Mark of the Fool

Chapter 634: The Wail for the Dead (Beginning of book 8)

There was an ancient saying in the realm of Thameland, one that had largely fallen away as the centuries wore on.

A simple phrase of gratitude, spoken during harvests, weddings and births: Our plenty comes from Uldar.

For thousands of years, the phrase was spoken in churches, fields, and by hearths. Every Sigmus. Every harvest moon.

Our plenty comes from Uldar.

Those words were ingrained in the very stones of Thameland, and spoken even as the language of the land transformed, influenced by its peoples contact with those beyond the sea.

But time is a powerful thing andwith enough of it passingeven stone can turn to dust. Centuries passed in the realm, with more folk giving gratitude to Uldar in more subtle ways. Those words were said less. Some of the people began forgetting to thank Uldar, instead giving credit and gratitude to their own hard work, and cleverness.

So the words were heard less.

Eventually, other phrases and expressions replaced them until there was no corner of Thameland where they were ever spoken, or heard.

Save one.

In this one place, the words of gratitude to Uldar were heard daily.

Without end.

In a hidden valleymore of a crater, reallythere stood an escarpment called Uldars Rise, and within its stone walls, a never-ending song could be heard. The songs voices would change with time, but its words never did.

In its refrain, the words, Our plenty comes from Uldar, lived on, sung with passion for thousands of years.

Not once did it ever stop echoing through the rock of Uldars Rise, not since the god himself had ascended from the top of the escarpment in ancient days.

Not once did the song stop

until now, until tonight.

Now the only sounds in Uldars Rise came from the rain, and a distant wailing echoing across the valley. The cry was heavy with pain. Full of grief. Filled with sorrow.

To any passing fae slipping through the tall grasses, such screams were not unexpected; after all, the battle that had been fought a short while ago was the kind that birthed a thousand widows.

Grief, pain and sorrow were never far behind such battles.

Where there had once been a peaceful, idyllic village, now there was only a ruin of melted rock, and blackened earth. Fields and boulevards that had hosted children playing, were now soaked with blackened blood.

Bodies lay on wet earth, some collected and covered with shrouds, while others were simply left to rot on the soggy ground. A massive slab of Uldars Rise was gone, revealing a blackened, ragged hole of melted stone broad enough for a dragon to fly through.

No priests or holy servants were about.

The scent of death hung in the air.

And the wailing continued.

Floating just above the top of Uldars Rise was a portal, opening to the bottom of an enormous staircase. Running up the walls of these white stairs were murals and statues of the god Uldar, etched in the stone, silent for thousands of years.

Much like Uldars Rise itself, the songs of Uldarsung for millenniahad echoed through this divine sanctum.

But, for the first time in untold centuries, the song was interrupted, joining with a sound of heart wrenching grief, then ending.

The screams spread down the staircase, echoing from a wide open setof double doors leading to a throne room.

And within this chamber was a scene that would make any priest of Uldar lose their hold on reason. A large group, made up of folk native to Thameland and beyond, were gathered by the massive doorway.

Most were Watchers of Roal, warriors from the university who stood guard, watching for threats from the room before them, and the long stairway below them.

Grimloch, the sharkman stared at the throne with doll-like black eyes, his face was mostly impassive, as he muttered one barely audible phrase beneath his breath repeatedly. Blood in the water.

Prince Khalik Behr-Medr, the second prince of Tekezash, appeared dumbstruck, watching the scene unfolding before him in horror, as his familiarNajyahperched on his shoulder. He had gone silent. Still. His brow furrowed in deep, and troubled thought.

Thundar, son of Gulbiffs shoulders sagged, his tall, muscular frame gone slack. His mouth would open and close without a single sound escaping it, his eyes looked unfocused. Lady Isolde von Anmut gripped her dagger so tightly, that her leather gloves creaked upon its hilt. Her attendants, Hogarth and Svenia, prayed to the elements in hushed tones.

Tyris Goldtooths jaw had dropped, her eyes wide and her face pale. The confident battlemage looked as though she was ready to faint, slipping down from the back of her enormous familiar, Vesuvius. The vulcanchelonevolcanic tortoise, as they were called in the southgave a low groan of concern for his mistress.

Though his link with her granted him a sharper mind, he couldnt grasp the gravity of what lay before them, and perhaps, that was for the better.

Theresa Lu certainly could, though a part of her wished she couldnt.

The young womanThameish by birthunderstood all too well the full gravity of what they were seeing. Traveller protect us all she murmured, as Brutus, her blood-bonded cerberus, nuzzled her shoulder, whimpering.

Travellerprotect us rumbled Claygon the iron golem, newly evolved in a bombardment of arcane fire. May weprotect ourselves

YeahTraveller protect us is right, said Hart Redfletcher, his low voice cracking. The giant of a manChampion of Uldarwho had faced down beasts, wizards, demons and Heroes with a brave and steady heart, now shrank back like a frightened child from what was before him.

Drestra of Crymlyn Swamp, the Sage of Uldar, towered over all the others in her true form, that of a red dragon. Yetdespite her reptilian featuresher expression of shock was clear, as was the touch of relief playing in her eyes.

Cedric of Clan Duncan, the Chosen of Uldar, looked at the throne with bulging eyes that appeared ready to roll from his head. He seemed shaken, and steps away from collapsing to the ground.

ck! Alex finished, the Fool of Uldar had dropped to one knee as his mind recoiled.

