Although she hadn't moved a centimeter, her tuk'ata could easily sense what more than likely would be forthcoming. It let out a low rumble, flexing its great claws upon the stone beneath its feet, its tail lashing from side to side as it affixed the small biped with its eerie, pupilless gaze.

ShaRhylla merely let her body flow with the tuk'ata, once again shifting effortlessly as it did the same. Leaning forward a touch, she spoke up.

Her voice was sweet and musical and quite lethal.

"Strange... that you should need my escort to vacate my presence, simply that you may ask direction of me.

"And for what purpose..."

She shrugged gracefully, closing her eyes.

"What do I know of your Lord and Master?"

Her eyes peeped open, and she peered from beneath her lashes, affixing Rykounagin with a stare as sharply intent as the finest of Sith steel.

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

He continued his bow, and wondered how long he could hold the position, a perfect 90 degrees. "He has sent me on a task that brings me to your world, that I have only visted recently, for I find this world to interest me greatly."

"But I must ask, if it would not cause you to find reason to silence my tonge, why someone to all appearences to be human could be nobility on such a world?"

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

Wait I.

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

But never let it be said that the Halfling was prudent.

Raising her chin, she peered down her nose at Rykounagin, sniffing disdainfully.

"Because my mother is the Dark Lady Graysith, and my father is--"

She stumbled only the slightest bit as memories waged a brief yet vicious war in her head. Then she curled her lip, and continued on.

"Is Lord Roan, Dark Lord of the Warrior clan."

Again she paused, reflecting upon her own words, then realized she hadn't completely answered his question.

"My mother is human, and unique and powerful enough to attract the attentions and loyalties of even the Sith."

With that she fell silent, waiting to see the effect her somewhat imperious words would have upon Rykounagin. Again, logic would have informed her that the young man more than likely had no idea of half of what she was speaking; again, ShaRhylla was anything but a logical person.

Letting the deathly silence about them deepen she continued in silence, pinning her eyes on Rykounagin, letting one slim and pearly-clawed hand quiet M'wonBo'o, who was becoming more and more agitated as time went by.

[ 01-14-2005 04:59 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by ShaRhylla ]

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He at this point, knelt, almost exactly as he had a few days previous in his false fealty to Graysith. "I am honored to be in the presence of the decendant of such nobility. I am one to honor your mother beyond many others, even close to my own master that I do honor her."

He smiled still in his kneeling position. What cause could I give to my father should I turn this encounter to bring her to him, or perhaps at least bend her will to his aid slightly? No, those manipulations I would leave for the wiser in the knowing of purpose and place.

Suddenly he froze. "Purpose...." He murmured. Is that what my father tried to teach me?

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

"Mother has never said anything to me about you, and she tells me everything!" she snorted, stretching the truth a bit, yes, but then what did this simpering fool know of it anyway?

Her final thought ignited a growing rage, and she snorted again.

"Oh, do get up, you look quite ridiculous like that. You don't owe me any fealty; you're not Sith after all.

"Which reminds me..."

She leaned forward over M'wonBo'o's massive shoulder, her long flaming curls washing down upon them.

"How is it a human comes to be in the service of a Dark Lord? Are you of-- of--"

She frowned, trying to recall those partially heeded lessons of Sith history which the Elders so pontifically -- and repeatedly -- had tried to teach her.

Her eyes widened.

"You're a Cult Assassin!

"Guards!"

Clamping her thighs against her mount, she rose up from her seat, crying out toward the rest of the warrior party, alerting her escort, and sending M'wonBo'o into an immediate, threatening stance.

[ 01-14-2005 05:19 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by ShaRhylla ]

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"Lay still, or I will slay you." He said, a simple command as the rest of the hunting party charged down from a distance to aid in the mans apprehension.

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

He tried to rise, but found he could not even move his torso with the weight of the spear upon him, being forced down into him, he felt as though his spine would snap.

He wondered if he should break his vow to his father, and was sorely tested as he knew he could not escape with his outer powers. Then mentally shook his head. A vow is a vow, no matter the circumstances.

