Chapter 36

The Black Widow

The outcome of the battle wasn't looking good. Marinae took a glance back at Frelnikov who seemed to be content with just watching her fight and then she stared back at the last of the three Knights who had gone after her. She was hurt, and bleeding, but the adrenaline rush was keeping her going. She knew that she could finish the last Knight off, but she knew that if any more came after her that she would be in trouble.

Lynn was hurting too. She wasn't injured, her pain was coming through her ring and it was almost intolerable. Marius was holding off the circle of Knights who surrounded them with strong words, telling the Knights that they would feel Ezra's wrath if they were to strike at him. His presence as a Sentire, Frelnikov's magic, and Lynn's reputation for swordplay were keeping nine Knights at bay. But the order to clear the stairs had come down from their sergeant, and they men were growing bolder.

Weamar gritted his teeth as he saw his sword deflect off the lieutenant's shield. The force of Weamar's blow would have been enough to drop the Knight where he stood but a shimmering white aura around the lieutenant's body was giving him strength beyond that of a mortal man. Weamar wondered how he was ever going to defeat him, but he did find one reason to hope. The lieutenant hadn't struck him back. And Weamar wondered if it was because it took all of the Knight's energy to defend himself.

Marinae stumbled down a few steps and then vented her wrath at the third Knight. The young soldier's body jerked violently as the magic arrows tore through his body. Marinae trembled for a moment as the Knight took another step towards her, and then breathed a sigh of relief as he fell.

"Well, this is unpleasant.", the sorceress said, gingerly touching the fresh wounds on her body.

Weamar took a step towards the doors of the cathedral and had at the lieutenant once more. His rusted blade crashed heavily upon the Knight's shield, but once again the white glow shimmered about the Ezran, protecting him from harm. Still, the lieutenant did not attack, and Weamar became more confident that his opponent wasn't able to strike back.

"Let me pass, great evil is being done in Ezra's name.", Weamar said, hoping that the Knight would realize that he couldn't win and would simply give up. But there was no way a Knight of Ezra would let anyone into the Great Cathedral uninvited.

"The Lady is on my side.", the lieutenant said to Weamar, confident that he would find a way to win. He didn't want to call in his sergeants to help him, but evil had to be stopped one way or the other.

"Magic is on your side.", Weamar replied, hopelessly trying to raise doubts in the man's mind. "And unless you cast the spell, you don't know from whence."

"Back away and you will be spared.", the lieutenant fired back.

"Stand aside or come with me. I don't care, but I am going inside.", Weamar answered.

Weamar took another step and delivered a third blow to the lieutenant. Slowly but surely he was moving the Knight out of position. Another such blow and Weamar knew that he would be next to the doors of the cathedral.

"I'm warning you, Marius.", one of the young Knights shouted. "Get off the stairs or else."

"Or else what?", Marius countered. "Do you remember the story of Yakov and the Invidians?"

The Knights knew that story well. Every anchorite did. Ezra's first prophet had opened a church in Invidia and it had attracted so many new converts that the Invidian King was worried that his rule would soon come to an end. The King ordered his men to bar the entrance to the church and so they did. When Yakov heard the news he went straight to the church and demanded to be let in. At first the soldiers refused. But Yakov had Ezra on his side, along with hundreds of Invidian converts behind him, and without a drop of blood being shed the soldiers let him pass. The King quickly fell out of favor and by the end of the year he no longer ruled Invidia.

Lynn shivered next to Marius. She tried to find the strength to fight. "Eliza.", she whispered to herself, but through the ring she could only feel great suffering.

Then, with one thrust, the standoff was broken. Marius stared in disbelief at the young soldier who'd just run him through as he slowly fell to his knees. For a moment no one said anything. The Knights watched as the Sentire clutched at the blade that had been shoved through his body.

"No.", Lynn gasped as she felt Marius fall. She steeled herself against the onslaught that she knew was coming. She still had some strength and she hoped that it would be enough.

Marius knew that the end was near, and as his life flashed before him he saw what his purpose had been. Though he'd never been her formal teacher, he'd taught Eliza all the right things about the church and about Ezra, freeing her from all the mindless dogma that others in the church had tried to force upon her. Now he knew that as Ezra's fifth prophet, Eliza would rise up and lead the church back to the true teachings of the Guardian in the Mists. Marius knew that she would do what he had always hoped would happen, and he died without regret.

Marinae cursed as she saw the Sentire fall, then she looked back at Frelnikov who was still standing back and waiting. She got suspicious and whispered the incantation that gave her magic sight. Her suspicions were correct, Frelnikov was cloaked in an illusion. Marinae put two and two together and then started walking toward the man with a pair of daggers out and ready. She knew who Frelnikov was and she was ready to kill her.

"Oh shit, not again.", Kiri muttered from behind her illusion. "I'm on your side, get it?", she called out.

