Chapter 87: Interlude - A Lot To Show, Many Questions

Chapter 87: Interlude - A Lot To Show, Many Questions

South of the Sin-Amuhhu Institute of Military magic was an enormous place of worship. A temple of the One Faith. Unlike the cathedrals and chapels devoted to the Patriarch, which featured soaring architectural design and complex decorations, the One Faith temples were austere and almost simple in their design.

Members of the One Faith, or Monadites as outsiders called them, believed that worship was a solemn affair of study, reflection, and prayer.

The temple itself had a pulpit, a host of pews for congregants, plus back rooms and chambers for burning candles or incense, private sessions of worship, and storage of church supplies.

It was Restday, and as a result, the pews in the main chamber were full. A congregation elder stood behind the pulpit, giving an encouraging sermon about showing love.

There were private rooms that overlooked the area of worship, which were set aside for use by important members of the congregation. Archon Shabadras sat in one such room, but wasnt paying attention at all to the sermon. Instead, his mind spun with all the latest news.

Next to him sat a guest. Purattu from Ku-Aya, who only a few months ago was someone Shabadras knew only as a name on a list of One Faith members in lower starisles.

Purattu was a strange character as far as Shabadras was concerned. He was so blunt as to toe the line of arrogance, which, coupled with his sharp mind, made him the type of person many would immediately dislike. But Shabadras didnt dislike him. What was more, Shabadras could tell that Purattu was a true believer. Many members of the One Faith attended services and offered prayers because they were raised that way, and not because they had faith. Purattu was different, and Shabadras liked that.

Why isnt the news spreading faster? Purattu asked quietly.

Shabadras mouth twitched into a grim smile. You think they want word spreading of a full-scale Abhorrent invasion? There would be chaos in the streets.

I doubt it. Granted, its a terrifying thought that some Abhorrent got out of the Nightmare Cove. But their activity is limited to Stricken starisles. Why would people up here care about that?

Shabadras shrugged. Head Mage Muna didnt explain the rationale behind the decision. Besides, the order likely came from the Annunaki, and its possible they didnt explain it to her.

It probably doesnt matter. Its only a matter of time before rumors spread.

Youre right. Shabadras looked down at the One Faith congregation and sighed. Everyone sat quietly in the pews listening to the sermon, occasionally nodding. He spotted a young one, a girl of no more than four or five years old, sleeping on her mothers arm. There was an old couple in the back holding hands. His chest tightened. Closing his eyes, he prayed, Monad, you must do something about this. Hasnt the time come to reveal your power and put the rebel Annunaki in their place?

What of Jehannemid and Black Jackal Company? Purattu asked.

Shabadras opened his eyes. Theres been no word. But we know that Hannemid is lost. Nos is also gone. Two of the starisles subsidiary to Humusi have been outright destroyed.

Out of the corner of his eye, Shabadras saw Purattus hand clench slowly into a fist.

I liked some of those kids, Purattu said. If we just sent them all to their deaths.

Based on the information we have, both Hannemid and Nos fell to the Abhorrent a week ago. We have no evidence to indicate Jehannemid is under attack.

Purattu made a sniffing sound. Please, Archon. Dont play word games with me. Having no evidence is meaningless.

Shabadras didnt reply, as he knew Purattu was right.

The two mages sat together for a few minutes as the sermon continued.

Shabadras tried to decide what to tell Purattu. Being a member of the Mage Parliament, Shabadras knew more than the vast majority of human beings in existence. Head Mage Muna ran the parliament by the book, and would never reveal information the Annunaki had forbidden her to reveal. That meant that whatever she said in the parliament meetings were things the Annunaki did want them to hear. But of course, parliament meetings were confidential in general.

I see.

Shabadras didnt bother following up with anything else.

Purattu opened the door and left.

Once alone, Shabadras sank back in the chair, steepled his fingers in front of him, and thought.

There was so much at play. So many things changing. So many schemes to consider. For instance, the identity of the traitor. Unbelievably, the clue provided by the bumbling students from the Institute had actually born fruit. With the physical description of the visiting speaker that theyd provided, Shabadras agents had managed to deduce his identity. Using his arrival paperwork at the Sin-Amuhhu gateway, and pursuing further clues, Shabadras had identified two possible suspects, both in the Mage Parliament. At the moment, it wasnt possible to deduce which of the two was the traitor. But he was certain that one of them was indeed working for the Eternal Father Cult.

Its only a matter of time, he murmured. Everythings coming together.

Is it? someone said.

He jerked upright in the chair and looked over to see someone sitting where Purattu had been sitting moments ago. The voice was soft and feminine, but this person wore a voluminous cloak that made it impossible to make out any identifying features.

Who are you? he asked.

The private worship chamber wasnt secure, but it was in an area that ordinary members of the congregation werent supposed to access.

It doesnt matter who I am, the woman said. I came for you, Shabadras. Youve been doing a lot of meddling, and the time has come for that to stop.

The hair on the back of his neck prickled, and he slowly moved his left hand toward the component pouches at his belt. Given the cramped room he was in, casting a spell wouldnt help much if this woman had come to hurt him. As a Buhhu Archon, he could summon stage five and six juvenile Abhorrent to do his bidding. Except, even the smallest such juveniles were as large as the largest mammals, and the big ones could reach sizes that no ordinary living creature could possibly match.

Before he could come close to touching a component pouch, he saw a blur as the woman reached out and clamped her hand onto his wrist.

His heart leapt into his throat. Acting on pure instinct, he tried to send mage touch down to free himself, only to realize that his mage touch wasnt working. Nor was his mage sight. In fact, he couldnt even sense his chambers of melam.

Shit.

The womans hand was as pale as a corpses. And when she turned, and he looked into the deep hood of her cloak, he saw that her face was similarly colored. Her skin looked like that of a maggot, and she had eyes of pure black.

He tried to jerk his hand out of her grasp, but failed. What?

Hush, she said, smiling. I can see you realize who I am. What I am.

It made no sense. This woman was an Abhorrent? There were no records of purely human-shaped Abhorrent this small. Besides, they never looked this human.

What do you want? he asked.

Many things. And youll tell them to me. The question is how. Will you cooperate? If so, you could continue to live for a long time. I might even help you become an Annunaki. Or you could resist. And in that case, youll experience a lot of pain before you die. A lot of pain.

Shabadras looked down into the emptying church and thought to issue a cry for help. Except, when he tried to open his mouth, he failed. It was bound shut with invisible bonds.

The female Abhorrent tsked. She stood, keeping her grip on his hand, which forced him to stand with her. None of that will do any good, she said. Lets go. I have a lot to show you. And many, many questions to ask.