Demontext
Part 2

The ride to Stormwind city passed swiftly and without incident for the two friends and it was not long before they were riding along the Valley of Heroes. After stabling their horses, Atton and Corbec made for the Cathedral district. On the way Corbec had mentioned that SI:7 had a hand in them being summoned and Atton had been pondering this information for most of the ride.
“But why would they be wrapped up in this?” asked the Paladin for the twentieth time.
“I don’t know mate, I told you all I know is that the High Priest sent word that we we’re to return immediately and made mention SI:7 are involved.” Replied Corbec patiently.
Before Atton could begin the circular conversation once more he was distracted. Standing near the side of the Cathedral of Light was a shifty looking Gnome who seemed intent on showing a passing traveller something inside his coat.
“Oh Light spare me, I’ve told him about this” the Paladin growled as he made for the Gnome.
“Told whom about what?” asked the Warrior in surprise. As soon as the Gnome saw Atton striding towards him he began hurriedly buttoning his coat, his eyes darting around looking for an escape route.
“CRANK!” Atton boomed, colour rising in his face. The Gnome looked positively terrified. Corbec watched with curiosity as the Paladin towered over the increasingly guilty looking Gnome.
“Yo-You’ve got it all wrong” protested Crank, beads of sweat now dotting his brow.
“I very much doubt that, Crank, but by all means open your coat and prove me wrong” replied Att. The Gnome obediently unbuttoned his overcoat and opened the left side to reveal many illuminated pieces of scripture.
“See! Spreading the word now, all about the Light just like you, I have reformed only handing out holy texts, all good right?” The Gnome blurted.
“Are you honestly telling me you suddenly mended your ways and started street preaching??” Atton asked in disbelief.
“Yes sir, word of the Light sir” repeated the Gnome. The Paladin frowned and his electric blue eyes scanned the Gnome’s face intently for a moment.
“Perhaps I was too quick to judge you, Crank,” said Atton, “my apologies”
“No apologies necessary,” replied Crank, “a perfectly reasonable assumption”
“Well… keep up the good work I suppose” said Atton with a nod. He and Corbec once more headed towards the Cathedral’s main door, Att now routing around in his belt pouch. Corbec opened his mouth to speak but before he could ask what the hell was going on with the Gnome Atton found what he was looking for.
Crank looked around to make sure Atton and Corbec were out of sight. ‘That was a close one’ he thought. Another traveller was walking past and the Gnome subtly beckoned him over.
“Word of the Holy Light, sir?” Crank asked loudly.
“Um… No thank you” the man replied politely but, before he could leave, Crank motioned for him to wait.
“Hold on, hold on” Muttered the Gnome, shiftily checking left and right before opening the other side of his coat.
“Dirty woodcut sir?” Asked the Gnome surreptitiously. Before the man could answer a strange whirring noise became apparent and a shadow fell across Crank. The man hurried off quickly as a hand appeared on Crank’s shoulder.
“Oh bugger” exclaimed the Gnome, dispiritedly.
“Reformed? My righteous backside you have” Atton growled as he put his Gnommish Cloaking Device back in his belt pouch. Corbec shimmered into the visible spectrum next to him, the Warrior struggling to keep from laughing at the situation.
“Its not what it looks like!” Crank spluttered as he was turned to face them. Atton looked at the Gnome and raised an eyebrow.
“Ok, ok it is what it looks like,” admitted Crank, “but please sir, don’t kill poor little me”
“Be glad I’m in a hurry or I’d cut you down now. As it is don’t ever let me catch you selling that filth again, understood?” commanded the Paladin sternly.
“Clear as Crystal, whatever you say master Paladin, sir” replied Crank nodding furiously. Atton released the Gnome and once more headed up the Cathedral stairs.
“And you can stop ruddy laughing” said the Paladin with a sidelong glance at Corbec.

Atton smiled as they entered the main hall of the Cathedral of Light, he was home. He took a deep breath and let out a deep sigh as he took in the multi coloured beams of radiant light streaming in through the stained glass.
“You know Att, you can tell when you’ve been away a while” Corbec remarked.
“How so?” Asked Atton curiously.
“The Cathedral looks so much more intact” said the Warrior with a laugh
“Get stuffed!” retorted the Paladin, punching the Warrior in the arm with a laugh.

