Cold Revenge 65

Swept away through a mystic mirror in Chuy tower, Jona searched for a proper place to face Clea. It had to be someplace where they could battle and no one else would get hurt. He needed a desolate island with no life at all. That means no people or animals. No eggs buried deep in the sands of the beach or nothing hidden or stalking deep in the jungle. That wasn't going to be a easy place to find. He moved from island to island each time he thought he had found a suitable place, he would detect some kind of life he knew would be destroyed if he stayed there. As he looked up to the skies he could see the gathering of the gray clouds. It was getting colder, Clea was getting closer and he didn't have much time for his search. Jona knew if he couldn't find a place to finish their affairs, Clea would. And he knew where she would go. She'll go home where her hate began.

High in the freezing storm, the radiant queen of ice spread her coldness all over the land below. With every crystal of ice she searched for her husband Jona. As he said, he wasn't anywhere on the island of Bravosa. Not in Chuy's tower, his families village or in any of the deep caves of the island. Fine, if he wanted a game then he would have one. She would send her cold out to every island in the ocean if she had to to find him no matter how long it took.
[And what of your promise to our queen?]
Clea looked back at the dark speck that followed her through the sky. She had forgotten the elf was there on his demonic horse.
[What of the promise you made?] He asked. [Will you honor it?]
[I thank your dark queen for reminding me that there is a world of warmth out there that I could be enjoying instead of hiding in the cold north.] Clea waved her hand a cleared the frost from between them so she could see him more clearly. [But I won't be honoring any promise. I won't be joining her in any war that she has planned. I have my own battles to fight thank you.]
A flurry of flame burst from Terror's snout surrounding the black winged horse in the ice cloud. Clea laughed at his anger.
"Queen Talsara won't stand for this betrayal." Taren screamed. "She will make you sorry you broke your promise to her. You will pay for this!!"
"My hear is frozen solid." Clea laughed. "I fear nothing. Go tell your queen the goddess Clea thanks her for her offer but if she comes looking for me, I will freeze her into an ice statue and crush her. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Taren called as Terror veered off away from her. "But you need to know this is not over. We will be back!"
Lightning flashed through Clea's storm cloud as she thundered on toward the southern islands. Jona had to be somewhere down here trying to keep her from going home. Yes, she knew what he was doing and if she didn't find him soon, she knew just how to make him come to her on his own.

As Jandar, Gird and Viggo reached the coast of Taggitia to the south, the skies took on the shade of the storm. They could all feel the chill of snow in the air. Gird flew closer to Viggo with Jandar on his back.
"How is it there's a snow storm brewing over a tropical area?" He asked. "Isn't that impossible"
"Unfortunately no." Jandar called. "It's happened before."
{ICE WOMAN} Viggo sent his anger making him tremble. {I KNOW HER. SHE KILL RUSH.}
"Easy Viggo." Jandar rubbed the thick fur on his back. "Now we know why Jona wants us to come see him. Clea has returned home. Bravosa is in trouble again."
"I remember hearing Nautica talk about Bravosa." Gird flew close. "She mentioned Jona, but who's Clea?"
"Clea was Jona's wife." Jandar explained. "She was a very warm beautiful woman until Muerte and the winter god Kearn got their hands on her. Kearn cursed her draining all her warmth and love and replaced it with cold bitter hate. She escaped Bravosa during the winter of Kearn and swore she would be back."
Gird listened closely to the story of Jona and Clea. Jandar explained how Muerte had recruited Kearn to her side to cover the southern parts of Taggitia with ice and snow. She was hoping Kearn had the power to take on the Dragons and maybe even destroy them. Unfortunately for her, Kearn didn't have the power for the task.With the help of Jona and Snowdogs Kearn had created, the dragons with the aid of Alee the sun god, put an end to Kearn's hellish winter and his cold ambitions.
Clea with her heart and mind frozen without compassion became a creature of cold hate. She hated herself, those who did this to her, and those who failed to save her. She craved three things. Heat, Jona and the death of every Dragon on Keanna.
Gird now knew just about the whole story. Clea was a remnant of Muerte and her vision of death on Keanna. Now it was their job to stop her from turning Keanna into a ball of ice but they had to find her first. Luckily they had just the right one there with them to track her. A Snowdog.

Closing his eyes, Taren called out to Talsara. They had been betrayed and he had to report and find out what she wanted done.
[My Queen.] He sent. [At appears the icy Clea has betrayed us. She's off on her task of revenge.]
[There is another close by that will help. Follow these directions to a snow capped volcanic island hidden south of Bravosa. You will find someone who can take care of Clea and the Dragons.]
[Yes my Queen.]
Directions appeared in Taren's mind and he whispered to Terror and turned south to the dark island Talsara showed him in his mind.

In the darkness of the night, Taren rode Terror high over Vanco island. It had taken them a few hours but atlast they had found the island Talsara had shown him in his mind. Thick smoke billow from the ever active peaks below him. Taren wonder just how they were suppose to get to the center of the volcano to find the one Talsara ordered them to find. With his sharp elven vision, Taren scanned the mountain for caves or a way in. He founf nothing. Every cave he found was blocked by an old lava flow that had seal the volcano closed. Maybe there was a water entrance somewhere that Terror could reach.
[No underwater caves here.] Terror sent him. [Just deep shadows.]
[Well there has to be a way in or Talsara wouldn't have sent us.]
[I told you] Terror huffed. [We go through shadows.]
[You can do that?]
[No but Talsara can.] Flames blew from Terrors nostril as they flew. [Look ahead. See the shadows in the clouds. That's where we enter. Hang on and do not let go or you will be lost,]
Wrapping the reins around his arms, Taren held on tight as Terror steered them into the shadow cloud. The air became freezing, burning Taren's lungs with each breath he took. Other then Terror's flame, this was the darkest place Taren had ever been. Hugging himself close to Terror, Taren hung on fearing what would happen if he lost his grip and fell off Terror's back.
Time ticked by slowly as Taren hung on to Terror. His hands became colder and stiff to a point where he thought his fingers were about to snap off at any second if they were to move. Then Taren felt a sudden flush of intense heat as they broke out of shadow into a deep cavern underground.
As Terror stepped out, they found themselves in a brightly lit burning hot cavern. Taren stayed close to Terror thanking the dark gods that hot and cold didn't have much effect on the demon horse. All around them the walls glowed with the molten heat of the lava. To the left a great lake bubbled popping ash and sparks into the air. but ahead of them they saw something Taren thought to be impossible. Ahead of them in the center of the cavern there was a great block of ice. Taren could feel the cold emanating out towards them.
"That must be it." Taren pointed.
 Trotting on, Terror walked on until they came to a bridge of ice and stone. Steam hissed up as Terror's hooves melted ice with each step he took. From the bridge they entered into a small tunnel that led off in four different directions. One went high up into the ice while another sank deep down heading into a underground cavern. There were two more tunnels that went straight in. One Taren noticed turned right as it went deeper then all light ceased and the other just kept on going deeper into the ice..
"Terror stay here." Taren tied the reins to the saddle and took the tunnel in the center that went straight in. The coolness of the ice soothed the burning his skin had gotten from the lava outside. Taren knew that had he not been with Terror, he would have burned to death the second they came out of shadow.
Light shined in through the ice lighting Tarens way as moved deeper into the ice mound. Ahead of him he a strange noise. It sounded to him like moaning or some kind of sobbing. Taren wondered who it was he was here to find.
As the tunnel turned to the left, it opened into a larger cavern with ice statuary and the furnishings of a great palace. Statues of icemen and snowdogs, penguins and polar bears playing in a outdoors wintery scene. There was a long tables covered with ice food on serving trays like it was being readied for a banquet or feast. In the center on the room sat a throne where a great snowman sat motionless,
Taren walked in admiring the talent it must have taken to carve such art. He went to the throne where the ice man sat. He was about nine feet tall with a long frosted beard. On his head he wore a crown of icicles with colored ice jewels set all around it. On his body he wore white and silver majestic robes that wrapped over his shoulder, around his body and flowed to the floor. Taren had no idea who this was suppose to be but whoever it was, they didn't look very happy.
Looking around the chamber, Taren couldn't find anyone else here. Perhaps Talsara had sent him to the wrong place. Maybe this Kearn he was looking for wasn't even here.
"Who seeks Kearn?"
Startled, Taren jumped shocked at the voice that boomed through the chamber. He looked around for whoever had spoke but didn't find anyone. It must be magic he thought. He should have know magic would be involved.
"I'm here for Kearn." Taren called out. "My Queen would make a deal with him."
"And what is it your Queen wants?"
"She wants you to destroy an enemy for her." Taren wandered around the icy chamber admiring the intricate designs of the different statues set in the ice. Such beauty. "Do you remember a woman named Clea?"
The chamber began to tremble as ice and snow fall from the roof and walls. Taren steadied himself grabbing on to a table to keep from falling over.
"Yes I know the icy bitch." The voice said in a louder voice. "She is one of the reasons I am trapped in this molten hell. Her, Alee and those damned dragons. But I can't get out of this prison. If I could, I'd already have my revenge on all of them. How can your queen help?"
"My Queen promises you your freedom." Taren was beginning to feel much colder. He was losing his bodily heat the longer he stayed here,  "If you swear to her you will kill the ice queen, she will get you out of here."
The shaking had stopped and the chamber settled down as Kearn thought about the proposition. The last woman that made a demand on him to kill had earned him this simmering prison. But his hate still burned deep inside of him and he wanted his revenge very badly. If Clea was all this queen wanted dead then no dragons or gods should get involved and he could start getting his revenge slowly one by one.
"I will kill Clea." The voice promised. "But make no more demands of me. Once Clea is dead I am free to go my own way. If your queen has any objections, the it won't be an ice queen she will have to deal with. It will but Kearn, the god of Winter. Do you accept?"
[YES.]  Talsara's mind voice called out to them.
Suddenly the great Ice statue on the throne began to quake. The arms stretched out and the giant grabbed the arms of his throne and stood up. Taren backed away dodging falling icicles and chucks of ice the size buckets. Kearn turned to Taren then began to shrink down to man size. He stepped out of the icy debris walking towards the tunnel out.
"This way human."
Together they walked out of the cavern and met Terror. From there the went out to the ice bridge and Kearn stopped.
"This is as far as I can go. Now it is up to your queen."
Just then the lava chamber began to darken. Shadows covered everything beyond the bridge and the heat dissipated.
"We have one minute to get to the shadows beyond the cave there." Taren jumped on Terrors back. "We must hurry."
As Terror took off, Kearn clapped his hands together and became a frosty cloud and streaked through the chamber in seconds. As he reached the shadow he flew right in to emerge out in the night sky.
"I AM FREE!!"

