NationStates Jolt Archive

"Deep, yes, dark, no." He replied, "And that's how they were when I was born." He added with a faint smile.

"Please tell!" Rimoru begged, suddenly becoming her spunky old self again.

"Don't burden yourself Karasu, I deserve this curse for I have done some very regrettable things in my life." He said almost wanting to hold her, but with Marlene here that would just result in a fist fight.

He looked down at Marlene and smiled. "There are also many things I have done right in my life." He responded with a warm smile. "As for the holy water." He reached into his many pockets and pulled out a vial smiling. "And the oath I already know so we should just find someone who knows about plants and kill this wolf already."

He went to walk away when he felt Marlene tug on his arm. "I'm coming too." She order as Cadeyrn nodded.

"Come on Karasu, let us find an elf, shouldn't be too hard." He mused.

"Well each is part of my heritage, one my paternal great-grandfather, the other my maternal great-grandmother. Each brings with it an ability, and a curse." He replied

"I do not think you deserve this." Karasu remarked.

"My guess is that Ar'mai may be the most knowledgeable regarding the herbs. However, Rimoru may have a garden with these herbs, or know right where they are, as she lives here. Do you know where we can find her? She may be the best bet right now."

Karasu continued, "If Rimoru has no information, Ar'mai would be the second best source."

Karasu walked up to them as they were walking and put her arm around Cadey's shoulder, as far as she could reach it. "Do not worry, we will do this!" She removed her arm from Cadey's shoulder and smiled down at Marlene, her eyes flipping rainbow colors.

"So... where may we find Rimoru, Cadey?"

"A curse? An ability?" Rimoru's eyes were wide in anticipation. "More details! Please tell me!" she laughed, diving off the bed, in front of Lorathin.

"One great power, but at a terrible personal cost, the other powerful defenciveness at a terrible social cost." He replied as he leaned back to avoid getting tackled as he un-lotus'd and then crossed his legs normally. "More I'd prefere not to get into."

Rimoru pursed her lips and mocked sadness. "You don't want to...share with little Rimoru?" she asked sweetly, sadly, and making her eyes big as she fluttered her eyelashes at him. The empress added a few sniffles to add to the effect.

"I've done many horrible, horrible things Karasu. I've worked for a lot of bad people. I should be thankful that I haven't gotten worse." He said lowering his head in shame.

"Well last time I saw, Rimoru was with Lorathin in her bedroom, so I'd really rather not bother them. However, if we cannot find Ar'mai then I'm kicking in the door." He laughed while Marlene only looked at him frowning.

"What where you doing in her bedroom Cade?" Marlene barked.

"Any idea where we can find Ar'mai?" He quickly drew away from the twelve year old's question.

"Actually, that would be getting into the area of breaking a promise, and you wouldn't want that on my concience, would you?" He asked as he tried his best to copy her 'sad little girl' look.

"You're silly," Rimoru giggled quietly. "Is there a significance to your multicolored eyes, Azy?" she asked as she rolled onto her back, letting her hands cross on her flat stomach.

"I have no idea where Ar'mai is. I still think that seeing Rimoru is the easiest way. I mean if she has a garden with all we need, we need not waste time!" Karsu rolled her eyes.

"Who cares what she is doing. We yell through the door that we know the cure and need her help ASAP, and I am sure she will help if she can. If not, then Ar'mai, but if Rimoru knows where the plants are, it would be foolish to ignore that!" Karasu was talking very loudly, trying to get her point across.

"She can do whatever she is doing later. We all know that." Karasu chuckled. "I am sure she is not so selfish as to deny you your life!

"Let's go knock on the door, and yell in. We can find if she can be of any help. I insist Cadey."

"Would you like to play a game of twenty questions to try and figure it out?" He asked with a smile.

Marlene liked this new person. Maybe it was because she too hated Rimoru, or maybe it was because she looked familiar somehow. The young girl tugged on Cadeyrn's arm.

"Let's find Rimoru, I don't want you to carry that wolf around any longer." She begged flashing the puppydog eyes at the mercenary.

"I can never win." Defeat Cadeyrn surrendered and led them to her bedroom then knocked very gently on the door.

"Master Rimoru, we could use your assistance." Cadeyrn asked through the door.

"Twenty questions?" Rimoru asked as she pushed stray strands of beautiful golden hair out of her face. "I have not played in so long, but I just ask twenty questions, right?"

She heard a faint knock on her door and slowly got up. "Cadey? What do you need?" she asked as she stretched herself out.

"Yes, and they must be answerable in a yes/no format." He replied, "Also it sounds like you have someone at the door."

"Rimoru! Answer the door! It is literally life or death!" Karasu yelled. "Cadey's." She pounded harder. "Please, time is of the essence... we need your assistance now! Please Rimmy!!! You know I would not bother you if it was not an emergency!"

Karasu pleaded for Rimoru to answer the door.

"We just need a few herbs and we'll be on our way, it's time to let the dog out." He said pressing his up against the door.

Marlene smirked as she knew exactly what the herbs looked like.

Karasu's banging had frightened Rimoru and she sprang to the door. "Karasu, what is wrong? Do not worry, I'm here to help," she replied, a shiver crawling down her back. Karasu rarely asked for help back when they saw each other constantly and although Rimoru was very powerful, she always grew worried when a friend of hers were in an emergency.

"Herbs? Let the dog out?" Rimoru asked. She opened it and threw her arms around Cadeyrn. "Of course, Cadey! Just tell me the herbs and I will provide them!"

Lorathin headed over to the door. "Cadeyrn, if you plan to deal with Beau, might I suggest a bit of magickal protection incase something goes wrong?"

"Wolf's Bane and Moon Amber master." Cadeyrn replied.

Marlene sneered as she hated the fact her champion referred to that slut as master. In fact, he only called one other person master willingly and that was before he rescued her.

As Rimoru hugged Cadeyrn, she noticed the little bratty child behind the bodyguard. Rimoru stuck her tongue out at Marlene, before smiling confidently as she let Cadeyrn go. "I believe I have those. Does it matter if they are fresh?"

"I doubt so, the book didn't specify really." Cadeyrn replied noticing the feud between Rimoru and Marlene.

"I want the best for my Cadey," Rimoru replied as she walked past the warrior. "Follow me, my sweet. We can't waste too much time."

snip

"Certainly," Ar'mai responded. "Though not all clans live directly in the marsh itself. Some just live nearby or in the general area of a large marsh."

"Marsh elves are the least like the rest of any of the groups," Ar'mai added - just a piece of random information.

"Bitch."Marlene muttered under her breath.

"Thank you Rimoru, Karasu, and Marlene; you've all been very helpful. Once the puppy is out I'll treat you all to a lovely little show." Cadeyrn again boasted.

Inzikai nodded as he listened to Ar'mai talk about other elven species. "Now is there really a difference between all these elves? And what would you classify yourself as?"

"So do you want me to come along, stay and take care of Marlene, wander off, or stay and go throught your room?" he asked Rimoru, Cadeyrn, Karasu and Marlene, even thought he was pretty sure what the girl's answer would be.

"Whatever you choose, Azy...just don't...go through my cabinets if you do stay," Rimoru replied, as she wished to keep the contents relatively safe and out of another's hands. Especially one such as Marlene.

"Let's go out to the garden and see what I have," Rimoru said as she walked down the long hallway.

Inzikai nodded as he listened to Ar'mai talk about other elven species. "Now is there really a difference between all these elves? And what would you classify yourself as?"

"Certainly there is a difference," Ar'mai stated as she turned her head slightly to look at Inzikai. "Cultures are different. Environments are different. Abilities are different. Appearances can be different. And ancestory is almost always different."

"I... am a High Elf."

"So I guessed right," Inzikai said, smiling brightly. "So what abilities would a marsh elf have differently from a high elf?"

Cadeyrn could sense something was wrong with Karasu while walking down the hallway. She had been staring at his sword for a while now.

"Big ain't it?" He said trying to stir up conversation. "Took me years to even be able to lift let alone use proficiently. However, no one uses weapons this big so the style I created was of my own."

"Most..." Ar'mai said. "Marsh Elves and High Elves are about as far apart as you can get in the elven species. High Elves are usually favored by the gods, especially Elune, much more as they tend to be more knowledgeable and religious. Some High Elves, such as me, have the ability to perform magic, while it is very, very rare if a Marsh Elf could," she explained.

She paused for a moment, trying to think of a way to best sum it up. "Marsh Elves are considered quite nasty while High Elves are considered to be quite refined, elegant and intelligent," she said, trying not to seem like she was boasting.

"Oh? Is that so? Well, alright then, Miss high-and-mighty!" Inzikai mocked seriousness, before breaking out into a chuckle.

"Well, maybe Marsh elves think themselves better than highelves," Inzikai said as he inched towards the water and stuck his hand in the cool water.

Lorathin head out to follow the others, being sure to shut Rimoru's door when he left.

"I did not say we were better," Ar'mai stressed with a slight smile. "Just more intelligent, skilled, closer to the gods, have the ability to perform some magick, elegant, refined, cultured... oh, and did I forget more pleasant on the eyes?"

"In other words...better," Inzikai chuckled as he splashed his hand into the water, trying to splash some water on the floating elf.

"Oh thank you Rimoru! I am so glad you have these herbs. I thought you might." Karasu felt better.

"The thing is, we do not want to let the doggie out! We want these herbs and to get this taken care of now!" Karasu informed Rimoru. "It hurts Cadey, do you not see that?" she sighed.

"Yes Cadey, your sword does look heavy." Karasu grinned, however was still troubled by the inscription.

"Marlene, you can help pick the herbs, can you not?" Karasu looked down at the girl smiling. "If we do this tonight... no more worries! Your Cadey will be just fine!" She reassured the girl.

"I do see that, but I'm guessing these herbs would separate the man from the beast. Am I right, Cadey?" Rimoru asked. She was somewhat nervous as to the way this may end.

"Thank you for shutting my door, Azy," Rimoru said as she continued walking, not even turning around to see Azrael shut her door. As soon as the door shut, it disappeered.

Rimoru narrowed her eyes as Karasu told Marlene that her Cadey will be fine. He's my Cadey...not that little snot nosed brat... she thought angrily, glancing once at the young pre-teen walking along with them.

Rimoru walked hurridly down a massive staircase into the lobby area and walked to the back of her massive palace, passing by thousands of closed doors, and some opened ones, revealing sleeping quarters for servants, several lounging rooms, several storage areas, kitchens, bathrooms, stairways, and "Creature Rooms".

Finally, with the flick of her wrist, two large wooden doors opened up revealing a beautiful garden with flowers of all different shapes and sizes. They smelled sweet and their colors were bright and pure. Fresh fruit hung from branches on large trees scattered around the garden.

The empress stopped walking as she took in a huge breath of fresh air, her ample bosom heaving as she did so. "I love that smell," she said quietly as she breathed out the air. She smiled dreamily at the others before walking again.

She led the group to a group of bushes with beautiful flowers with a tint of purple on them. "Wolfs bane, my sweet," she said as she bent over to smell the beautiful plants.

"Moon amber is not much of a plant, right?" she chuckled quietly as she continued to sniff the flower.

Karasu noticed Rimoru narrow her eyes, being so possessive of Cadey. Grow up for once Rimoru. Karasu thought... sheesh... her ego cannot even take that of a child adoring someone she hired.

Karasu followed Rimoru into the garden... "It is beautiful Rimoru!" She exclaimed and took a deep breath, only then realizing she was still wearing the sheer robe.

"I think I will go to my room to change," Karasu chuckled. "Rimoru, I will not be able to find it from here. Will you please escort me? Besides, I would like to talk to you about something." She smiled.

As they left, Karasu tilted her head and looked at Rimoru. "Really... becoming jealous over a teenager? What has gotten into you? You do not have claim to all men, and surprise, not all men want you. Many are nearly forced into it as you do not leave them alone." Karasu looked at Rimoru questioningly.

"I do not get it. You have plenty of men, yet you have to have all of them. Stop making yourself look silly by being jealous of a little girl, for crying out loud." She continued. "I have watched you go from man to man here, and it just seems to show that if you do not feed your ego this way, your true feelings will come out. Your insecurities, which are transparent to me, and some others, will show." Karasu looked at her sadly.

"Look, you are pretty, why do you have to be so possessive and jealous? It makes no sense. We have nearly the exact same body, but I do not go throwing it at every man who walks by.

"Rimoru, you may not know this, but years ago, when we spent almost all our time together, being best friends, and you had so many men and thought I did not...? I did. I just never told you because I knew it would hurt your ego. Moreover, I did not have to flaunt my body in order to get these men. It just is not necessary, you see. Some of these men were those who did not want to get involved with you. You are not perfect, none of us are, although we can be happy we have been blessed with perfect bodies!" Karasu chuckled trying to lighten the moment.

"Is there a man you are truly interested in and care about, other than just to bed? Anyone? I am wondering and I am concerned about you. Rimoru being jealous of a child... that does not say 'I am confident', Rimmy." Karasu told her honestly.

"I am not trying to make you feel bad, only to let you see what others see. Anyone can get a guy if she flirts and rubs up against him! You think I have not done that years ago just for fun? Of course, and it was as easy for me as it is for you. However, this is a stage to grow out of Rimmy..."

Karasu sighed.

"I do not like you any less, however I feel that you are probably experiencing jealousy because of the things I told you about myself... because when behaving like you, I can get any man I want. However, I have grown out of that stage. I want more than someone to sleep with, and the neurotic necessity to 'claim' every man you see. It is not healthy."

They finally reached Karasu's room. "Thank you for walking me and please do not take what I told you as some sort of slag. I did not mean it that way. I only wanted to open up your eyes a little and be grateful for the wonderful life you lead. Thank you again for the herbs. Cadey intends to kill the wolf, so there will be no damage further than that. If need be, we can help him.

"So tell me Rimmy, is there anyone you are really interested in?" Karasu asked with a mischievous grin, as she changed into her leather jumpsuit. She looked in the mirror... something she had not seen for a very long time, and realized how revealing her fighting clothes were! It was a form-fitting leather jumpsuit, tied up the front from the waist, which did not leave much to the imagination in the cleavage area. Oh, this is a tad hypocritical... but then I am not rubbing and flirting with every man around. Karasu liked what she saw. She would not have traded looks with Rimmy for anything. Karasu's long black with rainbow striped hair fell below her waist and her heels were quite appealing. She wore an onyx necklace with a gold Kanji for 'life' in the center. She added some deep red lipstick. She skipped the cape, as it did not matter if anyone around here saw her weapons. She wore so many weapons, it was difficult not to clank when she walked.

"I hope you did not take that the wrong way Rimmy. I did not say any of these things to hurt you. Only to make you think." Karasu smiled, knowing Rimoru was likely angry as hell.

"So Rimmy? Any men you are really interested in?" She grinned at her the way they used to grin and giggle years ago.

Rimoru's anger threatened to erupt on her old friend. Jealous? Of a little girl?

"I am not jealous, Karasu. If anything, that little brat is jealous of me!" she vented as they walked through the halls.

"Karasu...Everyone wants me," she replied defiantly. "I am the perfect woman. I have beauty, wealth, power. I am worshipped as a god!"

"Insecurities? What insecurities!?" she shouted, poison in her voice. She hated it when Karasu was right. Rimoru's palace, her library, her bedroom, her garden. All were created because of these insecurities. They were her "safe havens" to relax and let the problems drain from her body. No one could get into Rimoru's room without Rimoru herself, and no one could escape unless she made it so.

"It is not to feed my ego! How boring is it to continue loving the same man every night? You have to find the perfect ones!" she growled angrily.

Tears began to well up in Rimoru's eyes. The truth...the aweful truth... As soon as Karasu walked out in her new jumpsuit, Rimoru ran to her, tears streaming down her beautiful face. "Karasu...I've missed you..." she cried as she gave her friend a sisterly embrace.

"Rimmy, I have missed you very much. I really hated to say what I said, but deep down, you already know. I think sometimes you forget and begin to believe your own self-deception. You have a pretty sweet life, girl... there is no need to be angry if you cannot have everything your way... or if you use magic or force to make it your way."

