Chp. 4 Knight takes Rook
General Elquis wadded his way into the main conference chamber, expecting to see the entire counsel of the Glabados Church. Instead he got one the lowly servants. This one still had power though and a little bit of influence. He will do for the moment.
The General waved his two most loyal bodyguards away, a Lancer and a Ninja, and they obeyed. After the heavy brass door was shut, leaving him and the boy alone, he walked up to the massive table and took a seat at the end. His eyes darted across the table to catch sight of the young servant. He wore the essential white robe of a White Priest, the healer type and his short blonde hair fell down around his head. Still it infuriated Elquis that Alexie would send only a Priest.
The Priest elevated his hand holding onto a single piece of old ragged paper. It was the same piece of paper that he sent to Alexie!
"Is this some kind of joke." The young foolish boy asked.
"Is it?" The general replied back.
The priest's brows jumped up in amusement but now was no the time. "My master requests that the meaning of this be explained. He told me to tell you that this is not a funny joke if at all a joke and also tells me to remind you to know your place." The eloquence in which he spoke with obviously reveled that he had rehearsed this many times.
Elquis jumped up nearly slamming his fists into the hard oak table. He would have, if it didn't look so nice nor cost so much. He was a bit of a penny pincher.
"Priest Alexie dare attempts to remind me of my place? I should be doing that!"
"How so?" The boy inquired?
The general turned to the side, never allowing his head to turn away from the priest, and strode up to one of the many book-filled walls. He reached for a book, without even looking, and then tossed it to the priest. The book slid across the long table and hit the Priest in the lap. Old dust and other things jumped up from the book and the boy had to cough once or twice. He turned his gaze from the war-torn book to the war-torn general.
"What is the meaning of this? You dare offend me with such dirty material?"
"I suggest you still your tongue and open that dirty material. You may find it to be very interesting." Elquis mused.
The priest did what he said and opened the book. Only after a few pages did he toss the book back onto the table and hissed. "LIES!"
"Really?" Elquis asked. "Could it really be that far from the truth? Or perhaps its so close to the truth and it sounds so much like the truth, you refused to believe, thus destroying everything you believe in."
The priest turned to Elquis with such a frighten look. Elquis had broken him without even trying. In fact he stood up saying, "I must leave. I have errands more important then this to attend to."
As he tried to past Elquis, Elquis grabbed him by the shoulder and quietly spoke into his ears. His voice sending resonating chills across the young priest's body. "You will fetch Alexie for me? Yes? If you don't , I will personal release this to the public. Could you imagine how quickly the shift of power will be. And it wont go to Delita either. It will go straight to me." He moved closer to the boys ear, lips lightly brushing against it, "And then I'll crush the entirety of the Glabados Church. You will be NOTHING!"
And with that, he released the whiter then usual Priest and took his seat at the other end of the table. The same end that the Priest had taken. He looked back at the wall behind him. It contained three stained glass pieces. One of Ajora coming to the world, another of Ajora calling forth the Zodiac Braves, and another of Lucavi slaughtering everything in sight. Elquis laughed at it all and awaited the arrival of Alexie and hopefully many others.
Amazing how the world revolves around you when you hold all the cards. It is truly amazing. That young Priest had all the highest members of the Glabados Church here in only two days. Incredible. It seems that very large things could be accomplished very quickly. Now the time had come. Now was the time to take the tyrant by the knees. Now……was the time to assure his power and commence the first stage of his plans.
General Elquis sat up in all his glory, gold and black Dragon armor glistening in the moonlight coming from the sky window and made an announcement. One that caused worry and frustration throughout the group of high level Priests.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen. And of course all those in-between." A joke. Obviously a joke the rest of them didn't like. He cleared his throat, a little tweaked that they didn't find his joke funny but whatever.
"General Elquis." Ah, Priest Alexie. Took him forever to finally acknowledge his presence. "What do you have that caused such a…… fever in my young messenger?"
Elquis smiled grimly and leaned forward in his large wooden chair. He laid his armored covered elbows on the table and then wrapped his fingers in a even mesh. He looked down at the easy to see reflection on the table and then back at Alexie. "I have something that can either make you stronger or it can break you."
Mummers scattered back and forth across the table but Alexie did not seem afraid.
"Really?" He said in a cold collected voice. "You have something that can break the mighty power of the Glabados Church? Please forgive me if I don't believe you immediately."
