Book 4 - Chapter 72 - Surprise Schemes (2/2)

For years he concealed his identity and worked in the shadows. He built a religious order to hide his intent, even sending missionaries out to keep up appearances. All the while he’d been working in the shadows, courting wasteland leaders, wooing potential allies. All of that groundwork came to fruition when Adder destroyed Skycloud’s border wall. It was the coup de grace that convinced them to follow the Sanctum of Judgment.

With bitter realization the Crimson One saw that he hadn’t been as crafty as he thought he was. Arcturus, he suspected, had known about his plans all along.

Pointless! Useless! He’d spent all these years trying to defeat Arcturus, not work for him!

Arcturus was truly a master at these games. Without ever stepping foot from his mansion, thousands of kilometers away, he had destroyed Sterling’s efforts with one well-placed token. He poisoned the fruits of his labor and revealed Sterling’s folly in the most painful and humiliating way possible.

He’d sacrificed his honor, his dignity, his son. Everything. All of it just so Arcturus could benefit. All of his efforts used to bolster the enemy!

Cloudhawk didn’t know what to say. The Crimson One’s whole life was a tragedy and he was witnessing its end.

Sterling knew he was out of time. His heart was broken, both figuratively and literaly, and it stained his bitter words. “His plans won’t stop here. This is just the beginning. Whatever you do, you must stop him.”

A scowl touched Cloudhawk’s scorched face. “If you’ve failed to stop him, what makes you think I can!”

“First, Wyrmsole cannot be allowed to perish. He is the only person in the alliance who can stand against the Giants’ influence. If you tell him what you’ve learned, it may buy you some room to maneuver. Then… the expeditionary forces’ destruction is undoubtedly part of Arcturus’ plan. You must find a way to stop him.”

Cloudhawk was shocked. “What are you saying? Destroy Skycloud’s own army?”

“Skye’s forces have already failed in their mission. Soon he will face the combined might of the Northern Barrens, the Conclave and the Dark Atom. We can’t let Skye and his soldiers fall, otherwise…. Otherwise...”

The more he spoke the more agitated the Crimson One became. He felt himself growing weak. Such a strange thing to be saying, he thought… as the Elysian soldiers warred with his own people, he was telling Cloudhawk to find a way to save Skycloud’s army from destruction.

“Otherwise what?! What are you trying to say!”

“Now that Arcturus has control of the Wastelands Alliance, it’s only a matter of time before he controls the entirety of the wastelands itself. If he is able to eliminate the Polaris family then he will have total control of Skycloud and the wastes. If that is allowed to happen, no one will be able to stand against him.”

What the hell was Arcturus’ final aim? Even the Crimson One didn’t know. If he’d known, he wouldn’t have been outplayed so thoroughly. He wasn’t sure anyone had the capability to defeat Arcturus, but at the very least someone had to try and stop him from taking control of the known world!

The sound of airbursts sounded nearby. Natessa was catching up.

The Crimson One wrenched Cloudhawk onto his feet and shoved him down the lane. “Remember what I told you!”

Cloudhawk was too wounded to fight, and too confused to do anything but fight through the pain and run. He believed in what the Crimson One had told him, death had a way of getting the truth out of people.

He stumbled through the city until he found his way back to the old drunk and Selene.

After what he’d learn, the first order of business had to be locating Wyrmsole. Once he exposed the truth behind who commanded Hell’s Army, perhaps he could wrest the remnants of the Sanctum from this alliance. Fleeing into the wilderness he could try and stop Hell’s Army from destroying the expeditionary force.

It was the only way Cloudhawk saw a way out of this.

Natessa floated through the air and descended toward the Crimson One. She said nothing as the Giant of Hell’s Valley launched into another set of vicious attacks with her corkscrew blade. In her other hand was the cyan staff, striking so swiftly it was almost a shadow.

The Crimson One didn’t have Castigation to protect him any longer. He had no means to fight back.

“Tell me...” He’d managed to somehow dodge her flurry of blows and was breathing heavily. “What is your relationship to Arcturus?”

Natessa’s hand tightened around her sword. She pushed off the air with her powerful legs and charged at the Crimson One. She streaked by like a gust of wind, with her sword tracing a deadly path across the priest’s throat.

The Crimson One’s eyes went wide as the world turned end over end.

Thud.

He stared at the gray dome that served as Fallowmoor’s sky. It just hung there, as dark as his fate. An endless sadness filled him. He’d tried so hard to fight back, but in the end darkness and defeat still claimed him.

One of Skycloud’s mightiest Master Demonhunters, founder of the Wastelands Alliance whose name thundered across the Elysian lands, died in silence.

Natessa walked to the Crimson One’s headless corpse and began to feel through his clothing. She gathered a few items then straightened up, looking up and down the lane. Her eyes quickly found Cloudhawk’s trail.

The Crimson One had definitely said something to him.

A whelp like Cloudhawk was no threat to Master Arcturus’ plans, but as they said, better to nip a problem in the bud. She would deal with him now, while he was weak and injured.

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