Seeker of Truth

[Cara]

Luchin looked up as a young, beautiful woman ran towards him. Her face was set and unreadable...like a Confessor. Luchin tried to move, but he found he was sluggish, weary from the pain of seeing his sister die. She lay stiff and cold in his arms now. Luchin closed his eyes and waited.
The cool press of the woman's palm against his skin made him shiver. And then there was thunder without sound.


Aslen looked at Andrioth who nodded. "We are done for now..." she said.
"Are you sure this will work?"
"No. Nothing is ever sure except death," Aslen said. "But we must try. For our freedom, and for the freedom of the people of Melidis."
At this very moment, Andrioth's spell was setting in on everyone in that camp. Their worst fears brought to life before their very eyes and their greatest desires crushed. It was an ancient and powerful spell. And it would give them the time they needed to kill and Confess most of the men in camp. Reemus would return and not even know what hit him!

[Galadas]

It was only ten minutes after the Confessor and the healer left, when Ademai noticed Reemus eyes opening. His face was white, but the way he opened his eyes wasn’t really weak. Within seconds, he sat up, feeling the pain and turned his head to her. “Where are we!?” he asked, his voice not really lowered.
“Shut it!” Ademai whispered and sat down beside him on the bed. “We’re in the enemy camp, pretending to be refugees, keep your mouth shut, and as soon as you’re better, we can get the hell out of here!”
Reemus shook his head, the words took little time to break through his brains, and he had already started planning upcoming steps and questions. “If they’re in a camp, that means there are planning an attack or are already attacking. Besides, I don’t think my wounds will heal any time soon,” he said, sounding serious. He looked around the small tent, which was bright and empty. On the table next to his bed stood a small bottle with pills in it. A drug, and he remembered its use. He grabbed it and showed it to Ademai. “This is going to sound crazy, but it’s time we do something stupid.” He had been thinking about it the past few hours, he was being laughed in the face the whole time, his plans were set fixed on a few basic rules. Now, without his army, he would have to do something rational in order to win a battle with unexpected moves.
“You do sound crazy,” she responded with a headshake. “I guess you want to kill some Melidis soldiers and make sure we leave them in perish, like they did with our camp?”
“Exactly,” he replied and opened the bottle, swallowed a handful of the drug, not sure if it would really work, but he needed his strength and all his body parts. He waited a few seconds for the drug to work, meaning that his head was feeling light and the pain was gone.
“Yes, you’re crazy,” Ademai said, and helped him to his feet, he gave no kick when he placed his bad leg on the ground.
“I don’t care, we need this,” he said. His head felt light enough, that he had no idea how frightening he was of his plan. He jumped to his feet and sneaked out of the tent, grabbing the first sword he could find. The camp was empty, from which he knew something was about to happen soon. He wore on the sleeveless shirt and Ademai had his shirt over her skinny body. She followed him through the camp, having found a torch, which she had to lit herself, and pressed it against various tents. Her agile was gone, eaten by the monster that attacked them, but she was also very good with a sword.

Evana saw a horse riding her way, out of nothing it appeared and once it stopped in front of her, her breath turned into a gasp. She looked at the lifeless person laying on its back. It was her father, she recognized his face even through the many scratches and scars. She felt tears fall over her face, for minutes she stared at him, wondering why no one came to help her, until she realized. With her face turning from sadness to anger, she turned away from the horse, where it disappeared in thin air. She wasn’t stupid, she had fought with many wizards and knew a lot of their tricks. She ran towards the place where she had previously talked with General Ky’ur, who was fighting with a force that didn’t exist. She ran to him, grabbed his sword and tackled him, smacking him in his face.
“Ky’ur, wake up!” she yelled.
He opened his eyes, shocked to see Evana instead of forty Melidis soldiers. “Evana, what… who? I don’t understand.”
“I’ll tell you later, right now, we have to close the gates!”
“The gates?”
“We’re under attack, Tyron.”
“What about the men in the camp, there’s about a hundred of them!” He grabbed her arm.
She shook her head, as she stood and took her arm back. “They’re lost!”

Reemus looked around the tree, from where he had been spying on a group of soldiers, with in their middle a Confessor and a Wizard. “They’re the source, no Confessor gets so much protection,” he whispered to Ademai.
“The Mother Confessor,” she whispered back and threw the torch to her side. “Let’s go!”
They both leaped forward, attacking the Home Guard from behind. Reemus slashed his sword into one’s back and pierced the next through his throat. He needed not to concern about the others, those would be Ademai’s problems. He threw his weight against the horse of the wizard, kicking the hoofs away. He felt the beast falling down to the ground, where the wizard dropped too. He felt a harsh pain in his leg and jumped over the chest of the horse, leaning against its back, pointing his sword at the Wizard’s chest.
He hoped they wouldn’t recognize him, that was the one thing he feared, enough through the lightness in his head. He felt his breathing being heavy. He stared into the eyes of the wizard, sure that others were fixed upon him and the bloody sword he held in his hand.

