"Then We should send a task force to check things out. This doesn't bode well for us." Verruca made comment, after a moment of thought. The others nodded, as well.
"We should send some bone doctors and a few specialists to carry this out. Perhaps with trained personnel, we can find out what this black substance is..." Lucius added.
"Isn't Warmarshal Darkfield over that area?" Leslie chimed into the discussion.
"Yes. You wish to utilize a Warmarshal for this?" Verruca asked in questioned. It didn't appear that she was going to send that strong of a force.
"I think We better... Also, Warmarshal Darkfield is a Bone Doctor in his own right. He could greatly aid in conclusion." Leslie responded. He guts were telling her that this was bad news and needed to be stamped out quickly.
Verruca nodded, "Alright. I will contact Warmarshal Darkfield, and send a team to investigate."
"Thank you, very much." Leslie bowed her head in earnest. This slightly shocked Verruca, but it couldn't be seen on her face.
[Why is she thanking me so politely??? Perhaps this is more serious than I first thought...] Verruca thought to herself. She thought it might be the heretic tribes of the north performing strange rituals, but now... Maybe it was something else.
"I have something to ask," Emily spoke to the group, as everyone turned their head to look at the little consort.
"I've... I've been meaning to ask but decided to wait until we all got together... Does anyone know why the Light went out?" Emily asked hesitantly.
Both Leslie and Verruca shook their head, as they both turned to look at Lucius. Lucius looked at all of them but didn't say anything immediately.
"Ah... Well... I have a theory, but how true it may be... That's for us to ask the God-King when he leaves closed doors." Lucius spoke, being uneasy on the topic.
"...Well out of all of us here, you're the most connected to the Light. No offense Warmarshal." Leslie commented.
"None taken." Verruca waved it off.
"Ah... Err... I believe the God-King did blow out the Light, but it might be better to say he... He absorbed the Light. It was like all of the Light collapsed inward to the Holy Palace." Lucius again didn't sound sure of himself.
"Collapsed?" Emily didn't understand.
"Folded in on itself, even. I'm not sure how to exactly describe the feeling. It was as if the power that I call on from day to day was being sucked from my being. In fact, if it was any more powerful... I rattle at the thought."
"What would happen if it was more powerful?" Leslie asked quickly.
"Then... Then all the Light Cultivators in Deagoth wouldn't be life with any unlife. Every one of them, including me, would of went with the Light. I'm basically saying that the God-King would have taken all of our souls." Lucius spoke wearily. This topic had been on his mind for a week.
Leslie and Verruca took in a deep breath, while Emily was numb to this. After her conversation with Jack last time, nothing he did anymore could shock her, at least she thought. Verruca looked at Lucius... This bothered her more than the other two because she felt that pulling as well, but she didn't think it could be to the extent of it pulling her soul out.
"Then... Then let's hope he doesn't need to do this again." Verruca spoke.
[Did he... Did he do this because of his promise to me?] She thought within her mind. Verruca thought about the conversation she and Jack had before he left for closed doors. [Do I really have to love my sister-consorts...] Verruca looked to Leslie and Emily.
"WARMARSHAL VERRUCA!" Lucius yelled, interrupting Verruca's thoughts.
"What?!" Verruca was caught off-guard.
"Consort Leslie has some gossip, then I think you would like to know. Are you okay? You seem a bit distracted all of a sudden." Lucius asked kindly.
"No. I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind." Verruca spoke, without knowing that her lips curved up slightly at the corners.
[Thinking of him, are you?] Lucius asked Verruca mentally. Lucius was met with silence, confirming his suspicions.
"I'm sorry to ask you to repeat, but what information?" Verruca looked to Leslie.
"Jakahn... Jakahn has been amassing a lot of troops to our southern border. I'm sure you can guess what that means. Those stupid bones think no one would notice when they move three-fourths of their military, that no one would notice..." Leslie said with gritted teeth.
"Are you sure?" Verruca stared hard at Leslie.
"I wouldn't say something like this lightly, but the next piece of information... I can't be sure, but it makes my clotted blood boil."
Everyone was slightly shocked by what Leslie said... She always seemed to be a smiling devil, never showing that she was angry. They could only count one time when she lost her composure, and it was to be expected at the time.
"If the rumor I received is correct..." Leslie took a deep breath, "Then Former-Marquis Mark will be leading this force." she spoke in hatred.
Verruca stood up and slammed her fist through the table that they were sitting at, as Holy Bone shards flew from the impact. No cultivation, only pure physical power. The Shards bounced of Lucius and Emily, without much damage to them as being Skeletal undead, though their clothes suffered. The Holy Bone shards oddly flowed around Leslie without making contact with her.
"I KNEW THAT SON OF A BITCH LEFT, BUT HE HAS THE GALL TO LEAD THE EMEMY TO OUR DOORS!" Verruca's breathing was ragged.
Everyone was silent watching this outburst. This too was out of character for Verruca, but Lucius knew why.
Lucius shook his head, [It seems her hatred for Jakahn and Neolith still hasn't lifted. I'm surprised she tolerates Little Emily to the extent that she does.] He thought to himself, before looking at Leslie.
"I hate to ask again, but are you one hundred percent sure?" Lucius asked Leslie.
"No... I can't be sure, but I'm about seventy percent sure." Leslie nodded.
"DAMN HIS FAMILY BACK TO HIS LIVING ANCESTORS!" Verruca turned her back. She wasn't having any of this.
