I stood on the balcony pondering the unexpected visit to Annara. My previous trips to Morrin's home had always been my choice. This trip was spontaneous, and that alone is cause for concern. Interpretting the visions was something else again.

The night breeze sang through the trees. A night raptor swooped off a tree branch to catch its dinner. Night blooming jasmine scented the air. Silver starlight glittered overhead, and for just a moment, the world felt at peace.

But, it is a false peace. The rise of the Temple of Light, the presence of Vanion Shadowcast, Legend's return all bode ill for quiet lives in RhyDin. I have resolved to send Alia Anor back to Nitesong. The temptation of the Temple and her new found friend Seraphina have now been complicated further by Vanion's attack on her last evening. If it had not been for Dimitri's and Artemus' presence, my daughter could be dead, or worse. I will not risk this!

Vanion Shadowcast, the name alone brings ugly visions. He is a necromancer with a vicious streak and a menace to living things. He is an abomination among elves, even worse than the Drow.

Legendazona's return also puts my daughter at risk. Her messages to Dimitri, Vincent, and Sylus have been very clear. She hates half-elves perhaps even more than Vanion does.

The quiet of the night is broken by the arrival of a golden skinned man wearing dark green. I'd have recognized him anywhere. Tass' letter had been specific. The purple eyes glitter in the night.

"Ah am reada tae journey tae see Tass."

With those words, he shifted into dragon form, and we left I' Taurn for the Emerald Isle and Tass.





((Cross posted in Streets/A Quiet Return))

He stood at the window, his eyes watching the rise of the full moon. He knew who was coming, and was in a way glad.

Turning, he found himself caught off guard as his daughter looked at him from the doorway of the study. She was doing that more and more these days. He was going to have to have a talk with his Elder about her studies.

Supressing a grin for her skill, he watched her as she moved across the carpeted floors with her feline grace. She had come for a reason, and was now stalking the prey.

What haunts the darkness these days, father?

Her bold question did make him smile, and he finally sat at the chair behind the desk, offering her his lap.

There's much I'm not sure I understand with what has been shifting the shadows. Perhaps I will soon know. He watched as she took in this information and smiled again as she started to piece things together. He, however, cut her off before she could ask her next question. My guests will be arriving soon, sweet one. One you know and the other you don't. But both are carrying with them part of that darkness. I want you to go to your mother and show her what you've been learning, sweetling. When all is done here, I'll come find you. He gave her nose a soft kiss and lifted her off his lap.

He watched her as she made her way to the door, and then gave a call out. Don't think you can get away with sneeking a peek this time either, little monster. I've got my eye on you and the walls will be heavily warded from all intrusions.

He gave a soft laugh as he watched her visabably wilt with this information and slid out. His laugh and warmth from his daughter was short lived though. As she closed the door, another opened.

He turned, and watched as his Elder ushered Alais into the study. As Khirsah began to seal the room, another door appeared, and Caleb stepped in.

Alais, my sweet.. this is Caleb, whom I believe I had told you about. Caleb, this is Alais. Please, all three of you, have a seat.

Forgive the short comings of my hospitality tonight, but there are things we need to discuss that will involve all of us, if not you two more than myself and Khirsah. So, lets begin.

He took a deep breath, and then focused his attention on Alais. He knew she would be taken back with his question, but it was the first that needed to be asked.

Who is Legendazona?

He sat quietly behind the desk, his eyes never leaving her as she told her tale. He knew he was hearing the raw pain of the past, especially concerning the loss of Uly. He had known the man well, and was still saddened by the loss, but he knew his sadness was by no comparison as great as Alais'.

Lifting his head, he moved the steepled hands to under his chin, and shifted his eyes momentarily to the Elder. Khirsah gave a slight nod, and with that alone, he knew what wards were around the room.

"Alais, you have no need to worry of the wards around these walls. Time itself cannot beat through these walls, for we (Khirsah and I) were born before the thought of it.

Now that you speak of it, I remember the war, but I'm afriad I was not part of it. I'm sorry to have to keep pressing you, but there's much that needs to be known so that the library can be shifted to help you.

Now that I know who Legend is, my next questions are these; who is Seraphina and why is she manilupating your daughter? And what role is the quasi-vampire (Rhaine) in all this? I have noticed the air between you and Rhaine, and it smells of more than just an uneasy aliance between elf and vampris. "

He was already starting to understand what was needed, but he could not show her this. She would have to understand it herself in order to prevail.

