Knight of Lloth

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Many weeks ago she had almost stumbled into a small group of people.  They were standing around chatting, in a small clearing near Long Saddle's only inn.  Quickly concealing herself she looked on, recognizing some of the females as sword sisters to her twin.  Jealousy flared at the thought of her sister, when suddenly that one appeared.  The group exchanged greetings and soon completed the introductions.  Overhearing the introductions, Mavralyn filed the information away for possible future use. 

Lord Something; what was the knight's name?  Theido!  Yes, that was it.  Smiling as the memory surfaced, she once more focused her attention on the lone knight.  *Lord Theido* she thought, *you do not seem very happy with your new wife*.

Continuing with her observations, still unseen, Mav saw despair wash over the knight's features.  His grip tightened on the glass he held, shattering it.  With an oath he opened his hand letting the sharp pieces of glass drop onto the table.  Swearing, Theido abruptly stood and stalked out of the inn, leaving the shattered fragments behind.

Mav smiled at the disappearing form of the KEF.  Moving closer to the vacated table, she quickly picked up a bloody shard and placed it with care in her pack.  *Waela rivvil*^*1 she thought.  Her actions unobserved, Mav slipped out the door and headed back towards the hills.

Once more caution guided her actions.  The hills seemed empty, devoid of life, yet she could sense others were also out hunting.  Making her way to a small cave near the path, Mav found signs of another traveler.  Using skills learned years ago, she quickly tracked down the one that left them.

When Mav reached the clearing where the tracks led, she saw a young knight battling for his life against several voracious beasts.  *This is too easy* she thought, smiling to herself.  She called out, "Do you require some help?"  He replied, slightly out of breath, "Aye, I would thank thee for some aid."  When the young knight looked up, his dismay showed at finding a drow priestess aiding him.  The creatures took quick advantage of his distraction.  They closed in, wounding him severely before his attention returned to the fight at hand.

Murmuring, drawing arcane symbols in the air, Mav let loose a fiery ball of death.  The monsters writhed in pain as the fire blasted through them.  So intense was the heat, the knight could feel it singeing his hair.  When the flames died down, only the two of them still stood.

Not knowing what reason the drowess had for helping him, he was nonetheless grateful she had.  "My thanks milady.  How can I repay you for your kindness," he inquired.  A smile curved her lips as she replied, "Perhaps you would spar with me little palamu.  If I should win, I only ask for a small price in payment."  Not asking what the price would be, he asked, "And if I should win, milady?"  She laughed, "Then you need not repay me for my kindness."

 "I agree then," he answered without hesitation.  Once more the thought *waela rivvil* passed through her mind as they both prepared for the upcoming battle.

It was over almost before it began.  With a single incantation, magic bonds held the young knight fast.  Drawing her dagger, Mav advanced on the helpless male.  His eyes widened with sudden understanding of the price she requested.  Fighting the magic bonds around him, his struggles increased.  With a wicked laugh she spoke, "My price is your heart little palamu."  Shortly after, only bloodstains remained to tell the tale.

Satisfied with the success of her hunt, Mavralyn returned to the inn at Crossergate.  Acquiring a private room, she let herself relax in meditation.

Slipping out of the light trance near dawn, Mav arose and dug out the small glass shard she retrieved earlier.  Holding the piece in her hand, she murmured a short incantation.  Her eyes closed, she let her mind reach out and sought the one whose blood coated the glass.

Nearing the Crossergate inn a voice entered Theido's mind.  *Come to me* the voice called over and over.  Drawn towards the back of the inn, Theido entered a private room finding Mav awaiting him.  "Vendui'^*2 my little palamu," she purred aloud.  Eyes glowing softly, she walked with sensual grace closer to the knight.  Reaching upward, she lightly touched his chest, tracing figures over his heart. A shudder passed through his frame at her touch.  His heart beat fiercely as he stood his ground. Theido's fists clenched with the effort of ignoring the soft husky voice.  "What do you want of me witch," he spoke, his defenses going up at her nearness.

"Why, I want you, Theido." she laughed softly.  His name sounding soft as silk, fell from her lips.  Her perfume filled his head with its exotic scent.  Thinking to shout, his senses reeling from the feminine assault, he only whispered, "Never... I shall never be yours."

"Aahh, but you will, for Lloth has foreseen it.  By the time the sun sets, your heart and soul shall belong to Her," Mav purred and moved even closer, bodies almost touching.  As lust filled His body with heat, he barely heard her next words.  "And, you shall give these to her of your own free will."

Looking down into her eyes, almost mesmerized by their depths, he thought, *Tyr!  Those eyes, like the bluest sapphires*.  In a voice gone suddenly dry, he whispered denial again, "Nay, never will it happen.  Tyr shall protect me . . ." Hushing him with gentle fingers, she whispered into his ear, "Do not fight it for you cannot win."

