The Spirit of Wrath

Chapter Seven: Leper's Return

Sahshir had spent the last few days gathering information. He learned of people who had been hurt. He found that almost all of them were merchants who needed to cooperate. The ordinary people were largely left in peace.

Asim was quite popular among them. Several of whom Asim had ruined had seen their wealth given to the poor. He saw now why Tuor had forbidden him from killing Asim. It would be a bad start.

Now, he was meditating.

He often did so when he could not sleep and had been meditating from the late hours. Now, the hours had become early, and he was still sitting in his room, his eyes shut and his hands clenched.

He wondered how many weary travelers this shrine of Baltoth had gotten. There are none today, but Sahshir remembers when he was a boy. In those days, Aresh had not been supplanted by Tuor. Often, far-off merchants would shelter here if they had no outside connections.

To harm a guest in Baltoth's house was an unforgivable crime. For if travelers could not be safe in the house of the gods, where could they be safe?

And yet he felt ill at ease.

He sensed them now, gathering outside the gates of the shrine. Armed men, ready for war. They were many, and their life force belonged to demanding men. Men who had killed before and would again. Warriors.

But they did not desire blood. Or at least not a battle.

"Sahshir, there is a problem," said Kushina.

Sahshir arose, startled, hand falling to his sword as he saw her. Somehow, she had slipped beneath his perceptions like always. How did she do that? "What is it?"

"Asim has learned of your presence somehow," said Kushina. "His troops are outside the shrine as we speak."

"I am aware," said Sahshir.

"And you're still here?" asked Kushina in surprise.

Sahshir raised his sword. "I will defeat Asim and his men singlehanded should they enter this place."

Kushina sighed. "You're confidence inspires me. But I'd rather have a better plan than that."

"Very well," said Sahshir. "I will enter the palace and kill Asim and his extended family."

"Do you have another better plan?" asked Kushina.

"No," admitted Sahshir. He was forbidden from killing Asim. But surely Tuor would understand if it was him or Sahshir.

"Priestess Kushina!" came a call. "We know you are within. Come out and speak to us at once."

Kushina grasped her staff from the wall and walked out. Sahshir trailed behind in the shadows. He watched from the doorway as Kushina approached the gates. In front of them stood Asim, a tall and scarred man. He had narrow eyes that marked the blood of Namina that flowed through him, and his skin was lighter. In his hand was a sheathed sword, a scimitar rather than a katana. A symbol of his contempt for the ways of Namina.

"Lord Asim, you have surrounded a shrine of Baltoth," said Kushina. "What is the meaning of this?"

"The meaning is simple," said Asim. "You are harboring my enemies. I will not intrude on sacred ground. But I will not let you protect threats to my dominion."

"Abdul Sahshir is first in the line of succession," said Kushina. "Your nephew by blood. You are granted only the position of regent. Is this treason?"

"Sahshir is nothing more than a boy," said Asim. "One whose curse will lead to a line of plague. I will not see one of his kind leading our armies. What example could that set?"