Kiran glared at Toan, {No I haven't, not that it's any of your business. Brother or no, you shouldn't be interfering with her life.} He didn't care about starting a fight, Toan shouldn't care if they were sleeping together or not unless Moryssa told him. Either way, he shouldn't confront Kiran like this. Kiran was ready to go for his scimitar if Toan drew his sword. Then out of the corner of his eye, Kiran saw Gale's hurled spear hit the wall. He glanced back and realized it had been intended for Moryssa. He spared Toan a glance to see his reaction. He chanted his own spell to break the silence enchantment in the corner. Moryssa and Gale had both left the room however. Kiran glared back at Toan once more. They would have to handle this incident later, Kiran wanted to get a reaction from Toan first.

{And who are you? Some fool she picked up off of the street!? I don't want you near my sister anymore, or I'll gut you like trout in the fall.} He glared at Kiran, then noticed there was a hole in a nearby wall. He wondered what had happened while his enchantment was up, but decided that this Kiran man was much more important. {Now I hope I have made myself clear, and I dare you to test my word.} He rubbed his hand over the hilt of his sword once more, this time less conspicuously.

{You can't make her choices for her. If she wants to be with me, she will be, no matter what you demand. I dont know what your problem is, but you cannot interfere with her life like this.} Kiran growled in his native tongue, holding the hilt of his scimitar. {If you want her away from me so bad, take it up with her.} Kiran's blood was boiling, he was starting to feel like he always had on Marmo. Since the last battle, his dark side seemed to have been in waiting for the chance to break free. Chaotic energy always had that effect on him.

Meanwhile, Mia watched with a grin and looked down at Fou-Lu. "This is getting good." She was anxious for one of them to draw their swords, her hand tensed on the spear resting against the table she was sitting on. Come on Toan, draw your sword! she thought anxiously, ready to jump to her feet at the first clash. She glanced at Fou who seemed to be feeling the same. Ruin's Fate rested against the wall by their cot and Fou-Lu was ready to go for it.

Moryssa stood up and walked back out of her room, her head held high. When she entered the main room she turned and saw Kiran and Toan, both of them ready to draw there weapons. Moryssa ran between the two. {What the hell is wrong with you two !?! This is not the time for petty arguments and definately no time to kill each other!}

{Ahh...well, your brother is just trying to make decisions for you,} Kiran smirked over at Toan, challenging him.

Mia sighed in disappointment and dropped the spear she didn't even realize she was holding. It rolled off the table with a clatter that resounded in the tense silence of the bar.

Toan glanced towards Mia then at his sister. Anger welled through him again. He pushed Moryssa down and blasted a hole through the nearest wall. He drew his sword and jumped out of the building. {You are a fool and a coward to hide behind a woman. Now that you have insulted me, I'll keep my word!}

Kiran drew his sword after Toan pushed down Moryssa. {I thought a brother would have more consideration for his sister.} Kiran looked down at Moryssa, but didn't help her up yet. He didn't care about the sword now, Kiran jumped through the hole and brought his scimitar down on Toan's blade. {You worry about her being with me, yet you cause her more pain, I dont understand your logic here.}

Mia grinned again and went for her spear, following Kiran out the hole in the wall. Fou-Lu drew his sword as well and followed Mia and Kiran. Whatever this conflict was about, Mia didn't care at the moment, she just wanted a reason to hurt Kiran.

Moryssa was stunned at hurt. Never in her life had Toan done anything like this. She stood up and drew her rapier. She wasn't going to kill him yet. She jumped out of the hole and slashed at her brother. {I don't know what's gotten into you, but no man will ever touch me like that and get away with it!}

Toan parried Kiran and Moryssa's attacks. {So, you've let this bafoon corrupt you, eh? Fine then, sister, I'll dispose of you also!} He tackled Moryssa sending her flying through the air. He then made a spinning slash at Kiran.

Kiran dodged and blocked Toan's swing, then Fou-Lu swung at him. Kiran jumped back and blocked the attack from Fou-Lu.

Mia was about to attack Kiran when she saw Toan go for Moryssa. What the hell is going on?! While Toan's back was to her, she rammed him with her shoulder and sent him to the ground.

Moryssa muttered a thanks, to Mia then jumped at her fallen brother, choking him with her bair hands. {Don't you ever, in your life, touch me like that again! Do you hear me!?!}

Toan was stunned at both Mia and Moryssa's attacks. After a few moments then he pushed her off. He turned towards Mia and slammed her into the ground by pulling her hair. "Who told you to interfere?"

A low growl came from Mia as she swung her legs around, kicking Toan in the head. She quickly hopped to her feet, took her spear and swept Toan's legs out from under him. She then dropped over him, planting one knee in his chest and pressed the shaft of her spear to his throat. To incapacitate him further, she brought her other knee up into his groin. Glaring down at him, she pressed the shaft harder. "Who told you it was a smart idea to attack me like that?" she was grinning darkly. "How dare you treat your sister like that!" she growled again, puncuating with more pressure from her spear shaft.

