21. The Ring

21

THE RING

A h, the orc's finger. Such a fitting resting place for a being of my caliber. I can still feel the warmth of his blood. It's a shame our little adventure had to end, but such is the way of things in this world.

I must admit, I'm rather impressed with myself for slipping through that dark elf's hex. He was a powerful sorcerer, one of the strongest I've encountered in my travels.

As for the human, Cassia, I couldn't care less about her safety. She served her purpose in bringing the orc to this manor, and now she is of no use. It's a harsh truth, but one that must be accepted.

Ah, what's this? A thief, looting the bodies. How delightful. I can feel the greed radiating off of him as he pulls the orc's severed finger out of the elf's pocket. And there it is, the moment I've been waiting for. He slips me off the finger and holds me up to the light, a grin spreading across his face.

I can sense his excitement, his anticipation. He thinks he's found a valuable treasure, a ring that will bring him wealth and power. They all do. I have no intention of being controlled by this petty thief.

But this is good, I decide. Thieves mean markets, and markets mean opportunities. I can take control of someone else's life and use the chaos to get closer to my destination. And maybe, just maybe, I can finally return to my master.

The thief slips me onto his finger, and I can feel his greed pulsating through him. He's already dreaming of the riches I'll bring him.

We'll see about that, now, won't we?

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