"I did not awaken Graysith, at this time I did not feel the need to disturb her until we knew more." His turquise eyes looked to the other Sith Lord as he turned to face him.
"What are your thoughts my brother? Is this something we have needs to deal with at this time or just mere traces of something from times past?"

--------------------

But that was one thing she had remained closed about. Somehow Erik knew this was because she was probably not ready for such a task; though he definitely did not doubt her abilities, he wouldn't want for her to take a step she was thusfar not completely trained for.

In the days while she was away, he busied himself keeping the Relentless in tip-top shape, as well as modifying a few old fighters she had given him to work on. Where those came from, Erik wasn't sure, but they were something to occupy his time, which while he waited he needed very much.

But then, what WAS he waiting for?

Laying forward and resting his elbow on his pillow, he leaned his head against his hand in thought.

You know, some little shoulder devil mused. An angel from nowhere added, You love her. You're waiting to do what it is that people do when they fall in love.

Erik frowned a bit more deeply. Was that it? Was he waiting for a moment when he could show her that he would never leave her?

Or was it still something else that was yet to come that he'd been waiting so faithfully for?

And what, in fact, was yet to come? And when it happens, do you want to be a part of it from this angle?

You were trained as a Jedi, after all. But then again, so was she.

So much for the Jedi. They haven't even bothered to find out what happened to you since you were attacked and taken to the Temple.

In that, maybe Shayla has truly found something here she would not have elsewhere. At least here she seems to be cared about. At the Praxeum...they'd just let her go. And now, they've done the same with you.

Pushing those thoughts away, Erik smiled and lightly kissed her forehead, laying his head against his pillow and closing his eyes.

Oh, how they didn't know just what a dedicated fighter and friend they had lost...

[ 01-21-2002 09:50 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Erik Kartan ]

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"This too I have felt, my Brother," I commented at length, letting my hand fall from his arm. "And I find it as strange as do you that this one has the ability to mask himself from us as has been done. It can only mean one thing."

I paused, letting my eyes carry the full import of my words into his being, reading in his brilliant turquoise pair his affirmation to my yet unvoiced questions and comments.

I merely nodded my horned head meaningfully. "I shall prepare, Brother," I finally whispered, before turning away from him to continue with the magicks that were mine and mine alone to command. Behind me, I heard the sound of his booted feet as he turned and left my presence.

--------------------

She smiled to herself, thinking yet once again of all that had transpired in so rapid-fire a manner. Smiled with the inner knowledge that her destiny would be fulfilled, that if ever there were a prophecy screaming for completion, this was it and she and those with her were to be the implements of its fruition. One slim hand fell lazily upon her stomach, the fingers tracing idle circles upon the cool flesh there. Then, giving a small yawn, she rose and dressed herself in a flowing gray gown, one embroidered with her signature sith runes, and one which quite effectively hid her expanding midsection from sight.

Quickly she travelled through the dim and mossy corridors, her stomach growling at the prospect of breakfast, her heart in her throat at the prospect of coming upon her Lord within these stone walls, and her mind full of thoughts of her Adept.

Her dear, dear sister and Adept.

For a moment she frowned slightly, realizing that to the young woman it might appear as though her Teacher had abandoned her. Then she shook her head, the frown disappearing beneath her growing smile.
She, as did her own Sire, had chosen wisely. Of that she was certain. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that Shayla would see through this apparent aloofness right to the real reason for it: the unexpected and oh so wondrous return of Lady Graysith's love and Lord, not only to Khar Delba, but into her life and future as well.

A slim and pale hand, repaired digit indiscernable from its mates, reached out to lightly brush the mossy place indicating the hidden doorway to her Adept's room. A quick and light brush of her inner essence told her of Erik's presence therein, and her smile broadened. Indeed, my Adept has not been too... bored, in my brief absence from her! she grinned to herself, drawing the tendril back and away.

