Nate Kenyon - The Order

“Nor will I forget you,” Mikulov said. They clasped hands. “I must leave as well. The members of the Floating Sky would have me executed for leaving the monastery, if they could, and may be searching for me even now. But my fate is with the gods. Perhaps we will see each other again, someday.”

They returned to the inn, where Cain told Cullen of his plans. “What?” Cullen blinked in surprise. “But we have so much to do! We must recruit more brothers to the order! You said—”

“You will be fine here,” Cain said gently, putting a hand on Cullen’s shoulder. “You and Thomas are more than capable of leading others to the light. You have both studied the texts; you understand what is required. I would only get in the way.”

“Nonsense.” Cullen shook his head, his jowls jiggling comically. “You are the only true Horadrim left in Sanctuary!”

If that’s true, Cain thought, it’s even more important that I seek out answers and learn the truth of what the Worldstone’s destruction really means for all of us.

Cullen protested even more, but Cain’s mind was made up. They went outside in time to meet Leah and Thomas, who had gone searching for saplings to make a new bow and new arrows for Leah. Although she did not remember Lund or anything about the camp, something had remained with her, and she was eager to try to shoot again.

“There’s new growth out there,” Thomas said, his face full of hope. “The trees are already returning! And we saw more animals, too. Life has come back to Kehjistan.”

Thomas and Cullen went into the inn, talking animatedly about what they had both seen. Cain took Leah’s hand. This was the moment he had been dreading; he would have to find a place for her where she would be safe. He would have to explain why he had to leave her, and he felt as if his heart might break.

They sat in the shade near the docks. “Where will we live, Uncle?” Leah asked. “Will we have our own house?”

In a halting, uncertain voice, Cain told her about what he had to do. It was a nearly impossible task, and in the middle of it Leah stood up and began skipping rocks across the water. He could not tell if she was angry or sad, but he continued to explain himself as best he could. The world was an uncertain place, and as much as it hurt him to say it, he had responsibilities that he could not avoid. If not he, then who else would do it?

“I want to go with you,” Leah said.

That stopped him short; it reminded him of when he had considered finding a safe place for her before, on the road to Kurast, and how she had refused to let him then. But this was different. It was not just a journey, but a way of life.

He stood up and joined her at the water. “You don’t know what that means,” Cain said. “There are . . . dangers in Sanctuary, things that I may not be able to protect you from—”

“I don’t care!” Leah shouted, and when she turned to him, there were tears streaming down her face. “You’re the only family I have now, and I want to be with you! Please don’t leave me, Uncle!”

Once again, she buried her face in Cain’s tunic. They had formed a bond that could not be broken, and he realized with sudden shock that he could not leave her behind, any more than she could bear to be without him.

“All right,” he said, tears welling in his own eyes. “I was wrong, Leah. You will travel with me, and we will never be apart again.”

He began to think about writing everything down, creating a book of his own, for her benefit. She was not yet ready, but someday, perhaps, she might study the Horadric ways, just as he had. If this was their destiny, he would embrace it, and when the true demon invasion came, they would be ready to face the enemy together.

The two of them sat that way as the water lapped against the docks, and Deckard Cain imagined his wife and son sitting next to them. For the first time in as long as he could remember, he felt at peace.

Far beyond the mortal plane, among the raging fires of the Burning Hells and deep within his realm of illusions, Belial screamed his frustration. The walls shook with his fury, and his demons cowered before him, fearful of being caught by his wrath.

He had been so close to tearing apart the very fabric of Sanctuary and accomplishing the first phase of his plan, but then that useless waste of a man had caught him by surprise. He had never expected Garreth Rau to defy him in that way, and certainly never thought he would sacrifice himself in the battle for control.

Perhaps I acted too quickly, Belial thought. But the temptation had been too great; the human shell had been his for the taking, and destroying Deckard Cain had been an extra incentive to assume control immediately.

I am still the Lord of Lies, he thought, ruler of the Burning Hells, and I shall not be denied.

“My lord,” a voice said. Belial looked down to find one of his minions at his feet—a beautiful, golden-haired female, strong and tall and proud, her full, red lips holding a hint of a smile. “I must speak with you—”

Belial snarled. He was not in the mood for games. He reached down with a massive clawed hand to pick up the demon, bringing it to his face as its physical shape rippled and changed, the illusion broken; a skinless, oozing nightmare stared back at him from lidless eye sockets.

The creature squeaked in pain, squirming against his grip. “Please, my lord!” it said. “I bring news. A seer has had a vision, one that will please you. There will be . . . a birth, in the east! A boy emperor shall come to Caldeum!”

Belial set the creature back down, the urge to rip its head from its shoulders fading. A new curiosity piqued his interest—a boy emperor in Caldeum? This was very interesting indeed. His plan had been dealt a damaging setback. But perhaps there was another way to find the particular object he so craved.

“The birth shall come within five years,” the creature said, bobbing its suppurating skull. “It is not too long to wait, not for you . . .”

“Have your brothers torture this seer,” Belial said. “Take no chances. I want to hear more. There is much to discuss.”

The demon nodded and scampered away. Belial smiled. Much to discuss, indeed. He began to think that his entire approach had been wrong from the beginning. He was not about brute force; he was about cunning and deceit.

There were many ways to approach the problem, but only one goal: the destruction of Sanctuary and the fall of the High Heavens itself. The Lord of Lies would not rest until it was done, and he ruled over all that was left.

Patience . Soon enough, his time would come.

The Diablo universe is amazingly complex and exciting, and there were many people who helped me navigate through the waters. I’d like to thank my editor at Simon & Schuster, Ed Schlesinger, for all his hard work and unwavering support. He’s one of the good guys. Another huge note of thanks must go to Micky Neilson and James Waugh, two of the finest people I’ve met in this business, and everyone else at Blizzard Entertainment, one of the most incredibly creative places on the planet (I’d name everyone, but the list would be very long). Finally, as always, to my wife, Kristie; my children Emily, Harrison, and Abbey; and the rest of my family and friends: I thank you all for your support. I couldn’t do it without you.