The Seven Keys.

[Vixandra]

Cali

I awoke early the next morning, a bit stiff but otherwise okay. A dream had lead to me waking, made me pull away from Yris' warm side as I stood and crossed the room, the sword somehow at my side.
I looked at the thing, head tilted as if listening to it and finely nodded. I lifted the sword in the air and felt the same power flow I had the night before, from it to me and back again.
I smiled and willed the whip to take the form of weapon most familiar to me. It shifted from the bright, glittering gold sword of renown to a black whip, its handle inlaid with white gold runes and tracings. I flicked it gently, pleased by the rapid and easy response.
To change me back, merely wish it, Mistress mine.
With a grin, I flicked the sword-whip into a coil and belted it on my left hip after getting dressed. I looked at the clothing that had been laid out with a shake of my head before bypassing it for my own. I'd sent someone to the ship before falling asleep for my rucksack of tricks and clothing.
I slipped into a pair of calf high boots over leggings, both in a simple black, the boot bearing silver rune markings against flame and spells. Silver skirt and flowing blouse, black belt to which the two whips attatched, mine over my right hip, the swordwhip over the left for crossdraws. I was as good with my left hand as I was with my right, when it came to weaponplay. Picked up a nasty break as a kid in training- my instructors had make me continue practice, dumping cold water on me for any mistake, left hand or not. I'd kept up the training- had saved my life a few times before.
I ran a brush through my hair and bound it back with a bandana, keeping my face clear.
Yris wasn't awake yet- poor thing.
I smiled and walked out onto the balcony, into the moring sun to practice my whip play and to see if either whip responded differently then what I was used to.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

Trianna felt a shiver race down her spine as Ramas leaned in and whispered into her ear and she lowered her eyes for a moment trying to concentrate on what he was saying rather than the summersaults her stomach seemed to be doing.

As he pulled her down next to him she didn't resist but curled up by his side, laying her head on his chest with a sigh. Closing her eyes she tried to sleep but was hyper aware of Ramas so close by.

She sighed. She could get used to this but...there was the shadow of his former love that darkened that idea. She had seen by his reaction that he had not gotten over her or her death. She doubted that as long as Snider lived he would ever let her go. He may not even be able to go ahead after he was sure that his brother was dead.

And Trianna had no intention of living in the shadow of another. It would not be possible for her to be happy knowing that he was still in love with a ghost and she was not going to be anyone but herself no matter what.

It was with difficulty that she fell asleep again only to wake before Ramas did, his arm still around her. Silently and reluctantly, she managed to slip from under his arm without waking him and moved quietly to change into her normal forest gear and clothing, braiding her long hair behind her and moving into Tana's room with a glance at Ramas' still sleeping form.

Waking the girl up, and quieting Growls who would have greeted her with gusto, she spent some time getting her dressed and her hair braided as well, nodding and smiling when she saw the results.

"I think breakfast and then we are planning on leaving again. I am starved," She smiled as she brushed the girl's hair back, her vision coming to her clearly as she looked once again into Tana's face.

Standing, she offered Tana her hand. "Come. We will dine though I am reluctant to wake Ramas from a sleep he truly needs."

 

[LadyRozes]

Tana followed Trianna outside and followed her to the breakfast room and she ate silently and wondered where they were headed next.. it seemed everything with this group was like an adventure.....


************

Tildiir looked at Elli and sadly shook his head, "I am sorry sis not this time ... I jsut cant let you go... I talked to your sensai.. and he said you were not needed there anymore... you are to stay here and deal.... Do I make myself clear.."

Ellie smiled, "yes I suppose so. It isnt like I was needed anyway..besides.. I have a sudden need to be here.." She blushed.

"Is there something you wished me to know Ellie..??"

"Later I promise.. I will tell you when everything is fine.."

Tildiir looked at his little sister.. "Alright El.. I'll wait, but I wont be happy while doing it.." he slid away from her room and walked towards his advisory.. where he picked up the old stone on top of his desk... his father used to tell him that if you need to tell anyone about the worries, you could tell the stone and then it would feel as though you dont have to worry about it anymore and the answers would just come to you..

