The road to Tarasif had grown difficult.

The road had decayed with time, as peasants stole stones from it while Samrasa and Munsuf had feasted. But it was more than the pits in the road that could break an ankle. It was as though some power or force kept them at bay, fighting their approach tooth and nail. But what power would desire such a thing? Nendas wondered if it was not the will of the people of Tarasif itself. Perhaps Samrasa's grip over their hearts and minds had resonated outward. Now their journey was opposed by a kind of will.

Every step was more difficult than the last, and a feral hatred tore at them. And above them, the sky became utterly black. Not a single star shone in the sky above, and yet there was no cloud texture. It was as though the sky itself was veiled in shadow.

"Look at those clouds," said Taha.

"Those aren't clouds," said Nendas, realizing it. "The Sun Spirit itself is not shedding light on the city." Samrasa's power had manifested, or perhaps some power working through Samrasa. Having been provoked, it was in full flower and clawed at Nendas' thoughts, turning his gaze back.

He thought about running, the three fleeing to other places, their masters. Why should they face certain death and perhaps damnation? Why should Taha be condemned to be Tamar's slave?

But no.

They had to get to Tarasif, and he resolved to keep up the attack. But doing so only seemed to make the will fight them all the stronger. Now he felt as though he was actively being pushed back or had men dragging on him with ropes. He told himself that if this power was set against them, it could not do the same in other areas.

Perhaps they pressed on enough; they might break this spell.

"What are we going to do here?" asked Taha.

"What do you mean?" asked Nendas.

"Do we just go into the town square and cut our throats in plain sight?" asked Taha. "Or are we supposed to check in first? What's the plan?"

"I imagine we should head to the shrine of Impus," said Rokas. "It may be that they have some insight for us..."

"We're not going to that curse place," said Nendas. "We'll go to the shrine of Elranor for a start. Failing that, we can go to Jaha's domain instead.

"But I don't think that will be an easy task."

They rounded the corner in horror, and a snarl went through the air.

Coming round the bend of the trees saw flames rising high in Tarasif. Many of the temples were burning, and he found the gates unguarded. Those manning them had abandoned their posts. People were throwing water onto flaming houses and evacuating others.

"What is going on here?" asked Nendas of a person.

"King Samrasa has lost his mind," said a man. "After Impus appeared, he declared that traitors had undermined the city's defense! He started going from door to door and dragging people out to be executed!

"The priests sheltered some, and he went to war with them.

"Kalif has taken their part, but now there's fighting throughout the city. Samrasa lost the palace in the fighting but started setting fire to places he didn't control. Now the blaze is all over the city. The Priests of Jaha have kept us organized, and we're fighting it, but if we don't get some rain, we'll be finished. And if we do, Samrasa will kill us all.

"He's whipped up mobs! People we knew, and they've gone mad, hacking down anyone he says just because he says so! Some zealots said now was the time, and they started killing each other!"

"Where is Samrasa now!" said Nendas. There would be blood for this.

"At the Temple of Jaha," said the man. "But what do you intend to do."

"Stop him for a start," said Nendas, calming himself. "There are divine plans in motion that might save us. But it won't do us any good if that madman continues like this. Taha, Rokas, come with me.

"So much for a secular utopia."

And they raced quickly through the streets. Now and then, Nendas would stop to organize people into a firing squad, casting water onto the blaze. Taha utilized her rituals, trying to summon the wind. But Tamar found the flames amusing, so they continued burning as the air stayed dead.

But at last, they came to the temple of Jaha.

And it was under siege. Samrasa and his ilk stood at the base of the stairs, hurling torches and firing arrows. Corpses of Tarasif soldiers riddled the stairs with arrows in them and the bodies of priests. Armored soldiers were at the gates of the ziggurat, wielding a great ram.

"Armed troops are marching on the temple..." said Nendas under his pressure.

"Are you surprised?" said Taha. "We've seen this done a thousand times."

"Yes, but... this time, we will stop it," said Nendas.

And drawing his sword, he rushed forward in front of the army of Samrasa. Springing up the stairs, he drew his blade and pointed it at the King. "Stay where you are, Samrasa!

"If you cast down this temple, it will only lead to further devastation!"

"Your lies mean nothing to us!" cried Samrasa. "Kill the priest and slaughter all those within!"

