Posts from Pursuit of the Sun 1.2

Hargen looks around, assessing which of the finalists has more fan support.

rejects of the female gender

Let one of them be "with a shield"...

The majority of the aristocracy, including the regency couple and their son, are rooting for the Crimson Knight. However, the son primarily hopes for a fair fight, and only then for his comrade's victory. Some commoners in their late twenties, almost all the tournament participants, and wealthy townspeople, especially master craftsmen, also support him. On Sandor's side are most of the commoners and outcasts, especially women and younger people. Wealthy merchants are more interested in the bets than the fighters, and many of them have placed significant sums on Sandor – the odds on him are higher. Raimund Mark is watching Sandor very closely, but he doesn't seem to be rooting for anyone in particular. From his box, holding a goblet in his left hand and placing his right hand on the shoulder of the woman in black sitting next to him, he simply hopes to enhance his personal oasis of comfort with the spectacle of a good fight.
—So, who are you rooting for? —asks Sigeber. —I'm rooting for Sandor. The noble conservatives have already secured two places for themselves; let the common people win for once. And I haven't shared a drink with the Crimson Knight in a tavern.

-- A-a! Mother Void! -- a genuinely frightened guard stumbles back as he barely opens the door, but the sergeant kicks him inside. When the entire group is inside, they find only one man sitting motionless in the center of the room, his bald head gleaming in the moonlight.

-- She knew you were coming. And she is afraid, -- he says impassively.

-- To her followers, she is a ruler. To you, she is a criminal. To me, she is a foolish, lying, and utterly lost creature.
-- Especially you. This rabble in armor doesn't frighten her.
-- She promised me something, and she didn't deliver. It doesn't matter anymore. Most likely, you will destroy her tonight, but even if you don't, I have erased her from my world.

- What do you mean by "your world"? And what did she "promise" you and fail to "deliver"?
- Who are you? What kind of "rituals" were you "performing" here? What was the purpose?

-- This world. -- the bald man significantly points to his skull. -- And not "we," but "they." More precisely, she. She feeds on people's consciousness, just as you feed on beer and bread.

-- It devours. It drains. It captures. It takes. It steals. I assume at least one of these words is understandable. It is here. A few meters underground.