The knock to her door at the room she kept at the Red Dragon Inn came unexpected. The Maiden roused herself with a smoothing of hand through the spidersilk and snow of her hair.

It could not be the Beast, she presumed if anything if he came to her in the dark of night he would come by window, or she would feel his presence until she came to him. The Death Raven had no use of doors, if she needed to speak to her sister there were other ways. Kraven perhaps? No he would not come without Solah even in the couple's worry over the Maiden it seemed not a typical thing for them to make their presence known in such a way.

King? A hesitation at that. Head bowed as she cast her eyes to the open window. Even as the night began to slowly become more chilly the window was ever open. Ever since Zedi had returned Cobra had been distant. Unfound. Perhaps he was avoiding her... or maybe he had left her just as the gargoyles had.

Promises in the night she recalled them well. Wondered and worried if the Beast would in the end do the same and leave her with his madness like molten silver devouring her soul.

There were times she missed Styx and Stonze so much it became a torment in her spirit. In those hours the Dream Keeper was not herself. Nothing more then a broken child that was alone. The gargoyles with their elusive brother StyLz that when united would become Prodigy. Another creation of Christian just as Pheus had been.

Daughter of the Empress and the self proclaimed Savior that is what they wanted her to believe. A different plane, an alternate reality but Pheus knew the truth. Knew that Christian had taken her and her sister and made them pawns, play toys for the Sand Man and Thanatos.

Sighing out a breath of frustration and the light rapping at the door drew her. Standing she opened the door and found two that were unknown.

It was only the envelope in hand and the sigil she could know by sense that the group were meant to be considered as friends.

A close of eyes. Would she be alone in the crowd waiting for the Beast to be there at her side?

She read over the note before smiling in that delicate way over to the group.

"Tell the Aes Sedai that I will be honored to attend her gathering."

A whisper that carried. Delicate snow and soft tranquil dreams.

"My thanks."

So many offerings they gave her then and she politely declined to shut the door when it was respectable. There were thoughts that she should invite Kraven and Solah but all they would do is make her feel as if she was the extra piece, or they would worry over the nature of the emotions of the little Dreamer.

There would be dancing though.

Hand pressed the invitation over her heart as she moved to the window and stared out at a frost kissed sky of autumn's offerings.

She had lost the gargoyles, lost the Shade, sometimes she wondered if she would lose the Beast as well.

But there would be dancing...

... Pheus could only hope it would be enough to soothe the unsettled soul.

Lora had stopped with a look of confusion on her face and more within her eyes.

"You see. Many have purpose. But very, very few exist that are so utterly important that without even just one of them, it changes the course of the lives all around them -- even if they do not know one another, or even realize their own importance. Sometimes...it takes someone else to reveal that purpose to them."

"You are sayings...you know their future paths? Their destinies?"

Valucia chuckled and touched the grey and auburn haired woman's shoulder before turning back towards the mirror. "I am not so strong in my ways to have that sort of power, child. But I do know that among those invited is very important. Be it s a man, or a woman." Slender hands came to rest at her own hips. "Now this is a lovey dress you have made, Lora. I do like it."

The seamstress paused briefly to hair the change in matters of topic. Lora did not try to redirect it. "Thank you, Lady Sabet."

"I will need one of black, with just the barest hint of blue on it somewhere."

"Black?"

"Yes. Black."

"Did someone die, Lady Sabet?" The stitching was resumed, working around the pins she had used to secure the hem.

"Not yet." When Lora tossed a look up at her, Valucia smiled lightly at her. "But someone dies eventually. And I was not able to bring all of my belongings with me. One should always be prepared."

"Yes, Lady Sabet. I have one for just such an occasion. But people rarely die here."

"So I have heard. The water...or the air is responsible, perhaps?"

Lora shrugged and continued with her work. "I don't know. But I have been to only a handful of funerals in my lifetime, Lady Sabet. And I'm old for Humans around here."

Humans around here. Valucia's chin lifted and she slowly, pensively breathed in her next breath. It was a most interesting land with such a diversity of peoples and creatures that it still made her feel like a Novice learning about them all.

Pheus' Dress

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