Apostles of Doom

He shook his head in frustration. “Just a few minutes before the meeting I received word from illuminaries with the Church and Rod outside of Freehold. It appears that Excrathadorus Mortis has suddenly and very mysteriously vanished from the camp, where it had been warded and locked in a box that only the Arch-Diocate had a key to.”

“For Tiernon’s sake, how many Holy Artifacts are they going to let just get up and walk away from them?” Moradel asked in exasperation.

Chapter 124

The Inferno: DOA + 4, Late Second Period

“I am not sure I like this,” Gaius said to Gadius as they surveyed their quarters aboard the Inferno.

“It is rather claustrophobic,” Gadius admitted, having similar reservations.

Their shared quarters were a narrow metal-walled chamber approximately eight feet deep. The wall at the far end of the room was slanted from about two feet from the floor, up to the rather low eight-foot-high ceiling. Along the right-hand wall from the doorway was a set of bunks, actually hammocks on rectangular metal frames, bounded above and below by narrow drawers. One ran set along the ceiling, the other along the floor. At the near end of the beds, leading back towards the small door through which they had entered, was a very small built-in wardrobe for hanging garments, and another set of drawers. A narrow padded bench, on hinges to be raised or lowered, ran most of the wall opposite the bunks, leaving perhaps a foot between the bunks and bench when down, perhaps two and a half feet when up.

“Getting around could be tricky,” Gaius observed. “One could never don plate armor in such a space.”

“Which is why they like to store all armor in their armory area, I suppose. There appeared to be room there to equip oneself,” Gadius said.

“Fortunately, that is not something we have to deal with.” Gaius smiled, allowing his obsidian-like chainmail to fade from sight, leaving him clad only in a tunic and pants.

“Indeed,” Gadius agreed, allowing his own pearlescent chainmail to similarly vanish. Officially, their armor and principal weapons were kept in Bags of Safekeeping; unofficially, they had other means of storing their armament.

“I am not sure what we are going to say if it turns out as Sera suggests and Bags of Safekeeping do not work in the Abyss,” Gaius said.

Gadius shrugged. “Well, we can always say that our mounts brought spare equipment.”

Gaius frowned. “Yes. While there is no question that our ‘mounts’ will be able to locate us as needed in the Abyss, or anywhere for that matter, this entire business and the close proximity of others is going to strain the limits of credulity in our stories.”

Gadius grinned. “We faced this before in training, remember?” He patted Gaius on the shoulder. “Our rank and independence as Knights Rampant has led to complacency. We are in need of sharpening our skills on this front.”

Gaius grimaced. “I agree; however, that does not assuage my anxiety.”

“Nor should it.” Gadius grinned broadly.

~

Arch-Vicar General Barabus stood silently beside Wing Arms Master Heron of Treage on the bridge of the Inferno, listening to the incredibly long-winded speech of Oorstemothian Chancellor of Law Dante Alighieri extolling the virtues of the Inferno and their mission to bring the Law (and hence “justice”) to the far realms of the multiverse; in particular, in this instance, the Abyss and the greater demon who had captured Talarius, Knight Rampant of Tiernon.

All Oorstemothians were long-winded, but Chancellor Alighieri seemed worse than most. Barabus was now certain of that after the last few days. It was actually possible to have an intelligent conversation with Wing Arms Master Heron. True, the conversations were quite formal compared to what he was used to, but still fairly efficient.

Barabus was very well aware of the Oorstemothians’ military prowess, but after the last several days of direct and intimate interaction with them, he was not sure how a commander would be able to issue an order before the enemy overran them.

The launch of the Inferno was one such example. This speech was now entering its second hour; the senior members of the expedition were all standing in the cramped bridge compartment, listening to the Chancellor ramble on ad nauseam.

“…and thus, my compatriots, with our carefully crafted concordance to create a completely cooperative campaign complete, we are ready to commence!” the chancellor finally finished.

A round of applause arose from those assembled. Barabus gave a grateful sigh of relief as he clapped.

“And thus forthwith, as I officially offer command of our versatile vessel to her new commanding officer, let me introduce our illustrious commander by providing a brief curriculum vitae of his qualifications before his inaugural address,” the chancellor continued. “Commander Cranshall was born in…”

Barabus groaned internally. What had he done to be trapped on this thing with these people?