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Drinking Deeply from the Chalice of Midnight - Part 6a: Home Sweet Home
They instantly appeared back at Decimus’ basement level. Vlad was handing Decimus the chalice as Ilmarė and Quintus appeared.
“My thanks, my friends,” said Decimus, tears welling up in his eyes. “I knew that you would succeed.”
Ilmarė and Quintus were still clinging to each other. Quintus coughed and stepped away from the Elorii.
Decimus handed Vlad a chest. “Please, take this chest. It contains the money I promised.”
Vlad popped it open and peered at its contents. He nodded towards Ilmarė. “It’s all here, three thousand Imperials, just like he said.”
Decimus held the chalice up. “With this, I can make sure my family and my descendants will live as free citizens of the Empire.”
“And how exactly will the chalice help you do that?” asked Quintus.
Decimus walked over to another summoning circle inscribed on the floor. “I call upon you, Oh Fallen One, as my ancestors did bid you to come in ages past,” he chanted, “so do I now command you to appear before me!”
Ilmarė unsheathed her sword. “What are you doing?”
The light in the chamber dimmed as the sigils on the summoning circle flared. Unfolding itself from its cape like a moth from its cocoon, a slight man appeared in the exact center. He wore a plumed hat that cast long shadows upon his handsome face. The lip was curled into a sneer.
“Am I a common Larissan pleasure slave, expected to come when her besotted master beckons?” it said in a deep baritone. “Know this, Sarishan. You have called upon Losknek, Prince of the Nether Realm, Render of the Just and Unjust and Master of the thirty-nine Deceivers of the Soul. Tell me why I should not break your puny circle and make you my plaything?”
Quintus and Vlad drew their swords. “Decimus, what in the world…”
Decimus ignored them. He stepped forward, unafraid. “I summoned you in the name of Blessed Sarish, the Binder and Summoner, He who you betrayed and who banished you from the Heavens. Though I have no doubt you have the power to break the circle, I enacted the ritual in accordance to the old ways and demand that you listen. Powerful, you may be. But you must still act in accordance to your Oath. Bound, you are, to the Lord of Secrets, and commanded to give one’s life desire for the fulfillment of your own, Dread One.”
“He means to bargain,” said Ilmarė to Quintus. “Decimus never wanted the chalice for himself.”
“I hold in my hand the Chalice of Midnight,” Decimus was saying, “taken from you during the God War and gifted to the Honor of Cadic, who, because of you, also fell from Grace. I freely give this to you in fulfillment of the contract and in return I desire the Page.”
Rage flashed across Losknek’s beautiful face before it spoke again. “As you have said, Decimus, I must fulfill my obligation as it was commanded by the Bright Prince of Enigmas.”
A yellowed velum sheet of parchment appeared in a gout of flame before the Infernal. Losknek pulled a scroll case from the folds of its cloak and inserted the parchment into it. Its sealed the case with a thumbprint and extended the case with one hand as it reached for the chalice with the other.
“The Bargain is sealed and done,” said Decimus, scroll case in hand. “Let neither harbor malice nor claim it was unjust. What is done is done. May the Lord of Secrets curse any who would undo His will. You may leave, mighty Prince. My need has been fulfilled.”
With nary a second glance, Losknek vanished as suddenly as it appeared.
Looking relieved, Decimus turned to Quintus. “Thank you once again, Quintus. With this page, I will be able to pay Dominarin and release my family.”
Quintus resheathed his gladius. “What does the Senator want with a page?” asked Quintus.
“I don’t know. But I know Dominarin wants it very badly, enough to release me from service for it. And so I have my freedom in hand.” He gestured towards all of them. “Please, make yourself at home. My brother is preparing a simple repast above for you. It’s the least I can do.”
And with that, he practically jumped up the steps out of the basement.
“I don’t trust him,” said Ilmarė. “He deals with too many devils.”
“Agreed,” said Quintus. “But come, let us—“
Just then, the summoning circle flashed to life.
They instantly appeared back at Decimus’ basement level. Vlad was handing Decimus the chalice as Ilmarė and Quintus appeared.
“My thanks, my friends,” said Decimus, tears welling up in his eyes. “I knew that you would succeed.”
Ilmarė and Quintus were still clinging to each other. Quintus coughed and stepped away from the Elorii.
Decimus handed Vlad a chest. “Please, take this chest. It contains the money I promised.”
Vlad popped it open and peered at its contents. He nodded towards Ilmarė. “It’s all here, three thousand Imperials, just like he said.”
Decimus held the chalice up. “With this, I can make sure my family and my descendants will live as free citizens of the Empire.”
“And how exactly will the chalice help you do that?” asked Quintus.
Decimus walked over to another summoning circle inscribed on the floor. “I call upon you, Oh Fallen One, as my ancestors did bid you to come in ages past,” he chanted, “so do I now command you to appear before me!”
Ilmarė unsheathed her sword. “What are you doing?”
The light in the chamber dimmed as the sigils on the summoning circle flared. Unfolding itself from its cape like a moth from its cocoon, a slight man appeared in the exact center. He wore a plumed hat that cast long shadows upon his handsome face. The lip was curled into a sneer.
“Am I a common Larissan pleasure slave, expected to come when her besotted master beckons?” it said in a deep baritone. “Know this, Sarishan. You have called upon Losknek, Prince of the Nether Realm, Render of the Just and Unjust and Master of the thirty-nine Deceivers of the Soul. Tell me why I should not break your puny circle and make you my plaything?”
Quintus and Vlad drew their swords. “Decimus, what in the world…”
Decimus ignored them. He stepped forward, unafraid. “I summoned you in the name of Blessed Sarish, the Binder and Summoner, He who you betrayed and who banished you from the Heavens. Though I have no doubt you have the power to break the circle, I enacted the ritual in accordance to the old ways and demand that you listen. Powerful, you may be. But you must still act in accordance to your Oath. Bound, you are, to the Lord of Secrets, and commanded to give one’s life desire for the fulfillment of your own, Dread One.”
“He means to bargain,” said Ilmarė to Quintus. “Decimus never wanted the chalice for himself.”
“I hold in my hand the Chalice of Midnight,” Decimus was saying, “taken from you during the God War and gifted to the Honor of Cadic, who, because of you, also fell from Grace. I freely give this to you in fulfillment of the contract and in return I desire the Page.”
Rage flashed across Losknek’s beautiful face before it spoke again. “As you have said, Decimus, I must fulfill my obligation as it was commanded by the Bright Prince of Enigmas.”
A yellowed velum sheet of parchment appeared in a gout of flame before the Infernal. Losknek pulled a scroll case from the folds of its cloak and inserted the parchment into it. Its sealed the case with a thumbprint and extended the case with one hand as it reached for the chalice with the other.
“The Bargain is sealed and done,” said Decimus, scroll case in hand. “Let neither harbor malice nor claim it was unjust. What is done is done. May the Lord of Secrets curse any who would undo His will. You may leave, mighty Prince. My need has been fulfilled.”
With nary a second glance, Losknek vanished as suddenly as it appeared.
Looking relieved, Decimus turned to Quintus. “Thank you once again, Quintus. With this page, I will be able to pay Dominarin and release my family.”
Quintus resheathed his gladius. “What does the Senator want with a page?” asked Quintus.
“I don’t know. But I know Dominarin wants it very badly, enough to release me from service for it. And so I have my freedom in hand.” He gestured towards all of them. “Please, make yourself at home. My brother is preparing a simple repast above for you. It’s the least I can do.”
And with that, he practically jumped up the steps out of the basement.
“I don’t trust him,” said Ilmarė. “He deals with too many devils.”
“Agreed,” said Quintus. “But come, let us—“
Just then, the summoning circle flashed to life.
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