The water is getting way too deep.

Well, if I had a slow and boring time to report before, it's anything but now.

The first thing we did was get the fuck away from that ship and out of the den. Ann took the man with the odd hat's telling us to 'grab the wind' a bit litterally, which is funny as hell to see an elf snatching at blowing air, but a simply touch to the stone blowing wind at us and we got back into the citadel.

I stuck my tongue out at her for minutes after that one- it's just plain not often that Ann looks a bit silly and I don't. Usually the other way around.

Back in the citadel, the first thing we did was was to the young cleric that had been so taken with Illoria. He might have information- or know where we could get it- on her father, who was a were hunter, and therefore give us a few steps in the direction we needed to go about getting back two of our friends taken by the man who had been our sire.

That was, admitedly, fairly simple as well- we found him in a beautiful garden area, and after some soft greetings, explained to him what happened to Illoria. We then used her 'memory' as an excuse to find information on her father. I felt like a real piss, using her as an excuse, but hey, whatever works. He was shocked and wounded when Ann rather bluntly delivered the news, but he brought us to an older man anyway.

Poor thing- the boy, that is- kept drifting off into stunned, pensive silence. Dispite myself, I understood; our situations were very differant, as the person I was in puppy love with had not just become a bear. But I understood the emotion behind his expression none the less- I'd spent the past month feeling pretty much the way he looked.

He took us to this older man, and this one told us a bit about her father, yes. Relunctantly as all fuck, though, and it was like pulling teeth to get anything from him. And really, we didn't find out much more then we knew.

About the only I interesting thing we found out was why he didn't seem to be burried where everyone said he was. The grave, the man said, had been moved to protect him, shelter him. So that no one could defile the hunter or do unpleasent things to the man after death. The were would have jumped at the chance, this man told us. The rest of the information given was pretty generic- her father had died at the hands of bandits after his gifts as a hunter had been stripped from him, outside child-Illoria's home, while child-Illoria had been in the woods. He had been one of the best, while he was. But if we wanted more information then that- well. We would have had to promise- give an oath, in fact, and I am really starting to fucking hate oaths- that we would do nothing with his information except use it as just what it was- knowledge.

Do nothing with it unless we swore ourselves to the empress and became just more citadel dogs. If we acted in anyway on what he told us as outsiders, then we were not covered by any laws.....and if we killed anyone, deserving of it or not, we were murderers, nothing more. Even if it was in self-defense- if we put ourselves in a situation of 'kill to survive', we were not protected by laws. It's stupid. Just a few months ago, I would have protested this feircly, pouted and sulked over it, growled and grumbled. But I felt strangly calm, if frustrated, and I understood his words. He wasn't trying to be unforthcoming or unhelpful. He was only doing what he must, and obeying the laws he lived by.

I think it was then I realized something. I realized that I'm growing up. It's mostly a forced sort of growing up, but there it is, none the less. It almost scares me.

Stop number two was to find a scholar, someone who could tell us about the west. Now, see, odd little thing to report- I remember things and people at random times, usually when I need them, and this was one of those times. I remembered a scholar that agreed to write us up a book with information on the west, for our 'usual price'- and I just fucking managed to slick my way around that little doozy, luckily, but I don't think the man entirely belived me- and then we left. I think that was, perhaps, the only 'simple' part of our next week.

We left that man, then, after we'd gotten all we could, and moved to our next logical stop. We wanted information on were-who better to ask then a hunter of them? And Ann knew just the guy. We toddled off to the graveyard, where she had last seen him. I've only been here once before, and I forgot how damn creepy the gravekeeper is. He talks to the spirits here, and he- knows things. He may be as creepy as all fuck, but he's not a bad guy, and I can't say I dislike him. He lead us into the graveyard, and proceeded to tell us that his spirits didn't want us to know who or where this hunter was, and they were worried that if we knew, someone else might. Protective of him, it seemed, and in a way, it helped me feel better; in a way it also made me feel worse. I mean, spirits were protective of the guy. It either meant he was someone we wanted to be playing with, or someone we should really avoid.


