Ceridwyn pushed herself away from Aeolis slowly as she heard the door burst open behind her. She turned and looked at Rose who was taking control of the situation and giving orders left and right. Slowly Walter was drug in behind her and she furrowed her brows as he glared at her. His body still bore the marks of her anger as well as a new welt on his cheek, about the size of Roses’ fist, she could only smile at this.

As the events unfolded and Rayann’s empathic abilities were used to determine the truth Ceridwyn moved herself slightly behind Aeolis and observed, keeping her mouth shut and simply allowing her eyes to take in the events. She wasn’t an empath, she was more a scryer, therefore Rayann was more the center of this stage and she didn’t in any way want to take away from her expertise in this situation by interjecting anything.

As Walter lunged at Rayann her hand instinctually gripped her staff tightly and she was about to stun him when she heard the gurgled snuffing of his breath as his feet left the floor and Myth’s arm lifted the man from his feet. Walter dangled helplessly and the look on the Prince’s face was nothing short of determined to protect his wife. Ceridwyn could not help but linger on the thought that if this was happening anywhere else, without Commander Rose present Walter might have just as easily found himself staring at the lower half of his body as the top half was cleaved clean and the remaining oxygen in his brain gave him a few precious seconds to realize that he was heading to the Abyss.

Ceridwyn relaxed slightly and her soft brown eyes shifted to look at Rose. She was curious as to how the Commander of Heartlund Keep was going to respond to all this.




Trystan was in the livery brushing checking on the injuries some of the horses had sustained on the battlefield when a lower ranking Knight of the Crown came with haste and slid to a halt as he saluted. “The… Commander… Commander Rose… she summons you to… to the Mess sir… Mages, Sir Walter… there was an incident.”

Trystan’s face turned pale as he considered what this cryptic message meant, and he handed the scrolls he was holding to one of the Livery Masters and dashed to the Keep. He dashed through the halls and made his way downstairs into the Mess, slowing down only when the massive double doors came into view. He jogged up and arrived just as Walter lunged at Rayann, he grabbed his sword and saw Walter lifted into the air. He shook his head and released the blade and watched. Due to the circumstances that he witnessed just in the few seconds he had been here he knew this was no minor manner, and he didn’t announce to Rose that he had arrived, knowing she would have heard him coming and had a much stiffer situation to deal with. She would ask of him what she needed when she was ready.

A look of calm washed over Rose's face as she Pela prepared to give her side of the tale. She noted a look of relief that had crossed the young girl's face when it came to light Rose wanted this to be as truthful as possible. With practiced patience Rose listened to Pela's tale remaining silent and stone faced as she did so. While her knights had the right to their opinions it did not excuse the way they were acting. She had guesses as to how things likely happened but she would wait to hear all sides in the matter. As Pela finished Rose bowed her head slightly to the girl ":Thank you Pela."

Her attention then turned to Sir Walter and she did her best to ignore his protests. Rayann made the point to him clearly enough. The hard part about being the commander was remaining impartial until the very end. In this matter she had a long list of reasons to ignore everything Walter said out of hand. She was certain there would be ommitted details and when she looked to Rayann for verification of that fact she was caught off guard by Walter's sudden attempt to attack Rayann in response to her damning his confession. She was in even more shock by how quickly Myth had interceded. She had not even seen the elven prince move. She blinked and Walter was hoisted off the dirt as if he were a doll.

It took Rose several moments to recover from her shock before she stepped up to Myth puting a hand on his outstretched arm. She simply looked at him shaking her head before Myth lowered Walter setting upon the floor but his grip remained iron clad holding the man in place. Rose was thankful for at least a partial consession on Myth's part. If they had been in any place but a solomnic keep Myth very well would have ended Walter's life, of that she was dead certain.

"Larrisa is Walter's accounting of events here in the mess missing any important details?"

Larrisa cleared her throat before speaking "It is as the lady mage says Commander. They did indeed recieve instruction to cause problems. The men were warned that should they persist in their actions there would in fact be trouble. Ms. Pela's guard did attempt to intervine but Walter employed use of his rank to force the issue and make the young man stand down."

Rose frowned looking at Walter "There... backed by one of our own Sir Walter."

Rose stepped away walking towards Trystan lost in thought trying to decide on a course of action. "This entire mess leaves me in a difficult place. Knights under my command have engaged in conduct unbecoming. I also have to consider that magic was brought to bare against my knights as well by our guests." She looked up at Trystan searching his eyes looking for answers to questions.

