Apostasy: The Book of Ithaca

Chapter 6

Chapter VI


         The chief inspector turned from the corpse, his hand over his mouth. It was too much to look at, even for him. Grotesque had taken a new face in Ecclesia, and the three of them were the witnesses to its fancies. The smell of blood was stifled by the cold morning air, for that they were thankful.

         “This isn’t like the others,” the inspector said, sputtering the words out between long breaths and pauses.

         “He was still alive,” Valimaar stated. He was accustomed to death in cultist nature. Though it was particularly gruesome, it was not beyond his limits to digest.

         The inspector nodded. It was clear that he was struggling to contain his thoughts and emotions. Though he had seen murder before, this was all new to him.

         “And the symbols,” Lady Elaine said, pointing to the horrid scene in front of her.

         There upon the wall, the priest’s skin hung stretched as though it were a picture in a frame. In his own blood, the symbols pasted the macabre painting.

         “They’re reversed,” Valimaar said, studying them, “With the feast of ignorance lain upon the altar,” he said in monotone.

         The inspector nodded, “We will need that book.”

         The book that Father Gordon spoke of was something that Valimaar was struggling to understand. If it was in fact real at all, what good would it do for them? After all, a book is nothing more than pages and words, and finding it could very well take a lifetime.

         “I cannot offer you any protection if you are discovered in that section of the library, it goes far beyond my jurisdiction,” the inspector said staring at them.

         “We understand inspector,” Lady Elaine replied, stepping closer to the door, “I will get it myself.”

         “My lady, that will not do,” Valimaar said, leaning closer to the symbols.

         “It is not your choice, it is mine,” she replied with heat in her voice.

Valimaar turned to her, “I cannot allow you to go alone.”

         The knock on the door interrupted their arguments, and the three hurriedly composed themselves. Lady Elaine slowly turned the iron latch, and the door swung open. The decorated man entered to meet the barrel of a pistol as Valimaar forced the young woman to the side.

         The decorated man’s hands shot up in the air, declaring that he meant no harm. Valimaar returned his pistol to its place and upon inspection of the man, he dropped to a knee. It was the Monsignor.

         “Rise Brother Valimaar, I apologize for the disturbance,” he said, nodding a greeting to the Chief Inspector.

         “Father Papal, we are doing everything we can here,” he replied, standing to face him.

         The man nodded, “I’ve come to summon you to an audience with the Arbiter, he may be able to aid you all in your investigations.”

         “Indeed,” the voice came from the hall, it was low and intimidating. It was soft yet it boomed like the drums of war.

         Valimaar immediately dropped to a knee once again, for he was in the presence of the Exarch, the master of the Expurgators.
The tall man slowly strided into the room, and it seemed as though everything around him cowered in fear. He commanded a presence unlike any that they had seen. He wore the same vestaments as Valimaar, but his appearance was far more frightening. The very air around him crackled with electricity as he walked like lightning in an electrical storm.

         “Master Exarch,” Valimaar said, averting his eyes to the floor.

         “It has been a very long time Brother Valimaar,” he said, placing his gloved hands upon his shoulders.

         “Rise son of Azul,” even his pleasantries were like a hammer upon an anvil.

         His eyes scanned Lady Elaine up and down. She could feel the burning of his gaze, it was though she were upon a spit over a fire.

         "It's a pity that we could not meet under lighter circumstances Vicar Forane," he said, bowing low.

         “What business have you here,” Valimaar asked, grasping the man’s hand in greeting.

         “The Arbiter wishes for us all to stop this display of heresy,” he replied, scanning the room. The sight did not disturb him in the least. It seemed as though he was fascinated with it, “Come, let us speak with him.”

***************

         It was a massive room of high polished marble and ebony. The great fire in the hearth illuminated the stone as if it were burning from the inside out. In front of them lay a feast of fruits and meats upon a long oak table. Paintings of the former arbiters lined the walls of the room, and upon the ceiling the mural of the first arbiter, Tontius Varem, was painted. His hands were held high to the heavens. And through the golden clouds, the portrayal of Azul herself held her hands out as if to embrace the man. It was a glorious picture.
The great iron doors screamed on their hinges as the Arbiter entered the room. They averted their eyes to the floor as the awaited him to speak.

         “Rise my children.”

         In unison the four of them rose to their feet, their eyes still staring at the floor. It had been the first time that Valimaar had been summoned by the Arbiter. Simply to be in his presence was an honor that few have ever had.

         “It seems as though your investigations are not going as planned,” he said, taking a seat at the great oak chair at the end of the long table.

         “Your grace,” Valimaar said, “We are making progress.”

         “Yes indeed, but another priest lies dead in these halls. How long before another one is killed,” he asked.

         “We are doing everything we can,” Lady Elaine said, she tugged on Valimaars waistcoat with her thumb and forefinger. It was a gesture telling him to look at the man. Valimaar understood.

         “Apparently your resources are too limited for something such as this,” he replied, placing several fruits and meats onto his plate.