Karasu rocked Rimaru. "Do not cry. You are a wonderful person, and there is no need for having to prove your worth in every way with everyone. Believe in yourself... your honest self. Accept some limitations. You can live a fantasy, but sooner or later, you will still have to come back to the fact that it is not reality."

She looked up at Rimoru. "You will be just fine. I knew you would be mad. I knew exactly how you would react. In fact, I believe you are still furious. Just try to relax a bit. You do not have to prove anything to anyone! Remember that Rimmy! You do not need tricks, and spells, and such. You are fine as you, but you need to strip away the neediness. I think you will find that you will like yourself very much." Karasu grinned at Rimoru.

"It will not happen over night, but I think you can do it... if you want to. I see no reason why you would not want to be yourself, without all the doubts, and having to prove things to people. You do not have to! I do not know how you never realized this. You are just fine without the drama and pomp." Karasu smiled again.

"Please do not be angry, although that is a lot to ask of you. However, I have only pointed out some truths. You will be happier if you accept them. I guarantee it!"

Karasu looked at Rimmy who seemed calmer. "So, what are your plans for the moment? Do you want to go back to the garden?"

Rimoru wiped some tears from her eyes and gave Karasu a weak smile. "Thank you, Karasu," she replied quietly. "I'll try...but I have lived like this for so long. And I still love doing it..."

Rimoru's petite stomach growled quietly, making Rimoru chuckle as she patted her stomach. "I'm growing quite hungry. Perhaps we should all come to breakfast?" she asked.

"Breakfast sounds great!" Karasu replied.

"As far as you loving how you live, that is not what I mean. I mean the reason you love some of it is because it hides or buries your insecurities, or you would not be doing it. Maybe you do not even see that, but I do. It is almost like pasting a sign saying 'I am Insecure' over your head.

"Anyway... to the food?"

Cadeyrn left the women to their squabbles while Marlene moved from plant to plant admiring each and everyone. She felt the urge to label every one she came across.

She sure is smart. Cadeyrn thought with almost a fatherly pride.

"Here Cadey, I have them!" The young girl answwered handing the mercenary a bundle of flowers. Just touching them Cadeyrn collapsed to the floor dropping the bouqet.

"Yes, these definately are the ones, let us make an elixer out of them and be rid of the demon by noon." He said weakly rising to his feet.

However ignorant and oblivious Cadeyrn was to his companion's conversation until he heard 'breakfast' upon which he immediately lunged between the two.

"Food?" He interrupted with a look of desperate hunger in his eyes. What he really wanted was to get the taste of blood out of his mouth from Beau's feast last night.

He turned to walk away when he saw Marlene weaping picking up the flowers.

"What's the amtter Mar?" He asked warmly with an extended hand.

"I'm scared Cadey. I have seen this a hundred times in my dreams, a divided man finally seperated from himself. One a man the other a demon. The demon devours everything he comes across." She admitted clutching the flowers trying to hide her tears.

"When I was 17 I was trapped in the forrest surrounded by the Varvul, the demon's people, one by one I fought my way to their castle and killed the queen and a hundred of their elite guard. One of them is no match for me, nothing will ever take you from me, that I swear to you." He told while trying not cry himself as he held the young girl in his arms. "Listen let's go get some breakfast ok?"

She smiled as Cadeyrn held her hand and led her out of the room.

Karasu was sitting at the table when Cadeyrn nearly sprinted in, with Marlene walking behind him.

"Wow, someone is hungry!" Karasu exclaimed.

"My guess is that breakfast will be fabulous as dinner was last night." She smiled.

"Oh! I almost forgot! Did you find everything you need to make the elixer?" Karasu asked hopefully.

"All we have to do is get a vial and mix everything together, after which there will be a show between me versus the last of the Varvul." Caderyn said grinning sitting down at the table with Marlene at his side.

"Should be quite a opponent from what I've heard." He added staring at his blank plate.

Marlene only recalled about what she read concerning the Varvul King.

The White Lightening Wolf of Death: Granted incredible powers he murdered his father at the age of 10 and married his half sister. There he tried rebuilding the Varvul Empire, destroying all the peace his father had created. Beau, as he is called in common tongue, is claimed to be the strongest of his breed having been blessed by the god of chaos and war himself.

"Well Cadey, I am sure the rest of us will be around to help you in this fight, should this wolf be too strong an opponant." Karasu assured him and Marlene.

"Does this beast have any particular weaknesses?" Karasu asked?

"No!" Cadeyrn barked. "Under no circumstances will you help with this fight, this is my battle in which I must fight alone even if it means dieing. I want you to swear to me that you will not interfere."

"These beasts are my speciality you could say. I can predict what they are going to do three moves before they make it based on their stance, speed, and aggressiveness." He quickly reassured smiling. "It's when they are in packs that they become utterly leathal even to entire battalions. As a pack their attacks and movements are perfectly synchronized almost like telapathy. It's almost beautiful."

Marlene had hesisitantly mixed the elixer while Cadeyrn was describing the nature of the demons. She handed to him and looked sadly back at the table.

The mercenary stood with the vial with a glaringly brutal smile.

"You mean if it comes down to it, I am to let you die?! That is insane. Aside from that, it means I will have to battle the demon alone. The demon will be set on the world. Why can we not help? Is it worth it for you to die, and for us all to suffer as well?" Karasu yelled.

"Cadey, how about if you are down, then we step in. To let you die and let that beast out onto the world is insane!"

Karasu was not liking this at all. She could see Marlene was not happy about it either.

"Cadey, if some of us help, the chances are better... Please reconsider this... and what will happen if you do die." Karasu pleaded.

"Well then if they're so dangerous, I intend to set up some wards to keep it contained if it goes and guts you." Lorathin commented as he came in and heard Cadeyrn describing his opponent.

"If any of you try to help I will turn my blade on you!" He yelled with a furious look in his eyes. "I have done many sinful things, but my honor has always remained intact and trying to take that from me will result in death I assure you."

He noticed Marlene was crying again and lowered his head almost embarresed by his outburst.

"Only if I seem defeated may you interfere, ok?" He replied smiling weakly at the corner of his mouth.

Marlene hadn't said a word she was too busy remembering all the horrible writtings on this Beau creature.

Like a plague, Beau conquered the various Wolfman tribes across the land and broke them to his bloody will. It is rumored he alone butchered entire regiments of the best Nordic Mercenaries. However, at the height of his empire's power, the Varvul King vanished without a trace.

"I will not lose." Cadeyrn replied guzzling the purple vial.

ooc: Blast it! I fell asleep at 12:00!! Graah!

Rimoru, the "goddess" of Iskan watched, terror in her eyes. She feared for Cadeyrn. She didn't want that brutish wolf to come back. She shivered slightly before Kalzog showed himself. I hope he will interfere if it comes to it... she thought. "Azrael, please come over here," she asked, her voice waivering.

Kalzog watched Cadeyrn down the liquid. A liquid he suspected would reveal Beau, as the wolf did say he would be back this day to find his 'Leuitenant'. If it came down to it, as much as Kalzog enjoyed the company of those here, he may have to help a fellow brother of chaos. His face showed uncertainty, but his hands twitched, ready to act.

Now the Emperor's Oath

"You reign over the people from all four corners, you provide peace and lay down the law. Give genorosity to those who follow, and eliminate those who oppose. Amen." Caderyn uttered bowing his head and immediately felt a violent shock verberate from the very marrow of his bones. He screamed in horrible agony as he began to bud another creature. Blood spilled all over the floor eventually pooling around the feet of everyone. When the two were clear a bright light engulfed the room while Beau's painful howl, and Caedyrn's agonizing scream still filled the air.

As the light died down Cadeyrn was perfectly fine sitting against the wall with his mouth hung wide open and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Beau, the great white wolf was laying on the floor curled into a ball. Marlene immediately ran over to Cadeyrn and began shaking him.

"As you wish." He replied as he moved over to Rimoru, all the while making obscure(and discreet) hand signs and muttering. He was preparing in case the wolf got away from Cadeyrn.

Rimoru gasped at all the blood and brought her barefeet up on her chair. She held onto Lorathin's arm and brought him closer. "I'm worried, Azy," she whispered as she watched her bodyguard.

"Get away from him, child," Kalzog barked. The massive ogre did have a soft spot. For children. He never wanted one himself, but he enjoyed the little joys they were capable of giving. He occasionally ate a few if he was hungry enough, but did so with regret.

He would hate for Marlene to die should the wolf awaken before Cadeyrn.

"I'm sure it'll work out, Cadeyrn's a skilled fighter." Lorathin commented, changing his incantations slightly to take in the blood co-efficiant. The blood didn't phase him much as certain of the Talion rites involved far greater volumes of blood, in much more horrific circumstances.

The large white wolf arose from his comfortable rest and stood at his max height stretching his body out with resounding cracks and pops as he did so. A massive smile drew revealing his terrifying fangs.

Directly behind him Cadeyrn awoke and put a hand on the child's cheek.

Innocent little Marlene.

Suddenly a big white claw came between him and the girl and Beau moved in completely seperating the two. The wolf clutched Caderyn by the jaw and lifted him until his feet dangled in the air.

"Where do want us to finished this human?" Beau growled looking Caderyn in the eyes.

With his thumb the mercenary jabbed a pressure point on the wolf freeing himself.

"There's a courtyard out back." He replied with a lethal grin.

Rimoru watched in fear as she expected the confrontation to erupt immediately. At least it did not. "Should we follow?" she asked quietly as she heard the two state they were going to finish this in the courtyard.

Kalzog watched the two. He didn't know about the others, but he planned on watching, no matter what anyone says. This could determine his fate...

"Probably a good idea." Lorathin commented

Cadeyrn turned and smiled. "Come everyone, I want you all to see this." He boasted while Beau continued forward unhesisitantly. The large wolf ran his claws along the wall making sparks fly and bounce on the floor.

"Come mercenary, I haven't got all day to listen to your empty boasts." Beau growled.

Marlene stared at the vacant spot on the wall in disbelief at what had just happened. "No." She muttered before bursting into tears.

The two entered the courtyard and stood at 20 meters distance from each other.

Cadeyrn bowed his head and began his pre battle prayer: "Grant me this blessed strength so that I may purge my enemy. Bless me with luck and good fortune as I will donate to those without. Give my enemy mercy as I shall not. Amen"

"Calling to your feeble god for help mercenary?" Beau mocked from across the yard.

"I'm asking him to forgive you once I send your vile soul to the other world." Cadeyrn barked grabbing the blade resting on his back. "I also have the home crowd advantage."

Karasu watched in horror... The horror being that he refused help. At least I can protect Marlene.... where are the others... Relthor?

"Marlene sweetie, please come over by me. Do not worry, your Cadey will prevail." Karasu did not know one way or the other, however it seemed that Marlene already knew.

Cadeyrn stared down the towering beast like a predator would its prey. Beau examined Cadeyrn's stance for weak or blind spots in a matter of seconds. A small wind carried a cloud of dust between the two when suddenly Beau charged with blinding speeds. Cadeyrn stood unflinching and in a single move avoided the attack and sent the werewolf flying onto its back. Moving back a good distance the mercenary kept one hand forward with the other still gripped tightly on his blade. Frustrated by being so easily countered by a human, the Lycan sprinted to the side completely vanishing. Still Cadeyrn did not even flinch as his eyes shut waiting for his opponenent to strike. The beast appeared at the mercenary's flank almost garunteed an open attack on the human's neck when a slight dodge by Cadeyrn again sent the werewolf flying out of control.

"You're even more predictable than the others." Cadeyrn mocked unseathing his blade and settling it on his shoulder. Furious, Beau charged directly only to catch the titantic blade directly in the chest repelling him right back, but this time with a huge gash across his abdoman.

Every move I make he counters so easily, he is smarter than I thought, all these years I thought he was a dumb oaf who relied brute strength.

Before Beau could calculate his next plan of attack Cadeyrn was charging him with his blade readied for a strike.

Seeing the wolf's stance Cadeyrn knew the battle was his as Beau went to grab him, the human ducked, palmed his face and slammed him to the ground with awesome power. Clutching the monster by the face, Cadeyrn readied the deathblow raisng The Dragonslayer high into the air.

Marlene began jumping up and down grabbing onto Karasu with excitement.

"Kick his ass Cadey!" She yelled from the sidelines watching her hero toy with the 'demon'.

As the werewolf was kicking trying to escape the mercenary's grasp, Cadeyrn looked up towards the crowd and smiled arrogantly.

"and you were worried Master." He said ready to split the wolf's head in two.

Relthor had decided to lounge about in the sun outside with Sarik, who walked through the trees and flowers humming cheerfully. Once he noticed Relthor he waved at the Ageless One, who inturn, waved back.

"Anything new happen?" Sarik asked as he walked towards the dragon.

"Nothing, however, Cadeyrn did take Karasu for some odd reason. I left the ogre alone, he seemed somewhat...angry or confused. That's basically it," smiled Relthor. He was nervous as to what Cadeyrn would do to Karasu. He liked the warrior, but did not know what Cadeyrn thought of his love.

Sarik nodded quietly as he continued to examine a row of plants.

Relthor looked away from the plants and noticed some fighting in the distance...Oh no.

Sarik noticed it too and put his hand on the hilt of his sword, running towards the combatants.

Karasu nearly fainted with relief, as Marlene jumped up and down. "Oh thank the gods!" Karasu intoned.

Please let this be the end...

Lorathin frowned. Cadeyrn was getting cocky, which in all likelyhood meant he was screwed. "Finished him now, or I will." He said to Cadeyrn as he prepared to deal with the wolf, while still working on the other incantations.

As Cadeyrn stared the pinned monster in the eys he slammed his blade to the ground hitting nothing but the marble tile. With a widened look in his eyes, he quickly sensed where the beast had almost vanished to. Then from behind the werewolf clutched his throat with one hand squeezing the life out of him. Like a a ghost, the massive blade swung around in a circle tied to a thin wire forcing the wolf to let go lest he be cut in half. Before the White Lightening Wolf of Death could even react the blade dug itself through the wolf's shoulder and Cadeyrn drove him until pinning him to a marble pillar.

Beau was steaming with uncontrolled rage as he tried to pull the giant sword from his chest.

"Frustrating isn't it? To be so helpless against an inferior opponent." The mercenary mocked while two swords dropped into his hands from under his shirt. They were shaped unusually, the blade was shaped like an L and the hilt extended off the leg. They were the size of regular long swords, only used for throwing. The two blades fired and stuck the Varvul Kings hands to the pilliar. Approaching, Cadeyrn began flexing his hands. "Now I am going to tear your jaw right off." He growled while stepping up to the helpless wolf.

Beau's sick smile soon developed into a light chuckle that evolved into a maniacle laughter. Cadeyrn back away as the skies darkened and began to thunder.

"Human, you really thought I was like all the others? How cute, but now let us end this." Beau said as his ivory fur turned into a crimson red. With a quick burst of strength he peeled himself from the pilliar and removed the blades one by one closing in on his human prey. Short bursts of electricity were violently shooting from around the encroaching wolf. Cadeyrn continued backpeddaling trying to understand his reinvigorated foe when Beau was right by his side in a spilt second.

"You are out of your league." Beau smirked before sending the human flying into the bloody pilliar Cadeyrn had stuck him too, as he hit Beau returned the favor by sending back the strangely shaped swords through the mercenary's hand. "I am a god and you are but a lowly human, now get on your and knees and beg to me for forgiveness."

Cadeyrn knew he was indeed out of his league, but he couldn't surrender Marlene, never.

"I may be but a lowly human, but I am still above you!" The Berzerker yelled ripping his hand from the blade, scooping his massive blade, and charging the godly wolf. The Dragonslayer swung faster than the average eye could even detect, but it went straight through the sinister figure. Not because he was transparent, but because he was moving faster than anyone could even see. One last swing caught the Varvul King between the jaws, but stopped as he clamped down on the blade.

"Unbelievable." Cadeyrn uttered before his legendary sword shattered from the pressure.

Karasu stared horrified. She could not decide whether to step in or not. She did not want to defy Cadey's wishes, however, now might be the time to do something.

She looked at the others... "Are any of you going to join in?" She asked.

"No!" shouted Kalzog. "Let fate decide what happens!" His eyes glowed a terrible red. He already knew it would be the end of the human. Not many can stand up to the might of a Chaos Warrior.

