If Turillia managed to succeed in becoming a demon king or minor goddess, she was a threat to everyone.
Zalkar’s symbol began to glow on Kari’s chest when she came to what she thought should’ve been an obvious conclusion. Kari had an entire world to defend from the succubus, and her personal vendetta held no weight when compared to that. With that kind of threat, everything else had to be secondary, and even when there wasn’t such a threat, she had to treat situations as though there was.
“I think I understand now,” she said.
Devin nodded. “Now you understand how to tap into Zalkar’s power,” he said. “Think of your faith in Zalkar as a shield with which you can deflect the attacks of demons. Keep your love—and your rage—wrapped tight in your heart, for it is there you will find Zalkar’s power. Imagine it as a bubble that surrounds you, shielding you from magical harm. Project Zalkar’s grace around you just as your young paladin friend did with the Ghost’s power, for though it is different from Katarina’s aura, it can protect you in much the same way.”
Kari rose and walked to the center of the room. She drew her blades and crossed them before her chest, and she tried to concentrate on creating an aura about her the way Katarina had. Zalkar’s symbol continued to glow through her breastplate, but if she was projecting an aura, there was no sign of it. She called Devin’s words to mind about projecting Zalkar’s grace. His grace was his protection, which extended to all those threatened by demons, so Kari thought of herself the same way. Under the effects of the Blood Oath, she was his avatar, full of his grace and power, defender of the entire world in the face of the threat this demon posed.
For the first time in her life, Kari understood Zalkar gave his power to her because he loved her. How had she had failed to realize that when she carried Sakkrass’ vengeful spirit into battle? As Devin had said, Zalkar was a gentleman, and he didn’t force himself into Kari’s life any more than she wanted him. The same way Sakkrass treated her.
Devin was knocked from his seat by a wave of power that roiled out from Kari, an invisible wall of force that she could feel extending outward. Devin was inside of it, and she could feel his life-force even when she closed her eyes. Her senses extended beyond her body, enhanced by her faith in—her love for—her deity. Kari could sense Devin rising to his feet, that he was her friend and not a threat, that his faith was even stronger than her own, and that he held divine power within him as one of Zalkar’s priests.
The priest got to his feet and Kari could somehow see that his expression was a mixture of surprise and pride, even while she had her eyes closed. He muttered a prayer and gestured toward Kari. She felt the surge as the priest channeled Zalkar’s power to summon a bolt of light and cast it in her direction. She imagined Zalkar swatting the bolt aside, and focused on keeping the protective aura up. The bolt slowed and dissipated before it reached her, and with her eyes still closed, Kari smiled at the priest.
She’d never considered her faith strong, but now she realized it was because she’d misunderstood it, and not because it was missing from her life. Zalkar had faith in her, loved and cherished her, and was keeping his word through the oath to bolster and protect her. Kari felt ready to face Turillia—and possibly Emma—because she now understood that she was not—and never would be—alone.
“Well done!” Devin said. “Remember, Zalkar’s power is yours to wield, but do not give in to the temptation to use your own power. Fight to defend those you love, and use his power. Do not doubt your faith in him; wield it as a shield.”
“Will it be strong enough to stop Emma?” Kari asked, sheathing her blades.
“If your faith stays strong, it can do anything. Remember, it is based on your faith and your will, and your willpower is bolstered by Zalkar’s own. Rest on that promise, and let him fight for you, through you.”
Kari nodded. “Will you give me one final blessing?”
“Of course,” Devin answered, but before Kari could kneel before him, the front door opened and several other priests entered. Kari didn’t know all of their names, but recognized the heads of the other churches on Temple Street. Piotyr was among them.
The half-elite priest regarded the others and nodded to Kari. “We felt Zalkar’s power flow through you. Since the time has come to spring the trap, we will all give you the blessings of our lords, for you fight for the city and all her people, and you do not fight alone.”
Kari knelt before Devin and bowed her head. The priest laid his hands on her shoulders and intoned, “Zalkar, the Unyielding, Demonhunter Patron: Watch over our sister as she goes into battle. Keep her safe from harm, and grant her the strength of mind and body to overcome the demons who threaten our home. Fill her with the spirit of all of our brethren, and the comfort of knowing that she carries our love and hope into battle with her.”
“Grant her the valor of the great lion, master of beasts, and shield her as the master does his pride,” Master Vlad prayed to Ambergaust the Lifegiver.
Kari kept her eyes closed. There was a pleasant and familiar tingle in her mind that she couldn’t explain, but she thought perhaps it was the power of the allied deities melding.
“Imbue her with the glory of the rising sun, that she may cast the demons back to the dark places from which they have crawled,” Piotyr intoned in prayer to Kaelariel.
“Fill her with your skill, and grant her the eyes of the night, that even the darkness will not hide the demons from the judgment she brings upon them,” said a fourth priest, and by his prayer Kari recognized it was the head of Garra Ktarra’s church.
“Gift to her your unending wisdom, that she may see the truth of all things in this dark situation, into which she walks willingly to defend us all,” intoned the final priestess, a prayer for guidance to Bek the Pious, who was Ambergaust’s daughter.
When the priests finished their prayers, Kari opened her eyes and rose. She had received the blessing of not one, but five deities, and in that moment, she knew any hope Turillia had of victory was dashed. The only thing that remained was to spring the trap properly, to bring the situation to a head as soon as possible to safeguard the people Kari was sworn to protect.
Kari saluted the priests in the demonhunter way, and each of them bowed their heads to the veteran demonhunter respectfully.
“Go, my sister,” Piotyr said. “Shine your light in the darkness, and know that we and our lords are with you.”
21
Strength of the Avatar
The rain was relentless, steady in its beat, though it wasn’t terribly heavy. Kari stood on the porch of a dry goods store across from the old city hall, watching the dark building for any sign of activity. A lightning strike illuminated the sad, old white building shortly before its walls were shaken by a powerful peal of thunder. The storm was in full swing, and still moving in, so Kari was glad to spend what time she could sheltered from its fury by the store’s darkened porch. There had still been no sign of Turillia yet, but Kari had little doubt the succubus would come.
The trap was as well-set as it was going to get. Kari had instructed each of her friends on where to take up positions to try to cut off all avenues of escape. Eli and Katarina volunteered to guard the two northern roads leading away from the old city hall. Those were the shortest routes to the city’s outer walls, so Kari was glad to have the strong, young paladin and her fearless half-corlyps friend guarding those routes.