From: "Tim & Tiffanie" <tntgray@sprintmail.com>

Xenon gauged the group and sighed quietly to himself. Time to make his
position known, and then watch the fireworks. He didn't even really look
forward to upsetting anyone at this point. This game was far beginning to
tire, and Kang sensed danger coming. Xenon spoke up from the depths of the
silence he had kept.

"To put a ranger in charge of an assault force seems unwise. Muranog would
be by far the better leader for that particular group if splitting up into
groups is what we intend to do. As for myself following the at best dubious
lead of our rush off and attack the Citadel by herself belligerent
_assassin_ Raven... not a snowflakes chance in the deepest hottest hell of
that ever happening. I am far better equipped and know far more of the
Citadel than she can pretend to as well as the Kaladh in between. She and
Solarin and Erelan and ShadowBlade should comprise the infiltration force
under my command, while Solfaltis remain to lead the assault force on to an
appropriate point to rendezvous." Xenon continued in a steady voice with
little pause.

" Danger comes, it's true, and we must leave. I am simply going to deal
with those of the non combatants for whom I am personally concerned, in a
simple manner. I am going to gate them to the outskirts of a fine small
city not so very far from here, where Dak can get them all to safety, and
keep them there, safe, with the money I will provide him until he can secure
them other protection and return to me. This will, quite likely engender a
storm, so we should be prepared to move out. Those others who do not believe
they would like to face mage controlled undead and demons, mad dragons, and,
quite likely much worse are welcome to transverse that gate to safety as
well. I do hope, Lady Sand, that you will take this offer and go on to
safety. I, for one, would not see you come to harm in the coming work, and
I would be happy to return and inform you of the relevant details as I
can...should we succeed or fail." He gave them all a measuring but
determined look, his dull adamant armour slightly lit by the fire's light.

"An endeavor such as this is not a city council to be filled with debates
and lectures. Many fine people with excellent skills and talents in many
areas are gathered in this clearing. I give to you all my respect in your
various fields and talents, and hope we may one day meet under other
circumstances more favorable. Until then, on to the gate I will construct,
out of the clearing in the assault force, await me in the infiltration force
as you will or no, or off to the gypsies in Celi Ardi, decent sorts actually
but more fey and capricious than even the elves generally, as you each see
fit." He turned to look at Solarin directly.

"As for you, Raven and Solarin you will either follow my lead or not. If
you do not, the infiltration group will be broken and either follow me or
you... in which case it lacks an Adept. You have shown yourself, Raven to be
unfit as a leader, especially since we must address you through Solarin at
present due to your folly, and despite how much various folk may distrust my
heritage and former allegiances, I have been of great assistance to those
here and will continue to be. So either agree, and the both of you be ready
to move out under my command in the next few minutes, go your own way, or
draw your sword and bow and be done with it. As for you Dragon Erelan and
you Lady ShadowBlade, please be ready in the next few minutes to move out.
We will go a ways and then make further plans for continued movement or, if
you choose to go with Raven and Solarin for reasons of your own... best
fortune to you." Xenon continued to look at Solarin while he addressed Dak
and Zeke.

"Dak, get the Lady and her son as well as the ill man under her care ready
to go. Zeke" Xenon raised his voice and directed his mindvoice to get the
two-soul's attention "please come over here if you would". Patiently, and
with body language showing he was ready to deal with Solarin in whatever
manner Solarin chose, waited a brief moment for any replies that anyone felt
needed to be made.

From: "Angie" <heraldtg@mbox3.singnet.com.sg>

'Blade was about to fall deep into slumberland when she heard a voice... Xenon's
voice pierced through the haze of sleep and woke her from the light nap she was
in. She heard his speech and watched the mage as she slowly woke to her
surroundings. (Ow... Raven has got to be stung by that bit.)

"As for you Dragon Erelan and
:you Lady ShadowBlade, please be ready in the next few minutes to move out.
:We will go a ways and then make further plans for continued movement or, if
:you choose to go with Raven and Solarin for reasons of your own... best
:fortune to you." Xenon continued to look at Solarin while he addressed Dak
:and Zeke.