Rimoru sat transfixed at what was happening. Her Cadey was being pummeled by the insolent wolf. "Come on Cadey...you can still finish him," she whispered to herself.

The crimson tinted wolf knocked the mercenary hundreds of feet into the air and lept after him.

"Bad move wolfie!" Cadeyrn snickered as he focused and ignited the blood spilled on the ground. The flame chased upward follow the dripping lifeforce of the mercenary while Cadeyrn himself came down towards Beau with his hand engulfed in a hellish fire. When all three collided there was a massive explosion and only Cadeyrn landed on the ground gracefully.

From the settling dust Beau shot out and wrenched a claw into the human's chest. Blood flowed down his leg as the wolf sank his deadly tools further through his breaking ribcage. With his free hand Beau grabbed into the human's right arm and began tearing it right from him. Bone snapped, muscles tore like weak threads, sinew and blood vessels popped until finally the human was relieved of his limb from the elbow down. Happy with his trophy the Varvul King tossed his prey to the side and began walking towards Marlene with her hero's arm in possession.

Cadeyrn clutched his missing limb blindined by the pain that filled his entire body. He was shivering from shock and would be unconcious from blood loss in a matter of moments.

"Beau!" He barked. "Are you really that stupid?"

The werewolf turned puzzled by the cocky statement until he looke down at what he was holding. A 12lb bomb. Instantly with Cadeyrn's will the missing arm detonated creating a massive explosion consuming the immediate area in a fireball.

"Damn, Rimoru, are you any good at healing?" Lorathin snapped, "If so, fix Cadeyrn, if not, get Ar'mai here now."

Marlene couldn't see through the dust, but she saw what happened to Caderyn. The young girl couldn't handle it as she teared up she threw herself into Karasu sobbing heavily.

From the blinding smoke a shadowy figure called out: "If any of you heal me I'll kill you myself!"

Rimoru opened her mouth as if to say something but closed it immediately. "Cadey, is he dead?" she asked, worry in her voice.

Kalzog's eyes narrowed slightly as he awaited what was to happen next.

The dust settled to the ground revealing Cadeyrn the only one left standing. Blood dripped heavily from his open wounds, especially his missing arm, but he was still standing proud as ever.

"Stay back." He ordered weakly as he showed signs of struggling to even remain on his feet.

"Oh Marlene!" Karasu held the sobbing girl. Karasu was ready to cry herself. She understood honor, however, she hated just standing by while he was ripped to shreads.

"Impossible," muttered Kalzog as he watched the smoke clear.

Rimoru got up and began to clap. "Cadey! You've won!" she cheered happily.

"Cadey!!!!" Karasu yelled with a smile on her face. It is not over... Karasu assumed as Cadey did not want anyone near him. Her smile dropped right off her face.

Where are Relthor and Sarik?

He felt as if he was going to collapse, the world was spinning as his body went numb. Beau was somewhere, just biding his time for a final strike.

I won't lose Marlene again, you won't take her from me!

Suddenly Cadeyrn was filled with a second wind, the Berzerker was unleashed. A crimson glow filled the sky as hundreds of metal rods began impaling the earth around the mercenary. Swiftly and narrowly he avoided the bombardment and grabbed what was left of his blade before leaping into the sky.

The two figures became dark shadows as they battled in the sky before the high sun. Strikes could be heard from the ground below as blood rained down like a sick torrent. One of the figures fell limp and descended helplessly back towards the earth. The Dragonslayer clattered just feet away from Marlene as she saw it was her hero that had lost, and badly. Deep claw marks covered his entire body and he even lost his clothes. Just as his feet met with the ground a final rod shot from the figure in the sky and ran through the Mercenary's throat pinning him to the ground still standing at an angle. His mouth gaped open and let loose a silent scream.

Beau landed wounded no more than thirteen feet away, he plucked shards of the blade from his hide as he stood victorious. Marlene let go of Karasu and ran over to Cadeyrn grabbing his hand and holding it against her face. Her hero was naked, cold, and lifeless; impaled through the neck amongst a garden of iron rods.

"Cadey no." She whimpered squeezing his hand tightly.

The entire area was covered in a thick pool of blood and Cadeyrn was its fountain.

Kalzog crossed his arms over his massive chest. It is done... he thought as he looked towards the wolfman. "What now," he asked gruffly as he looked towards the wolf.

Rimoru stared in shock at the ogre's strange behavior...as if he was working with the wolf...

Rimoru was sobbing on Lorathin's shoulder, trying desperately to come up with a spell, but she was too shocked. Her own bodyguard...dead...

Picking the last piece of Cadeyrn's blade out of his chest, Beau grabbed Marlene by her hair and pulled her away from her fallen champion.

"This is what's next, we find Tlax and organize for our next step." He said while the girl was kicking him in the face. Frustrated the wolfman tossed her in the air and carried her upside down by her legs, dragging her through a thick patch of blood.

"He was tougher than I thought." Beau commented smuggly while dragging Marlene away.

Suddenly Cadeyrn's one remaining arm reach up and began weakly pulling on the rod in vain. His eyes were completely glazed over, it was almost as if he were doing it subconciously.

Lorathin's casting, had he not been interrupted by Rimoru's grabbing of his shoulder would have imprisoned both Kalzog and Beau, in a manner such that even their combined strength would have been powerless to bend the bars of the cage that would have imprisoned them.

As it was, he did come up with a spell to discomfort the two, the appearently treacherous ogre and the savage wolf, for quite some time. The spell was one that would even affect the ogre through his 'armour'. As the three were 'picked' up by a prodigious, but curiously localized gust of wind and carried out of the palace, Beau and Kalzog would each feel a strange tingling. Any time either of them came within ten feet of the other they would be hit by nausea beyond anything they could stand.

He smiled, each was 'protected' from chaos and thus, if his suspicions were right, each other....

"In other words...better," Inzikai chuckled as he splashed his hand into the water, trying to splash some water on the floating elf.

"Your words... not mine," Ar'mai said. She was not trying to boast, just inform Inzikai of the major difference. Besides, Marsh Elves were considered by most to be a far off branch of the elven race.

"So are high elves the most common type of elf?" Inzikai asked.

"I think my old teacher was a high elf. He defanitly had the ego of one," Inzikai laughed.

"Oh my God! Marlene!" Karasu screamed as the wolf picked her up.

Karasu's eyes turned solid black as she looked at Kalzog. "You motherfucking traitor!" she screamed!

If anyone had any doubts before, they now knew that Karasu was a little more than human.

"Rimmy, snap out of it and use a healing spell!" Karasu tried to get Rimoru to concentrate on healing Cadey.

Where the hell are Sarik and Relthor?

Cadeyrn saw the wolfman exit dragging Marlene by her leg, one last time his eyes caught hers. Ashamed, defeated, and dieing, Cadeyrn closed his eyes hoping for the death that was closing in. His arm surrendered from it's futile struggle and reach to the side grasping towards Rimoru.

****

Beau could feel his stomach churn uncontrollably like a vice had siezed his intestines and began spinning. Sprinting ahead of the Ogre it suddenly stopped, falling back closer to Kalzog it happened again but this time he vommited all over the side of the walls. He ran ahead and escaped the nausious clutch.

"Some son of a bitch put a speel on us so when we're cxlose to each other we get sick!" He yelled back to Kalzog. "It shouldn't matter, I have to return to my city tonight to reorginize the army. If you care to join me, that would be most welcomed."

Marlene grabbed onto every object she could trying slow Beau down but the Varvul King simply kept walking through whatever she held. Eventually Marlene had pulled over every single item in the hallway.

Rimoru ran to Cadeyrn's side, her face full of tears. "Cadey..." she whispered as she put her slender fingers around the rod in his neck. Suddenly, a pair of reptillian hands wrapped themselves around the rod and pulled it out with a sickening sound.

The Empress set to work attempting to heal her wounded bodyguard. "Stay with me, Cadey!"

Relthor was also getting to work, forming cloth pieces to cover up the bloody wounds.
*********************************************************

Kalzog returned Karasu's deadly glare with a cocky grin. He waved his hand to her as the ground he stood on floated upwards and began to follow Beau.

He did however feel bad in the stomach, especially as Beau neared him. He winced slightly, as Beau lost his lunch all over the floor. "Don't make me sick, Fido," Kalzog growled slowly. He was afraid that he too would vomit.

"I doubt that they would accept me back now, so I will be forced to join you," Kalzog replied as his platform raced behing the running wolfman. If only this spell wasn't on me...this may all have ended... he thought angrily as he wondered who would have done this.

As soon as the rod was removed pressurized blood sprayed as high as ten feet in the air from the warrior's neck. Immediately Cadeyrn felt as if he were falling, at the same time there was a blinding light and everything turned white.

****

The five year old boy struggled to pick up the longsword that was much too large for him.

Is that the best you can do kid? You're as usefuless as your parents!

Yeah, this is the kid of Barret the Dragon's Blood Omnus, hah! What a joke!

"It's too heavy!" He cried back before getting kicked in the face.

We don't carry baby weapons here kid.

****

Ahead of Kalzog Beau's tail wagged with joy, despite the recent food excursion covering the side of the wall. "My apologies first lieutenant, but it seems as if we cannot stay beside each other. Temporary problem as my army will run through this place and slaughter every last one of them." He boasted still dragging the girl behind him.

"Well let us make haste then before the others decide to try and stop us." He said with a chuckle

"So are high elves the most common type of elf?" Inzikai asked.

"I think my old teacher was a high elf. He defiantly had the ego of one," Inzikai laughed.

"No... not the most common," Ar'mai admitted. "In fact, there are probably less High Elves then there are of many other kinds like Wood Elves and Night Elves. However, High Elves tend to be the ones people know or talk about, so there is often the impression that there are a lot of us."

She continued to lay under the warm sun of the morning as the water droplets that covered her body sparkled as the sun's rays reflected off them. It was very relaxing as she was seemingly oblivious to the gruesome battle that had just taken place.

"Kavia, give me a towel!" Sarik shouted as he put his hand on Cadeyrn's neck, covering the spurting blood as best he could. Kavia rushed over and complied.

"Cadey, Cadey! Listen to me! Stay with us Cadey!" cried Rimoru as she continued her healing spells, trying several different ones.

**********************************************************

"And what if they do happen to revive your other half?" Kalzog called out as he followed at a distance. "He'll seek his revenge and may provide some distraction."

Kalzog's eyes wandered to the pre-teen as he wondered what they would do once they found out the future...

Inzikai admired Ar'mai's body on the side of the pool, not daring to jump in. He feared he would lose his cloak, or atleast reveal some of his new form to the elf. His horns, his peeling scales, his reddish skin...

Instead he just sat on the side. "You know, I've heard several times that you've been called 'Princess'. Are you truly a princess?"

"If he does somehow survive and return, I will tear his head off with my bear hands. Or I might just have you do it, either way the human is no threat and a minimal distraction at best. By this time tomorrow we'll have thousands of my people lined up for war." Beau replied smirking.

****

Faintly Caderyn could hear freindly voices calling in the distance. This wasn't the first time he was on the brink of death, the night he killed 3,000 soldiers to save Marlene. Again there was someone keeping him from falling over the edge.

When he opened his eyes he saw a world of shadows, only on figure stood out from the sillhouettes hovering over him. He carried a long scythe and slowly glided towards the fallen warrior.

"Come on home son, we miss you." A vaguely familiar voice called from the reaper's shell.

"Mother?" Cadeyrn asked reaching towards its skeletal hand smiling.

Relthor looked oddly at Rimoru. "You're...his mother?" he asked quietly, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

Rimoru returned his look with her own surprised look. "N-no! I have never been pregnant!" she replied.

"Shut up and help me!" growled Sarik as he used his minor healing powers to aid in Cadeyrn's recovery.

**********************************************************

Kalzog shook his head slowly. Any little distraction could cause the end of a strategy... he thought grimly.

Instead he just sat on the side. "You know, I've heard several times that you've been called 'Princess'. Are you truly a princess?"

Ar'mai paused for a moment, not saying a word as she listened to the soft breeze brush across the water.

"Yes... it is true," she admitted.

Before grasping death's hand the visual image of Marlene being dragged away by Beau flashed into his eyes. He reeled his hand back and began gritting his teeth with furious anger. The pain filling his entire body was felt again and the sillhouettes that filled the world of shadows turned to the people caring for him.

"Send a message to Opprimus in the Yalyi Mountains, sign it with my name." He gurgled before slipping into unconciousess again.

"Ah, your highness, I never would have guessed," replied Inzikai as he walked along the side of the pool, keeping his eyes on Ar'mai. "Are you willing to tell me why you have not settled down and started a family? Aren't your parents worried about you?"

"Ah, your highness, I never would have guessed," replied Inzikai as he walked along the side of the pool, keeping his eyes on Ar'mai. "Are you willing to tell me why you have not settled down and started a family? Aren't your parents worried about you?"

It was a rather simple answer, "Because I don't want to."

"They used to be worried," Ar'mai explained, "But I have been doing this for so long now that they have just sort of accepted it. And please, don't call me 'Highness'," she added.

"Of course, Ar'mai. I see how you're parents would accept your absence...you do tend to get what you want," Inzikai chuckled. "Have you ever loved someone?"

**********************************************************

Rimoru looked at Cadeyrn with worry. "Opprimus...someone, get the gnome and get him to write that message!" she shouted. Relthor nodded his head as he ran inside, avoiding the trashed palace.

Cadeyrn gently placed his hand on Rimoru's cheeks. It was still covered in blood and burnt wolfen flesh that stank to high heaven.

"I lost her." he began sobbing as he becamed deeply ashamed of himself. "I am so weak and pathetic I couldn't even protect a little girl, how can I even guard an empress!?"

"Of course, Ar'mai. I see how you're parents would accept your absence...you do tend to get what you want," Inzikai chuckled. "Have you ever loved someone?"

"My life, my decisions..." Ar'mai said with a slight smile on her face, however, that smile disappeared as Inzikai asked a very personal question. "Now, now - I think we already went through this question and answer session and that time has past."

"Ah, forgive me. I had...forgotten," Inzikai smiled. Do you love me? he thought to himself as he watched Ar'mai float in the pool. "Aren't you worried that you're going to wrinkle up like a prune?"

**********************************************************

Rimoru put her own hand on Cadeyrn's. "You can, Cadey. You can rescue her. You have never met your match. You still live. You can still fight!" Rimoru replied, inching closer to Cadeyrn.

"I can't fight anymore, my sword, my arm, and my spirit have been broken. How can I defeat a god?" He whimpered as even speaking felt like a razor was dancing in his neck.

He raised his bloody stub of an arm in the air revealing the twisted flesh and bones.

****

Beau began running through the desert just fast enough for Kalzog to keep pace.

"Keep up ogre because I won't slow down until we reach the forrest." He yelled behind him with Marlene clutched firmly in his grip.

Rimoru smiled weakly at Cadeyrn. "He is no god, Cadey. Your missing limb...can be replaced. I have faith in you. I'm sure your friends would be willing to aid you in defeating that fiend," she replied as she looked sadly into his eyes.

Tears fell down her face as she pressed her lips softly on Cadeyrn's. "We have faith in you, Cadey..." she whispered.

**********************************************************

"I don't want your weak stomach to belch out your insides, wolf," shot back Kalzog as he flew slightly faster.

Cadeyrn smiled weakly as Rimoru gently kissed him again. "Your faith in me...is warming." He said gently looking around the battleground and admiring the damage.

"I will fight him again, and if I cannot kill him then I will die trying. I would rather fall into the embrace of death then to fail Marlene and you again." He admitted trying to sit up. In pain he began gritting his teeth, the wolf's claws had slashed three inches into his stomach tearing most of his abdomanal muscles like paper.

****

"Touce Ogre!." Beau yelled back with a hint of humor in his voice.

"Ah, forgive me. I had...forgotten," Inzikai smiled. Do you love me? he thought to himself as he watched Ar'mai float in the pool. "Aren't you worried that you're going to wrinkle up like a prune?"

Ar'mai gave a slight shrug, indicating that she wasn't. However, nonetheless, she floated over to the side of the pool with the help of her arms and then pulled herself out.

She stood in the warm sun, water dripping off her body, as she allowed it to dry her...

