Being a High Priest does have its own disadvantages. Such as inability to select assignments most enjoyable and fitting. "Cherry picking" is impossible when you are high ranked. Either you do what you're assigned to do... or you are unworthy.

I reviewed the reports from my agents, pretending that the faint light of magical orb was any help. G'fenvass is broken up into many countries, some are not even run by humans. The one we've ..hmm, restructured... was humanoid-run, that's a big plus. But it bordered on a rather large semi-democratic country run by mixed government of humans and elf-like beings, which did accept Maedd. I cussed inside. These guys will certainly cost me enough nerves. Luckily, without Maedd's support they will be dealt with. The agent sent there reported that open hostility is gradually replaced by curiosity there... well, we might have to replace their House of Council by our puppets. Crap, I hate time-wasting ...

Another report. This time from northern neighbors. Excellent. Feudals have nothing against us, and are really curious about the impressive collisions we had with Maedd's army in the beginning. The word is spreading, and soon their country will join us. I grinned, showing off the fangs.

This was a chess game. Something I was hardly in the mood for.

Someone may think that depending on others in performing your duty is a weakness. Perhaps. Doing everything on your own is often the option our Knights take. Unfortunately even centuries spent on honing your skill are not enough to be absolutely versatile. For an asmodean, the only rational thing to do would be knowing what you're good at, and evaluating your chances for each situation separately, as failure isn't something easily forgiven.

That is why Vit's arrival was a relief. I could afford to start thinking about political menace with less anxiety.

Again and again I went over the reports, and tuned the model sparkling with graphs and diagrams. So far it was rather promising. If our agents do their duty, we would take over our dumb feudal neighbors in a few months - without any wars or epidemics. The semi-democracy will be harder. But after the defeat of Maedd and his dissolution, it is only a question of time.

The new world was different from two he knew - the milky whiteness of the Halls, and almost-complete freedom of RhyDin. The portal led into a small town near the border of country which suffered from renegade's puppeteering plans. It was dark, rainy, and the street was ridiculously muddy. A civilized town should not look like that, for sure. The death-bound walked into an inn. Following him was out of question. Gwyr walked further along the street, and found another place where he could possibly get a drink and a meal.

The place was noisy. He ordered a beer, and sat down listening to talks and rumors. Will there be a war? Probably. But the locals thought highly of their leadership.

"Have you really seen them?" one asked another, obviously a mercenary or ,... Gwyr preferred not guessing.
"Of course. The Fort is open for everyone."
"I bet their High Priestess doesn't waste much time on talking to ordinary people. With the growing popularity of their religion..."
"She always finds time. If possible. "

That was valuable. Gwyr concealed a grin behind his mug of beer. She finds time. The Fort is open for everyone. Excellent. The bitch will not live for long.

After the mission that led to Maedd's demise, especially when the news format was edited by me, our work has become easier and harder at the same time. "Fake god" overthrown by loyal followers of true deity - this was the official version of things. We did not have any worthy opposition in VolkVorn, such things as antimagic shell and asmodean versions of skeleton warriors were rather convincing (as well as thoroughly engineered public revolts in more or less distant cities). But now I had to think of potential wars with neighboring countries.

The elimination of Maedd made those who rushed into the Temple heroes. Especially two humans - deathknight Ayreg and my bodyguard. Ayreg was back to RhyDin (the tool has been used and was no longer needed... efficiency at its best) but Nae'Bris remained. Naturally, all the glory fell on his head (and caused some dizziness I had to deal with). Local leaders assigned him to guard me permanently, something that made him proud. And deprived me of having a single moment to myself.

I stopped, looking at the cloudy sky. For someone with normal eyesight it was dark and uninteresting, but my distorted eyes marked the interesting peculiarities of magnetic and magical fields of this world.

"Something wrong, g-ierre?" my bodyguard asked.
"No. I do not think so."

Well... what's wrong with two Bound coming into G'fenvass? Especially if we don't use our power much? The magical field did reflect my presence here, and Vit's arrival.

I looked at the mountains in an hour's walk from the fort, and froze in silence.
There was a creation of another Bound here. Lurking. Waiting.
Aimed at me.

The creation of another Bound left. Obviously it considered my bodyguard a threat enough to his plans. Who knows... All of a sudden my Nae'Bris was needed. Crap. And no time to myself? At all? My entire nature protested against this.

I needed to think of the new changes. Leaving Nae'Bris in the Fort, I left for RhyDin. Some good lager won't hurt. As well of some calm thinking. The assassin came to G'Fenvass, to the place where my last "crime" was. He'd hardly be in RhyDin, which should be safe for me - for now

So it's done. He smiled to himself. Finally to be free.... But he had to make sure. The spell-charged cells were one of the options he was told to consider. Others were even more dangerous.

Is freedom worth death of another? He did go to the Inn the renegade has chosen to come to. He tracked her down to this inn. He sat there, drinking his daily bottle of lager, and waited. Sooner or later she would come....

... ... An ice dragon was speaking to someone that looked magically-active. Gwyr didn't pay any attention to them. The renegade walked in...

Here, in the inn, she looked small and slim. The trademark of unfeeling perfection in appearance, so common for his creators, was absent in her face of figure. She looked human. Human, if he could stop noticing the raging vortex of magical fields around her.

It had be done, and done quickly. He has never killed anyone... never.... but there is always a first time. A short blast of plasma would fix it...

The renegade looked at him, her large dark eyes filled with surprise. Her lips as if whispered "why? what for?" as globes of plasma slammed into her shoulder. She shouldn't accept it like this! she should try to blast him to pieces...

Gwyr rushed out. Confusion stormed in his mind.

