Tahkisis looked across the black marble of the throne room, her black eyes narrowed on the form before her, knelt in reverence and pensive. His broad shoulders rose and fell slowly with each breath and she smiled a wickedly delicious grin as she sauntered down the steps and placed her hand gently on his chin, lifting his face up to look her in the eyes. Her voice was like silk as she spoke, "Tynen, you served me well at Heartlund, your actions behind enemy lines proved most profitable. Unlike that buffoon Nidhug you remained loyal and for that you are to be rewarded."

She stroked his cheek and a gently warmth followed behind the trace of her finger. The warmth grew and became hot, but it never burned. His head was filled with an almost erotic sensation and his breathes came in long, drawn, deep waves. She leaned forward and whispered, "I have seen your interaction with your sister. She is strong and could prove to be a valuable ally to us if she could be brought into our fold. I want you to find her, and... persuade her that it would be a good idea. If she refuses, kill her."

She leaned back and saw the devotion in Tynen's eyes. She smiled softly and spoke, "With my gift, she will not be able to trace or find you with her mind. You will be able to move more swiftly in battle, and your sword will strike at twice the speed of normal men. Your sensations will be heightened and you will be able to feel your sister from further away, but she will not be able to feel you. I am also giving you one dozen men to assist you. They will report directly to you, and you will report directly to me. Go now Tynen, find and bring me your sister, dead or alive."


Nine Months Later




Kali sat on the back porch of the family castle looking out over the emerald fields of Glen Durel. Her eyes traced the landscape that she was so familiar with, yet felt so distant from. Her recovery had been slow, she was still hacking and coughing soot from her lungs occasionally and her face was pink and scarred from Piramay's spell. She shifted in her seat, moving her tea to the small table beside her and winced as the pain in her side ached. Grabbing her tea again she sipped it and closed her eyes as the scent filled her nose. Ceridwyn had mixed up a concoction that allowed her to breath easier and ease the pain, but it was still ever present in her lungs and her entire left side. She furrowed her brows as she let her mind drift, the gods and their consequences. They would no longer rule this world if it wasn't for her. Where was their devotion to one who was willing to move it all and completely undo herself for their sake.

Her eyebrows narrowed and she snapped her head when she felt a familiar hand touch her shoulder, "How are you doing this morning Kali?"

She looked up at her mother. The eye on Kali's left side now matched the lavender of her mothers, the one on her right still matched that of her dead uncle. She obviously forced a smile and coughed into a handkerchief before responding, "Same as every day mother, aches, pain, and a burning desire to walk for more than ten minutes at a time."

She looked back out across the landscape and spoken through a sigh, "I wonder how my brother is doing." She turned and looked at Rayann, "When is he coming home?"

Rayann was silent since the battle at Heartlund. Not once did her voice speak out to anyone or anything. Even when Ceridwyn arrived for the first time after Kali awoke. Rayann refused to talk verbally to anyone or anything. She withdrew into herself and spoke strictly with her mind. Much like she did when she was younger.

In truth, she was angry beyond words the Gods had left her daughter the way they had. She knew there were consequences for what Kali did, but in Rayann’s mind the fact she had singlehandedly brought down the towers that had caused the trouble with in the first place should have exonerated her from any recourse the Gods felt they needed to lay down on Kali. But obviously they didn’t see it that way.

It wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago, at Kali’s request that she began to speak verbally, and even then it was only to Kali. She knew it wasn’t the others fault for what happened to Kali but she was afraid if she started talking then she wouldn’t stop and all of the raw emotions she’d kept pent up since the battle would come rushing out and she wouldn’t be able to stop them.

And to make matters even more complex, she saw the change in Kali. What emotional breakthrough they had prior to the events at Heartlund seemed to have been wiped away. While she knew Kali loved her, for she could feel it from her daughter, Kali never tried to be affectionate with her mother and when Rayann tried to be affectionate with Kali, Kali seemed to tolerate it and not much more.

Each day she could see Kali pulling more and more away from her but Rayann was helpless to stop it. She couldn’t make Kali give her affection. So Rayann resigned herself to the fact she would have to accept her daughter the way she was knowing there was still love there, but the bright, vivacious young woman she had seen blossom had been replaced with a brooding woman who would forever be scarred, in every way possible.

She stood in the archway of the porch for a few moments watching Kali. When she coughed and winced, Rayann felt another sliver of her heart being shaved away. It was difficult to watch her daughter suffer like this and if there was any way to bring her daughter back to the young woman she had become prior to everything happening, Rayann would have done so.

