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budge an inch. A shadow stepped around from behind him, walked behind Andrican and Egus in turn. No matter where it was, it always seemed to hide in Osmun’s periphery.
    This was not right. He had banished all the spirits! He knew he had…
    The shadow walked to the chest, yet somehow Osmun could tell it was disinterested.
    There was a low rumble, steady and jarring, with an unnatural rhythm. It was speaking… There were many tones, but only one voice, impossible to discern, yet somehow Osmun knew the spirit had intention… intelligence… something which should not be possible. He felt his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel his body trying to run, yet it was held perfectly in place.
    At once, he was looking up at the ceiling, gasping for air.
    “Are you alright?” Egus asked. Osmun coughed and tried to sit up. There was pain, or perhaps only the memory of pain, running through his body.
    “You did well,” Andrican said, slowly standing to his feet. “However, I did not realize it would take so much out of you.”
    Osmun looked at them, confused by their nonchalance. Had they not seen what he had? Had they not heard it or felt it?
    “Did you hear a voice?” he asked.
    Egus laughed. “There are always voices, Osmun.”
    “There was one voice that remained after the rift was closed. It spoke to me.”
    The two clerics exchanged glances. Andrican extended his hand to help Osmun off the floor. “You seem to have pushed yourself quite hard,” he said dismissively.
    “Did you not see it? It walked around us…” Osmun pointed and traced the path he had seen it take. “It circled us, and then it spoke.”
    “What did it say?” Egus asked.
    “Why are you asking?” Andrican said to the other cleric, glancing quickly at Osmun. “There was nothing. We would have heard something.”
    “What did it say?” Egus repeated, ignoring Andrican’s objections.
    “I don’t know,” Osmun said as he began to pace. “I couldn’t understand.”
    “Then how could you be certain you heard anything?” Andrican asked.
    “I am certain. It looked at me and spoke!”
    “It had eyes?” Andrican folded his arms.
    “It…no, I could tell. It didn’t, but…” Osmun could feel his words failing him as he protested.
    The clerics looked at each other but said nothing. They did not need to speak for Osmun to hear their doubt in the silence.
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 3
     
     
     
     
     
    A great cheer went up from dozens of soldiers who watched as the great golden monolith was finally maneuvered into place onto the carriage that had been built especially for it out of necessity. Three days ago it had been placed on a standard supply wagon, and it was only a few minutes before it splintered and broke under the monolith’s incredible weight. The men had laughed, and when the wind blew away part of the gray canvas that covered it, they went silent immediately as the early morning sun glinted off of the gold. Even Zayd had been awestruck, and noticed in the flash of a moment when the canvas rippled away, a silver disc in the center which had been bare when he had last seen it. It was breathtaking enough underground in the darkness, but even partially bare and gleaming in the sun was enough to draw every eye.
    It was clear, then, what effect the monolith had on those who saw it; after the initial stupor at the undeniable beauty, it was greed that gripped every man. Who could help but imagine the life they would have if they could claim only a fraction of the substance? It was unavoidable. All men yearn for such impossibilities. Zayd could not even deny that he had felt it, though Areagus’ voice shouting orders, stirring him from his thoughts reminded him of his duty: to the Empire, mind and body.
    Together, the Eighth and Ninth Regiments amounted to two hundred men; seventy-five infantry and twenty-five cavalry per regiment. At General Vaetus’ command, Zayd had enlisted two of his Tauthri lieutenants,