Sword of Light (The Knights of the Golden Dragons - Book One) (13 page)

           
Gregor did as he was told and focused his concentration
on remaining conscious and upright as he was led to the Temple grounds. He
barely heard the cheers that filled the arena as the priests led him out the
great doors. Word spread through Nactium, and the streets were lined with
people struggling to catch sight of the new champion. Such a blessed warrior
had not been seen in the streets of Nactium for quite some time. No one could
know the true destiny of this young squire who was yet to receive knighthood,
but many of them, while recounting his victories in the arena, could not help
but think he would be the one to rebuild the Knights of the Golden Dragon,
those chosen Knights of the God of Light whose order had been wiped out so long
ago.

8

New
Assignments

           
Boremac
had spent an interesting night in the confines of Nactium's jail. Numerous
visitors had stopped in to share words of support and reassure him that the
merit of his deed would grant his release once his actions were weighed at
trial. Only one visitor had caused the rogue to reevaluate his actions, and
this man had given Boremac a great amount of food for thought.

           
The
man had been clothed as a myriad of other commoners that had filed through the
rest of the day and into the evening. The first words this newcomer shared let
Boremac know this man was here on business. "We don't take to assassins
coming within the walls of Nactium without paying proper respect, brother.
Don't know how you got yourself into the Temple but I doubt you'll find much
sanctuary there now. Won't take much to have you dangling from the gallows by
sunset tomorrow. Anyone who tosses a dagger so well is probably traveling with
a hefty price on his head. I would advise you to take advantage of the time you
have and make peace with whichever God you follow. One way or another, you will
be meeting them in person by the time night falls."

           
Boremac
kept his tone even and low as he answered the man's threats." My reasons
for being here are my own and the killing of that priest held no profit for me,
at least not in coin. You would do well to choose your enemies with more
care."

           
"You
speak boldly for a dead man. If you find a way out of the cell and beyond the
walls of the city, don't let your shadow darken these streets again. Sounds
like there might be a bit of brains in that shiny head of yours. Heed my words,
brother, because the next time you know we have found you, you will be
dead." The man turned away with a quick word to the guards watching
Boremac's cell, "better keep a close watch on this one, gentlemen. Never
know what those shady types might try." And he was gone.

***

The visitors at dawn took Boremac
unaware as a guard banged on the bars of his cell. The thief rubbed the sleep
from his eyes and turned to address the offending jailer, only to have harsh
words resting behind his lips quickly swallowed. "Father Oregeth and the
robust smith from yesterday's event, Master Firebeard if I recall correctly.
What brings you to visit this humble servant of the God of Light? Imminent
release for me, I hope. I received word yesterday that I have pressing business
to attend to in another city far from this one."

           
Father
Oregeth frowned deeply before speaking, "It gives me no great pleasure to
speed your release as I am certain any time spent here would be well-earned for
past sins. That is not an immediate concern to me, and you have been called
upon to serve Master Silverwing more directly at this time. Arrangements have
been made for your immediate discharge into our care until local constables are
able to sort everything out. It is difficult to hold a man on the charge of
murder when there is no body or weapon to be found. As I explained to the
governor, there are far more terrible forces at work here as indicated by the
demon's manifestation in the arena yesterday. You will accompany Master
Firebeard and myself to the Temple grounds." As Father Oregeth turned to
speak with one of the nearby guards, Boremac noted that the huge smith carried
a long wooden case roughly the length of a great sword and two hands wide. The
rogue's curiosity was piqued, especially after the role the master smith had
played in yesterday's events. “The papers should be in order, guardsman. Please
verify the governor's seal and release the prisoner into my custody.” Boremac
thanked the God as the cell door swung open and the three men left for the
Temple of Light.

