THERE IS NO NEED TO BE DISTRESSED BY OUR NAMING CONVENTIONS. SECTION THIRTY-ONE B OF THE DREAD CHARTER READS—
“All right, all right, I’ll put it on so long as no one recites the damn charter.” Damien blew out a long breath and slipped the chain over his head. The gem was heavy, thunking against his chest and falling still. It was gaudy and too thick to be worn under his armor, likely taking on an even brighter shade in the light of day. “You know, I think my pocket would be—”
Damien’s skin was on fire. He slapped a hand to the back of his neck where the chain seared into his flesh, but he could not remove it, and a resounding crack rose from his chest. The pendant split down its center with an arcane sizzle, and he expected the pieces to fall away, but both remained, a second chain supporting the new half. As he went to grab for them, one piece pulsed, and then it was gone.
“What the fuck was that?” Damien yanked his tunic away to assess his skin beneath, warm and weird but free of burn marks.
OUR INSURANCE POLICY.
Damien didn’t know what that meant, but it sounded like it would have to do with quite a lot of parchment and would not result in his favor which was no good, but also very GOoD. He wasn’t stupid though, he was attached to the pendant now, their way of being sure he didn’t lose the thing too early, accidentally or otherwise.
Damien snatched off what was left of the pendant, thankful when the thing actually came away from his neck. Where it had been split in half, it had a ragged edge, even uglier than before. “Well, it’s a bit sharper now, I suppose.”
THE DREADCOUNCIL’S FRAGMENTABLE PENDANT OF ACCURSED BONDAGE AND NEFARIOUS CONQUEST IS NOT FOR STABBING.
He stood there with it held out again, waiting. The council stared back facelessly. “What is it to be used for then?”
THE DREADCOUNCIL’S FRAGMENTABLE PENDANT OF ACCURSED BONDAGE AND NEFARIOUS CONQUEST IS TO BE DEPOSITED INTO THE EARTHEN VEIL BETWIXT REALMS.
“It’s to be thrown in a hole?” Damien shrugged. “That does seem like where it belongs.”
NOT ANY HOLE. YOU WILL TREK TO THE PLACE MARKED UPON THIS MAP AT THE TIME APPOINTED.
The imp once again darted across the chamber, up the dais, extended hands, and was struck by arcana. The second blow was worse, and Damien snuffed out the smoldering tip of the imp’s ear when he scurried over, roll of parchment offered up.
Unfurling the map, Damien groaned. “Really? Here?”
IT IS THE PLACE WHERE THE DREADCOUNCIL’S FRAGMENTABLE PEND—
“—Pendant of Accursed Blah and Blah, yes, yes, you said, but this goes right through harpyandgoblin territory. Darkness, I’dreally rather not have to charter a giant hawk, I abhor flying beasts, but—”
NO WINGED MOUNTS.
Damien didn’t really want to use one to begin with, but once he was told no, the idea of a bird for riding was much more appealing. “Why the Abyss not? If I’m atop something that flies, won’t tossing the pendant in a hole be exponentially easier?”
THIS IS OUR QUEST, LORD BLOODTHORNE, AND YOU SHALL TRAVERSE THE GROUND IF WE SAY YOU SHALL.
He rolled the map back up and smacked it against his thigh in frustration. “Fine. Is that all? Just chuck it, presumably, into another of E’nloc’s attempted resurrection pits? What’s it meant to do?”
At this, the members of the council sat back, heads swiveling. If one could hear blinking, surely then the chamber would be full of it.
“Yes, obviously I know this has to do with that One True Darkness entity,” he said with a sigh. “Everything I get caught up in seems to lately.”
CONTAINMENT, the shared voice finally said.
“Well, that’s an extraordinarily unhelpful non-explanation. And when do I need to do this?”
YOU MUST COMPLETE THIS TASK WHEN THE BLOOD OF THE CHOSEN IS DRAWN. BEFORE THE ECLIPSE OF LO BY ERO, AFTER THE CONSTELLATION CHIMERUS HAS CROSSED THE CELESTIAL POLE, PRIOR TO THE REVEAL OF ABARATH IN THE NIGHT SKY, FOLLOWING—
“Don’t make me do the math. You’ve an exact date in mind, yes?”
THE TWENTY-THIRD.
“Eleven days,” he mumbled, nodding. The entire journey, the trek and the time, pushed him even farther from Eirengaard. He hadn’t forgotten about the capital and his waiting father, but hehad hoped he could get the talisman out of Amma safely before the eclipse which was looming near according to when last he’d seen the moons.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, the one voice said, calling his attention back up to the council.
“So, you would prefer I leave? Now?”
