Willow followed their wishes and retired to her designated room. It was simple but graceful in its own manner. Faint patterns on the walls betrayed its past opulance. Various fixtures and hangings once adorned the chambers, Willow presumed from the faded outlines on the wall. They must have been packed away, or sold, or stolen. These times have been hard on everyone, she sighed, her own tragedy easily having been matched and occasionally bested by others. There was a pitcher of water and a mug set on the desk. A desk? Perhaps this was the room of a cleric, or a monk? She felt humbled to possibly be staying in such a room. She poured herself some water and slowly drank as she sat on the edge of her bed for the night. * * * Puzzle sat on his bed and reflected. It was good to please an audience again. A six year old child and his mother count as an audience, especially when there's little choice to be had. He was still feeling restless and fidgity. A full belly, clean bedding, guarded walls and a post-performance high... he felt wonderful. He felt safe. He thought he should probably go and find where his sister was staying, but perhaps a quick nap would be refreshing. He laid himself down and considered what could or should be done. What are the plans for the morning, he wondered. Puzzle was asleep before he could find the next thought. * * * Willow carefully unrolled her sword from her pack and drew it from its sheath with the hiss of fine steel sliding against cured leather. A drop of oil on the whetstone and she methodically drew the stone along the length of the blade. It whined and whispered. She hadn't had to draw this blade once since they joined this group but if it was to be done, it would be tomorrow. The metal was satin and reflected the oil lamp's flame with a diffuse glow. It looked so soft, so gentle. She slipped and flinched back as the blade bit into the base of her thumb. She wiped off the blade and slid it back into its sheath of buttery leather. Sucking at her wound, she tasted the spicy, metallic tang of her own blood and hoped that was all that would be spilled. She sat back on the end of the bed and waited, sleeplessly. Willow was sitting on the edge of her bed when a faint tapping came at the door. Cautiously, she saw to who it was. Puzzle entered and they sat, whispering in conspiratorial tones. "Is everything alright? What time is it? Is it time to go?" "Willow, that's just it. It's almost dawn. Willow, she's on the island. She's here and we're sitting in a castle." She paused and looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean?" "Willow, we have to go find her. We can't wait any longer." He had been awoken by a nightmare, he confessed, and was laying in bed feeling the aching and longing from being so close to the end of their journey, so close to finding her that he was nearly sick. She touched her hand to his. "Puzzle, I'm sure we'll be making preparations very soon. Depending when Deedlit and Parn and the others return, we might be going out to find her by tomorrow. Besides, everyone's been so tired, we shouldn't wake them at this hour and insist that they pack up and go." "Willow, I'm not saying that we bother the others." She flinched her hand away from his in shock. "What do you mean to do?" He touched her arm, "We can go and find her. We know she's in the dungeon of an abandoned ruins. Kiran and Toan are probably already there. I'm starting to feel that they had the right idea and every second we spend here as another second that our sister is being tortured. Please, we have to go." The room felt cold to Willow. She stood up and hugged herself, crossing the room to the desk at the other end. She touched the wood with her fingertips, feeling the smooth grain and years of oil and ink. She felt the ache and pangs insisting that they find this mysterious half sister of theirs but going out alone...? She murmered to herself something from a text her tutors made her read many years ago, "Heros are those that didn't have the sense to stay home and survived despite the circumstances." She didn't understand it at the time. She understood it now. Her brother wouldn't survive by himself. "How will we get past the gates?" she asked with hushed resignation. * * * Shortly after sunrise, while the mist and dew of morning still hung heavily, two cloaked figures rode to the gate. Puzzle leading spoke to the guardsman, "The Lady Willow and myself have been summoned by the others to join them. We must go." Willow, with her hood pulled far over her face, nodded somberly. * * * The sky was dark and wind was blowing and Felix was standing a guard to warn the others if anything that came was a threat. So far it was quiet very unusual at this time in Lodoss' history. Felix jumped up into the tress the scout the area and so nothing and he was really itching for a battle. "I came out here to go on a adventure if I wanted to go somewhere that is quiet I would have settled down somewhere." He sighed and decided to take quick nap because there was obviously nothing to worry about. Z'lia crouched on one of the shattered stone pillars at the top of Castle Conquera's entrance stairway. Her bow was held ready by her side with an arrow knocked. Blood-red eyes scanned the surrounding sand with Lurkers hidden beneath. She heard Felix's comment and turned a cold stare at him. "So what, the Lurkers weren't enough for you? If you want adventure, why don't you stomp around out there and see what jumps up." Z'lia replied harshly. The mercenary dark elf woman had lost her sister in the fight just a few hours before. She returned her attention to the tree-line. Some movement caught her eye and she drew back her arrow a little more. They were out of range at the moment, whatever it was. A small pack of canine creatures stalked out of the trees and sniffed the sandy strip to the castle. They were still hunting the elves. The creatures were yet unaware of what waited beneath the sand, so they trotted out cautiously. Z'lia tensed, waiting for the first lurker to sense them. In a flurry of sand, a huge spider-like monster flung it's legs out to snatch a crawly and chaos erupted on the strip. Crawlies scrambled back the forest, but everyway they turned, a lurker stopped them. One by one the crawlies were captured and killed and then, the lurkers disappeared again, leaving no trace of the fray. Z'lia suppressed a shudder. Turning to Felix, she murmured, "Do you really want to be out there today?" Felix shuddered when he saw what the Lurker did to the creatures "It can't be that hard the kill all of them." He said unsure of his own words. "There are two of us and we can just surrounded them and unleash the powers of the sprits on them and then their dead right?" * * * The sibling half-elves passed through the gates without delay, much to their own surprise. Puzzle could barely refrain from grinning like an idiot while passing by the last of the guards so smoothly did the deciet work. Willow, however, pulled her hood further over her face for fear of her uncertaintly betraying their attempt to break off and seek their sister at the ruined castle. The castle! The thought burned her mind with panic as she remebered something crucial. Steeling her nerve, she turned to the final guard and asked him, "Kindly guard, would you favor us and tell us the route to the ruins of Castle Conquera?" "My