The Poisoned Crown (SyndiSparklez)

7: Foretold, But Not Forewarned

Tom dreamed. A dream that was far too familiar to be a creation of his subconscious. It was a memory.

...( A while ago )...

The day had stretched into night, but Tom hadn't budged from where he hunched inside the hollowed out tree he preferred to use as his hide out. He hadn't had breakfast or lunch or dinner and his stomach was mourning the loss, but now wasn't a good time to even think about searching for a meal.

"What a well thought out hiding place," said a voice. Tom nearly jumped out of his skin. His eyes had been locked on the one way window as he watched with a morbid since of ease and acceptance the angry mobs hunting the woods for people like him; their torches lit their faces a glow and the rust atop the pitchfork spikes would look like blood the longer he stared. At the voice, he whipped around ready to throw a knife when to his horror it was even worse. It wasn't that someone had found him, but his god had appeared before him.

"M'lord," Tom said, bowing weakly. He had been hiding like a coward in this tree since he had heard the mobs. From their shouts he had gathered a Dianite follower had attempted to kill Mianite and all Dianite followers were to be persecuted until they found the guilty man. It was a rash and barbaric method, but the Mianite followers were upset and upset people acted rashly, especially in large numbers. His god was surely mad at him for avoiding the trials. More over avoidance probably made him look guilty. "What do I owe the pleasure?" Tom continued nervously.

"Stand up straight, I don't have much time," Dianite snapped. Tom straightened, watching the god closely. He looked worn, exhausted, as if this hadn't happened in such a short expanse of time. The god sighed and ran a hand through his spiky hair, fixing it so it went in one direction. He noticed Dianite's image flickered; it was a projection of the god. That gave Tom some relief. Projections could use magic, but at least he wasn't in danger of being physically strangled. "Someone's framing me and I've already figured out who," the god told him, crossing his arms.

"Do you want me to do something, m'lord?" Tom asked. Hell if he could do anything. He wasn't exactly the best fighter and whoever did try to kill Mianite probably was. The god was silent and his eyes took in the tree Tom was staying in. He examined it with some interest before nodding.

"Stay put," Dianite said. Tom was surprised at that; he was sure he would have to go face the persecution. The god looked suddenly behind him, seeing something in his real location before turning his attention back to Tom. "You're lucky cowardice saved you. The same cannot be said for me or the rest of you followers," Dianite said shakily, the god flickered again, his magic momentarily failing. Tom was concerned and faintly afraid to see the god looked scared. For being one of the most fearsome deities known for cruelness and burning people alive, Dianite looked weak at the moment, a human kind of weak one doesn't see in gods very often. Dianite grit his teeth. He held up a finger to Tom to wait a moment and then disappeared. Tom was left staring at the spot in growing bemusement and terror.

Dianite had implied that the other Dianite followers had met tragic ends and that he, the god of chaos, was going to meet one. The thought shook Tom's world hard. He never really liked the other followers, but he didn't want them gone; he didn't want to be the only one left. The god returned suddenly, a bleak expression on his face. As if his little trip had confirmed something he didn't want confirmation on. He stared long and hard at Tom, as if evaluating every decision Tom has ever made from choosing to wear a different shirt to picking fights with those that offended him. "You're going to have to hold onto something for me," Dianite said after a moment.

"M'lord?" Tom asked starting to feel overwhelmed. There had to be someone other than him. Someone else who could be charged with this information, with this responsibility.