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[Xeen] Compendium Chapter 14
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Eldarion smiled at Jarrad, but instead of the even white teeth of an elf,
each of his teeth came to a sharp point.  "Why Jarrad, of course I have 
pockets!  Right here in my cloak.  The answer is simple really.  What has 
Eldarion always kept in his pocket?  His pocket-dragon, of course!"  So 
saying, Eldarion pulls out a pocket-dragon from his cloak with a flourish,
much like a stage magician would.  "Say hello to Dardt..." he told the 
group, and the pocket-dragon launched itself high into the air.  

As the group tore their eyes from Dardt back to Eldarion, he was nowhere
to be found.  He had disappeared from the cliff wall, but his voice was
still there.  "Survive *this* riddle, and you may continue on down this
path straight to my buffet!  I *do* so hope you will survive, as I *am* 
enjoying your company greatly!"

Up in the sky, the pocket-dragon was no longer small, and as each second 
went by it seemed to double in size as it soared.....
--Johny Enright

Thai stared at the dragon and her mouth went dry remembering the two 
other dragons she'd fought. She kicked her horse into a gallop forward, 
off of the exposed cliff the party was standing on. 

Once onto a normal path she wheeled her horse around and slid to the 
ground. The animal was going berserk with dragon fear.

Thai quickly cast a spell to blind the dragon, if that was even possible, 
and followed up with a barrage of force bolts aimed at one of the points 
Draca had listed.
--Phaedra Whitlock

As Thai went on the offensive, Jarrad prepared the defense. The dragon 
was most likely to get at least one or two passes in. 
--Paul Raj Khangure

As she landed gently back into her saddle, Zeph gave Jarrad an
appreciative glance. She owed him one, but before she could word
her gratitude, Dardt was set forth and growing in size, then
Eldarion disappeared. Curses! The filthy lizard had reached them
and she with her keen sight could discern the heads of all twelve
elven legentors (she had sent to intercept the dragon) threaded
onto a gruesome necklace tied around its neck.

"Prepare yourselves for a fight!" Zeph shouted. "For there is no
chance in retreating."

Strawberry was still rolling over Eldarion's conundrum as the
dragon Dardt swung itself towards the earth. "Yes, of course!" he
mused. "The earth elemental had to speak true and *of course*, both
paths lead to Eldarion -our doom which we seek." Finally he looked
up at the sky at hearing both Zeph's call and the ever escalating
sound of a whistle. The sound of a great object cutting through the
air with amazing swiftness. 
--Dave Smart

As Dardt swung around, seeming only annoyed by the attempts on it so far, 
Jarrad prepared to spread out a psychokinetc shield, impervious to flames.
--Paul Khangure

Semareth cursed as Dardt appeared, and charged for the first time. He 
held his horse tightly in rein while he reached around and unfastened the 
great shield and spear from his saddle. The large iron shield was heavy, 
yet he had used one similar before, and knew it was thick enough to 
withstand at least two full strength fireblasts. He reached over for 
Cari's hand, and placed his reins in it as he dismounted.

He raced against time, as Dardt grew closer, and flamed. The brunt of his 
attack was blunted by the shield, most of the party remaining unscathed. 
--Paul Khangure

Semareth held the iron shield above his head, and waited for the impact 
of the dragon-flame. It did not come... eventuating only in a blast of 
warm air. He did not waste time on guessing who had thrown up the magic 
shield. He began to move swiftly for cover, out of Dardt's sight, and 
safely away from the group.
--Nick Takayama

Cari didn't follow Semareth. The rock outcroppings that he had chosen as 
protection was too small for two. She spotted a small crevice and after 
grabbing the medical supplies from her packs she pulled herself in as 
far as she could, though she doubted that it would be much protection 
against the dragon's fire. Nor did she have many illusions that Jarrad's 
shield be able to protect against more than one blast.
--Cathy Mosley

Somehow Strawberry had let himself drift from the group, and the shield 
didn't reach him. But Dardt's flames did.
--Paul Raj Khangure

At the sight of Dardt, an anger unknown to Strawberry's character,
bubbled within him. The dark and volcanic emotion increased in tune
with Dardts' descent until when the flame, spewed forth by the
great evil lizard, licked his form. In an eruption his horse
disintegrated beneath him and to all that managed to survive the
first melee, Strawberry was thought dead. But like a phoenix, the
once slender and gentle man rose like a great bird with feathers of
steel and breath of fire and took to the sky. Still smoldering,
unable to consume what was happening to him (due to the great rush
of adrenalin) Strawberry let instinct control every nerve and
muscle. He attacked!

Seeking what was the source of his intense madness, attracted like
opposing polarities of a magnet Strawberry grappled Dardt, cutting
short the second attack intended for the group below. Like a couple
of stones tied together by some mysterious cohesion, the pair fell
towards the earth, nipping and scratching one another as they
tumbled.
--Dave Smart

Keeping the shield in place, Jarrad just watched in awe. He couldn't 
interfere without hurting Strawberry, not while keeping the shield up 
anyway. Besides, it was not likely he would ever get to see a pair of 
drake's duel again. If he survived.

If things came down to it, Jarrad could always use the jaunting matrix to 
disintegrate the dragon, but he would not do it while Strawberry was that 
close, not while there was a chance of him surviving.
--Paul Raj Khangure

Draca had flown after Zeph when Xeen 'launched' her, only to find 
that Jarrad [did whatever he did.. I never got that post...] just as 
she was maneuvering into position.  [She never did land this time... 
she was waiting to see what would happen.]

