[Sedna]

Esclave

I took the wounded east out of the Mountains of Madness. Slow though we were with the weak and the lame, no one molested us. Some peace treaty with Pythium had made Muszinger very unhappy, but I was just glad to be away from the front. I never want to to see anything like the conversion of the Mountains of Madness again. Once out onto the plains, we turned west again, heading for Towen. We had recently received word that Aftial had returned from the grave -- and the rumors said she was subtly changed.

Now, as I sit with the sages of Towen and read through their tomes, I search for clues about what happened to that gentle creature which whom I passed my mornings in the House of Just Fires all those years ago; that gentle creature who is the mother of my unseen child. Surely this is not the same Aftial, returned now from heaven with a flaming sword and new-found wars to fight against out friends the lizards and the shadow itself?

But if I am honest, I never knew her. Our encounters were brief, and what do I know of women, angelic or mortal? What do I know of angels at all? Scripture and tradition name nearly a hundred such beings, servants of the Most High, and describe their character in detail. But there is no Aftial.

The sages do have one book, a collection of druidic poetry which managed to elude the inquisition. One stanza speaks of an Aftiel:

But thee Aftiel, patron of the evensky
draw your veils o'er us now.
Cloak our misdeeds in darkness
and set us free.

If this is Aftial, then I fear for Marignon. What is an angel who comes to us with false titles -- promising a new morning of greatness for the church, when in truth she is the night-bringer and ender of things? What misdeeds does she cloak? What veils draws she over the eyes of men?

The sages suggest that I search for answers in Great Woods. They say that a mighty warrior who was close to Aftial fell into darkness there. I do not know what I seek, but will find this ghost warrior's grave and tale, to see how Aftial protected those she swore to defend.

Muszinger

A week before the beginning of Carrofactum, Muszinger called Wic and Polgrave into one of the Barra library rooms which had escaped destruction and which they were using as a command post. The topic was the future of the Southern Army.

"We stand thus gentlemen. The gold Gawain and his knights liberated (with regrettable loss of life) pillaging this province will cover our expenses for some time, but we cannot go home yet. Though many inquisitors remain loyal to me, they are mostly pressed hard in the struggle against Ermor. I suspect now that this may have been Marignon's plan all along."

"And what of that fat fool himself?"

"Msgr. Buternot reports he is besieged within the Shadow Watch by a large army of the undead."

"He had better not leave his body parts lying around." muttered Polgrave.

"Any chance our problem will be... ah... taken care of by the undead?" asked Wic.

"Marignon is a servant of the Church, vouched for by Aftial, God's precious messenger who..."

"None of which really undermines the fact that he's actively trying to kill us, does it? Face it, Father, Marignon has schemed against all three of us since he came to power."

"But I will not march openly against him, nor undermine him in the battle for the shadowlands."

"What, then?"

"The Three Above are all busy. Avoca has his hands full trying to bring the Inquisition to heel, while Spire is trapped with Marignon. No-one is coming to enforce our arrest warrants here in the south."

"How very pragmatic of you Father," said Wic. "So we stay here, forge a little power base for ourselves, and prepare to retake power if things go poorly on the Western Front?"

"We must still pray that direct conflict can be avoided. Aftial alone is good and can bring Marignon back to the light. We must regain our strength and unity and convert all the heathens of the world before the LORD comes again."

"That's a lot for one winged beauty to do in just under a year," said Wic.

"What? Do you not believe? Have I not told you? There is no taint within her -- she is pure as snow."

"Even as you say."

"Very well then. I shall return to the Mountains alone. You two convince that bone-head Gawain to ride East."

"It shall be done."

Muszinger swept out of the room, and Wic's deferential look hardened into a thin smile.

"Poor fool. He believes so strongly and so deep. Reminds me of that boy, Esclave. He cannot, nay will not, see that Aftial plays him as a pawn."

"We should bring him to see this," said Polgrave.

"Perhaps. But for now, it is best that he walk alone. We can hardly have such a self-righteous man around while we do what needs be done."

"I know. I have all the ingredients for the Rite of Shantanok assembled."

"Then, are you ready to begin?" asked Wic, with just a little bit of awe in his voice.

"No, we must wait for the first night of Carrofactum, and we will need to stand on the broken tower in the Forest of Saran, where a saint's blood was shed."

"That's twisted."

"It is death magic, Wic, not fluffy bunnies. You're not backing out now, are you?"

"Of course not, Polly. You know my soul is already spoken for. What do I have to fear?"

"You sound smug for one condemned to eternal torture in hell."

"At least I'll be warm."

The two men stared at each other for a long moment, then turned and marched out into the twilight.

Gawain

Sir Gawain stared, entranced, at the dancing patterns on the shield.

"I want that one. And that flaming blue sword."

"Uh, sir, I'm not sure that shield is altogether good. It might be accursed."

"What makes you say that?"

"The little plaque underneath which reads: Shield of the Accursed."

"Ah, so those little squiggly symbols have meaning."

"Indeed, sir."

"Well, since we have to march out tonight to go fight the... what was it again?"

"The mutant space goat of Saran."

"Yes, the goat thingy that's got Wic all nervous. Anyhow, after we've killed that we'll come back here to Barra and I'll pick up my new sword and shield. That should give you plenty of time to find out if picking up this shield will turn me into a newt."