Chapter 4: Reunions
East Fair, 10 months after the seizure of the city
Ivid sat in the small dim cell that had been his home for nearly a year, quietly seething at his predicament. The war had been going well, diverting the attention of the other kingdoms while his plans had been blossoming and bearing fruit. Aerdi's unusual quiescence during that time had some of the nearby kingdoms, particularly Nyrond, worried but the lack of pressure from the often unstable monarch was considered a blessed relief at that time. In war, one never looked a gift horse in the mouth and probing too closely could easily have roused the kingdom's ire when it was least desirable. The necromancer Iuz had been particularly helpful, showing his priests and clerics the unholy secret to creating intelligent undead. The lich-god Vecna jealously guarded the secrets that were his to command, dropping them into mortal hands only occasionally like precious jewels, but the communion between Iuz and his master as well as Nerull the dark god of death and murder had convinced the lich lord part with a few. Of course, that pact hinged on the conclusion that the army's unstoppable nature would soon ensure all of Oerth was covered in undead. Stripped of their mortal followers through whom they dispensed their power and blind to the workings of evil, the gods of good would be weakened to the extent that, even should they try to manifest themselves on the mortal plane directly, their avatars would be easily dispatched by the uncountable hordes of dark creatures under the gods' command. In time, evil would become so pervasive that the realms the gods of good controlled would become pockets of light in an ocean of unending darkness, eroded away and eventually vanishing in the fullness of eternity.
At least, that was the plan.
When that accursed cleric had first arrived on Oerth the gods had been shocked and confused as to what this might portend. While their divine sight allowed them glimpses into the future this creature, human as he was in appearance, was from a place beyond normal reality; even the mind-breaking chaos of the Outer Planes they had occasionally glimpsed were closer than the place this being had come from. From all appearances he was completely outside of the tapestry of fate and thus had the ability to cause massive changes in present and future events; a terrifying prospect to be sure. And then the damn Outsider had gone and allied himself with Pelor before vanishing while inside his own kingdom! The demonic messengers he had spoken with had been understandably upset with this little piece of news and he had been chastised greatly for it. While the man's presence and the fact that no dark agency could divine what powers he might have had been worrisome in the beginning, the Outsider seemed to be in no hurry to destroy the world or wreck their plans. After a time the gods had begun to relax, occasionally using their mortal followers to observe him but not interfere greatly as he appeared relatively harmless. Iuz, of course, had taken a more proactive stance and in the end he had suffered for it. But not even in the gods' wildest imaginations had they thought that this mortal would be able to overcome their massive force once it had been unleashed!
Ivid sighed to himself. At least the damn fool is gone along with that pest of an ArchCleric! Two birds with one stone as they say.
He only wished it hadn't cost him his entire dark army to do it!
Even after word of Iuz's destruction at the hand of that creature and his minions came to him, he still held out hope. After all, even with Iuz and his army destroyed the secret was still known to the necromancers he had employed within the city and he himself knew the secret, even if he was unable to draw upon the dark arts required. There were always dark forces in the world who would give anything for the knowledge he possessed and East Fair held more than most. And then, only a few weeks later, that damnable dragon had swooped in and ruined everything! In one instant he had gone from being the most powerful ruler on the continent into a political prisoner! While he was puzzled by the current administration's desire to keep their prisoners clean and fed, he was certainly not going to complain about it. The piles of hay had been removed, replaced by lumpy but serviceable mats and the cells were kept clean. The meals he was fed were simple and (thankfully!) not poisoned. The waste buckets were emptied constantly and every few days he and the others were allowed to bathe. Compared to what he had put his own prisoners through this was luxury but that certainly did not cause him to feel gratitude to those that had imprisoned him. He was certain his minions had attempted to free him, of course, but the guards had obviously been too careful and too numerous to allow such a thing as he had never heard a sound of commotion or struggle beyond the door. Still, even without his empire, even locked as he was in this cell, he was still a valuable commodity to the right people! If only he could gain access to them…
Suddenly the clomping of boots intruded on his introspection as the cell door clattered before it was unlocked. Two grim-faced guards stood before him, dressed in chainmail shirts and white trousers with swords attached to their belts.
