Book I: Sanction
Chapter 7
The Glamour of Violence
The discouragement that had taken hold of Veli in recent days had increased in the last hours. While he could discuss their doubts and fears with Marus had endured an unpleasant job as a heavy burden to bear constantly on their backs, it was strenuous but not smash finished. Now, forget the comfort I felt acute pain in the hands doing their daily tasks with small Marus had disappeared. The only occupation was filled nights contemplating the ceiling moldings when I could not sleep.
-Marus
can not spend many hours alone and you should rest more, "he had told his superiors," your work at the Temple of Duerghast is more important to attend to our old brother. Naturally, you can visit whenever you want Marus.
Velie had, but it was not the same. The new acolyte Marus was a young man, thoughtful, serious and ambitious that he watched impassively as he was to visit the elderly cleric. The man was not involved in the conversation never even remotely seem interested but broke his silent presence fully the feeling of tranquility, transmitting Marus.
The old clergyman had changed in those few days he seemed anxious and nervous about the release of his new acolyte, spoke in whispers and rambled more than usual. As much as he cared, Veli could not complain about the behavior of the young cleric. The man performed his duties perfectly, Marus did not leave alone for a second, took care of all your needs caring and guessed their needs. He could not be criticized for not listen to the endless ramblings of the elderly. human impatience, he said Velie. Marus possibly, humans also did not realize it. The days passed at a different pace to the race concerned.
Veli hands were covered with pustules that heal and not finish any human has ever complained of the time it took painfully suffering such torture but for Velie that time did not exist. The intensity of the pain persisted daily but had not spent enough time for the pain became a constant in his life, would have to spend at least a year suffer the same torture to feel that suffering was prolonged.
sores that day did not hurt too much, or at least no more than the previous day. The real upset was in his soul, the burden stand on his shoulders was a thousand times before it opened and again the damn cell full of perverted creatures magically had to destroy.
beings were becoming smaller and weaker but was still working just as hard. The infants had a huge zest for life and an incredible passion that it was weakened by the endless night of the prison. The elf sighed. Velia is asked every day how many would be but it was impossible to count. Where did so many children if every day was getting exterminate nearly half a dozen of them? The cell should begin to show clear, sites gaps where the creatures had already gone up in smoke but was not. All the space was still occupied and kept shouting and turning small as the first day.
The clerk looked at the little draconian with tired eyes. How many could be eliminated this evening? The work will require more time and it was becoming increasingly stressful. Velie had spent the morning praying at the Temple of Luerkhisis had been lying at the foot of the Dark Queen and had asked the forces that were missing but the goddess appeared to mock him. Takhisis took pleasure in their suffering and had not granted his grace. His forces were the minimum and the desperate cries of the creatures do not help to relax your nerves.
knelt beside one of them. Each time it was easier your way through the Temple of Duerghast. Became accustomed to this strange feeling that came over him whenever he was entering those dark corridors. The cries of the prisoners in the torture chamber began to seem like a sweet music.
- I hear the whispers of the dead he thought, and I'm getting used to the sound of their voices. There are so terrible.
However, that day the uneasy feeling that his soul was different, something had changed. Velie was a breath of fresh air that came from those walls and the warm breath of those freaks who screamed around him. It was as if someone had left a window open. How absurd. There were no windows in that dark basement. And if any of them enter the sweltering heat of the lava river that surrounded the Temple.
The black walls of the cell that had overheated was certainly an arm underground lava river and managed to spread its heat clearing them by blocks of stone. The solid walls of granite not allowed inside but the fire ate away the foundation and spread its heat through the building to remind them who was there, The Lords of Death that could invade human construction as they wished. Where, then, came from that draft?
was about to leave but declined to say anything and knelt on the floor, trying to concentrate on their task. The steps of the soldier who accompanied him went down the hall. Since I was alone. He stared into the eyes of the creature that tried to bite her hands.
Velie animal ignored the attack and put his hands over his head, the creature was debated furiously at the touch of your fingers. The priest closed his eyes. Do not want to think about air currents and rivers of lava. Had heard rumors of underground tunnels, of course, but the tunnels, if any, were in the bowels of the earth and they do not circulate the air currents.
breathed fresh looking strange that invaded his lungs and found it full of something that he was not entirely unknown. Magic.
The relationship between the clerics of Takhisis and the Black Robes had never been good but still recognize the magic Velie knew when he played near him. Trying to avoid as much as possible and never approached a Black Robe unless I had no choice. He himself had been surprised many times, watching the dark wizards through the distance the same Queen of Darkness put between your servers. Velia was fascinated and at the same time I felt a strange reluctance to those men and women which valued the magic to the wishes of the goddess.
