The black cloak of night provided an excellent cover as Raziel approached the abandoned city, slipping silently towards the green lights.
As he approached he discerned the individual shapes of Hylden alongside the atop the walls. There were not that many of them, he counted about thirty.
-
“Again the Seer’s words seemed to be bearing true. These Hylden, with a few puffed up exceptions, were not at all warriors. They were far less toned and talked with each other a great deal on matters that I did not understand.”
-
There was a ship in dock at the city, the only vessel there. Of it’s like Raziel had never seen before. It was made entirely of metal, sleek and elegant with long sweeping back fans towards the back that dipped into the water. The whole ship almost had the appearance of a swan, a graceful, elegant gliding creature.
He did not pause to admire the design but pressed on, coming close enough to hear the voices echoing from those working.
The Hylden were not setting themselves up in the city but rather they had stationed themselves in a camp along the shoreline. There were tents of many sizes set up, illuminated by the light of a few fires. Stacked up were crates of supplies, most of which were being loaded by hand up into the docked ship, these Hylden needing nor desiring the use of slaves to accomplish their tasks.
Clearly they did not mean to stay long. The camp’s temporary nature was quite apparent and it was entirely possibly that they intended to set sail at first light tomorrow morning.
This might be the best chance Raziel had to getting in to see this Marduk. Cautiously he began to approach the camp but as he did so a deepening sense of dread began to fill him, a horrible creeping sensation that held him in the grasp of an intensifying fear.
This was a palpable thing so strong he could almost taste it. It slowed his steps until he was standing still.
Something ahead, only just within that camp was repelling him and driving him away. He truly felt that to come close to whatever it was could mean his death, his final death.
Raziel had felt this once before and knew instantly what it meant.
Mastering his uneasy he began forward purposely keeping to the shadows as he moves behind the tents. From his position he could see directly into the centre of the camp and his fears were instantly verified.
-
“But this was something extremely different from what the Seer had told me to expect.”
-
Three Hylden were bowing, almost grovelling to a fourth who had his back turned to Raziel but even so the blue wraith knew who he was.
-
“Ishtar was here.”
-
The leader of the Hylden house of faith was still clothed in his strange leather and red silk outfit. His hood was up and he and was saying something to those other Hylden before him. Raziel could not make out their words over the crackling of the nearby fire but the Hylden leader seemed to be giving orders.
Those before him bowed once more before ushering him forwards towards the largest tent. Ishtar ducked inside and out of sight.
-
“I could sense, even from this distance, that he had still the Nexus Stone still with him. A brief pang of panic spread through me that I was quick to repress. I was by no means anxious to confront the leader of the house of faith again.”
-
The Nexus Stone, the only artefact that had brought him close to complete oblivion. Not even the curse of the Reaver had promised utter annihilation as the stone did.
The fear the stone put in him he would not tolerate however. Raziel would not be enslaved to the terror of what might be again. Almost savagely he forced the emotion side and forced himself to look at the problem logically.
He had to know why Ishtar was here. The Seer had not seen fit to tell him this, if she had indeed known, and it could very well be crucial to his own safety.
Raziel waited briefly and then slipped slowly around the edge of the camp, not letting any of the working Hylden see him. Quietly he slipped in between the stacks of crates, his speed allowing him to move swiftly and silently.
Kain could never manage this kind of stealth; he was more of a direct frontal attack fighter while Raziel’s slender frame and dark colouration had made him more than adept for sneaking.
Quietly he reached the back of the large tent Ishtar had entered. From outside he could hear voices, quiet conversation that was muffled by whatever lay between him and the speakers.
He had to get closer, all the while risking discovery by Ishtar whose stone could cause him great harm.
Deciding to take a chance the blue wraith gently lifted up one end of the tent and slipped inside. He remained there crouched behind some concealing containers. Through the gaps he could make out two Hylden, one was Ishtar and the other was so thin that he appeared to be little more than bones. All Hylden appeared lean but this one was all bone and sinew, but strangely he had a large barrel like chest and this combination of strange features gave him a top heavy appearance.
He was hunched over and seemed to have a hump on his back, concealed by a draping blue cloak fastened around his neck. Like Ishtar he wore gold jewellery but his was far more practically arranged than the more fanciful kind framing Ishtar’s head. His eyes were what really set him apart. Most Hylden Raziel had seen had glowing green eyes but this one did not. His were a calm, milky white with a blue orb in the centre.
“I can not see why the death of Shamash should trouble me, Ishtar.” He was saying with a shrug. His voice had a faint tone to it, high pitched but very soft.
“He was a sadistic fool too pre-occupied by his need for battle to see the big picture. I do not think I will loose much sleep over his death.”
