The meeting with the n'Sete was warm and brief.  N'Sete children
surrounded Kiha and helped Niari out of her saddle.  She was seated at a
roaring fire and given a Yza haunch to eat while the warrior counsel was
called to meet with her.  When the counsel was ready, Niari was brought
to their tent where she relayed the Orcish scourge prevelent in the
Northern Barony of Chadwick.  Niari embellished the tale by recounted
moments from her past when she had come upon towns ravaged by Orc
attacks.  She described the child she held in her arms as it died, it's
last cries for it's dead mother (purposefully hidden behind Niari's
back).  She described those that survived, maimed and bitter and afraid. =

Then she showed them the gold she'd brought and told them there was
more, much more, to come.
     They left late the next morning.  Forty warriors rounded up the
semi-wild plains steeds and equipped them with blankets and bridles. 
Each warrior wore his hardened leather armor, which covered the torso,
thighs and forearms.  Boots with hardened shin guards were donned last. 
Then came the quivers full of n'Sete arrows, sharp and true-flying,
points tipped with q'rei poison.  And the deadly obsidian blades, forged
with filaments of metal for strength.  Niari wondered at the power of
those blades.  She had seen them in action and had been amazed that they
did not break.  They were so light, so hard to see as they came out of
nowhere to sever a tendon or an artery...so very sharp.
     They rode when the sun was high in the sky, speaking little as they
went.  Niari had told them all they needed to know and there was little
joy in the task ahead.
     They camped a few hours from Montfort and woke early the next
morning.  Hunting for breakfast and eating the meat nearly raw in their
haste.  Niari looked out at the band of men from her perch in a low
branch of a su'ore plains tree.  They would do.  The Baron would be
pleased.  Hopefully, the Orcs would not.  Niari had come to love these
people in a short period of time.  They were fierce and proud.  But one
death among them would harm her more than she cared to think about. 
"Stop it." she hissed to herself, "You know better than this."  They
were warriors after all.  They knew the risks.  Still...
     Niari called for her new troops to ready for the ride to Montfort. 
They rode the next few hours and arrived at the South edge of town as
the sun was just reaching it's apex in the sky.  It was a hot, dry day
but Niari helped the men make camp before riding into town with Essaut
by her side to meet Lorendil and introduce the Lord to one of his new
troops.  She silently prayed that the man would have a cold pitcher of
ale waiting for her...
---k

     The meeting the night before had given Lorendil hope that the evil
that was gripping this part of Ifreann would not go unchallenged.  He
was convinced that ultimately the Dark One was behind all the commotion,
and if the locals could oppose Proctor John, then other forces could
oppose the Dark One himself.  But that did not resolve the issue of the
rescue of the Strong One and those who were taken with him.
     As he sat in the common room of the Inn, he resolved that he would
press Niari to make a rescue attempt.  It had been mentioned in the
meeting the night before that there was going to be a cleansing that
evening.  Lorendil could only assume that that would be the prisoners. 
There would be little time to formulate a plan, and he was not the
person who was particularly skilled in devising them, but it seemed that
the best opportunity might be during the ceremony.  He would have to
discuss the matter with the Quiet One and Niari when they arrived.
     "Speaking of Niari," he commented to himself, "she seems awefully
fond of the ale that Hugh stocked."  He motioned to Sera, and asked that
she bring a pitcher of the liquor to the table.  Before it arrived,
Vengar walked in the door.  After looking about the room, he finally
found Lorendil and proceeded towards him.
     Sera and Vengar arrived at the table at the same time.  Lorendil
pushed the pitcher aside (he didn't care for such a coarse drink, and
didn't feel much in the mood for anything, anyway), and greeted Vengar. 
"Welcome back, Quiet One!  What news have you to bring from the night?"
     Vengar then began to tell Lorendil of the events the previous
night, about the vigil at the church, the cleansing of an elf, of his
euthenasia by an elven bowman (bowwoman, actually), and of his contact
with Therion.  Lorendil then told Vengar about the meeting the previous
night, and the apparent ceremony that evening that was likely to be the
execution of the Strong One and the two elves.  Vengar acknowledged
seeing a large pile of wood in the compound, ominously shrouded in mist.
     Vengar began to conceive a plan.  He agreed with Lorendil that the
ceremony was the best time to stage a rescue...the fortifications of the
church were far too formidable to facilitate a raid.  The commandos
would be lost in the corridors far before they could prevent the guards
from slashing the prisoners=C6 throats.  No, it was definitely better to
wait until the Inquisitors themselves brought the "witches" out into the
open.  He would confer with Niari about the best way, then, to force
themselves in between the Inquisitors and the prisoners.
     Lorendil and Vengar spent the rest of the morning talking idly
about items of little importance.  Lorendil longingly glanced to the
fireplace of the Inn, which lay cold and empty, the fire that was
normally there remaining unlit.  He knew that it would be a long time
before he could again enjoy the pleasure of sitting in the common room
and listening to the boisterous tales of the Inn's regulars and
newcomers.  If he ever got the chance to enjoy that again at all.
     The two waited anxiously and nervously for Niari to return.
---m

