The sun sat high in the sky with wisps of cloud adorning its majesty. There was a cool breeze that gave the impression of robbing the light of its warmth and tuning out the brightness of the scenery. The torch bearers that normally carried out the procession at night performed their duty only in ritual without flame while flanking the gurneys. The hunters transported the victims of the events of the past week. There was a massive crowd congregated before the domed arena, awaiting the clergy to open the doors. The militia of Leoris were hurrying through the woods as fast as they could with armaments attached to the stretchers and makeshift chrism explosives.
Keoma called out to the whole regiment that was maneuvering out of sight from the service. “After our arrival, we must evacuate all the civilians when the first ceremony ends. I’m leaving that to Ingrid and the deputies. The spider believes she is trapping all of us there, but in reality, we are baiting and trapping her. We’ll pretend that we are carrying out a second ceremony to get the chrism jugs inside. After that, we blow the inside to rubble and slaughter the scurrying rats while we retreat. Hopefully, that drifter will rush here upon seeing the signal.
As the procession passed through, the gates swung open. Mourners gathered near their departed loved ones. The hunters from the lodge took care to prop the gurneys up on the pyres spread throughout the arena. The clergy clumsily shuffled atop the scaffolding. Taking their place with their hoods hiding their visage.
Stokely nudged Ingrid in the ribs as he whispered to her, “Now those guys don’t look ordinary, right?” She rolled her eyes, but the worry was apparent in her expression. “Sorry, a bit on edge here. Times like this I wish Allsin was here. Although I started thinking about it since meeting that drifter guy. Was he always so confident because he was a descendant or was it really him, you know? I mean, we probably wouldn’t have to worry about any of this if he were here.”
Ingrid gazed up at him, her expression a reflection of total disapproval. “This is not the place to speak ill of our town’s pride. Keep it up and I will make sure you never sit on a council seat. Remember, the archivist position is the only appointed role recognized by the Union.” Stokely shrugged and retreated from her.
Yulsif looked up at the sun pouring through the hole in the basement’s ceiling. He joined Ensi’s party of mourners and put his arm around Ensi’s mother, who stood there shivering in the cold. He gave her his coat and cast a quick look around, looking for a familiar face. Stokely approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
In a humble voice, Stokely said, “We all grew up together. Ingrid, you, Allsin, and Ensi. I never understood that guy Ensi. And I’m sorry we didn’t remain friends. I didn’t hate you guys. We all walked different paths. I admire his bravery in standing up for the town in the end.” Yulsif was reticent and sullen, but forced a polite smile. Stokely patted him on the shoulder as Ingrid strolled up to him.
“I’m jealous, truly,” she said in earnest. "Ensi lived his life as he pleased, and his legacy will be that of a hero. Allsin died so far off that sometimes I think everyone forgot him except for a few of us. As an archivist, I will have to be rigid and protect this village.” She concealed a bitter expression suddenly. “Everyone will gossip and judge much like they did with Amise. Ensi and you are both special. I hope we can work well in the future.”
The clergy mumbled through the ceremony. Many of the townspeople exchanged concerned glances. When it came time to burn the corpses, Ensi’s mother, with the help of her family, poured the viscous liquid over his wraps. She then went over to Yulsif, pressing the gem to ignite the oil into his palm. She hugged him as he stepped up to the pyre.
Solemnly Yulsif stood above Ensi’s wrapped body. “I want to trade places so badly. I wish you were here setting this gem upon me. Content with watching you from behind, I knew you would eventually do great things. Everyone always loved you. And you are still loved, my friend.” Yulsif nestled the gem into Ensi’s chest before swallowing a restrained sob. The mourners comforted him as he walked back to their group.
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The militia from town arrived outside. Keoma bid them to wait patiently as he went inside to inspect the scene. The mourning parties were getting ready to head outside. He pulled Yulsif aside. “As soon as you are outside, I need for you and our deputies to hurry and get the townsfolk back to Leoris right now,” Keoma said as he glanced up at the gap in the roof. He thought he could see something dart across the gap. “That used to just be a crack before. That doesn’t bode well. Don’t linger, Yulsif. Get everyone out of here, no questions.”
Keoma then addressed the clergy, “We have one more round to have a ceremony for. So many have passed away that we didn’t have time to build the pyres. Burning them like this should be fine, though. We will bring them in shortly.” The clergy answered him in gibberish chatter. Keoma raised a worried eyebrow.
Stokely lead the hunters outside to the waiting militia that now overwhelmed them in numbers. Many of them were their comrades just this morning. Stokely announced, “We are about to take back the town. You can walk away from this fight, or you can stand here with us. Do not make this more difficult than it has to be.”
One older hunter, with a disenchanted look, grimaced and glowered at Keoma as he appeared before them. In frustration he blurted out, “I knew those old timers were up to something. Vilsin and Amise warned us to be wary of the rest of the council. Keoma was always jealous that Vilsin took charge of the lodge.”
Ingrid walked out in front of him with an icy stare. “This isn’t the time for your pride. Vilsin is dead. Amise is dead. Our friends are dying. Be a man like Ensi was and fight with us here and now for the soul of Leoris.” Keoma had his men take the covered gurneys with the explosives indoors. He then unwrapped one gurney with weapons, offering them up to whomever was willing to take up arms.
“This is about to happen,” Stokely declared. “If you don’t want to take part in this skirmish, then help escort the citizens back to town, please. We can have a debate about who is in charge and what happened after this is over,” Stokely picked up a cannon with one hand. He pulled the backside out, revealing the chrism chamber. Keoma walked up to another cannon and followed Stokely’s lead. They nodded at each other.
Yulsif and the other deputies were guiding people away from the observatory. The team assigned to carry in the concealed explosives finished their job and joined in the evacuation. While some remained behind waiting for the moment to light the wicks. The robed figures distorted and increased in size within their garments. Disturbing shrieks rained down from the scaffolding. A fierce tapping was reverberating off the walls throughout the observatory.
The altered creatures were now cascading in droves from the fissure above. The violent noise of appendages piercing the concrete dome drowned out the noise from those below. They howled as they scaled down the walls to the floor. The closer they got, the malodorous decomposition of their forms flooded the senses.
The militia hastily ignited the wicks leading to the jugs and ran outside, motioning for all to head to a safe distance away. “They are coming.” Another shouted. A large door covered in dirt opened with a fury from below. Gray claws and hands gripped the floor as several sets of yellow eyes began emerging. They gauged the room before seeing the lit explosives. They screeched to their brethren below, who stumbled onto one another down the pit to the Spider’s lair. The clergy were bending out of shape and twisting towards the covered stretchers when the wicks hit the jugs.
There was a brief pause before a massive explosion of blue flames and purple lightning tore through the basement. The building shook, and the ceiling cracked and caved in. A white intensity formed as the flames blossomed and spread across the heavens. They swirled tumultuously, giving birth to a renewed sense of dread.
Keoma and all those on the scene looked on in amazement. A radiant blue and white storm grew larger and larger until it was towering far, far above them. A transparent swelling of a waterless flow submerged the entire area. Walstaff started to say, “What…” but time froze before he could finish. Everything, even the collapsing observatory, suspended in dull color as a gargantuan female outline traced itself into creation.