Arn winced slightly as the timbre of that strong sonic shield still made his ears ring. The way that the woman used magic was not something he had seen. The current understanding of the use of the Aether was tuning with it and using that mystical force to alter the existing nature of the world. Despite the amazing results, most mages still followed some sort of rule and borderlines. This woman however, seemed to use the Aether merely as a battery. She seemed to be creating things rather than modifying or enhancing them. That made things that much more challenging.

The Master Mage snarled at her taunts and struggled to keep his cool. This vixen was well versed in battle and as such, he need to be more tactical more precise. His usual method of overpowering with power would not work here. As if to emphasize that point, the woman disappeared from in front of him and appeared behind him.

His back hairs stood on end, not out of fear but because her magic seemed to clash with his. The ethereal silhouette that covered most magicians when casting, seemed to be repulsed and assailed by her own. Using a move taught to him by the master who had gifted him his Daisho, his left elbow moved almost perfectly horizontal aiming to strike at the temple of the woman.

The strike however met nothing but air. He kept turning until his feet pivoted until his body stopped looking at the dark haired woman. He was about to launch another set of attacks when the noticed movement to his right. A levitating and glowing Eilis made him loose the concentration of the Aether.

There was something enthralling about her glow. Something called to him but not in a familiar way. It stirred some deep feeling inside him. He was almost dumfounded until he noticed very faintly that there was a disturbance in the air near his protegees hands. Too late he figured it was an offensive spell. Had it not been for the shield that the black haired woman put it, he might have been blinded.

There was something different in the flow of energy that connected him to Eilis. The bond was still there but it seemed it also held something else. While a part of Arn tried to push against this feeling, another part of him seemed to welcome it. A feeling akin to lust welled inside of him. It was the strength of the feeling that drew him to Eilis that actually cut the connection.

His mind came back to watch Tyrhallan bet impaled and the original assailant be the prey. The master mage’s eyes connected with two black orbs. They brought out a momentary sense of danger. However, soon he started to feel sadness. This was not Eilis. No matter what his eyes were seeing, somewhere deep inside he felt that this was not the person he had connected with.

As if to highlight this feeling, Arn’s aura projected the warm fire feeling that the two of them had shared in the hospital ship. He reached out to her both in mind, spirit and action. “Eilis. Forgive me. I was not strong to protect you. I am sorry that you needed to be strong. I promise. I will be strong for you. You don’t have to use that strength anymore…”

His voice was apologetic. If he were to die that day, he would deserve it for he had failed her. His own dark eyes glowed as he dug deeper into the Aether trying to leverage their connection and sought her out.

What would be tangible and visible before him was an unstable form, flashing and contorting, trying to form a being, but not quite able to remain in said form.
It was clearly Eilis and yet it wasn’t. Her lightbody almost seemed to burn and darken as lightning wirled along her body. Angry cries screamed across the Aether, as her power seemed to fluctuate from weak to extremes.
The air within the Aether was pregnant with expectation, awaiting the release of such destructive and powerful feelings, something terrible was going down and the Aether itself seemed wary, if one would consider the Aether a sentient force.
Eilis on the outside however seemed quite calm and collected as her index finger twirled and a twisted expression formed on her face.
When Arn seemed unwilling to play along she sighed as her fingers stopped. She felt the man reach out and heard his words and the warmth he was sending her way. Such a foolish thing to do…
She regarded him with indifference before she lazily made a throw away gesture.
Instantly the hair sped forwards towards the man, when suddenly it halted again in front of him, seemingly out of balance and unable to move further as Eilis’s other hand had shot forward as it wrestled back the reigns of the hair.
A pair of hazel coloured terrified eyes glanced at Arn in worry and fear, before a flicker of relief passed over her face.
“Arn…”She uttered her bindings glowing and making her scream out in pain as she seemed to wrestle with herself again.
“Take…Kill me!” She pleaded, before the bindings glowed brighter again as her eyes darkened over and her skin cracked a little more around the edges. No blood had come out of her yet, but watching her wrestle with whatever it was she was dealing with was painful.
In front of Arn the hair still trembled, barely held back and the same went for Scylla’s pursuing bit. The Sorceress now back in control called her hair back to her knowing this might be the turning point for her.
A satisfied smirk formed on her lips as she was about to call on her own magic again, when the kiss of cold steel greeted her throat.
“Oh no you don’t…” Tyr said as he grabbed her by her hair, making her more compliant.
“So…you’re still alive…I’m surprised really pretty boy.” She snarked hearing his laboured breathing.
“Spare me your concerns. Tell me why did you come here?”
“Isn’t that obvious?” She asked rolling her eyes, before groaning as Tyr didn’t put up with her attitude.
“It’s because of her?”
“Most certainly.”
“Why?”
“None of your concern princeling. Ouch! I’m a delicate flower.”
“You seem more like poison ivy to me.”
“Oh haha you’re hilarious.” She snapped back feeling the steel press closer and hear Tyrhallan growl a threatening promise.
“I will have no qualms about ending you hag, so you’d better start talking.”
“She’s one of them. One of the Children of the Tahjai. A promise and a weapon.”
Tyrhallan frowned at her words before he asked annoyed.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Scylla elbowed him, before she turned around to face him, holding him now up instead.
“You don’t know anything little prince. I doubt you even understand what I mean when I tell you she will be a key unleashing hell here on Ith. The most merciful thing to do here is kill her.” Scylla said before she released him.

Arn had seen the horrors of war. Survived many battles and seen many of his men die. He had literally melted the skin off bones of many a pirate and had walked through gore infested decking. But even with all this, he stood transfixed and in horror at the sight before him. Not because it was unappealing compared to the lovely face of his protegee but because he wished it was not happening to said lady.

The master mage felt the young woman had already been through enough. In the short time that he had known her he had discovered that she had been tormented by a sort of sect or cult. He had been with her when her mother died. Their small amount of peace short lived by a demon haired woman who had hinted that Eilis had been taken advantage maybe even raped.

Yet, all these horrors seemed to pale in comparison to the surreal visage in front of him. He could do nothing but stare as the impossible transfiguration and morphing between reality and nightmare took possession of the young girl’s body. He wondered if the poor girl had been designated as nothing more than a vessel for some dark being. Still, that vessel had feelings and it was important to him.

Such violent usage and expenditure of magic was not only tearing the poor girl apart but seemed to be causing havoc among the Aether. Very rarely could mages feel the connection or manipulation of the Aether by others. It tended to be only when the mage themselves connected tot eh Aether that they could sense anything. In a similar way that one can not feel the cool water of a mountain river until one plunges into it.

However, he was able to almost feel the Aether scream as the boundaries and lines of it were stretched and pulled. The magic was being disrupted on one point and made to burs forth at another. It was like the eruptions of magma in an erupting volcano. It made Arn’s head feel like it would explode. His very soul threatened to be engulfed. Or was it his heart ache at the poor girl’s plight?

His musings were stopped by the dark representations sudden attack. The battle mage drew from years of experience with manipulating magic and his own considerable skill. His hands curled and grasped strands of the Aether like bunches of hair or the mane of a horse. He had meant to put a shield with a piece of the floor. The floor just in front of him visibly cracked as the man clasped the connecting threads of Aether.

He did not have a reason or chance to enable his plan as the hair stopped but a few feet from him. Arn traded one concern for another one. He saw and heard the woman that had become indispensable to him. Only to have her be pulled back like a swimmer drowning just beneath the surface.

"Take…Kill me!”

He plead cut him straight to his soul. The Aether, already straining under an emotional boil, was further aggravated by his soul screaming into it. His feelings radiated like tidal waves from the epicenter. His eyes widened.

Arn remembered the promise he had asked of her. But he had not agreed. He had thought at that time that he would destroy any enemies that threatened her. However, how was he to protect her from herself?

Near him, Tyrhallan and the witch conversed but Arn only had eyes for Eilis dark form or not. His mind raced to try and find a solution. Finally his mind settled on a course of action. It was risky. He would have to be very precise. If it failed, it could mean the death of the girl. In a way, this would satisfy the girls request.

To the master mage however, this was not the optimal ending. He concentrated deeply. He strengthened his connection with the Aether. He dove into it and he very literally felt himself dive deeper into hits icy waters. He flowed with it, becoming one with it.

His goal was to manipulate the air around Eilis producing a sort of pressure around her neck. Normally, the sleeper hold would be applied in close combat but he could there was no guarantee he could get close enough to the transformed girl without damage to himself or her. So he concentrated, the strain evident in his eyes as he tried to make her pass out. He felt horrible at this attack on her even if it was for her own good.

As Eilis struggled the bindings burned ever bright, but held. From within came almost a guttural animalistic cry, hazel eyes faded out back into the black void as blood started to run from her nose and from her ears. The Aether trembled at her cries and the remaining windows rattled within the room.
As Arn started the attack the girl seemed to recognise it instantly clawing at the empty air and Aether like a wild trapped animal. Foaming and screaming she struggled as the constrictive cage around her neck grew tighter.
Wild dark eyes glared at him as promises of foul murder lay in them unspoken, frothing at the mouth trying desperately to breathe before a final flicker of defiance, an attempt to break free signalled the end.
After this final spasm she slipped into consciousness and with it the pressure in the Aether was released, the volatile energies disbanded and a strange new quiet almost felt alien where before such turbulence had been.
In the room Eilis’s body had slumped to the floor, her bindings had ceased to glow and though it would take time before the cracked skin would heal again, she almost seemed peaceful.
Scylla and Tyrhallan had watched it with mixed feelings. As she let go of the knight, she immediately saw the cold steel flash again.
She grabbed it in defiance.
“Watch it pretty boy, I am in no mood to be merciful today!” She snarled as she poked him in his chest wound.
“You aargghh! Foul hag!” He cried out before lifting his sword again glaring at her as he covered up his chest with his other hand.
“You will give us some bloody answers!” He demanded.
“I don’t have to give you anything!”
“If she is so dangerous then why didn’t you kill her the moment you had her? Why all the torment?!” Tyrhallan demanded to know as he watched the woman turn to him with a look of utter disgust.
“Silence.” A voice boomed from the other side of the room, there standing in the doorframe was Uilles. Leaning on his cane he tiredly entered the room.
Her eyes glanced over him annoyed before sudden recognition came, the look she now bore was one of uncertain disbelief.
“Well...if it isn’t one of Belisio’s finest. The raptor in the flesh….Seems old age finally got the better of you. The one enemy you would never be able to avoid. Time.”
“Spare me your words Walkure, for my fate is out of your hands only Death is the only being I will have to answer to.”
Scylla made a throwaway gesture. “Repartee with him then, see if I care.” She stepped away and back towards the window from where she had entered.
“You still owe us some answers…if you please.” He demanded as he clicked with his cane in the floor beneath him. “And you know you won’t be taking her today. She will remain here.”
The woman cast an annoyed glance over her shoulder towards the girl and Arn, pondering her options and perhaps recalculating her moves before she pointed towards the girl.
“She’s an abomination, a creation of the Tahjai’s. She holds Rhevendahli blood. The same blood that once was able to withstand the might of the Empire…even though it wasn’t for long. Regardless when Vaim took Rhevendahl it sought out the talented children, after all if you truly want to conquer a people, make them forget the very culture that they belonged to. The Rhevendahli were enslaved, though the men could regain their freedom in service for the Empire, through their battleprowess. The women? The women would be used to dilute the blood ties further, such was the Empire’s plan. The magically inclined would be separated early preferably as soon as the gift showed itself.
After all, you wouldn’t rise up against your own family…” A loud sigh followed.
“She is just one of many… A talented child, most likely her emphatic nature made her connection to the weave strong enough for her to become a test subject.” She turned to Arn.
“The bindings are meant to hold the Aether within her. She’s a vessel, a key to a machine. If she dies millions will live, but as long as she is alive she is a walking talking death sentence common and gifted alike.” She spat with great disgust, though it wasn’t clear what or who she was disgusted at particularly.
“The wisest thing to do…and the most merciful is to end her life. Right here. Right now.” Scylla ended looking at the three men for a moment before she sighed.
"The choice is yours gentlemen. Do the right thing."

