Free CITY OF THE GODS: FORGOTTEN by M.Scott Verne, Wynn Wynn Mercere Page B

first? If you saw anything, speak now,” she said with an air of authority.
    A bald man a white toga stepped forward. D’Molay recognized him as the one who had told him to not to move earlier. “I didn’t see who attacked first, but I can tell you that the so-called creature could speak, and said it would leave him be. The next thing I saw, that one had shoved a knife through its head,” the man said in an accusatory manner.
    The Valkyrie’s expression turned grim as another man stepped forward. “But that creature attacked first - I saw it jump inna the back ‘o his wagon. When he offered to let it go, it lashed out a’ him. I swear it, and don’ know him or that beast.”
    “That is what happened,” D’Molay added in earnest support of his testimony.
    The guardian eyed the rest of the crowd. “Did it attack him after he let it go?”   Some shook their heads, some spoke their agreement, and many said nothing; but, she was used to bystanders that didn’t want to get involved. Finally, she withdrew the spear and rested it upright on the stone-paved street. She looked directly at D’Molay. “Get up. I’m satisfied with your story.”
    “You made the right choice. Sorry to cause you any trouble,” he replied, standing up and brushing himself off.   “Do you have a name?”  
    “My name is Geirronul. Trouble is my duty,” she said, walking over to the corpse of the half-man, half monster. Crouching down, she looked closely at the dead creature. That annoyed sneer crossed her face again. “Looks like one of Lamasthu’s servants. Strange. Rarely see them in the City.” She took hold of the large knife sticking out of its bulbous head. “I take it this is yours?” she asked rhetorically, pulling it out of the wound. More dark blood gurgled out of the hole in its head. “Nice dagger.   It suppresses magical energy, doesn’t it? Here.” She held the bloody knife hilt out to D’Molay.  
    “Yes. It was a gift from the god Intarabus.” D’Molay took it, wiping it off on his already ripped and blood stained shirt. Geirronul cleaned her hand off on the creature’s cloak and then pulled it aside to reveal a twisted grey body.
    “This was a man once. Now . . . who knows what to call it?” She stood up, tapping the spear on the ground three times. A yellow glow appeared at the pointed end. As D’Molay watched, it became orange and then turned to flame. The air around the spear tip began to waver as the heat from it continued to increase, though no heat seemed to pass into the shaft of the spear, leaving Geirronul unaffected by it.
    “Step back.” She held the flaming spear over the dead thing and then lowered it to touch the corpse.   D’Molay heard a loud sizzling noise as the body was engulfed in red flame. Within a few seconds the remains dissolved in the fire, leaving only a dark mark on the road. The Valkyrie lifted the flaming spear back up, tapping it on the ground three more times. The flame went out and the glow faded until it was gone. “That takes care of that. One last thing. What’s in that box you’re carrying?”
    He gave her a slightly embarrassed look. “I don’t actually know. I’m not permitted to open it unless the recipient gives permission.”
    “Yes, I thought it would be something like that. You can go.” She walked over to her stallion. “Stay out of trouble if you can, eh?”
    D’Molay smiled weakly. “I’ll try.”
    Geirronul mounted her horse and urged it forward. “See that you do.” The horse spread its wings and with a running start they flew off into the midday sky.  
    After checking to see that the small box was still safely tucked away in the cart, D’Molay climbed in, grabbing the reins and starting to ride forward. One look at his gore-covered hands caused him to make a u-turn. He was a mess; he couldn’t visit a goddess looking as he did. The cart rolled over the dark stain that had been a servant of Lamasthu as he changed his plan.