The King's Game - Seven Calamities Arc (Part 2)

Chapter 34: Burnt at the Stake

The skies of Ejitope had become dark over the past few vrots, priests saw this as a bad omen that would signify the death of all living creatures on the planes of Ejitope. Despite all of these warnings from the priests, Conanus refused to try to make peace with the Gods, instead he ordered all churches and temples to be razed to the ground. At first the religious openly defied Conanus, but all those who defied the order to stop praising the Gods were burnt at the stake as a message to all others.

The bat flew from the scrawny man's shoulder and landed on Conanus head, "You are doing the right thing. The Gods will use the religious to spark internal riots within the kingdom, which could lead to the destruction of all mortals."

"But they are already rioting and scheming against me, and I cannot afford to die before the war is over."

"Do not worry; it is best to stomp out the traitors before the great war. This way we will have time to strengthen our weak links."

"Yes you are right. If we are attacked by a religious group during the war against the Gods, it could end up dealing a heavy blow to our moral. This is the only way, the only way for us to survive."

A sinister smile crept across the scrawny man's face as he watched Conanus come to terms with the pointless murder of those who worshiped the Gods.

A messenger ran into the throne room, panting heavy he dropped to his knees, "Your majesty I am so sorry for entering without permission, however I come to deliver a message of grave importance."

Two guards rushed in after the messenger, "I am so sorry your majesty, he slipped past us after distracting us."

Conanus raised his hand to silence the guards, "Speak messenger, what is this grave news you have brought me?"

"Demons my king; demons have been sited coming from the Weeping Shore. The entire town has been destroyed. The priests say it has become the portal to the demon realm."

Conanus gave the messenger a cold stare, "Did you just say the priests told you this?"—the messenger realising what he had just said tried to ask for pardon, but Conanus gave him no chance to speak—, "Have this God praising scum burned at the stake right this instant!"

The guards grabbed the messenger dragging him away kicking and screaming, pleading for mercy. The messenger being dragged by the guards combined with the screams, created quite the commotion which sparked the interest of many citizens of the Capital. Some filled with fear, others with burning lust, the citizens all made their way to the square where all condemned by Conanus were burnt at the stake. Citizens who had arrived early could be seen getting the stake ready, as the guards stood on the lookout for anyone who would try to stop what had become a sacred ritual in the Capital. Two cloaked figures approached the stake where the messenger was to be burnt. They were given nervous glances by the citizens, as many citizens wondered when another riot would break out against these rituals.

"Ah, my body is getting warmer and my heart won't stop racing. This overbearing feeling of fear and lust coming from the people around us is simply too much for me to handle." The one cloaked figure said as she groped her breast and licked her lips.

Stifling a yawn, the other cloaked figure spoke, "Why do we have to be here anyway? This entire job is just so troublesome."

"Oh hush you. It cannot be helped, Wrath stands out too much, Pride is on a mission, Greed is too unpredictable and Envy just vanished; so we are the only ones left."

"I know, but how are we even supposed to find him in this huge crowd? For all we know he could not even be here. Why don't we just take a nap somewhere and say we couldn't find him?"

The female cloaked figure smacked the other behind the head, "Don't be an idiot Sloth. Now focus, he might try to stop these burnings of religious citizens."

With the stake completed, the citizens cleared the way as the guards stepped forward with the messenger and begun to tie him to the stake. A finely dressed man stepped forward with two guards at his side, trumpets blew signalling the beginning of the ceremony.

"Attention all brave and wonderful citizen of the Royal Capital of Ejitope. Today we burn this scum for having the audacity of mentioning the words of God fearing priests before our great king."—the crowd shouted in uproar that the messenger would do such a thing, some even began to hurl things at the messenger tied to the stake— "Now, now my fellow citizens. The king has already given this man his sentence, and nothing pleases me more than knowing another religious piece of scum will die. If there are any believers of the Gods hidden amongst us today, let this be a message to you all. Those who side with the ones who want to wipe us from the planes of Ejitope will suffer the same faith as this man!"

The finely dressed man grabbed the torch from the guard and started the fire around the messenger. The citizens watched as the fire began to spread and rise. The messenger, who's throat had become raw from all the screaming and pleading, cried out one more time before all that could be heard from him were the guttural screams of being burnt alive.

The female cloaked figure turned and began to walk away, "Let's go Sloth, it would seem that he didn't appear this time. Let us search for any clues in the Capital before we find lodging for the night."

Sitting on his throne in the demon realm, Arazach traced his finger over the wound Shadow had inflicted on him. An ache that could never heal unless he had Shadow's head mounted on the wall of his throne room. In a fit of rage Arazach threw his goblet of wine to the ground.

Shivering in fear from Arazach's rage, the servant bent to pick up the goblet.

"Bring me some more wine right this instant, I need to dull this ache that won't leave me." Arazach bellowed to his servant.

A demon cladded in armour entered the throne room and knelt before Arazach, "King, do you really believe that it is the right time to move our forces to the mortal realm?"

"Yes, we have to crush them now. If the Gods do it first they will have the advantage in finding the sigil."

"Of course King, I trust your wisdom; I also bring other news."

Arazach could see the demon commander was hesitant to reveal the news, "What is it?"

The demon looked to the ground, "We have gotten reports that Niarajuel the Blackfall is living in the mortal realm. She is revered as a Goddess, yet we have not discerned her location."

Arazach stared at the demon before breaking out in a series of chuckles, "This just gets better and better. Arcokiq, does this mean that you are alive as well? I can't wait to have your head mounted right next to Shadow and Judesis' heads. Have the dark hounds break off from the main invasion group and find them, do not approach them, I will do that personally."

"At once King." The demon commander said as he stood then left the throne room.

"There can only be one king, and that king will be me."