Despite his bravado and silly antics Kiera was surprised how quickly her champion changed his demeanor. One minute he was naked for all the world to see, the next he was listening intently as she told her story that began over five years ago. Kiera was summoned by a dark wizard named Wyrth to save his dying son. The Seven believed all can be saved and so Kiera made her way to his modest tower on the outskirts of a city far away to the East. His son had been cursed by a demon who had been summoned by Wyrth who was seeking forbidden knowledge. The demon denied his request and broke free from his bonds long enough to curse the son who had snuck in unknowingly. The battle had been terrible but the wizard sent the demon back to the abyss.
Kiera did her best to bring the pain in the old wizard's voice, he was a changed man in her eyes. Even if for a moment. Despite everything that happened she still believed she could have saved him and his son. For a day and a night she used her most powerful spells to try and revive the child. There was nothing she could do, the child turned quite suddenly before she could get more help from those higher in her order.
Wyrth flew into a rage and lashed out at Kiera. She had spent all her magic trying to save the child, her defense were formidable but in her weakened state she could not defeat such a powerful mage. Wyrth had her beaten but he did not kill her, instead he knelt over his fallen son. He chanted and pulled a dagger from his belt and began to cut himself. Wyrth's eyes turned to orbs of blood and Kiera heard the second voice speaking alongside the old mage. The demon hadn't left, he had hidden in Wyrth's body. In the end Wyrth was given forbidden knowledge, a curse from one of the lowest planes of Hell. He sacrificed himself and struck through Kiera's wards granted by her goddess and curse her to be an agent of destruction.
"Those in my temple bade me to go west after praying to the Tesha. Our goddess said my salvation lies in the West. This curse is hidden from all gods and goddesses I've met so far. Hell itself seems to be protecting the curse to keep it alive on this plane of existence."
Sir Pierre had been so completely lost in thought about the nature of the curse he didn't realize Kiera had stopped speaking. As soon as he shook himself from the intrigue of the curse that was immune to the gods themselves. He found his footing and lost it again when he caught Kiera's eyes looking at him. The soft glow of the fire had shadows dance across her face and robes, a soft play of light on he perfect skin. He pushed those thoughts out of his mind and made himself speak.
"The Knights of the Battered Rose know curses better than most. A powerful curse took our leader many centuries ago and we'll travel to the deepest depths of Hell itself to find the source of the curse!" The men around him cheered at the bravado but Kiera just let out a small laugh. Sir Pierre leaned in, knowing he had to show her more. He needed her to see that he knew her pain and was honest when he said he would save her. "In all honestly I don't think the answer to your curse is in Hell. And that means its somewhere near here. That is why you made it here and why your goddess sent you west."
He took her hand in his and held her gaze for many moments. "I will save you."
"Thank you," Kiera replied as tears welled up in her eyes. She was strong, as much warrior as she was healer. Yet this journey has been draining her for a long time and through it she's seen may travesties befall those around her. She leaned in and rested her forehead against his. "But you're going to need help."
"Then its a good thing I'm not alone."
Sir Pierre smiled and winked, showing that confidence of someone who had never tasted defeat. And for the first time in years Kiera felt hope.
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