Subject: [Dagger] [Porc] Caught, bloody handed Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 11:34:27 -0400 From: "Jim Davis" To: As I lay waiting for Oblivion to overtake me, my..... I do not know of a word to tell what they are to me. The tavern regulars of good bent appeared around me. Some guy in crystal armor started to charge, and I tried to bring my hand up for a shot with my ring, but the loss of blood left me unable to raise my suddenly numb arms, let alone activate the ring's plasma bolt. The woman who had attacked me in the Angry Porcupine knelt down and began a healing chant. I squirmed that tried to roll away, but she held my weak body to the muddy earth. "Let me die for what I have done!" I sobbed, unable to do anything more. The woman, who I remembered as Lady Raven, merely smiled as she pressed me down into that mud, saying "If I let you die, I will be no better than you and your murderous guild." She healed me enough to bring me away from danger of death, but not so much that I could do any real damage. They propped me up into a sitting position, my back to the castle. Thinking I should have some way of defending myself, I closed my eyes and forced myself to summon my swords to come to me. I heard the psionic response, but could not guide them well. As the companions looked at the castle, Scorcher and Ghalleva slid through the air, straight at my back. And into my back. The pommel of Ghalleva, capped with a large amethyst, slammed into my back while the pommel of Scorcher, capped with an incredibly sharp drake tooth, sliced the back of my neck. My concentration, weak as it was, broken, the swords dropped to the ground. Lady Raven moved over to me and caught me with an upward blow that felt like a warhammer. "Do not try anything like that again, or I will spit you like a pig." I wiped an errant trail of blood from the corner of my mouth, staring up at them with obvious anger for their saving me from death. "Get a spear and a fire then. For my atrocities, I do not deserve to live." I said. Catris turned away, a torrent of tears springing up. I felt a little strength still in my arms. I tried to push myself into a standing position. I succeeded, but my legs were numb and they betrayed me. I crashed back down to the ground. The guy in crystal armor drew a sword and held it to my throat. "Swear fealty to the Emperor or I will run you through." I coughed weakly and looked up. "What more can you do to hurt me? I've lost everything. My love, my friends, my magic, my title.... So good paladin, I will not swear fealty to your precious emperor no matter what shape I am in." The paladin's face grew quite red and I could see the veins in his neck throbbing through the crystal armor. A tremor rocked the island. The first sign that my spell was failing. Seeing Catris still staring off into the distance, I dragged myself through the mud to get to her, oblivious to Lady Raven's questions for the time. "Lady Catris..... My love...." Now, when Lady Raven hit me, I knew I should have just stayed where I was, but I had to try and talk to Catris. My face was reddened by a hand-print from a flick of Catris' arm. Rubbing my cheek, I said "Fair enough. I deserve that and much worse for what I have done." "How could you?" Catris said, her voice quavering. "I was invited. I am sure you know of the penalties for ignoring the dark brotherhood's summons." "What could you have possibly done here on Tamriel that would gain you an invitation?" she asked as her red eyes, smoldering like coals, burned through me. "Well, I used a soverian thunderstrike spell and I misjudged the city guard range, as well as his health. I killed seven peasents, along with the guard. I raise them back from the dead though, and healed them!" My last sentence did little to further my point. Lady Raven now had my attention. "Jemalas, do you renounce your ways?" I nodded fervently. "Do you swear to never again try to conquer Tamriel?" After a moments thought, I nodded. I interrupted, "What can I do to be accepted again? Or do you want me to return to Sovere, leaving Catris and Adeline in your care, never to return?" Adeline pushed in "Jemalas, I have known you all your life. But now that you have changed so much, trust is not something that one can earn back. What would your sister say?" My thoughts ran back to my sister and her husband, and my nephew and his betrothed. I can see her face looking down on me, pointing a finger with clear meaning. I knew that no one would approve of my actions. Looking up, I said "I swear fealty to Catris, Lady Raven, Adeline and Alexis. I am yours to command." Catris' slippered foot shot up into my chin, I believe in regard to my little affair with Morgiah. I deserved that. I looked up at Lady Raven, blood streaming from where I bit my lip when Catris kicked me. "M'ladies, what must I do?" ~Lord Jemalas Tamislane, Master Dweomerkeeper, Ruler of Kalisis, High Lord of Thornwood jrdavis@penn.com ICQ- 16848203