"Get up, Ivid." One of them commanded gruffly. "Come with us."
The deposed monarch looked them over languidly before seemingly dismissing them. Frowning, the two men entered his cell, hoisting him up under his arms as one of them got in his face.
"It wasn't a request!"
Ivid worked his mouth a bit before spitting contemptuously in the man's eye. Gritting his teeth with a glare, the guard wiped the spittle away before the two of them put Ivid to his feet and pushed him out the door. Outside, a small guard contingent waited.
Ivid smirked. "Ah, I take it I am to be escorted back to my throne room with all pomp and circumstance then?"
Several of the men glared at his impertinence while others merely smiled grimly. The guard next to him shook his head before he was pushed into the middle of the ring, the rest forming ranks behind him. They swiftly marched Ivid out of the dungeons and into the cleaning room where he was stripped, washed, trimmed, and given a new loose grey robe. The men then led him out of the dungeons and into the upper floors of the building. While no dramatic changes had been made, Ivid did note idly that the banners had been changed from that of Aerdi to a new standard he didn't recognize. The white banner with yellow stripes down the sides contained the image of a silver sunburst with a stylized golden dragon encircled within the rays. On other walls was a circular plaque done in silver with a fiery golden torch surrounded by golden rays with an open book beneath the torch. Frowning to himself and vowing to have these atrocious decorations removed at his earliest convenience, the man was led to a nearby room. As the large wooden doors opened with a thud, the guards led him into the room beyond. The room itself was fairly simple with a few rows of benches to the left and right of the main aisle. In the center of the room was a single chair seated in the center of a dais nearly 10 feet in circumference. Near the dais was a simple wooden desk and chair where a man in pearl and grey sat, organizing various documents while a white-robed cleric stood on the other side. Against the wall was another desk where a man in plain clothes sat with a large book and quills in front of him. At the back of the room behind a large and more ornate desk with the same silver plaque sat a stern-faced man in lavish white and black robes.
The guards led Ivid to the chair and seated him in it before moving back several feet, beyond the dais. Ivid quickly stood, glaring at the man before him.
"Return me to my throne room at once and be done with this nonsense!" He shouted. "Do you know who I am?"
"Silence!" The man behind the desk ordered. "Seat yourself and comport yourself properly or you will be restrained, is that clear?"
Quivering in anger, Ivid glanced at the guards standing nearby before slowly calming himself, seating himself carefully in the chair. Stepping forward onto the dais and behind the chair, the cleric cast a spell. Immediately, Ivid felt a tingling about him as the man in pearl and grey stepped onto the dais as well.
"The zone of truth is in place, Lord High Justiciar." The cleric stated formally. "I have scanned him and there are no enchantments upon his person nor any spells or artifacts of magical potency."
The man in black and white robes nodded. "Very well then. Ivid the Fourth, former Overking of Aerdi, you have been brought before me today to face the charges that have been levied against you by the people of Aerdi." The judge stated formally as nearby, the scratching of a quill was heard. "The man beside you is your counselor and will represent your interests in these matters. You will be asked a series of questions, the truth spell around you will prevent you and anyone within its radius from lying. Do you understand?"
Ivid nodded stiffly.
"Let the record show that the Defendant has indicated his understanding." The judge stated. "Now then, Ivid, have you in the past, had contact with the necromancer known as Iuz?"
"I have." Ivid ground out, attempting to keep his mouth shut.
"And did you, during those times of contact, concoct a scheme whereby you intended to create undead using the people of Aerdi as subjects?"
"At times." Ivid replied reluctantly.
The judge frowned slightly at the man's impertinence. "But some of the time you did, correct?"
Ivid frowned. "Yes."
"What other topics were discussed during those times of contact?" The judge asked.
"We spoke of his transformation into lichdom and often communed with the gods." Ivid replied tersely.
"Which gods specifically were you and Iuz in communion with during those times?" The judge asked.
"Vecna and Nerull." Ivid said through clenched teeth.
The judge sat back in astonishment before marshaling his features. The questioning continued for nearly an hour and while Ivid often attempted to obscure or remain vague with his answers, the man before him always asked him specific and precise questions, several of them requiring a yes or no answer. Once the judge had completed his questioning, the man beside Ivid began to speak in his defense about the positive programs Ivid had created during his time as Overking. The man was clearly attempting to paint him in a more positive light, extolling every virtue he could but Ivid's multitude of crimes made such pleadings difficult at best. Once he was finished, the judge sat back in thought for a few moments before he spoke.
"I cannot deny that this man has done good works in his time. However, a few good deeds cannot absolve him of the horrific crimes he has committed. Regardless of what good he might have done, those works were not done out of altruism or a desire to genuinely help others but merely to satisfy his own selfish ends, or at most, prevent a popular uprising amongst the people. By his own testimony, he has confirmed this. While doing good for purely practical reasons is not a crime nor unethical, the Defendant has also admitted that he conspired with the gods of evil and with Iuz the necromancer with no less than the intention of destroying all life on this continent, and perhaps even the entire planet, to replace it with undead minions loyal to him and his masters. Such crimes against all intelligent beings on such a scale cannot go unpunished."
The Justiciar paused for a moment before continuing. "Under the laws of justice established by the Lord of Utopia, certain sentences can only be brought against individuals who have committed the most heinous of crimes. Those persons must also prove, by their past deeds and their own admission without coercion, that they would commit such crimes again if given the opportunity without guilt or remorse."
Focusing on Ivid, the judge spoke. "Ivid the Fourth, if you were given the opportunity to commit such crimes as have been revealed today, freely and without any form of persuasion or coercion by any outside force, would you do so?"
Ivid struggled against the spell, before he spat out a word. "Happily."
The judge frowned in consternation. "Would you, Ivid the Fourth, be willing to submit to a carefully monitored rehabilitation program with the end result of your being integrated into society?"
"I will never submit to your scaly master or his rules!" Ivid sneered. "This land is mine to do with as I see fit!"
The judge deflated slightly at Ivid's statements before he continued. "So be it. Based on the testimony made here today I can only conclude that the Defendant is completely unrepentant of his crimes. Because of his previous political position as well as his pacts with various demonic forces and evil deities, he constitutes a permanent and continuous danger, not only to those around him, but to the wider populace at large. As such, permanent incarceration is not a viable option. Therefore, by my authority as High Justiciar of Utopia and in consideration for the safety of the people of Utopia, I order this man be put to death."
The Justiciar looked down at Ivid with a hint of sorrow in his eye. "I pray the gods have mercy upon you."
Ivid merely glared hatefully at the man as the guards stepped forward. The cleric and counselor removed themselves from the dais before the guards encircled him once more.
"Guards, remove this man from the courtroom and bring him to the palace square." The Justiciar ordered. "Our Lord informed me that he wished to look upon the Defendant himself before his sentence was acted upon."
Saluting, the guard contingent pulled Ivid from the chair before marching him back down the aisle and out the doors. After going down several flights of stairs and a few twists and turns, they came to the main doors of the building. The guards in front threw them open and a loud tumultuous noise was heard from outside. As he neared the doors, Ivid could see throngs of people chanting and shouting at him, many shaking their fists in anger as they were held back by lines of armored men in plate mail with shields, forming a living steel pathway. The guards quickly moved through the gap, ensuring Ivid's protection as they marched towards the square.
The afternoon was beautiful with barely a cloud in the sky as the two travelers neared the city of East Fair. One was a young man with a mop of brown, slightly curly hair and brown eyes. He was dressed in earthy colors of green and brown under a studded leather breastplate covering his upper body and a sword slung over his back. The other, in contrast, was a young woman with fiery red hair, sharp green eyes, and an equally lean face. Unlike most women of the day, she wore an emerald green blouse and black pants more befitting a man. A wide leather belt encircled her waist, from which hung several pouches and a thick book. As the pair neared the gates of the city, she looked over at her companion.
"Do you have that letter of invitation we got?" She asked.
The man nodded, removing the filigreed letter from his pocket. "Right here."
