Part 49 (1/2)
George answered. ”Yes ... it's Kepler. He also understands the truth now. He serves Lasidious like I do.” The warlock reached down and patted Kepler's neck. ”He sees the importance of bringing peace to the worlds after his visit with my lord.”
Shalee's voice was filled with reservation. ”This is unnerving, George. Kepler is a soulless demon. How could he be a part of bringing peace to the worlds?”
Kepler spoke up. ”I'm standing right here, Queen of Brandor. I am no longer soulless, and you may ask your questions directly to me.”
The sorceress walked down the steps. ”Okay, then. Consider yourself asked.”
The demon had rehea.r.s.ed a response for this confrontation. ”Our lord has bestowed a soul upon me. He is mighty. And he has the power to bestow many other blessings. Lasidious found a soul within his heaven who was willing to share my being. We live together as one and serve our lord in unison. I know now what I need to do to atone for the pain I've caused. I must spread his words of love, peace and unity. I must make my G.o.d proud of me, and in doing so, I shall help the prophet make those who call for war see there is a better way to solve their differences.”
As Shalee pondered the demon's response, George patted Kepler on the neck and sent him a telepathic thought. d.a.m.n Kep, that's some good garesh you just spewed. You gave yourself a soul, and now we've got unity added to our list of B.S.
The jaguar responded. So you think she bought it?
Totally, dude. Keep it up. You've got her mind all twisted.
The queen shook her head. It was easy to see her confusion. After a moment, she responded. ”So ... there's like two of you inside your body? Can you hear the other one talking to you? Isn't that dis...o...b..bulating?”
The jaguar shook his head. ”There's no confusion in my mind. I wish I had an answer that would make sense, but I don't. If you were to ask our G.o.d, he could explain it far better than I. Besides, he plans to speak with you anyway ... not long after your husband's resurrection.”
”Good! I have a million questions for him.”
George decided to redirect the conversation. ”The moment has come. We need to go, Shalee.”
Shalee tapped Precious on the porch step. ”Thank goodness. You have no idea how stir-crazy I've been. I've considered teleporting out of here on a hundred occasions to catch a ride with the Merchant Angels. I've never felt so torn about so many things, and I'm unable to cry anymore. I swear to you, if it wouldn't have been for Kebble, I would've lost my mind.”
The sorceress' expression changed. She looked George in the eyes. ”I won't lie to you, I'm still trying to decide if everything you've told me is the truth.”
George projected a thought to Kepler, Yeah, yeah, yeah. Blah, blah, blah. What a stupid a.s.s blonde. Then the warlock responded to the queen as the jaguar grinned. ”I'm sure you'll figure it out, Shalee. For now, just close your eyes. I'll take us to Brandor. You won't ever doubt me again after you see your husband rise from the dead. His Pa.s.sing Ceremony is being held inside Brandor's arena. Michael, Brandor's interim king, has ordered the Senate to attend ... even the barbarian senators.”
”King? How could there be another king while I'm still alive?”
”Michael has temporarily taken Sam's place until you return. This is per your laws, and supposedly, it's customary while you're on another world. Are you ready to go?”
”Yes, please. I didn't know the General Absolute became king when we were on a different world. That bugs me.”
George reached down from his saddle and extended his hand. ”I don't know what to say, Shalee. Let's get going.” The warlock had a special treat in store for the audience sitting in Brandor's arena. As soon as he touched Shalee, they vanished. They reappeared within a bright column of light. The darkness of the night made the light that much more brilliant. As the light faded, the trio was standing on top of the wooden tower that had been built for Sam's pa.s.sing.
Standing on the far side of the same platform, Mosley, the G.o.d of War, was present. The wolf was visible to all mortals, and he listened as the crowd reacted to the group's appearance.
Michael jumped from the king's box and rushed to the top of the platform. He silenced the crowd and then turned to face Shalee. ”My Queen, when did you return to Grayham? And why are you traveling with our enemies?”
Shalee held up her hand. ”I'll explain later, General. Everything's fine. Stand down, and return to your box.”
From below the platform, standing unseen on the sand of the arena floor, Mieonus and Keylom looked up. They had agreed to allow Mosley to represent the G.o.ds during this event since the beings who lived on Brandor were already acquainted with the wolf.
Keylom spoke to Mieonus. ”This is unexpected. What would Shalee be doing with George? I thought you were watching her?”
”I was, but after she went into the Mountains of Oraness, I could no longer see past the Ancient One's magic. My waterfall went dark.”
