"Sir...Kineada...my eyes, they are up here..." Enmach said in a peeved tone.
"Hmmm? Oh yes, yes, you have lovely eyes my dear..." Kineada replied, pretending to be distracted by Enmach's not-entirely-unpleasing figure, and ample bosom.
In reality, he was trying to take in as much of his surroundings as he could. Kineada had learned long ago that when being given a guided tour of a place, it was quite often the things that were NOT pointed out were of the most interest.
As it was, his chance encounter with Sanria was proving to lead to quite the adventure indeed. He had travelled the Realms far and wide, yet never heard of nor encountered any beings such as these 'Rilmani', and he was quite curious to learn what he could of them. He just preferred that such learning be on his own terms...
"If we could carry on, there is much still we'd like you to see," Enmach said, the tone of her voice beginning to take a slight exasperated edge.
"Indeed, indeed...feel free...I shall be looking at your behin...err..I mean, I shall be right behind you," Kineada deadpanned, sweeping his arm out and the rest of him presenting her a low bow.
"Yes, well, as you can see over here we have..." Enmach began speaking again as Kineada nodded his head and did his best to appear attentive to her words. Kin couldn't shake the feeling that life, his especially, was about to get a lot more interesting.
The Floating Island
Vorcet walked in silence next to the large golden man, taking in the sights of the opulent castle it seemed he may be shortly moving into. "For someone who had questions, you are relatively silent wizard." Garlech said without looking at him.
"I've a multitude of question I would love to ask but it's very difficult finding a place to start after learning so many things you diddnt know could exist." Vorcet explained. "I have studdied the ruins of Myth Drannor for longer than the average mortal lifespan. I gave up my mortality to be able to continue to do so as I knew there was a lesson in there somewhere. I've fought the Lich thats entrenched in the temple there. However, in all of this time, not once have i ever heard of the Rilmani." Vorcet eyed the gold skinned giant as they continued their walk.
"We have had countless millenia to perfect watching without being seen Vorcet." Garlech said with a hint of amusement in his voice. "The demons themselves coming through their gates is actually what allows us to pass into and out of the prime material plane. Also, I believe that what I am about to show you will explain things a bit better."
Garlech lead Vorcet through an archway and onto a balcony overlooking the island below,and the edge pf the island where it dropped away completely hundreds of feet straight down. "This island floats?" Vorcet asked with more than a bit of confusion. "Indeed" responded Garlech. "But... That means... There is a Mythallar here. But all of those were lost when Karsus tried to steal the power of a god."
"All but one of the Netheril cities was lost. And we Rilmani have agents on all planes of existance." Garlech responded as he looked out over the island. "Have you given thought to our proposal?"
"I had already made up my mind about that before we left the meeting room Garlech. However, this conversation has just cemented that that for me. It apears as though I have more to learn than I had even considdered." Vorcet responded
"Real wisdom is knowing that there is always more to learn." The golden man said around the smirk on his face. "Let me show you the rest of the castle and your quarters."
"I've a multitude of question I would love to ask but it's very difficult finding a place to start after learning so many things you diddnt know could exist." Vorcet explained. "I have studdied the ruins of Myth Drannor for longer than the average mortal lifespan. I gave up my mortality to be able to continue to do so as I knew there was a lesson in there somewhere. I've fought the Lich thats entrenched in the temple there. However, in all of this time, not once have i ever heard of the Rilmani." Vorcet eyed the gold skinned giant as they continued their walk.
"We have had countless millenia to perfect watching without being seen Vorcet." Garlech said with a hint of amusement in his voice. "The demons themselves coming through their gates is actually what allows us to pass into and out of the prime material plane. Also, I believe that what I am about to show you will explain things a bit better."
Garlech lead Vorcet through an archway and onto a balcony overlooking the island below,and the edge pf the island where it dropped away completely hundreds of feet straight down. "This island floats?" Vorcet asked with more than a bit of confusion. "Indeed" responded Garlech. "But... That means... There is a Mythallar here. But all of those were lost when Karsus tried to steal the power of a god."
"All but one of the Netheril cities was lost. And we Rilmani have agents on all planes of existance." Garlech responded as he looked out over the island. "Have you given thought to our proposal?"
"I had already made up my mind about that before we left the meeting room Garlech. However, this conversation has just cemented that that for me. It apears as though I have more to learn than I had even considdered." Vorcet responded
"Real wisdom is knowing that there is always more to learn." The golden man said around the smirk on his face. "Let me show you the rest of the castle and your quarters."
Among the Gardens
Sanria walked alongside Fenlauch in awe of the castle he showed her, finally, when he took her outside, he escorted her to a small hill and offered a view of the realms that took her breath away. "We're - on a floating piece of land?"
"A floating island," Fenlauch said, striding to her side. "Yes."
"Incredible," Sanria whispered. "How did it, I mean, how does it-"
"A mix of technology and magic. A balance." He smiled. "So, tell me of your meditations. Have they revealed new insights?"
Sanria leaned against the railing that hung out over the realms below. She furrowed her brow and let out a long sigh. "Well, I realize I haven't ever had balance in my life. I thought I did, but never had it. I've hoped for it, but never actually tried for it."
"Never?"
"No. What I thought would bring peace in my life was the opposite of what I should have been doing to bring it," Sanria said. She looked over at Fenlauch, who now stared at her with bright eyes. "Much of what you said makes sense."
"I've had a long time to dwell on it," Fenlauch replied with a chuckle.
"I suppose so."
Sanria let out a deep sigh and looked back over the realms. "Do you think it's possible to bring about balance? Truly?"
"It has been done in many other places. It takes courage, resolve, fortitude - but balance can absolutely be attained and maintained."
"I find that such an appealing prospect. It's... almost unreal."
"When balance is maintained, it is a good feeling. The knowledge that comes with it is tremendous, as well as the freedom that springs from it. Some might wish to see evil abolished, just as evil wishes good dismantled - but one without the other-"
"Cannot exist," Sanria finished with a smile.
"So it is," Fenlauch said with a nod.
Sanria looked up at the huge man. "You would really let us use this place to help in bringing about balance? To bring others here?"
"Indeed. Though my advisors were initially against the prospect when I discussed it with them, they came to my point of view when Garlech agreed. They also agreed knowing they would be your advisors as well. Having a hand in the making of a balanced material plane appealed to them."
"I hope Vorcet and Kineada see it that way."
"An interesting group, nearly a perfection in balance. You with an open heart, willing to learn and read to grow, one who fairly brims over with magical ability, and one who keeps his heart deep within and guards it with his blades. You did well in bringing them. I think each of you has something genuine."
"I don't truly know how it happened so fast..."
"I've been around long enough to know that nothing happens by chance. When you think thoughts, as the unseen forces of the magnet, what you desire comes to you. Call it the law of attraction, Gods, ether, but it will be as it is willed."
Sanria stared out over the realms for a long moment, looking at Westbridge far in the distance. Perhaps what she needed to do was stop dwelling on what she didn't want in her life. Perhaps she simply needed to shift her mind and start to dream once and for all. "Happiness," she whispered, and though said so low it was barely audible, Sanria felt the universe shift just a little bit.
"A floating island," Fenlauch said, striding to her side. "Yes."
"Incredible," Sanria whispered. "How did it, I mean, how does it-"
"A mix of technology and magic. A balance." He smiled. "So, tell me of your meditations. Have they revealed new insights?"
Sanria leaned against the railing that hung out over the realms below. She furrowed her brow and let out a long sigh. "Well, I realize I haven't ever had balance in my life. I thought I did, but never had it. I've hoped for it, but never actually tried for it."
"Never?"
"No. What I thought would bring peace in my life was the opposite of what I should have been doing to bring it," Sanria said. She looked over at Fenlauch, who now stared at her with bright eyes. "Much of what you said makes sense."
"I've had a long time to dwell on it," Fenlauch replied with a chuckle.
"I suppose so."
Sanria let out a deep sigh and looked back over the realms. "Do you think it's possible to bring about balance? Truly?"
"It has been done in many other places. It takes courage, resolve, fortitude - but balance can absolutely be attained and maintained."
"I find that such an appealing prospect. It's... almost unreal."
"When balance is maintained, it is a good feeling. The knowledge that comes with it is tremendous, as well as the freedom that springs from it. Some might wish to see evil abolished, just as evil wishes good dismantled - but one without the other-"
"Cannot exist," Sanria finished with a smile.
"So it is," Fenlauch said with a nod.
Sanria looked up at the huge man. "You would really let us use this place to help in bringing about balance? To bring others here?"
"Indeed. Though my advisors were initially against the prospect when I discussed it with them, they came to my point of view when Garlech agreed. They also agreed knowing they would be your advisors as well. Having a hand in the making of a balanced material plane appealed to them."
"I hope Vorcet and Kineada see it that way."
"An interesting group, nearly a perfection in balance. You with an open heart, willing to learn and read to grow, one who fairly brims over with magical ability, and one who keeps his heart deep within and guards it with his blades. You did well in bringing them. I think each of you has something genuine."
"I don't truly know how it happened so fast..."
"I've been around long enough to know that nothing happens by chance. When you think thoughts, as the unseen forces of the magnet, what you desire comes to you. Call it the law of attraction, Gods, ether, but it will be as it is willed."
Sanria stared out over the realms for a long moment, looking at Westbridge far in the distance. Perhaps what she needed to do was stop dwelling on what she didn't want in her life. Perhaps she simply needed to shift her mind and start to dream once and for all. "Happiness," she whispered, and though said so low it was barely audible, Sanria felt the universe shift just a little bit.
Discussions and Decisions
Fenlauch seated himself at the head of the table, Garlech at his side. "You have done well, Sanria," he began in a rich baritone. "Now, I suppose for the sake of your assembled company, I should begin by telling you who we are?"
Sanria looked across the table at Kineada, who seeming busy contemplating Fenlauch. Vorcet, by contrast, seemed to patiently wait for the introductory speech. She looked back and nodded. "Please."
"We are Rilmani, from the outer planes. We've been in this place, your material plane, for a very long time. Ever since the fall of Myth Drannor and the rapid appearance of demonic forces there."
"You mentioned that before," Sanria said. "Why?"
Fenlauch looked at her with a patient smile. "Balance. With an influx of evil, we had to come in order to keep watch and ensure that their forces could not gain a foothold and tip things out of order. We've noticed, however, other troubles since the Gods have gone missing, and it is this new threat that causes us to counsel with you."
"You've been here a long while," Kineada said. "You've never sought anyone out in all that time?"
"No," Garlech said. His voice matched Fenlauch's, but his demeanor was much more businesslike. "We had no reason to interfere as there was not enough of an imbalance to reveal ourselves."
"I've been concerned with the void left by the Gods as well," Vorcet said.
"Indeed," Fenlauch continued, "there are troubles that concern us. Extremes, if you will, that aren't exact opposites, but are not in balance and harmony. We prefer not to make appearances if we can help it, but I'm afraid our time for anonymity is at an end. Unless you are willing to help our cause?"
Kineada sat back and Sanria frowned. It was a pitch. "What cause?" Vorcet asked.
"You are all here because you seek balance, correct?"
"Yes," Sanria answered.
"We will teach you how to gain that balance, provided you take that knowledge to others in the realms in the hopes of evening out the growing polarities. We will aid you by lending you our castle, our advisors, and even our libraries." Both Sanria and Vorcet seemed to perk at the mention of books. "We do not wish to be the driving force to the point we reveal ourselves fully. But if lead by their own kind, I cannot fail to see how the material plane and its citizenry would respond."
Sanria looked across the table. To learn to balance her own life, to spread that ideal to everyone, what an incredible world it could be. Something she'd chased, being right here, offered to her, it was too much to pass up. "It would require each of you to make a commitment," Fenlauch replied.
"Certainly," Sanria chimed without hesitation. Her heard fluttering with excitement.
"I'd like to ask my own questions, if you don't mind," Kineada said.
"Yes... I also have a few of my own," Vorcet said.
Fenlauch smiled and nodded. "I assumed you might. Why not ask as you take in the castle. Garlech, could you take our guest, Vorcet and walk with him? You," Fenlauch said, looking at Kineada apprasingly, "Seem to respond best to those of the fairer persuasion. Do you not?"
Kineada's face relaxed a bit as he gave a chuckle. "You see through me."
"Enmach," Fenlauch called, and in an instant, the beautiful silver-skinned woman was at the side of the golden man. "Take Sir..."
"Kineada," the WuJen replied, a smile on his features.
"Kineada on a tour of the castle. Answer any questions he might have."
"As you wish," she said with a bow of her head.
"And Lady Sanria, you will come with me and tell me of your meditations."
Sanria looked across the table at Kineada, who seeming busy contemplating Fenlauch. Vorcet, by contrast, seemed to patiently wait for the introductory speech. She looked back and nodded. "Please."
"We are Rilmani, from the outer planes. We've been in this place, your material plane, for a very long time. Ever since the fall of Myth Drannor and the rapid appearance of demonic forces there."
"You mentioned that before," Sanria said. "Why?"
Fenlauch looked at her with a patient smile. "Balance. With an influx of evil, we had to come in order to keep watch and ensure that their forces could not gain a foothold and tip things out of order. We've noticed, however, other troubles since the Gods have gone missing, and it is this new threat that causes us to counsel with you."
"You've been here a long while," Kineada said. "You've never sought anyone out in all that time?"
"No," Garlech said. His voice matched Fenlauch's, but his demeanor was much more businesslike. "We had no reason to interfere as there was not enough of an imbalance to reveal ourselves."
"I've been concerned with the void left by the Gods as well," Vorcet said.
