All That Is Evil Is Not Dark/Chapter 59

Myr shuddered almost involuntarily. The conclusions that the data presented were unavoidable. Revealing whom Drakath had affected among the mines was not an easy task but it proceeded with relatively little incident. With Drakath so decidedly distracted by battles a continent away, he was not focused enough to cause his tracks to be hidden. The clerics of the Shadow Lord worked long and hard to restore the affected parties, Myr and Delnar alongside them. Xander spent most of his time on dealing with the effects of this latest assault upon Stone Deep. It was the Water Lord's agent, Cerin, who pointed out the pattern among the men selected by the dragon: they were all positioned in such a way so that the deepest mine levels were under Drakath's influence. The reasoning for this could be simple need to hide his presence, but the way that they were selected betrayed a more sinister motive. Three of the men were selected during the time of day specifically where Myr took his break in the shadow mines, and two of the others were members of the church directly under Myr's supervision. The target of Drakath's activity could be assumed to be Myr, though the reasons for the dragon's interest could hardly be personal. Myr held little that an ancient shadow dragon, especially one as evil and powerful as Drakath, would find of interest. The conclusion was simple: the Uncreator still tried to gain access to Myr.

"The question," Myr finally voiced wearily, "is what interest I hold for the Uncreator to make him desire me so badly. What is special about me that is different from any other communicant?"

"Your question lacks an easy answer," Cerin replied. "We cannot begin to predict the Devourer's purposes and intentions. We cannot presume to know how he thinks or what he is capable of... Perhaps he has heard some prophecy he believes refers to you. Perhaps he merely values you as one of his enemies' great prizes...."

"Or perhaps," Delnar ventured, "you really do have something incredibly vital to the Uncreator and we simply don’t know what it is... We cannot ignore that final possibility in any case. It has become clear that Stone Deep is not a safe refuge for you... Cerin, I want you to take the communicant to Deren upon your return."

"Don't be ridiculous," Myr responded. "I cannot simply leave; I am needed here. I cannot abandon my post..."

"You will not be abandoning your post," Xander said, joining the conversation for the first time. "You will merely be extending it. You are not vital here, Myr. As much as it galls you. You yourself have trained a new communicant, one who, by your own admission, is quite capable and uniquely qualified..."

Delnar smirked, wondering if this was some of the planning around him that Darin had warned him to be wary of. "I can handle the temple duties. It is for the best that you flee. If we do not know what the Uncreator wants, we must assume it is something most fell.."

"I... But..." Myr sighed and admitted defeat; it was clear that they intended to send him on to Deren.

"Deren is somehow centered in this, too, in a way I cannot fathom. Even while the majority of the wars have been set in other places..."

"No one is immune from this... From the Northlands of Battleonia to the Winding Sea. The Uncreator wants it all and shall not be happy until it is his..."

"I would be happier if I felt reasonably reassured that we were winning..."

"As would I, but it is far from clear," Xander answered.

"Not to be cynical," Cerin chimed, "but this battle is older than our very race. I would not expect it to be resolved in our lifetimes... Unless, of course, it is resolved in the Uncreator’s favor..."

"Need we be so morbid? We all have work to do... " Delnar answered. "Cerin, help Myr prepare for departure. Lord Xander, I would appreciate it if you helped me assume the role of Chief Communicant..."