Solyma van Dolceis

by Kaiv

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5

Chapter One: A Spring Storm

"Hold still, I can't see what I'm doing," hissed Solyma.

Hector ceased his nervous bobbing, letting Solyma see her reflection in his monocle.

"I don't think this is a good idea," he said.

"Quiet. It'll work."

"Yes. Like that last plan of yours?"

"That was a fluke. If I hadn't used that spellbook I would have summoned something harmless but fearsome."

If he had eyes, Hector would have rolled them. "It's not that your plans are bad, so to speak, just that you never bother to think them out," he said.

"I think them out, I had a whole set of back up plans in case the villagers decided to revolt, or found out who I was. They were brilliant. Now, how do I look? Noble enough?"

Solyma leaned back from where she was kneeling to let Hector see all of her face. The floating helmet bobbed backward and then slowly circled her. She was wearing her most conservative green silk dress and had just finished applying the last of her makeup and pinning her hair back.

"Yes, you look better than most of the ladies at Dolceis," Hector finally said.

"Most?"

"I still think that you should dress more modestly, especially if you want to be taken seriously. Corannon has a standard of decency higher than yours."

Solyma stood, shaking a few stray leaves from her skirts. "A little decolletage never hurt anyone," she said. "We should get going now if we want to get to the palace before dark. And put your good helmet on."

Hector pulled a plumed and polished helmet from a saddlebag and replaced his rather ordinary and tarnished helmet with it. He smoothed back the plume and rose to head height to take the reins of Tom and Alice, Solyma's horse and donkey. "Now, do you remember why I have a donkey instead of a pack horse?" Solyma asked.

"Yes," Hector said tiredly, "the donkey was a favorite pet as a child and you take her everywhere you go now."

Solyma nodded and led the way out of the forest clearing toward the highway. Once they had reached the smooth paving stones of the highway, Solyma climbed into Tom's saddle. "My lady," Hector began, "Shouldn't you ride side-saddle? As is appropriate for someone in a dress?"

Solyma looked down at her legs. Her skirts had ridden up and exposed them to the thigh. "This is why I don't wear dresses and ride," she said as she swung her leg over to ride side-saddle, nearly falling off in the process. "There. Decent enough for you?"

"Adequately."

Solyma flicked her reins. "Why do I keep you around?" she asked.

"Because if you ever wanted to kill someone all you would have to do is cook them something," Hector said from his perch above Alice's packs.

The clearing was filled with debris. Chunks of stone lay scattered in the short grass under the late Spring sun.

Merkin Chisler's boots crunched on bits of wood paneling lying around the heap of rubble that marked where the tower had stood. He looked despairingly at the mound of stone that was all that remained of Solyma's tower. He had tracked her to this quiet area of the kingdom in hopes of purchasing the spellbook of Valkersan the Mad. Now, with her tower ruined, Solyma was probably dead and her library destroyed.

His heart heavy, Merkin carefully circled the pile of rubble, hoping that perhaps some books had fallen clear of the collapsing tower. As he rounded the rubble he was surprised to see that someone had been carefully excavating the rubble. Ruined dresses and kitchen utensils lay stacked neatly around the excavation. Merkin felt his heart race as he saw a pile of torn books.

He ran to the pile, falling to his knees by the weather stained and crumpled pages. He shuffled through them, sweating nervously in excitement. At the bottom he saw it, the brown leather cover of Valkersan's spellbook. He opened it and flipped through the pages. It was all there, the weaves for summoning and opening portals, and, Merkin's hands were shaking, the weaves for controlling life and death.

He stared at the intricate spirals and loops that formed the last weave, as his eyes traced the pattern he felt the power stored within it. He could feel the power rising from the pages and searing itself into his mind. Too late he jerked back and turned from the pages. Although he shut his eyes he could still see the weave looping itself through his consciousness.

Merkin staggered backward across the clearing as the weave began to form itself in the air before him. Glowing, scarlet threads of magic began to loop and weave, forming the base for a portal. He dropped to his knees as the weave came closer to completion. The threads formed a ten-pointed star hanging in the air. There was a low snap and red flash as the weave completed. In front of him the weave began to open a portal into nothingness. Fog began to form as bitter cold emanated from the portal. There was a whistling as air was sucked into the void on the other side of the portal. Merkin stared at the darkness as a swirl of greasy grey smoke swirled out toward him.

Sweat ran down his face as he struggled to turn and run. A small gasp escaped his mouth as he tried to scream. The smoke had formed itself into a long, clawed arm. Merkin's heart pounded in his chest, seemingly ready to explode as the arm reached for him. "You have freed me," a deep buzzing voice echoed.

"Guhh," Merkin gurgled.

"You shall have the privilege of serving me," the voice said. The smoky hand closed around Merkin's throat. There was a loud crack and his head lolled sickeningly to the side.

Merkin's vision disappeared as his neck snapped with a short, sharp pain. He could feel his fear drain away as his soul drifted from his body, free as the wind. For the first time in his life he was at peace. The spring sky shone bluer than he had ever seen as he rose towards it. He closed his eyes and reveled in the warmth of the sun, then-.

Pain. Merkin's eyes rolled as he struggled to focus his vision. Rock lay under his spine, digging painfully into his flesh. He saw the smoky figure looming above him. A fissure split the smoke where its face should be. "Now, you shall serve me," it laughed.

Merkin felt his body rise against his will. From inside his mind he screamed as his body knelt in the dirt before the roiling coils of smoke.

"I serve you, my master," he heard himself say.

The smoke billowed upward and let two long coils whirl from its body. They dove into the rubble, twisting like crazed snakes. A few moments later they burst forth from the stones, carrying the pulped remains of three Corthronos.

"Good," the smoke hissed. The bodies floated to the swirling smoke, their flesh falling from their bodies to join the whirling clouds. The shining bones of the Corthronos assembled themselves like a jigsaw,shattering and reforming before clicking together into a humanoid skeleton. The skeleton rose into the air, its arms raised, as the clouds of flesh spiraled around it. The flesh began to coat the bones, building up the body in a hideous reversal of the natural order of decay.

The body floated to the ground, bare feet tipped with yellowed claws digging into the earth. It flexed its arms, exhaling deeply in satisfaction. Hands with nails of rusty metal opened and closed while the newly formed creature stretched and twisted. "What has this world become in my absence?" it said with a voice deep and resonant. It turned to the kneeling form of Merkin. "Valkersan has returned. Rejoice, for you were the first to witness the return of the rightful ruler of this world." Valkersan swept his arms across his body, storm clouds of weaves forming around them. With one gesture he was clothed in a robe of dull metal and stone. With another gesture a cloak of flowing blood was draped over his shoulders and a staff of bone and steel floated beside him.

Merkin stared up at the exquisitely handsome face of Valkersan. Sapphire blue eyes shone with no trace of warmth or kindness. Perfect teeth flashed in a smile like a shark's. What have I done? he wailed silently. Deep inside himself, he screamed in despair. Valkersan sent weaves of magic through the ruin of the tower. Bits of kitchen utensils and furniture flew from the rubble to land scattered around the clearing. Valkersan snarled, lightning crackling over his teeth and nails. "My crystal," he hissed. "Did you steal it? Did you, worm?"

Merkin crumpled to the ground in pain. He writhed on the grass and felt control of himself return. "No, I never saw it," he screamed.

"Yes, I see can see that in your pathetic excuse for a mind," Valkersan spat. He closed his eyes for a moment, a weave dancing around his head. "Solyma," he smiled. "Merkin," Valkersan said in a warm voice, "we shall go now, for there are many debts to repay."

"My lady, I am honored to finally meet the esteemed mage of Dolceis and I am honored to be your guide," Adelard Quiton said, bowing. The greying, elegantly dressed nobleman brought Solyma's hand to his lips and kissed it softly.

"Oh, my Lord Quiton, I am not so great as you make me out to be," Solyma said, looking up at Adelard from under fluttering eyelashes. From behind her Hector coughed loudly.

"Is something the matter with your servant?" Adelard asked with a dark expression.

"No, my lord. He is just overwhelmed by the grandeur of the palace," Solyma said, shooting a venomous look at Hector, who had barely overcome his coughing fit.

"Ah, well," Adelard's face cleared. "I should show you to your quarters then." He led the pair through the high paneled halls of the royal palace to the west wing. They stopped in front a set of polished double doors. "I have taken the liberty of having you placed in quarters with a view of the ocean and bay."

"Thank you so very much, Adelard. May I call you Adelard? If it's not too familiar of me." Solyma smiled nervously.

Adelard grinned expansively. "Of course my lady, but only if I may call you Solyma." "I would be overjoyed if you would," Solyma laughed.

Adelard unlocked the suite's doors and then smiled and patted her shoulder. "Here is your key, dinner will be at seven o'clock. If you have any, any questions at all, I will be happy to answer them."

"Oh, thank you Adelard," Solyma cried happily, flinging her arms around him to hug him tightly. She moved back slightly, her breasts pressed against him, with a sheepish expression. "I'm sorry, this day has just been so exciting and you've been so kind." She kissed his cheek softly. "Thank you for everything you've done for me," she said softly. "Think nothing of it, it was my deepest pleasure to help you. I am at your service at all times," Adelard said, kissing her hand again.

The nobleman turned and walked away down the hall, humming happily. Solyma watched him until he turned a corner then stepped into her suite of rooms.

"I still do not understand why you persist in these schemes, Solyma," Hector grumbled.

"This is why," Solyma answered, waving her arm at the suite of rooms.

The suite was huge, sumptuously furnished, and had a spectacular view of the bay and ocean beyond. The woods were of the finest mahogany imported from the south. To her right, Solyma could see the bedroom. A bed large enough for five was covered with sheets of pure silk, dyed a rich, deep blue.

Solyma stepped slowly into the main room, her eyes lit with joy. She kicked off her riding shoes and sighed deeply in pure bliss as her feet sank into a Alathian rug. Hector watched from the doorway as she slowly collapsed face down onto the rug, her arms spread wide. "Hector?" she said, her voice muffled. "Be a dear and check the bathroom."

