The Seeker really did not have time for all of this, the golem research turned out to be a much greater mystery than even the gods thought at first, one that he could barely accomplish if all his attention was on it. Yet here they were going all over the world on something completely unrelated -- Darkness.
He drank some tea while he waited for her to come down. The tea was good, must have been fresh berr...
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Kaeden woke up in chains suspended in the air. He was in pegasus form again it seemed and his wings had been broken, at least they felt broken. Whatever was in the tea must have still been in his system because his vision was not straight or clear. A voice said, "Why did you come?"
He couldn't find the person in his mind to talk back. So he tried to polymorph human but the pain and confusion in his head prevented him. Something hot and sharp stabbed his left quarter. I am being tortured. Mallory must be in deep. No, I shouldn't draw conclusions to quickly. Nathan always said evidence first then theory otherwise you only find the evidence you need for your theroy and ignore everything else. "I do not enjoy repeating myself, why did the seeker send you?"
Malekite rules the Empire now through a puppet priest perhaps that is it, doesn't want Paladins coming in to ruin what it took him so long to do. Pain again. It did not matter who they were, we was not going to talk under torture. He would pray perhaps and angel would hear and at least let Nathan know to fight the good fight with out him.
"Bring out the orphans." what? Then there was screaming. "One down 3 more to go...before the next batch you want to talk horseman?"
Kaeden could not let them suffer, he could give some kind of answer, maybe it would even help him figure out what was going on. He summoned all of his will power and forced his head clear. He tried to find and establish a telepathic link with the closest being he could find.
He got it, the minds touched but only for a moment, in touching the mind he seems to crack open an egg full of only filth and pain. There was power too, power unlike anything his mind had touched. An empty void filled with sorrow hurt and rage. An unknown feeling of fear touched Kaeden's heart if for but just a moment and his mind covered itself from such a presence.
There were two more screams. "Bring me the next lot." Silence, "Worm bring them to me."
Then another voice, "I have this." followed by an explosion it rocked the room and left Kaeden out cold again.
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He woke up, this time in human form. He was walking somewhere and being dressed. "Ok I think he's up now," A voice said then another voice said to him in a tone of military command, "Good, When you speak to the listener keep your eyes to the ground. You will show proper respect for the Emperor, may he live forever. He did save your life after all."
Kaeden's vision began to clear as trumpets and heralds announced his arrival in full courtly ceremony. Across the Marble floor or the Imperial Throne room sitting on the Crystal Throne was a bald man with a black cape that looked like mid night embracing all but his out stretched left arm which held and was supported by a twisted staff of metal. The top of which was a raven claw grasping a red orb. Kaeden was still bound he realized as he was forced into a kneeling position.
Courtly ritual continued, "Divine listener, he who speaks for the eternal emperor - may he live forever in glory and blood - we present the pegasus Kaeden to meet your cold loving embrace."
Kaeden then realized he was alone on before the dais on the red and gold carpet. "Why have you brought me here?" He said between broken teeth.
"You are distraught, so I will forgive your sin of speaking to me before I speak to you. Never can it be said that the Listener is not merciful. But you will be silent until commanded. Though it may not seem like it servent of a paladin, we have the same enemy."
"There are few worse than you. My enemy is the shadow wherever it finds itself, and that will never change."
"Do not bring trial to my patience, this enemy is more than shadow it is Darkness."
Kaeden was speechless as he looked up into the bald mans eyes. The listener continued, "My Lord Emperor may he live forever, serves the Great All Receiver lord of the Dead. Un-death is a blasphemy to him. The Lord Darkness has too long evaded the cold embrace he deserves. He has also recently stolen something from us of the highest value. And has dared to attack the death eaters the the anti-life equation. Oh yes horseman we know of the anti-life. It was our Lord Emperor, may he live forever, that heard of its rumors and sent his lovely dark angels into this world to find it. The quest caused even the most wonderfully brutal and cold to fall. His sins can no longer be over looked for as you would be well to remember, our patience is not eternal. We wish to stop his anti-life, and end the stain he brings upon this world by existing here. Are our goals not the same?"
"We may have the same enemy but our goals will never be united. I can tell the Seeker of what you speak but I will promise no more."
"I'm afraid your precious seeker has fallen to his temptress."
"We saved him."
"Once yes, but she visits him again. Do not think any of your actions escape my Lord emperor, may he live forever,'s view."
"I will never join you."
"You paladins and your holy wars. Lock him in the dungeon until changes his mind." Using the clawed staff to raise Kaeden's chin he says, "I offered you a chance to be my friend, why must you always chose to be my enemy. If he wins it will be because of you and for no other reason."
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