She scanned the gates ahead of them. There was someone sitting up on the wall, seemingly casual, as if he was nothing more than an occupant of the town taking a moment to breathe in the fresh air. But he watched them like a hawk from his perch. She worked not to pay him too close attention, keeping her head down.
The hair on her neck and arms was on end the moment they passed through the gates. It was several times worse than when they had been infiltrating the town in Carsovia. There, Eira didn’t have to worry much about being recognized. Somehow, the stakes seemed…lower. Perhaps because she was more removed from Carsovia’s struggles. It wasn’t personal like this was.
Or perhaps this was the first time she was seeing the mark of the Pillars in months, a reminder that Ulvarth’s end was within reach.
The Pillars had slithered into Hokoh like vipers and had made it their den. Their mark was emblazoned on almost every door in golden paint—three vertical lines centered overtop three interlocking circles, stacked vertically. The doors that lacked the symbol had a black X streaked across them, windows shattered, insides dark and smelling of rot.
The message was clear: align or die.
Yet, despite the brutality, people went about their business. They walked in the streets, conversed on stoops. Commerce bustled in small squares down side alleys.
The Pillars’ presence was as bad a stink as what originated from some of the houses. But, like all wretched things, one could acclimate to it. And acclimate people had. There were smiles and laughter. Children running around their parents’ hems.
“Why does it feel so…normal?” Alyss whispered.
“The towns in Carsovia felt normal, too.” Cullen’s thoughts were aligned with Eira’s.
“That—they—” Alyss could only sigh, abandoning her objection.
“Let’s get somewhere with more people,” Eira said. “See what we can overhear.”
They followed her down toward a small square where tables had been placed opposite a handful of shops. Men and women sat outside, drinking from tall glasses. People roamed from shop to shop, full baskets on their hips.
“Eira,” Cullen whispered, catching her hand. She shifted, turning toward what he was trying to get her attention on.
In an alcove, with mortar so fresh it was a bright, stark contrast to the old stone of the buildings around it, was a statue. The visage of the Goddess Yargen was a familiar one: an ethereal and timeless beauty, her long, flowing hair framing her outstretched arms. Behind her were the three circles and one singular line that was her usual symbol—but of course two extra lines had been added. That wasn’t the only change. Kneeling in front of the goddess on one knee, holding a sword aloft, was a man whose face Eira would recognize anywhere. Even in a hastily made sculpture.
Ulvarth.
In time with the bitter echo of his name across her mind, the resonance of a low bell chimed across the city. All conversation stopped. People halted their movements.
As if in a trance, everyone rose from their tables, moving toward the statue and sinking to their knees. Not wanting to stand out, Eira did the same, her friends following. All those in the square circled the statue, heads bowed. With one voice, the entirety of Hokoh intoned:
“Goddess Yargen, holder of our past, present, and future, guide us through these dark times. Bless your chosen champion so that he might be strong and just. So that his sword mightstrike down the evils that still plague these lands, banishing them with the might of your light.
“Praise to Champion Ulvarth, to the Pillars of Truth, Justice, and Light—the foundation of Meru—to which we pledge our unending fealty and praise forevermore.
“From this day, until the last day of oblivion, we swear these words.”
Eira kept her head down the entire time, trusting her hood to conceal the fact that she wasn’t speaking along. Trusting it to hide her wide eyes and furrowed brow. Her jaw that was clenched so tightly it might pop. Her knuckles dug into the cobblestones, leaving behind red smears.
Ulvarth had continued doing what he’d always done—positioning himself as a goddess’s chosen. But now he was doing it with all of Meru and forcing them to acknowledge him as such. Repeated enough times, anything could become truth. Especially when, as soon as the words were said, everyone could stand and return to their business as though nothing had happened.
Eira shared wary looks with her group. They were all thinking the same things, though none of them dared vocalize it.
“We should keep going,” she said for them all. Even though the words gave nothing away, and weren’t inherently suspicious, she still kept her voice down. “The sooner we get through town, the better.”
They continued along the streets and narrow alleyways, heading in the general north, northwest direction that would lead them to Risen. Eira kept them intentionally on back alleys. More than once, she saw Pillars patrolling the streets, their white and gold-trimmed robes unmistakable.
Just when she was thinking that, overall, their luck couldn’t have been better, it ran out.
She took one wrong turn and found herself face-to-face with a Pillar. The woman’s shaved head shone in the afternoon sun. Eira’s gaze dropped instinctively to her right hand, where the symbol of the Pillars had been carved, over and over, to permanently entrench itself as a pale and raised scar.
Turning around would be too suspicious, especially with five of them. Eira continued walking, trusting the illusion she’d crafted to alter her appearance to be sufficient—that if it wasn’t, they’d all be dead already. The alleyway was small and it was impossible to pass by without twisting slightly. Eira’s eyes met the Pillar’s. She wondered if the woman could feel the chill sweeping off her body from the illusion over her face.
But the woman didn’t stop. She turned forward. Eira kept her attention forward as well. It was so quiet that she could hear every shift of the woman’s robes. All their breaths were shallow, or held.
Just when Eira was about to turn the far corner, and the woman would’ve emerged onto the larger street she was headed for, she spoke. “For the glory of His Holiness.”
