Cede

Chapter One

There were four of them. They wore dark robes, the colour of alley shadow and each of them carried a globe. Cede rose to his feet and bowed his head in greeting.

“Password” said one of the figures, it was hard to tell which one had spoken because their faces were concealed by hoods.

Cede gave them the password and the globes glowed in answer.

“Please, sit,” said Cede and was immediately struck by the sparseness of his cell; a bench, a lectern, a sleeping sack and almost nothing else.

The cloaked figures ignored the bench and stood silently in front of him as if waiting for Cede to speak.

Cede Arrowsmith, scribe, illuminator and, when called upon, diviner for the school of whispers.

It seemed his skills in divination were required by his visitors. Outside the dusk-callers had begun their murmurations and their rasping cries filled the silence.

“What is it you require of me?” he asked.

One of the figures spoke, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

“A demon gate has been left open.”