The Heavenly Host

“Now I’m getting confused,” Tureledor said. “We have a flying carpet floating above this battle with a reborn Anilord Time Warrior, or maybe he’s an archdemon; an ancient forgotten deity who was a protector of life but now appears up to no good; and one of our own Council members who seems to have gone rogue, or who at least has conveniently disappeared” — here he glared at Randolf — “when we banished all the demons from the city.

“Is anyone else having any trouble figuring this out?” Tureledor asked. The room erupted in a flurry of discussion again.

“Folks!” Maelen rose to his feet. “Esteemed wizards, please let me speak.” He spoke with an air of authority and at a volume and timbre to quickly quiet the room. “I apologize for interrupting — ”

“Who are you again?” Randolf asked.

“I am Maelen Serenanus, Doctor of Animastery and Animagic and Senior Fellow of the Society of Learned Fellows.”

A new round of discussion suddenly erupted. Sier Barvon spoke up the loudest. “Are you telling us that the Society is still around?” That quieted the room.

Maelen bowed slightly. “Yes, that is what my presence is informing you. However, that is not why I am speaking; the continued existence of the Society is not relevant to the point I wish to make.”

“Then what might be?” Alexandros Mein asked knowingly. He appeared to know what Maelen was going to say.

“On our very doorstep, a being, a demon that had been hiding here in the palace, has somehow managed to interrupt a link between several high priests of Tiernon and their god.”

“Yes, yes, I brought that up early on,” Trevin sputtered.

“Wisely so, My Lady.” Maelen nodded. “But what you did not ask is this: how long before Tiernon sends his emissaries down to enquire as to who has been tampering with his supply line?”

There was shocked silence for a moment. “And by emissaries,” Sier Barvon stated, “you do not mean the Rod or any priests. You mean...”

“His avatars.” Maelen nodded.

Gandros moaned and put his head in his hands. The room once more broke into chaos.

∼

“I seriously need a drink.” Lenamare said as he entered his office followed by Jehenna, Elrose and Hortwell. He headed directly to the glass cart with the brandy decanter on it and began pouring brandy for everyone. No one said anything as he passed the glasses around.

Lenamare nodded as Elrose took a glass; normally the sorcerer did not imbibe, as he felt that alcohol dulled his senses. He was making an exception tonight.

Jehenna took a sip and closed her eyes for a moment before opening them and observing, “So, as we suspected, our fourth-order was in Astlan all along, which was why we couldn’t summon him.”

“And in this palace,” Hortwell added. “Under our noses.”

Jehenna grimaced. “Embarrassing.”

“Well, he’s in the Abyss now,” Elrose observed.

Jehenna allowed a grim smile to cross her lips as she glanced at Lenamare. “Unfortunately, the wards around the city will prevent us from summoning it any time soon.” She gave a dark chuckle.

“Yes, how unfortunate that is.” Elrose shook his head, chuckling as well; Jehenna’s sense of humor was a bit dark.

Lenamare glanced at Jehenna half irritated, obviously not sensing her irony. “I may have a high opinion of myself, but I’m not stupid. We are not going to be summoning that thing any time soon.”

“I do not understand how it could have fooled us so well.” Hortwell shook his head.

“Clearly, it wanted into Astlan and we were a convenient portal,” Elrose stated.

Lenamare had closed his eyes, keeping them shut he took another sip of brandy, remaining silent.

Jehenna shook her head and then seemed to realize something and looked around. “Where is Master Trisfelt? I thought he and his students came in just before the wards went up?”

Lenamare nodded. “He did, but I sent him back outside to be our eyes and ears out there.”

“Elrose,” Lenamare turned to look at the other master, “I took over the keystone position for the wards this morning from Trevin. I can have them tuned to let you teleport out and back in to resupply Trisfelt. He may have a longer tour of duty ahead of him.”

“Longer?” Jehenna asked.

“More than ever, we need an observer outside that we can trust. If any avatars show up, I want advance warning.” Lenamare finished his brandy. “I have the wards set to allow telemirrors, and he still has his. Therefore, Elrose, coordinate a location and what supplies he needs and I’ll open the wards to let you out and back in. I only want to have them open for a few minutes at most.”

Elrose nodded. “Sounds wise. I am pretty sure I know what he’s going to need. I’ll go tap a few wine kegs.” Elrose and Hortwell chuckled, and even Jehenna made a small grin. At this point, any amount of levity helped.

∼

“This is most distressing!” Randolf whined to his two lords as they walked back to the archimage’s chambers.

“It is, My Lord, most certainly,” Lord Rothgart agreed.

“Indubitably, my illustrious lord,” Bartholomew agreed, adding extra color to his words to make up for answering second.