[Cara]

Aslen gave a cry out as Andrioth fell. She was too far away to reach him. She would be too late. But Andrioth wasn't a Wizard of the First Order for nothing.
The man gave a cry as he was blown back by an invisible force.
"Go, Aslen!" Andrioth yelled, as he turned to face this new threat. The Home Guard was taken by surprise, but they were ready. And these were some of the best soldiers in all Melidis. Trained for any situation. These two strange attackers made the wrong move to come after the Mother Confessor and her wizard.
Aslen turned her horse with easy and leapt over the ring of guards. Her battle-hardened horse, Whitefire, flared his head with a cry, his hooves snapping out like deadly rings of steel. Aslen drew her one of her double long blades. Andrioth was not just her protection. He was her best friend. She couldn't just let him face this alone.
As if almost reading her mind, Andrioth turned for a split second back at her. He snapped his fingers for a second. Her horse gave a small jolt before turning on a dime and running at full speed through the trees. Damn! He had spelled her horse so she wouldn't do anything stupid like trying to help him. Aslen tugged on Whitefire's reigns, but he kept running, bringing her closer to safety.

Andrioth faced the man on the ground, who was getting up. "General, you made a mistake attacking the Mother Confessor and myself." Andrioth smiled, menacingly. It was nasty and hateful, sending a shiver down Reemus's spine. Reemus looked at Andrioth in surprise. "Oh, I never forget a face," Andrioth said, without humor.


Luchin tried to breathe, but no breathe could fill his lungs. The Confessor's eyes lit up in shock, as she stepped back. Luchin watched her in confusion, as her eyes rolled behind her head and she fell back, dead. What? What the hell had happened?
The potion. It must have been that horrible thing those men had forced him to drink. Lord Rahl's work. Why? He didn't understand it. "Evana!" Luchin yelled as he saw Evana and Tyrone sprint past.

[Galadas]

Evana turned when she heard the cry, she and Tyron stopped, her eyes fixed on Luchin already. "Finally someone who isn't under the spell!" she yelled as she ran up to him. "Luchin?" she said, looking at the dead Confessor, who didn't have a scratch on her. She shook her head, that would be a worry for later. "We need to close the gate, before something bad will happen!"
Tyron was standing beside her, his sword in his hand, and his eyes going around. "Someone needs to warn Lord Rahl!" he said, having thought about that the last few minutes, when he and Evana ran towards the gates.


Reemus saw the trouble he had caused by simply doing something he wouldn't have done if his head was clear. He still felt the lightness, but the pain was returning already, maybe a handful of pills hadn't been enough. He would never know. The real problem now, was that he had created a situation in which he faced a stronger force than before.
The sword danced between his hands as he waited to attack, he was not going to give up without a fight, and surely, Ademai fought the same. She was still facing the Home Guards.
"Well, in that case," Reemus said with a grin, "it's Marshall, not General." He jumped forward, launching his sword, which left his left hand before he came close to the wizard, who blew him back. But his plan had worked, the blade cut through the wizard's side, just as he had planned it.

[Cara]

Andrioth gave a grimace of pain. He would have to work on healing it later. "Come now, Marshall Shorshall... Are you really that foolish to face a wizard of my caliber?" Andrioth asked. He snapped a finger and the sword that Reemus had held began to warp and wrap around itself until the steel was a twisted ball of metal. Reemus couldn't help by watch with wide eyes. No man could ever bend a sword in bare hands, let alone into something like that unusable wreck.
Reemus ducked just in time to miss the giant ball of wizard's fire that flew at him. That was lethal if even the slightest bit touched him.

Ademai turned to look at Reemus, having a moment to see him in trouble. He was defenseless and had no way to fight magic. It was never meant to be that way. Magic fought magic, and steel fought steel. Reemus was steel. But she was magic.
Mord-Sith were the iron fist of Lord Rahl; the feared torturers. Their agiles were of ancient magic, but that wasn't the only thing she held. She could give the breathe of life to those recently dead. And she could control magic if it was directed at her and use it against the attacker. She had to get the wizard's attention from Reemus and towards her. The question was if the wizard knew she was Mord-Sith. She thought. No, he couldn't know. She wasn't that well known. Not like the more famous Mord-Sith like Mistress Elize. But she could use that to her advantage. No wizard would in his right mind fight a Mord-Sith with magic...