Toan was in a world of hurt. But pure rage had swept over him now. In one swift move he knocked the spear away and flipped her off. He jumped up, kicked her spear out of her hand, lifted her by her hair and gut punched her. Slamming her back into the ground he limped over to Kiran and punched him.

Moryssa crawled over to Mia. "Are you okay?" She didn't wait for a reply though. She stood up and took off her shoes, throwing them at Toan. One missed and hit Fou-Lu, the other hit Toan in the back of the head. Moryssa muttered an apology, embarassed by her poor aim.

Kiran had been holding off Fou-Lu when Toan punched him. If it hadn't been for the fact that Fou-Lu just saw Mia attacked and had been hit by Moryssa's shoe, he would have taken the opportunity to strike Kiran again.

Fou-Lu glanced at Kiran, then Toan. Kiran seemed to understand the change and to both of their disappointment, both men were again fighting alongside each other. Fou-Lu and Kiran both swung at Toan now. Meanwhile, Mia came up from behind and landed a hard punch to Toan's ribs from the side.

* * *

Gale jumped up from where he was sitting and grinned to Sevrina. "Sounds like good ol' fashion melee. Wanna join in?"

Gale ran down the roof and jumped off. Landing heavily on the ground he swung his spear full circle, hitting Toan and Kiran with the flat of the masive spear. "I think it's time you 'little boys' got a lesson from a man."

* * *

Kitain, painfully, swung out of bed. and heaved his way over to where Deedlit sat, and occupied a position of the other side of Seri. He winced as he sat backwards. "I don't know how many injured I've sat by like this." He smiled at Deedlit, then looked back again.

"Now you listen to me Seri. I don't know what you're dreaming about in there, and yes it's probably better than whats going on out here. but unless you wake up soon, the evil out here isn't going away. Cause you can dream about good times, but those don't happen out here, unless they're made and..." He paused, as the noise of the fighting reached him.

"WHAT IS THAT!!?" Nafisa looked up.

"Steelstorm, rouse Reaver and Quicksilver. If you can, find Shadow." Then he got up painfully himself. The bandages creaked against his skin, and he picked up his two blades. Nafisa had already gone up the stairs, and Kitain slowly followed. He met them all in the battered room. All armed. He nodded at them. They stepped outside, the cunning Deep cloaked shadow, Reaver and his axes, Quicksilver and her Rapier, Steelstorm and her shortswords, and the Solitaire himself. He looked over at the brawlers.

"ENOUGH!!!" He stepped forward... and grabbed the wrist of the next punch. He gave a push and the fists owner fell slightly backwards.

"So you've taken a few knocks. But that's part and parcel with war. You've seen the power of the enemy and have a better idea than I. But I do know he is powerful, but you can't defeat HIM, if you beat on each other now. The Kaiser Dragon gave you a task to complete so save your petty struggles until afterwards. Also this is OUR inn, we took you in at risk to ourselves, understanding the threat you pose and the enemies that follow after you. If you cannot respect that, and leave your PERSONAL struggles aside. THEN LEAVE!"

He stepped backwards... and was standing at the door with the others again. They filed without a word, back inside.

* * *

It was early nightfall before Fenix had made it back to Mirror Forest. The forest was becoming more twisted and unholy as night approached, the seemingly dead trees comming to life, wanting to steal life from those not of the darkness. The creatures didn't even seem to notice Fenix. To them, he was one of them, or just a part of the landscape. He stepped up to where the great tree of light had once been, now simply a stump, if that. It was poisoned, perhaps if thousands of years had passed the tree might have grown back, though not likely. He touched the stump, something inside him seemed to tell him to, he felt a darkness comming in him, all around he began to sense things he had never felt before. Hatred, thoughts of killing, so this was the feeling of darkness. The stump seemingly the root of it, like it had been the root of light before. He felt the top of his hand burn slightly causing pain to coarse through his body, he went to one knee as he took off his gauntlet, there, a symbol long forgetton rested. The ruin that branded him as a warrior of Kardis was glowing. He grimaced, realizing if that sect worshiping Kardis still exsisted, they would easily gain control of him, but, he was the last remnant of that group. Not even by choice. He unsheathed his sword, the large blade shining slightly in the moonlight, he drove it into the stump with all his might, darkness no freely moved into his body, his sword began to mutate, the edges becomming seratted, even his armor began to mutate, the shoulder becomming like bat wings, his gauntlets becomming as claws, but still he drew the darkness into his frame. His breathing increased, the pain on his palm became almost unbearable, finally he withdrew the sword and sat down. His breathing was still heavy and he covered with sweat. After a few moments, he got back up, his eyes seemed to have a deeper red to them now, he felt much different,though still the same. He was more powerful then he was, the tree was still a source of knowledge, a source of power still, just not for followers of Marfa. He looked at the sword, the blades covered visable teeth. He sighed, sheething his sword and heading back from where he came.

