Kunlun Mountains
Winds whipped around her cloak, sending a draft down her back. Tingling ran up and down her back, and she felt the hairs on her arm rise in respond to the cold smashing its way into her bones like a hammer. Her face felt hollow, and and overwhelming tiredness followed by nausea slowly took hold. She this was because she had not slept properly in three days, driven by constant nightmares. A land that she once loved, now seemed to push her away.

Having little choice, slowly made her way towards a nearby ley-line track. One which was run by a mage of somewhat ill repute, despite his somewhat shady reputation, one she knew was deliberate, in order to ensure only those in need would even bother with his services - but those that did would pay handsomely. Slowly the clouds parted and a shaft of sunlight alighted upon her, warming her, but only superficially. Unfortunately there was no way to shake the feeling of dread.

Bright light cause her eye, and for a moment dismissed it as another shaft of sunlight until a shock wave picked her up and drove her into the ground like an iron fist. Rising slowly, there was only a booming in her ears, followed by nausea, and blurred vision. What ever the cause, it had certainly hit her hard. She was not overly bothered about minor injuries, as like all immortals they tended to recover. Alphans, could regrow lost limbs but it usually took around five days. Meteor fragments flew in all directions, and for just one moment though that she could see some luminous creature fly away.

Slowly her vision blurred and she fell into a deep abyss.

As her eyes opened, cast a quick glance at the sky, it felt like hours had passed, position of the sun she had been unconscious merely a half hour or two. Her mouth felt like it had swallowed a sand pit, her were sore, and the bellowing in her head subsided into annoying din - like listening to someone that refused to be silent. A hand gripped her left and shoulder, resisting the urge to shake it off, looked askance at her saviour.

"By Lords of Order girl - are you okay?"

"Dazed." She replied staring at the man. His crooked nose, eyebrows like caterpillars, and one of those beards that grew unevenly. His appearance like hers was somewhat disheveled, but it was a familiar one.

"You're lucky to be alive Nemaya!" The mage replied realising that he was himself shouting. Sticking a finger in his right ear wiggled it about as though trying to tune it like a tuning fork.

"How so?"

He pointed at the remains of the village behind, almost a mile distant. Her mouth opened and closed like some kind of fish. Unable to even form coherent words, astounded by the damage as she was. "What caused it?"

"Not sure." His eyes glazed over, and with a shake of his head. "I survived by ducking into the ley-line and came back a moment later. Otherwise i likely wouldn't be."

"The world would be a boring place without you, you old goat!"

The mage smiled. "It sure would." Brushing dust off his robes looked skyward. "Best be away from here. Where can I drop you off?"

Doverrick huff and continued to explore onward the areas for a while. The chill weather of it, rather being quite uncomfortable to himself especially with the breeze blowing by and past. Well, less a breeze rather than a dangerous and blizzard like gale. If Doverrick had the coin or the material the outfit being adorned would be more than a simple single layered long skirt being blown about and forced back against his ankles. This weather was definitely not a welcoming for him and thus some internal cursing was being done to relieve it if only for a time.

According to some chatter and information obtained through a good ear and reading of other’s exploits in letter there was a ley-line somewhere around here and possibly so kind of owner of it. Doverrick had rather known very little about the said person but that was of no point really. If hopes he could try and use the ley-line for himself in order to held elsewhere to better himself and go further on his journey. The information as to where he should actually go or at least start would be rather valuable and perhaps to be begged out of some other traveler or someone nearby the ley-line. He had rather not thought to deeply about it before hand besides wanting to escape a feeling of nothingness for time, and now he was joining into the numbness of cold that ate away at him.
The cold was growing more and more unbearable for a time so instead of standing out in it Dovverick rather aimed for another more comfortable option. He gathered together his thoughts and mind and drew in power from elsewhere forcing it to take form and effect. He soon was slipping into the ground and earth below, a few feet below the surface in order to make the rest of the travel. The direction in which to travel was simply straight ahead, was it not? He proceeded in the said direction at a rather slow pace as if attempting to wade or walk through water.

