[Nerindel]

Zasfal watched with interest as Damodred pulled Sammael away like a young child who was late for supper. As the two men spoke he gathered his thought's, It had been clear in the older mans face that he held no trust towards him and so he shouldn't Zasfal thought. A slight sneer escaped but he immediately adjusted it back to the warm friendly smile of the dandy he was pretending to be.

"Sorry about that." Sammael said with an easy smile. "Damodred thought there was something fishy about you. I told him it was probably because you had come from the harbour. He wasn't brought up well enough to know such personal comments were rude. Now, what were we talking about...?"

Zasfal laughed at Sammael's jest, all the while thinking that he'd have to keep a closer eye on the older man, obviously the brains of the duo. He thought Sammael a fool when he had first seen him, but he was not only a fool but he was arrogant and cocky with it, his old friend had given him good advice and he had not taken it. Zasfal's grin widened and he went on ...

"I believe I was telling you about the time I drank Damrod 'the Mûmak' under the table, then spent the evening in the company of his two lovely daughters. I believe the huge man became a fixture to the Dark Sail inn, out cold for two days they say!" he said laughing heartily, many of the other warrior sneered at his laughter but he ignored them.

A mischievous glint crossed Zasfal's eyes as he spoke, the events he had just recounted had been a bit more messy than he had told then. Damrod had lost to him at a game of cards and Zasfal had unreasonably demanded his daughters as payment, the man had been furious but Zasfal had told him that he would not take his daughters if he could out drink him. Zasfal could still remember the huge mans laugh as he thought him a fool for suggesting that he could out drink 'the Mûmak' so called for the amount of liquid he could hold. But off course Zasfal had paid the innkeeper to fill his mug with watered down ale.

When Damrod had regained consciousness he had vowed to kill him and went from inn to inn enquiring about his where abouts, He also remembered Ghurdans fury at the attention being drawn to the fire spray, "Deal with it " Ghurdan had spat at him and Damrod had been found dead in an alley a week later, the cause of his death had been multiple blows to his head and face with a blunt weapon.


"And what of you! you and your protective friend must have a tale or two to tell?"....

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Meanwhile Ghurdan was growing impatient at being kept waiting, he grabbed a passing Citadel Guard. The stunned guard immediately recognised the notorious captain, but before the man could speak Ghurdan spat at him in a commanding tone "Are we to be kept waiting till the Eye raises on a new day!" The young guard, obviously new to the citadel had managed to compose himself and answered confidently " The red flame and her chosen are preparing for their journey" " enough! when did the ceremony begin?" he broke in. The young man hesitated a little surprised that the sea captain knew of the ceremony "Em, about two hours ago."

"So we will be waiting for the eye to rise on a new day," he growled as he walked towards his crew. "At ease" He cried as he stood before them, He could feel the eyes of the other warriors in the courtyard on his back, but he ignored them and went on "It seems we are to have the honour of camping under the protection of the great eye." Murmurs swept through the crew as to why they were waiting, there was many rumours about what the rituals intaled ranging from human sacrifice to the drinking of their lords blood, Ghurdan walked emotionlessly among his men listening to their thoughts they were all loyal to the eye as was he, he was probably the only man not in the priest hood who knew of the rituals as he had seen many performed but not all some where reserved only for the priests and priestesses like the one he believed the priestess would be undergoing just now.

"You" he grunted at one of his younger men, the young man bolted straight and walked confidently up to his captain, "Aye sir" Ghurdan took a pouch from his pack and threw it to the young man saying "Go to The Dark Sail and tell the innkeeper that I want him to bring as many kegs as the coins can buy to the citadel. The young man grinned as he felt the weight of the coins he held in his hands, much ale would be flowing this evening he thought as he hurried off to the inn.

Ghurdan then turned, the eyes of the other warriors watching the Corsairs every move, he continued to ignore them and opening the large black doors of the citadel he went to the black and red marble hall of worship. the hall was practically empty a few low ranking priest were knelt in front of the Emblazoned eye that hung above the black alter. As Ghurdan knelt before the alter he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder, but he did not react to it.

"It is good to see you here my son" a soft but menacing voice whispered in his ear "You know my allegiances" he spat "I have a gift for you" she whisper, he did not need to look at her to see the twisted grin he knew she would be wearing. She pushed the elven woman that he had brought to the citadel that morning, "Your offering" she hissed.

Without any acknowledgement to his mother he took the woman to the front of the altar, the few priests that were there stood up and made ready to witness the offering. He slowly removed the elven woman's blindfold as she beheld the cruel captain again her grey almond shaped eyes widened with fear, he abruptly turned her to face the eye and ordered her to kneel, she shook her head defiantly so he forced her to her knees.

The old priestess that was his mother silently walked up to the alter and took a small wooden bowl and a red handled, black bladed ceremonial dagger from the alter, she handed the dagger to her son and held the bowl to the woman's fast beating chest. "Behold The Eye, The Master And Saviour Of all!!" she scream with delight as Ghurdan slowly ran the blade across the elven woman's white throat. He held the convulsing body of the elf while his mother filled the bowl with the blood of their victim. "Oh Great One Accept this Offering that we may do your bidding without fail" he said dropping the lifeless body of the elf to the floor.

The two younger priests that had witnessed the sacrifice hurried over to take the body away, bowing respectfully to the older priestess. Ghurdan looked up to see his mother looking at him with her emotionless eyes she pushed the bowl to his lips he drank, the warm sweet taste of the woman's life blood tingled through his body as though her life essence was flowing through him giving him the woman's strength and youth. As his mother took the bowl from his lips he looked at her cold dark eye and just for a fleeting moment he was sure he had seen pride. He grinned as she dipped her long pale finger into the blood and painted an eye on to his chest.

As she place the bowl and dagger back on the altar Ghurdan wickedly asked "You were not chosen for this mission ?" She turned on him sharply but she still held her composure as he knew she would "No I have more important matters to attend" "Yes in the high priests bed chamber, no doubt" he sneered at her, She slapped him hard across the face causing the side of his lip to bleed, he lifted his head licking the blood from the side of his mouth. "You are dismissed" she hissed, he nodded then went back to the courtyard.

He was not surprised to see that it was now starting to get dark and he had arrived back in time to see his men eagerly unloading a cart full of ale, many of the other warriors were also helping them and in the corner of the court yard he saw two tables laden with food, he cocked his eyebrow at the young man he had sent for the ale, but he only shrugged saying " The guards had brought it out!"

He then filled a mug and turning to all present he cried "to the Eye!"
"The Eye!" they all replied lifting their freshly filled mugs.

[ June 16, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]