Edwin cursed and spinned his staff around in his hand hitting some of the barbarians, he kept them away and quickly looked at Ghyreian.

"Do something!"

_________________

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!

A poisonous cloud formed around the attacking barbarians. They gagged and slumped lifeless to the ground. Exhausted by the spell, Ghyreian picked herself up wearily.

"Astral Staff!" the shaman beseeched.

Ghyreian was wretchedly tired of this. She whirled on the shaman.

_________________

As there were no more willing barbarians to attack the mages Edwin slightly relaxed staying by Ghyreians heels and looked at the shaman annoyed as well.

"That screaming is rather annoying..."

_________________

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 shaman hissed, turned, and fled. Ghyreian caught up with him in five long sprints. "Where are the dragonlances? Do you have them?"

"Astral Staff!" The old man glared balefully.

"Where did you get the Astral Staff?" Ghyreian demanded. The apparition, dragonlance included, was dissipating back into the bonfire. She whipped out her dagger.

_________________

Edwin came to them.

"You know shaman we have far more worse ways to kill you or torture you than what you have seen this far..."

_________________

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!

"He's right, you know." Ghyreian moved the dagger teasingly along the shaman's neck. "Are you the him the barbarians keep talking about?"

The old man shook his head furiously and pointed at the five-headed dragon.

"That, my friend, is a very happy she," Ghyreian purred, flicking her dagger and drawing a thin line of blood along the man's neck.

The shaman shook his head again and pointed at the dragonlance. Ghyreian exchanged a quizzical look with Edwin.

_________________

"A little speech out of your mouth would greatly clarify the situation..."

Edwin said as he looked confused too.

_________________

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 Astral Staff!" the shaman gasped. "He is the voice of the goddess!"

"The 'Astral Staff' just happens to be the goddess's bane," Ghyreian snapped impatiently.

"He speaks," the shaman continued oblivious. "I have unlocked his spirit. He speaks..."

"Is that real or is it an apparition?"

"It is the entity of the goddess!"

_________________

"Yeah right! a dragonlance an entity of the dark goddess? Either he knowns nothing and is a mad luny or there is something more in this than that!"

Edwin got fustrated as he hit the ground with his staff.

_________________

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 sentiments matched his. She drew another trickle of blood to get his attention. "Where did you get the Astral Staff?"

"No more. Golden elfmaid come. She took the Astral Orb. It guarded the Staffs."

_________________

"So she has already been here and taken them? So that means we came here for nothing?!"

Edwin asked ready to smack the shaman.

_________________

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!

"Took Astral Orb!" the shaman shrieked. "She didn't find the Staffs. Highlord Feal-thas hid them well, he did..." He paused to draw another wheezing breath. "She came, defeated his wolves and minotaurs, his dragons and dragon eggs. Her sword was the sun... shining and beautiful...."

"Speak!" Ghyreian snapped again.

The shaman's breath was coming shorter. "It is cursed... cursed by the last breath of the great Feal-thas and his wolflord. In his final tomb... in his icy grave... hidden against all save those who have the compass of Feal-thas...."

The shaman took one last breath and went limp.

_________________

"So the lances are still here?"

Edwin pondered.

"But where?"

Edwin asked as he looked back at the still fearful barbarians.

_________________

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've heard of Highlord Feal-thas. The Qualinesti ingenue slayed him," Ghyreian mused. She pocketed her dagger. "What is the compass of Feal-thas?"

The barbarians, overcoming their fear, advanced menacingly.

_________________

Edwin grinned as he looked back.

"I suggest we run now shall we?"

_________________

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!

"Run?" Ghyreian scoffed. "Against these fools?"

The barbarians hefted their spears and took up a mighty war cry.

Obligingly returning the grin, she followed Edwin out of there.

_________________