"I don't know where Ser Jaymes is now, but the ruin of Lindaren is a good place to start. And I agree with Alaire. Using a sentient weapon is dangerous and dishonest. On the other hand, it gives us another option. If we could prove that Palach is sentient, the Court would have to strip Faren of his title, and reverse any rulings by him or because of him, but I don't know who it would go to: you, his opponent in the Duel of the Fates, or Ser Jaymes, his immediate subordinate." Athra explained, turning to her mother. "I'd be happy to learn from you. We should get going; the sooner we reach Lindaren, the better."

Chiron got up on his feet and cracked his neck. The constant talk of the axe known as Palach was beginning to bore him. He could have spoken up on the matter but he decided against it. He had a solution in his head but he wanted to see if Perdante would be truly worthy of it. He wanted to see exactly what she was capable of before he would think about risking his own life. For the time being he would voice his opinion on Elementalism.

"Oh being an Elementalist is so much fun," he said joyfully while he ignited his right hand with fire. "I can help you teach them Jenna if you'd like," he added in.

He then turned his attention back to Alaire. He still wanted to know more about her, why she became a reaver, and what it feels like to be one. He decided he would save those questions for another time. In the mean time he decided to ask her if she too wanted any training seeing that everyone else was.

"What about you Alaire, would you like to be trained too?"

THE VEILED FOREST, PERDANTE'S CAMP

"I suppose we should move out, then, and set off for Lindaren. I agree with you, Athra," she continued, "that the sooner we move, the better. The Fates only know how sick I am of this forest already! 'Veiled,' indeed! One needs eyes in the back of one's head in order to spot all the hidden creatures and ferocious beasts that are lurking around the corner! Also," she said, a cloud of doubt and suspicion cloaking her own blue eyes, "I suspect Faren has soldiers working for him who are going to be hunting people like us when they're not hunting mages." She shook her head. "Honestly. I don't understand why he thinks that other types of mages besides Healers are wicked. Inceptors? Perhaps, if they use their powers to control others' minds in order to increase their own power. However, Elementalists? I don't really see the connection between their magick and evil."

THE EASTERN PLAINS, CRUMBLING TOWER

"Are you sure this is the place?" asked Dama. "The Elementalists' hideout?"

"Aye. Mages hole themselves up in some drafty old tower like rabbits burrow deep into the ground whenever they're frightened. It's an instinct with them. If you look closely, you can even see sooty bricks and remains of hoarfrost near the highest windows. Those are fresh hallmarks of their sorcery, for sure. Hopefully, we'll catch them practicing, and then all four of us can be eyewitnesses to the fact that they all need to be burned at the stake--in the Creator's name, of course," he added. "We sneak in as quietly as possible and then storm the main halls."

"But, what if it's empty?" asked Lad'ya. "Won't that have been a waste?"

"Silence! If it's empty, then we'll just move on. However, we have to try and investigate. If we don't, then we'll be betraying our Master and King."

The other three out of the Four nodded and moved in closer to the tower.

"Lindarin is a good place to start," Jenna agreed. It was a good thing that she didn't mention that her own sword was something of a partner to her. She wasn't particularly willing to divulge the circumstances that came about to her obtaining such a sword. "However we should wait until dawn is about to break. The bear that Perdante encountered is not the only thing that becomes bold at night."

Jenna shifted position that allowed the markings on her staff to become evident though it was not her intention to. "Of course if you wish to travel at night I won't stop you. Just only take heed of my warning. We will meet up with Ser James soon enough. History is never kind to those that try to hurry it."

Alaire was actually surprised to hear that Janna had actually agreed with her. Maybe the elven mage wasn't as bad as she thought she was. Maybe not all elves were bad, and it seemed that Janna, having a half elf as a daughter, was more open towards this race mix than the average elf. She grinned mostly to herself only slightly and then turned to Chiron who asked her if she wanted to learn as well as Perdante.

"Me? Elementalism? I don't know, I mean, I hardly know anything about magic, I probably would slow down miss Perdante's training, I... don't know if I'd be any good", Alaire said. She wasn't confident about magic because she had zero training in it, but she did need to change something, even more so if she wanted to leave her reaver days behind her.

