Kali looked at Kellan with furrowed brows, it was clear instantly that they were both thinking the same thing. Kali was stuck between her instincts and her motives, they had to kill the leader, but the sounds of chanting and the howl of furious goblins was grinding on her... they were up to something. She looked back at Kellan, "I know what you are thinking, I am thinking it too, but we have to move up and at least see what in the abyss they are doing."

Without another word she got on her belly and crawled silently up to the crest of a small rise. Her Elven blood made it easy to stay quiet but what she saw literally made her stomach churn. A goblin, dressed in bloody skin and animal furs was standing over a human woman who was spread eagle on an alter, her arms and legs were strapped down and the goblin standing above her was bringing up a massive stone knife. Several other bodies were strewn about, it looked like she was the last living of a family of five. The goblin hissed some words and thrust the knife deep into the woman's chest, she screamed and gurgled as the life left her and the goblin war chant rose high into the air. They all spun except for a dozen or so and rallied in a group towards Heartlund.

Kali inhaled deeply, controlling her anger, she was never big on shamanistic magic, especially shamanistic blood magic. In her mind it was foul and reminded her too much of the things Fifth used to do. She turned and saw that Kellan had followed her, the look of horror on her face matched that of Kali's. She was about to move in for a righteous kill and Kali grabbed her, shaking her head 'no'.

Reaching into her robes Kali removed a ball of bat guano mixed with sulfur. She rolled it tightly and spoke to Kellan's mind ~ "Be ready, and you might want to close your eyes." ~ Kali began to hiss the ancient words of magic, the sound was spidery and strange, and Kellan would feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Kali threw the ball that was in her hand and it erupted into a massive fireball. The goblin shaman roared and dove behind the makeshift alter just as the ball of fire erupted in a massive explosion engulfed the area and the entire contingency of guards were instantly incinerated. Several of the goblins that were in the back of the horde spun at the sound and erupted in angry cries when they saw the magic.

The goblin Shaman stood up from behind the now charred alter and began to call out, several of the goblins from the back of the horde began to run back to him for protection.

In all of her days, Kellan had not seen anything like this. Her blood turned ice cold in her veins and she felt her stomach lurch. It was all she could do to hold back from vomiting onto the ground. The scene was so horrific, Kellan’s eyes darted from one body to the next and finally to the woman that was still on the alter the goblin was using.

Blood covered the ground like a dark blanket. The smell of blood and death assaulted her nose and she saw the skin the goblin leader wore like some kind of strange trophy. It was all so surreal. And Kellan felt such an intense urge to kill at that very moment, it was all Kali could do to hold her back. Never had Kellan’s body trembled with such an anxiousness to take the life of another creature as it did right now.

As Kali brought out the substance from her robe, Kellan practically glared at her but it wasn’t intended for Kali. As Kali sent the object hurling towards the goblins, Kellan ducked her head to prevent her eyes from suffering the effect of the fireballs brightness. Kellan felt the intense heat from the fireball and as the sound of the agonized screams filled the air, Kellan lifted her head to see the bodies of several goblins incinerated. The smell of burning flesh filled her nostrils then and she felt some sense of justice for the slaughtered family. But the goblin leader still had to be dealt with.

As the leader surrounded himself with a living shield, Kellan gripped her bow tighter in her hand. She wanted to stand up and fire bolt after bolt at the sick creatures. She wanted to charge in there and slice through them with anything she could get her hands on. She wanted nothing more than to rip them apart with her bare hands.

She looked over at Kali and pointed at the goblin leader then to her bow. Gods how she wanted to avenge the family that lost their lives to these horrid creatures.

Kali could see it in Kellan's eyes, she wanted this kill. Kali's face twisted into a thin smile and she spoke to the Lady Knight's mind, ~ "Not so different after all... we both kill, even if for our own reasons..."~

She could see the look of displeasure in Kellan's face and she shrugged it off. Reaching into her robe she removed more of the foul smelling liquid and spread it on the broad head of Kellan's arrow. She spoke again to Kellan's mind, ~ "I will clear a path, you make your shot." ~

Kali stood and the air began to fill with the sound of her magic and the pull of energy, the goblins shifted, their eyes darting into the darkness as they heard Kali's voice. The Shaman clicked and spoke as the harsh, native language of the goblins penetrated the night air. From just inside the trees of the small meadow Kali lifted her hands and bolts of lightening erupted her her fingertips and tore through the bodies of the goblins in Kellan's way. She could have just as easily aimed for the Shaman himself, but she honored Kellan's wish, she only cleared the path for her.

