Light from the Shadows

Brother Kiam failed to appear at Vespers. That’s when I first knew, really. Dread clawed at the back of my mind like some feral rodent. Much as I’d have liked to, I could not search for him afterwards. My duties came first. Besides, work always blocked out worries. I wish I hadn’t been so eager now.  If Kiam had been reported missing or his body had been found sooner, maybe that awful man would never have threatened milady. I was polishing the silver when Alain fetched me. Eyes wide, he said that a mad orc and his followers had tried to invade the castle and kill the princess. I confess, I laughed. I assumed he was joking or perhaps had been tricked by senior staff. Every word was true. I asked where Bellinda was currently, but Alain wasn’t sure. So I set the tea service aside and made my way to her chambers. Her guard was with her, certainly, but I wanted to see for myself.

That’s when the screams began.

I ran as fast as my legs would carry me. The Royal Quarter was cordoned off, but from the hallway, I spied two guards dragging a man away from me. His body hung between them like a sack of grain.  He was wearing a Mitran’s robe. A brother’s. “Kiam!” I shouted. “Kiam, what’s happened?” The guards turned at my cry, and I could see their prisoner. His red eyes were hollow. I’d have thought him a corpse but for the sporadic heaving of his chest. I could not look away. His eyes were dead and spread that death to everyone their gaze touched. Before I found my voice, the guards mercifully dragged the man away.

They found Kiam’s body stuffed inside a trunk an hour later, crushed shins tucked next to his arms. Evidently, the would-be assassin had stolen his robe to infiltrate the castle. It had nearly worked. Only an advance sweep by the guards had found the tiefling who skulked in milady’s closet. When interrogated about the reason for Kiam’s murder, his response was merely three words: “He’s tall enough.” Anger boiled in my chest, which could only be tamed by prayers to Mitra and reassurance of the killer’s most painful execution.

Six prisoners have escaped Brandescar. The tiefling that killed my friend and now haunts milady’s nightmares was among them. I have quit Bellinda’s service. There are more important tasks than the maintenance of silver.

I will find the dead-eyed man, and I will grant him the death that he would so casually grant others.