(hehe, i forgot all about Elize and Joan!!! I'll have to write about them later... lol)

[Galadas]

Ademai pierced her sword through a man's side and caught his sword before it hit the ground, she turned half a circle, a most gracious move, and released herself the the place, running towards her new goal: Reemus. She grabbed his arm harshly, trapping him behind her small body, which was covered in blood, all over the shirt he once wore. She pushed the sword against his chest and her face spoke a thousand words.
"I can handle this," she said, her words as heavy as her grip around his arm, which he was released from as the took the sword from her.
He wondered why, why she had decided to fight for him, instead of beside him? She wasn't acting, she really wanted him to leave her to fight the fight he had started. "Deal," he said.
"Get lost then!" she told him, a playful tone in her voice.
Reemus turned after he had watched the wizard over her shoulder, then ran towards the trees, hearing the Home Guard as they followed him, into an area where one man on his own was much stronger than a few together. He moved the sword between his hands and felt the wind on his face. He ignored the burning pain in his leg, and released the strength he had been building up, taking down the first one who tried to catch him. With one fast movement, he kicked the second one in his leg and heard the bone break. He was trained by the best: Luchin Coladar. Every bit of skill he had, was well constructed by a fighter brilliant in combat, but lacking in strategics. He held a combination that was much deadlier than a good fighter, the promising talent to think out moves and use a setting to his advantage, rather than the blade he held in his bare hands.
Five Home Guards fell under his speed and surprising attacks, in which he used a great deal of space, including the trees, which were his defense as well as his attack. But he knew he wouldn't be able to keep them off for very long, he kept running, his wound kept burning and soon enough he would make a mistake.

(I guess I forgot them too :3)

[Cara]

Luchin pulled himself away from the dead Confessor. He couldn't help but stare at her. How, what? He shook his head, as he kicked into gear. He was a general of the order of Lord Rahl, and the great Daharan army. "Evana, no!" Luchin cried. He had a horrible feeling in his gut. No. The Gates. That is where the trouble would really begin.

Lord Rahl turned and with brutal swiftness ran his knife through the nearest Confessor. His two personal large body guards, snapped men running to and fro in half, like nothing more than twigs. It didn't matter what they wore, whether it be of Melidis garb or Daharan. Ether Rahl turned to one of his main guards. "Find me, General Coladar. I am sure he is still alive and well in this mess," Lord Rahl said, his eyes glittering with anger. He turned to one of his other guards. "I want Reemus found, now."

[Galadas]

Reemus faced the last two Home Guards, he felt his body tremble under his breath, the pain had conquered almost every inch of his being and he wondered how long he could keep up. If he would stand fight against his enemies, he would most probably faint while running home. No matter what, he would certainly not arise victorious. he ignored his thoughts of failure, as he did always, and turned to run into the direction as far away from the camp as he could. Ormelli had to be somewhere around.
"Hey, idiots," he yelled, out of breath. Kicking the first one to the ground and circling around the other one. "Ha!" he called and made his way to the direction he had chosen. He ran, faster than he though he could, but ofcourse the pain made his head light. Finally he saw the towers of Ormelli rise, his heart jumped, surprised that his choice had been the right one.


Ademai pressed her sword against her leg, waiting patiently, she had given Reemus enough time, soon she would join him in his escape.

[Cara]

Aslen tried to turn her horse around, but he wouldn't slow. After miles of running, he finally slowed. He turned back to look at her, nickering softly. Aslen turned about, looking around. There was a heavy silence in the forest and in her heart. Things were falling apart. She didn't know what was going on and she had no way of telling where Andrioth had sent her. Andrioth! She could sense it. That woman was a Mord-Sith!
"Andrioth!" Aslen shouted. Nothing but silence echoed back in response. "Oh no..." If he attacked her, she would be able to control that magic which he attacked her with. "No, no, no..." Aslen jumped down. Her horse wickered softly, as it started to eat some surrounding plants.

Luchin jumped up and ran after Evana who ignored his warning and ran on. He grabbed his sword and hoped it would be enough.

Elize grinned as she saw off in the distance the high peaks. They were, even from here, enormous. They seemed to be the earth ripping into the sky itself. "Guess what Joan? We are almost home..."