Arn fought not only with his concentration to keep the Aether focused on his young lady’s neck, but he fought with the desire to stop this action on her. Regardless of the reason, he hated having to harm her or bring pain upon her. The magic threads pulled and expanded as he tried to control his own output of magic and the flow of it. Too much and he would crush her neck, too little and the goal would not be achieved.

His eyes began to fill with liquid compassion and shame. He was being no better than the black haired witch who had harmed poor Eilis. Yet he knew that she needed to be free from this version of her. Even if he was never forgiven, he would not allow his protegee to continue to be this dark force. He would not kill her but he would not just stand idly by.

When her dark eyes fixed on him he could do little else than whisper “I am sorry” as tears began to spring from his eyes. The Master Mage collapsed to his knees just as the girl fell unconscious. His chest shuddered as he tried to gasp for breath in between slight sobs. He looked at her small form. Like a rag doll which had been played to hard with.

He was weak from his expenditure of magic that had been required to so carefully manipulate the forces of the Aether in such a manner. Also, he had never attempted to do such a thing. He would normally excite or harness the raw energies of the magic threads. All he had to do was provide a direction for the destructive forces and unleash them. This time however, he needed to basically use his own power to block off the flow of magic just enough. It was like pouring drops of water into a small glass while carrying a 50 gallon bladder full of water on your back.

The mage moved forwards on his hands and knees slowly. Tyrhallan and the witch the least of his worries. His eyes could only hold the crumpled form of Eilis in his gaze. Only when Uille’s voice boomed in authority did Arn look in the direction of the trio. Still, seeing that there was nothing that would threaten Eilis immediately, he continued his pilgrimage until he reached the poor girl.

Her body had cuts and tears were the bindings were. She was not bleeding profusely but she looked as if she had been very efficiently carved. He clenched his teeth in anger and frustration. He knew she was still alive due to the soft rise and fall of her chest in the now torn green dress she had worn.

The battle mage lifted her head and placed it on his lap brushing the disheveled hair out of her bloody and yet still oddly beautiful face. A few drops of his tears landed on her face and ran to mingle with her slightly bloodied wounds.

Arn could hear what they were saying. The black haired woman called Eilis an abomination. He had seen a terrigying sight but he was convinced that this corrupted form had been a product of her torturous time in the convent. His anger was now directed towards the witch as she turned to look at him.

A man who had considered himself no more than a weapon could not accepte that people considered the girl in his lap as nothing else. ‘She deserved better than that. She deserved a full life surrounded by friends and family. Even as a person who had seen war and suffering, Arn believed that life was meant to be lived to the fullest. Perhaps that is why he was so committed to her freedom and protection. He wanted the rest of her life to whipe clean her beginning years.

“The wisest thing to do…and the most merciful is to end her life. Right here. Right now.” Scylla ended looking at the three men for a moment before she sighed.
"The choice is yours gentlemen. Do the right thing."

Arn placed a gentle hand upon upon Eilis. He set her down gently and then stood over her protectively. His voice was calm but cold and as deadly as a sharp blade. “No one will touch her. You make her out to be certain death to the world. Yet you or yours did not do her the mercy of ending her life as you claim. You wanted to use her. When she would not be your pawn you sought to end her. She attempted to leave that cursed life behind. It was you who triggered her turn to darkness.”

His eyes narrowed. “No one will touch her. She is stronger than all of us here. She is stronger than the destiny you would thrust upon her. She deserves a chance to live a life that does not have you or your damned beliefs in it.”

His eyes started to glow. “No one will touch her.” He said again. A warning to any in the room. He knew that Tyrhallan would consider the implications of the benefits of ending Eilis's life. Indeed, had the master mage not had such a deep connection with the tattooed beauty, he himself might have considered carrying the sin of her death. Unfortunately for all of them, she had caused a change in him that overruled even his most logical of thoughts.

Arn placed a gentle hand upon upon Eilis. He set her down gently and then stood over her protectively. His voice was calm but cold and as deadly as a sharp blade. “No one will touch her. You make her out to be certain death to the world. Yet you or yours did not do her the mercy of ending her life as you claim. You wanted to use her. When she would not be your pawn you sought to end her. She attempted to leave that cursed life behind. It was you who triggered her turn to darkness.”

His eyes narrowed. “No one will touch her. She is stronger than all of us here. She is stronger than the destiny you would thrust upon her. She deserves a chance to live a life that does not have you or your damned beliefs in it.”

His eyes started to glow. “No one will touch her.” He said again. A warning to any in the room.

Scylla scoffed at his words.
"She is strong is she? Are you sure about that 'Zipperboy'? How long do you think she will last? A month? Half a year?" Scylla cut back. "And someone is already touching her and no that someone ain't you." She threw her hands up at the folly of these men.
"I triggered her turn to darkness? That's rich! She is death incarnate boy!" She snarled before she seemed to reel her anger back in.
"You don't know what you are talking off. Just because you're pining for her doesn't mean that she gets to live...and also my beliefs have nothing to do with that. Cause if it was up to me she would never have been bound in the first place. But as I said that was not my call to make nor hers for that matter. Her fate was sealed the day her gift came to light." Scylla explained by not truly making things any clearer.

She eyed the young woman with contempt and looked disapprovingly at Arn.
"Oh she may try to leave it all behind, but unfortunately 'Sparky' she can't escape from it. It is only a matter of time before he breaks her completely." Scylla stated as she looked at the two other men as if to convince them to take action.
"And he will. She won't last long from what I've seen."

"He?" Tyrhallan asked stating the obvious question.

"Yes He. After all you think a person simply dies when their life gets snuffed out? You might aspire to be a candle, but I can tell you the moment the flame is snuffed the candle won't suddenly cease to be."
She saw the Knight narrow his eyes trying to understand what she was hinting at.

"We are all part of the great cycle. Only difference is unlike us, it is eternal and one fateful day a poor deluded schmuck wanted to reverse the irreversable, to stop Fate in its tracks and deny Death its ultimate victory. A thousand children he sacrificed so his life would be prolonged. An eternal entity. An immoral Immortal who chose to do it over the backs of the innocent and the powerless. He murdered the very brother of the young boy that would grow up to become the Sorcerer King and he sought vengeance. Vengeance for the horrors and cruel deeds the man was guilty off. The sad part is most of the world regards him as a hero who ultimately defeated the Sorcerer King or so the legends would have you believe. The man called Tourmaline was many things, but a hero? I would state he was as much of a villain as the Sorcerer King was."

"That is all fine, but what does it have to do with her?" Tyrhallan pressed before he received a glare.

"I am getting at that you muppet!" She replied sharply.
"Tourmaline prolonged his life with not just magic, but using a machine. He prefered those gifted with magic, who are more in tune with the Aetherfield and its manipulation of it. He uses them till they are spent and then continues on to the next. She carries his magical bindings. An old ritual that basically allows him to transfer his soul and attach itself to a body, like a leech. Sucking more and more power and control away from the real soul of the body. Or in this case his girlfriend." She said pointing towards Arn.

Arn just stared back at the dark haired witch. His eyes were even but there was nothing in them but a deadly promise to any who dared to harm the sleeping form of Eilis on his lap. His feelings had been strained. Not only from the things he had witnessed but the effort of controlling the Aether in such a manner. It made him wonder who both women managed to do so with seemingly little effort.

The battle mage had been praised for his great capability for magic as well as the strong aptitude for magic by many in the Cauldron and the Academy. The Vice Archmage had even had a few talks with him to measure him up. This potential had allowed a bastard lowly birthed nobody to be invited to the prestigious Academy and offered a job at royal court.

All of this was naught in the sheer power that the mage had witnessed. He was not sure how much he would have been able to oppose them should they had truly been of the mind to snuff him out. A dark anger welled up inside him. He had fought all his life to never feel useless again but here he was ignorant to the power that rested in his lap.

That power had stirred something inside him that made him feel ashamed. Witnessing such raw power had made Arn feel….lustful. But not in the carnal way that is quickly satisfied with the pleasure of the flesh. Instead, he wanted that power. He wanted to control that power. He wanted to awaken that power in Eilis merge it with is own and share it with her. Dark currents of desire like cold sweats still ran down his spine and fueled his dark anger.

This was further aggravated by the declaration that somebody had already successfully tapped into hat power and was greedily draining it away. The battle mage’s mind searched desperately for a plan of attack. Ironically, it was not in the volumes of books that he had the pleasure of reading in the secret place of the Academy. In fact, his answer came in the most rudimentary of practices taught to all magic recruits-Thread Cleansing.

A mage’s connection to the Aether is necessary to draw from that power. However, due to inadequate casting or prolonged use, that connection can weaken or suffer in some manner. Via deep meditation and a sort of astral projection where the person travels the Thread and repairs any damage, Thread Cleansing is possible.

Arn had also discovered that with enough practice and skill, one could actually enhance one’s thread to be able to draw even more power from the source. This was extremely dangerous because if unregulated and unpracticed, the flow of power could burn a mage out. There were many applications of this simple procedure he was still trying to learn. Who was to say that a mage of the old hero’s level was not capable of forming bonds with the threads of other humans.