But in the end, a meeting was arranged for us to rendevouse with the hunter where he wanted, when he wanted. They all seemed able to accept this, if not entirely happy, and we left with the idea that we would know when he was ready to meet with us.

Some further breif conversation, and then we left once more.

Okay, now? Things get a bit messy.

See, we went to another scholar sort of man for imformation about- about Toby, that very special 'person' I mentioned before. And we got way more then expected. An assload of information got dumped on our heads, most of it interesting and helpful tidbits about what Toby and his ilk are, and just what role they played when it came to another complecated part of our lives- vampires.

Suffice to say conversation turned from Toby- after we got an assload of information (I won't say what 'cause then I'd have to say what he is)- to the vampires themselves, and from the vampires to Primov. Yeah, yep, the Big Nasty I explained Ann, Talron and I fought? Well, turns out we really did wake him up. And we did a lot more then that.

I think I mentioned the black orb we took from that place. Well, that, ladies and gentlemen, is Primov's heart. And when we brought it back from the land of the dead, guess what else we brought?
It's like buying fish, and getting home to find out you've picked up a kitten on the way home without knowing it. Not a big shock, and enevitable. Except for I don't expect a kitten is a terrifying monster destined to destory the world. We drag his heart into the real world, ours, and his body is going to follow.

Now, I will say this bluntly. Half-dead, crippled, ancient, and weakened, this monster kicked our asses fuck good. Even though we got out alive and with our goal, he still nearly killed us all. But now? Stronger, maybe? We wouldn't stand a chance.

This man, this surprisingly open and honest man, told us as much as he could about our vampire- about Toby- as he could. Then he told us about the were, and where they'd come from, and we found out some interesting shit.

Vampires made the were. And I don't mean turning-men-to-beasts. These were didn't turn back and forth. These were were what King is- and that is why he calls himself thus.

King of the were.

King is not a man turned into a wolf at the full moon, and he does not need to bite to transfer the disease. That's how the vampires made it, origonally. So that the disease, I suppose, could be spread more quickly. He can turn with just a look at someone.

The vampires made these were like him, and apperantly the orcs as well. They made all kinds of- disease and horrors and brought them right off their little island with them to the rest of the world.

A lot of this part I can't really- I can't put down on paper. There's so much of it, too much to recall off the top of my head. I can't even tell you what all that man told us about, without thinking on it for fucking hours. The jest of it, best as I can sum up, is this.

Here is a prophacy. Here is legenadary horror number one, the Great Red Worm (Wyrm?) and here is number two, our vampire. Here is the Dragon Wars somewhere in the middle of it all.
Here is Ann and Semei, starting the whole mess over again.

Here is Ivy and King, a vampire and a were like no other, realizing that letting Primov awaken would just make them slaves again. Here is Ivy and King, wanting to stop Primov, or so it seems. Here is Primov's heart, in the hands of wizards that fled the vampires.

That is a very rough summary of what we got there, leaving out almost everything we discussed. Not counting Toby, of course. And man, did we find out some interesting shit about him. Like I said, it'd take too long to cover everything even if I could remember it all, and I'd have to ask Ann, and she doesn't even know I'm writting all this down. She'd probably laugh if she did.

So there we were, with all this information flooding our skulls, and gettin' ready to leave, (after rather heated debate as to weather or not let this man tell anyone else about Ivy and King, as I have a completly misplaced and unnessicary protectiveness over King that he does not want and does not need. Fuck me, I have a misplaced and unnessciary protectiveness over all my friends and allies and most of them don't want or need it, so what do I care if it's one more?) When the little matter of the empress's staff came up.

Now, this staff- it's got the power to destory. As far as I know, that's what it's for- to destory. It's in three peices, and our enemies have two of the peices now. But a long time ago, apperantly, Ann did something regarding it that resulted in her using it and now she's been subtly accused of stealing it. As far as I know, that's not true, but then. Well. She hasn't said anything about it to me, and I'm a little concerned, particuarly 'cause she sent Lim Dul off to Shoulwater in case anyone should come looking to arrest him.

Arrest. I don't much like that word.

We finally left, now Ann and I snapping at each other- or rather, me snapping at her and her irritated at the world. And the full moon on the come.