"Indeed," Fenlauch continued, "there are troubles that concern us. Extremes, if you will, that aren't exact opposites, but are not in balance and harmony. We prefer not to make appearances if we can help it, but I'm afraid our time for anonymity is at an end. Unless you are willing to help our cause?"
Kineada sat back and Sanria frowned. It was a pitch. "What cause?" Vorcet asked.
"You are all here because you seek balance, correct?"
"Yes," Sanria answered.
"We will teach you how to gain that balance, provided you take that knowledge to others in the realms in the hopes of evening out the growing polarities. We will aid you by lending you our castle, our advisors, and even our libraries." Both Sanria and Vorcet seemed to perk at the mention of books. "We do not wish to be the driving force to the point we reveal ourselves fully. But if lead by their own kind, I cannot fail to see how the material plane and its citizenry would respond."
Sanria looked across the table. To learn to balance her own life, to spread that ideal to everyone, what an incredible world it could be. Something she'd chased, being right here, offered to her, it was too much to pass up. "It would require each of you to make a commitment," Fenlauch replied.
"Certainly," Sanria chimed without hesitation. Her heard fluttering with excitement.
"I'd like to ask my own questions, if you don't mind," Kineada said.
"Yes... I also have a few of my own," Vorcet said.
Fenlauch smiled and nodded. "I assumed you might. Why not ask as you take in the castle. Garlech, could you take our guest, Vorcet and walk with him? You," Fenlauch said, looking at Kineada apprasingly, "Seem to respond best to those of the fairer persuasion. Do you not?"
Kineada's face relaxed a bit as he gave a chuckle. "You see through me."
"Enmach," Fenlauch called, and in an instant, the beautiful silver-skinned woman was at the side of the golden man. "Take Sir..."
"Kineada," the WuJen replied, a smile on his features.
"Kineada on a tour of the castle. Answer any questions he might have."
"As you wish," she said with a bow of her head.
"And Lady Sanria, you will come with me and tell me of your meditations."
Meetings in the Mists
Sanria walked with her two companions westward and back into the deeper Haon' Dor. The travel was rather quiet, punctuated more with bird calls and squirrel chatter than amiable conversation. It suited Sanria well enough, her preference was silence in the wood, allowing nature to create its own symphony without her input. There was always enough talking when one visited the city or had company.
They had walked in silence until the large, marked trees greeted them. "It's just up ahead," she offered and rounded a few large oaks. There, the tails of mists slithered along the ground and she stopped to point it out. "We'll go in there and I'm certain he'll be along."
"Interesting," Kineada offered, his face otherwise unreadable.
"He lives in the mists?" Vorcet questioned.
"No, not exactly. He finds you in the mists... he lives... somewhere else."
Sanria walked ahead, going deeper into the mists, breathing them in. They had the distinct scent of lake water, but there wasn't such a place to be found, nor a source for their rise. She could feel the two men behind her, walking closer so as not to lose her in the deepening blanket of fog. "Hello?" she called out and no sooner than she called, the mists parted, revealing a man who was not Fenlauch, but looked nearly identical, save the blinding white light that shot from his eyes.
"You must be lost, traveler. I will send you on your way once more -"
"Wait," called the familiar voice of Fenlauch. "Garlech, these are my guests."
Sanria smiled and turned to see the faces of both Kineada and Vorcet rather frozen with what she could only assume to be awe and confusion. She turned back to Fenlauch and gave a bow. "I did as you asked. I brought others to learn."
"Now, wait," Kineada said in a low voice, "I never said I would go to learn, just to meet this man."
"Just... trust me, please," Sanria said.
"Vorcet Thopen, at your service," Vorcet said, approaching Fenlauch with a bow.
"Fenlauch, and my colleague, Garlech," both the huge golden men bowed, their impressive golden armor clinking. "Shall we?"
"Shall we..." Sanria began uncertainly.
Fenlauch chuckled and waved a hand. In an instant, they were in a beautiful meeting room, a fireplace burning at the end of the table. Globes of fire drifted on the air, not unlike Sanria's home, and tall windows gave a stunning view to beautiful gardens beyond. Fenlauch held a hand out to the chairs.
"Please. Be seated."
They had walked in silence until the large, marked trees greeted them. "It's just up ahead," she offered and rounded a few large oaks. There, the tails of mists slithered along the ground and she stopped to point it out. "We'll go in there and I'm certain he'll be along."
"Interesting," Kineada offered, his face otherwise unreadable.
"He lives in the mists?" Vorcet questioned.
"No, not exactly. He finds you in the mists... he lives... somewhere else."
Sanria walked ahead, going deeper into the mists, breathing them in. They had the distinct scent of lake water, but there wasn't such a place to be found, nor a source for their rise. She could feel the two men behind her, walking closer so as not to lose her in the deepening blanket of fog. "Hello?" she called out and no sooner than she called, the mists parted, revealing a man who was not Fenlauch, but looked nearly identical, save the blinding white light that shot from his eyes.
"You must be lost, traveler. I will send you on your way once more -"
"Wait," called the familiar voice of Fenlauch. "Garlech, these are my guests."
Sanria smiled and turned to see the faces of both Kineada and Vorcet rather frozen with what she could only assume to be awe and confusion. She turned back to Fenlauch and gave a bow. "I did as you asked. I brought others to learn."
"Now, wait," Kineada said in a low voice, "I never said I would go to learn, just to meet this man."
"Just... trust me, please," Sanria said.
"Vorcet Thopen, at your service," Vorcet said, approaching Fenlauch with a bow.
"Fenlauch, and my colleague, Garlech," both the huge golden men bowed, their impressive golden armor clinking. "Shall we?"
"Shall we..." Sanria began uncertainly.
Fenlauch chuckled and waved a hand. In an instant, they were in a beautiful meeting room, a fireplace burning at the end of the table. Globes of fire drifted on the air, not unlike Sanria's home, and tall windows gave a stunning view to beautiful gardens beyond. Fenlauch held a hand out to the chairs.
"Please. Be seated."
Faltering Steps
Sanria stopped, both of her hands on the strap of her pack, and stared at the stranger who leaned against the gates of the city as nonchalantly as if he owned them. "I'm sorry... do I know you?" she asked.
"My apologies, Vorcet Thophen at your service!" he said, offering a bow.
"Sanria... Sanria Stone. And... I don't think now would be ideal. I'm meeting a friend."
"I had a feeling that was the case," Vorcet said. "Then a question or two before you continue? Though a bit of an explanation so this sounds less like a case of stalking."
"That would ease my mind a bit," Sanria admitted.
"I've had a watcher in the city looking and listening for something specific. It reported back your conversation with a certain sword wielding man."
The idea of having her conversation overheard, even reported on, made Sanria a little edgy. "And what of this conversation concerns you?"
"The part regarding your interest in balance."
Sanria was stunned, but kept the expression well in check. "How so?" she asked.
"When the god's were banished I saw the hole left in what was keeping things together. I've spent a little effort attempting to gather some people of like mind together myself. Two more people that seem to have an interest so similar was something I could not ignore."
While Sanria dealt with the idea of being recruited even as she recruited and for the same reason, she also remembered Fenlauch's words. She couldn't learn balance alone, for such an approach was imbalanced as well. Fenlauch had re- quested her to find others. Why not this one who sought her out for exactly the same reason she sought Kineada?
"So you seek balance as well?" she asked.
"Ever since the fall of the old religions it has been my goal," Vorcet replied.
"Well, I suppose having you come along with Kineada and I wouldn't be an issue. I assure you, if you do anything, I'm certain he could dispatch you quickly."
Sanria could, in fact, make no such claims - but the man unsettled her a bit. "I assume you'd like to join us then?" she asked.
"Very much so. And as to your concerns about me being dangerous, once I would have agreed with you, but no longer. I gave Violence up long long ago."
"I think whatever questions you have about balance, he'll be able to answer."
"I've found little enough answers on my own," Vorcet said. "If you think this, Fenlauch? can help Id love to speak with him."
So it was that Sanria found one more. It struck her as she walked away from Vorcet to find Kineada that she now had three people. It wasn't balanced, but from an uneven number of minds came agreement and concord. Three people could never polarize. Three people in truth, was more balanced than two ever could be. A smile lighted upon her lips. Fenlauch would be pleased.
"My apologies, Vorcet Thophen at your service!" he said, offering a bow.
"Sanria... Sanria Stone. And... I don't think now would be ideal. I'm meeting a friend."
"I had a feeling that was the case," Vorcet said. "Then a question or two before you continue? Though a bit of an explanation so this sounds less like a case of stalking."
"That would ease my mind a bit," Sanria admitted.
"I've had a watcher in the city looking and listening for something specific. It reported back your conversation with a certain sword wielding man."
The idea of having her conversation overheard, even reported on, made Sanria a little edgy. "And what of this conversation concerns you?"
"The part regarding your interest in balance."
Sanria was stunned, but kept the expression well in check. "How so?" she asked.
"When the god's were banished I saw the hole left in what was keeping things together. I've spent a little effort attempting to gather some people of like mind together myself. Two more people that seem to have an interest so similar was something I could not ignore."
While Sanria dealt with the idea of being recruited even as she recruited and for the same reason, she also remembered Fenlauch's words. She couldn't learn balance alone, for such an approach was imbalanced as well. Fenlauch had re- quested her to find others. Why not this one who sought her out for exactly the same reason she sought Kineada?
"So you seek balance as well?" she asked.
"Ever since the fall of the old religions it has been my goal," Vorcet replied.
"Well, I suppose having you come along with Kineada and I wouldn't be an issue. I assure you, if you do anything, I'm certain he could dispatch you quickly."
Sanria could, in fact, make no such claims - but the man unsettled her a bit. "I assume you'd like to join us then?" she asked.
"Very much so. And as to your concerns about me being dangerous, once I would have agreed with you, but no longer. I gave Violence up long long ago."
"I think whatever questions you have about balance, he'll be able to answer."
"I've found little enough answers on my own," Vorcet said. "If you think this, Fenlauch? can help Id love to speak with him."
So it was that Sanria found one more. It struck her as she walked away from Vorcet to find Kineada that she now had three people. It wasn't balanced, but from an uneven number of minds came agreement and concord. Three people could never polarize. Three people in truth, was more balanced than two ever could be. A smile lighted upon her lips. Fenlauch would be pleased.
Unfamiliar Familiarity
Sanria wrote a note, something so familiar now. She was on her way out again, this time to meet up with Kineada to visit Fenlauch. Part of her felt bad for not just telling Colin to his face where she was going. The other part just wanted to avoid the questions, the concerned looks, the inevitable face that Colin would give her. She did love him - but there wasn't a way she could reconcile what he had done. Her options were to forget it and return to a sickeningly sweet version of her old life, or stick with her beliefs and move into the world as her own person. Sanria chose the latter.
She left the note and headed outside, her pack shouldered, and turned her feet toward Westbridge. The day was crisp, the sunlight through the leaves of the wood dazzling. Even once she had cleared the treeline to walk the road, her heart was unexpectedly light. She was off to adventure, to something new. It had been so long. She hadn't taken her airship out for ages and as she walked Sanria began to formulate plans to go somewhere, anywhere, in her ship. Certainly, she was pregnant, but that never stopped her before.
What stopped Sanria now was the very strange looking wizard at the gates who seemed very interested in the beauty of the day - and accompanying her into the city.
She left the note and headed outside, her pack shouldered, and turned her feet toward Westbridge. The day was crisp, the sunlight through the leaves of the wood dazzling. Even once she had cleared the treeline to walk the road, her heart was unexpectedly light. She was off to adventure, to something new. It had been so long. She hadn't taken her airship out for ages and as she walked Sanria began to formulate plans to go somewhere, anywhere, in her ship. Certainly, she was pregnant, but that never stopped her before.
What stopped Sanria now was the very strange looking wizard at the gates who seemed very interested in the beauty of the day - and accompanying her into the city.
Intercepted Discussions
Vorcet felt the small imp begin to materialize in the room before it was visible. The smell that of sulfur and brimstone due to its natural habitat. It settled in nervously accross the desk from vorcet as he sat bent over his notes on ancient Netheril magic and history.
The imp wringing its hands seemed to be having a hard time starting so Vorcet set his pen down and looked at the little monster for a second before saying, "Out with it Imp. I havn't got all day."
"I overheard something that may interest you, though I must caution you... You must not trust them." The imp managed to get out, the level of nervousness was abnormal even for his kind.
"I'll make the decisions on who and what I trust imp, just tell me what you overheard. Let us not forget what happened the last time you left something out in your reports."
"No no master of course I would never lie to yoU!" The imp said defensively, too quickly. "I overheard a woman and a man talking in Kefkaburg, They spoke at length about balance." The imp seemed to hesitate here but Vorcet pressed the imp further, "The woman mentioned meeting a gold skinned man, and she was going to go see him."
The imp seemed to get overly agitated and was quickly becoming inconsolable, "Master you cant go, you must not. The Rilmani are devious and fickle. Liars Master! Liars!"
"You are dismissed imp, Ill take it from here." Vorcet said calmly having already made up his mind that if a creature of demon plains was afraid of this being, it was something that He very much wanted to see for himself.
"Master no, you cant," the Imp started but Vorcet cut him off. "You can either go back to your own plane on your own... Or I will send you back the difficult way with no chance to return for one thousand years."
The pop in the air was audible as the imp dissapeared back to its home plane.
"I suppose its time I visited Westbridge again." Vorcet said to his office door.
The imp wringing its hands seemed to be having a hard time starting so Vorcet set his pen down and looked at the little monster for a second before saying, "Out with it Imp. I havn't got all day."
