was
littered with intricately carved pictograms and designs, depicting what looked
to be some type of fierce battle scene. Script from some unknown tongue was
etched along its arms, legs, and forehead with exacting precision.
The Saracen
spun around to face Gregory, a look of awe on his face. “Are these
what I think they are?”
The baron
nodded with a smile. “They are.”
Al- Dula’s eyes widened. “But are they active? Have you
reactivated them yet?”
The group
stared silently at the exchanged until Monsignor Tertius cleared his throat and
interjected. “See here,” he began. “What are you two going on about? What on
earth is so special about these statues?”
“Allow me start
from the beginning, Your Excellency,” the baron cooed, moving over to the
figure whose head was shaped like a boar. “When I first arrived here, I was
driven to succeed in the Pope’s task in recovering the fabled Urim and Thummim . Through several
years of research, I’d discovered that one of the last known locations for
those relics was hidden somewhere underground. Some kind of
vault created by King Solomon.” He nodded over at the Saracen warlord
and held up the medallion that hung from his neck. “Thanks to this heirloom
provided by our friend Al-Dula here, I was able to determine the precise
location and immediately set about excavating. Six months ago, my men finally
broke through and discovered this central Hub.”
Gregory raised a
gloved hand and caressed the broad arm of the statue and smiled.
“That’s when I
discovered these and my mission immediately changed.”
The monsignor
turned around in a full circle, examining the Hub and the six darkened
passageways that lined its rounded wall. “I don’t understand. Surely you
searched these tunnels further for the stones,” Tertius said. “You said so
yourself that they were last known to be within these walls. A little more
effort on your part and surely you will find them.”
The baron
whirled around and glared at the priest. “You’re missing the point, Monsignor.
The stones are useless. Mere baubles for the Church to hide
within their own vaults. Completely useless to
anyone.” He smiled once more, trying to calm himself. “But
these statues. Your Grace, these mere ‘totems’
as you call them represent near limitless power. A force
which nothing on earth could even remotely hope to stop.”
“I must admit,
I’m a bit taken aback by all this. Confused.”
“Of course you
are,” Gregory mumbled, running a hand through his thinning hair. “I would
expect nothing less from someone with as little imagination as you.”
At this, Tufic cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Monsignor, I
believe I begin to understand. These things that line the
wall…Lord Gregory does not believe them to be mere statues.” The
physician looked over at the baron. “You believe these are the twelve golems
that are said to have been created by a vengeful wife of King Solomon, don’t
you? The ones that legends say nearly destroyed all of Jerusalem until they
were imprisoned by the king himself.”
“Indeed,” said
Gregory. “But I don’t just believe that’s what these things are. I know it.
“But how? How can you know for sure?”
“Never mind
that,” growled the Monsignor. “What in the world is a golem? Why would it
supersede the importance of the Urim and Thummim ?””
“Because, Your
Grace, the Seeing Stones are simply powerless relics,” the baron said with a
sigh. “But golems…golems are something much more useful. You see, they are
living, breathing creatures…as Adam, they too were formed from the dust of the
ground and were given life by the mystical means of Solomon’s very own Seal.
“ Tufic is correct. These are the very same that are said to
have been created by a woman forced into marriage with the king. She despised
him and she loathed the kingdom. So, she tricked him. She promised to show him
the secret that her own
littered with intricately carved pictograms and designs, depicting what looked
to be some type of fierce battle scene. Script from some unknown tongue was
etched along its arms, legs, and forehead with exacting precision.
The Saracen
spun around to face Gregory, a look of awe on his face. “Are these
what I think they are?”
The baron
nodded with a smile. “They are.”
Al- Dula’s eyes widened. “But are they active? Have you
reactivated them yet?”
The group
stared silently at the exchanged until Monsignor Tertius cleared his throat and
interjected. “See here,” he began. “What are you two going on about? What on
earth is so special about these statues?”
“Allow me start
from the beginning, Your Excellency,” the baron cooed, moving over to the
figure whose head was shaped like a boar. “When I first arrived here, I was
driven to succeed in the Pope’s task in recovering the fabled Urim and Thummim . Through several
years of research, I’d discovered that one of the last known locations for
those relics was hidden somewhere underground. Some kind of
vault created by King Solomon.” He nodded over at the Saracen warlord
and held up the medallion that hung from his neck. “Thanks to this heirloom
provided by our friend Al-Dula here, I was able to determine the precise
location and immediately set about excavating. Six months ago, my men finally
broke through and discovered this central Hub.”
Gregory raised a
gloved hand and caressed the broad arm of the statue and smiled.
“That’s when I
discovered these and my mission immediately changed.”
The monsignor
turned around in a full circle, examining the Hub and the six darkened
passageways that lined its rounded wall. “I don’t understand. Surely you
searched these tunnels further for the stones,” Tertius said. “You said so
yourself that they were last known to be within these walls. A little more
effort on your part and surely you will find them.”
The baron
whirled around and glared at the priest. “You’re missing the point, Monsignor.
The stones are useless. Mere baubles for the Church to hide
within their own vaults. Completely useless to
anyone.” He smiled once more, trying to calm himself. “But
these statues. Your Grace, these mere ‘totems’
as you call them represent near limitless power. A force
which nothing on earth could even remotely hope to stop.”
“I must admit,
I’m a bit taken aback by all this. Confused.”
“Of course you
are,” Gregory mumbled, running a hand through his thinning hair. “I would
expect nothing less from someone with as little imagination as you.”
At this, Tufic cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Monsignor, I
believe I begin to understand. These things that line the
wall…Lord Gregory does not believe them to be mere statues.” The
physician looked over at the baron. “You believe these are the twelve golems
that are said to have been created by a vengeful wife of King Solomon, don’t
you? The ones that legends say nearly destroyed all of Jerusalem until they
were imprisoned by the king himself.”
“Indeed,” said
Gregory. “But I don’t just believe that’s what these things are. I know it.
“But how? How can you know for sure?”
“Never mind
that,” growled the Monsignor. “What in the world is a golem? Why would it
supersede the importance of the Urim and Thummim ?””
“Because, Your
Grace, the Seeing Stones are simply powerless relics,” the baron said with a
sigh. “But golems…golems are something much more useful. You see, they are
living, breathing creatures…as Adam, they too were formed from the dust of the
ground and were given life by the mystical means of Solomon’s very own Seal.
“ Tufic is correct. These are the very same that are said to
have been created by a woman forced into marriage with the king. She despised
him and she loathed the kingdom. So, she tricked him. She promised to show him
the secret that her own
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