Horizon of Darkness

Having gagged the soldier to prevent him from shouting and blaspheming, Zeikin takes Arael's hands and prays to the Lady in Black: - Princess of Sorrow, Lady of Mercy, Bringer of Pain... If it is within your power, I beseech you to free this sinful human child from the brain cancer caused by a demonic affliction... bringing misery, pain, and death to the unfortunate, multiplying suffering and grief... For a human slave, a mere plaything of the gods, should not... increase these sufferings... For the criminal must be brought to justice for his deeds, so that the torments of the souls he has destroyed may be eased... For righteous people must break the vicious cycle of idolatry, destroy the torture conveyor, and bring peace to these desolate lands... - the warrior mumbled prayers for some time, hoping that he hadn't sounded too clumsy to be understood, pouring, as befits any Orthodox person, his heart into this appeal.