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Back to Empire on the HPe3000
... and ...
Engenulf carved a circle in the oerth and drew a line from
north to south then east to west. He took a pouch from his belt and
jangled it in his hand unopened.
"The bones?" asked Nosnra.
"Yes, my father will help me find the way." said Engenulf.
He reached into the bag and pulled out the polished fingerbones of his
father, Engulfen. Each had a symbol carved along its length then stained
black with soot from a funeral pyre. The witan tossed them down and
stared hard at what they had to say. A sweat broke out across his brow,
Engenulf gave a moan and fell to his knees. A mist rose from each bone
and coalesced above the magic circle, a head formed of swirling white.
Two dark pits were its eyes, a skull with wispy beard and hair blown
back by a spectral wind. "Engulfen, my father, my kindred, waken from thy
rest. Engulfen!" he cried. "Engulfen as you guided me in life, guide me
now!"
The skull of mist opened wide its jaws and screamed, no voice
could be heard, no throat to form the words, but silently. The face was
swept away and in its place a hand began to shape itself. The carved bones
upon the ground did rise and match themselves to the ghostly hand, and
then the mist was gone. Engenulf did not hesitate, he snatched the bones
from the thin air and grimaced at their touch. Each sharp-ended digit sunk
in and pierced the witans hand, the blood ran across the bones till the
black etched runes shown bright red.
"This way!" Engenulf shouted and his hand held in a skeletal clasp
pointed toward the south and east. "Hurry, this spell will last, but only
as long as I have the blood to keep it fed."
* * *
"Henri!" Talberth yelled above the din, "Can you make them stop
that screaming!"
"I see their spirits." Henri said, "Those I cannot save I will
cast out." The priest strode forward and held up a disc of silver white.
"By the symbol of my faith, by the God of blinding light." he called.
"I bring you the One True Way! Follow it or be banished from my sight!"
The heads upon the wall began to wail and as the priest said
his last words some began to melt, they flowed like wax set above a flame,
and their wailing became a final scream. Rows of fleshless skulls lined
the wall, but some had burst and others burned like torches, licking at
the frames which held them upon the timber wall.
The giant stag had stepped back at the priests approach, but when
he'd finished it remained. In a smooth graceful bound it leapt to him
and lashed out with its ghostly hooves. Henri was knocked back and off his
feet, he rolled across the floor.
Harald felt a flush of shame, but the sword he held took such
thoughts away. "Miming," he said aloud. "I claim thee as my own." A
flood of strength rushed through him. He felt the pain of his fall and
stiffness of age all wash away.
* * *
Two giant guards walked across the inner field, the wolves had
gone and most of the clan as well. A misty rain began to fall and both
pulled up their hoods and wrapped their cloaks around them tight. Breme
had set a fire near the center of the yard, it hissed and smoked as the
damp rain fought against the blaze. Both walked toward its warmth, kept
outside for duty's sake, they'd rather have been asleep in bed.
"What was that?" asked one.
"Nothing." the other said reaching out to warm his hands.
"You must be deaf. Listen!" A chorus of muffled screams drifted
across the yard and blended with the crackling noise of the open blaze.
"Oh hells, thats the chiefs hall, raise the alarm!"
* * *
(To Be Continued)