She turned looking back at the group her face had returned to a stone mask. "Lord Myth if you would please unhand him now. I think he will behave himself for the time being." Her eyes locked with Walters and she almost dared him to make a move as Myth released his grip. The man inhaled deeply drawing in the air to fill his empty lungs.

Rose let Walter catch his breath before she started to speak. "Sir Walter you are stripped of your rank and are to be confined to the stockades pending a court marshall by your superiors." The defiant look was returning to his eyes and as he was about to speak Rose cut him off.

"Everything that has happened here was a result of YOUR actions. YOU gave the orders, YOU provoked the mages, YOU abused your rank over a fellow knight who was doing his duty." She took ina breath before continuing "There is also the fact you made an attempt to attack an ally, whom I will add is the wife of an elven prince who is in fact here as a foreign dignitary as well as bodyguard. Do you even understand just HOW close you came to death just by that very act alone? DO YOU?" She folded her arms glowering at Walter "I can also add promoting desention among the ranks, and dereliction of duty on the field of battle." She watched for a reaction on his face "Or did you think I forgot about that little stunt on the battlefield were you left me to that damn beast."

"Your games are done Walter... consider yourself lucky I am not excersising my right to court marshall you on this very spot as is my right."

She looked at Trystan her anger was very clear and it was obvious she was controlling the brunt of it. "Get this piece of trash out of my sight. If he so much as utters a complaint I want him in irons, gagged, and tossed in to solitary. Also I want it known among every knight still manning this keep that if they so much as utter a word in protest or cause on shred of trouble they will be locked up with him. This ends today..."

Looking away from Trystan she looked at the rest of the group her face still hard. "You all fall outside of my authority but I will make this clear. Tensions are high and I understand that but you can not allow yourselves to be baited. Things could have gone very badly and from what I understand they nearly did. I can not apologize enough for Walter and his men. However I must adive a word of caution from here on out. I will not tolerate anymore trouble from ANYONE in my keep.

Myth could only stand there a bit suprised that Rose was handling herself considering how angry she was. Her body language indicated that her anger was barely being held in check. The minor outbursts of anger were indeed mild compared to what they could be. He simply said nothing looking to Rayann and then to the others individually before turning back to Rose.

Pela began to come to her own defense again.

”I would not have….”

But before her words could be finished, Rayann whirled around and pinned the girl with a pointed look.

”Enough, Pela. The Commander has spoken. Her word is law in this Keep and we will obey it. ALL of us.”

Pela blinked and looked at Rayann for a moment before she shrunk back down and lowered her gaze muttering a soft yes ma’am before lifting her gaze to look around at the others. Rayann looked at Myth then the others then to Rose and nodded her head.

”We will all do what we have to in order to make sure we keep ourselves in check, Commander. I thank you for allowing these informal inquisitions occur.”

As Walter was led away, he cast another hateful glare at Pela and made a quick motion with his hand at his throat and Pela merely glared back. She wasn’t afraid of the man, regardless of what he may think of her.

With the situation done and over with, Rayann looked to Myth then looked to Ceri who was doing her best to hide behind Aeolis. She’d never seen her friend lash out like that and she knew now Ceri may ot regret what she did (and Rayann didn’t blame her) but knew she had gotten out of control. But, with everything that had happened, it was all understandable. All but Walter’s insubordination and general mischief making.

It was time to move on and moving on meant trying to put their minds together and figure out what needed to be done next. Clearing her throat softly, Rayann inclined her head slightly to Rose.

”Well, Commander, since we’re all here…..would you care to have a meeting of the minds, so to speak?”

Trystan listened as Rose sorted the situation out and nodded as she gave the order to have Walter removed. Two guards escorted him to the entrance of the Mess and Trystan followed, once they were outside Trystan spoke, “I have him from here men.”

They turned and looked at him and he nodded, “You are both dismissed, I don’t think our former Knight here will be much more trouble now that he is in manacles.” The men turned with a salute and left, Trystan watched as they left and the hall was empty now. He turned and looked at Walter who glared at him and Trystan stared back with eyes that showed no love or compassion. “You have brought this on yourself Walter.”

Walter looked at him and growled, “Sir Walter.” Trystan shook his head and spoke softly, “Tsk tsk Walter, not anymore.” Walter’s face went flush and he took an aggressive half step towards Trystan who immediately placed his hand dead center in Walter’s chest and shoved him back into the stone wall. Walter impacted the wall and huffed as the air was slightly knocked out of him. He looked up as Trystan reached down and removed a dagger that Walter always had hidden in his right boot. It was an heirloom, the handle was lovingly crafted and bore the Stoneblade family crest. Everyone in the Keep knew this was Walter’s blade and Trystan twisted it gently in his fingers as he looked at it.

