Gael's Point of View789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrx22EBFp5h
Despite my undead state, it was awfully easy to blend in among the living, so long as I dyed my hair. Sure, I was constantly asked if I was feeling well or not, to which I always felt that force against my mind, commanding me to say "yes, I am just fine."
Corithas wanted to create more like me. More sentient undead.
We returned to Phey. Corithas was never far, always lurking in the background, watching me. He forced me to personally invite the four strongest knights sworn to my father to come and discuss current state of affairs. With my father and myself.789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnvlxt93Xg
Corithas and I stood in my quarters now, right before this meeting would occur. With the back of his hand, Corithas scuffed a bit of dust off my tunic.
"Look at you, playing the part so well," he commented, smugness dripping from each word. "I am proud of you, dear Gael." He gave me a most sinister smile. "Now, listen closely. I will be playing the part of the servant..." He rambled on, explaining most of his wicked plan in gruesome detail.
A sense of melancholy washed over me as he reached the stunning conclusion, which resulted in the death of almost everyone I cared for. Almost.
There was still Zaraline, somewhere in the north. She was going to come back, and there would be no Phey to support her. I knew that somehow, I had to find a way to break free, to get word to Zaraline. She had to be warned.
I took my seat at the table. My father was already sitting at the head of the table, waiting, his fingers intertwined together. He looked me over.
"Now, son. You're lookin' awfully gaunt and pale. You been eating right?"
"No, I haven't," I admitted, almost automatically. The force barely had to push against me. I hated that force. I hated Corithas. I hated the control he had over me. "I worry about things, as they are. Barbarians are taking over the Northerlands, piece by piece, and our people are in tatters."
"Well, son, you won't be doing anyone any good by starving yourself!" Father's tone was stern. He opened his mouth to say more, but was interrupted by Sir Gendrik and Sir Hrothjar coming in.
"Good eve, milords," Sir Gendrik said as they both found themselves a seat.
"Thought it was about time we had another meeting," Hrothjar grumbled. "'Sides Riverwallow, we're the strongest force left in the Northerlands. And everyone knows Riverwallow ain't nothin' but a bunch of coin-hoarding cowards."
"Aye. We would have met much sooner if my fool of a son hadn't gone running off to chase after that bloody princess. We need you here, at the head of what's left of our forces you blasted idiot. Besides, if she's looking to go risking her life looking for a bunch of scaly bastards who abandoned us, then that's on her. We don't need no woman leading us anyways," my father said, punctuating his statement with a slam of his fist against the table.
"I apologize father," I said, my voice mechanical. "At least I came to my senses before I went off and got myself killed." I'm sure if Corithas was listening, the irony of my words would have him doubled over laughing.
"Well, thank the gods for that at least." Just as the words finished leaving his mouth, the other two knights, Sir Lorim and Sir Alaris entered, greeted us, and took a seat.
The discussion started out slowly, discussing the bandits that had taken over Fort Grey. I saw Corithas enter the room from a side door, dressed in servant's cloths, and carrying a large platter. He started to pass out mugs of mead. All of which I knew were poisoned. Even mine. However, since I was dead, the poison would have no effect on me. I took a drink from mine, and watched as my father took a sip from his. 789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS5QIQL429
The effect of the poison wasn't immediate. It would take some time. Corithas said thirty minutes. I hated that it had come to this. Corithas reassured me as he was explaining his terrible plan to me that we were going to give them the greatest gift of all, the gift of undeath. Of an existence without pain. While I nodded my head along in agreement, I thought about what a load of horseshit he was trying to convince me of. What I was doing was evil. 789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3UL8ixysC
I knew Corithas knew my thoughts. He knew that I knew that too, I'm sure. It must be a perk that came with him being the one who raised me. He would know the instant I tried to warn them, and he would ravage my mind.789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig12fiNKEk
I watched as all of the others began drinking from their mug. Except Sir Gendrik. He left his untouched, for whatever reason. As the discussion dragged onward, and I occasionally put in my two cents, my gaze kept returned to Sir Gendrik, desperately trying to will him to take a drink. By now, he would be the last to die, surely, but it was better than the alternative. 789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnBpO6Pgud
I did not want Corithas to force me into enacting plan B.789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdCdXbAD6Z
"I suggest we consider hiring the lord of Moorehelm," lord Alaris said. "His-" he was interrupted by my father starting to choke. He grasped at his throat, his face turning to red, and then quickly to purple. It was at that point I closed my eyes. I couldn't watch.789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xPISksjds
Startled cries erupted around me as all the knights got up and rushed to my father's aid. They too started to choke. All of them except Gendrik, who could only sputter in confusion. I opened my eyes when the last death rattle silenced, disgusted with myself, and with everything. 789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIjRbCQMZT
Gendrik and I locked eyes. "...You...? You tried to kill us?" The hurt written on his expression broke my heart. 789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoehnS56PXW
"You will come to understand what has been done, - what will be done to you soon," I said, startling myself with how even my voice was. This was wrong, and unnatural. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Corithas enter the room. He smiled at me. Then I felt the force against my mind, telling me to stand.789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaN3dnrUPI9
I stood.789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1waaYfM4ye
"What do you mean!? You killed your father! Your friends! What has happened to you, Gael!?" 789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpa8jqHam5E
The force told me to walk around the table, and stand before Gendrik. I knew what was coming. I tried so hard to fight it, but it pressed harder, shredding my mind. I got halfway there, before Gendrik drew his sword. Still, I was urged forward. I was no longer in control of my body. The only thing I was in control of was my mouth. 789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2oGNJebhI
"I was killed and risen."789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCvGRpohwq
"What do you mean?" Gendrik started to back away. "You're still here talking to me! How are you undead?" His back hit the stone wall. I kept walking forward. Once I was within range, he thrust his blade forward, driving the tip right through my gut.789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGx6v5nlLB7
I barely felt it. I took a step forward, my stomach pressing against the crossguard. The puppetmaster that was the force over my mind raised my hands, and I wrapped them around Gendrik's throat., pinning him against the wall. 789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaCZRAOIjl
"I am truly sorry," I told him, as he gasped, struggling against me in a futile attempt to breath. Each second of his struggle felt like an eternity. 789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcAIIWy32b
Finally, though, he stilled. I watched the light leave his eyes. I slowly lowered him into a sitting position against the wall, and began pulling his blade from my stomach. It was coated with blood turned black, which I gently laid over his lap. Then, I collapsed to my knees next to him. If I was capable of crying, I would have.789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNcfCr4pUh
"I am so sorry," I whispered. I wish he would have believed my words. I wish he would have chopped my head off instead. Then I wish he would have diced Corithas to pieces.789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9ji10F19U
Corithas came up next to me. I felt his hand stroke my hair gently. "Shh, shh, dear child. I know it hurts. I am sorry that you had to be the one to kill him, rather than the poison." He knelt next to me, and to my shock, hugged me. "They will be given a new life, one without pain. Then, you won't be alone anymore."789Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHXXyw6xmw
