Book One: Chapter Ten

Allora and Adalla stood on the balcony with their silky raven-black hair uncovered and hanging to mid-back in their formless flowing gossamer nightgowns. Around the neck of each was a long necklace with a stone pendant. They were gazing out at the horizon and where the forest obscured the end of the road. Allora was resting her folded arms on a pillow perched on the edge of the balcony. Clouds obscured the stars so the sky was pitch black except for the large red moon. 

“I can’t wait,” Allora said with a grin.

“Shouldn’t they have arrived by now? Maybe they aren’t coming,” Adalla shrugged. 

“They will come,” Allora said with certainty.

“Let’s relax on the bed,” Adalla said before yawning.

“Alright.” 

Allora left the pillow on the edge. Soon after they had got into bed, Adalla fell asleep. Allora was content to gaze at the crackling fire from her position beneath the sheets. A moment after Adalla began snoring there was the sound of a rock hitting their wall outside. Allora popped up immediately with a smile and went to the balcony to look down. There she saw Salbrec and Deikuneist wearing tight fitting cotehardies with pants and hooded cloaks. Deikuneist was wearing red and Salbrec was wearing blue.

Salbrec carefully climbed up the trellis until he reached the top of the balcony where he crawled over and stood tall with a smile and a length of rope slung around his shoulder. 

"Hello cousin,” Allora said.

“Good evening Allora. I trust you are well?”

“Yes, thank you. How did you know it was me? Usually you guess wrong. The necklace Deikuneist gave you was red," he smiled. “I gave Adalla the blue one, and I wore the same color to match.”

"Oh right," she laughed.

“Where’s your sister?” he asked.

“Sleeping, let me get her.”

“Alright, and get dressed, we have a long way to travel, I don’t want you to catch cold,” he said with concern.

“Not a problem,” she said, pulling up her night dress.

“Oh my,” he exclaimed. Underneath her long flowing night clothing she was fully dressed in a tight fitting green top with flowing skirts. White linen sleeves flared out from the elbows that were cut out and trimmed with thin but colorful bands of Deiru patterns.

“What?”

“Oh nothing.” Salbrec blushed.

Allora made her way to the bedchamber and woke her sister. They took only a moment to get ready and go to the balcony where Salbrec was waiting. They each had dark hooded cloaks over their dresses.

“Good evening Adalla,” Salbrec said with a bow.

“Good evening cousin.” Adalla curtsied.

“I'll help you get down by tying this rope around and lowering you," he explained. 

"I don't know..."

"I won't drop you Adalla," he said with a smile.  "I promise," he replied. “So are you ready?"

"Yes," she said hesitantly.

"Lift your arms," he said, and wrapped the rope around her waist and tied it with a square knot. Salbrec lifted her up and set her on top of the balcony wall. "Don't fall off," he warned. Allora stood beside her sister, holding her hand. Aldgageir braced himself against the wall inside the twins' room and wrapped the rope behind himself. "Alright grab onto the rope and lower yourself over the edge slowly," he said.

"Alright, slowly," she warned.

"Of coarse."

She took a deep breath and put her legs over the other side of the balcony, and released her sister’s hand so she could hold the rope. Salbrec slowly lowered her down until she felt Deikuneist's arms around her. He smiled broadly.

"Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome Adalla," he said, setting her down.

"Untie the rope," Salbrec instructed, whispering loudly from above.

"Excuse me," Deikuneist said, putting his hands to her waist and untying the rope. Salbrec pulled up the rope and then wrapped it around Allora. After lowering her down as well, he pulled up the rope, looped it over his shoulder, and climbed down the trellis to meet the others.

"So where are we going?" Adalla asked.

"It's not too far," Salbrec said hopefully. "And the moon is bright, so we shouldn't have too much trouble finding it. Hoods up so no one recognizes us. Let's get moving, or they might start without us."

"Start without us?" she replied. They started walking around the manor, towards the main road.

"Yeah we have something planned. A late party for your birthday, but... well we had to get some friends to pitch in too. A bunch of people our age are meeting at the temple ruins in the forest."

