Dead or Alive?, by Pentamere

Published: Dec 31 2007

She wanted to re-read the book of Dark Spells. The answer to Urynmaal was within. It must be. She helped him write it.

The tea on the dusty table in front of her released its fragrant jasmine steam, untouched. It wasn't the taste that calmed her, but the scent of it.

"Mistress?"

Pentamere did not turn around, she for knew who spoke. Instead, she simply extended a hand, her eyes and nose still in the book.

The messenger placed the scroll in her grasp, and she immediately untied it and whipped it open. She expected it to roll from here to the other end of the table, but it was much shorter than she thought. Too short.

"Stay. My response will be brief," she requested of the messenger. She slipped another scroll from her bag and scribbled fiercely, almost knocking over the bottle of ink.

Pentamere gritted her teeth, words slipping.

"Under no circumstance... Sever... face... mask... Coil... Most High...”

"Mistress." It was another voice. It was deeper than the first, and it caused Pentamere to turn around in her chair to set blue eyes upon it.

"The Heart Render has returned the Warpriest to the temple."