Taking a deep breath, she cleared her mind of all of this and walked up behind Kali and touched her right shoulder before sitting down next to Kali. Her hair was still snow white and her eyes still held the odd lavender color to them, but there were small, delicate lines now on her face showing her own consequences. But they paled in comparison to Kali’s.

Rayann always gave Kali a loving smile whenever she looked at her mother. It was Rayann’s way of relaying her love to Kali since there was very little physical contact between them now. When Kali asked about Shaer, Rayann looked out over the landscape of Glen Durel with Kali thenturned to look at her daughter again.

”Your father should be done with things in Silvanost any day now. It’s taken quite a bit of time to sort through everything with the Council Elders. And you know how political they can all be. Of course with Aeolis and Ceri there to help, he has had good support. Not to mention Olwa. And when he comes back here, he will be bringing Shaer with him.”

Rayann smiled again.

”It’ll be good to see him again. I’m sure he’s grown quite a bit since last we saw him.”

Kali nodded and looked back out across the emerald grasses. Her eyes shimmered in the light. For the first time today a small smile crossed her face as she thought about Shaer and whispered in response to Rayann's words, "Yes, it will be nice to see him again."

Her brows furrowed as she thought about her Father back in Silvanost dealing with all the politics and such of the Elvish Court. She looked at her mother and her voice turned slightly sinister, "They would have been better to stay in their forests and let you fight us without them."

Rayann looked at her with a slight expression of shock and Kali turned to look back out across the Glen, "We never expected them to show, it only added to the ease to which we were able to attack. Yes they killed many of the Dark Queen's troops, but in the end all it did was allow Piramay easy targets tucked away in a secluded place. They were lambs sent to slaughter."

Her mother bristled slightly as Kali said the name Piramay and Kali felt the slightest of strange grins slide up the right side of her face, "We need to say her name mother, denying she is still out there is only detrimental to our very existence. You have sat around this Glen for nine months refusing to acknowledge that she exists. But she does exist!"

She flipped her hood back and the full scar across the whole left side of her face was visible. She could see her mother recoil instinctively and Kali again smiled an almost vicious grin, "I have this to remind me, I have this to motivate me, and I will use this to strengthen myself and confront her again. She is strong...," her eyes narrowed and her voice lowered, "But she is not strong enough."

Kali's blue eye swirled like Rorie's use to while her lavender eye shimmered eerily in the light, "There is no growth without pain, and I have endured my lion's share. I don't regret that I saved the boy and took the brunt of her spell, for from the pain I was also able to absorb and learn, to get insight into her magic, the uniqueness of her casting techniques, and she will regret her decision to attack."

Rayann starred at her with wide eyes, the words coming from Kali were sinister but calmly crafted. She inhaled deeply and winced as the pain stabbed at her lungs and she brought the gray cloth to her mouth and hacked into it. After a few seconds of violent coughing she lulled her head back and grunted in frustration, "If only this pain in my lungs would subside enough I could stop being a thorn in your side."

She sunk deep in her chair and she could feel her mother's eyes upon her, but she did not turn to look. She simply watched the landscape, the grasses swirled with the soft coastal breezes coming off the water and after a few minutes she spoke as she put her hood back up over her head and pulled her blanket up over herself, "What is it mother? Why are you staring at me?"

Tynen was pleased. In the past nine months he'd added to his little group of men of twelve, increasing their numbers four times over. He made them all swear their fidelity to Tahkisis first and foremost and then to him. They learned quickly that when crossed or disobeyed, Tynen dealt out severe punishments or even death. Yet he rewarded them as well when the day was good. Usually with young women from the villages they would ransack and destroy. They were all just as cold as he was and if they didn't begin that way when recruited they soon learned it was better to be cold than dead.

Tynen roamed the lands destroying any who did not support his Dark Lady and gathering more for his growing army. He would send scouts on a regular basis to Heartlund to gather information on Keatara. He'd learned that one of the gifts Tahkisis had granted him allowed him to sense her within a ten mile radius, but any farther than that and it rapidly grew weak. The closer he was to her though, the stronger it would become. As he was gathering troops to serve his Dark Lady he roamed much further than the ten miles, hence the need for scouts to know what his sister was doing.

