Chapter 8: The façade remains intact.

"High Seer Baltzin! Stop this at once!" The Seer spun around to meet the eyes of the Council Warden whose face showed distaste at such brutality. It did not help the Seer's case that Baltzin had the worship leader on his knees before him.

"Warden, I was merely undertaking my duty as High Seer to keep this city pure and removing heretics such as these from the city." Baltzin declared.

"That may be your duty, but undertaking a massacre directly inside our city right outside the residential area?" Baltzin's face grimaced at this declaration.

"I am not yet done with these heretics just yet and it is in my duty to remove these pests from this city by any means that I see fit. That means that they are under my responsibility to be disposed of."

"The responsibility of these 'heretics' is now under direct control from the High Council. Your duty is no longer needed at this time. High Seer Baltzin, under my authority as the High Warden of Nalepsis, I hereby arrest you and your forces for the slaughter of civilians and destruction of property. Lieutenant, I leave you in charge of securing transport and shelter for the Disciples."

"Yes sir!"

Baltzin sighed and ordered his forces to stand down. He could not win against the entire Council even using his position.

The High Warden turned to the two Champions. "Thank you for intervening in this matter. Had you not come so early, the Disciples would have been completely slaughtered and there would be no room for any negotiation. I am sorry you had to take part, but we are eternally grateful to both of you. Now if you would excuse us, we must depart to get rid of this traitor."

"Might we be able to speak with the Worship leader when you are finished with the negotiations?" Ezreal quickly asked.

"You may, but we may only be able to spare several minutes of his time."

"Thank you then, High Warden. The Mistress and I will now return to our villa to get some food. Its nearly sunrise after all." Ezreal's stern look had faded and returned to his more jovial personality. The Chronomancer Zilean had told him when this mage would reawaken. And that time was in the frame of mere hours now.

As the two Champions made their way back to the villa, the Warden proceeded to cuff Baltzin and escorted him into a prison wagon.

When both were seated inside the secure interior, the Warden looked at Baltzin and spoke plainly.

"Nice acting back there."

"I thank you."

"That aside, I know we need to get rid of those heretics and I understand what you needed to do. You had this all planned out. But we must not let those 'Champions' know about what 'peculiar customs' the nations of Murakishur are. If we were to let them know, the Belhorashur would be able to declare war on those stupid 'Humanitarian' decrees the Institute has issued. We cannot declare against them yet, not until this mage is dealt with."

"I was debriefed on the issues with the Champions the moment they were granted access to this city by those damn Institute dogs. Their mission might be just to act as surveyors for this new artifact site or something in the region, but their timing is just too good with those emanations from that thing's tomb." Baltzin quickly replied.

"I thought I could get away while the two were drunk, but the conflict was slightly more violent than I had calculated. I had clean up crews as well to remove all signs of damage and-"

"YOU DESTROYED A DAMN BUILDING! THE ENTIRE CITY COULD SEE THE BURNING RUIN!"

The Warden sighed and then responded calmly. "The entire council will be meeting in an hour on this incident and what to do with those 'Champions'. We are heading to the Council house now. I suggest you ready yourself for the amount of all hell to be laid upon you."

"Give me peace then, I'm going to need a damn good speech."

"Baltzin."

"Yes Raes?"

"The Council says the Horde will be ready in four days. After this stunt you pulled, they might send you as an emissary to the cause."

Not good, not good at all.