Ahead of him, the fading spirit of Carey Londonwhose life was lost in the Battle of Uldars Risefloated, held to the physical world by the power of St. Hannah Kim, the Traveller. Careys soul was dimming, wanting to leave this plane for its rightful place in the after-world, but she was fighting to remain a little longer to help her friends. Her translucentfeatures were stricken with horror.

Her words came soft, quiet. How longhow long did we pray to this? Now I know why he was silent

Shock and horror had washed through the group, but none felt the weight of the mystifying revelation more than St. Merzhin, the Saint of Uldar.

The young man crouched on his hands and knees, heaving, being violently ill. He spewed on the golden carpet he knelt upon, sweat beading on his slight frame, turning his skin cold and clammy as he shook like a leaf in the wind.

Nonono was all he said, over and over again, trying to make sense of what was before him: for what was frozen on the opposite side of the throne room, seemed unreal, like a bad dream he couldnt wake from.

Only a handful of mortals had ever laid eyes on a sight such as this.

A sight Merzhin wished he could unsee.

The sight of a god.

A dead god.

His god.

The Thameish god.

There was no denying UldarGod and protector of Thamelandwas dead. From a distance, one might have thought he was simply resting on his throne. After all, there was no stench of rot. No flies or vermin.

His fleshthough palelooked healthier than that of a hearty mortal man. There were no blemishes or scarssave for the wound. For it was this ugly, gaping thing that had eaten away at Uldars side and revealed the truth.

It was jagged, as though a ragged spear had pierced the gods body, impaling him deep inside, but rather than red blood spilling on his white throne, black ichor had. The wound had festered, its edges necrosed as though

Poison, Theresa murmured. His wound looks like it was poisoned

What in all bleedin hells could poison a bloody god? Cedric muttered. Dont think no hemlock or nightshades gonna do that bloody trick.

This is impossible! Merzhin screamed. Its not possible! How can Uldar be dead? We still receive the power of his divinity! This must be a trick, yes, a ti

Its not, Alex muttered. It is possible.

What? the Saint whirled on him.

Baelina very old and powerful wizardonce told me something, the Fool said. He said thathow did he put it? He called on the Mark, focusing it on the task of remembering Baelins exact words:

Faith is a source of power, and faith can be power in and of itself, Alex repeated the chancellors words, spoken to him in a quiet mountain range on some faraway planet. It can spawn deities with enough belief in a single concept, religion or philosophy, but the amount of faith needed is astronomical. Otherwise, every single tribal totem would spawn a deity.

What are you talking about? asked the Saint.

We were talking about the Traveller becoming a goddessbut the first parts the important part. You said you felt divinity coming from this room, right? Alex asked.

Merzhin trembled, sniffling back tears. Yes?

Where is it coming from? Alex asked. Where exactly?

From Uldar of Merzhin paused, squinting at the dead god. Nonow that I think of itno! No! Its not coming from Uldar. He looked around the room. Its justfilling the space. The whole room is filled with the power of faith. And its all focusedon the throne, He blinked in astonishment. Yes, the divinity is actually coming from the throne!

That makes sense, Khalik mused.

All eyes turned to him.

What do you mean? Carey asked, her voice quieter. She floated down slowly, hovering beside Merzhin, looking at him with complete sadness.

Think of this: your people have continued praying to Uldar for thousands of years. Many thousands of years. Such a concentration of faith is power, and that power had to go somewhere. But, Uldar himself was deadso who were you actually praying to? In reality, you were praying to the divine, and your faith gathered here, in the ultimate symbol of that faith: in Uldars throne room, the place where his body was.

That sounds correct to me, Isolde noted. My people worship the elements, but our faith concentrates in our sacred elemental mountains.

And this is why Uldar stopped helping us, Carey said. Our faith was there to empower our priests, but Uldar never reached out to us again, because he was dead.

But, hold on! Merzhin cried. YouCareythe Traveller is reaching out from the after-world to help you! A-and you! He pointed at Alex. You said that thiswizard talked of faith spawning deities! Then, surely our combined power can resurrect Uldar!

Its not that simple, Alex said. The Traveller had a unique magic to her: she could travel anywhere. And I mean anywhere. Her power is probably serving as a conduit, guiding faith in her tothe after-world. That faith is transforming her into a goddess.

It is, Carey said. Shes grown much stronger since you spoke with her, Alex. Soon she should

This cant be. How could none of us know? Merzhin wept. Howour lifeour peopleall to help Uldarall that silence! He was supposed to speak in mysterious ways! How could no one know about this!

Priests can draw power even from a dead demigod for a time, Watcher Hill said. Many lost their lives battling Orecas remaining priests after his fall.

I remember Gemini saying something about that at the opening of the Games this year, Thundar noted.

Whos Oreca? Merzhin asked.

She Hill started.

Oh shite! Shite! Shite!Cedric suddenly cried, going ghost white. Damn it all!

What? Hart and Drestra asked.

Bloody hells, it was right there! Cedric cursed. Hart! Drestra! Think othis. Someone knew that Uldar was dead!

What? Hart asked. Whooh. Oh!

Drestra began speaking, repeating words theyd heard long ago. The path you walk now is unlike any other, and it is not one you walk alone, his voice was thunder and flame. Like any path that departs from the known trail through the woods, you now step into peril. Fell things watch you. Allies quake. Whispers slip through the dark. Your post is abandoned and you are wanting. Every step you walk now will bring forth doom again, and we will meet again when you see the black ichor on the chair. In your desperate hour. Farewell, Heroes of the Prophet God, walk your path toward completion. Walk your path toward doom.

What? Alex demanded. Blackichoron an empty chairwho said that to you?

Aenflynn, she said grimly. The fae lord knew that Uldar was dead.

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