Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Maxwell, Raven, this is Friar Brown, I said, still reeling from the sudden shifting of events. Brown, these are my friends, Maxwell and Raven.

The serious frown darkening Friar Browns face, which seemed completely out of place on the normally jovial man, faded and he smiled. Ezekiel, it is good to see you again, and it is quite nice to meet your friends. I have heard some interesting things about you.

By the fact that you saved my life instead of letting him end it, Im assuming youre not here to fix your mistake of letting me go, I said, holding out my hand.

Brown shook it. Far from it. I met a friend of yours, someone who is a kind of disciple of my own. She told me a wild story about you attacking and killing a good priest who was just doing his job.

That bastard deserved it! Raven huffed. He made Ezekiel do terrible things.

Ah, the werecat. Friar Brown turned to Raven. Your kind is often misunderstood, especially when aligned with people like Ezekiel. I know you have your role in this world. Friar Brown nodded. Yes, Father Mathis was not the person Rhea thought he was.

So, is Rhea, all that I looked out to where the disturbance in the camp had already settled down. Whatever the fight had been, itd been one-sided.

Indeed. Friar Brown stepped to the edge of the pergola, where he sat down, swinging his legs over the edge. Maxwell, Raven, and I joined him. She came and found me after she found something that made her question everything. I think you know what Im talking about, she said you were there.

We sure were, Maxwell snorted. She would have been screwed without us.

So she says, Friar Brown agreed. When she tracked me down, I couldnt quite believe the story she told. From there we did some investigating. I figured you were safe. These marshes are known to be treacherous, though I had faith in your ability.

Yeah, as it turns out this was a ziggurat, as you can see. I patted the pergola. It was the source of the blood magic, with a terrible forge deep underneath. I assure you it has been dealt with quite thoroughly. I dont know what the asshole was looking for here, but if it was that terrible forge, well, it will never serve that purpose again.

We shall have to discuss this later, Friar Brown said. Unfortunately, I do know what he was looking for. Through a lot of digging in a hidden archive that we found, based on information gathered from where you first encountered the strange beings, I have uncovered some very disconcerting information.

Like what? I asked.

We should wait until Rhea joins us. While we do, tell me about everything that led you to this point.

Though Friar Brown wasnt a close friend, I knew he was someone I could trust. And lying to him would never work. I told him my story, picking up at where I left him and headed for Omark. My recounting of the slaughter of the demon-ling village had a frown clouding Friar Browns face, but he did not interrupt.

I know Ive killed a lot of people, I said, having glossed over the portions about the forge since we would no doubt be visiting it later. But I hold no regrets. When it came down to it, it was me or them, and I have every right to exist as anyone else.

Friar Brown was quiet for a long moment, then he nodded. You of course are right. It speaks volumes that Ekwin personally recruited you into the Order of Equinox. Even if that were not the case, it appears to me that while you are a form of evil, you are no more evil than a wolf killing sheep. Whether or not you are evil depends on the perspective. No doubt from your perspective Olattee is the true evil, at least the portion of it that has been chasing you.

I wont call Olattee evil, at least not the religion, I said. There are good people in it, people like you and Rhea, but theres also a lot of bad. Based on the claims Ive heard, should they prove correct, then I have some serious questions about the god you follow.

Friar Brown let out a long sigh. You and me both.

I looked at him in surprise. I was about to say something when my attention was drawn to the base of the ziggurat, where two figures climbed the stairs. I recognized them both, one was Rhea and the other was Tyler. Raven saw Tyler and hissed.

I placed a hand on her shoulder. Easy, I wont let him hurt you.

I didnt believe they ever actually managed to hurt the three of you, Friar Brown said in confusion.

We can only walk the path laid before us, Rhea agreed. No matter she winced looking at me, whether or not other people will see us as heretics.

I kept the smug smile off my face. Whats next then? What brought you here in the first place?

I would like to see the forge and the archives, Friar Brown said. As to what brought us here, once we heard what had been found here, we realized where you had gone and what Theonis was likely after. This particular ziggurat was one of the more important ones that we missed, or what I now suspect was purposefully kept from us.

We also need to make sure that the knowledge is either destroyed, or this place is so heavily defended that they will never get it, Rhea said.

I dont know that you can actually destroy it, I said. This is now an instanced dungeon. True destruction of anything inside is rather difficult.

Are you not the master? Friar Brown asked. Would you not be able to destroy it?

Possibly, I said. I dont know how well you understand what these places are, but they break a lot of rules about how the world should work. Yes, Im the master, but the dungeon in a way has a life of its own.

I have heard such things before, Friar Brown said. Well, if we cannot remove the information, we shall help make it so this place is impervious. Can you take us to the forge?

I was just turning to the door to lead the way when Vito was standing there. His dark red blade was raised, and he wore pitch-black armor with a closed faceplate shaped to look like a dragon. My lord, step away, Vito snarled, his sword pointed straight at Friar Brown.

I was thankful I recognized his armor. Wait, Vito, this is Friar Brown, he is not our enemy.

I felt power coursing into your phylactery and knew you were in trouble from some despicable priest. The anger in his voice made his words sharp.

This is not the one who was attacking me, I tried to assure Vito. In fact, he saved me.

Those words reached him, and after a moment he lowered his sword. Vito was powerful, and hed only grown in strength since Id been resurrected as a Lich. Still, I doubted he could take on Friar Brown. The fight wouldve been spectacular for sure, but Friar Brown was quite a bit stronger than even I had been.

Hes a vampire, Rhea hissed, summoning magic to her staff.

Before anything could escalate further, Friar Brown grabbed her and threw her to the ground. Think before you act, he scolded and then turned to Vito. Peace, vampire, we are not here as your enemies but your allies.

To my surprise, Friar Brown laid his staff on the ground.

In response, Vito sheathed his sword and took off his helmet. You speak truth when you say this is Friar Brown? he asked me stiffly. When I nodded, Vito gave Friar Brown a short bow. Then I apologize. You deserve my thanks not my scorn. Youve saved my master twice now.

Rhea got to her feet with a thunderous expression. I get Ezekiel, but he is a vampire.

Who wouldve killed you in the next instant if Friar Brown had not stopped you, Vito snapped. Listen to your better, and think before you act. A mouse should not threaten the dragon.

He is right, Friar Brown said. Besides, the way Ezekiel is talking to him, this is clearly one of his allies.

Rhea smoothed her ruffled red hair before she sunnily lowered her head. You have my apologies, she ground out.

You know, if I could grow gray hair here, Im pretty sure these last few minutes wouldve made me go gray, Maxwell said.