Talarius sighed, Tiernon had been generous and allowed him multiple opportunities to prove himself. Whenever he felt assailed by doubts, Tiernon would provide a suitable challenge to relieve those doubts. Tiernon had seen fit to grant him the rank of Knight Rampant, and challenged him many times with evil on which to test his worthiness and prove his faith. He knew that the vampires had been a test. A test of his faith and his spiritual and emotional strength. Now, once again though, as the cycles seemed to go, he was being given the opportunity to test his physical strength as well as his cunning and wits.
He’d stopped by to talk with Iskerus before heading to Hoggensforth. It appeared that an army of demons had entered the world through the actions of a priest who had failed in a test of worthiness. The demons, led by an Archaedemon, were on the march to Freehold, for Tiernon knew what sort of Dark-inspired activity. Talarius dreaded the damage that such beings would wreak upon the poor unfortunates in their path. Secretly, inside, however, he rather looked forward to being able to test himself against an Archaedemon. He’d never actually slain an Archaedemon before. Many a lesser demon than what he would now face, but this would be new. The sheer physical and mental challenge kept him from thinking of darker thoughts. Of memories best put behind with cloudy skies.
Talarius relished the opportunity to slay this archfiend from the pits. He’d spent the entire night in prayer and sharpening Ruiden. Not that Ruiden ever needed sharpening, but he wanted to believe, needed to believe, that the symbolism was also important. The battle was about to begin again. The eternal struggle against the forces of tyranny and evil incarnate. A clear cut, unblemished, challenge at last, after a year of slaying nothing but vampires and the associated problems they raised. Problems for those they plagued and the deeper, darker, problems they brought forth for Talarius.
War Arrow was now over the impromptu parade ground and was circling. A fine steed, Talarius thought, a fine friend. He had to suppress a momentary feeling of pride in their work together. Hubris had been the downfall of many a soldier for the good. Talarius would not fall into that trap. Not again. Not ever again. What he felt for his friend, was admiration. Admiration at her spirit and determination in the face of evil. War Arrow had taken him into many a campaign over their ten years together. Indeed, without War Arrow, fighting those cursed airborne demons would have been a lot trickier. Never a moment of hesitation, never a doubt. War Arrow understood the mission. Understood the danger of hesitation. Of faltering, the danger of failing those in need. War Arrow was a companion he could depend on. One who wouldn’t succumb. Wouldn’t fail the test.
Talarius absently brushed a wrinkle from the surcoat over War Arrow’s magical barding as he searched for Barabus on the parade ground. It seemed he and the Arch-Vicar General were to be once again comrades in the struggle. The Arch-Vicar was a good man, if a little too soft on the Enemy for Talarius’ taste. However, each must prove his worthiness in his own way. Talarius knew that he himself had once been too soft. Too afraid of doing what needed to be done. That wouldn’t happen again though. One Melissance was enough.
It seemed that even as he spotted Barabus, so the Arch-Vicar General had Talarius’ location pointed out to him. Talarius could see the Arch-Vicar shading his eyes and staring up into the sky in Talarius’ direction. Talarius drew his sword in a salute to the Arch-Vicar General and the undertaking they were about to begin in the name of their Lord. He allowed Ruiden to flash brilliantly for a few moments, along with his own armor. He then allowed them to return to their more traditional, blessed, but naturally shiny state. He pointed out the place he wished to land to War Arrow, who quickly began the final descent onto the parade ground. Talarius placed Ruiden across his knees as they began the descent. He’d need Ruiden again, for a more formal salute when the landed. Under his helmet, Talarius once again smiled, grimly, at the prospect of the coming battle. A chance to prove himself. A chance to test strength against strength. A chance to forget.
Barabus shielded his eyes from the sunlight as his page pointed out the location of the winged horse in the sky. “Well, be ready,” he said to the men surrounding him, including the recent high priest of Gizzor Del. “Here comes the man, the legend incarnate,” he said under his breath so that no one else might here. Even as he peered skyward, he saw the knight raise his sword in a salute. Despite the angle of the sun, it appeared that Talarius’ armor and sword were reflecting a great deal of sunlight, causing people to blink their eyes.
