The Duke's Bride

[Lance Roidmet]

He shrugs, awkwardly. "Mourn. Rule. I don't know. I suppose, get Elaina pregnant so our family line can continue."

[Hanza koshack]

I don't know, I sapose, I guess, this all sounds like a man who intended to die. My friend if death is your wish 5here are quicker ways that are fearless painful for your self and the ones who care for you."

[Lance Roidmet]

Lance stands, abruptly. "What do you know about it," he snarls. "Your family lives. Fuck off and leave me to my grief." 

[Hanza koshack]

"My family lives yes but my only child is being tortured, my grand son was eaten alive by my son in law who my daughter has to kill. I watched Christians tarter my father to death for the sin of being a Jew. I watched my sister be rapped and then after it hang herself, I watched my mother burned as a witch. I watched my brother die of starvation. I myself was run out of jarusalem by Christians. Every where I go I am threatened, spit on, and worse. I have been tortured in more times and ways than you can conceive. I have been swallowed by grief. I have lived in the fog or rage and revenge but it is poisoned food. Eat of it long enough and you will have nothing left once it is consumed. Take it from an old man, there is no dishonor in suicied so long as you take no one else with you, but right now you are at a cross road you never thought you'd see. One where there is a life ahead of you. One with the possibility of great power and great joy. But you must rid yourself of this poison to take it. It is a hard work but one I have found to be worth it. It is your choice weather you live or die but you cannot stay standing in the middle of this choice. A man who stands in the middle of the road long enough will get run over. Make your choice friend you will have my support either way."

[Lance Roidmet]

"First I have to save your daughter." Then he walks away, off to find his horse, the words of the old man rattling about in his head. 

[Judge Harrod Blacquin]

The pain stopped.

Well, fresh pain anyway. Tova's body is still a broken, shuddering mass of pain from the injuries and torments visited upon it already, but they've stopped. Hard to tell how long, with her thoughts drifting and dulled; even setting aside the effects of the pain, she's lost a lot of blood, been prevented from sleeping with both drugs and pain, and her lizard brain is trying vainly to protect itself by pushing away the body. Her hands and feet have been crushed, her skin torn and flayed, her stomach and thighs burned and branded, her ears clipped, her teeth cracked and she thinks they've tattooed something on her forehead, sternum and pelvis. 

She's been kept blind the entire time, her eyes both slathered with what she's pretty sure is a topical anesthetic and blindfolded, but she can hear more or less fine. So while it takes her a few minutes to gather herself enough to understand words, she's capable of hearing the conversation happening across the room. 

"This has given me significant concern about your competency, Jedediah," a voice colder than a devil's heart says softly. "You were told she was a witch capable of teleporting someone. From the castle no less, a feat not as difficult as entering it, true, but still one that should have been prevented by the wards laid down. And yet you allowed her to remain mostly unbound for the entire night. Explain yourself.

Perhaps less conversation and more dressing down? 

"I-- I did not-- She has killed, mi'lord! In cold blood no less, I could tell immediately. She should not be capable of invoking angelic powers, not with blood on her hands. Her calls and connections to demonic, animistic and ancestral powers will have been blocked. And--"

"Will they? Even if she used angelic patrons to pass along the call?"

Jedediah is silent, clearly either unsure or unwilling to give the answer that will reflect badly upon him. Unfortunately, as she gathers more focus and awareness of herself, Tova realizes that her grace period is over; she can feel not only bindings created with her own blood and hair but also bindings designed to distort and hamper angelic magic. 

[Tova koshack]

I laugh it's harsh and rasping but I laugh spitting blood on the floor. It's too late they've blocked two of my outlets but my army is near. When with the binding their doom is nigh.

"Barouch hata adonie. Alohanu melec holom she kitshanue bametzi vo tav layhanlikenear layhanulikenare Hallam." I croak the prayer of the rightus over and over getting loader each time. There is no pain only prayer god may not hear me but when I reach him he will know in my last moments I prayed to him

[Judge Harrod Blacquin]

"Translate."

"Ah. It is-- Something like... Praise to God of all things, who is good and wise, who creates all good things and--"

"Prayer then, not a spell. Seems she has realized her power has been taken from her. Good." Tova hears footsteps-- soft and sure, someone in clothes not armour and with a sound body-- then soft, regular breathing a couple of feet from where she is bound. "Do you wish for death?" the noble asks in a mild voice, his tone a strange mixture of polite indifference and curiosity.

[Tova koshack]

"I neither wish for death nor do I cling to life. If I die then god will receive me if I live then you shall fear me. It is one and the same. Life and death are two half's of a whole. We do not curse fruit for having seeds so why should we curse life for having an end?" I laugh bitterly "do you want to kill me?" I ask coldly

[Judge Harrod Blacquin]

"I do not," he replies unexpectedly. "You are a very powerful and clearly skilled witch, along with some other, more mundane yet still valuable skills. Why would I wish to discard the chance to acquire such?"

[Tova koshack]

"So what do you want shitskta?" I ask kindly

[Judge Harrod Blacquin]

"I am quite clean, in fact," is the even reply in very good Yiddish. Strangely... wooden, artificial, reminding Tova of the rare times she's heard an utterly non-human spirit that was given a voice by magic. "But to answer your question, however disrespectfully you asked it, I want to have what I have earned. More... topically, I wish to have your service, but I will settle for your power."

[Tova koshack]

"A man who speaks in stolen voices is rare." I say after a moment "but your accent needs work. Let me look at you, I'd like to know who has the power to Wild me."

[Judge Harrod Blacquin]

A light chuckle. "I cannot fault you for trying," he replies, language and voice returning. "But while I am sure you can do much without sight, I am not about to give you back such an advantage. Unless, of course, you are willing to swear to my service?"

[Tova koshack]

"That depends on your terms? I don't work the sabbath, I only eat kosher, I keep my language and traditions in all things, and I don't make deals with those who's souls I can't see.... unless you are willing to enter into a bonded contract?" I ask gently "I don't require much as collateral.... I'd except a lock of your hair, a vile of blood, and a few teeth. Seams only fair considering you have mine."

Good let him think he's broken you. Let him think your despite. Either way my army is on its way. I will either kill him by my hand or my command. Still play shrewd play broken play made play anything but currently compitant