Hector set the luggage down by the door with a thump and floated towards the bedroom. A door in the far wall led to the bathroom. The bathroom was dominated by a large claw footed bathtub mounted on a low dais. The setting sun shone from the skylight overhead and the bank of windows in the left wall. Beyond the windows the sun could be seen slowly sinking into the Dreamer's Sea.

"Well?" Hector heard from the main room. He turned from the entrancing sunset to the bathtub. Two handles were mounted above a faucet in the shape of a dragon's head, one labeled "Hot" and the other "Cold". He turned the hot water handle and watched as a steady stream of steaming water poured from the faucet. Turning the water off, he turned back to the main room.

"There is hot, running water," he said. He heard Solyma rise from the rug. She slowly walked into the bathroom with a wide grin on her face.

"Life is good," she giggled, spinning in a circle, her arms and hair flying.

"What is this place called?" asked Valkersan.

"Rivermeld," answered Merkin. He gasped in pain as a searing flash brought him to his knees. "Rivermeld, my lord," he hissed between clenched teeth. The pain ceased. Valkersan smiled from under his deep hood. The trading town of Rivermeld lay at the junction of two rivers where they joined to flow to Corannon and the sea.

"A petty example of civilization, still it should provide the comforts I seek," he chuckled. "Lead the way Merkin. Find me the best accommodations or feel my wrath." Limping slightly with a scarf wrapped around his neck to hide the jut of his broken spine, Merkin began moving towards the town.

Magda looked up from her dinner. "What do you mean, gone?"

"Just what I said, no books left and the tower's been destroyed even more," Havas said with a shrug.

Magda looked down at her soup. She felt the start of a headache beginning to throb in her temples. "Thank you Havas. When is the representative of the College supposed to get here?"

"A day or two. I'll be glad when he gets here and can cart away Solyma's junk. Seems like the whole damn town wants to go through her stuff for loot."

"Has anyone been going out there?"

"No, they won't do anything, doesn't mean they don't want to though."

Magda nodded.

"I wonder what happened to Solyma," Havas said idly. "She didn't seem to be a bad sort." He looked at Magda intently. She blushed and looked down at her soup. "I'll be going then, Anya doesn't like it when I'm late." He turned, then paused to look back at her. "Why don't you come over for dinner, Anya's cooking her lasagna tonight."

Magda looked up at him then back to her soup. "No thank you, I'm tired tonight. Maybe another night?" Havas nodded and moved back toward the door.

Magda thanked him again as he left. She sighed as she wondered what Solyma was doing, on the run from the authorities. Living on whatever food she could scavenge and sleeping under bushes. Leftover soup and shelter would probably sound very good to her right now. She sighed softly and returned to her soup.

"- so he said, that's not my wife, that's the plumber!" Adelard finished. Laughter rose from the people seated around him. Solyma laughed especially hard from her seat next to him.

The dinner had been excellent. Solyma had been dying for a good meal since she had left Willowsrun. Hector couldn't cook without ingredients and the food at the inns they had stopped at had been worse than usual. The royal cooks were among the best in the kingdom and Solyma was sitting contented, feeling the rosy fog of the wine floating through her brain.

Adelard leaned toward her to whisper in her ear, "Did you enjoy the meal?"

"Oh, yes! I'm afraid that I haven't been able to find anything decent to eat while I was traveling."

Adelard nodded in sympathy. "I'm sorry," he said to the gathered diners. "Have I introduced the lovely Solyma van Dolceis?"

"No you haven't, Adelard," a striking blond woman said from across the table. "Were you planning to keep her all to yourself?"

More laughter rose. Solyma sighed inwardly. This was the worst part, when everyone had finished eating and the all avenues of conversation had been exhausted. She was saved from further small talk by the Chancellor of the College of Magic.

The Chancellor was a heavy man with a flowing white hair and beard, almost mandatory for a wizard of his position. He tapped his spoon against his wine glass to call for attention.

"It is my pleasure this evening to introduce to you a special guest, the Lady Solyma van Dolceis. She has come all the way here from Dolceis to visit the College and perhaps give a guest lecture or two. Why don't we all give her a warm welcome?"

There was a polite round of applause from the diners. Solyma rose from her seat to bow to the room.

She sat down as the Chancellor continued his speech, bragging of the opening of the new College of Dimensional Studies. Solyma finished the last of her wine as she surveyed the other diners. There were thirty or so seated around the long dining table. Most were area nobles. She spotted a few other wizards, most likely from the College. Her heart beat a little faster as she spotted a Knight of the Shield seated by the head of the table. She relaxed when she saw that it wasn't Kerrith. Solyma saw that the dinner was breaking up and diners were getting up to leave.

As she rose she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Adelard standing beside her.

"It is a wonderful evening, would you care to join me in the gardens? The moon is beautiful tonight, especially when it is shining on the water," he whispered in her ear.

She looked uncertain on the outside, but inside she crowed in victory. "I would be happy to my-, Adelard," she said with a shy smile.

"Then come, the garden awaits." Adelard offered his arm to Solyma, who took it.

The palace gardens overlooked the Dreamer's Sea. Carefully tended paths winded through flower bushes and small copses of trees. Adelard and Solyma walked arm in arm in the moonlight toward the seaward edge of the gardens where the land rolled in a gentle slope toward the ocean. They stopped at a bench at the top of the slope. The wooden bench was artfully inlaid with flowering vines which seemed to shine in the moonlight.

"It is beautiful, is it not?" Adelard whispered as they sat on the bench.

Solyma looked across the gentle curves of the land to the sea. The moonlight cast a long shining path upon the wind-tossed sea. A gentle breeze played her hair around her face as she said, "It is beautiful." She sighed. "And so romantic."

Adelard leaned closer to her, moving his hand to her thigh. "Yes, it does have a certain romantic air." His other hand moved up her back and began to pull her close.

Solyma resisted for a moment, then allowed him to pull her to him.

"Adelard," she sighed as he kissed her.

The nobleman reached up to cup a breast as he kissed down her neck.

"Adelard!" Solyma cried, squirming away from him to sit at the end of the bench. "What are you doing?"

"I love you, Solyma. I've loved you since the first moment I set eyes on you," he said in a husky voice. "We're soul mates, can't you feel it? We belong together."

Solyma had to struggle to keep from laughing. Her lips twitched wildly but Adelard seemed to think she was overcome with emotion. He reached out to her and dragged her along the bench back to his embrace. He hugged her closely to his body while moving his hands down her back to squeeze her bottom. "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

Solyma clamped her mouth shut as her body shook with suppressed laughter. Adelard mistook her shaking for trembling and kissed her tenderly.

"Don't worry my dear little mage, I won't hurt you."

Solyma nodded, her eyes solemn and her lips set in a firm line.

Adelard stood up and pulled her to her feet. He led her around the bench and turned her to face the ocean. He gently swept her hair away from the nape of her neck and kissed her there. Solyma moaned softly as he reached up to hold her breasts, rubbing them softly through the fabric of her dress and shift. She turned her head to kiss him as his hands slid down her sides to her thighs.

Solyma's breathing quickened as he slowly hiked her skirts up over her waist, leaving her underwear exposed to the night air. She gasped softly when he used one hand to tug her underwear down, leaving her bare.

Adelard kissed the nape of her neck again, then gently nipped at the curve of her ear. Solyma stiffened as he pushed her over the back of the bench, leaving her supporting herself with her hands. Solyma let her hair fall over her face as her hands clutched at the back of the bench. She heard Adelard open his breeches and felt his hard cock press against her thigh. He grunted as he spread her legs further and guided his cock to her moist opening.

Solyma cried out in genuine pleasure as Adelard thrust into her. He grabbed at her hips and pulled her onto his cock, impaling her totally with a second push. He began to slowly fuck her, hands roaming over her hips and back.

"Oh, gods," Solyma gasped. "You're so big! I've never been with anyone like you before!" She rolled her eyes, then gasped as he pushed deeper into her. Adelard grunted in response. He leaned over her back, pulling the shoulders of her dress down and baring her breasts. His hands reached under her to caress her swaying breasts, squeezing in time with his thrusts.

Solyma's knuckles whitened as she gripped the bench tighter. She was moaning continuously now as Adelard reached down to her clit and began to rub it. Solyma began to push back onto Adelard's cock, making high pitched gasps as he filled her over and over. She felt herself begin to climax as Adelard hammered into her. She screamed in pleasure, her cry rolling across the hills and plains, carried by the winds, as Adelard pulled entirely out of her then hilted himself, shooting his seed into her.

He kept himself inside her until he began to soften. Solyma felt his cock slide out of her and the sound of him doing up his breeches. She straightened herself on wobbly legs and slowly pulled her dress over her bare breasts. She stood for a moment looking out to sea with faraway eyes until Adelard lifted her skirts and slid her underwear back up her slim legs.

He gently turned her to face him and kissed her. "We should go back to the palace. It is getting late and I believe that a storm is rising."

Solyma kissed him again and wrapped her arms around his waist. She looked up at him with adoring eyes. "Yes, Adelard. Will you be so kind as to escort me to my chambers?" He nodded and they set out towards the bright lights of the palace, side by side, arms wrapped around each other's waists.

The Tidewater was the finest inn in Rivermeld. It sat at the upriver end of the town by a small marshy area favored by water fowl. A cool breeze wafted through the open patio doors as Valkersan stepped into the common room.

The innkeeper stared at him, his eyes traveling over the strange fabric making up Valkersan's clothes and his odd looking staff. He grinned when Valkersan produced a handful of gold and sent Merkin over to the bar.

"My master wishes food and lodging for the night," Merkin said in a hoarse voice.

"Of course, I will have our best suite of rooms prepared for him," the innkeeper said obsequiously.

Merkin nodded and returned to Valkersan's side. Valkersan tossed him a small leather pouch.

"Go book us passage to Corannon and buy some suitable clothes for yourself. When you are done you may have the rest of the evening to yourself. Be back by dawn," Valkersan said.

Merkin caught the pouch and bowed low. As he turned to the door, Valkersan said, "Do not attempt to tell anyone who I am. I will know and you will be punished if you do."

