Isuelt's strong bare feet were carrying her down the front hallway when she heard the bell pull. Her toes, like the rest of her, were covered in an athletic sheen. She had finished going through a meditation and workout just previous to the sound of an arrival. A sweat-damp towel slung over her shoulder, she made her way to the receiving hall. A glimpse out of the glass window near the heavy front door teased a second look from the gypsy.

Was that?" No".it"it couldn't be.

Oh, but is was.

Strong, tanned fingers wrapped around the iron circle, after she had thrown back the door's bracers. A healthy tug and the oaken barrier had no choice but to yield to the Scathachian. Isuelt let the massive rounded archway frame her black cotton clad body, hands on her hips, a smile on her lips. Her dark eyes happily took in the new arrival, Mirage.

"Damn, it's good to see you,? and with that, she enfolded her friend into her arms. Slick as they were, she was still able to render a firm squeeze to the equally firm shoulders of Sister Serena Blaylock. Perhaps Scathach was hearing the prayers of her daughters after all. A swelling of their ranks in this troubled time was a miracle indeed.

For Brian it had been one of 'those' nights...He and Eddie decided to see who could find a lead first, and in the end the Scachef came up empty handed. I mean geez, let's be realistic....All these dead bodies and nothing"! ya gotta admit it was frustrating as well, then again Rhy'din was a huge city and only so many sisters and other interested parties. Needle in a haystack" Yea, but something had to give sooner of later. But for the moment it seems, later would the be the course of the day.

So Roof to roof, he went as he neared the sactuary. He figured a quick stop before he headed back to the loft, about Yotsuba's Cake Shoppe in the Market Place. As he neared, he felt it...Someone was near, and it seemed someone with some power attached, not to mention it was damned close to the Sanctuary. Brian spuured himself onward, and took the last two roofs, landed on the ground and bolted thru the shadows.

Moments later, seemingly peeling himself from the dark, Brian emerged and landed into a cautious crouch roughly 15ft or so behind the woman who seemed to be talking to Isuelt at the door, remaining where he was a moment, his hand lifted and removed the black half mask he normally wore, revealing a pleasant face.

"Ladies...Shall I set on some coffee, or wine?"

The Scathachian warrior held on to Isuelt tightly. She had missed her friend and mentor greatly. "It is so good to see that you are well!! Too much time Illea....far too much time. You, as usual, look beyond great!"

When Isuelt released her from her muscular arms, Mirage took a step back to gaze at her friend once more. Part of her could not believe it had been over three years since they had had the chance to speak face to face. It was well known that she thought of Isuelt as her true sister in every sense of the word. Isuelt had taught her much in their time together, not only in matters concerning lethal hand to hand combat and the deadly art of the blade, but about how to be a more honorable woman as well. Isuelt was as intelligent and loyal as she was lethal. It truly was a great relief to see that she was safe and in control.

As she opened her mouth to say more to Isuelt she noticed the strong gaze of another upon her. Mirage focused her dark eyes and examined the striking female face that was closely behind Isuelt.

"Mistress Lamia," she said as she moved her athletic form closer to her teacher and elder warrior. "It is an honor to see you again." She bowed and her eyes lowered in absolute admiration before one of the senior Scathachians, Lamia (Laufeia), whose honor and skill were only surpassed by the lethal fury which she was known to unleash on her foes. Many an evening on the Island of Shadow were spent reflecting on Lamia's wisdom and recovering from her very painful lessons. Surrounded by an aura of calm control, as was demonstrated by her effortless handling of many poisonous serpents without evident harm, Laufeia commanded respect.

Before she was able to finish her thoughts to her teacher, her eyes were pulled to yet another face. Mirage's sober face turned bright and she instantly beamed. "Trixe!" she exclaimed, momentarily forgetting the tradition of using their hallowed Scathachian names. She quickly moved over to her powerful blonde haired friend and embraced her tightly. "I was afraid you'd have gone and gotten yourself killed or at the very least started an apocalyptic war in some distant land......either from your spiteful temper or the incessant banging of those hideous drums!" Her smiled widened as she stared at Trixe. "Harlequin", as Trixie was known amongst her sisters, was not conventional in her methods by any means. Far different in her conduct from Isuelt and Laufeia, it was common knowledge that Trixie had little use for rules when it came down to enforcing Scathachian principles. Mirage loved her for it. "It's no illusion, smartass," she asserted, "I'm back with my sisters to stay."

Yet again, her attention was diverted to the tall, vigorous man who crouched behind them outside. His voice pulled her gaze in that direction as he offered them a choice of beverages. She looked Brian up and down and cocked a confident grin. "A man in the Sanctuary' Did we rewrite the rules?" looking back to the Ravenlock male with a smirk to her sisters she affirmed "I like it ladies. You know what? I'll take you up on that wine, sir.....so long as you put that neat black mask on when you bring it to me." Her smile again was infectious. She definitely wanted to know more about the story concerning this genteel masked man in the Sanctuary.

She paused. She noted that the room was missing some familiar faces. Her eyes went back to Issy and her usual inquisitive nature was revealed. "Where in the nine Hells is my girl Jenai" Knowing that she was here, I was absolutely positive that I would've been able to follow a trail of crushed, bleeding bodies to the doorstep. Don't tell me that she's slipping in her ruthless onslaught of badguy ass-kickings"!"

"And what about Eddie?" she continued, "If I had to guess, she must be beating some poor immoral slob into unconsciousness and hauling his ass off to prison." Despite Eddie and Jenai's youth, she knew that the two of them were very dangerous and were physically born killers. Mirage was always glad that both Jenai and Eddie were growing into the role of Judges and not into dark assassins. "Is that where the two of them are" Saving the city alone"!" she sighed, "By the goddess, I am getting too old...."

Figuring she had better get one more question in before she either passed out from excitement or one of her sisters gagged her, Mirage blurted out, "And I assume big Reeni didn't get here yet, did she" I received a lengthy letter from her a week ago before my ship left port. She told me she was on her way here to Rhydin to unite with the Sanctuary. We would certainly benefit by having her imposing muscle here to help defend a city of this size." For those who knew Reeni, that last statement was no joke.

Right when the last sentence came from Mirage's mouth, she paused and everything in her mind was very still. She knew that, no matter what else, it was great to be amongst her sisters once again.

Isuelt watched Mirage make the rounds, and after a moment she nodded to Brian, "Yes, I think that dinner and wine would be called for." She watched the newest arrival quietly for a bit more before she added, "We'll all catch up first...the more tragic matters can be discussed later."

Only a few more minutes lapsed before Isuelt quietly nodded to herself and walked down the hallway toward her chamber to clean herself and redress for dinner.