Chera's Story
Chapter 6
I stayed secluded in my rooms in the temple after Morgana had brought us back to Mal Amar from following Zandramas. The news that Torak?s spirit was not to be reborn and he was not the new god of Angarak, but a boy who had traveled with the companions of the Godslayer was, had devastated me. How could I have been so wrong?
I spent weeks in my rooms speaking to no one. Apparently rumors spread around Mal Amar that I had lost my sanity, but I no longer cared. The few servants who I did allow in to see me to bring me my meals, went away wild eyed.
I spent hours in prayer asking for guidance. Finally, when I had lost all hope and was ready to follow the lead of Agachar, the answers I was looking for came. Torak?s spirit infused my own, answering my desperate prayers.
Chera, my daughter, do not lose hope. I can still be brought back.
Torak! I have failed you. I did not make it in time and another was placed as God of Angarak in your place. I wailed, falling prostrate on the floor.
It is not so. The one called Eriond is not thy true God. Thou hast not failed me. Zandramas did not succeed and my spirit still lives on, though it is weak. Thou mustn?t give up hope.
Weak? Torak, my master, how so?
Every day the false God, Eriond, turns more and more followers to him. Those that were once loyal to me, even after I fell are turning to the accursed one. Every time I lose a follower, some of my strength is taken.
Master, what can I do?
Thou mustn?t give up hope. Thou must continue to keep Mal Amar strong. With Urvon and Zandramas gone, build thy temple to be the largest in Mallorea. Help bring my children back to me. And make sure that the sacrificial fires are not extinguished.
Of course Master. But how are we to bring you back?
In the lands of the West, their lies a book protected by one of mine hated brothers. That book contains what we need to release me from my imprisonment.
Master?
My time grows short. I do not have the strength to continue. One last thing ? Thou must ally thyself with a General. Together, you will succeed in bringing all of Angarak together. But you will not succeed without her. Seek her out. Her name is Mian. Do not fail me, Chera!
Master?
And then the spirit was gone. I was elated, Torak?s spirit still lived on, and I had not failed my God. I wanted to jump for joy. But then as the last of his words began to sink in, my heart sank. I must ally myself with the General that had come to Mal Amar so long ago, the General that I had turned away.
I sighed as I thought back to that day that Mian had come to me so many years ago. It was a year or more before the Godslayer had taken Torak from us. Agachar was still the Heirarch at the time and I had just been recently elevated in the ranks of the church.
General Mian had come to see Agachar to discuss a possible alliance between the two. She had thought that with his power backing her, she would be able to gain enough strength to confront and take out Zakath. Listening to her request, I denied her an audience, as we were not interested in the petty squabbles of the army and its General. She had left angry saying that I would one day regret my decision. As I sat at my desk thinking on the words that had been just spoken to me, I realized that she had been right and that day had come. Sighing bitterly, I got up and left the temple in search of General Mian.
***** This story ends here incomplete. At this time, no conclusion is expected.