Zion: Light of the New Moon Part 3, The Imperial Palace Ch 7
Zion - Light of the New Moon, Part 3 The Imperial Palace Ch 7
The party retreated quickly down the corridor, finding a side passage which led to a meeting room of sorts. There, Haldyn and Kell quickly barricaded the doors with the heavy furnature while Narissa bandaged Zeke's wounds. Dillan took his time fishing around in his many pouches until he pulled out a small pouch created from folded parchments, "Here..." he offered it to Narissa, "This will help with the pain."
"What is it?" Zeke asked, eying the envelope carefully, then wincing as the tigress tightened a bandage around one of his many burns.
"Powder that will help you rest." the ferret responded.
"I can't take that." the fox pushed the envelope away, "I need to know what's going on... I can't sleep now."
"You'll be more comfortable." the merchant stated, picking up the small fold of paper. He emptied a small line of pinkish powder out on his finger and held it up to the fox, "here."
"I said no." Zeke repeated, and slapped the ferret's paw away.
"Damn it, you little shit... this isn't cheap stuff!" Dillan cursed, "Fine.. to the Eternal Flame with it..." and he folded the paper pouch closed and stalked off, "I'm not about to force help past your stupidity." The ferret went over to address Haldyn, "Alright... now what?"
The lion let out a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck, and held up his other paw, raising one finger, "We know that they have a lot of soldiers but we don't know how many." he held up a second finger, "They know we're here." he held up a third, "and we know that the rest of our group is headed for the throne room and they'll need our help."
Dillan nodded, raising his thumb, then lowering it. He raised his index fingern then lowered it. He raised his middle finger and left it raised, "So we're fucked... got it."
Kell moved to join them, pausing only to tie a bandage around his own thigh, "The throne room isn't far."
"You don't even know where it is, do you?" Dillan demanded.
"No." the assassin confirmed, "but it's in this castle, so it can't be far."
Haldyn almost managed a smile, but brought clarity to the discussion, "Half of our number are no good in a head-on fight... we can't battle our way to the throne room if we can't all fight."
"Combat prowess or no, numbers make a difference." Narissa pointed out, as she approached the discussion, Zeke following closely, "Just ask any herd animal."
"I prefer not to think of myself as prey, thank you very much." Dillan countered.
"They know we're here..." Zeke spoke softly, "Our best option is to leave quickly and make as many of their guards follow us as we can."
"ATTRACT attention?" Dillan asked incredulously, "Are you SURE you didn't take any of the powder?" he scowled.
"We're supposed to keep the cultists away from the throne room." the fox countered, "We can do that and get out at the same time."
Haldyn shook his head, "For all I know my father will need help." he crossed his arms, "I'm not going anywhere until I know he's safe."
Kell nodded at that, "What's the plan?"
"Plan?" Dillan gasped, "Are you SERIOUS?" he slapped his forehead, "You saw what they woulda done to us back there if we didn't have some MAJOR good luck on our side. How long do you think we'll have a roll of good fortune?"
Narissa smirked, "The rest of our lives?"
"Not funny." Dillan stated sourly even as everyone else chuckled.
"I won't fault anyone who wants to leave." Haldyn acknowledged, "Dillan... Zeke...?"
"It's just not smart to stay." the fox sighed.
"You could just admit you're a chicken..." Dillan noted scornfully, "we all know you are."
"Then you're staying with us, Mr Flynn?" Haldyn questioned the ferret?
"Goddess no." Dillan spoke up immediately, "It's just not smart to stay."
"Hearthsinger," Haldyn reached out and rested a paw on the tigress' shoulder, "Thank you for your help... Dillan and Zeke should be able to get you out safely..."
"Try again, kid." she slid his paw off of her, "I'm coming with."
"We'll most likely be fighting our way to the throne room." Kell stated, "It isn't the safest option."
"Safe... dangerous..." she shrugged, "I've made it this far, and that's too far to turn around and miss seeing history made." and a faint smirk came to her muzzle, "Besides... I'm not done getting back at these assholes."
With that, there was little more to be said. Dillan packed up his belongings and Zeke gave one final farewell hug to everyone. As the rest of the group parted fondly with the fox, the merchant paused for just a moment before speaking up, "You know... if everyone survives this, you're welcome to meet me at my shop in Doen any time... drinks will be on me."