"James.....report and quickly", Tynen growled out at the young man standing before him. James was only twenty summers old and had been with Tynen for only six months and he was already cold and unfeeling. He was Tynen's favorite scout and had become that way by being ruthless and hard, eliminating any that stood in his way. As he stood before Tynen, he stared at him with cold, hazel eyes.

"Sir...your sister is still teaching the children and the relationship between her and the knight is growing stronger. She is also practicing her own skills, getting better every day. Yet, she seems troubled.....still looking over her shoulder." The last he said with a smile that never reached his eyes. Tynen too, smiled at him, knowing that she was still watching for him. ~Soon, Tara...soon~, he thought to himself. "Good...James, I need for you to go back to Heartlund.....watch her closely, become her friend. I will send for you when I need you to return for further instruction. You have done well."

He rose from his chair, walking over to a small chest that was kept with him at all times. Opening it with a key hanging around his neck he withdrew a small yet heavy bag filled with coin. Tossing it to James who caught it deftly with one hand, he smiled at him. "You have earned this. There is more waiting for you as well as a promotion if you do well. But there is terror and pain if you fail me, James. Never forget that."

James raised a hand to the right side of his face where a long, jagged scar trailed from the outer corner of his eye and down into his neck. Tynen had given it to him when he'd disobeyed a direct order just a month after joining with him. It was still red and sore and a reminder that his leader was just as ruthless and cold as he was, more so even. But the heavy bag of coin in his hand also told him that he could be generous when the mood was upon him and James intended for the mood to be upon his leader with him as often as possible. He bowed to Tynen before leaving the tent and beginning his three day journey back to Heartlund.

Nine months had passed since the battle and her run in with Tynen. There were still times when Keatara found herself looking over her shoulder, looking for him. She couldn't sense him anymore, but she somehow knew that he was alive. Just like she knew that he would come for her. She'd accepted the fact that the man she'd dealt with all those months ago was no longer her beloved brother. Her brother was gone. But the children still needed her and as she'd found her brother, in a sense, she no longer felt the need to leave Heartlund. Or Gideon.

Keatara was smiling at the children. It had been nine months since the attack and ever since the children had been more than eager to learn how to help the grown-ups defend their home. It made the boys stand taller and the girls.....well, they didn't take much from the boys anymore, much to the boys' despair and sometimes humiliation. That day, Tara was smiling at Curtis as he lay on the ground at Teela's feet. The ten year old little girl had just bested the bigger, twelve year old boy who had been tormenting her all week. She had the point of her wooden sword pointed at his throat and her blue eyes were spitting daggers at the boy.

"Teela....enough. Allow Curtis to get to his feet. The lad, I think, be learning the lesson ye have taught him." Tara was trying hard to hide her smile at the look on the boy's face, but failed miserably. She looked up to see Gideon coming towards her and her smile widened. They'd been spending most of their free time together since the battle and they'd grown closer......much closer. They'd shared kisses and caresses whenever they could, never overstepping that line. Gideon was too much a knight, although it had been very difficult at times and Tara's passionate nature didn't make it any easier.

He'd seen the whole fiasco between Curtis and Teela and patted the boy on the shoulder as he walked by him, giving him an encouraging smile. "It's hard to fight them when their beauty blinds us.....you are the first knight to be taken down by it."

Rayann listened to Kali as she talked to her and she heard the contempt in her voice. It wasn’t necessarily directed at Rayann herself, but it was enough to cause Rayann’s barely seen anger to flare slightly. She didn’t say Piramay’s name because just the thought of that fire bitch made Rayann want to vent her anger at who ever happened to be standing near her and most of the time, that was Kali. But now as her daughter began to show just how badly the whole event affected her, Rayann knew the strain on their relationship was about to get even worse.

When Kali pushed her hood back and revealed her scarred features, Rayann couldn’t help but recoil slightly. She could see the flaming orb coming at Kali again and see how her daughter took the brunt of the flame and heat from the ball of fire all over again as though it were watching it when it initially happened.

As Rayann watched her daughter talk about Piramay and she saw the way her eyes looked, Rayann knew Kali had been thinking long and hard about what she was going to do to exact revenge upon the fire mage and it worried Rayann. It was right then and there Rayann knew the young woman Kali had been prior to the battle was nowhere to be found and never would be again. In her place was a calculating, cold woman who was going to bide her time and do whatever was necessary to get the revenge she so desperately wanted. Just like Rorie was before he died.