"Alright, so you have me, I give up for now, though I'm sure Aelvedaar would be displeased. I wont run, not like I can outrun those beasts of yours anyway, but I'd ask you remove the spear, if you wanted a living captive."

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

My friend, he called out to Ragorian. This one is an old acquaintance of yours, you say? I believe he may soon be an ex-acquaintance. How do you know him? What care do you hold for him?

ShaRhylla sat back in her seat and smiled sweetly, one hand lightly stroking M'wonBo'o's muscular neck. Then it raised to clap against that of its mate.

"Bind him, and bind him well!" she commanded the incoming warriors, who scrambled from their mounts to obey.

"And take a care... Cult Assassins are nothing to regard lightly, or so my Teacher would say."

With that she quieted, cocking her head to one side and watching with amusement while Rykounagin was ringed by six warriors, given a quick if rough body check, and then bound, his wrists together behind his back and in turned tied to his bound ankles, another chain running up from the ankles to collar him like a dog. If he tried to fight his bonds, or relax his bent legs, he would slowly strangle himself.

ShaRhylla's eyes glittered.

"Now you shall prove who indeed you are," she whispered, her voice so low that none could hear her other than the keen-eared tuk'ata upon whose back she sat. Then giving M'wonBo'o a kick, she set off toward the distant Phrinnchatka, while her warriors saw to the transport of Rykounagin.

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

He decided to make a small bit of a stand. "I can walk you know." He said, ducking a would-be-smarting-blow from one of the guards, and sighed as they kept up at their pace as they walked along.

I wonder what "proof" I can offer. I have the mark, but I'd leave that as a last resort over anything else. But if it comes to elseness, even I, with fathers leasons still in my ears, would show my markings.

He shook his head, and wondered how he was going to get out of this mess, as for the second time in the same week, he was dragged into the city by armed sith guards.

[ 01-15-2005 12:17 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Rykounagin ]

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At the top, she reined him in with a hand signal; his claws dug deeply into stone as she brought him to a complete halt, turning round then to observe the others coming up behind her.

Another smile darkened her lips, and she barked a series of orders. Then turning M'wonBo'o, she entered the doorway in the apex, crossing the courtyard, into the Great Antechamber with its myriad stone collonades, not stopping until she had come up to the elaborately carved and bejeweled doors which led into the Grand Dining Hall.

There she dismounted, landing lightly on her feet, patting the tuk'ata as she came to rest. The beast turned its pupilless eyes upon her and twined a tendril about her waist; as docile as any housedog, he then followed her into the Dining Hall.

Once inside, ShaRhylla headed to the huge stone fireplace off to one side, where she took up an artful pose, one hand against the stone, the other toying with her hair, the light of the crackling flames behind her silhouetting her in fire.

After a moment, a loud ruckus. Footsteps. A scraping sound, a muffled curse... and Rykounagin was ushered into the Dining Hall where, with no preamble, he was quickly unbound and left on the floor.

The warriors bowed, and backed off; ShaRhylla waved them on, with that motion bidding them to depart. They did... but not too far, taking up guard in the corridor without the double doors.

Beside ShaRhylla, M'wonBo'o growled deep in his chest, lowering his head and hunching, every muscle a coiled steel spring, ready to leap if Rykounagin would make so much as one small move.

The Halfling twined a tendril of hair lazily around one finger.

"Now you know who I am," she said, her voice soft and low but rife with meaning.

"Perhaps now, you would be more honest with me and tell me who indeed you are, and why it is you have sought me out?"

[ 01-15-2005 12:38 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by ShaRhylla ]

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After all, your father never did put limits on what you could do.

He cleared his throat. "Well, first off, I'd like to trade a few things. The first being that I congradulate you. The chances of you identifying me as what I am are astoundingly small, but yes, my heritage lies in that particular cult. As for what I am, I am no assassin."

He looked at her. "As for who I am, I can say that though not by blood, I share your rank to some degree by my father Aelvedaars will, may his years last endlessly. As for why I am here, I have been honest."

He watched her as he spoke, before continuing, scanning her before continuing.

