Tavern Tales: Come on in and Have a Drink! Part III

[grond]

Grond looked outside before the echo of the strange call died away. He saw a sparkling winged shape coursing low, just above the treetops. Already it was too far off for even the Nord's sharp eyes to discern more than its shape, and it shrank to a point as he watched. Had he seen William's figure atop the great winged creature? A fitting steed if so, thought Grond.

Shamus and Echo came outdoors a moment later. He nodded as they approached. "Friend Shamus," said the Nord, "Would you like to be our driver?

The archaist said, "Surely! I'll not easily leave you out of my sight. I envy your meeting with Mora, and I'd dearly love to be present for the next!" He hoped with some passion that the Lord of Knowledge and Memory would pity his eagerness, and grant him some visit.

"Well met! Let me retrieve me hat, then." Grond returned inside the Tavern. He raised his left arm, and the falcon he called Kika hopped onto it. Turning Rider's message to its other side, he scrawled a message - Will went! Meet us hear wen you can! Sooner better then Later! - and drew a map of the location of the Keep beneath his writing. "Go to Rider, and if you see Riley," Grond murmured, "tell him where I went, friend." Kika hopped off with a friendly farewell from Grond. The falcon continued to hop through the open door, his wingspan too great for the doorway.

Grond retrieved his hat.

So the two "dandies" and their "driver" soon were driving along the Road in a fine carriage, with dark curtains to hide passengers - "from riff-raff!" - snorted Grond. They left the window open between them and Shamus. The carriage was borrowed from Arlow the Barkeep. Where in Cyrodiil he procured the fine transport, he would not reveal. Grond's hulking Paint horse Mik came along, and was tethered behind. The two nobles had packed their weapons and gear, but under their silks and velvets they had secreted sharp items and elixirs to be called for at need.

Grond pulled at his ruffled collar. His mane was tied into a tight pony-tail. The clothes he had acquired years ago, during the raid of some forgotten cave. Thankfully, they were too finely crafted to itch, but they were entirely too small for him, and so he fidgeted and looked longingly toward his saddlebags, where lay his fur greaves. His toes were cramped within his shoes. His head hurt a little from the pony-tail. So he sipped from his skin, which he had filled with whiskey. "Small sips keep the wits together," he said, passing it to Echo, and then out to Shamus. Soon enough, the whiskey comforted him. He stowed the skin inside his coat.

The small group rode for most of that day unassailed. They talked as they rode of the dream and Grond's plan. It was alarmingly simple. Grond desired, as he ever did, to face this danger at the fore, as quickly as he could, and this meant to the Nord that, whatever the consequences, he would seek out whatever being it was that his dream had suggested sought vengeance against him.

"And then?" said Shamus from the driver's seat.

"And then I'll see what I'll see," replied the Nord.

"That's preposterous!" cried Shamus.

"Well, it's all I have at the moment. You lads are free to drop me at the front door."

Echo said, "No sir - I'm diving in with you." Grond clapped him on the shoulder.

But Shamus had other ideas. "Echo," he said, "if you choose to dive in with Grond, that's your choice. But I think I have a better idea, one which might better aid friend Grond."

Shamus outlined his plan quickly, and Grond agreed that it was smarter and safer for the others to vanish when they came to the Keep. As soon as they came near, Shamus and Echo would go on ahead of the coach. There was a road which led up toward the Keep, Grond remembered. He'd leave the coach behind and alone ride Mik up toward it, while the eyes of his friends watched for enemies. "Let 'em take me," said Grond, but if they attack, yer welcome to even the odds! If they get me, let 'em, then find yer way inside the place. If we get them, we'll go in together. But I want a look at the front door. I don't like sneaking around so much."

Echo said, "I don't like the idea of you going in there alone."

"Especially when no one of us knows what's in there!" added Shamus.

"Boys," chuckled Grond, "I been in fixes and getting outta them when you were naught but an itch in yer Dad's breeches. Thankee for yer concern, but I need ta find out who's got me number!"

They chuckled in return, while shaking their heads. They knew he called them boys not because of his age, but because they were comrades, riding together into deadly unknown.

[DarkRider]

Rider waited until Red and the child had vanished behind the heavy wooden city gates before turning with the rush of the guards to meet the advance at the head of their column. There was a great clash of noise as the two forces met. The front line of the Bruma guard held the lines behind their heavy steel shields. The battle was violent and frenzied. So close was the combat, several guards around him took friendly blows from their neighbors.

He cut a swath through the center of the enemy line, guards filling in behind him. Reaching the stables, he leaped to the fence for a better view and saw several of the dark enemy had bypassed the battle and were scaling the city walls. His heart seized in his chest, a fleeting moment of panic gripped him. He leaped back into the fight, fighting his way back through to the gates. Half the garrison was out here, and Red and the baby were now mostly unprotected within the walls. There was no way to warn the thief that danger was fast approaching.

Inside the city, Red backed savior to a house just to the right of the gates and below the wall. She slid down and held Jenna close while she listened to the sounds of battle outside. The thundering noise was incredible as if the full forces of Drakness were now beating down against the city. The few guards left inside with her looked nervous and edgy; they were ready for battle but there was no way to know when or how it would reach them. Runners had been sent to the castle for reinforcements but had yet to return. She placed Jenna safely on a feed shed beside them and strung her bow. Perhaps, if she could get up the wall, she could take a few down herself. A sound behind her drew her attention. She whirled and gave a great whoosh of breath as a dark shape hurtled into her from the wall. She was stunned and trapped beneath the body of a dead Bruma guard. Over his shoulder, she could see the ominous forms of two dark soldiers who had haunted their quest climbing down the walls.

She dragged her bow to her from where she'd dropped it and managed to slide an arrow out of the quiver on the soldier's back. She quickly let fly a shot that took one of the creatures in the head. He finished his descent in a dead fall. The second hissed at her, dropping to the ground only feet away. Red bucked with all her strength to get the body off of her as it stalked towards her.

She abandoned her bow and drew her dread blade, managing to wriggle out from under the weight just as it reached her. She heard a scuffle at the gates, cries of alarm as the few guards left behind realized what was happening. She eyed the fiend darkly, though inside she was glad it had not yet spotted Jenna, she would not make any movement to reveal her to him. They circled each other, testing each others' skills and finally it closed in on her with a deep throated growl like a wolf attacking its prey. Her blade was deflected from the plating on its arms, bouncing her arm back. She ducked quickly, coming back in for another strike.

She heard the Rider's voice from the gates behind her. He was yelling.

"No! You'll hit Red!" and as she wondered what he meant, she felt something sharp enter her back, throwing her forward into the creature. It took her weight, turning her to face the gate and she saw Rider had knocked a Guard with a drawn bow to the ground. He was furious, his face matching his name, dark and full of danger.

The creature holding her ripped the arrow from her back and she gasped. It had hurt, but not so much as it should have. Her leathers must have taken some of the strength from the shot. The thing holding her wrapped an arm about her throat and licked her blood from the arrow while Rider watched. He was taunting the ranger, daring him to try making a move at the cost of Red's life. In its arrogance, it thought Red was dead or dying. She was neither and made it pay for its mistake. She turned her blade backwards, impaling the creature in the thigh. With a scream, it dropped her and Rider was instantly there, sword flashing. In an instant the foul creature head toppled to the ground beside the fallen Bruma guardsman.

He helped her up. "How bad is it?" He said worried. It had been the longest moment of his life watching that arrow take her in the back. He'd been sure she was done for. He reached for her arm, "Here now, let me see it. You'll need a healer," he said, concern in his tone.

"I'm all right," she smiled and then grimaced unable to shrug off the pain as she tried to straighten up and the wound pulled. "Really, it's just a flesh wound. Leathers stopped it from being worse."

Rider seemed not to believe and, amidst her loud complaints, stripped her leather jerkin from her and yanked her shirt up in the back to check. He grunted, finding she was right. She was very lucky the damned fool was not a better bowman.

"Satisfied?" She said in a low voice. "Now that you've near humiliated me in front of half of Bruma."

"Half of Bruma is still outside the gate," Rider answered with that damned arrogant grin and handed the jerkin back to her, finger through the hole the arrow had left, "Little close that, eh?"

Outside the city gates the terrible roaring had subdued and a joyful cheering had begun, "Sounds like the battle outside the gates is nearly done, rider noted.

"We've routed them, they're leaving!" a wall patrolman announced to the nervous townsfolk below.

"See? What'd I tell you?" Rider said seeking Jenna out from her hiding place and carefully lifting her from her the shed. She looked surprised for a moment and then cooed happily up at him. Rider grinned, "Hey, what do you know? She likes me now."

"Be thankful one of us does or you'd be in for a lonely trip, ranger," Red growled stalking toward Savior. In truth, she was grateful. It had been a long time since she had tasted death so closely, but she would never tell him that. She had to stifle a laugh as she saw Rider's grin fade into a confused scowl.

[WillieSea]

William led the small band of commoners through the dark and dusty halls when they came upon a room with three other exits leading off from it. There were many tracks in the dust and he could not find Vereta�s trail in them. Deciding on a passage and hoping it was the correct one, William continued to lead the party of commoners through the depressing, deathly halls.

They soon came to a wet dingy room lit by braziers, one in each corner. A dark pool of scum covered murky liquid covered most of the center floor. A pipe hung from the ceiling and trickled a sludgy liquid into the pool. The slime pit bubbled on occasion and the smell of rotten flesh was almost overpowering. Pieces of body parts could be seen floating in the muck, sinking and re-emerging elsewhere.

William cautiously entered the room, looking around for danger. As he neared the center of the room, water erupts in a fountain from the pool. The sight of a sword descending from within the water sent William jumping backward out of its striking arc. He crashes into a wooden table filled with bloody bones, knives and saws, sending them flying and breaking the table.

William saw a creature as the water fell away from it, and another sword strike was again descending on William, who managed to get his dual black swords up in a cross in time to intercept the enemy�s blade. William then kicks at the creature with both feet and sends it sailing through the air to splash back into the pool.

<img src='http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l237/WillieSea/toadie1.jpg' alt='Posted Image' class='bbc_img' />

Sherena then looks into the room and rushes in to help William up. The Toad man once again jumps out of the pool, startling Sherena as she made her way across the room.

Toadie grabs Sherena from behind and puts his sword to her neck and then faces William, who had managed to disentangle himself from the bones and smashed table to stand up.

Staring at William with an evil grin, Toadie croaks out in a slurred voice, �Throow yoour weapoons awaay� oor shee geets iit��

William stares at the wet creature, knowing no matter what he did, Sherena was in serious trouble. But, perhaps he could save her yet.

William throws his two black swords into the far corner of the room with a clang. Toadie then laughs evilly as William slowly moves closer towards him. Toadie spots the movement and pulls the blade closer to Sherena�s neck, causing a trickle of blood to trace down her neck.

William stops his advance, not knowing what to do next. He was supposed to protect his charges, he had promised them, especially Sherena! But it looked like she was going to die, and it was his fault for not being more careful.

Toadie laughed evilly again, and without warning, shot his tongue at William with great speed hitting him square in the chest, pushing him back towards the pool. A sudden hot sensation caused William great pain as the acid saliva burned at his skin.

The thick mucus stuck to William�s armor and skin and continued to burn. With a grunt of pain, William grabbed one of the rib bones that had been knocked on the floor and used it to scrape the clear gunk off his chest. His inflamed skin still burned and grew into a large welt. Toadie laughed again and grinned from ear to ear, reveling in the pain he caused!

Another tongue shot at William, barely missing his head as he ducked under the gross appendage. Drops of saliva hit William in the face and neck, burning his skin and quickly raising welts. Another bone was fetched to scrape the vile mucus off.

William was quickly getting mad, and in a desperate ploy, he pretended to look behind the toad man at the door and make slight waving motions. Toadie glanced behind him quickly and William with great effort, leaped at the creature, sliding his gauntleted hand behind the sword, protecting Sherena�s neck. An instant later, the blade screeched across William�s armor as Toadie tried to decapitate Sherena.

With the blade away, William grabbed Sherena and pulled her away towards the opposite end of the room, and while his back was turned, Toadie landed a heavy blow with his sword on William�s shoulder!

William slumped to the floor from the mighty blow, knowing there would be a nasty bruise to attend to later. While the frog man pulled his sword back for another swing, William spun around, back on his feet and faced the creature.

Toadie had a sneer on his face as he looked at the weaponless foe before him. William matched it with a wide grin, showing all his teeth.

Extending his arms to the floor, the sword that had melted into newly formed metal plates on his arm and gauntlet seemed to melt again and flow down to his hands, where they extended towards the floor, forming two smaller blades of the same metal as his armor, one in each hand.

The sneer on the frog mans face turned into a surprised scowl. He moved his sword to the side to distract William and quickly shot his tongue directly at Williams face. Ducking slightly, and slashing with both blades, the tongue continued on past William and splashed into the stagnant pond in the center of the room.

Gore sprayed from the toads amputated tongue and it screamed in agony. William lunged at the distracted creature and with both blades, cleanly sliced its head off, which plopped to the floor like an over ripe pumpkin. The body still stood there, not knowing the head was now gone, with blood spraying into the air like a fountain. William gave it a mighty kick, sending it smashing against a wall, which collapsed, revealing a secret bricked over alcove.

Sherena ran back towards William and wiped at the still burning mucus that still clung to him. She had doused the rag with wine from one of the skins she had taken from the previous owner, a certain necromancer that gotten in William�s way.

She rubbed his face, and then slowly rubbed his chest of the remaining slime. His skin was soft and warm to her touch. She looked into William�s eyes and found herself lost in a pool of green, a flowered meadow of heather on a summer�s day.

After the dust cleared and the frog man�s body stopped twitching, William got up from Sherena�s gaze and looked into the alcove. Sherena sighed, and followed. About this time, the remaining commoners entered the room and started ransacking it, destroying anything that had no portable value.

Inside the alcove lay a small jewelry chest atop a small platform. Carefully, looking for traps, William opened the small chest and peered inside. A circlet of the same metal as his armor shimmered in the dim light, a large tear shaped ruby set in the front. Reaching down, William picked up the circlet and placed it on his head.

Sherena gasped behind William, who turned around to look at her with a smile on his face. William saw a reflection in her eyes, that of a golden dragon with great wings, and then it was gone. Sherena slowly backed away, stopped, and then took a step towards William. Stopping again and covering her mouth with her hand, she backed away from him, back with the other commoners.

The smile slowly faded from William�s face...

It was time to find Vereta, he had fooled around long enough and there was work to be done. The next creature he ran into this night would be sorry it was ever created!

[WhoGuru]

Red waited impatiently in the Jerall View Inn. It had taken Rider's considerable charm to convince emissaries sent from the castle that Red and the babe were innocent bystanders he had happened upon as he was being chased. He'd explained to her that they need at least one night safe within the walls and telling them the reason for the attack was gurgling happily in her arms was not a good idea.

