Terrors of Light

Nerislynn looked at the wounds of his new companion once more. “So, tell me more about you, and what happened” he asked, hoping to keep her attention of any pain, and because of genuine interest.

“Why… you hate us… Would you care what I say?” the young woman asked between breaths. She still had many still serious injuries, some still sensitive to shifting of weight or touch.

“Actually, yes I would. Also, if I hated you, as you believe would I be tending your wounds now? We should head for town shortly. Some of these need care I am yet incapable of giving.” he answered. He shifted his attention to her arms and legs, looking for anything that might prevent her ability to walk.

“Alright… no harm in a name… I am Psyura Vespern. I was the student of Seatumal Silverkin. He was helping me learn to understand the requests of the restive souls here. So that they could finish undone tasks, or prove some truth known only by them. Many of the souls I hear simply want to see to the care of loved ones… or explain how they died… some want—oww… to fix something they couldn’t before passing. Some just weren’t ready to die.” She explained as he checked her for travel.

“Silverkin never sent raids on Dayville did he? Get up, we need to go soon.” He moved on to put out the fire, and gathered up what little items he had picked from the slain. They had rested most of the morning, now they needed food, some attention of the clerics, and a chance to clean up.

“No he didn’t, Seat was kind, and very calm. I think he was even a little closed for his own good. He only talked to me and P’lar, his former student and friend. I don’t know if his innocence can be proven, but I would like the chance to try. Who are you; no numb trained puppet of Tyrann would even think to have this conversation. I expected to be dead by now. Tell me your name, please.”

“Nerislynn Lumanani, at your service, as for puppet of Tyrann, I may serve his kingdom, but I don’t go blindly. I joined this fight only when we heard news Silverkin raising an army to wipe out everyone. When we got here, he had only the servants. He raised so many dead though. Many of them seemed to fight more than just blindly too. They actually seemed to think, and even react more like people than the undead I experienced in other areas. I wondered if the attacks on Dayville were really zombies. They all happened when I was elsewhere, and there were no bodies, except for those that were attacked.”

“Zombies don’t disappear, and are far too stupid to hide after an attack. I think someone’s setting us up.” She responded, showing more confidence in him. She spoke with a strong, sweet voice that in the right situation could be most soothing. Now she spoke in a disgruntled, but accepting, tone. They began their trip back to town, not knowing that just how different Dayville would be when they arrived.

***

“Good day, sir, what can I get you?” Zankul Tigersoul, the barkeep at Eve’s Rest asked the new customer, he was in the night before; he had ordered an ale. He was not new to town, but his current frequency to the Rest was uncharacteristic. He lived at the edge of town and kept to himself. The barkeep sensed he was capable of necromancy, but never bothered him for the simple reason that he never, not once in his twenty some-odd years here, used any abilities anywhere near town.

“Ale and a corner table, thank you.” The man responded, he had a pleasant voice, and was in his middle thirties. He had a very modest stance, and was always quiet. Tigersoul didn’t exactly trust him, but he knew that the man would never cause trouble here. “You seem to have something on your mind today Tigersoul the Valiant. May I be of assistance?”

The bartender was dumbfounded, not only had the quietest customer he ever had asked if he could help, but he called him by a name that the bartender hadn’t used in years. He wasn’t even sure if the man was old enough to know that he was the Valiant. Zankul Tigersoul was on his guard like he hadn’t been since that name was used. “Actually, there maybe something you can do. Can I ask you some questions?”

“Of course, would you like to join me, or should I sit at the bar where you can be more visible?” the man asked. He sensed the new alertness in Tigersoul. He knew that by speaking he made himself someone the bartender was far less comfortable with. To bad, he has no reason to fear me. I know he knows what I am. I also know he knows that I am of no threat to this town. It’s my home, and I’ve never used my abilities to harm anyone. He’s seen the results of what I do. Why can’t he trust me?

“Actually, the bar would be better, if just that I don’t have to walk over and serve other patrons. Have a seat on the far end, that way your privacy is still somewhat intact.” Another unexpected act, he tried to make me more comfortable, either he’s harmless, or confident. Which is it?

