I reach towards her, and cannot reach far enough. I can hear her screams, grating inside me, chilling my bones. I can feel the blade slicing my throat. I'm reliving it... I awaken. Sitting up in my bed, shaking with fear and quivering with hate, I remember the day. That one day has changed my life forever. Darinessa and I had just been cast from the streetes of Althainia, when we ran across the young swashbuckler from Shalonesti. We were both to weak to stop him from robbing us. We offered no resistance. Maybe that was a mistake, for he might have ended us quickly if we had. And then, we would not be forced to endure such tortue that we do now. It was immediately after I was tied up that he began beating her, and I was powerless to help. I strained against the cords, causing my wrists to bleed furiously. But they were wound tightly, I couldn't help. It was when he began removing her clothes that I screamed of the things I would do to him. He ignored me, for what could I do ? I screamed in rage, powerless and hurting, of what would be doen to his family, and was rewarded with a blade. He sliced my throat slowly, and turned to finish his work with Darinessa. My mind started to float. I entered an almost dreamlike state. My mind turning and rolling, i remembered the small dagger hidden in my wristband. I quickly slipped it out, only to drop it onto the ground behind me. As i scrambled blindly, bleeding and tortured, for my dagger, Darinessa's screams of pain and torment were spearing themselves into my brain, never to be forgotten. I rolled onto my back, stoutly surprised as my hands rolled across my blade. I wrapped my greedy hands around it and turned it upwards to begin slicing the cords that bound me. With a gurgling attempt at a scream, I severed the cords and lunged toward Kortax, the 'honorable Shalonesti warrior' and sunk my blade deep into his thigh, feeling the tip embed itself into the bone. His reaction was to send a swift dagger across my chest, and flip backwards. Howling in pain, he retreated into the forest's edge. I remember nothing else that day. Or that week, for that matter. I'm sure I'd have died on that roadside, if not for Darinessa, my beautiful wife. She saved me. Me.... When I couldn't save her........

I realize myself and my state as I look around my quarters and realize that I'm safe. I look over at Darinessa, sleeping like an angel beside me. As I start to cry, I awaken and slip on my black hodded robe. I send my feet running silentlky over the floors of the stronghold to the guard tower. As the guards pass me, I slip silently onto the outter partition and betweenthe archer's braces. I hide myself in the shadows to think. I think of the things I'll do to him. The pain I'll inflict. The terror I'll cause. I won't kill him when I find him. That would be far too easy. But as Devion is my witness I'll remove his voice, as he tried to remove mine. I WILL have my revenge, and it's just a matter of time.

Speaking with Matron Ursah is fun. It's always a learning experience.

I do so every chance I get.

As we walked through the stronghold, discussing House and other issues all in passing, a young messenger runs into the room, posting a parchment onto the wall.

Naturally, we step over to see it. It's a new citizen's notice of loyalty. Nicely written, too.

I look at Ursah and smile, 'A new citizen, Matron. Wonderful!'

The Matron nods slowly and begins to smile. And immediately lengthens her face to stare at the parchment blankly.

'Dashin, the name.....'

I look at Ursah, confused and return my gaze to the parchment, scanning the bottom. And immediately fall to my knees, shaking.

Kortax Tak'ra.

No...he can't be here. I feel the blade slicing across my throat again. I hear my wife screaming again, I feel myself drawn back into the nightmare once again.

'Dashin, rise.' Ursah's voice strengthens, 'Dashin, get on your feet, NOW.'

'Matron, it's...I-i...'

'Dashin, I will NOT see my kindred reduced to a quivering mass at the simple mention of a name.'