He had taken seventeen years to create this etching. That’s right, he thought, dredging the depths of his organic memory. When had this etching been made again? Two, three thousand years back?
Here, a burnished wall of reflective steel was inlaid with an etched mural depicting Raidriar’s glory. No challengers presented themselves as he and his Devoted approached the stone-walled core at the center of the temple. Surely he hadn’t yet slain everyone in the temple. Raidriar frowned, expecting more daerils-or even several Seringals-to appear and challenge him. The catacombs had grown suspiciously silent. But if I hadn’t liked him, I’d have hanged him by his ankles in the sun and let him starve.” Sword through the gut after he tried to embezzle tax monies, if I recall. “You have proven useful in the past, Eves.” Raidriar waved an indifferent hand as they walked the quiet hallways. I did, however, worry that I would not be worthy to be released, following my failure.” I did not give up hope during the long, dark days, for your triumph was assured. That stated, great master, I offer my most sincere prayer of thankfulness to you for our rescue. You deserve much better servants than myself and this one. “We two are weak, for it has been very long since you vanished, at least by the reckoning of mortals. “Great master,” Eves said, barely keeping pace. Eves should not have been taken alive without a fight. Raidriar would have been annoyed to find his High Devoted unwounded. His robe was stained from old blood and ripped on the left side-the sign of a wound that had long since healed.
The two Devoted followed, Eves limping noticeably. “I haven’t entirely been myself, lately,” Raidriar said, stepping through the mangled remains of the door back into the dungeon corridor.
somewhat uncharacteristic of you, great master.” Did you slaughter him in a particularly painful way?” Eves sounded hopeful. “Great master?” Eves asked as the other Devoted bowed and gave obeisance. He had hoped that Eves would at least have some information for him. We have been imprisoned here for months upon months, great master. All that remain of your true Devoted are myself and young Douze. “We who remained loyal fought them, but most of the Seringal sided with the impostor. “Macrom had been whispering poison to the others for some time,” Eves said. Had he led Ausar to search him out there in the first place? The Worker had found a way to communicate while imprisoned. “So he was informed of the plot ahead of time.” Great master, my rival among the Devoted-Macrom-was ready, and he turned them all against me.” When he could not produce it, I tried to raise the Devoted and Seringal against him. It wasn’t until the second day that I demanded the sign from him.
I was not suspicious of the creature at first. “How complete is the impostor’s domination?” “I noticed.” Raidriar waved for Eves and his companion, a younger man, to rise. Because of the possibility of Soulless copies, it seemed wise to have such a protocol in place.Įves’s shoulders relaxed and he looked up. “Ever known the truth,” Raidriar said, repeating a passcode set up between him and Eves should there ever be a question of Raidriar’s authenticity. Eves, Raidriar’s High Devoted, head of his priesthood. “My God,” Eves breathed, “you have returned.”Įxcellent. Then, the man fell to his knees and bowed himself. A stout, bald man stood up on trembling legs, raising a hand toward Raidriar. TWO FIGURES-dirtied, blinking against the sudden light-huddled inside the cell that Raidriar entered. Where had his smile gone? The situation really was amazing.
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