"That's very generous of you, Mr Flynn." Narissa offered, "Thank you."
"All except for the Shradian Whiskey... I can offer that for half off, but it's too expensive to just GIVE it away."
Haldyn offered a simple, half-hearted 'ha' as he rolled his eyes, "I am almost going to miss you, Dillan."
"You'll only miss me if you live through it." the ferret pointed out and, on that note, the party separated.
Dillan traveled first with Zeke following after. The fox glanced back several times down the hall; his mind was obviously with the others. So it went for three intersections, when the ferret came to a stop. The fox also paused, "What is it?" Zeke asked.
"Are you coming with me or going with them?" the merchant demanded.
"I'm getting out of here... with you." the Wild Lander confirmed.
"Then make sure your brain does too." the ferret scowled, "You're not helping me much by thinking all about them."
"I..." Zeke paused, then nodded, "Sorry." and Dillan was honestly surprised when the fox pushed past him and took point, "You're right."
The merchant was so caught off-guard by Zeke's initiative that they had gone past two intersections before Dillan thought to ask, "Do you know how to get out?"
"Yes." the fox acknowledged, heading down a flight of stairs, "I paid attention which way we came." At the bottom of the stairs the fox took a left and followed the hall to the end then proceeded to the right. Dillan followed him quietly and, at length, the two came to a large entryway with an enormous set of double-doors.
"Thank the Goddess," Dillan acknowledged, "The front door." then he glanced to Zeke, who stood as still as a statue in front of him, "What?" the ferret demanded, and was about to say more but he froze when his eyes met what the fox was staring at: the entryway was filled with two dozen cultists. "Damn." the merchant cursed, "Come on." and he patted the fox lightly on the shoulder, turning back down the hall to retrace their steps... but he halted in his tracks.
"Halt." ordered a cultist, stepping out into the hallway behind them. Dillan reacted purely on reflex, and the man fell with a blade sticking out of his throat. The ferret thought for a moment that he might actually escape... right until three more men stepped out to intercept him. The merchant let out a gasp and began to struggle as the three restrained him, but their hold did not last for long; each of them fell beneath the lightning fast sword blows of Zeke.
"Dillan..." the fox said, his voice surprisingly calm and collected, "Back down the hallway... first left... then second left..."
The ferret paused, "Where will--?"
"NOW!" the fox ordered, and he turned back to stem the tide of two dozen bodies. Dillan was done with objecting; Zeke had given him some perfectly acceptable orders.
* * * * * *
Yearl took a step back closer to the rest of the party, his sword still in his paw, "Steady..." he spoke under his breath to his companions, "Be ready for my command... we all have to do this as one." The captain gave ground until he was even with everyone else.
"This offer is not available for long." the jackdaw commented, "Yes... or no?"
"Tolen... when I give the signal I want you to have Allin bring Thera to safety... then you need to--"
"I accept." Artemisia spoke up loudly, her voice raised to address the two women beside the throne, "Release Father Tomal and let everyone here leave peacefully."
"Agreed." High Priestess Alisha acknowledged.
"But Palo stays." Monedula quickly interjected.
"EVERYONE goes free." the dragoness growled.
"Everyone except for Palo." the jackdaw reiterated.
"Palo as well." Artemisia held firm.
"Misia, my dear, I--" the fox spoke up
The dragoness turned to him and repeated herself, "EVERYONE."
"Agreed." the wolf priestess noted, "Give yourself to the Sentencing Stone and everyone shall go free."
"High Priestess," the jackdaw fluffed up, "I--"
"can always catch him again later." the wolf growled the bird to silence.
"Release Tomal first." the dragoness directed, not moving from her spot.
"Not until you--" the cloaked wolf began, but she was spoken over by the jackdaw.
"Fair enough." the bird acknowledged, and rested a black taloned hand upon the bloodied hound's head; the metal spikes securing him to the stone throne extracted himself. The tortured priest moaned faintly at their removal, slumping forward the moment the metal collar around his neck popped free and he crumpled into a heap at the foot of the throne.
"Gather him up." the dragon spoke to Yearl, "Bring him away from this place."