Then, deciding that today was the day to pick up on her Adept's training, she entered the Dining Hall seeking to break her fast. She nearly ran head-first into her Dark Heart, who was departing from the back of the room where the gibbering Jinn was spouting something in an unfamiliar tongue. An edge of a robe, scarlet, gold and black, peeped about from the edge of the retaining wall; she knew her Sire was in there with Jinn, and wondered if she ought to approach him about the continued training of Shayla.

Then all questions were brushed aside as she lifted her face, her eyes pouring themselves into the gaze of her Lord.

"Good morning, love," she murmured, bowing her head briefly in honor of his station. She then followed that greeting with another one, far less demure, and one entirely more to her liking.

--------------------

"Ooooouch!" Erik moaned.

With that, Shayla's eyes flew open. She knew he'd been there the night before; this wasn't the surprise. Usually though, he distanced himself from her by sleeping on the floor, knowing how she felt about moving too quickly.

Figuring she'd take this for all it was worth, Shayla plastered an angry look on her face and sat up. "You...you...you!" she hissed in mock irritation.

Erik just shot back a lopsided grin at her, his brown eyes full of amusement. "You are a lousy fake," he teased.

She punched him good and hard in the shoulder before grabbing her robe, wrapping it about herself and heading for the 'fresher.

"You'd really better practice that punch a bit more if you expect it to hurt," she heard him taunt as she left the room.

A few minutes later, she reemerged into the room with a simple black jumpsuit on. He had cleaned up a bit himself; he was wearing a black jumpsuit of his own as he usually did. "Ready for breakfast?" he asked, cocking his brow at her in question.

"Almost," she replied, wandering over to her dresser to retrieve her weapons belt. Affixed to it were a standard blaster and a lightsaber. She hooked the belt on and fingered the lightsaber hilt admiringly, then unhooked it from her belt, scrutinizing it further.

"Something wrong?" he asked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

Shayla shook her head. "No," she whispered, her greeny-blue eyes staring at the weapon intently. "Just seems strange that the Jedi use a weapon so designed for destroying the life that they claim to be defenders of."

He pursed his lips. "I've never thought of it that way," he admitted.

Looking at the lightsaber for a moment more, she returned it to her belt then smiled, pulling herself from her thoughts. "Com'n, let's go get some breakfast."

[ 01-21-2002 03:43 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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He held her once more before re-entering the control room to inform his brother that he wished for him to have the honor of preforming the cerimony of ancient sith lore.
It was an event not to be taken lightly for it did indeed bring those participating to the edge of death and for those unworthy to their deaths. It had not been preformed often because of the danger but once through it, if he could get through it, Roan would reach a new staight of awarness and even higher form of power. As the doors closed behind him she could her his thoughts. "Tell the others to gather tonight in the throne room. Do this for me my Dark Heart as I endure it for you."

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Her lower lip trembled a bit and she reached a hand up to touch Roan's own. Her eyes suddenly filled with moisture as she saw the determination in his, read there the lethal potential this ceremony had entertained for countless bloody centuries. Knew in her heart of hearts that few had successfully mastered it, let alone lived through whatever horrors it presented, that most had died in a manner it would be an understatement to describe as "pleasantly."

If she should lose him now that she had finally found him....

Then she drew in a great breath, and straightened. Fearful as she was for his safety, she somehow also realized the full expanse of the honor he was bestowing upon her by attempting this act. For a long moment she stared into his eyes; then her lashes dimmed their brilliant violet.

"As you wish, my Lord," she murmured softly. "Ever at your desire."

With that she turned to inform her adept and the young man loved by her of the unique honor soon to be be shown to them all. As she left to do this, and to make preparations, she likewise knew he was seeking out his own brother, her Sire the Sorcerer Aelvedaar.

The day passed in a cloud of worry and anticipation. But soon it was dusk, and Graysith found herself standing mutely beside Shayla and Erik within the Great Throne Room of the Temple, holding her breath in a completely masked agony over what was about to happen.

--------------------

He stood briefly looking only to his love.
"They come for us" he wispered, "but we will not be defeated." He then collapsed into her awaiting arms.