Had the dark haired woman in front of him not tried to kill them all, Arn would have loved to learn from her. Her insight and teachings were so dangerous and so forbidden that there was no doubt that they were powerful. Mage’s often have many restrictions due to the dangers the Aether poses to those with the lack of power or experience. Certain techniques are painted as forbidden but are not inherently bad. The way that one uses those techniques is what causes that distinction.

The powerful will often feel themselves above such trivial matters of good and evil. To them, there is only power. This was evident in the secret retelling of what history recorded. Arn had always had an inkling that the stories that were promulgated to the masses held half truths and revisions. After all, the weak need only be told what the truth is. However, he also knew that digging too deep would lead to your own grave or the discovery of a dark pit so endless, that you would loose yourself in it.

Arn met the gaze of the woman. “Then what is your purpose of coming here? If what you say is true, then Eilis could run to the ends of Ith and still not escape her prison. So why chase her?” His eyes narrowed. “If you wanted her dead, you could have easily killed her.” He gently laid his proteges head down and stood up. “IF all you said is true. Then I will shoulder the burden of the lives to be lost by her staying alive. Eventually she will perish, from what you have said, so why deny her the simple life while it lasts.”


His tone turned dark. “IF however, my assumption is right, I think that like all prisons and all chains, there is a way to break them and your master is afraid that will happen. Either way, you have no claim over her now. Remain and I promise to end your life if its the last thing I do.” He stared at her. Controlled death in his eyes. To any even minimally attuned to magic, there seemed to be a sudden increase in Arn’s projection. He had opened a second gate to the Aether. He had not used this very often and would mean he would tire out much faster. But it also meant, that the power that now flowed through him was immense almost reaching that of the Vice Archmage.

Scylla sighed tired of these insistent men making demands and asking annoying questions.
“None of us can escape the confinement we find ourselves in. Whether the chains are called duty or fate or even if the bars are of solid gold, a cage is still a cage. And try as you might to shake and rattle it, without a key one is doomed to remained confined in them.” Scylla lectured him before she lazily continued.
“My purpose to coming here was to retrieve her and take her home. Regardless of 'her' wishes, I have orders to follow, just as you have.
We Brides of the Empire have our duties to perform and I was given no orders to kill her, merely to recapture her. So be glad of that at the least.”
She moved in a swaying manner away from the men, giving off a tired and exhausted air. Casting another look at the curious couple, she observed the mage tenderness in handling the unconscious Eilis. Almost lovingly.
She shut her eyes in irritation as she continued in a knowing tone.
“She will be used for more terrifying things you know… She might want a simple life but the powers that be will never allow her that small measure of happiness, that moment of peace and quiet." A sigh followed.
"They will come and strip everything away from her, again and again. Break her spirit first and then her soul, until finally the grinding down of her being is complete and done to such an extend that only silent acceptance remains. Would it not be better that she forgoes all her struggle and hardship and accept the chains that bind her?
The sooner she learns that the sooner she learns to live with brutal cards of fate that Life has dealt her.” Scylla finished up before listening to Arn’s promise.
“Our Master… would have liked you. Too bad you’re Belisian. Assume away by all means it hardly alters the ending.” She ended as she felt how Arn had started to manipulate the Aether again. She would not be able to beat them in this state and Scylla knew she would be better off trying again at a later time.
She smiled looking at the men before saying her goodbye to Arn in her smug confident and lackadaisical manner.
“Well no need to get all worked up about her, I know when my company is not appreciated…I will see myself out, but here’s a promise from me, lover-boy. There will be a day we will meet again and perhaps then you will agree with me. I wish you well, you’ll need it I fear…But for now Toodle-pip.” She said with a sarcastic wave before she threw herself out of the same window she had entered through.
As she fell she threw something below her causing a ripple in the fabric of her shadows making a hovering broom appear above the ground. She landed on it and with a turn upwards and a maniacal laugh she flew off into the dark starry night, leaving the men to deal with each other.

Uilles was the first one who spoke as he looked at Arn and Tyrhallan.
“Seems to me you two owe me an explanation…specifically concerning the girl.” He said as his eyes drifted towards Eilis who was lying still and had not awoken yet. “But let’s get her to bed first, we can’t let the poor lass sleep on the floor. Tomorrow morning after breakfast you both will join me in the library and you will tell me all you know.” Uilles uttered softly to them in a tone that brooked no refusal.
"And Arn...you'd best stay in her room tonight. Whilst I do not expect anymore, we cannot be certain, better to avoid another mess like this while we can." Uilles said clicking the cane against the floor as he turned around and walked back to the others to inform them.
Tyrhallan looked at Arn with a knowing look.
"I need to get this patched up. Tomorrow we'll go looking for answers, we won't let her be taken again." he vowed with a nod to the mage.

Arn listened to the dark haired woman. She said no lies. He was quite sure that all she said was at the very least something she believed in. He had seen enough to know that Eilis was more than met the eyes. He had felt things through his connection with her that made him feel uneasy. It was probably because of how she made him feel. Feelings that both enticed and made him wary. The biggest mystery was that they both had connected at all.

He remembered the first feeling of her. He was deeply wounded and very close to death. Yet, he had heard a call. As if they two had been connected. Romantics call such a connection as soul mates. Ironically, his own research had proven this notion to be true. Both spiritually and scientifically, all life in Ith is interwoven and connected by the Aether. The Weave is all and connects all. There is no reason to believe that in such a complex tapestry, there are not threads that interlock and could actually share the same origin.

This was the Fate that Scylla could be referring. For Arn, the moment he gave his word to Eilis he had bound himself to her. Actually, the moment that he had touched her to calm her, he had bound himself to her. To him, this was not a cage but it was a union that anchored him when he had felt to be nothing more than a leaf on the wind.

The battle mage’s eyes followed the woman cautiously. He scanned the area around her for any disturbance in the Weave. His stronger connection to the Aether allowed him to detect changes in the field. This same connection was making him feel jumpy. Almost as one who has taken drugs or full of adrenalin. His own field pulsed as if like a barely held in hurricane. Yet he contained himself.

His body was already feeling the strain of this enhanced connection. Somehow, this also gave him a feeling of euphoria. He wondered if Eilis felt stronger than this when in the state she had demonstrated? He looked at the still sleeping figure of his protegee through the corner of his eyes. If she shared her power with him…how would that feel?

There will be a day we will meet again and perhaps then you will agree with me.

He flared up just as she jumped away into the night. The reason for his sudden surge of anger was because he already agreed with her. His logical mind knew that killing Eilis was the best possible tactical action in regards to denying the enemy the power that the lovely girl seemed to posses. Without the connection that he now shared with her, he would have had very little qualm in sacrificing her for the benefit of millions.

This simple fact made him feel anger with himself. Was he being selfish? The answer was simple. YES.

Yet, this simple answer as actually the reason why his conviction in protecting her and allowing her to live free were redoubled. He had not doubts that she would be used. That the power that bound her would destroy any chance she had at a peaceful, happy life. Until he was able to free her, there was no guarantee that she would ever be able to live any type of life with him.

Arn wanted that chance more than anything and he would kill for it.

The mage took a deep breath and sealed his connection again. His body still buzzed from the surge of power and like any who take drugs, started to feel a craving for it. Thankfully, he had something that satisfied him, Eilis. He was already kneeling and checking her fully to ensure there was no great injury other than some cuts and scrapes and a bit of bruising where he had magically choked her.

A pang of regret ran through him but he knew it had to be done. He would make amends and apologize latter. He looked up when the old warrior spoke. The mage nodded as he started to lift the sleeping girl effortlessly. “I will tell you all I am able.” He still had a promise to keep but there was not much that had not been revealed already anyways.

Even if the old warrior had not suggested, death itself would not have been able to keep Arn from Eilis that night. As he went by Tyrhallan his voice was heavy and deeply apologetic. “I regret bringing such an evil to your house and family.” He stopped a few steps away and told the man without turning. “But I truly appreciate your protection. You are a man of great honor and I am honored to know you.”

He followed a servant who showed the mage to a different room. He placed the girl on the bed. A maid had brought water and cloth and was about to clean Eilis up but Arn gently grabbed the cloth from her hands. “Thank you for your kindness, Please, allow me to do that.” The middle aged woman gave him a knowing and gentle look and patted him on the shoulder. Without a word, she exited and closed the door behind her.

The master mage gently dabbed dirt and specks of blood from the sleeping girl. He picked debris from her hair and clothes until she was as perfect as he could get her. He looked down at her and sat on the edge of the bed. “I am sorry that I did not meet you sooner. I wish I could have prevented any of this from happening to you. But I am glad we met.” He said as he brushed back her hair.

He did not know what she was dreaming but he hoped that it was about living a life that was simple and happy.

