Chapter 362

When he heard that were another two hundred Body Refiners waiting to be made citizens, the white-haired priest was sent into a near-panic .

Despite the Knight’s barely veiled threats, he insisted that he could not do as Rannoc had requested — not without permission from an Archon . And sending word to an Archon, he claimed, would take at least two weeks .

Yet where the Knight’s threats failed, Kaleesh’s reassurances proved more effective . Using a careful mix of flattery and persuasion, he spent several minutes convincing the priest that his other troops weren’t nearly as unusual as Arran .

Finally, the priest agreed to accompany them to the mines . While he was obviously displeased with the prospect, with his biggest fear addressed — having to waste more of his most precious liquid on outsiders — he reluctantly gave in .

The priest didn’t come alone, however . He brought along half a dozen acolytes and twice as many outsider servants, as well as forty guards in white uniforms .

“Church guards,” Kaleesh explained . “They answer to the Archons, rather than the Lords . ” He gave the group of guards an unfriendly glance, and in a lower voice, he added, “They’re humorless zealots, but take care not to antagonize them . In the Imperium, you don’t want to make an enemy of the church . “

Gathering the group took the better part of an hour, but still, that wasn’t the end of it . While Arran was anxious to leave the city behind, Muna spent another half-hour gathering an entourage of her own — Rangers and soldiers, to match the church guards’ numbers .

Arran watched the Knight’s actions with some interest . Although he couldn’t be certain, he suspected she’d only decided to bring a party of her own because the priest had done the same .

Either way, it was plain to see that there was little love lost between the church guards and the soldiers . The two groups eyed each other with open suspicion, all but ignoring the outsiders among them .

“They don’t seem to get along very well,” Arran said, careful to keep his voice low .

“The church and the Lords can never quite agree who leads whom,” Kaleesh replied . “Though with a Knight here, I’d say the Lords take it this time . Unless that priest scrounges up a Paladin somewhere . “

Arran frowned . “A Paladin?”

“That’s what the church calls its Knights,” Kaleesh explained . “If you want my advice, avoid them at all costs . Those fanatics could look at a tree and see a blasphemer to be purged . As for outsiders…” He shook his head . “If you ever find yourself in the company of one, try not to say anything . “

At this, Arran could not help but sigh . The more he learned of the Imperium, the less he liked it .

It was well after dawn when they finally departed the city, their small group somehow having swelled to the size of a small army, complete several ox-drawn supply carts .

Much to Arran’s annoyance, the group’s size meant that it traveled with the sluggish speed of a small army, as well . Eager though Arran and the captain might be to return to the Wolfsblood Company, the oxen drawing the carts clearly didn’t share their concerns .

Still, although Arran had not slept a wink the previous night, he found himself not the least bit tired — something he suspected was related to the strange liquid he’d been given by the priest .

Although its power had faded from his body just moments after he’d taken it, he could tell that some part of it remained — a feeling of vigor and vitality that seemed to pervade his body .

Kaleesh and Sassun didn’t share his experience, however . While they felt some small effect, both said it was so small as to be negligible .

That wasn’t much of a surprise, of course . Arran had received a far larger dose of the liquid — the diluted god’s blood, as the priest claimed — than either of them, so it stood to reason that he would be affected far more strongly .

Yet his curiosity remained . If he had a new power, he needed to know what it was — and, just as importantly, how it might help him .

Which meant he needed to get information from the Darians .

Between the priest and the Knight, deciding which of them to ask for information was an easy choice . The white-haired priest’s eyes held resentment and suspicion whenever he glanced at Arran, and Arran very much doubted that he’d freely share his thoughts .

Muna, on the other hand, merely looked at him with curiosity . That still made Arran uneasy — he had plenty of secrets, after all — but it was better than the priest’s barely veiled hostility .

He approached the Knight after their midday meal, as the long caravan was pulling into motion again amid the Imperium’s green, sunswept hills .

“I have a question,” he said, deciding not to waste time on pleasantries . “About what the priest gave me — the liquid . “

“Your blessing,” she replied, stifling a smile as he fumbled for words . “What about it?”

Arran hesitated for a moment, then asked, “What does it do, exactly?”

“It marks you as a Darian,” she said . “In the eyes of the priests, at least . “

“I’m not talking about that,” Arran said with a shake of his head . While he was curious to learn how exactly that learned, he doubted she would answer that question — and either way, he had a far more pressing one . “What else does it do?”

She gave him a small smirk in response . “You’ll discover that soon enough . “

And that was all she would tell . Arran spent another half hour trying to wrangle an answer from her — though being careful not to offend her — she merely offered evasion and amused smiles in response .

Finally, Arran returned to the captain and Sassun .

“No luck?” Kaleesh asked, some curiosity in his eyes .

Arran shook his head . “She said I’d discover it soon enough . “

Kaleesh shrugged, though his expression was disappointed . “Tell us when you find out . “

The second half of the day passed much like the first half had, with slow travel along the Imperium’s seemingly endless roads . And although they passed some small groups of soldiers along the way — Kadun’s former troops, Arran understood — nothing of note happened .

Yet that night, after they’d eaten their meals and retired to their bedrolls, Arran discovered that he still wasn’t the least bit tired .

He spent a good half-hour trying to fall asleep, but found it completely impossible . Eventually, accepting that he wouldn’t sleep that night, he got up again . If nothing else, he could spend some time practicing his swordplay .

However, when he got up, he found Muna already waiting for him, an amused smile on her face .

“Starting to understand yet?” she asked .

Finally, realization dawned in Arran’s mind . “The liquid — the blessing… this is what it does? It keeps me awake?”

“It gives you energy,” she corrected him . “For the others, the difference will be small enough as to be barely noticeable . But in you, it will be stronger — strong enough that you can go weeks without sleep . And as you grow more powerful, it will strengthen further . “

Arran looked at her with wide eyes, at a loss for words . Of all the things he’d expected, this certainly wasn’t one .

“Disappointed?” she asked, her eyebrow raised as she faced Arran .

“Not at all,” Arran said, shaking his head . If anything, this was far better than anything he could have expected .

At once, he understood how potent a power this was . Without the need for sleep, he’d have hours each day to spend on study and practice — hours to improve his skill, and grow stronger .

Seeing his reaction, she gave an approving smile . “So you see its value, then . “

“I do,” Arran replied, eyes still wide with shock . “But this power… do all Darians have it?” He glanced at the Darian soldiers, and saw that they were already sound asleep .

“They have the potential,” the Knight replied . “Though few grow strong enough to fully enjoy its benefits . But you were lucky enough to require a proper Knight’s blessing . And although this is one of the lesser gods’ bloodlines, I’ve always thought it was among the most powerful . “

Arran looked at her with curiosity . “So you have this power as well?”

“All Knights do,” she replied . “As I said, this is a bloodline shared by all Darians — though that is because the priests can somehow recognize it . Any Darian who grows strong enough will develop this power, as well . “

Arran nodded, already marveling at the many possibilities he saw . In the past, it had seemed nigh impossible to study all the things he wanted . But now… now, he realized it might be possible to learn more than he had thought .

“But enough of that,” Muna said . “We have an entire night ahead of us, and little to do with it . How about we spar for a few rounds? I’m curious to see how strong you really are . “

For a moment, Arran hesitated . Despite what the captain had said, he still felt uneasy revealing his strength to the Darians .

Yet denying her request would only draw her suspicion . And more importantly, he was anxious to see what he could learn from a Knight .

“All right,” he said . “Let’s spar . ”