"Then you had better fucking help us more helpfully!", Marinae shouted.

Kiri looked to her left and smiled. "I have.", she said happily.

Marinae looked to where Frelnikov was looking and at first saw nothing. Then she saw glimpses of a shadow moving her way, quickly. Something around the shadow was obscuring her vision, even her magical vision, from seeing it clearly. Marinae saw the shadow dash past her and quickly climb the stairs. She looked closer and saw the dark outline of a tall, robed figure taking steps two at a time as it closed in on the ring of Knights around Lynn and the fallen priest. Then she saw the shadow raise a hammer into the air and bring it down sharply upon one of the Knight's helmets. Marinae cringed as she heard the Knight's neck snap like a dead tree branch and watched his body drop to the ground in a heap. Another Knight turned to see why his friend had fallen and caught the dark stranger's hammer clean in the face. His lifeless body rolled down the stairs, stopping next to the sorceress. Marinae's mind boggled at the sudden change of events.

"Well, I'm not going to run into combat. I'm a lover, not a fighter...", Frelnikov explained to Marinae, then smiled as he added. "...lover."

Marinae decided that maybe Kiri was here to help, and decided to deal with her later.

"I've never bedded a lawyer.", Marinae replied with just a hint of a sneer. "I do have standards."

"Yeah. Young elves with big cocks.", Frelnikov said with a giggle as Marinae turned and charged up the stairs.

The Knights reacted quickly, closing in on Lynn and the dark figure. Lynn flailed her blades about her but it was all that she could do to keep the Knights around her at bay. Then two more Knights fell to the stranger's hammer and the odds turned in Lynn's favor. Marinae had seen Lynn fight in the courtroom and had marveled at her skill, but the stranger was an even more accomplished warrior, and together the two were making quick work of the Knights. It was like a contrast in styles. Lynn was smooth and graceful, making long elegant strokes with her katanas. The stranger was strong and powerful, smashing through opponents with ferocity and determination. None of the Knights were able to get in a solid blow.

Frelnikov saw the sergeants charging towards the battle and cast a spell at them. They each took a few steps towards the fray and then stopped as their shields flared up around them.

"No you don't. No one gets to Lynn.", Frelnikov whispered. "Except me, and in that sense, yeah."

Kiri nearly got herself distracted.

Marinae charged into battle and blindsided one of the Knights fighting Lynn. The Knight stumbled as Marinae's staff struck his armor and he shook off her blow. The Knight then turned and took a swing at her but the elf was too quick and dodged his blade. In the midst of the fray Lynn was no longer holding back. She couldn't. The pain was growing and she had to end the fight as fast as she could. Instead of disarming the men as she had done in the courtroom, she was landing blows that were drawing blood. One of her victims cried out in agony as he fell, but Lynn blocked out his suffering. The only thing that mattered to her now was Eliza, and she was doing all that she could for her.

"D-d-demon.", one of the Knights stuttered as he backed away from the dark stranger. He'd seen the glowing red eyes and dark face underneath Ilsa's hood and was filled with mortal fear. "It's a Demon! A Demon!", he cried.

The shadowy figure pounced on the frightened man quickly, kicking his legs out from under him as he tried to turn and run. The Knight fell hard and the impact knocked his helmet off. But the dark warrior showed no mercy and brought her hammer down hard on his skull, shattering it like a ripe cantaloupe and splattering blood all over the white marble steps.

Weamar drove the lieutenant back another step and the lieutenant was becoming nervous. He called out for help from one of his sergeants, but they were too busy fighting off Frelnikov's spells. Weamar backed away from the lieutenant and tried for the door. He pulled hard with one hand but the doors must have been barred from the inside. He thought that he might have been able to break them open if he used both arms, but the lieutenant came at him and he didn't have the time.

Frelnikov cast another spell on the sergeants who were once again immobilized as they resisted the lawyer's magic. The dark stranger bashed its way through two more Knights who couldn't get up the stairs and out of the way fast enough. Marinae swung her staff missed wildly, causing her to stumble on the steps, and the Knight she'd missed saw the opening and tried to take advantage. But Lynn foresaw what was about to happen and knew that she had to act fast to save her friend. In desperation she leapt forward and swung her purple katana at the Knight. Marinae gasped as the Knight raised his sword high and then saw his head separate from his body. She stared at the fountain of blood spurting out of the cropped Knight and wondered if it was a sin to puke on a church

Weamar saw the lieutenant swing and he tried to grab his sword out of the air. But while the ranger's strength was super-human, his agility wasn't, and the blade caught him hard across his chest, piercing his armor. The lieutenant's cut had drawn blood, but Weamar was tough and he pressed on undaunted. Weamar lunged at the lieutenant and reached for the sword again. The second time he was fast enough, and he found himself holding fast to the lieutenant's magical sword. The lieutenant grunted as he struggled against Weamar's might, but Weamar was too strong and the ranger twisted the blade out of the Knight's fingers.

