Deliverance

Deliverance is the seventy-ninth chapter of Tales of Sheol'gotha:  Shadow of the Abaddon.

Synopsis
Valon emerges back into the spellchamber, finding himself returned by the cube. The champions are pleasantly surprised to see him return. Murtukk demands the cube, offering favour from Do'zen in exchange, but Valon demands the lives of his friends returned to them and does not compromise the point.

Garadis and Meera, the shifter and succubus champions, are quick to involve themselves. Aranicus comes in on Valon's side, offering what he wants in exchange for the cube. The shifter requests the marrowblade instead, which Valon willingly offers. Garadis shatters it and moves away as though to leave, but lingers by a flesh banner that hangs from the sky outside. Murtukk and Meera congratulate Valon on his apparent subtlety, though it is suggested that Garadis did such a thing intentionally.

Valon is surprised to see that the marrowblade has grown back already, and suspects Aranicus to have only wanted the symbolic offering. He goes on to demand knowledge from Do'zen in exchange for the cube, pointing out that much of what he knows is no longer taught by most. Do'zen accepts and Murtukk takes the cube with him, leaving Valon to speak with Meera. She confers great praise on Lilithren's behalf and admits the goddess to be eager to see him, though does not seem troubled when he mentions the Deceiver tearing at his stomach.

Valon prepares to leave, eager to see his friends as they awaken, but Garadis calls him over and informs him that he's wanted elsewhere.

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