Epilogue II – The Solari

Arthur Demetri breathed in. For the first time in what felt like months, a tiny, tiny sense of relief filled his lungs.

It was funny, really. The city of Aurelion was head over heels given the events of the week. Oren’s speeches in the square no longer were met with firm believers, but skepticism and calls of anger.

But, as he strolled through the neat pathways and watched the rushing children and their mothers, he felt only relief.

Without having to cross a line he very much did not want to cross, The Solari were finally taking this threat seriously. They were finally coming around to the very bitter truth that the popular interpretation of the historical writs may not have been correct.

“They believe it, don’t they, father?” For his part, William looked almost unhappy about the fact.

“They do, son. They do.”

As they passed a young girl being hushed by her mother, eyes downcast, Demetri nodded. “The Five be with you.”

“Five be with you.” Then, the mom paused. She glanced at the girl before whispering something in her ear.

Whatever was said, the child knew to listen. The girl bundled up her skirts and took off ahead down the street.

“Father Demetri.” Being named as such made the high bishop have a light smile. He frequented the central streets quite a lot—enough that many of the regulars knew him by face alone.

“Madam. How can I be of service today?” Demetri halted along the roadway, a pleasant and matching smile on his own face.

“Is what they say true? That demons really have returned?”

William gave him a pointed expression.

Ignoring him, Demetri put a hand on the woman’s shoulder. “I’m afraid it is, my dear. But do not let fear plague your mind. Now that we know the evil exists, we’ll stop at nothing to cleanse it.”

The mom made something between a growl and a sniff. “Brenda’s oldest was with the fallen. The ones that went up and that went dim.”

Demetri did stumble a bit at that. While he knew information of demons being real had made its way through the people, he hadn’t known they’d learned of the fallen. But, now that he considered it, the fact really shouldn’t have surprised him.

A hundred paladins from a hundred families had been slain. The dimming of their light was hard to hide in Aurelion proper.

Especially with the loss of the Lord Paladin. Despite his foolishness, Brexin was popular with the masses. He attended many of the parties the upper class put on, and had a way with young ladies. One that would make his loss felt all the more.

“He’s with The Five now. He’ll watch as we take the sword he brought, and finish the blow. I promise you that, madam.”

She nodded. “Thank you, father. For being honest. Too many now seem not to be.” The lady turned, glowering in the direction of the distant market square. Where Oren and his lackeys were still doing their best to quell the resentment and panic.

“Good day.” The woman rushed off, hurrying after her daughter.

He and William continued onwards, not speaking anymore. Not until Demetri was certain they were far out of earshot. Only then did he pat William on the back.

“All will be well, my son.”

“Will it, father? Do you truly believe so?”

He shrugged. “What I truly believe is that two hundred new paladins are already in North Valdren, with many, many more on the way behind them. I mean, I expected the mobilization of Aurelion to be swift, but even I was shocked at Klive’s fervor. I have to give that old goat credit. He didn’t wallow in grief, but used it to pry loose the rotting boards covering the other bishops’ eyes.”

William let out a little snort of laughter at that. “I have to agree with that. But for the Archbishop to go himself? Not that I’m complaining, father. But I truly didn’t think he would.”

“Who else is going to consecrate the lands up there, my son?”

“You could have. I know your rank is a high bishop, but your power with the will is beyond that already.”

“Could I have? Probably. But why would I want to do that? I’m needed here. We need to start operating on the assumption that the rest of the bishopric has finally gotten off their collective behind and begun taking this seriously. I need to be here to keep it that way. Besides, we have that lordling—Hector, wasn’t it—on the way down here. Between him and Ashlan, we need to start turning our attention back to the bigger game on the board, my son.”

“And what game would that be, father?”

“Making sure I can be in a position to more directly influence the war we’ve just begun. And for that, William, we need to play a much more dangerous gambit. One that might just land us a seat at the archbishopric itself.”