         Valimaar had never seen him before, his duties often time had kept him far from the walls of the basilica. He was old. Extremely old. Long white hair hung past his shoulders in straight silvery locks. His gnarled fingers were adorned with gold rings and jewels that seemed to sparkle with the greatest glimmer. His robes themselves seemed almost alive with shine. It was a white that he had never seen, as though his robes were weaved with diamonds.

         “Your grace,” Valimaar said, “There is no telling when this man will strike again. He is leaving behind a trail of ancient wisdom.”

         “I’m aware of the symbols prefect,” he said, “That is why I have summoned you all here.”

         Lady Elaine and Valimaar shared a look of bewilderment. What could the symbols possibly have to do with him?

         “This man’s knowledge of the ancient language leads me to believe that he is possessed,” he said, chewing on a piece of bread.

         “Possessed your grace,” Valimaar asked, the sorrow in his voice could not be hid.

         “Possessed by a daemon. Something that you and the Exarch have great experience with.”

         He knew where this was going. There was only one reason that the Exarch would need to aid them in their investigations. An Exorcism. A ritual he had not performed since the wytch hunts. A man with the knowledge of ancient texts was clear in fact, to perhaps be possessed by a very old daemon. With age, came strength. It was clearly as good a reason as any that the Exarch himself would need to be with him.

         “You wish for me to Exorcise this Daemon,” he asked.

         “Exactly. But first we need to capture him,” he never looked at him. His attention was on the food that lay before him.

         “I have a strong feeling that his next target will be a member of the Episcopate.”

         A bishop. Were a bishop to be murdered, there would not be a single stone left unturned in the hunt for his killer. For a bishop to be murdered at all, would be of the greatest tragedy that he had ever seen. They were… untouchable.

         “Your grace,” Valimaar said.

         “I know what you are going to say prefect,” he replied, carving a piece of ham, “This man has shown that he fears nothing, not even Azul. His victims are rising in the hierarchy. First whores, then deacons, now priests. That man was not any priest, he was a seneschal.”

         Valimaar understood. Seneschals themselves were nigh on untouchable. The miracle workers of the church. They were above any priest in stature and just below bishops in authority. For a seneschal to have been killed certainly had invoked the wrath of the Divinity. For the Monsignor and his Apostolics as well as the Exarch himself to be involved, was a testament that the Divinity had had enough of this heresy, and it was time to be eradicated. Pity it hadn’t started with its lowest servants, the deacons. Perhaps a life could have been spared if it had.

         “What do you propose your grace,” the Exarch asked, taking a step forward. His voice boomed through the room.

         “I’m certain his next target will be an Archbishop, if not a Cardinal. He’s displayed knowledge unlike that of any other, and it would seem he fancies killing those of similar study. Every one of his victims within the Ecclesiarchy have been researchers of the ancient texts.”

         Valimaar’s heart sunk. Lady Elaine was a historian, the Vicar Forane for that matter. The highest of the honorary Prelates. Could she be within his gaze? He could not let any harm to come to her. She was precious to him.

         “Father Archimedes,” the arbiter said before taking a long draught of wine from a gold goblet.

         “The Archbishop of the Basilica, and Curator or the great library of the Ecclesiarchy,” Lady Elaine said.

         “That’s correct Vicar Forane,” he replied.

         “Your grace, how can you be sure,” Valimaar asked.

         “I have spoken with Azul, she has enlightened me on this matter,” he replied as he shoveled a large piece of ham into his mouth.

         He did not doubt it, for the Arbiter was the purest of them all. Far beyond that of miraculous, he was practically one of the offspring of Azul.

         “We shall be sure that no harm comes to him,” the Exarch said, placing a hand on Valimaar’s shoulder.

         “Father Papal, have your Apostolics there to assist them with the exorcism,” the Arbiter said, “We cannot allow this daemon to claim another life.”

         The Monsignor bowed low, “I shall see to it at once your grace,” he said before turning to walk out of the room.

         “I want you two to remain in his room every night, you are Expurgators, I trust you know how to avoid detection.”

         The two of them nodded.

         “What of me your grace,” Lady Elaine asked.

         “I cannot risk sacrificing your safety Vicar Forane, I will have Father Papal’s Apostolics accompany you every day until this deed is done.”

         “Your grace, that will not be necessary,” she said, her eyes glared at Valimaar, imploring him not to interrupt, “It seems that my duties shall be taking me to the libraries here for some time. Father Archimedes' librarian shall be accompanying me while we research more of this plague. And of these ritual killings.”

         She could hear a growl coming from Valimaar, she knew he would be unhappy with this, but they needed that book, and she was going to find it. There was no way for the beast of a man to find his way into the libraries, for they were heavily guarded, and a labyrinth of passages.

         “Very well Vicar Forane,” I’ll arrange for servants to see to your needs and have your quarters moved to the libraries until I hear differently.”

         “Thank you your grace.”

         His blood was boiling. It was everything he could do to not stop it right there, though she had always defied his wishes for safety. He after all, had no authority over her in the first place. Though, if any harm came to her, he would not stop until he found the culprit, and he would take his sweet time.

         “That will be all my children, see that its done, and go with Azul.”

         The three dropped to a knee before taking their leave. This man would be stopped… soon.