Chapter IV

Martyn and Laurence walked together all the way up to the study’s door, and Martyn knocked firmly against the door.

“Arch-Sage Riand is here at your summons, sire,” he called out, and shortly the door opened, revealing the king.

“Laurence, my friend, thank you for coming. Please, come in,” he said, and stepped aside, gesturing for Laurence to enter, which the wizard did. Gallad then looked at Martyn. “Thank you Martyn, you are dismissed,” he said, and Martyn bowed his head and turned to leave. “Oh and Martyn,” he called out and then paused, causing the man to turn back to face his king, “we are not to be disturbed,” he continued.

“Of course, my king,” Martyn said, and nodded. He then turned to leave again, and Gallad closed the door to the room, facing back to Laurence. He walked over to him and embraced him in a warm hug.

“How are you, Laurence? I do hope life has been treating you well,” Gallad said, stepping back and smiling at him. Laurence returned the smile weakly.

“I take it you received my letter?” Laurence asked, and Gallad’s smile dropped as he nodded solemnly.

“I did, and since I could sense the desperation in your tone, I sent Martyn to collect you as soon as I had read it,” he said, and then added, “by the way, please deliver it yourself next time, Peter nearly pisses himself whenever he’s in my presence.”

The crack caused both men to chuckle, breaking the tension for a moment. It quickly returned however, as both of them knew that the visit was not solely a personal one. Laurence stared intently into Gallad’s eyes, attempting to discern his feelings upon reading the letter.

“Either he is going to finally take me seriously and heed my warnings, or he thinks I have officially gone mad,” he thought to himself, waiting in the pained silence for Gallad to say something, anything at all. A few more moments passed before the king said anything.

“I’ve given your letter, and those before it, much thought, and unfortunately I just cannot afford to send an entire expedition halfway across the world in the hopes of ending this threat you so fear, not when war is so close to our own home,” he said, and immediately he could see the defeat and frustration on Laurence, who began to open his mouth to protest, but Gallad held up his hand to silence him. “However, I have known you long enough to know you don’t make such claims lightly, so I am going to send a small party in the hopes that they can possibly combat this… I believe you referred to it as a presence? To combat this presence you say resides there.”

Laurence scoffed and rolled his eyes. “And what hope do you think a handful of fools would have against something that dwarfs even the power of the three?” he asked incredulously. Gallad simply shrugged.

“My friend, that is the best I can do. I have already sent out messengers to call for adventurers and mercenaries to assemble in Ethril for this endeavor. If it may be any consolation, you will have the final say in who is chosen for this expedition, and should you wish it, you may lead it personally as well,” Gallad said, pausing for a moment to allow Laurence to absorb what he had said, before continuing. “There is someone I would like you to meet as well,” he said, and gestured behind Laurence to a corner of the study where the light did not seem to reach very well, where a man emerged and made his way over to them. He extended his hand to Laurence, who extended his own and shook it.

The man looked to be of middle age, younger than Laurence or even Gallad, but certainly older than adolescence. He wore a very short, thin beard, and most of his dark brown hair was pulled back into a knot behind his head, but the rest fell down  to his shoulders. He wore the nondescript clothing of possibly a merchant, or a low-ranking noble, and his eyes seemed to be absorbing every aspect of Laurence’s being, making him more than a little uncomfortable. He had a stoic, unreadable expression on his face that gave none of his true feelings away.

“Well met, Arch-Sage,” the man said, and nodded to him. “I am Edric Beynon, Deputy High Inquisitor and personal spymaster to the crown,” he said, causing Laurence’s eyes to go wide, and he looked back to Gallad in surprise.

“An inquisitor? What’s this for?” Laurence asked, and Gallad looked puzzled at the response.

“And here I thought you would welcome someone of Edric’s expertise to the expedition. After all, the Inquisition has a long history of investigating, rooting out, and combating evil, wherever it may be found,” he said.

“Yes, but they generally are fighting things like vampires, werebeasts, abominations, ritualists, Lokhanites, and the like, not… not whatever lies in that accursed place,” Laurence said, and then looked over to Edric. “I mean no offense, Master Inquisitor, I just cannot help but feel this may be out of your depth,” he added.

