Chapter Three
"Burn the corpses, make sure that nothing remains of them," General Morghan ordered his troops. They had just finished doing a small patrol of the area surrounding the Sunspear's Sanctuary, and they were unfortunate enough to meet up with a group of Margonites. Morghan gave the order to attack as soon as they saw them, he didn't want to risk leading them back to where the Sanctuary was, especially after they took him in even after all he had done to them. Now he was just a man, but those still loyal to him, still as him as a General in their eyes.
When the last of the corpses were burned enough for his liking, and he felt that the Torment equivalent of scavengers would deal with what remained of them, Morghan gave the order for him and his troops to return to the Sanctuary.
"So, how did things go?" Dunkoro asked Morghan.
Morghan gave the order for his troops to take some R & R before answering Dunkoro. "We had a run in with a group of Margonites, their corpses have been taken care of," answered Morghan. He saw a Ritualist sitting cross-legged with his arms laying either side of him. "What is he doing?"
"He wants to see if he can reach a state of meditation and talk to the spirits on their own terms. To see if they can tell him anything of the Ritualist that Abaddon trusts so much." explained Dunkoro.
No one knew where this Ritualist that Abaddon trusted so much came from. All anyone knows is that they appeared the moment Abaddon gave the order for the Undead Lich, Shiro Tagachi and Warmarshal Varesh, to take control of different sets of his followers. With the Ritualist helping to take charge of the Margonites.
"Has he had much luck?" Morghan asked as he looked at the Ritualist still sitting cross-legged.
Dunkoro shook his head. "He hasn't said a single word since he took that position. And that was not long after you left to go on patrol."
Morghan looked at Dunkoro. "Is he aware of what is going on around him?"
"To be honest, I don't know. We have tried talking to him a few times, but he doesn't answer. If he can hear us then he isn't letting on."
As if he heard them talking, the Ritualist began to move, slowly at first, so he could get his bearings. He waited a few more seconds before finally standing upright.
"What news?" Dunkoro asked the Ritualist. "Are they telling you anything?"
The Ritualist shook his head. "They aren't speaking," he answered. "They are just like us, they have no clue as to where he came from. They say that he just appeared around the time Abaddon took over this world.
"How is it possible for someone to just appear?!" Morghan asked out loud. "Can't you force them to talk or something?" he asked the Ritualist.
Dunkoro tried to calm Morghan down. "Spirits Of Evil can only do what he can to ask the spirits to help him."
"I can twist their arm only so much, Morghan," said Spirits. "It's make no difference, they are in the dark about Abaddon's Ritualist just as much as you or I."
"So that's it?! All that time you spent talking to them, and they give you nothing?" Morghan was getting in the Ritualist's face.
Spirits was tempted to take off his head piece and show Morghan his eyes, but he would save that for another time. He slowly backed away from Morghan. "They did suggest one thing we could try."
"What did they suggest?" asked Dunkoro. He looked at Morghan, shooting him a look as if to say calm down.
"We capture a Margonite," answered Spirits Of Evil.
"Capture a Margonite?" repeated Dunkoro. "How is that supposed to help us?"
"We capture a Margonite, and then we get it to tell us the name of the Ritualist Abaddon, trusts so much," explained Spirits. "And we threaten it with torture, and keep torturing it until it gives us a name."
"And how do you plan to capture one of them?" Morghan had been listening intently to the idea, and he was interested as to how they would make it work.
"We call upon the Order Of Whispers. From what legends I have heard of them, they have managed to capture a Titan once before. If they can do that, then capturing a Margonite should be right up their street."
Morghan thought about what was being said, before looking at Dunkoro. "What do you think?" he asked the Monk.
"It is worth a try Morghan," he answered.
"I'm not too crazy on this idea, but I shall go with the flow."
Dunkoro called over one of the scouts. "Send a message to the Order Of Whispers. Tell them we wish to speak with Master Of Whispers." The scout nodded and headed to where the Gate was within the Sanctuary.
