The Doomsday Saga, page 26
Jacob”
Paris sniffed and wiped her eyes. She did as Jacob commanded and put the staff in the cut-out in the wall behind Jacobs chair and true to his word there were papers wrapped in silk and embossed with Jacobs seal. There were six scrolls each one had a name on it, she expected to see Kieron, Alexa and her own name but even more surprising was a scroll for Franz Helot and Merenne Whiteheart and Henry Fennison. Then it dawned on her the Order was going to get three more members. Paris got the scrolls and carefully placed each one on the table she was hesitant should she open her own scroll or wait for the others. She decided she would wait for the others. She sat at the table and stared at the book she saw and entry for Kieron and Alexa but she found that she could not understand what Jacob had written. Paris was amazed she knew the book was magical, but she did not know how much!
Paris sat there she was tempted to look ahead in the book and then she thought she heard a sound on the breeze it sounded like there was a voice telling her to look on. She decided against it, but her head was pounding she needed sleep. She went to lay on the rug by the hearth and she gently cried herself to sleep. However sleep never came she was haunted by fevered dreams, she felt like there was a never-ending loop of what had happen this night. She came round as she felt somebody pulling at her she thought it was Maria. She awoke to find Kieron there and she hugged him like she had never hugged anyone before.
‘Whoa Easy, you are safe now.’ Kieron’s soothing words calmed her. Upon seeing Kieron Paris wailed and she hugged him even tighter ‘Calm down, tell me all about it.’
‘I cannot, you will hate me.’ Paris wailed
‘How can I ever hate you. Shhh take a deep breath’ Kieron said as he tried to console her. He gently rubbed her hair as she sobbed.
‘Jacob’s gone, he died!’ Kieron just knelt there he felt numb, but had to stay strong for Paris.
‘What happened?’ Kieron tried to sound level
‘He was turning into evil as he was touched by the Xefe. He commanded me to kill him before he turned into one. I did not want to do it but I did it I killed him.’ Paris wails got louder and Kieron with his emotions all over the place could not stop her so he left her wear herself out. He was just there he felt a bit overwhelmed. After what seemed like an eon, Paris stopped crying and un-crumpled her skirt.
‘Kieron I am sorry, I did what I had to do for the greater good.’ Paris said as she got up.
‘I know, I do not blame you, I would have done the same for the greater good.’ Kieron said as he put his hands on her shoulders.
‘How did you fare. I heard you killed a Xefe’
Kieron proceeded to tell Paris all about the events, the meeting with Lars Mickledon and also his exile. Paris sat the listening very carefully.
‘I was hoping to speak to Jacob to see what advice he would give. I really do not know what to do. I wish Jacob was here.’
'So do I, my love, so do I. Your Lord seems compassionate, speak to him. My queen would not allow this. She would order a trial by combat.'
Kieron slightly bemused 'you said, "My love" hmm' only for Paris to turn away from him in embarrassment.
'I was just saying, I would fight for or demand an audience with your Lord. What about Franz and his Lord ask them for help?' Paris said half-heartedly
'Paris you are wonderful, passionate and attractive. I think I am falling in love with you.' Kieron then kissed her passionately and left.
'Kieron, where are you going?' Paris shouted half-smiling half worried
'I am going to seek an audience with a dwarf! Meet me at The Stag'
Paris watched her future love run away from her. She fondled the ring and the parchment in her pocket. Jacobs words ringing in her ears. She shouted after him.
'Kieron, wait' but to no avail he had left.
MERENNE AND I, GOT to the church, I saw the painted sign it said “Church of the blessed lady Alarielle” inside the church was huge, bigger than any room I have been in. The scent of rosemary and sage. There was an effigy of a fully armoured lady with scales in one hand and a sword with a laurel in the other, she had her arms outstretched and her eyes were hidden by a red cloth like a blindfold. I was in awe. Merenne just looked up and down and shivered she also wiped her eyes. I am not a church going man, but seeing an effigy of a goddess could make me want to lay my soul bare. I was taken by Merenne’s reaction or lack of, then I remembered she was Albioni, they did not follow our Pantheon. I also saw several poor wretches. My heart sank seeing the aftermath of a war, a tear fell from my eye. Suddenly a monk came up to me. He had a basket of bread and as he came over to me he was handing the bread out to the poor wretches. He seemed to notice me in my awe and heartbreak.