As Arn went by Tyrhallan his voice was heavy and deeply apologetic.
“I regret bringing such an evil to your house and family.” He stopped a few steps away and told the man without turning. “But I truly appreciate your protection. You are a man of great honor and I am honored to know you.”
“I am a knight and a noble, poor knight would I be if I were to send those in need of help away from our door.” Tyrhallan calmly replied as he made no attempts to stop Arn, instead he reassured him.
“Rest well and rest easy. Have no fear of us for we will not turn you out. I would bring shame upon my family’s name if I were to do so. The Venray family does not shirk its duty for fear of some troubles and inconveniences. So do not worry about it. There is no debt to settle nor payment to fulfil.” He exhaled heavily clearly having some trouble breathing.
“Though I might trouble the young lady for an apology when she wakes. She cut rather deep, aside from flesh she cut my pride as well.” He showed a weak grin before following them out of the room, asking one of the servants to deal with the mess in the morning.
“The hour is late and we all could use our rest. I will see you in the morning, Arn. Even though you might not feel able to get some shut eye in, I suggest you do. After all I am sure Miss Eilis would not approve of you forgoing any sleep for her sake.”
Tyrhallan watched them go with Gretha one of the older staff members and lost in thought he missed his Uncle’s scraping of the throat, having thought him departed already.
“Such an odd pair they make. Such unusual people for you to end up with. I wonder though how much more of these oddities that shall come to disturb our carefully won peace. Walkure’s, mentioning of the Sundering of the World, the old war and what came before…” Uilles frowned mulling the words Scylla has said over in his mind.
“Uncle, you seem to call her a Walkure, do you know this person? After all she seemed to know you.”
Uilles turned to him with a look of cold calculation, a look Tyrhallan had rarely seen. One that had earned him his nickname undoubtedly, the eyes seemed to pin and root you to the spot, as if chaining you to the foundations of the earth.
“I recognised her magic and could recognise her for what she is, due to having dealt with her kind before.”
“Her kind?”
“Oh yes, they are slaves. People with a great aptitude for magic and chosen as children they are prepped and laced with powerful poisons and toxins to serve their masters by becoming the living embodiment of whatever their master desires them to be; a deadly weapon to aid the masters manoeuvring the rather dangerous scene of Vaimese politics. Usually they become Bodyguards or Assasins, in Scylla’s case though…she is known as the embodiment of Pleasure.” Uilles said before turning around as well walking away with his usual limping.
Tyrhallan spend a moment to think on what his Uncle told him, before his eyes widened and he eyed his Uncle with a stern look as he observed the retreating form.
“Uncle…was she there the night you saved the king and is she the reason….” His eyes flew to the bad leg and the cane.
The man stopped, but for a moment, before he cast a nonchalant look over his shoulder.
“Would it matter?”
Tyrhallan’s eyebrows knitted together in frustration.
“Of course it would matter! You hardly ever spoke of what happened and…”
“As was ordered of me. Remember Tyrhallan. Our lives are not our own. We serve. We fight. We do our duty without complaint. Without regard for our needs and wants.” His Uncle recited the mantra he had droned into Tyrhallan from an early age. “We are Knights, what’s more we are Venray’s Honour is in our Blood and by Blood it must be kept. Forsake our values and ruin comes over us. We serve to protect and to keep our oaths, such is our way.” He tapped his lame leg.
“Such is my reward for not heeding the ways of our ancestors. One day I faltered and caved in to my baser instincts. Just once did I stumble and all I ended up with were one night of short lived pleasures, broken promises and this.”
Tyrhallan stood there slack-jawed, barely capable to believe it. His uncle. The most honourable man he knew. The man who had been the living embodiment of duty and honour.
“She was a good deal younger then, but her beauty had been more akin to that of a rosebud that had just blossomed. Innocent I still had assumed her to be, yet I upon laying eyes on her I wanted no desired nothing more but to taste it and claim her as my own.” He snorted.
"She had amused me for her own gains and dare I say I did not regret any manner or lie or deceit I performed for her just so I could have her in my bed. For my carnal lusts I paid a hefty price. For after we broke bed, she left me with my dreams so she could do what she originally had come for. To kill our king. The man himself assumed she had been one of the courtesans or whores send to win his favour and so he did not raise the alarm when she had entered the room. It wasn’t until her hairs where choking the life out of him that he attempted raising the alarm. Had it not been for my timely waking and our own queen’s intervention she might have succeeded.” His uncle sighed taking the cane in his other hand and rubbed his leg.
“I did my duty and she did what she had to do to get away. Having observed me well enough she thrusted her dangerous hair into my direction, much like a spear or sword and cutting the tendons of my leg. She crippled me that day and fled in a manner similar to as she did just now.”
“Did you…” Tyrhallan could barely think or dare ask his Uncle anything further knowing how well he had kept this secret for all these years.
“I have regretted my stupidity, but I dare say if I had the choice to do it all over, I would not change a thing for never during all my battles have I felt so alive as I had when tempting fate with her.” He smiled wistfully. “I doubt she cared though. She had a mission and a goal. I was simply a means to an end. Such is the tragedy of Knights and Walkure’s, we cannot be selfish for the moment we are fate will intervene to right our wrongs. Don’t pay the same price as I have. Stick with honour and Duty. Love after all is often nothing more but Lust and Desire playing tricks on your heart and mind.” With those words the old man limped away leaving Tyrhallan standing there pondering over all that had been revealed just now.
He would have stood there for hours, if his wound had not started to sting again demanding his immediate attention.

“Arn…” The softest whisper escaped her lips as she opened her light brown eyes speckled with the lightest hints of green gazed at him with sorrow and pain.
Those same lips trembled as the fingers of her right hand reached out to touch his arm.
“I’m sorry…” Guilt and pain washed over her, the horrible memories flashing back in her mind and hoping despite it all she had not forever lost her only true friend and protector through it all.
“I…hope I still…will you forgive me?” Her voice was barely audible and her expression seemed more broken and haunted then before as she carefully rose to a sitting position on the bed.
“I…I know I am probably past that point, having squandered your good will.” She started. “And I would understand that you would want to send me away after all of that…but for my own heart sake I must ask. Will you forgive me?” Her hands trembled trying to still them as she cast her eyes down in shame. The dread and remorse were etched into her face and in her words.
She seemed to hold her breath to await his answer. Whether he would condemn her or whether despite all her fears he still regarded her with some affection. She needed to know.
Arn might not know it, but to her he was her rising Sun. Would he remain at her side being the one benevolent and kind consistency or had ‘her Sun’ now forsaken her too, setting and condemning her to dwell in the ever dark night without any of its radiance to light and guide her?

Arn had no problem in sharing the bed with the sleeping Eilis. The oversize mattress was more than roomy for him to be basically next to her with his back to the head rest which was padded and more comfortable than the mattresses at the barracks.

Yet despite all this comfort, his soul and body was not ready for rest. It rejected it. His mind was racing down paths and up others so quickly that had he not been sitting he would be dizzy.

To center and anchor himself he recalled the event of the night. His sharp mind analyzed and was able to recreate the scene to almost perfection. The way the dark haired witch looked, attacked, felt in the Aether. The way that her and Eilis had conjured magic almost as if creating it from thin air. His own actions and results of those actions.

He detached his feelings from the situation or he would wake the sleeping lady with his disturbance of the Aether. Even the scenes when the witch hurt her, even the scenes when Eilis hurt Tyrhallan and attempted to hurt him. Even the scene where he had to basically choke the woman he swore to protect.

The battle mage dissected and stored every sliver of information for further study. He was very efficient at this. Few knew but he even could even recall the death of his mother specifically. The way the sooth fell on her face and every second as the fire consumed her….his fire.

He felt the same pit in his heart as he had then. Innocent people had been hurt because he was too weak to defend them. The young girl next to him. He brushed her hair gently with his hand every now and then. Almost as if to ensure she was still alive. Also, as a way to reinforce his connection to her. The other innocent, a man of honor who had done nothing more than be unfortunate at meeting the mage.

Arn still remembered the kind words the man had spoken to him while still bearing a gaping wound. The consequence of the mage keeping his promise and denying the knight information on the danger the girl and any who was around her faced.

“I am a knight and a noble, poor knight would I be if I were to send those in need of help away from our door.” Tyrhallan calmly replied as he made no attempts to stop Arn, instead he reassured him.
“Rest well and rest easy. Have no fear of us for we will not turn you out. I would bring shame upon my family’s name if I were to do so. The Venray family does not shirk its duty for fear of some troubles and inconveniences. So do not worry about it. There is no debt to settle nor payment to fulfil.”

The Knight Captain may not keep tabs or demand repayment but the Master Mage would forever carry a debt that little more than his own life could settle. The ex Captain had demanded an explanation and the mage could not fault him for such a desire. He would hold his side of the bargain and tell as much as he could. However the secret was Eilis to reveal.

His mind wandered back to the sleeping girl at his side. The even rise and fall of her chest in such a peaceful manner made his soul drop even lower. He recalled the taunting truths of the witch regarding the purity of Eilis. He cared not even if he truly believed that the girl was not longer pure. To Arn, she was spotless. What he focused on was the idea of connection.

He began a sort of trance, not truly sleeping but aware enough to sense any danger and be ready to operate should the need arise. In this state, he was able to navigate his own Thread. Via a third eye, he began to slowly discern the different sections of the weave. They glowed, the more magic flowing through them the brighter they were.

Looking down at Eilis he could see her brightness as he remembered it from the hospital ship. She was so pure white that it was almost blinding, like looking at a star with your naked eyes. He forced himself past that enjoying the feeling of her energy. Suddenly, he noticed them, slithering dark tendrils that lustfully clung to her thread.

They seemed to be crawling on her Thread, almost as if part of it but not. This would prove to be an issue if clearing needed to be performed. Also, not understanding the nature of the actual magic performed and how the bonds intertwined with her made the procedure very dangerous. He would have to study it more and research any available data.

He felt the tiny change in her Thread and came out of his trance just as she called his name.
“Arn…”

His hand moved to brush her hair. “I am here” he said softly. As he positioned himself, almost laying down sideways so he could look down at her and staring into her eyes. His gaze was searching, trying to see if any semblance of the dark Eilis remained. All he found was the eyes of the girl who he had met in that hospital ship.

“I’m sorry…”
He frowned. There was no reason that could come to his mind as to why she should be apologizing. But before he could say anything she continued. Her tone of voice hurt him more than the words she was saying.

"I…hope I still…will you forgive me?”
He shook his head. Thinking quickly that she may misunderstand this motion he quickly added. “Eilis, there is nothing to forgive.” He must have spoken too softly because she continued.

“I…I know I am probably past that point, having squandered your good will.” She started. “And I would understand that you would want to send me away after all of that…but for my own heart sake I must ask. Will you forgive me?”

Arn pursed his lips at the foolishness of his protegee. He used one of his hands and gently using his fingers to lift her head to look back up at him he gave her the most tender look that even he taught possible. His voice was soft and reassuring. The full conviction of his words clear in the tone he spoke. “There is nothing to forgive. Indeed, I should be asking you to forgive me. I promised you would not need to fear your pursuers and yet under my very nose you were assailed.” It was his turn to avert his eyes but he steeled himself and continued. “I will say, your secret did surprise me. Perhaps it should be you who should be protecting me.” This time he offered her a smile.

“There is nothing to forgive.” He said again as if he wanted to drive the point forward. “I must say that you are full of mystery.” His tone changed to one of awe and longing. He quickly reined it back to a calm and reassuring one. “Nothing has changed. You are still under my protection and we both are under Knight Captain Tyrhallan’s.”

Trying to cut off any dismay she had he put a finger gently on her soft lips. “Before you say anything, no one blames you for last night. But there are many questions. I will honor my promise to you but I do feel that we all could be better prepared if you could and desire to share the full story with us.” He again looked assertively into her yes. “Only if you wish.” He straightened up and his voice because a bit more business like.

“Now, are you hurt? I cleaned your cut and bruises but I dared not invade your privacy searching further.” He said embarrassedly implying he did not search her fully.

“There is nothing to forgive. Indeed, I should be asking you to forgive me. I promised you would not need to fear your pursuers and yet under my very nose you were assailed.” It was his turn to avert his eyes but he steeled himself and continued.
“I will say, your secret did surprise me. Perhaps it should be you who should be protecting me.” This time he offered her a smile.

The smile comforted her as she looked down at the blankets with clear contemplation.
"I doubt I could really protect anyone and I don't mean to keep secrets, I just..." Her voice trailed off allowing a silence to fall between them once more.

