While blinking back his tiredness, trying to ignore his stiff, achy limbs and his throbbing bruises, Anargrin waited and hated himself. He'd hoped they'd allow him to take poor Kelth, but knew they wouldn't, so when he left, he'd hidden his aura, climbed onto the hab block's roof, and watched. He'd watched as Solen and Falin went to bed. If he'd just told the truth from the start, it might've been different.

  But it was too late for that now, so he had to resort to manipulation again. He didn't want to, but he wasn't going to let Kelth be forced into slavery.

  So he waited and didn't have to for long before he sensed the priest's powerful presence as he approached from the north.

  Anargrin watched as the young priest, clad in gaudy robes and carrying a staff with an eight-pointed star at its tip, stalked into view. The zealotry, the arrogance seemed to radiate from his every pore, somehow even stronger than his incredible magical aura.

  Anargrin clenched his teeth; he didn't like this at all.

  Not at all.

  The priest smashed his fist on the door with unnecessary violence.

  Due to them being already awake, it didn't take long for Solen to open the door.

  'What do you want?' Demanded the elf, he was trying to sound defiant, but there was fear in his tone. The miner's courage had impressed Anargrin, and he couldn't help but be even more impressed.

  'That is no way to address a holy man of Jaroai,' snarled the priest. 'Let me in.'

  He shoved Solen aside and stormed inside.

  Anargrin grimaced, then lunged into open air.

  Falin stepped into the hallway and was almost elbowed off her feet by the priest for her efforts.

  Solen followed him, his eyes met Falin's, and they went after the priest, into Kelth's room.

  They found the priest trying to pull Kelth from under her bed.

  'You are coming with me.'

  Kelth just screamed.

  'Leave her alone,' Falin yelled.

  The priest rounded on them.

  'Get your child under control.'

  'No,' said Falin. 'Get out of my house. Leave my daughter alone.'

  The priest laughed. 'You cannot order me around, elf. I am your better. And you will get your daughter under control. Now.'

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  'Why?' demanded Falin. She knew of the powers of the priests of Jaroai, and fear thumped through her, but she fought it. 'Why do you want to take my daughter?'

  'You do not need to know, elf. You need to accept that I am taking your daughter. Now help me.'

  Solen slipped past and stood between the priest and Kelth's bed.

  'You won't take my daughter,' he yelled. 'I don't care if you're the avatar himself. Now leave us alone.'

  The priest seemed taken aback by Solen's defiance as he gaped for a few seconds before rage burst through his youthful features.

  'Leave you alone? Leave you alone? You think that you, an elf, have the right to demand anything from me? I speak the word of Jaroai! I am his will made manifest. You will show me the respect I deserve. Get out of my way.'

  'No, I will not let my daughter be forced into slavery.'

  The priest straightened.

  'What did you just say?'

  'I-,' Solen stammered.

  'What did you just say?' the priest roared, and fire erupted up his arms.

  Solen stumbled back, and Falin threw herself at the priest's back. Somehow, the priest knew she was coming, and he backhanded Falin to the floor. Solen snarled and punched the priest in the face. The priest reeled and then smashed his staff into the side of Solen's skull, sending him sprawling.

  'I do not know how you know that, but it doesn't matter. I was hoping that I would not have to do this. But, if needs must.'

  Then the fire blazed from the priest so strongly it was almost white; the heat was horrific, but Falin didn't look away. Despite the pain, she climbed to her feet and threw herself at the priest again; she didn't care that he would kill her, what mattered was Kelth.

  Falin screamed as the priest flourished his arm, concentrated fire roaring along its length.

  The tip of a sword burst from the priest's chest in a spray of blood, causing Falin to stop. The blade slid out of the priest's torso, and with wide, bulging eyes, he fell to his knees, revealing Anargrin, his bloody sword held at his side.

  Anargrin stared at Falin with tearful eyes as the priest fell flat on his face and blood began to pool on the floor.

  'I'm sorry,' said Anargrin. 'I'm so, so sorry.'

  Falin ran to Solen.

  'Solen. Solen,' she cried, as she knelt over him, fighting back the tears. She tilted his head to see the ragged, bloody wound in his skull. His eyelids flickered, and he groaned.

  'Oh Jaroai,' she gasped.

  'Mummy?' said Kelth. 'Is daddy going to be alright?'

  'I don't know,' said Falin.

  'Put pressure on the wound,' said Anargrin.

  Falin rounded on him. 'Why do you care? This is because of you.'

  Anargrin's gaze fell to the floor. 'I know...I didn't want this, and now it's worse. Not all priests were like this one, Falin. I was hoping this would end peacefully. The church has much power, even in Hamar. You must leave. You must run.'

  'What?'

  'You have to leave before they get word. They will track you down. I can help you with that. We can help you with that.'

  'So you want us to leave? Abandon our lives! Just like that?' said Falin. 'Are you insane?'

  'I don't want you to. But if you want to live, you must. The Hunters can arrange a new identity for you in a new place. We will provide you with funds and a new home-'

  'And what about Kelth?' said Falin, though she already knew.

  'You...you need to let us take her,' said Anargrin. 'If you don't, I assure you the church will come again, and they will force her into slavery for the rest of her long years.'

  'It...It would have been just a matter of time before they found her, wouldn't it?' said Falin.

  Anargrin nodded. 'Even if you refuse, you must come with me, back to our headquarters. There, Solen will get the medical attention he needs. Please. I beg you.'

  Falin sighed, looked at poor Solen, then at Kelth.

  Kelth's tear-filled eyes met hers, and she gave Falin a nod, then Falin enveloped her in a hug. Sobbing into Falin's chest.

  Falin held Kelth with the ferocity only a mother could and turned back to Anargrin.

  'You win, Hunter,' she said. 'I hope you're happy.'

  Anargrin's gaze said he was anything but.