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Chapter 28
Luminara arrives unexpectedly. Talen is kissing me tenderly and cradling me in his arms. I'm thoroughly enjoying myself as he brushes his moist fingertips over my pectorals and licks my dainty ears. I'm relaxed and relishing the skin on skin feel of our intimacy.
Even though I'm spent with balls aching like a farmer's prized bull, my dick is still partially erect. Tethyr's Teeth...my body probably produced a quarter cup of creamy ejaculate. It's glistening practically everywhere my eye falls on this bed. That's to be expected after days without any sex. Yet, despite my aching, weary body, I feel in another two minutes, I'd be ready for another go if Talen requires it. I need to make sure he's taken care of...it's part of my unsaid promise to him.
Sigh...the things I must do for others never seems to end.
However, my plan to make love to him all day is cut short by her appearance at the door. Although I'm not shy of public displays of affection, her presence as a well-respected priest of my church does have me scrambling for the fur blanket to cover our nudity.
Luminara is wearing a gray robe with fat black buttons. Each one is inscribed with the holy symbol of Tethyr. It's a dagger with hilt facing the sky resting on top of a ring the color of blood. Around her neck depends a holy symbol bearing the same image, only this one is made of gold with the blood done in rubies and the dagger in raised platinum.
I used to own a holy symbol of Tethyr once, but I left it with my belongings back in the dojo of the thieves' guild in Clothol...it used to belong to the Friar who I now understand was no better than the Timeron knights. He used my faith in god as a means to molest my younger self. Although I'm appreciative of my good looks, it's grown tiresome trying to defend them from those who desire pleasure from my body. I'm thankful that I've Talen, who loves me for who I am. Maybe I'll just cover myself up for the rest of my life and only allow Talen to enjoy my beauty.
I'm thankful to finally be in the presence of a woman who is truly devout, and who can call upon the power of Tethyr to be a weapon as well as a blessing.
Luminara is a beautiful woman. Although her purple hair is of a hue that's alien to me, it is gorgeous in its own way and sweeps down over her shoulders like a cascading waterfall of color. She smiles at both of us the way Tethyr smiles at me in my dreams. She doesn't seem to register our nakedness one bit. Instead, her eyes see past our skin, as if admiring the strength within; she must know it is an untapped resource for the church to use in these times of change.
A few seconds later, a man enters to join Luminara in the room. His reaction is different; our naked coupling takes him by surprise, and I can tell by his body posture that he's somewhat uncomfortable with it. Ah...it's Swift. Even in his getup of all white cloth, with a hood about his face to hide everything but his eyes, I recognize him. I knew his handsome form well, because I once admired the way he held himself, even if I disagreed with his policies and actions while we both lived in the thieves' guild.
I'm now indebted to Swift. His green eyes flash knowingly, as if he can pick that thought from my brain. I swallow and ready myself for something that comes difficult to me.
"Swift...I-I owe you an apology-"
"I-it's okay," he interrupts.
I wait with baited breath for him to continue.
"That life's behind us. I learned a lot of things in the past few months." He stares at Luminara with eyes that glitter like emeralds.
Ah so that's it. He has feelings for her.
"I've discovered what it truly means to love Tethyr," Swift finishes. After a pause he says, "Let's just wipe the slate clean, okay?"
I nod. "Well, thanks for saving me."
"You're welcome," Swift says.
"You boys want to follow me?" Luminara asks. "That is, if you're done." She stands sideways and gestures at the open door, beyond which, a cool gray light filters through.
I look at Talen.
When he says nothing I go ahead and stand; he follows suit and our semen and sweat stained fur blanket drops around our ankles. "Should I put on some clothes?" I ask her. Talen covers his groin modestly with one hand. I'm not even going to try. Four hands would be insufficient to cover myself, so there's absolute no point to it.
Swift stares at me for a moment and blinks his eyes in disbelief. "Tethyr's teeth," he swears.
"What?" I ask, a little amused; I know he's staring at my prick, the pink mushroom head hanging down to just shy of the kneecap, and its girth as thick as his wrist. The fact I'm only partially erect suggests it could lengthen even more.