"I overheard something that may interest you, though I must caution you... You must not trust them." The imp managed to get out, the level of nervousness was abnormal even for his kind.
"I'll make the decisions on who and what I trust imp, just tell me what you overheard. Let us not forget what happened the last time you left something out in your reports."
"No no master of course I would never lie to yoU!" The imp said defensively, too quickly. "I overheard a woman and a man talking in Kefkaburg, They spoke at length about balance." The imp seemed to hesitate here but Vorcet pressed the imp further, "The woman mentioned meeting a gold skinned man, and she was going to go see him."
The imp seemed to get overly agitated and was quickly becoming inconsolable, "Master you cant go, you must not. The Rilmani are devious and fickle. Liars Master! Liars!"
"You are dismissed imp, Ill take it from here." Vorcet said calmly having already made up his mind that if a creature of demon plains was afraid of this being, it was something that He very much wanted to see for himself.
"Master no, you cant," the Imp started but Vorcet cut him off. "You can either go back to your own plane on your own... Or I will send you back the difficult way with no chance to return for one thousand years."
The pop in the air was audible as the imp dissapeared back to its home plane.
"I suppose its time I visited Westbridge again." Vorcet said to his office door.
After Discussions...
As Kineada watched Sanria walking away, and thought to himself that it wasn't the worst view he'd seen this fine day, he sighed and stretched his weary muscles once again.
He had agreed to meet with this..Femoch? Fenlock?..character, but then Kineada was never in the habit of turning down any sort of invitation from a member of the fairer sex.
It was these same members of the opposite gender that more often than not seemed to get him mixed up in what he used to call "adventures", but now viewed more as "slight annoyances".
"But why should it be?" Kin muttered to himself. "When did I become so complacent and....lazy?"
Drawing a bit of his katana from its sheathe, Kin thumbed the edge of the blade, and was completely unsurprised to find it a bit on the dull side. "As my wits surely are following as well..."
The sound of pleadings drew his attention a bit down Main Street from Festival Square. Two Vectorian Cityguards appeared to be bullying an old woman. With a frown and a self-admonition for allowing himself to be cut off from the trials and tribulations of those around him for far too long a time now, Kineada chanted a dweomer that polymorphed the guards into newts, allowing the startled old woman to scurry away.
"Perhaps some adventure is exactly what I need..." Kineada mused as he prepared the spell to transport him back to his sanctum.
He had agreed to meet with this..Femoch? Fenlock?..character, but then Kineada was never in the habit of turning down any sort of invitation from a member of the fairer sex.
It was these same members of the opposite gender that more often than not seemed to get him mixed up in what he used to call "adventures", but now viewed more as "slight annoyances".
"But why should it be?" Kin muttered to himself. "When did I become so complacent and....lazy?"
Drawing a bit of his katana from its sheathe, Kin thumbed the edge of the blade, and was completely unsurprised to find it a bit on the dull side. "As my wits surely are following as well..."
The sound of pleadings drew his attention a bit down Main Street from Festival Square. Two Vectorian Cityguards appeared to be bullying an old woman. With a frown and a self-admonition for allowing himself to be cut off from the trials and tribulations of those around him for far too long a time now, Kineada chanted a dweomer that polymorphed the guards into newts, allowing the startled old woman to scurry away.
"Perhaps some adventure is exactly what I need..." Kineada mused as he prepared the spell to transport him back to his sanctum.
Discussions with New Friends (1-2)
The trickle of the fountain in Market Square was just as constant as Sanria's chatter with Kineada. The Shadow Bushi seemed pleased to be speaking, yet Sanria could sense he was careful with the information he would give out - as if he had not truly spoken of himself in a very long time. "So where exactly do you come from? I mean, you look unusual. I have an acquaintance with similar features, perhaps you've heard of her, Myn Kaze?"
Kineada chuckled. "Not everyone who looks alike comes from the same place."
"Oh, I know, I just... it's simply unusual."
"Well, Kara-Tur is my homeland, though it has been many years since I've gone back."
"I understand. Kara-Tur is in Faerun, is it not?" Sanria asked.
"Indeed."
"I was born near Unther, but was brought here in infancy. I've never visited Kara-Tur."
The green eyed man gave another chuckle and shifted, his blades at his sides moving along with him. It was curious, Sanria thought, that this older man would carry weapons. Could he use them or were they ornamental... "You carry very thin swords."
"Katanas, child. The sword of my homeland."
"Can... you use them?"
At this, Kineada let out a laugh and looked at her, his eyes sparkling as if given a new challenge. "Do you wish to spar?"
"No, not in my condition," she smiled, patting her stomach lightly.
"Yes, I suppose it would be a bad idea, wouldn't it? So, tell me. Why are you interested in balance?"
"Ah, my writing... yes. I've just had so little of it in my life. I'm either off on some half-planned adventure, barely hanging on by the skin of my teeth, or as dull as a dirt clod in my home - doing nothing but reading."
"There is nothing wrong with reading," Kineada replied.
"What good is reading if it leads to nothing but more reading? I do not use what I learn, not like I did in the Illuminati."
"Mmm. I understand."
"I was given a proposition not one day ago to seek balance to learn truth, to learn truth to seek balance, and when I had both, I would find harmony."
"An interesting proposition. Do you find it worth pursuing?"
"If it's true," Sanria said.
"Well, there is your first problem," Kineada said with a chuckle.
"What?"
"Doubt. While its healthy to have doubt in many other things, in balance, you can't have doubt. You have to believe there is balance before you'll ever see it. If you don't know if it's there to begin with - what good is it chasing it?"
Sanria sat back on the bench, staring at the fountain. "I would love to see this whole place the way it used to be."
"Bah," Kineada said dismissively, waving a hand, "time passes, people and even the Gods come and go. You simply learn what you must to deal with the present and if you believe in planning for the future, adjust to what becomes your future's present. For - the present is always here."
Sanria looked over at Kineada, who also stared at the fountain with a touch of a smile on his mouth. "You are wise," she said. "Do you seek balance?"
"I believe it an essential component to life."
"So... do you seek it?"
Kineada looked over, his eyes suddenly filled with mirth. Sanria had the sud- den feeling that this man saw her as a child with questions that were foolish, but none-the-less, deserving of answer for nothing more than her earnest in asking. "I would suppose that one must always practice balance to keep it, in that regard, I seek it."
"Would you be willing to meet my friend, Fenlauch? To learn what he has to say on the subject?"
"As long as he is not seeking a religious convert, I have no problems meeting a new face."
"No - he's not religious. He's... well, I don't really know what he is. He's very tall, gold skin, bright eyes, and very much about balance."
A small smile came onto Kineada's face and Sanria returned it. "He sounds like a very interesting character," he said.
"He is. He seems very intelligent, too. He said his kind had been watching the realms since the fall of Myth Drannor."
Kineada lifted his eyebrow slightly. "That is a long time."
"I've never known Myth Drannor without demons in it."
"Yes... well, I'll meet with him if for nothing other than figuring out what type of creature is residing in our deeper midsts."
Sanria chuckled and stood up from the bench. "Let me return home to prepare. I think I should make sure I'm a little more ready than the last time I met him."
"Oh?"
Sanria pointed to her forehead where a red scab was still forming. "He startled me quite a bit and I had an encounter with a tree."
Kineada chuckled. "I see."
"Will you be here tomorrow?"
"I suppose I can make an exception," he said with a mirth-filled smile.
With a quick bow, Sanria headed back into the west and the Haon'Dor toward her cavern, her heart lightening with each step.
Kineada chuckled. "Not everyone who looks alike comes from the same place."
"Oh, I know, I just... it's simply unusual."
"Well, Kara-Tur is my homeland, though it has been many years since I've gone back."
"I understand. Kara-Tur is in Faerun, is it not?" Sanria asked.
"Indeed."
"I was born near Unther, but was brought here in infancy. I've never visited Kara-Tur."
The green eyed man gave another chuckle and shifted, his blades at his sides moving along with him. It was curious, Sanria thought, that this older man would carry weapons. Could he use them or were they ornamental... "You carry very thin swords."
"Katanas, child. The sword of my homeland."
"Can... you use them?"
At this, Kineada let out a laugh and looked at her, his eyes sparkling as if given a new challenge. "Do you wish to spar?"
"No, not in my condition," she smiled, patting her stomach lightly.
"Yes, I suppose it would be a bad idea, wouldn't it? So, tell me. Why are you interested in balance?"
"Ah, my writing... yes. I've just had so little of it in my life. I'm either off on some half-planned adventure, barely hanging on by the skin of my teeth, or as dull as a dirt clod in my home - doing nothing but reading."
"There is nothing wrong with reading," Kineada replied.
"What good is reading if it leads to nothing but more reading? I do not use what I learn, not like I did in the Illuminati."
"Mmm. I understand."
"I was given a proposition not one day ago to seek balance to learn truth, to learn truth to seek balance, and when I had both, I would find harmony."
"An interesting proposition. Do you find it worth pursuing?"
"If it's true," Sanria said.
"Well, there is your first problem," Kineada said with a chuckle.
"What?"
"Doubt. While its healthy to have doubt in many other things, in balance, you can't have doubt. You have to believe there is balance before you'll ever see it. If you don't know if it's there to begin with - what good is it chasing it?"
Sanria sat back on the bench, staring at the fountain. "I would love to see this whole place the way it used to be."
"Bah," Kineada said dismissively, waving a hand, "time passes, people and even the Gods come and go. You simply learn what you must to deal with the present and if you believe in planning for the future, adjust to what becomes your future's present. For - the present is always here."
Sanria looked over at Kineada, who also stared at the fountain with a touch of a smile on his mouth. "You are wise," she said. "Do you seek balance?"
"I believe it an essential component to life."
"So... do you seek it?"
Kineada looked over, his eyes suddenly filled with mirth. Sanria had the sud- den feeling that this man saw her as a child with questions that were foolish, but none-the-less, deserving of answer for nothing more than her earnest in asking. "I would suppose that one must always practice balance to keep it, in that regard, I seek it."
"Would you be willing to meet my friend, Fenlauch? To learn what he has to say on the subject?"
"As long as he is not seeking a religious convert, I have no problems meeting a new face."
"No - he's not religious. He's... well, I don't really know what he is. He's very tall, gold skin, bright eyes, and very much about balance."
A small smile came onto Kineada's face and Sanria returned it. "He sounds like a very interesting character," he said.
"He is. He seems very intelligent, too. He said his kind had been watching the realms since the fall of Myth Drannor."
Kineada lifted his eyebrow slightly. "That is a long time."
"I've never known Myth Drannor without demons in it."
"Yes... well, I'll meet with him if for nothing other than figuring out what type of creature is residing in our deeper midsts."
Sanria chuckled and stood up from the bench. "Let me return home to prepare. I think I should make sure I'm a little more ready than the last time I met him."
"Oh?"
Sanria pointed to her forehead where a red scab was still forming. "He startled me quite a bit and I had an encounter with a tree."
Kineada chuckled. "I see."
"Will you be here tomorrow?"
"I suppose I can make an exception," he said with a mirth-filled smile.
With a quick bow, Sanria headed back into the west and the Haon'Dor toward her cavern, her heart lightening with each step.
Curious Strangers
Sanria wrote a note, this time to the entire family, and set it on the fountain open for view:
'Hello everyone,
I went on a walk and should be back within a few hours time.
Sanria.'
She studied the note, nodded, and grabbing her book and her pack, headed out the door. It was exciting to have a task - even if it was a small task to follow. Meditate. As she walked through the forests, her mind went back to Fenlauch. "Through creating balance, you find truth, and when you find truth, you will know how to create balance. When you can create balance, you can spread truth. And when you spread truth and balance, harmony is attained." According to him, harmony was achieved only when spreading truth and balance - but you couldn't have one without the other. Had she ever taken the time to actually *try* to make balance in her life? The only time she could remember were her studies in the Illuminati - and life was fabulous... until Thasmudyan died the first time. Then she went crazy and no amount of balance had been achieved since.
Sanria continued walking as she thought, paying no heed to where she was going until she found herself walking through the gates of Westbridge. Strange, that her feet would direct her here. Westbridge was still overrun by the Vectorians, and even though for a while it seemed TriPower was set to evict them, the rumors of war rumbled and died away. Rebellion seemed like an afterthought, and the people contented themselves to be under the rule of devious peoples.
With a sigh, Sanria passed the guards who shot dirty glances in her direction, sizing her up for troublemaking, no doubt. She walked into Market Square and sat down on a bench, looking at the fountain. There were many times in her past she would come here and usually each time, she would meet someone new. Now, the square was quiet.
Sanria pulled out her book/diary/book and wrote, "What is the first step towards balance?"
"Solitude," came a voice and Sanria looked up into the jade green eyes of a very exotic man. "But you won't find that here since anyone can just come up and see what you're doing."
Sanria shut her book quickly and stood up. "Well, I suppose that is true, isn't it?"
The man shrugged and sat down on the bench, stretching his legs out a bit. He seemed awfully comfortable, as though he'd been sitting in that same spot for ages. He looked older, but nowhere near decrepit.
"I don't make a habit of it, normally, but you were in my seat," he said.
"Oh... well... I didn't realize-"
"It doesn't have a name on it, but its mine none-the-less. I'm certain if you look hard enough, you might even find the print of my robes on the bench."
His smile made Sanria chuckle and she sat down beside him. "I'm Sanria."
"Kineada. WuJen. Shadow Bushi."
"That is a lot of titles..."
"They suit me."
'Hello everyone,
I went on a walk and should be back within a few hours time.
Sanria.'
