Chapter Three: Unease
"Madame Superbie sends her apologies."
Barron Invidebit looked up as the seventh person walked into the green lit room. He frowned slightly as he saw who it was.
"This meeting is for the Inner Sanctum cleric," he said, his voice harsh. "What purpose do you have in eavesdropping?"
"Nothing Barron," the cleric stammered quickly. "I have only been sent by the Madame in order to deliver a message. I have the seal permitting me entrance to this meeting."
He quickly held up a small, gold plate about the size of his palm. It was the thickness of two drachma and engraved with the symbol of the order. The open phoenix head, breathing flames upon the Tower of Equitem.
The Barron nodded in recognition of the seal. "Very well Cleric, what is the message?"
"The Madame, she said only this," the cleric said slowly. "'The heretic knows. The plan must advance.'"
The Barron's eyes widened slightly, and the other five people around the table shifted uncomfortably. After a few moments the Barron cleared his throat.
"Yes... thank you cleric, you may leave now."
The cleric bowed his head. "Hail to the Sins."
"Hail," the six repeated. When the door clicked shut, the Barron leaned over the table.
"So," he whispered darkly. "Our involvement with Wrath has been discovered. And the Prince moves to ensure we do not release our Lady Envy."
"We must go to the Kingdom," said one of the other seated figures.
"As if this was not obvious?" growled another.
"Silence," the Barron snapped. "As we are well aware the Zenith of Envy begins in less than a fortnight. And given the Madame's failure to attend it therefore falls to me to decide out course of action."
"While it may be your decision Barron," the second figure replied, "It does not give you the right to treat us as inferiors. We are equal in this council, and only the Madame has authority over us."
"Really? We are equal here, are we Sir Iram?" the Barron asked, his voice clipped.
Iram growled low in his throat.
"Because last I recalled the Madame said that you and the rest of your ilk could now be cast from the order without mourning. How sad it must be to know that you have dedicated your life to this order to a Sin that no longer holds any relevance."
Iram stood up, eyes flaring under his hood.
"How DARE you!?" he roared. "We have served this order since it was founded. The duties and honour to be Decemuir of Wrath has been handed down my family for generations, and I shall not have that throw aside because of you!"
"But you forget it is not his fault," the first speaker replied coolly. "You master is gone after all. Surely you did not think you would hold any power? The only reason you are here is that the Madame has yet to decide what to do with you and your subordinates."
Iram growled again and sat back down, his face heated in shame and hatred. The Barron smiled. He had never liked Iram, and now that his Sin had fallen, he would revel in his humiliation. He turned back to the other four valid Decemuir to discuss the matters of his own Sin.
"As it falls to me to decide our course of action," the Barron said, "I shall depart for the Kingdom immediately. Once there I shall collaborate with the branch of our order already there and make further preparations for the Zenith of Envy. When it reaches its peak, I shall open the Gates of Envy and Equestria shall fall."
"If, the Heretic doesn't stop you that is," said Iram darkly.
"The Heretic would have to find me first."
Battle leaned against the prow of the ship as it sailed from harbour at Century. Provided the weather was good, they would make port at Equestria by noon the following day. He looked up at the night sky and bit his lip. He knew that sailing at night was not the wisest of choices but he and his crew were well prepared for any scenario. He rolled his eyes slightly as he thought of his self-proclaimed 'first mate'.
Tactical had certainly not earned her sea-legs, despite numerous travels across the channel to Equestria. As a result, she had locked herself straight into her cabin as soon as they had raised anchor. Which of course left Battle and the rest of his crew to man the boat to Equestria. None of them minded as they knew that Tactical would most likely simply get in the way of things.
Battle's crew aside from Tactical consisted of his three Generals, his lead assassin and black operations soldier (and one of many close friends) the unicorn Merciless, two of Sky Blade's more bulky pegasus flyers, a stallion named Thunder Cracker and a mare named Jet Stream, and Juggernaut's right hand pony, Barricade, a stallion almost as butch as he was.
Of course right now the only person on deck was himself and Arson, who was manning the helm. Everyone else was down below, sleeping silently.
Twelve days. He had twelve days before the Zenith of Envy began. Twelve days to find the tomb of Envy and prevent the Cultoribus de Peccatis from opening it. A tall order to be sure. After all they would no doubt know where the tomb of Envy would be, and he would have but twelve days to search all of Equestria for the Sin.
Still despite this, Battle couldn't help but let a small smile come across his face. Equestria had become sort of a second home for him. True his heart would always be part of the Empire, and thus would always be drawn to great city of Legion, but the streets of Ponyville had generated their own charm and warmth and friendliness to them. It would be good to be back. To see the sights he had grown so familiar too in his time living in the Ponyville library.
"Must there always be a Sin involved for me to enjoy the rural beauty of Equestria?" Battle said to himself as they sailed ever nearer. He reached into an inner pocket and pulled out the letter Twilight had sent him, inviting him to the Grand Galloping Gala.
A formal gathering.
It wouldn't have been Battle's first pick for a first date but he and Twilight were both important monarchs for their respective countries. It wasn't as if they could go out to the movies whenever they liked or something like that.
He rubbed his eyes and yawned.
"Twilight..." He muttered so softly he wasn't sure if he had really spoken. A smile came across his face. It may not have been the circumstances they wanted, but Battle would at least get to stay a while in Equestria.