?There you are!? Kairee smiles as she approaches Briarius; ?You better hurry and change or we will be late.? She found him in his personal library.

Not looking up, Briarius simply states to himself; "My mother always taught me to knock."

He glances up from the books laid out before him. Keeping the bone pointer pressed to the page so as not to lose his place in the text, Briarius watches, as she seems to emerge from the shadows.

Light caught silvery threads woven into the gathered and ruched, lavender-grey silky-gauze that formed her form-fitting mini-dress. Hematite and silver adorned her neck and dangled form her ears. Shadows melted away the closer she strode toward his work table.

?Hello, Kairee.? He managed to keep his smile subdued, ?For what will I be late??

?You are taking me out on the town.? She informs him.

?I see.?

?You know you want to.? a matter-of-fact statement emphasized with a toss of her long, fiery red hair over a perfect shoulder.

?Whether I do or do not is entirely beside the point.? Briarius quickly settles into the banter that seems to characterize their greetings, ?When did we arrange this date??

?We didn?t? she smirks, ?I arranged it on your behalf.? Kairee traces a finger along the tome as she turns about his work table, ?It can't be said that I never did you a favor.?

?A favor?? Briarius leans back and meets her teasing smirk with a bemused smile, casually toying with his hand-carved bone pointer. He will find his place again. Later. His eyes never left her.

?Obviously. Otherwise you would waste the entire night doing...? she waves a hand over his assorted books and papers, ?..whatever it is that you are doing! By the way..." Kairee picks up the large open book to Briarius left, ?What is it that you are doing?? Curiosity had overcome, albeit temporarily, her desire to go out. Kairee sits on the now clear corner of his table and sets the book on her crossed legs allowing for better examination of the pages that had held Briarius attention before her arrival.

?Ah! Yes...? her question drew Briarius attention away from his apparent study of her crossed legs, ?Re-translating work done by a previous scholar. I'm sure you're familiar with Marrutainius' study of antemortem rituals and theurgic practices.?

?Necromancy isn't my thing, babes.?

?Yes, of course.? he smiles and refrains making a comment about ?lack of study? and instead continues his explanation, ?I find his translation of the funerary texts of the long lost Chastulian monks unsatisfactory.? Briarius stands to better gaze down at the text on her lap. ?He actually attempted a translation directly into the Elvish Sallidai dialect!?

?You don't say!? Kairee glances from the pictograph images alleging to be the Chastullian text, ?And this is a problem.....how??

?My dear,? His tone unconsciously slips into that of a lecturing professor, ?In choosing an inappropriate language in which to translate, he disregarded the unspoken imagery inherently tied to words and their use. The cultural connotations are lost. The syllogistic subtlety is lost. It's sloppy scholarship.? Briarius passed sentence from one academic onto another, ?No, Marrutainius would have done much better to have selected a language from a culture that is more commutable in regards to antemortem philosophies such as the Necron. For example, this symbol here, ?Briarius points to one of the pictographs, ?Marrutainius translates that as ?silo? which means, very clinically, in Sallidai, ?body? but if you were to use the Necron language, the translation would be ?kran il' tuvian? meaning ?vessel carrying sun-kissed water of life.? ? Briarius smiles with pleasure, ?A much more satisfying translation. What some 'scholars' forget is that connotation and verbal imagery is as important as denotation and the literal.?

Kairee arches a perfect brow and looks directly into his eyes, ?Babes, seriously, you need to get out more.?

"How would I know, babes? " Kairee's lips grew into a smile again, her green eyes shone with a teasing gleam, "You're the one taking me out."

?Don't hurt yourself.? Kairee poked Briarius leg with the toe of her brazenly purple high heeled shoe as he teased. ?Here, let me help. It's really just a logic problem. For example....You are taking me ?out.? ?Out? is the operative term in the equation. Since we are already ?in? the library we cannot go ?out? to get here. Therefore, the library is not the solution to your dilemma. And no, Going out and then coming back in is not an option.? she closes the book on her lap and sets it on the table, ?It's all very simple as you can see. Now, as for a lecture on the evolution of paint drying...an odd but interesting choice, however, you must recall that I am a Pyromancer. I can make paint dry with a snap of my fingers and so, while I have no doubt you would be fascinated by paint drying, it is really rather old hat for me and I am not fond of hats, new or old. Therefore, paint drying, and lectures on same, is not a solution either. I'm afraid you will have to think beyond the confines of your interests and think outside the walls of the Academy. It's a stretch but it will do you good.?

