Time of the Necromancer: Chapter 11

Hector closed the door behind him as he walked back into the church. The soldiers that had knocked on the door had already forced their way into the church. They were turning pews over and shoving through closets. Their search was loud and invasive and they didn’t seem to care one bit. An older woman in a habit looked out from the door across the way staring at him. There was a child near her with eyes wide and holding onto her leg.

Hector met her eyes and shook his head before approaching the soldiers his frustrations plain as day. There were about five of them and the moment he got close enough he started shouting, “What do you think you’re doing! This is a sanctuary of the Father. You have no right to defile it this way.”

He approached one of them as they advanced toward the storage room door. Shoving him back he jabbed a finger at his chest. The soldier stopped, the gleaming armor catching a little of the light, and smacked his hand away. He was wearing his helmet but Hector could see the man’s eyes within. Everything about him just made Hector dislike him more.

“Magic was sensed within these halls. You know that magic is forbidden so if you are sheltering a mage your punishment will be swift,” he growled and looked over his shoulder. “Search every corner of this place. Leave no room unsearched!”

“Really? You wish to traumatize the boys here who have no home? Especially with the Speaker in the city? This is meant to be a day of celebration.”

“They can celebrate once we are sure you harbor no mages,” he said and narrowed his eyes. “You act as if you are protecting this place. What is in that room that you just left?”

“Nothing that concerns you,” he replied taking a step back.

The soldier glowered at him, “With a response like that I believe it concerns me very much. Now step aside.”

Not even waiting for him to move he shoved past him and Hector stumbled before falling to the ground. The soldier stomped past and grabbed the door but it was locked and Hector knew that before he had been shoved past.

“I could open that for you but I think I’d rather see you struggle,” he said getting back up and glaring at him.

The soldier stopped and turned to face him, pointing at Hector, “First that husband of yours and now this. I bet you’re corrupting these orphans that hang around you as well.”

Hector had to breathe very slowly through his nose, “Isaac went to the capital. He met with the Speaker and prayed to our Father. Both saw into his soul and deemed it clean.”

“Maybe it was then but things change. That Necromancer’s taint can just take time to work. To show the true colors of that thing,” he said and almost sneered it his way. “And then you’ll be begging for us to take him away.”

Hector crossed the distance between them and grabbed him by the front of his armor. “Choose your next words very very carefully.”

“Now now. We are in the house of our Father. Violence cannot be our answer,” The voice that carried on the wind was gentle, as gentle as a freshly whipped cream or the breeze that made leaves dance in the wind. But there was more to the voice. Beyond just the gentleness. There was a warmth to it that gave pause to Hector.

The soldiers also stopped what they were doing, dropping their arms to their sides and stood at attention. Even Hector stood up straighter as he approached.

Each step was like he was walking on air, his steps trailing on clouds. His clothes billowed around him in white robes that moved with his body. The edges were blue trim that glittered with gold as the light caught them. A pendent bounced against his chest with the Father’s symbol in the middle. He was tall, almost six feet tall. A hood rested atop his head, clinging to the edge of his forehead.

His facial features were so soft that they could be called feminine. Slight cheekbones, a slight curve to his lips, sharp eyebrows but smaller grey eyes. He had a neatly trimmed beard and mustache that were a very dark brown. In his hand he carried a white staff but it was simple wood. It was noticed in places and had some wear over the years but it was still very solid.

Hector immediately lowered his head shutting his eyes, “Your Holiness the Speaker. I apologize for my behavior.”

“It is alright my child. What commotion brought you such distress?”

“Your holiness magic was detected,” the soldier began but the speaker raised his hand and glanced at him.

“Please soldier. I was asking Hector here what has transpired,” he replied and leaned against his staff slightly.

“You know my name?” Hector mumbled and the Speaker smiled at him.

“I know the names of all of the children of the Sanctum. Among many other things,” he chuckled but his face fell into that of a frown. “It is true that magic was detected within this church. And it was not simple magic. The power behind it was significant.”

“We are harboring no mages here your holiness,” Hector said frowning hard. He wasn’t lying technically. He didn’t know what those children were but he was certain that they weren’t mages. Similar to how Isaac was still just a man.

The Speaker nodded slowly, “I don’t feel a lie in you. However, I do not feel the truth either.”