Tildiir half smiled and thought well its worth a try right? he started to rub and started talking......

After a few hours, he smiled and realized that his anwsers were right in front of him...


*************

Liliana smiled as she checked in on the two couples .. it seemed things had not changed much..

She was glad they were feeling better and hoped for the time being they would have someone around to help tend their wounds.. it would not do well where there were heading to go without one..

**************

 

[Strolling Gecko]

I awoke as sunlight broke through the slight opening of the curtains in the room. I blinked twice before opening my eyes wide. I was immediately aware of Trianna's absence and I wondered how long I had been sleeping. What a twenty four hours.

I stood and stretched. I saw my armor laid scattered about the floor. I couldn't remember the last time I had removed it so carelessly. I gathered it up slowly and set it on top of the near by dresser and the chair that sat next to it. It was covered in plant demon gunk. I'd have to shine it later.

I picked up my sword and wandered my way down to my room. I undressed, comb my hair, and redressed. I tied it back as I liked to do before pulling on a pair of brown boots. I was dressed in a loose white shirt and simple brown slacks. As I attached my sword to my belt, I had already made up my mind to run through the maze that Lan had me run through every day for nearly twenty years. I would let my compatriots know that I would be at the Grove when they decided the next course of action.

Besides, I knew of a gift that I was sure Trianna would love among Lan's earthly belongings.

I entered into the dining hall and found Trianna and Tana eating a simple looking breakfast. Growls was on the floor between the two of them, lapping away at a saucer of water. I smiled warmly at Trianna and gave a nod to Tana.

"I'm going to be going to the Grove for most of the morning," I announced as an apple from a platter a servant had brought to me. "If a plan of action is devised before I return, that's where I can be reached. I shouldn't be too long."

I smiled warmly at Trianna before walking out of the dining hall and down to the stables. I chatted nice with the stable master Hannor and he lent me one of the finer steeds named Aoth. A fine white and black steed, I had ridden Aoth many times, both into battle and leisurely with whoever wanted to go for a ride. I saddled him up, but did not use a bit and bridle. He didn't like it and I had learned that fairly well from the first time I tried. Aoth threw me so far off of his I nearly landed in a water troft. I stepped up onto his back and rubbed his neck. He whinnied softly and Hannor gave a gruff laugh.

"You're the only person he lets ride him anymore," Hannor snorted. "You certainly got a way with him."

"You just have to show him respect," was my reply.

I put Aoth into a gallop and we rode off towards the Grove. We arrived much quicker than I expected. I let Aoth wander the Grove as he pleased, seeing as how he never ran off before, I expected he wouldn't run off this time either.

I made my way down an almost forgotten path into a large clearing with a massive network of ropes and platforms. I climbed a ladder to the nearest platform and looked out over the course. How many times had Lan made me run through this while he counted in the slow meter of his? I felt as though I could do this with my eyes closed. For twenty years straight I ran this course every single day, over and over until I got it right. And then I'd have to run through it again.

"Completing it once is only luck," Lan was fond of saying, "Completing it twice is slightly less lucky. Now when you can do it flawlessly, regardless of outside influences, then you can call yourself skilled. Now.....begin!"

I flipped a nearby lever before leaping out to the first rope and swung across to the second platform. I could hear Lan counting to me.

"One......two......three.....four....."

I ducked under a rope, lept a seocnd one and dropped down to the next platform.

"Five.....six....seven....."

I ran and lept out to another platform as the one I was standing on began to fall away from me. Grabbing the edge of the platform I pulled myself up to it and quickly rolled underneath.

"Eight......nine.....ten....eleven..."

I approached a guantlet of swinging sacks. I hated this damn maze.


I ran through the maze three times. Though I did it a bit slower than I usually did at first, by the final time I was running through it like I had never stopped practicing. I was sweating, but I hadn't exerted myself hardly at all. Now I could attend to finding the gift for Trianna.

I made my way up into Lan's "treasure room," making sure to say the word that disabled all the nasty glyphs that would shock the hell out of anyone who entered. Lan's treasure room was really just a small little hut set back away from the two living huts that he and I had inhabited for all those years. I began to rummage through the chests and cabinets of the room. It had to be in one of these damn containers.

