/bumps waiting for crispian to finish

Crispian considered his answer for a moment. “Well,” he started, feeling incredibly young suddenly, “to be honest, I planned it all poorly. I knew so little of D'Vena other than she was powerful, vile, and, well, lonely” He did not add that he had considered other aspects to it and could not see another way about it. Azi sighed; knowing that what was to come could be embarrassing and revealing. Crispian blushed at her sigh, for she had gotten much of the uncensored tale already. “Well, I, ah,” he paused, considering his next words carefully, “plied her with wiles and wine to win her attentions.”


He paused; knowing that no one in this group here assembled was not worldly enough to go from his statement to the truth of the matter. It was not that great of a leap of thought to make, in any case.


With a slight “hmmm,” to herself mostly, Lexi shifted her position slightly, leaning back but not decreasing her attentiveness. “So what then?” she asked. With the skill she had for speaking, she did not need to pack her words with tones or shades of innuendo.


With growing evidence of discomfort, Crispian went on. His scarlet face had not yet returned to normal. “Well, uh,” he paused, clearing his own throat, “when she was, um, resting, I snuck about her place and found letters she intended to send in the names of my friends alleging GREAT treachery against the crown, and threatening a marriage D'Vena did not approve of!” He looked about hoping that some of the others had stopped listening only to find that they were still paying close attention.


Azi sipped at her tea, not looking at the others. Delian and Phalos were both obviously listening, and Lexi looked at him expectantly for more. He tried not to sigh as he went on.


“Well, I snuck out,” he pressed on, “and went to my friends with the news. Now, after I told them of the plot, things got interesting. First, one of them took us to the King who said we needed evidence.” He did not mention Moryan’s comments about his not getting the evidence his first time there, or at the smug amusement of she and Arguyle MacFadden at the whole thing. “Well, faced with the King wanting proof, what was I to do?”


He looked over the listening group and saw a slight level of amusement, although he was not sure if it was from his oversight in not grabbing those documents the first time, or the skill with which he had put himself into the predicament. Either way, he was sure they would press on for more of the tale. He took a draw from his tankard; noting that it was still was mostly full. He realized that he had also been toying with Ayslyn’s sphere.


“So I went back again, and uh (blushes again) repeated the performance,” he said quietly into the rapt stares that were on him. He did not like reliving all the details of the second trip to that mansion. “Well, to make it short, I got the letters and got out, and we then moved to arrest D'Vena and all hell broke loose!” He managed to put a lot of amusement into his tone for that closer.


Apolexi allowed the moment to pass with a slight smile. “How so, sire?” she asked, again prodding Crispian along to reveal more of this story. She had to get the measure of it so that she could figure out what, if anything, she wished to do about it.


Crispian considered how many details to reveal in the telling. There was so much tied up in the story that had little bearing on the current state of things. He decided to go straight to the end story. “Well,” he said, looking at the ceiling in thought, “the place was set afire, the guardsmen fought us, and suddenly everything was going bad.” He could still see the bloodied courtyard, the burning of the great building, the dead guards lying about amid the bodies of some in guild cloaks and others in the Royal livery. “Then it seemed that D'Vena would escape,” he finished. The memories of the event were far fresher than he had thought.


Lexi looked at him with some surprise at this. “Seemed to?” she asked, her voice again rising in excitement. “So you stopped her?” Despite all of her own woes and tales, she still had such an eager tone in her voice, an enthusiasm of youth about her words.


Crispian could not help but smile at that. He had always liked both the serious side and this excitable side of Apolexia, even back when they were crafting together at the forge. “Well, she tried to get away for sure, and Arguyle and I rushed in to get her,” he continued. How well he recalled those blazing walls that had been to either side of them and the thick smoke. “The building collapsed about us, and I pushed him to avoid a beam and hit by one, but ultimately I was gotten out.” He did not go into the burning beams and the horror of it all.


“How’d you get out?” Lexi asked, even as he was pressing on with the tale.


“As she was being arrested,” he went on, seeing her in the smoke stained gown, surrounded by Royal troops, “she did however get a spell off on me, a most hateful spell.” The question registered on him. “Oh, some Red Lions pulled me out,” he said to Lexi. He could remember seeing Tannir, Jashen, and then Darnyk as he regained his senses that morning.


As Azi uttered another curse under her breath, Lexi fixed him with a serious look of questioning. “What spell was that?” she asked, her words full of important meaning.


Crispian looked down, his face ashen. “A grave and serious curse it was,” he said very quietly. “And is.” He did not want to go into all the particulars of it again. It was struggle enough.


Lexi looked positively expectant. “Yes, yes! What was it?” She almost sounded like a child waiting for a surprise of some sort. Delian too wanted more. “Yes, what is it, Crispian?” he asked.


Azi slammed a fist into the arm of her chair. “WHAT are we going to do something about it, then?” she hurled at him. She felt as though everytime any one of them made some sort of progress on this, there was some sort of set back. And if Crispian could be such a good commander in the field, what could he not make some decision to act on this? Was it really so bad? Her scowl cut across all other reactions in the room.


Crispian scowled. “Well,” he said gravely, “it pushes my wants out of order, when she puts her mind to it.” He prayed he would not have to go into further detail.


Apolexia’s brows nettled. “Your wants?” She was not sure what he was getting at with that.


He thought a moment on how best to neutrally phrase it all. There were so many things he could consider saying. “Aye, my wants,” he said quietly. “For example, I drink ale,” he lifted his mug for a small pull, “a lot, when D’Vena is overly attentive to me.” He felt that put it into a good context. “But this has been a struggle for some time now.” His face became most serious. “Now, I have heard she is in Camelot, and I aim to slay her.”


