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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Funeris" data-source="post: 1933841" data-attributes="member: 22792">Chapter 7: Child's Play ConcludedLady Erigal peered at her servant from across the old oak desk.  The stony glare would not have revealed much emotion except for the slight twitch in her left eye.  Her lips began to move, no sound issued forth though.  “Mistress?”  Myra whispered.  Erigal’s knuckles turned white as her grip on the desk increased.“You learned absolutely nothing?”  The hoarse question was more of an accusation, Myra realized.“No—“ the apprentice began but was immediately silenced by Lady Erigal’s gesture.“I should have expected as much.  The priest probably expected it.  Well, I will just have to think of another method to attain my information.”  Myra began to open her mouth again, only to be silenced for the second time that night.“You are dismissed, Myra.  Get some rest.  Tomorrow might be a long day.”  The Lady’s hands clasped her chin in quiet contemplation as Myra scuttled out the door.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fitz looked as if he had been slapped.  His mouth hung open and his eyes wide.  “But, we had a deal.”“Well the rules of the deal have changed slightly.  What you ask for is,” Erigal’s conniving grin lit up, “expensive.”  Fitz grumbled and rummaged through his pack for his bag of coin.“No, no,” the Mistress chided.  “I do not require more money.”  Fitz stopped rummaging and grunted.  Motega almost beamed at the near-feral groan.“What I require, aside from the monetary payment, is information.”  Her grin pierced Fitz’s emotion and incited rage.  “You see, the information I require will benefit both parties involved.”“We DO NOT have time to run on errands for YOU!”  Fitz screamed.  His anger only served to widen the Lady’s smile.“The information I require, you already possess.  All you need do is answer my queries.  Then, you shall receive the restorations as was agreed.”  Her disheartening grimace inspired a slight level of fear in Fitz.  But he nodded, fully expecting the worst.  With a few gestures and quiet words from the Lady, Fitz felt divine magical energy crackle around him.  It instantly faded but Fitz had recognized the spell at once: a zone of truth.“Question number one,” the condescension in her voice heavily apparent again. “How exactly did you come into possession of such a minor fortune?”Fitz released a nearly audible sigh.  Quickly, he recounted the Heroes’ adventures since meeting in the Town of Marchford.  Lady Erigal’s eyebrows peeked at certain points in the story, but her expression remained neutral.  Upon completion of the tale, Fitz smiled happily.  Not one lie, he thought proudly.But the overly proud grin on the Lady’s face did nothing to quiet the discomfort that welled within Fitz’s stomach.  She rested her chin on the palm of her hand, staring through the empty air.  After a few moments of unsettling silence, she reaffixed her gaze on Fitz.“For the second and final question, you each must answer individually.”  Fitz’s mouth ran dry.  He felt he knew the next question.  Lady Erigal’s gaze now shifted between each of the Heroes of Marchford, lingering longest on Calyx before returning to Fitz.  “Which god to you worship?”Fitz’s stomach plummeted.  If he were to answer truthfully, he thought, his friends would not receive the help they had already paid for.  His eyes lowered to the floor in quick contemplation.  And if he lied, the gears grinding furiously in his mind, then she would instantly know.  Fitz raised his gaze, stared deeply into the Lady’s eyes and made the only right decision.“I don’t have to tell you that.”  Lady Erigal’s smile faded.  “First, it wasn’t part of the original payment.  Second, I am not in need of your restoration.  So you can take your question and shove—.”  Motega patted Fitz on the shoulder, quieting the priest.The Lady Erigal’s lip twitched slightly.  “Fine, those not in need of a Restoration need not answer,” she grudgingly conceded.  “Everyone else though, must.  I use my abilities for the good of my own church, not for enemies of my church.”  Her eyes again glowered at Calyx.“You, redhead!  What God do you worship?”  She implored.Tobias smiled.  Shrugged.  Fitz’s face twitched in earnest.  “I worship no gods, priestess.”The Lady grimaced.  This young heathen told the truth.  Seemed to take pleasure in it, she thought.  Her scowl deepened.  “Fine, I will be able to restore you.”  She pivoted toward the mage.  Magnus’ head was peeked out the doorway eyes intently fixed on Myra.  “Shut that door!” The priestess bellowed.  Magnus leapt backward and shut the door abruptly.  He turned but his gaze was now locked on the floor.“And what God or Goddess do you follow, pig?”  Her stern gaze kept Magnus’ eyes staring at the floor for only one moment.But Magnus raised his head and smiled.  “Myself,” he stated cockily.  The Lady’s face went red and she almost choked on the air she was breathing.  “Within my body there is power you couldn’t understand.  And I don’t have to worship some monkey wearing colorful robes to get it!”Fitz chuckled under his breath.  The Lady Erigal grew rigid and angry.  Her body convulsed.  Magnus beamed at his sudden clarity of thought.  But as quickly as it came, it passed.Still no lie, the Mistress thought.  “Let us be done with our business.”  The words slid out between the Lady Erigal’s gritted teeth.As quickly as was possible, the companions were restored and pivoted to exit the small church.  As Calyx moved toward the door, Lady Erigal grasped her by the shoulder.“We Burn Druids,” the Mistress hissed.  Fires of hate welled in Calyx’s eyes, but her mouth remained shut.“Take care not to pass this way again, Heathen.  Else we may have to convert you.  Painfully, if need be.”  Calyx ripped her shoulder from the Lady’s grasp.  And without any word, exited the church.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Heroes stood outside the gates of Dun Moor, deciding their next actions.  Calyx stalked out of the gate and pushed through them, making no move to slow down or stop.“Wait!”  Magnus cried.  “Where are you going?”Calyx stopped and turned.  Her eyes were full of tears and rage.  “To get answers.”  The druid paused for a moment, taking a steadying breath.  Then with finality claimed, “My path lays a different way than yours.”  She spun away from the Heroes and ran into the forest.  The forest swallowed her form eagerly and the four remaining Heroes of Marchford looked on in surprise.</blockquote>

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