Apostles of Doom

So, was your session with Tamarin useful? Talarius asked his sword as he got dressed in his quarters in the Doomalogue. He had set himself up in an unoccupied bedroom. It was far more utilitarian than his room in Mount Doom, which made sense given the wartime nature of the entire world; however, it was far better than many camps, and even inns, at which he had stayed on missions. He had no desire to stay in the Abyss, if he was not required to, and Tom had made no mention of it.

The demon had been true to his side of Talarius’s Oath of Hostage. He was trusting Talarius, something Talarius would probably not have done in the reverse scenario. Not that he would have ever considered trying to take a demon, let alone a demon prince, hostage.

It was very informative on many levels, Ruiden told him. However, none of them were particularly reassuring.

What does that mean? Talarius asked, suspecting — fearing — that he understood all too well.

If I follow the information trail that Tamarin laid out for me, I am forced to the conclusion that not only are D’Orcs and demons essentially indistinguishable, other than by their initial race; I am also forced to believe that saints are also the same sort of beings, Ruiden told him.

That stopped Talarius in his tracks. His blood ran cold, chills and small bumps raising the hair on his body. This was the same blasphemous conclusion he had come to in the haystack. He had not voiced this blasphemy to Ruiden, yet both the sword and the djinn were coming to the same conclusion he had.

How is canonization any different? If we look at the liturgy, what does Tiernon’s own liturgy say they are doing? Does it not sound almost identical to D’Orcing? Ruiden continued.

Yes. It does. Talarius thought back sourly. I had come to this blasphemous conclusion myself; I was hoping that it was simply my own misinterpretation.

You do realize this has rather serious repercussions as to how one defines good and evil? Ruiden asked.

I am not going to think about that right now, Talarius responded angrily. Fortunately, we are in Nysegard, where such questions are far simpler. Unlife is evil, and we can eliminate it.

Astlan, Stone Finger Camp: Mid Fourth Period

Jenn sat behind and to the right of Trevin, on a pillow in the Stone Finger chief’s tent. Gastropé sat to her right, Elrose and Maelen to her left. She had suggested that they should try to follow the negotiations today, unlike yesterday; her stated logic being that they should stay together in case the negotiations did not end well. Trevin had shrugged, saying that she doubted it was absolutely necessary, but might be wise all the same.

Gastropé had looked at Jenn, puzzled. He knew that she knew that they were in no actual danger. At least, she and Gastropé were in no danger, being — in the D’Orcs minds — allies of Lord Tommus. Her real reason, of course, was that she did not particularly want Gastropé sharing the fact that the alvar were not actually willing to remove all of their forces. She felt that it was Trevin’s job as the negotiator to make this judgement and handle it in her way. She was afraid if the orcs were told in advance of the alvaran duplicity — and admittedly, she did feel it was duplicity on their part — that it might bias or damage the negotiations.

They had been here, in the tent, negotiating for about a quarter of an hour. Things seemed to be going well enough. Trevin had not yet brought up the existence of the other patrols and incursions into orc territory.

“So, Ariel agree to remove all of his sky patrols?” Elgrida Far Eyes summarized their discussions so far in broken Trade.

“He will remove all of the sky patrols around Jötunnhenj,” Trevin agreed, with a bit more precision, nodding her head.

“And what about those not around Jötunnhenj, yet still in orc territory?” a very deep voice speaking perfect Trade said. Jenn recognized the voice of the D’Orc leader, Zargvarst. She closed her eyes; this would not be good. They were about to be exposed as having been working with Tom.