From the Enemy, the Gift of Life

"No! Belboz! " Jastina screamed.

Embron looked back at his wife. "Sorry," he lied. With a small smile, he turned to remove his sword - and his face turned pale.

Belboz blinked, then looked down at the sword in his chest. With an expression of surprise (and a bit of relief), he realized that not only was he not dead, there wasn't even any blood seeping from the wound.

"Impossible," Embron said, pulling his blade from Belboz's body. It came out cleanly, with no blood or viscera at all. "You should be dead!"

"I'm at a bit of a loss to explain it myself," he said. "Unless - yes, of course. The other me must have anticipated this, so he cast a spell of proof-binding on himself - and by extension, on me as well. He's protecting his own life by protecting mine."

"But how could he know?" Ecstasy asked.

"He couldn't - but he anticipated I'd try something like this. He knows exactly what I'd do in his shoes."

"And vice-versa," Joan reminded him.

"Yes, but that just means each of our advantages is cancelled out. Quite frankly, I'm stumped as to what to do next."

There was a long period of silence in the room as each person considered this.

1. Finally, Joan said, "I think I have an idea."
2. Finally, Ecstasy said, "I think I have an idea."
3. Finally, Embron said, "I think I have an idea."
4. Finally, Jastina said, "I think I have an idea."
5. Finally, Uxton said, "I think I have an idea."
6. "I think I have an idea," came a voice from off to the side. The group whirled to find...
7. No one could think of what to do now.

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree