Kar came back and sat on the adjacent ordinate chair, fiddling with his fingers. So at odds with how he was, but an hour before.

"I know you aren't all that pleased with me at the moment." He pulled his shoulders back a fraction.

"That's an understatement, care to try again?" She said, with a monotone pitch.

"I'm to sit and listen to some blather about why you did all of this?"

Shifting in the chair she crossed her legs. A large window was on the far side of the room behind him. Hopefully, it wasn't too high up.

"Everything you've been told is a lie." He held up his hand palm facing her.

"Let me finish before you reply."

She nodded stiffly. Can't do anything else right now, not while he's watching me.

"You and your people have been lied to. Unnamed is not what you think he is. He wasn't always like he is now, I'll explain that later."

"He didn't cause your people to lose their immortality, becoming barbarians gone berserk, the Undergods did."

He shifted in the chair positioning his hands on his legs.

Several minutes of quiet passed.

Her brows crinkled and she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Hogwash! If you knew of the pure evil that radiates from him you wouldn't say that. And—the awful things he says."

Before he could reply there was shouting from below.

"Merryn!"

A roaring.

"Merryn!"

"Stay here." Kar left the room, the door slamming behind.

She stood following him, the noises were louder down the stairwell back to were the scorpo-rats were and the vats of glop.

"Begone pest!" Kar shouted.

She padded down the stairs, hiding in the shadowed side. The stairwell shook beneath the smooth walls offered noting to grasp as the stairwell tilted. What the hells name was going on down there?

Kar shouted below: "-down here now, remember your vow."

She stumbled down the stairs, stopping on the landing.

A grotesque dusk-rat was between the doorway and the others. It stood on its hind legs. Its wrinkled hairless skin an off gray, the color of rotted meat. Its claws clicked on the stone tiles, sniffing while it elongated its neck. From its twisted maw putrid strands of saliva dribbled.

Kar side stepped it.

He flicked his wrist, making a rolling hand motion. "After you. Dispose of it."

The Dusk rat tried to stomp on Han, who rolled out of the way.

Parcival sat propped up by a cage. The rat whipped its tail at him. He scooted on his butt backward. The tail cut into the floor like a hot poker, it bumped into an unlit chandelier, candles rolled across the tiles.

"Why are you standing there?"

Kar came over and sat on the steps, he reached into his robe through the side taking out two daggers, he held them out.

"Go on bodyguard, kill it."

The rat brushed up against the wall, several torches snuffed out. The room darkened; the only light a faint glow from upstairs. She muttered several Elvin curses under her breath. 

"Such naughty things you say, keep that up and I'll to come a courting," He giggled.

"Another good one." He slapped his leg.

Han was behind the rat; near the ceiling some chains dangled on pegs. To the left the way outside. To the right Parcival pinned between two cages.

She went around it and over to Han.

"If I boost you—reach the chains?" Talking was hard, each thought was slow to form; each moment unsteady.

The rat kept after Parcival gouging chunks out of the brick wall trying to reach him.

He looked at it for a moment.

"I'll try."

He hopped up landing on her shoulders. She held her hands, palms up. He climbed up them and strained to reach for a length that dangled down.

She stood on her tiptoes.

"Stretch, come on!"

The ground shook, she pitched backward into a support beam, something poked her leg. Did all this matter, or would Kar just pull something else, stretching up she touched the chains with her fingers, Olenus willing they'd go free.

Han jumped taking hold of the chain.

"I'll get it loose, help Parcival."

The rat dropped down on all fours. It moved over to the stairwell behind her; snapping at Kar.

"Save me, bodyguard. Or your life be mine." His eyes twinkled with mischief.

What was with that man? Olentan it! She bolted at the rat. Or would have if a barbed hook had not caught on her jerkins.

Kar's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. "Take them off if you must, but I advise you hurry."

He stood still, even when the rat opened its mouth, fangs not an inch from his face.

The fabric ripped when she leaned forward. She tore the last stuck piece down and tossed it.

The rat turned its head and growled. She smacked it on the bridge of its nose.

Growling louder it swatted her into an empty container. The glass shattered spraying shards in a radius. A few scratched her arm, but other then that, no real injuries. Good, have some of Olentan's luck for a change.

Han dropped down the chain in his hands. "What do you want me to do with this?"

The rat came straight in her face, leaping to the left as it hot dripping jaws passed over her head. 

"Give it ... me." She crouched down over to him.

Her head was so heavy, it was hard to hold it up. She held a hand out.

Han heaved it over. She caught the end. Now to go around. It was still busy trying to get at Parcival, she crept under it's head pulling the chain with.

Kar picked his teeth, looking at nothing. 

Hot breath warmed the back of her neck. Turning the rat snapped at her, she rolled, got up and finished going around it with the chain.

The rusty chandelier squeaked as it swung on its chain. If this didn't work ... She ran for the stairwell, chain in tow; clanking.

The rat roared again is footfalls thudded behind, it's stench filled the basement. Merryn breathed through her mouth. As to what it had been eating for breath like that—never mind.

She skidded on the dry dirt and hopped on the control box of the container.

The rat pitched forward toward the stairwell. Kar craned his neck, holding his palms up. The look on his face would have been comical in another situation. She bit the inside of her cheek and bolted for Kar. A quick vision of strangling the man started—as did a head pain.

She slid under the rat, stuck out her arm, pulling Kar out of the way.

The rat squeaked an all too human sound of surprise; it wedged its head in the stairwell. Ha! Take that, you overgrown furred pouch! It clawed at the wall and roared so loud that the ceiling beams shook.

Kar had sat down on a stool next to the stairwell. She went over to him, shaking her fist. It was too hard to talk.

His eyes gleamed at her. He stood up pinching her cheek, then sat back down.

She stared at him for a moment before going back to the cages. It took that long caught between wanting to smack him and trying not to.

"Damn this vow, and damn you!"

Kar made motions with a hand like a person taking while mouthing the words back, in a mocking tone.

"Arrg!"

"Come on ignore him and get over here!" Han said.

She climbed onto some cages that leaned against the wall; working up to the chandelier. A good toss would do it. Several attempts later she wrapped the chain around the rim. It looked like there were two of them. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes. Please, not now body, not yet.

The rat had worked its head almost free. Big pieces of stone dropped off the sides as it clawed at them with it's hind legs.

Tugging on the chain a few times before she climbed higher on the chandelier. Now the tricky part, she dropped one end down towards the cage, then tossed the other end over the other side where it dangled near the ground.

She dropped down, and spilled on her side. Nothing wanted to move.

"Rid me of this problem and I'll consider neutralizing the weakness potion," Kar said.

Han scooted over.

"What next?"

"I was thinking of ..." She said the rest close to his ear.

"Alright, we need to be quick."

"Follow me."

She climbed up the cages, yanked the chain down, and threaded it in the bars. Whistling at Han while pointing to the other chain.

He bounded up on the cages, worked over to the other end of the chain hanging from it.

She went to the edge of the cage on top leaping just above Han; reached up, grabbed the chain too. Their weight lifted the cage up a little. Great, this might work.

Parcival pulled his leg out and scooted out from under the cages, he was still trapped behind them.

The rat clawed at the stairwell pulling its head out.

It zeroed in on her.

Whipping its tail about, the dirt sprayed where it struck.

She hopped back, then ran close to the wall cut away from it, toward Han. She scrambled back up the chandelier wrapping her legs around the main chain that held it up. She bounced, jiggled and pulled on it. Come on ...

The Dusk rat tilted its head and just stood there.

She pointed to Han and then back at Parcival. He made a face, but jumped down and went over to Parcival.

The rat moved a step closer. What was its problem?

Humm. She dangled off of the edge waving her arms. That did it, the rat licked its lips and went below her.

She sat up, swung around kicking at the cage.

It shuttered, but did not fall.

She kicked it again until it unwrapped. The cage struck the rat on it's back, it fell; screeching, then its eyes rolled in the back of its head.

Kar stood up clapping.

"Wonderful. Very entertaining. Next time doesn't toss my pets into any open vats." He winked.

He looked at Han and Parcival. "Go."

Han pounced at Kar his saber held out in front of him.

"Stop him. Now." Kar said.

She ran in front of him with her arms held out shaking her head.

"What are you doing?"

"Just go." She turned around following behind Kar.

Upstairs, he pointed to a bench near the doorway.

She huffed, and sat. It was hard to stay angry. Sleep, let me sleep. I'll get angry later. Was that his plan, exhaust me?

"I may have embellished on the truth some." He stood there with his hands held behind his back.

"On what?"

"Mmmm. The potion in the vial. It won't kill you." He giggled, a low sort that sent a prickle on her arms.

"You sick son of a basnar." She slammed the bench with a fist.

"Ooh, you have some energy left yet. Good. No more talking now, I tire of it." He draged a line with his finger across his throat. "Understand?"

She snorted at him.

"Good."

Uneven footsteps behind, that grew louder. Her ears swiveled towards it.

Parcival limped up the stairs and pointed his sword at Kar.

