Chapter 32: Seven Deadly Sins
The Pursuit (Lawlessness)
They rode with a ruthless abandon, the horses lathered with the exertion. They didn’t care. The death of lesser creatures was of little concern. They had a target to remove and a need to fulfill. They could not allow one of their own to fall victim to any but their kind. The rule was sacrosanct. Thwart an assassin and meet the hand of Death.
She rode alongside the others, quiet, composed, like a shadow. She could think of nowhere else to be, no one else to be with and she was content. Her life had ended with the death of another, a death she had caused, a death she had spoken. She was now one with the victim, one with the instrument, one with the Lady herself. Any who saw her knew the truth, it was written in her eyes, etched on her face, buried in her soul. She rode because she could not do otherwise. She was already dead inside and willing to let it loose.
He led because it was his duty to do so. He was the leader, the one they’d chosen, the one whose mission had changed. Under his watch the unthinkable occurred, one of theirs had fallen victim to another. He could not allow it to happen. A consequence would follow, always, endlessly, unmercifully. Their kind held a reputation, a truth, a fact. Oppose one and oppose all, deny the individual and meet the whole. The way had been practiced since the beginning. It was necessary.
“The Guild is called to order.”
A great war had been fought. One attempted to rule all and seven united in defiance. The One lost and the seven celebrated. They became arrogant. It was their undoing.
“Are all agreed?”
The council voiced their approval and the plan set in motion. The seven had united to defeat the One. One would be employed to defeat seven.
“Who will be first?”
“Sloth.”
“Then let it begin.”
King Sloth was as his name implied; a lazy individual who was as happy in filth as he was in luxury. He ruled a kingdom of chaos. It was ill-defined, ill-tended and wantonly lax of security. Sloth agreed to partner with the other kingdoms because he could not stand alone. He was unmotivated, uninspired and short on time. It took a whisper to start the retribution.
“Sloth does not deserve what he acquired. Kill him and take what is rightfully yours.”
Prince Gluttony was an individual of insatiable desires. He could never be pleased because he could not achieve ease. He was continually nervous, constantly alert and always in need of sustenance. Sloth held an answer for his short-term wants. He dispatched the lazy monarch with a single sword-stroke.
“Sloth is dead?”
“Yes.”
“Then proceed with the next.”
The Guild was at war. They had been responsible for the death of the One. The seven had hired them to rid the land of its presence. They had succeeded and awaited payment. The seven, feeling emboldened with their new-found power, declined to honor their contract. It was a decision of mortal consequences.
“Gluttony has what you desire. Kill him and fulfill your wishes.”
Queen Lucida, Lady Lust herself, was ever aware of others. She longed for what they possessed, had a desire to hold what they owned and could not be placated. She could not ignore the wealth of those who held what should be hers. Gluttony was an easy kill. It took one teaspoon of poison in one bottle of wine. It didn’t matter which bottle for Gluttony could never contain himself and drank till all were empty. He died with a smile on his face and a tongue swollen three times its normal size.
“Gluttony is gone?”
“Yes.”
“Then allow Lust to meet her fate.”
Emperor Envy was a particularly annoying ruler. He was always complaining about the gifts given to others and was unaware of those given to him. He was secretive, untrustworthy and forever plotting to achieve greatness at the expense of everyone else. He devised a ruse to rid the land of Lust. It wasn’t so hard. She couldn’t contain her natural interests.
“Queen Lucida, would you like to see the new horse I acquired?”
She was dead an hour later, thrown from a stallion which had a reputation; it could not be tamed. Lust’s curiosity peaked when the horse was brought before her and she couldn’t deny her inclination to possess the creature. She mounted, the beautiful beast galloped and it appeared she might even ride what could not be ridden. She didn’t, of course, because a sliver had been placed in the horse’s hoof. She broke her neck when head hit turf and another of the seven met their end when a voice of treason whispered in another’s ear.
“Who’s next?”
“Wraith.”
“How will you accomplish it?”
“We need do nothing. Lust was his desire.”
The Duke of Wraith was a ferocious being. He was first in battle and last to leave the field. He was arrogant, impulsive and utterly infatuated with Lady Lust.
“Envy killed Lust.”
The words were all that was needed. He rode into the Emperor’s encampment, challenged the ruler to a duel and removed his head shortly thereafter.
“Envy has departed?”
“Yes.”
“Then continue the process.”
There were three left. The first was easy.
“Wrath holds the combined wealth of five. Rid him and you will hold six.”
Queen Greed ruled her kingdom with the power of the purse. She reaped the wealth of nations for her own purposes. She was insightful, cunning and a ruthless adversary. She was also quite an attractive woman.
“I am sorry to hear about Lady Lust. Maybe I can be of some comfort in your hour of need?”
