McIan
Journeyman
Magnus shivered. He was uncomfortable. He did not know if it was because he was inside the structure which had resisted his initial entry or if it was because he was in the presence of his uncle, a man he highly regarded and respected. He felt ashamed, unworthy, of such surroundings and company. It was if all virtue had forsaken him and he stood naked before chaste eyes that saw through him, penetrating into the darkening recesses of his soul, and heart.
Itannar bade him to be seated and he complied. They sat in a foyer beside a gilded fireplace, the flames therein filled the room with an orange glow and soothing heat. "I perceive you are in the grip of some form of evil... a spell perhaps. Deminatza mentioned the other day that you were unwell, but I did not need confirmation to know that. I apologize for being away for so long. There is no excuse for it. Let me find a way to help you. Can you tell me when all this began?"
He hesitated. Was this something Mahal... Virani... wanted him to say? His mind raced to secure a suitable answer. "Weeks ago," he replied. "I was at the tavern across the way. I met someone. We have been seeing one another frequently."
Itannar gave a brief smile. "You are still very young, nephew. What you do with your private time is your business alone, besides. What I need to know is when did you begin to sense a problem, and what was its nature?"
Magnus scowled. "You ask too much uncle! I don't know what has happened to me. I feel as if all I have known has deserted me. She gives me assurances and comfort. I need her! She needs me! If I am being punished because of some kind of forbidden love, then there's your answer!" he responded, his voice rising.
"There is no need to be upset. Calm yourself," Itannar replied in genteel manner. "This woman. Do I know her?"
Now he really began to fidget. "I doubt it. She is a bar maid. I had rather not say more. What has she got to do with this?"
"That is what I am trying to determine. Think it over. If these symptoms began when you met her, could it be she holds some kind of power over you... more than carnal passions? Does she have a name?"
Magnus bit his lip. He did not know why he was becoming so angry. He sought control. "Her name is Virani… I mean Mahal. She is sister to Alderia, the proprietor."
Itannar nodded. "I know Alderia. I know Mahal. They are recent arrivals. Gypsies. It is good to enjoy diverse company, is it not?" He smiled.
Magnus stood up, clenching his fists. "So, you DO know her as well! Has she yielded her "company" to you also?! Is she not too young for you, uncle?"
"What are you talking about? I was speaking of..."
"I know what you were speaking of!" he fairly yelled. Then, taking a step forward to loom over his uncle, "She is mine, do you hear?! Mine! Keep away from her!"
The loudness of his voice reverberated throughout the building. Both Scar and Deminatza appeared from the portal tile that led to their room. They were shocked to see the two men, one standing, the other sitting, both glaring at the other. "What is going on?" Scar inquired.
Magnus broke the painful silence. "I was just leaving!" he blurted as he headed toward the door. Itannar stood up and moved quickly in pursuit. "Wait! Magnus!"
As Magnus whirled to face his uncle, Deminatza's keen eyes saw what at first seemed to be puncture wounds on his neck, festered and swollen. She stepped closer for a better view. Realization caused her mouth to open and she placed her hand over it. A gasp escaped her lips.
Magnus, alerted to her gaze and the knowledge she had just gained, pulled up his leather gorget to conceal the wounds. With one hand he shoved Itannar away, knocking him easily to the ground. Scar rushed forward, angry at the sudden, unwarranted, attack by a younger man on an older one, but went to help the fallen lest he be badly injured. Magnus gritted his teeth and rushed out the door.
Scar knelt beside his friend whose head was bleeding profusely even as he tried to staunch the flow. Itannar was semi-unconscious, muttering incomprehensibly. Scar turned his head to face Deminatza, a look of disbelief in his eyes. "What in the nine hells just happened?"
Itannar bade him to be seated and he complied. They sat in a foyer beside a gilded fireplace, the flames therein filled the room with an orange glow and soothing heat. "I perceive you are in the grip of some form of evil... a spell perhaps. Deminatza mentioned the other day that you were unwell, but I did not need confirmation to know that. I apologize for being away for so long. There is no excuse for it. Let me find a way to help you. Can you tell me when all this began?"
He hesitated. Was this something Mahal... Virani... wanted him to say? His mind raced to secure a suitable answer. "Weeks ago," he replied. "I was at the tavern across the way. I met someone. We have been seeing one another frequently."
Itannar gave a brief smile. "You are still very young, nephew. What you do with your private time is your business alone, besides. What I need to know is when did you begin to sense a problem, and what was its nature?"
Magnus scowled. "You ask too much uncle! I don't know what has happened to me. I feel as if all I have known has deserted me. She gives me assurances and comfort. I need her! She needs me! If I am being punished because of some kind of forbidden love, then there's your answer!" he responded, his voice rising.
"There is no need to be upset. Calm yourself," Itannar replied in genteel manner. "This woman. Do I know her?"
Now he really began to fidget. "I doubt it. She is a bar maid. I had rather not say more. What has she got to do with this?"
"That is what I am trying to determine. Think it over. If these symptoms began when you met her, could it be she holds some kind of power over you... more than carnal passions? Does she have a name?"
Magnus bit his lip. He did not know why he was becoming so angry. He sought control. "Her name is Virani… I mean Mahal. She is sister to Alderia, the proprietor."
Itannar nodded. "I know Alderia. I know Mahal. They are recent arrivals. Gypsies. It is good to enjoy diverse company, is it not?" He smiled.
Magnus stood up, clenching his fists. "So, you DO know her as well! Has she yielded her "company" to you also?! Is she not too young for you, uncle?"
"What are you talking about? I was speaking of..."
"I know what you were speaking of!" he fairly yelled. Then, taking a step forward to loom over his uncle, "She is mine, do you hear?! Mine! Keep away from her!"
The loudness of his voice reverberated throughout the building. Both Scar and Deminatza appeared from the portal tile that led to their room. They were shocked to see the two men, one standing, the other sitting, both glaring at the other. "What is going on?" Scar inquired.
Magnus broke the painful silence. "I was just leaving!" he blurted as he headed toward the door. Itannar stood up and moved quickly in pursuit. "Wait! Magnus!"
As Magnus whirled to face his uncle, Deminatza's keen eyes saw what at first seemed to be puncture wounds on his neck, festered and swollen. She stepped closer for a better view. Realization caused her mouth to open and she placed her hand over it. A gasp escaped her lips.
Magnus, alerted to her gaze and the knowledge she had just gained, pulled up his leather gorget to conceal the wounds. With one hand he shoved Itannar away, knocking him easily to the ground. Scar rushed forward, angry at the sudden, unwarranted, attack by a younger man on an older one, but went to help the fallen lest he be badly injured. Magnus gritted his teeth and rushed out the door.
Scar knelt beside his friend whose head was bleeding profusely even as he tried to staunch the flow. Itannar was semi-unconscious, muttering incomprehensibly. Scar turned his head to face Deminatza, a look of disbelief in his eyes. "What in the nine hells just happened?"