"Warmarshal Verruca, we got to stay calm in situations like this." Lucius reminded. Emily stared at the Warmarshal in disbelief, she had never seen this woman like this. It wasn't that she didn't expect her to be angry if an enemy kingdom to attack, but wasn't this exaggerated?
Verruca took in several deep breathes to calm down, as she stood up straighter. Her height regained its former towering posture. She turned to look at the remains of the table, and the faces of the people present.
"I apologize for the outburst... Just..."
"You don't have to say anymore, we understand." Lucius cut off Verruca.
"Thank you." Verruca said warmly, "I will be calling the remaining Warmarshal to form a War Council. Jakahn has made a poor decision. If they feared a Holy Witch King before, they will die before the forces of a God." Verruca turned her back and left.
The room turned silent, at her departure.
It was broken after a few minutes of deep thought by each of the remaining, as Emily spoke, "I thought she didn't believe in the God-King?"
"I wouldn't be so sure on that..." Leslie said mysteriously.
"Should I Tell her the prophecy?" Emily added, a few minutes later.
Leslie thought about this, but before she could respond, "What prophecy?" Lucius asked.
*******
"We finally made it." The Third Elder of the Grimnight clan could see the Light cascading from the Skull of the Sun God.
James Grimnight, his son, was sitting next to his father, as he saw the Light in the distance. It had been a hard journey, and took longer than expected, as they dodged every checkpoint and every Deagoth Official. This spoke more about their ability to blend with the shadows than it did the lack of security of approaching the capital with their people.
"Father... Are you still sure about this? What if The Holy Witch King does the same to us, as he did with Jordan..."
"Son, we don't have a choice. Our choice was made for us by the Clan. If there is a path to survival, then it's going to be here." The Third Elder nodded his head.
"I'll trust in your decision, I'm just worried." James continue to look at the Skull of the Sun God, the single best item to describe the wealth of the Holy Kingdom of Deagoth.
The Caravan approached the City.
*******
Leslie had returned to her chambers, and as she was about to lay down to make a quick trip to the north to see about the deserted towns, she received a mental message from one of her handmaidens.
[Mistress... It seems that a part of the Grimnight Clan has delivered themselves to punishment.] Handmaiden Gretchen sent the message.
[...Explain...]
[The self-proclaimed Third Elder and his son, James Grimnight, are here outside the city gates requesting audience with his Grace.] Gretchen explained.
[Can We verify their identity?]
[We are unable to confirm the Third Elder, as no one has ever seen him before, but James Grimnight's identity checked out with two other Hand Maidens here. I'm sure you know that he is the son of the Third Elder.]
[...Yes...]
[Requesting command.]
[Influence the Officials at the Gate to bar entry. I will send someone to fetch them. Conceal your presence. No one needs to know our hand.] Leslie finished.
[As the Mistress commands it.] The shadowy voice of Gretchen faded from Leslie's mind.
Leslie quickly left her room, and found Lucius in his office, as she barged into his area, which was thick with a golden smoke.
Hand Servant Shane spoke, as he stood next to Lucius' desk, "Consort Leslie, I believe it's inappropriate to barge in without announcement."
Lucius looked up to his desk, and seen the expression Leslie's face, "It's alright Dear Shane. It seems this is very important." Lucius waved his hand.
"Lucius, I'm sorry to barge, but part of the Grimnight clan is sitting outside requesting to meet The Holy Witch King. I can only think they are one of the two groups of Grimnight's that got away." Leslie said out of breath.
"...Requesting to see the God-King? Audacious..." Lucius spoke, tapping his quill on the desk. He had just been writing a proposal to the Archbishops concerning a certain prophecy.
"Normally, I would intercede on their behalf to get such an arrangement, but with Jack behind closed doors, I can only ask the soon to be supreme pontifex." Leslie charmed.
Lucius wasn't a stranger to such charms from Leslie, but it still pleased him.
"Alright. I will send some Templars to bring them here. Do you wish to be present when We speak?" Lucius asked out of consideration.
Leslie thought hard, "I do want to be present, but I would prefer not to make any decisions."
"You wish to remain neutral? They are your clan after all." Lucius spoke with a certain tone.
"I changed my name. I am no longer a Grimnight." Leslie had already completed the paperwork with the Officials in the Department of Civil Records.
"To what?" Lucius asked out of curiosity.
"To Jack's last name," Leslie said, with a rare hue on her cheeks.
"So, you joined his Grace's family name... Isn't that like becoming his sister?" Shane spoke out in a rare instance.
"Shane!" Lucius reprimanded.
"My apologies." Shane lowered his head.
Lucius shook his head, "It isn't for Us to judge the God-King. Even the stories of the Old Gods spoke of Bother and Sister unions, so who are we to question."
"It's not like that!" Leslie spoke loudly.
"It's a weird flex, but I won't judge the God-King." Lucius nodded.
"Lucius, damn it... You're doing that on purpose." Leslie was slightly perturbed.
Lucius was silent for a moment, "I've sent some people to fetch the Grimnights. We can meet them in the Palace Square. I think it will do them good to look at the Monument of Shame."
Leslie took note that Lucius didn't take back his words, [Does he really think like that, damn it!? The First Holy Witch King didn't adopt me! Long distant Clan members marry all the time!] Leslie became quiet in thought.
"Let's go meet these Outsiders." Lucius rose from his desk.
Leslie didn't continue to say anymore, and nodded, as she followed behind him.
Lucius spoke as he left the office, "Dear Shane, I will be returning late tonight. Don't stay up."
"Of course." Shane nodded, as he began to fix the office, and clean up the burnt offering's censor.