Shadowblade heard the reproach in his voice. :Alright, so I should not have been
nodding off in the very council I started. I stand corrected... and I've been
ready to move out since the beginning of this council.: She Sent to Xenon.
Stretching, she got up from her place on the ground and turned to Erelan. "Ready
when you are, lady."

:Ynys, my dear, looks like we'll be off soon enough. Still want to go with the
non-combatants?:

:I think I would be more useful in that facet, yes? I'd probably be a nuisance
within Savar's hole. There is only so much space where I can move freely.:

:Alright then. I'll see you... when this is over.:

:Yes... when this is over.:

From: Jeffery Melville <darvoso@fortwayne.infi.net>

Sofaltis watched Xenon rise, and smiled to himself as someone deigned to answer him.

(Ah, the illustrious leader notices me. Or at least, he pretends to. Could be that I'm a convient scapegoat for him, being me...) he mused to himself, the biting sarcasm fading to his ingrained distrust of his own race, regardless of the fact that he _knew_ he wasn't inherently flawed but he couldn't get that nagging feeling away...

> "To put a ranger in charge of an assault force seems unwise. Muranog would
> be by far the better leader for that particular group if splitting up into
> groups is what we intend to do.

Sofaltis guessed that Xenon was speaking about him, or Solarin, he wasn't sure, but either way, he nodded cautiously, for he didn't quite see what the problem was of putting one in a charge of one would be, but content just to have a chance, however, small to be a part of it.

(So what if I'm doing this for revenge, perhaps, it's best this way, if nothing else. I win if I die or live, and perhaps in living, I shall find a new meaning to life... ) he chuckled silently. (So naive of a thought, but perhaps true.) He smiles softly, watching the light of Xenon's armour flicker, shaking his head from his reverie returned his attentions to Xenon's speech.

He listened to Xenon preach about the non-combatants, and was at least touched by the fact that he was worrying on how to get them somewhere, but wondering about the usage of a gate to do so.

(That man is so stuck up, it's amazing.) He came to this conclusion as Xenon spoke sharply to Raven and Solarin, his obvious dislike for them showing through, even though he used, supposedly, logic to show them that they had no choice, or rather, they had choices, but they were non-choices. (I'm surprised they just don't run him through, get it
done with. It'd be easy right now, wait till he's not looking, and talking, and just throw a knife through his head. I don't care how good of a mage he is. That'll get 'em. But there must be a reason why they're not.) He leaned up against a tree to facilitate his quit musings, out of habit, shifting so that he was better blended with the tree, not quite liking the light of the fire reflecting off his clean skin...(Mental Note. Get dirty before you leave.) Once again, he quietly chuckled.

As soon as Xenon had called over Zeke, Sofaltis had an odd thought, (I wonder what happened to that stunning woman...I saw her get in the carriage, I'm sure of it...) and then he realized that Xenon was scanning the group, waiting for a reply.

After Fallen Angel and Blade had spoken, he spoke up quietly, and in flowing elven, figuring it was better to address Xenon in a language that Xenon would more appreciate, even, perhaps more so, because it came from a half-elven's mouth.

"Adept, I'm sure you know what you're doing, and I know that my own limited grasp of magic is just that, limited. But won't calling a gate pinpoint not only our current position, but the destination? And can not a gate be tampered with? I don't want to walk into a trap, and while I know that certain magics can be shielded...isn't a gate impossible to do that to barring to it's nature?"

He made no comments on the fact that he _knew_ shielding magic was an effort, not wanting to insult Xenon as to his perhaps magical strength limits. A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he made the mental twist necessary to 'shield', feeling the earth forces flow up around him subtly, almost invisibly making him one with them. (Every time I do this I revel at the silence in my mind and the completeness in which I feel at being one with the earth, having it's vague sources to me. Perhaps this is why magicers practice magic..this feeling..I'm sure that just like everything in magic, the bigger, the better.)

He smiled, waiting for a reply from Xenon, or really anyone who knew what they were talking about, standing at ready.

