The Call of the Gods
Iskt looked down at the world he had created and the people he had made to inhabit it. They were living so peacefully, unaware of the menace that would soon disrupt their society. His wife joined him. She looked over the world then pointed to a darkened area.
"Is that where Iestirh..."
"Yes," he said softly, the pain of betrayal heavy in his voice.
Iliener hugged her husband, letting him know that she was there for him. After several minutes, he patted her paws and turned away, sliding his arm around her and walking with her back to their seats.
"I cannot let my people face this menace by themselves however I am bound by our covenant not to interfere directly. What can I do, my wife?"
His Lady was silent, thinking.
"You will have to let our people face the menace themselves, my love." Before he could say anything, a look of unhappiness on his face, she held up a finger to quiet him. "However there is nothing in the covenant that says you cannot warn them of the menace."
He looked at her, eyes wide.
"How can I warn them without talking directly to them and thus breaking my oath?"
"They sleep, my love. Perhaps if we can find someone perceptive enough to remember a message we can warn him or her that way? We do have some time before they will be threatened directly."
Iskt looked at his wife then leapt to his feet.
"We need a Hero!"
Iliener fell back into her seat, laughing at his pose. He shrugged sheepishly.
"All right, so I like being dramatic! However we do need a hero."
His wife nodded.
"So how do we find one?"
"Now that, my wife," he replied softly, "is a very good question."
* * *
Brendar woke at his usual time. He stretched, realizing he was still thinking of the sword he had been dreaming of. He could almost feel it's smooth grip in his paw. The need to create it was almost overwhelming. He rushed through his morning meal, causing his wife to exclaim in annoyance.
"Sorry dear." He kissed her lovingly. "I have been dreaming of a sword, oh such a special sword, but until today have not remembered it clearly. Now I must get it drawn before I forget it again."
His wife smiled tolerantly and shooed him off, turning her attention to their young daughter. He rushed into his workshop and grabbed a new sheet of paper, drawing furiously. By the time his apprentices had gathered for the day's instructions he had drawn it out and listed all the materials he would need for it.
* * *
Many years pass.
* * *
Shanton watched the initiates as they practiced their swordplay. Many of them would never rise high in the church hierarchy and would be used as guards for the temple. His eyes narrowed as he focused on one in particular. Ilip was distracted today. She took a second hit on the arm even as he watched. The Weapons Master walked over to her then sent her off to the other practice yard. She would spend the next hour practicing her swordplay before tending to the altar before the evening ceremonies. The High Priest smiled softly before turning back to his duties. He felt she showed great promise to being the Captain of his guards someday and the current lesson would be good for her.
Ilip scowled at she walked into the deserted practice yard. She was having a hard time concentrating today. She kept getting a feeling that there was danger around but never in the area that her sparring partner had moved. She took a deep breath and began her exercises. Maybe she should say something to the Weapons Master. Or maybe he would think she was making excuses. Either way, she would have to wait until after the services were over.
After the hour of practice, Ilip went to her room and quickly cleaned and changed. She went back to the nave of the temple and took out the cleaning cloths. She cleaned the already spotless altar then made sure everything was arranged properly and set within easy reach for the High Priest. She took a moment to admire the sword lying in the hands of the statue of Iskt. The story told to the initiates was that Iskt had given a famous weapon smith the image of the sword as a special mark of favor. He had given the sword to the temple after months of labor.
Ilip finished cleaning and stood back in the place assigned to the acolyte chosen to assist the High Priest during the ceremonies. As part of her punishment she would take this place for this ceremony.
Shanton waited patiently as the acolyte made sure his vestments were straight. It was almost time for the evening ceremony and then supper. He was sure that everyone was hungry and would appreciate a short ceremony however his duty was clear. He hid a sigh and picked up his prayer book.
"Shall we go, Darcaris?"
Just as his acolyte opened the door, one of the kitchen staff came running up, breathing heavily.
"My *gasp* apologies, *pant* Most Gracious *gasp* One, but *pant* there has *wheeze* been an accident *gasp* and one *pant* of the initiates *gasp* is badly burnt. *Pant* The Kitchen Master *gasp* begs your *gasp* indulgence *pant* to help heal -"
The servant was left gasping as the High Priest and his acolyte took off running down the hall, not even waiting for him to finish gasping out his message. He leaned against the wall to recover his breath before returning to the kitchen at a slower pace.
Shanton raced into the kitchen, hearing his acolyte wheezing behind him. A corner of his mind noted idly that there would be talk about how he was in better shape than the younger acolytes. He took in the situation at a quick glance. A pot lay to one side, half it's contents scattered over a table and disturbed where the initiate had been pulled away. The Kitchen Master was bent over the unconscious boy and was talking to him even as the rest of the staff applied healing salve to the boy's arms.
