The knight said nothing for some time. Rupert hoped he hadn’t overdone it. The knight’s hand on his shoulder hadn’t moved or changed. Then suddenly, it was patting him. “There lad. While I certainly didn’t see the demon carrying anyone.” Rupert froze. He hadn’t thought of that. If the man could see well enough to shoot him, he surely could have seen anything he might have carried. Rupert mentally cursed himself. The whole story was worthless. What an idiot he was! Why hadn’t he thought of that angle?
Talarius continued, unaware of Rupert’s internal recriminations, “It was dark and my view wasn’t that good. I certainly could have missed seeing you. After the demon moved out of the moonlight, all I could see was a dark spot in the sky. Certainly, I wouldn’t have done any pronouncement that would have injured you if I’d realized you were there with the demon. I’m sorry for that lad. Truly, but the important thing is,” Talarius strengthened his grip on Rupert’s shoulder, “that we got it to release you, albeit unknowingly.
“You are safe with us. In due time, we will return you to your family. However, for tonight, I think you need rest. In the morning, I’d appreciate it if you could repeat your story for the Arch-Vicar General and a few other good men. We will need all the help we can get in ferreting out the vile minions of deceit. Fear not though, I Talarius will personally see to it that the demons are all slain and routed. They will not have their wicked way with good people like yourself anymore. This is my word.” With the last words, he lifted Rupert’s chin again and smiled kindly. Rupert would have been relieved, felt protected, if only the man wasn’t talking about slaying him.
As Ethen led the boy off to a tent for a good night’s rest, Talarius turned his eyes back to the construction of the Runic Gateway. He cursed himself for unknowingly endangering the child. He shouldn’t have aimed at a target that wasn’t fully resolved. While the Light of Heaven wouldn’t hurt anything but creatures of evil, if he had killed the demon, the fall could certainly have killed the child. Of course, this presumed the child was telling the truth. The only doubts he had were from not having seen the child being carried, and the curious behavior of such a demon. Why it would be kidnapping the child. Human sacrifice perhaps? Talarius wouldn’t put it past a demon. Further, why would it fly directly over the Rod’s campsite?
The boy had seemed sincere. Actually, rather coherent for a child in that state, admirable. Talarius had known many an older man to be completely insane with fear from lesser experiences with demons. Unfortunately, he’d had no way to determine if the child was telling the truth short of his own instincts and experience. Barabus or Verigas could easily have done so; however, they were busy. Both priests were busy constructing the gateway. That had paramount importance.
This incident tonight only further served to increase Talarius’ determination to get reinforcements. They were certainly going to need them. Talarius rubbed his chin. He’d have Barabus or one of the other priests listen to the boy’s story tomorrow. All the priests would be tired after the night’s work, but they needed to know all they could learn. The priests could verify the boy’s story, and perhaps Talarius could probe for more information when the child had had time to rest. Perhaps Verigas could help him with it.
Lord Protectator Wing Arms Master Heron of Treage surveyed his Command from the command deck of his flagship, the OSS Keeper of Law. He used the telescoping glass to survey the progress upon the decks of the other ships as the preparations for getting underway were being made on each and every vessel in his command. Twenty-one of Oorstemoth’s finest resting now in their berths outside of Keeper’s City, he was proud of each one. He only wished he’d had more to spare. Unfortunately, these craft were in extremely high demand, and short of abandoning other critical interests of Oorstemoth, he could spare no more.
