“I am humbled.” Eric replied and bowed.
“For you, I would hold off on naming it until it has a meaning for you.” He turned back to Ted. “Should we move out?”
Ted nodded and they moved back to the horses. With the three men remaining, there were three extra horses. The Grand Master took one and Eric’s men led the other two. Ted had hope, as they made their way down the steep incline to Colorado Springs. He wasn’t sure if he had a euphoria born of some pattern the Grand Master had put in the staff, or if it was the circumstance of this outing that brought him hope. In the end, he didn’t really care which one it was.
“Tell me how your dad fell again…” He heard Pike say to Kyle as they rode next to each other. It was a good thing for Kyle to finally get to know this great man.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Nate looked down at the torn corpse of the dairy cow at his feet. It had definitely been torn apart by a large beast. His first thought was perhaps it had been one of those wolf-men which they had seen when they had taken Annie Grace. But, the bite marks were absolutely huge. The rest of the Lord’s Hammer had gone to other farms to see the strange events which were happening all over. He had come here, to this dairy farm, to find seven different cows ripped apart, large portions of their torsos missing. In the days prior to the Event, this would have been blamed on space aliens. Now, it was anyone’s guess.
This Annie Grace woman had caused a large problem. Her demonic powers had twisted human beings into sub-human creatures. Nate rarely doubted their mission, but in this case, it was so clear cut. He regularly felt they were on the track, but could there be doubt about this? This was the definition of evil. However, he wasn’t sure she had anything to do with this. Stepping on some remaining entrails, he noticed the slippery blood and looked around. This was fresher than he had assumed. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He got the sudden feeling he was being watched.
“Come out from where you are.” He called out, uncertain of what kind of response he might get. But there was nothing.
It was late in the afternoon, and getting chilly. They had experienced a few snow storms, but nothing like the last two years. He didn’t know the exact date, but was sure it was close to November now. The planted fields across the fence nearby had not been completely harvested. They had belonged to a family of heretics, who had spoken out against the Faith, and had paid the due price for their sin. The brown, dying stalks looked a little creepy to Nate, but he saw no reason to think anyone was there. He sat on a stump to wipe his shoes free from the gore that had attached to them.
The rustling sound in the field brought him straight to his feet. Adrenaline pumped through his system, heightening his senses. Nate was not afraid of demons, their powers, or their works. God had granted him, and his friends, the ability to crush those powers. He stepped closer to the field. Back about twenty feet in, he thought he saw a dark shape.
“Come out, demon!” He yelled, feeling the tin in his teeth that adrenaline brought. There was no movement. Was it a large rock? Was it another cow?
“In the name of God, come out, demon!” He shouted, invoking the Almighty for both effect and to remind himself of his own protection.
“What are you shouting at?” came the voice behind him, and he almost jumped out of his skin.
He turned to find his friend Jim staring at him, “You scared me to death.”
“It will be your death, if Minister Sal finds out you spoke in public. Found some cows, did you?” Jim replied.
“Yes.”
“All of us found something similar. It is a beast of some sort, and we aren’t sure this is a part of our mission. Cory sent me to get you. Now, shut up and…” Jim stopped short as a large crashing sound came out of the dry field. There was something in those dead stalks of corn.
Jim pulled out his cudgel and walked toward the sound with much more calm than Nate felt. But, with his friend by his side, he felt that much stronger. He also pulled his cudgel out. There cudgels were small, hard, wooden batons with rivets in the business end. All of the Lord’s hammer kept them up their sleeves. They used them mostly on the possessed, who were distracted by their sudden loss of abilities in the presence of the Lord’s Hammer. Right now, they were going to use them on whatever was hiding in the corn fields.
Nate could see the shape of the creature from where he was. It definitely wasn’t human. It also definitely wasn’t a cow; it was much bigger than that. As they came closer, they heard an exhale, or perhaps a huff, come from the creature. Jim pointed to the side, noting for Nate to fan out to the right. Getting closer, Nate noticed it was a deep green color mixed with some brown that camouflaged it to some degree. He noticed two thin yellow lines on its side. While wondering about those, the lines opened into eyes, fully the size of his fist. That huge thing wasn’t its body, it was just its head.
Jim gasped, seeing the predicament they were in, and the thing turned its head in a flash and snapped just in front of him. Nate saw his friend fall to the ground, and shouted. The beast turned on him, brutally warm breath coming out of its maw, as it moved its jaw in the weirdest way. It almost looked like it was trying to talk, then it roared and rose up. Finally, Nate saw its full size. This thing was huge, easily four times the size of a cow, with wings that now spread out behind it. It turned and fled, leaping into the air and falling in a sort of flighted hop that would have been comical if Nate were not so freaked out by it.
Jim rose to his feet, looked at Nate, and they both ran as fast as they could back the way they came. They ran in one direction, while the beast ran in the other. After about a mile of running, they slowed and looked behind them.
Catching his breath, Nate said, “Don’t call me crazy, but was that…?”
