The Chronicles of Heaven's War: Burning Phoenix (54 page)

Ilaniya began to do as she was ordered,
smiling appreciatively even as her face paled. Several times she
needed to retire to expunge what her stomach refused to accept, but
she always returned to the table wearing a huge smile, eagerly
digging in to have more. When she eventually passed out from the
sick agony, Asotos laughed, telling the others that women just
couldn’t hold their wine. He then told some attendants to carry her
back to her cabin and lock the door behind them.

Turning his attention to other matters,
Asotos struck up a quiet conversation with Legion. Although his
goblet had been refilled several times with the finest of aged
Medeba wine, and a very comely fleet officer had been flirting with
him through the evening, Legion was still in a rather glum
mood.

Concerned, Asotos leaned close, resting his
hand on Legion’s, speaking ever so softly. “My dear brother, I see
there is a shadow hidden behind your merriment. Tell me, please, is
it something I have done to ruin this hour? I do hope that you have
not taken offense over previous events. I assure you, I only acted
out of need at the Prisoner Exchange, the moment becoming severe,
what with Erithia’s witchery and all.”

Legion responded that it had little to do
with the man’s actions, but did agree that the abuses he suffered
at the hands of those evil miscreants dampened his spirits. “Why we
had to put up with that contemptuous rabble at all is beyond me!
Why did we not have done with it when the opportunity presented
itself to us? Mihai would have been captured, Erithia put in her
place, and the riches ours for the taking.”

Fine words - but not the real reason for
Legion’s sullen mood. The man’s talisman bag taken by Sirion was
filled with his treasures, trophies taken from foes and victims
stretching back for millennia. Like many sadists, he kept a
collection of totems, reminders from his past deeds, reliving the
lurid encounters through those assorted body parts squirreled away
in that bag. Now he was without them, a terrible emotional loss he
dare not openly speak about, because the collecting of body parts
for personal gratification was not officially sanctioned.

He was also troubled over this
Darla
creature they encountered. Something about her was vaguely
familiar. Oh well... Pushing that to the back of his mind, Legion
decided to take advantage of his brother’s sympathetic mood, if
opportunity arose.

Asotos squeezed Legion’s hand
affectionately, asking, “I so much would like to see you in a
better mood than what you are at the moment. Is there something I
can do for you or get that might lift your spirits?”

Never
let a golden opportunity slip
through your fingers. Legion cast his eyes down at his half-filled
wineglass, forlorn. “One of my pressing concerns is the enemy’s
future plans regarding the MueoPoros star system and Eden’s Gate. I
believe that Captain Ilaniya’s proximity to the Children’s High
Council, and to Erithia herself, would well make her privy to some
of that information. I do not think the outcome of the Prisoner
Exchange evolved from a series of haphazard events, but was
carefully planned and executed… and, also, the Zephath incident
might have been no coincidence either. Ilaniya could well be a
plant, part of some covert operation putting you, and possibly the
entire League of Brothers at risk.”

He tapped a finger on the table. “I feel the
need to further investigate this hypothesis by prodding her
for…”

Asotos raised an eyebrow, interrupting
suspiciously, “You’ve already
prodded
her, Godenn has
prodded
her, half of your lieutenants have
prodded
her, in fact most of your men and even your guard animals have
prodded
her, to the point she ruptured her vocal chords,
screaming. Now, if there is anymore
prodding
to be done, it
will be by
me
. She is
my
treasure. I’m actually quite
fond of the woman. We were once very close, you know. Of course,
that was a long time ago, but I may hope to rekindle some of the
old flame if the desire should strike me.” He shook his head.
“Ilaniya is
my
little trophy for
my
possession.”

In dejected defense, Legion countered, “It
was not the way you have taken it. I was only explaining why I feel
troubled this night. Do as you wish with that
creature
. It
means
nothing
to me.”