Swift just averts his eyes and says to Talen, "How on Wynwrayth do you manage to accommodate...that...thing?"
I look at Talen who smiles, crinkling his eyes. The boy clears his throat and says, "Lots of lube, relaxation, and to be honest, it hurts some. But what's the difference between pain and pleasure? Kian's a wonderful lover," he says holding my hand. "He takes time, backs out when I need him to give me more time to adjust, and only slides in until I tell him I can't take any more. Trust me, it took some getting used to, but when Kian fucks me it mostly feels indescribably good."
"Fuck an 'A'," Swift says, and then promptly shuts his mouth.
Luminara with absolutely no emotion on her face says, "Your bodies are a gift from God; yours especially Kian Lightfoot. To answer your question, only clothe yourself if you desire it. I'm taking you to a special chamber where you must wash your skin with blessed soaps in preparation for baptism. It may be that you'll save time by remaining naked."
I shrug and Talen, blank-faced, prods me forward with a knuckle.
Swift rolls his eyes just a wee bit but falls in next to me. "With regard to your escape, I may have done the heavy lifting," he explains, "but we came because of Talen and not because of you. He spotted me in the crowd and started talking to me using the cant. I came back here, put together a raid with four other guys, and we broke you out of that church. They're still looking for you, trying to use magic to find you I'll bet. But it won't work here, because this sanctuary exists off magical radar."
"Really?" I look up at the natural stone ceiling and continue to pad barefoot behind Luminara's sweeping robe. The floor should feel cold on my bony feet, but it doesn't. Warmth radiates upward from my fleshy soft soles and puts a spring in my step. I reach out and hold Talen's sticky hand; he limps a little from the brutal fucking he insisted I give him, but he wears a cherubic smile on his face. As we walk along, he lays his head on my shoulder and I kiss his brown hair.
The sound of rushing water gets louder.
We are led into a cavern about a hundred feet across at its widest point. It is awash in sunlight. There's a pool here of swirling water. Above it, a dome of quartz is the origin point for the light. I've no idea what time of day it is; only that it's very bright outside.
"The water here is fed from boiling runoff from the Tempest mountain lava pits. The cold water comes from the jungles around Soulwarden. This place in which you stand is holy ground. It is called the Crucible of Tethyr's Tears. He created it many millennia ago when He sought solace in the aftermath of Inzilbeth's death."
Inzilbeth...Taleta's sister and Tethyr's lover. I recall the story that the Timeron knight told me in the Cathedral of Moh-Dehll. When I think of how She died, I feel a great weight bear down upon my heart. Now I know why this place is named after my God's tears. He must have been very sad.
"The water here is holy to our religion," Luminara says. "It will cleanse your flesh as it has never been cleansed before. It will also cleanse your soul. As high priestess, I command the three of you to bathe in these waters. It is here that I shall baptize you when the Gray Sisters join us in a few minutes. When you're done, I will present the three of you to the Goam Vadu...the chest of death. The vapors of the underworld shall look into your soul for truth. If what it finds is not befitting a Black Dragon assassin, then you will die and your remains shall rot into oblivion."
I gulp along with Talen and Swift. Things just got very serious.
"If your heart is truly devoted to the Gray Walker, have no fear. There's only reward waiting in the Goam Vadu. Now, enter the water. Bathe each other with the sacred soap in the clay jars, but do not allow the bathing to become sexual. Remember, these waters are sacred. In fifteen minutes, I will ask you to emerge."
I kneel before her, as does Talen and Swift. Swift takes off his clothes, revealing the rock- hard and athletic body that I know he possesses. I see now why he is so surprised at the size of my manhood. His is what I've come to know as an average length among boys and about a third the size of mine. Then the three of us take the stone steps into the swirling pool. Steam floats about my head, and the water caresses my skin with a silky smooth touch.
"I'll wash Talen," I say.
Talen nods in agreement and states, "I'll wash Swift, and Swift can wash you."
"That works," I state.
