NationStates Jolt Archive

"Something designed so we can look at our reflections." Lúthien said

"You can ask questions, and while it is normal to get undressed, if you don't feel comfortable with doing so, you can disrobe as much or as little as you wish, even getting in fully clothed." She replied to Beatrice's nervous question.

Beatrice nodded. She looked into the bubbled water and smiled. She slowly took off her small coat, revealing bruised shoulders and neck and decent sized muscles along her arms.

By anyone's standards, she was very beautiful. However, she did not know. All she knew was that she was dirty, felt dirt, and still somewhat hungry.

She grabbed the piece of toast she had and put it in her mouth as she took off her boots, her stockings remaining strapped on her legs. She frowned slightly and looked at Luthien.

"I'm sorry..." she said quietly. Beatrice felt bad if he asked Luthien to leave. However, she felt uncomfortable undressing or even dressing herself in front of anyone. "May I be...alone?"

She looked down and frowned.

"Of course." Lúthien said with a nod. "If you need anything, just ring that bell." She pointed to a bell on a little stand beside the tube, "And one of the servants will take care of it for you, or get one of us if you wish."

With that she stepped out so Beatrice could have her bath.

Beatrice smiled and nodded as Luthien left the room.

She smiled as she undressed the rest of her body, revealing a naked, slightly bruised, body.

The dark elf observed her body for a minute, before placing one foot in the bath tub, and pulling back in surprise, landing with a quiet thump on her bottom. "Water..." she said and looked around her. She chuckled quietly as she stood back up and practically jumped in, before struggling a bit and pulling her head out of the bubbles, coughing and spitting.

She spread a a few long strands away from her face and laughed again. She began to play with all the bubbles, placing several tufts on her head and on her shoulder with a giggle, before trying to cover her whole self with the stuff.

As the minutes passed by, she felt herself growing tired again. With a yawn, she reclined until her head rested against the side of the tub. She picked up the soap, but it slipped from her grip into the air, where she tried to take hold of it again. Again, it slipped from her grip, and she again tried to grip it. This time, however, it fell into the tub.

Beatrice let out a loud squeel of joy and laughter, before covering her mouth. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, a smile still creeping on her lips.

She proceeded to was herself, feeling the cool water wash away the dirt and mud. Her bruises, as she found out, would not wash off.

She frowned but when she was finished, she just lay in the water and closed her eyes. A continuation of her sleep cut short.

And again, she dreamed of a past she did not remember.

A bath? I hate baths! came a young girl's voice.

Oh? So do mud monsters!

Mud Monsters? came a voice of curiosity.

Aye, beasties that live in every little smidget of mud. They also enjoy being behind the ears of little elves like yourself.

Nuh-uh! the child's voice giggled again.

Uh-huh! I see them! Right there! It said, Beatrice wants to be a home for us! Then we can turn her into a mud monster!

The sound of splashing water and a lot of giggling and laughing, both from the child and Bodista.

Silence.

Bodista, where are my parents?

A long pause.

I cannot say, Beatrice. I have looked, and I have not found.

A bit of splashing and a series of sniffles.

Now now Beatrice. Do not worry, they will be back.

A series of splashes before a a lot of sniffles.

Do not worry, my lovely Beatrice. Bodista will find them.

Please! No, Bodista! Don't leave me! she screamed.

I won't Beatrice. Hush, my child. I will be by your side for eternity.

Eternity...

Beatrice woke up, tears running down her face. She sniffled quietly as she looked to her sides. Nothing. She stood up and stepped out of the pool, slipping slightly, but keeping herself steady by holding onto anything she could.

She slowly dressed and walked out the door, looking for Luthien or Lorathin. Her eyes were still pouring out tears but she didn't care. She wanted someone to comfort her now...

Ixair yawned as he slowly awoke from a long sleep. Too long.

"For Elune's sake," he muttered as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He was not faithful to any god, but Elune seemed to be the one that popped into his head most. Probably because that was Ar'mai's god.

Ixair pushed the covers away slowly and lay in bed for several minutes, before sprining up with an explosive kick that sent him in the air and onto his feet almost silently.

"Wake up, Glurp!" he shouted with a laugh as he picked up the goblin's bed, the goblin rolling out onto the floor with a rather loud thump.

"Dumb, good fer nuthin, useless, horrible elf, always pickin' on Glurp," Glurp muttered with half opened eyes as he stumbled about on all fours.

Ixair opened his door, changing his shirt as he did so and knocked lightly on Cobiesal's and Contrell's door.

"Hello?" the Elf whispered quietly with a snicker.

Cantrell woke up immeaditly. He got up and went to Cobiesel. "Wake up. Our friend is here." Cobiesel woke up slowly. Both quickly freshened up, and Cantrell opened the door. "Ixair. Let's go." He stepped out immeaditly. Cobiesel came out shortly after. "Morning Ixair. How are you?" Before he could say anything, she moved out of the way and went over to Cantrell. "So, when are we leaving?"

Lorathin had been heading to the toilet, a seperate room but adjacent to the bathroom, when Beatrice had walked out the door, tears streaming down her face.

"Are you alright?" He asked with concern as he saw the tears. He didn't know what was wrong, and if somehow she'd hurt herself in the bath.

Ttomak cocked his head slightly at the imp's answer. "If you truly possess items that are as powerful as you imply, then why do you not use them yourself?"

The general was already considering what potential role Ezekial could fill if he were indeed accepted into Hel's army. The thieving and spying roles would seem to fit someone of his stature well, though the general reputation of imps would probably make him a poor diplomat. Still, Ttomak was willing to entertain the idea should the imp prove himself worthy - not only in what he said, but in what he thought. The final say for someone of this type, however, would lie with Hel, though he had no doubt that his opinion would play a part in Hel's decision.

***

"Fifteen years, and you are just now asking me that?" Teralynn asked, arching an eyebrow at Habdebza. "Why the sudden interest? You never cared before."

Of course, she did not answer the question, and she hoped to avoid having to if possible.

***

"I don't know," Maverion said in answer to Rimoru's question, even though he figured that she was not really expecting an answer. "Probably some more rebels trying to stir up trouble. But I've come to trust Fala when she has these premonitions. I'll go get my sword and Carpet to make some rounds around the palace myself just in case."

"I'll go look for the kids," Fala offered, squeezing Daejan's hands slightly. "They're in the kitchen, right?"

Death Incarnate
Darkness

During her reign of chaos, Vira (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/DMG2005/Vira.jpg) had become only crueler, deadlier, and more diligent in her never-ending search for power and revenge. She had acquired numerous ancient texts, scrolls of spells, books of awakening, volumes of the undead, dissertations of death... all of them she had read and committed their contents to memory; their powers locked in her evil cerebrum. She had encountered artifacts of powerful mages long past, skulls of necromancers doomed to their own powers, books of liches that had disintegrated into the nethersource. But she was satisfied... that was something her minions had long since learned. All the power and knowledge she had acquired was not good enough - she wanted more.

Which is why her minions constantly brought her news outside the world of her fortified castle. It was a dark fortress where the sun never shined and not even the stars dared show their faces... like a dark smog had blanketed the sky. The land had died and turned to blight. And there were no living inhabitants for miles... only the undead ranks of The Huntress. Zombies, ghouls, skeletons, vampires, ghosts, wraiths, abominations, and creatures of the dark... they patrolled the lands diligently and without pause. The fortress itself was guarded by fifty foot walls and ramparts that were guarded by undead archers and mages. Ancient and powerful magick guarded the citadel, making it impossible to enter except through the main gate - not even teleporting, phasing, or dimension jumping would work - and the walls impossible to wreck.

Deep below the surface, many hundred feet beneath the plight ridden land, was the secret Chamber of Ruin and Temple of Death, in which the entire library and treasure of Vira lay. At the center of the Temple was the most important of all... the Deathstone. And it was there that the Huntress sat staring into the darkness. The four fallen angels become Doom Guards (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/DMG2005/DoomGuard.jpg) stood attentively at the entrance as they awaited their mistress. Nobody was allowed below the castle other than the Doom Guards and Vira, and not even her personal guards were allowed in the Temple. Which is why when she returned to the surface, a lone Dread Knight stood bowing.

"Speak quickly," she berated the undead warrior as she waited at the entrance of the castle for its message.

The knight responded in a grave voice that was monotonous and seemed to echo through the halls. "Mistress, our scouts have found a land where there are those to be manipulated, those to be revered, and those to be crushed." With his head still bowed, he handed off the official scroll that held the report, which Vira read eagerly.

She said nothing further... there was no reason to for he was but a servant to her power. Turning on her heel and moving effortlessly down the corridor in a way that her body was pronounced in all of the right places, Vira entered the centrum of her bastion. The room was completely empty save for the pyramid of steps in the middle that led to a window of nothing. It looked basic - just a person-sized opening that led to three steps on the other side. But Vira began chanting loudly and the portal drew in a magnificent amount of energy, causing it to vibrate and shake as electricity surged from one side of it to the other. Suddenly, the energy flashed and created a warp, which through Vira delicately stepped...

...And appeared on the other side in a new land far away from her castle. After her body had fully crossed into the new realm, the energy dissipated and the warp disappeared. Getting to unprotected places from her castle was easy, it was getting back that was hard as she could not summon a warp without the magickal portal of her fortress, and nor could anyone else create a portal... even if they did know of its location.

Within five minutes of receiving the scroll, Vira had crossed thick forests, wide planes, daunting oceans, deep valleys, and insurmountable mountains... she had arrived at her destination... Lustria. As another moment passed, four dark shadows began forming in a square around the undead mistress until they achieved their corporeal bodies... the ever loyal Doom Guards had arrived.

Her castle fully protected by ancient spells and ranks of undead, Vira set off on her continuing quest for power. She knew not of this strange land, save for the castle that stood before her. Stone and mortar it stood, with a force of no more than forty souls of contention and forty more of certain death. Already one of her agents had infiltrated the pathetic citadel and had left the gate ajar...

The impressive sight of a barely clothed Lordress of Dead and four Doom Guards frightened the nightwatch so much so that they disappeared squealing to the garrison. "Much easier when they are all in one place..." Vira commented as she entered the castle gate with her minions and crossed the courtyard to the sole entrance of the barracks. She waited, albeit impatiently, for the guards to dress and don their armor in a futile attempt to save their stronghold. The first four came out in a hurry, clearly the finest of the bunch, but were quickly met and overcome by the looming Doom Guards whose massive swords lit aflame cleaved their armor and split their bone. Blood spewed onto the grass... and the Reign of Terror began...


Dawn
At first light the next morrow, the castle was quiet, not even the birds dared sing in the presence of their new Mistress. Corpses of some eighty pathetic creatures lined the courtyard in pools of their drying blood. Vira had taken up residence in Cultist lands and she did it on a Throne of Skulls...

"I only want to get to my dear, lovely, good Teralynn better," Habdebza said with a laugh. "Now answer the question, before I drill it out of your head."

Time passed and the sun was almost gone. Habdebza had been able to map out nearly the entire palace by reading the guards minds, and knew exactly where to go for Rimoru. However, one thing stood out amongst all the others...Something that made Habdebza's smile even wider.

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

Rimoru nodded to Fala. "Aye, they are. Be careful of Loki, the one with the bear. Eva didn't seem to know him and Jorian was awfully quiet. The guards are watching him, and I thought he was nice. But I never knew about this."

Rimoru kissed Alegain on the neck lightly. "Allie, perhaps you should go with the kids too?"

Alegain smiled and shook his head. "I remain with you, my love. Besides, this may not include any of us. It's not like we had a true vision."

Rimoru smiled and rubbed her head against his chest, before getting out of his grip and pulling him towards the lobby. "Then let's put in a little lesson, alright?" she laughed merrily.

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

"Lorathin...where's...where's Luthien?" Beatrice asked behind her tears. She wanted to hug something or somebody, but she did not know whether or not Lorathin was the kind of guy who would accept one.

She couldn't just go out to anyone and give them a hug. They'd just take advantage of her...like last night.

"She went to the library to study. Is there something I can do for you, or would you prefer to talk with her?" He asked

"I-I-I" Was all Beatrice could stammer. She couldn't take it anymore.

The dark elf ran to Lorathin and wrapped her arms around him. She sobbed for a few minutes before she actually spoke.

"W-where is B-b-bodiss-ista?" she stammered quietly.

Lorathin found himself serving as a shoulder yet again as he held Bea in a comforting manner as she wet the front of his shirt. "I'm sorry, but I do not know where Bodista is." He said in a voice the bespoke his regret at not being able to cause the man to magically appear.

Beatrice nodded slowly and pulled away. "I-I-I-I'm sor-r-ry," she sobbed. Her tears had slowed, but had not disappeared completely.

"I-I w-w-would...I would like t-to leave...please?" she said quietly, looking at Lorathin with wide eyes.

Teralynn let out a sigh as if she were weary of his questions. "Well, as you know full well, I became empress because Valtrox wanted me to reunify the Cult after Inzikai's failure," she said, holding herself back from rolling her eyes. "I assume that this is a necessary step to once again attempt to free Valtrox, and so that is what I am doing. I am sure you are just waiting for me to slip up so Valtrox can give you permission to dispose of me, so I am making certain that I will not slip up."

She gave a slight, single-shouldered shrug, "And, if I gain some power and prestige amongst the mortals while I serve Valtrox, then all the better."

It was probably what Habdebza wanted to hear, for all she knew. And it was the truth too, for the most part.

***

Both Maverion and Fala nodded, and went their own way.

Upon entering the kitchen, Fala was delighted to see the salads in front of the kids, even if they were only partially eaten. "Come, children," she said to Jorian and Eva. "I want to take you two somewhere with me."

Turning to Loki, she said, "Do you wish for some lodging? We might be able to provide you with a room for tonight."

For all she knew, this strange man was the reason for what she was feeling, and she certainly did not want him to stick around for too long, especially around the kids.

Turning to Loki, she said, "Do you wish for some lodging? We might be able to provide you with a room for tonight."

For all she knew, this strange man was the reason for what she was feeling, and she certainly did not want him to stick around for too long, especially around the kids.

Loki nodded reservedly. He didn't want to impose, but then she had offered first. The young mage hesitated for a moment before tilting his head up so that he could see Fala's face, and she his (though only his piercing yellow eyes as the rest was hidden in an impenetrable darkness), from under the brim of his oversized hat.

"Umm... if it isn't too much trouble," Loki said quietly.

"If you wish to, you may. I have one request thought, that you say good-bye to Lúthien as I know she'd be hurt if you just vanished." Lorathin replied as he let her go. He was going to do something for her as well, giving her an invisible guardian dog so she wouldn't have to deal with creeps like those that had accosted her.

"Aye. You are a mind reader, aren't you," Habdebza laughed. "I would love to ask you some more questions...but our time has run out."

Indeed, the sun had just set, the night has begun.

The demon sprung into the air, right into Teralynn, without warning, and before they knew it, they were in a tree near the front gates.

The demon put one finger on the Empress' mouth to keep her quiet, before swinging on the branch, so his feet held him to the branch.

He reached down for a guard and with an effortless twist, cracked the man's neck and carried him up in the tree.

"A new friend for you, Tera," Habdebza smiled as he set the man on a nearby branch, before flipping to the floor. "Come with me. This is when we storm the palace," he smiled as he pulled out several daggers that glowed strangely. He spoke several words to them, as if he were telling them a good night story, before they floated in the air and directed themselves into several guards.

"It's showtime," Habdebza smiled as a blade erupted from his right sleeve and he began to run towards the front doors. The more people for him to kill if he used the main entrance...

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

"Auntie!" Eva smiled. "Are we going to play a game?" she asked hopefully as she jumped off her chair and ran towards Fala.

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

Alegain was smiling as a fire formed between his hands, forming into several different shapes, before ending in a rather passionate scene with him and his wife.

Rimoru giggled and curled up next to her husband. "If there weren't so many guards around us, we could let loose right here," she whispered seductively as she thrust lowered herself slightly, giving Alegain a perfect view of her cleavage.

The fire between his hands practically exploded as he slowly kissed Rimoru on the neck, wrapping his hands around her. "Why should we worry about them?"

"If you wish to, you may. I have one request thought, that you say good-bye to Lúthien as I know she'd be hurt if you just vanished." Lorathin replied as he let her go. He was going to do something for her as well, giving her an invisible guardian dog so she wouldn't have to deal with creeps like those that had accosted her.

Beatrice looked up at Lorathin and sniffled. "I would like to," she whispered. Actually, she had grown to like these two people. They had treated her better than so many others...

She opened her mouth to speak, but shut it slowly. She would be alone again. If she left, she would have no one left...

Her eyes met Lorathin's and her mouth opened. She didn't have the courage to ask these people to come with her. "T-t-thank you," she whispered as her gaze went to the floor, her head lowering slowly.

"You're welcome to stay and travel with us if you wish." He commented as they headed toward the library where they could find Lúthien.

Beatrice thought about it. She did not even know where these people would travel. Or how often they traveled. But where else would she go? Where would she go? She might as well stick with people she knew. Atleast until or unless she found a reason not to be with them.

She looked up at Lorathin, her tears almost gone. "May we...look for...Bodista?" she sniffled quietly.

"Of course, with two conditions. I shall not put Lúthien in extreme danger, and the search may be derailed at times if I need to help someone I've promised to aid. Excepting these two conditions, I promise to help you look for Bodista." Lorathin replied as they arrived at the library.

Beatrice smiled weakly and nodded slowly. "I'll...agree," she whispered. She too wouldn't like to see the little elf girl in danger. Actually, she didn't plan on getting through any danger.

However, it would be hard to figure out where she'd be going, considering she has no idea what happened to her caretaker.

As she entered the library, she gasped at the number of books. She had never been into a library, so even the smallest amount of books would have astounded her. Atleast, she never remembered a library.

Lúthien turned when she heard the gasp, and smiled when she saw Beatrice. "Did you enjoy your bath? Oh, and daddy's making me study, he's such a mean..." She trailed off when she spotted Lorathin before continuing, "Man to bad people."

"I'm not offended if you call me a meanie dear." He replied with a grin. He then turned to Bea and asked, "Is there anything you'd like to do at the moment?"

Suddenly her fist slammed violently into the stone wall, removing her small hand dust and pebbles crumbled from a crater. A dim purple aura surrounded her as a low rumbling noise could be heard from under her breath.

"Please leave me in peace Viral, I'll return to the banquet in a moment." She replied quietly without lifting her head.

-------------

Xenocrates stood proudly before his master.

"No undead abomination can withstand our might, I'll return shortly with news of our victory." He proclaimed. "With your blessing I'll purge that wasteland with a hundred of my finest warriors. Am I dismissed my lord?"

-------------

The skull knight leaned forward peering at the imp with distrustful eyes.

"He's correct if he distrusts you, as nor do I." Mahura interjected leaning backwards in her chair. "I'll be watching you if the queen decides to keep you around, and mind you, I don't sleep."

"Study?" Beatrice asked, not knowing what she meant. "M-mean?" She looked at Lorathin and shied away, moving closer to Luthien.

"I-I...Where did I go. I mean...where did you take me...I mean..."

She closed her mouth as she tried to think up what she was going to ask. "May we...return to where I was...just not...where I was?" she asked quietly.

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

"Ye-" Viral was about to agree and return, but deep inside, he knew that no man who loved a woman would turn away in her time of need.

"Please, your highness. I am here to help, and would be glad to assist in any way you deem necessary. I will kill anyone you say to, I will stand by your side at all times, I'd even pick someone's nose if you asked of it to me, however sick it may be," he said as he scrunched up his nose.

"But My queen, I cannot stand by and watch you feel discomforted. Please, share your burden with me, in so I may better aid you," Viral said as he stepped a little closer.

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

"You are dismissed, General Xenocrates. Show them my wrath and lay waste to anything you see. I will send several dragons along to take several of the caravan wagons and goods," Dominatistradz ordered. "As for you, Lohinrith, we have much to discuss..."

Lúthien saw Beatrice get frightened and realized she'd scared her. "Daddy isn't mean, I was just teasing him. I'm sorry for scaring you."

"This is what's technically known as a pocket plane." He replied, "If you wish to return to the village, it is a simple matter."

Lúthien closed the book she was reading and looked up at Beatrice before asking, "Shall we be off?"

Beatrice visibly relaxed. "I would like to...I mean, if it is no trouble. I...did enjoy my stay," she said quietly, wrapping her arms around her waist. "I'm sorry."

"It is absolutely no trouble at all." Lorathin replied

Lúthien held out her hand to Beatrice so they could go leave. "Daddy may seem scary sometimes but he's only a big lovable teddybear." She said

Cantrell woke up immeaditly. He got up and went to Cobiesel. "Wake up. Our friend is here." Cobiesel woke up slowly. Both quickly freshened up, and Cantrell opened the door. "Ixair. Let's go." He stepped out immeaditly. Cobiesel came out shortly after. "Morning Ixair. How are you?" Before he could say anything, she moved out of the way and went over to Cantrell. "So, when are we leaving?"