But when Kali referred to herself as a thorn in Rayann’s side, Rayann stared at her even more but for a different reason. When Kali asked why she was starring at her, Rayann blinked, furrowed her brows and looked out over the landscape once more.

”Why wouldn’t I be, Kali? The words I heard coming from your mouth sound vaguely familiar. I don’t know why it should surprise me so much.”

She looked back at Kali and Kali could see in Rayann’s eyes her anger was being kept in check.

”I know that woman is out there, Kali. And I know we haven’t seen the last of her. I refuse to speak of her in this home. Even the mere thought of her makes me…..anyway. This place is a place of refuge and peace. I want to keep it that way, after all, there’s been enough trouble here the past couple of years to last a lifetime. And you are in no way a thorn in my side. You never have been. I brought you here so you would have the time you needed to recover from the battle. This is your home as much as it is mine and your fathers and your brothers. You are forever welcome here. But I get the feeling you would rather be anywhere else but here right now. I just hope you do find a place you wish to be.”

Gideon had been working with the other knights in trying to get Heartlund repaired and functional; again. With the threat of the towers gone and the dark forces having disappeared for the most part from the area, the local citizens were slowly leaving the high walls and returning to rebuild their lives outside the Keep. The report of an occasional raiding party of the dark forces came back to the Keep causing Lady Fairwind and Sir Ordin to order increased patrols. Which is where Gideon was heading. He stopped by to talk to Tara before he left.

”I’m heading out on patrol within the hour. I wanted to stop by to see how things were going for you and the children.”

His brown eyes twinkled as he looked at her and the slightest of smiles crept onto his features. The kids stood back snickering at the couple as they made eyes at each other.

”And from what I’ve seen, you have things well in control.”

He seemed to grow a little more nervous and glanced at the children who were all grinning and watching with great interest. He looked back at Tara then.

”I was wondering…if…maybe you would like to sup with me this evening after I get back.”

Kali looked at Rayann from where she sat, her different colored eyes staying locked with her mothers. As Rayann finished Kali responded, "This is your home, and fathers and Shaer's, but it is not mine. I was not raised here. It is a refuge, but it won't remain that way forever, not if what is still lingering just over the horizon figures out a way to destroy it."

Taking in a long, drawn breath she reached for her tea and her lip quivered with the pain, but it was pain she was adjusting to and it was motivating her to fight through it. Rayann and Kali sat in silence for several minutes before both of them finally turned in unison towards a flash of light that appeared in the grass about 50 meters off the porch. Both ladies watched as Trystan appeared. He held fresh cut wildflowers in one hand and the traces of Ceridwyn's magic were obvious. She appeared a mere second later and looked up at Trystan before tucking her arm into his and walking with him to the large, stone porch.



Ceridwyn walked up and without a word hugged Rayann tightly. She could see in her friends eyes that the conversation between herself and Kali this morning was not a good one and she whispered in her ear, "We need fresh tea." She could see that Rayann was unable to contain a smile and the two walked into the kitchen area without words.

Trystan stopped in front of Kali and looked down at her with a smile. It had been a few months since the last time he had seen her and he was still very much unsure about the status of their relationship or even their friendship for that matter. His smile was met with Kali's focused eyes and he fumbled nervously with the flowers and cleared his throat, "I brought these for you. I ... uh...," he placed them down on the table beside her and she glanced at them before looking back up into his face. "It is a rare gift Trystan, my thanks." There was a slight lacing of sarcasm to her voice and she brought the handkerchief to her mouth and coughed again. He watched, his brow furrowed unsure what to do, finally she spoke, "For gods sake, sit Trystan don't hover over me like a nurse maid, I get enough of that as it is."

He cleared his throat and spoke softly, "You are looking better Kali." She turned and looked at him with a slight darkness in her eyes, "Do I? You think the scar matches my hair and the different colors of my eyes offsets the glow in my smooth cheek do you?"

He swallowed hard and shook his head trying to recover, "No... I meant to say that you are looking healthier and better than the last time I saw you."

She reached down and picked up the gray handkerchief, turning it so he could see the soot and blood on it, "Yes, I know what you mean."

He furrowed his brow slightly and spoke, "Look Kali, I don't want to...,"

"Don't want to what? Patronize me and pat my bottom with words of encouragement?"

He slinked back slightly and spoke, "No, I just... I was hoping that we could rebuild you know? Things don't need to change, we can begin again where we left off."

