Ghyreian preferred not to draw attention to herself. The imminent problem now was what the dragons would do once they found her allegiances.

One of the knight's squires, a Palanthian boy by his demeanor, sidled closer. "You're an elf," he said, his voice laced with awe.

Ghyreian shifted a quick glance at Edwin, who was being interrogated by the lead rider. She settled for a demure nod. When was the last time she had to play the chaste elfmaiden?

"Are you a mage, too?" the boy persisted, all artless curiousity.

She shook her head.

"Don't be afraid. Where are you from?"

Afraid! She felt like shoving a fireball down the youth's throat. She didn't answer, instead turning away and hoping he would take the hint.

_________________

"I am afraid teleportations spell went all wrong we weren`t even ment to travel here, hell... why would we travel into a god forsaken place like this?"

Edwin muttered as an answer before coughing slightly and looking back at Ghyreian.

"I see, well first of all I must follow orders... you were inside there yes?"

"Yes we were... why?"

"What did you see there?" The leader asked with a demanding tone.

"Eh... Ice, Wolves, Snow and even more ice... why?"

The leader muttered something to the other one suddenly and he nodded, the leader looked at them both.

"You are coming with us to the camp, from there you are free to go where ever you want..."

They both were escorted to the backs of the dragons, the silver dragons rose into the air and glided away. After sometime of flying they arrived to a camp with elves there, they landed into an opening and the riders took the mages to an entrance of a tent. The leading knight entered, there were many restless looks at them and there was whispers as soon as they were seen landing. Edwin looked at Ghyreian.

"You know I don`t like the looks of this, I know we aren`t their foes, but..."

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Ghyreian hesitated at the entrance of the tent. She felt the jaws of a trap snapping shut. "Not foes?" she muttered. She flicked a suspicious glance Edwin's way and wondered how much she could trust him if matters worsened. Inside the tent, a Qualinesti warrior and a Solmanic knight welcomed them in. Ghyreian's curiousity got the best of her. Elves and humans working together... "Who are you?" she demanded.

The knight bowed over her hand. "A temporary but noble allegiance, my lady, to quest to the perilous Icewall and find the dra - "

The elf's lips tightened alarmingly as he trod on the human's foot. He muttered something like "ignorant fool" in Qualinesti. Ghyreian concealed her smirk.

"And you are from...?" the elf inquired haughtily. "You travel in ill company."

"I couldn't agree more," Ghyreian murmured, sliding her gaze to Edwin and back.

"Fraternizing with humans has dire consequences," he continued with typical elven hypocrisy. "And I asked you a question."

"Silvanesti. I am Nightsong of the House Royal."

The name had its desired effect. The warrior backed down.

"That was stupid."

Ghyreian felt the telepathic intrusion and started. Instinctively she looked around for the wizard.

"That you were magi was perspicuous. To all who would care to know, there was only one female mage in House Nightsong... dark elf."

Ghyreian's heart pounded. Outwardly she composed herself. She nudged Edwin, her silver eyes flashing.

_________________

The first things that came to Edwin`s mind.

Well dear Ghyreian you are stupider than you appear

Edwin looked calmly back at Ghyreian and smirked, then he looked at riders quietly and this time there was no running. They couldn`t possibly escape or not yet since their `foes` had dragons.

"Well... anything else you need to know?"

Edwin asked with an amused tone and he turned to look at Ghyreian.

"Excuse me, but one question dear elf.. In which particular moment did you hit your head into the freaking ice wall? I am going to buy ourselves out of this situation wether you want it or not..."

Edwin turned back to them and took a calm smile on his face as he few guards came already to grab Ghyreian.

"Well you might want to burn her right away I guess yet fail your quest?"

"What on earth are you talking about human?" The elf asked with his eyes narrowing and he had a threatening look on his face as Edwin seemed to be protesting.

"You came to find the dragonlances hidden here, yes? I´ll tell you what, you let her go and I`ll show them to you. I found them and yes I originally came to the ice wall for them yet kinda hard to carry them all...."

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"Stop."

Everyone in the tent froze, including Ghyreian. From the shadows emerged a figure draped in a nondescript brown robe.

Again, came the voice in Ghyreian's head. "Freeze, dark elf. You and your friend may be of use to me yet." Aloud the stranger said in a rasping, androgynous voice, "Release them. They are under my charge."

Ghyreian expected no reaction, but both elves and Solamnics alike seemed wary to the point of fear. There was a perspicuous aura of command about the stranger. The guards backed away.

_________________

"Well this was a complete surprise" Edwin smiled as he looked at the stranger, but was slightly cautious about the man and examined him.

"So what use might we be for you?"

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

The androgynous being made a small gesture. A moment later Ghyreian's world spun. She careened down a whirlwind of magic to land unceremoniously on a cold stone floor. They were in a bare stone chamber. Their "host" stood hooded before them. He/She watched them, amused. "Tell me what you know about the dragonlances."

_________________

Edwin shrugged slighltly.

"Nothing that you wouldn`t really know already..."

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"The barbarians told you about the Compass of Feal-thas," their captor hissed. "Have you found it?"

Ghyreian felt her blood congeal. How could he know about that? "I had rather hoped you would know more," she said icily.

"Oh, I do," came the reply. "I could take you there now if I wished. First answer my questions. Why are you here?"

_________________

"Isn`t it obvious why we are on the ice wall? For the dragonlances, but you knew that already..."

Edwin asked.

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

It clucked impatiently. "Who sent you?"

Ghyreian hesitated. "In essence, I was sent by Lord Ariakas. Who are you? You are neither elf nor human."

The creature seemed to consider her response, though it evaded her question. "I will return," it promised. It snapped its fingers and was gone.

_________________

"Well he surely seems to be an interesting fellow"

Edwn said quietly and looked at Ghyreian.

"He seemed to have a reason to disappear when you mentioned Ariakas"

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Ghyreian groaned. "Do you think he was bluffing when he mentioned the dragonlances?"

_________________

Edwin sheugged.

"Who knows"

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"I have decided." The robed creature materialized in the chamber once more. It seemed to display an enigmatic smile before beginning to chant. Ghyreian recognized the spell as a teleport.

When her feet hit solid ground again, she and Edwin stood alone. They were in some kind of immense ice cavern, complete with a frozen lake in the center. "This is just excellent," Ghyreian began muttering. "What in the Dark Queen's - "

She froze, spotting movement under the frozen ice in the lake.

_________________

"Where to now?"

Edwin asked looking around.

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!