~ On the First Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me......A partridge in a pear tree.~

...Amidst the rumors of war, and court intrigues, the First of Tytalus came creeping in. With the first snows upon the High mountains that surrounded House Souldbinder, Markus kept an eye on the preparations, even as he looked for a quiet place to get away from it all.
...If truth be told, he was very tired of the stress of wars and longed to escape to his forest. However, even that environment was filled with war, as the soldiers of the house kept up their patrols.
...*Damned, what this place needs is a reminder of the season.* A slow smile crossed his lips as he thought of what had made him happy as a child. *How could I have forgotten? It's yuletide season.*

...He searched the house, high and low, until he found his wife, in the war-room. "Hon, I'm going out for a while. If you need me, a messenger can find me in the north forest." Then without waiting to see if she even heard him, he donned his coat and walked out.
...After walking the forest for an hour, he finally found what he was looking for. There, in the center of a clearing was the perfect tree: it was nine foot tall, with perfect green boughs, and as he walked up to it, he reached out and touched it. *Brother tree, I pick you, and ask that you bless my house and family with peace.* He touched his hand to his chest and then touched the tree. *I know it is not your time to die, but I most humbly ask for your sacrifice, so that others may know joy.*
...He stood there, losing himself in the quiet of the place, and somehow, in that quiet moment, he heard a low whisper, *I give my blessings, Ranger, though I will miss this clearing and the animals will miss my cover, there are more important things than living forever.*
...Markus opened his eyes and looked at the tree, then nodded, *Thank you, Brother Tree.* Then, as turned and walked off, he started thinking of the things he would need: A druid to bless the spot, a wagon to take the tree back to the manor house, and then some decorations for the tree; and for that, he would need a mage. "Oh Rhyslin, you are positively going to hate me."

~On the Third Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.....Three French Hens....~

...Markus stood outside the tower on the plains and looked at the massive bone white gates. *damn you, mage,* he groused as he repressed a shudder. *You would have to literally build a gate out of bones.*
...He took a deep cleansing breath and placed his right hand on the gate. The cold leeched into his hand, then stopped as it sensed the coin that Rhyslin had given him. *I honestly don't care if you open or not.* The Ranger thought.

...When the gate released him, Markus shook his hand, trying to get some warmth back. After what seemed like an eternity, the gate opened. *Don't do me any favors,* he directed at the controlling spirit, as he stepped through the gate and into the ever blooming rose gardens.

...He had taken no more than five steps, when heard a buzzing sound and a sultry voice calling, "Ranger pet," and a tiny form alighted on his right shoulder, followed by a tiny pair of lips brushing across his earlobe. "You don't come to visit any more," the tiny fairy complained.
..."I'm sorry, Kita-dear," he whispered, "But I've been busy."
..."Silly human," she purred, "I'm glad you're here." He felt the tiny hands curl around his hair. "Even Rhys-pet doesn't visit much since Silima arrived." She sounded like she was trying to be happy, but he could tell she missed the people she called her pets. "I should be happy that Rhys-pet is happy, but I do miss him." She whispered.
....Markus grinned, "I've got something that might either make him happy, or want to kill me."
..."Oh?" He heard the curiosity in her voice.
..."Yes, I'm having a big fir tree moved to my courtyard for the yule, and am about to ask your Rhys-pet if he can create me some magic ornaments."
...There was the sound of sultry laughter. "Very good, Ranger-pet. Can I come up with you?"
..."Of course, Kita-dear. I wouldn't deprive you of this for all the sugar in the cupboard."

~On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.....five golden rings....~

..."So, you are going to drive my Shraste' insane?" Crystal inquired as she turned and invited Markus into the tower.
...Mark hid a grin at the term she used to refer to Rhyslin. In ancient Elven, Shraste' meant bond-master/love. In the hierarchy of relationships, it was more intimate than master, but less formal than husband. The reverse term that Rhyslin would have called her was Edamare, which was Bond slave/love. The closest word in common would have been concubine, but that wasn't right either. If Mark had to choose a word, it would have been love-slave.

