“The boy will be fine,” Arhk finally announced to the waiting group. He finished his examination and took his hands off Oscar, letting Astra rush to the boy.

Koldon pretended to not notice the meaningful look his comrade gave him. This was not a conversation they could have now, where Astra could hear.

And if he was honest, Koldon didn’t wish to have the conversation at all. He feared what Arhk could say. If the other Inquisitor suggested taking in the kid and getting rid of Astra…

Koldon understood it was the most logical choice. Oscar was special. It would be a great boon if they could gain the boy’s trust. He only wished they could do it through Astra, letting the woman join them.

The Kingdom of Tordgo was finished. If the beautiful woman were to…

Koldon stopped his racing mind. These were not thoughts an Inquisitor could have. This was why he would never be chosen by the Eternity to stand against all Evil.

This was why Kaldiro had always been a small wonder to Koldon. His role model was married once. Most Inquisitors spent their lives alone, choosing their duty before everything else.

Not so the ‘Torch.’ The legend was an exception in many ways. Koldon's respect for the man was neverending. His own attempts to measure up to the ‘Torch’... They never amounted to much.

“Koldon,” Arhk nodded towards the tent’s exit.

With a sigh, Koldon joined Arhk, wondering if Insy would be back today. She was dutifully hunting down those who had escaped.

The light outside the tent momentarily blinded Koldon. He squinted, looking at the sun. The warmth settled on his skin, dispelling the dreadful memory of what he had witnessed underground.

Koldon hadn’t yet revealed the secrets he had saw. They had been too busy, and frankly…

As Koldon swayed, he was steadied by Arhk’s hand. “You must rest.” The man didn’t let go despite the place being public. The haggard troops, still sick from the murderous job they had done, eyed them verily. “As must she.” He led Koldon to a larger tent at the centre of the camp.

Without any strength, Koldon suffered the public display. It wouldn’t do him any good. An Inquisitor had to take proper care of his image.

No words were exchanged until Koldon was lying down in his makeshift bed. Only then did Arhk conjure a barrier and look at Koldon with serious eyes. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“I…” Koldon coughed, his lungs burning from all the ash he had inhaled. Now, away from prying eyes, he finally let his body collapse.

Arhk sighed. “We found Lenel dead.” He finally revealed. Upon noticing Koldon’s silent acceptance, he explained more. “Stabbed. By a dagger. He did not go peacefully. May the Eternity support him.” He prayed.

“What!” The news jerked Koldon’s half-sleeping consciousness awake. “But-” He recalled their parting moments. His friend was dying, yes, but for Lenel to be robbed of his last moments…

“We are investigating, but-”

“Is that why you are here?” Koldon suddenly realised. “You are here to protect me.” He felt feebler than ever.

All those years of training, studying and strengthening his resolve… And Koldon had been reduced to… He watched Arhk sigh and felt even worse. “It is not just that,” Koldon turned his eyes to gaze at the tent’s top, wishing it was the sky instead.

“Yes,” Arhk nodded. “Insy isn’t hunting the tainted drags.” He added more privacy wards to the place. “She is close. We think there is a good chance the assassin will aim for either you, Astra or the boy.”

Koldon’s breath turned shallow, and his eyelids heavy. The exhaustion was threatening to take his consciousness. “A trap…” His tongue did not move as he wished, either.

“A trap.” Arhk nodded. “Back at Ocheon, we thought it might have been just a chance happening when the ‘Sleeper’ died by an assassin’s hand.” Came the explanation. “But after Stilag…” He sighed, peeking out of the tent. “Two times is already a pattern. No matter how weakened, Lenel should not have died so easily.”

There was no strength left for Koldon to answer. Various thoughts swirled through his head, Astra’s face included, and he frowned.

Luckily, Arhk didn’t notice the true meaning behind Koldon’s displeasure. “I know. Many tainted ones will find their way to other towns.” He wasn’t happy.

Koldon fought through the humiliation of being a helpless bait. “But the knowledge of the taint…” His whisper barely broke past his lips.

“Cannot be allowed to spread.” Arhk finished the sentence. “And it won’t. After you sent the message to the ‘Torch, I had a discussion with Insy.” He tapped his foot in irritation, remembering the ‘discussion’.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

If Koldon had to guess, it had been an almost one-sided tirade by Insy, demanding a complete genocide of the Kingdom of Tordgo. He hoped it wasn’t that bad. The amount of innocent that would…

“We are going to war, Koldon.” Arhk dashed the hope of there being a precision strike against the tumour at the heart of Tordgo. “Our comrades are falling, one after another. Too many have died. I suspect Oispio is behind the many incidents.”

