Sevrina rose sometime after dawn. Blade still slept in the bed next to hers. She had half hoped that Gale would show up in her room over night, but no such luck. Where had that wolf gone? Sevrina sighed as she climbed out of bed, clad in a short shift that barely reached her thighs. She stood and stretched, then sat on Blade's bedside. "Mornin' handsome," she said and kissed the swordsman's cheek.

"Hmm?" Blade yawned loudly and threw out his arms in a long stretch. "Morning?... Already?" Blade shook his hair out and scratched his head. "Sevrina? Where's Cray?" He looked around. "Or that fuzzy guy... Gale? Who cares.. five more minutes." Blade wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into bed with him and promptly falls back asleep.

Sevrina chuckled at Blade and let him pull her down. There was something different in the way she felt about him than other men. It wasn't quite love or lust, but was an affection somewhere between a plantonic friendship and an intimate one. Though, knowing Sevrina, that still wouldn't stop her from sharing his bed if the mood struck her. She smiled and kissed his forehead. "I'm sorry, but I have errands to do," she said and rumpled his already messy hair. Pulling out of his arms, she let him rest while she dressed.

She had her sword on her hip and not so many daggers as usual hidden about her body. Shutting the door quietly, she headed to the common room for breakfast.

Blade was behind her by a good five minutes. He came padding down the stairs with hsi hair still the way she had left it. He gave her the most sheepish look. "Breakfast?" Before slumping down onto a chair next to her. "I couldn't get back to sleep."

Sevrina laughed this time. "Well, you can accompany me through the city today if you want," she said and sipped the tea that had been brought to her. "I need to find a certain armor smithy. I have a few peices waiting for me. And I might find myself a bow as well," she explained. "I'm not looking for Gale though," she added and took another sip. "If the man wants to run from me, he can run all he wants," she muttered into her cup coldly.

One of the maids came to the table with a cup of tea for Blade and to ask if he wanted breakfast. Eggs, ham, biscuits and sausauge this morning.

"Just tea thanks." Blade took a sip and slumped down onto the table, crossing his arms to act as a pillow. He spoke during a yawn. "Well I can't let a fair maiden running around town all by herself." Blade finished the yawn and snickered. Sevrina would be safer by herself in the city than he would, but with Gale and Cray gone there wasn't much to be doing. "I think the Mr. Fuzzums needs to stretch his legs like Cray."

Zatch woke up that morning surprised to see that Kai had never returned, he possible got drunk and fell asleep outside a Tavern, Zatch had hoped not as he knew few thieves would resist the opportunity to rob a person in his sleep. Just as Zatch was getting dressed he felt a strange feeling surge through him, something he was able to sense burned at him like fire and he fell to the floor. When he came to the presence was gone and as far as he could tell from looking at the sun out the window that he was out for only a few minutes. What was that? he thought to himself and then decided if he had a chance he would do some research at the Rada Academy not far from Raiden. When he came down he immediatly noticed Sevrina and someone else he'd never seen before, a wonderer if he had to guess. He then sat down at another table and ordered some tea, hoping Kitsa might come down and have breakfast with him.

* * *

First light hit Kai but he had already been awake for several minutes, laying in a bed next to Celia Kar at a different inn. Since returning to Kannon after Marmo he'd been anticipating the rondevous. After Ethan returned to Blade he told her that Kai had no intention of coming home, so she left on her own, refusing to let things stand she knew that none of them would be at peace until she could at least talk to him. So she sent a message telling Kai that she would be waiting him in Raiden. That was her intention, but neither did much talking the night before.

The morning light gently woke Celia to find herself in Kai's arms as he stroked her red hair.

"Morning." she said smiling.

* * *

Sevrina laughed softly at Blade. "So, would you like a new piece of armor or a weapon? I can afford it," she offered. After nearly 200 year as an assassin, she had money to spare and plenty of hiding places for it. She didn't have a problem buying things for her friends--which was rare--and she welcomed the chance rid herself of some of it.

She heard Zatch coming downstairs and only listened to his movements, not sparing him a glance. The young man had always a strange aura about him, something dark that she had never felt from anyone else before. But whatever it was posed no immediate threat to her, so it didn't matter. She finished her tea and wondered distantly where that knight was.

Kitsa came downstairs stretching. She was hoping to see that man, Zatch, that she had talked to the night before. She was actually anxious to tell him about her home. At the bottom of the stairs, she glanced around the common room, noting the three patrons including Zatch. The woman at the table across the room from Zatch caught her attention though. She could only see her long elven ears poking out from long silver hair, but she still gaped. She'd never seen a full-blooded elf, and she was certian this woman was full-blooded since her ears were longer than her father's.

Kitsa shut her mouth and walked over to Zatch's table, glancing over her shoulder at the elf several times. Taking the chair next to him, she still looked over at the elf's back. "Is...she...a full elf?" Kitsa asked Zatch shyly. He should know if he was a Lodoss native.

"Her?" Zatch said looking to see that Kitsa chanted towards Sevrina. "Yes I'm pretty sure she's a full dark elf." Zatch then noticing for the first time the small yet distinct points to her ears. She definately had some elven blood in her, although it was obviously out weighed by the human part of her lineage. "So what brings you to Lodoss?"

"Yes she is. A full blooded dark elf." A voice whispered in her ear like a spring breeze. A man dressed in white walked past her and approached the dark elf and the blonde man. He laned down ont he table and looked down at Blade's eyes. "You're not human... what are you?"

Blade glanced up from Sevrina and grinned. "I'm a Blade."

The stranger smiled softly. "You have a gentle wind around you... very strange... You were touched by destiney... like the woman here and the two behind me..."

"Nice to meetcha." Blade kept grinning and dropped his voice to a whisper. "Wind Sword."

The white haired man replied, "You too Stranger."

Breakfast had been brought and Sevrina ate quickly for Blade's sake. She wouldn't want to sit around while someone ate in front of her after all. A young man entered the inn, graceful in his movements, mysterious as well. Handsome, with white hair and a youthful face; she noted every detail of him out of the corner of her eye. Her ears picked up the sounds of his warm voice.

She could still hear the whispers between Blade and this stranger. I'm A blade? she thought at Blade's response, not showing any outward interest. And Wind Sword? there was some secret between them that she wasn't supposed to be in on. At the mention of destiny, she glanced back at Zatch and the new woman. Dark of hair and skin and with red clothes of strange fashion, she was obviously an outlander. This male stranger looked like one too. Sevrina finished her breakfast quickly and looked at Blade. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes were considering.

Kitsa heard the response from both Zatch and the white-haired man. "I see..." she replied absently. What was a DARK elf? she thought. Her father never told her much of elves besides shamanist magic. The white-haired man was at the other table and Kitsa returned her attention to Zatch. "I came because I was curious. My father was from Lodoss," she replied. "He died about a year ago."

Jinn smiled softly and pulled away. "I'll be around." With that he was gone. Leaving only a warm breeze in his wake.

Blade leaned back in his chair and yawned. "Anyway... I'm ok though. I've been travelling with all I need." He rolled his head towards her. "Well..." he observed she was done eating. "Shall we?"

Zatch looked with curiosity to the white haired stranger, but soon returned his attention to Kitsa. "I'm sorry," Zatch replied "Only a few weeks ago I found out my father was dead as well, although I have to admit that no one truly misses him."

Zatch took a sip of his tea and quickly realized he should explain. "He was a Kardis priest, he brought pain and suffering to many people."

To Kitsa, Kardis was barely more than a fable, she'd never met a follower of the Dark Gods. "Well, I don't feel to bad for my father. He was 538 when he died. He lived a long life with many adventures. It was his time to rest," she replied. It didn't hurt her to talk about it, she still missed him at times, but, like she said, it was his time to rest. "I don't really know where to start here in Lodoss," she admitted. "All I have is a map, but I need a guide. I came here to find adventure, to get off that forsaken island." Her question was obvious, whether she spoke it or not.

From the floor above, a large, loud creaking started in the boards. Then the sound began to move. It was as if some large creature was moving around. When it got to the stairs, it stopped for a moment, then proceeded down. About half way, it stopped. There was a small ruckus on the stair, followed by, "Confound it! why don't they make stairs to fit normal folks! INNKEEPER IT'S HAPPENED AGAIN! I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA FIX THIS!"

Sevrina stopped in midstride and glanced up to the stairs. From where she stood near the door, she had to bend down to look up the stairs. A rather large dwarf was stuck halfway down the stairs by his own gut. The dark elf woman just chuckled and turned out the door. "Dwarves," she murmured and rolled her eyes. "Come on Blade."

"Yes boss." Blade gave her a quick salute and padded after her grinning.

"Adventure? Well, my brother and I are here waiting for some people and..." Just then a loud crash was heard nearby and Zatch saw a Dwarf slowly but surly pry himself from the set of stair he recently impaled.

Kitsa's face lit up when she started to understand what Zatch said, however, he was interrupted by noise from the stairs. Looking at the short and large man, Kitsa's eyes widened. She turned to Zatch and whispered, "What's he?"

After a second, there came a loud SNAP! from the stairs. "NEVERMIND! I GOT IT" He said as he steped down the last of the stairs. He simply walked out the door, a slight blushing on he cheeks. As he passed, bits of railing could be seen, wedged into the sides of his girth. The inkeeper came dashing in a second later. "That dwarf!" he sighed. "The repairs alone will ruin me." He looked at the stairs, shook his head, and went back into the kitchen.