As morning approached he was nearly back to the inn,he stopped at a small pond and looked at his reflexion, he noticed his eyes, blinking slightly. He thought they were already a nasty shade of red, now they were worse. "Some sacrifices have to be made,this isn't a big one..."

He grimiced as his hand throbbed, sending a pulse of pain throughout his body. His eyes furrowed as he heard the sound of combat, he got up and took off in a full sprint. He arrived right when Gale had come down. His jaw was dropped,then his face turned deadly. A low growl in his throat and darkness becomming around him. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU PEOPLE ARE DOING!!!!!?" He called out, unsheathing his sword and slashing Gale's spear out of his hand. He glared around, his cold, red eyes scanning everyone. "Pathetic...these are suppose to be the 'saviors of lodoss'? More like a bunch of teenagers with bruised egos!!!"

Moryssa looked highly embarassed, as both Kitain and Fenix had yelled at them. She gave Toan one more kick and backed away.

Toan got up, bruised and bleeding, he had no intention of losing this fight. He leaped at his sword and grabbed the hilt. Standing up, Toan called to the sword. He was surrounded by a flash of of fire and then the fire moved to his sword. He stood their, invigorated, in fact stronger, than he had before. And he didn't even have a blemish to show he was in a fight. "Now I'll show you a little boy." His eyes narrowed at Gale. He ran towards the werewolf and slashed at his torso. Now that he was five times faster and stronger, he became a threat.

Sakura stood at the hole in the war, looking horror struck. They've just come from the destruction of two of the most powerful places in Lodoss, and they were fighting eachother! What is wrong with these people? They are fools! I can't wait until this predicament is over. She jumped when Toan transformed, and pulled out her battle fans, just in case things got out of hand.

Moryssa had put her shoes back on when she saw the swords true power. After a few seconds, the pieces started to fall in piece. "Guys, we've got to stop him. Please don't kill him, it's not his fault." She muttered a spell to restrain him but he jumped out of the way, and summoned a strong gust of wind that blew everyone in the area back.

Sevrina thought for a moment that the fight was finished, but Toan didn't. She drew her rapier and jumped next as Toan slashed at him. "Spirits of darkness, come to me and do my bidding, drain the power of his weapon, drain his strength," Sevrina chanted over and over, holding her hand out toward Toan. The weapon was powerful, but the more she chanted, the more spirits would come to her call. Hopefully, it would have an effect. Before, she would have joined the brawl just for the fun of it, but this was serious now.

Fenix growled, plunging his sword into the ground. Watching Toan comming,he rushed foward and tackled him. "Relax! As far as I know you are NOT a beserker!" He used all his strength to pin Toan down, sitting on his chest. "No blood has yet flowed today, there is no reason for it to flow. Just relax, think things through, do you really want to kill? Are you really blood thirsty? No! Just relax, your pride is the only thing injured..." He kept his weight down, hoping this would work.

Between Sevrina and Fenix's attacks, Toan was subdued for the moment. He didn't even have pupils anymore just, glowing white eyes. He growled back at Fenix. "You don't know what you're doing. I liked you, but if you want to interfere, so be it." He pushed Fenix off of him and slashed his arm with his sword. The very energy of Fenix's being leaked out with his blood. Toan savored the taste of Fenix's dark power, the taste of his blood. He jumped away from the group and laughed hysterically. "So woman, you want to summon spirits, eh? I'll show you how it's done. Spirits of fire and shadow. Essence of fury and chaos, strike them with the flames of the night!" A black flame erupted and shot towards the group. Toan laughed again. Although mixing spirits was dangerous, the taste of blood had removed him from all reason.

Moryssa summoned the powers of undine to, stop the blast, but because of the dark spirits her water barrier broke and she slammed into the inn. She fell to the ground, dazed. "We've got to stop him, and quick !!!"

Fenix flinched as his arm was cut open, he held the wound, he barely had time to react before bieng thrown back by all the elemental spirits. He grasped the wound tighter, the cloth underneath his armor stained with blood. He used his finger to draw an outline into the ground. "Goddess of all darkness and destruction, I call upon thy power. Heed mine call and lend my thy power. Hold my foe, from doing harm against others, and harm against himself! Spacial bond!" A black energy flowed from the ground, looking much like a ribbon, it shot at Toan.

Sakura was shocked at the violent turn of events. Regaining her composure, she sang the song of luck for the heroes. They were bathed in a brief white glow. Then she sang a barrier of holy energy over the inn. 