..."I think so," he said, then pushed her down, out of the way, as he saw something flash in his peripheral vision. Without thinking, he threw up his left arm in a block, and grunted as a cold steel blade was caught on his bracer.
..."Drop it, he commanded, as he turned to find a rotted zombie holding the weapon. The zombie growled as it looked toward where Kita was hiding, under Crystal's hair.
..."No." Mark replied, his voice as cold as the steel. "I forbid it." When the zombie raised the sword for another blow, the ranger dropped his left shoulder, drew the katana from its sheath, and slice the undead's head, from under the right ear, to above the left eye. For a moment, they stared at each other, then the zombie collapsed to the ground.
...After returning the weapon to it's sheath, he turned to check on the Elf. "Are you okay?" He quickly examined her for scratches.
..."I an uninjured, Master Tanner," she whispered as she looked up from where he had pushed her. "What was that?" she asked as she looked up at him.
..."That's the undead thing that..." Kita said, as she peeked out from under Crystal's hair.
..."That did what?" A voice asked from down the corridor, and Mark turned and watched as Rhyslin stepped out the shadows. The mage's hazel eyes took in the dead creature on the floor, then Crystal's position on the floor, and finally the ranger's stance. "What did you do to my creature, Mark?" His voice was chilled.
...Mark reached down and extended a hand to help Crystal to her feet. "Old friend, your creature tried to attack both your Edamare, and Kita." If I had been a bit slower, they'd both be dead."

~On the Seventh Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.....Seven swans a swimming.~

...Markus looked at Rhyslin and lifted his right hand. "I need your help, old friend." When the mage arched a brow, the ranger continued. "It's nothing major... It's just..." he paused as all three stared at him.

...Crystal completed the healing on Kita, who kissed her on the cheek, before returning to Rhyslin's shoulder.

...Rhyslin glanced at Mark for a long minute, before blinking. "I think we'd be more comfortable in the den." He slipped an arm around Crystal, and started down the corridor. He must have whispered something to Crystal, because Mark heard her say.
,,,"It was nothing, my Shraste'."
The next voice he heard, was Kita's. "That's not polite...only children and bandits enter through the window."

...Upon reaching the den, Rhyslin gestured to a comfortable chair. "Please have a seat, old friend." He glanced at Crystal. "Would be so kind as to get three glasses of wine. One for Markus, one for myself, and one for you, then join us as Mark tells us his urgent mission?"

...Crystal nodded, "Of course, my Shraste'." When she returned, she handed one glass to Rhyslin, then one to Markus, before sitting on the arm of Rhyslin's chair and leaning into his shoulder.

...Rhyslin took a sip, and inquired, "So what brings you here, old friend?"

...Markus took a deep breath, then answered, "I am moving an old fir to the courtyard of the manor house to decorate as a Yuletide Tree. I was hoping that you'd make me some magical ornaments...." He closed his eyes, waiting for the explosion he thought he'd hear....

~On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.... nine ladies dancing.~

...When Crystal returned to the den, she was wearing a red fur trimmed bustier and a matching fur trimmed red mini-skirt. She had a mischievous look on her face as she handed Rhyslin his sketch book.
...He looked at her, his eyes taking in her exquisite figure, "So, how does this proposition work?"
...Crystal smiled, "The sooner you finish Mark's project," she paused to kiss him seductively, "the sooner you get to unwrap me." She whispered as she found a spot on the floor, just outside his reach, and sank to her knees. After slightly parting her legs, she adjusted the skirt so that he could get tantalizing peeks of her inner thighs. As she made herself comfortable, she watched her Shraste' as he worked.

...Rhyslin watched as his amare posed herself on the floor, and the opened his sketchbook. First he drew a Yule tree. He stared at the drawing. "Candles?" he muttered to himself. /too cumbersome...maybe something smaller?...tiny orbs./ To test his theory, he drew a series of orbs on the tree. /Yes, that could work. Now, how do I make them flicker?/ He paused a moment and glanced at Crystal.
...She took that opportunity to part her knees a bit more and lean back, so as to accentuate her curves. The light from the chandelier set the rubies and emeralds on her necklace shimmering.
.../Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. Instead of using magic, maybe I should try alchemy./ He thought.

...With the new direction, he started working on the chemical reactions of hydrogen peroxide and sodium sallicyte to create the florescence agent, with the addition of Calcium, Sulphide, and Rhodine to create the Blue, yellow, and red flashes in the tiny orbs that would be strung together to form the everburning candles.