Kairee winked for good measure.

"Ah. Remedial" Kairee nodded sagely, "Well, in that case, we should start simply. Dinner.. and if you are up to the challenge, dancing."

"I don' t mind staying local besides, I am curious about the things that first come to your mind before you've had a chance to analyze and adjust."

"Oh!" Kairee's smile dazzles as she stands with fluid grace to link her arm in his, "I do love a sharp dressed man."

<<"I'm not as socially inept as one is led to believe." >>

?Perhaps there is hope for you yet.? Kairee quipped with a hip check.

Kairee glances over those who greet the headmaster. Some she recognized from the inn or elsewhere on Rhydin, others she did not. She clearly felt their emotional emanations of fear, desire, envy, and confusion but did not bother with their thoughts. If she, or any other psionic, listens to their surface thoughts he or she would hear the unspoken elements of their greetings.

?Yowza! Damn! Kairee is always so hot! I want me some of that! Lucky man!?

?Isn?t that Kairee from the Inn? With Lord Ravensheart? There must be trouble brewing!?

?The Headmaster likes girls?! Wait till my wife hears about this! She won't believe me!?

"I would do whatever I need to do to survive and succeed as a "normal" woman." Kairee shrugged having answered without pause, "What about you and why are you asking?"

Briarius chuckled darkly.

"I spent 5000 years without my powers."

He grew thoughtful.

"My original time in RhyDin was some years ago. The time the guilds warred with each other. I was a powerful warrior-mage. I became the leader of one of the guilds of light. I was doing well. D'Shara and I were married. D'Shara was Sha'uri's mother. i had a very large enchanted castle. Two beautiful children. Then it was all taken from me. There was an accident...or I thought it was at the time. A magical accident that robbed me of my powers. It also destroyed my castle and flung me out into the multiverse. I spent 5000 years learning and surviving. I finally saw a way to return to RhyDin. I came to find that only a few decades had passed here. D'Shara had remarried and had Sha'uri...my children died in a war...all my friends were gone."

He was silent.

He rolled his eyes.

"Insensitivity is no way to espouse long term friendships. Regardless, I was merely stating facts. As far as what i would like to do, I can go out and talk at the same time. In fact, being a professor at a school lends to me being able to talk and do many things."

"That is something I always wanted to study. I noted that RhyDin seemed much more stable and expansive upon my return."

"Does the Nexus grant you powers?"

"Perhaps the better phraseology of that question would be if you drew power from The Nexus directly."

It was obvious Briarius was processing this information.

"Where were you born? What is the name of your homeworld. I seem to remember telling you mine, but not getting reciprocity."

He smiled at her warmly.

"I see."

They walked in silence for a few moments.

"'Barely escaped leaving'? What did you mean by that?"

"In the hierarchy of my interrogatives, the question I asked superseded the question of the name of your home. However, now that you bring it up, what was your home called?"

He stored the information away for further research.

"Did any others escape with you?"

"I suppose I would have to cite the willingness I have to give information freely. Not to also mention that I already have provided you with plenty of information about me.

As to my personal interest or research, I would say both. I research subjects I enjoy. I would like to note here that you are a subject I enjoy very much."

He quickly stepped in front of her and stole a quick kiss.

"I am certain those who would wish to chide me would be more surprised that I am displaying more emotion now than all my time since I returned to RhyDin."

He smirked.

"I cannot promise that I will not offer my condolences, but I assure you, that I am not apologizing for action or inaction."

The Headmaster produced some silver crowns from a belt pouch and paid the girl with a few crowns extra.

After her question,he laughed.

"As far as boredom goes, may i remind you that i am an academic? I do not bore so easily."

He simply walked and responded to her and his environment accordingly.

He was very attentive to the story.

He looked as if he was going to say something, but changed his mind.

He chuckled a bit.

"I will hold my questions until the end of the presentation."

Pausing briefly to return the once over given to her by one of the many random war-lords that flock to and through Rhydin, Kairee continued her tale.
?I won?t bore you with descriptions of Delos? seat of power and capital. Rest assured it kept to the stereotypical standards of authoritarian rule. Big, dark, depressing, with all the design details meant to intimidate. The great hall was filled with sycophants and supplicants and a few of us who were there to be judged.

