035 Those Who Watch the Sky - 35
35 – Children Seeking Their Own Sky 2
Where Elliot’s cleansing ceremony had become something the
likes of which none in Foothold could comprehend, Link’s was anything but
spectacular. Lacking Elliot’s flair for ceremony and the faith he had developed
in Cardinal, Link simply sat on her knees and was bored by the whole ceremony.
When called to look up upon the Light of Cardinal, Link felt nothing of any
kind from the golden light that appeared above her. Disappointment however was
a feeling that soon spread throughout the entire chapel as the light fell from
between the scepter heads of the priests and vanished long before it reached
Link.
“That wasn’t good, was it?”
Link blinked blankly as she looked at the empty space
between the scepters and let out a nervous little laugh to try to break the
tension. Her efforts were in vain as the priests simply shook their heads and
one of them placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry child, but it would seem that her Eminence has
not deemed you worthy. Fear not though, we will assure that you will live out
what time you have left in comfort. We are not so cruel as to simply strip a
child of Icarus of what life they have left.”
“I think you’re being a little dramatic. Just because you
couldn’t do anything doesn’t mean that my life is over. I’m sure I–”
Rising to her feet Link did not finish her thought as the
soldiers present all leveled their spears at her. The priest who had placed his
hand on her shoulder hung his head sadly but he was not the one who spoke next.
That honor belonged to a tall, middle aged, wiry icaran man of pale complexion with
short dark hair above a long face with beady eyes hidden behind a pair of round
glasses. Garbed in a white long coat that resembled a well fitted jacket merged
with a priest’s cassock the man was obviously of the clergy as marked by the
tri-cross that hung from around his neck. He also seemed to be in charge as
everyone looked to him as he spoke. Link did not trust him however as she had
not noticed him enter and he did not seem to have a reason to be there for her
cleansing ceremony.
“I am sure you believe yourself invincible, it is a common
misconception of children such as yourself.”
“No, your condescending tone is the result of you making
assumptions about me. I already know that my infection isn’t normal and since
you couldn’t help me that means I’ll just have to hunt down Hazel Sycamore
instead.”
Leveling the wiry man with a defiant look Link failed to
understand her situation. With numerous soldiers leveling spears on her in some
isolated chapel in an underground labyrinth and her sword long since removed
from her possession she was in no position to take any action. The wiry man
understood Link’s situation far more than she did and he unfolded his arms
enough to press the fingers of his left hand into his forehead.
“Perhaps I should educate you to the nature of your
situation child. Whether you desire it or not you will be subject to our
hospitality because of Hazel Sycamore and the unknown nature of your infection.
We can not in good conscious allow you to wander freely across the face of
Icarus in your condition. Perhaps though you will prove to be one of the few
who has the strength of will to stand without her Eminence’s light. Even then I
am afraid you will spend the rest of you days within our care should we fail to
discern the nature of the infection of Hazel Sycamore’s making. Though perhaps
you will be fortunate enough to be a valuable experiment and he will come to
you to check on the progress of his work.”
“You can’t keep me here forever.”
With a heavy sigh the wiry man turned his back on Link and
made to leave the chapel. As he departed, he reminded Link again of her
situation.
“You are in the heart of a bastion of the Cardinal Church.
We are the ones who give most Sa·B·ers the means to be Sa·B·ers. A simple
infected girl such as you are of little consequence to us. Yet if you are to
curse your fate then blame Sycamore.”
“My friends won’t let this stand. They’ll come to my rescue
if I can’t get out on my own.”
“I would not place your faith in so fragile of bonds. Even
then, your friends would be unwise to challenge the Cardinal Church should
their fates be kinder than yours. We give the world stability and keep mankind
from angering the Foreigners and welcoming their annihilation. What message
would it send the people if the light that saves them were to come under attack
by those who are so saved? However, I doubt that your friends will remember you
in time as anything more than a fond memory. It is common practice after all to
have Sa·B·ers head out immediately to prove their worth and ability.
“That won’t be necessary,
the lil’ mouse has already been placed in my care.”
“Boulder Shrew, I do not believe you were called to take
any Sa·B·ers under you wing.”
“T’s ‘cause I wasn’t tasked by the clergy or militia.”
The scene playing out before Melody was every bit as
abstract to her as the cleansing ceremony and everything else that followed. The
ceremony itself she was told was successful after the light summoned by the clerics
had passed through her and into the chapel floor. She didn’t see how it helped
her in anyway, though it did leave her feeling tingly. Regardless she was led
from the chapel through the labyrinth with no one answering her questions about
her companions until an elevator had taken her into a hallway with white
plaster walls above a dark wood wainscoting. Dull electric lighting provided
visibility and she was led silently down this hall past several doors and
around numerous corners until she was led into a small waiting room. Several people
of numerous races from icaran and nāti to any mixture of chimeric races
possessed of any number of animal features waited within. Their order of
arrival and appointment meant little to the cream armored soldiers who escorted
Melody and they approached the reception desk where two nuns in white habits
were sifting through paperwork and listening to a small radio hidden behind the
wall of their desk. Interrupting the nuns, the soldiers declared that Melody was
cleansed and ready to receive an assignment. It was at that point that a large chimeric
man of dusky skin with a pig-faced head of a bull and a body at once powerfully
muscular and distastefully rotund and engorged had interrupted.