Merkin bowed again and ran from the inn.

Valkersan turned as a maid walked up to him. He grinned at her appearance. She was voluptuous and redheaded. Her hair was tied back in a loose ponytail that fell to the small of her back. Red lips framed a bright smile. Nothing compared to you, Solyma, he thought, but still, very delicious.

"My name is Elena and I'll be serving you tonight. Your table is this way, my lord," she said, curtsying deeply and displaying a breathtaking display of cleavage.

Valkersan smiled appreciatively at the sight. "I am sure that I will enjoy my stay here if the rest of the service measures up to you," he said.

She smiled and turned to lead him to his table. Her hips swayed seductively under the clinging fabric of her dress. Valkersan ran his gaze over her sweet body, leering at the gentle curve of her legs and buttocks.

"Would you care to look at the menu? Or would you like something to drink first?" she said.

Valkersan thought for a moment of the void he had been trapped in for so long. "Bring me your best wine and," he paused, "everything on the menu."

Elena looked at him, startled. She began to ask him if he was sure but stopped when she thought of other rich patrons. They wanted to try a little of everything and ended up leaving most of each dish untouched. But they did tip well. She smiled and said, "I'll go tell the kitchen your order and be back with your wine." She felt a shiver run up her spine when she reached the kitchen door. Elena turned and saw Valkersan staring at her, a hungry smile on his handsome face. She shook herself and dismissed her unease to the weather. The air felt heavy and hot, as if a thunderstorm was on the way.

Hector looked up from the ship-in-a-bottle he was assembling when the door opened. Solyma paused in the doorway and turned towards the hallway. She whispered something to someone outside the room and then softly closed the door. She tossed her hair as she walked toward him, a broad smile on her face.

"How was your little tryst?" Hector asked, returning his attention to the tiny model of a fishing sloop in a whiskey bottle.

"Perfect. He was a better lover than I expected," she answered, stretching luxuriously.

"Did you do that thing with your mouth?" Hector asked distractedly.

"No need to yet."

"Pity, that always seems to get you what you want. And you seem to enjoy it." Hector carefully raised the mast of the sloop and reached for a brush sticking out of a glue pot.

"Hector!" Solyma said in mock outrage.

"I don't see why you just don't do everything the first time. It would be much more efficient. And quicker."

"But this way is much more fun."

"More fun. Remember how you decided to have fun in Alathan? The guards chasing us from the city? The very angry dragon who wanted his diamond back? Why don't you just buy a house somewhere and become a town mage?"

"Hector, where's your sense of adventure? I thought that armor you're wearing would have given you more of a backbone. Besides, town mages don't live nearly as well as this." She waved her arm at the suite.

"Backbone. That is very funny Solyma. Almost as funny as watching a horde of Corthronos come through your portal. May the Gods help us if this ends as your last plan did."

"Don't worry, out of all my plans, how many have failed?" Solyma held up her hand as Hector started to answer. "Most just didn't get us as much as I thought they would, they weren't really failures. So, asides from the Corthronos, have we ever really failed?"

Hector was silent. Solyma smiled and slowly walked to the bedroom. "See? This will be no problem at all. Wake me in time for breakfast, will you?"

Hector nodded, his attention fastened to the drying glue holding the mast to the sloop as Solyma closed the bedroom door behind her. He sighed and decided that he'd better keep their bags packed at all times.

Elena's eyes widened at the sight of the table. Every dish had been cleaned and the six bottles of wine she had brought had been drained dry. "My lord? Would you," her gaze strayed back to the decimated remains of dinner, "um, care for any desert?"

Valkersan looked up at the pretty serving maid, patting at his lips with a napkin. "No, not now I think. Perhaps later, in my room," he said quietly, looking straight at Elena.

Elena smiled hesitantly and then more widely. "Of course, my lord. Should I have a bath drawn for you?"

"Yes, I would appreciate that. Come up to my room in an hour. And bring another bottle of your `11 Willowsrun wine."

"I will my lord," Elena said, her smile fading, as Valkersan stood up. His hand brushed over her shoulder and neck as he walked to the stairs leading to the inn's rooms. She bit her lip as he climbed the stairs, a delicious shiver running through her. She twirled a strand of her hair nervously, wondering what exactly Valkersan wanted. She flirted with the customers whenever she thought it would increase her tip, but this wasn't a brothel and she wasn't a, a, whore. Her thoughts were interrupted by the call of another customer and, for the moment, she forgot Valkersan's touch and invitation.

Elena stopped outside of Valkersan's door. She held a bottle of `11 Willowsrun wine in her left hand as she reached up to knock on the door. She paused and tugged up the bodice of her dress. It didn't go up much, but at least it was less revealing than before. She draped her hair over her breasts to try for some more modesty. Elena drew a deep breath and knocked on the door.

The door swung open, revealing the living room of the suite lit only by a few candles. A medium sized table was in the middle of the room with few straight backed wooden chairs placed around it. Elena nervously stepped into the room, blinking in the dim light.

"Hello? My lord Valkersan?"

She jumped and nearly dropped the wine when the door shut behind her. She spun and saw no one there. She clutched the bottle of wine like a talisman as she slowly turned to survey the room.

She let out a little shriek when a voice spoke from near her left shoulder. "Hello sweet one," Valkersan whispered.

"I have your wine, did, did you want to order something for desert?" she squeaked.

Valkersan took the wine from her shaking hand.

"You seem nervous? Why? I would think that you would be used to this by now?" he said. Walking slowly around her to place the wine on the table. He concentrated and raised his hands. To Elena it seemed that two wine glasses appeared from nothing.

She sucked in her breath at the sight. "You're a mage?"

"Yes, and so much more. But you didn't answer my question," he answered smoothly.

He walked behind her again, his hands caressing her shoulders. He gently pulled the shoulders of her dress down, baring her skin. He kissed her left shoulder while stroking her neck with his right hand.

"I'm not a, prostitute," she whispered, her eyelids fluttering.

"No? You surprise me. When I was last in this part of the world someone acting as you did would be. Perhaps I have been gone too long." He brought his nose close to her hair and sniffed at it. "Why do you act as you do?"

"The men and, some, women like it if I flirt with them. They give me a larger tip." Elena ducked out from under his hands, pulling her dress up. "Did you want something for desert? I, I have to get back to work."

"Ah, yes. I do want something for desert." He leaned closer to her as she backed toward the door. He advanced on her as she edged towards the door. She looked nervously around for some escape as he reached up to cup her chin in his hand.

Elena stiffened as he kissed her. She felt a tingle run through her body as his tongue slipped into her mouth. She stood frozen, her eyes wide, as he moved his hands up her legs to squeeze her waist.

She twisted away from the mage to stand gasping by the table. "Please, I need to go." Valkersan twisted his hand and snapped his wrist, fingers spread. As he did so the door vanished to be replaced by bare wall. He smirked at Elena's astonishment. "Now, would you care for some wine? Please, sit." He crooked his index finger and a chair hit Elena in the back of the knees, knocking her into it.

He sat opposite her at the table, his fingers dancing as the wine bottle rose, uncorked itself, and then filled the glasses. "Drink," he said. When she made no move to pick up the glass he repeated himself. "Drink." This time there was a faint vibration that caused the glasses to dance across the table.

Elena stared at him with wide eyes as she lifted the glass with trembling fingers. She took a sip of the wine, part of her reveling in the taste and bouquet, the rest only conscious of Valkersan's stare.

They both sat and drank in silence for a while. Valkersan studied every inch of Elena's face. In his mind he was remembering Solyma, the tilt of her nose, the curve of her waist, and the soft skin of her neck. He could almost taste her lips and feel her body writhing beneath him. "Come," he said, rising from his chair.

As he walked to the bedroom Elena searched the wall for any trace of the door. Finding none she slowly followed the mage. As she entered she felt his hands wrap around her waist from behind. He began to kiss her neck slowly while guiding her toward the bed. Elena resisted for a second, then allowed herself to be set onto the bed.

Valkersan pushed her back onto the bed, leaving her legs hanging over the edge as he leaned over her. With a flick of his fingers Elena saw the laces of her dress begin to untie. She brought her hands to cover her breasts as her dress opened and began to slide down her body. Valkersan grabbed her wrists and pinned her hands over her head, leaving her helpless to prevent his weave from stripping her.

Elena watched, half fascinated and half horrified, as her clothes were peeled off of her body. Layer by layer they were untied or opened and flew off her to land in a pile by the door. She blushed when she realized that she was completely naked.

"Oh, don't do this," she pleaded as he began to slide his fingers over her flank. Her voice was cut off as he kissed her again. She watched as he broke the kiss and stood up. He let go of her wrists, leaving a weave to bind them together and pin them to the bed. Her heart began to pound as he disrobed, leaving his arousal evident. Elena's skin seemed to tingle and heat where he touched her with burning fingers. She felt herself moisten as he spread her legs, hands caressing her inner thighs. "Oh, oh no," she whispered as he moved between her outspread thighs, hands lifting her hips.

She watched, entranced as his member moved close to her. Her mouth parted and she began to pant as he moved closer and closer to her. Elena whimpered softly in pleasure as he penetrated her. She heard him groan above her as he lifted her hips off the bed and impaled her on his cock. He began to thrust into her steadily, filling her to the limit. He began to thrust faster, pounding into her as his lust overwhelmed him.

Elena began to cry out softly with each thrust. Her cries began to rise in pitch as his tempo increased. Against her will, her legs wrapped around his waist, urging him deeper. She strained against the weave pinning her wrists to the bed. She longed to run her hands over his body and feel the hard muscle beneath his skin. Her eyes stared at the ceiling as she felt herself coming, her orgasm stabbing through her from out of nowhere. She began to make soft mewling sounds as she climaxed, her body shaking from its intensity. Elena blinked her eyes and looked up a Valkersan. Her eyes widened in surprise as he pulled out, not having come yet. "What are you doing?" she asked as he lifted her and placed her fully on the bed, face down. She felt the weave moving and securing her wrists to the headboard. She craned her neck to look behind her as the mage lifted her behind in the air and spread her legs wide apart.