From: "Angie" <heraldtg@mbox3.singnet.com.sg>

:"Adept, I'm sure you know what you're doing, and I know that my own limited
grasp of magic is just that, limited. But won't calling a gate pinpoint not
only our current position, but the destination? And can not a gate be tampered with? I don't
want to walk into a trap, and while I know that certain magics can be shielded...isn't a gate
:impossible to do that to barring to it's nature?"


'Blade was brought back to Xenon's court with the sound of the elven tongue
being spoken. (Who... Ahh.. the other elf... Sofaltis.)

"Pardon the intrusion. But I'm sure that while a Gate will alert Savar and his
minions, and that you, Sofaltis, are correct, Savar already _knows_ of our
presence. We have been babbling here for so long a time, that he is certain to
have taken note of our presence. Let's not discredit our non-allies with
ignorance, shall we?"

From: "Raven Darkblade" <abbykat@hotmail.com>

Solarin met Xenon's gaze unflinchingly, long eyes dark and cool as moss.
His stance had not changed, nor his expression; yet he seemed somehow as
though someone had struck him and he expected another blow. A light
breeze stirred his hair around his face, making him look only more
frozen and wary.

In his mind, Raven's presence was coldly still for a moment. Then,
without a word, she withdrew. Layered over the spread of the clearing he
saw Banshee's head rise as she was reined in, saw the bright line of the
Path of Swiftness drain away, saw the mare turned about on her path to
retrace her steps, back toward the Citadel.

The layered vision faded, leaving only the clearing and the people in it.
Solarin had to force himself to draw a quiet breath.

"Very well, then." His voice was steady and even, though abnormally
soft, the words spoken precisely. He wondered if it was his. "In truth,
I agree on the subject of the leadership of the attack party. I have not
the military experience necessary. However, Muranog cannot be expected
to lead an effective attack with no knowledge of the area. That, I can
provide. No one else here can, save Adept Xenon, and he cannot be with
both parties at once.

"I am of little use to the infiltration party. Out of doors, I can make
myself unseen. Indoors, I would be nothing more than a soft-footed
fighter. Had I the power in earth-magic to shield the party, or even
merely myself, from notice, it would be another matter. But I have not
the power or ability."

Solarin's voice lowered slightly. "Despite Adept Xenon's opinion, Raven
would have been a great asset to the infiltration party. That is no
longer a consideration. She will not return, now." The elven ranger's
changeable eyes went almost black. "I hope we will not have cause to
regret the lack."

Steadily, without the slightest change in his stance or tone, he
continued, "I also question the advisability of Erelan's participation
in the infiltration. If, indeed, there is a method of bringing her into
the Citadel unseen without the use of magic, I am willing to hear it. If
not, I am of the opinion she would better serve with the attacking
party.

"I must also protest the use of a Gate, for any purpose. The spell is
too draining for a single mage, even of Adept Xenon's noted ability--"
the words came out flatly "--to cast without draining himself
temporarily; an effect we can ill afford. That can be avoided by several
mages working together... but that would require a measure of
cooperation and trust which I am not certain enough of the mages here
are willing to grant. Similarly, the weather is not clear enough for a
Gate to be built without causing another storm, which is something we
can do without. This, too, can be averted by the efforts of a number of
mages working together, but with peril approaching we have not the time,
even if enough of us can agree to work together to accomplish it.

"Furthermore, the great amount of Power involved in the construction of
a Gate will assuredly attract more of Savar's creatures. I think it
unwise to call more danger to us while some already approaches. And
while Savar undoubtedly already knows of our location, it is entirely
possible that he may tamper with a Gate and redirect its destination or
cause harm to those passing through it. I am not so unwary as to assume
such is beyond his power.

"I will again put forth the possibility of the gypsy clan Celi'Ardi, who
are but a Mindcall away. If you doubt their trustworthiness, I can only
give you my word that any who enters their protection shall be treated
as an honored guest. If my word does not convince you, I expect there is
little argument I can put forth that will persuade you. But it is,
nonetheless, an option; one that is to my mind more reasonable than the
construction of a Gate."