“A dragon!” Jim responded. “You saw it too, right? That thing was a dragon.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
It was a lot to take in. Eric rode down the pass in silence, while many of the others talked. Coulson was alive, but Eric still didn’t know what had happened to all the people he had taken with him. A man who Eric had heard of all his life, who had been the instructor for SFC Ward and SSG Craven, had befriended him. He had spent days and hours with these people he had used to know, who he had discounted as traitors and weaklings. He still thought they were going about things in the wrong way, but now he needed them. If they did not band together and take on the Faith, the Faith would eventually come to them. He had reached out to make a pact with an enemy, but now found himself uncertain that he still saw them as an enemy.
They departed the pass, what had once been Colorado Highway 24, at the western side of Manitou Springs, and rode to his gate. It was getting dark, and they had decided to stay the night at his town, before the group moved on back to the Bluffs. To his shock, Eric had been invited to join them at the Bluffs. They were going to take him inside their camp, where he could see any weakness they had. It was either incredibly smart, or incredibly stupid. Only time would tell.
Riding up to the gate, he saw the sentries posted there. He did not wait for the challenge. “It’s Fine, open the gate.”
Both men saluted. “Yes, Lord Marshall!”
Eric looked around to the others and saw the Grand Master smirking at him. “It is just a title,” Eric stated.
“Hey, whatever floats your boat.” Pike replied.
The gate opened and they rode into the center of town. Andy Summers came out to greet Fine. “Lord Marshall.”
“Hello, General.” Fine replied, without really thinking about it. “Will you find our guests a place to sleep for the night. We are leaving in the morning.”
Seeing the look on Summers’ face was enough for Eric to know the question forming in his subordinate’s mind.
“Yes, this group, and myself.” He continued, “I will go and fight our growing enemy in the east. Any more news on that front?”
“Nothing. We have only sent out two scouting groups. Neither has returned yet.” Summers r
eplied.
Summers made a motion and some men led the party off to a building that used to be housing for men that had long since died. Once the party was out of earshot, he turned to his leader, “What do you want me to do with them?”
Eric understood where the question came from, but was too tired to explain. “Just what I asked. Give them rest and get us new horses for the morning. This Faith is a real threat. Also, don’t be stupid. That old man they have with them is not to be trifled with.”
Eric walked to his own housing building, but not without noticing the disregard with which Summers took his orders. At the moment, he didn’t have the time or energy to deal with it. But, sometime soon, Eric was going to have to show Andy Summers who was boss. It was just the nature of things.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
“Are you alright?” Emma whispered to Rich, who was tied up across the room from her.
He was gagged as well, but managed to nod a yes. Rich had been gagged almost the whole time, they seemed to think his singing was dangerous. Emma had always found Rich’s guitar playing to have the most effect, but it didn’t really matter. She could see the trickle of blood dripping down from above Rich’s right ear. Of them all, Rich had been treated the worst. They had left Anthony un-gagged which had worked well for Emma and her friends, since no one knew his ability. The reason they were alone now was that Anthony had asked to see Kim, thinking he might convince her to help.
Anthony could not get them to let him, or Emma and Rich, loose. It wasn’t the way his power worked. He could only convince a person of something they already believed, or bring doubt, where there was room for doubt. These people were devout, there was no room for doubt. Hearing the footsteps coming, her tension grew. There was no telling if the guard would come back with Kim, or with Sal. If Sal came, any of them could be beaten at any moment.
Sal seemed to hold to a medieval version of theology, which posited that a demon could be beaten out of a person. Emma was a scientist, and not given to speculation about spiritual forces. She even recognized that there was science involved in their abilities. Emma could see down to a DNA level in most plants. It was hard to explain, but she simply cooperated with them in their purpose. In so doing, she could help them be weather resistant, or grow faster, etc. She didn’t actually see it as anything much different than the way Anthony worked with talking to people, he just cooperated with their instincts and thoughts.
Emma had made all of them a little more comfortable by silently growing soft plants beneath them, making sure they did not get too green for late autumn, or too long. If Sal figured out she was still using her powers, he would most likely burn her in a moment.
“That one asked for you.” The guard said, then stepped outside. The people of the Faith tended to treat all three of them like they were subhuman. They did not call them by their names or even gendered pronouns, it was always “that one”, or “it”. Emma assumed they thought of them as asexual demons, rather than human beings. She knew this was Sal’s doing, but couldn’t understand how people were taken in by it.
“What is it, Anthony?” Kim asked curtly.
“Hey, Kim,” he said in that deep tone that Emma always found relaxing.
“Yes?” Kim asked, the nastiness dripping from her voice.
“I hoped you could look after Rich. He is bleeding from that gash on his head, and the lump is growing.” Anthony responded.
Kim didn’t even look over at him. “No, I can’t.”
Anthony pleaded with her, “Kim, don’t you see? Rich is hurt. He is your friend.”
“That isn’t Rich Carson.” Kim said, and Emma knew that it was futile. She was brainwashed or something. A tear quietly welled up in Emma’s eyes and fell down her cheek.
“What do we have here?” Sal’s voice cut through the tent. Emma had not even heard him coming. He was flanked by two other members of the Faith, but not the Lord’s Hammer. As long as those men stayed away, she was able to use her abilities.