The woman nodded. As they approached the gate, she noted that the traditional banners that had hung on the city's walls had been replaced with new dragon and sunburst tapestries. Frowning slightly in confusion she looked to the gate guards, noticing their colors also changed from Aerdi's former colors to white and silver. As they approached, one of them stepped forward.
"Name and purpose of business please?" The man asked.
The man handed the guard the note. "Torin Rimic and Alisha Warren. We are here at the specific request of Lord Prometheus."
The man looked the note over before handing it back with a nod. "Enjoy your stay." He told them before stepping back.
The two travelers continued on through the reinforced doors and into the city proper. The two had been summoned by the enigmatic Lord Prometheus nearly a week ago, the new ruler having invited them to East Fair for a short visit. While the news of Ivid's dethroning and the dragon Prometheus's seizure of the city had spread like wildfire across the continent, the two had paid scant attention, wrapped up as they were in their own private affairs. Ever since the news regarding the Battle of Radigast had reached their ears, the lack of information regarding Beowulf and Ash had been disheartening. Mitrik as a whole had been in mourning for weeks over the loss of their beloved Canon, yet another casualty of the seemingly impossible battle that occurred. The two had, of course, heard of the parts their friends had played, facing down the terrible lich on their own while the armies looked on, but the tales seemed to grow more and more fantastic with each telling until it seemed to them the entire battle had been blown completely out of proportion. Some spoke of blazing fire coming from the talons of dark dragons on the side of good while a multitude of dark sorcerers fired horrible magics into the sky in retaliation. The only thing that could be agreed upon was the fact that a massive blast of divine power had destroyed the enemy to a man, costing the Canon, and presumably Ash, their lives. While some claimed to have seen Beowulf in the area at the time it occurred, no one knew where he was now and no one had any idea of Ash's whereabouts. The fact that neither of them had tried to contact them or even return to Mitrik after nearly a year seemed to be the most conclusive evidence of all that the two of them had perished. And then the letter had been sent to the two of them by courier.
After several days of discussion, the pair had decided to see why East Fair's new lord had an interest in them. While they themselves were hardly people of note in Mitrik, Ash's name still carried some weight and the two managed to acquire the services of the court's wizards to transport them to the edge of East Fair's borders. A short walk later had brought them into the city proper. As Torin looked around, he was vaguely disconcerted to find the normally bustling streets nearly empty of people. As they continued to walk towards the center of the city, they heard the cries and shouts of a vast multitude. Curious, they continued to wend their way through the streets until they came to a nearly solid wall of people several hundred feet from the main courtyard of the palace. Flagging down a nearby guard, they presented the message and were slowly escorted around the crowd.
"What's going on?" Torin asked the guard over the loud voices and chanting of the crowd.
"The Overking's trial is due to be over shortly!" The man replied. "Everyone came out wanting to see what the Lord would do to him!"
Torin nodded as they made their way through the back alleys until they drew near to the palace itself. Forcing a gap in the crowds, the guard slowly pushed his way through with the two following behind him until they stood at the edge of the courtyard. As they looked on, a contingent of guards slowly made their way through the street opposite the courtyard until they stood at its edge, though precisely who they were guarding was impossible to see. A few moments later a loud swoosh of wind was heard as the Lord of East Fair slowly circled overhead, his glittering scales catching the afternoon sunlight and reflecting it off his sinuous body. The dragon soon landed in the center of the courtyard with a loud thump to the cheers of the populace. Torin and Alisha merely stared in amazement at the awesome presence of the dragon as it seated itself near the rear of the courtyard. The guard contingent marched up to the center of the open space and neatly split into a half circle, standing behind and to the sides of the prisoner with the guard Captain standing before the man. Looking about at the crowds for a moment, Prometheus turned to look at the former Overking, his gaze cool.
"So, Ivid, once again we come face to face. I will not waste words with you this day for your punishment has already been made known to me."
Looking back to the people, he spoke to them. "My people! For many months we have labored long and hard! Now, today, the fruits of our labor are revealed! This city has been cleansed from the corrupting influences Ivid sought to foster in his mad lust for power and now the remaining bit of corruption stands before us! He has been questioned under the divine light of Pelor and has been found guilty of the crimes he was accused of! After careful consideration, the High Justiciar has declared this man be put to death!"