“There is nothing to forgive.” He said again as if he wanted to drive the point forward. “I must say that you are full of mystery.” His tone changed to one of awe and longing. He quickly reined it back to a calm and reassuring one. “Nothing has changed. You are still under my protection and we both are under Knight Captain Tyrhallan’s.”
Trying to cut off any dismay she had he put a finger gently on her soft lips. “Before you say anything, no one blames you for last night. But there are many questions. I will honor my promise to you but I do feel that we all could be better prepared if you could and desire to share the full story with us.” He again looked assertively into her yes. “Only if you wish.” He straightened up and his voice because a bit more business like.
“Now, are you hurt? I cleaned your cut and bruises but I dared not invade your privacy searching further.”

Eilis pulled at the blankets in unease and couldn't help but feel that despite Arn promising her that her actions were not held against her, she hardly could forgive herself for what exactly had occurred.
"I am not sure what I can tell you, it is not like I exactly know what they precisely did or why I feel like I at times get pushed aside. As if I am not in control of my own body anymore. Watching from a backseat, not capable of reacting or changing anything." She gazed at Arn for a moment clear remorse and horror lay in her eyes as she confessed to Arn how she had felt at that moment.
"When my body reacted in that moment to assault you I was terrified, I screamed internally unable to stop the very destruction of those who had shown me kindness and whom I cared for." She bit her lip in a moment of embarrasment to stop it from trembling.
"I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I had hurt you..." She uttered in pain her eyes looking up at him again as tears brimmed at the corners, clearly she tried to hold them back, but it was clear she cared a great deal for him.
"I will tell you all I can, but at this point I don't know whether I am able to remain in control of my own self anymore..." She said in fear, before she answered his other question.
"No, not really, I wasn't hurt too terribly and you took great care in doing as little damage as possible." She sought out his warmth again, crawling as much against him as she could, downplaying her pain.
"I will do anything you ask of me. Because at this point I am not sure if I even trust myself anymore." She leaned her head against him. "But I know I can trust you. You are my Sun. My reliable consistant Sun. I would follow you into the Deep Sky itself." She whispered barely daring to voice her feelings out loud anymore after her own failure in loyalty, eventhough it wasn't truly 'her' doing Eilis felt guilty nevertheless.

"I am not sure what I can tell you, it is not like I exactly know what they precisely did or why I feel like I at times get pushed aside. As if I am not in control of my own body anymore. Watching from a backseat, not capable of reacting or changing anything."

Arn listened to her explanation and his eyes projected a silent apology. How helpless she must feel being unable to control her own actions. His own inadequacies and powerlessness during youth paled in comparison to this. He could not change the past, even the past which had just occurred less than a few hours ago. His mind returned to his need to liberate her. Slavery, wither by physical chains or by magical means, was something he would never tolerate. Especially not on someone like Eilis.

"When my body reacted in that moment to assault you I was terrified, I screamed internally unable to stop the very destruction of those who had shown me kindness and whom I cared for”

He purposely held her tighter. As if he intend his body to be a sort of security blanket or an achor she could hold on to, or a shield that would protect her from her own fears. He shushed her softly. “You do not need to explain. I was there. I known and the Knight Captain knows you meant no evil.” He brushed her hair, his hand projecting warmth in every stroke. “I am sorry that you were scared and I could not help you.”

"I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I had hurt you..."

He gently cleared any would be tears from the corner of her eyes. He gave her a conforting look. “Eilis, it will take much more than that to hurt me.” He puffed his chest out in jest. “Do you not know I have survived fires, being fired upon, and once or twice almost killed myself from Mana drain?” He smiled at her. “No my lady, the only way to hurt me is to keep me from your side.”


"No, not really, I wasn't hurt too terribly and you took great care in doing as little damage as possible." She sought out his warmth again, crawling as much against him as she could, downplaying her pain.

Arn obliged her and she was very nearly cradled against him half sitting on his lap with her head against his chest. She was so small and light that he could almost hold her like a child. His chest almost hummed with warmth as if her need for him automatically caused a release of his mana to her. Their connection kept getting stronger and he could feel more than know what she needed.

"I will do anything you ask of me. Because at this point I am not sure if I even trust myself anymore." She leaned her head against him. "But I know I can trust you. You are my Sun. My reliable consistant Sun. I would follow you into the Deep Sky itself."

Hearing her words caused a wave of warmth to spread over him and pass on to her. He had no idea he was as important to her as she was to him. The wartth spread to his face and he swallowed to calm himself down. “Eilis, you think too much of me. Sun I am not but I will be whatever you need me to be. I am yours. The only thing I ask of you is be remain by my side. I will figure out a way to bring you freedom.”

He started to get choked up. The Master mage did not know how he was going to fulfill this promise but he knew that he must. Eilis deserved a life free of the binds that marred her beautiful body and soul. Arn sighed and he looked placed his chin over the top of her head.

“you must rest and recover. Do not worry. I will not leave your sight even if Ith were assailed by a thousand moons.”

Tyrhallan spend the night lying awake pondering the words of his Uncle and what had happened earlier. He felt oddly empty, whilst he had expected to feel betrayed at his Uncle’s revelation. All logic and emotion would demand to feel at the least that…betrayed. But had Uilles truly done so? Could he really blame his Uncle? Just because he had not lost his heart to a pair of fine eyes and had stayed true to his duty did not mean he couldn’t understand his Uncle’s feelings or motives in his weaker moments.
Duty often was a mistress that offered you little comfort or warmth. No gentle touch or soft embrace to fall into. Perhaps that also was why he had intervened on Arn’s account. Why he had offered both Arn and Eilis the safety of his family home, because he could only hope that one day those actions would be carried further by others of an equal mind.
Though he hoped that he would be spared being stabbed again. He thought as he winced as his wound stung reminding him of the young lady’s particular power.
She certainly wasn’t a meek young woman or at least not when she was using her magic. It was rather scary how huge the difference was when compared to her normal behaviour.
Well what could be considered her normal behaviour.
Everything about that young woman was irregular. She was a mystery.
Tyrhallan brought a hand over his face rubbing it and pinching his nose, trying to cease his pondering and trying to find some rest in the final hours of the night, before daylight would demand his time again.
One thought however kept nagging Tyrhallan’s mind.
If Eilis didn’t really have a choice in all of this how was it that she could apparently take back control? Was it Arn’s doing or hers? Had these things happened before? How much was related to the bindings she bore and what wasn’t.
Eventually he fell into exhaustion’s embrace, allowing sleep to overcome his mind and force the body to find some of that desperately needed rest.

Eilis smiled before she couldn't help but hug him tighter and press herself further against him, against his warmth, his kind embrace and humming soothing tones.
She honestly didn't know what she had done to deserve someone so devoted and loyal to protect her. Even if her life were to end tomorrow she considered these small moments true happiness.
As sleep stretched out to claim the couple Eilis slowly felt herself drift away she couldn't help but utter the softest of sentences.
"I will always be yours."

"I will always be yours."

Arn smiled at the words. To him, who had little of value except his two swords and the melted locked of his mother, the words held a much deeper meaning. It somehow felt like they anchored him. Despite his stoic and always controlled behavior, when he was not in battle or performing some official duty, he felt aimless. He could only imagine what the broken pieces of Ith may feel if the Sorcerer King had been more successful when he caused the moons to fall.

The words rang in his soul like a vibrant pure bell. The sound made him feel even more warmth emanate from him. Yet as the wave propagated and it reached deeper into his connection with Eilis it changed and distorted become dissonant. The sour note then travelled back to him.

"I will always be yours."

This time, an uneasy feeling began to nag at him. The voice, though belonging to Eilis was distorted. The image of her bathed in magical power and sheeting of pure raw passion came to mind. The words of the dark-haired witch also echoed in his mind. She belonged to another. Even if unwilling, a part or the whole of his lovely protégé was bound and feed another.

The Master Mage tightened his grip on the small frame of the lovely girl. He held on protective, jealously. He would not share her. Eilis was his. She belonged with him and to him.

He loosened up his grip a bit. Where had this sentiment come from? Was it from a place of innocence and need of connection that had been missing in his life since the passing of his mother? Or was it from the recent crack in his armor that lusted after the power he had witnessed?

Logically speaking, Eilis was an invaluable magical mystery that needed to be studied. The near miraculous extent of that power boggled the mind and inspired. In the hands of either the Empire of the Kingdom she would be a formidable weapon. It was his duty as a member of the Belesian military to gain control of this power and use to end the current invasion.

Emotionally speaking, the girl was a piece of his life that he had always know it was missing. The void that his mother had left, the need to feel connected, had been slowly devouring him. To the point that he had even considered acknowledging the advances of the women who had shown interest in him. A few might have actually loved him. However, there had been no connection. Not in the way that he now had with Eilis. It pulled at him like a magnet. As if their meetingn was inevitable and had always meant to be.

He looked down at her. She snuggled against him. Her form nestled against him and his body. His arms, while not big in musculature, still seemed to be enough to cover her. To any onlooker, it would seem that the pair were indeed affianced. The fact that this was only a ruse that may soon be discovered when the dawn came, made Arn feel a little sad.

His feelings confused him. The webbed and eddied like the flow of a river. It was the white rapids that he could handle for some reason. The violent tossing of his feelings allowed him to concentrate on their control and made him feel in control. It was the calm and lazy areas, the deeply deep pools that can engulf you and drown you that scared him.

When he looked into the mirror surface of his feelings, he could see his face reflected. But then, a shimmer later, it was as if a completely different person was looking back. A person he did not know, a person who he felt he should know and who knew him very well.

The battlemage used on of his hands to brush the hair of his lady. He needed her anchoring. He sighed, his chest expanding and contracting against the pressure of her head. Arn could smell her scent as his hand continued to slowly and carefully ding his fingers in her hair. The motion and his easy breathing became rhythmic.

Slowly, he returned to his meditative state. He let his body step into the pool of his emotions that connected him to the Aether. The Thread felt different. It was as if for the first time, he was actually connecting with it in a deeper level. The power around him pulsed alive. He stood in the brilliant Thread as if in a river. The flow of it was strong and he soon found that it was flowing towards Eilis.

Arn followed the flow. He needed to find a way to exploit their connection, enhance it. Perhaps in this way he could either sever the connection with the other person or completely cleanse his lady from the necrotic touch of the black tendrils.

He arrived at the edge of her Thread. Nothing he had experienced so far could prepare him for what was ahead. So he forged on unto dawn.