"I am here to retieve the greatest present threat to the sith, as my father has forseen. To answer your most likely next question, it is not you. It is full sith somewhere upon this planet who is rallying forces against the clans."

He breathed slowly, comming to his close. "As for "seeking you out", I have done no such thing. I had spotted you across the plains, and noting that you appeared human at distance, and as I needed direction of some kind, I approached you, not knowing your identity at the time."

He finished. But before she could respond, he spoke again. "Not to sour the moment or change your opinion of my words, but you have lied to me. Your mother does not share all with you, or she would have told you that I was once her warrior for a short time, her betrayer for a now longer standing time, and a thief of what you now possess in your belt, and servant to the blade you carry. Oh, your mother does not share nearly everything you imagine with you."

[ 01-15-2005 12:52 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Rykounagin ]

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"Why would I believe you concerning what my mother says or does not say to me; what proof have I that your words are true ones, and not made up on the spot to save your sorry skin from anything...

"Detrimental to it?"

She paused, letting the tendril drop from her fingers and leaned back against the stone of the fireplace, her hands now flat upon its rough surface.

She cocked her head a bit to one side, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

"A matter of semantics, then; you did indeed seek me out from across the plain, or you would not have come to me to begin with, am I correct?

"But-- what I find most interesting is why you did not seem surprised at finding a... a human here on K'eel Doba, a planet which, other than my mother, myself and my sister, is Sith."

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

He paused before continuing. "As for you disbelief in my "stories", I can give small evidence aside from a mark your mother gave me-" He reached up the hand that possessed his fathers mark, pulling back some of his hair at the top of his forehead, that easily showed a mark from the claw.

"-and this, showing my mark of my father, though I wish you not to judge or treat me by my possession of it." He held the marking upon his forearm up, easily seen from the light comming from behind her in the fireplace.

"If you question my once fealty to your mother, ask Ragorian, I'm sure he'd be glad to fill you in on that. As for any possible affiliation to Aelvedaar, as if this mark my father has given me did not show, ask the object you hold."

He smirked without humor. "After all, he's the one who tried to send your mother out on a warpath against my father in return for what I had at the time thought to have been a period that I could have not been punished by her under the guise of possession. Though possession is part of the truth."

He closed his eyes as he finished speaking. "But what truth will thine eyes see in Rykounagin? What path will fate guide your hands too upon him? A kind one as it gave him in his father, or a cruel one as your mother gave with little justice?"

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

"Is it as he says?" she reached out with her innate abilities and quite easily slid the question into the blade one hand was now softly stroking.

"Has he had conflict with my mother, and affiliation with the Sorcerer's clan?"

Waiting to hear the reply, she focused again upon the young man, noting for the first time the sincerity -- or at least the appearance of it -- which shone out from his dark eyes. She chewed her lip in consideration, then spoke up, letting her manner soften just a trifle.

At her side M'wonBo'o tensed in direct proportion to that softening, ready to instantly obey her slightest order, even if it should come to him before she knew she had to give it.

"You speak of once having fealty to my mother, which would lead me to believe that you at least knew her somewhat. Yet you say with bitterness upon your tongue that she was cruel and unjust to you."

She paused, reflecting back on everything she knew about her mother, the Chosen Daughter of the Sith, and then sighed.

"This is not her manner in the least--"

Ahh. But father....

Blinking that errant thought to the side for the moment, she moved gracefully out from her pose in front of the fireplace and went to a sideboard. The richly shining wood fairly groaned with the foodstuffs and drink with which it was laden; selecting a choice bit of meat and some fruits, she finished by filling a jeweled goblet with Sith brandy before turning back to Rykounagin.

Nodding to him, she then moved to a satin-cushioned divan which faced the fireplace, and daintily seated herself upon it.

"Tell me," she then went on, her words slightly muffled through the food in her mouth. She took a quick drink of the brandy.

"What did my mother do to provoke such resentment within you... or indeed, what was this act of betrayal of yours, which would thus turn her against her own nature?

"And what is this about possession, of which you speak? Perhaps your reply to these questions will decide the path upon which fate shall guide my hand."

Holding the goblet in one slim hand, she turned round and pinned Rykounagin with an intense look.