“Speaker we’ve met before. My husband Isaac came to you with his head bowed and hoping for understanding from you and the Father. To prove his devotion despite what had happened to him. And both of you saw the truth in his heart. Saw the faith in him and pardoned his situation.”

“Yes, I remember meeting Isaac at the capital. His devotion to bettering the Sanctum was true. I know our Father was proud of this,” the Speaker smiled.

“You have shown moments of compassion, patience and understanding in these regards. Please show that same feeling here,” he said lowering his head and then going down onto his knees keeping his head down. “I beg that of you now.”

The speaker stared at him and tilted his head back to back and frowned. “Your feelings are sincere. You are not attempting to trick me or deceive me nor our Father. Very well. I will hear your request.” He turned around and waved his hand to the soldiers. “Please leave us.”

The soldier blinked in shock and began to step forward, “But your holiness?”

The speaker raised his eyebrow and the soldier stopped mid step. “Are you questioning my decision my child?”

“No. No not at all. I am sorry your holiness. We will remain outside,” he bowed his head then barked to the other soldiers. “Outside now!”

They filed out of the church one by one and the damage they caused wasn’t massive but it was inconvenient. Getting back to his feet, Hector frowned at it but looked back toward the Speaker who was staring at him with the easy smile. The church could be cleaned. For now, he had to answer to the Speaker.

They walked back to the office and Hector felt strange about this because he had the word of the speaker that he would hear him. But he didn’t know how far that actually extended. He would have to trust him. Touching the handle, he squeezed the knob and opened the door. As he walked in five pairs of eyes immediately turned to them.

Isaac had a look of relief that quickly turned to one of awe and shock as he lowered his head immediately. But the four Zodiac stared at the Speaker differently. They had asked Isaac to describe the Speaker and, in some ways, he was right but the presence within him couldn’t have been put into words.

His presence before them had awed Isaac and Hector making them seem small in comparison but to the four of them it made them feel at home. Not with the Zodiac at home where they felt a part of a greater whole but instead adjacent to another. Not a brother or sister but a cousin instead.

Virgo stepped forward and her mouth moved to speak but she couldn’t place the words. The ones she wanted to reach for constantly floated out of her grasp. “I feel like I know you,” she said finally.

Slowly going down to his knee, the Speaker got on eye level with her and his hazy grey eyes focused on her. “I do not understand how but I understand what you mean. I feel like I know you as well. All of you.”

He looked up at the twins and Scorpio who were also staring at him like Virgo. A place of remembrance but not specific enough to know a name. “Why do we know you?” Scorpio asked. “Cancer and Gemini have never even been here before.”

The twins in question nodded to affirm that. “I’m not sure,” the Speaker said. “But I cannot shake this feeling. Perhaps your being is similar to what I am. Though that brings more questions to mind instead of answering them. Are you the source of the magic that was felt in this church?”

The question was asked gently, like a parent talking to a child when they knew something did something wrong. There was no anger or accusation or blame. Just wanting to get to the bottom of things. He looked between the four of them before going back to Virgo.

“What if it was one of us?” Cancer asked taking a small step in front of his brother.

The Speaker looked at him and smiled at them both. “Magic is outlawed in these lands. Mages likewise are not welcome.”

“What if someone is born a mage,” Gemini asked. “They didn’t choose to be one. What happens to them?”

The Speaker shook his head, “Magic in this country is tied to the calamity. A phenomena of incredible power and destructiveness. Mages, whether they know it or not, harness that power to do their magic. But in doing so they attract the attention of the demons formed from the Calamity. Rather than continue to put our lands in danger mages are taken away to Coreana where they are judged and sentenced. Some are able to be brought back into society but many are not.”

“What happens to those that aren’t?”

“They are banished. Unable to ever return,” the Speaker said grimly.

“What kind of a life is that?” Gemini asked glaring at the man.

“It is the life that our Father has decreed for them. His wisdom is great but His reasons are His own. And even I in my position cannot and will not question Him.” The speaker said and though he spoke with a finality to his voice it wasn’t anger. If anything, it was regret.

Scorpio narrowed her eyes, “And I assume the punishment is far more severe when a mage is found in your lands after casting their magic.”