When the morning broke all felt the pregnant air of expectation.
Questions to be answered, Answers to be given and perhaps gain some understanding of the immense unknown chasm that was lying in wait, much like a predator to swallow them whole.
Uilles had decided the Library would serve as their meeting place.
After all a great deal of knowledge was stored there and could be looked up within an arm’s reach, also Eilis had stated during dinner that books always had been a great love of hers.
Thus the old warrior had decided that in order to put her somewhat at ease, she needed to be surrounded by what she had stated to like. First Tyrhallan and Arn would enter before her and tell their side of the tale and how they had met up with her.
While Tyr’s story was significantly shorter he couldn’t help but press his uncle with unusual words.
“Don’t expect this to be a one way street.” Casting the man with a steel-like look of his own.
Uilles gaze had softened somewhat as he watched his nephew take his seat in one of the large red armchairs off to the side.
Arn’s story of their meeting had been a little longer and more insightful in who this young frail girl was and that she very much seemed ‘hunted’ by her past. It came with another warning.
A fervent promise that laid in the Master Mage’s eyes and actually didn’t even needed to be repeated out loud.
If harm would befall her, the man in front of him would unleash hell. Uilles almost admired the man’s loyalty to the girl, if he had not been through what he had been through. He wasn’t sure if the man’s devotion stemmed from simple affairs of the heart or perhaps another deeper lying motive, but it hardly mattered.
The man in front of him had not received his nickname without reason.
After assuring Arn that he merely wanted to have a few questions answered and did not wish to bring the girl any mental or physical harm, promising he would remain within the room when Eilis’s Interview would take place. He suggested the mage would take the other armchair opposite of Tyrhallan’s so they could help keep an eye on the situation or even ask questions of their own whenever they deemed it appropriate.
Three heads always knew more than one and Uilles also knew that one was more inclined to speak truthfully amongst friends than with intimidating strangers.
And so the hour had struck for Eilis, she had been nervously waiting in the room close to the Library so she might wait more comfortably then in the hallway itself, then she would have resembled a child awaiting its verdict and punishment and Uilles had wanted to make it clear to her that this was not the case.
Still all of the care in the world would not have helped ease the nervousness Eilis felt in her heart.
What would they think of her? She knew she could trust Arn and his resolve strengthened her, but truthfully she was terrified. Terrified of having her own conclusions to be proved correct.
To be deemed…a monster. Unworthy of Life and Happiness and forced to either be killed quickly or suffer a long and winding road of bitterness and torment.
Gathering all her courage her small hand reached for the elegant door handle. Pushing it down and bracing herself as she stepped into the large Library.
For a moment she was awestruck by the layout and the sight of so many books gathered together. Her coven’s library was nothing compared to the impressive walls that greeted her, cast in morning’s early light.
Only when she stepped forward Uilles betrayed himself by giving her a light inclination of his head before gesturing to the small bench in front of his desk. It clearly startled Eilis out of her moment of reverie and after a quick scan of the room, finding Arn and Tyrhallan there as well, her small frame seemed to stiffen less, allowing her to breathe again and step forwards more.
“Come closer Eilis, settle down if you please and before you ask, you are not in any sort of trouble when it regards any one of us. However in order to help you, we need to understand where you come from and who you are. So please young lady, enlighten us.”
Nodding in understanding Eilis raised her head a fraction higher, her will forcing her feet forward despite her mind screaming at her to flee.
Sitting down she closed her eyes before taking a deep breath. This felt like a confession of sorts, a confession of past sins and transgressions…
Wasn’t it? Her mind asked before she opened her eyes looking into Uilles and began to speak.
“I…my name is Eilis and…I was born on a farm, my mother and father were kind and simple folk, we lived on the edge of the Empire and in relative peace.” She started with some trepidation, looking up at Uilles in approval only a shift backwards in his chair followed as he kindly urged “Go on.” Before resting his head on his right hand allowing it to support it whilst appearing more relaxed, in hopes to soothe the young woman’s worries.
It seemed to work for she continued.
“I lived my earliest years there, it was when my ‘blessing’ was discovered. To have a magical gift…to simple farmers was like receiving a blessing from the Allmother herself. I was always told how lucky I was, how if I learned to control my gift I would be able to go to the Capital and do great things. I would go to a proper school and be able to climb in my station, to be offered a better life than what I had.” She smiled bitterly. “If only they had known…if only I had questioned more…” She uttered before she continued.
“All magically gifted need to be reported and inspected at the earliest sign of magic. I was reported to the magister when I made my favourite toy hover when I was 4 and a half, according to my mother. Apparently I liked to do that a lot from that point on and made a particular sport out of it.
My mother had been elated when she received the letter from the Tahjai, saying they would come an inspect my talents. I remember my father being less thrilled whilst I can barely remember them the look he gave my mother upon hearing this somehow stuck with me. I was too blinded by my mother’s promises of school and being taught by other mages to truly ask any further.
When they came I was 6 and they stated that if I was to perform certain tasks correctly I might be offered a place in one of the most illustrious covens of the Empire. They were of course lying.
Only the ‘right’ people go to those places and I was not even half of that. I was a peasant. But why bother a child with such details? They don’t need to know… they will learn their place in this world in due time. I passed their tests with ease and was praised and patted on the head. My mother believed they would put in a good word for me and that I would prove myself worthy. She filled my head with her own dreams of what the capital of the Empire had to look like and that I would be going there, amongst the rich and powerful, perhaps one that impress a good man and marry far beyond my station.” She shook her head wistfully. “Dreams of a poor deluded woman who believed the world was fair and balanced and the Empire was moral and noble.” She stopped for a moment reaching for the glass of water in front of her taking a sip before continuing.
“I was ‘picked up’ and met the Tahjai again when I was 7. My mother had been send a letter that they had found a coven that would accept me as an initiate and that I would have to be ready to depart within a month I believe. That day I said good bye to my parents expecting to see them again…but halfway on my journey I was informed I would not.
No associate left the coven, there would be no trips home. I knew I had been a burden, a hungry mouth to feed especially after the taxes had gone up and I had started noticing my mother’s swelling belly. I was ‘sold’ to the Tahjai for a pleasant and comfortable sum of 45 Draghe. Girls are always costly you know, they are married off and parents have to have a dowry in place. With me being a mage a new route appeared, instead of costing money I would be set off on a better path or so my mother kept telling me.
In any case my life was now tied to the coven and I best prove my worth as a mage to ‘pay off’ the debt to the Tahjai and the Empire, the Tahjai had said.” She sighed. “And I believed them, I never questioned them I accepted it after all where else was I supposed to go?
When I got to the coven and met my fellow initiates things became a bit more bearable. After all, I assumed they were all in the same boat too. We sought comfort with each other and during the earliest years of my life in the coven I was relatively happy. Of course a shadow always loomed over us, even plain me. For you see, every year men of noble birth and standing would come and 'select' their particular favourite. We were told it was a great honour to be selected and it would further our own positions.
Having a patron would mean the possibility to even study at the great Arcane Academy in the Capital. Naturally of course nothing begets nothing. Such a thing would only be possible for services rendered." Eilis stated glancing for a moment over her shoulder to Arn, wondering if she should continue. She had told him some of this before.
"The year Varania was selected we all believed she had gotten a fairytale's ending. A life of eternal happiness. Varania was two years older than me and beautiful. She had long flowing golden hair and was a great healer. She had the sweetest temper and bore a warmth that made you trust her instantly. It attracted one of these noble lords. He was charming to her even gave her a magical rose that couldn’t wither and die, but stay pristine. We all believed he was courting her, but…” Her voice turned silent the images in her head haunting her remembering what she had stumbled upon. Remembering what she had seen.
“I…I would soon learn of what they had done to her...let's just say that I wish I had been less curious that day and not been so eager to find out whether she would be leaving us. I wish I had not followed her down to the ritual chamber…Or at the very least I shouldn’t have hid like a coward in the shadows…" Eilis looked tired but continued.
“She had been called down to the ritual chamber a room they normally reserve for the monthly rituals and certain magical tests. She had been informed she would meet up with her noble lord there and that he would inform her of ‘her future’.
He was down there to greet her, together with another man. They both dressed in rich supple dark colours, they looked so like one another, that I assumed they were family. A younger brother perhaps? It mattered not. What mattered was that ‘her services were required…and of course she needed to prove herself’. A cruel test to see if she was ‘worthy’ of serving them.
The taller man grabbed her wrist and stared intently at her hand. I can still remember the terror in her voice and the pleas of mercy. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing before I actually saw it with my own eyes. With his mind he snapped her fingers, one by one, ignoring her weeping and crying and screaming. He seemed to take delight at it… After he had done all the fingers on her hand he let her go before ordering her to heal herself. How Varania managed to do it I have no idea, but she did raising her head proudly as if to prove that bastard that she was more worthy than the pair of them.
What they said still chills my heart and mind to this day.” Eilis said looking forward at the desk with an empty look in her eyes and tears brimming in the corners of them.
“Impressive. But we’ll need to get that streak of pride out of her, compliance and submission is all that is required.” She shivered before she described how she had watched the two of them tear of her garments and silenced her screams by magically sowing her mouth shut. She had not wanted to remain and the last image that still burned her mind was how the two of them had put her on the examination table with such violence that Eilis was sure that what the men intended to do was more than just ‘take her’. Her trembling hands reached out for the glass of water again taking another sip and this time had more difficulty swallowing.

Tyrhallan meanwhile had said nothing but had looked horrified, before glancing at his uncle. What would he make of this, before turning to Arn.
How much had he actually known? Had Eilis told him anything of this?
Eilis continued.
“A few years later a man came for me. A battlemage called Teryn Avitus, apparently he had been a rather renown master of the battle field and seeing my potential for ‘force magic’ he intended to shape me into a proper weapon. He said so during our first meeting. He claimed that unlike many others he actually was looking for ‘the right’ apprentice. I could be one of those, provided I performed well at my tests. But, whilst I am quite skilled when there is no pressure, I am quite the coward. Whenever we had ‘live’ practices I would fumble or stiffen, much to his chagrin. It seemed not to deter him however as he became every more persistent even ordering the Madras to separate me and give me specialized training. He was adamant I became what he wished me to be, whether I wanted to or not.
Those years were horrible, but as I had grown into adulthood it suddenly stopped one day. I was told the Teryn wasn’t interested anymore and I could do as I wish and be a ‘burden on the coven and on society’. It mattered not. I had what I wanted, a life of my own. A life I would not have for long.
Of course I didn’t believe them at first, but when a month went by without incident I thought myself safe and it was then that they struck. When I was ordered to go to the ritual room I had not been suspicious anymore and….” She stopped looking up at her tattooed hands and painfully. “I still regret having been so stupid.” As her memories flowed back to her of that night she did the only sensible thing she could do to make them understand. And with a final “Forgive me,” she shared her mind.

