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<blockquote data-quote="Greenfield" data-source="post: 5904630" data-attributes="member: 6669384"><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Marcus and the fortune teller were just finishing their discussion when a small boy came in, hopping up and down in fear and excitement. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"What is it child?", she asked, waving him forward. </span></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Marcus strained to hear what the lad whispered, and caught a few troubling words.</span></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Is something wrong?", he asked, concerned. </span></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Oh, one of the children of the camp has gotten into some trouble. We'll take care of it."</span></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"I heard the word, 'Dead'.", Marcus countered pointedly. </span></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"We do not involve outsiders.", she replied stiffly. "We handle such matters ourselves."</span></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"I may already be involved.", Marcus said, tapping the cards which spoke of sudden, chaotic events involving him. "And I know how to keep my mouth shut." </span></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">***</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">The companions' presence drew unhappy looks from the gathered Gypsies. Magda had sent the word to gather the traveling folk and see if anyone else was missing, and the presence of the outsiders was clearly unwelcome.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"They are here as friends.", the old woman pronounced firmly. "They are friends of our friend, Nedel, and they are already involved. The cards said so.", she added, as if that was the final word on the matter.</span></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Bela, your grandson, is missing, and Charis is dead.", one of the men said, after finishing the head count.</span></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"The murderer must have left a trail.", Sylus suggested. "I'm a skilled tracker, perhaps we can find him. But the longer we wait..."</span></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"We also have good trackers.", Magda said, "But your aid is welcome. Theobold, bring your friend. We have need of him tonight."</span></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">***</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Poor lad. Someone hit him hard, nearly took his head off.", Marcus said, as he examined the body.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"I'm not so sure.", Apellenea said thoughtfully. "See how the skin is cut here", she said, indicating the edge of the wound. "The blade was being drawn back sharply, not swung heavily. This was a Rogue's strike, a sharp blade slicing the right side of the neck, starting at the throat."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Marcus pursed his lips in dismay. Not merely because he had misread the wound, but because he was beginning to think he really did know the killer.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Theobold arrived then, a burly man with pock-marked skin and a long scar on one side of his face. Accompanying him was a large brown dog, sharp of face and eye. The dog sniffed the area, but too many people had passed through. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Bring me something of Bela's.", Theobold ordered. "If they took him with them, then his scent will work."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">This was done, and the dog was off, nose in the air.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"That isn't a dog, is it?", asked Seeburn quietly.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Brown wolf.", Apellenea confirmed. "But if they want to keep wolves as friends, I'm not in a position to complain."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">The wolf lead them around to the right and into the camp itself. The trail went beneath the low stage, then wove out to the festival area outside the Gypsy camp. After that the scent trail was lost.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Scour the streets!", Magda commanded. "Work in pairs and watch each others back, but find him."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Clothes were quickly found for Seeburn, who didn't want to be recognized in town, and he joined the search as well.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"We should tell the guard.", Cassius suggested.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"No!", Magda replied sharply. "We do not involve outsiders. We have nothing but trouble from them. These were our people taken and killed, their attackers will face our justice."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">***</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">The Gypsies wandered the city through the night, always in pairs. If asked, sometimes they would tell fortunes, sometimes they said they were looking for an address, or a lost dog, but they went everywhere.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Sometime around midnight the word filtered back that Bela had been found. He was hurt, and appeared to have been beaten, but he was alive.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Quickly the travelers returned to their camp, where the unconscious boy lay resting.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Who could have done this?", demanded Theo.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Let us simply thank the stars that he's alive.", responded Magda. "Vengeance will not bring Charis back. If we find the murderer he will be dealt with, but we will not bring more trouble upon our people."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"We could ask the boy.", suggested Marcus. "Let me try to wake him."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"<em>Vitai</em>", he murmured softly, invoking the blessings of his father. The boy began to stir, and a moment later his eyes opened.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">He looked around, frightened. "Who are you?", he demanded, alarmed at seeing a stranger's face over him.