LilyFields Entertainment

Darkness is seldom absolute. It always has a quality of some kind, an attribute that describes it. Light of Dawn tried to find a way to express the darkness around her.

She floated. The world spun slowly under her.

Heaviness. It pressed her downward.

Warmth filled her, poured into her like fine liquor.

Air flowed through her on wings of pain.

******

*Dear Leigh. You are such a clever man.*

"What do you want, Perele?" Leigh did not look up from the tangled wiring in his hands; not only would he not see Perele, but the wires were more important.

*You wound me, Leigh. Can I not pay you an honest compliment?*

"I don't know. Can you?"

He felt her flash of anger. *I can, and I have. You are a very clever man, and I am so glad that the Eidolan took my recommendation about you. We are so much better for your presence here.*

"Have you rounded up any more bodies?" He freed the last of the wires and sorted them into boxes.

*Oh, yes. Though it will be a little while before we can get them here. They're a ways off yet. Poor Leigh; I do wish I could do something for you. At least wipe your brow for you.*

"You could keep the rest of them quiet. All their moaning is distracting, especially when they can't be bothered to help me clean up." Leigh grunted as he stood and walked over to the next pile of debris.

*I can certainly do that,* she purred. *I won't be too far off. Do let me know what else you need from me, won't you?*

He didn't reply and felt her irritation. However, she did move away to bully the Riven who still milled around in confusion. It was little wonder that she was not the leader of the Reeves. She was cunning and resourceful, but she was also inclined to childish pouting. If she could figure out how to be more focused, more dedicated, then she might become useful.

He sighed. The damage was nearly total. The platform still stood, but in pieces. All the control panels were shattered and riddled with lead shot. The device itself was slag. Leigh hadn't had the chance to go look at the generators, but he had the feeling that they, too, had been destroyed, since there was no electrical current shocking him when his fingers brushed exposed wires.

Leigh placed his hand over the spot where the shard lay in his chest. His connection to his lord steadied him, renewed him. That was part of the Eidolan's brilliance, that he could forge so deep and yet so simple a bond with his servants. The master did not need to dance attendance on every worshiper, but every worshiper could feel his presence and draw on his power at any moment.

The shards in the corpses would need to be collected and returned to the crystal. Given the influx of bodies that would soon arrive, however, he might as well set them aside to be reused. The crystal did not need to have the pieces returned to it; the beautiful magics allowed it to heal itself and even grow--

Leigh paused in the act of removing a shard from the chest of a dead man. Slowly, he straightened up. His eyes faced the cavern, which was dimly lit by the few remaining electrical lamps that weren't tied to the destroyed generators, but he did not see any of them. For several long moments, he thought.

Then he turned and sank to his knees.

"My lord, awesome in might and awful in power. I would tell you of something that could increase your reach in all the world."

The black presence of the Eidolan Night did not acknowledge the prayer, but Leigh remained kneeling. He could and would wait on his lord, however long it took.

What could you say that would please me?

"Oh great my lord, I now know a way to bring in more worshipers, to dedicate more bodies to your glorious cause. With this method, my lord, you would be free from the drudgery of touching each and every flesh-bound mortal. You would be able to focus yourself on the higher duties, and we would serve you by presenting you with bodies and Riven already prepared." Leigh felt his heart race and knew his grin stretched from ear to ear.

More of his lord's attention fell on his mind. And how do you propose to duplicate my power? Do you dare to challenge me?

"Never, my lord!" The weight of that wrath drove Leigh's face to the ruined planks. "None will ever supplant you! But there are simpler ways to accomplish your goals! Ways that do not drain your power needlessly, that will bring you more bodies and more power!"

No one who bore the Eidolan Night's shards could lie to their master. Leigh willingly opened his mind, desperate to show his lord his idea.

The Eidolan rummaged through Leigh's thoughts for some time. Very well. We shall attempt this. You have already failed me, flesh-bound, by failing to protect the bridge that would lift me to the god-realm. Fail me again, and I shall unmake you.

"I will not fail you, my lord." Tears streaked down Leigh's cheeks. "I ask only to serve you."

Serve me well, and I shall reward you. Fail me and be destroyed.

"Yes, my lord," Leigh whispered.

I will provide the fragment. Get to work on the new device.

Leigh bowed twice more and rose. His heart rose with him. What other master would permit such an audacious request? What other master would allow it, encourage it? Every human Leigh had served under had been too cowardly to do what needed to be done. Humans were too concerned with their own power. Only the Eidolan was so great that he did not fear to share his power. Only the Eidolan believed in Leigh's skills.

"Perele! Get those peasants down here immediately. We have a new device to build before we can finish the bridge."