The Cainite Order

CHAPTER 11

EN FORDEL OFTE KOSTER MER ENN HVA SOM ER HARDT KJØPT

CHAPTER 11

"A favor often costs more than what's hard-bought."

The next week was spent testing out the abilities that the charms granted him. So far one of his favorites was the Strength of the Kali. Combined with his new competency in melee combat and clever use of the charms he possessed, Beathen was able to defeat several practiced Chevaliers. He was far from the best fighter in the Order, but the spell Odin had given him increased his skill by roughly five years' worth of intense training. Though he was happy to be a competent fighter, his sparring partners took it upon themselves to put five years of pain into a very short amount of time. He took his training lumps as best he could and handed out several as well. The following Monday Beathen went to the library looking for Edgar and wondering what hoop he needed to jump through today.

"Beathen, just who I was looking for. You ready?" Edgar said enthusiastically.

"You're in a good mood today. I take it you came up with another off the wall test for me?" he said with a wary smile.

"In a manner of speaking yes, you are taking your final test today." said Edgar beaming with joy.

"Ok so what do we do after you run out of tests?" Beathen said with a chuckle.

"No you misunderstand me. This is your final entrance test. Passing this series of tests will make you a full member of the Order." clarified Edgar.

Beathen thought for a long second contemplating what this meant before he answered. Was he ready to truly join this strange world? Had the last year of training and study been enough? There was only one way to find out. "Well, when do we start?"

...

Walking through the catacombs under the Eridu Chapter house, Beathen was unnerved at the atmosphere. He finally understood the phrase Quiet as the Grave. At first he had wanted a flashlight, a torch, something to give off light. It took him a few moments to remember that he didn't need anything but himself. Feeling momentarily foolish he activated: Sight of Helios, Bast's Grace, The Endurance of Atlas, the Tongue and Eyes of Thoth, and Strength of Kali. Happily, they all worked at the same time without draining him at all.

The silence and darkness was no longer his only concern. The walls and ceiling were filled with the bones of multiple species; human, werewolf, and a few giant sized skulls. Walking through the damp underground he cautiously checked the walkway for traps and signs of movement. It only took him a few minutes to find the end of the first hallway. The chasm it emptied into was more than he was expecting. There was a path leading down to the entrance of a massive labyrinth stretching out farther than he could see.

Well this is great. It could take me months to find my way through this thing. Unless.... They never said there were any rules. The only thing Edgar would tell him was "Don't die!"

I am not Theseus making my way through this. Nothing says I can't walk along the top of the wall. He thought looking over the wall for a handhold. The walls were completely sheer and smooth. Guess it's time to put these charms to good use. He sent a knife hand into the wall to make the first foot hold

"Rrroooaar!" bellowed a beast in the distance.

What the hell was that? That sounds like..... no its probably a minotaur. That's what's traditionally in mazes. He thought, making more holes as he began to climb up the wall. Pulling himself on top, Beathen lay still waiting for noise of any kind. He was quickly rewarded, hearing a large form charging its way through solid matter in the distance. Looking toward the area of the explosive impacts he saw puffs of debris rocket into the air in a straight line toward him.