038 Those Who Watch the Sky - 38
38 – Children Seeking Their Own Sky 5
Elliot’s tenday since the cleansing ceremony was a very different
experience from Melody and far more structured. His visitation from Cardinal had
made him a person of great importance to the Cardinal Church, even if knowledge
of his existence had not spread beyond the cathedral of Foothold, his days
revolved around the education curriculum of the church militia. Combat training
and doctrine danced to together in zealous harmony with him constantly being
attended to by some member of the clergy or another, be it deacons, nuns, or
even the occasional priest. It was overwhelming yet structured which made the call
to the bishop’s office a most unusual occurrence.
Making his way through the parapets of the main cathedral
Elliot was bathed in the light of the setting sun as he left the dorms. That
light should not have followed him down into the underground labyrinth of Foothold
but as he reached the antechamber of the bishop’s office a complex mirror
system flooded the bare concrete room in the orange glow. So deep underground
however the effect was unsettling to Elliot. He was not given time to dwell on
it however as the white robed and cream armored guards soon invited him into the
office proper where the presence of the bishop flanked by Bird and the little
old man who Melody had met earlier that day was even more unsettling.
“Kneel Sa·B·er and offer your respects to His Most Reverend
Excellency, Lord Bishop Verdant Yewroot of the City of Foothold.”
Following the command of the soldier Elliot kneeled down
and freed his sword from its sheath, secured to his left hip by the sword belt
that was integrated into the black long coat he wore without disrupting the look
of the cassock inspired garment. With the sword freed he stood it before himself
and bowed his head before greeting the bishop appearing as a priest who was at
once a knight.
“It is my honor to heed your summons, Your Excellency Lord
Bishop.”
“Rise child, there is no need for you to kneel before me,
not her Eminence’s Knight Prince. How it would disrupt the order of the Cardinal
Church should the man who has been graced with her divine presence kneel
before a lowly bishop.”
“Snrkt–”
Bird was hard pressed to keep himself from laughing but the
Bishop paid him no heed as he rose from his desk in time to Elliot’s return to
his feet. As Elliot returned his sword to its scabbard and the guards stepped
out of the office the bishop walked around his desk to his left where the little
old man stood. To his surprise the little old man did not seek confirmation of
Elliot’s identity or even enthusiasm at seeing him and with a puzzled look he
glanced back at him. He had a stern and studious look on his face and was
clearly looking directly at Elliot as he held his jaw and stroked his mustache with
his thumb and forefinger. What the bishop had missed however was what had
caught the little old man’s eye was Elliot’s sword. Unaware of the old man’s focus
the bishop made a simple mental note of it before returning his attention to
Elliot. Spreading his arms out openly at waist height he greeted Elliot with a
smile as he stood front and center before his desk.
“Please, accept my sincerest apologies for not meeting with
you immediately Knight Prince Silverlance. My negligence of your holiness is
uncouth and misrepresentative of my position and ordained duties.”
“Snrkt–!”
Again Bird had to contain his
laughter and again he was ignored by the bishop. Elliot was not so lenient
however and his eyes settled coolly upon the Choir Agent.
“Forgive me for speaking out of
turn Your Excellency Lord Bishop, but I can not ignore the Choir agent’s
disrespect. Is there something perhaps that you find amusing agent?”
“Wow has the boy changed since I
brought you into the city. You must have been really touched by Lady Cardinal
something fierce.”
Elliot clicked his tongue but
held his ground as Bird so casually stated the name of the patron saint of the Cardinal
Church. His following retort though never had a chance to take form as the bishop
gently patted the air to calm him and Bird.
“It is most alright Knight
Prince. Agent Yuri and I have a long enough history together for me to be forgiving
of his ways. You may find his impertinence difficult to forgive but that is
merely a matter of the little time you have spent in her Eminence’s ways. In
time you to will be able to forgive him his transgressions.”
“As you say Your Excellency Lord
Bishop. My apologies for my conduct.”
“It is fine child. Still, we
should proceed with the gathering of this triumvirate. Allow me to begin by
introducing this man to my left.”
Turning as he spoke the bishop
raised his left hand as he introduced the old man who had yet to take his eyes
off of Elliot.
“Gracing our city with his
knowledge and keen intellect is the most renowned researcher of Ambrosia, the Ancients,
and the Foreigners of our time, Sorcerer Balgun.”
“A sorcerer⁈”
Verbalizing his surprise at the presence
of a man obviously not involved with the church Elliot realized what he did.
His eyes widening with embarrassment and audibly gasping at his mistake Elliot
stiffly and hurriedly corrected himself.
“My apologies master sorcerer. I
did not mean to speak out so brazenly–”
“Balgun is fine and don’t worry
about your manners with me. That is except for one courtesy I would ask of you.”
“I would be honored to hear your
request Master Balgun.”
“You’ve really beaten this boy
into your mold already haven’t you?”
Balgun leveled the Bishop and
Bird both with a disapproving sidelong glance and received a shrug from Bird.
The Bishop had no bodily response and Balgun had no patience to hear what honied
words he came up with and returned his attention to Elliot. Crossing the room
Balgun did not release his jaw as he educated Elliot of the courtesy he desired
him to practice for him.
“I would hear your name from
your own lips boy. And none of your titles or fancy formality. Just your name
as you were named by your parents.”
“It’s- it’s Elliot Master
Balgun.”
