"The most important thing is." The person in front of the door said, "We cannot abandon the palace."
There is no second palace in Byrne. Hitarian couldn't help but look up out of the window and could see the gorgeous white marble steps leading to the palace. There was no one up there, not even the guards. This is not what I looked like when I took the oath of becoming a nightingale.
The room was buzzing, with many people whispering in agreement, no doubt they all had swords on their shoulders and were the mainstay of 'Starless Night'. At a time when depression is pressing in the city and public sentiment is boiling, these people are the only ones who can sit on their chairs and think about plans. The lord called them together just to listen to everyone's opinions.
"There's nothing here." Witke, a northerner, pointed out. He is seated on the left and represents the group of Night's Watchmen who guard Byrne. "It's not worth the effort."
Opposite him was the foreign minister, Joseph Zaber. This person briefly lost his position, but during the turmoil, the affairs were chaotic and it was difficult for his replacement to take over the work, so he was reinstated.
"No matter what, it is of great significance." He put his hands on the edge of the table and looked around, "Originally, Bain was the center of the association, and the palace was the center of Bain. After losing Bain City, our compatriots will be in panic. Our flag Where are you going? They will definitely ask. Without a palace, how are you going to answer them?"
"We have His Majesty the King."
"Really? You have?" Yolizabo sneered, "I didn't see him. I have never had the luck to meet His Majesty in my life, never! I guess most people are not luckier than me... but most people in Bain know that What a royal palace looks like.”
"What's a palace? It's just a house. Even if we need a flag, it shouldn't be a palace."
"How can mere cloth replace the palace? It has always been people's spiritual belief."
Witek, a northerner, wanted to say something else, but suddenly an attendant reported. After he paused for a moment, the Foreign Affairs Director immediately continued: "So it is very important to rebuild the palace in Gavash. It is best not to replace a single window and keep its original appearance..."
"Who will rebuild the palace?"
"Of course..." Halfway through, Yolizab finally realized that the person asking the question was the undead lord himself, and the second half of his sentence changed his tone, "...it should be built by trustworthy compatriots."
"It can't be your friend Bellugo, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, right?"
The foreign affairs director carefully stopped his mouth. "Well, sir, I didn't expect you to have heard of such a small person." He sighed innocently, "But this is absolutely not true. My friends and I are purely here to cheer up our association..."
"And fill your own purse," said one of the night watchmen.
"Berugo can invite famous designers and architects. There is no more suitable candidate than him. The palace will regain its glory in our hands. As for whether he is my friend or not, it doesn't matter at all."
"If it really wasn't important, you wouldn't recommend him!"
"Speak with reason, adults." Joseph snorted.
The other party obviously couldn't take it out.
The foreign affairs officer looked around the audience with a victor's attitude, as if he was planning to conclude the matter. "Then Belle..."
"It is too early to discuss rebuilding the palace." The Black Knight could silence everyone as soon as he spoke. "Next we have to rebuild Bain. Others thought we were having a meeting in the ruins, discussing where to beg for food the next day. Can we talk about something useful?"
Hitarian hadn't met the king either, but she knew exactly what was in the palace. The undead lord was right. The issues that the association cares about now are much more important than rebuilding the palace.
The Foreign Affairs Director sat down angrily and blended in with the officials on the right side of the long table. The Black Knight looked away, but no one looked up. The night watchman opposite is his direct subordinate and also holds an official position, but you can never tell it just by looking at his attitude at this moment. The night watchman, the steward and others belong to different fields, and there has always been constant friction. However, Byrne is the center of the association after all, not the territory of the Black Knight, who still has a considerable degree of say. Hitarian expected the Night's Watch to take over the city.
One day will come soon. Hitarian knew clearly the Society's next plan: the mortals would evacuate from Bain, with most going to Garvash. Small departments like the "Bronze Gears" returned to Knox, while others who could withstand the long journey were arranged to go to the underworld and other smaller gathering cities.
The Night's Watch under the Black Knight remained in Byrne.
Hitarian is one of them. She can still recall the look on Murum's face when she said goodbye. He thought I was going with Ruth.