She groaned as he inserted two fingers into her wet quim, thoroughly coating them in her juices. Elena let her head fall to the pillows, breathing heavily as he removed his fingers. She breathed heavily, her eyes closed and her mouth open wide. Her breathing began to increase as she felt her buttocks being spread. Her whole body jerked when Valkersan pushed his finger into her anus. "No, don't, not there," she begged. "I've never done that."

Valkersan responded by pushing in a second finger. Elena yelled as he worked his fingers back and forth within her. She sighed in relief when, after an eternity, he removed his fingers. She was totally unprepared for what happened next as he pressed his cock against the tight hole of her anus, his hands squeezing her waist. Elena began to pant as he pushed against her. She resisted for as long as she could, crying out loudly when his cockhead popped into her. She drew in deep shuddering breaths, incomprehensible sounds spilling from her mouth as she was fucked up the ass. She whimpered as Valkersan thrust deeper into her. The sharp pain was mixed with a perverse pleasure. At once, she was both horrified and excited by her predicament. Her mind went blank as Valkersan entered her completely. He withdrew almost totally out of her, then plunged himself back into her.

She began to cry out with each of his thrusts, her body shuddering with each penetration. He moved his hands to her shoulder and hip, gripping her firmly as he pulled her back onto his cock. She could hear him grunting something like "Solyma" with each thrust. The mage began to pound into her, wildly fucking her. He let go of her hip to move his hand down to her clit which he began to rub and pinch. Elena screamed in pleasure as he shot his load into her and roughly massaged her clit. She felt her ass tighten around him as she came for a second time as her head grew light from the exertion. Exhausted, she dropped to the mattress, her breathing hard.

Valkersan remained on top of her for a long time before he pulled out of her and rolled off. Elena felt the weave binding her wrist disappear. She remained on her stomach, sweat cooling on her back until she fell asleep. The last sound she heard before she drifted off was the pounding of rain on the windows and the distant roll of thunder.

The dull rumble of thunder woke Solyma. She realized that she was still sitting in the bathtub as a flash of lightning cast the room in stark shadow and light. She slowly rose, stretching while the water fell from her nude body as she drained the last of a glass of sherry.

She felt something tugging at the back of her as she toweled herself off. A sort of vague unease was nagging at her, as if she had forgotten to do something important. The feeling seemed to disappear as she brushed her teeth and was almost totally forgotten by the time she had pulled on her favorite nightgown. Unlike the majority of her clothes it was very modest, leaving almost everything to the imagination. The nightgown was not something she entertained in, just something she slept in. It was warm and soft, both of which she was grateful for as she slipped between silk sheets and pulled the comforters up to her chin.

She had left the drapes open. She enjoyed seeing the lightning and watching the rain slide across the glass. It reminded her of home. As she fell asleep the feeling of unease came over her again. She tossed and turned for a minute before deciding to practice on some of her long neglected fighting and magic skills the next morning. This seemed to settle her unease and soon she was lulled asleep by the tap of rain and roll of thunder.

Chapter Two: Visitors, Old Friends, and Passing Clouds

Solyma winced and pulled the covers over her head as Hector called to her. She buried her face in her pillow as he opened the door.

"Solyma, wake up. Now," he said, pulling the covers off of her.

She groaned. "Morning already?" she asked while slowly sitting up. She pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. Dim grey light filtered through the windows. A thick fog was all that she could see through the windows.

"Would you like me to get your breakfast for you?" Hector asked, his gauntlets folded across the empty air where his chest would be.

"No, could you find out if there's a gymnasium in the palace?"

"There is. It's located on the bottom floor of this wing, almost directly under us."

"Oh. How do you know?"

"I took the liberty of exploring the palace while you were out with your 'friend.' I have a feeling we'll end up needing to escape very rapidly before long."

"You're too damn pessimistic Hector. We get chased out of town one time and you think we have targets painted on our backs." Solyma got up off the bed and walked to the bathroom. "Try to relax. I need to work out after breakfast, why don't you join me? I need someone to practice with."

"As you wish."

"And stop that servant act. You never used to agree with me and its starting to get to me." She stepped into the bathroom and closed the door as Hector floated out of the room.

* * * * *

Elena woke with a start. She jerked herself upright, looking around the bedroom nervously. There was no one else there. Her clothes had been folded over a chair by the bed. She snatched them up and began to pull them on as she hopped towards the living room.

The door was back. She paused to comb her hair into some semblance of order before stepping out of the room. She walked down the hallway and down to the common room. The early morning sun shone through the glass of the patio doors onto the early morning shift cleaning the inn in preparation for breakfast. She was surprised to see that Valkersan's table had remained uncleaned.

"Good morning, Elena," the innkeeper said. "You're here early, did you decide to sleep here?"

"Er, what? Oh, yes, yes," she said, her gaze drawn back to the table. "Why isn't that table cleaned?"

"What table?" She pointed. "I don't see-. Oh. I don't know. I don't remember having a party that ate that much. Oh well, I'll do it myself." She watched in amazement as Curwen the innkeeper cleared the table. Curwen who never forgot a customer, much less one who paid in featureless gold coins.

Elena realized that something was filling her pocket. She reached in and pulled out a heavy pouch. Opening it, she saw enough gold to pay for the mage's feast and more.

She quickly closed the pouch and shoved it back into her pocket. Lost in thought, she walked to the door. As she left the inn, Curwen called out a friendly goodbye, unheard by her.

* * * * *

Valkersan stood in the prow of the ship, letting the wind whip over him. The ship's sails were billowed with an unusual wind propelling it down the Song River. Merkin crouched behind him, his hands tight on the ship's rails.

Valkersan smiled as he thought of last night. The ship's mast creaked as the wind gusted. Behind him sailors did their best to stay as far away from him as possible, making a holy sign to whatever god or goddess they worshipped whenever they had to get near him. The ship would reach Corannon in a day at this speed and every sailor on board would be glad when that happened.

* * * * *

Solyma panted and wiped the sweat from her forehead as she leaned over to catch her breath. Sweat had soaked through the long tunic she wore, sticking the fabric to her back and breasts. Her bare legs shone with perspiration as she adjusted her sandals.

"You'll never get any better at this if you keep taking breaks," Hector said.

Solyma looked up him. He was holding a target dummy in one hand and a practice saber in his other. "Not," she panted, "my, fault, that, you, don't, get, tired."

"Actually, it is. You were the one who summoned me and decided on my characteristics. Sometimes I do wish you would have studied a bit more and given me a body, all the other familiars get one."

"I did my best," Solyma said straightening up. "I keep telling you, you want to go off and work for someone else, someone who can conjure you a body, go right ahead."

She brought her saber up and lunged at him. "Admit it. You enjoy being with me. You may act like you want a boring normal life, but you really love the excitement."

Hector backed away, parrying Solyma's cuts. "I'm sorry, but the only reason I stay with you is because I couldn't bear to think of the damage you'd do if I wasn't around to stop you." He bobbed to the side and flicked his saber at Solyma's arm. She yelped as it smacked into her arm loudly.

"Dammit, be careful! That could have drawn blood."

"My apologies, my lady," Hector said with a small bow.

Solyma darted forward as he rose from his bow and brought her blade down on his helmet. It rang like a bell as Hector riposted almost catching her leg. She spun to the side and sliced just under his helmet where it would have cleanly separated a man's head from his body.

"Better," he said.

Solyma shrugged. "It's not-" She was interrupted by loud clapping. Adelard stepped from the doorway into the gymnasium.

"Bravo, my little mage. It seems that you have more talents than I imagined," he said, walking forward to kiss her. "I've brought someone who I think you should meet."

"Who?" asked Solyma, stepping back to look over his shoulder.

"Penelope Taladron, she's from the north."

"An elf?"

"Yes, she's here to study at the College. I thought that since you're going to be teaching you could show her around."

"Teaching? Oh, Adelard! You talked to the Chancellor?"

Adelard smiled smugly. "Well, the Chancellor is a close personal friend of mine. I merely told him of how talented you were and how eager you were for a teaching position. He happened to have a position open-."

Solyma jumped at him, kissing him delightedly while wrapping her arms around him. Adelard returned the kiss, swinging her around him. Solyma made a triumphant thumbs up sign to Hector as she spun by him.

"Thank you so much!" Solyma cried happily when they finally settled down.

"There is nothing I wouldn't do for my little mage," Adelard said, stroking Solyma's cheek. Solyma smiled and giggled.

"Now, I have to go back to my house and attend to some business. Do you think you'll be able to show Penelope around?"

"Of course. I'd be glad to, where is she?"

"Just outside, I'll send her in. Let's meet for dinner. I will send a messenger for you."

"I'd be happy to."

Adelard kissed her hand and left the gymnasium. As he was walking out Solyma muttered, "I'm getting sick of him already."

"You do not have to associate with him," Hector said.

"He got me the teaching position at the College. I'm going to milk him for everything he's got. Imagine what someone like him gives to his mistresses, we could get thousands of marks worth of jewelry and clothes!"

Hector brought his finger across his throat while nodding to someone behind Solyma. Solyma turned with a bright smile on her face. A slender elfin girl of perhaps thirty years stood shyly by the doorway. She had waist length blond hair hanging loose down her back and brilliant blue eyes.

"Hello," she said quietly, "my name is Penelope Taladron." She paused nervously, sliding her foot in slow circles around the floor. "You're Solyma van Dolceis?"

Solyma nodded, her heart beginning to race, entranced by the girls beauty. Her eyes wandered up and down the girls slim body, tracing the lines of her legs under her dress up to her slender waist. She licked her lips at the exquisite bosom hidden beneath the silk of Penelope's dress and bit her lip as she stared at the girl's pointed ears. A slow shudder ran through her as she imagined nibbling on those ears and kissing her way down, slowly to...

"Adelard told me about you. He said you were very gifted," Penelope finally said.

Solyma stood silently, staring at Penelope. Hector slowly floated next to her and nudged her ribs. She jerked herself out of her reverie, shaking her head.

