Part 59 (1/2)
” You don't understand. They'll end us.”
Kepler twisted his head over his shoulder and gave the Order leader a look of warning. ”Don't say another word. Allow me to show you how the Master of the Hunt slaughters.”
The first of the tricksters reached the top of the stairs, his gleaming eyes were filled with malice as he glared at the giant feline. Once the group of four had a.s.sembled, they began their advance.
With a heavy growl, Kepler instructed, ”Pay attention, Boyafed. This is how you annihilate.”
The demon-cat sprang into action. He used the power of the Ancient Mystics to accelerate his movements. Even within the confined s.p.a.ce inside the tree, the jaguar was lightning quick, and the tricksters were no longer able to teleport fast enough to avoid being hit. The jaguar's heavy paws clubbed the sides of the tormenters' heads. One by one, they perished, falling lifeless to the floor after they hit the petrified walls with a thud. In one case, a trickster fell without his head attached.
Kepler smiled and thought, Huh! Not bad ... two heads in one night.
Boyafed remained quiet as he watched the cat stand motionless at the center of the room.
After many moments pa.s.sed, Kepler turned to face the Order leader. ”Hear me. I've come to deliver an important message. Your G.o.d has deceived you. He isn't worthy of your service.”
Boyafed started to respond, but Kepler growled to silence him. ”Your desire to defend your G.o.d is admirable, but futile. Hosseff is a t.i.tan and nothing more, and though you may not realize it, your service is wasted on the weakest t.i.tan of them all.”
The Order leader's lips started to move, but Kepler lifted his paw and pointed a claw in warning. ”The war you're so eager to rush into is a creation of the one you blindly serve. Hosseff was the being who had Dayden murdered. He was also the being who ordered your men to be struck down in the streets of Marcus. Hosseff is an ally of death for a reason. He is not worthy of the t.i.tle, G.o.d. For G.o.ds do not need to survive on the souls of those who perish in order to command their power. This war is exactly what Hosseff needs to thrive. Make no mistake. He will devour the souls of your army just as he devoured your friend's.”
Kepler motioned for Boyafed to speak.
”My lord has never betrayed me. Why would you make these claims?”
The jaguar lowered to the floor. ”Allow me to explain.” A long conversation ensued that spanned many moments.
Kepler concluded by saying, ”...This will give you the chance to see for yourself that your G.o.d has deceived you.”
Boyafed shook his head. ”And if I refuse to comply?”
Kepler laughed. ”I don't believe I've given you that option, paladin. My request is non-negotiable.” The jaguar smirked. ”Besides, I'm sure you'll enjoy the task.”
Boyafed's reluctance was evident. ”Arguing with you will get me nowhere, will it? What must I do?”
”Then it's settled. First, you will stop your army from traveling to Olis until you've completed the task I've a.s.signed. Once you've verified the truth of my claims, you'll be deemed a wise leader for saving the lives of so many innocent men. You may even decide to serve a new lord.”
Boyafed crossed his arms. ”I'll command my army to stop ... for now, but my service to Hosseff shall, forever, remain unchanged. I can promise you that much.”
Kepler sighed. ”I, too, was once as ignorant as you, Boyafed. But soon, you'll be enlightened. I'll come to you when the moment is right. Until then, go to your temple and wait for my arrival.” The jaguar snarled. ”Don't make me search for you, Boyafed. I don't want to hunt for you.”
Kepler looked down at the still unconscious Head Master. The jaguar reached out and placed his paw on Brayson's leg. They vanished, leaving the Order leader bewildered and frustrated.
Two Peaks Later, Early Bailem George and Athena are awake and sitting with Payne at the kitchen table. They are working with the fairy-demon to improve his table manners. George has created clothes for Payne, and the couple has explained that he will be required to bathe on a regular basis. Payne is not happy about his new rules.
George plans to take Joshua and Kepler on a trip to give Athena a few moments to herself. The warlock and the demon-jaguar have two stops to make on their outing.
The Collective is meeting to think of other ways to keep Lasidious from gaining followers. Gabriel is absent from this meeting, and the others are now aware that both centaur kings have decided to spread Lasidious' good word.
Keylom has taken the moments to explain how Gregory's appearance on the centaurs' battlefield was devastating to their campaign to solicit the blackcoats' service. Gregory showed up at an inconvenient moment, and after acknowledging Keylom's presence, the White Chancellor moved past Keylom to speak with Boseth.
The chancellor knew all the right things to say, and he used his reputation from previous visits with Boseth to gain immediate favor.
Gregory was careful to show Keylom respect, but he told Boseth that Keylom was a t.i.tan, and not a G.o.d. Keylom regrets his reaction to the insult. The G.o.d's anger at Gregory's comments solicited an unwanted validation that his power was, in fact, limited. Gregory used the opportunity to explain how Lasidious was the only G.o.d capable of commanding the power necessary to offer Boseth's followers a heaven. He explained how Lasidious had sent him to create peace on Harvestom.
