Colin Tabor - The Fall of Ossard

I hated to admit it, but his words stank of an uncomfortable truth. I wondered though; what of me, how could I have been born of her if she was no longer present?

Kurgar must have read my mind. “You and the others were her last desperate attempt to win back this world. The very effort of it, of seeding you, is what finally ended her sad and crippled form. We haven’t seen a sign of her since. It seems that she spent the last of her power – her very essence – giving your soul passage here.”

I didn’t know what to say.

But then I realised, for now and the task at hand, his revelation didn’t matter. I hadn’t come here to debate the fate of Schoperde; that was something for another time. I was here for Pedro and Maria. With Schoperde’s aid or not, I wouldn’t be leaving without them.

And amidst my fading confusion I became aware of something else; a thrumming in my soul. It was abuzz with offered power.

It was Sef’s faith, given freely, and rich and strong because of it. For him and so many others, I was a symbol of hope – and that was something very much alive and worth believing in.

Kurgar may have stolen hundreds of souls, perhaps even a thousand, yet I stood knowing that more had already offered me theirs. I didn’t have to steal and feed on them like a starving dog tearing meat off a rotting carcass. My people wanted me to have the power they offered, not dozens, or scores, not even hundreds, but thousands. That was something Kurgar didn’t have – so I stepped forward and called upon them.

I sent out a ring of power that expanded across this world and the next. I could see their faint life-lights, now distant, yet they blazed as it reached them. With it I gave them the strength to flee the city and withstand the trials that would come. I also planted in them the knowledge that I needed them to confirm their hope and faith in me and our future.

The first new prayer of strength and wellness returned from Baruna and others also flared, at first a few, then scores, then hundreds, and finally thousands. They sent me their thoughts, love, and best wishes. After a moment the flow became a raging flood.

I looked to Kurgar. “You’ve no power compared to me.”

The muscles in his neck corded as his face flushed red. He could see what I’d done, and he knew that through it I could at the very least equal him. He also now understood that there were other ways to gain strength, and with his realisation came mine; I didn’t have to feed on souls, what was coming to me was freely given – and would be there again when needed.

Kurgar growled, “This is nothing! When the ritual is complete – and you can’t stop it – the dribbles of power your misguided followers allow you will flounder. I require nothing more than what’s already here!”

“I don’t want the city.” I gestured to the window and its view of fire and smoke. “It’s already ruined, and the ground soured. I just want my family.”

Behind his bravado he worried, his voice carrying a quaver. He’d never conceived that such power could be freely given, and now he wondered at which of us was stronger. I could sense his considerations.

If all she wanted was her family, and then she’d go…

He asked, “And what of your family? What if they’re not all to hand?”

My mood cooled. “Not all?”

What had he done?

He looked to Sef, then back to me. “Your husband and daughter are alive, but not the others. They’re already beyond your reach.”

“The Lord and Lady are dead?”

He nodded. “As are the others who were taken.”

Sef shifted, his own anger growing.

“When?” I asked.

“Some at dawn and noon, more this evening. We used them to prepare the ritual’s foundations and frame. It’s a gradual thing, of layers and building.”

What a waste.

He asked, “If I free Pedro and Maria, will you leave the city?”

And without them the ritual would continue, but I couldn’t stop that – or could I?

The cultists had already all but won Ossard. I had to reconcile myself to that. What was going to happen was unstoppable, but perhaps – in the future – not undoable. As I’d seen before, for some magic there was such a thing as a counter-casting. Maybe the ritual could be undone.

“Alright,” I said, and I had an idea, a plan that would take more than a day to work. “Bring Pedro and Maria to me, but I also want the bodies of Lord and Lady Liberigo so Pedro can attend to them.”

Kurgar raised an eyebrow.

“My husband is a pious man and has been ever since his time in a monastery. Such things are important to him.”

“They are marred, ritual magic is not clean.”

“Bring them.”

He nodded to an attendant. “Fetch her family and the corpses. Bring them all here.”

The attendant bowed and left, leaving us to stand in silence.

Eventually Kurgar spoke, “Where will you take them?”

“You know where, I’m sure you’ve heard.”

He nodded. “The ruins then, and in league with Lae Velsanans.” His distaste showed.

“Indeed, what bad company we both keep.”

He chuckled. “You are powerful, but not strong enough. You can’t stop what happens here. In the end, with a city this size, the departure of you and your followers means nothing.”

“So you’ll let us seek our sanctuary and not harry us?”

He raised an eyebrow. “More demands? In the end, it won’t matter. You’ll find that you can’t sleep, knowing that your actions saved your family, but in turn doomed the strangers that I’ll have to use to replace them. That knowledge will drive you mad.”

I pressed him, “You’ll not harry us?”

He sneered. “You have my promise, for I needn’t bother with the likes of you.”

I nodded.

The door opened behind us.

Sef and I turned to find Pedro standing dirty and bruised with his hands and feet in chains. He swayed unsteadily, his eyes lost and unfocused. I went to him, slipping an arm about his thinned waist.

Brimming with the power of my people, I let some of it flow through to give him strength. Colour came back to his cheeks, his eyes locking onto mine, while his slack jaw settled into a tired smile. In a moment, life was restored to his grim face.

He whispered, “Oh, Juvela.” And one of his hands found one of my own to give it a squeeze.

An attendant came in behind him carrying Maria. She was also dirty, but in a better state.

“Mama!” she cried, reaching out for me.

Kurgar nodded to the attendant, and the man stepped around Pedro and put her down by my feet. She cuddled in close.

The attendant took a pendant from around her throat; instantly I could sense her mind again.

She was free!

I looked about for the promised bodies, but they were yet to arrive. Turning to Kurgar, I asked, “And the Lord and Lady?”

The attendant nodded at his glance.

Kurgar said, “They’re coming; I imagine they’re wrapping them.”

I nodded.

Noise beyond the door marked their delivery. They were each carried and wrapped in cloth, the fabric already stained.

I asked, “And what will you do with the Loyalists?”

He smiled. “You know there are bigger sacrifices to come. I could probably muster a thousand willing to offer themselves up for ritual magic, but ten thousand? I’ll keep them for that.”

The attendants brought the wrapped bodies to me and then pulled back their shrouds. Their faces lay there, bloodied and beaten, but also pale and waxen. It was indeed the Lord and Lady.

Pedro cried out.

I nodded. “So our deal is done?”

“Yes, and how will you get them from here?”

I’ll have your men take them to the roof.

“So you like to fly? That was always a part of Schoperde’s way; a penchant for the birds and wind.” He stood. “Let’s go, then, I’ve much else to do – and dawn nears.”