* * *

Zira looked up at him, unable to think of what to say. "I was worried about you," she started, but her attention was drawn by the fight, she walked a little ways to the inn and saw the group brawling. "What the..?" she didn't care at the moment though, she turned back to Blaze. "I'm sorry if...I've hurt you. I just have a hard time in this kind of situation." She tried to avoid looking into his eyes as she talked.

Blaze turned and looked at Zira. "They're all fools!"

He ran around the Inn at full spead Sword drawn. He rushed at Toan much to his surprise and hit him in the temple with the flat of his sword throwing him to the ground. Immediately He turned and grabbed Gale by the throat, lifting him off the ground and slamming into the wall of the inn. Gale's eyes reflected bewildered disbelief. "Ehhkk...You're choking me..."

Blaze's attack knocked the sword out of Toan's hand. As the sword flew into the air, Fenix's spell hit it freezing it in space. Toan looked up confused. "What just happened. Why am I lying on the ground?" He looked at them all, rubbing his bleeding temple.

"GOOD! It's about time Gale! ALL OF YOU STOP NOW! IF BLOOD WILL BE SPILT HERE YOU'LL TAKE MINE FIRST!" Blaze lifted Gale into the air. The calm, and innocent Blaze everyone knew changed. He was no longer like that, he became a man. He hurled Gale to the ground taking his breath away and turned to the meelee which had stopped abruptly. "So, who wants it first?"

No one in their right mind would attack a wounded person. It was totally dishonorable. Even Toan with his chaotic flow wouldn't be as stupid as to dishonor himself. No one would. "Didn't these recent event wake you people up? OR ARE YOU ALL IGNORANT TO THE CORE!? WE HAVE TO RELY ON EACH OTHER, THERE IS NO ONE LEFT! IF WE FALL AND CAN'T RELY ON EACH OTHER THEN THE CHAOS HAS ALREADY WON!"

Blaze walked over to Moryssa and spoke calmly and rationally. "Toan leaves in the morning. He's been nothing but non-stop problems. His over protective nature will kill us all if it goes unchecked. I will not lose anyone because of a headstrong prideful fool. Am I understood Moryssa?"

He turned to group. It was obvious Blaze would kill who ever attack him at the moment and we meant every word he said. "Wake up...the reality is this, like it or not we can only depend on eachother. Until we learn to trust eachother and forget the past, the forest will keep repeating itself. Which means we'll continue to lose more and more." Blaze looked at Zira, his back turned to the group. His eyes suddenly looked pained. A couldn't smile, he just frowned and sat on the poarch on the otherside of the Inn. He knocked on the door and spoke to Solitare, if he was listening. "It's ludacrist that allies should be making enemy of one another. I stopped the fighting. If their's any more fighting just tell me and i'll handle it..."

"We'll bear that in mind." Solitaire/Kitain, from behind the door, managed a small smile as his back gave a sympathetic twinge. "We have too little time Master Blaze, people are restless. But whatever your plan. I am not likely to accompany you. I have to fulfil a promise. and I am not a selected warrior of Order so my disappearance will not be missed. Unfortunately, the Troupe gathering will have to wait. But you and the group have your own path to weave. We are the Shadow Troupe, and will stay that way."

Blaze nodded and spoke low, a deep sense of mourning in his voice. "I understand. I wish you sfe travel of your quest. I can feel it, many a battle is yet to come. As are many more inocents' death at the hands of the Chaos."

Gale stood up and rubbed his neck with shock. "I've....*cough* never seen...him that powerful... Not physically *cough* but mentally... Guys, I'm done. Oh, Fenix, you hit like a woman..."

Ariakan stepped out of the shadows which he had used to envelop him and looked at the others from under his hood. His clawed fingers curled every so often as he spoke in a flat, emotionless voice. "We all need out strength to win this war, infighting will lead us nowhere, now if you are done squabbling I will not have to do something drastic..."

Parn walked over to Deedlit and looked at her. "Do you think that this group has what it takes to restore order? It seems like this petty squabbling is getting in way of our goal."

Ariakan listened to Blazes words and then spoke. "I say we get onto our quest, but travelling in such a large group will make us an obvious target. We should split up into two groups and travel to two different fronts." He looked around for anybody in disagreement of his idea.

Gale on the other hand was annoyed after Blaze had ripped him off the ground like that with one hand. He couldn't figure out how he did it. But he was proud that we wasn't being so timid anymore. "Finally he understands that he needs to toughed up... Unfortunately, he seemed to have toughened up too much, too fast."

Ariakan, sick of this fighting, looked around and slowly walked away from the group. He then walked over to Moryssa and spoke. "That dwarf you sent the request for the armor to. Can you send him a request for a mask in the shape of a black dragon's head?"

