The Warlord and The Priestess

[4Chiri]

he nodded.


"will you walk, or should I fetch my horse for you?" he asked.


Ithet quickly came forward at the priestess' command.

 

[Morigan]

"I believe we will walk this morning. Exercise is good for the soul as well as the body. Come, Ithet- let us go," she said.


"What we will be seeing this morning, Moganthe?" She asked.

 

[4Chiri]

"first I will escort you to the temple of Ziranos, of the sky." he began walking behind the ladies, directing them forward.


a thick crowd watched from across the road, following with mumbles and gasps- however kept at bay by looming silver knights and glares from the warlord.


"I've visited once before and it was quite aesthetic." he explained.


the road up the center of the city led to a large building owned by the church. inside was in resemblance to a library, with records of history and other lores.


there was a split in the road leading further west in the city, down towards what looked like a garden area, closed off by a gate.


once there he opened it for them.

 

[Morigan]

"Lovely, I will be pleased to say my prayers in such a place." She tried to ignore the crowd's whispers and focus on taking in the town's scenery.


As they continued on they passed many intriguing buildings along the main road. When they reached a gated garden area, she couldn't keep a smile off her face. Luckily no one could see it so she stopped to survey the natural landscaping and beauty as Moganthe opened the gate for her and her hand maiden.

 

[4Chiri]

He led them through the gates and locked it once they were through.


The path was snowed over as it hadn't been used in some time. trees and old flower bushes surrounded them until they reached the man made clearing of trees surrounded by the small altar.


The altar was made of marble, a tall statue in the middle of the bench depicting a man in breezy robes, holding a bird against his finger.


Ziranos of the Sky.


Moganthe stood near the edge of the trees as Ithet took in the beauty around them.

 

[Morigan]

Melia wandered slowly around the enclosure, her robes leaving a trail through the snow as she drifted in between the trees. After a few minutes she made her way to the altar to pray. She approached the foot of the statue quietly, and began her prayers silently, bowing her head as she did so. Another few minutes passed silently and then she rose from the altar and turned to Ithet.


"If you'd like to say your own prayers, please go ahead," she said.

 

[4Chiri]

Moganthe shook his head and leaned back against a tree.


"I wouldnt want to waste your time Priestess..."


Ithet however followe suit and prayed also. afterward she looked around at the beautiful scenery.


"Sir if I may," she started. "you said you've been here just once...do you not travel often?" she asked.


But as they spoke there were whispers, cries and shallow moans in the priestess' ear, seeming to come from all around yet never reach her.


Then it was clear the voices stretched from the depths of her mind.


But as they grew loud and jumbled they suddenly stopped as if a strange call or warning.


Just as fast, in a blink, an arrow whirred through the trees aimed for the priestess' head.


only to be blocked by the warlords arm.


He gave a small yell and stood in front of her, drawing his blade.


"Behind the altar, now!" he yelled.

 

[Morigan]

Melia smiled at his words as he leaned against the tree. Many of the Empire's citizens would not pray in the presence of Oracles, let alone the Priestess. Often it was from insecurities, but Melia doubted that was Moganthe's case. Before she could comment on it though she heard voices, much like those from the BloodWell, but louder, growing agitated and restless in her head. Melia reached up, holding her head in her hands as the voices threatened to overwhelm her.


Suddenly, the voices left, a strange absence in her head. As she moved to straighten up she heard a soft whizzing in the air and suddenly Moganthe was in front of her, an arrow piercing his arm and stopping it from reaching her. He yelled at them to get behind the altar, so she whirled on her heel and motioned for Ithet to dive for cover. They knelt behind the altar, and looked at each other, eyes wide with fear.


"We must pray, Ithet. We have not even my knitting needles with us this day for protection. Our fate is in the the hands of the gods...and Moganthe, Architect protect him."

 

[4Chiri]

With the sudden burst, Moganthe tore out the arrow, it bore a design of


the School of Wisdom...Prophets...


He stood there as the area was silent and waited...for a second, then from nowhere an attacker, wrapped in the clothes of


an assassin.


Then, started a fight between swords. A sudden scuffle of blades and sparks emitted from their powerful attacks against each other,


the assassin trying to reach the priestess' -- each attempt a failed one as Moganthe never even let the assassin come close.