[i]She couldn’t really see the shapes in front of her, but the whining still was as clear as bells.
[b][i]"I won't do it." [/b]
She heard herself answer, before a dark shape grabbed her wrist, the bony fingers that had grabbed her burned with a freezing cold. One that felt like the stabbing of a thousand needles. A pair of cold and cruel eyes watched her as Eilis cried out in pain, trying to object all the same.
"Submit Child! You have no say in this matter! Do as you’re told!"
"NO! I won't."
She fired back with anger pulling herself free before seeing another figure block out her light. The large shape with hungry eyes eyed her carefully. Before she saw something glint, or reflect the little light of the room. A blade was offered to her, a cruel, darkly shaped dagger.
Large hands encompassed hers forcing the cold steel into her hands.
She heard the whining again, a flash of yellow, or was it brown, it mattered not, she could hear the heartbeat carried through the Aether.
“You can do this Eilis, we can do it together. Once you do you will be able to have everything your heart desires….” A soft seductive voice offered, it was the Teryn’s. “Simply do this one small thing…for me.”
The innocent eyes of the being stared back at her.
“NO!” She heard herself scream in revulsion before casting the dagger aside.
Her mind worked more rapidly then, flitting through one moment after another.
"Then you leave us no choice."
“She is too tenderhearted and stubborn, again you promised me something you could not deliver.” She heard the Teryn say not completely understanding what he meant by it.
“Oh but I have a proper little leash in mind for her.” Her Madras promised.
She suddenly felt how cold magic thrust her against the wall, her hands forced above her head and how the Mardras ripped her clothes open.
“I vow as a loyal servant of the Tahjai that she will be exactly what you need her to be and do what you desire her to.” The woman spoke venomously as she glared at Eilis with malice and a hint of something else…jealousy?
"Mardras, I beg of you no! NO!NO!" Eilis heard herself scream out as she begged beyond hope.
"Hush now Eilis, stop your insolence...it won’t…we’ll I am not going to lie, it will hurt and I will enjoy every second of it. You have destiny within your grasp and still you dare to refuse your betters! You’re nothing more than a whore who can sling spells. That is all you are. A spoke in the wheel of the Empire. And darling get this in your head, you will never be in charge of the reigns. You are a tool. Nothing more! A body of decaying flesh and a spirit that can tap into the Aether. You’re as valuable as a rat. Your worthy to be tested on, to be used and discarded. Now stop your whining and crying and accept your Fate."
Spellwoven fingers were set against her skin. She shivered reliving the sensation as the memories brought back a hint of the excruciating pain. Long dark pointy nails dipped in tainted blood drew the lines upon her.
“Please…” She breathed in pain.
She had fought so hard, but the magic straps had held. Her torture had continued as he had watched on.
His eyes. She would never forget his eyes. That lifeless look of utter hunger, drinking in her struggle with extreme pleasure as the ink was set into her skin.
He enjoyed this, he even came closer to inspect the Mardras’s handiwork.
She felt his large rough hands upon her bare skin, taking her face in his hand, raising her chin slightly.
“She will be exquisite when you’re done with her.” As the hand moved down over the new lines drawn by the Mardras he ran it over her ribs, almost as if he was counting them.
Suddenly she felt the strong fingers set against her temples. Invading her mind and forcing her to listen. Forcing her to obey…
“Dear little Eilis,” A voice spoke inside of her mind. His voice, but why did she suddenly stop struggling. Why did her body suddenly act without her willing to do so…
“Kill it Eilis. That is all you have to do. One deep plunge, one stab…that’s all it takes…” The voice edged on, but now it seemed mixed with something else. She felt the straps loosen their grip on her, his hand putting the dagger back into hers.[/i]
"Rid yourself of your weakness."[/i][/i]
She wanted to vomit, she wanted to pass out from the pain. She wanted to be far far away…but she knew it would be only part of her memory that they would not be able to see.
Soon enough the pain became to horrifying for her body to handle and a sudden darkness stopped the visions, freeing the men from Eilis’s memories.
She sat there trembling in front of the desk, like a little bird unsure what the men would say, unsure if she should continue anymore.
She felt empty she felt broken and damaged, but what other choice did she have.

Tyrhallan had gripped the armrests during the memory, his own teachings and morals flared up in anger as he had listened and watched what had occurred.
Uilles simply stared at her with a knowing warm gaze.
Uilles having seen war before and having seen other ‘practices’ was not as surprised at his nephew was. The boy after all had grown up in rather sheltered surroundings. He didn’t visit brothels and thus never saw the workings of the sadder and in his eyes unfair part of life.
The world where dog eats dog and a man would sell his wife to pay off a debt to another.
Even Belisio had such a part to it. A part many never saw.
He decided to speak.
“Eilis…whilst I know it must be painful…do you know how you escaped your predicament and came to be here with us?” He asked intending to see this through to the end.
Tyrhallan flared up in anger.
“Uncle give her a moment! Bearing such a weight on one’s soul. To tell such things to strangers is no small matter! She’s only a gi…”
“She’s only a girl? My dear Tyrhallan, you should know by now that she is not just only a girl. Or else the Tahjai and the Empire would not be trying to find her and simply replace her with another. We must discover, why her? What makes her special. Why go to such lengths?”
The knight groaned in protest not liking that his uncle spoke within reason.
A small voice piped up.
It was Eilis.
“I killed him.” She said with a tremble in her voice. “We struggled and I killed him. I knew I had to flee before the Madras could finish the ritual so I force spelled her and fled, I’m not even sure I was successful. I fled and ran because I knew that if they would catch me I would surely be tortured and killed. I killed a prominent battlemage after all, a Teryn. It was luck that saved me and I stole to clothe me, to be able to be less noticeable. I knew I had to leave the Empire and so I sought out the refugees that were planning to leave. They spoke of a smuggler who for the right price would be able to take me to Belisio. So I went there and offered him the only thing I could. Myself.
But only after we reached Belisio. But the war overtook us and we became entangled in the battle. I could barely stop a Vaimese battleship that going to plough through the deck of our little barge. I managed to do this until help arrived…She got everyone out and I lost consciousness after that. I woke up in the medical bay, next to Arn.” She said as she glanced at the mage with hope in her eyes.
“I was frightened at first, but he calmed me down and explained things to me. He was the first kind soul I had seen in…years.” She ended with a painful but loving smile, trying to keep control over her emotions.

As Arn dove deeper into his connection with the Thread and with Eilis a dark shadow loomed, as it forced its way ever closer to the Mage and seeking to cut him off. The darkness even spreading when Arn moved even closer, before it lashed out forcing the mage to pay attention.
A distorted booming voice cut through the mage's thoughts, strangely it seemed to echoe in his ears, despite the silence that dominated the room they were sleeping in.
"STOP. Halt your advances Mage. Turn back." It felt old and ancient and certainly not mortal.
Eilis still was fast asleep in his arms, unaware what was happening.
A darkness tore accross Arn's vision, drowning out all that was visible, before being blinded by a simple flame. It was about the size of a head and as it burned voraciously its light forced the shadows to confess a little more colour and shape. That of a figure, a male figure that eyed Arn with burning eyes. The flames streaked out of them crowning a bald head and shadows formed the wide robes, as the man's form seemed to take shape and form itself from the shadows and darkness there.
"You have no business here. Leave." The voice thundered again, though no mouth spoke these words and no lips moved or voice rang out. Instead the pupilless eyes regarded him with contempt and utter boredom.
He stretched his arm out, a finger pointing to Arn.
"Leave." He commanded once more, clearly losing his patience and intending to act.

Arn awoke. The image of the man, or the flame being, whatever it was still fresh in his mind. The image lingering as if he had gazed into the sun and looked away. He had felt power and while his stomach had tightened at the appraisal, he had not felt fear. Danger yes, but no more than when faced with a powerful storm. He looked down at the sleeping form of his lovely protegee. There were many questions that needed answering.

A knock at the door reminded him that those answers would be required by others. Namely, the ex Knight of the Venray family. Arn knew the man meant no harm. He knew that both he and Eilis owed explanations after the altercations of the night before. Even still, he hated that his charge would be placed on the witness stand.

The battlemage knew enough about Eilis to know she would feel at fault somehow. He had brushed back her hair and gently said in a calm voice. “Eilis, I fear the dawn has come. I hate to wake you from your dreams, especially if they were good ones. However, I believe we have people waiting for us.” As if on cue, the elder maid slowly opened the door. A second, younger maid also entered carrying a change of clothes for the young lady.

Both gave Arn a curtsy as he walked past. The battle mage was reluctant to leave but he knew that she would be relatively safe. Do doubt, measures had been taken. He felt a bit drained, not only from physical lack of sleep, but somehow, his Thread Diving or contact with the flame shadow had drained him too.

Outside the door, he had found one of the footmen. He directed Arn to his room where a change of clothes was also waiting for him. The fine fabric that had been lent to him, charred and ripped. The battlemage could only guess as to how much the fine garment had been worth. He dressed quickly and was led to the library.

Being a man that appreciates reading, the scent of books and the look of the leather bound spines brought memories to him. He wondered if perhaps in these pages he could find an answer or a way to help Eilis escape her prison. Not long after Tyrhallan and Uilles appeared.

The Master Mage had bowed his greetings and given the Knight Captain a quick evaluation to make sure that there was not obvious damage from the attack the night before. The Elder Venray motioned for them to sit.

Questions were asked but there was not much to tell. Nothing that would betray Arn’s promise to his charge. He did not hide the strong connection that existed between them. He even offered and explanation of why he felt so protective of her. He made it quite clear that she was very important to him but expressed that why that was so was unclear even to him. When Uilles promised he would be gentle, there was no reason for Arn to doubt though he still felt irritated by having to put his protegee in that situation.

He felt it in his being when she was close. Validating this feeling, a knock was heard and the young girl entered. The battle mage gave the fair girl an encouraging smile. He reached to her via the Thread but decided to tone it back. After all, he was unsure how much in the surface the shadow being would be. He dove just enough to let her know he was with her.

The Master Mage shared her nervousness but years of military training allowed him to sit rigid and as expressionless as he was able to. He had been a part of very stressful meetings and even been captured by the enemy ones, yet nothing compared to the way the pit in his stomach felt in this situation. He heard her story and tried to stay stoic to prevent her from thinking she had said something wrong.

However, his eyes betrayed his true feelings. There was a sadness to dark pupils of his eyes. Slight changes in his brow from concern, helplessness to anger were the only things visible. Via the Aether however, he was much more active. The undulations of his emotions could be felt by anyone sensitive enough.

