Role

Chapter 27

On one strange eve, everything changed.

The Maran and the Acolytes and the Squires and the Scribes were a flutter. I
awoke at the Inn, and I saw the Captain, the Marshall, Dohri, Kastravan, Kaide,
Coqui, and Prixm awake and seemingly occupied. Dichael was at the Inn and we
spoke, happy to be with one another, but perplexed by the otherwise distracted
members of the Fortress. After a time though, one by one, they reached out to
us, asking for help finding an item or a place, without telling us anything as
to the reason of their need. And at last, they all descended upon the Inn,
asking for me, as they needed something only I could give: drow blood, drawn
freely.

I came with them, confused but willing to help. These were my friends and they
needed me, I would never have denied them. We headed to a laboratory where an
alchemist was cowering. His name was Odovodon, and he had done something
terrible. Before I could even hear his story, Prix'm was attacked, I did my
best to aid and I slew slavers who had journeyed to disrupt whatever the
Fortress was attempting to accomplish. And then Prix'm was attacked again, but
not by slavers... but by none other than the androsphinx himself.

The noble and gallant creature who had done so much to aid me in my redemption
was now attacking those who I saw as allies. I was confused, and then it was
explained to me, it was all the fault of the alchemist who was working under
duress. His family was held captive and he had been forced to inject the
androsphinx with a serum that had made Lady Azorinne's sentinel mad and had
perverted his soul and mind, so much so that he now struck out at those of the
Light.

The Fortress had worked tirelessly on a cure, and one of the more difficult to
acquire ingredients was one that I alone could provide. I gave my blood freely
for such a cause. And as the needle took the blood out of me, I realized I
stood in front of the Marshall for the first time not as someone to strike and
kill, but as someone who was on his side. Rolen never raised his blade at me
again.