?I was making my way through the throng when I felt someone mentally undressing me. It was child?s play to locate the offending mind and I smacked it as I turned my disapproving gaze upon the offender. He was bedecked in a peacock robe, and flanked by two of the Black Guard. His surprise was quickly replaced with a grin and thoughts of what he imagined he and I would do together. Such boldness!? Kairee laughs, ?I smacked him again, ?.harder. He merely shrugged and looked away.

?I don?t know why but that was very frustrating.? She flashed a smile, ?However, I had more pressing things to attend than the salacious ruminations of some oddly dressed, yet strikingly handsome, stranger.

?That stranger turned out to be Darrek and like me, he had come to Delos? attention in a bad way. In fact, there were five of us that Delos called together. He offered us a task that performed well, would earn us not only ?forgiveness? for whatever our past offense was but also a reward. Naturally, he lied. I had a flash of insight and saw his plans for each of us, however, refusal of his ?generous? offer would result in immediate judgement and death. Playing along, as far as I was concerned, bought me time and with time, one might find a way out of a bad situation.

?The quest sounded simple enough but as you can guess, it wasn?t what it seemed.

?He claimed that someone stole a fist sized diamond from him and that we needed to fetch it back.? Kairee looked to Briarius, ?I didn?t get any insight into whether he thought we were idiots or if he really didn?t care what we believed as long as we did what he wanted.

?Beside me, our merry little band included Darrek, who was not from our world. According to what he told me, he was teleporting from world to world when he clipped the Chaos Storm surrounding Delos? and materialised, in one piece, outside of the capital. I should probably mention that teleportation was impossible on Delos?; there was a world-wide teleport block in place. I had never even heard of teleportation and no one I knew ever spoke of it or mentioned that it was ?blocked.? There were many other things I learned while travelling with Darrek such as all the other magical disciplines that were unknown to most mages on my home world. Delos had forbade practice in so many disciplines. Thaumaturgy, Planarism, Dimensionalism, Demonology, and so on.

?At first, I thought Darrek was teasing ...that he was being fanciful but Inetus validated that such magics exist and that Delos had purged the world of its knowledge. According to Inetus, Delos kept such knowledge for himself and, perhaps, his closest adherents. Knowledge of the forbidden disciplines meant a death sentence. Finding this out confirmed what I had intuited, Delos would never allow Darrek and the rest of us to live after this quest.

?The other three I traveled with were Inetus, now a lich and, in theory, bound to serve Delos; Kormag, who was the most powerful psionic I have ever met even to this day, he could bend entire towns for miles around to his will; and, finally, General Hoagg, who was, apparently, a too zealous a commander, willing to sacrifice all those in his command in service to Delos but I suspected he was included to keep us upon the straight and narrow.

?This begs the question, 'Why would you need all of us to reclaim a single stolen gem?' It was obviously more than an over-sized bauble and the hunt for it proved to be a challenge.

?We found it and fell into it. It was a crystalline prison and in our attempts to get out, we inadvertently freed the prisoner, which was not what Delos wanted.

?We were not in a good place and so, we fled. We had no idea where to go and we knew Delos would track us in time but movement gave us something to do while we tried to figure out how to save our skins. Even Hoagg was eager not to face his master after that debacle. It turned out that the prisoner was Delos? fellow apprentice who was also his partner in overthrowing Inetus. They had ruled as ?co-emperors? until Delos imprisoned him. Can we say ?bad blood?? We hoped Delos would be too preoccupied hunting his disgruntled partner to bother with us but we couldn?t take the chance.

?Almost as soon as we freed Grentain, the weather erupted with powerful storms. After slogging for days, trying to keep a low profile, soaked to the bone and hammered by rain and hail, we happened upon a farmstead and sought shelter.? she took a deep breath, ?It turned out to be the new home of the last person I ever wanted to see again, Zlocinek.? Kairee shook her head to clear the annoyance the memory brought. ?He was a creepy as ever, claiming that he expected me. I didn?t want to enter but Darrek eased my concern. He was a charmer when he wanted to be and he told me that he would not let Zlocinek take any action against me.? she unconsciously smiled at memories of Darrek.

?By that time, I had learned to trust him. We worked well together and had fallen into a unspoken alliance against the dangers of quest, Delos, and our other traveling companions.