Marinae felled the last of the low ranking Knights as Lynn collapsed before her, clutching at her ribs and back. Marinae couldn't see any blood on Lynn and could only imagine what was happening to Eliza that would cause her such suffering.

"They're all yours.", Frelnikov shouted as he dropped his spell.

The two sergeants looked at the shadowy figure nervously. But they were defending the Great Cathedral and so they were determined fight to the death. The stranger aimed to oblige them, slowly walking up the steps towards the two Knights. Then the dark figure engaged the two sergeants in mortal combat. But these two Knights were more skilled than their younger counterparts and in the first exchange no one landed a solid blow.

Frelnikov started to climb the stairs. "Ya got 'em?", he said to the dark stranger who did not reply.

The sergeants fought back hard, but soon their shields began to wear down and the dark stranger had the advantage. It didn't look like the fight would last much longer.

"Yeah, you got 'em.", Frelnikov said as he watched the battle.

Lynn rose to her feet and slowly followed Marinae up the stairs to the doors. Marinae saw Weamar pull the lieutenant's sword away and then punch him straight in the face. Again the white glow flared around the Knight, protecting him, but his shield was getting weaker. The lieutenant staggered back and threw down his metal shield, preparing for hand to hand fighting. Weamar didn't want to kill him. He admired the Knight's determination. But it was beginning to look like he had to.

"Finish them.", the dark stranger hissed at Frelnikov.

"Oh, yeah.", Frelnikov replied. He pulled out a nasty looking dagger and began to slit the throats of the fallen, but not finished, Knights.

Marinae turned and saw what Kiri in disguise was doing. She didn't like it, but considering that she was ready to do the same thing before the stranger arrived, she did nothing to stop her. The dark stranger then launched a series of blows that sent both sergeants backwards, clutching at painful bruises. Still, they fought to defend the church of Ezra from the foul being before them.

The lieutenant grimaced as he heard the sounds of his men's bones breaking. But he had sworn an oath, and he aimed to uphold it, even as Marinae joined the fight against him. The lieutenant fought back courageously, dodging Weamar's powerful swings and delivering one of his own, but Marinae's staff landed on his wavering shield, weakening it further.

Lynn cleaned and sheathed her katanas. She knew that she couldn't fight anymore, the pain was too great. "Hurry.", Lynn gasped as she leaned up against the wall of the cathedral for support.

The dark stranger finished the two sergeants with two final blows. The sickening sounds of the impact were heard, and felt, by everyone.

Weamar tried one last time to get his point across "Your chain of command is corrupt. Your orders are invalid.", he said futilely.

"Stand down...and live.", Marinae added. "You have fought bravely, with honor...but we will enter the Cathedral. We must, if lives are to be saved."

"As long as I live and breathe I cannot allow you inside.", the lieutenant insisted.

The lieutenant lunged at Weamar one last time, but instead of knocking the ranger to the ground, he caught Weamar's fist on his chin. The Knight's knees buckled and he fell to the floor. Weamar looked down, wondering if he killed the man, but noticed that he was still breathing.

Weamar moved back to the door problem and muttered, "Half right."

Frelnikov and the dark stranger joined Weamar, Marinae, and Lynn at the doors. Weamar looked at the dark stranger for the first time. He recognized the hammer. It was the woman he saw next to Kendra when he watched the meeting with the Green man. The dark stranger nodded towards the fallen lieutenant and Frelnikov approached him with the knife.

"No.", Marinae protested. She admired the Knight's spirit, and didn't want to see him die.

"This is for your protection.", the dark stranger said to Marinae. "They have seen you with me."

Marinae could see Ilsa's red eyes glowing inside her hood. It was a Drow. Another Drow. A tall Drow, standing six feet high.

"Weamar? Lynn?", Marinae asked, hoping for some support.

"They will surely hunt you all down if they are allowed to live and tell the tale.", the Drow added.

Frelnikov had his knife at the lieutenant's throat. He waited to see if Marinae protested any more. Marinae sighed and nodded. She knew that the Drow was right. Ilsa nodded and Frelnikov cut. Marinae sobbed and turned away from the waste of a good warrior.

"Now what?", Weamar asked, giving the doors a firm pull and having no success.

"Okay, who's got the key?", Frelnikov asked with a smile.

Ilsa hefted her hammer.

Frelnikov laughed, then said, "Wait, I think I can get us in." He cast a spell and then walked up to the door, placing his head against the doors and closing his eyes.

"Aha.", the lawyer said. Then his voice changed. "Open the door.", he whispered.

Weamar was reminded of another Drow who could control men's minds. "Kiri?", he asked as he looked at Marinae. Marinae nodded in return, hating every moment that she had to let the Drow sorceress help them.

