{"id":35039,"date":"2024-04-18T06:15:15","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T10:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/?p=35039"},"modified":"2024-04-18T06:34:37","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T10:34:37","slug":"the-whispers-chapter-ten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/the-whispers-chapter-ten\/","title":{"rendered":"The Whispers – Chapter Ten"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello there!\u00a0 Thank you for joining me for another chapter of Tellest\u2019s newest feature, the \u201cinteractive\u201d story,\u00a0The Whispers<\/em>\u2014a story which you and readers like you are helping me tell.\u00a0 For ease of navigation, I\u2019m going to have little mini tables of contents on these posts, so feel free to use them to jump around and discover how\u00a0The Whispers<\/em> works, how you can help steer the direction of the main character\u2019s choices, and, of course, read the story.\u00a0 I hope you enjoy taking part in this interesting new Tellest adventure!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Whispers Concept<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The Whispers \u2013 Chapter Ten<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Voting Instructions<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>The Whispers<\/em>\u00a0Concept<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Whispers is a story that takes place within the Tellest universe.\u00a0 It\u2019s a story that is written by Michael DeAngelo, but it\u2019s told with help from the readers.\u00a0 The Whispers follows Declan, a young man who was recently evicted from the temple where he grew up.\u00a0 When he was younger, he used to hear voices, and the clergy interpreted those voices in ways that they thought brought them closer to divinity.\u00a0 But with the whispers growing quiet, Declan was no longer needed at the temple, and he was instead shipped off to a nearby adventurers\u2019 guild.\u00a0 The voices have recently returned in his time of need, and have offered him advice on what to do in order to survive.<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t already figured it out,\u00a0you<\/em>\u00a0are one of those potential whispers!\u00a0 At the end of every chapter, Declan is given a choice.\u00a0 Every reader has the chance to vote and influence Declan\u2019s decision, as long as you\u2019re a member of the Tellest newsletter.\u00a0 Every time you vote, your voice holds more sway as well.\u00a0 Everyone who casts their vote in earlier chapters will now have a stronger voice, and Declan will hear them a little clearer.\u00a0 So for your voice to be heard best, you should get in on this story early.\u00a0 There is another way to gain additional voting power, but that will be described in the voting instructions at the end of this post.<\/p>\n

First thing is first: you\u2019ve got to read the story (starting with\u00a0chapter one<\/a>, if you prefer).\u00a0 Then if you\u2019re not already a member of the newsletter, go ahead and sign up!\u00a0 Tellest has awesome freebies that we give out right away at sign-up, and more that come along every few weeks.<\/p>\n

Without much further adieu, let\u2019s continue our tale, and find out the most recent choice Declan made with the help of our Council of Whispers\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Chapter Ten:
\n<\/strong>Getting Your Bell Rung<\/strong><\/p>\n

For once, it sounded as though the whispers were second to another noise resonating in Declan\u2019s mind.\u00a0 Though it had been some time since the intruders had taken the bell and fled with it, the former resident of the temple still heard the tone of the clapper striking the mouth of the mighty instrument.<\/p>\n

When he opened his eyes, he expected some semblance of serenity.\u00a0 As exhausted as battle had made him, he believed he was waking from a nightmare\u2014rather than living one, as he and his allies did.<\/p>\n

He did not know when he had succumbed to weariness and pain, nor did he know how long it had lasted.\u00a0 Fires still crackled in the building, and the groans from those who were injured, as well as the death rattles from those who would not last the night, still filled the hallowed chambers of Fespar Temple.<\/p>\n

Despite the wave of stimulation that came over Declan, he fought to sit up.\u00a0 Strange shadows danced on the walls of the building, for half of the flames of the candelabras had been snuffed out, and large chunks of stone from the temple\u2019s steeple had been ripped out, let to fall on the once-beautiful floor of the building.<\/p>\n

Declan tried to listen for advice from the voices that often assailed his mind, but he could not detect them.\u00a0 It was just as it was before he had been shipped off to the Adventurers of Eladia.\u00a0 He considered for a moment that perhaps there was something about the temple that limited his ability to confer with the otherworldly whispers.<\/p>\n

No, it was not that, he knew.\u00a0 His ears rung from the noise of the bell, the volume of the screams, the sound of the explosions that roared into the night.\u00a0 It was bad enough that he could barely hear the groan escaping his own lips as he struggled to his feet.<\/p>\n

Though he didn\u2019t know how long he had been unconscious, he knew that it was long enough for the patrons of the temple to risk exiting the building.\u00a0 Melara and Jarayas and the rest of the highwaymen must have escaped quite some time before.<\/p>\n

As his vision settled, Declan watched the horrors continue to unfold around him, even in the absence of the villains who had set the temple ablaze.\u00a0 The charred remains of more than one patron lay on the ground nearby, and the scent of their burning flesh made it feel as though Declan\u2019s sense of smell was the first that was fighting to return to him.\u00a0 But he could taste the bile rise to the back of his throat as he watched one of the patrons tug on the arm of a friend or family member who was stuck beneath a large chunk of rubble.\u00a0 The trapped person offered no assistance, and as their torso separated from their lower body, their companion seemed unable to make peace with the loss.<\/p>\n

