Chapter 31

The Curse

"Spirits of the dead.", Aselid said. "They cannot go far from their anchor, but a powerful necromancer...", his voice drifted off.

"Anchor?", Marinae asked. "Like the Liquid Shadow?"

"Not liquid shadow.", Aselid said thoughtfully. "Just powerful magic, to extend an anchor so far."

"And those with the gems must be wary, for the ones who wish to have them all will stop at nothing to obtain them.", Aselid added, being careful where he looked when he said that.

Marinae thought of Eliza, in custody, in Levkarest. Surely the spirits would attack her there.

"I must return to Port-a-Lucine to gather my things, but this matter deserves my full attention.", Aselid said.

"I will come with you, then.", Marinae replied.

"It would be a pleasure, Marinae.", Aselid replied.


"Church politics be damned. I'm going to Levkarest.", Marius said, awakening from a long internal debate.

The priest looked around but the others were involved in their own conversations. Then he saw Lynn and went over to the poor girl.

"Eliza is a remarkable woman.", Marius said softly, sitting down beside her.

"She's the fifth prophet.", Lynn whispered.

Marius looked at Lynn quizzically. "Really.", he asked. "But her shield, it was not unique."

Lynn sat silently for a moment. Then she remembered the day when Eliza made the shield for the first time. "I wasn't helping her.", she said softly. "When I help her, there's more."

Marius pondered what Lynn had told him. He thought about the Mists that brought Eliza and Lynn together,  the rings that bound them together, and how their fate seemed to be guided by an unseen hand.

"Together you are the fifth prophet.", the Sentire said with a broad smile. "Ezra works in mysterious ways. We must both go to Levkarest."

Lynn nodded and felt through her ring. Eliza was getting farther and farther away, and the awful feelings inside her were growing stronger and stronger. She tried to fight them, but this time they were stronger than they had ever been, even in the Mountains of Misery. She wondered if she would even be able to save her soul mate when they were reunited once more.


"Are you going via Lady Renier?", Weamar said, coming over to David.

David looked at Weamar, seemingly surprised that there was anyone else in the room. "Yes.", he answered, almost in a daze. He could barely bring himself to think about someone other than Lynn. Her memory was what had kept him going for all those years in Falkovnia. Whenever things had gone wrong he found that he could always give himself that extra push by thinking that he would be together with Lynn once more. Now he would be leaving her, again, and when she needed him the most.

"I'd like you to pass a couple of things on to her for me, if you would.", Weamar explained. This all seemed too familiar to him. "Lady Renier wanted further information about Henri Du Bois. I haven't learned much, but it seems he was in Southern Verbrek after leaving her. It also seems he was my grandfather."

"I'd ask who this Du Bois is, but I don't suppose it's really my business.", David admitted. "I'll pass it on."

"It isn't much, as far as I can see, but maybe it will help her somehow.", Weamar replied. Then he shrugged. "It's a long story, and I only know scraps of it."

"I'm sure she'll appreciate it.", David replied, barely paying attention.

Weamar nodded. "I hope things go well with you.", he said honestly.

David stifled an ironic laugh and said, "Well, I suppose I'll be going then."

"Not what I meant.", Weamar said apologetically. "I'd rather pass well wishes to people privately than publicly is all. What other chance would I get?"

David nodded "I understood what you meant.", he explained. "Its just that well wishes tend to be wasted on me, it would seem. And I need to return to Falkovnia as soon as possible."

"Aye.", Weamar replied. "Then I hope that things go relatively well."

The two men shared a smile.


"Marinae, do you have that ring that I sent you?", Aselid asked.

Marinae nodded. "I think it was giving me nightmares, Aselid.", she explained as she pulled out the ring and gave it to Aselid.

Aselid scratched his beard. "Really?', he asked curiously. "That's never happened to me. Tell me about them."

Marinae sat down and related every frightful detail of her dreams, then told her master that she was afraid to fall asleep.

