Baldur's gate II_ throne of Bhaal - Drew Karpyshyn [13]
Abdel grunted in surprise and pain and chopped down with another blow. The woman dodged out of the way again, but this time Abdel was expecting it. His move had been a feint, and when she spun to avoid his sword, he lashed out with his leg, sweeping her off her feet.
His heavy broadsword stabbed down to finish off his prone opponent, but she managed to roll out of the way, and Abdel struck only the hard ground, the shockwave sending a jarring bolt of pain up through his injured arm.
The woman was on her feet again, blades poised to deliver another series of razor quick slashes to Abdel's bare skin. If he had been whole, Abdel knew, he would have easily dispatched the woman. She was fast, but Abdel was faster, but only when he wasn't hampered by a useless arm. Unable to grip his massive sword with both hands, Abdel couldn't deliver the lightning-quick counter-strikes he often used to overwhelm his opponents.
Instead, he was forced to take a defensive approach, delivering several wide, sweeping passes of his blade to force his opponent back. The woman moved out of range easily each time, and despite her retreat, her hungry eyes constantly sought the slightest hint of an opening that would allow her to finish the battle.
Weary from blood loss, the warrior stumbled, and the woman was on him. Abdel managed to parry the first blade as it flashed toward his eyes, but the point of the second struck unimpeded, piercing his side just above the belt. Abdel screamed in frustrated rage and pain, dropped his weapon to the ground, and unleashed the wrath of Bhaal.
The unholy taint that pulsed within the sellsword's veins erupted in an explosion of insane fury, overwhelming Abdel's mind and soul. Although there was no change in Abdel's physical appearance, the part of him that was Abdel nearly ceased to exist, all but consumed by the raging inferno of hate and bloodlust. The Lord of Murder walked the land again.
Mindlessly Abdel seized the woman with both hands, heedless of his mangled left arm. The horrified female was pulled into a lethal bear hug, Abdel's massive, muscled limbs wrapping around her body and pinning her arms to her sides. He squeezed, and the sound of cracking, snapping bones echoed through the clearing.
Tilting back her head to scream, the woman could only manage a choking gurgle. Her eyes rolled back into her head, blood bubbled up from her mouth and nose, and crimson tears rolled down her cheeks.
Trapped within his own consciousness, Abdel fought to regain his sense of self, fought to cage the part of him he had unwittingly unleashed. He was powerless to do anything but watch as Bhaal's avatar leaned his head forward and tore a piece of flesh from the dying woman's neck, feasting on his vanquished foe. The struggles of the woman grew weaker, and Abdel disdainfully let her drop to the ground in a quivering mass of pulpy flesh.
The monster turned its attention to the two women standing only a few yards away. The essence of Bhaal tried to advance the body it now possessed, but through sheer force of will Abdel refused to let it take a single step. It stood with one foot raised as Abdel struggled to regain control of his physical being, struggled to douse the unquenchable fire of Bhaal within his own soul.
"Abdel," Jaheira asked, a concerned look on her face. "Abdel, what's happening?"
He wanted to scream out a warning to her, but all of bis focus was on preventing his own possessed body from taking that first, fateful step. Then he felt the transformation begin. Despite all his efforts, his body was beginning to change. He was becoming the four-armed demon known to mortals as the Ravager.
"Abdel!" Imoen shrieked, her own expression mirroring that of Jaheira's. "No, Abdel!"
Chapter Three
The faces of Imoen and Jaheira seemed to melt into the gray nothing that suddenly surrounded