Your mistress wishes the citadel.

Arielle covertly points at the citadel. You curse yourself. Of course she would want to go there. Plenty of human cattle. You immediately begin convincing everyone that is where you should head. Your argument of real food a soft bed and a chance to discover why there is a modest city in the middle of nowhere wins over your friends. Arielle smiles at you and you shiver with pleasure.

The wall and gates of the city are an impressive black basalt. As you approach you wonder how you'll get inside. But, as you get a little closer the gates swing open.

A fat well dressed man greets you. "Welcome to Aldita, treasure hunters! You'll find many fine inns, and brothels..." He winks at the men. "In our fine city. Come in, come in."

The city gates close behind you. Nadine asks for a recommendation of an inn and is told 'The Swift Fox' would be the place for upscale travelers like you. It isn't far, but sunrise is soon and you need to make sure your mistress is safely out of the sun. Out of the corner of your eye you notice an attractive strumpet handing a card to Grayboar.

You arrive at the inn and get settled. Arielle brings you and Harold to her room.

"My blood thralls, Harold, you will guard me. Priestess I wish you to follow Grayboar while the sun shines. He has been behaving strangely since we arrived. And, be careful. There is much darkness in this city, not all of it from my master and the goddess."

"Of course, I live to please mistress." You gush.

You watch Grayboar all morning. Finally after lunch he quietly slips out. You follow him. Your skills have improved greatly under the tutelage of Arielle and you don't believe he sees you. You follow him a all the way across town to a place called 'The Dancing Nymph'. It looks like a brothel. This explains his odd behavior, still you are unsure. Mistress commanded you to follow him. You slip into an alley keeping an eye on him, debating whether to follow him inside. Your internal debate is cut short as somebody shoves a bag over your head and two sets of hands bind you.

You aren't carried far and the bag is pulled off in a dark office. First you see a black ornate mahogany desk. Sitting behind the desk is a hooded woman with the most perfect body you have ever seen, except for your mistress. There are ornate black mahogany bookshelves behind her covered with a variety of books and disturbing knickknacks.

"Hello, priestess, or should I say blood thrall."

"I am a priestess of Omaraha, how dare..."

"Really you haven't been a priestess for some time now. But, if you still have some free will, I see potential within you. I can free you."

"My mistress will destroy you."

"I doubt that, and in the light she has less of hold over you." The hooded women motions to anther woman. She draws the curtain letting in the light.

You cringe. However. It doesn't burn. You remember some of yourself. The hooded woman touches your forehead. Thoughts of your mistress recede futher back.

"There now, isn't that better. You will be able to make a choice. I can offer you true freedom, or you can go back to your mistress and truly be a thrall."

You struggle, part of you wants to simply obey Arielle. To let her replace Omaraha and serve her for eternity. Still you understand what she is now. She is no longer your sweet friend, she is undead. She is an abomination. But, there is no guarantee that what this woman is offering is any better.

"A decision priestess, eternal servitude, or true freedom? What is your answer?"