As a result, she missed the first moments following Dardt's release.

When she saw the first burst of flame engulf Strawberry, her 
blood ran cold.  Here was the essence of what she dreaded most:  
provoked by the attack, the drake would challenge and fight - without 
anyone present knowing his age, strengths, weaknesses, casting 
ability......

And he would do so through purest instinct... not necessarily 
even knowing _himself_ what he would try....

So she did the only thing she could - she took the post of  
observer/mediator, and waited...  There would she remain until one 
of the combatants disengaged, used an unacceptable protocol, or was 
destroyed.  She did her best to explain her position and limitations to 
the others, stating that she could not permit them to attack until 
Strawberry permitted it...

She would rely on the Wise One's knowledge whenever something happened 
that was beyond the scope of her experience.  She had hoped that by 
remaining aloft, she would be the first to engage Dardt, but now 
she could but wait, and attack if Strawberry withdrew.
--Margaret Tayti

Out of the corner of his eye, Semareth saw Strawberry (could it be?) and 
Dardt grappling amidst the flames of Dardt's last attack. He reached 
cover - a small rise of dirt, and watched as Strawberry matched Dardt 
physically, the pair rolling around in a titanic struggle. 

Quickly, he considered his options. He needed to get close for his spear 
to do any permanent damage, which limited his choices, seeing as his 
spear was solid metal several inches thick... throwing it would be 
pointless. Finally, he decided on his course of action... the most 
dangerous one.

He stepped out from the cover, holding the shield before him, the spear 
he held tightly in his left hand, readied. As the dragons rolled past 
him, he darted after them, spear readied. As he ran, he yelled to 
Strawberry, "Throw him off!". He did not want to pierce the wrong 
dragon's eye.
--Nick Takayama

When the second attack didn't come Cari peered around the edge of her 
crevice and watched in stunned wonder at the sight of two dragon's locked 
in battle; a sight deserving of the skills of the ancient bards. She 
could hear some of the Legentors yelling something about Strawberry, but 
couldn't believe that the new dragon was that gentle man.

Her shock grew as she watched Semareth dash forward with shield raised, 
and spear ready. And cursed that she had no skills to aid him.

All she could do was offer her strongest and deepest prayers to Sh'aljien 
and watch as Semareth ran towards whatever fate awaited him. She prayed 
that she didn't have create from what little she knew of Sh'al his funeral.
--Cathy Mosley

*Wait for his signal!  Otherwise I must prevent the attack.* were 
the words he 'heard' next from Draca... It seemed from her tone that 
she was _deadly_ serious...
--Margaret Tayti

Semareth stopped dead in his tracks, and stared up in the air at Draca. 
The wind whipped at his cloak from all sides, the shield and spear in his 
hand poised. There was malevolence in his eyes.

He had killed dragons before... and three in one day would be no major 
achievement where he came from.
--Nick Takayama

Thai heard Draca's sending and if Draca had been closer she could 
have seen the woman's icy expression upon hearing the declaration. 
She sent privately, ::Jarrad, Strawberry can't win without help. You and 
I can attack Dardt without harming Strawberry. You are much closer to 
Draca than I, talk to her. I don't want to lose him, nor do I want to 
fight two dragons.::

That was quite true but Thai was livid enough to try it. Draca had kept 
secrets from Thai ever since the beginning and rebuffed her initial 
attempts to be friendly. There was no doubt in her mind which dragon she 
preferred, and the thought of Strawberry dying was not one she could 
stand thinking about.

::I will *not* lose him over some idiotic code of hers, this is a battle 
not a challenge match!::
--Phaedra Whitlock

::No!:: Jarrad sent. 

::I don't want to lose him either, but unless this happens this way, we 
lose him anyway. Without any pride, and that is what we rob him of by 
interfering, he will kill himself. He may kill us in the process as well.
I don't know much about dragons, but what I do know, is that once to 
drakes initiate battle, the only way the battle ends is with the death of 
at least one of them.::

Jarrad paused, haiting to say the words, even though they were true, they 
gave an appearance of callousness.

::We have to let him take this one himself. If he wins, we win. If he 
loses, he will have weakened, or damaged Dardt significantly.
We cannot interfere.::
--Paul Raj Khangure

In her head Thai knew that Jarrad spoke true, but it still hurt more than 
she wanted it to. Thai buried her emotions as far down as she could, 
knowing that Strawberry's, Drake Argon's, chances were slim.

She reached out through the crystal net. She couldn't tolerate leaving 
him alone at a time like this despite what it would do to her when he died.

This was going to hurt.
--Phaedra Whitlock

Dardt was truly enjoying this fight.  Though this upstart kin of his
was *really* no match, he felt an invigoration like he had not felt for
quite a while.  He began to toy with his opponent, much as a cat would
with its prey.  The other dragon really did not have much of a chance,
his size being only half of Dardt's gigantic bulk.

Each bite the other dragon took would only barely penetrate Dardt's 
scales, to the point that Dardt hardly felt the bites.  Each of Dardt's
bites sank deep, however.  And Dardt added on to the injury by releasing
a flaming acid each time his maw was filled with his opponent's flesh.

