Blood of the Fold

Jagang sucked the pig fat from his rings. "You see, control is more important than killing. I could have killed you six, but then what good would you be? As long as you're under my dominion, you're no threat to me, and of use in oh, so many ways."

Jagang turned his wrist up, pointing his knife at Merissa. "You've all vowed vengeance against him, but you, my darlin, have vowed to bathe in his blood. I may yet give you the chance."

Merissa's face paled. "How.. could you know that? I said that when I was awake."

He chuckled at the look of panic on her face. "If you don't want me to know something, darlin, then you shouldn't dream about what you've said while you were awake."

Through the link, Ulicia felt Armina come near to fainting.

"Of course, you six must first be brought to task. You must learn who it is that's in control of your lives." With his knife he indicated the silent slaves behind him. "You'll become as obedient as these, here."

For the first time, Ulicia took a good look at the partially clad people around the room. She nearly gasped aloud. The women were all Sisters. Worse, most were her Sisters of the Dark. She took a quick survey; not all of them were here. The men, mostly young wizards who had been released after their training at the palace, were also ones who had given a soul oath to the Keeper.

"Some are Sisters of the Light, and serve well, for fear of what I'll visit upon them should they displease me." With a finger and thumb, Jagang stroked the thin gold chain between the rings in his nose and ear, "but I like your Sisters of the Dark the best; I've brought them all to task, even those at the palace." Ulicia felt as if another pin had been knocked from under her. “I have business at the Palace of the Prophets. Important business."

The gold chains at his chest glinted in the firelight as he spread his arms.”They're all quite obedient. ' His inky gaze turned to those behind. ' Aren11 you, my darlins?

Janet, a Sister of the Light, kissed her ring finger as tears crept down her cheeks. Jagang laughed. His ring sparkled in the firelight as he pointed a thick finger at her.

"See that? I permit her to do that. It keeps her filled with false hope. Would I prevent it, dien she might kill herself, because she doesn't have the fear of death like those sworn to the Keeper. Isn't that right, my darlin Janet?"

"Yes, Excellency," she answered in a cowed voice. "You own my body in this life, but my soul belongs to the Creator when I die."

Jagang laughed, a morbid, grating sound. Ulicia had heard it before, and she knew she was going to be its cause again.

"You see? That's what I tolerate in order to maintain my control. Of course she will now have to serve a week in the tents as punishment." His inky glare caused Janet to shrink back. "But then you knew that before you said it, didn't you my darlin?"

Sister Janet's voice trembled. "Yes, Excellency."

Jagang's murky, clouded eyes returned to the six before him. "I like the Sisters of the Dark best because they have sound reason to fear death." He twisted the pheasant in half. Bones snapped and popped. "They've failed the Keeper, to whom they've sworn their souls. If they die, it's no escape. If they die, the Keeper will have his revenge for their failure." He laughed, a deep, resonant, mocking sound. "As he'll have you six, for eternity, if you displease me enough to earn death."

Ulicia swallowed. "We understand. . Excellency."

Jagang's nightmare gaze made her forget to breathe. "Oh no, Ulicia, I don't think you truly do. When your lessons are finished, though, you will."

With his nightmare gaze on Ulicia, he reached under ihe table and dragged a shapely woman out by her blond hair. She winced in pain as his powerful fist lifted her. She was dressed the same as the others. Through the sheer fabric, Ulicia could see older, yellow bruises, and newer, purple ones. There was a bruise on her right cheek, and a fresh, huge, blue-black one on her left jaw, with a line of four cuts left by his rings.

It was Christabel, one of the Sisters of the Dark Ulicia had left at the palace. The Sisters of the Dark at the palace were to have laid the groundwork for their return. Apparently, they now laid the groundwork for Jagang's arrival. What he could want with the Palace of the Prophets, she couldn't fathom.

Jagang turned his hand over, pointing. "Stand before me."

Sister Christabel scurried around the table to stand before Jagang. She quickly smoothed her disheveled hair, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before bowing. "How may I serve you, Excellency?"

"Well, Christabel, I need to teach these six their first lesson." He tore the other leg off the pheasant. "In order to do that, you must die."

She bowed. "Yes, Excell — " She froze, realizing what he had just said. Ulicia could see her legs trembling as she straightened, but still, the woman dared say nothing.