Colin Tabor - The Fall of Ossard

“It was a tense night, one that dragged on only to be broken by taunts. It also seemed that their numbers still grew, for we saw two more groups marked by torchlight crossing our smouldering fields. Lost in the dark of night and drifts of eye-watering smoke it was hard to follow all that went on, but one thing I couldn’t miss was my wife, Anja, hit by an arrow.

“It was just a soft thud and then her ragged gasp. She fell to her knees, and so did I as I took her into my arms. She was in a bad way with too much blood running from her chest. I was scared. I just knew that she was going to die.

“My mother came forward, cradling our infant daughter, and all the while Anja knelt there, held by me, trying to take her last breath.

“Horns sounded and the cries of bandits. Someone yelled a warning from the top of the stockade as flaming arrows began to rain down to land in dirt, thatched roofs, and flesh. Fires sprang up to throw everything into a ruddy light, including my beloved’s ruin.

“There and then I knew my family and home were doomed, but I wouldn’t have it. I stood and roared my grief, vowing to give my soul and service to Kave if he’d bless me with the strength to save all that I held dear.

“Like a falling star, something hit me, aglow and full of power. It landed with so much force that it blasted the nearest part of the stockade apart. I emerged enraged and by Kave’s blessing berserk.” Sef shook his head in disgust.

“I awoke surrounded by countless bandits dead and covered in blood and gore. The scene was lit in amber, tinted by smoke and the rising sun of the new day. As I’d offered, I’d saved the village and my loved ones, and all for the cost of my soul.

“I was hailed a hero, a true man of Kave, and held in such esteem that I became his priest to serve the local Kavist patrols. And in all this I served the interests of everybody but myself.”

His words made me wonder; how could such a thing happen? The giving of yourself to one you didn’t hold faith in?

He nodded at my unspoken question, something I suspected he’d asked himself time and time again. “It didn’t matter because it all came to nought. That strange gathering of brigands happened once more a year and a day later. They again taunted the village, but this time when they began their attack they made sure that they laid waste to everything.” He looked me in the eye, his gaze cold and hard. “My village, mother, wife and our daughter are all gone and dead. I survived because they wanted to leave me to suffer. That was their revenge, not just the deaths of those I loved, but for me to survive them.

“I was so angry with Kave for allowing such a thing that I walked away from my duties and sought the peace of Ossard. I’ve barely served him since, and in truth there’s still a reckoning to come between us.”

I didn’t know what to say.

He laughed at my silence. “Not your average tale, it’s true. And that’s the short version. Maybe I’ll tell you more of it when we’re sitting about a fire in Marco’s ruins.”

I remained silent.

He joked, “Come now, so I’m not on speaking terms with my god, worse things can happen.”

Finally, I said, “I had no idea you harboured such pain.”

He stilled his laughter, giving me a quick nod of thanks. “That’s all for now, that’s what happened, but now we need to worry about today.”

It was my turn to nod.

He asked, “Do you still want to go and tell Kurgar about your chat with the Lae Velsanan, this Felmaradis?”

“Yes, perhaps he’ll laugh at me, but he should know in any case.”

“And what about your people downstairs? They can’t all go, and I doubt they’d even let the Heletians amongst them in.”

“Marco and Baruna can come with us, the others will have to stay.” I paused, considering. “Perhaps we should take a few more just for appearances.”

“Appearances?”

“If we take two more, Flets, it might put any fears about Marco and Baruna to rest.”

Sef offered, “Perhaps, but we could just leave them all behind and be done with it.”

“True, but maybe it’s not a bad idea to give the Guild a sense of what’s happening here. It might help add weight to my opinion.”

“Alright, but who?”

“I don’t know. Marco and Baruna will be familiar with some, they can pick two.”

“I’ll go down and get them organised. That’ll give you a moment to get ready.”

After changing and soothing my red eyes with cool water, I made my way downstairs. It was crowded, more so than the night before, the kitchen bustling as it served up a porridge breakfast. Sef greeted me at the bottom of the steps and grinned at my surprise. Simply, I asked, “How many?”

“Enough, the courtyard is full so they now gather in the street.”

My smile dropped, replaced by an embarrassed blush. “The street?”

He nodded. “You should look, but compose yourself.”

“Tell me, how many?”

“I think we’ve a hundred in the house and maybe that again in the courtyard and stable…”

“Stop it, Sef, how many?”

“And well over a hundred in the street, perhaps closer to two. They just keep coming, but ask for nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Well, nothing but to see you.”

“What?”

“They’re looking for the lady who saved so many in the square. They’re calling you their Lady of Hope, and the rose that blooms from Ossard’s despair.” He paused, “They gain comfort in just being here.” His voice softened, “We all do.”

I turned from him to see the people in my home continue their bustle, yet slow and look my way. Standing in the shadows at the base of the stairs my blush only deepened. It was hard to believe.

So much was changing…

Despite my awkwardness I smiled, a small thing that grew. Those around me took it as my acceptance of them, and from it their own smiles were sown. The air tingled with their relief. Strangely, their feelings gave me succour, it coming to me as a rising high.

After a long moment of basking in that feeling it began to fade. It took me a while, but I soon realised that it wasn’t because they tired of me; I’d just grown used to it. I needed something stronger to attain the same feeling.

I needed more of them!

One taste of their gifted power – their faith – and I was hooked. I could now understand why the gods thirsted for being followed: It wasn’t about ego, morals, or even perhaps power for power’s sake, it was for the high built of the elation it generated.

It also explained why they hungered for Ossard’s chaos and the soul harvest it promised. If something as simple as faith gave the gods a rush, what would the consumption of a soul feel like? What about a dozen, or a hundred, or even a thousand? I shuddered.

Were the gods addicted to it?

Of course they were!

In a hoarse voice I said, “Take me, I need to see them.”

Sef nodded, but my hungry tone aroused his concern.

He led me through the crowded room to the entry hall, all the way clearing people from my path. They looked to me offering their devotion with their souls and their hope with their hearts.

They trusted me.

Adrenalin coursed through my body while my mind burnt through thoughts and emotions as my soul lifted itself to a higher state. I sucked in their offered faith like a whirlpool guzzling at water. I forced my steps on, but celebrated every stride, and each revealed yet another soul that wanted to nourish me.

I was elated, but also struggling to come to terms with the feeling.

When we reached the door, Sef asked, “Are you alright?”

My voice rumbled, “Yes.”

He looked to me with anxious eyes.

I reached out and touched his shoulder to let some of my gathering power flow.