From alt.pub.dragons-inn Sat Oct 7 11:56:05 1995 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:8765 Path: netcom.com!noc.netcom.net!news.sprintlink.net!connix.com!ajh!ajh From: ajh@connix.com (A. H.) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [FAITH] Chapter 4 - Terms (3/3) Date: Fri, 6 Oct 1995 22:48:17 Organization: Connix - The Connecticut Internet Exchange Lines: 109 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: alain.connix.com X-Newsreader: Trumpet for Windows [Version 1.0 Rev B] FAITH This is the story of Devious Silverblu, a.k.a. 'The Devious Paladin', and a creature that she encountered in the land of fear. It has been a while, but the story is picking up. Cast Delmara Humphrey Aaron aaron@amisk.cs.ualberta.ca Devious Silverblu Ceredwin clben1@giaeb.cc.monash.edu.au Laroo A. H. ajh@connix.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- - This article may only be copied and distributed freely. - This article may not be distributed by any organization which attempts to recover its' distribution costs and/or make a profit. - All other rights are reserved by the authors. ----------------------------------------------------------------- [FAITH] Chapter 4: Terms (3/3) The Paladin folded her arms, eyes lowered. Then she raised her head swiftly, eyes almost blazing. "It...may be that it can...exert some influence," she ground out through clenched teeth "it..." She stopped, rubbed her neck "The test comes again," she whispered to herself, "and not with the one I would have willed it try." The Paladin sighed heavily and forced herself to relax "If I agree to your asking, I will place two conditions upon that asking. You must understand, what you require is...painful for me." She held up a finger. "And I will tell you a little more." The Paladin turned her head away. "The first condition is that you will not have me act against the precepts of Light. Those are simple: I kill no innocent, commit no crime without great need, and I pray where and when I will without being disturbed. The second is...harder." She snarled, showing small, even, teeth. "Should it come to battle, you will do *anything* to get the cloak. I need that garment more than you might imagine. You will not harm the cloak, but render it to me immediately as is reasonably possible." "The cloak is why the creature mimics me in great part; I have invested too much of mysel--no. It can read some of my thoughts through it, perhaps, and open some portals if it has become attuned to the delicate magicks within it. But, and this is more important even than my wish to follow Light, you must not hurt the cloak! The longer it has it...the harder it is for me to resist, Laroo. You cannot imagine the shame." Alarms rang in Laroo's mind, now focusing his thoughts on the Paladin: - 'she needs the cloak, and is willing to do anything to get it.' - 'was he an expendable in this effort?' - 'and who will they be fighting, the One Who Reflects, her, or both?' - 'you have your slave/teacher for a year, pay the price!' - 'greed is good, but stupidity is death, both are constants.' He simply said, "You will have one day out of seven or 4 days out of 28 to yourself for a year which will start immediately after we obtain your cloak and either destroy, entrap or banish the creature." "Also" he said, "I need to clarify your... terms: should I be faced with a decision between the lives of Delmara, innocents, or those of the Light as you say, or obtaining the cloak, which is my priority?" Devious understood well the ways of treachery, and as much as the Way of Light permitted, she fought fire with fire, as her name attested. However, with one question this man had made perfectly clear the difference between the righteous path and the rest. She *knew* that he would not needlessly take an innocent life. In fact he probably did nothing needlesly. A chill ran up her spine. This man would have few self-imposed limitations should he have a purpose, and she was now his purpose. Her heart wrenched.. this man could cause harm, even death, to innocents, Delmara, those of the Light, and any others unfortunate to get caught in this conflict...for her, because of what she needed. A man...a grey soul such as this, *could* never know what anguish he is causing with such a simple question. She recalled the people the One Who Reflects had destroyed, and the visions of her people *all* dead. The last could only happen if she did not recover her cloak. "The cloak," she said. She offered her hand, a strange gesture. "If thou, Laroo, dost agree, than I indenture myself to thee for the period of one year following the defeat of the creature -- and the return of my cloak." Her voice was forced, painful. And her thoughts were not on the beast nor the year that might follow, but on the gold and silver feathered cloak and the secret it contained.