But she remained in Byrne, along with most of the mythical creatures. A few weeks ago, the Guards announced a lockdown of the city, prohibiting anyone from entering or exiting the city gates. The only exception is the Night's Watch itself: the northerner Witek is being ordered to recall the guide from the outside world, and Celsus leads the city's defenders to fight against each other outside the high walls to hone their skills. When the fulcrum of order comes to the door, they will launch a counterattack.
But not today.
The officials of the association were discussing Byrne's future when Witke, a northerner, suddenly returned to the meeting. "News from Oglethal."
The undead lord stood up, leaving everyone in the room, even Hitarian. When he went out, she heard Elizabeth complaining. "It has always been the officials in the city who manage internal affairs." The Foreign Affairs Director shouted to his right and left, "and the repair of weapons is donated by the Chamber of Commerce." Hitarian didn't know whether the merchants' donations came from kindness and responsibility, or from the Black Knights. long sword.
She thought the meeting would end here, but this time it was different from the discussion between the lords, and the lord himself did not need to participate in everything. As soon as the Black Knight left, people began to speak freely. Even Dean Ning Ayin'er was willing to speak. Hitarian wanted to hear the sounds outside the door, but Celsus, a leader of the Night's Watch and an acquaintance of hers, began to speak. He took up the topic and asked Lizab's merchant friend for the cost of repairing the city wall.
…
A stinging pain came from the wound, refreshing him. "Did I hurt you?" the doctor asked.
"No. Just a little feeling," Uriel replied. "It's healing, right?"
"The treatment was relatively timely, but the surface of the wound is still contaminated. Have you used holy water potion? How much was it?"
Uriel made a gesture, and the doctor immediately understood and turned around to take out new gauze. "If you agree, I will record it. It is rare to see such neat wounds, so that apprentices can rely on examples to identify." He mashed a bunch of berries.
"It's a great honor for me to be a teaching material." Uriel was not honored at all. He heard footsteps. "There's someone outside the door."
"The person who sent you here." The doctor applied the concoction on his back, which felt cold to the touch. "Your Excellency Anlini. You must be an important person to be personally escorted by the lord."
Glimmer Lord Alini. The experiences of Gavash's trip are still before our eyes, and this man was one of the leads in the massacre at Venevoise.
Uriel met each other once in Moniantoros, a tributary of the Silent School. He thought it was the last time, but now they met in Byrne. I don't know what he will think of me.
After crossing the Gate of Bones, the street view behind is not what you see. Uriel suddenly stood in a bedroom, two yards in front of him was a quilt, and the pillow cover said "Bern National Hospital". Before he could figure out how he appeared here, the door behind him suddenly opened, and the Shimmer Lord Anlini was waiting outside the room. He was not wearing a desert windproof hat, but his face was covered with the traces of vicissitudes left by the sand and dust. There were only eyes, and his eyes were as bright as the red sun.
As for him beckoning the apprentice to follow him and explaining things like the National Hospital, Uriel didn't listen to a word. The huge difference between one step made him vaguely aware of the existence of the "rectangular ladder".
The doctor cleans the wound and removes the toxins. The holy water potion can regenerate flesh and blood, promote the growth of fascia, and prevent wounds from rotting, but this magical effect also makes the user feel tired from the inside out. Uriel felt that holy water potion was already his most proficient magical skill, but the doctor's method was faster and more sophisticated.
The apprentice saw his chest through the window glass, with only shallow pink scars on his skin. "Good craftsmanship." He couldn't help but praise.
"You seem to be getting injured constantly," the doctor told him, "and each time it's not a minor injury. I suggest you take a good rest and stop using the sword."
"You're right. Who wants to get hurt? I'll think about it carefully."
At this time, the sound of communication came from outside the door. "The doctor is not here today." Anlini said.
"How is that possible? I have an appointment." Another person replied. "Look, there's evidence here."
"There are other patients." Uriel said sheepishly, "I'm sorry for wasting your time."
"It's okay." The doctor's hands tightened. "Wait a moment, okay?" he called to the door. All kinds of tools were in a mess, and the apprentice quickly came to help. "Just put it there," the doctor instructed. Uriel was placing the potions according to his instructions when he suddenly picked up a knife...
...the glass shattered. A black shadow flew towards me, as fast as lightning. Uriel suddenly raised his hand and cut the unknown object in two with the blade. He pulled the doctor over and used his body to cover him.