He looked up at Walter who was sneering at him and he nodded as he spoke to Trystan, “Good call, I would have most certainly used that to make my escape the first chance I had. If you and that Commander of yours think I was going to just sit tight in a cell and await the decision to see my hanged you are all sorely mistaken, not to mention caught in a state of disillusion.”

Trystan looked from Walter and then back down to the blade, he huffed through a half laugh and responded as he spoke to the blade, “Ironic isn’t it?”

“Ironic that what?” Walter furrowed his brows as he responded.

“Ironic that the very blade which you were concealing and were certain would be the tool of your freedom is now the piece of evidence that will seal your fate.”

Walter cocked and eyebrow and spoke to Trystan through a laugh, “What are you getting at boy?”

Trystan looked up at Walter. He looked at him as if he was staring at nothing more than a bowl of fruit, “When you attacked me with it and I had to defend myself, and you died in this very hallway.”

Walter leaned back and turned his head slightly sideways, “You wouldn’t!”

Trystan stared back at him with a look of steel resolve in his eyes, “Oh by the Abyss I would Walter.”

He brought the knife up and slipped it in the crease of the light leather armor he was wearing and narrowed his eyes on Walter, “This is for Lady Kellan.”

He thrust the blade and stabbed himself just over the ribs, letting the knife skim across the top of the bone and create a superficial but convincing wound. Walter’s eyes went wide as he watched Trystan remove the knife through the slightest grimace of pain and drop it on the floor. Walter screamed and hide the sound of Trystan’s blade exiting the scabbard, singing through the air and sliding with ease across Walter’s throat. He clutched at Trystan as he slumped forward and fell sideways to the floor with a loud thud. Trystan grimaced slightly as the pain in his side gripped him and he looked down at the lifeless eyes of Walter. There was the slightest sound and he turned his head sharply to the right and caught Larissa looking down the hall at him. He cleared his throat and wiped his blade and returned it to the scabbard. He locked eyes with Larissa’s gaze as he called out, “GUARD! WALTER IS DEAD!”




Ceridwyn had stowed herself slightly behind Aeolis to stay out of the way, but when Rayann looked at her she felt her friend was feeling her motivations were different. She stepped forward as Commander Rose made her statement and she furrowed her brow slightly. She cleared her throat softly and Rose looked over at her.

She looked at Rose and stepped forward once again, her brown, doe like eyes were full of resolve and unrepentant, “Commander, you are right, it is your Keep, and there are rules, but with all due respect if those rules had been enforced sooner this would not happened. Pela is dealing with the loss of the only family she has ever known, and Walter’s actions have been inexcusable since the moment we got here. I know it is not my place, this is a human place, in a human region with human leadership, but this was not an act of impulse, this was building for some time.”

She watched as Lady Roses’ eyes brows furrowed and she turned to look at Aeolis a brief moment before turning back to Rose. “I agree that it went too far, but I also believe some of this has to do with the fact that we were never really welcomed here in the first place. It is our wish to aid and assist, but I will not remain here if things don’t change. Take it as an ultimatum, or simply as a wise and experienced old Elf finally speaking her mind… because I have remained silent for too long. You have a very dire situation on your hands, and if I was in your shoes, I would not be making threats to the only real allies you have left.”

She inhaled deeply and turned to the others before looking back at Rose, “If you need me I will be in study.” With that she turned and was about to head down the hall when she heard Walter scream, Larissa was nowhere to be seen and Ceridwyn only half glanced back at the group before dashing down the hallway. She rounded two corners and found Larissa standing beside an injured Trystan, the lifeless body of Walter on the floor at their feet.”

Tepes, flew west southwest across the Nightlund plains and the boarder of Vingaard, turning south southwest following the Vingaard River to where in skirted the border of Solmania. He then turned south, crossing the border, circling east to Heartlund. There he skirted the ramparts of the keep, screeched and circled the tower, that held Commander Roses office and quarters, once and landed upon the same window sill he had landed before. Once again he screeched and tapped at the windowpane with his beak and peered through the pane. Seeing no movement, the falcon leapt from the sill, dove down the side of the tower and began circling low over the compound, screeching. As he swooped low over the compound a mere five feet above the ground, Tepes’ keen eye spotted a ferret scurrying across the compound towards the mess hall. ( a meal that must for another time)