apologies my Lady, I believe your party went to visit The Duke." His head cocked slightly at a queer angle. She felt her pulse quicken and her hands moisten. Think quickly! In her mind she begged that Puzzle turn his horse and help her but he was already just out of earshot of their discussion. "We...," her voice quavered. She coughed slightly. "We may have business in more than one place." She was trying to convince herself as much as she was the guard. Several meters ahead, Puzzle noticed that the hooves of his sister's mount were abscent. He turned and saw her engaged with one of the guards. Blasted, daft sapling! He contained himself and called over to her, full of well practiced confidence and boastful pride. "Willow, we are expected! Let's not dally!" He clenched the reins, wringing them, knowing that the longer they're at the gates, the greater the chance that they won't be let through. "Willow!" Ever so faintly, she choked and coughed. The guard regarded her queerly, she could see the faintest trickle of suspicion dripping into his face. She fingered the hilt of her sword. Her sword, from the manor. The Manor. She felt a surge. She was the Lady Willow, born to the court and lineage of the Moss duchy of Griff. She face settled and her voice sank to still and unwavering depths. "Gentle guard, do not question us. We are expected and we have plans. Answer my question and let us pass. Lives are at stake." "Forgive me, my Lady." Cowered, he obeyed and gave her directions. It wasn't until the half-elves rode beyond range of the last of the guards that Puzzle noticed how badly Willow was shaking and that she was drenched with perspiration. "Hey, Willow? Are you feeling unwell?" She looked up, still feeling distant and removed. "No, just nerves I suppose." They rode on in silence through the damp and grey morning. * * * "...And so the bartender says, 'Hey, that's not a duck!'" Willow blinked. "I don't get it" she said blankly. "It funny because he thought..., you see when the traveller first came into the bar and asked about..." "But why would he have a duck in a tavern in the first place?" "No, Willow, you're missing the point. He didn't have a duck. That's the joke!" "Huh?" "Nevermind, nevermind." Puzzle forgot the first rule about dealing with his sister: only tell simple jokes. He loved her more than anything else on any land he knew but, by blazes, she frusterated him at times. At times he felt that all of the grand vistas of wit, humor and games were lost while in her company and it irked him terribly. But still, it was Willow... He saw his sister's fallen face and added, "Maybe it's just not that good of a joke to begin with. It's not that important." She seemed to accept that and her countanace lightened slightly. Maybe it was worth the sacrifice? They had been riding for several hours and it was midday. Unexpectedly, almost ominiously, it had been entirely uneventful. They were travelling on what was once a main and well used road but had since fallen to decay. It was desolate, as if the ghosts of whatever horrors once walked this path convinced any others from following. The rare ray of sun punched through the overcast sky but it was windless and still. "Puzzle, do you have any food. We haven't eaten since last night." Her comment reminded him that his stomach was empty and twisted. Hunger or nervousness? He wasn't sure but food was a good suggestion. He'd packed, more stolen from the castle's larder, some bread and cheese along with some dried fruit and nuts. Proper food for travelling. He passed Willow some cheese and broke off some bread for the both of them. The fruit and nuts were strange to him, he'd never seen their like before but much be wholesome to have been in a castle's larder. He fed a handful to the horses first, just to be certain. They seemed appreciative of the feeding and relished the moment of rest. "It certainly has been quiet," Puzzle said as he passed her a crust of the bread. The horses took the cue and whinnied and stomped frantically, almost throwing them both. Willow dropped her bread trying to keep from being bucked off her mount. A foul stench rose in their noses. The windless day gave them small forewarning as from across the field, a hoard of shambling zombies staggered towards the pair. Simultaniously, they looked at each other and shrieked, "Run!" The horses were all too happy to oblige. Thankfully, the dead do not make haste. Just as well, what hurry would they be in? Frantically, the horses left the shambling forms far behind and Puzzle shouted to his sister, "At least we know why the road was deserted!" Suddenly, all too close on the horizion, loomed the forboding structure which could only be the dark Castle Conquera. They reigned the horsed to a stop, none of them wanting to go any further. * * * Taking a main road to the castle would have been suicide, reasoned Puzzle. Willow countered by asking if coming to such a place alone wasn't suicide as well? They decided to circle around and proceed through the woods and maybe find access through a less conspicious route than via the main, though deserted, gate. They dismounted and led the reticent horses into the dark forest that surrounded the area. Silent. As if in wait. They made their way through the trees and the thorny underbrush, stepping cautiously and listening with agonizing attentivness. The silence was shattered with a flurry as strange, dog-like beasts, yipping and howling, barrelled right by them, consumed with mortal terror. Willow clutched her sword as Puzzle pulled out his meteor chain. Nothing. The dog-things passed without concern of the half-elves. Worried, the two shared a glance and proceeded. They came to a path that was opposite the route they came in on, they were at other side of the castle. A cleared path, sandy and straight to the gate beckoned. On the steps, casually resting against the stonework were a pair of dark elves. Puzzle waved to them, confident that they had found evidence of what they were looking for: Kiran and Toan's party. "You there! Ho! We are seeking Kiran and Toan!" Willow tugged his arm as her eyes fell to the sandy path. "Puzzle? Uh-oh..." Felix heard the call of the two and took his eyes off the sandy path and looked down at them and put his hand on his rapier. "Who goes there, state your business here." Z'lia lept to her feet when she saw the two half-elves at the edge of the trees. "STOP WHERE YOU ARE!!" she yelled out loudly enough to make a flock of blackbirds in the nearby woods to take flight. The dark elf woman cast a glance to Felix, then hopped down from her perch on the pillar to the stairs. She didn't dare come to close to the sand. "You seek Kiran and Toan?" she called out to the siblings. The dark elven woman yelled out at them, shouting, "STOP WHERE YOU ARE!!" as her male accomplice fingered his sword. Hardly encouraging, thought Puzzle. He suppressed a flash of anger at being so cowardly commanded from afar. He rolled his chain between his fingers, scowling. The woman, bow in hand, addressed them again, "You seek Kiran and Toan?" Puzzle called back, "Whether we have to fight you or not, yes. Where are they?" Fueled by his impatience and pride, he began to step towards the threatening elves, only to be held at bay in his steps by Willow as she gripped his arm and violently pulled him back. "Willow?" he hissed. She melted apologetically