Hythraii looked down at the ground, his jaw dropped open in surprise. His hand even came off of it's tight hold on his sword. He knew nothing of this...and he was not involved at all. Finally, after he stopped gaping at how his people....his kin could do such a barbaric thing, he turned and looked at Eccelsat.

"If what you saw is true, and I fear that it is so...then I must tell you I had nothing or knew nothing about this and had no part of it. Please, Eccelsat, you must believe me...I have not been with my people for many years. And even though my past is good evidence against me, I had no knowledge of these wrong doings." Hythraii told him, staring him straight in the eye.

_________________


Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Jayden looked down at the bag and then back up to Eccelsat's eyes. Her face showing no emotion or weakness.

"I had no idea of any of this. What the elves have done, they do by someone else comand and not mine. I do not go out to kill for revenge, you know that. You know me better then that old friend."

She never took her eyes off of Eccelsat's own. She knew if he looked at her eyes he would see that she told the truth. However, she was also afraid he would see the feeling she always tried to hold back from him. The feelings she still had for him.

_________________

Hythraii couldn't even look at Jayden as he still pondered over what his people had done. He expected that time of behavior from vampires, not his own blood and kin. He contiuned to look at the ground, not wanting to talk about this topic anymore. But he also waited for Eccelsat reaction to his pleas and words. He hoped he believe them, for it was true.

_________________


Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

After the angel and elf had left the trial room, Gwydain had followed them, staying at an inconspicuous distance. Something about the angel drew him in, made him want to talk to her.

He stopped when they stopped and another angel joined them. He thought maybe he could wait until the one angel was alone, then go talk to her.

As Hythraii continued to look at the floor, he noticed something in the dirt. He noticed his foot tracks, and a smaller pair beside him, Jayden. And then another pair coming from the other way, which of course was Eccelsats'. But, there was something odd. As he looked back, he noticed something wasn't right.

There was a fourth pair.

It trailed behind them and stopped when they had stopped. Someone was following. He turned to his two companions, debating in his head whether just to excuse himself and find the follower himself, or inform the others. But, the inncident with the Elves came to his mind and he simply put,

"Our talk is not only filling our ears."

_________________


Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

"I know that," Eccelsat said coldly. "What I'm saying is that you should have tried to keep a better rein over your subjects. I have tried to control the vampires as best as I can, but I can't imagine why they shouldn't take arms and hunt elves like they do to them." He turned around to fly back to the base and said, "I have given them the order to find the fifty involved. If they surrender, I'll consider trying them in a court. But if they fight, they will die. It will be only those fifty. Even vampires, for all of their cunning and deceit, have enough honour in them to not harm innocents. For your sake, I don't want you in this mess."

_________________

I was cured all right.

Jayden hung her head, she couldn't understand how things could have gone so badly so soon. She couldn't understand why the elves would be so rash in their decisions. Killing for revenge was not like them, something wasn't right.

"Eccelsat" she yelled "something is not right, you know as well as i that elves do not think without thought. This was a rash decision on their part and so unlike their nature."

_________________

Hythraii noticed that they did not noticed his last comment. Or maybe they already knew, and didn't mind. He shrugged to himself and then told himself that he and Jayden could check it out when Eccelsat left. Hythraii turned and said,

"I have not seen my kin before today in some time, but I know these actions have never been their intent. Yes, they were - and still are - enemies with the vampires, but they never have been so rash without thought, as Jayden put eariler."

_________________


Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

"Exactly," Eccelsat said. "Without thought." He flew off towards the camp where five hundred soldiers laid waiting.
"What did she say?" Cann asked.
"She said that act wasn't their nature," Eccelsat replied bitterly. "I wonder what she would say about the last ten attacks in the last month. But never mind her. Soldiers!"
All of them looked at him and waited patiently.
"We have tried to uphold the truce that we have signed with the enemy but they no longer wish to have peace," declared Eccelsat. "It is now time we show them what we are capable of. Find the fifty involved with the assassination of Garshi. Those that resist, kill them. Those that surrender peacefully, you must bring back to me to be tried properly. Now, go and fulfill this task for me."
With loud cries and yells, the fallen angels and vampires began their search for them.

_________________

I was cured all right.

Jayden watched Eccelsat leave and then quickly turned to Hythraii.

"We must try and stop them, many will die if we do nothing."

Jayden noticed the look on the elf's face. She looked in the direction he looked and found herself seeing another. She wasn't sure who this person was, how much they had heard, but she did know that they were different.

"Come closer, do not hide" she called out to them.

_________________

Hythraii nodded and was glad Jayden was smarter than the one that just left there group.

"He rushed off like he wants this war to happen." Hythraii muttered as he awaited the stranger to present himself...or herself.

_________________


Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Gwdain's hesitated only a moment as the angel's voice reached him. He stepped out of the shadows and walked towards the pair.
When he stood before them, he nodded courteously to the angel. "I hope you don't mind my following you." he said.

Hythraii glanced at Jayden, and tried to act like her protector. "I must ask for your name." He said, making sure his swords hilt was showing, but he felt like he didn't need to touch it...yet.

_________________


Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Eccelsat's soldiers began to comb through the forests that sheltered the elves responsible for the assassination. Due to respect to both nature and the elves (mostly to nature) they refused to set fire or cut down the trees. Instead, they navigated their way through much like the elves did. Suddenly one of the vampire trackers raised his palm. The signal to stop. Eccelsat unsheathed his sword and looked around him. Perfect place for an ambush, he thought. The ambush did come. A volley of arrows flew from the trees and into Eccelsat's ranks. Several vampires fell at once. Cann gave the order to return fire as the fallen angels moved to surround their position. As Eccelsat took cover behind a tree to wait for the next volley, a vampire with an urgent look on his face began to approach him.
"My lord," he said. "Jayden has made contact with one of the Chosen."
Eccelsat was shocked by this. He guessed it was the man that had lurked in the shadows when Eccelsat told her about the elves and his plan for them. Now two great desires pulled at him. Avenge Garshi or attempt to get one of the Chosen. He decided to compromise.
"Follow them," he ordered the vampire. "Do not make yourself known but find out what will happen to him with Jayden."
The vampire bowed and went off as Eccelsat moved closer to the elves.

_________________

I was cured all right.

As Hythraii awaited the answer from the newcomer, he thought about the truce...and about it finally being broken. He didn't think it would last as long as it did, but know that it is finally over...even if his people had started the fight, as rumors said, he did not like the thought that Elven blood would fill the ground this day. And he was here....helpless....no aid to stopping this, this....massacure. He shook his head and simply prayed that he and Jayden would not be too late.

_________________


Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

"Gwydain." he answered the elf, noticing he had his sword hilt showing. Idly, Gwydain brushed his hand along his waist where he kept his small knife. He didn't really expect to have to use it, though.