"Yes, well. What exactly did he tell you?"

"Um. He said that you were supposed to be one of the best mages on the continent."

"Did he really?"

"Yes."

Solyma smiled. "I suppose I am rather good," she said cockily, brushing her hair back from her forehead. She looked down at her sweat soaked tunic. "I suppose I must look like a mess. Why don't we go back to my rooms and I'll clean up. Then we can walk over to the College."

Penelope nodded and twisted the fabric of her dress in her hands. "How did you meet Adelard?" she asked hesitantly.

Solyma paused as she knelt by her practice gear. "Why do you ask?" she said as she gathered her saber other training weapons.

"Well, you seem to like him very much. I, um, wondered if he acts differently around other people."

"What do you mean, act differently?"

"Well, he keeps, touching me." The elf girl blushed and looked out the gymnasium windows.

Solyma grimaced inside. Just what I need, competition, she thought. "Oh, I wouldn't worry. He's just friendly. It's cultural."

Penelope nodded quickly. "That's good. I don't know much about humans. He just reminded me of the suitors I'd get at my mother's court."

Solyma cursed silently. "Don't pay any attention to him, he's harmless. In fact, if he keeps doing that, ignore him."

She was glad to see Penelope nod again and smile in relief. Solyma spun around when Penelope suddenly screamed and pointed towards the windows behind her.

A nasty looking insect the size of a man's fist had flown through the open windows. It flew in buzzing loops around the room, dripping sizzling venom from its mandibles.

"What IS that?" Penelope screamed, hurriedly backing toward the door.

Solyma glanced at Hector who shrugged. "I don't know," she said. "But don't worry about it." Solyma quickly wove a fireball in her right hand and tossed it at the hideous bug. She had timed her throw perfectly and the bug exploded in a bright flash of blue flame, leaving nothing but a cloud of greasy ash.

Solyma turned to Penelope. "Nothing to worry about at all," she said, bowing.

Penelope's eyes had lit up with awe at the flashy display of magic. "That was amazing, Solyma!" The elf girl clapped her hands in delight, "You weren't afraid at all! Oh, that was so brave of you!" Penelope ran over to Solyma and grabbed her hand, fairly jumping in excitement. "I'm going to tell everyone about how you saved me!"

Penelope hugged Solyma tightly and kissed her on the cheek. Solyma smiled dazedly as Penelope pulled her out of the gymnasium, still exclaiming over her bravery.

* * * * *

The docks of Corannon were always busy during the day and only slowed slightly at night. It was said that one could travel to anywhere in the world by booking passage with one of Corannon's famed clipper ships. Valkersan remembered when the clipper ships were still considered new and unusual. Now they where a common sight, their sails billowing in the wind as they headed out to sea.

Now, after nearly a hundred years, he was back in Corannon. "Corannon," he said to himself, "capital of the kingdom, jewel of the land. Soon to be mine."

Behind him sailors hurriedly went about the business of unloading the ships cargo of wine and crops from the inland areas of the kingdom. Despite the bustling nature of the docks, Valkersan and Merkin had a empty space surrounding them.

"Merkin, does the Dragoon's Head still operate?" Valkersan asked.

"Yes, my lord," Merkin answered. The dead man was starting to smell in the afternoon heat.

"Take this gold and book me their best rooms. I will be arriving there later in the evening and I expect to have their best food waiting for me." Merkin bowed and scuttled off into the milling crowds of the docks. Valkersan followed his progress for a little while by watching where people would suddenly draw back, pinching their noses shut. After a few moments, Valkersan turned and began to walk towards the College of Magic.

* * * * *

"This is the Vault. The College stores dangerous artifacts and specimens in it," Solyma said, waving her hand at the massive steel doors to the Vault. They were locked with bolts as thick as her waist and weaves of binding covered the surface, visible even to those not proficient in the magical arts.

"Is it safe?" Penelope asked, standing a little further back from the doors.

"Oh yes, most of the stuff in there isn't really that dangerous. Some of the artifacts could be in the right hands, but no one mage is powerful enough to break the weaves on the door."

"What do they have in there that's so dangerous?"

"There's a demon trapped in a suit of armor, he was pretty mean. There's also a couple of cursed swords, a few cursed mirrors, and at least a dozen cursed crowns." Penelope nodded. "Could we go somewhere else? Somewhere outside?"

Solyma looked at the elf girl. She was biting her lip in nervousness. "Sure, do you want to see the gardens?"

"Yes, that sounds very good."

The two women walked down the dirty corridor towards the stairs leading to the upper levels. Their footsteps echoed around the basement walls them finally faded away. Behind them, behind the Vault's doors, a cobwebbed suit of armor shook for second. Dust cascaded from it as the armor stood. Behind its visor, a pair of red eyes flashed into being.

* * * * *

The College's gardens were famous around the Kingdom. Magic kept the air warm year round and sheltered the garden from the worst of the elements. Tropical plants from the south grew next to pine trees brought from the north. Through it all ran winding dirt paths with benches spaced out for students to study or just relax.

"This is much better than those basements," Penelope said. "It reminds me of home."

"I've never been to your country, what is it like?" Solyma asked.

They sat on one of the benches as Penelope told Solyma about ancient trees sheltering warm glades of fragrant flowers and soft grass, about castles floating on the forest canopy, and rivers that flowed through gardens planted in the trees.

Evening was falling as Penelope finished talking of her homeland. The sun filled the gardens with a golden light as it began to sink below the horizon. Solyma slid closer to Penelope as the garden cooled.

"Do you have anyone waiting for you at home?" she whispered.

Penelope was entranced by the beauty of the sunlight shining off of the trees and grass. "No, my parents wanted me to see the world before they betrothed me," she said distractedly.

"No handsome elf prince?" Solyma moved next to Penelope, her leg gently touching Penelope's.

Penelope blushed. "No, I don't get to meet many people outside the palace. This is my first time in a city by myself."

"Really? You must be lonely."

"I suppose I am. But I'm lucky that Adelard introduced us, otherwise I wouldn't have anyone to talk to."

"Yes, I certainly am lucky that he introduced us." She moved her hand to Penelope's thigh and gently squeezed.

Penelope smiled, comforted by the gesture. "You've been so nice to me, how can I ever thank you?"

"Oh, I don't know. A kiss?" Solyma moved until her face was only inches away from Penelope's.

"A kiss? Is that all you want?" Penelope seemed confused.

"Yes," Solyma said, running her hand over Penelope's thigh.

"Well, if that's all you want," Penelope said. The elf girl leaned forward as Solyma closed her eyes to accept the kiss. "You humans are so strange."

Solyma was rudely surprised when Penelope kissed her lightly on the cheek and stood up. "You are so kind, Solyma. Anyone else would have wanted some money or a favor from my mother."

"Wait, that wasn't the type of kiss-" Solyma began, only to be cut off by a loud, muffled explosion from beneath the gardens.

The ground rocked crazily for a few seconds as birds shot from their perches to circle overhead.

"What was that?" Penelope asked, her eyes wide and frightened.

"I don't know. Wait here while I check it out."

Solyma hiked her skirt up as she ran towards the stairway to the lower levels of the College. She was the first to arrive at the gaping hole where the Vault doors once were. A madly flapping book nearly smashed into her head as she stood gaping at the damage done to the doors. The magically tempered steel had been buckled and torn like tinfoil. Even the hinges had been torn from their bindings to the wall.

Behind her other mages were quickly gathering. Students and teachers alike were staring in awe at the destruction. A few of the more level minded ones were capturing the artifacts attempting to escape. One cursed as a heavy tome gave him a nasty paper cut.

"What is going on here?" the Chancellor roared, his robes flapping behind him and his staff tapping the floor, as he strode towards Solyma. "By Aeleon, what did this?" he gasped when he saw the remains of the Vault doors. "Sound the alert!" he yelled.

The Chancellor motioned for the senior mages to assemble around him as a student broke the alarm seal mounted on the wall. Every mage in the hallway could feel the College's defenses hum to life as it was sealed off from the outside world.

"You," the Chancellor said, pointing at Solyma. "What happened?"

Solyma looked nervously around at the gathered mages. "I don't know. It was, uh, like this when I got here."

The Chancellor peered at her suspiciously. "You're the new lecturer aren't you? Adelard told me about you. He said you were skilled." He motioned to the assembled mages around him. "Form up young lady, we're getting to the bottom of this."

Solyma reluctantly joined the mages as they cautiously entered the Vault. Most of them had weaves read in their hands while others were wielding staves and wands. The Vault looked almost untouched. Nothing seemed to have been taken or moved except for what had escaped on its own.

"Aeleon's blood! Asgrim, its escaped!" The Chancellor pointed in horror at a pile of mithril chains lying shattered on the floor, their links melted and twisted. A shaft of sunlight illuminated the scene, emanating from a hole melted through the ceiling. The tips of tree branches could be seen swaying beyond the edge of the hole.

"Its in the gardens," Solyma whispered. She turned and ran past the onlooking students and took the stairs in threes. She was panting when she burst into the garden, looking frantically for Penelope. "Penelope?" she called softly. "Where are you?"

"Over here," the elf girl whispered.

Solyma turned to see her crouched behind a bush. She had blended in perfectly, her elvish background serving her well.

"Did you see a suit of armor come out of that hole?" Solyma asked.

"Yes, someone was with it."

"Did you see who?"

"I don't know, it was a man with a staff."

"No, it couldn't be him." Solyma shook her head. He was long dead, she thought. "Where'd they go?"

Penelope pointed towards the far end of the gardens where they abutted the College offices.

"Stay here," Solyma warned as she began to creep away.

After a few minutes of sneaking through the paths of the garden, Solyma could hear conversation coming from near the offices. She gasped in surprise and nearly tripped when she recognized the speakers.

"I have freed you, Asgrim. Now we shall resume our conquest of the world." It was Valkersan. Solyma sank behind a tree trunk. She realized that she was sweating in fear. "Are you not glad? We swore we would one day divide the world between us."

"I am sorry, old friend," this voice was a booming echo, the voice of Asgrim. "I have spent my imprisonment contemplating my life. I have realized that I have wasted the time I have been given in pursuit of selfish goals."

