>TM 4 >LS 2 >PS ON >PL60 >SM6 >CP ON >FO OFF >------L-----------------------!---------------------------R ä253ä Suddenly the caged birds stop their chirping and the Š young woman senses something is wrong. She raises her Š tear-streaked face and catches sight of you standing Š near the entrance to the antechamber. "Who are you ?" she demands, hurriedly wiping away Š her tears. "Are you one of Sesketera's lackeys come Š to taunt me ?" You tell the young woman not to be alarmed - you have Š no wish to harm her. The unexpected shock of seeing Š you gradually fades and she becomes curious. "How did Š you enter this hall ?" she asks, "...and why are you here ?" Sensing that she, too, is being held against her Š will, you decide to confide in this young woman and Š tell her everything that has befallen you since you Š first arrived in Ghol-Tabras. When you have finished Š your sorry tale, she smiles sympathetically. She then Š tells you of her own sad predicament. You learn that her name is Oriah. She is the daughter Š of Khazullo, a Vassagonian funtal who rules the city Š of Fio Fadali. Her father is a rich and ruthless man Š and it is his wish that his only daughter should Š marry Sesketera, the ruler of Ghol-Tabras. Oriah has Š no desire to become the bride of a cruel overlord, Š but this is of no interest to her father. He lusts Š after the political power that her marriage will Š afford him. He has no thought or concern for his Š daughter's happiness. With the help of her friends, Oriah attempted to flee Š her native city in order to avoid the marriage. But Š she was hunted down by Sesketera's men and brought Š here, to his citadel, against her will. She is to be Š kept imprisoned in this hall until her wedding day, Š one month from now. "Let us escape from this place together," you say, Š but Oriah merely shakes her head. "No...no, it cannot Š be. Sesketera is holding my friends. They are his Š hostages. If I leave the citadel before our wedding Š he will put them to the sword. I cannot leave here. Š But I will help you to escape. Come, follow me." Turn to â78â