For a moment the Kagonesti leader looked about to strike Edwin down for his insolence.

"Kill her," he said in a taut voice. "Or imprison her. What do you care about your would-have-been murderess? Get off Ergoth or we'll do it by force."

_________________

Edwin looked Ghyreian in the eyes with a slight smile.

"Farewell Ghyreian Nightsong... I hope your fate will be better than mine ever will be, but I hope that power won`t devour you in a horrible way as it just did already.."

Edwin sighed and picked up his staff beginning to walk down hill, he looked back once at the elves knowing he had no other choice, but could only hope that Ghyreian could find a better future somewhere else unless they killed her, which was highly unlikely since all elves kept life sacred and that was any life possible.

Edwin did return to the site to find the dragon orb and placed it in his bag with a sad smile before sneaking away into the shadows of the night.

_________________

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 didn't hear him, courtesy of the Kagonesti who had knocked her out cold, but somewhere the words registered.

The Kagonesti watched Edwin descend out of view. They exchanged glances, muttering to themselves about weak humans. Assured that the strange Red Robe wasn't intending to return, they dragged their captive back down the mountainside.

Buried under the rocks, the dragonorb's green light throbbed defiantly. Then, slowly, it weakened and its power winked out.

[awesome RPG! you can set the scene for the next since I did the last one]

_________________

Edwin descended from the mountains into the woods believing he would never see his dark friend ever again in his life, but at some rate he was ashamed for leaving her all tough there was no choice at all. He ran into some elves from Qualinesti whom helped him only enough to get out of their new lands.

Edwin found a ship after a few days, after the days of peaceful sailing he walked ashore looking for the closest wood as possible only to find himself again at the forest of Wayreth and the conclave. He decided to continue his studies on illusion spells and found himself an apprentice as he was exprienced enough to teach one.

Yet he couldn`t help thinking about Ghyreian....

_________________

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 moonlight glinted on the dagger that appeared from under the folds of her robes. The dark elf raised her hooded head. The ropes binding her wrists snapped. Similarly did the ropes around her chest. She looked up with frozen enmity at the silhouettes of the Kagonesti sentries.

Two sevendays bound to this tree. Two sevendays of enduring their sneers, their insults, their inflated arrogance. She would make them pay.

The first Kagonesti fell without a cry. The second turned in time for the dagger to pierce his chest. Drawing the folds of her tattered cloak around her, the dark elf twisted her dagger and hacked at the warrior until he stopped twitching. Even long after he was dead, she did not stop. The baleful rage passed. The dark elf stood and looked down at the maltreated corpse. Wiping the blood on her hands against the Kagonesti's cape, she turned her silver eyes to the mountains.

The dragonorb, the magic and the power, was up there somewhere. And up there as well would be Edwin's corpse, if the Wilder elves had killed him.

Ghyreian sighed and began walking away in the opposite direction.

[btw if you don't have any more to post go ahead and start the new RPG ]

_________________

"Not good enough, do it again and I want some concentration into it, no great spell is made in great silence like this, but those great spells that people will remember in their stories happen on countless battlefields as the mages wreak havoc there in the middle of blood and screams of pain..."

Edwin tutored his new appreantice with a strict, but patient tone since the boy was very talented, but he couldn`t yet react properly to greater disturbances. Edwin knew that the boy might hate it now, but would thank him later in his heart for being a strict teacher. The young apprentice had just passed the test, he hadn`t made a real sacrifice and for such things Edwin was able to be happy. The boy casted again a small bolt of fire towards a small wooden target on the wall, Edwin began hitting the floor with his staff trying to disturb his apprentice.

The boy shot the bolt, but off target against the wall as Edwin stepped very close with his staff passing it next to his shoulder. Edwin looked at the wall tsking at the result and looked at his apprentice.

"You do well Ramus, but you only get results like this when you lose concentration!"

Edwin said and revealed his hand, the apprentice looked at him with an uncentrain nodd, but opened his mouth.

"But wasn`t it your choice to lose yo.."

Edwin`s eyes largened at his words and he was almost about to smack the boy for his arrogance.

"I made that choice since It was the right thing to do to stay on the path that I had been given and running from things such as this is futile because they will haunt you for the rest of your life Ramus..."

Edwin said with a sad voice as he sat in his chair by the window.

