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

Zeke stood with his arms folded, legs slightly spread, (looking quite elven
lordly, if I do say so myself) he thought. And waited...and waited...and
the Mage didn't seem to be paying him any attention at all!

Then, a Gate opened and Zeke prepared to ride the Chaos Gate that would
follow, believing it was time to beat feet, when he realized the entering person was a Dark Elf!

(Oh, bad, oh bad), Zeke thought and even Zora seemed to be in agreement.
(She's bound to get the Troll and the light elves all stirred up, they
really seem to have no sense of tolerance. Taking a Chaos Gate back into
Dark Elven realms would be very bad)

And then the Mage suddenly seemed to remember him.

<snip>
>From Zeke's pouch, disappeared his Gem, and it landed with gentle
grace about the neck of the Lady Aya, bound by spells few or no hands could
remove.

As Zeke's face began to light with astonishment, Xenon said simply "You seek
to learn of the Light Zeke. You are given opportunity at this time. I bind
both the masculine and the feminine within thee, in all their forms and ways
and powers, to the service, aid and protection of Lady Aya and her son
Reuven as well as that property which is theirs if such protection poses no
threat to theirs, Aya and Reuven's, personally, the service to last for the
period of one year from this day as time is measured commonly within this
sphere." <snip>

::He's Bound us!:: Zora Mindsent to Zeke, astonished that he would do so
after his promise to leave them alone. But it was too late for
protestations to make any difference. ::He did say 'for now', sister. Even
I know better than to think that that meant he would leave us alone
forever.::

By the time they finished arguing the second Gate was already up and their
charge was....running the other way?

This confused Zeke to no end. (Where could she be going? A call of Nature?
Couldn't she wait? Holding a Gate open takes lots of energy, even if it was
a Sidhe Gate instead of a Mage Gate.) He noted the elven ranger running off
into the forest after her. (Ah, he'll bring her back!) Then he felt the
pull of his Soul Gem and knew he must follow.

(Demons teeth! Lord of Luck, why abandon me now?) But he didn't send the
prayer too skyward, just in case He might actually have abandoned Zeke and
he draw the fire of some waiting deity on his tender head.

While standing in confusion, he saw Dakorillon stare off after the Lady Aya
in indecision, as his two charges seem to have split him apart as well.
Zeke shrugged, he knew where he must go. He turned and sped off into the
forest to find the Lady and the Baby and bring them back come Hell or Tall
trolls!

He found them just in time to hear her declaration.

<snip>
"I will not return to the clearing. I will go by foot to any location one
knowledgeable in this region deems safe. Any person or other who cares to
share my journey is welcome." She looked about her and started to walk
down the road the direction opposite from which she had come upon the
clearing. She did not take the proffered hand, nor did she look back at
the elf behind her. <snip>

(Ah, she's not looking, makes life easier!), Zeke thought happily. A few
more running steps, silent on the road, and he snatched the baby with one
arm and with his preternatural strength slung the slight frame of the Lady
Aya over the other shoulder, with a jaunty nod to the elven ranger.

"Come on, the Gate won't wait forever!" Zeke reminded him as he took off at
a trot back towards the clearing.

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

Agalein had waited and slept through the day, watching betimes the camp, and
trying to somehow sort her own confused feelings. It had not been an easy
task, but after she had been moved, along with others into the caves, she
had begun to closely watch the situation as it occurred. She saw that
Nerethei must have been defeated, as the little blue dragon returned, and
was quite surprised at the outcome. Xenon's absence had been of interest as
well, and she was quite aware of his rivalry with and mutual hatred for the
insane black dragon.

Then the wards went up and a true conference began. She knew she could wait
no longer. As person after person joined the discussion she had prepared
her small magics, in on of the caves to the side, out of the aegis of the
wards. When she was ready, the elf and Xenon were conversing. She set the
final aspects of the spell, and her thoughts went out to her Master.

:Savar. Medivh Savar. Master. : She strove to send the information on the
tightest mindsend she could, augmenting it with magic to give it strength
and assure its reciever was the one intended. :Master. I must report. I
have a report for Thee oh my Master Savar. It is your servant Agalein who
calls....: Agalein sat back, still in trance for the most part, waiting
for the reply of Medivh Savar.