Fear crept into Declan\u2019s mind then, for he could not see his guildmates nearby.\u00a0 As he tried to recall the details of the battle they had lost, he could not remember what befell them.\u00a0 And in the darkness of the place, he could not easily find his fallen companions.<\/p>\n

As he took his first step forward, his foot brushed against a sturdy object, and it filled him with some hope to see it there.\u00a0 The staff he had grown accustomed to was still in good shape and seemed like a beacon amidst the dreariness of the place.\u00a0 He reached down and plucked it from the floor, and upon standing upright once more, he felt steadier, and more in control of his senses.<\/p>\n

He could feel the whispers far in the back of his mind, as though they were scratching to get inside and reveal unspoken secrets to him.\u00a0 But he didn\u2019t have the capacity to open whatever door had been shut to them.\u00a0 Instead, he focused on what he could accomplish there in the temple.<\/p>\n

Close by, he saw someone wearing an outfit that looked at first like something Ilayeth would have worn.\u00a0 But the debris that had fallen from the ceiling had coated everything in thin layers of grey and brown, and he soon realized that he was mistaking his ally for someone else.\u00a0 He helped the patron to her feet regardless and pointed her toward the exit.\u00a0 Declan would not leave\u2014not until he found his friends.<\/p>\n

While he scoured the temple floor looking for Tornig and Ilayeth, he peered into one of the antechambers, and his heart dropped.\u00a0 His legs grew weak enough that he was at risk of falling to the floor again, and his senses seemed to withdraw once more.<\/p>\n

Benedictus, the closest thing he had to a father figure since serving at the temple, lay in a heap against the far wall of the chamber, his blood staining the once immaculate wall behind him.<\/p>\n

Declan felt a fire within him though, for he watched the man shift a bit, his eyes twinkling in the faded light that scattered throughout the temple.<\/p>\n

Rushing inside, Declan slid along the floor as he dropped to his knees beside his friend.\u00a0 He helped to prop Benedictus up against the wall, ignoring the agonized growl from the cleric.\u00a0 Despite the pain surging through him, Benedictus looked upon the young fellow with warmth, as though seeing him again made all the tragedy of that day worth it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not expect to see you again this day,\u201d the cleric said through gasps and gurgles.\u00a0 \u201cYet even now, I can tell you aren\u2019t the same young man who left our care.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSave your strength, Benedictus,\u201d Declan said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll get you out of here, and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Though it took effort, the older fellow shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cIt will not keep,\u201d he insisted.\u00a0 \u201cI am too far gone.\u00a0 Magic would not restore me\u2014only delay the inevitable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Declan\u2019s jaw dropped to hear such words.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not,\u201d Benedictus said as he looked upon the young man before him.\u00a0 \u201cDo not fret.\u00a0 My body may be failing me, but my spirit is full.\u00a0 I see a man before me filled with purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tears filled Declan\u2019s eyes, but as he watched his old friend\u2019s conviction steady him, he sniffed away the emotion running rampant in him, and rubbed his face with the heels of his hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re hurt,\u201d Benedictus said, spotting the injuries upon Declan.\u00a0 Queryn\u2019s talons had raked lines into Declan\u2019s skin, and the blood stained the young man\u2019s outfit.<\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t believe that the cleric spared a thought of him when he was in such a sorry state.\u00a0 Declan took a moment to look over Benedictus\u2019s wounds, and realized at once that his injuries were just like his.\u00a0 The harpy\u2019s talons had left the man\u2019s robes in tatters, but there were also deeper wounds, and Declan knew that they had been inflicted by Queryn\u2019s daggers.<\/p>\n

For a moment, Declan wondered if Benedictus had incurred her wrath before the Adventurers of Eladia had arrived.\u00a0 If she had attacked the cleric after Declan had been downed in the fight\u2026<\/p>\n

He was pulled from his thoughts then, for a light emanated from his old friend\u2019s body.\u00a0 Benedictus held his hands up, shaking as they were, and gave shape to the light, a small ball of energy hovering above his wounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Declan asked.<\/p>\n

The cleric answered not with his words, but with his actions, sending the light toward Declan.\u00a0 Awash in the divine power, the young man who once lived at the temple felt energized, and he looked down to see his wounds close.\u00a0 There wouldn\u2019t even be a scar from where Queryn\u2019s claws had torn open his flesh.<\/p>\n

\u201cI cannot do more,\u201d Benedictus said, and his voice sounded weaker and wearier than it had before he called upon the holy power.\u00a0 \u201cI am sorry, Declan.\u00a0 But I am glad that yours is the last face my vision will fall upon.\u00a0 I have always been proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Declan reached out and grabbed a shivering hand.\u00a0 Benedictus had clammy skin, and a weak grip, and even then, it grew weaker by the second.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeek out Brother Carlo\u2026if he yet lives,\u201d the priest said, his voice losing strength, and with a sizable pause present.\u00a0 \u201cHe knows about the bell, and where it came from before it arrived here\u2026and he can tell you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He waited for his old friend to give him further instruction, but he realized soon after that Benedictus had expelled his last breath.\u00a0 The fellow\u2019s chest deflated, and even propped up against the wall, he seemed to shrink, and become less substantial.<\/p>\n

