4 Revealing the Darkness in Fate

Cassius stepped into the room the lady was staying in. The room smelled of herbs and incense. Something brushed his leg, looking down to find a cat. Black in color with green eyes it purred and rubbed all over his right leg. He dared not move to not disturb the thing. The woman chuckled as she saw the predicament he was in.

"I see you got caught in my special cat spell," she laughed. "Jade come here darling," the cat looked up at Cassius and then away to return to the woman. "She likes you, she normally stays away from humans, must be something special." He looked at her confused. But she dropped her hands in a dismissive manner, "Oh don't listen to me, I'm just rambling. Been a while since I've had a guest."

He took a step forward and looked about, "what a lovely place you got here. Complements to the decorator," Cassius smiled and bowed, "So what can I do for you ma'am?" He held his bag over his shoulder, though the woman told him to set it down. Not denying her, he did so, then took a seat as requested by her.

"Well, you are my guest for tonight and I think I should at least provide you with a meal." She walked over to a indoor fireplace. With a few strokes of some flint and steel she got it to light. Standing in the light, her clothing was more visible. She wore a green common dress, leather satchel around her shoulder, and brown boots. Nothing about her seemed off about the whole situation. Not even any sense of evil detected. She just seemed like an innocent woman.

She walked over to a shelf, pulling out a linen wrap then unraveling it to reveal some preserved meat. Setting it on a pan and letting it begin to sizzle. She walked about the kitchen pulling spices and ingredients to make a stew. Cassius looked about the room, nothing really standing out to him. Sitting down at the table, he would watch as Jade would glide like a shifting shadow along the wall. He wasn't exactly sure what she meant by that he was special. He had always been good with animals, even as a young boy.

He would recall working at a horse range where he grew up. A small town outside the major cities and the lord of the region's castle. He worked as a stable hand for and raise horses for the royal family. Cassius remembered the scent of hay on his chest and the smell of freshly groomed mares. It brought him a small moment of peace, knowing he had been raised around animals. The horses always listened to his words, even the family dog. He would raise the horses and get them trained up for knights, nobles, and the common merchant. Though even now, he wondered why they would listen so attentively when he spoke. He knew no magic, no teacher to teach him such ways, nor the church who later took him in.

Then he would feel a twinge of pain, like a nail being driven into his mind, "Ah... damn it..." The woman came from around the counter and knelt down next to Cassius. Placing a hand on his cheek and looking into his eyes.

"Is something troubling you?" Then she realized what she did, "Goodness forgive me," Cassius waved a hand dismissing her accidental touching of him. She would look at him and notice him place a hand on his head. "Let me get you a cut of ice," She walked to a hatch in the floorboards and pulled it open. Scooping a block of ice from the storage area, she would take a hammer and pick to break a piece off. Shoving the larger chunk back into the box, she would wrap the rest in linen. "Here, set this on your head." She would hand him the ice wrap and let him rest it on his temple.

"Thank you... Well I haven't gotten your name yet." He chuckled then hissed as his head throbbed. She had walked back over to the kitchen and would be finishing up the prep and setting things aside to finish cooking.

"That I didn't give, my name is Cassandra Fatesong." She would bow then take a seat across from him. "So, you are a paladin from the church of Rymnarian correct?" He would nod, allowing her to continue, "What brings you to Etinmire?" He would tell her that he was requested to return to Strombrand and is just passing through. "I see, then mind if I ask you something?"

He nodded, "Sure, fire away." As he leaned back into the chair and adjusted the ice pack. The throbbing subsiding a bit from the ice. She was a quick thinker, he would give her that much. She reached into a bag and pulled out an object, spherical in nature and transparent. She set up a stand for the sphere and placed it down on the table.

"I am able to see into the many paths a person may take, or where their fate will lead them." She waves her hands over the orb and it begins to cloud. Cassius understood divination magic could be used to see the future in some regard, but its not always accurate. So he decided to allow her to foretell his future. She closes her eyes and inhales slowly, taking a moment to let the clouds within the orb to slow and settle.

She lets out a low sigh, "Oh my, I see your past is clouded by a thick fog. Whatever happened, you had no control over it, the church took you from your home. Leaving behind flames and darkened bodies. However, then it shows light, like that of a pure ray of sunshine. Like your past was overwritten, or that you had forgotten it." The clouds had shown everything in a colored smoke to represent everything she was depicting. "Your present holds a grand importance in your life. Someone you love, will be... oh seems I shouldn't say, surprises are best for that. But you will love your wed..." She froze as the clouds were about to show a scene of Sarah happily smiling. But then it shifted to blackened clouds.