The door banged against the interior wall. Shimmer Lord Anlini burst into the room, holding something soft like cloth in his hand. "There's an attack," he told his apprentice.
Uriel stared at the remains of the flying object on the floor, feeling extremely confused: "With branches?"
"This is a human skin." Alini unfolded his trophy. It looked like a portrait on canvas, but its waist was charred and mutilated, and its limbs were distorted. It had undoubtedly suffered a devastating blow. "Don't look at me like that. He turns out to be a real person."
"How did it come about?" Could it be that you pulled off the enemy's skin?
Anlini ignored him. "Your patient, eh?"
The doctor looked over and couldn't help but tremble. "Someone has made an appointment..."
"Think again, doctor. We're not going to have a guy with a busy schedule waiting here all day long. You signed up for it yourself."
The doctor frowned uneasily: "Oh, there is such a thing...I forgot about it, sir."
"Do you have any relatives or friends in Beicheng?"
"Yes, sir."
"Next time, write him a schedule and ask him to remember it for you." Lord Shimmer waved his hand. The doctor was confused and had to walk out of the room.
"Is he okay?" Uriel reminded. If there is more than one assassin, no one else may be able to arrive in time.
Anlini dropped the human skin on the ground, and Uriel immediately noticed that its outline became blurry.
"Worried about others, Uriel?" Lord Shimmer smiled softly, "If he doesn't meet you, he will be very safe."
Uriel stared at the human skin. It seemed to be squirming, shrinking and changing its posture. A strange mystery hovers in Tinder's vision. "what's the situation?"
"You've seen many nightingales in Honeyland, but this one is different?"
"I have never seen such a method." The apprentice admitted.
"A way to pretend to be someone else?"
Uriel knew the "personality face" commonly used by Nightingale, the poisoning techniques of the Whisperer, and had experienced the "one call and a hundred responses" of the church killer. These methods may not be very clever if you look at the answers to the mystery, and many of them are even ordinary people's tricks, but the users are proficient in assassination and can kill mysterious creatures silently. The night elf Dalton is a master of playing with shadows and can lead Uriel and York out of the nightingale's trap. The apprentice himself can only use "spiritual vision" to predict the assassin's actions.
"I didn't see it." He told Alini, "The doctor echoed the assassin's words, and he was not lying. The patient he was seeing was indeed a real person... Personality cannot be fabricated out of thin air."
"This skin is fine," the demon lord said.
Everything was clear: the assassin came to visit him pretending to be a patient, trying to get past the Shimmer Lord and break into the room. After failing to hide, he crashed into the windowpane and tried to fight to the death, but in the end only a branch was thrown in.
The apprentice picked up the flying object that he had cut off and found that it was indeed just an ordinary branch, probably broken off by the assassin from the yard. It seems that the only thing he relies on is the "human skin jacket".
"What's going on?" Uriel didn't understand. It has been less than two days since I arrived in Bain, and someone has already sent a skilled assassin. But if the commander had high hopes for him, how could the murder weapon be a tree branch?
"Don't know? Your life is very important."
What a hell. Is it possible that the nightingale is from the Holy Council of Radiance? Uriel really couldn't figure it out. Who on earth would pay a murderer to kill me? Are you still taking action on the territory of the secret society? He had many opportunities when Dara was in rebellion.
"This is a warning," Alini explained. "Another warning. Someone's got a headache."
The warning might explain what happened to the branch. "Again, who was it last time?"
"You also recognize her - the sister of Hitarian Lingot."
Uriel felt as if his secret had been revealed. The communication between the Lingot sisters and him was all in a dream. The Black Knight knew about this. Could it be that he told his colleagues... He suddenly remembered that he had met Hitarian in the Anthoros Cathedral. The demon society seems to be plotting something.
warn. Just a warning. Uriel told himself. There is a high probability that they will not be injured, but no one can be sure. He really wished he could ask about Lingot's situation, but he couldn't predict whether the demon had another purpose in mentioning them. How should I answer?
Fortunately, Anlini didn't wait for him to speak. "But that's not your problem. And certainly not mine. Kitaarian works here and you'll see her soon."
What's the meaning? Uriel frowned. But Lord Shimmer had turned around and was about to fly away. "The assassin won't come again?" He only had time to ask.