Declan\u2019s throat grew raw, and he thought to scream into the temple with all his might, but he could not bring himself to.\u00a0 He twisted, and fell back against the wall, sitting aside the dearest friend he had made in all the time that he had lived in the building.\u00a0 Falling apart as it was, it was as though the pieces of his life lay scattered, wind and flames ready to turn them to ash and cast them into the distance.\u00a0 Tears could no longer be fought back, and as he cried them out, he sobbed hard enough to rattle Benedictus\u2019s body.\u00a0 He gave his friend\u2019s hand one more squeeze, and gently placed it on his chest, all while croaking groans left his lips.<\/p>\n

Though there were screams in the distance, it felt strangely silent, and lonely where he was.<\/p>\n

But then, he knew that he was not alone.\u00a0 The scratching in the back of his mind was still there, and as he closed his eyes and steadied his breathing, Declan felt as if he was ready to open the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to go after them,\u201d<\/em> he heard first, and the darkness that wrapped around his heart at the loss of his friend seemed to compel the same thoughts in him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey must pay for what they\u2019ve done,\u201d<\/em> another voice came through the open door.\u00a0 \u201cWho knows what other mayhem they will unleash if they remain unchecked?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTake your allies and hunt them down.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Declan\u2019s brow furrowed, and he lurched forward, climbing to one knee.\u00a0 He could feel rage enveloping him, and wanted nothing more than to give in to the dark temptations that the voices promised him.<\/p>\n

One voice, however, seemed to permeate those that insisted that he keep the blood flowing.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not lose yourself to the darkness, Declan.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He wobbled at the sound of the voice that came through.\u00a0 Though he was not sure of it, the voice sounded like it belonged to the old man who had breathed his last beside him.\u00a0 As the echo of it in his mind persisted, he knew that it did not belong to Benedictus, but it was close enough that he remained frozen where he was.\u00a0 His features softened, and the heat in his face seemed to cool, and his ragged breathing steadied.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake your time,\u201d <\/em>another voice pressed.\u00a0 \u201cBe patient, and when the time is right, you can see that justice is done.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

That was enough to steady him.\u00a0 Declan bowed his head, breathing out the growls that fought to escape his lungs.\u00a0 Despite the unnatural heat in the temple, he took in a cool gasp of air, and looked back to his fallen friend.\u00a0 He reached over, and grabbed the far hand of the dead cleric, and folded both hands across his chest.<\/p>\n

Declan knew that he could not mourn for long.\u00a0 A loud crash echoed out in the main chamber, and he watched as a plume of dust swept across the floor.<\/p>\n

His allies were out there, and he could not delay\u2014not when their fates were in the balance.<\/p>\n

Rushing out into the main chamber of the temple, he could see that other pieces of the steeple had come crashing down.\u00a0 Luckily it seemed as though no one had been struck by the latest debris, but there was no telling when the next chunk would fall, or even if the entire foundation of the building would falter.<\/p>\n

Some brave souls helped the weak and wounded out of the building, while other weary patrons fought with all their strength to escape of their own volition.\u00a0 Among the group, Declan watched as a half-elf, covered in dirt and dust, did her best to hold up a bulky fellow who had a terrible gash upon his leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cIlayeth!\u201d Declan cried.\u00a0 He hurried in her direction, a wave of relief washing over him.<\/p>\n

The mage waved on another patron, directing them to take on the burden of helping the wounded man.\u00a0 As Declan hurried toward her, she opened her arms and wrapped him in a tight embrace.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I didn\u2019t see you, I feared the worst,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cI worried you were beneath one of these pieces of stone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet,\u201d Declan said.\u00a0 \u201cBut if we don\u2019t move quickly, we might still be flattened.\u201d\u00a0 He looked above, realizing that he could faintly see the stars in the gap within the steeple.\u00a0 Shaking his head, he returned to the moment, knowing he did not have time to admire the view.\u00a0 \u201cHave you seen Tornig?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ilayeth\u2019s brow furrowed, and her lips twisted to display her fears had not been completely abated.\u00a0 \u201cPerhaps he shuffled out of the building.\u00a0 He fought hard against the bandits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Declan nodded, allowing himself to hope again.\u00a0 But he knew better than to allow optimism to keep him from making sure.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to take a quick pass around the room\u2014just to be sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will help you,\u201d Ilayeth said.<\/p>\n

Declan shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cIf he is outside, as you considered, you might be able to find him there.\u00a0 I know this temple inside and out.\u00a0 There are some strange hallways that an injured person might venture down.\u00a0 I need to make sure Tornig didn\u2019t head anywhere else thinking it was the exit.\u201d<\/p>\n