Maverion was awakened by the sound of fighting. His hand instinctively moved toward his sword, by then he realized that the room was still empty, and whatever the conflict was, it was happening outside. Tilting his chair forward, all four feet of it were back on the ground and Mave stood up, heading over to the windows.

Moving to the wall and peeking through the edge of the large window, using the shadows of the curtains to help hide himself, he looked out into the jungle that was Rimoru's backyard. He saw two figures fighting, and at first wondered if a wild animal had been loosed on the grounds, but then nhe noticed that several other people were standing around, simply watching. One of those, the big and fat one, certainly looked like he could join the fray if it were a wild animal, but he too just stood there and watched.

Perhaps it was some kind of gladiatorial games, then? Or at the least a spar? Maverion kept watching from his relatively hidden location until the anthropomorphic wolf dealt the final blow to the human. When the the victor left and the others scrambled around the defeated one, trying to help him, Mave figured there might have been something more going on.

Either way, Rimoru was among those trying to help the human, and since he, Rothargot, and Teralynn needed her favor, he decided to help her somehow. The others were probably the people Inzikai spoke of, those who were trying to get the book before they did. Well, whoever said the greatest rewards came from taking no risk?

Mave left the room and found a sentry down the hall. "Where are the guards' barracks?" he asked.

"What business is it of yours?" the sentry replied.

Maverion narrowed his eyes. "Empress Rimoru has sent me to retrieve something from there, and as I am new here, I have still to learn where everything is. So I would suggest you answer me, guard, because if the Empress does not get what she wants in a reasonable amount of time, then I will tell her it is you who delayed me, and her wrath will fall on you. Understand?"

"Y-yes, sir," the sentry said before explaining how to get to the barracks.

Once there, Maverion found a number of off-duty guards in civilian attire. As he did not recognize any of the faces as guards that he had already met, he said to them, "Hi, I'm new here. Empress Rimoru requires some medicinal herbs and potions, but..." he scratched the back of his head, as if embarassed, "I still don't know where anything is. Can someone help me?"

One of the men, with his weapon still attached to his belt, said, "Sure, kid. I'll show you."

When they reached the storeroom, Mave told the man, "Would you mind carrying some of these for me? I'm sure the Empress would appreciate you helping even when you're not on duty."

"Whatever, kid," the guard answered with a nod, and grabbed a few of the herbs and potions himself.

The two of them rushed out to where Caderyn was.

"Step back," the guard told the people surrounding the mortally injured human - except for Rimoru, of course. He would never order Rimoru around. Having some knowledge of how to use the herbs and potions, being badly maimed himself a few times, he knelt down by Caderyn and prepared the items.

Maverion stood near the guard, ready to offer whatever item the guard needed from his hands, and hoping that the others Inzikai spoke of would think that he was with this guard, and was perhaps an off-duty guard himself.

***

"No," Teralynn answered Valtrox in regards to the question of whether she had killed him or not, "for you did not order me to. If you so wish, then I can arrange it."

"Where the hell is Ar'mai?" Karasu asked angrily. "She also has healing powers, does she not?" Karasu asked while tending to his wounds the best she could.

"Hold on Cadey... hold on..."

"Thank you Karasu." The bodyguard said weakly as he barely managed to sit completely upright. "I might just manage to survive."

He glanced over to his blade that was in pieces.

"He broke my sword like it was nothing, that blade pierced even the thickest of hides. Opprimus is going to kill me when he sees this." Cadeyrn laughed trying to ignore the horrible pain.

Rimoru's eyes turned to Maverion. "Mave! You've come at the most opportune time! And with help!" she smiled.

"Cadey, you shouldn't sit up, not yet...we'll take you to a room," she smiled as she kept her hands on Cadeyrn's chest.

**********************************************************

Valtrox smiled at Teralynn. "Rothargot was right about you. Loyal to the end."

"As for Rothargot, he too is loyal to the end. End your spell over him. Then, I would like to explain a few things to you."

"I want to walk and make sure legs still work." Cadeyrn said weakly smiling motioning his eyes past his naked body towards his horrifcally carved up legs. Ligaments laid over his barren skin like uprooted wire, a couple of deep gashes revealed patches of yellowish bone.

"Who is Opprimus?" Karasu asked, perplexed.

She then whisped, quietly enough for no one to hear... "Should one of us follow them, or do we know where they are going? I still would like to remain anonymous for as long as I can. I think it gives me a bit of an edge." Karasu sighed and looked at Relthor; although my eyes turning solid black may be a give-away that I am not merely human, however, no one should know what...

"Do you know of anything we can do as our kind to help further, Kavia?"

"I want to walk and make sure legs still work." Cadeyrn said weakly smiling motioning his eyes past his naked body towards his horrifcally carved up legs. Ligaments laid over his barren skin like uprooted wire, a couple of deep gashes revealed patches of yellowish bone.


"Someone find Ar'mai!" Karasu yelled. Perhaps she can finish the healing for Cadey!" She looked at Cadey, I am so happy you are alive, and believe me, we will get Marlene back if it takes everything we have!"

"Opprimus is a legendary blacksmith who made The Dragonslayer, he was the one who rescued me from the bandit group when I was younger and raised me until I became a mercenary." Cadeyrn answered gently touching the horrific gashes in his legs.

"They're going to Varvulheim, the capital of their god forsaken race." He whispered back almost angry.

"I have not the faintest clue, Karasu," Relthor replied sadly. He did not want any of them to give away their secrets, and it would be unwise if Karasu or Relthor revealed their true form in this city. If the ban against dragons was still active, a dragon hunt may be enacted, especially if Rimoru's ruling power is diminishing with the people.

"Do not change forms, my love," Relthor whispered quietly.

"No! Cadeyrn, there will be time for that later," Rimoru replied in response to him attempting to walk. She was amazed he would attempt something like that, considering his legs may just as well been shreds.

"Good idea Relthor... besides, if I changed, I would take half the palace with me when taking off, and just because of my... size." Karasu said, quite embarrassed.

"I am so grateful Cadey is OK. But I wan't Marlene back!"

"Opprimus will be here soon, he doesn't live too far away and he travels fast, especially if its for me. Could you help me to a bed, this ground is covered in metal shards." He said looking Rimoru in the eyes. "As I care for Marlene, Opprimus did the same for me."

"Of course, Cadey, of course," Rimoru whispered. She waved her hands slowly and sloppily, Cadeyrn lifting evenly off the floor. She walked indoors and up the stairs, Cadeyrn floating closely behind her. She opened a door nearby the Sarik's room and let Cadeyrn descend slowly on the comfrotable bed.

"Cadey, if you ever need anything, I will be here for you," Rimoru said, putting her arms around him, avoiding his wounds.

**********************************************************

As Rimoru took Cadeyrn to a room, Sarik looked at the others as he wiped blood from his hands with one of Relthor's conjured towels. "I'm guessing that Cadeyrn knows where we can find Beau. I doubt he's going to let us go without him either, so we'll have to heal him fast. As he is healing, I will keep trying to gain access to Rimoru's Library."

*sigh* Karasu felt rather helpless and did not know what to do. "What now Relthor?" She asked him.

"I seek to serve," Maverion said to Rimoru, like a subordinate to his superior.

The guard continued doing what he could for Cadeyrn, but figured the man was dead meat, as a normal human would be in that condition. Then Rimoru took the injured man away, and there was little left to do.

Both Mave and the guard began cleaning up the items they brought.

***

Teralynn nodded.

In Rothargot's mind, Valtrox loosened his grip slightly. "No..." the dragon boomed. "You will get that book for me first. But do not fail me again." The giant hand placed Rothargot back on the ledge.

Valtrox then looked over to the spot in the lava where Teralynn disappeared to. With a gesture of his hand, the burnt remains of Teralynn lifted up out of the lava, and soon refleshed itself into a normal Teralynn again. The body opened its eyes and gasped for air as it floated back to the ledge where the real Teralynn would be standing. The fake Tera continued breathing hard, clearly shaken up, until she had recovered for the most part.

"And do not bother me with another mortal again," Valtrox said to Rothargot, before all the illusions blended smoothly back into reality.

"Thank you Rimoru, I promise I'll be on my feet my tomorrow morning." He said smiling as the bed embraced him softly.

Suddenly a gruff looking man threw open the palace doors with a large horse and a massive pack on his back. He stormed down the hallway confronting Rimoru and the others.

"Where's the idiot?" He barked examining the empress while pushing a gnome away with his heel. "Someone sent me this letter written in his name, now what happened to that big moron that he couldn't write it himself!?"

Cadeyrn gently pulled the covers over his eyes as he heard his father figure barking through the door.

"Well Relthor, do what you want. I am going up to the bedroom. I need to rest and to think." Karasu told Relthor not knowing whether he would follow. He never answered her, so she just did what she wanted.

Relthor nodded and followed after Karasu. "Perhaps we can help formulate some plan to get the child back...And Kalzog. Why did he do it?"

**********************************************************

Rimoru would have dealt with the man painfully, smashing through her doors like that, but considering Cadeyrn sent for the man, she let it slide.

The Empress pointed to the bed. "He's wounded badly," she managed to say.

"That is what is troubling me. Kavia. I am livid over this. They better not touch a hair on Marlene's head." A tear fell down Karasu's face.

"As for a plan, I have no clue right now." Karasu turned and held Relthor as tears fell down her face. "I feel so helpless."

"Don't worry, Karasu. We'll get them back," Relthor replied in a comforting way. He brought his arms around Karasu and lightly patted her on the back.

"Although Kalzog was not the nicest fellow...I figured Inzikai would prove himself the most dangerous...I suppose we were all wrong about the both of them," he continued as he looked off into the distance.

"Thank you young lady." The older man said and while walking by pinched the empress' butt. Stepping into the room the monk like figure dropped the massive bag with a thunderous thud.

"Cadeyrn, my boy, why is it you only call upon me when you need something, never just to say hi?" Opprimus asked stripping his hood cloak revealing a large scarred figure.

Suddenly he ripped the covers away from the mercenary and threw the blankets out the window. Examining the mercenary's every wound he reeled back with disgust.

"So you fought him didn't you?" He questioned clenching his fist with frustration.

"Yeah." Cadeyrn answered embarressed.

"Then I won't help you; The first time this happened it was when you killed that lord despite me telling you not to work form him, then it was when you barely survived that fight with the dragon despite me telling you not to, and now you're injured again because you won't listen to me! Well you can get your help elsewhere." Opprimus scolded walking out of the room.

"He has Marlene." The mercenary responded coldly and stopped Opprimus at the door.

"You know your father was just as stubborn." The smith replied kicking over the massive pack he carried in spilling all sorts of metal and parts. "Where's your sword? I imagine it needs repairs with the way you use it."

Slowly Cadeyrn pointed to a stumb of metal connected to a hilt in the corner. Immediately Opprimus flew over and bonked him on the head with his hammer.

"You broke an unbreakable sword!?" The smith grunted while turning back toward Rimoru. "I trust you have a forge and if you a lot of unique metals and materials I'd like to see them."

"Don't worry, Karasu. We'll get them back," Relthor replied in a comforting way. He brought his arms around Karasu and lightly patted her on the back.

"Although Kalzog was not the nicest fellow...I figured Inzikai would prove himself the most dangerous...I suppose we were all wrong about the both of them," he continued as he looked off into the distance.
OOPS... I meant Kavia... sorry...

ooc: LoL it seemed slightly out of place at first, but either works.
Rimoru jumped in surprised as the man pinched her hind quarters. She smiled slightly, her face turning a dark red.

"You're asking the goddess of Iskan if she has rare materials?" she asked as she leaned seductively against the door. "Come, I'll show you."

"Excellent, the better the materials the stronger I can make his new blade." Opprimus said with delight following the young lady.

"So, did he at least put up a decent fight?" He asked with his eyes zoomed in on the Empress' lower half.

"Shall we relax and get some rest Relthor?", Karasu said as she threw off her weapons belt and plopped on the bed.

"You know what? I miss being able to fly... I know it is out of the question, but I still miss it." She smiled.

"Why do you not join me in bed Relthor?" Karasu said with a seductive look in her eyes.

ooc: "TB" hyper ;)

Relthor's lips immediately broke out into a smile as he lay down next to Karasu. "You always seem to lighten up the mood, Karasu," Relthor said as he planted a kiss on Karasu's full lips, putting his arms around her and rubbing her sides slowly.

"When we are done with all this, We can fly anywhere we want, all over...It will be fun," he laughed before he kissed her again.

**********************************************************

"He put up a great fight," she replied as she purposely added a greater sway to her walk, before running her hands down her thighs.

"Like what you see?" she asked without turning around to look at him.

"I'd expect no less from him, he always was an excellent swordsman and brilliant tactician." He remarked "However, he never did know his limits, the boy never could recognize his own mortality."

He smirked when the empress noticed him looking.

"What can I say? I like the way you're put together." He admitted pushing his glasses against his face. "Unlike the boy I'm not one to be shy; I see something I want, I take it."

Opprimus moved closer throwing an arm around her.

Rothargot nodded slowly. "Master, and what of Inzikai? And Maverion? They are both loyal mortals to you as well," Rothargot asked quietly, taking a glance at Teralynn.

Valtrox's smile widened. "What is he talking about?" the god asked as he seemed to recline.

"Everyone likes the way I'm put together," Rimoru chuckled as she let him put his arm around her. "Just don't overstep your boundaries," she added, winking at Opprimus.

They soon arrived to a room that was really just a ceiling. There were no walls, other than the palace walls with the door they just came out of. A cool breeze pasted through. "Here's the forge. The materials are in some of the bins located under the tables," Rimoru said as she pointed to long tables with scraps and pieces of welded metal. Underneath the tables were giant bins of labels, stating the contents of that tub.

After exiting the pool area and drying off slightly, Ar'mai had begun walking through the palace. She passed by Rimoru and a strange man that she had not seen before, but thought nothing of it...

"You're like a glass sword, absolutely beautiful, easy and fun to use, looks very frail, but is even sturdier than most metals." The old man said winking back. Observing the various materials he began chuckling "yes this will be quite sufficient. Considering the enemy, might I ask to borrow a good amount of pure silver. If it isn't pure than I'll purify myself given I am a priest, but it will take some time."

Immediately he began lining up sheets of precious metal and started saying their purposes outloud. "Flexible, Strength, Durability, Sharpness, Softness." He turned to the empress and smiled. "Might I ask if you have diamond or another mineral like it? It is not necessary but the last sword was made of a dragon's tooth and if Beau can snap that..."

So focused and concentrated his eyes almost looked through the metal into another world. Almost as if he was looking into the soul of the material.

After his efforts in dealing with the ogre and wolf, Lorathin had headed for the nearest bench, chair or couch and crashed in it while falling asleep.

"Relthor, I see you are exhuasted. I am going to go see Sarik and see what he has to say about all of this. I will be back soon. Get some rest, my love."

Karasu kissed him and put her weapons belt back on considering all that had just happened. She definitely wanted to be prepared.

She then walked out of the room.

ooc: TG Hyper

Relthor smiled at Karasu, nodding gently. "I'll dream about you, my love. Be careful," he replied quietly, kissing her gently before closing his eyes again. Relthor felt more passion and energy each time they were together. He loved it, however grew incredibly tired after each session.

**********************************************************
Sarik was washing his hands with a fountain as servants bustled about cleaning up the ruined furniture. Blast...so many things...diverting us from our mission...Someone will need to keep watch over Inzikai if most of us are going to aid Cadeyrn in his fight... he thought as Cadeyrn's blood flowed down a drain.

Sarik noticed Karasu walking about, revealing as ever, beautiful as always.

"Karasu, I had somethings to ask you!" he called out to her, waving his cleanest hand. He thought he had seen Karasu's eyes flash during the fight, and had begun to wonder if it was just part of an overactive imagination.

**********************************************************

Rimoru giggled quietly. A glass sword? Sounds magnificent... Rimoru admired the words he used, having never been called a glass sword. She liked it.

"Pure silver? And diamonds? No problem," Rimoru replied as she snapped her fingers. A cart of silver bars appeared, along with one large diamond at the top.

She was eager to watch the man craft this new sword.

**********************************************************

Inzikai followed Ar'mai through the palace. As they passed Rimoru, he noticed her give him a seductive smile as well as a little wink before passing on. Inzikai walked a little closer to Ar'mai.

"You never told me your exact age, you know," Inzikai laughed.

"Sarik! We must have ESP," Karasu grinned. "I have been looking for you actually." She smiled at him. "I think we have some things maybe we can talk about and come up with some solutions, or at least bat around some ideas..." Karasu informed him.

"Personally, I would like to go somewhere relaxing. How about the garden... in the pool and pond area?" She asked him.

"If that is your wish, Karasu," Sarik replied as he dried his hands off a nearby towel.

Sarik walked to the back door and opened it, waiting for Karasu to exit. "Ladies first," he smiled.

"Thank you very much Sarik. I want to thank you for your hospitality and kindness ever since we first met. You have always treated me well, unlike some of the others." Karasu told him. "And I appreciate it." She smiled.

They entered the beautiful gardens and it seemed like heaven. "It is so beautiful it takes your breath away!" Karasu exclaimed.

"Let us find a place near the pool to relax in the sun. Does that sound OK to you?"

ooc: TG Hyper! Read it before you post here ;)
"Of course," Sarik replied. "Oh don't thank me, Karasu. The Patriarch has taught his people kindness. The Order of the White Serpant is big on that kind of stuff. Unfortunately for our neighbors, the Imperium, justice and good does not always mix."

"I have to commend Rimoru for growing such beautiful flowers. Especially many of the rarer ones." Sarik continued as he walked towards the pool.

"You should meet the Patriarch, I get the feeling you two would get along," Sarik said as they closed in on the cool waters.

Opprimus was stunned at the woman's ability.

"That was incredible!" He said picking up the silver bar and tossing it up and down judging its weight and density. "Pure silver, as pure as any I've ever worked with."

The fire in the forge began to die down with the piece of steel glowing inside of it. The smith examined it and frowned. "Not hot enough." He smirked before extending his hand and the forge exploded in a hellish blue flame. "Much better."

Moving back and forth he had already molded and created the basic out of the sword. It was massive, much bigger than the last one, the metal for the inner layer was 8 feet long two feet wide with a serrated edge on both sides.

"While the metal is heating for the next few hours I'm going to go work on the boy's arm." He said leaving with devious smirk. "Tell me how is it a big lug like Cade ended working for a pretty little thing like you?"

"Well, Sarik, you certainly learned your kindness well." Karasu smiled at Sarik.

"I have to agree with you. This garden is stunning," she raised her arms in the air and spun around. "I have never seen anything like it. Every plant in existence must reside in here!" Karasu exclaimed.

"Oh! I did not know the pool was so close. Perhaps we should walk around the gardens later anyway." Karasu grinned.

She let the comment about the Patriarch slide.

Rimoru blushed slightly at Opprimus' comment. "Well, I sent my servants to find capable bodyguards...and Cadeyrn's abilities stood out. I have had no regrets either..."

Rimoru noticed Lorathin lounging around on a nearby sofa and smiled to herself. "Opprimus, if you don't mind, I'm going to visit a friend of mine," she said quietly, walking towards Lorathin.

Rimoru knelt down next to the sleeping mage and stroked his cheek with her delicate, soft, and warm hands. "Azy, what are you doing?" she asked dreamily, and quietly.

Sarik smiled as he walked to the pools edge. He sat down next to it and smiled at Karasu. "I'd be willing to enjoy a walk through Rimoru's gardens. Nature always has a calming affect on me."

"So, would you like me to start, or would you like to start?" Sarik chuckled as he looked up to Karasu's beautiful face.

"The boy is quite capable, although bullheaded and relentless to the point of self destruction." The blacksmith added smiling. "Of course empress."

Entering Cadeyrn's room Opprimus saw the mercenary trying to stand from the edge of the bed.

"Sit down boy, you're going to need your energy." Opprimus ordered grabbing a hunk of metal that was shaped like a hand. There other various metal body parts in the pile of metal scraps. "I always knew you would do something like this, so I came prepared."

He pulled on a string attached to the hand and the wrist slung open revealing a 40mm cavity.

"A cannon, capable of firing explosive shells and solid metal slugs. You want need the firing cord because you heat the gunpowder with your abilities, but down over heat it because if you have an explosive shell loaded it's going to detonate sending metal shrapnel into your face!" The fatherly figure said with a sinister smile before he pulled out a large cross bow and snapped it on top of the arm. He jammed in a wooden slip filled with 24 bolts. "Rapid firing, self loading ancient elm cross bow. All with silver tipped bolts accurate up to a 70 yards."

"That's pretty impressive, almost as if you knew something like this was going to happen." Cadeyrn said concerned.

"I knew you'd do something stupid and lose a limb, so I prepared myself." Opprimus growled back. "Keep in mind the movements in the fingers and wrist are slow, akward, and weak. I'm going to attach a series of metal strings to y the ligaments in your elbow. You'll be able to support the weight of your blade, but not hold it alone. Also, the procedure is going to...well you had better find something to bite down on boy."

"Why do you not begin, Sarik. You know more about this entire situation than I do. I never know what to expect around here." Karasu smiled.

Lorathin replied in a sleepy tone, his eyes still shut, "Hello there Rimoru. I'm just resting."

Sarik looked into Karasu's beautiful eyes, as if searching for something. "Karasu, your eyes are beautiful..." he commented, before catching himself.

"What I meant was, they are unlike anything I've ever seen. How...what...."

"Ugh...I don't know how to phrase this," he said quietly, his brows furrowing. "Karasu, your eyes turned black when you yelled at Kalzog. How did you do that? What were you doing?"

**********************************************************

"Wouldn't you rather rest in a comfortable bed, Azy?" Rimoru asked sweetly as she rested her cheek on Azrael's chest.

"My eyes..." Karasu chuckled. "Strangely, they change color when I am angry, it seems. It does not happen very often. This may only have been the third time, but I do not know why. It seems to be a manifistation of rage." Karasu lied somewhat, but the black was usually a manifestation of rage, so it was not an out and out lie.

"So Sarik, what is going on around here!?" Karasu asked as she layed on her back absorbing some warm sun.

As Beau approached the edge of forrest where the trees grew hundreds of feet in the sky he stopped and smiled.

"Home." He muttered while walking into the shadows of the giant evergreens. Suddenly the wolf raised his hand in the air as he saw 8 werewolfs stalking in the shadows.

"Soldiers, your king has returned." He ordered with Marlene still in his grasp. From the darkness a group of armored wolfmen stepped forwards and knelt.

"Your higness, have you returned to fufill the prophecy?" Asked the Wolf captain.

The king smiled to Kalzog as he proceeded with a line of werewolf guards on both sides. Through the forrest more and more guards filed in with them, leaping from the shadows. By the time they had reached the massive mountain entrance to Varvulheim they had become a convoy of 60 wolves.

The giant metal doors creaked opened followed by an erie howl from the watchman. Inside it was an endless underground city illuminated by dark blue crystals lining the ceiling, just like a sky, it was a glorious city rife with activity. Varvul flowed back and forth, trading, taking their pups to school, training, etc, etc. Homes were very simliar to the old legion of the north. (think an indoor version of Rome). As the king and his soldiers walked through the streets every Varvul knelt as they created a lane to a massive keep at the end of the town built into the mountain.

Sarik turned away, trying not to stare at Karasu's revealing body. He was devoted to the Order and to his fiance. Even with these thoughts, he could not help himself but admire her beauty.

After a small moment of silence, Sarik broke out of his trance. "I'm sorry," he quickly said, in case she noticed his wanting gaze.

" I was just...trying to think of ways we could gain access to the Library. Rimoru said they were remodeling it, however I detect something else at play," Sarik said as an excuse for his looking, as well as replying to Karasu's question. "Karasu, I am sorry if this is personal, you do not have to answer it. Are you married?"

"Probaby." He replied as he felt Rimoru resting her head on his chest, "But there weren't any nearby, so I crashed here."

"Smells like Wet dog," Kalzog growled as he walked behind Beau. He kept himself on guard, should any of this be a trap, however he stole glances at the young Marlene, checking for signs if she were awake.

**********************************************************

"I'll take you to one, Azy," Rimoru replied quietly, seeming to feel tired as well.

"Thank you." He replied as he cocked open an eye to look at the empress.

"I do not think we are the only ones here, Sarik... call it a hunch. Rimmy may not be playing straight with us. The presence of Inzi makes me very very suspicious. I am concerned that some devoted to the V-Man may be here. I do not believe Inzi's story about leaving Valtrox, or Inzi would be dead." Karasu sighed.

She looked down... "Rimmy, as close as we always were, seems to feel she is in some strange competition with me. It certainly seems that way."

Karasu looked sadly into Sarik's eyes. "Unfortunately, I believe she would now lie to me as well."

Karasu's eyes began to water when she thought about all the good times they had years ago.

"I am sorry Sarik... It is just that Rimmy and I were best friends for a long time, and she resents me for some reason now." Karasu sighed.

"Oh, the answer to your last question. I am not married Sarik. You are getting married are you not?" Karasu asked?

"No, he's back." One of the mother wolves mourned watching the king and his envoy walking down the center street.

The inside of the castle was mostly a long hall, a hundred feet high with two rows of pilliars that led to the throne. There were hundreds of the Elite Guard lined up staring at the kind with hateful eyes. In the throne another wolf sat staring resentfully.

"What are you doing in my throne Latrune?" Beau growled stepping towards his replacement.

"The people have done just fine, we have rebuilt our kingdom and made peace wi-" He was interrupted as Beau slashed his throat open.

"Have you forgot the way our heirarchy works? The strongest are always the leader." He mocked while tossing the dead body down the hall; the elite guard stepped forward with their weapons drawn encircling Kalzog. "Guards, don't waste your lives, we will need all of you for the upcoming war with the humans."

Beau sat in his throne motioning for Kalzog to step forward.

"Retrieve every able male and female over one years age and take them to the armory." Beau ordered to his elite guard while smiling. "and bring me a collar with a chain for my dog." He added shaking Marlene awake.

"What do you think first Liuetenant?" He asked looking over to the ogre.

Sarik smiled. "I would love to get married, Karasu...however...this mission may cause the end of us all. I served my last mission when I got home, and I prepared to enjoy the rest of my life with my beloved...however...I was sent on this mission..." he replied, a dark tone in his voice, as his fists clenched as he looked downwards.

He returned his gaze to Karasu. "I'm sorry Karasu. I should not act this way, especially to you. I'm sure you would rather not listen to my problems when we have so many of our own. I have sworn myself to the Order, in so I will comply with their every order.

"Don't cry. I would expect you to give Rimoru a run for her money. You are quite beautiful yourself, and she's probably just staking her claims," Sarik laughed as he wiped away Karasu's tears with his hand, careful not to scratch her with his rough scales.

"As for Valtrox and his lackeys...yeah, I refuse to believe what Inzikai said. However, it makes me begin to question my friends now that Kalzog aided in the kidnapping of Marlene. What if Inzikai is telling the truth? What if he seeks our help in escaping his master's wrath?"

**********************************************************

"Come on, Azy, let's go to bed," Rimoru smiled as she noticed his eye open. She tugged lightly on his arm as she took her head off his chest.

As the guards circled around the ogre, Kalzog sneered at them, but otherwise, did nothing.

"Think of what? Your city? Slightly sickening, as you all smell rather bad," Kalzog grinned. "Your friend on the throne, you killed him to fast. You should entertain yourself by watching them squierm and beg for mercy. And your chain...I hope, for your sake, you mean the human."

"However, I must commend you at the grandness of your city. I would never have expected it..."

"Sarik, you will make it! Remember your beloved and let her give you strength. I realize what we are up against, but... we... we just have to prevail!" Karasu yelled with hope in her voice.

"If Rimmy only was not acting like a child, we would be in that library now." Karasu felt bad about that as well.

"I personally would like to kill Kalzog. How dare he!" Karasu felt her eyes starting to change and took a few deep breaths.

"Regardless of Kalzog's betrayal, I believe Inzi is still with Valtrox. Nothing will convince me otherwise." Karasu said staunchly.

"What about this rude Ar'mai person who is always by Inzi's side. Is she on the side of Valtrox as well? Remember that neither her nor Inzi came to help during the fight... I do not trust her one bit.

"By the way Sarik," Karasu looked him deeply in the eyes, "I am here to listen to you should you have any personal problems. They are no bother in the least and I would be happy to help if I can." Karasu gave him an 'I am here for you' look.

"Alright." He replied in a lazy tone as she tugged on his arm and he got up.

Sarik smiled warmly at Karasu. "Thank you, Karasu. I am glad you have come with us. Your help would be greatly appreciated."

Sarik felt like hugging the human, however, he decided it would be best not to do such things. Better to be safe, rather than sorry, He thought as he looked towards the pool. An excuse to stop staring at her.

"I don't know, Karasu. Now that I think back to it, Kalzog could have done so many other things, had he wanted Cadeyrn dead. He's too chaotic for me to figure him out. Which, I suppose is why he worships Ogruk, the god of chaos," he laughed quietly.

"Ar'mai. Don't take her attitude personally," laughed Sarik. "She is quite kind, in a stern sort of way. She is staunch, defiant, always eager for battle. She is slightly cocky, but we're all like that, aren't we? Ar'mai and I are good friends, and I doubt she would betray us. Perhaps Inzikai was distracting her during the fight. Perhaps they didn't even hear anything."

Sarik absent-mindedly let his eyes wander back to Karasu's form. "I'm surprised someone as pretty as you has not been married yet. Why?" he asked, before suddenly clamping his hands around his mouth.

"I'm so sorry, Karasu! I am losing my manners..." he said apologetically.
**********************************************************

Rimoru smiled as she kissed Azrael lightly on the cheek and leaned on him as they walked up the stairs. She led him down the hallway to a dead-end. She pulled on a torch and snapped her fingers.

Suddenly, they found themselves back in Rimoru's room. Rimoru led Lorathin to her bed and laid herself down on one side, patting the bed for Lorathin to lay down on the other.

Lorathin mentally chuckled at the seeming everywhereness of Rimoru's room. With a grateful smile, he laided down on her bed, and drifted off almost immediately as he sunk into the softness of the bed.

"Lazy," Rimoru chuckled as he feel asleep so soon. She wrapped her arm around him and snuggled close to the mage, letting her soft and delicate body rub up against his, before slowly closing her eyes as well.

When Lorathin awoke a short while later with Rimoru draped over him, he smiled as he partially disentangled himself so he could rotate and watch her sleep.

Rimoru awoke as Lorathin moved, but barely opened her eyes.

She smiled at Azrael. "What's the matter, Azy?" she asked quietly, still half-asleep. The Empress stroked Azrael's face again as she closed her eyes.

"Nothing's wrong, I simply wished to watch you sleep." He replied as she stroked his cheek.

Rimoru smiled lazily. "You like to watch women sleep, or just me?" she asked as she readjusted herself closer to Lorathin.

"Both." He replied, "There's just something serene about watching a woman sleep, especially when she is beautiful."

Rimoru smiled, blushing slightly. "You flatter me, Azy," she replied, moving closer to Lorathin, kissing him gently on the neck, moving up to his lips.

"I was never kissed goodnight, you know," she said quietly as she closed her eyes again.

"As you wish Rimoru." He said, contemplating developing a nickname for her as she had done for his alias but deciding against it for now, as he leaned over to give her a good night kiss.

As Lorathin leaned over to give Rimoru a good night kiss, she gently wrapped her arms around Lorathin's neck, kissing Azrael passionately. "You're getting better at kissing," she said quietly with a smile, looking into Lorathin's eyes.

"Only because of you." He replied as he met her eyes.

Rimoru slowly set in to kiss Lorathin again, putting her hands around Lorathin's waist and bringing him closer. After a long passionate kiss, she smiled at him. "We can take this further, you know," she said seductively, playing with Lorathin's shirt.

"Unfortunately, we can not." He replied with a close aproximation of a rueful smile.

"Oh, but why not?" Rimoru sighed as she let her head fall back on the bed.

"Because I like you." He replied as she rested her head against the pillow.

"And?" she asked, very slightly annoyed. She disliked being denied her favorite activities...especially one such as bedding with others.

"If you liked me...wouldn't you enjoy to bed with me?" she crossed her arms over her stomach and raised an eyebrow playfully.

