Under the Shadow of Cicatrice

As for Zular's fellows, they were not so handsome to look upon. Some looked like courtiers, others were obviously soldiers, but they all had the ragged look of a band of dangerous ruffians. But within the crowd surrounding her there was one face she looked for that was missing.

"Where is the Priest?" Exotica demanded to know.

"Why, are you wantin' to go to church?" one of the ruffians laughed.

Zular cuffed him and then turned back to Exotica. "Forget about the priest, Princess. He fled, like the cowardly cur he is. Like all his kind. What need have you for a priest? In case you haven't noticed, the gods have forsaken us." Zular's voice was cold and hard and a look of anger flashed in his eyes. "I for one will not grovel at their altars while the world burns. I have chosen a wiser path."

Exotica did not like the sound of that, nor did she like how Zular was eyeing her. She wanted to get away from him as quickly as possible and needed to find the Priest without delay. She did not believe that he had just abandoned her. He must be about here, somewhere. But it would not be wise to simply dismiss Zular curtly, as she might at court. He was a dangerous man in the best of times. These were not the best of times.

"You are a most capable man, Duke Zular. The fact that you have not fallen victim to the demons that beset us is proof of that. And I thank you most graciously for coming to my aid. It will not be forgotten. But now I must take leave of you. I hope to find succour for our people and when we meet again it will be under clear blue skies and a shining sun that will dispel all the shadows from the realm."

Zular looked up at the endless, colorless expanse that blotted out the sky, a sky where no sun shone at all even though it was nearly midday. Returning his gaze to Exotica, his face was set most grim. "No, Exotica, you are not free to go. You're coming with us."

"Unhand me!" Exotica imperiously commanded as two ruffians reached out and grabbed her.

Zular was not impressed. "You are in no position to give orders. I am master here. Now be a good little girl and come along quietly."

"You impertinent scoundrel. I am Princess Exotica of the House Exultaine, and you will obey me!" she retorted.

Then Zular struck Exotica, so hard that she fell to the ground. "You are Princess of nothing!" he shouted, his voice enflamed, almost hysterical. "The Kingdom is in flames and the King is dead. And you will do as I say. Struggle if you wish, but you are coming with us. And if you make this difficult for me you will be punished. I have agreed to bring you back alive, but no one said anything about bringing you back in one piece."

Exotica glared at Zular but fear gripped her heart. "Where? Where are you taking me?"

Zular pointed toward Mt.Cicatrice, glowing like a furnace of hell in the distance. "To meet Belboz the Fell. He has some interest in you it seems, and as part of my arrangement with him I gladly agreed to escort you back to him. In times of great crisis, in times like these, one must look toward other powers than crowns and thrones and worthless gods."

1. Belboz awaits

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