Kar tilted his chin up. "Cut me. Watch what happens."

She stood, pushing down on it.

"Go home." Jaw clenched, she pushed away an ocean, a dark rolling ocean of tears. Now wasn't the time, come on, stop it.

"I will not. I don't know why you are acting like this. I Intend to find out, and will not leave until I do." He stood rigidly, looking at Kar without blinking.

Oh, gods. She straightened and looked him in the eyes. Her legs shook as she pushed within.

Han came up soon after. He padded over to her and sat down on the bench. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Choices. Each one determines a different outcome." Kar traced a finger along the sword, as he came closer the pointed nail grew in length.

"What choice will you make, Palitan?"

Parcival startled.

"That's right I know. Have you-"

Parcival lunged forward, pushing on the handle end with with his palm, while holding the handle with his right.

Palitan? No. No. No. Kar started to look less sinister and ... No snap out of it, it's a lie! It has to be! If he was one he'd have sealed me away by now ...

If I could just move.

I can free you. The cost being most of your energy. It'll come back by next week. Deal? Unamed said.

Why do you ask, what kind of a weak god are you?

Ah, you need me. If I could smile I would.

Parcival had already broken through Kar's fear rune magics inscribed on his robe. I think it may work out.

She could almost feel Unnamed shrugging. Too bad the energy boost would have speed things up.

Such as?

Unnamed didn't answer. It felt like he had fallen asleep? Did talking tire him?

Kar leapt back.

"Kill him."

A sharp pain crossed her left side on her chest. She grimaced taking in shallow breaths through her nose. No. No. No!

She caught his blade between her hands yanking him forward.

"Are you possessed woman?" Parcival pulled the sword back.

Yes, you idiot, I am. The spell clamped her jaw shut befor she cold say anything. So damn frustrating. She released it before it cut a hand. There, an opening. She kneed him in the stomach dropped down on the pads of her feet, stuck a leg out tripping him. Come on hero fight back!

He crashed down and the sword slid behind him teetering on the top of the stairs.

Kar came up beside, he had a strange glow to him that wasn't there before.

"That should be enough, blood is so messy. You may go." Kar poked Parcival with a foot.

Kar shrunk down, his youthful features became wrinkled, his hair white and his fingers bony. Then this reversed and he changed back.

She saw it, but it didn't register for another minute.

"The merchant."

He simply nodded.

Kar became youthful again, then went behind, wrapping his arms around her neck.

"Get off!" She tried to shake him off but couldn't move.

"She does what I say. leave now and she will be set free soon after." He patted the side of her face.

I hate you. A flash of a day dream cane of cutting his head off with crossed daggers.

Han came over and tapped Parcival on the leg. "let's go."

They both turned around and started to walk away.

It's good they were going. They shouldn't be mixed-don't leave me with him! She trembled all over, sweat drenched her under shirt.

Shut it.

Unnamed scratched inside ... the truth is hard to take.

Kar separated from her and followed behind them to close the wooden door.

Han slid under Kar's legs, jumped up and grappled hers.

She dropped a dagger it bounced across the floor out of sight. Damn it! The air surged out of her chest.

"Ooof."

"Don't." Parcival had Kar at bay with a small sparkling light ball.

"Tisk-Tisk. If she doesn't get the antidote, she'll continue to try to kill you. This might last all day or all week. There is really no need for this."

He faded, then vanished. Seconds later he whispered behind her.

"You will come back and finish our talk."

He placed his hands on her shoulders. A hot sensation spiked through her and she gasped.

"I forbid-"

Parcival never finished as Kar stood before him a pointed nail inches from his eye.

Parcival blanched; his eyes crossed at the nail end.

"You are all very fortunate I've transformed for the day. Tomorrow, however, when I find you I will not hesitate to annihilate you both."

The look he gave her changed from cold to something softer almost, pleading?

Kar-it was as if-no he's just nuts. The further away they all got from him the better.

Parcival picked her up and she hit and kicked him full strength. He slammed into wall.

Han was on her back; a flash of silver, then a poke.

"This was meant for Kar. Sorry lass."

Parcival grunted and shook his arms out and rubbed his chest where the kick landed.

"Remind me to stand away when you're kicking someone."

She toppled back and slid against the banister.

Parcival pulled her back up and carried her, tight. Her knees almost touched her nose, all muscles refused to cooperate.

"Quickly now," he said to Han. They leaped down the stairs using the wall for balance.

Kar stood at the top of the stairway watching. His green eyes flared blue covering the whites. Emptiness and loss filled her core, such a strange thing considering what he did.  867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufeKmurm7m