     Kiha cantered easily under Niari.  She was getting to like this
horse more and more.  As Montfort came into view, she glanced over at
Essaut and smiled.
     "Here we are, my friend.  I told Lord Lorendil that we would meet
at an Inn.  I would like you to come inside and meet him."
     A grin spread across Essaut's dark face.  "Ngai, s'Ora!  I look
forward to meeting this man...he is a man, is he not?"  The plains
warrior winked one sparkling eye at Niari and enjoyed the fact that her
eyes had narrowed in a show of annoyment.
     "You know well enough that I didn't know it was a k'Tsi, Essaut! 
Their minds are very closed and their energy is highly ambiguous..."
     "Yes, s'Ora!" cried a laughing Essaut, who now had tears streaking
down his dusty cheeks, "And how could you know that the handsome
stranger would turn into a cat and try to eat me when we were alone?" 
Essaut was now shaking with mirth.  It was so very easy for Niari to
push him off his horse.
     Niari caught a momentary look of shock as he lost balance and then
the woman turned in her saddle and urged Kiha into a gallop towards the
town.  It was only moments before Essaut had jumped back on his steed
and caught up to her that she reached the first building.  He reached
out and hit her shouler pauldron with the tips of his fingers and cried,
"Nas't'hu, s'Ora!" to which Niari pulled up her horse and turned to face
her friend.
     "I still won, Essaut." said Niari, chuckling in this rare moment of
frivolity. The plains warrior was a prankster and the best way to keep
him happy was to play on this characteristic once in a while.
     They turned and walked their steeds into Montfort.  The town was
terribly noisy and as they approached the center, a small group of
children ran by them laughing and screaming in mock terror.  There were
people everywhere!  A look of confusion flashed over Niari's face and
she cast a sidelong glance at her companion as if to say, "This is not
normal."  They walked through the throng of people, some of whom were
already drunk.  Some were carrying sticks to a gigantic pile of wood
which had been stacked in the square.  There were three posts standing
securely at the top of the pyre.  Now Niari became grim and turned Kiha
back towards the Dragon's Inn.  Essaut followed, an oddly masked look on
his face.
     They tied their horses at the post outside the Inn and entered. 
Lorendil was waiting at a table in the corner near a cold fireplace.  He
smiled and stood as Niari and her companion approached but there was a
badly hidden blanket of anxiety covering him.  Niari noticed that there
was a pitcher of ale and several empty mugs on the table waiting for
her...
---k
     Lorendil was relieved to see Niari return, as there had been much
that had transpired.  He greeted her warmly, and then cast his eyes to
her companion.
     Seeing him looking aside, Niari introduced the two.  "Lord
Lorendil, this is Essaut, leader of the n'Sete warriors I have brought." =

Essaut met Lorendil's gaze, but did nothing.
     "You are most welcome, Essaut," Lorendil answered.  Then, motioning
to Vengar, he reciprocated, "This is Sir Vengar, a trusted friend of
Baron Therion."  Vengar stood and nodded to the newcomers in greeting.
     "Where is the Baron?" asked Niari, as she scanned across the room
in hopes of finding her employer.
     "That, my dear Niari, is a long story.  Please, be seated."  Once
everyone had taken their seats, Lorendil poured the ale for everyone
(Vengar politely refused, and asked Sera to bring him a cup of water). 
After taking a sip (just a sip!), Lorendil began to relate the past
couple of days' activities to Niari and Essaut.  He described the battle
outside the Inn, Therion's arrest for witchcraft, and the meeting that
had occurred the night previous.  He stressed that there was no apparent
basis for the charges against him or the others who were taken prisoner
that night, and that there was a ceremony scheduled for that night that
was likely to be the execution of the threesome.  He also mentioned that
Vengar had taken the opportunity to scout out the church, and was fairly
certain that the Baron was still alive.
     The discussion was quite long, and as Niari asked questions,
Lorendil and Vengar tried their best to answer them.  Some of the
information she requested was simply unknown.  Throughout, Essaut
remained quiet.  Vengar then began to add his analysis of a likely
rescue plan, and he and Niari bantered back and forth debating various
details.  When the conversation finally waned, everyone at the table sat
back in quiet and solemn contemplation.
     After a moment, Vengar spoke.  "It is getting late, and we are
running out of time.  If we are to act, we must act now.  Let us prepare
for the rescue!  I must leave now if I am to be in position.  I shall
see you at the cleansing!"  Vengar rose to his feet and left the Inn.
     Lorendil turned to Niari and asked, "Shall we assemble the troops?" =

A smile danced across his face.  He was obviously happy now that it
seemed that they would be able to save the Baron.
---m
     Niari returned the smile and answered, "Aye, my Lord Lorendil.  The
n'Sete are resting at a cove an hour South of Montfort.  I thought it
best to conceal them since they are obviously outsiders..."
     Her eyes lit up.  "I have an idea.  You and I will leave the Inn
separately to avoid suspicion.  I will go into market and buy a cart
from one of the sympathizers you mentioned.  I will arrange to have the
cart filled with Montfort peasant clothing.  I will disguse myself and
ride out to the n'Sete.  Essaut and you can ride North and then circle
around Montfort.   He can take you to the cove.  I will meet you there
and then we can all re-enter Montfort as peasant farmers from the area
wishing to =E6participate in the festivities=C6.  The n'Sete have no spec=
ial
powers and will not be sensed by any of the Proctor's scouts.  They
should mingle in with the crowd perfectly.."  Niari hesitated in case
Lorendil had anything to add...
---k
     His face briefly clouded over.  "I fear, m'lady, that my direct
presence may be more of a hinderance than a help, for reasons that will
take too much time to explain, a commodity I fear we have precious
little of.  And while such a plan of deception in itself appears sound,
I wonder if time will be on our side.  If you can execute this plan,
then I say do so.  But I fear that we may be pressed as it is, and it
may be all we can do to bring the remainder in time to save the Baron
and his co-prisoners.  Vengar is already at the scene, and there may be
others judging from the meeting, but surely the proctor's forces are
strong.  Make haste, Niari.  I will be nearby."  Lorendil smiled gently,
and stood, signifying that the conversation was at an end and that
action was now the course to be taken.
     Niari was not comfortable with the apparent role that Lorendil was
going to take in the rescue, namely the lack of one.  It did not sit
well with her.  But this was not the time for arguments, and the matter
would have to be resolved another time.  Eventually, she also stood, and
bidding Lorendil goodbye, left the Inn.  Shortly thereafter, Lorendil
did the same.
---m
     Finding Aleck was easy.  He had a large shop where he made the
carts and wagons for Montfort.  Niari had but to mention Hugh's name and
the cartwright took her upstairs where they could speak together
undisturbed.
     Half an hour later, an old weaver woman came to collect her cart. 
Aleck was kind enough to have had her bolts of cloth already packed in
the new cart.  Her horses were hitched up and she was on her way.  As
she rode out of the shop, Aleck called, "It's a shame you will miss the
festival!"
     She responded in a voice, dry and cracked with age, "Aye, but I'm
sure you will have enough fun without me."  Then she rode south out of
Montfort and to her rendezvous with the n'Sete.
---k

