His Sword Sheath, on a Bier Above Quivering Masses.
Korko ran along the streets, taking toll of the dead. Many of the bodies still had their eyes open.
Most of the gold golems fell as well. The hulking machines lay around the streets like broken statues.
"Master Ty'Aero! What happened here?"
"Ah, yes, Korko, the new leader of the Veiled Knights. I have no idea. It seems that I was not the only one that had horrible nightmares last night."
"No. I had horrible nightmares, as did all of my Knights. I woke in a sweat and went outside of my chambers to investigate. Three quarters of the Veiled Knights were running around the temple maze killing anyone in their path. They killed all of the priests of Vhaeraun, except for the high priest himself. Then they started murdering each other. They went into the temple of Fredaine and killed nearly all of the whores as well. I can only suspect that they are partially responsible for the deaths on the streets as well. I have only been able to account for a tenth of my knights."
"I understand. Most of my acolytes and students died combating each other last night as well. The gladiators nearly destroyed the arena. None of the gladiatorial slaves are left alive."
"I hope this has nothing to do with my clearing of the Billowing Towers."
"I don't believe so. Come with me to the Wine and Spirits. I believe we both could use a drink. Goylar's slimes and oozes will take care of the mess out here. I have closed off the docks. There will be no commerce until after the emperor's funeral tomorrow morning."
"Wise decision, Milord."
Ty'Aero led Korko to his favorite table near the bar. Ty'Aero spoke of plans for the city while they waited for their drinks. He looked up, and saw the large gilt mirror behind the bar.
"I wonder when they took down the nice tapestry they had there before?"
"Hmm, oh. I am not sure. Several weeks ago, I think. It belonged to the old woman in the back. The fortune teller. She died and they wrapped her body in it, I think."
"Shame. It was quite beautiful. It was one of the reasons why I like this table. That is, other than the proximity of the waiters that carry the excellent wine."
"Is there anything else you need of me, Milord?"
"No. Wait, yes. " Ty'Aero grabbed onto Korko's shirt. "Many of my students were carrying a potion on them. It was made to seek out the heir to the throne. I have an extra vial. Take it and help continue the search. It will glow green when someone of Kirisatt's bloodline is near. I am in hopes that he impregnated a whore or slave in his youth. It would relieve my stress."
Korko took the tiny vial. "I will do as you command." He studied Ty'Aero a moment. "Milord, may I speak freely?"
"Go on."
"Am I imagining things or are your dark features growing lighter? Milord? Are you ill?"
"Lighter?" Ty'Aero jumped up and rushed to look in the mirror behind the bar. He gasped. The pallor of his skin had gone from deep black to dark gray.
"No. No, Korko. I am fine" Ty'Aero smiled. "In fact, seeing this makes me feel a little better."
Lodo removed his mansion spell. In his state of mind, he was not sure if he could keep the spell maintained. He was silent. It was the first time in many years that he kept silent. He stared at Solonund.
"That foolish fop risked his own life, more than once to save mine. Yet, I treat him like a waste of breath. I tried to take his wife away from him, and he never condemned me for it. I am a horrible person, yet he treats me like a saint."
Solonund and Katla made sure Thelan rested on a pile of soft blanket while they continued to tend to him. Thelan's breathing was steady, but he still would not wake.
"The gods, bless you and keep you. The gods keep their eyes upon you. And give you peace, and give you peace. And give you peace forever." Solonund softly sang the lullaby he always sang to Thelan as a small child. He held his son's hand and made silent prayers.
"There is nothing more I can do, Solonund. Keep talking and singing to him. Perhaps he will find a way to wake on his own."
"I had such a horrible nightmare last night." Solonund ran his fingers through Thelan's curly hair.
"You too?"
"I had a horrible nightmare as well!" Lodo piped up.
"I wonder if....?"
"You wonder what, Katla? What did you do?"
"I just tested a theory, Lodo. You would have done the same."
"The same what!"
"I put the crown that I brought from home on the helm."
"And that triggered the dreams! Katla!"
"I'm sorry! I didn't know that is what would happen!"
"You stupid girl! How dare you pull something like that without talking to me first!"
Katla stood up, put on her weapons and strode out the door. She ran into Korko as she was leaving. Katla pushed him aside and started out of the room.
Korko stumbled, the vial Ty'Aero gave him rolled to the floor. It glowed briefly and went out .
Tears streamed down Katla's face. She tried to keep from crying.
