101 Ways To Kill Varice Kingsford

By Numair's Daine

Summary: We all hate Varice, right? Admit it. She's evil. But now, as we go through The Emperor Mage, we can write Varice's death in every scene!

Rating: R for violence…

Disclaimer: Tortall and all its humans/creatures/objects… I own them not. More's the pity.

Author's Note: If you don't like this sort of thing, don't read! I think I'll let you guys come up with ways to kill Varice… just make sure it's realistic (e.g. don't ask me to write death by Remington shotgun, because as far as I'm aware, Carthak doesn't have them…)

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Here's one to start us off:

Death One: Falling from the Galley into Crocodile-Infested Waters

A/N: God, I'm loving this already. Imagine Varice was in the welcoming party when Daine jumped into the river to save Zek. On with the show…

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Varice strutted towards Numair, completely confident of her ability to re-ensnare him in her net and drag him into her bed. Her one-time lover stood conversing with his former teacher, his face grim.

"Arram!" she called in her most alluring voice. Numair looked up, stunned.

"Varice?" He sounded surprised, but not unhappy to see her. Varice took that as a good sign and pulled him from Lindhall's side, chattering nineteen to the dozen.

"Oh, Arram, I have missed you so… You really must tell me about all of your adventures in those savage northern lands –"

Suddenly, a loud splash caught their attention, and Numair rushed to the side of the galley with the rest of the crowds to stare at a girl swimming towards one of those hideous marmosets. Varice followed him, shuddering, and shouldered her way aggressively through the congregated onlookers to stand beside him. "Really, Arram, do they not teach them protocol in that place?"

In reply, Numair merely stared out at the girl, who had by this time reached the monkey, his face tense. Varice leaned out over the railing to wave a hand in front of his face. "Arram –"

Her words tapered off into a shriek as she lost her precarious balance and fell with a somewhat larger splash than Daine's in the lukewarm waters of the river Zekoi.

Coughing and spluttering, fighting panic, she surfaced. She had never been a strong swimmer, and found herself struggling to stay afloat. One thing that did not escape her notice, however, was the black fire that pulled the soaking girl and monkey over her head and onto the deck – Arram's Gift had always been black, she recalled with a touch of hope that was quashed as she went under again.

In kicking towards the surface, Varice felt one of her expensive, craftsman-made shoes slip off, and with a howl of grief she took a deep breath of warm air and dived, attempting to locate the precious accessory. The tendril of fire Numair directed at her missed, and Varice frantically explored the river bottom with her hands, feeling her lungs begin to burn from lack of oxygen.

Finally, her hand touched something, and Varice swam for the surface, oblivious to the fact that she was pulling a crocodile's tail with her. When she dizzily took a breath, she let it out in a shrill scream as the crocodile's maw, lined with razor-sharp teeth, loomed to meet her.

Resigned, Numair gave up his attempt to rescue her as Daine screamed at the crocodiles with all her magic to stop.

You denied us the monkey, came the calm reply, thick with delight at the luscious meal they were devouring. Food is scarce. We must eat.

And eat they did, as the muddy waters of the Zekoi grew tinged with red…

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Yaaaay! Varice is dead! Want me to kill her again? Click the review button and tell me how!