The Coming War
Palenon dressed in the plain robes that were hanging in the wardrobe. He had no clothes of his own aside from the riding clothes he had received in Biqam and those were filthy. When he had looked in the wardrobe that first night in the Citadel, he had found a half dozen plain robes hanging there. After bathing that night, he had slept in one of the robes and had a long, dreamless rest.
Leaving his room, he had wandered the Citadel aimlessly, trying to learn his way around the massive fortress. It had taken several candle-marks but he had found the library, the eating hall, and the main chapel. While the library was rather useless to him, since he couldn’t read, it was a place of peace and quiet. On the other hand, the eating hall was rather important, especially in the mind of an alley-rat and former prisoner. The main chapel was also very quiet most of the time, but it was also awe-inspiring. Massive stained glass windows let in the light of from the rising sun, bathing the chapel in brilliant color.
After a hearty breakfast, Palenon had sat quietly in the library for a while, but grew restless with nothing to do. Rather than wandering around more, he quietly walked to the chapel and sat in the back row, watching the colors march across the floor as the sun slowly rose. He was still sitting there a candle-mark later when a bell rang and people started filing into the chapel. Palenon started to panic and rise, but two people in robes sat down next to him. Rather than forcing his way past them, he sat down quietly and looked nervously around.
Several minutes later, the chapel was full and a man in plate armor walked down the center aisle. After a brief moment, Palenon recognized him as the Lord Commander. The Lord Commander walked up to the pulpit and raised his hands. The few murmurings that were going on stopped at that point.
“Praise be to Issyf, the Divine Builder.” he intoned.
The assembly replied, “And praise be to Kunir, her consort and protector.”
“The time has come,” said the Lord Commander. “The hordes of the dragon-spawn are marching.” Whispers erupted throughout the assembly and the Lord Commander raised his hands for silence again.
“I remind the Assembly of Kunir that the Lady Oracle has foreseen this and more. Even now, I have sent the Company of Kunir to meet this threat at Shieldhead.” he continued. “But the Lady Oracle has seen that this will but delay the hordes a little bit. And so, we must prepare.” Murmurs sprang up around the chapel, but the Lord Commander continued. “We all know this threat though we have not personally met it. The dragon hordes have not threatened us for two millennia, but now, through the visions of the oracles, we know that the Second Age is ending and with that, the safety we have taken for granted.”
Palenon’s eyes were wide with fright. He had come here seeking peace and instead found himself in the middle of war preparations.
The Lord Commander continued, speaking over the murmurs and whispers of the assembly. “The Lady Oracle has had visions of this for two decades however and acted as the hands of Issyf and Kunir to put in place the seeds of our salvation. Even now, one of these seeds has come to fruition and sits among us. And the Lady Oracle returns to Asery bearing more.”
“Issyf bless the Lady Oracle,” intoned the Lord Commander.
“And may Kunir keep her safe,” intoned the assembly.
Finally, the Lord Commander raised his left hand. “You all have your tasks now that the time is upon us. Let us not delay in our work.” With that he stepped down from the pulpit and walked back up the central aisle. Stopping at the row that Palenon was seated in, he gestured at Palenon to follow him. Wordlessly, Palenon got up and followed as the people around him started whispering.
After they left the chapel, the Lord Commander led the way to the sacristy where he closed the door behind Palenon. “I am sorry to do this to you, Palenon. But we have little time and you surely have many questions now. Sit and I will answer what I can.”
Palenon sank onto the couch as the Lord Commander stood before the fireplace.
“Lord Commander, I don’t understand what just happened. I’ve never heard of Issyf or dragon hordes before.” said Palenon. “I’m just an alley-rat.”
The Lord Commander looked at him. “I know. Which is why I am at a loss to understand the Lady Oracle’s visions. Yet there you are in the visions, standing with her. So there must be something special about you, Palenon. I just don’t understand what it is.”
“But what does it mean, m’lord. Are you saying that somehow the Lady Oracle did something to me?” asked Palenon in disbelief.
The Lord Commander shook his head. “Yes and no, Palenon. You see, the Lady Oracle is going to be disappointed when she meets you. You have no worthwhile skills other than a knack for enduring hardship. You are illiterate and completely without magic. Not at all what she had planned for you. But that’s not your fault entirely.”
Palenon looked utterly bewildered. “I don’t understand.” he said shaking his head.
The Lord Commander turned his back on Palenon and stared into the fire. “Palenon, what do you see here?”
Palenon looked at the fire burning in the fireplace. “A fire?”
The Lord Commander shook his head slowly. “So typical,” he said. “You see the sign, but fail to understand the message. Up until several years ago, I was like you in that regard. I saw a fire. I felt the warmth. But I failed to understand that it was a sign. Even when I understood that it was a sign, I still failed to understand the message. Fortunately, someone explained the message to me in terms I understood.” He leaned against the mantle above the fire and sighed. “It was very hard to accept what had to be done.”
Then he turned to look at Palenon. “You still don’t understand. But that is of no consequence. I love the Lady Oracle more than life itself, but she has disregarded all the signs and continues down her foolish path of self-righteous resistance. No matter that her own daughter is at the center of all the visions. No matter that misery, agony, and pain dog her every step. This must be stopped before we are all destroyed in the war. Even submission is better than destruction.” The gleam of insanity grew in the Lord Commander’s eyes as he ranted, pacing in front of the fireplace.
He stopped and looked at Palenon. “And now, here we are, Palenon, and we can end this war before it starts. Just sit still and let me do this,” he said as he drew a long knife from his belt. “Sacrifice yourself to save the rest of us, Palenon, and you will be remembered for all time.” The Lord Commander took one step forward before Palenon scrambled over the back of the couch and wrenched the door open. Sprinting out of the sacristy, Palenon heard the Lord Commander shout, “I know every secret in this Citadel, Palenon. There is no place you can hide.”
—-
As Palenon ran, he tried to think of where he could go. There were bound to be secret passages galore throughout the Citadel, which meant that the Lord Commander would be able to get anywhere faster than he could. But only if he knew where he was going. Taking turns at random, Palenon quickly lost track of where he was. Twice he heard armored boots and quickly ducked through doorways before being seen. Then suddenly, he was in the main hall. He heard steps coming up behind him and armored boots echoed from the other end of the hall and panicked. He behind one of the pillars and shimmied up the base until he could stand. From there, he watched as the Lord Commander walked in from the far end of the hall and four people, riders from the look of them, entered through the doorway he had come through. The four people stopped and one of them stepped forward to greet and embrace the Lord Commander while the other three simply looked at each other.
To himself, Palenon murmured, “That must be the Lady Oracle. But who are the others. Obviously two guards, but who is the third?” Slowly, he edged around so the pillar was between him and the others in the hall before lowering himself to the ground and edging towards the doorway. If they were riders, then that was the way to the stables and if he could get to the stables, he might be able to escape.
