Herald of the Nine

by Tiger Hebert

  Vacinne said, “So was Drenamere, and it was targeted. I think I understand why.”

  Renlar looked at her, waiting for the answer.

  Vacinne stood up and began to get dressed as she explained. “If a full-scale demonic invasion were to take place here in Durghast, Rift Wardens would be the first line of defense, after them it would be up to the individual cities to fight the hordes of hell. In this region that really leaves just the human city of High Crown and the dwarves of Drenamere.”

  Renlar added, “If those two cities are under attack, then they wouldn’t be able to help anyone else.”

  “Exactly,” said Vacinne as she ditched the night clothes and geared up.

  “This is bad, really bad.”

  “Do we just hurry up and take out Jherenon?” asked Vacinne.

  Renlar said, “If we do, we risk leaving the loose ends out there. What if Marcellus decides to go ahead with his plan anyways?”

  “And what if Marcellus isn’t the only defected Warden?”

  “Another good point,” said Renlar.

  “How do we know?” asked Vacinne.

  “I’m not sure we can know for sure. Even being able to spy with the sound stone, time is running out. At some point we are going to have to move, regardless of how much information we have.”

  “I know,” acknowledged Vacinne.

  Renlar turned to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “When this thing takes off, it’s going to happen quickly. We won’t have time to think things through, we will have to be ready to respond with action.”

  “I understand,” she bristled.

  “Do you? You are ready to take out your fellow Wardens the instant they get in your way—and they will, Vacinne. They are sworn to the defense of the mortal realm, but they are also sworn to the defense of the temple and their fellow Wardens, and that starts and ends with the Grand Master.”

  Vacinne swallowed hard, then she nodded.

  Renlar pressed her. “I need you to understand, there will be no room for negotiations once this thing kicks off. Hesitation will not only mean our deaths, but death for tens if not hundreds of thousands. Perhaps Drenamere and High Crown can withstand the demonic attack and they managed a counter offensive, still the losses of mortal lives will be unbearable.”

  Vacinne snapped, “I get it! I’ll take out anyone that gets between us and the mission. We have to stop him.”

  “At all costs?” asked Renlar.

  “At all costs,” affirmed Vacinne.

  Renlar nodded.

  Agitated voices rose over the sound stone. Renlar and Vacinne’s heads snapped toward the stone. Their attention completely on the conversation relayed to them.

  “He can’t know!”

  “Don’t worry, he’s not included in any of the plans,” said Jherenon.

  “Good, because he won’t have any part of this. He’s already got his suspicions about me,” said Tolem.

  Jherenon said, “That’s probably more to do with your... unique tastes.”

  “I think he’s just an untrusting man,” said Tolem.

  “Vichont is a traditionalist, he’d die before abandoning the old ways,” replied Jherenon.

  “Fool.”

  “Agreed, but at least that makes him predictable,” mused Jherenon.

  “I’m glad you find this amusing,” quipped Tolem.

  “Oh, it’s not that I enjoy it. It just means that we know exactly where we stand, so we don’t risk exposing ourselves to someone that we misjudged. It’s about pragmatism, my dear Tolem.”

  Tolem asked, “At this point does any of it matter?”

  “Oh, it always matters. I would take every ally we could get, because if the War Masters discover what we’ve done, they will be on the warpath. As the second ranking official in the temple, having Vichont on our side would solve a great deal of issues, but alas that isn’t the case.”

  “I don’t understand, how exactly do you believe you can convert anyone else to our cause this late in the game?”

  “Tolem, what is the one thing that motivates people above all else?”

  “Gold?”

  “Higher than gold. Why is it the gold motivates to begin with? What is it that gold actually provides?”

  “Power,” rasped Tolem.

  “Indeed. We offer them power.”

  “Where do we begin?”

  “We will begin a controlled invasion. Today we will share a new teaching, one that will be controversial. We will teach demonology,” said Jherenon.

  Tolem gasped.