Nae'Bris knelt in the worship hall of asmodean temple. Before him was a strange structure - on the floor was an octagon graph made in hasty moves, made with strange-colored chalk (as if it had blue and white pieces...). In the vertices and in the intersection points of inner lines in the graph, there were crystals and lenses, pieces of some organic ingredients... He never knew the High Priestess indulged in "object magic" as this type of casting was called in his homeland. But there she was... in the center of structure steaming with power.

He was not among the best mages of the Fort, but even his limited training allowed him to see how complex the spell was. And that it was trying to hold something that tried to flee from the almost-lifeless body in the middle of octagon.

"Alais...." pale lips whispered. "No... you won't come, you can't hear me... the score is settled..."

"Anne... No, Anne is dead..."

Nae'Bris could only watch, all his skill of blademaster useless now. Those she mentioned - he remembered how she told about them. About Alais, an elven sorceress (the blademaster could hardly believe an elf would touch dark magic... but he had no reason to mistrust his Priestess...). About Anne - her human friend. The nights under the cold starlight when Rhaine told him about the sea and treasures, about ex-pirate and her enemies... So these were not tales just to entertain him...

"Vitus... brother... am I to be lost here forever?"

Nae'Bris tried to memorize the names. Alais or Vitus - they could be found. Somehow. Someway.

"Artemus... no, I am no friend to you, merely someone to be used... an enemy who has forgiven you... You'll never hear me... I wished I could mean anything to you, but dhoine will never be with g'iarre... you always want something from us, be it our skill for yourselves or for others. How predictable... We are like genies caught into bottles of our seclusion, of being ourselves in secret from the world...."

The bodyguard tried to reach into the octagon, but the streams of power pushed him out. She was calling for help! Even to her former enemy.

"Gabriel... you also bear a touch of my magic... Gabriel, please...."

Nae'Bris clenched the hilts of twin blades. He would not let her down again. Standing up, he slashed a salute to the altar of Asmodeus, and rushed out.

From across planes of existance and so much space and distance, pleading prayer fell on waiting ears. A jaded mind fell in on itself following the path of those thoughts. "Rhaine...I'm coming. Hold on."

Determined strides carried the druid through his tower home towards the library wing. If Rhaine was asking for help this was something severe, and to go ill prepared would be foolish. Artemus needed to refresh his memory on the Asmodean world and edicts. Pushing aside the large double doors he went from shelf to shelf, picking up what books he could that were related to Asmodean, as well as a few others that may or may not be useful.

"Bag of goodies and surprises? Check. Miniaturized Staff of Enchantment? Check. Weeping Maiden? Check." All the items he may or may not need were laid out on the large desk in his "War Room". He went through the complete list several times to make sure he had all that would be required for this endeavor. Then a peculiar idea ressonated through him.

"I should bring along a bit of back up, just in case there's more to take on that I can expect. But the question is who?"

Orders were issued to his in house staff of animated golems to ready things should he not return from this ordeal, and to make sure Amaris went to a propper home should the worst happen though Artemus had every intention of coming back alive. He may not be in on piece, but he'd be alive.

What I hate most is being helpless. And having somebody dragging me out of problems. But there I am... stuck like a fly in an ointment. Even my Lord can not pull me out.

The only thing I could do was trying to ignore those who came to pay me a nightmarish visit, and concentrate on my thoughts. We Bound are in a way abominations in the face of Gods. We are perfectly material and magical, without a spiritual spark in our gift. Our realm is Halls of Creation, separate for every world. If you're linked to one of them, it's your realm only. Solely yours, domain of magic and matter. And it's up to you if you wish to worship a deity.

The relationship between us and Gods can be called nothing but "troublesome". Some of us choose to pretend to be a deity - our specialization and skill allows us such a thing, Bound are ridiculously good in some specific field. Naturally Gods have no love for such creatures. Sometimes our skill (bought at a VERY high price, trust me on that!) is enough to cause jealousy in dhoine and arrogance in ourselves. Probably this was the reason why the first of our kin, when creating a "template" of Halls, created a type of treaty - Halls of Creation are our territory only. If the local-Bound doesn't request divine interference, there will be none. Gods don't interfere with us, we do not interfere with their affairs (and don't poke our curious noses into directly-divine-related parts of space, like Olympus or Elysia, without invitation).

And there will be no help to the Bound stuck in empty Halls, without being the local-Bound to request divine help. I may pray till' my tears turn to blood, like a true vampire's. The ancient treaty was the only condition on which we were allowed to exist.

Yet still I prayed. Stuck in dead Halls.

In the silence of my nightmare.

The ghosts surrounded me. Their whispers filled my ears, I could do nothing to chase them off, and was doomed to feel my self dragged into their whispers. The only way to try to remain myself was ignoring them and concentrating on something.

And I dived into my memory. Into the days in Clandestine, when I was already a Bound, but I was free... free to join the Knights in battle and to poke them with remarks.. free to travel to dangerous areas and feel support of the one I trusted more than I'd ever trust myself...

Suddenly I felt something like a breeze touching my face. A thought directed at me. The least expected one. "Rhaine...I'm coming. Hold on." Artemus! the shifter whose alter-form's silky leopard fur I touched so often... Even despite our past differences and almost hating him for a while I was glad to know he was coming. And another "presence" - someone else rushing here. Now I recognized the pattern of movement, shadowy and swift. Gabriel. Well, my chances increased. If Gabriel does anything, he does it well - something I admire him for.

With an effort, I tried to "listen" to surroundings. Nae'Bris, rushing to RhyDin for help. Did I actually speak aloud? Adremalech, master vampire, leader of our guards... And yet another one. The one who shot me down...