The general nodded. He knew it wasn't going to be that easy. Alexie was a hard man to break. The others were nothing but little mice compared to him. However, this was not going to be an easy job. He had to play his cards right in such a way that they did not realize what he was planning until it was too late. If his plan does succeed then the Glabados Church, in all it's holiness, will crumble as so many before it.
"Well, I'm merely in possession of something that could strip you of all your power."
Alexie said nothing yet he attentively listened.
That was one of the things that Elquis praised and respected Alexie of. Anytime, something had threatened Alexie's power, he responded with profound efficiency. That was the only reason he remained the 2nd most powerful person in the church. He only had the Master Priest to snuff out and most likely, he already had something in the works. The Master Priest was looking a little pale.
"But of course it can strengthen you as well fortify your position in this world."
All of them really enjoyed that part. Yet, Alexie was suspicious of his motives.
The General stood up and walked to the stained glass windows and continued to play his party, his sweet ambrosia voice into the open ears of the priests.
"There are three major powers in this land. Two of them are equal, only one is not as strong."
"The Dragon Knight Brigade, correct?" Alexie pointed out so well.
Elquis shut his eyes for a moment and absorbed the invisible remark, "Yes. Yes Priest Alexie, you are very much correct. However, I hold the cards now and I propose a truce, an agreement."
The Master Priest looked at each of his disciples before looking at the back that belonged to General Elquis.
"May you turn to me? Show me the respect as I would to you." His voice was unique. Powerful, equal and yet weak and grieved. He was probably the only decent guy in the room, for that Elquis turned to him. He willing give a dying man the respect he deserved.
"The Germonik Scriptures." The Master Priest said.
Everyone turned to Elquis, all scared to hell and back. They all knew, even Alexie knew what resides between those hallowed covers. The truth. The very same truth that every priest from here to Murond Holy Place to Zeltennia Castle to the center of the Glabados Religion, the Glabados church, had no clue of. Only certain Priest and Priestess' knew of that truth and they now sat quietly and deathly afraid in this room. Should that truth be released, there will be one less great power in the world.
The General turned his head and replied, "Yes."
No response. But one thing was as evident as the stars in the dark blue sky, though everyone was quiet, they were all scared shitless.
The Master Priest however showed no emotion and merely stood, slowly of course. "Then it is over. The truth is out."
One priest leaned back in his chair and started cursing while another put her hands together and started praying real fast to any god, real go, out there. Another priest just broke down and started crying loudly and while everyone showed signs of despair, grief, worry, hatred and many more very colorful emotions, Alexie sat as if nothing happened. And the General of the Dragon Knights Brigade knew why. It seemed that he was the only one paying attention and he was the first to play his hand.
"But?"
"But what?" Elquis asked.
Alexie swallowed his pride and played right into Elquis' most obvious trap. He really didn't have a choice.
"You wan something don't you?"
"It depends on what something is." Elquis was enjoying this beyond anything. Like biting into a ripe and sweeten nectar fruit.
Everyone else was attentive, with some offering bribes of riches and land, some offering entire cities, while others were offering their life as long as they kept their position and false light of dignity.
Alexie attempted to read the look on Elquis' face and also tried to read his hand. What was the ace? No, he knew the ace. The gremonik Scriptures were his ace but what were the other four cards? What were the cards he needed for the best possible hand? Land? Soldiers? Power? Even with all that he still would have one more rival and that would be Delita, the King of all of Ivalice. What was his motives, his goals, what did he want beyond anything? Absolute power? Rule? Why was it so hard to figure this man out?! If only a clue….
"What do you want? And don't be greedy. We could very well denounce that like everything else we've denounced." It was a long shot but Alexie refused to step down and be treated like a dog.
Everyone turned to Elquis.
"Denounce? I don't believe that." Elquis pushed back Alexie's bluff.
Everyone turned back to Alexie.
"It's quite easy actually. Who would believe who? The highest Priest and Priestess of the Glabados Church religion or a lowly non heard of 2nd rate general. You decide."
Again they turned back to the General.
"All I have to do with that book is plant the seeds of doubt and my work has been done. There will be those who will question the church, and they will influence others who will then rise up. That is when King Delita will come in and sweep up the confused masses. He will have an army easily many times larger then your soft Shrine Knights. Most of them on haven't seen a lick of battle in the past five years. You've been hurting yourself by sending your best knights after the heretics, when time and time again they have all fallen and you are left with a group of rookies"
Alexie glared at Elquis for everything he said is very much true.