The half-elf squared her jaw, looking a bit nervous to allow such reckless behavior.\u00a0 \u201cDo not take any risks you do not need to,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cIf anything happens to you, I will never forgive myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The newest member of the guild blew out an uneasy breath.\u00a0 Without wasting any more time, he turned to face the smoky corner of the room and ventured into the darkness.<\/p>\n

Beyond the haze and the clouds of dust that lifted into the room, fires burned, leaving an unsettling glow here and there.\u00a0 Declan knew that irreplaceable pieces of history would smolder to ashes\u2014from ancient tapestries to religious artifacts\u2014but he knew there were more important things to focus on.<\/p>\n

Before long, he couldn\u2019t see far enough in front of him, and he shuffled a few steps at a time, trying to remember the long hallway that ran alongside one of the antechambers.\u00a0 As he reached out his hand to find the stonework that would lead him there, he heard a groan nearby.<\/p>\n

As obscured as his vision was, he couldn\u2019t see anything nearby to indicate where the voice had come from.\u00a0 He closed his eyes though, and tried to see if he could hear another bout of that tragic sound.<\/p>\n

The whispers were too ready to fill whatever silence Declan tried to find, and he shook his head, knowing that they were too discordant to gather advice from in that moment.\u00a0 Grumbling, he tapped his staff against the floor as if to chide them and silence them like children.<\/p>\n

He arched his eyebrow then, however, and looked up at the headpiece of his magical implement.<\/p>\n

Channeling his energy into it, he could feel a breeze rise up from his feet.\u00a0 As it rose, it cast the dust away in circular motions, until it reached the apex of the staff.\u00a0 Then, all at once, the gust spun back around to the bottom of the staff once more, the spell concluding with a powerful burst that sent the haze barreling away from the aspiring mage.<\/p>\n

Not so far away, Declan spotted a pile of wood and stone, and he took a few careful steps toward it.<\/p>\n

Another groan reached his ears, but that time, he also heard the words of someone outside<\/em> of his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat you lad?\u201d the weak voice queried.<\/p>\n

Declan knew that it was the dwarf, then.\u00a0 He hurried ahead, setting his staff down so that he could pluck the hunks of stone and broken pieces of wood away.\u00a0 After a short while, he could see Tornig\u2019s helmet, and soon after, his dirtied face and tangled beard.<\/p>\n

With a little less weight on him, the squat warrior groaned a little more loudly.\u00a0 \u201cI thought I was on me way to see Gulspire,\u201d he said, invoking his brother\u2019s name in a way that sounded as somber as it was humorous.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you hurt?\u201d Declan asked as he continued to pluck away debris from his companion.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly me pride,\u201d the dwarf replied, his lungs able to fill with more air again as he began to squirm out of the mound of stone.\u00a0 \u201cI stood my own against a troll and a lagano, and instead it was this durned temple that was out to get me.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Declan parted his lips to offer up a sly remark, a loud blast resounded behind him.\u00a0 He ducked down, and hid his face on reflex alone, and he narrowed his eyes as he heard the jingling of glass.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe gnoll must have left some of her explosives here,\u201d Declan said, realizing that he spoke louder than normal as he contended with the ringing in his ears.<\/p>\n

Tornig nodded as he climbed to his feet.\u00a0 \u201cWe need to get out of here,\u201d he shouted, ensuring the young member of his guild could hear him.<\/p>\n

It took a few moments for the dwarf to find his footing again.\u00a0 Whether he had a cramp, or a worse injury hidden beneath his armor, Declan could not tell, but he still moved with urgency.<\/p>\n

The explosion left the integrity of the temple worse than ever, and streams of smaller stones fell from the ceiling.\u00a0 Those bits of debris bounced off Tornig\u2019s helmet, echoing out loud enough that Declan could hear it despite the ringing in his ears.\u00a0 He lifted his free hand then, covering his head as he ran forward.\u00a0 It seemed that most of the patrons had cleared out, with the only ones left inside being those who had fallen to the highwaymen, or to the calamity unfolding as the building fell apart.<\/p>\n

Declan and Tornig emerged into the cool night and heard a tremendous crash behind them.\u00a0 Neither had to turn to see what happened, as a cloud of dust swept out of the damaged entryway of the temple.\u00a0 The patrons that could ran a bit farther back from the building as another explosion rang out inside.<\/p>\n