The crowd cheered uproariously as Torin and Alisha looked on, staring in amazement that such a powerful and dark figure as Ivid had been finally brought down. As they listened, the crowd began to chant to the dragon.
"Cleansing fire! Cleansing fire! Cleansing fire!"
Looking at the people, Prometheus lifted his claws in a request for silence. Finally, after several minutes, the crowd began to die down. When they had fallen silent, he looked at him with a hint of sadness in his eyes.
"As the law has decreed, this man shall be put to death. His crimes are terrible and his wickedness without compare. All of you have suffered under his hand and it is only right that justice be done upon him, for such terrible evil cannot be allowed to fester. But take heed, my people, and listen well!" Prometheus boomed, a grave glint in his eyes.
Looking about the crowds for a moment, he continued. "The desire for justice must be tempered with mercy and compassion or it is not justice at all! Vengeance is a terrible sin and it is hated by the gods and myself! It is true that many who live deserve death for their sins, but some who are killed by vengeance's hand deserve to live and are killed unjustly. To my people, I say this! Stay your hands and do not be swift to deal death to others, for those that live under the wrath of the sword shall also perish by it, to the grief of others! Temper yourselves and show to others the same mercy you would show to yourselves, for by your own standard shall you be judged when your time has come!"
The dragon sighed heavily before turning back to the half-ring of guards. "You may disperse guardians. Your duty here today is done."
Saluting the dragon, the guards stepped back until they ringed the outside of the courtyard, leaving Ivid alone to stand before the mighty form of the Dragon Ascendant. The immortal creature stared down at him distastefully for a moment before looking to the crowds once more.
"On this day, to mark it as a symbol of our freedom and the freedom of all others who lived under his oppressive rule, I shall myself cleanse this taint from our world."
Drawing in a deep breath, he stood and unfurled his wings. His voice became thunderous and filled with power as his aura blazed around him in a corona of golden light. "MY PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND I HAVE HEARD THEIR CRIES! LET ALL HERE KNOW THAT MY JUSTICE IS SWIFT AND IT IS FINAL! SO SPEAKS PROMETHEUS!"
Rearing back his head, the Dragon Emperor unleashed a torrent of divine fire from his gaping mouth with a terrible roar. The all-consuming fire engulfed the man standing before him, disintegrating him almost instantly as it carbonized the cobblestones beneath, leaving them smoking and charred. The people began to chant the name of their lord as they danced in jubilation, overjoyed that the former tyrant's rule had at last been put down. Torin and Alisha stood there, each overcome with an alien sensation of adulation and closure as they stared at the enormous figure before them. Seemingly in a single instant, he had broken Ivid's stranglehold over them, the old fear that had held them captive for so long finally dissipating as they realized the man's seemingly endless reach could no longer touch them. As the crowd danced and sang around the courtyard, seemingly unwilling to breach the sacred space within it, the guard slowly ushered the two forward into Prometheus's presence. Looking over at the two of them, he blinked in surprise for a moment before the guard showed him the missive. Glancing at it, the dragon smiled gently at them.
"Ah! It is fortunate that you arrive on today of all days to see Ivid's undoing. I was hoping you would see it."
"Forgive me, my lord, but you knew this would happen in advance?" Alisha asked carefully.
The dragon waved a claw carelessly. "It was never in doubt, to be honest. Ivid's crimes were well known to all and this latest atrocity would ensure his death. The rule of law would be upheld of course, but I had no doubt what the outcome would be. Come, we must speak. I have put this off for too long and for that, I apologize most humbly."
"What do you mean?" Alisha asked. "Put what off?"
"Why, the news about your friends, of course." Prometheus smiled at them. "Come. The guard will show you to a room and I shall join you there shortly. I am certain this will take a while."
As the dragon turned and lumbered back towards the palace, the guard next to them gestured with a hand. Following him in stunned silence, the two were guided into the palace and through a series of richly decorated hallways into a small sitting room. A few moments later a servant entered, bearing trays of snacks and drink, setting them on the small table in the middle of the room before exiting quietly. Seemingly lost in their own thoughts, Torin slowly wandered over to the large paned window to stare out over the city while Alisha merely sank into one of the soft chairs, a confused look on her face. After several minutes the door opened again, revealing a familiar furry figure dressed in blue and white. The two of them turned at once and Alisha leapt out of the chair with a cry.
