Anneleigh walked towards the old,
gray-haired, and bearded sage, who was grinning ear to ear. After the day’s events, it was a relief to
see he obviously had good news.
“Thank you for your assistance against the
Shatterbone cultists, Anneleigh.” He began as he led her to one of the worship
rows to sit down. “Nothing can repay the
debt our order owes you, but perhaps this may aid you some.”
He held out the small chain she brought him
earlier, it was now attached to the gemstone socket and secured with the clasp. The Heart of Mathos was secure once again as
the centerpiece of the artifact.
“We finished reconstructing the Chain of
Command.” He said, voicing what she already could see. “I must say, it is very powerfully blessed by
the Vigil, and we’ve only scratched the surface of its power! It has already located Thedeor’s Shrine in
Timar Foothills.”
“Located?” Anneleigh asked. Was the shrine lost?”
“Not lost, but forgotten. It seems this artifact knows something we do
not. We must follow its direction.”
Anneleigh nodded and stood to leave,
pocketing the artifact and extending her hand to Sasha.
“I have a feeling we will not see each
other again. Thank you for your help,
both from Marshal Kain, and from me.” Anneleigh said, but at once felt wrong
about offering thanks on behalf of Kain.
He did not seem to her as the type of leader who thanked those who
preformed services for him – great or small.
The sage smiled and shook her hand. “The Chain of Command will lead you
onward. You should follow its
guidance. If it does not, I’ve received
word from Kain that Camp Cestus would welcome your help.”
Anneleigh nodded again and left the
Sagespire without another word. She
traveled down the path towards Kain’s command but then was drawn left, back
along the Cliffside, by the artifact in her pocket. It did not pull, or glow hot to the
touch. She understood its directions as
more of a whisper to her subconscious.
Halfway along the Cliffside path she found
the cave opening. Disguised by fallen
rocks and growing tree roots, she was not surprised now that this shrine had
lain here forgotten and untouched.
Without the chain’s guidance, she would have walked by without a second
glance. Instead, she spotted the small
opening for what it was and shimmied herself inside.
Although the shrine was located in a cave,
as evidenced by the roughly carved stone that made the walls and ceiling,
craftsmen had constructed a beautiful stone floor, ending in a raised dais; and
although completely shut off from the daylight outside, the shrine was not
dark. To her surprise it was illuminated
by glowing pools of blue light every few feet.
The glowing pathway ended on the dais where the spirit of Carwin Mathos
stood in a pool of white light, runic markings at his feet.
“Is this the Shrine of Thedeor?” Anneleigh
asked Carwin.
“This is indeed where Thedeor placed the
Shrine of the Sword. Though I have
successfully guarded this relic for years, the Shrine of Mariel-Taun was
destroyed by the Endless Court. With its
destruction, the protective shield across Scarwood Reach has fallen.”
Anneleigh crumpled to the ground with
despair, a reaction so unlike her that she caught herself off guard.
“I have failed then.” She shouted. “I helped the sage’s of the spire, when I
should have demanded they help me on my way.
Their problems with the shatterbone could have waited until I secured
the relics. They would have been safer protecting
the relic of Thontic while I went on.
Instead, they sent me on a goose chase,” she spat, “and now we have lost
the shrines and the shatterbone...” she trailed off as she realized Carwin, her
role model for so much of her journey here, was watching her throw a tantrum
like a three year old.
“We have to stop Visek.” Anneleigh said
after composing herself and getting to her feet.
“Yes.” Carwin replied. “If Doctor Visek is not stopped, it could
mean the return of Regulos the Destroyer.”
“How does he hope to do that?” Anneleigh
asked.
“Observe, hero, the machinations of Alsbeth
the Discordant with this Doctor Visek....”
Carwin faded away and in his place,
standing upon the runic markings, was the figure of Alsbeth a cultist Anneleigh
assumed to be the doctor.
“Our master grows impatient, Doctor. Have your experiments shown any success?”
said Alsbeth.
“Please inform the Endless Lord that all
goes according to our plans. The hour of
his return fast approaches.”
“Does that mean you have created an avatar
capable of being his vessel in this world?”
Anneleigh gasped, but bit her tongue
quickly to continue listening.
“Close.
I am very close. Every
abomination I create has been a leap in power from the last. Soon, he shall have suitable means to return to
this world.” The doctor said.
“See that it is so, Doctor. The rewards for your success will be eternal,
as will the punishments for failure.”
The images of Alsbeth and the Doctor faded
away and Carwin returned.
“Does she mean...”Anneleigh began.
“Yes, Alsbeth means to bring Regulose to
Telara in yet another avatar. You will
remember, I am sure, the dramatic days surrounding my brother’s attempt to be
such a vessel. You may have encountered
the remnants of the only solution in your travels. If Regulos is permitted to return, we will be
in similar fates.”
“But we have Ascended now.” Anneleigh said,
hopeful, but Carwin shook his head.
“We had Ascended last time. You, Cyril, Shyla,” he paused, “and I; we
were all ascended, but were no match for Aedraxis once he took in the
Destroyer.”
“You!” Anneleigh said in shock. “You were,” she shook her head to correct her
thoughts, “are ascended. But he killed
you with one blow. I was there, I
remember it well.”
“And that is why, Anneleigh, the Ascended
are no match for Regulose. We must stop
Doctor Visek before he succeeds in making the avatar.”
No comments:
Post a Comment