He said, finally, “I see we have… guests.”
“Trespassers,” said Father Ver.
“Applicants,” said Blade. “Who did quite admirably on their interview, I thought.”
The sun-tanned boy had been studying everyone as well. He said, “The hunchback and the painted woman are seeking to join our mission?”
“Correct,” said Blade. “I think they could prove valuable.”
“All they prove is that someone has already compromised our mission,” said Father Ver. “Killing them will set an example to those who might seek to betray us.” He looked directly at the man in the red robes as he spoke.
I found it curious that Blade and Father Ver were addressing the boy instead of Lord Tower, the supposed leader of this mission. Just who was this kid?
The boy walked up to Relic. “You appear too old and feeble to make the journey.”
Unlike Father Ver, the child spoke in a neutral, observational tone, with no hint of scorn or disdain.
“Hiring only my body would be a poor investment,” Relic said. “It is my knowledge that will be of value.”
“Your knowledge is of little use if you cannot survive the tests before us.”
“I assure you, I will be alive long after everyone in this room has returned to dust. As for my diminished physicality, the War Doll more than compensates. She is the ultimate fighting machine; no one in this room is her match.”
“That,” said the boy, cracking his knuckles, “sounds like a challenge.” He clasped his hands together prayerfully and bowed toward Relic. “I accept.”
CHAPTER NINE
Relic tilted his head quizzically. “Are you challenging the War Doll?”
“Yes,” said the child. Despite the fact that he was well-muscled for his age, the boy didn’t look like a fighter. Most boys of a combative nature were covered with scabs and scars, but this kid didn’t look like he’d ever even been scratched. Despite his modest attire, his gray eyes hinted at a royal lineage. Perhaps, if he’d been in fights before, it had been against opponents who understood the political advantages of not landing a punch.
“I mean no disrespect, but you don’t understand the danger,” said Relic. “The War Doll is a finely tuned killing machine. Her bones are solid steel; her artificial skin is impervious to the sharpest blade. Her mesh-cable muscles can crush a man’s skull like an eggshell.”
The boy responded with a serene smile. “You’re lying. Your companion is a woman with painted skin, not a machine. Your dire warnings are nothing but a bluff. Isn’t that right, Father Ver?”
The Truthspeaker frowned. “The hunchback believes he is telling the truth.”
The boy furrowed his brow. “There is an aura of magic around you, creature. Somehow, you are fooling Father Ver.”
“No magic could conceal the truth from a servant of the Divine Author, could it?” Relic replied.
The boy frowned as he continued to study Relic and Infidel. Finally, he said, “If your ‘War Doll’ can simply knock me from my feet, we shall consider that a victory. I’ll acknowledge that she’s not a painted woman, despite the plain evidence of my senses.”
“And if you knock her from her feet?” asked Relic.
“She is welcome to continue the fight,” said the boy. “My intention is to prove that she’s a fraud. I shall do so by breaking the woman’s bones until she confesses, proving that there’s no steel within her.”
“Fierce little bastard, ain’t he?” Reeker said with a chuckle.
“You will hold your blasphemous tongue!” shouted the Truthspeaker.
Reeker opened his jaw so wide I worried his cheeks would tear. He thrust both hands toward his mouth and grabbed his tongue in a death grip.
“This is the Golden Child,” said Ivory Blade, glaring at the skunk-man. “He is the culmination of generations of pious men and women who have faithfully adhered to the teachings of the One True Book. He is the perfect blend of body, spirit, and truth, untainted by falsehood.”
Father Ver placed his hand upon Blade’s shoulders. “Be careful with your words,” he counseled. “While there is evidence that Numinous Pilgrim is the Golden Child, we do not have the final proof. Perhaps one day he shall be the Omega Reader; first he must conclude the seventeen sacred tests.”
Numinous? I felt sympathy for the boy. His name was even worse than the one I’d been stuck with as a baby. Menagerie apparently found the name amusing as well, since he looked as if he was fighting back a laugh.
The Truthspeaker glowered as he saw the look on Menagerie’s face. “Do you have something to say, mercenary?”
The tattooed man gave Reeker a sideways glance. His fellow Goon was still wrestling with his tongue. “I’m good,” said Menagerie.
“Now that you know who I am,” said Numinous, “you know it is futile to attempt to deceive me.”
“Of course,” said Relic. “I wouldn’t want a person of your sacred esteem to doubt my claim. I accept your challenge.”
Infidel, standing beside Relic, casually placed a hand upon his shoulder. There was a faint crunching sound.
“If you’ll excuse me,” said Relic, speaking through clenched teeth, “I will require only a moment to fine tune the War Doll before battle.”
He hobbled toward the shadows, with Infidel clamped to his shoulder. Once they were out of earshot, she leaned close and whispered, “Are you out of your mind? I can’t fight a little boy!”
Relic nodded. His voice was barely audible as he said, “From the mind of Ivory Blade, I’ve learned that Numinous has already completed twelve of the seventeen sacred tests. If the boy truly is the Omega Reader, all our planning may be for naught. Your fear may be justified.”
“Fear? I’m not… look, I just won’t beat up a kid. I only fight people bigger than me.”
“You’ve fought pygmies,” said Relic. “You’ve slaughtered them and stacked their bodies like firewood.”
Infidel frowned.
Relic continued, “I know you don’t wish to be a bully. But if you fail to beat Numinous, we shall be exposed.”
Infidel glanced back toward the circle of light. The Golden Child stared into the shadows as if he could see them clearly. “He’s so skinny. I’m worried I’ll break him.”
“Break him if you can,” said Relic. “The Golden Child’s senses are uncluttered by falsehood. He can hear your heart beating. He can smell your sweat. He alone can expose you.”
“What about Lord Tower?” asked Infidel. “Have we fooled him? I thought I saw something in his eyes. I don’t know if it was recognition, or… or something else.”
Relic shook his head. “While he wears his armor, I cannot read his thoughts, let alone manipulate them.”
Infidel cocked her head. “You manipulate thoughts?”
“To a degree,” said Relic. “I’m no puppet-master, controlling the actions of others. But, I have the power to subtly guide the focus of men. Our ruse would crumble if Father Ver thought to ask you the truth of your identity. Fortunately, I’ve managed to keep his attention fixed upon me. Even though he can see you, he’s too distracted to focus on you. The same is true of Blade. Alas, Numinous and Tower are beyond the reach of my powers.”
“I wondered why I was being ignored in this outfit,” said Infidel.
“Back to the matter at hand: you need only knock Numinous from his feet to silence him. He’s given his word and dare not go back on it. If he is the true Omega Reader, he must never make a false promise.”
“I don’t think knocking him down is a real problem,” she said, clenching her fists. “This is going to be my shortest fight ever.”
Relic shook his head. “Don’t be overly confident.”
“C’mon. Let’s get this over with.”
They headed back toward the sunlit circle.
“The War Doll is ready,” Relic announced as they returned.
Lord Tower’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Infidel. She had a sword on one hip, a mace on the other, and still had my knife in her boot. The knight held up his gleaming gauntlet and said, “There’s no need to shed blood. Your gladiator must relinquish her weapons.”