The Prison of Angels

lake. The cloud was death, and though weak enough even a child could go unbothered, it was still far more than the parasites could withstand. Their tiny bodies would remain, but at least they wouldn’t be crawling all over him, biting his flesh.

“Eat without me,” Tessanna said, kissing his cheek. Qurrah glanced at her, frowning.

“Is something wrong?” he asked. “You haven’t looked well for much of our trip.”

“No. I just want some peace. Bring me a bit of bread when you’re done, and I’ll eat it later.”

Qurrah shrugged.

“As you wish.”

He left his room and returned to the commons, finding an unused table with only two chairs. He sat in one, put his feet on the other, and beckoned Ginger over.

“Bread and drink,” he said.

“Dad says you need to pay for your room before you eat.”

The half-orc sighed, pulled out a handful of coins, and settled the bill. It left him with just enough to cover the cost of his food, and he handed that over as well.

“Bring me enough for two,” he said before the kid could leave. “I’ll be taking some to my room.”

Finally alone, Qurrah leaned back and let his ears soak in the conversations. It was still somewhat quiet in his corner, with the bulk of the men and women gathering near the fire. They were laughing, talking, and their mirth made Qurrah feel strangely bitter. He wished Tessanna had come with him, wished he could have flirted with her awhile. Her mood had slowly soured over the past year, though not consistently. Nothing was ever consistent with Tessanna. He doubted she’d ever tell him why, either. Was it their continuing inability to have a child? Her lack of purpose since the Gods’ War? Did she just miss contact with the rest of the world? Every time he thought he knew, something else she said or did contradicted the idea.

His meal came, and Qurrah ate it with speed but without any real appreciation. Sipping at the watery beer Ginger brought him, he once more tried to listen in. One of the louder men at the fire was telling a raunchy tale when the door to the inn burst open, and in walked a bearded man with a heavy ax on his back.

“Gervis!” several men shouted, lifting their glasses in toast.

Gervis grinned at them in return.

“You’ll all be buying me a round tonight,” the big man nearly roared. “Do I have a tale to tell!”

Qurrah leaned deeper into his seat, narrowed his eyes, and hoped it would be of something useful. The men at the fire shifted aside, making way for Gervis to plop down before the flames, his ax still on his back.

“Trader just came in from the borderlands,” Gervis began, accepting an offered cup from one of his friends. “About a week back they had a hanging at Norstrom.”

“Had hangings before,” a particularly drunk man shouted, and he laughed as if it were the funniest thing.

“We have,” Gervis said, guzzling down his own drink. “But this one was done to a sick fuck who liked to diddle with little boys and girls. But that ain’t the thing that got the traders talking. No, this one was done without the angels’ permission. By the Abyss, I dare say it was even done against their permission.”

He had their attention now, Qurrah’s included.

“What happened?” someone asked once it was clear Gervis would wait for some prodding.

“Well, an angel finally took note of it. They’d strung the guy from a pole, used his dick as a rope supposedly. No one would claim responsibility, either. Drove the angel mad is what they’re saying. Started hollering, waving his sword around.”

The men were laughing now.

“Wish I could have seen that.”

“Nothing like watching them holier than shit angels squirm a little.”

“Red-faced, I bet he was, red like a tomato!”

Gervis gestured for a refill.

“This is where it stops being funny,” he said. “Listen close, now. You know I tell no lies. This angel, Ezekai was his name I believe, he demanded they cut down the pervert and bury him. Well, the people of Norstrom wanted no part of that. And when they refused, the angel drew his sword and attacked them.”

The laughing dwindled to chuckles, then to silence. All around at other tables, conversation slowed. It was as if a hot wind had blown through the place, and Gervis grinned, knowing all ears were now his.

“No one died,” he continued. “But that don’t change matters none. He drew his sword and started swinging, knocking people out of his way just so he could cut down and bury the fucker. These were just regular people, people like you or me, and he was ready to kill every last one of them to get his way. And what were these people doing? Standing up for their rights, that’s what! The law’s supposed to be in our hands, in man’s hands. But they don’t like that none, do they?”

Qurrah waved Ginger over and requested more to drink. The moment it arrived, Qurrah guzzled it down, his mind racing. The topic at every table was now the same, grumblings and complaints about the angels. Two men directly beside Qurrah were obnoxiously loud, and he had little choice in overhearing.

“One told my wife I was cheating on her when he found out,” one of the men said. “Can you believe that? What place is that for him, huh? Like it matters I had a quick roll around with Jessie. None of their damn business.”

“What’d she do?” the man’s friend asked.

“Left me, took our kid with her, too. Dumb bitch. I’m better without her.”

Qurrah struggled to bite his tongue. Was this what the people really wanted? The right to cheat on spouses and dole out brutal justice? He thought of Azariah’s frustration and shook his head. Other than turning a blind eye to it all, what else was there to do? But the simmering anger he felt confirmed what Tessanna had suggested. The people were nearing rebellion against their winged enforcers. Not there yet, not quite. So far there was too much acceptance mixed with the anger. They were upset by things they felt beyond their control. But once they felt they had a choice, once they believed they had the numbers and the power to make things different…

Tessanna sat in front of him at the table, startling him.

“I thought you were unwell,” he said.

Tessanna glanced about the common room, hunched down closer.

“I didn’t want to be alone anymore,” she said, her voice so soft he could barely hear her. “I did, but then I didn’t. Is the food worthwhile?”

Qurrah pushed her portion of the bread her way.

“The butter’s fresh at least,” he said.

She ate it, nibbling like she was a squirrel. Qurrah leaned closer and kept his voice down.

“The people are resentful of the angels,” he told her. “Simply put, they’re human, and they want to be human, with all that entails. So long as Azariah enforces his higher standard through law, they’re going to resent him.”

“Perhaps your brother can do something,” Tessanna suggested. “He’s steward now. Surely the angels will listen to him.”

“That’s if I can make him agree. He might not. Perhaps he’ll only view these complaints as nothing more than growing pains.”

“Or labor pains,” Tessanna said, glancing about. “Though whether child or monster will be born, I’m not sure even the gods know.”

Gervis’s overwhelming voice roared again.

“Aye, I heard! Crossed the bridge not too long ago. No one knows why.”

“His brother’s the steward. Maybe he’s hoping to get a cushy job.”

“A job wiping his brother’s ass, maybe,” Gervis laughed, and everyone laughed with him.

Qurrah’s fist curled tight as his whip writhed around his right arm.

“Behave,” Tessanna said, meeting his eye. “They know nothing of you, nothing of me.”

“Any of you ever seen that demon girl of his?” Gervis asked. “Firm tits, an ass you could bounce coins off of? Well, a man was talking to me just this other day, told me something I could hardly believe. He lived in Veldaren, was there when them people were attacked. Now everyone knows she was sleeping with that prophet, but this