CHAPTER 9. The Reason for the Treason
1330 Words
FLASHBACK!
Twenty four hours before imperial inquisition troops attacked the Rouge’s peasant cottage…
Captain Mal Wear was standing to attention in what had been his own office.
The imperial Inquisition had arrived and asserted their authority onto the whole village.
Lead by a Cardinal and his army and three other Archbishop armies!
That’s four armies in total!
Just one of these armies contained two times more troops than the entire population of both the village and all its outskirts!
And these were not normal respectable occupying troops (if there is ever such a thing) these were all fanatics! They were religious zealot inquisition troops, who prayed to statues of the current Sunite Emporer.
The Captain's office was now home to the Cardinal until he left the area.
That is why the Imperial Cardinal was sitting behind the desk, evaluating the young captain.
Advisor Lyal Tooker was also there, standing next to the Captain
Despite the calm weary demeanour of the Cardinal, both men were in no doubt that he was considering having them both publicly executed for failure.
“So,” Spoke the Cardinal as if trying to stifle a yawn, “This child seemed to be immune to all physical and magical harm?”
Mal thought ‘He is acting overly nonchalant, despite there being four elite armies forced march at double speed to the area,’
‘We must be in really deep crap!
‘I am glad I never had a family now!’
But out loud, he simply just said,
“Yes Sir!”
The Cardinal turned to Layl
“And what does our local special advising bookkeeper on all things magical have to say on this matter,”
“I am not at liberty to say in present company, Sir”
“Really?” Said the Cardinal with an overly relaxed air.
“Might I ask why”
“Because the techniques used to resist all our spells and all physical harm are classified, Sir.”
The Captain turned as if he was about to speak in anger, but a mere lift of the Cardinals, slightly raised lazy hand, without looking up, made the Captain respectfully stop and stay silent.
“I take it this was a command from someone high ranking from back when you were in service…?” the Cardinal asked
“That is correct sir.”
“Do I outrank this person?”
“Yes sir”
“So, you are, indeed, allowed to tell me if I request that you do so…?”
“Yes sir, But not in present company, Sir.”
“The good Captain is not cleared for that level of security clearance, Sir”
“That is quite an assumption to make little bookkeeper,” Said the Cardinal while fixing Layl with an icy stare!
“Sorry, Sir!”
The Cardinals face became gentle again before turning to Captain Mal.
“Good Captain, will you please excuse us,”
The Captain saluted and left.
‘What a crock of crap,’ He thought,
‘The Cardinal would know full well what Layl had really done while in active service!’
‘That whole little performance was put on just for me, but why?”
Once the door to the office was closed, the Cardinals face became more intense and animated.
“How did he resist the magic?”
“I do not know and I know all about magical resistance.”
“Theories?” Prompted the Cardinal.
“Whatever gave him his immunity to our magic, whatever that was, it was not other magic!”
“There were no wards, spells, seal or countermagic of any kind”
“Some sort of demon or outer being then?” Asked the Cardinal
“No, sir. I will try and be more clear,” stated Layl
“Demons and outer beings just have a huge resistance to magic because of their magical natures.”
“A simple detect magic spell would make them glow like a lighthouse beacon on a clear night!”
“This is not the case here.”
“This is not just extremely high magical resistance, this is something else.”
“It was as if, for him, that magic simply did not exist!”
“As if we were just throwing mere pretty dreams at him!”
“And what sort of thing has such an ability?” Asked the Cardinal.
“Nothing! Sir!” said Layl
“This is either something band new, or…”
“Or?” Prompted the Cardinal
“Or something very old!” Continued Layl
“Not before the written word old, Not old gods old, Not Trumivite old, But something that makes what they consider truly accident, only seem like a mere toddler to him.”
“For magic not to exist for him, he might predate the creation of any known magic itself!”
“In the body of a young boy!” said the Cardinal looking worried.
“What about the apparent immunity to any physical damage?” The Cardinal asked.
“I did not personally witness such an immunity although the information seems reliable,” replied Layl
“Chances are that the only thing that can harm this being is itself, but that has not been fully tested yet,”
The Cardinals mood seemed to get darker as he said,
“But the village did indeed see, and the entire local populace now knows that a unit of imperial Battel Mages could not scratch a young boy,”
“A boy who simply seemed to ignore them all! Not even considering them worth attacking back.”
“Rumours vary, but the current favourite is that the Satites can create a super-powered agent that our once-mighty empire is helpless against” Continued the Cardinal as his sifted through report papers.
A side door opened and four men, who were imperial Monks, brought a large chest in, then left.
“Open the chest” commanded the Cardinal
Layl did what he was told.
Layl looked inside.
“You do realise…” Said the Cardinal calmly.
“… That such rumours of us appearing so weak and helpless can Never leave this area!”
“I have always worried about the cowardly Satites sneaking into our borders and slaughtering one of our peaceful villages,” Said Layl
“But I am sure that when such an outrage does happen, the anger will unify our brave people to work harder against our enemies!” Layl continued grimly.
“This is a type of work you have done for your Empire before!” said the Cardinal
“And the Empire will be grateful for your service, in certain local matters, this one more time!”
“I know this will be difficult for you Layl”
“I know you have retired and made friends here for five years.”
“I know, that unlike before, you know the names and loves of these people”
“I know that this time, that they are not just total stranges”
“And the gratitude of our loving Empire shall reflect this”
“As unfortunate as this necessary action is,”
“Remember my son, that it is for the greater good!”
Layl felt the Cardinals gentle hand on his shoulder as he kept starring into the chest contents.
Inside the chest were bits of old uniforms and flags and scraps of cloth from the enemy Sunite Empire.
“Yes, Sir,” said Layl grimly.
Captain Mal Wear was shocked to find that when next saw Layl that Mal that he now had to salute him.
For Arch Battle, Mage Layl Tooker was now wearing the uniform of an Inqusitonal Colonel.
“Gather all your men into the barracks square Captain Mal” he ordered.
“Call for square muster!”
Captain Mal Wear’s blood ran cold.
Captain Mal Wear was not stupid.
Captain Mal wear knew that his men were not being gathered to together for a rousing speech.
He could see the Elite Inquesitonal Battle mages line every inch of the fire step and every inch of the wall around the edges of the muster square.
Their hands, on red wands.
All captains Mal’s men were enthusiastic local volunteers.
All the best local fighters that loved the Sunite empire!
The emphasis in that description was the word “Local”
“Captain Mal!” Barked the newly appointed Colonel Layl Tooker
“Either call the muster for your men from your present station or join them in the square!”
“Yes sir!” Said Captain Mal snapping to attention.
FLASHBACK
Six hours before the imperial inquisition troops attacked the Rouge’s peasant cottage…
Not long after all the bodies in the square had been cleared with being secretly and quickly being disposed of,
As well as many other bodies from some parts of the central village…
Medical Magic-User, Prof Enow Nil MG was awoken from his bed late at night by a fierce banging on his door.
Assuming it was a medical emergency he rushed to open it to see a pale and distraught Captain Mal.
“Help me!” he whispered!
“Whos Hurt? What do you need?” Said the Magical Doctor quickly getting his head into professional gear.
“Help me save as many as we can!” Whispered Mal in horror
“We will never save everyone,”
“There is not enough time!”
“But we must save whoever we can”
“Please” Beggged Mal!
- Writer