She stormed towards the Jagged Palace. It was the only place she knew a temple of Corellon resided, even if it was only a ruin.
"Lady Katla?"
"Oh, Naurailoki. Are you ill? You look pale."
"No. I am fine, but you , obviously are not. This is the first time I have seen you in your armor since you first came to the city. Why are you crying? I hope it is not for all of the bodies of these that litter the streets?"
"I had a very bad dream and I would rather not talk about it now. I want to be alone and the only place I know that is not crawling with people is the Jagged Palace."
"And, you want to visit the ruined temple behind it?"
Katla met Ty'Aero's eyes. Ty'Aero took his hand and gently wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I see. My information was correct. You are a cleric, of a knightly order."
"Yes, Naurailoki, I am. Not that it is any of your business." She snapped.
"My love. Please calm yourself. I will not harm you. I am worried about you being too close to the Ancient Captive. He is dangerous."
"I think I can handle Lokteruost."
"What! How do you know his name?"
Katla took a sharp breath and sniffed a couple of times. "It was well, part of my nightmare, last night."
Ty'Aero reached into his pocket and pulled out the small vial. It glowed a bright green.
"What is that?"
"Oh nothing. It is similar to a light spell. I am heading to the temple of Ghaunadaur. I don't want any of the oozes catching me unaware."
"Will you meet me at the old temple as soon as you are done, Naurailoki?"
"I will if I can get away from my duties."
Ty'Aero pounded on the heavy door of Goylar's personal chambers. "Open this blasted door!" He jumped back when a small ooze made its way through the keyhole.
The huge door swung open.
The chamber was sparsely furnished. A group of pegs in the wall held various ceremonial garb. There was a bed that looked rarely slept in. A coat rack containing two simple robes and Goylar's crooked staff stood next to a large bath in the floor.
Ty'Aero gingerly inched his way towards the bath. Inside of it was a slime swirling around.
Slowly, part of the slime climbed out of the bath and changed its shape. Goylar put on one of the robes from the coat rack and took his staff in hand.
"I hope you have a very good reason for interrupting my fun."
The other slime in the bath rose out and took the shape of a female surface elf. She giggled slightly, put on the other robe, left the room, and closed the door behind her.
"That, Goylar, is disgusting."
"You couple in your way, I couple in mine. You should try it. It is quite an experience."
"No thank you!"
"What do you want, then?"
"I need you to make preparations in the lower chambers."
"Have you decided against having the ooze devour the Emperor's body in public?"
"No. I have found his heir. Unfortunately, it is not a male heir."
"Ah, I see. You finally get your fondest wish. You will finally be Emperor. It is not like Kirisatt really had any power anyway."
"Yes, well. I want all to be prepared, for my wedding. It will take place just after the funeral. Timing is crucial. I do not want the lady's companions to interfere."
"The lady's? Love? Sentimentality? Adoration? That is not like you. No wonder you are getting so pale. Beware, Ty'Aero. The chit may just cast you aside. "
"We shall see."
Thelvin watched as Ty'Aero spoke to Katla. His blood boiled as he saw the look on the wizard's face.
"Silly girl. Don't she know she be gettin in over her head?"
Thelvin watched as Katla parted from the wizard and strode in the opposite direction. He followed a safe distance behind Katla as she wound her way around the myriad of corpses in the streets.
Katla stopped for a moment and leaned over an empty merchant's table.
Thelvin rushed to her side. "Easy now, girl. Ye didn't expect it te be smellin so bad. Let it come up if ye need te."
"Thelvin. All this death is my fault."
"Now don't ye be sayin that. I heard ye tell Lodo what ye did. Any of us woulda done the same. The way I figure, all of these here that met their end were not very good ones. If they had themselves a shread of good in em, they woulda not be lyin here dead."
"We need to go to the ruined temple, behind the palace."
"Yea, we need te be checkin on on that fella. Ye think he met his end too?"
"I don't know."
"Well while ye are checkin on him, I'll be checkin on the palace. I want te find out where them demons are kept."
"Goddess, I knew you would come. I prayed that you were safe."
"Please, don't call me that."
"Why? I see the light in you. You have done such wonders."
"I do not deserve such praise, Lokteruost. I have done just as many evil things as I have good. My nightmares last night showed me that much."
"Oh, no. I saw your nightmares. I can not say how, but I did."
"Then you know that many people in this city are dead because of those same nightmares?"
