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By Root 703 0

against the joints, becoming gnarled, pitiful things that could not even support her weight. She collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony. Adon wasted no time making another attack, this time drawing his mace. Calling Mystra's name, he leaped forward and swung his weapon toward Lord Gorgias's face. As though transfixed, the duke watched the flanged head arc toward his nose and the patriarch dared to hope he would strike his enemy down with a single blow. Moving so fast that Adon saw nothing but a blur, Lord Gorgias intercepted the mace and plucked it away. He tossed it aside, then clamped a powerful hand on the patriarch's throat, lifting him off his feet. ”Enough of your foolishness,“ hissed the duke. Adon glimpsed Sarafina's lithe form approaching from the side. She was using both hands to swing Corene's flail at the duke's leg. The blow glanced harmlessly off the knee. ”You ally yourself with this stranger against your future husband?“ he demanded, glaring down at Sarafina. She raised the flail and struck again. The duke hardly seemed to notice. Gorgias looked back to Adon. ”How did you make Sarafina love you?“ ”What she feels for me isn't love,“ Adon gasped. ”It's gratitude for trying to help her.“ The duke looked down at the girl. ”Is that true?“ She glared back up at his misshaped face. ”What I feel for this man is not your concern.“ Lord Gorgias turned his shadowy eyes on Adon. ”I would kill you now, but I fear that would only make you dearer to Sarafina's heart,“ he said. ”I give you until highsun to show yourself for the coward you are. If you have not left my village by then, Sarafina becomes my wife whether she wishes it or not-and I'll

honor my promise to kill every man in this village.“ ”I'll throw myself into the sea!“ Sarafina threatened. ”I think not,“ the duke replied, glaring down at her. ”I will have a woman from your house as a wife. If not you, then your mother.“ With that, Lord Gorgias threw Adon into the pool. By the time the cleric had struggled back to his feet, his foe had scuttled halfway across the plaza, Broka's fawning figure trailing a step behind. Sarafina helped the patriarch out of the pool, and they went to where Corene still lay in the street. With her limbs twisted backward and her pained eyes staring straight into the sky, the novice looked more like a fur-covered crab than a young woman. Adon kneeled at her side and once again prayed to Mystra. ”Corene has not failed you,“ he whispered. ”If you are angry, be angry with your patriarch alone! Let me undo the damage I have caused this poor woman. Let me show this village that I am your true servant!“ Adon closed his eyes, laid a hand on Corene's trembling brow, and spoke his incantation. The novice remained in monstrous form. Looking skyward, Adon cried, ”Why, Mystra? Why did you send me here if you intended to abandon me?“ ”Your goddess hasn't abandoned you,“ Sarafina said, covering her face with her veil. ”She can't hear you.“ Adon frowned. ”Of course she can,“ he said. ”She's the patroness-“ ”Of magic, I know,“ said Sarafina. ”But she still can't hear you, not as long as you're in Tegea.“ ”What are you saying?“ ”Will you leave us in peace if I tell you?“ she asked. ”Lord Gorgias is quite capable of carrying out his threats, and you can't stop him. No one can.“ ”Mystra wouldn't have sent me here if that were true.“ ”If it is, will you leave?“ ”I came to save Tegea, not destroy it,“ said Adon. ”If I cannot do that, I'll go. But if I think I can stop Lord Gorgias-despite what you reveal about his power- you must promise to help me in any way I ask.“ ”Done,“ said Sarafina. She gathered her water pails and began to fill them, at the same time telling Adon the story of Lord Gorgias. ”The duke has not always been so ugly- on the inside or the outside. Once, he was quite a handsome young nobleman who cared a great deal for his people.“ ”What happened?“ Adon asked, gathering Corene's twisted form in his arms. She lay silently in the patriarch's comforting embrace. ”It was during the Time of Troubles,“ Sarafina said. ”For the first few days,