In the forest of Silvermoon, the Deathead Goblin clan ran wild, killing stags, boars, defiling the land and herding nymphs into cages to be taken back as prizes. They ripped the living apart and feasted on the bloody meat while doing unspeakable things to the land. They pulled captive nymphs from cages and raped then devoured them. The carnage went on all through the night while their masters the Dark elves watched without any compassion at all. Talsara had ordered Silvermoon turned into graveyard for every living being they could find. She wanted them all dead for what she called their obscene ways. How dare he disobey his queen. How dare he share his bed with another man or call him his mate. She would destroy anyone including her own son for practising that kind of obscene behavior.
In the Deathead camp, Kranko Fearfist the Impaler stepped from the alter of one of Tyree's temples after relieving himself and pulled up his dirty pants. He spit and wiped his hands on the marble walls then grabbed his short spear and headed off to check on the cages and treasures they had collected while in Silvermoon He had left guards but he knew they weren't to be trusted.
After checking on his tent, Kranko did an inspection of the gate guards. They were there, They were having a game of roll the bones out of boredom, but they were on guard. A stupid job he thought. These Satyr's were a weak bunch deserving of the death Talsara had planned for them.
As he passed a campsite he heard the screaming of a young nymph as she was being ravaged. He looked left to see the beautiful naked lass dart out of a tent only to be grabbed and dragged back. Kranko licked his lips. She looked delicious. He would have to return back this way once he finished checking the perimeter to have a bite.
The camp was busy for a goblin camp. Yeah there were screams coming from every tent. Of course Goblins fought over nymphs tied or staked out to be used by the winner. But the Dark elves stayed out of the way. They got what they wanted and their queen was getting hers.The Goblins had ran through Silvermoon like a plague.The Satyrs, fauns and nymphs couldn't even hide now that they had captured that magic stick. All that was left to do here was to kill and take whatever the goblins wanted. And what they wanted was the nymphs as many as they could cage and carry off. It had been a glorious day indeed for them.
"Kranko!"
Kranko turned as a Dark elf named Per Lhoris dressed in the robes of a mage stepped from a tent and called his name. "No one stands at the camp gate, why?"
"Oh?" His eye brows curved in doubt. "I was just there. The mook's probably off rutting their dinner. Who care, These goats couldn't fight a baby goblin. Even drank on beer we could take what they have any day."
"Have a care Goblin." The elf rubbed his chin as he turned for the tents of his elven warrior. "Even the weak can stand against the strong and win sometimes. Guard my gates or I'll have Bog come do it."
"Bah!" Kranko spit at the elf's feet barely missing. "I rule here, not the Bloodfangs. Careful or it could be elf we feed on tonight."
"You don't scare me Goblin." Per turned his back in disrespect to the Goblin leader. "Security is on your head. Do your job or pay the price."
Kranko growled and pulled back his arm to throw his spear then stopped. The damned elf was right. security was his responsibility. If anything happened, his chief and the elf queen would blame him  and the thought of what Scab Vilebreath would do to him, made him cringe. He had to make sure the camp was safe and there was no one out there that could cause any trouble.
Off he stomped grumbling towards the edge of the camp and it's entrance screaming for Goblins to get to their post.
From the top of the hill, Elan and Pacius watched the camp. They watch the horrors committed by the Goblins as they tore into the nymphs they captured, Elan had a hard time stopping Pacius from barrowing down the hill and attacking, throwing his life away. Elan knew it wasn't possible for the two of them to attack and drive the Dark elves and Goblins out. They would need help of some kind. "We need some help." Elan whispered to Pacius. "Someone strong enough or so scary, even the Dark elves would run in terror."
"If only Tyree were here." Pacius moaned. "His godly image would put some fear into them. But he's not, Why hadn't he come to help his own children?"
"Perhaps he will." Elan's face lit with and idea. "I have an idea. But I need help if it's going to work. Pacius, go out and round up anyone you can find that's still free. Satyrs, fauns, nymphs, anyone you can find and hurry. We have to do this before soon. Now go!"
Pacius nodded they ducked down and made his way out from the hill into the forest. Elan sat down and made himself comfortable. He had to call on an old friend. With a little luck that friend just might be looking for him too.
As the forest became quiet all around him and he slipped in to a much calmer state, Elan called out a name in his mind. He reached for a connection that had always been there all his life. He wanted the one he hoped would always be there to help him.
[ARGUS! COME TO ME, I NEED YOUR HELP!]
The moon was full and Jassin's house was quiet as Argus woke with a start. Ever since King Wyn had ordered him to find Elan he had searched all through the fairy lands, Eventide and Winterhaven to find him, but Elan had his mind away. He had closed himself off so neither his mother or his father could find him. And if an elven prince didn't want to be found, Argus knew he wouldn't find Elan until he was ready to be found.
And now here it was. Elan was calling him. Opening his wings Argus lifted off from the cushioned place Aron had made for him. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the prince and disappeared only to re appear seconds later in the forest on Silvermoon. Argus opened his eyes and found himself under a tree hovering right above Elan.
"Prince Elan!" Argus flew down to greet him. "I'm so glad your safe!"
"Aiya old friend." Elan smiled holding out his hand for the Imp to land on. "How is father doing with all this craziness going on."
"Your father is well." Argus said. "But worried about you and your mate Aron."
"Really? Why?"
The Imp's glow faded a bit as it took on a more reddish tint indicating the Imp's annoyance at what Elan had said.
"I have been with your father all his life from the day he was born until he released me and charged me to protect you and you mate. Your father may follow your mother, but he will see her dead before he allows her to hurt you or anyone you would call your mate. He loves you more then life. Can you not see that?"
"Father never said a word when mother sent me away to the Academy." Elan's throat tightened with emotion. "I thought he wanted me away so he could have Mother to himself."
"You don't know your father at all, do you?" Argus flew up to land on Elan's shoulder. "For years he  fought to get you as much freedom as he could. He sent you to the Academy to be safely away from your mother. If it was up to her, you would have been married and off fighting in her wars long ago. You owe him respect at the least."
Elan became silent for a few minutes remembering days from his youth learning the art of sword play and riding from his father. Back then they had been close. He never knew why he had to be sent away from Darkshade. He always thought it was because he annoyed his parents and they hated having him around. Now he had his answer. This was how his father saved him from being a pawn in his mothers evil plans. Elan would have to thank his father properly next time he saw him.
"How's Aron?"
"Safe, waiting for you to get back to him." Argus brightened up again. "He'll be glad when he wakes up to find you there with him."
"We're not returning just yet. We have something to do here in Silvermoon and I need your help."
"As you wish my Prince." The Imp flew up and danced around his head. "My magic is your to command."

As Alee took to the sky and began his ride across the heavens, Jona stepped through his mirror and found himself on a hot volcanic island he had never been on before. He found himself standing on a beautiful sandy beach that overlooked the warm blue Saprein ocean. On his left palm trees waved in the salty ocean breeze while behind him, the volcanic mountain rumbled sending smoke and ash into the sky.
This was the fifth or sixth island Jona had visited randomly appearing to confuse Clea who he knew was tracking him everywhere he went. He was tired and getting weak from using so much magic. He thought this to be a good place to rest while he re charged his magic.
With a wave of his hand and a quick spell, palms fonds tore from trees to fly down and settle into a comfortable nest. Jona stepped out and climbed into his resting place. Just then out of no where a cold breeze blew in from somewhere. Jona shivered and had a suddenly familiar feeling. He felt weird and threatened but cold and alone like he did back during Bravosa's winter attack by Kearn. But that wasn't possible. Alee and Blaze had taken him away to some prison far from Bravosa where he couldn't use his cold to hurt anyone else.
As a cold wind blew across the beach, Jona pulled his cloak closed and looked up in the sky. Dark thunder clouds had started to gather over the island turning day into night. Jona stood up in his nest as the sinking familiar feeling came over him. The sky looked just as it did when Kearn started his deadly storm.
"Oh no!" He said as lightning flashed across the horizon, "This can't be happening again."
As the thunder rolled in, it had the distinct sound of laughter echoing through the night sky. Jona walked out on the beach as the winds began to pick up and cause the surf to surge up at the beach. Wave after wave rolled in growing higher and higher as it smashed into the surf.  Jona stepped back out of the water and stood on a high dune on the beach. He reached deep inside himself to calm his fear and gather his magic. With his hand raised he cast out with an elemental spell to calm the waves and bring peace back to the ocean. Thunder roared all around as his spell flared into action,but to no effect. The magic guiding this storm was much strong then he could command.
As the clouds broke and snow began to fall, Jona looked to the sky and screamed out his challenge"I "I know it's you!" He raised his fist in anger. "Come out and face me Kearn!"
The sound of his laughter came from rang out from everywhere. Jona watched as a dark cloud began to swirl and rumble then descend down to the island. As it reached tree level lightning struck out searing spots on the ground at Jona's feet. He never moved a muscle showing absolutely no fear. Then two strike flew straight at him. Jona jumped into a defensive pose as he summoned his shields and deflected each strike away from him.With a quick twist of his wrist, a bolt of red mystic energy shot out at Kearn bouncing off his silver toga and into the sea.
With his hands on his hips, Kearn threw back his head and laughed. His eyes blazed white with power. Slowly he settled down to step out onto the sandy beach freezing the ground with each step.
"Where is she?" Kearn asked. "Where is that cold hearted wife of yours?"
"I don't know. And if I did, I wouldn't tell you."
"Bold when speaking to a god aren't you." Kearn chuckled. "You should show a little respect."
"Why?" Jona asked. "Your not my god. Only Snowmen and the savage Kensi would worship the likes of you. You should go back north while you still can."
"I'll be on my way in my own time human, but first there's something I need to do."
Raising his arm, Kearn pointed at Jona and sent a blast of cold at him. Like diamond crystals it swept out it Jona to swirl around him. Jona pulled his cloak closed tight hoping it would be enough to protect him.
It started at his feet and moved upward inch by inch. Jona used all his concentration to generate hear to try and melt his way out but Kearn's magic was to powerful for him. As it reached his neck he took a last deep breath and called out to the one he thought would be his only hope.
"CLEA!!!!"
As the last bit of Jona was covered in ice, Kearn stepped up to Jona and put his arms around him.
"And that should bring the ice maiden to me and death will be her reward for love."

High in the summer sky Clea's freezing winter cloud rolled its way across the shores of Bravosa. She was tired of searching all over the ocean for Jona. She had gone from island to island searching only to be moments to late each time. She decided home was where she would get her wait for him. If she couldn't go to him, she would make him come to her.
As she flew closer to the island, a feeling came over her. She felt a strange presence like someone was watching just over her shoulder. Clea glanced left then right but there was no one there. Amused she smiled to herself as if someone could possibly be there on the cloud without her knowing. But still the feeling remained telling her she wasn't alone. From her seat on the cloud she sent out a mist of frost crystals that blanketed the area all around her. To her left something began to shimmer into visibility. Floating above her head there was a golden glowing sphere. Clea waved her hand at it to try and frighten it off but it wouldn't budge. Magically she know what it was. It was someones probe. Could it be Jona's? No, she knew his magic and it didn't have his signature. This was the magic of someone far more powerful then her husband. Could it be Talsara or maybe her servant Taren?
Whoever it was they should beware who it was they were dealing with for Clea the ice queen was not one to fool around with when revenge was on her mind.
[Is revenge what you really seek, revenge?]
[Who are you to question my intentions?] She demanded. Her gazed fixed on the sphere.
[Someone that might be able to help if I think you deserve it. Now answer the question.]
[What makes you think I need or even want your help strange one?"] Anger began to flare in Clea as her ice field began to intensify around her. [Do you know who it is you toy with?]
[Clea Metrka.]  Came the answer. Clea's jumped surprised the strange knew exactly who she was. [I know more about you then who you are. I know why your here and how you came to be the ice queen you call yourself. What I don't understand is why you would want to hurt the one man that truly loves you.]
"Because he think me a monster!" She screamed out at the sphere. "Jona thinks I'm a monster now. An unfeeling creature of ice and snow with no heart ready to destroy all that stand in my way."
[Well, is here right?] The sphere turned to a warm green glow calming her down. [Since Kearn froze your heart, what is it you have become? Are you still the same simple girl he married?]
"No." She cried. "But that's not my fault. It's his. It's all there fault! Had he not been so busy helping the Dragons this wouldn't have happened to me."
[So its the Dragons fault too is it?]
[Yes, I blame all of them!] Tears fell from the corner of her eyes as small chips of ice. [This is not how I want to spend the rest of my life. This is not what I want.The life of an ice vampire seeking others heat is what Kearn condemned me to. I want my life back. I want the heat of love back. I want what I had back!]
[If revenge is what you really want.] The voice said. [I can't help you. But if there's more in your heart then hate, maybe I can.]
[My heart is ice.] Clea looked away from the sphere ashamed. [I can't feel much of anything.]
[Then let me in.] The globe changed and began to grow. It went from a small fist sized orb to the size of a wheel then the size of a man. It began to mold and shape itself until a handsome blond man sat cross legged in front of her. He would stand to the height of about six feet dressed in golden cloth pants and a tunic. Around his golden blond hair there war a crown ivy leaves. What a handsome man Clea thought.
"Who are you?" She asked. "You look familiar."
"Open your heart and you will know who I am."
Clea wasn't sure if she should trust this stranger. This could be Talsara's way of coming back at her for her revenge. But whoever this was, his eyes gave off a feeling of trust. They were so clear and blue she thought she could almost see the heavens in them. Maybe she should fight or run but then again, something told her to take a chance.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Just close your eyes and relax." He smiled. "Let me do the rest."
Laying back, Clea closed her eyes and let her mind relax. She felt warm and comfortable as the stranger took her hand and touched her face.
"Relax." He said with a soft soothing voice. "Let me see your heart."
Clea's mind opened and memories began to drift by. She remembered the first time she had met Jona. They were kids and her family had just arrived in Bravosa. They had moved into the house right next to Jona and his family. She remembered going out into the backyard and seeing the older Jona playing with his little stick men by a little stream. He had fashioned a castle from mud and grass and he was directing a small battle with his toy men.  As she watched she could almost swear she had seen the little troops move against each other. He asked her if she wanted to play and by the end of the day, she knew they would be the best of friends. They went from neighbors to friends. Then friends to classmates. Jona and Clea would spend the better part of everyday together roaming the hills and forest just outside of Bravosa. Until the day that everything changed for the two friends.
It was long ago during the days when Clea and Jona were kids studying the stars under Master Chuy's care. Chuy had announced a special trip out into the field for some of his most advanced students. The subject would be astronomy, something both Clea and Jona enjoyed very much. They would be out for two days and nights studying and charting the stars and other heavenly bodies over Bravosa. Jona had had an uneasy feeling about the trip and really didn't want to go, but Clea love the night skies. Sometimes, with nothing but blankets and water they would spend hours watching the night stars. This was to be her chance to show Master Chuy how much she really about Astronomy.
With tents packed and food enough for two days, Chuy took his students out into the hills high above Bravosa. They found a suitable camping spot, ate a quick dinner, then Master Chuy separated them into pairs and sent them off to study different parts on the night sky.
Clea loved the freedom of the night sky. She and Jona watched as Alea did her nightly dance across the sky shining her moon light down the entire island. From where they were, Bravosa was hidden off beyond the mountains where they couldn't see it. But there were a lot of constellation they could see like Sazar's trident off to the left with its eight points shining brightly. The three Proteaus sisters that fought each night over Regulen the warrior and the almost invisible helmet of Patmos with its crack that zig zagged along its side.
While Clea giggled pointing out different stars, Jona's eyes were always on the forest around them. For days since Master Chuy had announced the trip, Jona had been having nightmares about it. Horrible dreams off him and Clea running from some dark clawed monster. Master Chuy had assured him that there was nothing to be scared of and that there was nothing in the forest up in the mountains, But the dreams kept coming getting worst every night.
Jona tired convincing Clea to stay home and that there would be other trips, but she was determined to go and swore she would go alone if she had to.
With no other choices and against his better judgement, Jona promised he'd go along with her.
Hidden in his bed roll, Jona had put an old sword his father had given him. He had never used a sword before and it wasn't very shape , but it was good enough to stab with. He had at least that much for protection.
It had grown late and Alea  had flown far across to the other side of the sky. Clea still was deep in her star charting while Jona had just begun to relax when a cold chill went up along his spine. He had a feeling  something was watching them. Keeping his head low, Jona searched all around them for any sign of danger. All he could hear was the sound of insects chirping in the distance. Then suddenly everything went quiet. Jona nudged Clea beside him.
"What?"
"Shhhh!!" He put his finger to his lips. "There's something out there."
"Oh will you stop this already!!" She pushed him away. "There's nothing out there. We're perfectly safe. Watch I'll prove it."
Clea stood up and waved her arms.
"See." She jumped up and down. "There's nothing here. Now will you just..."
That's when the both heard the growling begin. First it came from the right then it came from behind them. As Jona stood, a set of glowing green eyes came stalking low to the ground out of the forest in front of them.
"Jona?" Clea grabbed on to his arm as he grabbed for the bed roll and the sword. Holding the sword out in his shaking hands, Jona watched as three snarling grey wolves advanced across the grass at them. Looking around he realized they were surrounded on three sides. Jona stepped forward taking a swing at the wolf in the front. Just then the one to the left jumped at him grabbing at his hand that held the sword. As the fangs tore into his flesh he dropped the sword and was pushed back away from both the sword and Clea.. As he fell to the ground he heard Clea scream. He rolled to his side as a wolf growling snapped at his legs. Jona kicked out striking the beast in its maw. He jumped up and turned for the sword then stopped. There was a wolf standing right over it growling at him. Slowly with the wolf inching towards him, Jona made his way back to stand with Clea.
As he reached her, Clea grabbed on to him crying.
"What are we going to do?"
"I don't know." He said. "Master Chuy is to far away to hear our call and I can't get to the sword."
"I'm sorry Jona." She cried. "You were right."
"That doesn't matter right now." He said.m "I just want to get us out of here."
Just then, a wolf leaped at Jona knocking him down on his back. Growling and snapping at his face. Jona held the wolf off kicking at its body. As he fought he heard another wolf grab Clea. She screamed as it bit into her. Rage filled Jona as he fought. His head began to pound as his anger grew hotter and hotter. Again Clea screamed. the wolf had brought her down. It would be at her throat at any minute. Clea was about to be killed, He had to do something.
Suddenly his brain exploded as his hands turned to fire. A fantastic blast of heat came blasting out from somewhere sending the wolf on top of him flying like a torch out away from him. Jona jumped to his feet and turned to the wolves on Clea and reached out for them. As he reached, flames flared from his hands blasting one wolf aside. Moving with incredible speed, Jona kicked the last wolf in its head. Blood and brains splashed all over Clea as the wolves body tumbled over dead onto the grass.
As Jona reached down to help Clea, up she screamed again beating at him trying to get him off her,
"Its OK Clea!! Its me!! They're all dead, I killed them!"
Opening her eyes, she burst into tears and reached up for him. Jona took her in his arms and held her while she cried.
"I thought you were dead." She sobbed. "I thought they were going to kill me."
"Its OK." He rocked her in his arms. "Its all over."
"How did you do that?"
"Magic." He smile as he kissed her.
As Jona carried her away, Clea looked over his shoulders. Standing where Jona had fought off the wolves, there was a tall blond haired man. He was smiling and he blow a kiss at them then disappeared.
That was the day that Clea knew she loved Jona. That was the day she knew he would be the one she would marry.

As the stranger took his hand from her face, Clea opened her eyes. She looked deeply into his eyes as he smiled at her.
"I know you." She said. "Your Atol, god of love and you were there that day. You helped Jona to saved me."
"No, he did that all on his own. Don't you see Clea. Jona has loved you since the day he saw you step into his yard. You are his one and only love. Do you still want revenge?"
"No." Clea looked up at him. "I want my husband back. I'll do whatever I have to to get him back."
"Even fight for his life?"
"If that's what it takes, yes."
"Then I give you back what was taken from you." Atol reached out and touched her chest. "No longer is your heart made of ice. Your heart has just as much warmth as anyone else."
As he pulled his hand away a warm feeling spread through her entire body. The ice in her veins began to melt at her heart began to beat again. Clea looked down at her hands. The blue tint in her skin began brighten as he body warmed. She reached up and touched her face. It was warm again.
"Thank you so much!" She cried."I feel alive again. Now I can go home!"
" No." Atol told her. "Your still the ice queen but you don't have to steal warmth from anyone else. I can't take Kearn's curse off you completely, but I can modify it. Your no longer the thing you called a heat vampire, your hearts just as warm as anyone else. You still have command of ice and snow, it just doesn't rule your heart anymore."
"I understand."
"From now on promise me you'll think with more then your brain. You'll consider your heart too." Atol stood and spread his arms and became the sphere again. [Now there's something I must tell you. Kearn is free again and he's here after you."
"Oh no!" The thought of facing Kearn sent a streak of fear through her heart. She wasn't sure if she was ready to face the winter god.
[Well I think you better be.] Atol sent as the sphere began to drift off.. [Because to catch you, he's taken Jona. It's up to you to get him free.]
"I don't know if I can beat him. " She cried. "Help me."
[Help is on its way. Be strong Ice Queen. We will meet again.]

The Scepter of Tyree. 64

High in the Yua mountains far to the west of Winterhaven there was a very old walled city. In this city there was no difference between day and night. No one ever overslept and breakfast and dinner was never late. In fact there was no planting or harvest season, no open air markets and children hadn't played in the streets for a long long time. And that's because here in Kyan, everyone was dead. Not a single living soul had been here in Kyan in more then two hundred years but today, someone would walk these dead streets.

As the bright light of the moon shined down on Kyan, a horrible wailing could be heard coming from the west. The wailing shattered windows in the old ruined city as at came closer until it reached the city center where it stopped.
Standing by the old waterless fountain, Sarella looked out at the center of her old empire. Kyan was once her city where she ruled over every living being with an iron hand. From the fountain she walked on north remembering the city as it once was. The marketplace where her crops and fares were sold. A small portion of every sell went to the seller but for the most part, all proceeds went to the crown. Cattle yards and many vegetable stands would be laid out. Kyan had no seaport but Sarella did have a very rich import export trade from her bands of raiders and thieves guild.
Though most of it's citizen were poor, Kyan was a very rich city and all those riches belonged to only one person. It's ruler, someone who watched her citizen very carefully with envy and jealousy. If anyone in Kyan had something Sarella wanted, there was no where they could hide it. Her greed and her magic would find it, then her men would drop on that citizen and no one would ever see him again. As Sarella made her way home to her palace, her guest arrived at the gates to the city.
With her head held high wrapped in a dark fur cloak, Talsara walked through the gates that suddenly opened for her. With no fear the dark queen entered the city. She had no idea who this queen of Kyan or why she had summoned her here, or where she was.
A beautiful pendant had been delivered to her in Dree. She had no idea how anyone knew she would be in Dree. Her mate Wyn nor any of her generals knew where she would be from time to time, but here it was in the hands of one of her warriors when she arrived in Dree. She asked him where it had come from, but he said he didn't know. That answer wasn't enough for Talsara. She had him tortured, beaten, his family was brought to Dree and killed right before his eyes, but still he couldn't answer her question. Feeling merciful for the moment, Talsara had his throat slit and his body buried with his family in the tradition of the Dark elves. Under the next full moon in full uniform with her warriors paying their respect.
Sitting on the Dree throne, Talsara examined the pendant. She held it up to the light. It was a blue oval tear held in silver rope chains with intricate designs. Very beautiful Talsara thought and definitely magic. She had seen something like this long ago. It was a invitation stone. Someone wanted to meet the Queen of Darkshade. Usually invitation stones came with a message. She turned it over and on the back carved in the silver, there was a small star. Talsara pressed her finger to the star. The stone began to glow and feel warm then a voice came from it.

GREETINGS QUEEN OF DARKSHADE.
I HAVE BEEN WATCHING YOUR ADVANCE ACROSS TAGGITIA.
I ADMIRE YOUR STRENGTH AND DETERMINATION AND THINK I
CAN BE OF A GREAT ASSISTANCE TO YOU. MY STONE WILL
BRING YOU TO MEET SO WE CAN DISCUSS A JOINING OF TWO
GREAT POWERS. HAVE NO FEAR FOR YOUR SAFETY FOR I WILL
BEND TO YOUR WILL AND BE YOUR SERVANT.

"Queen of Kyan." Talsara wrapped the pendant around her fist and stood and went to dress. "Interesting. A new victim to play with."

Kyan was dark, dirty and in ruins. Talsara wondered as she walked through, who could possibly want to rule in this city of death. There was nothing here but broken down buildings and cobwebs. Off to the left she saw a line of coaches with dead horses hitched to each one. They were just outside of what once had to be a magnificent palace with a long staircase out front.
With a snap of her finger, Talsara transported herself to the top of the stairs. There she found a set of glowing stones that led down a corridor. As she started down the hall, she heard what could only be described as a sad wail coming from down the hall, Talsara smiled. It seemed someone was trying to scare her. What a waste of time. It would take a lot more then darkness and a few screams to scare a Dark elf. Especially this Dark elf.
At the end of the hall there was a set of huge doors. As Talsara stepped up they began to swing open. She walked into the dark windy wailing room which to her was as bright as day. The room was some kind of audience hall where coronations and large balls might be held. The hall was full of decrepit old furniture that had rotted away long ago. There obviously hadn't been a party here in centuries. At the end of the hall sat a high dais where the king and queen would sit, but here there was only one throne and there seemed to be a woman in all white and gray sitting there.
"Welcome to my city of Kyan Queen Talsara." She stood waved her hands lighting the torches that lined the walls, "I am Sarella Vavieta, queen of all you see here and your new ally."
"Ally?" Talsara moved forward to stand at the bottom of the dais. "I don't make allies very easily and my enemies are few. What do I need an ally for?"
"My dear Talsara." Sarella stood and  glided down the dais to her. "As you know there are many ways to use people. Good and bad. As with the Shadow elves."
Talsara's eyes narrowed as Sarella spoke. How could she know anything about Zaos?
"You plan to use them until you grow strong enough that you can rip Saeval from his throne and do with him as you did your parents." Sarella smiled. "I can help with that. Then there is Fay Shrea. You do know it's now beyond your grasp and your hold on Eventide grows weaker by the day. I can help with that too."
"How do you know all this?"
"I have my ways." Sarella turned and waved her to a place where they could sit and talk. She led her to a table that had once been set for a banquet. It had a dirty dusty cloth spread over it and it was set with what was once beautiful china laden with many different dishes that had rotted away long ago. Set before the queens seat there was a mirror. Sarella waved her hand over it and her image began to blur and shimmer.
"Behold."
As the image cleared, Aspara Bough appeared. The fairy city was empty. The Dark queens troops were gone. There also were no fairies in site.
"After Fay Shrea was taken, the Eventides managed to come and defeat the Dark elf troops that were left behind. Now the city has an unknown army to protect it. An army I can destroy and return Fay Shrea to you if you let me."
"I think I can do that on my own." Talsara sat back seeming not to worry about what she had seen. "What else have you to show me?"
"This." She waved again over the mirror and the scene changed and they were looking at Eventide. The sun was shining through the trees. everything looked much greener then when she left.
"Eventide should be a rotting hole by now." Talsara looked closer. Anger began to show on her face."I no longer feel the connection I had there. Damn Tayor Larin. What could have happened?"."
"Dragons." Sarella smiled. "And do you really think Lord Larin can hold on to a promise he made you?
Even while he sends people to spy on you?"
"Who would dare spy on me?"
"Him!" Sarella pointed to a corner of the room where a sudden torch flared revealing Youron watching and listening to them. Getting to her feet and pushing back her chair, Talsara sent out a bolt of magic that surrounded the screaming Youron and rose him into the air and brought him sailing over to them.
"I think we can work together." Talsara increased the magic pressure on Youron, his eyes popped as he screamed for his life.
Outside watching them while in a trance, Ashura woke and shivered as she cut off the pain she was feeling from Youron. The fool she thought. He had been stupid enough to think Sarella wouldn't detect him there in her presence. She had her proof, now it was time to show it to Tayor.
Standing Ashrua spelled herself out of the city where her hyppograff Aristo waited. It neighed as she approached. Ashura reached in her bag and pulled out a snack and fed it to him. It gulped it down they rubbed its head against her body.
"Lets go Aristo." she climbed on his back. "We have work to do."

It was late when Elan rode into Silvermoon. He was tired, he'd been riding all day. His horse Taltan was thirsty, hungry and needed a rest. Elan found a field of lush grass where Taltan could graze and rest for the night so he decided this was as good a place to rest as any.
Walking Taltan out to the grass field, he stripped her of all her gear then let her graze. Dropping the horse's gear under a tree he pulled out his blankets and unwrapped the cheese, bread, rabbit and fruit Morganz had packed for him. He built a fire and put the rabbit on to cook. From where he camped, he could hear the sound of a stream running near so he took his water skin and went and filled it.
At last he had time to rest while the rabbit cooked and think about recent events. He was glad Winterhaven was safe and sorry he hadn't found the ring he was sent to bring back. But if Zarin was right, there was no way he could have gotten it himself anyway. He was glad of that, Elan didn't want the responsibility of being the one to turn it over to Lord Larin anyway. He had other things to worry about. Like his mother and Darkshade. He had seen evidence of her war in everyplace he had been since leaving Winterhaven. Lord Larin had men stationed in every human settlement he had past. Every city, village and town was under either his or his mothers control. It hadn't been easy keeping out of sight but so far he had done it. Now here in the south there were Dark elves everywhere.
The Wood elves of Soora were all trapped in logging camps cutting down their own woods. He had passed through Silverwater and its coastal villages. They were all empty. He hadn't found anything but bodies on the shore of the ocean. As he rode through Tanagorthar the mountain region he watched from afar as the cities burned. What had his mother done? What were the Darkshades becoming? This was wrong, so wrong. All he wanted was to find a house where he and Aron could live in peace away from all of this. He didn't want to be a king or have the responsibility of Elfdom on his shoulders but it looked like his mother had put them right in the middle of it. Well if this was what she wanted, Elan and Aron would show her, her mistake.
Pulling the rabbit from the fire, Elan made himself comfortable and had his dinner. He washed it down with fresh water and wine and wrapped himself in his blanket and went to sleep.
He dreamed of his reunion with Aron. They had found each other in a beautiful garden and run into each others arms. As he took Arons clothes off he kissed his way from his lips down his chest to his forest of desire where he lost himself in his arousal.
Aron moaned with pleasure at Elan's touch. He took him and pulled him up into a deep kiss as Elan pulled Arons legs up. His body was hot to the touch and Elan was so hard for his love. With a gentle push, Aron cried out in pleasure as Elan entered him.
With a groan of lust they moved in the moonlight moving faster and faster into each other until they both began to erupt with passion.
"Oh yes!!" Elan moaned as he opened his eyes. He looked up into the eyes of a handsome elf. Naked Elan jumped from the elf's embrace and grabbed a blanket to cover himself. Beside the fire he saw his sword. He grabbed it and held it out pointed at the stranger.
"Who are you?"
Naked the elf rolled over, pushed away the blanket to reveal his nude aroused state and smiled. He was about five feet six inches, muscular was dark hair, a handsome smile and very well endowed.
"I'm your future. Come to me."
Elan felt an over powering urge to go to the elf and take him in his arms and make to love him. He shook his head but the compulsion remained. It smiled with sparkling eyes urging him on. A strange perfumed smell filled the air. Elan's senses spun around and around making him dizzy.
"I'm yours." It said reaching out. "Come, take me."
Elan reached out for the elf. Their fingers touched and suddenly Aron's face broke through his daze clearing his mind completely.
"The hell you are!!" Elan stepped back and grabbed his pants. "How did I get naked?."
"Oh you look pretty excited to me." He gestured to Elan's erection then put his chin in his hands. Elan was embarrassed. He dressed quickly.
"Who are you?"
"I told you." The elf got up and started toward him. "I'm..."
"Stop." He raised the sword again. "Touch me again and I cut that thing off! Now tell me who you are."
"I'm Pacius," He nodded. "I'm here for you to make all your dreams come true."
"Right now all I want is for you to get dressed." Elan finished putting his jacket on and buttoned it up. Pacious had a sad look on his face but he still had that erection. Elan didn't want to look at him. He was handsome and sexy but this is not who he wanted. He had gone through to much to be with Aron to blow it all now on a quickie with a horny Satyr.
Smiling Paciuc sat up with his legs open. His eyes twinkled when he looked up at Elan. Somethings not right here Elan thought. He switched his vision to get a more thorough look at the naked elf. For a second Elan's vision was out of focus, then it cleared. Then he saw the truth. There wasn't an elf sitting naked beside his fire. It was a Satyr. Cousin to the centaur. Five feet six with a goat lower half, horns, ears and a huge member sticking out at him. He stumbling back away from the satyr as it stood and went for him with a knife he had hidden behind his back.Thinking quickly Elan cast a paralysis spell as he fell back on the ground. Like a statue the satyr stood there struggling to free himself. Elan stood brushing himself off and breathed a sigh of relief. He grabbed his sword and walked to Pacius.
"Kill me you dark bastard!" He screamed. "Or I promise if I get loose, I'll kill you!"
"Why? I don't know you." Elan pulled a log from a pile by the fire and sat in front of the satyr. "And I've never been here before. What did I do to you?"
"Not you personally." Pacius answered still trying to free himself. "Your kind, your queen, your damned war. Shadowmoon suffers because of you!!!"
Elan sat back surprised for a minute, but he should have known this was all about the war. To many have been hurt, killed and imprisoned already by his mother. He was so sorry, if he could help he would gladly.
"I understand." Elan looked down. He raised his hand and snapped his finger releasing the satyr. "I'm sorry for my mother's action and perhaps your right and it should be me that pays the price."
Pacius fell forward still holding the knife in his hand. This was his chance for revenge on the Dark elves for all the Satyr's that had been killed in the attack. For the one's that had been turned to stone down in the valley of Tyree their woodland god.
Pacius jumped to his feet and grabbed Elan putting his knife to his throat. One quick slice and dark blood would spill on Shadowmoon land. But that wouldn't help anyone, It wouldn't help his statue brothers or free Shadowmoon from the war.
Pacius looked down at Elan. The dark elf raised his head as if he was accepting his punishment. He looked so powerless and grief stricken as he stared up at him. Could what he said be true? Could he have had nothing to do with this war at all? Dark elves were known to lie but self sacrifice? How honorable.
Pacius let the knife drop from his hand and reached down to help Elan up. His spell faded and Pacius stood there revealed in his true image.
"I believe you. I don't know why, but I do" They grasp hands and shook. "Can you help us?"
"I promise to try."

As Pacius dressed, he explained how Dark elves and Goblins had come in the night to Shadowmoon. It was late and Pacius had been sent out to get wine for the midnight ritual. He had gotten three jugs when he heard strange noises in the forest on his way back. His search but found nothing so continued on. When he reached the outer gates to Tyree's temple he heard it again. It sounds to him let horses and people screaming. Pacius was afraid and hurried on through the gates fearing his family was in trouble.
As he reached the courtyard of the temple he saw Dark elves watching from the hill as the Goblins attacking everyone at the temple. Pacius dropped the wine and ran in grabbing a sword from a fallen warrior, his plan was to make it to his father and brothers and stand beside them to fight off the enemy. But he never made it.
The fighting at the temple was fierce. Satyrs weren't usually brave warriors but when it came to defending Tyree's temple, they could be rather savage. Sword against clubs and pikes, the fight went on until a Dark elf in robes appeared and started his spell. The satyrs froze, some paralysed and some were completely turned to stone statues. Pacius himself had been paralyzed behind a stand of trees. The paralyzed they gathered and put in wagons while a few of the people turned to statues were smashed as the Dark one laughed. Pacius screamed in silence as the warlock elf walked to Tyree's statue and took his scepter from his hands. Tyree's scepter, it was the center of all the magic in Shadowmoon. It kept the satyr's young, gave them their abilities with illusion and kept the land fertile for the planting of their grapes for wine.
After that I woke up and went to where my fathers body lay in rubble in the temple. I cried and vowed my revenge against the Dark elves that had done this. My way was clear. Break the spell my people were under, find my brothers and bring them back and kill every Dark elf and Goblin I could find.
"Now you know the tale of Shadowmoon." Pacius told Elan. "But there is one more thing. Long ago the moon goddess Alea came to Tyree and warned him of a coming threat. She told him that one day his scepter would be taken and that if it was not back in his hand in four showings of the moon, all his children would be doomed to stone. The scepter has been gone for two moon passings. We have two days to return it."
"Then the time for talk is over." Elan grabbed his saddle and heaved it to his shoulder. "Lets go get Tyree's scepter back."

The fighting in Winterhaven was fierce. most of Lord Larin's forces had been beating until all that was left was the men protecting his manor. Morganz and Marcus sat out in front of the manor on horseback talking and planning a final attack.
"There's no way in." Marcus said as he pulled his pipe from his saddle bag, stuffed it and put a match to it. "We've tired the two main entrances, the servants entrance and even the secret passage that exits in the cemetery.That tunnels been completely filled in."
"Have you tried flying someone in?" Morganz asked. "Through a window or down a chimney?"
"It won't work. I've had fairies and pixies try. It didn't work."
"And none of our warlock can do it." Morganz got down from his horse, handed the reins to one of his warriors and stared looking at the manor.
"Many have tried." Marcus blew a cloud of smoke. "None have made it in. Jandar were here. He could do it."
"Jandar? Morganz turned to Marcus. "Your forgetting someone. Someone almost as powerful as Jandar."
"Who?"
"Me." Said a grim voice behind them. As they turned, there stood Pelic in his dark cloak of shadows and opaque face. "I can get you in. If you can wait until after dark, you can lead your men in and free Winterhaven. But that won't keep him from coming back. We need a way to defeat him for good."
"With all the power he now controls, It'll take someone very powerful to defeat him." Morganz and Marcus were both off their horses now with Pelic. Morganz hoped Pelic's answer was in the positive.
"I'm afraid not." Pelic pulled his cloak closed and pushed back his hood to show his extinguished features. There was a lot of pain in Pelic's face. Tortures from his dark past perhaps. "Lord Larin has surpassed me in power though not in knowledge."
"What's that mean?" Marcus asked.
"It means though I know more magic and lore then he does, I'm constrained by my ethics and conscience."
Marcus still liked completely puzzled. Pelic sighed and tried again.
"I to was once a dark warlock." He explained. "Then torture and murder meant nothing to me. People were just tools to be used however I wanted, but thank Rimnar my soul's been cleaned. I can do shadow magic but dark magic hurts. It rips at my soul and I don't ever want to feel the burning cold of a dead soul again. I won't do dark magic ever again."
"So what your saying is that we need dark magic to beat him?"
"What I'm saying is I'm not strong enough to beat him."Pelic knew they still didn't understand. Sometimes, neither did he. "We have to find another way."
"Then let's start with Winterhaven's freedom and go from there." Morganz looked out at the manor with the useless siege engines all around it. It was quiet now so the field had been cleared of all the wounded. His loses had been lite. Once they realized they couldn't get in they pulled back from arrow fire fast, then it all up to the warlocks and wizards which unfortunately didn't go any better. Now it was Pelic's turn. He looked at Pelic putting a hand to his shoulder. "Lets hope they haven't learned from their mistakes. We'll meet at the barracks at midnight."

In his sleep, Aron watched as Elan made his way rode out of Winterhaven. He watched as he passed through the different lands of the countryside. He could only guess he was heading torwards him and home. He watched as Elan walked the beach littered with dead elves after the battle in Silverwater. Tears ran from his eyes and Aron could feel the heaviness of his heart. Sad, he climbed back on his horse and moved on, The mountains and plains were just as bad, Devastation everywhere he went. Lord Larin and Queen Talsara were turning Keanna into one great cemetery. It was hard for Aron to watch his love's agony on his journey. But at least there was one good thing, He would be there in Darkshade with him soon if all went well.
At last Elan stopped and got off his horse for rest. Aron could sense how weary he was. He watched him eat the lay down to rest. That was when Aron reached out and grabbed hold of his mind.
[Elan?] Aron drifted trough a starry night sky . He saw Elan in the distance and pushed his way to him.
[I'm here love.] Elan smiled. [Always here.]
As they touched, Elan wrapped his arms around Aron. He hadn't felt so happy and in love since Aron had been taken from him.
[God, I've missed you so mush.] They're lips met in a deep passion filled kiss. Elan's hands roamed and touched every part of him reveling in the feel of his lovers body. Aron grasped at the glory of his touch, his heart ready to burst with love and excitement.
[Are you hurt?] Elan pulled back to look him over for any sign of pain. All he saw was the glow of his love.
[No, I'm ok] He said with a smile. [But they're hunting me here and I don't know how long I can hide.]
[Be brave love, I'm on my way.] They hugged each other tight. [It feels good to hold you even if its in a dream.]
[The Dragons taught me there are many things we can do in a dream.] Aron smiled mischievously.
[Like?]
[Like this.] Aron pulled the coat off Elan and undid his pants and laid him down. [Dreams come true you know.]