We all take a swim in the pool, then return to the shallow end where the ceramic jars await us. I see three toothbrushes as well, and a paste made from baking soda for us to cleanse our teeth. We all do this first, and when our mouths are polished and smelling of mint, I stand and Swift soaps his hands with the scented unguent before rubbing my skin with his palms. I do the same for Talen, soaping between his butt cheeks, rubbing my smooth fingers over his fine abs. The soap fills the air with a heady perfume, and I feel a great weariness lift from my shoulders. I feel my spirit soar as if walking hand-in-hand with my God.
The ache of addiction is but a memory at this point, swiftly pushed aside by the strong ever present will of God. The holy spirit is an amazing thing.
Swift's hands are soft and luxurious; he quickly works to build up a foamy lather. We all use liberal amounts of the scented oils and slippery soaps. I stand and can't help myself from smiling as Swift washes between my thighs and rock hard cheeks so devoid of actual body fat that they do not touch. Then he cleans my veined monster, even pulling back my lengthy uncut foreskin to clean out all the fresh smegma from the copious ejaculate that didn't make it into Talen's gut. Despite myself, my dick grows semi-hard in his hand and Swift looks up at me with those bold green eyes as my hips unconsciously begin to thrust into his palm.
"Kian, stop it," he says.
"Sorry," I immediately say. "It's a reflex."
My cheeks flush with heat, but I swear he wants to do more.
Talen sighs; I apologize to the boyfriend. Talen's grin shows me he understands; his own prick has grown hard from my washing, and I have to force myself not to jack him off. I sit down in the water so Swift can wash my beautiful feet. He cleans them liberally. All the while I do the same for Talen, and he in turn, Swift. After ten minutes the three of us are reduced to boys splashing and playing in the water.
It's probably the most fun I've had in a while.
Luminara's voice calls us back to the present.
She stands at the edge of the pool. Six other priestesses in black follow in behind her. Each wears a shawl of gray and holy symbols of gold glitter in the light. Their faces are hidden by shadows cast by gray hoods. Luminara enters the pool carrying a bowl made from mother of pearl.
"Follow me to the deep end," she says.
Talen falls in first, then I behind him.
Swift gets out of the water and awaits us. The priestesses step forward and dry his body with a sacred towel. While I wade after Luminara, I note that four strong men in strapping leathers enter the room carrying a huge chest made of wood and bound in iron between them. They set it on the ground and remove the lock. One of the Gray Sisters walks forward and throws open the lid.
Vapor the color of light charcoal spills from within. It begins to roil along the floor as if alive and seeking out things to envelop.
"Your eyes on me," Luminara says, grabbing hold of my chin. "Swift has already been baptized. Now it is your turn."
"Yes, Matron," I say.
The water rises to just under my mouth, and her robes swirl about me. Despite the depth of the floor, the water only comes to her waist. Is she floating? I look down but cannot see her feet. She removes the stopper from a jeweled vial and places some oil on her finger. Then she draws something that resembles a wolf or perhaps a jackal on my forehead. "You will repeat after me," she says. "Are you ready?"
I nod.
"The jackal with the yellow eyes watch over me, for I am his pup, and enter within the fold of those required to protect his church. I listen to His word alone."
I say the words.
"I will always obey the church and the church's designated voice for as long as I shall live. I shall sacrifice without question to the church and for Tethyr's glory. I am no longer my own, but I belong to Tethyr and lease my body and soul from Him for as long as he requires."
I say the words.
"I will love no one above Tethyr. I am allowed to take as many loves as I wish in this life, but He shall always come first. I will pray for my salvation whenever I can, and give an appropriate tithe of my wealth so that the church may prosper."
I say the words.
"If Tethyr choose to take me, I shall acquiesce willingly to his advances. For Gods like mortals also experience desire. Tethyr, I am Kian Lightfoot, and I beseech you to make me whole with your love. I beseech you to take me to your bosom and make me your instrument as you desire."
I say the words.
And then, Luminara, high priestess of Tethyr washes my head in the water by ducking me under for a few seconds. I feel something...like a bolt of lightning...and when I rise, the priestess's eyes widen, and Talen stares open-mouthed at me as well.