THE VEILED FOREST, EN ROUTE TO THE RUIN OF LINDAREN

"To be honest, I don't know if I'll be any good, either," Perdante replied, giving Alaire a small, rueful smile. "You see, when I lost the Duel of the Fates and fled into exile afterwards, I found that I'd lost my powers. I can't cast the Paragon auras that I used to--ones for courage, swiftness, alacrity, and so on. It's all gone now, and I don't know if that's because my hidden mind is simply refusing to remember them or that Faren's axe, Palach, had something to do with it. If you would, Alaire," she continued, "please tell me: How does one become a Reaver? Not that I'm interested, of course," she said quickly, "but I'm assuming one doesn't wake up in the morning and say, 'I'm going to feast upon souls instead of bread and butter today.' Aye?" The young warrior paused briefly. "You don't have to answer me if you don't want to, but I am morbidly fascinated." When she said this, the sun passed under a cloud...

THE EASTERN PLAINS, NOT FAR FROM THE RUIN OF LINDAREN

"Blast it!" Korol' had endured enough. Today, more than any other day of the entire year, had convinced him that Faren Mageslayer was a complete idiot. If he wanted sorcerers slain, then why didn't he himself go out and do the slaying? It was simply unfair to delegate such a wild-goose-chase to others while he got to stay by the Kyng's side, whispering Creator-knew-what lies into his listening ears! "Not only was that infernal tower utterly empty of mages, but I also got bat droppings all over my armor!" Korol' was entirely "put out", as the saying went. "How about the rest of you? Did you dodge them?"

"No," replied Dama.

"No," grumbled Alfil.

"Negative," sighed Lad'ya. "We all had our clothing soiled, so shut your trap!"

"That's enough, Lad'ya," Korol' snapped. "Now, listen, all of you: We know this isn't working. Our 'master', or so he likes to call himself, is a complete fool. He's sent us out on this errand to hunt mages, and have we found any? NO! It's absolutely ridiculous. That's why I propose we follow a different strategy: disobeying orders and making sure that Ser Jaymes, whom he's banished from the Court, hasn't had time to rally his pet nobles and plot a revolt against him. I propose we go to Lindaren and see if the old tower's occupied. If it is..."

Dama smiled cold-bloodedly. "If it is--off with their heads!"

Alfil concurred. "They will roll, and if we had spikes, we'd hoist them high!"

Lad'ya said nothing. She was thinking of how on earth she could overpower one of Ser Jaymes' followers, or even the good Knight himself. Being a rogue, she could certainly backstab, but would she be able to sneak behind him?

"Then it's settled. Off to Lindaren, and off with their heads!" Korol' shouted.

The Four marched on, driven by a new purpose now, mad and ruthless.

(@JM12: It was already morning.)

Chiron looked up an noticed the sun passed under a cloud when Perdante had asked Alaire about being Reaver. He suddenly became excited again seeing it as an opportunity to ask his questions as well. He looked over at Alaire again and did his best not to jump up and down with excitement.

"Oh yes, please enlighten us. What made you wish to become a reaver?" He paused for a few seconds. "If it helps I'll answer any question you have for me," he added in trying to get Alaire to talk.

Alaire was beginning to feel uncomfortable by the sudden interest of both Perdante and Chiron on her because she was a reaver. Perhaps she should have never mentioned her former job. But it was going to come out sooner or later once they got to the Kyngdom. Alaire simply took a breath and looked away from them.

"To become a reaver, all you need is to be consumed by hate. Most of us when we started, we had a deep hate for someone and that someone usually became our first. For me, my first was my entire home village", Alaire said as she looked down, her eyes were beginning to tear. "I had been discriminated, insulted, looked down upon and abused ever since I was a small child in the elven village I grew up in only because of the mix of my blood. When my village was attacked by soldiers, one reaver took me from the hell I was in and put me in another but this time giving me a purpose, a focus. I learned to harness the souls of my enemies for power, to feed on their life as I became stronger and stronger. But the price got too terrible, too heavy to bear. I went back to my rebuilt village, I found most of the people there that used to abuse me, seeing their happy faces, watching them not even remember the half elf girl who once lived like a pig in the horse stable. I snapped. I killed every single one of them, man, woman and child and after that I became second lieutenant. But the voices in my head became louder and louder until all I could hear was them and I couldn't get them out and so I fled".

Alaire's tears began running down her face and she cleaned them up as soon as she felt them.

"I can still hear them, in my sleep, awake... always", Alaire said.

Though Chiron was not a master of solid emotion he was able to tell that Alaire was sad. At the very least she sounded regretful of what she had done. Either way he found himself walking over to Alaire and doing something no Umbral would ever dare to do; touch a solid.

Chiron put his arm around the half elf and looked over at her. While he too was ridiculed by his fellow Umbral and called "Odd" or "Freak" by his peers, he didn't have it nearly as bad as she had described.

"You know you and I have more in common than I thought. Obviously most Umbral look down upon this world you have here like we're some type of superior race. They saw me as different for I dared to question the Umbral way. I much like you was unique and sadly all entities fear such things. You need to be proud of what you are not hate it." He put his arm down and shifted in front of her. "Though if you regret what you've become then reconsider what I offered you. You have my word that I will do all I can to teach you, or at the very least help you find something else. What do you say?" he asked holding out his right hand.

((My bad))

Jenna looked up at the morning sun. "At least a red sun has not risen." She then looked at her companions and listened to Alaire about becoming a reaver. When she got to the part about the massacre, she softly told Alaire, "One never does forget especially when dealing death. It does stay with you as well as other painful decisions."

She began walking eastward towards the Eastern Plains. Using her staff as a walking stick, she trudged the trails with her companions. Along the way, she began teaching Perdante and Athra basics in Elements. "The Elements are the basic blocks of life. Without them, life cannot exist. To be able to learn each element's secrets requires a focused mind. The old masters say it takes a lifetime to learn all four. I would say that you should learn the basics and specialize in one since you are human."

Alaire looked at Chiron. He definitely made sense, and since she was looking for a new path, maybe this was the opportunity she needed.

"Alright, I will try it. I do need something else in my life and just moping around about my past is only going to hold me down right?", Alaire said a little bit more optimistically. Larissa jumped in excitement as if she was relieved to see Alaire was finally moving forward. Alaire then looked at Janna as she passed by her and spoke words of truth. She nodded, the elven mage was right. Now she had to live with the choices she had made and maybe try to atone for what she had done. And so with new determination she stepped forward, following her new companions to wherever fate would lead them.

THE VEILED FOREST, TOWARD THE RUINS OF LINDAREN

The cloud that had suddenly darkened the skies of Nirriven rolled with thunder. "Oh, dear," Perdante mused. "Chiron? Jenna? Could you please do something about that, perhaps? I don't want it to storm, because we have a long way to go and I don't see any shelter nearby." She cast a wary gaze around the forest. All she could see were trees and more trees--terrible places in a thunderstorm. She instinctively drew closer to Larissa, hoping that the wolf wouldn't growl.

All of a sudden, lightning struck with an actinic-violet flash, and Perdante was knocked flat to the ground, lying supine. Was she dead? Hardly! A deep state of unconsciousness had overcome her, however. Also, her weapons, Ychec and Makht...oddly enough, they were keeping her alive, both fully electrified...

Jenna noticed the clouds and was prepared to ask air and water to be kind. She said out loud, "I cannot ask what should happen naturally to not happen. But I can ask it to be kind and wait for us to build a shelter."

She had spoken too soon for lightning flashed the sky and struck the ground. She looked around and saw that Perdante was on the ground and her weapons charged. She rushed to Perdante's side and kneeled in a meditative pose, her staff lying beside her. "Rain of fire with earthen winds I call upon thee and ask for your aide. Guide me through that which is unknown."

"There's no need for shelter. I can see Lindaren from here." Athra pointed out, pulling out a spyglass and taking a closer look at the old stronghold, spotting four individuals approaching it. Based on their aggressive stances, they did not seem to be friends of the Blue Knights, though the very basic apparel suggested that they intended a surprise attack. Best give them a warning shot, or a diversion. She thought, as she let an arrow fly, just grazing the leader of the group,

Korol' swore as the arrow grazed him, with a foul word spewing forth from his noble mouth that would not even come from the lowest of peasants in Nirriven! Nevertheless, he signaled the rest of the Four forward: "CHAAAAAARGE!"

And charge they did. Almost with a berserker's fury infecting them, they fled into the deeper parts of the Veiled Forest, from whence the arrow had come.

Jenna was not aware of what was going on. Rather she was concentrated on finding out and helping Perdante on what may be a magickal journey. She found herself in a swirl of fog indicating that she was in a subconscious. Jenna took a deep breath knowing that if she were to go further, she would need to be careful. Minds were personal and she couldn't force her way in unless the owner was willing though technically she could with Inception. Sighing, she looked around for an indication that Perdante was active in her mind. She saw her but it looked as if Perdante were lost herself.

Jenna wondered if this was a journey of sorts. It didn't matter though for she had to guide the way for Perdante but ultimately it was Perdante who made the decision. She strode up to Perdante and said, "Do not be frightened. There is a reason you are in this state and I will help you find a way.

Berserker's Fury makes one powerful and dangerous. Some say an enraged berserker can cleave a grown man in half while he's still standing. But as Athra and Ser Jaymes knew, Berserker's Fury also makes one stupid, reckless, and predictable. With a little bit of calculation, she was able to pin Korol's leg with a single shot. The others continued to charge, but they were halted not by Athra's group, or the Blue Knights, but by Archers bearing the Thunder-and-Stone crest of Thunderkeep, after Athra had heard a regal sounding male voice shout, "Archers! Let fly!"

When the dust cleared, the Four were unconscious, but alive, and Athra approached the leader of the group from Thunderkeep.

"You have our thanks, and I'm sure sure Ser Jaymes will thank you as well when he realised what could have just happened." She told him. "We were glad to be of assistance. I am Ard Eagan Ivar of Thunderkeep. Who might you be?" Ard Eagan asked.

"Athra Talravin. I assume you're a friend of Ser Jaymes?" Athra inquired. "We were like brothers, growing up in Thunderkeep. We went our separate ways only because of duty. Come, there is much to be discussed, and it is as much for his ears as it is for yours, or your friends' ears."

All of a sudden, Perdante moaned slightly, and then opened her eyes. "J-Jenna?" she stammered. "Where am I? Did lightning just strike me? That's the last thing I remember..." She tried to raise herself up, but it seemed as if her whole body had turned to a slimy substance. "I can barely move. This isn't good. We have to get away from here, wherever 'here' is..." She trailed off. Noticing that her two blades, Ychec and Makht, were now electrified, she wondered, "How did THAT happen? More to the point, how did THAT happen without killing me?"

Noticing Perdante on the ground, Athra stated, "My friend needs help. Something struck her on our way out of the Veiled Forest." As she asked for assistance, Ser Jaymes arrived, along with four other Blue Knights. "Ser Kati, escort the Four to the dungeon, we will deal with them later." He told one of the other Knights. He then approached Perdante, extending his hand. "Remy, take my hand." He told her.

"You...you remember me?" gasped Perdante. "The loser of the Duel of the Fates? Oh, for shame..." She blushed deeply, and tears surfaced despite her attempts to hold them back. "Ser Jaymes, I've fled into exile, I've hoped that I would start anew with strangers and live out the rest of my life in peaceful anonymity..." Nevertheless, she held out her hand, and Ser Jaymes helped her rise to her feet.

Jenna looked at Perdante, "You were lost in a vision realm. For what reason is still a mystery. I called upon the elements to take me to where you were but then you decided to wake up." She then stood up and made to help when Ser Jaymes extended his hand.

Jenna said nothing about his rudeness but listened to the introductions. What had just happened was something of a mystery to most but not her. She picked up Ychec and Makht to examine them but she didn't want to give herself completely away so she put the feelings in magickal memory and handed them back to Perdante. "They are quite alright." Her phrase simply meant that they could discuss it later.

"Ser Jaymes, this is my mother, Jenna Talravin." Athra explained. "Jenna Talravin? My father often spoke of an Elf Mage by that name. Tell me, did you know a human Inceptor named Rori Caran?" Ser Jaymes asked Jenna, still wondering about the nature of the relationship between his father and the elven mage. Athra recognised what Ser Jaymes was insinuating and thought to herself, Ser Jaymes is my half-brother?

Jenna realized something was about to be revealed when the knight revealed a name that she thought of constantly but hadn't heard in ages. Slowly she replied, "He never considered himself and Inceptor. His greatest talent was in his command of the Elements but he was a great adept. I know this mage you speak of."

Perdante suddenly felt her heart seize up. She was still clutching Ychec and Makht, which were electrified. The young woman could not bear their newfound power, and so in a fit of convulsions, she breathed her last. It seemed that fate had dealt her a final, glorious blow.

Lindaren

"He was my father. Before he died, he spoke very often, and very fondly of you." Jaymes elaborated. "I was very young, but my mother suspected something. Did you know he was already married?"

"He was my father too, wasn't he?" Athra finally had the nerve to ask her mother, though saddened by the fact that she could never get to know him, and shocked to discover he was an adulterer. Her thoughts, however, were interrupted by Perdante falling to the floor. Immediately checking for a pulse, she stated, "She's dead."

"She deserved better than this." Ser Jaymes commented. "I hoped she could take Faren's place as the Kyng's Lieutenant."

Stormrise, Faren's Quarters

"You wished to speak to me, Faren?" Edanna Shran asked as she entered the dwarf's quarters.

"Yes. I've been informed that the Four have not only failed us, but they have been captured." Faren explained. "The Blue Knights?" Edanna inquired.

"Not on their own. They were aided by Ard Eagan's men." Faren pointed out. "I can see the problem. Eagan has considerable influence in the Kyng's Court. Others my follow his example." Edanna surmised.

"Unless we make an example of him. You care little for Seaguard, do you not?" Faren asked. "Of course, why?" Edanna replied.

"A Barinor such as Seaguard is so small, and unworthy of a woman such as yourself. Would you not prefer to be Ardess of Thunderkeep, especially if it means taking it from Ard Eagan by force?" Faren suggested.

"You know me too well, Faren." Edanna replied.

Jenna realized some things herself. Slowly she answered, "When he came to me with other young men, I didn't notice anything about him except his potential. So great it was that over other potentials I chose him." It was a good beginning to start with. "The first month required that he be cut off from everything familiar in order to better be in tune with his powers."

Jenna looked away for a moment not sure if she should say anything else but her daughter had asked her a question that needed to be answered. She had spent too many years wondering and regretting her decisions regarding the girl before her. She looked at her daughter and said, "We loved each other. When he left me, he left me with a gift."

At the sound of Perdante falling, Jenna huddled by Perdante's side. She knew that she was dead and she had hoped that she had the strength to tame Ychec and Makht. The journey had barely begun and already a companion was lost. She whispered in old Elvish a blessing of farewell before collecting the electrified weapons. They would have to be placed under safekeeping in a special vault or just the sheer power they radiated alone would affect innocents. She sheathed them and wrapped them in a special cloak which she strapped to her back.

She stood up looking at her companions, her daughter especially. She said, "She was a good warrior and could have been a Lieutenant and ruled after the king. We can still carry out that plan. If we unite, one of us can lay down the challenge."

"I might be able to help with that. A healer from Thunderkeep was helping tend to the Kyng, and under my instructions, he searched Varhad's quarters for anything that might help us understand his illness. He found an unidentified substance around the cork on a half-finished cask of the Kyng's wine." Ard Eagan explained, with two of his men carrying the aforementioned cask of wine towards the group.

"It shouldn't be too difficult to identify. Ser Alten is an expert on poultices and poisons, including many no surfacer has even heard of." Ser Jaymes suggested. Athra got a bit nervous at the mention of Ser Alten. She liked him, despite his being moderately antisocial, but he was a Dark Elf, and she had doubts about how her mother might react. Sure, Ser Erina was an Elf and she had no problem with him, but she was also a Blue Knight, who prided themselves on tolerance and acceptance of others.

Alaire could do nothing but watch. It was amazing to see that the one that had probably been the strongest of the Kyngdom at one point, had been reduced to nothing and to deal one final blow on her unfortunate fate, she died before Alaire's eyes, not being able to fulfill her wish for justice.

"I think we owe it to her in some way. To bring Faren to justice. To expose him as the fraude that he is", Alaire said as she knelt beside Perdante's body. "Rest in peace warrior of justice. May your soul finally find the peace it deserves".

She had not uttered these words ever before. She had only heard such prayers from the elves that lived in her village. The one she had butchered and fed on it's souls.

"If you still want to carry out the original plan. I am with you all the way", Alaire said with the greatest conviction and determination she was able to muster.

"So we are speaking of poison. A treacherous act if the perpetrator is caught," Jenna replied.

Ser Jaymes made his suggestion of Ser Alten being made to identify the substance. She was surprised to hear of him again. They had never gotten along as children and he seemed to resent the fact that she learned Elementals and Inception and took that knowledge outside the Elves. A long time of resentment but that was not the time for it. She replied to the suggestion, "Ser Alten does know more about poultices and the like. In fact he was better at healing than I was." It was a generous comment since their master had told them they were both exceptional in their own ways.

Ser Jaymes then approached Ser Alten's quarters, with Eagan carrying the cask of wine behind him. "Is there something you need, Jaymes?" Ser Alten asked. "Yes, we need you to analyse the residue on this wine cask, and compare it the wine itself. We suspect it was used to poison the Kyng." Ser Jaymes explained. "I'll see what I can do." Ser Alten replied, taking the wine cask back into his quarters.

An hour later, Ser Alten stepped out, and explained his findings. "It's worse than I thought. It's Drider Venom." He told the group. "I'm not entirely familiar with Drider venom, please explain." Ard Eagan asked. "It's a deadly poison commonly used among the Drow. It's bad enough on its own, but its effects are amplified by alcohol. If this were rum, or vodka, Kyng Varhad would already be dead." Ser Alten told him.

"Drider Venom has been the political assassin's choice of weapon for centuries," Jenna replied gently having listened to everything Ser Alten had said. She looked at her daughter and Alaire and explained for their benefit, "Drider Venom is a specific forumla that is made one way and one way only. Weapons vary based on design and such and easy to identify itrs wielder. Poisons are different and personal. Am I right Sir Alten?"

"Not entirely. There are two types of Drider Venom: True Drider Venom, taken right from a Drider, and Synthetic Drider Venom, which has a very specific formula. Neither is easy to come by. Many would-be assassins have been killed trying to acquire True Drider Venom right from its source, and many more die from mistakes when concocting Synthetic Drider Venom, inhaling fumes, exposing some of the more volatile components to heat prematurely, etc." Ser Alten explained.

"Either way, we're dealing with someone who knows what they're doing. Faren Mageslayer may be a sadistic brute, but he's not stupid." Ard Eagan pointed out.

"Perhaps he's not working alone. It's not hard to believe that he'd have other nobles helping him." Athra suggested.

"Could be that he has someone as good as Ser Alten," Jenna added. "Mages who know the healing arts would have studied different toxins and antidotes so a mage is not totally far off." She looked at Ser Alten with a look at asked if he had considered that possibility. They may not like eachother but Jenna knew when to differ to people who knew more than she did on certain things.

"Given his very black-and-white view of magic, I have my doubts he would enlist a mage, even a healer." Ser Alten pointed out.

"There is another possibility. In the Kyng's Court, there is a certain Bariness suspected of murdering her way into power, but it's never been proven." Eagan suggested.

"If you mean Edanna Shran, I certainly wouldn't put it past her." Ser Jaymes concurred.

"If those suspicions about her are correct, she'd likely be experienced and patient enough to be able to successfully synthesise Drider Venom." Ser Alten commented.

"What I'd like to know is whether or not there is an antidote." Athra pointed out.

"There is, but to make it is beyond even my skill." Ser Alten replied.

"How is that? You are considered the most knowledgeable of toxins and antitoxins," Jenna queried. "At least that is what Master used to speak of." She didn't want Ser Altern to give up so easily. He had a stubborn will and if she pushed the right buttons, she could get him up to the challenge.

"It was difficult even in the Enlightened Age, and like much of the scientific and technological advancement of that time, it was lost in the Creator's Crusades, but unlike most of that knowledge, it was not preserved here in Lindaren." Alten explained.

"If we have the technology, couldn't we figure it out?" Athra suggested.

"We have the technology, but not enough understanding to use it properly. That's why we've kept so much of it secret. The Blue Knights aren't just altruistic warriors, we're scholars, seeking to learn as much as we can from the Enlightened Age." Ser Jaymes explained.

"You had no idea the Enlightened Age was real, did you?" Eagan asked Jenna. "That's what the discovery of Lindaren was: proof."

Jenna looked at Eagan with a look that could have frozen the very blood in his veins if she had notions to do so. "The Enlightened age was real of course. After all there are things far older and more powerfully dangerous than imaginable.

"We have the technology but the knowledge is held in secret and as Ser Alten knows about our people: we are known for keeping secrets. Hence the fact that few humans ever learned the full potential of Inception and other forms of magick. All beings are capable of secrets. The trick is to find the ones who have the knowledge like the elder hermit in the forest."

"I will see what I can do." Ser Alten replied. "I might be able to use some of the alchemical devices here to analyse the poison further. It's a long shot, but if it works, I should be able to come up with an antidote here."

"Eagan, how secret was your excursion here? I doubt it would escape Faren's knowledge that one of the most prominent Ards in Nirriven came to the aid of the Blue Knights." Athra pointed out.

