Cathexis: Necromancer's Dagger by Philip Blood Page A

Protectors stationed themselves
around Michael; Hetark and Becaris took the lead while the
diminutive Drake and towering Gustin followed. As they neared the
Grand Entranceway they came upon two of Jatar’s boyhood foster
brothers; Lord Pellev Welter, ruler of Tazlany and Lord Verdew
Kestle, ruler of Belorn .
    “Pellev, Verdew, are you both going to Saint
Helen’s church for Michael’s service?” Jatar asked.
    Lord Pellev smiled and replied for both of
them. “Of course Jatar, we wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
    A palace guard approached in such an obvious
hurry that Hetark and Becaris stepped between him and Michael, just
to be safe.
    When he was near the guard stopped and spoke
quietly to Jatar, “Lord, Captain Fintok sent me to find you. There
has been trouble with Lord Tysol’s departure at the city gate. The
captain requests your counsel on what action should be taken. A
meeting of the military and guard officers is convening in the
strategy room to discuss our response to this provocation.”
    “That must be handled with care, Jatar,”
Elizabeth cautioned, “we may be at war if we give Tysol a rallying call that unites the
people of Datoria. Perhaps you should see to this personally.”
    “But I don’t want you going to the church
alone Elizabeth; the meeting will have to wait.”
    “I have the Knight Protectors with me, I’ll
be fine,” she assured her husband.
    “I will follow her Jatar, and I promise to
look after your wife and son,” Lord Pellev offered.
    “And I too will go with them,” Lord Verdew
added.
    “I would appreciate it greatly, brothers,”
Jatar said with relief.
    “Don’t mention it Jatar, after all, what are foster brothers for if they
can’t escort their brother’s lady to safety?” Pellev asked with a
warm smile.
    “Then if you’re sure you will be all right?”
Jatar’s voice trailed off.
    “I’ll be fine,” Elizabeth reassured him,
“I'm a Kirnath sorceress and I have four brave Knight Protectors
and two ruling Lords to protect me. If I'm not safe then we're in
more trouble than threats from the Lord of Datoria. They need your
wisdom to handle that idiot. This is another one I owe Tysol; there
will be a reckoning some day.” Elizabeth gave Jatar a quick kiss on
his cheek and walked out with Pellev, Verdew, and the Knight Protectors to the waiting
carriages.
    Jatar headed for the west wing for the
meeting with his officers.
     
    Major Harland Von Dracek entered the palace
sleeping chamber and found CAracusS seated next to a table where a
gagged man lay bound. The captive’s eyes darted around wildly
looking for unlikely help. The Merc major ignored both his
struggles and his pleading eyes and spoke to the seated
necromancer. “I see that the antidote has taken effect, are you
fully recovered and ready to begin?”
    The voice of CAracusS replied in his raspy
monotone, “Yes, the last effects of the pollen are gone. Is
everything going according to plan?”
    “The Kirnath sorceress has taken her child
to the church and Jatar is busy in the palace handling the
prearranged Datorian disturbance. As we expected, all the servants
have gone into the city to celebrate, so for all intents and
purposes the inner palace chambers are empty,” the major
answered.
    “What if we’re disturbed while I use our
subject to open the bridge to the Dark Plane?” The necromancer asked while gesturing with his
dead gray hand toward the bound man on the table.
    “I ordered your two underlings to stand
guard at the entrance to the guest hall. They will attempt to keep
anyone from disturbing us."
    “Excellent, then we are ready to begin,”
CAracusS replied as he walked over to the fireplace and grasped the
hot poker embedded in the coals. When he pulled it out the end of
the rod glowed orange from the intense heat stored within the ugly
metal.
    The bound man’s eyes widened as the
necromancer approached. CAracusS slowly lifted the searing hot
poker toward the poor victim’s