"What?" I ask.
"You've got a tattoo," he says breathlessly. "It's one of the most beautiful I've ever seen."
I look as best I can at my body. A gorgeous tattoo of a rose, with lifelike vines winds its way up my left arm to just under my ear where Talen assures me, a silver one blooms on the skin of my throat. I'm fascinated by its color and depth; leaves bear shimmering beads of water but they're not real...only an image on my skin. Fanciful script lies between the leaves, but I can't read it.
"It's incredibly detailed," Talen states. "It looks real...like it will stick me and draw blood with its thorns. And the fine calligraphy...it's your oath, Kian."
"You've been marked Black Dragon Assassin of the Silver Rose," Luminara states. "But you'll not receive all of your gifts until you pass the test of mind and the test of spirit."
I nod, "Yes, Matron."
"Sisters of the Gray Warder," she says taking me by the hand. She leads me out of the shallows until only my feet are covered by water. "Is this man's body worthy to serve the Gray Warder? Do you find any fault in his physical condition? Remember, only perfect men in body may become a Black Dragon Assassin. Does he meet your standard?"
"Yes, Matron," they say in unison.
Luminara places her hand over the silver rose at my throat and says, "I command the gray light of Tethyr to infuse Kian Lightfoot and give unto him the gift of body, which is universal among Black Dragon Assassins!"
I feel a warmth pour through my flesh as the magic takes hold of me.
After a moment, she removes her hand and says, "It is done."
"What was the gift?"
"Your age is frozen forever where it is now. You'll never physically age beyond seventeen until such day as you leave His service. I'm sorry if you were looking forward to old age. But it shall be denied to you for decades, perhaps centuries. In addition, your wounds will heal quickly, and you're dexterity shall be increased ten-fold. You will also be immune to disease and sickness. You are commanded henceforth to eat at least three well-balanced meals a day to maintain your physical shell as worthy of Tethyr when food is abundant. But you may never get fat. You are required to maintain this body exactly as it appears now, and to do everything in your power to keep it strong. Do you understand?"
I kneel before her and bow my head. "I do."
"Then rise Kian and await your brother to join you."
I take my place next to Swift, and we both watch Talen go through the exact same baptism. He says the lines with enthusiasm, and my heart soars as I see a brother born right before my eyes.
The transformation is a miracle. I watch the tattoo appear on his throat. His color is green...a gorgeous emerald rose so lifelike in its petals that I wonder from whence and how it can grow on his flesh. Like mine, the thorny stem winds its way across his skin to the part just above his wrist where it fades to nothingness. There is no way an artist could capture this vibrancy. It blooms as only something can when drawn by the pen of a god. I also become aware that each Black Dragon Assassin shall have his own unique color. I wonder how many of them there are in this world, or if we are the first.
Soon Talen joins me and our trifecta is complete. I note that somehow between then and now, a white rose has appeared on Swift's skin. It's stunning, and I point it out to Swift, but he already knows.
"It sprouted the moment you received yours," Swift states proudly.
As for Talen, my lover's face is positively beaming; his eyes sparkle. I want to reach out and kiss him but am afraid to do so with so many of our church watching us.
The priestesses towel Talen and I dry, and await Luminara who emerges from the water, somehow completely dry already. Perhaps it is an illusion, or she has some magic about her that repels the water from her robes.
She walks over to the chest and motions for us to follow.
"The ranks of the Black Dragon assassins are very small," she says. "Know that you are unique, although I'm forbidden at this time to tell you of others who may have already passed the three tests. You should assume you are first rank, Kian. Swift you are second rank, and Talen is third."
I smile, lifting myself up and down on my toes with excitement. First Rank Black Dragon Assassin sounds like a great title.
She pauses to make sure that we hear her and all of us respond with a loud, "Yes, Matron."
She continues. "Within this vessel is death for those who have no faith. It is called the Goam Vadu." She snaps her fingers and the armored men that brought in the chest leave. A moment later they return with a prisoner being dragged between them. I see he has arrows sticking out of his chest and belly; I realize that they kidnapped the Timeron Knight, Ser Zylander Chezbernon the knight Swift came to my rescue.