?I had a very bad feeling about it all but in retrospect it was best that I let him persuade me.

?Zlocinek tried to sweet talk me as he played the welcoming host. He told me that he had a plan to kill Delos but that he needed my help. That he always needed me and everything he did was to keep me safe until the right time. I couldn?t tell if he was lying. It felt like the truth but he was a psionic and you have to be careful when dealing with mind-benders.

?The prospect of killing Delos,however, was very tempting given our situation. We had no plan and so, was open to his. He insisted that he could show me, alone, down in his sanctum.. He must have thought I was an idiot. I refused to go alone. Darrek insisted he go with me. Eventually Zlocinek agreed but we had to leave the others behind.

?His sanctum was nothing like the one I reduced to charred slag. That one had been honed over decades, but this looked as if he carved it out of a root cellar.? Kairee smirked, ?It was prepared for a ritual. He had a circle draw. It looked like blood. Once we entered his sanctum he started to explain that he and the others I had met when in his ?care? were members of a confederation of demonologists, driven underground during Delos? purges. Much of their accumulated knowledge was lost in the ensuing chaos but eventually, the surviving members or those that carried on for them, reconnected with each other. Zlocinek claims that he was the one that devised the means of destroying Delos.

?You see, individually, they were not strong enough to bind a Demonic Prince but collectively, they should have the power to summon and compel. He claims to have worked years on the ritual before even broaching this plan with the others. In time they agreed and so they summoned a great demon, a primal demon and made a pact. The demon will kill?destroy Delos and set the demonologists, collectively, upon the throne in exchange for a specified number of magically awakened souls. A pretty standard sort of compact.

?It was then that Zlocinek handed me a large silver sphere. I'm not sure if it was pure silver, it may have been an alloy but it was heavily enchanted and etched with ritualistic symbolism. The etched lines seems to shimmer, wax, and wane as if the trapped souls inside flowed past. It pulled at my heart.? she looked into Briarius' eyes, ?I felt the lives of each soul; they tugged at my empathy. I was so transfixed I barely heard Zlocinek's continued exposition.

?He wandered a few feet away as he talked, ostensibly to continue to set up his ritual. He gathered candles and what-nots, all very innocuous. Sometime after they made their pact, he and the primal demon created a secondary pact. Zlocinek was to be given dominion over his fellows in exchange for one other soul. He confessed confusion as to why a single soul so interested the demon prince and for years he tried to devise why this one soul was so special. He never did discover why that soul was in particular demand but perhaps he would find out that night.

?He was being very obtuse. I suppose he thought he was being humorously clever. It lead me to ask what he meant, whose soul? He smiled maliciously and told me, 'Yours, my dear.'

?That came out of the blue. It was the last thing I expected but before I or Darrek could react, Zlocinek muttered and forceful wind swept through the sanctum, whipping up the dirt and dust from the floor, revealing another circle carved into the stone. It looked as if it was clawed out, the grooves were about an inch deep. The circle activated when the dirt was blown clear.

?It was a trap and I walked right into it.? Kairee sighed, ?I was so young.? she practically laughed at her youthful foolishness, ?Anyway, nothing we did could pierce the ward that entrapped us. Neither Darrek nor I knew much, if anything, about diabolical magics and it was an excessively strong ward. Zlocinek ignored us and our struggles. He didn't seem to hear the invective directed at him. I still held his soul-orb and thought it might hold the key to our escape but I couldn't' see clearly how...it just felt like the 'key', if that makes sense.

?Zlocinek started his invocation and it wasn't long before the other circle.. the one painted in blood...sparked to life. That circle was within our circle and that was not a good thing. The floor within that circle rippled and seemed to grow molten and soon a great demon started to emerge, clawing his way up and out. Darrek started to attack the creature but his magic seemed to have little effect. I concentrated on Zlocinek. I thought to disrupt his mind mid-spell but he was wearing amulets of protection.

?He had planned this well. He knew I had grown in power and he wasn't surprised when I should up on his door step. I thought he was just trying to unsettle me when he said he expected me but in retrospect, this wasn't an accident. This was planned.

?As clever as he was in planning for all contingencies, he left his ritual dagger exposed. I saw it and using teleknisis, I rammed it into Zlocinek's back, repeatedly, aiming for his vital organs.

?That got his attention? she smiled, ?and he lost control of his spell. The demon had not fully emerged and so was sent back to his abyss.