"And then, of course, yours in turn."

[ 01-18-2005 01:53 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by ShaRhylla ]

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He leaned up against the stone of the wall behind him, and began relating his story yet again.

"As you can tell by the markings I bear, I am of the Cult of Assassins. From birth I was raised to the ways of the cult by my parents and elder brother. After a time, my parents passed and my brother and I wandered for a time, until comming here."

He paused before continuing his story, the bitter point of his past always causing him to hesitate. "My brother at the time then concealed my face and shrouded my mind with strong magicks, leaving me memoriless and helpless upon this rock, before the sith came.

For four years, I lived her in total seclusion, the nature of an untamed and harsh world playing with my thoughts and mind to the point that I almost lost all hope of existence, then suddenly, in the blink of an eye, your entire civilisation existed. Suddenly I was hunted by scouting and defending partiess of your city, and in my unwisdom, thought this to be another tormenting trial of my existence.

Then finally, I came upon the blade you now carry, Ragorian, and at first shunned it as another cruel trick. I finally came to recognize Ragorian as a friend and ally, and I became his apprentice and companion for a time. Finally when our bond was strong enough, I hid him away and took a shard of his being with me on a quest to spy upon your mother, and when the time could come, retrieve the Finger which you also possess, from her to take to my master."

He took a breath after this long, never ceasing relation. "I had come close to achieving a good deal of trust in your mother, when Ragorian, impatient for my mission to be complete, used my body to strike at your mother, her guard and companions, within these very walls. I took the finger, and fled, though when my escape was comming to a dismal result, the finger betrayed me with a suggestion that I turn myself in and say my possession had been of my fathers influence."

He smirked as he continued speaking. "Your mother, without explanation or trial, cast me into the eternal stasis of the Elseness, and there I waited, fearing I would never find my past, or speak and see any being ever again. But I found a portal and escaped too my father, where I soon learned of my past, and confronted my traitorous brother."

He paused. "In short, my father began to teach me lessons that I needed, but I failed to learn them effectively, and he has sent me on this quest to find the greatest threat to the sith and bring him to my father alive. However, I must warn you of my former kin."

"Sa'kal'ishaalas is not to be trusted, his manipulation and treachery can reach no limits if it gives him power and moves him closer to his goals of which even I am uncertain of. But that warning has little to do of your decision upon me, which I do give confidence will have more mercy than your mothers black heart delivered."

[ 01-19-2005 04:32 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Rykounagin ]

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A while later, ShaRhylla's voice in Ragorian's mind called hi mback to his blade, back to the present. He left the puzzle for now, but reminded himself to come back later and solve it.

Bringing his attention back to ShaRhylla and Rykounagin's conversation, he arrived in time to hear Rykounagin recall the story of how they were brought together, the bond they had formed, and the deeds they had commited against Graysith...ShaRhylla's own mother. Almost Ragorian let out a mental groan. He had been working his hardest to gain influence with her, his new host, a powerful one, and this revelation could ruin all that.

For a moment Ragorian considered betraying Rykounagin, calling him a liar, an usurper who was trying to take him from ShaRhylla. But the more he considered that path, the more he thought about just what it would mean for Rykounagin. And knowing, or at least suspecting, what his fate would be, Ragorian found that he could not go through with this course of action. He cared for Rykounagin more than he knew, and had, despite all odds, formed a kinship with the young lad. And because of this kinship, he could not betray Rykounagin, not even if it meant losing ShaRhylla and the power of the Axis.

Finally, he spoke again, opening his links with both ShaRhylla and hte Axis, so that they would both hear his words.
What he says is true, Mistress ShaRhylla, he said in a calm, soothing tone. All of it. Though i know not of his said alliance with the Sorcerors, all the other events he states up until then I can vouch for as the truth. He did find me, and it was he who placed me in that cave that you discovered me in. He has been a loyal and true companion to me for a long time, though recently I was separated for him.

He did go to your mother, at my bidding, for apprenticeship and to earn her trust. And myself, acting through him, did indeed strike at her, steal the Axis, and flee Phrinnchatka...to no avail.

