There were pockets of resistance, but the hardest resistance came from a group of around 20 who had made their way near the horses, and were desperately attempting to mount. The Vampires were kept at bay using light spells, and the Zombies were charred as soon as they stepped beyond a certain point. The Necromancer watched on for a moment, watching their futile fight for survival with interest. None of them were overly strong in their magical power, but there were a couple of people who caught Gerald's interest. The two seemed to work together in a perfect parallel, ducking, slashing with swords, their magic protecting each other as much as themselves. It was obvious that they were no ordinary people coming to live at Portal. Especially since the woman was a Sorceress and the man was a Wizard. The Wizards had forbidden cross-race relationships for hundreds of years, and the few who practiced it had to keep it secret. He remembered an old friend… 'No… she's dead. Focus on the here and now.' The necromancer stood, planted his feet, and then raised his arms. The ground beneath them trembled, and lifted the survivors, the horses, and everything around them around 3 meters into the air in the space of a few seconds. Gerald smiled at his handiwork. The survivors made short work of the few zombies that had been lifted with them, and then began to mount and look for a way down.
Gerald now took to the sky, jumping and flying over to them. The Sorceress was the one to spot him first, no surprise as their sight in the dark was almost as good as a necromancer's, and the rest of the party joined forces to face the new threat. Gerald raised a hand in greeting as he landed. "Peace." He said. "I would like to talk before sending you to your gods." He smiled at them, a sincere smile. They didn't respond, though some looked murderously at him. Not unexpected. "You know what I am. I go by the name of Gerald." Again, no response. "Not that you care for my name. I, however, would like to know of you. Who are you?"
The silence was deafening. Finally the Sorceress stated. "We… We have no problem with you. We just wish to live."
"Almost impossible." The Necromancer acknowledged. "If you keep fighting, you won't be able to escape."
"Like we can trust you." The Wizard responded, his staff and sword held at the ready.
"You can trust me more than you can trust yourselves." He stated. "My people cannot lie."
"Lies." The Wizard stated. "Everyone knows that your kind don't do anything but lie."
"Livro would force the truth." The Necromancer responded. "Unless you are scared of the outcome of such a pact?" He chuckled. "It is one of the most dangerous spells, and here I am almost having used it twice in a week!"
The Sorceress looked at the Wizard, but another in the crowd shouted, "Never trust a-" His voice cut out.
"I would rather not have more Everseekers at the moment. One of them was quite enough for one night." The Necromancer's spell took hold. It would only be temporary, he knew, but he really meant that he needed more time if he were to prepare for another Everseeker.
"So Promith is dead?" A woman in the back asked.
"No. I have changed him. You may join him if you have feelings for him however. Ghoula are rare after all." At this, the entire group in front of him shivered and shook their heads. "So I guess one could say that he is both dead and not dead. He definitely will not be coming home in glory or entering Portal in triumph." The Sorceress looked behind her, and at the Wizard with whom she had fought so well before. Her eyes went to the ashen ground beneath her, and then back to the Necromancer. "I am happy to allow you all to live, if the right conditions were met." Gerald continued. "But those would be the terms that are set by me, rather than just running free. I'm certain you understand."
The Sorceress looked behind her, and lowered her sword. "Would you give us time to consider your proposal?"
"The night wears on, but there is much of it left." Gerald responded. "Only if I have your word that nobody in this group will try to escape while you deliberate, and if you keep the deliberations relatively brief. The passing of time waits for nobody."
The Sorceress stood tall, plunged her sword into the ashen soil, and then stated, "By the name of Sarah Von Marten, daughter of Sarah Von Marten." She left the sword in the ground and turned and led the others away from the Necromancer. A quiet discussion ensued. Gerald, for his part, sat cross legged on the ground and meditated while they deliberated. He felt his magic, and it was small. His connection was growing with him meditating on it, but it was still severely weakened after the battle with the Everseeker.
"Master." Hermina's voice entered his mind.
"Yes?"
"We have subdued the last of the survivors on the ground, and found something that you might find interesting."
"What is it?"
"A communication gem. One that is connected to that accursed government of the Wizard's."
"The Circle." He muttered. "This surprises me if it goes that high. I'll be down to check it out in the morning." He focussed all his energy on feeling the magic again, and felt it grow in him.
He felt the Sorceress before he opened his eyes and heard her speak. "Livro it is. If you can answer my questions, we will agree to your terms."
"But only if no one attempts to leave." The Necromancer agreed. "Livro." The symbol appeared in the air, above his outstretched hand. She repeated the call, and the seal was joined. "I feel that my guest may have the first question." Gerald stated. "You're also free to sit. Nothing will happen to you while this spell lasts." She nodded and sat, trusting in the power of the spell.
"Are you really a… a dead raiser?"
"Yes. Do you believe that non-magi are beneath you?"
"Absolutely not. My father is a non-magi." Livro proved her words. "Why are you attacking this caravan?"
"Because they were planning on killing all of the non-magi living in Portal. Why are you traveling with them if you are not a magi-supremacist?"
"I'm from the guards guild. I'm working as a person for hire." She paused. "Do you have proof that there were magi-supremacists in this caravan?"
