Read Known Afterlife (The Provider Trilogy: Volume I) Page 34

  Chapter 16

  "Of course!" Clortison shouted to the assembled bishops and cardinals. "It is all so clear now. The innovations, social movements, political lobbying, just one false trail after the other. It was never about power, at least not in any material sense of the word. No, it was all a ruse used to distract us from his true objective."

  Thortizan probed the other apostolic board members seated around the ornate table, registering a theme of puzzled expressions. Knowing he was not the only one struggling to decipher the cryptic speech of their ecclesiastic patriarch provided little consolation.

  "I apologize for my confusion your excellence, but I do not understand what it is you require of me." Thortizan interjected, respectful of Clortison's divine authority.

  Clortison flitted from the ancient tapestry hanging on the stonewall and back across the room back to the men seated before him. He ignored Thortizan and continued to sound out his thoughts.

  "While not ideal, our inevitable takeover of Alterian Enterprises was never a deterrent to his ultimate mission."

  Thortizan sat back at that moment and did his best to listen patiently. Familiar with the man's peremptory genius, he had come to trust their living prophet. How he processed visions sent directly from God was not Thortizan’s role.

  As he had so often before, Clortison released his thoughts like jigsaw puzzle pieces spilled across a table, trusting his soul to connect them and reveal their purpose. Hunched in a lurid posture, his eyes often rolling back into his head, Clortison labored to give the raw revelation structure and pragmatic substance.

  An acrid loathing etched his voice, sending a chill down Thortizan's spine. Clortison broke from his rambling trance, his zealous fervor reaching its apex. "Oh what a diabolical trap he had set for us, one we helped craft from the start. Stalling Alterian is truly the most deviant servant of the Dark One we have ever faced."

  Without warning, Clortison grabbed Thortizan's hands with alarming force and penetrated his heart with his fervent gaze. "He aims to destroy our God!" he proclaimed. "Not just usurp our authority with another religion of his making, but to usher in a new social existence, one devoid of any faith."

  Thortizan nodded with understanding, trembling from Clortison's providential possession.

  "The eve of the apocalypse is upon us, the day you and the Vorenian Knights have prepared for since the death of our Savior has arrived!"

  Clortison flopped back into his high-backed chair, wiping fresh beads of sweat off his forehead and face with an embroidered handkerchief. He made brief eye contact with those seated around the table, confirming he still held their undivided attention.

  Composed, back in command, he turned to Thortizan and elaborated on God's newly delivered prophecy. "Your mission is simple but far from easy to accomplish. Infiltrate the main campus of Alterian Enterprises and capture Muzar Tarcones. He resides in the depths of the underground chamber we discovered while vetting the inconclusive data provided by Janison. If you must, take the facility by force but no matter what you do, no harm must come to Tarcones. He is the key to winning the war for either side."