Book 5 - Chapter 49 - Southern Sanctuary (2/2)

“The Temple’s men!” Hammont hurried to greet them. He’d been waiting for their arrival for some time.

The first to disembark was an elegant, handsome man of middle years. He was wrapped in the robes of Templar leadership. It was a symbol of the formal acknowledgment Phain Mist had received, marking him as Grand Prior. He now held the post of the Templar’s foremost military commander.

He had brought with him over one hundred Templars to aid in the battle. It was an expression of force the Templar had not shown in countless years. By his side was a beautiful woman dressed in resplendent white armor.

Everything seemed to hold still for a moment in her presence. When she appeared, it stole the breath from all who looked upon her for her beauty hardly seemed real. Despite that, not a trace of unwholesome intent lived in any heart. She was the Apostle, the highest and most holy representative of the Temple, Selene Cloude.

She was flanked by twenty or thirty attendants dressed in clerical garb. If the Templars were the Temple’s mightiest warriors, then the Clerics were the Temple’s ultimate demonhunters.

Circumstances as they were, Oracle Azura was not dispatched to lead the Temple Clerics. Dawn was her daughter, after all. So while Phain Mist commanded the Templars, Selene Cloude was given command of the Clerics. The two of them together were here to represent the might and wisdom of High Priest Ramiel Caelestis and lend their strength to the defense of the realm.

Hammont greeted them with the utmost respect. “Grand Prior Mist, Apostle Cloude. The Governor has been waiting for you for some time.”

Neither Temple officer showed any expression on their face. Whether as individuals or representatives of the Temple, they were not going to subject themselves to the whims of Arcturus Cloude. However, his machinations in the city were far-reaching and powerful. The High Priest was beneath the Governor’s notice and their patron deity was asleep with no indication of waking.

They followed Hammont to a spacious audience chamber. Arcturus was finishing up a discussion with another group.

Selene scanned the crowd. There were about twenty people present, all of them notable members of Skycloud. She spied the patriarch of the Umbra family and leader of the Court of Shadow, Janus Umbra. He was the sort of man who could go toe to toe against the Crimson One. Atlas, his son, was also there as the sterling representative of the family’s future. Also in attendance was Cosmo Thane; deputy leader of the League of Demonhunters Blaze Pyrrus; Oren Cloude; Frost de Winter; Zoren Leclaire, archbishop of the Church of Brilliance, and others.

Every single person in this room was the sort whose footsteps shook the ground in Skycloud.

When Arcturus saw the two enter he offered a faint smile. “With the Temple’s aid our victory is all but assured. Now that you’ve arrived we can settle on individual duties.” Arcturus proceeded to delegate responsibilities.

Meanwhile Selene couldn’t stop her hands from clenching into fists. She couldn’t see how Cloudhawk would get himself out of this trap they were laying for him. These clever strategies, overwhelming forces… it seemed impossible for him to even break through their front line, much less save Dawn from execution.

If Cloudhawk didn’t come at all, it would be better. If he did, there would be no escape; they were in the process of meticulously planning his death.

She understood Cloudhawk’s thinking, though, and knew he would come no matter what. When they met on the field, what then…?

“Three days. That’s when we hold the execution. It’s all settled.”

Arcturus had planned it all to the smallest detail. When he was finished, no one had a thought or suggestion to add. The whole fort was bursting with confidence. From the outset they looked down on wastelanders like feral dogs. How dare they have the audacity to attack this fortress? ‘Suicidal’ was the only word they could use to describe this foolishness.

Three days passed quickly. When the day came, it was overcast and blustery. A rare sort of weather for Skycloud.

A solemn, deadly atmosphere hung over everything. Could it be that the mood of these humans could influence the heavens? Every soldier in Sanctuary was in position and stared into the distance with hard, expectant eyes. They were spaced out along every meter of the stronghold’s eleven walls.

The center of the fortress was also its highest point. Here Arcturus and his most elite commanders stood sat in vigil.

Phain and Selene each stood on opposite sides of the square. Between them were all the Templars and Clerics, in a calm but ready state. All eyes turned toward the figure slowly being brought forth.

Dawn did not struggle. Frost de Winter guided her to the stake and tied her to it. Never did the stoic expression leave her face. Her eyes remained fixed on the distance.

It was time. Yet, where were the wastelanders? Neither hide nor hair of the enemy could be seen. Frost gave a questioning glance to the Governor. Arcturus simply nodded.

With no more hesitation, Frost gave the order. “Begin the execution.”

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