Soon they heard a bar sliding across the door and then the doors opened. An astonished altar boy was looking at them, and didn't turn to run. Marinae closed her eyes, in anticipation of the Drow dealing with the child as she had the Knights.

"Okay, now lead us to...", Frelnikov said, trying to remember. "...ah, the catacombs."

The bewildered altar boy nodded, turned, and headed for the stairwell.

Marinae opened her eyes and followed, relieved that her fear wasn't realized but didn't look forward to the possibility of the child being slaughtered once he was no longer useful. The group walked quickly through the grand worship chamber of the Great Cathedral. Weamar, Marinae, and Lynn remembered being there before, a year ago. For a place of solace, Marinae mused, the church always seemed to be full of death and pain.

Ilsa looked at the statue of Ezra and then all around her at the grand worship chamber of the Great Cathedral. The statue of Ezra stood at the fore of the chamber, beatifically watching over the pews, while the vaulted ceiling was lined with monstrous gargoyles, symbolizing the Legions of the Night, which cowered away from the Lady's glorious power. Ilsa's eyes fixed on a pair of statues near one corner of the chamber who represented the Drow as scrawny, weak, and duplicitous. Her red eyes narrowed as she gritted her teeth and clutched at her hammer.

"We're here to do a job, remember?", Frelnikov whispered to her. "We can desecrate everything later."

Ilsa wasn't about to shirk her responsibilities, but seeing the statues brought back horrible memories of the Ezran crusade against her people. She bristled but obeyed.

"Yeah, desecrate. Like, fucking on the altar.", Frelnikov added as he eyed Marinae playfully.

Marinae ignored Frelnikov, bitterly trying to block unpleasant memories Jonathan out of her mind.

The altar boy obediently lead them down a spiral staircase into the catacombs. Then he stopped at the bottom where many passages led in all directions.

"Okay, now lead us to the...prison? Dungeon?", Frelnikov asked.

The altar boy looked at him confused, but Weamar wasn't. He could see tracks in the dust. There were recent footprints leading towards a far corridor.

"Lynn...?", Marinae asked.

"She's close.", Lynn gasped. Tears were running down her face.

"What's down here?", Weamar asked, starting to follow the footprints and pointing at them for the others' benefit.

"Crypts.", the altar boy replied. "The Dilysnias."

The group followed Weamar as he followed the tracks down a few corridors to the door of a crypt. The crypt's door stood open and Weamar could see a row of prison cells beyond it. Weamar took a step past the door and looked into the prison cells as he moved down the row. Two of the cells had haggard looking men in them and two were empty. The final one was opposite another corridor heading off to the right. From that direction he could hear the feint cries of a young woman and the laughter of another. Weamar moved faster towards the cries and laughter.

Just behind Weamar, Marinae could hear the cries as well. She thought of all the women who liked tormenting things and assumed that Kendra was somewhere up ahead. But with Kiri and Ilsa at her back she knew that she was doomed if the Drow lay before them. Instead she hoped that she'd find someone else.

When Weamar rounded the corner he saw a guard watching something through bars which lined the passage's right hand wall. Weamar motioned for the others to stop behind him. They did.

"Who sent you?", Vasile's angry voice called out from the other side of the bars.

Eliza let out another anguished cry as her refusal to answer the High Seeker's question was punished. Lynn doubled over at the same time and the hideous laughter of the other young woman echoed through the hall. Weamar charged forward down the hall towards the guard who was too engrossed in what he was watching to hear Weamar coming. But instead of taking him out, Weamar ran straight past him, leaving Marinae looking at the surprised man.

"Impetuous human....", Marinae muttered and went through her mental list of incantations.

"The ones who you are protecting are not worth the pain.", Vasile called out.

Eliza moaned pitifully, her will finally broken. "I'll tell you.", the young woman surrendered. "Please stop. Please. I'll tell you."

"Hey you!", the guard called out after Weamar. He drew an ax and chased after the ranger.

Marinae reacted quickly and ran after the guard. Lynn staggered after Marinae and Frelnikov passed her. But Ilsa stayed near the end of the hall out of sight. This was a stealth mission, and she was only going to get involved if things went very wrong.

Marinae glanced through the bars as she chased the guard. On the other side of the bars she saw a chamber lined with rugs and Eliza, groaning in pain, locked into a chair in the center of the room. Torchlight flickered brightly from the room and she could also see five other figures around Eliza. One was an old but spry and muscular man who was standing behind the chair with his hand on a metal crank. Another was a beautiful young woman who was standing in front of Eliza, a few yards away, laughing at the helpless young woman. The third was a man dressed in elegant red robes and wearing the distinctive mitre of the Praesidius. He sat next to Vasile Topa, the High Seeker, who was dressed all in black. And standing next to the Praesidius was Petrov, who watched the proceedings without any emotion crossing his face.