"And then the humble 2nd rate General you speak of will gladly join up with King Delita to help strike the final blows to the ever oppressive and ever stupid Glabados Church. And the funny thing is that while the world closes the final chapters of the Church, I, General Elquis will quickly rise through the ranks gaining the strength and trust of many other General and Battalion leaders, including King Delita himself. After gaining the King's absolute trust and of course the people's trust, a small talk with the King and he will step down crowning me as King of all Ivalice. Already my plan has been implemented and many people wish for a new king. That king will be me."
The air in the room as had the balance of power, had shifted dramatically. Everyone in that room was impressed and shocked at how that could happen.
Elquis continued to reveal only minute details of his plan. "So you see, either way, I WILL have power over Ivalice and all it's territories. And you will never be a nuisance for me ever. However, with my original plan, you will still have tremendous power over the lands, in fact even more. As well as having Delita out of your way. And me you would ask? I would only be a King under the power of the Church." Elquis crossed his arms and listened well to their questions and Reponses.
"But how is that possible?!"
"BAH! I'm not a fool!"
"But what if it's true!"
Alexie stared down at the table reformulating the plan in his head and then putting it on the table like a diagram. If what Elquis said happened then in reality HE would have the power not the Church. He would still hold the Gremonik Scriptures and that is all he would require to hold the Church right where he wants it.
"And to make this an even better deal, I am even willing to let you take the book." Elquis announced. He loved the faces of shock each of them gave him at that very second. Especially Alexie who was ready to give up trying to figure out Elquis.
They all murmured silently between themselves and it seemed that Alexie was the only one with the balls to challenge this. "That makes no sense. That puts you under the church."
"And?" Elquis slouched back in his chair. He was growing tired of this. He did have many other things to do.
"I thought you wanted to be above, not below." This did not make sense.
Elquis shook his head. "I only want the power to rule. And to use that power to rule right. With you guys backing me up as the King, I will have no opposition. But I would like one thing from you." Elquis rose his index finger imposing that one thing.
Alexie twisted his head a little stretching out the tired muscles and listened carefully. There had to be some type of clue in this.
"I wish to have full control over the armies of the Church. With them under my control and the aid of my own troops as well as King Delita's forces, the search for the Heretics will go by easily."
Alexie scoffed at that one. "The full control of our armies? That's the same thing as stripping us of our power!"
Elquis shook his head. "No you will still hold a overriding style of power, but that is only to be used on the most dire of situations."
They continued to speak between themselves. Elquis grew even more tired of this. He didn't want to use this but it seemed he had no chance. He had to get a more on to the next phase of his plan. Time was of the essence.
"Look," He leaned over, resting his elbows on the table again and spoke somewhat quietly, "I let you in on something very interesting."
All except Alexie and the Master Priest had leaned closer to hear him.
"As I found the Gremonik Scriptures that you thought were destroyed, I also found one other sphere like object."
Oh yeah, hook, line, and sinker. Half of the group's eyes turned wide most likely imagining what it could be.
"I think they are what you referred to as the Zodiac Stones? One of many I presume."
They all gasped, even Alexie! Oh this was rich.
"I make an even better deal, this you cannot refuse. As I am making my way to the throne, I shall aid vigorously in the search of the stones, and you will all obtain a stone to use. The Scriptures tell of how to use them. With the book and the stones you shall receive thousands of years of knowledge And even greater power. I can make you all gods!"
Save of Alexie, they all smiled, even the Master Priest. I guess the idea of living forever turned him over to the dark side. Alexie remained questioning his motives however.
Elquis saw the doubt in his eyes and smiled. He reached into his armor and pulled out his yellow sphere of power. "See?" The ball reflected the moonlight coming down from the sky roof. "This one is mine. The other eleven are yours to have. Once I find them of course. And the one to make sure I do this task shall be Alexie."
Alexie's face took upon a look of shock as did everyone else's. They all wondered why he should be the one to make sure Elquis fulfilled his part of the bargain. Then again, he was the most able of all of them.
The Master Priest rose up from his sit signaling all the others to rise up, even the slow and stunned Alexie.
"So be it. The book?" He asked with his old feeble hand out opened.
