MrNepathy's Blog

Pitok stood over Thatus who had just suffered a terrible blow and was now slumped against the wall of the keep. Blood marked the corners of his mouth and the front of his quilt armor. Just as the god of wagers was about to swing, he heard Celia’s prayer end. He tilted his right ear towards the sky, listening for a moment. When he turned back to Thatus, he sneered. The expression on his face was one of smug victory.

“One of us is about to lose,” he said.

“My money is on you,” Thatus said as he weakly lifted his head.

“Making another bet are we?” Pitok laughed.

Thatus stabbed the blade of his longsword into the ground, held onto the hilt with one hand and pushed against the wall with the other as he tried to stand. “You realize, if you kill me now, you are only giving yourself less time to hide, for I will rip apart the cosmos as I come for you. That is something even you shouldn’t bet on.” Thatus stood on wobbly feet and took the hilt by both hands. “For every life lost in your crusade I will make you spend ten thousand years in the underworld. I will build a special cage with my own hands just to imprison you. It will be as miserable as your soul, but twice as cruel.”

“Say what you will, but you have lost. The prayer has ended and darkness remains.”

“I still choose my friends, still choose humanity, still choose hope. I have more faith in them than in the schemes and powers of a god. Now, fight me.” As Thatus brought about his sword to ready it for a swing, he began to sing Dandelion’s song.

Sorry you’re going to lose your bet. If my soul should happen to end up where I think it belongs… promise me you will watch over Celia.

Pitok laughed, “You really think their prayer can cause Hantock to open the walls of the heavens for one soul?”

Celia rounded the corner, holding the Orb of Hantock in her hands. It now shined a startling gold. The light was so bright it made her fingers look red as they clutched it. “We didn’t pray to open paradise, you bastard. We prayed to force her soul into the Orb, where it’s protected from you and from the undead.”

“Pitok!” the sky erupted. It was a shout heard around the planet. Pitok looked up just in time to see the streak of fire pierce the clouds. He had to jump back so that the comet did not strike his feet. It hit right between him and Thatus. As the fire dissipated, a man stood within. He wore a crown of gold that was shaped like rays of the sun. His hair seemed to be made of fire and it danced in the breeze. All about him the air was warm and pleasant, like a perfect summer day. He would have been remarkably handsome if not for the scowl on his face and the ways his eyes were reduced to slivers as he glared at Pitok.

“I…” Pitok stammered.

“… murdered my wife? Is that what you were about to say?” the sun god growled. As he growled, he grew in size so that he was looming over Pitok.

Pitok took a few steps back, “You know, I could do the same thing, if I was so inclined…”

“I am the god of the sun. I create food, give life, cast light, burn with an intensity that the underworld envies. Without me, the world dies. Without you, people thrive. If you have the courage, face me. Either way, I shall rip you asunder.”

At that threat Pitok streaked into the sky, disappearing in a flash.

Your half-brother Halford frightens me.

“Today and after what I have seen of his life, he is my brother,” Thatus said softly.

Halford shrank back to human size, stared up at the sky, waved his hands in opposite directions and parted the clouds. “I will not rest until I find him.” He turned towards Thatus and then towards Celia, “Thank you. You must be patient a while longer. It is the middle of the night, but I promise you, the sun will rise tomorrow.”

Celia bowed her head, humbled to silence for a moment and then she held the Orb aloft.

Halford tapped his palm to it, then leaned in and gave it the faintest of kisses, “You will be with me soon.” He took the Orb from Celia and cradled it against his elbow.

“And… Lord Hantock?” Celia asked.

“Trapped by Pitok’s scheme, but he shall be freed shortly. Your elf will know paradise, even if I have to escort him myself. I am sorry for the trouble I have caused, but…”

“I think we understand,” Thatus said as he reached out and put his palm on the wall to steady himself. Celia rushed to his side and threw her arm around him, “My poor Dalen.”

My? I like the sound of that.

“I thought you might,” Thatus said.

Halford looked at Thatus and his expression softened into a smile. He looked back towards the fields and the zombies that were now roaming of their own volition, no longer servants to Pitok. As he held out his hands, rays of light shot forth from his fingers and ripped the creatures into puffs of smoke. “Until the light comes, I shall stand guard.” With that he grew again until he was taller than four giants. He crossed his arms and watched the horizon.

Celia helped Thatus to the ground. “One shadow resting in the shadow of a god.”

“I don’t think he casts a shadow,” Thatus said with a shaky laugh.

“Right you are,” she said as she slipped her hand into his. “Now, about that kiss…”

“When tomorrow comes at last,” Thatus reminded her.

That’s if I make it to tomorrow… Maybe we should…

“You will be fine,” Thatus said, though he coughed again.

Bend of the World recovered Dandelion’s body and put it to rest beside the marble slab that was no longer basked in sunlight. The young giant nodded respectfully to his fallen friend, “Though we are not born of the earth we are all on a journey to join it. Your journey has ended and the earth grows greater for having you as a part of it.” Then Bend of the World walked over to stand beside Halford, imitating the sun god’s stance.

Melinda rushed over to Findred and stopped short of him. Tears streaked over her dirty face, “I thought… I had lost you again.”

“So did I,” the fire golem said as he held out his hand, miming pressing it to hers.

Daphne sat on her father’s foot. Together the party looked towards the east and waited for the sunrise.