Something was wrong as Cassandra was sweating from whatever she was seeing. Cassius asked what she saw and she just swallowed. In the orb, he could see a scene of a graveyard, bodies on the ground covered in red mist. The clouds then shifted to a person sitting over another body and what looked like weeping. Shifting again, to reveal a skull with glowing blue eyes had appeared. It didn't have a face, but something seemed off as it was looking right at Cassius. It turned its head and swirled back into the clouds. Revealing words that appeared in its place:

The dark always watches,

Free yourself from the bonds that hold you,

Face death head on, overcome it, and become its master,

Take up your mantle to change fate to save this world,

DO NOT TRUST THE GODS... Cassius

Then he could feel the medallion he had starting to burn, giving him a headache. He could feel as if there was something crawling up his spine. As if the shadows had eyes and fingers trying to drag him in. As Cassius stood, he shook the table causing the orb to roll out of place. He reached over and caught the orb. For the briefest of moments, he could hear something in the back of his mind.

"Come nightfall, ready your sword." Then it faded, as his headache dispersed. It was as if the voice was trying to reach him, but was being blocked. Cassius looked at Cassandra who blinked and held her own head. He placed the orb back on its pedestal, kneeling and placing a hand on her. She flinched and looked at Cassius with fear in her eyes, until she saw his gentle face of concern. With teary eyes she started apologizing.

"I am sorry Cassius, I am so so sorry... You don't deserve such pain. Please, go and ride to Strombrand." She clutched his clothes, "You don't have much time, please. Y-you will find the truth," She began to sob again. Setting her back in her chair he grabbed his bag and hurried down the stairs. Not realizing how late it was, he could just barely see the orange sky over the canopy. Running down the stairs and catching Brom scrubbing a table near the door.

"What is the rush? Forgot something my lord?" Cassius shook his head, as he almost ran into the dwarf from earlier. Garduke stood there looking up at Cassius in full gear like he was ready for combat. Brom looked at Cassius, "Sir, are you leaving? Did you get some urgent message," he placed a hand on his beard, "even though nothing came through."

Garduke tapped Cassius' waste, "More looks like the lad just got news of somethin' dire. Mind if I accompany ye? I gots my own business askin', but I thought ye'd be leavin' tomorrow. Still wobbly from earlier," he gave Cassius a crooked smile, "lets just say its my debt to ye for paying two platinums for my boys." He turns to walk out the door, Cassius didn't have time to argue, nor would Garduke back down. He knew dwarves would never go back on their word. The whole, "on our honor as dwarves," saying would never sway them from their decision.

Cassius looked to Brom who nodded, "Go, I'll hold onto the pieces and repay you whenever you pass by. Stay safe lad," Cassius returned the nod and pushed open the door. His pace quickened into a jog as he ran to the chapel. Seeing an acolyte there he grabbed the scrawny man and told him to recover his gear and horse. The man turned, hurrying to get Father David and his belongings. Cassius stood there as Garduke rode up on a large dog.

"Whoa there Scraps, easy boy!" The dog panted, looking ready to go for a run, however laid down for Garduke. With a few pats Garduke turned to Cassius, "What, never saw a war dog before? Don't ye worry, Scraps 'ere can keep pace with yer horses." He dismounted and stood next to Cassius, "Ye know, yer taller than most humans than I know. Strong too, must be that whole holy light stuff ye got in your body er somethin'." Father David and a few other acolytes came to greet them. Two acolytes carrying his armor and sword, while Father David and another acolyte directed his horse.

"Sir Paladin, you have requested your belongings and we have brought them. What seems to be the emergency?" Father David asked, a puzzled look on his face. Cassius didn't exactly have time to explain, so he decided to go with something believable.

"I have just got word to return with haste, I can't stop and rest as I would have liked." His stomach growls a little, which he sighs internally at. The Father looked to his acolytes and gestured for them to help get on Cassius' armor. "Thank you Father, I will let the Bishop know you are doing Rymnarian's work with great devotion and praise." Father David just smiled and bowed, thanking Cassius for the words. As the acolytes helped Cassius into his armor, he hooked his blade to the side of the horse. Stepping up into the stirrup then throwing his legs and body over the saddle he sat high. Garduke also mounted up with a bit of a huff.

The acolytes were a little confused why a dwarf was with Cassius but didn't bother questioning it. Cassius thanked the Father one last time as he kicked the horse's sides to get it moving. "Hiya!" He cried out as the horse flew forward, Garduke and Scraps tailing them at a breakneck speed. Seeing the orange sky turning red and slowly fading to darkness. If the voice in his head wasn't an imagination, then he need to be ready for anything.

"Garduke, draw your weapon, we may have company shortly..." the dwarf just laughed and drew two hammers. He didn't seem to ask how he would know it, but Cassius was happy to have someone backing him up. They were blazing through the forest, the stomping of hooves and paws in the muddy road echoed in the trees. The quiet night only made him even more uneasy, for the breath of the animals could be seen as it grew darker. Almost like an unsettling chill encompassed them.