As Aron woke from his dream, he smiled and looked down at himself. He still had a huge erection from the dream, he missed Elan and couldn't wait until they were together again. He sat up and looked around. He was in an spare drably decorated room. Then he remember where he was. This was the house of Jassin Limeria the executioner they had met after their escape from the tower. Aron sat up throwing his legs over the side of the bed. He looked to the window and realized it must be late afternoon and he was hungry. On a chair beside his bed he found all his things, clean pair of dark pants and a black tunic with a clean loin cloth. Over in the corner there was a bathing tub and a bar of soap. Aron picked up the soap and thought, why not. It had been a long time since his last bath. He stripped himself out of the loin cloth and tossed the dirty rag aside standing naked at the tube. Sometimes while he had been asleep, Jassin had come in and filled the tub with cold water. All Aron had to do was warm it with a simple spell and hop in. He whispered a simple phrase and watched a soft glow spread over the surface of the water. With a toe he tested the temperature then climbed in to wash.
The warm water soothed his thoughts and cleared his mind, now he had time to think. Talsara had brought him here hoping Elan would follow and then she would have them both under her power. He knew if she had him, Elan would do whatever she ordered him to do. But to her disappointment and Aron's relief, he hadn't done as she expected. Instead he put his trust in Aron to keep himself safe until he could get there and now he was on his way. Aron knew he had to figure, somehow Talsara would know he was coming. She would be ready for him. Her men would be looking for Aron but she would have something ready just in case she couldn't catch him. She would hold Elan captive and threaten to kill him if Aron didn't surrender, Aron would have to be a step ahead of her. He had to think. What would make Elan irrelevant to her? What is it she really wanted? Power. She wants power over everything. And what could give her that power? Aron wasn't sure but suddenly had idea occurred to him. He needed and answer and he knew just who to ask the question too.
Just then the door burst open and Jassin and Kel ran in. Aron jumped shocked at the intrusion.
"We don't have much time." Jassin explained. "Someone saw you go into the grove outside behind my house. They're coming to search now. Grab your clothes and hurry I have to get you somewhere safe."
Aron hurried and dressed while Kel watched the door. Once dressed, Aron took the still sleeping Argus from a pillow and laid him softly in a bag Jassin had made up for them.
"Get in my wagon and cover yourself." Jassin opened the door and they hurried out to the shed and hid themselves among the blankets and torture equipment, "But ready just in case we get stopped and searched."
Jassin opened the door and led the horse and wagon out then climbed into the drivers seat and urged the horse into a trot. In the back on the floor, Kel and Aron lay quietly being jostled by every bump and hole the wagon hit.
It didn't take long, but soon the sounds of riders could be heard as they approached the wagon. Aron heard someone call to Jassin to stop. The wagon slowed then they heard the brakes squeal and it came to a stop.
"Who stops the queens executioner from doing her business?"
"We have a report of an escaped fugitive on your land." Aron heard a voice call. "Have you seen anyone?"
"No. Jassin answered. "My house is secure as always. None can enter."
Aron moved very carefully and looked out from beneath the canvas blanket. Four riders stood beside the wagon, its leader questioning Jassin. If they decided to search the wagon, they were caught. Their only chance was if Jassin could talk his way out of it or to fight. Aron sent a quiet prayer to Saila goddess of all that was good and luck for a way out of there.
"Where are you heading?" The elf warrior asked. he had a suspicious look in his eyes.
"On the queens business." Jassin assured him. "Get out of my way or suffer her wraith."
Aron heard the neighing of horses and movement in the cab of the wagon. Then suddenly the canvas was ripped from off of them. A Dark warrior looked down at them in surprise. He took a deep breath to call out to his commander when suddenly Kel's sword was in his chest. Aron jumped up. Jassin was wrestling with the commander stabbing him again and again in his side. There were two other Dark elves drawing their weapons and charging the wagon. Aron summoned a charge of power and sent it at the two warriors. One was hit and thrown to the side of the road, the other came at them almost red faced sword in hand. With the reflexes of leprechaun, Kel jumped up, drew back his arm and threw a sharp spike he had found in the bottom of the wagon and put it right through the left eye of the charging elf.
"Quickly!" Jassin grabbed the body of the commander and heaved it into the wagon bed. "Get the others! We have to go!"
Together Aron and Kel grabbed the three elves and threw then into the wagon.
"Where too?" Aron asked as he hopped back in.
"Both of you," Jassin ordered. "Take the uniform of one of those warriors. Kel get up front with me. Aron, keep your hands and arms covered. If anyone stops us, I'll say I'm disposing of enemies of the queen. No one will look to closely."
"But where are we going?" Aron asked.
"To Hasmira's house." Kel answered. "We have to time this right, We let them search the area then move on before we try and enter."
Aron nodded his agreement but had and uneasy feeling about this place. He knew there were enemies out to get him everywhere he turned but that wasn't it. There was something here, every magical sense in him screamed of danger. But as he looked out through a hole in the wagon's side all he saw were the people and troops of Darkshade hurrying about their business.
Jassin was at a cross street in the major part of the city. Then thought they were about to be searched again but instead the guards just held them there as they escorted a coach pass. Aron looked more closely at the insignia and flags that flew from the coach. Aron had studied all the great houses of the elven lands. The Darkshade, Eventides, Dree and the rich Atlantar's of the west. This one was of the deep south. A dark elven family cousins to the Darkshades called Shadowfall. Saevel Shadowfall was known for his blood lust in war, How he would torture his enemies and his allies just to hear the screaming. An alliance with Darkshade seemed perfect, but Aron didn't understand how either thought they could trust the other.
As the coach rode by, Aron thought he saw a flicker of magic from the coach. There must be someone of power riding with them. Aron switched his vision to see if it was possible to recognize anyone. As he scanned the coach he saw many different spells. The coach must be old and it had held many different levels of powerful elves over the years all of them leaving a small clue to their being there. But there was something else. Something that not many on Keanna could possibly recognise. Aron blinked to clear his eyes thinking he must seeing things, but when he opened them it was still there. Somehow in that coach there had one of his very own spells. He recognized the spell. Princess Noelle was in that coach. Aron wanted to leap out and run to find her. If she was there, Ryel and the others had to be here too.
As Aron watched they turned on a road that led off into the hills outside of the city.
"Jassin." Aron whispered. "Where's that coach going?"
"That road leads to the palace. Why?"
"Cause I think I have friends in high places I need to see. Get us somewhere safe then I have something I need you to do."

It was midnight as Morganz and Marcus gathered their men in the barracks before their invasion into Larin Manor. Everyone was dressed in light armor as Morganz had ordered for stealth and speed. He knew there would be heavy fighting and with only chain mail they would lose some protection, but they would also be faster and able to move much better and best of all, quieter.
Along with the warriors, Pelic had gathered a few wizards and whatever vampires and werewolves he had found in the city. Since Lord Larin had taken some of their homes, he thought it only fair that they could pay him back by taking his main city from him.
With everyone gathered in the main hall of the barracks, Morganz stepped up to give his last orders.
"The time has come for us to take back from Tayor Larin the city we all call home." His voice was so clear and energized. "No longer will we hide in fear of his warriors in our streets and taking our homes from us. We stand, we fight and we end his reign in Winterhaven for now and forever!!!"
A cheer went up though room as everyone raised a fist in salute. Pelic walked in to stand beside Morganz signaling his readiness.
"Team one get ready." Men dressed in dark chain mail hurried to stand by Pelic.
"Remember." He said. "Hold hands and keep your eyes closed until you feel the heat of Larin manor. Then head to the entrances and secure it. Go!!"
With his hand held out, Pelic led them into a dimly lit room. With a wave of his hand he dimmed the candles so the room was cast in shadows. Pelic asked Marcus to shut the door and for them to gather around him.
"As you all remember it's cold in shadows." Pelic has cleared the shadows from his face so the men could see him. For this to work he need them to trust him and not step into shadows in fear. "Your brave men and as long as you control your fear and stay connected, you have nothing to worry about. Morganz will be through in the next team, but you are our spearhead. Are you ready?"
Pulling dark scarves to cover their face's, Marcus acknowledged their readiness. Pelic pulled his cloak closed around himself and disappeared for a second then blinked back in.
"Two men and a wizard in each team." He explained. "You know the layout of the manor so split up and quietly head for your objective. I've found a place to start. Take hands now."
They split into four teams and each man took the hand of the man next to him. Pelic opened his cloak and the darkness began to spread out.
"Don't worry." Pelic told them, "I'll guide you to where you need to go. Breathe easy and step in. It'll only be a few seconds."
Taking a deep breath, all fourteen closed there eyes and stepped into Pelic's cloak. Instantly they felt the freezing cold of the shadow realm surround them. They could hear the howling of the wind then realized there was no wind. The air was absolutely still, but they could still hear howling far off in the distance coming closer and and closer. Then all of a suddenly, they were out of shadow and standing in a dark hall. The cold of shadow was gone and it was time to act.
Pulling a short sword, Marcus signal the three other teams to split off and head for the entrance they had been assigned. Like shadows themselves they slipped off down the hall moving in silence. One team to the main entrance. Another went to the carriage entrance at the side on the manor. A third team made their way to the kitchen where the servants entrance was, and the last had the hardest entrance of all. They had to find the secret entrance somewhere in the lower parts of the manor.
The halls of the manor were quiet. Most of Lord Larin's servant had abandoned the house at the beginning of the revolt before the house was closed off. The only people left were his housekeeper, a few footmen, some of the kitchen staff and the household guards. At the main entrance three guards and two footmen stood watch. All they had were their own personal weapons since the shield would keep the city guard out. Their only real job there was to ring the alarm if anyone made it through. Bored the two footmen slept while the three guards played dice to entertain themselves. Quietly the three crept in and dispatched the guards before the footmen could make a stir. When they opened there eyes, they found themselves tied up and the main entrance had been lost. Once the entrance was secure, a single flaming arrow was shot out into the night signaling success.
Next came the kitchen entrance. This entrance was guarded much better. Five werewolves stood guard there, Three out in the bay where Tayor's coaches were kept and two more in the kitchen. Marcus had made the decision that the city guard wouldn't be enough for this entrance. He would send warriors more use to battling werewolves.
It was quiet in the kitchen, The Tayor's cooks had prepared dinner for the men in the guard house and sent it to the dining hall. A side of beef had been cooked rare and left for the men guarding the kitchen. They carved it up and took turns feeding. As they ate the beef the lights went out and mist began to grow and the kitchen grew cold.
"There are Vampires here."
"I smell them." The werewolf on the oppose side of the table dropped the ribs he was eating and stood up from his chair. He pointed down the thickly misted hall. "Down there."
The two men shifted to a man/wolf form, snarled and started down the hall. From the kitchen they entered into along dark hall with a stair case that led to floors upstairs and down below. Following their nose, the two moved down the hall following a trail that led towards the stair case. As one began to growl, the sound of vampiric laughter echoed down the hall at them. It was coming from the stair case above them. With claws ready to strike they grabbed the railing and started slowly up. Suddenly from below a hand reached out and grabbed the second werewolf, covered his mouth and dragged him back into the mist. Muffled screams caught the attention of the leading werewolf. When he turned and realized he was alone, he jumped from the stair case and went to his hands and knees in search of an enemy. The scent of the vampire was all around him. One second he sense someone right in front of him. He swung out with his clawed hand at empty air. Then it was to his left. Another swing, but no contact. Still the laughter rang out from all around him chilling him.
Covered in the thick mist, he decided his sense of smell was not going to work to find the adversary, He would have to depend of hearing. He closed his eyes and listened closely. The sounds of the manor came through clearly. The creaking of the house, the sound of wind from outside, then there it was. Soft footsteps and breathing. It was coming from the right. He leaped out claws slashing for what he thought was the vampires throat only to have his fist caught and pulled down. Suddenly something heavy bashed him again and again in his face until he lay stunned on the floor. As the mist cleared he looked up through dazed eyes at a senior older vampire staring down at him.
"Your new at this aren't you?" Then he hit him and things went black. "Sleep well cubs."
After tying the two fledgling werewolves up, Costa the vampire went back up to the kitchen to check on his nephews Eros and Damon. He stepped into the kitchen just as they were coming back in.
"How'd it go?"
"Easy." Eros smiled as he picked up a piece of beef off the table. "They know nothing of being werewolves. Damon sent the arrow up."
"Good." Costa  smacked his hand making him drop the rib. "Eat later. We have to keep watch on the hallways. The sooner we're done, the sooner we get back home."
Two down and one to go. Morganz sent men out to check the manor room by room. He didn't want any surprises coming at them out of no where. Once all was accounted for it was time for the attack on the last three objectives. The dining hall, the barracks and last of all, the secret exit that led out to the Larin family cemetery.
Together Morganz and Marcus would take the dining hall and the barrack. They gathered everyone together and made their way to each location. It was quiet as they approached the sleeping barracks. Each man pulled his weapon as Morganz threw open the door and they charged in waking everyone up from their deep sleep.
In the dining area men were busy eating and talking when the doors opened and the city guard rushed in and caught most of them unarmed and unprepared to fight.
Deep in the basement of the manor, five warriors made their way through the dark musty twists and turns to a where they found what looked to them like a dark temple. There was a altar set with silver and gold candles and statues all around a pyre set in the center. Black flowers littered the floor all around the altar. As the warrior moved to investigate the altar, a cold voice rang out.
"STOP."
Pelic came floating down through the floor to stand in front of them blocking the way to keep them back from the altar.
"Go help Morganz." He told them. "This is for me to do."
Each man looked around not sure what they should do. But Pelic had freed them all from imprisonment and they had all traveled through his shadows, they had trust in him. So they all turned and went back to help as Pelic had ordered.
"You can show yourself now Avirex." He called. "They are gone."
Shimmering out from the darkness, Avirex floated down to stand at the center of the altar.
"Greetings Pelic." She said as her ragged cloak blew in a mysterious wind. "I never expected to find you as one of my enemies."
"I'm not your enemy and I never will be." He gave her a grim smile, "Neither are any of these men here. They just fight for their freedom and their homes. You and I once did the same long ago."
"I remember." She said. "And I remember what it cost me. My soul, my love and the most important thing in my life. My son."
"And do you remember who it was that took all those things from you? Who made you the Draugr you are now?"
"Yes I do."
"Then how can you protect him?" Pelic stepped forward. He almost reached out and touched her before he remember that could be fatal to him. "What promise could he make you that would convince you to do anything for him after all he's done to you?"
"He promised to give me back my son." He was shocked at what he saw. An undead crying. But there she was with tears running down her face.  "I would do anything he asked just to have Tabor back with me!"
"With you?" He could feel her pain. "Is that really what you want? You want Tabor to share the life of the undead that Tayor sentenced you to? Is that the love of a mother? Hasn't he been tortured enough with Tayor as a father? A life with no love, no friends, not even a pet he could call his own. All Tayor gave that boy is lessons on how to hate, torture and to have a hunger for power. He's turning him into a heartless monster like himself. Let us try and save him from that life. If its not to late, let us show him what life is really about. Love and caring for one another. Please. He deserves a chance to live."
"I fear it may be to late for Tabor." She cried. "I just hope his heart isn't as black as I think it is."
"And Winterhaven?" Pelic asked. "Will it be doomed to be black hearted too?"
"No." Avirex rose up and started to fade. "Free your city. Free our home and free Tabor if you can. But if you can't, I'm taking both Tayor and Tabor with me and I will deal with them."
With that said, Avirex was gone from Winterhaven and so was her shield. With the shield down the rest of the city guard stormed the manor and put an end to the reign of Lord Larin. The city was free, and the people could rejoice again, for now.