He just hoped that what he gave her to do it would not destroy her as well...

His hands still held their position under his chin as he kept his gaze steady on the lady before him. He listened to the confusion, and the worry.. the pain and the suffering.. the love and the hate that flecked in each word she spoke, and those even more that she didn't.

As he listened, he began to understand more and more that his role in this would be less third-party. He would have to become involved in this, and he was not liking that idea. He was too old to go galivanting around.

As she finished her short explination of the two he had asked about, his gaze shifted first to Khirsah, then rested on Caleb a moment. Caleb was an enigma, not this Rhaine. He knew less of Caleb's intentions than he did of Rhaine's, and he knew Caleb where he had only met Rhaine. There was something being considered heavily behind those hard blue eyes that he couldn't piece together just yet. Caleb and he would have to have a talk privately.

He turned his attention back to Alais, his voice still business, but less direct. "Alais, love.. this Seraphine is doing more than just looking for a convert with your daughter. There is a reason behind this blantant act, and it is not just to have your daughter in a convent. She is a vital part of the schemes that drift around you, and I feel that in order to even consider thwarting part of this darkness, you will have to remove her from RhyDin." Again, his eyes shifted momentarily to the Elder.

Khirsah's eyes locked to his a moment, then he gave a single nod, then turned his attention to Alais. "Lady d'Nightsong, though we know of danger that surrounds, and even could be held within your daughter, Mistress Alia Anor would be welcome to stay here upon the Isle."

Tass' chuckle was quiet, almost mocking. "Less you are invited upon the isle, nothing will be allowed within the borders of the Isle. And even so, *all* things are watched after upon this Isle. My breatheren and I make sure that things are tended to in their proper fashion on these estates." Tass' demenor shifted a moment, and his gazed locked a moment to Alais'. "The problem is this for you. If your daughter chooses to leave, she is welcome to, though I would see to it that she would have to find her own way off the Isle. And, if you so choose, I can have a... well... shall we say a shadow be with her at all times." With Tass' last statement, Caleb shifted so slightly, one still wasn't sure he was there if not for his imposing demenor.

"Think on it a bit, hun, and we will accomidate accordingly. Now, I will ask what you have been waiting to hear, I believe. What is it that you need?"

The words had echoed through Tass's mind and found their home in Khirsah's ears. Khirsah knew his younger brother would follow Alais till she was found, yet he did not know the means which Tass would go. Tass was always the brash and defiant one of the two. It was what got him to the status he was within the brood.

Khirsah turned his mind away from the younger, and focused it towards Caleb. It was time to send a shadow out to find the Mistress Alia Anor, and protect her.

...though I must travel to the Emerald Isle in the next days. A missive from Tass' older brother had arrived earlier that day. Khirsah had sent the missive, and now with the news that Alia Anor was now a member of the Temple, I needed to use the resources of the Isle. The only place I knew of that had a better library than I have.

I excused myself from the company and returned to the library and penned the reply missive to Khirsah.

"M'Lord Khirsah,
Thank you for your invitation to the Isle. I shall look forward to seeing you the day after tomorrow. I have dire news to share. My daughter has become an initiate of the Temple.

With my deepest gratitude,

Lady Alais d' Arma Graham 'd Nitesong Sidhe"

Soft Annaran words send the parchment into the flames of the library fireplace where the missive turns to ash and seeks the hearth of Khirsah.

(Excerpt from post in Streets/A Quiet Return)

Death, destruction, decay?

The place which they had traveled to was rankled with it. Each direction one faced, the sights that assaulted the mind was almost numbing?almost. Those that dwelled here knew how to bring about the destruction of intruders. Yet, even as they sought to break the mind before the body, there were some things that these creatures did not prepare for.

He had become separated some how from the rest of the group, something which didn''t bother him overmuch. He knew that Xeno would take care of those in his charge to the best of his capability, and as for himself? well, there was very little that could muster the strength to break through his barriers.

His search of the grounds, stealthy as it was (for it is always better to err on the side of caution), proved fruitless. He had hoped to find some trace of what may assault those that came with him. If there was creatures about, no? not if, for there *were* creatures around, they left no traces? physical or residual. He would have to be more cautions if these things knew how to cover their tracks this well. Or perhaps it was the land working in their favor, doing that they could not in order to protect it''s self.

