While the abuse had ended about seven years prior, the mental anguish she suffered had carried forward and still bothered her.Joan had also been the s...bject of an abusive husband, eventually reaching a point where she had been put in therapy by her friends when they realized how broken he had made her. One result after more careful analysis led to his trial and incarceration for attempted homicide through mental manipulation. Those friends had been Circle members. Dave was the father of Joan’s. On the way back out of town he stopped at the store and asked Mr. Peck if anyone bought gold anymore. Yes, the man replied, the assayer stops by the last Saturday of each month. More than a few people in the area mined or panned gold. Good, thought Clipper. I know a few spots, here and a few peaks over. We can try that.He had found a nice pan, in the stuff he’d taken from the other cabin. One day he took the pan, fishing rods, Girl and Bear, and went way up the mountain, higher than they’d ever. I stood silently, letting her sweat it to see what conclusion she came up with on her own."I don't want to do it. I am not doing anything else so you can just leave!" Her voice was too shaky for me to take her demands seriously.I knew I had to catch her off guard to keep this going my way. I had been too nice up to this point... It was time to put her in line."Really... What makes you think I care if you want to? You stole from me, and you need to be taught a lesson. Seems like it's my job to. This was clearly the work of an artisan, its quality could only be matched by one of the primary cathedrals of the gods.Rosaria touched the gate, exerting the smallest pressure against it. Silently the gate swung open, revealing a dark interior. Silently torches sprung to life down the length of the corridor, illuminating the plain black corridor leading further into the spire. Wordlessly Rosaria and her companions proceeded into the Lich’s fortress. As they walked down the corridor the same.