{Message Strapped to his leg :“As you wish Commander ..... evidence of a small party of Doppelgangers at the base of the Dargaard mountains on the border of Nightlund ........ will make haste .... arrive in two or three days time. SL.”}

Saul waited until dusk before he moved cautiously out of the cover, what little there was of it, of the forest and onto the open plains of Nightlund. He had decided to move mostly under the cover of darkness across the plains. He traveled speedily west, thru the light of a full moon. When he reached the Vingaard River, he turned southwest along the eastern Kellendos boarder. There east of Vangaard Keep, Saul halted at what appeared to be the sight of a battle. Twenty five or thirty bodies were strewn about, the exact number was difficult to determined. Some appeared to have been ravaged by wolves and other carnivores. They appeared to be the bodies of men, from what Saul could ascertain. Several weapons, swords, lances, shields and pieces of armor were also strewn about. Saul knelt and picked up a dented and blood stained shield . He examined it closely, but could not remember seeing or hearing of a description of the emblem upon it. He took the shield over and hung it on the saddle of his horse, mounted and continued southwest along the river to its fork, crossed the boarder of Solmania, southwest in the direction of Thelgaard Keep. He intended to approach Heartlund from the west.

Kali sat in the study of her tower. The last few days had given her the opportunity to truly acclimatize to the new power she been given access to and she felt a perpetual grin crossing her face. She set her spellbook down on the end table beside the large study chair and walked to the bookshelves looking over the vast space that had been provided but still needed to be filled. She turned and looked instinctually to the North, her eyes scanning the horizon through the large windows.

She stared over the top of the Keep towers and into the invisible distance. Nodding her head she felt the pull of the library of her ancestral home, she felt the crooked smile slip across her face and in a whirl of robes she turned, picked up her spellbook, grabbed the Staff of Cells and hissed magic into existence as she disappeared from her tower.

She appeared In the Tower of Glen Durel, the magic wardings in the air recognized her presence and released themselves to give her access to the room. She walked along the massive bookshelves, the vast amounts of knowledge that had been collected and left in sanctuary here by Papa staring back at her. She walked along, rubbing a finger along the spines of the books. They hummed with power, responding to her touch and she felt the tingling sensation as magic floated off them like leaves scattered in the autumn breeze. She stopped and looked at the magical portrait that hung over the mantle. The four figures watched over the room, her Father, his arm protectively reaching over Rayann’s shoulder, her brother propped in Rayann’s arms, and herself standing shoulder to shoulder on the opposite side holding the Staff of Cells, the same staff that Rorie had stolen and she had recovered. She turned and looked at that very staff in her right and squeezed it tightly. Looking back at the portrait she walked over and reached up, touching the rendering of her brother on the cheek and rubbing her finger softly over the canvas. His emerald eyes seemed to almost stare back at her and she whispered his name as she rubbed her finger over his mouth.

She inhaled deeply and turned, looking out into the massive room that was the top of the tower. The familiar smell of dust and leather filled her nostrils as she stood a moment before getting to work. She walked over to the bookshelves again and knew that this knowledge must be taken and protected. It could not fall into hands that would alter her plan or compromise her objectives. She began to sprinkle reagents along the edges of the shelves. She knew her presence here would be felt by her mother, if it hadn’t already, and she moved quickly to get done what needed to be done to transport all the magical materials and books in the tower to her tower of shadow flame as quickly as possible.

Rayann stood near Pela andMyth as things began to settle in the mess hall. Of course as the news of Walter’s demise came to light, Rayann couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more to the story. She hoped and prayed Rose wouldn’t ask her to find out for certain. As she stood with baited breath waiting to find out for certain she got a sudden strange sensation. She furrowed her brows then looked up at Myth as the sensation grew and then her face took on a look of disbelief.

Why hadn’t she thought of this? Perhaps it was because she didn’t think Kali would come back to the Tower of Glen Durel. Or perhaps it was because she knew Kali would and it would be her chance to see her daughter again. What ever the reason, Rayann knew one thing for certain, whatever Kali was doing there couldn’t be any good.

With a slight touch to Myth’s arm, she turned and in the blink of an eye she was gone in a rustle of red velvet material and the smell of lavender. She appeared in the Tower of Gen Durel behind Kali about 20 feet away. She didn’t say anything as she watched what Kali was doing and saw the changes in her daughter.

Kali stopped moving and for a moment she didn’t turn around, Finally she slowly turned to face her mother and Rayann let her eyes meet her daughters. Taking a deep breath, Rayann let it out slowly then glanced at all the books before looking back at Kali.

