Zion: Light of the New Moon Part 3, Temple of Unity Ch 1
Zion - Light of the New Moon, Part 3 The Temple of Unity Ch 1
Despite what others may have proposed I am no hero... I never have been and never shall be. Although they sometimes perceive me as fearless and without any sense of self preservation I can say with certainty that I am no more courageous or stalwart than anyone else. There is one simple difference that sets me apart from others, and that is the fact that, once I establish a plan I know I will survive. Knowing that it is possible to stand against twenty well armed, well trained soldiers and it will not mean my death does not create courage-- it creates certainty... and certainty is often mistaken for daring.
"You can't be serious." the dog known as Taggart objected when I relayed to him my plan, "There's no way you can defeat all of them by yourself!" he kept his tone subdued as the guards approached us; they had not yet determined we were a threat.
"I do not plan on fighting all of them, Taggart." I offered calmly; it was obvious I hadn't explained well enough for him to understand, "Once I have their attention I will lead them away."
"They won't all follow." Zachary expressed the concern before Taggart did, "They're not just going to leave us here unattended." I had anticipated such skepticism, and it was unfounded.
"Indeed they will not." I agreed simply.
"So how's this going to help us get inside?" the priest bristled in a very un-rabbit-like way.
"I am afraid I cannot explain much more just now as we are limited on time." my apology was false, as I was more concerned with maintaining the future rather than the proximity of the guards, "Be ready." I suggested, and gripped the moonstone necklace I had 'inherited'.
"You. Stop." the man in the front directed. His name was Davyn, a human originally from Myre, but he had accepted the word of Tah'alia and joined the Legion of the Sun five months and two days prior to the attack on Zion. He'd been at his post for over a week and was tasked with seeking out any free-ranging priests. I glanced around to those closest to him; they had all been given the same order.
"My name is Armenius Tenge, High Priest of Shrad." I spoke calmly, "You are in my way and if you do not move I will bring down the wrath of Tah'aveen upon you."
The two closest guards, Davyn and a pangolin named Hanshari looked at one another and began to laugh. Davyn was the first to address me, "You're not Armenius Tenge, little man... everyone knows he's a polar bear."
"And it is also said he is a powerful wielder of magic." I pointed out, letting the magic of Divination flow through me subtly enough that I didn't need to offer more than a single gesture; to them it would appear as if I were dispelling an illusion-- I know, because that is what I willed for them to think. They never realized that the large polar bear they saw was the fake image.
"By the Flame!" gasped the pangolin and she took a step back, raising her spear, "High Priest Armenius Tenge, in the name of the Goddess of the Sun, Tah'alia, and bearer of--"
"Enough." I noted, and motioned to her. I am no priest, but I do know enough of the prayers to fool those not familiar with the ways of Shrad and, to my good fortune, none of the Legion's soldiers present were. "You are damned." I stated simply, and Hanshari's body crushed itself.
"It's the High Priest of Shrad!" Davyn shouted, calling the attention of several more of the soldiers. My display had been overt enough for the cry to be unnecessary, but it was made regardless. Aside from the human's lack of faith in the Moon Goddess he was not a bad man but 'good' and 'evil' will always be nebulous concepts-- he was a foe.
"You cannot stop the High Priest of Shrad, boy." I offered him a single warning, "Who has lived countless centuries." I ignored the arrow that impacted the illusionary form superimposed upon me; it struck the stone wall behind me, "Whose very wrath will smite the life out of heathens." I called upon my knowledge of Focus magic, tying it in with my Divination to hide the source of the power and, as the jaguar charging me closed, he dropped dead, seemingly of no effect other than a blink on the part of the illusionary Armenius Tenge.
"You by the doors... stay there!" shouted Davyn to some of the Legion; I had killed his sergeant, which left him in charge, "The rest of you... ATTACK!" his battle cry was meek in comparison to some I have heard, but it was genuine. I realized at that point that I would not be able to dissuade him.
"Your love is of the Eternal Flame, Davyn of Myre... and so you will spend eternity in the cold." I promised,"Fyss." It is a well known tale that Armenius Tenge, High Priest of Shrad was capable of summoning an arctic blast with his voice alone... among all of the many false legends of the High Priest, that one was true, and so I resurrected it, engulfing the human in an arctic blast so strong that he had no time to scream. I still consider it a merciful death.
"Kill the bear!" shouted one of the soldiers, and nearly two thirds of their number came after me.
"Follow if you will." I invited without concern, "I will not profane the temple steps with your blood." and I took the opportunity to fall back-- not quickly or at all urgently, but I needed to be out of view... far out of view.
I moved through the city streets, choosing an alley, but not before I let the front-runners see me enter. Only then did I begin the next step in my plan. "Eiel." I spoke as much as thought.
The response was hazy due to the distance, but it was still clear enough for me to sense the unmistakable mind, "You no can Call, Morsel."