Up in the sky they twisted and moved, like two titans acting out a muse's
play about the struggle of good versus evil.  Finally, in a deft move,
Dardt's opponent slipped under his guard, and raked his claws against
Dardt's throat.  Though no real damage was done, the scaly armour at his
throat had been ripped away.  It was clearly time to end this.  Dardt
released a powerful sheet of the flaming acid at his opponent, then wheeled
about and put some distance between himself and the injured dragon.  He 
then launched himself with full force, hind claws extended, and struck
his opponent full in the chest, sinking his claws deep into the wounded
dragon.  Dardt allowed the momentum to carry the two back down to the 
surface, where he drove his opponent into the ground, pinning him, and 
prepared for the coup de grace.  The other dragon was barely holding
onto a thread of life, as Dardt gave a victory cry, which would have 
shattered glass, had there been any about.  Dardt was about to sink his 
maw into his opponent's throat when he a voice from his past stopped him.

"Dardt!  Te valu ne' gael!  Silivrennamorie'!" cried out a figure running
towards him.  The dragon paused to watch the red haired elf-woman who had
shouted those words.  He inclined his head, remembering a long, long time
ago, when this elf-woman had held him in her arms, and cooed and sang him
to sleep on many occasions.  He regarded her in that memory, of times both
dangerous and happy, and his death-struggle of moments before was all but 
forgotten.  "Ai na vedui, Dardt..." The elf-woman, remembered now as his
mistress Zeph, said softly to him.  Lost in memories of better times, and 
for the first time in many years, the once pocket-dragon named Dardt.....
began to purr. 
--Johny Enright

As Dardt had forced Strawberry downwards Cari had stepped from the 
protective rocks to watch; perhaps a foolish move, but she had no desire 
to hide away while a companion died. There may be little she could do, 
but bear witness like the others. 

The scene - Dardt standing triumphant atop Strawberry - was one from a 
dreamscape or the misty realms of myth. But as Zeph began to speak to the 
great dragon and Dardt began to purr, Cari decided it was a scene that 
rivaled the great tragedies.
--Cathy Mosley

Semareth growled silently and looked away - the group would not deal well 
if he gave Draca her lesson. His slitted eyes refocussed on Dardt... and 
Zephyllia, the two acting like a woman and her disobedient dog.

He cursed her, too. As long as her next move was to thrust a spear 
through the unprotected area on Dardt's throat, he didn't mind. But there 
was little he could say for her should she claim to have control over the 
beast.

"Kanul naktracht kathul", he barked after Zephyllia. He did not care that 
she knew not what it meant.

++ The hunt is not yet finished ++
--Nick Takayama

Draca, who had been watching the battle intently, (not permitting 
herself to be distracted by the waves of hatred directed at her by the 
others - she knew they _couldn't_ understand..) was both pleased and 
frightened by the swiftness with which Dardt 'surrendered' to Zeph.  She 
knew full well that it could be a ruse, and prepared to begin casting 
should her suspicions prove correct.. since _that_ would constitute a 
breach of protocol.  She also observed Strawberry, watching for signs of 
returning memory, and sending a silent prayer to the Ancients - that they 
would guide him...

She would never know whether her prayers had been heard, but she 
noted that he seemed to take in his surroundings, and lost the look of 
blind, instinctive rage that had formerly clouded his judgement...
--Margaret Tayti

There, beneath the larger dragon --Dardt, Strawberry's rage leapt
to new bounds. Frustrated and in pain he saw naught but red until
a voice -soft and gentle at first, but which grew into a stern and
positively commanding voice, spoke to him from within. 'Straw...
berry...Straw..berry. Strawberry! You are who you are. You were
lost and now have been returned. You are *not* alone!' The last
words seem to wake the dragon from a trance. Opening his mind and
soul, Strawberry looked within then beyond. He found who he was and
he found his friends. They were with him, just as the voice had
foretold. Turning his head away from Dardt who still had him pinned
-but had for some reason turned his attentions away, he looked with
open eyes at his friends. With effort and pain, he used the crystal
that Thai had given him and he spoke. ::Comrades...My friends.
Attack!:: It was clear he meant for those in position to release
what ever wrath they possessed onto the two dragons. 

His vertebrae crushed, his many wounds deep and flowing, he cast
his last spell -for his mind had returned and so with it his
knowledge. As does the phoenix, Strawberry burst into flame,
scorching the earth beneath him and that what was above him, and
soon became nothing but ash.

                    **             **             **

Zeph's words to Dardt had somehow soothed the beast into what it
once was. As he purred, she too almost fell under the spell of
familiarity and nostalgia. But it ended as suddenly as Strawberry's
words met her mind. Loosing the gentleness she portrayed for
Dardt's sake, her face hardened. "Attack the spawn of Xeen!" she
commanded. "Attack him now!" 

Not waiting for the opportunity to slip away she spewed forth a
barrage of energy bolts towards the dragons just as Strawberry
exploded into flame.
--Dave Smart

Draca lost no time in casting the spell she had prepared.  Her 
hands danced bafore her in the clawings of the Flame sigil, which she 
directed at the opening in Dardt's armour... while simultaneously 
shielding Strawberry from its impact...  This last was short-lived, 
however, for it bacame apparent that he had other plans in mind...

