XVI - A Missing Hand

“I am well-pleased, good and faithful servant,” Almalexia said, lightly pressing the flats of her hands together and smiling serenely at Fen from beneath her long, dark lashes. “My people look upon the elements, and see there written a divine testament to my lordship. Did ever any other god display such dominion over the earth and sky? But now...with a heavy heart, I must lay a sad burden upon you. I bid you bring the peace of understanding to my Missing Hand.

XV - The Weather Witch

Almalexia was nothing short of livid when Fen relayed Romari’s explanation to her. The goddess’s brow furrowed and her muscles tensed, and the moment Fen had finished Almalexia closed her long-lashed eyes as if she were about to scream.

XIV - The End of Times

“You will let me fight this one alone, won’t you?” Fen said to Julan early the next morning as they departed the Winged Guar. “It’s just like the duel with Venim, they won’t take me seriously if you help.”

“How hard is this Karrod going to be for you to fight?”

XIII - The Plot

Fen did not look down, but neither did she look directly at her father. She had seen enough petition days to know that no average citizen of Mournhold was brave enough to stare the king straight on, regardless of how faithful they were to Almalexia. Instead, she kept her eyes carefully trained at the hem of his robe, her breath warm inside the scarf.

XII - The Day of Lights

She emerged out of the Temple into dazzling afternoon sun, and for a moment Fen had to stand and admire the sheer beauty of the city. Trees covered with pink flowers lined the courtyard, and the sweeping green marble walls shone with resplendent light as the sun struck them. The air was sweet and pleasantly cool, gently rustling the flowers in the trees and making the banners that hung around the Temple’s doorway flutter halfheartedly. Fen slowly descended the sweeping marble stairs to where Julan waited.

XI - Almalexia

The sun had just risen when Fen and Julan set off into the sewers for what she hoped was the last time. Hler had told them that the Mazed Band could be found in a passage underneath the Temple that had just been cleared, so they traversed through the familiar dark tunnels until they found the passage he had indicated. They met little in the way of opposition – two or three liches and several oversized rats, but nothing overly threatening.

X - The Shrine of the Dead

Fedris Hler greeted them with the same curiously unsettling grin when they delivered the news of the goblin army.