It was possible. Koldon shuddered from the thought and anger that grew in him. He had suspected something similar, but… His stomach still twisted at the thought of all the death. And Astra…

“Normally, this information wouldn’t be passed on to you. But we lack resolute people with the drive to cleanse the world.” Arhk walked closer and put his hand on Koldon’s shoulder. “And you have proved yourself. Be proud as Eternity becomes definite.”

Koldon didn’t feel pride. He felt sick. Once the Empire moved… There would be nothing left of Tordgo. He couldn’t understand… What was King Oispio planning?

*****

“I don’t care!” Oispio threw the golden cup at the advisor, hitting him squarely on his big, shiny forehead. “How are our forces failing to defeat Imeglenmo? Explain!” He pointed at the Military advisor, who was visibly sweating.

“Their preemptive strike at our borders destroyed most of our navy, leaving us helpless to defend our coasts.” The fool quickly began to explain. “Their guerilla raids managed to damage or destroy most supply bases west of the Somra mountains. But we are regaining ground as-”

“Idiot!” Oispio stopped the man. He contemplated burning him for his incompetence but decided against it.

The man could serve as a front-line commander. That’s how he had earned his position in the first place. But as it turned out, the military merits earned on a battlefield didn’t necessarily transfer well to strategy making.

Of course not. It made sense. But the advisor had years to learn, and he hadn’t. Oispio couldn’t micromanage everything. Sometimes, he had to trust the lesser to increase his glory.

Oispio let his regal bearing swell as he studied everyone else in the throne room. The bright, crystal lights above illuminated the incompetence. He had thought he had done well gathering the best amongst the trash, but it had not been enough.

While everyone covered before his greatness, Oispio considered his options. His gaze passed over the ambassador of the Maltra Empire. The woman was unassuming and too average - a sacrificial pawn.

For a moment, Oispio imagined what would happen if he killed the wench right here and now. The sight would be delightful, and the woman was powerful enough to feed his Darling with the precious energy of her soul.

But also wasteful. Oispio dismissed his musings. The woman would die, but she would offer her essence fully to give a new life to his love.

Still, the issue remained. Oispio avoided glancing at his Spymaster. They were the last reliable people under his wing.

Loyal, deadly and ready to die for the greater goal. But they were no warriors and couldn’t stop a tide. This morning, Oispio had learned of Maltra’s empire’s betrayal. They were preparing to attack - might already be attacking.

Oipsio had feared they had discovered his secret. But no. It was because of what had happened in Stilag.

That and he might have been too overzealous with taking out those Inquisitors from Maltra. Their souls were now forever barred from Eternity, being used to fuel the rebirth of his Love.

And the death spreading in the west… It also helped to hasten the rebirth. Oispio began to hum. Perhaps it wasn’t all so bad.

From what he could tell, Maltra was preparing for total annihilation of his work. It would cause a lot of death, blood and suffering. And it was a good thing in a way.

Especially now that Stilag had been burned down. Oispio would have liked to punish the rebels himself, but they had died regardless.

Seeing their King thinking, everyone resumed planning and plotting. They spoke about reinforcements, battles, available resources and more. So oblivious to their soon demise, it was almost funny.

Oispio sunk deeper into his throne. He wanted to head down and speak with his only equal. His plans might need changes, but everything was salvageable.

Even if Imeglenmo wouldn’t pay in blood, his own Kingdom could. Oispio soon dismissed everyone. He gathered his thoughts and groomed his moustache, making sure he was at his best.

It was time to visit ‘Her’.

This time, Oispio went alone. As ‘She’ was offered more and more essence, it became increasingly dangerous for anyone to be near ‘Her’.

Even Oispio sometimes feared his own sanity was at risk - mostly due to the butty ‘She’ possessed - Not because of the dark ideas her body implanted otherwise. He had those even before.

While walking through the silent passages, Oispio cleared his voice, combed his hair and straightened his mantle. Even the jewel-covered rings didn’t shine enough and had to be polished.

It wasn’t a job for a king, but Oispio didn’t want to waste time he could be spending with ‘Her’. His steps echoing, Oispio reached the depths below.

Here, the silence ended. It was replaced by the bulbing and sloshing of the great blood river that surrounded ‘Her’.

It continued to grow at immense speed. The war fed the dreadful basin beneath the capital. Every useless soul had flesh to give to achieve Oispio’s dream.

Only a little was stolen away from each new corpse, but it all added up. The spell Oispio had used was unnoticeable by all. Even the gods didn’t sense its presence.

Sometimes, Oispio wondered if it was of this world. Something so wonderful couldn’t be. Something that could give back life to ‘Her’...

Oispio paused and frowned. His head started to hurt as he tried to recall where he had learned of this spell.

The more Oispio thought, the more it hurt. And when that happened, there was only one salvation.

Oispio stumbled forward, his eyes stopping at ‘Her’ captivating, unrivalled form. He smiled, imagining the moment they would be able to feel each other's embrace.