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Be at peace, Bela.", interjected Magda. "He is a friend, a healer. I know you still need rest, but can you tell us what happened?"</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"I was taken, a bag over my head.", he began. "They drugged me with something, then they beat me. I... ", he looked at the outsiders, suddenly afraid again.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"It's all right child.", assured Magda. "These are friends of Nedel, whose family has always been a friend of our people."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">The boy still looked unsure, but continued. "I lost control somehow. I fought back. I think I bit someone."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">A murmur of shock rolled through the gathered Gypsies, and Magda paled.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"The moon gift runs strong in our bloodline", she explained. "But when blood is shed, that gift can be passed to others as a curse. We need to find this person."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"What does that mean?", Cassius asked, confused.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"It means that they have werewolves in the family, and that the kid shouldn't have bitten anyone.", came the short answer.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"They forced the change.", the boy cried. "I didn't want to, but it's so close to the full moon, and the drug..."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"It's all right. Can you tell us who did this to you?"</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"They called him Partha. Or was it Parthenos?", the boy said, struggling to recall the memories of the wolf. "But that's not a name. It just means that he's from Athens."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Now it was Marcus turn to pale, for now he knew who this was. A certain street thief, one who had been all too ready to help start a civil war. One who had been far too good at his job for just a street thief.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Do you remember where they took you?", Theo asked urgently.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"I remember where I escaped from.", the boy replied. "I think they were planning to kill me."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">***</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"It was this way.", Bela said, turning left at the end of an alley. The gypsies followed, along with the companions, as he lead them through the streets of a lower class neighborhood. He paused at times, trying to get his bearings in the dark, but ultimately directed them to a small house packed among other small houses. One window remained unshuttered, small, but enough for a wiry child to worm through.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">The back door proved to be unlocked, and they entered.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Within they found a small room, with the rest of the house beyond. There was a smear of blood on the floor.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"This was the place.", the boy confirmed. "This was where they beat me until I fought back."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Penn picked up a small flask that had been cast aside and sniffed at the unstoppered opening. "I know this drug. Favored among the Vandals, it gives fury in battle. They call it the Red Rage."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Check the rest of the house.", Nedel suggested. And quickly, they did.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"There's a body in here.", Cassius called as he checked the first bedroom. "Stuffed under the bed, throat cut like the other."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Another one in here.", Seeburn added sadly. "A child, stabbed as he slept."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"Now we tell the guard.", said Cassius firmly. "It's outside of your family now, and they need to be told."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">The Gypsies looked at each other, then nodded. "But we shouldn't be here when they arrive.", said Theobold firmly. "They will blame us. They always do."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">"I shouldn't be here either.", Seeburn added, remembering his run in with the magistrate.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 10px">And quickly, quietly, they left.</span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Greenfield, post: 5904630, member: 6669384"] [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Marcus and the fortune teller were just finishing their discussion when a small boy came in, hopping up and down in fear and excitement. "What is it child?", she asked, waving him forward. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2] Marcus strained to hear what the lad whispered, and caught a few troubling words.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2] "Is something wrong?", he asked, concerned. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2] "Oh, one of the children of the camp has gotten into some trouble. We'll take care of it."[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2] "I heard the word, 'Dead'.", Marcus countered pointedly. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2] "We do not involve outsiders.", she replied stiffly. "We handle such matters ourselves."[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2] "I may already be involved.", Marcus said, tapping the cards which spoke of sudden, chaotic events involving him. "And I know how to keep my mouth shut." [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]*** The companions' presence drew unhappy looks from the gathered Gypsies. Magda had sent the word to gather the traveling folk and see if anyone else was missing, and the presence of the outsiders was clearly unwelcome. "They are here as friends.", the old woman pronounced firmly. "They are friends of our friend, Nedel, and they are already involved. The cards said so.", she added, as if that was the final word on the matter.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2] "Bela, your grandson, is missing, and Charis is dead.", one of the men said, after finishing the head count.