Kali felt her thin smile creep across her face and she whispered, "And where exactly were we Sir Trystan?"

He felt like he was in a court marshall hearing all of a sudden and all the questions were designed to condemn him, "Well, before you went into the towers, before you left to do what needed to be done. I... well I still love you, very much."

Kali looked at him a moment, there was a lingering sparkle in her eyes but she responded coldly, "And yet you along with everyone else could not trust me."

"It wasn't that we couldn't... I mean it just seemed like you had left to join the other side. You never told anyone what you were doing, how could any of us know?"

"I couldn't tell anyone, it would have compromised the mission and the outcome. Fifth and Piramay were too smart and too in tune with things, if I had said something you all would have bumbled it up and we would be worse off than we are even now. I needed you all to not trust me to complete the illusion, there was far too much at stake."

Trystan looked at her and responded, "Well how could I trust you if you didn't want me to? It seems like I was set up for failure. I couldn't trust you but you needed me not to in order for your plan to work. I don't understand."

She smiled almost viciously and spoke through a hoarse whisper, "Only my Father knew the way and could see my mind."

He gave her a puzzled look and leaned back in his chair, exasperated. He stayed silent and looked at her a moment before turning his gaze to the fields.


Ceridwyn and Rayann were inside the kitchen area looking out at the two of them on the porch. They could not hear but it was obvious things were not going well for Trystan. Ceridwyn turned to look at Rayann and the expression on her face said it all. Ceridwyn touched her gently on the shoulder but didn't say anything, she was at a loss for words given the pain she could see Rayann was in.

Tara was looking up into those laughing, sparkling dark eyes of his and smiling as the children giggled, a few of the boys making kissing noises. She cast them a stern look, stopping them instantly then had the children giggling with her smile seconds later. "I would love to sup with ye, Gideon. I will wait for ye here when ye return so that we may go together." Her voice was soft as it usually was when speaking with the handsome knight. She heard a voice that sounded similar to Tynen's and jumped immediately looking around her green eyes narrowed in her search. She felt Gideon's gentle hand on her arm and turned to find his worried gaze on her. She gave him a shaky smile, "He is alive, Gideon and he will return", she said in a whisper not wanting to alarm the children.

"And when he does, he will have a surprise for I will be next to you and will not allow him to have you." He bent down then and gave her a gentle kiss on her soft lips, making her blush and the children giggle again. She closed her eyes, opening them when the kiss was over, staring up into his dark ones. "Tonight then, m'lady. I look forward to it." Gideon then left, his step light, whistling a happy little tune.

Tara turned around after a few moments and looked at the children who were all staring at her. The girls with dreams in their eyes and the boys with hope in their hearts that they would one day be as strong as Gideon. "Now....where were we?"

Rayann was grateful for Ceridwyn's company and she couldn't have arrived at a better time. As they slipped off the porch to give Kali and Trysten some privacy, Rayann kept watching the interaction between the two and couldn't help but frown. That anger that was hardly contained was even less so as she watched how Kali with Trysten. She took several deep breaths and pushed her anger back down then swallowed hard.

When she felt Ceridwyn's hand on her shoulder, Rayann looked over at her friend and he pain and anger she was feeling reflected in her gaze for a moment. Finally she shook her head as she turned around and looked at Kali and Trsyten as they sat in silence on the porch. Her voice spoke to Ceri's mind and even mentally, it sounded strained.

~She's a stranger to me, Ceri. I knew she would be changed but I didn't expect her to be so.....mean. I know she still loves me. I can feel it. But it's almost like she wants to get into confrontations with everyone around her. Like.....she's going out of her way to disagree with others so they will argue with her. And no matter what I say or do, it's not the right thing. I'm to the point of just not doing or saying anything at all. At least that way we won't fight any. And from the looks of it, Trysten is feeling the sting of her words right now as well.~

She took another deeo breath and gave Ceri a small smile.

~Enough of that. How are the plans for your ceremony coming along? I wish I could help you. Have things gotten better in Heartlund? Is Nol and Kellan still there? I still can't believe she's alive. But, as Myth said, it explains why he suddenly disappeared.~

It was obvious Rayann wanted to talk about other things than Kali right now and she knew Ceri was perceptive enough to feel the emotions Rayann was feeling without any special ability to do so.

Ceridwyn heard Rayann's words in her mind and she teared up. She could not help but feel the strain within Rayann, she was like a harp string only one twist of the tuning key from snapping. She said nothing, though her thoughts were plenty, she knew that now was not the time and if she was to even attempt and give her friend council it would not be heard, at least not as she intended.