How can I warn them?

Gwyr Aep Alanth crouched in the thick feather-thorn bushes near the exit portal. Quite possible that someone whom Renegade has called would be coming... Tiny cameras near the entry portals transfered picture on his palm-size computer.

Yes, there was one. Gwyr's absolute memory shuffled the data and man's name emerged. Artemus Kurgen. Murderer of one of ... THEM. For some reason the Renegade did not punish the man for this, even did not harm him - for he was obviously alive and well. Excellent. This was a chance to get rid of both - the renegade and the murderer.

Gwyr grinned to himself. If he ever had doubts, now he was completely sure he's been doing the right thing.

The man had lots of traces from Renegade's magic, Gwyr could sense it. My, my, didn't she spend much energy and time on him! Silently, he watched the druid, in the camouflage that made him nearly invisible in most spectrums. He watched the golem entering the portal, and grinned. Crude but working being. Does this man think he has the priviledge of Creating?

There would be time to strike.

The two skeletons moved towards golem. Instead of standard weapons (swords or maces) they had something that looked like guns with a funnel instead of barrel in their hands. First they motioned the golem to stop. Adremalech watched them in his study. Golem came to a halt, hand at it's sides calmly. That glyph still glowing faintly on its chest before those dead eyes glowed faintly with a read light and looked from one skeleton to another.

"Who goes there? State your reasons to enter the territory of Temple of Asmodeus", Adremalech used voice projection.

"I have message for one Rhaine Rhustovich, a Priestess of Asmodean. The message is to be delivered in person per my orders."

"High Priestess is not accessible at the moment. Leave the message in plain-text format, written or recorded. "

The vampire was having fun. He's spent some time talking to High Priestess, and learned some of the words she used - she probably got them in the hi-tech world she used to live in.


"Can you tell me when the High Priestess will be accessible so I may return with the message? It is for her mind and ears only."

Now that was not too secure. A fake asmodean, a golem, and wants direct access to her ears?

"No information about her location and time of accessibility may be provided for security reasons"

"Then I will remain and await her convenience as per my orders." The golem turned and took a step as if to stand beside the portal and wait but glanced at at the skeletons then motioned to the spot. "May I stand here and wait?"

The skeletons remained motionless. "Leave the area."

"So be it."

The golem held up a once empty hand and revealed a metal canister, though unawares to the skellies and the disembodied voice. The canister was held out to the skeletons. "Here is the message. Do what you will with it. "

Odd form of a message. Better to keep it out, vampire decided. One of the skeletons took the item and placed it on a stone slab near the gates. "She will review the message when she is accessible"

"Very well."

Slowly the golem began to sink into the floor. Pieces of it falling away as if once the message was delivered the magic that made it was no more.

There was no sound, nothing - just out of the shadow stepped a man, taller than Artemus, with black hair (yet some silvery strands in it already), dark crimson eyes, moves of a born predator. His outfit was casual, plain leather and cotton. Only two hilts behind his back showed his "trade".

"You may have gotten to see her", he spoke calmly. That was Nae'Bris. He looked at Adremalech, and back to Artemus "So you claim you have known her before?"

The shifter seemed to enjoy levitation, even while being watched by those who could shred him to pieces. He did a slow back-flip while suspended there in the air, just being playful and biding his time. "Intimately..." was all he said just slowly spinning there in the air with a highly bored expression. "Look..I came to see her and see what's kept her busy. She does get absorbed in her work an awful lot and forgets about everything else. But you guys probably know that already."


Crimson-eyed man nodded. "I see. Your name?"

A smirk curved the intruder's lips. "Fluffy," was all he said to the man just spinning their slowly.
"Interesting sense of humor for a human," Adremalech laughtd.

Crimson-eyed man regarded Artemus coldly "Was that a nickname of a pet?"

"The only pet I'm aware of that Rhaine owned was that black cat..." the intruder thought for a moment. "Lyrt..I think it was. Cute animal...for a house cat."

He has seen Lyrt. Nae'Bris would have frowned if he allowed himself to. "He does know her. Not many outsiders see Lyrt. Let him go. Now that I'm here you can do this," he nodded to the vampire. Adremalech bowed slightly.
"As you wish, Nae'Bris. Under current circumstances... that may be a chance"

The levitation field disappears, dropping Artemus on the floor. He landed lightly with that feline grace and rose, eyes moving from one to the other as he stood there calmly, "Well that was enjoyable."

Crimson eyes looked at Artemus. "Perhaps. Is that "Fluffy" the only name you're known under?"

Emerald hues turned to him. "The only name you'll know me as." There was a feeling that the young intruder didn't take the situation seriously. He even dared to wink... and to applaud vampire's appearance in the gateway.

Even a shifter's reaction and eyesight weren't enough to see or sense Nae'Bris move. Split-second - and the blademaster grasped his hands, twisted them behind shifter's back, and pulled them up. Another split-second - and a knife was at young man's throat. "Give me one reason why you should live, and not end up as a sacrifice on His altar. I'm not in the mood to joke. So far you've tried to trespass, and brought some funny-sounding explosive. Enough to let your blood flow and burn."

"I'd say you should let me live because I'm one of the few outsiders that has seen Rhaine's true form and knows what she really is. But that would be reason enough for you to kill me wouldn't it?" There wasn't an ounce of fear in his words as he spoke calmly. "And if it is my time to die, it's my time to die. We all must die some time and it's never our choice in when, where, or how. Only in how we meet that fate. Cowering like a beaten dog, or screaming defiance till the very end. Besides...it's not like this would be the first time I've been a sacrifice to a god. You don't know pain till you're strung up by your own brothers and sacrificed to the god you've served faithfully for years."