"Of course." Elquis stood up and walked up to the wall of books on his left. He pulled out the very same dirty and pukey book he showed to the young servant priest and slid it down the table. The Master Priest stopped the book and opened it. He quickly breezed through many of the pages and smiled. "You have a deal. Alexie shall remain here to watch over you and fulfill you part. You will be needing help to get to Delita?"
Elquis shook he head and waved them off. "No need. I already have the whole plan up here." He pointed to his head and smiled.
As did the Master Priest. "Very well. Good night. Alexie? I trust you to watch over him. You have one night to gather whatever you need and return. I trust Elquis will supply you with a very comfortable room?"
More like a deathbed, Alexie silently stated in his mind.
"I will supply him with the best room, next to mines."
"Oh goody." Alexie said sarcastically.
"Good. May Ajora watch over you." The Master Priest and all of his followers then left the room.
"May Ajora be with you too!" Elquis called out. It made no sense to say that but whatever. He turned to Alexie who in turn turned to him.
Alexie couldn't believe this. And for some odd reason, he had the distinct feeling that this is what Elquis had planned all along. That and many more things. Alexie turned to leave but stated his plans for the day ahead. "I shall return with my things and tomorrow we will discuss how you plan to obtain the King's crown. Is that reasonable?"
Elquis smiled brightly and replied, "Of course. But the actual meeting wont take place for another month. Till then I hope you will be at home here."
"Of course." Alexie sneered he then left.
Elquis brushed back his silk white hair, laughed briefly when he left and spoke aloud, "The fools."
End of chp! So what yall think? Of course review. No flames. Only suggestions and mess. But tell me what you think of Elquis. Is he a badass? Or is he just one hell of a negotiator. But still why did he give all that power to the church? What are his plans? And why is he giving them the only cards one would have to keep them in check? Maybe there are better cards out there? Or maybe he was deceiving them. Maybe……..you just have to read to find out. Oh yeah and don't mention to grammar mess, I know. I print this stuff out and reread and rewrite it so trust me, I know! Till later PEACE!!!
P.s. I finally wrote down the biggest sense in the whole story. It came out even better then I thought! It was a masterpiece. Well, at least by my perspective. But you wont get it for a good minute so be patient. God, I almost can't!
General Elquis wadded his way into the main conference chamber, expecting to see the entire counsel of the Glabados Church. Instead he got one the lowly servants. This one still had power though and a little bit of influence. He will do for the moment.
The General waved his two most loyal bodyguards away, a Lancer and a Ninja, and they obeyed. After the heavy brass door was shut, leaving him and the boy alone, he walked up to the massive table and took a seat at the end. His eyes darted across the table to catch sight of the young servant. He wore the essential white robe of a White Priest, the healer type and his short blonde hair fell down around his head. Still it infuriated Elquis that Alexie would send only a Priest.
The Priest elevated his hand holding onto a single piece of old ragged paper. It was the same piece of paper that he sent to Alexie!
"Is this some kind of joke." The young foolish boy asked.
"Is it?" The general replied back.
The priest's brows jumped up in amusement but now was no the time. "My master requests that the meaning of this be explained. He told me to tell you that this is not a funny joke if at all a joke and also tells me to remind you to know your place." The eloquence in which he spoke with obviously reveled that he had rehearsed this many times.
Elquis jumped up nearly slamming his fists into the hard oak table. He would have, if it didn't look so nice nor cost so much. He was a bit of a penny pincher.
"Priest Alexie dare attempts to remind me of my place? I should be doing that!"
"How so?" The boy inquired?
The general turned to the side, never allowing his head to turn away from the priest, and strode up to one of the many book-filled walls. He reached for a book, without even looking, and then tossed it to the priest. The book slid across the long table and hit the Priest in the lap. Old dust and other things jumped up from the book and the boy had to cough once or twice. He turned his gaze from the war-torn book to the war-torn general.
"What is the meaning of this? You dare offend me with such dirty material?"
"I suggest you still your tongue and open that dirty material. You may find it to be very interesting." Elquis mused.
The priest did what he said and opened the book. Only after a few pages did he toss the book back onto the table and hissed. "LIES!"
"Really?" Elquis asked. "Could it really be that far from the truth? Or perhaps its so close to the truth and it sounds so much like the truth, you refused to believe, thus destroying everything you believe in."