***

Gregor followed as Father Havet led
him into the part of the library forbidden to all but the most senior priests
within the Temple of Light. The books within contained all of the acquired
knowledge the library held of the darkest Powers identified and cataloged over
the centuries by the servants of the God of Light. Father Havet was explaining
that the books were kept from most eyes to prevent possible misuse, but
Gregor's attention had been immediately drawn to an ornate tapestry hanging at
the far end of the room. "Who is he?" Gregor cut Father Havet off to
make inquiry, never taking his eyes off the figure pictured in the tapestry.
The man represented wore dark crimson robes and held his hands out before him
as if he were receiving a gift of some kind. The figure’s deep eyes were set
amid a narrow face that was framed by long black hair. Something in the way the
priest stood called to memories deep in Gregor's mind.

"That is Father Tur'morival,
Master Gregor, and once he was known as the greatest demonologist to ever study
within the Temples of Light. Father Tur'morival gathered many of the books in
this room, and authored some of them as well, with the knowledge he collected.
It was a sad day when he left the Temple, but the head of the church at the
time had been left no choice. Father Tur'morival held the belief that the only
means to defeat the powers of the abyss was to find a way to control them. The
church has very strict guidelines in place regarding the use of knowledge
concerning demons and their progeny. When encountered, they are destroyed, and
if a person suffers from possession by these forces, the spirit is cleansed and
the evil driven out, but Father Tur'morival argued against these practices. He
felt the church was limiting its ability to fight the creatures and would
ultimately be unprepared when the Crimson Night came to pass."

           
“What
is this Crimson Night, Father?" Gregor’s head swam as Father Havet related
the divine prophecies predicting the night of the Blood Moon. The more he
learned, the more certain Gregor became that this was the same man that had
invaded his sleeping mind that night in Dakin's cabin.

           
“It
was predicted over 1000 years ago that a blood red moon would rise in the night
sky, and a gateway to the Abyss would stand open until the dawn. Chaos would
pour out of this gateway, and mankind would either be enslaved or destroyed by
the legions that would come forth. Father Tur'morival argued that controlled
summoning of the demons would allow the brothers and sisters of the Temple of
Light to undo the armies of demons and seal them in the Abyss for eternity. You
see, Gregor, the manifestations of the demons we encounter in this world are
only shells, physical forms assumed by the creatures from the Abyss when they
make their way here. That is why when you cut away the limbs of the demon you
faced in the arena, it was able to reconstruct itself so rapidly. Pieces of
these manifestations can be damaged by cold iron and blessed silver, and some
minor creatures can even be destroyed by these weapons as well as other alloys
created for that purpose, but the demonic soul remains in the Abyss, and only
the physical form is dismissed. Father Tur'morival committed the later years of
his life to studying means of a more complete summoning, wishing to draw the
souls of the demons into their physical manifestations to destroy them
utterly."

           
"He
secret experiments resulted in the death of one of our adepts and he was
expelled from the Temple. The story is that Father Tur'morival had gained a
great deal of support among the priests closest to him, and began minor trials
summoning imps and other diminutive demons in an old tomb the families of the
city no longer used. Once he had mastered the smaller creatures, he graduated
to summoning larger beasts. There is much debate to this day as to what exactly
went wrong, but it appears that some more intelligent and infinitely more
powerful demon in the Abyss had taken note of Father Tur'morival's experiments.
All that is known, largely from the books Father Tur'morival wrote and the journal
that was found secreted in the tomb where he worked, is that Father Tur'morival
had decided to contact an infernal broker of a sort. Certain demons called
Wethrin'draug sometimes act as intermediaries between summoners and the
powerful Tharnorsa, who are the main powers within the Abyss below their
Princes and Kings. With the information he had gathered, Father Tur'morival
reasoned a Wethrin’draug would be an excellent test of his theories regarding
the demon’s soul paired with the flesh in this world. Somehow the demon was
aware of Father Tur'morival's manipulations and escaped the restraining divine
powers that had been prepared for the experiment. One of the first acolytes to
arrive when the demon was clawing its way from the tomb where Father
Tur'morival performed his experiments was slain immediately, and several other
priests were wounded before the Wethrin'draug could be banished. Father
Tur'morival was later found in the tomb, clutching his journal to his chest
within the confines of a protective circle composed of runes and wards, having
narrowly escaped death himself. The journal was seized for evidence, and Father
Tur'morival was excommunicated after his trial. Several of his stalwart
supporters left with him and formed the Temple of the Order of the Crimson
Night. There is a book here written by Father Tur'morival himself detailing
their founding principles and the requirements for the priests to join their
number, many of whom were very well thought of demonologists in their own
religious orders. It was established not so much as a religious group but more
as an information collective, where members with a variety of religious
backgrounds could take advantage of the focused collective’s libraries and
knowledge. I have visited their Temple here in Nactium on numerous
occasions."

