Chapter Seven - The Book of the Dead

Title: Chapter Seven - The Book of the Dead

Author: The Amanuensis

In the days after, Lord Tanthazarus would speak very little of his whereabouts or his practices. He was the Traitor, and all must believe it to be true, most of all, Silvaria. He could trust no one, for he knew that there were those who had long ago been purchased by the Drow, and should word reach them that he had played Silvaria for the fool... He knew he would be tortured like no man before him.

However, it pained him greatly to see his Brethren. Their eyes darkened when they saw him. They wanted desperately to kill him again, yet Sovereign forbade it. This was his punishment for the crime committed: to live in exile, not sentenced to death. Death was never permanent. Being marked as an Outcast, however, could be.

Tanthazarus had to let them know. He had to leave them a clue. He could not stand another moment of them depising him for the ploy he concocted. Tanthazarus had performed the ultimate of sacrifices: He had died so that the Brethren of Light might turn the tide against the wretched Drow. Then he sacrificed his own heart and spirit by allowing them to banish him in their hot-blooded hatred. Two deaths at once. Surely a feat that none other would care, or dare, to suffer.

He pulled out some rather shoddy manuscripts. They were ancient translation tools he had stumbled upon, quite by accident, while researching the history of the Bregan D'Aerth. "What more convincing way to leave their minds in turmoil," he thought aloud.

Quickly his quill met the blank parchment:

Usstan uil elghinyrr, quin usstan z'hin. Dos talinth usstan uil natha og'elend. Dos phuul xusst.

Vel'drav lil draeval zhah ghil... Dos orn zhaun jal. Hwuen zhahn, dos talinth usstan uil elghinyrr.

-Tanthazarus the Betrayed

And off he went to his old home to the south of Yew, finding Nicholas the Tamer and Sky, a newly initiated mage. In fact, Tanthazarus had been the Questioner at Sky's initiation only a few short days ago. It felt like years.

"I am unarmed. I come only for my vendor." Tanth had uttered those words many times since his exile. His vendor was becoming quite profitable as of late. Maybe it was due to the fact that all the old scribe had was idle time to prepare scrolls. But it was never the true reason for his visits. In fact, he secretly enjoyed taunting them, knowing full well they would never raise a hand to him again. Lord Nitsiar had left a standing order to leave him be. Tanth liked to imagine that they all still respected him enough not to raise arms, but he had lost confidence in even that fantasy recently. Sky was working away at his magery. He was a very learned man of the arcane, and summoned daemons with ease. Tanth knew that this was a man to be reckoned with... At least as far as his magic were concerned. It was now time to test his mind.

"I am unarmed. I come only for my vendor." Tanthazarus paused as he saw yet another daemon appear. Sky had not ordered them to stand their ground, and they loomed ever closer to the Traitor dressed in black. "Call thy daemons off me, Betrayor. I've no business with thee."

"I should have them kill you for even being here," he replied, a stern command to his voice. Niltsiar brought it to Tanth's attention that Sky was a very quiet fellow. He knew that, someday, the two of them might become a strong pair of mages, and under Niltsiar's leadership, be feared by even the Drow.

"I am unarmed," he repeated with a subtle grin. "I come only for my vendor." He never made eye contact while saying this, but he couldn't resist the taunt. "And mayhap to bring ye a gift." He chuckled.

"I shall take nothing from thee," Sky spat. "I want nothing thou hast to offer."

"Oh, of course... Of course... But ye do seek Truth, aye?"

"You speak only lies." Tanthazarus laughed.

The fact of the matter was, even now, he had not uttered a single lie to his Brethren. He may have minced words a bit, and he may have even been completely deceptive, but he admitted to all that he was accused of. Why, he even denied the fact that Ieon witnessed him place the letter in the armoire. Ieon was, after all, lying, not Tanth... Tanthazarus had placed it in the reagent box.

"Thou'rt afraid of what ye'll find in these pages, aye?"

Sky was quite visibly tested at this point. "I fear nothing."

"Ye should," Tanth responded curtly. He then extended a hand which held the freshly inked tome. Sky hesitated for a long while, then finally accepted it. He could see the look of bewilderment and confusion on the face of the newest addition to the Brethren of Light. Sky had never seen Drow before. "In there," Tanth continued, pointing at the book, "be a hint of Truth. If ye seek Truth, thou shouldst translate it. 'Tis thy duty to do so." Sky tried to shoo him away with his eyes. The old mage, ex-warrior, only chuckled.

"Heed my words, friend. There be more to this than meets the eye. Much more." And with the exchange of a few more words, he was off, returning to the cabin where he longed to be with his Brethren again, but more, to be with his Love.

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