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

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"How about I just demonstrate my power on this one man? Show you how<br />

serious I am and how I can sunder your entire court if I have <strong>to</strong>. It'd save both<br />

<strong>of</strong> us a great deal <strong>of</strong> time, resources, and yammering, wouldn't you say?"<br />

"Enough! Enough, you wight! I agree! PLEASE, I agree!" It wasn't the fear for<br />

the lives <strong>of</strong> his men that made Pharod agree, nor was it simple, pure reason.<br />

I knew the look in his eyes well, as I've seen it many times in the eyes <strong>of</strong> men<br />

who <strong>be</strong>trayed their companions, from prisoners who killed their cellmates for<br />

food they had squirreled away. Pharod agreed only <strong>be</strong><strong>cause</strong> he was afraid <strong>of</strong><br />

what I might <strong>do</strong> <strong>to</strong> HIM.<br />

It served my purposes just fine. The thug dropped <strong>to</strong> the floor in a clank <strong>of</strong><br />

armor and scurried away.<br />

"Thank you, Your Highness," I bowed politely, "I'm sure you'll find my terms<br />

most agreeable."<br />

~~~~~<br />

I swallowed hard, shaking the rest <strong>of</strong> the memory <strong>of</strong>f. "I'm- I'm sorry about<br />

your people, Pharod. That wasn't me... but if I can make up the loss <strong>to</strong> you, I<br />

will."<br />

Pharod tsked. "No matter, their bodies served me well enough. The Dusties<br />

pay the same for fresh deaders as for old..."<br />

How long ago did I first meet him? Ten years? Twenty? Strange how the<br />

most horrific acts can cool in such a short time. What sympathy I did have<br />

was bleeding away if he treated his companions so callously, "Was that the<br />

only reason you agreed <strong>to</strong> my request?"<br />

"You knew things about me... things only I knew. You knew I was greedy for<br />

somethin' <strong>be</strong>neath Sigil, and you put a name and picture <strong>to</strong> it: the bronze<br />

sphere, you said. I didn't think you would fetch it for me..." He chuckled.<br />

"Yet did you? Aye. The Planes turn in strange ways..."<br />

"And that's all you know?"<br />

"All I know? Nay... but it's all I know about you, corpse."<br />

347

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