The priest turned to Elquis with such a frighten look. Elquis had broken him without even trying. In fact he stood up saying, "I must leave. I have errands more important then this to attend to."
As he tried to past Elquis, Elquis grabbed him by the shoulder and quietly spoke into his ears. His voice sending resonating chills across the young priest's body. "You will fetch Alexie for me? Yes? If you don't , I will personal release this to the public. Could you imagine how quickly the shift of power will be. And it wont go to Delita either. It will go straight to me." He moved closer to the boys ear, lips lightly brushing against it, "And then I'll crush the entirety of the Glabados Church. You will be NOTHING!"
And with that, he released the whiter then usual Priest and took his seat at the other end of the table. The same end that the Priest had taken. He looked back at the wall behind him. It contained three stained glass pieces. One of Ajora coming to the world, another of Ajora calling forth the Zodiac Braves, and another of Lucavi slaughtering everything in sight. Elquis laughed at it all and awaited the arrival of Alexie and hopefully many others.
Amazing how the world revolves around you when you hold all the cards. It is truly amazing. That young Priest had all the highest members of the Glabados Church here in only two days. Incredible. It seems that very large things could be accomplished very quickly. Now the time had come. Now was the time to take the tyrant by the knees. Now……was the time to assure his power and commence the first stage of his plans.
General Elquis sat up in all his glory, gold and black Dragon armor glistening in the moonlight coming from the sky window and made an announcement. One that caused worry and frustration throughout the group of high level Priests.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen. And of course all those in-between." A joke. Obviously a joke the rest of them didn't like. He cleared his throat, a little tweaked that they didn't find his joke funny but whatever.
"General Elquis." Ah, Priest Alexie. Took him forever to finally acknowledge his presence. "What do you have that caused such a…… fever in my young messenger?"
Elquis smiled grimly and leaned forward in his large wooden chair. He laid his armored covered elbows on the table and then wrapped his fingers in a even mesh. He looked down at the easy to see reflection on the table and then back at Alexie. "I have something that can either make you stronger or it can break you."
Mummers scattered back and forth across the table but Alexie did not seem afraid.
"Really?" He said in a cold collected voice. "You have something that can break the mighty power of the Glabados Church? Please forgive me if I don't believe you immediately."
The general nodded. He knew it wasn't going to be that easy. Alexie was a hard man to break. The others were nothing but little mice compared to him. However, this was not going to be an easy job. He had to play his cards right in such a way that they did not realize what he was planning until it was too late. If his plan does succeed then the Glabados Church, in all it's holiness, will crumble as so many before it.
"Well, I'm merely in possession of something that could strip you of all your power."
Alexie said nothing yet he attentively listened.
That was one of the things that Elquis praised and respected Alexie of. Anytime, something had threatened Alexie's power, he responded with profound efficiency. That was the only reason he remained the 2nd most powerful person in the church. He only had the Master Priest to snuff out and most likely, he already had something in the works. The Master Priest was looking a little pale.
"But of course it can strengthen you as well fortify your position in this world."
All of them really enjoyed that part. Yet, Alexie was suspicious of his motives.
The General stood up and walked to the stained glass windows and continued to play his party, his sweet ambrosia voice into the open ears of the priests.
"There are three major powers in this land. Two of them are equal, only one is not as strong."
"The Dragon Knight Brigade, correct?" Alexie pointed out so well.
Elquis shut his eyes for a moment and absorbed the invisible remark, "Yes. Yes Priest Alexie, you are very much correct. However, I hold the cards now and I propose a truce, an agreement."
The Master Priest looked at each of his disciples before looking at the back that belonged to General Elquis.
"May you turn to me? Show me the respect as I would to you." His voice was unique. Powerful, equal and yet weak and grieved. He was probably the only decent guy in the room, for that Elquis turned to him. He willing give a dying man the respect he deserved.
"The Germonik Scriptures." The Master Priest said.
Everyone turned to Elquis, all scared to hell and back. They all knew, even Alexie knew what resides between those hallowed covers. The truth. The very same truth that every priest from here to Murond Holy Place to Zeltennia Castle to the center of the Glabados Religion, the Glabados church, had no clue of. Only certain Priest and Priestess' knew of that truth and they now sat quietly and deathly afraid in this room. Should that truth be released, there will be one less great power in the world.
The General turned his head and replied, "Yes."
No response. But one thing was as evident as the stars in the dark blue sky, though everyone was quiet, they were all scared shitless.
