Ill Omens [Part 2]

His head pounding from the hours of questions, arguments, and bureaucratic nonsense, Qeirias Noll sat in a darkened alcove within the Palace. He??d left the company of Merced Armadin hours ago, hoping to bring his message to the Five Houses. The Chronicles of Spellborn a little, as the Champion Master of the Quarterstone Guard had merely to hand out orders to the City Militia??s Watchmaster Prime before heading into the Deadstorm to speak with the Peacemaker Savant, head of the Marksmen. Though the Marksmen had always been elitist in Noll??s eyes, he??d rather have headed out to Silent Child than faced the conferences here in the Palace.

He should have expected the reactions he received. Scorn, disbelief, and even outright anger had greeted him. He??d been called an old fool (though he didn??t feel that old, some of these houses had rather frighteningly young leadership) by a lithe Torque swordsman. He??d been greeted with condescending looks from a rather pretty scion of Maul. And even from his Runite brethren it felt as though they??d been more embarrassed than interested in one of their own bearing these tidings. All in all, Noll felt as though he was the proverbial messenger waiting for the dagger in the sleeve.

Tlykarxu take them,?? Noll cursed softly. He had tried to remain patient, The Chronicles of Spellborn Gold  insults as they spilled out. Some had been subtle, others blatant, but it had gone too far when the idiot from Shroud had suggested that perhaps it was better if he should ??disappear?? while the matter was considered. Considering the High House of Leaves usually employed a Dead Hand when they wanted a ??disappearance?? (and that it was often permanent) he had lost his temper completely, and only the intervention of the Guards had spared the pale, wily Shroud member from a rather final ??disappearance?? courtesy of Noll??s own axe.

Actually, he felt blessed to not be in prison at this point, or even facing the justice of his House . . . or worse, that of Shroud. Instead, Noll had been relieved of his weapon, and shuffled off into this waiting room. The light of the Deadstorm was growing outside, let into Quarterstone through the focal apertures. He could hear a bit more of the city in the distance as the citizens awoke and began a new day. For a moment he wished he??d not bothered to share the experiences of his Ancestral Quest, and he even thought about how nice it would have been to simply gone looking for that youngster he??d met and ask after their first experience with The Chronicles of Spellborn Gold. But Duty was something he??d never been able to shirk, so here he was.

The soft sound of footsteps caused Noll to tense and reach for the axe which he no longer carried. Standing quickly, he moved as far backwards into the alcove as his bulky frame would allow. If it was an assassin they??d sent, he??d make sure that this old warrior wouldn??t go easily. The tapestry opened revealing no armed Dead Hand, but rather a relatively young woman bearing a scroll. She smiled disarmingly at Noll, and offered the parchment to him without a word.

Taking the message, he began to read, while keeping an eye on the messenger herself as a matter of prudence. Within a moment his attention was drawn completely from the woman. Though there was still a tone of disbelief, the Five Houses had unanimously agreed to increase the speed of House Initiations. Not only that, but word had come from the Militia and Marksmen that preparations were being made for a state of war. A chill ran down Noll??s spine. What if he??d been wrong about what his Quest had meant? Would this episode in the Enclave??s history come to be known as Noll??s Folly?

The soft noise of the tapestry being fully opened broke into his momentary angst. The messenger gestured for him to follow her. Her Maulite House insignia was now visible in the fall of light from the lanterns and windows in the next room. ??If you would be so kind as to come with me, Qeirias Noll,?? she said in a melodic voice. ??Many of your brethren remember you with honor still.?? She smiled warmly and laughed. ??My father has The Chronicles of Spellborn Gold these years, and I can still remember when you visited our house. Many of us are overjoyed to find you returned to Quarterstone.??

Noll shook off the last remnants of his doubts. Following the young woman towards the Maul quarters, he couldn??t help but smile in anticipation of another challenge. If war was to come, he??d be there once again. And at his side he??d have that The Chronicles of Spellborn Gold  from the Razor Eel attack. That one and many others. He would teach them as his elders had, and there would be no second Tlykarxu, there would be no Noll??s Folly. Qeirias Noll would welcome the young, and the Enclave of the Five Sacrifices would face its enemies together with the strength of human and daevi.

MEN AND WOMEN WANTED for Perilous Duty. Unpaid, harrowing delays, long months of grueling work, chance of setbacks extreme. Glory and fame upon success. ?