Prelude

A scroll tied with a golden ribbon appeared under his nose. He followed the arm up to a face. He saw it was Nuncius who held out the scroll.

He sat back in his chair and looked at the smaller man, “What is this then?”

Nuncius rolled his eyes, “Verum, you know what it is; Dux sent it.” He shook it in the big man’s face, “Just take it.”

Verum reached out carefully; as if the scroll would come to life and bite him. He took it from Nuncius and laid it slowly on the desktop; afraid of what it might contain.

Nuncius nodded and turned away, walking towards the door.

Verum pulled at the ends and watched the ribbon untie itself then disappear. He watched as it unrolled and flattened. He took hold of it gingerly and began reading. He looked up.

“Nuncius” he called, just as the door was closing.

He reopened the door and stepped into the room. Taking a few steps, he stopped well before the man’s desk.

“A couple more footsteps and I would have been gone.”

The man behind the desk nodded, but said nothing; reading the scroll.

Nuncius turned again.

“Nuncius, this cannot be right.”

He cringed and turned again, walking all the way back to the man’s desk. He held his hands out, “What can I tell you? That’s what Dux gave me.”

“But, why two worlds? With a corridor between them? Why?” he looked up from the scroll; his brow furrowed.

Nuncius took another step, “Verum, that is what he gave me.” He repeated.

“What did Dux say exactly? This does not make any sense.” Nuncius opened his mouth, but Verum went on, “why two? With the same exact things on them?” Verum still sat looking at the scroll.

Nuncius took a step towards him; shaking his head, “These are different. Dux is putting mortal creatures on them, see?” He pointed to a place further down the scroll, “they will have essences; the immortal part of the creatures. And the essences are going to be split in half so that they will forever be…”

“But I do not understand” Verum said, looking at Nuncius; not caring that he interrupted the other man, “how will they…”

Nuncius blew out air and pointed to another place on the scroll.

Verum whistled and leaned back; reading further.

Nuncius waited.

Verum stood quickly; his chair hitting the back of the wall with a crash, “I have to work; with him?” his face reddening.

Nuncius backed away slowly.

Verum sensed the movement and quickly looked up; fixing Nuncius’ location. He started walking towards him, “He expects me to work with Diliges?’ Verum spat out the name as though it left a bad taste in his mouth.

“I do not know.” Nuncius said, walking backwards to get away from the larger man, whose face was growing redder by the minute.

“Does he realize that Diliges cannot keep a serious thought in his head?” Verum looked at the scroll yet again, hoping that he had made a mistake, “but why must I work with such an irresponsible ninny?”

“I don’t know.” Nuncius said again and reached back; fumbling for the door knob.

“Did you know about this?”

Nuncius took hold of the knob and was turning it. He shook his head, “Only what I read from there to here.” He opened the door and was slipping out.

Verum caught his arm and pulled him back through the doorway, “What did Dux tell you exactly?”

He allowed himself to be pulled; he knew not to raise Verum’s ire when he was in this mood.

“All he said was that I was to deliver these to you and Diliges and Arbiter.”

Verum released his arm and looked at him; his eyebrows knitted; deepening the furrow between his eyes, “Arbiter? Is he not responsible for scales or some such thing?”

Nuncius nodded, “Yes, he is the god of balance.” He opened the door again and walked through.

Verum followed. Reaching out, he took hold of Nuncius’ shoulder, making him turn to look at him, “Balance?”

“Yes, Verum; I have to go. Dux is going to wonder where I am. And I still have to tell Diliges and Arbiter.”

Verum put a hand to his goatee, “But you do not have to tell them; do you?”

Nuncius held out his hands, “Oh no, nothing doing; Dux will have my head if I do not follow his orders.” He put a hand to the side of his head, “And, I still feel a bit crooked from the last time he made me go without it.”

Verum’s face softened and Nuncius cringed, “Uh uh, I know that look Verum.”

The larger man tried to put his arm around Nuncius’ shoulders, but the smaller man ducked underneath, avoiding it.

Verum held his hands out, “Please Nuncius; just give me one hour alone with Dux; before you tell the others, so I can straighten out this whole mess.”

Nuncius shook his head, “No, are you crazy?” he walked out the door, followed by Verum.

Verum stepped in front of him, preventing any further forward motion, “Okay, how about thirty minutes?”

Nuncius continued shaking his head, “No”

Verum reached out and pulled Nuncius’ arm, “Please Nuncius; what can you give me?”

He thought; Verum had come to his rescue more than once, his shoulders drooped in resignation, “Okay, I will give you the time it takes for me to get something to eat.”

Verum’s face brightened and he slapped Nuncius on the back, “Thank you.” not wanting to waste time; he walked past the smaller man to the nearest window. Spreading his arms to the sun shining through it, he closed his eyes and while Nuncius watched, the large man became one with the light and warmth; dissolving into the sun ray and was soon gone.

Nuncius; satisfied that Verum was gone, turned and slammed into a wall of solid muscle. His eyes traveled up the clothed chest to reveal dark eyes set in a sympathetic face.

“Take care my little man.” The accent told of the man’s eastern descent.

“Oh I am sorry Arbiter; I was not paying attention where I was going.”

“Obviously” The man’s eyes crinkled and his face softened, “No harm done.” He looked unsure at the smaller man, “you did not injure yourself” Arbiter looked at the man up and down, inspecting him for any visible injuries, “did you?”

Nuncius shook his head, “No, I am fine.”

Arbiter’s smile lit up his face and Nuncius could not help but smile himself.

“Well then all is good. I bid you a good day.”  The larger man tipped his head slightly in Nuncius’ direction then turned to go.

He watched the man’s back recede and then remembered.

“Oh Arbiter?”

He ran to catch up with Arbiter; who stopped to wait for him.

“Dux sent this to you.” he reached into his jacket and brought out a scroll tied with a golden ribbon.

            Arbiter took it from him, “Anything else?” he looked down at Nuncius; annoyance knitting his brows.

            “Yes, you are called to his office; you are to be in his office in” Nuncius put up his hand to look at his watch, “very soon.”

            Arbiter’s eyebrows rose then lowered again.

Nuncius held his hands up, “Do not blame me. Verum would not let me go.”

            Darkness crept across the larger man’s face, “Since you have waited so long to deliver this message to me, you must come with me and tell me what this is all about.”

            Nuncius tried to back away, but Arbiter took a film hold of his jacket, “Oh no, you will not run away.”

            “But you do not understand” Nuncius twisted in the stronger man’s grasp, “I still have to deliver to Diliges.”

            Arbiter looked surprised at the name, “Verum AND Diliges? This is getting curiouser and curiouser.” He nodded, “now you really must tell me what’s going on.” He took hold of both of Nuncius’ arms, nodded and they flew out the nearest window.