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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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Trias smiled, sadly. "No. But you wear the marks <strong>of</strong> it upon your face and<br />

carry it within your heart. Should these chains <strong>be</strong> lifted from me... then I<br />

should <strong>be</strong> able <strong>to</strong> divine your purpose more deeply, guide you more truly.<br />

Until then..." The deva shrugged. "Until then I can<strong>not</strong> even give you the<br />

<strong>be</strong>nefit <strong>of</strong> good advice. These chains smother memory and instinct."<br />

Chapter 99<br />

The gate that the deva directed me <strong>to</strong> was held in place by massive locks<br />

and barbs. Annah studied the mechanism for a minute, s<strong>to</strong>od, then shook<br />

her head.<br />

"'Tis locked by magic rather than gearwork. I cannae get past it," she<br />

grumbled sourly.<br />

That was no problem. I spoke the three syllables that Trias gave me. At the<br />

first the gate creaked and groaned. The metal barbs twisted and pulled on<br />

the second, and on the third, the gates sprung open.<br />

The guard on the other side blinked at seeing us. "What in the Nine Hells are<br />

you <strong>do</strong>ing <strong>do</strong>wn here?" he growled, "Are you the <strong>be</strong>rks that've <strong>be</strong>en settin'<br />

<strong>of</strong>f the alarms?"<br />

"The deva sent me," I shrugged.<br />

He smiled, "You'll <strong>be</strong> joining the celestial choir soon enough, <strong>be</strong>rk."<br />

They were dealt with quickly.<br />

We walked <strong>do</strong>wn halls devoid <strong>of</strong> hope, where desperation and isolation<br />

drove men mad. They reached out from <strong>be</strong>tween the bars with unwashed<br />

hands, screaming obscenities. The hallway was a gauntlet <strong>of</strong> curses and<br />

screams. A faint fecal stench was in the air, and my head swam with nausea<br />

at the stink <strong>of</strong> human bodies. The ranks <strong>of</strong> prison guards broke against us in<br />

waves. Even though we were soaked in the blood <strong>of</strong> their companions they<br />

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