Ceowyr had remained out of sight for a long time now.

Accomplice to Arcalan's early dealings, he was now held deeply suspect by the League. As her confessor he was charged to see her convertion to rightiousness, but she had been the one to oversee his convertion. Arcalan had shunned his contact since D'Vena died, making herself seem to be under the Sorceress' control, and he felt angry with her. His reputation had been all but destroyed, and he now wandered secluded areas and in the depths of Darkness Falls, frightened of confrontation with the League of which he ws a part.


He knew that his own brother Ceomyr believed Arcalan was evil, and had led him astray, but others may think Ceowyr was more deeply involved, and they'd be right. He'd helped the Master take posession of Pompin, he'd known of the plan to return to master all along. Now Arcalan had spoken of a different plan, not using another mortal to hous the Master.. but she told him nothing more! He was infuriated, for he wanted to gain his master's graces by aiding in the plan, yet Arcalan had surely cut him out of it.


He forumlated a new plan. He would not skulk in shadows forever. He held deep hatred for the boy-cleric Tobyas, and his lover Crispian, and he'd expose them to the masses, and let vengance be done..

He needed to gain Arcalan's ear once more to achieve results, and he needed to gain the Master's confidence so he could get rid of that backstabbing wench Arcalan.

Ceowyr returned to his journey through the passages of the Falls, his mind occupied with anger and schemes to return to his former position.

Meanwhile, still in Cornwall....


"Guards!" Azi screamed in time with the innkeep as the assasin moved to plant his sword in Kanna's back. She drew her blade instinctively as Emlae ran outside to find the guards. In a flash of metal she and Crispian advanced, and with a swift bash of Crispian's sheild to the man's head, the assasin collapsed.


Kanna stood stunned, frozen to the spot while Tobyas rushed to check the assasin. He shook his head as he felt for the man's pulse, then turned to look at them. His eyes widened and he jumped up to catch Kanna just as she collapsed. Azi gasped at the bloodspot spreading through Kanna's studded leather armor at her back just as Emlae burst through the door with the guards close behind.


"There!" She pointed at the spot where the assasin once stood, now where Tobyas stood holding the limp body of Kanna.


"What is the meaning of this?!" One of the guardsmen stood at the ready, his pike pointed at Tobyas. He surveyed the scene; Azi and Crispian with thier blades drawn, the man lifeless on the floor, the scout pale and bloody, limp in Tobyas' arms. Emlae gasped as she realized how it all must look.


"No, no, it wasn't my lady," she said quickly. Then in a burst of activity practically everyone in the Inn began to explain the events that had passed, in a jumble of raised voices.


"Please." Tobyas held up a hand calmly as the chatter hit its peak. He looked at the guards as the room quieted again. "This woman is poisoned. I must tend to her immediately." The elder guard and his charge exchanged looks, and the elder nodded to the innkeep. Azaeli released a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding as they followed Tobyas and the Innkeep to a room.

/morning bump

 

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Kanna woke in a daze, a strange and foul taste in her mouth. She opened her eyes slowly to see Tobyas leaning over her in prayer. Her eyes moved slowly around the room, Tobyas' voice wafting in and out, and locked on Azaeli. She bolted upright in the bed.


"They 'ave yer sister!" she cried out hoarsely. "Tha' greek woman, an' she said somethin abou' Arcalan... Arcalan's involved! Humberton.. jes outta Humberton.." She saw Azi and Crispian exchange knowing looks as she fell back on the bed and felt sleep come over her.

Dannindas looked on to Ilara, just back from her chore. 'Why am I following this woman anyhow? She has done nothing but kill one of my comrades and possibly another by sending Anilis south. She says she serves the goddess...' Dannindas looked up to the sky. 'Well let us see if she is the right one to follow then...'


"Mistress..." Dannindas spoke calling over Ilara, speaking in Greek so Apolexia could not understand.


"What is it?" Ilara spoke back.


"Mistress, I was thinking, why do we wait on word from your Mistress? Why do you not go see personally to the guild hall and find out what to do with her?"


"Are you mad?! If I were to return, I'd be killed."


Dannindas smiled at this. "Go with Onilis. If you are slain, then the girl dies, you will not be harmed."


Ilara smiled back. "Very well, stay with her then, and I shall return later." gathering her armor she set out for Camelot calling over Onilis for him to follow behind.


The other two guards left walked over to Dannindas. Kili and Rili, twins, looked to Dannindas. "What are you doing? She will die, you know that!"


"es yes, prisoner or not she will not survive this!"


Dannindas smiled. Walking over he grabbed his long bow, his preferred weapon.


