offered us my full bride-price, though he is married. Father refused the
“honour”. Molin’s men beat him senseless and carried me screaming from the
house.
‘I fought with him when he came to me that night. He will not want another woman
for some time. But my father could not believe I had not been dishonoured. And
Molin said that if I would not yield to him, then no living man should have me.’
‘Such are ever the words of scorned men,’ Illyra added gently.
‘No. It was a curse, /know this for certain. Their gods are strong enough to
answer when they call.
‘Last night two of their Hell Hounds appeared at our estate to offer new terms
to my father. A fair price for our land, safe conduct to Ilsig – but I am to
remain behind. Tomorrow night they will consecrate the cornerstone of their new
temple with a virgin’s death. I am to be under that stone when they lay it.’
Though Illyra was not specifically a truth-seer, the tale tied all the horrific
visions into a whole. It would take the gods to save this woman from the fate
Molin Torchholder had waiting for her. It was no secret that the empire sought
to conquer the Ilsig gods as they had conquered their armies. If the Rankan
priest could curse a woman with unbreachable virginity, Illyra didn’t think
there was much she could do.
The woman was still sobbing. There was no future in her patronage, but Illyra
felt sorry for her. She opened a little cabinet and shook a good-sized pinch of
white powder into a small liquid-filled vial.
‘Tonight, before you retire, take this with a glass of wine.’