The Master Priest however showed no emotion and merely stood, slowly of course. "Then it is over. The truth is out."
One priest leaned back in his chair and started cursing while another put her hands together and started praying real fast to any god, real go, out there. Another priest just broke down and started crying loudly and while everyone showed signs of despair, grief, worry, hatred and many more very colorful emotions, Alexie sat as if nothing happened. And the General of the Dragon Knights Brigade knew why. It seemed that he was the only one paying attention and he was the first to play his hand.
"But?"
"But what?" Elquis asked.
Alexie swallowed his pride and played right into Elquis' most obvious trap. He really didn't have a choice.
"You wan something don't you?"
"It depends on what something is." Elquis was enjoying this beyond anything. Like biting into a ripe and sweeten nectar fruit.
Everyone else was attentive, with some offering bribes of riches and land, some offering entire cities, while others were offering their life as long as they kept their position and false light of dignity.
Alexie attempted to read the look on Elquis' face and also tried to read his hand. What was the ace? No, he knew the ace. The gremonik Scriptures were his ace but what were the other four cards? What were the cards he needed for the best possible hand? Land? Soldiers? Power? Even with all that he still would have one more rival and that would be Delita, the King of all of Ivalice. What was his motives, his goals, what did he want beyond anything? Absolute power? Rule? Why was it so hard to figure this man out?! If only a clue….
"What do you want? And don't be greedy. We could very well denounce that like everything else we've denounced." It was a long shot but Alexie refused to step down and be treated like a dog.
Everyone turned to Elquis.
"Denounce? I don't believe that." Elquis pushed back Alexie's bluff.
Everyone turned back to Alexie.
"It's quite easy actually. Who would believe who? The highest Priest and Priestess of the Glabados Church religion or a lowly non heard of 2nd rate general. You decide."
Again they turned back to the General.
"All I have to do with that book is plant the seeds of doubt and my work has been done. There will be those who will question the church, and they will influence others who will then rise up. That is when King Delita will come in and sweep up the confused masses. He will have an army easily many times larger then your soft Shrine Knights. Most of them on haven't seen a lick of battle in the past five years. You've been hurting yourself by sending your best knights after the heretics, when time and time again they have all fallen and you are left with a group of rookies"
Alexie glared at Elquis for everything he said is very much true.
"And then the humble 2nd rate General you speak of will gladly join up with King Delita to help strike the final blows to the ever oppressive and ever stupid Glabados Church. And the funny thing is that while the world closes the final chapters of the Church, I, General Elquis will quickly rise through the ranks gaining the strength and trust of many other General and Battalion leaders, including King Delita himself. After gaining the King's absolute trust and of course the people's trust, a small talk with the King and he will step down crowning me as King of all Ivalice. Already my plan has been implemented and many people wish for a new king. That king will be me."
The air in the room as had the balance of power, had shifted dramatically. Everyone in that room was impressed and shocked at how that could happen.
Elquis continued to reveal only minute details of his plan. "So you see, either way, I WILL have power over Ivalice and all it's territories. And you will never be a nuisance for me ever. However, with my original plan, you will still have tremendous power over the lands, in fact even more. As well as having Delita out of your way. And me you would ask? I would only be a King under the power of the Church." Elquis crossed his arms and listened well to their questions and Reponses.
"But how is that possible?!"
"BAH! I'm not a fool!"
"But what if it's true!"
Alexie stared down at the table reformulating the plan in his head and then putting it on the table like a diagram. If what Elquis said happened then in reality HE would have the power not the Church. He would still hold the Gremonik Scriptures and that is all he would require to hold the Church right where he wants it.
"And to make this an even better deal, I am even willing to let you take the book." Elquis announced. He loved the faces of shock each of them gave him at that very second. Especially Alexie who was ready to give up trying to figure out Elquis.
They all murmured silently between themselves and it seemed that Alexie was the only one with the balls to challenge this. "That makes no sense. That puts you under the church."
"And?" Elquis slouched back in his chair. He was growing tired of this. He did have many other things to do.
"I thought you wanted to be above, not below." This did not make sense.
Elquis shook his head. "I only want the power to rule. And to use that power to rule right. With you guys backing me up as the King, I will have no opposition. But I would like one thing from you." Elquis rose his index finger imposing that one thing.
