END OF CHAPTER ONE
Tarn grabs some growth overhang and somersaults on the beast's back. "Here eat some more steel!" With his short dirk he repeatedly stabs the big cat's thick neck which infuriates the creature. "That's it you son of a devil. Panic, flail all you wish ... I'm not letting go!" Man and beast go over a nearby ravine into a pool. At the bottom of the pool the age old cat breaths its last and Tarn drinks his fill for the first time in days.
"So much for that! I guess ugly wasn't Shurran. You were just a dumb beast brought here to die. At least I got water now."
At the top of the cliff Mekos is sitting and leaning against a tree. "Mekos, the cat is dead and we have more water than we need. What's wrong man?"
"Tarn, my friend. I'm going to need more than water." Just then Tarn notices the gash across Mekos belly. The beast with its sharp clawed paw had swiped Mekos, gut open to spill the insides out."Tarn, promise me you will take my daughter to her people."
Mekos dies not knowing his daughter had perished several days before. Tarn cries out in anger. The sound echos through the trees. "A good man has fallen in this abomination of places. Come out god of death and I'll tear your eyes out, cursed priests, I'm going to hack my way through you so swears Tarn of Oresetes!" Tarn pauses on the brink of madness. "Curse these Klanites and their blood thirsty games!"
The day is nearly spent by the time Tarn returns to that outcrop of rock adjacent from a main building to the garden. The unnaturalness of his surroundings forces Tarn to act impulsively. The gate at this point is also bolted. Above the gate seems to be some kind of pulpit. Its height is ten times Tarn's height. It's face is nearly sheen. But it's only a wall after all. Climb it he must and does. Tarn's ascent was not the picture of stealth. He had expected to meet a throng of sword wielding sentries or blasted priests but no such thing occurs. At the top of this great wall the emptiness worries him. Even the garden ceases to utter a sound. But Tarn is finally looking down at the garden.
A stone catwalk surrounds part of the buildings side. Tarn walks ready on his feet with sword and dirk in hand. Both are ready to deal death. Ahead he sees a doorway closed from inside. He inspects it and finds out it is rarely used and neglected. A quick upper cut of his sorcerous scimitar to the hinges brings the door down. The Oresetian walks cautiously into darkness.
END OF CHAPTER ONE
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