"You're right. It was a risky move, and I never intended it to be secret. It attracted the attention of both our enemies and our allies. Both Barin Lingion of Nerith and Ardess Natia of Gondamar have pledged their support, and there are others who have withdrawn their support for Faren." Eagan explained.

"An Elven Barin and a Dwarven Ardess working together? That's unusual." Ser Alten commented. "At the very least, it'll give you a chance to patch things up with home." He added, speaking specifically to Jenna.

"However, as you were the first Ard to openly rebel against Faren, he might try to make an example of Thunderkeep." Ser Jaymes added. "It would be best if we make our way to Thunderkeep post-haste."

"If you're sure Thunderkeep is threatened, I think we should also travel to Nerith and Gondamar to seek their assistance." Athra suggested.

Alaire simply listened to Ser Jaymes, Athra, Jenna and Ser Alten talk. She hadn't been part of a group so diverse in all her life. But she had a feeling that this was the begining of a life changing journey.

"I am glad to offer my assistance, what will you have me do?", Alaire asked. It seemed as though everyone of them knew what had to be done. She was still trying to find her place in all this chaos. But she sure thought that it would be a place to start.

"Join one of us. It is long and dangerous road, whether we head to Thunderkeep, Gondamar, or Nerith. We could use all the help we can get. I will be travelling to Gondamar myself." Athra suggested. That way, she didn't have to choose between the home of her mother and the home of her brother and her late father.

"I will join you as well on the road to the Dwarven city. There is strength in numbers, and the Ardess will be likely be more receptive to you if you are accompanied by at least one Blue Knight." Ser Alistair added.

"Then I shall travel to Nerith. Lingion himself recommended that I join the Blue Knights." Ser Erina replied.

"I agree that we should travel together. There is strength in numbers as was pointed out and the journey will give each of us time to see within ourselves," Jenna looked at Ser Altern to show that she understood what he meant. It would mean that she would be able to converse with her daughter and her daughter's brother.

She looked at Ser Jaymes, "Where shall we travel to first?"

"I doubt there is much time, so I think it best we separate, so we can fortify Thunderkeep, and seek the aid of Nerith and Gondamar at the same time. Most of the Blue Knights will be travelling directly to Thunderkeep, but a few will be going to Nerith and Gondamar. Once their assistance is assured, they too will join us at Thunderkeep. The decision as to where you go is yours." Ser Jaymes explained. "Eagan and I will be going directly to Thunderkeep. As Ard, his place is there, and it is my home as well." Pausing for a moment, he added, "Perhaps you're right. It might be better if we all travel together to Nerith, then Gondamar before coming to the aid of Thunderkeep."

"Then I will follow," Jenna replied, "What say you companions?" She looked at the companions and her daughter searching for their answers. She would rather that they travel under unified consent. It created stronger bonds.

"Regardless, I must return to Thunderkeep as soon as possible. My Arden needs me." Eagan stated. "I wish you the best of luck, for all our sakes."

"I will go with you to Nerith then, mother." Athra replied. "So will I, I intended to travel there to begin with, and as his second in command, I should be with Ser Jaymes." Ser Erina added. "And what of you, Allaire?"

"I guess I will join the party to Nerith", Alaire said as she looked around at the people gathered. "A reaver in the company of Blue Knights might be easier to keep people at ease. Reavers aren't exactly known for being easy to approach and are easily mistrusted for their dark nature after all".

Alaire knew that this was something the Blue Knights probably already knew but if she was to help, she had to at least in someway shield herself from the prejudice and hate there was in the Kyngdom for reavers. Being considered unnatural and evil was something ordinary for Alaire wherever she went, but since she was turning a new leaf, she'd have to shed away everything from the reavers and being in the company of the Blue Knights might just do exactly that for her.

"Then let us be on our way. Ser Jaymes I suggest you lead since you do have military experience over all of us and you do know this land well," Jenna replied. She stood back in a manner to show that Ser Jaymes was the leader.

"I will not let you down." Ser Jaymes replied. "There are more than enough horses in the stables. We'll rest here tonight, and then set out in the morning."

The Next Day...

The party had travelled for several miles already, with little sign of stopping. Nerith was still a day and a half away.

"Jaymes, I assume you've got a plan for if the Barin isn't as receptive towards us as we hope?" Ser Erina asked.

"Yes. I was hoping you or Jenna might be able to better make a case for aiding Thunderkeep, based on your history with him." Ser Jaymes explained.

"I'll do my best." Ser Erina replied.