Chapter 9 -- Exeunt Omnes

The cowards! After all that, they run away! 

Fury bellowed time and time again in Ash's mind, swiftly followed by a colorful repertoire of oaths, eliciting a strange guttural noise of annoyance from the blond figure. 

 

Sorry, lad. I got carried away..

 

Ash's concerns, however, returned to his mission immediately. 

 

One.

 

Scuse me? 

 

Only one of them is here. 

 

He noted a few minutes later. Standing in the church's central chamber, gazing at the depiction of a war long since forgotten by common men, but him… Memories incessantly sought to consume his attention, as he had participated in that battle, now commemorated in fables, tales, songs and paintings. 

 

   The once beautiful, detailed image stretched twelve feet in width and at least as many in height, now besprinkled with crimson horror. The red liquid of life, still flowing from three robed priests. Each transfixed against the wall by spears through their chests, their legs dangled aimlessly over the picture. 

 

Any of those three? 

Fury enquired. 

 

No.. There are no signs of soul decay either.

 

Maybe they have another goal? 

Suggested the now calm spirit. 

 

Can't imagine what that is. I don't believe in coincidence.

 

Having freed the prisoners, he had instructed them to wait for him outside, nobody questioned it then, but as he had lost himself in thought, the murmurs and soft chatter of dissatisfied people pierced the silence within. 

 

Lad, you best go and handle the survivors first, especially The one..

 

Yes, in but a moment.

 

Even in the face of a bright sunny morning, he couldn't help but feel a dark, brooding sense of foreboding rush through his being.

 

I know my uncle's involved in this twisted scheme.. But I can't figure out how, or what he hopes to gain out of all this.. 

 

Personal revenge? 

 

He's not one to go these lengths for mere revenge... 

 

   An older man, in the simple brown tunic of a farmer, hiding his scraggy, thinning hair under a cap peered in through the doorway. 

 

Brown eyes mirthful but glistening with wonder and horror simultaneously in those scant few glances he dared to behold Ash's countenance. 

 

  He cleared his throat, hoping to catch Ash's attention and have the blond officer start the conversation. Nothing happened, the otherworldly warrior's attention fixed on the blood stained painting. 

 

Rubbing his reddened, irritated wrists in nervous anticipation, he mouthed a call, but no sound parted his drying, cracked lips, as no adequate words to name the magnificent form came to him. 

 

Seconds later, he turned away to leave, and maybe try thinking up something appropriate before addressing a being so utterly different and seemingly perfect in all ways. 

 

Magically inapt, he still shivered in the blond figure's presence, perhaps more so than in the demons'. 

 

They will get cranky with you soon.. 

 

I'm aware.. 

 

With that Ash finally glanced out the doorway, then sheathed Fury. 

 

"You can remove the dead now, and give them a proper burial."

He spoke aloud to the crowd of people gazing toward him. 

 

A pair of broad shouldered men shoved through the crowd, they carried a long, wooden ladder. 

 

  Slowing their pace only as they approached him, shifting their gaze down. 

One of them was clearly a blacksmith, beefy strong arms, a solid sturdy body, and the characteristic calloused palms, slightly blackened skin. The other was most likely a merchant of slimmer build that probably belied his strength. 

Without hesitation, they set the ladder against the wall between the right most and middle priests. The blacksmith figure climbed up to remove the first body on the right. 

 

Thumping with dreadful finality, the corpse collapsed to the floor as the man worked the spear free with considerable effort. 

 

Once all three bodies were on the floor, Ash turned his gaze back to the crowd. 

 

"My colleagues will arrive shortly, nobody is permitted to leave until they had examined and treated every one of you."

 

He paused, scanning the anxious faces expecting more of him. 

 

"I know you're concerned about the fiends who ran away earlier, but be at ease. Even now, I can sense them, miles away, and should they return, I will destroy them."

 

Some attitudes and concerns assuaged, the murmurs and chatter died down. 

 

"As per the victims.. I need to see those who were tortured."  he finished in a loud, calm voice. 

 

"What of the dead outside?" someone, a female shouted in. 

 

"My associates will arrive shortly and help you deal with those lost."

He stated, then as the former captives selected those most gruesomely tortured by the demons, he fixed his gaze into Mjoln's. 

 

The group of eight approached him, an air of trepidation surrounded the people as they stopped just two steps before him. Among the eight youngsters, only Mjoln dared look him in the eye.

 

"I'll need eye contact with each of you. Not to worry, this won't take long. Just remain still, silent, and try not to think about anything."

He stated then stepped closer to the first on his left. A girl, roughly thirteen, her blonde tresses dangled about in a mess, a scar stretched from her mouth up, toward her right eye.

 

Yes, this one.. 

Her green eyes fixed into his, only to moments later allow him a glimpse of her memories. 

 

Appears I just interrupted them before they'd blind her. 

 

Why her, though.. It makes no sense. 

 

On the contrary, Fury.. Her hair, it's blonde, and her eyes are green like my mother's were.. Like most women in my clan. Suppose these fiends are not as intelligent as I have feared.

 

He slowly reached his left, bare hand to her soft skin, to the red canyon threatening to steal the light of her eye. With one sweeping motion he ran his index finger down the injury, observing with some relief as it had closed and vanished without a trace. 

 

"You may leave now." 

He noted, then stepped to the next girl, who, from her features, must've been a sister of the first. 

 

Numerous cuts littered her arms, which Ash healed with the same method, right after browsing through her memories, only to discover that her mind had blocked most of them. 

 

He proceeded through the entire group, leaving Mjoln for last. 

 

"You, my friend, are a slightly different case. I will treat your injury, but you will remain with me afterwards."