The beautiful young woman heard the commotion and rushed to Eliza's side. The man standing next to Eliza drew a rapier and pointed it towards Weamar who vaulted down the flight of stairs and landed briskly at the bottom. The guard followed Weamar down the stairs with Marinae and Frelnikov behind him. Lynn had collapsed to her knees after spotting Eliza through the bars and stared down at her in agony. Petrov put his hand on his sword and took a few steps towards Weamar, stopping next to the woman threatening Eliza. His face was unreadable. Eliza's eyes finally fell upon Weamar and she greeted him with an expression mixed with relief and pleading.

"Stop!", the young woman next to Eliza shouted. "Or Eliza dies!"

Everyone froze.

"No!", Lynn's voice cracked as she cried out. "Noooo!"

Weamar looked at the beautiful woman and couldn't see anything in her hands. But he knew that that didn't mean that she couldn't make good on her threat.

"Which means that you do too.", Weamar replied. "Killing her accomplishes nothing for you."

Hearing Lynn, Eliza turned her head and saw her through the bars above her. "Lynn!", she called out.

"What in Ezra's name?", the Praesidius asked as he turned his head to see what was going on.

Marinae was at the top of the stairs, trying to decide who was the greater threat to Eliza, the old man at the crank man or the laughing bitch. She decided the former was the danger, but realized her magical energies were almost depleted. She knew that it wasn't going to be easy to save her friend. The guard clambered down the stairs but stopped short of Weamar. Then the chamber went silent save for the cries of the two joined women.

Half-delirious from the pain of the chair forcing her spine into an unnatural shape and breaking her ribs, Eliza repeatedly moaned Lynn's name, crying fitfully.

Lynn stared through the bars crying. "Let her go.", she whimpered.

Weamar could barely keep still. "Okay, so I've stopped. What now?", he asked.

The beautiful woman ignored him. "So, that is Lynn is it?", she said mockingly, looking up at the kneeling woman. "How sweet. You've come to rescue your true love."

"Please let her go.", Lynn moaned. She was too weak to fight. She was almost too weak to move.

Everything seemed frozen in time and everyone seemed to be obeying the young woman and letting her speak. Weamar wondered how such a young woman could be in charge. Then it hit him. He was looking at Ivana Boritsi, ruler of Borca. He stopped wondering if he was in over his head and started wondering by how much.

"Don't worry Lynn, I'll release your lover.", the young woman said, almost maniacally. "And then you'll be in the chair next, telling us all about the agony in your heart when you felt Eliza die."

"Please don't hurt her, please.", Eliza begged. Ivana was close, and she could almost touch her, but her body was broken and she could barely move. Without Lynn's strength flowing into her through the ring, she knew that she would already be dead.

Marinae summoned her magical vision and looked around the room. The pair next to Eliza seemed to be glowing brightly with a powerful magic aura. The Praesidius and the High Seeker also glowed, but not quite as brightly. Petrov's armor, shield and sword also glowed. And Eliza also glowed faintly, as if there was something magical inside her. Marinae didn't like the odds.

"You, go up and join your friends.", the young woman commanded Weamar.

"And if I do, what happens to Eliza?", Weamar asked.

"If you don't, I'll kill her.", the woman replied, grinning as if drunk with power.

"No, please no.", Lynn begged as she choked on her tears.

The old man with the rapier took a step towards Weamar. "You heard her!", he barked.

"Yes, I figured that bit out.", Weamar replied.

"That's Ivana Boritsi.", Frelnikov whispered to Marinae. "And her cousin Ivan. They rule Borca."

Marinae nodded, and realized that they were going to need some help. She glanced back at Ilsa who was keeping out of sight and wondered just what Kendra's game in all this was.

"Are these are the ones from the courtroom?", Vasile asked Petrov who nodded in return.

"But if I do leave you'll kill her. Perhaps much more slowly and painfully than if I stay.", Weamar countered, hoping for an opening. He knew that he was strong enough to push past the old man and pull Ivana away from Eliza, but he didn't think that he would be fast enough to keep Eliza from harm.

"I'll do it quick if you leave.", Ivana replied with an evil grin. "I promise."

With that Ivana grabbed Eliza's hair and pulled her head back, causing both her and Lynn to shriek with pain. Ivana delighted in the pain that she'd caused and pulled even harder. Eliza's gasped as the sudden movement sent new waves of pain through her already broken body.

"So, quick if I stay, quick if I go?", Weamar said, inserting logic where it wasn't going to do any good. "You aren't really making it worth my while."

"Got a fricken comedian.", Ivan sneered. "You die if you stay you backwoods goat-humper."

"What can my magic do against those wards?", Marinae asked herself, thinking about the magic surrounding Ivan and Ivana. "And if I throw steel, one of them could get it and use it on Eliza, as if they need a knife to kill her."

"What do you want?", Lynn moaned.