‘Ah, me child she is a beauty, aint she? The most beautifulest bird I have seen’ I bristled at this
‘She is mine.’ I whispered
‘Yup she’s mine too, She is everyone’s. Her blessings are shared by all’ I realised he was taking about the effigy not Merenne, I felt slightly silly and my cheeks reddened.
‘Sorry father, I thought you were talking about my woman.
‘Alright mate, I'm no Father I'm Brother Tancred and thoughts of the flesh are forbidden. I dint notice but you got urself a good un there though. You not from round ere are ya?’ Brother Tancred was a portly man, his head was cover by a fine covering of blonde hair. He had a light blue cassock, that had white cuffs and hem, I noticed his cassock was threadbare at the Knee’s and around his stomach was a strip of cord. He was clearly middle aged and I thought he clearly was a poor man. He seemed to sense my scrutiny
‘Me brotherhood, are forbidden to care about possessions, as well as comfort and of course flesh.’ I was in awe how could he know what I was thinking. Merenne came over and instantly stopped and shuddered again. I put my arm around her.
‘My lady’ Brother Tancred said as he bowed low.’ Merenne was bemused
‘How do you know?’
‘Me brotherhood follow the blind St Aloys. Although tha good saint is blind we are all taught a skill to see whats not really ere’
‘Fascinating’ I said laced with boredom and also a sense that this monk was not all there.
‘I cud tell ya, a few home truths young man, my lady’
‘Thank you brother, but we are poor we do not have anything to give you. We are just collecting discarded weapons for Lord Mickledon.’
‘As I said m’lady, we do not require possessions. The good St Aloys forbids it. It is I that has to give you something. St Aloys has requested you take these.’ Brother Tancred handed us three cheap looking sovereign’s the weight made it seem more valuable than it looked. They were silver and hand an emblem of an Eagle clutching a snake.
‘Forgive my abruptness Brother but what on this good land are you giving us’ I said I was starting to get a little riled up.
‘Franz darling, let us take these gifts kindly given. May the good St Aloys bless you, brother’ Merenne seemed to know something about the emblem. The priest suddenly said something in a language I was not familiar with, but it had a profound effect on Merenne as she suddenly snapped her head and looked at Brother Tancred in what could only be seen as awe.
‘How do you know Albioni and to have intimate knowledge of one of our most treasured books the Libra Annuls?’
‘M’lady I am just a mere messenger. I have something for you too good sir’ Brother Tancred then told me a riddle in Rafterwurstian.
‘A soul far from home lost in the world, overthrown
A black soul walks the land betrayal in its midst
Good versus evil the warrior be blessed for all
The mages heart beats strong’
‘What in all the gods old and new are you talking about Brother.’ I asked just about keeping my anger in check. I felt my face start to redden.
‘I'm a mere messenger. We will meet ya again sire, my lady in Plimol.’ Then he just turned and left I went to go after him but Merenne held me back.
‘Calm yourself, what did he say to you?’ I proceeded to tell her about the nonsense he was spouting. She was as equally puzzled as I was. Finally, she let me go but Brother Tancred was nowhere to be seen. I scouted the apses and even went out the back of the church the rain was pelting down, but brother Tancred had disappeared.
After several minutes I went back to Merenne she was fondling a sovereign and looking at the motif.
‘What is it?’ I asked Merenne something gnawed at my consciousness. I have a vague recollection of some sort of Order.
‘Franz, this is the emblem of the Order of Light.