"Please do not mention the subject again nor listen to the stories that go around here, everyone has their vices and virtues, but they are not to be praised nor mocked for them I think... You have a great future ahead of you young man as long as you open yourself and concentrate..."

"I will master.."

Ramus said and left the room, but as he opened the door Justarius stepped in with his bad leg and Ramus bowed slightly as he left glancing quickly at his master before disappearing from the doorway. Edwin tookout his pipe and looked at Justarius with a sad smile, Jutarius stood there examining Edwin silently.

"I came here to inform you that I have some good news, some in the council see fit that you earn to be among them in few years since some of them are planning to leave their positions for younger mages... but off the record... you seem bothered.."

"Indeed I am... I abandoned my best and only friend under the mercy of wild elves.."

"But she tried to kill you and she is blac.."

"It doesn`t matter what colour robe she wore and it sure as hell was my fault she got captured!"

Edwin said as he got up from the chair with an angry voice, but then sat down with an embarassed face.

"Leave me be..."

Jutarius nodded slightly and left the room as Edwin light up his pipe while watching the red moon rise.

_________________

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 agonized screams of the Silvanesti elf echoed through the torture chambers of Neraka. The goblins worked the rack, relentlessly stretching it until the elf's bones cracked under the pressure. Still more goblins brandished hot coals against his face.

"What do you think, Nightsong?" Ariakas said with distinct pride. "I've perfected my torture techniques immensely over the years.

For his benefit Ghyreian laughed. "Very good, my lord. Though I'm curious as to what you'll accomplish by burning his face out?"

Ariakas's eyes flashed until he realized she spoke in jest. The torchlight flickering on her hooded features, Ghyreian watched the torture proceed with an unreadable smile.

"What of the army?" she asked him suddenly.

Ariakas's chest inflated with pleasure. "It'll march by summer. I swear by our Queen that Krynn will have seen nothing more glorious!" He glanced at her askance. "If you serve me well, I just might give you rulership of Silvanesti."

Ghyreian stiffened, then forced herself to relax. "If it pleases you, my lord."

Not noticing her sudden change in demeanor, Ariakas continued, "How I would like to see the day when everything from Ergoth to Bloodlund falls under our might!"

A brief spasm of emotion contorted her face at the mention of Ergoth, but was gone before she could quite make it out. "I would as well, my lord," she replied without expression.

"When will we ever get more out of you than that, Nightsong?" Ariakas frowned. "Never mind that. I have a task for you." Without waiting for her acquiescence, he steered her away from the torture chambers. "Gods, how that racket gives me a headache," he muttered as attendants shut the doors. He looked at her shrewdly.

"I want you to go to the Conclave."

Ghyreian didn't manage to hide her initial surprise. Ariakas had long ago made clear the scorn he felt towards Wayreth.

"To spy," he continued. "I've heard reports that the wizards have found out a possible method to defeat us."

The dragonorbs, my lord? she thought sardonically but kept the notion to herself.

"Find out about this method and return to me as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence."

She bowed. "Of course."

Ariakas clapped her hard on the back. "Do not fail me, Nightsong, or there'll be the Abyss to pay," he said pleasantly. "You are dismissed."

_________________

Edwin had fell asleep by the window, but awakened as he first rays of light hit his face and was pleased that the archmage was kind enough to give them a nice weather today, but as he very well knew a cloudless sky could soon be filled with dar clouds. Edwin left his room and grabbed his staff to take a walk outside in his thoughts.

_________________

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!

Her teleport spell, which had been arranged with the aid of the other Black Robes of Neraka, carried her to the supposed borders of Wayreth Forest.

"Curse Ariakas," she muttered. She sat on her horse, wondering how in the Abyss Wayreth was going to admit her, a spy. She'd no sooner said this than the trees of Wayreth Forest surrounded her. Wondering what game Par-Salian was up to, she nudged her horse into the wood.

The glistening twin spires of Wayreth Tower soon rose above the forest canopy. Ghyreian clattered into the courtyard and dismounted.

_________________

As Edwn waked down the stairs he stopped filled with emotions as he saw Ghyreian pull by the courtyard, for some reason Edwin wanted to see her, but for some reason he felt that it was the best to avoid her for now. He quickly pulled his hood up and began walking down the stairs towards the garden.

_________________

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!