Moryssa had nodded at Ariakan's request. She then looked at her brother for a moment. She saw in his eyes the true Toan. "Toan! Are you okay?" She rushed over to her brother, holding him in her arms. Tears were streaming down her face. "Someone, get me that sword but don't touch it with your flesh. Sakura! Alwyn! Someone, help me with him! Blaze please don;t send him away. It wasn't his fault!" She was sobbing into his hair. Although she still sinced the presence of other spirits, they were much fainter now.

Sakura walked out of the inn, doing her best to enjoy Fenix. She gave him a look of disgust. She sang a song of healing, for all but Fenix, once again glaring at him. She walked up to Blaze and whispered in Blaze's ear. "Should we really allow Fenix to be here? He prayed to Kardis for his spell. He's a dark priest!"

Blaze looked at Sakura. His hand lanced up and snagged her collar pulling her close. He had no intention of whispering. "So he prayed to Kardis! That's his belief, not everyone has to follow your god. I pray to Kaiser Dragon, going to whisper secrets against me to? As long as we are all together we will accept that we are all different. Sakura, I am kin to the Dragon God Kaiser and even I can except other believe in different things. Grow up."

The soft melody of a harp slowly filled the air. Because the combatants in the brawl were so enthralled in fighting they did not hear it as it begun. Now as everything had calmed down somewhat the sound came more clearly and stronger than it started. The elves recognized the tune instantly. It was an old song of celebration. A voice accompanied the strings. A soft warm voice singing in celebration of life. From elf to human, from tree to the birds. It was a soothing tune and the voice waned away as the harp cotninued. A young man sat on the edge of the roof of the inn. He had his eyes closed and hair blowing in the wind. His fingers danced over the strings of the silver harp. As his voice did the fingers slowly stopped as well, his middle finger stopped in midstroke holding on of the strings taught. Blade cracked one eye open and looked down at the fighters. His voice was soft and gentle and directed at Sevrina. "The Chaos you seek... is near..."

Sevrina looked up at the musician on the roof. "How far?" she asked, pulling away from the group.

Blade smiled and hopped off the roof and landed gracefully holding the harp against his chest. "Near as far as I'm concerned but far away by your perception." He smiled happily and held his harp loosely again. "So it's not that important but how about a song for the pretty lady?"

Sevrina nodded in reply, a little relieved. "So who are you?" she asked, but sounded distant as usual. The information would be useful to the others, but it truely meant nothing to her. She glanced this his harp, and him. "No." she replied simply and walked to her lancer. Linking her arm with Gale's, she waited for a reply from the stranger.

Gale looked at Blade with a cold, stern look. Then he kissed Sevrina before speaking to him. "I hope your comment about Chaos wasn't directed at my love or you'll be needing to search the woods for your mouth."

"Oh, Gale, shut up... no more fighting. Why can't we all just get along. That's it, we're spliting into two groups. I'll lead one and Gale you lead the other." Blaze stood up and looked at Zira. He smiled softly and took her hand, leading her to a place where they could talk.

Zira walked up to the group silently just as it started to rain. "Blaze..." she said softly and looked up at him. Looking at the group, the brawl seemed finally over, so hopefully she could go back to their conversation

"Threats for strangers, quite bold for the middle of the day." Blade smiled none the less and ran his fingers over the harp. "Besides, the Chaos is near, not here. Although there is chaos within her it is not what you seek. The Chaos you seek is far far away now. However there is a similar Chaos much closer than that." Blade sang softly, his voice tended to crry a tune when he became excited. "As for me, I'm Blade, a wandering wanderer out to spread love and peace. And what better way than through song?"

* * *

"What the hell happened here? When I left it was nothing but a petty squable, not the blood feud I see now." Zatch said to Toan in reference to when he left shortly after Kiran was challenged. I refuse to get involved in a battle over pride, a boy died so I could learn that lesson. I just wish I knew it was going to get this serious. "I think I should take a closer look at that sword now."

Fenix's eyes were focused onto the blade, holding it in place. He disengaged and let it clank to the gound before moving over it. He looked briefly at Sakura, who was glaring at him, and not surprisingly, she didn't heal him, and his wound still flowed liberally. He shrugged it off and turned his attention back to the sword, ignoring the lightness that was washing over him. He bent down and picked it up, keeping it as far away from the wound as possible, he looked around suddenly, as if he didn't know anyone there and that he might strike, before shaking his head and laying the sword down. "Whatever it is...I don't think..." He rubbed his eyes and fell off balance. "...ugh..." He cursed himself, the dark energy he had absorbed, mixed with the fight, had invoked the rune, a soft glow under his gauntlet, there was a sharp pulse of pain that ran trough his body, his eyes widening,then closing suddenly they closed and he collapsed to the ground. He was awake for a few moments more before passing out from loss of blood.

"Sakura! What is wrong with you need to heal him! Hurry up!" Sakura rolled her eyes and sang a high pitched note that did just enough to close the wound.