The soldiers rushed forward. But the three of them fought together, disarming them and casting back down the steps. Those with the ram turned, drew their swords, and descended in a charge. At this point, Nendas, Rokas, and Taha stepped aside, letting them blunder down the steps and land on their faces.

Charging downhill was not always a good idea. Their enemies looked at them for a moment and must have seen something.

"Kill him!" said Samrasa, coming forward. "He's the one who brought this curse on us."

"I'm sorry, what?" asked Taha.

"Stay your hand! I have no desire to fight you!" said Nendas. He'd had his fill of revenge for this life. Well, not really, but that was what one ought to say.

"Then die where you stand! Your lies brought the gods' judgment down upon us!" said Samrasa.

"Well, what are you doing, then?" asked Taha.

"This temple must be purged to break the power of the gods!" said Samrasa.

"Do you even hear yourself!" said Taha. "You're proclaiming us irredeemable for doing the thing you are doing right now! The things you ordered us to do!"

"And you are trying to stop us!" said Samrasa. "You are responsible for this calamity. Now you are preventing our righteous execution of these worthless weaklings."

"If you do not call your men off, we will be dead by the hand of the gods you are attacking very soon," noted Rokas.

"To die appeasing such creatures?! You have fallen far, Rokas!" said Samrasa.

"But..." Nendas stared. "You said that I was irredeemable for destroying temples. But I'm also irredeemable for trying to protect them. And equally irredeemable for sacrificing my life to appease the gods I angered."

"What can we do that wouldn't make us irredeemable?" asked Taha curiously.

"You can submit to your destruction!" snarled Samrasa.

Silence.

"...But we're trying to do that!" said Rokas.

"MY WORD IS INFALLIBLE!! KILL THEM ALL! AND LET THE GODS SORT THEM OUT!!" screamed Samrasa.

And he raced up the hill, howling like a savage with wild eyes devoid of reason or faith. Nendas stepped forward, turned his blade, and cut off his hands. The King fell to one knee, screaming as Nendas brought around his sword. The blade stabbed him through the armpit, into the heart. Samrasa's eyes bulged wide, and Nendas pulled the blade out and let him topple down the stairs. Samarasa tumbled down and hit the ground, where he spat out blood and died.

Samrasa was dead. So was Munsuf and Ralign.

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Honor was satisfied, and his Father was avenged.

It was so easy.

Whatever madness had possessed the warriors of Samrasa, it had come from the King. Though perhaps it had come through him as light does a lens. Now, as the corpse of an evil old man hit the ground at their feet, they wavered. The fantasy of a benevolent lord died with him, and they saw the flames around them, the bodies that had been left.

And they scattered and fled.

Nendas looked at the body of his enemy and wondered what to do? Should he regret his decision or lament his fall? Why would he? He'd tried to stop him, and Samrasa was a monster who had more than earned it. Nendas wasn't even trying to fight him; he would give him what he wanted.

Should he take joy in the destruction of his hated enemy? There wasn't much of it. He'd have been pitiable if he weren't so vicious and evil. Everything he'd built had fallen apart around him, and he had no one but himself to blame. Yet, he felt hatred still and wondered why.

"It had to be done," said Rokas.

"Any regrets?" asked Taha.

"...No," said Nendas. "Even if Samrasa had lived, if he were going to reform, it would have been long ago. He'd have kept doing one horror after enough, in a diminished state, until he was destroyed. More sins would have been added to his soul, ensuring his damnation would be all the worse.

"And everyone else would be far worse off.

"Samrasa is better off dead. And now that he's gone, our lives are greatly improved. But that doesn't make it a cause for celebration."

"Was I ever that incoherent?" asked Taha.

"Mostly, you used the King's ideology as an excuse to pursue your self-interest. So, no," said Rokas.

"Cousin Nendas?" asked a voice.

Turning, Nendas saw Sarafi coming out of the doors and running toward him. She'd grown up, becoming taller, and her brown hair fell long behind her. A single bang went down between her eyes. "Cousin, you're alive." And with her came many others while still more came from the houses.

"Yes, I..." Nendas faltered and kneeled to embrace her.

"Are you alright?" asked Sarafi. "They were saying awful things about you earlier. They weren't true, were they?"

