Sorry folks--anyone who didn't reply had plenty of time. So here it is. You can complain at me later ;-) Tenaka stepped through the Window to stand directly in front of the Angry Porcupine. Behind him came his brother, Balefire and Twilight, the former clearly impressed by the method of transportation. Next was the other three women, J'layah, Mea and Pilar followed by Elfiran and Alduin. The barkeep looked about in amazement and Alduin was scribbling furiously on his scrolls. The Dreadlord closed the Window and walked over to the door to the tavern. Standing to the side, he allowed the owner to enter first. Following Elfiran, Tenaka entered the Angry Porcupine and then stopped dead, the people behind almost walking into him, so sudden was his halt. Before him he saw his wife Kriella sitting at a table with a tall man with shoulder length dark hair in a tail wearing adamantium chain armour - a rare kind but not unheard of - and a Scamp! Kriella stood as he walked in and bowed. The Dreadlord nodded and she stood upright again. Formality over, she ran to Tenaka and embraced him in a powerful hug. "My friends," said Tenaka from within his wife's embrace. "This is my wife, Kriella Khan." Kriella released her husband and stepped back, saluting the men and women in the way of the Dreadarmies, fist over heart. Tenaka introduced the heroes of the Guardian Citadel to his wife, until he reached Balefire. Taking a deep breath, he started talking: "Kriella, this is my brother, Balefire Ebonheart." The shock was evident on the Dreadmaster's face. She started to speak but Tenaka interrupted her, saying, "It is a long tale, and one that must wait until another time. All you need know for now is that if someone should use the name Darkflame, then they are in fact referring to me." Kriella was speechless, but she accepted the little explanation she had out of habit. Her husband was the Dreadlord - if he said that the explanation must wait, then it must wait. She walked over to Balefire and gave him a hug, only slightly less enthusiastic than the one she had given Tenaka. The Dreadlord meanwhile was looking at the man who had been sitting with his wife. When he had first seen the figure, he had thought that there was something odd, but now he thought that he had the answer. Adamantium chain was rare only outside Oblivion. Suspecting, he had silently activated a detection spell, and now knew what the man was. "Kriella, I must ask you two questions. Why are you sitting here with a scamp and--" his eyes narrowed dangerously at Rathine--" a Dremora? And, why are you even here in the first place?" `Perhaps it's a good thing Nyx isn't here,' she thought. `She'd probably say something facetious, like, `Learn to count, sir, that was three questions!' She smiled a little, thinking of her friend, then sighed. This wasn't going to be easy. She'd figured that Tenaka would see through Rathine's illusion--it was to hide his horns from anyone else--but she hoped he would let her explain. Elfiran broke the stunned silence, saying, "No doubt there's a tale t' be heard here." He gave a not unkindly look to the scamp. "I for one will be very interested in hearing how my wife, a Dreadmaster, is in the company of a scamp and a Dremora," Tenaka repeated dryly. "Well...sit down, all of you. `Tis a long tale in the telling. Take your ale while you can, and listen," Kriella said softly. As ale--and lots of it--was brought and passed around, Kriella thought, 'I hope I can make them understand, Nyx. Most of all, I hope they will understand that then, as ever, you did what seemed best at the time.' Tenaka, seeing his wife hesitate, reached over and took her hand. "I have known and trusted you long enough, my love, to know that you do nothing without good reason." She showed him a grateful smile. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Have any of you heard the name Nyxalinth DeVries?" Balefire's brows rose. "The name is familiar, somehow, but escapes my memory at the moment." Mea chuckled. "A past sparring partner, m'lord?" He shook his head. "No. Her name echoes for another reason...ah well." Elfiran smiled broadly. "Ah should hope Ah do, lass! Nyx has been coming here fer a number o' years...met her late husband here, Arkay rest him, and her current love, Zerith. A fine lass, and a lovely one." "If yer wanting for a tale, friends," Edwynster called from the bar, "then there's a tale for you!" "No doubt tis a fine one," replied Twilight with a grin just as the barkeep was about to launch into the taproom drama version of the story. "But let us stay with the subject at hand, shall we?" She turned to Kriella. "Say on, please." "Nyxalinth De Vries is the heroine of Battlespire." "Nyxalinth?" exclaimed Edwynster from the bar. Elfiran looked as if he'd been poleaxed. "Thet sweet-faced lass took on Mehrunes Dagon? And won?" Tenaka looked at his wife, amazed. "You have met Lady Daedrasbane? She is a friend of yours?" Balefire laughed. "That is where I have heard that name! Of course! Finally, a name to go with the titles, then. And perhaps a face to go with the names." "How did you come to meet her?" Mea asked. As far as the cleric-warrior was concerned, anyone who could stomp a Daedra Prince's ass was worth meeting. "I was sent to track down and kill a spider daedra. When I arrived at the caverns where the creature was lairing, I found Nyxalinth already hunting it." Kriella sipped at her ale. "I found out that she had been sent to destroy the thing by the Mage's Guild." She regarded them with serious ruby eyes. "Nyxalinth, and her beloved, Zerith, had been held captive by a daedra count named Emerald Vex. Considering that Vex is one of Sanguine's most favored Oathchildren, I do not think I need to explain the nature of this captivity to you, or why the Mage's Guild refused to help her." Skudge disagreed, saying, "Emerald Vex is big horny bastard." Kriella grinned, and even Rathine cracked a smile. "Yes. But Zerith helped Nyx to escape. She went to Battlespire first, to seek help from the Battlemages there, and to visit her brother, Josian Kaid. Josian would be here, but he is yet recovering from the near-mortal wounds he suffered at Dagon's hands." "That where me meet Nyx," Skudge added. "Bad daedra in Battlespire. Skudge not bad--me not even 's'posed to be there. Me not Dagon scamp, me with Nocturnal clan." "It's a long story," Kriella said. "But Skudge is from Shade Perilous, an offshoot of Nocturnal's realm. In Nyx's journal, it tells how Nocturnal had agreed to allow Dagon passage through her realm. But Dagon betrayed her, and allowed his troops to ransack the place. Skudge here was caught up amongst the invading forces and wound up in Battlespire." "Nyx save Skudge's life," the scamp told them. "She become good friend. We help each other lots." he sniffed. "Me sad when she make me stay in Shade Perilous--say rest of trip too dangerous." Tenaka regarded the scamp closely. He was surprised at the little daedra's warmth and concern for his friend. Still..."This explains the scamp." He turned narrowed eyes upon Rathine. "But I would know how a Dremora came to be involved." Kriella shot a warning glance at Skudge. Things were tense enough without his egging Rathine. "Nyxalinth was approached by the Dremora to help them overthrow Mehrunes Dagon," she said simply. Rathine nodded, picking up the tale. "My master, Imago Storm, served our prince faithfully for millennia as his Grand Vizier until Dagon chose to invade Battlespire. My lord tried to warn him against it. He told him it would be the downfall of all of Clan Dagon. Before this, our Prince always had the best interests of the clan in mind. When Nyxalinth arrived, my lord Storm knew she would be of use to us, so he asked that I not only spare her, but give her a few items to help her." Skudge was outraged. "That not why you spare her, you big liar! You spare Nyx cause you think she pretty, and because you honking big horny bastard!" "Skudge, be quiet!" Kriella hissed. Rathine nodded. "`Tis half true, friends. I was very attracted to the Shadow Walker. I will not lie--I did force her to share my bed." There were outraged gasps from the ladies. "But I am honorable--I kept my word to her. And lest you judge her too harshly, know this--she had no choice, for I would have seen to it that she would not save her brother." Kriella sighed with relief. She hadn't expected Rathine to be so reasonable, or to explain Nyx's predicament so honestly. "What makes you so open about this?" Pilar asked him. Rathine sighed. "I have no reason to lie. Clan Dremora is honorable. We repay our debts. My master has sent me to help, and I can hardly do so if there is fighting and dishonesty." 