  “We will herald it as a gift from the Light, as a means to turn the tide against our foes. We will do it in the grand assembly, before many spectators. I will demonstrate it in a controlled manner, using one demon to destroy another. It will spark controversy, and it will immediately be condemned by some, while others will become curious and confused.”

  Jherenon cleared his throat then continued, “The debate will be fierce, and I will ultimately agree to trust in my council for now. I will agree that we will need to seek further revelation from the Light on the matter, to the relief of Vichont and the War Masters.”

  “Okay,” said Tolem.

  “Then we let the invasion begin, and when it does and demons are slaughtering people, they will be desperate for this new power. They will be begging us,” said Jherenon.

  A wicked grin spread across Tolem’s face.

  “With the three seats of power in Northern Durghast isolated and under invasion, the war will be won before it even begins,” said Jherenon.

  “The Nine will be pleased.”

  “Perhaps, perhaps not. I could care less either way.”

  Tolem said, “What? This is everything you’ve worked for over the last five years. What do you mean you don’t care?”

  Jherenon cleared his throat once more. “I never did any of this for their approval.”

  “Then what have you done it for?”

  “Justice,” said Jherenon, his voice ice cold.

  “I don’t understand,” admitted Tolem.

  Fire surged in the old man’s voice. “I committed my whole damned life to the Light. Yet, the black fever still took my children and their children. Sylla couldn’t bear the pain any longer. She left this world. This isn’t supposed to happen to servants of the Light. It’s the whole reason I gave Him my whole life, and he took everything from me!”

  Vacinne knew in that moment, that the warlock’s rage and pain filled words would haunt her for the rest of her days.

  “He hurt you, Master,” hissed Tolem.

  “We will hurt Him back,” said Jherenon with a growl.

  “We will hurt Him, Master.”

  “I will see you at the training hall,” said Jherenon as the conversation ended.

  Vacinne turned to Renlar. She expected a horrified expression on his face, but what she found was something altogether different. It was a look of sorrow and a look of pity.

  “Renny, what do we do?”

  “We have a perfect diversion in place. While everyone goes to the training hall, we can make it to his quarters. We can get inside, and wait for him to return. We will ambush him, then we escape, and see if we can find Marcellus.”

  “How will we escape?”

  Renlar pulled his long hair back, then tied it away from his face. “I’ve got a few ideas.”

  “What about the Wardens that are left behind?”

  “We will have to worry about that later. If we take him out and Marcellus is still out there, we will need to stop him.”

  “Do you have anyone that we could trust enough to at least get eyes on Marcellus?”

  Renlar thought for a long moment. “We could try to see if Draece could help. He’d have to be riding a dragon to be beyond High Crown at this point.”

  “That’s it!”

  “What’s what?” asked Renlar.

  “A dragon! I told you we needed Ausaliia,” said Vacinne.

  “I’m not sure I understand how s
he can help us here?” admitted Renlar.

  “I’ve got a few ideas,” said Vacinne with a big smile.

  “Okay, even if you’ve got a plan and she is willing to help, how are you going to reach out to her?”

  “I... well this is going to sound strange, but I think she can hear me—even from here.”

  “What?” asked Renlar.

  “I know, it sounds crazy, I know but—”

  Renlar cut her off. “I knew it! You’re a Whisperer.”

  “A what?”

  “A Whisperer. That’s why it was so easy to link with you,” said Renlar.

  “But you are the one that formed the link!”

  “Is that what you think happened?”

  “Uh, it is what happened,” said Vacinne.

  “Maybe from your point of view, but you clearly started the conversation with me, even if you didn’t realize it,” said Renlar.

  “There’s no... it’s impossible,” she said.

  “So are all your other abilities, but clearly you’ve got more gifts than you realize,” said Renlar.

  Vacinne just stood there in stunned silence. Her mind raced. She thought back through their conversations. She thought through how she’d been able to communicate with the great white dragon. She was blown away. Her grin was huge.

  “If you think you can reach out to her, now would be as good a time as any,” said Renlar.