"Him? Wow you really aren't from around here." Zatch replied. "He's a Dwarf, very strong and tough. Most of them live and mine in caves throughout Lodoss. They're also natural rivals to Elves."

Kitsa chuckled a little. "All I've seen is humans and a grassrunner or two, and one half-elf in my life on the island." She watched the dwarf intently. "I have many things to learn about this place..." she said softly.

Zatch smiled and then remembered what he was telling her before. "As I was saying, My brother and I are waiting for some people...That is if they haven't been through here already. As you or may not know the dead have begun to rise and have been feeding on the living, likely due to the dark cloud that hangs over the land, I guess if nothing else you won't ge bored on this island. We believe it has something to do with a man named Cray, either..."

Zatch stopped to pull out a rag from his pocket and began caughing violently, after a few seconds he stopped and put the rag back, making sure not to let Kitsa see the blood stains. "Excuse me. Either Cray is the source or simply an opportunist using the situation for his own gain. We all have our own reasons, but for the most part our goal is to put a stop to it. I was only with them for a short time, but when I was they had just suffered a rather painful defeat, I'm certain any assistance you could offer would be welcome in exchange for guidance through Lodoss."

The dwarf stopped short at the door when Zatch spoke, a look of surprise on his face. He turned to him and stepped closer to the table. "Excuse me, But I couldn't help but hear the name 'Cray'. Do you also know any of his companions? I fought with them once, and was impressed by them."

Zatch looked to the Dwarf, wondering if he meant that he fought against them or alongside them. Likely the former, but Zatch still remained cautious. "Personally no, I've heard there are others like him, but I've never encountered them. As a matter of fact I've never seen Cray either, I guess I tend to call him the faceless devil for such a reason."

"I am Zatch of Marmo, this is Kitsa of Azarn. What may I ask do they call you?"

The warmth of the inn rose when a hooded figure in black entered into the room. The hood was pulled low down over hsi face, covering a white mask underneath in shadow. The figure approached the front desk and then to the bulliten board. Carefully he placed a notice at eye level hiding others of lesser consequence.

It read:
"All those touched by fate. A storm comes of chaos. Hide in your homes and be weary of the skies. A storm comes. The Flame speaks."

However that was for commoners. To those touched by fate it had a more dire message:
"The Skylord Vesper is in Raiden. Watch the skies for his minions. ~Cray"

"Me? I'm known as Dralock. The incident I speek of was a chance meeting. I only know of Cray because He erupted into a dragon. We were battleing some undead fiends at the time. Even after that, he wasn't pleasant to be around. I'm not surprised he'd be causing trouble. He seemed the type. I prefered his companions at that time, myself. Oh, may I join you?"

Zatch simply motioned for Dralock to sit down. "And where was this?" He asked.

Kitsa watched Dralock with wide eyes, he was the first dwarf she'd ever seen. He and Zatch talked about people they'd known. Someone else caught her eye though. A dark-cloaked man came in and pinned a note on the board, then left.

She glanced after him and rose from her seat to read the message. "Why do people keep saying 'touched by fate' around here?" she murmured. "Zatch? Come read this. I don't understand it that well."

"All those touched by fate. A storm comes of chaos. Hide in your homes and be wary of the skies. A storm comes. The Flame speaks."

Dralock gingerly sat into a chair, and watched the cloaked figure out of the corner of his eye. "The last time I saw any of them, was at the temple to Marfa in Shuva. I recall waking up after the battle magicaly tethered to a powerful mage. We won the fight, though I don't know how, and they took me to the temple. I'm just glad I wasn't left on the road for the dead." He wached Kista step over to the bulliten board, assessing her as she walked. An offlander, huh? he thought to himself. Never seen a dwarf. this is a first.

Shuva... Zatch repeated to himself, barely recalling that he'd been there once. He then turned his attention to Kitsa at her words and got up to read the posting she refered to. Zatch thought carefuly at the words, it sounded like a prophecy but none he had ever heard of. "Could be a omen of sorts, or the rantings of a lunatic," he replied.

A storm comes of chaos, That was what stuck with Zatch the most. If it was a sign of things to come then did whomever put it up intended it as a warning...or a threat? "Kitsa, did you see who put it up?"

Dralock eyed the notice from his seat. "Nothing good will come of this, that's for sure."

Kitsa nodded. "Yes, but I couldn't see much," she replied. "He was covered head to toe in a black cloak. Do you know what it means?"

* * *

Sevrina led Blade through town, trying to find the armorer Moryssa had sent the requests to so many months ago. Sevrina didn't like armor and she never really needed it. Though, a pair of bracers and maybe some shin guards wouldn't be so bad.

She knew Raiden pretty well, and with the help of a few passersby, she got the directions to the smithy.

Inside the forepart of building, the ceiling was high and the floor behind the counter put the dwarf up to eye level with their non-dwarf customers. A dwarven woman was behind the counter, Sevrina had to do a double take when she first saw her. With the beard, she had assumed the woman was a man, but her face was feminine and she wore women's clothes. Sevrina had a hard time with dwarven woman and their beards, it was just...unnatural.

"There was an order for armor sent to you a few months ago from Moryssa. I was one of the people on her list." Sevrina said to the woman. The dwarf eyed her up and down, with a little distaste on her face.

She rumaged through some drawers on her side of the counter and produced a smudged paper. "Name?" she asked.

"Sevrina," she replied.

"We didn't make much of what was requested, we're backlogged with local orders. Besides, there were no specifics asked, just measurements. What do you need?"

"I don't need much, just a pair of bracers and shin guards. I can pay." Sevrina replied.

"All right, I'll see what we can do." The woman shoved the letter back in the drawer and headed to the forge to relay the message.

Granite was putting the finishing touches on a bracelet she had made while she walked to the front of the store. There were already two people waiting, a dark elf and human. They looked like adventurers. Granite placed the bracelet on a shelf for when her customer came to pick it up, and sat on a stool behind the counter. She wished she could go on an adventure. Life was so dull working in one place. "So, where are you from?" she asked the pair.

Sevrina was studying a finely crafted breastplate when Granite came in. She watched the young dwarf woman out of the corner of her eye, then returned her attention to the breastplate. She'd never wear anything like that, but she couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship. "Nowhere," she replied distantly to dwarf.

"Nice." Blade admired from over her shoulder. He had miandered through the entire place and finally came to rest next to Sevrina. he spoke ina lower tone. "I wonder if I can peirce it...?"

Granite crossed her arms under her breasts and "hmph"ed. Some adventuring heroes they were.

Her mother returned and addressed the the woman. "Lady Sevrina, we're working on your request now. Come back in three hours, they should be done."

Granite so badly wanted to get out of her house and the shop today. Maybe the excuse to make a delivery would work. The woman who ordered the bracelet was staying at an inn. Granite scurried to get her purse and mace. When she came back to the front of the shop, she grabbed the bracelet off it's shelf. "Got a delivery to make, see you later tonight," she called to her mother and was out the door before anything could have been said.

Sevrina nodded and placed a few gold coins on the counter. "Lets go Blade, there's a weapons shop I need to go to." She turned out the door and led Blade through town. 

* * *

They ended up on the so-called rough side of town where Sevrina's weapon shop was. She'd come here before, it was run by a dark elf and sometimes there were elven steel weapons for sale--usually for a considerable amount of raiden pieces.

The elf grinned as she walked in. Like most elves, he could be considered handsome, except for a vicious scar than ran from his scalp to chin, took out an eye and twisted the corner of his mouth. "Long time no see Miaran," he greeted Sevrina with a hungry look obvious on his scarred face. "What can I do for you my love?" Zeric had convinced himself he was in love with "Miaran" ever since she first came in. When they first met, he'd made the mistake of trying to grope her rear. For that, she took his eye. He learned his lesson well, but he couldn't help to admire her, if it was only from a distance.

{Oh, I just need a few toys,} she replied with a smirk. {What've you got for me?}

Zeric's grin grew even wider. {Ahh, for you, anything. Come with me.} He stood from his chair and set the sword he was polishing on the floor. He spared Blade an evil glare with his one eye, but that was the worst he would dare to do. He led them into another room decorated with all sorts of weapons, some so cruel, they were illegal in some places. Sevrina went to the bows first and browsed through the selection. She found a small horn bow that would be easy to carry.

Blade didn't understand a word of it all. He caught the man glaring at him but wasn't sure why. Blade idly looked over at each weapon as he went along. Running his finger along the blades. Blade was genuinely amused by the variety of weapons here, although he held little interest in them, especially the bows. He wandered his way to Sevrina and stared over her shoulder. "What's that?"

Sevrina held up the bow she selected. "It's a good bow for someone in my line of work," she said as she held up the small bow. She stashed it under her arm and choose a quiver few arrows of different types for it. Moving on, she saw something else that caught her eye.

Zeric stood next to a pair of steel claws with his usual oily grin. Three seven inch claws with a steel bar to grip gave Sevrina some nasty ideas. She grinned broader and he took them off the shelf, without having to ask, and offered them to her. Griping the bar that seemed to fit her slender hands perfectly, she slashed a few times and found them wonderfully light; elven made.

