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[Abominox]

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Wake up, little sleeper...
Lucius woke up still in Poet's Garden. He was laying on his cot still, apparently having fallen asleep during his dreadful planning. He tried to remember his conversation with the old sage, but his head was aching from the thought of what would happen.

It's time to show how much you owe him.
"What is it, old man? I thought you said you couldn't do anything."
I can't... but others can.
"What are you talking about?"
Consider it a possibility that you're not the only one I can speak to. Steel is concious, and he knows damn well where he is.
"Well then, where is he?"
I will warn you now. If you go through with this, and you succeed in your attempt to save his life, there is no guarantee of yours.
"When he freed me from my father's grip, I told him that I would not let any harm come to him... at any cost. I intend to keep my word. If it costs my life, well, there will be one less demon in this world."
Alright... he is being held in a jail in Isil's own house on the south edge of Ice Isle. But don't...

By the time Excelsius finished his statement, Lucius was finished with the words Kal Ort Por.

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The search for the house Excelsius had described went quickly and easily... Dreamer combed the south shore of Ice Isle and found the shack in less than an hour. However, he had not anticipated that the insane half-elf would be waiting for someone to come along.

Before Dreamer could think, he heard the words In Flam Grav and instantly, he found himself surrounded by fire. He couldn't see through the wall, but he heard a woman's voice laughing at him, and even through his anger he couldn't make any spell come to mind to throw back. So he ended up trying to negotiate rather than defend.

"You know what I've come for, Isil!"
"Yes, I know," the woman's voice replied.
"I want him out here unharmed."
"I'm afraid I can't do that. I've already sworn his tongue away."
Dreamer was gripped with fear, wondering if this had already been done. "Is he unscathed?"
"At the moment, yes."
"I can't let you kill him, Isil."
"And why not?"
"You know damn well why not, witch... you know what will happen if he can't protect me."
"Yes, I know."
"And you would let it happen?" Lucius was starting to get angry.
"Of course. Your father would never lay a finger on me."
"Don't be so sure... if he gets through, if Steel dies, there's no stopping him... not even you."
There was silence as Isil considered this statement.
"So what's your bargain?"
"Me for him... I can't let him die."
"Fine," Isil's voice chimed in. "He's in the house... top floor, asleep still."
Within seconds, the entire wall of fire vanished.
"So that's it? I want to see him walk free," Dreamer stated.
Isil's concerned look shifted quickly into an evil grin. She started to chuckle at first, then it grew to an evil laugh. Lucius was wondering if she truly was mad. His thoughts were ended quickly, however. Within seconds she produced a staff from thin air, and rushed toward Lucius. Words of magic spilled from his mouth, but the staff made contact with his head before they had any effect.

When Lucius awoke, he was bound and gagged. His mouth was in excruciating pain. He looked up and the insane woman was staring down at him. She leaned down when she saw his eyes open and began to whisper in his ear:
"You wanted to see Steel walk free, and so you shall... look."
Lucius looked over to the house and saw Steel standing in the doorway, apparently still drugged with the poison. He was wavering a bit, seemingly unsure as to what was going on. They made eye contact, and Steel began to rush toward Dreamer.

Isil had other plans. Steel took his first step as the words Vas Ort Flam poured from her mouth. Dreamer attempted to scream at Steel to run, but nothing came out. He noticed that his gag was red, and would have tasted blood... but he could not taste.

He realized with terror that he no longer had a tongue, and stared in horror as Isil's house, along with everything in and around it, burst up in flames. The blast could be felt from where he was, about a hundred yards away from it, and everything within the vicinity was incinerated immediately.

Dreamer looked once again at the charred remains of the house. Nothing was left, everything was completely immolated... including Steel.

Lucius couldn't scream in agony as he was being dragged away to his apparent death. He just closed his eyes and let it come.