”I was hoping we’d be able to see each other again, Kali. I don’t suppose you’d want to tell me why you want to remove Papa's books, do you?”

There was no malice in her words and she was really curious as to what Kali was doing.

Kali was so busy working she didn't realize the moment her mother arrived. Normally she would be more attuned to her presence but in her haste she had missed the arrival. When she did realize it she stopped and turned around slowly and looked at her mother.

Kali's robes still had a deep red hue to them but they were now woven in shadow. From within the folds vaporous wisps of smoke escaped with each slight or subtle movement. The smoke smelled like jasmine and heather flowers, fragrant to the nostrils and a delight to take in. Within the depths of her crystal blue eyes a soft glow escaped from the pupil and just barely illuminated her face around the sockets. Her hair had taken on a slightly redish tint and again there was wisps of smoke that fluffed from within as she moved her head.

Looking at Rayann there was no piercing look or threatening stare, she simply faced her mother tracing the lines of her face and finally locked on to Rayann's own violet eyes. She had a look of strange calm and didn't seem startled even though she had in fact been taken by surprise. "These are no longer Papa's books mother and to get to the point I am taking them with me back to my tower."

Her face was resolute as she saw the slight flinch of reaction in her mother's face and Rayann would instantly know that Kali was in no uncertain terms telling the truth. Rayann would feel a power coming from Kali unlike anything she had ever felt from her before. It was like she was radiating magic of her own making, as if magic was being created and originating from her daughter. Her soft velvet robes rustled softly as Kali shifted slightly and gripped the Staff of Cells tightly. Rayann would recognize it as Kali's stance of ease, she was not preparing a spell, she was not secretly reaching to grab reagents from within her robes, she was relaxed, calm, and motionless.

After a short silence she spoke again, her voice was eerily laced with a soft sternness, yet had an innocent lilt to it, "These books will do more harm than good in the end, I am removing them for everyone's protection, especially for THEIR protection. I also have a sentimental attachment to these books as a result of the fact that they belonged to my Grandfather. I do not wish for them to become collateral damage if Glen Durel becomes a target for eradication. It would be a shame if Papa's lifelong legacy were to become nothing more than ash, and I assure you that they would become nothing more than ash. We are not interested in the magic contained within these books, it is meaningless now compared to the power of the rift. I strongly advise you not to try and stop me Mother, this is going to happen whether you want it to or not. Better to save your strength and fight over something more worthwhile when the stakes are worth the sacrifice. Even in this place, with the ancestry of our family behind you I promise you that you will lose if you attempt to stop me."

Kali looked at Rayann, unmoving and unwavering, Rayann could see nothing but the utmost seriousness in her daughter's eyes.

Rayann didn’t move. She simply stood, looking over at Kali as her daughter talked to her. She let her eyes lovingly gaze at the books once more then she looked to Kali again,

”Are you trying to convince me or yourself that you are protecting them? And who would they cause more harm to Kali? You and the other two mages or those of us who know the knowledge housed within them is more precious than any power seeking mage could ever understand? If you aren’t interested in the magic contained within them, why don’t you just leave them here? After all, of Glen Durel becomes collateral damage, then there would be no place on Krynn to protect them. Not even your tower. The books don’t belong to you and they don’t belong in your tower, they belong here where Papa put them. But you are right about one thing. I’m not going to fight you for them. If you think the only way to protect them is to steal them away where no one else can have access to them, then I won’t stop you. The truth will be revealed. I just pray it won’t be too late for you to see it.”

Rayann glanced at the books once more time and closed her eyes inhaling the scent of the room deeply. Finally she opened her eyes and looked over at Kali again. The look she gave her was one that couldn’t hide the hurt she felt from watching her daughter enter the wardings of the tower and the hurt she felt knowing her daughter was going to spirit away the only thing of her father’s she had. Swallowing hard, Rayann nodded ever so slightly. Her voice was hushed whenshe spoke now.

"Do what you think you must do.”

Turning, she walked out of the room to let Kali do what she was doing.

Kali listened and responded as Rayann finished with her question. "I am not convincing myself of anything mother, and to tell the truth more than anything I am protecting you from using them. Leaving them here puts you and the entire Glen in jeopardy, if they are in my tower this place no longer becomes a strategic target."