"Well, I think I found what I wanted," she said and pulled out her purse. She bought her weapons, as well as a case for the bow and sheathes for the claws. It was an expensive purchase, and Zeric wouldn't lower his prices, even for her. Money was no issue to Sevrina though, and she was very pleased with what she left with.

"Nice bow." Blade commented idly and nearly ran into a cloaked figure. The light bump knocked his hood back to reveal a white mask. "Cray." Blade smiled. "Morning."

Cray didn't bother to respond and looked towards Sevrina. "Vesper's winds are near. He'll strike soon I think."

Sevrina easily concealed her surprise. Blade was utterly ignored, Cray only seemed to notice Sevrina. Her ruby eyes met his one dark uncovered eye, she couldn't help but wish he didn't hide behind it. Despite a few burn scars, he had a handsome face. She shook off the memory of their night together.

"I will be ready," she replied. "I can only hope the rest are. Raiden is no easy meat like Roid or Blade. There are many sorcerors, shamans, priests of Light and Dark and more. Perhaps my old companions will return. Gale said they were all eventually gathering here."

"Perhaps they will be in time for this encounter." Cray looked up at the sky. "He will be coming... soon."

Sevrina nodded slowly. "I will be ready," she said softly to Cray. She then turned around to Blade and planted her fists on her hips. "Come on Blade, I'm getting you a horse for when we leave. Seana isn't carrying the both of use across Lodoss." With that said, she headed off in the direction of the horse markets.

* * *

"No idea" Zatch replied "If there's time I might be able to do some research on it, for all I know it's just a bad poem. But there's something about it that seems...." He then turned to Kitsa with a weak smile "At any rate, what say you about my offer?"

Kitsa smiled at him, seemlying forgetting the message. "I'd love to!" she replied enthusiasticly. "But tell me, what's going on here? Ever since I sailed in, the sun hasn't shone. Why are there such dark clouds, or is it always like this?"

"No, the sky han't always been this way. I myself am just about to set out to investgate. If it's all right with you, I would like to join you. It's not safe to travel without a good sized group anymore." The dwarf pulled out a small pipe, and lit it with a couple of puffs. He then began to blow smoke-rings across the room.

Zatch smiled at Kitsa's reply the looked to Dralock. "It never hurts to have swome extra muscle around. I guess it's settled then, all we do now is wait for the others. I just hope they haven't passed through here yet."

Kitsa smiled, she'd been lucky to find Zatch, otherwise she'd be lost. "The others? How many?" she asked. She sat down back at the table and managed to forget the letter.

Zatch paused in thought for a moment. He recalled being surprised at the sheer diversity of the group, races that he thought couldn't refrain from killing eachother, much less travel in company with. "I'm not sure, most of them I hadn't even spoken to but I'd say there were at least a dozen before I parted ways with them."

"Really?" Kitsa replied. She'd partially been hoping to be in a very small group, but another part of her was anxious to see other races. "What kinds of people? Will there be more dwarves and Dark Elves? I'd love to meet a light elf. My father told me once about people who were half-human and half...oh what are they called...back home we call them 'taki'. Oh! Father called them ponies...I think that's the right word. Do you ride them here? At home they're too small to ride.
Father said they're bigger here." Kitsa was rambling with all her questions, Zatch probably couldn't keep up.

Dralock's eyes widened and a HUGE smile formed on his lips. Then he burst out laughing. The chair he was on made a loud "creak", and shattered beneath him. When he was able to breath again, he looked up at Kitsa. "I think I must be hearing things. I thought I heared you say that ponies were half human." His wide grin was not getting any smaller.

She tried not to laugh at the broken chair and huge dwarf sitting in the middle of it, but she couldn't help it. At least it only came out as a giggle. Kitsa then planted her fists on her hips and replied to Dralock. "Well sorry! But my father told me that there was a race of half-human and half-pony creatures," she was almost certain it was ponies they were talking about, but she wasn't totally sure. Maybe it was another word...."Are there?" she looked at both men, anxious for an answer.

"I think you're referring to centaurs, although I've never seen one myself." Zatch replied. "And I don't believe there are any among the group, but there are several elves, dark elves, and even a werewolf....To name a few. You won't be dissapointed when you see them, I promise."

Kitsa pondered. "Cen...centaurs, yes! That was the word!" She looked at Zatch with her eyes bright and golden, full of curiousity. "I would love to meet some more elves. I've never heard of 'werewolf's." Her eyes had a distant look in them as she considered what a centaur or a werewolf looked like. At least she knew what a wolf was.

Dralock stood up, brushing off the bits of chair. "Ah, yes, Centaurs. They are half horse, and as for werewolves, they're men that can become a half-man/half-wolf beast. They're very strong and fast, with a savage and deadly style of attack you don't want to see twice."

Horse! That was the right word, oh I probably made a fool of myself! Kitsa thought. "I guess I wouldn't want to meet a were-wolf then," she replied to Dralock. "But I would still like to meet a centaur."

"Zatch, is that dark elf one of your friends?" she was curious. The elf seemed intriguing.

Granite strode in to the inn with the boxed bracelet. Inside were three people, two looked like humans, and the other a dwarf. A bit too large for her tastes, but she gave him a bright smile through her beard.

The innkeeper gave her an odd look when he first turned to see her, but it passed. Humans always did that to her. Maybe it was her bright blue eyes, her father always said any man could fall in love with her eyes. "I'm looking for a lady Melina, I have something for her," she said.

"Room five," the innkeeper replied and gave her directions. She then hurried up the stairs with an unexpected grace. The railing was smashed somewhere in the middle, but the mess was cleaned up. Melina wasn't in her room, so Granite left the box and a note at the base of the door and went back downstairs.

Kitsa first saw the new dwarf out of the corner of her eye. All she saw was a short individual with a black beard and hair. Though, being as curious as she was, she did a double take.

She assumed it was a man by the beard, but that was obviously a dress "he" was wearing, in pink and green. The she realized those had to be actual breasts under the pink bodice. And those eyes! Most definately feminine. Kitsa's jaw dropped. "....Zatch?" she asked in a whisper and looked at the young man, "Is....that a woman?"

Kitsa shook her head. "That is just....odd..." she muttered so Dralock wouldn't hear. Perhaps she was yet to see stranger things, but she didn't know what could beat a bearded woman.

Dralock gave a glance to the person who had just entered, and ended with a double take. As he watched her walk through the room, he began to blush. It's been a while since I've seen a woman of my kind, especially one that pretty, he thought to himself. He then turned to the others, "Ah, yes well, was this the inn you were to meet at? If so, just ask the inkeeper. He should know if they've been through yet." He had apperently missed what Kitsa had said.

When Granite returned downstairs, she found the two scrawny looking humans staring at her; the female of which seemed to have a confused look on her face. Granite realized she was staring at her beard and the dwarf's cheeks reddened in anger. She returned the woman's stare with a harsh glare of her own.

Instead of starting a fight however, she looked over at the one person in the room who seemed to appreciate her looks. With a coy smirk, fluttering of her eyelashes, and a sway to her walk, she made her way over to Dralok to say hello. He was obviously blushing, she could see over his beard, she intended to see how deep she could make it.

Zatch's face reddened when the female dwarf scowled in their direction.

"They haven't been through here." said a voice from behind them. It was Kai who had slipped in while the others were talking. "The groups that is. I've spoken to the innkeeper here and from just about every Inn the city has. None of them have seen a large and diverse group. It looks like we beat them here."

Zatch became perplexed at this since he and Kai must have been a good wee behind the others. He was also surprised to see that Kai looked different somehow, a little more....serious. "If that's true then they must have been held up somehow" said Zatch

It was then that Kai noticed a dwarf in their company, and a female dwarf headed their way. "I see we've picked up more strays. I am Kai of Flaim."

As the dwarven woman stepped closer, Dralock felt his knees weaken, though it didn't show. Being young for a dwarf, he was still nervous around women, eapesily the pretty ones. He decided the best way do deal with being nervous was to focus on something else. It proved much more dificult than he had thought. "Well, I see there is more to you group already," he waved toward Kai, "I am Dralock. Who m-might you b-be?", his voice began to quiver as Granite came near.

Granite's smile seemed to get sweeter and her blue eyes glittered. She pulled herself up into the seat beside Dralock--it was a little low for a dwarf--and rested her elbows on the table with her black-bearded chin in her hands. "It's nice to meet you Dralock, I'm Granite," she replied with a smooth, deep, yet very feminine voice.

Dralock, who was still standing in the middle of the shattered chair, turned to Granite, and almost fainted. "Oh, ah, it's a p-plesure to, um, make the, ah", he swallowed hard, "the aquaintance of s-such a lovely lady, er, s-such as your self." His head swimming, he unconciously took a step back, and steadied himself.

Kitsa stared at Dralock and Granite. "That is just...too strange..." she murmurmed to herself. Bearded women, now THAT was new. Hopefully some of the other new things were more attractive. She shook her head to rid herself of that train of thought.

Zatch's brother was back, that handsome knight with the blonde hair. She'd rarely seen blonde hair in her life. Her father had blonde hair, so did a few sailors, but in her village, most people were dark like her. He hadn't talked to her much, it seemed like something else had been on his mind last night when they met. But she smiled at Kai and said good morning anyway.