"Yes." Lokteruost took a deep breath and sighed. "Nothing could be done for them. I wish I could say I had nothing to do with turning their dreams against them, but I can't. I could not control pushing back the evil that tried to invade me. Evil has a way of turning on those that wield it. And, so does good. Those that survived the trial are a testament to that."
"Have you thought on what you are going to do once you are free?"
"No, goddess. I have not. I want to die. As I am, it is not possible."
"My name is Katla."
"Very well, if that is what you wish to be called, I will concede."
"I am one of the Chosen of the Knights of the Astral Blade, a warrior priestess in service to Corellon Larethian. I wield one of the nine holy longswords."
"Then you are here to pray and have him bless your weapon, I suppose. I understand." Lokteruost stood and pulled away ivy that encircled several pedestals that once held statues. "See here. This is where Corellon's statue once stood. The names of the other gods and goddesses of Arvandor are written on the sides of the pedestals. I do not need to read the names to know where the statues once were. I am very old. I suppose the title of Ancient Captive is fitting."
Katla looked at Corellon's pedestal and to the round altar in front of it. She dug through the grasses and weeds until she found a line of slits in the stone floor. There were nine slits, the line of them running from east to west.
Katla drew her sword, Glinlass.
Glinlass, was the fifth of the nine swords of the Chosen, and the only one to be wielded by a female. Katla had once taken her position as one of the Chosen very seriously, yet, she no longer wanted it. She felt unworthy. She shared Lokteruost's sentiment to want to die.
She placed the tip of Glinlass in the fifth slit from the east. She knelt, put one hand on the pommel and the other on the flat of the blade. She stared at the empty place where Corellon's statue once stood, and prayed as tears fell down her face.
Lokteruost made his way back around the altar and knelt next to Katla. "You know he spoke the truth."
"Who?"
"Corellon. He told you he loved you the most, longest and the best. It is the truth. Do not cry. He knows. Your sword is a symbol of his affection."
Katla gasped and looked at Lokteruost.
He continued in his prayer, stopping once he met a pause. "Sometimes, though his statue is gone, I can see his face."
"Katla!" Thelvin bellowed from near the palace. "That durned thing is a maze! I canna find where the durned dungeons are. We are gonna have to ask Strad if he knows of there be a tunnel that connects!"
"What is he looking for?"
Katla stood and sheathed her sword. "The demons that those hands on your shackles belong to. If we know where they will emerge, we will have a better chance of protecting the surviving people of the city."
"Very sound. I will pray for your success. Now go. You are needed elsewhere. A boy is in need of your healing touch."
Despite numerous protests by Lodo, Tharros and Thelvin, Katla walked on Ty'Aero's arm during Kirisatt's sunrise funeral procession.
The dead Emperor was led through the streets on richly adorned cart, pulled by his former male concubines.
The surviving Black Wizards herded the citizens to the sides of the procession. Any person who did not openly wail or mourn was beaten.
The streets were clean of all of the blood and bodies. Goylar's oozes and slimes were sated from the carnage left in the streets the night before.
Katla was glad. She did not want to be assaulted by nausea during the procession. She stayed silent beneath her black veil. The dress Ty'Aero had sent her was gaudy and uncomfortable. Yet, she decided it was best to concede to wear it.
The outer part of the gown was black velvet with gold threads in swirling patterns along the collar, sleeves and hem It was slit down the sleeves and down the front of the skirt to reveal the color of the gown beneath. The gown beneath was a fine silver brocade.
Katla decided to wear her sword. The silver and gold along the pommel accented the dress perfectly. Any onlooker would have thought the sword was made to fit with the dress.
Kunne and Walisra stayed a pace behind her, disguised as Katla's servants. They held the hem of the train to keep it from dragging the ground.
Ty'Aero smiled. He had woke at first light to find his skin had grown to a dull, copperish gray. His eyes were growing blue again. His hair was no longer all black, but had brown highlights.
Ty'Aero had dreamed of Katla all that night. He wondered what she would think when he took the black velvet over-dress off and revealed that the silver was to be her wedding gown.
The gown had belonged to Ty'Aero's mother. He felt it was the only dress worthy of Katla. Of all the people in the universe, the only person Ty'Aero loved, other than Katla, was his mother.
"Mother," thought to himself and sighed as he remembered how he had accidentally killed her while trying to save her life. "I hope you approve."
"Naurailoki, who will take Kirisatt's place now that he is dead?" Katla listed slightly as she walked over an uneven stone in the road.
Stradivarius, who walked by her, opposite Ty'Aero, quickly grabbed her hand so she would not fall. "Easy there, Milady. Are you gonna be alright?"
"Yes, it is just that this dress is so heavy, and hot!"
Ty'Aero chuckled. "Just bear with it a little longer, my love. We are almost around the last bend. From there we can go straight to my box at the arena. Goylar and the ooze he has chosen are waiting in the center. The ooze will take care of Kirisatt. As for his successor, I have been fortunate to have found one."
"I thought the arena was a mess?"
"Yes, it was. I had my students repair all that they could yesterday. The area beneath the stands is still a mess, but the seating area is as good as new."
"Thank goodness. I don't know how much longer I can walk in this dress."
"I am sorry. I suppose I was simply thinking how lovely it would look on you. I sometimes forget that some dresses are not made for walking in. I will make it up to you. I have a surprise for you once we reach my box."
Further towards the back of the procession, Lodo stomped along with his arms crossed and his eyes ahead. Beside him was Tharros, in priestly funeral robes. Lodo had never thought much about Tharros' looks before, but in those clothes! Lodo thought his half orc friend looked more ghastly than he had ever seen before.
Thelvin was a few paces ahead of them, whistling and waving to the crowd with his axe. He was gaining more than one chuckle and smile from the otherwise somber crowd.
"It looks like Thelvin is having a grand time."
"Thelvin likes attention, Tharros. I wonder why Ty'Aero put us so far back in the procession?"
"I wonder where Tessirak is? I have not seen him since the evening of the nightmare."
"He is back at the safe house with Solonund and Thelan. I felt it best he help guard them while we are on this stupid walk."
"I thought kings loved being seen in public like this?"
"Not me."
"Thelvin, can you see Katla and Ty'Aero?" Tharros yelled, to get Thelvin's attention.
"It's hard as hell to miss em. Well, I can see Strad. An I know he is next te her."
"Good, because I have a very bad feeling." Lodo sighed and put one hand on the pommel of his sword.
Katla was sickened by the scene of the ooze swallowing up Kirisatt's body, cart and all.
Throughout the stands there was a mix of crying, gagging, and ogling at the sight.
"Are you sure you are going to be alright? I suppose after the blood and bodies on the street yesterday, I should have thought of letting you rest."
"I have never seen such a disgusting display."
"You are right, but it is tradition. I care little for those oozes myself. Here, I have something for you that will cheer your spirits, I hope."
"Are you going to announce who will be the new emperor? You said that you had found him?"
"Oh, no. That is not done until tomorrow. Today is for mourning Kirisatt."
"I understand. Let the crowd get over its grief before thrusting a new ruler upon them. I wish you had allowed my servants to be here. I could use one of Lodo's spells right now."
"I wanted to be able to talk to you alone, without prying eyes or ears. We are quite safe."
Ty'Aero stood, took a ring from his pocket, took Katla's left hand and knelt before her. "Katla," he slipped the ring on her left ring finger, "I have thought long and hard on this. I want you to be my wife."
"Naurailoki. I really do not know what to say. " She looked at the blood red stone on the engagement ring on her finger. Her mind began to cloud. Her ears rang with the sound of Ty'Aero professing his undying love over and over. Her eyes glazed over. "I accept. I will marry you."
Ty'Aero smiled, put his arms around her and brought her into a deep kiss. "We wed this afternoon, my love."
Lodo tapped his fingers on the table with one hand as he took another swig of wine with the other.
He, Tharros and Thelvin had been waiting nearly an hour at the Wine and Spirits. There was no sign of Katla, despite her promise to meet them there after the funeral.
"Quit fidgeting, Lodo. Ye know how women are. It must take a while to be gettin that dress off. She wouldna want te be wearin the thing all day."
"She is insufferable, stubborn, and much too headstrong for her own good. She is mayhem and trouble on two legs. Isolder should have locked her away and kept her there."
"Lodo, as I recall, her father tried. Solonund nearly burnt down his home trying to keep her from escaping. That didn't work."
Lodo put his drink down and put his hand over his face. "I will never understand women."
Stradivarius rushed in through the doors. "Master Lodo!"
Lodo and the other two jumped up, threw some platinum on the table and ran to the orc in the doorway. "Where is Katla?"
Strad led them out of the tavern and into a side street where they could talk.