Azi’s face pale at his words. Ascot had mentioned something about Tobyas wanting to see her but when she went to the church, he had been gone. Was this what it was about? D’Vena here? In the City? “You heard what?” she asked in a voice barely more than a whisper, but that carried across the room.


Even Lexi was struck by the drama of the revelation. “She’s here?” she asked, her eyes darting about as if D’Vena were in this same room as they were.


“You had not heard, Azi?” Crispian asked in surprise. Surely, Tobyas would have passed such important news to her, or Jashen. But Jashen was still down in the swamp, he thought.


Mithralin picked that moment to enter the guild hail. Her robe trailed behind her. She still kept her hair up in a widow’s braid. “Hail League,” she said in her full and cultured voice.


As others greeted her, Azi shook her head in disbelief. “I had heard rumors, but until not I wasn’t certain,” she said in a voice full of dread.


Crispian nodded, watching Azi and the rest of the assembly. “Aye, ‘tis true,” he said gravely. He had thought of little else since Tobyas had filled him after the amnesia spell had been removed. D’Vena had chosen to come back to the City. Now was his time to act against her.


Azi shook her head in disbelief. “How could it be? She is a fugitive!” Was not even this place to be safe this time around? It was horrid enough that Corroth had once slipped into the city, but now D’Vena too?


With a slight roll of his shoulders, Crispian shrugged. “According to Toby, she snuck in,” he said offhandedly. What else could be done about it? It was a simple fact, a statement.


Azi nodded, her blond braid bobbing as she did so. The color slowly filled her face again, but her eyes were still stunned. “That explains so much,” she nearly gasped out.


“Like what, Azi?” Crispian asked, concern rising as his still sluggish mind started to piece together some of what Azi might be getting at. So much had been happening these last few days. After so long of her being a distant threat that was unassailable, now D’Vena was at hand and it seemed to have set all to haste in this matter.


Azi shrugged. “Ah, nothing,” she smiled weakly. She did not want to go into everything before almost the entire guild. “I suppose it’s my imagination, or coincidence,” she said, taking a sip from her tea. “Nevermind, Lord. I think I am just tired.” She raised a hand to cover a forced yawn, praying that Crispian would let it pass.


He leaned forward, his thickset shoulders bunching up. “No, tell me, please,” he asked in that manner that made it almost a command, yet still something that could be denied. His eyes, however, made it clear to Azi that he did not want to be put off, nor that he would consider the audience a deterrent. He had laid much of his tale bare to these friends, his chosen family. Why would he now start to hide things?


Azi lowered her hand. “Well, that is it exactly,” she said, including her yawn in her statement. “I’ve been so exhausted for the past day or two.” She tipped her head to the side, hoping Crispian would catch what she was getting at without her having to explain.


“Aye,” he said, as his clasped hands met under his chin, “but how so?”


Azi laughed a disarming laugh. “How ridiculous. Forget I said anything.” She gestured dismissively, to try to get the conversation moving away from her.


Lexi looked at Azi with concern in her young eyes. “No, please,” she said, a note of imploring in her voice. She had known so many who had suffered so much, and had done so herself. She would not just be idle and aside if there was someway that perhaps she could help. In her short life, she had already learned the importance of acting sometimes, even if acting caused you pain.


Crispian nodded in agreement. “Aye, Azi. You know how I value your council.” He did not have to tell her how strongly he did so. Council and company both from Azi had carried him through much of this already.


“Well,” Azi said, her eyes sliding over those in the room, “it is about what I found I could do, milord.” She held Crispian with her eyes, entreating him to be silent on the exact details by her gaze alone.


“Really?” he whispered out, excitement surge. “You think that is affected by distance?” If it were, then they might have a greater chance of getting at D’Vena without having to expose Azi to her physically. No, he did not like the idea that she might try to work with that more now that D’Vena was closer. If D’Vena could hurl a spell at him in passing, could she not then assault Azi as well? And would it be as harmless as an amnesia attack? He thought not.


Azi nodded gravely to him. “Quite so,” she said, her voice falling off even more. It had been easier when she was at that station, much easier than when she was in Barfog still.


Crispian leaned back. “How odd,” he observed. He was stalling to think through more of could possibly happen. He knew that spells were far easier to work the closer you were to your target, and he assumed that what Azi had learned to do would be most similar to a spell.


“It is easier,” she continued, “but much more draining.” It had seemed to her that the more distant effort had been easier for D’Vena to miss, but that as she got closer, her attention would be more easily caught when Azi pushed her thoughts toward her target.


“It must be,” Crispian mused, “because her ability to counter you increases.” He let his eyes play about the wood trim work as he measured out the options. “You should not try it.” The risks were immediately too great. If D’Vena should turn her attention to Azi, who had given up spell work for arms, she could wreak havoc of the greatest sort. He valued Azi far too much for that risk to be run.


Azi shook her head slightly. “I barely have to try it,” she murmured. It had gotten much easier to pull off, just took much more out of her. Perhaps D’Vena was getting accustomed to her thoughts.


Crispian was shaking his head. “Azi, I don’t want you to explore it further.” He had taken on a tone of command with her, and immediately he knew that was the wrong things to do.


Azi stiffened in her seat. “As I told your brother, whatever you wish,” she said as her face reddened at his tone and she turned away.


Having thrown his good graces toward the wind, Crispian reached for Azi’s face. “Risk yourself no more,” he said in a much gentler tone.


She yanked her chin from his hand with a curt, “Fine.”


