The war demons formed a semicircle around the prisoners. Ulamn stood beside the three as Qurrah eyed the paladin. He recognized his face, and more importantly, the shield a demon tossed to the ground beside him. His name was Jerico, and he had been wounded protecting the portal so the people of Veldaren could flee.

“You have plagued me ever since the Sanctuary,” Qurrah said. Jerico shrugged his shoulders.

“Just doing my job,” he said. “Ashhur would be disappointed if I left vermin like you alone.”

Qurrah laughed. “Hollow, defensive words. You are scared, paladin.”

“By our law he must be executed with the others,” Ulamn said. Again that dark sneer crossed his face. “But how shall he be executed? For that, I offer him to you. You may choose his death, and carry it out as you desire.”

Velixar crossed his arms, his ever-changing face quickening its subtle morphing. How long had it been since he had questioned a paladin of Ashhur? How long since he had been given a chance to twist and corrupt the ideals of a false god into something true and powerful? All around, demons readied their weapons. Desperate, Velixar searched for a way to keep the paladin in his care. Every plan invited rebellion by the demons. The beginnings of a spell burned on his fingertips.

“Wait,” Tessanna said, approaching Jerico with a strange look in her eye. “I know this man, and he is not yours to take prisoner.”

“What nonsense do you speak, girl?” Ulamn asked.

Tessanna knelt down and tilted Jerico’s face so all could see the long scar that ran from his head, past his ear, and down to his chin.

“I have marked him,” she said. “He was mine to kill, many days before you and your kind stepped foot upon Dezrel.”

“A simple scar, yet you claim ownership?” Ulamn asked. In answer, Tessanna pulled back her hair and revealed a similar scar, although much more faint.