"It's up to you." The demon lord left.
No one came back into the room. The doctor was nowhere to be found, leaving only the patient's human skin on the floor that was indistinguishable. For a moment, Uriel didn't know what to do. If you want to escape from Byrne, now seems to be an opportunity. Ordinary people would think that the assassin's warning was for him, but the apprentice knew that Lord Shimmer was not lying. If I were to wait here, who would I be waiting for?
Uriel picked up the human skin on the ground and opened the door hesitantly. There were no guards on the stairs, no pursuers outside the windows, and the Black Knight and Lord Shimmer had no intention of imprisoning him. Otherwise it would have been enough for them to leave me in Gavash. A long bloodstain spread in the corridor, and the source was undoubtedly the assassin in his hand. To be honest, it didn't even kill him.
It was safe at this moment, which made Uriel a little suspicious. Coming to Byrne was not what he wanted to do, but there was no reason to stay in Gavash. Edward the "Sweeper" is dead, and the ghost Della has returned to where she belongs. He is wandering alone in the edge of hell, and he can only end up with the same end. However, Winona...
At this time, there was a clanking sound under his feet. Then, the clash of steel turned into a chaotic cacophony. Uriel was shocked.
"Nightingale! Up there."
"Who dares to barge in...stop! Hey!"
"Ouch! Just watch it!"
"Stop him, guard! Huh?"
"The Night Watch captures the assassin." Someone shouted, "Get out of my way!"
Footsteps approached the stairs quickly, and the number of people was like an entire guard, moving in a hurry and fully equipped. Should I go or stay? These people seemed to be here to capture the assassin. Of course Uriel is not an assassin, but now the real assassin has become a strange human skin, no one is present to testify, and he himself is still in the gang's lair.
Uriel has lost his memory after Gavash encountered Ramons. He didn't dare to trust the demon lord, so he used "Spiritual Vision"...
... Then he saw guards swarming towards him and fighting against him. The worst thing is that someone actually revealed his identity, so people got angry and shouted "Devil Hunter!" "Tower lackey!" and other slogans, trying to cut him into pieces. Of course Uriel couldn't agree.
Forget it, I knew this was the result. The apprentice thought to himself that there was no way to be reasonable at this time. So after returning to reality, he turned around and ran away, instantly slipping into the shadows. But before he could inquire about the situation, Uriel suddenly noticed that there was a strange presence in the touch of the fire.
In an instant, the two sides looked at each other.
The nameless ones rely on fire to identify similar people. This thought flashed through Uriel's mind. Then came the tower and order, and he was confused for a while. The apprentice subconsciously concealed his face and used magic to pass through the floor and enter the lower level.
Directly below is a single ward with a wide central curtain separating the bed from the door. The apprentice panicked and broke into the inner room, only to find someone among them. A patient wrapped in bandages was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking up.
It's over now. Uriel thought to himself. What should I do? He finally remembered he was in a hospital.
Without leaving him any buffer time, with a bang, the door suddenly opened.
"Get out!" the patient suddenly screamed. He slapped the bed board violently with his arm, and the bandage was dyed dark. "Hunter! The hunter is coming! Get out! Get out!"
Hysterical shouts filled the room, and the guards who broke in through the door were startled. People looked at each other in shock and confusion. The leader stretched out his weapon, as if he wanted to open the curtain...
"Go to hell! Hunters, butchers!"
Uriel couldn't help but hold his breath. "The patient inside is a lunatic." At this time, an explanation came from outside the door, and it seemed that a doctor had arrived. "...He was the leader before, so don't provoke him."
The corridor is very bright, but the windows inside the door are closed tightly, not letting out a trace of light. Uriel could see their silhouettes on the curtains. After the words were spoken, the guards who intended to search immediately retracted their weapons. They looked ashamed and quickly and silently exited the room.
The last person closed the door, and Uriel turned his head to face the patient beside the bed. He was still kicking and yelling, but he didn't even look at the apprentice.
"They're gone," Uriel said. "Thanks for the help, sir. I'm not an assassin."
The patient stops. "You never have to thank me, Uriel. I come from the holy city of Zangwill." He used one finger to tear off the bandage on his face, revealing his scarred face.