Ilayeth, however, ran toward her two companions.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re both safe,\u201d she said, breathing out a sigh of relief once she stood before them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, but things certainly didn\u2019t go as planned,\u201d Tornig said.\u00a0 \u201cEven with a surprise attack, we couldn\u2019t hold our own against them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were powerful adversaries,\u201d Ilayeth agreed.\u00a0 \u201cAnd they outnumbered us by a great deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though she spoke of the members who had descended from the steeple, Ilayeth\u2019s words had also reminded Declan of another who had been added to the highwaymen\u2019s numbers.\u00a0 He reached up and rubbed the back of his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cGorik betrayed us,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cI could have held fast against them, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Ilayeth shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cIt matters not.\u00a0 If you stood, they would have seen you cut down.\u00a0 Tornig and I had already faltered, so the blame is not on you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBah,\u201d the dwarf said.\u00a0 \u201cWe may not have found victory yet, but we will by the end of this.\u00a0 As achy as me bones are, I\u2019m ready to hunt them down again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in worse shape than we started, my friend,\u201d the half-elf said.\u00a0 \u201cAnd we don\u2019t know where they\u2019ve gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve got a huge bell on their wagon,\u201d Tornig argued.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sure they\u2019ll be leaving tracks of some sort.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d Declan said.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re too weak to fight them in our state, and we don\u2019t understand why they attacked the temple.\u00a0 They could have slaughtered everyone and taken any treasures they might have had.\u00a0 People go to the temple to tithe\u2014there was more money to be found.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what are ye saying?\u201d the dwarf grumbled.\u00a0 \u201cWe just let them go off?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s better to come at things with a clear head,\u201d Ilayeth suggested.\u00a0 \u201cIf we know why they came here, we might be able to figure out what is next in their plan, and work to thwart them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Declan squared his jaw and blew out an emotional breath.\u00a0 \u201cBefore I found you both in the temple, I discovered a friend of mine who lived here.\u00a0 Brother Benedictus told me that the bell wasn\u2019t originally a part of the temple, and that another of the cloth\u2014Brother Carlo\u2014would know more about it.\u00a0 We should seek him out if he survived.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ilayeth placed her hand on Declan\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cWe will look for him while we steady the people.\u00a0 And we should also move everyone back a fair distance.\u00a0 We may have seen the worst of the damage, but the building is weakened, and its walls may crumble further.\u201d<\/p>\n

Folding his arms over his chest, Tornig snorted.\u00a0 \u201cWell, when it finally steadies, I\u2019ve got an axe to find.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As the sun came up, Declan could feel weariness tugging on the back of his mind.\u00a0 Even the whispers seemed to drift off to sleep, the scratching he sometimes felt behind his skull subsiding for a time.<\/p>\n

Shaking off his growing stupor, Declan reached down and offered a waterskin to an injured temple patron.\u00a0 The fellow, dirtied by the dust and grime that caked his perspiration, would have guzzled the water down to the last drop, but Declan politely stopped the greedy behavior.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll get you some more soon,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cThere are some others who haven\u2019t had their first sip.\u201d<\/p>\n

The former member of the temple recalled that people with far lesser injuries would come to the temple to pray for healing.\u00a0 He wondered if anyone who had been in the temple at the time of the attack was there for such a thing.\u00a0 Were they far worse off for the trip?<\/p>\n

As he searched for anyone else who lay in the grass in need of a drink, he spotted Ilayeth venturing his way.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was able to convince the clerics to use their healing magic on a few of the younger patrons who were not injured too badly,\u201d the half-elf said.\u00a0 \u201cI sent them off to alert the members of our guild, so they know what to expect before they come here.\u00a0 If the group that went to Grey Arches have potions to spare, they could make sure they bring them this way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a good idea,\u201d Declan said.\u00a0 \u201cI sent some of the people who were healthy enough to refill the empty waterskins.\u00a0 There is a creek nearby.\u00a0 It won\u2019t have been sanctified by the priests, but it will sate a thirst for sure.\u201d\u00a0 Just that thought made the dry, scratchy feeling in his throat that much worse.\u00a0 He turned around, away from the fellow he denied earlier, and took a quick sip.\u00a0 When he turned back, he had a new question on his mind.\u00a0 \u201cWhere is Tornig?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got him guarding the entrance to the temple,\u201d Ilayeth replied.\u00a0 \u201cI figure, if the walls crumble and fall on him, he\u2019s got that hard helmet, and that harder skull to protect him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Declan could tell she was trying to offer some levity to the situation, but he could barely crack a weary grin.\u00a0 He bowed his head.\u00a0 \u201cI haven\u2019t seen Brother Carlo.\u00a0 I\u2019m afraid he might be among those lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t give up hope yet,\u201d the half-elf said.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go speak to Tornig and see if he\u2019s learned anything that might point us in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Returning a weary nod her way, Declan spun around to face the damaged entrance of the temple.\u00a0 Before he took a step though, he looked at his waterskin, and tossed it to the thirsty fellow.\u00a0 Through everything they had experienced, for some reason, that lifted his spirits just a bit.<\/p>\n

Together, the pair hurried to the entrance, and they spotted the dwarf leaning upon the handle of his weapon.<\/p>\n