They continued fighting, they dodged, sliced and yelled. Moganthe backed against the altar, just a few feet from the women, the assassin, quite desperate, lunged forward and Moganthe dodged, causing a flick of spark and cracked stone from one of the pillars of the altar to scatter in the snow.


Apparently, the assassin, was no simple fighter, but as they fought, Moganthe became more angry, his swings more powerful, and his blue eyes lit with a sudden shift of rage and in the first opening, he stabbed the assassins chest, and they fell down, bleeding to death in the snow.


Then two knights rushed the area, surrounding the priestess as Moganthe held his arm close to his chest, he too, with blood coating his entire arm, shaking in cold and pain, but he ignored it.

"Is the priestess alright?"


"What happened?"
​

The knights asked. He huffed a shuddering reply, still staring down at his arm, seeming to go numb.

 

[Morigan]

Moganthe fought furiously, the sounds of metal on metal filling the small garden and filling the ears of Melia and Ithet as the crouched behind the stone altar. Suddenly everything went quiet except for the sound of heavy breathing. Melia ventured a glance around the statue and saw Moganthe standing over the attacker, both covered in blood.


"Warlord!" She called out in alarm, but suddenly two knights were there surrounding her and helping Ithet to her feet.


"I am fine, I'm fine." She assured them. "But call for help immediately! This area must be searched thoroughly and this desecrator's body removed from this Holy Place. And we need a Healer, as quickly as possible." She moved towards Moganthe. All she wanted to do was reach out to him, see if he was going to be okay, though she knew she could not do anything of the sort.

 

[4Chiri]

One of the knights went to Moganthe to assist him, but as he seemed to be getting weaker, he fell to his knees.


"Someone check that arrow, get this place searched, NOW!" one of the guards yelled.


Immediately, the Archbishop rushed into the area, and to the Priestess. "Milady! What in heavens happened to you!? Are you alright?" he asked. Ithet stared towards Moganthe with a horrified expression.


"Someone needs to help him! He's fainted!" she called.


One of the guards examined the arrow, a needle like head. "It's a sleeping poison!" he called.


The Archbishop sighed and after a simple few minutes, the place was swarmed with oracles, surrounding the priestess, keeping her a good distance from Moganthe, who was roughly carried off by soldiers to the barracks for examination.


"I suppose someone wanted him asleep long enough to where he'd be out of the way, it only makes sense." the Archbishop sighed.


"Sir, it's the prophet insignia..." an oracle murmured. Tensions between the three schools were high enough already. Prophets, Magus and Scholars


all wanted the Priestess' favour and blessing, even if that meant to kidnap her.

 

[Morigan]

When one of the soldiers mentioned poison, she turned her head sharply and let out a shocked gasp. Suddenly Moganthe was being escorted away and there was no healer in sight. Melia refused to have a repeat of their first night here, leaving him to fend for himself when she'd specifically requested a Healer.


"Archbishop, I insist on accompanying him until a Healer arrives. I want to be certain he is treated by the best. Also, my hand maiden should be examined for signs of shock; these past days have been a trial for her." She said imperiously.


After someone had mentioned the insignia, the Priestess's gaze grew questioning. "We must search the area, see what can be discovered of this assassin, and then hold council. Perhaps after my evening sermon..." she trailed off thoughtfully. "It is clear someone means me harm, or seeks to use me as leverage perhaps. Either way, this cannot be tolerated- it will shake the faith of the people. Have you any thoughts on this, Archbishop?" she asked him.

 

[4Chiri]

The Archbishop stood with a pause, puzzling. Guards scoured the area, but there was nothing else but the assassin and an arrow...apparently however, they'd been followed.


"Moganthe should've noticed the follower...he should've been more vigilant. I urge you to go back to the Chapel milady, with your handmaiden and stay there for the rest of the day." he said. "The Mother, Prophetess and I will have a discussion about this so-called attacker and try to figure out what's going on."


He said, disregarding her request to follow Moganthe. Ithet stood nearby, with a small shiver, but she looked mostly okay.


"I should send a request for a new bodyguard." he mumbled.

 

[Morigan]

With his casual dismissal anger rose dangerously within her. "Archbishop, hear my words. Warlord Moganthe has save our lives twice in two days. He is clearly carrying out the will of the gods. Your soldiers were lining the streets to hold back the public, were they not? Why did they not notice anything amiss?" She turned to the nearest Oracle, a young woman.


