by Jeff Inlo
It was difficult to look at him as there was very little substance left. He was mostly skin and bone and even that was rotting. The smell forced her to breathe through her mouth, but she soldiered forward and knelt down beside the once powerful man who groaned in pain with each breath.
She pulled the long dagger from its sheath and held it up for Prilgrat to see with his one remaining eye. The knife still glowed an emerald green, the enchantment Holli placed in it still glistening in the blade. She spoke with conviction, for she hoped that the former steward would not foolishly dismiss his last chance.
"This is the same dagger that defeated the draevol," she announced, "the demon with which you made your bargain. The monster is no more, but you still hold to this curse."
Prilgrat groaned slightly louder, and Holli believed she understood.
"I know. You want to let go, at least you think you do. You were afraid to die, and now you wish for death, a death that you fear will never come. Despite that is what you think, that is not the whole truth."
She placed the dagger closer to Prilgrat's face.
"The blade glows green because it holds to the same enchantment that allowed me to defeat the demon. The enchantment is one of healing and life, but even more than that, it is one of hope.
"Do not deceive yourself. The spell within the dagger will not erase the disease within you. It will not heal you, but I believe it can help you. In order for it to do that, you have to understand why I am here.
"When I faced the demon, I was not certain I could defeat it. I thought it was more powerful than anything I could devise. I almost chose death as a way to achieve victory. At that moment, I thought of you and how you wished to avoid death. That is how I found the way to defeat the draevol, and I am convinced you have the same chance to find your own way to free yourself from the demon's bargain.
"The demon's strength was in fear, and its weakness was in hope-hope in life and hope in death-a belief in something greater than yourself. If you wish to free yourself of this plague, you have to lose your fear of death and believe in something more."
Holli paused and then made her offer.
" If you want me to, I will plunge this dagger in your heart, but whether or not you find freedom will depend on what you believe. You made a bargain with a demon, but even that can be forgiven.
"You need to understand that this blade is not going to be what ends your torment, and I am not the one that is going to stop it, either. You think you are clinging to life, but you are already dead. Your fear is making you suffer. Even if I plunge this knife into your heart, it will not do anything to you if you hold to that fear.
"You have caused a great deal of suffering. No one can deny that, and there is no excuse for it. Still, if you truly understand what I have told you, I believe there is a chance… even for you. I offer that chance now."
Holli pointed the blade at what was left of Prilgrat's chest.
"If you accept what I have said and want me to continue, blink but once. If you hold to any doubts at all, then do not accept this offer, for it will only cause you even more pain. If you still fear death, if you can find no hope in what waits beyond, then blink twice."
Prilgrat shut his one good eye and then reopened it. He stared long and hard at the elf, making no attempt to blink a second time.
Holli nodded and thrust the blade into the former steward's chest. His labored breaths and his groans ended. The final bargain with the demon had been broken.
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Document ID: fbd-69043b-3151-4545-5bbe-2c37-0d9d-a9b10f
Document version: 1
Document creation date: 23.04.2013
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