“Azi, what is wrong?” he shot as her as she turned herself away from him.


“A fine question,” she shot back hastily.


“I know she has touched you, but I will have you risk yourself! And as soon as possible, I want Tino to have a moment with you.” He had snapped with a mix of concern and anger.


“Everything I have done will have been in vain then!” Azi shouted at him, her frustrations at the entire situation that had continued on as it had been for so long welling up and overwhelming her. Even when it had been her in this situation, it seemed that she had done more to try to correct what was wrong. Did Crispian enjoy this?


“You think that?” he asked of her, shock and hurt in his voice.


She rose to her feet, jaw fixed in stubborn opposition. “Well, you're telling me you do not need the only aid I can offer!”


Crispian signed a mix of exasperation and concern washing over his face. “Azi,” he said with little strength of voice, “ I care too much for you to risk her mind in yours!”


She squared her shoulders, eyes blazing at him. “It is my risk to take. Not yours.” She reminded him sharply. He might be under this curse, but the actions that people could take to help him were not his to say yea or nay to, thought he be Lord Seneschal of the League.


Crispian looked suitably abashed. “Aye, it is, he said in a much milder voice than before, “and I know this.”


“Leave it then,” she demanded. While she would hate to disobey him if he put it directly down to that, she would also not allow Crispian to make her helpless to come to his aid.


Dodwyn, a young friar who had only just arrived, as well as having only lately joined the League, overheard the last of this. “Perhaps a bit of counseling at the church would aid ye two,” he suggested. The church was often of aid to young couples, he thought.


Azi reddened, throwing her arms in the air. “Argh!” she yelled. “Please excuse me. I am going home!”


Crispian was on his feet. “Azi, I know where you live!” he shot at her as she turned. “And Dodwyn,” he said, turning on the friar, “there is nothing more than friendship between us!” Azi was already out the door of the League hall. “Excuse me all,” he said as he went to follow after her. By the time he made the street, she was gone from sight. Damn! He thought, and let out a sigh of exasperation at the world.

 

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Azi stormed down the street toward her little townhouse, fuming with anger in the aftermath of the conversation that had just come to pass. How could Crispian be so insensitive to command her to do something or not? Especially when it was AID she offered him. She barely nodded back at the respectful salutes and greetings of veteran guards who passed. And Tobyas, and Jashen? Where on earth WERE they? She flung open the door to the little townhouse with fury.


Ascot looked up from the table, his quill stopped in mid-sentence, and Pappa turned from the stewpot at the hearth. Both stared at her with concerned expressions at her obvious upset. Azi yanked her guild cloak from the fastening rings at her shoulders, and heard a resounding tear of cloth. Immediately, she was sorry she had been so rough, and smoothed the fabric in her hands as Ascot and Judan looked on, stunned.


"I'm tired." She said, choking back tears. "If anyone comes, tell them I'm not h.." Her voice faltered, she wouldn't ask her family to lie. "Tell them I don't wish visitors." She stormed up the stairs and slammed her door.


She heard Ascot and Judan exchange muffled conversation, and Ascot entered cautiously a few minutes later. Without a word, he helped her out of her armor and turned his back as she stripped out of the under-leathers and into her nightshirt. He tucked her into bed and stroked her hair in silence as she let tears of frustration slip down her cheeks.


"I wish I could say I'm through with it, Love," she looked at him with red-rimmed eyes. "Wish I could forget it all, pretend I know nothing." Ascot nodded and drew her close as she continued.


"But I cannot." She choked, "I want to help, to rid us all of her evil. It's my duty as a paladin, as a friend... It's been so long." She slammed her fist into the down-filled mattress. "Now that she's here, and with all the weapons we have against her, it's so simple! What on earth is Crispian delaying for?!" And Jashen, she thought to herself as she drifted to sleep in Ascot's arms, what of Jashen's grand scheme?

Crispian wandered about the city in thougght for some time. He knew that Azi was gravely upset with his not wanting her to risk herself further with D’Vena. She was perhaps one of the few people who knew exactly what sort of threat D’Vena could be. He disliked what she was doing. His main concern was that Azi would be harmed, more permanently than he himself was. If he could only make her see that risk as he saw it.


Ye Mug was a brief stop, for he found little distraction in the depths of an ale cup. That alone was small wonder. He knew that something must be going on with D’Vena for her to be remote to him. What was she about now? He moved over thinking it over more, the Azi matter. Were there safe guards for such work, or was it a risk he would have to let her run? So much hinged on her doing everything right.

 

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Exiting the city had proven far easier than entered it, she noted. The guardsmen were so polite to one as well appointed as she was. The long slope down to the guardian bridge was traveled at all hours, and even now people buslted over it on business of all sorts. Fools, she thought. What little they knew of what life was really about, or how to achieve true power.


Mirth had wished to learn more of what the City was like, and so they had wandered. All the places it knew had changed in the scores of years since it had last been about. It drank in the essences of the place. Yes, there was work to be done here, It thought. Glimpses into those it passed by showed the wonderous want and malice in so many. Mirth knew that it alone could not take care of them all, but there were many clamoring for work back home.


Once, near a shop of fine garments, the host, D’Vena had been stirred. Some little wordly thing had caught her eye. Mirth examined it for a moment, but discarded it. The creature would soon not care about such things, or those little humans she so obsessed on. All that would matter to her soon would be the will of the Master, whom even Mirth had to acknowledge. No, no time for petty things like clothing.