"You there, go and fetch a Healer at once, and bring them to the barracks. Make haste," she said, sending the young woman scurrying off. She turned back to the Archbishop. "Now, I will be taking four of your soldiers with me, and Ithet as well, since I do not want her out of my sight lest more harm befall her. We are going to see to the welfare of our protector, as appointed by the Emperor- who is above questioning- and then we shall return to the chapel." She raised her hand to silence any protests while she continued. "Then I shall join you, and whomever else you would like to hold counsel with, and we will ALL figure this out together."


She turned to follow the direction the soldiers had taken Moganthe. "You, knights," she pointed to four other knights nearby. "You will escort myself and Hand Maid Ithet to the barracks where we await the Healer. Ithet, let us go."

 

[4Chiri]

The Archbishop stood in some sizzling, hot emotion but calmed his reddened face and bowed. "...of course, milady...it is as you say." he mumbled, especially to the mention of the Emperor.


Ithet scurried quickly behind the priestess and the other knights who then quickly escorted them to the barracks. Once inside all of the soldiers stood and bowed as she entered the large building and strode quickly across the hall, down a flight of stairs and into a dark room. There were many rooms down here for other medical issues, surgeries and other important procedures.


However it wasn't quiet, everyone could hear Moganthe's voice, as he yelled orders and other profanities to the men surrounding him in his room.


"I had ordered three hundred men stationed around the damned walls, where were they!?" he yelled. One of his subordinates croaked an answer, but was immediately hushed again by his screams.


"The next time I give you an order, you FOLLOW it, or you'd better believe I will personally send your head to your family! Do you understand me!? The Priestess' life was compromised, if YOU fail your duties, I fail my duties!" He snapped, voice echoing in the halls.


"I'm sorry sir, your soldiers were stationed around the border, I'm honest! I personally saw them there myself!"


The knights showed Melia and Ithet to one of the small, dim rooms, where Moganthe stood with the Guard Captain of Dolcima, standing over him by at least one head, covering the cowering man in his shadow. His eyes a flash of blue, piercing.


"Are you trying to tell me that we have --


Moganthe started, but the knights escorting Melia and Ithet knocked on the side wall.


"Sir, the Priestess is here to see to your healing." he said and stepped away. The guard captain finding this a perfect opportunity to escape.


Moganthe's demeanor instantly changed from rage, to calm and he bowed. His arm loosely wrapped, still a bit of blood, awaiting the healer.


"Milady, I apologize. Once again I have not been at my most. I would be punished, as the Mother ordered."

 

[Morigan]

At the mention of punishment Melia was startled. "Absolutely not, the Mother was mistaken. No such thing will come to pass if I have any say, which many people around here seem to keep forgetting that I do." She sighed, looking at his arm. "I'm afraid if you keep this post too long it will ruin your life," she said somberly. "Which is why we have come to wait here until the Healer arrives. I'll have none of the runaround from yesterday repeated."


Melia looked over her shoulder at her hand maid who looked to be a bit shaky on her feet. She motioned for Ithet to sit in an empt chair along the wall. "You need not stand while we wait, I know this has been exhausting for you."


She turned back to Moganthe and began to speak the paused, hesitating. After a moment she began again. "I hate that this is necessary to ask of you, but once the Healer clears you, will you accompany me to the meeting with the Mother and Archbishop? I'm afraid my education in military strategy and espionage is very...limited. I will be depending upon your knowledge of these matters to inform our course of action," she sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. "If it were not so precarious a situation, I would never consider asking so much from someone so recently injured. I'm afraid we have few options however."


She looked him over slowly, checking to see if there were other injuries that she would have the Healer tend when they arrived.

 

[4Chiri]

He took a step back from her examining and kept his gaze towards the floor.


"I chose this path for my life, Priestess...whatever consequences befall me, are my own, you needn't think of it." he said. Just then a healer rushed in and ushered him to sit on the exam table in the center of the room.


To Melia's command, Ithet sat down, calming herself with deep breaths. So much happened so fast...


The healer then quickly removed the armor from around Moganthe's body, and his layered tunic, so that once again, waist up he were exposed.


The young healer then began to clean the gaping hole in his arm, taking a spool and needle from her satchel. "You were poisoned ser, i'm surprised you fought the sleep so quickly." she mumbled, sewing up the new scar that would be on his arm.