Kellan heard Kali's words echo in her head and while she didn't want to acknowledge them, she knew they were right. As painful as that truth was for her to admit. It's just that Kellan had never looked at it like that before. In the past, she used her duty as a Knight to justify her killing. Now, there was just her need for vengeance for a family that couldn't exact their own.

And she would gladly deliver it for them.

As Kali stood and started chanting her words of magic, Kellan stood as well, notching her arrow onto hte bow string. Her eyes scanned the area around the Shaman. As Kali's spell erupted and the bodies of the Shaman's protectors were ripped apart, Kellan raised her bow, locked her left arm in place and pulled the string back with her right arm until she felt the feathers of the arrow brush against her cheek.

Drawig a bead on the Shaman, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. When the air was gone from her lungs, Kellan relaxed her fingers and felt the string slide off her fingertips. The bow string snapped forward and sent the bolt towards the Shaman. The bolt hit him square in the chest and embedded so deeply, the very end of the broad tip began to protrude out his back.

Kellan watched as the goblin leaders eye went wide, bulged and he fell forward spewing more green foam from his mouth before he started to decay right before her eyes. As Kellan watched the creature die, she felt a hollow satisfaction fill her. She expected a greater sense of victory over her enemy but when it didn't come, she empty. Deep down, Kellan knew it was because she wanted to kill the goblin leader for her own reason and not the veiled reason of vengeance she had told herself.

She turned to look at the way the goblins started to scramble and run around like freshly killed chickens flopping around the butchers slaughter yard. She glanced at Kali then and locked gazes with the mage. Kali would know Kellan found little satisfaction in killing the goblin leader and the reason why. Kellan tore her gaze away from Kali's as she felt the rawness of the truth open like a knife wound once more. Kellan's voice was nothing but a whisper over the sound of the panicking goblins.

"Let's get back to the Keep. Our job here is done until they clear out."

Kali looked at Kellan and her thin smile remained. She spoke softly, just high enough to be heard over the sounds of the screaming goblins, "As I said earlier Lady Knight, what is evil? Is it still wrong it kill for the right reasons? Or is it simply wrong to kill no matter what the alignment of the creature? All life has a purpose, even the gods of evil send out their agents to do their bidding, but is that bidding truly for the purpose of adding to the evil on Ansalon or is it so the good have something to fight and balance can be maintained?"

Kellan turned to look at her, Kali could see the pain in the woman's eyes, that the death of an 'evil' creature was not as satisfactory as it should have been. Kali spoke, "I assure you, the goblin died for the right reason."

Kellan looked at Kali, what was the right reason?

Kali began to walk back to the Keep amongst the screams of the goblins all around the woods. They were scattering like a bunch of cockroaches and Kali spoke, "There won't be a need to prepare for them to return, I suspect it will be a long time before they forget my magic and your death delivering aim."

The compliment was almost back handed, as if Kali was putting it back in Kellan's face that she killed the Shaman.

Kellan snapped her head up and glared at the back of Kali's head. Why did it seem like the mage had just accused her of killing the creature for sport? And why did Kellan feel the need to defend herself against the implied accusation? It frustrated Kellan to no end. How could one being be so damned.....complicated yet so damn simple all at the same time? She knew if she tried to answer that question she would drive herself insane.

As they headed back to the Keep, Kellan remained silent. There was no0thing to talk about. She did what she had to do. Another decision she had made. By the Gods she wished Kali wasn't so damn intuitive. It just made it seem like she could look into Kellan's future like looking into some magical device that allowed her to see everything.

As the goblins scattered away around them, Kellan felt nothing but pity for them now when mere moments ago she felt nothing but hatred and wanted to eradicate them off the face of Krynn. Would she always feel this conflicted? Or was it something she would have to work through and come to peace with her decisions? Dammit....there it was again. Everything always came back to the decisions she made and would make.

By the time they got back tot he Keep, Kellan felt as though she had fought as hard as she did the day of the battle against the Dark Forces and other dragons when she returned to Heartlund. But her exhaustion wasn't so much physical now as it was mental and emotional. And the bow she carried in her left hand felt heavier than usual. And all she could think about was getting back to her quarters and taking a long, hot bath.

When the sounds of the goblins weren't in the air the only noise that could be heard was the soft rustling of Kali's black robes. The guard called out when the two ladies appeared from the trees and the gate was opened to let them in. Hundreds of dead goblin bodies littered the ground and Trystan ran up to them, "What happened? What did you do?"

