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[Isk]

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The Magnate’s eyes scoured the girl like the predatory gaze of a lion as she screamed for mercy. It was an odd sensation, beating up a child, but it was necessary. Malta used her hands to shield her head from the incoming blows. The Helm of Evil whistled in the wind as it came striking down at her, the sound was like a thunderclap each time the black iron hit against Molly’s daughter’s hands. The odd time it would strike true and damage the girl’s forehead.

“W-why are you doing this to me!” Malta protested as she slid a hand down to guard against a kick she thought was coming. There was already some blood on the deck and Isk could see that the blue hat the child wore had a crimson crown around it now.

“Just enough to make a point when your mother sees it.” Isk’s voice was cold and detached as he admired the blood on the hat. A sort of non-caring attitude most murderers have with regards to their victims.

[Bathe me in her blood]

It was a tempting suggestion but Isk had to restrain himself. The voice of the Hand of Evil was strong but no doubt Kaigetsu knew that Isk could not kill his bargaining chip. Malta was the only chance Isk had to claim the Leggings of Evil from Molly. The porcelain masked Magnate set his helm down and knelt near the shivering girl. She was crouched down into a ball with her hands still covering her bloody hat as Isk modulated his voice to speak gently to the child. “I have what I want now. I am sorry that you had to be beaten. If Molly responds to receiving this bloody hat then I will spare you pain tomorrow” blood dripped from the chin of his emotionless porcelain mask as he gazed at the red in her hair. “Her silence means that her hand strikes you along side mine own”





The child remained still as if paralysed. One quick and unexpected punch sent her to sleep. He had her bloody hat.

“Time to deliver a message...”

* * * * * * *

It had been weeks since Isk had left the Axe of Evil in the hands of the new lord of Sanctus. He had received progress reports on a weekly basis and now the initiative with regards to the creation of the new Gorget of Evil was his to take. Isk had to scout two locations the dark mage had suggested for the smelting of the Axe of Evil and creation of the gorget. Even while on the boat, drifting on Magincia’s waters with Molly’s waking child before him Isk’s mind was split between two fronts. The Gorget and the Leggings. He would have them both.

“Will you h-hurt me again?” Malta asked as she pulled herself backwards against the side of the boat. Her right hand went to her belt as Isk tilted his head at the gesture.

“No. Your mother has sent me a letter. She desires to speak with me.” Isk could feel his blood boiling as his skin developed goose bumps. Getting what he wanted often made him giddy and the emotionless mask did well in hiding the Magnate’s excitement. Molly would speak with him and she would give him what he wanted.

“I have a favour to ask you.” Isk took a careful step closer to the girl. She removed her hand from her belt and set it on the deck as if she were about to leap up. “Just don’t hurt me again” she stated. Defiance.

“There is no more hurt for you. I was going to cut off your finger and send it to your mother if she had remained silent about my demands... but because she has opened negotiations I will keep you whole.” Isk reached into his belt and produced a ragged cloth as he continued to speak to Molly’s child. “I have a finger ready to be sent, a girl close to your age had passed away in Magincia two nights ago. It was a disease of the blood prevalent in her family. Her body was cremated but I saved her finger for this final threat.”

The child frowned but dropped her guard. “I need you to write your mother a message.”

“What sort of message?” Malta asked in a defeated voice.

“A message in blood.” Isk’s eyes reflected the light of the moon as he tossed the cloth into the child’s lap. The porcelain masked magnate watched as the child complied and pricked her finger with the stylus she was given. Defiant one moment and passive the next.

“Here” Malta threw the rag back towards her captor. Her writing was surprisingly legible but the clues the clever girl left in the cloth received a quick go over. Isk’s gloved thumb blurred anything that could be used to find the child.

“You’ve done well Malta. Tomorrow night there will be a surprise for you”

* * * * * * *

Kaigetsu felt exalted. He could sense Molly’s hands on his dark artifact as she carried the Leggings of Evil towards their soon to be newest owner. The Dark Lord leaned forward with his hands on the knees of his dark oriental robe as he closed his eyes and summoned forth the rain of blood which allowed him to pierce his prison and gaze through the Helm of Evil. As he opened his emerald eyes he cracked a smile beneath his daemonic mask. He was drawn into the vision like maggots to a corpse.