She shuddered as she shared the pain that he inflicted upon 
himself... and permitted herself to weep.  In his last moments, he had 
cast a Pyre spell.. using his injured body as the fuel source.  She knew 
that only the greatest of Draconic casters had ever been able to reverse 
such a potent spell, and she wept for his sacrifice... only barely aware 
of the activity around her.
--Margaret Tayti

Thai felt something wet on her face, tears, as she harnessed the flames 
Strawberry and Draca provided her with. The fires turned blue-white in an 
instant, engulfing Dardt's exposed throat in white hot flame. The fire 
raged inward searing through layers of armored muscle and sinew torn by 
force bolts and steel, upward towards his spine and brain. 

She felt more than saw Semareth's attack. Her flame was all directed 
inward, he felt nothing, but Dardt did. Hating the pocket dragon for what 
he'd done Thai fueled the fire with her own rage and grief. Strawberry's 
mind slipped from the network as Dardt started trying to rise into the 
air to escape. 

Dardt was dying from his wounds but not yet dead, and mirroring her own 
aggression his monstrous head raised to attack them all. The black 
armored scales around his maw, fine as rose petals but harder than 
mithril, pulled back from obsidian teeth the size of great swords. 

Caught up in the destructive lure of the flames and her emotions, the 
sight of Dardt's huge, sinuous body arcing into the air would stay 
with her forever. All the colors of the rainbow glinted from his scaled 
form, enhancing his obsidian blackness with a beauty only a drake could 
possess. 

The narrow head curved up and away to loop back towards the adventurers 
attacking it. A blast of acid sprayed over the cliff face and ledge like 
a fire hose gone mad, then like a viper Dardt's head lunged for the High 
Inquisitor...
--Phaedra Whitlock

Cursing, Semareth lunged forward, under the raking head of the 
dragon and drew his sword. His shield was a dead weight on his arm 
now, flame would not be Dardt's primary weapon. 

He raised his sword and shield in defense as Dardt's head completed 
its arc and slammed into his body. As his sword plunged into the 
dragon's throat, and shattered, Semareth flew backwards in the air 
 landing in a heap on the ground.
--Nick Takayama

While the other group members kept up the attack on Dardt Cari stayed low 
and ran to Semareth's side. He had not landed far from the dying dragon, 
but he was not directly in the beast's line of sight. 

She knelt, and while careful not to move him she began to check what 
parts of his body were not covered in armour; being wary of his 
chainmail-covered arm. Cari could sense he was still alive.
--Cathy Mosley

Protecting herself from the flames, Draca flew in toward Dardt's 
flank, with only one thing in mind... she would 'feed' him Strawberry's 
death pain... When she came in contace with his hide, she 'sent' her 
sharing directly into Dardt's writhing body, focused as sharply as she 
was able.  She continued to do so until there was nothing left to send.

When finally it ended, and Dardt was dead, she landed beside the 
edge of the scorched pit.  Dropping to her knees, she began keening - an 
oddly hollow sound, given that her voice was still little above a 
whisper.  She 'sang' the song of Passing - and as she did so, her body 
glowed with the intensity of her prayer... She asked the Wise One to 
escort her fallen comrade beyond, and prayed to Skybane and Netherflame - 
that he be accepted into their claws.

When she opened her eyes, her first words were in her 'native' 
tongue... {Wind to Your wings, my now nameless friend...  I am glad that 
you found yourself before moving on...  Would that I could have saved 
you... I regret your sacrifice, but regret more not having known you more 
fully.}  

Though her slender frame had stopped glowing, there was still a 
faint aura around her wings, and the marks on her collarbones still shone 
visibly through her clothing...
--Margaret Tayti

Dardt lay motionless before them and still those who stood and had
the strength jabbed at his hide with their pointed steel.
Especially the elves. For them it was a moment to exact a
generation's revenge till their hate-filled hearts' content. They
continued till the body lay mutilated before them. For Zeph,
feelings of conflict and confusion inhibited her. This is what they
wanted. This is what she wanted? The end of Dardt the horrible, the
feared...the contemned. The dragon they had slew was naught the
pocket dragon of yesterday --a pet, a friend. It had been twisted
into something vile and hideous as her cousin. But what of those
eyes. When Dardt had looked at her after her words, it had seemed
as though part of the old Dardt --however remote or insignificant,
was there. Now all that remained was carrion. Zeph shook away the
final remnants of nostalgia. Dardt was a beast, as savage as any,
and had to be put down like a rabid pet. Slowly she moved forward
to the great head. Removing her sword from its sheath she raised it
high above her and screamed with a renewed rage, "for my brothers
and sisters...may you rot in HELL!" Her sword came down swiftly and
embedded itself into the exposed neck. She withdrew and repeated
her action as if attempting to chop into a great log. Soon a few of
her legentors were by her side and seeing the futility in
attempting to stop her they joined in instead and with great effort
had the head removed from the body.

Sweating and breathing heavily she wiped her brow. "Let us bury the
dead," she said hoarsely. "And tend to the injured. We must be off
to Daventry!"

Two more of her Legentors had been killed (Vlademir --the large elf
and Rendiron -an elf who had joined the party that morning prior to
leaving Haven --his young eyes would never set on Havens' doors
again) and three had been injured. (Elendil, who was burnt
seriously by acid, his hansome face ruined; Guldur, his right leg
being crushed by a flying piece of Strawberry's exploding horse;
and Katrina, only slightly bruised and scratched. She would leed
the other two back to Haven). Also among Dardt's victums was
Strawberry, naught but ash upon ther muddied soil. As Draca bid him
prayer, his soul looked down upon the small group and he smiled.
"Fare thee well my friends," his silent voice spoke. "Your journey
remains long and filled with peril, but you are together, and
united you are strong.