Having found nothing, or no one, on the exterior grounds, he then turned his attention towards the keep. Steeling himself, he walked the exterior wall, looking for another way in. Granted, he could take the front door, but why announce your presence any more than you had to? His hand glided slowly across the stones as he made his way around, and soon found what he was looking for. Faintest of change, the stone which was under his hand was different. A smile played a moment over his lips as he felt, and considered, what would be needed to slide this magical barrier open.

Slowly, carefully, he pulled on the darkness that the land held within itself. No darkness is different from any other, it is just a matter of what you fear that lies in that different darkness and he had mastered that fear long ago, and with it, the darkness was easily commanded.

As the shadows crept to their final resting, he then lifted his hand, ready at last to slide the key into the proverbial lock. But it was not to happen, for the door had pulled itself open before he could. This was something he did not expect. The woman who stood on the other side of the door smiled, and in that simple gesture, he felt the warmth of a lovers arms and the coldness of death. She had been waiting for him...


Tass jerked upright, the cold sweat soaking the silks of the bed. He sat there, blinking a moment, trying to catch his breath. Since his return to this plane, and in truth, the return to his body, he had been having the same dream over and over again. Each time, the dream would progress further and further, headed to one whom he did not want to see.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The night of his return had been hazy, at best. He had managed to destroy and even route many of those foul creatures that had caught him at the door. They had underestimated what he could do. His power had proved greater than theirs combined, but it had cost him dearly. He was drained, and became more so at having to rip the hole in time and space, for he was too tired for the subtleness of a proper portal, to return home.

The step through that tear had put him just outside of the Red Dragon Inn? the place where this trip had begun. He didn''t know why it was here that he was drawn, but it was where the tear had opened back into this plane. Too tired, too weak to make the trip to his Isle, he decided it best to go in and gather his strength. He could, at least, have a drink and relax a bit from the trip.

His steps, aided by the ironwood staff, found their way into the Arena, and he found himself not alone. Already there were two that were within, one whom he had traveled with, Rhaine, the pseudo-vampire, and the other? the other he saw every night in his dreams now, but at that time, that night, he did not know her.

His mind still numb, still out of sorts, he found himself the drink he had been wanting, and moved to sit with Rhaine and her companion. This stranger had stood, and even offered to help him to a seat, yet his body had felt trouble, and all he could do was snap at her. He was not that feeble! Sitting, he could do little to keep up with their conversation, something about protecting someone? but it was lost to him as he sat there staring into his glass.

Then it was upon him, or rather, she was. He felt his mind''s barrier shatter and she pushed her way in. How dare her! How dare this low creature intrude upon his domain! She would feel true wrath! She would be destroyed... Yet she continued to push, and he, in his weakened state could only put up a moderate fight. His mind clung to hers, and then he knew. She was the one who had sent those creatures after him! She had lured him and he had taken the bait! He was too weak to defend himself from her. She had pushed one final time, and in that instant, he felt himself pulled away, into the safety of another?

He knew nothing of the time that he was in those safe arms, only that he was loved and safe, and that he was allowed the time to regain his strength, to reorganize this thoughts, for though he had no body, his thoughts were still his own. It could have been hours, days before he again knew that he was needed, and when it came; he felt again that taint of the Hells he had near destroyed.

"It is time to reclaim your body, little brother?" The voice was warm, yet a chilled edge laced the outsides. He knew that voice? he knew that there was only one who called him that? Then it hit him? Khirsah. Khirsah had risked his own soul to save him. Knowing what Tass'' power could do to his mind, Khirsah had still pulled him into safety, and had fed him the solitude that he so desperately needed. Yet, it was another''s arms and another''s strength that kept him whole.

Steeling himself against the assault he would make, he flowed through the only bond he had with his body? that of brothers. She had not expected him, and indeed thought him lost. Gathering the strength required, he drove against the barriers, already weak, that held her within his mind. But her claws were deep; she did not want to give away the body, nor the mind that he held. He could feel her greed at the knowledge held within, and in his own way, he smiled.