Finally, as the sun sank low on the western wall, Mirth turned its attention again to this Pompin. It was time to seek that one out. It directed D’Vena in that direction and pulled back inwardly for the time. Cotswold. Yes, Mirth recalled there, too.


They crossed the bridge and Mirth allowed that D’Vena creature to ask her little questions. When none could answer her, Mirth took the upper hand. Some peasant the female was talking to.


“Do you know how long he has been gone?” D’Vena inquired, with mind and voice both, but the poor lass did not know. She frowned, then winced slightly in pain as Mirth woke and stirred inside her mind. In a dreadful voice full of the grave and suffering, she asked again, a voice that shifted intonation and value as she spoke. “When did you lassst see thisss Pompin?”


The lasses eyes went wide in fright. A sudden chill, and the stentch of death, grasped her. She moved her mouth, but no sound came out. There was a hint of gibbering madness at the edge of her mind. With a sob, she sank to the ground, grasping her head in her hands. “I tol’ ye, lady, I dinnae know when last ‘e was about!” she wailed patheically, and Mirth laughed.


The cackle and froth that spilt forth from D’Vena’s move was inhuman. Mirth would look elsewhere then. It turned the creature back to the city, calling on Its own devices to find this Pompin. Mirth had the advantage of not being as alone as her nearly useless host. No, it had tools at Its desposal that this little human thing did not.

Toby’s urchins had been busy all day. The Father was unhappy that D’Vena had slipped off, and very distrubed with what had happned to Crispian. He put all manner of word out. He spent money freely to gain knowledge. It was just into evening when word reaced him that D’Vena was passing through the east gate from Cotswold. He ordered her followed, hoping she would go back to her rented rooms.


He checked his equipment and gear and sent one of his entourage of children to find Crispian. If it was a good time to strike, Crispian would know better than Toby would.

“Azi,” Judan said, gently nudging her awake. Azi rolled over and blinked at her father in the reddish light of sunset. “I hope you don’t mind, Apolexia is downstairs, and she looks rather upset. I thought you might see her...” Azi groaned and rubbed her temples, she had been having the most awful dream...


“Yes, Pappa, I’ll see her,” She said, curious at the reason for the young weaponsmith's visit. She knew Lexi pretty well, and the two had a bond somehow that Azi hadn’t felt with any other sister of the League. Or any other female, for that matter, Azi suddenly realized. She slipped out of bed and wrapped a robe around herself, settling on her writing stool as Lexi came up the stairs and peered shyly through the doorway.


“Come in, Lexi,” Azi smiled kindly, hoping she didn’t seem too tired. She nodded to the bed, and the young mercenary sat gingerly on its edge. She folded her hands in her lap and looked down. “To what do I owe this visit, friend?” Azi tried to sound gentle and warm through her exhaustion. Lexi sighed and twisted the hem of her sleeve.


“Do you remember, Azi, when you told me you’d always have a listening ear, if I needed it?” Her eyes rested on Azi with a bitter sadness far beyond her years. Azi sighed inwardly, summoning even more strength for yet another friend in need, and nodded. Lexi sighed softly and leaned back against the wall.


"My father... my real father... thinks I died when I was a couple months old..." She started, "I did not know this till just recently..." Azi leaned in and waited for the young mercenary to continue. "He owns a keep... down in the forest..." Her voice trailed off.


"Which forest?" Azi prodded softly, awake now and willing to come to her friend’s aid, even if just to listen.


"The one that leads to the marsh of Adribard's." Her brow furrowed.


"Caer Ulfwych? Ulfywch is your father?" Azi asked softly, and Lexi nodded in return.


"The keep was named... after him.." She was forcing the words, as if each was too painful to speak.


“I don't understand, Lexi.." Azi’s tired brain refused to try and put things together, "Why all of this secrecy?"


"Because,” Lexi looked down, her chin quivering, “I dont feel worthy of him."


"What?!" Apolexia shrank away from Azi as she jumped up from her stool in disbelief. “How can you say that?! Any father would be proud to have such a daughter!"


"But you dont know...” She fought an inner struggle to speak the words, “but if you'd like... I can tell you.." Azi nodded, leaning in, and Lexi continued. “There was a man... a paladin... who was jealous of the Lord Ulfwych... He lusted for power... it consumed him... he exchanged his soul to a demon for this power... his name was Basaia..." Azi shuddered. Another tale of evil to contend with..


“The demon... however.. had its own plans..” Lexi continued slowly. "The demon realized he could not overthrow the Ulfwych house as Basaia, it needed another way.. another means..."


"Why was he so jealous of your father?" Azaeli asked, dipping her fingers in a nearby bowl of water and rubbing her eyes.


"I dont know,” the youger girl shrugged, “power? Station? Honor?" Azi nodded.


"Forgive me, please go on."


"But what happened was... when I was born, he collaborated with some of Osric's men to kidnap me, and to make it look like I had died...Using dark magics he made a mirror-image of my body... had his men kill the image... thus when my father arrived to find me I was *dead*"


Azi felt a rush of darkness. D’vena touched her lightly, for the first time that day. She pushed toward it as Lexi continued, through the fog and darkness in her mind. She pushed and grasped, but D’vena’s energy pulled away, and Azi found herself being shaken lightly by a worried Lexi.


"ou okay?" She whispered. Azi nodded, weakened.


"Please forgive me, I was overcome with your story,” she lied, coming to sit beside Lexi on the bed. "The demon kidnapped you?" She took her hand and squeezed it, more for her own comfort than to comfort Lexi.


"Well.. yes... he did... I did not know till recently what he was... or why he did it, but I do now... but it is too late.” Azi shook her head in disbelief.