As if he could know the pain blademaster was feeling... Every moment, every day of G'fenvass mission, every chance to see and assist High Priestess... his g-ierre... and now all of a sudden came a human being that claimed to know her even better. Oh well, he did know what she was, and such beings.. they aren't expected to be concentrated on work alone. Probably this boy was her entertainment.

Vampire disappeared without a trace. Only Nae'Bris remained, but he was more than enough here. "We'll see... pet-human. So you know what she is, do you? Enough to know why someone would wish her dead?"

The place was an embodiment of unfeeling, cold beauty and order. Magical senses could detect one of natural planetary nodepoints here or very close. The hall was rather large, and in the far end of it, there was something that violated this cold beauty.
Nae'Bris motioned for Artemus to follow. In the far end of the hall, was an octagonal structure drawn in a hurry, in odd blue-and-white chalk, with weird crystals, lenses, other ingredients in foci points, on intersections of lines... the structure was about 8 ft in diameter. In the center, was what looked like a shapeless heap from the distance. Closer - it was a slender figure in black jeans, and silk-like shirt. The left sleeve was torn off, and partially melted by something. The wound on the left shoulder was deep, almost showing the bones. It looked like an extremely deep burn, charred flesh was black with a hint of molten metal mixing with organics.

Letting out a slow whistle Artemus moved as close to it as he could. "Certainly stepped into it this time didn't you, neck-biter?" There was a slight softness in his tone at the nickname before he turned to Nae'Bris. "So what is this structure?"
"I do not know. I'd say she improvised... she had no time. It's holding something in, not letting it out - at least it was yesterday."

Oh, it was. Nae'Bris remembered that look - the structure resembled a cage, keeping something pale cyan inside. After many hours, it stopped stirring. The pale mist in the horrible wound vanished.

Artemus frowned. "I don't like the look of those wounds... I take it you've tried to gain entry?"
"Both me and Adremalech did. Obviously, no results. The contour is too stable despite being drawin in a hurry," the blademaster answered. Was this stability good or not really?

"Sounds like Rhaine, even rushed she does things right." Young man knelt before the structure, a hand raised towards it. The magical energy of the structure "sniffed" his hand but the forcefield didn't open. Artemus nodded slowly. Getting comfortable he slowly sent out a probing thought, merely asking to speak with the one inside. He obviously remembered similar sensations - in the wards of Rhaine's hideout, for example.


The seemingly-lifeless body stirred slightly, whispering something. But no further reaction, as if the barrier was too strong for even a thought. Nodding once more, Art sat back on his heels.
"This is quite a puzzle...too bad I like puzzles. The harder the obstacle or challenge the more I enjoy it...Where is Raevyx...and the one known as Vitus..her brother?"

He knows Raevyx? he's heard of Vitus? Truly the man knew her, and knew her well. Nae'Bris concealed another flash of jealousy. An outsider - and so close to his High Priestess... Well, he's let her down, and would it be ever forgiven?
"I do not know where is Raevyx," Nae'Bris sat down on the floor with unique predatorial grace of a true blademaster. "Vitus was going to the place where she... where her assignment was."

Green eyes regarded him attentively. "One last question...how do you know Rhaine?"

Bodyguard's face for a moment was touched by bitterness and grief. "I was here too late. She called Vitus. She mentioned others, even the one she spared. But all she could get was my helpless hand. I am no mage, human. I'm merely an apprentice of the Art that was assigned to keep her safe in G'fenvass."

And who has failed. The thought of this failure haunted him every night... every moment.

"This is Rhaine we're talking about. She doesn't do anything without thinking it through. And I can bet you that whatever is trying to see her killed will probably make itself known the minute the barrier is down. So you need to consider this, Nae'Bris. Rhaine doesn't fear me..not one whit, but whatever caused those wounds no doubtedly shook her and is probably still in the Temple or in the surrounding area just waiting. How long it will wait neither of us knows. Could be years, could be centuries. How long are you willing to wait?"

"She may not fear you, but she isn't flawless, Artemus. And she may be biased," he answered. Oh, he knew how biased she could be - but only in favor of letting someone live. Among merciless asmodeans, she was a Life-Bound. She could spare even her personal enemy, if she saw some possibility his life won't be useless... or a chance that destruction would be useless... or - who knows what. Nae'Bris has known her for months, but she kept surprising him. For some reason the druid laughed - was this understanding?

"Oh I know she can be biased. You've never seen her talk about Paladins... Or have you... It doesn't matter... You heard her like I did. It's too risky and there's something she can't do. That "something" needs to be figured out and she knows what it is. I'd ask but she pushed me away...for what reason is unlcear. At least to me."

Sorrow darkened Nae'Bris face for a moment. "We are arguing, and our arguments are useless. She may fear for you more than she fears for herself... who knows," this only thought gave him an urge to slash the young man into pieces. How could she fear for a mere human more than for herself? She was so much more precious... "You are free to move around this place, Artemus, I will show you her room - I think she would have been glad if you used it if needed to stay," calm voice resonated in the hall. "I know she made some notes before she left into that accursed mission... Her loyalty to the Lord has always been number-one priority... I can not read the language she used in the notes, but perhaps you can. Perhaps these notes would give you a hint..."


"I need to think on this...and I am sorry about the explosive..." Artemus nodded. "I'll repair any of the damages," he said, and walked towards Nae'Bris - feline shifter's moves were graceful and smooth as he extended a hand. "We'll need to work together on this. There are things I can do that you cannot and there are things you know that I could not learn in three life times when it comes to her "kin" and how they operate. Will you work with me? A Bound murdering dhoine who owes another Bound his life and so much more?"