Aselid listened carefully to everything that Marinae had to say about the dreams. He thought for a moment then asked, "Did you meet anyone unusual in Darkon when you went there last?"

Marinae thought for a while. "The Baron, Shana, and the King. The entire war was unusual, since I'm not a warrior, yet the king had me at his right hand the entire time.", Marinae replied. "He didn't choose his Armsmaster, or the other military people, just an untrained woman."

Then Marinae grinned slyly and added, "Is that unusual enough for you?"

Aselid thought hard. "Before you met the King perhaps.", he said, still deep in thought.

"I would guess, Shana.", Marinae answered. "But anyone of modest Mage-talent could arrange a sleep spell, then impress images upon their victim that would be believed as dreams."

"Yes, but not false memories, that would take powerful magic, and the skill to use it.", Aselid replied. "This, Shana, had you ever met her before?"

Marinae put her fingers to her temples as if warding off a headache. "Never.", she answered. "And I have no idea what is real anymore…this room…for all I know I'm still in a cell in Neblus."

"When did you meet her?", Aselid asked.

"In Court.", Marinae replied. "I was finishing my petition before the Baron. I got the feeling he was about to clap me in irons and have me taken to the prison. Shana stepped forward and pulled rank. Apparently the Kargat are feared even by the Nobles. She was very interested in Kendra. First she forbade me ever dealing with her again, as if I had a choice, then she tried to convince me to deal with her."

When Aselid heard the word 'Kargat' an extremely worried look came over him. "You talked with Shana, a member of the Kargat, and then what?", he asked, growing pale.

Mention of the Kargat had gotten David's and Marius' attention as well and they turned to look at Marinae.

"She treated me to a round or two at an inn.", Marinae replied. "I went to a different inn and bespoke a room, my old knife-trainer stopped by for an...um..." Marinae blushed. "...visit. Then my mother and grandmother visited, a bit later."

"Is that when your false memories started?", Aselid asked.

"How would I know?", Marinae replied. "I know Ellan was...um...real."

"Oh, my, was he real!", Marinae thought to herself.

"It must have been...after.", Marinae continued. "The next morning, after breakfast, Shanna picked me up in a coach and saw me to the Palace."

Marinae thought back. Everything seemed clear up until she stepped out of Shana's carriage on her way to Castle Avernus. Her brow furrowed.

"The Palace!", Marinae gasped.

And now Marinae remembered walking up to castle Avernus, but not the grand fairy-tale castle she had seen before, now it was far more sinister. The walls were draped in dark colored ivy with long sharp barbs lining the branches, and the bones of many fallen soldiers lay about the grounds. Marinae remembered Rambis' reservations but that she had pushed on anyway. She also remembered the castle grounds, but instead of seeing hundreds of noble and spirited soldiers practicing for the next battle she saw row after row of living corpses standing like statues on either side of her.

An army of the dead. The rumors about Darkon were true.

"The Palace...", Marinae repeated as the images flooded her mind. "A city of the dead! It was...it was like...like Il Aluk...the dead...Aselid, while I was heading back to Neblus, every village I passed through boarded themselves in before dark...there were fell voices on the winds at night..."

"Oh dear child, dear child.", Aselid moaned, almost coming to tears. "I should have never let you go back." The aged sorcerer lowered his head. "The Kargat wield great power over the minds of others.", he said slowly. "Their interrogation methods are..."

"Legendary." David interjected.

"Interrogation?", Marinae asked as she sat down, rather hard. She looked up at David, then at Aselid.

"Your last nightmare.", Aselid said, hoping to cushion the blow. "It wasn't just a nightmare."

"The k...king...", Marinae buried her face in her hands. "It was all a lie, then...Drakov still lives, most likely..."

"They try to cloud the minds of those they interrogate with stories.", Aselid continued. "But once you leave Darkon, the truth eventually comes out."

"So how did I escape?", the sorceress asked.

