"What the?"

The man looked at the book, every educated man in the land had read history and it always had the story of the exiled princess. The name was the exact same and she fit the demon description of the exile. He had a worried face as he rushed off with the paper to a side door, there was a quick discussion in the room and soon many men came forth to look at Ava. They shook their heads and whispered before entering the room again, there was a quick debate yet apparently the laws overruled their own authority. The man returned and nodded.

"You are in the tests, you are the thirteenth so far and in the dawn the names will be made public for the citizen. The tests will begin in the middle of the day so you may wait here, go to the far right end of the hall and you may rest in that room..."

Zelkhar was already opening the door and entered into a circle room,at first came the outer circle of the room bordered by columns and it had a stairway slightly spiraling along with the round room to the next floor. In the inner circle were many chairs and couches were people could rest. Zelkhar layed down on a couch staring at the roof quietly as that part of the palace was 7 floors high with a dome roof.

"Any memories attached to this room?"

Zelkhar asked from Ava as she entered the room after him.

_________________

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!

Khaisan returned to his citadel after finding the warehouse vacant. He took a chair next to the girl and watched her slumber. After a while, the girl began to stir and woke up. She looked slight shocked to see Khaisan nearby but later recovered.
"Good evening, miss," Khaisan greeted. "What is your name?"
"Naushida," replied the girl. "Where am I?"
"You are in my citadel in the mountains of Khaurin. This is the safest place I can think of."
"I thought you had something to do?"
"I did, well I thought I did. But right now, I want to make sure you are all right. Are you?"
Naushida hesitated then answered, "I guess. What happened to my family?"
"There was a coup and the guards that have long protected you decided to assassinate you. I was your father's best guard and therefore, I had to defend your family. But I couldn't reach your father, mother or sister in time, so I rescued you instead."
"Oh, that stupid cur, Mariton!"
"Mariton?"
"Yes, my uncle. I knew he was thinking about taking over but never would have thought he would have done it."
Khaisan was slightly worried. If his target had a brother that was equally powerhungry, he could interfere with the plans. He asked, "Where is this Mariton?"
"Oh, in his castle not too far from ours. Why?"
"I want to avenge your family for you. But I prefer it that I be alone, for your sake."
Apparently she wanted to refuse but thought better of it and said, "Ok."
Khaisan bowed his head again, flew off towards Mariton's castle.

_________________

I was cured all right.

_________________
resistance is futile...
avvie by mrs.gamgee photoshop genious!

As soon as Hakiere's fingers closed around the golden chain, the enchantment took effect. His entire body went rigid, then completely relaxed. His entire body, save for his eyes. His eyes stared at the elves with dawning horror.

Denaris let fall the hood of his cloak. He flashed a disarming smile as he stepped forward, into the light. "Hail, the great Lord Hakiere. I am earnestly flattered that you've decided to ally with my humble guild. Tsk, tsk. Didn't your mother ever tell you to bow before your superior?"

Hakiere glared daggers, but the amulet's powerful enchantment rendered him helpless. His back slowly, inexorably, bent in the parody of fealty.

Still grinning, Denaris stepped closer. "I claim this tower as an outpost serving the Magi. You shall let no one know of our meeting, nor shall you mention the Magi ever. If you do, I may just be tempted to..." He pushed the magic, and Hakiere's hand crept inside his silver robes. It emerged with a dagger, which it pointed at its owner's chest.

Denaris turned to go. At the door, he added as an afterthought, "Oh and if I ever feel the need to engage in pleasant conversation, you'll find me in your lovely new scrying pool."

_________________

Khaisan flew to Martion's castle and latched himself on the wall again. Three guards stood on the walls near him. He whistled an low tone, that is low to the human ears but high enough to attract certain animals. Within moments flocks of bats bombarded the castle walls, distracting the guards. Khaisan used this distraction well. He flew off the walls, picked up two of the guards, and after gaining altitude, dropped them. The two of them screamed but the flutters and screechs of the bats covered it. The third, driven by madness from the bats, fell off the walls. The bats continued their flight as Khaisan unsheathed his swords in midair and pinned two guards to the keep wall. Those two were guarding the door into the keep.
He kicked the doors open and extracted his swords from the wall. The bats followed him into the keep, breaking the windows and other items inside. Khaisan flew towards the room where his targets were sleeping in.