So he had marched off to the castle along with several guards from the battle outside the gates. He'd earned their respect and they went to stand for him, should Countess Carvain hold him somehow responsible. The Inn was not her usual sort of haunt, she'd have felt more at home in Olav's but this was closer to the center of the city and better protected. Jenna slept peacefully in her arms and the owner was at her table several times wanting to know if the babe needed aught else? He had the turn of face each time he looked at Jenna that said he had small ones of his own.

Finally, the door opened and the Rider returned. He smiled at Red and ordered a pint from the owner Hafid, and sat beside her. Once his ale had been delivered, he leaned closer. "All's well. The Countess is convinced an unknown band of rogues is wandering the hills about Bruma. She's sent to the Imperial City for aid."

"You lied?" Red grinned at him, rocking Jenna who woke for a moment and then settled peacefully again.

"I exaggerated." He laughed. "There is a band of dangerous rogues in the hills about Bruma, now isn't there." He raised his mug to her and drank deeply, draining it in one. Setting it on the table he rose. "Time to bed I think. We'll leave at first light through the North Gate while the mist is still low on the ground."

Red nodded and they made for their rooms. Rider checked each door himself, and in the end, slept in a chair at the foot of Red's bed, feet propped on the foot board. The single window could not be locked and he'd been sure he'd seen three of the Drakness soldiers climbing the walls yet only two had been killed. He took no chances. Jenna slept in the bed beside Red and by morning, his worst fears had not materialized.

They rose before the rest of the city and quickly paid their bill and headed for the North gate and their horses. A fine, white mist did indeed cling to the ground at this hour and they left the city silently, only the raised arms of the gates' guard's seeing them off.

Rider could not shake the feeling they were being followed and often spun in the saddle in the hopes of catching something behind them. Red finally snorted and pulling alongside, passed Jenna to him. "What?" He asked confused. The baby giggled at him, found her thumb and went promptly to sleep with a smile.

"You're making the horses nervous." She said with a chuckle. "At least with her in your arms, you'll have to stop jumping at shadows for a while."

Rider snorted but took the point. Red dropped behind and took the job of watching behind them. They rode most of the day and climbed higher into the Jerral's. Green grass gave way to frost, then snow and Red was thankful they'd picked up furs in Bruma before leaving. She wrapped hers closer and once again, surveyed the path behind them, now visible for miles. As always before, she could see nothing and so relaxed into the easy, uphill ride.

Well after dark, they neared the crest of the mountain range and the pass that would lead them over. Rider finally called a halt. He was wrapped in a fur in the saddle and had Jenna tucked inside against his chest. Content to peak over the folds and marvel at the gentle fall of snow just begun. "We need a place to camp." He said as Red drew abreast. "Anything behind us?"

"Nothing I can see." She replied, drawing the fur closer. Her childhood in the swamps of Black Marsh had made her crave warmer weather than this. "We'll scout ahead for a camp, shall we Savior?" She said and gave him a thump on the shoulder. He whinnied and pranced ahead as if understanding. Rider laughed and kneed Legion to follow as Red drew away into the snowfall.

As he was getting nervous, she returned smiling. "Found a good camp! Just around the next bend." She waited for them to catch up and led the way around the curve, across a bridge and off the road where a copse of trees created a natural canopy from the snow.

"Good find!" He congratulated and Red laughed.

"Thank the horse, I tried to go the other way and he wouldn't listen." Savior snorted and ducked his head, obviously pleased with himself. Rider too laughed and dismounted. They set camp together and shook their heads at the horses who had crowded together beneath the trees and were fairly leaning on each other for warmth.

"One of them falls asleep and they both go over." Red chuckled. She sat close by the fire, Jenna again in her lap and sipping from a milk bladder. She had begun to shiver in Rider's arms but now seemed warm and well in Red's. He shook his head, chalking it up to another of the things he didn't understand lately.

The mountains were peaceful, the only sound the gentle fall of snow outside their sheltering trees. He took the first watch, allowing Red to curl up with the baby by the fire and settled himself on a nearby log. Several hours later, Red's restless sleep drew him from the road where he'd been peering into the snowfall for signs of pursuit. She twitched and once moaned and he was about to wake her from the restless slumber when a faint glow drew his eye to her pack. It was close beside her, as it always was. He knelt beside her and flipped it open. Inside, the crystal from the lava chamber pulsed softly with light. Red was still struggling in the grip of some dream. A sense of foreboding swept over him. He reached for the crystal and it stopped, fading away. Just as quickly, Red too settled into sleep again. He struggled for a moment, wondering whether to wake her and ask what she had dreamed. Instead, he left her to sleep and picked the crystal from the bag. He closed it again and took it to Legion. He wasn't sure exactly why but he did not want the thing near her anymore.

Something had been bothering her for many days now and he wondered if perhaps this were the problem. He tucked the crystal carefully into his saddlebags and went back to his watch. He glanced often at the two by the fire and added more things to his list.

Come morning, Red woke with a start. Jenna was not in her arms and just before panic would have set in, she found the Rider sitting nearby, bouncing the girl on his knee to cheerful giggles.

"You didn't wake me." She said and rose stiffly to her feet. "Not that I don't appreciate the extra sleep."

"You needed it." He said with a smile, noting the shadows beneath her eyes. "I can go quite a while without sleep." He rose, handing the baby to her. "We should get started." Red laughed.

"I should get shot more often." She cooed at the baby and then stopped, shocked at herself and embarrassed. "I can't believe I just did that." Shaking her head to Rider's laughter, she gathered her gear and shortly they were mounted again and once more heading up.

The snow had stopped and the temperature had dropped considerably. They bundled themselves into their furs tighter as they ascended. The path they rode was a narrow defile cutting between two peaks. The sound of the horses hooves crunching the snow seemed to echo back at them until Rider raised his hand, signaling a halt. Red listened, and jumped as she heard the crunching of snow from all around them. They were no longer moving. Rider threw back his fur, drawing his sword and moved back to Red and the babe.

"Stay close." He whispered. Red nodded, clutching Jenna and once again drawing her own blade. Her hand shook once as she gripped it, startling her. She pushed the resulting confusion back and prepared to defend the infant princess once more. They waited, moments stretched into minutes, always the sound of movement echoing back to them. Finally, Red cried out as a group of figures crested the rise ahead of them at the same moment as Rider turned to meet the advance of a similar group behind.

They were hopelessly outnumbered. He drew his second blade, readying both to defend the child. He narrowed his eyes to get a better look at them and then stared in shock. Though he had only seen it once and long ago, he recognized the crest of the House of Wight on the men's cuirass. "Red. I think perhaps we're not in as much trouble as we thought."

"You there!" The tallest of the men in front of them advanced, sword held at the ready. "You come close to crossing into Skyrim. What business have you here?"

"None of yours!" Red called back. She held Jenna firmly, not believing Rider when he said they may be safe.

The man, garbed in beaten and dented armor that had seen better days, glared at her. "You'll find it is my business, you red haired wench, if I make it so. What child is that you carry?"

"Come closer and find out." She growled. Rider was suddenly at her side, he shook his head and turned to face the soldier.

"We travel to the city of Wight. Name yourselves and perhaps we will have more to say." He spoke clearly and raised his sword in salute. The soldier studied him for a moment and nodded.

"We are what remains of those troops still loyal to the house of Wight. We guard these hills, keeping the Drakeness to their side of the border where we may."

Red snorted. "Not doing a very good job." She muttered. Rider growled at her and the soldier went raised his fist.

"I am the Castellan of the castle guard, or was. Still am in my heart. If you do not give me good reason to let you pass, your journey shall end here." The other soldiers raised their weapons, ready to advance. Rider kneed legion forward and addressed the dispossessed Castellan.

"We carry with us the rightful heir to your throne." He gestured at the child in Red's arms. "The Drakness have passed your lines and in great numbers. They have harried us into the gates of Bruma itself. The wench is right. You've not done a very good job." He delivered the last with a snort and sheathed his sword, sure the possibility of violence was past. The Castellan stared at him gape mouthed for a moment and then burst into laughter, slapping his thigh.

"You tell a good tale and with a sharp tongue. I think we'd best hear all of it then." He circled his hand in the air and most of the men vanished back into the snow. A few stayed with their commander and they led the way uphill. Red punched Rider in the arm as she drew even with him.

"Wench." She mock growled at him. "You will pay for that one." Rider laughed and they followed the lost band of soldiers higher into the mountains and toward Skyrim.

[WillieSea]

The passage continued a short way and opened into a large chamber with tall ceilings. Balconies lined the upper deck, which had several dozen corpses hanging from them on ropes. The entire floor of the room was filled with bones of all kinds. The stench from the rotting bodies was almost overpowering. Great swarms of flies buzzed around the room, making it difficult to see and breath.

William�s armor melted and formed a fine mesh in front of his face, keeping the bugs out of his mouth and eyes. The commoners were not so fortunate, having to make do with pieces of cloth wrapped around their heads.

Sherena kept a close eye on the knight, who had rescued her, rescued them all. She felt strange when she was close to him, an unfamiliar feeling. She felt so alive, like she was a queen on top of the world!

She struggled with her emotions, her fears. The knight seemed so distant, so far away at times. How could she ever hope to get close to someone so powerful, so handsome? �He probably had plenty of wenches to occupy his time when he was not adventuring. She did not even know his name.

The vision of the beast that she saw in him had startled her, scared her, and the grin on his face when he turned around seemed ominous at the time. She had backed away from him in fear and had watched his face fall, and darkness come over him.

William was angry, upset, tormented, but most of all, hurt. He had tried to open up to someone, and as usual, had been hurt in the process. He had promised himself that he would never let another person, a female, get so close to his heart. To never let them know he cared for them, that he might love them.

William had never discussed what had happened in the forest with Red when she had almost died. It probably would have pushed her away from him, pushed all of his new friends away. He was tired of always being the outcast, of being lonely, staring at his bedroom ceiling at night. He longed for someone to share his thoughts, his dreams, and his adventures with.

Memories surfaced, a girl laughing at him, a young woman spurning him for the arms of another man. These were memories he wished he had lost to the void, but they seemed to be the strongest and would have been the last to go. These memories and more haunted him, would he ever find someone to share his life with? It seemed impossible now, in his current condition. Who would want a beast, a monster, a freak like him?

William scanned the room; the flies glowed in his sight. The circlet must give him the ability to sense life. A large red blob of color, roughly in the shape of an upright humanoid, came into view to his right through the fog of yellow illuminated flies.

It carried a sword and was slowly advancing on William�s position, hidden by the thick cloud of flies. William slowed, as if waiting for his troop of followers, giving no indication that he noticed the enemy. If not for his extra-sensing abilities, the flies would have totally concealed the attacker, which probably would have killed anyone unprepared.

The attacker raised its arms, its sword, and lunged at William, right into his waiting anger fueled swinging swords. The flies parted as he lunged at William. The grin on the attackers face turned into surprise as his head went in one direction, and his cut up body separated and went in other directions, splatting to the floor as blood gushed from the quartered body to join the bones already on the floor.

William, his anger spent, sighed deeply. He realized that his lot in life was to always be alone. His shoulders slumped and he let his swords touch the ground as he looked down at the fresh corpse. The fly larva would enjoy another meal, not of a victim this time, but of a deplorable excuse for life.

Sherena had at first choked on the thick swarm of flies in the room. The bones on the floor and corpses hanging from the banisters had unsettled her. She moved closer to the knight that was leading their way to safety.

She had decided that he had to be the knight from her dreams. A fortune teller had told her while she was out shopping with her mother that she was blessed by Akatosh and that he would care for her if she only believed. Her mother had laughed at that as they continued to shop. Sherena, being young, put her only coin on the tellers table. The fortune teller then whispered to her that she could help a knight of Akatosh one day, a knight who would deliver her from death. She would be blessed if she stayed with this knight. The teller had laid 4 cards on the table while telling the fortune, one of danger,, one of loneliness, one of love, and lastly, one of long life.

The knight before her had slowed, as if waiting for the group behind him. He had then suddenly lashed to his right with both swords, startling Sherena. A head then rolled to her feet, a sickly skull with the skin pulled taught over it, with teeth sharpened to points. Looking back up, the knight had dropped his shoulders and the clang of his sword tips touching the floor rang through the room. She had wanted to rush up to him and hold him, but the memory of the dragon once again put fear and doubt into her heart. What could she possibly offer this powerful knight? She sadly walked closer to him, just wanting, wishing to be closer to him. She felt safe, warm and right when she was with him. She stood there, waiting for him to move.

William sighed deeply, and heard a startled intake of breath behind him. He swung around quickly, both swords raised and ready for combat, but the only thing in sight was the beautiful Sherena, standing very close to him.

William saw the sudden fear on her face. His dual swords quickly melted back into the thickened armor on his hands and arms and advanced towards the frightened girl. Being in this place of death, William thought the poor girl, no, woman, was probably terrified. He took a step towards her and with outstretched arms, invited her to him.

Sherena, suddenly scared again, backed away, but stopped. Realizing he was reaching for her, she rushed towards him, her heart skipping a beat.

He hugged her and she hugged him back, feeling the silken soft armor on her face, she hugged him tighter to herself. The deathly smell of the room faded as she sunk her face into his muscled chest and breathed him in. She then cried freely, wetting the knight�s chest with her tears, and he held her tighter.

[grond]

Beneath growing storm clouds Shamus drove the coach north. The road was well tended at first, but as they came near the Jeralls, and the land steadily rose, it became less so. Soon the companions bumped along a rutted track which climbed amongst the shoulders of the hills, and as they passed into the Mountains it turned dangerous and broken in places, sometimes leading to blank cliff faces which forced them to turn around and seek an alternate way. Or it narrowed to a crumbling ledge; on one side the coach scraped the rock wall, on the other was a disastrous plummet, leaving no room for error.

And then the rains came.

They were stopped at another rocky dead end when the storm hit. As the rain began to pelt him and the winds grew strong and cold, Shamus leapt from the driver seat to the roof of the coach - there was no room on either side - and vaulted onto the back of Grond's horse, Mik. Clucking his tongue into the horse's dripping ear, Shamus led Mik backward. Sainmh'ni and Echo's palomino whinnied their protests but a loud neigh from Mik seemed to convey the plan; the front pair obliged and together they pushed and pulled the coach away from the dead end. They soon came to a place where the path had forked. It sat at the north end of a long valley, and their new path went along the valley's ridge. The coach and horses rested for a moment at the fork. The winds grew even stronger and the rain lashed at Shamus' hood, soaking him and stinging his face. He could not see more than a yard in any direction. Angry lightning flashed. "Get in here Shamus!" bellowed Grond over the thunder. The Archaist struggled through the coach window. When Shamus, grumbling and drenched, finally settled into the dry seat, Echo reached within his frilly cuff and smiling, offered him a laced handkerchief.