Keylom s.h.i.+fted his weight. His hooves failed to leave an impression in the sand to keep the mortals from discovering his presence. ”This will be interesting to watch. The last appearance George made was devastating to our cause. We should call the others. Perhaps Lasidious plans to make an appearance as well.”
”Agreed, but you better call them instead of me,” Mieonus confided. ”They won't come if I summon them.”
The centaur lifted his head toward the sky and shouted in a voice that only the Book of Immortality could hear. When Gabriel appeared, Keylom asked the Book to summon the Collective. Gabriel did as requested and every G.o.d appeared, with the exception of Lasidious.
Seeing the gathering, Gabriel addressed Celestria. ”Why isn't Lasidious with you?”
The G.o.ddess grinned. ”You'll see.”
The Book's heavy brows furrowed. ”What are you up to?”
Celestria's grin turned to a seductive smile. She reached out and caressed the Book's left cheek. ”Just wait and see, Gabriel.”
Mosley moved across the wooden platform to speak with Shalee. ”Why would you allow yourself to be seen with your enemies? The people know of George's treason. Your companions are wanted throughout your kingdom.”
Shalee knelt next to the wolf. ”Mosley, if everything George has told me happens tonight, I'm afraid you and I won't be on speaking terms any longer. I hope you haven't lied to me.”
”What? How could you possibly think that I've lied to you?” Mosley looked up at George. He growled as he spoke. ”What kind of deception have you spewed?”
George began to methodically pick pieces of lint from his tunic and drop them to the platform. ”Save your questions for someone who doesn't know the truth. Tonight, the one true G.o.d will grace Brandor with his presence and return life to their king. Sam will live again, and Southern Grayham will know of Lasidious' omnipotence.”
Mosley was taken aback. ”Sam is gone. There is nothing the G.o.ds can do about it. Not even Lasidious has the power to retrieve a soul from the Book's pages. He's not omnipotent.”
The warlock dismissed the wolf by not responding. He dismounted and then brushed past Mosley as he motioned for Kepler to join him next to Sam's casket. With each step George and the giant cat took toward the king's coffin, the crowd shouted curses, and the planks of the platform bent beneath the weight of Kepler's paws.
Mosley looked at Shalee. ”Why are you with George? He represents everything you loathe. How could you possibly be fooled by him? Your desire to see Sam live has clouded your judgment.”
Shalee sighed. ”We'll know soon enough, Mosley. If George is telling the truth, then I want you to leave me alone. Sam will feel the same way once I've explained everything.”
”Why would I do that, Shalee? You are more than a queen to me. You're my friend. I've never uttered a word of deception in your direction. Have you forgotten that?”
Shalee looked at the coffin. ”We'll see if we're friends or not. If you've lied to me, then there was never a friends.h.i.+p in the first place.”
Before anything else could be said, the air began to stir. The arena became a whirlwind of blowing sand that caused the spectators to cower and cover their eyes. The platform and those on it were spared the effects of the current as Lasidious appeared in a white robe.
When the atmosphere settled, the Mischievous One lowered his hood and then moved to stand in front of Sam's casket. Without a word, he lifted the lid and reached inside. He pulled the dagger out of Sam's side-a task that Mosley and Mieonus were unable to accomplish. Once finished, Lasidious leaned over and whispered into Sam's ear, ”I would not allow you to perish again, my brother. Search your mind. Remember. Remember the moments of your past. Soon, we shall reclaim glory together.”
Lasidious lifted the dagger toward the sky and shouted in a voice that captivated every soul present. ”Beings of Brandor! Witness the power of the one true G.o.d! I have breathed life into your king. Enjoy the blessing that only I can bestow!” Lasidious vanished.
Much of the crowd exploded with shouts of disbelief, others with shouts of joy, and yet others with a thousand questions that filled the arena with confusion. It was an emotional and verbal frenzy.
From the sand below, Mieonus screamed at Mosley from within her veil of invisibility. She spoke in a voice that only the G.o.ds could hear. ”Say something, wolf! The people need to hear you speak!”
Mosley looked down from the platform. ”What would you have me say, Mieonus? Anything I utter will make us look foolish. The people will wonder why I failed to return Sam's life. I told them that Sam would be well-received in the heavens. I even told them that Michael would make a fine king until the Senate could elect another. Again, I ask you, Mieonus, what would you have me say?”
Mosley redirected his gaze and stopped on Gabriel. ”How was Lasidious able to retrieve Sam's soul from your pages?”