"They wanted you to leave.", Aselid said, scratching his beard. "Perhaps to lead them to your friends."

Marinae looked at everyone. "If that is so...then you are all in danger. Again.", she replied apologetically.

"And that is why we need to destroy the gems.", Aselid said, emphasizing the point again. "But yes. We are all in danger."

"We seem to thrive on it.", Marinae said distantly.

David leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees, head down. He looked very tired.

"Azalin is powerful enough to send his spirit agents so far from Darkon. He is after the gems.", Aselid said. "He has yours, Marinae, and mine, and the book as well. They will pursue the other three, and they will stop at nothing to get them."

"Spirit agents?", Marius asked.

David looked up at the old wizard.

"Ghosts.", Aselid replied. "Two were in this courtroom during the trial. One took the book and the gem out from under Ronaldo's nose. The young man is brilliant, but he has made a very grave error."

Marinae simply stared at her mentor. She had no respect for Ronaldo and wondered how Aselid could feel otherwise.

"We should travel together then.", Marius said. "I can keep the spirits at a distance."

"At least one of us can...I can give them a hot-foot...or perhaps some warm tea...", Marinae seconded.

"I can feel them when they are near.", Tshaya spoke up. "I am Vistani."

"Eliza.", Lynn said softly, knowing that the spirits would be after her too.


A thought came to David as he heard Lynn whisper her lover's name. What would happen if the Kargat got to Eliza? David imagined himself standing with Lynn over a freshly covered grave and watching Lynn's tears falling steadily to the turned earth as he took her into his arms. "I'll take care of you now, Lynn.", he imagined himself whispering as a sense of grim satisfaction settled over him. Finally, Lynn would belong to him.

David grimaced and stood up slowly, banishing the image from his mind. He felt ashamed that he would ever hope for an innocent's death. He knew how much losing Eliza would devastate Lynn and yet he had wished for it.

"Falkovnia.", the young man thought to himself.

Whenever he despised himself he thought of Falkovnia, and Drakov. He though about throwing himself up against a legion of Talons, fighting with his last once of strength before being cut to pieces. That was the way that he wanted to die, and he thought about that far too often.


"Eliza is in danger too.", Marius said. "We must hurry."

Marinae looked at David. "Stop acting like you're not looking forward to more adventures.", she said teasingly.

David looked blankly at Marinae and blinked. Quietly, he said, "I have to go." He shook his head and glanced at the others. "I'm sorry.", he added.

Lynn stayed hunched over, saying nothing. She knew that anything she did would only hurt him more. So she, and the others, let him go.

"You should all stay together, and protect Eliza if you can.", Aselid said to the rest. "The Knights are strong, but there is little that they can do against spirits. I need to go to Port-a-Lucine, but I will rejoin you as soon as I can."

Marinae nodded, disappointed that he would be leaving again so soon. The old wizard looked fondly and sadly down at Marinae. "Forgive me for letting you go back to Darkon.", he said, uncharacteristically showing his feelings towards her.

"You couldn't have stopped me, old man.", Marinae said affectionately.

"We'll find a way to stop them.", Aselid assured his apprentice. Then he put on the ring she had given back to him.

Marinae felt like a fool for telling everyone about defeating Drakov at Azalin's side.

"Kendra is still involved.", Weamar muttered. He was still feeling groggy from belt on the head.

"Who is this Kendra?", Tshaya blurted out after hearing the name again.

"An evil bitch.", Marinae replied, unhelpfully.

"A Drow, a mage.", Weamar answered.

"Is she connected to a woman who is good?", Tshaya asked.

"She healed Eliza.", Marinae said, more helpfully.

"A pair joined together?", Tshaya asked.

"Eliza and Lynn.", Marinae replied.

"But Eliza is not evil, and neither is Lynn.", Tshaya pointed out. "Now I doubt all the fortunes that I was told. I have not changed Petrov's mind either.", she said with a frown. "And the ally I met in Sithicus ran out on me."

