044 Those Who Watch the Sky - 44
44 – Children thrust Into the Sky 2
“Well, what a way to say goodbye.
I should have never let myself get attached to Mouse, but I guess it is what it
is.”
The thunderous roar of fireworks
overhead and the crowds rushing in from beyond the alleyway drowned out Boulder’s
spoken musings. To the average person they would have also drowned out the sounds
of the icaran footsteps behind Boulder. Boulder was an experienced and skilled
Sa·B·er however and was far from unaware of his stalkers. Coming to a stop he
let out his own heavy sigh of the night.
“Ye two don’t need to hide from
me. We’re work partners after all.”
“Are we now. I wonder what you
think brother.”
Stepping out of the shadows
behind Boulder the red-haired mouser brother spoke both contemptuously and
mockingly. As his silver-haired brother stepped out of the shadow opposite him
he provided an equally malicious toned reply.
“No Lute. No, I don’t believe we
are.”
“Then ye two saw that little
exchange. Well saves me the trouble of having to waste time explainin’ it to ye.
If you don’t mind then, ol’ Boulder Shrew would like one last drink before he
turns in. I figure ye two will be fillin’ in His Holiness anyway so won’t hurt
anyone if I help myself to one more.”
“Drinking the way you partake is
so uncivilized. Little surprise I should believe.”
“Pan and Lute Mouser, I really
don’t see why ye’d trouble yourselves with a bottom scraper like me. I’ve been
pullin’ my weight as I always ‘ave.”
“Some how I disagree with that sentiment.”
The younger, red-haired,
brother, Lute Mouser, took a step forward and started swinging the massive
boomerang like blade he carried on his shoulder in a circular motion beside
himself. His silver-haired older brother, Pan Mouser, also took a step forward,
but his rifle butt saber stayed resting upon his shoulder. Boulder sighed and rested
his hands on his hips revealing the slightest signs of the tomahawks he kept
hidden within.
“Think what ye want Mouser, I at
least know I ain’t worth yer two’s time.”
“That is true.”
Pan’s agreement did not offer
Boulder any comfort and he sighed again. He did not get in the next word however
as Pan had not yet finished speaking.
“The problem, is that we take
pride in our work, and there has been an unfortunate lack of quality in tonight’s
proceedings.”
“Has there now. Ye two will have
to forgive me for not seeing what I coulda done back there. Fer all extents and
purposes Mouse was already an agent of Choir before Bird showed up. Even if I ‘ad
known there wasn’t anythin’ I coulda done but wish ‘er well. Even ye two can’t
do a thin’ about it now.”
“I wonder…”
Acting on instinct Boulder spun
to his left and tossed a tomahawk with his left hand at Lute while he drew his
hand cannon in his right and fired upon Pan. He was only successful at a third
of what he aimed to accomplish as he managed to avoid the spinning blade that
Lute had thrown. He was completely unsuccessful in counterattacking though as
Lute easily dodged the tomahawk and his shot went into the ground as Pan
brought his saber down upon his hand cannon. Bracing to throw Pan back, Boulder
simultaneously reached with his left hand for the tomahawk on his right hip but
stopped as he watched his hand travel forward without the rest of his arm. A
moment later he collapsed, his body bisected down the middle as Lute’s blade
returned to his hand. He would have no final words or see the Mouser brothers
looking down on him satisfied with their work. All that awaited Boulder from
then out was the disposal of his corpse, and that was carried out
unceremoniously by people who should not have been on the bishop’s payroll. As the
Mouser brother’s themselves were as well, they soon found themselves before the
bishop explaining what had happened.
Sitting at his desk with his
chin resting on his interlaced fingers the bishop remained emotionless as he processed
what the Mouser brothers told him. He was not as calm as he appeared however
and sought clarification.
“If I am understanding you
properly Sa·B·ers, the harpy girl is an official agent of Choir and that Bird
did not disclose any mission details to her. He simply told her that when it
was time she would be aware of her mission and know the appropriate course of
action.”
“That is correct Lord Bishop.
His only other orders were for her to hide herself until then. I doubt it would
be any trouble for brother and I to track her–”
“That will not be necessary.”
Cut off by the bishop, Lute frowned
but did not interrupt the bishop in turn.
“She is an agent of Choir. If
anything were to happen to her so soon after her appointment it would result in
a massive investigation by Choir that would end all of us.”
“Then what would you propose
Lord Bishop?”
Pan pulled on the long lock of
curled hair that hung beside his face and looked inquisitively down his nose at
the bishop. The bishop was already prepared for his next move however and was
glad to fill the Mouser brothers in on his scheme.
