The Last Gambit - Part 4

Oliver frowned, ignoring the fierce beating of fear in his chest. He would have been a fool not to feel it. It was magic that had brought even Dominus Patrick low, after all. It was to be respected and to be feared.

"My father said that mages were a rarity," Oliver said, "but that those that dabbled in magic aren't. It seems too unlikely for me to cross two fully-blown mages within a matter of months, though I suppose it's not impossible. If I had to place a wager, I'd say it's the fire that's the important thing, not any one man."

"That sounds true, Ser," Northman agreed. "Why else have this chamber built? It's clearly meant for something more than keeping men safe. There's an oddness here."

As they spoke, more men were reaching towards the flame and more men were burning from it. None of the onlookers seemed to be particularly alarmed by that fact.