under his glare but forced his attention to the sand. Patches of it were stained with blood and shattered bone fragments poked suggestivly from just beneath the surface. "Puzzle," she began worrisomely, "These aren't people we should antagonize." The gruesome spectacle told of a recent slaughter at their feet. Though it pained her to admit it, over the past several weeks, she had completely lost confindence in her brother's ability to be diplomatic. It began after a certain tavern incident, of which they had agreed to never speak of again, and had since amplified. Despite his insistance that he knows what he's doing, she concluded that her brother simply was not a good person to let talk during sensitive situations. She took the initiative and spoke out, "Please, we seek no quarrel. We are looking for the two elves Kiran and Toan. Can you help us?" Puzzle's face showed his hurt over being upstaged. "Willow? I can handle this, alright?" "Brother dear, please calm down. I didn't mean to hurt you. These people know more about where we are and what's happening than we do and rushing into a fight might not be the best idea right now." "I wasn't going to rush into a fight! But if someone raises a bow at me, I want to do more than stand there and be shot!" "Puzzle, please." "Don't 'please' me." "Oh, and what should I do when you act like this? Let you run about so you can get us both killed?" "Oh, like that time at the harbor? Or how about those dwarves in Condrol? Would you have liked me to have just 'backed away' than, too?" "Those were honest mistakes! How could I have known they were against the Duke's labor policy?" "Both times?!?" "Well, I forgot..." "Willow, I'm nearly twice as old as you are, I've been around more than you have and if anyone's going to get us somewhere, I think I might have a better chance of it seeing that we're not in a royal court at the moment!" "How dare you!" She gasped and slapped him squarely across the cheek. They both stood there, staring in mute shock at what just occured. Z'lia's eyes widened and she hissed as the male half-elf stepped out. Luckily, his companion stopped him. It seemed she and Felix had given them the wrong impression, but as long they stayed put, she didn't care. They bickered for awhile and Z'lia crossed her arms under her breasts while she waited for them to finish. She looked up at Felix, "We'd better convince them that we aren't a threat. We'll walk out to meet them instead of letting them come to us." Felix chuckled at the bickering then immediately but on a serious face when Z'lia' addressed him. "That's I good idea but lets be on guard, this may just be an act," he said jumped down right next to her. Z'lia shrugged. "But that girl doesn't seem dangerous at all. Besides, Kiran said we might expect some of his friends." The dark elf woman dropped her bow to her side and loosened her grip on the nocked arrow. "We mean you no harm, but there are creatures nearby that don't have the same inhibitions," she assured the two from across the sand strip. She scanned the area for the signs of a Lurker den, then quickly raised her bow and loosed the arrow. Where it hit, a Lurker sent a spray of sand out when it tried to grab whatever disturbed it. Fortunately, Lurkers do not have good vision, so when it found nothing, it retreated under the sand leaving an almost no sign of it being there. Z'lia looked back at the siblings. She had another arrow nocked and looked as if she had never fired that last shot. "If you are searching for Kiran and Toan, they are in the castle to find their lovers. Felix and I will accompany you across the sand if you wish to continue. One with a trained eye, like ourselves, knows how to avoid the Lurker dens." The tension was broken by the familiar shrill whistle of an arrow flying through the air. The note was caught and struck dead by the sand as the arrow hit the path with distinctive abruptness. Brother and sister broke their gaze and looked at the protruding shaft. A tense stillness hung in the air as they contemplated the intent of the arrow. It was unlikely that an elven archer would concievibly miss a mark at such a distance. A blast of sand and large, scythe-like appendages arced across the sandy path, blindly cutting down whatever imagined prey had disturbed the creature. The siblings, their quarrel dropped, clung to one another defensively, each trying to shield the other from whatever terror had erupted from the ground, scant meters from their feet. Willow's shriek was drowned out as she buried her face in her brother's shoulder. Puzzle, held her close, himself blanched pale and shaking. The scythe-like claw had dragged its way through the sand and vanished underneath, leaving only a gentle ripple in the surface more reminisecant of the tranquil gravel gardens of certain monastics than of such a brutal force of carnage. Puzzle vaguely noted that the dark elves were cautiously making their way towards them. 'Oh Willow, what have I gotten us into?' he despairingly mused. A sheen of perspiration glazed his forehead. Willow felt the elves approach and culled her sobs, forcing herself back into some sembalence of composure despite her flushed and tear-streaked face. As she stepped forward to meet the elves, she felt her brother stagger and go limp. He gently dropped to the ground with a soft thud and jingle from the myriad of trinkets tucked in his clothes. Slightly stunned, Willow could only stand there between the elves and her fainted brother's limp body, her mouth gaping like a cod as she desperatly sought words to say. Z'lia carefully picked her way across the sand, Felix on her heels. Her eyes darted between the two half-elves and the path clear of traps. She saw the female take a step out, then the male faint behind her. "Oh great," she muttered to Felix. She spared a moment to turn to her companion and poke him in the chest. "You get to carry him," she insisted before continuing her slow, deliberate pace. Flinging her hand up toward the woman, she said again, in a softer tone, "Stay where you are. Don't move until we're there." Muttering again, she glanced at their horses. "Now what are we going to do about those poor things?" Felix nodded his head and walked toward to falling form of Puzzle he then picked him up and put him on his shoulder silently muttering about how he should lose some wait. When the dark elves reached the otherside, Z'lia went to the young woman's side. "Just relax, you are safe by my side. I will let no harm befall you," Z'lia reassured her. "You should tie your horses here. The crossing is too dangerous for them." The dark elves came up to them, the male bent down and slung Puzzle over his shoulder. With piercing eyes, the woman comforted Willow, instructing her, "Just relax, you are safe by my side. I will let no harm befall you. You should tie your horses here. The crossing is too dangerous for them." Dumbly, Willow nodded, grateful to have a sensible voice guiding them. She wrapped and tie the reigns to the stoutest branches she could see, far enough away from the deadly trail to keep the horses from stumbling into their own death but only as far she was willing to step into the forboding wood. With a violent shake, Puzzle came to. He yelped and flailed in a panicked moment of drifting back into consciousness only to discover yourself several feet above the ground. He wasn't