Doomwalker by Kathryn Zurmehly

Author:Kathryn Zurmehly [Zurmehly, Kathryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-21T05:00:00+00:00

✽✽✽

“Ah, young Paladin Valen,” High Priestess Sola said, smiling at him through the open doors of the meeting floor. She waved him in. “Come, meet Crownsguard Commander Laelius Brandtalus.”

Commander Brandtalus, who Valen could now see wore a breastplate with the Crownshold symbol on it, nodded at him. He was tall, of a height with Maryx but still shorter than Valen. His green eyes sized Valen up like a dueling opponent. “The High Priestess speaks well of you, Paladin.”

Valen bowed his head as he would to a priestess. “All glory is Lyrica’s, Commander.”

“Indeed,” the High Priestess said, “Valen is particularly blessed, not just in skill but with visits from the goddess’ Herald as well.”

“She came to me again this morning, High Priestess,” Valen said, interrupting. Commander Brandt looked sharply at him but the High Priestess paled. “The Temple must leave the city quickly.”

The two exchanged a long look. “It is with a sorrowful heart,” the High Priestess said, “that I must refuse to heed the advice of Lyrica’s Herald.”

Valen could only blink at her.

She held up a hand as if he were protesting loudly. “If the Temple abandons Crownshold, the city will fall, and the suffering will be…considerable.”

“However,” the Commander said, “Perhaps a plan should be put in place to do as Lyrica’s Herald says.”

The High Priestess fixed him with an archly irritated look.

Valen felt like he was in one of his visions of the Herald, frozen and mute.

“The goddess is the protector of civilization. She wouldn’t give her devout servant warnings for no reason. I know you feel—”

“Feel! Pah! This is my city as well, Brandtalus! More than any lord’s, and I’ll not bow to any of them! I’ll not have my city bow to them!” She subsided, shaking and leaning all her weight on her cane. “I will organize the storage of some supplies and transportation for the same. Every shrine I can convince will send a few Initiates to the place from Valen’s vision. It would be wise to heed the Herald as best we can. We will have little to spare soon enough.” Because of the refugees, though Valen was certain they wouldn’t tell him about that.

“I think that best.”

“You are like a mother hen.” Her shaking stopped. “Now, Paladin, I asked you here because we have a mission for you.”

Valen tried to look devotedly obedient.

“There have been reports of something outside the walls. Strange marks on the ground and gouged into the stone,” the Commander said, “There are always superstitious tales and tired men seeing horrors in nighttime shadows, but there’s been evidence this time.”

“I know you would rather play the roving champion,” the High Priestess said, “I’ve had a few of the Paladins stationed locally look into it but they are…out of practice. You are the best at extinguishing dark powers and you’re not inclined to go bragging at The Sunshield for a free ale.” She smiled kindly at him. “The Keepers reported that you brought in two more heartstones yesterday. A rare feat, though perhaps not so rare for you.

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