The saint encounters the creature-held body of the deceased prince, and thus begins the battle to stop it, and return the prince's remains to his family.
@internutter/challenge-04943-m194-something-wicked -- BKF
Ganlen was able to pass easily through the crowds and city traffic as a hound,and thanked his gods that he had listened. His usual means of travel - a local bird - was being hunted by teens with slings. If he'd flown, he might have met impediment via a forced change of form.
Always trust a Cleric of Shai, saint or not.
Ganlen was still a dog as the thing inhabiting the corpse of Prince Crevith came upon Saint Zolesare blocking his way. The invading evil had ridden yet another horse to death, despite everyone's best efforts. Thus hidden, Ganlen summoned vines to pull at the invaded Prince's shoes. Anything more would both give him away, and also be ineffective.
To mundane mortal eyes, it looked like a man and a woman facing each other at the crossroads.
Ganlen could see the hallowed aura surrounding Saint Zolesare. He could also perceive the shadowy malevolence around Prince Crevith's body. The aura of the saint actively repelled the shadows, and made the thing animating the Prince's corpse his.
"Get out of my way," snarled the monster.
"You believe yourself to be the most powerful," said Saint Zelesare. "Make me move."
An active growl, and a serpentine hiss. The dark aura appeared to be smouldering. Smoke wafted from the places where the saint's aura touched it. Yet it was not a smoke the ungifted could see.
"Your god can only delay me. You have no power to end my steps."
"I know. I cannot stop you. Shai cannot stop you."
The thing inside Prince Crevith chuckled.
"But her beloved can," said said Zolesare. She reached into her robes, and brought out a single black feather. "Ereshkygal... come take one overdue. Come judge the beast that's in my view."
A shadow like no other fluttered to the scene. Grasped the body of Prince Crevith like a dancer. You've taken a long time to corrupt a pure that should have stopped beating. You've tormented a mother and a father with faint hope. You are weighed in my balance and found wanting.
"Mercy," said the thing.
I have none, said the dreaded goddess. The heart you corrupted was due to stop six years ago. I have mercy for the mother and father. Not for you. The only mercy I can give. Her shadowed claw went through the body's chest. Return to that which spawned you in shame and defeat.
Ganlen sprang up to catch the Prince's body. Dead at last. He did what he could to arrest decay. A mercy on his parents. Let them greet the remains without any disturbing effects from time and nature.
Saint Zolesare joined to add her own prayers to protect the Prince's body on its long journey to the final rest.
"May I know?" asked Ganlen. "What lies East?"
"A mountain under which a demon sleeps. Awaiting a different prophecy," she got the distant look of a seer. "One... that waits for a king... and a kiss."
Ganlen decided not to ask what the demonic force thought to do there.
[Photo by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash]
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