After a brief pause, Solarin spoke again, this time to Xenon directly.
"You say that you accord all here respect in their fields and talents. I
see little evidence of that. I question how you, trained as a mage, are
better skilled in stealth and infiltration than an assassin whose
ability, outside of combat, you have not seen demonstrated. I question
also how you intend to keep Savar, an Adept with no small experience,
from sensing any magic you work within his stronghold. I acknowledge
that the infiltration party requires the abilities of a mage lest
Savar's shields and magical guardians foil them, but I find it unlikely
that skill in magery is more necessary to the party than skill in moving
unseen and unheard and in passing physical barriers--be they walls,
locked doors, or mortal guardsmen."

Solarin sighed softly, a mere exhalation of breath. "I will stay, and if
Muranog is amenable I will offer my knowledge of the land and the lay of
the Citadel to the assault party. I agree that whatever we do, when must
begin swiftly. I, too, sense the danger approaching. It is not far off,
and we are unprepared for it."

From: "Angie" <heraldtg@mbox3.singnet.com.sg>

There was silence after Solarin's words. One could almost expect the elf to turn
on his heel and walk away. Tension between the elf and the mage has gotten to
the point where they had better resolve their differences now, or their little
trip to the citadel could end in a prolonged stay.

Shadowblade drew closer to the other elf, moving from her position beside
Sofaltis. "I'm sorry to interrupt, and poke my nose into where it is not
needed." She paused and hesitated before continuing. Why was the scrutiny of the
two of them more intimidating than being in front of a court?

"Solarin here has poked many holes in Adept Xenon's plan, and has raised many
good points. Adept Xenon, though, has many valid points as well. The whole idea
of planning is to poke holes into original conceptions yes? The two of you are
doing remarkably well, but perhaps, with less claws, it would be more...
effective?" She quickly continued before either of the two could start on _her_.

"Solarin, while it is understandable that Raven would be insulted, is it
possible for you to contact her and draw her in? I believe that she should at
least co-operate with the rest of the band she put together. Xenon is right, if
she goes by herself, she commits suicide. No one person can survive alone in
that hell hole."

"And, Adept Xenon, Solarin is right in that Savar could twist the Gate. Even
should the gypsies not be that safe, Ynys is with them, she can transport them
back even without the Gate, or without magic as we know it. Erelan -- Erelan is
a potential problem as part of the infiltration." Turning the the dragon, she
apologized, before continuing. "In my belief, Erelan would serve best as part of
the group involved in diversion and head-on attack. As she has previously
tangled with Savar's creatures, she can draw some attention her way."

She paused, and slowly concluded, "If we may withdraw to discuss the plan as a
whole, it would be easier. But first, we need to establish the 'fate' of the
non-combatants. Few of them seem inclined to speak. One thing is for sure,
differences have to be resolved now."

From: Seashimer@aol.com

To all appearances, Seashimmer might have been asleep. Her eyes were closed,
and she was trying hard to ignore the heated debate taking place in the
clearing. Reaching in, she pulled hard at the one thread of mental
communication open to her and slowly formed a message; here was where she was,
here was what she was doing, here was who she was with.

:What next?:, she
asked silently, and then waited. . .and waited. . .and waited, hoping that her
thoughts would be noticed and answered. Dimly, in the background, she heard
Xenon and Solarin arguing, but she was concentrating too hard, and the words
came through as mere murmurs. Still, no answer. Finally, she broke contact,
hoping no one had noticed the peculiar withdrawn expression on her face.
Perhaps the next time they rested, she could try again. In the
meantime--well. (I've been on my own before. . .I can handle it. I hope.)
She shifted her focus, trying to pick up on the current conversation.
Shadowblade was speaking, and--

<<She paused, and slowly concluded, "If we may withdraw to discuss the plan as
a whole, it would be easier. But first, we need to establish the 'fate' of the
non-combatants. Few of them seem inclined to speak. One thing is for sure,
differences have to be resolved now.">>

Seashimmer took a deep breath. (I will not lose my temper. I will -not- lose
my temper.)

