Eventually Erin came to a stop in front of a large building at the end of the street. It towered over the other buildings around it and looked much older, but remarkably still held fast. By the look of the intricate details etched into the stones, David could tell it was an important building.
Erin walked up to the solid oak door and knocked three times with the iron knocker. David noticed the symbol on the door was a long staff with a round orb on the crest, just like the one the man in the temple had carried. A moment later a slot slid open and a man peered out.
“What can I help you with, Erin, dear? It’s a little late for a visit, don’t you think?” he asked.
“Tyrius sent me here to speak with the council.” She paused, looking around to make sure she wasn’t being watched. “It is urgent news regarding prophecy of the orb.” she added hastily.
“Ahhh…I see. Come inside, come inside.” said the doorman, unlocking the deadbolts.
He opened the door to let them in, flooding the street with light and casting long shadows of the doorman and the pair standing by the entryway onto the buildings behind them. The doorman beckoned them inside and quickly closed and latched the door as they entered.
The entryway connected to a long brightly lit hallway with large burning sconces lining the walls. The light flickered and danced with the flames down the hall, casting their shadows across the walls in long distorted forms as they passed by. The floors were carpeted with rich colors and designs and the walls had countless portraits lining the hallway, all of elderly men in white robes. David noticed one portrait that resembled the old man that had been with Erin in the temple. Beneath the painting was a gold plate with the name “Tyrius Vanderbolt III”.
“This way please.” said the doorman urgently. He didn’t need any ushering to set a quick pace, for he seemed just as agitated as Erin.
They followed him down the hallway and through a door at the end to their left. They continued down a similar hallway to a larger door with two lit torches on each side. The flame lit up an elaborate carving in the wooden frame, but David couldn’t understand the writing, though he thought he had recognized this same fluid script from the tapestries at the temple.
The doorman knocked and waited a minute before walking quickly back down the hallways to return to his post. Only a moment passed before the door opened and a man with a staff and long white beard stepped forward into the light. David was shocked to see the man wasn’t nearly as old as he expected, but instead appeared to be in his mid to late sixties. He was lean but full of a strength that seemed to radiate from within.
“Erin, child, you have grown since we last saw you.”
“Yes, Master.” said Erin, entering in a respectful bow.
“What brings you here at this late hour?”
“I have been sent by Tyrius. I was to relay urgent news to you regarding the Forgotten Temple.” she said.
“Very well, the council shall see you now. I believe this is something all of us should hear.” said the old man.
He led Erin and David through the door into a large circular room with a wooden crescent shaped table in the center. There were four other Elders, each resembling the appearance and vigor of the Master Elder only with their own unique characteristics. They were seated at the table with two empty seats in the center: one David assumed was for the Master Elder, the other for Erin’s Master, Tyrius. The council sat silently, waiting for Erin to speak.
“I have been sent by Master Tyrius to deliver a message of great importance.” she began. “We were out walking through the woods near the Forgotten Temple when Tyrius had a strange feeling overcome him. He felt something disturbing the barriers within the temple and decided we should further look into the disturbance. Upon walking into the temple, we noticed something unimaginable - the orb was missing.”
The Elders each looked to one another and nodded their heads as if they were silently coming to an agreement.
“Go on, my child” urged the Master Elder.
“All we know is that the orb was missing. I was told to stay behind and search the area while Tyrius went and alerted the Royal Guards to search the surrounding area. He is currently at the palace speaking with the King himself. But there is one more thing I must report to the council,” she said, shifting her weight uncomfortably to the other foot.
“After Tyrius left to find the soldiers, I came in contact with David” she gestured towards David before continuing. “He said he was knocked unconscious and left for dead outside the Outer Woods in the Great Plains. When he awoke, he was chased by wolf-like beasts into the Outer Woods.”
As Erin paused, the council’s entire demeanor suddenly changed. They were agitated, David could tell, and he suspected it was because of the mention of the wolf-creatures that chased him. The way everyone seemed to react when they were mentioned told David that they weren’t common in these parts.
When their murmuring died down, Erin continued.
“There’s something else.” Erin said, twisting her foot slightly while thinking over the best way to reveal the big news. “I think it is best I just show you. David, go ahead and show them your hand.”
David’s stomach sank to the pit of his bowels as he shuffled uncomfortably, not feeling so up to the task of revealing his hand to the council. He didn’t know these people, what they would do, what they would think of him. Their silence left him uneasy. Why haven’t they said anything about what Erin was telling them?
He hesitated a few moments, thinking it over. He trusted Erin; she was the only
