Chapter 49: The End is Nigh

Chapter 49: The End is Nigh

The bickering Dark Lords had fallen silent, their eyes all focusing on Valdemar.

The sorcerer himself ignored the tense atmosphere as he held his masters gaze. The lich delighted in his apprentices reaction, his skull grinning as a dark chuckle came out of his rotting teeth.

Why the surprise? Lord Och asked Valdemar. Surely you must have suspected it. Two of your predecessors joined this brotherhood, did they not? Did you think I would resist the opportunity to make you the third in a row?

Having recovered his shock, Lord Ophiel laughed. Is that your master plan, old man? To replace our entire assembly with your students one at a time?

I agree this council would benefit from some new blood, Lady Phul said with a wide smile. But I can hardly see anyone else in your chair, Lord Och.

I wont stand for it! Lord Phaleg rose from his seat, pointing an accusing finger at Lord Och. What is your plan?

My plan? Lord Och put a hand on his chest, as if he had been struck in his heart. Of course, he no longer had one and the gesture didnt fool anyone. Your distrust wounds me deeply, apprentice.

I am no longer your apprentice, Lord Phaleg hissed angrily, the eyes on his artificial arm all glaring at the lich. Nor blind to your ploys.

Are you jealous of your replacement? Lord Och mocked his rival. My poor, poor first apprentice condemned to rule over a barren desert and living in the shadow of his successors.

Phaleg didnt take the bait. This is a trick of some kind. I know it.

Valdemar himself struggled to understand Lord Ochs motivation. He strongly suspected that the lich no longer needed his Domain because he intended to leave Underland for another plane of existence, but why choose his apprentice to take over? Valdemar knew he was no match for the weakest of the Dark Lords. It would take him years to approach their power.

Quiet, Lord Phaleg. Empress Aratras imperious voice silenced Phalegs outrage. The weaker Dark Lord obeyed, unwilling to interrupt his more powerful colleague. Lord Och you have found a way to open the path, have you not?

Lord Och answered with a long silence and a telling look. Empress Aratra took it as confirmation.

This is madness, my old friend, she said with a soft voice, sounding almost sympathetic. Better to rule the abyss than serve the light above. If there is anything left of you to serve in the first place.

I agree that if these were my only two options, I would have chosen to rot in the dark with you dear Aratra, Lord Och replied. But as my third apprentice proved, sometimes it is better to create a third way.

The Empress squinted in skepticism. A third way?

Lord Och nodded at Valdemar, who had listened to the exchange without a word. This is all up to him.

And as the empresss curious gaze fell back upon him, Valdemar clenched his fists in silent rage. This is a plot to confuse the other Dark Lords, he realized. Hes trying to distract them.

The path to what? Ophiel the Mad asked, his laughter turning malicious. What are you hiding from us, Lord Och?

The path to the Light, Valdemar thought.

The path to our destruction, Lord Phaleg declared with anger. His eyes moved from his former master to Valdemar himself. His paranoia was plain for all to see. I knew you would prove a threat to us all. Do you even understand what he intends to use you for?

Valdemar ignored the Dark Lords and instead exchanged a glance with Marianne. His companions jaw clenched, and she gave him a nod of support.

Valdemar didnt need telepathy to understand what she was thinking.

I refuse, he said.

They were done playing the lichs games.

His answer surprised the Dark Lords, though Lord Ochs expression remained undecipherable. You refuse? the lich asked, insisting on each syllable.

I refuse, Valdemar repeated through his clenched teeth. I dont want any of your handouts.

Handouts? There was no joy in Lord Ochs dark laugh. You would call my throne in this brotherhood, the Pleroma Institute, my entire Domain of Paraplex as a handout? How spoiled can you be, my foolish disciple?

We both know they are poisoned gifts, Valdemar argued as he waved his hand at the Dark Lords. You want this assembly to watch my every move instead of yours so they wont disturb you.

Of course I do not want to be disturbed, I am retiring, Lord Och replied. That is the entire point.

But you already have an army of far more capable Masters to replace you. People perhaps as old as your colleagues. Wouldnt it be better for the Empire to put one of them in charge?

As Valdemar had hoped, his words struck true with some of the Dark Lords. Phaleg the Binder already suspected Och of foul play, and the likes of Ophiel and Phul gazed at the lich with distrust. The Dark Lords alliance was built on fear and might rather than respect. Valdemar needed to redirect their paranoia towards the lich rather than have them focus on him.

Or perhaps, Lord Och said calmly, I simply do not care.

Which was unfortunately very plausible.