We stayed in our inn for pretty much the rest of our stay, becuse now I was paranoid of the citadel coming for us as much as the were, and she was just paranoid about the were. We slept in shifts, and the night of the full moon, I was surprised I got to sleep at all.

I didn't get it long.

About two hours in, I was shaken awake by Ann, poking me with an arrow. Of course, that makes my brain go oh fuck, the elf is armed, because whenever Ann is armed and I am not, it means she has seen or heard something I havn't, and I did not like not having my dagger in my hand. I didn't like not being able to fucking see in the dark.

While she tracked our intruder's progress over our roof, I eased back onto the bed to my gear, and by the time I could see what was going on, our window was open and a form had slipped inside. He payed no nevermind to me, giving me a chance to collect myself, and I only spoke up when I saw it was a man. An exceptional man, but never the less, not a wolf. Our hunter.

I will admit it here and now. If ever there was sex on two legs, he was it. He could have called me to heel and you bet your ass I'd have done it.

No, I don't mean he was attractive. It's weird- I barely even recall what he looks like. Feature-wise, that is.

I remember eyes as hard and unforgiving as any I'd ever seen, with no sufferance for fools and no visible kindness. But they weren't cruel eyes, either, not mean eyes. I remember a voice that rasped almost as much as King's, a growl by itself without any help from wolf blood as far as I knew. Deep, feral voice, on a man that did not waste words.

He was, in every line of his body, in every movement, a preditor.

He started the conversation by telling us point blank that he was not interested in helping us or reciving aid from us. We were not of the citadel and therefore nothing to him. The girls the were held capitive also meant nothing, or so he said. But when we pressed him for information, he gave it, almost willingly.

The were that had been our sire was named Feng. Fang? It was hard to tell which he prounounced it as, and honestly, I don't give a fuck. This messed up son of a bitch had learned how to gain power by killing his own sire, by killing those more powerful then himself. Vampires did it, our hunter said, and apperantly this were had learned how through them. Or by stealing it from them.

He said we didn't stand a chance, trying to get those girls back, not as we were, and that he couldn't help us narrow down anything weres might be weak to besides what we already knew. Wolves to silver, and such.
He belived the wolf we fought in Naubudel was either not a were, or that Nabudel itself had somehow made the creature less vulnerable to our attacks. Even though my dagger should have torn the bitch from stim to stern, and fuck 'less vulnerable'. There is 'oh, this doesn't hurt the way it should' and then there is 'what the fuck, your guts should be on my boot!'

Yeah.

As we talked, I asked if he knew anything about any war the were might be fighting with humans. Too many, he said, and without a name he couldn't help me. I told him I wasn't sure how safe naming the person would be, and he didn't offer any reassurance. It was simple as black and white, to him. Either I told him who and he told me if he knew, or I didn't and he couldn't.

I was surprised how frightened I was to say Damen's full name out loud, but almost the minute I did, recognition came on the hunter's face.

Somehow, saying Damen's full name made this- real. Solid. Before, when he was just 'Damen', I could say 'oh, he's just some guy'. Or 'he's just pretending to know me'. But saying it all, speaking 'Damen Delfott' in that quiet room on a full moon, clutching my ring like a rope and watching a man who seemed more beast then any werewolf I'd ever seen- it became real.

He said Damen had come scouting ahead for the wizards long before they'd come over, years before they'd come over. And yes, he'd had a woman with him.

Then when he came to my side of the bed and snagged my wrist, studying my ring. And called me by name without me ever having told him it. So there, this hunter would not, I'd bet, be a part of a scheme to make me think I was someone I was not. I'd never met him before in my life, so far as I knew.

But he did bring up a good question. A man who loved me, truely- would they let me be in the postion I was in?

But that question just puts me back at peg one, doesn't it?

Who in the fuck am I?

I tried to get an answer to that question.
When I mentioned to the hunter that everytime I went there a were appered to kill me or one of my friends, he wanted to have me go there, to speak to- someone. When my pressance lured out a were, brought them to me, he'd catch it and kill it.

The catch? It could piss the were off enough to kill our girls.

But at the moment, I did not give a fuck whatsoever.