"Sir! You can not ignore this! Tell us!"


Dannindas grabbed his longbow, then fitted two arrows on it turning to the twins. "It is simple, the girl is free." firing the two arrows striking into the chest of the twins.


"Trai..." "...tor" the twin finishing his brother's sentance, but both collapsed on the ground.


"ou see it is simple," talking to the two dead twins. "Ilara is foolish, hungry for power, presumptuous. Ten years wasted searching out of loyalty of her father. I have my own life to live, and the power she saught I shall have." getting up he turned to the bound, gagged, and blindfolded Apolexia.

Ilara walked over to the guild hall. Yes, Dannindas was right. Why should she, rightful heir to the Agiad house, ruler of part of Greece, be afraid of the people here, especially when she has a prisoner. Stretching out her fingers with a blast of lightning, she blew off the doors and walked inside. "Oh, hello, sorry about the door here, is Crispian around? I would so love to have a word with him..."


The others in the room turned with a deadly glare to Ilara. It had appeared the group from Cornwall had returned just recently, Azaeli and Tashtego sitting around the hall. Immediatly Azaeli jumped to her feet, her Great Scimitar aimed at Ilara. Tashtego also got to his feet, readying his war mace and shield. Azaeli muttered a prayer of protection, as Ilara turned to her. "Ah, Azaeli, kill me now, and your sister dies."


Rhizzia entered from behind, wondering what was going on, when Azaeli spoke to her. "Hecathia, it is unwise for you to have returned here."


Ilara leaned against the wall. "I wish to speak to Crispian about your sister... my prisoner... and soon to be the Late Lexi if you harm me."


"Crispian stepped away for a minute but you can be assured if he was here he would have your head."


"How ye limp witch?" Tashtego jibed, looking to the shattered leg that was now bound tightly with ropes and wood so she could walk properly.


"It hurts, though I still live..."


"ou admit to it then? Then the king himself shall have your head."


"Give me a second and I'll do the same ta the other leg."


Ilara spread out her arms. "Kill me then, but know this, if I am harmed, detained, or killed, your sister dies."


Azaeli whispered next to Tashtego: "Patience"


Rhizzia did not hear her words. She had come fond of Lexi, one of her many watchers it seemed, but she would have none of this witch. Ilara extended her hand to Rhizzia, firing a bolt of lightning at her, the bolt knocking her back a step. "I can do that trick too Rhizzia."


The flames of rage burned within Rhizzia. It was a delicate balance for Ilara, to keep them from not killing her despite the fact she had a prisoner, but Ilara broke the balance, and Rhizzia wanted her chance for payback. The lightning from Rhizzia shot out at Ilara, knocking her back against the door, again, and again, and again. Smoke started to appear over Ilara's blue armor, as Azaeli tried to cry out to get Rhizzia to stop. Rhizzia then try to put her to sleep, but Olinis from outside was quick to wake her, just as Crispian strided into the hall with a black hilt over his back. "ou don't know what you've done!" Azaeli yelled to Rhizzia. "Lexi struggled to her feet, then yelled out to Onilis in Greek, "Kill her!" and Onilis took off down the streets.


Azaeli walked over to Ilara, "I kill her now." she spoke.


"No, she will be hanged by the King." Crispian told her.


Azaeli strided to Hecathia's side and raised her sword over her head to strike, driving the blade into Hecathia. "our false god means nothing to me." As if he was cued by Azaeli, Tashtego also clubbed Ilara with his mace inta her face. Ilara staggered, falling to her knees with the blade sticking out of her back, fading from consciousness.


Azaeli readied her archmace, waiting to swing. Ilara looked up to her, "So be it... your sister is dead..."


With fury Azaeli swung her archmace over thee top of her Scimitar, driving the blade down and inward, causing her to be pinned to the floor, bleeding profusely, her eyes lifeless. Azaeli then dropped to her knees, stunned by her own actions, whispering... "forgive me." speaking to her sister, the one she now knew was dead. Azaeli shakily pushes herself up from the floor. Dracarn who had just eentered seconds before could do nothing but stare in bewilderment at the events transpiring before him.


"I have forsaken my oath as a knigh, I've blodied the guild halls with that of our own family. By your leave I shall go to confession and turn myself tro the guards." Azaeli said disheartily.


"Lady Azaeli, ye turned on a witch," Tashtego tried to say comfortingly. "and nothin more. And one that attacked me when I was away to boot."


"Nonethless. I am guilty of murder."


"Lady Azaeli STOP!" Rhizzia pleaded with her.


"Azi, you shall do no such thing." Crispian returned.


