Dark Warlord Chronicles

Deception of the Soul

Part 3
"Hour at Hand"

Elsewhere. . .

"My Queen." A voice rings out in a large, circular room hidden deep underground.
Between two stalagmites is a spider web. A form of a black spider suddenly appears and then fades and is replaced by a shadowy form of a woman.
"What news do you have for me tonight my servant?", the shadow asks in a soft but firm voice.
"My Queen, it is done."
"Excellent. All went as smoothly as I planed?"
"To the finest detail. You, as always, were correct my Queen. Shall I set the other trap now?"
"Yes, begin as soon as possible. The time is nearing. My spinneret is preparing to catch the other soon."
"And then you will be able to catch all the flies."
The shadow figure disappears from the web, and the servant leaves the room.
Dais was running down the hallways in his dark and light green colored body armor. Sweat already beaded on his brow from the distance he had already covered. He had to hurry to avoid being late. Time usually has little reverence in the Nether World, but Dais had heard the chimes clanging the hours. Somehow he never heard them ringing into the night while he slept, but that last one he heard loud and clear.
"So much for daydreaming. I've been meditating too long this time." Dais turned the corner and finally reached the doors to the throne room. He took great long gasps to calm himself down as he removed the signs of sweat from his brow with his hand. Dais then straightened up and gently pushed the door open and casually walked in.
Everyone stopped briefly in their conversations as they turned to look at Dais. Then they continued as if nothing had happened. The Warlords, like Dais, were only in their bicolor body armors. As Dais walked up between the other former Warlords, Cale spoke softly to him.
"Running late again Dais, and I do mean running." Cale sidestepped a little to be able to whisper in Dais' right ear.
Dais stood even more straight and looked at Unacera talking with Kayura. He tried to look hurt and offended at Cale's comment. "Don't be ridiculous. Wherever would you get such a thought?"
"Only because we've known you to do this before, several times before now that I come to think of it." Sekhmet replied as he couldn't help overhearing the conversation.
"This has been a recent thing with you, hasn't it Dais? I remember when you were the first to arrive." Cale shot back at Dais, but not without giving a grin to Sekhmet for putting in his thoughts.
Dais turned to face Cale straight in the face. "Let's just get to the reason why we're here." He then turned back toward Unacera.
Cale walked in back of Dais to stand to the left of Sekhmet. "Sure. Whatever you say Dais." Cale made sure to make his reply audible enough for Dais to hear. Sekhmet had a hard time keeping in a small laugh. He managed to keep it in, but not without having a big grin on his face.
Dais just stood straight. Normally he would reply to such an open insult, but he knew he couldn't. He wanted to remind them who was running late before. He yearned to remind them that one of them came in with a smirk on his face every time. That one always got away with being tardy. Something that Dais knew sent waves of anger in them towards that Warlord every time. "Anubis." Dais whispered to himself. "Always arriving late and always getting away with it just because he was Talpa's favorite, just because he was the leader." Dais sighed and looked around cautiously. As he secretly hoped, no one had heard his murmurs, and it was better that way.
The former Warlord of Illusion's attention was dragged away from his thoughts as he felt the change in the room's atmosphere. Someone was about to talk.
"It would seem that Talpa is reviving himself in the mortal world. He endangers not only the lives of the people there, but us as well. Who among us thinks that they can regain favor with Talpa?"
The room remained deadly silent in response to Kayura's words. As everyone looked around at each other, they only found a mirror of their own seriousness.
"Talpa's half truths have plagued you. They were as much, if not worse, as the ones you used in the past to plague the Ronins. The time has come for a huge step forward for all of you. We must be ready for what we know is already coming. It is time to find ourselves again." Unacera found that she had raised in arms while she talked, caught up in her own speech.
Kayura and the Warlords stood quietly as the well placed pauses between sentences allowed the words to carry their message. Unacera lowered her arms and gently rested the bottom of her white staff back to the floor.
"The training begins . ," a smile spread across Unacera's face, "now!"
The Warlords and Kayura looked up in surprise.
"Let us see which of you four can reach the front gate in the fastest time without the use of magic!" With that Unacera disappeared.
Dais groaned as he and the others started out of the room as fast as they could. Great. He thought to himself. More running.

To Be Continued...