The warrior Kerlin had not gone to a sear since he'd been a small child and he would not be going now if his commander had not been missing for over a fortnight. His comrades in arms were growing impatient and they looked to him for answers he did not have. Being Second in command of the elite force known as the Stepsons it was his duty to keep the men under him active and ready for the call to move to the battle on the Wizards Wall. But being stuck in this hellhole called Sanctuary, the armpit of Thieves World was beginning to wear on him as well as his men.

Kerlin moved across the open square avoiding the beggars and scowling at the thieves. He was in no mood for the attentions of the poorer citizens of Sanctuary. All he knew was his commander and friend was in trouble somewhere and he had to find him. Ha here was the stall that Meeker had spoken of.

The large weaponsmith at the forge was the sears husband and from the tales he heard also her protector. The large smith would not abide by any show of disrespect towards his beloved as many could witness to, at least those who still lived after doing so. " Is the sear in " Kerlin asked with not a little fear showing in his voice. His hatred and fear of witches and their kind went deep to his heart but he did this out of Duty, Honor, and friendship and he would not turn away now. The smith nodded his large baldhead, he looked more a giant then a man as he pulled back the curtain on the door to the inner room. Kerlin moved inside and was struck as if by a blow by the heavy air of exotic incense and when his head finally cleared a little he saw the women sitting behind a table cover in blue silk. She was truly beautiful with an intoxicating smile and he almost forgot about the large smith outside but only for a little while. "You are looking for someone" she spoke in a husky sensuous voice. "Be seated and we'll see what the cards can tell."

He sat on the stool across from her watching intently as she spread the cards before him. Her look went from one of relaxed contemplation to a look of confusion and a little fear Kerlin thought. "The one you seek is close at hand, just outside the western gate. But this reading is strange beyond strange. For the cards reveal that your friend has died. But not just one death but many and yet he lives. He is being held in the house of the vile vivasectionist. A evil man who's cutting on innocents for money or pleasure only he could tell." Kerlin leapt to his feet and was out the door to the stall before the gold coins that he dropped hit the tabletop. Not giving the giant smith a second glance as he rushed across the square to the gate and the house where his friend must be.

He knew of this man who bought slave after slave for his unholy experiments in maiming and destruction of body and soul. The screams that could be heard coming from his abode late at night would send a chill down the spine of a God. Kerlins' hand drew his weapon as he broke the rotting door into a dozen pieces, after all the warrior was a direct approach soldier, a frontal attack rather then stealth. His commander Tempus lay on the dreaded vivasectionists table in the middle of the room. A leg and an arm already lying beneath the table on the floor. There was a strange bluish glow around his body but Kerlin had little time to ponder this as the man with the knives was advancing on him and his attention was drawn to him. His sword flashed quickly and his aim was true, after all had he not been taught by the best, his friend who he now carried back to the barracks. Already his commanders missing limbs were regenerating. For after all was he not Tempus the sleepless one, a god in human form? The screams heard from the vivasectionist house that night were music to Kerlins ears. For he had not struck to kill the vile creature only to remove his instruments of pain, his two hands. Let's see the beast ply his trade now Kerlin thought. Tempus smiled up at his friend as they moved through the western gate back into Sanctuary.....Fini