Narrowing his thoughts, he twisted his mind around, feeding her greed with knowledge of life, lacing it all with death. All life began with a death, and she sought all she could find that dealt with destruction. With that thin lace of death around it, the knowledge of life got sucked into her greedy claws.

Then, as she took the last of the information he had fed her, he gave one final shove, a shove that he knew would send her out. But she did not go to her own body? no, he could see now that Khirsah had possession of that, and would not relinquish it until he made the blood-witch humbled. She had flung herself out, towards another. Yet he held enough in him to leap after her, and pulled her back. This, among all else, had shocked her more than anything. This was something she had not found in the stores of knowledge. She would not find another through his body!

Clinging onto the shreds that were her, he held tight, fighting her to keep control of his self and to keep her trapped within. "?leave my body, I leave your brother's?" The words where hollow, for she had not the power to leave. Yet as he felt Khirsah''s power release from hers, he let the blood-witch go.

Then, all was darkness?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Having calmed himself, and the sweat finally stopping, he looked over to his wife. He knew she was worried over him and knew something had happened. She was just as well connected as he, and she would soon know of the event that had taken place in the Arena.

Leaning over, he gave her a kiss, as smiled as she stirred just a bit at his touch. There was little in this world, or any other for that matter, that would keep him from her. It was her arms which had held him as he regained his strength; her strength which kept him safe. He would lay his life for her love, and she had giving him one more reason to do so.

Standing, he robed himself and made his way to the study. Khirsah had told him after waking that Alais would be coming to the Isle, and that changes had been made within her? darker changes.

It would have to be the Isle that housed this darkness until she found the balance she needed once more?

As he sat the desk, again, watching the setting of the sun over the water... a view that he had seen many times and still found himself enthralled by it... he heard the rustling of the Elder coming closer.

Khirsah had hovered close these past few days since his return, knowing through the bond that something was wrong. Bless the old one...

"I know of the letter, Brother. Pen a reply and let her know that we await her return, and that chambers will be readied, for all measures."

Still watching the waters, and the now reddened sky, he felt the Elder nod, and then the closing of the door.

Heaving a heavy sigh, he turned and prepared himself for the arrival of the books. There were few things of knowledge which he could not get his hands on... and they were being brought to the Isle.

The days had been long. The nights, it seemed, had been longer. In the rare bits of sleep that he could catch, the dreams continued to plague his thoughts. It was not that he needed sleep, anyways. There had been times in the past where he would go months on end without rest. But then again, those times had been when he was younger and more adaptive to change. These past few years had shown him what it was like to be old. It was not something that he cherished. Perhaps it was time to return to the flames??

During those longs days and nights, he had prepared the South Wing for Alais'' arrival with the books. He knew that she would need the place she stayed warded, both as a precaution for her, and in turn, a precaution for his family. The books she brought with her was not something that he was about to take lightly in the presence of his family.

It had been long work, Khirsah taking the blunt of the work onto his self. Something''s going on there... But the thought slipped from him. The wards were finally in place, and he felt at least satisfied that, his beloved wife and daughter, as well as Alais, would be safe from the effects of the books.

He had received the letter before his younger had a chance to look at it. After having read through it a few times, he turned and sought to find Tass.

It was not hard to find where his younger was. The sounds of laughter filled the halls, and he knew that Tass was with his daughter. Stepping through the arch-way that lead to one of the many inner gardens, he found them caught up in what appeared to be a fight. By all indications, it was a fight, with the exception of the roar of laughter that each emanated.

"I give! I give! You have bested me! Gah, little one, you have enough energy to run the entire Isle."

Khirsah''s smile was warm, and his eyes danced as he watched his younger get untangled from his pupil. He had spent long hard hours pushing the girl, both in studies and in training. She will do well...

Clearing his throat, he caught Tass'' attention and pulled his younger away from his daughter for a moment. "The letter has come."

Tass gave a sigh, and glanced over his shoulder a moment back to his daughter. "I knew it would. Before times get darker, I wish to spend more time with her."

Khirsah nodded. "I have already made arrangement for myself to accompany the books back here to the Isle."

Tass'' hand came and clasped Khirsah on the shoulder, nodding once, and then turned back to the garden, the smile that was radiant before now almost forced.

Turning from the garden, Khirsah made his way to his study. There was no time like the present, after all. Calling the flames to the hearth, he stepped in.