“Lexi, are you telling me you were raised by a demon?" She made a gesture of holy blessing ofer herself and Apolexia, who sat quietly through it. “Lexi?”


"es?" Apolexia looked up wiping a tear from her eye.


"ou were?"


"Um... yes..." She choked, "I knew him as grandpa..." Azi gasped. She herself had been through trials of evil and horror, and loss. But to be so effected by a member of her own family? She couldn’t imagine it! "What of your mother?"


"Mother died trying to fend off the raiders that took me..."


"How can you bear it?" Azi asked,her heart going out to the poor girl. A tear slipping down her cheek. It was more than Lexi could take. She closed her eyes and brought her hands to her face, weeping openly as Azi drew her in a close embrace. The two rocked back and forth as Lexi released years of pent up emotions.


"But...” Lexi choked, “that is not the worst of it..."


"Not the worst of it? I canot imagine anything worse!" Azi gasped, relaxing her hold but staying close.


"Growing up... I was raised at the barracks of barfog...I never left the place... it was his plan to keep me up north... but I was trained in the arts of weaponry... I became the smith of the barracks... tending to the soldiers..." Her eyes became distant, as if in deep reverie. "If I had stayed,” she murmured, “it all wouldve been nice.. I came to Camelot in my early teens... apprenticed under the masters here...Grandpa always kept me away from what he was doing, secretly, so I could never find out the truth..."


"How did you find out?" Azi prodded, rubbing Lexi’s arm in comfort.


"My grandpa had two purposes,” she recalled. "One was to overthrow the ulfwych house, the other was to overthrow the nobles that lived in snowdonia.” She shuddered. “He convinced me that one of the nobles of snowdonia was actually possessed by a demon, and that he worked to free our people from her ruthless control."


“Oh, Lexi!" Azi’s hand squeezed her arm in disbelief.


"He then told me that she had mind-controlled the goblin king Smugluk, and was working to control the people.” She was recounting now, as if Azi wan’t even there, as if she was pouring out everything as a release or a confession. "I of course... believed him... and one day while smithing... I was captured by a goblin, and brought forth to Smugluk.” She raised her reddened eyes, and looked past Azi to the window.


"I spent a little over a year... in his dark prisons, until I was freed somehow by the people of Barfog in one of their raids against the Welschic Goblins. That was two years ago."


"Dear Lord, you poor child!" Azi whispered, unable to keep herself from interrupting.


"When I got out,” Lexi continued, “I had let my emotions topple me... I wanted her to pay for what she did to me..But in my heart... I had already known the truth...In my heart, I knew that there was no reason for a noble to want to capture me... I knew it had to be my grandfather... but I didnt want to believe it..I set out, and conspired to have her murdered...I had gotten others to help me... lied to them... and my plan was coming together... till..." She sniffed, wiping her nose with her sleeve.


"Word reached me that the noble I had intended to murder was actually slain fighting against the midgardian hordes... a demon? Nay...I knew then the truth...The demon only wanted me to harden my heart... to enter the darkness... then leave the old frail body of my grandfather... and through me...Through me.. take over house Ulfwych as the rightful heir...."


"Oh, Lexi!" Azi whispered, her heart breaking for the poor girl. Lexi wiped away a tear and continued.


"But the demon's plot was foiled... by the noble dying when she had... all attention turned to him.. so he was forced to flee... leaving me with my guilt... and dishonor.." Azaeli tried desperately to comfort Lexi, drawing her again in a close embrace, and the girl nuzzled into her shoulder, allowing tears to flow.


"No, no..” Azi whispered, “you weren't in your right mind, you poor, dear thing. The guilt and dishonor is not yours to bear."


"But I knew the truth! I knew what he was but I chose not to believe it!" Azi shook her head.


"That was his power over you, you were not in control over your thoughts." Azaeli rocked Lexi softly.


"But they were my thoughts!" She gasped through her tears, "I did want to kill her! I knew what he was! I..."


"ou were bitter and vengeful, and irrational.” Azi said matter-of-factly, then whispered, “Oh, you poor thing...Lexi...of course you would want to convince yourself that the person causing you so much pain was some distant noble and not your own blood, the only family you had left!"


"He may've been a demon... but... he was kind to me..."


"Evil has many faces, just as good does. It can be kind, certainly it can." The face of Corrath flashed before her as she remembered him fastening jewels around her neck.


"Kind.. yes..... but still.." Apolexia sighed, "I am a child of a demon... my crimes... if I were to admit them.. could place me under the executioner's block... I am such a coward! I am crude, uneducated... though Pelan tries... and rude to others... I have been raised around rough people and I have tried to kill..."


"I see none of that in you. You are kind, and dedicated.."


"I am... like how I was to Aculard today..." She shook her head.


"Arcalan?" Azi asked, wondering if that was who Lexi meant.


"Oh... yes... her too.."


"Do not get me started on her, Lexi." She said sternly, "next to her, Dartmoor's dragon is a kitten." Apolexia nodded slowly, sniffing again.


"I am a murderer... or attempted one... a criminal... a conspirer with demons..." She cried. "How could I ever tell my father... a paladin lord... that?"


"Attempted murderer?” Azi shook her head. “Not of your won free will. Criminal? Perhaps, but under the control of a demon, who wouldn't be? Conspirer? With one that kidnapped you and killed your mother? I think not. More of a pawn." Azi shuddered, knowing that role well herself.


"I can never go back to my father... I am an orphan now... sixteen... and the only thing I have going for me is that I can make blades...Still unable to read or write... what future do I have?"


