Chapter 644: A monster’s feast (2/2)

“No,” the man answered, sighing deeply as tears came to his eyes. “The battle was fierce but decisive. We recovered her remains and will burn them at a later time. This strike is not why I’m here… it seems Lilith has not been alone in her schemes.”

“Go on,” Emmanuel said.

“An adventuring team that arrived just about a quarter hour ago has shared information on demon sightings southwest of Halstein,” he exclaimed.

“Impossible,” one of the nobles said. “There hasn’t been a demon sighting in nearly a year. The threat has been dealt with.”

“Our Inquisitors and Paladins are preparing for battle as we speak,” Mateo said.

“How many?” Emmanuel asked. He didn’t look at Ilea. Convenient. If she had attacked, the demonic threat would immediately be linked to the Shadow’s Hand. Some of the nobility here seems to agree despite her presence. To think they would go as far as summoning demons. At the very least they had the decency not to do so within our walls.

“Hundreds, your majesty,” the High Cleric answered.

“Are you suggesting Ravenhall has declared war on our country?” Emmanuel asked the man. Silence spread through the room.

The Cleric glared at him now. “The presence and reckless murder committed by Lilith confirm our suspicious about her nature. The Shadow’s Hand has proven their ability to summon these creatures,” he said and paused. “However. No Shadows have been seen amongst the creatures. Whatever threat we’re facing, I suggest that we prepare for war.”

“How long until these monsters reach our city?” Emmanuel asked.

“Less than two hours, your majesty,” Mateo said.

They can clean up the mess they’ve made. There is no reason to sacrifice any of our soldiers to this ploy.

A sliver of doubt remained within the King. A convoluted plan, Healing Orders conspiring to overthrow governments, clerics willing to commit treason to support the will of their gods. He could see several ways everything connected but one piece always failed to make sense. And that was the woman sitting to his left, concealed by shadow magic and still silently eating. To the annoyance of Kyrie, he realized.

Lilith was undoubtedly a three mark creature. Likely human, and likely capable of killing everyone in this room and perhaps even in the entire city in less than an hour. He had seen monsters at that level fight. A human with a keen mind and the variety of two Classes, perhaps even more, was something entirely different. She had been capable of fighting an entire army, and that was years ago.

“Have you seen the body?” Emmanuel asked.

Mateo nodded. “Burned flesh and bone. Ash spread out through the halls of our holy site. The Inquisitors who had been part of the battle managed to take her head. I saw her skull.”

More people to add to the list. I doubt they would fail at such a simple task. Ilea can survive being beheaded. How do you kill a monster like that? Her heart? Destroy her body entirely?

“It’s quite the tale you bring to us today, High Cleric. One that may push us towards war with the independent city of Ravenhall and its Shadows. You know what that would mean,” Emmanuel said.

He watched the man closely, as did everyone else.

Mateo nodded lightly, a deep frown on his face. “I too wish to avoid such a conflict. But our Order can’t take such a direct attack without retaliation. I simply won’t accept it. Should I be the only one who feels such, I will charge at the enemy alone.”

“I commend your bravery,” Emmanuel said. “And I believe you are sincere. However there are a few flaws in your story.”

“Please enlighten me, your majesty,” the High Cleric said, obviously annoyed with the apparent play.

Emmanuel had shifted his attention to the two Inquisitors next to the man. Their faces were covered by helmets but their body language, breathing, and heartbeats would likely offer enough.

“You see, earlier today me and my advisors entertained a few rather incensed guests. Most of whom you should be familiar with,” Emmanuel said. “High Cleric Donnavon is very much alive. He came here with Paladin Bryce and Paladin Naomi to inform us of a rather devious plot.”

“Impossible… he was… killed,” Mateo said, looking at the Inquisitor to his right.

The woman didn’t visibly react but her heart beat increased, her body tensing as she shifted slightly. The other Inquisitor had a similar reaction, though more subdued.

“Inquisitors,” Emmanuel started. “If you value your lives at all, I suggest you lay down your weapons and submit to the guard. If you resist, you will be executed for treason.”

The woman hesitated.

The man vanished.

“Kyrie,” Emmanuel said, watching the rogue vanish too. Two guards followed as well. Just to be sure.

Two more went to the woman who had raised her arms.

“Please, I had orders,” she said, turned around as magical cuffs were put around her ankles and wrists.

“Orders… from whom?” Mateo asked, a greatsword in his hand now, confusion apparent on his face.

What do you intend to do with that?

The High Cleric glanced over to the now occupied seat left of the king, his eyes blinking as he looked at the casually dressed woman eating to her heart’s content.

Perhaps not human after all, Emmanuel thought.

“Indeed. It was Lilith who saved the life of your fellow High Cleric,” Emmanuel said.

Ilea drank from her mug before she waved. “Hello.”

Hello?

How many of these situations have you been in?

“But… that’s… impossible… the Inquisitors… why would they… I saw, your bones,” Mateo said, his greatsword starting to glow lightly. “Demon.”

Ilea remained calm, piling another few items onto her plate. “You’re a pretty shit healer if you think most of a body is proof of death. Also I’m not a demon. Think about what you do now. You’re in the presence of your king.”

Emmanuel glanced at her before his eyes met Mateo’s. Is she just being respectful? Or did she just delegate this problem to me?

His adventurer background suggested the latter.

“What is going on?” Mateo asked.

“Donnavon and our spies are trying to figure that out. In the meantime I suggest you join the efforts. And prepare for the demon attack. I will hold the Corinth Order accountable for any damage these creatures inflict on our lands and its people,” Emmanuel said.

“I can take care of it,” Lilith said.

Emmanuel looked at her with inquisitive eyes.

“I get that some of you think Ravenhall sent them. I hope me taking care of that problem will ease your minds. A small token, towards our future cooperation,” she said, glancing at the king and then Mateo.

“There are hundreds. How could you possibly face them alone. Level two hundred monsters. You were there in Ravenhall, when the Shadows retook their city, were you not?” Mateo asked, still doubtful and certainly angry. It just seemed he didn’t exactly know where to direct his anger.

“Then come and see,” Ilea said. “You and your warriors of Hella.” There was no mockery in her voice, but the challenge was obvious.

Mateo remained quiet, a testament to his experience. Her unidentifiable status certainly helped but the people present with combat experience exchanged glances.

There had been no hesitation, no change in her breathing or heart beat, no fear. She was either mad or believed hundreds of demons to be nothing even worth a mention. Rats breeding in a cellar. Vermin to be exterminated.

Emmanuel felt the hair on his arms stand up, his gambeson luckily covering everything. For the first time today he truly realized that he was in the presence of Lilith. The monster who had braved the north, who had fought alongside General Velamyr Ryse, who had faced and defeated the army of Lord Harken, single handedly.

He decided he would go, and see.