When her mother said she would not fight her Kali nodded softly, figuring as much. As her mother spoke of the truth being revealed she simply looked at her. Her mother finished talking and turned, in what Kali considered a rather passive-aggressive manner and left the room. In the time it took to take only a step outside the door Rayann would feel a tremendous pull on the magical field and realize through the scent of burnt ozone and smoking reagents that the books were gone and had been transferred to Kali's personal tower. She would however still feel Kali's presence, but her daughter remained in the top most tower room. Kali barely whispered under her breath as she turned and looked at the portrait of the four family members of the Glen looking out over the room, "You are right about one thing mother, the revelation of the truth is inevitable."

Larrisa had followed Walter and his escort from the room but as was her way she kept her distance. She grimaced listening to Rose's words as she left knowing the commander would regret her choice of wording later. It was of little concern to her at the moment though as she followed to ensure Walter's arrival to the prison. She slipped out ahead of the grou and moved towards the end of the the right end hall and waited. When the group slopped outside and Trystan ordered the escort away Larrisa could not help but lift an eyebrow in curiosity. Walter may be shackled but he was still taking a risk that most men would not. The two guards headed in the opposite direction of her and she could see Trystan watching them as if he were waiting. Her brow furrowed as she hid arround the corner from his sight as she saw his head begin to turn her way.

She remained still and silent until the two men began to talk. Larrisa focused in with her superior hearing and the conversation left in shock as she stepped from around the corner. She honestly could not believe she was hearing such a thing coming from Trystan. He had always upheld the knight's codes and was well respected for his sense of duty and honor. Yet as she watched she saw a righteous man commit a dreadful act. She winced as Trystan's sword came out and swung effortlessly cutting down Walter. She simply stood there staring and when Trystan looked her way she met his eyes as he called for aid.

She closed her eyes and shook her head and began to walk towards Trystan. Her eyes never left the man or his blade until she stood before Trystan. They had been in each others presence many times before but this time was the first their eyes had ever really locked. There was something disturbingly familiar abotu the intensity of her gaze and the emerald color of her iris'. A familiarity that registered but knowledge of the source was fleeting and hard to grasp. Her face was a mask of calm that revealed nothing of what she was thinking. She finally broke away her gaze when she heard footsteps approaching. She saw Ceridwyn coming first and everyone else in the group hit on her heels. She could see Rose pushing past politely to get ot the front as guards began to file into the hallway from the other end.




There was the audible sound of tightening leather as Rose balled up her fist reflexively as Ceridwyn spoke to her. She took in a deep breath forcing herself to not respond. She had already spoken out enough in her present state of anger and it would not do their situation any good to continue to do so. The mage was right that she should have had a better control of the situation but the elf was not her and she did not know how chaotic her mind and spirit had been these last few weeks. None of them new the stress she was under but she was not going to blame them for that. Instead she was going to calm herself and she would talk with Ceridwyn about things later.

Rose was shifting her attention to Rayann when Walter's cry rang out drawing all their attention. Trystan's call for aid was what spurred her into movement as everyone else was heading for the doors to the mess. Rose politely pushed herself past Myth, Ceridwyn and the others and as she passed the elven mage she saw Larrisa and Trystan standing over Walter's lifeless corpse with his throat opened wide. She looked at Trystan and saw him holding his side before she looked at LArrisa. She took in a deep breath walking forward fixing them both with her eyes.

"What in the abyss has happened?"

She looked first at Trystan then to Larrisa and she felt what patience she had regained slipping away as they looked at her in silence.

Larrisa cleared her throat looking at the group behind her lady and then to Rose herself. "Walter had a knife hidden upon his person and tried to attack Sir Trystan. Sir Trystan acted out of self defense and took Si... Walter's life ma'am." Larrisa turned to Trystan enough that her eyes were hidden from Rose and she fixed him with a stare. She did not like telling her lady this falsehood but she was not going to expose Trystan here in the middle of what was left of the knighthood and their guests.

Rose took in a breath looking to Trystan trusting Larrisa's word to be as it always was, truthful. She noted Rayann's sudden departure but kept her focus on the scene before her. She had many questions on her mind and the number of men in the hall was growing. "Someone get this cleaned up..."

She looked at Trystan for a moment and shook her head sighing "You should have disarmed him Trystan... not killed him... I'll want to speak to you in my quarter's later." She said nothing more and moved past Larrisa and Trystan marching her way to the growing group of guards.

"Nothing to see here get back to your duties..."

Trystan looked at Larissa as Rose left, his eyes were already showing the regret in his rash decision and he pulled her aside as the group dispersed. She stared at him with her emerald green eyes and he swallowed hard as he was about to speak, “I uh… thanks for sticking up for me back there. I know you know the real truth, and I will come clean with Commander Rose about it. He was going to get a death sentence either way but…,”

He stopped and squeezed his eyes shut. Moisture formed under the lids and he blinked it away as he inhaled deeply, “I am sorry that you had to lie Larissa, I will see that this I do right by you as well as my honor.”

