As we slip ever deeper into Szeethe's sorted and shadowy past, we are bound to meet with personages both fair and foul. Yet none might be fouler than Szeethe's new master, whom we meet in chilling detail in this week's installment of A Grey Beginning. Join Davis now as he plunges you into the very Heart of the Grey God himself - a location which is revealed in all its putrid and despicable glory later in the Skein of Shadows novel. Join us as we meet Mahizor, High Priest of the Grey God, face-to-face!
"The blood has begun to flow," answered Szeethe as he faced the high priest, barely able to keep his eyes on the wicked creature.
"So I have been told," replied the priest, his cold gaze appraising his pupil. He stretched out a pale white arm, "Come with me."
Szeethe bowed and followed his master, keeping half a pace behind and just to the right of the creature. Mahizor was the image of death, a creature whose origins were difficult to ascertain. Looking like a corpse stored in a crypt deep below the world, the creature seemed to cast a macabre, deathly glow. Yet he was a living being, not undead. He was a lumilon, though twisted and cursed by long devoted years to the mysterious Grey God.
His kind were known to be placid and beautiful, possessing a deep spirituality that few other races could ever hope to achieve. They were naturally healers, many of whom worked in the Moontower where the most grievously injured were taken. The High Priest represented none of the traits of his kindred, was neither beautiful nor did he have any interest in healing others. Instead of instilling a feeling of placid calm in those around him, he exuded a feeling of cold dread. His powers were of rot and decay, his touch withering.
What cruel arts had changed this once beautiful being of light into the image of death Szeethe could not guess nor did he care. Mahizor had shown him what true power was, had opened his eyes to a world with far more meaning than the Demon Lords could ever hope to see. The universe revealed to the demon-rat had captured his imagination, had kindled his own base lusts. And so, regardless of what dark arts had twisted the lumilon who was his master, the power that came with them was worth the physical price.
The macabre pair passed through a rear door and into a winding stone passage. After a few moments, they reached a narrow stair which took them deep beneath the city. At the bottom of the stair was a bronze door. Mahizor pushed it open and stepped through, his minion following closely behind.
They stepped into a wide, empty chamber which was illuminated by countless torches. Scores of were-rats bustled about carrying various odd bundles. Szeethe did not know what they carried, nor would he ask his mentor. After only a short while in league with the evil lumilon, he knew intimately those times when he would be allowed a question...and those in which a question would only bring wrath.
A cold hiss escaped Mahizor's thin, papery lips as he spread his arms out. "Step beside me, my son," he said.
Szeethe stepped to his side and looked at the room. He had never been in this chamber before, and wondered what use it would have. Clearly it was created for a purpose, which could only be in some dark service of the Grey God.
"This," answered the lumilon to the unasked question, "This shall be the Heart of the Grey God." His large, cold eyes flashed with a cold flame as he uttered several arcane words.
The were-rats in the room scurried quickly away as the strange creature stretched his fingers out. One hapless were-rat entered the room carrying a load that obscured his vision. The moment he stepped into the chasm's center, he dropped his load. In but a moment, the small, wiry creature's fur blanched and fell out, his flesh shriveled, and his eyes sunk into their sockets. An instant later he fell to the floor in a lifeless heap.
Mahizor's arms fell to the side and his eyes became normal. He looked down at his pupil, a wicked smile across his face. "Our first sacrifice to the heart which will beat."
The lumilon then took Szeethe by the shoulders and looked into his eyes, "I have a new task for you, one that may take many years to complete."
"I am ready," said Szeethe, "Command me as you will."
"Good," replied Mahizor, his breath coming in cold whips as the room's temperature plunged, "Then I shall tell you of the relic..."
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