Ishtar was staring at him, disapproval clear on his face.
“And besides…” The thin one added with something of a mocking smile. “The return of Raziel is a theological matter and that’s falls, I believe, under your jurisdiction.”
Ishtar twitched an eyebrow at the jab and set his lips in a deep frown before he replied.
“You are an intelligent being, Marduk.” He said, with a slightly emphasis on the words to imply that given the other’s opinion that statement might not hold true. “Surely you can understand the effect his return will have upon our people.”
The thin Hylden, Marduk, turned away and glanced at a map stretched across a temporary wooden wall at one side of the tent. It showed the coastline of Nosgoth in great detail, along with several isolated islands in a large archipelago that stretched from west to east.
“Do not simply shrug this off.” Ishtar said sharply. “We have worked too hard for all our careful preparations and plans to be overturned by a last minute unforeseen development, a rogue religious figure.”
The leader of the house of faith swung his arms wide in a dramatic gesture. As he did so Raziel caught a glance of his front and sure enough, as he had sensed, there was the Nexus stone. The mere sight of it chilled him but he did not immediately experience the dramatic weakness he had before. Quite possibly the stone needed conscious direction for it to work on him.
“Once Nosgoth is purged by the Ziggurat and our colonies secure, THEN we can relax but not a moment before.” He followed Marduk’s gaze to the map and back again. “As such, I strongly advise against this expedition right now.”
Marduk let out a very long, deep sigh.
“Your advice is welcome but not needed.” He said, sounding quite tired. “Raziel… prophecy…” He dismissed such concerned with a wave of his bony hand. “Both inconsequential to the advances I am making.”
Ishtar’s face contorted in disgust.
“Forever tinkering…” He muttered and looked the leader of the house of Knowledge up and down disdainfully.
“We’re all trapped on an island.” Marduk said metaphorically, pressing the matter with something of a sneer. “Believers sit on the beach worshipping the sea. Philosophers sit on the beach debating whether or not there is a sea. Scientists build boats.” He gestured with a toss of his head towards the ocean and the waiting ship.
“Look at yourself Marduk, because of your experiments your body can hardly stand up by itself anymore.” Ishtar snapped.
Marduk held his gaze and then, suddenly, he laughed.
“Can it not?” He asked. “Oh my dear friend, you see only what I want you to see.”
Ishtar cocked an eyebrow at him questioningly and even Raziel felt himself a least partially curious.
“Forgive my saying so but it is I who will reward the faith our people have held to for so long, reveal to them their destiny.” Marduk was slowly unfastening the cord that held his cloak across his back. “Their evolution.”
Ishtar took his meaning before Raziel did, who was still staring in puzzled confusion.
“Marduk… can you mean what I think you mean?” He began in a slow voice, eyes widening.
Marduk’s answering grin was utterly vicious. He undid the cord and the cloak dropped away, sliding over his bent back to the floor.
There was no hump there as Raziel had first thought. Across his back were thin, long finger like appendages that ran from his shoulder blades to his calves. They were folded, tucked tightly against each other and joined by membranous skin.
Then it was clear, even before Marduk spread them out Raziel knew.
The wings were magnificent, a wing span of a full twelve feet at least. They were bat like, but far tougher reinforced with bunched muscle and sinew. The important joints were even shielded by what would only be scales, or at least it seemed to Raziel. They folded over each other, overlapping to form a protective but flexible defence.
Now fully revealed Marduk was no longer strangely portioned but perfectly shaped. He had a light body to make himself lighter in the air and his large barrel chest housed the muscles and powerful heart needed for powered flight.
-
-
Reminded intently of his own wings, Raziel’s hand went back unconsciously to brush briefly through the flapping remains behind him. He had flown only once with his adaptation before showing himself to Kain and the sensation of flight was one he would never forget.
Ishtar, with his face full of wonder, started forward. He was visibly trembling as he traced the outlines of the wings.
“How have you…” He started almost in a whisper. Marduk remained firm.
“Science can do many things that religion can not.” He replied. Ishtar turned to face him slowly.
“You forced your own evolution?”
Raziel could barely hear their conversation, his eyes fixed on the wings before him. It brought back sharply all of the wonder, all of the joy, all of the pain and horror. He was paralysed by the memories that he had kept subdued for such a long time.
“Not without paying a hefty toll.” Marduk lifted a hand, looking at the withered muscles with a wry but sad expression. “Generations of varying adaptations are not to be made up in a single day.”
Then he lifted his head to look up as if he could see through the roof of the tent and to the night sky above.
“But I can fly and that gift will overcome any demoralization a renegade messiah can throw at us.”
