"I'm angry too but right now we don't know of anything we can do", Bella said trying to comfort herself and Kai.

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"Is all that we see or seem in a dream, but a dream?" -Edgar Allen Poe

[: ? # = $ ^ ~ +]


Normal is for Muggles!

Threng glared at the Fashani from the shadowed cover of an abandonded alley. Why did they do that? It made the people more fearful, yes, but also more hateful. Sooner or later the people wern't going to take this anymore. They were going to make a stand, demand to stop being used as gallow-fodder. Threng couldn't wait for the day.

Cuim followed some distance behind the Fashani, watching them with a mixture of anger and sadness. The boy they were taking had been one of Cuim's friends, and his father was a good man. He clenched his fist. <i>If only we could do something!</i> he thought. Most of the people in the village, and the surrounding villages resented the king's laws and orders, but they were too few to stand up against the soldiers.

Cuim saw Threng standing in the shadows in an alleyway. He stopped following the soldiers and walked into the alley, not saying anything.

Annalett ran out of her house, quickly drying her tears, with a bag over her shoulder that held only a few belonings. She had to leave the kingdom... if that was possible. She was now an orphan, and as soon as that was found out by the Fashani, they were sure to take her to the Citidel. Outside in the streets once more, she looked around, trying ot think of the best possible way to escape...

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Threng shook his head as Cuim approached. "This is wrong." He said. He was angry. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, his heart raced, his lungs drew breath that was too quick and too shallow, and lightening played along his finger tips...wait! Lightening! Threng's rapidly pulsing heart skipped a beat, then made a bee-line for the pit of his stomache. What was happening to him? Threng hid his hand, but the lightling had vanished just as quickly as it had begun. He stared over at Cuin, hoping his friend had not seen what had just taken place.

(Is that an alright way for thier power to surface?)

The Citadel loomed over the path like a shadow. Inside, scores of Fashanis resided, trained, tortured, executed. They were given the best protection the Kingdom could offer. Its high dark walls were guarded by the Elite Soldiers of the King. Then there was the Fashani themselves. They were trained and experienced in spear-fighting, fencing, archery, strategy, and a myriad of military skills. As Adh's party handed the boy to a burly trainer and the traitor to the jailer, Adh quickly explained to the head jailer that the traitor is to be tried for high treason and the boy is to be trained for a Fashani.
"By the way, Adh," the head jailer said. "The King's representative, Lord Caler, wants to see you. He's in his office"
Adh frowned. Lord Caler tended to be the one concerned with his brutal tactics. Adh dragged himself to his office. There he was heaped with criticism with his strategies.
"It would have been acceptable," Lord Caler said. "If you had taken this man during the night. Where people will remain in fear."
"And while they remain in fear of night raids, they think we're too scared to come out in the light," retorted Adh.
"As efficient as your tactics are, they're simply too brutal!"
"Would you rather have my men ask them politely to join us to the Citadel? Do you think that's how you got into such a high position? We were the ones who dutifully eliminating the King's enemies in the last revolt. Where almost everything went into chaos. Besides if the King thought my tactics are too cruel, why doesn't he come and tell me himself?"
"The King deems you unworthy to be in his presence," retorted Lord Caler.
"Really? Was I unworthy when I brought the head of Garis the Betrayer?"
"You weren't then. You are now. You're dismissed."
Adh was boiling in sullen rage as he left.

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I was cured all right.

Cuim started to agree with Threng's statement, when he saw light dance across his friend's fingertips. Cuim's words were cut off in a gasp. He stared at Threngs hand as the young man tried to hide it, but the light was gone. "W-what was that?" Cuim asked.

Adh busied himself practicing swordsmanship. He usually trained alone, thinking that anyone else would be more of a hindrance than a help. Besides, he needed something take his mind off from Lord Caler. Despite what the people thought, King Vance is going to die. And the fragile social balance that he created will die with him. Undoubtedly there will be many people eager to fill his place, him included. But Lord Caler seemed the one most possible to receive the throne. But even he knew better than to mess with Adh. Adh could simply send the soldier to Caler's bedside. Bypassing the simple guards that Caler employed was too easy. But Caler could not do the same to Adh. Adh had all of the Fashani swear complete loyalty to him. Through tests, tortures, and modifications, the Fashani would never dream of disobeying him. Soon there was a small knock on the door. Adh placed his tunic over him before opening the door. It was a simple rank-and-file soldier. "Yes?" Adh asked, slightly annoyed.
"I apologize if I interrupted you, my lord," the soldier said, bowing. "I bring a message from the Courts. They require your presence."
"Really?" Adh never liked it when the Courts needed him. If the Fashani had to arrest someone, it's obvious that they were guilty. "Tell them that I'm occupied." He put an emphasis on the last word, making it deadly clear to the soldier, who gulped and ran to deliver his message.

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I was cured all right.

"Wat was what?" He said, trying to hide whatever it was that had just happened. "I dodn't see anything, did you?"

Cuim half-shrugged, still frowning. "I thought I saw...lightning..." He trailed off, then said briskly, "Probably just a trick of the light."

Searching for a familiar face Tannar franticly walked down the street his dark tan hands making an odd nervous motion in front of him.He scanned the faces, but none of them where what he was looking for

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"Holmes is a little too scientific for my tastes -- it approaches to cold-bloodedness"