From: Adrienne R Metz <ametz@U.Arizona.EDU>

No sooner had Aliaya turned and walked a few paces down the road than she
was hefted undecoriously over someone's shoulder, someone who promptly ran
back towards the clearing. :I simply will not return to that clearing!:
she Mindshouted forcefully enough that anyone without Mindspeech would
hear and even those in the clearing could hear.

Then, she reached into the mind of the one who carried her and her
child. Deftly, she pushed aside any barriers, and quickly realized she
had entered the mind of a demon. But even the chaos of a demon-mind would
not stop her, for she felt her child was being endangered by this demon's
actions and she would not stand for that. She searched for the muscle
center and found it without much trouble.

She seized control of the
being, directing his body to stop and put her down with care, and handing
her Ruvan. Even in her rush to find the muscle center she had carefully
avoided nerve centers and so had not caused the demon any pain. But
confusion and even some fear shone threw his eyes, as it does for anybody
who has never had their body controlled by another. (Of course, this
demon could well have had his body controled by another and that is what
he fears,) Aya thought to herself.

Still holding the being under control, tight enough that the female within
him could not surface, for she had also noticed the other presence inside
his mind, she addressed the one before her. :I am sure you have only my
and your own best interests at heart, but neither my child nor I will
return to that clearing, and you cannot bring me there by force. Even though you
are a demon, and the word of such means nothing to some, it is urgent in
your mind how you have been bound to me. Therefore, before I will release
my hold on you, I will have your word that you will not do anything to
bring me back to that clearing.:

She stood there, holding her son close to her, and keeping the demon held
in place, awaiting a response.

From: troll@netcomuk.co.uk

Muranog's words were for Erelan, but his gaze remained firmly on the
dark elf intruder. Runes writhed and twisted along the blade of the sword
in his right hand, while scarlet fire coruscated around his clenched left fist.
Furious scarlet fire blazed in the troll's eyes and his barely contained fury
could be heard in his voice.

"This intruder is no normal elf, friend Erelan, but a dark elf, a spawn of evil,
a child of Mara'liweion the Demonqueen! Her kind slew my family, and
nearly destroyed my homeland, and such evil cannot be forgiven or forgotten!
Such evil ones are not worthy of your protection, good dragon friend," the
troll Adept continued more softly, the runes still pulsing brightly on his sword.
He turned his speech to the intruder, hostility rising again in his voice.

"Once again, dark elf, I will ask your name and purpose here. And answer
truly, or you shall surely perish."

From: troll@netcomuk.co.uk

The commotion from below attracted Stormwing's attention as she glided
over the trees of the forest. Sniffing the air, the blue dragon found the quite
unmistakable scent of dragon. Tucking her wings in close to her body,
she plunged down to investigate the source of the commotion. Dragon,
indeed, she took in at a glance. Not the renegade, the accursed one. But
perhaps a compatriot, or at least one who would know of him and one
who clearly sought to harm innocents. This could not be permitted, thought
Stormwing, and dived.

The larger dragon's shadow blotted out the dim moonlight shining down
on the forest as she dived, coming to a stop scant feet above Thorn, her
talons flexed for combat.

"What isss thissss?" Stormwing hissed in trade-tongue, guessing that the
other dragon's victim - human, by the smell of her - would not understand
the draconic speech. "Thou sssshalt not eat of ssssentient flessssh. Thou
sssshalt not sssslay the innoccccent. That issss the Law, assss all dragonkin
know." Her golden eyes flared angrily at the smaller dragon. "Releasssse
her, young one - unlesssss you wissssh to fight ussss both togethhhher?"

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

SNIP<<The larger dragon's shadow blotted out the dim moonlight shining
down on the forest as she dived, coming to a stop scant feet above Thorn,
her talons flexed for combat.>>

Thorn swung around in surprise at the voice, the tempest of great
wingbeats behind him.

<<"What isss thissss?" Stormwing hissed in trade-tongue, guessing that the
other dragon's victim ^ human, by the smell of her ^ would not understand
the draconic speech. "Thou sssshalt not eat of ssssentient flessssh. Thou
sssshalt not sssslay the innoccccent. That issss the Law, assss all
dragonkin know." Her golden eyes flared angrily at the smaller dragon.
"Releasssse her, young one - unlesssss you wissssh to fight ussss both
togethhhher?">>

Thorn sized up the newcomer from nose to tail-tip in a moment, his great
silver eyes narrowing with surprised anger. Just for a moment, he looked
like a very cruel little boy whose mother had caught him doing something
nasty. Scowling, he drew his catch just a bit closer to the stone-black
scales of his chest, clenching his talons tighter on the straps of Raven's
pack, and when he opened his mouth to speak, little, opalescent trails of
fluid fire dripped from his jaws, as if in warning. "My forrressst," he
growled. "My kingdom, my quarrry."