Whatever the case, I never wanted to rule, Valdemar pointed out. I only ever agreed to serve you in the service of one goal: to open the path to a better world. Unless you have forgotten, my teacher?

I have not. Lord Och stroked his bony chin, his eyes two baleful stars of malice. But, and stop me if I misremember didnt we already debate about how opening a path to another world, while possible, wouldnt solve our realms problems but merely displace them? You have criticized our government many times.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

Valdemar sighed. I have.

Do you see me?

He saw, yes.

His eyes pierced the stoneskin of the world and gazed into its warmth depths. To a cavern full of marshes and swamps surrounding a plateau of stone. A city stood proudly on it, its gargantuan streets asleep, its portals locked to prevent the spread of a plague.

But no wall could stop the rats.

They came out of the sewers and the swamps in vast numbers. A horde of scavengers emerged from the shadows of human civilization. They poured into the streets like a tidal wave of fur.

More vermin joined them. Swarms of bats flocked to the city, led by the monster Bertrand had become. Flies and bugs followed in their wake, hungry for human flesh. They flew straight for the lone institute of Pleroma which oversaw the city.

I have journeyed beyond the veil of death and returned, the voice declared. My soul cries out. I see with ten thousand eyes and kill with countless mouths. The moment has come, the time is now.

As a shield of magic rose to protect the institute, the streets of the city below started to change. The stone buildings of Pleroma overlapped with a fishing hamlets houses. Qlippoths walked among the living. A well appeared in the central plaza and the horror at the bottom awakened.

It called out his sibling to join the family gathering.

The corpse of Sarah Verney oversaw this desolation, crucified on a great cross of skulls and bones. Shelley danced around her in glee as maddened cultists gathered around him. They carried enormous, hooded robes made of wererat skin; a ghastly artifact harvested from the remains of a hundred victims. Rats flocked beneath the vile clothing piece and soon filled it. A towering horror formed inside the robes as the mass of rats assembled into a humanoid shape.

Come, my descendant, our hope.

Two red lights appeared beneath the robes cowl.

It is time to wake up your father.

And Valdemar answered.

Never!

It took all of his mental strength to escape the vision, but he succeeded. When Valdemar regained his mind, he was on the floor in Mariannes arms. Valdemar, are you alright? she asked him in panic. His familiar was at her side, standing still like a statue. Valdemar?

Im Valdemar gritted his teeth as he tried to ignore the searing pain. Though the visions didnt overtake him again, his head still hurt. Im fine.

You do not look fine, apprentice, said Lord Och.

The Dark Lords had gathered around Valdemar, some more worried than others. Sophia the Wise wriggled in the ceiling of stone above their heads while the ground trembled. Lady Phuls ethereal body seemed to phase in and out of existence in the blink of an eye, struggling to maintain her physical form.

What is happening? Lord Ophiel asked with a hint of worry.

It is happening, Lord Och rasped with eerie serenity. At last, they make their move.

This is all his fault! Lord Phaleg raised a hand at Valdemar and prepared to kill him on the spot. Away with him!

Mariannes fist immediately grew a layer of bone armor as she prepared to protect Valdemar, but Empress Aratra stepped in. It will change nothing, she declared with an imperious voice. He is not the source of the disturbance.

Whatever it is, it affects the Primordial Dream and the Outer Darkness, Lady Phul declared as she managed to regain some semblance of stability. I sense them overlapping with our reality.

Lord Hagith nodded to himself. This must be a Nahemoths doing then.

And not just any of them.

He cant Valdemar gritted his teeth as he tried to ignore the searing pain. Though the visions didnt overtake him again, his head still hurt. Exist at the same time as I do

Cant? Lord Och shook his head. No, my apprentice, the correct word is shouldnt. We do not fully understand how this connection works, so it is possible our foes found a loophole we havent considered yet.

Marianne frowned with Valdemar. Whats happening?

Paraplex. Valdemar resisted the urge to immediately teleport there. Theyre summoning the phantom Vernburg inside Pleroma I think.

And that thing underneath the cloak of skins it was the center of it all. The rituals catalyst.

Do you hear that, Och? Ophiel the Mad asked his colleague. I knew someone would try to summon a Stranger in your realm one day. A pity it might affect us all.

Not for long. Empress Aratras eyes shone with a red glow. This challenge to my authority must be met with force.

For once we agree, Lord Bethor added as he glanced at Valdemar and Marianne. It is time.

Yes indeed.

It was time to save Bertrand, destroy the Verney cult for good, and bury their twisted legacy.

And for Valdemar, it would be his chance to save his unborn brother from himself.