Alexius was sleeping in his cot when the Lady woke him. She roused him gently, but he opened his eyes and sat up at once.

  She told him that Veronique and her allies were coming to see him.

  Alexius climbed out of bed and approached the door. It was locked, of course, but he probed beyond with his mind and slowly formed an image in his head. Once the image was completely clear, he began to manipulate it, adjusting everything until it was all in perfect alignment.

  There was a light in the hallway, and two guards throwing dice. Alexius heard their thoughts without trying to. Carefully, he altered them, molding them like clay. Just like the tumblers in a locked door, they fell into a perfect alignment.

  Then they fell silent.

  When a man first goes to sleep his thoughts are quiet, like death. It takes time for the dreams to begin.

  The three of them are surprised to see the guards asleep on duty, but pleasantly so. They wish to go unseen. A wise precaution.

  Veronique is sent to fetch him. The door gently swung open.

  She was troubled that he was awake and ready for them. Alexius chided himself, he should have expected that. It also raised the alertness of the other two.

  The illusionist in particular had many plots they feared to have revealed.

  For the first time in years, Alexius felt a creeping sense of anxiety. That passion was clouding the clarity of his vision.

  The Fiend was more powerful than he believed possible.

  He’s awake, Veronique thought.

  “You’re awake,” Veronique said.

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  “My sleep was troubled by restless dreams. Are we departing now?”

  Yes. Give him the pack.

  “Yes, this is your pack.”

  Alexius took the bag and put it on his back.

  It’s too heavy for him.

  “Can you manage?”

  It was extremely heavy, so he made it light enough that it placed his body only under a minor strain. “Yes, just needed a moment to settle the weight right.”

  The master slayer was questioning his decision to bring the priest with them, but he would not alter it. Alexius had seen to that, but no more.

  Alexius learned, through painful experience, that it was best to directly alter others minds as little as possible. Only when forced by extreme circumstance. It was much wiser to guide their decisions, and let intrinsic motivations propel their actions.

  He needs to keep quiet, thought Veronique.

  “We intend to leave unnoticed,” said Veronique.

  All her hidden suspicions about everyone in the fortress, himself included, played across Veronique’s mind. Alexius was already familiar with all of them.

  “I understand. Shall we go?” His lack of emotion perplexed all of them, but they were too concerned with their imminent departure to dwell upon it.

  They passed the guards and left by a hidden postern in the food stores. The night was cold, but still. One might even imagine there was no such thing as sound on such a night.

  Out in the open and in the quiet it was easier to hear the voice of the Goddess.

  All paths into or out of the valley were closely watched and warded. Yet they passed unnoticed. Pentarch led them away from most observers, and Alexius shielded them from the rest. Even, and especially, those Pentarch was not aware of.

  Then they were outside of the fortress and beyond the magic of those who dwelt there. It was a relief to leave that corrupted place; the castle polluted by old things too afraid to sleep, and die even for a moment. However, even as he freed himself from one aura of oppression, another presented itself.

  The Fiend under the mountain sensed him at once. It felt his presence and it desired him.

  It was bound deep under the rocks and soil, and it could sense the world of men only faintly. It saw only echoes and shadows, but Alexius knew his soul shown out so brightly that the Fiend could not help but see him- even in its world of endless dreams.

  Alexius could feel tendrils probing and grasping for some point of leverage, a weakness it could take and twist, but he was not afraid. Alexius walked with the Lady, and the Fiend could not reach him. The Fiend threatened and cajoled him, but his mind was still.

  Images of riches appeared before him, a kingdom with men-at-arms willing to kill or die by his command, beautiful women offering him their bodies.

  Alexius ignored them and the Lady led him onwards, towards his destination. The Fiend raged, but Alexius did not allow himself to feel pride.

  He served the Goddess, and that was enough.

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