Trying desperately to strengthen his will he battled with his rising lust for the drow priestess. His head filled with the sound of her voice, her musky perfume surrounded him and he finally succumbed to her lure.  Theido's barriers disappeared and his body filled with a familiar aching need.  He could think of nothing but her and passion blazed in his eyes.  Sensing the change in him, she laughed softly.  A smile played about her lips as his arms grabbed her up and carried her to the bed. 

Passions played out, sleepiness overcame Theido and he relaxed.  Drifting in and out of consciousness he heard only Mav's voice whispering to him.

"Now you are free of all emotion, you can freely follow the desires of your heart and soul. You must choose freely my Palamu, search deep inside to find your answer."  Finally coming back to full awareness, he asked softly, "What must I do, to fill this void within me.  I want to follow thy goddess, the Dark Queen Lloth."

Smiling wickedly, she replied, "Lloth asks for so little and offers so much, all she asks for is your heart in sacrifice and your soul committed to her."  Seeing his hesitation and reading his thoughts, she continued persuasively, "I promise there will be no pain."  After a moment of silence, he gave a decisive nod and in a firm voice, said,  "Do it."

Speaking arcane words, Mavralyn gestured and Theido fell into an almost comatose slumber.  When the magic took effect, she raised her arms and chanted a prayer to Lloth. Lips moving constantly in quiet prayers, she drew her dagger and cut deeply into the knight’s chest.  Removing the heart, she placed it in a third rune marked jar and watched as it began beating once more. 

Turning to the dead figure on the bed, Mav raised her arms again and called upon the power Lloth had filled her with.  A glow surrounded the body and the gaping wound healed before her eyes.  A gasp came from the knight as his body began to breathe with life.  The glow intensified and all signs of the bloody death evaporated as if no sacrifice took place.   A small scar on Theido's chest being the only sign anything occurred.

"You may open your eyes now my dark knight, it is done," she said softly. Awakening almost at once, Theido reached for his chest in an automatic reflex of some vivid dream.  Seeing the movement, Mavralyn laughed, "Aye, you shall have that scar forever as reminder that you are now Lloth’s."

Moving with natural grace, she quickly donned a clean gown.  In a commanding voice, she told the male to rise and dress.  Soon, two cloaked figures disappeared into the shadows, leaving the inn far behind.

Traveling quickly, stopping only long enough to eat, the Yathrin and the dark knight soon reached the outskirts of Long Saddle.  Reaching the inn, Mav led the way to a large suite of rooms in the back.  Theido glanced around with interest, but kept quiet seeming to know he should not speak.

Taking the cloak off, she turned to him and finally broke the silence they had traveled under.  "Guard the door Theido, let no one enter these rooms," she spoke quietly, seating herself at a small table nearby.  Slowing her breathing and letting her eyes unfocus, Mav went into a light trance.

With Theido standing watch, Mavralyn reached out with her mind, seeking another soul for Lloth.  Mental fingers lightly touched the thoughts of one she knew long ago.  Finding a name in his mind, she sent her mental fingers out further and sought the one named.

In a light trance, eyes unfocused, the Yathrin whispered, "Theido. . . I believe I have found one that will turn to Lloth, as you did."  Knowing she required no answer, the dark knight did not respond.

Touching lightly with mental fingers, the strong mind she had found radiated with power.  Sensing this power, she spoke within his mind, *I hear you are a great leader of your people.*

Startled at the strange words in his head, the young warrior looked about.  Seeing no one nearby, he answered within his mind.  *Who are you?  And yes, I am the leader of the Knights of Justice.* An image then formed in his mind.  A drow priestess?!!  Did she not know of his hatred for any of that evil temple?  The flash of hatred burned outward.

Sensing this hatred and seeing the darkness buried deep inside, she smiled.  Once more she formed words in his mind, *I have heard of you from another, I seek only to learn why you hate me so much.  I do not know you, yet I sense your burning anger.* Caught off guard, unable to sense anything but sincerity in her mind, his anger dissipated replaced by interest.  *You are unlike the other yathrinen that I have encountered.  What is it you want?*

The image smiled in his mind, the mental words seeming to purr, *Perhaps because I see things differently, I appear different.  I find you. . . intriguing male.* The image seemed to grow in his mind, the sapphire orbs probing his deepest thoughts.  Unexpectedly drawn to her, his natural barriers started to drop away.

Both sinking deeper into trance, the mind link became stronger, drawing them into a misty landscape where only the two of them stood.

When Mav's breathing slowed, and the trance deepened, a look of concern flashed across Theido's face.  There was nothing he could do, so he stood watch over her still form, and prayed to Lloth that she knew what she was doing.