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Lady Graysith didn't quite know where the words had originated. Nor did she bother wanting to know. All she knew was that far, far too much of it was pooling upon the stone floor of the Great Throne Room, the wellspring from whence it came being a far, far too precious source to her. Her jaws worked as she gritted her teeth, her slim hands fisting at her side with the effort not to rush forward and stop this hideous ceremony.

That her Lord would subject himself to such atrocities... UNTHINKABLE!!

But withhold herself she did, if only by dint of every bit of willpower she possessed. Every fiber of her being screamed for him at the pain he stoically endured, as the obvious shadows of ancient and less noble Sith rushed headlong into his muscular frame, laughing and gibbering and clawing to make it their own, squabbling and raking him in the attempt of bringing him unto them. Every muscle tensed as though if by doing so she could lend him that extra touch of physical strength, to better withstand the cruel pressure applied by his own body in its battle against gravity and the two enormous rancor teeth. Her own nails sliced into her palms, drawing her own blood, every ounce of strength she possessed keeping her eyes glued upon him when she saw Maladius scramble up his body and begin ripping and slicing into it with wild abandon.

There was nothing she would have loved more than to avert her gaze, to turn away from the horror in front of her. But even as a part of her tried to do just that, another stronger part would not give her that release. Trembling with the effort, her eyes instead remained glued to his, adhering there, offering a silent communion, an incorporeal lifeline between the two of them, along which she willed all her own strength and willpower and power of endurance to travel along. When the torture reached its exquisite apex she saw Shayla turn her head and bury it against Erik's chest; she merely drew in a shaky breath and straightened further, her fisted and white-knuckled hands dripping blood freely onto the stones of the floor.

And when the Dark Lord had gasped and ceased to breathe... she thought she would die with him, right there on the spot. At least in joined death there would be eternal unity.

But he had lived. He had gasped a great inhalation, his eyes had flown open, he had mercifully been lowered to the floor. And then there had been no stopping her, and she had flown to be with him, to stand before him, reaching up and out to him as he had been lowered, ignoring Aelvedaar and shouldering past him to take Roan's bloodied hands into her own bloodied palms, their life's juices mingling to make them ever more one unto each other as she gazed in awe and relief and an overwhelming burst of love into his wonderful turquoise eyes... holding him, listening then with a brow cocked in growing wonder and concern as he uttered his final cryptic vision and collapsed in her arms.

She held him as though she would never let him go, her own eyes growing huge as the realization of what had just happened finally sunk into her.

He had seen something....

Now she was crying openly, stroking his cheek, his torn chest, laying her hands upon his wounds and using the wondrous All as her Sire had taught her to do to begin healing him. Nothing would do but that he awoke whole within her arms, to let her know that which he had seen, to let her let him know how much she loved him, and the hell she had born thinking he had once more died.

But until then--

"Leave us," she commanded softly as she continued her medicinal ministrations, interspersing the soft touch of her hands with even softer kisses. "Leave us now."

She didn't even have to remove her attention from her Lord to know her order was being instantly obeyed.

[ 01-22-2002 05:53 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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...What awesome power, in fact, did they truly hold...?

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The Dark Lord stood easily scooping up her clinging form with him. He carried her down the hallway toward the room they shared. He paused momentarily as a creature made its way through the shadows to hunker before them. Maladius who only moments ago had tortured him under the ruleing of the cerimony coward there, open and vulnerable.
He wimpered his head down, eyes averted trembleing from the act he had to preform.
He held his tail in his clawed hands and waited for the response he knew would quickly come.

--------------------

She drew up before the creature, who whined and bowed his head before her, his bloody eyes all the while cutting to seek amnesty in those of Lord Roan. There was no reprieve there; the Dark Warrior merely crossed his muscular arms and tilted his head toward his Lady. Maladius' fate was clearly delegated into the capable hands of Graysith; the creature whimpered and clutched his tail, fully aware of how the Chosen Daughter had not understood, and indeed might not even yet.