"Beowulf!" She cried, racing towards him and engulfing him in a massive hug.
The gnoll nearly fell backwards on impact but managed to catch himself as he grinned, hugging her back tightly. He buried his nose in her hair, taking in her scent with a deep breath as he luxuriated in the feeling of her being in his arms after so long. Torin slowly walked over to his friend, staring at him in shock as Beowulf ran his fingers slowly through Alisha's hair. As she looked up at him with her vivid green eyes, her hands curled around the rough fur on the back of his head before yanking it back. His head jerked backwards as he yelped in shock, his golden eyes staring at her in hurt confusion. The woman glared daggers at him, her face cloudy.
"Nice you know you were alive you thoughtless dog! What in the Abyss is wrong with you? We waited for weeks without a word! Nothing, not even a note until lord fire-breath out there decides to send us a little note asking us to meet him here! And he won't even say for what! Was he in on this too? When were you going to tell me you were still alive?"
Beowulf's eyes got rounder and wider as the accusations and questions continued to fly, the woman in front of him ranting and raving about his thoughtlessness, his stupidity, and anything else she could think of before finally collapsing into his arms, crying. Holding her on instinct, he looked up a Torin with a completely bewildered look on his face. The man simply shook his head with the resigned look on his face, as if to say 'Don't look at me, you asked for it.'
Beowulf held her tightly, slowly rubbing circles across her back as all the pent up grief and frustration poured out from her onto the gnoll, dampening his tunic. He carefully kissed the top of her head.
"I'm so sorry." He murmured to her in his gravelly voice. "We have been working night and day for so long…so much has happened…"
She looked up at him fiercely with tears streaking down her face. "Shut up and kiss me you stupid mutt!" She ordered quietly.
Beowulf smiled slightly before bringing his lips to hers, hugging her tightly against him. Her hands gripped his fur, pulling his head closer to hers as she kissed him passionately. Finally, after a few awkward moments, Torin cleared his throat quietly, reminding them of his existence. Glancing over at him with a disdainful eye, Alisha finally pulled back, looking up at Beowulf as her fingertips trailed through the fur on the side of his head. Looking down at her, he smiled softly, wiping her tears with his padded thumbs.
"I'm here." He said gently. "I'm alive, and I'm not going anywhere." Smiling a bit wider with a twinkle in his eye, he reverted back to his previous mode of speech. "Noisy bitch not get rid of Beowulf so easy."
Alisha laughed, hugging him around his middle, her head resting against his chest in relief as he rubbed his cheek against the top of her head. Glancing up at Torin, Beowulf saw him smile in relief as his mind finally accepted the fact that his friend was still alive. Walking over, the man smacked him upside the head.
"You ever do something stupid like that again, I'll gut you with my sword." Torin informed him.
Beowulf raised an eyebrow at this. "If Beowulf does something stupid again, Beowulf not need to worry about sword. Noisy bitch kill Beowulf faster."
Alisha glared up at him with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "No, I'll just make you regret it. By cutting off these!" She stated, grabbing him between his legs.
Beowulf yelped anxiously, his eyes widening as she squeezed his bits painfully for a moment before letting her hand drop.
"No cutting?" He whimpered piteously, giving her puppy dog eyes as his ears drooped. "Beowulf be good!"
The pair laughed at his antics before the expression vanished off his face, lighting up with a smile.
Pulling his ear close to her mouth, Alisha whispered something in his ear which causes them to jerk before smiling at him.
"My humblest apologies for interrupting such a tender moment." A smooth cultured voice said from the door. "But I felt compelled to say hello." Michael said with a smile as he looked in on them. The group looked at him quizzically as he took a step into the room.
"I doubt you remember but I introduced Ash to the two of you at the inn in Edge Field." Michael explained. "I was glad to hear you all made it out of Aerdi intact."
