Chapter 8

## The Price of Anger

Pallas, Marsden, Menowin and Dankin were taken by force to the **prison** in the town square by the town’s guards. They’re belongings were ripped from them, including the Sunsword. Demoralised and exhausted, they were left there throughout the night, only visited by the alter boy Yeska, who **took the bones of Saint Andral back to the church**. Meanwhile however, Nebrix was coming back to his senses. Finding himself in an unknown street, he began looking for ways to get his companions out of this situation. He went to the Burgomaister’s house, but had no luck gaining access. As he was about to resign for the night, when an unknown figure approached him in the dark and **handed him a letter**. Reading through it quickly, he declined it’s contents and decided to wait for morning.

As the dull light broke the impenetrable darkness of night, the prisoner’s were awoken to the yells of a man being dragged across the town square. A **man with a metal arm** was dragging Henrik and a large axe to a chopping block. The kindest thing that can be said is that Henrik did not suffer for long. Once the deed was done, the prisoner’s were also dragged from their cells, but were brought to the Burgomaster’s house. They were brought into a **dining hall**, sat at the table was the Burgomaster, his wife, Ireena, Ismark and Father Lucian. Nebrix looked in through the window, until he was spotted and brought into the room as well.

The Burgomaster told them that if it had not been for the **backing of Ireena and Father Lucian**, he would have had them all executed. He was still not happy with letting them free without them answer a few questions first, however before the question could begin, Menowin was made to leave the room **due to him being a Vistani**, he was taken by the Burgomaster’s wife to a nearby room and giving some thread and a needle. Back in the dining hall, Dankin had issues with how they were being treated, it quickly became clear to everyone except Dankin, that he was putting himself into great danger. The party was able to settle him, before anything irreversible happened.

The Burgomaster turned his attention to Nebrix, claiming to know how he was still alive and demanding that if he wanted to be freed with the rest of his companions, that he needed to name his patron. Nebrix, extremely hesitant, feeling the burning anger of his patron from within, forced himself to utter their name. **Auril**. The name seemed to be nothing to anyone at the table except Pallas, who remained silent. Satisfied with the dinner, the Burgomaster agreed to free the party and return their belongings.

Outside of the burgomeister's estate, Menowin revealed the **stitched together remains of Tess**, however Tess was very much alive. Marsden, the anger constantly bubbling at his surface the last few days, exploded at Menowin, questioning what he was doing with them. During this confrontation, Pallas realised that not all of their belongings had been returned. **The Sunsword was missing**. Pallas turned and headed straight for the town’s squad, the party following close behind. Henrik’s body was gone, but his blood still pooled in the center of the square.

Pallas walked straight up to the man with the metal arm, who they'd learned was called **Izek**. Pallas demanded the Sunsword be returned to him. Amused by this old man’s anger, Izek challenged Pallas to a **duel**; if Pallas could beat him, he’d return the sword. Despite Marsden’s protests, Pallas agreed. What followed was a greater price than losing the sword. Pallas put up as good a fight as he could, but he could never have overpowered Izek alone. Pallas was left defeated on the ground of the town square, **his arm laying at his side**.