Doverrick rather felt or imagined that something had occurred or disturbed the ground in an shake like manner but dismissed such as he slowly carried onward. Taking only sometime and briefly breaks in between walking along. He took a moment of focus more and rather hesitantly began to arise out of the ground. Only a bit fearful for that there may be a disruption or attack of some sort on the surface but doubting such. He would rather surface from the ground lucking in the direction of a destroyed village and near at least two people. It seemed there was an attack of some sort as from what Doverrick overhead it seemed one of the others was glad that the other had survived it. The devastation left behind of a village rather pointed to some sort of attack as well, Doverrick was assuming. It was of no real concern to him was it? Although, whom or what had done it and was it possible to do such devastation so quickly, what power would be required for it and how could it be obtained? It may be, of used for even more chaotic or perhaps insane goals.. “Hrmph..” the hyena of sorts began to smirk, with hope.

Jarek stumbled up the windy path, wrapping his cloak tightly around his well built figure. He could hardly hear anything, save it be the wind whipping around him. For the past several hours, he had been making his way towards a ley-line track, one said to be controlled by a wizard or magician of sorts. It was the first real lead he had found since his master was found lying face down in a pool of his own blood. As he slowly made his way up the path, he found himself wondering how much further he had to journey. His supplies were running rather low at this point. He had just enough food for three days, maybe a couple more if he rationed it carefully. True, he was a decent hunter and was rather knowledgeable in the various plants and animals of the land, but hunting took time, time which he felt as if he didn't have. The sooner he found his master's killer the better.

Come to think of it, he wasn't even sure that the mage he was heading towards was his master's murderer. In fact, Jarek knew nothing of the many. All he knew is that he was seen in a rather negative light by all that Jarek had spoken to. If he wasn't the man he was looking for, then Jarek would ask for his help. Perhaps the wizard would help, or perhaps he would turn him away. It was a better lead than Jarek could ask for though, so he couldn't turn down the chance. If it was who he was looking for... then what? Would he knock on the door, draw his sword and deliver justice in one fell swoop? Would it be that easy? Even if it was, would that be justice, the justice and honor that his master had taught him? Or would it make him as bad as the one who took the life of his master?

Jarek pushed the thoughts out of his mind, being filled with rage at the confusion he faced. He didn't want to think about it. He just wanted to act, to find what awaited him at the end of his path and face it head on, decide what to do right then and their. With that final thought, he turned his attention back towards his destination. As he did so, he thought he felt a rumble beneath him, as if there was a large creature up the path, or a small tremor, but he quickly dismissed the thought. It was probably just his nerves, if anything. With nothing else for his mind to dwell on, he began to notice a feeling within him. It was small, at first, almost nonexistent, but it was clearly there. It was that of dread, of fear, one that caused sickly anticipation boiling within him. Whatever lay before him caused his soul to scream at him, begging him to turn back while he could. He cursed his nerves one last time and pressed on.

Across the World
Meteors cascaded across Earth’s atmosphere like pebbles across a pond. Every so often one would dip and fall into the gravity of the planet. Within incorporeal monsters writhed against chains that had held them captive for literally an aeon, or two. They mentally flexed against their bonds, pulling, twisting, shaking, yet they held.

Up till now.

Within one known as Masara felt one of the links snap, followed by another. As the asteroid exploded over a group of unknown mountains, upon some totally insignificant planet in some backend part of the universe – imprisoned. Once her kind had explored, made the multiverse kneel before their power when her grasp was once not so limited.

Yet she was very limited.

A Lord of the Outer Plane, compressed, bound, unable to access her greater and more powerful self – that too imprisoned in another plane of existence. Damn the three-headed Lords of Balance, the beings that kept Order and Chaos in check. But she was free, and she revelled in it seeking the first host to possess – moving at the speed of light towards the telluric energy that would take her incorporeal form, elsewhere.

Kunlun Mountains
Nemeya walked towards the nexus of telluric energy which flashed and flared green, followed by blue. It wasn’t bright, more a kind of haze, like smoke. As they both approached, they looked a sorry pair. Blood had congealed on his left sleeve, and his hand now hung, uselessly, at an odd angle.

“Are you okay?”

He winced in pain, “What happened to insulting me? Am I not an old goat now?”

She smiled warmly, “Only when it suits you” she retorted. “Why don’t you use magic to heal your hand?”

“Why don’t you channel some of that Alpha energy into me?”

“You just want me to hold your hand.”

“Can’t blame an old man for tryin’”

“I can blame you for a lot of things – most of them crude.”

“Well you got me gal.” He sighed, “where you off-to anyway?”

“Not sure yet” she remarked wryly.

Doverrick continued to stare and look at the destruction that had been cause for a time. Having rather not seen the source of the said destruction in the first place. Perhaps it simply shined bright and passed on its destructive path rather quickly, whatever it was. He wanted to know exactly what it was in truth, having been underground and not having the chance to spot the darn creature or thing, whatever it was. It definitely had power, which alone was interesting enough and the display of it was indeed exciting to some degree or another. He had no the villagers’ doom or likely soon to be destruction as to find the source of the power and hopefully better his own.

He glanced back toward the path of which he was originally waking on but had taken a safer route. Briefly glancing or having though he had seen some other traveler or wander and the sight rather excited and brought some fear into him. Doverrick wanted to get the information and pass through rather quickly. Even the cold was not going to slow him down for too long.

Doverrick’s attention quickly snapped back to the two whom were conversating. One of them being an old goat or at least what the assumingly Alfar female called him. Doverrick would rather rush quickly over to them before sending a worried glance back toward the other traveler that was along the path. Rather rushing over to the two and the ley-line near them. “Yes, yes healing. I will be able to handle that if you do need it. If you would ever so kindly would not mind, mentioning exactly what had occurred to that pitiful small village not too far off yander.” He rather tried to come off as begging and perhaps a bit pleasant as there was something to be wanted here, information. Useful or interesting information at the least, that was needed to be obtained quickly before more competitors or trouble arrived.

As Jarek continued to progress up the mountain path with increasing speed, his attention was soon taken by the scene of a ruined village. He had traveled far since leaving home, but never had he seen such destruction. He could only guess what had the power to do something like this, but maybe he was getting ahead of himself. Maybe it was an accident, or some sort of natural disaster. These thoughts did little to convince him, but it helped ease his fears a little. Part of him wanted to explore the village, learn of its secrets and wonders, but he had a mission, a quest that he had promised himself not to abandon until he had seen it through.

He let out a small sigh before turning back to the path and continuing his journey. As he did so, he noticed a traveler up ahead, staring at him. It was only for a brief second, more of a glance than a stare, but he was certainly looking at him. Who would be travelling this road, though? What sort of person in their right minds would be journeying to see some infamous mage whose tower was resting on a ley line? Then Jarek looked a little closer. The being above him seemed more a creature than an actual person. He had fur, and pointed ears, like a dog almost. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, but he had heard of people doing experiments to create beast folk, be it out of research or to create unquestioningly loyal servants. Maybe this was one of those, or maybe he was just some race that Jarek had never set eyes on. He had lived a rather sheltered life up until this point.

The being ahead cast one more glance back at him before quickly running up ahead. If Jarek didn't have his suspicions before, now he was almost certain that the beast had ill intent. Afterall, it was on a road never traveled by anybody meaning to bring any good to the land, or at least, that's what the rumor told him about the path. Slowly, Jarek blended into the scenery by the side of the road, watching ahead for any other people, hoping to be able to see them without them seeing him. Maybe it was just one too many days travelling alone, but he couldn't shake the feeling that the creature he had seen would play a major part in his confrontation with the mage.

Nemaya looked up quickly at the sound of the voice, so caught up in the banter with Rushan that neither had noticed the intrusion. With all said and done the individual did not seem hostile. Although it would not be the first time she’d been caught unawares. Tilting her head to one side studied the male. It was one of the beast-folk and looking at the markings it resembled some kind of cat-like animal.

Biology was not quite her strong suit.

Her talents lay elsewhere and she could not help reminisce about when Rushan had tried to teach her magic. That had been the beginning of a long friendship – granted he’d been younger then. Not that she had been a good pupil and could in fact she could remember his grousing even now – lime it was yesterday, at how bad she had been.

In fact he’d flat out said that she had zero talent for any type of magery, even cantrips were beyond her. She’d been damn good at hitting things, really, really hard. That was her talent. Beating the ever-living out of people that displeased her, and there had been quite a few of those.

Not that she wantonly killed – only those truly deserving, and there had been far too many of those she thought ashamedly. As she stared back at the beast man, it was clear that Rushan was somewhat rapt for some reason. He was not a saint by any stretch of the imagination – neither was she, and it was clearly this that he missed the surge of telluric energy pulling her in. Such was the power she heard his screams first, before being covered in gore and viscera. Her head snapped around only to see his lifeless eyes – it was then she took in the surroundings.