Quickly and silently he closed his link with the Axis, having fulfilled his explanation there, but continued speaking to ShaRhylla in his calmest, most soothing tone.
That, however, my lady, was a decision that a deeply regret, he siad, while beginning to softly, silently, undetectably stroke the back corners of her mind comfortingly, attempting to use what influence he may have gained there, but making sure he would not attract her attention. I most humbly apologize to you for amy cowardly, traiterous actions against your mother, and, given the chance, I would apologize just as humbly to her. For a long time now I wish that I had not taken that course of action.

You see, he continued, The course i took, striking at your mother, was one born of pure desperation and desire. I saw before me the chance, the power I needed, to fulfill dreams I had been holding for so long. My ration and logic faded, and I simply acted. Again I offer my apologies to you and your family, and dare to hope that you would find soem way to forgive me, my mistress...

He fell silent, waiting as quietly as he could for her reply, the blade's and his own persuasive magick still stroking ShaRhylla's mind oh-so-gently, reminding that far corner of her concious of the pormises they offered...power and greatness, and the true goodness and friendship Ragorian could offer.

He had played his cards as best he could, now chance would fall as it may.

[ 01-19-2005 11:48 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Blade of Chaos ]

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"Words are easily offered, when in the presence of a possible enemy," she yawned, taking hold of a leg of some roasted bird and raising it to her mouth. Her aspect changed like lightning; baring her fangs, she tore into it, like an animal.

She grinned as she chewed, letting the savory juices of the meat run down her chin.

"It boils down to one thing, and one thing only," she finally offered, swallowing. With a panther's smile she set the joint back on her plate, and daggered Rykounagin with a dark glare.

"You speak against my mother, whilst your associate who yet hides within this, which you want--"

She caressed pulled the sword from where she carried it, ran a hand up the blade ever-so-lightly, ending with one slim finger pricking upon it's point. Something seemed to vibrate within the blade, as if seeking egress from it into her flesh; with another snort she removed her hand altogether and shoved the blade into her belt.

Hanging on the other side, the jewels within the Finger of R'lous seemed to glow.

"Your associate actually goes so far as to act out in cowardice against her. Now, while what you two deign to think of her, or feel about her, is indeed your own business; however--"

She paused again, letting her eyes narrow even more.

"When you act against her, you act against me, and against all the Sith."

A pregnant moment passed; she finally filled it with an offhand wave of one slender hand.

"I don't know who this is whom you seek, nor do I care one whit about the Sorcerer's affairs. Wander as you will across our lands, but wander alone."

A sly grin flashed across her features then as she reached inward to touch upon her innate talents, utilizing them before Rykounagin could dodge or turn to flee.

A bolt shot from her hand, ravening upon his forehead, emblazoning there a series of brilliantly glowing sigils:

They spelled the Sith word which meant The Betrayer.

"Go now," she ordered; then without so much as a concerned glance toward the staggered young man she turned back to her meal and her brandy.

Beside her, M'wonBo'o took a single step forward but stopped, a threatening rumble growing deep in his chest.

[ 01-23-2005 10:09 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by ShaRhylla ]

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"Such a mark, but you possess no right to brand me so. But then I shall give you fair return, for you had cause. I am new to your traditions, but there is a tradition in my own Clan, that is known as equivilant exchange. But I will also put in something that comes from my father's clan, which I shall refer to as the greater good."

He paused, breaking his vow as he summoned his sword and made a cross against his eyes, cutting into several of the runes there. "I have punished myself for the sins against you and your mother." He began cleaning the blood from his face.

"You wrong me by doing further, but I have not given you my equivilant exchange. As you have branded me to all sith, even my own clansmen, I will ask one of two things, the former of the two I would request. The second I would force if required."

He held out a hand, open palmed, the blade of the black lotus held backwards in the other hand. "I ask for Ragorian, if I am to be branded a traitor, then he is as well, and he has no purpose here. But if you keep him, you take from me, and break your own code."

He closed his eyes, biting away the minor pain of his scaring face. "If you wont give me Ragorian, then I warn that I will attempt to take him from you by asking you to honor a challenge for him. But if you refuse, I will not only take Ragorian as a prize."

