The captain in Falconwing Square was somewhat less than pleased. "I send you on a routine patrol and you come back with a civilian, bound gagged and unconscious?" The elf eyed the woman draped over Deonius' shoulder as if she were last week's trash, certainly not making any move to help her.
"She claimed she was a Magistrix… by the name of Ailithera?"
The captain scowled, flipping back the soft red curls to have a better look at the woman's face. After a moment he lifted an eyebrow. "So it is. Ailithera Cloudscryer in the flesh. You had better hope she never finds out your name, recruit. This one's ability to hold a grudge is something of a legend."
Deon could not hold back a wince. "She knows it. She begged me not to kill one of the Wretched… claimed it was her brother."
"Was she plotting to use them to stage a coup?"
"Er… not exactly. She claimed to believe she could study them, find a cure. I think she just visited so he could feed from her abilities. Couldn't bear to leave a sibling to his fate."
The captain threw back his head and laughed. "A juicy story either way, recruit. But if you think such a scandal will somehow save your pathetic hide from her wrath, I'm afraid you have things quite backwards."
Deon scowled as he felt her begin to stir.