"Lexi." Azi’s voice was cool and steady, filled with reason. Lexi turned tear-stained eyes to Azi, sniffling again. Azaeli loosed her arms from her friend and stretched her aching back. Exhaustion was setting in. "If you truly believe this in your own heart, that you are all of these evil things, and you see yourself as such a wretch of society, and such a danger to your father...Do you not believe he has the right to know? What has become of your grandfather? Don't you think it wise to warn Ulfwych of this impending danger?"


"Grandfather is now gone,” Lexi said with certainty, “I can't feel his presence, and all know of his ways now.... my father is well warneed. I was overlooked.... no one noticed me.. thankfully..." Azi frowned, desperate to figure out a way to reunite this poor Lexi with her father. She had been through so much, she deserved to be as happy as Azi had been with Judan.


“As you said,” Azi argued, “you're his heir, and his daughter...I cannot believe he would turn you away."


"I am dead in his eyes, I would only cause pain and hurt..."


"The reunion of a daughter who he thought he had lost? His only daughter? I can only see joy there."


"Look at me!" Lexi jumped up, exasperated, and held her hands out to her sides, palms out. "I am a mercenary... taken to the ways of coin over honor...I am everything he hates..." It was obvious that she had considered all of this already, and made up her mind.


“How can you know that, when you have never met him?" Azi had no need to grasp for the compliments she was about to offer her friend. "When I look at you, I see a young woman of confidence and great skill. You are dedicated to your craft, and beautiful. I am proud to call you my friend, Lexi. And anyone who feels otherwise is sadly mistaken."


"He is a noble paladin, I am a dishonorable wretch." She shook her head and sighed, rising to walk to the window. She stood there a moment, looking out at the forge where Judan worked steadily, then turned back to Azi, who came to stand beside her.


"ou have a father..." She looked at the floor, pushing a loose board with her toe. "I have one... but know him not...I know of what I am... I can never see him..." She turned and looked back out the window in a daze, her voice merely a whisper. "Never see him... I am dead... my real name isnt even Apolexia...


"But it is my name now... I must leave it behind..." Azi rested a hand on the mercenary’s shoulder, and the two sighed in unison. Lexi broke the silence with a whisper.


"I wish I had a family though... ones that cared..." With that statement, a flicker of an idea flashed across Azi’s face. She wasn’t certain what it was that caused her to offer, except that she felt such great care and concern for this poor girl. Perhaps it was the stress of Crispian’s struggle, and her feelings of failure there, or her willingness to right every wrong, no matter what her own sacrifice.


"Lexi, may I propose something to you?" Azi said with excitement. This was something she could offer, something that would be appreciated and taken fully as a gesture of much more than friendship. Lexi turned from the window to look at Azi.


"es?" Her eyes widened slightly as Azi took her hand and squeezed it. Here was a friend who could understand everything Azi had been through. A sister in trials, a confidant. Her heart pounded as she thought of the words.


"I have never before had a sister, or a brother. I grew up caring for my father through his madness. Alone, frightened." She smiled sadly.


"es.. I know the feeling.." Lexi whispered.


"I cannot pretend to know the heartache you've faced." Azi gulped, looking down at Lexi’s hand "But since my mother passed,” she choked, “it has been so empty here."


“What do you wish to say?" Lexi asked eagerly, her eyes meeting Azi’s. There they stood, staring at each other in intense silence. Finally, Azi forced the words from her mouth before she could think twice about them.


"I always wondered what it would be like to have a younger sister, Lexi." Apolexia opened her mouth to speak, but only released a tiny squeak of sound. "Consider it?" Azi blushed, almost feeling as if she was proposing marriage. Lexi’s face lit up, she lunged at Azi, embracing her tightly.


"I.... dont... know what to say..."


"Pappa will have you, I'm certain."


"I know him well," Apolexia said nostalgically, "I studied under him when I first came here actually..."


"I couldn't ask for a kinder father, Lexi," Azi said with complete honesty.


"I... never had... a place I could truly call home..." She looked around at Azi’s little room, and Azi felt a pang. If Lexi agreed, the little townhouse would never be the same. She realized that this was a decision that the girl shouldn’t take lightly.


"Lexi." Azi said in a serious tone.


"es..."


"ou must understand the importance of this..if you agree, you will always be my sister, and I yours." Azi’s expression hardened slightly. "The name of Hammerfel is highly respected in Camelot, and with it comes great responsibility. It is not to be taken lightly, what I've offered to you." Lexi looked out the window at Judan once again.


"He is a smith of Camelot... though I am not as honorable as he... I can try to live up to his name..."


"Not just a smith,” Azi said solemnly, “but once one of Albion's greatest paladins, honored by the King himself."


Apolexia says, "I am not a paladin... nor could I ever... but I can promise to not act like the mercenaries of the land... and offer my services free of charge...” She gulped at the seriousness of it all. "I... can try... to not let you down... sister...You and...Father..." Her eyes never left Azi’s father as she spoke. "Judan treated me like a daughter when I first came here, teaching me his ways...He is a good man... though even when he was ill, he was kind..."


“Indeed,” Azi smiled to herself, recalling her father’s unfailing kindness, “he never raised a hand to me, even in his darkest moments and most frightful episodes." She turned to Lexi, resting a hand on the younger girl’s shoulder.


"Consider it, dear friend. If you agree, then forever we will be sisters, as if you had been born from my own mother's womb. "I ask you to think it over first...” Azi smiled, “I do not wish you to jump into anything over your excitement."


Apolexia smiled, her tears those of joy now. "Thank you... I shall sleep on it... though I feel my mind is already made up.... to belong... something I always wanted..."


