ANGEL OF JUSTICE (2014 revised)

Chapter Sixty Five -Storm Arrival

Storm Arrival

CHAPTER THIRTY

Storms

Darric came out of the mind link, sat up and looked across to Thomas. The old priest appeared frailer than at any other time Darric could recall. He shook away the sudden image of the old priest lying on his death bed and called out to Thomas. Thomas heard Darric's call as if it had come from across a vast sea. He opened his eyes and let them adjust to the glare of the bright light coming in through the windows.

"Did you have any success, Darric?"

"I'm not sure what facilitates as success or what it was exactly you were asking me to find, but I discovered plenty that I am not particularly happy to acknowledge. I now know the origins of some of the families of the prophesized Keepers yet to come forth and a few vague hints on the ancestry of the four saviours that are suppose to help me save the world..."

Thomas managed a slight smile as Darric shook his head in disbelief at the knowledge he had gained from the crystals. "Why didn't you tell me about, Bane?"

"I tried. Remember? But all you wanted to do was see him as the enemy."

"But you never gave the comment of Bane's importance to our success much weight."

"You did not want to hear it, so it was best you found out for yourself and not just have my word for it. Now you must accept what you have learnt and put aside your previous feelings for the assassin."

"Great."

"So what else did you learn?"

"Charaz and I will meet again in yet another battle, one that could yet see my kingdom without a ruler. Not too mention that I've discovered that all the Pantheon priests holding the ward over the artifacts will eventually die. Something else you chose not to tell me."

"That is as it may be, Darric the priests all partake in the ward of their own accord. It is their choice and their destinies."

"Still is it really necessary? It's not as if a Pantheon priest can be easily replaced."

"It's the close contact with the relics and their immense power that causes the priests harm."

"How long have you known this?"

"Always. Which is why the priests will not allow me to partake in holding the ward, they hold too much concern for one old man."

"But without you there would not be a ward to protect the artifacts would there?"

Thomas waved the question away and stood up to stretch his back. "It all comes down to cause and effect. The other priests could have just as easily created the ward."

"I will go to my grave believing you underestimate your role in Cardinia's salvation, Thomas."

"Perhaps. But without you, it would not matter how many Pantheon high priests we had because there is only one Prince of Time. Without you Cardinia is lost."

"Yet without your guidance and foresight, Thomas I would not be the man I am today and in no position to free our kingdom from the chains of sorcery that currently bound us to the forces of evil."

"Well we can debate on these philosophical matters until the end of time Darric and it will bring us nothing. There is a war out there and sitting here debating each others importance or lack there of, isn't getting us any closer to the conclusion."

"I know. And by the sound of that second explosion I think we should go see what all the noise is. I just hope it is not the two men we are trying to save being killed."