 

[LadyRozes]

A mans throat cleared and waited to see if Ramas heard it, before saying, "So I see that your in the mood to give a way a few of my things.."

 

[Strolling Gecko]

The voice surprised me so much that I lept from my crouched position and hit my head on an overhead shelf.

I turned around and my jaw dropped to the floor. I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought he was gone.

"Well," I said looking over my new visitor, "You look well old friend."

 

[LadyRozes]

He looked back at Ramas.. "well I did say I had to leave.. I didnt say I would die or anything.. geez... " Lan rolled his eyes and laughed...

Ramas could see right through him.

"So whats on your mind son? I can tell your obviously looking for somethign, cause you wouldnt go through my stuff if you weren't"

 

[Strolling Gecko]

I looked at Lan and couldn't help but smile.

"I'm looking for that old cloak of yours. The one you wore when we had to sneak into that troll's cave by way of the brush. You know which one I mean," I turned back and began to dig through the chest again. "It's a gift. For a ......friend. A special friend."

I glanced back at his projection nervously.

 

[LadyRozes]

He looked at Ramas and almost laughed, but he kept a straight face and waited for him to find it.. it would be so easy for him to pick it up and get it, but he rather watch ramas rummage through his things for it.

"So you want to tell me about thisspecial friend of your and what of my things could possibly be worth giving to this friend?"

he waited knowing that it was only a matter of time before he was going to bunker down and tell him..

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

Trianna nodded to Ramas in understanding. She could well see how much he needed some time alone though she dearly wished she could get out of this castle herself and into the open again.

Glancing down at Tana, though she realized that the girl needed her now more than Trianna needed an extended time in the elvin woods.

She watched Ramas go with a wistfullness and wondered if it was her desire to be out of the castle or with him and then chided herself for the thought.

Finishing up her breakfast, she took Tana's hand and said,"Come on, we will wait for Yris and Cali to announce they are ready in the garden. It will give us some time to relax and think about something else for awhile."

Walking along with the young girl and Growls at her side she thought over how attached she had come to be of the girl and wondered what would happen to her after the quest was done.

Maybe Ramas would help her find Tana's family. Maybe, if the girl had no family Trianna could...she sighed. One day at a time. That was the elvin rule and she should live by that especially now.

 

[Strolling Gecko]

I continued to dig through the chest. Sighing when the cloak didn't materialize, I turned to a cabinet.

"You know, Lan, I think I liked you better when you were running me through the maze and smacking me on the head with your staff when I fell from the high platform. Humor doesn't suit you," I joked with my old friend. "Her name is Trianna and she's a ranger not unlike you were. Except I never saw you call animals to you just by thinking about it."

I began to toss tunics and gloves over my shoulder as I dug through the cabinet.

"As I said, that cloak you wore when we fought those trolls. I know you remember. The trolls had managed to get some goblins and bugbears to serve as guards. Nasty little adventure that was," I chuckled at the memory. "I forget. What was the final tally of critters? I think I bested you that day."

I turned and smiled a smart ass smile at my friend.

 

[LadyRozes]

Lan laughed. "if I recall the score was fifteen to ten and I got the fifteen.. either way.. "sighing he finally waved his hand and the cloak appeared on the top of the pie he just went through "... she could call animals.. i do belive he had to be a wood elf.. they are a rare breed indeed.. must definately be someone special.. that combined with the ablility to talk to animals and a very experienced ranger... well she definately has her work cut out for her.. if you want in her pants.."

Lan sighed and looked at his dumstruck friend, "you do know Ramas that Jasmine would not have wanted to you to stay alone forever.. you can be happy too you know.. she is.. she tells me so every time i meet her... she asks about you .. wonders if you hare happy.."

 

[Strolling Gecko]

"Jasmine..... she's happy? But how could she be after what Snider did? How can she rest in peace if her murderer is still out there, walking around and taunting me about the fact that he took the one good thing the Gods ever gave me?"

I spat angerily. If Lan was really here I would have tried to hit him.