Kitsa laid her head down on the table and sighed. "I don't know how much longer I can afford to pay for a room. Things are much more expensive here than back home."

Kai bellowed in a short laugh from his seat accross the table. "Is that why you're so troubled girl? That won't be an issue, believe me."

Granite giggled and her blue eyes sparkled. "Thank you Dralock," she replied. She was curious about these people, they seemed like they had seen a little of the world. "So where are you from?" she asked Dralock. It was a little fun to see his reaction, but now she hoped he could get ahold of his wits so she could have a serious conversation.

Though he was still blushing a deep red, Dralock seemed to regain some control. "I travel around, m-mostly," he said. "Just looking for some adventure. And I n-needed to get away from my father for a while." Again he swallowed hard, though easier this time. "I ran into an interesting fellow a while back, and i-it seems these folks are friends of his. Can't recall his name, though I'll never forget his face. W-What about you?" Even as he looked at her, he realised that it might be an idea to loose some weight. It might improve my fighting ability. was the excuse he gave himself, though he didn't realy believe it.

Granite listened intently, slowly nodding as she did. "I'd really like to go on an adventure myself," she replied. "I'm tired of sitting around the forge. I mean, I like the work I do, but I want to see some of the world. With every that's happening, it just makes me more curious. Are the undead still wandering Lodoss? I hear traveler's tales, but since that dark day, every dead body found has been cremated."

Dralock had a sheepish grin on his lips. "Last I knew the undead here still causing trouble for the living, though I hope it ends soon. It would be nice to be able to finally put Deathblight into permanent retirement." He patted the axe on his back tenderly and for a moment, he seamed to be far away. Then, as quickly as he seamed to leave into memory, he was back where he was. "At any rate, this old hacker," he pointed at the axe, "has some fight in it yet. And it's been very good to me as of late, with the dead wanderin' around and all. Oh, dear me, I've been talking of my self, and not even given you the chance to speek. I apologize ma'am. What do you do to keep buisy in this fine city?"

Granite wished he would have gone more in depth with his stories. Like many dwarves, she loved to hear stories of brave heroes and their deeds in battle. "Oh, me? I make jewelry," Granite smiled and showed him the gold and rose-quartz bracelets on her chubby wrists. "I made these and this necklace," she picked the matching necklace off her chest to show it off. "My father is a blacksmith, so metal working is what I grew up with. I just took it to a different medium. I even make some money off of it."

* * *

Sevrina and Blade returned, the dark elf with one arm slung onto Blade's shoulders. They were nearly the same height, so it wasn't too far to reach. There was that perpetual smirk on her perfect lips as she scanned the room. She and Blade had returned from her errands. She wore her new armor and carried the new weapons. The white stallion she had bought for Blade was in the inn's stable. Taking a seat at the same table Kitsa, Zatch and Kai were at, she motioned for a barmaid to bring drinks. When the maid was out of hearing, she leaned forward to talk to the brothers. "I thought you may like to know, we've spoken to Cray recently," she said, then waited for a reaction.

Blade crossed his arms on the table and used it as a pillow, yawning widely. "He said stuff about the Skylord." Blade stifled another yawn. "Svrina... you were paying attention."

Both Kai and Zatch fell silent for a moment, Kai remained serene with the knowlege, in fact he considered it lucky that he wouldn't have the trouble of tracking him down. Zatch on the other hand didn't take the news so well, his eyes cast downward and gripped the edge of the table until his knuckles were white.

"Cray? Heh, well I don't suppose you're here to offer a compelling reason for me not to kill him." said Kai.

Zatch's nails dug into the wood of the table as he focused to keep his anger in check, he then spoke without waiting for a reply to Kai's question. "Madam......I pray you to answer me truthfully." Zatch said and then made eye contact with Sevrina. "Is Cray responsible for the dead rising?"

Sevrina chuckled and ruffled Blade's hair playfully. She then turned to look at the brothers with a unreadable face. She turned her ruby eyes away from Zatch's penetrating gaze to reply Kai, who spoke first. "Because, good sir knight," she added with a hint of mocking in her musical voice. "Cray may be the key in defeating an equally dangerous villain."

Then, she coolly turned her head to reply to the seething Zatch. "Cray is not the cause of the undead, nor are any of the Chaos Generals," she answered. Neither of them would know who the Chaos Generals were, they were not in Blade. The word of the city's destruction may have reached them, but it would be nothing but exaggerated tales. Commerce was slow these days, however.

"It seems I have much to teach you boys," she leaned back in her chair and her smirk returned. "Before you ask, Cray does not know the cause of the undead either. It seems Lodoss is being assualted by two different dark forces. At least two. It feels as if the evils of the world have been released," her eyes dropped to stare at the table top as she considered what she was saying. Her eyes lifted again, "Have either of you heard of what's become of Blade?" she asked, then looked down at the man drifting to sleep beside her. "The city, that is," she added.

Deciding to believe her, Zatch forced himself to calm down adn began pondering. It seemed that what Fenix said was true, he was holding contempt for the wrong man. Still, were the time to come Zatch couldn't imagine trusting someone who would attack and destroy an ancient tree.

Now it was Kai's turn to be serious, Blade was once his homeland, it was there he left everything behind. Roid had already been attacked, it was hardly unreasonable to believe the same of Blade. "No, no I don't." he said calmly.

Kitsa wasn't sure what to make of this dark elf who barged into their conversation. They were talking about things she had no idea about. She truely felt like an outsider now, but she listened closely, anxious to learn more.

Once again the white haired stranger sat at the table next to Kitsa. "Blade is a major city here." Jinn whispered at an audible level just to reach Kitsa. His voice was to her but his eyes remained on Blade. "Capital of Flaim the desert kingdom. Shattered by a Chaos General."

"Yep." Blade lazily agreed to an explanation he shouldn't have been able to hear. "What he said."

Kitsa jumped when Jinn spoke again. He seemed to show up very unexpectedly. Kitsa nodded as she understood what he told her. His voice had a distantly familiar accent. One she had heard from sailors back home. Of course, she had no idea where he was from.

"Is there anything else you need to know?" Jinn smiled, reflecting on his own experiance when he had first come here. "I had to learn everything first-hand as a foreigner."

"Well, then, this isn't happy news," she replied. "Blade was destroyed by the Geomancer Chaos General, Xion. Blade and I were too late, the city had been reduced to a muddy rubble when we arrived."

Her drink was brought and she causually sipped on it. "Well, the surrounding cities are packed with refugees. I wouldn't be surprised if Raiden is starting to fill up. We arrived here early, thanks to Gale and Seana's speed."

As Dralock listened to Granite speek, he felt lost in a dream. By the gods, he thought, she's not attached, and wants to travel! She is a gem more precious than the jewelry she makes. He made an atempt to secretly stand a little straighter, though he couldn't get very straight. Then he noticed her look at someone and turned to find it was the dark elf. He saw nothing to interest him, so returned his focus to Granite. "This is my first visit to Raiden. I don't suppose that you would do me the honor of showing me the sites, Granite?" He steped next to her and offered her his arm.

Granite beamed. "I'd love to!" she replied and linked her arm with his, heading out of the building.

* * *

The area was swarming with undead, but being as mindless as they were fleshless, were easy enough to avoid even in the dark as Sivak made his way towards the city. Human patrols lined the walls and gates observed Sivak as he began formulating a plan to enter the city. The gates were closely watched it seemed and prompted for Sivak to use his magic to get in undetected. He drew forth his palms together like a triangle and began muttering.

"Oh spirits of invisibility, lend me your form to aid my journey." The air around Sivak shimmered and suddenly to the naked eye, Sivak no longer appeared to be there anymore. He smiled as he calmly walked past the guards at the gates, taking care to tread carefully so as not to alarm them in the case that their hearing sought him out. As Sivak passed through the gates he suddenly felt a slight vibration coming from his back, hastily he ducked behind an alley and drew his sword. To his amazement, the sword seemed to have a faint blue aura surrounding it. No doubt, the city had spells of protection over it, the magical fields had awakened the Black Dragon through their energies. As the invisibility spell wore off, Sivak stepped into the street again, and satisfied that no one had thought his presence to be too strange here, began to explore.

* * *

Sevrina causually continued on as if discussing dinner plans. "You see, Cray was originally one of these Chaos Generals, he was Fire. After he failed to destroy us in the Mirror Forest battle, the other generals punished him severly and desposed him from the position. Now, he wants revenge," she took a deep sip of her spiced wine. "That means, he will help us defeat Vesper when he makes his move here in Raiden." She jerked her thumb back to the bullitin board. "I take it you read that message? That was Cray's. Heh, and you didn't even know he came in, did you?"

Blade perked up, sleeply looking up at the growing crowd. "Chaos Generals. The elements of Chaos. Cray was the only human. The Chaos is responsible for the Generals and the undead horde. They haven't moved for a while, but that only means they're plotting. Cray's on the look out and we should be too."

"I've never seen his face" Zatch admited to Sevrina.

Meanwhile Kai pushed aside thoughts of Blade and turned to Blade. "And what role do you play in all this? The last time I saw you was when you were fighting Cray."

Kitsa's face lit up and she turned away from the conversation to talk to this handsome white-haired stranger. "Oh, there is plenty I need to know! Zatch has been telling me a little." She replied. "Where are you from? Your accent sounds familiar, but I dont know where its from."