"Ah, good. Finally someone with some sense.", Ivana said with false graciousness. "What do I want, now that's really the only important thing now isn't it?"

Weamar decided to change gears. He looked at Petrov with his hand on his sword and wondered if he had any thoughts of using it against Ivana. Weamar decided to play on those feelings.

"What are you doing with this filth?", Weamar said, looking Petrov directly in the eyes.

"Weamar, I would ask you the same.", Petrov replied. "You are the only one of Eliza's 'acquaintances' who I have any respect for."

Ivana glared at the young Knight for ruining her moment.

"You can't possibly think this is right, Petrov?", Weamar asked.

"And what of me, Petrov? Have you forgotten that I saved your life?", Marinae perked up. "Perhaps I should take it back."

Petrov pointed at Marinae. "You defended their ungodly union. And I have paid you back by sparing the life of the witch.", he replied. Then Petrov looked at Weamar. "In the end, Ezra's will is done."

"You have paid no debt to me.", Marinae shot back. "You have become the lowest sort of scum, trying to defend those who would destroy someone you love. You asshole, Petrov. If you have a shred of honor left in you you would fall on your sword, or take it up beside us as you once did."

"Or are you even a man?", Marinae added and gave Petrov the sort of disdainful look only a woman could pull off.

Petrov didn't even look at Marinae. His face remained impassive.

"I thought it was Ezra's will that Eliza be revealed as the next prophet?", Weamar said, hoping that he was getting somewhere.

At Weamar's question, Eliza sobbed anew.

"She is a fraud. We have seen it.", Petrov countered.

Weamar gritted his teeth and quickly switched gears. "When did Ezra's will include the torture of women?", he pointed out. "When did Ezra's will involve the razing of towns?"

"Ezra's will has always been the destruction of the Legions of the Night.", the Knight replied.

"And the humans at Gladehaven?", Weamar added.

"Sympathizers.", Petrov said coldly. "Just as you are in supporting this fraud."

"Think about that word, Petrov. Why would humans 'sympathize' with werewolves?", Weamar said, hoping that he could land one solid philosophical punch. "Why wouldn't I sympathize with someone you're treating more cruelly than a rabid dog?"

"Fear.", Petrov answered.

"Fear doesn't engender sympathy, Petrov. Respect does, though.", Weamar fired back, sensing that he was getting close. "Perhaps you confuse the two?"

Petrov didn't have an answer. Weamar kept on him.

"You can't do a right thing the wrong way, Petrov. You know that.", Weamar added.

Petrov knew that respect, duty, and love for The Lady weren't the only things that were keeping him in line. And he knew that following those things lead him to different thoughts and actions then those which the church had been ordering him to do. He knew that love was stronger than fear, and he didn't agree with the church when it tried to force its will on others. That was the one thing that he would change if the church was his to control.

"Enough!", Ivana erupted. "Leave now or she dies!", she shouted as she pulled harder on Eliza's hair.

Lynn whimpered. "Eliza.", she cried out.

Ivana stared at Weamar, waiting for him to move.

Weamar was torn between staying to force things out and hoping that something else might work if he just turned his back and walked away. Marinae found herself thinking the same thing. Frelnikov watched Weamar intently, wondering if she was going to have to force the action. Kendra had said that getting Lynn and Eliza in the same room as Ivana was all that they needed to do, but it hadn't been enough. Kiri looked down at Mud and figured that it was all his fault.

Finally Weamar decided that he had to hope that the seed had been planted in Petrov and that something could be done elsewhere. He turned to leave. Frelnikov frowned and decided that it was time to act.

"Throw your ax at Ivana.", Frelnikov whispered to the guard at the bottom of the stairs.

Weamar turned to see the guard next to him raising his ax and hurling it towards the woman pulling Eliza's hair. Ivana was caught off guard and the axe cut an ugly gash into her arm and fell to the floor. Her eyes went wide and she commanded her cousin to slay the insolent guard, but Ivan was already moving to do so. Weamar moved to intercept the enforcer and slashed at Ivan who tried to parry with his rapier. Ivan barely managed to hold on to his weapon as Weamar's sword knocked it aside and cut him on the arm. Ivan cursed and promised to slay the mighty ranger.

Then Weamar noticed something at the tip of Ivan's rapier, it was some kind of coating with a bluish tint. "Poison.", he muttered nervously as Ivan nodded and smiled.

Marinae unloaded a volley of magical bolts at Ivana, hoping that they would get through to her. She watched the bolts hiss as they struck the magic shield around the woman, but saw that at least a little got through.

"At least I did something.", Marinae thought to herself as she felt only slightly more confident.

Ivana couldn't wait any longer. "All who have heard of me fear me! They call me the Black Widow!", Ivana screamed as she looked wildly at her foes. "And I shall show you all the reason why. Behold the Kiss of Death!"