"To belong, yes.” Azi said gravely. “But to forsake your ties to your true family is a grave decision to make. I will be happy with whatever you decide.”


"My true family is a demon possessed old man.” She sighed. "I never knew him though, nor shall I, I am Apolexia... I have a new life to live."


"And much to consider." Azi said softly, stretching and moving again toward the bed.


"Much to live for.." Lexi stayed near the window, gazing out for a moment in contemplation.


"Indeed." Azi said thickly, through a yawn that Lexi echoed. The young mercenary crept to Azi’s side and hugged her once more.


"Thank you.... for everything..." she whispered.


"Of course, dear friend." Azi smiled and sat down on her bed. Her head pounded, her entire body was sore. She ached to crawl into bed and drift to sleep. “Think it over, and I shall talk to you tomorrow.” She smiled as Lexi nodded with a huge grin.


“I shall. It grows late. Goodnight, m’friend.” She slipped out of the door.


“Goodnight, Lexi,” Azi whispered. Before she heard Lexi's footsteps reach the bottom stair, Azi was soundly sleeping.

Apolexia slept uneasily that night... many thoughts raced through her mind. She wondered how long it could last? Her grandfather had disappeared from the land completly, much to her happiness... as much to her pain... Basaia never really looked much into her growing up. She was raised by the soldiers of Barfog, learned the trades of a smith and was able to live off of them. But when the truth came out, she couldn't run from it anymore. She always knew in her heart what kind of a man he was, never being there for her, she grew up an orphan, alone.


And then soon afterwards Montoya gave her a place to call home. But her days of being around the people of Barfog and her own paranoia nature had ended that relationship. She remembered it all quite clearly... in Master Pelan's study when the guild Chancellor Shmindrik Lytherly had approached her. In a fit of rage she had almost killed him, slicing into his side with an adamantium sabre. And that was the last straw, Lexi was thrown out, once again lost, and alone.


But for some reason she never could connect to those people there. Lexi remembered back some weeks ago when Azaeli had told her story at the forge of Camelot. Lexi was so impressed that she even stopped smithing to hear the tale. It was then the two bonded, though she knew not how or why. And when she had made the mistake with Valour and had no one to turn to, it was Azi she sought comfort from, and it was because of Azi she had joined the League.


'et how long could it last?' Lexi wondered to herself. Azi was offering her a chance to belong, a sister, a father... could she screw this up as she had with so many others in the past? Azi came to her mind... as well as her real father at Caer Ulfwych. 'But no...' she thought. 'He thinks I am dead, and I have no life there. I was never there for him, though I can be here for her...' thinking back to Azi. 'And Crispian... I had never knew of his struggles... and I had not been there for him but I can be now...'


The night passed, Lexi spending her day at the forge as usual, then finding Azi later on. She would be forsaking her real name, but Apolexia was never her real name, and she knew Ulfwych wasn't either. Yet Apolexia was her name now, and she wished to try and discover a new future. Azi had come from Cornwall, finding Lezi sitting down next to her father listening him tell her of ways to repair maces without using planning tools.


Azi blew a kiss to her father, then waved to Lexi. 'I would be... honored... to have you as my sister Azi... and Judan here as my father...' Lexi said to Azi hoping she would still go along with what Azi had said last night. Azi's face shone bright and she leaped forward hugging Lexi tightly. 'I am SO happy to hear you say that!' with tears of joy flowing down her cheek. Lexi wept one as well as the two embraced, Judan stepped over and hugged both the girls. Judan handed a paper to Azi and told her to hurry up and see the Lady Charlitte. Wasting little time, Azi excitedly grabbed Lexi by the arm as the two raced to the main part of the city.


The two approached Lady Charlitte, curtseying politely to her. Handing over a writ of consent to adoption signed by Judan, Charlitte's eyebrows were raised, confused by what she read. 'As do I, I embrace Apolexia as my truest and dearest sister.' Azi quickly told Charlitte. Charlitte looked down at Lexi, and seeing the girl's eyes light up with happiness she said nothing more, and made the adoption final. The two in unison shouted sister together as they left the room, and in a long embrace cried for joy over one another's shoulder.


Azi was more than pleased to quickly relay the news to the rest. 'Brothers and sisters of the League, may I have your attention for a very important announcement,' Azi quickly got everyone's attention as Lexi stood next to her, too overwhelmed to say anything. 'on this day, I am proud and utterly pleased to announce that I, with my father, have taken Apolexia to be my dear sister. The adoption has been made official, by Lady Charlitte herself!' The league hall was filled with cheers, some stuck by bewilderment as Crispian didn't even know what to say. Lexi nudged her new sister, and they quickly left the hall. Lexi wanted to tell her new father the news, that all was made official.


Azi had a surprise waiting for Lexi when the two returned home. Upstairs there were now two beds that rested in Azi's room, and a place in a corner that she could hang up her stuff. The two embraced one another again, and Lexi had her own gift to give. 'I have something for you as well ... sister.' breaking a smile as she spoke that word. 'It was given to me... when I felt lost in the darkness... it gave me comfort, when I had nothing else to comfort me... given to me by a simple friar of the church... a simple... object... but has kept me safe through all my troubles. I now have others to seek comfort to... and I feel, I would want you to have it, for I no longer need it.' <smiling to Azi she hands over a simple doll> 'It might be blessed, I don't know, but I have felt blessed when I had it.'


