I requested Nosfentre to meet me alone in my cabin. He
complied, but was outraged when he heard what I had to say.
"Art thou mad?" Nosfentre's roar shook the walls.
I eased back in my chair, refusing to show my fear. The
warrior leaned over my desk, and I felt as if I faced a mountain of rage. "Thou
must do as I ask," I said. "Surely thou art aware of Astarol's betrayal. Was it
not thou who warned me to watch my back?"
"'Twas a jest," he simmered. "'Tis no reason for me to
raise my sword against the minstrel. He is my friend, and, whether thou dost
choose to believe me or not, he is Faulina's friend, not her paramour."
"He is a thief!" I cried. Had the chair not been bolted to
the floor, it would have tipped over as I sprung to my feet. "And she a liar!
Now, wilt thou help me put an end to this, or art thou a coward?"
Anger colored his cheeks. I could tell it took all his
effort to edge away from the desk without striking me. Instead, he said,
softly, "Ever since thou returned with Sutek, thou hast not been thyself. What
happened to thee in the Underworld, Johne?"
"Nothing," I lied. There
is a darkness that surrounds those three. "'Tis thee who has changed.
Before we entered this accursed place, I could trust thee to never turn thy
back on me. Now, thou art no different from the others. Sutek is the only one I
can trust."
At last his anger was released. "Sutek!" he bellowed. "Is
it he who has fed thee with these lies? What has he done to thee?"
"He has done naught but tell the truth," I retorted,
"which is more than I can claim for others."
"He has made you sick!" Nosfentre returned. "Listen to
thyself!" He pointed at the mirror resting against the wall. "Look at thyself!
See what has become of thee!"
I faced the mirror, and to my horror, I confronted the
skeleton of a man I once knew. My flesh was pulled taut over my bones. My hair
hung in unkempt knots. And my eyes, oh, my eyes—those bloodshot orbs seemed to
stare at me from the sockets of a skull. My hands began to shake.
At that moment, the door opened and Astarol and Faulina
walked in. "What is the matter?" asked Faulina. "We heard shouting—"
A red mist seemed to cloak my vision. "Astarol!" I
screamed. "Thou hast done this to me!"
I leapt at the bard, intending to strangle him, but
Nosfentre's fist took me square in the chest. My breath escaped in a painful
gasp, and I fell back against the desk. Faulina stepped forward. Nosfentre held
up his hand. "No, stay away from him."
Faulina began to protest. "I can help—"
"Go now!" Nosfentre ordered. "When his anger settles, then
mayest thou tend to him."
Faulina reluctantly nodded. Astarol followed, looking back
at me with an expression of pity.
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