"Yes, including the former Everseeker." He nodded, to hit home his point. "Are you and the Wizard in love?"
At this, the woman blanched. "Well… I…"
"I don't particularly mind, but you two seemed to work really well together."
She swallowed. "I… I would like it but he doesn't want it."
Gerald bowed his head. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." She waved a hand in front of her. "I knew it was like this from the beginning."
"Your turn for a question." The Necromancer stated after a depressing pause.
"Is it true that you cannot lie?"
"Yes. We can even die if we do it intentionally." He smiled at her. "Don't believe everything you hear from the Wizards in the future."
"I won't." Her smile was genuine enough after that, though it quickly dropped back down to a frown given the seriousness of the situation. "Why did you not just talk to the council here in Portal and have them take care of it?"
"The Council was planning it. The logistics, blocking the escape routes, et cetera."
The pause as the Sorceress took the information in was a breathtaking thing for Gerald.
"Is he done yet?" A shout came, and the two of them looked as one of the survivors looked impatient.
"Is he one of the planners?" She asked, a small amount of venom in her voice.
"Not that I'm aware of, but then again I am aware of very little other than the plan existed, these were supposed to be mostly reinforcements, and that there may be someone with more power on the outside."
The Sorceress turned back to face Gerald. "I'm not as narrow minded as many of the others. I'll grant you, I've heard… slurs… among this company."
"I always hated that." Gerald responded. "I have almost always believed that every life is equal."
"Almost?"
"Shortly after the fall of my people, I have a while where I believed that all magi were scum." He responded. "Not much of a time, only about 50 years or so, but that was the case."
There was a pause. "I'm sorry. I believe that you have several questions in a row to ask me."
"Can you vouch that everyone in this group is trustworthy?"
She frowned. "Nope. Not even all of the spirits that are around us."
"You're name is Sarah, correct?"
"Yes. Sarah Von Martin."
"I'm afraid that I don't know the Von Martin family."
"We're a peasant family." She responded. "I would think it weird if you had heard of us."
He smiled. "'Money and lucre are useful tools, but worthless in the Great Plan.'" He recited, making the sorceress jump in surprise.
"How do you know that phrase?!" She shouted. Then catching herself, she coughed. "Sorry."
He laughed. "Don't be. I would be surprised if someone not of my race had read the Sacred Scriptures of the Great Prophet as well." She frowned.
"Then you know they are not for casual conversation."
"This is casual conversation?" Gerald responded with a smile and a raised eyebrow. He chuckled, "I'd hate to talk to you about a serious topic if this is a normal conversation…" She shot him a look and he continued with a shrug, "I figured that you would enjoy hearing some of the Great Prophet's teachings from someone that you can trust. Even if it is just under Livro."
"How did you get access to that?" She asked, her tone serious.
"My dear woman, there's no need to be so angry. My great grandfather was there when the Great Prophet received the revelations, and helped write them. Unless you doubt your own history, and haven't heard the name of the compiler Rynoth." She nodded. "There you go. Somewhere in this ash I've actually hidden one of the few remaining original copies." She gasped. "I used to read it as part of my religious studies."
"I wasn't aware that… your kind… were religious."
"Highly. We even worshipped Tressed, despite her hatred of us." He smiled. "In the Elder Days, before the war, we had some of the largest cathedrals and temples in the known world. I believe that record now goes to the Sorcerers." He nodded. "I approve."
"But-"
"I'm afraid I have to press you for time now." Gerald responded, stopping Sarah. "If I were to answer all of your questions, I'm certain that we would be here long past the break of day. Already, I am weary. Defeating an Everseeker and turning him into a Ghoul isn't an easy feat at the best of times." She nodded. "Just know that I am here to protect these people. Though I believe that I will be gone soon enough."
She nodded again. "You suspect that one of the people behind me will talk to the Council?"
"I know it. Especially the Wizards in your company." His eyes looked behind her at the people who were watching, just out of earshot of his quiet words.
"Not my Hector." She stated. "He's got more reason than most to hate the council."
"Does he now?" The Necromancer turned his gaze back to her. The blue of her eyes almost reflected in the gray of his. "What is his story?" She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. "Let me guess… he was the second son of a poor family who sold him to the Council in reparations of debt." She shook her head. "No? How about that his father was a member of the lesser council, until his banishment." At this, the woman's eyes widened, before she was able to control them. "Then his father took to drink and beat his and his mother until she finally left-"
"Enough." Sarah interrupted him, raising a hand. She breathed hard. "How… how did you…"
Gerald frowned, consolingly. "I'm sorry my dear, but Hector is most likely what they call a 'Desporo'. The Wizard council sends them-"
"He's not." She insisted, her eyes frustrated.
He shrugged. "I could be wrong, but I don't believe that I am. I'll bet that he has a communication gem about him, something about the size of a large stone and is made of either jade or amber-"
"Stop it!" She exclaimed, scooting away from him. "It... it was a gift from his mother..."
"I'm truly sorry. I honestly was hoping that the truth would set you free, rather than hurt too bad. But I suppose my age is showing, and I haven't been in love or any such strong emotion for almost 400 years." He stood as he spoke. "If you will give me your word that you will not reveal what has happened to anyone, I am willing to let you leave. With your man if you desire."
"He's… He's not my man." She said, her eyes not leaving the ground, and remaining sitting.
"True enough. Though I can tell that he doesn't deserve you Sarah Von Martin." He turned to the rest of the crowd and spoke out loud. "If you wish to live, please join the Livro, and pledge that you are: First, not a magi supremacist. Second, that you will not reveal what or where I am to any person or creature under the heavens. Then you can leave in peace." He then sat down again with a thud, and closed his eyes.
"Like we'd believe you." Came the shout back of a Wizard. He was joined by a variety of others in the group. "Besides, how do we know that that Livro is a real one? It could be a fake!"
"Try it yourself then fool." Gerald responded, beckoning the man forward. "I don't care if you believe me or not, but you should trust that even one of my people cannot fake Livro."
The man stepped forward, his face proud. "Happily." He then stepped forward. "I join this pact." He stated, and the magic jumped and grabbed onto his source. He gasped as it took hold. (It wasn't exactly every day that something took hold of oneself at the deepest level.) He turned and was about to speak when he suddenly started grabbing at his neck, as though he had no air. He grabbed at his neck and, after a few seconds, fell to his knees.
"Just don't lie!" Sarah shouted, hurrying to attempt to help this Wizard she didn't even know well. "You know Livro! It doesn't let you go until you decide that you will tell the truth!"
The man didn't even gasp, like a man who is truly choking for air, he didn't make much of a sound at all. He shot a look at her of utter defiance, and fell to the ground, the spell stopping his breathing more, more, and more, until his face had paled, and his eyes closed as he passed out. His chest didn't rise or fall, despite Sarah's best attempts to revive him, and the Necromancer just watched on.
"Anyone else?"
"You just killed him!" The Wizard, Hector as Sarah named him, shouted and pulled on the magic.
"Livro killed him." The Necromancer stated. "I am just as much under the curse as he was."
"Sarah, get away from him. He's clearly bewitched you!"
The Sorceress looked up from the dead man and at the man she cared for. "Let's… let's test that." She then quickly started drawing in the ashy soil, small symbols around the newly deceased man's right hand. After a few seconds she stated, "RE." There was a rush of wind, and soon a lone spiritual entity stood next to the Sorceress. It was about the size of a child, and glowed with a blackish hue that helped it stand out against the starry night and the sliver of light that came from the moon.
"I come, as ordered." It stated. "You wish for answers."
"This is your corpse, correct?" Sarah asked it.
"Yes." The spirit replied, its voice sounded clear, but sad. "That was my form in life. What about my life do you wish to know?"
"Were you a magi-supremacist?"
"Proudly in life." The spirit answered, taking almost no notice of the sorceress' face or reaction. "Now it seems kind of foolish, but yes."
"Were you planning on killing all of the non-magi peoples in this town?"
"Yes, and more if this attack hadn't come about." It turned and looked at the Necromancer. "You smell of spirits."
"I'd focus on the caster if I were you." The Necromancer replied, redirecting its attention back.
"What did you wish to say before Livro killed you?"
"I wished to lie." There was a gasp from the survivors. "I wished to lie and state that it wasn't a real Livro. I thought I had the perfect spell to get me out of it as well."
"Are there other magi-supremacists here in this crowd."
"Certainly. Almost this entire crowd are magi-supremacists." The crowd gasped, and the shouts came. Denials all, accusations to others to try to cover their own tracks, pleadings for mercy by the end…
"One final question before I return you to your trials." The Sorceress stated as the noise died down. "Why haven't you asked the… dead raiser here to return you to your body?"
The spirit raised an eyebrow. "I am dead. Even a Necromancer cannot revive the dead without the aid of a Sorcerer and the will of the spirit who called it." Gerald braced himself for the effects of the Taboo. The gong-like sound and the feel of magic calling the Everseekers there didn't happen, however. The spiritual entity must not have been bound by the Taboo. "The Necromancer may use my body as he wishes. It does not matter. I am not bound by the mortal until the renewing of the world." The spirit looked at the crowd and stated, "If I have one word of advice, it would be to breed understanding, and not hate." With that, the spirit dissipated in less than a second, fading into the shadow, and then into the abyss.
"Would you like the end Livro?" Gerald asked.
"Yes." With that, the spell was broken, and both of the magi breathed a sigh of relief.
"Clearly… clearly the spirit was-"
"Spirits cannot lie." Sarah the sorceress stated, interrupting the Wizardess who had spoken. "Even the Wizards know that." She turned to the woman, and drew her long, thin, sword again. "Now I'm going to ask you one by one if you are a magi-supremacist. If the answer is yes, then you will die. She then took a deep breath. "CONTA FIN!" She shouted, and her magic grabbed hold of the spirits of every person in the crowd in front of her. (But not the Necromancer, who once again began to meditate.) An Inquisition had begun, and the Sorceress would not be satisfied until she felt the souls of every single person there…