Chapter 8

Thire marched down the halls of the Prison with vehemence. His hand was balled into a fist that burned with a passionate fury. He felt as if he could set the whole complex ablaze with his anger. He stormed through several groups of guards, knocking over a few in frustration. He reached the Maroon level and looked up a flight of stairs at cellblock 64. This was it, this is where he would find the answers he needed. He burst open the Cell door, charging at Haldroun.

"So, what did your war-" Haldroun said with a jolly demeanor.

Thire cut off the mage, grabbing him by the collar of his dirtied garbs. He held him in mid-air, where Haldroun was dangling with surprise.

"Tell me about the two people you killed that night they arrested you... What did they look like?!" Thire ordered with a cold voice

"I-I..I don't know what you're talking ab-" Haldroun said with shock, before being slammed against the cell wall

"Describe them! Now!"

"One was...was a male, he had jet black hair and red robes..." Haldroun replied

"And? What about the Knight!!"

"I..I couldn't get a good look at her! She had scarlet hair...she had scarlet hair, and she was a bit shorter than me..."

Thire could not believe it. All this time was the man who had committed the atrocity that condemned him to months of sorrow and anguish. He was there in his grasp the entire time, but instead of following his hunch about the murders, he sat there and gained his trust... and put trust in him.

"Son of a bitch!" Thire threw Haldroun across the cell, where he crashed into the iron barricade. "You sat there and you spoon fed me your bullshit, and I ate it up!! I cannot believe this. And you're a Frostfury? You either are a lowly thug looking for some cheap recognition in this hellhole, or you're a disgrace to your family name. Do you know who that Knight was?? That was my wife! That was the woman I cherished most, and you took her away!"

Thire took the bruised mage to a corner, and had his revenge upon him. He battered him to a pulp, mangling his facial features. He did not relent, he felt like after all this time, Haldroun deserved it. He stopped only for a second to wipe the sweat from his brow, and he continued the beating. Haldroun finally found the strength to push Thire away. He coughed up a small amount of blood before speaking to the vengeful Knight.

"Do you really know what happened that night?? Do you! I killed that man because he was a dealer, I killed him because he got me addicted to that wretched leaf!! Thats why I was shaking the first time we met, I was going through withdrawl symptoms! I killed that man for revenge!! Revenge! Not so I could be a murderer or some criminal! I did it to turn my life around! But look where I am now, In this hellish place! I did what you are trying to do, and I got nothing but misery... I am truly sorry for killing your wife, but I had no choice. She charged me as you did. She attacked me with the same emotionlessness you possessed. I did what I could to protect myself, and it unfortunately ended in her death... I'm apologize, I truly do..."

Thire stood there, listening to the blood-washed elf. He had no remorse in his eyes, only the frozen sting of vengeance. He realized however, that in his rage, Thire had become as gruesome and as immoral as the people who worked on the black floor.

"Are...are you going to kill me now?" asked the beaten mage

"I will decide your fate tomorrow..." replied Thire with a grim voice.

Haldroun nodded as Thire left the cell. He was confused, however. Why would the warden give him an assignment concerning his wife's murderer? Why would he withhold such information? Why would he betray Thire's trust? Thire needed answers, and he needed them now. But from where? The Warden? He is about as trusty as a merciless drug lord, which was probably what he was. The only answers he would get from him would be concerning the package, and that level of information was no where near the amount of answers he needed. Thire then remembered the address written on his arm, the place where Haldroun said he would find answers. Even though he had lost trust in the magister, he realized that the magister still had trust in him. So he set off to the address, awaiting answers.

Thire stood in murder row, looking at the dark shops and dangerous enclaves. Every thing was darker in this part of the city, even in midday it seemed like twilight. He found the place he was directed to, a small fortune telling shop. Thire wondered why he would want to see a quack mystic for answers, but he went in away, feeling as if this was the place where answers could be found. Before even opening the door, Thire heard a voice beckon out at him.

"Be comin' in, ya?" said an elderly troll voice.

Thire walked into the shop to find an old, blind troll woman sitting on a small pillow. She wore shamanistic clothing that emanated an aura of power. Even though she couldn't see, she could sense Thire's presence.

"Hello shaman, I am-"

"Thire, Thire Blackdawn ya? I been expectin ya fa ages now. Da man in da cell, he sent ya 'ere didn't 'e?"

"Err... Yes, yes he did, elder shaman."

"O' please, be callin' me Yo'jim. I be da keeper of dis place, an' its inhabitants..."

"Right... How did you know I would be here, and that Haldroun sent me?"

"O', dar be many ways to be seenin' into da future! Some tings are never clear, but joo has a destiny Thire... Ya experiences have molded ya fate, and thus I can look in ta things not yet done. Ya seek answers don't ja?"

"Yes, Yo'jim. I have been deprived of answers for almost two months now, and I hope you can help me."