Benedict's ward had done the trick, otherwise the count of dead and
injured could have been much higher. A silent 'thank you' left
Zeph's lips.

Walking with purpose, head high and strong, any sign of emotion
that had coursed through her moments before were now gone, she met
Draca. "Draca, can you perform a Draconian ceremony for the fallen
dragons here?" she asked, and catching Draca's look she added, "he
was my friend...many years ago. There was still something of him
left. Otherwise he would have spat at the first sight of me instead
of pausing as he had done. Can you please perform some sort of rite
that will free his draconian soul from whatever had damned it?"
--Dave Smart

Semareth stirred, and his eyes flickered open. His shoulders hurt 
from the impact of the dragon's attack, and his back was stiff from 
shock. His left arm had taken the brunt of the hit, and he slowly 
lifted it to his chest where he could see it. The armor had held... 
but what amazed him was that the obsidian arm beneath wasn't even 
scratched. He shook his head to clear out the dirt and mud which was 
clouding his mind, and became aware of Cari crouching next to him.

She was unhurt, her skin smooth and untouched. He looked at her a 
moment...

"Dardt?", he queried suddenly.
--Nick Takayama

::Dead,:: she sent; in her sending was the vision of battle, and the 
sense of the tragic in the truly classic sense of the word. She did not 
waste time with regrets for the dead, but there was 
a continual anger about how much life was wasted - in their time or this 
future. 

In her sending was the strong sense of relieve that he was alive and in 
reasonably one piece.
--Cathy Mosley

Relieved, he sat up fully and stretched, sending tendrils of pain 
shooting through his battered body. It felt good in a masochistic 
way. He grinned as he noticed a small cut in his right leg which was 
bleeding for attention. It could wait.
--Nick Takayama

She noted the spot of blood and handed him a strip of bandage from her 
pack, and sent, ::Some of the Legentors were badly wounded. I'll need to do 
what I can for them.::

Cari did what she could with herbs, backed by prayer, for the other 
wounded; until the other healers could come to allieviate the worse of 
the damage.
--Cathy Mosley

She had returned tired, but in some ways more centered, to Semareth's 
side as the ritual was performed. She watched with a closed expression, 
but she offered a prayer for Strawberry - for that gentle soul had died a 
warrior. His death had counted for something; a fact that meant a great 
deal to Cari. 
--Cathy Mosley

Semareth glowered at the ritual he had just seen. In his experience, 
when a dragon died, it went to the armorers, jewellers and 
taxidermists. For the dead legentors, however, he traced a small 
symbol of guidance in the dirt, so that their souls would find their 
way to their appropriate level in the afterlife.
--Nick Takayama

Sitting on his throne in Daventry, Xeen watched the dragons battle in a 
life and death struggle.  It was marvelous!  Epic! He had not witnessed the 
like in eons.  He had no doubt as to the outcome, as Dardt was bigger, 
stronger, faster....

But then the impossible happened.  Dardt had fallen!  Eldarion stared out 
into space, and a single tear rolled down his cheek.  Dardt had been with
him for so long.....the only one who had never betrayed him.  The only one
who had never left him.  Now Dardt was gone....betrayed by a memory, and 
the traitorous Zeph!  

He was not yet ready to end her existence, but he did decide that when the 
time came, he would make it especially painful for a very long time.  

Instead of raging over the death of his pet,  Eldarion instead closed his 
eyes, and seemed to sleep.  It was during these times that...others, who
also occupied the body of Eldarion, were able to manifest themselves above
their normally repressed state.  One of these was a power from long ago,
a power who had been slain by the Dragon-demon himself.  This power had 
waited patiently, marshalling its strength, to do that which it now did.
It sent a casting of itself to the place where Xeen's pet had died.  It
had to act quickly, for it knew it would be punished once Xeen came back
from whatever hell he was currently visiting.

As the party licked its wounds and saw to the fallen, a strange sparkling
began to manifest on the cliff wall near where Dardt had fallen.  The 
sparkling began to change the area on the wall, and soon began to take the 
form of an earthen mouth!  "I have not much time...." it spoke!  "Remember!  
Not all is as it seems in the realm of Xeen, and hold suspect what you now 
know......."  The gravelly voice ceased speaking, and the mouth disappeared
soon thereafter.
--Johny Enright

Jarrad resheathed the sword he had drawn as the rocks had started moving 
unnaturaly.

Keeping an eye on the area, just in case something else happened, he 
turned towards Zeph.

"Do you know who that was?" he asked. "I bet it is Eldarion playing his 
tricks again, telling us to doubt what we know so as to confuse us 
further."
--Paul Raj Khangure

"A trick? Surely *it* was! To set forth words upon us where only rocks 
stand is truly some kind of trick." Zeph smiled for the first time since 
they had left Haven, but it wained quickly. "But trickery...I doubt that 
was the intent here my friend." Then mounting her great horse, she took 
on the look of one in the midst of intense concentration. "As for who 
that was," she finally answered. "I do not know." Her words were a lie. 
Somewhere inside she had found --had felt the answer, but how could 
it be...was he not dead?
--Dave Smart

Thai kept her opinions to herself, but they were not new ones. Despite 
her friendship with Zeph and then Benedict, she had never shaken the 
feeling of being set up by the pair. 