“This is obviously Bird
receiving support from Choir High Command and that paints the willingness of
them to authorize the Knight Prince in a suspicious light. It is likely that
they intend to retrieve the Knight Prince themselves and need Bird to be ready
to act. I have no problem surrendering him to Choir, but there is obviously
more going on here. If all they wanted was the Knight Prince then they could
have requested him when I contacted them. There would have been no need to
appoint the harpy girl as an agent. Providing her with that protection can only
mean that they or another power they are in agreement with desire to acquire the
Sycamore cursed girl. I will need to find a way to split up the three children
so as to divide Choir’s attention. I will need something sooner than later as
well as Sorcerer Balgun is likely to be finished with the Sycamore cursed girl
in no more time than before the Eyes of Icarus shut fast again. At that point it
will be too late to take action without giving away my intentions. If I could
fake the girl’s death it would be most convenient. I need simply to prepare an
appropriate scenario that would serve in my favor and delay Balgun. That will
not be a problem compared to the harpy girl becoming an unknown in which case I
invite you two to keep watch for her and distract her from any course of action
she could take.”
“A dull job, but considering you
believe that you can learn the knowledge of Sycamore by keeping the girl we are
glad to lend a hand for now. You have no complaints do you Lute.”
“No brother, merely a question.”
“Is there something wrong
Sa·B·er? And choose your words wisely, you are no less expendable to me than
the Sa·B·er you disposed of.”
Under the bishop’s harsh glare
and open threat Lute smiled awkwardly.
“Only about the Knight Prince,
Lord Bishop. Should he catch wind of the actions of Choir will he not become an
obstacle as well, even should you devise a means to be rid of him in a timely
matter?”
“You do not need to worry about the
Knight Prince. He is a simple boy who I shall have little difficulty keeping
uninvolved until I can be rid of him. For now Sa·B·ers, you need only tend to
being ready to receive our harpy problem until I have more orders for you.”
For all of his appearance of
control the bishop was anything but in control. He had no excuses to remove
Balgun from the research team studying Link, especially as his research was
revealing a possible connection between the tangible Nectar that protected Link
and reports from Athecia of similar beasts to the one brought from the dam that
were entering the world from Ambrosia. Balgun’s expertise was too valuable to
remove him from his post, so much so that even the cardinals who had somehow
found out what was happening insisted that he not be removed. The bishop could
feel his chance at greater power slipping through his fingertips. He could not
confirm that Elliot had been blessed with the Light of Hope from Cardinal and
needed access to Hazel Sycamore who was said to be closest to the woman who
last possessed it. To achieve that in any capacity he either needed to find him
or discover something from within Link. He was naturally feeling desperate when
but a four-day remained unto the Eyes of Icarus were once more closed and an
excited messenger burst into his office.
“Lord Bishop! I beg your
forgiveness for my intrusion, but this news is urgent!”
“I would pray so. Such an action
could have earned you death by the guards posted beyond those doors. That you
made it in here at all speaks to the strength your need to speak with me has
given you to bypass my guards. Now come, you are here and I would know why.”
“Ah–! Of course Lord Bishop.”
Welcomed by the bishop’s
soothing words the messenger approached his desk hurriedly. Pulling out an
unsealed envelope from off of their person the messenger handed it to the bishop
and continued speaking excitedly.
“We can’t say the exact timetable
due to the circumstances surrounding the retrieval of this information, but it would
seem that the city of Ibrand has become the resting place of a Foreigner city.
According to the message the survivors had become the slaves of scavengers who
had been tracking the city’s descent before they became the prisoners of an
army of bandit’s who sought the treasures of the city for themselves. The citizens
of Ibrand were only able to recently make contact with anyone after being
rescued by only two men.”
“I understand your excitement,
but as you delivered me a letter, do please allow me to read it.”
“My apologies Lord Bishop!”
The messenger nearly yelled his
apology but received no further attention from the Bishop. Despite being
annoyed with them they were inconsequential beyond their statement of only two
people defeating an army. Skimming over most of the letter the bishop froze as
he found the information that he sought within. Rising to his feet and visibly trembling
he stared with widened eyes at the paper in his hands. Frightened by the bishop’s
reaction the messenger queried about the bishop’s wellbeing.
“Lord Bishop? Are you alright?”
“I am quite alright. You need
not be concerned. No, it is that simply I have been waiting for this.”
“Lord Bishop?”
“Of course, I seem to have
forgotten myself. But I must know, has this information been reported to Choir?”
“No Lord Bishop. The survivors
were picked up by our militia who had the message relayed here as quickly as
possible.”
“And I thank you for your timely
deliver of this important document. But now…”
The bishop trailed off leaving the
messenger confused. They did not get the chance to speak again as they did not
notice that the office guards had followed them, nor that they had, even in
their armor, closed the distance with them. The messenger would not learn of it
until the guard’s lances pierced through them from behind. Confused, the messenger
gurgled up blood and looked to the bishop in search of answers.
“I am truly sorry, but this
information is too valuable to allow it to make its way into the world. As
excitable as you seem to be and with the strength that you possess I could not
allow you to live. Take solace in death though knowing that you have helped me
move ever closer to my goals. Now rest.
Copyright © 2019 Joshua D Tarwater
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