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2] "The murderer must have left a trail.", Sylus suggested. "I'm a skilled tracker, perhaps we can find him. But the longer we wait..."[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2] "We also have good trackers.", Magda said, "But your aid is welcome. Theobold, bring your friend. We have need of him tonight."[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]*** "Poor lad. Someone hit him hard, nearly took his head off.", Marcus said, as he examined the body. "I'm not so sure.", Apellenea said thoughtfully. "See how the skin is cut here", she said, indicating the edge of the wound. "The blade was being drawn back sharply, not swung heavily. This was a Rogue's strike, a sharp blade slicing the right side of the neck, starting at the throat." Marcus pursed his lips in dismay. Not merely because he had misread the wound, but because he was beginning to think he really did know the killer. Theobold arrived then, a burly man with pock-marked skin and a long scar on one side of his face. Accompanying him was a large brown dog, sharp of face and eye. The dog sniffed the area, but too many people had passed through. "Bring me something of Bela's.", Theobold ordered. "If they took him with them, then his scent will work." This was done, and the dog was off, nose in the air. "That isn't a dog, is it?", asked Seeburn quietly. "Brown wolf.", Apellenea confirmed. "But if they want to keep wolves as friends, I'm not in a position to complain." The wolf lead them around to the right and into the camp itself. The trail went beneath the low stage, then wove out to the festival area outside the Gypsy camp. After that the scent trail was lost. "Scour the streets!", Magda commanded. "Work in pairs and watch each others back, but find him." Clothes were quickly found for Seeburn, who didn't want to be recognized in town, and he joined the search as well. "We should tell the guard.", Cassius suggested. "No!", Magda replied sharply. "We do not involve outsiders. We have nothing but trouble from them. These were our people taken and killed, their attackers will face our justice." *** The Gypsies wandered the city through the night, always in pairs. If asked, sometimes they would tell fortunes, sometimes they said they were looking for an address, or a lost dog, but they went everywhere. Sometime around midnight the word filtered back that Bela had been found. He was hurt, and appeared to have been beaten, but he was alive. Quickly the travelers returned to their camp, where the unconscious boy lay resting. "Who could have done this?", demanded Theo. "Let us simply thank the stars that he's alive.", responded Magda. "Vengeance will not bring Charis back. If we find the murderer he will be dealt with, but we will not bring more trouble upon our people." "We could ask the boy.", suggested Marcus. "Let me try to wake him." "[I]Vitai[/I]", he murmured softly, invoking the blessings of his father. The boy began to stir, and a moment later his eyes opened. He looked around, frightened. "Who are you?", he demanded, alarmed at seeing a stranger's face over him. "Be at peace, Bela.", interjected Magda. "He is a friend, a healer. I know you still need rest, but can you tell us what happened?" "I was taken, a bag over my head.", he began. "They drugged me with something, then they beat me. I... ", he looked at the outsiders, suddenly afraid again. "It's all right child.", assured Magda. "These are friends of Nedel, whose family has always been a friend of our people." The boy still looked unsure, but continued. "I lost control somehow. I fought back. I think I bit someone." A murmur of shock rolled through the gathered Gypsies, and Magda paled. "The moon gift runs strong in our bloodline", she explained. "But when blood is shed, that gift can be passed to others as a curse. We need to find this person." "What does that mean?", Cassius asked, confused. "It means that they have werewolves in the family, and that the kid shouldn't have bitten anyone.", came the short answer. "They forced the change.", the boy cried. "I didn't want to, but it's so close to the full moon, and the drug..." "It's all right. Can you tell us who did this to you?" "They called him Partha. Or was it Parthenos?", the boy said, struggling to recall the memories of the wolf. "But that's not a name. It just means that he's from Athens." Now it was Marcus turn to pale, for now he knew who this was. A certain street thief, one who had been all too ready to help start a civil war. One who had been far too good at his job for just a street thief. "Do you remember where they took you?", Theo asked urgently. "I remember where I escaped from.", the boy replied. "I think they were planning to kill me." *** "It was this way.", Bela said, turning left at the end of an alley. The gypsies followed, along with the companions, as he lead them through the streets of a lower class neighborhood. He paused at times, trying to get his bearings in the dark, but ultimately directed them to a small house packed among other small houses. One window remained unshuttered, small, but enough for a wiry child to worm through. The back door proved to be unlocked, and they entered. Within they found a small room, with the rest of the house beyond. There was a smear of blood on the floor. "This was the place.", the boy confirmed. "This was where they beat me until I fought back." Penn picked up a small flask that had been cast aside and sniffed at the unstoppered opening. "I know this drug. Favored among the Vandals, it gives fury in battle. They call it the Red Rage." "Check the rest of the house.", Nedel suggested. And quickly, they did. "There's a body in here.", Cassius called as he checked the first bedroom. "Stuffed under the bed, throat cut like the other." "Another one in here.", Seeburn added sadly. "A child, stabbed as he slept." "Now we tell the guard.", said Cassius firmly. "It's outside of your family now, and they need to be told." The Gypsies looked at each other, then nodded. "But we shouldn't be here when they arrive.", said Theobold firmly. "They will blame us. They always do." "I shouldn't be here either.", Seeburn added, remembering his run in with the magistrate. And quickly, quietly, they left.[/SIZE][/FONT] [/QUOTE]
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Curse of Darkness III - An Italian Interlude
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