Role

Chapter 9

A familiar feeling came to Salyeris as she sat in the village, one she had
come to know rather well. Shortly thereafter she was once more aboard the
deck of the Maiden, standing before Lady Neltouda. There had been talk prior
to the Rites, and Salyeris had proven herself in them, something the goddess
had taken note of. As they spoke the goddess brought forth a mahogany harp,
all the while looking at Salyeris.

There was an instant, though to her it felt far longer, of intense pain as
the goddess grabbed hold of her neck. The smell of ozone was heavy in the
air, the pain nearly caused Salyeris to pass out, but she held her focus and
managed to stay awake until she was released from the grasp, at which point
she collapsed to the floor. The Goddess paid her no mind though, as she then
grabbed the harp, and another flare of energy came forth around the
instrument and the goddess.

The light settled and faded as Salyeris regained the strength to stand. In
thehands of the goddess was the harp, but upon it now were a series of
intricate runes, one Salyeris knew all too well. They were hers, the brands
from her neck. She tenatively touched her neck, and found the once scarred
flesh now smooth. A small grin came to the lips of the goddess as she saw
Salyeris begin to understand what had just happened. The curse, the one that
had plagued her family, had been lifted, taken from her, the dark power and
pain it had caused her contained now within the harp before her.

Neltouda nodded to Salyeris, and presented the harp to her. It was an
exquisite instrument, an instrument only she could play, one bound to her and
her alone. All the pain of her runes echoed within each note Salyeris played
upon it, but now she was in control of it.

Salyeris, now the Commander of Battle, was finally free.