Vol. 8 The Death of Xeria

The Death of Xeria
When Xeria the Valiant saw that Azunai was hopelessly besotted with the maiden Vesulia, she knew that he would soon fall to the Seck, for his strength was weakening. So she led a small band of fighters to the enemy camps, in the hope of killing their leaders in the night, and improving Azunai's fortunes in the battles ahead.
But when she crept near to the tent of Zaramoth's most powerful mages, she overheard them boasting to one another of their deeds. One claimed to have enchanted Emperor Veransk, causing him to see Zaramoth as his heir, thus ensuring that the Throne of Stars woudl pass to the Unmaker upon the Emperor's death.
Another claimed to have caused this same Emperor to end his life by bathing in a tub of asps, while thinking it was a bath of asses' milk.
But the final mage laughed and said: 'Little skill is needed to bend a single, weak mind. Instead, I have enchanted an entire army into believing that my own brother Tog the Assassin is a maiden, lovely to behold, and I bewitched Azunai himself to fall in love with him!'
At this, all the mages laughed so their tent shook. But Xeria trembled with rage in the shadows. She signaled to one of the other warriors to join her, and told him to leave the Seck camps and ride hard toward Azunia's armies to reach him and warn him of the mages' deception.
But Xeria herself remained behind, and in the first light of dawn she drew her blades and ran into the tents of the great mages. It is said that the Seck archers filled her body with arrows, and the mages blasted her with ice and fire, but she fought on. The fire of her courage kept her alive when her heart stopped, and her blood flowed from her like water; kept her alive until she had killed every mage in the tent.
When their lives ended, so too did the enchantments they had cast: Azunai saw Tog for what he was, and killed him. Thus did Xeria save all men from Zaramoth's tyranny.
Azunai caused a monument ot be built telling of her deeds, that all men might know of her sacrifice. And to this day, men pray that her fortune will bless him in battle, and that her courage will guide them in all things.
Category:Dungeon Siege II
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