As Elan rode Taltan through the night he looked up at the moon riding high in the sky. He said a quick prayer to Alea for success for him and Pacius. Beside him Pacius talking non stop about life it Silvermoon as he kept pace with Taltan. Elan had stopped listening long ago and concentrated more on the road and looking for the enemy. Dark elves had invaded Silvermoon and stolen its most precious talisman. The Scepter of Tyree. Without that, the satyr's and fauna's of Silvermoon would be turned permanently to stone in twenty four hours and it was up to him and Pacius to stop it. The only problem was where were the Elves that took the scepter and why.
Tyree's scepter wasn't just a talisman that could be used by anyone. It was a god's personal property, made for use only by that god. Even at her power level, Talsara couldn't use the scepter. Then why take it? Was it just to mock the god's in defiance? Or maybe to own a god piece. But what happens when Tyree looks down on Silvermoon and finds all his children stone? His rage would then be turned on Darkshade. Darkshade had done alot of bad things in its history but to purposely anger a god was just madness. Talsara had gone to far this time. He had to get the scepter back before it was to late.
"Pacius." He called interrupting him. "Is there anyway for us to find the scepter? Your people must have some kind of connection to it. A feeling for it?"
"Yes we do feel it." Pacius said looking up at the moon. "It calls us at midnight to dance. It's an irresistible call none of us can resist."
"Does Talsara know about that?"
"I doubt it." Pacius said as he turned away and walked on. Elan watched him walk off. There was something missing. Something he wasn't saying. If Elan was to find the staff he would have to know all he could about the people of Silvermoon.
Urging Taltan on, Elan caught up with him. He wasn't talking anymore. He was sullen and quiet now, Elan hopped down off Taltan's back and caught Pacius.
"Whats missing?"
"I don't know what you mean." Pacius continued walking ignoring Elan's questions.
"I thought you wanted to save your people." Elan stopped him. "If I'm wrong tell me. I have a mate I have to save from my mother. I don't have time to wander the forest for to long and if you don't want to be decoration in your own land, you don't have time either."
"Your point?" Pacius tried to pull away.
"The point is I can help you."  Elan held his arm. "But I need to know all I can about your people and Silvermoon to do it."
Pacius look down at the hand holding him. He began to get another erection. Elan saw the rise in the front of his pants and let go. He wasn't having anymore of that. But it did give him an idea.
"Sex, that's it!!" Elan smacked himself in his forehead. If he was right, he knew exactly why his mother wanted to destroy Silvermoon. "When you spoke of your family earlier you said your father and brothers right?"
"Yes." Pacius was confused."They are my family. My father and brothers are all I have. I'll do anything to save them."
"What about your mother?"Elan asked. "Sisters, aunts, grandmother? Where are they?"
Pacius stared at Elan confused. He wasn't sure what Elan was asking him. These words meant nothing in the Silvermoon society. There were two genders in Silvermoon of course, but they were two absolutely separate societies. Men and women only had relationships together during Tyree's dance. Other then that they only met when at market or when a male child was born and it was passed on for the men to raise.
After Pacius finished explaining, Elan knew he was right. Silvermoon was a totally homo oriented society. Talsara wouldn't want to rule here, she would rather grind it to dust killing everyone who lives here. Now all he had to do was figure out how to tell Pacius that Silvermoon was being destroyed because of his mothers hate for him and his mate.
Maybe explanation weren't needed. She was evil and full of hate. Maybe that would be enough for Pacius, that and the return of the scepter and his peoples freedom.

The Enchanted Beauty. 63

The sound of wind and rain whipping through the trees slowly brought Emrel back to consciousness. She felt cold, colder then she had ever felt before. Emrel opened her eyes wondering where she was and how she had gotten here. She was in a dark room still in the trees on Eventide. She knew this because she could still smell the rich scents of the forest all around her. But where was she? Emrel looked around the room and didn't recognize it.

Getting to her feet, she snapped her fingers and brought a candle on the shelf to lite. She was in a small room furnished with nothing but three chairs, a small table a series of paintings arranged all around the room. Reaching up, Emrel floated the candle down to her. As lightning flashed outside, she looked at the first painting, It was a portrait of a man and woman in regal garb. Looking closer, Emrel recognized the two, it was her parent Tanyl and Dasyra Eventide. Well she knew she was still in Eventide. This portrait could be found in any home in Eventide, it didn't help to tell her where she was. But the next portrait was different. She knew the people in this portrait, and it was owned by only one person. It was a portrait of her older brothers Zaoir, Shael and Evindal and it belonged to Zaoir. She hadn't seen it in years since Zaoir's death. Was this some part of the palace that she had never been in? How could that be? As children, Emrel and Adanar had roamed the halls, branches and airways playing, hiding and learning all they could of Eventide. There was no where in Eventide that they didn't know except. There was one place they were never allowed. One place that belonged only to Zaoir, Shael and Evindal. The room at the top. Their private room. Could this be it?
Walking around the room, Emrel saw it had been trashed. Everything had been torn apart and thrown around except the portraits. They were untouched.
As Emrel searched she wondered how she had gotten here. Last thing she remembered was the battle with the Demon Druda and the wild elves that once were the people of Eventide. Above head, Jayce had fought Druda to a stand still then everything went black and she woke up here. That was all she could remember. As Emrel sat back she took stock of what she knew.
She knew she was still in Eventide, somewhere in the royal tree. She knew from looking around, everything in this room belonged to Zaor and Shael. There wasn't any of Jake, Adanar or Ryel's things here. Whoever had been using this room must have been really close to them. Above the fireplace, there was a wedding portrait of Evindal and Allisa. She stopped and looked at her brother on his happiest day. This portrait being here could mean only one thing. It was Evindal that had brought her here. Somehow he had broken free from whatever spell he was under and he had saved her from battle and brought her here. there was still apart of him still holding on in that beastly body.
Just then there was a crack of thunder and a flash of lightning and a door in the wall to the west flew open. There in the lightning flashes stood a great white beast in green royal rags howling at the moon and snarling at her, King Evindal had returned,

"What do you mean Emrel disappeared?"  Adanar yelled at them almost out of control with worry. "How could she disappeared? Weren't you watching her?"
"Of course we were watching." Jayce explained. "But we were in the middle of a battle trying to keep her alive. I'm sorry Adanar. A lot was happening. We were distracted for just a second."
"A second is all that was needed." Upset, Adanar turned and stomped off into the palace.
"Forgive him Jayce." Ariel put a hand on his shoulder. "They're twins. She's closer to him then even our parents were."
"I know how he feels." Jayce smiled. "But its done. We don't we just get to finding her. She can't be that far way."
"Any ideas?" Ariel asked. With Jayce in the front, Graym, Ariel and the angel turned and went into the palace where Hema and Finn were waiting with Adanar. The fairy was sitting on his shoulder gentle words consoling him.
"What are these things in the trees?" Ariel asked. "They're everywhere."
"They be ya brothers and sisters." Finn told her. "Everyone missin from Eventide. Queen Talsara put the place unda a nasty spell."
Ariel's eyes lit up as she considered his words. That meant the beast they had just been fight, could have been people she had known all her life. How low could Talsara go to get what she wanted?
"That means Emrel is out there somewhere with those things."
"There's more." Graym told her. "We found your brother Evindal. He's one of them too. He was here during the fight and gone once it was over. It's possible he took her."
"That may be good for us." Adanar jumped to his feet. "Evindal won't hurt her. No matter what they did to him. He won't hurt a hair on her head. There has to be a reason he took her."
"Like?" Jayce stared at Adanar and Ariel. He was hoping they might know what Evindal might want.
"I don't know."  Adanar was getting upset again. "But it has to have something to do with Talsara. Maybe she still wants her for something. Have you found Allisa yet?"
Jayce turned to Graym with a look of astonishment. Evindal's wife. Of course, that's what he wants. But does he still have the intelligence and patience to get Emrel to understand him.
"We have to find them now."  Jayce stood and pulled Graym to the door.
"Wait not so fast." Graym stopped. "We have to find out where they are first."
"I know where they are." Jayce smiled. "Actually, Finn knows where they are. And he's going to take us there now."

Dressed in noble rags, Evindal lurched down the few steps from the entrance into the secret room. With a growl rising in his throat, he pushed his way through the room as Emrel backed herself against the wall. Though deep in her heart she knew it was Evindal, fear had a grip on her heart and it could be seen on her face. Looking around, Emrel reached and grabbed a pan to protect herself even though a simple blast spell would have been enough.
As Evindal roared, Emrel pulled herself back cringing in fear. Then with a single leap, he was standing face to face with his youngest sister. Emrel closed her eyes when she felt his hot breath on her face, his foul breath turned her stomach. Then he uttered a single sound, a moan. Like a moan of sorrow or pain. Something in Emrel's heart changed. Suddenly she wasn't as scared as she was when he burst through the door.As he moaned again, she slowly opened her eyes and look directly in his beastly face. Evindal like all the others in Eventide had become a horrible beast thing. He had a long silver-white mane of hair that framed his face with huge ram like horns from his temple that curved around the side of his head. His eyes were like those of the wildest jungle cat with long whiskers just below his feline-like nose. His mouth was curved down in a sad expressions than went right to Emrel's heart. But his eyes are what drew her in the most. They were so sad and he had tears running down his face. Lifting her hand, Emrel reached out and touched her brothers cheek.
"Evindal?"
He took her hand in his and held it to his face then with a whimper he nodded assuring her it was him. At that point Emrel burst into tears and threw her arms around him and cried. That's when a small part of Evindal's animal nature took over and he roared out in discomfort and pushed her away.
Emrel fell back to the feel and stared up at her cowering brother.
"What is it Brother?" She got to her feet taking a step forward.
Just then, Graym and Jayce flew in through the open down. Slamming his hands together, a great flash of shadow burst from Graym's hands filled the room with absolute darkness. Jayce dived down and grabbed Emrel in his arms and turned and streaked back out the door.
"NO!!" Emrel screamed fighting to get loose. "Let me go! He needs me!"
Bellowing out, Evindal leaped snarling for the door. With a swift kick, Graym knocked him back as he raced back out to hover in the air just out above the trees. Wiping the blood from his nose, Evindal dived out the door to land on a branch that was once the walkway into the secret room. As he looked about, Adanar, Ariel, and Graym stood ready for battle.
Ariel's eyes glowed with power and anger as lightning and thunder flashed around her. On her back, Adanar ready a spell that would strike, burning the beast to cinders. Jayce and Graym hovered just above the trees ready with Salvation and Retribution out, ready to fight.
With his mind full of rage, Evindal threw back his head and howled out his challenge. He hunched himself up ready to leap into battle when from the walkway below, Emrel sent a bolt of light in between them which exploded bringing showers of sparks raining down on them all.
"Stop!" Emrel held up a glowing hand ready to blast the next person to move. "Everyone calm down. None of us are enemies here. Adanar, Seven, this is Evindal, our brother. He wasn't trying to hurt me, he wants my help."
Relaxing, the glow faded from Ariel's eyes as Adanar jumped from her back to the nearest walkway and dropped down to land with the others near Evindal. Being twins, Emrel and Adanar could always feel the truth from each other, so he had no problem believing her. But that didn't mean he trusted this wild thing in front of him.
"He looks so scared, "  Seven said after shifting. "I wish Jake were here. His fear abilities could tell us what he's scared of."
"He's probably scared he'll be like this forever." Jayce came down and released Emrel. "How animal is he right now?"
Seven walked out to her brother looking him over. Evindal took a step back but gentle moaning noises slipped from him.
"Evindal?"  She slowly reached out to him hoping he would recognize her. "It's me. Seven. Your sister."
Evindal looked at her sadly. Tears filled his eyes as he tried without success to say her name. He knew what it was. He knew who all of them were. He had been waiting for them to come since his mother had fallen sick. She had promised they would come to help him, and now here they were, but he was so far under Talsara's spell, he couldn't even tell them what he needed them to know. Evindal had promised his mother on her death bed that he would protect Eventide with his life and he tried. He evacuated as many as he could leaving only his soldiers to fight the Darkshade army when they came. He was glad all his brothers and sisters were out of Eventide and away from Talsara and her madness. Especially the young ones Adanar, Emrel and Ryel. He hoped they were safe and would come with help if he really needed them. His only regret was that he couldn't get sweet Allisa to go too, but she refused and wouldn't leave his side. That he soon learned was to be Talsara's biggest sin against the Eventide's.
On the night of Dasyra Eventides death, Evindal and Allisa was at her side giving her comfort until her last breath escapes her body. When it did and she had passed, Evindal took his crying wife by the hand and led her out of the royal bedroom. Then walked down the hall to their own bedroom. As they walked, Allisa stumbled. Evindal caught her. He asked her if she was alright. But with a single look into her glowing red eyes he know something was wrong. Allisa took one more step the fell forward into his arms burn with the same fever his mother had just died of. It didn't take long for the healers to advise him that the new Queen was dying from the same spell that had taken the last Queen. To Evindal it seemed there wasn't much hope for Eventide unless help could arrive. That was the first-night Evindal felt the urge to howled at the night sky.