_________________

I was cured all right.

Avanti couldn't help but smile as the men worked hard to not let her compete, but as the rules overrided everything she knew she was safe and nodded to the man when he gave her consent.

"Thank you, I would much like to see... my home... again" She stated before turning on her heel and following Zelhkar to the palace, crimson eyes darting this way and that remembering the days she had lived in these halls.

Stepping into the room behind Zelhkar she took a moment to inspect what used to be one of the rooms she visited often during her childhood. Eyes following the spiral steps upwards, up towards what she knew lay a dome above their heads. Yes she remembered this place well.

"Many, actually... most just childish games with friends others more dark..."

_________________

The waves that C R A S H E D upon
The R O C K S that you were trying to step along

And in my head I heard them play a S O N G

Zelkhar smirked, but now was looking at rumour and signalled her to come closer to speak with her.

"Now you can do something useful and get rewarded, many floors bellow there is a treasure vault and I want you to hide at the entrance until the caretakers come. After she would become queen they would steal the symbols of power, a scepter and a crown to deny them from her so I want you to wait until they take them, then kill them and bring the items to Ava. Yet you may take some items from the vault as you are there...."

_________________

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!

_________________
resistance is futile...
avvie by mrs.gamgee photoshop genious!

Rumour, who had drifted above them in a clear mist, now solidifies slightly into a darker cloud. Her face appears in the cloud and she nods. "Alright, then...... See you in a bit......"

Rumour's face disappears into the smoke and she slithers through the keyhole and down the stairs to the vault below. The smoke wafts itself around the door handle and becomes a small, deadly snake, waiting......

_________________
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not die, but have everlasting Life. ~John 3:16~





~The Mercenary A-U Gentlewoman~

In the air above the isle of Yutichiko, three ghostly winged horses raced the winds. Below him, Denaris spotted the city. There was obviously some much anticipated grand event, for throngs already milled about the streets. He descended into the forest outside the city walls.

_________________

Khaisan knew the bats probably woke the household but still he was having fun. He slew the guards that tried to approach. One lucky one, however, managed to slash Khaisan's hand, leaving a gash at the four fingers. The guard lost his head soon afterwards. He found Martion waiting for him in his room with a sword. Khaisan smiled and attempted to thrust him.

(By the way Naushida looks something like the girl on my first banner)

_________________

I was cured all right.

_________________
resistance is futile...
avvie by mrs.gamgee photoshop genious!

Denaris changed into the white robes of a light elf, and ordered his companions to do the same. He entered the city alone. After some questioning, he arrived at the sign-up area, where he talked the guards into letting him in. A reluctant escort showed him to the room already occupied by Zelkhar, Ava, and Nuanla.

He sauntered in. "How goes our venture?"

_________________

_________________
resistance is futile...
avvie by mrs.gamgee photoshop genious!

Denaris was all innocence. Making himself quite at home, he reclined luxuriously on a couch and poured himself a glass of wine. "Successful? The master of the silver tower decided to serve me by his own free will. Must be my charm."

_________________

Khaisan dueled with Martion for a while. For some reason, the human managed to parry or dodge both of Khaisan's blades. Martion also almost held the finishing blow. He had threw one of his accursed silver goblets, forcing Khaisan to lose his balance and footing while dodging it. The human smiled and held his sword over Khaisan's head, when an arrow embedded itself into Martion's knee. Not bothering to see who shot him, Khaisan regained his footing and after a series of attacks and counterattacks, stabbed Martion in the stomach and the heart with his swords. Martion wavered a bit but managed to stay erect. Khaisan then opened his mouth and bit onto Martion's throat. During the duel, Martion showed no fear but now his eyes was filled with it. But his agony was short. In a few minutes, Martion was missing at least three quarters of his blood with Khaisan the victor.
Finally Khaisan turned to see the archer being Naushida. Her wings were developed and she worn an outfit similar to Khaisan's except her cloak was green. "You know he tried to marry me before," Naushida said. Khaisan shrugged and said, "Fine, but you will have to come with me to tell them our mission is success."
Naushida shrugged and within minutes, the two of them were flying to the warehouse. They flew in through the hole Khaisan made in the roof earlier. There in the very same room, they saw their allies together.

_________________

I was cured all right.