"Why, you little -" began Shamus, but at that very moment a sudden torrent of water rushed beneath the coach and washed the path away.

The coach slid down the slope. The occupants tumbled from ceiling to seat and back again. Despite their efforts to balance themselves they were flung around furiously. Their saddlebags became missiles and each man received hard blows from them as the coach fell down the long ridge to the valley floor. Then, with the same sharpness as it started, the coach finally came to rest on its side.

Echo lay stunned atop Grond. The Nord pushed the small thief off him. Shaken, Grond stood, and climbed through the curtained window. "Mik!" they heard him shout. "Sainmh'ni!" The others followed Grond through the window to see to their horses. Once outside and out in the storm Echo, wearing his dark goggles, shook Shamus' arm and cried, "Look!"

The thief vanished into the storm.

Shamus saw little, save that the hitch had broken and the horses were nowhere to be seen. Nor was Grond. Against the raging wind the Archaist screamed the Nord's name. Shamus then returned to the fallen coach and found his bow. After some searching he found his pack and took from it several of the arrows he needed. He aimed for the heavens and let an arrow fly. Threading its way through the wind and the rain the arrow sped to the sky, and then its head, charged with energy, exploded into a thousand bright fragments. He saw Grond, standing near two horses. The third - Mik - lay at Grond's feet. But looking toward the far ridge Shamus saw shapes coming into the valley from the other end. In the last flickers of the greenish magickal light, Shamus watched the tiny figure of Echo darting this way and that, toward the mass of figures charging toward them. Following Echo's lead, Shamus raced to the coach for more arrows and his blades.

[WhoGuru]

Rider and Red followed the Castellan and his men for over an hour through passes that would have been unnavigable but for a guide. Finally they were led to a large camp, well hidden on the Skyrim side of the Jerral's. Their horses were taken and they were led to a domed tent in the center of camp.

The Castellan made them wait as he received updates from his sentries and issued orders in the same gruff voice he had used before. When the last soldier left the tent he gestured them to camp stools and sat himself, very much the Commander conducting an interview. He obviously had not left the castle far behind, whatever had befallen his troops since.

"Now, tell me this tale of yours. Leave nothing out."

Rider, with some help from Red, detailed their journey from it's beginning what seemed ages ago in a twisted wood. Their discovery of the babe's true identity and were stopped as the Castellan raised his hand. "This old Bosmer, who knew enough to recognize the birthmark. What did he look like?"

Confused, Rider described the old man in detail and waited for the Castellan. He rose, stepping to Red. "Show me this birthmark." He ordered. Red bristled but opened Jenna's blankets to reveal her leg. The Castellan gently took the girl's foot and looked at the mark. His eyes widened and a glimmer of tears shined for a moment before he dropped to a knee before the child. "She is the Princess. I've seen that mark myself on several generations of Wight's rulers. The old man was right, whoever he was." He stared at the now smiling infant in awe. "To see the means of our salvation at such a time, and in such a place." He rose then. "I'll return shortly. Be comfortable as my honored guests." And with that he strode from the tent, as if new purpose drove him now.

Red bundled Jenna back into her blankets as Rider rose and looked out through the tent flaps. Turning back, he noticed Red's hands shaking, just the slightest bit, as she settled Jenna in her arms. Must be the cold, he told himself and looking quickly around, spotted a fur on a near by cot.

"Still cold in here as well." He smiled and draped the fur over the two. Red seemed to notice the tremors in her hands then and frowned in confusion. She shook her head, pushing it away.

"Too cold by half." She replied. "I begin to think I'll never be warm again." She hid her hands in the folds of the blanket and tried to force the shaking to still. She had felt off all day, since waking that morning after a night of odd, fire filled dreams. She watched Rider head back to the tent flap, surveying the activity in the camp outside. "Will they find us here?" She asked softly, for Jenna had fallen asleep within the folds of the fur. "The Drakness?"

Rider turned, a frown on his face. "It's possible. They have to know where we're heading and may well know about these soldiers here, as they managed to avoid them on their way into Cyrodiil." He thought again of the one Drakness he had seen go over the wall in Bruma and was never accounted for. He was reasonably sure they had not been followed but just the same, felt a sudden urge to warn their new friends. "I'll be back shortly." He said, swinging his own fur around his shoulders again. "I need to make sure this camp is well protected." Red nodded and Rider swept from the tent in search of the Castellan.

He found him surrounded by several men with epaulettes on their shoulders, his generals of course, deep in conversation. Rider strode to them with a purpose and interrupted.

"Gentlemen. We have a problem." He said boldly and gained their attention instantly. "I told you before, a large contingent of Drakness soldiers have passed your lines. We have met them in battle. Though we've dealt them some losses, a great number remain. How sure are your defenses? Can you stand a concerted assault?"

The Castellan struggled with the knowledge so many of the enemy had slipped by his men, unwilling to believe, but in the end, chose caution of pride. "Very well, we'll strengthen our lines, send the runners out further to watch for this enemy force. They will not reach the babe while in our care." He said forcefully. The men around him nodded their assent, a new hope shone on their faces.

Rider spent the better part of an hour with the Castellan and his men, arranging sentries and checking the general battle readiness of the troops. He wanted to be sure they could succeed against the vicious force that hunted their small charge.

So involved was he and all others in the camp, no one noticed the shadow slinking between tents and vanishing once more.

The men Rider spoke with were driven now by the knowledge an heir had been found. He saw fallen soldiers straightening their backs, polishing armor with new vigor. It brought warmth to his heart as he remembered his youth and how he had once felt.

The noise level in the camp had risen considerably, the noise of purpose and still, he noticed a sound out of place. A crash, and was that a cry? He strained his ears and was rewarded with the sound of Jenna's strident cries carrying to him. Remembering Bruma and how she had somehow sensed the danger, he drew his sword and ran for the center tent. The Castellan, seeing him and his sudden urgency fell into stride asking no questions. One did not question such a look on the face of a ranger.

Together, they burst through the tent flaps and found chaos. The tables and cot had been overturned. Red and the babe were nowhere to be seen. Rider quelled his hammering heart and listened again, suddenly he heard Jenna's cry once more. Coming from the corner of the tent. He and the Castellan flung debris from their path as he bellowed for his men. They found a chest, hidden in the corner as if in answer, the babe could be heard crying within. Rider flung up the lid and found her nestled among blankets and parchments, tear streaked face staring up at him.

He lifted her out gently and held her close. Surveying the tent once more, he could picture what had happened. Red had had some warning something was about to happen, perhaps the babe herself. Alone, she had hidden her and met her foe. Men rushed into the wrecked interior and they spent little time learning Red was nowhere to be found.

Rider was burning with the need to find her and knew it had been that last Drakness, the one he had missed. They found a gap in the tent wall in the back room. She must have heard the fabric ripping and acted quickly with no time to call out. As he stalked back into the center, he saw a flash from beneath a pile of scrolls. Bending down, he saw her Dread blade and fear fairly choked him. It lay in a small puddle of blood, not the darker stuff the Drakness seemed to bleed. She would never have parted with this easily. He took it, sliding it into his belt and turned to the Castellan.

"Guard this child with your life." He said darkly. "I must go to her. Be sure that whatever happens, this little girl survives to take her throne." He passed Jenna to the Castellan who took her without question. "If I may, I will return with Red."

The Castellan snapped to attention, saluting Rider and bowed. "I give you my word, no harm shall come to this precious child. We will not be caught unawares again. Good luck, Rider. Go with honor." The Rider returned his salute and, taking one last look at the wreckage around him, sped out into the failing light in search of his friend.

[Vereta]

As Vereta made his way through the dusty stone tunnel he wheezed loudly from the loss of blood. He used the wall as support as he walked at a short pace when he finally slid down the wall of the tunnel, wheezing loudly. He looked at his pack at his side and fumbled to open it before rummaging through it for anything that can help him heal his shoulder wound. All he could find was a yellowing parchment with some notes from the Lost Telvanni Codex, the blasted goblins that Red had saved him from had taken almost everything he had. It had instruction to several healing spells written on it and he read through them rapidly. He quickly placed the parchment down before he coughed loudly into his hands, before bringing them away from his face to see blood was splattered all over them. He fumbled with the spell and slowly thought of the incantation before rubbing his shoulder. The tissue within his shoulder began to heal and his wound closed, but was held together with fragile skin. He should not use that shoulder until the skin there had healed.

He sat on the dusty floor catching his breath when he thought of her again.

--

"Vereta." A firm voice called out.

Vereta was lying in his bed with several stacks of books around him as he read a certain black book when he heard this voice. He quickly stuffed it into his nightstand drawer before looking up at the younger Sharon who was standing at the doorway with a determined exp​ression on her face. Vereta grinned sheepishly at her.

"Don't you know how to knock?" He asked playfully.

Sharon just squinted at him as if he were far away on a distant hill. Vereta, who was confused, sat up and scratched his head.

"What's wrong?" He asked suspiciously.

"You tell me." She replied just as suspiciously.

They gazed at each other for a long time before Vereta finally broke the silence.

"Sharon, why did you come in here?" He asked seriously.

"You said you wouldn't do that anymore. You promised me." She replied with sadness and anger.

"Sharon, don't do this. It's my choice what I do with my studies. Leave it be. Arch Mage Traven was wrong to expel necromancy as a magical art." Vereta replied sternly.

Sharon looked at him with a hard exp​ression before turning to leave. Vereta sighed heavily.

--

Vereta was surprised that when he touched his cheek he found warm tears were flowing down his face.

Sharon where are you? He thought to himself.

He wiped his eyes and stood up, looking down the dark passageway, towards his destination. His wound had healed enough for him to walk without a feeling of dizziness washing over him or a fear that he might fall down if he stayed standing up to long so he decided it was time to end the Dark Lord's life once and for all. He smiled grimly as he made his way towards the tunnel entrance.

[DarkRider]

Rider slipped from the tent and into the dark of the night. He listened hard for sounds of a scuffle in the woods nearby, but it was difficult to isolate anything with the clamoring of the Wight soldiers in the tent he had just left. Rider crept through the shadowy canopy, his blade drawn. He could feel his heart fluttering in his chest with his adrenaline racing. He heard a sound.

It was soft, like a strange purring, then a slight scuffle in the frozen grass that vanished nearly as soon as it was heard. Rider froze in his tracks, listening. A shadow flitted across the tree line. Rider's teeth were gritted so clenched his jaw was beginning to ache, but he felt nothing. He was a predator, not prey; he would win this fight and bring Red back safely. If this creature was foolish enough to test his metal, it would be its last error in judgment. Another sound broke the stillness like a gasp for breath, and then the woods erupted with a feminine battle cry and the surprised yowls of a Drakness marauder. Rider rushed to join in the fray. As he breeched the tree line he saw Red pinned below the massive marauder, blood was flowing from a wound in her arm and spilling on the white snow. She was holding the marauder's own short blade, her only defense against the heavy claymore he was bearing down on her with.

Red caught sight of movement as Rider charged into the clearing and collided with the fiend. The marauder stumbled off of Red, kicking her in the head with a heavy boot. Blackness fell over her as her consciousness slipped away. Her last thoughts were that she had failed the child and how her own death must surely be coming for her at last.

Rider hit the marauder off of Red with such force that both were sent tumbling to the rock hard ground in a clatter of leather and steel. The Marauder rolled onto his back and landed a kick with both feet square in Rider's chest, sending the ranger sailing backwards without his blade. The creature stood and snarled at him over rotting yellow teeth; he too had been separated from his claymore, but the claws he bore seemed weapon enough. For a moment they stood deadlocked as if silently agreeing on the terms of their great combat. Rider paced slowly to the right, the marauder matched his movement as they squared off, but the ranger was moving deliberately to place himself between the foe and the fallen thief.

Without warning, the standoff was ended and the creature leapt at him with claws extended. Rider dove into the challenge, catching the marauder's forearms in his hands to force the claws back and away. The marauder was much stronger than he looked. It took all of his strength to force the creature back even a few steps. The snow offered little traction. The creature grinned wide, sticky saliva dripped between its teeth, it could feel his strength waning. It leaned all of its force into one arm, reaching for Rider's chest. The ranger was growing fatigued, his heart pounded furiously, willing strength and valor into his exhausted muscles. It was to no avail. The creature's claws made contact with his chest and easily pierced the light mail he wore beneath his clothing. Rider growled in pain as the claws tore into his flesh. There was no sense in continuing the battle of strength; he had lost. Rider released his hold in the hand that had struck his chest and used his free hand to pull his wakizashi from its sheathe. He drove the short blade into his foe, finally causing the creature to release him. As the marauder staggered back, Rider could taste the salted iron of blood in his mouth. He'd been wounded badly.

As it retreated back with the deep gash to its belly, the marauder slipped in the snow and fell onto its back on the ground. Rider was holding his bloodied wound with one hand and his short blade in the other. His gaze drifted to where Red lay unmoving in the darkness. When he looked back down at the creature, hatred flickered in his eyes. His blood spattered the white snow as he drew closer to the wounded marauder. The ranger dropped onto the creature's chest, breaking its ribcage with his knee as he landed. The creature would have howled for all the agony, but the Rider drove his blade through its throat pinning it to the ground and silencing it. His heart beat fiercely in his chest; he was the predator. The marauder was not dead, only silenced by the blade in its throat and gravely wounded. It stared at him wide eyed as if staring into the long void of death. Rider reached for the creature's head, taking it in both hands. His eyes burned into those of his terrified and beaten foe, his heart pounded in his chest, and with what strength he yet possessed, he began to pull the beast's skull as if to literally tear it from its foul carcass.

"Rider!" Red's voice broke into his hate clouded mind. She sounded so far away he could barely hear her over the pounding in his mind. His blood was pouring now onto the unmoving body of his foe. The marauder's neck was broken and it stared up at him with unseeing eyes.

"Rider," Red called more gently.

He finally turned his head to look at her, letting the creature's head fall lifelessly to the unforgiving ground. The thief was now sitting up, she was alive, and her face was washed with fear and concern.

"You're alive," he managed to cough out over the blood in his throat and mouth. His heartbeat was slowing. He staggered to his feet and stumbled over the marauder as he moved toward her. Red's eyes widened as she beheld his injury. Rider's chest was torn open to the bone, the thin mail he wore for protection hung in loose links where it had been shredded amidst the tatters of cloth from his black shirt. He staggered a step, but he was going to fall. Red leapt to her feet and rushed to his side as he dropped to one knee. He fell back onto the snow breathing heavily. Tears formed in her eyes as she listened to every breath he took drown in the murky depths of his blood. She tried to draw on her healing magic, but in her grief it would not come to her.

Red pulled his head up from the snow to rest in her lap. She clung to his long coat in one hand and fairly beat his shoulder with the other, "This is not how I imagined this ending," she chided, "you're not supposed to die ranger."

"Don't..." he coughed haggardly, "...give up" he managed before sweet unconsciousness winged him away from his pain.