Strawberry's death had left her emotionally raw and the last thing she 
wanted to do was think through a double cross, or triple cross involving 
people she had tried hard to open up to. Whatever could be done had been 
done before leaving Haven. 

::Zeph, before we go much further, is it necessary to continue on to 
Dardt's lair? If we decide to travel to Eldarion's lair instead, Draca 
will have to know where to scout and most of us are weakened if not 
wounded. Will we arrive before nightfall or will we need to camp out?::
--Phaedra Whitlock

Semareth frowned. He had seen bureaucracies tied up like this for 
days.

To Thai, Jarrad and the others, he spoke.

"Must we waste time even more? We are headed for Xeen's abode, and 
there is little that more rest can do for us. I believe we were 
already on our way...", his face was stern.

His thoughts spoke of military strategems... though your troops be 
weary, it is sometimes best to march on, for it is exactly this that 
the enemy is trying to stop.
--Nick Takayama

"Let us be gone from this place!" Zeph ordered, picking up on Semareth's
irritation at the delay. He was right to be anxious. The injured were on
their way back after recieving whatever care Cari and Draca could provide.
The bodies of fallen were buried with quick cermons that  followed which
fell short of was deserved. "We have many a league to cover between 
here and Daventry. Let us be gone." 

The remaining company with their new course made, set forth. The drizzle 
never let up. It was still a miserable day, which ever way one looked at 
it. As they rode in relative silence Zeph could not help but wonder how 
*he* had reached them. However it was accomplished, his words would not 
be unheeded and why did she feel the need to keep her knowledge secret.
It was obvious that her trust in her allies was not complete.
--Dave Smart

The day grew old, but with the constant drizzle and sunless sky, it
was difficult to tell. Time seemed to drag on immeasurable. Finally
after all was said and done the group was once more on their way.
The need to reach Dardt's lair was no more. Instead the path was
made for Daventry. Straight ta doomsville.
--Dave Smart

As the party began it's slow journey towards Daventry, Sem thought of 
his homeland, and their warrior-caste culture. He yearned for the 
security of knowing his place in the family, and in the 'clan'. Then 
he looked at Cari. She was too gentle to understand, he thought, too 
good natured -- he shook his head, and urged his horse forward.
--Nick Takayama

Both were tired and the link between them was more open than usual.

Cari rode beside Semareth; and as she let the horse pick its way over the 
uneven ground she let faint images of a land she had never seen drift 
through her mind. She did not intrude and actively read, and was almost 
about to dampen the link when his thoughts of her caught Cari's 
attention. His image of her brought a soft mental chuckle before she 
could catch herself. Didn't he realize that it was only when he had shown 
her the path of Sh'al that she had begun learning that she didn't always 
have to fight for everything; that she could believe in something?
--Cathy Mosley

Semareth caught a hint of amusement from Cari, beside him. He turned 
and gave her a querying look. Had she heard his thoughts?
He decided to risk that she had.

"You are not a servant girl, nor are you a concubine, nor are you a 
priestess. These are the options in my land. If I were you, I would 
baulk at such ideas... women from the outerlands seldom willingly 
choose any of those.", his face was stern.

He looked her in the eyes, waiting for her response. 
--Nick Takayama

She didn't let her question about "women from the outerlands seldom 
_willingly_ choosing the mentioned options" coming anywhere near where 
Semareth might "hear" it.

Cari did not answer immediately, though she met Semareth's eyes. Since he 
had been teaching her they had been concentrating on the basic tenants of 
Sh'aljien and so she had realized that she knew little of the actual 
structure of the temple or on how women fit into that structure. And she had 
been wondering about that, but until now there had been little chance to 
ask. At last she she sent, ::No, I am not any of those . . .. :: She 
decided that since he didn't seem upset by her accidentally overhearing 
his train of thought that she would go ahead and mention his view of her. 
::And though you think me a gentle girl - I doubt you would call many of 
my strategems for survival honorable. Invisibility was my best option, 
and that I cultivated - and if that failed, then I would fight with my psi
abilities and drugs made with my herbal knowledge. With no qualms.::
--Cathy Mosley

Semareth nodded, he knew of her past. His spies in Montfort had been 
_most_ effective. He wondered idly if he had been replaced yet, or if 
time had frozen as the rest of Montfort was concerned.
--Nick Takayama

She looked ahead for a moment. Then she looked at him. ::The gentleness 
is because you showed me the path to Sh'aljien . . . :: She hesitated, 
unsure how to describe her feelings. ::And even in my fear and confusion 
I heard his call in your words, and knew that accepting him was the right 
action. .. .No, I would not be a servant girl. And as for cocubine, I do 
feel that no one should be only an object of desire  .. :: her mental 
voice got a little softer, shyer, ::Though there is little I can truly 
say on that topic since no man has been _that_ near me yet. ...:: Cari's 
"voice" became more diffent when she said, ::As for priestess - that I 
feel no qualms towards.:: 
--Cathy Mosley

Semareth raised an eyebrow at this. He could not picture Cari as any of 
them. And as things stood, most definitely not a priestess.He thought 
things would have to change quite dramatically over the next few years 
for that to happen.

