Chapter 767: The Apostle's Misery

Chapter 767: The Apostle's Misery

Do you hear something? Grimloch asked.

No, why? Theresa peered up at the moving images in Uldars viewing room.

Thought I did, the sharkman said, his black doll-like eyes peering at the rooms entrance. Not the first time one of us thought we heard something, though.

I think it's just wishful thinking at this point, Theresa said, looking at the sharkman sympathetically. We're getting more desperate for a clue. Any clue. Her eyes turned back to the images around them. But, there's nothing here. I'm starting to wonder if this place even has any more secrets to give up.

She and the sharkman were standing in Uldars viewing room, watching the towering walls filled with moving images from all over Thameland. There were scenes of the countryside, the woods, mountainous valleys, and even the coast.

Some areas showed the battles that were going on across Thameland; soldiers, priests and knights struggling against armies of Ravener-spawn across a dozen different scenes.

The huntress let out a growl of frustration as she watched.

Everyones out there, fighting to get rid of those monsters, while we're hereprobably wasting our time, she said. I thought we would've found some clue by now, something, anything.

No clues. Grimloch touched an image of a plump doe and her fawns foraging in a meadow. He licked his lips. Nothing around. Nothing I smelled. Nothing we saw.

Theresa threw her hands up. There's all these images from all over Thameland, yet none of them suggest even one single place where the Ravener might be. None of them! Youd think one would hint at something: even if it's just a cave where a bunch of Ravener-spawn and dungeon cores are. Or youd think Uldar would have left notes somewhere saying where the Ravener spawns when it comes back. Or how it spawns.

His notes say how it was made. Grimloch walked over to Uldars chair, bending down to check if there was anything underneath it. It mustve been the fiftieth time hed done so. Maybe that's all he wrote down.

Itd better not be, we need to find something, she sounded frustrated. Alex is ready to have the fight of his life, and we're here walking around these empty halls! Im the one who wanted to start coming here to see if we could find a way to help him, the Heroes, and everyone else! But, were not finding anything and Im just feeling completely useless!

The sharkman shrugged. Theres nothing wrong with trying to find a trail. Sometimes ones hard to find. Sometimes there isnt one. Sometimes you're looking in the wrong place. Hard to know, unless you actually look. And thats what we're doing looking.

But maybe we've been doing too much looking around and not enough getting things done, she said. Maybe I'm just searching this place to make myself feel better and just wasting our time, maybe Im only tricking myself into believing I'm being useful.

The sharkman shrugged again. Don't know. Do know its the one place where there might be a trail. That's it.

I don't think it's as simple as that, she sighed. But thanks for trying to make it look that way.

It is simple. Grimloch walked over to another image, watching it closely. People make things complicated. Life is simple. Simple is good. Lots of images here, we haven't looked at all of them. We still need to do that.

Fair enough, Theresa said. I guess it's gonna take us a while to look at all of them. Thanks a lot, you made me feel betterI was getting way too frustrated.

Wasn't trying, he said.

Thanks, Grimloch, she said dryly.

Suddenly, Brutus began growling.

The cerberus was across the room sniffing the moving images. Two heads were focused on a particular one: a pine forest with a circle of mushrooms in its midsts.

Nearby, a pack of bone-chargers marched through the woods, moving in an endless tide. A fairy emerged from the circle of mushrooms, pausing when it saw the Ravener-spawn, then waved and flitted away.

Brutus kept growling.

Oh, don't worry about them, boy, Theresa said. Theyre probably working for that fae lord Drestra gave a bunch of Ravener-spawn to. Maybe thats why the fairy seems friendly with them. His growls grew deeper. Waitare you growling at the fairy? No, no, Brutus you dont eat fairies.

Hey, heres a thought, Grimloch said. That fae lord knows something, right? Maybe we could go ask him.

The First Apostle nodded to himself, growing more confident. Yes, if you could grow to accept that Uldars plan needed the Raveners cycle to continue, then could you not also understand that his plan might involve these interlopers holding the door to his sanctum? If anything, this new revelation is less upsetting.

He took deep breaths, just as he did when practising the art of life enforcement. Consider your situation, Gabrian. You have lost one of your closest friends, you have lost members of those you would call family. You have seen the ruin of folk that you watched grow from infancy. You are strong, Chosen of Uldar, but there is a limit to your strength. You are simply grieving, and are not thinking clearly. The Fool told you lies, for that is what he is, a liar, and yet here you are allowing your sorrow to cloud your judgement. Do not do so. Look forward with your head held high, for you are about to meet your god, and look upon his wondrous countenance. This will be, without doubt, the happiest moment of your life. Do not allow worry to turn good to ash on your tongue, or to poison in your veins. For Izas, for Eldin, and for every servant of the hidden church, meet your god with a smile. Smile, even though your heart has broken.

He continued up the steps, wiping tears from his eyes and fixing his face with a smile.

Together, he and the Stalker moved forward as he imagined what his god would say to him. Would he show him mercy and kindness for his losses? Would he congratulate him on how well he had led the hidden church? He grimaced. Or would he chastise him for allowing such ruin to come to his people?

As he imagined what awaited at the top of the stairs, he spotted a mural on the left that gave him pause: an image of the Heroes, floating together, battling the Ravener.

But, strangely, there was no Fool among them, instead, there was another Hero in their placeone he had never heard mentioned before.

What is this? he murmured to himself.

Shh! the Stalker hissed as the First Apostle approached the mural, looking at the words below it.

The Mark of the General? he wondered. What is that? The Generals folly? But that was committed by a Fool notwhatever this iswhat in Uldars name does this mean?

I said shh! Were nearly at the top of the stairs, the Stalker hissed again.

Gabrian turned, taking the stairs quicker.

Too many questions now swirled in his head.

He needed to speak to his god.

The first Apostle reached the last step and, at long last, his eyes fell on Uldars throne. The white throne had been somehow stained with a black substance, and there was no sign of his god sitting there. But, what was that tall form draped in a shroud lying before the throne?

His blood stilled.

No the word caught in his throat, he fought to calm his heaving breath as his worst fears coursed through his mind.

Shut up! the Stalker whispered. I smell something

Gabrian ignored the fae words and fled, running across the throne room at a sprint, only stopping beside the shrouded form. His hand shook as it gripped his swords hilt, then sheathed it, and in dread, raised the top of the shroud, uncovering what lay beneath.

For a breath, his mind teetered.

Then cracked.

The First Apostle of Uldar began to wail as if his heart was broken, he screamed with the anguish of atormented soul. No! Noooooooo!

Shut up! the Stalker shouted.

Grimloch and Theresa looked at each other.

Okay, I know you heard that, he said.

Nearby, Brutus growled louder.

The huntress drew the Twinblade. Yes, I definitely heard that. Come on.

Together, the trio moved toward the door.