Thralls of a Dread Lord (1.64T)
Welcome to my weekly serial. This is a rough draft that I am working on, for your reading pleasure.
It is a fairly grim tale, so be warned.
Here is the first post from this series.
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As they wound their way up into the mountains, away from the desolation of Karniloth, Retaak frequently found his gaze on Albyursia. Sometimes his gaze would linger, remembering the warmth of her or her earthen scent. Sometimes the elf woman would turn to face him, her face breaking into a guileless smile that set his heart to pounding. As they walked, following goat-paths and deer trails up the still gentle slopes, he fantasized about about escaping with her to some far-off place to live free together. These day-dreams were primarily sexual, but there was a deeper undercurrent as well; a desire to learn and explore and share.
The Kaazukak compelling him to bring her to Ushochhushi always interrupted these musings with a sharp pain in his head, but Retaak could not help himself. Albyursia stirred something in him, something more than primal desire. He did not care that she was an Elf, nor that she wielded magic.
The others noticed, of course. As they walked the next day, one of them was always between Retaak and Albyursia. He could not blame them. The Kaasukak was upon them as well, and failure to bring her to Ushochhushi would lead to death. The remembrance of the Dread Lord’s eyes and terrible tower sobered Retaak more than his pain. He needed to remember his friends. And yet, his eyes and his thoughts always returned to her.
Uyage frequently shot him dark looks. Retaak was sorry now that she had been dragged into this. The Orc scout followed him out of a sense filial loyalty from her younger days, even though her fundamental practicality made a lot of his decisions chafe with her personality.
Kuzat understood Retaak in this, he was certain, but his goblin friend was weary and wanted nothing more than to return to his home on the warrens. The trek through The Desolation had stolen something from him. He did not want the trouble that Retaak was bringing.
Uyaashie was quiet, still pale and a little weak from the poison. Retaak could not tell how she felt. She did owe her life to Albyursia, perhaps he could apply some persuasion there? With her on his side it might be easier to persuade Kuzat and outvote Uyage.
But for what? Deep down Retaak was not certain how he could throw off Ushochhushi’s compelling, not after his taste of the Dread Lord’s presence.
Still, there had to be a way.
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That night she came to him again, after the others were asleep. They talked quietly of the lands that Albyursia had traveled, of Ushochhushi and the Dread Lord, until she once again fell asleep curled against him. The blissful moment only came to an end when Uyage cleared her throat and relieved him of watch.
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“Do you think that will hold him?” asked Kuzat.
Retaak awoke, his head pounding, and tried to stand. His legs did not move and his arms refused to cooperate. Suddenly he realized that he was bound…
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