Role

Chapter 10

Tomias felt the strength flee from his limbs, and the recently named Marshall
of the Fortress of Light lowered himself to the ground, determined not to
be defeated, but losing his footing all the same.

The chaos of battle was still overwhelming for him. The vigilance required to
always be on watch for his enemies was taxing. The knowledge so many of his
allies shared of Thera was not shared by him. He was not the same as his
brothers in arms. And yet, here he was, leading them.

Tomias felt false... like an impostor. He clutched his head and forcibly
suppressed the urge to sob, but tears still found their way out.
He thought he was done hiding, but it was all he could do now to hide
his ...weakness.

Perhaps his struggles were because of lingering affects of the mummy's
curse of forgetting? Yes. That is why he did not recall the way to the
Pyramid or Trothon, that all others knew.

Or, even, yes, when he let the poisoner arial in his ranks, Djarbez,
experiment on him with neurological taints! Oh, that was most unwise...
There is no telling how much knowledge they eroded from his mind!

Tomias thought of Lady Baerinika, and of purity. He did not understand,
but his spirit was pure, his heart was pure. Pure and sincere as the
Redhorn snow. And he felt such. His mind, Tomias was realizing, no, it
was not pure, perhaps not even whole - but his spirit was great.

"I am brave," he said aloud to himself. "I will be strong. The spirit
of the jaguar walks with me, and with her faith I will be great."

But it would be some time before Tomias would discover why he, a part-
drow, had a spirit so unusually strong with the light, or, why
he was born only half the person other humans were.