?We, however, were still trapped! Zlocinek obviously anchored this circle to some other power source than his personal reserve. I tried to break the circle by telekinetically pulling a table across the boundary but it didn't work. The circle was undisturbed since it was carved into the floor.

?Fortunately, if I can use that word, Delos had tracked us and was in the process of battling Inetus and the others. There was an explosion and the ceiling collapsed above us. Darrek managed to cast a shield about us so that we didn't get crushed to death. The debris, however, filled sections of the circle, breaking it.

?From our vantage point, we could see part of the battled that raged. Delos and Inetus were airborne, arcane energies flew as they viciously assaulted each other. There were magics in use I had never seen before. We debated how to join this fray. We needed Delos to be killed or at least so debilitated that he wasn't a threat to us but we knew that we were sitting ducks. IF we cast from our current position, he could rain hell down upon us.

?But then it occurred to me.....the only way to kill Delos was to overcome his defenses. We, and apparently even Inetus, could not pierce them or cut deep enough with our personal power alone but I had the soul-orb. The power invested in that item, the power needed to contain hundreds of souls had to be immense as well as diabolical Perhaps if we caused it to explode close to Delos, the explosive force of arcane energy might create an opportunity for Inetus to deliver the killing blow.

?Darrek and I agreed to mind-link to ensure the accuracy of his spell. I threw the orb at Delos, using my mind to give it speed and to guide it. Darrek used my connection to the orb to target the orb and cast. Delos never saw it coming. Darrek's blast hit the orb just before the orb would've hit Delos' defensives and as we thought, the orb shattered.

?Our plan worked better than we expected. The shattered spell eviscerated Delos and the newly freed souls, shredded his.

?It was over. You could feel the weight on the world lift. His spells started to unravel. It was a breath of fresh air.

?Afterward Inetus raced back tot he capital with plans of retaking his kingdom and Hoagg followed. I don't know what he hoped to gain. Perhaps it was just the knowledge a war of succession would break out and he wanted to be in position. Kormag simply seemed to wander away.

?It took Darrek a few days to puzzle out how to escape that world now that the teleport block was gone. The chaos storm was still there and that was the complication. Once he had his plan, he asked me to leave with him and so I did.? Kairee hugged Briarius' arm, ?And now you know what I have only revealed to my most intimate of friends.....and they are very, very few.?

?OH!? Kairee cried out, startled, bringing her posey to her chest and gripping Briarius? arm as she nearly stumbled. Stopping short, she gathered herself together. ?You startled me!? she admonishes turning a subtly toying gaze toward her companion, ?Honestly, I didn?t believe you when you told me of your total transformation?.now that you found yourself.? Her lips could not resist turning up abit as she gently teases, ?Before your metamorphosis, your response to my sharing such personal and intimate information would have been coldly academic and sterile. It will take some time for me to adjust to your new, emotive self.?

"Or perhaps I made it all up." she smirked.

"Hmmmmm.....Perhaps. Perhaps not." Kairee twirls her posey, " Where is this burger joint you're taking me too?"

"Babes, it will take more than a nice restaurant to impress me."

?Oh! You are sly!? Kairee beamed with delight at the surprise, ?I should have known that behind all that mystical multitasking you do that you were stepping around my back to ?organize? something.? Barely a heartbeat passed before she said, ?It sort it takes the spontaneity out of things, don?t you think? It makes me want to go elsewhere.? There was a shimmer of a teleport welling; tingling at their magical senses before it suddenly vanished, ?But I suppose I?ve pushed you to your limit for Chaos today.?

Kairee?s eyes follow Briarius? elegantly casual gesture to the sign. ?Sending someone ahead to arrange for a lack of fuss is still organizing.? Kairee observed in response to his whisper. She fell silent as she read the ?historical plaque? the ship?s survivors set up. ?Oh, a bit of flotsam. Interesting. It?s unusual that only a section was caught. Normally affinity would ensure the entire item would make the trip. Ah!? Kairee smiled as read the last paragraph, ?They are adherents.? Kairee whispered to her companion as they continued on to the entrance, ?I wonder if their tithing is up to date. I?ll have to remember to have the boys at the temple look into it.?

?Babes, tithing is a cornerstone of the cult racket. Somebody has to pay for the temple and all the accouterments and it certainly is not going to be me. If people insist on worshiping me, they can do it on their own coin.? Kairee whispered back as they sauntered to the entrance, her eyes and a dazzling smile directed to the anxiously waiting staff.