'Help yourself to her, you mean,' Kriella thought. 'Poor Nyx. Why the Shadow Walker is such a magnet for daedra, I have no idea.' She exchanged glances with Skudge. From the look in the scamp's eyes, they seemed to be in agreement--once Nyx was in the Soul Gem, Rathine could not be trusted. J'layah had been silent up until this point. Her heart ached for the woman, but her sister came first. "I still need to save my sister from the Dark Brotherhood," she said. "I do sympathize with your friend, however, I have struggled long and hard to help my sister. Perhaps, some of us can go to the Dark Brotherhood, and some can save Nyxalinth. A hero such as this does not deserve to spend another day in Oblivion!" Mea nodded. "I'm with J'layah." "As am I," Twilight said softly. She looked at Balefire, a sad smile on her face. "Sorry, my swordbrother. You will have to face Oblivion without me." Balefire smiled ruefully. "As ever, you know me all too well. Who else is with me, then?" "I will be," Elfiran said with a grin. "I've known th' lass for a bit, and her late husband would nae forgive me if`n Ah dinna help." Tenaka smiled. "Seeing as my wife and my brother have made up their minds, I will be as well." Alduin smiled broadly. "And I will be accompanying the ladies to help save J'layah's sister." More ale was brought. Skudge produced Nyx's journal seemingly from nowhere. "More story in book,' he told the group. He showed it to Tenaka, having warmed to the big Dread Lord. "See? Nyx's journal." Kriella smiled. "I'm not so sure if Nyx would care to have people she doesn't know reading her private journals." Skudge shook his head. "Nyx always say she want friends to read book if anything happen to her." He shoved the book at Elfrian, nearly upsetting one of the ale mugs. "Have look. You friend." Elfiran closed it and gently set it aside. "All th' same, little one, `tis better if the lass herself lets us read it." "Oh." The scamp suddenly brightened. "Here picture of Nyx she draw herself. She give to me, so me not forget her." Skudge pulled a sheet of parchment from the book and gave it to Elfiran. "Want look? See?" He looked at it, nodding. "Aye, `tis her. Tho she is much different when last Ah saw her two years ago. `Tis in th' eyes. She was still but a girl when she an' Zerith left here thet day." Pilar looked at it next, then Twilight. Nyx was a pretty girl, indeed. She smiled as she wondered if Balefire would notice this. "Aye. And it would seem that she left the Battlespire a woman." She passed it on to Tenaka. "A pretty lass, no doubt of it." He looked at Kriella. "This is *the* Nyxalinth? She is not what one would expect." Kriella gave him a wry grin. "And since when does a woman's beauty preclude her abilities, my husband?" Five sets of feminine eyes regarded him seriously. He smiled sheepishly. "She has not the look of a warrior, my love. There's a great deal of innocence in those eyes, along with the wisdom. A miracle that it should be so." He passed the picture on to Balefire. He'd known Kriella long enough that she wasn't upset by his comments, merely teasing. "Her abilities in battle match the beauty within and without," Kriella told them. "I have seen her fight." She told the story of how they worked together to destroy the spider daedra in the caverns, then of their battle against the daedra they thought to be Red and Blackie. Balefire's breath caught as he looked at the picture. Staring back was a lovely half-elven woman. Her beauty did not match the standard, as did the beauty of the women seated around him now, but she was striking nonetheless. Her hair was curly and waved just a bit past her shoulders. Her smile held just a hint of impish mischief. Her almond shaped eyes did indeed hold sad wisdom, and great innocence. He found himself wondering what color they were. "Brother...are you with us?" Tenaka teased him. Balefire handed the picture to Mea. "If her ability in battle matches her beauty of form and spirit, then she is formidable, indeed." Kriella smiled. "The Great Lord even offered that she should join the Dreadarmies," she told Tenaka. He nodded. "I am