"You have it backward, because I like you, I can not be with you that way." He replied, hoping she'd understand.

Rimoru stared silently into Lorathin's eyes for several seconds. "You are so cryptic," she replied quietly, accepting the fact that he would not sleep with her. She accepted it with only slight annoyance.

She closed her eyes again. "Azy, you are strange. That's why I like you," she said quietly, before drifting to sleep.

"I like you too Rimoru." He replied as he gave her a last, gentle good night kiss on the forehead as he likewise drifted swiftly to sleep.

"Oh Sarik... flatterer!" Karasu chuckled at his compliment. "I am not married, however I have had my share of men. Not like Rimmy, whose ego and insecurities require it, and the men I was involved with were serious relationships, except of course when we were young." She grinned.

"I actually recently came out of a two year relationship with a wonderful man, however, if you can believe it, our ideals and politics are what tore us apart. Neither of us could live with the other's ideals. I found his much too staunch and mine are far more flexible. My definition of justice is not the same as his." Karasu chuckled.

"I kind of see it as my mission to help others. I know it sounds corny and arrogant, but there are ways I can help others, that others cannot. I see it as my duty, my enjoyable duty, to save lives."

Karasu looked at Sarik and gave him a warm smile. If she ever wanted to see someone happy, it was him. So kind.

"As far as our opinion of Ar'mai? I do not know whether she would betray us, however, she hates me, and in my opinion has an undeserved superiority complex, along with being a raving bitch." Karasu laughed. She had whispered this in Sarik's ear so the nosey elf would not eavesdrop. "I do not see her as kind at all. We can agree to disagree, but she has been nothing but rude... in my opinion... and if she is so wonderful, why is she with Inzi?" She inquired.

"As far as Kalzog goes, I think he just does whatever he wants. He is very selfish. That is the word I am looking for. I do not pretend to understand that guy, however, he rarely failed to make me laugh until he took off with Beau and Marlene. We must get Marlene back! I have no clue how to go about doing so. My guess is Cadey does." Karasu surmised aloud.

"One thing that is different for me, is that I do not worship a god, per se, but worship spirituality and charity... even if I am a hired assassin at times. Those targets are those who are killing and pilliaging. I never harm an innocent." She remarked.

"Now that I have talked forever; your turn. Tell me about yourself." Karasu turned onto her side, bent her elbow and rested her head on it, looking and Sarik, waiting for him to tell her about himself.

Rimoru smiled in her dream world. A light breeze ruffled loose robe, revealing a naked Rimoru underneath. She smiled as she took a step forward, flowers sprouting from the ground at each step. She giggled like a child as she pranced around, a waltz of life, as flowers sprung up from the ground. She giggled until she suddenly fell. She checked to see what had upset her beautiful dance. A small stone...actually, several long stones that jutted upwards. It almost seemed like...an altar...

"Are you alright?" spoke a kind voice from behind her. Rimoru turned around and smiled at the figure bathed in light. The Patriarch. He smiled back as he held out his hand.

Rimoru nodded and took his hand, letting him prop her up. As she got closer, she realized this was not the Patriarch. It was Sarik, rather. He smiled as he trudged into the meadow, Rimoru grasping onto his arm, like a small child.

Suddenly Sarik noticed a large sword jutting out in the middle of the meadow. It too was bathed in white.

"My Empress, There it is! The Ssvaru!” Sarik suddenly shouted, breaking out of the Empress’ hold and running towards the legendary weapon. He set his strong hands on it and pulled upwards. With a great heave, the massive blade sung it’s beautiful pitch, as if an angel were singing.

Sarik smiled happily. “Your highness, I have been looking for this all my life. Now We can unite the clans and-”

Suddenly, his voice stopped, his smile escaping him. Blood poured down from his forehead, dripping onto his white robes. He screamed in pain as he grasped the three horns growing from his head. “Rimoru! Help me!” he screamed.

Rimoru knew she could save him, knew she could stop this…but did not know how. Sarik slumped to the floor as his form broadened out, ripping through his scales, revealing a black creature inside.

A flash of light, blinding Rimoru for a second…

And there she was, atop the highest peak of her castle. Her fertile jungles, her beautiful city, even the desert, engulfed in lava. Fire rained from the sky. She ran to a balcony before stumbling backwards as Massive demonic eyes rose into view. The three horned dragon rose to it’s highest point, thousands of feet into the air. “Let us see how the god of Iskan fares,” he roared with a deadly laughter. The deadly god raised his hand, each finger at least the size of each one of her towers. She screamed as Valtrox belched out deadly fire and smog at the tower, destroying half the castle. Rimoru fell to the floor exhausted, realizing she had cast a shield on the tower she remained in. Valtrox roared with laughter, as she realized he was only toying with her. That was barely an ounce of his power.

She crawled away from the balcony, noticing several figures in the room. Inzikai stood there…but he was not Inzikai. He was the same shape, size, yet his scales were red and he had 3 horns growing on his head. His outward appearance was one of anger, snarling at the figure next to him. Sarik, the legendary sword thrusted into Inzikai’s gut…the killing blow. Yet Sarik sported black scales, immense muscles, and was definitely much larger than the Sarik she knew today. He too had horns growing outwards, yet he showed sorrow on his face.

On the opposite side of the room, stood a tall, strong elf, with dark red hair and red eyes. She looked puzzled at him, before noticing his shadow. The shape of a large winged demon. Rothargot. Behind him, a beautiful elven child crouched in a corner. She sported the red irises of the elf she hid behind, but the beautiful long blond hair of Rimoru, and just as beautiful body shape. Rimoru’s daughter…

As she took her eyes off the haunting picture, she noticed that Rothargot was crying, tears in his eyes. She looked in front of the handsome elf, noticing a taller, cloaked figure. A long tongue like appendage wrapped around Rothargot’s neck. Rothargot’s hands gripped the tongue, yet Rothargot sported deadly wounds along his muscular body. He took one hand off the tongue and began moving it towards a glowing axe…

Not in time. The taller figure let out a terrible cackle as it brought a long sword down on the neck of Rothargot. The child screamed in terror, as Rimoru did as well.

Suddenly she found herself in another room. Each wall seemed to be made from pure steel…apparently magically shielded as well. She looked around and noticed a large figure in the middle, it’s head downwards, blood slowly dripping from its mouth. Along it’s body were long tattoos, each glowing brightly.

She wandered closer to the chained creature, saddened by the once proud beast. It suddenly perked up.

“You’re going to enjoy this nearly as much as I am,” cackled a voice. A voice that belonged to the cloaked figure again. Suddenly, children shuffled in, all crying, all bruised and bloody.

“No…don’t do this to them,” muttered the Ogre. His eyes glowed red, yet tears streamed down his face. Suddenly, the chains holding the Ogre disappeared. Kalzog roared as he fell towards some children, about to crush them into a bloody pulp with his incredible bulk. Yet he took hold of some chains, hanging with one terribly burned arm on the chain, protecting the children as pieces of burnt skin flaked off his hand. He attempted to pull himself up when that terrible, vile laugh echoed through the chamber. Clanking sounds could be heard throughout the small chamber as the floor moved upwards, the ceiling moving downwards.

Within minutes, Kalzog’s feet touched the ground, but he set himself to work. “Everyone, get low!” he barked as he brought his massive burned fists up to the ceiling. His immense muscles bulged as the compactors slowed, but they weren’t stopped. The children continued to cry as Kalzog found himself kneeling, trying to prop himself up. The ogre looked up, straight at Rimoru, the most sorrowful look on his face. “I have failed…” he muttered. Bones began cracking…

Children screamed as a terrible laughter filled her head.


Rimoru sat up, tears steaming down her face. “Azy, Azy! Please…hold me,” she cried, putting her arms around Lorathin. “Azy….”

Sarik smiled back, immediately marking Karasu as a friend. "Karasu, you sound so kind and gentle. If we do make it, I will make it my final duty to get you a meeting with the Patriarch. You two have so much in common!" he laughed.

"As for me...well. All my life, I've been faithfully serving the Order. I live alone, but I am usually out on missions with my faithful mount, Andrazlia. She's reliable and tends to act my big sister," he laughed. "I miss her so much. I was not allowed to bring her along for fear that she would cause some harse reactions with the destinations I travel to."

"I have made it the sould goal of my life to find a powerful weapon, one that I know will unite the Skizzarish. A weapon helps people see the world how it really is, helps people fix the world. It is a sword light as a feather, strong as a giant's fist, and as hard as diamonds."

"As for Ar'mai and Inzikai...I do not know. Inzikai seems to chase Ar'mai around constantly, while Ar'mai seems to not care whether he follows or not. I'm thinking that he may have a crush on her," he laughed again.

"Kalzog...well...I trusted him. He seemed kind, to a point, and always attempted to get something done, whether good or bad. I do not wish to kill him if we reached Beau. I'll capture the ogre myself if it comes to it," Sarik said.

"What else would you like to know about me, Karasu? I must say, you are so enjoyable to talk to," Sarik smiled.

Lorathin awoke to a sweaty and appearently nightmaring Rimoru. Hearing her asking for him to hold her, he did what was natural and enfolded her in his arms. "I'm here." He whispered as he held her.

"Azy...I had the worst dream..." she sobbed as she buried her face in Azrael's chest. "I saw...people...Sarik, Inzikai....Kalzog....even myself...we were all dieing...Something bad is happening, Azy. Something terrible..."

She cried even louder as the images continued circulating in her mind. "Terrible..."

"Do your dreams normally come true, or could just be because you saw Cadeyrn come within inches of death?" He asked as he held her and stroked her hair in an attempt to confort her.

Karasu again let the Patriarch comment go.

"What else do you have to tell me about your life... what about your fiance?" She asked.

"And then, I also need to know if you have any ideas on the library or any of this crazy stuff going on, as I sure do not." Karasu furrowed her brow and sighed. "I hate feeling so helpless!" She said frustrated.

Karasu felt a tear fall down her face again when she thought of Marlene.

"They have never come true, Azy" she sobbed. "Because I create my own dreams...I had no control over this one...that terrible...laughing...Azy...I don't know what to do!"

She could still hear the laughing, echoing off the walls...

"It could be a prophesy, simply a nightmare induced by stress or perhaps something else, maybe an attack by Valtox or whatever that crazy god's name is." Lorathin commented, "And until that's figured out, all I can suggest is you just put it out of your mind rather than dwell on it."

"Ikara...Skizzarish...beautiful..." Sarik said as he looked into the sky. "Her touch is soft and gently, yet she has a fiery temper. She is an amazing chef, kind, courtious, caring...I miss her," he added, a tear in his eye.

"Look at us, both crying," Sarik said as he noticed Karasu tearing up as well. He wiped the tears off her face, laughing quietly.

"I think I may leave someone here, just in case Inzikai attempts something with the Library. As for how to get in, I suppose we keep trying different persuasion tactics on Rimoru to get us in. Even if it means...well..." Sarik closed his mouth as he figured Karasu knew what he meant.

"Valtrox cannot attack me...It must be...it must be a dream..." she said quietly, looking up at Lorathin. "Thank you Azy..." She kissed him lightly on the check.

"Sarik! You would betray...?!" Karasu was shocked to the point of not being able to speak. She sat up with her mouth agape.

"Your welcome." He replied, before adding, "Since I don't think you'll be able to goback to sleep, as the nightmare seemed like a really bad one, how about we get up and have breakfast. If you'd like, I'll cook for you."

"My mission is for the good of the Order, as well as the good of the world. You must understand, Karasu. If Valtrox does enter this world, because we were not able to stop Valtrox's cronies, we are all doomed. Nothing would be able to save us. No army, no dragon, no other god...That is why I am willing to be so bold as to say that. Yet, I am keeping myself low-key, trying to avoid Rimoru, yet I don't know how long this will last," Sarik replied, looking into the clear blue sky.

**********************************************************

Rimoru smiled weakly. "You would do so, Azy? For...me?" she asked quietly, her tears slowing down.

"Why wouldn't I?" He asked as he gently brushed the tears out of her eyes.

"I don't know...maybe if...you didn't like me...enough..." she replied weakly. Her stomach gurgled softly, as she began to realize she was hungry.

"You know she will try, Sarik, and she will succeed." Karasu got up, dusted herself off, and walked away muttering "The Order The Order... It is always the damned Order! I am sorely disappointed!" Karasu said this loud enough for Sarik to hear. Karasu was disgusted.

Rimoru does always get what she wants because of her power. For her to corrupt Sarik made her sick.

She decided to go back up and check on Relthor and see if he was still sleeping.

"I told you I liked you." He replied with a smile, "So let's get up, and I can get cooking." He added as he sat up and offered her a hand up as well.

Inzikai followed Ar'mai through the palace. As they passed Rimoru, he noticed her give him a seductive smile as well as a little wink before passing on. Inzikai walked a little closer to Ar'mai.

"You never told me your exact age, you know," Inzikai laughed.

"I know..." Ar'mai smiled as she continued on down the halls of the palace, leading Inzikai behind her.

Rimoru took Azrael's hand and smiled at him as he helped her up. "Oh thank you Azy...you are so kind," she sniffed. As she got out of bed, her previous robes glowed as they changed into another pair of sexually attractive clothes. The sweat and most of the tears had disappeared with the transformation as well.

**********************************************************

Sarik sat up as she heard Karasu grumbling about the Order. "Would you not do the same for the world?" he called back.

**********************************************************

Relthor had been awake for a little while, humming to himself as he remained in the bathtub, washing himself off.

"All this water...how can I refuse?" he laughed to himself as he rubbed his arms with a bar of soap.

"I doubt it Sarik! I was wrong about you. I thought we would be friends, but you are just like all the other betrayers!"

Karasu walked up to her bedroom and found Relthor in the bath. "Hi there." She smiled. "Mind if I join you? I had a most disgusting conversation with Sarik, who is supposed to be so pure and such, but says he will sleep with Rimoru to gain access to the library!"

Karasu's eyes were beginning to turn black. "I hate traitors... he will knowingly betray his fiance. I do not care what the stakes are! In your case, you do not know if your mate is alive. And we all know Rimoru will trap and sleep with Sarik. He is the only one she has not slept with... aside from you."

Karasu turned away. "Perhaps I will not join you. I feel some bad Karma coming on." She kissed him and turned away to go lie on the bed.

"Now then, once I figure out where the door is, and then the kitchen, I can get started in making you breakfast." He replied with a smile.

ooc: TG Hyper

"No no no," Relthor said. "Please, come, let me help you, Karasu," Relthor replied scooting over for her.

He looked at his hands and smiled. "Plus...I believe myself quite good at helping relieve other people's stress," he said matter-of-factly.

"Come on Karasu, Or am I going to have to get you myself?" Relthor was in an incredibly playful mood.

**********************************************************

Rimoru laughed a little louder as a door formed on one side of the room. "Azy, do you think...do you think you can make everyone breakfast? Sarik, you, Karasu...everyone who came with you?" she sniffled as she held onto Lorathin's arm.

"I'm sure I could, why do you ask?" He asked, thought he was pretty sure she wanted a nice group breakfast.

"Perhaps we can have a group breakfast. It would be nice...and cheerful," she replied, wiping away leftover tears. "Only if you don't mind, Azy."

**********************************************************

"So are you ever going to tell me?" Inzikai asked as he followed. "We can play another question and answer game if you wish."

"No I don't mind. Do you want it buffet style?" He asked

Rimoru laughed again. "Are you trying to say I'm fat?" she chuckled. "Oh Azy..." she rested her head on Azrael's shoulder. "I don't want to force you to make so much food."

"No." He replied with a smile, "At least not where your not suppose to be."

As she rested her head on his shoulder again, he added, "I don't mind, and it wouldn't be that much of a problem."

"Now what's that supposed to mean? Hmm..." she chuckled. "Ok, let's make it buffet style. Everyone's going to love this!"

He just smiled as they exited her room. "So where is the kitchen, and if you'd like to watch something interesting, I'd suggest you watch me cook." He commented cryptically.

"So are you ever going to tell me?" Inzikai asked as he followed. "We can play another question and answer game if you wish."

"Nope..." she said with a slight smile. The information she wanted or needed from Inzikai, he had already told her. Besides, she felt that if she needed to, she could always get it out of him another way.