It was some kind of green tunnel, the dimensions were truly cyclopean. There was neither end nor origin, neither front nor behind. Almost as if some giant green worm had surfaced and swallowed her whole. At a guess even a thousand of her hand-to-hand would not even reach the other side. Bathed in the glow, was unable to impede her movement, in any way. It felt fast. But without any means of comparison or of measuring it, she had no way of knowing.

Almost feels better that way.

It almost felt like the explorer in her was trying to take charge again. She hated when that happened! Not that there was anything she could do about it. The tunnel wound left, and then right like an undulating snake and could not help but shiver at the analogy. Her internal clock easily guessed that about ten minutes had passed and still her journey continued – Rushan had drifted too far away and was long dead – poor bastard! Whatever had killed him would pay dearly!

The tunnel narrowed surreptitiously and before she could even act deposited her in a hallway that for all intents reminded her of a castle’s. Rubbing her sore derriere she stood adroitly not even bothering to wipe off the remains of Rushan - her training kicking into overdrive. It was then there was time to survey the surroundings. The brickwork tunnel carried on both front and behind as far as the eye could see, and was fairly sure that it went a good deal beyond even that. The ceiling was over twenty feet in height from which hung circular objects with some kind of luminescent item inside.

Both sides of the walls had little crevices within which were candles – unable to resist watching noticed rather quickly that none of them seemed to burn down. Clearly designed to burn forever, in such situations it was hard to work out if it was magic, some kind of mystech or really advanced technology. On both sides about every twenty or so feet was a glowing portal leading to somewhere else. In the distance there was even one on the ceiling and the floor.

By the Lords of Order this was bizarre!

Having travelled to other worlds before and experiencing the multiverse had been quite a thrill, once. Once the feeling of never getting home had quickly bought an edge of fear, and the chance that she would be stranded another element of loneliness and despair. Luckily, and somehow she’d run into Rushan and before he’d even offered to take her home had proceeded to admonish her like some two year old.

Just where in the hell was she?

Doverrick simply stood there for a few moments or two. It seemed he had surprised the two or at least the one he was assuming was female. It seemed he was rather being studied and stared at for a little while which in itself was uncomforting. The feeling of being stared at like so and studied about made the hyena or gnoll of sorts, uncomfortable with the current situation. The information that could be worked out from them may, however be invaluable so Doverrick simply maintain a wide and pleasant grin across his face to not appear menacing and more of a friendly sort.

It seemed then or soon afterward that the girl and the other had disappeared into the ley line and likely went elsewhere. Which seemed rather rude to Doverrick at the time being as he was ignored or avoided all together. Since the two were gone and disappeared into the ley line and likely would not hear him at the time being, he swore under his breath. More or less coming up with a minor profane name for the two. Unsure of whether or not he should pursue the two was being questioned in the next few seconds.

If he left and went after the two, who knew what might be met on the other side? The two might be too afraid to even think clearly and answer him or they may even try to attack Doverrick simply out of fear. There was the other traveler to worry about as well. The hyena glanced over his shoulder back in the general direction of the traveler that was walking along the path. The chill of the cold began to set in somewhat.

As he silently approached the beast-like creature, Jarek noted that he was probably overreacting. It was just that he had never really seen anything like the creature before him. Strange creatures, yes, but never dog people. Maybe it wasn't even a dog, but the only creature he had ever seen with a head even slightly resembling that of the figure was a wolf, but even that wasn't near that of what stood before him. Maybe it was friendly, he thought to himself, but he had no way of knowing for sure. He was on a strange path where an evil wizard was said to live, so he wasn't taking any chances just yet.

As he moved closer, he saw that the beast was now standing before two people. The people looked frightened, one of them an old man and the other a rather beautiful young woman. Strange. How many more people would he find on this path? Was this mage really so popular that he received numerous guests on cold and miserable days such as this? He shrugged. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to make himself known to the group. Or perhaps all of those that stood before him were servants to a wicked master.

His thoughts were cut short though as the very air before him began to open up, as if reality was ripping apart at the seems. Both the woman and the old man were enveloped by the light, leaving the beast looking rather dazed and confused. Jarek stared at the portal in awe. In his short life he had never seen anything like what he had just witnessed. If this was the power of magic, then it was probably a power that could help him achieve his quest. Though on a darker note, if this was the power of magic, the man who killed Jarek's master probably had such power. Either way, Jarek had to figure out what he had just witnessed.

His eyes drifted past the creature standing before the portal - for it had to be a portal. Why else would it still be there? Where else could the two others have gone? (Burned to ashes, he thought, but he quickly pushed that idea out of his mind). Either way, there was something about the woman that caught Jarek's attention. He had only just glanced her, but he assumed that she was responsible for the portal that now stood before him. Maybe she was a wizard (or witch. Jarek had never learned the proper terminology for magic-users). Maybe she had the power to help him. At the very least, maybe she was in trouble and needed assistance. If that was the case, maybe he could walk out of the whole situation with a few more coins to spare.

He cursed his brashness. His master had always said that it would be the death of him. With a shrug of his shoulders, he gave the beast creature a charismatic grin as he ran by and leaped through the portal dramatically.

Tilting her head slightly heard the clicking sounds of booted feet heels against the stone floor, walking in her direction. The sounds seemed to reverberate strangely along the corridor, echoing into the distance as though not meant for her. As far as her eye could see there was a bend, and that was where the sounds originated from – gradually getting closer. Tap, tap, tap, tap! It almost as if the person was walking down steps. Tempted to draw her blade, decided to wait instead, having no idea if the other was hostile or not. Not that she was afraid she just did not really want to start a fight in such an unfamiliar place. Especially with the purposeful way the other was making an entrance.

Slowly, methodically, now whoever it was had style. Tempted as she was to walk to the end and go around the corner, decided not to. Anticipation and all that, hopefully it would be worth the wait. The man walked around the corner, his crooked nose and eyebrows like caterpillars!

“You old goat!” she shouted in annoyance. “How are you not dead?”

“Now that is a story, besides aren’t you happy to see me?”

She shifted uncomfortably, he face flushing.

“Annoyed, or embarrassed?”

Looking down briefly, “A little of both actually,” taking a deep breath met his eyes, her expression stern. “My question still stands though.”

“Fair ‘nuff” he replied good-naturedly. “What do you think of the place?”

Deciding not to push the issue, for now, watched as he beckoned her to follow.

“Come along now Nemaya, don’t have all day” he said smiling sweetly. His loose fitting blue trousers, and long red knee length boots looked a little silly. Not as much as his red cape which stretched down to his waist, at his waist was an ornate one handed sword in an equally ornate scabbard.

As he smiled, his grey hair turned blonde and his wrinkled face smoothed so that he resembled his youthful self once more.
Her eyes widened in surprise.

“How did you do that?”

He shrugged, “Magic obviously, of a sort at any rate.”

They continued walking but as she reached the end of the corridor it opened out. To her it looked like a hotel reception of one of those technological worlds she had visited in the past. It was literally hundreds of feet wide in every direction. The floor was expensive beige marble that had a definitive shine to it, large pillars with deep grooves running down them, twenty yards ahead was a red carpeted staircase that went up to another floor. Glancing up, saw balconies and handrails each with a deep brown varnish. What was up was truly spectacular.

There were likely hundreds of floors all if which had the same balconies and handrails.

“Where are we?”

“We are in the Grand Tower, AKA the Nexus. Each floor holds a different multiverse.”

Her jaw dropped, mouth opening and closing like it was some kind of exercise. “Multiverse?”

“That’s not best bit. All of this is only one floor” he said cheerfully raising his arms in an expansive gesture. “Each level here lets you access an individual plane, and every door on that level a different universe, dimension, and world. And there is an infinite number of them.”

“I’d like to sit a minute if you don’t mind?”

He gestured. “Sure, go right ahead. Mind blowing isn’t it?”

Raising her arms in an ‘I give in gesture’ lowered her head into her arms. Moments seemed like minutes or hours, she wasn’t sure. Slowly raising her head looked at the younger Rushan.

“How did you find this place?”

Raising an index finger pointed at her. Smiling into his eyes, “Now that girl is an intelligent question. Walked through one of those damn doors you did. Explored and in doing so became one of the many Wardens that walk this place.”

“So you’re not the only one?”

He shook his head. “Nah,” pausing briefly, “while you were busy fighting one crusade after another I explored, went to thousands of different worlds.”