His expression arrogantly dared her to contradict him, and his form
betrayed the slightest swagger as he turned away, as if bored with the
larger dragon's presence. In truth, he kept a watchful eye on her,
letting Raven dangle in the breeze. Did this foolish female actually have
the gall to challenge him? He doubted it. No one had ever opposed him at
SeaCliffs, or dared reproach his rudeness. With a sneer, he cast one
last look over his shoulder and growled, "Back to yourrrr eggsss, wench -
I've no time forrr yourrr nonsssenssse."

--+-.__.-+*.__.-.__.-*-._.--+-.__.-+*.__.-.__.-*-._.--+-.__.-+*.__.-.__.-*-._.

<<"This intruder is no normal elf, friend Erelan, but a dark elf, a spawn
of evil, a child of Mara'liweion the Demonqueen! Her kind slew my family,
and nearly destroyed my homeland, and such evil cannot be forgiven or
forgotten! Such evil ones are not worthy of your protection, good dragon
friend,">>

Erelan blinked, and fell back a step as the Troll's anger continued to
grow. Mara'liweion? _Marion's_ child? The teal dragon shook her head
slowly. This was insanity - she considered herself as religious as the
next dragon, but to hate an entire race because of a fable....

A little, unpleasant voice in Erelan's head remarked something about pot
calling kettle black. Hadn't she herself sworn hatred and distrust
against all mages, all because of the evil of one? Hadn't she been wrong?
(And all this scarcely a day behind us....) she thought ruefully.

The little dragon sighed, and crouched closer to the ground, though she
made no move to remove herself from between Muranog's sword and the Dark
Elf. :I have to agree with Muranog on one count at least,: she mindspoke
Ember. :Your arrival was unannounced, and we've had double our fair share
of calamities today. We all could use some reassurance that you're not
here to finish the work Nirathei began.:

Erelan turned a pleading gaze on Muranog. :Friend, hold a moment in your
fury,: she whispered to the mind of the angry Troll. :She may not be all
she seems. If she were in league with Savar, would she not have attacked
with the force of surprise? She is only one elfling, alone, and no great
threat to any in this clearing. I have never met an evil one of her race,
nor are the stories of Marion's children part of my heritage - yet, if you
say it is so that evil elves exist, I shall believe it, even as evil
dragons exist, and trolls, and humans. Still, let this one speak for
herself only, no one of us can bear responsibility for the crimes of all
our people.:

From: "Lady K. Sylver" <sylverrose@snet.net>

<<Muranog's words were for Erelan, but his gaze remained firmly on the
dark elf intruder. Runes writhed and twisted along the blade of the sword
in his right hand, while scarlet fire coruscated around his clenched left
fist. Furious scarlet fire blazed in the troll's eyes and his barely contained fury
could be heard in his voice.

"This intruder is no normal elf, friend Erelan, but a dark elf, a spawn of
evil, a child of Mara'liweion the Demonqueen! Her kind slew my family, and
nearly destroyed my homeland, and such evil cannot be forgiven or forgotten!
Such evil ones are not worthy of your protection, good dragon friend," the
troll Adept continued more softly, the runes still pulsing brightly on his
sword. He turned his speech to the intruder, hostility rising again in his voice.

"Once again, dark elf, I will ask your name and purpose here. And answer
truly, or you shall surely perish.">>

Kay grinned evilly. (Now we're getting somewhere.) Her hand clenched on
her sword handle as she backed to stand next to the troll warrior.
(Muranog? I think that's what he was called....) Winddancer paced at her
side, his eyes on the intruder, his expression puzzled.

"I believe that I agree with you. Dark elves have caused much trouble,
for many different people. But I must admit that caution would be
advised." Kay ignored the Dark Elf Ember for a moment, and focused her
attention on the warriors opposing each other. The dragon had leapt in
front of the elf, and Kay wasn't sure why. (All I know, is that Dark elves
aren't to be trusted.)