"As soon as possible, my friends," Ixair replied, taking hold of his left arm without realizing it. "As for me, I am slightly disgruntled, but I feel refreshed."

The elf then began to move down the stairs, where he noticed Harlin had fallen asleep in the chair Ixair left him last. He chuckled as he walked up to the assassin and nudged him gently, anticipating the man to be jumpy due to the nature of his training. Either that or he was already awake and just putting up an act.

"Wake up, old man," Ixair chuckled as he backed away slowly.

Tera was about to let out a small gasp, as it looked like Habdebza was about to end her life. But as quickly as he lunged for her, he had stopped, and they were by Rimoru's palace. Making a look of annoyance on her face, she watched as Habdebza began having fun.

Dropping to the ground with little flair, she followed after the demon. She did not bother sneaking about, as she simply made it so that should anyone see her, their minds would instead register nothing there that would not normally be there. And so she just walked rather calmly after the assassin.

***

"Hi, dear," Fala said with a smile as Eva ran to her. "Why, as a matter of fact, we are. What a smart girl," she continued to smile. "Let me just have our guest here looked after first."

To Loki, she said, "I think we might be able to manage something for tonight. One moment, please."

Fala went back outside, where a new group of guards were already arriving as per Rimoru's orders. To one of them, she quietly told him to escort Loki to one of the servant rooms, which were fairly small and had no windows, merely a modest bed to sleep on. She did not want the stranger to get too comfortable and overstay his welcome, after all. Someone with glowing eyes and a face hidden under a shadow so thick that none of his feature could be seen was not someone she cared to trust having around. The guards were also instructed to keep a close watch on him as well the whole time.

Back in the kitchen, she gestured to one of the guards and said to Loki, "He'll be showing you where your room is. If you need anything, just ask one of them."

Then, picking up Daejan to carry in her arms, Fala said to Eva and Jorian, "Say goodnight, children."

"Bye," Jorian said to Loki with a wave of his hand.

"Goodnight," Fala smiled to Loki before guiding the kids out.

***

"Please, Viral," Ael's soft voice came from behind. "We need some time alone, just us girls."

She looked in the direction of Hel, and it pained her to see the latter in this state. Hel had been like the older sister she never had since she first came to this place, scared and not knowing what to do. Hel had showed her a kind of patience that was not shown to many others, which helped her a lot when she studied the complex mathematical calculations Hel made for her plethora of gadgets. Hel was there for her when the fears and memories of the gangs chasing after her on the streets would come back to haunt her, and she wanted to be there for Hel when Hel was in distress.

Ael moved closer to Hel to give her a hug and to let her know that she was there for her. There was a chance that Hel would get violent, but Ael quickly calculated the probability of that to be rather low. She was her Little Ael, after all.

"It is absolutely no trouble at all." Lorathin replied

Lúthien held out her hand to Beatrice so they could go leave. "Daddy may seem scary sometimes but he's only a big lovable teddybear." She said

"Teddybear?" Beatrice asked with a chuckle. She believed she knew what that was. When the word was spoken, her mind flashed an image of a bear, with little ears and a button nose. With it, feelings of joy and happiness. She smiled brightly, and looked down at Luthien and took her hand.

"I am ready," she said quietly.

Lorathin and Lúthien nodded as they to the front door, Lorathin on one side of Lúthien and Bea on the other. Arriving at the front door, he turned to Beatrice and said, "If you need anything, please feel free to ask me."

With that and an encouraging smile from the little girl that was holding her hand, the trio left the mansion, stepping onto the street from seemingly nowhere. One of the generalized aspects of the spell was that it made this seem unremarkable to anyone observing it.

Tera was about to let out a small gasp, as it looked like Habdebza was about to end her life. But as quickly as he lunged for her, he had stopped, and they were by Rimoru's palace. Making a look of annoyance on her face, she watched as Habdebza began having fun.

Dropping to the ground with little flair, she followed after the demon. She did not bother sneaking about, as she simply made it so that should anyone see her, their minds would instead register nothing there that would not normally be there. And so she just walked rather calmly after the assassin.

***

"Hi, dear," Fala said with a smile as Eva ran to her. "Why, as a matter of fact, we are. What a smart girl," she continued to smile. "Let me just have our guest here looked after first."

To Loki, she said, "I think we might be able to manage something for tonight. One moment, please."

Fala went back outside, where a new group of guards were already arriving as per Rimoru's orders. To one of them, she quietly told him to escort Loki to one of the servant rooms, which were fairly small and had no windows, merely a modest bed to sleep on. She did not want the stranger to get too comfortable and overstay his welcome, after all. Someone with glowing eyes and a face hidden under a shadow so thick that none of his feature could be seen was not someone she cared to trust having around. The guards were also instructed to keep a close watch on him as well the whole time.

Back in the kitchen, she gestured to one of the guards and said to Loki, "He'll be showing you where your room is. If you need anything, just ask one of them."

Then, picking up Daejan to carry in her arms, Fala said to Eva and Jorian, "Say goodnight, children."

"Bye," Jorian said to Loki with a wave of his hand.

"Goodnight," Fala smiled to Loki before guiding the kids out.

***

"Please, Viral," Ael's soft voice came from behind. "We need some time alone, just us girls."

She looked in the direction of Hel, and it pained her to see the latter in this state. Hel had been like the older sister she never had since she first came to this place, scared and not knowing what to do. Hel had showed her a kind of patience that was not shown to many others, which helped her a lot when she studied the complex mathematical calculations Hel made for her plethora of gadgets. Hel was there for her when the fears and memories of the gangs chasing after her on the streets would come back to haunt her, and she wanted to be there for Hel when Hel was in distress.

Ael moved closer to Hel to give her a hug and to let her know that she was there for her. There was a chance that Hel would get violent, but Ael quickly calculated the probability of that to be rather low. She was her Little Ael, after all.

"Goodnight, Lucy," Eva said with a yawn. She didn't know him too well, other than his hat had a bear inside. And that he liked to eat her food.

"Where are we going, Auntie?" Eva asked quietly, but with a cheerful smile.

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

Viral frowned slightly as 'girl time' began. He spun around on his heel and wrapped his hands behind his back.

Forget girl time...we should have Viral time. He smirked as his boots clacked against the floor. That has a good ring to it. Viral Time.

The first corner he saw, he turned it and hid behind the corner, anxious to hear what was said.

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

Habdebza smiled as he made his way to the grand entranceway. To either side of him lay piles of dead bodies. It seemed that an unexpected amount of guards had been placed on duty...as if he was expected...

His blade retracted back into his sleeve and instead, twenty throwing knives hovered in front of him.

The huge oak doors slowly began to shake, before they smashed inward, ornate glass placed in the doors shattered, spraying glass projectiles into the guards waiting at the side. His twenty daggers flew out, piercing any man who remained standing.

Now there were only two others left. A red haired elf...and a blond haired one. Rimoru.

"Surprise," he smiled, before both swords sprang out, and he twisted into his cloak, disappearing from their view.

Lorathin and Lúthien nodded as they to the front door, Lorathin on one side of Lúthien and Bea on the other. Arriving at the front door, he turned to Beatrice and said, "If you need anything, please feel free to ask me."

With that and an encouraging smile from the little girl that was holding her hand, the trio left the mansion, stepping onto the street from seemingly nowhere. One of the generalized aspects of the spell was that it made this seem unremarkable to anyone observing it.


Beatrice looked around and felt along her body, making sure she was completely there. Some of this strange magic stuff really confused her. Especially this strange planar transportation.

The dark elf smiled as she looked at the other two, making sure they had followed her all the way. "Thank...you," she said with a grin. Unfortunately, she had no idea where to go next.

Beatrice looked at the others for any ideas.

Rimoru immediately flipped behind the couch, her sheild having protected both her and Alegain.

In her hand, a brilliant flash of blue. Then, a brilliant sword with a golden hilt. One that a famous leader had created for her...one she loved deeply.

"Alegain! Go warn the others!" Rimoru shouted as she continued to search magically and physically for the strange demon. Nothing...impossible...

And yet, it had been achieved. Rimoru searched through several deminsions known to her, and yet, nothing.

Alegain stumbled out, running as fast as he could towards a doorway.

And directly into a sword point. He was lifted into the air as Habdebza stepped out from the shadows, staring at the man. He slid the sword out of the man and tossed him to the floor.

Alegain gasped as his hands went to his chest. It wasn't lethal...not yet. But it hurt him badly. He moaned as he gulped in air.

Rimoru screamed as she saw her husband speared by the demonic presence.

"I'll give you one free hit if you can guess my name," Habdebza smiled as he walked closer to Rimoru, stepping over dead bodies along the way, occasionally stepping on one, squishing the guts out of it.

The Empress of Iskan searched her mind for any information of such a beast. Several came to mind that have been known for incredible destruction, however only two came to mind for cruelty. Both belonging to Valtrox. Skrangor and Habdebza. Yet Skrangor had died.

"Habdebza," she growled.

"My, you aren't as stupid as I expected," Habdebza growled. "And I suppose I should-"

A deadly bolt of energy blasted into the demon, sending him flying into a wall, cracking the elegant stones and causing several pictures to fall to the floor.

"That was my first," Rimoru snarled as she began running towards the demon.

Habdebza laughed as his cloak opened up, millions of daggers shooting out of the darkness, aimed directly for the empress.

Rimoru, teleported herself behind the demon and thrust her sword out in a sure lethal wound.

However, Habdebza already had his sword there. He wasn't even facing her. His arm shouldn't have been bending the way it was. She was in slight shock, before she was thrown into a stairway railing, and to a long drop, by an invisible force.

The demon smiled as he leapt on the railing, balancing perfectly, before diving for the Empress, who remained on the floor. She sent another blast of pure energy at the demon, where it just seemed to travel through him.

She summoned up her energy sheild, where Habdebza slammed his sword into, energy cackling across the room, burning and destroying things inside the room as two different spells clashed and collided.

The demon was eventually thrown off and, by an invisible force much like the one he used on Rimoru, he smashed into a bookcase.

Rimoru floated upright, and hovered in midair as her eyes glowed a bright white.

Again, the demon rose in the air and slammed into a door, smashing through the wood. Immediately following was bolt of lightning-like energy that smashed into his still form.

The door blasted open, showering the cloak in splinters.

Rimoru hovered in and opened up the cloak, a strange gas blasted into her, sending her to the floor, coughing and sneezing. Her eyes watered as she crawled away, before she felt a heavy kick into her abdoman, sending her tumbling away. She floated up, where she recieved a sharp punch into her stomach, sending her into a wall. She could feel several cuts there, but she healed them as soon as she got to her knees.

With a snarl, the demon sent one of his swords at her, when a sheild erupted around her sending the sword clattering on the floor.

The ground around Habdebza curled up around him, trying to trap him inside a shell of stone.

But the demon disappeared again. Rimoru floated to her feet again, but this time kept herself on the ground, her sword on guard, ready for any attack from anywhere.

And that attack came, to her side. Habdebza brought his sword against hers, but immediately twirled it around him and kicked her away, thrusting at Rimoru, who perried it away from her, but was kicked away again. And again, Habdebza thrust at her, this time, however, Rimoru was ready for a kick after her perry.

But the kick never came. Instead, he did a horizontal swipe with his sword towards Rimoru's head, nearly beheading her, but only barely passing her.

The demon let out a short laugh as he kneed Rimoru, sending her sprawling to the ground. He was only toying with her.

But Rimoru knew where her strengths and weaknesses were. Habdebza may have had the upperhand in sword combat, but she was still the 'Goddess of Iskan'.

She sent a bolt of energy into the demon, slamming him into another door. A study where she went many times during the summer to uncover a mysterious object. A certain orb...

Now it hit her. She could finish off Habdebza for good with this orb.

She ran straight into the room, slamming the demon into the wall as he tried to get back up.

And she tripped as she reached for the orb above a shelf. Habdebza's hand had wrapped around her ankle and he began to pull her closer.

"Aha..." he muttered with a laugh that made the hairs on Rimoru's neck go on end. "I was hoping you'd show me the orb earlier..."

Rimoru glowed brightly, sending deadly spurts of magic at the demon, who seemed to only twitch whenever hit.

"Get...away...from it!" she snarled as she tried to use her power to fling him into a wall.

But Habdebza only turned to her and laughed again, as he held out his gauntlet and pointed to a strange looking jewel on his hand. "Nice try, your highness. I only let you toss me around for this," he said as he picked up the strange orb. "What a prize it was...you know, my apprentice showed me it so long ago. Before he broke away, of course.

Rimoru snarled as she rose up to her feet and spread her arms out as pure energy smashed through everything in the room...something she shouldn't have done.

She felt something tug at her mind. She felt energy pour energy into her spell, even though she was not willing it. She mentally tugged at the renegade strand and stumbled against the wall.

The untouched demon smiled again. "It was fun, Rimoru, really it was. But, I am the demi-god of death. And now, it is time for me to uphold the name. We have passed, the point of no return."

He tossed the orb at Rimoru who sent her sheild above her. The orb slammed into it and immediately, Rimoru screamed out.

She felt her energy get depleted at ten times the normal rate. Each second she felt weaker, each second she could feel even her memory slip from her mind into the orb.

As the energy sucked the memories and energy from the powerful empress, her face, her whole body changed several times, becoming taller, larger, smaller, scaled, pale, tanned, blue, purple, pink, nearly every color. Each form she had previously took took shape before she fell to the floor, her energy exhausted.

Smoke rose from the floor and the demon walked over and gently picked up the orb, before looking at the girl who twitched on the floor.

Rimoru looked up, she was still the same girl, the same look, the same eyes, hairs, face, body. She cursed as she tried to get up.

"You know, I was expecting something more from this..." Habdebza growled. "But it'll do," he smiled.


And so was the end of Rimoru's Reign...

Hel lifted her head and embraced Ael very quickly, her tears had dried by now and left streaks below her eyes.

"Thank you Ael." The queen said softly. "I can still feel Cadeyrn's pain despite all these years, himand Rothargot are still alive in some sense somewhere and I can do nothing to find them."

"My dear Ael, if I pass on and Ttomak is unwilling to fufill duties as king of this army, then I want you to inherit this kingdom." Hel added smiling unsure of what may come after the war breaks out.

-------------------

The red armored Dragoon again bowed to his mighty lord before turning to prepare for his assualt on this mysterious force.

Undead and cultists? Hah! This should be another easily earned medal and while that dumb lizard keeps losing favor to our lord I keep progressing further among the ranks. Perhaps one day...this will all be mine.

Xenocrates smiled and felxed his fist at the idea of being supreme ruler of the dragons.

I'd get rid of that idiot first, followed by all those who doubted me all these years. Yes that would be perfect.

------------------

A faint chirping sound could be heard as a mosquito was drawn to the attractive sounds. In an instant the insect's curiousity brought it to its end as a pair of jaws lunged out and clamped around its small head. As the little winged pest squirmed the little wolf's claws pawed down its wings and held it unti lthe tiny prey stopped moving.

Quielty he chomped away at his meal with a wide smile on his face wagging his tiny tail vigorously.

"Wasn't there someone I was supposed to be looking for." He asked himself as he had a poor memory. "Rimma Rod, Rimorto?"

He shrugged off the question and continued his delighted feast.

Viral raised an eyebrow as he listened into their conversation. There he is again! Cadeyrn! And Rothargot?

Viral had to prevent himself from gasping. He knew of Rothargot. He was there when Inzikai paraded through town with the book in his hand. Victory for the Cult was at hand. It was so close...

Viral burned with rage for a short minute or two, before he cooled down. He was no longer a cultist, atleast not openly. His dedication remained with Marlene, however, he would be somewhat hesistant against something against the Cult that was important for it's survival.

Then it made some sense. He had seen Marlene at that Parade. And a large man...a human warrior. Cadeyrn...

Viral frowned slightly. What she spoke about next made him uneasy. Her kingdom to a couple...and Viral remained unspoken to. His fist clenched again as his eyes scanned the corridor. What about Viral?

What about Viral? What have I done to earn Hel's trust? What Have I done to become someone she could tell her problems to? Nothing! You are a failure, Viral. Viral's teeth clenched as he began to shake in anger. He had nothing against Ael and General Ttomak, but he couldn't help but be jealous to them both. They had been with Marlene for so long...atleast Ttomak. And he is treated as a friend, so close to the girl. If only he had been at the Gate War. If only he had been a favored child of Inzikai, or born to a noble family rather than some expirement. Maybe then, would he had been with Marlene.

He was about to slam his gloved fist in the wall, but stopped just as he was about to hit the stone. He just wanted to scream in rage at himself amongst all things, but he held it in. If he was discovered eavesdropping, he had no idea what he would do. He began to walk away, but paused in midstep remembering how loud his footsteps were on the ground. He landed on his toes, still making a clack, however it was much quieter. Perhaps they'd think something sprung a leak.

He needed to get somewhere else fast. Preferrably outdoors. He began tiptoeing across the hall, looking for a way out.

Full the little wolf lept from rock to rock making his way towards the stench that cought his attention.

I need to go somewhere, anywhere!

After his taste of adventure he found himself adicted. It had been a long time since his last journey with the others, whom he hadn't seen since. Quickly he found his way to a town bustling with people of all races. Just before he could take another step a glass jar was slammed down around him.

"What kind of sorcery is this!?" He yelled clawing at the invisible shield. Suddenly the jar lifted revealing a small boy gazing at him with his hand clamped over the lid.

"Young warlock, release me from your spell or I'll cure your home a tousand times!" Lupo yelled shaking his fingers making an "ooooooohhh" sound. Alas he failed to scare the child as the boy made way with his new pet.

------------

Hel heard the familiar clack and lifted her head.

"Viral, no need to hide yourself. If you wish to talk now is the time." The queen said seperating herself from Ael.

Viral visibly shivered. Darn boots... he thought angrily. He either needed new, less noisy boots, or to make a mental note never to be an assassin. Probably both.

He waited on both feet, letting go of his anger for now. He took in a large breath of air, and breathed it out, before clacking back and smiling sheepishly.

"I..er..was checking out this...classroom," he mumbled as he nervously walked out. His eyes were alert for any sort of weapon. Images of the wolf being shot out the window sparked in his head. He was no Snukkums, nor was he immortal...and he didn't want to be a mindless zombie. "I...erm...didn't hear anything."

Vohinrihth remained on one knee as his master turned towards the drakonan general. The openings to the chamber closed up by the Ageless' will.

"I don't trust him, my master," Vohinrihth said quietly.

"I will hear no more of it. What can he possibly do?" Dominatistradz growled.

The General remained quiet and shook his head. "He could get us killed. Our men, he could put our people in danger, he-"

"He is one of the best, Vohinrihth. I have yet to see less than acceptable casualties from him."

"He never brought back Cadeyrn's body. For all we know, he let him go," Vohinrith growled.

"Watch your tone with me," Dominatistradz snarled. "I have lost my family to this scourge of mortals. I will not lose anymore because of some assumption of a rival, no matter how much I cherish you."

"Master...I-"

"Do you not have confidence in your men? Do you not have confidence in yourself?"

Vohinrihth nodded slowly.

"Then leave. I want progress by the end of the week. You speak so highly of your men, now I want proof. I want you to prove to the world that the Dragons will not succumb to mortals any longer."

Hel walked very seriously stopping within inches of Viral. Her eyes peered through her glasses at the man almost turning him into an equation. She didn't speak a single word only waited for Viral's reaction to her approach.

------------

Slumping onto his butt, Lupo folded his claws under his chin while the child nailed holes into the lid. The boy's family was sitting down to a turkey dinner, but before his father could even mention the minature varvul the bird revived.

It's body buldged with viens and muscles very uncommon for most turkeys, especially for ones that had been cooked on a stick. The baren and headless bird lunged at the father smacking him with his burely flaps of wings. During the scuffle between the family and the steroid dinner, Lupo's prison fell over and smashed onto the floor.

Just before leaving he rasied his hand to the boy and said: "A pox onto your home for four generations! Fear the restorative mastermind that is I, Lupo!"

"oooooohh" He added shaking his claws at the child before dashing away.

The turkey slumped voer dead again before the father continuely poked it with his fork.

Viral's eyes widened as he looked nervously around, unsure of what to do. "Err.." he said quietly, taking a step back. His hands nervously moving behind his back. His eyes met hers but glanced away almost immediately.

If only I was drunk. Then, I'd kiss her and blame it on my drunkeness. Or not even remember it. Or, considering I drank some poison earlier...I could blame it on-

His eyes met Hel's again and he looked down and bowed his head. "I'm...err...forgive me, your highness," he said quietly. You're missing your chance. Chance of a lifetime...or two...

Teralynn watched as Habdebza began slaughtering all of the palace guards like one would watch a show full of actors. But unlike these shows, which saved the best parts until the very end, it was not all that long before Rimoru was encountered, and the real show began.

Tera actually found herself enjoying watching the fight now. She had recollections of getting along well with Rimoru, and in any other life would probably have become friends with her. But as things were, the whore of Iskan needed to be eliminated for Tera’s rise to dominance over both the Cult and Lustria as a whole, and Tera would not shed a single tear over it. Watching Habdebza being blasted around was a rather fun sight as well, and she almost hoped Rimoru would win just so she could see Habdebza have his butt kicked.

Needless to say, she was disappointed to find out that Habdebza was only faking it. Oh well. You win some, you lose some.

But what happened next completely caught her off guard. At first, she heard a vaguely familiar voice shouting something. Then she saw a blur fly past her and straight at Habdebza. That flying carpet...that sword...that man...

Both of Teralynn’s eyes shot wide open as she recognized the man on top of the carpet, his curved sword held out as he flew at a high speed toward the creature that just defeated Rimoru.

But how could it be? He died some fifteen years ago! At least, that was what she was told. She never actually saw him die for herself. But unless there was another one of him in this world, then that must have been him. He was here at Rimoru’s palace when he was reported as dead.

What was his name again? Maverick? Mallorean?

Maverion!

***

The thunderous sound of the main entrance shattering reverberated through the palace, and the ensuing fighting was hard to miss too.

Fala looked in the direction of where all the noise was coming from, her face showing fright. “Hurry!” she ordered the children as she dashed in the opposite direction of the sounds of death and destruction.

Jorian was slow to ask questions and quick to act as he ran after his mother, making sure that Eva was not falling behind.

“This way, hurry!” Fala said as she guided the children down a narrow, spiraling staircase into the basement. Not even the pounding of the guards’ boots against the floor was of any comfort to her, for she had the uneasy feeling that the guards would not be of much help in this situation.

***

“Don’t say that,” Ael said as she squeezed Hel in her arms. “We’ll find them, and you’ll be reunited, and we’ll all be together like one big family, and nothing’s going to happen to you.”

She looked Hel in the face, trying to banish the thoughts of losing her, which would only bring tears to her eyes. She had lost her family before, and she would not let anything happen to her new family.

“Plus,” Ael added with a grin, in hopes of cheering up Hel, “what kind of necromancer would you be if you didn’t bring yourself back to life if something were to happen to you?”

But then came the sound of Viral’s footsteps and Hel calling him out. Was he eavesdropping on them? The nerve!

She watched on to see what Hel would do with him.

Hel reached forward and wrapped her arms around him holding him very gently.

"Viral, don't get too attached to me, people who challenge the gods themselves don't survive very long." She whispered before letting go and turning around to Ael.

Bury your pain with your anger, and you'll escape suffering.

"I'm just preparing for the worst Colonel." The queen said lowering her head. "Besides I want my kingdom left in capable hands."

"Let us return to the banquet hall, it's time to announce the march against the dragons." She said with a large grin on her face.

Wow, she let him off easy.

Ael simply nodded.

It was through the help of Hel and Ttomak that Ael learned to trust again, to have fun again, to love again. And so it was sometimes weird for her when either of them would be so formal with her as Hel's last statement was.

But then there was someone else here, which Ael attributed that attitude to.

With that, she followed Hel back to the great hall.

"This infernal prostitute does have quite a few men to protect her," Habdebza laughed as he once again picked up the orb. He could feel the power radiating off of it, nearly full of Rimoru's power. But what would he do with it now?

The demon looked towards the newcomer and smiled cruelly as a single blade shot from his sleave into his hand. "A carpet? I have to say, I am somewhat surprised."

The demon smiled as he debated on crushing the man with incredible force of his mind or just showing off to what remained of his audience with a bit of swordplay.

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

"Auntie Fala! What's going on! I demand to know as I am the Princess!" Eva shouted as she trailed behind, holding her dress as she did so. The series of loud crashes and thumps was strange. She had never heard such noises before. And no one could be invading. No gunshots were fired. There was nothing.

"Is this a joke?" she asked as she began panting. Although she was relatively fit, she never really exercised. She usually had something take her long distances, she never really ran or walked their herself.


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

Viral gasped quietly his eyes wide with shock. His heart fluttered and he felt his mind just shut down. "I...er..." he tried to speak, but all that came out was gibberish.

"My lady...I will always...keep you safe," he muttered as he got his breath back. "I am always yours to command."

With her final statement, he smiled, much more relaxed. Not only was he not dead or reanimated, he had recieved a hug from the girl of his dreams.

"My Queen, I will destroy any dragon, and size. You ask and I obey."

The carpet shot forth and Maverion tried to take a swipe at Habdebza from atop it. The intruder may have wiped out a large number of guards and appeared unhurt, and he may even have overcome Rimoru herself, but Maverion was not about to go run and hide. Even if he ended up like all the others, he felt it was his duty to do what he could to protect the empress, and that would be what he did to his dying breath.

The velocity of the carpet made the short distance between him and Habdebza negligible, and Maverion held his curved sword up, horizontally, on this pass.

Teralynn knew it would end badly for the man.

***

“It’s no joke, dear,” Fala said, panting. “We’re under attack by someone. If you’ve ever had reason to trust me, now is the time. Now come, I’ll make sure no one will harm you.”

"Valtrox." Hel replied to Viral while continuing her walk towards the hall.

I recognize that heartbeat. I once had it when Cadeyrn held me...

"There's a certain dragoon I want to face alone, he is, special to me." Hel again added pushing open the large double doors.

Habdebza laughed as he calculated the speed of the carpet and predicted the time it would require for the man to pass the demon.

And he calculated correctly. He ducked underneath the blow, but as he passed, the demon took hold of the carpet, pulling on it with all his might, unsure how much force the rug could create.

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

Eva's eyes went wide. Very wide. "Impossible! This place is crawling with guards! No rebel group could defeat all our guards and my mother!" she said as she was beginning to slow down.

"Auntie...I need...rest," Eva said as she jogged at a slow pace.

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

Valtrox. That single word brought fear to his enemies and worship to his allies. The most powerful god. One that Viral once worshipped, and, though reluctant to admit it, sometimes still does.

But now, he shivered as though a cold breeze brushed past him. What if his occasional worship brought him to the god's attention? What if his love and these people are to be slaughtered because of his faithfulness to his god?

I will have to make a decision soon. Valtrox...or Hel. Viral told himself as he followed behind.

As Hel opened the doors she heard a crack from the window nearby that caught her attention. Suddenly Beau raised his head and rushed to the noise cocking his head quizically before smashing the staind glass master piece. A sick smile slid across his face as clasped onto something.

Pulling his arm from the window, a small beast wriggled around in his grasp chirping and squeeling until suddenly it stopped and opened its tiny eyes.

"BEAU!?" It screamed before fighting intensely to get free.

"What in the name of the gods?" Hel said moving her head in closer.

"I remember this one." The varvul king chuckled shaking the tiny wolf around. "Lupo is his name, I called him Kanti, it's my language for 'Tiny Virus'."

"Good name." Hel replied absolutely fascinated by the intruder.

"Virus?" Viral asked with curiousity, his gloved hands tapping against each other. "Why, Snukkums? Why would you name him such?"

The virus-man walked closer, but dared not walk too close. He still did not trust being near the wolf. Especially not with all the teasing he did to him.

"This little bastard led a nasty resistance against my throne." Beau snapped back at Viral. "and I did not name myself Snukkums you dunderbolt, it was this bi- woman."

Calmly Hel removed the wolf from Beau's grip as the large varvul ducked his head awaiting for his master's punishment, but it never came. As she turned his back to him, however, an invisible force knocked him clean out of the window.

"What are you doing here little Varvul?" Hel asked still intrigued by the dwarf werewolf.

"An army of undead and a giant castle in this color interested me. Normally they're black, not dark grey." Lupo answered glad that his nightmare had been sent 400 feet below via gravity. "I didn't want any trouble, I was just curious, I'm looiking for something to do. Honestly!"

"Little smartass, but seeing as how you annoy Beau, I'll keep you around. Just don't try causing any trouble." The queen ordered putting him down on the window.

"My middle name is Dryantufil, which means, 'I promise I won't casue any trouble lady who scares me half to death'. Lupo said cheerfully.

Viral looked about and watched Hel speak to the little wolf with curiousity. When he believed they had stopped their little chatter, Viral began to ask him questions.

"Do you carry any sort of germs, virus', bacteria, or poisons?" he asked excitedly. He wanted to make sure the creature was not truly infectious.

"No I am a great healer actually. I can cure just about anything, I despise poison." The tiny wolf chirped jumping onto Viral's shoulder.

"Sorry, but from that distance I have to yell and you'd be amazed how often my throat gets sore." He said laying down.

Viral's eyes went slightly wide. Cure? No more smoking, drinking, or other toxic inducing activity?

The leauitenant almost jumped as the wolf settled down on his shoulder. "I...er..." he picked up the wolf with his hands, keeping him away from the poisions in a pocket at his belt.

"Strange," he said quietly. "I would expect you to be somewhere...more lively, rather than one full of zombies and...poisons," he said, subtly referring to himself as he looked for a place to drop the little beasty off.

"Well I've just been wandering around after my last little adventure." He said scuffling around in Viral's hands. "This was the only place I could find, not like I can travel very far."

"The only thing that bothers me is-"

Suddenly Beau crawled back through the window he just fell from covered in foliage and mud. He lunged for the tiny wolf when suddenly an invisible uppercut knocked him onto his back. Afterwards it looked like something was stomping him in the chest violently.

"Beau, please leave our new guest alone." Hel said smirking deviously.

"is him." Lupo finished wincing away from the giant werewolf.

Viral almost panicked as the wolf pounced for the little wolf in his hand. He set him on the table quickly and brushed his hand off on his pants. "What else do you know? I mean, like...anything?"

Like advancements in romances? Shut up, Viral! Curing lovesickness? Viral had to chuckle at that thought, but kept his eyes switching from wolf to wolf.

"Well, I'm good at fixing things." He said someone hesitantly. "They used to use me as a mechanic because I could go places where no one else could..."

and every once in a while they'd forget I was in the machine.

He shook his head trying to forget his horrific ordeal in the paw cover factory.

Viral looked at his queen with a smile. "A mechanic, my queen," he said happily. Perhaps she could make use of the little wolf. As long as it didn't 'cure' him.

"So...you can cure...anything?" Viral said, a little more quietly. "What are some of the rarest...sickness you can cure?"

"No! NO!" The little wolf pleaded. "Please don't make me repair things again, I'll do anything beside that."

He then turned to Viral and raised his snout in thought.

"Well there was fish who had 'hole in the head' disease. I cured that. A man once had White Lily Poison which comes from a very lethal flower in the hills of Iksan. There was also a man who had a thing for prostitutes...well let's not go any further into that one ok?"

Viral raised his eyebrows as the last one. "You have sparked my curiousity, little wolf, however...that one is a bit inappropriate," he laughed.

Then, it hit him. From what little he heard of this Cadeyrn, he was somewhat diseased, was he not? If only he had appeared just a bit earlier...

"You are quite interesting, little one," Viral smiled. "I would enjoy learning more about you sometime."

"Likewise my worm infested friend." Lupo replied.

"You better not sleep Kanti!" Beau yelled getting to his feet. "You better no- aaaaaaaahh *thud*."

"Do you have any ideas where Bodista might be?" He asked, "It would make searching for him easier. If you don't, don't worry about it thought."

Ttomak cocked his head slightly at the imp's answer. "If you truly possess items that are as powerful as you imply, then why do you not use them yourself?"

The general was already considering what potential role Ezekial could fill if he were indeed accepted into Hel's army. The thieving and spying roles would seem to fit someone of his stature well, though the general reputation of imps would probably make him a poor diplomat. Still, Ttomak was willing to entertain the idea should the imp prove himself worthy - not only in what he said, but in what he thought. The final say for someone of this type, however, would lie with Hel, though he had no doubt that his opinion would play a part in Hel's decision.



"Well, the items are powerful in the hands of people skilled in their use." Something i frequently neglect to mention he thought. "I am not so skilled and meddling with powers greater than your own can be dangerous." After a moments thought he added, "Taking my example of the dockmaster, do you think that if i attempted and to take over a city - and basing this on my demonic appearence alone - that many of its people would approve? I wouldn't have much support and then i would have to kill everybody, who would be left to work for me? What is the point of power if you can't use it?"

Again, he glanced around the room, noting the disapproving eyes of the massive and somewhat daunting knight and frowning at the dark elfs comment. Before replying with; "I don't mind being admired by beautiful women, and it's always nice to have someone watching my back."

He was somewhat surprised at Hel's return and the lagre wolves behaviour until a smaller wolf emerged. He watched with curiosity and listened intently while thinking; How annoying, i have a rival for attention, and i do hate to repeat myself. Perhaps its for the best, they may not look on me so disaprovingly after this.

Beatrice shook her head slowly. "I...only remember his name...a-and his kindness..." the dark elf said quietly.

The girl took a step in one direction, before turning around, facing the other two. "I'm...lost," she said with a frown.


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

"Worm Infested?" Viral asked with a raised eyebrow. Does he know about my 'abilities'?

"Atleast I'm not flea infested," Viral replied with a low grumble.

"I'd worry less about fleas and more about that tape worm going to town on your stomach." Lupo chuckled before bounding onto Hel's shoulder whom welcomed him as he settled down quietly.

"Damn rodent." Beau snarled next to Viral.

"Aye," Viral whispered quietly. He didn't want to ruin what progress he's made on advancing his romance with his queen, but he disliked being told he was 'worm-infested'.

Then he raised an eyebrow and looked over his shoulder to see the hulking wolf, jumping slightly and moving himself a bit farther away. No, a lot farther away, maybe five feet rather than one foot.

Beau glared at the man leaping away.

"Worry not mortal, you're completely safe as long as this collar is on..." He muttered walking past him next to the queen.

"That's always good to know. I wouldn't want Snukkums to eat me, or try to eat me," Viral said quietly, as he took a seat at a table, amongst the other officers, who seemed to have watched the show patiently thus far. Well, who wouldn't? If they randomly left, they'd fear getting shot, maimed, or poisoned by Hel or her wolf or anyone else in the room.



ooc: Be back later!

Horatio was awoken by his raven tugging on his hair. It had heard movements in the inn and wanted its master prepared. It seems he must have finally at some point during the last night fallen in a reasonable sleep, but he was still tired.

Reaching into his bag he pulled out a reflective piece of glass and a change of clothes, the ones he was wearing were crumpled and dirty. Looking his reflection he could just see the tips of the two small horns poking from the hair which had flattened over night, another part. He shook his head vigourously to try and bring some life back to the hair, it had little effect, but made the tips more difficult to spot.

The raven landed next to the bag and poked its head inside to retrieve a bag of dried meats which Horatio kept in there, he quickly bent down and took it away from the thieving bird. Taking a strip out he took a bite and gave the rest to the bird, which he then dispatched to the front of the inn to keep its eyes out for a certain mage, or if the party in the inn left to trail them from a fair distance.

He had some things to settle with the mage, probably some things to explain and some questions to ask a certain elf who seemed to know things about him which are supposed to be secret. But afterwards he may be able to track down the party again and try to join up, they seemed to have a better idea of what to do than he did.

With that in mind he went downstairs, avoiding the party, which had seemingly gained a goblin. Stopping briefly to grab a large flagon of water from the bar he walked outside and headed towards the alley where the others had vanished from last night, it was as good a place as any to start. Just before he arrived he ducked down another alley, took a sip of the water and then threw it over his hair and face to get rid of the flatness which had already began to reappear and generally make him look neater. He shook some of the water off, then reached into his bag for the clothes he had used the night before and used them as an imprompto towel to dry it off. After a moment of making sure his horns were hidden and none of his demonic traits were apparent he made his way to the right alley.

Beatrice searched the streets, hoping for some sign, some hint of where to begin her search. But nothing came to her. She was lost in a massive world. She did not remember what the cities were, the towns, the villages, even the nations. She did not know which direction was east, west, north or south. And she definately did not know who were the leaders of the nations.

Beatrice swerved closer to Luthien if somebody walked by, staring at them until they passed, occasionally whispering something to herself.

It seemed to be a particularly busy morning, hundreds of people walking in the street as the occasional carriage rolled by. Beatrice stared in amazement at the horses, and the carriage itself each time it passed. One man passed by, wearing a leather tunic. A mage in training at the College of Water. Clearly visible by the ball of water he bounced around in his left hand as he read from a book in his right.

As he passed, however, he slammed into Beatrice's right side, almost knocking her down, but instead, getting her all wet from the ball of water.

"Watch we're you're going, stupid girl," the student growled, before continuing on his walk.

"I'm sorry..." Beatrice said quietly, as she got back up. She wiped some sand from her sleeves and smiled weakly at the others, before continuing on.

Then she spotted it. Something cloaked headed their way.

Beatrice immediately backed away, behind Luthien and Lorathin. "Cloaked man," she whispered.

Horatio was weaving between the hordes of people walking on the streets, frequently getting bumped and recieving sharp pains from the fragile wings on his back.

Suddenly he noticed a person stop somewhere in front of him and recognised the dark elf from the alley, she seemed petrified again. He sighed as he remembered the way she had behaved towards him the night before.

He looked around, then waved to them, made an apologetic gesture and indicated sideways towards another alley so they could talk outside of the mainstream of people before striking off in that direction through the crowds, recieving many insults from being in peoples way. He hoped the two would follow him.

Beatrice shivered as he waved at them. He seemed friendly enough. Then why was she afraid of him?

I must find Bodista. Maybe he knows where my guardian is... Beatrice thought as she watched him disappear in an alley. She disliked alleys, especially after the night before.

***

Chin up high, Beatrice. Don't be scared to try new things. In fact, don't be scared at all. Laugh in the face of danger. Come on now, laugh at me as if I was a...a...a giant bear! Rawr!

A girlish giggle, before she broke into a full blown laugh.

It's easier than you thought, isn't it?

Stop making faces! I want to seriously try it!

Who's to say your dangerous opponent won't be making faces?

A lot of giggling, before some silence.

I love you, Bodista.

Silence.

I love you too, Beatrice.

***

Beatrice sighed to herself. "I want to see him," she said quietly. Then, without another word, she walked over to the alleyway, her chin held high, and peeked around the corner.

"Hello?"

Horatio was leaning against a wall watching the crowd moving past, he couldn't see them from this angle and literally jumped in surprise as the dark elves head poked round the corner. He slipped on the floor, but managed to keep his balance without falling over.

"Hi, you startled me." He replied after ragaining his composure

Beatrice hid back around the corner at his sudden movement, but peeked around again.

"I-I'm sorry," she said quietly as she slowly stepped towards the middle of the entrance to the alleyway. Her arms nervously crossed across her bare stomach and her legs felt as though they would buckle any second.

Chin up, the dark elf kept telling herself as her eyes looked over the cloaked figure. "No cloak...please?"

Horatio looked at the girl, then at the crowd of people, he didn't want to risk it. He looked pleadingly at the girl.

"I can't... please, if they saw..." He indicated the people moving past.

Beatrice looked behind her and frowned. She shivered again and looked at the cloaked man. He seemed kind enough. He hadn't tried to rape or kill her yet. In fact, his comment reminded her of herself.

"No weapons?" she asked quietly, her eyes wide and pleading.

"No weapons." He agreed, he reached under his cloak and took off his belt with the rapier and dropped it into his bag. Then he reached into the cloak and pulled out a wicked looking curved scythe and also put it in the bag. He then put the bad down and took a few steps away from it, holding his hands out peacefully.

OOC: for the sake of this can i just say that the cloak has some very deep magic pockets for that scythe and the bag is a magic one or else it could get quite complex, i forgot to mention he was carrying those before.

OOC: Fine! Be that way! LoL aye it's good.

Beatrice shivered as he pulled off his weapons, before she looked down at the sword she had never used. She carefully unbuckled her belt and put put the belt on the floor, never once touching the hilt or the sheath. She pushed it to the middle with her foot, keeping her arms close to her chest.

The dark elf looked up at the cloaked man, barely able to see the man's face. If he was indeed the man from last night, she did not know what to expect. "Hor-a-tio..." she said quietly, her head lowered as she looked to the ground, away from the weapons.

"Whats your name?" He asked, the girl seemed awfully shy.

"I am...Beatrice...I think," The dark elf replied hesistantly. She did not know if she should disclose such information. Especially if he truly was what she believed he was.

She thinks? She doesn't even know herself, how can she know me? "How did you know i am..." He swallowed and looked around to make sure nobody was near then finished. "Part demon?" He said looking down at the ground.

"We shall help you find him, and yourself." Lorathin replied kindly as he saw her confusion. As she explored, they kept close enought that she could retreat to the safety of them, while not so close as to crowd her.