She studied the note, nodded, and grabbing her book and her pack, headed out the door. It was exciting to have a task - even if it was a small task to follow. Meditate. As she walked through the forests, her mind went back to Fenlauch. "Through creating balance, you find truth, and when you find truth, you will know how to create balance. When you can create balance, you can spread truth. And when you spread truth and balance, harmony is attained." According to him, harmony was achieved only when spreading truth and balance - but you couldn't have one without the other. Had she ever taken the time to actually *try* to make balance in her life? The only time she could remember were her studies in the Illuminati - and life was fabulous... until Thasmudyan died the first time. Then she went crazy and no amount of balance had been achieved since.
Sanria continued walking as she thought, paying no heed to where she was going until she found herself walking through the gates of Westbridge. Strange, that her feet would direct her here. Westbridge was still overrun by the Vectorians, and even though for a while it seemed TriPower was set to evict them, the rumors of war rumbled and died away. Rebellion seemed like an afterthought, and the people contented themselves to be under the rule of devious peoples.
With a sigh, Sanria passed the guards who shot dirty glances in her direction, sizing her up for troublemaking, no doubt. She walked into Market Square and sat down on a bench, looking at the fountain. There were many times in her past she would come here and usually each time, she would meet someone new. Now, the square was quiet.
Sanria pulled out her book/diary/book and wrote, "What is the first step towards balance?"
"Solitude," came a voice and Sanria looked up into the jade green eyes of a very exotic man. "But you won't find that here since anyone can just come up and see what you're doing."
Sanria shut her book quickly and stood up. "Well, I suppose that is true, isn't it?"
The man shrugged and sat down on the bench, stretching his legs out a bit. He seemed awfully comfortable, as though he'd been sitting in that same spot for ages. He looked older, but nowhere near decrepit.
"I don't make a habit of it, normally, but you were in my seat," he said.
"Oh... well... I didn't realize-"
"It doesn't have a name on it, but its mine none-the-less. I'm certain if you look hard enough, you might even find the print of my robes on the bench."
His smile made Sanria chuckle and she sat down beside him. "I'm Sanria."
"Kineada. WuJen. Shadow Bushi."
"That is a lot of titles..."
"They suit me."
Deeper Questions
Sanria sat in the night, but before she had even gotten a chance of getting up, a voice reached her, "Mom! Are you ok?" Orn. Sanria got up and greeted her son. With him she found Reggie - his newly befriended bear. He was growing up fast - but she kept such things as her pride in him to herself. The important thing was he hadn't shared with his father that he was gone- which was also the bad thing. Colin was going to be beside himself. She briefly told Orn where she was and of the man she had met and found it curious that Orn wanted to meet him. Then, she brought the three of them (Reggie included, for after Orn begged, Sanria couldn't refuse), back to the cavern.
Orn and Reggie headed out to the stream just as Colin walked into the room. He looked frazzled. "Sanria... I was worried sick. I had no idea where the two of you were. When you said you would take a walk I didn't expect you to be gone into the night."
"Colin... I'm an adult. I can manage. Orn... well... he didn't seem to read the note."
"It's just, after what has just happened..."
"Then... worry for Orn, after all, I haven't had anything happen to me lately."
It was true. The past year plus with Colin she had been here in the cavern, and certainly, it was nice, but all along in the back of her mind, she had harbored the feeling that she was being guarded in a sense. Things had been happy because nothing had happened. Everything was as Colin always wished it to be. The chance meeting was the first time in a long time that anything adventurous had happened to Sanria - and she had missed the feeling that trilled through her veins.
"I was just... pretty distraught when you were gone for so long," Colin said, interrupting Sanria's train of thought.
"Colin... if I choose to be gone for a long while... that is my choice. I left you a note. As, undoubtedly, I shall again."
"I just... didn't know what to expect. And Orn..."
"Orn I understand," Sanria said quietly.
And it was in this moment that Sanria felt in full the feeling that had been gnawing at the edges of her soul. Trapped. The child in her that she had planned on having grow at a normal pace suddenly seemed like a sentence, one that meant she would have to be with Colin for at least sixteen years while it grew. When she proposed speeding things along by having Thasmudyan heal her, Colin looked stung. "We aren't married anymore, Colin," Sanria said, "and I can't see how a slow growing child keeping us living together is going to make it any more comfortable."
"Well, what can I say?"
"You don't have to say anything."
"Right then..."
Sanria watched Colin walk toward the dining room and the garden beyond. It hurt her heart to see him like this, but she also knew that if she wanted this to be it - she would have to stand strong. She shouldered her pack and went into the library.
Orn and Reggie headed out to the stream just as Colin walked into the room. He looked frazzled. "Sanria... I was worried sick. I had no idea where the two of you were. When you said you would take a walk I didn't expect you to be gone into the night."
"Colin... I'm an adult. I can manage. Orn... well... he didn't seem to read the note."
"It's just, after what has just happened..."
"Then... worry for Orn, after all, I haven't had anything happen to me lately."
It was true. The past year plus with Colin she had been here in the cavern, and certainly, it was nice, but all along in the back of her mind, she had harbored the feeling that she was being guarded in a sense. Things had been happy because nothing had happened. Everything was as Colin always wished it to be. The chance meeting was the first time in a long time that anything adventurous had happened to Sanria - and she had missed the feeling that trilled through her veins.
"I was just... pretty distraught when you were gone for so long," Colin said, interrupting Sanria's train of thought.
"Colin... if I choose to be gone for a long while... that is my choice. I left you a note. As, undoubtedly, I shall again."
"I just... didn't know what to expect. And Orn..."
"Orn I understand," Sanria said quietly.
And it was in this moment that Sanria felt in full the feeling that had been gnawing at the edges of her soul. Trapped. The child in her that she had planned on having grow at a normal pace suddenly seemed like a sentence, one that meant she would have to be with Colin for at least sixteen years while it grew. When she proposed speeding things along by having Thasmudyan heal her, Colin looked stung. "We aren't married anymore, Colin," Sanria said, "and I can't see how a slow growing child keeping us living together is going to make it any more comfortable."
"Well, what can I say?"
"You don't have to say anything."
"Right then..."
Sanria watched Colin walk toward the dining room and the garden beyond. It hurt her heart to see him like this, but she also knew that if she wanted this to be it - she would have to stand strong. She shouldered her pack and went into the library.
Bold Tidings
Sanria woke to the sound of pages being turned. She opened her eyes a bit and watched as Carlaugh leafed through her book, reading - undoubtedly - her private entries. She sat up as he looked at her. "Quite a collection of thoughts."
"Private thoughts," she said, reaching over to take the book from him.
"They make you seem - lost."
"I suppose there are a lot of times when I am."
"Sanria-"
"How do you know my name?"
Fenlauch chuckled and pointed at the book. Sanria felt a twinge of shame.
"Right," she said.
"I believe it's time for you to go."
"But you haven't even told me where I am or what you are."
"We have been here a very long time. Since the fall of your forest and the spawn of the demons. We've been watching and keeping our eyes upon your material plane."
"What forest?"
"Your kind here know it as Myth Drannor, I believe."
"But... why?"
"Balance," Fenlauch answered matter of factly. "We keep balance - from here, to every corner of every plane. Good, evil - it matters not so much that one should not outweigh the other and bring about destruction."
Sanria sat up a bit more, staring at Fenlauch. "You keep balance - and nothing more?"
Fenlauch inclined his head with a small smile. "It is our destiny."
"Does that mean you have balance in your personal life?"
"That I do believe is personal - but it is the nature of my kind. Yes."
"Can you teach me?"
The question hung in the air, Sanria leaning forward, her face showing a measure of desperation. Fenlauch stood up and let out a sigh. He touched a symbol on his armor. "Enmach - a word." From the air, the silver woman shimmered into view, bowing deeply. "She wishes me to teach her. Balance."
Enmach glanced at Sanria, her mouth parted slightly. "Sir, you have a kind heart, but this is no place for one of the material plane."
"I promise you," Sanria began, "I will not interfere, but if you could teach me... I could help others learn."
"Sir-"
"And you will not interfere, but one alone cannot learn the balance we seek. You will have to find others to balance your search."
"Sir, are you inviting-" Enmach began, but found herself cut off.
"Evil cannot exist without good, nor good without evil - for they must have one another to define themselves."
"I don't understand..." Sanria said.
"Through creating balance, you find truth, and when you find truth, you will know how to create balance. When you can create balance, you can spread truth. And when you spread truth and balance, harmony is attained."
"But I don't know where to begin, my life is in shambles right now and I would love to find harmony but there isn't any to be had."
Fenlauch smiled. "Meditate upon it in your times of turmoil and you will know." The man waved his hand and in an instant, Sanria was back in the forests, a light in her hand to brighten the night.
"Private thoughts," she said, reaching over to take the book from him.
"They make you seem - lost."
"I suppose there are a lot of times when I am."
"Sanria-"
"How do you know my name?"
Fenlauch chuckled and pointed at the book. Sanria felt a twinge of shame.
"Right," she said.
"I believe it's time for you to go."
"But you haven't even told me where I am or what you are."
"We have been here a very long time. Since the fall of your forest and the spawn of the demons. We've been watching and keeping our eyes upon your material plane."
"What forest?"
"Your kind here know it as Myth Drannor, I believe."
"But... why?"
"Balance," Fenlauch answered matter of factly. "We keep balance - from here, to every corner of every plane. Good, evil - it matters not so much that one should not outweigh the other and bring about destruction."
Sanria sat up a bit more, staring at Fenlauch. "You keep balance - and nothing more?"
Fenlauch inclined his head with a small smile. "It is our destiny."
"Does that mean you have balance in your personal life?"
"That I do believe is personal - but it is the nature of my kind. Yes."
"Can you teach me?"
The question hung in the air, Sanria leaning forward, her face showing a measure of desperation. Fenlauch stood up and let out a sigh. He touched a symbol on his armor. "Enmach - a word." From the air, the silver woman shimmered into view, bowing deeply. "She wishes me to teach her. Balance."
Enmach glanced at Sanria, her mouth parted slightly. "Sir, you have a kind heart, but this is no place for one of the material plane."
"I promise you," Sanria began, "I will not interfere, but if you could teach me... I could help others learn."
"Sir-"
"And you will not interfere, but one alone cannot learn the balance we seek. You will have to find others to balance your search."
"Sir, are you inviting-" Enmach began, but found herself cut off.
"Evil cannot exist without good, nor good without evil - for they must have one another to define themselves."
"I don't understand..." Sanria said.
"Through creating balance, you find truth, and when you find truth, you will know how to create balance. When you can create balance, you can spread truth. And when you spread truth and balance, harmony is attained."
"But I don't know where to begin, my life is in shambles right now and I would love to find harmony but there isn't any to be had."
Fenlauch smiled. "Meditate upon it in your times of turmoil and you will know." The man waved his hand and in an instant, Sanria was back in the forests, a light in her hand to brighten the night.
Advance Warning
"Why would you bring her here?"
"I couldn't leave her, it was my fault she got scared and bolted."
"With all due respect, Sir, you could have put her at the sawmill and her own kind would have looked after her."
"She was in the mist, Enmach."
"She wouldn't have found anything had you just let her be. You should just put her back where you found her."
"Your tone, Enmach."
"Sorry, Sir. I merely mean we could place her back below and have this all go away. I'm certain one of the concordants could even erase her memories."
"No!" Sanria sat up with a start and stared at the two beings - the gold one in armor that she had run from, and a silver woman, much like the one in the forests. "I won't have my memories wiped."
"Easy," said the gold man. "We won't hurt you." He reached out his hand and Sanria jerked back. She looked around the room for escape, but found nowhere to go. A window looked out over a manicured grounds and her path to the door was blocked by the two beings. "My name is Fenlauch. I mean you no harm."
"What are you?" Sanria asked, her heart thudding in her chest. "Celestial?"
The gold man chuckled audibly at this while the silver woman, Enmach, let out a hiss of contempt. "Far from it. You were wandering our woods."
"Your woods..." Sanria said, her voice trailing off.
"Well, our mists at least," Fenlauch said.
"Sir," Enmach interrupted, leaning to Fenlauch's ear. "Put her back and let us not get embroiled in their affairs."
"Enmach," Fenlauch said, "Will you excuse us please?"
"But... sir..."
The silver woman rose and bowed, her long silver hair sweeping the floor. She passed a look at Sanria before leaving the room. "Now. I found this in your bag. You'll pardon my searching it, but I did not want trouble." Fenlauch pulled out the book, 'Ideals behind Balance.' "Does this subject interest you?"
Sanria stared at the man, then the book, then back to the golden figure with brightly glowing eyes. She let out a long breath, sensing that the man truly did not mean her harm. "It... is something that I would love to have in my life."
"A great many of us would. How serious are you in seeking it?"
Sanria's eyes narrowed a bit as she sized up Fenlauch, who chuckled politely before setting the book down on the bed beside her. "Rest. You had quite a nasty row with that tree." He rose and walked to the door.
"Where am I?" Sanria asked.
"Safe," Fenlauch replied as he closed the door behind him.
Sanria got up from the bed and tried the door. It held fast, not locked, but simply unable to be opened. She walked to the bed and with nothing else to do, drifted into an uneasy sleep.
"I couldn't leave her, it was my fault she got scared and bolted."
"With all due respect, Sir, you could have put her at the sawmill and her own kind would have looked after her."
"She was in the mist, Enmach."
"She wouldn't have found anything had you just let her be. You should just put her back where you found her."
"Your tone, Enmach."
"Sorry, Sir. I merely mean we could place her back below and have this all go away. I'm certain one of the concordants could even erase her memories."