"Thank you. If you let him die, he'd just come back to haunt us anyhow." She wiped her eyes, and looked at the strange man playing the harp. What's between the two of them? He probably knows what's going on with her and the Chaos Knight.

Mia walked over to Fenix and put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, you ok now?" she asked. Despite the darkness she sensed around him and that he invoked the power of Kardis, she knew he was no threat. He was obviously on their side. How Sakura treated him was unfair.

Kiran limped over to Moryssa. There was an ache in his hip from one of his falls during the fight. He hugged her tight. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize what was going on with the sword." 

* * *

When Kitain had reenetered the room a soft voice spoke from the shadows. "Hail, Solitaire. Long time no see." Norya stepped out from the corner she was standing in. She nodded to Mercurial and Nafisa respectively. "You know there is someone else on the roof." She winked at her fellow Shadow Troupe members just as the music began to play.

Kitain/Solitaire looked at the willowy figure who had spoken. "Ghostwraith, isn't it. A long time. How long have you been standing there?" "this brings our total number up to six. Have you heard any news of the others?"

* * *

Deedlit had stayed downstairs in hopes of Seri waking. She looked back at Parn. "We dont have much of choice now do we? Hopefully, they'll learn. We did after all." she smiled at him and looked down at Seri.

The high elf trembled at Deedlit's touch and awoke slowly. Deedlit moved closer and brushed back Seri's dark hair. {Hey, come on she whispered in elven. With a moan, Seri woke. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked to Deedlit. Mostly everything else was a blur. "Kitain..." she whispered. "I though I heard him."

"Yes, we're..." Deedlit started, but Seri let out a scream of pain in sudden realization of the emptiness in her. "Oh...Seri," Deedlit wrapped her arms around the smaller elf and held her close. This was what she feared would happen. She glanced back at Parn. "Get Kitain, I think she wants to speak to him."

Kitain looked up at the scream. "The man on the roof and your tales, I'm afraid. will have to wait." He towards the the stairs and walked down them into the cellar. He nodded to Deedlit and Parn. "She wakes at last, I see."

Norya smiled as Kitain rushed down the stairs. She looked at Mercurial her sly smile still on her mouth. "Does the Solitaire ever sleep, Reaver?"

* * *

Naclia smiled at him through her tears. "I love you Talen," she said softly. They ignored the sounds of the fight until it began to rain. Naclia had finally calmed and summoned Undine to put out the smoldering tree. "Perhaps we should see the wreckage left by the fray," she said smiling and stood, offering a hand to Talen.

Talen smiled and reached up brushing the tears away from her eyes. "And I love you Naclia, always and forever I shall love you." he said smiling at her. He stood up by her extending his hand out to her and taking her hand. "Yes perhaps we should, as long as I'm by you I dont mind what we do." he said staring deeply into her eyes.

Naclia and Talen wandered back. She looked at the group with impassive eyes and glanced to Mia. "I'm surprised you let this happen." Mia looked away with some embarassment and looked at Fenix. Naclia turned and walked into the inn, muttering an apology to Kitain and Mercurial as she passed them.

"It's okay now I think. Just as long as we don't destroy the sword, for the moment. I don't want to do anyhting drastic." Moryssa looked at Fenix and Mia. "Is he going to be okay?"

Toan looked up at Kiran. Shame and sadness were in his eyes. "I'm not sure what happened after we started our duel, but I'm sorry nonetheless." He looked over at Fenix. "We can't let him die because of me."

Sakura frowned at Blaze. "Is your god a god of Darkness? No! Here you go trying to bring Lodoss into order and you're condoning the worship of the Godess of Destruction!?!" She stormed back into the inn.

Blaze dismissed Sakura with a wave of the hand. "Who cares? Only you. His god may be the God of Destruction but so is Kaiser. Kaiser can be the most caring thing alive and in just a few seconds he can destroy what he feels. I will not distrust him because of his beliefs. Just because his god isn't yours doesn't give you right to cast judgement on him. Would you like to cast judgement of me too? I haven't casted judgement on anyone yet, know why? Because in doing so it meens you are ignorant enough to think you are better. No one is better than anyone here, we're all equal. Moryssa, your brother can stay, I see it was the sword. Toan, I'm sorry, I hit you with te flat of my sword. But it was nessessary."

"Sakura wait!" Zatch Ran into the Inn after her. "I know it's hard to trust him but you have to listen. I don't know how Fenix can worship a dark god and be on our side at the same time, I just know he can. When Toan and I were injured he led us to a temple of Marfa, and he helped defend the same temple when it was attacked by undead solders. If it weren't for him we might, no probably would both be dead now and I want to repay him. Please heal him, he's lost alot of blood and he could die if you don't. I give you my word as a nobleman and as a student of Rada that you can trust him. Please."