sure if he slid out of a startled dark elf's grip or if he was simply dropped by someone not in the mood to deal with his hysterical flailing. Puzzle's pride insisted it was the former. He picked himself up off the ground and froze, his mind assessing whether he was on or off the sand. He saw dark soil under his feet and breathed a sigh of relief. Willow touched her hand to his shoulder, he turned and nodded to her, letting her know he was doing well enough. His pride bruised, he tried to recoup his personal concept of stature. "Ah, *cough*, um, thank you. Please forgive my, um, curtness before. We're in a dire rush, you see. Kiran and Toan struck out on the search earlier than anticipated and we're desperatly trying to catch up with them." "It's alright and I'm sorry I dropped you." Felix replied. Z'lia nodded as the male spoke. "I forgive you, I wouldn't be too trusting if I were in your place either," she replied to the young half-elf. "I am Z'lia, and this is Felix. Kiran led us along with eighteen other dark elves from Dark Town to the Castle to save two women they care for. That's all I know," Z'lia talked to try and distract the two from the present danger. "Now, who are you two?" The dark woman briefly recounted the tale of what brought them there and then turned to the half-elves to provied their own story, and justification. Willow began. "This is my half brother, Puzzle, formerly of the Foolish Fire Drake Circus troupe of the North Fire Desert. I am Willow, from Moss..." Here Puzzle cut in, "She is the Lady Willow from the Moss duchy of Griff. We've travelled to the island to find our sister who is also, apparently, the consort of your associate, Toan." Z'lia smiled, "Well then, Puzzle and Willow, shall we continue? Just follow in my footsteps and we should be fine," the dark elf assured them. She turned aside to her companion and said softly. "Felix, follow behind, keep ready." She gave the siblings another reassuring smile before turning her back and slowly walking out onto the sand. It didn't seem like such a bad thing at the moment. He wasn't even sure why he did it. Maybe he was still a bit addled from fainting. Perhaps he was unconsciously venting some pent up frusteration from their convienently forgotten argument. Maybe he just did something stupid. Everyone is entitled to indulge in the occasional stupid act. The stone was sitting right there across the flagstone. The four of them were partially to the steps. Somewhere in the recesses of him mind, a voice screamed "No!" but the impluse was already travelling down his leg. His boot scuffed against the stone and with a scraping "clink", the stone sailed a few feet away and landed solidly on the sand with a dull thump. They froze. Nothing. Willow sigh out of profound relief and turned to Puzzle shouting, "If you do something like that again I shall tie you up myself!" She turned and stomped her foot. A claw arched up for the sand, towering over Willow and striking down with the point between her feet. She screamed and fell back into her brother's arms. Felix rushed past the everyone and took out his rapier and looked back at Puzzle and Willow. "Me and Z'lia can take care of this Lurker you two go inside now!" Z'lia lept infront of the Lurker, her own short sword drawn. "Run!!" she yelled to the two. They weren't too far from the stone, the two could make it. To insist even further, Z'lia grabbed Willow by the arm and hauled her to her feet, pushing her and Puzzle further. In the few seconds that took, the Lurker was aware there was prey within reach. It swung it's pincher at Felix and Z'lia, hitting the woman across the shoulder and sending her flying across the sand. Z'lia slid to a halt, and froze. Beneath her, she felt the sand shift. Ever so slowly, a funnel grew in the sand before her and a claw lanced out. It was slow motion, even her body rolling aside felt as if she were surrounded by jelly instead of air. Time returned to it's normal speed as the claw impaled itself in the ground where she had just been, sending up a flurry of sand. Meanwhile, the first monster focused it's attention on Felix... Z'lia hauled herself to her feet. Her shoulder ached, along with her hip and thigh where she had hit the ground. "Falaris curse you monster..." she growled and quickly pulled out her bow and nocked an arrow. She let loose the bolt and it struck true in one of the Lurker's 8 eyes. It screamed and drew back, then lashed out with it's pinchers toward the direction the arrow had come from. Z'lia easily jumped out of reach, but she hadn't been thinking clearly. The sand she landed on was soft and gave way under her weight. Another den. Z'lia rolled away from this one as well before it could grab her. Thank Marfa for elven speed. She was in the clear of those two now, with no more dens this close to the wall. She leapt up to the top of the wall, giving herself the chance to breath and survey the situation safely. Her heart was pounding, threatening to beat right out of her chest. From her new vantage, she had a clear shot of the Lurker attacking Felix. The two she had disturbed had settled back into their dens. Nocking another arrow, she drew back as far as she could and released, aiming at the Lurker's head. It hit it's mark and the beast screeched in pain. Puzzle didn't even feel the urge to express indignation at being so bruskly and unceremonioulsy shoved away. Large homicidal monsters tend to inspire humility and tolerance. Arm in arm, the half-elves bounded down the remainder of the path and up the steps to supposed safety. If not actually safety, at least it was less overtly dangerous at the steps. They kept going in a panicked flush, their feet and hearts pounding. The echos of their footfalls convinced them they were not alone but that the pursuit was still in play. At the top of the steps they were met by the gaping maw of the door and the blackness that echoed hollow. They paused and turned to check their escorts only to see that they were still below the steps, engaged with the loathsome creatures. Z'lia couldn't leave Felix to defend himself in such close ranger when her arrows didn't do nearly enough damage. So, she hopped down from the wall and bolted across the path to his side. She dropped her bow during her run, choosing to take up her sword instead. When she reached Felix, she dropped to her knees and slid across the sand to ram her blade through it's underside. The Lurker screamed, but still flailed about more. Though she'd grown up knowing about these creatures, she didn't know how to kill them, only how to avoid them. From the top of the steps they saw the horrid creature looming over the elven archer as she slid into the sand. Willow began to bolt back down the steps, her hand drawing her blade, when she felt Puzzle grab her arm and thrust her back toward the relative safety of the landing while he, himself, bounded towards the fray. Willow cursed, muttering, "You'll not keep me from such things as honor," and followed down him regardless. In midstep, Puzzle reached into one of his many folds and drew out a shining and deceptively heavy sliver of metal, a dart with a ribbon of brilliant scarlet dangling from one end. Likely as good as throwing this against a wall, he thought but lept into the air and, with a deft flick of his wrist, sent the glittering dart soaring through the air. It struck the