The Chronicles of Bael

The Chronicles of Bael Part 9

Fireday, Death Week, Sea Season, 1600

After several weeks of absence, my Master bade me return to my training at the Temple to Storm Bull. My apprehension quickly turned to surprise when he announced that he would like to come with me and see me spar with the 'Sons of Urox", as he calls them. The worshippers of the Storm Bull are renowned throughout Genertela for their ability to sense Chaos. Though my Master has explained to me that we are immune to this sense, owing to our illumination, I was very nervous. I count Gorath a good friend, and would not like to see his Chaos berserk directed at me.

I was also oddly embarrassed to take my Master to the Storm Bull temple. Unlike the Temple to Lhankor Mhy it is a very poor temple, standing near the west wall of Furthest. The building itself is run down and would be more suited to stand in the shanty town of "Furthest-Outside-the–Walls". Its relative humble size is largely due to the fact that Furthest is far from any of the great Chaos grounds, and now stands within the Empire, neither factor likely to attract any but the local hotheads to its halls. Indeed, without Gorath, Furthest may well have been without a temple to the Bull.

When we arrived, Gorath greeted my Master with great delight. I fought for several hours with all the initiates, while Gorath and my Master observed, occasionally exchanging words. I was very keen to impress my Master this day, for it has been some years since he took any direct interest in my sword play. With Gorath off the field I was the dominant fighter that day, much to the resentment of many of the Storm Bull initiates.

As my Master and I returned to the Temple, he explained to me that he and Gorath had come to an agreement. Gorath was soon to lead his followers on a raid into Snake Pipe Hollow to destroy Chaos. I would accompany them, as both a guide and to provide counsel. In return Gorath would allow me to undertake a number of tasks that my Master would give to me in the pursuance of his studies. In addition, my Master had agreed that we would be responsible for recruiting a priestess of Chalana Arroy for the expedition.