"I don't know; I haven't heard them," said Nendas. "But, some of them, no doubt, will be true.

"I have not been a good person in my life until now. I can only hope to repair what I've done."

"Then Jaha is not leaving us?" asked Sarafi.

Nendas broke the embrace and brushed a strand of hair from her face. "No.

"I don't think she ever will.

"Sarafi... when I'm gone, I need you to take care of the faith. Jaha will need you. I know it isn't what you wanted to do... but..."

"Why can't you do it?" asked Sarafi. "Where are you going?"

"I'm not sure," said Nendas. "But I need you to be strong for the Hasafa. Do you have anyone here you can trust?"

"Yes, the Priests of Jaha..." Sarafi paused. "The leader is one of our clan."

"Go to him," said Nendas, and he kissed her on the brow. "Keep the faith alive."

Then he rose and turned around to see Impus descending.

And every light in the city went out. The flames were dulled, the skies went darker still, and the city went utterly quiet.

"The sacrifices are here," said Impus, raising a hand. "Then you will die."

"Nendas, Taha, it has been an honor," said Rokas.

"Thanks for the input, but we're not going anywhere," said Taha.

Oh no, she wasn't going to try and cheat the gods again, was she? Nendas looked at her and saw Taha looking up at Impus. "A question, Impus.

"Why are we here, singled out as a sacrifice for this city?"

"Your deaths will balance the books," said Impus.

"How?" asked Taha.

"You are choosing to die in their place. Or choosing not to," said Impus. "I will claim the lives of this entire city should you refuse."

"But why is our sacrifice significant?" asked Taha. "What do we provide in terms of repentance? And why can't a virtue of individual repentance give it."

"They will not repent," said Impus before the faces of the people.

"Then why should they be spared?" asked Taha. "If the people are in a state of perpetual sin, then logically, our sacrifice will do nothing but enable them. Do our lives have some nature that, when sacrificed, will wipe away their sins?

"I sincerely doubt that."

"Our deaths might inspire others to repent themselves," noted Rokas.

"But couldn't that be inspired a different way? One more effective than human sacrifice," asked Taha.

"The books must be balanced," said Impus, unmoved.

"Where are these books?" asked Nendas suddenly. "If there is some debt, then let the proof be brought forth."

"He's right," said Taha. "We can hardly have a discussion about means of payment if we have no documents proving payment is owed."

"You and all your kind owe more than all the world could afford to repay in a century," said Impus. "The gods gave you form and life. The world you wander and sustain yourself in comes from them. The air you breathe is of the making of beings beyond your kin.

"Your debts are limitless.

"It is not debt that has drawn me forth, but rebellion. You have destroyed the temples and brought the void. The void has come."

"And you are the God of the Void, then?" asked Taha, which was obvious.

"Yes," said Impus. His voice never changed.

"What crimes specifically have we committed against you beyond the temples?" asked Taha.

"You have murdered the faithful, and let them be murdered," said Impus. "You have desecrated the holy places of this world. You perpetuated a war of faithlessness on your neighbors."

"Explain to me how it is more wicked to make bloody war on someone because they have religion at all? Instead of because they have the wrong religion?" asked Taha.

"Irrelevant," replied Impus. "A false sacrifice to a false idol."

"May I speak?" asked Rokas.

"Yes," said Impus.

"What of the faithful who are in this city?" asked Rokas. "Those who were unable or unwilling to flee?

"Will you claim their lives?"

"There are few of them now, but I shall spare them," said Impus.

"And what if the number of faithful were to be increased by sacrifices made of the individual will?" asked Taha. "Would you then spare the city?"

"Yes," said Impus.

"And what sacrifice would be sufficient to demonstrate such faith?" asked Nendas.

"Whatever is lifeless and most precious," replied Impus.

Nendas nodded and turned to the priests. "You go into the temple and get wood and other things to burn. Then, all of you go home and find your most precious possession. We will make a great bonfire, and you will cast it into the fire before the sight of Impus. Spread the word of this chance to everyone; we must move quickly.

"Go now before his displeasure becomes greater. If we are to purchase the pardon of Impus, we must act."

"But, couldn't you-" began one.