monster with an audiable crack and imbedded itself in the black exoskeleton covering its head, the ribbon wavering and fluttering brightly but seeming to do little more. Still, even sparrows can chase off a hawk. Puzzle had bought the briefest pause with his dart and hoped the dark elf could take advantage. He stood at the the base of the steps with a fistfull of shining toys, poised and ready to let them fly. Willow joined his side and stood insistantly, despite her brother's scowling. "I wanted you to stay on the landing!" "You're not my keeper!" she retorted, her blade hissing as she slid it from its scabbard. They watched, hoping for something other than more tragedy to befall their eyes. Berry stepped through the door and onto the landing, blinking under the first sunlight she's seen since... since when? How many days had they been held in that hole? She shrugged. Don't know. Don't care. It's done. That's all. She looked down and saw more fighting. A small clutch of elves against something unspeakably dreadful. She frowned and muttered, "This sucks." More fighting, more people, more stupidity. These were the last things she wanted right now. Knowing that the best way to survive a conflit is to avoid it in the first place, she lept from the landing into the branches of a nearby large and gnarled tree. A brief moment of twitching branches and she dropped down to the ground and disapperared into the nearby black and forboding woods. Puzzle and Willow, hearing voices, turned their gaze from the fray and looked up at the landing. They recognized Toan and Kiran, and between them was a woman. The half-elves hearts soared in joy but than took pause. Willow leaned over to her brother and whispered, "I didn't think she'd be so dark..." He turned and hissed in response, "Don't be so daft, that's Moryssa!" "Oooh!" Puzzle turned his eyes back to the fray and squeezed his sister's arm. "Willow, go help them on the landing, I'll watch down here." Willow nodded and sprinted up the steps even as she heard Puzzle jingle the trinkets he held in his fist and then the distinctive whistle and thunk of another being thrown and hitting it's mark. Berry had taken a perch in a nearby tree. Not heartless nor utterly self-absorbed, she wasn't about to simply abandon her travelling companions and partner in torment but she had reservations about walking directly into a fight especially with people she didn't know. This small forest bothered her. There was a sort of patina of something unsavory covering everything. Like a fine dust that she could sense ot some level but not brush away. Still, food was food. She reached out and plucked several of the odd looking fruits hanging from the nearby branch. They smelled unlike any other fruit she'd ever had. They tasted sour but not unpleasently so. She blithly sat in the tree munching away, spitting out the pits and watching the little drama unfold. Felix dogded the Lurker's slashing claws, trying to find the chance to penetrate a soft spot. Z'lia had slid down under the beast, now it looked as if she were stuck. Dark elf woman yanked at her sword imbedded in the Lurker's underside as it screeched and writhed in pain. "Z'lia! Let go of the..umph!" Felix was hit across the midsection by a flailing appendage. At least he didn't slid as far as she did. Z'lia screamed as the beast started crushing her legs under it's wieght, it was to late for her to escape now. "Falaris woman!" he growled and pulled himself to his feet. Raising his hand to his lips, he began to call to the spirits for help, "I call upon thee salamander, spirit of flame, come and let your fury consume this beast!" Red glows began to appear surrounding the Lurker, quickly becoming brighter and the air around the Lurker crackled with heat. The monster, now desperatly trying to flail away the flames, lifted it's body without a care to the fact it left itself open for attack. Felix came running back, sword drawn, hollering a battle cry. He lept up to the Lurker's raised head, then rammed his blade through it's bottom jaw into the primitive brain. In the beast's final fight for life, one of the razor sharp pinchers managed to impale itself through Felix's torso. The dark elf screamed in pain, then was tossed aside, the blade of a forelimb ripped violently from his gut. Z'lia had been able to crawl out from beneath the monster when it reared up, leaving the killing blow to Felix. Her legs hurt, it felt as if both tibulia were broken, but she was a strong woman. She ignored the pain the best she could while she crawled to the steps to the feet of Puzzle and Willow. Out in the sand, Felix was fighting for life. The pincher had managed to severe his spine and puncture both lungs. From about the base of his sternum down, he could feel nothing. Z'lia couldn't make out much, now that her pulse slowed and the adrenaline was begining to wear off, the pain in her legs was on the verge of causing her to black out. She could make out Felix in the distance, there was a bloody mess on his chest and the sand was soaking up the blood flowing out from beneath him. She felt tears trickling down her cheeks, though she could barely comprehend what was happening around her. She held onto consciousness and waited at the half-elves' feet, murmuring prayers for Felix and her sister. Kiran had his arm wrapped around Moryssa, for both their support. Behind him followed what remained of his little army of elves. Bandor had made it, with yet another battle scar to show. Myrela was being carried by Jaron, handsome young Derim was gone. He gently kissed Moryssa's forehead, then smirked. He knew he could do it. What did Altaris know? Kiran couldn't wait until they got back to Dark Heaven. Willow dashed up the steps but froze midway when she heard the screams. Seperated by a score of steps, both Puzzle and Willow could only stand and stare helplessly as they witnessed the brutality. Willow winced and could feel her own shins ring with pain in sympathy. The flames erupted and reflected in Puzzle's eyes, shining a sinister image of red on green. He reached out to the struggling dark elven woman as she despretely crawled and drapped herself to the steps. Willow cast a look towards the dark elf contingent standing at the top and called out, "Help us!" and lept back down toward her brother. She touched his shoulder and took the other hand of Z'lia just as a silence fell. It wasn't that things grew quieter. It was just the illusion of calm that's remembered just prior to something truely horrid. A strangled cry hung in the air and then was cut short. Tossed like a rag doll, the body of the other dark elf was cast about by the creature and, finally, possibly mercifully, wholly torn asunder. Willow staggered, damp and pale and loosing her grip of the elven woman's hand. The half elf doubled over and violently retched onto the sand, her body shaking uncontrollably. Puzzle pulled the Z'lia onto the steps, clearing her from the deadly sand before turning to his sister. "Willow! Willow! Are you alright?" The panic could be heard in his voice. She opened her eyes and saw her hands planted firmly on a patch of sand. She shrieked and tumbled back, hugging herself. Puzzle caught her, calling up to the landing, "Help us!" before holding his beloved sister, hugging her, caressing and wiping her cheek with his palm, babbling to her, "Willow, Willow, you're