"For our birthday? Why in the quiet of the night?"

"Well…I don’t think our parents would agree to us seeing each other,” Deikuneist said frankly. “And… w-we thought it would be romantic." He handed a hooded lantern to Salbrec who led the way.

"That's..." Adalla began.

"So sweet," Allora smiled.

Adalla glared at her sister, but Allora ignored her. Allora grabbed Deikuneist's hand and set her head on his shoulder. They looked very happy together. Adalla was watching them, not noticing that Salbrec tried to grab her hand. When he reached for it, she just happened to fold her arms at the same time. Salbrec awkwardly brought his hand up and scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile when Adalla looked at him with confusion. When she turned back, Salbrec watched with jealousy as Allora and Deikuneist walked hand in hand down the road. The clouds overhead  briefly covered the moon, plunging those below in darkness, except for the dim light from the lantern. Allora hugged Deikuneist in fear and he put his hand on her shoulder. 

"It's so dark," she said.

"I thought you said it would be bright," Adalla complained.

"The clouds... well I didn't think they'd be out tonight," Salbrec admitted. "At least we're almost there. See the marking?" He pointed to a short stack of flat rocks near the edge of the main road that cast a shadow as they approached with the lantern. "This way," he said, leading their troupe forward.

"What are we going to do when we get there?" she asked curiously. 

"Oh well… we thought-," 

"It's supposed to be a surprise," Deikuneist quickly interrupted.

"Right, sorry. Surprise," Salbrec said with a wan smile.

"You can't give us a little hint?" Allora asked. She squeezed Deikuneist's hand gently.

"No sorry, not till we get there."

"Hurry, let's get to the ruins then," she laughed, running up ahead towards flickering lights with Deikuneist in tow. Adalla and Salbrec chased after them.

"What is it really?" Adalla asked.

"You'll see," Salbrec replied.

As they approached the light they saw a short stone wall lining the thin path which led to a tattered building about 30 feet height. The roof was in shambles and several sections of the walls were cracking. Light glowed from within, out through the broken windows. Deikuneist and Allora stalled near the building, so Salbrec took the lead, walking them to the front. A dark brown horse with a saddle was tied to a tree near the entrance and was nibbling on the grass. Salbrec led them through the open portico entryway that was roughly 20 feet wide and 30 feet long. The ceiling in the entrance was only partially intact, with large gaping holes in the shingles. The front doors to the building had fallen from their hinges and nearly blocked the front passage, leaving barely a four foot high gap. 

They ducked below the slanted doors and entered the main temple, a tall rectangular room with high walls. It went about 100 feet deep and was about half as wide. Tall columns held up portions of the roof and stone benches lined the hall, although some lay cracked and useless. Tenacious weeds that grew between the flat stones on the floor, brushed against their boots and clothing as they walked into the room. Flickering candlelight illuminated various sections of the space. On the far end of the chamber, there was a short wooden table covered in a blue tablecloth on a short dais. Arranged on the table were wooden cups next to a small keg. And next to that was a pie with a lemon garnish on the top. Across the barely lit wall behind the dais, was a large engraving of a nude woman of a perfect figure, holding the world in her hand. Gouges across the stone face obscured her identity. Old writing above her relief was marred by scratches and completely illegible.

In the room were several young people, most likely serfs according to their dress. including a man and woman around Salbrec's age sitting on a bench near the door with a few candles. The young man was looking towards the woman longingly, but she faced the other way with a ruddy complexion. There was a second couple near the right wall holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes. And a third in the darkness of the left back corner, moving beneath a blanket. By herself was a slim woman resting her chin against her hand and nodding sleepily on one of the benches. And finally there was a man in his mid thirties filling a tankard from the keg. He was short, with a high forehead and thick black hair, but otherwise unremarkable.

 Deikuneist nudged Salbrec, pointing with his chin to the corner and the couple beneath the blanket. The woman was lying down and the man was breathing on her neck. Her breasts were bared with hard nipples in the cold air as he put his face down towards them. The blanket slid down further as he pulled down his pants and lifted up her skirts, pressing his turgid cock to her slick hole with a grunt. Then he pulled the blanket back up to cover their licentious actions.