"Hmmm Azarn... I've been through there before. I traveled a bit before coming here. I needed to broaden my horizons." Slowly he retracted his hand and gave her a curious look. "Your name..." Jinn whispered not to interupt the others, the wind carried to her ear. "I didn't catch it."

* * *

As the two dwarves stepped into the street, Dralock blinked momentarily in the sunlight and glanced up and down the street. "Where do you recomend we start? Temples, the main walls, there looks to be a lot to see here. Or we could visit the shops, while you tell me about life as a jewler. What do you think we should do?" He smiled at Granite.

Granite was smiling broadly. "Lets go down to the bay first, there's a great resturant there," she replied. "Then I can show you my shop. I need to get some things if I'm going to be adventuring with you people."

* * *

A strange foreboding hung over the city it seemed as Sivak made his way through the streets. It semed that not only had dark clouds coveredd the skies but it covered the people's minds as well. Before him lay a bustling inn, where the smells coming from within began to tantalize his mind. Reaching the door, Sivak slowly opened the portal into the inn as a morning draft suddenl swept past him as he stepped inside the inn.

Sevrina shrugged. "Very few people have," she said simply. Of course, she was now one of those few. The two dwarves left and only a few moments later, the inn door swung open again to admit one of her brethren. A tall dark elven man. Over the rim of her wine glass, she watched him with ruby eyes.

The inn seemed much more cozy and bustling than the streets but still the morbid presence had permeated the place and it stank with fear and aniexty. Sivak scanned the room slowly as he slowly moved to the edge of the bar. His eyes rested briefly on one of another elf...dark elf he corrected himself as he saw the face underneath and his brows tightened unoticeably with suspicion. Undoubtly, that one used her beauty as a weapon...he would have to watch his step. There were others in the room but even as he turned away he could feel the elven eyes burning at his back.

Sivak may have been suspicious, but Sevrina was intrigued. She watched him consideringly, with one fine silver eyebrow arched. Turning her eyes away, she focused on the brothers in front of her, waiting for them to ask more questions.

Kitsa smiled at Jinn. "My name is Kitsa Stormeyes," she said proudly. "Who are you?" she asked.

Zatch glanced over to Kitsa feeling sorry that she was being left out. He then shifted his attention to Sevrina "That post up there, the one Cray put up....What is it? Is it a prophecy? A warning?"

"Is it bad poetry?" Kai chimed in mockingly, repeating one of Zatch's earlier speculations.

"So you saw the riddle?" Blade blinked up at them. He slowly straightened his spine and sat up straight. Blade bounced out of his seat and recovered the sheet of paper in question and placed it on the table for all to see. "Sevrina. Read what it says please."

Over in the dark corner of the bar, Sivak drank inconspicously as his ears perked up at the mention of some riddle over in the corner by one of the parties.

Sevrina looked down at the message and read it to herself first. "Riddle eh?" she glanced up at the two brothers. "There's no riddle," the dark elf stated. "It reads; 'The Skylord Vesper is in Raiden, watch the skies for his minions.' Signed, Cray," she looked up from the paper to Zatch.

Kitsa heard some of the conversation, when they started talking about the message left on the board, Kitsa turned to listen. Sevrina read the message, but it wasn't at all what Kitsa had read. "That wasn't what I read," she announced to Sevrina. "Let me read it." She stretched her arm across the table to take the note.

Sevrina glanced at the dark foriegn woman. "You read something else..?" she passed the paper across the table. "Are you sure you didn't read another message?"

Kitsa took the paper and studied to it make sure it said the same thing she read. "It still reads what I first read. 'All those touched by fate. A storm comes of chaos. Hide in your homes and be weary of the skies. A storm comes. The Flame speaks.'" Kitsa read from the letter. "You aren't playing games with us are you?" she looked at the dark elf suspiciously.

"The Skylord Vesper is in Raiden. Watch the skies for his minions. Cray," Jinn spoke up from the side. "'All those touched by fate,' the Chosen. 'A storm comes from chaos,' The Skylord Vesper is in Raiden. 'hide in your homes and be weary of the skies. A storm comes,' Watch the skies for his minions. And the flame is Cray, general of Fire." Jinn's eyes locked onto Blade. "Right."

"Probably." Blade answered lazily. "I didn't write the note."

"Right..." Jinn's eyes pierced through Blade's mask but and glanced voer at the rest ofthe crowd. "No matter. We know this 'Vesper' is here... and Raiden's next..."

The Skylord Vesper is in Raiden...The words flashed in Sivak's mind as the words sank into his mind as the words came from the group at the table. The city would soon be a battlefield undoubtly. Sivak's hand clenched around his drink as he fully comprehended the danger that would soon to be. His hand was shaking so much that as he tried to set the drink down, it landed on a corner and tipped to the side, its contents draining onto the table in a single movement spreading a dark stain across the bar.

"Sorry." Sivak mumbled as he placed a coin on the bar and righted his now empty cup.

Kitsa fell into a stunned silence. She didn't really care how the note worked, just some trick of magic, she assumed. "I sure came at a bad time, didn't I?" she said to the group.

Silently Zatch pondered the note and why it would read different for other people until his silence was broken

"It seems you'll have adventure sooner than expected. If what I've heard about these chaos knights holds true then any help to be had is help needed." Zatch said to Kitsa

Kai then chimed in to Blade and Sevrina "The one who struck down Flaim, the other chaos knight; is this Vesper his lesser or superior? Since you two seem to hold the answers."

"It's a bad time for the world." Jinn added grimly. "Zipang has already fallen to one of the generals. Before I left the country we also heard news of other nations falling. Lodoss is the last leg."

"Equal if not stronger." Blade yawned out. "They're immortal, Cray's human. Soulless." He slowly raised his head. "And each one worth an army. Power to move mountains and control the weather. How do you plan on fighting that?"

Sevrina listened silently, her brows knuckled in concentration. Nearby, a cup clattered to the floor, from the other dark elf she assumed, and a apology murmured. Her long ears twitched at the sound, though the rest of her face remained stoic. The entire world? Lodoss is the last leg? Even though she was usually emotionless, she now felt something growing in the pit of her stomach she had so rarely experianced in her nearly three centuries of life. Fear.

Kitsa shuddered. To think that the entire world was threatened by these "Chaos Generals" was terrifying. Also knowing that a larger portion of the rest of Forceria was defeated. She wondered if her homeland would be safe, but what interest would these generals have in a chain of tiny islands, colonized by only a handful of tribes, then mostly wilderness besides? Maybe she should have stayed home...but no. She wanted adventure, she wanted to see the world, and if that involved trying to save it, well it'd only make things more interesting.

Sevrina looked up at the men and woman at the table. "So now you know. Be ready," she said simply and leaned back in her chair. She wished she could get this out of her mind. Perhaps she should talk to the new dark elf, but not with all the others around.

"No one will be ready, the chaos generals are not an enemy you can predict," muttered Sivak as the dark elf at the other table spoke of readying for the arrival of the chaos lords. "This city will taste the ruin of battle..."

Sevrina's sensitive ears picked up the murmur from the new dark elf. She suddenly stood from her seat, which was probably a surprise to her company, then turned to take a seat at the table with the other dark elf.

With her elbows resting on the table, she glanced up at his face, probing with her intense eyes. "And just what do you know of the Chaos Generals, elf?" she asked and tilted her head to the side.

Sivak regarded her flaming eyes for a moment before codly turning away from her and staring back at his drink. An amused smile crept along his features. "You speak of the chaos generals as if they were ordinary bandits of the countryside. You underestimate their power. There is nothing you can do that can prepare for their coming. They are far frm immortal but they are enough to deal with the likes of you and your small band. I would think he wouldn't even break a sweat fighting all of you at once." He looked back at the dark elf, his golden eyes hardening as he met her gaze.

A smirk returned to Sevrina's perfect lips. His hard gaze didn't penetrate her. "Yes, but we have one of them on our side, besides, this isn't even a quarter of our 'army'. Do you think the hardened people of Raiden will sit by while their city is destroyed? This battle will be the deciding point in this war. You will see. Whether we win or lose, Lodoss's fate will be decided here." She spoke ferverntly, her firey eyes boring into his golden ones.

Sevrina wondered what he would think if she told him she once fought on the otherside. That she had been a key in Roid's undoing. None of that mattered now. Sevrina closely examined this elf, perhaps not the most handsome elf she had seen, but he was attractive in his own way. Not to mention tall enough for her. Her smirk changed to a seductive smile. "So tell, what is your name?"

This was the last thing he was prepared to answer for. His troubled mind reacted with alarm as his mental defenses prepared themselves. Ignoring her smile, which was obviously attempting to confuse him, he replied as his arm and facial muscles tightened, "Sivak...my name is Sivak..."

Sevrina's seductive smile remained. "Sivak..." she sampled his name in her musical and sultry voice. "I am Sevrina," she introduced herself and extended a slender hand across the table to him. He was tense and troubled, but it'll only tempted her to try and seduce him.

He saw her extended hand in greeting...and considered for half a moment, before mental alarms went off in his head, before he chose to ignore it and continued as was usual with his icy attitude towards strangers. "Well Sevrina...what is a dark elf like yourself doing in their company?Other than wishing for false dreams of course..." His head directing at the group that she had just left.