ok, you're ok. Don't look out there, don't look, you're ok..." Up from her perch, Berry sat as a silent witness to these events. She couldn't eat anymore of the fruits, her stomach, her very being, was made heavy and sick by the slaughter that happened beneath her dangling legs. She just wanted to go home. Kiran took in the scene in front of him. Felix's violent death, Z'lia crawling desperately to safety. And Puzzle and Willow. Bandor was the first to react to Z'lia. The big dark elven man with a four month old scar across his face pushed passed Kiran and hurried to Z'lia's side with a limp. He lifted her easily and cradled her, much to the surprise of Kiran. He never knew Bandor cared so much for the mercenary elf. "Falaris..." Kiran murmured. Then the dark power that had been overshadowing Lodoss took hold. The dead Lurker twitched as it came back to un-life. "Falaris!" Kiran cursed aloud this time. "We don't need this!" He pulled away from Moryssa regretfully, then stood to summon Phoenix. This spell would take out both Lurker and Felix's corpse. Perhaps even a few other Lurkers. Not to mention solidfy the sand so no more monsters could attack. "Might Phoenix, let your righteous flames consume the powers of Darkness!" A glowing hawk-like form appeared in the overcast sky and flew upwards into a loop. On the way back down, it folded it's wings and dove to the ground where the undead Lurker and Felix lay. A bright flash of flame across the sand, then the light faded as Phoenix's deed was done. All that was left of the Lurker was a brittle grey exo-skeleton cemented into what used to be sand. A few remaining flickers of flame sparkled their reflection in the glass. Kiran collapsed to his knees from exhaustion and one of the dark elves behind him stepped forward. Summoning Slyph, the dark elf blew sand across the glassy with powerful winds. Kiran smiled up at the elf, whom he didn't know. It was a useful gesture, better than slipping all over the place when trying to cross the safe spot. Pulling himself to his feet, he put his arm around Moryssa's shoulder again. "Come on people, lets go," he said solemnly. He'd have to talk to Puzzle and Willow when he had a little more strength back. Puzzle looked up as he heard Kiran bellowing out "Might Phoenix, let your righteous flames consume the powers of Darkness!" The half-elf, still remebering Kiran's display with the wayward dwarf, snorted, muttering "Like you're one to talk." His contempt was derailed as the firey form descended, taking Puzzle's breath away and leaving him awestruck. Her shaking subsiding, Willow calmed as she watched the "cleansing" of the path but curried fear in her heart towards the dark elf. From the top, they heard him give the command, "Come on people, lets go." Puzzle helped his sister to her feet and met the three as they came down from the landing. Puzzle began, asking hopefully, "But what of our sister?" Willow interceded, "Please, don't tell us the worst. Where is she?" The one of the dark elves nodded his head towards the sterilized path. Puzzle and Willow watched as a lithe half elf dropped from the branches over hanging the sand and landed in a crouch. With a stick, she poked at the ominous gray remains of the lurker, fascinated as the remains crumbled and fell away. She circled the creature, crouching down to inspect and explore this "thing" and was completely engrossed with her "find", totally oblivious to the rest of the party. Moryssa held on to Kiran as if for dear life. She was so tired and to be in his loving arms..."I love you." She whispered softly in his ear. The kidnapping and torture didn't matter anymore. She didn't know who the person who died was, and frankly didn't care. She didn't know him, so his death was nothing but, well, a death. Kiran smiled and kissed Moryssa's forehead. "I love you too Mory," he said softly and held her close. He glanced to the path ahead, watching Berry poke at what was left of the Lurker. He hoped Akaria or Luda could heal their wounds when they got back. It would be a shame to see Berry's pretty face marred by those scars. Or to have Moryssa's belly scarred by the runes. He shuddered remembering what they had made her do. One of his elves pointed out Berry to Puzzle and Willow. "This is going to be interesting," he murmured, genuinly interested in the meeting. He reached the path, arm around Moryssa, then stepped tentatively onto the sanded glass. It had good traction, thankfully. "Now I wish I had brought the horses. You know what Altaris did Mory? He threw daggers into our horses' knees so they couldn't carry us. He tried to stop us, but well, no fool knight will hold me back from you," he said with a grin. "I can't wait to see the look on his face when we show up," Kiran added with a chuckle. Moryssa's eyes darkened when Kiran told her what happened to the horses. "Leave it to a half breed to ruin the moment. When I get back, I'll rip him apart!" For one who fought for the goddess of life AND claimed to be half elf, he didn't seem to respect life that much. An eye, for a scratch, Moryssa chuckled to herself. Kiran hugged Moryssa, so thankful she was safe for the most part. "Well, he didn't hurt your Vyanea. She's safe in a stable with all your things. I made sure to bring her with us," he assured her. Kiran was quite anxious to return to Dark Heaven so she could recieve healing from Akaria or Luda. With that thought, he added, "We gained a few more people to our party. Including two priestesses." He motioned to Puzzle and Willow ahead. "Those two we found too. Apparently they are related to Berry, they definately look it. The young man is Puzzle, and the woman is Willow." Puzzle and Willow looked out over the glare sand, regarding their supposed sister. It had been such a quest to find her that they never really considered what to do once they actually found her. Besides, she was so, well, so... queer. They caught snatches of Kiran related their journey to his beloved, Moryssa. They heard her spit out, "Leave it to a half breed to ruin the moment. When I get back, I'll rip him apart!" The half-siblings slowly craned their necks towards the Dark elven woman. Puzzle narrowed his eyes at the slight, staring at her briefly before returning his attention to his new sister. Willow's horror could not be so easily concealed and looked on Moryssa agast, with the same expression as one would give to a guest at a royal banquet who had just loudly and unabashedly passed wind during the soup course. She kept turning her head, looking back at Moryssa, not so much offended by the comment but astonished that Moryssa herself wouldn't be more ashamed by uttering such a faux pas. Down on the path, Berry was still poking and exploring the smoleding remains when she heard the hooves of a horse clacking against stones and the shuffling of human feet. She looked up a moment and regarded the elderly man... and then completely ignored him and returned to her poking. The old mage ended the invisability spells surrounding himself and his warsteed, then he stepped forward leading his horse out from behind a nearby grove of blacked trees. His keen eyes shining, the old mage had missed little of that occurred, or been said. in the group ahead of him. "Most strange... that elves, even dark elves, would travel so close to the ruins of Castle Conquera, still cursed with the power of darkness!" The