At that time he felt the magical aura surrounding the sorcerers. The magic had taken hold of every pore of those cursed creatures in every crevice of those who guarded walls firm. The beating was around her and only her faith in Takhisis could help him endure the torment he was being subjected. Their prayers flew up to the ears of his goddess smiled with pleasure. He was his hand in the world, he would extend His power and glory throughout Krynn. The magic would end up dying, their ghosts would eventually subject to it, the most powerful among the powerful gods. Takhisis spread his fingers on his priest shields and magic that had oppressed his soul retired though still floating around. The hands of magic around him but could not see, could not touch. Velie opened his eyes and give thanks to his Queen, was again concentrated on his task.
matter how little he liked, much suffering he caused, his duty was to kill those strange creatures who did not like His Dark Majesty. Before him lay a whole cell full of them. Shouted, screaming and kicking. Some might even extend their leathery wings and fly deformed, rose all they could until the invisible chains that bound them pulled. It was time to stop contemplating and start working.
His eyes focused again on the little one who struggled under his hands, without thinking more pressed her fingers against the weak creature's brain and prayed. Instantly she felt comforted, the strength of Takhisis who had been denied during his morning prayers was now with him, beating inside. The power of the Dark Queen would give him strength to perform its task, its darkness will dispel the magical forces invade threatening to disrupt their duty. Velie closed his eyes again to concentrate even more in communion with their God, and not feel the cold magic rubbing his neck, and felt nothing.
was when he felt a chill down her spine. Something hard and very, very cold, leaned on his throat. He heard hurried footsteps and whispers. And a shrill voice shouted in his ear.
- not move, you elf! Velie
obeyed by instinct rather than because they had understood the meaning of words. The concentration that had cost him so broke and slowly get felt the hand of the goddess away from him and lost in the mists of infinity. He opened his eyes and found a steel-gray iris staring at him menacingly.
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"There's no nothing. Thera
no longer bothered to keep silent. His boots had resonated strongly spiked while climbing stairs and turned to go into a maze of dark corridors. His ax jingled as it struck one of the buckles that held her back. His snorts had been getting louder and finally, when following the instructions of the wizard's head they found bloody penetrated into cells filled corridors of prisoners tortured, and were cursing that came from his throat. Astkainteroth guided them to the darkest corridors and even the darkest of the cells and urged them to enter. The medallion around his neck gleamed with increasing force, but there was nothing.
Thera became threatening to head that Ulric had placed carefully on the floor before starting to inspect the room.
- Well? The voice of the dwarf rose more than was desirable. Here there Nothing. No need to look, Ulric. If even the door was closed.
head had previously been a powerful archmage looked around with surprise in her wide eyes.
- had to be here! I swear! I can feel your heart still beating within these walls and feel the medallion also said in their silent language.
-Will the essence but I do not get paid for the witch she snorted Thera. I'm starting to lose patience, magician.
- They must have destroyed them! I'm sure! Those damned clerics have destroyed! No my fault! Spell-head again.
"Nor is our fault," said Ulric Thera turning to the dwarf. If clerics have destroyed can not do anything. We have done everything we got here. The witch will not be angry.
- Do you really think that the witch is not going to get angry? It was a black robe, "said Thera Astkainteroth head pointing. Do you really think? "Well
Ulric hesitated," I have tried many Wizards ...
"Me neither. You know why? -Thera began to raise his voice dangerously. ALWAYS because they are angry. And things never go as they want even though you follow his instructions to the letter. If I work for a magician always charge double. No matter how easy it seems to work. They always end up complicating it. Never work for magicians, Ulric. Avoid them wherever possible. Are more treacherous gully dwarves and more annoying than a hundred kender.
- Can not we bring something? Ulric, "suggested looking around. Evidence that they have been here and this is what we found.
- and could lead? There is nothing here. Thera
fixed his angry gaze on Astkainteroth but the wizard does not cringed at it. Anyway, the wizard was not to blame. The medallion glowed amber witch as he had done since he entered the Temple, that murky, smelly cell was his destiny.
- Any suggestions, head hollow? Astkainteroth
not answer, seemed to be thinking. Can you think independently? Did he remember what he had been before being reduced to being a head move? "They stayed inside knowledge he had acquired when it still had a body and a voice that could make spells?