"Kunne and Walisra are searching all over the arena. She and Ty'Aero have disappeared! Ty'Aero told all of the servants, including his own , to stay outside of his box for a few moments while he discussed something private with her. When we went in, they were both gone. I checked the secret passages in the box, but both were blocked by rubble."
"Damn! I should have listened to my gut feeling. The bastard has kidnapped her!"
"An this damned city has got too many places where he could be hidin her."
"I will cast a spell to locate her." Tharros said, waving his hands in a meticulous manner. "The path to her is that way."
Tharros took off at a run with the rest close behind.
As they got closer to the slums, Korko met up with them. "Thank goodness I found you! Lodo! We have trouble, and big!"
"Where is Katla?!"
"In the temple of Ghaunadaur. Goylar and Ty'Aero have taken her into the lower temple. They must know she was related to Kirisatt! They only allowed the High Priestess of Fredaine, the High Priest of Vhaeraun, and a few members of the surviving noble houses inside. Black Wizards and dozens of guards, loyal to Ty'Aero surround the building. Oozes and slimes cover the first floor and the floor below. I tried to get in to see what they were doing, but Ty'Aero told me I had not earned his absolute trust yet."
Lodo and the rest came to a stop at the front door to the temple. One of the guards held out his hand to Lodo. "Do you have an invitation?"
"Yes." Lodo weaved a spell that put the guards at the door under his control.
"I see, the bride's party. Just show the oozes your wand that came with the invitation and they will let you pass."
Once inside, the doors closed behind them. Lodo launched a firebrand, burning all the oozes in their path.
"Did that guard say , bride?" Tharros took a deep breath.
"Yes. I hope we make it there before that bastard marries her. If we don't all of our plans wil be up in smoke, just like these oozes."
Katla looked more lovely than Ty'Aero imagined she would look. The coronet of silver flowers he placed on her head during their vows suited her well. He believed she rivaled his own mother's beauty in that silver gown.
Katla took her coronet of silver leaves and placed it on Ty'Aero's head "I give myself to whom wears this crown."
Ty'Aero slipped his mother's wedding band onto Katla's finger. A final testament to bind her to him.
"As you have given yourselves to each other, you are lawfully wed. The gods have seen and none may unbind you. You may kiss."
Ty'Aero pulled Katla into his arms and kissed her deeply. A surge of energy went through their bodies, completing the wedding spell. Ty'Aero pulled away to look into Katla's eyes.
"Naurailoki? You have changed."
The spell Ty'Aero had placed on the engagement ring wore off as soon as they were wed.
Katla was looking at him, lovingly, without any manipulation.
"What do you see?"
"Your eyes. They are blue. Your hair, it is light brown."
"You have changed me, my love, my wife." He picked Katla up and carried her to a mirror portal. The portal connected the temple to a building in the Academy of the Black Wizards. "Come, let us be gone from this vile place."
Lodo and his party hacked and burned their way to the lowest basement of the temple of Ghaunadaur. "This is taking forever!" He screamed.
As Tharros surged ahead down the final steps, the wedding guests screamed and ran up several other stairways in the temple.
Goylar waved his crook and let loose all of the oozes in the various pools of the underground cavern.
"You are too late! Interlopers! The Empress is already wed!" He ran up a set of stairs with Thelvin at his heels.
Thelvin pulled out a jeweled dagger from his belt and tossed it at Goylar.
"You think a dagger will stop me? Foolish dwarf!" Goylar started to change into his slime form, and screamed.
The slime was absorbed by the small dagger. The dagger, Goylar's robes and crook fell to the floor.
"A gift from me ma. Jest fer your kind." Thelvin said as he picked up the dagger and tucked it back in his belt.
Tharros and Stradivarius took their dire bear and dire wolf forms, respectively.
The over-fed oozes were no match for the magic and the might of Lodo and his friends. The battle was over in a matter of minutes. The slimes and oozes that were not destroyed, cowered in the large pools that filled the room.
On stone platforms that were in the center of each large pool, were sword sheaths. All of the sheaths looked identical.
"Lodo, which one do you think belongs to Lokteruost?"
"I am not sure. Tharros, can you detect which one?"
"They all have some sort of magic emanating from them."
"We had best take all of them then. Thank goodness Katla left her bag that held the artifacts with Solonund."
"Shouldn't we go after her, Lodo?"
"No, Thelvin. The priest of Ghaunadaur was right. It is too late. We just have to hope that she has something up her sleeve."
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