As the wannabe mage bumped into her, Lorathin gestured for Lúthien to keep an eye on Beatrice while he went off to talk with the rude young man.

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

"Young man next time watch where you're going, and apologise if you're clumsy. You never know who you might be irritating." Lorathin commented as his eyes flashed dangerously. "There are those far more powerful than you could ever imagine, and they aren't all as nice as me." With that, Lorathin gestured, causing the hydromancer to sink up to his neck. "Next time be more careful."

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

Lúthien had remained at her side as Daddy went to chastise the mage in training. She was Beatrice's 'security blanket' and also would take care of her if the man turned out to be a bad one.

Beatrice shrugged her shoulders as she looked at the man. He definately reminded her of herself. "I-I don't know. I...I saw your wings and-and a tail," she replied quietly, trying to get a better look at his face.

She didn't know?! Horatio was shocked, he looked at her in surprise, But, she... it can't just have been coincidence... could it? "But, my cloak, in the alley...?" He trailed off.

Beatrice shied away slightly, her hand gripping Luthien's tighter.

"Your cloak," Beatrice said quietly as she cowered a bit. "You had wings...and a pointy tail."

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

"Hey! I didn't do nothin! Go bug off, cow fodder!" the boy screamed as he tried to get up. "Guards! Guards!"

People had begun to crowd around, unsure of what to do and who started anything.

He could see her starting to panic. "No, calm down, please." He wasn't sure what to do, he wanted to approach and calm her down, but she would probably panic more, he stood there making vague peace signs, trying to think of something. He looked at the crowd and then in panic at the little elf next to her. "Help, please."

Beatrice closed her eyes and began to shiver. Chin up...Chin up...Chin up...laugh in the face of danger...chin up... she thought to herself. Her breathing slowed and her grip on Luthien's small hand loosened.

The Dark elf's purple eyes opened up slowly and looked at the man that was half demon. "I'm...sorry," she whispered as her lips quivered.

"It's ok, you haven't tried to kill me yet." He replied. Visably relieved that she had calmed down, but smiling a sad smile. "You're doing better than most."

OOC: the half demon part is debatable, it's not quite straight forward, magical intervention as to why his relatives are normal.

Beatrice stepped a bit closer, her head leaning slightly to the side. "You have been hunted?" she asked curiously. "I...I have...been...too," she whispered.

Horatio nodded and smiled the same sad smile at her and answered "People fear what they don't understand or expect." to her first comment. The her second he responded. "I am sorry, it is not a fate i would wish on others."

Beatrice continued to watch Horatio as he spoke. Perhaps he knew of my guardian? she thought to herself .

"Horatio...have you ever...seen a creature that called him Bodista?" Beatrice asked quietly, the pleading look back in her eyes.

"No, sorry. Much of my life early life was spent running and most of the rest has been in the Druid sanctuary where i found shelter, I haven't met many people. I am sorry. Was he a friend of yours?" A sorrowful look was in his eyes, if his master was truely dead as he suspected then he had lost the main father figure and teacher he had had over the last 18 years and believed he may know how Beatrice felt.

Beatrice nodded slowly, fighting the urge to break down crying again. "I miss him so much..." she whispered as a tear escaped from her left eye. She looked curiously at his his shadowed face. "May I see? Your face...I mean," she whispered.

Horatio nodded and reached up to put down his cloaks hood, it was habit to wear it and took a step closer to her to give her a clearer look of his face.

His appearence was still youthful but was not smooth, it showed signs of the life he had lead and tiredness from the unusual night he had had. Reasonably long black hair flowed back behind his ears and down to his shoulders. His eyes were a dull grey green.

She took one tiny step back as the man came closer, however she studied his face intently, searching for any familiar signs. Anything that could spark a memory.

And she found nothing but a rough face, full of youth, and yet, still tired. She frowned sadly as she reached towards him, and put her thumbs on the ends of his lips, gently pushing them up into a smile.

Beatrice returned a small smile and giggled quietly. "Chin up," she said quietly.

Horatio had been slightly surprised when she had reached out and couldn't help but smile, the strange girl seemed to alternate from shyness, fear and carefreeness. "Better words have never been spoken, thank you." He replied still smiling.

Beatrice nodded slowly, before backing up slightly. "I'm sorry," she replied as she hid her hands behind her back. Although, she still smiled at the man. "Where do you plan on going next?" she asked as she took Luthien's hand again.

"You don't need to apologise" He said, making a small dismissive gesture. "As to where i'm going next. Well, i have to talk to Lorathin and this little girl first. I would prefer my... 'heritage' not being common knowledge and must ask them to keep it secret." He said indicating the smaller elf and the mage who was lost in the gathering crowds somewhere. "But after that, i'm not sure. there were some adventurers in the inn where i stayed, i was going to try and tag along with them, my pet is keeping an eye on them."

"More...adventurers?" Beatrice asked with curiousity as she looked about the area. "Maybe they've seen Bodista!" She said excitedly. Beatrice's smile went as wide as possible and she gently tugged on Luthien's hand. "Let's go, Luthien! Where's Lorathin? Horation can come with, yes?"

As Beatrice seemed to be eager to set off, Horatio turned and walked the few steps to his bag and picked it up, the weapons can stay there for the moment. Then turned and noticed Beatrice's own sword on the floor near her. "Are you going to leave that there?" He asked as he indicated it.

Cantrell and Cobiesel walked downstairs, following Ixair. Cantrell spoke up. "So, when do we leave?' Cobiesel added in, looking at the man slouched over in the chair, "Is he going to be okay? And by the way, whose your friend?" she said, having seen he little goblin following Ixair.

Beatrice looked at the sword. She never used it. But she knew she wanted it. But for what? She didn't even know how to fight with one.

The dark elf shook her head, her long white hair brushing against her shoulders as she did so. "Thank you," she whispered as she inched closer to the sword. Her purple eyes once again looked up at Horatio as she bent down to pick it up. She shivered slightly as her eyes slowly went to the bag he was holding. The bag she knew he put his weapons in.

She slowly took hold of the belt and pulled it closer to her, dragging the weapon on the ground as she pulled it closer to Luthien, before she buckled the belt tightly against her muscular waist, not once touching the deadly weapon.

"Yes, you did." Lorathin commented as he looked at the struggling boy, "And it's something your teacher should have picked up on and disciplined you for. You abuse your skill, and have little enought of it as is."

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

"Daddy's teaching." She commented as she looked at Beatrice and the man. "Shall we go see him?"

"Alright," Beatrice replied to Luthien, a smile on her face. The dark elf always enjoyed a good lesson...well...not a bad lesson. She frowned and shivered as she could almost remember one of these 'bad lessons'.

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

"Let me out!" the boy shouted. " It's not my fault your stupid wife walked in front of me. Help! Help!"

Several guards pushed their way through the crowd, where they found the boy half sunken in the sidewalk.

"Alright, what's going on here?" one of them asked.

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

Ixair smiled at Cantrell and Cobiesel. "We leave whenever i can get this old fossil to wake up," he laughed as he prodded the assassin again. He knew he wasn't dead. His breath was still there.

"As for my little friend-"

"Glurp's name is Glurp," the goblin said with a bow imitating Ixair's elegant show bow, however failing miserably at it and almost falling to the floor. "Glurp be brains behind Ixair."

Ixair snorted and pat the goblin on the head. "You keep thinking that, Glurp."

Lúthien took Beatrice's hand as she began leading her and Horatio to where Lorathin was.

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

"I'm just instructing this apprentice remedial skills and manners." Lorathin commented, adding a suggestion spell to his words, "It's perfect normal for a mage to discipline an apprentice who commits a faux pas, it's nothing you need to worry about." His words would sound most reasonable and normal to the guards, as if it were usual for a mage to do as he said.

He then looked back at the boy, "And she is not my wife, but whether she was or not, you'd still be getting this lecture."

"Righteo then, good citizen. Keep up the good work," the guard said before dispersing the crowd. "Come on now, this ain't Rimoru posin' nude."
Several of the other guards chuckled, along with some comments in the audience of "I wish it were," or something along those lines.

"Wha-You bumbling brutes! He's using a spell on you! Get back over here and arrest him!" the student said angrily, before he fumed at Lorathin. "Fine, you win this time. Just get me out. I have a test to study for!"

Beatrice walked through, and smiled at Lorathin, before looking at the boy.

"Since she's not your wife, can you hook her up with me?" he whispered as he winked at the dark elf.

Beatrice raised an eyebrow and attempted to wink back, unsure of what it meant. She finally achieved it and smiled.

"Are you going to be better behaved?" Lorathin asked, "Or will I have to leave you to root for a while?"

He turned and smiled at Lúthien and Bea, while raising an eyebrow at Horatio's presence. "As to setting you up with her, that's up to her but I wouldn't recommend you persue it."

"Daddy, you're teaching this way again?" Lúthien asked slightly exasperated.

"Oh, I'll behave, good sir. You have certainly bested me," the boy said innocently as he tried to get himself out of the strange liquidy ground. And yet, he kept glancing at Beatrice, his smile getting wider. "Why wouldn't you recommend me going out with her?"

Beatrice, however, crouched and crept up to the liquidy ground and poked at it, curious as to what it was.

Lorathin knew he was trying to be artful, but he gestured upward as the boy found himself back above ground level. "Because it's not in your best interests, and she's already looking for someone."

If she poked it hard, it would seem fairly hard, but if she only lightly applied pressure, her finger would sink in, thought she'd be able to pull it out easily.

Cobiesel smiled at the little goblin. "I knew someone had to be pulling the strings behind Ixair." Cantrell also smirked. He went over to the bar and gota large bucket of water. He threw it over the man. "That'll do it."

Beatrice smiled as she poked softly, her hand sinking in, before she pulled it out, it sliding out just as easily. She jabbed at it harder, and was somewhat startled as her finger was stubbed.

She looked up at Luthien her face scrunched up.

"Hey, you, I'm sorry for earlier," the boy said to the dark elf, who shied away behind Luthien.

"Sorry?" she whispered, cocking her head in interest. No one has told her sorry before.

"Aye. And I would be honored if you would go out with me," he said with a cocky smile.

"Out?" Beatrice wondered as she looked at Luthien for help.

Cobiesel smiled at the little goblin. "I knew someone had to be pulling the strings behind Ixair." Cantrell also smirked. He went over to the bar and gota large bucket of water. He threw it over the man. "That'll do it."

"Ah! See, Glurp always tell elf, but elf don't listen!" Glurp said as he pointed accusedly at Ixair.

"Don't get him started!" Ixair hissed.

"Ah! See, Glurp always tell elf, but elf don't listen!" Glurp said as he pointed accusedly at Ixair.

"Don't get him started!" Ixair hissed.

Cobiesel smiled vengefully. "Consider it pay back. Think you're so smooth don't you? You got a lot of work to do."

Cantrell nodded slightly. He looked at the goblin. He laughed to himself. Interesting little creature.

"He's asking if you'd like to go on a date with him." Lorathin commented

Lúthien looked the boy up and down, "I'd say no, but it's up to you."

"Hey! What did I ever do?" Ixair asked innocently. But inside, he smirked. He'd get Cobiesal again soon. "You were the one trying to seduce me into letting you in my room!"

"-And so elf would tell Glurp, "Save us Glurp! Only Glurp is wise and strong and not dumb like me elf," Glurp continued proudly.


***********************************************************
"Date?" Beatrice asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You know, I'll take you out for lunch or something!"

Beatrice looked at the others. "Alright. Come on," she said with a smile.

"Hey wait wait wait. You can't bring everyone. Just you and I. Then, I'll give you a night you'll never forget," the boy smirked walking closer.

"You and I? A night I'll never forget?" Beatrice asked, confused of exactly what the kid was talking about. She took a step back.

"Come on, you know you want to."

Beatrice began to get slightly nervous as she was put in the spotlight. "I want to?"

"Then it's settled, come on. Let's ditch these losers," he laughed as he walked towards Beatrice, squirting Luthien in the face with a magic water as he passed her.

Beatrice backed up as her hands crossed over her stomach. "Wh-wh-what are y-y-you doing?"

After another heart attack to Ixair, Cobiesel said "Think so? I didn't feel like buying a room, but because of you, we had to pay. Also, there is another person with me. He would be in the room to." Cantrell pipped in. "And if you touched her, I would personally kill you. Hey Glurp, nice stories." he said with a smile. I like this guy better than the elf.

The boy suddenly found himself stopped dead in his tracks, the water he'd tried to soak Lúthien with likewise floating in the air for a second before dropping to the ground.

"You don't learn, do you?" Lorathin asked, as the boy was spun round to face him, a dangerous look on his face. The boy would feel like Lorathin was wrath incarnate as he gazed upon him. Reaching his hand forward, he traced a symbol on the boy's forehead. The boy would find his magical abilities draining away, as if he never had them. It would take a drastic attitude change, one more becoming of a courteous human being, as well as whatever task a priest felt appropriate before he would regain them.

"Now leave, and be grateful I was easy on you." Lorathin stated, before turning to Beatrice, "I'm deeply sorry that you had to suffer that."

The boy screamed as he he was held captive. He cursed all three of them. "Give me my powers back! My father is a noble and he'll put a bounty on your head so large, everyone in Lustria would go after you! If the Patriarch were alive, he'd kill you too!"

Beatrice began to walk backwards. "Wha-wha-what's going on?"
She looked at Lorathin worriedly, then at Luthien. From what she saw, the boy did not do anything wrong. It seemed like he wanted to give her a free dinner and give her a night she would never forget. Considering she has forgotten a lot, she would certainly enjoy something she could remember.

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

"Cobiesal, my heart stops for you," Ixair let out a chuckle.

Glurp poked Ixair in the ear. "Glurp told you to stop flirting and dumb elf never listened!"

"Shoo and lemme have my heart attack in piece..."

"You can get you powers back quite easily, change your attitude. Do you really think I care who your father is, oh and the Patriarch, he'd support me. I knew him when he was alive. If you can convince me that you have changed your attitude, then I may dismiss my spell." Lorathin said in a cold voice.

Lúthien looked at Beatrice, and while she was young she still knew what he'd been implying and it disgusted her, "He wanted to have sex with you. Judging from what I've seen, you wouldn't have enjoyed it like he claimed. He's a creep and thinks that he can use his father as a shield to do things that are not nice."

Cobiesel was furious. "I swear, if you keep this up, you will die." She stopped the heart attack, and then tried something different. She cast a new spell. Ixair would hear loud noises, so loud that his ear drums would get close to exploding. He would only be able to hear one person's voice. Rather than put up with the pathetic pick ups, she decided that only Cantrell would be heared. She told him. "Listen Ixair. If you keep this up, we will kill you. After we force you to take us to where you are going. So stop htting on Cobieel. If you are even slightly attracted to her, you will get farther without the crap."

Ixair wrapped his hands around his ears but to no avail. Over the terrible noise he could hear one of them, whom he suspected as Contrell. "I...only...joke," he groaned as he began to sway. His sensitive elven ears were not built for such terrible noise.

"I will not...say them so much anymore," he muttered. He didn't know how much more he could take.

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

"You filthy lier! Tell me your name and I will make sure you are executed or sent to the Imperium Arena where you'll die a horrendous death! Or I'll have you tortured! Or I'll have you thrown into the sea for Orogen to claim!" he cursed loudly as he struggled to get out.

Beatrice looked at the boy and frowned. That had never happened to her before. Usually it was just rape her. He would have done it anyways, most likely. Or atleast thats how Luthien put it.

And Beatrice believed Luthien. "Thank you," she whispered, squeezing onto Luthien's hand gently.

"You are bad man," Beatrice said to the boy from behind Luthien.

"If we're talking about the same Orogen, I've met it." He commented, "And I've been to the Arena as well, guess what, I won."

"I also know Rimoru, and while he was still alive, Inzikai as well. I was at the Gate War afterall." He then gestured, showing the boy scenes of all four. "Trust me, I'm not someone that is pleasent to mess with

The boy closed his eyes and turned away. "Stupid man! Let me down this instance! Or else...or else you'll regret it!"

Beatrice gently tugged on Lorathin's arm. "May we leave...please?" she asked quietly, her eyes giving a sad look.

"I already regret meeting you." Lorathin commented, before turning to Beatrice. "Of course."

He then muttered a few words, the boy would find himself on the ground some distance away at the outskirts of the town, his powers and potential returned but diminished a great deal. He would not remember a single thing that had happened. Emblazoned on his head would be a self-insulting symbol that would fade after a month or so.

"Don't worry about that boy anymore, and is there somewhere you'd like to go now, to get some food perhaps?" He asked as his stomach rumbled.

Beatrice nodded and pointed towards the tavern where Horatio said he saw the other adventurers. "May we go there, please?" she asked quietly.

Cobiesel smiled at the little goblin. "I knew someone had to be pulling the strings behind Ixair." Cantrell also smirked. He went over to the bar and gota large bucket of water. He threw it over the man. "That'll do it."

Harlin spluttered awake, daggers flying out of his cloak as he attacked several imagined enemies. Before he realized his surroundings, there was a fine peppering of throwing knives on the walls of the tavern. Looking around, and shaking himself off, he said, "You'd think they'd have the decency to take me to a room."

Shaking out his hair, he walked out of the building, and sat in the sun outside to dry.

Maverion swung and got only air. Before he knew it, his forward momentum carried him into the wall as the rug was pulled out from underneath him. After that, he found himself on the ground with an intense pain in his head, along with some sort of warm liquid flowing down from where the throbbing was. The pain was blinding, and he could not do anything for a few moments.

When he did reopened his eyes, he was confused as to where he was and what was going on. His limited vision saw something move in the room, but he had no idea who or what it was.

The carpet, meanwhile, struggled vainly against Habdebza’s grip, trying to free itself.

Teralynn walked a little closer to the battle to get a better look at the man she thought to be dead for so long, her mind scanning his’ to make certain that he was who he appeared to be.

***

“Jor, help her,” Fala huffed and puffed. She too was getting extremely tired, and carrying a four-year-old in her arms did not help one bit. But there was something about a mother protecting her children that helped keep her going.

Jorian grabbed onto Eva’s wrist and tried to pull her along. “Come on!” he said, “we’ve got to hurry up!” He had no idea where they were going, or of what was happening either. But from all the ruckus he heard, he knew that something was up. Eva was right, though, it would have to be something huge to overcome the guards, the protective spells, and the empress. But he had to trust his mother. What else could he do?

***

Ttomak watched Beau and Lupo with interest at first, but his mind soon returned to the main business at hand. One had to keep focused, after all. Especially here, when each day would bring a new surprise to interrupt whatever one was doing, whether it be some undead abomination going berserk in the halls or an accidental explosion that would shake the ground or any other number of things.

First, he relayed to Hel via telepathy what the imp said and what he picked up from the guest’s mind.

I’d give him a chance. At least, with something small at first, he added in his message to Hel. He did try to sneak into the library, no doubt to steal a book or two, so I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. But if he is as skilled as he claims to be at spying and thieving, then he might prove useful. I’d keep an eye on him, though, lest he reveals everything about this place and all of us to our enemies for the right price - which he wouldn’t hesitate to do if he could get away with it.

Then, to Ezekial, the general said, “You will show me the other trade items you have to offer and I will determine whether they will be of use to us or not. As for your...powerful...items and any possible terms of service, the queen will consider that herself.”

Habdebza pulled the carpet along as he made his way to the bookshelf. It lifted upwards, in which the demon set the struggling carpet underneath, before letting the bookshelf drop on it.

"Oh my dear Tera, you can join in the fun as well," Habdebza growled as he spun around to face the green skinned man. "Funny, I've never seen one of those before. It'd be my pleasure to wipe out a whole race."

Habdebza stopped in his tracks as his mind searched several halls, several rooms, and several floors. He could catch something running away. A bit farther underneath him. "Blast. Tera, take care of these three," he snarled, indicating Rimoru, the bloody Alegain who seemed to be going in and out of conscious, and the confused Maverion.

The demon looked at several possible entrances, none of which actually led to it. Some sort of secret entrance...

Habdebza felt along the walls before ending at a bookshelf. A small painting of Rimoru and Alegain hung at the side. And there was something unique about it. It had magical properties. A simple one, actually. It needed a password, and his mind went to one who wasn't in the picture. The one he would kill next. "Eva," he rasped as the bookcase split apart, revealing a small set of stairs and several figures running in the distance.

***********************************************************
"Jor! Auntie Fala! I don't wanna!" Eva began to cry. Something was indeed trashing up her home. But who? Or what? Nothing she knew could fight her mother. And where was her father and Maverion? Were they fighting too?

"I want mommy," she cried, but she still kept on, wrapping both of her hands around Jor's.

Eva looked back with tear stricken eyes. "Mommy? Daddy?!" she shouted hopefully as the figure began to walk down the stairs.