Truth was, it meant a lot to Legion. He,
too, was fond of Ilaniya in some sordid sort of way, wanting dearly
to possess her. She was a very handsome woman, almost manly in the
way she carried herself - strong, determined, garnering respect by
her very demeanor. To have someone of such presence as your
aide-de-camp, faithful servant, distraction for others when
entering a room with her on your arm, could only increase one’s
prestige among the other officers. Yes, he wanted her, but if he
could not have her, he desired to damage the woman in some way so
that she would become undesirable for Asotos’ own trophy
collection.

Asotos suspected the real motive behind
Legion’s request to take Ilaniya for further examination. He would
have none of that. Still, he needed to keep Legion pacified. The
man’s loyalty was never certain. In this
game of thrones
,
anyone’s’ fealty was always an uncertainty. Legion remained his
most trusted officer, but for many prurient reasons other than out
of devotion or respect. Legion was the best he had, his closest
companion and confidant. He needed to keep the man satisfied, keep
him feeling he fared better remaining as the vice chancellor.

Tenderly squeezing Legion’s hand, Asotos
smiled, explaining, “My brother, please, there are other reasons I
must keep possession of that creature, reasons that may not appear
obvious at this moment. For my part, I do desire so for your
happiness to be complete. Look!”

He reached out open-handed, motioning toward
the far end of the table. “My personal vizier, Colonel Shuebiddee,
as you well know, is a very pleasant companion, musically inclined
in many and varying ways. Why not take for your leisure this night
this gentleman as your steward. And, if it pleases you, have him
remain close until you depart my company - that is, if you
wish.”

The faintest of smiles cracked Legion’s
lips. Colonel Shuebiddee was a handsome, well-kept man, from his
perfumed curly locks to his smooth face accented with a delicate
splash of makeup and the slightest of paint on his rosy lips. With
his impeccable grooming and fashionably natty dress, the man was
the picture of desired perfection - something one could dream
about, and little more.

Colonel Shuebiddee was a favorite of
Chrusion’s, a closely guarded treasure. Long had it been since
Legion chanced upon the opportunity to have that man’s attention
lavished upon him, or he to do otherwise. Rare, rare indeed - a
valuable treasure! Still... to gather but a handful of grain while
the field stood ripe for the picking was not to Legion’s liking. He
must chance the victory of the moment to secure further riches - at
least his cunning heart craved it to be that way. Always play it to
the full for fear of losing a prize, albeit even a small one.

Legion must be coy, ever pressing so
innocently for added trophies to satisfy his lusting heart. The
very protocols of the brotherhood required that the needs of the
people be his primary consideration. With humble lips and sober
face, while greedy desire danced a merry tune in his eyes, Legion
crooned, “A large number of the men defending the line this day
were from my personal guard, and most who fell were also of that
number. Should I return home with only empty praise while news of
rich spoil fills the ears of their fellow comrades on MueoPoros,
there may well be a loud disturbance of disquiet erupting from
mouths, believing the sacrifices of their brothers were not
appreciated.”

He smiled, forlorn. “But should some of the
treasure… a little wine, some choice pipe weed, an appropriate
bauble or two, along with a cadre of KaminosKtisis… be delivered
into their hands, well, it would salve troubled minds.”

Asotos’ eyebrows went up as he squinted.
This was not unexpected, a reason he did not offer any spoils to
Legion earlier. Always, there was this game of ‘up the ante’. How
annoying. He smiled. It wasn’t, really. True, it might prove costly
at times, but it was such fun to play. Besides, should one win too
grand a reward, there was always the need to return a favor just to
show good sportsmanship. Asotos wanted a favor and was willing to
place a little more in the pot to receive it.

Drawing out his reply to Legion’s request,
Asotos waited the moment, drumming his fingers on the table as if
in thought while doing it. Finally he answered, “I see your need in
this matter, to settle the hearts of your servants over their
sacrifice and loss. A case of Medeba wine and some barrels of the
weed are yours for the taking. Also some of the other treasures are
yours. These we can finalize when inventory is completed in the
morning. As for your
cadre
of KaminosKtisis, you do know
their value. I believe that a cadre of
two
should serve your
needs quite well, or should I offer
three
?”

