The Harp of Aleth by Kira Morgana Page B

to be with him. I do remember vowing my soul to Slaanesh. Maybe I should have resisted more, but it felt so good to let go.
    She dropped the point of her sword, its slim blade making a whistling sound which made the few creatures alive around her flinch. She took a deep breath and a poison demon nearby fainted as her scanty armour barely restrained a cleavage which seemed far too ample to be hers.
    I feel so powerful. Is this the blessing of Slaanesh, my mother was always going on about? I never listened to her when she went off on her Dreamroot fuelled rambles about the gods. Was that statue back there Him? Or just his image?
    “Fall back!” the command echoed through the passageways.
    Tavia raised her sword back to guard position as a figure in a long blood red cloak moved through the retreating creatures. The hood of the robe hid the figure’s face, but bright golden eyes glinted beneath the fabric.
    “What part of the Under City do you come from?” the figure demanded.
    That voice is familiar. Where have I heard it before? Tavia tilted her head to one side. “Under City? Never been there. Who is it that demands information of a Cavalier without giving his name in the courtesy required by all?”
    There was a pause.
    “I am one who has been sent to bring you peace, Daughter of Slaanesh.” The robed figure told her.
    Is it that obvious that I’ve been recruited? Has something changed about me? Tavia waved the tip of her blade between them. “I will need more than that before I trust anyone in this place.”
    “Then I shall give you reason to trust me.” The figure said as it turned, throwing out its arms. “ Rágaiter.” The incantation rolled out into the air of the dungeon, echoing multiple times as it bounded off of the enclosing walls.
    A soft grey mist wound its way from the fingers of the figure in thin tendrils, inserting itself into any available orifice of the creatures still surrounding Tavia. Then with a whisper, the mist disappeared into the creatures.
    Tavia watched dumbfounded as the creatures around them began to bleed, vital fluids of all colours pouring from every orifice. The poison demons were the worst, their grey-green blood gushing forth from their mouths, the smell causing a pale green fog to gather above the carcases as they deflated.
    Blood Magic. It’s Blood Magic and far stronger than any other mage I have ever come across… except… her thought faltered as the figure turned back, snapped its fingers and levitated across the fog to land on the guard platform beside her. Then it pushed its hood back.
    Tavia stared. “Hezan!”
    * * *
    The Training room was empty. Julissa strode through the rows of training dummies and weight areas with barely a glance. Virrinel dashed past, sword drawn and fangs bared. Joran followed with Qin-Dar at a more sedate pace, the cleric looking paler by the second.
    “We’re getting close to the heart of evil in this place,” Qin-Dar gasped and stumbled. “I’m not sure how much further I can go.” She stopped to catch her breath.
    Julissa stopped as well, her concern for her friend overriding the urge to find the harp.
    “You can’t stay here, Poikaerea . The creatures could come back at any minute.”
    Joran produced a vial of white liquid.
    “Here, take this. It may help.”
    “A shield potion? Thank you.” Qin-Dar nodded and smiled before she swallowed the contents and passed the vial back to him. A pale white glow surrounded her body and she sighed contentedly. After a few moments the cleric stretched and smiled. “Much better. Shall we carry on?”
    * * *
    “After we parted in Jira, I travelled around Elysia. I found so many wonderful things to experience that I almost didn’t complete my training. However, I finished and completed The Dedication.” Hezan paused and opened the door in front of them.
    “You dedicated yourself to Kaela Mensha? I thought you weren’t going to do that, that you were only studying Blood Magic in order to