Chapter 300: Judgement

Chapter 300: Judgement

"We seem to have a few minutes while the helpful members of the Inquisition summon our playmate. Perhaps we should introduce ourselves. If you didn't catch my name from all the shouting, I am Benjamin Franklin the 7th, a courier who probably should have stayed in bed this morning." He made a sweeping bow with his hat. The other people in the circle relaxed slightly.

"I'm Doby Finnegan. I'm going to be a Paladin; my sword says so." The old weapon looked plain and well used, but Ben could see a layer of magic along the blade, and he felt the sword was resting before a big fight and had some hidden quality.

A small girl dressed as a novice Courier spoke up next. "No talking sword for me. I became a courier when they wouldn't let me apply to become a Paladin. It's a great experience, and I'm learning a lot, but I keep dreaming of doing something else. I was told that taking Sir Eustace's test could get me into the Order. My name is Clarice. I grew up near Thunderfall, in the north."

The other girl, wearing a helmet and breastplate, was nervous and trying not to show it. "Astrid. I didn't want to get married to some pig farmer, so I took my dowry, left home, and joined the legion for a year. They offered me a three-year contract after training, but I came here and applied to the Academy. I want to do something more, but these assholes keep looking down their noses at me. This is my chance to prove myself."

"Bryce Burnthand. I know some fire magics and can fight a little. They wouldn't take me into the Arcane Academy; the appraiser said I had too much 'Hedge Magic' in me. They sent me to see Sir Eustace. He said that if I passed this test, they would find a spot for me with the Paladins. Even if I have to start as a groom or squire, it's better than returning to the mercenary company I started with."

Ben nodded to them and smiled while cursing this farce of a test. "Well, better and better. We have a fire mage, a warrior with a magic sword, a brave courier, and one of the Emperor's finest. I'm sure we'll do fine."

Clarice looked at him with a bit of hope. "Really?"

Astrid snorted. "Haven't you ever heard a 'We're screwed.' speech before? I heard too many of them, standing in the ranks of the Legion, waiting for orcs or trolls to charge."

Dobie patted his sword. "Screwed or not, we hit the bastard hard until it quits moving."The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.

Bryce looked a bit nervous. "Uh, I'm not really a fire mage; I can make a lot of fire. I can't control it or anything fancy. I burnt a few friends and myself learning to get it under control a little bit. The feedback hits me hard. Luckily I've got resistance to my own magic."

Ben kept smiling confidently, but inside he was becoming more and more nervous. This had the feeling of a set-up. None of these people should be here, including himself! Yes, surviving a fight with a demon made you stand out. But only if you survived!

Around them, the four black-robed Inquisitors setting up the ritual had finished their work. Ben was a little worried by how careful they were being and mumbling to each other about doing a good job. Comments like 'Can't let this one get loose!' made him nervous. Off to the side, several other inquisitors looked on. All of them were robed and hooded but in different colors of cloth. Most were grey, but three were in red and one more in Black. There were arguments and differences of opinion among them over the test, but they didn't interfere. One of the Red Robed men in particular held the others back when they might have acted against Eustace and their black-robed counterparts. Harmonia still waited but had sent Charles off. Ben hoped it was for reinforcements. But from the looks of things, the ceremony was about to start.

Sir Eustace was the person who stepped up to the podium where a large black book had been placed. He unwrapped a long white ribbon that held it shut. The smell of rotted meat filled the room when the book opened. The light from the windows seemed to dim. Ben looked up at the painting of dozens of gods on the domed ceiling. The colors that had seemed so vibrant just moments before were now dark with dirt and soot, obscuring much of the paintings. None of them were smiling, and some looked away. Ben didn't recognize any of them. With little preamble, Sir Eustace raised his hands and began:

"Today, before the assembly of gods and learned men, we test these five initiates from sordid backgrounds, hoping that they will rise to the occasion and show that even those who come from the most humble of beginnings can raise themselves and join the ranks of the Order of Paladins. A Paladin is more than a sword and shield; they must fight against the evil that invades all cracks of society. Our test is hard, but that hardness brings forth those with the special abilities needed in a Paladin. Some will join us, and some may perish. Some say we do evil with this test but judge the outcome. The ends justify the means."