"No!" Sanria sat up with a start and stared at the two beings - the gold one in armor that she had run from, and a silver woman, much like the one in the forests. "I won't have my memories wiped."
"Easy," said the gold man. "We won't hurt you." He reached out his hand and Sanria jerked back. She looked around the room for escape, but found nowhere to go. A window looked out over a manicured grounds and her path to the door was blocked by the two beings. "My name is Fenlauch. I mean you no harm."
"What are you?" Sanria asked, her heart thudding in her chest. "Celestial?"
The gold man chuckled audibly at this while the silver woman, Enmach, let out a hiss of contempt. "Far from it. You were wandering our woods."
"Your woods..." Sanria said, her voice trailing off.
"Well, our mists at least," Fenlauch said.
"Sir," Enmach interrupted, leaning to Fenlauch's ear. "Put her back and let us not get embroiled in their affairs."
"Enmach," Fenlauch said, "Will you excuse us please?"
"But... sir..."
The silver woman rose and bowed, her long silver hair sweeping the floor. She passed a look at Sanria before leaving the room. "Now. I found this in your bag. You'll pardon my searching it, but I did not want trouble." Fenlauch pulled out the book, 'Ideals behind Balance.' "Does this subject interest you?"
Sanria stared at the man, then the book, then back to the golden figure with brightly glowing eyes. She let out a long breath, sensing that the man truly did not mean her harm. "It... is something that I would love to have in my life."
"A great many of us would. How serious are you in seeking it?"
Sanria's eyes narrowed a bit as she sized up Fenlauch, who chuckled politely before setting the book down on the bed beside her. "Rest. You had quite a nasty row with that tree." He rose and walked to the door.
"Where am I?" Sanria asked.
"Safe," Fenlauch replied as he closed the door behind him.
Sanria got up from the bed and tried the door. It held fast, not locked, but simply unable to be opened. She walked to the bed and with nothing else to do, drifted into an uneasy sleep.
Forest Ghosts
Sanria went deeper into the woods, pulling the cowl on her cloak even higher. She came to the Westbridge River and with a word, her feet rose into the air and she drifted over it to the other side. A small dirt path greeted her and the distant sound of a saw. Here, unlike the pristine north bank, the trees were marked. Destruction was everywhere it seemed. She dared not to put her hand on the trunks of the trees - if she did, she was certain to hear their pain.
Following the path, she found herself deeper in the woods and within an un- familiar spot. A small stand of birch trees seemed an inviting place to sit, and she soon made herself comfortable off the beaten path. Her mind, again, began to wander. She would have to move out. Leave the cavern and put some separation between herself and Colin. Certainly, the children would suffer a little - but the last time the "Family Stone" had traveled to the druid grove, even the Elder there had said separation would be good. Colin may have been unwilling to hear it, but it made sense to Sanria. And she already had a place to stay with Claire and -
The movement caught the corner of Sanria's eye and she jerked her head in its direction. A woman, tall, slender, silver... stared at her. Seen, the woman vanished behind a tree like a ghost. "Wait! Hey..." Sanria called out, getting to her feet. "Come back!"
Sanria walked quickly toward the trees where the woman had been, deeper into the forest as she went. She reached the tree the woman had vanished behind and found nothing. Sanria slowly scanned the woods and let out a deep sigh. To the north, however, was a creeping mist. Unsettled, Sanria stood for a long moment. There were choices to make - she could return to the cavern and forget all of this... or... Sanria stared at the mist and slowly began to walk forward.
Following the path, she found herself deeper in the woods and within an un- familiar spot. A small stand of birch trees seemed an inviting place to sit, and she soon made herself comfortable off the beaten path. Her mind, again, began to wander. She would have to move out. Leave the cavern and put some separation between herself and Colin. Certainly, the children would suffer a little - but the last time the "Family Stone" had traveled to the druid grove, even the Elder there had said separation would be good. Colin may have been unwilling to hear it, but it made sense to Sanria. And she already had a place to stay with Claire and -
The movement caught the corner of Sanria's eye and she jerked her head in its direction. A woman, tall, slender, silver... stared at her. Seen, the woman vanished behind a tree like a ghost. "Wait! Hey..." Sanria called out, getting to her feet. "Come back!"
Sanria walked quickly toward the trees where the woman had been, deeper into the forest as she went. She reached the tree the woman had vanished behind and found nothing. Sanria slowly scanned the woods and let out a deep sigh. To the north, however, was a creeping mist. Unsettled, Sanria stood for a long moment. There were choices to make - she could return to the cavern and forget all of this... or... Sanria stared at the mist and slowly began to walk forward.
Thoughts on Living
The forest sounded with typical life. The trees rustled in the breeze and squirrels chattered and hopped from branch to branch. Sanria stopped and put her hand on the trunk of an old oak. "Dear friend, can you give me a moment of your time?" she asked it.
"A moment? How long is a moment? Seconds? An eternity?" the oak said into her mind, it's voice a deep, ancient baritone.
"A mortal moment."
"You are far from mortal with this elven blood shared, but I will listen."
"Please, if my son asks for me, wondering where I am, will you reply that I am safe?"
"Are you safe?" the tree asked.
"Yes."
"And now, are you safe?" the tree asked.
"I am."
"And now?"
"Why do you persist with this?" Sanria asked.
"Because you cannot see the future. Can you?"
Sanria sighed deeply, her patience being tried. "No."
"Then what shall I tell him?" the tree asked.
"That I took a walk in order to think and clear my mind."
"And to that, I may abide."
"I thank you," Sanria said, removing her hand.
Sanria walked south through the trees, deep within the Haon'Dor. She could feel the farther she walked, the more calm she became. The forest grew cool and quiet, the trees older and larger. Everything here seemed to be a system, and one of which Sanria was a part. The soul of every living thing breathed in concert and her mind could let down its walls.
She sat down beside a very tall poplar and pulled out her book. She ran a hand over the cover with a sigh. It was one of the last things she took from the Illuminati before - she shook her head and opened it. Her handwriting filled the margins of "Ideals behind Balance: A Comprehensive to Discovering a True Path." It was one place she felt she could write and none but herself would find. In these pages were her deepest thoughts and desires, hopes and dreams. Of course, she had read the book a number of times, but its use now was a catalogue of her life. In the middle of the book, she put her pen to page, writing in the spine:
"I lack clarity. How can someone expect to live a balanced life when things continue to spiral out of control? I've hidden in my cavern so long I didn't even notice when the world came crashing down. Let alone my own life."
She turned the page and continued writing:
"Colin killed a woman. He is filled with a substance that I cannot control, and can no longer live with. Yet if I don't reconcile, I feel I'll be smothered. I don't believe he will let me walk away from this."
Sanria sighed deeply and sat for several moments. She could choose to run away, but that simply wasn't her any more. She could think of nothing to do - was there anything to do? Her life seemed a microcosm and within that tiny orb had crept chaos and the pressure to conform, to squash the upset, was intense.
"A moment? How long is a moment? Seconds? An eternity?" the oak said into her mind, it's voice a deep, ancient baritone.
"A mortal moment."
"You are far from mortal with this elven blood shared, but I will listen."
"Please, if my son asks for me, wondering where I am, will you reply that I am safe?"
"Are you safe?" the tree asked.
"Yes."
"And now, are you safe?" the tree asked.
"I am."
"And now?"
"Why do you persist with this?" Sanria asked.
"Because you cannot see the future. Can you?"
Sanria sighed deeply, her patience being tried. "No."
"Then what shall I tell him?" the tree asked.
"That I took a walk in order to think and clear my mind."
"And to that, I may abide."
"I thank you," Sanria said, removing her hand.
Sanria walked south through the trees, deep within the Haon'Dor. She could feel the farther she walked, the more calm she became. The forest grew cool and quiet, the trees older and larger. Everything here seemed to be a system, and one of which Sanria was a part. The soul of every living thing breathed in concert and her mind could let down its walls.
She sat down beside a very tall poplar and pulled out her book. She ran a hand over the cover with a sigh. It was one of the last things she took from the Illuminati before - she shook her head and opened it. Her handwriting filled the margins of "Ideals behind Balance: A Comprehensive to Discovering a True Path." It was one place she felt she could write and none but herself would find. In these pages were her deepest thoughts and desires, hopes and dreams. Of course, she had read the book a number of times, but its use now was a catalogue of her life. In the middle of the book, she put her pen to page, writing in the spine:
"I lack clarity. How can someone expect to live a balanced life when things continue to spiral out of control? I've hidden in my cavern so long I didn't even notice when the world came crashing down. Let alone my own life."
She turned the page and continued writing:
"Colin killed a woman. He is filled with a substance that I cannot control, and can no longer live with. Yet if I don't reconcile, I feel I'll be smothered. I don't believe he will let me walk away from this."
Sanria sighed deeply and sat for several moments. She could choose to run away, but that simply wasn't her any more. She could think of nothing to do - was there anything to do? Her life seemed a microcosm and within that tiny orb had crept chaos and the pressure to conform, to squash the upset, was intense.
Through the Motions
Sanria had been through it all and her heart felt tight, as though it were scared to even beat. She had been yelled at by her own eight-year-old daughter, Leandra, who felt that what Sanria was doing meant she wouldn't be around for the new baby or the family. She had discovered from Thas- mudyan how they might cure Colin of his malady, only to find out Colin had seen her sitting with Thasmudyan and was rather jealous. She had felt the pressure from Colin to forgive him, to let all of this go and just... here Sanria let out a long sigh and put her head into her hands. Forgiving was one thing, but to act as though nothing had happened was too much to ask.
The cavern, as immense as it was, felt like a cage. Sanria sat at the desk in the library and pulled a piece of parchment towards herself. She wrote,
"Colin,
I need to take a walk and will return. I have to clear my head. Please, let me be alone. I will be fine and no harm will come to me. I have much to think about.
Sanria"
She looked at the note and rose, walking to the foyer as she reread it. It wasn't eloquent work, but the point was to keep Colin from following be- hind. The last thing she wanted was him seeking her out, thinking she had decided to leave, and trying then to convince her she needed to stay with him and reconsider her decision.
She put a cloak around her shoulders, and set the note on the fountain. Quietly, Sanria opened the door and, ensuring even her children did not see her, grabbed her pack and closed the door behind her.
The cavern, as immense as it was, felt like a cage. Sanria sat at the desk in the library and pulled a piece of parchment towards herself. She wrote,
"Colin,
I need to take a walk and will return. I have to clear my head. Please, let me be alone. I will be fine and no harm will come to me. I have much to think about.
Sanria"
She looked at the note and rose, walking to the foyer as she reread it. It wasn't eloquent work, but the point was to keep Colin from following be- hind. The last thing she wanted was him seeking her out, thinking she had decided to leave, and trying then to convince her she needed to stay with him and reconsider her decision.
She put a cloak around her shoulders, and set the note on the fountain. Quietly, Sanria opened the door and, ensuring even her children did not see her, grabbed her pack and closed the door behind her.
Nerlith's Open Application (Part 2)
The void shimmered as it guided me through images of past, present and future. Showing a renewed purpose for my urge to destroy and pave the way for RagnaRok, allowing Lord Sephiroth to merge with the lifestream and rise to ultimate power.
At this time I realised I had been summoned by Jenova. Her tight grasp capturing my mind and memories and exchanging them with Her own. There was no void around me as I had suspected, the void grew from within me as She showed me the dawn of a new day and the dusk that would follow soon after.
As I embraced my new future I returned to my new body, transformed by the essence of Jenova herself, reborn as a soldier of Sephiroth, now waiting to do His bidding.
Followers of Sephiroth, I seek admission into your ranks. Together we shall fulfill our destiny and raise Sephiroth and the Black Church to the divine and almighty.
Nerlith Perditio.
At this time I realised I had been summoned by Jenova. Her tight grasp capturing my mind and memories and exchanging them with Her own. There was no void around me as I had suspected, the void grew from within me as She showed me the dawn of a new day and the dusk that would follow soon after.
As I embraced my new future I returned to my new body, transformed by the essence of Jenova herself, reborn as a soldier of Sephiroth, now waiting to do His bidding.
Followers of Sephiroth, I seek admission into your ranks. Together we shall fulfill our destiny and raise Sephiroth and the Black Church to the divine and almighty.
Nerlith Perditio.
Nerlith's Open Application (Part 1)
Dawn is imminent. As birds begin their daily routine with their serenade to the rising sun, the first rays of sunlight slowly progress west and illuminate Market Square in Westbridge, reflecting and scattering in drops of morning dew. The entire square blinks brightly in this early light, except for a large object sitting in the middle of the large fountain, leaning against it's sculptures.
Upon second glance, the object seems to be a tablet made of black granite, the front side polished, bearing an inscription across its entire length. The entire text seems to be written in an ancient language known to few.
Hail, Followers of Sephiroth.
I am Nerlith Perditio. Former Stormlord of Talos, Bringer of the Rok. You have proven yourselves to be hard to reach, however I am sure this will bring me to your attention.
For years I have been trapped on another plane. As lord Talos betrayed and abandoned those faithful to him and the Jihad faction shattered, I spent my days in the void as I felt the world as I once knew it being taken over by the Black Church. It felt as if I was there the day that Strega infiltrated the Illuminati and changed the balance of the old clans forever.
It was through her eyes that Sephiroth made me see the truth. While I thought that I had been serving Lord Talos and saught for Destruction by the bringing of the Rok in the Jihad faction, it turned out I had always served Sephiroth instead.
Upon second glance, the object seems to be a tablet made of black granite, the front side polished, bearing an inscription across its entire length. The entire text seems to be written in an ancient language known to few.
