The Chronicles Of Bone: Truth

Chapter 3: Below the sands of the wasteland desert

Kanya heard him yell something to her, but her mind was so overwhelmed by panic his words weren't registered. All she could think of was running away from this mess that she had just gotten into.

She was hoping to outpace the man and reach the elevator. If she could only escape and trap him down there she would be safe, she thought. Somehow her panic-stricken mind was ignoring the crucial fact that the further she got from him, the closer she got to die a messy death.

Lok's voice, sounding too close for her liking, yelled an incomprehensible word and she felt it drip into her ears and enter her veins, like cold poison from a snake bite. Instantly, she felt her joints stiffen and her muscles cramp and freeze in place. In just two heartbeats she had fallen unceremoniously on the cold stone floor completely paralyzed, just a step away from the elevator. She could only look straight and breathe with great difficulty, as the Incarnant walked over to her. She grabbed her hair and lifter her head so that her unmoving eyes could look directly into his.

"Running away from me means your death foolish girl. You are lucky I paralyzed you before you strayed too far. Had you climbed up this elevator shaft, you would have exploded before you got off to the next level," he said looking at the elevator shaft where the top of the elevator could be seen just above the floor level.

"I will cleanse the Poison Word of Paralysis from your body and you better be willing to cooperate with me. That obnoxious Demigod said your life depends on it and I would take his word for it," he said touching gingerly the orb on his chest.

He let go of her hair thankfully as the word didn't block out pain. Then he whispered a few arcane words and pressed his hand on her forehead. His skin felt very warm and dry where he touched her.

Instantly, she felt her whole body relaxing and she managed to get on her feet a few moments later. She heard him utter another word and feared it was another Poison word. However, this one slithered into her mind through her ears and suppressed her will. Defenseless, she couldn't help but be under Lok's complete control.

"What is your name and profession?"

"Kanya dal Melandyl, archaeologist and scholar."

"Good, it is also evident that you are a Half-elf. Thanks to your heritage the effect of the Dark Word of Domination is severely limited. I guess I have only one more question I can ask you before my hold over you is gone completely. Did you come here with that strange mage alone or is there someone else with you?"

Though she was regaining control over her mind just as he had said, her hands couldn't cover her mouth in time.

"Yes, an Ogre named Kwoul."

An amused smile appeared on Lok's lips. He had very fond memories of Ogres the last time he roamed the world and it had been ages since he had brawled on with his fists.

"I see. Since our fates are linked together for the time being, I advise you to make this as easy as possible for the both of us. I am not in the mood to chase you around nor do I believe you would you like your head blown off by Chi' Tier's enchantment."

Kanya considered Lok's words for a moment and then sighed. She hated when others made her decisions for her. The man took her passive stance as being in agreement with him.

"Now, while I was chasing after you, you seemed to be heading in this direction to escape. Does this elevator shaft lead to the exit?"

She hesitated for a moment, but she made up her mind to be honest with him.

"Yes, it leads to the exit through trapped passageways. I shall contact my friend to raise the cabin upwards so we can board it and then pull it further up to his level."