He looked at her. "I believe you when you say you have no problems with 
the idea of being a priestess... but believe me when I say that _they_ 
would have a problem with _you_.
"The Church of Sh'al very much reflects the clandestine culture which 
spawned it (or spawned from it). As such, there is a great amount of 
testing and elimination to decide who becomes a servant of the church. 
Even the scullions must pass these tests. 
"Your nature, your outworlder appearance would all play against you.", he 
frowned. "If your mind is set on that direction, I would prepare for a 
dangerous journey.".
--Nick Takayama

Cari listened, and wondered at the society that had molded Semareth. For 
he was the only example she had of his culture. She was about to 
ask a question, but waited as he continued.
--Cathy Mosley

Then, in an effort to ease the bite of his comments, he added, "Not too 
different from the one we are on now.". He almost smiled, but thoughts of 
his home came swirling back to his mind... they had been calling to him 
these last few days, as if his absence meant something. He had almost 
laughed when he first felt that way, but now it seemed more like there 
was something pulling at him, demanding his presence there. He shivered. 
--Nick Takayama

She watched Semareth's expression become distant, and a shiver run the 
length of his tall frame. ::Is everything alright?:: she sent.
--Cathy Mosley

"Yes", he replied, "I am fine... ". He did not elaborate.
--Nick Takayama 

While waiting for his answer Cari pondered what he had told her. After he 
had answered her she sent, ::As you say, this in itself is a dangerous 
quest. And if we survive it, then yes, I would wish to prepare for what I 
must do to start on the road to becoming a priestess.:: She studied the 
barren, rocky trail their horses walked on, and asked, ::Why is the 
Church of Sh'al clandestine?::
--Cathy Mosley

Semareth sat in silence for a moment before responding. "It is like 
you are asking why the dirt is brown. It just is. The people of my 
land are often divided in their views, although united beneath the 
church. We live in families, or clans, simply because that is how we 
have always lived. It gives us strength, and purpose and makes each 
clan stronger than a loose nation would be.", he paused for a moment. 
"I am of a clan, and I am of the church. I am stronger because of 
these... the priestesses and priests are even stronger because - and 
for - that reason.".

He shook his head.

"I cannot expect you to understand. I still do not understand your 
way of life. I tell you only this; the priests and priestesses of 
Sh'al are the most dangerous people I know of. Not because of any 
mystic or divine powers, but because of who and what they are to my 
society."

He smiled, "But I refer to unecesssary details. They do indeed help 
and guide my people in a multitude of ways. After all, that is their 
purpose.".
--Nick Takayama

Cari rode for a while, considering her own thoughts and some 
realizations, and she wanted to find the right words for her discoveries. 
Semareth had called the Temple do Sh'al "clandestine," and she knew that 
it seemed that all religions were secretive about their ways and 
rituals. Some would say to give them the aura of power, and others would 
say to hide deep secrets. She did not think that the worship of Sh'al was 
false . .. like the original worship of the Redeemer. She had felt the 
call of Sh'al in some part of her soul; giving her a reason to believe 
and a reason to learn to trust. And having seen and 
experienced the ritual of protection that Proctor Benedict performed, she 
knew that even the Redeemer in this future truly existed in the hearts of 
his followers.

Briefly she wondered if Semareth would inadvertently hear her thoughts, 
but did not worry the issue or ponder it longer than a second. She went 
back to thinking of what he had said of his society - that "they had 
always lived that way." Even the farming village she came from had it's 
traditions, from which stemmed the superstitions that made her an 
outcast and Leathian to be so readily burnt. Some traditions were worth 
keeping. Some were not.

She had sensed Semareth's longing for his clan and his ways, and the 
security. But would they know the man should Semareth ride back amongst 
his clan? For even in the short time she had known him he had changed. He 
could not shirk off the knowledge he had gained to become once again one 
amongst many. Cari sighed, knowing that it was hard to be an outsider; 
she had been that for a long time. At last she was ready, and sent, 
::Semareth, you speak of a society heavy with traditions, which you say I 
would not understand. Perhaps. Perhaps not.:: She looked at him, meeting 
his eyes, as she sent, ::And from everything you have told me the image I 
have is of a society that has little use for outworlders - you said it 
yourself, that outworld women are made to be servants or concubines. Or 
maybe priestesses. And none that you seem to know of have entered those 
roles willingly.::

Her "voice" became firm, though compassionate, ::Semareth, I have no 
doubts that when you first became the Proctor's High Inquisitor that you 
did so only to help rid the world of magic users. But you saved me. . 
.yes, I know you would have let me die had I not chosen Sh'al. But I 
heard his call in your words and it wasn't a choice of living or dying 
for me - it was just right. But you went on to call acolytes to you - 
under the Proctor's nose. All outworlders. None steeped in your traditions.::

She paused a moment, and when she spoke again her green eyes challenged 
him, ::What shall you do with us, Semareth, should we return to our time? 
Those of us you have shown the path of Sh'aljien to? And what of yourself 
- can you wipe away the knowledge you have gained?:: Her "voice" became 
softer, ::Semareth, you have begun something. And should we live we will 
have fought for Sh'al . . .if nothing else but to avenge him. Not many 
can say they have fought to avenge a god. .. Where does your path lead 
you, my friend and teacher?:: There was no sarcasm in her question. The 
emotion behind her words was the love of a friend and concern.::
--Cathy Mosley

