Read Online Harbinger: The Downfall - Book One by Travis I. Sivart - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Travis I. Sivart
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replied.
Nomed watched as the men puffed up and tried to comfort each other with their own importance and indignation. Humans were predictable. But then again, so were plays, yet he kept going to see them. The men began the inevitable barrage of questions.
“Who are you, and why have you come?” Lord Jaeken asked, turning to face Nomed.
“That’s really not important to you, Jaeken.” Nomed said, the insult of the lack of the man’s title hanging in the air. “Something comes this way, and are you prepared?” Inserting himself between the two men, he took Jaeken and the priest by their elbows and guided them towards the railing. Both men, talking at the same time, sputtered the expected responses to deny what Nomed suggested.
“Gentlemen, stop,” Nomed said in a quiet but strong voice as he paused by the edge of the balcony overlooking the city and gestured at the night sky. “Humbrey has stood for centuries as the gleaming example of knighthood and all things associated with it. Now, it is rotting from within. You both have seen it. Jaeken, you have two sons, Cyril and Cyrus, who were closer to one another than your own testicles are to each other, and now they have split. The lads that is, not your testicles. Dire times indeed. I would watch your testicles just to be safe.
“Alixin, you have been a priest for decades,” Nomed said, ignoring the priest’s title also. “You have hidden your affairs with married women, never been caught siring children with those women, and now you have used your God’s blessed gifts to do something horrible. You have created divisions between fathers and sons, and made brothers’ love and trust become a weapon to tear them apart.” Nomed watched the implication sink into Jaeken’s thoughts. Nomed knew part of what he insinuated was true, but often learned more by watching others as they mulled over what he had intimated. It was fun watching others play with the thoughts in their heads. It was like watching a dog given a treat that tastes bad, but won’t spit it out.
“This Kingdom is in danger,” Nomed continued, “it is on the brink of destruction. The Talisman foreshadows many things to come, but some things can be stopped. I think you both have to consider the larger picture.”
“What is it you are getting at?” Lord Father Alixin asked.
“Alixin. Never has the church created such an atrocity as the monster you helped create from a loyal servant of Jonath, and the corruption that took seed from this abomination will lead to many things. Giving one man so much power is often dangerous, don’t you think?”
Nomed wove a picture of woe and doom, playing on the things these men loved and the secrets they feared. He deftly built a scenario that tied the men together, but placed things between them so they would never trust each other completely. The men tried to interject, to argue, but each time they did it was weaker than before. Nomed knew his craft well, and he loved what he did. There is no one better at any craft, than someone who loves the work they do.
“Jaeken, use your influence. Rouse the knights of each of the thirteen great houses. Look to the south. Alixin, rouse the church. What happened may not have been your, or the church’s fault. Much magic lies in Malvor, the city just south of Humbrey’s lands. It has been secretive for far too long. It is time some of its secrets were spilled.” Nomed stopped and looked at each man. “Go now, no more arguments. It is urgent that this begins now, and the Changing Wheel will need time to grind out what it must.”
The men turned and left, Lord Father Alixin with haste and worry in his steps, and Lord Jaeken moved much slower but with a steady determination. Nomed almost felt pity for him, but knew the sins of the father were the sins of the sons. Soon Jaeken would be able to worry about only one, either his sons or his sins, but not both. Nomed smiled as the shadows enveloped him and people no
Nomed watched as the men puffed up and tried to comfort each other with their own importance and indignation. Humans were predictable. But then again, so were plays, yet he kept going to see them. The men began the inevitable barrage of questions.
“Who are you, and why have you come?” Lord Jaeken asked, turning to face Nomed.
“That’s really not important to you, Jaeken.” Nomed said, the insult of the lack of the man’s title hanging in the air. “Something comes this way, and are you prepared?” Inserting himself between the two men, he took Jaeken and the priest by their elbows and guided them towards the railing. Both men, talking at the same time, sputtered the expected responses to deny what Nomed suggested.
“Gentlemen, stop,” Nomed said in a quiet but strong voice as he paused by the edge of the balcony overlooking the city and gestured at the night sky. “Humbrey has stood for centuries as the gleaming example of knighthood and all things associated with it. Now, it is rotting from within. You both have seen it. Jaeken, you have two sons, Cyril and Cyrus, who were closer to one another than your own testicles are to each other, and now they have split. The lads that is, not your testicles. Dire times indeed. I would watch your testicles just to be safe.
“Alixin, you have been a priest for decades,” Nomed said, ignoring the priest’s title also. “You have hidden your affairs with married women, never been caught siring children with those women, and now you have used your God’s blessed gifts to do something horrible. You have created divisions between fathers and sons, and made brothers’ love and trust become a weapon to tear them apart.” Nomed watched the implication sink into Jaeken’s thoughts. Nomed knew part of what he insinuated was true, but often learned more by watching others as they mulled over what he had intimated. It was fun watching others play with the thoughts in their heads. It was like watching a dog given a treat that tastes bad, but won’t spit it out.
“This Kingdom is in danger,” Nomed continued, “it is on the brink of destruction. The Talisman foreshadows many things to come, but some things can be stopped. I think you both have to consider the larger picture.”
“What is it you are getting at?” Lord Father Alixin asked.
“Alixin. Never has the church created such an atrocity as the monster you helped create from a loyal servant of Jonath, and the corruption that took seed from this abomination will lead to many things. Giving one man so much power is often dangerous, don’t you think?”
Nomed wove a picture of woe and doom, playing on the things these men loved and the secrets they feared. He deftly built a scenario that tied the men together, but placed things between them so they would never trust each other completely. The men tried to interject, to argue, but each time they did it was weaker than before. Nomed knew his craft well, and he loved what he did. There is no one better at any craft, than someone who loves the work they do.
“Jaeken, use your influence. Rouse the knights of each of the thirteen great houses. Look to the south. Alixin, rouse the church. What happened may not have been your, or the church’s fault. Much magic lies in Malvor, the city just south of Humbrey’s lands. It has been secretive for far too long. It is time some of its secrets were spilled.” Nomed stopped and looked at each man. “Go now, no more arguments. It is urgent that this begins now, and the Changing Wheel will need time to grind out what it must.”
The men turned and left, Lord Father Alixin with haste and worry in his steps, and Lord Jaeken moved much slower but with a steady determination. Nomed almost felt pity for him, but knew the sins of the father were the sins of the sons. Soon Jaeken would be able to worry about only one, either his sons or his sins, but not both. Nomed smiled as the shadows enveloped him and people no
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