The journey did take them several days as the lizard guard predicted. Ghaleon and his cat took turns standing watch each night to make certain that their reluctant guide did not escape them. And under their inhuman eyes, he didn't dare.

At last, the three of them made it to the eastern end of the Frontier. To the east of them was a great body of water. And to the south were yet more mountains; these peaks pock-marked with many caves. It was towards those caves that the lizard guard lead them.

The lizard guard picked a path along the rocky hills at the base of the mountains that lead them to a narrow trail that passed between the rocky crags. Ghaleon grew move anxious as the inhabitants of the caves peered out to gaze upon their visitors. The premier could see small javelin-wielding implike creatures gazing at him with curiosity. And a tall and gangly archfiend regarded him with what could be taken as suspicion. Ghaleon knew that his guide might gain courage enough to defy him if the group of them spent enough time near these caverns, and he walked swiftly, not wanting to dally any longer than necessary.

The young mage could feel the unearthliness that these creatures possessed, and it enveloped him like warmth from a fire. He was certain he had been taken to the very heart of the Vile Tribe. As more heads peered out from the shadows, Ghaleon could now see the wolf and lizard guards that made up the lower ranks of the tribe. He had the uneasy feeling that somehow the entire tribe had found out about his arrival and was waiting to see what outsider would dare to confront them.

His cat growled in reassurance, and Ghaleon offered his thanks to his friend by an affectionate scratch behind the ears as they reached the end of the trail.

A massive cliff face rose before him. The granite was unmarked except for a large tunnel carved into the base of the cliff. And the tunnel's opening was a perfect semi-circle with intricate engraving surrounding the rim. Ghaleon could find no explanation for the superbness of the craftsmanship other than the opening had been carved by magic. The aesthetic value of the engraving seemed glaring out of place among the black creatures surrounding it. Who would have suspected such beasts to possess a sense of artistry?

And yet, the Vile Tribe were a people unto themselves. As the lizard guard explained the nature of their visit to the two massive ultrafiends guarding the tunnel, Ghaleon thought of the Vile Tribe as something other than just demons for the first time. They possessed lives, emotions, judgments and prejudices all of their own. The Vile Tribe was perhaps like any other tribe of people, except for the fact that they were so physically varied and that they were demons. But if they truly were a people in the greatest sense of the word, then Ghaleon had a feeling he knew what he could offer them that would allow him to gain their help.

The lizard guard quietly told Ghaleon that he had been granted an audience with their leader, but that he had to go in alone. Ghaleon nodded his acknowledgement and spared a glance at his cat. Their eyes met, and the lizard guard was certain that something had exchanged between the two although neither had made any sound or gesture.

Finally Ghaleon said, "All right," confident that his cat could handle himself and that he would know if anyone attacked his feline friend. "So when do I meet your leader?"

"Right now," grunted the lizard guard, motioning for Ghaleon to follow him inside.

Ghaleon followed the Vile tribesman without hesitation, only glancing back to see his cat sit down on his haunches near the entrance to the tunnel. The ultrafiend guards and feline alike regarded each other warily. But there appeared to be no immediate danger to any of them, which allowed Ghaleon to relax just a little bit more.

The inside of the tunnel was smooth, and the two of them passed many branches and four-way divisions that lead from the main hall they were traveling down. Ghaleon could sense their path sloping downward ever so slightly. And once they reached the massive gilded doors at the end of the meandering tunnel, Ghaleon was certain that they were now some couple dozen feet below the ground level they had started at. But the twists and turns they had taken had distorted even his sense of direction. It was a wise precaution these demons had taken. A teleporting wizard would have a difficult time pinpointing the exact location he or she would arrive, and thus run the risk of reappearing in solid stone.

The gold-rimmed doors parts before him and he boldly strode in past the lizard guard. The chamber beyond almost blinded him with its vibrance. Ancient tapestries hung from the marble walls, and a red carpet graced the smooth floor with its presence. Somehow the chamber seemed unbelievably old and young at the same time. The marble wasn't worn, but then the artifacts decorating the room surely predated the sealing of the Frontier. A three-tiered fountain gaily gurgled in the center of the round chamber. And much to Ghaleon's surprise, the water was pure and clear, perhaps even fresher than the some of the streams he had seen in the outside world.

"I see you are quite entranced by my royal hall."

The feminine voice was silky and smooth, but Ghaleon could feel the venom that was laced within it. He looked up quickly and noticed that the far end of the room rose up to a raised dais. The dais held a wide marble throne cushioned by several velvety red pillows. Standing in front of the massive throne was a slender scantily clad woman.

The lizard guard cleared his throat. "Lady Xenobia, this man wishes to speak to you."

"Yes, I know," she replied coolly before he could say more. She brushed back her long blond hair. "I am aware of the death of your fellow patrolmen as well. You are dismissed. I wish to speak with this man alone."

"As you wish, Xenobia," the lizard guard grunted. He swiftly made an about face and left the door, pulling the great doors shut behind him.

"And now it's your turn," she said, turning to face Ghaleon. "Your audacity intrigues me." She smiled maliciously. "I have taken my human form in order for our conversation to be easier on you. But now you have me at a disadvantage. You know who I am, so tell me who you are."