Wraith was imperious, wealthy and powerful. He’d defeated numerous armies and commanded a force without equal. Unfortunately for him, he was also a man. She slit his throat as he slept. She then lay beside him and dreamt the dreams of empires.
“Two are left?”
“Yes.”
“Then let two be one.”
The advisor had saved the best for last. He would be needed for two purposes. The first was pretty straight forward.
“Queen Greed insulted your honor. You know what must be done.”
King Pride was the greatest ruler of all. He was honest, trustworthy and dependable. He was also the partner to Greed. She betrayed his trust, had lain with Wraith, and would pay the price to reclaim his integrity.
“Hello, King Pride, what a pleasant surprise.”
He said nothing.
“What is wrong?”
She knew not for she was reveling in the riches of others.
“What are you doing?”
He was taking her head, of course. An insult had been given and the reward she reaped was to last an eternity.
“You are the last.”
King Pride nodded his head. He knew he was the last. What he didn’t know was why?
“You have been deceived.”
He looked upon his trusted advisor with wary eyes. The man appeared to change.
“I am not of your kind.”
He grew slightly smaller in stature but for some reason appeared more sinister in nature.
“I am of the Elvin.”
His features defined, sharpened, became focused.
“You owe us payment for a deed accomplished.”
The King became aware of something else. He was not alone with the other.
“I would like you to meet my master. You may know it as Torment.”
A shape began to materialize. Fear took on a new dimension as he realized the truth.
“You may live or die. It is your choice. Understand the consequences, though. You made a bargain and broke the contract. You are, thus, deficient in our eyes. You will be remembered as one who lacks conviction, who spits upon promises, who is not to be trusted. You will forever be seen as a thief, a liar, a cheat. You may gain a reputation in battle but never again in society.”
King Pride listened as his worst fears were revealed to him.
“All who listen will know the tru
th; your words hold not fact, they are a fiction of oral design.”
He could not tolerate the thought so begged the question.
“What can I do to change this?”
The Infidel smiled. He’d been chosen to play the part and his victory was sweet indeed.
“You may pay the price agreed upon but it will only affect the physical. The spiritual will remain unchanged.”
“How do I change the spiritual?”
“It is dependent upon the beliefs of others. If they perceive you worthy then the afterlife will also.”
The King took the advice, he had no choice for the Elvin spoke the truth; they had broken their pledge and he was deficient of honor.
“I, King Pride, do decree the wealth of the combined empires to be placed in the hands of the Guild. They fulfilled their end of the bargain and we will uphold ours.”
The crowd which gathered listened as the man they knew to be trustworthy attempted to regain their faith.
“I have sinned. It is no one’s fault but my own. The Guild has agreed to allow the kingdom to continue. They have accepted what was promised in the beginning; the amount of the original contract, the contract I broke. In accordance with their wishes and the desire to retain my mortal soul I now hand the kingdom over to my prodigy; my son, your king.”
He placed the crown upon the child’s head as all in attendance worried about what would come next.
“I ask for your forgiveness, your sympathy, your prayers. I will never see you again in this life but I hope to see you in another.”
The King’s last words fell upon the listeners as a dagger, held by his own hands, plunged into his heart.
“So it is done?”
“Yes.”
“Death holds them all?”
“Yes.”
“Then the mission is complete. Let’s move on. We have a proposal for a new contract. There is a prince who wishes to rid himself of a rival. He has offered…”
The Infidel listened with abstract interest because he was intrigued. He wondered when King Pride realized the truth. Was it instantaneous? Did his master meet him at the gates or did Death greet him first? He decided it didn’t really matter in the greater scheme of things. Death was omnipotent in her realm. If she wished to possess the King’s soul for a while there really was nothing Torment could do. But he still wondered with vague amusement if the King realized his error. Torment wasn’t a product of outside influence; it was of the internal, the mind, the soul. The King’s grand gesture could not remove the stain because the tarnish was permanent. Covering the scar didn’t remove the blemish. Eventually the bandage would vanish and the wound reappear. When it did Torment would notice. And its interest could last an eternity.
They came upon the destination suddenly, they reared the steeds and dismounted. Slicer signaled and the one without a name departed. She was the best of them and they knew her for what she was; an infiltrator of perfect skill. She crept closer, low to the ground unseen by those wishing sight. She was one with the land, a particle of sand, a piece of the larger whole. The target was easy to identify. A large structure sitting among no others. She counted the numbers. Four could be seen on the porch, lost in some card-game of concentration. She allowed her eyes to wander, taking in the entire scene, unaware another had noticed her presence. She was ever careful, always concealed, never out of place. It saved her life.
Thunk!
The arrow was a message. They were aware. She slid away to tell the others, amazed one could view what all others could not. She’d not seen the one who fired the shot. There was no need. She’d met him before. She was eager to make his acquaintance again.