BOOK 3 CHAPTER 48
The next few days were spent in relative peace as Tirr and Maria tried to recover. Both having been drained to their physical and mental limits. They slept for the most part, Maria gripping Tirr tightly even as he complained about her drool.
The few moments they were awake were filled with whatever food Raife’s servants could bring them. Or complaints about how exhausted they were… At one point Maria described the feeling of her body to Torvus as, “Like a wet noodle… All flimsy.”
The former assassin had come to visit them a few times, enjoying their pain-filled recovery while bringing news of how the takeover of the city was going… “Just a few more holdouts…” Torvus mentioned as he took a bite out of a large gleaming apple… “Most of the dissidents have been taken care of. All of them were small-time anyway, just people hanging on the council’s coattails, hoping for scraps. Now that the council is gone, they know they’re next…”
Tirr listened to the news as he lay down, his expression filled with mixed feelings. “You don’t have to help them…” Tirr said confidently. “Anything they can’t handle Claire and Nerida will…”
Torvus smile reaching out a hand to ruffle the young god’s hair… “It’s fine, I already told Raife this was the last bit of work I’d do for him. After that, I’m all yours boss!” Tirr shook off the hand weakly going back to his food.
Torvus wasn’t the only visitor though, in fact, they had quite a few. The children all came to give Maria their thanks, talking in excited tones about how she and Ian had snuck after their kidnappers. They stayed in the room playing games and with Garm until Tirr threw them out.
They also got a visit from Raife and Tess, along with some of their companions. They were busy taking over the work of the council. “Keeping the money and goods flowing in a city based on trade was important…” or so Raife said.
The former Miss Silk, or Korana as she was going by now, visited them as well. Eagerly offering her and her guard’s service to Tirr. While offering a job to Maria at the same time on the side. She almost had the young woman agreeing to model for her before they were rushed out by Torvus.
Through all the visits and rest Tirr and Maria quickly recovered. Getting well in time to go greet Claire and Nerida as the armies of Rasor and Lutel arrived. Both Apostles had led the great hosts on their march together, causing friction to spring up between the two different personalities. They waved up at Tirr and his companions as they waved back down from the city’s walls.
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Nerida was ecstatic to see Tirr again refusing to let her long journey with Claire ruin their reunion as she greeted the young god with a polite bow. Claire for her part gave him a cheer ful hello, pulling the god into a bear hug before calling out Torvus for a sparring session. Surrounded by his Apostles, Tirr could only let out a happy laugh…
They moved from Raife’s underground estate up into the actual city, staying there as the last remains of the council were wiped out. Though Tirr knew their acts wouldn’t be forgotten. He wanted to make sure that the children of the Assassin’s Guild grew up happy.
He made that some of his first work, offering to remove the shards that had been forced on them. Some had agreed eagerly, others had shown interest in joining the new branch under Torvus. Though the former assassin still hadn’t agreed to become the Apostle of Time, claiming there were likely people better for it.
It was an ongoing discussion, but one that hinged on something Tirr had been putting off. Once again anxiety and fear crept upon him as he grew closer to finding out more about the strange events that had led to his long sleep and the fall of his empire. Unable to put it off any further though, he finally made the long trek below the city to the caverns that hid the Time Shard.
The Shard itself was a wispish silver of changing shades, somewhat similar to the other two he had seen so far. Already he could feel the negative emotions that radiated off the degraded fragment of his blessing.
A light touch on his back pushed him forward. He turned to see Maria smiling at him encouragingly. Besides her were Claire and Nerida, standing as far from each other as possible as they waved at him. Torvus stood to another side, nodding as he watched.
Tirr took a deep breath, forcing away the fear that he felt as he took his first step. He moved slowly but steadily, approaching the Obelisk at the center of the cavern. As he drew closer, the dense fog that lay on the bottom of the room seemed to shift, forming vague figures that moved and spun almost like marionettes.
Glancing at one, Tirr almost stopped, swearing he had seen Torvus within the fog. He shook his head, continuing his approach, ignoring the shadows of the past. He reached the shard quietly, sighing as he reached out a trembling hand.
Contact brought exactly what he feared. Surges of resentment, fear, and regret swarmed through him, threatening to destroy his mind and swallow his soul. Tirr held on though, this was his power and he would not bend to it. His body started to glow as he absorbed the errant Blessing. Regaining the lost power that had been hidden away here.
As he absorbed the last of the Shard’s energy, it collapsed, falling away into nothing to reveal the simple sarcophagus that lay within. Tirr walked forward, knowing what he would find but forcing himself to face it anyway.
There inside the stone coffin was an older man, dressed in an eccentric but well-made grey robe. A wispy white beard, the only hair visible, sat on a wrinkled but kind face. Even in death, Tirr could see the excited smile the old man once wore, ready to show him some new trick or creation…
“Ronas…” Tirr said quietly, a name drawn from some deep, unknown place. He reached out a hand, and the body dissolved away, the final goodbye… In its place was a small silver light. Tirr grabbed it gently, bringing it into himself as he felt the world go dark once more…