“Elliot? Is that all. Were your
parents so unimportant that you would have no family name.”
“Ah- My apologies Master Balgun.
Elliot Cross. My name is Elliot Cross. I am third born son of the last mayor of
the town of Cross far to the west and north of Foothold.”
“Cross is it… Hmmm… Tell me
Elliot Cross, who is it that forged your sword. So custom a sword and perhaps one
that you are growing out of was obviously crafted especially for you. That you
hold onto it even when the church could have prepared you a better fitted sword–”
“I would never accept another
sword Master Balgun.”
A shrill whistle rose up from
Bird who was impressed to see Elliot break out of his formality to interrupt
Balgun. The Bishop merely frowned as Elliot’s attachment to Link was laid bare.
“This sword was forged for me by
my dearest and closest friend. It’s one of a pair with hers–”
“Hers?”
There was no hiding Balgun’s
surprise at the mention of a she, but Elliot did not hear him and continued on.
“–being the other. When I was
provided the opportunity to be armed again, I absolutely insisted that I have
my old sword returned to me. It’s the only sword I will ever wield as I only carry
a sword to support her dream. That her Eminence Lady Cardinal would deem it
worthy of also serving her and the world is an honor I never desired but accept
as she saved my closest friend and the least I can do is what her Eminence
requests of me. It is my hope that before long Link and I will be able to travel
the world together and I will be able to support her dream and uphold my duty
to her Eminence.”
“That is fine and all, but you
say that sword was forged by a she and one your age?”
“If you would allow me Master
Balgun.”
Speaking up the bishop drew
everyone’s attention onto himself. Looking back Balgun furrowed his brow.
“Do you believe the boy cannot
speak for himself?”
A sympathetic sadness fell over the
bishop and he hung his head and clasped his hands together. Sheepishly he
looked up at Balgun and Elliot.
“It is not so Master Balgun, but
hearing the Knight Prince speak so passionately tears at my heart. We have both
been so busy that this is as I have said our first meeting. As a result, he has
not yet heard what he must about the girl.”
“You’re Excellency Lord Bishop,
I don’t understand. Her Eminence Lady Cardinal has saved Link so what could be
so wrong.”
Again Elliot interrupted but
even Bird had nothing but pity weighing him down making it impossible to make
light of the situation. The atmosphere in the room left Elliot’s mouth dry and
his hands trembling. Swallowing loudly he intended to press for more
information but the bishop spoke first and dictated the flow of the
conversation.
“I understand how you must feel
Knight Prince Silverlance, but it would be best if you let me speak. It is imperative
that Master Balgun hear of the fate that has befallen the girl. The poor, poor
girl.”
Shaking his head the bishop directed
his attention to Balgun and continued.
“You see, she has nothing but
her friends and even before they lost their home that is all that she had. But
fate was not cruel enough to her already and she met with Sycamore after a life
as an engineering craftsman was opened up to her. She yearned for adventure and
he took a work of hers and experimented upon it for his own mad machinations.
When she was reunited with it after the destruction of their home it revealed
its true nature to her as a vessel for a waiting Foreigner parasite.”
“Hazel did that! Preposterous!
Are you sure she didn’t speak his brother’s name Bird! I could see Lewis doing
something of the ilk, but Hazel would never…”
“Wish I could tell you
differently Balgun, but the girl herself called out Hazel Sycamore specifically
when she arrived at Foothold. She made quite the scene invoking that name too.”
“I don’t understand… It doesn’t
make sense…”
Obviously flustered Balgun
turned back around and fiercely grabbed his jaw. The pieces weren’t fitting together
and he started mumbling to himself as he stared intently at the sword that hung
from Elliot’s waist.
“Hazel would especially never
hurt a child unless they were already turned by a Foreigner and he would surely
regret it. There is information that I am missing or maybe it was Lewis and he
was framing his brother due to Mote?”
“Mote?”
Elliot questioned the name that fell
from Balgun’s lips and the old man spoke not another word. He had his answer
and turned his attention on Elliot’s face. Elliot was unnerved by the intense stare
that scrutinized every ounce of his being and saw the recognition he had of the
name.
“Elliot was it?”
“Yes, Master Balgun…”
“Elliot, draw your sword for me.”
“Master Balgun?”
Lowering his voice to being
almost inaudible to even Elliot who stood before him Balgun looked softly and
earnestly at Elliot.
“You and I will likely want to become
friends my boy. So please, draw your sword.”
Elliot’s mouth fell open in
surprise but he quickly caught himself and put on an serious expression as he
drew his sword. Laying it flat across the palm of his left hand he knelt and
presented it to Balgun. Balgun looked past his own reflection staring back at
him in the finely polished blade and adjusted his spectacles.
“And you said this girl, Link
was it, forged this blade.”
“Yes Master Balgun.”
“And that Cardinal herself saved
her.”
“She answered my prayers that
day in the dam Master Balgun and gave me the strength to press on. I nearly
drowned in that strength, but Link was saved. She came back to us after we
almost completely lost her after slaying the beast we brought with us as proof
of our abilities.”
“The dam she turned on remotely?”
“The dam and Dolmen both using
her understanding of the flow of Nectar to accomplish.”
Spinning about suddenly Balgun
glared fiercely at the bishop and spoke with bellowing authority.
“Take me to this girl. Now.”
Copyright © 2019 Joshua D Tarwater
Comments
Post a Comment