"Rider?" Red called his name, "Rider?" she called louder, a sob catching in her throat. She laid him down on the ground, pulling her cloak off and covering him with it. For a long time she sat there, staring at his still form. His chest no longer rose and fell. All around her the night was silent. She stayed beside him, just watching him lie at peace as her grief began to swell deep within her.

"Why have you left me?" she mourned aloud, knowing no answer would be coming, "I will look for your smile until the end of my days," she promised. Slowly, Red fell to her side and rested her head on his body. In truth, she wanted to die there with him. For once, she had truly found not only friendship, but kinship. She finally had the family she had dreamed of all her life and that dream lay cold in the snowy earth. But as she lay there a thought came over her. His body was still, but not cold. His life force had been gone for so long his warmth should have faded long ago in the night air. Yet it remained. As Red lay trying to comprehend she heard a sound emanate from the Rider's still form. It was soft, like a fluttering of heavy wings far away and as she listened the sound seemed to grow stronger. Rider took a breath.

Red backed away from him, drawing her cloak away as she moved. Where there had been a bloody and hollow wound, the flesh had been repaired; now only minute seams remained surrounded by red and pinkened flesh. Rider inhaled with force, choking over the blood that lay stagnant in his throat. He groaned and rolled onto his side, spewing the stagnant blood onto the ground. Then he remained there, eyes staring blankly at the ground, gasping for each breath. With each moment that passed his breathing grew steadier and his eyes cleared. He finally looked at her. At first, Red was frightened, but his eyes; he was looking at her not with the malice or emptiness of some bewitched corpse but with sadness.

"I...I never meant for you to know this," he said softly. Before he could muster another word, Red threw herself into his arms and hugged him fiercely. When he groaned she withdrew slightly and smiled at him sheepishly.

"You don't have to tell me your secrets ranger," she said gently, "I'm very glad you're alive."

He smiled slightly, and then looked as if he would speak, but the night air around them was beginning to lighten with the dawn and the voices of the castellan and his men filled the woods. Red helped Rider to his feet, and he managed to tuck the mangled bits of his shirt behind his vest to conceal the evidence of his wounds.

"They're here sir," a young Wight guard called to his commander, "They're alive!"

[WhoGuru]

The Castellan and several of his men spilled out into the trampled and bloody clearing, weapons at the ready. Rider pointed to the dead Drakness warrior as explanation.

"Ranger you truly have a luck about you. To slay him and save your friend as well." The Castellan gave an honored bow to him and sheathed his sword. "My men spotted about twenty of these bastards a days ride down the mountain." Now he grinned. "Seems they were taken, to a man, by an unfortunate avalanche."

Rider laughed at this, still somewhat breathless and healing. He looked down at Red who smiled up at him. "At least we wont have to worry about them sneaking up behind us again." She directed a stony glare at the creature Rider had slain and said softly. "Thank you for killing it for me."

As the Castellan's men were searching the corpse, Rider pulled Red's blade from his belt and held it out to her. "You dropped this I think." Her eyes latched on to it in shock and she smiled as she took it from him.

"I couldn't remember when I lost it, when that thing came for me." She took Riders arm in a frantic grasp. "Jenna! Is she safe? I tried to..."

"She's fine." Rider soothed and flicked a strand of hair from her bruised face. "You hid her well, though next time, perhaps the brave thief could manage a scream of warning at least?"

"Rider!" The Castellan interrupted and Red closed her mouth on a smart retort. "We're done here. Bodies' buried and we need to head back to camp. We have a plan to make." He clapped the Ranger on the shoulder and then looked closely at Red. "You're bleeding, and that's a nasty bruise blooming on your face, M'lady."

Red seemed to notice her arm for the first time and of course, once you notice a wound, you can feel it. The gash was deep, taken in the tent from the Drakness' weapon before he overpowered her. It began to burn with pain now as she looked at it. For a brief second she thought to try healing it and quickly changed her mind. She wasn't ready to face that problem again just now.

"You need healing." The Castellan said with a nod. "We've a fair mage back at camp. He'll have you seen to in no time." He called to his men and they began the walk back to camp. Shortly before they arrived, blood loss took its toll on Red and she began to weave. Rider, rather than ruin her dignity, draped an arm about her shoulders and steered her straight. Once more, Red should have been able to heal such a wound on her own and as before, had not. He puzzled over this as they arrived and were ushered into the Castellan's tent again. A healer was sent for and Rider helped Red settle herself, arm cradled against her chest.

He thought to ask again, but once more, they're time alone was interrupted by the healer, a wizened old man, long of beard and kindly of face. He went to Red immediately and set to pouring potions in her and casting several spells on her arm and shaking his head in the process. The Castellan took Rider aside to the now straightened table and he saw a variety of maps laid out. "We need to get to the castle." He began. "That, Ranger, is the easy part. The gates are well guarded, A frontal assault would be suicide with the few numbers at our disposal. We have another idea." With a crafty smile, he revealed another map hidden below the others. "This is a secret tunnel, forgotten for ages I should think. No one's used it in my lifetime." He pulled a pipe from his belt and spent several minutes lighting it while Rider fidgeted inside. "Ah. Where were we? The tunnel! I know where the entrance can be found and it empties into the castle courtyard, near the wall."

"Sounds easy." Said Rider, thinking too easy was a better choice of words. The Castellan agreed with him. "The tunnel is ancient and trap filled. I've sent men in before, some never returned. Those that did had a rough time of it."

"I can help you there." Red said, pushing herself up from the healers' ministrations. "I can take care of those traps for you." She smiled at the Castellan and Rider. "Call it a specialty." Rider chuckled and then whipped out an arm to stop her crumple to the floor. "Red!"

The Healers' laughter drew his attention. "She's fine Ranger. I told her she needed to rest and she's obstinate. Wanted to plan a war rather than heal her wounds." He chuckled again. "Simple sleeping drought in with the restorative. I suggest you find her a bed." He packed up his things, then turned back and spoke softly for Rider's benefit. "I am a mage as well as a healer of course. There is an odd magic residing in that young woman's body. It interfered with my spells. It does not belong there and may do her harm." With that cryptic assessment he left.

"There's a cot in the back room." The Castellan said. "We've resealed the tent and posted guards. That will NOT be happening again. She'll be quite safe and the Princess is there as well." Rider nodded and swept Red up into his arms. The motion pulled painfully at his chest for a moment and was quickly gone. He carried her into the sleeping room and found a young woman sitting beside a cradle, Jenna sleeping peacefully inside. The woman nodded to Rider and went back to gently rocking the cradle.

He laid her out on the cot and covered her with the fur, the Healer's words running through his mind. He was reasonably sure he knew what the foreign magic was and had wondered for some time what the consequences would be. More serious than he'd thought apparently. He pulled the blanket up to her crooked chin and resolved, at the first opportunity, to convince her to confide in him the problems she had been having since finding that twice damned crystal.

Come morning, Red awoke in a strange bed and was confused as to how she'd got there. Thinking back, she remembered a conversation of traps, a healer insisting she rest, some potions and bolted up in the cot, fury on her face. "Bloody mages!" She said heatedly and was greeted by Rider's chuckle as he entered the room.

"Indeed. Untrustworthy bunch. Feeling better?" He went to her and pulled back the blanket for a look at her arm. The wound had healed nicely, a pink stretch of skin on her arm it's only remnant. "Well, he may be underhanded but he does know his work."

Red grunted and swung her legs out of the bed. She felt shaky, as she had for several mornings but pushed it aside and rose. A happy gurgle drew her attention to Jenna's cradle and with an uncharacteristic soft smile, she bent to retrieve the girl, holding her close and wishing her a good morning.

Rider shook his head in good humor at the close bond Red felt for the orphan. It was unusual to see such soft emotion on that mischievous face. "We have a plan." He said and motioned her out into the tent proper. Red followed and was immediately drawn to the new maps on the table.

They detailed a small section of tunnels, those the Castellan's men had explored before being forced to turn back. Several traps were marked, some as defused, others with numbers by them. When she asked, Rider said those were the number of men taken by each.

"We'll need to go slowly." Red commented. "These traps look like serious business, close together, makes it difficult to bypass one without setting off another." She whistled. "Looks like whoever's responsible for these wanted to be sure no one would get through alive."

Rider nodded. He had come to the same conclusion himself. Red shifted Jenna to her other side and peered more closely. "We can do this." She looked up at him with a smile. Her eyes were still shadowed he noticed, they never seemed to leave now and a kernel of worry lodged itself in his heart, once again hearing the healer.

"Red, we need to..." Once again, the Castellan's impeccable timing cut short his chance.

"We're ready to go." He announced. "A skeleton force will remain here to guard the pass and run ahead to warn us if more of those Drakness spawn should come through. She needs to come with us." For a moment Red thought he was talking to her and then saw it was Jenna he was looking at.

"Into those tunnels?" She said aghast. "You can't be serious."

"She must." He was grim faced now and determined they understand. Rider scowled but had already had this argument with the man. In the end, logic had won. "She must be placed on her rightful throne to be accepted, to put an end to this war. It's the only way. Would you leave her here with the few guards left behind?"

Red opened her mouth to argue, closed it, opened it again and in the end, had no choice. "Alright. I understand. I don't like it but you're right." She looked down into the girl's face once more and prayed for her to pass safely through the danger they must now court.

Their force was equipped and ready to go in less than half an hour. They set out through a heavy snowfall, the powder silencing their passage through the mountains and giving an ethereal quality to their journey. After several hours they reached a sheer rock wall, boulders and scree piled at it's base. The Castellan vanished behind one of the boulders and reappeared moments later, waving his company on.

Rounding the boulder, Rider found there was a cave concealed behind the mass of rock. He marveled at the interior of the cave as the Castellan's men struck torches to life. There were small deposits of Welkynd stone glowing serenely all around and at the very back, a small, wood and metal door inset into the cave wall itself. "That's our entrance." The Castellan said. "The traps on the door have long been cleared." He pulled a scroll from his belt, his incomplete map of the tunnels and handed it to Red. "You'll need this ma'am."

Red handed Jenna to Rider with a smile. "Guess that means I'm up." Rider took Jenna carefully and placed a supportive hand on Red's shoulder.

"I have complete faith in your skills."

Red smothered a laugh and touching the child's' face once, turned and took the scroll. She had already committed it to memory back in the tent. Walking to the door, despite the Castellan's assurances, she checked to be sure it was safe. One never knew when others had come behind you and changed things.

She found it unchanged and, taking a breath to brace for the challenge ahead, swung the door inward and entered the tunnels, a small army, a Rider and a child at her back.

[WillieSea]

After Sherena's sobs stopped, William stood, pulling her with him. He held her hands and looked into her light grey eyes; her curling golden hair framed her narrow face and hung at shoulder length. She stared back at him, neither of them saying a word. Her tears had left trails in the dirt covering her face and body. She was an extraordinarily beautiful woman. William also sensed strength in her, a fighter for sure. Perhaps she was the one he had looked for his whole life.

Sherena gazed into William's eyes when he pulled her upright. His hands were gentle and warm, not like the beast she saw. She could see he had a kindly heart; he was a caring man to have helped so many with no reward possible. William was the one she would follow and help, as foretold by the fortune teller many years ago when she was a girl.

In a gentle voice, the knight spoke to her "My name is William. What is yours?"

Sherena tried to say her name, but only looked at William, moving her mouth silently. She finally was able to whisper her name, "Sherena."

"Well Sherena", William said with a sudden smile on his face, "I have a friend by the name of Vereta in these catacombs that I am looking for. Stay back with the others and you will be safe. But we must be going; I have a feeling that Vereta may need my assistance very soon."

William lightly squeezed Sherena's hand and turned to lead the party out of the room that still buzzed with swarms of irritating flies.

Sherena felt drawn to something, something on the ground. The voice that had always steered her to safety since talking to that fortune teller so long ago spoke to her. Bending down, she picked up a long sword made of blue steel. It had a wavy blade and felt light in her hands. It was like the wooden swords she had practiced with the boys in the village. She then took the sheath off the corpse and fitted it on her waist. She then slid the sword into its home. A smile creased her face as she followed after William.

[WhoGuru]

The small party made their way through the dark and narrow passageway. It was slow going indeed. More than once only Red and Rider's watchful eyes saved their soldier counterparts from a messy end. At times, they seemed nearly determined to not follow in the thief's footsteps; a strategy that quickly lead them to disaster. Despite the many dangers, they had been steadily progressing through the tunnel for over an hour when Red called a halt.

"Everyone stay here." She said in a tone just above a whisper. Taking Rider's elbow, she pulled him with her and pointed out several trip lines criss-crossing the tunnel floor ahead. "Must be a compilation of traps ahead. Release one and the others fire. I'll need to go on alone and have a look."

Rider glanced down at the slumbering baby, who was now swaddled to his chest by a cloth wrapping; they had not trusted her safety to the hands of another. Though he was unhappy with the thought of Red going on alone he nodded resolutely. "Be careful."

"Naturally. Take care of her." Red responded and, giving a quick wave, set off up the tunnel with an odd mincing step as she tiptoed over and around the trip lines.

The men waited in the long silence of the dark tunnel for several minutes; each passing like an eternity. Finally, the guard captain's voice breached the silence. "Do you think she's alright yet?" he asked, concerned. All of Wight's soldiers had developed new respect for the woman's skills since the onset of their stealth siege. She had not led them wrong yet and had saved several lives in the process. "On her own like that for so long?" he clarified.

Rider nodded mutely to quell the other man's concerns, but stared down the long tunnel, having lost sight of her when she turned a corner. Coming to a decision in his mind, he deftly slipped out of the wrapping and passed Jenna to the guard captain. "Keep her safe and stay here. Do not follow us until we come for you." He smiled once reassuringly then followed in Red's footsteps down the corridor.

It was a veritable minefield of tripwires and he was forced to go more slowly than the thief who had fairly danced over them. Though he was no thief, his skills were still far above average. He crossed safely and followed the tunnel. When he turned the corner, he spotted Red at the end of a long hall. She was crouched by the wall, her back was toward him, and she had pulled several mortared stones from the wall and set them beside her. He made his way too her, noting when she saw him with a slight turn of her head. She stayed focused on what she was doing as he made his way too her.

She pointed a hand over her shoulder and said "Duck." Rider obeyed as he crouch walked to her. Looking up he could see a head high row of dart holes. He'd missed them and mentally kicked himself. Red was still working on something he could not see and as he reached her, heard the faint clatter of thieves picks hitting the floor. She muttered something, retrieving them and went back to work.

"How's it going?" He asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. She was trembling. "Red, what is it?" She didn't answer, just shook her head and went back to her task. He peered over her shoulder and saw a jumble of lines feeding into a single device with an intricate lock she worked at picking. As he watched, her tools slipped from her fingers again to the floor. �She cursed and picked them back up.