"How are your wings?" I inquired. Although I had the opportunity to remind him strongly that I was the reason he could still fly I simply left it at that, and it had the desired effect.
"What want... Tollie?" it was good that he remembered my name.
"Do you know the Moon City?" I inquired. I could hear the sounds of pursuit; the soldiers were getting closer.
"Yes." he acknowledged, and I could sense a twinge of fear, "I no go to Moon City... no can go to Moon City."
"You can now." I promised him, "I know you have always wanted to see it."
"..."
"And there will be food." I added.
"What I need do for food?" he tried to hide his enthusiasm but failed.
The soldiers began to flood the entrance to the alley. Behind me was a brick wall and they approached me confidently knowing that there was no escape. My smile obviously confused them, as did my single request. "Attend me." and then the summoning was complete. Yes... the alley had only one exit... and it was suddenly filled with one very enthusiastic wyvern.
* * * * * *
Lady Marion had been raised as a mediator and negotiator; while the Wild Landers had a distinctive concern, the priestess realized there were more pressing matters that had to be addressed. Despite how much she wanted to debate the point, she knew that their argument was valid. "I understand." she spoke; the two words had always served well in the past, and, at that moment, they were no exception.
"Do ye, now?" the wolf shaman challenged her blandly.
"Here." Lady Marion held out a moonstone locket without reluctance, "This belonged to my grandmother."
Dana looked down at it, "An' why would I be wantin' it?"
"Because I want it." Marion explained simply, "and because I swear here and now in the light of the stars that stand witness for Tah'aveen that I shall not accept it back save with your permission." She paused as Dana cocked her head to the side, one ear up, assessing her critically with her two-colored eyes. Lady Marion elaborated, "While you hold the locket you know that no harm will come to you and that I will always act in your best interest otherwise I'll never able to recover my most treasured heirloom."
The wolf shaman stood passively, eyes now focused on the locket in her paw. Lady Marion waited with baited breath but attempted to retain an even composure as she watched the Wild Lander for any sign of what she was thinking; she found none. Finally, after what felt like minutes, a smile slowly spread its way across Dana's muzzle and she raised her eyes to meet Marion's gaze.
"Thank ye, Priestess." but, rather than put the locket away in her belt pouch, the wolf shaman offered it back. Lady Marion was about to object but Dana spoke first, "Never has a priest or priestess offered so much t'my people... no promise or guarantee or offer a'peace." The priestess remained looking at the locket even as the wolf continued offering it, "Here... This be yours, nae mine... an' I nae need it t'know ye mean well by us."
"But I meant what I said when-"
Dana cut the priestess' objection short, "Aye... I know... an' that's why I nae need it." she offered a smile, which only confused Lady Marion more, but she accepted the locket regardless.
"Dana?" Iskiy inquired, one ear up and the other ear back, "I'm confused." he blinked, "I already said--"
"Aye." Dana's smile turned to the scout, "I know what ye said boy-o, an' I believed that ye believed it... but ye need'ta know that I gotta know fer me too." she patted his shoulder, "An' now I do."
"So you'll help us at the Temple of Unity?" Lady Marion asked plaintively.
"Aye." Dana acknowledged, "There're good people among the Moon Followers an' good people among the Sun Followers." the shaman leveled her gaze on the priestess at that, "Ye learn temperance and balance, aye?" the question was one that hinted that only one answer was correct.
"If there are bad people among the Followers of the Moon then there may be good people among the Followers of the Sun." Lady Marion put words to Dana's thought.
"Aye." the shaman acknowledged, "An' ye need t'know that not all a'em are enemies."
"And not all Moon Worshipers are friends." the words escaped Lady Marion's lips before she could stop them; her mind recalled the trials and tribulations the caravan had survived... too many coincidences to not consider everything that had happened.
"Not all, maybe." Keeland's upbeat voice hailed from the side, "But more than a few are." Lady Marion turned to regard the sergeant, and she realized why he was in good spirits; following behind him were no less than two dozen armed militiamen. "Are we ready to retake the temple?" he questioned.
Lady Marion looked to Dana who nodded; the shaman then looked to Iskiy, who nodded; he then looked to empty air behind him-- then back to Keeland, "Yep!" the antlered wolf acknowledged, and cleared his throat to cover his embarrassment, "Ready!"
The small liberation force proceeded to the Temple of Unity, Lady Marion in the lead. She smiled at her good fortune; there were far less guards than she would have wagered... not that she was a betting lady. The priestess looked to Keeland, "If you would, Sergeant?"
The shepherd stood tall as he looked back to the assembled militia. Drawing his sword, Keeland pointed it to the temple, "The liberation of Zion has begun!" he roared.
If his shout hadn't drawn the attention of the Sun Cultists, the resounding battle cry of "FOR ZION!" from the assembled voices certainly did.