:Kay, watch yourself. This elf is hiding things. But she hasn't attacked
anyone yet. Why?:

:I don't know. Maybe she doesn't want to take on everyone in this
clearing.: Kay shifted her weight from foot to foot and let herself fall
back into a warrior's stance, ready to grab her sword at any moment.

From: "ksd" <fallenangel_ksd@mindspring.com>

FallenAngel sighed, and moved quietly out of the focus of the circle in the
center of the clearing. Leaning against Donas's side, she closed her eyes to
the bickering (as she saw it). The stallion whickered curiously and snuffled
into her hair, wondering why his mistress was leaning on him. 'Angel stroked
his nose absently, turning her thoughts to the forest brooding around her.
She suddenly felt alone, without Isis's presence in her mind. _Well, she
knows how to find me. If she decides to come back...._ Pushing the departure
of her bond-mate aside, she tilted her face to the sky to enjoy the last
rays of the soon-to-fade sun.

Unaware how long she had stood, lost in thought, she was suddenly jolted
awake by the opening of a gate. _What in the... he's setting up a flag for
every magic creature in the forest!_ Before she could get a word in, someone
_The Lady with the baby?...._ ran into the forest and another gate opened
behind her. The commotion caused Donas to snort and shy, almost dumping
'Angel on the ground. Pushing herself upright, she turned to see the
entrance of a Dark Elf. Almost immediately, Muranog had confronted her with
drawn blade, and Kay looked as if she were ready to follow. Then Erelan
leaped in between them. Fallenangel caught part of the troll's declaration,
then Erelan looked back and forth between the two (three, including Kay),
obviously using mind-speech, which Fallenangel couldn't hear without Isis to
translate.

Suddenly fed up with the group, 'Angel swung aboard Donas and turned him,
ready to leave. _I've already packed, everything's in my saddlebags, they
don't need me here anyway. What help can I lend to this group that one of
their mages can't provide?...._ Her thoughts trailed off as she caught sight
of Jonas standing, outwardly watching the happenings. _Sheckla. The sword. I
_have_ to take it back to one of our churches. It's partly my fault that it
disappeared, I should have placed more bindings on it...._ Her skin crawled
with the idea of holding it again. Especially since it seemed more....
_alive_ now. Like it was almost awake. _How long are the bindings going to
hold against that demon? Even the protection of a God cannot hold one that
strong unless He is here to enforce them._ Then the next thought ran through
her mind. _Does the Knight know what he holds? And can he control it, or is
it controlling him? Oh Gods, I _have_ to get that sword away from these
people before it breaks._ She turned Donas and rode up behind Avare before
pausing in indecision as to how to get the sword.

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

Zeke froze as his body was overcome with an alien force, frighteningly
controlling him in an intimate way that only his birthmother/sister Zora had
ever done. ::Zora!::, he mindspoke frantically, ::What do I do?::

Zora, frustrated that the woman had their soul-gem and therefore she could
not go against the controls that were being put on Zeke, seethed, but did
not answer Zeke's cry. (Woman), she thought to herself, (if the Mage had not
so bound us to you, you would be torn to shreds by my claws and would see
the fires of Lower Planes this very night.)

Then Aya spoke:

:I am sure you have only my
and your own best interests at heart, but neither my child nor I will
return to that clearing, and you cannot bring me there by force. Even though you
are a demon, and the word of such means nothing to some, it is urgent in
your mind how you have been bound to me. Therefore, before I will release
my hold on you, I will have your word that you will not do anything to
bring me back to that clearing.:

Zora mind spoke then, her words crisp and concise. She knew the Mage would
not let her pervert his binding too much, but she could do some twisting,
and in this case, she had clear instructions with which to defend herself.

:Woman, fear not. You have my word, upon my twinned soul, that I will do
nothing to return you to that clearing. Release us and we will be gone from
your sight.::

She waited for the hold to release. As soon as it eased, she took control
of their shared body, the body writhing stomach-sickeningly for a moment
and then Zora stood before Aya and Sofaltis, in all her Succubi glory, horns
sprouted, wings unfurled, beautiful beyond words. Ignoring Aya, her red
glowing eyes turned to Solfaltis and her perfect red lips curled into a
seductive smile. She licked her lips slowly, eyes boring into his, until
his uncomfortableness was visible. Then she spoke in a husky voice,
seductress smooth.