"That over-grown lizard outside said Ash was still alive." Alisha informed him. "Where is he?"
Michael raised an eyebrow at her remark. "I would be careful with your tongue, my dear." He cautioned her gently. "Prometheus is considered a savior in this city and he has the adoration of many, including Ivid's former army. While he would not take great offense at being called such, those around him might have less restraint."
Alisha snorted derisively, her arms folded under her chest. "Bring them on. I'll blast them all into powder."
Michael simply smiled indulgently. "No doubt, my dear. But at the moment you desired to see your friend, did you not?"
Alisha nodded. "Where is that lump of a cleric anyway? He's got some nerve leaving us high and dry without a word for so long!"
Michael nodded. "He wishes to express his deepest apologies. You must understand that a great many things have happened since Radigast where he fought Iuz. Restructuring the city and clearing it of Ivid's influence has literally taken all of our time. In addition, the need for security was also paramount. You must understand that the world and more importantly the dark gods believe Ash to be dead. He wishes to keep it that way if possible."
Alisha shrugged. "Let him apologize to me himself then. Or is he too good to apologize to my face?" She challenged.
Michael gestured with a hand. "This way, if you please."
As the group was led out into the hallway, Torin bent to murmur in Alisha's ear. "While we're here, we should check on your dad and my folks. I hope they're still here."
Alisha nodded in agreement as the cleric led them to the massive throne room that once belonged to the Overking. He threw open the doors with a flourish and led them inside. The vaulted, enclosed room was overlaid with black marble and red granite pillars etched with dark runes, confirming and at the same time displaying ostentatiously, Ivid's connection to the demonic to those who dared enter his domain. A blood red carpet with gold trim ran from the doorway all the way up several small tiers of marble stairs to the back of the room where a large, intricately carved wooden chair made from dark wood, sat. The cushions were burgundy colored with the armrests ending in claws. The entire room gave the impression one sat at the heart of a vast kingdom of darkness. Next to the chair, completely out of place with the gothic surroundings, stood a man in white and gold robes with his hands clasped behind his back. Prometheus smiled at them before he made his way down the steps away from the throne. His friends stared at him silently for a few moments as he approached them. Looking into their eyes, he saw doubt and indecision in them.
"Why do you doubt?" He asked them quietly. "Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have. Nor am I wearing an illusion or altered by a spell, Michael's presence testifies to that."
Frowning, Alisha stepped forward and slapped him on the face.
Beowulf and Torin stared at her in shock as Michael impassively watched. Turning his head back to her he opened his mouth again only to be slapped a second time on the other cheek.
Ash quickly stepped back out of range. "I suppose that's what it means to turn the other cheek." He muttered, looking at Alisha. "Before you slap me again, may I at least try to apologize for my oversight?"
Glaring at him, Alisha sniffed. "Oh yes, please do grovel at my feet. I think I've earned it."
To the surprise of everyone, the disguised dragon knelt before his friend in supplication. "I most humbly apologize for my thoughtlessness. I left you without news and never once sent you even a note to tell you I was alive. I have no excuse for such terrible behavior. I only pray you can find it in your heart to forgive me in time."
For a moment she stood there in frigid silence, glaring at the man she had thought was dead. Finally, she spoke.
"Get up." She ordered frostily.
Prometheus quickly got to his feet, gazing at her apologetically with a hint of inquisitiveness in his eyes. She looked him up and down before speaking again.
"You do know I'm seriously pissed off at you right now, don't you?" She asked coldly.
Prometheus nodded silently.
Moving in close she wrapped her arms around him tightly. He held her silently for a moment before she pulled back, looking into his face.
"You're a thoughtless, idiotic fool." She stated tiredly. "You know that, right?"
Prometheus nodded with a hint of a smile. "I've been told so and I dare not disagree."
Alisha arched an eyebrow at this. "So, you can learn after all. If you ever repeat something like this again, I'll sacrifice you to the dark gods."
Prometheus bobbed his head in acceptance. "Yes, ma'am."
"Good." Alisha declared forcefully. "Now, get us something to eat. You can explain everything that's been going on while we eat your food."
Prometheus chuckled before leading the way to one of the dining rooms.