The twins stood behind the young men and did not see the couple caught in the act. Allora tapped Deikuneist's shoulder.

"What are you looking at?" she asked with curiosity, trying to look beyond them. They turned, barring her sight.

"Oh umm…," Deikuneist paused with guilt in his voice. 

"What?" Adalla asked.

"Oh... uh, don't you think this temple is great for your party?"

"Uh, not really. It's all dark and.. falling apart."

"That's the point," Deikuneist said. "Your parents will never look for us here."

"Hey Salby," the man with the high forehead said. He approached confidently.

"Martein, thanks for getting the beer," Salbrec smiled. 

“It took some doing, but I think it will be worth it." He looked towards the twins and held up a ceramic tankard with a nod and a bow. “Happy birthday Meikell twins.” Then he gulped down his beverage greedily. “Salby, you’re going to set me up like we spoke about, yes?"

"Oh," Salbrec's voice dropped to a quiet whisper and he approached closer. He looked back and made sure he wasn't heard as he spoke. "I don't think that's going to work out. She brought this out-of-towner, with her,” he said as he looked at Deikuneist. “How about one of the other women that came? Like Elke?" he asked tentatively, looking at the woman on the bench by herself. Her eyes were half closed as she drank from a wooden cup.

"What?" A flash of anger went across Martein's face. "You said it would be fine. This is what we agreed. I would bring the drinks, you would get Adalla and I would get Allora. You promised to tell her about how impressive I am. That's the whole reason I helped you set this up. You don't want my father to find out do you?" He was quiet enough that the others heard, but still Salbrec looked around nervously.

"Uh… why would you-"

"Don't cross me," he said, his voice suddenly loud.

"Is everything alright?" Adalla said from behind them.

"Yes of course my dear," Martein replied with a large grin.

"Oh you are…" Allora began but couldn't finish her thought.

"Martein," he said with ire.

"Sorry," Allora replied, and shrank in fear.

"I didn't-" he began.

"Don't be so rude," Deikuneist warned.

"Listen young one, don't start with me," Martein replied. He approached pugnaciously despite his shorter stature in comparison to the gangly youth.

"Sorry I don't know you m'lord. We just want to have a good time and start the party, what's the matter?" 

"What's the matter is I want to have fun too. What about me?"

"Hold on, how about you just-" Deikuneist was interrupted.

"Just get us those special drinks you talked about and I'll… I'll explain everything to her," Salbrec said softly.

"Ah the drinks," Martein laughed. "If you get me some alone time," he whispered, licking his lips hungrily. "I'll get the drinks." 

“I’ll try,” he replied reluctantly.

“Do it or else,” he said firmly.

Martein moved towards the back of the room, leaving the others to themselves at the center of the ruins. As Salbrec looked back towards the door he noticed the awkward couple. The woman caught his gaze and smiled sheepishly while she offered a tentative wave. She was attractive with electric blue eyes of a similar color to the twins. She wore a simple ocre-colored dress with a white wimple covering her hair.

Salbrec acknowledged her with a nod of his head but looked away. Deikuneist and Salbrec huddled together, speaking softly while Adalla and Allora clung to each other, holding hands. Adalla looked at her sister with her eyebrows held high.

"Don't look at me like that," Allora said softly.

"I didn't say anything."

"Good, don't. I know what you're thinking."

"I just… regret coming," Adalla said plainly.

"I said don't say anything."

"What are Salby and Deiky whispering about.”

“I don’t know. It’s rude to eavesdrop.”

“Why are we here Allora? This doesn’t look like a party. We don’t know anyone else."

"Deikuneist wanted to come. And I… I wanted to come with him."

"How long are you going to do this?" Adalla asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You can't marry Deikuneist," Adalla whispered loudly.

"I… I know."

"You need to tell him to stop seeing you."

"I… I don't want to get married to Ergast… I l-love Deiky."

"I-I thought as much. And I don't want to get married either. Vuldo isn’t my idea of a handsome man. But we don't have a choice."