“None taken, however I assure you that I have felled beings of evil beyond any sane man’s imagination and worst nightmares. If there is a way to defeat this evil, I will be nothing but an aid in uncovering its weaknesses,” he said, and looked to Gallad, before back to Laurence. “Besides, his majesty has personally requested my presence on this mission… quest… expedition, whatever you wish to call it, as his personal representative. He felt that sending a knight or some other warrior adhering to some chivalric code would be more of a hindrance than an advantage,” he continued.

“My king, I really must protest-” Laurence said, but Gallad silenced him with a glare and a hand.

“Laurence, if you wish my aid and permission in allowing this expedition to occur, Edric will accompany you. I know the Inquisition and the Council of Sages have had their… let’s say differences, in the past, but I need a man I can personally trust on his expedition, besides yourself, and I trust no one more than Edric. He has more tenacity and resolve than a hundred men-at-arms, and I know he will either succeed, or die in his attempt,” Gallad said, and Laurence looked down, admitting defeat.

“Very well, as you wish, sire,” Laurence said, and then met his gaze once again. “When can we expect to assemble our party and leave?” he asked.

“I expect it will take at least a fortnight, if not longer, for all interested parties to make their way to the city. I am expecting quite a response, however. After all, I offered a substantial reward that anyone would have to be a fool to refuse,” Gallad said. “After that, you may take as much time as you wish to assemble your party, load on provisions, and leave.”

Laurence saw that this outcome was the best that he could expect, and while not what he had hoped for, he only prayed it would be enough to achieve success. He bowed to Gallad.

“Thank you, my king,” he said, but Gallad waved him off.

“Laurence, you’ve taught me since I was a boy. You could smite me on the spot if you felt so inclined, there is no need to stand on such pompous ceremony,” he said, and instead gripped the older man lightly by the shoulders. “We will prevail, my friend, I know of it. We will prevail, because if you are right, we have no other choice,” he said, and embraced him, before finally releasing. Laurence turned back to face Edric.

“Well then, Master Inquisitor, I expect us to be working very closely over the next few weeks and months to come,” he said, to which Edric simply nodded. Laurence and Gallad’s eyes met one last time, before Laurence exited the study and left the two men alone once again. Gallad looked at Edric.

“Was hiding in the shadows for a dramatic reveal necessary? It felt like it had come straight from a play,” Gallad said, and laughed. The stoic expression on Edric’s face slowly turned into a sly grin, and he joined the king in laughing.

“You know I have a flair for the dramatic,” he said, while winking at the king. The laughter soon died from his voice, however, and the somber, stoic expression returned. “My king, do you believe the Arch-Sage? I care not for what feuds or rivalries our institutions have had over the past years, but I am worried for what could be the ramblings of a senile old wizard. After all, Guun-gehad is not a journey undertaken lightly, and most who ever attempt it fail, either through death or lack of will,” he said, his voice tight. Now it was Gallad’s turn to glare at him.

“While I myself may have doubts as to the threat Laurence is attempting to warn us of, I will fall short of accusing him of madness or senility, and will caution you to do the same. He has seen and accomplished things you or I could only hope to dream of, and has sacrificed almost everything in service to this kingdom. I expect that to be the last time I ever hear slander on the Arch-Sage’s name, am I understood?” Gallad said, his voice icily cold. Edric averted his gaze and looked to the floor.

“Of course, sire, please forgive me,” he said, keeping his head bowed for a moment before raising it to Gallad’s gaze again. “If you will excuse me, your majesty, I believe I should begin planning the expedition then,” he continued, and received a nod from Gallad.

“Yes of course, you are dismissed,” the king said, and as Edric passed him, he grabbed his shoulder. “Do not take my reprimand too harshly, Edric. You could be forgiven for assuming such things about Laurence, however… While his claims will always have a shred of doubt until they are confirmed, I have never known him to be a liar or fearmonger. If he says the threat of this presence is real and as cataclysmic as it seems, then I have no choice but to trust him, and you should as well,” he continued, and then released Edric, allowing him to exit the study. At last, Gallad stood alone in his study, alone with his thoughts for the second time that day.