"Natchak, I call you to do my bidding and test these five souls. Come, Natchak, Cyclopean Juggernaut, judge of the unworthy."

A flame appeared in the circle's center that grew and solidified into a ten-foot-tall nightmare. Legs like tree trunks ended in cloven hooves. It was as wide as it was tall, a walking mountain of muscle with a conic head set directly into its shoulders with no neck. Three-fingered hands clenched into fists. It was covered in thick grey hide, like an elephant. One huge, lidless eye stared at them above a fanged maw. It ignored Ben and the others and took steps toward Eustace. One hand poked at a solid, invisible barrier that kept it constrained.

"You called, I came. You have me trapped and gave me some food to play with. I ain't stupid. Not touching those things until you tell me what you want done. I'm not doing a big job just for five snacks."

Sir Eustace stared at the demon. "You misunderstand. The snacks are the job. They must test themselves against you in combat. If they can send you back to the pits of hell, they prove they are worthy of the Order. Otherwise, they are yours."

The demon looked over at the five initiates and chuckled. "You guys from the Black Order make me laugh sometimes. Do you think this is doing good? You got a deal, Eustace. I'll test them. Thanks for lunch."

He turned around and looked at the five initiates. "I don't want to be rude, but I don't know if there's some pecking order. Which of you do I eat first?"

Dobie yelled at him. "You're eating none of us, creature of the pit."

Natchat grinned. "Thanks for volunteering."

Ben yelled. "Spread out, don't let it grab you, take shots at weak points when someone else distracts it."

Something was keeping Ben from seeing what level the demon was. If this was a fair contest, they should have a good chance of beating it. But he was doubting Eustace would give him a fair chance. Politics and power were at stake here, and Ben kicked himself for jumping into the middle of it.

As Ben had expected, Dobie was the first to swing. His five-foot-long sword gave him about the same reach as the demon. Natchak seemed content to let him take a shot, but as Dobie's sword cut into the knee of the creature, it swung a meaty fist and slammed him back against the same invisible barrier that kept the demon from leaving. Even as he cast Triage, Ben re-evaluated the situation. He'd assumed they could leave the trial and fail. He should have known it wouldn't be that easy.

The demon didn't pursue Dobie. The young man rose to his feet, shaken but unhurt. He nodded a quick thanks to Ben. With the demon's attention on Dobie, Clarice attacked from behind, stabbing with her rapier. Over and over, she thrust into the creature and then retreated in dismay. "I can't hurt it."

"Lesson time, kids, and you should thank me for it. Luckily, I find it amusing to point these things out to humans who should know better. I'm a demon. That means I don't wear fancy armor to protect my soft skin. I'm a monster! I've got skin so thick it puts plate armor to shame. Dobie over there has an enchanted sword. The bare minimum to hurt me. Cuts down a little on my mitigation. See the little wound he gave me? Oh, shit, you can't! I healed it already. Ain't that a damn shame. Eustace thinks that fighting someone like me can bring out the best in you, and you'll learn to Smite my unholy ass. That's what you need to hurt me, and none of you have it. So I'm going to amuse myself while I pound you and tear off pieces, and maybe, just maybe, one of you makes Eustace happy, and you figure it out. Who's next? No takers? Hell, all of you take a hit."

Ben cast the spell again. And again. The dome was fully in flames now, pieces of the building raining down around the room. Dobie staggered up, surprised to be alive. His wounds healed by the same spell that burnt the demon. His sword was glowing with white fire. Astrid put her sword into the demon's side up to the hilt. Clarice pushed her sword through his back, looking for his heart. Dobie brought his sword around in a 270-degree arc and struck Natchak in the head, biting deep. The demon screamed again. "You'll pay for this, Eustace. We aren't through, you little asshole."

Natchak the Terrible dissipated into oily, toxic smoke. Ben pushed the leaking eye off of his sword. It lasted longer than the body, glaring at him, and then it turned to smoke. The candles were melted or smashed, the barrier down, and the annoyed or shocked members of the Inquisition moved forward. Sir Eustace was leading them.

