The Heavenly Host

“Tiernon’s pauldrons!” Sir Lady Serah exclaimed when Gaius had finished relating the story of Freehold and Sir Talarius’s defeat. She shook her head. “I heard all sorts of crazy rumors, and of course that he had been abducted!” Her eyes were wide at this point. “But stealing mana and possessing priests and Rod members? This creature is fell indeed!”

“An unholy terror unlike any the Knighthood has experienced in our lifetimes,” Gaius stated.

Serah suddenly got an odd look on her face. “Yet you made no mention of an intercession?”

Gadius lifted his hands palm up, signifying it was a mystery. “We expected some word from upstairs after this heinous event, and yet we hear nothing. No instructions, nothing. So we are left to our own.”

Serah shook her head. “I could understand such a lack of attention for simply kidnapping Talarius. But stealing mana from the illumination streams? Possessing high priests, priests and Rod members? A demon of this caliber? I can’t imagine why there has been no inquisition or concern from above.”

Gaius shrugged. “One supposes. However, while we hear of such intercessions, has anyone we know actually seen a saint or avatar in Astlan?”

“Well, there are reports of saints all the time,” Gadius noted.

Gaius shook his head. “By a reliable source — priests, monks, Sisters, Rod members? An actual documented case?”

Serah shrugged. “Not in my lifetime that I am aware of. There is documentation of it from the last century, of course.”

“Apparently times are changing, and so are the attentions of the gods.” Gaius sighed.

“So what are we doing?” Serah asked. “We can’t abandon Talarius to this horrible fate!”

“That’s why we are here, in Keeper’s City,” Gadius told her.

“I’ve been wondering about that. There are rumors of an alliance?” Serah asked incredulously.

“Yes. Apparently this demon’s activities have deeply offended the Oorstemothian government,” Gadius said.

“Lawyers have been negotiating all week on the terms. We are here to see if they can back up their claims,” Gaius said.

“And they claim...?” Serah asked.

“They claim to have the capability to serve warrants, and thus justice, in the Abyss, as well as do judicial extraction, recovery, remedy and executions,” Gadius said.

“And how is that possible? Everything I have ever read or heard about the Abyss makes me question the feasibility of such a thing,” Serah replied.

“You are not alone on that one,” Gaius said.

“Which is why we are here. The fleet that came with us arrives tonight,” Gadius said.

“So will we see the proof of their power tonight then?” Serah asked.

“One might hope, but first there is a formal dinner and I am sure there will be all sorts of speeches,” Gadius said in a very dry voice.

“Speeches? By Oorstemothian bureaucrats?” Serah asked nervously.

Gaius and Gadius just smiled evilly at her.

“Why couldn’t I have waited until tomorrow?” Serah complained. “There is no way for all of them to finish their speeches tonight!”

∼

^{DOF +9}

^{Early Fourth Period 16-06-440}

“That’s the last of the supplies. Including the late ordered tanning supplies,” Zelda said as they brought the last of goods from Ithgar through.

“Did you two have a good time?” Tom asked Rupert and Fer-Rog.

“The best!” Fer-Rog exclaimed happily.

“Beya was a great host!” Rupert said.

“Excellent,” Tom said. “Let me say goodbye to her.” Tom stepped back through the gate to bid farewell to the Olafa orcs.

“Wow. We need to figure out how to get back to her for more training,” Fer-Rog said.

“After we got back from the Crooked Sticks, I spent time looking at the stones in the temple. I think I should be able to contact her or Tal Gor through them and then use them as an end point to open a gate,” Rupert said.

“So how would we get back?”

“That’s the trick. But they have people manning the temple now for dream walkers,” Rupert replied.

“Tegdolar and Tegleesa!” Fer-Rog said excitedly.

“Exactly. I think we can make a deal with them to be on this side of the stones.”

“We just don’t want their mother to find out. She’s a good friend of my mom’s,” Fer-Rog said, and Rupert nodded in agreement.

Tom stepped back through the portal, waving to the other side. “I will contact you in about half a period for the ceremony, Beya!”

The shaman said something the boys could not hear, and then Tom shut the gateway.

“So Beya is coming?” Rupert asked.

“As is Tal Gor, Farsooth and Ragala-nargoloth,” Tom said.

“Vaselle and Damien too?” Rupert asked. Tom nodded and smiled.

“Excellent. I haven’t seen Damien in a week!” Rupert chimed in.

Tom grinned. “Let’s head back upstairs. There is a lot of work to do to clean up from the return and get the supplies put away before the ceremony starts and we don’t want to be in the way.”

“Okay, we can go see how preparations are going!” Fer-Rog said happily.

“Well, first though... your mother” — Tom nodded to Fer-Rog — “has had special clothes made for both of you.”

“Clothes? I hate clothes! Demons don’t wear clothes!” Rupert complained angrily.