Talarius felt a cold shiver run down his spine at that thought. Naturally, it reminded him of Melissance. He had to block that memory from his mind, lest he sink once more into despair. He looked sadly at the soldier. “Cleaning up after the undead is no easy task.”
Timeron closed his eyes briefly. “Indeed; I fear the ‘clean up’ is worse than the actual battle.”
“It is far more heartbreaking,” Talarius said with a small catch in his voice.
“You’ve lost loved ones to the Unlife?” Timeron asked sympathetically.
Talarius nodded, trying not to get moist-eyed. “I have. More than I can count.”
Timeron gave a sad laugh. “On Nysegard, such is Life, as we say.” Timeron intentionally stressed the word life to emphasize the dark truth that came with living surrounded by Unlife.
Talarius turned his attention back to the students, trying to get his mind off his own thoughts. “Clearly, training is critical here on this world of perpetual war.”
Timeron nodded. “It is, and they shall be tested soon.”
Talarius looked at him. “You have word? Or is it just that common?”
“No word, but the Storm Lords will not sit idly by as we try to restore the Peace of Doom to our lands. They will attack harder and more viciously than they have in centuries — perhaps millennia,” Timeron said grimly.
“So, you have our bait here in the palace now?” Lilith asked Asmodeus as they sat in front of the coldfire blaze in the fireplace, chilling their sweaty bones on a typically balmy night in the Courts of Chaos.
“Yes, indeed I do. Hesseforthalus brought her to the Courts earlier today,” Asmodeus replied before taking a sip of blood wine. “Hmm, a thirteen-year-old male virgin. How tart and refreshing!”
“It is, is it not?” Lilith agreed with a smile, then tilted her head in sudden remembrance. “Before I forget…” she switched the glass from one hand to the other and reached down beside her to retrieve a small satchel. “It is too risky to keep our bait here in the city; Sammael or others would eventually discover her. So here are maps, codes and instructions as to where I wish to store her until we can decide on how best to use her.” She handed the packet to Asmodeus, who took it from her with a nod of acknowledgement.
Asmodeus looked at the packet for a second. “I trust that if I assign Hesseforthalus to principal guardianship, that will be fine?”
Lilith shrugged. “Your vassal; if you trust him, fine.”
“I do,” Asmodeus said, nodding. “Apparently, she is one of his prized possessions or something.”
Lilith rolled her eyes and waved the thought away. “So what was the story again? Vampires, corruption?” she asked, returning to their earlier conversation.
“Well, it turns out it’s a bit more complicated,” Asmodeus replied. “The vampires were not so much agents as colleagues, and they were the leads in a more complicated Unlife plot not particularly related to Hesseforthalus. Turns out they infected a large number of local Tiernon followers with ghoulism.”
Lilith grimaced. “Never cared for ghouls. No table manners.”
“Truly,” Asmodeus agreed. “However, their high priestess went after the vampires directly, trying to stop them. Well one thing led to another, a number of very juicy betrayals on the part of her staff, and well, as these things typically go, she ends up getting infected herself.”
“Mmmm.” Lilith pursed her lips. “I assume a half-dead, Unlife-infected high priestess doesn’t go over really well with the boys Upstairs.”
“Indeed. She was immediately cut off from Tierhallon and was unable to heal either herself or her flock of devoted followers,” Asmodeus said.
“And Talarius comes into play how?” Lilith asked.
“Turns out they were romantically involved,” Asmodeus said.
“Ah, yes, I recall you mentioning that.” Lilith nodded.
“Yes, and the vampires asked for a few favors in return for releasing her. Talarius, however, believing that Melissance had succumbed to ghoulism of her own free will, was none too amused.”
“Who in their right mind would do that?” Lilith interrupted. “Be a vampire?” She shrugged, indicating “perhaps,” and then said, “But never a ghoul or even a ghast.”
“Yes,” Asmodeus agreed, “however, I doubt the knight was thinking this sort of thing through at the time. In any event, he refused.”
“So then how did she end up in Hesseforthalus’ possession?” Lilith asked. “One would expect she would have simply endured a very long living hell as a ghoul, or died of starvation, or be killed by some holier-than-thou type.”
“Well, it turns out that Hesseforthalus was negotiating with the vampires. He was somehow involved in the corruption as well — not so much as the master, but as an ally. I really don’t know, nor do I care. The man is an always wrapped up in some crazy machination, way too taxing to follow the details… in any event, the ghoul Melissance found a Calling Token of Hesseforthalus’s that the vampires possessed, and used it to summon him and strike a bargain.”
“The plot is getting a bit twisted.” Lilith frowned.
“Indeed. In any event, she wanted her flock cured of ghoulism, which she could no longer do, having been effectively excommunicated. So she made a bargain with Hesseforthalus that if he cured her flock, he could have her soul.”
“Ahh, now I see!” Lilith said. “And by taking her soul into the Abyss, she would be cured of ghoulism herself.”
“Precisely. She would only have to suffer eternal torment at Hesseforthalus’ hand,” Asmodeus nodded.
Lilith wrinkled her nose. “I think I would have chosen the ghoulism. Your servant is a bit of a pervert, even by this place’s standards.”
“Yes, well, we should not judge. Different cultures, you know. Remember, he was originally a Denubian.”
“Ah, right. Hmm, not sure I knew that; however, it does explain all the mouths.” She shrugged, now gaining more insight into the archdemon.
“Indeed. However, she wanted to save her people,” Asmodeus said.
“So naturally, Hesseforthalus cured them. A bargain is a bargain,” Lilith said.
“Oh, of course. Naturally! And as soon as they were cured, in burst the vampires’ ghoul squad and reinfected them, right before her eyes!” Asmodeus said, beaming.
“Ah, yes, demonic justice! It warms the heart.” Lilith raised her glass towards Asmodeus in a toast.
He reciprocated with his glass, allowing them to clink. “And chills the soul…” He gave Lilith one his more endearing evil grins.
Barabus, Captain Cranshall, Chancellor Alighieri and Sir Samwell stood on the walkway overlooking the work area where the priests of Tiernon and Oorstemothian wizards were working on the Ritual of Seeking. The three Knights Rampant, along with four Paladins, stood at the Seven Points of Holy Protection surrounding the working. The room was quiet except for multiple groups of chanting individuals, composed of both wizards and priests. Each of the thirteen groups were chanting spells, rituals or mantras that were part of the very complex multidisciplinary effort that Diocate Temerlain and CSO Halferth had devised.
“A very interesting effort, if I do say so myself,” Sir Samwell said softly to the others.
“Indeed,” the chancellor agreed.
“What do they expect the range to be at current power levels?” Sir Samwell asked.
“Temerlain has said they should be able to cover a radius of about three hundred leagues,” Barabus replied.
“An eighteen-hundred-mile diameter — that is quite impressive,” Sir Samwell said, frowning.
“It is indeed, particularly given the unexpected limitations the priests are facing,” Chancellor Alighieri agreed.