Crulath holds his hands up in a disarming gesture, again. "This is Memory 
Park. It shows the past, no more, no less. Just that. I'm truly sorry you had 
to see that. But this isn't the first time he's done this. Young, 
defenseless. . .he takes advantage of all of them. . ."

Razz shook her head violently. "What are you talking about?!"

Crulath sighs. "I had truly hoped he had changed. Justin has been taking 
advantage of people since the Blades of the Red Heart came into being. He 
hired Gareth specifically because of his habit of being unethical. He's a 
sadist, a womanizer, and is trying to take advantage of you."

Razz's head almost seems as if it might come off if she does anymore of that 
shaking. "He is NOT, he helped me, and, and he's not what you say he is! I 
know it! Why are you lying?!"

Crulath stays a distance away, knowing just how volatile she is. "I know 
that's how it seems. He's very good at doing that. But you have to believe me! 
I have your best interests at heart." He pauses for a moment. "What would make 
you believe me?"

Crulath looks at her. "Would you like to go see Justin now? See what he's 
doing since you ran off? Would that show you that I speak the truth?"

Razz bit her lip as she stared mournfully at Crulath. "I don't care what you 
do or what you say. I /know/ that," she pointed at the plaque where she had 
just been looking. "That man that you showed me in there is not Justin. He's 
not Justin! I know!"

Crulath breathes out. "Then let's go back to the hall, and see Justin. I'll 
make us invisible and silent, so he won't know we're there. Would you believe 
me then?"

Razz looked down, hesitant. She doesn't know what she will see, and most 
likely... most likely... Justin probably wouldn't care... "I don't want to 
see," Razz mumbled, though her resolve is weak.

Crulath walks closer. "You do. I know that. But I warn, it will not be easy to 
see. . .he's up in arms about you leaving."

Razz looked up again, confused. "What's up in arms?"

Crulath lets a small smile on his face. "It means, he's very upset, running 
around, shouting. . ."

Razz cocked her head at this. "Why?"

Crulath sighs. "It's hard to explain. And I don't know that you'd believe me, 
unless you saw for yourself. Will you come with me?" He extends a hand, for 
her to hold.

Razz glowered at the hand a bit, and finally touched a finger tip to Crulath's 
open palm. "Fine."

They are transported to the Great Hall, where Blades of the Red Heart are 
running around, all over the place. In the midst of them all is Justin, 
shouting orders. "She MUST be found, right away! I will not give her up! Every 
man, woman and child is to be searching for her! The town, the 
forest. . .start there! She can't have gone far!" The Blades scatter at his 
command, off to search for Razz. Gareth comes up behind him, and taps on the 
shoulder. "Yes, Gareth?" Justin says, more quietly. "Maybe she is not in your 
control as much as you had suspected." "Ridiculous! Of course she is! She's 
like any other woman. . .once you know how to play their strings, they're 
yours to do with as you please." Gareth shrugs. "But she DID run 
away. . ." "She will return, and be all the more thankful when she does. She 
won't DARE refuse testing anymore. . .she's mine, Gareth. And I refuse to 
relinquish her." Justin ponders a moment. "The other Delel elf, Crulath. . .if 
you find him, you may find her. He'd likely try to find her about now. She 
won't listen, though. She knows better, now." Gareth laughs. "The nightmares 
we induced were a nice touch. She couldn't possibly trust him now." Crulath 
tsks, and shakes his head.

Razz suddenly looks very tired. Weary, resigned, almost. "That's not Justin," 
she said monotonously. "He doesn't talk like that."

Crulath shakes his head. "Not around you, certainly not. How would he have 
gained your trust, if he acted like that?"

Razz shook her head again. "That's not Justin," she repeated. "He doesn't talk 
like that. He uses different words. And he looks different when he's angry. He 
and Gareth doesn't talk like that to each other either."

Crulath shrugs, and transports them back to the temple where they first met 
today. "Well, you have been more than fair. I've tried to show you what I've 
discovered, but it is up to you to believe or not. If you like, I can show you 
back to the Blades's Great Hall, and you can find out for yourself. Of course, 
my offer for a place to stay still stands. But you must make up your mind."

Crulath notes, almost as an afterthought, "And if you'd rather do neither, 
that's fine, but they will track you down, sooner or later. They will find 
you."

Razz remains silent for the most part. Abruptly, she bursted into tears 
again. "I can't go back," she whimpered, then drew a deep breath. Releasing a 
long sigh, she looked up again, exhaustion written over her face. "Can I stay 
with you?"

Crulath smiles, and nods. "Of course you can. Just come with me, and I'll make 
sure you are safe. I have a castle with everything you could want for."

Razz lowered her head again, her spirits weren't lifted by such a promise, 
apparantly. ::I don't want to live in a castle... I want to be back in the 
tower... With Justin...:: But they won't let her go back now... "Thank you," 
she murmured quietly. "Can we go now? I'm tired."

Crulath nods, takes her in his arms, and transports them to a castle, where 
Razz can get some rest.

    Source: geocities.com/razberryl