old wizard spoke loudly so all could hear. "I was right in my deciding to follow them, eh... Old Totter?" He added softly, speaking then to his horse. With one gnarled hand the mage gripped his wooden staff, while he began speaking yet again to those ahead of him. "Hail and faremet to yee all Elves and Such! I am known in some places as Kaladron White Beard, and hold no small talent in magic, even if I say so meself! It is good to see the living, in this dark place. I trust that is proper for me to approach closer, and be afforded the safety and companionship of fellow travelers?" Then slowly the old mage moved his horse forward, watching for any signs of hostility. Up ahead, Kiran heard a voice call, "Hail and faremet to yee all Elves and Such! I am known in some places as Kaladron White Beard, and hold no small talent in magic, even if I say so meself! It is good to see the living, in this dark place. I trust that is proper for me to approach closer, and be afforded the safety and companionship of fellow travelers?" Berry had gone up ahead, not at all noticing her half-siblings it seemed. The Lurker's exoskeleton held more interest. She had met the one who called, a bearded human man, looking like your stereotypical sorceror, but turned away. Kiran and Moryssa slowly approached the sorceror, limping along in exhaustion. "Well, Sir Kaladron Whitebeard," Kiran started, eyeing the mage coldly. "You missed the battle. We're heading home, or at least to a place where we can stay for the night." That was all Kiran had to say. He was exhausted, aching, and wanted to return back to the castle as soon as possible. Bandor spared Kaladron a glance as he hurried by with Z'lia in her arms. "Where are we going Kiran?" he asked. Z'lia was in bad condition, as was Myrela and a few other elven warriors. They needed help as soon as possible. Kiran wanted to get his and Toan's horses as well as their belongings, but some of their number wouldn't make the journey. With that thought, Kiran spun around to speak to this Kaladron. "If you wish to be of help to us, perhaps you could open a portal to our destination?" he asked the sorceror. "Battle? Help? What makes yee think that I wish to he..." The old mage began, then he suddenly sighed and admitted. "A portal is within my power to create, though this using such a spell this close to Castle Conquera, would bs risky indeed! Your need and that of your compainions seems grave. Where is it that you wish a portal opened too, Sir...... ah?" "Kiran," he said when the sorceror fumbled for a name. "To a stronghold called Dark Heaven. Do you know where that is?" "Yes Kiran, I do indeed, know of the place called Dark Heaven. Sir Azoth and Lord Aldarite are loyal allies of all the good and true people that suffer here on Marmo. They have done much to help many in the surrounding towns and villages. I can create a portal to bring you no nearer than 100 yards from Dark Heaven. Lord Aldarite has placed great magics upon his castle, his lands and Dark Heaven's inhabitants. So that even within a few yards of Dark Haven, it is possible not to see, or find it, let alone find a way inside it. You must hope that they find you! If you wish to risk it, I'll open a portal, for you, to a location somewhere nearby Dark Heaven?" The old mage finshed speaking and awaited Kiran's reply. Kiran nodded. "That would be perfect. Thank you, Kaladron," he replied. "A place along the road would be best." Kiran still was certain if he should trust this strange sorceror, but it was probably best not to look a gift horse in the mouth. He just wanted to get Moryssa to saftey. The old mage tied his horse to a tree, then turned back to Kiran, sighed and spoke. "Call your people near, once I summon forth the portal, I may not be able to hold it long, for I sense that a great evil still hunts this place!" The one calling himself Kaladron, then raised his staff into the air above his head, and chanted the ancient words. "I call thee forth, spirits of the wind and time it'self, to do my bidding! Through the forgotten mists of time, make of this spinning staff of enchanted wood, a portal through which these beings may stride across thy twisted strands of mystic fabric. Open this portal to the road nearst Marmo's Dark Heaven! Make this gateway safe and sure! Great Changeling spirits, fulfill my lawful purpose!" The mage's staff spun faster and faster till it was a blur of light. Then he moved it down between himself and Kiran, till the blur of light remained only at it's very edges. The spinning staff was now an opening, showing the roadway nearest Dark Heaven. A great wind swept from and through it. "Go NOW Kiran! Take your friends through! I know not how long I can hold it stable!" The old mage cried out in a harsh shout. Puzzle and Willow watched as the staff blurred and glowed, rending the air and erupting into a brilliant disk to someplace much nicer than where they were. Still not certain how to begin, they rushed near Berry, beckoning her towards the gate. The queer, wild half elf looked up at the gathering and shook her head defiantly. "Nu-uh." "Berry," began Puzzle, "Come. Let us go to safety together. We have lots to discuss." "Nope. No more magic." They stared at her dumbfounded. "Um, it's not safe here. Let's go." "Nu-uh. Who are you anyway? Go away." Puzzle reached out and took Berry by the shoulder, pleading with her, "Berry, please... AWWAOOOWW!!! The stupid bitch bit me!" Willow put her hand to mouth in astonishment. Berry hunched down and snarled at the pair. "Don't touch me! No more frikkin' magic! Stupid people always trying to do things the easy way, always takin' shortcuts!" Puzzle shook his wrist, staring at the teeth marks as Willow could only find it in herself to turn and stare pleadingly at the others for help or explaination. Watching the rest of the surviving entourage file throught he gate, Puzzle grabbed his indolent half-sister by the back of her collar and yanked her to the shimmering disk that lead to relative safety. Kicking, screaming and thrashing, an exhausted Berry had no choice but to be hauled away. Following a few steps behind, Willow paused and exclaimed, "Oh, the horses!" Puzzle, what little patience he had, was lost on the sandy path in memories of a painful bite on his wrist, shoved Berry through the portal and was in midstep himself when he turned and saw Willow dashing away. "Willow! No, leave them! We have to--" His words were cut off as the channel caught his arm and forcefully drew him through and spat him out the other end. Willow ran to the steeds, shouting out, "Just a moment! I'm coming! I'll only be half a moment!" As Willow ran backward through the portal, the staff seemed to spin backwards out of the mage's control. A loud thunder clap rang out, as the portal came crashing, to a close. The old mage nearly fell backwards as well as the staff flew back into his hand. "What have you done? Foolish one! I have not the strength to reopen that portal! I am sorry, but you will have to find your way back alone." The mage looked at Willow, with eyes that showed annoyance and pity at the same time. Then he turned and walked slowly towards Castle Conquera. "There is more that needs to be done here." He mumbled into the wind. She stared, dumbfounded at the empty space where just a moment ago hung the path back to safety. The mage had turned his back to