Sakura looked at Zatch furiously. Then she softened her gaze. She sighed and reached into her robe. Pulling out a small vile of fluid, she handed it to Zatch. "I can't do anything about the blood loss, but this should give him the nutrients he needs to live long enough to replace it. And if he's up and about it may not do as much as it would if he rested. Fluids and water." She turned her head in annoyance. She saw Zatch still standing their and shewed him away playfully. "If you want to help your friend you should hurry. I've stopped the bleeding but their will be a scar." Cha Za nor Falis never said I had to heal him completely. He'll live.

"It's okay, Blaze is it? I don't really remember what happened." He stood up and reached for his sword but Moryssa swiftly smacked it out of his hand. {What was that for?} He asked in his natural tongue.

Moryssa, not wanting to cause anymore confusion gave her reply in the common tongue. "You don't get to touch that sword until, Zatch and I get to look at it. And you might not get it back at all if what I think is true." The tone she had in her voice let Toan know their was nothing more to say. *But if my theory is correct, he might have to get it back. Why do enchantments have to be so difficult?* She turned and jumped at the panting she heard behind her. She turned to see Mathyas, with his usual smirk. It looked like it was about to pounce her. {Don't even think about it, mutt! Mathyas wimpered and went inside the inn looking for Lucied. Moryssa laughed as she heard Sakura scream in surprise. Mathyas came running out of the inn and stood behind Toan.

"Thank you" Zatch said with warm smile. Soon after he gave Fenix the elixer, he slowly awoken but was still very weak. Zatch then handed him some bread and a water skin from his pack. "Take it easy, no healing spell I know of can replace the amount of blood you lost. Stay here and rest for a while, I'm going to take a look at Toan's sword. Remember, I faced a woman's scorn for that vile and if you get up and waste your energy I'll finish you off myself." Zatch picked up the sword with his hand wraped in his scarf. He then went to his horse to get all the books in his saddle bags (2 large ones, 3 small) and he and Morrysa went inside to study in peace.

Fenix waited for Zatch to leave, then,taking off his gauntlet he revealed the reason why he was so weak, the rune on his hand was glowing. He used the gauntlet to pierce the skin, the rune died down and it felt like a great relief had been taken off, he quickly put the gauntlet back on, looking at Mia, he nodded.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just an old wounds and a new one." He smiled slightly,pushing himself up and looking at Blaze. "Thank you. I don't know how to deal with people like her." He held his arm lightly as he retrieved his sword and sheathed it. "I guess for you all to really trust me they should know why I have a dark aura about me. Even then they might not totally like me, but one day Sakura might try to take a blade to me...besides, I want her to see the world isn't all black and white." He smiled, though it was a bitter one. "So, who's up for a little story about how a simple boy became the last remnant of Kardis' influence?"

"Well, lets go inside, you can tell who ever wants to hear there," Mia said to Fenix.

Blaze smiled, being a Dragon, stories were VERY ammusing to him. "Think nothing of it. We're all in this together and I'd love to hear you story." He hugged Zira and spoke softy in her mind. "Zira, I love you, I don't know if you love me back but I want you to know the truth."

Zira didn't reply, she couldn't think of how to. She sighed softly and closed her eyes, leaning against his chest. She didn't want him to let go of her yet. But she was ready to let go of her own inhibitions and give in.

"Very well." Fenix looked up at the musician before shrugging and entering the inn. His eyes scanned around at the people, stopping at Sakura he smiled. "Thanks for healing me, both with the vial and your magic." He knew his thanks might tick her off but he didn't care. "Oh, yeah,your welcome to hear a story on how I became like I am now, your welcome to listen." He sat at a table and waited for the others to come.

* * *

Moryssa looked through Zatch's books only finding minimum information. "I wish I had some of my books too. That would make this easier." She turned through the pages of one of the large books. She went through a chapter about magical swords. She almost had given up when she noticed a rough diagram of Toan's sword.

"I think I've found something! The book says there were three swords. One of jade, one of sapphire and one of ruby. They are suppose to increase the wielders powers considerably. But it doesn't say at what cost."

She flipped through a few more pages and sighed. The book just left it at that. "Zatch? Did you sense the presence of other spirits around Toan and this sword? I don't sense anything evil about it, but..." She looked at the sword again. She could sense Toan's presence there, but he was standing outside of the inn. What's going on here? Unless... "I think I understand something. This sword must have a energy source, but It's not from the sword itself. Which means that maybe Toan is supplying it with power." She looked at Zatch to see if he agreed or had any other theories on the subject.