Though not know as a clairvoyant, Briarius prediction proved to be spot on. No sooner had they crossed the threshold than the champagne started to flow. The food seemed never ending as the chef, formerly ship?s cook, sent dish after dish of his finest creations. Far more food than the two could eat but surprisingly good. Neither glass nor plate lingered empty; the staff saw they never went without.

It took some doing (choice compliments, a few randomly blown kisses, a gentle shooing) but eventually, Kairee and Briarius were given privacy with only the occasional visit from their waiter to ensure their glasses were full and all was to their satisfaction.

>>"Why I brought you here is because of a phenomenon that I thought you may find intriguing. It stems from the fact the ship was separated from itself. The entire building emanates a very powerful residual energy."<<

?That sounds like a prelude to some scholarly investigation and not a night of romance.? Kairee smirked, ?You should call the minstrel back and while we dance you can whisper your theory to my ear?..oh, and be sure to mix in a few sweet-nothings.?

At Briarius signal, the minstrel merrily prances over to the two distinguished guests.

?No. Absolutely not.? Kairee scoffs at the notion. The minstrel is crestfallen as Kairee waves him away. ?I never dance with someone who doesn't have the desire....unless I choose.? she shifts in her seat, crossing her legs as she took a more languid pose, ?And I don't choose to.? she finishes the bit of bubbly in her champagne flute. ?Besides you are the one that had to get out of the library and have some fun.? she reasoned with selective memory as she refills her champagne glass, ?I also recollect that I put you in charge of the night's entertainments.?. Reclining back in her chair and with an expansive gesture with filled flute in hand, she playfully prods Briarius, ?Now, regale me with your tale. Titillate me with your theories.?

Her smile dazzles.

Briarius is cute.

Of course, he is an elf. A certain level of cuteness is to be expected but what heightens his natural cuteness quotient at the moment is the way his eyes light up as he expounds his theory. The normally sedate mage became practically animated.

Kairee is silent for a long moment after he finishes.

?Is that is?? she suddenly asks, ?Is that all you got??

Kairee fell silent again. With a shift of her seat she shrugged slightly, ?I suppose you are entitled to believe whatever you want.? Another pause followed by a sip of champagne. A slight shake of her head in mild confusion. ?But why you needed to sacrifice dancing for it, is beyond me...it?s not a world-shattering revelation, is it? It barely scratches the surface.? Setting down her glass, "What's next on your hit parade?"

"As to why I sacrificed dancing for it, well... I am still a man and am a bit nervous to be so close."

"That may be true, babes, but it's not something a man would admit." she smirked.

"How's that working out for you?" Kairee uncrossed her splendiferous legs and recrossed them in the opposite direction. She brushed an invisible bit of something from her lap with casual disinterest.

?Wonderful!? With a flash of leg uncrossing, Kairee is on her feet and advancing to the ?not nervous? Briarius. ?Now that discussion of your theory is out of the way and since you are not nervous,? she reaches for his glass teasing..prying?it from his hand to set it aside on the table, ?there can be no objection to dancing.?

Before he realized it, Briarius found himself being positioned by Kairee; a hand guided to her waist, the other in her hand. She stood close, very close but still far enough that her closeness could be considered tantalizing; light still passed between them even if just barely.

The previously dismissed bard, summoned mystically, sauntered in playing a sweet melody.

?Let?s start slow?.you seem a little stiff.? She teased as they began their dance; she prepared to lead should it be necessary. Leaning close to whisper in his ear, her lips brushing his earlobe, ?It?s not sentient, by the way?and every mage attempts to control It. Or more properly aspects or portions of It. The Nexus is the source of the arcane energy but Its nature is that of Chaos. Mystical energies are an ordered manifestation of It. No-one can control The Nexus?. Control is antithetical to It. It?s pointless even to try.?

As they danced, a chill began to creep inot the room. Ominously candles flickered in their sconces and holders. An eery sound of heavy steps echoed across the floor.

Kairee sighs softly as she first feels The Presence.

It figures. Just as they were getting into their groove.