“Wait a minute” she interrupted. “If each of those floors leads to another plane,” turning back towards where she had come from. “What about back there?”

“Ah, they’re called Gossamer Worlds. Many are only solar system sized, others much larger; but on the whole much smaller and in many ways not part of the multiverse where the Lords of Order and Chaos roam yet for many it is still part of it – although the Tower does not think so.” He remarked affectionately patting a pillar.

“You make it sound alive.”

“I think it is.”

double post

Triple post

The cold had set in rather quickly in multiple senses. The actual cold weather and wind had become more noticeable but also the absence of the people before just suddenly deciding to leave elsewhere seemed to bring a chill and oddity to it. It was likely that the weather was mostly getting to Dovverick again from since had resurfaced but he was not a particular fan of being ignored or abandoned. It felt even worse or perhaps even more irritating since he had to put on a kind and begging like act in order to try and get information about the on goings that had lead some destruction near yonder. Either way the desire to get out of the cold was rising and somewhat tempting to pursue those whom had left in order to give a tongue thrashing of some sort or another. He had not the clue of how to do this beyond that he simply wanted to at this point.

The other traveler was still approaching but it had been of less concern at this point. Who, what or why they were approaching seemed to be very little in importance to the arising annoyance and rudeness of those that came before that traveler, and perhaps a bit of an irritant from the discomforting presence of the said traveler that came about. Whether or not any of them had information seemed very unlikely and a foolish pursuit beyond that of possibly finding some form of closure of enjoyment in dealing with the two previous people, and maybe even the traveler as well. What fools they all started to look like painted in Doverick’s eyes, even himself at this point.

Then again, the ley-line may have been a convenient means of retreat to some healer or some other far beyond but Doverrick doubted that would be the reason for using or taking it. Especially with his own service having been mentioned quickly up front. It seemed while Doverick was thinking for some meaning behind an action or another the Traveler had rather quickly ran through and disappeared into the ley-line for some reason or another. The reason behind that seemed not to matter as that had not been upon Doverick’s mind for long. The expression that the traveler had some warmly had printed across their face had been what got to Doverick more. The grin had rather irritated them or angered them on a deeper level for some unknown reason.

That seemed to be the pushing point. As Doverick himself soon went into the ley-line as well with an angered and upset pout. At least the temperature was hoped to change for the better.

Practically moments after Jarek stepped through the portal, he cursed his stupidity. He had just watched an old man and young woman become enveloped in some unknown portal, possibly disintegrated right before his eyes, and what was his first thought? "Oh, I'll just go in after them." Not a care in the world, he jumped through. It wasn't like his life was lacking in problems without random events like this coming up. He had his survival to worry about. How to find work, make money enough to rent inns and but food, where to hunt, tracking down his master's - Tracking down that man, and now this?

As he began to grow more aware of his surroundings, Jarek noticed that he thankfully was still alive. Well, sort of. All around him was a greenish color. It enveloped him, clinging to his skin like fog. He couldn't breath, be it because there was no air around him, or maybe because he didn't even have a body at this point. He couldn't tell. All he knew is that he was going somewhere, and fast. Was it the afterlife? Some sort of heaven? Possibly someplace worse?

For several minutes, maybe even longer, he was left in suspense, wondering where he was and what had happened to him. He wanted to scream, to lash out, do anything to break the monotony of the tunnel around him. And then, it ended.

He found himself face first on the cold stone floor of a hall. At first he was dazed, confused. Who wouldn't be? He stood, rubbing his bruised nose and cursing his luck. He tilted his head, looking down the hall. Candles burned around him on either side. Had someone been here recently? None of the candles were out, each burning brightly. He also noted that the girl and the old man were no where to be seen, but- yes, there it was again. Talking. Down the hall just a little ways, he could hear two people talking. One of them obviously sounded quite excited, or surprised. It was the voice of a woman. Perhaps she wasn't in danger after all. Maybe Jarek had just stumbled across something he shouldn't have. He turned, hoping to find the portal still there, only noticing now that there were multiple portals scattered across the hall.

Slowly, he turned back to face the voices. He wanted to get out of, well, wherever he was now, but he didn't want to risk teleporting someplace worse, like off the side of a cliff. Slowly, he inched forward, trying to get a good look at the two people speaking while remaining unseen by them. Holding his breath, he edged around the corner of the hall and leaned in to listen to the two speak.