"Later, you and I will meet again, elven warrior, you deserve every reward
that I can offer, for all that you have suffered in the past." Zora smiled
again, and then with another motion she turned into the black-haired gypsy
beauty that he had seen in the Inn and strode off into the forest, away from
town and camp.

::Ah, free again, for the moment. The woman has no idea how to use or
control us, it is as good as freedom, and our gem is protected. All our
enemies will be drawn to her!:: Zora chortled happily to Zeke.

Zeke curled into the corner of the soul that was his, and pondered the
mortal world, and how humans weren't any different than the dark elves and
the trolls...

From: Adrienne <ametz@u.arizona.edu>

With the female presence's promise, Aya released her hold over the demon,
withdrawing from their mind very slowly. Past experience had shown her
that such sudden control of another's mind would make her sick and quick
release would only worsen the effect. The nausea was approaching even now.
Concentrating on moving slowly was all that kept her from losing her
dinner, especially when the demon Changed.

She nearly missed Zora's proposition to Sofaltis, but her final thoughts
were like whispers in Aya's ear, for contact had not yet been totally
broken. Her heart sank into her stomach, as the realization of Zora's
"enemies" took hold. She swayed, then fell to her knees. Ruvan
automatically took his own feet, while Aya proceeded to vomit everything
from her stomach, and even heaved a few times when nothing was left.

Mentally, she berated herself for having been so stupid to act rashly:
first, for running from the clearing, and second, for exerting Power over
something so dangerous that she did not understand. (Fear does strange
things) she thought to herself. When her stomach was through, she sat back
and looked at Ruvan. "Now where is my knight in shining armor when I need
one," she sighed.

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

> She waited for the hold to release. As soon as it eased, she took control
> of their shared body, the body writhing stomache-sickeningly for a moment
> and then Zora stood before Aya and Sofaltis, in all her Succubi glory, horns
> sprouted, wings unfurled, beautiful beyond words. Ignoring Aya, her red
> glowing eyes turned to Solfaltis and her perfect red lips curled into a
> seductive smile. She licked her lips slowly, eyes boring into his, until
> his uncomfortableness was visible. Then she spoke in a husky voice,
> seductress smooth.

Sofaltis watched the confusion surrounding this women, then noticed Zeke...then...that..
(What the...) his mind faltered. (She's beautiful...) his mind stuttered, (But, but, that's that...)
He looked at Zeke, now Zora, like a stuck fish, eyes wide, mouth slightly open, only his instincts making him take a step or two back into some sembalance of a fighting stance...(Maybe she wants to eat me) he thought ironically.

> "Later, you and I will meet again, elven warrior, you deserve every reward
> that I can offer, for all that you have suffered in the past." Zora smiled
> again, and then with another motion she turned into the black-haird gypsy
> beauty that he had seen in the Inn and strode off into the forest, away from
> town and camp.

Quickly, his opinioned changed. (What _is_ she!) he wondered to himself as she, he, _it_, walked away as the gyspy woman he'd seen earlier, but lost in the fight. (And how does she know what past I had...and why does she call me elven. I'm not. And why is she walking away. WHAT IS GOING ON!!) His mind asked many questions to a puzzle he
knew he couldn't see the full picture of, much less put together the piecies, and he shut it down, and looked at Aya as if _she_ might know what just happened, as he wasn't up to dealing with a painfully beautiful, yet somehow entirely too deadly woman.

He spoke in light common tongue, his voice tinged with just a bit of fear and hope..."Mayhaps you can tell me what that just was?"

His mind searched out for an explanation to recover from the shock, and it was apparent in his all to green eyes..

From: Adrienne Metz <ametz@U.Arizona.EDU>

Sorjo was finally in meeting with Savar. His patience had begun to wear
thin after being put-off for several days. (He sends me notice that my
wife is nearby, then expects me to sit quietly while nothing is done!?)
Sorjo was furious, but somehow he was never able to express his anger to
Medivh Savar.

This meeting was going nowhere, however. Savar kept deftly evading his
questions about Aya's exact whereabouts so he could go get her. While
Sorjo paced, Savar lounged comfortably in his thronelike seat, looking
irritatingly unconcerned with the whole matter.