"But....she's happy. And she wants me to be too? I have to admit, I have stumbled onto someone very special. It's just... is it that easy to let go of fifty years worth of hate and thoughts of revenge? The fact that Snider is still alive......but one of us won't be at the end of this race will we?"

I looked at my feet and sighed a heavy sigh.

"I do think that Trianna is worth letting go of my anger. Of my hate. Hell, Lan, I know that Trianna is worth it. I'm still going to kill Snider. But now it isn't for revenge. Now it's to end that chapter of my life. End the anger, end the hate and just move on. Trianna doesn't deserve to be in the shadow I've let fall over my life. Thanks Lan, for everything...." I turned around and he was gone. I thought I heard him laughing. I guess maybe his quest made him so somber. I could relate to that I suppose.

I grabbed the cloak and darted from the hut while reraising the ward. I approached Aoth and saw that he had managed to get free of his saddle. I didn't care as I lept onto his back and rode him in a full gallop out of the Grove and back towards the castle.

I thundered up to and through the castle gate, past the stables and into the garden. I had never felt more alive. It was as if I had managed to finally get out in the sun after being holed up in a cave all winter. I felt fantastic. And I think Aoth had picked up on it. Trianna and Tana were in the garden with Growls. Tana smelling flowers while Growls rolled around on his back nearby. Trianna was by a tree. I hopped off of Aoth.

"Thanks friend," I said to him while rubbing his neck. I turned to Trianna and smiled at her warmly.

"The Grove proved most refreshing. And, I found this. It's for you," I said as I pulled the cloak off from around my shoulders. Out in the sunlight, it seemed to shimmer.

"I sincerely hope you like it."

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

Trianna smiled as she watched Tana romp about with Growls, both of them enjoying the sun and fresh air. It had been a good idea to get out of the castle...for all three of them.

Trianna had paused only long enough to tell a steward she needed an errand done in town. She wanted someone to pick up a small lyre for Tana. She was going to see if the girl would enjoy music lessons. It would be a good way for them to pass the time on the ship and it would take the small girl's mind off of her problems. It had always helped Trianna with hers.

Leaning against a tree, enjoying the feel of the rough wood against her back, she lifted her face to the sun, letting it warm her both inside and out.

She was startled out of her thoughts by hoofbeats and spun around, expecting an attack only to see Ramas thundering into the garden on a magnificent steed, some of his hair loosened from it's binding and caught in the wind that rushed around him, a smile on his face.

As he presented the cloak to her, she gasped and ran a hand over it, not taking it from him but her eyes locked on the shimmery material.

"Ramas..." She said lost for words,"It's...magnificent...elvin...I can feel the magic within it. Thank you but...I don't know what to say. I love it...such items are rare even in the elvin lands...so...I cannot accept though I wish I could...such an item should not be given lightly, Ramas..."

Trianna let her hand drop from the soft material of the cloak reluctantly. In her lands the giving of such a gift would mean something deeper than she knew was between the two of them.

Giving Ramas a smile, letting him know that she had indeed been overwhelmed by the generosity of the gift, she sighed,"I am tempted beyond belief, trust me. Thank you, Ramas, for the offer. But I cannot take it...though I wish it were not so more than you will ever know."

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir woke up alone. He grunted, and pulled himself out of bed, stretching and yawning and feeling like he'd nearly been eated by a great evil plant. He chuckled to himself, and looked around. Well, she was definitely gone, that was obvious. He heard a sound, and walked over to the balcony, and smiled, looking at Cali.

He turned away, and got himself dressed, glaring at the clothes he had to put up with. His own were filled with holes, and stained with his blood. He cursed himself for not having more than the clothes on his back to start this quest, becaue now he was forced to wear elf clothing. He;d tried very hard to get something at least reasonable, and had managed to wear them down to bear utility and muted greens and browns.

But as if to mock him, they'd mixed the colors in odd designs. He grunted, and strapped on his breastplate, claiming his sword and shield. He looked at his staff a minute before finally taking it in hand.

He walked out of the balcony behind Cali, looking out. He grunted. "Good views, at least. Well, come on. We should get a move on before the healers arrive and begin telling me what I should be doing with myself."