Kali glanced at Trystan and gave a small smile, "We did what needed to be done."

Trystan furrowed his brow and looked at Kellan. She was sullen in the face and he furrowed his brow. Looking back at Kali he spoke, "No more riddles, what happened?"

Nol walked up as Trystan asked his question and gently touched Kellan on the small of the back. When she turned and dropped her bow to embrace him he looked at Trystan and then to Kali. Kali watched her display and then looked back to Trystan, "I don't need to divulge any more to you than I see fit Trystan. All you need to know is that when the duties of her station required action Lady Kellan performed with the efficiency of her hard training and without hesitation. She took the necessary actions to ensure the safety of Heartlund and it's citizens."

Trystan furrowed his brow and exhaled heavily, turning to Kellan he spoke, "I need to know what happened out there Lady Kellan, I order you to tell me what the two of you did to stop this horde."

Nol narrowed his eyes and looked hard at Trystan, his voice was low and serious, "No more questions tonight Sir Trystan."

Rose's voice cut through the night air as she descended from the battlements. "I would wager Sir Trystan that with the aid of Kali they took off the head of the serpent. Golbins do not attack en mass like this without a leader of some kind. I can see no other explanation for things such as they are and I will be satisfied with that until a formal report is given to me on the morrow."

Rose reached the bottom approaching the group focusing on Trysten "For the moment you have damage to assess, injured to tend, and dead to remove before they rot and pollute the very land.. All other matters are secondary for the time being."Rose stood with her arms behind her back looking to Nol and Kellan. "The Lady has a more pressing matter at hand as it is and I do not wish to keep her from her bed any longer than necessary for me to discuss it with her." She looked back to Trystan and he knew upon seeing her face the matter was not up to further debate.

Shifting to Kali Rose bowed her head with a half smile "I thank you for your assistance this night Kali. Contact me on the on the morrow at your leisure and we can further discuss some of the finer details of the future. Till then I must beg your pardon and excuse myself to handle a matter of some importance that is both personal and of the keep."

Rose then motioned for Kellan to follow as she twisted on her heel pausing a moment to look back. "I can say what I need to en route to your quarters Lady Kellan, and if you could join us as well Nol I have something I would like to say to you as well, if it is not an inconvenience that is."

It was all Kellan could do to prevent herself form dissolving into a heap of sobs when she turned and embraced Nol. The last thing she wanted right now was to explain her actions to anyone. Kali was right, she did what had to be done, but she questioned her own motives about the actual killing itself. While she knew the Shaman had to be destroyed, she looked back at the moments prior to her killing him and how desperately she actually WANTED to kill the creature. And to be perfectly honest with herself she wanted to kill him because she could.

Her embrace was tighter than usual and she hoped he didn’t find it too much to handle, but knowing Nol, he would find a way. It was one of the many reasons she loved him like she did. As Lady Rose approached and Kellan heard her voice cut through the growing tension, Kellan composed herself and turned to look at Lady Rose.

Kellan had never been so grateful in all her life as she was with the fact Lady Rose was not looking for an report tonight. At least in the morning, Kellan would be better fit to give her report. As Lady Rose turned and invited Kellan to go with her, she looked up at Nol with an almost panicked look on her face. When Rose invited him along as well, that look quickly changed.

Kellan turned and was just about to take a step to follow Rose when she stopped and turned back to Kali and Trystan.

”Thank you, Kali. Without your help, I wouldn’t have been able to do what I did.”

Kellan knew Kali would understand the message in the words. While Kellan was upset with herself, she knew she did the right thing in the end. Turning her gaze to Trystan’s, she spoke in an almost choked voice.

”There is a family who needs last rights and proper burial, Sir Trystan. You’ll find them just over the small rise in the trees. The scene is worse than anyone can imagine so prepare your troops.”

She turned and looked up at Nol once more and the pain in her gaze was unmistakable. And she didn’t try to hide it from him. Turning on her heel she walked away from the others and caught up with Rose holding Nol’s hand in an almost death like grip.

Nol remained silent and nodded as Rose extended her invitation to follow, "It is no inconvenience Ms. Rose."

Kali looked at Kellan and spoke in response to her words, "You are right, you would not have been able to do what you did this evening without my help."

Kellan looked at her with a curious glance but the group was moving and Nol was gently guiding her along to follow the rest of them. Kali merely smiled thinly as Kellan kept looking back at her. There was a strange gaze in Kali's eyes and she didn't break eye contact until Trystan spoke, "Rose ordered me off Kellan but not you Kali, what in Hades happened out there?!"