Allora frowned.

The young woman that had waved at Salbrec earlier approached him.

"Good evening Master Salbrec," she said with a bow of her head. "You look well."

"Good evening Ainsta. Did you come with…"

"Wentslatz. But we're just friends," she said dismissively.

"I see. Uh, how is your father doing?"

"He's fine." There was a slight pause. "Who did you come with?" she asked with curiosity?

"Oh, Deikuneist," he said with a nod towards the long-haired young man next to him. 

"Deikuneist of the town Kirsgar, son of Etae the Tailor. Hello, pleased to meet you," Deikuneist said with a small bow.

"This is Ainsta of Bausheiv village. She's the blacksmith's daughter. Sorry what is your father's name?"

“Wuldu," she said as she curtsied. "Pleased to meet you, Deikuneist. You're a long way from home."

Deikunesist nodded.

"And these girls are the reason we are here. My cousins Adalla and Allora of Meikell Manor, daughters of Deinmag the Viscount of Wukla."

"Pleased to meet you," the twins said with a curtsy. 

“I t-thank you,” she said a bit flustered as she mirrored their curtsy. “You’re so pretty. I mean you're dresses are. And you are.” Her face was red.

“Thank you. You too,” the twins said together. Ainsta smiled broadly.

“Well… Salbrec, could I get you a beer?” she asked.

“Oh thank you, but no. Martein was going to get drinks for us.” Ainsta and the others looked around, but Martein wasn’t there.

“The beer is just there,” she said, pointing to the small keg sitting on the dais. Then the door in the back opened with Martein and an old man in faded blue robes stepping into the room.

"Ah there they are," the old man smiled as he approached behind Martein. "Such beautiful twins."

"Thank you," they said with a curtsy. The old man had a tray of wooden cups which he held in front of him.

"I brought everyone something special to drink," he said with a large grin, showing a few missing teeth.

"It doesn't taste like beer does it? I don’t like beer," Allora replied.

"Much better," he replied.

"Oh good," Allora said, grabbing a cup.

"One for you too," he said, indicating Adalla.

"No thank you."

"I insist," he replied. "I promised Martein I'd take care of everyone," he smiled.

"Alright," she replied, grabbing the cup with slightly golden liquid. It almost shined in in the redish moonlight. Salbrec and Deikun grabbed a cup as well. "Please try it," he suggested. They sipped tentatively.

"Mmm, sweet," Allora exclaimed.

"I'm glad you like it. Now, if you excuse me I must hand out the rest of these," he said, again with his large grin.

"It's quite good," Salbrec said.

"That old man looks familar," Adalla said.

"Who are the rest of the people?" Allora asked Salbrec.

"Oh sorry, I didn't introduce you to everyone. They're some of my friends from Bausheiv. Why don't you follow me and I'll introduce you to the rest."

"What about what we agreed, Salbrec?” Martein asked.

“In a moment, no need to rush. I’m just going to introduce the twins to the others.”

“Come back soon.”

Deikuneist peered back at the couple that was coupling beneath the blanket. The old man held the cup at the woman's lips so that she could drink while the young man was penetrating her from behind. Deikuneist's eyes were wide. Then the old man gave the young man a large swig next, neither stopping while drinking.

"My friend, the beer from before pales in comparison to whatever that old man just gave me," said a plump young man with cobalt blue eyes as he approached Salbrec.

"Yeah, it's nice and sweet," Ainsta behind him said.

“Wentslatz, you know the twins," Salbrec said with a smile.

"Of course, lovely to see mistress Allora and Adalla.” He smiled and bowed to each of the twins individually. “As beautiful as ever on your birthday.”

“Wentslatz,” they said in unison while they curtsied.

"Actually our birthday was last week," Adalla said.

"I rescind my compliments then," he laughed. The twins looked confused.

"And this is Deikuneist.”

“Son of Etae the Tailor from Kirsgar," Deikuneist said with a bow.

"Ah really? A city-person out this late?" he said with a smirk before bowing. Deikuneist replied with a feigned chuckle.