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

I smirked at Yris. "Oh, I could be telling you about nice views and what you should be doing with yourself. But then again, we do have work to do and a ship to get back to."
I stretched and slipped my whips into thier holsters before grabbing my rucksack and tossing the last of my things into it. I smiled up at Yris and tossed open the door. "So, do I get to be a royal pain and ask for an escort to the rest of our team?"
I laughed and lead the way out the door, ready for the day's events and ready to leave this elvin prissyness behind, for at least a little while.

 

[Strolling Gecko]

I felt my heart drop when Trianna refused the cloak of elvenkind I had spent part of my morning searching for, but not as much as I normally would have expected it to. I simply gave her a partially wounded look, but then simply shrugged and drew the cloak around my own shoulders.

"Very well, Trianna," I said rather slowly, "Normally I would insist that you accept it, but it is your gift to take and yours to refuse. But I think I'll hang onto it, in case you change your mind."

I walked over to Aoth, who had wandered over to Tana and was allowing her to rub his nose. I smiled.

"He doesn't allow anyone to do that. You certainly have a way with animals, Tana."

The girl smiled sheepishly at me. I placed a hand on her shoulder before climbing onto Aoth's back. I rubbed his neck a little.

"Come on, old friend. We have to get you back to the stables."

Aoth whinnied in disapproval before briskly trotting out of the garden and back towards the stables.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

Trianna watched Ramas ride off with a sinking heart and sighed, leaning back on the tree.

If he only knew how much she really did want to accept such a gift but they were in the elvin lands now and a gift as rare as that was not given lightly. In fact something priceless was given to a woman only if the man was serious about his feelings toward her. Try as she might, she could not see the gift as something from a casual aquaintance. And, somewhere deep inside, she didn't want to.

Looking over where he disappeared around a part of the castle, Trianna knew that she couldn't acknowledge the growing feelings she had for Ramas though. Not as long as he was lost in another love that ended so long ago except in his own mind and heart.

Suddenly Trianna felt a deep lonliness and wished to the Gods she could talk with her father about this. She could remember the long tracking and the talks that went with them. He always listened and understood. She wished he was here right now with some sage advice and a hug which always seemed to make the world seem better no matter what.


Trianna felt a pull on her hand and looked down at Tana who was watching her closely. The young girl was very perceptive and Trianna smiled down at her.

"Well, that went less than well," She said and then bent to hug the girl,"Come on. Let's get our stuff packed and ready to go. The others should be ready soon."

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir grunted, and followed close behind Cali as she exited the room. He scanned up and down the halls. "I don't know about being a royal pain, I've got enough of the common ones to myself, thank you very much."

He sighed, and rubbed his palms together. "By the Gods, I am not looking forward to this. I bet mother put them up to this. In little ways, letting it worm into their heads. I just hope she knows what she's doing."

He rolled his eyes. The Wise One, not knowing what she's doing? And the sun was dim and trees grew with their roots in the air and leaves underground. "I can hear it already, 'Yrismir Clanslord, so good to see you again! Come now, Yrismir, be our leader, won't you? You're a Clanslord, after all.' I swear, if they try and swear loyalty to me, I'll kill them myself."

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

"Nah, tell them that someone you know will be a good leader is your surrogate while you're on the God's Quest," I said with a shrug. "Deal with it later. Besides, aren't you part of our group?"
I stopped for a moment to study his face. "I don't know much of your past, least not yet if ever. I do know that we need you... I need you. I mean come on, who else could have hit that tree last night? The rest of the group are great in there respective fields but no one is a wizard. No one else speaks Orcish and who knows what else... ah hell."
I pulled him to and kissed him. "Don't worry about what you cannot fix, Yris. Well you know that it won't help anything. We need to contact your mother to get next task. We do need to figure out how to get everyone there. Don't need to worry about being a 'Clanslord' or whatever it is. Besides- any clan that lets one of thier own wander in drunken madness isn't that great, unless we're talking about different types of clans here."

