Book of Trirealm. Master Of Elements [BL]

CHAPTER 6. Outlaws

In the ten days that the runaways were traveling through the mountains, many events took place in Black Mines and the workers' village. After the earthquake and the Second Heir's troops attack, the Third Heir Uili Akhor himself showed up to inspect his domain and assess the damage. Of course, he was going to visit his future plaything in the Temple of Bliss as well, and maybe even take the youth with him.

How disappointed he was to find that Veollys had disappeared from the brothel. In anger, Uili destroyed half of the main hall, smashed all the dishes, and nearly killed a passing servant. By then, no pursuit team had caught the fugitive, but the Heir had been informed about a half-dead demon found in the woods, surrounded by many footprints. The demon had been clutching a sword in his hand, but there had been nothing on him to indicate his identity. An investigation was launched and once it was discovered that the man had been bitten by a gone, the prince suspected the runaway toy might have had something to do with it.

He personally interrogated the demon, who had recently regained consciousness. Finally convinced the latter had met Veollys, the Heir ordered the demon brought to trial and beheaded.

Uili, a gambler, decided to go to the mountains himself accompanied by the High Priestess. The brothel owner was eager to find her treasure and happily joined the search. The Third Heir's anger and displeasure could have very unfortunate consequences for her establishment.

It had been at least seven days since the escape. The demons saddled yellow lynxes, took one mage as a guard and made for the mountains.

***

Tens stared at Veollys, stunned. For a moment, he forgot about the outlaws and the impending danger.

Thousands of fresh, bleeding cuts of varying sizes disfigured the Golden Deity's beautiful face, leaving no healthy skin on it. At first, Tens thought his eyes were deceiving him; he blinked vigorously in the hope that the terrible image would disappear. Realizing it wasn't working, the boy took a few deep breaths to pull himself together.

That's why he wore the mask, he realized.

But where did the scars come from? A curse?

Of course! The Curse of the Carved Face. If Tens had been a couple quarts older, he'd have been cursed for running away, too. And the rules at the Temple of Bliss must be even stricter than for miners. Especially for a priest as valuable as Veollys.

Apparently, the High Priestess had cursed her treasure in retaliation for his escape. He knew about the curse, so he had been checking the mirror every five minutes. And when the scars had started to appear, he had stopped. They probably hurt, too.

Tens's heart sank as he remembered how many stupid things about beauty he had said to Veollys in the past few days.

How dare the High Priestess mangle such a beautiful face! he thought indignantly.

Surely she had mutilated him, knowing she could lift the curse if Veollys returned. At least Tens hoped so. The Temple of Bliss often used such punishments to keep runaways from working elsewhere. First, the face would be covered with cuts; they would bleed and stay fresh for a year. If not treated with special potions, they could also fester. After a year, the cuts would heal, leaving ugly scars. If the curse was not lifted within that time, the scars would remain forever. That's what Tens had heard, at any rate.

Veollys was watching the demons' reactions to his terrible cuts in horror. He was accustomed to being admired by everyone; never in his life had he been called ugly. Though he was well aware that he shouldn't have expected otherwise, a wave of unspeakable sadness and fear came over him.