Suddenly, he sat up a little straighter. Sorjo stopped his pacing and
studied the Mage intently. A glint entered Savar's eye, and a
frightening parody of an angelic smile played crossed his face. "I've
just recieved notice of your wife's exact location, Sorjo. If you leave
now, you will arrive there... shortly, with my aid, of course. Take
that beast you've been riding about and head here," he said, pointing to
a spot on his map of the Kaladh.

Sorjo nodded once and turned ot leave straight away. "Oh," Savar added
with poisonous sweetness, "do be sure to return here once you've
collected what is yours."

Sorjo turned slightly. He met the other man's hooded gaze. "Of
course," he replied. Then he left.

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

Dakorillon had levered the still unconscious man over the Black's back,
along with Aya's and his gear. (What there is left of it), he thought
ruefully. (Easy come, easy go). He led the Black towards Xenon who had
moved outside the protection of the wards to open his gate. Xenon didn't
seem worried about the dark elf, and she seemed well contained at the
moment. Then he noticed that the healer dark elf was very similar to the
newcomer. Then Aya took off running into the forest. He stood there
stunned for the moment, then saw Zeke go running off after her. (He'll
bring her back). He shook his head, (no time to figure this all out!)

"Come, Lady Bard, " he called out, "Lurker, Lady Rainbow and companions,
Ynis, Fallen Angel, Seashimmer, Jonas and anyone else who wants a ride out
of here! We don't have much time, he can't hold that forever!" He then led
the Black over to the Gate that Xenon had constructed. He looked off into
the forest for a moment, hoping to see Aya returning.

Then taking his own advice, with another urging over his shoulder to the
laggers, he stepped through, pulling the Black through with him. (Luck and
Love, preserve us!)

From: Sorchafyre@aol.com

It had taken Sand all of two minutes to return to the cave and grab the bag
she had already prepared. She moved toward Xenon but stopped when she saw him
gesture with an intense look of concentration. Suddenly a shimmering
appeared before him. Sand saw the lady who was supposed to be her companion
run from the clearing, followed by a few other of the designated "non-
combatants".

She almost laughed in disgust, (does nothing ever go according to plan when
you involve this many people?) but didn't quite have the energy. (Well, I for
one like the sound of getting back to a town. Crowds of people here, I don't
understand, crowds in a town, that I know something about.) She strode
towards the shimmering in front of Xenon supposing it to be the gate he
mentioned. She stopped short as a commotion broke out and someone emerged
from an identical shimmering on the other side of the clearing. She caught
threatening looks and gestures, and the phrase "dark elf". (Oh, gods, as if
prejudging Xenon wasn't bad enough, they have to decide good or evil based on
race now). She turned in disgust toward the gate just as Dak called to her
and the others, led his horse into the shimmering and disappeared. Sand lost
no time stepping up to the gate, however she paused for a moment to glance at
Xenon, drinking in his colors and song before stepping through. (I guess you
just walk, that's what it looked like Dak did).

As her body touched the shimmering, her senses exploded. Color and song
burned along her senses as the world dissolved into senseless chaos. Fire
exploded through every nerve on her body as her mind tried to make sense of
patterns she could not quite see. Failing, her mind shut down, and she
spiraled into darkness.

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

:"Come, Lady Bard, " he called out, "Lurker, Lady Rainbow and companions,
:Ynis, Fallen Angel, Seashimmer, Jonas and anyone else who wants a ride out
:of here! We don't have much time, he can't hold that forever!" He then led
:the Black over to the Gate that Xenon had constructed. He looked off into
:the forest for a moment, hoping to see Aya returning.
:
:Then taking his own advice, with another urging over his shoulder to the
:laggers, he stepped through, pulling the Black through with him.

Ynys looked up from who she was staring at: Xenon. Should they trust him and his
Gate? Had there not been a general consensus before precisely _not_ to use a
Gate? Xenon had agreed back then, but the mage had previously proved to be as
changeable as the wind. She saw the others hurry to the Gate.

(I cannot help them by staying here... if I can help them in the first place.
Gods, I must be getting infected by 'Blade and her enthusiasm.) She took a few
steps towards the Gate, then spared one look over her shoulder at the elf.
Shadowblade had started working on Erelan's harness, and had not noticed
Dakorillion's call. Then, she flicked her tail once, and sped through the Gate
with one last sending.

:'Blade, I have to go now. The Gate. I'll... see you around. Goddess be with
you.: