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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4589294" data-attributes="member: 3285">I Know Thee Brother: Prologue"Well, at least it ain't Nishanpur," said Kham.The City of Fraedlau, in the shadow of Faerdwalden, was not the place of healing and succor they had hoped.  What was meant to be a sanctuary became a prison, as Duke Victor of Tralia ordered the city sealed to prevent the spread of the plague beyond its gates."I don't understand." Beldin pressed a damp cloth against Sebastian's forehead. "I thought the disease only affected sorcerers." The dark-kin had become deliriously feverish. "That wouldn't be very effective now would it?" Ilmare's eyes scanned the room.  “But the Sorcerer-King wants more sorcerers.  Sending the disease to destroy them alone would be counterproductive.  He must have created a strain that spreads from sorcerers to humans…” she sniffed. “And their ilk.”The humans had changed from filthy, disgusting creatures to an angry mob of filthy, disgusting creatures.  Cries of misery and death were everywhere. The only lodging that remained within the city was the common room of an inn at the North Gate.  Ilmare kept her back to one wall and arms at her sides; she didn’t trust humans in large numbers.Kham sat by himself on a bar stool nearby; Vlad sat a seat over.  The room was huddled with rough men of all stripes.“I heard that sorcerers who get the plague explode,” said Hayden, a tanner.  He was unremarkable except for one blue eye and one brown eye.  Hayden turned around to stare suspiciously at Sebastian’s unconscious body. “He ain’t a sorcerer, is he?”Beldin met his gaze.  “No,” he said firmly.Paxton, a cooper who sat to Kham’s right, sneered.  “Dark-kin probably got it from Canceri.  They’ve been hurting since we beat them in the war.”Vlad took a deep breath.  He knew this was coming.  After the Nierites had taken over Cancer, they marched on Milandir, only to be ferociously repelled.  “We’ve been looking for healers. That’s why we came here.”Bruno, a smith who sat to Vlad’s left, chuckled.  “Word has it that the only servants of Beltine left anywhere near the city are the Sisters of our Lady’s Mercy.  But their convent is in Faerdwalden.  Not that you could get to it anyway.”“The Duke trapped us in here so he could burn the city to the ground,” sneered Hayden, who sat between Vlad and Kham.  He wore colored lenses, like Kham. “Just like in Brechau.”Vlad arched an eyebrow and whirled on the man.  “That’s ridiculous. Where did you hear that?”Hayden hopped off from his bar stool.  “Even know, Knights from Grozny Castle are marching to seal the city so that the Duke’s sentence can be carried out!”“No wait a minute…” began Vlad.“That’s right,” muttered Ilmare.  “Next thing you know they’ll be storming the gates.”“Yeah!” shouted Hayden.  “I’m not going to let them just murder us and I’m not alone!”  He whirled, sloshing a mug of watered-down mead.  His arm was spotted with seeping buboes, a sure sign that Hayden was doomed like the rest.  “Who’s with me?”Raucous shouts joined Hayden’s.  Men grabbed chairs and mugs, charging out into the street.  Only too sick to move were left behind.Ilmare shrugged as her companions fixed her with a stare. “What?”“Next time you’re going to be sarcastic,” growled Beldin, “you might not want to do it in a crowded room.”“You might want to be more concerned about the tanner,” said Ilmare. “His lenses slid off his nose for moment when he was shouting. Did you see his eyes?”Kham shook his head.  “No.  Why?”“He didn’t have any pupils.” Kham hopped off his bar stool and drew his pistols.  After checking to see that both were loaded, he left without another word.“And that’s important because…” asked Vlad.“Do you really want anyone to be like Kham?”She didn’t have to say any more. Vlad drew his sword as he slid off the bar stool.  “I’ll go get him.”It wasn’t clear if he meant Kham or Hayden.</blockquote>

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