"Hey let's have a toast to the Birthday Twins," the old man said loudly as he came up to everyone in the center by the table. His tray of cups was empty. "Everyone raise your mead cups to them," he smiled.

"Here here," they said together. Then everyone sipped from their mead.

Another young man tapped Salbrec on the shoulder.

"Hey Salby, we have to do this again next fortnight for my birthday. My father has a few barrels of barley beer that we could tap into. If we’re careful he won't even know we took any."

"Next week is a bit too soon," Salbrec replied with concern.

"Just because I'm not a pretty girl you don't want to join?" he laughed.

"Deiky..." Allora slurred.

"What is it?"

"I... I feel funny."

"It's just the mead," he replied.

"Oh ok," she said, and then she collapsed into his arms.

"She passed out!" Adalla said with shock.

Salbrec and a few others laughed without worry. Deikuneist held her, a wan smile across his face.

"Let me see her," Adalla complained. "Allora, wake up." She shook her shoulder roughly.

"It's OK, she just can't handle her liquor," Salbrec said.

Someone else collapsed. And then another. Adalla felt dizzy as she started seeing double, and then her vision faded to black.

* * *

Adalla woke to a pain on her wrist as she cried out. The old man was cutting her with a sharp blade and her blood was dripping into a ceramic bowl held by Martein. She was tied to the wooden beam along with her sister and several others. The bowl was already filled with a slightly cloudy yellow fluid, but when the blood dripped into the bowl it flashed brightly and then faded back to its original yellow color.

"Excellent," the old man said.

"What are you doing?" Adalla cried. He didn't respond.

On the table in front of him instead of the keg and pie was a ceramic vial, a large paintbrush and a small metal cage that surrounded a red finch. The items for the birthday had all been brushed to the side and lay in a heap on the floor. The man with thick hair and high forehead stood next to the old man.

"Uh… What's your name again," Allora said, noticing the man's face. 

"Martein!" he yelled.

"Why are you helping him?"

"The storyteller will give me what I want. You won't be able to reject me again. And you’ll remember my name."

"The storyteller?" Suddenly Allora remembered where she had seen the old man. He was a traveler that had stopped by their manor home weeks ago and told a story about the Lustful Princess. The storyteller moved to another girl, the one Salbrec had called Elke.

"Ahh," the girl said as he cut her wrist, drawing blood. It dripped into the bowl and suddenly the mixture turned completely clear.

"Ugh. damn. She's no virgin," he said with a sneer.

"What... who... what? What's wrong." Martein asked.

"What is wrong, is that you said you would bring me virgins."

"I... I did," Martein stammered.

“You did not.”

The old man poured out the ceramic bowl and filled it with water from leather waterskin. He closed his eyes and spoke under his breath for nearly a minute when he opened his eyes the water was a cloudy yellow. 

“Let me check the others,” he told Martein, handing him the bowl. He went to Ainsta and looked beneath her skirts, with a candle. She moaned as he spread her legs to examine her.

"Damn you strumpet," he said with a snarl and moved to the next.

“What?” asked Martein.

“Her vorhang is broken,” he said. He moved to the next woman who was tied there and peered beneath her skirt. He came up after a moment with a sour face.

“Well?”

“Broken,” he snarled.

"They… they all told me they were virgins," Martein said.

"Of course they did, idiot. And why would you bring the filthy quim that scrumped in front of everyone?"

"I didn't know she was like that."

The old man sighed heavily with a frown upon his face. Then he placed the bowl on the table and filled it with the last of his water. He began to whisper softly as he closed his eyes. A minute passed and the water became cloudy yellow again.

"Why does it matter so much that they are virgins?" 

"Without blood from enough virgins, the magic will be too weak!" he yelled, pushing Martein to the floor with a grunt. "At least there are these twins. And you are lucky I have more components," he spat. 

"Why did you push me?" Martein asked, standing up with fear in his eyes.

"Because you are a useless dullard," the storyteller replied, as he caught the finch in the cage with a quick hand. He cut of the head with a screach and sqeezed it’s blood into the bowl filled with water. He took one of the ceramic bottles, removed the stopper and spread a small pile of gray dust into his hand. He spread it into the bowl and put the cork back into the bottle. He took the knife and the bowl back to Adalla again, drawing her blood into the bowl with a flash and cry from her lips. 

