were show-creatures, baited and caged, but one day I will set them free again.”
Keeping his expression neutral, Joseph indicated the prisoner--standing on the board above the pit--with his shackled hands.
“They are fed on peasants?” he asked. G’azal smiled.
“Indeed. I am fond of irony.. it is a weakness of mine.” The bishop chuckled to himself. Joseph fought to keep his revulsion from showing. “This man has finally completed the long journey of his own existence,” the Bishop continued. He clasped his hands behind his back as he spoke. “He will be offered to the king of beasts, but he does not go unwillingly.”
The dangling prisoner caught sight of the priest and called out to him in a voice of gladness.
“Master! Your great wisdom and counsel led me here! I am honored you have come to see me! Bless you!” The prisoner waved and smiled at G’azal, who nodded sagely.
“Farewell, Finch,” replied the Bishop.
Hearing the name, Joseph stared at the condemned individual. The man called Finch wore elated expression but his eyes seemed to stare at nothing in particular. The guard with the rope began lowering the unfortunate man into the pit, while the other guard pulled the board away from under him. Joseph looked quickly over at G’azal. The priest seemed to be enjoying himself; he rose up on his toes to get a better view. Closing his eyes at the first scream, Joseph clenched his teeth and wished himself deaf.
“My God,” he prayed silently. “Let not my enemies triumph over me.”
He forced his eyes open in spite of the screams. All others in the room were distracted by the show in the pit. Joseph saw one of the guards struggling with drawing the long board towards him. Walking closer to the pit--as if interested--Joseph stumbled forward, falling on purpose against the guard with the board. Gasping, the man let it fall, the free end hitting the ground of the pit. Bishop G’azal sprang forward, his placid glee instantly replaced by panic.
“Get it up you fool!” he yelled. “Pull it up!” He clutched at the board, himself, straining backward. Joseph slowly backed away from the edge of the pit towards the door.
The roaring stopped. Two, gigantic black paws thumped onto the end of the board, its long claws digging into the wood.
“Get it up!” G’azal screamed. All color drained away from his face.
Joseph ran. Leaping outside the outside the doorway, he threw himself back against the stone door, forcing it closed with an enormous effort. He leaned back against the door, planting his feet on the stone corridor wall opposite, and braced himself. Catching his breath Joseph waited, his back firmly wedged against the stone door. The yelling inside was muted, but still discernible. Pounding sounded out on the door, and frantic attempts to push it open. Joseph stiffened his legs, pushing back with all his might. Screams of panic and fear rang out. Answering growls reverberated through the rock. The screams grew in volume,hands and nails scrabbling at the door. A thin stream of blood began trickling out from under the stone.
Eventually the screams died away. Joseph calmed his breathing and looked around him. The pile of planed lumber he’d stepped over earlier stood mere yards away. Stepping around the blood, Joseph launched towards the wood and grabbed a thick piece. Darting back to the door he wedged it between the stone door and corridor wall. Ducking under it, Joseph listened for any sounds of coming footsteps. The main cavern’s noise and activity had masked all sounds of the horrors in the passage.
Quickly, Joseph glanced at each of the symbols above the other doors, searching for anything indicating a way out. One door bore the image of a large snake; he left it untouched. Only one door had no symbol at all; it stood next to the death camber at the end. Joseph opened the door just enough to peer inside. A small room lay beyond. Two priests’ guards sat at a table int he middle of the
Keeping his expression neutral, Joseph indicated the prisoner--standing on the board above the pit--with his shackled hands.
“They are fed on peasants?” he asked. G’azal smiled.
“Indeed. I am fond of irony.. it is a weakness of mine.” The bishop chuckled to himself. Joseph fought to keep his revulsion from showing. “This man has finally completed the long journey of his own existence,” the Bishop continued. He clasped his hands behind his back as he spoke. “He will be offered to the king of beasts, but he does not go unwillingly.”
The dangling prisoner caught sight of the priest and called out to him in a voice of gladness.
“Master! Your great wisdom and counsel led me here! I am honored you have come to see me! Bless you!” The prisoner waved and smiled at G’azal, who nodded sagely.
“Farewell, Finch,” replied the Bishop.
Hearing the name, Joseph stared at the condemned individual. The man called Finch wore elated expression but his eyes seemed to stare at nothing in particular. The guard with the rope began lowering the unfortunate man into the pit, while the other guard pulled the board away from under him. Joseph looked quickly over at G’azal. The priest seemed to be enjoying himself; he rose up on his toes to get a better view. Closing his eyes at the first scream, Joseph clenched his teeth and wished himself deaf.
“My God,” he prayed silently. “Let not my enemies triumph over me.”
He forced his eyes open in spite of the screams. All others in the room were distracted by the show in the pit. Joseph saw one of the guards struggling with drawing the long board towards him. Walking closer to the pit--as if interested--Joseph stumbled forward, falling on purpose against the guard with the board. Gasping, the man let it fall, the free end hitting the ground of the pit. Bishop G’azal sprang forward, his placid glee instantly replaced by panic.
“Get it up you fool!” he yelled. “Pull it up!” He clutched at the board, himself, straining backward. Joseph slowly backed away from the edge of the pit towards the door.
The roaring stopped. Two, gigantic black paws thumped onto the end of the board, its long claws digging into the wood.
“Get it up!” G’azal screamed. All color drained away from his face.
Joseph ran. Leaping outside the outside the doorway, he threw himself back against the stone door, forcing it closed with an enormous effort. He leaned back against the door, planting his feet on the stone corridor wall opposite, and braced himself. Catching his breath Joseph waited, his back firmly wedged against the stone door. The yelling inside was muted, but still discernible. Pounding sounded out on the door, and frantic attempts to push it open. Joseph stiffened his legs, pushing back with all his might. Screams of panic and fear rang out. Answering growls reverberated through the rock. The screams grew in volume,hands and nails scrabbling at the door. A thin stream of blood began trickling out from under the stone.
Eventually the screams died away. Joseph calmed his breathing and looked around him. The pile of planed lumber he’d stepped over earlier stood mere yards away. Stepping around the blood, Joseph launched towards the wood and grabbed a thick piece. Darting back to the door he wedged it between the stone door and corridor wall. Ducking under it, Joseph listened for any sounds of coming footsteps. The main cavern’s noise and activity had masked all sounds of the horrors in the passage.
Quickly, Joseph glanced at each of the symbols above the other doors, searching for anything indicating a way out. One door bore the image of a large snake; he left it untouched. Only one door had no symbol at all; it stood next to the death camber at the end. Joseph opened the door just enough to peer inside. A small room lay beyond. Two priests’ guards sat at a table int he middle of the
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