           
Gregor
absorbed all that Father Havet had said before speaking." I have seen this
man, or at least I believe I have. It was a dream, a nightmare really, but I'm
sure it was Father Tur'morival."

           
Father
Havet cocked an eyebrow and frowned. "Master Gregor, I assure you that is
quite impossible. Father Tur'morival left the Temple over 200 years ago."

***

           
Boremac
took only enough time to suit up in his leathers and secrete his weapons on his
person before joining Father Oregeth and Master Firebeard in the main Temple.
He could not help feeling a bit out of place garbed in his usual attire, and the
sour look Father Oregeth wore as the rogue approached did nothing to ease his
mind. "I see you have made yourself ready. It gives me no peace of mind to
entrust you with the task set before you, Boremac, but I must believe Lord
Silverwing's faith is not misplaced. There is to be a gathering in the woods of
Zanthfar. Lord Silverwing is making his way to the druid's grove there as we
speak and has requested his weapons be delivered to the city with haste. Master
Firebeard has readied the weapons and will escort you to the stables where a
fast horse is waiting. You are familiar with the city of Zanthfar?"

           
The
rogue could not help smirking as he answered. "Oh yes, I am well thought
of among my peers within those walls. It will be good to meet with some of my
old acquaintances there. I have had a brush with the local... guild... and
remaining in Nactium is not in my plans."

           
"Yes,
well, it does appear that fate does favor the foolish and the blessed in equal
measure." Father Oregeth smiled for the first time Boremac could recall.
"You will find your mount is tireless in service and will bear you to the
city within a relatively short time." The Father turned to Master
Firebeard, "Take him to the stable and make sure he makes the gates
without pause. The stable master has the horse ready and adequate foodstuffs
and supplies have been packed in anticipation of your arrival. You can bring
Master Boremac up to date on the way but do not tarry. There is no time to
waste." Father Oregeth made rapid hand gestures blessing the pair as they
left the Temple.

           
"Come
on, Boremac. The priests and I have labored through the night during your stay
in the jail. We should hurry to be sure our labors were not in vain. There is
much Master Silverwing needs to know." Firebeard took long strides as he
hurried out into the city streets and Boremac marveled at the huge man's speed,
jogging along beside him as the master smith related the discoveries of the
priests and the results of his night's work.

           
When
they reached the stable, Boremac bent forward with his hands on his knees to
catch his breath. Master Firebeard stood in front of him with a boot tapping as
the smith impatiently waited. Boremac regained his composure and frowned at the
blacksmith as he began to speak. "Good Smith, I am glad to have the
knowledge of the demon in question to share with Master Silverwing. I'm equally
certain that said knight would be more than pleased with the additions for his
quiver you have produced. There is one bit of crucial information that seems to
have been missed by all of you in your efforts to prepare. I know who was
responsible for the appearance of the demon that was so intent on Master
Gregor’s undoing. It was the staffs the errant priests possessed that gave name
to their affiliation, Master Firebeard, though I would not have expected you or
the others to recognize them. The order of the Crimson Night is somehow
involved in the recent events, though even I cannot imagine why. Only the
highest-ranking members of the order possess such staffs.