"Artemisia--" the lion spoke.
"Do this." she interrupted, then softened her tone, "...please."
The captain closed his eyes, realizing that she would not be dissuaded, and nodded. He let out a sigh, moving slowly at her side as they both approached the throne. Artemisia stepped to the side, moving to the base of the steps several arm's lengths from the cloaked wolf while Yearl ascended the steps, stopping before reaching the top. He looked to the bird and, once she nodded, he reached down and slowly picked up the old man.
"no..." the injured priest wheezed, "...don't let her... don't let my girl..."
"Sorry, Father," the lion apologized, "If you know her as well as I do then you know that you can't change her mind." regardless of the truth behind his words, Yearl hated saying them, and he gritted his muzzle, refusing to grieve-- time would come for that.
"Artemisia Dragonborn of the Temple City of Myrh..." the cloaked priestess spoke clearly and formally, "You are to be given over to the sentencing stone on this day."
"So I've been told." Artemisia stated flatly.
High Priestess Alisha continued unabated, saying the words almost ritualistically, "The Goddess will judge you now in the matter of the pain, suffering, and death you have bestowed upon Her faithful followers." her eyes shone with victory as she spoke, "Your ending will be just-- more joy than you could have felt in this world if innocent, or years of pain and misery to prepare you for an endless punishment in the Eternal Flame."
"Get on with it already." the dragoness stated in a bored tone, and she looked to the runed monolith that stood before her. The intricately chisled inscriptions hummed faintly as she approached and she raised a talon slowly.
"Place your--" the cloaked wolf continued, but her speech was cut short as Artemisia reached out a talon and laid it against the stone. Each rune, starting at the bottom, and shooting quickly to the top suddenly burst into a bright blue light, searing in its intensity at first, but growing only more powerful. The light became so blinding that it was impossible to gaze at and then, as quickly as it came, it was gone.
"You see?" High Priestess Alisha said aside to the jackdaw, "And so the problem is resolved."
"Problem?" questioned a powerful female voice beside the stone, "I only know of one problem here..."
"No!" the wolf gasped, looking just as quickly to the armored dragon woman standing beside the monolith, "You were given to the stone! You should be--" but her words failed her; Great Mother Alisha gaze down at the ancient, decrepit form of a dragoness laying at the feet of an armored draconic warrior... the body had the grin of a victorious warror upon it. Several moments passed before Yearl realized what had happened... and apparently the wolf took longer than that, "What? Who are you!?" she snarled.
"I am High Priestess Harmony." the dragoness said, her corded muscle bunching and flexing beneath her scaled hide, "And I have been waiting for this day."
"I know of no High Priestess by that name." the wolf countered, "I am High Priestess Alisha of Myrh. What city are you from?" she demanded warily.
"Myrh." the word was spoken, and yet there was a hint of a growl to it, "My mother told me of you, Alisha."
"Your..." the wolf stopped dead in her tracks, "...mother?"
"She also told me this moment would come..." the dragoness stepped forward, moving toward the wolf, "I've been waiting for a long time to meet you." and the sound of her silver sword emerging from its sheath created a soft ringing, almost musical in its lethality.
"I... I don't understand..." High Priestess Alicia took a hesitant step back.
"What is there to understand?" the jackdaw on the other side of the throne questioned, "Palo... come to me." she demanded.
"I would rather not, thank you." the fox offered, then glanced to the young dragoness, who met his gaze.
"Uncle Palo..." High Priestess Harmony smiled, "Mother said 'Tell him I won'."
A bitter-sweet smile spread across the fox's face, "So she did..." he nodded, "so she did..." then yelped as a silvery band of metal burst into being with a lick of flames, locking itself around his neck.
"And now, my pet... you will do my bidding... COME TO ME." the jackdaw cawed.
"Yes... Monedula." the fox stated between grit teeth.
"And, for the Goddess' sake," the bird's sparse feathers were practically standing on end, "KILL THEM!" she cawed, and suddenly it was as if the archers remembered themselves... but not before Tolen's spell went off.
By then, High Priestess Alisha had recovered from her shock, "There's only room for one High Priestess." she announced to Harmony, and her entire body shook with divine power. After that, things only got worse... for everyone.