Mark of the Fool

Chapter 633: Watching the Throne

Tell medo you know what a patch is? Hannah had asked on that fateful day Alex had summoned her to the hell of Cretalikon.

Hed frowned. Like on a piece of old clothing?

Something like that. I couldnt remember if I wrote about that in my book She had taken a deep breath. In my old world, theres something we used to callprograms. Theyre a bit like spells, except theyre made by a central, um, company. Uh, place. Then users of these programs use them, but they cant change them.

Okay Alex had said slowly. But, whats that got to do with the Mark?

She had frowned, looking as though she was sorting through her thoughts. Well, when a company puts out a program and they want to change it, they release something thats called a patch. Its new codeuh, a new piece of a spell that goes over top of the old spell and changes it.

Alex could have been blown over by a stiff breeze. So youre saying that somebodychanged the Mark? That it was different before?

She had nodded. After Kelda heard about patches, she spent a long time examining her Mark: the very fibres of magic it was made of.

You can break it down? Alex had asked. Even archwizards havent been able to do that.

She had the Mark, she had my knowledge, and she had to build some very specialised equipment using materials you cant even get in your world. But she built them and used the Mark to get good enough at using them to examine her Mark and mine.

Hannah had tapped the Mark of the Saint, which still shone on her soul. Mine is one complete piece of magic: the original version is the one that existed in my time and I imagine still exists today. But hers and yours? Theres signs that theyve been patched. Someone changed the Mark of the Fool after it was originally made, Alex. Its been altered.

What? Alex had cried, jumping to his feet. Someone tampered with it? You mean it wasnt always so restrictive?

We didnt find that out. Hannah had shaken her head. All I can tell you is that it was changed after it was originally made.

The Travellers words reached out from Alexs memories, his heart began pounding as he stared at the mural, especially at the Hero with the words: The Mark of the General, beneath it.

Everyone was doing much the same, examining the scene and the figures carved in it. Watchers muttered to one another in curiosity, while Alexs cabal simply stared, looking too stunned to speak.

As for those whose roots were Thameish?

It was like their whole worldhad been undone.

Cant be righthow many bloody lies did they tell us? Cedric murmured, his fingers running along the strange Heros image.

The figure was tall, wearing heavy armour and bearing a spear in one hand. The other hand blazed with magic, as a halo of light played about their head.

As the Chosen of Uldarwielding an axe in one hand, lightning in the other, and with a holy halo of divinity encircling their headled the other three Heroes toward the Ravener on the ground, this General floated above them all, with their sword extended forward.

Its like the Chosens leading from the front, Drestras voice crackled, an enormous claw touching the image of the Chosen. While this Generals leading from above.

And Fools are always shown behind the other Heroes, Carey said, fascinated. But here we dont see an actual Fool, instead, theres this fifth Hero flying above the others.

Its in the title, isnt it? Hart rumbled. The Generals the leader.

Och, what a way tfind out thChosens meant tbe second, Cedric shook his head. Alex, what dya make outta all this?

But, Alex could hardly speak.

He was transfixed by the symbol on the Generals forearm.

The Chosens symbol was a set of scales, representing the balance of combat, divinity and spellcraft, as well as the balance in Thameland, which the Heroes were meant to restore.

The Saints symbol was a simple upraised handthe holy symbol of Uldar himselfrepresenting their connection to the deity.

The Sages was a staff, representing their deep mastery over magic.

The Champions was a horned helmet, representing mastery over arms, combat, and their physical power.

And, of course, the Fools was a grinning jesters face, representing the entertainment and joy they were supposed to bring to the other Heroes with their own comical failings, and even buffoonery.

So, what did the Generals symbol actually represent?

In the mural, it was a sword atop an open scroll, with the blades pommel splitting like the peaks of a crown. Could that mean knowledge? Battle? Knowledge in battle? And the crownrulership? Or

Alex took a closer look at the swords pommel.

If the rest of the sword was removed, leaving only the pommel, then youd have a symbol that looked like a head wearing a crown. But what if the crowns points werehigher?

Exaggerated?

Floppy, instead of standing tall.

Wouldnt that be similar to what a jesters head looked like?

Wouldnt that be oddly reminiscent of the Mark of the Fool.

Alex was sure he had it; the Mark on the forearm of this General was the one that existed before the patch. This Mark of the General must have been altered and turned into the Mark of the Fool

but why change itwhat happened?

Why would Uldar obliterate the Heroes leader?

Or had something else interfered.

Alex glanced down the stairs; if the murals were etched in chronological order, growing older the higher one went, then maybe the next one down might contain a clue.

Unless it was blank.

And, it was.

Look at this. Alex pointed to empty space along the white stone. I wonder what happened; theres no record there. Nothing. Its like it was erased.

Beneath the blank space was another detailed mural, but that one contained the Fool.

And that isnt the only thing that has been erased, Careys spirit said grimly, pointing to the inscription beneath the general. Theres no name under it. Its just gone.

Uh Thundar rumbled. Ever get the feeling youre looking at something you really arent supposed to be looking at? Because thats exactly the feeling Im getting.

We all have many questions, Merzhin said. And we will have them answered at Uldars side. Come. Come!

Alex s eyes were fixed on the mural, but he could no more gain answers from it, than command the stone to speak. Thats another question for Uldar. he said, as they resumed their ascent, heading toward Uldar and answers. They walked and floated up the stairs in silence, watching the murals slip by.

