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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Alcareru" data-source="post: 1307845" data-attributes="member: 14718">The footfalls became louder. Emily noted they must be carrying torches as the light grew brighter at their approach. The young woman felt uneasy and noticed her three neighbors bore tense expressions on their faces. Gripping the bar of her cell she felt the iron tremble a bit. The ground beneath her rumbled. 'Earthquake?' she wondered, 'Get a hold of yourself, girl.' The tremor faded as six armed men entered the chamber. Dressed in leather armor and crimson surcoats, they bore spears and torches. Silently they took places along the walls.  With the added light from the guards torches, Emily could now see her prison was part of what looked to be a natural cave enlarged by human hands. 'I wonder how far underground we are?' she thought 'where is Corinthia?' She stared at the guard arms and armor, her mind racing.  Her thoughts were interrupted as a hawk faced man with curled black hair and beard strode into the prison. This man looked older and wore a fine robe of white and purple gilt with golden thread. His eyes shone with a glimmer of great intelligence and his expresson was of one easy command.Many rings were upon his fingers and a thin circlet of gold sat upon his head. Emily noted that he also carried her leather shoulder pouch.  Yalla growled to the guards. "Torture now? If you are to kill us be done with it. Or release us. How long are we to remain here!" The purple clad man ignored Yalla, his icy gaze set upon Emily. His dark eyes rested upon her for a moment. Then he spoke, his eyes still upon the blond woman. "Your fate is not my concern, dog. You are your cohort are brignands, little more. The Vanir is a traitor to my lord Prince. But her, she is another matter." Emily bravely stood ramrod straight. "I am no brigand, sir. I am Emily Brightwell." she began in English. Stopping she switched to the dialect 'Kothic" and continued. "I am a subject of His Majesty George V and have rights I believe, even in Italy. Why am I being held here? I wish.." The hawk faced man smiled coldly and held up a ringed hand causing Emily to cease. "I am Catallus girl. Astrologer Royal, Court Advisor, and Priest Primate of Mitra. Do you know of Mitra girl? My guard found you unconcious in the sanctum of Mitra. How did gain entry to the palace and the chamber? Are you a thief, perhaps?" "I most certainly am not, sir." Emily snapped back surprised at herself. "I am a student of ancient history and archaeology. I am assisstant to Dr. Raymond Heydn, studying sites on the island of Lyttos. As for Mitra, I did find a ruin dedicated to Mithra, but .." Emily trailed off. That was the last thing she remembered, reading the old tablet in the lower chamber. She frowned as she tried to recall the events. Catallus studied her, noting her face carefully. "A scholar perhaps, eh? I have studied your possessions and found them most interesting. The science you keep is impressive, weird though it may be." The older man pulled out the revolver. "Impressive indeed." Smiling he put it back and pulled out her battered leather bound journal. "Your language is unknown to me, but there are several scrawlings here in ancient script. And your drawings are well done. You have been to a shrine of Mitra and reproduced the runes found there." "I do not know where this Lyttos is, girl, but the punishment for trespassing in the citadel is death. The truth now, are you a servant of Mitra? Or do you follow the older cults-Set perhaps? Your dress and manner are most odd, perhaps you are a witch from the East." Verrus scowled. "Bah, leave her be priest. She's addled headed, anyone can see that. Why dont you find entertainment with your temple eunuchs and leave us be?" The guard closest to Verrus reached through the bars with the butt of his spear and struck the short Nemedian a blow in the face, causing a stream of blood to issue from a split lip. Verrus stumbled backwards cursing, his fall stopped by Grimir. "Hmmm.." Catallus murmured, his eyes remaining fixed upon Emily. "I do not know were you are from. Perhaps Mitra sent you here. Few follow Mitra now that the Prince abandoned his worship. Mayhaps you and your science are instuments for me to wield. Or perhaps not. Perhaps you are merely a spy sent by the nobles to furthur embarass my cult?" The floor began to rumble and shake once again in answer to Catallus. Dust fell from the cavern prisons vaulted ceiling. Emily, Varrus and Yalla moved away from the walls of the cells. Grimir stood by impassively, smiling grimly at the anxious looks on the guards faces.  "I must retire" Catallus continued. "These tremors are Mitras curse, and there is much to do. We will speak again girl" Catallus turned to leave, and his eyes met those of the giant Vanir.  "Priest" Grimir said in a menacing even tone. "Your lord has gone from being a foolish boy to a wicked Prince. Tell him I shall meet him again, and I shall crush his entrails beneath my feet." Catallus stopped and shook his head slowly. "Brave words Northman, but you and your cellmates will be dead in a day. My lord has procured the services of a master Kothic torturer. Your heads shalll adorn pikes soon enough." The Priest turned and swept around the corner and out of the chamber, the guards quick on his heels. The unseen door to the prison clanged shut somewhere off in the gloom, leaving the prisoners in the darkened cells.</blockquote>

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