Five shots later her hands were still shaking. The encounter at the church doors reeled through her mind in a continuous replay of sounds and sensations. Twelve hours before, she had been wracking her brain for any slim chance of forcing a peaceful settlement. Somehow the impossible had been achieved, the cult subdued without a drop of blood spilled.
Where had it gone so wrong?
"Ratotoskr, Ratotoskr"
Their chants enveloped her in river of passion and fear, the mob carried her onwards, with homemade weapons jostling her along the way...
She extended her hand for another drink, palm open.
Her open palms rose into the air, leading the cultists to join their surrendering leader.
The rasping of cloth on glass paused and a bottle opened with a chink. The innkeeper didn't need to ask and he was wise enough to remain silent.
They rustled behind her muttering protests. She couldn't have guessed how many hung back resisting. There were inquisitor's shouting, weapons falling to the ground, and orders rushing between the sides. One moment Sir Heuloix stood beside her, the next moment she could not find him. Eva was moving too fast to follow.
Somewhere to her left a voice lifted, crying out for drilltooth's protection.
The warm glass tapped lightly against her knuckles and she shifted her hand to take it. Over the last ten days, the Forgotten Knight's bartenders had grown accustomed to the dance that her gnarled hands played. His steps were smooth and silent.
"I will have that man, Now!"
It was inquisitor Vidoq's voice, rising above the babble of his mass arrest. Cries of protest rose from the stragglers. Then an explosion obliterated all other sounds.
Briefly she considered asking for the bottle.
Ice cold cobblestones clawed at her hands and knees, rebels screamed, inquisitor's barked orders....
The words were too great of an effort.
Another explosion shook her to the core. Footsteps ran past in every direction, inquisitor's bellowed, some desperate soul set his boot squarely on her left hand, stumbling at she pulled it away. For one moment they tangled in a heap on the icy streets. Then the escaping cultist took flight.
The hot whiskey seared a path down her throat.
"I will have her!"
With those four words Klynzahr's mind froze again. For several moments she sat in a fog of denial and fear, utterly unconscious of the tavern sounds around her. Then sluggishly her mind slid back to a crowd strung to breaking with passion and fear.
"Ratotoskr, Ratotoskr"
The cries washed over her, while her mind struggled numbly to orient itself against the shock. They had taken Eva and six shots later she could not stop her hands from shaking.
Where had it gone so wrong?
"Ratotoskr, Ratotoskr"
Their chants enveloped her in river of passion and fear, the mob carried her onwards, with homemade weapons jostling her along the way...
She extended her hand for another drink, palm open.
Her open palms rose into the air, leading the cultists to join their surrendering leader.
The rasping of cloth on glass paused and a bottle opened with a chink. The innkeeper didn't need to ask and he was wise enough to remain silent.
They rustled behind her muttering protests. She couldn't have guessed how many hung back resisting. There were inquisitor's shouting, weapons falling to the ground, and orders rushing between the sides. One moment Sir Heuloix stood beside her, the next moment she could not find him. Eva was moving too fast to follow.
Somewhere to her left a voice lifted, crying out for drilltooth's protection.
The warm glass tapped lightly against her knuckles and she shifted her hand to take it. Over the last ten days, the Forgotten Knight's bartenders had grown accustomed to the dance that her gnarled hands played. His steps were smooth and silent.
"I will have that man, Now!"
It was inquisitor Vidoq's voice, rising above the babble of his mass arrest. Cries of protest rose from the stragglers. Then an explosion obliterated all other sounds.
Briefly she considered asking for the bottle.
Ice cold cobblestones clawed at her hands and knees, rebels screamed, inquisitor's barked orders....
The words were too great of an effort.
Another explosion shook her to the core. Footsteps ran past in every direction, inquisitor's bellowed, some desperate soul set his boot squarely on her left hand, stumbling at she pulled it away. For one moment they tangled in a heap on the icy streets. Then the escaping cultist took flight.
The hot whiskey seared a path down her throat.
"I will have her!"
With those four words Klynzahr's mind froze again. For several moments she sat in a fog of denial and fear, utterly unconscious of the tavern sounds around her. Then sluggishly her mind slid back to a crowd strung to breaking with passion and fear.
"Ratotoskr, Ratotoskr"
The cries washed over her, while her mind struggled numbly to orient itself against the shock. They had taken Eva and six shots later she could not stop her hands from shaking.
