Depths of Madness - Erik Scott De Bie [47]
The goliath rummaged through his rucksack and pulled forth a skull with two broken horns.
"That's a good sign-I guess others must have gotten here first." She ran her fingers across the skull. "Unless, of course, minotaurs eat their mates after season."
Liet gaped at her. "Th-that was a jest, aye?" he asked, trembling.
Twilight grinned at him.
"Ah." Liet's face scrunched. " 'Tisn't a matter I'd thought of-ah-overmuch."
Slip cast a final healing spell upon Taslin. The priestess coughed and awoke. Acid had eaten holes in her mail, ruined her boots, and burned red marks across her cheeks. The sizzling fluid had not ruined her fine features, but the scars remained apparent. Her sword had incurred the most damage-its blade broken and the crescent moon symbol pitted and scorched. Twilight hoped it was still usable.
"There, lass," the halfling said to the moaning priestess. "You're safe now."
If any of us are safe, Twilight thought.
The priestess said nothing, but looked at Slip in confusion, anguish, and thanks. Then her eyes fell on the warlock, and her face turned to anger. Slowly, she climbed to her knees, then with the aid of the halfling, to her feet.
An awkward silence fell.
"Now then," Davoren said to her, out of his dark hood. The wounds on his face had faded entirely, it seemed, his skin once again sallow and smooth. "Feel free to thank me for saving your life. I might even look upon you with favor-assuming, of course, sufficient groveling transpires."
Taslin's lips narrowed.
"Yes?" the warlock asked. "Did you want to say something?" He did not give her a chance to speak. "It was rather foolish of you to take such a risk. Your wounds were unnecessary and your weapon was destroyed. We could have easily escaped without either loss, and now we must waste healing. I hope your idiocy is a source of pride."
Silence hung. Twilight almost drew her rapier and ran the warlock through. The only thing stopping her was doubt; she was fairly certain that they would need the warlock's magic to survive, let alone escape.
Taslin had no such considerations to stop her.
Ruined sword gripped in both hands, the priestess lunged at Davoren, angry tears streaking her cheeks. "Monster!" she screamed. "You will pay for what you've done!"
Twilight stepped between the cleric and the warlock, but it was Taslin she restrained, twisting an arm back and wrenching the blade free. Davoren assumed his wicked smile, but the intrusion of Gargan's massive form kept him from saying anything else. The goliath made no move, but his thick hand was not far from his sword hilt.
"Now is not the ft'»«,"Twilight hissed in Elvish.
"Away, child," growled Taslin. Then, outside the tongue of the People, she rounded on the warlock. "He murdered my Asson! He'll murder us all!"
"Perhaps I will, perhaps I won't," Davoren sneered. "Who's to stop me? You? Without your pet cripple?"
Twilight and Liet both blanched. Slip sobbed. Even Gargan scowled.
A hoarse, despairing cry came from Taslin's lips. "I know it was you! I know it!" She squirmed. "Let me go, Twilight-let me go!"
"We need him!"Snapped Twilight. "Controlyourself!"
Taslin struggled for a few tense heartbeats, but finally relented. She relaxed against Twilight, shuddering, and stared daggers at Davoren.
"I've said it before," said Twilight, "but I'll repeat. If any of us plans to make it out of here alive, we need to work together." Then she added, so only Taslin would hear and understand: "We don't know if any of us helped or harmed Asson. Have your suspicions if you will, but don't let them jeopardize us all."
"Asyou &zy, "Taslin said. She turned to Davoren. "But as soon as we leave this place, human, I shall cut out your heart for this. Upon Corellon's bloody tears-"
"No!" Twilight hissed, trying to stop the cleric, but it was too late.
"-you will not see another sunrise," Taslin finished. "This I swear."
Twilight fought to stop a scowl. A blood oath was never taken lightly by either party. She knew then that