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

He sighed, and gave her a small smile and another kiss. "Clanslord is a title It's awarded to those who rule over all the Orc clans in an area. When the Wise One took over the Orc clans that now make up a majority of the Neutral Zone, they all proclaim unwavering loyalty to her, and named her Clanslord. When she adopted me, it created a unique problem. My full name is Yrismir Daenoth eo'Clanslord. 'eo' means 'of the clan,' but since the Wise One had no clan, they gave me her Orcish title as a surname and Clan. Since I was the only other member of her clan, I earned the name Daenoth, which means 'Heir of the clan'. "

He frowned. "As Heir to the Clan, I take over leadership of the clan's lands and loyalty oaths switch over to me from the prior clanhead. Now that the Wise One is ascended, that leaves me in the very odd position of inheriting a millenia of authority and near-worship from the people of the neutral zone. The Orcs look at their ancient oaths of loyalty as what seperates them from the savage hordes of the other Orcs. Although the Neutral Zone is set up for the High Circle of the Wise One's personal bodyguards to rule most of the country, they still need a figurehead ruler to provide the ebodiment of the oaths of loyalty and a unity of the Neutral Zone."

He sighed, and ran his hand through his hair, thinking about what he was walking into. "And, of course, I'm in the Race, like mother was. So they expect me to win, and take over as Wise One for the next millenia, leading them in a place of peace and prosperity, scaring any would-be invaders and keeping the populous happy with themselves, and afraid of this all-powerful being sitting upon the throne. They want me to take over. And they know I could do it, too. As well as being my mother's adoptive son, I'm also a well-known figure, and well-liked in the Neutral Zone. When I swore my High Circle Oaths to mother, a record number of people turned out. It had to be put off a week so people from the countryside could come in to watch."

He sighed. "I actually left when I found out Mother would be ascending soon. It scared me shitless. All those people, putting all of their hopes and dreams and trust in me? There were cults who outright worshipped mother. It was one of the few laws that people broke in the Neutral Zone. It was illegal to worship her, but nine out of every ten prayers by orcs there are directed at her. People bring their sick in to be blessed by her. It's crazy. I don't think I can handle it. All this," he motioned around them, "seems preferable to what I'll have to deal with. At least you're just a mortal ruler. I'm the hope of thousand's. Do you know that once someone becomes a member of the High Circle, their family is considered blessed? I remember there was a young women who made it to the High Circle, Shedora of the White Staff. She had three of the ugliest sisters you've ever seen. Barely ever had a man glance at them in a dark room. As soon as she made it into the Lower Circle, men started paying attention to them. The very hour she became High Circle, they had a hundred marriage proposals apiece."

He groaned. "And I'm not much of a wizard. The staff is where I got most of my power. I won't be of much use now that the dark power is harnassed is gone. The world is better off without it, and I'm really glad, but my power is a mere fraction of what it was. I only had a few years with the Opal Court. And don't think they didn't try to get my. After the first few tries, though, they stopped sending people to grab me, but sent message after message. Couldn't afford me to injury any more of their troops, it seems."

 

[Strolling Gecko]

I left Aoth in the stable with some carrots I had gotten from Hannor before heading up to Trianna's room to clean my armor. I had secured a cloth and some water to wash it with from the servants quarters and was sitting on the edge of the bed scrubbing away in a somewhat absent minded manner. Why hadn't Trianna accepted the cloak? I was trying my hardest to wrap my mind around what her reasoning was. She said she had liked it, loved it even, but she didn't accept it. Maybe she didn't like it? No, not even the finest of actors could have faked such a reaction to it.

I froze mid-scrub. Maybe there was someone else. That would explain it. But Trianna's so straight forward I'm sure she would have let me know from the moment I asked her to be my escort to the ball. I put the thought of another man in Trianna's life out of my head. It was certainly possible, what with Trianna being a beautiful elf, but somehow seemed unlikely.

I spat onto a particularly gunkified spot of my breastplate. I looked up paused in thought for a moment. This was really going to bother the hell out of me. I shrugged and began to scrub as hard as I could at the spot. I had been alive for seventy-five years and I still didn't know a damn thing about women.