     Once Vengar had left, he quickly made his way to the center of
town.  He was careful to take streets and alleys that were not well
traveled, and this made the trip considerably longer than the direct
route.  Still, it was necessary.
     Vengar had already located the building he wanted when he had been
maintaining his vigil.  Finding it, he searched the sides for an
entryway.  Looking about to see if there were any church officials
about, Vengar waited for the coast to clear.  When it was, he casually
slipped inside.
     The building seemed deserted, and that was good.  Most likely
everyone was outside at the cleansing.  It did not take long to find the
stairs leading to the upper floors, and Vengar bounded up them like a
rabbit, quickly and silently.  Finally arriving at the third floor,
Vengar made his way to the patio that he had spotted the night before. 
Opening the door, he saw that the patio was already occupied!
     He was just beginning to close the door when the Inquisitor noticed
him and shouted, "This building is off-limits!  If you want to watch the
cleansing, you'll have to do it from the street!"
     Vengar played dumb.  "Oh!  I-I'm sorry!  I just wanted to get a
better look!"  He slowly closed the door, waited a moment, and then
hollered, "Oww!  Oh, ow!"
     The Inquisitor did not seem to go for the bait, so he continued to
utter the sounds of agony, letting the guard know that he wasn't
leaving.
     It finally paid off.  The Inquisitor came to the door and yelled
inside, "What's the matter with ye?"
     "I've twisted my leg!  Good sir, could you help me down the
stairs?"
     "Arrgh...the Proctor won't like it, but as long as it's quick!"  He
entered.
     He didn't hear the silent "whoosh" of air as Vengar swung his sword
full around at the man.  There was a loud "SMACK!" as the flat of the
blade caught the Inquisitor square in the face.  Readying his weapon in
case there was a fight, Vengar watched as his adversary slumped to the
floor, knocked cold from the impact.
     A few moments later, the Inquisitor casually returned to the third
floor patio.  No one could notice that he appeared to be just a few
inches shorter than he had a few moments ago.  There was no reason to
suspect that anything out of the ordinary had happened.  Vengar slowly
glanced about the square, noticing the locations of the other
Inquisitors perched on rooftops about the area.  He also guaged the
ground scene, observing that he was about thirty feet from the pyres. 
He waited patiently, patrolling as the other Inquisitors did, while the
real Inquisitor lay just inside the door, spilling his blood from the
dagger slash to his neck.  His bow hugged to his chest under his newly-
aquired robes, Vengar waited.
---m