[Galadas]

Reemus ran on, his concentration laying in the hope to find his army on the winning hand, but he knew it was just a faint dream. The Confessors were still their worst enemy, their most vital opponent, trouble from the upper level and they needed to be destroyed. He pressed his hand against the wound in his shoulder, how he longed for some medical attention. It had been proven to him that it was better to take some time off to let the wounds heal, before going on to the next bold mission.
He held the sword in front of him, coming into direct contact with the battle that was being fought before the walls of the city. The ground was drowned with blood, his own soldiers thought warriors of Melidis as well as their own friends. It was sad to see, why was this battle so unfair! Men fell and men rose, bashing in heads, and cutting into flesh and bone, darkness had fallen and it would continue until one side would not be able to stand any longer.
He stumbled through the battle, slashing his sword through skin, not wondering if it was one of his own or if it was the enemy, it didn’t matter now.

Evana saw that the gates were open, but the fighting was meters in front of the gate, as if no one dared to come any closer to the city. It was a bloodbath, a confusion beyond believe, no one had even the smallest idea what was happening. She grabbed Tyron by his arm. ‘Take General Coladar, try to get some kind of formation into this battle,’ she pointed at a few horses standing by the wall. They weren’t going to wind without a sense of organization.
She pushed Tyron away from her and took jumped towards the battle. She had to assure some organization from within, and she figured – whilst hoping the complete opposite – that Lord Rahl would be within the battle.

Joan looked up, seeing the buildings towering before him. He felt his heart pounding out of his chest, with only one question filling his head. ‘Are they going to kill me?’ he asked. He still didn’t know why he was where he was, what was so spectacular about him?

Sword slashed and fist landed, it was far bloodier than any other battle Reemus had been in, probably because of the distraction and confusion within the army itself. This was different from days earlier, this time it wasn’t only them, but their enemy was very present.
A hand grabbed his shoulder, and he was thrown back, a strong man looked over him. Not one with Melidis blood, this was a Daharan. ‘Lord Rahl wants to see you,’ the man barked at him.

[Cara]

Andrioth and Ademai faced off. He needed to get to Aslen - make sure she was alright! Andrioth sent a crackling ball of energy towards Ademai. His eyes widened as he saw her grab it, as if it was a harmless clod of dirt and toss it back at him. He ducked out of the way only in the last second. As Andrioth heard her laugh, he knew. She was a Mord-Sith. Magic wouldn't work, and in a hand-to-hand fight with a Mord-Sith, he would lose.
Andrioth cursed and then stepped back and vanished. He was needed elsewhere. Where his magic could be used. He needed to retrieve Aslen.

Elize looked over at Joan. For the first time in a while she didn’t have a glare of hostility in her eyes. “No,” she said. “I don’t know,” she said honestly. Joan gave a sad sigh, looking down. Elize watched this. She doubted that he would be killed, after her orders were to bring him back alive, but Lord Rahl was a cruel and sick master. She knew, personally, how cruel he could be. Very personally.
She swallowed. “I... I don’t think you die right away, at least,” she said – her poor attempt at comfort.
“Oh...thanks,” Joan said, sarcastically, but he did gave a half smile. That was close to one of the nicest things Elize had said this whole journey.
There was a minute of silence, except for the sound of the horses. “I’m sorry,” Joan said, quietly.
“What?” Elize said, slightly shocked. Her face seemed to transform into confusion and then fury. Joan backed up.
“I mean, I am sorry. For your sister. For you,” he said, quickly, his hands up.
Elize frowned. “And why would you be sorry for me? Much less for my sister?”
Joan seemed to study his hands before speaking. “Because it was never your choice for this life. Like me,” he said.
“I did have a choice,” Elize said, indignant. What softness and empathy that was there earlier was gone, as if it had never existed. Her face was stone and her voice ice. “I had a choice. A choice to be strong or stay weak, to be powerful and escape. I wanted to be a Mord-Sith. Feel bad, feel sorry for people you have never met. It will not help you.”
Elize turned forward and kicked her horse into a fast pace, pulling Joan’s tied horse into a trot.

Aslen ran and hugged Andrioth as appeared before her. “Oh, Andrioth! I was so worried! She was— “
“A Mord-Sith. I know. We have no time to talk. We have to get to outside of the First Wall of the City. The battle has moved quickly since we last were there.”

