Fable - Ask Matters of Experience

[Surraya Evermor]

She took a deep breath to settle her nerves, tightening her grip on the railing as she stared out towards Lament. A sense of foreboding hung over her, like something horrible was going to happen. To be fair, something was about to happen. The Maw descended upon the port like a leviathan from the depths. No doubt many lives were going to be lost in the coming battle.

She glanced up towards Naser, arching a brow curiously.

"By sheer, overwhelming force?" She asked with a hint of a smile.

 

[Naser Talzin]

"Something like that." He said as the ship crept slowly around the crescent rocks and into the bay.

In the distance he could make out half a dozen ships, each one moored in the harbor. His eyes cast over them until he recognized the ship they were here for. Lips thinned, and he shifted his gaze towards the others.

He doubted that any of them would help once things began, but he motioned to Marius just in case.

The Dark Elf seemed to nod for a moment, but never took his eyes off of the ruby. There was a focus that clung to him, a fact that told of just how ready they all were for violence. "A third of this crew is made up of mages."

He told her.

"Runaway students, rogue sorcerer's." Naser watched as Marius began to closes his eyes, fingers unfolding as an odd darkness pooled within his palms. "Children of the Maw."

Naser mused, and then suddenly like a lash the Mast of the Ruby exploded in a shower of wood, metal, and debris.

 

[Surraya Evermor]

A small gasp escaped Surraya as the mast of the Raze violently exploded, showering the docks with shattered debris. In just a matter of seconds, the crew of the Maw had crippled the docked ship.

Hope flicked in her chest as she stepped forward, tightly gripping the railing.

"Impressive." She said quietly.

From here, she could see the Raze's crew frantically scurrying about the ship, trying to free her from the docks to respond to the attack. A tall dark figure calmly sauntered up a set of stairs that led to the tallest deck at the back of the stairs. He reached out a hand towards the Maw, and Suri could have sworn she saw the man smile.

But that would be the last thing she remembered.

Everything went black, then a sickly blood red as her consciousness faded away.


One moment, she was standing proud next to Naser and the next the staggered and clutched at the railing in a visceral cry of pain. It felt as though the blood in her veins had been turned to white hot flame that strained against her flesh. Something lurked in her mind, a familiar presence that she should have known, but before she could fully realize what was happening, her thoughts were banished into silence. Everything that made her her was hidden and locked away.

The skin on her arms rippled, as though a snake slithered beneath her flesh towards her wrists. Wretched wet gasps coughed from her throat as her body tried in vain to rebel against the magic that took hold of her. A powerful shudder wracked her form and then she went still.

Then, a deep, very much masculine voice echoed forth as she stood upright once more.

Surraya's form turned to Naser, her eyes now entirely crimson. Her head tilted to the side as a cruel smile split her usual kind features. "The great Naser comes lumbering out of retirement for his lost son at last, hmm?" The unnatural voice taunted.

 

[Naser Talzin]

Naser turned as he heard the voice, his expression blank.

Blood Magic was an evil thing, a cruel thing. He had never liked it, never liked the Price that one had to pay in order to reap it's rewards. There was always a taint to it. Even if you ended up succeeding there was always something more to it.

This was not a trick he had seen before, but he was old enough to not question it. To take it for what it was. "Your ship is going to sink."

He would die before he let a little pissant like him have even a iota of effect on him.

"You should attend to that." Naser said as he drew himself up, taking in a deep breath. "Instead of..."

He gestured. "Whatever this is."

Naser knew he could have stopped it there. He could have popped Suri like a balloon and left it there...but he didn't want to hurt the girl. He had come to like her, even enjoy her company. He wouldn't hurt her.

 

[Surraya Evermor]

Dorian scoffed, his voice hauntingly rolling from Suri's mouth. "You sink the ship and Noah dies with it." He said coolly.

"Which accomplishes nothing for neither of us. Instead, I offer an exchange. You've been kind enough to bring my dear sister so far. Return her to me, and I'll release your son into your care, alive and unharmed. He's what you're after."

The voice intoned, a smirk curling at the corner of Suri's lips. She took a jerking step forward, her body twitching, as though a marionette puppet on a set of strings. It was an entirely unnatural way of moving.