There was a long silence. Then Valkersan spoke again, "You disappoint me. I had thought you stronger than this. You have joined the weak, ineffectual worms that we always despised. Out of deference to our one time friendship, I will not destroy you, but I warn you, do not cross me or you will regret it."

"I do regret many things, Valkersan. There is still time to repent. There is good in your heart, you can free it."

"Good?" Valkersan roared, his voice shaking leaves from the branches. "We were never, good. I was never, good." He spat the last word. "I will take what is rightfully mine and let the fires take the rest!" Valkersan's roaring voice caused the ground to shake.

Solyma began to crawl slowly away from Valkersan and Asgrim. Her heart was beating loudly in her chest. It nearly stopped when she heard Valkersan call out to her.

"Solyma? Yes, that is you. Stop." He unleashed a weave of binding with his last word. Solyma desperately spun a counter weave and managed to keep it at bay. Her efforts were ineffective though. The effort necessary to counter Valkersan's weave was keeping her from trying to escape. She watched in horror as Valkersan shattered trees hundreds of years old with a wave of his staff, merely because they stood in his way. Behind him she could see the seven foot tall bulk of Shadow steel forged into the intricate mass of Asgrim's armor. A single horn projected from the forehead of his helmet while his two-handed sword, nearly as tall as he was, was sheathed on his back. "Solyma," Valkersan said, stopping next to where she lay on the ground. He watched idly as she struggled with his weave. "You've grown stronger. Perhaps if you had been this strong seventy years ago you would not have needed to plunge a knife into my back."

"May Hel's blood take you, Valkersan. You should have stayed dead."

The mage's lips quirked. "Such a curse from such a pretty girl." His smile disappeared. "Where is my crystal?"

"Gone. I destroyed it."

"Where is it?" Valkersan emphasized his words by forcing his weave down on Solyma. She ground her teeth as the weave began to pin her to the ground. He leaned over her and bared his teeth. Solyma watched as lightning began to coruscate over them. "Where is it?" he screamed.

"You'll never get it, you impotent bastard!"

Valkersan raised his hand to dash his staff into her stomach. Solyma closed her eyes and braced herself as the staff fell. After a moment, when the impact did not come, she opened her eyes. She was amazed to see Asgrim's massive fist around Valkersan's.

"I cannot allow you to hurt her," Asgrim rumbled. "She is as much my friend as you are."

"Traitor!" Valkersan spat. With a wave of his other hand he summoned a monstrous weave of flame and air and hurled it at Asgrim. The demon flew back against the wall of the building, engulfed in a maelstrom of flame, and smashed through the wall to disappear inside. "Now," Valkersan said, turning back to the prone form of Solyma, "we finish this farce."

"Step away from her!" Solyma heard the Chancellor bellow.

Valkersan looked up and saw the assembled teaching staff of the College gathered in the garden. "We'll settle this later," he whispered to Solyma. With a contemptuous twirl of his cloak, he spun and stepped through a portal which closed immediately behind him.

The weave evaporated from over Solyma. She sat up, wiping the sweat from her face.

"Who was that?" the Chancellor asked, offering his hand to her.

Solyma took it gratefully. "I don't know," she lied. "He was talking with Asgrim."

The Chancellor looked over at the side of the building. A large hole had been knocked out of the side of the builiding. He shook his head sadly. "I"m afraid that was your office," he said.

"Of course it was," Solyma said.

There was a collective gasp as something emerged from the hole. Solyma and the Chancellor watched as Asgrim pulled himself through the wall. His armor was scorched in places but otherwise whole and undamaged. Dozens of hands conjured weaves as he walked slowly toward the mages.

"Stand and present yourself, demon," the Chancellor said.

The mages were amazed to see the demon kneel, bowing his horned helmet to the Chancellor. "I, Asgrim, Baron of Takrask, present myself to you, my lord. I have been freed from my imprisonment against my will, I will gladly return to my chains whenever you wish."

"Dear gods, this mess will take forever to deal with. Asgrim, do I have your word that you will not commit violence or try to escape while you are my guest?"

"You do, my lord."

"Then let's retire to my office so we can sort this out. Solyma, I'm sorry that the College was not more hospitable to you. Why don't you go rest? I'll send word if I need to speak with you."

Solyma nodded. She looked at the kneeling Asgrim. Deep within his visor, she thought she saw a single bright flash of red appear in the darkness then fade. She quickly looked around. The Chancellor was busy speaking with the College guards and the rest of the mages were returning to whatever business they had to attend to. She turned back to Asgrim and nervously winked back.

* * * * *

"It was so horrible! I thought that he was going to kill me!" Solyma blurted out to Adelard. They were seated on a sofa in her chambers next to a quietly crackling fire. "I was sooo scared." She shivered.

Adelard nodded and reached out to squeeze her shoulder. "Oh, my poor little mage. I'm very proud of how well you behaved, worrying about Penelope even though you were in danger. I'm sure her mother will be very grateful to me, to us for keeping her safe." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small, rectangular velvet covered box. "Here, I brought you something as a token of my gratitude." Adelard opened the box and revealed a gold necklace with an brilliant emerald hanging from it.

Solyma's eyes widened. "It's, it's beautiful," she whispered.

"It matches your eyes, here, let me put it on you." Solyma carefully lifted up the silken mass of her hair as Adelard reached up to place the necklace around her neck. She smiled at the feel of his fingertips brushing across her neck.

Solyma reached up to gingerly touch the emerald hanging from her neck. She looked up at Adelard, her eyes full of tears. "Thank you so much," she said in a husky voice.

"You are most welcome," he said.

"What can I ever do to thank you?" she whispered. Solyma moved closer to him, leaning her upper body against him. She pressed her breasts against his arm while looking up into his eyes.

"Hmm," he said, eying where her dress had ridden up, revealing her slim stocking clad legs. "I can think of a few things."

"Anything."

Adelard moved his hands up to hold her head as he kissed her deeply. She returned the kiss eagerly, her hands moving to pull off his jacket. She moaned into his mouth as he began to slide her dress off her shoulders.

"Oh, Adelard," she moaned.

He pushed her back onto the couch, tugging her dress down over her hips. He moved back, dropping it behind the couch, admiring the way the emerald necklace hung between her bare breasts. He kissed her stomach and slid his hand under the waistband of her underwear. Solyma gasped as his fingers curled into her and began to slide back and forth across her.

Adelard watched pleasure ripple across her face as he felt her grow even wetter beneath his fingers. Her lovely green eyes opened wide as she stared sightlessly at the flickering firelight dancing over the ceiling. She licked her red, full lips, then bit them as Adelard rubbed her clit.

Solyma began to pant as Adelard pulled her underwear down her legs, his fingers staying in her, leaving her wearing only the necklace and a pair of thigh high stockings. He kissed her again, one hand rubbing her breasts, the other thrusting deep into her. She fell back onto the arm of the couch as Adelard leaned over her. He kissed her again and pushed deeper into her. The soft material of his shirt rubbed against Solyma's stiff nipples making her moan softly.

Adelard suddenly moved back while removing his clothes. Solyma smiled as he gently spread her thighs apart, baring her sex to him. He moved over her, pausing at her entrance to look into her eyes. She cried out loudly as he entered her, slowly pushing deeper and deeper.

She clasped her arms around his back as he began to pump into her rhythmically. "Oh, yes, yes," she moaned, her legs wrapping around his waist. They kissed again as he plunged deep into her. She began to gasp with each of his thrusts, her hands roving over his skin. She began to whimper softly as she felt her climax approaching. Adelard responded by increasing the tempo of his thrusts into her. With a sudden shock Solyma felt herself come, its suddenness surprised her as she squeezed Adelard fiercely. He continued to fuck her, taking his time and savoring the feel of her inner walls fluttering against his cock. Solyma lay under him, panting, feeling herself become increasingly aroused by the slow motions of Adelard's cock. With a mischievous smile she sat up and pushed him to the side onto the couch while rolling on top of him. She drew her knees up onto the couch and began to slowly raise herself above his cock before dropping down onto it.

Adelard leaned forward and began to suck on her inviting breasts, his mouth moving back and forth while his hands cupped her bottom. Each motion of Solyma's hips brought him closer to orgasm. He looked up at her questioningly when she raised herself off of him and stepped back.

"What are you doing?" he asked. Solyma responded by gracefully dropping to her knees and spreading his legs apart. She slowly moved between them as she grasped his swollen cock with her right hand. Adelard groaned as she kissed the tip lightly and then slid the head between her moist lips.

Solyma could taste herself on Adelard as she carefully worked him deeper into her mouth. Her tongue swirled around the head of his cock as she took him deeper. She could feel his hands move to her hair and begin stroking gently. Solyma moved her hand off his cock and began to run her fingertips over his balls, gently stroking them while her other hand slipped between her thighs. She sank lower on his shaft and paused when he hit the back of her mouth. Adelard's hands began to gently push down on her head. She complied to the pressure and slowly took him down her throat. She heard him grunt as she worked her lips down his shaft, until they finally nuzzled the hair at the base of his cock.

Adelard watched as Solyma's his cock disappeared deep into her throat. She kept him there for a long while, her throat tight around him. Then she began to bob her head up and down, letting his entire cock slip out of her mouth before running her tongue around the tip and sinking back down on it. He was entranced by the graceful movements of her head and the teasing sight of her hand moving between her legs. Her exquisite ministrations were too much for him. He grunted a warning to Solyma and then began to shoot his seed into her waiting mouth.

Solyma felt his sperm fill her mouth and tasted it hungrily. She slowly began to swallow it, savoring the feel and taste as it slipped down her throat. She stroked his shaft with one hand, pumping as much of his seed as possible into her, the other thrusting increasingly fast into herself. When he finally stopped, she lingeringly let his cock slip from between her lips. She smiled, her lips sealed, as she turned her face to Adelard and swallowed the rest of his seed letting a trickle of it escape her mouth and dribble down her chin to land on the upper slopes of her breasts. As the white drops splashed on her smooth skin, she felt herself come again on the tips of her fingers with a low gasp and moan. Feigning surprise she scooped the stray sperm up with her fingers and slowly sucked them clean of both Adelard's and her juices.

Adelard pulled her onto the couch next to him and draped a blanket over their sweating bodies. Solyma rested her head on his shoulder sighing contentedly.

Adelard turned her face towards him. "You were incredible," he said.

"I've never done that for a man before," she said, shyly looking away towards the fire. "They've wanted me to, but you were the first. Was I good enough?" She looked up hopefully at him.

"You were decent, but I think you'll need to practice much more before you become truly skilled at it."

Solyma fought to keep a straight face. Don't kill him,she told herself, it's not worth it. She ended up pulling his arm over her shoulders and staring at the fire while grinding her teeth together.

"I will, Adelard. I hope I can get better at it," she finally said.

"I'm sure you will."

Solyma wondered if her whole scheme was worth the effort.

Chapter Three: A Gathering of Semi-Heroes

"Hector? Could you come in here?" Solyma called from her bedroom.

Hector carefully set aside his latest model, a Corannon Clipper ship, and floated to the bedroom door.

"Yes?" he said.

"Can you help me with these weaves?" Solyma was standing by the window with several alarm weaves gathered in her hands. The moon was high over the Sea of Dreams and its light was reflecting brilliantly off the water.

"Of course." Hector floated over and took some of the weaves from her. While unable to conjure weaves, as a magical construct he could interact with them. "What are you doing?"

"I'm just setting up some alarms around the windows. And doors. And skylight."

"Why, if I may ask? We're in the Royal Palace."

"Just an extra precaution. You can never be too careful." She laughed nervously.

Hector watched patiently as Solyma arranged the weaves around and over the window.

"You seem to be putting up quite a few alarms. Is something the matter?"

Solyma paused. "No, no. Nothing's the matter." She laughed lightly and smiled nervously.

"Solyma."

"Yes?"

Hector stared at her, his monocle unwavering. She crumbled. "Did I," she coughed, "ever tell you about Valkersan?"

"Not really, you mentioned him once. I believe you were cursing at him."

"Well," she said, finishing fixing the last of the weaves in place around the skylight, "I used to, uh, work with him, for him actually."

Hector waited.

"With a couple other, people, we were sort of a group."

"What kind of a group?"

"Oh, you know, the taking over the world type of group."

Hector sighed. "Of course it was. How long ago was this?"

"A long time, seventy years or so. It seemed like a good idea at the time."

Hector ignored her last sentence. "You told me you were twenty-six."

"So I lied. The point is, we had a falling out before we took over the world."

"Obviously." Hector looked down, one hand holding his helmet.

"I," Solyma looked around the bedroom, "sort of," she played with the comforter, "killed him."

"Sort of?"

"I stabbed him. In the back. With a knife. But he didn't really die."

"Need I ask why?"

"He was a very powerful mage, he invested a good deal of his power in an artifact, a crystal. The power he stored in there could be used to augment his own or other mage's power. When I killed him, his crystal fed enough energy to his spirit to keep him in a void between planes. Somehow he got out again."

Hector floated silently for a minute. "Nothing is ever simple with you is it? Five years we're together and you never thought to tell me that an undead mage might want to come after you?" His voice was tired. He had become far too used to things like this. If it wasn't an dragon, it was a demon. If it wasn't a demon, it was an old lover. If it wasn't an old lover, it was an old lover who happened to be a demigod. "What did you do with the crystal?"

"I kept it."

"Where is it?"

"I hid it. I couldn't use the power directly, he was smart enough to place limits on it. But it's safe."

Hector sighed. "Very well, I'll get our bags. It's a good thing I didn't unpack most of them." He began to float out of the room.

"Wait!" Solyma yelled. "I'm not leaving."

"Why not? This, Valkersan is going to find you and come after you isn't he? We should at least get a head start."

"No," she said, shaking her head. "I've finally gotten a good job. This is what I've wanted for years."

"A job teaching magic?"

"No," she scowled. "The teaching isn't important, what's important is the salary, pension, and benefits."

"I'm waiting to hear all about them."

"I get a thousand marks a month, free food at the College, and access to all their equipment, including the library. The pension is the same after I retire. With that much money we could get a nice townhouse with a huge bathtub with hot running water and wood paneling and deep carpeting," Solyma began to drift off into her vision of material comfort. She snapped herself out of it. "This means no more running around worrying where the next meal is going to come from, no more schemes. You should be happy about that."

"Normally I would be ecstatic. Unfortunately there is the matter of your friend Valkersan. Being a lecturer at the College will only make you easier to find. He'll wait until you let your guard down and then you'll be dead. I'll be out of an employer and I have no desire to go around farming out my talents to a lot of no talent hacks." Solyma thought for a second. She looked up at Hector and grinned. "Well then, we'll just have to find a way of dealing with him."

* * * * *

Cecilia Abrovagny lay across the sumptuous couch with her eyes closed, her long brown hair lay unbraided across the cushions. Her voluptuous figure strained at the bodice of her expensive silk dress, illuminated only by a few candles placed around the living room. From the shadows of the room a pair of glowing eyes watched her.

The eyes moved forward into the light, revealing a darkly dressed man of thin of build and tall of frame. He moved noiselessly over the Alathan carpet, his cloak swirling, to stand over the oblivious woman. He gently brushed her neck with a long finger, watching as a smile flickered over Cecilia's face. He stroked her hair, delicately lifting a long curl of her hair and then letting it fall. Eyes flashing, he knelt by her side, his mouth opening to reveal a pair of razor sharp incisors and with a blur of motion he bit into her neck.

Cecilia's eyes opened wide as the teeth penetrated her skin. Her mouth opened in a wide O and she gasped loudly as a shock of pleasure ran through her. The man's hands pressed down on her body, feeling and caressing her breasts, then beginning to unlace her bodice. She struggled against him for a brief moment, then settled back onto the couch, her hands digging into his night black hair.

The man had bared her breasts and had begun to run his fingertips lightly over her delicate skin, leaving tingling paths of pleasure behind. Her nipples were already erect and hard as he twirled his fingers around them. Cecilia moaned loudly, her breathing fast, as he ran a hand down her body and began to pull up her dress. She was helpless to stop him as he roughly pulled off her undergarments and swiveled her around to face him. His mouth still hot and insistent on her neck, he spread her thighs, both hands now tracing over her inner thighs as she moved her hands down his neck and back to his shoulders.

The man reared back for a moment. Cecilia could see drops of her blood on his lips. She looked into his hypnotic eyes and cruelly handsome face and gripped his shoulders tightly. Moaning quietly, she trembled in anticipation as he freed himself from his breeches and positioned himself at the entrance to her. She looked down at his cock, nervously licking her lips as he pressed himself more firmly against her entrance. Her breathing began to quicken still further.

With one motion the man thrust himself deep into her. Cecilia bit her lip to keep from screaming in pleasure as he began to fuck her with a deep, slow rhythm.

"Oh, gods, oh godssss-" she gasped as his motions began to quicken.

Cecilia felt herself begin to tremble around him as his cock slid in and out of her. The man leaned over her, kissing her deeply. She kissed him back, running her tongue over his pointed fangs and shivering at the feel. He broke the kiss, increasing his thrusts, and began to lower his head to her neck. Cecilia let out a wavering cry of pleasure as he bit her again. In a flash she felt herself lose control and began to thrust her hips wildly at him. Her legs drew up and around his waist as the orgasm ran its course.

"Oh, Tancred, Tancred," she moaned softly in pleasure.

"Tancred!" a deep voice roared, jerking her out of the pleasant afterglow. Cecilia groaned in protest as Tancred pulled out of her quickly, leaving her empty and deprived on the couch. Realizing her situation, Cecilia jerked her dress down and covered her breasts.

"Tancred, you fool! Put that away and try to look like a true vampire," the voice snarled.

Tancred winced as he put his still fully erect member back into his breeches. He looked longingly for a second at the delicious Cecilia on the couch before jerking his gaze back to Valkersan.

"I am gone for seventy years and this," Valkersan hissed, pointing at Cecilia, "is what you've become?"

"People change, Valkersan," Tancred said, his voice settling into an easy tenor, still dominated by his Alathian accent. "And seventy years is a long time." Only someone who had known him as long as Valkersan would recognize the traces of fear in his voice.

"The Tancred I knew would never stoop to seducing weak-willed and soft noblewomen for his meals. The Tancred I knew hunted dragons and ate their hearts fresh from their dying bodies. I saw you kill a lion with only your teeth and drench yourself in its blood!"

Tancred dabbed at his lips with a handkerchief, pulling his cloak around him as he straightened to his full height. "What can I say? I don't have the heart to do any of that anymore."

"I never thought that you, of all people, would fall to such pathetic depths. Solyma, yes, possibly even Asgrim, but you? A simpering, prissy, fop." Valkersan stepped closer to Tancred, his staff splintering the wood floor where it landed. He stopped and turned to Cecilia, shaking in fright on the couch. "What is this?" he grinned. "I see you still have excellent taste in women." Valkersan reached out to stroke Cecilia's hair. He laughed when she jerked away from his touch.

"Leave her out of this," Tancred said, his voice angry. He roughly grabbed Valkersan's shoulder and turned him around.

"Never presume to touch me!" Valkersan raged. He raised his hand and Tancred flew across the room, slamming into the opposite wall. He struggled futilely against the strength of Valkersan's weaves. "I have grown in power during my long occupation of the Void. The Corthronos that make my body have added their power to mine as well. I could destroy you, Tancred."

Tancred ceased his struggling. "But will you? What do you want, finding me after so many years?"

"I want my crystal, I want the world, and I, want revenge!" Lightning blazed from his teeth as he finished his sentence, the brilliant blue bolts crackling over the room. "Solyma slipped through my fingers because of those damned meddling mages at the College. She won't again. I want you to kill her. I've traced her to the Royal Palace, her room is in the west wing above the gymnasium, third floor."

Tancred gaped. "The Royal Palace? That's impossible!"