[Galadas]

Reemus followed the tall, strong built man before him, he felt trapped, feared. He slashed his sword, some kind of anger building up inside of him. It was the fear of meeting the Lord and accepting his failure, that kept his mind running around like a band of marching idiots. His eyes searched the meter in front of him, taking down enemies like wildfire, his sword slashed through the air, while he mind was already killing the next one.
A sudden stop, got Reemus back into his own body, back to his own problems, from which he could not run away. The tall man pushed the Marshall forward, which was no way to treat a higher ranked soldier, but that didn’t seem to count for him. When in front of the man, Reemus got a full view of what they stopped for.
Lord Rahl was a strong, lean man, with longer dark brown hair and a hard face. He who looked down on so many, everyone who worked for him had little to say, and failure wasn’t his favorite thing, he didn’t want to see it or hear of it, from anyone. And it was Reemus who had failed him.
They were standing before the first wall, far from the fight it seemed, but not really. Around them everyone was slashing at each other, punching, cutting, etc. But they were clearly safe from what were their surroundings. The two bodyguards were standing like statues and there to bring down any enemy that came to close, they were fierce.
‘M’lord,’ Reemus said, bowing his head and part of his body.
There was no answer in the form of words from the Lord, but one more physical. A fist hit Reemus in his face, and he fell back. He had plans for standing up again, but when he did, he was pushed back by Lord Rahl’s boot.
‘Reemus,’ the man spoke harshly. ‘It seems like all of this is thanks to your idiotic plan?’
‘I… I had not taking in count that the Sisters of Dark would defy me, m’lord.’
‘You were perfectly clear to me that the plans were solid, yet you leave with no message that you travel to the Sisters of Dark, just when I’m about to visit for a little while. Had I known, I would have stayed at home and let you know what an Idiot you are from there,’ the Lord spoke simply.
‘I’m sorry, m’lord, it will not happen again.’
‘Indeed, not for a long time I hope.’ He placed his boot against the Marshall’s shoulder, who cried out in pain. ‘I’ve have walked my mind over it and decided, for the time being you will not hold the position of Marshall, see it as a punishment.’ There was a short pause. ‘You’re still young, and maybe your replacement will not be as good as I hoped for, and you can slowly flow back into your own place, but I promise you, fail me again, and I’ll make sure you’ll die with that mistake!’ he snapped. Lord Rahl rose his foot, and gave his two guards a sign.
Reemus stood slowly. ‘Who will be my replacement?’ he asked, distantly, anger flowing through his veins. He had worked so hard to become Marshall, and now, because of trusting the wrong party, everything had been taken from him. He guessed he would be General now, or maybe even lower, but he did not want to. He had lost a good General today, a lot of them in the past week, stabbed three times at the same point in his shoulder, and the cut in his leg still burned, where Ademai was, he did not know, and neither had he knowledge of this battle, whether they would win or lose.
‘A good friend of yours, General Colodar,’ Lord Rahl answered.
Rage flew through Reemus’ complete being, though he loved his friend and would never hate him, he felt a bit of anger towards him. His friend on his spot, that was weird, frustrating.

Joan had accepted that he was once again at start, needing to build up his relation with Elize from scratch, while still fearing for his life and his freedom. He could only stare and hope for the best.

‘Lord Rahl!’ Evana screamed over the battlefield, after a few minutes she returned, not sure it would matter much. They were at the winning hand, more Melidis soldiers lay death before Ormwell than of their own, which was fine, she ignored the screams of help and went back to the gates.

Reemus breathed heavily, everything seeming clearer, coming together, as he followed Lord Rahl through the gates, last in line, slashing his sword around, which seemed to go automatically.
It was only seconds after they had set foot under the gate, when General Tyron and General Colodar appeared in their view, and the two were greeted by Lord Rahl. While Reemus looked around for an exit.

[Cara]

Luchin blanched slightly when he saw Lord Rahl. "Lord Rahl!" he said, in both fear and surprise. Lord Rahl looked at him, a sinister glint behind his dark eyes. "Ah, General Coladar..." he said, a strange smile playing over his face. Luchin glanced to Reemus who looked stricken and outraged, to Evana who was still flushed from her fight. No one seemed to notice anything strange.
"Lord Rahl," Luchin said, dropping to a knee.
"Rise, Marshall Coladar."
Luchin looked up, shocked. He looked at Reemus who was staring intently at Lord Rahl, purposefully not looking at Luchin. "My Lord? Marshall? What?"
"Yes, Marshall Coladar. I have removed Reemus from his position. I find you an excellent replacement." Luchin stared at Lord Rahl. What was going on? It must be a joke. Some sick joke. Lord Rahl wanted him dead! He had curse him. And by the end of today Luchin would be dead. He couldn't read Lord Rahl at all. Usually he could always glean some bit of personal information from a person, but Lord Rahl was like stone. Unreadable. Almost inhuman.

