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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7210342" data-attributes="member: 143">Chapter 77Gurag slept uneasily, tossing under the thin blanket atop his cot.  The hobgoblin war captain had a private tent, befitting his rank, though one could have crossed from the front flap to the back wall in just four steps.  Other than the cot, the only furnishing was a folding wooden armor stand that kept his heavy suit of leather and metal out of the mud.  His sword was closer, hanging from the central post within easy reach of the cot.The temperature in the tent suddenly dropped, and a plume of white mist rose from the captain’s lips.Gurag shot up suddenly, reaching for his sword even as he swung his legs around to the floor.  But even as his fingertips brushed the hilt he felt his muscles freeze.  He was barely able to grab hold of the cot to keep himself from falling on his face, but beyond that he couldn’t move, couldn’t speak.A figure came into the tent, shrouded in darkness.  Through a supreme effort Gurag was able to twist his head just enough to see the intruder, though even his darkvision was not enough to pierce the gloom under the deep cowl the other wore.He tried to speak, but the only sound he could manage was a strangled gasp.“Come now,” the other said.  “You cannot tell me that this visit is a surprise, old friend.”“Gaaaaaargk...”“I knew you recognized me, earlier,” Kurok said, coming fully into the tent and letting the canvas flap swing shut behind him.  That left the interior of the tent almost pitch black, but Gurag could still feel the physical presence of the other hobgoblin.  The captain tensed, trying to push his outstretched hand toward where he knew his sword to be.  It was as if his entire body had been wrapped in invisible shackles; he could not move.  He let out another vague sound.If Kurok noticed his efforts, or was disconcerted by them, he gave no sign.  “Yes, that was a long time ago,” he said conversationally, as if responding to something Gurag had said.  “We were younglings.  But I have not forgotten, none of it.  The torment that you and your friends inflicted on me.  Back when I was small, weak.”“Gurrrk…”“I know, it is our way.  But you took such pleasure in it.  Do you recall that one time that you stripped me naked, tied me up, and left me dangling over the cliffs that overlooked the village?  Everyone saw, and laughed.  My mother, she beat me, did you know that?  Said that I was weak for letting anyone do that to me.  Not that I could have done anything.  I was weak, then.”Gurag strained.  He thought he could feel the force holding him bend slightly against his efforts.  Digging deep, he concentrated the full force of his will on moving his hand.  His fingers trembled with the effort, but after a moment he felt the familiar solidity of his sword’s hilt brush the tips.“I suppose I should thank you,” Kurok said.  “You weren’t there when it finally happened, you had just left to begin your training with the warrior cadre.  But others took your place.  It was one of them that I struck down with the power.  Not enough to kill him—I was not yet then what I would become.  But I wanted to.  Oh, how I wanted to.”Gurag pressed forward, slowly.  His fingers slowly began to clench shut around the hilt.“After that, it all changed,” Kurok said.  “I had proven that I was one of the Blooded.  Such honor.  Everyone in the village came to watch when they came to take me.  Of course, I did not know then that what they would put me through would make the torments you inflicted seem insignificant by contrast.”Gurag could feel the power holding him start to ease.  Trying not to betray his effort to his adversary, he tried to shift his feet.Suddenly Kurok made a gesture with his hand, and the paralysis holding Gurag vanished.  The hobgoblin immediately rose up, drawing the sword even as he pivoted into a powerful thrust.Kurok made now move to evade the attack.  As he lunged Gurag could see what looked like ice crystals clinging to his cloak.He stabbed true.  The sword failed to penetrate the warlock’s body, but clearly Kurok felt it, and he drew back a step, grunting in what might have been pain.  But Gurag staggered as a jolt of icy cold that made the earlier paralysis feel pleasant by comparison shot through his body.  That wedge of chill penetrated to his bones, and it was all he could do to keep his grip on his sword.  As he drew back he could see that ice crusted the length of the blade.Gurag looked up at Kurok, who still hadn’t moved.  “What… what do you want from me?” he gasped.“I want you to know what it felt like, atop the cliff,” Kurok said.Gurag shifted slightly, glanced past the warlock at the entry.  With his sword he could possibly cut another way out, but the tough canvas would likely require more than one stroke to tear an opening, and that would leave him vulnerable.  On the other hand, there were hundreds of warriors within this part of the camp who would hear a shout of alarm even through the thick walls of the tent.“Go ahead and cry out,” Kurok said, as if he’d read his mind.  “I have arranged for us not to be disturbed.”Gurag lunged forward again, but it was only a feint.  As Kurok started to turn toward his attack he kicked his cot toward to the warlock.  Camp furniture was too fragile to do much damage, but it distracted his adversary for just a moment.  But as Gurag dove toward the exit a thick arm shot out from the black cloak and snagged him around the throat.The hobgoblin captain was surprised as he was yanked back into the tent; the warlock was unexpectedly strong.  Gurag still had his sword, and as they struggled he reversed the weapon and drove it back in a thrust that would impale his adversary.  This time he got a hiss of pain, telling him he’d struck true, but once more he paid for it as the icy cold of the warlock’s magic poured into him.He’d thought he was prepared for it, but this time the terrible chill seemed to scour him, stealing away his strength like a siphon.  The sword fell from his grasp as his entire arm went numb.  He tried to shift his weight the other way, to twist free of his attacker’s grip, but Kurok merely shifted with him, adding his own weight and bearing the dazed captain to the ground.“The power of the Veiled One protects me,” the warlock hissed in his ear.  Gurag tried to struggle, but his own body was failing him, his muscles refusing his commands.  The entire right side of his body felt dead.  He fumbled with his left hand, trying to find his sword.  He got a knee under him and tried to buck off his enemy, but their respective positions had him at a decisive disadvantage.“Mercy,” he gasped out.He felt Kurok’s start of surprise.  But a moment later the warlock leaned in again and hissed in his ear.  “Mercy is not our way,” he said.Gurag tensed for another last-ditch effort, but before he could move Kurok shifted his free hand.  A puff of something erupted into Gurag’s face.  It seared as it burned his eyes, kept burning as whatever it was traveled into his lungs.  After feeling nearly frozen through a moment ago, now it felt like he was on fire.  His struggles weakened as his legs kicked uselessly at the muddy floor of the tent.Kurok waited until it was finished before he rose.  His side stung where Gurag’s second thrust had pierced through the protection of the Armor of Agathys.  But the spell had served its purpose, and he’d learned to ignore far worse pains.  He had a long night ahead of him and long days after that.There was much to be done before he reached the Silverpeak Valley.</blockquote>

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