Exton

Tannr grins as Addley locks the door on the initiates and Hugh barricades it by rolling a rock, almost a boulder, in front of it. Only a very muffled sound could be heard from inside.

When Addley and Hugh return to the group Tannr signals for the men to don the robes they had found. Ob sends to Tannr..

I will follow in the shadows and be close by...

Tannr nods as the men line up and begin to move silently down the corridor. Tannr taps on the large ornate double doors at the halls end. Decorated with spiders and strange insect-like monsters Tannr feels his anger building. The carvings remind him vividly of Ardaras temple and her treatment of Tori.

A tall thin fae opens the door slowly and only enough to peer out of the room. Tannr sighs, A young fae...obviously not a warrior. Skin is dark but not blue or grey...  

Give him a choice hermano... Tannr hears Obs voice in his head.

Quietly and quickly Tannr makes his offer. “Step out in the hallway and live. Stay inside and I cant guarantee what will happen...”

Large brown eyes blink once and the fae turns for a split second from the door. Tannr senses the fae is only hesitating and holds Addley back, who is eager to get on to the battle. Suddenly the door opens a bit further and the fae quickly passes by the group hand in hand with a young girl. Tannr can only wonder briefly if the girl was a sister, a lover, because the doors are now open and no one attending them. The men slip in and Tannr glances up from his hood. The priest he wants is sitting at a massive table, carved from stone, the same creatures decorating the legs and edges as those on the doors. The remains of a odd smelling meal still on the table, the priest sipping a glass of wine. Two other priests sitting next to him and only four guards. Only four visible in here, Ob, do you see any outside? 

Only two...they must feel safe here...but I am sure they can call an army...

The priest looks up from his wine and sees the small group approach the table. “I thought I had dismissed you. Initiates are not to speak or disobey any request made of them during this period. I thought that was made clear to you on your arrival.”

“But I have a question...” Tannr never raises his head and asks in a tightly controlled voice. Few would recognize the danger in his tone but it puts Marc on edge and ready to act.

The priest stands and grips the edge of the table, his face turning red with outrage. “You are not to ask questions. It is forbidden..”

“But it is only one question. Your spells. We have heard of the dreams you can send to others. How do you do that? Does your spell last forever?” Tannr keeps his head covered and lowered.

The priest starts to grin, thinking his reputation has spread and conceited enough to like to think he is being complimented.

 “You are not permitted even a single question, but I will answer in this case. I cannot reveal my spells to initiates. Only higher ranking priests are permitted to practice any kind of magic. Spells last until the caster removes them or with the casters death... this is something you should know by now. Now leave. And send my servants back in... I have ...need for the wench...”

Tannr slowly approaches the table, his steps deliberate, his voice filled with barely controlled rage. “Thats good information to know....priest...” Tannr spits the word out. His hood starts to slip back, revealing coppery red hair. The priests eyes go wide at the sight.

“Remember me now?” Tannr reaches for the sword under his robe. The priest suddenly yells for the guards who instead of rushing to their masters aide slide into heaps on the floor, blood pooling around them. Andy and Addley having done their jobs well.

Tannr drops the robe and with a free hand reaches for his axe. In one motion the axe leaves Tannrs hand, spinning end over end. It smacks into the priest's hateful face, splitting the skull between the eyebrows with a slight diagonal list to the left; but it doesn't end there. Skin, muscle and bone part like the flesh of a mushroom around the steel blade. There is a scent, somewhere between the sour smell of acid and the throat-catching smell of something burning; and when the inertia of the throw has spent itself, the priest's head has been split to just above the chin. The edges of the cut seem to sizzle as if touched by acid, and the smell gets worse until the men have to raise a hand to their noses to stop the worst of it. Tannrs sword easily separates the split head from the neck in a geyser of blood.

“That was easy, Captain. Now what are we gonna do for fun?” Addley asks, disappointment plain on the slight mans face.

“Too easy..” adds Marc.

Tannr retrieves his axe, wiping the bloody edge on a cloth napkin laying on the table. He sends to Tori..  

Sleep well Red...no more nightmares...

As the men look around the silence is broken by a roar from the hall that rattles the walls and Tannr grins. “Spoken too soon Addley..” and the men rush out of the dining hall.