\u201cFound your axe then, did you?\u201d Declan wondered.<\/p>\n

The dwarf tilted his head back, looking at his two companions through sleepy eyes.\u00a0 \u201cTruth be told, I\u2019m not certain this is my<\/em> axe,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know me own hands in front of me for how tired I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll rest soon,\u201d Ilayeth said.\u00a0 \u201cBut did you see Brother Carlo while you\u2019ve been guarding the entrance?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tornig shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNo one has come in or out since I\u2019ve been keeping watch, heavy eyes or not.\u201d\u00a0 His brow furrowed then, and he sent an inquisitive look toward his pair of companions.\u00a0 \u201cThough, that\u2019s not for lack of trying.\u00a0 An older fellow did come this way, and when I sent him off, he went grumbling into the dark.\u00a0 Come to think of it, he went around this way,\u201d he said, lifting his axe off the ground and pointing it toward the north end of the temple.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait a minute,\u201d Declan said.\u00a0 \u201cThat could be it.\u00a0 That could be Brother Carlo.\u201d\u00a0 When he was met with curious glances, he held his hand out as though the answer was so simple.\u00a0 \u201cThe clergy of the temple only want to be close to their gods.\u00a0 Especially in a time such as this, they would be looking for guidance, and for blessings.\u00a0 If it was Brother Carlo who was barred access to the temple, he might have gone around to the back, where the shrine to one of the gods he holds in high esteem is located.\u00a0 He might not see the statue, but he would be close to the divine power.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet us head after him,\u201d Ilayeth said.\u00a0 \u201cPerhaps he has not yet made his way around the building.\u201d<\/p>\n

Declan nodded, and even though it was subtle, he found his balance was a bit shaky.\u00a0 He knew that it would not be long before he would succumb to fatigue, but as long as he had strength in him, he would try to carry on with the advice that Benedictus had given him.<\/p>\n

Ilayeth led the way, the half-elf seeming as though she had never been more alive and alert.\u00a0 If the previous night\u2019s encounter had left her even the slightest bit winded, it did not show.\u00a0 After a few moments, Declan realized that he fell into step beside his companion as if in a trance, and as he blinked out a few tired tears, he looked over his shoulder and realized they had already rounded one of the corners.\u00a0 When he turned to continue on ahead, Ilayeth turned again, heading back south around the back of the temple.<\/p>\n

At once, Declan knew that they had found who they were looking for.\u00a0 One of the clerics of the temple sat upon his knees, holding a hand against the back wall of the building.\u00a0 His eyes were closed, yet he tilted his head as he heard the approach of the pair.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrother Carlo?\u201d Declan asked, though he already remembered him by his appearance.\u00a0 He was certain that they had found the right person.\u00a0 \u201cWe apologize for interrupting your prayer, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d say you\u2019ve more than made up for it, Declan,\u201d the old cleric said, furrowing his brow as he opened his eyes.\u00a0 He looked at the two who approached, and though his gaze was stern, there still seemed to be some appreciation there.\u00a0 \u201cAfter all, you were the answer to our prayers last evening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though darkness still firmly gripped the west side of the temple, the sunlight coming from the east spilled around the building, almost looking as though it was ready to grip it in a sympathetic embrace.<\/p>\n

Declan could see the features of the old fellow in the dawn\u2019s light.\u00a0 Though they had not had very meaningful conversations when he lived at the temple, he could tell that Carlo knew who he was.\u00a0 There might have even been some semblance of regret peeking out from his features.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t do anything,\u201d the young man protested.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve seen the state of this place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh,\u201d Carlo said, looking back at the brickwork at the rear of the building.\u00a0 \u201cBut the temple is not as important as the people inside it.\u00a0 And while many lives were lost last night, how many more would have been if not for the arrival of you and your companions?\u201d<\/p>\n

He let the question linger in the air for a moment, but he did not simply wish to hear himself speak.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve never come to me for counsel before, child, and I don\u2019t imagine many people asked you to determine my whereabouts.\u00a0 Is there something that you need from me?\u201d<\/p>\n

A twinge of shame came to Declan then, and that subtle shift in his mental state had him a bit more aware of himself.\u00a0 He felt more awake then as well, and though there was just a moment where he felt more energized, he could feel the whispers beginning to pierce through the veil again.\u00a0 He knew that he needed to push them out of his mind in order to get to the truth with Brother Carlo.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore Brother Benedictus passed, he told me that the bell wasn\u2019t originally a part of the temple,\u201d Declan said.\u00a0 \u201cIt seems as if the bandits weren\u2019t after riches\u2014they were after the bell.\u00a0 Brother Benedictus seemed to think that you might have had more knowledge as to why that might be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s true,\u201d Carlo said.\u00a0 \u201cTo some extent, anyway.\u00a0 When I was younger, before I was called to the gods, I wanted to be an architect.\u00a0 By itself, the temple was an impressive construction.\u00a0 But the bell was something else altogether.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t cast here, that much was certain.\u00a0 So, getting it up to the temple\u2019s steeple was a feat that was one I was interested in.<\/p>\n

\u201cMind you, I was more impressed and concerned with how the bell was brought up to the steeple,\u201d Carlo went on.\u00a0 \u201cBut I do remember reading details about its purchase.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cleric hummed then, bringing his hand up to the wisps of grey growing from his chin.\u00a0 \u201cDeclan, did you spend much time in the temple cellars?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly to fetch wine for the services from time to time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carlo rose then, grumbling from the aching his old bones had to acclimate to after the attack.\u00a0 \u201cThere are more chambers there than just for wine.\u00a0 We have a room for our records down there as well, and I spent a good amount of time there performing research on the construction of the temple throughout the years.\u00a0 I know that I read something about the bell in one of the documents, but I was more concerned about the construction.\u00a0 But if you could find it, perhaps you would be able to gather a clue as to why the bandits were so concerned with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ilayeth bowed, and Declan followed suit, though enough of his weariness remained that he had to fight against gravity to remain standing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Brother Carlo,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cI hope that we can find some answers to why these good people had to endure this terrible attack.\u201d<\/p>\n