"As a human I have no connection with spirits, so I'd have no idea if either were possesed by one." He said as he tossed aside his copy of The Philosophy of Myrii. It was worth a shot. "But I think you're right about the external power source. The sword may not be evil at all, just, well, hungry. He told me he didn't know much about it except it might be Kastullian which I think it is," flipping through a third edition of The Rise and Fall of Kastuul as he spoke. "Many artifacts are simply tools rather than impliments with any sort of alignment. This happens to be a very powerful tool, no offense but your brother seems very quick to fight, and the destuctive effect of this sword may be a result of him not knowing how to use it properly. It'll take me a while to figure out who forged these swords and why. By the way, I'm sorry I left when I did. It's just that it looked like Toan was only trying to intimidate Kiran, and I despise fighting for no true reason. Nonetheless I was the first one here to see that sword in action, up close and personal. I should have known it would escalate to a battle where lives were in danger."

"That's just it. Toan was never quick to fight. Before he found this sword, he wouldn't even fight back unless it was a last resort. But now, now he's starting fights. And I agree with you. This is definately a tool, but for who? And for what? But it's okay, whatever you did had to have been important." She flipped through a book called Ancient Tomes and Relics. "I don't think he's posessed. When he unleashed the powers of the sword, they seemed to merge, almost. That's why I didn't want the sword destroyed. If he has some part of it..."

She was looking through the index of the book and found what she was looking for. "Great Myrii I've got it!" She pointed at a small paragraph. "This talks about power sources. Let's see, courage, love, virtue, blood, mana {Ha !! Useless human magic!} , soul. All of these can be used to charge an item. I'd bet my wealth on the last one. That would explain why I could sense other spirits. If others have used the sword before, then they probably left a remnant of their souls. And Toan using it must have merged with those remnants too. That's why he's acting so out of character." Toan, you sweet fool. Your quest for destiny may be your downfall.

* * *

Sakura gave an annoyed squeak and turned her head. She pretended to be caring for the injured but she was truly interested in what Fenix had to say. I hope this is good. Wasting my potions like that! The next vile of anything I give him will be poison.

Toan walked inside with the others. He had a deep feeling of empiness in his heart. Like he was incomplete. Glancing over to where Moryssa and Zatch sat, he suddenly felt better.

Ariakan walked over to the table and took a seat. "Your story would interest me, then if you would allow me to entreat you I will tell you about me."

Kiran sat at a table in the bar with his head in his hands. He was ashamed of the fight, but Toan needed to fought. And his sister's honor had to be defended. At least it was only the sword that caused a problem. Kiran wouldn't dare touch the blade now. Something like that always happened when he was near some chaotic influence.

* * *

Mercurial looked around at the gathering of the others. Too many outsiders for them to know PRECISELY what Solitaire had done. "Sure he does. And I'll tell you about it." he mouthed later at Norya, and made a small hand gesture, indicating the others, the outsiders.

Kitain met Parn on the stairs. "I heard. It's odd, that she should want to speak to me as opposed to either of you. After all, she's known you two longer." He went over to sit by deedlit, but made no other sound, determined not to make a noise, unless he was asked.

Deedlit pulled away from Seri and Seri looked up at Kitain. She smiled through her tears slightly. "I heard you in my dreams. I'm sorry to all of you...but I feel empty," she said as she wiped away her tears. "Deed, what happened after I passed out?" Deedlit solemnly told the story. "It was...me?" Seri replied nearly crying.

"No, it was just bad luck I guess. Perhaps it was meant to happen this way." Deedlit tried to assure her, but Seri only started to cry again. Deedlit hugged Seri again and looked up at Kitain.

"I think she may need some time to recover. This is a hard blow to an elf," Deedlit said to Kitain as she held onto the other high elf.

Parn looked to Kitain. "I do not know, but if we are all to win this war we must set aside this infighting and work together."

Seri looked up at Parn and Kitain. "Fighting? What happened? Was that what I heard?" she fell back in bed. "And those people are supposed to be saving Lodoss. Was Mia involved?"

Parn looked to Seri and shook his head. "There was a scuffle and some feathers got ruffled, nothing big. I don't know if Mia was involved, but it seems there are very few of us whose nerves are not frayed from what we've been through. Could someone go check on Ariakan as he has not been seen in a while and everybody should be around here ready for anything." He replied with as a voice came from behind him. "This petty squabbling does not concern us so why should it concern you, and I can take care of myself..."

"Work...together. An interesting concept. If you ever meet King Etoh or King Kashue, especially King Kashue, in the near future. Mention the black demons who appear and disappear at will, and sure he'll have something to say about working together. I'm not against you in this. but I have to fulfil a promise first. A promise to some sort of sorcerer who knows my name." He looked up at the other voice. "And...what do you want?"

The voice replied. "I just want to see order restored to the land, that is all. I joined this fight intending on seeing it to the end..." Ariakan replied coldly, giving him a glance at the dark elf in the shadows before slipping back into concealment. "I have been known to incinerate entire units of soldiers..."