Sabithe came closer and the guard handed him the keys, keeping one eye on the stairs and the other on the priest.

Sabithe turned to open the door.

"Wait," said the slim guard. "Let me quickly search you first."

The guard began to hastily pat him down. "Stop moving," the slim guard said as Sabithe tried to draw away.

The priest desperately thought of an argument he could provide, a way to get into the Primate's chamber. There was nothing.

As soon as the guard found the prismatic orb, Sabithe knew he was a dead man. The greater tragedy was that he could have ended the war, here and now.

Then a clanging sound came from the heavy door, following by a creaking. The door opened, and a thin figure emerged, clad in a simple white robe, a feverish yellow glow in his eyes, and the look of the fanatic in his sunken face.

"What is it?" the Primate asked.

As the guard reached the pocket of Sabithe's cassock, and found the heavy roundness of the prismatic orb, Sabithe darted his hand into the opening. His finger found the lever, triggering the mechanism.

The orb exploded in a violent detonation of heat and energy.

Sabithe's last thoughts were triumphant.

7

7

THE Primate tried to open his eyes. The first sensation he experienced when consciousness returned was incredible pain, like nothing he had ever experienced. His body was on fire; burning as if a thousand red hot pokers were pressing into his flesh. If he was flayed, his skin sliced and pulled roughly away from his body, and the raw pulp underneath whipped and then scraped with rough stones, even that wouldn't come close to the pain he felt now.

He opened his mouth to scream, feeling his lips split and warm blood seep out, suddenly realising he was unable to make a sound. Only a sickly gurgle came out. His lungs were filled with liquid; he was drowning in his own blood! Melovar tried again to open his eyes, but they were covered by something moist. Bandages?

"Shh," a calm voice said. "Try not to move. I know you can't breathe, but you can last another moment. Your lungs are filled with elixir — it's the only thing keeping you alive. Don't worry; I've done this several times already. This is the first time you've been conscious for it. I know it's very uncomfortable, but trust me, Primate."

There was a pause, as if the owner of the voice was counting, and then he spoke again, urgently and forcefully. "Now, quick. Cough. Get all the liquid out."

Melovar tried to cough, but his body was too weak, the pain too great. He gulped, like a fish flopping on a beach, but with his lungs filled with liquid he wasn't able to take air in. After so long without breathing, starved of air, he felt the walls of his consciousness close in. It was all going to end here.