"Breakfast?" she inquired as she heard Rimoru and Lorathin talking about making food.

"Yes, breakfast courtasy of Rimoru's kitchen, and my cooking." He replied to Ar'mai's inquiry about breakfast.

"Need any help?" she asked as she walked to a counter and leaned forward over it, pushing herself up on her toes.

"Thanks for the offer, but no, I won't need any help." He replied

"Thanks for the offer, but no, I won't need any help." He replied

"K, good," Ar'mai replied with a smile and slight chuckle, "Because I am not that great at cooking - at least not stuff I am not familiar with."

Beau laughed as he snapped the metal collar around the girl and drove the spike into the floor beside him.

"My dear lieutenant, why would I wish to chain you? My most precious killing machine must not be restrained at all. As for that traitor rotting no more than fifty feet away, the people are already were aware that I am the alpha male of this large pack. They knew that when I slain my father and hundreds of the elite guards." He said propping his arm on the rest of the throne smiling wickedly. "We will have our grand war by tomorrow morn, whatever wish I will have my people bring it to you."

****

Opprimus began pounding away at the massive blade, folding layers upon layers of various metals in the exacvt order to create the perfect blade.

Cadeyrn stumbled through the hall on metal crutch, loosely held by his new blackened metal hand. He had to put all the weight on his crutch or his legs would have folded. He weakly limped into the kitchen and smiled. "I thought I smelled something good."

****

"Tell me what you see in the future child and I may not kill you." Beau growled at Marlene as the child only slid away from the Varvul King. "Fine then, have it your way."

At the snap of his fingers servants carried in humans trapped in iron cages.

"Lieutenant, if you were so kind please devour the captives until our little maiden starts singing." He ordered with a devious smirk.

"I'm sure you could manage." He replied before turning to Rimoru, "Now about that kitchen?"

Suddenly, Ar'mai dropped by, along with Inzikai, who seemed to be following the elf all over.

Rimoru smiled as she led the way to one of her massive kitchens. There were cooks bustling about, cleaning dishes, counters, floors, and just about the whole kitchen.

"Break time," Rimoru laughed as all the cooks looked at her and bowed. Then they all scurried in the backroom, laughter soon following.

Rimoru pulled out a chair and sat on it, crosslegged.


"What will you be making today, Chef Azy?" Rimoru asked, turning her full attention to Azrael.

**********************************************************

"Dinner? You are too kind," Kalzog chuckled as he rubbed his hands together, pacing between the human captives. "They have been cleaned, right?" he asked as he poked one of them.

"I'm sure you could manage." He replied before turning to Rimoru, "Now about that kitchen?"

Ar'mai smiled as she followed behind Rimoru and Lorathin. "How kind... but alas, the culinary art was not one that I focused much on."

"Not sure. It depends what's in your larder." He replied with a smile, "But to begin, now how did that go..." He muttered, before nodding. He glowed golden for a second then took eight steps forward, a copy of himself appearing where he'd been standing each time he took a step.

"Now let's get cooking." The first most Lorathin commented as his clones spread out, lighting grills, heading to the larder, finding the cookware out. "I hope you like a little show before breakfast." He commented to his audience with a michevious smile.

"Certainly!" Ar'mai clapped as she pulled up a seat to watch the display.

Cadeyrn smiled as he tried to push back the thoughts of the battle that was soon to come. A shocking pain paralyzed his entire body everytime he tried to breath but he couldn't let anyone set it, he was far too proud. He had his body at such an angle so his new hand couldn't be seen. Through it all he only tried to push the thought of Marlene out of his head.

"Whatever is I hope there's a lot of it." The mercenary claimed smiling.

****

"Of course, the smell of dirty humans is absolutely revolting." Beau said as he smile grew even more sinister.

One of the Lorathin smiled. As each of the clones and the original reached thier position, a bag of flour came flying out of the larder to be caught, a portion poured into a bowl and was sent off to another, all without spilling a drop. As an almost rain of eggs began being tossed out of the larder, the one with the first bowl of flour caught a whisk, and began cracking eggs into the mixture.

Many more of the eggs went to two with frying pans, and spatula who began creating omlettes, scrambled and fried eggs, as well as many other egg based recipies.

In another corner waffles were being made while in a third, various meats were being cooked. As this was going on, in an exceptionally intricate and nigh impossibly complex 'dance', foods and utensiles were flying around the room all being caught without a single spilt item or dropped fork.

A short while later, at the finale of the intricate culinary creationist display, each of the clones vanished, leaving a great many foods. There were confectionaries, eggs, waffles, pancakes, a variety of meats and almost every other breakfast food imaginable.

"Bravo, Azy!" cheered Rimoru. She clapped her hands excitedly. "I cannot wait!"

"Show off, " Inzikai mumbled to himself.

Rimoru smiled as her bodyguard stood in the doorway. "Cadey! You look great!"
***

Kalzog smiled at Beau. "Look who's talking, Fido." Kalzog plucked a captive from the cage, ready to eat.

"If you can hijack the rest of your guests, then we could all eat before the food begins to cool, but otherwise, dig in." Lorathin replied

Opprimus pounded furiously at the sword, disgruntled by his own failures for Cadeyrn. All the times he let the boy down as a father and then some.

I couldn't save your parents, it took me six years to find you, and now it has become clear that I have failed you. What good am I as a father when I can do nothing but stand aside and watch you kill yourself against an enemy that's so powerful?

He stopped letting his sweat drip down onto the steaming blade.

I guess you feel the same way with Marlene though. If you can save her then you're better than I, if you can't you're still better than I.

An especially hard strike fixed the center support metal into place. Normally it would take months for a blade of such quality to finish, but Opprimus was more than an expert and worked at such a blinding pace coupled with magic that it would be finished by the morning.

****

Cadeyrn went to reach for some food without realizing he lost support on his crutch and suddenly crumbled to the floor with his metal hand for all to see.

Marlene...

He couldn't suppress his failure any more and combined with the blinding pain of the fall he began sobbing.

****

"Yes, because Ogres don't produce a smell that is absolutely vile. Especially if your nose is the strongest in the world. I can almost taste every foul creature you've eaten." Beau growled almost tired of his liuetenant's smart comments.

If you weren't so valuable Kalzog I'd tear you to pieces and hang them at the entrance of the forrest.

He grabbed Marlene's head and forced it in a position so she would watch the show.

"It must hurt, watching your knight in shining armor be reduced to rubble so easily. You can fight, and prolong the suffering of you and others in vain. Or you can cooperate and save a lot of pain and time child." Beau said trying to convince the little girl.

~~Some time ago~~

Ker Valerith flew through the night above his new allies in the form of a bat. Flight was the easiest way to keep up with the horses, and he had decided that shape shifting would be less likely to attract unwanted attention than simply hovering above the two. His keen hearing, even more sensitive than that of an ordinary bat, easily allowed him to listen to the conversation below him.

Valerith drifted silently above the wall of the little town while Maverion argued with the guards, ready to take action if they had to force their way across the border. The vampire watched Teralynn’s impressive demonstration with amusement, but a touch of regret. With the guards almost falling over themselves to obey, there was no need for further examples, and it wouldn’t do to associate his allies with what the townsfolk would surely see as senseless violence. There would be no hunting here… tonight.

As the horizon began to grow pale with the first light of dawn, Valerith flew swiftly ahead, anxious to find shelter before facing the direct light of the sun. So it was that he saw the brigands hiding before Mave and Tera’s arrival. The handful of unskilled ruffians, lacking both the training to fight together effectively and the preparations needed to stand against a vampire, would certainly prove no difficulty at night. Estimating that his allies would arrive with plenty of time to finish the battle before the morning grew too bright, he waited for the fun to begin.

This time, Valerith watched his allies perform without a trace of sadness. There would be no need for mercy with these fools! As the fight began, he plummeted out of the sky directly onto a bandit who was taking aim at Maverion with a battered crossbow. Landing with enough force to break the man’s back, Valerith leaped towards his next victim without the slightest pause. The vampire carried no weapon, and needed none; he could glide gracefully around a sword thrust, and strike with bone-crushing force and eye-blurring speed. When the battle was drawing to a close, he pounced on one of the last living bandits, knocking him to the ground. Sinking his fangs into the man’s neck, Valerith finally slaked his thirst.

The vampire stood, and gave a long sigh.

“Ah… that feels better. I shall be inside.” He nodded at one of the least damaged of the shattered buildings, which would give reasonable protection against the sun. “Please let me know if you are going to continue on before nightfall.”

He vanished into the ruins just as the first rays of the sun crept over the horizon. It was not long after this that Valerith heard Maverion’s startled cry, but it was late enough that the sun was fully risen, and he could not leave his shelter. All the vampire could do was wait, and listen to the muffled crashes below the ground, and hope that his chance of achieving easy revenge upon those who had driven him from his most recent home was no vanishing. As sun as darkness covered the land again, Valerith emerged and swiftly searched the ruins. Nowhere, however, could he find any sign of what had happened to Maverion and Teralynn. Eventually, he decided that his only hope of preserving the alliance was to press on, find Rothargot himself, and explain what had happened.

~~Last night~~

Finally, Ker Valerith reached the palace of Rimoru. It had taken him some searching to find the place, and longer than it would have with a guide; as likely as not, Rothargot had already arrived. Again taking on the form of a bat, Valerith found a hiding place that was sheltered from direct sunlight and began watching and listening for any sign of the powerful being’s presence.

OOC: Posts coming for other characters as I get them written.

Marlene began sobbing as Kalzog grabbe dhold of the helpless prisoner.

"I'll tell you what I see." She cried out as the wolf king dropped her to the ground.

On her knees she looked with spite at Beau "I see a single warrior and a demon challenging each other, the one is missing his right hand. The demon charges but is annihilated by a white light. Do you want me to translate it you big retarded ass of a furball!?" She yelled chuckling.

"Well, that's given that Caderyn is: A. Still alive, B. Gets past 10,000 angry troops, and C. Kalzog is my guardian." Beau mocked back. "I will rip his head in half right in front of your eyes and use his skull as your water bowl. Welcome to slavery child."

The Varvul King leaned his head downward in thought as he turned to head upstairs he looked back to Kalzog. "Peel them like bananas First Lieutenant Kalzog." He ordered heading up the steps.

"Relthor! Perhaps you should get out of the bath and get dressed." Karasu called to him.

"I believe I heard someone talking about breakfast downstairs. You would not want to miss that, now would you?" She walked into the bathroom, kissed Relthor, and grinned.

Karasu had changed into her black and gold kimono, and carried only her Nihonto in her obi. She carried her cape in her hands with her weapons belt hooked inside.

"How about if I meet you down there Relthor? I am interested to see what is going on with everyone today." Karasu smiled and kissed him again. "I will see you down stairs." She smiled.

On her way downstairs, Karasu was wondering if Sarik had a point... no, loyalty to love is more important, is it not? These were some of the issues she had with her ex. She was still angry that Sarik was so into the "Order" seemingly without regard to his fiancé. In Karasu's mind, his loved one should have come first. *sigh*

Then of course, she wanted to speak to Cadey. Karasu was disturbed by his sword, and she would continue to be disturbed until she found out for sure: Was he a dragon slayer? The idea saddened her. It seemed that much of what went on at this palace saddened her. Karasu would be happy to be gone.

Rimmy was no longer the friend she used to have. Karasu knew she was keeping something from all of them, including her. She began to resent the way Rimmy used everyone, and all of them seemed blind to it... that she was hiding something. That Karasu could tell. She knew Rimoru well enough to know when she was being deceptive.

After smelling the food coming from the kitchen, Karasu forgot about all of that. She decided to go into the kitchen and see what the chefs were preparing.

"Azrarel!" she paused, "or should I say Azraels!" Karasu chuckled. "Did you not hear 'Too many cooks...'?" Karasu grinned at him. "I have to say, it smells fabulous!" She smiled.

"Well, I will be in the way here. I will join the others in the dining room. Have fun cooking!"

Karasu entered the dining room still smiling, when she saw Cadey on the floor. "Cadey! Let me help you! You should take it easy." Karasu looked at him when he was back in his chair. Such stubborn pride. "Are you OK Cadey?" she asked, concerned.

Karasu looked around the table and avoided looking at Sarik. Her problem was that he was willing to jump into bed w/Rimmy on an "if", not a guarantee. Did he not know that something else was going on here? How could anyone miss it!

She turned back to Cadey. "Cadey, if you have some time after breakfast, I would like to speak with you. It is... something I have been wondering about." She smiled.

"I'm fine." Cadeyrn grunted, his smile was a frown as he wanted nothing more than to erase his shame. He thought of Seppuku and the places he could do it. "Maybe us humans are inferior beings after all, maybe the wolf is on to something by eliminating us."

He looked up at Karasu and noticed a saddness in her eyes behind that beautiul smile. Despite all the sadness, shame, and pain he could only smile back. All thoughts of Marlene and Beau left his mind as the fresh aroma of breakfast was quite pleasing. Everyone was so happy as if no one was just humliated. As if no one had just lost the one they love. As if no one had just lost their only light.

Suicide wouldn't be so bad, but Opprimus and Marlene could never forgive me. Perhaps it was destined for her to die, maybe what I did mearly stalled the reaper's clutch for a few years. Fate is so unkind.

Everyone was so happy, except for Cadeyrn Bran the Berzerker, the Dragonslayer, the Champion of the Battlefield. It was then when he looked back into Karasu's eyes he saw a similiar sadness. She may not have been shamed, defeated, and phsyically obliterated but it all boiled down to lonliness anyway.

"Something to talk about? Sounds pleasant." He mused faking his smile a little more.

Despite Cadey's smiles, she could see they were forced. Karasu saw pure pain... Pain enough that tears nearly came to her eyes.

"Cadey... Do not blame yourself. You will not lose Marlene if I, myself have to die to get her back. You have not lost your honor. You fought the very best you could, and very well, I might add." Karasu put her hand on his and looked him in the eyes.

"You may not understand, but helping others and saving lives is a code I live by. So far, no one here has seen me do anything. In fact, I have been rather ignored for some reason, perhaps because I am not flaunting myself all over the place and sleeping with everyone possible. I do feel a bit lonely, even with Relthor around. He seems preoccupied." Karasu sighed. "Oh, I am sorry; I did not mean to turn this conversation into a whining pity party revolving myself... especially after what you have gone through." She was very embarrassed and looked down.

Karasu looked back up at Cadey. "You are right. I am an assassin among other things. When I say I am an assassin as well as a protector, the individuals I assassinate are those who murder, rape, pillage... criminals... leaders of groups that go from village to village, killing people. Yes, I have shinobi skills, but I never hurt innocent people. I know we do not know each other well, but I have some skills virtually no one knows about. Something that may come in handy to rescue Marlene." Karasu looked at Cadey with hope in her eyes.

"You see, when you were fighting Beau, Marlene came running to me and hugged me crying. I have grown very fond of her. Not only that, but it is my duty to help, whether you want it or not this time." Karasu grinned.

"You are one stubborn man, my friend!"

Karasu was enjoying finally being able to chat with someone with whom she did not clash. Actually, she was going to apologize to Sarik, but inform him that should he go through with what he thought he might have to do, there is no guarantee whatsoever that Rimoru will be true to her word.

"Cadey, I apologize for making this a one way conversation. I just want you to know that you are amazingly valiant, and I can tell you do not see it. You have not been stripped of your honor in any way. You are one of the most honorable men I have ever met. You are seeing yourself in a warped way because of your deep feelings regarding this situation. From the outside, you are a hero, sweetie. Do not ever ever forget that you are amazingly honorable and have not lost your honor! If anything, you have gained more!" Karasu told him with a gleam in her eye. "Next time, I will not allow you to be so stubborn, Cadey!" Karasu chuckled.

"I have to speak with someone briefly. Please save my chair for me... and think about everything I said. Put a smile on your face, as you are amazingly honorable! Even if you do not see it! The rest of us do!" She gave him a sympathetic grin, and told him to stop berating himself.

Karasu got up and walked over to Sarik. "Sarik, may I speak with you for a moment... quietly?" she asked.