"I'm fine." She said softly, anticipating him. "Just...my fingers are shaking a bit. It's nothing." Rider felt real concern now. He angled his head for a better look at her face and the shadows beneath her eyes seemed deeper than he recalled. He could still feel the fine tremors through her shoulder and was about to ask something when she gave a muffled shout and the lock in her hands literally fell open. "Little bastard." She grunted at the lock. Carefully, she withdrew the lines from the box in an order he could not understand and finally she rose, dropping it to the floor. "Safe for the others to come through now." She said, eying the door beside her as the next obstacle.

Rider retained his grasp on her shoulder. "Red, something is wrong. I can see it. Have been seeing it for days." He forced her to meet his eyes. "Why will you not talk to me about this?" He saw fire burn to life in eyes that darkened dangerously, then the moment passed and the fires subsided as her shoulders slumped.

"I'm afraid." She whispered. He almost hadn't heard, so soft was her voice. "I'm not accustomed to feeling this." She smiled unhappily up at him and held a trembling hand out to him. "I can't stop them shaking. Started yesterday." He took the hand, holding it tight and expecting to find it cold. Instead it was unusually warm and even he could not still the shaking. She looked at him for a moment and he thought, finally, then she looked away, withdrawing her hand and stepping away to the door. "Go get the others. We don't have time for this. I'll get this door open."

Rider thought to argue but she turned her back, attacking the lock and he resigned himself, heading back down the now safe passage for the others. Red swallowed the lump in her throat and set to the lock with a vengeance. She simply couldn't find the words to express what was happening to her, how she was unable to heal herself and how her own magic seemed to be gaining a life of its own within her.

Worse was the weakness that now plagued her every step. For nearly two days she had been inexplicably weakened after waking that morning in their wooded shelter. She heard voices approaching behind her and quickly dealt with the lock. She had the door open when they arrived and a smile on her face. The smile faltered when she saw the serious look on Rider's. He was no longer buying her false cheer. He once again carried Jenna and as he reached her, passed the babe over.

"Perhaps you should carry her for a bit. Keep an eye out on these others and I'll deal with the traps I'm able." As the guard captain passed he said, "You must be fatigued by now." He stopped and nodded at Red.

"Aye, lady. Let the Ranger take what dangers he may for now." He saluted the two and waited for Rider to proceed as he will. Red tried to be angry and in the end laughed inwardly at being so deftly 'handled' by her friend. That he was here at all to care enough to handle her was miracle enough that she refused to be angry at him. He was right, she thought as she followed the two men. He did need to know. Someone had to help her, she couldn't face this alone any longer, the weight was simply too much to bear. Jenna cooed up at her and touched her face gently with her infant hand, forcing another smile from Red. She went on with a lighter heart.

Hours later, and many dozens of overcome traps, they arrived at another cavern. This one ended with a rickety, wooden ladder in the corner, leading up to a hatch of some kind. The guard captain stood beneath it and addressed them.

"This ladder leads to an alcove within the wall itself. There is a switch that, when operated, will slide open a portion of the wall so we may enter. The Castellan will assault the front gates at dark to draw out the guard, giving us a chance to mete out justice with Prince Vargo and restore our princess!"

[grond]

Shamus raced into the storm-swept valley. Lightning flashed and thunder bellowed. As he ran, he fired three of the bright arrows in rapid succession. They exploded in the air. In the greenish light, he saw few trees; the valley was cluttered with rocks and short bushes. Shamus stopped and nocked an ordinary arrow and held it at the ready, concentrating on the shapes that had come from the far side. He relaxed. His vision focused, and he could view them as if they stood next to him. He found with his special vision Echo, who ran toward the shapes. Shamus' eyes followed the small Thief for a moment before he himself sprung into the fray.

Echo sprinted with certainty through the black rain-soaked night. He saw clearly through his special goggles that there were ten people in common villager garb being pursued by over twenty short creatures - shorter than himself - bearing jagged blades. These creatures had wide fanged maws and one long sharp ear, or horn, and flesh like rubber. 'Grummites!' he thought. He stopped short, barely missing being hit by a bolt of lightning sent not by the storm, but by something beyond even his clear vision, behind the Grummites, near the ridgeline. Echo drew two short blades and sped on. He saw one villager, caught by a Grummite. Hurling himself toward the froglike thing Echo raised his blades and swept them both across the creature as it turned towards him. It fell, gurgling, spitting black blood. Then Echo leapt away as the villager came to her feet again. He spied Shamus, and, darting toward another of the Grummites, shouted "Hail!", and plunged both his blades into the creature's bare back.

"Well met!" Shamus shouted in reply. He had stowed his bow and had drawn his Wakizashi. As Echo darted and sliced with quick precision, Shamus leapt and swung, dancing a ballet of rolling gestures and twisting parries. Severed heads rolled, jagged blades flew from scaly hands - often with three-fingered hands still clutching the hilt - and Grummites fell into the mud of the valley floor. "Where's the old man?" Echo shouted.

Shamus turned quickly, but the light from his arrows did not reach the spot where he'd last seen Grond. "Don't know!" he replied, as he parried a fierce swipe of a jagged blade. With a quick jab of his Wakizashi, the Archaist sent his foe to the mud. For a few moments, as the companions swept into their pursuers, the villagers stopped and stared, transfixed - the two fighters seemed to make short work of their enemies. But the rains still fell, and the rear of the pursuit soon came to the fore. Both these things turned the tide of the battle and crushed budding hopes of escape.

For as the rain splashed the hides of the fallen frog-creatures, they rose again.

Horrified, the two companions looked on, as their defeated enemies returned to attack again, several without sword arms or with one leg missing. Those who had been beheaded remained unaffected by the rains. Thank the gods, thought Shamus, but his gratitude vanished as he saw the rear of the pursuit, and gritted his teeth. Wielding staves came more of the Grummites. Shamen, they kept a distance from the fighters, and sent bolts of lightning towards them.

But the thing behind - the final pursuer - it was that which chased hope away. It carried two dead Imperial Foresters in its tentacles. More Foresters shot arrow after arrow into its thick dark hide. Shamus, frozen, looked on as one of the fanged tentacles struck at a Forester. Like a snake, the tentacle latched itself to the Imperial's unarmored throat, knocking her down and dragging her body with it as it floated towards them.

Echo disappeared as Shamus dodged a lightning bolt and sprung away from the poorly aimed blow of a one-armed Grummite. He struck and cleanly severed the head. As the storm ebbed and the sky brightened, he watched another Imperial die, caught by another of the monster's tentacles. There were three Foresters left. Backpedalling away from the scene, Shamus drew again his bow, while dodging another bolt. The newly risen Grummites focused on the Archaist and came to him, forgetting for the moment the villagers. Shamus dodged their blows. He focused with his bowsight on the shamen. Using the lightning arrows he shot rapidly. When they met their mark, the arrows exploded inside the shamen. A gory rain then fell.

Echo stood between the shamen, the Beast and the villagers. For a moment. Then, quick as the lightning his enemies wielded, the thief was gone. One of the shamen raised his hands to cast, but fell, his throat cut. Echo bound away from his kill, to find another. He saw the other Shamen that Shamus had targetted, and he watched them explode. But he saw too that the tentacled thing had closed in on the villagers, so he bolted back towards it. The Beast aimed a tentacle at one of the villagers. It was a young girl. She shrieked in fear, but then watched as Echo came before her, and sliced at the waving tentacle with his short blades. The severed snake-thing curled and twisted in the mud. Then the Thief bravely faced yet another tentacle. As the girl cowered behind Echo, it snapped at him. He saw venom dripping from its fangs. Echo swung his blades, but the thing dodged them, and bit Echo where shoulder met neck. The Thief fell, but was soon swept into the air, grasped tight round the leg by the same tentacle. The girl dashed away.

It was then that all heard a raucous laughter. Loud as the thunder it was, and it gave hope to those fighting the Grummites and the beast. Wielding the great silver warhammer came Grond, and with two mighty swings, the Nord sent the Grummites crowding Shamus to the mud for the second time. "Take their heads off!" shouted the Nord.

Then he sprang away. Shamus severed the heads of those Grond had killed, so they would not rise again.

Echo now in the Beast's grasp, a solitary Imperial in rusty Forester garb stood alone between the Beast and the villagers. He saw his fellows, the two other Foresters, spread out upon one side, their arrows spent, their swords slashing at the waving tentacles. Some met their marks and the mouthed ends fell severed. But then, through other tentacles' mouths rolled brightly shining balls. These quickly became small monsters - like their main foe - and they flew through the air and attached themselves to two of the remaining Foresters. A third came for the last Forester, but then Grond came and swung his hammer, sending the bright ball flying clear out of the valley.

As Grond eyed the Beast, preparing to leap upon its back, Shamus drew his last arrow. Breathing deeply, his vision brought the Beast close to him. Must miss the snakes, he thought. He saw Grond chase another glowing ball, but paid no heed. The tentacles waved, blocking his target. His hold on the arrow began to fail. At that moment, Grond saw Shamus aiming. He raced to the opposite side of the Beast. Tentacles followed him.

Just as Shamus lost his grip, an opening showed itself. He fired the arrow. It hit the Beast in one of its eyes. Echo fell to the mud, and lay still, as the Beast's bloated body exploded. The Archaist watched as Grond, unable to pry the other creatures from the heads of the fallen Foresters, was forced to flatten monster and head with his warhammer.

The sick work completed, he joined Shamus. Together they looked upon their fallen friend.

[WhoGuru]

Rider crept up the ladder and, pushing aside the hatch, slipped into the alcove. Through a minute ***** in the brickwork of the small chamber, he was able to see a sliver of daylight peeking through. He climbed back down to the small group. "Perhaps an hour yet remains." He said softly. Red was seated against the wall at the back of the chamber, Jenna nestled in her lap and smiling up at her.

She managed a tired smile for Rider as he dropped down beside her and sat, mirroring her. He looked closely at Red and she dropped her eyes in response.

"We need to talk, Red." he said quietly. "And for once, we appear to have the time." Red snorted a short laugh, looking up to find the rest of their party had followed her lead, sitting comfortably on the other side of the chamber, chatting amongst themselves in a nervous sort of way. They clearly were thinking of the fight ahead and trying to spend their last calm hour preparing themselves.

Red sighed and rest her head against the wall. Rider pulled one of her hands from Jenna and held it as it trembled in his for a moment before setting it back. "Talk to me, Red. Tell me what frightens you so, that you can't tell a friend."

She firmed her lips and then nodded. "I can't heal myself." She said softly. "I've tried. It wont work. My own magic refuses me." Rider sucked in a breath. He'd had no idea and such a thing was serious.

"The healer, back at the camp, he told me there was a foreign magic within you, and that it interfered with his spells." He said, equally as soft, watching her face. "This started after you took that gem didn't it?"

Red nodded again. "I think so. I can still heal others but..." She trailed off, fear flitting across her face again. "It's as if, my magic is...growing on it's own or, I'm not sure, it's hard to control." She stared down at Jenna. "When I healed Savior, on the road to the Shrine, it tried to get away from me, to do ...something else. It felt, it felt like it wasn't mine." She heaved out a breath and Rider gripped her shoulder to soothe her. "It scares me, Rider."

"There's more." He said gently, taking her trembling hand again. "These shakes, your fatigue and yes, I can see it on your face." He smiled at her. "You're falling to pieces before my eyes and I think I know why, though it worries me if I'm right." He struggled with this, as he had meant to help her at the time. Now, he wondered if perhaps this new weakness was his fault. "That night, in the glen." He started. "You were dreaming badly and I saw the crystal glowing in your bag." He faced her now, the brotherly love he felt for her in his eyes and suffered. "I took it from you, Red. The gem."

She gasped and reached behind her to pull her bag around. She instantly felt the missing weight of the crystal and laughed, though it had a sad sound. "Some thief I am."

"To be fair, you have had any number of distractions since." And he nodded to Jenna, still burbling happily at them. "When I removed the crystal, Red, your dreams stopped. I thought I was helping but now...this weakness began after I took it from you." Now he would not look in her eyes, hoping she would not see the fear and guilt in his own. "I think that damned gem has addicted you in some way to it's presence. Without it, you weaken." He heard her sharp intake of breath, felt the hand he held give a jerk. "I'm sorry."

She couldn't speak for a moment, the fear and confusion choking her. Worried that he would take her silence the wrong way, she squeezed his hand and heard him expel a breath. "Not your fault." She finally managed. She had thought she could feel no more afraid than she already did. She'd been wrong. With sudden clarity, she remembered that day on the hill, at the Shrine, with William's lifeless body in her arms. She had felt her magic waken then, for only a moment. It's new heat had rushed through her as she cried and then it had gone just as quickly, and William had returned.

Perhaps, she thought to herself, the two incidents were not so separate as she'd believed. "Where is it now?" She finally asked. "I don't think I really want it near me again, but, we are going into danger and I would be sure I can defend this little one." Rider dropped his head, if possible looking more dejected.

"It's in Legion's saddlebags." He said quietly and looked up, expecting anger. �What he found was a smile, sad and amused all at once. Now he was confused.

She squeezed his hand again. "Then there is little we can do but go on. Thief or assassin, we are nothing if not practical. The effects are not so strong I can't function."

"Yet." He muttered. Finally he swallowed his guilt. It did neither of them any good. "You could stay here with Jenna." He said. "We can come back for you both when the deed is done."

Red laughed in truth now. "And if you find a trap you can't remove? They do exist you know. What if the Drakness decide to seek out how you managed to breach the castle walls? No, Rider. We're coming. I'll be fine." She took her shaking hand back and snuggled Jenna closer. "We'll see this out together, you and I. Then we'll find a way to save me from this...whatever it is. I have faith in that. Now." �he smiled at him, her friend and felt a small measure of peace now that she had shared the burden weighing her down. "Should be almost time." She said and Rider, realizing she was right, rose. He reached a hand to her and she took it gratefully.

He pulled her to her feet and steadied her. In his heart, the fear remained. She was weaker than she had been when they'd entered the tunnel. He had a feeling time was running out on her. She needed that gem. He promised himself he would see her safely through this and find some way of releasing her from it's hold. He returned her kind smile with his own. "We will be alright." He said and turned to their party.

Sensing the time was at hand, the soldiers rose almost as one, ready to face the usurper Prince. "It is time." Rider said and went to the ladder. He ascended first, stepping close to the wall to make room as the others came through behind him. Without looking, he knew Red was at his elbow and took some measure of comfort from her courage. It was cramped but the time they must wait short. Rider could see the light fading, watching it darken from the small crack in the wall. When it had nearly faded, an incredible noise as of thunder booming reached them and the floor beneath them shook.

The guard Captain began chuckling. "Our Healers cloak wraps round a great many disciplines." He said on a laugh, joined by the others. "That has to be a spell he's been trying to strengthen. Took out the Castellan's tent once."