"I'm not sacrificing myself anymore," said Taha. "As long as this way the only way, I might go through with it. But if they've been allowed to repent without anyone dying. They won't take it; they deserve this.

"I've had more than I bargained for out here already."

"Your sacrifice," said Impus.

"Mine?" asked Taha. "I don't even live here, and I'm doomed either way. Why should I give up anything?"

Impus looked at her, and Taha met the gaze beneath the robe if there was anything. After a moment, she began to sweat and looked away. A flame was conjured before them, even as more fuel was brought forward. Reluctantly, Taha looked at her belt and drew off her belt of daggers. Looking at them, Nendas saw she had kept them well-maintained, polished, and repaired. Every battle, she had retrieved these ones', no matter how long the searching.

"I..." said Tamar. "These are... these are my knives. I earned them in the Cult of Tamar, and they were important to me. But I guess they were never really mine, to begin with."

She cast them into the flames; as she did, they melted and burned within moments. Nendas watched as they were utterly destroyed before his eyes. Taha looked at the ground, downcast.

And eyes turned to Nendas. And he wondered what he could give up.

There was only one thing.

Drawing up his sword, he looked at the blade given to him by his Father. It was well-maintained. "My sword that I have carried through many battles."

It was a loss as he tossed it into the flames and saw it melt and burn. Nendas felt truly miserable as their eyes turned to Rokas. The third of their number, however, shrugged. "I have nothing I value in the physical. I've lost too much to care for such things." Then he looked to his hands where his gauntlets were. "But, my gauntlets."

Drawing them off, he cast them into the flames and did not look at them as they burned.

Now Sarafi came forward, holding an amulet of fine silver. "An amulet I got from my father."

That, too, was cast into the flame as well.

And so it began, and many people came forward with offerings. Some were met by Impus carrying false offerings, and these fled in terror. Most returned later, and soon a great bonfire was forming. Each person casts their most treasured possession. Some, however, had nothing to give, and these Impus were pardoned and sent away.

Nendas watched it unfold with a profound sense of apathy. The ceremony seemed now wholly meaningless to him. Yet Taha seemed to regard it as though it was somehow significant. At the same time, Rokas seemed to share Taha's view for once.

Hours and hours stretched by. Nendas became ever more disgusted by the proceedings. Over time, he found himself loathing the ceremony. He despised the terrified people who bowed and scraped to this formless void of meaning. Even loathing Impus himself with a level of hatred that surprised him.

Everything that had happened had been nothing more than a game of chess. All between indifferent and out-of-touch monsters. The rules had been rigged from the start and changed when no longer convenient. Taha had just humiliated the deities into admitting the sacrifice had no meaning at all.

It was just one more means of control.

"Your sacrifices have met my gaze.

"I depart.

"Do not make me return."

Impus left.

Many people found this a life-changing experience. But Nendas only found it completely disgusting and hated this world and everyone in it. Almost even his friends. So he turned and walked away toward... anywhere really.

"Where are you going?" asked Rokas.

"To get a new sword," said Nendas. "I lost mine. I think I'll take a black one this time."

"What about the temple?" called Sarafi. "The priests? The people here?"

"The temple doesn't matter," said Nendas. "And the priests are in no position to pass judgment on anyone. As for the people, this is their fault, to begin with, so let them do something about it. Taha, Rokas, come on, Kulat is going to invade in a few weeks, and we'll need to be prepared when it happens."

Murmurs of fear.

"Kulat will invade?" said one.

"Well, of course," said Nendas. "They've every reason to want revenge. And we're not exactly in a position to resist them. We have to start preparing for a siege right now, or when they arrive, they'll kill us all.

"Stores of food must be stockpiled and rationed; weapons must be made and prepared. The walls must be inspected and repaired where necessary. I recommend requesting aid from the old vassals. I imagine Samrasa's loyalists will be reluctant to aid us, and those he alienated will be suspicious of us. But we might get some help.

"It's going to be grim, bloody, and probably won't end well for us. But if the entire city mobilizes and does all it can, we may come out of this independence. We also need to rally behind a leader quickly."

"Will you lead us?" asked a man.

Nendas blinked in surprise and realized he had to take the opportunity, even if it would damn him to do so. "I will."

Nice to know nothing had changed.

Clouds rolled in, and the rain came down in torrents.