Elsewhere in the Cathedral the High Priest was sitting behind his desk in his private chambers holding a conversation with an apparently empty room.
“They have unorthodox methods I admit, but they will be able to do this” said the Priest to the room. Before any answer came the conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Come in” called Bartholomew. Atton and Corbec entered the office, closing the large oak door behind them..
Greetings your grace” said Atton as he and Cor bowed before Bartholomew.
“Welcome my friends, have a seat” said the High Priest kindly. Corbec looked around the office before taking his seat.
“Oh good,” said the Warrior in a relieved voice, ”sorry it’s just I thought there’d be some pretentious pillock from SI:7 here when I read your note sir” he explained at the questioning look Bartholomew was giving him. Suddenly something stirred in the dark corner of the office, slowly a form separated itself from the shadows.
“Unorthodox indeed your eminence” said the figure who, as Corbec had seen with horror, was clad in the garb of an SI:7 operative. Corbec grimaced and Atton grinned. “I was just explaining to Agent Hammond here what a credit you two are to the Alliance” said the high priest who was now also smiling.
“Agent Hammond I’m…” began Corbec but Hammond held up a hand to silence him.
“Don’t apologise, I prefer those who speak candidly. You do lose points for being ignorant of my presence though.” Said the Rogue, his voice dangerous and laced with charm.
“You sent word you have a task for us your grace?” Atton asked, looking at Bartholomew once more.
“Indeed my boy, or rather Agent Hammond does” replied the Priest.
“And fortunately for your friend here, it doesn’t require much in the way of diplomacy” Remarked Hammond with a pointed look at Corbec. Atton frowned.
I mean no offence Agent Hammond, but it has always been my understanding that SI:7 prefers to handle it’s affairs on a strictly internal basis. Why were we called?” queried the Paladin.
“A good question,” Hammond smiled, “normally, as you rightly said, this would be dealt with by SI:7 agents but, in this instance, I have been requested to enlist your services by the High Priest”
“It involves the Church in some way then?” asked Atton, surprised.
“Tell me boys, what do you know of the Cult of the Woken Flame?” asked Hammond. This sentence had quite a profound reaction on Atton. His face darkened and colour rose in his cheeks.
“Weren’t they those weirdo’s who wanted to make mechanical demons?” Asked Corbec.
“Close. They wanted to make mechanical bodies that a demons spirit could posses,” explained the Rogue, “It became clear from our investigations that they had abandoned the concept. We didn’t consider them much of a threat again until now.”
“What changed?” asked Atton, his voice hollow as though some of the spirit had gone from it.
“One of them managed to infiltrate the Cathedral’s library and steal one of the books kept in the vault” Cut in Bartholomew. A look of shock appeared on Atton’s face whilst Corbec merely looked confused.
“Which book?” Asked Att.
“Hold on,” Corbec interjected, “why is there a vault in a Library?”
The vault is the place we store books that are too dangerous to destroy and too destructive to not lock away, said Bartholomew, “the one they took is known as the Libram of Sinbaal”
Atton looked horrified. Corbec was looking from face to face waiting for an explanation but none seemed forthcoming.
“The damn fools!” Atton burst out, “have they no idea what they could unleash?”
“Don’t be so naïve” growled Hammond, irritably.
“Sinbaal can only be summoned during the Ember Solstice and that  is mere days from occurring.” Added Bartholomew.
“They stole the book for the express purpose of summoning him” said Atton grimly.
“Indeed,” replied Hammond, “and with the Solstice so close you cannot waste time. The Cultists last known location is in the Wetlands though we have no exact details”
“We’ll manage” said Corbec confidently.
“It’s what we do” Att added with a smile. Atton and Corbec stood and bowed before the High Priest.
“Farewell your grace, Agent Hammond” said Atton before he and Corbec left the room.
“You’re sure they’re the best choice?” Asked Hammond, looking doubtfully at the door.
“I am never quite sure how they manage to achieve what they achieve but I have yet to see them fail” replied the High Priest
“Then it would be a shame if it turned out to be this time that they did” said the Rogue sarcastically.
“Have a little faith Agent Hammond”
“Faith is your department, your grace, not mine.” Retorted the Rogue

Atton and Corbec were once more heading through the Cathedral’s main hall.
“Att, the Nautichron is the other way…” Said Corbec, looking toward the stairs down to Atton’s workshop.
“Yup” said the Paladin simply, yet he continued to make for the main doors
“Ok…” replied the Warrior, puzzled.
Corbec continued to follow his friend as far as the Canal District before he next spoke.
“You said this book summons a demon?” Asked Cor.
“Yeah a powerful Demon…and that’s a huge understatement.” Atton answered, distractedly.
“That why we’re gonna get some help?” Asked the Warrior.
“You know me too well” Atton laughed.
“Sarah?” queried Cor with a grin.
“But of course”
“It’ll be nice to catch up, I haven’t really spoken to here much in nearly six months” said Corbec
No, nor have I,” replied the Paladin, “It just seems the world doesn’t have time for social calls anymore”
“I know what you mean bud, I know what you mean” said Corbec.
“One thing” added Atton.
“What?”
“Your knocking on her door!” said the Paladin with a wide grin on his face…

TO BE CONTINUED