Ultimatum

Waking from death this fast wasn’t anywhere close to as comfortable as last time—not that that had been comfortable at all. This time all the pain she should’ve felt while talking to her subconscious attacked her all at once. She groaned and coughed, splattering the floor with specks of half-dried blood. The one who had to clean up her blood probably didn’t mind that she added a little bit more.

It’s not that they’d be able to tell the difference …

The pain in her chest faded and passed the baton on to her head. Her stomach growled, and she felt lightheaded. Why could her magic bend and override reality and yet she still felt this sick after dying? That just didn’t make any sense.

“Is … is that something saints can do?” There was a tremble in Rahl’s voice. “Stumbledoor?”

“I … uh,” the old man stuttered. “Well, saints are known to be immortal … I think they only die of old age.”

Rahl opened and closed his mouth like a fish stranded on a sandy beach.

“You can’t be serious!” Rafhina sounded angry. “She demonstrated a miracle and you still don’t accept her as a saint? You didn’t even know that saints are immortal?”

“But.” Rahl gulped and was clearly grasping for straws. “No saint has ever accused or fought with a high priest of our Lady!”

“That high priest didn’t listen to us and tried to kill her!”

“Silence!” Zarah’s voice somehow managed to sound calm while still thundering through the room. Rahl seemed to freeze and there was something in the air. Was there magic involved? In a simple shout?

I need them to teach me that!

“Stumbledoor. You saw that she cast shadow in our future. Elaborate!” The deciding voice of the council stared at the old man.

“I can’t say. The image is not clear. I could determine that she’s touched by Luaria, but that she’s also somehow deeply connected to Saesquar. She’s like an impossibility.” The old man shook his head.

Nia’s eyelid twitched. Was he just telling her that she shouldn’t even exist? “How about you ask us, ask me for a change?” She slowly turned to Zarah. “Where I am from, the accused is innocent until proven guilty!”

“We don’t have the luxury to play such games.” Rahl snorted derisively while dabbing a cloth against his sweaty forehead.

Nia whirled around to him. “You didn’t even listen to anything we had to say. No, you had to immediately call for my death. Without knowing anything about me or the situation.”

“You should address the council with resp-” Rahl began, but was cut off.

“Let her speak.” Zarah sounded a bit calmer, but there was still something to the way they spoke. There had to be magic involved.

Finally, someone has learned a smidgen of reason.

“Great. Then let me be brief. Saesquar is already back.” Nia waited just long enough to see the shocked look on Zarah’s face. Then she turned around and toward the entrance. She’d only been here as a favor to Mother Clemens.

“Wait!” This time the full brunt of Zarah’s magic voice hit her. She felt the vibrations in the air, how the magic reacted to it and tried to lock her in place. She analyzed it for a moment, then ripped the effect apart, which was somehow pretty easy. “Tell us what you …”

Zarah fell silent as Nia turned back to face them.

Didn’t expect me to be unaffected by your magic, did you? Nia tried to keep her growl in check. “Haven’t you just sat there and looked on, while he wanted me dead? I don’t think there’s anything else I can tell you. Never shoot the messenger!”

“I don’t understand … My vision told me that Saesquar was still trying to return …” Stumbledoor managed to look as pale as his beard.

“We need to know how,” Rafhina said carefully. “Maybe she’s still weak enough for us to seal her once more.”

“With priests that are clearly on her side? Like Qiin was?” she gestured to the monk’s body. The councilwoman turned almost as pale as the Seer’s beard.

Nia turned back to Zarah. “Face it, she’s already infiltrated Luaria’s priesthood. It was Qiin who summoned us.”

“Impossible.” Zarah also became several shades brighter.

“Oh, it is possible …” The sound, Nia didn’t want to call it a voice, startled her. It was as if at least two voices were superimposed with one another. The first one was Qiin’s, and the other …

“Saesquar,” she whispered as she turned to what should be Qiin’s corpse.

The man slowly stood, his eyes had turned black, his skin a pale gray. “For some reason my minion’s body is completely empty, and his soul hasn’t returned to me,” the voice continued. “And I think I know the cause.” A shiver ran over Nia’s back as the lifeless black eyes stared at her. “I promised you that I will own everything you are. And I tend to keep my promises.”

“Mother Clemens! Exorcise him! Her!” Was that a panicked Zarah? Or Rafhina?

“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll be gone momentarily.” Saesquar-Qiin turned to Zarah. “I’m just delivering my ultimatum. Hand the saint and her companions over to me, or I will destroy your city. You have one hour!” Qiin’s body then fell back to the floor as if invisible strings had been cut.

“I think it’s time for us to leave,” Tom whispered and put a hand on Nia’s shoulder.

I hate to admit it, but you’re right. Nia nodded to him and turned around.

“Wait!” There it was again, Zarah’s compulsion to just stop. Nia snapped it within moments and spun around.

“Don’t ever try that crap with us again!” She breathed heavily for a moment. Only when she had calmed down somewhat, she continued: “We have no reason to stay and save your damned city. Or your world. You’ve given us no reason to. In fact, all you did only encourages us to leave right now!”

“Mother Clemens! You have to stop her.” Rafhina had folded her hands pleadingly in front of her.

To Nia’s surprise, the old woman shook her head. “I can’t stop her, and I won’t. She’s probably the only one that can stop the dark goddess, so handing her over to Saesquar is the worst thing we can do. All I can try is to encourage her to fight.” Their gazes met, and Mother Clemens added: “When the time is right.”

“I suggest you evacuate everyone you can,” Nia added, then walked through the double doors and out of the council room. Her stomach growled and black spots danced in front of her vision, but she refused to give in to another bout of unconsciousness. Not as long as the council could see her.

As soon as she was out of sight, her legs started to buckle. Immediately, Sonja and Tom where at her sides, helping her stay upright.

While she mumbled a “thank you,” a strange warm feeling bubbled up inside of her, and she had to wonder whether that was what companions, no, friends, were like. They were now really one group.

And it only took, was me dying … Twice.

Maybe that thought was unfair. To her. To them. They had overcome their differences. Which meant that Saesquar had achieved one part of her objective.

Best make sure she doesn’t achieve the rest. I can’t die, but the others still can …