  “Wait... are all Whisperers able to speak with dragons?”

  Renlar shrugged, “You’re only the second Whisperer I’ve ever met. The other was a man named Bhadva and he communicated with beasts.”

  “You met a druid?”

  “Yes.”

  Her eyes were wide. “Pretty much everything that I’ve learned over the past week has forced me to reevaluate everything that I thought I knew.”

  Renlar laughed, “Yeah, I’ve been there before. You’ll adjust.”

  “I just... again, I didn’t think they were real. I thought it was just a folklore story to scare children away from the woods.”

  “Bhadva is the only one I’ve met, but he definitely takes nature very seriously.”

  “Incredible. Anyways, we need to move. Everyone should already be in the training halls by now. We should make it straight for Jherenon’s quarters,” said Vacinne.

  “You know the guards will still be up there.”

  “It needs to be done,” said Vacinne.

  Renlar nodded, then asked, “Hey, who’s the Second anyway?”

  “My uncle,” she replied.

  A look of surprise fell over him. “I didn’t realize he’d risen so high.”

  Vacinne nodded, “Yes, about a year and a half ago.”

  “Hmm,” said Renlar, “I might have an idea.”

  11

  Words of Treason

  Vacinne led the way down the busy corridor. Dozens of other Wardens were all around them, but everyone was too busy or pre-occupied to even give them a second thought.

  Perfect.

  Vacinne took the next right, followed by another right. It wasn’t long before her knuckles were pounding on the wooden door of her uncle’s quarters. The door swung open. Vichont LeDroux, in the full Warden’s regalia, stood before them. Renlar studied the older man’s face. It had been years since he’d seen it. The pale skinned man looked like he remembered, just older. His long narrow face was covered with short gray stubble. His blue eyes weren’t quite as bright as they once were, but they were the same ones that Renlar felt looking down upon him all those years ago.

  “Vacinne!” said her uncle with a smile.

  “We need to come in,” said Vacinne, her voice grave.

  “What’s going on?” he asked with concern.

  “We can talk inside,” said Vacinne as she shot a nervous glance away over her shoulder.

  Vichont pulled the door open and stepped aside, “Come in, come in.”

  Renlar and Vacinne stepped into his quarters. The old man’s quarters were at least twice the size of Vacinne’s, perhaps even more. The quarters were cozy and meticulously put in order.

  The door was pushed closed behind them. Vichont said, “Vacinne, what’s this all about?”

  She turned to her uncle and said, “You’re going to need to sit down for this.”

  The man’s expression grew weary, but he took her advice and settled into a well-worn rocker near the unlit fireplace.

  “Very well, but you know I don’t enjoy the suspense, so be out with it,” he said.

  “There is corruption in the temple. The Grand Master is consorting with demons,” she blurted.

  Vichont’s expression flashed anger and fear. “Vacinne, you can’t speak like that! Those are treasonous accusations if—”

  “If she was wrong,” interjected Renlar. “And she is not.”

  “And who in the Nine Hells are you?” snapped Vichont.

  “Uncle, this is Renlar Demas. I hired him to help in my mission, and quite frankly, he’s the only reason I’m still alive!” she exclaimed.

  “Renlar Demas,” said Vichont. “I remember you now. Another Hellborn, unfit for service in the Wardens.”

  Renlar bit back anger as it started to swell within him.

  Vacinne snapped, “Uncle, stop it! This is not a game. Jherenon is planning to launch a demonic invasion for the Nine.”

  “Words like that will get you hung, or worse,” warned Vichont.

  “We witnessed it!”

  Vichont asked, “Witnessed what?”

  “Jherenon sent me to find Masoc Bastoc and his missing company. We found them alright. Masoc was holed up in the sewers of Drenamere. He was in possession of an Immortal Heart, and he killed his company to allow demons to feed on them to gain their strength.”

  Vichont shook his head, “A rogue Warden does not prove anything.”