Especially when she started to retell her story. Somehow, perhaps due to his slight connection he was keeping with her, but it almost felt like another mind meld. Through her eyes, he saw the events unfolding. The air around him changed drastically at the part of her branding. He could not help but begin to flare up. However, he regained enough control that only the temperature change slightly around him.

How much had he actually known? Had Eilis told him anything of this?

Arn had not known much. Yet, as he discovered the truth he was angry. Angry at himself for not having been able to help her. Angry that a gentle soul such as Eilis had gone through this. Angry that as powerful as he was, he was still helpless like that little boy sitting outside his mother’s room as drunk an vile men ravaged her.

His desire to rid her of the bonds that marred her lovely person burned into his mind and heart like a brand. There was an unspeakable need to free her. It was a way to atone for his inadequacy in protecting his mother, in protecting Eilis and in protecting all those other poor girls who suffered the same fate.

By the time the telling was done he felt exhausted. He had spent his time listening and forcing himself to remain calm and keep himself from burning the place down. As it was, his fingers had been interlocked and so tight was his grip that indentions could actually be seen.

Hate it as he did, he could not help but agree with Uilles regarding how special Eilis was. Not only because he was biased towards her but because her pursuers had been willing to attack her deep inside their enemy’s territory.

When she smiled at him there was nothing but admiration in his eyes. She had gone through so much, her powers were immeasurable and her courage admirable. His body almost moved by instinct. He required to be next to her. As if pulled by gravity, he moved and stood behind her placing encouraging and protective hands on her shoulders. He looked at the two Venray gentlemen. He searched their faces.

The battle mage would not fault them if they required them to leave. After all, harboring such a priceless asset as Eilis is bound to attract the wrong kind of attention. Whether it be the enemy or their own leadership. And so, he awaited their decision. After all, it mattered little. He would still lay down his life to protect her and his ardent goal was to free her.

In another city at the earliest crack of dawn Scylla slipped back into her normal form.
Tucked away in the shadows and corridors surrounding the Avitus’s residence. Slipping in as quietly as she could she worked her way up the alabaster stone staircase.
Silence still filled the house, though she noticed the other shapes and glances of those who were already up, intending not to notice her.
The servants or slaves, it made no difference how you called them, they were there and they were the least of her problems.
Not returning with Eilis would not be appreciated by the young Master. The young Teryn.
Teryn Balbus Avitus, had been a powerful man, but had not needed to put his strength on display. His reputation did that for him and the paintings of some of his conquests hung for all to see in the main hall.
Paintings of battlescenes and of his hunting prowess... Scylla still felt unnerved ever since she had laid eyes on them, the still images screaming at her, clawing in desperation as sword, arrow or spear of some sort was driven into them.
Still she had had a sense of security.
With the old master gone the son would inherit his father’s position and unlike his father, Scylla knew the young man felt the need to prove himself. To show off his power and control over others.
And whilst Scylla had been able to retain her beauty and had tried to manipulate the young Teryn to see how far her suggestions would carry her, it had come to somewhat of a relief to her that she still had been an object of desire.
A thing she considered a blessing and a curse.
She checked the next corridor, its marble not yet coloured golden by the day’s early rays of sunlight. The grey empty shadows gave her some comfort. She would need to find her sister first, discuss what had happened so that they may think up a plan, a potent enough explanation of her unsuccessful mission.
Now Scylla moved swiftly, sending a prayer to the All Mother that somehow she had managed to get back before the Teryn’s waking.
Rounding the corner to their sleeping quarters however, she was met by a steady arm halting her advance.
“My, my don't they say something about early birds catching early worms...and look at what I've caught." His lips tugged upwards regarding her carefully. "How fortunate of me.”
Scylla tried to maintain a mask of calm interest and raised a playful eyebrow locking her eyes with his as she turned her head to face him.
“My Teryn, how can this poor woman serve you?”
“Forgive me Scylla, my...hunger for news lead me to seek you out and see whether or not you had returned.”
“I but just returned, my Teryn.”
“Splendidly, of course I trust you were successful?”
Scylla inhaled sharply trying to calm her heart from what she was about to do.
“I was unable to bring her back as of yet. My capture of her was successful, but my retrieval was foiled, not only by her…but by two other men as well.” She eyed him carefully, trying to see if there were any changes in his eyes.
“So you failed me.” His voice sounded a bit more flat.
“Yes. For now at the least.” She spoke rather honestly.
She eyed the young Teryn with calculation. She had seen him react to treachery harshly and to honesty with a ‘less’ cruel hand. Knowing what the young Teryn was capable off, she preferred the latter, well if it was up to her, she would try to persuade him from beating her at all, but failure was not something that would simply go unpunished.
She winced slightly as he raised a hand to touch her cheek and with his thumb gently stroked it.
He eyed her with a look she did not understand, she couldn’t read him as well as she had the old Teryn.
His thumb continued its stroking movement before it slowly moved down to her throat, the touch was light, but the hold implying all he needed to as he tilted her head up to meet his gaze.
“Failure is not an option Scylla… I thought you would understand such a simple command.”
“I do.”
“And yet she’s not here… Tell me, what am I to make of that?”
“Simply a delayed delivery.” She calmly replied, knowing he could crush her windpipe without anyone to stop him.
He smiled at those words, before a chuckle passed his lips and his eyes narrowed regarding her with a strange glint.
“Oh my dear Scylla. My sly witty little serpent, if you were not so pretty and clever I would have made sport out of you a long time ago. Fortuitous it is that your tongue wags just as well as it performs other tricks.” He insinuated as his other hand passed over her velvet covered curves.
All Scylla could do is keep him engaged. Being a ‘Being of Pleasure’ she knew that it was her way of maintaining some control over her own fate. Though at times she wondered if her sister had not gotten the better deal out of all of it.
“I aim to be of service to you my Teryn. Whenever you wish me to be.” She purred knowing it was better to let his lust drive him then his cunning, as she pressed herself against his form.
“The morning is young still, barely broken, I suppose letting you rest would be… of better use to me later. I will let you sleep to recover some of your strength. However I will expect to see you this afternoon so I may receive a full report of your exploits and the failure of your retrieval.” His eyes raked over her skin, telling silent tales of their own, before she felt his body step back and he turned away from her, to return to his own chambers.
Scylla watched him and waited until his footfalls faded in the distance, before she released a trembling exhale, grasping support of the wall next to her.
The initial first fear had been released.
She had survived for now, but she was certain she was not in the clear yet. Nothing ever was as simple with that man.
The old Teryn had been formidable enough of his own that sending them out on a mission had never been on the man’s mind. They had been status symbols and the only missions she had done for him had involved her…talents. She was a Being of Pleasure after all not of brute force. Well there had been that incident years ago, but she had volunteered for that. Almost succeeded too.
Straightening herself she continued to her chambers.
Scylla wouldn’t deny that she herself didn’t enjoyed the range of freedom she had in comparison to others. The old Teryn had instructed her in ways of old, ritualistic magic and the like, they both had been allowed to read and grow in their skills. He had been a good master all things considered.
After all, he saved them from destitution. Two scrawny Vaimese orphans from one of the many backalleys of Old Victus. Unlike all the others, he hadn’t seen two worthless little scarecrows. He had regarded them with a sharp eye, seeing worth where others saw nothing. True the sight must not have been too particularly pleasing; One deformed and the other… well let’s say that her own fate had been forced upon her early enough. She sighed.
The man had pulled them out of the gutter and into the realm of possibilities. True, nothing came without its price, but had it been so hard to pay it?
They had been so close…
Everything had been set in motion and just like that they would have to start planning all over again, but with a blade hanging above their heads this time. A son was not his father after all.
As she entered the room she watched the weak form of her sister sit up, her breathing shallow and whistled at times.
“So you have returned…” The soft cold voice stated.
Scylla moved towards the bed greeting her sister with a kiss of tenderness and affection knowing her coldness was but an unwanted effect.
“I have.”
“Are you well? What about the girl?”
“I am fine. Can’t say anything about her though. She’s still there I’m afraid. She had help.”
“So I saw, we cannot make too many mistakes or Waelwold will be unleashed.”
Scylla frowned.
“If he decides to bring in the Tahjai and whatever poor souls they have kept locked away there, I doubt we’ll be needed much longer.”
Her sister remained quiet eyeing her calmly.
“Did he not say failure was not an option?”
Scylla bit her lip in frustration. She turned to her older sister.
“What are we to do then?”
“Beget her before he calls upon the Tahjai again, make him see that we are all he needs to fulfil his every desire.” Her sister spoke sadly knowing it would not be her taking the punishment and risk.
“Sure! The only reason he hasn’t sold us off or cast us out yet is because I have been able to play for time. But the moment he will tire of me both our lives will be at risk. Giving in to his wiles will not excuse us forever. We need another option.”
“We have both paths open before us… I just assumed you wished to take the more pleasurable one.”
Scylla grumbled, but her sister merely raised an eyebrow.
“You could always kill him.”
Scylla shook her head.
“You know I can’t! Not without knowing…”
Her sister looked at her unapologetically.
“You know there is no guarantee that his words held any truth or that his son will gift you something that his father took away in the first place. More than likely upon discovery he will have it killed.”
A harsh bitterness formed in Scylla’s eyes.
“It’s all her fault in the first place! If word hadn't reached him of her force magic, things would have been fine.”
Her sister shook her head with a sad smile.
“He wouldn’t have considered any of the foolish dreams you had…no matter how well you bedded him.”
Scylla’s eyes spat in dark fury as she eyed her sister venomously.
“And what would you know about it? You’ve never been able to hold a man’s attention long enough that did not result in disgust or pity. What would you know of the hearts and desires of men?”
“I know enough to know that one should not simply trust pretty words and empty promises…lustful looks of primal desire, burning but fleeting. It all withers, it all burns out…whether they be from a noble Teryn or a humble slave. And I know that old Avitus would never have entertained the idea of acknowledging your son. As soon as you would have suggested the idea he would have scolded you for it. You think lying with him once or twice would have secured him of the idea it was his? My darling sister do not be naive now. We both know who’s it was and it is best it remains where it is, out of sight and forgotten.”
“How can you say that?”
“Then why didn’t you tell him?”
“You ‘know’ why!”
Her elder sister sighed rubbing her head in frustration.
“Then cease this pointless discussion and focus on the young Teryn. Find his father’s old contracts and I am sure we’ll be able to figure out what to do next. We’re playing a dangerous game little sister, in order to not be taken off the board we’ll have to tread very lightly. Patience for now is our best bet. As well as all your skills concerning the art of pleasure.”
Scylla snorted derisively.
“I don’t know who’s worse, those pimps from the whorehouses or you sister.”