Rider chuckled and then placed his hand on the lever. "Are we ready?" He asked, stilling the laughter. They gave their assent in the darkness and readied themselves. Each of them knew the babe's protection was their ultimate charge. The Ranger and the Lady would see to Prince Vargo. Rider the pulled the lever and the wall before him pulled forward and slid soundlessly to the side with a fall of dust.

They slipped out of their concealment and one by one, crept along the wall to the rear of the castle. They could just hear the sounds of furious battle coming from the other side of the massive building. The Castellan and his men were putting up a mighty fight and as a result, there were no guards to spot their progress or send up the alarm.

They entered the castle and passed along her darkened corridors unchallenged. All eyes, it seemed, were where they should be, looking out rather than in. They reached the great hall and here found two Drakness standing watch before the doors of the throne room.

Red passed Jenna, silent as though the babe understood, to the Captain and then slid into the darkness of the wall, Rider at her side. They crept to the doors and Red, stepping ahead of Rider, easily approached the near guard on his blind side. He never had the chance to call out as her dagger slid into his neck. As he crumpled to the floor, Rider leaped past and took the other high in the chest, a surprised grunt all that escaped his lips. He eased the body to the parquet floor, muffling the sound and waved to the others. They arrived and Red, rising from examining the door mouthed to Rider, "Not locked."

He didn't like that. Their castle was under siege and this was all the defense they gave their lord? Perhaps they were simply over confident. Hoping this was so, he pushed the doors inward and strode within, the guards at his back.

The throne room was large, vaulted ceilings and inlaid floors and far at the end of the massive chamber, a single throne stood on a dais. Sitting comfortably on the throne, looking wholly unconcerned by his attackers appearance, sat Prince Vargo. He actually smiled as the group advanced.

Red slipped behind one of the massive columns in the corner of the room with two of the guards. She had Jenna again and did not want the fiend to see her. She heard a laugh then, a dark and evil thing that seemed to slither across her skin and she held the baby tighter in response.

Rider stopped halfway up the hall. He was truly unhappy now. The Prince was completely unprotected and yet sat as if holding court with his enemies. The guards fanned out to either side and Rider faced the laughing man. "You're time in this place is done, Usurper." He growled. "Relinquish the throne and live."

Vargo threw back his head and laughed, rising, he stalked down the steps of the throne to face them. "Do you truly think to beard me in my own den?" He glared at those arranged against him. "I do not fear your pitiful force. The gates shall not fall and you will come no closer. My Drakness leave me alone because I commanded it. I must teach you the error of your ways it seems and need no protectors to aid me." With that, he raised his hands, a chant muttering from his lips and fire exploded from his hands. It thundered into the chamber and stretched across the whole of the throne room from wall to wall. The heat was intense and Rider threw himself back. One of the guards was not so lucky, caught within the inferno, he was dead in moments.

Behind the wall of flames, Vargo stood triumphant and began tossing smaller balls of fire out at the now confused men. Rider could see no way to reach him, the flames too hot and too tall for him to leap. Dodging another volley, he desperately searched for a means of reaching the Prince before the rest of his Drakness realized what was happening.

Red watched from behind the pillar, saw the guard die quickly in the flames and Rider vainly searching for a means to cross. She turned to the two guards with her and handed Jenna to one of them with a quick kiss to her forehead. "Take her. Protect her." She didn't wait to see if they would argue and turned back to the blaze. This she could do for the little princess. Vargo's wall of fire would not fall unless something distracted him. She peered across the flames and could see his lips moving silently as he continued the chant that help up the barrier.

She was tired, her whole body feeling as though she had been running. It pulled at her but she shoved it away. For the first time, she thanked the gods for giving her that damned crystal and, taking a deep breath, sprinted for the wall of fire and the Prince.

Rider pulled another soldier aside, saving him from a fiery death. He was resolved to wait it out now. The Prince couldn't keep this up forever. So long as his Drakness were distracted at the gates, they had time. He turned to find the rest of his men and instead found Red, face pale and set with purpose, sprinting the length of the hall. He was frozen in shock as she threw herself into the flames. For a second, she seemed wreathed in the fire and he was sure she would fall. She didn't and passed safely through. On the other side, he saw Vargo's eyes widen in shock a second before Red crashed into him, knocking them both to the dais in a jumble of arms and legs.

It worked, Vargo was forced to stop the chant and the wall began to flicker and fade. Rider waited on the other side, feeling himself age with fear as he was forced to wait and watch the Prince rise over Red's struggling form. Finally, the heat nearly gone, he leaped the gap and raced to face the Prince.

[WillieSea]

William cautiously led the group through more zigzagging tunnels before finally coming to another room. The room had a high arched ceiling with no visible passages leading out of it. The room looked like a dead end, but the heavy traffic in the disturbed dust told another tale.

Following the trail, it ended at a wall. William checked the room for a secret lever or switch, but found none.

Finally, William sat down on the stone floor and Sherena joined him. She snuggled against his arm and William could feel the strength in her lithe body as she held his arms. He smiled thinking that she would probably be a formidable opponent with a little training. He also just noticed that she was wearing the sword from the bug man in the fly chamber from before. He hoped she knew how to use it as he did not want her to get hurt.

Breaking the silence, William discussed the situation they were in. "There must be a way through this room! The trail of heavy traffic proves there must be a way through, and most likely to the main chamber. If we go back now, we'll lose a lot of valuable time in catching up with Vereta."

Sherena pondered the situation as she rested her head on his strong shoulders. A tingling sensation ran through her as William put his arm around her. She looked up into his face, a face filled with concern for his friend.

As she studied William's face, something caught her attention near the ceiling. She pointed up to it and asked, "What's that?"

Looking up, William saw a protruding round gear shaped object as it turned very slowly counter clockwise. Scanning the rest of the room, he found no other objects out of place.

They both stood up and studied the object. It was far too high to reach, but it must play a part in opening the secret door.

Sherena said, "It can't be too difficult with so much traffic coming through here." Looking around, she picked up a thigh bone that lay on the floor and hurled it at the object, smacking it dead center. The bone then clattered back to the floor to where she had picked it up from.

Sherena looked at William and shrugged her shoulders when nothing happened. Then, a grinding noise was heard as the wall slid down into the floor. The object up above was now rapidly spinning clockwise.

William looked back at Sherena with a raised eyebrow. He thought to himself, she was smart too! She jumped at William and hugged him around the neck, laughing! William could not help but laugh along with her infectious laughter.

The group hurriedly made their way through the secret door and the passage beyond.

William led the way through the very dark passage, scanning the walls with his night vision. He quickly spotted a groove worn into the wall of the passage, probably made by thousands of hands that had touched the wall for guidance.

He soon came to a notch in the groove and stopped to examine the passage. A well hidden set of holes populated the ceiling, it was a dart trap! Cautiously moving forward, the trap finally went off, shooting darts into the floor where they vanished. Three waves of darts shot out, and then Sherena jumped through the trap just before three more waves shot their deadly darts.

"Sherena!" William yelled. She looked back with a grin on her face and said, "Just wait a second and I'll disable the trap for y'all."

William looked with astonishment as Sherena while she searched the side wall. She moved her hand along the worn groove in the wall and soon came to a small lever. Pulling it out, she said, "The trap should be disabled now. Give it a try."

William cautiously moved towards the trap where it had set off before, and when nothing happened, walked through. Walking up to Sherena, William asked, "And where did you learn that little trick?" She smiled coyly at William and said, "From my pa!" William just shook his head, then gave her a kiss to the forehead before moving to the front of the group coming through the trap.

As soon as everybody was through, she released the lever and hurried to catch up with William, where she planted a surprise kiss to his cheek, then backed off and giggled.

William, taken by surprise by her quiet approach, laughed as she dodged away. She was certainly fun to have around! Perhaps this was what he needed...

[DarkRider]

Vargo's attention was drawn away from Red by the flash of his fire wall's decimation and the oncoming ranger drawing close with katana drawn. He barely had enough time to draw his saber from his belt and turn to meet the strike as Rider bared down on him. It was a great clash of steel on steel, but Rider moved away quickly to wind up another blow, not allowing himself to be caught in another close combat. The two titans clashed again and again. The Wight soldiers managed to keep the interior Drakness guards at bay in the halls. Red moved away from the battle in search of Jenna, only somewhat as ease when the little princess was safely back in her arms.

As they fought, Rider could hear a clamoring in the city below. A strong voice carried through the night. Red hurried over to the window to see what was happening.

"It's the Castellan," she reported to the ranger, still deadlocked with the usurper prince, "They've taken the gate!"

"WHAT?!" Vargo roared in disbelief, lowering his defenses long enough for Rider to land a kick that sent him sprawling across the slick marble floor of the royal chamber hall.

"Hear that, 'highness'?" Rider asked in a condescending tone, "your guard is giving ground to a wood dwelling rabble," he goaded crossing the room to stand over his foe.

Red leaned against the windowsill, clutching Jenna to her, to listen to the Castellan's words.

"People of Wight!" He shouted waving a Wight flag over his head from where he stood on the gate wall. A guard at either side of him fended off the Drakness who would see him cut down, "Hear me! This is your hour! The gods have sent us an heir! The grandchild of our great King Jubal has returned to our city! If you will see her returned to the throne stand with us now! Take back your city!"

The night exploded with an impassioned roar as the citizens of Wight, held under martial law for so long, took up arms against their captors. Vargo scrambled to his feet, by Rider held his blade to the usurper's throat. The defeated Prince wisely dropped his blade. With his surrender, the Drakness soldiers in the hall abandoned their fight. The Wight guardsmen hurried to clap Vargo in irons.

The guard captain beamed, "All that remains sir, is to place our future queen on her throne."

Red carried Jenna over to the throne and set the child in the seat of her ancestors. The captain and his guards all kneeled to her. Jenna clapped her hands happily, as if in her own way she understood the magnitude of what was happening.

The guard captain stood and barked orders to his men, "Head down to dungeons and release those imprisoned there," he said to the two closest to him, "The rest of you, head out into the courtyard and help our brothers take back the city!"

The men let out a hearty cheer and hurried to follow the orders. They had battled through the night, but as the first dim hues of morning began to lighten the room, the sounds of cheers began to replace the sounds of battle that had waged long in the darkness. The Drakness soldiers fled the battlefield, rather than facing death and the hands of their master. With the enemy routed from the city, Rider approached Jenna on her throne.

"If I may, highness," he said softly. She clapped her hands and giggled, reaching for him. He lifted the child up and carried her to the balcony with Red and the guard captain close behind them. As they stepped onto the balcony, the curtain of shadow that seemed to always hang over the land lifted, the clouds parted and the new light of day shown through the vale. The crowds below spotted them on the balcony, and a surreal hush fell over the city as all eyes stared up at them in awe.

"Good people," Rider addressed the city, "I give you Princess Jenna," he announced, holding the baby up for all to see, "Daughter of Wight and of Drakness, Grandchild of King Jubal the Wise, and your future queen. Long may she reign and restore peace to her kingdoms."

The people erupted with cheers and celebration, even the few Drakness soldiers who remained cheered for this child who would bring peace to both cities. The balcony soon filled with others, the Castellan, the court's advisers, and nobles who were freed from their imprisonment all gathering to worship their new little queen child. Rider smiled at Red and she returned it. From the onset it had been a strange adventure, but one they were grateful to have been a part of. Music began to play as the citizens of Wight began organizing a banquet to celebrate the return of the golden days and the arrival of their new queen.

The feasting lasted all the day and well into the night. Rider stood on the gate wall, overlooking the valley below. He smoked a warm pipe as he leaned against the guard house. Inside he felt a renewed sense of hope. It was hope not just for the peoples of Wight and Drakness, but for all people and for himself. Perhaps there was still more goodness in the world than evil. Perhaps he would bear witness to a similar celebration one day, for all good people. He heard soft footsteps approaching and felt a touch at his shoulder as Red came to lean against the guardhouse beside him.

"Had your fill of the feasting," she asked, glancing over her shoulder toward the feasting halls, where music and laughter still reigned over the night, "Or is it the company of others you've had your fill of?"

Rider laughed quietly and blew a long trail of smoke into the cold night, "I've been giving some thought to your powers," he said, reconsidering the display of her new skills she performed in the main hall to stop Vargo.

"Oh?" she asked, though she wasn't quite sure she wanted to know the answer, "And, what have you been thinking?"

Rider lowered his pipe and looked at her kindly, his eyes pierced her, "Red, you know I care for you as if you were my own sister," he began. She nodded, but let him finish, "It's just - " he stopped, uncertain how to say what he wanted to say. After a drawn out pause he finally offered, "We don't often get to choose what happens to us in this world, but what we can always choose, is what we do with what we are given. You can live the rest of your life in fear, or you can turn this power into a gift, and use it to change the world."

Red's lip trembled, she was barely aware of the tears that had slipped from her eyes and rained over her cheeks. She fell into his arms, "Thank you," she whispered. She hoped he understood; for the first time since the caves she felt at peace with what was happening to her. In the chamber that morning she had been able to control the power she had been touched with. Perhaps, she could master this after all. After a moment, Red withdrew from him, wiping the tears away from her face. The ranger returned to smoking his pipe, content to let her retreat with dignity.

Red leaned against the wall and sighed a deep releasing sigh, vowing in her heart to leave her fear to die in the cold earth around Wight. In rescuing Jenna, the sister cities were not the only ones to be reborn, she would be as well.

"Ready to start home?" she asked.

The cry of a falcon filled the air and Serenity appeared in the night sky overhead. Rider held his arm out to her and pulled the note from her leg, passing it to Red. As he stroked the long feathers of his pet, Red unrolled the scroll, "It's from Grond," she said reading it over, "Looks like he's on an adventure of his own and could use some help from us!"

"Indeed," Rider pondered, tapping out his pipe and slipping it into his satchel, "Where?"

"Not far from here, about a day's ride, to the east," she answered, "What do you want to do?"

Rider stood for a moment then leapt from the castle wall to the ground below, rolling on impact to his feet and dashing off toward the stable.

"Rider!" she called after him.

"I'll race you!" he called.

[WhoGuru]

She had lost the race and would swear Savior had been laughing as she panted into the stables, long behind Rider. Though she was coming to terms with her new powers, the malaise from being separated from the gem still pulled at her. She knew he'd slowed near the doors, allowing her to close the gap and still she could not catch him.

As she went to her horse, she could suddenly feel the presence of that crystal. She was drawn to Legion and found herself pulling it from his saddlebag only half aware.

Rider turned, seeing the odd, sleepy look on her face when she took the crystal in her hands. "Red." He said. She did not answer, staring instead into the depths of the gem. "Red!" He said more loudly. This time she snapped her head up, as if waking and stared at him confused. He shook his head and grasped her shoulder. "Your new powers are a force for good and we will find a way to control them but this..." He gestured at the flame red crystal she held in her hands. "This we must find a way to fix."