Tshaya was angry. Madame Raisa had been wrong three times, and Tshaya decided that maybe that was the Seer's true lesson about fortunes: not to trust in them.

"Just before I was hit, the guard carrying Eliza called me 'Mud'.", Weamar explained.

Marinae looked at Weamar. "Kiri. Another bitch.", she replied.

Weamar nodded slowly.

"Kendra is involved as well?", Aselid asked.

"Up to the tips of her ears, most likely.", Marinae hissed. "I wonder if she's part of the 'treatment' I apparently received."

"Maybe she wants to stop Azalin from getting the gems too, but one never knows what her true goal is.", Aselid said, seemingly speaking from experience.

Weamar looked at Marinae. "Right at the moment I wouldn't take bets on what is real, and what isn't.", he answered, still feeling woozy.

"I am living that reality right now.", Marinae commiserated. "Perhaps one day I will be able to sleep."

"Mind you, now it is probably pointless to tell you of my adventures, since I probably didn't have any.", Marinae added. She was angry and she didn't know who to be angry at, which made her even more angry. "It will take me some time to get sort out, but at least now I understand why Rambis can't eat sausages."

At that Marinae felt a hunger pang. Then it grew stronger. She remembered that she hadn't eaten all day. "I suppose a journey of a thousand miles could begin with lunch at the inn.", she added.

Marius agreed and got up, looking sadly down at Lynn as she slowly rose to her feet. Together, the group made their way out of the courthouse and saw the dwindling crowd in the square. Some of the crowd had gathered to leave town. Some said they were going to Levkarest to see the heretic burn.

The heroes reached the inn with heavy hearts and minds. At the door they were met by a familiar, smiling face.

"Welcome to The Hearth, good fellows.", Adraiss said with a flourish. "May your stay be pleasant and wonderful."

Marinae smiled in greeting, but Tshaya didn't even give him a second look.

"Good day.", Marinae replied, then her mind whirled a little. Hadn't she last left him in Pont-a-Museau? Surely she hadn't imagined that, she thought to herself.

"Hello, Marinae.", Adraiss said, singing her name. Then he looked a little embarrassed and ashamed.

"Is something amiss?", Marinae asked calmly.

"I thought that I'd find you here.", Adraiss said, looking away slightly. "I found out that you were Aselid's apprentice. So I came here. Are you mad?"

Marinae felt some shame herself for having lied to Adraiss about her destination. "No. But I am sorry.", she replied in all honesty.

"If you want me to go I will.", Adraiss said, hoping that she'd say no.

She didn't. "If either of us should be angry, it is you.", Marinae answered.

"I could never be mad at you, Marinae.", Adraiss replied. "Can I show you to one of our best tables?"

Marinae nodded and smiled. She was starting to fall for the young man. She decided that after her adventure in Levkarest that she would return to him and see if what she felt was real. Adraiss lead them to a large round table and took everyone's orders. As he came near, Tshaya looked closely at the young elf. He had her nose. She wondered if he was another one of her step-siblings.

When he left Tshaya turned to Marinae and asked, "Who is that man?"

Marinae tried to explain, but she didn't really know. "Well, he's some sort of Noble, you can tell by his manner and speech. I still haven't determined why he works in an inn let alone why he's in this inn."

"He's in love with you.", Tshaya said.

Marinae nodded, half embarrassed and half excited.

"Do you know his name?", Tshaya asked.

"Adraiss.", Marinae answered.

Tshaya stared at Marinae, stunned.

Adraiss made his way back to the table where he placed each order in front of its respective diner.

"Adraiss Erekholm?", Tshaya asked the young man.

Adraiss nearly dropped the tray as he heard his full name for the first time since he'd left Sithicus.

Marinae reached out to catch the tray.

"Who...?", Adraiss asked slowly.

