brothers."
"That is why you are the perfect antidote to Malcolm's self-interest," the cardinal assured him.
The old man shook his head. "I don't know what to say, gentlemen. I am just an old scholar."
"Say that you accept," the Russian author answered with a smile.
"Well, of course, I will serve in whatever capacity is required," he said modestly.
"Everyone knows you, James. Everyone trusts you. You have given us all your wise counsel at one point or another over the years. If Malcolm had listened to you in the first place, the outcome with Napoleon might have been very different."
James appeared to restrain deep emotion. "Truly, I am honored by your faith in me, and I swear to you on my life that I will uphold the creed and do my best to bring about the goals our forefathers laid out so long ago."
"So, where do we begin?" the French duke asked, as James sank back down into his seat.
"Well," James said with a wise, old, grandfatherly sigh followed by a thoughtful pause. "It seems to me that we need to make a fresh start, clean the slate. A new beginning before we set out on the next leg of our long journey through the ages. The Order decimated our ranks during the fall of Napoleon, and those who are left are deeply dispirited." He pulled the box with the scrolls closer. "I say we gather them all here together and give them something to restore their flagging faith."
"Like what?" the Russian asked.
James caressed the kingwood case fondly. "While I was studying the Alchemist's Scrolls, I came across a magnificent ceremony, lost to us all these centuries . . . a ritual of renewal that Valerian carefully laid out for a time of defeat such as the one we now face. You know the persecution our forefathers faced back in his day."
"Yes."
"He called it the ritual of rebirth, to be held at the lunar eclipse."
"So, that's why you wanted us to come now," the Frenchman murmured with a rueful smile. "There is an eclipse of the moon in about a fortnight, isn't there?"
James nodded with an enigmatic smile. "The past must be purged, the darkness fully embraced before the light can break again. After all we've been through--let us call it what it is, utter defeat--this is the perfect opportunity to bring our scattered remnants back together, all our poor wavering believers, and fill them up again with fire.
"If ever we have needed to come together, renew our vows to the dark Father, and offer sacrifice as we invoke his help and favor, that time is now," James finished.
"What sacrifice does this ritual require?" the cardinal murmured while the others nodded in agreement.
James glanced at him, silent for a moment. "Only the very highest is acceptable for this ceremony. It calls for the blood of a virgin, pure of heart."
Nothing the Prometheans did could surprise Drake anymore, but the words struck him with horror like a knife in the gut.
Emily's innocent smile flashed across his mind.
The answer, meanwhile, had drawn the French duke's cynicism. "Eh, are there any of those left on the earth, I wonder?"
"There would be if you had not seduced them all," the Russian jested.
"Never fear, my brothers." James shut the box of scrolls with a serene smile. "The Dark Father will provide. And when such blood has flowed, and our strength is renewed, then we shall set out to rebuild, just as we always have. The Order defeated us last time, but now we have a secret weapon against them, as well," James said, with a nod over his shoulder at Drake. "In the meanwhile, we must send for all our believers so they can get here in time for the eclipse. Also, I will begin preparing a contingent to go and deal with Malcolm."
The men were quiet, absorbing all this.
"At least the Scot's greed has left our coffers full," James added dryly. "We'll need all our gold to reestablish our influence in the royal courts. Duping kings is easy enough--inbred fools--but wooing courtiers and bribing politicians, that, my friends, can get expensive."
They laughed
"That is why you are the perfect antidote to Malcolm's self-interest," the cardinal assured him.
The old man shook his head. "I don't know what to say, gentlemen. I am just an old scholar."
"Say that you accept," the Russian author answered with a smile.
"Well, of course, I will serve in whatever capacity is required," he said modestly.
"Everyone knows you, James. Everyone trusts you. You have given us all your wise counsel at one point or another over the years. If Malcolm had listened to you in the first place, the outcome with Napoleon might have been very different."
James appeared to restrain deep emotion. "Truly, I am honored by your faith in me, and I swear to you on my life that I will uphold the creed and do my best to bring about the goals our forefathers laid out so long ago."
"So, where do we begin?" the French duke asked, as James sank back down into his seat.
"Well," James said with a wise, old, grandfatherly sigh followed by a thoughtful pause. "It seems to me that we need to make a fresh start, clean the slate. A new beginning before we set out on the next leg of our long journey through the ages. The Order decimated our ranks during the fall of Napoleon, and those who are left are deeply dispirited." He pulled the box with the scrolls closer. "I say we gather them all here together and give them something to restore their flagging faith."
"Like what?" the Russian asked.
James caressed the kingwood case fondly. "While I was studying the Alchemist's Scrolls, I came across a magnificent ceremony, lost to us all these centuries . . . a ritual of renewal that Valerian carefully laid out for a time of defeat such as the one we now face. You know the persecution our forefathers faced back in his day."
"Yes."
"He called it the ritual of rebirth, to be held at the lunar eclipse."
"So, that's why you wanted us to come now," the Frenchman murmured with a rueful smile. "There is an eclipse of the moon in about a fortnight, isn't there?"
James nodded with an enigmatic smile. "The past must be purged, the darkness fully embraced before the light can break again. After all we've been through--let us call it what it is, utter defeat--this is the perfect opportunity to bring our scattered remnants back together, all our poor wavering believers, and fill them up again with fire.
"If ever we have needed to come together, renew our vows to the dark Father, and offer sacrifice as we invoke his help and favor, that time is now," James finished.
"What sacrifice does this ritual require?" the cardinal murmured while the others nodded in agreement.
James glanced at him, silent for a moment. "Only the very highest is acceptable for this ceremony. It calls for the blood of a virgin, pure of heart."
Nothing the Prometheans did could surprise Drake anymore, but the words struck him with horror like a knife in the gut.
Emily's innocent smile flashed across his mind.
The answer, meanwhile, had drawn the French duke's cynicism. "Eh, are there any of those left on the earth, I wonder?"
"There would be if you had not seduced them all," the Russian jested.
"Never fear, my brothers." James shut the box of scrolls with a serene smile. "The Dark Father will provide. And when such blood has flowed, and our strength is renewed, then we shall set out to rebuild, just as we always have. The Order defeated us last time, but now we have a secret weapon against them, as well," James said, with a nod over his shoulder at Drake. "In the meanwhile, we must send for all our believers so they can get here in time for the eclipse. Also, I will begin preparing a contingent to go and deal with Malcolm."
The men were quiet, absorbing all this.
"At least the Scot's greed has left our coffers full," James added dryly. "We'll need all our gold to reestablish our influence in the royal courts. Duping kings is easy enough--inbred fools--but wooing courtiers and bribing politicians, that, my friends, can get expensive."
They laughed
Similar Books