I switched my thoughts instead to my conversation with Lan. I knew I had to make peace with my past. I had always thought that for Jasmine to rest in peace, she would need to be avenged. But I had thought I had avenged her when I sent Snider toppling over that cliffhead. So why had I allowed myself to become so consumed with hate and sorrow? It didn't make any sense. I had always had a sense that Snider didn't die, but I had no proof of it since I hadn't seen him until last night. Maybe I didn't have to kill him to put myself at peace. Jasmine wanted me to be happy and that didn't include being obsessed with revenge. Or being obsessed with her. I think Jasmine wanted me to move on.

I knew what I needed to do.

I set aside my freshly shined armor before standing and fastening Lan's cloak around my shoulders. I attached my sword to my belt and stepped out into the hall. I grabbed a servant by the arm.

"Find the ranger Trianna and tell her to meet me at the Grove," I said quickly. The servant nodded and quickly scurried away.

Imade my way back to the stables. Aoth greeted me with a snort. Hannor looked up from the hay he was shoveling with a confused look.

"What brings you back to the stables?" Hannor asked. "Did you bring me back that saddle you lost?"

"I need Aoth again. I won't be long," I said as I opened the gate to Aoth's pen. I climbed up and had Aoth in a gallop before we had left the stable.

We thundered off towards the Grove where I would finally make my peace.

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

I pondered his problem for a moment before jumping into the air, startling a pair of servants who'd been looking at me with a mixture of awe and bewilderment.
"I've got it- she adopted you- why don't you adopt someone? That'd pass things down. Keep yourself on as a 'long distance advisor' or something but let them be the big kahuna," I said, voice raising a tinge with the speed I was talking. Unless I was acting, my voice speeds up when I'm excited, not sure why.
"Whatcha think," I asked, grabbing an apple turnover as we entered a breakfast room or something. Impractical these people, rooms for everything- drawing, sitting, tea, war....

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir laughed. "Because I can only adopt newborns with no known clans relations who are of orcish blood. Orcs belong ot the clan of their parents by birth, not adoption. I was only adopted into a clan because No one know what my father's was. And if their not of orcish blood, they get their greatest species as a clan name. Every elf who moves into the Neutral zone gains the surname eo'Elf, dwarves are eo'dwarf."

He shook his head. "It would be years before they could rule. This problem wouldn't have existed if I'd had children, but what with Jansa's career, and I was only a small-time Enforcer commander then, and when she died, well,...it was a good marriage, but not one that brought forth children."

He grabbed some food himself, quickly filling his mouth. He chewed, thinking over the route back home...

 

[Strolling Gecko]

Aoth and I arrived in the Grove quicker than we ever had. I admit I pushed him, but not beyond his limits. He wouldn't let me push him any harder than he wanted to be. I think Aoth liked the Grove. It was probably a good change from the stables where Hannor would keep him penned.

I slide off of Aoth and scratched him behind his ears as I spoke to him.

"Aoth, when the elf from the garden arrives take her the the grave site. Understand?" I was sure he didn't, but since Trianna could communicate with animals I was sure that the information I told Aoth would find it's way to her.

I walked down a path that had grown over somewhat with long, wavy grass. It struck that Trianna could also track me to the grave if she was so inclined. I couldn't believe how much she was on my mind now. I could remember the last time a woman had dominated my mind this much, but it had been so long.

I chuckled to myself as I approached the grave. I had been here only a few weeks earlier mourning and asking for forgiveness. It seemed almost silly after all I had come to realize this morning. Lan had a way of getting me to think about things I normally wouldn't come to think about myself. He had a way of making me come to conclusions that I wouldn't normally come to one my own; Of learning lessons on my own. I guess I was still very much Lan's student.

I went to one knee in front of the simple gravestone, my cloak flaying out around me. Clasping my hands together in prayer, I began to whisper quietly under my breath.

"Forgive me for carrying a burden for too long. Forgive me for not honoring your memory by truly living. I have wasted my extended time on this world by mourning and I want you to know that I'll always love you, you always will hold a place in my heart. I know now how happy you are and that you wish for me to be happy as well. Today I end my mourning and begin life anew. I love you. But it is time for me to live on."

I continued to pray silently on bended knee, head lowered as a singled ray of sunshine broke through the canopy of leaves and made the small clearing shine with a dream like shimmer.