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Authors: David Alastair Hayden
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him and rarely did so. She promised herself she would make up with him before they faced the enemy. She couldn't bear to think of anger hanging between them when death came.
A horde of faceless children shuffled toward Jaska. He tried to back away, but Grandmaster Salahn loomed behind him and whispered into his ear: "Kill many, Jaska, so that we may bathe in style tonight." Jaska tried to resist, but his arms moved of their own accord and drew his weapons. Then, even with his eyes closed, he conducted his grisly task.
Hours later, he was in a shallow, marble-tiled pool filled with blood. As he slid between Mardha and Salahn, gasping in orgasm, Zyrella suddenly appeared, chained to a column rising from the middle of the pool.
Mardha left Jaska's embrace and took a scourge from the poolside. She began to whip Zyrella, who with each strike looked increasingly like Mardha, as if mirroring her. Jaska struggled against his master's compulsion but could not move to help her. Bloodied and sagging, Zyrella begged for her life.
Laughing, they showed her no mercy.
Zyrella looked into Jaska's eyes and whispered, "In the name of the White Tigress, help me. I need you."
Pure energy surged from deep within Jaska and shredded Salahn's power over him. Jaska leapt to his feet, grabbed Mardha by the hair, and slung her into Salahn.
Arms stretched out, he shielded Zyrella from them. "I will never again serve you, and I will not let you harm her!"
~~~
Jaska screamed something indecipherable, and his convulsions ceased. His countenance became peaceful, his breathing slowed, and his limbs rested without the slightest twitch. Yet tangible waves of power emanated from him and slid across Ohzikar and Zyrella like a delicate breeze. Then Jaska's qavra blazed to life and eyes like molten gold opened.
Zyrella stumbled back and Ohzikar drew his tulwar.
Jaska glared at them. "Why are you still here?"
"Because," Zyrella answered, "you're our only hope against Salahn."
Jaska donned his uniform. "You should have fled."
Ignoring him, Zyrella said, "A moment ago I detected energies stirring within the qavra you're wearing."
"Yes. I bonded with it, only I did so through intention alone."
"I didn't know that was possible."
"Neither did I. I simply envisioned myself performing the rites, and the ritual worked, even though I didn't physically do anything."
Jaska walked to the mouth of the cave and peered out. "They are near and will find us soon. Ohzikar, take Zyrella and move up the escape route you have planned. Choose the best vantage and use your bow against them."
"I won't be able to see any of them, even if Zyrella gives me darksight. They'll be too far away."
"Trust me, you'll see them."
"You're not strong enough to fight," Zyrella said.
"We have no choice."
"What are you going to do while we escape?" Ohzikar asked.
"What I must. On my signal, circle to the front of the canyon and capture their horses. At most they'll leave one guard with them. I'll rejoin you as soon as I can."
Ohzikar led Zyrella along the ledge and up a narrow, winding path leading out of the canyon. The last stretch required climbing but handholds were plentiful.
~~~
With his darksight activated, Jaska watched his former brethren sneaking toward the cave. He folded his hands together as if in prayer and chanted the spell he needed, one he had never thought he'd use.
At first he was nervous, his voice faltering in pitch, but he quelled his fears by thinking of how his mentor had betrayed him.
~~~
Eleven palymfar crept forward, pursuing the witch the Grandmaster had ordered destroyed. Though brave and deadly, the palymfar feared her. After all, she had apparently defeated Master Bavadi.
Firelight poured from the cave they had scryed from the Shadowland earlier, though only from without since wards had barred them from peering inside. Why the enemy sheltered here, the palymfar didn't know. They guessed they were waiting on
A horde of faceless children shuffled toward Jaska. He tried to back away, but Grandmaster Salahn loomed behind him and whispered into his ear: "Kill many, Jaska, so that we may bathe in style tonight." Jaska tried to resist, but his arms moved of their own accord and drew his weapons. Then, even with his eyes closed, he conducted his grisly task.
Hours later, he was in a shallow, marble-tiled pool filled with blood. As he slid between Mardha and Salahn, gasping in orgasm, Zyrella suddenly appeared, chained to a column rising from the middle of the pool.
Mardha left Jaska's embrace and took a scourge from the poolside. She began to whip Zyrella, who with each strike looked increasingly like Mardha, as if mirroring her. Jaska struggled against his master's compulsion but could not move to help her. Bloodied and sagging, Zyrella begged for her life.
Laughing, they showed her no mercy.
Zyrella looked into Jaska's eyes and whispered, "In the name of the White Tigress, help me. I need you."
Pure energy surged from deep within Jaska and shredded Salahn's power over him. Jaska leapt to his feet, grabbed Mardha by the hair, and slung her into Salahn.
Arms stretched out, he shielded Zyrella from them. "I will never again serve you, and I will not let you harm her!"
~~~
Jaska screamed something indecipherable, and his convulsions ceased. His countenance became peaceful, his breathing slowed, and his limbs rested without the slightest twitch. Yet tangible waves of power emanated from him and slid across Ohzikar and Zyrella like a delicate breeze. Then Jaska's qavra blazed to life and eyes like molten gold opened.
Zyrella stumbled back and Ohzikar drew his tulwar.
Jaska glared at them. "Why are you still here?"
"Because," Zyrella answered, "you're our only hope against Salahn."
Jaska donned his uniform. "You should have fled."
Ignoring him, Zyrella said, "A moment ago I detected energies stirring within the qavra you're wearing."
"Yes. I bonded with it, only I did so through intention alone."
"I didn't know that was possible."
"Neither did I. I simply envisioned myself performing the rites, and the ritual worked, even though I didn't physically do anything."
Jaska walked to the mouth of the cave and peered out. "They are near and will find us soon. Ohzikar, take Zyrella and move up the escape route you have planned. Choose the best vantage and use your bow against them."
"I won't be able to see any of them, even if Zyrella gives me darksight. They'll be too far away."
"Trust me, you'll see them."
"You're not strong enough to fight," Zyrella said.
"We have no choice."
"What are you going to do while we escape?" Ohzikar asked.
"What I must. On my signal, circle to the front of the canyon and capture their horses. At most they'll leave one guard with them. I'll rejoin you as soon as I can."
Ohzikar led Zyrella along the ledge and up a narrow, winding path leading out of the canyon. The last stretch required climbing but handholds were plentiful.
~~~
With his darksight activated, Jaska watched his former brethren sneaking toward the cave. He folded his hands together as if in prayer and chanted the spell he needed, one he had never thought he'd use.
At first he was nervous, his voice faltering in pitch, but he quelled his fears by thinking of how his mentor had betrayed him.
~~~
Eleven palymfar crept forward, pursuing the witch the Grandmaster had ordered destroyed. Though brave and deadly, the palymfar feared her. After all, she had apparently defeated Master Bavadi.
Firelight poured from the cave they had scryed from the Shadowland earlier, though only from without since wards had barred them from peering inside. Why the enemy sheltered here, the palymfar didn't know. They guessed they were waiting on
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