The face laughed. No mirth. No amusement. Only contempt.

Strong of faith, yet without wisdom, and full of doubt. You bow to me, but then ignore my words. You swear allegiance, and then disobey. You are nothing to me, Darius. Once you were, but no longer.

“No,” Darius cried as the wind howled, stealing away his voice. “I will not be abandoned! I will not die as I am! I have served you, every day I have served you!”

Then obey!

The clouds formed a funnel, which struck the far distant plains. It grew, wider and wider, until it stretched for miles. The sound of its approach was like that of a thousand dragons roaring in fury. Before it, Darius felt small, pathetic. He begged and wept for salvation, but the swirling grey monster tore into him, shredding his skin and striking him with stones. His feet left the ground, and then he was flying, flying…

His screaming woke him in his bedroll. At some point his thrashing had knocked his blankets aside, and he shivered in the cold night air. Above him, the stars twinkled through the naked interlocking branches. No clouds. No storm. Nearby, his campfire had died down to embers. Rolling over, he meant to add kindling and wood, but then it burst to life. In the newly granted light, he saw a dark-robed man sitting beside it, his legs crossed beneath him.

“Nightmares, Darius?”

Darius startled, and he grabbed his sword despite knowing it would do no good. He’d struck this man before, only to watch the steel bounce off pale skin as if it were made of stone. Velixar, Karak’s prophet, laughed as if he were privy to his thoughts.

“Is that how you work?” Darius asked. “By interfering with my dreams?”

“At times, yes,” said Velixar. “But not tonight. Do you think I would take an interest in you without reason? Karak watches you, and he gifts you with his divine presence. You should be honored.”