A handshake was due, and he had to play the game. "If there's anything possible to do, I hope we'll find it"

"As do I...now if you'd be so kind as to show me to her rooms so I can look over those notes?" druid's request was reasonable. Artemus paused for a moment, as if considering something, and sighed, looking at Rhaine's still form. "I'm not sure if she'd be so glad if I stayed in her rooms. Even when we were on better terms she liked her privacy"

Nae'Bris smiled, but the smile was sad. "I know her well enough, through danger and hard work... She may be mistaken, but she follows some inner logics in her mistakes. Follow me, Artemus"

Even if he thought that his g-ierre's trust in this arrogant human was a mistake, he hardly showed it.

The crimson eyed one turned toward Gabriel, ?Certainly, Adremalech is already in his study, and he wouldn't try to overhear. Did you have a question?"

?You said something that troubles me. You said, ?in her condition?, will you tell me what you meant by that?? Gabriel took in his surroundings, and tried to read Nae?Bris for his openness to his question.

He looked at the flame-like columns, his eyes darkening in the faint light as emotions were nearly concealed but to the Carpathian, he could clearly see the turmoil in the man. ?I do not know how good you are in magical stuff and how well do you know her. All I know is that she returned to the Temple a couple of days ago with her left shoulder blasted by plasma, charred almost to the bone. She created a very stable spell-like structure, dropped into it, and for me it now looks like a coma. At first there was something trying to rush out of the structure, something incorporeal, but now it's just... dead. The structure resists even mental penetration, not speaking about physical. Outside magic will not work in the temple either. Artemus tried to get to her, she whispered something about danger, and there was no more response."

They had kept walking, and now Nae?Bris paused, nodding toward the structure that was now about 4 yards away from them. Gabriel had weighed the man?s words carefully, there was no deception he could determine, ?I heard Rhaine?s calling of my name telepathically, she had reached out for me, and so I have come Nae? Bris. I had no idea what I would find, only that she would not have reached for me had she not believed I could help her in some way.?

Nae'Bris walked to the structure. "As far as I know, the structure is excessively stable, and we can't get her out. And even if we could... I do not know what would be next. Artemus is in her room, trying to find anything in the notes related to the mission which resulted in... this. The plasma blast was obviously not something simple. Possibly it was mixed with a spell targeted specifically against her kin. At least the spell structure keeps ..."

Nae'Bris looked at Gabriel, regarding the Carpathian carefully. "How much do you know about her kin?"

Gabriel was walking slowly around the construct, sending out his thoughts seeking Rhaine. His hand hovered just above the surface of the thing, not quite touching it. It was about 8 feet in diameter, pale cyan in color, octagonal in shape, and was streaming from an odd graph drawn in odd white and blue chalk on the black stone floor. The forcefield was transparent, like colored glass, and it trembled near Gabriel?s hand, as if sniffing him. Rhaine was in the center of the structure, seemingly lifeless, or lethargic body. Her left shoulder had a wound almost burned to the bone, and the black silk like shift was burnt and molten around her shoulder, the left sleeve was almost ripped apart.

Gabriel looked at Nae?Bris, ?How much do I know about her kin? I know she was claimed by the Rustovich family through blood, I know she spent time on Mentar Station, and that she was rejected by her own family."

Nae?Bris weighed carefully every word, then spoke calmly, "They aren't just magically gifted, Gabriel. They are BOUND to magic. She took some time to explain this concept to me. She was rejected by her kin-and-colleagues for returning into the normal world from the places they use as habitat. Worse - she did not kill a young mage that somehow managed to remove from existence one of them. This has turned her into a renegade. I do not know if this was the reason of this situation, or the mission in another, world. You said you heard her telepathically... I did not. That means only one thing - you bear a marker of her magic unlike myself. Some spell she used on you that left a trace. I know this from what she told me about her kin. Same thing probably would be true about Artemus."

Gabriel continued to walk around the cyan field, looking at the comatose figure within. ?"I have lived a very long time Nae'Bris, but the 'why' of my being called is still mysterious. Rhaine and I had an uneasy truce at best, though I respect her in many ways."

Sitting bent over the work desk in Rhaine's compartments at the Temple, the druid leafed through the High Priestesses notes like there was fire in his blood.

"This revolves around Maedd. Of that I'm pretty certain, but with Rhaine's life on the line I'll not take a risk. With Nae'Bris in the picture, my survival is dependant on her own. No mistakes with Rhaine, not just for my own sakes...but as much as she nearly hates me, the old feelings are still there."

Pen in hand, he went about making a few notes of his own.

"1: 'Maedd the Lifebringer'- G~d or pretender?
-Determining the difference was catalyst to Rhaine's strategem

2: She met a priest-mage of the Maedd Cult whose magic was the same frequency as Bound magic. Not traditional, but a gift from Bound.

3: Rhaine seems positive that Maedd is a Bound whom is either behind the cult and giving them traces of his magic, or having followers channel his own magic."

"I wonder if Rhaine would have ever openly discussed her kind this way, or if she kept everyone in the dark to protecter herself as well as the rest of us? But that's something for another day, getting to Rhaine is first priotiry."

Artemus gathered Rhaine's journal and his own notes together and moved back towards the worship hall where she was left in stasis.
Maybe working on this in her presense will help unlock some vital clue to helping her. He thought to himself as he read through more of the notes, making mental ones to himself to write down once he was sitting next to Rhaine's "cage".

"4: A form of neutrality exists between Bound and other deities, something she accepts so she doesn't need to use a cult to maintain existence."