     Proctor John took one more look at his robes, then placed a glamour
of charm upon himself.  He smiled broadly, then nodded to the gate
guard.  The gates to the church were thrown open, and the procession
began.  First a squad of Inquisitors led the way, in full plate armour. 
Then came the three prisoners, dressed in the same clothing as when they
were taken, signifying that these witches refused confession and the
redemption of the church.  Following the prisoners came another squad of
Inquisitors, drawing a huge stand on wheels, upon which stood Proctor
John in all his glory.
     The crowd roared as the prisoners were led out.  Rotting vegetables
were once again flung at the prisoners.  The roar of the crowd reached a
crescendo when they saw the Proctor come out.  Here was their savior. 
Here was the man who would protect them all from the evils of the world.
     Eldarion scrutinized his surroundings while being tied to the
stake.  His military eye definately picked out the tell-tale signs that
his friends, and those amicable to his cause, were out amongst the
crowd.  He even heard a bird-call signal used by the Legentors coming
from a nearby rooftop.
     The shouting died down as Proctor John held up his hands.  "My
faithful!  I trust you have enjoyed the festival thus far?"  He smiled
down at his vast flock.  The crowd once again roared to life, as they
displayed their approval of the festival.  After a few moments, they
quieted down again.
---je
     The cart returned, barely recognizable, loaded with eight peasants,
too old to walk, and thirty-two other assorted farmers and field workers
from the village of Sereth, some thirty miles away.  Evidently they had
heard of the Redeemer's holiday and wanted to participate in the
festivities.  They were very brown from the sun and they looked tired,
but they all smiled when looked at and they used the good name of the
Redeemer when they spoke amongst themselves.  No one suspected them and
they were left alone.
     They left the cart outside the square and entered just in time. 
The witches had already been tied to the stakes and Proctor John was
speaking to the crowd of people in a benevolent voice.  They cheered his
words along with the others as they fanned out among the throng of
onlookers, watching for weapons and disguises.  One of the n'Sete caught
a pickpocket trying to take his obsidian blade.  The poor thief was
quickly and quietly incapacitated by a pinch to a particular nerve.  The
Plainsman laughed at his "friend's" inability to handle his liquor and
gently placed the man on a bench not far away before rejoining the
masses.
---k
     Proctor John continued.  "We have gathered today for the cleansing
of these unfortunate wretches.  Unfortunately for their souls, they have
refused confession and the forgiveness of the Holy Church.  They have
chosen instead to shun the divine forgiveness of the Redeemer.  They
will soon join whatever demons and devils they have made pacts with.  If
we cannot cleanse their souls, then we will have to make do in cleansing
their physical forms from our presence!"
     The crowd roared its approval, as the prisoners were led up the
roll-away steps, and tied to three stakes on top of the huge pile of
wood. The female witch was tied to the middle stake, with the warlocks
on either side of her.
     The crowd died down again, and all eyes turned to Proctor John. 
"May the Redeemer have mercy on your souls!" he called out to the
prisoners.  Eldarion couldn't help himself.  He spat out in the
Proctor's direction, and was rewarded with a tomato striking him in the
face.  Proctor John nodded to the Inquisitors ringing the pile holding
torches and they all threw their torches on to the wood.
     The hushed crowd watched as the torches landed on the huge pile. 
The pile of wood did not catch fire, however.  It was as if the torches
had been thrown on to a pile of rocks instead of the dry wood of the
pile.
     It was at that precise moment that all hell broke loose at the
festival.
     Suddenly there was shouting from the crowd, as several of the
nearby Inquisitors were felled from above by arrows.  Eldarion heard the
familiar voice of his friend Dardt, as the pocket dragon suddenly
appeared and began tearing at his bonds with claw and fang.
     Another arrow sped across from rooftop to rooftop, and another
Inquisitor fell to the streets below, an arrow through her throat.
     Joreen readied another arrow, and let fly as a barrage of return
fire came from the other rooftops.  Joreen moved to another vantage
point and looked down to the streets.  She immediately let fly and
downed an Inquisitor who was taking aim at a running Zeph.  Dardt had
already reached Eldarion, and was fiercely ripping at the cords which
held him tied to a stake.  Joreen had to quickly duck again as another
flight of arrows headed her way.
     Though she had already been grazed twice by return fire, Joreen
kept the arrows coming.  She was down to half a quiver, and she had the
full attention of the church archers placed on the rooftops around her. 
Things were going exactly as she'd planned.
---je
     Vengar was completely flabbergasted at the recent turn of events. 
A young girl was suddenly brandishing a sword of obviously incredible
power, a tiny replica of a dragon was flying towards the three
prisoners, and there was bowfire strafing the scene from somewhere off
to his right.  A fight that he expected would belong to him and his
friends was suddenly being shared by what appeared to be quite a host!
     As he shook the shock from his mind, Vengar quickly guaged the
situation.  The bowman on the rooftop had successfully drawn the full
attention of the other Inquisitors on the other buildings, but the
ground troops were beginning to react, and the young girl didn't seem to
have any allies at the moment.
     Vengar wasted no time in joining the fray.  He cast off his robes
and readied his bow in one, smooth motion.  Nocking three arrows on the
bowstring between his knuckles, he quickly aimed at the lead troop of
Inquisitors and let loose.  The middle arrow landed square in the face
of one, and he went down dead.  The right planted itself in the arm of
one, and the left deflected harmlessly off of another's armor.  Not a
significant effect, except to grab their attention.  Vengar let loose a
second volley, with similar effects.  He realized he didn't have enough
arrows to finish the job in this fashion, though he continued to rain
what he could towards the ground.  It would soon be time for more
personal means.
---m
     Soon Eldarion was free!  At that precise moment he spied a spinning
blade coming towards him.  He reached out and snatched the sword of Xeen
from the air.  He saw that it was his cousin who had flung the blade. 
She gave him a quick smile, then disappeared into the crowd, under the
pursuit of several of the church Inquisitors.
     Eldarion quickly cut the bonds of his sister and Baron Therion.  To
his sister he yelled, "Stay with him!", and pointed to Therion. 
Trusting the Baron to keep his sister as safe as the situation allowed,
Eldarion turned and saw his prey.  There, standing on a nearby stand
with an incredulous look on his face, was Proctor John.
---je
     Free!  Hungry, dirty, bruised and odiferous from being pelted with
rotten food and the occassional rock, Therion could not resist a grim
smile!  Eldarion, Elana and he at least had a chance, now...and he could
feel Vengar's presence.
     Around him, Therion could feel the mounting panic in the town, as
the population dissolved into a mindless mob seeking escape and finding
only greater terror.  He got considerable satisfaction from seeing the
majority of the Inquisitors joining the panic...there was, however, one
small luxury he decided to permit himself.
     Seeing Proctor John, Therion reached out with his mind, and touched
the Proctor...then twisted.  With any luck, the creature that was called
John would be sufficiently distracted so that it's disguise would falter
for a time!
     Alas, there was no time to gloat...Therion joined the escape with
unbridled enthusiasm!
---d
     In a matter of seconds, the prisoners had been freed, a brilliant
sword was thrown at one of the freed men, and then fire bolts seemed to
shoot from the sky itself!  Niari whirled around to locate her troops
and realized that she only had six of them in view.  Her hand flew up in
a whipping gesture and the six instantly began making use of the
confusion to disarm those in the crowd who they had marked as church
sympathizers.  Their actions were picked up on by other n'Sete and soon
the crowd really did consist of just innocent bystanders!  Those who the
n'Sete marked as Inquisitors instantly had their throats slit.  Those
who were just Followers of the Redeemer were hamstrung and their weapons
taken...
     Niari was among the first to take an Inquisitor.  She was soft and
died quickly, the blood gurgling from her throat.  Niari gazed
impassively at the crowd to ensure that none but harmless peasants were
nearby before making her way for the pyre and Lord Therion.  She would
save her employer herself if need be.  She waved for four of the n'Sete
to follow her and rushed towards the mountain of wood, her peasant robes
rippling over her half-concealed armor...
---k
     Therion had already led Elana off the pyre and into a quickly
scattering crowd.  With the flames starting to finally ignite the wood,
Eldarion stood with his hand pointed at Proctor John. "You were a fool
to show me who you really are!  I'm coming for you, you strahka! 
Tonight it is you who will be cleansed...in the hell of my sword!"
     Eldarion took a running leap and flipped over the railing around
the Proctor's stand.  With a quick move, Eldarion stabbed the sword of
Xeen through the Proctor's chest.  Yet as quickly as the sword had slid
through the Proctor's robe, the Proctor himself was no longer in them. 
The sword of Xeen now merely held skewered his discarded robes.  He was
nowhere to be seen.
     But Eldarion did not have time to wonder at the Proctor's
disappearence.  Just as he drew his sword up to examine the robes, a
dark flash with fangs and claws swooped down from the the spires of the
nearby church and knocked Eldarion from the stand into the streets
below.  Eldarion looked up as the form streaked back up into the stormy
sky and looked to be readying to make another pass.
     It was Jericho.
---je
     Niari raced towards the pyre, now smoking and beginning to burn. 
The prisoners were free and Niari picked out Therion's form through the
haze.  He was with the woman.  The other male, an elf, had engaged
Proctor John and swung...Niari gasped as she pushed through the panicked
crowd.  Proctor John had vanished, leaving his robes hanging off the
elf's wondrous sword. 
     As if that weren't bad enough for the warrior woman, Niari suddenly
felt a tremor of evil course though her body.  Something was approaching
from above and waves of terror and power emanated from it.  Niari 
paused only feet from her employer and looked up at the sky.  A huge
dark shape glided down out of the blackness and it's visage was pure
malice.  The great red eyes tore into Niari's mind and she felt it's
presence throughout her being.  Struggling to regain her composure,
Niari signalled to the four n'Sete warriors who had followed her and
gestured to Therion.  The loyal Plainsmen immediately fought their way
to Therion's side and Essaut, one of the four, cried, "Lord Therion!  We
have come for you!  What are your wishes?"
---k
     Therion had seen Niari and her troops and called out, "To me,
Niari, to me!  Let us ride, and leave this
town behind us!"
     He had no intention of being captured again...he would either
escape, or die trying...
---d
     Instead of attacking the Demon perched on top of the stakes above
the pyres, the crowd gasped at the presence of the dark creature.
     Looking down upon Eldarion, Elana, and Therion, Jericho spoke in a
loud and hideous vioce:
     "BE FREE MY SERVENTS.  I, YOUR DEMON MASTER HAVE COME TO RELEASE
YOU."  With that Jericho took wing into the night and vanished in the
darkness above.
     "Demon spawn."
     "Witches"
     "Kill them."
     "They are in league with demons."
     "Destroy them."
     The crowd yelled at the sight of the demon apparently freeing those
fated to be burned.  The once divided and distracted crowd now had a
purpose, a goal.  The angry mob began to press forward, towards Elana
and friends in order to rend them limb from limb.
---mwf
     Niari's face twisted in a battle for control.  It was difficult to
be around such evil and such raw power.  She whispered, "I'm sorry
father, I have no choice!"... and released the energy that had built up
inside her at the only target she could justify.  A slightly visible
shimmer of air thrust from Niari's body and raged up at the dark figure
flying above.  It was the creature's own evil, released back upon
itself.  There would be nothing it could do but receive the shock of
power which engulfed it's body and ripped through it's being, changed
and increased in strength by it's contact with the Kioshu warrior...
---k
     Eldarion's first instinct was to stand his ground, and fight
Jericho.  But then he remembered how much had been risked by friends
both known and unknown, and he knew that he could not let their effort
be in vain.  "Thank you my friends!  I hope that someday I may return
the favor!"  With one last look Eldarion turned and made his way in the
direction he had last seen Therion leading his sister.
---je
     Niari, still reeling from the power which had used her body as a
conductor, stood straight and signalled to the n'Sete to gather for
their departure.  Then, she looked back at Therion to see if he was
hurt...he seemed to be alright.
     She and the Plainsmen began to follow Therion out of the square.
---k