Flash forward to the next day, round four o clock, when I am wandering the streets as bait with Ann following in shadows by me and Master Hunter, as he wanted to be called (and was more then fitting) no where in sight.

The entire building was trapped, so there was no getting inside, and nothing appered after I'd made a fuss for a good half hour, neither freind or foe.

So I headed down, into the sewers below the building, where I knew another path was. Sadly, while I was activly checking for traps, I missed one and set it off. Ended up with a face full of nasty ass poisen, with a gate blocking off our way. I slipped and got it full, and Ann managed to dart away with a wise ass 'you forget to check again, didn't you?'

I have never in my life wanted to hit anyone more.

I informed her, once out, that yes, I fucking well was checking.

Besides, she hadn't seen it either. Damn uppity ass frustrating elf.

Before we could get into full swing (an argument between she and I is usually fast but viciouse) we were alerted to another pressance.

Apperantly, setting off traps makes one of them come to check what's going on. He didn't see Ann, and he almost didn't see me, leaning on the wall. I simply waved, and didn't he look like a mouse caught in a trap.

"Hi." I said, and grinned. He did not smile back.

How rude.

I don't know what would have happened if I'd drawn my weapon on the man. If I'd demanded to see Damen and not taken 'no' as a reply as I'd planed to. And I had, too- I'd meant to demand to see him, refusing to accept anything less then what I wanted.

But the man had said 'Again? Hasn't it been enough?' And all anger drained out into this big puddle of guilt, and
I knew he was right.

So instead I wound up asking questions of a man who couldn't answer them, though an interesting reply to 'why would Damen say anything, if I wasn't supposed to know anything'. Maybe he wanted you to fail, the man said, and it to start again with him.

Further questions down that line were neatly averting by a skillful speaker, by his turning the conversation around at me. Before I could get back on the topic, summon the anger of having my questions pushed to the side, he'd found anger of his own. Anger at my doubt of Damen's love for me.

'You go to the graveyard'. He'd said, in the end of our conversation. 'You watch his tears, and tell me if he's lying'.

Now, anyone can make that shit up. But there was an angle to his chin and a note to his voice that told me he wasn't. I had Ann escort him back to where he needed to go, and when she returned to me-

-finally, finally, the shit hit the ceiling as a clawed hand came out of the hole in the floor that lead into the sewers, and from the floor a wereboar yanked itself up. I didn't see it, actually- Ann had shoved me out of the room and into the ally.

I only saw it when it came after her. And then I did one thing.

Ran like a fucking coward. I heard Ann take a shot off and stopped long enough to see her get gored, but then she was running, too, while I yelled at her to haul ass and stop playing hero. That was how I lost one of the girls, the one named Myn- she'd tried to lure it away while I got help.

But Ann came right after me, and we ran like fuck.

You can't outrun a were.

It wasn't long before it ran over the top of both of us, but before it could do more then knock us about, it froze.

Looking past me, at what I thought was Ann, for a moment.


Then I saw Master Hunter, striding very calmly down the street. Bout damn time, asshole. Fucking ambling along like you've got all the time in the world. Like you need to give me another reason to drool over your boots.

But after a moment, the thing snorted twice, then turned around and ran- and the hunter moved from a walk to a run in one movement, flying after the creature. Ann was torn, for a moment, but I told her to go on and leave a trail for my slow human ass to follow. So she blew off after them, and I ran after, following marks of an arrow dragged along the ground every few paces.

I finnally caught them up when they stopped at a building- I could see Ann no where, and people were fleeing the building in a panic- they finally dispersed, particuarly after my yelling at them to do so and not come back, and then through the window of the second story came hunter and hunted.

They crashed to the earth, and the creature made a mad bolt for freedom. And I acted without ever really thinking about it, without worrying about getting in the way- I dove in and slashed at one leg, aiming to severe muscle.

A terrifing heartbeat where I was sure, sure as fuck that I had missed, and then warm blood leaking down and the thing's cry of pain, and it was still running but now labouriously, clearly tired, now wounded.
There was a breif respite, and I felt a strange surge of pride when the Hunter caught me out of the corner of his eye and said something along the lines of 'nice job' with a look that was slightly less full of dislike.

