Greetings all
What a week, and it is still ongoing! Still dragging the same project for more than a month because my client is so picky. Jokes on her though. The longer she keeps making me change things, the longer it takes for her to get the final product.
Anyway, don't forget to read @zakludick previous part to see where we are in this adventure.
Pain wracked Adiran suddenly and he dropped the spell he was concentrating on. Queen Mary noticed him clutch at his chest and she immediately went to his side.
“What is wrong?” she demanded.
“I don’t know.” Gasped the mage trying to catch his breath as he clutched at his chest.
“Uncle!” Magna lay a hand on his back.
“Medic!” called Mary as terror filled her voice.
“No! No medic! I’m fine.” The man shrugged the queen and Magna off him. “It’s nothing.”
“You’re pale grey and sweating. This isn’t nothing. What is going on?”
“I don’t know. It felt as if someone stabbed me in the chest.” Adiran took a few deep breaths.
“A new player has entered the playing field.” Came a new voice.
The royal members turned and looked down to the courtyard behind him to see the gloss armour of multiple ranks of warriors. Mary recognised them instantly.
“Blaze knights.” She muttered under her breath. “How did they get in here?”
“Likely you have people who are sympathetic to their cause,” Millmor growled as he placed his hands on the ground. “I’ll rid us of them in a moment.”
Magna could feel the surge of power as Millmor started to change. An odd tinge of ozone was in the air as magics swirled around him. Even Lucien had the same smell drifting from him as drew his blade.
“Enough of that.” Said the same voice.
Lucien stepped back and grimaced as the air filled with a new smell. Magna put herself between the changing Millmor and the thin man who had stepped ahead of his soldiers. With the training her father had given her, she knew this man was deadly. The new smell seemed to be emanating from him and it strongly resembled roses. The sickly sweet smell was overwhelming, and while roses usually didn’t hold a place of terror in her heart, this scent made the colour drain from her face. This man was dangerous.
“I see the corruption runs deep within the castle. Even the future queen protects these vile creatures.” Said the man as he raised his rapier to point it at Magna.
“He is an ally!”
“Allying yourself to these creatures is a slippery slope.”
“Oh, it’s you.” Said Adiran as he looked up. “I was wondering who would come.”
Everyone turned to face Adiran with shock on their face.
“Did…did you call for them?” asked Mary in shock.
“Not in this lifetime, but yes. They were warned about the priests. They were meant to be here well before now.” Adiran put himself between the man and his niece, “Well met Robert. I assume since it’s you here, Mortis has started preparations.”
“His Majesty is indeed. He knows what will happen to him afterwards though. What will happen to all these vile creatures.” Said Robert as he continued to keep his weapon raised.
“Narrow-minded creature.” Spat Lucien.
“We don’t have time to argue.” Robert looked up to the queen and her son. “Your mad priests seem to have managed to summon an avatar.”
“Which one!” demanded Adiran.
“One we would normally answer to, but it’s not right. What came through wasn’t a follower of our god. No, this is a perverted, twisted husk of hate.” Robert looked Millmor in the eye and said, “Return to your human form or my crossbowman will put a holy bolt through your head. I doubt the dragon would like that and I really wouldn’t like to kill the last link to that royal line.”
“How do you know of Derric?” demanded the creature.
“The same way I know who that really is.” Robert pointed his weapon at Adiran once before he returned the blade to its scabbard. “That said though, some secrets are best kept quiet until the right moment. Isn’t that right Adiran?”
Before Mary could demand answers, Robert fell to his knees and said, “For this battle, we will stand with you, Queen Mary.”
As one, the soldiers in the courtyard fell to their knees, much to the shock of those gathered.
“However,” continued Robert, “Depending how you handle this battle and afterwards will determine whether we are forced to purge everything or not. Make good choices, Your Majesty.”
Derric had noted the new knights in the courtyard, but as there was no panic, he didn’t do anything about it. He lazily circled the castle, waiting for orders which didn’t come. A little bored, but vigilant, he swooped over to where the undead were gathering once more. They had been standing quietly since the last magic attack, and he was curious as to why they were yet to move.
On closer inspection, he could see nothing but undead standing around. Flying a little closer he noted the undead were feasting upon their fallen. Disgusted, the dragon flew higher, but not before he noticed the undead weren’t only eating the fallen, but those that also stood.
What are they doing? I don’t understand.
Then a realisation hit him. This is exactly what happened in that shadow world. The undead were trying to make a giant. Panic set in Derric and he immediately flew back to the castle.
Millmor! Millmor!
Millmor, still partially abomination and part human, looked up as Derric circled closer and closer.
“What boy?”
They’re eating each other. They are going to grow.
Adiran looked up at the dragon and stuttered, “What?”
Derric repeated what he said, and the mage immediately started holding his chest again.
“Two, two avatars on this battlefield.”
Robert seemed unphased by this revelation. Instead, he got to his feet and looked up at Derric and then said, “Find the necromancer and take him out, that will save us some time to deal with the avatar that has been summoned within the castle.”
Derric looked from the panicky mage to Robert, and then to Magna.
What should I do?
Without consulting anyone, Magna nodded her head and said, “Do it. Take Helga with you.”
“I’ll go with.” Said Lucien.
Before anyone could stop him, he leapt straight into the air to grab hold of Derric’s claw. He quickly climbed up the rough scales to sit behind the dragon’s head. Helga shrugged her wings and joined the two of them. They seemed to have a conversation up in the air where no one could hear them and then they flew off.
“Well, I must say, if we don’t have to purge this land, it truly has a powerful queen in the making.” Robert grinned. “Now let’s see what we can do to stop the end of the world."
Zak did such great job describing the the previous avatar, I think I'll give him the opportunity to describe the next one, if he wishes. Have fun bud!
Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library
Mortis Custos Parts
The Reader List
If you would like to be tagged in every episode of Mortis Custos, leave us a comment and get added in, miss nothing!
Right now I will add people who have been keeping an eye on this series:
@weone, @merenludick, @clairemobey, @therneau, @blitzzzz, @pravesho, @joetunex, @captainquack22, @irisworld, @braaiboy, @sketchygamerguy, @fuego-oscuro, @felt.buzz, @dibblers.dabs, @beeber, @brittandjosie, @tamacvet, @thinkrdotexe, @alonicus, @joetunex, @stdd, @luizeba, @cryptoniusrex, @agreste, @itzchemaya, @darthsauron, @p1k4ppa10