It was a mutilated, horrific face, but as the apprentice stared at it, memories came flooding back to him. I recognize this person, the nameless man in the Holy City Prison... but it's only a one-time encounter. This man had been caught by hunters and suffered in prison. When Uriel turned to the Holy City, he was about to be publicly executed. The apprentice replaces the prisoners with phantoms of the Dreamweaver and delivers them to the Glimmer Lord Allini. "You are that..."
"Worrell," said the wounded man, "or Witek Shazo. I am more accustomed to the latter name."
"I recognize someone with your name." One, or two?
"Many people share this name with me, but they are not as lucky as me." The wounded man changed his crazy look and spoke in a very calm tone. "Let's go, Uriel," he reminded. "The Night's Watch is chasing us, and you will die."
"Night watchman?"
"Bain's city guards, soldiers, officers and most of the combat personnel. They are the subordinates of the undead lord, and all of them have high-level strength."
"Why did they...?"
"I don't know. There has been a lot of chaos in the city recently." Worrell's face was pale, and Uriel couldn't find it easy to question such a weak person. "Maybe someone recognized you. After all, you are quite famous in the mysterious field. People in Honeyland and Danlaw say that you are an ancient Templar Knight of Gaia, the same as the Paladin of Zangwill." He smiled. .
It's a white lie, Uriel thought, and I know they would have made it worse.
"Let's go." Worrell urged, "Don't stay in Byrne. There is nothing here, and it will be destroyed by war soon."
I didn't come on my own initiative, I haven't made up my mind yet. Uriel knew that he could not say this to Worel. "Byrne is the center of the starless night and will not be easily destroyed."
"Yes. We have our own king, but mortals cannot survive on the battlefield." He held up the maimed limb. "Usually we are the ones causing chaos in the orderly city. The gods have eyes... Now it will be our home that suffers."
Uriel was very unhappy: "This is wrong. Neither you nor the mysterious fulcrum."
"Originally, I also longed for war." Worrell said to him. "War will bring sweet revenge and repay the suffering of my compatriots to the hunters. But now that I have become a mortal on the battlefield on both sides, I have begun to think about it. Revenge is something else. Look, who wants to die?"
Uriel didn't know what to say.
Worrell didn't need an answer. "So you'd better leave Byrne as soon as possible before the Night Watchmen are no longer wounded. This place... is no longer a home. Everyone either wants to escape or fight. They have to choose one and follow the other. Humph, in order to force people to take sides. , the lord even ordered Byrne to be sealed off." As he spoke, he unconsciously widened his eyes: "How did you get in?"
"It's a one-way street anyway."
Worrell opened his eyes wide and didn't speak for a while. Maybe he's guessing my purpose, Uriel thought. He thought for a moment. "There is a trail." He finally told his apprentice. "It was a smuggler's trade route. It may still be preserved."
Uriel blurted out: "Where?"
"Across from the grocery store on Stone Street, knock the bell on the hotel sign nine...er, seven times." Worrell coughed. "This is my code before going to the Holy City. Maybe they will change it. This is the only one I have."
With the Scroll of Oath in hand, it was very easy for Uriel to trust others. "I can take you with me to express my gratitude."
"Where to go?" Worrell asked.
Suddenly, Uriel thought of many deserted places. However, living there, people soon no longer need to be called human beings. Not to mention that Worrell's injuries were so severe that he needed treatment, better treatment than holy water potions. Can I really do it?
"Forget it, I'm not complaining." Worrell's tone was very calm. "The Lord sealed Byrne away, but he also wanted to save her. If not, people would have fled long ago. I can understand his approach." There is no heaven in the world unless we create it ourselves." There was a strange brilliance in his one eye. "Byrne is our kingdom of heaven, and we should live and die with her. I'm glad you are willing to help, Uriel, remember to hide yourself. Gods bless you."
The apprentice nodded. "I will."
There was a gentle knock on the door. "Mr. Worrell? I brought you a cicada slough."
Uriel opened the window. Daylight flooded into the room, and Worrell squinted his eyes. When he climbed over the window sill and jumped to the roof, he heard the doctor asking about the shadow on the curtain and felt the patient's eyes on his back.
"My savior came to visit me." The leader of the Nameless One in the Holy City replied, "Thank you for the analgesics."