The battle continued to rage. It was so difficult to tell who was winning. The forces of Aydindril were strong and ancient. They were still only outside the First Wall. No force had ever made it past the First Wall in the history of Aydindril. So the legend went.
Lord Rahl seemed almost disinterested with the battle. He turned to Reemus.
"I would expect better from you, Reemus. Serve Marshall Coladar well."
Luchin felt sick. "Lord Rahl..." he started. Lord Rahl turned his icy gaze to Luchin. He swallowed. "The fight. Our men..."
"Lost because of Reemus's fool-hardy actions. A penalty. Let this blood be on your hands, Reemus." The fight seemes to be slowing with the darkness. The sky was red like the blood that glistened in the grass. "Care for our wounded. Collect yourself. You were all foolish to move against the Confessors so soon. You provoke their anger and your defenses are weak. Know your limits. Know theirs. They are children of powerful magic that you cannot even start to comprehend. Each has a wizard. You think you can fight them so?" Lord Rahl demanded. Silence met him.
"We understand, Lord Rahl," Luchin said. "Will you stay to overlook everything?"
"I must be off. I have other matters to attend to. First a word with you, Marshal Coladar." Luchin couldn't bear to hear him being called Marshal. Reemus must hate him!
"Yes, sir..."

Aslen felt rage boil in her blood. She felt her Confessor magic, just barely under control, scream.
All her sisters, their white dresses stained red. Oh, my sisters... Your souls will find peace with the Creator, she thought as she walked amongst the fighting. So much bloodshed. The Creator would close her eyes in shame at this, but it was necessary. The Daharians forced had pushed Melidis around too long and they were growing too powerful. She had to take a stand. She reached out and grabbed any soldier in Daharan garb. The fell under her touch.
"Mistress, Command me..." he said, looking at her with new eyes.
"Kill any Daharan not under our command. Show no mercy..."
She knew she would pay the price later for such a use of power. Andrioth walked besides her keeping the impenetrable magic barriers up.
"Close the gates!" Aslen commanded. Slowly, the sound could be heard of steel grating over stone. The First Gate was closing to the Outter City. The citizens that lives outside the confines of Aydindril would have to defend for themselves, but Aslen couldn't allow this to continue. They would weaken the forces of Daraha, relying on the ancient magic of Aydindril. The gates closed, blocking off the rest of the soldiers. Trapped they quickly fell under her touch. Like a giant primal animal, the city swallowed the remainder of the army whole.
The battle was over as darkness descended.

Aslen only kept going through her pain, her fear and her rage. It was all mechanical. She felt Andrioth sending her strength, but she knew that she was pulling on his reserve.
The last of the Home Guard came to her like a beacon. "Mother Confessor," the Head said, relieved to see she was unhurt.
Aslen gave him a weary smile before collapsing. "Mother Confessor!" he cried, alarmed. Andrioth stepped forward. "Have the men bring her back to the Sancturay. She needs to recover. As do I," Andrioth said, leaning wearily on his staff. Andrioth felt his grasp on consciousness slipping too.
"Get the injured into the inner city. We need all able bodied people to be helping. I want our defenses up. Both magic and physical. Now. I can feel Lord Rahl here."
"Lord Rahl, Sir?" the man gasped.
"The one and only..." Andrioth snapped. "Go."
Andrioth looked at the tips of the Confessor's Palace, knowing that Aslen was already at rest and recovering. He had never seen her expend so much magic. What tole would it takes on her? She needed all the protection possible. She needed him, but he was in no condition to continue. He sighed as looked at the long way up to the palace. If he were at full strength he could easily will himself to his bedroom, but not now. He grabbed a horse from the nearest soldier and made his way up. They would have to see what the damage was like in the morning...

[Galadas]

Ademai dived through the forest, her face was sweaty, and she got her mind to think clear once in a while, but her head still raged for some kind of revelation. She hoped Reemus was safe, and also did she crave for the blood of the wizard, who had been a coward in their fight. Understandable, but still disappointing. She just wanted to clear his head off, and take his confessor with him. The great confessor, the mother of all! The one who she hated much, for they were their worst enemy. She shared that hate with Reemus, who had lost many to their magic, and that loss never stopped. A dozen Generals had been killed, and tried to assassinate the Marshall only a few days ago. It was perfectly clear that he would not allow anyone to do that again, killing his enemies with most hate.
She jumped out of the forest, from under the trees she had seen the battle, but now she was close to it. Though she stayed out of it, her eyes flashing over the field.