Kali turned and looked at him with a quirked brow, "A might bit aggressive tonight aren't we Sir Trystan of the Sword? I am under no obligation to you nor do you hold a shred of authority over me." He tightened his fists and inhaled deeply through his nose before continuing, "I have a report to give in the morning, I need to tell Commander Rose what happened out there."

Kali looked up at him and responded emotionlessly, "No, you have to report on what happened at your wall, not what happened out in the forest, that is the report that Lady Kellan has to deliver. I have already told you what happened, Lady Kellan did her duty to the upmost, she performed admirably and dutifully, keeping the code of the Knights to protect the land from evil."

Trystan grit his teeth and almost hissed his response, "There is something going on here... I know you well enough to see that you had something to do with this."

Kali's eyebrows lifted off her eyes and she looked at him bemused, "Are you suggesting that I unleashed a goblin horde to attack Heartlund?" Trystan furrowed his brows again and spoke, "I am not sure what I am suggesting, but my gut tells me this was not just some random, roving band of goblins that numbered in the thousands. We have patrols all over the place, a horde this size would have been spotted long before we were attacked."

Kali looked up at him and spoke softly, "Well, when you DO know what you are suggesting feel free to let me know."

She turned and took a few steps towards the main gate and then stopped, turning to look back at him, "I will be here at noon tomorrow, perhaps we can discuss your accusations some more then. For now I am tired and need to sleep. Good night Sir Trystan."

Trystan ground his teeth in frustration but quickly stuffed the matter aside so he could attend his duties. He knew they would be up most of the night attending to the wounded and seeing the goblin bodies burned. He went and found Tanjee, she was speaking to a man she had just healed and he waited until they were done before speaking to her, "Ms. Tanjee, if I might have a word with you?"

Tanjee smiled and stepped over to him. He looked at her and spoke, "How many are still wounded?"

Tanjee looked at him with an expression of relief and spoke, "Surprisingly there were only about a dozen injured during the fighting, and for the most part the wounds were relatively minor."

Trystan furrowed his brow slightly and nodded. She looked at him and touched his arm as she spoke, "Does it bother you that so few were injured?"

He looked at her and shook his head, "No, of course not, but doesn't it seem odd that we were outnumbered 30 or 40 to one and we killed hundreds while they didn't kill even one?"

Tanjee smiled and responded, "The gods shone upon us."

He pursed his lips and turned to look at the wall..., "Maybe." Turning to look back at her he smiled and nodded, "Thank you for your time Tanjee, and thank you for attending our wounded so diligently."

He turned and walked through the main gate, and out onto the field, already the soldiers were piling the bodies of the goblins and burning them. Trystan stared at the fires and his mind was reeling with questions.

Tanjee watched Trystan walk out the gate then she turned to watch Lady Rose, Nol and Lady Kellan walking the opposite direction. The business of Knights would forever confuse her. She was just glad the wounded weren’t as many as she feared. But Trystan’s words made her think. He had a point, indeed, but Tanjee still thought the Gods had shown upon the lot of them this night.

She looked over as Tara helped with the last of the wounded soldiers. The woman was an absolute gem to have around and Tanjee enjoyed her company more and more as she got to know the loner. She knew things were slowly blossoming between Gideon and Tara and she was glad the woman at least had someone.

And speaking of someone…..Tanjee hadn’t seen her brother or Ceridwyn in a while. She knew they were busy planning their nuptials and she couldn’t wait for the ceremony to take place. All of Silvanost was buzzing with the news. Even the Speaker of the Stars seemed to be a bit more relaxed and looking forward to the two making the lifelong commitment to each other. But Tanjee had things to finish up with here before she could think of returning to Silvanost jet yet.

Glancing at the retreating forms of Rose, Kellan and Nol once more, she glanced towards the gate and saw Trystan’s back disappearing as well. She looked to Tara and nodded her head towards the gate.

”Feel like moving closer to see if there are others who need out help?”

Tara glanced at the gate then at Tanjee and nodded. Tanjee knew she wanted to see if Gideon was alright and that was fine. As they moved closer to the gate, the smell of burning flesh assaulted their sense of smell and Tanjee wrinkled her nose. When she saw the bodies littered on the ground, she blinked. Sir Trystan was right. For all the dead the goblins suffered, the Knights took relatively no injuries at all.

The Gods must have really found favor on Heartlund this night. Perhaps, Tanjee thought, they thought Heartlund has suffered enough. Whatever their reason, Tanjee was thankful.