  “Uncle, he was taking orders from Jherenon! He was opening the rifts in service of the Grand Master,” replied Vacinne, the frustration clear in her voice.

  “What other proof do you have?”

  “When we started closing in on Masoc’s trail, Jherenon was all of a sudden commanding me to abort the mission. We couldn’t though. Masoc was about to launch the invasion inside Drenamere. He even managed to open a rift, but we were able to stop him and close the rift.”

  “That’s impossible,” reasoned Vichont.

  “Impossible or not, it happened,” snapped Renlar. “Masoc and all his demons are dead, but the threat is far from over.”

  “What’s your stake in all this, Hellborn? What, revenge on the temple for rejecting you?” snarled Vichont.

  Vacinne stepped into Vichont’s line of sight to Renlar. She crossed her arms and glared at her uncle. “Stop this stupid pissing contest of yours. The Grand Master of this temple is willing to sacrifice Wardens if that’s what it takes to begin this invasion, and you want to squabble?”

  Vichont sighed loudly announcing his irritation.

  “We don’t have time for this,” snapped Vacinne.

  Renlar chimed in, “The Grand Master is set to launch a wide-scale invasion on Durghast. He has a Warden in High Crown set to open multiple rifts. He’s also planning to open one here. He also thinks that Masoc is still alive, ready to open one in Drenamere.”

  “How could you think that the Grand Master of our order would be in league with the Nine? Our entire way of life is dedicated to the service of the Light.”

  Renlar slowly walked toward Vichont. “For the same reason that so many people reject the Light, because of the pain in their life. Jherenon blames the Light for not sparing his family. He is bitter.”

  Vichont rocked in his chair. “I just have a hard time believing he would knowingly side with the Nine. He knows that they cannot contend with the Light. He is far too powerful for them, and Jherenon’s seen it time and time again. The Light always triumphs, the Nine cannot win.”

  Vacinne said, “He knows that, but he’s not trying to win.”

  Renlar added, “He just
wants to cause the Light as much pain as he’s felt himself.”

  Vichont remained silent as he rocked in his chair. His distant gaze fell to the floor as his mind wrestled with the information they’d given him. Vacinne and Renlar just stood there allowing her uncle time to think. Only the groaning creaking of the chair rocking filled the room.

  Her uncle took a deep breath and exhaled in a slow, controlled manner. “Even if what you said were true, what would you expect me to do? I am not the Grand Master.”

  “Uncle, you are the second in command. You are well respected, people will listen to you,” she insisted.

  “I’d be marked as a blasphemous traitor. I’d be beaten and excommunicated, or outright killed,” he replied.

  Vacinne replied, “As will I.”

  Renlar said, “That’s why we will not fail. Jherenon dies tonight.”

  Vichont leaned back in his chair and wore a smug look. “Bold words from a bounty hunter. You’re just going to waltz into his quarters and slit his throat, eh?”

  “Pretty much sums it up,” said Renlar with well-earned arrogance.

  “Uncle, do you not know who this is?”

  Vichont bristled, “We already established that he’s a Hellborn who the temple rejected.”

  “He’s the Black Blade.”

  Vichont tried to hide his surprise, but it was evident that he knew the name. He tried to act unaffected by this knowledge, but he was clearly reappraising Renlar and the entire situation. He nodded.

  Renlar repeated himself, “Jherenon dies tonight. With, or without your help. We just wanted to grant you a chance to be on the right side of what’s about to happen.”

  Vichont countered, “You do realize I am sworn to protect the temple, and by proxy, the Grand Master?”

  Renlar and Vacinne nodded.

  Vichont continued, “And you realize that every Warden in this temple has sworn the same oath?”

  They nodded still.

  Vichont rose from his rocker and began to pace the room. “Even if you managed to slip past the guards and by some miracle, managed to take out Jherenon, who by the way, will not go down without a fight, how will you escape the wrath of the entire temple?”

  “That’s why we need you,” said Vacinne plainly. “Make no mistake, we will kill Jherenon. Whether or not we survive is a different story.”