[Cara]

Elize closed her eyes, feeling the sun warm her back. For a moment she let a motion of the horse underneath her lull her. Suddenly the horse stumbled, jolting her out of her reverie. She felt a surge of anger. "You stupid beast!" she hissed, whipping the backside of the horse with her reigns. The horse gave a short grunt before jumping forward. Elize saw Joan watching her and glared at him. "What the hell are you looking at?" she demanded.
Joan dropped his gaze. "Nothing," he mumbled.
"Nothing? Nothing, Mistress Elize, to you!"
"It was nothing, Mistress Elize," he said.
"Better," Elize said with a huff.
Joan watched Elize as she turned back forward. And for a moment he thought she had changed. But no, she was a Mord-Sith.
After a moment of silence, Joan dared to comment. "Mistress Elize," he started. "What happened... to your sister?" He heard Elize take a breath, but kept going. "You keep mentioning her... She keeps coming up... But where is she?"
Elize stopped short, so that Joan's horse almost bumped into her's. "Do not talk about my sister..." Elize said, but not as harshly. It was almost a whisper. Joan knew that this was dangerous territory, but knew that he had gotten to something earlier when he had brought up Elize’s sister. It seemed to be the only topic that tugged at her.
Joan smiled to himself. He had a reaction other than anger and rage. "What. Happened?"
"She died," Elize said and spurred her horse onward.

"Wait up Elize!"
Two girls sprinted through the waist-high grass. "You will have to catch me, Sarah!" Elize called back, laughing.
"Oh, I shall, sister!" Sarah said. Springing with her young body she leapt forward catching Elize by her ankle. The two girls fell forward, rolling down the small decline. They rolled laughing, grass sticking to their hair and clothes.
Sarah was the first to regain her balance and jumped on Elize, putting her knees to her sister's arms. "Gotchya," she said.
Elize looked up at her sister with a halo of straw caught in her red curls. "I said catch me! Not tackle me!" Elize complained. Her smile was bright on her face. "What I am I? The an evil Daharan?"
"Yes!" Sarah proclaimed. "And I am the Seeker of Truth! I defend the realms from your wickedness!" she said with a giggle.
"Seeker of Truth? Who is that supposed to be? What game is this?" Elize said, attempting to sit up, but Sarah kept her from rising.
"No game Elize!" Sarah said with a laugh. "The Seeker of Truth is real!"
Elize laughed. "You have been listening to mother's stories. They have gone to your head... Now get off me!"
Sarah stepped off Elize and helped her up. "Just look at us," Sarah said with a laugh. "Mother will kill us."
"No, I am blaming you for this," Elize said, brushing off her skirts. She was smiling though.
Sarah turned with bright eyes. "Elize look!" she exclaimed. Sure enough an iridescent butterfly was fluttering from flower to flower. Elize had never seen anything to beautiful. As the butterfly's wings moved, the light changed and the colors went from orange to green to purple to blue.
It landed on a stem right by Sarah's shoulder. Sarah turned and sprang, grabbing at it just as Elize screamed. "No! Sarah!"
Sarah, shocked at her sister's outbreak, let go. But it was too late. "What?"
"No, no..." Elize said, tears running down her small face. "Look what you did, Elize. You hurt it!" She bent down to where the butterfly had fallen. It was trying to flap its wings in vain. It fluttered helplessly on the ground. "Now it cannot fly home..." Elize said.
"Opps... Oh well it is only a butterfly..." Sarah said.
"No! It's still a living creature!" Elize said, on the verge of tears. "You hurt it!"
Sarah's annoyed smile dropped. "I'm sorry, Elize..." Sarah said, sitting besides Elize. She watched Elize gently cup the injured butterfly in her hands. One of the wings was bent, but the other one looked fine. "We could care for him..." she suggested.
"How do you know it is a 'him'?" Elize said, finally calm. The two sisters watched the butterfly as it righted itself on Elize's finger. "I think it is a 'her' butterfly."
"We should name her then."
Elize smiled, nodding. "Amera. That will be her name."
"Well we can take Amera home with us."
Elize stood slowly, the butterfly stayed it's wings fanning open and closed.
"Come, sister," Sarah said, taking Elize's hand.