And then the young woman leaned down and pressed her lips to those of the shackled priestess. Eliza shrieked and squirmed as she felt Ivana's lethal poison entering her body. It was like a fire inside her mouth and she could feel it burning it's way down her throat. Eliza's body tensed as she felt her heart racing faster than it had ever gone. Her knuckles turned white as her hands gripped the arms of the torture chair.

Lynn's shrieks were deafening as she felt the poison flowing through Eliza's veins.

Suddenly Ivana pulled away, gasping deeply. She staggered for a moment, gagging. All at once she turned to face everyone, and in the flickering torchlight Marinae could see a lattice of black lines coming out of Ivana's mouth and running all over her face. Marinae stopped in horror at seeing the Beast again. Now she knew why Kiri and Ilsa were here. Kendra hadn't removed the thing from Eliza at all. They were here to make sure that Eliza killed someone that Kendra wanted dead.

Eliza's eyes rolled back into her head and her eyelids fluttered. Her body began to tremble violently. Sickening cracks and snaps sounded as Eliza's convulsions forced her again and again against the plates of the chair. Then she went stock still.

Lynn was overcome with despair. She crumpled to the floor grasping her stomach and saying "no" over and over again.

"Yes. Yes! YES!!", the voice inside Lynn screamed. "You thought that you could save her didn't you? You thought that you were so smart, and so talented. But you weren't. You deserve this! You deserve to suffer! You deserve to live the rest of your life cold and alone, knowing that you killed the only person who ever truly loved you!"

Lynn had felt Eliza die. Her worst nightmare had come true. The voice was right. She deserved this.

Ivan backed away from Weamar and glanced back at his suffering cousin.

"Put the rapier down.", Weamar ordered Ivan in the hopes that he would give up.

Ivana choked and gasped as she staggered about the room. "Ivan. Ivan, help me.", she moaned as the black lines spread down her neck and over her body. Everyone watched her, but no one, not one person, lent a hand to help.

Ivan turned back to Weamar. Weamar was surprised to see the man grinning at the woman's demise.

"Ivan you bastard.", Ivana screamed as she fell to her knees and crawled towards him. "You did this. You set me up."

"Die you bitch, come on, die.", Frelnikov whispered as he watched with wide open eyes.

Weamar looked at Ivan and repeated his order.

Ivan just sneered back. "In a few moments I will be the sole ruler of Borca.", he said with a broad grin. "You'd better learn respect, boy."

With one final gasp Ivana died a horrible death. The liquid shadow ate into her body and tore apart her soul, sucking it, and itself into the abyss.

Eliza lay in the chair lifelessly. The pain was finally gone, but only for her. Lynn now carried the burden. And she would until the end of her days.


"Stay here and you will be safe...", Eliza muttered to herself.

Ilsa's words didn't sound very reassuring anymore now that the Drow had left. Eliza tried to remember the last time she'd felt so alone. She'd never felt truly alone with the ring connecting her to Lynn. But now that was gone too. She was in a dark, cool cellar in a city she had once loved for it's devotion to Ezra. But now the people of the city would call her a heretic.

Eliza glanced around at her surroundings. For a moment it felt like the walls were closing in, like the walls of a prison cell. She couldn't just sit there and do nothing. She wanted to trust Ilsa, but the thought of Lynn being so close was consuming her. How much longer could she wait? And why did she have to stay put? Eliza was about to get up when she heard someone fumbling at the cellar door. Then she heard it open.

Eliza stood up, slowly and quietly. It couldn't be Ilsa, Eliza thought, the Drow was far too graceful to give away her presence like that. She wondered who it could be.

"Hello?", a familiar voice called out. It was Marius. "Is anyone there?"

"Marius!?" Eliza said in surprise. Then she remembered to keep her voice down.

"Eliza?", Marius said as he shined his lantern into the cellar. He spied the young priestess standing in the dark and quickly descended the staircase, nearly stumbling in his haste.

Eliza rushed to her mentor and threw her arms around him.

"Oh, thank Ezra I've found you.", Marius replied as he hugged the young woman.

Eliza pulled back a little and looked at him. "How did you find me?", she asked.

"I received a vision, from Our Lady.", Marius explained. "She told me about Kendra, and her horrible plan. And she told me where to find you."

"Where's Lynn?", Eliza said as she looked up the stairs and saw that Marius was alone. "I…I need to see her."

Marius' eyes turn from joyful to concerned. "Eliza, something terrible has happened.", the Sentire began. "Lynn, all your friends, are in great danger."

Eliza's heart leapt in her chest. "Marius, what's happened?", she gasped.

"The imposter, they believe that she is you.", Marius said. "And they went into the cathedral to try and rescue her. Some of them are barely alive...Marinae..."

Her friends were in danger. A sharp resolve settled over the young prophet. "Then there isn't a moment to lose.", she replied and took a step towards the stairs.

Marius nodded but didn't turn to leave. "There's more.", he said quietly.