She turned and looked at Kali, her eyes traced the profile of her friends daughter, and she held her tongue. She turned to look back at Rayann as she spoke of Heartlund and she smiled softly, but with obvious sadness, "Nol and Kellan are still there, several more silver dragons have come to assist and Nol is in charge of them. The rebuilding is going smoothly and about a month ago people finally started moving out of the walls and back to their homes, though I fear much of the countryside was ravaged by the Dark Army and most will have to rebuild. If there is one thing I have learned in my years however it is never to underestimate the power of the human spirit, even those..." she turned to look at Kali once again, "...that are only half human."

She let her eyes linger on Kali again for the moment and then turned back to Rayann, "As for the ceremonial plans, Aeolis and I have a small request of you, well I should say that I have a request as it is my choice. As is the custom of the Elves I require a witness to the ceremony from my side, someone special whom I trust to attest to the validity of the vows made and to the promises given."

She could see Rayann's brows go up and for the first time since she arrived a small sliver of light crept into her eyes, "It would honor us, but mostly me, if the Princess of the Silvanesti, and my best friend would stand by my as I make my life pledge to Aeolis. So I ask you Rayann, my friend, and my Princess, would you be witness over the ceremonies?"

Rayann felt her eyes well up when Ceri made her request. She dared to glance at Kali then back to Ceri and she nodded her head as her voice once more spoke to Ceri's mind as she hugged her friend tightly.

~I....I would be honored, Ceri. You're going to make such a beautiful bride. And I know Aeolis will be more than happy to speak his vows with you. He's so in love with you. I'm so glad the two of you will be sharing the rest of your lives together.~

She glanced out at Kali and Trysten again and sighed heavily.

~I was hoping that I would be helping my daughter plan her wedding one day but I don't think that's going to happen now. Not when Kali isn't receptive to anything but her own company.~

She looked back at Ceri and saw the look on her friends face.

~Say it, Ceri. What ever is on your mind, please....say it. I can see by the look in your eyes there's a whole lot you want to say. And o, I won't be mad at you for it. Right about now, I need to hear what ever it is.~

Ceridwyn smiled broadly and hugged Rayann back, for the briefest moment there was happiness in the room but it was swiftly swept away as Rayann asked to know Ceridwyn's thoughts. Ceridwyn looked at her, her brow deepened slightly and she looked at her friend with the face she always used when she was about to give council. Rayann knew Ceridwyn as well as just about anyone, and she knew when this face suddenly appeared the news was never padded or softened, she merely spoke what she had on her mind, and she did it with the intention of bringing light into the darkness of the situation. She motioned for Rayann to sit and went to the kitchen retrieving two glass of honey-mint tea, her drink of choice, but a drink she always insisted on giving Rayann when she was about to deliver news not so easily heard, honestly she didn't even realize that she did it.

Sitting down beside Rayann she looked her friend right in the eye and she spoke aloud. Her voice was soft and wise, each word intentionally placed as if putting together a complex puzzle, "My friend. To say your daughter is different is only to state the obvious. None of us could go through what she went through and come out without damage. Kali did something amazing, we can't take that away from her, but what she did shattered her, she was alone for months and from what I have gathered not a moment of it was easy. She had to turn away from everything that she was, and I suspect she knew what the outcome would be for her. With the victory came a loss however."

She looked at Rayann who looked sadly at her daughter, Ceridwyn followed her gaze and continued, "It's not what you are thinking, she didn't loss herself, she lost Piramay."

Rayann turned to look at Ceridwyn and she continued, "Your daughter is like her father, she doesn't like to loose. We all see a victory in the defeat of the towers nine months ago, Kali sees a failure. She had to completely undo herself and become what she fought in order to defeat it, but in the end she didn't get the prize. One of her enemies still roams out there somewhere, and Kali is not the type to give up or let it go. I know you want her to be like you, carefree, happy, looking for love...," Ceridwyn turned and looked at Kali again, "The truth is she has already found love, and it's not the kind of love that buys a cottage and some land and settles down to have a family. Her love has always been and always will be the study of magic. She is never going to be happy until she sets her foot on that path and remains true to it. For the first time in her life that opportunity is truly before her and it will kill her if she does not walk it."

