"I respect your views, sir. But I am afraid I have views of my own that I am not willing to compromis on. I would rather die than live an know that I did not stand up for what is true, good and right in life. That would be no kind of life at all." Jaden replied with a sterness and determination in his voice.

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Veron's eyes were ablaze with anger, but he controled the urge to throw Jaden across the room and melt him with a mere spell. After all, he too wanted the Maithiliat dead, but the risks were high. "Leave me a while until I am done..." he muttered through clenched teeth, and waved his hand in the direction of the other room.

Eleshna was listening closely, but kept silent and still, pulling her hood over her face, concealing herself in the shadows.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Jaden walked out of the room into the far room where Eleshna sat in the corner. "Is he always like this?" Jaden asked her softly.

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Eleshna nodded her head but kept silent. Then, glancing with a look of fear to the room in which Veron was working in, she walked over to the far side and spoke in a near whisper. "I cannot free myself from him... I thought once that I had, especially with the Shadows on my side, but now... he's threatened death, and death seems a better thing to look forward to now than what I went through before..."

She listened nervously as Veron's voice could be heard quietly speaking blessings and spells over the blade.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"I don't know what all transpired before. And quite frankly I don't think it matters. But I would not condone such actions towards anyone and will be more than willing to assist you if you would like." Jaden replied sympatheticly.

He too had one time been a slave and knew what it felt like. And after all, she had helped him, and proven to be a kind individual.

He knew that if she wanted to tell him anything more than she would. But he of all people was not going to try to force somone to talk about something of that nature when they didn't want to.

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Eleshna nodded and whispered, lowering her gaze to the floor, "I thank you... but I do not want anyone hurt on my account... "

Sighing quietly she sank to a sitting position, her back against the wall, and she hugged her knees close to herself, staring towards the opposite wall. "It was long ago... when my villiage was destroyed... and I ran, and being still yet young, I met with Veron, who's name he told me was Nasar, and he claimed to be a guardian of sorts... he had strange powers and I was fascinated by them, and became drawn to learning. He made me swear an oath, and I swore it under pain. I was too young yet to know what I was getting myself into... He said he saw a future for me, and I fell for his lies... He controled me, I became an assasin, a tracker, and basically a murderer..." Eleshna bowed her head in shame.

She listened carefully, and still hearing the mutterings of Veron in the other room, she continued, "I was miserable... but I played along... until he gave me charge over the Shadows, because he trusted me. And I saw them as an oppertunity to escape. I used the Shadows to keep his power over me at bay until I got far enough away... it had been so long, I was sure the Shadow's had killed him, but I never saw those Shadow's again, even though I still had others... but now... he still lives... and death is imminent without the Shadows here..."

Her voice was quiet, but with each word it became fainter and trembling. Eleshna bowed her head until her forehead touched her knees.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"It seems to me I told you close to the same thing before we left." Jaden said in respons to her words.

"I thank you... but I do not want anyone hurt on my account... "

"I'm sorry." Jaden said as he thought over the situation after hearing Eleshna's story.

"Do you know of any way to get free of him?" Jaden asked her.

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Eleshna nodded with a short and nervous laugh, "yes... dying I am free... I can't kill him... I'm not capable... I'm under his control, and no matter what I do, I can't get..." her voice faded as Veron stopped his mumbling and walked into the room again.

Veron's eyes narrowed at her but he paid no heed. Holding up the sword, he displayed it. It was indeed now a fine blade, in the fashion of a flame, and with various runes strewn along the blade. The handle was as red as blood, and marked by dragon shapes in black. "This is the sword which you shall kill the Maithiliat with..." he sat down and set the sword on the table. "The scrolls speak of one who is destined to end the Maithiliat's rule, and that one is not of this land, nor of Middle Earth for that matter..." Veron pushed the sword across the table towards Jaden. "There, I did my part, now take the sword and go, before I turn you to ashes. I have no need of young masters challenging my word, so be gone"

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"Just out of ciriosity why is that you want me to kill it?" Jaden asked Veron casualy.

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Veron's expression was flat, "because it is your destiny. The thing hates all, annoys me, and must be killed. It has a habit of following you and the scrolls speak of one such as you who is to kill the creature, and we both benifit from it... of course if you want to work out a deal, we might be able to... what would you like in payment? Name anything."

He wore a smirk now, because he knew he had nothing to lose. Eleshna glanced between the two but at one look from Veron, she cast her eyes to the ground again, wincing as though in pain.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"Alright." Jaden said without hesitation.

"I will kill it, and you releas Eleshna 100% from your influence, control, authority, and all other bonding agreements of any kind."

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Veron's smirk faded and he frowned. He was about to deny the request, but he was at least a man of word. "Very well then... but you have to come out of it alive... or the deal is off..."

Eleshna looked at Jaden, her eyes widened in shock. "He can't go it alone..." she dared to speak to Veron.

"No, you'll go with him, but remember, one wrong move and your life ends, as well as his. And I shall be watching, even though you may not see me..." Veron responded with another smirk.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"Agreed." Jaden accepted the man's terms.

After all if it killed him it would more than likely end up Killing Eleshna allso so if he failed they would both be dead.

Jaden took the sword that Veron had created and walked out of the cave.

"Now all we have to do is find the thing." Jaden said to himself.

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At a signal from Veron, Eleshna stood and followed Jaden, but before she stepped outside the cave, Veron tossed her a sword, the handle grey in color. "Your sword, renewed, now go, and remember m warning..." Veron stared at her coldly.

Eleshna turned and quickly followed Jaden. Once outside, she let out a sigh of relief, trembling. "Thank you.... " she said quietly, but knew the task had only just begun.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Jaden noded in respons to Eleshna as Syndar came running up with the mare close behind him.

"I think I know where we can find it." Jaden said as he jumped on his horse and started down the path.

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Eleshna mounted the mare slowly, remaining silent for the most part, and rode beside Jaden.

After a while she spoke, "There is one thing I fear..." Eleshna looked at Jaden with a serious expression. "If after we kill the Maithiliat... I start acting... strange... assume that Veron has double crossed you and taken control of me in order to be rid of you, do not hesitate to kill me..."

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~