Blades's Fall Chapter Seven

There were a few minutes of silence following the conclusion of Elatha’s tale. Loflan pulled his stool out of the shadows so Elatha could see him as he asked.

“Can I ask you why the sickness you mentioned was called the ‘blackness’?”

Elatha did not look at his face or answer him. She was staring transfixed at his feet.

Loflan looked down. “Is there something wrong?”

Elatha shook herself. “Oh no, only I do not recall ever seeing a man’s bare feet before. A boy’s, yes but not a grown man’s.”

Maude laughed. “Well you had better get used to them. Loflan here rarely wears foot coverings.”

“Really? How strange.” She said, still not looking at him. My father always had his stockings on. Is leaving the feet bare a common practice in Sorsenia?”

“Oh no. Loflan is one of a kind in that and many other respects besides.”

Loflan cleared his throat.

“The blackness.” said Elatha getting back to the topic. “It was called that because of black color it’s victim’s fingertips, toes and lips turned when they became infected. At first it would only be a hint, a shadow on their skin. As the sickness wore on it got darker and darker until it turned black. Then they would die.”

Loflan stood up, his hand unconsciously shifting to rest on banisher.

“Maude.” he said in a controlled whisper.

Maude looked unmoved. “Sit down boy. There is nothing we can do at the moment. It is not the right time.”

“I can not just sit here. I must go now before they are called!”

Maude stood. “Clam down my boy. Even the mighty banisher can not fight that alone. We must wait and get better prepared. The snows will come any day now making our entrance and exit to the capital difficult if not impossible. Nothing has been done as yet so we must assume it is building it’s dominion still. These things take time.”

“What is wrong?” Elatha asked with interest.

“It is a bit of an explanation and some parts I do not believe you are ready for the hearing of.” Maude explained. “I want to first say that I regret to inform you Queen Sinnea has passed on. She likely died the night before she reemerged from her chambers after King Lyam’s death.”

“But how can this be? I saw her with my own eyes not one month ago!” Elatha exclaimed.

“You saw her body. Unfortunately she was not in it.”

Elatha was stunned into silence. She stared at Maude half in awe and half disbelieving.

“I realize this is all difficult for a South Escapian to comprehend but I am going to have to ask you to trust us and to open your mind to the rest of what I am going to tell you. What the Queen is now is what we call ‘demon ridden‘. Demons are evil beings who pray upon wickedness, sorrow, fear, vanity and pride. They come to a person when they are emotionally at the brink of death or willing to do most anything for the acquiring of something, as in wealth, power, beauty. You get the picture.”

“Like promising to bring back a beloved spouse from the dead.” Loflan interjected.

“ Indeed. The demon promises that person they will give them what they desire but it is a lie. Once the burning ritual is complete the soul of the person is released and the demon takes over.”

Elatha looked terrified. “So magic users are evil.” She muttered.

Maude smiled at her patiently but before she could speak Loflan cut in.

“Demons are not now and have never been human. Nor were they created by magic. They were created by God but they shunned him. Before the Great Division they tempted man in more subtle ways.”

Elatha laughed. “So you tell me users are mostly good and fairy tale fallen angels are real? This is more than even a low born South Escapian can believe.”

Both Maude and Loflan looked at her patiently. “We are not trying to convince you to believe anything we say but by our actions we will show you their truth.”

Elatha looked as sheepish as she could manage under her bruises. “That sounds fair enough. I am sorry to be so ungrateful of your kindness.”

“And disrespectful to our beliefs.” Maude chimed in.

“You have to understand I grew up being taught any person north of our borders were evil, dirty, misshapen half animals.” She couldn’t help but look at Loflan here and decide his frame was most certainly not misshapen and nor was he dirty. He caught her glance and she did not detect any evil in his eyes but there was a decidedly half animal intensity to them. She blushed though thankfully her bruises hid it and looked back to Maude. “I was also taught there was no God or Gods. That magic and religion were the cause of the Great Division in the first place. I can see for myself most of what I have been taught may not be true. I am willing to learn more of Sorsenia since it is to be my home for some time.”

“For some time? Do you mean you plan to go back to South Escapia?” Maude asked.

“Yes of course. I am going to reclaim what was mine.”

Maude smiled and looked at Loflan. “Well deary we will just have to toughen you up a bit first, won’t we my boy?”

Loflan said nothing for a long moment. Elatha didn’t dare look at him. “She should be given the opportunity to reclaim her life once the demon is banished.” He finally said.

“How do you kill a…….demon ridden person?”

“You don’t. Killing a demon is beyond our abilities and only the Banisher can kill the host body so that the demon will be released and the soul of the body can rest.” Maude answered.

“So Sinnea’s soul is not at rest?”

“No. It is in a kind of limbo. Once her body dies, her soul will be released.”
“How long can her body live with the demon inside it?”

“Indefinitely if the Banisher does not come to destroy it.”

“How do we contact someone who has the power to release her?”

“As it happens our dear Loflan here is the Banisher.”

Elatha looked at him. “Oh. How many of them are there?”

“How many what? Demons or Banishers?”

“Both.”

“Many and only one. You got pretty lucky to be rescued by the only person on earth who can free your queen from her demon and restore you to your prince. It’s almost like there are other forces at work here doesn’t it?” Maude smiled mischievously. Elatha couldn’t help but smile back and shrug.

“What is a banisher?”

“The Banisher.” Maude corrected. “That is another long story. I think we have enough to ponder on for one night. We will resume tomorrow night.”

Elatha nodded, Loflan rose, nodded at each lady in turn and swept from the room.

“He is going to be a right bear until he calms down some. Patience is not one of his many virtues.” Maude said shaking her head.”