Sevrina glanced from Sivak to her extended hand. He radiated coldness, but she was determined to break through the ice. Though, he was starting to get on her nerves. Sevrina wasn't one to give up though.

With a sly smile that just barely concealed her annoyance, she replied; "I have my reasons, and you are not one to assume them. But...if you tell me..." She leaned back in her seat and studied Sivak. "Why are you here?" she asked simply.

Sivak considered her question for a moment then his eyes softened for a about a second before he turned to answer her."To redeem myself." He chuckled then albiet grimly, "Do you not ever wonder how a person could commit the most atrocious deeds? I can see that you know what i am talking about...does it haunt you? The eyes of those you slay in cold blood? The screams of mothers as they watched their children die? The fear in a man's eye when he realises he has seconds left to live as his entrails fall from his body? How does one live a life with these haunting deeds?"

Sevrina merely smirked. It wasn't her usual smirk, this held something dark and primal in it. "No, when it comes to myself, I never wonder," Which was indeed a lie. Sometimes, all alone, a distant voice in her mind did wonder what in Marfa's name was wrong with her. But this side of her, didn't wonder in the least. She chuckled darkly. "You see...for some reason, I've never felt remorse for the deeds I've done." She left it at that though, no need to scare him away by delving into her sociopathic mind. After all, she WAS trying to attract him. "Something is missing from me that allows that," she added. With that last remark, he voice betrayed no emotion, for the tone, no one could decifer if she was regretful, confused or just saying it as a matter of fact.

"Redemption is only in death." A cold wind blew in the even colder words. The masked ebony cloaked man stood at the door way to the building. He took two large steps and entered into the room. "Death is the only release from Sin."

* * *

When Granite mentioned the resturant, he realised he had missed breakfast. He was suddenly nervious again. He diden't want to eat in front of her, for fear of unsettling her, and the thought of that made his heart sink. "Ah, not to be r-rude, but perhaps we could t-take a rain check on the resturant for n-now, and just visit your shop?" He tried hard not to have a pleading look on his face. He liked her, and the thought of her discusted with him was somewhat painful, though he didn't know why.

Granite shrugged. He obviously didn't like that idea for some reason. "Well, I suppose we can...but I don't know if you want to meet my father just yet. You know, me going out for an hour or two and coming back with a man won't look good." She explained with a wink.

"So, I'll go to the shop and you meet me...oh I'll tell you where to wait. Let's go." Granite took Dralock's hand and led him back to the Dwarf District.

As the two dwarves trotted down the street, an idea came to Dralock. "I have an idea," he said, "on how to deal with things not looking good to your father. I'm in need of some repairs to my armor, and perhaps some other suplies. Surely you father won't object to your bringing home some buisiness." He suddenly had a smile on him that seemed to be both genuinely helpful, and slightly mischivous.

Granite grinned. "Oh! That's a wonderful idea!" she exclaimed. "Lets go then!" Taking his hand, she led him through the city into the dwarven district where her family worked.

She's certanly got a lot of spirit, thought Dralock as he was being towed along by Granite. I wounder how much expirience she has with fighting. I'd hate for her to get hurt on the journy. He trotted along and tried his best to keep up with her.

When they reached the forge, Granite let go of his hand and put a little more space in between them. She entered, letting Dralock follow her. A Dwarven woman, dark haired like Granite, but with streaks of grey in her hair in beard, sat behind the counter, working on a chainmail vest. "Welcome back Granite," he mother said, eyeing the newcomer. "You have another order in. I put it on your desk."

Granite nodded. "I met Dralock here when I made my delivery, he could use some repairs to his armor," she told her mother.

"All right, I'll take care of it," she replied, never once taking her eyes off the chainmail. Granite bounded up behind the counter and hurried back, sparing a wink to Dralock as she hurried down the hall.

Dralock took a moment to look around the shop. "Your work, it looks better the I can usualy afford. I normally have to settle for stuff a little more shoddy than what I see hear." he turned his attention to the woman behind the counter. "Luckily, though, I recently had a bit of a windfall, so can aford to get something a fair bit better in quality, hence my coming to your shop, and not someone elses. I didn't realize that Granite's family dealt with THIS fine of workmanship. Thank the gods I do have a little extra right now. And what perfect timing, what with my preparing to go off with that group back at the inn, he thought to himself.

The Dwarven woman behind the counter smiled. "Well thank ye. My husband does good work. He's trainin' our sons to do the same." She leaned on the counter with one elbow, her other hand on her broad hips. "So what're ye lookin' for?"

Back in her room, Granite was stuffing a pack with extra clothes, food and whatever she would need on the journey. She found her belt with the mace her father had made for her and belted it on. Now the only problem would be getting out tonight. She thought for a moment, then shoved her pack out her bedroom window. She could grab it without their seeing on the way out.

Dralock approched the counter. "From the work I see, what I need seems more like a waste of your talents here. It's just some general patching, you know, basic maitanence. It's probably not even worth troubling you with. But I am here, so I might as well offer you the work. Besides, my armor may end up better than before, for having come here." He kept re-checking his money pouch, a little worried about the cost for such workmanship.

The dwarven woman chuckled heartily. "Well, we'll give you a decent price for whatever you need," she gave him a friendly smile. His complements had made her proud for her family, she would give him a good price for what he needed. "So, are you a friend of Granite's?" she asked. He had come in with her, and a mother could tell such things with her daughter.

* * *

Sevrina turned around at the sound of Cray's voice. She raised an eyebrow and thought, Always so dramatic.

Sivak turned towards the newcomer. His eyes fell upon him and his eyes grew wide as he seemingly thought he recognized the face. Suddenly the Black Dragon began to hum and glow in its sheath. Puzzled, Sivak kept staring at the strange...the the Black Dragon usually only reacted like this in the presence of powerful magic. Then it struck him like lightning...the style...the clothes...and the magical presence. He had only little memories of his service with Wagnard but he remembered clearly the ancient portrait of this man. He must be one of the chaos soldiers, explaining the fact of magic either by his creation or his weapon. The Black Dragon slid silently from his scabbard. "Servant of Chaos, defend yourself, this is one elf you won't find defenseless." as his whisper carried throughout the inn.

"Quiet." Cray's voice came across coldly one eye staring directly into his soul. His eye quickly darted to Sevrina. "There issomething you should see. Vesper has been here."

Blade chuckled softly. "I'm just a guide. Either way it's best not to worry about it. Right now Cray and I and all of you are working towards the same goal. The details are unimportant." He smiled warmly across the table. "Besides... Jinn would know more than I do." Jinn blinked loudly at that comment. "What?" "Just take over the questioning. I need to keep Cray from murdering again." Blade slowly pushed off the table and left them alone. Jinn eyed the two men and Kitsa breifly. "Well... there tends to be reference to the Chaos in all regions. In form of legends or lore or prophecy. In Zipangs it was a warning of armageddon. The four soldiers of Darkness and the end of the world. One weilding lightning and fire from the heavens. Another drowning the islands of the world. The earth swallowing cities whole. And flames of ghehena burning the survivors."

Concealed by his travel cloak, Sivak slowly reached for his throwing daggers. His eyes burned fiercely as he positioned himself in between several patrons of the bar.

Sevrina nonchalantly rose from her seat, keeping an eye on Sivak who seemed very uneasy. She chuckled to herself, then slide up beside Sivak. An assassin with two hundred years of experience, she could tell when another was preparing to attack, likely with a throwing knife. Whisperingly softly in his ear, she said; "If I could not defeat him, what makes you think YOU can?" With another chuckle, she strode on past the dark elf to Cray's side.

Kitsa had her chin resting on her hands on the table, lost in thought. Zatch's voice was able to get her attention. "Oh, um, yes, I will go with you," she said with a smile. "I think I would like to visit a school. I've never been to one before." She'd heard of schools from travelers, but never been to one. Everyone in her tribe was taught what they needed to know from parents or tutors.

"All right then" Zatch replied as he got up.

"My former teacher is the headmaster at the academy, he is a man of great wisdom and I think he will have some insights that may help us" Zatch then walked up to the door and held it open for Kitsa.

"It's probably not a good time to be exploring." Blade mentioned idly.

"There's a bad wind." Jinn added. He was leaning back in his chair. "Vesper's out right?"

Kitsa walked out the door, then glanced back at Zatch. "I hope he can help," she said softly. Looking up at the sky, she felt a sickness in her stomache at the thought of the impending battle.

Cray rushed out the door, grabbing Kitsa by the shoulder and throwing her violently face first into Zatch's chest. He stood like a wall between them and the rest of the city. "Don't let her look."

The smell hit them all first. The scent of human flesh and blood exposed to the darkened sky. In the center of the city was a pile of flesh. All detail had been torn away from the bodies. The hill of flesh rose well above Cray's height. Who knew how many had fallen victim.

Around them several of the guards began 'dealing' with the display while a few other and many of the townsfolk lost their stomachs from the grotesque sight. Cray stood solemn. He knew exactly who had done this. His right fist clentched, his claws digging into his palm. "Vesper..."