...Every so often, he'd glance over at Crystal, and every time he did so, she's continue her slow tease. One time, she sinuously raised her right hand over her head and winked at him, while she softly caressed the underside of her right breast with the other hand.
.../You little vixen,/ he directed toward her, as he quickly got back to work. Within an hour, he had the mixture worked out. /Now, for the shining star./ He sketched a starry outline and cast about for something from which to make it. He paused to stare at Crystal, and again watched as the gems at her throat shimmered. /Star Sapphires. Excelllent./ He made a note for the dwarven craftsmen to make the star out of the more rare sapphires in his vault, and to leave a space for the permanently magicked light crystal that he would place in the middle.
/Snow.....now what?/ he wondered as his eyes drifted back to his amare. This time it was the fine gold threads on the seams that caught his attention. /Of course...fine silver chains lit up by fairy fire should do the trick./ He made some notes, and then rose to his feet.
..."Mia Amare, don't you move an inch. I'm going to get this started."
..."Of course, my Shraste'," she whispered as she flashed him a sultry smile.

...It only took him fifteen minutes to start the dwarves to working, and he returned to his chair and leaned back, gazing at Crystal. "Did you get it figured out?"
..."I did. In two days, Mark will have his decorations."
..."Good," Crystal whispered as she crawled into his lap. "It's time to unwrap me," she breathed in his ear as she gestured to the red ribbons that held her outfit together.

~On the Eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....Eleven pipers, piping~

...Rhyslin rode through the village gates and stopped at the first stable. Almost instantly, a groom walked out of the barn, and waited until he had dismounted, before reaching for the reigns. "Good Afternoon, Master Darkblade. How long will you be in town?"
..."About three hours." Rhyslin commented, "You can take him in, but keep him ready to leave."
..."Aye sir," the groom replied as he took the reigns and led the black stallion toward the barn.

...Rhyslin leaned against his staff as he savored the cool, crisp air. When he opened his eyes, he walked down the sidewalk.
...The first stop he made, was at a tiny jewelry shop, and as he stepped inside, the owner greeted him. "What can I do for you, Master Darkblade?"
...Rhyslin lifted his right hand, "At the moment, I'm just looking."
..."Of course, sir," the jeweler said as he moved back and made himself unobtrusive. "If you find anything you like, just let me know and I'll wrap it up."
...Rhyslin merely nodded and browsed the selection. The problem was: what would a jeweler have to offer a person who had vaults of jewels? And then, Rhyslin found that one thing that called out to him. It was a matching choker and earring set, made out of intricately worked silver, with perfectly carved tanzanite stones that shone purple/blue in the dim light of the store. Rhyslin caught the jeweler's attention, "I'll take this," he pointed to the set.
...The jeweler stepped forward and nodded, "An excellent choice, Master Darkblade. I'll warp these for you and send the bill to the tower."
...Rhyslin nodded and watched as the set was wrapped in a colored box wrapped with a ribbon. He carefully slipped the wrapped box into the leather pouch on his belt.
...As he walked out, he heard the jewelers assistant say. "With all due respect. I'm not going anywhere near that tower. They say it's haunted."
..."You fool," the jeweler whispered. "It's la torre de larita.... Oh never mind." He threw up his hands in disgust. "I'll do it myself."

...Rhyslin's next stop was a cozy little bookstore that dealt in rare manuscripts. The tiny silver bell announced his presence as he pushed open the door and stepped into the shop. Since there was nobody there to greet him, he started browsing. He didn't pause until he felt a quiet presence behind him. He carefully placed the book he was examining on the shelf and turned to find the proprietress watching him.
..."M'Lady Sage," he said with a bow of respect for her knowledge. Sinfance was a master historian and as such, her works were sought after by everyone.
..."Master Darkblade," she greeted him coolly. "I'm still waiting for you to agree to an interview," she teased him.
...Rhyslin chuckled, "You'll be waiting a long time, Mistress Sinfance, my secrets are mine, and can only be discovered by experience."
...The raven haired beauty winked, "Then we will never know, Master Darkblade." She paused, "I do have something that might interest you. I recently came into possession of a history text that reveals some of Saris Soulbinders past, as well as some of his early writings."
...Rhyslin arched a brow as he considered this. "I'll want it confirmed that they were penned by Saris, himself, bu tin the meantime, I'll take this book of Nethromancy. If you'll please wrap it up?"
..."Of course, Master Darkblade. I'll send the bill to your tower."