Red nodded, once more afraid for different reasons. She found that as much as she wanted to throw the crystal from her, she could not let it go. "Someone must know about this thing." She whispered. "We'll find them." She shook once and then returned the crystal to her own bag. She felt better, she found, feeling herself out. The shaking had stopped and she felt energized again for the first time in days. "I'm still good." She smiled at him, not wishing to ruin the celebratory mood. They had saved an entire kingdom from tyranny. What were her small problems in comparison to that?

He gave her shoulder a squeeze for courage. "Then let's find friend Grond and see what adventure he has waiting for us."

Red grinned and, more at ease, went to saddle Savior. "I wonder if Vereta is alright?" She said, cinching the girth strap. "Someone must have gone after him if Grond got our message."

"Aye." Rider agreed, swinging up into the saddle and giving Legion an affectionate slap on the neck. "Likely our William I should think. He'd never leave Vereta to fend for himself."

Red walked Savior out into the aisle and mounted. They set out together and despite their new fame in the kingdom of Wight, left to little fanfare as the revelers were still carrying on, showing no signs of stopping. The guards at the gate, gave both honored bows as they passed, wishing them luck on their travels and a speedy return someday.

They waved, smiling and happy. As they rode south again, heading for the passes into the Jerrals, they talked much of their journey and of what impact the newly freed kingdom may have on Cyrodiil. The trip back over and down the mountains was just as cold as Red remembered and she fleetingly missed having Jenna's warmth in her arms. She smiled to herself, happy knowing she would grow up loved and held safe by an entire kingdom.

They also spoke of the crystal, the problems it was causing Red. Rider was thoughtful much of the time and finally, as they neared the base of the Jerall's, pulled up and looked at her. "What if it was never meant to be taken?" He asked suddenly.

"What?" Red said, lost. They had been silent for over an hour, enjoying the slightly warmer temperature and a return to familiar ground. His face was serious, eyes sharp.

"What if the crystal was never meant to leave that cavern? When you took it, it showed you what you needed to see, yes?"

She nodded. "Perhaps we were supposed to put it back." He'd been thinking of this and little else for the last day down the mountains. Her renewed vigor and healthy face taunted him with the knowledge they were dependent on the gem. "Those who hide priceless items often leave traps for the unwary."

Red followed his logic finally. "You mean, it's cursed or some such? Remove it from it's cavern and the....thief, must keep it with them always." She did follow. If she had done what any other respectable thief would have done, and sold the artifact for a profit, she would likely have perished by now, withered away and none the wiser as to why. "It's diabolical." She said finally, with respect for whoever had created the enchantments.

"Indeed." Rider nodded. "We need to try taking it back I think."

"We will." Red smiled at him. "Grond first. I'm fine so long as it's in my possession."

"As far as we know." He said darkly. "But we'll not borrow trouble. Grond it is, and then back to that lava cavern."

"Agreed." She kneed Savior back into motion and was startled when another horse and rider careened out of the foliage to their left. Rider's sword was instantly in his hand and then, just as quickly re-sheathed.

"Phillip?" He said, bemused. "What are you doing here?"

The man on the horse, young and somewhat the worse for wear cheered when he saw Rider and sketched a haphazard bow from the saddle.

"My Lord Conall, I've been harrying your steps for many weeks. You must return to the Weald with me, Sir. We are in dire need." He was breathless and his tone urgent and pleading. Rider nodded and turned to Red.

"I have to see to this." He said, torn between his friends and his obligations elsewhere. "I have other responsibilities that call me."

Red was loathe to see him go and continue on alone but she smiled at him. Nudging Savior to him, she clasped his arm. "Then go you must. The others will understand."

"Red." He returned the grip and looked fiercely at her. "Don't get any fool ideas in that head of yours about going back to that cavern alone. You'll wait."

She scowled at him, irritated as that had been precisely what she was thinking. Finally she dropped her head and sighed. "You know me too well, Ranger. I promise. I wont go alone." She grinned up at him then. "Though it would serve you right if I did, taking off in a rush like this."

He laughed and reached into his saddlebags. He came out with two potion bottles and passed them to her. "For healing." He said simply and she smiled even broader. "Try to remember to keep some of these on you from now on."

She nodded, touched by the gesture. They were not normally something she carried, preferring to travel light but now that she was unable to use her healing magic on herself, they would become a necessity, "I will. Be safe, Rider, wherever it is you go, and come back to us soon."

He looked over to Phillip, waving him on and then saluted Red. "My word on it. I'll return as soon as I'm able. Good luck with Grond and his tower. I wish I was going with you." With that, he turned Legion and followed at a gallop, off the road and into the wilds.

Red felt suddenly bereft. It had been a while since she'd been on her own and now, she was unsure she liked the feeling as much as she used too. She stowed the bottles in her bag and leaned down to rub Savior's ears. "Let's go find Grond then shall we?" He whuffled back at her and they took off at a gallop in search of the tower and their friends.

[WhoGuru]

Red and Savior traveled the roads quickly toward the tower, anxious to find her friends should they have need of her. �As they rose once more up the Jeralls' slopes, a storm quickly blew in. �It was ferocious, the driving rain forcing them to slow or misstep fatally on the steep paths. �She had been following the rutted tracks left by a laden wagon for much of the way but as she rode into a dead end, the tracks vanished, washed away by the waters pouring from the heights. �Savior was mincing his steps, the fast moving water sucking his hooves into mud when he stood still too long.

She had a horrible idea then and slid from his back. �It was hard to see but she had to know. �Finding the edge of the path, she looked down the rain washed slope and found deep channels scored into the ground. �Pieces of debris stuck in the brush littered the slope and what looked like a wagon wheel was lodged some distance down. �"Oh no." �She breathed, guessing what had happened. �The storm had washed her friends over the side. �She stepped back, pulling her foot from the mud and water with effort. �She tried to take another and found her leg was sinking further and without warning, her small bit of solid ground gave way. �

With a screech, she slid on her back down the slope. �Water and mud rained over her and she tried to not drown as she flailed to stop her fall. �Finally, she came to rest on the wagon wheel, her feet slapping into it and for a moment, she simply lay. �She turned her head to look up for Savior and swallowed runoff in the process. �She coughed furiously, turning her head back down and worried she would be forced to wait the rains out before she could climb back up to her horse. �She hoped he had the sense to stay away from the edge.

Just then, between claps of thunder, she heard sounds on the wind. �Faint cries of battle, the clash of weapons. �She looked out into the night and could see nothing save a furious display of lightning off in the distance. �

She made up her mind. �Savior would have to find his own way down. �There was trouble in the valley below and it was likely Grond and the others were involved. �Saying a prayer she was not being foolish, she inched sideways off her perch on the wheel and began sliding again, trying vainly to keep her progress slow and ordered.

In the end, she came to the bottom in a tumble and slapped up against the wagon with a grunt. �"Found it." �She said on a gasp and laughed as she pulled her sore body up using the now exposed axle. �The wagon sat on it's side, some of it's contents scattered in the grass. �After a brief look inside to see no one home, she headed off toward the sounds of battle she could still hear.

As she neared the center of the valley, still blinded by the rain, the sounds stopped. �The ominous quality of this new silence worried her and she began to run, hoping she would reach them in time.

[WillieSea]

William led the small group through the secret tunnels, not finding anymore traps. The tunnel sloped down and back up, as it led in a straight path ahead.

The tunnel ended in a wall. There was a handle embedded in the wall. William listened at the obviously secret door. He heard voices on the other side, it was Vereta!

William cracked the door open a little bit to look out and saw Vereta talking to somebody who had their back turned to the secret door. William and Sherena both prepared to lunge forth and help Vereta.

[Vereta]

Vereta stood at the exit of the tunnel with his fists clenched at his sides, as he looked down at the floor. In front of him was another cavernous room only this time it was infested with some sort of fleshy fungus that seemed to be made out of human flesh. Vereta looked up finally at the man who stood on the far side of the room who was staring at him intently. His eyes did not blink as he stared at Vereta he just waited, or at least seemed to do so. Vereta stepped into the room with a resounding thump of his boot onto the fleshy ground. The Dark Lord just continued to stare at him intently. As Vereta continued to walk towards the necromancer he began to speak.

�Master. It is time I show that I am the stronger one of us. I, the student, will defeat you, the master.� He said with no emotion.

The Master�s grayed lips cracked into a venomous smile.

�What�s this?� He said. �You expect to defeat me? Or will you find yourself at the bottom of a pit again?�

With that he raised a hand and a small creature slowly formed from the fleshy material all around them. It stood on all fours and had the shape of a human baby with a large fleshy tail protruding from its back, a spear-like bone growth coming out of the end of the tail. Its face was made of flesh with no human details on it until the flesh on the lower half of its face ripped open to reveal a mouth. The flesh that was clinging onto the �mouth� resembled teeth and seeped all over the place as it roared out a high pitched screech.

Vereta looked on as Maris entered the room through a different tunnel and walked up to the Master. She whispered something into his ear and he nodded in agreement. He unsheathed a dagger that hung from his chest and plunged it into Maris� stomach. Maris gasped with a look of surprise as she gripped it�s blade before the Master let go of the hilt and she tumbled to the ground. The Master turned to Vereta with a whip of his head and focused on him as more creatures began to crawl out of the fleshy material. Vereta lifted his palm and drew an icy blade out of it with his other hand. He breathed out slowly and charged with a burst of speed.

The creatures crawled along the walls, ceiling, and floor as they ran at him. Vereta dodged a tail as it sprung at him like a scorpions tail would. He chopped it off with a swing of his sword and ran at the creature that he cut it from. The creature kept on running at him and leaped onto him as he just grabbed hold of its neck. It squirmed, snapping its jaws at him as an attempt to bite his head off before he twisted its head around, smashed it into the ground, and stomped its head into a fleshy puddle.

Another tail whipped at him and he grabbed hold of it quickly with both hands, trying to pull it away as it tried to pierce his chest. He grunted with effort as he pulled it far enough for him to let go and dodge it before severing it from its owner with his icy blade. The creature roared and leaped at him like the previous creature had tried to do, only this time he threw the icy sword mightily at it while the creature was still in mid-air and the sword sent the creature flying into a wall, attaching the creature to it with a bloody splat. The last two came at him simultaneously with in-human screeches. The first one leaped at him and he formed an icy spike in his fist shoving it into the creatures face as it descended onto him. He quickly dispatched it before taking the full blow of the second creature�s tail into the stomach with a horrified gasp. He looked down at it and brought his hands towards it as if to grab it but he was pulled upwards into the air before his hands even reached the tail. The creature made a clicking noise as it raised him up. Vereta finally grabbed hold of the tail and it ignited into flames, which ran all the way down the tail to its owner. The tail disintegrated and he tumbled to the ground, gasping as he pulled the bone growth out of his stomach. He tossed it a side and examined his wound, gasping deeply. �He speed through an incantation in his mind and pushed his palm lightly on his wound. The wound closed up but the tissue would not reattach itself and he was slightly bleeding internally. He had to finish this fast before he bled out.

Stiffly, he stood up looking at the charred body of his victim then at the Master who looked slightly amused. Maris still lied on the floor next to him now in a puddle of her own blood. He didn�t regret her death, though. She had it coming�

--

Vereta sat stiffly at the edge of his bed as he stared at his hands. Sharon, who had just left the room, knew everything. He should have known with her suspicious behavior lately. He shouldn�t be doing this, necromancy was wrong, he knew it, but he just couldn�t turn away from such an interesting magickal art. It was so� mysterious, so� different. It was like nothing else he had known, and he had known a lot. His thoughts were disrupted by a low voice.

�Don�t worry, Aaron, she�ll adapt�� It said.

Vereta turned to see a short blond with disturbed blue eyes gazing at him from a seat by the fireplace that was turned towards him. It seemed that the blond had seen the entire exchange between Sharon and him.

�Maybe� I don�t know, Maris, maybe we shouldn�t be doing this. It�s like playing with fire. You can get good results or it can be devastating.� He answered.

She just continued her piercing gaze onto him and smiled a hollow half smile. He wanted to shiver but he had no idea why he would do so, so he just turned his head away from her and continued to study his palms. A silence came between the two before finally Maris� voice drifted out to him again.

�Aaron� I think it�s time we introduced Sharon to the Master��

��Yes�� He replied.

--

Vereta frowned at the thought of that moment. He should never have listened to the hag. She always had been able to manipulate people easily. He ground his teeth and placed a hand were his wound used to be and looked down at it. He looked up again straight at the Master before breathing out loudly. He raised a hand and a blade of fire flickered to life in it. He stared at the Master who began to make his way towards him. He unsheathed a sword at his hip to reveal a jet black blade, Umbra, Vereta realized. Vereta stood his ground as the Master stopped a few feet away. He brought his hand back and attacked with an assassin�s rush. Vereta quickly brought up an ice wall and the Master broke right through it. Luckily, the wall took some momentum out of the rush and Vereta was able to block the Master�s blade with his own.

They stood in the fleshy material trying to push each other�s blade off of the others and Vereta looked straight into the Master�s hollow eyes. Suddenly the fire blade flickered out and the Master�s blade dug into his chest. Vereta grunted in pain before landing a punch in the Master�s face. The Master staggered back as Vereta�s fist connected with his face. He wiped his mouth before standing up straight. Vereta kneeled on the floor holding a hand to his freshly made wound. The Master looked on as Vereta�s blood seeped out of his wound and fell to the fleshy earth. The flesh all around Vereta shuttered with what seemed to be pleasure at the touch of blood. The Master shivered as well and gripped his blade harder. As the Master gazed at him, Vereta felt a deep feeling of blood lust and rose to his feet. It was emanating from the entire room. Suddenly, the Master�s neck snapped to the side and the sound of his neck breaking sounded out. His head lulled to the side as it continued to stare at Vereta. Again, a resounding crack came from the creature�s body and his head snapped back into place. The Master seemed to have trouble keeping his current form. The Master took a few steps forward before breaking out at a full run, the intention of killing Vereta written in his movements. Vereta places a weak shield spell over himself as he gasped out in magickal exhaustion and blood loss. Finally, the master was upon him and pulled his sword back before letting it flow down upon Vereta.

A clang of metal echoed in the cavernous room. William clenched his teeth as he tried to ward of the blade from wounding Vereta more then he already was. Vereta stared up gratefully at William before moving away from the blades path.

�William. You came.� Vereta said without a hint of surprise.

William nodded before warding off the Master�s blade and backing off a few steps.

