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.
"What does that mean?" he asked.
"It means, my boy, that I needed to know what sort of
boy you are, to know if you were suitable for my purposes."
Sturm backed a step. "What purposes?"
"At the command of my Dark Goddess, I seek the true
restorative medicine, the elixir of life. My research
uncovered the formula, but to make it work, I need noble
blood. Your blood."
"Mine!" cried Sturm. "Why mine?"
"You passed the test. The candle led you here."
Sturm bumped into a table. He cast about wildly for a
way out. Mukhari did not seem to notice. He looked far
away, musing about his experiments.
"Artavash brought me children from Kernaf, but they
were imperfect, unworthy. The elixir made from their blood
was only partially effective." He held out an arm and pulled
back the loose sleeve to his shoulder. "See? I have the arms
of a man of thirty, while the rest of me rots at sixty-six."
Fear and disgust rose sourly in Sturm's throat. "So
that's why the town is empty - you murdered the children!"
"Don't be silly, boy. Most families fled, true, but they'll
come back once I'm rejuvenated. They will come back and
fall to their knees to worship the Goddess of Darkness who
grants eternal life!"
"Life purchased at the cost of others! Paladine will not
allow this!"
"And who is Paladine's representative? You?" Mukhari
grinned evilly at the boy
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