‘The order of light?’ I echoed then I remembered an old tale I heard somewhere about a mystical order that sought to destroy any evil by any means they were fanatics and were seen as half mad they were all burned at a cross so I thought they were destroyed. Images flew into my mind Alexa with her badge on her belt. So, it seemed that by some chance of fate I was allied with the forces of good. I was in this for the good of mankind. I relayed what I knew to Merenne and she agreed with me. With that epiphany I got down on my knees and prayed to Alarielle I thanked her for the knowledge she had given me, I thanked any God or goddess that was listening for I finally had a purpose. No more wasting my life away in taverns with whores. I was going to save the world or at least die trying. I had the love, I hoped, of a good woman. I wanted to be a hero. I wanted to be a hero more than anything else.
Merenne and I stayed at the church until the pelting of the rain lashing against the brightly coloured window of the church slowed, I noticed that the image was of a blinded lady with a flaming sword I knew it was depicting the image of Alarielle trying to purge the curse of magic from the world. I decided I was not going to think about gods and goddesses. One epiphany is enough. I wanted to think about more mundane matters.
‘We need to go and get some decent clothing for the feast tonight’ I said looking at Merenne
‘Do you have gold and silver?’ She asked half distracted
‘I thought about selling my body for favours’
‘Oh ok if you are sure’ It became apparent that Merenne’s mind was elsewhere.
‘A copper bit for them?’
‘What, sorry?’
‘I said a copper bit for them, your thoughts that is’
‘Um, nothing really, I found out I have lost someone I was close too’
‘Oh, so where did you go just now’ I said deflated
‘No, not now earlier’ Merenne produced a pendant with what looked like a flame in it. ‘This belonged to that person I was close too.’
I will admit that hundreds of thoughts went through my mind, have I wasted my hearts time in pursuing her feelings? Should I have chosen Emile? Jealousy bubbled up in me. I managed to keep my feelings to myself.
‘This belonged to Albi, he was my brothers' best friend, he was a trusted advisor to Alba and Keller. We were to be married before I left Alb City....’ I bit back bile I was feeling physically sick she continued ‘... It was going to be an arranged marriage of convenience, mainly because our enemies found out that he did not like women. They spread rumours that he was having sex with both my brothers. We were close but we were never going to be that close.’ I did a double take and instantly felt stupid.
‘You and him were just friends then’ I said to reaffirm
‘Yes, he was on the other ship for definite. He never did do anything with Alba and Keller though’ I was relived and also angry at myself for thinking like I did. I murmured an apology but I was thinking out loud.
‘What have you got to be sorry for’ Merenne enquired. I had to think on my feet again,
‘I am sorry for your loss, I can tell that you were close.’ I touched her hand I let it linger then for a while.
She sighed ‘I cannot keep dwelling on the past. If I marry a man I want to marry for love, that is part of the reason why I left.’ She gave me a direct level stare, I felt like her eyes bored into my very soul. I was amazed by her principled approach it stood by my own. In that instant I knew that we were made for each other.
‘The rain seems to have eased shall we go. Come on Let's get this stuff back to the priest.’ I said trying to sound upbeat. I grabbed her hand and virtually pulled her along but she was dragging her feet. She had that cheeky smile on her face.
3
KIERON LEFT THE ORDERS Head Quarters feeling uplifted. Although he had been exiled, he still had his life, he had the love of a good woman, maybe he thought he could become a mercenary under the patronage of Henry. Kieron recalled how Lord Henry had fought, in Hindwell forest and also in Hindwell itself. Although he did not like him at first he thought he was holier than thou, his persona carried weight, the only stumbling block was the grudge of a dwarf, would he forgo the grudge or would he kill him as Henry had promised. He had hoped he could persuade Henry to take him on, maybe he could work off the grudge. The truth is Kieron did not have much experience with dwarves he did not know how to act with them when to bow. He wished that Jacob was there with him, maybe he could talk to them. He felt a tear come to his eyes he was so focused on helping Paris, he did not have the chance to process it himself. Jacob his father figure and mentor dead. He steadied himself and stumbled into a walkway and settled against a wall and curled up into a ball, and wept, he wept for all the pain he had, he wept for Molly, he wept for the loss of his livelihood and he wept for Jacob, his father and mentor. Some pesants walked past the end of the walkway, they were both carrying a sack and they were holding hands. His tears startined again.