"What do you want to do with Amera?" Sarah asked, as she skipped on a head. "Come on..."
"I have to walk slowly. I do not want Amera to fall and get more hurt than she already is," Elize said, carefully stepping over a root. "Besides, you were the one to hurt her," Elize reminded Sarah.
"Elize, you always have to be so protective. Over event he smallest of creatures. You..." Sarah stopped short. Elize looked up at her sister, then followed her gaze to where, standing before them in the trail, were five women.
"What are two, pretty little girls like you doing out in the forest by yourself?"
"Who are you?" Sarah asked, with a frown. The women were dressed in a strange outfit. It was sleek, red leather, their hair in long braids down their backs. Elize did not recognize these women, but she noticed the small insignia on the side of their belts. It was Daharan. Elize took a nervous step back.
One of the women stepped forward. "What is that you have there?" she asked, looking at the butterfly, resting on Elize's finger.
"My...uh...butterfly."
"Aw. He is beautiful..."
"She. It is a she," Sarah said, as friendly as ever.
"Really?" the woman said, with feigned shock. "Well that really doesn't matter."
"What...why--" Sarah started to ask. Before she could finish, the woman's hands had darted forward and squished the butterfly. Elize was frozen for a second. She could see the wing tips between the woman's red-gloved fingers.
"Sarah, RUN!" Elize shouted. Sarah didn't need to be told twice. She grabbed her sister's hand and ran.
"After them, sisters," one of the women said, a cruel smile on her face. “Oh, I love a good run.”

Joan looked at Elize. She seemed lost in her past, her eyes distant.
"How did she die?" Joan asked. He sensed that he had finally broken through at some level.
Elize gave a start. "Who?" she asked, distracted.
"Your sister. How did she die?"

"Please. No more..." Elize whimpered.
"No more what? Pain?" the Mord-Sith asked. "The pain, Elize will make you stronger. It will make you powerful."
"I want my parents..." Elize said, softly.
The woman laughed. "Your PARENTS? But you killed them, Elize. You killed them because you are strong."
"I didn't want to!!!" Elize cried, tears running down her dirty cheeks, leaving tracks of pale skin. "You... you made me!"
The slap sounded in the stone room. Elize was silent. "No, Elize. I did not make you. You wanted to kill them. You wanted to make your pain, your hatred go away... Yes?" Elize slowly nodded.
"May I...see my sister now? You said I...c c could...when I..."
"Killed your parents? And that is 'Mistress' Mia to you."
"Yes. When I did that."
"Say it."
"When I... When I killed my parents." Elize swallowed. "Mistress Mia."
"Better. And to answer your question, no. Your sister does not want to see you anyway. You killed her parents. She hates you for it now."
Elize felt like throwing up, but her stomach was empty. She had thrown up her small breakfast hours ago. "No..."
"Yes, Elize. We are your family now. The Mord-Sith. We are your sisters. You do not need Sarah. And tomorrow you will finish your training."
Elize looked up in surprise. "I will?"
"Do not be so eager!" Mistress Mia chided. "Did you not enjoy my training? I am known to be one of the best..."
"Of course you are," Elize said, hastily.
Mia laughed. "Yes, tomorrow you graduate from me. You will kill your sister."

The stone was cold against her bare feet. The floor was damp, seeping what little warmth she had away. But Elize didn’t notice. She couldn’t take her eyes off of Sarah.
She was huddled in the center of the room, her dress torn and filthy. It was threadbare, almost see-through in some spots.
Sarah was cowering in the corner, but as she saw Elize she jumped up.
“Elize!” she shouted. “Oh! I missed you!” she ran up to her, wrapping her thin arms around her.
Elize hugged her back, feeling her warmth. Her stomach was twisted and her heart was beating fast in her chest. “... Sarah...” she whispered. She looked back at the Mord-Sith who was standing at the doorway, watching.
“Elize, we are leaving, right? We can go home to mom and dad?” Sarah looked at her with innocent eyes.
“Sure. Of course,” Elize lied. It was killing her. She felt the knife hidden in her sleeve.
“Really?” Sarah asked, crying. She believed her. “Who are these women? They hurt me...”
Elize bent down on her knees and hugged her sister. “You can go home to mom and dad. Tell them I love them and I am so sorry...” Elize looked at Sarah in the face. “I love you. I love you with my entire soul,” she said. She let the knife slip down into her hand.
Sarah’s eyes widened in confusion. “What are you doing?”
“I am doing what I have to. I am so sorry, Sarah... ” Elize said, tears falling down her face. “I promised I wouldn’t let them hurt you again.”
Elize caught Sarah’s body. “I’m so sorry... so sorry....” she gasped crying. She felt as though she had stabbed herself. She was not skilled with killing. Her parent’s deaths had been bloody and sloppy. There was something peaceful about Sarah’s death.
Her sister didn’t struggle when Elize slipped the blade between her ribs. She only stared at her with such sadness. She had resigned herself to death as tears mixed with blood. Although she couldn’t have understood why, she knew enough to know that her best friend and sister, Elize, had betrayed her.

“I killed her.”