most impressed. I am with you in this, Kriella. However--" His gaze fell upon the two daedra--"I will tolerate no nonsense." "Skudge promise to behave!" "I will do as I must, and if I must cooperate with the scamp, then so be it," Rathine said coldly. Elfiran spoke up, addressing Balefire. "Ye have had a most tryin' time, m'friend. None of us will think ill o' ye, if'n ye decide to stay this one out." The big warmage smiled. Ruefully. He'd been looking forward to something simple, like destroying some of the Dark Brotherhood, then taking a very well deserved rest. But the memory of that face would not let go of him. He sighed, thinking, 'Heroism--and a fondness for beauty--will yet be your downfall!' Finally, he nodded. "I would accompany my brother." Taking a large swallow of ale, he looked around at his companions, and his smile grew wolfish as he said, "Besides, how could I possibly pass up the chance to storm Oblivion?" J'layah smiled. "Then it is settled. We should do just fine. My sister, at least, does not suffer what Nyxalinth must endure." Mea sighed, looking at the picture. Nyxalinth was exotically beautiful, if a trifle too voluptuous. She'd seen the look on Balefire's face. 'No one said it was to be forever, or you alone, Mea girl,' she told herself. Then she smiled. "Anyone who can kick a daedra prince's ass can't be half bad," she said lightly. Skeetr too looked at the picture, shrugged, and put it aside. Kriella nodded. "Then it's settled." "If'n Ah may ask," Elfiran said, "How serious is her plight? Ah do nay ken th' others, but Ah would enjoy a bit o' rest and a few more tankards aforehand. "Ah'm sure Nyx will understand, but if'n th' situation is grim, tis best we be along." "Well, I had some help speaking with her the other day," Kriella said. Tenaka nodded to show that he understood. "The situation is difficult, but not insurmountable. Nyx has been soulbound to Emerald Vex." Silence all around. Finally, Tenaka spoke. "This is most serious. If we slay Emerald Vex, Nyxalinth perishes as well. If he is allowed to live, he will simply plague her another day." "We have the situation in hand--literally." Rathine produced a large, magnificent green gem from his belt pouch. "This is a specially constructed soul gem. It entraps the entire being, not simply the soul. Either we can entrap Emerald Vex, with the chance that he could escape or be freed by loyal minions, or it could be used on Nyxalinth, thus protecting her total being so that we may slay the daedra count." "I tend towards the idea of trapping Nyxalinth," Kriella said. "This way, Vex cannot continue to harass her should he be freed. Once we get her to safety, we break the gem, releasing her." "Ahh, I see. And what of her lover...you said Zerith is his name?" Balefire asked. "He will meet with us in Vex's realm, on the shore of the Lake of Dreams. If he makes it there." "A dangerous place for a mage-scholar to await us," Tenaka said. "I can get us there, but I pray that he will be safe till then. Emerald Vex's realm is as dangerous as it is beautiful." Rathine snorted then drained his ale mug. `Beautiful? Hardly. Boring is more the word. Where is beauty without jagged mountains, or volcanoes constantly erupting? Or seas constantly at storm?" "Personally, I prefer my landscapes a bit less hostile," Kriella told him. "But Tenaka is right--It will not be easy. But though "I've known Nyx for only a short time, she is already dear to me. From what she has told me, her situation, while very uncomfortable, is not yet desperate. We can tarry for a day or two, if needed." She looked meaningfully at Tenaka. More ale was brought, and then, just for variety, still more ale. As the companions toasted to their success and the adventures to come, Kriella prayed silently, Help her, Great Lord. Lend her your strength. To her friend, Kriella thought, "Hold on, my friend. We're coming for you. And I promise we're not leaving without you!" ---------------------------- Shadow Walkers Realm http://www.livid.org mailto://sherrian@pagan.net PGP Public Key Fingerprint: F3C8 947E 0895 B415 00FC 5980 6497 91F4 ---------------------------- Shadow Walkers Realm http://www.ownz.net mailto://sherrian@pagan.net PGP Public Key Fingerprint: F3C8 947E 0895 B415 00FC 5980 6497 91F4