Hail, Followers of Sephiroth.
I am Nerlith Perditio. Former Stormlord of Talos, Bringer of the Rok. You have proven yourselves to be hard to reach, however I am sure this will bring me to your attention.
For years I have been trapped on another plane. As lord Talos betrayed and abandoned those faithful to him and the Jihad faction shattered, I spent my days in the void as I felt the world as I once knew it being taken over by the Black Church. It felt as if I was there the day that Strega infiltrated the Illuminati and changed the balance of the old clans forever.
It was through her eyes that Sephiroth made me see the truth. While I thought that I had been serving Lord Talos and saught for Destruction by the bringing of the Rok in the Jihad faction, it turned out I had always served Sephiroth instead.
Parting of Ways
The light knocking on the door sent a shock through Sanria. It wasn't that she hadn't anticipated Colin returning, but that she knew what she was going to do once he had. She had stared at the book on the same page for the past hour, all while Colin and Thasmudyan transported Arlenia's body back to the Dark Continent. The image of Colin coated in the woman's blood was what she kept seeing in her mind, as well as the savage state her body had lain. "I was hoping we could talk," Colin began.
"About what, Colin? You killing a sick woman while Thasmudyan was there? You not listening to me at all? You not working to overcome this thing in you?" The emotions within her flooded forth with anger coming unexpectedly.
"Not working to overcome this? Wha... what do you mean?"
"For the love of the Gods, you've never bothered to work on that black makou in you. You've been avoiding anything that upsets you and when it does, you just let loose!"
"Sanria. I've been doing my best. I don't even know how I'm supposed to 'work' on it. Place my family in danger to see how I react? Sanria. She killed one child. She tried to kill Orn right there in front of us. If it weren't for Thasmudyan he would have died."
"Precisely why you shouldn't have killed her. You cut - off - her - head and ran her through!! What in the world is wrong with you?"
"I have something inside of me that shouldn't be there... you know exactly what's wrong with me," Colin stated quietly.
The argument continued, growing heated as Sanria grew more firm in her con- viction. Arlenia's headless body came to the fore again and again, Colin coated in her blood. And more than anything, the fact he could have chosen not to come. He could have chosen to stay home and let Sanria and Thasmud- yan save Orn. He could have chosen.
"I killed her," Colin began, "because she slit our son's throat right there in front of me and I couldn't hold it back any longer."
"I failed that woman because I couldn't stop you. She needed help. Not death."
"Failed her?" Colin asked. "What duty did you have to her? She had help Sanria. She had Banion. Despite that help she chose this."
"And you chose what you did. As I have to choose. I can't do this any more."
Sanria took off her wedding band and tossed it onto the bed beside Colin. She felt her soul crumbling inside. She and Colin had been so good togeth- er for the past couple of years. Here, again, she was ending yet another relationship - and this one in particular, yet again. "Sanria, what are you doing?"
"When you can't even listen to me... I can't prevent you from anything. And if I can't help you, all I can do is watch you destroy yourself and others when you get angry. I'm sorry... but consider us over, Colin."
"What...? Sanria. How can you say that?"
"You don't have to move out since the children are here, but you can't stay with me in this room anymore. You can stay in the guest rooms. I don't want... to see you..."
"So... what... you're choosing that madwoman over me?" Colin asked.
"No, Colin. I'm choosing life over death."
"You said yourself, she needed help. But, you're turning your back on me?"
"I tried. But this is a line... I can't cross with you. This is not okay. I'm sorry we've come to this, but it's the only thing I know to do now."
At the sound of the door closing, Sanria let the tears flow unbidden. She had become accustomed to soothing Colin when he was upset, and the look on his face was more than she could handle. Still, she stood up for what she believed. Part of her felt good for it. The other part felt as if the earth had come to life and swallowed her whole.
"About what, Colin? You killing a sick woman while Thasmudyan was there? You not listening to me at all? You not working to overcome this thing in you?" The emotions within her flooded forth with anger coming unexpectedly.
"Not working to overcome this? Wha... what do you mean?"
"For the love of the Gods, you've never bothered to work on that black makou in you. You've been avoiding anything that upsets you and when it does, you just let loose!"
"Sanria. I've been doing my best. I don't even know how I'm supposed to 'work' on it. Place my family in danger to see how I react? Sanria. She killed one child. She tried to kill Orn right there in front of us. If it weren't for Thasmudyan he would have died."
"Precisely why you shouldn't have killed her. You cut - off - her - head and ran her through!! What in the world is wrong with you?"
"I have something inside of me that shouldn't be there... you know exactly what's wrong with me," Colin stated quietly.
The argument continued, growing heated as Sanria grew more firm in her con- viction. Arlenia's headless body came to the fore again and again, Colin coated in her blood. And more than anything, the fact he could have chosen not to come. He could have chosen to stay home and let Sanria and Thasmud- yan save Orn. He could have chosen.
"I killed her," Colin began, "because she slit our son's throat right there in front of me and I couldn't hold it back any longer."
"I failed that woman because I couldn't stop you. She needed help. Not death."
"Failed her?" Colin asked. "What duty did you have to her? She had help Sanria. She had Banion. Despite that help she chose this."
"And you chose what you did. As I have to choose. I can't do this any more."
Sanria took off her wedding band and tossed it onto the bed beside Colin. She felt her soul crumbling inside. She and Colin had been so good togeth- er for the past couple of years. Here, again, she was ending yet another relationship - and this one in particular, yet again. "Sanria, what are you doing?"
"When you can't even listen to me... I can't prevent you from anything. And if I can't help you, all I can do is watch you destroy yourself and others when you get angry. I'm sorry... but consider us over, Colin."
"What...? Sanria. How can you say that?"
"You don't have to move out since the children are here, but you can't stay with me in this room anymore. You can stay in the guest rooms. I don't want... to see you..."
"So... what... you're choosing that madwoman over me?" Colin asked.
"No, Colin. I'm choosing life over death."
"You said yourself, she needed help. But, you're turning your back on me?"
"I tried. But this is a line... I can't cross with you. This is not okay. I'm sorry we've come to this, but it's the only thing I know to do now."
At the sound of the door closing, Sanria let the tears flow unbidden. She had become accustomed to soothing Colin when he was upset, and the look on his face was more than she could handle. Still, she stood up for what she believed. Part of her felt good for it. The other part felt as if the earth had come to life and swallowed her whole.
The Deciding Line
Sanria arrived back in the cavern with Orn, still holding the boy tightly. She pulled back to look at him and smiled with her eyes full of tears. "I'm so happy you're safe."
"I'm sorry... for leaving..." Orn said, clutching her tightly. It made Sanria's heart ache seeing her son so deeply wounded. While Thasmudyan had healed his outward appearances, she could see that Orn was far from completely okay.
"Shh shh, it's okay. We're not mad at you."
"Why... why did she..."
"That lady was very sick, Orn. Sometimes people who aren't well inside their heads do mean and bad things."
"What... what about Papa. He... he..."
This stopped Sanria for a moment. Orn was full nearing thirteen in the physical terms, but when she looked at him, she still found herself star- ing into the eyes of her little boy. If she were to be fully honest she might well crush him, and so it was with a deep breath she gave a tiny smile, "Your papa saved you."
"Yeah... she won't... hurt anyone else now."
It was the way the boy stated it that tugged at Sanria. "Yes... but what your Papa did... he... we shouldn't kill people who are sick, Orn. Re- member that."
"She... she killed a baby Mama. She sent it, I remember it."
"That is why we have magic, to help those who are sick, Orn. Even when someone does something like that."
"Mama... is Papa sick?"
Sanria looked at Orn for a long moment, her lips quivering in their frozen smile. She couldn't help the tears that sprung to her eyes, nor the utter feeling of helplessness that washed over her as she nodded in the affirmative. "But you and Thasmudyan have magic," Orn said. "You can help him. I'll help too... if you show me how."
"Orn... what is wrong with your Papa... I can't fix. Thasmudyan can't either without really hurting your Papa and maybe killing him. Your Papa will have to figure out what he has to do."
"But Papa doesn't have magic. How is he supposed to fix it? We can help him. I can ask the trees."
Sanria gave a nod and swallowed back her thoughts. She desperately needed to hide the fact that she couldn't let go of what had happened. Colin had killed someone in a black makou fit - but more, he had decided to go along knowing it might happen. There was a part of her heart that had broken completely, but it was of no use. Orn watched her face. "What is it?" he asked.
"I don't think I can be your Papa's wife anymore. I'll still be your Mama-"
"Wh... what? Why?"
"I can't fix what is wrong with your Papa, Orn... and it hurts my heart very much."
"But we can help him," Orn said. "We can help him fix it, right? He scared me... but he's a good dad, isn't he?"
"He's a good Dad, Orn. And we'll help him... but I will just help him as a friend and as your Mom."
It surprised her how well Orn took the news, and she watched the boy run out to the stream beyond. She knew he would be safe - Arlenia was not a threat, yet that brought small comfort with the knowledge of how she was ended. Sanria climbed the stairs to her bedroom, her heart heavy, and stared at a book - waiting for an inevitable conversation. One where she steadied Colin for being without a wife.
"I'm sorry... for leaving..." Orn said, clutching her tightly. It made Sanria's heart ache seeing her son so deeply wounded. While Thasmudyan had healed his outward appearances, she could see that Orn was far from completely okay.
"Shh shh, it's okay. We're not mad at you."
"Why... why did she..."
"That lady was very sick, Orn. Sometimes people who aren't well inside their heads do mean and bad things."
"What... what about Papa. He... he..."
This stopped Sanria for a moment. Orn was full nearing thirteen in the physical terms, but when she looked at him, she still found herself star- ing into the eyes of her little boy. If she were to be fully honest she might well crush him, and so it was with a deep breath she gave a tiny smile, "Your papa saved you."
"Yeah... she won't... hurt anyone else now."
It was the way the boy stated it that tugged at Sanria. "Yes... but what your Papa did... he... we shouldn't kill people who are sick, Orn. Re- member that."
"She... she killed a baby Mama. She sent it, I remember it."
"That is why we have magic, to help those who are sick, Orn. Even when someone does something like that."
"Mama... is Papa sick?"
Sanria looked at Orn for a long moment, her lips quivering in their frozen smile. She couldn't help the tears that sprung to her eyes, nor the utter feeling of helplessness that washed over her as she nodded in the affirmative. "But you and Thasmudyan have magic," Orn said. "You can help him. I'll help too... if you show me how."
"Orn... what is wrong with your Papa... I can't fix. Thasmudyan can't either without really hurting your Papa and maybe killing him. Your Papa will have to figure out what he has to do."
"But Papa doesn't have magic. How is he supposed to fix it? We can help him. I can ask the trees."
Sanria gave a nod and swallowed back her thoughts. She desperately needed to hide the fact that she couldn't let go of what had happened. Colin had killed someone in a black makou fit - but more, he had decided to go along knowing it might happen. There was a part of her heart that had broken completely, but it was of no use. Orn watched her face. "What is it?" he asked.
"I don't think I can be your Papa's wife anymore. I'll still be your Mama-"
"Wh... what? Why?"
"I can't fix what is wrong with your Papa, Orn... and it hurts my heart very much."
"But we can help him," Orn said. "We can help him fix it, right? He scared me... but he's a good dad, isn't he?"
"He's a good Dad, Orn. And we'll help him... but I will just help him as a friend and as your Mom."
It surprised her how well Orn took the news, and she watched the boy run out to the stream beyond. She knew he would be safe - Arlenia was not a threat, yet that brought small comfort with the knowledge of how she was ended. Sanria climbed the stairs to her bedroom, her heart heavy, and stared at a book - waiting for an inevitable conversation. One where she steadied Colin for being without a wife.
Mists of Confusion
It was absolutely silent as Sanria advanced. The mist seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once, cool and moist. Sanria could see no farther than an arms-length in front of her, yet something compelled her forward. "Hello?" she called out tentatively, though there was no answer. The mists continued to grow thicker until Sanria stood where not even her hands were visible.
Suddenly, from the mists, a man stepped into her path. As though willing the mists to bend around him, he stood clearly - his skin dazzling gold, the same color of his armor. His eyes burned brightly and locked onto Sanria.
Absolute fear flooded her body. The last time she had seen a being with golden skin like this, it was Velentham, and he wanted to take her from the material plane. A celestial... and this one was huge. Her breathing suddenly increased and sweat broke on her forehead even though a chill hung in the air.
She couldn't scream. She couldn't speak. She spun around but could see nothing in the mists as the man began striding toward her. In a panic, bolted. She knew from past experience that the minute a celestial touched you, they could alter your mind. She had to find her way home, she had to get the hell out of here, she had-
Sanria's mind ceased wandering as she collided with the thick trunk of the tree before her. She collapsed onto the ground, the mists swirling around her body as the golden man arrived and looked down at her unconscious form.
Suddenly, from the mists, a man stepped into her path. As though willing the mists to bend around him, he stood clearly - his skin dazzling gold, the same color of his armor. His eyes burned brightly and locked onto Sanria.
Absolute fear flooded her body. The last time she had seen a being with golden skin like this, it was Velentham, and he wanted to take her from the material plane. A celestial... and this one was huge. Her breathing suddenly increased and sweat broke on her forehead even though a chill hung in the air.
She couldn't scream. She couldn't speak. She spun around but could see nothing in the mists as the man began striding toward her. In a panic, bolted. She knew from past experience that the minute a celestial touched you, they could alter your mind. She had to find her way home, she had to get the hell out of here, she had-
Sanria's mind ceased wandering as she collided with the thick trunk of the tree before her. She collapsed onto the ground, the mists swirling around her body as the golden man arrived and looked down at her unconscious form.
