Role

Chapter 22

Daran Frostspear, now in his old age, was nevertheless a fearsome sight to
behold. Nerah and Mahar, both old giants now, quivered in fear. They had
never before stood before such a powerful Imperial. Indeed, even Daran's
servant was too high up for them to have met before. Daran was satisfied.
These two knew their place. He spoke without preamble:

Nerah. Mahar. You are two loyal subjects of the Empire. You maybe wonder
why I call you here. Your daughter. Viera Brightspell. Seem she did not
even want to take your name. More than that. Viera Brightspell, the
Chancellor of Eternal Night. Your daughter! The leader of that coven of
Arcane traitors. I gave her, and you, a chance. And what she do? Spit it
back in my face!

Daran flushed. He was afraid. Viera Brightspell, the subject of a thousand
whispers of fear and reverence. Some said her weapon surpassed any anti-
paladin's of recent history. He remembered Viera, just barely a woman back
then, standing pensively, unsure of herself, in this very office. He had
impressed her, shown her his great power. And now the student had surpassed
him in strength, had betrayed him. No, he would not dare confront her. What
would it do, other than bring humiliating and certain death? For even the
Emperor himself had fallen in a swift and brutal defeat to her. Frustrated,
he turned his fear into impotent rage and directed at his inferiors:

Nerah. Mahar. I give you one chance now. Bring Viera back to the Empire. Or
you will both face my wrath. I will send my guards to watch over you. Do
not even think of disobeying me.

The two old giants, terrified, bowed obediently and left. Not long after,
Viera received a letter from her parents, sent to her mailing address in
Hamsah. Within the letter was just the truth. Her parents begged her to
return to the Empire. Such very small minds. Viera had surpassed them,
surpassed that pitiful existence in an unimaginative Empire. She sighed,
and raked her fingers through her hair in frustration. Time for a little
detour, thought the prettiest giant.