Shanton dropped to his knees, recognizing the signs of shock and the unhealthy pallor under the burns. He was aware that the Kitchen Master was telling the boy to hold on and not give up. Summoning his power he laid his paws carefully on the injured boy and sent his healing power into the boy. He moved from the inside out, stopping the spread of the burns then repairing the damage. He was not aware of the passing of time as he worked to save the boy's life.
Finally he broke the connection, nearly falling as weakness overwhelmed him. The Kitchen Master unobtrusively caught and supported him for the brief moments he needed. He looked down at the pink flesh exposed to the air. The boy would still be laid up for a few days and it would take time for his fur to grow back but he would live now. The boy's color had improved and he was breathing steadily now.
"Carry him carefully into my room," the Kitchen master directed the other initiates. His room was closer than the dormitory. As the initiates carefully carried the boy out of the kitchen, the Kitchen Master assisted the high Priest to his feet and sat him at another table, offering a mug of a fortified drink. Shanton nodded his thanks and wrapped his paws around the mug, noticing he was still trembling from the exertion of his power.
Ilip sighed softly and shifted her weight. The High Priest was late. She could hear some running feet in the passageways but couldn't leave to ask what was happening and no one would enter until the High Priest led in the congregation for the evening services. Until then, she had to wait. Which she did for long enough to make her frown in concern.
Suddenly, Ilip was overwhelmed with a sense of danger so acute it almost caused her pain. Her head turned to face into the amphitheatre then she felt it, a slight rumbling under her feet. She looked down at the floor, her eyes sweeping back and forth. Then she saw the first disturbances just as the floor in front of the altar bent and then blew upwards. Several other areas of the amphitheatre also exploded upwards. These openings were immediately filled as tall, scaled insectoids crawled out of the holes, looking around for the prey they thought would already be there.
Ilip stood frozen for only a second. Without conscious thought, she grabbed for the sword in the idol's paws, calling out,
"Alarm! Intruders in the sanctum!"
The closest insectoid turned towards her at her cry and lunged even as the alarms went off. Ilip stepped back, falling into the classic defense position as she brought the humming, glowing sword up. She blinked in surprise then didn't have time to think as the first insectoid attacked.
Shanton's head jerked up and he dropped the mug as the alarms rang the sequence that said intruders were inside the sanctum. He raced from the kitchen, hearing the cries of the guards as they quickly organized and moved towards the entrance of the temple nave. He didn't see the Captain of his Guard until the man fell into place beside him.
"My Grace, my men have sealed off all the doors. There are several large insect-like creatures in the sanctum." He paused then continued in a voice that shook only slightly. "One of my men said that the initiate Ilip was in the sanctum preparing it for the services when the alarm went off. We believe she managed to call out the warning before -" he stopped.
Shanton said a brief prayer as they raced for the main doors. One lone initiate against several foes would have no chance of surviving until the guards arrived but at least she had managed to warn them. A thought struck him and he stopped abruptly.
"By Shal-tar-Iskt, if the kitchen boy had not gotten injured we would all have been inside when the attack started!"
The Guard Captain looked somber as he grasped the cleric's thought.
"This wasn't random. It was planned to catch us at our weakest time." They looked at each other then raced to the main doors.
Ilip moved the sword, the thought that it was lighter than she had expected it would be flashing through her mind, and blocked the insectoid's claws. Without thinking, she reversed her stroke and cut cleanly through the creature's mandibles as it tried to bite her. The creature reeled back, a weird screeching coming from it as another moved in on her right. Ilip ducked to her left, instinctively avoiding moving into the center of the room where she would be surrounded and also keeping from retreating far enough to box herself into the corner. The sword hummed louder as it cut easily through the second insectoid's claws, dark blue ichor dripping onto the floor and sizzling slightly.
"Okay, don't let that splash on me," Ilip thought to herself as she fell into the Dancer's Defence. She knew the guards would be on their way but she would have to face these creatures by herself for a few minutes.
Ilip stepped to her left and forward then stepped back as the creature on her right rushed, thinking she had overextended herself. The sword hummed louder as it caught the shoulder of the creature as it ducked to the side to avoid her blow. Ilip stopped herself from following and swung the sword back in time to block the next creature's clattering claws. She let the sword's momentum carry her in a turning sidestep as the first creature slammed into the one she had just blocked. She thrust forward, skewering the insectoid then pulling back in time to duck under the claws of a fifth creature as the ones she had wounded moved back, leaving the one dead.
The insectoid that had just missed her dropped, intending to bite her. Ilip slashed, the blade bouncing off the tougher armour of the creature and whipping just under its eyes. The creature drew back instinctively and Ilip followed with a lunge that penetrated the underbelly close to the front set of claws. The creature squealed and fell backward. Without waiting to see if it died or not, Ilip whirled and slashed at the creature climbing over the other body. The blade scored across its eyes and the creature went berserk, flailing out at anything near it. The creatures moving in behind it backed off.