"I take the head of the witch-ended Thera-and know that we've come this damn temple tip to tip.
The threat was more effective than the dwarf's angry look. Astkainteroth was whiter than it already was, his pupils dilated from terror. Her mouth parted in a silent scream.
- NO!
"I accept tips, warlock.
-The locket is shining, so there must be something around here that contains part of the essence, keep looking. Thera
thought for a moment. Steps were heard moving through the corridor, they carried strong steps the clink of sword crashing against the legs of a soldier and steps weak drawing the rustle of a robe to touch the ground. Ulric slammed the door shut and looked silently at the window in the door.
"It's a cleric whispered Ulric. He is accompanied by a soldier.
The sound of footsteps was getting louder, the priest was coming, and could hear his rhythmic breathing, the haunting sound of a prayer on his lips. It was said that dark clerics walked at will by the Temple of Luerkhisis but did not expect so did the walls of the prison. The guard who was with him watching the shadows behind him. Thera gasped.
The steps continued for several long minutes until they stopped beside one of the cells.
-have entered the cell to the left, 'said Ulric rising again. The cleric had not thrown the hood, was an elf.
Thera-Describe-ordered.
-young, apparently about twenty human years, blond hair and seemed to be thinking about something.
- What do you mean? Ulric
hesitated before answering.
"Well ... not seem to notice anything going on around her.
"Oh, you mean that was in the clouds. Ulric
no reply.
- What about the soldier?
energetic steps of the soldier came back and went long.
-Ulric is up-informed. The cleric has remained in the cell. Thera
again concentrated their attention on Astkainteroth.
- Can we do it?
- Doing what? Ulric asked. Pass-
otherwise by the object that we have to find and has been destroyed.
Ulric's eyes opened wide, the wings of his nose was widened and his bristling mustache would have had if any. Would have liked to shout: These nuts! You're making plans to trick one of the most powerful wizards of Krynn! And you're doing business with a living head! But could not, the words refused to leave his throat. Ulric could not resist. I felt the most intense terror she had felt in his life.
"It will be hard-head was saying that once was Astkainteroth. Ladonna not really know what they are looking for, all the information she has obtained has instilled in those medallions that hang from your neck and look where I have driven. For when he realized the deception and you would be far from here.
"Of course, grumbled Ulric. Something we have killed before. "Shut
Ulric. But she will have some idea of \u200b\u200bthe appearance of that thing, but do not really ever seen.
"An idea ... Maybe. No matter what disguise. I will teach you a spell that will transform anything that has a minimum of essence in the object you are looking for. No problem.
A Thera did not seem like a lot of magician's proposal but did not have many more options. Astkainteroth went on.
-The medallion will tell us what is the proper object. Ladonna not suspect anything, the spell can completely mislead. You are not magicians and they do not know that I'm helping so do not believe you capable of any deception.
"It's true. Come on.
Ulric would have liked to say that it is they were not magicians and would not be able to make any spell for many indications to give them head Astkainteroth. He would have liked to say that, despite everything, there was always the possibility that the witch discovers the deceit. That the temple guard could still catch them and had not yet found a way to escape the temple. It could also have said that it might not would be advisable to rely on the first head that were living. Who had been the Astkainteroth? Why going to help? What did draw from that?
Astkainteroth's head looked at him quizzically from his base, as if reading his thoughts. Would he still be able to spoil elf? Was it his power that attracted them to this kind of tomb where he had been held? Overcoming his revulsion took the wizard's head in his hands again and continued to Thera that he was back in the hallway.
- What?
Thera had stopped at the door of the cell to the left.
-Schisssssssst. Is the elf whispered Thera.
- What are you doing?
"Looks like he is praying. For you see, I can not reach. Ulric
looked to the window and peered inside the cell, he saw the elf cleric kneeling on the floor in front of something that covered with his hands. Had closed her eyes and her appearance was of great concentration. A strange shadow began to loom over him.
- Smoke comes out of his hands! Thera
jumped, startled. Ulric was horrified. Astkainteroth was the only one who sensed that the priest was doing.
- Stop him! You have to stop him "The magician tried to scream but his companions were not looking and not read the words on his lips. Astkainteroth bit hard Ulric's hand that held the young man shook his head involuntarily and the wizard fell heavily to the ground. The magician tried to gain momentum to roll to the door of the cell, but his pronounced nose prevented him from giving full circle. Ulric tried to retrieve the head.
- you want to be quiet! Thera-scolded them both in a loud whisper. This is going to come in handy. I think we have a way out of here.
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