Tijil's Fang - A Prelude (cont')

...straight towards a trio of giaks standing by a pillar and felled them with his razor-sharp claws. He gorged himself on their bodies and within a few seconds there was little more than a pool of blood and a pile of bones to remind the world of the giaks' existence. The giak standing by Amantar visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Khatellu sat down on the throne. Then he noticed Avarice the Betrayer and his follower, Dark Phoenix. The darklord growled when he noticed that the latter had had the bad judgement to carry the magical blade he had found a few months ago. At least he didn't carry it unsheathed; but, the darklord still didn't like having that blade near him.

The Darklord spoke: "My faithful servants! I'm sure you wonder why I've brought you here to today."

A few of the spectators shuffled and the Nadziranim's colours changed to a darker hue. The darklord using pleasant words like "faithful" was usually a very bad sign, reserved for occasions when the darklord felt particularly cruel. The darklord was either going to kill them or send them to probable death.

The darklord saw the reaction, and enjoyed himself. After having savoured their fear for a while, Khatellu ruminated that Naar himself would have liked this. "I give you Wayl!" Khatellu thundered.

In strode a stunningly beautiful woman. Her forms was graceful yet powerful. She had long ebony tresses, and wore a magnificent dress which glowed in a deep blue light. Her eyes were like gleaming amethysts, and her face made the men-folk feel remarkably weak. Those who looked more closely at her face were met with an unsettling stare. Those who had met Wayl as a Liganim felt a ripple in their mind and saw for a short instant Wayl's eyes as they had appeared then: like a well of burning red blood, with pools of black darkness. Wayl raised her hands and a font with water appeared in the Throne room. Her eyes flashed and she twined her hands, the water in the font boiled and formed a fog, she clapped her hands, and the image of a human-like creature with the head of a cobra and the form of a woman appeared in the fog. The cobra-human hissed and revealed two large, long fangs. Many in the audience shied away from the sight which caused the cobra-human to spew a coarse, guttural laugh. "You wantest my teeth. Come and take them." A new long laugh. The woman continued menacingly: "In exchange I'll drain the blood from your bodies and consign your worthless souls to the Pit of Eternal Pain." The woman continued to laugh hysterically, and the image faded away, her evil laughter still ringing in the ears of the audience.

"Your task," Khatellu boomed, "Is to procure one of the Fangs of the woman you saw."

There was silence in the room--a long silence.

"Fezmarn, you and your Drakkarim will lead this operation. To aid you, you have Amantar and Dark Phoenix."

"Yes, my master," Fezmarn said.

"Yes my lord," intones Amantar.

Dark Phoenix turns and looks at his master Avarice, who seems to be upset. "Since when do you command my servants, sire?"

"Since you failed to destroy the Order of the Kai, Avarice. Failure has its price," the Darklord glared at Avarice. "You should be relieved that I've chosen not to exact the punishment you really deserve."

Avarice glared back at the Darklord. He knew that the reason Khatellu had let him live was that he still found him useful, and interesting. Also, much to his surprise, he had learnt that Wayl had spoken in his behalf. Avarice made a slight nod towards his apprentice, and then made to leave the hall. Khatellu spoke:

"Tijil's Fang can be found in the Durncrag mountains, not far from where the River Xane runs down. Prepare yourselves well for this mission. Your lives will depend on it."

"Yes, my master."

"You're excused," growled Khatellu and left the throne room. Fezmarn looked at Dark Phoenix and Amantar a long while and the two in turn stared at him.

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