She looked back at Rayann and the look on her friends face spoke volumes, "I am not trying to upset you Rayann, but you wanted to know, and it is good to know. I have looked into her future and seen, she still has dark days ahead, she still has a lot she will attempt to overcome, and she is destined to be one of if not the most powerful high sorcerer that has ever lived. But she won't be able to do that clinging to what her parent's define as normal. If you love her, and I know you love her, you need to let her walk her path and make her choices without interference, whether you agree with them or not."

She sighed and set her tea down. Leaning forward she placed her hand on Rayann's knee, "Might I remind you that neither of us would be here if not for her choice to fight the towers from within? The entire world, especially the world of magic, was saved by her one act of selflessness. Her new physical weakness is not served to her as punishment but as a means of checks and balances. She would be too powerful otherwise, and the gods of magic are not willing to give her that yet, especially given the events of the last year and a half."

It hurt. Like hell. But Rayann knew what Ceri told her had to be said and she needed to hear it. Rather she liked it or not or wanted to hear it or not. It was a fact of life and Rayann could always count on her friend setting things straight for her. As Ceri talked, Rayann glanced at Kali from time to time and saw how she sat there with Trysten in silence.

Rayann never looked at Kali's victory over the towers as a defeat of any kind, but when Ceri explained it to her like that, it made perfect sens. It also explained why Myth was a but more quiet than normal as well. He was thinking along the same lines as Kali; his enemy escaped. Tears welled up in Rayann's eyes once more and she felt slip down her flushed cheeks.

~I don't want her to go. I want her to stay here. Where I know she's safe and I can be here to help her. But I also know that's what I want and not what she wants. She more or less told me that just before you and Trysten arrived. I guess I just thought.....she would be happy staying here. But I DO want her to be happy, no matter what it is she's doing. It's just the thought of my daughter leaving home that's so distressing to me. But as you pointed out, it's not my life to live. It's hers and I will respect her choices. No matter what they may be.~

She looked over at Ceri and wiped the moisture from her eyes as she smiled as she reached out and huggd her best friend again.

~I knew you would set me straight, Ceri. I suppose that's why I asked you to let me know what was on your mind.~

She took a deep breath to calm herself even more then furrowed her brows slightly.

~How's Pela doing? Myth said he would bring her to Glen Durel when he returned when he got done in Silvanost.~

The return to Silvanost was difficult for Myth and his men, but for those returning they held their heads high with the memories of those lives lost in their hearts. The contingent of rangers had been gutted by Piramay and cost the rangers a hundred and thirty seven of the two hundred that departed. The foot soldiers fared better with only half their number dead or wounded. It was a costly endeavor but they had achieved the goal they had set out. The towers had fallen and the knight's keep while a bit broken still stood firm.

The grilling Myth received from the council was near insulting but he took it in stride with Ceridwyn and Aeolis at his back defending the choices that were made. Myth was kept busy being brought before panel after panel of counselors who had questions. Sometimes the +families of fallen soldiers would be there to listen to the questioning. No doubt they had been invited to witness the proceedings in an attempt to unnerve the prince. It was to no avail as Myth took it all in stride and remained calm at all times despite the veiled insults.

So it was that Myth's time following the battle was spent attending wasteful meetings. In time his day revolved around a meeting, time in the training hall, and time with his son Shaer. The vigor that Myth approached his training with was usually proportional with the amount of steam he needed to blow off after a meeting. It stood to reason that after nine months Myth was in exceptional shape. Today people in the hall knew that the meetings had been quite verbal and taxing on the princes patience.

Today the elders were questioning his effectiveness to lead any further engagements lest they yield familiar numbers of casualties. Myth stood eyes closed before the training dummy rigged up before him. He had been so hard on the training dummies that they had to be reinforced or be broken by the end of the day. Myth's eyes snapped open as he stepped in delivering a series of strikes that would have dropped any real man. His punches were lightning fast and strong enough produce large amounts of dust with each hit. Every strike he placed upon the dummy had a perfectly visualized face.

There was a tell tale crack as Myth lashed out once more and he brought his assault to a stop. He stepped away shaking his head as someone came to inspect the dummy. "I cracked one of the inner supports again... it won't take to many more hits to break it completely."

Myth said nothing else as he reached for his towel wiping away the sweat. He was grateful to be returning to Glen Durel this evening, While time spent amongst his people and with his parents was welcome he could no longer stand the presence of the council. With a sigh he exited the training hall and headed for his quarters.