Zatch was cought off gaurd by Cray as he shoved Kitsa at him and barely kept them both from crashing to the floor. "In the bloody hell do you...!" he said in anger before Cray cut him off. Past his shoulder Zatch saw the bodies, or what remained of them. Instantly Zatch's already pale face went ghost white, having never seen anything like that he struggled not to get sick and barely succeded.

Meanwhile Kai was hit with the stench and went to the window to see the massacre. When it comes to cruelty there are few races which can compete with humans, thus Kai reacted better as a veteren of human wars. Rather than sickness, Kai held an expression only of stone.

The smell reached Sivak's senses and he looked alarmingly behind the Chaos soldier's back. He moved slightly to get a better look and his eyes froze as he saw the ghastly scene. He moved around the thing standing between the rest of the people and the pile of rotting flesh. The cruelty and maliciousnous of the Chaos Generals knew no bounds and Sivak shook with contained anger. As he turned from the scene, he spotted a shadow moving in the alley's, one that had been watching not the bodies...but the tavern. Sivak's brows tightened as he sprinted after the shadow. He stopped just around the corner, a short distance from the inn.

Sevrina stood beside Cray, staring at the mess of bodies and gore as if it were a stain in the carpet. The people of the inn's common room were pouring into the street now that the wind was carrying the stench down their way. "Well, that is certainly an interesting way to get people's attention," she muttered to Cray.

"Hmph." Cray summoned his flame. Crimson grew from his left shoudler blade, soom it grew out to become a fully feathed wing created from flame. The feathers ruffled in the wind and acted as a true wing would. "Go Home." It was a single powerful command. His wing thrashed violently once. A hail sorm of feiry feathers screamed and struck the bodies. A feather finding each one and setting it ablaze isntantaniously, the pyre reaching for the heavens. Strangely the heat killed the scent and burned quickly. Only breifly as an entire body burned away a flicker of flame went flying away in a random direction.

Once the process was complete the fiery wing disappeared. "In this next fight." He whispered to Sevrina although Zatch and Kitsa could still make out hsi words. "I want you all to stay out."

Sevrina watched with her arms crossed under her breasts. He wanted her to stay out of the fight with Vesper and her pride argued with the decision. It was reasonable however, Cray was once Vesper's equal in rank and likely in strength. Sevrina was not a warrior of magic. She recalled what had happened to all those who attacked Cray with weapons in the Mirror Forest and how they had all failed. Cray was the only one powerful enough to face the Chaos General.

Sevrina nodded reluctantly, there would be minions of the Skylord for her to battle. That would be enough.

Before Kitsa could see anything besides the sky, she was violently thrown into Zatch. "What was that...." she started to say and heard a voice say: "Don't let her look." About then, the stench of rotten flesh hit her.

Offended by the idea that someone wanted to protect her from a sight, Kitsa pulled herself from Zatch's grasp and spun to see the pile of corpses. Frozen in shock, she stared for a long moment, after which, she retched onto the street. Standing straight again, she stumbled back into Zatch, feeling that some how the scrawny scholar could make her feel safe.

Zatch held on to Kitsa's shoulders, hoping to make her feel more secure when Kai approached them. "Have you ever heard of this Vesper?" Said Zatch

"No, I was hoping you did," He replied before turning to Cray. "If he can be killed with a sword then I'm not useless."

"And I harness magic you all have yet to see," Zatch chimmed in.

Sivak was puzzled, he could no longer sense what had been watching from the shadows. Even more so, this was a rare occasion where he had lost his quarry. Strange he thought, but with the appearance of the chao army, nothing could be underestimated. He would have to keep a sharper eye on whatever it was that managed to elude him. Sivak stepped back into the street and looked towards the inn where he saw the chaos general seemingly stare and the sky and looked like he was waiting for something.

Sevrina stood by Cray still, unaffected by the bodies, stench or Cray's display. She merely stared, pondering the impending battle. What Cray wanted to say was said and there would be no more. She returned inside, having lost interest, and made herself a drink.

Kitsa chewed her lip, thinking of her own abilities. "I will offer my own abilities as well. I don't know how well I will do, but I will give my all." Her stomach was still churning and she looked to the sky, thinking if her small ability would make any difference. "Are there other elves here? Could they help?" she asked the group.

Terin had been watching the pile of bodies since he had smelt it. He was a warrior though, and now he could remember it, it didnt make him sick. He kept his hood pulled over his face to hide his scarred ears.

To his shock, the bodies were burned to ash by a flurry of fire. People started leaving now and he continued down the street. His intent was to find an inn. A little cautious as he walked by the pile of ash, he made his way to a nearby inn.

Sevrina had returned to her seat inside and was hopeing for Sivak to do the same. However, the next person to walk through the door was a hooded man. She eyed him carefully. His movements revealed elf, as did a bulge in his hood telling of long elven ears. She couldnt' see much of his face, only his chin. Along the lower jawline was a scar that looked like it crossed his face. Now where was that Sivak? He had better come back...she had plans for him.

Seeing that the Chaos soldier was pre-occupied with staring into the distance, and that he had lost his quarry, decided to return to the inn which seemed to be attracting some very unique patrons as he spotted the graceful and lithe features of a disguised elf entering the inn. Taking care to keep a measure of distance from the chaos soldier but showing no fear, Sivak entered the inn again and was met by the searching eyes of Sevrina whom had resumed her seat next to where he had been moments before the incident. This was beginning to a puzzling series of events and the presence of a chaos soldier and many others like the elves and the strange events only served to irritate him further. He walked up to the other dark elf, his cold eyes the only part showing beneath his masked face. "What are you doing here?What do you want?"

Sevrina looked up at Sivak with a seductive smirk on perfectly shaped lips. "Sivak...Why must you know my reasons?" she asked, sounding sweet and amiable. "I do what I do for my own ends. You of all people should understand that," she maintained the innocent sounding voice, though the words did not seem to agree.

"As for my intentions toward you, I have no intention save breaking through that icy layer you protect yourself with." As she spoke, she lifted her hand from the back of the chair to place a finger on his stomach and trail it downwards to his belt.

Sivak swatted her hand away. His cold laughter shattered the air. "So this is the extent to which you train? To seduce? My what a noble purpose, perhaps if you were to seduce another chaos general then perhaps you suppose you can turn the tables on them and end the war? Or perhaps even create your own little safe haven? And here I thought you might be a little different."

"You will have to try harder than that." he sneered.

Sevrina managed to look dejected. "Oh...well it seems you have me all figured out Sivak," she said sadly and stared down at the floor. It was only obvious she was acting. She stood suddenly pushing the chair she was in aside. She dropped the facade and spoke, her voice returning to it's normal timbre. "Please. You think that's it? You think that I am merely a seductress? That my goal was to seduce Cray so he would protect me? Do I seem so helpless?"

"Cray was not planned. It simply happened. Seduction is my hobby, not my business. A game to pass the time when I have nothing better to do. I do not need my sex to get a job done. Nor do I feel the need to create a 'safe haven'."

Sivak continued to stare at her with his cold eyes, devoid of emotion he said icily, "Well then, would you care to show your prowness to prove me wrong? Or perhaps we can continue this amusing game of charades to see who comes....out on top." His last few words with a hint of a chuckle.

Kitsa came back inside, a little shaken. She ordered a drink to calm herself and went back to her table. The two dark elves looked dangerous, especially with the way they were acting. She decided to leave them alone.

In the corner, she noticed a slender hooded man. She watched him for a moment curiously. Usually she could tell if a person was hostile, but this newcomer didn't seem like it. "Hello..." she said from half-way across the room.

Terin stared back at the young woman looking at him. "Hello," he replied. The two dark elves walked by to go outside, the male giving him a threatening glare. Terin looked back at the elf with total confusion. With those two gone, he moved to the table the dark haired woman was at. "I'm Terin, who are you?"

Kitsa smiled back when he reacted. She was a little surprised by the scar across his face, it looked very bad. He had striking blue eyes though. "Are you an elf?" she asked. It probably did sound rude, but she wasn't too certain on how to talk to other races. She was just so curious to find out.



* * *

Sevrina smirked and drew back a little. She seemed to shed her seductive warmth for the coldness of a blade. She chuckled too, a little coldly, catching the inuendo. "Lets dance then," she said and drew her new claws from the sheaths buckled onto her thighs. Slipping her hand underneath three steel claws, she held tight to the bar inside. She didn't yet take a defensive position, just waited for Sivak to decide when and where while admiring her new toys. Still, as always, she hid the fact she was totally alert.

"Would you like to step aside then?" he smiled as he gestured with a slight bow to the door.

"Ladies first." He smiled as he felt his blood begin to race faster at the thought of conflict. His sword hugged his back comfortably and he didn't even bother to check it. He knew it was ready to do battle no matter the situation. He looked over the other elf with a predatory look, perhaps this might prove to be a challenge after all he decided. All the better to relieve him of his boredom.

Sevrina gave a little bow of her own and slipped out the door. She kept her ears pricked as her back was to Sivak, in case he wasn't as honorable as he seemed. As she left the building, she turned and backed into the street. People stepped back as they noticed the claws on her out stretched hands.

"Only one rule," she stated. "No magic." She didn't know his strengths in shamanism, were he talented in any elemental spirits, she could be in trouble. Though, if he was anything like her, he might have a hard time when it came to the more 'noble' spirits.