"Forgive me for intruding, but it seems to me that the "fate" of the non
combatants is little of your concern. We are separating, are we not? I see
little or no reason why, beyond a few individuals, we will ever meet again. I
thank you, Xenon, Solarin, and Shadowblade, for your kind offers on providing
for our saftey, but I feel that any decision between them, and discussion of
other options, should take place among the non-combatants and them alone, just
as the battle plans are your issue only. I have my own personal opinions of
each refuge, but I do not believe that the group at large has much need to
hear them." Finished, she sat back, and waited for a response.

From: Heather Arnold <typodrgn@arches.uga.edu>

Erelan gave Sofaltis a reassuring smile as he said his piece and retired
back to silence again, and she curled up comfortably against the floor of
the clearing with a nearly motionless resettling of wings. After the
young ranger's quiet tones, the voice of the mage Xenon was almost a
shock.

<"To put a ranger in charge of an assault force seems unwise. Muranog
would be by far the better leader for that particular group if splitting
up into groups is what we intend to do. As for myself following the at
best dubious lead of our rush off and attack the Citadel by herself
belligerent _assassin_ Raven... not a snowflakes chance in the deepest
hottest hell of that ever happening. I am far better equipped and know
far more of the Citadel than she can pretend to as well as the Kaladh in
between. She and Solarin and Erelan and ShadowBlade should comprise the
infiltration force under my command, while Solfaltis remain to lead the
assault force on to an appropriate point to rendezvous." Xenon continued
in a steady voice with little pause.

"...As for you Dragon Erelan and you Lady ShadowBlade, please be ready in
the next few minutes to move out. We will go a ways and then make further
plans for continued movement or, if you choose to go with Raven and
Solarin for reasons of your own... best fortune to you.">

she found herself listening to the words with cool detachment, nodding her
head faintly in understanding as the mage crisply listed his requests.
There was too much in her that had been a soldier, and it calmed her with
purpose now. Privately mulling over her own ideas, she pulled them
together in a coherent sort of fashion and prepared to speak, when the
golden-haired elf ranger began to answer the mage, and she lapsed into
attentive silence once more.

<Steadily, without the slightest change in his stance or tone, Solarin
continued, "I also question the advisability of Erelan's participation in
the infiltration. If, indeed, there is a method of bringing her into the
Citadel unseen without the use of magic, I am willing to hear it. If not,
I am of the opinion she would better serve with the attacking party.

"I must also protest the use of a Gate, for any purpose. The spell is too
draining for a single mage, even of Adept Xenon's noted ability--" the
words came out flatly "--to cast without draining himself temporarily; an
effect we can ill afford. That can be avoided by several mages working
together... but that would require a measure of cooperation and trust
which I am not certain enough of the mages here are willing to grant.
Similarly, the weather is not clear enough for a Gate to be built without
causing another storm, which is something we can do without.>

That made her pause for a moment in reflection, as did Shadowblade's
candid statements. It troubled her more to see the obvious strife between
Xenon and the rangers - no good could come of such a rift. Still, she
could hardly force them to get along, and Solarin and Shadowblade's
opinions on her own place were more pressing at the moment. They had
merit; like any other large creature, she made an unmistakable target for
attack, and if the halls of the Citadel were, in fact, built for
human-sized occupants, she would have too much trouble moving about to
fight effectively. Still, she had not made her suggestion thoughtlessly,
and she sighed now, realizing that she was going to have to revert to the
trade-tongue to explain herself.

"Perhapsss I can offerrr a suggessstion to rrremedy both problemsss," she
began pensively, trying not to fidget in her place. "I do not think to
gate issss a prrractical sssort of idea. The resssulting stormsss would
lash all the fighterrrs and noncombatantsss left here, and make effortsss
to defend or attack that much morrre difficult. Sssavar knowsss exactly
where we arrre, else he could not have aided Nirathei - it doesss not take
much thought to realize where we arrre going, eitherrr. He knowsss that
among our numberrr are ssstrong mages, and ssso a gate would be no
sssurprise to him. Ssshould it fail, lives may be lossst, and ssshould it
sssucceed, I would sssuspect very ssstrongly that he willed it ssso and
planned to capture or destrrroy the travelerrrsss at his leisure.