     His arrows running out, Vengar assessed the quickly degenerating
scene.  The small dragon had freed the male elf prisoner, and he had
freed the other two.  The young girl that had been carrying that great
sword flung the blade to the prisoner that the dragon had just freed,
and disappeared into the crowd.  Therion was leading the female elf away
from the battle, while the male was engaged with the Proctor.  Also,
Niari's reinforcements had suddenly sprung to action, having infiltrated
the square under the guise of common peasants.  The crowd that had
gathered for the cleansing ceremony was scattering to the four winds,
and the Inquisitors that were on the ground were finding it difficult to
find their prey through the throngs of fleeing people.
     Vengar decided it was time for his blade.  Returning his bow to his
shoulder, he then drew his sword and lept to the ground.  The bright
flash that accompanied its unsheathing went relatively unnoticed, as
just so much more noise in the confused din of the battle.  Vengar aimed
his leap to land upon an Inquisitor who had his back to him, and the
black-clothed brute succeeded in breaking his fall.  Pity that in the
process, he broke his spine.  Now on the ground, Vengar made his way to
where Therion was leading Elana away.
     An armor-clad Inquisitor stepped in front of him, blocking the way. =

Vengar took a quick swing, but the blow was parried.  The Inquisitor
made a similar strike, and Vengar successfully blocked it as well.  But
he didn't see the counterswing coming, and barely twisted out of the way
of the blow.  The tip of the Inquisitor's sword easily cut through
Vengar's leather armor and sliced across his chest.  The wound knocked
the fighter to his knees, as his chest erupted in flaming pain.  His
chest tightened instinctively, causing his breath to leave him. 
Coughing, dripping blood on the ground, Vengar was dangerously
vulnerable to a lethal blow.
     "May the Redeemer forgive you!" spoke a voice above him.  Vengar's
sensitive ears heard the almost inaudible swish of a blade being swung
through the air.  He rolled to avoid the blow, and the metal edge barely
missed him and buried itself in the ground.
     "Damn you, heretic!" said the voice, but at that moment the pain in
his chest vanished.  Another voice spoke strongly in Vengar's ears,
saying, "To your left."  It was Therion's!
     Without heed of defense, and able to concentrate again with the
removal of the distraction of his wound, Vengar swung about, reaching as
far outward with his sword as his arms would allow.  His black sword met
a startled Inquisitor who was moving in for a kill cleanly in the
abdomen.  The look of surprise and shock was etched on his face, as he
slowly slid along the blade and collapsed in a heap on the ground. 
Slowly, the throbbing in Vengar's chest returned, but Therion had
succeeded in blocking the pain long enough to rescue his friend.  He ran
as quickly as he was able to meet up with the Baron, and hoped that the
extraction of the prisoners from this chaotic massacre would be easier
than the rescue had been thus far.
---m

     Eldarion ran accross the street and stopped when he noticed a
struggling form beneath the slain bodies of several Inquisitors and a
couple of innocent peasants.  Something about the way the little stubby
legs moved made Eldarion start casting aside the dead and wounded.  He
reached in between two dead Inquisitors, and pulled out a wounded
Flanner.  "Flanner, where are you hurt?"  Eldarion asked anxiously.  The
dwarf was covered in blood and gore from top to bottom.
     "I...I'm okay.  Just bonked me in the skull, they did.  I was
trying to keep them offa yer cousin when they ganged up on me.  Last
thing I remember was Joreen's voice calling down to me to duck, so I
did."  The dwarf clutched a broken elven glassteel dagger in his hand.
"See, I toldja.  It never fails..."
     Eldarion placed his hand on Flanners shoulder.  "When we get back
home, we'll have you a war axe made of glassteel."  Just then, he
noticed his sister and Therion across the street.  "Come, Flanner. 
There's Elana now!"  Eldarion paused to unleash a forcebolt at a would-
be crossbowman.  "Let's get over to her and get out of this crazed city. =

We must find Garrison as well.  I have to tell him about this Proctor
John.  He's a Darkguard, Flanner.  A very powerful one!"  Eldarion
picked up a discarded shortsword and handed it to Flanner.
     The two warriors fought their way across the Avenue of Triumph in
the direction of Elana and Therion.
---je
     Therion had gained an important insight during his imprisonment; 
the Inquisitors weren't fighting for money, or power, or honor...they
were fighting for a cause they firmly believed to be good and right.  It
was their strength - yet, like any strength, it could be redirected
against the attacker.
     Vengar had been injured, but was still alive and able to
fight...and, more importantly, to move!...the lady Elana was beside him,
and Eldarion was proving more than a match for the Inquisitors.  As
=E6bush=C6 called out, the group moved quickly to relative safety and
possible escape.
     As the wind began roaring, and a towering whirlwind fanned flames
through the summer-dry wooden buildings of Montfort, the Inquisitors
started to crack.  Proctor John's disappearance had further unnerved
them...though this was not entirely good, for panic could transform an
army into a rioting mob.
     Garrison and Zeph faced one such mob.  Therion smiled...this was
the very kind of situation where mind magic excelled.  Three of the
leaders of the troops acquired a beautific expression, each firmly
believing that the Redeemer himself had appeared to them.  In powerful,
confident tones, they turned to the others and spoke fervently, saying,
"Fellow Inquisitors, the evil ones are destroying the city of Montfort
and murdering it's people.  The Redeemer has heard their cries, and
tells us to leave these vile witches to view the terrible crimes wrought
by their confederates, in the hope that at last they will see their
error.  We must go now to fight those who command the fires of hell!  We
must rescue the innocents, the weak, the helpless!  If you believe,
follow us!"  The three drew their swords and began walking with
determination toward the destruction.  The rest, seeing this clear
example of the will of the Redeemer...as well as their leader Semareth
also battling toward the same area...had no reason to doubt, and
followed.
     Therion looked toward a group of Republic army troops, and a
lieutenant barked orders to go immediately to the Bank, to defend it
against attack.
     In the largely deserted streets, Therion commented, "My friends, we
must flee...for such destruction as disrupts our enemies tonight cannot
be hoped for again..."
     He wondered how many innocent people would die in this fratricidal
war.  He had heard of Smith, but had hoped the tales of his excesses
were fiction.  Clearly, they understated the truth.  He hoped he could
save Chadwick from such destruction...
---d
     Eldarion and Flanner were the last to show up.  Everyone began to
climb into their saddles.  As they were a few mounts short, Eldarion
helped Zeph up behind Elana, after giving his cousin a big smile.  "You
did great, my cousin. Your father would have...."  Eldarion's face
darkened suddenly, and he just nodded to Zeph and walked to his own
mount, leaping onto the back.
---je
     A cold wave of ice washed over her shores, the fictitious memory
implanted by the Dark One resurfacing, if only briefly.  From so far
away in his icy keep, he kept a special place for her.  Elana could feel
the sudden tension from her young cousin.  "What's wrong?" she asked. 
"Nothing," was Zeph's automatic response.  Elana cringed slightly.  Had
Zeph just lied to her?  The matter would have to be investigated
further, something was up, but not now.  More pressing matters were at
hand. they were still not out of the woods.
---ds
     Eldarion pulled Flanner up behind him.  He moved his horse up to
'bush', whose 'creatures' had done much to keep the few Inquisitors
still in the area away from their assembly point.  Eldarion reached down
and hoisted 'bush' behind Garrison.  "I know you don't like to ride on
horseback, but this is one of those times we talked about where haste is
of great import."
     Therion and Vengar rode up to Eldarion's side.  "Are you all
ready?" the Baron asked his fellow former captive.
     Eldarion shook his head.  "We're still missing..."
     With a Legentor battle cry, Joreen lept from the rooftop of a
nearby building, bounded off the top of a canvas awning, and landed
amidst the group.  Eldarion corrected himself.  "Yes, we're all here
now!"  He smiled at Joreen as she mounted her horse.  She returned the
smile and moved her horse next to his.
     "It's good to see you well, my Captain." 
     Eldarion nodded.  "Its good to be free again."
     Garrison called out from atop his horse.  "Perhaps we could wait
until we are in a safer place to get re-acquainted?  I think there are
horsemen coming."
     To emphasize the point, the water trough next to the group suddenly
exploded as if from a lightning strike.  The scent of ozone filled the
air.
     Eldarion looked down the road to see a very large group of horsemen
riding hard in their direction.  He turned to his friends, "Let's ride!" =

Zeph let out a "Hiyaaaaa!" as the group moved their mounts into a
gallop, 'bush' and Walks looking quite uncomfortable on horseback.
     The group rode hard, surrounded on all side's by Niari's troops. 
They rode quickly by the Dragon's Inn, and passed a group of dangerous
looking men as they rode by.  Zeph pointed and yelled in Elana's ear,
"That's Smith.  He's one of the ones that's organizing the resistance!" 
As the group rode out of town, Zeph smiled and waved goodbye to the man
she had been pointing at.
---je
     Shortly after passing the Inn, they came upon a man standing by the
side of the rode.  He seemed quite agitated, and was beckoning them to
ride into what appeared to be a magical portal.
     Eldarion was about to unsheath the sword of Xeen when Elana called
to him, "It is alright!  That is Lorendil!  He is a friend!"
     Satisfied with the endorsement of his sister, Eldarion relaxed and
rode for the portal.  As each rider crossed the threshhold, an illusion
of that rider exited the other side so seemlessly as to appear that
there had been no portal at all.  When the last rider was through,
Lorendil himself entered and the portal closed.  The illusory riders
split up and led the pursuers on a wild ride throughout the town, always
adjusting their speed to remain elusively ahead yet tantalizingly close. =