"Do not fall in love with this man.", Tshaya hissed at Marinae, suddenly angry. "He will betray you, and leave you, for he has no shame."

Adraiss was paralyzed. He stared at Tshaya, confused.

"Natalya.", Tshaya said curtly, trying to jar the man's memory.

"You're her sister?", Adraiss said slowly, then it began to dawn on him.

Marinae watched him closely. "Why am I always falling in love with the wrong men?", she wondered.

Adraiss took a seat at the table and put his head in his hands.

"Why do you treat women like whores?", Tshaya hissed, surprised by her own anger. "You love them and then you throw them away."

"I...I...I loved Natalya, but it just couldn't be. The Raunie would never have allowed it.", Adraiss explained, pulling at his hair. "I left her with a heavy heart. I thought that I'd never love again."

Marinae watched him even more closely, wondering if she would have been his next victim. Suddenly Ellan felt very, very far away. Weamar wondered why people bothered with relationships. From what he could tell they all ended up in heartbreak. It seemed like a waste of time. So he tuned the conversation out and started thinking about Tricco once more. He wondered if there was any way that he could stop it from happening again and thought briefly of Petrov. Then he rejected the idea. He figured that neither he, nor anyone, could ever change the man's mind.

"And the others?", Tshaya said demandingly.

"I wish that I knew.", Adraiss moaned. "I did fall in love again. Many times. But each time something would happen. We'd, we'd, share our love one night, and the next morning I wouldn't love her anymore."

Tshaya looked at him sternly. He avoided her eyes.

"Each time I thought that I'd found the woman who was the one for me, but it always fell apart.", Adraiss said, starting to break down. "It's like..."

"Like you were cursed.", Tshaya finished his sentence for him.

Adraiss lifted his head and looked at Tshaya.

"The Raunie cursed you for what you did.", Tshaya concluded. Her hatred for the Raunie grew even more. How dare she do such a thing? Was there no end to the suffering she would bring to her family, even from beyond the grave?

"But, I never met the Raunie.", Adraiss explained. "How could she...?"

"Did your father, or your father's father?", Marinae asked. "Or even a distant grand-cousin twice removed?"

Adraiss shook his head. "Not that I know of.", he answered.

Tshaya had to think twice.

"Maybe it's no curse. Maybe he's just a little shit.", Marinae thought to herself.

"Can you remove the curse?", Adraiss asked Tshaya.

"I can only remove the curses that I lay.", Tshaya said.

"Natalya was the only Vistani who I had met personally.", Adraiss said. "But that's when it all started."

"What did you say to her?", Tshaya asked accusingly.

"He probably made hearts in her gaspacho soup.", Marinae thought, then had to force back a silly grin.

"Nothing. That I wanted to be with her. That I wanted her to come away with me.", Adraiss replied. "That I didn't want to spend my life with anyone else."

The look in Tshaya's eyes demanded more, so Adraiss continued.

"She said that we couldn't be together more than that one night.", Adraiss said, trying to remember what had happened so long ago. "But she said that she wanted it to last forever. She said that she would love no other, and she wanted me to feel the same way about her."

"'Your love will be mine and mine yours forever', she said.", Adraiss said. Then his eyes grew wide. "She…", he couldn't finish the thought.

Tshaya stared at the handsome elf in horror as it dawned on her what her mother had done. Natalya had cursed him. Cursed him to never love another woman again.

"I guess that she got what she wanted.", Adraiss said, giving Marinae a sad glance.

Marinae didn't know what to think.

"I need to find her.", Adraiss said with a start. "I need to make her remove the curse."

"Natalya is dead.", Tshaya answered coldly.

Adraiss felt sick as the words sank in. He was cursed forever. He stared into space vacantly and then slowly stood up and walked away. For once Tshaya was speechless.

Marinae reached across to Tshaya's hand and squeezed it, once. "Thank you.", she said.

"All magic must be used wisely.", Aselid said. Marius seconded that.