After Ghyreian led her horse to the stables she noticed a hooded Red Robe walking to the garden. She was reminded immediately of Edwin, but instantly pushed the sensation out of her mind. At best, Edwin was dead. At worst, Edwin was alive and seeking vengeance for her betrayal. She could no longer think of him in friendly terms. Her guard up, she passed the Red Robe without a word.

The gates of Wayreth opened for her. Upon stepping inside, she found herself in a luxurious bedchamber hung with silk. She dropped her belongings on the bed, started up the fireplace, and turned to find a feast displaying itself on the oak table. Not hungry, she passed the table by. As soon as that thought processed the feast disappeared and was replaced with a bowl of fruit. Grinning to herself at how much she'd forgotten about Wayreth, she grabbed an apple and headed out into the corridor.

Justarius, Head of the Red Robes, stood waiting for her.

She pulled up short, certainly not expecting this. "Greetings, my lord Red Robe," she said, inclining her head.

"Ladonna is currently unavailable," Justarius answered her unspoken question. "Do you find your quarters agreeable?"

"Whyever should they not be?" Ghyreian replied readily.

Justarius steered her back inside her bedchamber. "Wine?" he asked, and a goblet appeared in his hand.

"No thank you."

The goblet disappeared. Justarius shrugged, then limped over to make himself at home on the couch.

"My lord..." Ghyreian said, prudently containing the bulk of her impatience.

"I come to ask about the dragonorb," Justarius said. "Where is it?"

Ghyreian opened her mouth to say she had no idea what he was talking about, before the other intervened, "Do not play me for a fool, Ghyreian. I know that you know of its whereabouts."

"You will not extract that from me," Ghyreian snapped.

Justarius's eyes grew weary. "Still power-hungry, Ghyreian?"

"That's none of your concern," she replied, wrenching open the door. To her surprise it swung open without complaint. Without a backward glance she strode down the corridor, putting as much distance between herself and the Head of the Red Robes as possible.

_________________

"Still power hungry?"

Edwin hear the question as he walked the halls, he stopped to listen and leaned on the wall as he heard the speeches behind the corner. Her answer made Edwin grin, he was confused with the hole situation and didn`t know what to do anymore. Edwin suddenly heard steps coming towards him and as Ghyreian passed the intersection Edwin grabbed her by the wrist with a blank face as he stared her in the eyes.

"Aren`t you ashamed?"

_________________

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!

At the sight of the familiar face, the sound of the familiar voice, Ghyreian's emotions swept into an all time apex. The first was shock at finding him alive and in Wayreth. The second was fury at his audacity. The third was a bitter resentment towards the fate that had thrown them together again.

She tensed, reminding herself this was Wayreth Tower where all mages existed in harmony. The icy smile, more smirk than mirth, slipped once more onto her face. "If you come to seek vengeance, you've found me in the wrong place. I nearly killed you back there in Ergoth, and I would not hesitate to do it again."

_________________

Edwin tilted his head right leaving it there with a slightly confused, but a harsh face.

"Vengeace? Do you think that I want that? I know that you are power hungry and I was a fool to follow you around thinking me as your friend, but it was your decision to destroy it not mine..."

Edwin let go of her hand and stepped back.

"I hope you will find yourself ashamed of yourself one day... and alone.."

Edwin walked away without another word.

_________________

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's lip curled into a sneer, not entirely believing that he would let her get away clean. Her encounter with him had caught her disarmed and bewildered. She called out to him, lashing out with her anger,

"I was alone from the day I renounced E'li for Nuitari, ignorant imbecile! How many 'friends' have I betrayed during my century long lifetime, do you think? You certainly weren't the first, nor will you be the last!"

She spoke to Edwin's back, seething even after he had vanished into the shadows of the corridor. She breathed deeply, calming herself. She had certainly not meant to lose her composure, nor had she expected Edwin to make her lose it. Her own arrogance had thought she had lost all sentiments for him. Ghyreian spun around and stalked away. A flash of red appeared and vanished at the doorway to her room. Before it dissipated to nothingness, she thought she glimpsed Justarius, his face both amused and sorrowful at the same time.

_________________

Edwin went into his room and slammed the door shut with a grin on his face, how much he pitied her if her words were true, but at the same time he was envious for that it was the simple way to power, which Edwin had never dared to take himself as Ladonna had offered him a black robe as he exited the test.

_________________

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!