?Not a friend of yours?? she rhetorically asked her dance partner as the familiar tickle of defensive warding flows from Briarius. His reaction did surprise her since a wave of relief that accompanies The Presence without even a tinge of hostility coloring its empathic aura

Addressing The Presence even as she presses her cheek to Briarius?; continuing the dance, ?Go away. Can?t you see that we?re busy??

?I have searched high and low for you, my lady.? The disembodied voice howled like a cold wind, a plaintive cry underpinning the soul-piercing, spine tingling sound, ?I bring an urgent message from my prince. I beseech you, do not turn me away.?

?Babes!? Kairee shook the shiver that ran down her spine, turning out from the dance, ?Tone it down!? A final shake to be rid of the creepies, ?Show yourself. Who are you??

The bard made a discrete exit.

It took a minute or two before a form coalesced on bended knee in front of them. A translucent knight in chain-mail, his helm tucked under his right arm, his left hand steadying the hilt of his sword.

?As I live and breathe, it?s Henry Longstride!? Kairee smiled recognizing the sandy haired armored warrior, waving him up to his feet, ?Babes, you?re half the man you had been.? she commented looking him over,? What the hell happened??

His ghostly eyes blinked, ?I?m?I?m dead, Lady.? He gently explained.

?Obviously, babes, but the last time I saw you, you were a man of more?..substance.?

The apparition nodded in understanding, ?I was killed again. I and a few of the lads went out to round up some visiting zombie before they got into trouble. However, we were too late and the town muster were already engaged. In their zeal, they attacked us and?..I was set upon from behind and fell defending the tourists.?

?Heroism does have it downside.? She shrugged. ?Do you know Briarius, he runs the local asylum for delinquent mage-lings? A telekinetic pinch to Briarius? bottom as she made the introduction.

?Master Ravensheart is well known by those that dwell within Rhydin?s cemeteries. His school is well regarded and I am honored to finally make his acquaintance.? The knight bowed.

?Yeah, yeah. So, what?s so urgent that you ruined a perfectly good dance??

Bri took the glass of champagne as he amusedly watched this "dance" continue. He took mental notes about the situation and started formulating his thoughts. However, his deeply seeded propensity towards what was good and right began to gnaw at him. Something was wrong and it needed fixing, not debating.

"I am certain Lady Kairee that a brief investigation would not harm anyone. In fact, a change of scenery might be precisely what this evening needed. Of course, it is your choice as this evening was your idea."

"Am I understanding this correctly? The undead laid to rest in RhyDin have declared sovereignty, and they are ruled by a Prince Reginald? Am I also correctly assuming that the Tomb of the Unknown Patron is essentially the seat of power?"

The Headmaster's eyes were filled with awe, curiosity, and what seemed to be a little bit of terror. The awe and curiosity seemed fairly predictable for a necromancer academic, but the terror was very uncharacteristic.

His voice got quiet and unmistakeably serious, "Do all laid to rest in RhyDin cemetery become undead?"

"I haven't been to RhyDin Cemetary since I got back here. I only went the once to visit my children."

He sighs quietly and recomposes.

"Very well...let us see what is going on.

"Abominations!"

He practically spat the word.

"...and I mean the necromancers themselves, not the poor creatures they are creating."

He sighed.

"You see, your physical remains, while they do not hold your spirit any longer, do hold a direct tie to your spirit. In most Necromancy, the mystic energy that is used to fuel the incantations can cause the tie to become sensitive. So, when a Necromancer animated a corpse, they are trapping a soul to suffer in agony as it's former body is being animated. Most spirits can do nothing but suffer while it is going on."

Briarius nodded sagely.

"It is my ethical belief that the balance of life and death must be retained. No one being should suffer due to another's actions. I leave well enough alone as long as that is the case. If no one is in pain from the situation, then so be it."

He smirked.

"Long gone are my righteous flaming sword wielding days where the dark were to simply destroyed without a thought."

"Oh, don't think I still don't stand up for what i believe. If there is indeed trouble, then that is usually an indicator that some poor soul is suffering and balance must be restored. I have grown a slight distaste of swords anyway. That doesn't mean though that I can't defend myself, those I love, or principles I hold dear."

A black hue covered the normally bright sapphire of Briarius' eyes. His skin grew pale and cold, like alabaster.

"In fact, in a realm of the dead, my powers are significantly enhanced."

"I produced a reaction from Lady Kairee..."

His color returned.

"...record that in the history books."

He smiled.

"We should probably think about getting to this problem before it becomes catastrophic."