"Auntie Fala, Jor! Look, they're alive!" Eva said happily, pausing and trying to let go of Jorian.

Ezekial returned his gaze from the pair of wolves to the man and replied; "Very well." before turning to the queen and bowed as best as he could from his position while saying, "I am deeply honoured that your highness is devoting even a moment to considering my proposition."

Then he turned back to man and said; "I am ready when you are, though perhaps we should wait for this meeting to adjourn? i would hate to deprive her majesty of one of her treasured staff." All of this was said as kindly as possible with no hint of sarcasm what so ever. So far it has been quite interesting and i would hate to miss anything important. he thought. Especially if i do get hired, it might save my life.

-------------------------------------------------------

Horatio had nodded a greeting to Lorathin when they approached then merely watched as Lorathin disciplined the boy, it seemed like a just punishment and he couldn't help but smile at it.

"Of course." Lorathin commented

Cantrell signaled to Cobiesel. She let up the noise. "Whenever you're ready to leave, Ixair, we are."

Harlin turned around from his position on the ground and asked, "Where are you headed Ixair, maybe I could tag along too. It's been far too long since our last adventure..."

"I plan on going to the city of Etarah, a city that is so close to Rimoru City, I'm surprised it isn't," Ixair said loudly, trying to hear himself. "It would be an honor for you to come with me! However, I'd have to leave everyone in the city. I have business to take care of!"

He said as he staggered out of the tavern.


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

Beatrice smiled brightly and tugged at Luthien's hand closer to the tavern. She couldn't wait to ask if they'd seen Bodista...


ooc: Be back in 30 mins

Lúthien held Bea's hand as they the group walked toward the tavern. She hoped Bea would find her friend.

To Loki, she said, "I think we might be able to manage something for tonight. One moment, please."

Fala went back outside, where a new group of guards were already arriving as per Rimoru's orders. To one of them, she quietly told him to escort Loki to one of the servant rooms, which were fairly small and had no windows, merely a modest bed to sleep on. She did not want the stranger to get too comfortable and overstay his welcome, after all. Someone with glowing eyes and a face hidden under a shadow so thick that none of his feature could be seen was not someone she cared to trust having around. The guards were also instructed to keep a close watch on him as well the whole time.

Back in the kitchen, she gestured to one of the guards and said to Loki, "He'll be showing you where your room is. If you need anything, just ask one of them."

Then, picking up Daejan to carry in her arms, Fala said to Eva and Jorian, "Say goodnight, children."

"Bye," Jorian said to Loki with a wave of his hand.

"Goodnight," Fala smiled to Loki before guiding the kids out.

"Thank you," Loki replied sincerely to the new woman who had come into the room and offered him a room for the night.

"Bye..." the young mage replied with a smile and wave of his own. "And goodnight. Thank you again," he added to Fala as she, Eva, and Jorian left the kitchen, leaving only Loki and a guard.

He pivoted on his heel, albeit clumsily, as he adjusted his hate and looked up to the guard standing to his side. The man took it as a sign to lead on, and so he did...

They arrived a couple minutes later, Loki's stubby little legs soar and stiff from the day's endless walking. When he was let into his room, the young mage noted that it was highly Spartan, but a bed was better than nothing. He lay down on the cot and his hat fell over his eyes, bidding him to sleep...
The baby polar bear had followed close behind his 'friend' the whole time, even managing to take the steps without trouble, and now lay next to Loki on the bed, already fast aslumber...

Before nodding off to sleep, Loki felt a powerful surge of energy, but thought nothing of it considering he had felt elevated levels of energy since the moment he had arrived. Sleep came fast and welcomingly...

[ooc: Ugh... another poor post.]

"I plan on going to the city of Etarah, a city that is so close to Rimoru City, I'm surprised it isn't," Ixair said loudly, trying to hear himself. "It would be an honor for you to come with me! However, I'd have to leave everyone in the city. I have business to take care of!"

He said as he staggered out of the tavern.


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

Beatrice smiled brightly and tugged at Luthien's hand closer to the tavern. She couldn't wait to ask if they'd seen Bodista...


ooc: Be back in 30 mins

"Sounds find with me. Maybe we'll fine something there. Oh and here, let me help yo." Cobiesel relieved all ressures on Ixair's ears, so he wouldn't fell anymore pain. The two followed him out the tavern.

"I plan on going to the city of Etarah, a city that is so close to Rimoru City, I'm surprised it isn't," Ixair said loudly, trying to hear himself. "It would be an honor for you to come with me! However, I'd have to leave everyone in the city. I have business to take care of!"

He said as he staggered out of the tavern.

Harlin smiled, "Business, eh? Well, if that's how it must be."

He stood up and brushed himself off. In a few moments, he'd gathered his things, and shouldered his pack.

Looking at the others, he said "Shall we?"

"Aye, let's go," Ixair smiled, glancing at Cobiesal and nodding his thanks. He resisted the temptation to make another joke, though barely.

As he walked out, he looked about the busy street, his eyes finally settling on Lorathin, Luthien, the man he met last night, and an attractive new girl.

He walked up to them and smiled at the dark elf, before looking at Lorathin and Luthien.

"Whenever I see you, you always get a new elf girl with you. Now why is that?" he chuckled. "I'm off towards Rimoru city if you wish to come. As long as we don't speak of the Empress."

Beatrice lowered herself down to Luthien. "Is he a bad man?" she asked in a whisper.

Ixair, however, with his elven ears, could hear what she asked, but did not say anything.

Hel returned to her throne and folded her hands neatly peering down the length of the table with intense eyes. Most of the high ranking officers avoided catching her gaze lest she interpret it as a challenge.

Ttomak, we will use this imp to gain information on the Jiltakin. From what I'm guessing he's a thief, and no doubt a good one, because I haven't detected anything he's stolen from here quite yet. Our only major opponents are the dragons and we'll take care of them soon enough. When the time comes I'll get rid of him myself.

The queen's eyes shot towards Ttomak as she sent her thoughts to him.

"You all may wonder why I have gathered you, and that is reasonable." She began still gazing over her folded grasp. "Tonight at midnight we will begin our march against the dragons and annihilate anything in our path. Three human towns lay in our path and we will 'recruit' an estimated 65,000 undead from these towns on top of our already burly force of 350,000 not including mercenaries and necromancers. The fly ships will go first leveling the human towns before they even know what's there."

Cobiesel and Cantrell walked outside. Cantrell immeaditly put up his hood, to not arouse any people. They followed Ixair, and saw a dark elf. She looked very troubled. Cantrell stayed near Cobiesel, hoping not to scare her. Cobiesel smiled and said to the elf, "Hi. My name;s Cobiesel. Who are you?"

"Because it happens that way." Lorathin commented in a tone that request he not persue the issue. "We can travel together a ways unless problems arise, for whatever reason."

"Well, daddy doesn't agree with him about some things, but I don't think he's actually a bad man." Lúthien replied in a whisper as well.

Viral nodded. It seemed fairly well. However, he worried about such. Dragons were, naturally firery beasts, atleast the more common ones. And zombies didn't seem to do well against fire. Atleast that was how he thought of it. However, he thought it best not to challenge her authority, especially in front of such a large crowd. Besides, she was Hel. He believed she could do anything.

Fly ships. Viral had not seen such weapons yet, and was quite curious as to see one. He couldn't wait.

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

Beatrice hid behind Lorathin as it seemed all the attention was being turned to her. "I-I-I'm sorry..." she whispered.

Ixair raised an eyebrow. "Are you alright, miss?"

Beatrice began to shiver at all the cloaks in use.

Ixair took another step forward, but she squeezed Luthien's hand somewhat hard and stepped back.

The high elf smiled weakly and stepped back. "Forgive me, miss."

Cobiesel immeaditly stopped. She saw the elf get nervous. "Forgive m. I didn't know you would be nervous." Cantrell continued to stand there and do nothing.

Lorathin let Bea use him as a shield from the public scrutiny, while Lúthien continued to hold her hand, even when it got squeezed.

Lorathin had put two and two together, her fearful reaction to his offering her a cloak, and her extra nervousness now. "May I ask everyone to remove thier cloak and store it in thier packs?"

Lorathin let Bea use him as a shield from the public scrutiny, while Lúthien continued to hold her hand, even when it got squeezed.

Lorathin had put two and two together, her fearful reaction to his offering her a cloak, and her extra nervousness now. "May I ask everyone to remove thier cloak and store it in thier packs?"

Cantrell spoke up. "Ummm.... I don't think that's a good idea. I don't know if you ever saw my face, but it might make things worse." Cantrell was the only one wearing a cloak, Cobiesel was just wearing common clothes.

"It wouldn't bother me what you look like, but if you don't mind a little meddling on my part, I can make you appear human or elven or many of the basic racial types." Lorathin commented

Beatrice blinked a few times, noticing the long ears that Ixair had, yet the man within the cloak scared her.

"I-I-I am Beatrice," she said quietly.

"Beatrice, allow me to introduce myself. I am Ixair Riftdreamer," Ixair smiled as he bowed low and elegantly, as he always did to a lady.

The dark elf, however, hid behind Lorathin even more as he did so.

Ixair frowned slightly. "I'm sorry, Miss Beatrice. Is there something you would like me to do?"

Beatrice shivered slightly. "Do any of you know of...of someone named B-Bodista?"

Ixair thought for a bit and shook his head. "Not that I can remember. I'm sorry," he said.

"Is there anything you'd like Beatrice?" Lúthien asked as she looked up her.

Beatrice thought for a few moments, before nodding. "May I have some water...and some food?" she asked quietly.

Lúthien nodded and reached into her own pack, pulling out a sweet roll and a small canteen. "Here you go, I hope you don't find the bun too sweet."

Beatrice nodded her thanks and picked up the sweet roll and canteen. She looked curiously at them both before taking off a small piece and popping it in her mouth.

Immediately her eyes widened and she smiled happily. With incredible haste, she gobbled up the rest and even stared at her fingers as if debating whether to lick them or not.

Just then, she realized she had eaten something not hers. "I'm sorry, Luthien," she said quietly as she returned the canteen.

"Sorry, what for?" Lúthien asked, "I'm happy you liked it. I'm not a very good cook, unlike daddy and those are the only things I can make well."

Harlin looked around at the odd group, and remained out of the conversation. He was curious about the dark elf who appeared to be small minded.

Teralynn wondered what Habdebza was up to now. Probably nothing good. Glancing around at the three, she found Rimoru and Alegain to be of little interest, especially since they proved to be of no threat at the moment. She then looked at the carpet, which was trying its best to get out from under the bookshelf, but to no avail. Then her eyes fell upon Maverion.

Sweeping her cloak back so that none of the man's green blood touched anything that was touching her, Tera kneeled down on one knee to inspect the Rhinaran. Using one hand to force Maverion's face to center on hers so she could get a good look, she said, "Tsk tsk tsk. Been hiding from me all this time, have you? I suppose you have heard of my accomplishments at Zlatlan? I am destined to rule over the Cult, and from that, all of Lustria, you know."

She stood up, turned around, walked a few steps away, then turned back to face Mave again. "And above all that, even more beautiful than your little empress," she eyed Rimoru with contempt. "Would you not agree, Maverion?"

The man was still dazed, and would not have recognized his own face at the moment, let alone this woman before him. His head was throbbing so badly that he could barely even make out what was being said.

"I said, would you not agree?" Teralynn's eyes flared, and Maverion cried out in pain from an intense heat that suddenly built up inside of him.

Tera smirked and lessened the intensity of the fire. "Heh, you always were the weak one. You and your..."

She paused. "Ah, yes, Vala, was it not? How is she doing? Hope she did not commit suicide after I told her you were dead."

***

Fala and Jorian came to a stop and turned around to see down the other end of the darkened hallway when Eva made her announcement. They were both delighted to hear that, as it probably meant that whatever troubles were going on had finished.

But when Jorian saw the silhouette of Habdebza coming toward them, his grasp on Eva's wrist became firmer to make sure she would not get away from him. "No, it's not them!" he told her.

"Children! Run!" Fala shouted at the two before quickly ushering them away from the figure.

Jorian bolted, dragging Eva along with him whether she wanted to or not. His mother led them to an enchanted room not far away, in which a number of tall mirrors stood against the walls.

Putting Daejan down, Fala said, "Jor, you know what to do. Look after them both."

"Mommy?" Daejan said. "What's happening?"

"You must go with your brother, hon. I'll be with you soon, okay?" Fala replied.

Daejan gave an unsure nod.

"You're not coming with us?" Jorian asked.

Fala slammed the door to the room shut and bolted it. "Not yet. Just go, now."

The sound of guards screaming in pain from out in the hallway could be heard. Jorian hesitated, but his mother turned to him and said, "NOW, JORIAN!"

In a split second, Jor grabbed onto Daejan's hand as well and pulled her and Eva into one of the mirrors. On the other side, they found themselves in a sealed, hexagonal room, with no windows or doors. Just six claustrophobic walls, a floor, a ceiling, a light that seemed to emanate from nowhere, and many more mirrors. Jorian looked around for a moment to get his bearings from the confusing and endless reflections before pulling the other two into another of the mirrors.

Meanwhile, Fala waited in the first room, ready to fight Habdebza with her bare fists should the creature get past the enchantments in the room that were designed to keep intruders out.

***

Ttomak gave the imp a slow nod to indicate his agreement.

He hated the idea of letting a complete stranger and no doubt scoundrel sit in on their meeting that revealed the plans to attack the dragons. Ezekial could have been an enemy agent, perhaps working for the dragons, talented enough to hide his true identity from Ttomak's mind probes, after all. Plus, Ttomak already knew all about Hel's plans for attacking the dragons, as he helped make them, so it was not like he was going to miss much by using the inspection of the imp's wares as an excuse to get the imp out of there.

But Hel wanted to use the imp to learn about the Jiltakin, and so some semblence of trust ought to be shown to Ezekial if they were to receive any such thing in return.

And so he gave Hel a slow blink, his way of silently telling her that he understood while without letting anyone else on that they were speaking with one another, as a nod would have. He then remained quiet and stoic as Hel explained her initial battle plans.

"Fala, you wench," came a pained growl from behind Teralynn. Alegain leaned heavily on the wall, his hands glowing a fiery red. He let loose a fireball at the Empress of the Cult, hoping to atleast save the other two.

As her husband distracted the Cultist Queen, Rimoru slowly got up, her hand wrapping around her sword's hilt. She knew she couldn't even fight anymore, but she may be able to intimidate the girl. Until of course, Habdebza came back.

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

Habdebza snarled as he beheaded the last guard as easily as he could an insect. That's what they were...insects in this world. And he, was like a god amongst mortals.

I should not be shackled by Valtrox. It should be I that controls the cult...not some silly girl, Habdebza thought angrily. All because of Valtrox, I am merely a lowly bodyguard for Teralynn, when I should be conquering whole nations and watching them tremble at my feet. Atleast I can still have my fun... That was something no god can take from me.

Habdebza came to an almost hidden door and attempted to open it. It didn't budge.No matter. I shall give the children a little surprise... he thought to himself.

As Fala waited, she would notice the bolt unlocking itself from an unseen force. As soon as the door opened, several incredibly powerful bolts blasted into the intruder. A dead guard...Or atleast now he's dead.

Then the demon stepped in.

"Ah, Fala. I figured you'd be around here. You know, I found out about you and the children after reading a man's mind. That man was your husband. Before you die, I'll let you see what remains of him," Habdebza laughed as he drew closer to the lone woman.

The cloaked demi-god turned slightly, observing each mirror in a speedy fashion before returning to Fala and wrapping his hand under her chin.

"Where are they?" he snarled as his hand gripped onto Fala's neck, raising her to eye level, several feet off the floor.

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

Beatrice gave a small smile to Luthien, before returning to the others around her.

Beatrice noticed the tall, blonde haired, blue eyed elf watching her strangely. As she looked at his face, their eyes locked gazes and immediately she looked back down to the ground.

Ixair snapped out of his strange little trance and cleared his throat. "Well, you have already met Cobiesal and Contrell. Allow me to introduce Harlin, my old friend," he said with a smile as he gestured towards the other man, who remained in his wet cloak.

"Cloak," Beatrice whispered as she continued to stand behind Lorathin.

"H-h-hello," she said quietly as she peeked out from behind the mage.



***********************************************************
"Jorian no! We can't leave them! We can't!" Eva cried as she struggled against Jorian. She couldn't even let herself grasp the idea they were being attacked.

"Jor, where are we goi-AHHHHHH!" shse screamed as they were flung into a mirror and into a strange room.

"Jor! As princess and future Empress, I order-AHHHH!" she screamed again, into another strange mirror...

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

"Get outta my way," the ogre snarled as he swatted at a few Iskani guards. Actually, the only one's he encountered the whole night. It was very strange and something he never expected. Rimoru city was usually swarming with guards.

The ogre snarled as he pulled one of the men's poles up, the guard coming with, before tossing both into a wall.

The remaining guard pulled targeted the ogre with a rifle and fired, the bullet pressing into the large creature, but not puncturing his skin.

"I hate long range weapons," was the response of the ogre as he slapped the guard away. None left...at least not that challenged him. But he wasn't surprised by this. He'd been in Rimoru City several times and had begun to make a name for himself.

And nothing could really be done as whenever the ogre came to the city, he'd disappear suddenly the night of or the day after. Not enough time for people to actually find the illusive ogre, and not important enough for the higher ups to search for him. He only passed by to stir up trouble, something the large creature enjoyed so much.

And the magi that occasionally crossed the ogre's path disliked the ogre due to their ineffectiveness of spells against his strange tattoos which glowed whenever a spell was cast. And the guards hated him more as their weapons didn't seem to be able to pierce the monster's hide, no matter how hard the push.

So Kalzog was the unofficially 'pardoned' ogre who was only picked on a few times if he passed.

However, now that the guards were gone, Kalzog could continue his journey. He had been wandering Lustria for a short time, having been searching for a large orb about the size of a human's head. He had been searching for it the past fifteen years but had not even gotten a lead as to where it would be.

He smiled as he leapt on a large floating rock and sped through the relatively empty streets, the lamps providing little light against the night's darkness.

The warm sea air brought distant memories to Kalzog. Memories of his past adventure that started at the nearby port. Oh how he hated the water. Not solid ground to fight on and a place of ranged attacks. He had previously ventured with a large group of people he cared not to mention in order to get revenge on a certain demi-god. Revenge, however, was bittersweet. He had won, but not against the same demi-god he met earlier. This was a much more mellow one. One who had been touched with feelings.

Two girls had touched that infernal demi-god's life. Marlene and Rimoru. They were the demon's ruin and Kalzog couldn't help but have some dislike for the two because of that. But he didn't care anymore. Marlene seemed as though she fell off the face of the planet while Rimoru remained as seductive as ever to nearly anything that crossed her path.

As Kalzog continued to hover about the city, getting curious as to the lack of guards. To add to the that, it was also strange that the enormous palace set in the middle of the city was relatively...dark. No, it wasn't dark, it was...ransacked.

Kalzog raised an eyebrow as he passed by, the massive doors smashed apart. Oh well, not my problem, he thought to himself as he continued to float by.

Suddenly, a shrill scream and all he saw was whiteness. Someone had fallen on him. Someone with a dress...a dress that covered his head.

"What's going on? I can't see! Gerroff me!" he shouted as he began to spin out of control.

"Jor! Jor! Where are we! What am I sitting on! You bumbling brute we're going to-"

Crash.

The ogre groaned as he rubbed his head stomach, only to feel something soft there. Several things soft. And it wasn't his stomach.

He looked down to see a little baby, a boy, and an elegantly dressed girl who looked strangely familiar, yet had very strange eyes.

"Gerroff me!" The ogre repeated angrily as he brushed the trio off.

"You looked under my dress, you dirty beast!" the older girl fumed, her cheeks turning a rose colored.

"Shut up. You fell on me," Kalzog growled as he examined his floating rock. It was smaller, having lost about one fourth of it's mass from the crash, but still usable. Durable transportation that spell was.

"Shut up? You foul beast! I am-"

Kalzog barred his dagger-like teeth as he put his massive hand over the girl's little mouth. "Shut. Up."

The girl watched him angrily as he pushed on the floating stone to make sure it could still hold his weight before she let out a frustrated sigh. "You beached whale, do you have-"

"Do you ever stop talking, you little girl? That's it," Kalzog growled as he walked over to the baby and picked her up. "I am a bit hungry."

He opened his mouth and began to bring the child into his gaping maw.

The queen heard quiet whispers and dissent against her plans from most of the officers after revealing her plan of attack.

"I understand that this is a bold manuever, but a battle against our nemisis is inevitable. We should strike while we have the element of surpr-." She said still gazing down the length of the table over her folded grasp.

