كان الليل قد والثلوج في فصل الشتاء في وقت متأخر
Night had fallen over Stagfell and a late winter snow covered the town like a white shroud. Zuhair al Hassein sat at his desk in the small office set aside for him at the Temple of Sarenrae. "...and you're sure this information is correct?" Zuhair asked the captain.
الكابتن إدوارد، كابتن كبار يد شمس صفراء،
Captain Edward Devoy, senior captian to the Hand of the Yellow Sun, tapped his finger on a piece of parchment on the desk. "The patrol followed the thief to the alley here by this workshop, before they lost sight of him. I myself saw the mask of the reaper god hanging by the door."
جمع صنز على واجب أي والموجودة في الثكنات
"Gather the Suns on duty and any that are in the barracks. We don't want to give them time to move." Zuhair grabbed Shihab al Din from where it rested by the fireplace. "The Dawnflower willing, we'll catch them this time," Zuhair growled as he marched out of the temple.
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عشرة رجال مع شارات صفراء حاصرت رشة كبيرة
A dozen men with yellow armbands surrounded the large workshop as Zuhair banged on the front door. Light from inside seeped out around the door and windows. "This is Zuhair al Hassein, Warden of Stagfell, Commander of the Hand of the Yellow Sun. Open your door." There was no response. "In the name of the Baron Raam Corso, we're coming in," Zuhair yelled and kicked in the door.
صرخ الطفل في الجزء الخلفي من ورشة العمل
A child in the back of the workshop screamed.
تم وضع طاولات العمل في جميع أنحاء الغرفة الكبيرة، وترك مساحة صغيرة لنقل
Workbenches were positioned all over the large room, leaving little space to move. Zuhair had to step around several of them to reach the room in the back. Two of the Suns were spread out beside him, one at each side. As Zuhair approached the door, it burst open and men armed with short swords and wearing black cloaks rushed out.
ولفت زهير سلاحه وقطع الرجل الأول غريزي إلى أسفل
Zuhair drew his weapon and cut the first man down instinctively. The Sun on his left was quick to react and lowered his spear in time to catch the man running at him, impaling him. The Sun on Zuhair's right was not so quick and a short sword sliced half his face off, and he fell to the floor, clutching his wound.
زهير سرعان ما تحول حول طاولة العمل لخفض قبالة الرجل على الجانب الآخر
Zuhair quickly shifted around the workbench to cut the man off on the other side. Blood dripped from the short sword, but the experienced adventurer noticed it trembled unsteadily. "Drop your weapon and I'll let you live," Zuhair said.
اذهب الى الجحيم، حثالة الأجنبية
"G-go to hell, foreign scum. The Lords of Stagfell don't rule the Riverlands!", the cloaked man lifted his sword but Zuhair's slash was quicker and the man toppled to the ground.
وقفت رجل يرتدي معطفا طويلا المتبقية من الباب.
The remaining cloaked man stood by the door. He held a sacrifical dagger at the throat of a young boy. "Put down your arms or I'll spill his blood," he hissed. Zuhair noticed a medallion hanging around the neck of this man. A black mask, the symbol of Norgorber. "I mean it, curr."
خفضت زهير له شفرة وتراجعوا
Zuhair lowered his blade and stepped back. This must be the cleric of the cult they had been tracking. If the rumors were true, then he would indeed kill the boy. He would also kill Zuhair and all the Suns present if he could. "I'm not a fool, and you'll not escape. Let the boy go and you'll have a fair trial."
ضحك كاهن، ضجيج عميق خشن ودوت بطريقة ما في الغرفة
The priest laughed, a deep raspy noise that somehow echoed in the room. "A trial? What do you think this is? You are fools, all of you playing at Lords. The Riverland belongs to the Gray Master." He jerked the knife and kicked the boy forward. Blood sprayed out over the workshop, soaking the saw chips on the floor. The black cleric uttered a word and disappeared.
ركض زهير إلى الصبي وتسليمه.
Zuhair ran to the boy and turned him over. Lifeless eyes stared up at him, the cut was too deep. "May the Lady watch over you," Zuhair whispered. Zuhair looked around him. The injured Sun was still moving on the ground, and the cleric had vanished. He gathered up all the positive energy inside of him and released it in a wave. The injured Sun relaxed and moved his hand away from his face; half of his nose was missing, along with part of his lip.
الرب زهير،
"Lord Zuhair," Edward had entered the workshop. "That boy is the thief we followed early today."
وقفت زهير بالتسجيل وتتألف نفسه.
Zuhair stood up and composed himself. "He's not more than twelve, Captain. Whatever he stole, it wasn't worth this. See to it that he's buried properly."
نعم، رب
"Yes, My Lord."
زهير قضى بقية الليل خسر في الفكر والصلاة.
Zuhair spent the rest of the night lost in thought and prayer. Who was this cleric of Norgorber, or Gray Master, as the cleric had named him. What was he doing in Stagfell? Until recently, the cult had been no more than rumors, and Zuhair hadn't seen the black mask of the god since he shutdown the temple almost a year ago. The recent thefts and robbery on the northern roads were unsettling. "My Lady, grant us protection against the night..."
