Apostles of Doom

Teragdor blinked in surprise at the very odd statement. “I am. What causes you to ask that?”

Rasmeth shook his head slightly. “Well maybe they do things differently in the Church of Tiernon, but you have an amazing amount of Grace for an itinerant priest.”

It was now Teragdor’s turn to shake his head. He had no idea what the priest might mean. Typically, that statement would mean that Tiernon was exceptionally with one. The more Grace of Tiernon one had, the higher spiritual rank one was; in other words, the more powerful rituals, pronouncements and mantras one could do.

“Uhm… thank you?” Teragdor said uncertainly.

Rasmeth smiled and gave a quick shake of his head. “No, I know that sounds weird. I suppose it is just that out here, so far from the church, one doesn’t see much opportunity for advancement. I would have expected someone with your Grace to be higher up in the church hierarchy. At least, that would be the case in the Church of Torean.”

Teragdor nodded politely with a small grin. “Uhm… thank you. I do what I can. I do not get to see my superiors that often.” He shook his head. “I have been spending an extremely unusual amount of time with saints and avatars; perhaps some of their Grace has rubbed off.”

Rasmeth titled his head and smiled. “Yes, I would suspect so. I am still in some shock at finding saints actually in the building. I had never even met a saint, or even presumed to ever meet one, until Timbly suddenly appeared to me in a dream with instructions to come here. And then when I get here? There are saints of Tiernon and Torean here. Not in dreams, but physically here. It is — surreal. That’s the only word I can think of.”

Teragdor made an O shape with his mouth as he let out a long, drawn-out “Oh, yeah.” The half-orc grinned and nodded in agreement. “You cannot even begin to imagine who I’ve met. I spoke with Baysir, Prophet of Astlan, yesterday!”

Rasmeth’s eyes went wide in shock. “Tiernon’s prophet in Astlan? Here? He spoke to you?”

Teragdor nodded solemnly, trying as hard as he could to remain humble. “I know. I am sure I must be living in a dream at this point. It’s as if I am living in one of the Times of Legend.”

“You may be.” Stevos voice startled the priests as he walked up to them. Both priests turned suddenly to the saint, who was walking down the aisle with a book strap containing three rather expensive-looking books.

“We may be?” Teragdor asked, noticing Rasmeth bowing respectfully. “Rasmeth, may I introduce my patron saint, Saint Stevos Delastros.”

“I am honored, Your Saintliness. I did, of course, recognize you. You are highly respected in the local Church of Torean,” Rasmeth said humbly.

“Thank you, Rasmeth. Timbly speaks quite highly of you. As you are aware, I am sure, this is a very unusual and highly discreet mission,” Stevos said.

“I do, Your Saintliness,” Rasmeth said, bowing in acknowledgement.

“I don’t stand on honorifics; you do not need to refer to me as ‘Your Saintliness,’ ” Stevos said, chuckling.

“As you instruct, sir,” Rasmeth replied.

Stevos grinned and shook his head. “We have located the Knight Rampant, Sir Talarius, and thus, presumably, the D’Orcs,” he announced.

Teragdor’s eyes widened in surprise. “He’s returned to Astlan?”

Stevos shook his head. “No, nothing so straightforward. He has filed prayers from Nysegard. We believe he is with the D’Orcs, whom we suspect have returned to Nysegard.”

“Nysegard?” Rasmeth asked with a note of concern in his voice.

Teragdor shook his head; he was not that familiar with that world.

Stevos sighed. “Yes. It is a long story, but apparently the D’Orcs, or rather Orcus, had a very large presence in Nysegard, and we believe that they have returned and that Talarius is with them.”

“That cannot be good! As I recall, the Forces of Light in Nysegard are nearing their last stand,” Rasmeth said with concern. “If the demons have returned, it will likely mean true darkness on the planet.”

Stevos chuckled. “That would be the logical thought. However, it turns out that the D’Orcs, under Orcus, were one of the largest contingents of the Forces of Light on Nysegard.”

Both Rasmeth and Teragdor were silent for a moment, trying to wrap their heads around that obviously nonsensical proposition.

Teragdor shook his head. “I am sorry; did you just say that Orcus and his armies were on the side of Light?”

“Odd, isn’t it? But yes, apparently they were; perhaps the largest Force of Light on Nysegard,” Stevos answered ruefully.

“That… that goes against everything we know about demon lords,” Rasmeth said, sounding bewildered.

“Indeed, so it would seem. However, it also appears that upon occasion, in Nysegard, the Five Siblings, D’Orcs and even the Los Sidhe have fought side-by-side against the Unlife.”

Rasmeth shook his head, unable to grasp this. “If I did not know, could not see, that you are a saint, I would have said you are either crazy or lying. This goes against everything we are taught.”

Teragdor nodded in agreement.