"Now I'll only be able to maintain the portal for a short time," he said. 

"When will you enchant Allora to me?"

"Be quiet, I need to concentrate." Next he went to Allora and drained some of her blood, it too flashing. "I hope that is enough," he said grimly. The storyteller took a paintbrush and used it to mix the bowl with the blood, water, and powder. He mixed it for quite a while until it started to become thick. Then he used the paintbrush to draw a large circle on the stone wall near the defaced relief of the nude woman. The circle was large, from the floor to slightly higher than he was. He was careful to ensure the line was thick and continuous. While he was doing this the twins were talking.

"Allora are you alright?"

"It hurts," her sister replied, referring to the wound on her wrists that were weeping blood.

"We have to get out of here. Where's Salby and Deiky?"

The storyteller completed the circle after several minutes. Then he took a diamond the size of a small egg from a coinpurse tied around his waist. He laid it on the ground in front of the circle and fell to his knees as he began to chant and whisper under his breath. Deikuneist stirred from his position on the floor and woke Salbrec and the others as quietly as he could.

"The twins?" Salbrec asked with concern, seeing the large circle begin to glow at the back of the temple. 

"They're tied to those wooden beams to the side of the dais. We must save them."

“Don’t look at me, that old man gives me the creeps,” said Wentslatz.

“Then hide behind that broken wall in the back corner, coward,” Deikuneist said with derision.

“I’m not going to get sacrificed for some evil rite. I don’t know about you,” Wentslatz said to the other young men. They crept through the stone benches to the back. Deikuneist and Salbrec ran to the dais, and the young women alighted with relief when they approached.

"Wait who's saying that strange language," Deikuneist said, grabbing Salbrec as they approached. 

“It’s the old man,” Adalla said. He was still chanting on his knees.

“Hurry,” Ainsta said fearfully.

Deikuneist put his hand to his lips telling the girls to be silent. He and Salbrec drew daggers and started cutting free the women starting with the twins.

"Go hide behind the ruined wall with the others," Salbrec explained when Adalla was cut free. She gave Salbrec a hug. He embraced her with a warm smile.

“No time for that now,” Ainsta said.

Salbrec’s cheeks were ruddy when Adalla broke their embrace and ran towards the broken wall. He started next on Ainsta, while Deikuneist finished with Allora. The old man spoke a bit more loudly, and raised his hands.

"The portal drawn with blood to cross great distance, that those may pass without resistance. Cereth may you allow this ritual to please you!” With those final words the diamond collapsed to dust and the portal was set alight with bright blue fire burning across its edges and then going dim. An inky black surface appeared across the portal suddenly. “Come forth servants of Cereth!" he screamed.

There was an eerie wind that blew as spectral grayish-blue figures flew through the portal and around the temple causing the girls to scream. The storyteller looked around with fascination and fanaticism. 

"Yes!" he shouted. But when he saw the others being freed, a frown crossed his face, that was quickly replaced with a cruel smile. "Even if you run, the servants of Cereth will find you and make the worshipers of the arrogant gods pay."

Many of these spirits flew out of the temple and into the darkness of the woods. There was a ghost that flew out of the portal roughly every few seconds. One paused in front of Martein. His eyes lit up with fright as the ghastly specter grinned. It appeared much larger than the other spirits, with long horns. Its spiritual body had huge rippling muscles clad in only a long loincloth and spiked bands around its wrists and ankles. Martein ran and hid. Then the black inky doorway began to waver, but not before a huge wolf head came through. It sniffed the air and growled fiercely. 

"Fareik," Salbrec swore. "Hide with the others," he told Ainsta as he finished cutting her free. "Hurry Deiky, we have to go."

“Almost." Deikuneist cut the final thread. The last young woman began running. Demonic laughter filled the room as the wolf jumped through the black portal and it landed close behind the translucent being.

"Who called forth us from the Sarthan moon?" the horned spirit said with a chilling voice.