“Foreign mages are not tolerated. The punishment is often death,” the Speaker said and looked at her. “But as the Speaker exceptions can be made. And I try to when I can because nothing is black and white in this world. Isn’t that right Isaac?”

The soldier looked at the Speaker shocked. “You remember me?”

“Of course. I try to remember all that I’ve met but you were a special case.”

Isaac nodded slowly and lowered his head. “It was an interesting time.” Glancing at the zodiac he said, “I went to the capital then and fully expected to be put to death. But you spoke to me. Learned about me as a person. I don’t know how long we spoke but eventually you said that I was a good man. A man deserving of a second chance. To continue to serve our Father. You pardoned me and let me come home. I still can’t believe it sometimes.”

The Speaker chuckled softly, “You are a good man. It shines through your very being. Though you were brought back with dark magic you made it your own. Which brings me to you four. I know that there is power within you all. I may not know which of you was the one to use that power but I know that it was not done with ill intent. Just be more careful of that within these lands.”

He leaned against his staff and took a step back towards the door but Virgo reached out, “Can you answer something?”

He looked over his shoulder and down at the girl and nodded, “What is your question?”

“You’re the Speaker. Can you not change things? Give mages a fairer treatment. Or at least give them greater options than to face death or exile?”

He looked at her and let out the exhausted sigh of a defeated man. “I may be the Speaker but our Father has set his commandments. I cannot change those even if I truly wanted to. I can only judge and guide my people fairly and intervene when I can. Like now.”

Though not satisfied with that answer Virgo knew better than to push. “Thank you for not deeming myself or my family criminals.”

He bowed his head and began walking toward the door, “Everyone deserves to have their voice heard. Nothing is ever as it seems on its face. I try to give those I meet that much but even I am just one man. Perhaps we will meet again before I leave.”

Hector escorted him out of the office and back to the main room of the church. When the Speaker left, Isaac led the zodiac out of the office. He saw Hector slumped on one of the pews and hugged him. “So that was certainly eventful, wasn’t it?”

“That’s one word for it,” Hector sighed against his shoulder and gave him a squeeze. Separating from Isaac he turned toward Virgo. “But you’re next on our to do list. There’s another orphanage primarily for girls. So I’m sure they’ll know more about who brought you both here.”

The six of them left the orphanage after doing some clean up on the mess that the soldiers had made. Hector led them out and the sun was still high in the air but a few more clouds had rolled in, white and wispy.

Following the path, they’d been on before up they’d make their way to the main court of the city. Where the castle itself stood. But they worked their way back in the opposite direction. Gemini glanced at the metallurgist shop and saw the lion on the counter. “Home sick Gem?”

“Little bit,” Gemini sighed. “Hope mom’s not too mad at us.”

“We’re gonna get chewed out once we get home that’s for sure,” they laughed together. “But as long as we make it home in one piece we can take it.”

“Libra’s definitely worrying about Princess,” Gemini looked over at Virgo as she and Hector talked.

“Libra knows that we left,” Scorpio replied not looking back at them.

The twins adopted a mirrored expression of shock, “What?”

“Virgo and Libra are close. Especially because of the last generation,” she said and crossed her arms. “Virgo couldn’t not tell her about this before we left.”

“Sounds like princess,” Cancer said. “But how did Libra agree to let her go and not come with us.”

“She trusts the four of us. And knows that I wouldn’t let anything happen to her. You two are at least capable.”

“Capable she says,” Gemini rolled his eyes. “I think we’re a bit more than that right?”

“At least reliable,” Cancer amended.

Scorpio didn’t respond to either of them and took a few steps further to join with Hector and Isaac. They slowed down as they approached another building that was almost identical to the church and orphanage before except this one wasn’t attached to a church but the building had at least two stories to it.

Climbing the steps, he opened the door gingerly to the foyer. The area was neat, a painting of the Speaker and another of the Father. A tall man in all white with a thick white beard and hair. His face was in a stern frown but his eyes showed a twinkle of kindness. Hector walked over to the desk ringing the bell three times with a light tap and pause between the second and third ring. Turning around he faced the doors and heard a voice fussing as she approached. “Don’t you ring that bell again Hector.”

He grinned shrugging his shoulders, “I just wanted to get your attention Suzy. And I got it.”

