Sigmund - The Infernal Uprising

Chapter Twelve - A Guardian's Bond

  The Einherjar headquarters loomed ominously in the distance of the southern sector; its dome shaped exterior beaming off the reflected rays of the sun. Captain Naglfar and Director Njall could be seen within, conversing in the Director’s quarters. Naglfar stood patiently with his arms folded behind his back, standing firmly by the room’s entrance. As usual, Njall sported an unfavourable temper, pacing around the room with an enraged expression.

  “I can’t feel Enoch’s presence-” Njall stated before ushering a moment of silence.

Naglfar stepped forward, “So he failed after all? Did his father teach him anything of the ways of war?” He mocked.

“Right before Enoch died, I felt another presence,” Njall added, “One of immeasurable power.”

Naglfar sat down before looking on with intrigue, “You think it was Prometheus?”

Njall shook his head, “No, whatever it was the feeling vanished after a few short minutes. It’s not coming back.”

  The Captain sighed for a moment, looking away to the floor whilst allowing his minder to ponder the thought. Before they had the chance to speak any further the ground began to rumble underneath them. The centre of the table opened in a circular fashion with black sludge oozing from the orifice. Slowly but surely a figure began to emerge from the hole, its arms firmly at its sides. Before long the creature had fully emerged and the hole closed underneath him.

  Naglfar glared at the creature with an ill look, not knowing how to react by the sudden interruption.

Njall, on the other hand smiled simply before getting its attention. The creature turned to face him.

“Progress report.” The Director said bluntly.

At that moment the creature bowed, its colourless complexity chilling the atmosphere until finally it stepped from the table to the floor. Its bodily features becoming more apparent as a black robe began to stitch itself over him.

  “The Ragnamancy works my lord.” The being said.

“To its fullest extent?” Njall questioned, “Or, do we need more research?”

The being stood apprehensively, “We need more time. I don’t have the same control over it as the Ragnamancers. The fallen warriors near the Whiteout seemed to just turn on each other.”

Naglfar pushed his seat back before standing up, the two turned to face him.

  “There is only one solution.” He said as he stared at the two men, “We must summon them.”

Almost immediately Njall interjected, “And what would you have them do, kill Sigmund?”

Smiling Naglfar shook his head simply, “We can’t do that anymore. If what you said before wasn’t Prometheus then we have to assume it was another Guardian. And, since that Guardian has seemingly vanished we must assume that there are only a handful of them left. This means that we need Sigmund alive if we are to fulfil our goal.”

  The being turned to face Naglfar, “I can summon them, though I’m not sure what their reaction will be. Their master suffers imprisonment after all.”

Scratching his chin Njall paced around the table to Naglfar’s side. An eerie black smoke began to fill the air around them as Njall’s eyes turned a rotting yellow. He looked onward at the being, “Imprisonment in body but not in spirit. There is much you don’t know.” He said, his voice distorting and deepening. Before long the smoke faded and his eyes retained their original form. Njall looked around in a daze before falling slightly, placing a hand out on the table for support.