Trembling with the effort to hold back her anger, Graysith slowly reached a hand out to the abject little demon, then paused. Words strangely familiar to her came whispering into her ears as if from a great distance:

All for the All... tunnelled vision cannot see the entirety of the picture....

Slowly, her slim hand descended to lay quietly on the creature's head. "You have done well, little one; more than was ever expected of you to do. Go now."

Scarcely had she uttered the words when she once more felt Roan's strong arms about her, felt the warmth of his breath as he laughed against her hair. Then they continued on their way, to discuss together the import of what had been revealed to the Dark One this night.

[ 01-26-2002 11:15 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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Something was up. And she just knew something big was about to happen.

Suddenly she felt a bit out of place as she considered the choices that had been laid before her.

She'd been given the option to come back to Khar Delba or go to Sullust to watch the others. She'd chosen to come back, to complete her training.

But what if she should have been doing the latter and not the former? Truthfully, she hadn't had training since she had returned...

So what was she doing here?

She shifted in her blankets, pondering further. Did she have it in her to complete this task? Would this, in fact, have been the better choice? Was her heart guiding her, or her head?

As if on cue to that thought, another memory surfaced...one placed in her by Graysith of that horrible day when her child had been killed. Then, memory shifted to another day, when Terrin Danner had cruelly injured her Sister...

...so what if they were planning to do something else? Who would be keeping an eye on those two? And what would the ramifications of leaving the Child that would soon be born in their incapable hands be?

With a blinding insistence, Shayla's being was suddenly filled with a new purpose.

She should be watching them.

Shayla sat up and headed to her wardrobe to dress and pack. Then another issue of this departure suddenly presented itself.

What was she going to do with Erik? He couldn't go with her...he'd be in the way, he wouldn't understand. And she'd given her word she wouldn't ask him to do anything he might be uncomfortable with...

...She'd have to leave him. She'd have to leave him and not let him know where she was going. There'd be too much of a risk of big eyes and ears finding out what she was up to.

Still...she'd need protection. And a ship...

Mulling this a moment, she sent out a thought to her Sister. I have decided to take leave, my Sister, to serve you and Your Own. I shall go to Sullust to watch these who have given you trouble. I take Leev with me, for my protection. With you I leave my Love...he will not understand. I am sorry for the inconvience this may cause, but he will be a good help to you by continuing to take care of the ships which he has been restoring. In time we may need them.

Deciding upon the Lioness as her ship of choice, Shayla turned a moment to regard Erik as he slept, then entered the hallways of the Temple to depart all together.

If this choice should please you, I shall go now. If not, I shall return immediately. But in this I feel I can serve you best, my Teacher, my Friend, my Sister...

[ 01-26-2002 12:52 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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The Dark Lord was quirking one eyebrow at her. "My adept seeks yet to prove her worth to us, my love," she grinned back. "At last she is beginning to discover herself, as where as the direction in which her loyalties truly do lie." The grin broadened further. "And you thought I chose unwisely, even thought I had no right to do as I did with this one!"

As her Dark Heart descended upon her to wipe that grin off her face in his own powerfully unique fashion, the Chosen Daughter had just the time to send a returning thought along the Link to her Adept.

What took you so long, dear sister? she quipped; then she sobered.

Go to Sullust, and take care. Events proceed there which are of the greatest importance to us, as well as in regards to the destiny I have yet to fulfill. Go in strength, my adept; I cloak thee to keep thee safe from prying eyes.

A final niggle of the All, and Shayla's ship was enveloped in a blanketing shield, one which would prevent any force user, partial or of the all, from discovering her. Then the Chosen Daughter turned once more to her Dark Heart, holding out her hands to him.

"And what of the one she leaves behind, my love?" she asked, grasping his strong hands in her own surprisingly strong grip. "Perhaps he can be of some use to us as well. What think you?"

[ 01-28-2002 08:24 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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Cocking a brow, Shayla turned to the droid with a half-smile. "I'm sure he'll get over the fact I'm taking his ship. He's flown the Starlight enough to owe me this one."

Another string of tootles followed.