It had been a long day of twists and turns for Sgt Walin Haell as he was dragged back through Dreesport in chains. At the docks, Capt, Eskowe had stripped him of all his weapons, his armor and most of his clothing. All that was left on him was the muddy loincloth he had donned after his last bath. His face, arms and legs were scratched and bruised in many areas. His back had been scraped raw from the dragging.He was in the most horrible pain and in and out of consciousness for most of the time since the beating at the docks.
Now with blackened eyes he looked up from the courtyard of the Dree palace. There were Darkshade warriors gathered all around, Captain Eskowe stood at the steps staring down at him with contempt.
"Bring him to the lagoon in the back." He said as he turned to go up into the palace. "Someone wishes to see him."
Rough hands grabbed him from under each arm and pulled him up the stairs following after the Captain. Because of the pain he was in, Walin couldn't keep track of all the turns they made going through the palace. Not that it mattered. He was in no condition to fight or try and escape. He probably wouldn't survive his trip into the palace.
As they passed through a large set of doors through the rear of the palace, cool air chilled his body. Walin heard a woman screaming in anger. He couldn't make out what she was saying but he knew that voice. He would know the voice of the Queen of Darkshade anywhere.
Down marble stairs Walin was dragged and dumped before a blue green tent posted beside the beautiful clear water of the lagoon. Walin looked around, He was on a patio decorated with marble fountains and handsome statuary. Silk divans, pillows and a rich beautiful garden. There were trays of exotic fruit laid out with a bounty delicious looking dishes.
Posted at the doors to the tent were two of Talsara's warriors. As he got himself into a sitting position, the tent flaps opened and Talsara walked out dressed in the most beautiful white sparkling silk robes. She primped her hair, smiled down on Walin and walked down swaying her hips to stand in front of him. She may be the most hateful thing he ever saw, but she sure was beautiful. It was almost hypnotic. Her beauty made you want to please her, do almost anything. But the spell on him was broken. To many had dyed at his hands because of her. Walin could see her hate was all she really was. He pulled back as she came closer. Talsara stopped with a curious look in her eye.
"You failed me Wailn." Her voice was so sweet but sharp. She reached out to caress his face. "You have no idea what Dree's lost means to me. I put my trust in you, gave you warriors to command and failure is how you pay me back!!"
Talsara drew back her foot and kicked Walin in his stomach. The air rushed out of him choking him. He gasped for breath and raised his hands to keep her from kicking again. With her left hand, she grabbed an oar from a boat beside the lagoon.
"You knew you would be punished for failure." She swung the oar down into his rib cage breaking two ribs. "You knew the reward for failing would be pain!! WHY! WHY! WHY WHY!!"
Again and again the oar crashed down on his pushing him closer and closer to the edge of the water.
"You die for failure to capture Orym Dree." Throwing down the broken oar, she kicked at him. "For losing the docks, I sentence you to death!"
She kicked again, blood bubbled out from his mouth as he fell into the lagoon sinking down into the water.
"No!" Talsara gesture and Walin levitated up out of the water. "You can't die so easily. I have a better idea."
With a wave, she sent Walin streaking through the air to land further out in the deep water of the bay.

FROM TRAITOR TO INSANITY.
WITH MADNESS AND FEAR.
FROM ELF TO SEA GOD.
IN SHAPE SO CLEAR.
I BIND YOU TO MY SERVICE.
TO DO AS I WISH.
TO FIGHT AND TO DIE.
TO KILL AND TO PUNISH.
SO RISE AS MUNOECUS.
ONCE GOD OF THE SEA.
AND LEND ME YOUR DARKNESS.
YOUR POWERS TO BE.

The bay began to boil and foam and rise as the dark magic began Walin's change. Lightning struck down sending sparks out over the surface of the water. Suddenly the great head of Munoecus rose out of the water squealing out it's rages then dived back into the deep depths of the ocean off of Dreesport.
[WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!!!!]
"I've made you mine for now and forever." Talsara drew back her head and laughed. "From here on you shall be Munoecus, sea god of the Munos. You will have no will other then what I give you. You will obey orders from me and no other and do exactly as I say.You will be my weapon to destroy Aquilona and to bring the sea's under my command!"
Munoecus roared and sent electrical strikes into the air and sea as steam and smoke bellowed to the surface. This was the last of his free will as he tried to send strikes at Talsara. Walin's mind whirled as memories of his past life were erased and forgotten forever. Rising to the surface, he stared out at Talsara standing on the dais on the patio, All he had left was his hate and though he would obey her commands, he hated her and always would for the rest of his days.
"Now go!" She pointed out into the ocean. "You belong in the deep seas spreading my darkness and waiting for my commands! Go until I call for you! Soon, all of Keanna will fall and answer to me Talsara of Darkshade!!"

By daybreak, both gates of Winterhaven had fallen to Morganz and Elan. There next stop was to take the barracks and the rest of Lord Larin's sleeping guard force. Nero had been taken and imprisoned in a cell under the gates where he could do no harm or give anyone any warning. Men were sent out to every house in the city and the surrounding area for anyone strong and willing to fight against Lord Larin. It had taken most of the night, but by morning they had gathered a small force on the grounds of the Academy. Farmers, cattlemen, elves, dwarves and many others that had been in hiding came out.
As Elan stood with Morganz and Sir Marcus, they gazed out at those gathered in front of them. It was a small group, less than one hundred. But with his men of the old guard, it was enough hope to take the city back from Larin then reinforcements could be sent from Tir Na and some of their other allies. Morganz gazed over at Elan. He had a faraway look in his eyes. Something was bothering Elan and Morganz knew what it was.
"Dreams bothering you again?" Morganz nudged Elan out of his daze. The young elf turned and looked to him with a morose look. "Where are you today Elan?"
"I'm sorry." He smiled. "I was back home in Darkshade. I'm scared Morganz. Scared that I won't make it in time to save Aron. I should've gotten some kind of news by now, but nothing come. I can hardly feel him anymore."
"You really love him don't you?"
"I love him so much that I can't think of anything else anymore."  Morganz could see the truth in his words. As a Dark elf, Elan's eyes were usually dark and clear, but now they looked gray. The sign of worry. "My minds is hardly here anymore. It's getting hard to concentrate."
"Then you should go to find him." Morganz took Elan by his shoulder and guided him out from the crowd. "You've done enough for Winterhaven. We can finish this ourselves. Go find Aron and help him finish his work in Darkshade."
"His work is to kill my mother. How can I help do that?"
"No." Morganz smiled. "His work is to free Darkshade from an evil dictator. His task is to save Darkshade. You know this better than any of us."
Elan looked down with tears in his eyes. He had a choice, his mother's cruelty or living the rest of his life in the arms of the one he truly loved. The choice was easy. Talsara had made his choice for him when she declared Aron would be put to death. He couldn't let that happen. Not in a million years could he let that happen. It was time to go home.
"I've packed a horse for you with all you will need for your journey." Morganz had walked him to the old gates of the academy. He turned Elan to face him, they hugged and held hands. "Lissenen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omentuva."
"Aiya. My friend." Elan released his hand and walked out through the gates to make his way home.

As the sun rose, Aron stirred from his sleep. He opened his eyes and looked around. He didn't recognize where he was. He was laying in a green glade outside a group of elven houses. Beside him lay another elf. For a second, Aron didn't know who he was, then with a closer look, his memories came flooding back and he recognized Kel Orama as the one that freed him from his cell. Beside Kel lay a small fairy. No, not a fairy, an imp. Elan's imp Argus. He had been the one that saved them from Aesis and got them out of Darkshade Tower.
As Aron sat up, he smiled. He was free of Darkshade. He could feel the power of the sun beginning to recharge him, It felt so good. Next, to him, Kel moaned and pushed himself up as he opened his eyes.
"We're out." Aron knelt at his side. "Argus did it!"
"Yea we're out." Kel rubbed his eyes. "But we're still in Darkshade and Talsara's troops will be looking for us. We have to find somewhere to hide fast."
"This is your city." Aron helped him up. "I'll trust your choices and follow you. Where should we go?"
"I know where we are." Kel shielded his eyes from the morning sun. "This is a small village just outside of Darkshade's city walls. Once Aesis reports our escape, they'll be tearing up the city to find us. We have to find someplace safe to hide fast."
"Where can we go that she won't search?"
"Why not roll your dice and see what they say." Kel gently picked up the sleeping imp and placed him in the folds of his tunic where he would be safe.
"Good idea." Moving out of the glade, they hurried to a shed that sat out in the field. Aron took out the dice and rolled them against the was. As they flew from his hand they split into seven and rolled to a stop. Bending to read them they spelled out a single word.
HASMIRA
"Huh?" Aron looked at Kel, not understanding.
"Of course!" Kel smiled. "That would be perfect."
"What is it?"
"One of Talsara's most hated enemies," Kel explained. "There's a house west of here that once belonged to one of Talsara's mothers closest confidant's. The prophetess Hasmira Caldas. It's a long story but Talsara hated her so much she tore down her house after her exile. But there is a chamber underground that still exists. No one knew about it but me and Rom. If it's still there, it would be perfect for us. Now, all we have to do is get there safely and find the entrance."
"How far away is it?"
A rooster crowed. Aron heard a door open and shut. The elves of the village were turning in for the night. But that wouldn't mean all of them. Darkshade was a nocturnal nation but there were still many awake during the day. Crops had to be watered, livestock had to tended. And of course, Talsara's war had to be fought. There would be solider everywhere and somehow, they had to get through them without being caught.
"I would say we have at least a mile to go or maybe more. We're going to need a disguise. If anyone sees us like this, its over and we're dead."
"A disguise." Aron thought about it for a minute.  That shouldn't be a problem. He always did well in illusion magic at the academy. But what kind of disguise? Aron didn't know very much about Darkshade society and the wrong disguise could get them caught in an instant. "Tell me Kel. Who would be totally ignored if seen walking the lanes of Darkshade?"
Suddenly a smile spread across Kel's face as he looked up at the sign hanging from the shed. Aron looked it him puzzled, then up wondering what had gotten Kel so excited. They were sitting outside against the wall under the sign of the axe and the black hood. The Queens own torturer, the loneliest man in Darkshade.
"Aron." Kel pointed up at the sign. "He can get us safely through the village. No one would dare stop his wagon. Not even the guards."
Aron stood and looked beyond the shed to the house. It was dark, he could see the heavy curtains that covered the windows. The land beyond the glade where the house stood had not been taken care of at all. It was covered with rag weed, dandelions and ivy vines that crept all along the grounds and walls of the small estate. The shed was big enough to fit a horse and wagon and a workshop. Kel didn't know the name of who lived here, but he knew the man was defiantly the executioner from Darkshade. All the evidence of his trade was there for them to see.
"I'll bet Talsara keeps this one very busy." Aron rubbed dirt from the window and peeked in.
"Not as busy as you might think." A gruff voice said from behind them. In a flash, Kel turned with his knife out ready to fight. They had been discovered. Aron stepped back with a spell on his fingers ready to be cast at the dark elf. He was a tall elf, about six foot three inches with muscular arms, Aron guessed it was from swinging his axe. He had the usual grey complexion of a dark elf with grey hair instead of white. His face had a long scar that ran from his right temple to his left cheek just missing his eye. He was dressed as most executioners, all in black. As Kel and Aron turned to face him he raised his hands in front of him showing he was unarmed.
"Easy warrior." He whispered. "There's no enemy here. You found safety. Put away your blade."
"Safety?" Kel walked around in front of the dark elf and took his sword and dagger from his belt. "For twenty five years my friends and I served Darkshade, We fought for Caline and Rhys to protect these lands and keep our family safe, but they never were safe were they? All that time we had that viper gaining power and getting ready to strike."
"You know what she did don't you?" Aron asked. "All the people she killed?"
"Our queen has a lot to answer for." He replied. "And I can help you."
"Why should we trust you?" Aron asked him. "You haven't even told us your name."
My apologies." The elf bowed to them, "I'm Jassin Limeira, cousin to King Wyn. He sent me and the little one to help you."
Kel lowered his knife and looked to Aron. He remembered Wyn of Limeira. He was Talsara's second hand back then. It was probably him that did a lot of her dirty work. Kel still didn't see a reason why he should trust them.
"Wyn's just as bad as his queen. I don't trust him."
"I do." Aron held up his hand. "He may have been a close follower of Talsara in the past but, he loves Elan just as much as I do. He'd never let anyone hurt him, not ever his mother. I think we can trust him."
"It's your choice." Jassin  stepped back away from Kel and finished unhooking his horse from the wagon. He walked it into the shed then shut the door. "You can stay out here and run from the guards or you can come in the house and get some food and rest. But you should know the patrols start in minutes. As I said, your choice."
"What do you think?" Kel asked.
"I think for now we take him up on his invitation." Aron rubbed his pocket to be sure the stones were still there safe. "It's a long way home and our business here isn't quite done yet."