He leaves a trail of blood on the floor and screams in agony. A part of me feels sorry for him, but only a part. He's nothing but a rapist, murderer, traitor to his own religion, and pedophile.
Luminara instructs the men to leave him before the huge box.
Zylander looks at me. "You!" he spits. "My men will remember you, boy. When they find you, they'll take revenge for me. I hope they rape you bloody and eat your flesh. This doesn't end here tonight!" he threatens. "Do you know who I AM?!" But what little strength remains in Zy's body after three days of bleeding is not enough to give him any more words. He collapses, coughing, and when it finally stops, he's a pathetic sight with his lips stuck to the wet stone floor.
Such is the fate of the man who would have killed General Calisto and claimed the title for himself.
"I'm afraid that the road DOES end here," Luminara says. "For you. Ser Zylander, you are guilty of committing crimes against one of our own. You would have defiled the body of Kian for your own pleasure and to birth a shadow demon to replace the one that you lost. In our church this carries with it the sentence of death. But a merciful death you shall NOT have for your atrocities to the church of Tethyr, and its helpless boys are well documented. We are glad to have stopped you from destroying perhaps our must handsome young recruit. You should feel so lucky that you tasted his lips before you died. Know that we intend to rob you of your body in death, so that you shall exist as a horrific disembodied and rotting spirit in the Outlands for all eternity, unable to satiate any of your desires in the realm ruled by the Queen of Demons."
"Fuck you bitch!" Zylander says.
She nods at the men and they grab the knight and thrust his arms into the vapors contained within the box. His scream is unforgettable. Right before my eyes, Zylander ages into oblivion, rots, and collapses into dust. His full plate armor clangs upon the ground with a loud ring and the men scoop up the pieces.
"He did not have faith in Tethyr," Luminara says. "Who will go next?"
I step forward immediately. "I will, Matron."
She steps aside and I walk forward to the lip of the great box. I stare into the vapors, trying to see if anything lays hidden beyond them. Then I thrust both of my hands within, fearless, because I know my faith in God is absolute. A blackness swirls about my arms, and I feel something staring into my soul. I see the pair of yellow eyes, and they blink. I hear a whisper in my mind that says, "Thank you for giving yourself to me, Kian. Close your hands and reap your reward."
I do so and feel a suit of armor there under the mist.
I pull it out and the most miraculous suit I have ever laid eyes upon emerges in my grasp.
Luminara holds a hand to her mouth. "You have been given a holy killsuit! It's engineered and forged by Tethyr himself. Miraculous...I think you will find that it fits your naked body perfectly, like a second skin. He told me that He had designed such a thing, but I never thought I'd see it, or the person destined to wear it."
I swallow, checking it out with trembling fingers. It's like a suit of full plate mail, but weighs less than a pound. The helmet has an all glass front. The glass is silver from the outside and clear from the inside. It is perfectly matched to the shape of my head and to my delicate, yet sharply cut features. The whole thing is made from fabulous black corobidian and detailed with silver highlights over the abdominal muscles that comprise the chest, under the arms, and down the legs. The metal pauldrons accentuate my broad shoulders. The metal shod boots have an incredible amount of ribbing for flexibility, and end in actual toes that are meant to cradle my own like molten rubber made solid.
A decorative black shield emblazoned with a silver rose is mounted over my left bicep and rises above the shoulder. The whole thing from head to toe is one indescribably intricate piece of armored technology. Once I'm inside it, I'm sure it will seal tight so that even water can't get inside.
"Is it comfortable to wear?" I ask her.
Luminara nods. "It's made by Tethyr, perhaps one of the greatest craftsmen of the gods. He told me that it would fit perfectly, that it would be no bothersome than a silk shirt for its owner, and that it will keep you safe in all environments. It draws its power from kinetic movement, and he assured me, you would be able to sleep in it, to fuck while wearing it, and to use the bathroom with no difficulty whatsoever. He intended the suit for men to wear; he wanted his boys to be protected for days and months if necessary. You will discover that the killsuit can recycle your sweat and other body fluids for drinking water; it can provide air for you to breathe should you be underwater, and that is only the beginning of its wonders."