�I did.�

[grond]

A chill wind sliced the heavy clouds to ribbons, which glowed white at their edges. The broken clouds drifted west. Sapphire sky, clean and starry, opened on the valley. Morning came clear and still as the survivors of the attack attended to the fallen. Shamus bent before the still form of Echo, as did a young girl - the very villager whom Echo had saved. There were almost twenty of them left - six had fallen to the Grummites or the Beast. Grond stood nearby, growing increasingly agitated. He paced, eyes all the time on the small thief's unconscious body. Those others standing near him saw a fire in his eyes, and backed away warily; all, that is, save one. The one villager who showed him no fear was clad in white fur armor, and her long hair whipped in the wind.
She called over the wind's voice to Grond:  "I am Failan, of the hamlet of Udolf. I lead this group. We thank you stranger, and your friends, both for your timely aid and your sacrifice. We welcome you all to return with us, for rest and healing." The woman's tone - enjoyable to Grond's ear - shook away the Nord's agitation. But the delay of the storm and the battle would now be lengthened. The Nord simply nodded his assent.

The lone Imperial Forester stood away from the others, gazing at the things which had attached themselves to his comrades. Upon hearing the woman call to Grond, he seemed to awaken. He strode to the Nord and stood before him. "Yes," he said, "It was indeed timely. How come you here, to this valley, at just the right hour, and in such garb?"

"Take a step back, friend," replied Grond, "or I'll help you."

The Forester stood still, and there was a tense hush. The villagers watched the two men, of nearly equal height, face each other. Suddenly the voice of Shamus rang out. "Red!" he called.

They turned to see the slender thief charging toward them, blade in hand. A short distance behind came three horses - hers, and Shamus' and Echo's. Grond noted that Mik remained behind. Upon seeing Shamus and Echo, Red went to them.

As Red clasped arms with Shamus, Grond brushed past the Forester and joined them. The Imperial followed, and soon all gathered round the newcomer. Shamus told her the tale of Grond's plan gone awry, and of the battle in the storm. "You're late, Red," said Shamus afterward. "And where is Rider?"

Red shrugged. "Gone to the West Weald, evidently on Holiday. Seems we get a break from his questionable leadership." She grinned, then it quickly vanished. "But let's talk later. I'd like to try something. A new tool, maybe." She bent before the prone figure of their friend. Taking his hands in her own, Red closed her eyes and they saw that her lips moved slightly. Moments passed until there came to the slight kneeling woman a crimson glow. Those watching grew warm in the wind as Red became bathed in a silent flame, the color of which was like light through a glass of wine.

The flame then coursed to Red's arms. Traveling along them it slid down to Echo's body, and soon the prone Thief was bathed in the crimson fire which did not burn. They waited. The first light of the morning sun struck the high Western rim of the valley. The wind died to a mild breeze. The flames raced each other around Echo's form, stopping at his shoulder, where the creature had bitten him. It concentrated itself there, growing fiercely bright. All there looked away - the bright light momentarily blinded the onlookers - all but Red. She gazed at the bright fire, feeling as if a part of herself were there. The crimson star sat upon Echo's shoulder for another few moments. Then it suddenly leapt from the wound towards Red. She caught the shining ball in her hands, where it vanished, leaving behind some small trace of itself in the woman's cupped hands. Red looked into her hands and smiled. "That should do it!" she exclaimed.

Echo coughed loudly then was still. Bending again, the village girl felt his face. "He's fine now," she said. "He shall need to sleep awhile."

From the broken bits of the coach they made a makeshift litter for the now-sleeping Echo. Around him Shamus and Grond placed the gear they had stowed in the coach. Before they left the valley, Grond went to Mik, to bid a final farewell. Solemnly and with some effort he removed his saddlebags. He got out of the muddy dandy's clothes - leaving them where they fell - and put on his furs. Then he returned to the caravan, insisting on pulling the litter himself.

[WillieSea]

William watched as grotesque creatures formed out of the fleshy floor and attacked Vereta. William shoved at the secret door, but it would not budge any further open than the crack, the fleshy mass on the floor blocked it. Both Sherena and William pushed at the door as Vereta fought off the creatures in the room.

William frantically tried cutting the flesh away from the door, but could not fit through the crack. Sherena pulled out her blade and squeezed partially through the door opening and started hacking away at the flesh. The blade froze the flesh when it struck, causing sections to fracture and break off as William continued pushing at the door.

William glanced up at Vereta, who was barely holding an attack by the necromancer with a flaming sword, a sword that appeared to be weakening and finally quit, allowing the black blade to sink deeply into Vereta�s chest. With adrenalin suddenly spiking through his veins, William put all his might against the door, and it shattered sending bricks into the room.

Rushing to his friend, the black blade was descending towards his chest again in a killing blow! William�s blade melted out into a longsword flashing before the dark blade just in time to stop it from hitting Vereta. It was Umbra the darkest part of a shadow, a foul daedric dark blade, the stealer of souls!

Vereta croaked up from the puddle of his own blood on the floor, �the master, watch the blade William!�

William forced the Master back away from Vereta, swords clashing in the torch light. Blow after blow were exchanged as the swords flashed, sending sparks flying as they clashed into each other.

The Master was an expert swordsman, an even match for William�s blade. Sherena rushed to Vereta, and placing her hands above his wounds, started the healing process to stop the rush of blood.

The mighty sword Umbra clashed against the now brightly glowing blade William wielded. Dark and light, interweaving, dancing, in mortal combat. Light had always cast shadows in the darkness, had banished the darkness into the corners.

After healing Vereta as much as she could, Sherena lunged at the Master with her sword and was met with a backhand blow to the head, sending her limp body slamming against the far wall, where she slid to the floor unconscious, the sword clanging beside her.

Furious, William attacked the Master with new fury, a fire burned within him, fanned by a sudden anger that seemed to overwhelm him. An evil smile cracked unfamiliarly on the Masters face. The swords continued to clash in the room, their echo�s reverberating around the chamber.

Flames surrounded William as he fought the Master, his anger blinding him to all but the task of vanquishing the evil before him. He did not notice the fleshy floor had grown a vile beast where Vereta�s blood had spilled. Its evil red eyes glared at the combatants, and it leapt towards William, taking him from behind and sending him crashing against the wall. The flames surrounded the beast; its agonizing screeches filled the room as it burned to a crisp.

The Master advanced on the now unconscious William, ready to strike the killing blow. He would now banish the light back to the void! Again, the evil grin appeared on his face, showing the sharpened rotten teeth.

[Vereta]

Vereta looked up just in time to see the Master raising his blade to plunge it into Williams chest when he saw something else. Sharon's smiling face came into his view. He was seeing two things at once, William and the Master, and Sharon. She said something but he could not understand her. He stood up and vaulted at William as he brought a hand forward in an attempt to ward the blade off. The Master kicked his hand aside and raised the blade once more as Vereta leaped in front of him. Sharon began to flicker out of sight. He was deaf to everything as the sword plunged into his chest and exited through his back. Light spilled out of Vereta's chest as his head snapped back, a gasp escaping his lips. The Master's hands began to burn and he let go of the blade as Umbra burned away to nothing. Vereta fell back and William caught him with shock written all over his face. Vereta looked up at William as blood spilled out of his mouth.

"Find... her..." Vereta told him. "Whatever it... takes..."

Vereta's head lulled sideways and his vibrant eyes grew dim as death gripped him. Vereta lied still and didn't move. William looked upon him, tears streaking his face as a single tear drop fell upon Vereta's face. The Dark Lord shuttered in excitement and let out an impatient growl. He was ready to claim his victims body.

William looked up with a deep anger in his eyes, a burning hate like no other. He set Vereta gently down and stood up. William was ready to kill somebody with the intent to kill for the first time in his life.

[WillieSea]

The master, distracted by the fresh body for his renewal was caught unaware by the lightning fast punch to his face as William dove into him. The master�s head snapped back from the blow and crushed his face. One eyeball hung from the vacated socket and the nose was sunken into the skull from the vicious blow.

Turning again towards William, the Master laughed out loud and creatures erupted from the fleshy floor as the Master raised his hands, palms up. Their red eyes were intent on William with one purpose in mind. In a howl they all leaped and crawled towards William as the Master backed away from him, towards an exit.

�You will not escape my righteous vengeance foul beast!� William yelled as he slashed with the blade and pounded with his now spiked, gauntleted hand at the abominations surrounding him.

Vereta lay in a pool of his own blood on the floor, the life taken from him so cruelly by the creature who called himself the Master. William swore that he would make this Master pay for this, and pay dearly. The hounds, gargoyles and other assorted undead beasts fell one by one as William cut and smashed through their ranks. Their teeth and claws ineffective against the chain armor he wore.

The Master was almost to the exit when the last foul creature fell to a smashing blow to its head from William�s now bloody spiked fist. The master turned and started a shambling run for the exit when a great bolt of lightning from William�s outstretched hands blasted him in the back, the force of which threw him through the air and down the exit passage. A smoldering hole in the Master�s still electrified body seeped gore onto the floor.

Breathing heavily, William approached the body in the passage as it smoked from the midsection. The clothing had burnt completely off the master, exposing a body blackened by the necromantic arts and age.

A twitching, a movement, and the Master started to rise again from the floor, an evil laugh once again escaping his lips. Raising his hands in the air, another conjuration brought forth more abominations from the fleshy mound in the room. Its previous creations had been absorbed back into the fleshy creature. The master then turned and started shambling back down the passage once again.

Remembering how the blade Sherena used had destroyed the flesh of the creature, William jumped for it, grabbing it up and slashed at the creatures that attacked in mass. Each hit of the blue blade would freeze the creature to be pounded into pieces by William�s fists.

Moving to the center of the room, the center of the fleshy mound, William thrust the sword deep into the quivering mass and then proceeded to push for all he was worth to shove it deeper into the fleshy creature.

The flesh started to tremble and buck under William�s feet as the center started to stiffen and freeze over. The frost slowly spread over the entire creature�s bulk as William dug the Sword deeper into the thing.

Finally, with a mighty blow with both hands, William smashed the frozen mass of flesh, shattering it under his feet. With the flesh creature taken care of, the Master was next on the agenda.

William tore off down the tunnel in search of the Master to deal him some justice. Running down the hall, William did not notice the Master laying in wait for him. William�s feet flew up into the air as his torso spun around the Master�s extended arm as he ran past the Master�s location.

The wind was knocked out of William as he fell heavily to the floor on his back. The master then descended on the gasping William to sink his sharpened fangs into his neck, to tear out his throat.

But he stopped suddenly and William noticed an arrow now protruding through the Master�s head. The Master looked back up the tunnel and hissed, moving to run towards the bowman. Finally catching his breath, William spied Sherena at the tunnel entrance with a bow in her hands, readying another arrow.

As the Master started to run past William, he grabbed his foot and held tightly, tripping and pulling the Master to the ground, face first. Gaining some breath back, William got up on one knee and thrust his sword deep into the Master and dug it around, hearing bones snapping and severing the leathery flesh in a great gaping hole, next to the one the lighting had created. Pulling his blade out, the Master started to rise again when William swung the sword in a great arc cleaving the head from its body. It rolled down the passage and came to a stop face down before Sherena.

William kicked the still kneeling body to the floor and grasped the decayed body, sending flame coursing down his arms and into the carcass. The flames burned a brilliant white as it burnt in a smokeless holy fire. Sherena came down the hall with the decapitated head and threw it on the burning body to be consumed by the holy flames along with the now incinerated body. There was soon nothing left of the master, not even ashes�

Searching the room, the body of Maris could not be found. She was either absorbed by the flesh creature, or had somehow survived the attack by the master and had made her escape in the confusion of combat.

William pulled a ring out of his bag, the same ring that William had worn when he was dead, not so long ago. It would keep Vereta�s body from rotting on the trip back to the Tavern and awaiting burial. Sherena held William�s hands as tears filled his eyes. �Why Vereta, Why?!!� he screamed into the heavens.

Sherena tried to console the now sobbing William, whose tears fell freely onto Vereta�s still body. �You were here when he needed you the most. A friend who would not abandon him in his hour of need. He is in a much better place now.�

William choked on his cries and hugged Sherena to himself. �I know exactly where Vereta is now; I have seen his spirit rise into the heavens. I have seen his smile for the last time before he entered the gates to paradise. I heard him whisper something to me, something important. For my friend, I will do as he asks.�

After a time of mourning, William and the small group of commoners made there way out of the tree with the corpse of Vereta. Once free of the tree�s halls, the commoners all thanked William and expressed their sorrow for his friend once last time before dispersing to the four winds. Only Sherena stayed behind, standing there, watching William.

William knew he had to get Vereta back to the Tavern so the others would know what had happened to Vereta. He could not just leave him here; a proper burial would be in order.

Turning to Sherena and looking her in the eyes, William asked her �Do you trust me? Will you stay by my side no matter what happens?�

Sherena was slightly afraid of what William had asked her. But she knew in her heart that he was a good man, someone who could be trusted to not leave her like so many others had done. He had proven himself to be a true friend, a friend who would not leave his companions to their fates alone. She nodded her head and with tear filled eyes simply said, �I will follow you anywhere.�

William nodded and said, �Then prepare yourself, for we are about to travel back to the Tavern.�

With that, William thrust his arms into the air, and upon lowering them, transformed into a golden dragon with great wings that beat slowly in the air.

Sherena gasped and fell backwards in sudden fright. The dragon head came down towards her, its teeth very sharp in its deadroth like mouth. She closed her eyes to await the death she knew was soon to be hers.

Instead, she heard William�s voice speak to her in a much deeper tone. �Come Sherena, climb upon my shoulders, for we fly with the wind back home, back to Vereta�s home.�

Opening here eyes, she saw the dragon lower itself to the ground to allow her to mount its shoulders. She stood up and slowly walked to the dragon, its wing helping her climb aboard. It then said to her, �Hold on, for we take flight!�

And with that, the great wings pumped the air and it grabbed the gurney that Vereta�s corpse was on with its great claws. A great stream of fire blazed at the tree, igniting its brittle branches, burning it to the ground and once more sending light into the world.

The flight back to the Tavern was short and Sherena marveled in the flight feeling the air blow through her hair and seeing the whole world below her. She thoroughly enjoyed the experience, which seemed to end all too soon.

�The Tavern is up ahead, hold on tight!� the dragon spoke to her. She clutched at its neck as tight as she could.

Flying straight up into the sky at tremendous speed, the dragon threw the body of Vereta high in front of himself. As soon as the body sailed past, the dragon sent a bright flame after it, a flame as hot as the burning sun above. The flames surrounded the body of Vereta, totally encasing him in burning fire. Grabbing the flaming shell, the dragon dove for the ground, and the Tavern far below.

Setting down in the Tavern yard, the flaming shell with Vereta�s body inside floated to the ground to lay prone. The dragon once again became William, with Sherena still holding him tight around the neck.

William looked at Vereta�s body floating above the ground in a case of fire and said with a sadness in his voice, �We are here.�

[_echo]

As Echo rested, healing from the bite, he well into a deep slumber and began to dream.

Echo awoke to a bright, sun-lit field of grass. A single oak tree stood near by. A few clouds here and there in the sky blowing to the east.

Off in the distance, Echo saw a figure. Through his magical goggles, he saw it was a woman running towards him.

Who could it be?

Then, it clicked!

... To Be Continued