Despite his exhaustion after the fight, Thame had a restless night. Short bouts of sleep were broken by the slightest creek or whistle. His destiny was close; he knew that these may be his last days. The only single predictable factor was work, and he prepared early for it that Monday morning, ignoring the tiredness that washed over him at the thought of the office party that night.
Donning a suit and tie, he prepared his sword so he could carry it within his jacket. With the war beginning, Thame removed the amulet from his wrist and returned it to his chest, without the protective cloth.
The workday normality ensued. Clients called, bosses whinged and Susan drank too much coffee. Thame remained on edge, waiting for Lohikaarme to make his move. Despite desperate efforts, he couldn't arrange a meeting away from the building and was left with no excuse to miss the party. The team finished early and made their way up to the top floor. Thame grabbed his jacket and slipped the sword in.
The whole floor had been cleared, the staff congregating around an office in the centre which had been closed off to the rest. Food was laid out and a makeshift bar had been set up, to everyone's delight. Catering and waiting staff buzzed between groups of chatting colleagues, handing out beer, wine and canapés. Thame stayed on the outskirts, trying not to mix; the commotion wasn't helping his nerves. He turned to try to slip away, but his colleagues jumped in front of him.
"Misery guts! Free beer, free food. Thame, free!"
Anticipation built as the evening went on. Those who had missed the meet-and-greet wanted to see who had bought them out and what it would mean for them. Thame didn't think to ask Susan, his mind on more important things, and she assumed he'd already picked up on the gossip. The free booze loosened tensions and, sober, Thame felt a change in tone. The company director shouted for quiet as the waiting staff cleared to the outskirts and the employees gathered round.
"Ladies and gents, the man who has – ah, sod it. Your new boss!"
Sir Henry Rockingham stepped out of the office, flanked by the Captain. Thame was at the bar with his back to the crowd, ignoring the introduction. Yet as the waiter stretched to give him a beer, his sleeve rode up revealing a tattoo; the ancient mark of Lohikaarme. Immediately, Thame's eyes glinted and his nose pricked up at the smell of his brother. With the amulet burning bright under his top, he saw the waiter's new formation and suddenly recognised the voice addressing the crowd, His voice.
Turning to look across the room, he saw the creature who was serving him his fate. At that moment, Sir Henry's play was being acted out. He was all smiles as he stood alongside the grinning company director, who was lapping up the attention of the crowd.
In a split second the mood changed. From nowhere, Sir Henry turned calmly to the director and, pulling out a sword from his jacket, beheaded him. There is a stunned silence; then some women begin to shriek. The party staff all stood to attention and drew previously concealed weaponry, some guns, others swords, to begin herding the revellers.
Thame was stuck at the back of the group, pressed by the window. A terrified Susan grabbed hold of him in panic. She noticed his focus, how he was eyeing up each weapon and position.
"I'm only here for one person!" Sir Henry roared. "If you all stay quiet, then you'll be fine. Give me my brother!"
They all stood silent in fear.
"Brother! Brother Ormr! Time is up..."
Thame started to move, accepting his final task, but Susan stopped him.
"Why? You aren't this Ormr fellow. You'll get yourself killed!" She hissed.
"Disappointing brother, coward as a human." Sir Henry retorted. "So be it."
YOU ARE READING
The Illumination
Fantasy*WATTYS2018 Longlisted* He saw a pair of eyes, his eyes. But they were elongated, angled and a deep, angry red... Thame is, on the surface, an average guy. Suffocated by the politics of his city job and his increasingly complicated love life, he se...
