Rebirth
Blood seeps quickly from the dagger cut across the forearm of the bravo, immobile from the herbs and narcotics that had been forced upon her only a short few minutes earlier.
The air of the room is thick with the smoke and scents of a hundred incense burning in the west corner. In the east are dozens of lit candles. To the west rests a carved wooden table with a collection of amulets, crystals, stones, seeds and herbs, an old tome of forbidden words. Last, in the north corner is another wooden table holding a large glass bowl of blessed water.
The only other occupant in this small room chants in a language few spoke and even fewer hear.
Shadows cast on the wall dance unnaturally as he raises his arm, shakes his fist, a chain of small human bones rattles.
Despite the drugged state the woman twitches and moans painfully. Her body is being distorting, transforming. Tears drop from the man's face mixing with the blood below, flowing into the carved glyphs in the cold stone floor. As each symbol is touched with the fluids it begins to glow faintly with the flicker of dark magic.
At the exact moment it must, a flame shaped dagger lashes out, cutting a second time into the flesh, this time deeply into the chest of the deforming body, into the upper left side where the heart is changing. The body arches in the moment of death; the steel is withdrawn, blood splatters in an arch throughout the room, on the walls, as it leaves the man's hand and comes to rest on the stone floor.
Another loud moan from the woman, then a gasp as she takes her last breath. It is done. The human is dead.
The man known to the world as Xan turns his back on the still form and walks to the glass bowl, washes his hands of the filth. As he flick downward several time to get the excess water off there is a stirring from behind. He is not alarmed. He does not reach for the jagged dagger on the floor.
When he does turn a creature is fully formed and kneeling before him.
"What is our birth right dwarf?" he asks, commanding.
"To serve you master of the hidden ways, progeny of nightmares."
"I am delighted." Xan replies.
