The Jewel of Turmish - Mel Odom [48]
"We will go with you," the zombie woman said.
"No." Borran Kiosk shook his head. "We can't afford to lose that which I am about to give you. You must stay here."
Then give us what you will, Borran Kiosk."
Borran Kiosk turned to the zombie that had spoken. "Prepare yourself."
The zombie stood before the mohrg with its arms loose.
Without hesitation, Borran Kiosk held one of the jewel pieces in his fist. He mouthed words that couldn't be translated by whatever spell Tohl was under. A lavender glow surrounded Borran Kiosk's hand. When the brightness leveled off, the mohrg rammed his fist into the zombie's chest.
Tohl quavered and grew sick at the sucking, oozing sound Borran Kiosk's fist made inside the zombie. He controlled his stomach with effort.
A moment more and Borran Kiosk withdrew his hand. The jewel piece glinted within the obscene recesses of the zombie's chest.
"What I have given," Borran Kiosk said, "you will defend."
The zombie bowed its head. "What you have given, I will defend."
The undead creature pulled its broken chest back together, then it tore the ragged breeches it wore into strips and used them to bind its chest.
In quick succession, Borran Kiosk implanted the jewel pieces into the other zombies, including the female one. All of them repeated the litany the mohrg spouted, and Brother Tohl knew it had to be part of a binding spell.
Lady, I thought all of Borran Kiosk's minions weren't capable of thinking.
As did I, the quiet voice agreed. It's apparent there were things about Borran Kiosk that we didn't know, but they are known now.
If this has all happened before, why didn't you know about it then?
Brother Tohl, there are mysteries even unto the gods.
The declaration was unnerving, made more so because the quiet voice said it with such calm. All of his life, Tohl had believed in the virtuous strength of Eldath. To hear that the Quiet One didn't know everything was almost sacrilegious.
Lady, what are we to do here?
We will watch, Brother Tohl, and learn. Then I shall decide how we are to act.
Tohl puzzled over the events unfolding before them.
If these things happened hundreds of years ago, said the priest, as they must have, why do we have to know them?
Malar is making a bid to gain more power in the Vilhon Reach. The events of the undersea war waged by the sahua-gin and the being called the Taker has unbalanced many things within the Sea of Fallen Stars. Beliefs change as blame is sought.
Tohl knew that was true. Eldath's following was gaining ground. Even a number of followers in the depths of the Sea of Fallen Stars had stood to recognize the Quiet One as their chosen goddess.
In the marshlands, Borran Kiosk returned his attention to his first lieutenant. The mohrg said words that Tohl felt certain were never intended for human or living tongues. The wet muck at the zombie's feet yawned open, sucking down water, mud, and the undead creature. An instant later, the yawning chasm closed as if it had never existed.
Continuing to chant, Borran Kiosk buried the remaining zombies. The earth sucked and shifted, and water gurgled.
Are the jewel pieces still there, then? Tohl watched as Borran Kiosk chanted prayers and spread his hands out across the foaming water.
I don't know, the quiet voice admitted.
Later, Tohl pointed out, the Alaoreum River was caused to flood. The forces that were unleashed would have changed all of this land.
I know. Still, there must be a reason Borran Kiosk has risen again.
Fear shivered through Brother Tohl anew. Memory of the tombs of Eldath filled his mind.
Borran Kiosk is buried away, said the priest No one has been down to his tomb in hundreds of years.
We locked him away, the quiet voice said. We never destroyed Borran Kiosk. For all that we tried, the Stalker prevented us.
Because Borran Kiosk was Malar's own. Tohl watched the mohrg start to move his army on through the marshlands. Some say that Borran Kiosk was bent and twisted by the Stalker's own hand.
Yes.