Legion’s eyes beamed with excitement and
greed. He could not believe his good fortune, nor did he consider
the reason for his brother’s generosity. “Thank you! Thank you!” He
shook Asotos’ forearm in gratitude. “You are such a generous
man!”

Asotos grinned, exclaiming, “It is done!” He
quickly turned to his other officers, lifting his hands high,
shouting, “Enjoy the night to its full! Eat! Drink! Have a good
time!”

Pouring Legion another glass of Medeba wine,
Asotos fell into quiet conversation regarding other matters. “You
do know, my brother, this day has been most revealing in other,
less discernable ways. I have made some very important
discoveries.”

Legion’s ears perked up. “Yes, my brother,
what other matters have you discovered?”

Asotos answered in a hush, “There are things
living among us - things, creatures, of my invention, hidden deep
within sealed vaults, far from prying eyes - lives within lives,
minds within minds, souls within souls, yes, living, thinking,
feeling creatures seeking communication with their maker.”

Legion asked aghast, “Is it really so? Have
you discovered the
Zaelocks
among the children of the
Witch?”

Asotos shook his head. “No. I speak not of
an abomination, a creature made into a demon. I speak of a demon
living within a creature, separate from and whole in thought, mind,
and soul, yet feeding upon the spirit of its host to survive. A
demon cried out to me today as though it were imprisoned, trapped,
in a place of its disliking, kept there by force, against its
will.”

“Did this Trisha creature reveal these
secrets to you?” Legion asked, his voice filled with concern.

Asotos remained silent, slowly shaking his
head.

“Then who?” No more were the words out of
Legion’s mouth when his face filled with astonishment.
“
Darla?!
The creature some think is the Therioskotia?”

Grinning, Asotos nodded, adding, “I have
made some inquiries regarding this woman creature. She is my little
sister, youngest of Erithia’s brood. It was told me that she was
damaged severely on the day we were driven from the Palace, and has
never been completely cured in the head since that day. I also am
told that she suckled at Michael’s breasts in the months after her
attack. Somehow, in some way, one or more of the demons I planted
in that woman transferred to Darla as she drank her sister’s
milk.”

“
Impossible!”
Legion exclaimed,
shaking his head. “If such a thing is really so, then it is
possible your spawn might well be able to replicate itself.”

Asotos agreed, grinning, “That Darla
creature might well carry within her the most powerful weapon known
to this universe. If we can extract that demon alive, and it is
able to replicate, we will have no need to make a new creation, for
we will control the old.”

Legion asked innocently, “So what must be
done now?”

Asotos leaned closer, resting an arm across
Legion’s shoulder. “I have spies already informed as to my needs.
They will keep track of this creature. When the opportunity
arrives, we will capture her, but I will need
your
help.”

Smiling, Legion nodded, considering the
great reward the person capturing Darla might well receive. “Yes,
yes, my brother. How may I be of service to you in this
matter?”

Asotos leaned back. “I believe it is time
that justice be served. Long enough you have waited to avenge the
loss and humiliation heaped upon you by the evils of Erithia and
her worshipful cohorts. I offer you that opportunity.”

Legion was puzzled. “I don’t understand.
What does this
Darla
have to do with avenging my
brothers?”

Asotos waved him off. “Such a humble man...
I know many things, having eyes and ears everywhere. You, yourself,
stood upon the sordid plain that day long ago when Symeon was
stolen from you by the antics of a certain woman. ‘That
tramp
’ was the name you addressed her by when speaking to
Erithia - at least I believe it is the name you used for Darla that
day. Well, now is your opportunity to avenge the loss you
suffered.”

He leaned close, whispering in Legion’s ear.
“I want you to get that
tramp
for me, alive and in good
health. Do it and I will give you that cadre of beasts you so much
desire.”

Legion nodded, the smile slowly melting from
his face as distant memories began to emerge out of the fog of
long-forgotten adventures. There were other words spoken that day -
threats, or possibly oaths - considering the mad woman declaring
them. Like a decomposing beast rising from the filth of a murky
swampland, the woman’s prophecy grew in stature until it stood
erect before him, rejuvenated with a renewed power of life,
seething in its unchained vengeance.