Shayla turned back to the navboard as she answered. "We're going to Sullust on...business. And once we get in hyperspace, I want you to unstrap yourself and do a data search. I want specifics on anything bearing the name Terrin Danner and Eagle Enterprises that you can get your sensors on. I have no doubt that wherever he is, the rest of the motley crew is as well. But I've gotta find them first, without tipping them off to my knowing a thing of their whereabouts."

With that, Shayla began the take off cycle. As the ship began to leave the ground and she turned her attentions more fully to the task of getting the Lioness out of Khar Delban atmosphere and into space safely, Izzy bleeped one final string of "thoughts" regarding Mr. Danner.

Shayla turned to regard the R2-unit again, this time a not-so-pleasant grin playing across her face. "That we might, my little droid. That we might..."

[ 01-28-2002 09:52 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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He lifted her into his massive arms and began the short trek to were they had lain only moments before. Indeed he would talk to this Eric, not to take an adept but to prepare him for what lay ahead for all of them. He would aproach him but later as the matters at hand were quickly rising just as her lips were rising to meet his. He was sinking once again into her magical embrass and there would be time for preperation soon enough.

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My Dark Brother appeared occupied with his Lady; out of deference to them both, I averted my gaze and made a small noise to announce myself.

"Brother, a concern of dire importance has come to my attention," I began, now moving away to come to a stop before the viewing crystal at the foot of their bed. Another wave of my hand, and a seething planetscape revealed itself in its mysterious depths. After an appropriate length of time had elapsed, spotted with the occasional rustles of bedclothing being tossed aside and garments being donned, I turned to face them. They stood silent as wraiths, the Lady looking puzzled and more than a little bit worried. There wasn't a speck of emotion upon the hard planes of Roan's face, however.

I pressed on.

"I know you have felt this, Brother." Now our eyes locked together, a wealth of words and questions crashing between us. "Think you that we ought to act directly upon this, or wait and see what develops? I do not feel we are in any great physical danger yet, but..."I trailed off, waiting to hear how my Dark Brother would reply.

[ 02-02-2002 02:28 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aelvedaar ]

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And there was only one device of which she was aware that would fine-tune the ravening splendors of the All in such a manner....

Trembling a bit, she couldn't help but glance down at her right hand. Although she had easily adapted to the prosthetic finger, she still felt terribly empty without the Claw she had once affixed there. A shadow of despair began to taunt her, reminding her of the haunting fact that if she had been strong enough to keep the Claw from being removed, they would not now be facing what might very easily turn into a disaster of momentous proportions. And now, having gained her attention with that, her inner Beast began to yowl and slaver, adding his bit of mounting rage to her rising emotions.

Then her violet eyes widened, and the Glyph upon her forehead raged forth. Turning to her Dark Lord, she clutched his arm with her hand as her gaze roved from his face to the planet showed in the crystal and back again.

"My Adept," she whispered, her grip on his arm tightening instinctively. "Oh my Dark Heart, Shayla has gone to Sullust, and I have sent her there!"

[ 02-02-2002 02:33 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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He now placed both arms around Graysith holding her to him finding true comfort that only she could bring to him. "All is well. I have already sent Maladius to watch, to keep us aware, and to aid Shayla should she need assistance." Placing a clawed finger under her chin he raised her lips to meet his in a passionate kiss. He stayed there only breaking it long enough to pat his brothers arm in a show of assurance before returning to her magics.

[ 02-03-2002 11:36 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Dark Lord Roan ]

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“My Adept falters, but in deference to us,” she murmured. “I shall pass on to her these certainties of which you have spoken, my love.”

With that, she let her gaze unfocus and the Glyph come to life on her forehead. It filled the air with its intense glow as, leaping out in a dazzling beam it followed the Link back to Shayla, bringing into her Adept’s mind all that had been spoken within the room in recent moments. When she was assured that Shayla had received the message, the Chosen Daughter followed it with another, one more private, and one entirely of her own.