He followed his companion again when Ilayeth spun around, and headed back the way they came.\u00a0 As they rounded the north corner of the building, Declan reached out to the half-elf.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, slow down.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have the kind of energy that you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you\u2019re tired, Declan,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cBut if the bandits were willing to risk an attack on this many people, there had to be an important reason.\u00a0 And I can only imagine the chaos they are willing to sew now that they have the bell.\u00a0 But we won\u2019t have to imagine for long if we find out the instrument\u2019s history.\u201d\u00a0 She hurried along then, making her way to the front of the temple.<\/p>\n

But before she could venture too far, she was stopped in her tracks.<\/p>\n

There, ahead of her, in the clearing ahead of the building, she saw a group of familiar faces.\u00a0 The members of the guild who had gone to Grey Arches had arrived.<\/p>\n

While Ilayeth knew at once upon seeing the newest arrivals, it took Declan a moment to understand what transpired.\u00a0 It was only upon seeing a man upon a powerful steed with a shield upon his arm that he realized they were his new allies.\u00a0 The sigil of the guild, a sword beside a staff upon a teal field, sat emblazoned upon the shield, and for some reason, in that moment, Declan felt a sigh of relief leave his lungs.<\/p>\n

He noticed other faces that didn\u2019t look like those who had been in the temple when it had been attacked.\u00a0 A priest with more formidable attire\u2014chainmail sitting atop his robes\u2014went from one injured person to another, summoning the divine arts to close wounds and offer reprieve from pain.\u00a0 A woman wearing a striking blue muffin hat, along with feathers that looked as teal as the sigil of the guild, strummed a lute as she gathered up some of the weariest people in the clearing.\u00a0 Just hearing her song for a moment left Declan feeling a bit less fatigued.<\/p>\n

Declan also spotted a figure who stood out from the predominantly human and dwarven patrons of the temple.\u00a0 An avarian, one of Tellest\u2019s anthropomorphic birdfolk, looked to the broken entryway of the building, speaking with Tornig about what had occurred during and since the attack.\u00a0 Declan even recognized a familiar face among the recent arrivals.\u00a0 Erik, the man who had brought him to the guild, was his usual gruff self, barking orders at those in the clearing who were healthy enough to take them.<\/p>\n

The man on the horse spotted Ilayeth as she seemed to glide across the ground.\u00a0 \u201cThere you are,\u201d he said, his voice powerful and stern.\u00a0 \u201cWe had heard from those behind at the guild that you had come this way.\u00a0 When we spotted the damage and the injured, we feared the worst until Tornig came forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was still a travesty, Mason,\u201d Ilayeth said.\u00a0 \u201cWe came here hoping we could put a stop to the carnage, and instead we were only here to witness it firsthand.\u201d\u00a0 She sighed, and bowed her head, but as Declan walked up beside her, her features seemed to light up.\u00a0 \u201cAh.\u00a0 Mason, please allow me to introduce you to the newest member of our guild.\u00a0 This is Declan.\u201d\u00a0 She paused, as though she was trying to recall the young fellow\u2019s surname, but after allowing the silence to sit in the air for long enough, she turned to the man on the horse.\u00a0 \u201cDeclan, this is Mason Gwynne.\u201d<\/p>\n

Offering up a polite bow, Declan kept himself propped up that time with his staff.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve heard your name mentioned quite a lot since I\u2019ve met everyone.\u00a0 Are you the leader of the guild?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mason chortled, allowing a one-sided grin to stretch across his face.\u00a0 \u201cNot the leader, no.\u00a0 Just someone left in charge while our more storied members pursue riches and glory across Aeratul.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wish to hear all about Grey Arches,\u201d Ilayeth said then, \u201cbut I believe that tale must wait until after we do our best to track down the people who attacked the temple.\u00a0 We believe that the theft of the bell has greater meaning, and therefore greater repercussions for our corner of the world.\u00a0 We\u2019ve discovered that the bell wasn\u2019t built here, and we\u2019re planning on doing a bit more research in the\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat won\u2019t be necessary,\u201d Mason said.\u00a0 \u201cOnce we\u2019ve done our part here, and healed the sick and injured, those of us who just arrived will be on our way after the bandits.\u00a0 We\u2019ll hunt them down and make them pay for what they did here.\u00a0 You three, on the other hand\u2026 I want you to head back to the guild house and rest.\u00a0 You survived two attacks by these bandits, and from what I understand, in both cases it was by the skin of your teeth.\u00a0 I\u2019ll not allow a third risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we know the highwaymen better than anyone,\u201d Ilayeth protested.\u00a0 \u201cAnd with greater numbers, your group won\u2019t have as much to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy decision is final,\u201d Mason insisted.\u00a0 The man did not even seem to pass a single consideration to the newest member of the guild, though Declan looked to Ilayeth for guidance rather than who appeared to be the more senior member of the guild.<\/p>\n