One by one, the pursuers rode their horses into the ground, the steeds
becoming exhausted from the relentless chase.
---m
     As they passed through the portal that Loredil had opened, Niari's
stomach lurched in a most unpleasant way.  She had been loathe to go
through in the first place, but Therion had demanded her services and
she was not about to refuse him.  She only wished that she would never
have to use a portal again.  Her heart was beating irregularly and her
head was swimming like an athelete.
     The surge of power that she had channelled during Jericho's
apearance had left her body tingling with electrical currents.  The
portal had taken these natural currents and completely set them in
reverse.  Niari had felt her body responding to both the place she had
just been and the sudden rush of new stimuli.  Real "magic" and the
Kioshu elite just didn't mix...
---k
     On the other side of the portal, Eldarion asked Lorendil, "Where
are we?"
     "We are a safe distance from Montfort.  Only a few miles from the
city, but considerably farther than anyone would expect you to be able
to ride.  This should give us some time."  Then, realizing he had not
met the charismatic elf properly, he added, "I presume that you are Lord
Eldarion Elessidel?  I am honored to meet someone of your stature!"  He
bowed deeply before the elf.
---m
     Eldarion returned the bow.  "Just Eldarion, please.  I am pleased
to meet your acquaintance as well, Lorendil."
---je
     Just as the introductions were being made, Vengar slumped in his
saddle and fell from his horse, landing on the ground with the dull thud
associated with a limp body.  Therion was instantly by his side. 
Neither Vengar nor the Baron spoke a word, but after a few seconds,
Therion looked up at the others with a grim face.
     "Poison."
---m
     Niari shuddered.  She didn't trust her abilities now that they were
so askew but she urged Kiha over to the group and dismounted.  At least
she could offer her battle skills.  Her armor clanked as she hit the
ground.
     "My Lord Therion, I have knowledge of field medicine if you would
let me attempt to aid your henchman."  Niari looked directly at Therion
for a response...
---k
     Eldarion quickly moved beside Niari and Therion. "Both Garrison and
'bush' are well versed in the healing arts.  Perhaps they could aid your
fallen friend?"
---je
     Zeph heard the mention of poison.  She clammed up.  Zeph had used
poison that night and a feeling of guilt washed over her, even though
she had used it in self defense.  Dying from poison was only befitting
to vermin.
---ds
     Therion looked at Niari, in a somewhat distracted way, and replied,
"Yes..yes, try that.  Perhaps we can both do something for our fallen
friend."
     As Niari used her medicine, Therion went apart, and sat down. 
Clearing his mind, he touched Vengar's and was disturbed to sense the
power of the poison as it caused organs to quit working.  Internally, he
sighed; Vengar might not like this, but if life was to be saved, he
would have to act.
     The first step for Therion was to rally Vengar's mind.  He called
Vengar to battle.
---d
     When the mindmage had called him, Vengar heard it as if from a long
distance away.  And the sound was distorted, twisted and altered as if
the nerves in his ears were not connected together properly.  The voice
was strange, surreal, and terribly frightening.  Eventually Vengar cut
through the distortion and recognized it as Therion's.
     He tried to picture the beach that had been the common meeting
place between the teacher and the student so many times before.  What
greeted him was a confusing mass of swirling shapes and random colors. 
Occasionally he could see a segment of the seascape, but then it would
spin away out of sight like a fish swimming in murky water.  In
desperation, he ran towards each vision, but inevitably it would vanish
before he could grasp it.  Suddenly Vengar felt as though he were
falling.  No, he wasn't falling.  More like floating.  There was nothing
firm beneath the man.
     Again Therion called out to him, his voice slurring in the
maelstrom of Vengar's poisoned mind.  Vengar shouted back, "Where are
you??"
     "Over here, Vengar!"
     Then other voices, also sounding like Therion's, called out.  "No,
Vengar, over here!  Over here!  We're everywhere!  Ha ha ha!!  You can't
find me!"
     Again, the real Therion spoke, "Pay no heed to those voices,
Vengar.  Concentrate on me, and you will not be distracted."
     Vengar did as the mindmage asked, and soon the echoing remnants of
the false Therion's dissipated into the background.  The image of the
seascape was beginning to solidify.
     "What has happened to me?" asked a nervous Vengar.
     "You were poisoned.  Likely from the wound you sustained during the
rescue attempt.  We must rally your body to fight the toxin.  Help me
call together a group of soldiers!"
     Vengar frantically remembered the images of the mercenaries that
Niari had brought.  The memories took form in Vengar's mindscape, and
soon he and Therion were standing on the beach---m with soldiers behind
them.  Some of the soldiers were lethargic, some injured, but all still
alive...one was named =F4heart=F6, another =F4spleen=F6, =F4pancreas=F6 a=
nd so
forth, fully a score of them.  Opposing them were a number of dark
enemies who looked suspiciously like Gurlith.  Battle raged, though it
was all in the mind, Therion doing his best to strengthen the injured
soldiers as Vengar rallied the rest to fight the enemy.  From time to
time, a lightning bolt would descend from the darkening sky, destroying
an enemy...these were the visual symbols of Niari's medicine.
---d
     The rallying effort seemed to be as difficult or more as the
healing effort that Therion was giving.  The organ-soldiers just did not
seem to want to fight!  Vengar found himself spending more and more time
rallying and less and less time actually fighting the sinister poison
that was slowly killing him.  Many of the organ-soldiers were simply not
motivated to fight the intruder, while others did so only sluggishly. 
Vengar would urge these on to battle, and just as they seemed to be
ready to engage, another problem would arise that would demand his
attention.  Some even hoped to escape the battle entirely by disabling
themselves, and Vengar would have to send them back to Therion, who
would heal them and send them back to the fighting.  Eventually he found
that he was spending all of his time in the rallying effort.  He was
afraid that this would mark the point where he started to lose the
battle against the poison.  He was unaware that despite the grim outlook
from his perspective, progress was being made.---m  Slowly, the odds
turned, and Vengar's =F4soldiers=F6 started getting stronger as the numbe=
r
of =F4orcs=F6 declined....
---d
     Garrison heard the mention of poison also.  He also felt the
weariness emiting from Nairi.
     He dismounted his horse and put a hand on Nairi's shoulder.  "You
need rest, my child.  Let others share the burden."
     Nairi gave way as Garrison knelt next to Vengar.  He felt 'bush'
approach and stand beside him.  Garrison moved his hand over Vengar
until he reached the source of the poisoning.
     "It is as I feared.  The poison isn't plant-based."  Turning
towards 'bush', "I was hoping that it was still in your domain."
     Garrison knelt next to Vengar for a short time.  Then he slowly
raised his hand above the wound.  A faint image of a taint extended from
the wound to Garrison's hand.  As Garrison drew his hand further away,
the taint began to thin and stretch.  Suddenly Garrison=C6s hand recoiled=

as if a rubber band had snapped.  The taint could be seen resting back
into Vengar's body.
     Garrison stood up slowly, leaning on his staff heavily.  "I have
bad news.  I cannot purge his system of the poison.  I have, however,
slowed the progress of the poison.  We need to get him to somewhere that
I can take the time to come up with a cure."
---mwf
     Eldarion nodded at Garrison's words.  "We'll know of a place
shortly.  I sent Dardt out to find a secluded spot to camp."
     No sooner had he said those words, than Dardt alighted upon his
shoulder and began growling at him.  "Apparently there is a grove of
trees roughly four leagues to the northeast.  It=C6s in a draw, and there=

is freshwater there, and enough cover for us to remain hidden for a bit. =

I suggest we make for it post haste.  Will we need to rig up a carrier
for him, or can you do one of your special tricks?"  Eldarion asked
Garrison.
---je
     Vengar had enough time to look and see that the dark poison
entities were being pulled to some doorway that had not been on his
beach beforehand.  They resisted, as if fighting a tremendous wind,
leaning forward and digging their feet into the sandy beach while
grabbing a hold of anything that might look solid.  This struggle with
the unseen force continued for a short while, but the poison-soldiers
seemed too well emplaced, and the force ended its struggle.
     But the effort from the unseen force (which Vengar did not realize
was Garrison's attempt to rid his system of the poison) was not in vain. =

