Post by JMDavis ((Silver)) on Nov 30, 2012 5:27:56 GMT -5
Prologue
Shattered Oath
Shattered Oath
“The High Council of Tarn finds you, Lord-Protector Exemplar Mallister, guilty of the crimes of heresy to our Lord and Savior Emperor Justinius XIII, Protector of the Main, Executor of the Provinces, Vengeance of the Colonies, Master of-.” The titles continued on for some time, listing all the honorifics of the gold-clad toad that stewed and twitched on a throne made for men of a more impressive stature. Mallister glared contemptuously at the revolting blob of a boy that was the latest of the decaying imperial line, and was returned with a similar – albeit fleeting and nervous – look. A grim rictus spread across Mallister’s lips at the pallid, sweating lump of flesh, “-the Majesty of the Mountains, who sits upon the rightful throne of his forebears and presides over this court to see justice mete out.”
“And of what heresy am I accused, Lord Verrastin, that I am bound in chains made to contain an ogre? What heresy warrants my removal from my bed at night – the burning of my estate and all within?” The snarled words had the desired effect, causing every sniveling sycophantic bureaucratic noble on the dais and stand around the courtroom to flinch in fear. Mallister was a big man, some whispered he had the blood of the Sky Kings in his veins – yet he wasn’t strong enough to break his shackles. That same rictus caused the thick whiskers of his ash-blonde beard to bristle, the golden eye of his mithril eye patch burning brightly with his fury.
Lord Verrastin, an aging man whose black hair had turned iron grey in the winter years of his life tried to moisten his lips with a suddenly dry tongue. He flicked his nervous eyes toward the sweating hog, which could meet a weaker man’s eye easily and, seemingly will the elder man to speak. Verrastin straightened his back, trying to look imperious and coming off more as a cadaverous lecher than anything else, “For the heretical act of shattering your oath to protect the imperial line from all threats to their life!”
Mallister cocked his head to the side before barking out a laugh, “And when did I fail to do that, noble sirs and madams?”
“When you-.” Verrastin began, when suddenly found himself interrupted by the petulant squealing of the emperor, “When you let that whore stab me, you bastard!”
Mallister turned his burning gaze back to the slobbering runt, his one eye narrowing, “If your high-fat-ass recalls, you attempted to kill her first. It was in self-defense that she pruned one of your berries, and I personally stopped her from doing anything worse after that. I thought it best the Royal Boar learn what his father, may he rest eternally, never had taught – you don’t piss off a barmaid in foreign lands.”
“So! You admit to allowing our Glorious Majesty to come to harm, Mallister?” Verrastin tried to wrest control of the mass debate away from myself and Justinius, made all the easier as Justinius fell back into his throne, spluttering and trying to mount a protest while the empress and dowager empress shot arched, venomous looks at the quivering ball of spitting meat.
“Freely and of my own will do I admit that I allowed His Majesty to lose a ball – little good it did him before.” There was a ripple amongst the gathered nobles – shocked gasps and barely stifled chuckles.
Verrastin gave a small nod of his head, an expression of relief crossing his wizened features. “Excellent. Templars, take him away.”
Two figures in long cloaks of thick leather pulled away from the clinging shadows of vast courtroom, a palpable chill emanated from the ghastly figures. They strode up to either side of Mallister, their wide-brimmed hats and high collars obscured the faces of the two men. Mallister straightened as best he could given the weight of his chains – and then straightened even further as both templar reached out, shattering the great manacles with a thought.
Cries of horror spread through the crowd as Mallister was freed. The two templar drew pistol and sword, more rushing from the shadows to guard the large man in their midst. Mallister looked at the frightened emperor, his rictus larger than before, “I’ll see you soon – Your Majesty.”
The shadows engulfed the dozen figures below, and when they cleared none were left standing.
The chains had gone as well.
