T Lain - The Bloody Eye

As Laud paused, Calmet dared to comment on the archprelate’s revelation. “I knew we were opening up the shrine because it is a place of power. I knew we wanted to make it the center of a revolution, a chance to reinstate the old ways and give freedom to those who honor Gruumsh and all of the old ways. I didn’t know you expected to find anything.”

Archprelate Laud smiled anew with his patronizing smirk. “I not only expect to find that statue, but I expect to restore it using the very gold we’ve been mining here. I not only expect to find that unholy symbol carved into the floor and defaced by our southern conquerors, but I expect to use the same magic to restore that symbol that you are using to open the passageway through pure rock.”

“And the oracle?” asked Calmet, knowing that he was dancing on dangerous ground but unwilling to quit interrogating the hierarch until he found out everything he wanted to know.

“I expect to place the restored statue as a golden tribute to Gruumsh in the center of his symbol. On the day of the solstice, I will open the sanctuary to the sky and let the light fill its unseeing eye. The light will beam forth from the statue and Gruumsh will judge us his worthy servants and lead us to throw off these weak yokes of superstition and forgiveness.”

Calmet must have looked increasingly skeptical during the archprelate’s oration because Laud stood up swiftly at its conclusion and motioned for the cleric to follow him deeper into the cavern. The archprelate ducked down to traverse a passageway with a low ceiling and Calmet followed. When the passageway opened into a wider cavern, Calmet’s solitary eye took in a sunken pit in the center of the room and various forms of men or monsters chained around the circumference. His mouth dropped open in disbelief as he saw the body of a human onto which was grafted four tentacles, each looking like animated rock and adorned with thorny spikes. All four tentacles ended in a mass of thorns. The tentacles writhed and wriggled constantly as though in frantic search for prey. Another being had the body of an orc, but instead of the ugly and familiar gray visage, the torso was topped with a bright blue head that seemed to be nothing but mouth. Indeed, it was a huge, triangular maw formed by three spiny mandibles. When Calmet spotted the rows of shiny black teeth, he remembered similar descriptions of beasts from the ethereal plane, though he had never actually seen one.

Laud pointed to the monsters and said, “These creatures are the soldiers of the restored kingdom. You shall lead my Dark Pride. They were formed for strength and not beauty. You are groomed for leadership and revolution, not the passive docility of Pelor. They shall lead the way against the sun worshipers who stole our land and you shall command them as an unholy warrior plenipotentiary.”

Calmet tried not to look either startled or frightened, but Laud was sensitive to his lieutenant’s misgivings. “Power has many paths. Be certain you do not stand in the way of those who wield more of it than you. Such would be your undoing.” The archprelate’s smile quickly became menacing. “Yes, I know that power unseen is power doubted. Therefore, I have arranged a demonstration.”

At first, Yddith couldn’t comprehend what had happened. Krusk, her shield and safety, the sanctuary she’d refused to leave since he rescued her entire town from the slavers, had done the unthinkable by attacking a priest of Pelor! What’s more, he would certainly have killed Jozan if Alhandra hadn’t recognized that Hassq had charmed the barbarian and sent Jozan off to hide in the woods while the rest of the party distracted Krusk.

Yddith knew little about charms but she supposed that Hassq’s death must have weakened the spell. After they left the orcs’ camp, she, Alhandra, and the surprisingly helpful Qorrg kept asking questions of the barbarian until he simply forgot Hassq’s command to kill Jozan.

After an hour on the trail, Yddith begged the party to stop for rest and asked Krusk to sit by her on a fallen log a few paces off the sparse trail they followed.

Yddith didn’t know how or why, but she sensed that she had the power to help Krusk as she felt it building within her. She placed her hands in the barbarian’s and reveled in the strength as her slender palms and fingers were swallowed by his enormous grip. She held his gaze with her single eye and smiled so that her face sparkled like the emerald that served as her surrogate eye. She spoke in a tone as soothing as a court minstrel’s harp and a soft, green glow danced catlike between the emerald and Krusk’s coal-black eyes.

Yddith neither saw the worried look on Alhandra’s face when the green glow appeared nor observed the paladin reach toward the heavens for discernment. She didn’t know that Alhandra’s god had revealed a taint of evil in the pale, green aura. She merely spoke soothingly to the barbarian, caressing Krusk verbally with the idea that he was incredibly important to her and that she wanted to share the rest of her life with him. She hadn’t even admitted the latter to herself until she said it. For a moment, she wondered if it was true. Then, its rightness washed over her as surely as her words and the glow were washing over Krusk.

Yet, as soon as she was certain that Krusk was susceptible to her suggestions, she averred that Calmet, not Jozan, was the biggest danger to her, as well as the biggest threat to the emerald that Hassq had been trying to protect from Jozan. The last suggestion was an impromptu addition spurred by a glance at Alhandra’s disapproving face. Yddith was quickly becoming aware that the emerald had a power that could reach deep inside her and teach her the ways of sorcery. She could tell that the paladin didn’t approve of what she was doing, and she didn’t want any interference from Alhandra, no matter how well-intentioned.

As Yddith released Krusk’s hands, Alhandra stepped forward.

“I assume you realize that your emerald is evil,” asserted the paladin.

“Is it?” asked Yddith, innately aware that the paladin was correct.

“I’m afraid I detected a taint of evil, even as you worked that spell,” responded Alhandra.

“Glow green!” interrupted Qorrg, “Like Hassq! Bad spell! Qorrg hate Hassq!”

Sensing the conflict, as well as being captivated both by Yddith’s spell and the natural charms she wielded even when he wasn’t under an enchantment, Krusk interposed his big frame between the nascent sorceress and the unlikely duo of Alhandra and Qorrg. Yddith used the opportunity to express her intent.

“I know the gem is fueled by an evil power, but I’m not evil. By Pelor’s grace, I feel that I’m using evil for good.”

Yddith could see that her argument wasn’t convincing to the paladin as Alhandra shook her head and muttered, “Would that I had a gold piece for every soul who believed that!” The paladin backed away from the barbarian and continued, “I will not interfere, but I will tell you as the taint grows stronger. Perhaps, you’ll be wise enough to remove the cursed object before it’s too late.”

Still, Yddith could see that the paladin was not pleased, and she was relieved when Alhandra turned her attention to the half-orc. As she touched Krusk’s forearm, Yddith looked into the barbarian’s charmed eyes with an expression that exuded admiration and appreciation. She realized that some of her overt adoration was a disingenuous way of controlling her protector, but she also decided that much of it was real. She felt safe and content in his presence, something she’d never really experienced before.

She observed Alhandra raising her arms once more in supplication to Heironeous, knowing that the paladin was detecting evil on their prisoner. With amusement, she noticed Qorrg himself edging away from Alhandra when he realized that he was the target of the paladin’s spell.