"Hilor and the Spinner of Nightmares"

Note · 55 gp · Weight 2

Book the First of the Astonishing Exploits of Venture-Captain Hilor, published by the Pathfinder Society {br}"The Spinner of Nightmares let out a fiendish laugh, and the wind rose up, sending the sound rippling across the roof of the cavernous temple and off into the darkening sky. 'You cannot protect them!' The demon worshiper performed a graceful pirouette, as though she were mocking the ungainly venture-captain, who was slowly picking his way across the slippery roof tiles. 'You may have saved Anthoclitus today, but you won't save everyone who gets in my way! I will always be one step ahead, plunging a dagger into the heart of the next fool and sullying your path with blood that you will never be able to wipe clean!' Hilor lost his footing once again and only by a miracle did he not go plummeting to his death. His heart threatened to beat right out of his chest, but his mind was consumed with the feverish awareness of how close he was to his target. Only a few dozen paces separated him from the Spinner of Nightmares — close enough to shoot, but the venture-captain wanted to be sure the bolt wouldn't kill her, merely maim and immobilize her. The hand crossbow that Hilor concealed under the folds of his cloak was throwing off his balance. 'The jig's up, the Spinner of Nightmares.' The venture-captain leaned forward as though trying to catch his breath — a diversionary tactic designed to weaken the vigilance of the villain, who seemed to be waiting for something on the peak of the roof. 'You have one chance to save your pathetic life — surrender now!' The Spinner of Nightmares froze, as if considering the captain's words, before lunging forward like a snake and spitting with contempt: 'You will never see her again!' Click, twang, the whistle of the bolt released from its cradle — and the swish of the Spinner of Nightmares's cloak as she dodged the shot, laughing. Hilor let out a bellow, pouring all his hatred and despair into the shout, dashed forward, and, slipping on the roof, tumbled to his knees. Gripping a jagged roof tile with his last remaining strength, the venture-captain swallowed a grunt of pain and raised his head — only to watch his daughter's abductor be swept away on a black wind. 'I will find you, the Spinner of Nightmares!' Hilor's shout seemed to carry far and wide across the whole of Mendev. 'I'll find you and I'll tear out your duplicitous heart!'"