It gave his organ-soldiers an opportunity to regroup, and when the
battle again commenced, the poison was no longer on the attack.  The
battle soon settled into a stalemate, neither side able to make much of
an advance on the other.  Vengar still had his hands full rallying the
listless soldiers, but he was no longer losing ground.
     The battle, though, was far from over.
---m
     Niari stood after doing what she could for Vengar.  The man would
live but he appeared to be in some kind of deep slumber.  His eyes did
not flutter in the normal manner of a sleeper.  She raised her eyes to
take in the shape of Therion, bent over the body of the warrior, his
face in deep concentration.
---k
     Garrison waited as Therion finished his mind-magic.  Hopefully
between the two of them, Vengar would pull through.
     Garrison made some gestures above Vengar and said a brief
incantation.  When he finished he turned towards Therion and Eldarion. 
"I made it so that his body would weigh less.  He should be easier to
move that way.  Just don't shake him up too bad."
---mwf
     As Garrison cast his lightening spell, Niari felt Vengar's pull on
the energy beneath him lessen.  She cocked her head in Garrison's
direction.  Did he know that the spell had this effect?  No, probably
not...as elegant as he was, he probably did not have the art of the
Kioshu.  None did but her people.  He used Magic and that was all.
---k
     As the group prepared to move to the campsite that Dardt had found,
Lorendil contemplated the situation.  He could see that Garrison was a
powerful mage.  He could also see that the events of the past few days
had taxed his power tremendously.  Lorendil knew that he could easily
cast a spell on Vengar's body that would nullify the effect of gravity,
thus making him as easy to move as if pushing across a smooth sheet of
ice.  But he had already taken a great risk in opening the portal to
move the group to this location.  Any more blatant use of power might
tip his presence...even his very existance...to the Dark One.  And
Lorendil didn't want that to happen until he was ready, if he ever would
be.
     And then there was Elana.  Looking over at the elven woman, he
noticed that she had remained considerably away from Therion and
Garrison while they worked on Vengar.  He remembered that he had barely
made it through the portal as it snapped shut when she had passed
through it.  And yet there was no magical aura around her.  Not even a
hint of magical ability.  He looked closer, a theory forming in his
mind.  "That's it!" he thought to himself.  "There is absolutely no aura
around her!"  Even the plants and animals of Ifreann had a small, almost
indetectable aura, but Elana was completely void!  In a sense, her aura
of nothingness was huge.  Lorendil realized then that this was the
reason the portal had closed, and why she was keeping her distance from
the mages as they worked on Vengar.
     Another strike against levitating the fallen man.  The risks
certainly did not outweigh the benefits.  No, he would have to sit back
and observe, participating only when absolutely necessary.  This
troubled him, having to watch as his friends might have to struggle
against tremendous odds.  He wondered what Niari would think of him for
not offering more assistance.  He was uncharacteristically quiet as the
group rode towards the new campsite.
---m
     Lorendil stood off aways from the group, as did the elven beauty
Elana, but they stood not together.  Elana puzzled the Kioshu woman. 
Niari had never before felt such unusual sensations in a creature. 
Elana had no lack of energy.  Her life force was strong.  It was her
presence that was unusual.  Instead of eminating an aura of power, good
or evil, Elana's being was "clear".  There was no other way to describe
it.  Niari shook her head and broke away from the idea of Elana.  She
could have spent days studying the woman...
     Then she caught a wave of t'lah.  Someone was watching her.  She
turned slowly and casually.  Using her peripheral vision, she caught
Lorendil gazing at her from his position several yards away.  She
wondered what was going through his mind and where he had been during
the battle when his Lord needed him.  She had thought he might be dead
until his sudden apearance at the....  At the thought of the portal,
Niari's stomach twisted again and she quickly gave the signal for the
n'Sete to ready themselves.  They would need to find shelter for the
night...at the mention of a place three miles away, they set out,
protecting the party on all sides.
---k
     The journey for Vengar was a rough one.  While Garrison had
succeeded in reducing the weight that the others would have to carry, it
was by no means a smooth ride.  In Vengar's mind, as the battle between
his organ-soldiers and the invading poison raged, suddenly an earthquake
struck.  Vengar had experienced an earthquake once before, and he knew
that there was little to do but wait for it to subside.  He paused, even
while the poison-orcs continued their assault on his organs.  Seconds
went by, and the ground continued to shake.  Then minutes.  Something
was wrong.  The quake should have been over with.  Vengar soon realized
that this was no ordinary earthquake.  This was his mindscape, and
things here were not as they were in the real world.  His heart sank as
he accepted that this was now a condition of the battlefield, which made
the fight that much tougher.  It was bad enough to try to defend against
the onslaught of the poison, but now he had to contend with the shifting
of the ground and the unstable footing that it provided.  It was not
long before the tide again shifted and Vengar began to loose ground.
     Therion was always by the side of the stricken warrior.  Every now
and again he would call a halt in the march to the campsite that Dardt
had chosen, often times over the objections of Eldarion and the others. 
During these halts, he would administer whatever aid through his
mindmagic that he could to Vengar.  The fighter would notice that the
ground would stop shaking, and after a few moments Therion appeared on
the beach to assist him.  Once the battle was again stabilized, Therion
would vanish and the earthquake would resume.  The Baron told Vengar
that he was being moved, and that he had to be strong until they arrived
at the campsite.  Vengar was not sure that he would be strong enough.
     The battle raged on.
---m