He paused at a particular piece of information in her notes, which where Nae'Bris is concerned could be quite damning. "I serve a god - out of admiration, willingly and consciously. Not like an idiot mortal. My loyalty to my Lord is above all." That could be viewed that her loyalty goes to him even above her own kind. Her own people...that last piece is something that may not need to be public knowledge.

With a simple mutter of words he drug a finger across the last fragment in her notes so it simply read. "I serve a god- out of admiration, willingly and consciously. Not like an idiot mortal."

One thing became certain as Artemus read through the notes, Nae'Bris wasn't someone whose loyalty to Rhaine he needed to question. Of course the young druid had seen enough betrayal to know that those who care for you are more likely to stab you in the back than any other. This understanding was one of the many things that had come between himself and Rhaine, but it was something the druid needed to deal with on his own.

"Her duty was to kill me, yet she never did. Rhaine..you had more than enough chances to see me slain and your black mark removed. Why didn't you? Why did you just put me out of your misery?"

It was with this thought in mind that Artemus found his way into the worship hall in time to see none other than Gabriel, one of Azjah's bodyguards.

Nae'Bris turned to look at approaching druid. "You're surprisingly quick to return, Artemus Kurgen. Found anything?" His voice was too calm to be natural, and only toxin in his tone indicated how this situation irritated him.

"Several things actually," Artemus answered. He browsed through the notes and continued to make his own as he took a seat next to the structure that encased Rhaine.

"Would you mind sharing your findings with us?" Nae'Bris didn't know if Artemus heard Gabriel's words or anything he has said. But prefered allowing the druid to show if he did.

"In a moment I will, just be patient," the druid arranged his notes on the floor before him and lightly appeared to lean against the structure though he actually didn't touch it. "On her last assignment, she ran into a priest-mage who was a follower of a cult for some religion that followed Maedd the Lifebringer. This priest bore traces of Bound magic."

So she did record this encounter, he thought. Well, he told himself, she never said these data would be completely private.

"She did tell me of that encounter. Not in much detail I'm afraid. But at least she allowed herself to share with me the information she found about that Lifebringer"

"Her notes are pretty detailed. But in case what she told you is not in the notes I'd like to hear it," Artemus smiled slightly, and paused. It felt like the young man was teasing him. Nae'Bris chose to keep calm.

"If you do not remember, I did tell you that she used a language I can not read in her notes. Probably her preference to keep her privacy," bodyguard's tone
was slightly acidic.

"Guess that's a no," Artemus replied with a sigh. He held up a particular page in his notes. "From what you HAVE told me so far, and what I can see for myself. Her thoughts about thsi Maedd being a bound were confirmed and she was put into quite a predicament."

"True. I do not know how much she speaks about this in her notes... she was truly worried about the choice she faced"

"I think we know which she chose," There was a deep frown on Art's face as he looked at Rhaine's still form, and what could have been a sad gleam in his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "She was caught between loyalty to her kin, and loyalty to her Lord Asmodeus".

"I believe He would aid His loyal priest... if He chooses to." Nae'Bris frowned "But for some reason she's still there"

"A neutrality exits between Bound and true deities. I'm not fool enough to speak for a god, but since this is a Bound matter, that could be what is staying Lord Asmodus' hand," young druid looked almost triumphant.

"But how could a Bound serve a god? even an evil and rational one, like Asmodeus?" Nae'Bris looked sincerely surprised. "And why..." he spoke even quieter. This could solve the riddle. WHY and HOW was it possible... he knew enough about the Bound to suspect specific difficulties with this setup. The question wasn't addressed to anyone, at least Nae'Bris didn't expect any answers.

Glass air was making it hard for me to breath. I was suffocating! I didn't have my magical essence; I felt ... I felt purely human. The air was still and almost impossible to breathe. Translucent figures prevented me from looking around. There humans and non-humans... I could see a white humanoid feline among them, several people, and a demon. I was in a hall without limits, an unseen ceiling supported by tall black and white marble columns. There were no walls. The place was cold and felt dead. The figures were talking to someone. Calling this someone - Renegade.

I tried to find this Renegade. I was curious, but very afraid. I was unable to put up a magic boundary for protection. I tried to reach out with my mind, using skills I recently learned. It wasn't working. I cautiously moved a step forward...the weight of my body made it difficult to progress. I barley shifted.

A shadow passed by - shadow of a being that looks like an elf, but judging by the skin color, almost crimson, and leathery wings, it has some demonic blood. The shadow looked at me, but seemed not to notice. The Shadow entered the crowd of ghosts. I heard a voice, surprisingly alive, from the madness. "Thyme? You?"

The voice was different from voices of ghosts. It was Rhaine's! I couldn't enter the ghost-infested part of area to find her. I tried to reach out again but I couldn't. The magic and mental connection seemed to be dead. I was useless, I wanted to break down and cry.

Another ghost looked at me. It was a ghost of a man, so handsome that he was terrifying. His hair was golden, and violet eyes looked at me with cold curiosity. His face and figure were perfect, like a carved statue. My breath came in sharply, but it was empty. I was in awe, and feared him for some reason. He looked so powerful.

"You. How did you get here, dhoine?" The man's voice was chilling. His aura looked quite similar to Rhaine's, with same beautiful pale cyan. But he had no dark crimson and black streaks. Had he been more humane, he would have been an angel. Still unable to speak she tried to reach out with her hand and mind, tried to communicate that she didn't know what she was doing in this nightmare.

The man frowned. "Not daring to speak to me, dhoine child? Get out of this place. It's not for your kind."

I opened my mouth trying to get out words. Couldn't he see I wasn't a human? Or was I in this place? It sure felt like it. What a nightmare!