her and was walking away, towards the castle. "But..." Her jaw hung open like a carp. "Puzzle? Anyone?" The air swallowed her voice. A wind blew. She felt very cold. * * * Willow stood alone by the horses in the desolation outside of the Castle. Her boots made faint high pitched squeaking and crunching sounds as she gingerly stepped arcoss the scorched path. "Anyone? Hello?" The stench of the baked monster lingered despite the breeze and it's charred, grey husk unnerved her. Gone. They were gone and she was alone in a very bad place. Her hands shaking, she fumbled to untie the reins, the horses snorting and fussing over their own anxieties regarding the place. "Now hush, you," she repremanded, "We'll... um, we'll be on our way in just half a... just half a moment." Her own voice wasn't as reassuring as she'd hoped for her own ears. Willow tied the reins of one horse to the saddle of the one she would ride. Sufficiently secured, she mounted her steed and worriedly clicked her tongue, gently spuring the animal on. "Shall we, than? Truely, there's no need to stay in a dreadful shadow, now is there?" She followed the perimeter of the castle to the opposite side, where she and Puzzle first reached the ancient ruins. The decayed road that lead away from this place and, eventually, back to the Dark Heaven stretched out before her. The gravel crunched beneath the horses' hooves as they carefully made their way. She was hungry. The horses were probably just as famished. There was still a foul taste in her mouth from when she was sick. She would have to keep an eye out for grasses for the horses and maybe a stream. She would like to wash herself a bit. * * * The old mage had waited till the female had safely gone. Then he bagan his long descent into the ruins. With each step he moved, the years of age seemed to melt and drop away. At last, he no longer moved with the stiff gait of old Kaladron. His white hair grew out into long blonde locks, his face grew smooth and almost too girlish. The old mage had entered the ruins of Castle Conquera, but it was a young, strong, wizard in his prime, that moved ever deeper into Conquera's darkness. "I KNOW you are here evil one! I can sense it! SHOW yourself! Be it your doom or mine, the fates shall degree it today!" Cecil struck the ground with his serpent staff, sending shock waves, ever deeper and deeper into the ground. Anubus felt the shockwaves. How weird, he was bieng 'summoned' to fight. That was a rarity, but he would be happy to rip him limb from limb. He focosed the dark spirits and had them envelop him, a bit faster way of travel then to simply walk. "Hmph, I seem to be getting many visitors this day." He said, appearing several meters away from Cecil. "But you should know you'll likely be the one to die. In any event, it matters little, the cogs of fate have already been put into motion." He chuckled. "Surely even a human like yourself can feel it. The exquisite feeling of darkness across lodoss. Do you think by destroying me that you'll change this?" Cecil's staff struck yet one more time, as Anubus appeared. Cecil took two steps forward his movement becoming a blur, though his voice rang out clear and strong. "I call upon the six Guardian spirits of life and love to multiply my form! Confound this servant of darkness!" Before him Anubus beheld seven images of Cecil, each holding a serpent staff, and each moving and speak as the one nearest it. All the images of Cecil spoke then again. "Yes! I sense the darkness of this place, the old evil of the Darkone herself still abides here, long after her distruction. I seek not to destroy thee, only to send thee back into the darkness where you truly belong! For, I sense that YOU are of a differing evil. What, or whom, has summoned thee here, and for what evil event have you moved these cogs of fate, you speak of?" Anubus cocked his head slightly to the side, looking at each image with a simple smile. "Oh, I didn't cause it. No, I'm sorry to say, I wouldn't have been able to. Actually, some fool simply... fell on it, so to speak." He chuckled. "But thats all I really know about it. Its power makes my own and the little chaos army look like... hmm, worms to humans? Thats the only thing I can think of. So, instead of opposing it, I see what it does, and I suppose i'll help it. It makes more sense to simply follow the inevitable rather then go against it." He simply shrugged. "As for who summoned me... you know him as Wagnard. But that was some time ago. I was suppose to be the vanguard of lady Kardis, but you pathetic humans and that dog faced goddess Marfa ended that, didn't she? As for what... hmm, I suppose you could call me an avatar of her. Few bodies are suitable hosts for an avatar, or a god, I'm sure Wagnard must have been in utter ecstacy that he found a slave boy with a suitable body." He unsheathed his sword, it gave off an ethereal glow in the darkness. Anubus pointed it at each image of Cecil. "Anyway, you should know, few people have the power and knowledge to defeat me. If you could get Karla's assistance, or Wagnard himself, then perhaps... but a girlish little boy has no chance." With an angry glare in their eyes the immages of Cecil stepped forward towards the Anubus, evil one. "I may not have the power to defeat you, oh puppet of Kardis, but I have the power to drive you from this place. Like all the defeated slaves of Kardis, you've hidden in the darkness for too long! It has blinded your sight! I call now upon all the powers of the light, and unbounded goodness, still alive in all this world's creatures, to illuminate every wall and tunnel of and this ruin. Blind this evil wretch, and drive it from this place!" As the seven images of Cecil raised their serpent staffs, brillant light burst forth from them, and traveled forth thoughout the ruins of Castle Conquera, so that in every dark place, the bright light of the sun shone forth. Anubus growled as he covered his eyes from the light. How dare this little upstart defile his home! The dark spirits had left, cowering wherever there was darkness. But despite this Anubus stood. "You think that you can do this without retibution!? Indeed, I may be driven from my home for a while, but once your dead, it'll only be a matter of time before this place returns to normal!" He held his hand out, despite bieng weakened, he wasn't destroyed. "Evil spirit of Kardis, goddess of darkness! Raise again, I invoke you!" He paused, a smirk comming to his face as he looked from each image. "You believe that, while she is dead, she doesn't have power. Allow me to introduce you to her!! The hand of Kardis!!" As he spoke the words the shadow hand appeared and shot out toward one of the several images of Cecil. The shadowy hand grasps the image of Cecil and there is an explosion of magic and light! The Cecil image vanishes. The six remaining Cecil images smile as if one. Yet the eyes of the young wizard strain, looking for any signs that the shadow might remain. * * * Cecil had searched in vain, inside Castle Conquera for any trace of the evil, dark, Anubus. Finding none, he at long last, returned to the surface. So young wizard set out alone. His magic mirror spell was long exhasted. After retriving his loyal horse, from where he tied him, Cecil traveled the road Northwest, toward Salbad, though a sense of foreboding clung and echoed in every shadow he passed.