I take the suit of armor and step to the side, uttering silent prayers of thanks to Tethyr for his generosity.
Talen steps up to the chest next; he passes easily. The suit of armor he receives exactly matches mine, only with a green rose on the shield and with green highlights on the black metal.
Swift's suit is of course, identical as well. I see that the armor he receives bears the sigil of the white rose. So there we are, the Black Dragon of the Silver Rose, the Black Dragon of the Green Rose, and the Black Dragon of the White Rose.
With the ritual done, we waste no time donning our armor. It straps to my body with the same comfort as rabbit's fur on skin. It is everything that Luminara promised and more. I discover that once I put on the helmet, I can operate the functions of the armor via a tongue and nose pad that sits over my face. The all glass visor gives me 180 degree peripheral vision in all light spectrums including starlight. I can zoom in on details by pressing my nose forward, and can fire cibrian spikes from my armor shod boots to give me traction or to increase damage from a kick. When I speak, my voice has a slightly metallic tone to it and emits from slits around where my chin sits. And I can hear as well as I can without anything on my head.
"The corobidian acts as a superconductor," Luminara says. "Tethyr told me that every movement will result in a thing called electricity. It powers the suit's functions. But to keep you from actually lighting up, you must wear these wrist and ankle bands." She holds up bracelets that look as if made of black flexible rubber. I take mine from her outstretched hands and ready them to slip on once I'm fully armored. "Should you remove them, you will do additional damage in battle because of the lightning that will coil across your killsuit."
I swallow, unable to fully appreciate just how cool a gift this is. I continue putting on the pieces one by one, savoring every moment of the experience. Last, I slip the bands on over my ankles and wrists. I can hardly notice them at all.
"When sweat is not in need of being recycled, the suit will vent your perspiration through the hundreds of joints that comprise your metallic boots. This may mean you leave watery footprints, which shall be the only sign of your passing as I'm sure all three of you boys can pass without being seen."
I nod, agreeing with her. I've never had a problem being silent when I walk...not since I learned how to do it properly from Whistler.
The flexibility is incredible; I feel as if I'm naked.
Two three foot cibrian blades can spring out from a sheath on my left forearm. They are slightly curved and wicked sharp. The rainbow metal sparkles-I've never been so close to something so valuable, so deadly. On my right forearm is a tube that can fire an energy net with incredible velocity. And just as Luminara stated, an almost invisible slit over my anus allows for the passage of feces upon the ground when I squat; it automatically seals shut when I am walking upright via a soft flexible flap. Additionally, my cod-piece can easily be removed to allow me to have sex, or to piss. I'm surprised at how comfortable the cod-piece is too; I note mine is larger than Talen's or Swift's, and it cradles my jewels effectively even if it protrudes outward from the otherwise flat line of my profile. The metal is without a doubt charged with divine magic, able to flex and pull to follow each stretch of my muscle, and it seals right on top of my skin, even following the mold of my ass so that every dimple is accounted for, and every vein highlighted on the surface. Even my nipples show through the black metal, making a protrusion pointing slight down and out from the trapezoidal shaped pectorals that crown my glorious chest.
The armor has a strange effect on my sense of touch. It bonds to the bare skin in such a way that I can actually feel the ground as if I weren't wearing corobidian boots. The same goes for my gauntlets. I can touch a surface and actually feel with more sensitivity than my bare fingers. There's a sensor on the inside glass of the helmet that allows me to vary these nerve impulses to five regions of the armor. There are gauges for breathable air, for filtering out smells, and for targeting should I employ a bow and arrow. There's even one to insert or retract a tube into my mouth for drinkable water when my sweat and urine is on recycle.