I managed a 'thanks', and somehow even a cocky little smirk. I swear it was nearly returned before he boomed 'back here!' so forcefully that I jumped half a mile out of my fucking skin and he was on the thing again. I swear, he was enjoying this.

And you know what?

I know I was enjoying it. My blood was rushing, pounding in my ears as the two went at it, as our hunter attacked this creature like nothing I'd ever seen. This wasn't a fight, it was the preditor skillfully, artfully putting it's prey down. Every time the thing tossed him off, he seemed to get more pissed off, until I heard a rummbled 'hah- fooled ya'. and he drove his fist, covered in spiked gauntlets, into the creature.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Again.

And it was over.

He drove one into the beast's shoulder and held the other at his throat. Ann melted back into the shadows- she'd been pelting the thing with arrows, a feat I had come to be impressed with, that she could fire into something like that and not peg friend instead-but now she practically evaporated, and I moved up next to the hunter, just a step or two behind.

I was viciously pleased, morbidly satisfied to see the pain and terror on this thing's face as the hunter spoke to it, threatened it to never rest in peace unless it told him what he wanted to know. If it didn't speak fast enough, he drove that spike in further.

I watching that thing, that murderer scream in pain, watched it feel the fear it's ilk had made myself and my friends fear. It deserved torture, torment, it deserved whatever this man could give it and then some, it deserved to suffer for taking two little girls and killing countless other people. It and every single man like it.

Not were. Notice I did not say 'were'.

I said man, and that is what I meant. I do not hate the lycans.

Being a were does not make you evil. King is not evil, and neither was Ann.

This creature. Our sire. They were. And I wanted them to suffer. I wanted them to feel the fear and pain they caused.

The hunter broke his attention from the beast to ask me if there was anything else, but rather then answer my question, the creature defiantly spat that they were no where we'd ever find them, and then killed itself on the hunter's weapon.

Cowardly son of a fucking whore!

But the hunter made good on his threat, cursing that creature after it was dead and it's body had resumed human form. Only then did my bloodlust fade, did the red go from behind my eyes. Only then did horror fall in.

Yes, I was- savagly angry. Yes, I was glad this- monster was dead. But did anyone deserve torment and fear?

Does anyone? No matter how evil or how much you loath them, do they?

Because no matter what, if this happened again, I would not stop the hunter. And I would not regret the death or torment of another enemy.

And I did say human. Aren't they only supposed to turn into wolves?

Once the mess was gone, the hunter straightened up. If my expression was anything like what it was not supposed to be, he didn't show it. He either didn't care or he understood completly.

He did inform me that Ann's arrows should have hurt it more, which I already suspected. And he did surprise me by expressing that he would not entirely loath it if we were to cross paths again.

If we do, it will be my honour, Master Hunter. I just hope like fuck I'm not a lycan when that happens.

He stopped, like he wanted to say something to Ann, who was horrified and lingering in the shadows. He stopped, though, and instead went on his way.

I offered what little comfort I could to Ann, who accepted it gracefully but relunctantly. She was stiff in horror, and I felt- dirty, looking at her, ashamed.

We changed inns that night.

To my surprise, the innkeeper of our new temporary abode was more then happy to discuss my past with me.

He didn't question why I asked odd questions, and told me that I had come in with Damen- or a man with Damen's discription- and five other men on three nights of the full moon two years ago. Damen and I had appered to be in puppy love, and we all seemed to be- celebrating something.

A year later, he said, Damen came in alone.

I grilled the innkeeper more, but that was pretty much all the information I got from him....Ann and I made up a lie to explain my questions, and then headed back to the man who was working on our book, to see how far along he'd gotten. I ended up with a troop of three following me that Ann as a kitty warned me about, right before I got a sword in my back.

At my 'happy to see me?' crack, they laughed, so at least I knew I wasn't going to die right off.

Turned out I didn't have to worry. They were men sent from Damen, to tell me to stop following them and not to ever kill another were in their territory unless I planed on making that hunter stick around. And I doubted I could 'make' him do anything. They were moving shop, they told me, and I wasn't to find them again.

