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making the strike, but I did, and I rode
forth from the town, clinging to my steed like a babe.
Once away from the Church's grounds, I felt centered upon my
horse. It was a Liath Mactha, a grey of battle, and power flowed
up through its beating hooves to me from the earth. I felt well
again, and I rode to the castle of the Templars where I was first
assigned, there being no immediate fighting. I arrived just
after dinner to much cheering and fanfare, received a repast, and
joyously took another heated bath. My last conscious thought, as
I luxuriated in the huge bed and clean sheets that were now my
right, was a delirious joy at the quality of the plumbing system
of the castle.
I awoke when I realized that I was lying on stone, and not
sheets. Sensing motion about me, I leapt up into a cloud of
incense, and weaved about an empty-handed blow at me. Unbidden,
my motions were swept into a rhythm of chantings and beatings of
drums, and I hop-scotched over intricate chalk lines in the dimly
lit, smoke-filled room. Lashing out with a foot I caught my
assailant in the side, crashing him to the ground. He was up in
an instant, and rushed me. I took a stance, and felt the power
flow up from the earth into me, f
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