Alexie twisted his head a little stretching out the tired muscles and listened carefully. There had to be some type of clue in this.
"I wish to have full control over the armies of the Church. With them under my control and the aid of my own troops as well as King Delita's forces, the search for the Heretics will go by easily."
Alexie scoffed at that one. "The full control of our armies? That's the same thing as stripping us of our power!"
Elquis shook his head. "No you will still hold a overriding style of power, but that is only to be used on the most dire of situations."
They continued to speak between themselves. Elquis grew even more tired of this. He didn't want to use this but it seemed he had no chance. He had to get a more on to the next phase of his plan. Time was of the essence.
"Look," He leaned over, resting his elbows on the table again and spoke somewhat quietly, "I let you in on something very interesting."
All except Alexie and the Master Priest had leaned closer to hear him.
"As I found the Gremonik Scriptures that you thought were destroyed, I also found one other sphere like object."
Oh yeah, hook, line, and sinker. Half of the group's eyes turned wide most likely imagining what it could be.
"I think they are what you referred to as the Zodiac Stones? One of many I presume."
They all gasped, even Alexie! Oh this was rich.
"I make an even better deal, this you cannot refuse. As I am making my way to the throne, I shall aid vigorously in the search of the stones, and you will all obtain a stone to use. The Scriptures tell of how to use them. With the book and the stones you shall receive thousands of years of knowledge And even greater power. I can make you all gods!"
Save of Alexie, they all smiled, even the Master Priest. I guess the idea of living forever turned him over to the dark side. Alexie remained questioning his motives however.
Elquis saw the doubt in his eyes and smiled. He reached into his armor and pulled out his yellow sphere of power. "See?" The ball reflected the moonlight coming down from the sky roof. "This one is mine. The other eleven are yours to have. Once I find them of course. And the one to make sure I do this task shall be Alexie."
Alexie's face took upon a look of shock as did everyone else's. They all wondered why he should be the one to make sure Elquis fulfilled his part of the bargain. Then again, he was the most able of all of them.
The Master Priest rose up from his sit signaling all the others to rise up, even the slow and stunned Alexie.
"So be it. The book?" He asked with his old feeble hand out opened.
"Of course." Elquis stood up and walked up to the wall of books on his left. He pulled out the very same dirty and pukey book he showed to the young servant priest and slid it down the table. The Master Priest stopped the book and opened it. He quickly breezed through many of the pages and smiled. "You have a deal. Alexie shall remain here to watch over you and fulfill you part. You will be needing help to get to Delita?"
Elquis shook he head and waved them off. "No need. I already have the whole plan up here." He pointed to his head and smiled.
As did the Master Priest. "Very well. Good night. Alexie? I trust you to watch over him. You have one night to gather whatever you need and return. I trust Elquis will supply you with a very comfortable room?"
More like a deathbed, Alexie silently stated in his mind.
"I will supply him with the best room, next to mines."
"Oh goody." Alexie said sarcastically.
"Good. May Ajora watch over you." The Master Priest and all of his followers then left the room.
"May Ajora be with you too!" Elquis called out. It made no sense to say that but whatever. He turned to Alexie who in turn turned to him.
Alexie couldn't believe this. And for some odd reason, he had the distinct feeling that this is what Elquis had planned all along. That and many more things. Alexie turned to leave but stated his plans for the day ahead. "I shall return with my things and tomorrow we will discuss how you plan to obtain the King's crown. Is that reasonable?"
Elquis smiled brightly and replied, "Of course. But the actual meeting wont take place for another month. Till then I hope you will be at home here."
"Of course." Alexie sneered he then left.
Elquis brushed back his silk white hair, laughed briefly when he left and spoke aloud, "The fools."
End of chp! So what yall think? Of course review. No flames. Only suggestions and mess. But tell me what you think of Elquis. Is he a badass? Or is he just one hell of a negotiator. But still why did he give all that power to the church? What are his plans? And why is he giving them the only cards one would have to keep them in check? Maybe there are better cards out there? Or maybe he was deceiving them. Maybe……..you just have to read to find out. Oh yeah and don't mention to grammar mess, I know. I print this stuff out and reread and rewrite it so trust me, I know! Till later PEACE!!!
P.s. I finally wrote down the biggest sense in the whole story. It came out even better then I thought! It was a masterpiece. Well, at least by my perspective. But you wont get it for a good minute so be patient. God, I almost can't!