Divine Apostasy Book 7 - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Ruwen turned to face the Adepts, verifying none had died. A few had injuries, but nothing serious enough to force the use of Massage to heal them. The Adepts continued to stand in stunned silence.

Ruwen pointed at the far side of the hill. “Rung Two and Three fetch the weapons and relics from the fallen. Leave them alive unless they threaten you.” He turned and pointed at the decimated Shattered Clan fighters. “Rung Four, collect the weapons and relics here.”

None of the Adepts moved. Finally, a member of Rung Two cleared their throat and muttered what they probably all felt. “What are you?”

Ruwen glanced at all of them. “I’m a Bamboo Viper Adept just like you.”

From the direction of the bridge a thunderous explosion boomed across the plain, followed immediately by a high-pitched whistle which grew louder with every moment. Everyone turned, and a moment later Sift arced above them, flying toward the ocean. The air behind him, super-heated from his passage, condensed into a white trail as it cooled.

Sift sped straight into the air, disappearing from sight for a five seconds, before reappearing on a course for their position. A few seconds later he floated down to the hilltop using his Soul magic, his speed and control vastly better than when he’d first tried used them during the Step Championship so long ago. The edges of his clothes had frayed from the incredible speed.

Now who’s showing off? Ruwen asked Sift using a mental link.

It feels so good to fly. I’ve missed it terribly.

Just a week ago, you were flying in Shelly.

Well, it has been a long week.

Okay, I can agree with that.

Ruwen felt Tarot move through his hair and a moment later the little golem flew away on one of his deck of cards, headed for the wreckage Ruwen had left of the first group that had attacked them. It only took a moment for him to realize why.

Ruwen shouted toward Rungs Two and Three. “Watch that golem. He’ll steal your loot.”

Sixteen Adepts dashed to stop the golem

Prythus approached Ruwen and bowed, and Ruwen returned it.

“I’m sorry to bother you, Sisen,” Prythus said. “But did you just speak in Inferni?”

“Yes,” Ruwen answered. “And I’m not your Sisen.”

“I didn’t know humans could understand Inferni.”

“I’ve picked up a few languages.”

Prythus’ heart raced. “Do you understand it?”

“I do.”

Prythus yelled, and Nymthus ran over. “The young Master might be able to translate. Can you write it out?”

“Here?” Nymthus asked in disbelief.

“Unless you disagree,” Prythus replied. “We might never get another opportunity to decipher it. If we all know its contents, hopefully one of us survives to take it home.”

Nymthus considered for a moment and kneeled. She used a demon inscribed blade to clear the grass and then traced a message from memory in the dirt. She pushed herself away and stood. “Does it make any sense?”

Ruwen read the message out loud. “Servants of the new dawn harken. Lightbringer desires an ancient Divine journal containing advanced alchemy. Those who recover this item will live alongside Lightbringer in the first ring, lords in their own right, for eternity. All hail Lightbringer. The new dawn comes.”

“What do they want with divine journals?” Prythus asked.

“Journal,” Ruwen said. “Singular.” He thought about Echo asking the Quartermaster if he had any books among his relics. He turned to Sift. “What is Echo doing?”

“She is moving across the bridge,” Sift replied.

Ruwen swept his foot across the message, erasing it. What book could have the whole demon world from Echo down to common demons searching for it?

Lalquinrial had entered Ruwen’s mind and met the Narrator Kholy, who had formed from the twenty-two journals Ruwen had in his memory. She had told Lalquinrial she was incomplete and asked if he knew the location of her twenty-third journal. The demon lord had reacted violently to the question, his whole demeanor becoming vastly more hostile. Was that the journal referenced in the recovered demon message?

“The far side of the bridge is our destination as well,” Ruwen said.

“It’s become a little more crowded,” Sift replied.

Ruwen studied the distant bridge and confirmed Sift’s observation. Chaos had spread across the entire bridge as teams from across the river had marched onto the bridge to fight the groups trying to cross. He wondered if Echo had made it across in time or if she and Rung One had gotten trapped.

The Adepts collected all the weapons and anything they thought might be a relic. One adept had to hover over the pile as Tarot kept flying around the items.

“Tarot, can you identify relics?” Ruwen asked.

“Of course,” Tarot said without removing his gaze from the Adept guarding the pile.

“How about a deal?”

The Adept guarding the loot spoke. “That little man grabbed three swords and a necklace already.”

“Seriously?” Ruwen asked.

“It’s in my nature,” Tarot replied, still not taking his eyes off the loot pile.

“How about this,” Ruwen said. “You identify all the relics for us, and you can have all the weapons and one out of every twenty relics.”

“Preposterous. I want half.”

“You want, but they need.” Ruwen stepped in front of Tarot and opened his Void Band. “I can always take everything and sort it out later with another method.”

“Believe him,” Sift said. “He’s a hoarder.”

Tarot shifted his gaze up to Ruwen. “A hoarder, huh? I respect that. I’m a collector myself.”

Ruwen didn’t bother arguing. For once, Sift’s comment might help him.

Tarot put a hand on his hip. “As a show of good faith, I’ll settle for a quarter of the relics.”

“No way,” Ruwen said. “These warriors need the advantage the relics provide.”

“Twenty percent then.”

Ruwen shook his head. “Ten percent, but the Adepts get first pick.”

Tarot rubbed his chin. “And the weapons?”

The Bamboo Viper Clan had no need of weapons, but Ruwen remembered the Inferni etched dagger and wondered if some of those might have value to Rung Four. “You can take ninety percent, but again, the Adepts get first pick for their ten percent.”

Tarot considered and after five seconds, Ruwen opened his Void Band again and strode toward the pile.

“Fine, fine,” Tarot said. “You drive a hard bargain.”

Ruwen pointed at Tarot. “Good. Now put back what you took.”

“What! That’s not fair.”

“They are part of our loot. You agreed to the percentages.”

Tarot floated up and hovered two feet in front of Ruwen. His eyes were large and glinted in the dawn light. Tears fell down the golem’s cheeks. “I found them.”

Ruwen hid a smile. “No, you took them because you’re a thief. But you’re an honorable one, right? And quite the actor.”

The tears disappeared and Tarot narrowed his eyes. “Well played, Starfield. You are a worthy adversary.”

Tarot floated to the loot pile and opened the dimensional portal in his stomach. Fifteen swords fell out, four rings, a necklace, and three bracelets. The last item to emerge was a white belt.”

Sift looked down. “Hey! When did you take my belt?”

Ruwen laughed. He’d need to pay better attention to Tarot. Sift would, too.

The Adepts had all gathered around the pile.

Ruwen stepped back. “Tarot will identify the relics. Divide them among yourselves based on need.”

Tarot faced Ruwen again. “Aren’t you taking a share?”

Ruwen shook his head. “I carry enough.”

Tarot shrugged and turned back to the loot. An invisible hand shot out from his portal and began arranging the weapons and relics into piles. Ruwen assumed there was some method to the erratic shuffling.

Ruwen signaled to Sift and they walked to the side of the hilltop facing the bridge.

“What do you think?” Ruwen asked.

“I could just fly everyone over one at a time.”

“A good idea, but we aren’t supposed to use magic for anything significant to our purpose here.”

“They told us to survive.”

“True, but making everything trivial won’t help them in the long run. Plus, you’d likely drop a couple.”

Sift sighed. “I’d probably catch them again.”

“That bridge looks messy, and we only have a day to cross the river and find our portal stone.”

“What about swimming or taking a boat?”

“I’m guessing the river is full of nasty things, and there isn’t anything here to build a boat.”

“It looks like we fight then.”

Ruwen agreed.