Duplicity

"Your report?" came the command. Hardly more than a whisper.

Galliard bowed slightly as he prepared to address the dark figures, shrouded in deep shadow, at the back of the room. "I am happy to report that I have been completely successful in thwarting the Master's attempt to gain power by consuming the soul of the Mongol Khan. Further, this was done in a manner that would not arouse the Master's suspicions that we are, in fact, manipulating him to our own ends."

"How was this accomplished?"

"I allowed the Mongols to capture the phylactery, containing the Khan's soul, before the Master could make use of it." Galliard said simply.

The shadows rustled, disturbed. "We foresee risk upon this path. Suppose these Mongols succeed in restoring their Khan Although unlikely, they could delay full acceptance of the Protocols."

"I have taken steps to insure that this does not happen." Galliard smiled as he recalled the looks on the Mongol faces as his lightning bolt struck the old monk. Not enough to kill the monk and destroy the soul outright. Just enough to prevent the restoration and throw them into confusion. "The ghost of the Khan is now hidden away. Soon the will of his spirit will be broken and forever lost. His people scramble about like ants searching for him and, thus distracted, present no further threat to us. And the Master…"

Now Galliard laughed outright. "He is obsessed. Madly spinning his plots of power and revenge like a spider building its web in a coffin. Seeing only what he wants to see. When the time comes, he will be helpless."

"Most elegant," commented the shadows. "You may go."

As Galliard turned to leave, no one noticed the deeper blackness enfolding one dark shadowed corner of the room...


© 2001 Todd Bailey