"But now will you desgrace yourself and refuse, possibly calling upon your defenders? Or will you give him too me willingly?"

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

ShaRhylla smiled, albeit a bit darkly, letting one hand play about M'wonBo'o's silky shoulder, by that touch letting him know she was quite safe but that his guard was still desired. When he finally settled a bit, she turned her entire attention to Rykounagin.

"I have no idea, nor any interest, of this code of which you blather. What is of concern is that you would take from me that which I now possess, this sword."

With a vicious yank she ripped it from her waist and held it aloft. The blade glittered like fallen snow in the moonlight.

"Your associate called out to me this night; your associate led me to where he lay, abandoned, afar from kith and kin in the dankness of a tiny cave in which you left him; your associate, he who is your associate no more but now mine!"

Suddenly she was standing, her eyes flashing fire, her hair seeming to whirl about her head as though caught in a tornado of her own making. She raised the blade even higher.

"This is yours no longer, nor do I accept challenge from a mere human!" she spat, her eyes now black, the trembling tuk'ata doing all he could to keep from leaping at Rykounagin's throat.

"You belong here not; consider yourself lucky that I do not slay you on the spot!"

She gripped the blade tighter, letting her hand seem to meld into the handle, the other raised and ready to use her talents. Like a fire-headed valkyrie she just stood there thus, waiting to see what foolishness Rykounagin would then attempt.

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

He sneered openly now. "You do not realize the ramafications of this conflicts do you. You are a spoiled child playing with a new toy she can't help but possess jelously. you have the mind of a child, however it is more fragile than a childs."

Rykounagin as he spoke, began silently calling upon his magicks and runes as he continued too speak. "You do not understand, what you bring to yourself. I wasn't raised to kill spoiled brats, I was raised to be a slayer of kings and lords. If you think yourself one, then act and stand as one."

His voice quieted, finishing the activation of his runes. "But if you cannot take the responsibilities of your actions, then step down, and grow to your full flower child."

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

Please, Rykounagin, I ask you not to do this. Do not try to take me by force. It seems somewhat likely, unless this new alliance of yorus has provided you with formidable powers indeed, that you would die in the attempt, and I certainly do not wish that.

And nor, for the moment, at least, do I wish to be taken from here. Understand, it is not that I have turned on you or sided against you, my friend...but the position I am in now is advantageous to me, and could allow me to fulfill my desire of creating a new body for myself relatively soon. After all, we share a deeper link now...why do you truly need to possess my blade?

I ask you now, in the name of our friendship, please, do not take me from here. Go and accomplish your other missions here, and I shall remain in contact with you. You cannot help me, or yourself, much by fighting with ShaRhylla over a cause that I do resist, after all.

Trust me, my friend. This is for the best.

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

"You have no right to speak to me in the manner that you do!" she finally sputtered, now so angry that she was literally shaking with effrontery. At her side M'wonBo'o crouched, his tail lashing from side to side, his ears pinning back to his skull as he fully prepared to spring.

Suddenly he was stopped, as the Daughter of Roan gained control over herself once again. She drew in a deep breath, one hand fluttering up to pluck an imaginary piece of lint from her clothing, her tongue snaking out to wet her lips.

They glistened, full and red in the dim light.

Like the fires which were smoldering in her eyes.

Suddenly, the movement quick as a striking diagona, her free hand shot out, grasped the very fabric of space and time itself and, with a wrenching movement, ripped it open.

On the other side of the Portal she had just created, a very special non-ness writhed and roiled... but was not beheld long. Before Rykounagin could so much as cry out, she flung the upraised Blade directly into that Portal into the Elseness, then slashed it closed with another twisting move of her hand.

The look she then turned upon Rykounagin was lethal.

"How badly do you seek your erstwhile associate, who plays at being the womprat by remaining so sickeningly silent? How much do you wish to repossess the blade, human?"

Now her eyes grew sultry, and she let a syrupy sweet grin spread across her face.

"I can send you to him there....

[ 01-23-2005 11:25 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by ShaRhylla ]

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