Quiama completed her chanting and the powers that had raged through the air only moments before died down, leaving the clearing quiet and serene. She wiped the blood from her knife on the robes of one of her cultists, then directing her to tidy up the area. Sheathing the knife she addressed the darkness at the edge of the clearing, “You may approach now gentlemen.”
Two figures emerged from the shadows and strode to where Quiama stood. The taller of the two started to speak, “High priestess it is so lovely to see you again, you look more…”
She cut him off, “You failed.”
He looked perturbed for a moment before regaining his composure, “It was not a complete failure. The Resistance proved… capable, more capable than I had believed but I still have many loyal followers amongst them. And now they are in Mirandola, the heart of the Resistance.”
Quiama said nothing for a while, leaving the man on edge. Then she nodded, “You are correct, they may yet prove useful to me.”
The three stood in silence for a few minutes before Quiama once more addressed them.
“The time has come. It took longer than anticipated but I believe I know how to break the second seal now. I will need both of you. You,” she said, pointing to the shorter of the men, “Return to the Wastes. I have some things that need done there, you will see to it.”
The man bowed low and melted away, seeming to become one with the darkness itself. Quiama turned to address the other, “You have a special assignment, a chance to redeem yourself in the master’s eyes. If you manage this task, I can break this seal. First off you will travel to Ilac…”