Azaeli looked to Tobyas. "It was me. And it was in a fit of rage."


"No, it wasn't Lady Azaeli!" Tashtego returned.


Tobyas raised his hands in blessing. "Tego Absolvo. I forgive your sins." he spoke.


Azaeli collapsed in exhaustion. Tashtego helped her to the chair. He then turned to the corpse. "Is someone goin ta take care o this filth on the floor?"


Azaeli got up, tears in her eyes. "I shall call her back, we still need to find Lexi." Tashtego disagreed, but Azaeli walked over to Ilara... her hands to her... but she could not do it... collapsing in tears again.


Tobyas walked over, helping her up. "Let me." reaching down to Ilara summoning forth his most powerful spell. "Fiat Fiat FIAT!"


Ilara didn't move, the wound did not subside. Tashtego spoke the obvious, "It isn't working."


Ilara looked around, the chamber dark, laughter being heard all around her. She got up the hole still through her chest, a cold breeze flew by her shuddering. She saw two red eyes peer at her from the darkness. "ou've failed me, and now you shall suffer for it..." the voice trailed off, Ilara screamed in horror, but no voice came out, as she was now home with her goddess...

Dannindas plucked his bow, looked to Apolexia still tied and bound. He waited for Onilis and Ilara to return, though he only expected one to. Rising from the hill, he saw him, alone. Dannindas smiled, turning to the sky. 'Hecate, I want nothing from you, you have no power over me.' plucking his arrow again he fastened an arrow to it.


Onilis scambled up the hill making all haste. He came in sight of Dannindas. "She is dead, kill the girl now!"


Apolexia did not know what was going on, but the voice she heard was not Greek and she knew what was going to happen. Silently she did something she never did before, she prayed to God, asking for some help, when she heard the twang of a bow.


"Kill her now D..." Onilis voice faltered, his last word never coming out as he collapsed under the force of the arrow.


Dannindas walked down to the beach, leaving Apolexia there. He took some sand and a bottle out of his pouch and coated his hair with it, turning it from black to red. Taking a small blade he cut into some places on his skin, leaving small scars. He changed his clothing, disguising himself completly. He then made his way into Camelot, and headed to the Defenders Guild. He heard the guards down the way at the hall, and it was easy enough to find the new recruits list, and scribed the name 'Dandiar' under it, heading back to the hidden place where Apolexia was.

Apolexia felt herself being untied. The gag was taken from her mouth, the bonds broken. She removed the cloth over her eyes and looked to the man over her. "Take easy now lass, I got you now." he spoke, with a British accent in his voice.


"Who... where..." Apolexia spoke confused.


"I am Dandiar, a scout of the Defender's Guild in Albion. I was scouting the hills of Camelot... a boring job really lass but being a new recruit they asked it of me, when I found these men standing around you." Dandiar pointed to the three bodies with arrows stuck out of thier chests. "Do you have a name lass?"


"My name... yes... Apolexia... Hammerfel..." she spoke, still very frightened and confused.


"Hammerfel... ah yes, report was you had gone missing. I am sure your league will want to see you back. Come now lass. You are safe with me." Extending his hand to her.


"Thank you... Dandiar... I am in your debt." forming a smile to the stranger in front of her. She looked at him carefully, but she then saw he wasn't one of them, and embraced him in tears. "Thank you... thank you..."


Dandiar embraced her then looked at her on one knee. "Now lass, we need to take you home don't we? If I remember from my reports, you are from the St. Crispin's League correct?"


Apolexia nodded, no longer afraid. "es sire, I am."


"Please, call me Dandiar, I do not like formalities lass."


Apolexia smiled. "I'm Lexi."


Dandiar smiled, as the two made thier way back to the city.

An hour earlier, Crispian strode through the marketplace for the meeting place. Arcalan would be waiting for him he was certain, but he didn't want to drag anyone into this conflict lest they lose their temper to the witch and fall into her trap.


He climbed the stairs in the tower and turned to face the red and purple clad woman waiting for him in the seclusion of the belltower. He was ready for any trickery she may try, but he felt she would play a more subtle game. Lexi was still missing and he'd left Tobyas and Azaeli back at the League hall.


"Lord Crispian, it's nice to meet you alone so we can spend a little time together" smiled Arcalan "but I don't want to waste too long on pleasantries. I believe you have something I want. Can we assume you're not just going to hand over the key?"

Crispian smiled at her. "ou assume correctly, Arcalan. We both know that whatever it is the key to has some bearing on the League, and you know well I will stand aside on those matters." He sat, his weapons conspicious in their absence. "So, what agreement can we come to then?"


He waited to hear her offer.

 

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