Sauntering up to the nuns’ desk Boulder Shrew reached into the
duster draped around his impressive girth and shuffled about for something
within. As he did, he appeared to inadvertently sweep aside the coat and
revealed the sizable custom hand cannon hanging from his hip along with the tomahawks
from his belt. Melody did not believe he was being particularly subtle and
wondered about his intention as he looked down at her from well above due to
his greater than two-meter height and winked at her while holding a finger to
his lips to shush her. He only looked at Melody for a blink however and no one
else present seemed to be any wiser to his actions than a man fast asleep.
“Thar it is.”
Pulling out a small slip of paper from his duster Boulder
Shrew with a grace that seemed unfitting of his size placed it on the desk
between him and the nuns. Sliding it forward ever so much he offered the nuns a
smile and winked at the soldiers. Lifting his hand to hide his conversation with
the soldiers from the nuns he winked at them as he spoke.
“Yer job’s all dun now boys. Business needs and all have
put your lil’ mouse in my hands now.”
“Curious that Choir would be interested in so unremarkable
a Sa·B·er.”
“Don’ say that aloud Sister. They like to keep their business
on the down low if you get my meanin’.”
Shifting his girth so that he leaned on the desk with his
elbows Boulder Shrew chastised the nuns for their callousness. The nuns did not
seem impressed by the playful nature of Boulder Shrew however and casually lit
a match and took the flame to the corner of the slip of paper he had handed
them. Boulder Shrew was not quite done with them though and smiled toothily in
an attempt to keep the mood light.
“If you really must know what’s goin’ on, I advise you have
a word with that Choir agent skulkin’ about of late. What’s his name again,
Bird or something to that extent. I wasn’ really payin’ all that much attention
when he slipped me that lil’ scrap and asked me to take any or all of a certain
group of three that finally emerged from these parts. ‘Ave to admit I was ‘alf
expecting the pretty boy he mentioned. Didn’t expect I’d get the mouse.”
“I’m not a mouse!”
“You are fer now Mouse. And me; I’m Boulder Shrew but you
can call me one or the other. Seein’ how thin’s are though I think Boulder
works quite well fer now.”
Corrected by Melody who finally determined that he was
talking about her, Boulder pulled his attention off of the nuns and looked down
at the harpy again. Though he gave her no say in what he called her his tone
was purely amicable as he talked to her if not a little playful. There was no
questioning he was particularly sly however as he glanced back behind him at the
nuns.
“So, are we dun then Sister?”
The nun who had ignited the paper waited until it was no
longer safe to hold it and released it allowing the flames to disappear with the
slip before answering Boulder. Looking up at the chimeric man she stayed curt
and consequently spoke with no concern in her voice.
“She is in your care now Boulder Shrew, though I remind you
that though she has been deemed worthy of receiving her Eminence’s light that she
is still but a newly cleansed Sa·b·er. …And looking at her likely still a child
in mind as well as body.”
“You’ve nothin’ to fret about Sister.”
Hearing what he wanted to hear Boulder stepped away from
the desk and spun about, placing his massive hand protectively on Melody’s
back. There was a greasiness to him that made Melody’s skin crawl but the strength
and kindness along with the warning that was conveyed through the hand that easily
cupped her entire back from shoulder to shoulder caused her instincts to lock
her in place. Receiving no resistance from Melody, Boulder flashed the nuns a toothy
smile.
“I can assure you the lil’ mouse is safe with me.”
Sometime after Boulder had led Melody from the grounds of the
Cardinal Church apex the wiry man who had informed Link of her fate sat at a
desk in a massive empty room with concrete walls and two massive air fans in the
wall above and behind him. His elbows rested on the desk and his chin on his
interlaced fingers, a thoughtful expression on his face as a soldier in cream
colored armor relayed the Boulder Shrew scenario to him.
“Your orders Lord Bishop.”
“Leave them be for now. We will observe them as necessary
but interfering with them is unadvisable. As long as Bird draws breath we can
not openly act against him. However, as his investigation into how the Sycamore
cursed girl activated the dam and Dolmen progresses we will assist him as
necessary, if only to distract him. If need be, we will distract him with the
boy. To think that her Eminence would appear before so innocuous a child. Why
now I wonder?”
“Perhaps the beast Lord Bishop. From what I understand it
is not a Foreigner beast despite all appearances.”
“Is that so? Hmm… Then it is likely that Bird has already
planned his next move. His presence has been troublesome enough, but it will
likely become even more so for as long as we possess the Sycamore cursed girl.
Such a shame she came to us while he was present. It matters not however. We will
learn from her corpse if must be and none of Bird’s concerns for these children
ending up in our affairs will save her if it means bringing us closer to her
Eminence and the Light of Hope.”
Copyright © 2019 Joshua D Tarwater
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