A short time later, Mindariax was back on the surface and heading towards Temple Street. Looking at the position of Luclin’s remains, she saw she did not have a lot of time until the meeting, but enough that she did not need to hurry, so she took her time to get to Temple Street, continuing her internal debate about this task, getting involved with Kenjedeau and his group, and her own internal conflicts about right and wrong.
She found the site of the meeting not long before midnight and waited outside to watch for other guards and to watch for anyone entering. It did not take long for her to notice a couple of extra guards than usual in the street, and a few folks who were probably undercover guards as well. The city noble must already be here, she thought. Mindariax also noticed that, due to her armor identifying her as a member of the Temple, many folks were indeed giving her a wide berth. While she did not revel in the fear she was causing, she knew that Kenjedeau was right in this allowing her to avoid unwanted attention. Someday, that fear won’t be so oppressing and suffocating.
After a short while, Mindariax saw two cloaked and hooded individuals approach and enter the building. She waited for a bit, giving time for any meeting to get underway, then walked up to the building entrance. She resisted looking around at any reactions from the guards knowing that she might tip them off that she didn’t belong there. She quickly but quietly entered the building, trying to put on a show of “everything is normal” for anyone watching until she closed the door, then immediately took stock in her surroundings.
She found herself in an entryway to what appeared to be a small merchant shop with a staircase leading to an upper level. At the bottom of the stair was a single unalert guard who had not noticed her yet due to his inattention and various clothing wares for a barbarian positioned near the door. Quite sloppy on their part. You would think a city noble could hire more effective guards, she thought.
Mindariax quietly drew her dagger and using the various items in the store as cover, she snuck up as close to the guard as she could, then leapt to the attack. Had the guard been paying more attention, he probably would have stood a chance of fighting her off, or at least to be able to sound a warning. Instead, he had just enough time for a look of shock and to begin to realize his time on Norrath was over before Mindariax sunk her dagger into the man’s throat.
So far so good, Mindariax thought as she removed her dagger from the man. After checking that no one else was on the lower floor or on the staircase, she made a slow and careful climb to the top and looked around the corner. She saw a short hall with an Ogre guard at the end holding a very large axe. A short hall, but not short enough for her to sneak up on him as she had the human downstairs. Cursing to herself, Mindariax slowly unsheathed her sword and put her dagger away. She knew she would have to make this quick as those inside would probably be alerted to her presence. No stopping now.
After a few moments, she went charging at the guard. For an ogre, this guard was amazingly quick, but not quicker than Mindariax’s elven reflexes. The guard swung his axe at her, but Mindariax managed to parry the blow and swing back. She managed to hit the ogre’s off arm with a deep slash, but this only seemed to make him angry. He came back with a powerful swing that she just managed to leap out of the way of an avoid being cut in two.
Fortunately for her, the ogre’s swing was a bit too strong and his axe buried itself in the wooden wall of the hallway. Finish this quick! Mindariax thought. As the guard tried in vain to free his axe, she drove her sword into the guard’s chest with all her might. After a half strength growl, the ogre fell over to the side and Mindariax withdrew her sword as he fell. She pushed the body out of the way and hurried to the door he was guarding, from which she could here various voices in discussion. Not wanting to waste any advantage, Mindariax threw the door open and charged inside.
She did not get far. About two steps in she felt a spell hit her and freeze her where she stood. From the neck down, nothing would respond, though with the shock of what she saw in the room, a spell would hardly have been needed to freeze her movements. As expected, a Freeport noble in complete official armor and helmet stood before her, but on either side of him were the now unhooded cloaked men she had seen enter the building. Kenjedeau and Stilus! What is going on here?
Both men had a growing smile on their faces as they looked at the noble. “Looks like we caught another traitor to the city,” said Stilus.
The noble raised his hand for silence and pondered Mindariax with eyes nearly hidden by his helm. After a time, he said, “For all the opportunities and protection this city provides, it still amazes me that some think to change things.” And with that, the noble removed his helmet and revealed himself for the person who Mindariax had already recognized from voice. A voice the frequently was heard through out the city espousing the virtues of the militia and the glory of himself and Freeport.
Overlord Lucan D’Lere! Mindariax thought, her mind reeling in shock. “What is going on?” she asked.
“You have fallen into a trap, my dear,” D’Lere responded. “Kenjedeau here is very good at preparing tests for our citizens to check and ensure their loyalty. Most choose correctly and pass this test and go on to greatness serving me and improving the strength of this city. Sadly, a few choose poorly as you have, and seek to undermine the strength and protection that Freeport provide.”
“You mean undermine your corrupt power system, set up to benefit only a few and trample the rest,” Mindariax retorted.
“As you have probably heard time and again,” D’Lere responded, “These are difficult times. The weak can only survive under the protection of the strong. Resources are limited, so everything must be controlled. The hardy and strong risk their lives for the rest of the people, so they should gain certain privileges due their station. I would think if anyone would understand this, it would be a Tier’Dal. I have granted your people many privileges I have not the others, but then I guess even the best orchard has a few rotten pickings.”
“Privileges? Yes, we get our own section of slum! What a privilege that is!”
“Enough!” barked the Overlord. “I have no time to trade barbs with a traitor. Executioner, kill her!”
Mindariax heard the drawing of a dagger, and then felt it penetrate her side, poisons flowing into her veins. As she fell to the floor and began to lose consciousness, she did as many do in Norrath and called out to the long lost deities. Much to the surprise of the Overlord, his people in the room, and to Mindariax herself, she did not call out to Innoruuk, the father of the Tier’Dal, but to the creator of the Koada’Dal and Fier’Dal, the high and wood elves and the Mother of All.
“Tunare!”