The man looked at me more attentively, and slight disgust curves his lips. ?Undifferentiated. Ridiculous. How could you possibly get here... Oh, I see. The Renegade has touched you.? The ideal face became an ugly grimace of triumph. ?At least you'll see this and learn what it means to act against us.?

I furrowed my brow in confusion, what did this Renegade do? Was Rhaine the Renegade? Suddenly the man lifted me! I shuddered, and tried to struggle but I was helpless. We moved through the glassy air. Then I saw Rhaine surrounded by the ghosts. Her face was almost indifferent, as if she was meditating. Then I saw it. The wound. Her left shoulder was burnt to the bone by some spell or weapon. I cried out silently, I wanted and had to help her!

Suddenly Rhaine looks up to notice them. She screamed at the man. "Maedd, you giftless mediocrity! Leave her alone she's done nothing against you. Or you're just enjoying this?" Her voice is full of fury.

Tears started to well up in my eyes. What was Rhaine doing amongst all these dark creatures? What were they doing to her? I tried to drop out of the man?s arms, struggling to reach my friend. Where was my magical essence? I was magical essence! Why wasn't anything working then?

We landed near Rhaine, and she tried to reach to slap the man named Maedd. At least it looks like she'd do it... if she could move. The ghosts crowded around, speaking of failures, treason, obviously accusing my friend Rhaine. In this crowd and noise, the dark priestess looked at me, her face sane and calm "Get out of here before they catch you. Leave, Mystic. It's a dream, but it can drag you in. Imagine that you're falling down through this floor, through Maedd... Flee. Don't let him have the joy of torturing you. This is at least something you have the power to do... while you are still free... "

I could never abandon Rhaine and forgive myself. I wouldn?t let them have her! I shook my head furiously. I would not abandon my friend. Rhaine's eyes were dark and glittering with unwanted tears. "Go." Maedd laughed, but all of a sudden the shadowless light was disrupted by a flash of darkness. Just as Maedd had the power to carry me around, Rhaine seemed to find the power to make the Halls unreal to me. The place turned transparent and misty, and I began to fall through the mist. I could see a large gothic-style temple as if I looked at it through the clouds. The temple was built of obsidian, gabbro, black marble and granite... with silver and ruby forming strange sigils on the walls. Another image... it was Artemus! He was sitting on the floor near a strange spell-like structure that held Rhaine in.

Suddenly I woke up with cold sweats. I fell off my bed banging my head on the nightstand. Worried and terrified I stumbled around to find Xenograg.

There's a limit to any pain. Eventually the infinity of ghosts trying to blame me, talk to me, scream to me - they faded in my eyes. Well, they remained but I could finally ignore them. And try to sense the world around my prison.

I could feel Gabriel entering the temple. A slightly foolish hope it was - but Gabriel has intellect so many males and females lack. I was ready to give away anything - for a chance to hear them and talk to them. My loyal Nae'Bris was also there. I felt their presence. But the glassy air of the dead Halls didn't let me move or speak... No matter how I tried.

The spell did not allow me to dissolve, but at the same time it has become my prison.

Crimson-skinned, golden-eyed half-demonic elf walked towards me. His face was more than I could handle. Thyme. Chosen of Asmodeus, and old friend of mine. He looked at me, and his smile was sad. But he has not said a word. Only walked by, and disappeared.

Yet this wasn't the last word from my "kin". Maedd returned. He held Mystic. Numbing indifference in me was replace by cold fury. How could he dare to bring her here?! This place was for the Bound, not for those free... I saw the tears in girl's large eyes. Maedd, if there could be anything I could do to dissolve you again, I would! I screamed out something insulting, but this only made him grin.

He enjoyed torturing me. And Mystic's tears were too hard for me to bear.

With whatever remaining trace of my "self" I managed to push her out of the dead Halls. If Maedd had the power to carry her around, I could also influence the fabric of this sub-dimension. This ruined my chances to hear Gabriel, but there was no price too great to pay for letting Mystic out.

It was obviously a sign... Mystic sensed that I was in this trap. She also bears a touch of my magic, no matter how small it is. She might even try to come to the Temple...

Cold shiver touched my soul. The murderer, lurking around... would he spare a child?

Anne looked at her friend, very concerned. "What have you got yourself into?" The ghost paused and listened to the words of the others. They were accusing Rhaine, beating her down. "Not a cheery bunch of people are they? I heard you calling for me." The ghost sat cross legged infront of her friend. "Tell me what I need to know."

The ghost made a mock whistle.

"Well that's certainly a sticky problem isn't it? Neutrality, one of the worst places to be in. Well if you end up dissolving or whatever it won't be as painful as they like. Frankly, Rhaine, you may have failed here or there but you certainly aren't a failure as a whole. You've succeeded in a lot of things and don't let these haunts tell you otherwise. You helped me enough to outweigh any of those failures.

"I'm also sure there's a way out of this. There always is. Just let the living figure it out. So we'll just chat oursleves to eternity while we wait for them to get their act together. Okay?"

Anne didn't usually do pep-talks, but Rhaine was stuck in a spot where she needed some conversation and a positive attitude. Anne was there to give it.

Anne nodded thoughtfully. "One cocky assassin if they think they can kill you."

Then the ghost smiled. "Rhaine, I can travel amongst the living too. Do you want me to go warn Artemus and anyone else who might be down there? Or would you prefer to have me stay and talk?"

The essence started to fade. "I know you'll keep fighting, but I'll be back soon anyway."

Anne found transportation as a ghost interesting. You simply pictured where you needed to be and found it somehow. It took her a while but eventually she was looking upon a temple. Floating within the walls she remained transparent. No need in having someone see her yet.