He looked at her and she was hesitating to speak, but the silence lingered a moment and he simply half smiled and nodded as no more words were exchanged between them.

After visiting the surgeon and getting patched up Trystan went to the Commanders office and the guards immediately stepped aside to let him to the door. He knocked softly and heard his Ladyship’s voice from within, “Come.”

He opened the wide door just enough to enter and Rose looked up, fixing him with a gaze that echoed the one she gave him in the hallway just a few hours earlier. “Sit.”

He moved towards her desk as she looked down and finished working on the parchments before her and then rolled them up and set them aside. She was just about to speak when Trystan interrupted her, much to the her surprise by the raising of her eyebrow.

“Commander, I have always lived my life by the honor and the code of the Knighthood. I have witnessed my fellow Knights doing acts of dishonor and called them out when necessary, I have led the troopers that you have placed under my command to the best of my ability and with all the training and entrustment you have given me. However today my Lady, I have failed you much to my own dishonor.”

He paused and inhaled deeply before continuing, “I waited until I was alone with Sir Walter, I faked the injury using the knife that he did indeed have hidden in his boot, and I murdered him. The worst is I took great delight in it. After what he did to Lady Kellan, how he dishonored even her death, how he has done everything to disgrace and disrepute our guests, how he has created immense and most likely irreparable damage among the ranks as he bullied and harassed his fellows to insubordination under your command, and most importantly how he left you for dead on the battlefield… enough was enough.”

He paused again and blinked his eyes as tears began to form once again. He squeezed his eyelids shut and forced himself to stop crying. He looked up at her and spoke, “I am making this confession to you, because I still believe in the code of the Knighthood, and I still believe in protecting the weak, the innocent and the needy. I still believe in the code of the Knights, and I would prefer that you hear it from me rather than it come out over time. Larissa was around the corner with the other guards when I committed this act against Walter, from her point of view her statement was true in the hallway outside the Mess. With all this said, I submit myself under your authority to judgment for my actions, at minimum I will face your response with a clear conscience rather than being drug to my fate in manacles.”

How much more? How much more can they all take? Wasn’t it enough that they were pulled apart and set adrift from one another? Wasn’t it enough for a mother to watch her daughter walk away from her of her own free will? Wasn’t it enough to see her best friend reduced to tears as she finally gave way to the emotions that tore at her? Wasn’t it enough her husband was forced to walk a very thin line between honor for his people and his desire to let his wrath lose upon those deserving of it? Wasn’t it enough a young girl lost the only being that had ever been a family to her? Wasn’t it enough a noble band of Knights had been reduced to barely enough of a force to defend the Keep and citizens they had taken a vow to protect? Wasn’t it enough she had to send her infant son away to insure he had half a chance of surviving to live a long life?

No.

The answer was as plain to her as the nose on her face.

As Rayann stood there looking out over the peaceful lands of Glen Durel, she could hear her Goddess’ words still ringing in her ears. It wasn’t what Rayann WANTED to hear but it was what she HAD to hear. And for the first time in her life, she had placed all of her trust in the words of a celestial being when she was told not to try and protect the books her daughter would come for.

Why? She asked. Because it is all in the course of things to come, she had been told. But what things were to come? It will all be revealed in time, Rayann, she was told. And when will that time come? When it is time, she was told.

Things looked very dire from where Rayann stood right now. Her daughter was now in the presence of the powerful beings that had erected strange towers and the guardians of the towers had decimated a large force of Knights. The towers themselves were unnatural yet there they stood. The mages in the towers were unlike anything she’d felt before yet there they were. Where were those checks and balances the Gods put in place over mortals long ago? How were these beings and now her daughter able to gather so much power and use it yet still live? Any other mage or magic user would have been reduced to nothing but a shell of a being.

How was that fair?

It didn’t have to be fair. And why not? She still had yet to receive an answer to that question and she doubted she ever would. Rayann sighed heavily and glanced at the ceiling knowing Kali was still in the room at the top of the Tower of Glen Durel. Would she ever be able to hold hr daughter again? Tell her she loved her? Tell her that no matter what she would always be her daughter and her love for her daughter could never die? Even if it meant she would have to kill her own daughter or her daughter would kill her?

She wanted so desperately to call out to Kali and vent her frustration and anger at her but she swallowed that urge down and turned to look out over the rolling grass of Glen Durel once more. Things were forever changed yet they were no different than when they first came here. They were still so close yet still so far away from each other.