"Now I offerrr a third suggessstion to you, and perrrhapsss it would be
less expected by the enemy. I have sssaid I am ssswift in the air, and
this weatherrr that is ssso poor for gating isss perrrfect forrr me. With
the help of mapssss made by my uncle long beforrre my hatching, I can fly
inside or above the cloudsss, out of sssight, and bring two, or
perrrhapsss..." she paused for a moment, knowing that to offer the next
would mean she would have to leave her satchel behind. "...perrrhapsss
three to Sssavar's doorssstep - without the need for any magic." She
sighed and smiled, a little ruefully. "Necessarily without magic, I
ssshould sssay. I have none of my own to offerrr. It isss my ssshame,
but alssso most of the rrreason I am here. Thisss isss to the good,
though; my presssence will not be noticed by magic meansss. Ssssavar may
not expect an attack from the sssky - Nirathei left me for dead, and
Sssavar prrrobably believessss it ssso. Nirrrathei will not tell him
otherrrwissse," Erelan said, chuckling a little. "He wassss 'aided' in
hisss missssion. Sssavar has insssulted him - and it issss not generally
wise to wound a dragon'ssss pride. ...Essspecially the pride of a great,
mad, blussstering drrrake with an overrrr-full sssshare of
sssself-imporrrtance."

Erelan paused for a moment, stretching out her aching throat and jaws, and
hoping she could finish her say before her words dissolved to complete
incoherence.

"I am a huntresss firrrst," she said, "Assssk SSS'Xenon if you have any
doubtsss about my ssssneaking and sssspying ssskill," she said with a
toothy grin, aiming the mild jab at the mage. "I may not be much ussse
inssside the Citadel, depending on the sssize of the corrrridors. I
certainly will not be any ussse againssst an adept mage. Ssstill, I have
learned to trrravel undetected through countriesss all over thisss world.
I am a ssskilled cartographerrr, and have both toolssss and trrraining
well-sssuited to the task of asssessing Sssavar's ground forces and the
movements of hisss militia. I am the bessst choice for transssporrrting
sssmall numberrrss without the ussse of magic." This last she said with
conviction and just the faintest touch of pride, looking around once as if
daring anyone to contradict her. Then after a moment, she realized she
was being a little overconfident, and she bowed once, gracefully, to the
gathered party. "And I am a soldierrr, not a leaderrr. I will go where I
am mossst needed. I will fight bessside my brotherrrssss to the bessst of
my ability and to the lassst of my ssstrength. Thisss I ssswear."

Falling silent again, she gave a sigh and blinked as she waited for the
verdict, hoping that whoever was going to lead would get to it. The night
was chilly for her, and she itched to be in motion, wherever that motion
might take her. It had hurt her pride a little to admit her magic was
flawed... defunct, really ...but the success of this whole endeavor rested
on the ability of the party members to trust one another. So far, trust
seemed to be the farthest emotion from anyone's heart. (Might as well set
an example,) she thought ruefully. (We're all too much strangers to take
anything for granted. The last time I'd want to find out that someone
lacked a common skill would be in the heat of battle.)

From: "Angie" <heraldtg@mbox3.singnet.com.sg>

:Shadowblade dear, stop trying to dig yourself a grave and pay attention.:

:What? What are you talking about, Ynys?... oh.: 'Blade turned at the sound of a
female voice. There were so many people here that she found it hard to attach
face to voice.

: "Forgive me for intruding, but it seems to me that the "fate" of the non
:combatants is little of your concern. We are separating, are we not? I see
:little or no reason why, beyond a few individuals, we will ever meet again. I
:thank you, Xenon, Solarin, and Shadowblade, for your kind offers on providing
:for our saftey, but I feel that any decision between them, and discussion of
:other options, should take place among the non-combatants and them alone, just
:as the battle plans are your issue only. I have my own personal opinions of
:each refuge, but I do not believe that the group at large has much need to
:hear them." Finished, she sat back, and waited for a responce.


She felt her ears reddening, and knew she just looked pathetic. (I wonder if
anyone has ever seen an elf blush before this.) She stared awhile at the other
woman and slowly replied.