Semareth sat in stony silence throughout Cari's eloquent monologue, 
his eyes closed. Through the dimness of their accidental 'link', she 
could feel his mind churning over her words -- thoughts bringing 
forth emotion laden memories. He bowed his head as she spoke, and did 
not re-open his eyes when he replied.
--Nick Takayama

She let his emotions flow past - neither blocking nor intruding.
--Cathy Mosley

"Cari, there is no place for me in my own land for exactly the 
reasons you speak of. I spoke quietly among my friends in the 
guardianship of the church about the possibility of outlanders being 
allowed to learn the true way for years, and it earned nothing but 
shrugs. The priests and priestesses retain their right to refuse to 
teach to outlanders, and although I found a few friends... I earned 
many more enemies than I imagined. 
--Nick Takayama

::What did they claim as their objections?:: she asked, ::Or was it 
only fear?::
--Cathy Mosley

Semareth shot a glare at Cari, "No one is without fear, Cari. No 
one.". Then his face regained passivity, "Change is a difficult thing 
to accept - I believe that is all the reason they have, and in truth 
they needed none.".
--Nick Takayama

"I cannot return to my land now. Unexplicable things occurred which 
caused what enemies I had to show their hand against me, and even my 
father was forced to let them have their way. Had I stayed, I 
would have died.", he lifted his head slowly, and opened his eyes.
--Nick Takayama

This admission surprised Cari - she had never thought of Semareth as an 
outcast. A stranger in a land he didn't understand - yes, but not one 
driven from his people. She softly sent, ::What happened, Semareth? What 
did your enemies use against you?:: It wasn't idle curiosity that made 
her ask. There was concern, but there was also a need to better 
understand him - her teacher and friend.
--Cathy Mosley

He shot her a look that told her she should have known the answer.
"You have seen how I heal after prayer and rest from the most 
grievous of wounds. Do you think everyone in my land can do such 
things? I am far from normal in this regard, and be it godsent or 
not, it is not well accepted."

"As I said, even my own father had to allow me to be outcast. Were it 
to be known that the church was accepting a freak in its midst...", 
he shook his head.

"At the time, even I did not know what was happening, nor why I was 
special... I had not yet heard the voice of the Dh'erthenal, the 
godhead."
--Nick Takayama

"I do not know where the path that I am taking leads... perhaps one 
day it will take me home, perhaps not. It is the journey that 
matters - and I can but pray that I have what I need to last me until 
the bitter end."

He lapsed into silence, his broad shoulders rising and falling slowly 
with each breath, his black hair draped across his forehead like 
stormshadow.
--Nick Takayama

She wanted to reach over and gently brush back his silken hair, but 
instead she filled her thoughts with quiet compassion, and sent, ::It is 
the journey, that is true. And from what you have told me somewhere in 
your heart you have a sense of the path you walk. If you didn't you would 
have never questioned your people's tradition, nor accepted me as a 
student.::
--Cathy Mosley

He almost laughed, but could not.

"The true path must be a very thorny, bloody one then...", he 
grimaced at some unspoken imagery.

"I had a life to live into then - ", he paused, momentarily lost for 
words. "I do not know what this is... " unspoken remained, 'for it is 
not that life'.
--Nick Takayama

::Welcome then, Semareth, for you shall find you are not alone. Many of 
us have been driven from lifes we knew,:: her tone carried no sarcasm, 
nor regret. ::Let go of it, for your old life will never exist again. 
Sh'aljien chose you for a reason and now you have to find it.:: She did 
daring manuver - for her, and moved her horse closer so she could reach 
over and touch his left arm. Cari sent, ::And you will.:: She smiled 
quietly and pulled her horse away.
--Cathy Mosley

Semareth looked down as she withdrew her hand from his chain covered 
black arm. He looked at her with swirling silver eyes. She spoke some 
truth... life would not be the same... but he found the fact hard to 
accept. He had lost his family, his real arm, his home... and 
somewhere along the line, his bluesteel sword. He did not tell her 
that sometimes his left arm 'hungered' for another life, did not tell 
her how it required every ounce of his concentration to prevent 
himself from removing his chainmail and grabbing somone by the throat 
and feeling their warm-coursing-pulsating-so-satisfying life flow 
through his arm, and settle like sweetest honey on his innards. That 
was one thing he could not even translate into words... he shivered 
at the gruesome thought. Masking his thoughts from her, he 
whisper-lied, "Perhaps there is hope..."
--Nick Takayama

She could sense hesitancy in his words, and remembered what it was like 
to keep moving, even though dispair colored both the waking world and the 
realm of dreams. So what happened when your teacher sunk into the realms 
of hopelessness? Did the student follow? 

Cari knew that right now she was hearing the words of a man, not a 
teacher. A man who was looking back at the frayed robe that once bound 
him to his people and a life he knew. A friend, and teacher, who had 
revealed to her something to believe in. Who had taught her that belief 
had to continue and be strong if Sh'aljien was to live again. 

To Semareth she sent, filling her thoughts with the strength of her 
belief, leaving little room for arguement, ::There is hope.::
--Cathy Mosley

Semareth concentrated on the patch of grey-brown sky before him. 
There was little else he could add to the conversation. He had made 
up his mind on many things... they would just have to wait.
--Nick Takayama