After what seemed like eternity he got up and dusted himself down. He had an audience with a Lord. Kieron was trying to work out how to approach a moody dwarf. He could offer a contract but he had already broken his enrolment with the Hindwell military, that could go against him. He could rescind his notice, but how could he justify that cause when he had a better more just cause. He would have to try his luck with Lord Henry.
Kieron wondered into an ale house, the familiar smell of ale, sweat and burning logs was rife. Kieron felt the nearly fresh sawdust on the floor he saw one of his old subordinates, Jon Summer. He gestured a greeting to him and Jon replied, he looked round the ale house and noticed how busy it was, he then saw Henry sitting there with Manderike.
‘Lord Henry, Manderike’ Kieron nodded a salute ‘Can I get you some ale?’
‘Ah the traitor, we were just talking about you.’ Manderike said caustically. Henry just sat there
‘My good Lord, how can I justify what I have done to your party.’ Still Henry sat there unmoving, unwavering and stoic. Kieron stood there Henry could see that Kieron was in two minds.
‘Sit down boy.’ Henry said after an uneasy and awkward silence. Kieron promptly sat down like a lost little lamb.
Henry gestured to a serving girl to bring over some more drinks. Two flagons of ale for Manderike and myself schorf, what are you drinking?’
‘Lord Henry with all due respect there is no need for that. Kieron was following orders’
Kierons face blushed he knew that Henry was insulting him, he had picked up some of the dwarven language on his travels, Henry basically call him a scab, a person that is not trust worthy. It became apparent that his pending employment was going to take a lot of bridge building.
‘I do not usually partake in alcohol; however, I will have a mead please’
‘Hark at him all holy, body is a temple and the like!’
‘I can clearly see I am wasting my time, thank you’ Kieron got up.
Henry stood up ‘I said sit down.’ Kieron still stood deliberately not listening to Henry. Hand was fondling his dagger’s pommel.
‘With all due respect, I came here to attempt to mend bridges, not to be insulted. So I would thank you for a modicum of respect.’
‘Respect young man, needs to be earned’ Henry said with finality.
‘Give me the chance to earn your respect again. We fought the scourge in Hindwell forest as brothers with honour let us try to be brothers again.
‘Hmmm’ Henry said sitting down fiddling with his beard he had gestured to Kieron to sit and Kieron obliged, clearly the talk of honour might have swayed Henry.
‘I came here to find allies in a greater cause. I want to offer my services to you!’ Kieron said Henry just stared at Kieron and looked at Manderike
‘If I may Lord Henry?’ Manderike said
‘Aye might as well. Master Marx if you are to be travelling with us you need to learn to drink ale’ Henry then banged a flagon of ale in front of Kieron and some of the foam splashed up in Kierons face.
‘The negotiation for your life and your service has already began.’
‘So scab, your ass is mine, Sladgerval’ Henry said whilst banging his flagon against Kierons. Kieron gulped has he just gone from the burning pot into the fire?
Kieron woke up he instantly had a fear had he slept all night, was he going to be killed. He blinked back the dazzeling light of the inn, he coughed and almost vomited, he looked at the dwarves they were still drinking and telling stories.
‘What time is it?’ Kieron said his voice was deeper and his head banged like the base drum of a marching parade.
‘Schorf, It is a little past midday. Drink?’ Henry said
‘What happened, was I drugged?’ both Henry and Manderike let out a booming laugh which did not do much for his bad head. ‘Commander Marx, you only had three ales, clearly you do not drink. I have seen dwarven babies with more constitution than you. Manderike said condescendingly.
‘Even Franz can drink more than that.’
‘May I suggest milk of thistle? A fuck also clears the senses?’ a busty female sitting to his left said whilst jiggling her tits in front of him.
‘I have got to go. I need to be out of Hindwell by sunset. My lords, madame’
‘Fair enough, schorf. Meet me at the gate house of Kidstock in one day. I may have your pardon’