To Orn and Back Again (1-3)
With the statement that Thasmudyan would do his best to ensure no one died, Sanria, Thasmudyan, and Colin entered into a moonwell and arrived at the village on the Dark Continent. Immediately, Sanria could see Colin going to the defensive. She could see it in his very posture. This time, how- ever, she stood back. This time she would not stop him. If she continued to prevent him from learning how to handle himself, he'd never learn. In a way, this was a good test, though it scared her... he... scared her.
When Banion, the village elder, came out to greet Colin, it was all Sanria could do not to intervene. Colin had his hands on the hilts of his swords, demanding to know where Arlenia had gone. Sanria watched the elder man, seeing the fear on his face, seeing Colin bear down on him, and her soul ached.
Sanria turned and headed up the mountain path, leaving Colin and Thasmud- yan behind. She arrived at the top of the mountain and stared out over the Sea of Swords. Again, she tried to reach Orn and found nothing. She had never felt so helpless. The deep seated demon of doubt clawed at her heart and dispair flowed into her mind. What if she couldn't reach Orn in time? What if Arlenia did kill him? What would she do?
The sound of footfalls reached her ears as Colin and Thasmudyan arrived. "Sanria... I'm sorry," Colin began. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I should stay behind."
Frustration flooded Sanria. Colin had ignored her wishes to even come this far, bullied an old man, and now was ready to go back home. Logic should have spoken to her, but Sanria could see nothing but her anger. She fought the suggestion with silence.
"Perhaps I could try something," Thasmudyan said. "Do you have something of Orn's?"
Have something of Orn's. Sanria fought the irritation at the question and pulled from her pocket the boy's ear still wrapped in bloody gauze. She held it out to Thasmudyan. "Will this do?"
"He's farther north. A pretty good distance," Thasmudyan said.
It was all Sanria needed. Through her rage, she tried to cast a moonwell, but couldn't manage to make it happen. Tears broke from her eyes as she encanted again and again. Colin laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, and just as easily, Sanria shrugged it off. Finally, the spell took hold. The trio landed in Waterdeep, and before Thasmudyan had gotten completely out of the well, Sanria turned toward him. "Here? Is he here?"
"North."
Again, Sanria cast her spell, landing the group in Port Llast. Desperation that she had successfully fought now threatened to send her into a frenzy. "He's in that direction, toward the inn," Thasmudyan said.
Sanria led the way, bursting into the inn. "Excuse me, have you seen a boy, he's about yay big..." Sanria held her hand up to her chest. The innkeep, a spindly old man, stared at her for a long moment. "He's my son," Sanria continued. "He's lost."
"I think you're looking for the police," the man quipped.
"No," Sanria said, her ire rising. "We believe he is here. ORN!"
"M'am, I'll have to get the authorities -"
"ORN!"
Sanria heard nothing as she raced up the stairs, her heart pounding. Only two rooms, only two choices. She went to the first and found the door unlocked. With Thasmudyan and Colin behind her, she opened it and froze in place. Arlenia sat on the bed, Orn's head in her lap, gently stroking his hair with one hand while the other held a dagger to his throat.
"I knew you'd come," Arlenia said, and the voice sent chills through Sanria's body. Orn lay there, his head bandaged as well as his hand. Arlenia pointed toward the table. "I was just about to send his finger, then I heard this one shouting."
Sanria looked at Arlenia in disbelief. She took a step forward, and the gladiatrix tensed immediately. "Not another step or I'll kill him right now."
Sanria obediantly stopped, looking on helplessly. "Arlenia," Colin said in a near growl, "You give me my son."
"He should have been ours. Yours and mine. Ah well, too bad."
"You did this to yourself. You didn't wait for me," Colin said.
"You aren't a good liar. Had you said that to me long ago, I might have believed you. Now?"
"You should have waited for me."
"I don't believe you."
At Colin's advance, Arlenia pressed the knife enough to bring blood from Orn's neck. Sanria felt herself swoon. "Not another step."
"You're going to pay for this," Colin threatened.
"When I knew that you weren't coming back to me, I killed your child. When you still didn't come, I knew you would if I took this one. If I can't have you as anything else, I'll have you as my killer."
With swiftness, Arlenia plunged the dagger into Orn's neck. Sanria's world went dark. When she awoke, Orn was huddled by Thasmudyan, staring up at his father in fear before running to her. She looked over and saw Arlenia's head on the ground and Colin's swords in the woman's chest.
Sanria rose, holding Orn close as the boy sobbed, all his emotions finally released. She looked at Colin, then to the body, and back again. Blood covered the gladiator, and Sanria knew then she could never look on Colin the same way again. "I'll be home soon," he said. Sanria barely nodded as she vanished with Orn.
When Banion, the village elder, came out to greet Colin, it was all Sanria could do not to intervene. Colin had his hands on the hilts of his swords, demanding to know where Arlenia had gone. Sanria watched the elder man, seeing the fear on his face, seeing Colin bear down on him, and her soul ached.
Sanria turned and headed up the mountain path, leaving Colin and Thasmud- yan behind. She arrived at the top of the mountain and stared out over the Sea of Swords. Again, she tried to reach Orn and found nothing. She had never felt so helpless. The deep seated demon of doubt clawed at her heart and dispair flowed into her mind. What if she couldn't reach Orn in time? What if Arlenia did kill him? What would she do?
The sound of footfalls reached her ears as Colin and Thasmudyan arrived. "Sanria... I'm sorry," Colin began. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I should stay behind."
Frustration flooded Sanria. Colin had ignored her wishes to even come this far, bullied an old man, and now was ready to go back home. Logic should have spoken to her, but Sanria could see nothing but her anger. She fought the suggestion with silence.
"Perhaps I could try something," Thasmudyan said. "Do you have something of Orn's?"
Have something of Orn's. Sanria fought the irritation at the question and pulled from her pocket the boy's ear still wrapped in bloody gauze. She held it out to Thasmudyan. "Will this do?"
"He's farther north. A pretty good distance," Thasmudyan said.
It was all Sanria needed. Through her rage, she tried to cast a moonwell, but couldn't manage to make it happen. Tears broke from her eyes as she encanted again and again. Colin laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, and just as easily, Sanria shrugged it off. Finally, the spell took hold. The trio landed in Waterdeep, and before Thasmudyan had gotten completely out of the well, Sanria turned toward him. "Here? Is he here?"
"North."
Again, Sanria cast her spell, landing the group in Port Llast. Desperation that she had successfully fought now threatened to send her into a frenzy. "He's in that direction, toward the inn," Thasmudyan said.
Sanria led the way, bursting into the inn. "Excuse me, have you seen a boy, he's about yay big..." Sanria held her hand up to her chest. The innkeep, a spindly old man, stared at her for a long moment. "He's my son," Sanria continued. "He's lost."
"I think you're looking for the police," the man quipped.
"No," Sanria said, her ire rising. "We believe he is here. ORN!"
"M'am, I'll have to get the authorities -"
"ORN!"
Sanria heard nothing as she raced up the stairs, her heart pounding. Only two rooms, only two choices. She went to the first and found the door unlocked. With Thasmudyan and Colin behind her, she opened it and froze in place. Arlenia sat on the bed, Orn's head in her lap, gently stroking his hair with one hand while the other held a dagger to his throat.
"I knew you'd come," Arlenia said, and the voice sent chills through Sanria's body. Orn lay there, his head bandaged as well as his hand. Arlenia pointed toward the table. "I was just about to send his finger, then I heard this one shouting."
Sanria looked at Arlenia in disbelief. She took a step forward, and the gladiatrix tensed immediately. "Not another step or I'll kill him right now."
Sanria obediantly stopped, looking on helplessly. "Arlenia," Colin said in a near growl, "You give me my son."
"He should have been ours. Yours and mine. Ah well, too bad."
"You did this to yourself. You didn't wait for me," Colin said.
"You aren't a good liar. Had you said that to me long ago, I might have believed you. Now?"
"You should have waited for me."
"I don't believe you."
At Colin's advance, Arlenia pressed the knife enough to bring blood from Orn's neck. Sanria felt herself swoon. "Not another step."
"You're going to pay for this," Colin threatened.
"When I knew that you weren't coming back to me, I killed your child. When you still didn't come, I knew you would if I took this one. If I can't have you as anything else, I'll have you as my killer."
With swiftness, Arlenia plunged the dagger into Orn's neck. Sanria's world went dark. When she awoke, Orn was huddled by Thasmudyan, staring up at his father in fear before running to her. She looked over and saw Arlenia's head on the ground and Colin's swords in the woman's chest.
Sanria rose, holding Orn close as the boy sobbed, all his emotions finally released. She looked at Colin, then to the body, and back again. Blood covered the gladiator, and Sanria knew then she could never look on Colin the same way again. "I'll be home soon," he said. Sanria barely nodded as she vanished with Orn.
Rude Awakenings (1-3)
The cavern was quiet as Sanria enjoyed a cup of tea in her garden. She had been dwelling on balance - determining how one could offer knowledge, learn and grow, yet not lose themselves in the pursuit. Her mind drifted to the Illuminati - long gone friends and family. Leandra pulled her from the perusal. "Mama. Where's Orn?"
"Lea, I don't know. Is he hiding?"
"No. I can't find him and it's making me mad."
"No need to be upset." Sanria pulled her daughter near and kissed her on the head. The girl was so much like Colin it made her laugh.
Sanria reached out with her mind, something she did often, only to find a dark silence. She held her panic down and tried again. Orn was nowhere to be found. Sanria's blood felt like ice. She rushed into the cavern to find Colin with Leandra close on her heels.
Sanria found the big man in the training room. "Colin... Orn, I can't reach him."
"I'm sure he's around here somewhere," Colin answered with a smile.
"I can't reach him. Magically."
"Is he with Mirin?" Colin asked, concern flooding his face.
Mirin. Gilean and Claire's daughter who had become fast friends with Orn from the moment they met. The two children had even decided to become boyfriend and girlfriend. It alarmed Colin, but Sanria found it cute...
Sanria reached out to Gilean. "I'm sorry to disturb your thoughts, Gilean, but have you seen or heard from Orn? I can't reach him."
"No trouble, Sanria. Mirin just returned from running away again. She seems to have been through an ordeal. She mentioned Orn but was too distraught to continue."
"And you didn't tell us?"
"I'm sorry... I've... had a lot going on lately. I will wake her and we will come by. Perhaps we can all find answers."
Sanria looked at Colin and nodded. "Gilean will be bringing Mirin. Some- thing has happened."
"What? What has happened? Did he say anything?"
"We will find out when they arrive."
Sanria sat on the sofa, staring at her lap, while Colin paced back and forth. "They should be coming soon, shouldn't they?" At the sound of the doorbell, Colin raced from the room. Leandra sat at her mother's side when Gilean and Mirin entered. Sanria's heart dropped for Mirin. The girl looked haggard and scared. "Did you guys bring my big brother back?" Leandra asked. "Where is he? Where's Orn?" Sanria reached over, silencing her daughter.
"Now, Mirin," Gilean began. "Can you tell us all what happened?"
'I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I ran away and Orn came with me...' she telepathed.
"It's ok," Colin said. "We're not mad at you. We just need to find Orn."
'We went... to a place with lots of pretty flowers... on a mountain. And then we needed to camp and so we found a place with little houses... We found a little house and a lady named Sarah and she said she wouldn't tell our parents where we were if we told her our names and our parents names and we told her and she gave us melon and...and...and she said we'd go to the beach but then I ate the melon and got really sleepy and...and I fell asleep and when I got up Orn... and Sarah... they... they were gone!'
Sanria's stomach fell. Flowers everywhere... melon... little houses... her mind refused to believe what her mind was already positing. "Mirin," Colin began, "Do you know where this place was?"
'No, we went far away to a sea, and then to a beach, and then climbed up a mountain and saw pretty flowers and Orn named one a Mirin Flower.'
"Colin," Sanria whispered with dread. "Dark Continent..."
Mirin continued, describing Arlenia with detail. Sanria felt sick to the core of her being. 'I'm sorry, Leandra... I'm sorry, Sanria... I didn't mean to run away...'
"You shouldn't run away so much! You lost my brother!" Leandra snarled.
"Now Leandra, that's enough," Colin said. "She never meant for this to happen. It's not Mirin's..."
"But she's why Orn is gone, Papa! She ran away and Orn followed her cause she's his girlfriend!"
Colin stared at the floor before him, calling Sanria's attention to what hd appeared. A small box. The big man opened it, and Sanria felt even more dread creep into her soul. "Colin, what's going on?"
"Gilean. You need to take the children."
Sanria rose and walked to Colin, taking the box. She pulled out the small note nestled within and read in a breathless voice, "Dear Colin... I have Orn and here is proof... You shouldn't have crossed me..." Beneath it was a small bundle of bloody gauze. Sanria unrolled it and staring up at her was the ear of a child.
"Leandra... go with Mr. Gilean and Mirin," Sanria said in a whisper.
"What... is it?" Colin asked once the girls were gone.
"SHE CUT OFF... SHE CUT OFF MY BABY'S EAR!!!" Sanria fell into the chair, sobbing. She knew that the time where everything had been smooth was at an end. A seriously ill woman had her child, and was carving him up. Her mind reeled, every worst scenario flooding her with vivid detail.
"Sanria..." Colin said, putting his hand on Sanria's arm. "We will to get him. I just need you to get me there."
"What if... what if she... she kills him, Colin... what if she kills our little boy?!"
