Diran asked. “You seem unaffected.”
The Baroness gave the priest a lopsided smile. “Unfortunately, I am used to resisting the Fury … as are all who serve me.” She nodded to the two guards that had accompanied them. “Do not underestimate my son’s power. After Taran was born, he … his father was gripped by the Fury. My husband was driven to slay me, but enough presence of mind remained to him that he took his own life rather than harm me.” She then looked away from them, as if suddenly embarrassed, and gestured at the door. “I do not have the strength to unbar it. If you wouldn’t mind …”
Ghaji stepped forward. As soon as he slipped away from Diran, he felt the Fury whelm into him anew, but because he knew what to expect—and because of the lingering influence of Diran’s calming touch—he was better able to withstand it this time. With a grunt of effort he raised the heavy iron crossbar then took hold of the door handle. He didn’t open it yet, though. He looked to Diran to see if his friend was prepared to enter the chamber.
The priest looked at Asenka. “I think it best if Ghaji and I go in alone,” he said. Asenka started to protest, but Diran cut her off. “I mean no insult, but we have much more experience dealing with this sort of thing. If we fail to withstand the Fury, we might well end up attacking one another … or you.”
“I’m not afraid,” Asenka said.
“It’s not your fear that’s at issue,” Diran said. “It’s mine. I will not be able to fully devote myself mind and soul to the task ahead ifI’m distracted by concern for your safety. Remain in the corridor and guard the door. If we need you, we’ll call out.” When Asenka didn’t answer right away, Diran added, “Please?”
For a moment, Asenka looked as if she might protest further, but she assented with a single curt nod. “Very well, I’ll remain. But don’t even think of asking me to lower the crossbar while you’re inside. I won’t do it.”
Now it was Diran who looked as if he might protest, but like Asenka, he merely nodded.
“I shall return to the chamber where we first spoke,” Calida said. Her tone was flat, her gaze dull. “Let me know how you fared … assuming any of you survive.” Without further comment, she turned and began shuffling back down the corridor.
The guards said nothing as they took up positions on either side of the door. Ghaji had thought at first that the guards’ impassive silence was just an intimidation act. Now he understood that they were concentrating on resisting the Fury.
“Call if you need me,” Asenka said. She then leaned forward and gave Diran a quick kiss on the lips. “For luck,” she explained.
Ghaji expected his friend to say something suitably pious and heroic, such as
Thank you, but I have no need of luck as long as I have my faith to sustain me
. Instead, Diran simply smiled at Asenka before turning to Ghaji and giving him a nod.
Time to go to work.
Ghaji opened the door and stepped inside. Diran followed and moved past the half-orc, slipping into the room as silent as a shadow, and Ghaji closed the door behind them.
The room was dark, so much so that even Ghaji’s orcish night vision couldn’t make out any details. There were no windows, no candles or lamps. Knowing an attack might come at them any instant, Ghaji drew his elemental axe and willed it to activate. Mystic flames burst into life around the blade, revealing a stone room devoid of furnishings, the only exceptions being a rumpled bedroll in the middle of the floor and a chamber pot that smelled as if it hadn’t been emptied in a while located in one corner. Sitting on the floor next to the bedroll, cross-legged and looking at them with an almost sereneexpression on his face, was a boy who couldn’t have been more than ten. He was completely naked, the flesh of his body crisscrossed with scratches—some scabbed over, some fresh and bleeding—as if the boy had been clawing
The Baroness gave the priest a lopsided smile. “Unfortunately, I am used to resisting the Fury … as are all who serve me.” She nodded to the two guards that had accompanied them. “Do not underestimate my son’s power. After Taran was born, he … his father was gripped by the Fury. My husband was driven to slay me, but enough presence of mind remained to him that he took his own life rather than harm me.” She then looked away from them, as if suddenly embarrassed, and gestured at the door. “I do not have the strength to unbar it. If you wouldn’t mind …”
Ghaji stepped forward. As soon as he slipped away from Diran, he felt the Fury whelm into him anew, but because he knew what to expect—and because of the lingering influence of Diran’s calming touch—he was better able to withstand it this time. With a grunt of effort he raised the heavy iron crossbar then took hold of the door handle. He didn’t open it yet, though. He looked to Diran to see if his friend was prepared to enter the chamber.
The priest looked at Asenka. “I think it best if Ghaji and I go in alone,” he said. Asenka started to protest, but Diran cut her off. “I mean no insult, but we have much more experience dealing with this sort of thing. If we fail to withstand the Fury, we might well end up attacking one another … or you.”
“I’m not afraid,” Asenka said.
“It’s not your fear that’s at issue,” Diran said. “It’s mine. I will not be able to fully devote myself mind and soul to the task ahead ifI’m distracted by concern for your safety. Remain in the corridor and guard the door. If we need you, we’ll call out.” When Asenka didn’t answer right away, Diran added, “Please?”
For a moment, Asenka looked as if she might protest further, but she assented with a single curt nod. “Very well, I’ll remain. But don’t even think of asking me to lower the crossbar while you’re inside. I won’t do it.”
Now it was Diran who looked as if he might protest, but like Asenka, he merely nodded.
“I shall return to the chamber where we first spoke,” Calida said. Her tone was flat, her gaze dull. “Let me know how you fared … assuming any of you survive.” Without further comment, she turned and began shuffling back down the corridor.
The guards said nothing as they took up positions on either side of the door. Ghaji had thought at first that the guards’ impassive silence was just an intimidation act. Now he understood that they were concentrating on resisting the Fury.
“Call if you need me,” Asenka said. She then leaned forward and gave Diran a quick kiss on the lips. “For luck,” she explained.
Ghaji expected his friend to say something suitably pious and heroic, such as
Thank you, but I have no need of luck as long as I have my faith to sustain me
. Instead, Diran simply smiled at Asenka before turning to Ghaji and giving him a nod.
Time to go to work.
Ghaji opened the door and stepped inside. Diran followed and moved past the half-orc, slipping into the room as silent as a shadow, and Ghaji closed the door behind them.
The room was dark, so much so that even Ghaji’s orcish night vision couldn’t make out any details. There were no windows, no candles or lamps. Knowing an attack might come at them any instant, Ghaji drew his elemental axe and willed it to activate. Mystic flames burst into life around the blade, revealing a stone room devoid of furnishings, the only exceptions being a rumpled bedroll in the middle of the floor and a chamber pot that smelled as if it hadn’t been emptied in a while located in one corner. Sitting on the floor next to the bedroll, cross-legged and looking at them with an almost sereneexpression on his face, was a boy who couldn’t have been more than ten. He was completely naked, the flesh of his body crisscrossed with scratches—some scabbed over, some fresh and bleeding—as if the boy had been clawing
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