Ghaleon swallowed, surprised that the leader of the Vile Tribe was female, although he supposed since demons came in all shapes and sizes, coming in both genders shouldn't be all that unusual. He offered her a curt bow. "My name is Ghaleon, my lady, I am currently the premier of the Magic Guild of Vane."

At that, she lips curled back like a predator's suddenly aware of its prey. Ghaleon hurried onward with his introduction before she could take it into her head to attack him. "Listen, Xenobia. I know your people have as much reason as any to hate the Magic Guild, but listen to what I have to say." He held her gaze, refusing to break it. "I have lost a dear friend to Althena's belief of doing everything for the greater good. The greater good is all she believes in." His fist clenched. "People's lives can be lost, or sent hurtling into misery; all this as long as most of the people are happy. But isn't there another way? A life can't be thrown away like the husk of a fruit; to be discarded because it's done its job.

"I am here, dear Xenobia, on a quest to enlist the Vile Tribe's help in dethroning Althena. I no longer believe she is fit to rule this world."

Xenobia's eyes flashed dangerously. "You've come on an impossible quest. We of the Vile Tribe are sealed in here by Althena's magic. And I sincerely doubt you possess the power to undo her spell. We cannot leave."

"Ah, but that's where you may be wrong." Xenobia didn't like being crossed, but something about her visitor prevented her from reverting to her birth form and rending him limb from limb. "You see," Ghaleon continued, "I believe I know a way to set your people free. The goddess has taken a human form and has gone to live among the mortals as one of them. As such, she is quite vulnerable to lesser magicks. I believe I could force her to break the seal around the Frontier. And in the meantime, I am quite accomplished with the magic of transfer, and I could personally teleport small groups of your people to the outside for reconnaissance, or other matters. This is what I will offer you in exchange for your help; the freedom of your people, for aid in my vengeance."

She stepped down from the dais and stood in front of Ghaleon, eyes darting over him as if she could test his competence by just looking at him. "Your offer is something I don't think I can refuse. But why help us when you have such a comfortable life in the floating city?"

"Comfort is a petty thing when it comes to the morals of mortals and gods alike. Your tribe has certainly lost much comfort when Althena's morals caused her to seal you up in here; cut off from the sun and the light that all creatures deserve and need. The humans have a saying: 'Desperate times call for desperate measures'. In this case, I believe the phrase applies to us both. So is it a bargain?"

She grinned and clasped his outstretched hand. "Indeed it is. But we must seal our oath. The Vile Tribe will not accept orders from those outside the clan."

"And how do we do that?"

Xenobia strode over to the fountain. "Our blood will be shared. Come here." She gestured to the pure waters of the fountain. "These waters are all we have left of the days before the sealing of the Frontier. They are magical, and will bind the words of the two that drink from it."

A crude stone dagger appeared suddenly in Xenobia's hand. She slashed it across her lower arm and allowed her oily black blood to seep down her arm and then into the fountain's waters. The fountain gurgled and the water began to pervert to the color of her blood.

"Your turn," she smiled, tossing the dagger to Ghaleon.

He caught it deftly, though a few drops of her blood still on the dagger splattered on to his tunic. The mage glanced at Xenobia's wound and noted how deep the blade had cut. He mentally winced, but his outside countenance didn't change. Ghaleon took a step closer to the fountain and pulled back the sleeve of his left arm. His flesh looked so weak and pale too him, and for a moment he was repulsed by the thought of what he was about to do. But he had come too far. He would not turn back after coming this far. Dyne deserved as much.

Ghaleon slashed his arm, gritting his teeth as Xenobia's demon blood burned his exposed flesh. The dagger had cut through him easier than he had expected, and red blood was flowing down his arm in a steady little dribble. His blood mixed with XenobiaÕs in the fountain, which absorbed it all with a sickening slurping sound as if a tar pit was sucking down another victim. Ghaleon could feel his blood leaving him with every beat of his heart. It was like his flesh was collapsing in on itself in the wake of the disappearing blood. His vision swam. How badly had he injured himself? His bones throbbed, but he wasn't certain if that was because of the blood loss or that he had struck the bone itself in his swipe.

Xenobia paid little heed to his condition, and if anything, might have been amused. But she could sense Ghaleon's power from merely standing next to him. He was young, and perhaps wasn't in full control of his self yet, but she would forge him into a force to be reckoned with. Stories had been handed down through the Vile Tribe of the day that an outsider would come and free them. Xenobia had a feeling that the person referred to was this man. The silver-haired Magic Emperor had come. And he was getting dizzy from blood loss. She frowned. But that would be taken care of. Though he was being a bit too overzealous right now, she would make certain that he eventually knew who was really in control here.

She gestured and two fluted glasses appeared in her hands. Xenobia filled them both with the foul mixture from the fountain, which returned to its normal pure self once the glasses were full. She offered one of the glasses to Ghaleon, who took it with the hand of his good arm.

"Drink up," she said calmly, sipping her own glass. And she watched with a smile as Ghaleon swiftly downed his glass.

The young mage choked and coughed suddenly, feeling as if his insides were burning out. Xenobia pretended to look at him with concern, but they both knew that was a lie. Ghaleon gasped, trying to draw a breath into his tortured lungs. What had she done to him? And yet this strength infused him. As Ghaleon lost consciousness, he could feel himself becoming... becoming...