Cassius let his senses flush out as they were running. His senses caught the feeling of an encroaching hands were closing in, as if evil was all around them. He knew the Sylians never gave off such a presence for they were hard to read, like they were surrounded by a fog. He looked up to the sky and watched as the clouds darkened, the sun having finally disappeared. In a flash, something leapt out in front of Cassius and Garduke. A ghoul, a decrepit creature who starved to death and feasted on mortal flesh upon being revived by dark magic. Drawing his sword as he ran up to it, the blade twisted in his hand and raising it to the sky, as light flashed from his blade.

"Light guide our path through the darkness!" It worked, causing the ghoul to cover it's face, it's flesh burning in the light, then it vanished in the bushes. But as Cassius cast that holy magic he felt a sudden pain in his chest. Nothing had touched him, but it was more like he could feel his insides burning up. He opened a lantern and lit it with a switch, causing it to spark and light the wick inside. The surrounding area lit up as dark red eyes had been following them.

Skeletons and zombies seemed to crawl out from the ground ahead of them and behind them. The sense of evil surrounding Cassius was immense, like he was being drowned in it and couldn't breathe. Garduke roared as he slapped his hammer against a skeleton's head, knocking it free from the neck. Launching it right into the face of a zombie, he cheered and kept slapping heads with his hammers. He seemed to be enjoying the danger more than he should have.

"Come 'ere ye dirty bones and fleshy body bags! Come face the all furious Wildhammer!" As Scraps howled, they rushed ahead of Cassius and started taking down more and more undead. Causing Cassius' horse to trample bones and rotting flesh along the path. Garduke swinging his hammers like a madman with the most excited grin on his face. Cassius saw a ghoul leap out of a tree at Garduke, with a quick urging of his mount he manged to gut the monster with his sword.

The undead horde had quickly risen and were slowly chasing them, with their fast pace only the ghouls could keep pace. However up ahead of them a massive wall of undead seemed to have been risen. Garduke slapped the chest of a zombie, causing it's body to crumple and break under the force of the swing. Noticing the swarm he lowered his hammers briefly and came back to Cassius' side.

"Lad, there be too many of them! Use some of yer holy magic to break through them!" Cassius felt the pain still in his chest, cutting down ghouls and still rising skeletons and zombies. He held out his sword and concentrated, feeling out the magic within him and brought out the holy symbol of Rymnarian.

"Light, pierce the darkness and guide us out of the hell that befalls us. Shatter the veil with your piercing gaze and allow us to break free from the wall of death." The medallion's eyes began to light up, slowly a cone of golden light began to cover the tip of his blade. "Grant me the power to defeat this foe and grant me the strength to overcome this threat." The golden light spread more and more down the blade. But then the eyes on the blade were growing dim, like the light was being stripped away. The cone receding back into the nothingness it came from. Cassius panicked, suddenly it felt like he was as heavy as stone. He saw the wall of skeletons approaching fast. He had to do something or they would never make it out of there alive.

He closed his eyes, "Please... I need the power to survive... We will die, I won't see my wife, I will have failed the church, failed myself." He couldn't feel anything, like he suddenly entered a void. Not able to sense the evil coming from the dead, nor any form of life.

Opening his eyes he found himself in a shroud of darkness. Not a visible light except his own body. There was no sound, except for his own heartbeat. No one was around him, nothing except the blackness of wherever he was. Until he could hear the faint whispers of cries for help, things screaming of pain. He didn't understand what he was hearing, but he could feel it. Then, a voice appeared in his mind.

"Use it... Draw out their suffering..." It was a cool voice, like that of a winter breeze and chilled him down to his soul. It spoke again, "Free them from the torment... Take their pain away..." Cassius spun around looking for the individual speaking but saw no one. "You will die... unless you draw on them... They will listen if you call out to them..." Cassius didn't understand what he was hearing. Then the sound of metal stepping nearby. Turning to face the individual who finally decided to show himself. But it wasn't a person, but... walking armor. Blazing a blue light with a twisted blade and eyes of pure emptiness. The being outstretched it's blackened hand and it's voice, now clear, sounded like it echoed.

"Cassius... Mourn... call out to them, destroy the foe before you." Cassius' vision returned and he held out his hand. The mass of undead so close that they were about to crash into their pointed spears. For that moment before impact, everything seemed to slow. He could feel his mouth move without his command. Feeling magic being sapped from his body as a spell was cast. A dark purple energy swirled out of his hand. He whispered to the wind of the night.

"Crumble to dust, return to the valley of souls..." The skeletons didn't seem to move or budge, their spears still pointed at Cassius and Garduke. Just before impact, the skeletons collapsed, the light in their eye sockets vanished. All of them crumbling, turning to ash to whatever Cassius did. The mass vanished away, but from the feeling of the magic, Cassius knew it wasn't anything radiant by its nature. He didn't have any more time to think on that before his eyes grew dark as he had drained whatever power he drew on. Hearing the distant cries of Garduke as his body slumped in the saddle.

The last thing he saw was some figure standing in the distance, looking over on a hill. Silhouetted by the last remaining light that crested the hill. Then, the world vanished into a sea of black hearing a few words before he was gone.

"The seed has grown..."