The woman came forward wearing an older patched dress apron on top of a soft blue dress. She had a braided bun of dark auburn hair and olive skin. She had dark eyes a small but poi

nted nose and thin lips. She had some lines on her face that definitely came from laughing and shouting though the tinges of grey in her hair belayed some age. Her steps echoed on the wooden floor and she paused seeing Isaac and smiling.

“Hey there handsome man. Hector’s better half is always welcome here,”

Isaac blushed slightly and smiled, “It’s good to see you as well Suzy.”

“You know some people would consider it rude when you hit on their husbands in front of them,” Hector said raising his eyebrow.

“And some people would consider your constant visits harassment,” she replied and Hector just shrugged.

“What can I say, your girls love it when I visit,” he shrugged and flashed her a grin.

“Please stop leaving so often,” Susan said looking at Isaac. “He causes me no end of trouble.”

Isaac held up his hands with an apologetic smile. She didn’t wait for his response and stepped around him to look at the Zodiac. Her eyes focused in on Virgo and Scorpio. Her disdain for Hector melted away into an easy smile. “Well those are some faces I didn’t expect to see again.”

Virgo was confused but Scorpio pointed at her gasping. “Susu.”

Susan smiled even wider, “You even remember that name. Hi Stingie.”

“You know that name?” Isaac repeated.

“It’s what the little one always called her,” Susan said smiling at Virgo. “The nickname just stuck after that.”

Scorpio walked over to Susan and hugged her getting one in return. Even Virgo was surprised watching her. Scorpio sighed softly as she took a sudden step back. “I didn’t think that I would ever see you again.”

“Neither did I but that’s usually the case. You’ve grown into a fine young woman. Both of you,” she raised her hand looking at Virgo. Shyly the girl came over to her though she wasn’t as familiar with the woman as Scorpio was. “Look at you Virgo. You’re so tall and your curls are so beautiful.”

“Thank you,” she blushed looking away. “I’m sorry I don’t remember you.”

“Don’t be. You were a baby back then. Barely a few years old. I’m glad that you and Scorpio are still together. I couldn’t get her away from you when you first arrived here. Your own little guardian scorpion.” Virgo nodded and took the few steps to go over and wrap her arms around Scorpio’s arm bringing another smile to her face.

Hector stepped forward slightly, “Sorry to interrupt the moment but that’s why we’ve come here.” He said softly. “They wanted to know more about the person who brought them here. And of anyone I know you would know.”

“I remember when they were brought to our door. The woman who brought them over didn’t give a name. She was not like any one from the Sanctum or from Noria even.”

“Do you remember what she looked like?” Isaac asked.

“She was tall. Very tall. She had raven dark hair, her skin very brown and lips red like blood. I’ve never seen that color before. I couldn’t see her eyes because she wore dark reflective glasses. Her dress was more sophisticated than I’d ever seen of a casual traveler. Not just that though. There was an air to her. I don’t know if it was confidence or royalty or something. I just know that she was dangerous. But she told me to make sure you two found a good home.”

Both Scorpio and Virgo frowned hard trying to envision the kind of woman that she described. “That’s more than we had before,” Gemini said shrugging. “Do you know anything else?”

She thought for a moment but finally shook her head, “I’m sorry that’s all I can remember.”

“You’ve done more than enough Susu,” Scorpio told her.

Before they could ask more questions the door burst open behind them and a girl stumbled forward throwing herself into Susan’s arms. “Mary what’s wrong?”

When she looked up she saw that the girl shirt had been torn and there was blood across the fabric. “Susan it was horrible. A man stumbled into the inn and he just attacked one of the other patrons. Biting and clawing at him. It took everyone to pull him off but the man he attacked. He started to groan and then attacked others. Soon it was everyone. It turned into chaos. It was as if everyone had gone crazy. And it was happening at the restaurant across the street as well.”

Hector came over and squeezed her shoulder, “Mary slow down. You’re not making sense. Say it slowly. What’s wrong?”

She looked at him and the fear was palpable in her eyes. She started to speak and someone screamed outside. They all moved toward the door and stared at the streets. People were running away from the front of the city at the gate but beyond them they could see the shapes shambling forward.

Isaac stared at the blank stares, the slack jaws and blood bodies and his heart and core both ran cold. “They’re here.”