The Hero's Bluff

I froze, unable to comprehend what had happened. The horrified cries of patrons and whores felt distant to my ears, a muted buzz amidst the roaring pulse in my ears. Moving in a daze, I stumbled toward the gaping hole, but Soltair caught me first. He jerked my arm, pulling us outside, where we got a good look at the carnage caused by my unintentional spell.

"Gods," Trithe whispered, staring at the twitching corpse of the once-breathing man.

His body was bent in multiple unnatural angles, twisted and broken almost beyond recognition. Long, jagged lacerations ripped through his clothes and flesh, dying his corpse and the street crimson.

"Xiviyah," Soltair said, his voice stern and low. "What have you done?"

"I-I…I didn't mean to," I finally stammered. "He tried to…and you didn't…I didn't mean to."