"What have you done, you miserable little..." she growled through her clenched teeth. I stopped breathing. My heart felt as thought it was about to burst out of my chest. I couldn't find words again, my head was empty.
She sprung her hand towards the white candle but the candle was already out of her reach, and she was too weak to make that extra effort to get to it. I took the candle away from the table just in case.
"That candle won't last you forever, and when it burns out, you're gonna be sorry you were even born."
"Until it burns out, I can do a number of binding spells on you." It took all my effort to keep my voice from shaking.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"I dared to go this far."
"I order you to release me! I won the game, and by our agreement, you belong to me, therefore you must obey me."
"I said if you win that you may take us, but you're in no position to do so, are you? Besides, you cheated. You knew all my cards, you let me think that I could win, then you crushed me with the last card."
She glared at me madly, but she didn't argue. I wasn't sure when I said the accusation, but now I knew I was right.
"Let us stop the games. What I ask from you is simple, it will not cost you anything. I just want my wife to be well again."
"Is that all you want?" She appeared to have calmed down, but there was still something in her eyes.
"No."
I remembered what the priestess said. I could ask anything of her now. Riches beyond my wildest dreams. Power over people, over countries and continents, anything my imagination could bring into being, it could all be mine.
She looked at me as though she could feel this notion flash through my mind. I couldn't tell if she was angered or hopeful.
"I also want that no harm comes to me, my family or my friends because of this, either from you or anyone else. That is all I want."
She burst into laughter. "I must admit I underestimated you greatly. You won after all. I will abide by your wishes. Your wife will be well, and you will not be bothered by my kind again. You have my word on that."
I prayed that the priestess was right about Delith's honor when I blew out the white candle. She tried to stand up again, and this time, although still insecure, she managed to stay on her feet. She turned on her heel, as if to go for the door, but before she even put her other foot down, she disappeared.
I didn't dare to relax. It was still all so unreal to me. Miriana stirred on the bed and broke the trance I was in. I went to her side. I could tell she was sleeping now, a natural, healthy sleep from which she would wake in the morning. In that moment, somehow, I knew. It was going to be all right.
Post je objavljen 21.12.2008. u 04:55 sati.