He sighed with a gruff as she finished and examined the rest of him, checking his eyes and such. There were only a few extra bruises on him, nothing major. And she left. Allowing him to redress.


"As for the meeting, I am sure that if you allow me, I will be able to join you. It would bring me pleasure to know that I could help you." he said.


Ithet chimed in, and stood up, "Warlord...should you not contact your family? You have been gone for some time from the city...have you not? and you've been hurt...twice. Should we not tell them?" she asked.


He looked towards Ithet for a moment, but didn't answer.


"Let me escort you to the chapel, milady."

 

[Morigan]

Melia remained silent as the healer set about their work. She was swift and efficient and had soon finished her work and departed once more.


"Very well, we should likely go to the chapel now. The sooner this is begun, the sooner we will know what we are up against. Ithet, unfortunately you, too, must soldier on through this meeting. Then, gods willing, I shall send you both to rest," she said. "Perhaps there will be time for me to rest as well," she said softly, mostly to herself.


When Ithet questioned him about his family, Melia silently thought she had the right idea. But when he seemed disinclined to respond, and instead focused on taking them to the chapel, she sighed. It seemed he did not wish to speak of such things, so Melia would not push him either.


"Yes, let us go." was her only response. Steadily they began to make their way to the chapel.

 

[4Chiri]

Moganthe quietly led them both to the chapel.


Through the doors and in the main room past the foyer was the Archbishop, waiting.


"Milady, the meeting is just in this room. Your maiden and....the warlord, can wait out here." he said.

 

[Morigan]

"Ithet may wait if she wishes, or return to her room and rest. Warlord Moganthe will be accompanying me as I feel his wartime experience and expertise may provide new insights for our council on this grave matter," the Priestess said calmly.


She moved into the main room.

 

[4Chiri]

Ithet agreed to sit in one of the benches outside, whereas Moganthe entered behind Melia without hesitation.


standing around a small table was the prophetess and the mother.


The archbishop shut the door behind them all and sighed.


"The priestess was attacked by an assassin. .. he had the insignia of the school of wisdom, of the prophets." he explained, eyes on the prophetess.


"...he was probably a fanatic. a believer in the ways of wisdom." she said quickly. "if your so called body guard had any control over his murderous ways, and not killed the assassin, we could have someone to question!" she snapped.


Mother Ezra shook her head, "don't speak ill of him, he at least kept the priestess alive, however she was in danger. he will be punished accordingly." she said.


Moganthe kept his eyes lowered, but without emotion.

 

[Morigan]

"Actually," Melia began with her voice ringing clearly through the room, "he has saved myself and my hand maiden twice as we have been traveling to and visiting this city. We had no such issues, even at my installation ceremony with thousands of people swarming the capitol. As I was informed about his preparation concerning extra security that somehow failed in their duties, you will cease placing blame upon the Warlord. Unless the gods see fit to create exact copies of himself to command, there is literally no more that could have been done on our part." She spoke each word remaining calm and assured.


"Now, on to important matters..." she turned to the Prophetess. "Speak honestly with me...do you feel this has anything to do with the concerns you shared earlier this morning?"

 

[4Chiri]

The Prophetess sighed.


"there has been tensions among the three schools. they all vie for the priestess' attention. they all want your favour." she admitted.


Mother Ezra nodded. "we've been having complaints from all over. People are worried of imminent conflict...the schools cannot agree and it causes hatred among them...The hand of Resithius is in play...I do not like it."


As they spoke...the voices trembled between her ears again. barely audible but screaming, gasping and calling. The depths of their moans stretched in the abyss of Melia's mind...scratching her thoughts with their claws.


"Priestess??" the archbishop said again.


"you suspect trouble, is that why the warlord is here?"

 

[Morigan]

"Well that is not so unusual, the Three Schools have always sought favor of the Priestess. Though why is it becoming so violent this time? That is the question. And Resithius...hmm. This bodes ill for the whole of the empire," a hint of worry coloring her words.


"Something...is coming, I think." The voices swarmed inside her head, forever out of reach it seemed. She clutched at her temples through the cowl, "This happened last time, right before the arrow..."

 

[4Chiri]

they stared. in complete question.


until Moganthe spoke up.


"What happened before?" he asked, and took a step closer.