Aeryn looked around, darkness comsuming them. "I hope the girls are alright."

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Khienro looked over at Orindil, and got up and dusted himself off. No, not really. But tired, thats another story. And I would conserve my energy, unless you have some brilliant plan of miraclous escape."

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

"I've been in jails before..." Aeryn admitted, sighed. "And I could usually break out of them...but this one...." He shook his head and looked around, "It was made to be escape-proof. I've never seen anything like..."

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Khienro rolled his eyes. "Arn't ALL jails made to be escape proof?" He thought, sighing.

"Well... I don't suppose theres any loose bricks then..." He reasoned sarcasticly, feeling his way along the brick wall that he had been resting agaist.

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

Aeryn saw Khinero roll his eyes and grinned. He felt the bars and tried to find some rust somewhere that they could bust loose.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Nakaida experimentally moved her hand through the air - but she could not feel the air swirling around it, ready to do her bidding. Her mouth became a grim slash and she tried harder - but the air was still and musty-smelling, and no cool breeze made an entrance.

"Be that as it may," she said aloud, "I would suggest we do not underestimate Okandar..." trailing off, Nakaida hesitated. "I can't feel the air, I can't make a wind. I cannot remember ever hearing of an enchantment that could prevent me - or us - from using our element."

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"There must be some reason for it..and whatever it is, that would explain why I've stopped seeing the spirits inhabiting this blasted place." offered Alayna, voice deceptively calm. She was clearly not amused, however. If she would have just asked, she would likely have been able to find a way to get out by asking the spirits' advice on the matter..but now, that was impossible.

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Naidele's eyes widened when Alayna and Nakaida both said that they could not use their powers. She had not tried to do anything with her abilities since they were taken by the fire demon. Experimentally, she lifted her hand above her head and tried to summon forth fire. Flickers of flame should have sprouted from her fingertips, but nothing came. She tried once more then let her hand fall to her side with a sigh. She felt empty without the use of her Element.

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I'm back!

Nakaida restlessly crossed to the door - a solid wood affair, with what proved under inspection to be an extremely sturdy lock on the other side. There was no window in it. She turned and paced to the other wall, hands flying over the stones; but in a tower there was not much use in finding a loose stone in the wall, as escaping that way meant falling some distance.

"We'll get out," she said firmly, more to herself than to the others. "We will. We have to."

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Gold-trimmed black cloak swirling behind him like night incarnate, Lord Okandar swept down the tower stairs like some shade of death. Torches flickered as he passed, casting an eerie light that further enhanced his aura of sheer domination. Beside him prowled his familiar, a midnight black wolf.

He bumped into Gabilon on the way down. He paused and looked the man up and down. His thin lips twisted into a grin. "You have done well," he said, withdrawing from the folds of his cloak a bulging coin sack. He tossed the sack into Gabilon's waiting hands. "Retreat back to the dungeons. I place you in command of the Keepers' friends."

Chuckling and without a single doubt in his arrogance that Gabilon would flout his commands, he whipped around and continued his descent. He reached the second level dungeons soon enough. By the time he stood outside the Keepers' cell, he was accompanied by not only his wolf, but an entire escort of leering half-demons as well.

He grinned in satisfaction. "Not so high and mighty now, are you?" he sneered.

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"Were we ever?" flashed Nakaida, incensed, whirling from where she stood to face him. "Take your taunts somewhere else, we've no need or desire for them here."

Even as his prisoner she gave no sign of submitting - as though he were some irritating insect, she tossed her blond hair back over her shoulder and studiously ignored Okandar.

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If anything, Nakaida's defiance only amused Okandar more. Eager to please, his half-demon henchmen chortled and shuffled among themselves. His black wolf emitted a low growl.

"You know..." he spoke softly, lethally. "Your friends are dead. All three of them."

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Nakaida's head jerked towards him as though on a string, blue eyes wide with panic. "No, they're not," she snapped, more to reassure herself than anything. "They're not! if you've killed him - them - " her voice trembled suddenly and poor Nakaida stopped, determined not to show him that somehow she feared this most, above anything else he could do. She clenched her fists to keep her hands from shaking. He can't have, he can't...Goddess, I promised!

Voice and manner frigid, she continued. "Do not let yourself think we are defeated. Their, their death - " she stumbled over the word " - will not stop us, even if you have killed them - and if you have," and here her eyes bored into him, "I swear to you, the moment I am free will be the moment you will wish you had never been born."

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Again came that cruel, icy chuckle. It bubbled from Okandar's throat like a japing taunt, devoid of all humanity and mirth. With a last I'd-like-to-see-you-try look over his shoulder, he whipped around and swept away.

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The citadel loomed against the velvety night sky like some raven overlooking its bleak territory. Surveying it now, Andron simply could not believe the enormity of the task he now faced. He could only shake his head even more as he looked back at the ragtag band of five hundred human soldiers, villagers, and refugees. Okandar had twice that number crawling his citadel, as the resistance force knew full well.

The events that'd led up to this moment in Andron's life had been momentous. Only three months ago, he'd been a mere blacksmith in an insignificant village. He'd had - in his eyes, anyway - the most beautiful wife in the world, and three lovely children to match.

But that was before the raid on his village by none other than Okandar's evil minions.

Those last moments among the burning remains of his village, shutting into his wife's lifeless eyes. Pressing the lifeless bodies of his children one last time to his chest. He knew. He knew then, what he had to do. Those three months marching through the countryside, waving the banner of his newfound army - the Revolution. Farmers, merchants, veteran soldiers... they'd all flocked to his cause, eager to avenge loved ones.

He looked upon the citadel now and knew their greatest advantage would be surprise. Arrogant Okandar wouldn't anticipate an attack - on his own fortress least of all! The outer wall was scarcely patrolled and could be easily taken. Once inside, Andron knew what path lay before him.

He was going to kill Lord Okandar.

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Naidele's bottom lip quivered as she watched Okandar sweep out of the room. Dead? Her thoughts automatically turned to Khienro, to how she felt about him. He couldn't be dead. He just couldn't be. A single tear trickled down her cheek, but she quickly dashed it away. She coudn't give in. Not yet.

"Do you think," she began in a trembling voice. It was evident that she was barely holding back tears. "Do you think he's telling the truth?" She was afraid of the answer.

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I'm back!

Aeryn sighed and looked around. "If only I had my dagger...."

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly