NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17: Unchained
Milo had so many questions about this quest. There were obviously downsides to putting on questionable clothing taken from mushroom-infested ratkin sorcerers.
But one thing was pretty straightforward. He had a choice to either keep the old souls chained up, or to free them. This was an easy decision for Milo. He never wanted to go back to belonging to someone and he wasn't going to hold the chains of someone else.
"I could use that assistance. How do I set them all free?"
Ignacious laughed. "Your part is straight forward-just keep washing that tunic and dumping the water. I think I know an exorcism chant that will help." The priest dug into his exorcism kit. "Use this along with the soap; it's dust from the tomb of Saint Frederic the Valiant. A great priest. He still holds the record for the most demons exorcised during the Solstice Festival."
Milo was skeptical but took the packet of grey powder and dumped it in. How did someone decide that this dust was magical? He suspected it was an excuse to make sure someone swept up the dust now and then.
Ignacious came back in a few minutes, followed by a large gaggle of women who surrounded Milo's washtub. "All together now, ladies, let’s start with the Hymn of Morning from the festival of Summer and then continue with all 97 stanzas of 'Begone, Spirit, Begone.'
One of the more elderly women got excited. "Oh, I always liked that one! We used to take a sip of wine at each stanza. It made things so much more fun." Ignatius suddenly realized why the summer choir practices were so rowdy and well-attended.
Milo dumped the tub, and it was quickly refilled with hot water by two younger boys hauling buckets. As they ran to get more, he overheard one say, "Jed is going to be so jealous! I can't wait to tell him we helped some crazy holy man kick out demons from an old shirt!"
Ignatius was busy drawing runes on the stone floor and lighting scented candles. From somewhere, a couple of bottles of wine appeared and were passed around at the end of each stanza. Around stanza 39, milo heard a loud crack, and one of the ethereal chains broke and disappeared. The spirit thumbed his nose at the others, bowed to Milo, and soared into the sky.
Regulus Tyborian, the High Diviner of the Lapis Empire, is free of his chains!
You receive his blessing. While bound to the Bone-Runed Cowl, you gain +2 Int.
Several of the ladies excitedly clapped. Ignatius tossed more dust and some cedar shavings into the washtub. "Steady on, ladies. We have only started."
"Going to need more wine then!"
Malskitter the Malevolent has broken free of his chains. He thinks you are a fool to give up such power! He will return someday to make you his slave.
The spirit of the ratkin dove down into the earth.
Albrecht the Undecided thanks you for freeing him. He's spent far too many years studying one thing and is off to try his hand at enchanting flowers and baking pies. He stuffs some of his accumulated knowledge into your skull. You have gained the spell: Curse of Brittle Bones, and the spell: Mend Bones.
Albrecht's spirit turned in a circle several times before flying off randomly. Two spirits were left. The chorus was up to the 53rd stanza, the wine bottles were increasing, and a small crowd was forming, with vendors selling treats.
Hordifax Ribtaker has been freed from his ethereal bonds. He acknowledges the debt owed to you and bequeaths you a small fraction of his knowledge of runes.
You have gained the Lore Skill: Runic Lore.
Whatever Hordifax had been, it wasn't pretty. The spirit screamed and flew low over the crowd, scattering them. It laughed and took off to parts unknown.
The Oracle of Oblivion, she who reads the bones of the Ancients, Seer of the Frozen Wastes, Collector of Fingernails of Dead Men, and Rider of the Great Flightless Greeb, has chosen to depart. Weep, for you will not see her like again in a thousand years! She leaves you a portion of her power: You will now gain +100 mana per level instead of +50.
The last spirit glowed and became visible to everyone. Her chain dissolved, and she was gone. Milo sat back. His arms ached, and his fingers were raw! He held up the Bone-Runed Cowl and saw it was spotless, except for a small dark stain on one arm where he had been wounded. A small ethereal silver chain ran from the tattered robe and encircled his waist.
Ignatius raised his hands and led the choir in one more round, and then they all dissolved into talk and laughter. "Oh, we need to do this more often! We haven't had a good exorcism in years!"
Milo wrung out the water from the robe. Alessandra walked over to him. "Here now, let me dry that for you. I don't have much power, but I can manage the drying cantrip easily. She cast a small spell, and all the water dropped from the robe, drying it instantly. Milo put it on over his shirt.
He eyed the crowd at the entrance, starting to come this way. It made him very nervous—too many people. Ignatius noticed. "Let's be on our way. We can sneak out this way. Let's keep your status as 'unknown and mysterious.' You'll get more free dinners that way.