Nothing but misty grayness surrounded the two.  The figure of the drow priestess moved closer to the knight.  A seductive smile curved her lips and her eyes glowed softly with promises of delight.  Reaching up with one slender hand, she caressed the young man's cheek and brushed her fingers over his lips.  "You are very attractive, leader of the KOJ," she whispered.

His stern visage softened for a moment, and he smiled at Mavralyn.  "The name is Banerd, milady."  Her breath caught in her throat at the intensity of his gaze.  *Such power in one so young* she thought.  Banerd gently took her hands in his, placed them back at her sides and released them.  "And you are a vision of beauty, Yathrin," he replied.  "What is your name?"

"I am Mavralyn, Mistress d'Rilynt'tar,” she answered with a sultry laugh.  Glancing at him through her lashes, she studied his features surreptitiously.  He in turn studied her, but with open admiration in his eyes.  "You are very different from the other drow I have met.  Tell me, are you happy with your life?"  Startled at the question, her past flashed through her mind as she tried to understand what he meant.

Banerd noticed the hesitation and spoke almost tenderly, "I can see you have doubts.  Perhaps there is some good in you.  Let me help you return to the light Mavralyn."  His words seemed to go through her like an electric shock.  The allure of his magnetism pulled at something she thought dead and buried long ago. 

Turning away from this all too charismatic male, she finally replied, "I belong fully to Lloth, Banerd.  There is no spark of goodness in my soul.  Do not be so waela as to think that".  This time it was the knight that moved closer.  Stepping up behind Mav, he turned her around to face him.  With a searching look, he told her, "Nay, I can sense that a spark still burns deep within you.  Join me, let me show you the way to true freedom".  He waved his hand and an exquisite rose appeared.  "For you," he said simply.

Mesmerized by his voice, her eyes deep pools of sapphire, she felt herself tempted.  As she accepted the delicate flower her dedication seemed to waver.  Seeing something in her eyes, Banerd called out to his god and tried to expel the darkness from Mav's soul. 

Blinding light surrounded her body.  Burning needles of pain seared her flesh as the light grew brighter.  In anguish she writhed with the pain, a mental scream piercing Banerd's mind "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO".  Immediately a cloud of darkness enveloped her, snuffing out the light.  When it dissipated, the knight found himself alone in the gray mist.

Theido found himself growing tired as the day passed slowly with no sign of Mavralyn coming out of her trance.  In spite of this, he stayed vigilant, knowing what his punishment entailed if he fell asleep.

A low moan alerted him that her mental journey neared its end.  As he turned towards her, he saw her face contorted with pain and her eyes were dark with an inner struggle.  Quickly he reached towards her as her body slumped into a faint.

Catching Mav in his arms he lifted her with ease and carried her to the bed.  Gently laying her upon it, his eyes scanned the room looking for something to help him.  Spying a washbasin, Theido dipped a washcloth into the cool water and carefully placed it on her brow.

Within minutes, Mav's eyes began to flutter, then they flew open with a startled look in them.  A fleeting look of remembered pain flashed across her face.  Then her eyes began to glow with anger.  "He tried to convert me!"  She exclaimed with some heat.  "The waela rivvil cast some spell that tried to turn me to the light!!!"  Mav's voice pulsed with anger and revulsion, "I cannot believe I was almost tempted!!"

Theido gave her an inquiring look as she abruptly sat up and swung her legs off the bed.  Standing she began to pace, the fury evident in every part of her body.  The dark knight remained diplomatically quiet while she stormed about the room.

A knock at the door broke the flood of recriminations.  "Enter!"  The infuriated drowess shouted.  A servant fearfully opened the door and entered with a sealed scroll clutched in his hand.  Quickly he knelt before Mav lowering his eyes and holding up a scroll bearing the Rilynt'tar seal.

Before she could take the scroll from the servant, a blinding stab of pain entered her mind as Banerd reached out with a mental touch.  *Are you all right?* came the concerned thought.  With all the anger she could muster through the pain, she sent a mental reply, *LEAVE ME ALONE*.  He could see her image, the pain and fury evident on her face.  *What is wrong?*  He asked.  *I HAVE BEEN PUNISHED FOR YOUR TEMPTATION; YOUR MENTAL TOUCH CAUSES ME PAIN!!!!!  LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!!!!!*

Once again Theido reached the mistress in time to catch her before she hit the ground.  The servant looked on with wide frightened eyes, still holding the scroll.  The dark knight again placed her on the bed, then turned to the fearful male.  Frowning, knowing this servant may speak of things he shouldn't, Theido advanced on the slave and drawing his sword he spoke, "It is too bad you were witness to this".

Before the servant could scramble away, his head was rolling across the floor.  As blood pumped out of the severed body, Theido neatly grabbed the message before the red fluid could ruin it.

*1.  "Foolish Human."