"Diplomacy my queen! If we can negociate with the dragons and invade others first then per-" A council member so boldly interjected slamming his fist into the table. His outburst was silenced with Hel raising a single hand and then pointing to the old man without changing the expression on her face.

Beau lumbered over a snatched the man by the back of his collar dragging him into the hallway. The sounds of scuffling and kicking feet were quickly silenced by a series of horrific snaps and tearing sounds. The varvul returned blood around his mouth and hideously long claws.

"As I was saying. With the element of surprise we should no doubt catch the dragon forces off guard. When we do crush our rivals, the power we will inherit shall make us the only super power and the rest of the nations will fall swiftly." Hel continued without the slightest hesitation.

Ttomak, you worry far too much. If this imp was a dragon spy, then surely they would already know where and who we are. However, by the time he serves us long enough to know too much, then I will dispatch him as I have no need for anyone other than devout servants.

She replied acknowledging his slow blink by rubbing the side of her neck. Her eyes turned to Viral who should signs of worry.

"Lieutenant, I have a special request of you. So meet with me in my chambers after the meeting has concluded." The queen ordered delivering a small smile.

-------------

One hundred heavily armored dragoons stood in file before Xenocrates with their long spears at the side. With a single order, each one mounted a strange two legged lizard. After a brief pause they sprinted off leaving a storm of dust in their wake.

Viral immediately straightened up, surprised and somewhat shocked that Hel would single him out. Not to mention the added smile. He could feel his cheeks get slightly darker and he nodded. "O-Of course, your highness," he said as strong as he could, however his voice cracked slightly when he "course".

Haha! Her chambers! Well done! Shut up...it's not that!

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

Vohinrihth frowned as he looked out at Xenocrates. He was ashamed at himself. He wished his comrade ill will, despite doing so would mean casualties to the dragoons and the dragons.

A mortal like him shouldn't have such honors... he thought to himself angrily as he gripped Dominatistradz medallion.

Cantrell sighed. "I warned you." Cantrell took of his cloak. He had regular clothes on underneath, but that's not what he was worried about. His eye was visable, and he had chains running down his arms, almost like veins. They were attached to the circular chain around his waist. He didn't say anything.

Beatrice nearly fell down from the shock. She however, steadied herself with the help of pulling on Luthien and a few steps back. Her breathing came out faster and her legs felt like jelly.

***

Today in class, there was a new student.

Oh Really? Did you greet him or her?

No. He looked funny. He had wings and a beak and he had claws. We called him birdbrain. Beatrice giggled.

Beatrice. You find humor in that? Intimidating a poor child who has never been to this side of the mountains before? Beatrice, never ever treat others that way.

Bu-b-

Beatrice come here. Look at me. Do I look the same as you or your parents? Have you seen any other like me before?

Bodista, you're an ange-

Aye. But you don't make fun of me. I white fluffy wings, I am not purple skinned I-

But you're an angel! Of course no one-

Hush yourself, Beatrice. Learn to be accepting. Learn to coexist. You never know who will be your future husband.

A giggle. Bodista, I already know! It'll be you!

A gentle laugh. Beatrice, you'll find more beings more handsome than I.

Nuh-uh

Uh-huh

Nuh-

Hush, Beatrice, you little rascal. You're just trying to get out of bathtime!

Nuh uh! she giggled.

Get back here! Don't run away from me!

You can't catch me Bodista! she giggled, before she screamed and burst out laughing.

Surprise, little Beatrice. Come now, remember what I said about the mud monsters? In fact I think I see one now! On your nose!


*****

Beatrice looked at the man again and slowly calmed down. "H-H-Hello...I a-a-am B-Beatrice," she said quietly, her eyes meeting his before falling to the ground.

Harlin lowered his hood, revealing that he was no more than an ordinary man.

Harlin looked at Cantrell's eye, "How'd that happen?"

"Hello. I'm Cantrell. Don't worry about me. I don't do much." Cantrell turned to Harlin. "Now might not be the best time. Maybe latter I'll tell you."

Ezekial listened with interest to the plans. He was shocked, to all extents, this sounded like a formidable force, But to attack the dragons? He had heard stories of powerful adventurers sometimes managing to take one down.

Several thoughts crossed his mind, Arn't dragons supposed to have gold? lots of gold! I smell profit! Though if things appear to go badly, i can always leave, take a few things, plans or schematics, maybe even strike a deal with the dragons, there supposed to be intelligent after all.

He watched as the voice of dissent was quickly silenced by the large werewolf at the queens indication. It's obvious where the power lie here, I will have to watch what i say around her.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Horatio offered his greetings to the rest and watched as Beatrice flinched from the others. As she shied from the others and Lorathin asked for people to remove their cloaks he almost panicked, but Beatrice had seemed ok with him having it up before.

When one of the others removed his cloak to reveal his eye and chained body he felt pity for the man, but also couldn't help but think something along the lines of You think you've got problems?, but didn't actually say it.

When Beatrice stumbled back he almost reached out to help her but stopped himself, she was still iffy about him and a her panicing would not solve anything.

He took a few steps towards the inn and whistled, a large midnight blue raven hopped into view then flew down and perched on his arm. Horatio stroked it and reached into his pack to give it another piece of dried meat before returning to the others with is still perched on his arm. It looked round in distrust at the others and moved slightly closer to Horatio, but stayed perched.

"Aye, this little trip has been delayed too long, let's get going," Ixair smiled.

Beatrice smiled as they began to walk away from the tavern, to a large building filled with four legged creatures with large round eyes, hooves, long tails, and a long neck.

"Does everyone have a horse?" Ixair asked as he pulled a horse out of the stables. His horse was large, a light brown with a white stripe down the center of it's face. He saddled her up and walked her out and smiled.

"Horse?" Beatrice asked curiously.

"Aye, take a look at Buelthee here," Ixair said as he pat his horse on the muzzle. "She's a fast horse. You can get places much faster while on a horse."

Beatrice took a step towards the horse and gently stroked it's face. She smiled as she felt how soft it was, how warm the creature felt underneath her hand. Then she felt something close on top of her hand.

Ixair blushed slightly as he pulled his hand away. "Sorry about that," he said. "Didn't see your hand there." As a matter of fact, he didn't. Horatio's bird had caught his attention and he was staring at it for a total of five seconds before he realized he had begun to stroke Beatrice's smooth skin.

Beatrice sucked air in and looked pleadingly into Ixair's eyes. Ixair stared directly back, but his face fell. "I'm...sorry," he whispered.

Beatrice nodded slowly but felt something rub up against her leg this time. She looked down and screamed, stumbling backwards and wrapping her arms around something.

That something just happened to be Horatio.

Beatrice gasped again as he hands could feel the faint outline of wings along his cloak. "I-I-I-I'm so-so-sorry," she stammered as she began to shake violently.

The little green thing that brushed against her leg spoke in a strange high-pitched voice. "Watch where you're goi-" it recieved a stomp on his tiny foot from the elf named Ixair.

"Sorry, elf-lady," he whimpered, his eyes buldging.

Lúthien and Lorathin had been watching Beatrice become slightly less shy, and when she let go of the little elf's hand, Lúthien smiled as it seemed her friend was getting more courage.

When she began falling apart again, Lúthien fished out another sweet roll and walked up to Bea. "Don't worry, me and daddy will be here for you." She said offering the treat to the elder female elf.

Horatio had followed the others into the stable, the bird now perched on his shoulder. He examined the horses before looking at an almost black one that seemed slightly neglected. As he approached it backed away, but after a whispered conversation on his part and several neighs and snorts on the horses part, it approached and let him stroke it. Turning to Ixiar he said "I'll take this one."

The bird had been watching everyone and returned Ixiar's stare, cocking its head and looking at him quizically. Before jumping at Beatrices sudden leap towards Horatio. It circled then settled back down.

Horatio blushed in response to Beatrices sudden action, out of reflex him wings flinched away from touch, closing as much as they could against his back. "It's ok, i'm not going to hurt you." Horatio said quietly and earnestly while trying to disengage himself from her without scaring her further.

Harlin looked at the horses, and then stepped outside where he whistled. The sound of galloping clattered along the walls, until a white stallion appeared from around a corner, and stopped in front of him. "Al-Hattal," he said softly stroking the horse's nose.

Taking of his pack, he attached it to the back of his saddle, and then mounted his horse.

Sitting atop it, he asked the others, "Who should Beatrice ride with?"

Cobiesel and Cantrell got up on their horses. Cantrell rode over to Harlin. "As we start riding, I'll tell you my story. It's not for the weak of heart though."

Harlin looked up from the ground to Cantrell's eye(s), and said, "One does not come as far as I have in my line of business with a weak heart."

"Aye, but Harlin, we don't want to over tax your old heart," Ixair snickered with a wink as he finished checking his horse over. "As for bringing Beatrice with them, she's welcome to ride with me," Ixair smiled.

Beatrice regained her footing and brought herself away from Horatio. "I'm sorry," she whispered again, as Luthien brought another sweet roll.

Beatrice's eyes looked up at Luthien's and she smiled, before frowning slightly. "Luthien, what about your food?"

Ixair chuckled quietly. "Now now, we don't want her to gain weight," he said as he lifted Glurp into a large bag on the horse's side.

Beatrice raised an eyebrow and cocked her head. "Gain weight?"

Ixair cleared his throat and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Get wider," he said as he held his hands to his side before bringing them outward.

Beatrice shook her head. "I-You-I don't understand," she said quietly.

"You aren't depriving me, but I am happy that you like them." Lúthien replied as she smiled.

"He's trying to be funny, but isn't." Lúthien said as glared at Ixair, as if to say he'd better be kidding. "Would you like to ride with me or daddy?"

Ixair's smirk ended as he held up his hands protectively over him in a mock display of fear. He winked and nodded. "Aye, I am only being funny, Miss Beatrice. You could use a bit more meat on your bones, anyways."

Beatrice smiled and looked around at herself. "I like funny," she said. "But you talk about me as though I am someone's meal."

"I'm sorry, you look beautiful. Well, you know, you're fine. Err, just don't worry about it," Ixair said as he hopped onto his horse.

"Beautiful?" Beatrice asked quietly as she took the roll in one hand and Luthien's hand in the other. "I will go with you, if your daddy doesn't mind."

"It's an expression, I won't let anyone eat you." Lorathin said, as he likewise glared slightly at Ixair. The man didn't seem to realize that Bea was both traumatized by something and appearently quite naive, thought the latter could stem from the former.

With a whistle he called up his phantom horse, and the more placid one Lúthien was practicing with. The two horses trotted up and while thier hooves were obviously hitting the ground, there was none of the distinctive clip-clop of horse hoof on cobblestone.

"Would you like to get to know her?" Lúthien asked, pointing to the horse.

"Fancy horses," Ixair said as he rode in a circle examinging them, his hands not even gripping the reigns.

Beatrice's eyes were quite wide as she stared at the phantom horses. "Yes please," she said quietly as she couldn't figure out if she was amazed or frightened by the horses.

"She likes sugar lumps." Lúthien said as she opened a small pouch, in much the style of a mini money bag. Reaching inside, she pulled out a small chunk. Putting it in the palm of her hand, she held her hand out.

With a light nicker the horse took a few steps forward to eat the piece of sugar, at which time Lúthien petted it's nose and scratch behind the ears.

"Now you try." She said as she pulled out a piece of sugar for Beatrice.

ooc: Gone for the night

ooc: Fine! Abandon me! lol

Beatrice picked up the lump and exchanged turns glancing at the roll and the sugar, before sticking the roll in her mouth, her cheeks puffing out as she chewed the roll slowly and brought the lump of sugar closer to the horse. Although she was very nervous around the animal, she stepped slightly closer.

Ixair watched curiously with a smile on his face at Beatrice's way of dealing with the roll.

Teralynn slowly turned to look at Alegain when he spoke, her eyes narrowing to slits as she beheld him. Before she could do anything else, however, he launched a fireball at her. She brought an arm up to protect herself out of habit. Some things were hard to break, even after fifteen years. There was a warmth in her arm and a small concussive force, but that was about it.

Lowering her arm, Teralynn growled, glancing down at a singed edge of her cloak. "Have you any idea how expensive this material is?"

Now that she had a closer look at the male elf, she found something vaguely familiar about him, like she had passed him by on a street before or something. But someone with those eyes would stand out, and she did not recall any elves with eyes like those.

Then, before she could retaliate, Tera saw out of the edges of her eyes Rimoru getting up with her sword. It seemed as if Rimoru was barely even injured, and was only pretending to be hurt by Habdebza. Teralynn suddenly felt really uncertain of herself, as she would have no chance against the full power of someone who was virtually a goddess. But she hid this uncertainty, and outwardly remained calm and collected.

"Ah, feeling better, I see," Tera said to Rimoru, deciding to stall any attack coming from the empress of Iskan. "Tell me, as I am curious, why was his," she tilted her head slightly toward Maverion, "death faked? What could he possibly have or could do that made you keep him here in secret?" She arched an eyebrow as she asked the last question.

***

Fala struggled to breathe as countless thoughts rushed through her head by the second. What happened to Mave? Was he still alive? What about Rimoru and Alegain? Who was this creature? Why was he here? How did he get past all the defenses? Why did he come after her and the children? What did he want with the children?

Her hands grasped at Habdebza's wrists, vainly trying to free herself. Then her eyes slowly drifted to one of the mirrors before quickly snapping back, as if she realized that she had made a mistake. The thing was, however, the mirror she "unintentionally" looked at was not the one the children went through.

***

Jorian did not like the idea of abandoning his parents either. He wanted to do something to help them. But realistically, what could he and Eva have done? If his aunt could not stop whatever that was that came after them, then how would two children?

Next thing he knew, he found himself in the presence of a foul-smelling and unfriendly-looking ogre. He tried to make faces at Eva to tell her not to get into any disagreements with the brute, but she either ignored him or did not see him altogether.

Daejan began screaming when she was caught up in Kalzog's huge hands.

Jorian quickly charged the ogre and swung a fist. "Let her go!"

Then his hands impacted what felt like rock, and he was afraid he may have badly injured himself. While biting down on his teeth to keep from crying out in pain, his face nonetheless showed that something was hurting.

***

An edge of Ttomak's lips lifted up ever so slightly at Hel's special request, showing his amusement, yet only to those who were paying close enough attention to him. But her private business was just that: her private business.

Now, to keep watching the reactions of the officers and see whether his guesses about these reactions were correct or not.

Meanwhile, Ael had an idea that suddenly popped into her head, and she was furiously scribbling down notes with a quill ink pen. Ravaal, on the other hand, took another swig from the bottle in front of him.

Rimoru looked Teralynn in the eyes. She couldn't speak. Her voice would waver and would reveal to Tera the truth. And she couldn't walk. She was in quite a predicament.

Alegain coughed out a bit of blood on the floor and slowly slumped to the floor. "Leave us alone...we haven't...done anything," he slurred as a trickle of blood came out of his mouth.

Rimoru's eyes began to water as she saw her husband in such a state. "T-Teralynn...how c-could you?" she asked as she tried to walk to the fallen Alegain, before stumbling to the floor. "I thought...you were a friend."

How could this be happening? Why was this happening?

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

Habdebza turned his cloaked head towards the mirror and chuckled quietly. "I knew you would give it out someday. Now go through it," he growled as he shoved Fala closer towards the mirror. "I will follow behind you, don't worry."

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

Kalzog frowned as Eva leapt up wrapping her little arms around Kalzog's massive wrist.

"You guys are joking, right?" he grumbled. "I am an ogre, you are a bunch of scrawny kids. I have killed dragons for goodness sakes...and you..."

He looked at Daejan in his hands and his frown got even lower. "You have conquered your undergarments with your horrid waste." The ogre lowered the child and Eva as he took a seat on his floating rock.

"Ok, where did you come from and why?" he grumbled. He hated children who showed little fear. They always managed to get under his stone hard skin to his softer side...for the most part. Although he cracked a smile when he noticed the boy's pained face, knowing that he was trying hard to keep himself together.

Eva raised an eyebrow at Kalzog and frowned, her hands settling on her hips.

The ogre squinted slightly at the recognizable girl. "Well?" She looked as though he had seen her before...especially that pose. However, it was a much older woman...

"I am Princess Eva, daughter of Empress Rimoru and future leader of Iskan. And this, is Jorian, who is son of Fala and Maverion. That baby is his little sister!" she frowned.

"I thought you looked familiar," Kalzog groaned as he remembered the vain empress. She was incredibly powerful, but there was nothing his little orb could deal with...if only he still had it. Kalzog's eyes narrowed as Maverion was mentioned. The sneaky creature managed to escape the Barbarian camps when he was imprisoned there. And now, he found out, was hiding with Rimoru.

"Maverion, eh? Next time you see him, make sure to bring your sister's hands to him. I still await to execute him," Kalzog smiled as he picked up Daejan.

"No!" Eva shouted as she once again sprung up and wrapped her arms around the ogre's wrist and kicked ferociously.

"For Ogruk's sake, girl! Go back to your palace!" Kalzog snarled.

"About the warplan itse-" Hel began before a bell began to ring incredibly loudly overhead.

"Seems we have guests, let us conclude this meeting then." She said revealing a sinister smile to the others. "You are all dismissed to do whatver you please, I myself am going to introduce to these 'guests'. Oh and Skull, detain that imp. Seems a little strange that a force show up at our door the same day he does."

The large brute nodded putting a heavily armored hand on the imps shoulder.

Mahura and Beau followed the queen closely out the side door when a scout sprinted face first into Hel sending them both sprawling to the floor. Dusting herself off people nearby could hear a faint rumbling sound.

"Forgive me your high-highness, but I have goo- good news." He pleaded on his knees. "The dragoon lord is out there with only a hundred others, they're 15 miles from the gate and heading right for us.

"That is good news." She said immediately brining her to a better mood.

The phantom horse leaned it's head forward and everso gently plucked the sugar lump from Beatrice's hand. Lúthien giggled slightly at Bea's treatment of the sweet roll, while the horse nickered slightly as it hoped to get it's nose and ears scratched again.

Viral sprung up from his chair almost immediately and ran to his room, slowing down so as not to pass Hel along the way.

As soon as he got to his room, he donned his armor and pulled out a long rifle along with several belts of bullets, filled with different types of poisons. He slung the belts around him and put on his mask, before walking out of his quarters and looking for Hel. He's going to follow her the whole way and keep her safe should things get rough. But he doubted it.

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

Beatrice smiled as much as she could with the roll in her mouth as she began to pet the horse and scratch it behind the ear.

A muffled giggle came out of her as she used two hands to pet it.

Ixair smiled and chuckled quietly before straightening himself up. "Ok, let's get moving. Can't wait here all day, can we?" he said to the others.

ooc:Be back in like an hour 30 mins or less

Horatio nodded to Beatrice as she disengaged herself then backed over to his own horse and checked the saddle straps before returning to face it and cupping his hands, several nuts appeared and the horse ate them rapidly. Horatio then patted its neck and mounted.

While he was doing this, his bird had cought sight of the suger cubes and landed on the floor near Luthien, watching the bag of suger cubes. It cawed quietly, trying to get attention.

Horatio looked at Ixiar and said, "Ready when you are."

----------------------------------------------------------

Ezekial jumped at the sound of the bell, but remained seated. He was surprised when the large knight placed a heavy hand on his shoulder and watched the others walk out of the room with a frown. That's probably nothing to do with me. God i hate coincidences.

Turning towards the knight as best he could he said he smiled and said; "So... 'Skull', whats the job like? any benefits?"

The horse neighed in much the manner that a cat might purr as Beatrice scratched it's ears and petted it.

Lorathin came over, "Let's get you two up." He commented as he knew Lúthien couldn't get up by herself and he didn't think Beatrice could either.

Lúthien looked at the bird and asked, with a trace of seriousness, "Can I help you?"

Beatrice smiled and backed away from the horse as she tried to gulp down the sweet roll. She finally succeeded after a few coughs and almost choking on it.

"I'm...ready," she gasped, and yet still had a smile as she looked at the bird. She giggled as it cawed.

The bird hopped closer to Lúthein and cocked its head, after a second it made a pecking motion towards the ground and then cawed.

Horatio looked over and let out a small laugh. "It's just jealous of the horse getting a treat." The bird turned it head to face Horatio and cawed loudly, voicing its displeasure at that comment, before turning back to Lúthien.

Lorathin crouched down, to serve as the support so that Lúthien could get on the horse. "Now you do it." She said to Beatrice.

"Oh, don't you have any treats for your bird?" She asked Horatio as she looked at the crow.

Horatio shrugged, "She got into my bag and ate them all a few days ago. Her name is Miena by the way." The raven looked over at its name being said but realised it probably wasnt going to get anything and flew up to ceiling beams where it perched, waiting for them to leave.

"She shouldn't take stuff that's not offered to her." Lúthien said, shaking a finger at the bird. "Just this once." She decided, tossing a sugar lump up for the bird to catch.