Azi looked at the simple doll. Simple, yet, it did have something to it. She looked to see whom it was made by, and she saw the name Friar. She smiled back at Lexi. 'I shall treasure it always, sister.' and the two embraced again. 'I vow to you, sister, that I will always be here for you, watching over you. You are my sister as I said last night, as much as if you had come from my own mother's womb.'


Lexi hugged Azi again, as she said a similar vow. Leaning back against her new bed, her new home, her new sister, father, family... one word came to her mind as she slept. A word? No... a name... D'Vena. Though her new sister would not tell her much of this person, Lexi was determined to live up to her vow, to protect her sister at all costs. She had told her that she would try to change her ways, though never could be a paladin like her and father, at least she could try to live more honorably. And her first act of honor would be to try and protect Azi from this threat.

((taking place during the conversation between Azaeli and Apolexia))


Tobyas glimpsed him through the crowd as he walked. It was easy to miss Crispian generally in a crowd due to his height, but when he moved with a purpose, it was almost impossible to miss him. Either his expression or his bearing caused most to move out of his way as he approach. His great cloak, blazoned with the crest of the League, streamed behind him. The Tower was straight and bold against the white of his cloak. Tobyas tried to press through the throng of people moving about with their evening business. He was jostled and prodded as he went and several times had to use his elbows to his advantage to get people out of the way.


East Arch Road ran south into the Plaza of Sunrise, which stood before the Defender’s guildhall. It was evident that Crispian was headed for that square. His bearing, manner, and stride were unchecked as he went. There was little horse traffic about, so he just had to deal with pedestrian traffic. The skills of using his shield in combat helped a bit to move people out of his path when needed, although without causing them the sort of harm he could. As he progressed toward it Toby drew closer and closer with his warning and caution.


Jashen had been watching the East Gate since midafternoon and had seen D’Vena leave through it. Her appearance at first had startled him, for she had a gauntness to her look he had not expected. However, when he had gotten close to her, real alarm had set in. She smelled like the grave, with a sort of permeating stench of rot and a coldness about the air near her. It had seemed wise at that point not to press the pursuit, and he had found a spot to observe the gate but not bring attention to himself.


Gaining the square, Crispian turned west toward Via Defensor, the Way of the Defenders. The road had born that name for years as it ran before the great complex of the Defenders of Albion. Tobyas followed, trying to cut a sharper angel toward the far arch so he could intercept Crispian. Jashen, from his post of observation, saw them both and discerned Toby’s intent. He chose to remain where he was. It seemed to stand to reason that Crispian would make for the League Hall, so Jashen would know where to find him.


Several things happened next to push a fated meeting to a later time. A cart, laden with straw for the Royal Stables, had a horse balk over a dog. The horse reared, dislodging several of the bales and depositing them on the street. People scurried out of the way of the flailing horse, causing a great commotion of which Crispian was on the edge and Tobyas just out of the center. The surge of people moving away from the cart caused both of them to be pushed further west immediate, and so away from the city gate.


It was at that moment that D’Vena, her retainers, and Mirth regained the City. Jashen saw them enter and moved toward them, again aided by the press of the crowd. He slid out a gauche crafted of steel by Crispian especially for Jashen. The blade was smeared a tarry black with a mild, but lethal over time, poison. He knew that he could not take D’Vena down with it, but one retainer would prove easier to deal with than two. Her group turned north, toward East Arch Road and Jashen shadowed them as they went.


Had it not been for the commotion of the cart dumping the straw, a typically clear path of sight would have been opened from Crispian and Tobyas to the East Gate. They would have, in all likelihood, seen D’Vena enter. But the ruckus caused by the upset hay cart, and its ensuing reloading, prevented that from happening. The Seneschal of the League proceeded west along Via Defensor with Tobyas close behind. Jashen followed D’Vena north up East Arch Road. The desired meeting was so missed.


As they came to the point where Portobello Road, an L shaped road that married the two great bizarre squares of Camelot, Jashen slipped to the smithing shop of Judan Hammerfel. He did not see the older smith there, which evoked an mild oath. Keeping his eye on the trio, he grabbed up a scrap of paper, busy with measure marks for a plate armor, and scrawled a note with a charred stick.


“Azi, she’s here, Jashen” was all it said. He set it under the great hammer that Judan used to pound out his metals and then broke to follow D’Vena again. He had to get close enough to wound one of her retainers. Trying to move through the crowd and be stealthy was a difficult task of which he lacked full mastery. Again, fate played a hand.


D’Vena stopped. Fifteen feet in front of Jashen, she just stopped. Her eyes seemed drawn across the square as she stood semi-rigid, her two retainers looking about for signs of danger. What their mistress was looking at, they could only wonder. The main focus of their watch was the Royal guards scattered about. A small man, or a tall boy, in boiled leather armor was not the sort of threat they expected. Jashen moved closer, catching the occasional death stink. He moved closer, the hilt of his gauche getting sweaty in his palm. Closer, seeing the eyes of the retainer he would kill.


He had never killed someone with poison before. As he passed on, slicing the back of the retainers had with his blade, he was not even sure he had succeeded. According to the man who had sold him the poison, it would kill. Jashen did not feel inclined to wait and watch. He was right next to man one instant, pressing his blade across the bare fleshed back of his hand, and the next he was gone. A shadowy shape moved away from the trio.


The pounding of his heart was loud, so loud they had to hear it, he was sure. Jashen gained the corner, turning westward on the last leg of Portobello Road and then ducking into the busy wood yard of Brach Leof. He pressed his back against the wall and panted for his breath. The Almighty grant it, the foe would be one man weaker to stand against them by the morning.

 

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((you all STILL haven't gotten rid of D'vena?? SHEESH!!))