As the last few hours of night passed by, Druda pulled Hell hounds through a rift from the underworld. These hellish beast were to be his weapon to bring Eventide to it's final demise. With their clawed multi limbs and jagged razor sharp teeth, he thought they would be an unstoppable force able tear down Eventide then move on Lord Larin to get him his freedom. Then Keanna would he his to make his own personnel hell.
Summoning his blazing sword he gave them the order to attack the tree city. They were to kill everyone then tear the scared grove apart and destroy the rest of Fay Shrea. Howling his nightmare laugh, Druda called his brimstone cloud and flew off after his beast army.

Standing outside of the hidden room, Emrel held her brother Evindal in her arms consoling him. All around them they could see the evidence of Talsara's evil spell that sapped the strength of Eventide. But with Jade underground providing her earth magic to sustain Eventide, there was still a chance for the elves home.
Suddenly Evindal pulled himself away for Emrel. He pointed back at the hidden room and pulled her toward it.
"What is it?" She asked.
"I think." Adanar said, "He wants us to follow him."
Evindal nodded furiously waving them in. He jumped across the open area to the limb that extended out from the door way still waving.
"Emrel." Ariel ordered. "You and Adanar go see what 's in there he thinks is important."
Taking Adanar's hand, Emrel waved her hand creating a bridge across with vines and knitted tree limbs. Quickly they ran across and into the room out of every one's sight.
Looking about, Graym stepped over to Jayce and Ariel. he was having that feeling of being watched again.
"You feel that?"
"Yeah." Jayce answered. "I think he may be back for another try."
"Who?" Ariel asked."
"There's a demon out there named Druda. We fought him earlier and drove him off."
"What's he want here?"
"Same thing they always want." Jayce pulled Salvation.
"Death and destruction to all." They said all together.
"Hema, Finn." Jayce called. "Stay with Emrel and Adanar. Keep them safe."
"As safe as me own sweet mother." Finn tipped his hat and zipped across the bridge..
"We'll do our best." Hema flew up did a quick circle and then on to the room after the leprechaun.
"We protect the tree." Ariel stretched causing lightning to flash above. "No matter what,"
Jayce and Graym nodded their agreement. With swords in hand, the two angels took to the air to circle the trees while Ariel took a seat on her side of the vine bridge. They were ready for battle.

As lightning flashed lighting the way, Evindal moved slowly to the back pushing everything out of the way. Following behind him, Emrel and Adanar watched him reach for the hidden hub on the wall and press it down.  A glowing door appeared, Evindal covered his eyes until the shine faded away the stepped through the door. As Emrel, Adanar, Finn and Hema entered the saw it was a neatly styled bedroom with more portraits of the Eventides. It was sparsely decorated with only two chairs, a dresser and a queen sized bed. A grasp escaped Emrel as she noticed there was someone in the bed.
"Allisa!"
Evindal had gone to sit at her side. He weeped while holding his wife's hand. He looked up to his brother and sister and moaned,then he looked  down to his mate. He was begging them to help her. To wake her from the spell she was under. Quickly Adanar and Emrel hurried to her side. Though pale and breathing shallow, she was still the beautiful maiden he had grew up with.
"She's still breathing." He reached out to feel her chest rise and fall. "But she's very cold."
Shifting his vision into a more magical range, Adanar looked down to examine her. He was amazed at what he saw. Her body was covered with many thousands of different sized black and gray bands of magic.
"By Rimnar! Look at all the spells!"
Emrel nodded. This was magic way beyond her. It would take a Master to unravel this magic.
"What do we do?" Hema asked.
Just then, Evindal turned to the door and began to growl. He had heard something outside he didn't like.
"What is it?" Finn asked. Evindal leaped up and ran out the door howling. Hema flew out after him. It was seconds before she was back.
"Druda's back."

As the sound of Druda's demonic laughter echoed through the trees, a black cloud sailed in over the trees. Holding his flaming blade with a great demonic hound at his side, Druda dropped down sending bolts of hellfire scattering his enemies. Behind him came a horde of hell hounds barking and snarling in for the attack.
"You thought me defeated, didn't you bright one!" Druda's eyes blazed red with madness. His sword waved leaving a blazing trail behind it. "But you were all wrong.! Demons are eternal, our hate burns like the fires of hell keeping us forever alive!!"
"Then stop talking and start fighting and we'll see who's eternal." Jayce yelled it him "Come and get it!!"
Jayce raised Salvation and dived in for the attack. Laughing hysterically, Druda split his sword in two and slashed out at the coming angel, Like two burning stars they fought high over Eventide sending sparks raining down all through the trees. Spinning around, Jayce batted Druda with his wings almost knocking him from his cloud. Druda hung on swinging himself up to kick Jayce back in his chest. He flew back out of breath for a second, then came back with his sword raised and ready to strike.
Below, hell hounds came in tearing the city apart, Graym,with Retribution hacked furiously at one then moved on to the next. His thorns like missiles flew from his arms tearing through their bodies.
In her dragon form, Ariel snatched at them tearing them apart. Lightning streaked from the skies and her piercing eyes burning the hounds to ashes. Ariel would fly high, then dive down showering the hounds with her lightning and winds.
As Evindal leaped snarling from the porch, his claws ripped into hell hounds like a cornered wolverine. Every swing of his hands, every kick of his feet dropped a hell hound to the ground below where it died and slipped back to hell. He killed again and again and again until he was overwhelmed but he never stopped protecting his mate.
Tired but still fighting, Graym began to lose hope. There were far to many for them to defeat. The three of them were strong enough to take on any adversary, but an army of darkness was a different story. Then a thought occurred to Graym. An army of darkness. And army of shadow!! Of course! Why hadn't he thought of it earlier? Shadow beast!!!
Swinging Retribution in a wide circle around him he killed or pushed anything near him back, Then with a single silent call to the dark, he summoned his Shadow beast. Not one. Not two, but be called beast out from every shadow in the forest.
As the night grew quiet they came out to answer his call. Ten then fifty then a hundred. Soon shadows beast came from every dark spot in the forest. They grabbed at the hell hounds and pulled them down ripping them limb from limb. Their hellish cries could be heard for miles as they fell into the shadows.

In Zaor's room, windows crashed as the hell hounds entered. Adanar pulled his blast stone from his pocket and took aim firing continuously as the monsters attacked. Finn was caught by surprise as the hounds closed on him grabbing his leg pulling him from the room. Hema screamed horrified as his blood splattered the walls of the outer door.  Now some thought fairy's to be sweet and gentle little being that couldn't hurt a fly, but not many have ever seen a true fairy enraged. Hema grew to her full size. Her wings became like something none of them had ever seen before. They were dark and covered with red glowing veins of power, Her skin darkened and her face was a mask of pure anger.  She radiated so much power, hell hounds began to burst into smoking ash. With a scream she tore into them blasting them to pieces. Emrel dived into the bed to cover Allisa and keep her from harm.
Once the walkway was clear, Graym relaxed and sheathed his sword walking towards Ariel who lay where she had fallen in her exhausted elven form. He sat her up and gave her a drink from the water skin at his side.
"Is it over?" She asked opening her eyes.
"Not quite yet." Graym pointed up to where Jayce and Druda fought. "There's still the Demon."

High over head as the dawn began to rise, Jayce and Druda faced off. Druda had dissipated his cloud and now hovered using huge bat like wings. Jayce with sweat running from his stern brow flexed his muscles and stretched his neck holding Salvation out ready to finish the battle.
"Eventide is lost to you Druda." He shouted. "All that's left for you is your final fall back to the underworld, and it will be the finish, no coming back this time."
"It never will end between us Angel." Druda laughed. "You may defeat me but I'll be back again and again until I can rip those wings from your back and feed them to you."
"Never gonna happen." Jayce gripped Salvation sun light glinting off the blade.
"We'll see."
Druda charged in his flaming sword swinging for Jayce chest. With a quick block, Jayce deflected his blow and sent a punch at Druda's jaw. Dazed for a second, Druda kicked out at the angel connecting with his knee then slashed again for his legs. As pain stabbed inti his knee, Jayce pumped his wings taking him higher making the slash miss. Again Jayce kicked out spinning himself around head over heels hitting Druda again in the jaw. With a quick stab Salvation made contact with Druda's shoulder searing a long gash across his chest. Druda winged himself back, grimacing and holding the wound. The smell of burning demon flesh filled the air as Jayce smiled at his opponent.
As they battled back and forth they began to drift lower and lower until they were fighting right above he tree line. Sweat ran heavy from both warrior as the sun rose higher and higher. Druda began to feel the heat from his other cursed enemy the sun. If he stayed here for to much longer the rays of the sun would start weakening him while sending power to the angel.
"How's it feel?" Jayce asked slashed down sending sparks spraying out as their swords clashed. "Do you like the morning sunrise? I love it, it gives me such hope."
"Damn your sunrise!" Druda screamed doubling his effort. "And damn you!"
With his left hand, Druda sent a bolt of energy at Jayce. It crashed into his chest knocking him back. With a wave of his hand he summoned his last two hell hounds. Like a dark snarling flash the two beast were on Jayce. He fell back holding one by the throat as the other came in to rip his head off. Suddenly a howling Evindal came from no where and grabbed the beast stabbing his claws into its chest over and over again as they fell to the ground.
"EVINDAL NO!!!!"
Ariel screamed as she watched her brother fall. With amazing speed, Graym took off to catch the falling Eventide king. As they fell, the hell hound bit into Evindals neck splashing blood all over both of them. With his clawed hand deep in the hell hounds chest, Evindal gripped its heart and ripped it out and tossed it away. In a cloud of smoke the hell hound disappeared. Seconds later just before he hit the ground, Graym caught him and flew him back up to the hidden room where his sisters waited.
As Jayce pushed the hell hound back, with a quick swing he cut it in half. It fell smoking to the ground where it burst into ash and died. Seeing this was his last chance to beat the Angel, Druda raised his sword and dived at Jayce's back. With a sudden twist, Jayce lifted his sword to be ready for the next attack and turned, Suddenly there Druda was Salvation crossed with his flaming blade. Druda spit in Jayce's face sending searing fluid into his eyes. Jayce screamed out in pain. That was the second Druda thought he could kill him. Laughing he stabbed out at Jayce's chest, but knowing Jayce to be blind, Salvation took over. It parried the thrust and countered bashing the Demon again and again in the face. Enraged Druda howled and leaped at Jayce. Just as the Demon was close enough, Salvation flashed blazing with the power of the Salvation stone. Agonizing pain burned through Druda as his sword was knocked from his hand and Salvation sank deep into his chest. Druda stared down in shock as Salvation began to set his insides to flames.
"I'll be back for you son of justice." Druda yelled as he fall. "And neither you, your father or the Dragons will stop my revenge. Never forget, I'll be backkkk!!"
Back on the porch, Graym hurried and carried Evindal into the room and laid him on the bed beside his queen. Emrel screamed when she saw her brother's body all bloody. As they watched he began to turn back to his regal elven form.
"Somebody do something or he'll die!" Tears rained down from Ariel's face as she knelt at his side.
"He'll not die." A voice called from out of the air. As everybody looked around to see where it had came from, Angela the goddess of death appeared in a cloud of pure white rose scented smoke. "Aiya my friends."
"Angela!' Ariel cried. She stood and ran to the white haired goddess. "Please. Can you save him?"
Dressed in white, Angela took Ariel's hand and walked her back to the bed and sat her down.
"I'm sorry but Evindal's time is up." Her voice was soft and soothing. "But I won't take him today. I promise he will get to say good bye to everyone he love. That's all I can do."
"And Finn?" Hema had returned to her normal form. She sat holding the leprechaun in her arms. "What of him?"
"You will see him again." She promised. "And he will always be watching over you dear Hema."
Hema smiled as his spirit was lifted from his body and sent on it's way. She kissed his forehead and laid him down to rest.
"I will miss you my friend."
Suddenly a rainbow appeared outside of the window. It was Finn saying good bye in leprechaun fashion. As Angela's image began to fade, Adanar stood and went to the window. The morning sun looked beautiful as it shined down on Eventide. Though this was not over for Eventide and the spell had not been lifted, today Eventide valley looked a little bit greener.