She looked him in the eyes seriously. "Sarik, I owe you an apology. To be honest, I do not know what I would do in your situation. Two things bother me about what you said you would do. Number one: Rimoru, after bedding you, may not let you into the library anyway. She has changed, and may not honor her promises. Number two: You remind me so much of my ex, and how frustrated I would get with him over such things. Would he have made a decision like that, and slept with someone other than me, I would kick his ass as best I could. Think of how you would hurt your fiancé, especially when Rimmy is not so easily trusted anymore." She informed Sarik.

"Sarik, I am sure there are others here that she has not told us about... others that are not on our side. I do not know if you can feel aura, but I can, and it scares me. It is even more disconcerting that Rimmy would hide this from us... and she is hiding something Sarik. You can believe me on that one. Thank you for letting me say my piece." Karasu nodded and went back to her chair.

Cadeyrn was utterly silent the entire time trying to let Karasu's words reassure him, but the ghosts of his past wouldn't let it be.

"So you kill those who slaughter the innocent and take countless lives?" He muttered below his breath. "What if I told you I once was one of them you would assassinate? I murdered thousands of soldiers yes, but hundreds of unarmed people: men, women, children. All fell before my blade crying for their loved ones and here I am clinging to honor!"

The mercenary quickly crawled back inside himself emotionly. Slowly he sank deeper into depression as the tormented faces of countless innocents flew before his eyes. At the time, he didn't feel the least bit bad, he enjoyed his blade slashing through undefended flesh and bone.

"I will save Marlene, and I will die doing so. That way she doesn't have to suffer for my sins anymore." He growled at himself staring at his new hand which felt nothing as he ran his cold iron fingers across the table.

Karasu, if only you knew, what I was. You would attack me in a heart beat and I would deserve every strike you landed and then some. I was an assassin, a bandit, a rogue, a werewolf, a pirate, a soldier, a warrior, a dragonslayer, an ogreslayer, but in the end all I am is a killer.

He looked back towards her with kind eyes.

That is why Opprimus hates me, because he failed to stop me from commiting the same mistakes my father did.

Relthor smiled as he recieved a kiss from Karasu, before getting out and drying himself off. He flapped his wings dry, before folding them overhimself and creating his golden robe. He kept his hear wet, deciding it was too late to dry it and he was quite hungry, so he walked down the stairs casually.

He passed by Karasu with a broad smile on his face. "You look beautiful," he whispered as he sat down next to her. "I wonder what is for breakfast."

"Cadeyrn, it is pleasant to see you up and running in good time," Relthor smiled. His eyes fell to his strange arm. "Does it still hurt?"

Sarik nodded to Karasu when she spoke to him. "I know what you mean Karasu. However, I would only do so to lengthen the time I could spend with my fiance. If the world is under control of Valtrox, no one will live freely, if anyone lives at all.

"You ex and I would probably get along well," chuckled Sarik, trying to lighten up the mood. "If we ever meet."

Rimoru walked out, revealing as always, with a bright smile on her face, revealing small dimples. "Breakfast is served," she said, as servants walked into the dining room, plates full of Lorathin's meals.

"Azy, thank you so much...you are so kind," she said as she wrapped her arms around Azrael, leaning her head on his chest.

**********************************************************

Kalzog replied to Beau's request with a smile. The prisoner in his hands squirmed violently, but to no avail.

"Watch this, Fido. It's one of my favorite ways to eat a biped," he laughed as he brought the human into his mouth, so that only the head was through. With a vicious crunch, and a rough pull, the Ogre gulped down the human's head. Then, he lifted the body and turned it over, the blood pouring out of the neck, into Kalzog's mouth.

"Food and Drink, all in one," he chuckled as he stuffed the now empty body into his mouth.

"Nah, I'll be completely healed by tomorrow." Cadeyrn said snapping out of his suicidal reverie smiling. His wrist slung open revealing the cannon lodged into his mechanical forearm. It was loaded, he could see the silver outline of a 5lb slug. All it would take is a little focus to detonate the gunpowder and take his head clean off.

Nah, not here...too messy anyway. I'll save it for my better half.

He snapped his hand back in place and slowly flexed his awkward fingers smiling at everyone else.

"Fits like a glove." He mused.

****

Marlene averted her eyes but screamed as she heard the crunch. It didn't take much imagination for her to figure out what sound that was.

"Monster!" She screamed at Kalzog wanting to strike his heel. "When Cadey shows up I'll make sure he kills you!"

Beau continued upstairs to a balcony overlooking the city. Thousands of armored wolves filled the crowded streets and the Varvul King drew a wicked smile.

"Your welcome Rimoru." Lorathin replied as he lead her to her chair and took his as they began eating breakfast.

"Cadey! I am so sorry!" Karasu had tears welling up in her eyes. Here she was trying so hard to cheer him up and she just made it worse.

"Perhaps sometime you could tell me about your past, Cadey, and yes, I probably would have attempted to kill you." She said, her head lowered.

"Excuse me a moment while I collect myself." Karasu said, as her tears became uncontrollable. "I will be back in a bit."

Why can I not do anything right. I just make everyone miserable!

Karasu walked out as the food was being brought in... she could not stand that she hurt him further. Once she left the room she was walking the halls sobbing, when she passed Opprimus working on Cadey's sword. Maybe I can get some information from him.

She walked into the room. "Hello sir, my name is Karasu. I was wondering if I may ask you some questions regarding Cadey?" She asked, drying her tears.

Kalzog smiled at the girl, licking his bloody lips. "Me? Monster? I don't think so," He began to walk to the little girl. "

"You on the other hand, you're a monster! Why, you were ruining Rimoru's palace. And word has it, you were even insulting her yourself!" Kalzog was within range of grabbing her with his own arms. Instead he leaned close. "Marlene, I'm here to help...Cadeyrn is going to need me if he wants the element of surprise..." he whispered very quietly, averting his eyes to the Varvul king, keeping watch.

He backed away. "I look forward to seeing your Cadey. We have a fight to finish..." he winked at Marlene before returning to his meal.

**********************************************************

Rimoru smiled at Cadeyrn, and ran up to him. "Cadeyrn, you already sound as though nothing happened!" she smiled as she planted a light kiss on his cheek.

Marlene stood defiantely as the the huge beast approached her drooling a pool of human blood. She had tears in her eyes and even if she tried to run she may have been too scared to do so.

Cadey told me to be strong, to fear nothing and I won't!

When Kalzog leaned in she turned her head shutting her eyes waiting for the end. When the ogre spoke his words she had forgotten he just bit a human head clean off as he back away and made his threat she again stood defiantly.

"Good because no one can beat my Cadey, you hear that N-O O-N-E!" She yelled winking at the ogre when a metal water dish flew across the room striking the girl in the head sending her to her back.

"Obnoxious kid." Beau growled entering with his royal vestments.

****

He watched concernced as Karasu left.

When I thought she came to assissinate me...I had no idea she might end up fighting me anyway. Fate is truly so unkind.

Without even relizing it Rimoru planted kiss on his cheek and he blushed bright red. "Of course master, it will take more than a dog to put me down for good." He declared standing to his feet leaning heavily on his crutch.

****

Opprimus was so concentrated on the finishing touches of the sword he hadn't even heard Karasu's words. Between the melting metal and burning coal he smelled something foreign to a forge.

"Ah, I thought I sensed beauty. Hah ha." He said immediately dropping his hammer walking over gittery as a child, but when she repeated her question he frowned. "Oh. It's about Him."

While pushing slabs of hot metal into an acid bath he pulled up a stool with his foot nearly falling into the corrosive dip. Just barely he balanced himself and sat onto the short stool drooling over the gorgeous woman.

"Well if it was about a date I have all day, but since it's about the boy I gotta get back to work soon so please make it quick." He grunted with a dissapointed look on his face.

"Opprimus," Karasu began, "I saw the inscription 'dragon slayer' on his last sword. Is he truly a dragon slayer? I also wanted to know about his past, but I suppose you do not have time for all of that. I also have to get back to breakfast, but could you answer the dragon slayer question?" Karasu asked?

Relthor watched as Karasu walked away, getting up slowly. "I have to...do something...relieve myself," he said quietly, as he left through the same exit Karasu used.

Karasu's cries echoed through the large hallways, making it hard for Relthor to pinpoint where she was. He walked around a corner, and moving down for several minutes before realizing her cries were growing fainter. He sighed as he turned around, taking a different hallway.

**********************************************************

Rimoru wrapped her arms around Cadeyrn's neck, examining his neck wound. "How is your neck, Cadey?" she asked softly, kissing him softly again.

**********************************************************

The large ogre winced slightly as he heard the water dish strike the innocent Marlene. Poor girl...if Cadeyrn wasn't to kill the dog himself, I would do it... Kalzog thought as he set himself back to gouging down the remaining captives.

"So, tell me, Beau. Are you going to march your men into Rimoru's palace, or are you going to let Cadeyrn arrive here?" he asked as he tore apart another man.

Opprimus put his feet up on the large workboard and smiled. "For a beautiful dame, I've got all the time in the world to answer anything." He declared while rubbing his rugged chin.

He frowned for a moment as he recalled the invincible blade his adopted son broke like a stick.

"Ah the Dragonslayer was my finest piece of work and unfortunately my most shameful one. The boy was about 19 and had already made a name for himself; he says people called him a war hero and a legend, closer to murderer. He just returned from killing a bunch of Varvul and he had already wanted to leave." Opprimus began poking at some diamonds in the forge.

"I've heard tale of a dragon not to far from here!" The smith began in a half hearted impression of Cadeyrn. "I'm going to slay it and prove how strong I am!"

He shuffled through some chunks of silver discarding one here and there and placing a few on the workboard next to his feet.

"Before I could get a say in otherwise he had left. A few days later he comes back just about dead dragging a giant tooth. The dumb bastard actually killed one of the last dragons left." Opprimus growled and then frowning even more. "He handed me the damn thing and told me to make a sword out of it, when I did I pushed him out the door and told him never to come back."

"If it weren't for his blood that dragon would have made him a walking latern." He added dipping his fingers into the acid bath and examining them.

****

Beau smiled as he saw the ogre gorging down on the humans while retunring to his throne.

"I have discussed it with my other Tacticians, we've decided that Rimoru's palace would be the best place to start an attack. Once we gain access to the library's wealth of knowlege we should become unstoppable." The wolman said rather casually while leaning on his hand propped on the arm of the throne.

His eye twitched when the ogre spoke of Cadeyrn as if he were still alive.

****

"Luck was on my side, it missed killing me by about three centimeters." He replied almost falling asleep in the empress' warm embrace. In fact, it had went right through his jugguler, and chipped his spine.

"I... see..." Karasu replied. "I assume he is no longer a dragon slayer? He seems to have changed very much in my opinion, but cannot rid himself of the guilt.

"I have heard he killed Marlene's parents? How did that come about, and when did he change? Cadey is certainly not the man you speak of... the murderer. He cannot be so. He seems to be a very honorable man now. Am I correct, Opprimus?" Karasu asked him.

I must know these answers! she thought.

"Does he... hate dragons?" She asked at the last minute? "I apologize. I do not have much time. The food is waiting. Are you not coming to breakfast?"

"Yet you do know that Rimoru is supposedly a goddess? That she would raise her own mechanical minions to stop us? I suggest you don't try a head on collision. You wolves are somewhat stealthy, right?" Kalzog asked Beau, referring to gossip and legends he's head around Lustria about the 'Goddess of Iskan'.

**********************************************************
"Cadey, I'm so glad you're alive," she whispered quietly into his ear, rubbing her cheek against his. "I was so worried about you..."

Sarik watched Rimoru as he speared some of his eggs with his fork, gently putting it in his mouth. As he watched her snuggle up to Cadeyrn, he began to think of two things.

He rememebered what Karasu told him about Rimoru. How she changed...how she could not be trusted. What could the seemingly innocent Empress, not to mention lovable, be hiding?

Sarik's other thoughts were on Ikara, his own maiden of happiness. He looked away, as tears formed in his eyes. He missed her so much...

"You seem very concerned for the fool, truth be told I am too." Opprimus replied smiling at the young lady. "He's going to kill his way to redemption, even if he has to die doing so."

When she asked about the young girl's parents he ducked his head trying to keep tears of frustration from rising.

"You should probably understand that he wasn't raised from birth by me or his parents. He was brought up by theives and killers until he was six. That's when I caught up with them and took the boy back, as well as their useless lives." He dodged a spark that flew from the forge before continuing his story. "That brutal tendancy, coupled with his father's notorious anger made him the perfect killing machine in a sense. He was skilled with a blade and sold himself out to the highest bidder. Whatever they ordered, he did, until...that girl."

There was a deepened sense of hesitation in his voice as he dug through his memories.

"From what they told me, Lord Mako was obliterating a village of migraint farmers in his war on immigration and the boy killed a good share of his innocents including Marlene's parents. However, he couldn't bring himself to kill the girl, so he save dher the only way he could. He turned a butchered about 2,000 soldiers. He came to me ,even after I banished him, with the girl in his arms ,and I knew something in him changed."

The smith smiled looking toward the ceiling.

"He doesn't hate dragons, in fact his bloodline served their kind for thousands of years. The Dragoons, loyal servants to the dragons who too were annihilated during the great dragon purge." He added. "Damn shame, they were magnificent things, I saw one ya know. Absolutely massive, it covered just about the entire sky. I would have called to it but I was scared half to death."

****

Beau shot a concerned look back at him. "True she is a goddess, but my people can move fast, very fast. While the main line is engaging the goddess my more silent men will enter during the commotion. We could also use the girl here as leverage to throw the goddess off, perhaps even turn the possibly alive Cadeyrn against her."

****

"I was scared." He confessed close to her ear.

Rimoru shivered slightly as Cadeyrn told her he was scared. Images of the dieing Cadeyrn, as well as her terrible nightmare entered her head.

She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, trying to rid herself of the horrid images.

"I won't disrupt your feast anymore, Cadey. I don't want you to starve," she smiled weakly as she walked back to her seat, next to Lorathin.

"Now, I can taste your delicious meal, Azy," she said quietly, the same weak smile on her face.

Karasu took in everything Opprimus told her. "He still bears guilt that should have been gone years ago, you know?" She said sadly.

"Thank you for the information. I understand Cadey much better now." She smiled at Opprimus. "Well, I must go to breakfast now." She bid him goodbye and went on her way to the dining room. That dragon he saw had to be me!

When she entered, Rimmy was doing her usual shtick. Karasu needed to speak with Cadey and now.

Karasu walked up to Cadey. "Cadey, it is vital that I speak with you immediately. This cannot wait. I hope you can let your breakfast wait a little while." She told him, looking at him seriously. She also glanced at Sarik, who seemed to have thought over what she said.

Between a rock and a hard place. She thought.

Karasu looked around and did not see Relthor anywhere. "Is Relthor around?" she asked those at the table.

"Please come with me Cadey, this is very important. I have spoken with Opprimus. I beg of you to come speak with me." Karasu looked at him with sympathetic and hopeful eyes, ignoring Rimmy.

"I guess so." He replied, "But I hope whatever's troubling you gets resolved."

ooc: Blast, your move in the vamp thread

"Karasu, take it slow, old friend. You are in to much of a rush, to much in a hurry. Relax," Rimoru said, looking kindly at her old friend. "Besides, Cadey needs to eat," she smiled at Cadeyrn.

"Relthor said he needed to relieve himself," Sarik replied to Karasu's question. He seemed to be lost as he walked around for several moments.

"Hey no problem, maybe next time you can bring some wine and we'll talk about you some huh?" Opprimus said while leaning too close to forge, however, his eyes were too transfixed on the lady leaving to really notice. He would feel it as soon as his distraction left.

"umf eyi not intent two." Cadeyrn replied to Rimoru with a pancake tightly wedged in his mouth. It was difficult trying to hold all his shame in, clearly it was slowly affecting the people around him. If he could pretend to be happy for just a bit before he died for everyone else, then that would be enough to make him like himself. When Karasu entered he cast a geniune smile at her.

"Of course Karasu." He said slowly standing to his feet while inhaling whatever he could grab.

She spoke with Opprimus, this must be the assassin part of her she always talked about. I can't die yet though, Marlene needs me, we'll have to put this fight on hold.

"You spoke with him, I hope he didn't try nothing on ya." The mercenary replied seriously knowing his god father's reputation.