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Chapter 40. The Invisible Line |
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elenus awakened with a curse on his lips. A filthy dog rooted for scraps around his legs as he lay beneath a layer of rubbish in an alley in Lion’s Arch. Bruised from an encounter with a mugger, he rose stiffly, sending the dog whimpering away with a well placed kick. Wincing, he flexed his shoulders, trying to ease the kink from his neck. His last hours in Kaineng were a violent drunken blur. Prior to the sigil hop, he vaguely recalled a mugger pleading for his life. Belenus had toyed with the thief a little and killed him shortly thereafter. The cries of the dying man infested his psyche and lurked in his dreams. He had crossed an invisible line. He had killed a man simply because he could. And he had enjoyed it. With the mugger’s spoils tucked down his shirt, he could have bought room and board, perhaps a bath to wash the filth of captivity away. His appearance, however, no longer concerned him. He had been tricked out of a fortune. His money. Revenge was his sole thought as he stalked down the alley into the quiet of dawn. Morisedd had played him for a fool, and now he would get even. Oh yes, he would make him pay. Belenus knew why Morisedd had turned on him. He might not be the brightest mesmer, but it had soon become clear to him the ranger regretted harming his precious niece and nephew and his harlot sister. Trapped in the cabin, Morisedd had humiliated and beat him repeatedly, blaming him for everything that had wrong. All Belenus had ever wanted was to retire with his stack of coin to a remote and idyllic location and live comfortably until the end of his days. He had come so close to attaining his dream. Morisedd had ruined it. Morisedd had taken away his riches. Belenus would now take away something in return. The dream came back to him and he laughed hoarsely, the suddenly ended screams of the infant like music to his crooked soul. He savored it, closing his eyes to visualize the horror his actions would cause. A new life sacrificed on the altar of vengeance was only right after what Morisedd had done. He would need provisions and a row boat. The first he would pay for, but the latter he would steal after dark. They would never see him arrive. They would never expect him to strike. |