About that time, two people entered the room, as both men looked; they were shocked, amazed, and pleased. Each one saw someone they had hoped would return. Each one saw hope walk in with them. Then they immediately announced their joy at what they saw.

”Nerislynn!”

“Pysura!”

***

“Well, what happened, how many survived, on both sides, I want to know if we need to act or not.” Tyrann, King of Sotyn, asked the now entering messenger. Tyrann was an older man, with a charismatic stature and voice. He’d ruled over Sotyn for many years, but not without incident. His people had never rebelled, for why rebel if you’re constantly looking over your shoulder wondering what horrors of the time were attacking. No one really liked the rule of Tyrann, but he had kept the loss of land to the plagued and vile to a minimum.

“The battle was vicious; Seatumal is dead, along with his servants. We believe the girl got away. There were a few survivors in the paladin force. Some five or ten people returned home. There was no sign of assistance from the student P’lar. The town was left unharmed, however.”

“Fools, now we have to hunt down survivors and come up with some excuse to separate them from the rest of the people. They are a threat to my reign. We have to deal with them.”

“Sire, the survivors are your warriors and Paladins. They are loyal to you and fight for you. They are the people you would want to survive.—“

“I wanted no one to survive!” Tyrann bellowed, “The warriors and Paladins I sent were ones who were questioning the validation of this war. They were becoming treasonous. Some were even considering that the attacks of the undead were staged! The Necromancer I sent them to deal with was one of the few who could convince them of those lies. I needed no survivors. We don’t have the resources to deal with hunting them down. We must deal with them quickly before we can’t afford to deal with them at all.”

Financially, the realm of Sotyn was in ruins. Some wondered why the war taxes were high enough to more than sustain an army, yet there never seemed to be enough guards. The paladins, who were paid by the king, were looking for extra work and sometimes have a little trouble paying, despite the frugalness. Some of the paladins wondered where the money was going, their armor was not costly enough to be the problem, and their pay barely kept them above water.

“I understand, we will deal with them however you say we should.” “I need to think, for a minute. We have to make sure their deaths seem valid, something that won’t bring any more questions to bear. This war is rough enough without people wondering if it’s real or not.”

Many have questioned the war currently going on. It’s been nearly five years since the great attack that followed Tyrann’s coronation and caused his father, and no attack since then did anyone not of the guard confirm seeing the undead attackers. A handful of the Paladins were noticing that guards were also the only survivors of these attacks. Tyrann had sent these particular warriors to fight the battle so that he could save face. Seatumal would be lost in the battle, which was nothing to even think about, and he had more than enough ability to deal with all warriors whose loyalty was questionable.

“Why not simply reveal their disloyalty? If they question the war, simply accuse them and deal with them in the way your people would expect.” asked the messenger, thinking that it was common sense to simply hit the truth now.

“They just survived a huge battle with the enemy, that’s why. People will ask why I would send warriors who might turn on me into such an important battle. Others would start wondering if my accusations were valid. No, I need something that they would blindly believe.”

“I understand, don’t give the masses something to confuse them then. The truth may not always get the job done as quickly, interesting.”

“You may be a worthwhile servant after all. Well, can you think of something they would blindly believe?”

Feeling his back burn with being on the spot, the messenger quickly stated, “What if there were no survivors, what if the people that have come home, are really undead. We could say they are controlled by the girl and P’lar, sent to spy on our people.”

Tyrann chuckled, “Very good. Send a message to the guards, there is evidence that the survivors of the battle near Dayville are a yet unseen undead. They are protected from detection by powerful magic and have access to the soul they disguise as. They are to be captured, killed if necessary, and brought to Sotyn proper to be studied by our clerics. Also, hunt down P’lar, and Pysura Vespern. Consider them dangerous and in control of the undead impostors.”

“I will send it right away.”

