’t know... nothing,” he muttered, but an eerie tension hung between them, palpable in the stillness of the morning.
A distant roll of thunder broke the silence, growing louder as they looked towards the hills. Against the ghostly light, a colossal figure on horseback emerged, holding a banner that seemed to blend the colors of blood and darkness. The horseman paused, facing eastward, then raised the banner high before thundering down the hillside.
As quickly as he appeared, he vanished before reaching the valley, leaving only the rising sun to illuminate the land. Thomas, overwhelmed by the surreal sight, buried his face in his sleeve, trembling uncontrollably. Yet, Edward stood tall, his gaze fixed on the horizon, undeterred by the supernatural spectacle unfolding before them.