The elf darted off in the direction indicated, swiftly and silently. Her barely audible footsteps sounded fleetingly and then she was gone, as if she had never been.

_________________

"The rest of you, come with me unless you want to be a permanent resident here." What did the man mean by that? Kith glared at the man. "Does that mean if we choose not to follow you'll lock us back up?" His voice was almost a growl.

Erimak watched the elf depart before he turned to the shapeshifter and said, "What I meant is that you can come with us outside this castle or you can go back to your little cell with a slight case of amnesia. Nothing major, just enough that you won't remember that any of us existed. Once out of the castle, you can do whatever you want but you still have that slight case of amnesia. But right now, in your position, I can only see two options."

_________________

I was cured all right.

A threat? The man threatened him? "And how would you give me this little case of amnesia?" Kith asked. The growl that he had so masterfully hidden earlier escaped, tainting his voice. "You will find I won't be compliable. My mind is not somthing that is easily breached" The urge now to shift to a predator was almost uncontrolable. He felt his canines lenghten, but he quickly regained control. Not now, he told himself fiercly.

"Sounds like a reasonable offer to me." Braad said. "Which way is out? I was a bit unconcious when they brought me in here, you see." he added.

"Follow me," Erimak said in a low hiss. He led the prisoners to the postern gate and waited as Farnis began to pick the lock. "Just a couple more minutes," said Erimak to the shapeshifter. "Then you will out of this place but first I need to make sure that you will not remember anything about me."

_________________

I was cured all right.

Braad nodded and finished his chunk of bread as Farnis picked the lock. "Any chance I might be able to get my weapons back?" he said in a low voice.

"Well, where are your weapons?" asked Erimak. "If they are in the armory, you can go and get them but if you get caught along the way, don't think I'll help you. Otherwise, you can just come to our castle and we will have to outfit you." A satisfying click was heard as the postern door swung open. Geran took out his bow and watched the courtyard warily as the party moved out of the castle.

_________________

I was cured all right.

Meleth [got sick of 'the elf'] met them at the gate just as it swung open, a beautifully crafted quiver of arrows slung over her shoulder and a slender sword at her belt. Her eyes were gleaming dangerously and she finally gave Erimak a brilliant smile. "You have my undying gratitude - your help will not be forgotten. Oh -" and here she gave a rueful laugh "- actually, I suppose it will."

_________________

"Not unless you join us," said Erimak. "But now you mention it, I shall tell you the process in which you will have no memory of me. I will simply speak several words, touch your forehead, and you will have no recollection of either me or my men. Are you ready to begin?"

_________________

I was cured all right.

She raised an eyebrow. "And you're quite sure this will be effective? I am no mere mortal, that magic should render me powerless."

_________________

"Ok, if you don't believe me," said Erimak sardonically. "You ask the hundreds of guards, villagers, or other people who we have encountered before if you have seen anyone like us. They will tell you no."

_________________

I was cured all right.

"Ah, but were they elven or mortal, is my question?" she replied delicately.

_________________

"I think it was an assortment of both, actually," Erimak replied.

_________________

I was cured all right.

"Lovely. When you're ready," was her reply. "I've nowhere to go except into hiding, take your time."

_________________

Kith grimaced. "If you think you can get close enough to touch me, think again. But seeing as how I am out numbered, I will take your offer. My memories are my own, and not to be triffled with. Remember that. Try to place you voodoo on me and I assure you it will be the last thing you do." Kith stood from his fighter's crouch, but didn't release the knife. "I will retrieve my weapons." He said calmly, though anger simmered deep in his chest. Kith ran through the corridor, to the armory. He found his precious knives tossed carelessly into a burlap bag. Checking to make sure he was unwatched, The shapeshifter fastened his many daggers to their hidden places. He marched back to Erkanis and his men. The daggers wieghed happily on his body.