Horatio smiled and gave a small bow to Lúthien. Miena leapt down to try and catch the sugar lump, it managed too, but it was an awkward fit for its beak. It landed on another beam and put the cube down before pecking at it. It let out a cry of thanks half way through devouring the cube then returned to pecking it.

"She won't forget that you know, I think you just made yourself a friend." Horatio said.

"It's always good to have friends." Lúthien replied

Beatrice smiled as she watched Luthien get on the horse and looked at Lorathin curiously, before she used his help to get on much the same way Luthien did.

"I'm sorry," she said as she used Lorathin's help.

She watched the silly bird as it ate it's lump of sugar, a smile on her face as she leaned back on the horse, almost sliding off the back before pushing her self closer to Luthien.

"I like friends," Beatrice said quietly as the subject of friends was brought up.

Ixair laughed slightly at Beatrice's little comment. "I think we all," he said. "Now are we ready?"

"Don't be, it was my pleasure." Lorathin commented as he helped Beatrice onto the horse.

Beatrice would find it quite difficult to actually fall off the phantom horse as it was part of the magic involved with the steed.

"I like friends as well." Lúthien stated, "I'm your friend and you're mine, alright?"

Beatrice smiled at Lorathin as he went to go to his horse. Then, she turned to Luthien and nodded. "We are friends," she whispered quietly with a bright smile on her face.

Ixair turned away slowly to make sure everyone was ready before he finally began to ride out of the city.

Lúthien's answering smile was just as bright, while Lorathin smiled fondly at his adopted daughter and Beatrice, pleased they'd become friends.

ooc: Will be awol for a while.

A pair of red glaring eyes was the knight's only answer, but, a sense of happiness seemed to emit from the walking tank. Shortly there after he nodded quite subtely as movement in his armor was very difficult.

--------------

Xenocrates approached what was an impressive wall that even he himself wouldn't be able to leap. However, the tail of the mighty caravan was till being inspect and the dragoon lord made a swift motion with his hands. Immediately the dragon force fell ruthlessly upon the few zombie guards and caravan occupants.

The top of the gate erupted in gunfire from small arms fire that failed to do anything aside from kill and wound a few dragoons and annoy the dragons overhead. Massive ballistas stationed on top of the mountain fired leaving a hail of giant spears heading directly for the winged reptiles.

--------------

The dark queen watched from a top the castle with a smile.

"Such a pretty preview, wouldn't you agree Beau, just wish I had a closer look." Hel said with a smile.

The varvul grabbed her and dove off the forty stroy castle landing with a crash but immediately burst into a sprint with his master riding on his shoulders.

If you wish to join meet at the front gates, this should be fun.

He watched the knight waiting for an answer, he somehow felt that the being was content and saw a small nod. "Ah, a mute." He sat in silence for a moment, then after hearing various sounds of battle he turned to Knight and said, "Can we go watch? There must be a window around here."

Viral followed Marlene and the varvul until she came to the top of her castle. And then the wolf man lept from the top all the way to the bottom.

Viral ran to the edge and looked down, only to see both had survived the fall. He frowned as slowly walked away from the edge.

I ain't gonna attempt that one... he thought to himself. Back to the stairs...

He mumbled some obscenities as he ran down the large staircase, working up a sweat in his bulky armor. As he finally reached the bottom of his castle, he felt like collapsing to the floor.

Several officers watched him, chuckling at his disheavaled state.

"Never, ever...follow the queen to the top of the castle when a battle has erupted..." he gasped as he turned to face them. Then, he straightened himself up, gripped his musket and ran off to the battlefield.

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

As they rode off into the blazing desert, Ixair fell back, close to Lorathin.

"Hey, Azrael, where'd you find her?" he asked quietly, indicating Beatrice with his eyes. "She's quite a beautiful girl, but for being a relatively teenaged girl, or atleast thats how she looks, she acts as though she has no clue what many things are. Why?"

Beatrice's ears caught a bit of their conversation, considering she wasn't paying attention to anyone's talk as she marveled at the desert and it's expanse. But her ears caught her name and she turned slowly to look at Ixair and Lorathin.

Ixair's cheeks got slightly redder but he gave her a bright smile. "What's the matter, Miss Beatrice?"

Beatrice lowered her eyes, but smiled anyways. "Nothing," she replied as she shook her head, her silky white hair blowing in the light dry breeze.

Harlin nodded, "Let's roll."

Squeezing his boots into Al-Hattal's rear, the stallion began to trot forward.

"Don't you know it's not nice to talk behind someone's back Ixair?" Lorathin commented as he thought a question over to Lúthien.

"Beatrice, daddy wishes to know if he can tell Ixair how he met you, can he?" She asked

The enormous dragon walked out of his chambers, his face stoic as he passed his hundreds of thousands of dragoon warriors. War had begun and now there was nothing that would stop the dragons from achieving their goal. A united world, under the dragon's rule.

But this was no ego hunt for Dominatistradz. He didn't ask to be ruler of the world, nor would he have it. He would install governors in each province, and kings and the such to check up on each of the governors. In fact, the world would be very similar as it was at present.

Except there would be more order. More respect. And complete peace.

That was the Dominatistradz' vision, and the world of dragons.

However, in order to achieve the vision, he had to clear out everything in his path. The wretched mortals build themselves up each day, mining, gathering, and most of all, trading. The Lustrian Sea was a cities favored landmark. It gave traders access to all major ports to most major nations.

And cutting it off would ruin them all. However, Dominatistradz could not achieve this by himself. It would require too much attention to one specific area when he should be overseeing land operations. However, there was one who could.

Orogen. A creature who despised the gods, much as Dominatistradz did now. But more.

"Master, the invasion force is prepared," piped up one of the lesser dragons. A small, frosty white creature. A Frost Drake. One that was rescued from becoming a beast of burden in the mountains.

"Proceed with the attack. I will see what I can do to stem a large part of their income."

The drake nodded and called his orders to the others.

The massive dragon marched to the top of a nearby mountain, a dormant volcano and spread his enormous wings, and took off to the air, spreading dust and ash around him as he did so.

"My bad. Being a wanted criminal for so long, talking behind people's back is only natural," Ixair replied.

Beatrice shivered slightly as she remembered the day they met. She had been traveling. She did not even remember from where she came from. She wandered into a tavern, full of foul smelling men and quietly asked for information regarding where she was, who she was, what she was, and why was she there. People only laughed at her and even threw several things, before four kind men came towards her, telling her they'd tell her everything if she can do something for them.

They then began to unclothe her, and that was when she ran, eventually getting cornered.

Several tears fell from her eyes and she shook her head. "No, please," she replied.

Ixair frowned slightly, sorry he had even asked. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"I'm sorry." Lúthien replied, "Daddy and I will protect you from anything bad. You don't have to be sad."

Lorathin shot Ixair a look that said, 'See what your curiosity did'. The man would never make a good mage, too much interest in meddling and the wrong kind of meddling at that."

"Well, I'm sorry. It wasn't my fault that I had no idea what the girl's been through," Ixair replied angrily to Lorathin's look, before riding back to the front.

Women, strange creatures, the lot of them, he thought to himself.

"That's why you think before speaking." Lorathin thought as Ixair 'stomped' off.

Beatrice sniffled quietly as she wiped her eyes with her slender fingers.

Ixair couldn't help but feel bad. He's never been through such a situation. For the most part, girls tended to swarm over him. But this Beatrice was full of curiousity, childish mirth, and beauty. Ixair couldn't help but feel astounded from the dark elf.

And over all the sniffling, Ixair thought he could hear something disturbing the sand nearby. Not just something...a lot of things.

"Beatrice, please...ugh...stay silent for a second, please? I'll get you several dozen sweet rolls to compensate," Ixair said as he looked around him.

Beatrice looked to the floor, and sniffled again. She tried to hold it in and was succeeding somewhat, but every other second, she'd have to sniffle again.

Ixair furrowed his brows and looked around him. He silently pulled out his sleek elvish blade and motioned for the others to do the same.

Cantrell rode over to Harlin. "Okay. You want to hear my story? Here it is. Many years ago, Cobiesel and I travelled with two friends across the world. We helped others, and had many good times. However, one day we were attacked by a strange group, which may be the Cult of Valtrox I've heard about. They seperated us, and I was captured. They tortured me for years, until Cobiesel broke in and saved me. Now we are searching for our friends. I won't go into details about the torture though. For your skae."

Lorathin noted Ixair's worry, but didn't share it as Beatrice and Lúthien were protected already, and he could take care of himself at a minimum. It would take much to actually cause a problem and much didn't often hid behind sand dunes.

Suddenly, a creature roared as it leapt out of the dune. A demon from the Gate War. One that abandoned it's brethren when it's master fell.

Suddenly, ten more leapt out, their massive arms much more bronze rather than the usual red they were at the time of the Gate War. Not only that, but the harsh desert sun seemed to reinvigorate them with it's heat.

"Get the girls to safety!" Ixair shouted as his horse dodged the first demon's lunge.

The two horses took off into the air, without any shift of balance which might dislodge the three riders.

Lorathin slumped slightly as a Lorathin similar in make-up to the horses appeared on the ground. A faint crackling aura surrounded both Lorathin as from the hand of the illusory man, bright white bolts blasted out at the demons. If a demon was unlucky enought to be hit by the bolt, it would find a portal sucking it to another dimension, fortunately for them Lorathin wasn't entirely accurate with them. The rest of the people would only feel a faint tingle if a bolt struck them.

Demons erupted out of the Earth. Cantrell was nearly struck by one. He lept off his horse and managed to survive. The horse was not as lucky. Cobiesel all jumped of hers and immeaditly pulled out Nirvana, her sword. Cantrell swung his chain around it's neck. When it roped around, he began pulling it down. Cobiesel also cast a spell. Several four orbs, spirits, appeared, and shot foward toward the demon. They shot through it, causing giant holesd to appear in it. Cantrell lept up into the air and brought his chains down on the demons head. A regular foe would have it's skul crushed, but Cantrell wasn't sure whether this would. He and Cobiesel looked around, hoping not to be ambushed by any demons as they looked for the others.

The demon let out a snort as it took hold of Cantrell's chains and swung him around, into the ground.

The other demon let out a snarl as it's purplish insides spilled out from Cobiesal's blast, however it continued to walk forward, at a very awkward stumble.

The demons growled at the portals, but for the most part, avoided a good portion of them. Only one had been unfortunate enough to get hit by the bolt.

Ixair flipped off his horse as it trotted a ways away, his sword glistening in the sunlight.

As the beast reached him, it tried to lifted him up with it's large hand, but missed, only barely, as the elf bent backwards to avoid the blow. As the demon pulled away, Ixair pushed his sleek blade into the monster's hand, severing several fingers in the process.

The demon squeeled and charged at Ixair, it's horned head low as to spear the elf.

Ixair only leapt up onto it's head and thrust his sword as hard as he could in the middle of it's neck, digging in somewhat deeply, but not lethally. He did, however, do something to the brain stem as the creature began to move awkwardly as the other did and seemed to be slightly confused as to where it's enemies were.

Ixair pulled his blade out and finished off the creature with several repeated stabs to the back.

Four of the demons happened to have wings and took to the air, dodging bolts Lorathin sent at them while keeping their eyes trained on the elves above.

"What are they?" Beatrice asked with a wavering voice. She could feel a slight tingle in her right hand. An urge to unsheath her weapon, as though the sword were calling to her.

Harlin frowned as the demons popped out of the ground like so many flowers. "I'd had enough of you in the Gate War."

Standing on Al-Hattal, he flipped through the air twirling as he unleashed his blades, Virtus and Maleficus. Landing on the back of the nearest one, he slashed its eyes, and then while touching it, entered the Shadowfold, thus taking it with him. As soon as he was there, he let go and left the Shadowfold.

Back in the real world, there was one less demon, and he moved to attack the next in a more conventional way.

"They're bad things." Lúthien replied as she began humming a strange melody. The demons would find themselves, for the most part, getting sleepy while at the same time a circular thing began encirculing the two elves.

The demons would find it like trying to wade throught neck high mud. As Lúthien did her spells Lorathin looked up for a second, as he continued working on banishing the demons, as she was manifesting a skill that she had but he lacked.

One of the demons, a particularly larger one roared as it planted it's hand in the ground, and glowed a violent red.

The wind picked up and brought with it large amounts of sand that would blow in the faces of the attackers. When breathed in, the heroes would feel as though their throats, eyes, ears, nose, and mouths were burning.

A strong discomfort but not quite a damaging attack.

However, it would provide the demons a better chance of surviving.

"Confound it! What is this stuff?" Ixair growled as he sneezed and rubbed the sand out of his reddening eyes, before a demon landed a punch to his stomach.

"This is annoying." Lorathin commented to himself as the sandstorm began raging. The three on the phantom horses were at present above the blowing sands.

"Don't breath it in." He called down in a likely redundent manner by now. He terminated the spell he'd been using as he weighted the options. He was once again stymied by friendly forces, but gestured sending a bolt of lightning into the sandstorm demon.

ooc: Likely be gone for the night.

"Thanks a lot, Mebbiwik," Ixair called back with a series of coughs and hacks, using the phrase of someone saying something that is either too late, or common sense.

His eyes burned but he nonetheless searched the area around him in three second intervals, trying to keep himself from getting any more of the annoying sand in his eyes.

He dodged one blow, but didn't anticipate another that went straight into his head. He fell backwards, his head throbbing painfully. His ears rang loudly and if he opened his eyes, he wouldn't be able to see anything.

Several other demons surrounded Harlin and attempted to beat him around as well.

A few demons remained behind to protect their caster, including taking the bit of lightning for the mage-demon. It was still alive, albeit a bit glossy looking.

The other protecting demons began to grab long chunks of sand and molded glass arrows or other piercing devices that they'd throw at the ones in the phantom steeds.

Beatrice closed her eyes and began to mumble something that others would think was plain gibberish. Bodista...please...help...

Maverion was still in a dazed state on the ground, and was unable to do anything.

When Rimoru stammered and stumbled, a small smile crept upon Teralynn's face. She then let out a light laugh, almost sounding like a friendly one, had it not been filled with so much hate. Then all appearances of pleasantries drained from Tera's features as she looked coldly upon the empress that was in no condition to fight her.

"A friend?" she asked. "A friend? What friend would lead her army against the other? You betrayed me the day you brought your army against me in the mountains! You are no friend of mine; I will not tolerate a hypocrit such as yourself."

A smile appeared on Tera's face again. Almost as if nothing was wrong, she first looked at Alegain, then back to Rimoru, and said with a single-shouldered shrug, "That is what you have done. So, consider this just repayment for your original treachery against me."

***

Fala's eyes returned to the mirror she looked at, and breathed deeply when Habdebza finally released her throat and placed her back on the ground. She coughed several times, and her blood began circulating freely once again. Glaring briefly at the creature before, she did as she was told without a word.

Stepping through the mirror was an odd feeling. Once on the other side, she found herself in an octogonal room of similar make to the hexagonal one the kids entered. Each of the walls had mirrors on them, and she dashed for one of them the moment she appeared in the center of the room, having already made up in her mind which way to go even before stepping through the first one.

If she was lucky, she would make it through the second mirror before Habdebza would have stepped through the first mirror, thus giving her a good chance at eluding the monster altogether.

***

Jorian was confused about the execution of his father comment, but he had little time to dwell on that as the ogre once again threatened to eat his little sister. Forgetting about his hurting hand, he lunged upwards, clambering up the huge beast toward its head to try to claw at its face. "You let her go!" he shouted.

Daejan was screaming her head off for mommy, squirming to get out of Kalzog's grasp.

***

While several of the people in the hall rushed about, Ttomak got up from his spot with a leisurely attitude.

The messenger had appeared and delivered his message before the general got very far, and he just stood there and smiled after hearing it. Was this the dragoon lord he had been hearing so much about? He had hoped to get the opportunity to face this Xenocrates, to see if that other man was all that his reputation made him to be. Ttomak just was not expecting that opportunity to be this delightfully early in the war against the dragons. In fact, Ttomak was not quite expecting the dragons to be the ones making the first move, even though he thought of himself as fairly good at predicting how others would respond. Yes, this would be an interesting meeting indeed.

He looked over toward the back of the hall and locked eyes with Ael once again. She knew what he was thinking, and they both headed out from the hall with little fanfare. When they arrived at his room and stepped through the doors, his black suit of armor was already floating in the air and began to hover around him as he got out of his uniform. Ael helped him to don his battle gear, and wrapped the collar of a black cape around Ttomak's neck to finish it off.

"Be careful," Ael said to him as they embraced and kissed briefly. "And kick some butt for me."

"Your wish is my command," Ttomak smiled at her before turning and walking out of his room.

Ael took a deep breath and sat down on his bed. A part of her wanted to watch what was about to occur, but another part of her realized that there would probably be a lot of bloodshed involved. While she had no qualms with designing machines that would bring death to her enemies, she preferred not to watch the gore happening.

Outside of Ttomak's room, Ravaal was already waiting in his camouflage uniform and his rifle. The midget lizard saluted smartly, and the Rhinaran returned the salute. Their playful attitude from before was gone, and everything was strictly business now.

Making their way to the courtyard just inside the main gate of the castle, they saw that the quick response garrison had almost finished assembling already. A page brought the general his muscular warhorse, which just as black as his armor was. Ttomak handed his helmet to the boy and smoothly mounted the horse. The page then returned the helmet once the general settled into the saddle, which Ttomak placed under one arm. He sensed that many of the men were afraid. At least, the men who were not undead.

Looking at the force assembled before him, Ttomak said in a loud voice that carried throughout the entire courtyard, "As you can all see, the dragons are upon us. Some of you may have heard by now of our plan to attack the dragons unprovoked, and thought that it was unwise. But there are many good reasons why those plans were made." He pointed out of the front gates at the destruction being initiated by the dragoons and shouted over the ensuing firearms, "This is why! They would destroy us first if they had the chance, and that is exactly what they are attempting right now with their pitiful little dragoons. Some of you may not want war with the dragons, but I tell you, war is upon you whether you choose it or not! We will not lie down before them! We will not let them take our livelihood and our lives!"

He drew out his curved sword and held it high over his head. "For ourselves, for our mothers and fathers, our sisters and brothers, our daughters and sons, for our Lady Hel, we will squash these dragoons, and then we will bring utter destruction to all dragons everywhere!" Ttomak gently kicked the sides of his horse, and it neighed and stood on its hindlegs, pawing at the air with its foreward hooves. A roar of consent went up amongst his soldiers.

Marching out the gate would have been a foolish move, as the dragoons would have just picked them off as they slowly driveled out. He did not like the idea, but the best thing to do with his ground forces was to get out into the open as quickly as possible to form up against their enemies - aided by some defensive spells from their mages during this vulnerable period, of course.

And thus, the Death Knight, so called from his completely black armor and ride, and the fact that death followed him wherever he went (quite literally), slid his helmet on and led the charging garrison out the main gate.

"No Tera...you don't understand," Rimoru said quietly, her voice wavering. "I led them not against you. I led them against your master. Inzikai was a madman. And Valtrox only wanted to enslave us. I could not have my children live under a god who would kill me and everyone else who wouldn't bow down to him."

"Tera, please," Rimoru pleaded as her eyes began to water. She reached Alegain who held onto her weakly. She wanted to tell the woman about Alegain...but then Tera would take him away...

Alegain studied Teralynn carefully. He felt as though he knew her and knew her somewhat well, but he couldn't pick out how or why. Especially if the woman was so cruel...

Not to mention it was getting very hard to concentrate on anything with the hole in his chest. He hadn't noticed, but he had begun to weeze as less and less air entered through him.

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

"Infernal woman!" Habdebza roared as several bodies floated after him. He went through the mirror, his body seeming to fade and twist from existance before reappearing in the room. He looked around and began to toss the bodies into each mirror trying to see which one was the right one.

"Fala, you will pay for this. And I shall kill each one of your children before your very eyes! And your husband will suffer twofold!" Habdebza roared as he looked into each mirror, none of them being at all revealing.

He snarled as several of the mirrors began to crack and shatter. He did not deal with all of them, however, and instead, walked back through the mirror he came from and out the door.

He could not believe himself. He was furious...so furious in fact, that he may have to do exactly what he said. He once again returned to the main lobby as he searched the entire palace, minus the few secret passages, with his mind.

Meanwhile, he made his way to Maverion and picked him up by his shirt before leaving the room, with no word spoken to Teralynn or the other two.

As soon as he left, he made his way to a very large bathroom and filled a tub with ice cold water. Immediately, he dunked the man's head in, pushing it against the cold hard floor before pulling it out once he felt the man was near drowning.

"Where would the kids go? Where would you wife take the kids?" he snarled as his gauntleted hand pulled violently on the man's hair while his other hand was wrapped under his chin, occasionally scraching against his neck, leaving small white marks.