"It was I, Gergein ein Douber, Priest of Cereth," said the Storyteller.

"Such a frail body," the specter said with disappointment. "Very well. You will be my vessel."

The storyteller screamed as the devilish ghost pushed him to the ground and appeared to be pulling open his chest. The storyteller's soul was ripped from his body, slowly fading away as the specter plunged into his torso. His eyes fluttered, now completely black.

"Run!" Salbrec ordered the twins, and they did so along with the others to the exit. The possessed storyteller shouted several words in a guttural language and pointed to Allora, who froze and then floated back towards him, glowing in a purplish hue.

"No!" Deikuneist and Adalla cried.

The wolf growled and chased after them as they fled in terror, the possessed storyteller cackling as they ran. They heard a scream and turning briefly around they saw the young man Wentslatz was bit by the wolf on his leg. He pleaded for help as he was dragged away, back towards the dais. The others pushed and shoved through the small space beneath the fallen door to get out.

Adalla tripped as she came out of the hole, and Aldaeir was there to help her up.

"Where should we go?" Ainsta asked.

"Maybe we should split up," someone suggested.

"We can't just run away. What about Allora?" Deikuneist asked Salbrec.

"We... we can't save her, and we need to get Adalla to safety."

"I'll go back," Deikuneist said, pulling out a dagger from his hip. "You keep Adalla safe." He started towards the ruins again.

"Thank you," Adalla said with temerity.

"Deiky wait," Salbrec said quickly. He came to meet him at the entrance and pulled out a rapier from a leather scabbard at his belt.

"Oh thank you, I knew you would not let me go alone," Deikuneist replied

"Uh... no I mean only to give you this," he said, holding out his sword. "That knife would hardly put a scratch in the thick wolf's hide."

"You’re not going?"

"I told you, someone has to guard Ad-"

Just then there was a growl and the wolf stuck his head out of the entrance. Deikuneist pulled Salbrec against the exterior the wall and yelled to Adalla, "Hide behind the trees!"

The others fled into the forest when the wolf slinked out of the tight spot and began chasing them. There were screams of terror as the wolf bit into Ainsta, next to Adalla and ran the other way, back towards the men. The wolf took its leisure to feast on the fallen woman.

"We should get inside to rescue Allora while the wolf is gone," Deikuneist suggested. 

"But it's not safe for Adalla," he retorted.

"True, Adalla come with us." 

She nodded, shaking with fright as they all went back inside. Salbrec and Deikuneist brandished their weapons as they walked quietly into the main sanctuary. The possessed storyteller had tied Allora back to the wooden beam. Then while she struggled he sniffed her wounded hand. Deikuneist and Salbrec stood with their weapons drawn. The storyteller cackled.

"Human children, have you come to die?" he asked archly, his arms opening wide as if to challenge them.

"N..no you are the one to d-die," Deikuneist retorted weakly as he held his knife forward. "Come on Salby, together, go!"

Deikuneist charged and Salbrec stood scared stiff. Before Deikuneist was able to connect with his short sword the storyteller spoke in a gutteral tone beneath his breath and pointed to the young man. A bright flash issued from his hand and Deikuneist was knocked back onto the ground.

"Fool," the storyteller laughed. "You," he said pointing to Salbrec. "Kneel before me," he commanded.

Salbrec's hands shook as he dropped to his knees. From the other end of the dais, Martein skulked, pulling a knife from his boot as he crept behind the storyteller as he tried to stab him, but he tripped and fell at his feet.

"Pathetic wretch," the storyteller spat, pushing the man against the wall.

"Please, no," Martein cried as the old man shoved his knife through his chest with a grin. Martein slumped, dying on the ground as the possessed man dropped him. But then the storyteller's eyes went wide and he looked down. A sword poked through his abdomen. He turned to face his attacker. Adalla stood there behind him, full of fear, having thrust Salbrec's rapier through the old man.

"Arg... I under.. estimated you worms. A mistake I will not-"

Salbrec pushed him roughly against the wall, his head hit with a dull thud in the middle of the circle and he collapsed to the ground. Salbrec gently took the rapier from the now crying Adalla. Deikuneist crawled to his feet and rushed to Allora's side.