How does one build a bridge between a chasm so wide the other side can’t be seen?

Rayann had yet to receive the answer to that question as well. Even though she could see it just beyond her reach, it still evaded her everywhere she turned.

Kali turned and looked down at the floor. The bond with her mother was still very strong and she could feel the struggle going on in her mother’s mind. She inhaled deeply and then looked up at the empty shelves. Turning, her robes fluttered in a twisting trail of smoke and she disappeared from sight and appeared in her tower once again. She looked at the books now lined along her shelves and she smiled softly. She walked along and traced her finger lovingly along the spines of the vast amounts of knowledge.




She felt Fifth’s presence behind her and she turned slowly to gaze upon his silver orbs. He smiled a twisted grin and spoke, “Very wise to take away the knowledge that was so dear to them Kali. Neither Piramay or myself thought that far ahead, of course you do have an advantage in that arena, it was after all your former home.”

Kali nodded and looked at the books before looking back at Fifth, “It matters not, nothing within these volumes can stop us, the magic within them is obsolete and out dated. The magic of the divine is the past, the magic of the three towers is the future.”

Fifth smiled and nodded as he walked up and looked at the vast libraries of books, “Indeed you are right. Your acclimatization to the magic of the towers has happened quickly, as well as your knowledge of what this means.” He turned and looked at her, “I am pleased to see this.”

He walked over to her and stared into her eyes, “Piramay does not trust you like I do, of course this is natural, you barely know her and I watched you grow from infancy.”

Kali looked at him with a slight furrowing of her eyebrows, “And you had a hand in my shaping as well.”

Fifth chuckled softly and nodded, “Yes, that I did. Do not let the actions of my own youth cloud your thinking, everything I did was done by order of Her Dark Majesty, you were to be forged into a weapon and I only did what I had to do in order to keep her trust, as well as do my job. Your Uncle of course wanted to take the softer road, you are after all his niece.”

Kali quirked a brow, “You speak of him as if he still lives.”

Fifth only smiled and turned to walk towards the balcony. Kali reached and felt a jolt as she touched his robes. Withdrawing her hand and rubbing it as if to move the pain from her skin she spoke, “Is Rorie… alive?”

Fifth turned and looked at her with a sinister sneer, “Not as such Kali. Of course he died at Glen Durel, the spell Ceridwyn hit him with would have incinerated a young dragon, no, he is quite dead I assure you… at least, in the sense that you knew him.”

She looked at him and furrowed her brows, “Stop playing with me, what do you mean!?”

Fifth walked to her again and reached out touching her shoulders gently, “Tahkisis is the ruler of the Abyss, you do not really believe that she would allow him to truly die after failing her so immeasurably do you?”

Kali looked at him with confusion and curiosity. He patted her shoulder and spoke, “Death is not necessarily the end, not if Her Dark Majesty wishes that you remain under the torture of her own punishment. Death is a release from suffering, she can insure that you don’t feel release for a very, VERY long time.”

Kali inhaled deeply and spoke, “So he lives, but in the Abyss?”

Fifth turned and looked out across the landscape, “It matters little, but to answer your question, yes. He can’t return to Krynn, not unless the Dark Queen allows him to, which she won’t. No one holds a grudge like she.” He turned and smiled, “Of course I am sure you know about that.”

Kali shook her head and spoke, “No, I don’t. The Dark Queen has never caught up with me.”

Fifth’s smile twisted into a sneer and he whispered, “Not yet.”

She furrowed her brows and looked at him as he continued, “It matters not, the power you now possess is far beyond anything her armies can throw at you. They wouldn’t even penetrate the warding if we concentrated enough on it. The elementals would move forth from the sphere and tear them to shreds, we pull them from Krynn’s very core, their numbers are limitless.”

Kali nodded softly and looked out over the lava beds at the molten rock laying in a kinetic state of ready. She recalled the battle, the way they seemed to just materialize and come out of nowhere. Her eyes drifted across the plains to the South where the army of reinforcements was only half a days march from Heartlund. She spoke to Fifth as she gazed over the horizon, “And what of them coming?” Fifth walked up beside her and looked in the same direction, “It matters not, from the opposite comes a force ten times their numbers, the Solamic Knights will become a thing of the past, and we won’t have to lift a finger. Then the force will throw themselves on the wardings of this tower and we will drive them back, Tahkisis will have no option but to sue for peace and truce, legitimizing our place on Krynn.”