"Sanria. Listen to me." Colin took in a deep breath. Sanria looked over to see his eyes slowly darkening. "You just take us there and we will get him back. I promise you, I will take care of her."
Sanria pulled herself together enough to realize two things very quickly. If she took Colin with her, Arlenia would likely lose her life. How she was going to break it to him that she would be going alone, she didn't know. Even with her child in danger, Sanria knew she could get him with magic. Colin would likely end up in a fight.
It was just as she readied to tell Colin that a voice cut into the room. "Wha..." Thasmudyan. Where he had been, Sanria didn't know. Clearly, Thasmudyan didn't mind that his absence had stretched into months. It didn't matter -here was Sanria's way to keep Colin here and make him feel as if Orn would be saved. "Thasmudyan, will you go with me to get Orn?"
"Sure..."
Colin strode over, clearly upset. "Just get me there and I will get Orn back!"
"Colin... if you go... you'll kill her."
"What do you think she deserves, Sanria?" She didn't know...
"Colin... you have to promise me you won't kill her."
Sanria's heart sank as Colin looked at her with distaste and shook his head. He turned his attention to Thasmudyan, and Sanria felt completely helpless. She could see in Colin's eyes the darkness... there would be nothing she could do to stop it.
"Lea, I don't know. Is he hiding?"
"No. I can't find him and it's making me mad."
"No need to be upset." Sanria pulled her daughter near and kissed her on the head. The girl was so much like Colin it made her laugh.
Sanria reached out with her mind, something she did often, only to find a dark silence. She held her panic down and tried again. Orn was nowhere to be found. Sanria's blood felt like ice. She rushed into the cavern to find Colin with Leandra close on her heels.
Sanria found the big man in the training room. "Colin... Orn, I can't reach him."
"I'm sure he's around here somewhere," Colin answered with a smile.
"I can't reach him. Magically."
"Is he with Mirin?" Colin asked, concern flooding his face.
Mirin. Gilean and Claire's daughter who had become fast friends with Orn from the moment they met. The two children had even decided to become boyfriend and girlfriend. It alarmed Colin, but Sanria found it cute...
Sanria reached out to Gilean. "I'm sorry to disturb your thoughts, Gilean, but have you seen or heard from Orn? I can't reach him."
"No trouble, Sanria. Mirin just returned from running away again. She seems to have been through an ordeal. She mentioned Orn but was too distraught to continue."
"And you didn't tell us?"
"I'm sorry... I've... had a lot going on lately. I will wake her and we will come by. Perhaps we can all find answers."
Sanria looked at Colin and nodded. "Gilean will be bringing Mirin. Some- thing has happened."
"What? What has happened? Did he say anything?"
"We will find out when they arrive."
Sanria sat on the sofa, staring at her lap, while Colin paced back and forth. "They should be coming soon, shouldn't they?" At the sound of the doorbell, Colin raced from the room. Leandra sat at her mother's side when Gilean and Mirin entered. Sanria's heart dropped for Mirin. The girl looked haggard and scared. "Did you guys bring my big brother back?" Leandra asked. "Where is he? Where's Orn?" Sanria reached over, silencing her daughter.
"Now, Mirin," Gilean began. "Can you tell us all what happened?"
'I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I ran away and Orn came with me...' she telepathed.
"It's ok," Colin said. "We're not mad at you. We just need to find Orn."
'We went... to a place with lots of pretty flowers... on a mountain. And then we needed to camp and so we found a place with little houses... We found a little house and a lady named Sarah and she said she wouldn't tell our parents where we were if we told her our names and our parents names and we told her and she gave us melon and...and...and she said we'd go to the beach but then I ate the melon and got really sleepy and...and I fell asleep and when I got up Orn... and Sarah... they... they were gone!'
Sanria's stomach fell. Flowers everywhere... melon... little houses... her mind refused to believe what her mind was already positing. "Mirin," Colin began, "Do you know where this place was?"
'No, we went far away to a sea, and then to a beach, and then climbed up a mountain and saw pretty flowers and Orn named one a Mirin Flower.'
"Colin," Sanria whispered with dread. "Dark Continent..."
Mirin continued, describing Arlenia with detail. Sanria felt sick to the core of her being. 'I'm sorry, Leandra... I'm sorry, Sanria... I didn't mean to run away...'
"You shouldn't run away so much! You lost my brother!" Leandra snarled.
"Now Leandra, that's enough," Colin said. "She never meant for this to happen. It's not Mirin's..."
"But she's why Orn is gone, Papa! She ran away and Orn followed her cause she's his girlfriend!"
Colin stared at the floor before him, calling Sanria's attention to what hd appeared. A small box. The big man opened it, and Sanria felt even more dread creep into her soul. "Colin, what's going on?"
"Gilean. You need to take the children."
Sanria rose and walked to Colin, taking the box. She pulled out the small note nestled within and read in a breathless voice, "Dear Colin... I have Orn and here is proof... You shouldn't have crossed me..." Beneath it was a small bundle of bloody gauze. Sanria unrolled it and staring up at her was the ear of a child.
"Leandra... go with Mr. Gilean and Mirin," Sanria said in a whisper.
"What... is it?" Colin asked once the girls were gone.
"SHE CUT OFF... SHE CUT OFF MY BABY'S EAR!!!" Sanria fell into the chair, sobbing. She knew that the time where everything had been smooth was at an end. A seriously ill woman had her child, and was carving him up. Her mind reeled, every worst scenario flooding her with vivid detail.
"Sanria..." Colin said, putting his hand on Sanria's arm. "We will to get him. I just need you to get me there."
"What if... what if she... she kills him, Colin... what if she kills our little boy?!"
"Sanria. Listen to me." Colin took in a deep breath. Sanria looked over to see his eyes slowly darkening. "You just take us there and we will get him back. I promise you, I will take care of her."
Sanria pulled herself together enough to realize two things very quickly. If she took Colin with her, Arlenia would likely lose her life. How she was going to break it to him that she would be going alone, she didn't know. Even with her child in danger, Sanria knew she could get him with magic. Colin would likely end up in a fight.
It was just as she readied to tell Colin that a voice cut into the room. "Wha..." Thasmudyan. Where he had been, Sanria didn't know. Clearly, Thasmudyan didn't mind that his absence had stretched into months. It didn't matter -here was Sanria's way to keep Colin here and make him feel as if Orn would be saved. "Thasmudyan, will you go with me to get Orn?"
"Sure..."
Colin strode over, clearly upset. "Just get me there and I will get Orn back!"
"Colin... if you go... you'll kill her."
"What do you think she deserves, Sanria?" She didn't know...
"Colin... you have to promise me you won't kill her."
Sanria's heart sank as Colin looked at her with distaste and shook his head. He turned his attention to Thasmudyan, and Sanria felt completely helpless. She could see in Colin's eyes the darkness... there would be nothing she could do to stop it.
Deep Thoughts
Sanria sat on the balcony outside her bedroom. Her thoughts drifted over the last months of her life, and the past couple of days. Things with Colin had been great - Orn was growing quickly, Leandra was also, and she was even pregnant for a third time (to at least have one child that grew at a normal rate). She and Colin had talked more than ever, they had become friends in a way they never had before. Velentham had vanished and not returned... everything was good... except for Arlenia.
The girl had been pregnant with Colin's child, and when she found out Colin wasn't coming back to her, Arlenia had killed it. The boxes Sanria got in the post were from her - intended for Colin. Pieces of the baby. Sanria had been discrete, burying the child piece by piece in the garden. All had gone well until Orn opened one of the boxes. She had to sit Colin down and break the news to him, a man who revered life, that his child had been snuffed out and dismembered.
Sanria had watched Colin struggle with the darkness inside of himself. He was ready to go right then to do Gods knew what to Arlenia, but Sanria had succeeded in keeping him together. She knew then that Colin would have to learn to control the black makou that rode on his temper whenever he was threatened. Arlenia was sick and in his own way, so was Colin.
Life continued on much as it had before, until Orn went missing.
The girl had been pregnant with Colin's child, and when she found out Colin wasn't coming back to her, Arlenia had killed it. The boxes Sanria got in the post were from her - intended for Colin. Pieces of the baby. Sanria had been discrete, burying the child piece by piece in the garden. All had gone well until Orn opened one of the boxes. She had to sit Colin down and break the news to him, a man who revered life, that his child had been snuffed out and dismembered.
Sanria had watched Colin struggle with the darkness inside of himself. He was ready to go right then to do Gods knew what to Arlenia, but Sanria had succeeded in keeping him together. She knew then that Colin would have to learn to control the black makou that rode on his temper whenever he was threatened. Arlenia was sick and in his own way, so was Colin.
Life continued on much as it had before, until Orn went missing.
Change of Heart and Soul
A bead of sweat trailed down the young man's face as he faced his opponent in all it's glory. It... Yes, the thing surely was an it. Impossible to call... it.. either male or female. Whoever or whatever it... was at the moment the young man was getting his ass kicked by it. He quickly brought his shield up to block a sword attack and saw a brief change of expression as his opponent uttered words. The young man braced himself for the attack, knowing he had made a fatal mistake in leaving himself completely open for it. He went down hard, coughing up the blood that poured into his throat angirly. Bested by a bug. As instantly as the young man felt the sting of defeat and saw his vision blackening he felt the deep tingling as his opponent magically mended his wounds. By the Gods that hurt! His opponent walked away, muttering something to it's self as the young man puzzled over the complexity of mind that could slay a man effortlessly, heal him, and leave him all in almost the same breath.
Sliver, however, had it's mind on something unrelated to the physical sparring that had just taken place. A path. Two to be more precise. Two very different directions. One of the present and future which held great rewards and certainties and challenges that could definately entertain and hold it's attention for years to come... But... A slight pang of a life long past came over the creature as it shed it's claok and swords. A deep sagging of the shoulders was the only clue of the turmoil of thoughts within the blank faced bug like creature. Sliver stretched it's limbs and stepped onto the hot sand of the desert. No need for weapons here. This was familiar territory. This was a place to be free of the restraints of humanity and be like ancestors of old... But still, even this freedom did nothing to settle the mind.
Sliver allowed the intrusion of memories from the past. Brothers. That's how Sliver had thought of them. They had taken the Priest in maybe for their own gain, but regardless it had been a life changing experience. The situation had satisfied urges in the bug that nothing else had. And then it had been dashed away. They had all been gone. There, but not there like it was before.
Sliver brought those thoughts back to the present with a frustrated grunt. But that was the past, and as much as the longing was for that kinship, it wasn't to be...
Sliver's chin lifted slightly at the thought of what COULD be in the future if the right path was chosen right now. The opportunity was there... All the Priest had to do was reach out and grab it...
Sliver reached out a limb and impaled a small mouse that was bleeding from some battle and on it's last limb on a a claw. The bug tilted it's head to the side, studying the mouse as it struggled slightly. Words of healing were uttered as Sliver placed the creature back on the ground, disturbed with the battle that played on it's mind. Sighing Sliver rationed that the memories were enough. Substance was needed for a complete life. The soul of the bug like creature tugged in one direction and would not be denied.
Decision made, Sliver whipped around quickly, running back to the edge of the sand to gather equipment that was more annoying than useful at the current moment in time. Quickly the priest stuffed cloak weapons and all into a seemingly bottomless backpack and threw it over shoulders encased in it's scarred shell exterior. Sliver knew where to find the man that was sought. He'd be waiting. He knew... He'd always known. When no one else did, he did. Maybe a formal request would be better in this case... Pushing the disturbing thought away, Sliver hurried to the future and the possibilities it holds.
Sliver, however, had it's mind on something unrelated to the physical sparring that had just taken place. A path. Two to be more precise. Two very different directions. One of the present and future which held great rewards and certainties and challenges that could definately entertain and hold it's attention for years to come... But... A slight pang of a life long past came over the creature as it shed it's claok and swords. A deep sagging of the shoulders was the only clue of the turmoil of thoughts within the blank faced bug like creature. Sliver stretched it's limbs and stepped onto the hot sand of the desert. No need for weapons here. This was familiar territory. This was a place to be free of the restraints of humanity and be like ancestors of old... But still, even this freedom did nothing to settle the mind.
Sliver allowed the intrusion of memories from the past. Brothers. That's how Sliver had thought of them. They had taken the Priest in maybe for their own gain, but regardless it had been a life changing experience. The situation had satisfied urges in the bug that nothing else had. And then it had been dashed away. They had all been gone. There, but not there like it was before.
Sliver brought those thoughts back to the present with a frustrated grunt. But that was the past, and as much as the longing was for that kinship, it wasn't to be...
Sliver's chin lifted slightly at the thought of what COULD be in the future if the right path was chosen right now. The opportunity was there... All the Priest had to do was reach out and grab it...
Sliver reached out a limb and impaled a small mouse that was bleeding from some battle and on it's last limb on a a claw. The bug tilted it's head to the side, studying the mouse as it struggled slightly. Words of healing were uttered as Sliver placed the creature back on the ground, disturbed with the battle that played on it's mind. Sighing Sliver rationed that the memories were enough. Substance was needed for a complete life. The soul of the bug like creature tugged in one direction and would not be denied.
Decision made, Sliver whipped around quickly, running back to the edge of the sand to gather equipment that was more annoying than useful at the current moment in time. Quickly the priest stuffed cloak weapons and all into a seemingly bottomless backpack and threw it over shoulders encased in it's scarred shell exterior. Sliver knew where to find the man that was sought. He'd be waiting. He knew... He'd always known. When no one else did, he did. Maybe a formal request would be better in this case... Pushing the disturbing thought away, Sliver hurried to the future and the possibilities it holds.
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