"O' yes, o' yes. I can help ya. But first ya must be willin' to do as I say, ja?" Yo'jim threw Thire a small brown bag filled with green leaves.

"Hold on...This is Bloodthistle! Why are you giving me Bloodthistle!?"

"Ya must be'com ya antithesis if ya be wantin the answers joo seek, Thire. Go to da room on de left and put de leaves into da fire. Be makin sure the room be sealed shut, correct?"

"Yes, Yo'jim." With that, Thire walked into the room. The room contained a small brazier that burned with a solemn flame. There was a large bench near the wall made of old, cracked wood. Thire hesitantly put the leaves into the brazier, where they burned with enormous speed. Soon smoke filled the room, and Thire sat on the bench waiting for something to happen. Soon, the fire started to burn a bright white that covered the room. It seemed the melt the walls into a pearl white state. Everything started to illuminate, even Thire's armor turned white. It seemed heavenly, serene, something that Thire had yearned for. He looked towards the other end of the room to find a woman. She was human, wearing Judgement armor.

"Hello Thire." said the woman, whose voice was soft and reassuring

"Who are you?" asked Thire, who was still sitting on the bench

"Who I am is not important, Thire. What I am is. I am a manifestation of the Light, Thire. I watch over and protect those who uphold morality, peace, and the greater good. But the definition of 'the greater good' seems to be blurred here in Silvermoon. The so-called wielders of the light are misguided, soul-less... but you Thire, you are a true tenant of the light."

"Thank you... But I am not here for talk... I need answers."

"And answers you will receive. There is something amiss here. Your service to Warden Silas. You have a dedication to service, Thire... but you have been dedicated to a corrupt service. Your warden has distracted you from what you should be doing, helping the people of Silvermoon."

"Yes... but what am I to do? The warden is much to powerful for me to do anything!"

"You must do what you think is right."

"What? Retribution??"

"No... Redemption. You must redeem yourself for what you have done, Thire. You must end this facade." The woman faded away, and the room returned to normal. Thire woke up on the floor, sweating profusely. His vision was somewhat blurred, but it returned to normal after time. He walked out of the room somewhat disoriented.

"Did ja find answers, mon?" asked Yo'jim

"Yes...Yes I did..." said Thire

"Good...good. Be on ya way, Thire."

Thire walked out of the shop, knowing what he had to do. He went towards the prison, seeking to end the shroud of lies and distrust around him. Again, he broke into the warden's office. He saw the warden inspecting the bomb before Silas turned to face him.

"So, did you question him?" asked Silas with a smirk

"Yes...its true... he did kill her..."

"And did you kill him, Thire? Did you claim your righteous vengeance?"

"No... he doesn't deserve to die..."

"What do you mean, Blackdawn??? He killed the one person who was closest to you and you're not going to do anything?"

"I did what I tried to do... He killed that drug runner out of vengeance! While we're on the topic, I want the truth... are you the cartel leader?"

Silas stared at Thire for a moment

"I took the cartel over, yes... But for reasons I must explain, Thire..." Silas pulled out the small blue paper that was inside the package. "This is the system you received from HF-11. Do you know why I put it in the package?"

Thire stood in silence

"I'm trying to make this drug safer, for the public. This leaf has special properties, that make us stronger, more alert. I'm trying to make this race more powerful!"

"By making a drug a bit less dangerous?? This is destroying Silvermoon, you said it yourself!"

"I lied! I did! I needed your trust, and it worked. This is for the greater good!"

"Quit lecturing me about the greater good, Silas! Did you need my trust so that I could question Haldroun?"

"I had you question HF-11 because I needed to know if you could kill someone on notice... even if they were trusted peers! Thats the kind of iron will it takes to survive here, and if you cannot adopt that kind of demeanor, you will not survive."

"I'm through with this, Warden. I'm done with you. I'm going to release Haldroun, and there is no way in hell you can stop me."

Thire headed towards the oak door, but before he could leave, Silas charged towards him.

"I'm stopping you now, Blackdawn!" Silas ran towards the knight, a twisted dagger in his hand. Thire reacted just in time, brandishing his broadsword. In taking out his weapon, however, Thire struck a near fatal blow on Silas. The warden wore no armor, as he thought he was in no danger. He was sadly mistaken. He fell to the ground with a painful thud.

"Garh... You...fool! Get a...get a medic!" Silas begged for help

"I'm sorry, Silas..." Thire looked down at his former mentor before taking off his service badge, "But I do not take orders from drug lords." Thire realized that the Warden would be able to alert someone if he wasn't dealt with. He looked around for something to silence him. He found some rope, in which he would tie his mouth up. He also found the bomb he was told to deliver. He re-wired it, placing it on the fine wooden desk the warden cherished so much.

"Special delivery, Warden. See you in another life." Thire walked out of the office, leaving the warden to his fate.