Her cheeks gone rosy, Ilayeth turned, using a gentle touch to steer Declan toward the temple.\u00a0 \u201cCome on.\u00a0 We shall fetch Tornig and then be on our way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The half-elf stepped across the clearing, drawing nearer to their other companion.\u00a0 When Tornig saw them coming, he turned to acknowledge them, and that had the avarian turning as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cIlayeth!\u201d the avarian said.\u00a0 \u201cI am so glad that the lot of you survived.\u00a0 We expected risk and ruin when we went to Grey Arches, but we were not expecting to have to worry about you.\u00a0 I hear that things could have gone a lot worse during both of these attacks, and that, aside from some time to heal, our guild mates will all be right as rain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, well\u2026 We\u2019re being rewarded for our job well done by being sent back to recover with the rest of them,\u201d the sorceress said.<\/p>\n

The avarian\u2019s brow arched.\u00a0 \u201cMason is not allowing you to join us in pursuit of the bandits?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ilayeth shook her head.\u00a0 She sighed, but then took a step to her side, sweeping her hands out toward the man who remained a stranger to the birdfolk.\u00a0 \u201cEzra, this is Declan, our newest member.\u201d<\/p>\n

The avarian looked to the young man, and his eyes widened.\u00a0 \u201cAnd yet, in spite of how new he is to the guild, he wields the Staff of Ciminorn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Declan couldn\u2019t tell whether Ezra\u2019s tone was one of amazement or indignation.\u00a0 The lad could feel his face growing warm, and he was sure that his cheeks had grown flush.\u00a0 \u201cWhen the bandits attacked the guildhouse, the only thing I could think to do was grab a weapon.\u00a0 The staff was what called to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezra hummed a note that almost sounded like a whistle.\u00a0 \u201cWell, no one has truly been able to utilize that staff since the eldest members of the guild have passed.\u00a0 I should like to discuss more with you at length upon our return.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feeling as though he was not a target of the avarian\u2019s wrath, Declan breathed out a discreet sigh of relief.\u00a0 Following that, he took a moment to size up the strange being.\u00a0 Ezra, the guild\u2019s artificer, looked more like a scholar than an adventurer.\u00a0 He wore ornate robes, with inlaid gold sat upon shades of teal and purple\u2014a color that almost looked identical to that of Ilayeth\u2019s cloak.\u00a0 The feathers atop his head began as a snowy white, but as they descended closer to his neck, they appeared as mottled gold.\u00a0 That same pattern extended to the wings that protruded from the carefully sewn holes in the robes, as well as the fellow\u2019s hands.\u00a0 Ezra held onto a staff of his own, it seemed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdventurers of Eladia,\u201d the small group heard then.\u00a0 As Declan turned around, he could see that Mason had removed his sword from the scabbard on his hip, and he lifted it high into the air.\u00a0 \u201cGather up and prepare.\u00a0 We ride after the fiends who dared to attack the good people of Novistrus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezra took a deep breath and fluttered his wings.\u00a0 \u201cI suppose I better prepare for another flight.\u00a0 We shall reconvene soon if fortune favors us.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the avarian stepped away, Declan noticed that the others in the guild, including those he had not yet met, returned to their horses behind Mason.<\/p>\n

Before Mason had flicked the reins of his powerful steed, Declan could feel the scratching of the first voices rising from deep within his mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other members of the guild do not know the danger they risk by leaving you behind,\u201d<\/em> the first whisper to break through the pack rasped.\u00a0 \u201cYou need to follow them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf there is strength in numbers, returning to the guild to recruit more to this dangerous cause could mean the difference between victory and defeat,\u201d\u00a0<\/em>another voice supposed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt does not matter how many people intend to fight the bandits,\u201d <\/em>yet another voice interjected.\u00a0 \u201cIf you do not know why the bell was stolen, you are missing a part of an important puzzle.\u00a0 And the answers may be lost to you if this temple cannot remain standing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDeclan,\u201d Ilayeth said, placing her hand upon the man\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cDeclan, what are the voices trying to tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFollow the others.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cReturn to the guildhouse at once.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPursue knowledge.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Declan gnashed his teeth together as he forced his eyes shut.\u00a0 He did not realize it, but he relinquished hold of the staff then, bringing both of his hands to his temples.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are too many of them,\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Voting Instructions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another new chapter means another new choice to make, which you can influence.\u00a0 You have until May 31st to safely join the Tellest Newsletter<\/a> in time to cast your vote.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be sending out newsletter emails to my readers, with the two choices prepared for Declan.\u00a0 Then, on June 1st, I\u2019ll interpret the votes and see how the whispers influenced Declan.<\/p>\n

Remember, there are two ways for you to accumulate voting power in The Whispers:<\/p>\n