I'm surprised at how excited I am for this story. I'm going to finish up my other ones, of course, but this story has captivated my attention. Just a warning – I got some of the things I mention in this chapter from the Darksiders II digital comic that Dark Horse is currently making. And a quick disclaimer – I don't own Darksiders as a brand. That honor goes to the team at Vigil Games.
Here's another chapter of The Fifth Horsemen!
It was official – the Charred Council scared the boy, now called Redemption, scared him as much as his cranky second-grade teacher did.
The other Horsemen had told the Charred Council everything they knew. War had gone first, telling them why Redemption was even in the same dimension, let alone the same room. Fury then delivered her bit, saying that keeping the child with them was of extreme importance… and the reason for his being so. Strife said little, but his few words said very much in themselves.
When Death spoke, it was with finality. "The child is one of us. We are taking care of him."
The Charred Council, of course, was outraged. The three stone heads thrashed this way and that, threatening every kind of punishment imaginable… even a few the Horsemen didn't even know existed. The Horsemen remained adamant; they even drew their weapons slightly, in case any of the other agents of the Charred Council decided to attack.
Seeing as they got nowhere with the Horsemen, they decided to take a different route. "Redemption," the middle head called. "Come forth."
The boy took small, trembling steps forward. He looked at each of the Horsemen as he passed. Strife gave him a thumbs-up and nodded encouragingly. Fury hugged her arms against her chest, wishing him luck. War saluted Redemption, bringing his sword level with his eyebrows. Death said nothing, letting his gaze doing the talking. It said, Good luck – you're going to need it.
Redemption stood before the Charred Council, not quite hiding the trembling in his knees. The heat made him want to step back, if not run away outright. He refused, though. He owed his friends that much.
"What they say – is it true?" the stone head on the right asked. "Are you a Nephilim?"
"I think I am," Redemption replied. "The other townspeople always said I was special, and I believed them."
"Then why," the left head asked, "did you not participate in your race's activities? Why did you not help them in their conquest?"
"Because I didn't even know they existed until today. Just yesterday, all I worried about was whether I would beat my best friend's high score in LittleBigPlanet."
Whatever answer the Charred Council had expected, they weren't expecting that. After taking a moment to compose themselves, they asked, "Are you certain you want to take on this role? It's not for the faint of heart, and there will be no easy choices if you accept it."
"You know, I've been thinking about that on my way over," Redemption replied. He raised his voice so the other Horsemen could hear. "We have a saying where we come from. It goes, 'with great power, comes great responsibility'. What I have been asking myself on the way here – what I've actually been asking myself for years – is this; to who do we – do I – owe that responsibility?"
"I've finally found an answer. I owe that responsibility to everyone I can possibly help. It's what it means to be a true hero." He paused, looking down at his feet. Then, very quietly, he said, "It's what my best friends would want. I can't let them down."
Nobody said anything for a few moments. The flames inside the eyes and mouths of the Charred Council dimmed down, as if they were about to become larger and brighter than before. When the Charred Council resumed, they had lost their accusing tone.
"We have debated, and we have decided. We believe your story, and we believe the Horsemen's. You shall become the fifth Horseman. Hold still. This will be very unpleasant."
Feelings of nausea and shock swept through Redemption. It was as if the bile rising in his throat was burning and shocking everything it touched on its way out. No matter how much it hurt though, he didn't throw up. Not because he didn't want to, but simply because he couldn't.
To the Horsemen, it lasted five seconds. To Redemption, it lasted an eternity. When the pain finally stopped, he stood up on weak legs. Stumbling, he would have fallen if Strife hadn't been there to hold him up.
"You are all dismissed," the Charred Council said.
Redemption walked with the other Horsemen towards their steeds. "What happens now?" Redemption asked.
"Before we can start training you," War said, "we need to get you a few things. We need to get you a weapon, and we need to get you a horse."
"And we know just the place to get you a horse," Fury said. "Redemption, you are going to meet the Horsemaster."