Wiseassery aside, I took the moment to appologize and mean it. My selfish curiousity had done enough harm, and after today, I would not bother them further. I warned about one of the ones keeping an eye on me being in possible danger, and then we finished our treck.

We got our item and then I went back to the graveyard. The gravekeeper was not surprised, of course, that I was alive and well, and he took me to my grave- a beautiful stone mosoleum of sorts, not just a plot in the earth. Expensive. More then I ever expected.

The gravekeeper confirmed that yes, Damen came, every Friday, two hours before sunset.

Guess what that day was?

He lead us to a hill, and we watched. I felt the soft warmth of the ring as Damen grew near, watched him leave and flower. I watched the man that called himself my husband sit on the earth and just- talk. To me. I wished I could hear the words, and when I saw the tears start-

-why would he do this? Why would he fake this? Could he?

What the fuck am I supposed to do if this is real?

His tears stopped because he knew I was there- I'm sure he did- so when he left and I came down, I confirmed with the gravekeeper that those tears weren't fake, and the gravekeeper watched me put two intertwined wildflowers on my own grave, next to his own. He wanted to know if he should tell Damen the truth. I told him yes- and to tell him also that I would not be back here while unwanted.

And then we left for home.

Avoiding orcs, we slept that night with soliders that did not know us for the ladies of Beferngaurd Keep until the next day, and then we arrived home at last.

And yes, stupid me had started to think of this place as home. This was my home, the only home I remembered, and these people were my friends.

And Talron. King Talron. He was- he is-

He can be nothing but a dear friend. Not until I know for sure. I can't let him be anything more.

I can't.

Fuck. Just- fuck all up and down. I'm such a whore. Seriously.

We pushed past a man trying to give us a run down of things happening at the keep, gently putting him off and getting in to speak with our King.

And what happened inside- well, that told me where I stood before even I knew it for sure.

We spoke of what happened with the were and of going west, and why he wasn't anymore and that we were.

And then Ann opened her big mouth again and told him I was upset over that fucking boxes. I've never been so red. I've never been so pissed.

But he didn't seem upset. He did, though, not want to involve us in what was in those boxes.

And I felt my hand go to his without my permission. I spoke before I even registered what I said.

All thoughts of Damen were gone from my mind....everyone and everything else just- stopped existing in that moment.

In the moment I told him almost everything. When I told him he was one of my closest freinds and that I would always, always be beside him or behind him. When I told him I would be involved because I wanted to be, because he had done so much for us and asked nothing in return.

I came a hair's breath from saying because I care for you. I came an inch from saying you are more to me then anyone has ever been- that I can remember, of course. And laughing. Just to try and make him laugh.

No one else mattered at that moment, not even Ann, beside me. Talron- not the King, not my King, but my Talron, my friend, was suffering. His expression was so sad, like it had been in Nabudel, and once again, just like there, he looked- so unsure. I'd never seen him unsure, until recently. Not like this, anyway. It broke my heart just as it had then. I didn't want anything else but to give him every bit of-of strength that I had, even if it wouldn't do him a lick of good. He was not supposed to have that look. He was strong and powerful, confident and secure. He was not supposed to be afraid.

He said it wouldn't be an easy road, if we opened those chests. That there would be no going back.

I told him just because it wasn't an easy road didn't mean I wouldn't walk it. And it is true. Least of all with him and Ann beside me.

I never thought I'd say what I did. Do what I did.

And Ann- Ann, who can be so cold at times, so distant, but so good a friend and so stern and gentle and mentor, agreed with me.

I was frightened , that she'd see just how deep I was getting in and not like it- but the woman I look up to and respect, my partner and friend, sometimes my very worst enemy, the woman who could drive me to distraction, only agreed with me.

Her words were- 'we make a good team', and hell, we did, the three of us. And with others to help, now, besides.

He would not walk that road alone. I would not let him. Ann would not let him.

He explained what happened to Nabudel, his hand gripped in my own smaller one, his eyes on the little chests in front of him that he had pulled down.

Talron's father could have destroyed the Great Red Worm with the staff I spoke about before. It would have taken out most of the world, too, leaving only Nabudel and the people inside standing. He didn't take the action that would have done both these things, and after that and what happened at his home, the dragons thought the humans had abanonded them and promptly turned their backs on us.

