Thornak walked towards the man and stood in front of him.
"Who paid you?" he demanded. "Who gave you that story and marched you into my court to lie to my face?"
Teryl began to sob, his composure completely shattered. "I-I didn't... I..."
Suddenly, he gasped violently.
His eyes bulged, blood vessels bursting red as he clutched at his throat with both hands. A sickening, wet gurgle tore from his chest as black, ink-like fluid erupted from his lips, splashing onto the polished stone floor.
"Poison!" a councilor screamed, stumbling backward.
Teryl's body convulsed, his fingers clawing desperately at Thornak's boots. Within seconds, he lay motionless, his lifeless eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Thornak looked down at the dead man, then slowly lifted his gaze to meet Maravelle's frozen expression.
"He..." she said quietly, struggling to find what to say. "He lied to me."
Thornak let out a humorless snort before turning to face the councilors and elders.