Through the walls, past the door and towards the body of her friend. Artemus was there, so was Gabriel and another man that she didn't recognize. Slowly she became visible in her recognizable form.

"Hello gentleman." The whispy voice said. "I have a message from Rhaine."

In the darkness... beyond forever...

I smiled, sensing familiar words. They were lines from Darquan's diary, lines on a page of a draft of his article. The image of Atazoth tearing out soul of the last Champion of Asmodeus, was no longer bothering me. Everything will pass. Even this.

Runs the solitude of the deep...

Solitude... something we are doomed to experience. Always. Even when we try to remain ourselves, denying the power that comes into us with the Binding. Even when we try to live among the Dhoine, hiding from the cries "Monster! Mutant! Accursed devilspawn!" When we hide behind the masks of humans. When we fear being revealed and used as sources of healing and assistance.

With the flame in our veins to keep...

The words were a soft whisper that resonated inside me. Even the ghosts could not stop it. It was a trap... Maedd and his kin knew well enough how to breach my defenses. We are usually rather attached to those who initiate us. They are more important to us than families to Dhoine. We are no gods... we are nothing but mortals giving away the privilege of mortality for more and more knowledge... for euphoria of the Trance. For the flame of creativity and magic.

Our time is nothing but "never"...

Like a veteran feeling a shard in the old wound getting closer to the heart, I felt the murderer coming closer to the Temple. I almost screamed - or I did scream, my voice was absorbed by the howling of accusing ghosts.

But what could I do? I was material in this "subspace" and thus trapped. A ghost could move around, but Anne left to warn them...

.............................................

Almost-dead body inside the spell structure stirred and whispered.

"He is close... he can't come into the Temple... Artemus... be careful...too many traces..."

A trio of hazed figures rushed into the hall, too fast even for a vampire. Gwyr watched how his Creators sqeezed every bit of his body's potential. Gabriel turns to look at them, and carpathian's moves turned fluid. The bodyguards moved to intercept at least one intruder.
Two copies of Gwyr made sure the warriors were busy. The true one looked at the young man near the Renegade's spell. Yes, that was the murderer. A good chance to finish off both of them! Silvery needles from a gun dived into the delicious flesh of the mortal - almost painless, yet deadly. The Renegade's spell deflected the deadly projectiles.

The druid could only manage to say "What in the name of Asmodeus?" before the needles in his chest exploded into off-centered shards, that started to mash and rip any tissue they found. The spell on the needles fused into his blood.

Coughing out blood, Artemus dropped near the spell structure. He tried to figure how much he was hurt, but the darkness dropped on him like a deadly pall.

Rushing back and forth, the three accelerated copies distracted Nae'Bris and Gabriel long enough for the murderer to die - a few inches away from the accursed renegade that he attempted to assist.

Darkness grew thicker, almost palpable. As crimson drops of blood touched the spell shell, pale cyan radiance shuddered, shivered, and ellipsoid began to tremble like a jello. Nae'Bris noticed this.

"Just as you said! We have to finish them as soon as we can, Gabriel - before the spell stops holding her!"

He slowed down slightly to speak. Another blast of needles - two of them bit into the muscle of Nae'Bris' arm before he dodged. This infuriated the bodyguard. Was all the energy spent on his modification wasted?! Acceleration, a wide slashing move - and one of intruders dropped, spilling blood and guts on the floor...

"At least I went quick...just too bad didn't get to see Amaris grow into womanhood...." Artemus managed to stand up. "Couple of folks rushed into the hall where we were working to get you out of here..and before I could blink, got blasted in the chest by what looked like needles....then those blew up on me... Now I'm here...wherever here is..."

Normally indifferent, Rhaine's face showed what looked like most sincere concern. "So he's there... but you're alive, otherwise I wouldn't be able to touch you...."

Her eyes scanned him, diagnozing the damages. All of a sudden a man walked towards them that also looked material, his appearance was that of an angel - ridiculously handsome, perfection itself.... Maedd. A grimace of disgust made his perfect face almost ugly.

"Got company.." Artemus spoke quietly seeing the man approach. But he looked at Rhaine again. "So where is here? and it's good to know I'm still alive at the moment."

"So that is the reason why you turned against your own kin, Renegade. A mortal." Maedd's voice was dripping with poison. "Good to know we would finally eliminate this murderer. The dead Halls of Creation are the best place for making a final excuse..."

"We all gotta die sometime, and never our choice on where or when," Art shrugged off the threat. "So who might you be? And I've never murdered anyone. Too messy. Maim and tortured yes, but never murdered," his smile was as pleasant as innocent. So familiar...
"Don't try to lie, Art... won't help. Any of us knows when another dies" Rhaine whispered. Standing up, she looked at Maedd. "We're equal here, Maedd, and don't you try to do anything against Artemus here"

If there was a fight to be had... so be it. There was little to no choice... Maedd moved to Artemus - but his move was stopped by a white felpur of quite familiar appearance. The green gemmed Rune blazed in white fur

"Don't be a fool, Maedd."

These were stressful days. As soon as Rhaine returned to reality, she summoned Keith and did her best to assist wounded shifter. They were counting seconds - young druid lost too much blood.

At first she tried a touch of magic specific to her kin, the Life-Bound. However the spell, that ripped into shifter's flesh, seemed to growl with slightest tough of her magic, and activated several chain reactions which cost an entire hour to stop. When they did, the fight for Art's life had to start anew. Finally, using extremely adaptive biomass as a replacement, and complex biochemical treatment, they managed to earn some time for rest.

Rhaine watched the shifter, a slight, pale smile touching her lips. She needed to feed though, so she left.