Alistar is putting on a show of frustration while he rants to the Collective. He is feigning his surprise at Gregory's ability to sway both centaur kings' hearts.
The G.o.d of the Harvest plans to continue his masquerade by informing the Collective that he felt confident the centaur would command his kingdom of browncoats to serve him after he left Harvestom, but clearly, Gregory must have showed up and foiled his attempt.
Alistar's theatrical reaction to Keylom's revelation will solidify the Collective's belief that Lasidious has, yet again, masterfully manipulated the events.
Lasidious and Celestria have also avoided the Collective's meeting. They are chatting inside their home deep beneath the Peaks of Angels. Everything is falling into place, and more planning is in order to give George and Kepler more knowledge to increase their power.
Boyafed has returned to the city of Marcus. He is going crazy as he paces the polished floor of the Order's temple. He has sent word with his runners that he wishes to meet with Lord Dowd to call off the war. He further plans to order his Argont Commander to have the army stop and wait for additional instruction.
The words Kepler used to define Hosseff are bothering Boyafed. The cat called his lord a t.i.tan, and further said, his G.o.d is not worthy of his service. The jaguar said many other blasphemies during their conversation, yet Hosseff did nothing to stop him. This angers him.
As the Order leader continues to ponder Kepler's words, he will admit to himself that it is strange that Hosseff wants the souls of his fallen paladins to be offered up to him by laying them on his altar. Boyafed will also wonder if the cat is telling the truth. What if the souls are being devoured and used for the purpose the cat proclaimed? Boyafed will come to the conclusion that he needs to learn more before he speaks with his lord again.
Gregory is with Lord Dowd and the rest of the army doing more of his lord's work. The White Chancellor has stopped their march to the Battlegrounds of Olis. He is explaining the situation while standing in a ma.s.sive field. Gregory's goal is to convince Lord Dowd that a personal meeting with the Dark Order leader is necessary.
Marcus is wandering about Southern Grayham. After he teleported with Maldwin to the Merchant Island, he felt the need to stay behind. Something inside his mind is telling him that he needs to go to Brandor, but the specifics are not yet clear why. All he knows is that he has the desire to be at an inn just outside the city of West Utopia's gates before the Peak of Bailem to learn more.
Maldwin is in a container that has been carried between worlds by the Merchant Angels. He plans to stay put on Luvelles' Merchant Island until a man named Brayson Id comes to take him to George. He looks forward to his visit with his old friends, even the cat, Kepler, though he often feels like a meal around the jaguar.
Mosley has found the Wisp of Song within the mist below the cliffs of Griffin Falls.
Gabriel has decided to replace Mosley's position on Ancients Sovereign. The Book intends to introduce Yaloom and Mosley's replacements to the Collective in the near future.
Mary took care of Brayson after Kepler brought him home from the Petrified Forest. Brayson was ill from the poison after his run-in with Balecut. The family united to help with the Head Master's recovery. Now that Brayson is back on his feet, he has work to do. He needs to go to the Merchant Island on Luvelles to retrieve the rat while George and Kepler are on their outing.
Susanne and baby Garrin are doing fine. The potion to keep the child's power from manifesting is holding strong.
Susanne is nervous. Brayson has invited Gregory to dinner. The Head Master has taken it upon himself to play matchmaker. If things go well, she will also have herself a magic man. Susanne considers the White Chancellor a handsome elf, but she will need to learn how to overcome her fear of magic.
Thank you for reading the Luvelles Gazette
CHAPTER 28.
G.o.dly Threats Southern Grayham Siren's Song Beneath Griffin Falls AFTER SEARCHING FOR THE WISP within the mist, Mosley finally found the elusive ball of energy. He was standing less than 30 paces away from where George had listened to Cadromel's song not more than half a season ago. The air carried a chill, and the wolf knew that winter would soon shower Southern Grayham with its white rain.
Mosley stared at the wisp, his breath billowing past his green eyes as steam rose from the illuminated pool. The sphere ascended from the depths of the water while the wolf stood in admiration. The moisture cascaded from the wisp's spherical form in sheets.
As the creature hung suspended only hands above the pool, a long period of silence pa.s.sed before the wolf began to sing to the wisp in its own language-a benefit of having served Ba.s.sorine. The wolf howled with what he felt was all the pa.s.sion he could muster. But despite his best efforts, his ability to carry a tune approached horrifying and sounded like garesh.
Cadromel stopped the wolf before he could finish his song. ”Mosley, please, torture me no longer.”
Mosley stopped howling. ”Is it truly so dreadful?”