"This is incredible," I say, and Talen and Swift both agree. Plus, we look astonishingly handsome wearing the armor. The broadness of the shoulders and the narrowness of the waists lends us the appearance of super soldiers from an alien planet. We are terrifying and magnificent; powerful yet sexy. The armor could easily allow us to pass as the avatars of demigods because we appear so tall, so strong, and so perfectly proportioned. Every aspect of our bodies seems amplified from the ripple of abdominal muscles, to the fine finger-shaped muscles that line our serrates anterior, to the back muscles and curve of our bubble butts. I even have a shallow dimple over the navel.
I am awestruck.
So this is what it means to be a Black Dragon Assassin. This is what it means to be the most elite of the elite. Yet, we have only a third of our power, and I also have no Bloodbane. I can only imagine how grand I shall be when I wield the sword of rogues and can call upon the gift of spirit and the gift of mind, which I believe are unique to each of us. In other words, no other Black Dragon Assassin can choose my gift once I name it.
Finally the priestesses bestow upon us leather utility belts. Mine is black and silver. I buckle mine immediately; it comes with many leather pouches that can contain things I might need for a mission. While I'm playing with it, Luminara drapes a heavy cloak about each of our shoulders that also matches the armor we wear. Mine is black on the outside and silver on the inside. The cloaks have hoods to cover our heads.
Talen pops his visor which lifts out of the way without any noise. I do the same. He's smiling and I take him in my arms and we French kiss, allowing our tongues to play over each other.
"You look so handsome," he says cupping my bottom. I can feel his fingers even through the armor.
"I think YOU'RE the stunning one," I tell him, between licks and nibbles.
"Welcome to the order," Luminara interrupts, and I step away from Talen and kneel before her. Swift and Talen follow suit.
Luminara presents her hand to each of us; I note there is a ring there bearing the holy symbol of our order. "Kiss the ring," she says. "It is how you shall show respect from this day forward to someone of my power and station."
We do so.
"With this ring, no matter how powerful you become, you shall be powerless against the one who wears it. Never make this mistake, for a priest will not hesitate to chastise you should they feel the need to do so. You ARE disciples of Tethyr, but beneath even the lowest of our Order. You are the militant arm of the church, and exist solely to execute those we send you to kill. With this ring, we can make your blood vessels burst, hemorrhage your eyes, and wrack your bodies with such pain; you will be unable to move. THAT is our power. Never forget this. It takes only a thought for us to bring you to your knees. Your god given gifts will never save you from our rings."
"Yes, Matron," the three of us say as one.
"Good. Before I send you out into the night, know that Swift will not be joining you. He has another mission to do this night while you investigate the Preceptor's demesnes in Soulwarden. Your suits of armor will get you past the magical ward that protects the place. Stop at nothing to get to the bottom of who killed the Preceptor of Tethyr; slay anyone that will further your progress to this goal. Once you know, report back to the Gray Sisters or to me directly. Vengeance shall come on rapid wings to those who would cross us."
We all nod at the same time.
"We have one problem: what should we do with the girl?" Luminara asks. "Do you desire her killed?"
I realize that Luminara is talking about Angelaria.
"You have Angelaria? I mean...you kidnapped her as well?" I ask.
"Yes," Luminara says. "Talen suggested we torment her with a hideous undead creature that we have in a holding cell, but I wanted to wait to find out what you desire. Do you wish vengeance on this girl who would have sold you to a hideous rotting thing and cast your god-like body into ruin? Or do you wish for us to set her free?"
I look at Talen, and he says, "She deserves death. She hurt the only one I love in this world. Have the undead thing eat her pussy until she bleeds to death and becomes undead herself." His voice, augmented by the metallic voice box, has a ring of finality to it.
I turn to Luminara and say, "I'd like to speak with her. I think she's angry and probably has a right to be. But maybe there's something there I can salvage. I only kill for Tethyr now, and to do otherwise may cloud my judgment and compromise my ability to serve him effectively."
"Very well," Luminara says. "Your mission tonight is funded by the church. You shall be paid for what you bring back to us. Now follow me to where we detain her. I am curious why you would save her, but I will ask no questions. I shall back your decision, whatever it happens to be."
I shall post Chapter 29 next week. Should Angelaria live or die? Write me with your answer.