A hour went past before they heard activity coming from the gate. The scout was the fist to appear, being followed by Master Of Whispers, and two others who were part of the Order.
"It is good to see you again," Spirits said to Master Of Whispers.
"Your scout told me you wished to meet with me, but wasn't forthcoming with the details," said Master Of Whispers.
"We would like the Order Of Whispers to capture a Margonite," Spirits told the Necromancer. "And you will be paid well for your efforts, if you manage it that is."
Master Of Whispers stared at Spirits for a moment before answering. "Why would you want something like that done?"
"We plan to interrogate one, see if we can find out the name of Abaddon's Ritualist from it," Dunkoro told him. "Spirits told us that the Order, if the legends are true, were to have captured a Titan once. So a Margonite should be no problem for you."
The Master turned his back and talked to his followers, in hushed tones. A few minutes went by before they gave their answer. "We will help you capture one," said the Master. "Just lead us to a group of them, and we shall do the rest."
A few days went by as they waited for a group Margonites to appear, General Morghan had been talking to one of the troops who was still loyal to him in Varesh's ranks, and told him that a group would be patrolling near the Sanctuary within the next week, all it was now was a case of waiting for the group to appear.
A scout had been deployed to see if they could spot any Margonites. On the fourth day of waiting, they said they spotted a group of Margonites, heading their way.
"Stay out of their line of sight, and don't move until we tell you too," said the Master Of Whispers to the Sunspears that were ordered to help out. When the Margonites where in range, the Order Of Whispers made their move.
They focused their attacks on one Margonite, and didn't let up until it was dead, before moving onto the next one. The Master gave the word for the Sunspears to help out a couple of seconds after the first Margonite was down, and they all began focusing their attacks on the same one. The Cleric the Margonites had with them tried their best to heal their team, but to avail, it was soon becoming obvious to it, that he was going to be the last Margonite standing.
When the Cleric was the final Margonite left, the Order Of Whispers stopped attacking, and began enchanting something, in a language that only they seemed to know. The Cleric could feel itself getting drowsy, it's limbs getting heavier. It was becoming harder and harder for it to move. It was forced onto it's knees by the incantations of the Order. Within a few more seconds, things went black.
The Cleric opened their eyes, not sure just how much time had passed, or where they were. It didn't recognise the caves, and saw no other Margonites to speak of, just humans and centaurs. The Cleric tried to move his limbs, but could only move them a few inches. He looked around and saw that it's arms where chained.
"I wouldn't try breaking those chains if I were you," said one of the humans. "The have been enchanted with magic, and the only way they will break is to say the correct words."
"Tell us what we what to know, and we will break the bonds that keep you trapped," said another one of the humans.
"Seeing as you maybe here for sometime, why don't we get to know each other. I'm Spirits Of Evil. I take it you already know about General Morghan, and the Master Of Whispers."
"General Morghan," said the Cleric. "He who followed Varesh for so long, now fights alongside her enemies."
"What is your name?" Morghan asked the Cleric. The Cleric stayed silent. "Who do you work for?"
"I serve Lord Abaddon." the Cleric answered.
"And you also serve Varesh, but that is not what we want to know. What is the name of the Ritualist that follows Abaddon?" Spirits asked. Again the Cleric stayed silent. Spirits looked at the Master Of Whispers. "Do what you have to do to make him talk."
"Abaddon will save me," said the Cleric.
Spirits Of Evil got up close to the Margonite, and took off his headpiece, showing the Margonite that he was completely blind. "I hope for your sake, you are right. When you are ready to tell us the name of the Ritualist that follows Abaddon, only then will we free you from your torture. And that will be the day that you die, and you can be with Abaddon in the Realm of Torment once more." Spirits replaced his headpiece and walked away from the Margonite, Morghan followed leaving the Master Of Whispers alone with the Cleric.
"You think the Margonite will talk?" Morghan asked Spirits.
"It might take a few days, maybe a few weeks. But I am sure he will talk." said Spirits. Screams soon echoed throughout the Sanctuary. The interrogation had begun.