He made his way through the palace, his walking stick striking the floor with each step, announcing his presence well in advance of his actual arrival.
The help staff scattered, anxious to be out of the way before he arrived.
After heading out the back doors, he limped along to the training grounds where Zarek leaned against a railing, watching his troops sparring below. To the emperor’s right stood his secretary, Gonen, a man who moved jerkily, spasmodically. At his left, one of the succedunt soldiers held a chain, at the other end of which a grut strained to get loose.
In the center ring reserved for champions, a soldier fended off the advances of a new challenger, as his three prior contenders stood on the sidelines, nursing their wounds.
“Ooooh!” Zarek exclaimed when the champion took a blow to his side and staggered. Then, “Ha ha!” he guffawed, as the man, growling ferociously, charged, throwing his weight on his latest rival. “Ah! There he goes! He’s down!” Zarek laughed, raising his hands in the air.
Glancing at Pestifere who neared him, he pointed to the champion and said, “That one must lead a battalion.” Then turning to his secretary, he added, “Gonen, make note of his name. I’ll want to speak with him later.” Finally, looking back at his fighting forces, he commented, to no one in particular, “Men will follow one such as that.”
“Yes,” Pestifere agreed. Then, catching Zarek’s eye, his brow dropped. “We must speak.”
“Oh? What of?”
“I have a mission to see to.”
“Another? You’ve only just returned.”
The priest nodded. “It cannot be helped.”
“But I’ve need of you here.”
Pestifere wiped his brow. “I am of more use to our venture where I go.”
Sighing, the emperor nodded. “Very well. But before you leave, we’d best go over our plan of attack. Now that most of our scouts have returned, some of our forward teams could head out soon. Possibly as early as in a fortnight or so.”
“It may be beneficial to wait just yet—as I make further arrangements.” Pestifere paused, in thought. “We can discuss things further this evening so that I may be on my way tomorrow, at first light.”
He turned to go, but then stopped short and looked back. “Oh, you will be pleased to know that the underlords have provided the means for me to communicate with you while I am away.”
“And that is?”
“Just as Lilith did in the days of old, I will summon their presence through a looking glass. They will then relay to you, all of which I inform them.”
“Very well.”
“As I said, I will provide you further details this evening.” With that, amidst the sounds of clashing swords, of grumblings and cries of both pain and triumph from Zarek’s fighting forces-in-training, Pestifere headed off to prepare for his journey.