The Bargain

Dust and sand paved the floor as Yazmin and the rest of her party walked into Akhmanra's tomb. Its walls littered with markings about about the murderous construct that is Akhmanra, decimating his foes by shooting beams from his eyes. Others, he rained explosions upon them from the hidden weapons in his armory of a body.

In the center, there laid a tomb grand enough to be mistaken for one that belonged to a ruler of old.

As Yazmin eyes darted around to the violent depiction upon the walls, a voice deep and entrancing echoed in the entire chamber.

"Here lies the tomb of Akhmanra, the ingenuity and savagery of his constructs are unmatched by none. A master of his craft true that he was able to convert himself as one of his creations. Have you come to garner at his empty tomb? The masterpiece of murder dismembered into pieces to prevent anyone from controlling his corpse..."

Black dust gathered near the tomb, swirling into a mass of dark wings filled with eyes that gazed deep into your soul. Its body, utterly monstrous in its appearance, a cross between ghoul and an a man with no eyes. The eyesless angel's gaze bore through Maessha.

"...and your sister has one of these parts."

Maessha clasped her hands. It is Ellamir's new eye!

She must warn her sister regarding the dangerous origin of her new eye! Then again, Maessha could sense her sister's fierce resistance even now. She would need to pry it from Ellamir's dead body before Ellamir would even consider parting with Antani's precious gift.

"Ah, but let us sway our attention to this Gorgon." The Angel's jagged teeth, monstrous enough to bite skin into bone. "You are here to bargain. Have you not?"

The Gorgon slithered forward. The demeanor under her mask sported her enduring spirit, willing to pay any price for the sake of her beloved.

"I am. Name your toll, angel."

The macabre Angel's libs swerved into creepy grin.

"I travel from one world to another collecting exquisite tales. Ah, but no story can enthrall another if its actors simply get what they want. Thus, for you to receive my boon, you must offer something of equal value . Fixing the soul of someone teethering on the brink may not be as grave as bringing someone back to life, but price you have to pay for it is as expensive."

"You can reduce my lifespan and give to my Althea."

The angel chuckled at Yazmin's offer. It is a price unworthy for Althea's salvation. Touching, yes, but an offering made willing makes it unfit. The torment that it would inflict, agonizing enough to rival Yazmin's boundless joy upon Althea's healing.

"A trite offering. What I want is your gift, the blessing sytai from your Goddess." The angel's palm stretched out. "Your gift to turn others into stone, in exchange for Althea's rewound soul. Now I ask again, will you accept my bargain?"

An offer that Yazmin would never dare refuse, but underneath her mask, her resolution crumbled before the words of this otherworldly entity. She cannot just give up her Goddess' blessing like that! She will be scorned if the other Gorgons found out, turned into an outcast for trading away her gift of petrification.

Yazmin's hand laid on her pale mask, her whole pride as a Gorgon she was willing part with, the Mark of Medusa's favor she will abandon.

The moment Yazmin unmasked, her gorgeous face had this look of pristine sadness. Slolwy, she laid it onto the Angel's palm.

Right before Yazmin's very eyes, the angel crushed the mask into glittering pieces, the connection she had with Medusa now shattered along with it. Yazmin can never use her Petrifying Gaze ever again.

"It is done! Your lovers soul has been restored! Now return to Elaria and greet your newly born daughter with open arms!"

As mystifying as he made his entrance, the ghoulish angel vortexed into dust. Disappearing into thin air.

Even with the news of her daughter's birth, the overwhelming sadness gripped still Yazmin's heart.

The weight of Yazmin's sacrifice touched Alara, watching as the snake woman slithered back into their group. If ever such a moment would come, will Alara be able to make such a sacrifice for Maessha's sake?

Yazmin sighed, "We will begin our jouney back to Elaria at the soonest. I...I want to see Althea and my daughter."

++++

In the Underdark's Royal Palace, a procession of armored soldiers stood outside the gate. Carriages filled with dignitaries readied themselves to travel above ground.

Het legs crossed, tapping her hands upon the carriage's door, Zorrla shouted at the poor dark elf servants working double time to load all of her baggage at the back of her carriage.

"Pick up the pace you peons, or I will have you fed to the spider pit!"

The servants all acted with renewed haste. The threat of being tossed in a pit filled with giant spiders was an effective motivator, it seems.

Perfect, the servants trembling with fear was such a nice snack before heading into Elaria. The memory of Ellamir's brutality during their clash put a smile on Zorrla's face. Will she be able to enact it again?

Lolth forbade Zorrla from scheming by using her granddaughter, saying something about instant death that awaits her at the hand of not only Ellamir, but the leagues of Amazoness that will be present upon Elaria.

Zorrla would have to entertain herself in another way. Perhaps Maessha would prove to be am amusement as thrilling as her sister? Or maybe she can have Antani alone even just for a moment so they can relive their thrilling dance?

So many pieces to play with, Zorrla was tempted to play with them all!

With the bags now fully loaded, the march of the soldiers commenced, carriages of nobles and the Queen herself flowed suit.

(Wait for me, my dear daughters! We'll have lots of fun when I arrive!)

Zorrla's mad laughter rung as her carriage vanished into the underdark's lightless passageways.

+++++

Volume End