Book 7, Chapter 42 - So Much For Peace (1/2)

Book 7, Chapter 42 - So Much For Peace

Elsewhere.

Bruno led a group back to his home of Fulmulta. He walked back toward its Temple with Dawn Polaris and Stormford’s High Priest Gorman Vargas.

Dawn and Selene were the same in these cases. While their position in the Green Alliance was not as high as Wolfblade’s, they were Cloudhawk’s most trusted advisers. He could give them these important tasks and trust them to make the right choices.

Stormford and Dragenmere were very important places to Cloudhawk. With them under his control he would have three of the five Elysian lands preparing for war. The Green Alliance would have at least passable footing to start.

Dawn’s attention wandered between Bruno and Gorman. She didn’t have to worry about the Master Demonhunter since his daughter was being kept in Skycloud. The father wouldn’t do anything rash. Gorman was another matter. After all, he was the religious leader of the realm. Any High Priest had to go through a rigorous selection process to ensure capitulation. Convincing him to turn his back on the focus of his faith would be difficult, and a fundamental shift in the realm could cost him his influence.

Gorman Vargas was a hale and hearty man. Graceful and elegant in his old age. Feeling Dawn’s malicious gaze upon him, he maintained a practiced calm. He was as unflappable as a wise man, who knew the whipping winds of the moment could not uproot the ancient tree.

“So vigilant and distrusting even of a man as old as I, Lady Dawn?”

“You undersell yourself, grandpa. You’re no ordinary geezer. I want you to make sure that if there are any mishaps the people of Stormford don’t lose their cool.”

Gorman’s bushy eyebrows furrowed. “Stormford is already in chaos. The office of High Priest has lost all meaning. This dying old man wants to see where these troubling times lead us.”

Dawn didn’t argue, he was right.

The group made their way back to the Temple where they were met by a pair of Oracles and other Temple leaders.

“High Priest Gorman, you’re back with Master Bruno? And this young woman...” One of the Oracles looked pointedly at Dawn. In her towering army, bearing her mighty sword, she was an intimidating sight. The juxtaposition of her pretty face revealed behind the helmet was a jarring contrast.

One thing was certain, she wasn’t from Stormford.

Dawn introduced herself. “Listen close, I am one of Lord Cloudhawk’s chief aids and his closest confidante. He is Master of the Southern Wastes, and now he’s come to take this Temple.”

“Blasphemer!”

“What absolute nonsense!”

The Temple faithful looked at her with disdain and incredulity. What was Master Bruno and the High Priest thinking, openly bringing this heretic here? It made no sense! Did the High Priest care nothing for his post?

“High Priest, what is the meaning of this?”

Dawn looked at Gorman with her hand on the pommel of Terrangelica. It all hinged on him now. They were on his turf, and with a word he could turn the realm against her. She hoped he wouldn’t be so stupid as to made such a suicidal mistake.

“The Lightning God is dead. Stormford is no more.” Gorman’s voice was somber. “As of today, the Temple has chosen to join the Green Alliance. Master Bruno?”

Bruno answered by producing a crystal ball. There was a flash as its light spread through the area.

Pictures flooded the minds of those present. A few minutes later, after they vanished, they were still standing dumbfounded. Everyone was trying to grasp what they’d seen. Here were the most pious members of Stormford’s citizenry, who believed in the perfection of their gods. According to them, all the good in life was gifted to them by these beings.

“Brutal is this naked truth.” Gorman shook his head. “Those who wish to stay may do so. Those who decide to leave will not be stopped. The decision is yours to make.”

Under the High Priest’s expectant gaze there was silence and hesitation. In the end, one of the Oracles chose to leave. Several dozen of the Temple’s clerics went with them. They could not accept what they’d seen and left in the hopes it was some sort of test.