Isk had the helm cleverly hidden as Kaigetu watched him step into Molly’s domain. The Hunter’s Lodge housed much of her support but Isk walked in alone. “Confident” Kaigetsu stated knowing that Isk could hear him. “Give them no ground. The girl for the Leggings, no compromise”

Kaigetsu’s white hair, a sign that he had been touched by destiny was now stained by blood. It clung to his masked face as thunder bellowed ever closer. The scenery of his nightmare realm was once much different than this. The column of blood which now worked his bidding had at one time been a stream of hot light keeping him in constant agony as he stood chained to a living tree. It was not just his willpower that had bent his prison and shattered it but the meddling of mortals in the true realm as his artifacts were being discovered and used. With each awakened artifact forged by Kaigetsu, the Hand of Evil got stronger. Now he was like a sinner with a free reign of hell. A hell he could shape to anything he desired, a hell that made his temples sore with boredom.

* * * * * * *

Having deflected many of Molly’s suggestions with how to go about trading the Leggings for Malta Isk opened to the idea of inviting the dutchess aboard the boat. She would see her daughter and know that her agony was real. If she tried anything the Magnate’s axe would win him the advantage.

“Daughter!” Molly cried as she ran to her sleeping daughter’s side and knelt beside her. She embraced her child after setting down a heavy bag which no doubt housed the Leggings of Evil.

[Take them]

Before Isk could react Molly turned and slid the bag towards him. “Take them you monster!”

“I did not cut her finger off, I kept her whole for you. I am not a monster.” Isk gazed at the bag as he spoke. He had to work hard to keep his tone flat as excitement built within him. “What I am is a being of destiny”

[One meant to fulfill a prophecy as old as any of us can remember]

“One meant to fulfill a prophecy as old as any of us can remember” Isk mimicked the voice in his head as Molly’s reddish hair mixed with that of her daughter. The love of a mother towards her child was not a new sight for Isk who often basked in the warmth and stability his family provided but these two were of elven blood. It was different.

“You will never get all of them Isk! Never!” Molly hissed.

“All I need is one. I have achieved more than anyone before me. History will remember me. I have reached immortality just by the magnitude of my deeds” Isk grinned as he reached for the Leggings of Evil. He held them close and felt his heart quicken beneath his leather tunic. He closed his envy green eyes for just a moment as he basked in the sensation the Leggings of Evil provided him. Power, more potent than any drug.

“You will not get the last one, Isk” Was that confidence in Molly’s voice? “I swear to you. You will not get it”

“Beleth’s chest piece. The Chest of Evil.” Isk mused “It is only fitting that the last piece is the one that links the others together.”

With those words said Isk removed himself from the scene allowing mother and child time to themselves.

[The helm, the arms and the leggings are yours. The gauntlets promised to you when the set is completed, the gorget will be crafted soon and the chest piece... the chest piece. I sense it... but where?]

[Molly]

---

She rushed to her daughter's side tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Her daughter sturred in her arms as she looked up at Isk scowling at him.

How can you do this you are a parent yourself! You are a cruel animal!

She held her daughter close cradling her head in her lap as she shoved the package she had brought with her towards him along the deck of the boat.

He mumbled alot as she began to examine her daughter and bandaged some of the worst of the wounds on her head. She would look up at him from time to time hoping he would just leave so she could get some help for her daughter who was not doing well at all.

You will never get the rest! I swear to you you will never see the rest of the suit!

He seemed to be so wrapped up in the item she gave him that he didn't notice her adamence in her statement. She knew where the other piece was and that it would never be found. Had she tipped her hand in saying so? She was too concerned for her daughter's wellbeing to be concerned with what she had said until later at the healers. She cursed herself for being so bold. He was too inthralled with his aquirery to have noticed she said to herself, at least she hoped so.

All night she kept vigil at her daugher's bedside at the healers and as the sun was rising in the east window Malta sturred and looked up at her. Momma. she said and smiled.

Molly squeezed her hand gently Momma's her baby she said and Malta closed her eyes again and fell asleep.

The healer came over and put her hand on Molly's shoulder and said that her sturing was a good sign and that she should get some rest. She said Molly could take the cot next to her daughter. Molly nodded and did just that.

As the cool morning breeze flowed in through the opened window and the first rays of the warm sun began to warm the room, Molly fell into a restful sleep for the first time in over a week.
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Grand Duchess Molly Kaldhel
Oracle of Truth
The House Gauntlet
Sanctus, Luna, Malas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXoGDbJ5nLU
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"In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman."
-Margaret Thatcher-