"Is he dead?" Adalla asked.

"I have no idea," Salbrec replied. "But we should hurry, the wolf is still about."

With his knife Deikuneist carefully cut Allora free.

"Oh thank you," she said gratefully. Their faces drew close, but there was the sound of growling.

"Hide, the wolf has come back," Salbrec said in a loud whisper.

They got behind a pile of rubble pillar in the back of the temple behind the dais. The wolf sniffed the floor and growled as he approached the storyteller. It nudged him several times to no effect. Then it continued to search the room, muttering in an unintelligible language. As the wolf approached the column it peered around it, but they weren't hiding there. It sniffed the column for a while and then moved on. They had climbed up the ridges on the column, above where the wolf couldn’t see. Allora held tightly to Deikuneist. As the wolf moved away Deikuneist dropped, too tired to hold on. The wolf came for them. They ran back around towards the exit.

"We're not going to make it," Adalla cried.

"Don't say that," Deikuneist replied.

"He's right," Salbrec confessed, as the wolf gained on them.

"Keep Allora safe," Deikuneist replied, falling back and facing the wolf.

"No!" Allora screamed as Adalla and Salbrec pulled her away.

"It's no use," Salbrec replied. They escaped out of the space beneath the fallen door towards the forest.

The wolf slowed as it approached Deikuneist, dripping saliva and it's eyes glowing a faint red.

"Alright, let’s go you bag of fur."

The wolf growled, showing his massive jaws and long teeth. Then it lunged. Deikuneist was lucky enough to dodge right in time. The wolf chuckled and then bit into the flesh of the youth’s arm. He screamed in pain.

The wolf laughed. It lunged again, this time aiming for his torso with its mouth of razor sharp teeth. But it yelped suddenly as Salbrec stabbed into its yellowish eye. Deikuneist stabbed at the furry beast with his knife, cutting into the flank. The wolf slumped, weakened by the critical damage Salbrec had managed to cause on the preoccupied wolf. It managed to bite Deikuneist on the arm again, but he swiped back, cutting the wolf deeply. When Deikuneist stood tall, his knife arm still steady, the wolf howled and then ran away reluctantly.

"Thank you for not leaving me," Deikuneist said with heartfelt gratitude.

"It is what you would have done," Salbrec replied.

Salbrec helped Deikuneist out of the temple ruins. Allora cried as she saw his condition and rushed to him. 

"We need to stop the bleeding," Salbrec said, removing his coat to use it to staunch the blood rapidly seeping from his arm.

"It's not too bad," Salbrec said. "We need to get back to the Bausheiv manor house, you can probably hide in the barn."

"Did anyone else survive?" Adalla asked sadly. She looked around the dark forest for signs of life. The horse that was tied to the tree was missing. 

“I don’t see anyone,” Salbrec said regretfully.

"Let's go to Meikell, I want to clean Deiky's wound," Allora said.

"Yes, let's do that," Deikuneist smiled.

“Alright, I’ll help you walk."

They started making their way back towards Meikell manor. Allora held Deikuneist around the waist as they walked, and Salbrec supported his uninjured arm. Adalla stood off to the side, her brow furrowed and in thought. They were nearing the manor when Allora smiled and said.

"I thought I would lose you.”

"I just wanted to protect you," Deikuneist explained.

"Don't do that again, I can't... I never want to be without you. I love you."

"I love you too. And I'm not going anywhere."

"Stop, just stop," Adalla said angrily as they neared the stables.

"What?" Allora asked.

"You're going to have to leave him," she said flatly. 

"No... no," Allora protested.

“Why?” Deikuneist asked.

"She’s getting married next month."

Allora's face became sad. Salbrec looked back and forth between Allora and Adalla. He opened his mouth a few times, but said nothing. Then they heard the sound of approaching footsteps to the East. From the forest, Salbrec’s sister Suetaera was approaching with Ogunof at her side.

“What are you doing here?” Salbrec and Suetaera said in unison.