"Pardon me, Seashimmer. But are we not a band with a common purpose? Did we not
start on this mad quest together? Is it then the way of humans to abandon their
own partners? I do not say that the non-combatants cannot survive on their own,
simply that assistance can be derived from every person here. The non-combatants
cannot aid in battle plans, for they do not know the basics of battle. But
everyone in this clearing was once devoid of any knowledge of fighting skills,
no matter how long ago. Every suggestion that is thrown out at this clearing is
useful to everyone else. We here are willing to provide aid to the
non-combatants, it is up to them to accept it."

She looked over Seashimmer's shoulder to the rest of the band. "It is up to
them," she indicated with a nod of her head in their direction, "whether they
wish to receive our counsel. Personally, I believe that every idea is worth
considering. And everyone has an idea to help."

She turned back to Seashimmer and slowly relaxed. "That is all, really, m'lady.
Just a few suggestions thrown out to the body as a whole. The rest can ignore
the battle-talk."

She smiled at the gathering to lighten the mood. No sense insulting everyone in
the darn clearing and having to run for her life.
======
When Erelan spoke up volunteering her services as transportation, Ynys just had
to come out of her cave.

"... I am the bessst choice for transssporrrting sssmall numberrrss without the
ussse of magic."

Ynys picked her way daintily through the mess of packs and beings before
reaching the dragon's side. :Shadowblade, please tell your mage-friends what I
am about to do.:

The elf stared back at her partner. :What _are_ you going to do?: Confusion
flashed across her face. Talking to two groups of people at one time muddles the
poor child's mind. How sad. The unicorn smiled inwardly. :Just tell them to
watch out for any changes in magical power.:

The other nodded and announced to everyone that a change is soon expected.
"Mages, Ynys, tells me to tell _you_ to watch out for any changes in magical
power. Ermm... that's it." She ended weakly. Shrugging, she looked expectantly
at the unicorn.

Ynys had already begun the change within herself. Converting the shape her
essence took was easy, but allowing those particles of herself to gain solidity
enough to carry more than one rider is tricky. She had to spread herself thinner
than before to carry the large amount of non-warriors. Granted, she had done
this before during the Battle for Derioth, but the numbers were lesser back
then.

The unicorn closed her eyes and turned her attention inward. What everyone else
saw would be rather... odd. It always resulted in faints and not a few retching
soldiers before. Maybe the group has hardier stomachs...

She faded to a translucent form filled with coruscating light, making sure that
the band can still see her. The silver tints in the light sparkled and danced
across the surface of her "skin" as her horn contracted and withdrew upon
itself, slowly disappearing as she lost her horse-shape and became an
amoeba-like mass of dancing light and bright blue eyes, all the while remaining
translucent. (A ghost, I have been likened to. An angel, another time. I should
give myself a form before everyone in the clearing save Xenon and Solarin faint.
Not even Shadowblade has seen me in this form.)

With her will, she fashioned a shape of a humanoid and crammed her mass into it.
The shape takes up more energy than the horse-like shape, but it will allow her
to speak to all. When it was done, she stood before the stunned band, a glowing
being made of star-stuff.

"Pardon me," her voice echoing, as if she stood in a boundless chamber, "but as
dragon-Erelan here can transport the fighters to the warzone with speed and no
magic, I can also transport the non-warriors to safety, be it with the gypsies,
or within a safe pocket of my plane." Her form began to waver. "The mode of
transportation is the shapeless mass you saw before. I assure you, it is safe.
The wounded in the Battle for Derioth," she heard 'Blade gasp, (Guess I should
have told her I was fighting against her side in that battle.) "were transported
by me. And no one saw them. I am not of this plane, and can render myself
invisible. Anyone I carry will thus be cloaked." She felt her control over her
humanoid shape fade. "Any of the mages here can attest to my capability of using
powers that do not disturb the magic felt on this plane. Let's just say that I
draw my strength from another area..."

The unicorn let her control over the humanoid form slide, and willed her usual
horse-like shape into being. She moulded her essence into that form, and in
moments, stood again as the unicorn with her brilliant blue horn, beside the
startled dragon. (Let _them_ decide now. I just might have frightened them
off... and lost a friend.) She turned only to meet 'Blade's veiled eyes. (Oh
dear...)