“No, not yet, you need to prepare first, I will not send my personal messenger and advisor out with out proper armor and escort. I will send a guard to meet you at the armory in one hour. Go there now and have the smith finish a chain shirt and small sword for you. Your horse will now be tended by the guard’s stables. Go with the message after you’ve received your armor and acquainted yourself with your new body guard.”

“Yes my lord! I serve you with all my will.” the messenger walked bowed out gracefully, as he did so, Tyrann summoned a guard to meet the man at the armory. He then pondered on the development of events. I have to deal with these survivors quickly. If they spread their doubts to the people, I won’t be able properly rule my citizens. Some things just have to be done so that things don’t get out of hand.

***

“What happened, no one knew if you were alive or dead. Why didn’t you come home?”

“How did you end up with him? Oh no, your messed up bad, we should get you to a healer. Why did they attack, is there anything left of Seamtual’s home?”

“How did you travel without him killing you?”

Simultaneously, Tigersoul and P’lar asked their returned friends: “What took you so long?!”

Nerislynn and Pysura tried not to chuckle at the oddity of their overjoyed, and confused friends. Pysura explained here encounter with Nerislynn to P’lar, while Nerislynn explained that he was knocked down in the fight, and couldn’t get up before the other survivors headed back to town.

“So it’s true, that necromancer they sent you after isn’t responsible for the attacks on Sotyn people, but if he isn’t responsible, then who is.?” Zankul asked.

“Maybe it is another Necromancer, one that is more like what you believe us all to be?” P’lar chimmed in.

“No, I agree with Pysura, after talking to her about what I’ve seen, or more what I haven’t seen, I think the Necromancers are being set up. Think about it, no one survives but the guards, and there are no bodies but the victims. When I passed the battlefield this afternoon, there were still bodies from both sides. The zombies that had defended Silverkin were still there, decaying at the same speed as my brethren, just that they had a head start.” Nerislynn said with confidence. He seemed less enthusiastic, and wiser than when he left to fight. Then with less confidence he said, “But if it’s not another necromancer, that only leaves the guards. Why would the guards attack villages? They’re here to protect the people, like me.”

“That’s a fairly dark assumption you’re making there. You’re suggesting that perhaps the guards, with or without Tyrann’s knowledge are waging a war against all Sotyn. I wouldn’t repeat this to anyone without some unchallengeable proof. It’s not wise to through darkness on Tyrann’s blinding light unless you know it will stick.” Tigersoul said in a hushed voice, bringing the audible level of the conversation down so to keep from causing trouble with customers spreading things overheard.

“You left the Paladins because you knew he was not the king he pretends to be. What makes you think we’re wrong?” Pysura asked. The level of the conversation was down to barely audible now. They knew that the conversation they were having could get them all in trouble.

“Actually, I think you’re right. I’m just saying don’t speak too loud without proof. Despite the horrid condition of Sotyn, Tyrann doesn’t let anyone even threaten to cast a shadow on his reign. However, if you can prove it, I’ll be the first to bring him down. He is a disgrace to the light, and to his father. Nathan was a great king, I know the necromancer that brought those monsters through and killed him were just as dark and evil as a person could be. I admit, I’ve never trusted you people, the only reason I’ve never said anything is because none of you have ever done anything.”

“Well, I guess we’ll have to prove ourselves to you, but first we need to find out what’s really going on here. If even a fraction of what Nerislynn and Pysura said is true. Then perhaps it is time to shed some darkness on this terrible light.” P’lar said.

“I agree, we may be warriors of light old man, but if the light shines from the fires of a devil, than we should be fighting that light. While I still don’t know about you two, I know this, only the truth is right, we can’t live on lies.” Nerislynn whispered to the three of them. They seemed to agree that the truth had to come out, and that sometimes, the all the light on a subject only hides what needs to be seen.

They spoke more, and got to know each other a little better, Tigersoul never got to ask P’lar the questions he intended, but he knew he would get another chance. P’lar took Pysura to see a healer that was willing to help. Zankul Tigersoul and Nerislynn Lumanani drank the day to night, and slept the night into the next day.