Ilip took the chance to glance over at the one she had just skewered. It was laying on it's back, legs curled close to it's body, and unmoving. She looked back to see a claw coming at her head and ducked, trying to parry. Fire exploded across her cheek then she could smell the metallic tang of her blood and feel the warmth as it ran down her cheek. She slashed at the supporting leg of the insectoid before it could bring its claw back and ducked as it tumbled to the side. She had to scramble back as the next creature tried to take advantage of her distraction, narrowly avoiding being caught in its claws.
Reacting on instinct again she ducked forward, moving under the creature and coming up beside it, turning to bring the sword up through it's side. The hum of the sword and the cry of the creature mingled, sending a shiver through her. A cry escaped from her, "Valnara!" A brilliant light flashed from the sword and filled the room.
The Guard Captain signaled to the men by the doors to open them, letting the remaining guards rush in. He strode in after them, guarding his High Priest and stopped in awe. Shanton looked around him and gasped. They saw the guards engaging the insectoids before the creatures were aware of their new foes, so intent had they been on the sole figure fighting them. The priest and guard captain watched as Ilip danced gracefully, the sword a gleaming blur, seeming to avoid her enemies with little effort. Then she was struck and brilliant red blood flew over the altar. Shanton was already chanting his spell when Ilip ducked under the creature and came up on the other side, her cry echoing as the light blinded everyone. High-pitched squeals sounded from the creatures then the ground heaved and silence fell.
Ilip watched in amazement as the light flooded the room, finding she was not affected as everyone else reacted. The insectoids squealed as if in pain and as one, dove downward and dug their way quickly under the temple. The guards were trained to crouch immediately and blinked, trying to get their sight back.
Shanton narrowed his eyes as his vision started to return, allowing his eyes to adjust a little faster. He was the only one to see Ilip look around in amazement as the last of the creatures disappeared from sight, leaving only their dead and the blinded one, which had stopped moving and curled into itself. Then she collapsed to the floor, the sword dropping from her fingers.
* * *
Ilip slowly opened her eyes. The room had a distressing tendency to whirl despite her knowing it couldn't be moving. She blinked, realizing she was in the infirmary. She tried to move and groaned as every muscle, nerve and bone screamed in protest. She heard someone moving to her side and looked to see the High Priest smiling at her. He placed a paw gently on her arm, barely touching but still sending waves of pain through her.
"Easy, Ilip. Your body took more abuse then you realize." He looked thoughtful. "Where did you learn to fight like that, young one?"
Ilip tried to speak but her throat was too dry. Shanton made a soft exclamation and got some water, allowing her to take only small sips at first. She smiled her thanks; suddenly aware of the complete exhaustion she was feeling.
"I didn't - I mean I wasn't -" she took a deep breath, holding back her gasp of pain. "I think the sword was fighting more than I was, I just did what felt right."
Shanton looked thoughtful.
"I think that we shall have to say a special thank you to Shal-tar-Iskt tonight for both the sword and for the good luck of you being there."
"I don't think it was luck," Ilip said without thinking then mentally kicked herself. Shanton looked more curious than upset. He motioned for her to continue. She sighed, resigned to being considered insane by her High Priest. "I've been having images, dreams I thought, for the past few days that wouldn't go away. First it was just when I slept then I begun seeing things that weren't there." She blushed deeply. "That was why I was so awkward at practice. I kept feeling like my opponent was to the side and could just catch movement out of the corner of my eye but there was never anything there when I looked directly." She ended on a frustrated note, her voice cracking.
Shanton gave her some more water, watching her with a thoughtful look. When she was finished, he sat beside her. He asked quietly,
"Did you feel like danger was around you?"
Startled, Ilip started to nod then grimaced with the pain.
"Yes! Then I felt the earth moving." A thought occurred suddenly, so plain on her face that Shanton smiled.
"I already sanctified the ground and the guards are keeping watch until the floor can be repaired tomorrow. I also set the wards as deep down the holes as I was permitted to go." A smile twitched on his lips. "Are you aware that you named the sword, young Ilip?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. Her thoughts flicked back over what she remembered, mostly bits and pieces, too involved to feel fear at that time. Then she remembered the bright flash and just before that the impulse that made her say,
"Valnara!"
Both of them jumped as the sword suddenly appeared in her paw. Ilip was unable to hold it and dropped it on the bed as pain swept through her. Shanton stared down at the sword.
"That confirms it. Shal-tar-Iskt has chosen you, Paladin." The High Priest smiled gently. "Sleep now Ilip. As soon as you heal, your training will continue. No one will remove your Defender while you sleep."
Leaving the water beside her, the priest left the room, turning off the light as he went. Ilip could feel her paw curling over the hilt even as sleep claimed her body. The sword felt right to her, a part of her. A paladin's sword.
Go back to my library