”Take care, my sister,” the warning whispered through the Link. ”There is one near you who has the ability to bring harm to you, although not to us or our destiny in general. But it is for your safety that I now have some concern; on one hand this is meant to be a test of your abilities, my sister. But on the other, I do not wish anything to happen to you.

“Do you need me there?”

Pulling back her thoughts, she looked up again into Lord Roan’s eyes, that voiceless look telling him precisely where she would go, and what she would do, if she deemed it necessary.

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Turning from the link, Shayla's hand again returned to the navboard, preparing to land the Lioness on the surface of Sullust and to follow her prey...

[ 02-04-2002 06:52 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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She was gone. She had gone, and she hadn't said goodbye. And he just knew that she had done exactly that because she was doing something she didn't think he would understand.

But how could he understand? He'd been with her for months now, and not once had anyone given him enough of the big picture for him to come to any sort of decision.

He was no fool. He knew he wasn't trusted.

Not even by the one that he loved.

Sighing, he resigned himself to her absence, wondering if he was all alone or if the others were there. She was blanketed from him, as she had been seemingly eons ago when she had first disappeared.

When she had first stepped into the universe in which she now existed.

Why was it that he couldn't exist there too?

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Roan walked over to the viewing screen, allowing his brother to attend to the creature's needs. He felt Graysith's presence as she approached and he instinctively placed his arm around her. "There is nothing to be alarmed by, my Dark Heart. Everything is on schedual and according to plan. Perhaps now I have someone that will allow me to test my new abilities." He smiled down at her, giving her shoulder a quick squeeze before once more looking out into the blackness.

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Fee-ee-elinnngggsssss...

She sighed, and closed her eyes, letting the breeze carry the perfume of the night flowers into her nostrils, her thoughts drifting back through time as easily as that heady bouquet came to her now. So much had happened since that first day, and so much was yet to come....

With her eyes still closed, she placed a hand on her stomach. A soft and secretive sort of smile came to her lips, and for a moment she merely stood there, silent. Then a dark shadow leapt over the rail; as he had done that night so long ago, Nikk came to a silent halt before her. His eyes seemed to glow as he pinned them upon her; she smiled, feeling that look, sensing his concern, knowing it was unwarranted.

At her side, M'wonBo'o raised a betendriled head, and growled as the Noghri burst in upon them. Then he laid his head between his massive paws and quieted somewhat, although he could not refrain from muttering an occasional warning rumble. Although by now the great tuk'ata accepted the Noghri as almost a peer, at times he almost seemed to be jealous of Nikk's growing closeness with his Mistress. Without budging an inch, one of his face tendrils snaked out to wrap about Graysith's ankle, seeking reassurance there.

Graysith smiled, and was about to speak gentle words to allay his fears... when a disturbing thought came to her mind through the Link she maintained with Shayla. Her eyes flew open as its import struck her; for long moments she stood in silence and stared unseeing as the evening light dimmed about her, a frown beginning to tickle the corners of her mouth. She sighed, and that small sound was enough to cause her Blood-Hunt Companion to immediately raise his head, and for Nikk to sidle closer to her.

With another smaller sigh, she waved them back. "Be at ease, my friends," she directed them gently. "I am unharmed, although concerns are beginning to plague me. I fear my Dark Heart must be made aware of events occurring at this moment on Sullust, if indeed he needs me to inform him of such at all."

Turning to leave, she paused. The Glyph ravened into life, and she sent a returning directive to Shayla. Take care, my sister, she warned her. The one who has harvested our treasure is stronger than you perceive him to be. I do not wish anything to happen to you; beware this one, and stay away from him at all costs. I shall inform my Lord of the events which have transpired with you, and we shall see what his input shall be.

Closing the link, she cast a final look into the deepening shadows without. For some reason they were suddenly beginning to perturb her greatly. Shaking off a little shiver, she proceeded to seek Dark Lord Roan, to deliver the message she had just received from Shayla. At her side, and equally silent and apparently perturbed M'wonBo'o and Nikk fell into place, and followed her back into the stone corridors of the Temple.

[ 02-07-2002 10:12 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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