Ben held his sword by the handle, but let the tip lie on the floor, extended behind him. He was tired but didn't think the fight was done. Eustace glared at him. "You destroyed a temple of the gods! What sort of heretic are you?"

Ben smiled weakly but raised his voice, using his training as a Courier. His words echoed inside the ruined dome and were heard in the rest of the building. "Me? I'm a Franklin. We cause trouble, don't you know? What is a badly painted ceiling vs. the gain of four new Paladins for the order? We passed your test."

There was murmuring from the inquisitors present. Quite a few were laughing and agreeing with Ben. The exceptions were the five Inquisitors wearing black robes who clustered behind Eustace.

Sir Eustace scowled and came closer. "You five will never be Paladins as long as I'm alive. I'll see all of you sentenced to twenty years in the Legion. Except for you, Franklin. You'll burn for this."

Ben looked at him. "Flames don't bother me as much as what's inside of you does."

Eustace's eyes grew large with panic, and Ben lunged.

If done correctly, a strike hits with great force and surprise, dragging the sword from behind, lunging forward, and thrusting with the extended arm and the full force of the legs. Ben did that now, the stroke hidden behind him until he was halfway to Eustace. He drove the Estoc through the knight's golden breastplate and into his heart. A double explosion of white flames came from the wound. Eustace collapsed on the ground.

Ben looked around him at silent faces. Clarice stared in horror at Eustace. "EW! He's got stuff crawling in him!"

Eustace's body deflated as dozens of small demons crawled out of his mouth and ran across the floor. Paladins and Inquisitors stomped them or crushed them with rubble. One of the Inquisitors who had helped summon the demon went white. "What does this mean?"

Harmonia stepped forward. "It means we have found the demonic taint sensed within the order. It has been purged by these neophyte Paladins. Look at their weapons."

The swords held by Dobie, Clarice, and Astrid were bathed in white flames. An astonished Bryce was holding a staff of white wood that glowed brightly. Ben looked down at his blood-covered sword and raised it. With a thought, it also burst into flames. The flames from the swords and staff rose into the air, forming an image of a woman surrounded by fire. She wore a hat with a feather, twin to the one on Ben's head. She spoke, and her voice was gentle or stern, depending on the listener.

"If a farmgirl can lead an army, then a farmer's son or daughter can become a champion of the weak. I name you knights of the Order of the Flame:

Sir Dobie Wolfslayer

Sir Bryce Firecaller

Dame Clarice Boldheart

Dame Astrid Stormeyes

and Sir Benjamin of the House of Franklin.

Be brave, learn, and carry my fire in your hearts."

The vision faded. Ben sat down. Astrid pulled a flask from her pouch and passed it around. Clarice asked. "What now?"

Several members of the Inquisition, the ones who had been watching from the rear of the room, came forward. One of them pushed his hood back and smiled at them. "Now you make a choice. Attend the academy as Paladins in training under the tutelage of people much better than sir Eustace. Or go out in the world and learn in the old way. I must say, I much prefer the old way of learning; it's much more exciting. Don't you think so, Ben?"

"Diego?! What the hell are you doing here?"

The old Inquisitor laughed. "I came to stop Eustace from starting up this madness again. Many of us have been waiting for him to overstep himself. But imagine my delight in finding you here as well! That was such a dashing display of bravado you put on! Rushing in at the last second and demanding to be tested! I knew you had things well in hand. I stayed around to watch and was rewarded with another vision of the Maid. Some old stick-in-the-muds doubted me when I told them of our last adventure."

Ben started to speak, then shrugged and took another drink from the flask.

Harmonia came to their rescue. "I have a carriage waiting to take the five of you and myself back to Franklin House for food, drink, and rest. Let's leave this madhouse." Everyone agreed to that, and within minutes they were on their way. Once in the carriage, Dobie looked over to Ben. "One thing I want to know: How did you know Sir Eustace was possessed?"

Ben took a deep breath before answering. "I didn't. I just wanted the bastard dead."