"What?", Eliza said, not wanting to waste time discussing things.

"Kendra wants to control the church. That's been her plan all along.", Marius said. "They're going to kill the Lady Boritsi, the Praesidius, and Vasile as well. Anyone who gets in their way."

"Marius, we'll deal with that but we need to go now." Eliza said anxiously.

"They might yet succeed.", Marius said as a look of concern drew across his face. He looked sharply at the young woman. "And there is only one way to stop them."

Eliza waited impatiently for him to continue.

"The church needs a strong leader. Someone who can speak for Ezra, someone who has heard Our Lady's words, not a politician or a diplomat.", Marius said. "Ezra wants a prophet to lead the Home Faith once more. Ezra wants you to lead the church."

Eliza stopped cold. Then Marius pulled a small silver chalice out of his robe. He set it down on a nearby crate, then went back into his robe and pulled out a flask. Eliza stood mutely, stunned by his words. It was hard for her to believe that Ezra wanted her to lead the Home Faith, but it also made sense to the young priestess. She knew that Ezra had saved her for a purpose, and if this was what the Lady wanted then she would do her best to serve.

Marius poured the contents of the flask into the chalice. In the low light Eliza could see a blue liquid pouring out of the flask.

"Marius, what is that?", Eliza whispered.

"Communion wine.", Marius said. "And touched by Ezra herself. It will give you the power to lead the church back to Ezra, and the power to save your friends as well."

Eliza hesitantly reached for the chalice. Leading the church seemed to be too great a task for her. She didn't know if she would be able to do it. But she knew that Lynn needed her, and she felt that as long as they were together that they could overcome anything.

"I'm overjoyed that Ezra has picked you to lead the church.", Marius said happily. "I always knew that there was something special about you."

Marius' confidence in her was reassuring. Eliza offered up a brief prayer as she brought the cup to her lips. She looked at the blue liquid and then paused, remembering something that Kendra had told her.

"Just remember, when you get there. If anyone, anyone at all offers you anything...", Kendra had said. "The answer is no."

Kendra had foreseen this, but how? Eliza's mind whirled and doubts grew inside her. Marius became nervous as he saw Eliza having second thoughts.

"What is it?", the Sentire asked.

Eliza looked at Marius and lowered the chalice. "If I am to do the things you've said, it will be by the grace The Lady grants me herself.", she replied, taking a step back from the man. "You would know that, Marius."

"But she has granted it.", Marius protested. "This chalice is her gift to you. Don't turn your back on Ezra. Don't turn your back on Lynn."

But Eliza had made up her mind. She set the cup down and took another step away.

"I haven't." The priestess whispered as she reached inside to touch the power of Ezra within her. "Guardian in the Mists, grant me your favor that I might see through all deception."

Marius frowned as Eliza summoned the divine wind. Eliza felt the power of Ezra flowing through her. She looked at Marius once more. Nothing about him had changed, but now she knew that the man standing before her was not Marius.

"Who are you?", Eliza demanded.

"It does not matter who I am.", Marius said, his voice changing, becoming harsh and cold. "The Lady Boritsi is dead and you must take her place. If you do not, your friends will die."

"Why?", Eliza asked, hoping that Ilsa would return soon and rescue her.

"They have committed an unpardonable crime. They have slaughtered many of the White Knights. For that they will all be imprisoned, tried, and executed.", Marius said bitterly.

"Why would I believe anything you have to say?", Eliza replied.

"Because I am one of the Dark Powers.", Marius said, his voice becoming powerful and indignant. "We are the makers and destroyers of this world. Kings and Queens rise and fall at our whim. Our will is law."

Eliza glowered at the man. "I am the servant of a greater power and I will not be controlled by the likes of you.", she said firmly, calmed by the knowledge that she was right.

"Then your suffering will be never ending.", Marius said with a hiss. "You will feel such pain and agony that you will beg for death. All who refuse the Dark Powers have suffered horrible fates and yours, Eliza Duval, will be the most agonizing of all."

"If such is my role in the grand scheme, so must it be.", Eliza shot back, quoting The Lady's words. "But my role is not yours to decide."

Eliza watched as Marius shot her an angry look and then faded away. Only the chalice remained.

Eliza stood, looking at the chalice and its contents, thinking about all that had happened. She took a whiff of the blue liquid and then quickly exhaled. It was poison. She shivered as she thought about what would have happened to her had she drank it.

Eliza was alone in the dark. She'd been condemned to lifelong suffering by the Dark Powers, but she felt good that she had resisted them. She'd passed another test. But now other things sprang to mind. She wasn't going to wait for Ilsa, she couldn't. She needed to do something and now she knew where she needed to go.

Eliza emerged from the run down old house and wandered through the streets of Levkarest for a few moments before getting her bearings. Then, as fast as she could run, she headed for the Great Cathedral.