Sivak shrugged nonchantantly and followed her. A small crowd had formed on the sides watching what they guessed to be a fight of some sort. Stupid people he thought, risking their lives to see a little bit of blood. His hands clenched and unclenched as his muscles rippled into a time-honoured stretch to ready himself. With his right hand he grasped the hilt of his sword, the "Black Dragon". and slowly drew it from its sheath. He saluted and bowed once again to the other elf. As he straightened, his left hand slipped deftly into his leg holster to quickly withdrew a dagger which he promptly threw at Sevrina's sword arm all within the space of a breath.

* * *

Cray crouched at the top of the inn with claws dug into the stone and wood, watching through his mask. The one eye locked onto Sevrina then the stranger. Too slow, he thought in a whisper. Although the fight seemed liek a waste of time it may be worth seeing the stranger's power. Sevrina had shown her ability againt the forces of Caos, perhaps this elf could be used against his enemies as well...

* * *

Sounds from outside got her attention and she glanced out the window to see the two dark elves fighting. "What? Why are they fighting?" she asked herself and went to the window, which was right beside Terin. Aftter she had a good look, she looked down at him. "What's your name by the way?"

Terin smiled a little, the young woman didn't seem to notice he already said it. "I said, my name is Terin. Who are you?"

Kitsa slipped down into the seat beside him. "Oh...well, my name is Kitsa Stormeyes," she replied.

"Nice to meet you Kitsa, and yes I am an elf," Terin replied. "So, what brings you to Raiden?" he asked.

Kitsa looked at Terin with a big grin, "Adventure, of course. My father was half-elf, he was from Lodoss. If you're an elf, which forest are you from? He told me there were three ancient forests here, all where elves lived. His mother was from the Glassy Woods," Kitsa started babbling again, she had so many questions to ask.

"The Chaos Generals?" she asked solemnly. She had heard that they destroyed several places. "Where did you get those scars?" she asked as she looked at his face.

* * *

Sevrina had been anticipating his first attack. Her eyes caught his hand quickly draw a dagger from somewhere on his leg. She moved her arm in, ever so slowly it seemed, and turned the back of her arm to use the bracer on her wrist to block it. The dagger hit steel with clang and was diverted to her right into the crowd. As it clanged off her bracer, her left fingers snatched three darts from her boot top, and with a deft twitch of her wrist, sent them flying to Sivak. Within the seconds it took from the dagger hitting her armor to draw and fling her darts, someone screamed when Sivak's dagger hit his leg.

Unfortunately for Sevrina, the claws she held on her left hand ruined her aim, two would definately go over his shoulder, though there was the possiblity one could hit on his shoulder. She then dropped her left claw to the ground to leave that hand free. Distantly, she considered a way to strap the claws on.

Sivak was impressed, but not surprised, there were few who could ply the trade of an assassin and the only ones that survived were the good ones. His eyes caught the movement of the darts and with a flick of his wrist, he turned his blade to the flat side as the killing dart came at him. The other two sailed harmlessly inches above his shoulder while his sword caught the killing dart and deflected it just past his face. As she let one of her claws drop, Sivak pivoted and brought his blade down in a diagonal arc while using his left hand to bring out his fighting dagger.

Swords were too easy to avoid. Sevrina rarely used her own save for actual battle. She gracefully leapt back from the swing arc. As she landed back on the ground, she realized he had used that to distract her while drawing another dagger. She brushed her hand against her thigh, drawing another handful of darts from her boot top. This time, she had perfect aim. She sent them flying, most of which were heading to his chest, though a few flew at his throat and the others were heading to vulenerable points on his chest.

With his forward momentum, Sivak continued to twist sideways while closing the gap between him and the dark elf. His twisted body presented to her a slimmer profile for which the darts aimed at his chest merely glanced off his arm, one hit where the armor ended and left a gash along his left arm. The ones aimed at his throat originally found themselves either glancing off his mantle or embedding themselves into it.

During the space of the twist and impact of the darts, Sivak had his dagger in his left hand and it was coming up in a vicious arc towards the dark elf's outstretched hand that had launched the darts previously.

Like a windmill, Sivak continued twirling so that he may be able to have another strike with his sword as he sought to damage her throwing hand with his dagger.

Sevrina hadn't the chance to pull her arm back as Sivak slashed at her hand. Instead, she took the blow on her bracer. He had considerable strength behind the attack, so much that it pulled her shoulder painfully and threw her off balance. She didn't tense herself against the hit though, instead, she allowed herself to roll with it. Literally, she fell to the ground and gracefully rolled back to her feet. Her arm hurt, but she blocked out the pain. It wasn't much worse than the scratch she gave him. Sevrina decided to stick with something more familiar and dropped her other claw to the ground, quickly drawing her curved daggers from the sheathes on her belt. She needed more time to train with the claws before she took them into an actual fight.

Sivak grunted as several of the darts hit him in the chest, his armor stopped them from penetrating fatally deep so he tried his best to ignore the flesh wound. As he completed his swing, Sivak reversed his sword so that as he moved back to face the other dark elf, the sword would be thrusting towards her midsection. He balanced lightly on the balls of his feet and like a graceful dancer turned without breaking his momenteum.

The blade barely missed Sevrina's midsection, but she quickly twisted to the side and it passed by her harmlessly. While Sivak's arm was still extended in the thrust, Sevrina moved in close to him. His dagger in the other hand was still a threat, but she wanted to get that sword out of his hand. Swinging one leg up, she kicked his sword arm from underneath, using her shin guards to hurt him worse.

Sevrina's kick jarred Sivak's gauntlet but he kept a firm grip on the sword. However, this action caused his arm to move straight up above her head for a split second as Sivak twisted in the opposite direction to bring his dagger around for another slash.

Sevrina easily blocked his dagger slash with her dagger, then slashed upward with her own at his back, possibly leaving him a slice from base to where his armor began.

Sivak took the slash without slowing down as it ripped a gash on his back, he brought the hilt of his sword down on her head.

Sevrina dropped from the hit, but allowed herself to roll to the side so she would have a moment to recover. For an instant, her vision blurred and her ears rang, but she was ready for his next attack.

Sivak took the opportunity to jump forward to smash his knee into her face while reversing his sword for a downward thrust. He kept his dagger readied to parry anything coming up from the left side.

Sevrina took the main force of his blow on her brow; she at least had time to turn away from that. Again, she allowed herself to go limp with the blow, as she fell back and his knee left, she brought up the daggers in either hand to stab the back of his thigh from both sides. As the daggers sunk into his flesh, she released the tension from her shoulders and brought up her legs to knee him in the back and send him tumbling over her.

Sivak forgot himself as he let out a snarl of pain as one dagger opened up a bloody gash on his leg while the top of his leg guards deflected the thrust from going into his leg. As he fell over her, he stabbed his sword down before letting go of it hoping to get a piece of her shoulder. He rolled to his side to cushion the fall and pulled his third dagger from his arm chest sheath.

Sevrina caught the flash of steel as it came down to her shoulder, she quickly tried to pull her shoulder out of the way, but the blade sliced through the leather strap of her top and bit into her skin. She hissed softly, then rolled over onto her stomach, and pushed herself to her feet.

Sevrina stood facing Sivak. "Had enough?" she asked, breathing heavily. She had not bled as much as he, but she probably ached worse. It seemed about even.

Sivak spoke with outward calm but a little more tense with his injuries. Blood slowly dripped down his back and leg as he ignored the question,

"I may have underestimated you, but your skills aren't enough to beat the Chaos Force if you can only give me those little scratches."

Sevrina chuckled, "I don't plan to stop them on my own Sivak," she replied. "No one could do that. Not even Cray."

Sivak laughed, "And you think that if you all joined hands in friendship then you can defeat them? HA that’s a laugh, you are not much more than single pebble in a sea of troubles."

Sevrina didn't falter, in fact her voice seemed to take on a warmer tone, like that of a mother explaining something to naive child, but she spoke in their native toung. {Sivak, not all people are as cold as you or me. I know some of the 'heroes' of this war. They are determined and resourceful. You are right, you and me, we are nothing but pebbles. I will never be remembered in Lodoss' history as a great hero, or even a great assassin. We are nothing but shadows, you and I. Others will make history happen, like they always have.}

With that said, Sevrina turned around and headed back inside, stopping only to retrieve her dropped weapons.

"Then what will you have humanity do?" The voice was from the enterance of the inn, Blade leaned heavily on the frame. "Line up for the slaughter? Or try winning favor with the Chaos and becomes slaves? Or live feeding their greed in the face of armageddon?"

Jinn had also made his way outside. His attention was pulled away from the fighters and into the horizon. "The wind is moving... unnaturally. It's going to rain..."

Sevrina heard both men as she returned inside. Jinn's remark about the wind made her stop and head over to his side. She sniffed the air and caught an acrid stench. It wasn't the crisp smell of oncoming rain, but something harsher. She looked across the street at Sivak. "I suggest you come in, Sivak," she called to the other dark elf.

Sivak sensed something in the rainfall..something peculiar...almost as if it didn't belong. However the other elf's words held some warning and he stepped inside. Already his wounds were beginning to irritate him.

Sevrina stepped aside for Sivak, then watched him as he walked in, obviously considering something by the furrow in her brow. "So, what are you going to do about those wounds?" she asked, though had every intention of fixing him up herself.