Flash forward. The entire scenario repeats itself, but this time the staff is used, and a content goes bye bye, as the empress uses the staff to wipe out the threat.

Flash forward. Again, Empress, staff, war, dragons, vampires, Big Nasty one and Two. And us right in the middle, and Talron with the staff in those little chests that could destory everything or not.

Funny, how such a light item can seem so heavy in his hands.

Talron said his father refused to use the staff because he must have known of a better way. And he thinks- for some insane, crazy ass reason- Ann and I are how he's going to find it.

You know, the truely ironic thing is that when I got into a confrontation over the orb we'd taken with the wizard who desired it, that is the very thing Talron said to me. Such a long time ago, but just when it looked like we were on the edge of a fight, he'd shaken his head.

'There's a better way'. He'd said.

And now, still with that strangly aching look on his face, he put the staff away, and I suggested we get some rest and continue in the morning. Honestly, I felt over loaded and had exhausted from all that had happened.

And that's when Talron sprang the banquet on me.

I sat there for a moment, and then the most intellegent thing I have ever managed sprang out of my mouth.

'No.' I said, as if it would change things. He blinked at me. Ann scolded me, but I only half heard. I was focused utterly on him. I said it again, this time stretching it out a bit. Whining.

Sure enough, his lips twitched. Not quite a smile, but good enough for me. I grinned in return, aware of Ann's amused exasperation to my left. It felt oddly warm. Then she asked Talron if he would be attending. He said of course, and she gave me a Look.

"Then you will be." She said, or some form of it, and that was that.

I went to my room for a nap and to sulk.

Two hours later I was jerked awake by a maid knocking at my door and promptly forcing her way in. And for the second time in my life, I was preened. I don't mind saying I was like a wet cat through it, but I was also almost completly ignored by the woman who began to scrub at my nails as if trying to scrap every hidden partical of dirt off them.

I was just going to get them messed up again, and I said as much. I got told that tonight, at least, they would look good. And when I whined once more, I got a wry look and told it wasn't me I was trying to impress.

Well fuck me sideways, the damned little shrews. I'm impressed; embaressed as all hell that she seemed to know just who I did want to show up for. Not that I ever could- I don't care how good they are, I'm just not a dress-and-do kind of female. I don't look good done up, and when you stand me next to Ann I look worse.

All the same, I got fussed over, Ann got fussed over, and we were escorted out and brought into our dining hall. It wasn't as bad as all that, really- I was just tired and irritable. I spent most of the night melting into my seat and trying to avoid Talron's eyes, all too aware of the ring against my neck, and by the time I started to feel alright with things and in a better mood, of course, things had to go downhill.

The big doors swung open, and a hush fell over everyone as Dagon stepped in. For a moment, my fear calmed. Stop it, I told myself, you're being too damned jumpy. Calm the fuck down, enjoy yourself. It's Dagon. Of course they're going to go all weird. Man's probably got so many rumors about himself it's insane, and he probably enjoys the attention. Whatever he is, he's a peacock.

I was about to make a wise ass comment, when he staggered, and I saw the blood roughly when Ann did. We were both on our feet and rushing towards him before we even knew we were moving, and even Talron rose.

We caught him gently just as he started to fall, and eased him down on the floor of the dining hall.

And in a voice that should not belong to someone as sweet and good as Dagon, choked with pain and weak, he said- 'you asked me to tell you if I saw the Man in Black.....'

And in the middle of this wonderful banquet, in my home, my home, in the middle of what had been laughter and song and drink and food and people all talking at once, in the only place I had ever felt something like safe, there lay one of my friends, hurt and bleeding.

No. Not here.


Not in my fucking home, you cunt. I told you to leave them alone. This is my place, and no one, no one, will hurt my friends here.

I'm not scared of him anymore, you know? I mean, I am, but-

but I am not a coward, and I have been pushed way too far recently. I can't fight him. But I'm not alone right now.

Dagon is not dead.

That means Dagon can stand against the Man in Black.

Whatever he is, dragon or no, he can stand. And that's all I need.