The choirs voices grew louder.

Each mural showed scenes of the Saint, Sage, Chosen and Champion led into battle by this mysterious General. But, the Generals name was always obscured. The image remained, rendered in glorious detail.

Am I imagining it, or are there more Ravener-spawn in those murals where this general appears? Khalik asked.

I thought I was also imagining that, Isolde said. I wondermaybe we arewe would have to look at the lower murals. Or perhaps up aheaOh.

They passed five more murals, and on reaching the sixth, the content abruptly changed.

Now, there were no Heroes in themonly Uldar.

These must be a record of his time in Thameland, Merzhin mused. Before he ascended from the physical plane. What a blessing it is to see him. Look! There he is giving food to the people.

Each showed Uldar travelling the land, performing different miracles. Sometimes he caused crops to grow from fallow fields. Other times, he was shown using lightning and stone to kill threatening beasts.

In some he raised fish from the sea, giving them to the hungry.

He changed the weather.

Destroyed bandits.

Shattered, or conjured storms.

And in nearly every image, the people showed him their love; hundreds or thousands of tiny Thameish folk all worshipping at his knee.

What is that? Carey asked, floating before a mural that had caught her eye. Its like one of the images of the Heroes fighting the Ravener, butbut

Thats not like any Ravener Ive ever heard of, Cedric murmured.

In the scene, Uldar faced a creature twice his height.

The thing looked monstrous, snail-like, with a familiar orb serving as its shell.

That shell looks like the Ravener, Alex noted, looking at the creatures body. Where a snails head would have been, it had been replaced by a humanoid shape, reaching toward Uldar with a mass of arms that terminated in stingers.

Beneath bulging eyes, its lamprey-like mouth was wide open, as though screaming and lunging at Uldar. The god gazed upon it, looking regal, yet unyielding.

That thing reminds me of the Ravener in certain waysbutdifferent Drestras claw reached for it.

We have to move, Careys spirit wavered. I cantstay much longerneed toprotect you

Yes! Please! No more looking at dead images when our living god is so near! We can almost talk with him! Merzhin cried. Come, he is just ahead. I feel his divinity!

Together, they moved up the stairs, untilat lastthey came to a vast hall. White benches lined the walls on either side, built between statues of Uldar looking down on them serenely, smiling with only kindness in his eyes.

The ceiling must have been a hundred feet high, as were double doorsfashioned of white stonethat loomed above them at the end of the hallway. Images of engeli blowing trumpets and singing, surrounded a powerfully built Uldar etched in the centre of the doors.

His hands were spread in welcome.

Egocentric, much? Alex thought. Id start to worry if I had this many images of myself everywhere I looked.

Huh, sounds to me like that singings coming from those doors, Hart noted. Those engeli statues, the ones that look like theyre singing? It seems they are.

Alex felt another massive surge of mana.

Welcome, children, the kindly voice called to them from beyond the doors. You must have many things to ask of me. Your guidance awaits. Come, see me.

There was a tremendous grinding noise.

And the doors began to part.

Alex winced; he was about to meet the god of his realm. How many wished they could say that?

If only the circumstances were different.

I will teleport everyone out with the last of my energies if he tries anything, Carey said. Dont worry, the Traveller will protect us.

As the doors swung open, they were bathed in a blinding white light.

Uldar! Merzhin screamed, running into the radiance.

Wait! Cedric shouted. Stop runnin ahead, we cant see a damned

Suddenly, an agonised scream came from ahead.

Sod it! the Chosen charged, raising his weapon.

The others ran after them, andno sooner had they crossed the thresholdthan the light began to fade. It paled. It dimmed.

Until, at last, they could see.

The room was immense, crowned by cavernous ceilings that met walls of smooth white stone. A shimmering carpet of golden thread ran down its centre, Merzhin hunched there, collapsed on his hands and knees.

Nono! No! the pallid Hero screamed, pounding his fists on the floor, tears streaming from his eyes.

Slowly, the others looked away, turning their attention to another part of the room.

Thereseated on his titanic thronewas Uldar, the god of Thameland. He was much like his statues; white bearded, sharp-eyed and bearing a majestic cast to his face.

Oh shite, Cedric moaned. Oh shite!

By the spirits Drestras voice crackled.

Oh, we are in the shit now! Hart rumbled.

Uldars mostly white robes were draped over him, like curtains spun of light itself. Peeking out from under his sleeves, emaciated hands gripped the armrests of his throne.

Brutus whimpered.

Careys spirit made a choking sound.

ThisisI do not understand Claygon rumbled.

By the sapphire sea, Khalik swore.

By my ancestors, Thundar swore.

By the elements, Isolde, Hogarth and Svenia said as one.

A thin chest was exposed, showing immaculate skin below Uldars long white beard. His shoulders were broad, beyond majestic.

Alexs knees buckled as he tried to make sense of what was before him.

He fought his mind, wanting it to understand what he was seeing; the black, dried ichor that must have once run from a great wound in Uldars side, staining his robes, his throne, and the floor beside him.

Alex began to make sense of the gods distant expression.

His silence.

His inertia.

And it was on that momentous day in Uldars sanctum, the Fool of Thameland learned three things about his god.

Uldar was majestic.

Uldar was peaceful.

And, most importantly

Uldar was dead.

By the Traveller! Theresa gasped. What do we do now?

And try as he might to answer her, only two words came to Alexs stricken mind.

Oh fu

END OF BOOK 7

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