Adobe Acrobat Format - The Grey Company

Brisid edged into a clearing. Nalynn stumbled behind him. He looked around for any signs of
pursuit. Seeing none, he went up to a tree. He pulled on a branch and stepped back. The tree lifted back to
reveal a passageway into the ground.
Nalynn, oblivious to what was happening, gazed into the sky. She watched a giant eagle circling
the clearing. Brisid grabbed her arm and said, "Come on." She tried to mutter something, but had forgotten
words.
She pointed to the sky as she was being dragged into the earth. "B-b-b-b..." she muttered.
"What?" Brisid asked. He looked around and saw nothing. Nalynn kept looking up and then saw a
smaller bird fly into view. The bird was pitch black. It swooped toward the tree as the door began to shut.
Brisid was already halfway down the stairs when the tree finally closed. The raven landed softly on the
ground, just inside the entrance.
Chapter 25
Nalynn gazed at BriSid in horror as she realized that Ebonstarr had taken possession of his body.
Before she could protect herself, there was a brilliant flash of light, followed by a darkness so profound she
was unable to comprehend its completeness. A momentary panic engulfed her before the witch's spell began
to weave through her. She was vaguely aware of her body. She tried to speak, only to discover she was
unable to utter a sound. She sensed movement -- her body was moving, though she could not feel her legs.
Struggling against the powerful magic, she fought in vain to break away, only to be overcome by a
wave of pleasurable sensations penetrating her brain and body.
As the magic possessed her more completely, she gave up her fight and relaxed, rapt in the visions
which now began to flit across her mind's eye.
His face loomed before her, she recognized it, though she knew not why. A handsome creature,
fine features, broad shoulders, a kind and gentle smile.
"Who are you?" she asked. "I am Braldt, thy husband. At long last, I see you again, my beloved
wife."
He took her in his arms, kissing her deeply and lovingly. She yielded to his embrace, allowing his
passion to overtake her. Such sweet ecstasy! She could not recall sensations so pleasurable. "Braldt, my
beloved husband! I remember you now," she murmured as he withdrew from her. Facing him once again,
she reached out to him, but the sensation of movement again assaulted her mind and his image began to fade
from her view. "No!" she cried,
"Don't leave me again! I cannot bear the pain if you are taken from me again!"
"Nalynn, my beloved, don't forget me! We shall be rejoined if you will give yourself to Lloth!"
There were fields, lovely fields of ripening grain; orchards bearing wondrous fruits the like of
which she'd never seen before. Somewhere in the distance, she heard trees sighing as the vista changed
again to a deep forest. A bird cried out, in a voice most familiar. She gazed into the sky and glimpsed a
great eagle but it was not he who spoke. A smaller bird off to the side--a raven.
"Nalynn!" it cried out to her mind "Help is on the way. Do not give in to Ebonstarr's powers! Fight,
or all will be lost!"
As she struggled to understand, darkness once again engulfed her as she fell into a whirling vortex
of sight and sound. Brilliant colors and exquisite music surrounded her. She plummeted through a tunnel,
saw jewels of unspeakable beauty and splendor. Deeper and deeper she went, lost in a wonderland which
brought tears to her eyes as she tried to grasp the meaning of this strange world.
"The jewels, the music" a voice whispered, "All of this shall be yours if you give yourself to
Lloth."
She came to rest in a large cavern studded with jewels and draped with fine silks and soft pillows.
The hand which had led her to this place withdrew from her hand as she fell onto a bed as soft as the finest
Eider feathers in the realm. The chamber was warm and comfortable; she tried to move but found herself
still unable to do so.
Light flooded into the chamber through a door, which she could swear had not been there a
moment ago. Through it, he came. "Braldt!", she cried out, "You have returned to me!"
"Aye Nalynn, 'tis I. This is my home - and yours now too. Ebonstarr has been most kind to me, and
she wishes this to be your home as well." He knelt upon the bed and took her in his arms. "Love me,