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

"Alright! Get off me you little monkeys!" Kalzog roared as he picked Jorian up with his free hand and set all three down in front of him. "And shut that child up..." he added, referring to Daejan.

"Let us start this over now. How and why did you come here. I thought you brats were given everything you asked for."

Xenocrates slashed apart entire wagons with his mighty sword as bullets harmless pinged off his armor. A cannonball bounced and hit him square in the chest before exploding, the mercenaries operating the device jumped in victory before the smoke settled. Most of his troops had already been cut down or were taking cover at the very base of the wall.

"Scale that wall you cowards! Lest you want to admit defeat to our lord at the hands of a rogue outfit, we are the dragoons mightiest of any army!" The dragoon lord yelled trying to get his soldiers back into the fight.

As he summoned enough energy to fly upwards a dragon's spear riddled corpse landed flat on top of him burying him completely. The dead dragon exploded as the warrior shot upward into the sky landing on the barricade before a line of stunned marksmen.

As Xenocrates dropped his blade on the first victim a bolt of lightning struck him immediately materializing into a large white wolf. Gripping the dragoon's face Beau struggled to keep the warrior's weapon lowered.

Driving him over the edge the two extanged blows all the way to the ground.

Horatio had followed the others out and was drifting along behind them when the demons attacked.

He reached into his cloak to draw his scythe before coming out empty handed and remembering he had left it in the bag. Reaching down he rummaged for a moment before pulling out his scythe. He dismounted from the horse and began to move towards the sandstorm demon and co.

The sand was blowing at his face and his cloak was being whipped back, if anyone looked they would see his wings, but there were more pressing matters at the moment.

Ignoring it he concentrated as best he could and what would best be described as a wall of wind more than tall enough and more than long enough to protect the adenturers and himself, the sand storm continued around and over the wall with sand falling above them, but not blowing against them. It would also have some effect of any projectiles thrown threw it, either at least slowing them down or affecting there course. The wall began between the crowd of demons around the one that summoned the storm and the where most of the others were.

Now that that annoyance was somewhat dealt with he stopped and faced the demons safely on his side of the wall, his eyes itching somewhat from the sand that had gotten into them. Hefting the scythe in one hand he ran a finger along the blade, chilling the metal in the hopes that it would have more of an effect against the demons. Then moving into a battle stance he shouted to them; "Come and get a piece of me, or are you too scared?"

Mienna on her part was flying near Lorathin, Lúthien and Beatrace, waiting for one of the demons to get close, where it would then try to claw at it any way it could as it swooped past.

Several of the demons roared at Horatio and two of them charged at the druid, their muscular arms trying to grab or punch him down where they would tear him apart.

The spell casting one snarled as he continued to try to blow the wind towards the others, but alas, it was no druid or elemental. It hefted it's arms out of the sand and began launching fireballs at the heroes, including the fliers.

That worked better than expected[/I] Thought Horatio, blinking he watched two of the demons charge towards him. He swung the scythe at the first, it seemed to stick in the creature and he had to let go of it to dodge the seconds one charge. Unfortunately, he didn't quite manage to, he was knocked sideways and rolled across the ground, but managed to regain his footing, however, he was now without a weapon.

Lorathin thought of an appropriate spell to deal with the annoying demons. Muttering a few words, a pale glowing white rain began falling from the clear sky. It was unaffected by the winds and to a demon the pseudo-rain was akin to acid, while it had no affect on regular beings.

Whenever a fireball came near either of the phantom horses, they avoided it. Only a saturation type attack would be effective against the flying horses.

The demons growled hungrily as the one with the scythe pulled it out with a sickening squelch and tossed it to the side, before once again charging at the now unarmed druid while the other followed it's comrade, in case the first charge missed.

Now, the mage-demon once again planted his arms upon the ground and with a deep thump, the sand bounced as a reddish glow engulfed the area. Suddenly, one of the nearby dunes began rolling, as it were an ocean wave, gathering speed, height, and strength. The flying demons descended and burrowed into the ground at amazing speed as the other demons crounched low.

The tidal wave of sand easily surpassed the height of the phantom horses and threatened to burry the rest of them in a terrible sea of the enhanced sand.

Horatio couldn't help but think i should have thought this through. He began to run away from the demons and trying to think of a useful spell, there wasnt a lot he could use around here in the sandy area. reaching into his pack he tried to find something to use, the rapier probably help but maybe he had something he could use.

Then the rains started and the magic demon summoned a wave of sand. Horatio turned, ran around the demons and grabbed his scythe off the floor, then turning to the wave he focused on turning the sand into sandstone, hoping to at least stem the wave, there was too much for for him to stop completely.

"If that's how you want to play it..." Lorathin commented as the steed bearing Beatrice and Lúthien flew further upward to overtop the sand wave. Looking at the sand wave, a faint crackle of power surrounded him as he cast a similar spell as the demon, but with the opposite results.

His spell would effectively nullify the demon's spell.

As soon as the phantom steeds approached the top of the wave, the flying demons sprung out, speedily zooming past the riders, scythe like appendages slashing and hacking.

The tidal wave itself had begun to dissolve, until it slowly began to hardened and turn to stone.

The flying demons had failed to take into account the fact that Lúthien's spells were still in affect and as soon as they'd neared the two girls, they'd find sleepyness and the feeling and affects of trying to wade throught neck deep mud thier ownly reward.

As the wave was dealt with Horatio turned back to the Demons, if he was quick he might just be able to get one before it reacted, running towards them he swung the sycthe at the closest ones head.

Mienna who was flying circles near Lorathin and the elves screeched and swooped towards one the demons, hoping to catch it catch while it was stuck drowsy and slow moving.

And still, the flying demons continued their onslaught.

Not without help either. The magical demon roared in some strange language that boomed across the valley.

The demons paused only slightly before they continued their onslaught.

Spells affecting them seemed to fail suddenly.

Beatrice gasped as the demon bore down on her, missing only by a centimeter. "Luthien, watch out!" she screamed as she pointed to another flying demon that came head on, it's scythe's positioned to behead them.

Ixair stumbled about, having gained some time from the demon's pause from the supposed tidal wave.

"What's going on? What's happening? Where are the buggers?" he growled as his sword flashed around him clumsily, before he tripped over a sand dune and fell to the floor, a charging demon tripping over the elf and falling down a large dune.

"Elf get up! Elf walk straight, walk straight!" Glurp screamed from the bag of the frightened horse that seemed to be galloping in circles.

One of the other flying demons chased the little crow about, trying to take a bite from it.

The remaining flyer darted around Lorathin, swinging at him from above.

Horatio's blade sunk about half an inch in the demon's neck, but seemed to have no effect other than dark red blood oozing out of the gap. The demon itself retalliated by bringing all four of it's arms around Horatio in attempt to squeeze the life out of him.

Horatio wreched the scythe back out from the demons neck just before it grabbed him. He kicked at the creature and tried to get enough force behind his scthe to hurt the creature, but it was limited from his angle. He struggled trying to think up a useful spell.

Mienna saw that her attack had done little to the creature and was trying to escape from it, in a quick movement it dived straight down in the hopes that the creature wasn't expecting it.

The horse reared up, to smash the demon downward with exceptional force with it's sharp hooves.

"Please." Lorathin commented as the blade passed through him as if it were passing throught air. He'd cast a spell affecting himself and his horse, displacing both of them before the demon had struck.

Harlin looked around as the sand cleared, and much to his chagrin, he was surrounded by four demons. Well, kind of surrounded. They didn't know what he'd learned from the Jiltakin Scrolls. Crouching low, he released his energy into a catapulting leap. Soaring over the heads of the demons, he retrieved his throwing knives as they stared at him in awe. Throwing the knives, they each struck home in the now transfixed eyes.

Cantrell bounced into the air from being slammed into the ground. He created the massive bone palisides again, and impaled the demon multiple times, before wrapping his chain around the demon's neck again. This time, he pulled, taking of the demon's head.

Cobiesel back up in fear as the demon approached her. She then cast another spell, causing a massive plant to erupt out of the earth. It's bud opened up, and it fired a huge barb into the demon's stomach effectively pushing it back.

Finally a spell came to his mind, Horatio reached out for where he had wounded the demon, his hand glowed green and a vicious poisen into the demon that should weaken it considerably.

The flying demons let out a strange snicker as it had already flew past the horse and circled about Lorathin, jeering, taunting, and insulting Lorathin in several languages. The demons had decided to play with their prey before they killed them.

Harlin's attackers snarled as they still had their other senses to deal with the pest. The four angrily began to swing at Harlin, being sure to not hit their comrades.

Horatio's attacker growled in pain as the poison took it's course. However, in reaching for the demon, it lunged out at Horatio, once again trying to get him in a deadly bear hug.

Cobiesel's attacker roared as it pulled out the barb in it's stomach, once again leaving a massive hole, however, it was beginning to die as several of it's vital organs were punctured. Or so it seemed...as it began to make it's way towards the woman.

Beatrice had been shivering uncontrollably as the demons circled around and swooped down on her and Luthien. "H-h-h-help!" she squeeked as a demon clipped her hair, jeering as it did so.

"Bodista...-h-h-help," she said quietly, trying to hide herself behind the little elven girl in front of her.

"There is no need to hide," a calm, masculin voice that seemed to echo from no where said behind Beatrice.

"Bodista?" she asked quietly.

Behind her a large angel floated calmly in air, covered completely in golden platemail armor. In it's hand it held a sword that glowed a reddish color. His cape flapped in the wind as he floated next to her.

He soared even higher so that all could see him. "Begone foul creatures, leave the innocent untouched and the truthful victorious! Thou shalt not harm those under my protection!" He shouted.

Several of the demons cowered under the being that seemed to be radiating rays of light. Several of the flying demons soared straight at the angel, before they themselves were blinded by the angels light and he dodged them effectively.

The massive angel sounded as though he were singing a beautiful tune that seemed to calm the nerves of the righteous and just while shake the moral of the demons.

However the mage-demon shouted once again his spell to boost it's comrade's moral and strength.

But this time, Bodista fell into a straight dive at the mage, skimming over him, the demon falling to the floor. It shouted, and launched a fireball, however missed by a long shot.

It roared again and the remaining demons roared their compliance as they dug into the sand, retreating for some other unlucky traveler to stumble upon them.

"Bodista! Bodista!" Beatrice shouted, after saying sorry to Luthien and covering her ears gently. "Bodista! Come back!"

The angel floated in midair and raised his sword in a salute. "Beatrice! I am your protector, my love! I am your sword and shield! Remember me, and I shall remain by your side!"

Beatrice nodded and held her hands out towards him. "Bodista, I remember you! I-"

The angel began fading out of existance, leaving no trace behind. "Bodista! Bodista, no!" she screamed. "Bodista, come back!"

"Most interesting." Lorathin commented as he watched the show. "It would have been interesting to know what Bodista was to begin with, but no matter." He hadn't really been concerned about the demons as beside only giving them a bit of attention he had a few tricks up his sleeve.

Lúthien watched the angel, "So that's Bodista?"

Beatrice nodded slowly. "But why did he leave? Where is he going?" she asked in a hushed voice. "I wanted him to meet you guys. He would have loved to meet you all..."

"Well, I think we should continue on our journey," Ixair called out in a hoarse voice before coughing up some more sand. He looked horrible. His eyes, nose, and face was red and he could barely keep his eyes open.

Horatio had dodged the demons bear hug and ket it away with his Scythe as he watched the angel's appearence and how it scared off the demons. Useful protector to have.

Mienna swooped down and landed on Horatio and he returned to his horse which had hung back, he stroked its nose and jumped up onto its back. He didn't say anything and watied for the others to move.

"I think I would have liked to meet him as well." Lúthien replied, "But I guess I have to meet him next time."

The two horses returned to the ground now that it was safe for them and thier riders.

"Is everyone in relatively good shape?" Ixair asked with a cough as he tried to cough out the burning feeling in his throat.

"Glurp in good shape. And Glurp had to fight off all the demons to protect you dumb elf," the goblin chimed in from inside the bag on the horse that had come to Ixair.

Cobiesel was about to cast her strongest spell when the demons retreated. Cantrell walked back to the group, wiping demon blood of his arms. Cobiesel followed. "We're fine. However, one of our horses weren't so lucky." she said looking at the one horse which was cut in half.

Hel gracefully descended to see Beau and Xenocrates tied up evenly. The dark queen smiled as her enlsaved guardian clasehd evenly with her most despised enemy.

"Oh Dragoon Lord, to see you before me brings great relief upon my heart. Now I get to see you die before my very eyes rather than going throguh the trouble of hunting you down." She chuckled leveling her pistol at warrior.

In an instant the dragoon overpowered the wolf and lunged towards Hel dodging all six bullets before bringing his sword down upon her.

The brute hung in place before Hel paralyzed in mid air.

"How you ever managed to give Cadey the least bit of trouble is beyond my understanding you worthless maggot." She growled before flinging him back towards the wolf whom, in a tag team manuever slammed the dragoon into the ground with awesome force.

"Who the hell are you?" He gasped slowly recovering.

"The embodiment of all your sins dear Dragoon." Hel replied as a a bone warrior behind shattered. Hundreds of razor sharp bones floated into the air before being unleashed as a hail of projectiles. As the warrior easily dodged the attack, the corpse of a zombie exploded, repelling him back into the fray.

Most of the undead shrapnel ricocheted off his armor, but a large rib hit an exact point between the collar and his helm. The dragoon lord drew a smile as he snapped the massive bone and ripped it from his flesh.

"A fight indeed, this should be fun." X snarled twirling his massive weapon. but in the distance he could feel a surge of power beyond his own. Many powerful figures were closing in and even he couldn't take them all at once. The orange orbs appeared over his head as one of them vanished the beast himself bolted away on a flaming drake.

"What the hell?" Hel gasped as something crawled around her back.

"Is Beau and the other scary guy gone?" A tin voice asked from the folds of her elegant dress.

"Yes, let's go back to the others and prepare for the march." She replied satisfied with her recent slaughter.

The dragon and dragoon bodies should prived for some interesting specimens.

As the puny wolf peaked over his haven he yiped and ducked back into his robed shelter.

"You can ride with me if you want," Ixair said to Cobiesel as he slowly climbed his horse as he kept his eyes closed. "Just don't give me a heart attack or make me go deaf," he chuckled.

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

"My queen, are you alright?" Viral huffed as he walked through, some blood on his shiny armor. He had encountered some fighting, but not nearly as much as he needed...he couldn't have with being as tired as he was and he felt like he just wanted to collapse in a soft bed. Or even a haystack. Heck, the dirt would be fine for me...

But he knew he shouldn't. One may mistake him for the dead and try to revive him as a zombie. Or one may think he was just slacking off, something not looked well upon by Hel.

The port city of Malgavesh of Iskan, a once glorious town that surpassed even Rimoru city. It was city full of trade, money, and a rich history.

Malgavesh traded with cities all over the land of Lustria. There was not a place in Lustria that did not want to trade with the port city. It had everything and anything. Even it's lowliest citizen had a house that was very much a mansion to anyone else. The trees were massive and glorius and the sea was an expanding area of beauty and tranquility.

But much has changed. Factory's sprung up to refine metal into new machines, the trees cut up for products from houses, to weapons, to chairs, to even false teeth. The surrounding Sea had become a cespool, it's sea life dead, dieing, or just plain hidious.

The factories themselves blackened the once beautiful skies into one of a never retreating black cloud. Smog was always a constant problem, and not many use the port anymore. The city had become the slums, where criminals rule and the police are corrupt and very much criminals they were hired to defend.

Miffin Merchandise Corporation owned the town. It was lead by a very powerful man, who founded the organization himself. The man was notoroious for being corrupt and greedy. His rivals soon found themselves dead, with their money somehow, legally going into his hands, until he virtually owned everything they had, including their wives and kids, much to his pleasure.

Miffin (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/Blastit52/Clash%20of%20the%20Gods/chubbymerchant.jpg), however, was not an attractive fellow. He always looked dirty, unshaven, and his clothing seemed that of a beggar, despite it "Being all the rage in so-and-so land." He was overweight and disliked having to move much.

"Get away from me!" a woman shouted as a scantily clad woman ran to the door, trying to open it.

"Silence you! I own you!" growled a chubby man who remained comfortably laying in a bed, surrounded by more scantily clad woman, anywhere from possibly sixteen years of age to several thirty year olds. Several guards pushed her back towards the overweight man, as he was hand fed a chicken leg from a teenage tan skinned woman.

Around his bed were provocative paintings of Rimoru, doing several rather seductive positions.

"If only I could have Rimmy, meself," he mumbled with his mouth full, grease dripping from his beard, where another girl wiped it, no, kissed it off with her mouth.

The women were forced to. According to several legal wills that were supposedly written by their husbands or fathers before they mysteriously died. But being forced to do all this for the man did not make them have to like it.

"Rimoru would never sleep with the likes of you!" the woman shouted as she struggled against the guards, before she was shacked to the bed posts.

"Oh, perhaps if I purchase all of Iskan, then sure. She's sleep with me. She'd love me," Miffin replied calmly as he kissed the fuming woman down her chest.

A heavy thump.

"What in blazes was that?" the large man growled as his hands probed the woman's body.

"Sir...a dragon...a large one," one of the guards said, before another thump.

Miffin waved them away. "Kill it," he growled before he proceeded with his erotic business, surrounded by woman forced to be with him.

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

"Puny mortals, your worthless lives are being thrown into oblivion for what? Material goods? Money?" Dominatistradz growled as he waved away a large squad of men fireing their rifles at him to no effect.

Buildings around the massive dragon collapsed. Not because Dominatistradz crushed them, but because he willed them to. He controlled the elements to the single molecule. He needed to, if he was to be a guardian. And the gods...they had lost their guardian with their foolish ignorance.

He began to walk closer to the ocean, only to actually feel something. More like hear it. He glanced to the side, noticing a large steam cannon being reloaded.

"Begone, pathetic creatures," he grumbled, continuing his walk through the town. The steam cannon was blown over by a strong gust of wind, exploding violently, sending boiling water on several nearby soldiers, scalding and burning them, lethally at some times.

"Orogen, show yourself," the dragon roared in a language no longer in use, that very few would know, as his massive claws gripped enormous landmark stones at the port, leaning over into the mucky water. His lips curled in disgust, before something burbled nearby.

"You know where I am, and yet I cannot detect where you are, Dominatistradz, Guardian of the World, Child of the gods. You have ventured far from the gates, and from what I've heard-" came the response in the same language.

"Orogen, news does not travel fast in the ocean? I no longer am associated with the gods. I am no longer Guardian of the world, I am no longer a champion for the mortals to rely on. They have taken advantage over my kindness and now they shall regret it."

"So we see on the same level. I only wish you could have realized this earlier, rather than cloister yourself in your mountain."

"As do I, Orogen. But it is better late than never and I am in need of your assistance and allegiance. Most of Lustria relies on the seas that you call home. If you end, or atleast stemmie these trades, then my job of conquering these pathetic creatures will be so much faster and easier."

"And what of the gods?"

"The gods. When they find their mortals, their believers, they will approach me, in which I will rip them apart as I have Valtrox."

"Then it shall be done, my brother. I have looked forward to this day..."

"As have I, Orogen, as have I..."

"Of course dear Viral, no dragoon is a match for me." She said bringing her hands into the air. The three massive gates peeled upon revealing an army as far as the eye could see.

Beau had suffered a massive slash across the center of his chest, which was bleeding out abundantly. The varvul stretched his disgusting hand over the wound gritting his brutal interlocking teeth.

"What good is my bodyguard if he cannot take on a little dragoon?" Hel mused turning towards Viral smiling. "Let's head to the castle and prepare my ship, we move out at midnight."

Of course he was more than I could handle you stupid human, this damned collar is locking half my strength and even at full power he would be as tough opponent.

Viral smiled and bowed his head. "I should have known, my queen. Our armies look ready to fight and I am eager to win some lands for you, my queen."

Then, Viral remembered what Marlene asked in the briefing before the battle. "Excuse me, your highness, but you wished to see me in your chambers before this fight happened. Would you still request me to arrive to your chambers?"

He made a glance at the varvul and smiled slightly. Stupid wolf...

"My apologies lieutenant, we must move upon the dragons before they strike again. Perhaps we can have some privacy aboard my ship as well as a show." Hel said fixing her hair back into a neat bun.

Examining one of the fallen dragons her grin became wide enough to see for miles. A quite muttering and suddenly the beast's skeleton tore straight from its armored flesh verberating the very ground in its painful roar. The monster seemed out of control until it gazed town towards the queen.

"Mother needs you to be a good boy okay?" She said in a juvinle voice patting its blood stained skull.

One by one the fallen dragons follwed suit and took the skies over her massive army of moaning undead warriors. Hel mounted her flying monstrocity beckoning the others to follow her example.