“Oh, Minister.” Kim said, startled. “I did not hear you arrive.”
“And what are you doing in here, sister?” he asked.
“Anthony asked for me.”
“Did he?” Sal asked and walked over to where Anthony was, searching for something. “And why is that?”
“He wanted me to look after the heretic.” She answered, her head drooping down.
“The demon heretic.” Sal hissed.
“Yes, forgive me, Minister, the demon heretic. He…it was trying to get my help, but I didn’t give it.” Her eyes kept darting down every time he would look at her.
“But, you are here. You wanted to see your friends.” His words had a great impact on Kim, she began stammering.
“No, n-n-no, Minister. T-they are not my friends. They are demons.” Emma could see the sweat beading on Kim’s forehead. What had this man done?
“That they are.” Sal replied. “Go into the fields, now. Work your hands free of this entanglement.”
“But, Minister, it is nearly dark and I worked all day.”
“Hard work chases the demons away. Your demon seems to be hovering…” Sal looked into her eyes, and Kim’s fear was palpable.
“Then I will work it away,” she spurted out. “By your leave?”
Sal nodded and Kim ran out. He turned toward Anthony, “Now, what was this about?”
Anthony replied, “I just wanted her to look after my friend. He is hurt. Could someone please…”
Sal let out a curt laugh, cutting Anthony off. Without answer, he turned to walk out, adding to the guards, “gag the other two. No one sees them without my permission. Are we clear?”
Sal did not wait for the response, but the two men answered, “Yes, Minister,” in unison. They came in a roughly gagged both Emma and Anthony. Before they blew out the light and departed, Emma made eye contact with Anthony. In those deep brown eyes, she saw the despair she had not allowed herself to feel.
EARLY WINTER
“You have heard it said that faith can move mountains. I believe it is true. I have seen faith do great things.”
- Penelope Rivers, Faith of the People
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Kyle was livid. He could not understand why this decision was made without him there. He stomped across the central courtyard and into the council chambers, making a bee line for his uncle, not even stopping to knock the snow off his boots.
“Now, Kyle, wait a minute…” Ted began.
“I am a grown man, Uncle Ted.” Kyle spurted out.
“I know that, but…”
“I can make my own decisions.” Kyle continued.
“Of course you can…”
“What makes you think you have the right to do this?” Kyle finished.
Ted paused for a moment, this had clearly taken him back. “What right? I am the head of the council. You are among those who has continued to vote me into that position. Right has nothing to do with it.”
Kyle huffed.
“It doesn’t, bud.” Ted reached out and put a hand on his nephew’s shoulder. “I simply didn’t have time to ask. I certainly would have left it open to discussion, but I needed to make a decision and I did just that. Can I explain it to you?”
Kyle nodded.
“I need you here.” Ted began, but was quickly interrupted.
“I am a better fighter than most. I know it isn’t my power, but I feel like I could make a difference.” Kyle hurriedly explained.
“Of course you could. That is why I need you here.” Ted looked into Kyle’s eyes. “Kyle, I need a leader, and one who can fight. We are taking almost our entire force with us. I need you here, in charge of the Bluffs.”
It made sense of course, if he had known he was being left in charge. It was a real honor to be chosen for this. Why hadn’t Britt told him that part? “Britt didn’t say…”
“Did you give him a chance?” Ted asked with a soft laugh. “The way you walked in here, I am guessing he told you that you
weren’t coming and you stormed out to confront me.”
Kyle blushed a bit at that. Everyone was on edge. Whatever had been happening to people was getting ready to happen again. You could almost feel it in the air. “My emotions, they are getting the best of me.”
“Yeah,” Ted responded in exasperation. “Beside the urgency of getting our people back, and being on the edge of full winter, I want to move the force out of the Bluffs before we all kill each other. The only reason we remained this long was to celebrate the feast.”
“Thanksgiving without Rich was weird, though, right?” Kyle asked.
“You know my feelings on religion, but yeah, it really was.” Ted replied. “We need to go get our people back, and before Christmas. With safety and numbers, we should be back before then, if we don’t have a protracted battle.”
This was the concern, but most of the council felt that the numbers should suffice. The demi-humans, as Annie Grace’s friends had come to be called, had been arriving for weeks. She had been much more active than Kyle had understood. But, the demi (as they were known) would not be joining the force. They were too tired, and too afraid of the Faith. No one really knew if the Lord’s Hammer would be able to turn them back to humans and the demi didn’t want to take that chance. Still, the force would contain hundreds of fighters, as well as dozens of empaths. As far as they knew, the Faith was comprised of roughly one hundred monk-like workers, and four total fighters, The Lord’s Hammer. A force of this size should allow them to get their people back and broker for peace with this east-side group.
“We good?” Ted asked.
Kyle nodded.
“Good,” Ted continued, “because I have sent four itinerant hunter groups in each direction, with two dogs each to find this Hermit guy. Grand Master says that without Cliff around, he is the only one who might be able to prepare gems of null for us to slap on these four guys. Eric left early this morning to bring troops of his own on this venture.”
Fear of Mystics (Saga of Mystics Book 2) Page 11