Valkersan released the weaves holding Tancred. "Not for you, at least not the guest chambers. I doubt you could reach the king or queen, much less kill them, but Solyma should be no problem."

"What if I don't do what you say?"

Valkersan smiled. "First, you're sweet little woman there will suffer horribly. I'm sure you can imagine what I will do to her."

"Who says I care for her that much? She enjoys the thrill of being with a vampire while her husband is off on business. I have twelve other women who feel the same way."

"Oh, I don't think that you love her or any such shit. But you've always had a soft spot for women, haven't you? I don't think you could leave her to suffer my tender love." Valkersan leered at the cowering Cecilia. "Although feel free to not kill Solyma. After I enjoy your woman, I'll find you and you will spend your next thousand years in agony."

Tancred looked at the now weeping Cecilia. He had no doubt that Valkersan was capable of all he said. Especially the thousand years of torment. "Fine. I'll do it. But I need some time to pre-"

"No time. You will do it tonight or-" Valkersan reached over and grabbed Cecilia's wrist. He brought it to his mouth and gently kissed her hand, running his tongue over the soft skin of her inner wrist.

"Tancred?" Cecilia whimpered, her face pale with fear.

"I'll do it tonight!" Tancred shouted. "I'm sorry this happened, Cecilia." He smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, nothing will happen to you." He glared meaningfully at Valkersan.

Valkersan smirked. "Yes, yes. As long as you kill Solyma, nothing will happen to this woman. Now go. I'll give you until sunrise."

Tancred nodded, his eyes burning with anger, and walked out of the room. He passed down a hallway leading to the main entrance of his townhouse. As he reached the entrance he pulled a well cared for scabbard and rapier from the umbrella rack. He pulled the sword a few inches from the scabbard, checking its edge. Still sharp, he thought, Cecilia always did like a shiny sword. With one last look down the hall back towards the living room, he steeped outside of the house and onto the streets of Corannon.

* * * * *

Solyma lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She had double and triple checked all the alarms she had set up, still, she felt uncomfortable. She jerked when she heard a knock at the living room door. She sat up in bed, feeling for her saber where it lay in its scabbard over the headboard. She had slid it halfway from the scabbard when she heard the muffled voice of Hector speaking to someone. A few moments later there was a buzz in her ear.

"Yes?" she said.

"There is a young elf woman here to see you," Hector said. "Should I send her away? She could be an assassin in disguise," he said with a touch of sarcasm.

Solyma glared at him. "Let her in," she said, sheathing her sword.

She stood up and wrapped her robe around her nightgown and had finished lighting a lamp as Penelope entered hesitantly. She was still wearing her silk dress and had added a light cloak to guard against the night's chill.

"Hello Solyma. I was just wondering if," Penelope paused, Solyma realized that the elf girl was blushing, "you wanted to talk. Or something."

Solyma smiled broadly. "Of course, I'd be glad to. Why don't you sit down and we can talk?" She patted the bed.

Penelope smiled and sat on the bed after carefully draping her cloak over a chair back.

"I," she began then stopped as Solyma sat down right next to her, their thighs in close contact. "I was wondering, do you ever get homesick?"

Solyma blinked, thrown off guard by the unexpected question. "Well, yes. I suppose I do once in a long while. But I'm used to being on the road."

Penelope blinked rapidly. "I miss my home so much. Seeing the gardens made it that much worse. I miss my parents and the steward and the Captain of the Guard." Her words came out in a rush. By the end she was crying, large tears running down her face. "I just miss it so much!" she sobbed, burying her face in Solyma's shoulder.

Solyma froze as she wondered what to do. The soft warmth of Penelope's head on her shoulder felt deliciously good but the girl was in obvious distress. She looked up at the door to see Hector floating there. She silently mouthed, "What do I do?" He just shrugged as best he could with no shoulders and quietly closed the doors.

"Penelope? Penelope," Solyma said quietly. The elf girl didn't seem to hear. Solyma could feel the girl's tears soaking through her robe and gown. "Penelope, here, why don't you lie down? I'll get something to calm your nerves." Solyma gently guided Penelope onto the bed, tugging back the covers and laying her down under the sheets after pulling off her shoes.

Solyma quickly walked to the living room and pulled a bottle of sherry and two glasses from a cupboard.

"A nice romantic evening? Should I light a fire in your fireplace?" Hector asked.

"No and yes, actually. Do you know how to deal with homesickness?"

Hector looked at her blankly. "I've never even had a home, much less been sick for one. Is it contagious?"

Solyma had the feeling that Hector was silently laughing at her as she returned to the bedroom with him in tow. She sat back on the bed next to Penelope, pouring two glasses of sherry, while Hector lit the fireplace.

"Here, Penelope, drink this," she said, handing Penelope as glass.

"What is it?" Penelope asked.

"Sherry. Drink it, it'll make you feel better."

Solyma took a long swig of her sherry as Penelope sipped at hers. She was still sniffing and crying a little. Solyma handed her a handkerchief from her pocket and watched as the elf girl blew her nose incredibly loudly. As Hector drifted out, Solyma handed him the used handkerchief and retrieved several more from her dresser before sitting back down on the bed.

The fire was crackling nicely, warming the air in the bedroom and casting a bright flickering light onto the walls. Solyma scooted over to where Penelope lay on the bed, her glass empty. Solyma looked at her closely, her breathing was deep and even. She had fallen asleep, the empty glass held loosely in her hand.

"One glass of sherry. I'll have to remember that," Solyma said to herself. She removed her robe and tossed it over a chair as she finished her drink and set the empty glass on her bedside table.

Solyma moved back over to where Penelope lay on her back, her breasts rising and falling delightfully. Solyma hesitated for a moment and began to unlace the elf's dress. After a few minutes of fumbling and tugging she had managed to get it off and let it fall to the floor by the bed. Solyma turned her attention back to Penelope. She had only been wearing a light shift under her dress, the thin material did nothing to hide the shape of her body. Solyma leaned over her, running her hand over Penelope's cheek. Solyma kissed Penelope lightly and moved to her pointed ears, licking and nibbling on their tips. Penelope mumbled something and rolled over onto her side, facing away from Solyma. She looked back at Penelope's face for any sign that she was awakening. If anything, Penelope was even more soundly asleep. Solyma sighed and tenderly stroked her soft hair. She wondered why she didn't just screw Penelope, asleep or not. She sighed again and gently kissed Penelope on the forehead. When she received no reaction she pulled the covers over Penelope and tucked them around her chin. "Sleep well and dream of home," she whispered. "I hope that you feel better in the morning, dear." Solyma stopped and shook her head. The sherry must be making her sentimental. Solyma sat against the headboard for a long time, watching Penelope sleep. When sleep finally began to tug at her eyelids she slid down under the covers next to Penelope. Solyma stroked Penelope's sweet smelling hair for a moment and then did her best to fall asleep.

Solyma lay in bed for a long time, trying to ignore the warmth of Penelope's body and the sound of her soft breathing. She tried rolling over to face away from her, but found that her imagination took over, filling her head with visions of Penelope's body, of the feeling of her hair, and of the softness of her lips... Solyma groaned and slid out of bed. She pulled on her robe and left the bedroom, quietly closing the door behind her.

"Where's my bedroll?" she asked Hector.

"In the other room, why?" he answered, still painting a model of a ship.

"I'm sleeping out here. Can you build up the fire at bit?"

Hector complied, watching as Solyma dragged the couch closer to the fire and setting her bedroll on top. She slipped off her robe and slid into the bedroll, resting her head on a cushion. With the low crackling of the fire and the faint sounds of Hector's brush on his model, Solyma felt herself falling asleep.

* * * * *

Magda was just getting ready for bed when someone began to knock loudly on her door. She quickly walked to the door and opened it, tying her robe more firmly in place. Standing outside her door was a man dressed in mage's robes and Havas, still wearing his pajamas.

"Magda, this man says that he's from the College. He says that-" Havas was cut off by the mage.

"I'm sorry to visit you so late, miss, but I really need to see the remains of the tower as soon as possible. There's the constant possibility that some stranger will pass by there and become seriously hurt," he said. Magda found herself thinking that he had a very pleasant voice.

"What do you need from me?" she asked.

"I need you and Havas to guide me there as soon as possible."

"Well, I can show you tomorrow morning."

The mage shook his head. "That's too late. Every minute counts when dealing with the belongings of a mage."

"I guess so. Give me a few minutes and I'll get dressed. We'll have to walk the horses most of the way."

The mage nodded. "Thank you for your patience, this really is very important."

Magda let the two men into the house, shutting the door behind them. She then went upstairs and started to dress.

Downstairs, Havas looked the mage over. He was of medium height and build, rather ordinary looking. His robes were brown and green with sigils embroidered onto the sleeves and collar. He had no staff.

Magda quickly finished dressing and started downstairs again. She paused at the top of the staircase to examine the mage. He was quite handsome, with a kind face and deep blue eyes. She noticed how agile his hands were as he tapped his fingers against his sleeve. Magda shook herself and descended down the stairs.

"I have some things we could use," she said.

"No, why don't we go over to my house and use my gear. It's all ready anyway," Havas said.

"I guess you need to get dressed as well."

"Aye, that I do."

They trio walked back to Hava's house. Once there, he quickly dressed in his old armor as Magda and the mage gathered lamps and torches.

"I'm sorry, I never introduced myself," he said. He extended his hand. "My name is Bradley Bral'Throsk. But please, call me Bradley."

"Hello Bradley, my name is Magda Iverssen." She smiled and took his hand. They touched for a long moment until Havas returned.

"Let's get going," he said, "it's going to be a long walk."

* * * * *

Tancred stood on the balcony just outside Solyma's bedroom. His supernatural vision could easily make out the form of a woman lying in bed. He was surprised that she was alone, when he had known her hardly a day had gone by without her taking someone to her bed.

He was about to open the window when he saw the alarm weaves strung all over it. He smiled, his fangs flashing in the moonlight. Solyma had always forgotten to set alarms for both the living and the dead. Concentrating for a moment, he melted into a cloud of whitish-red mist and floated through the spaces in the window pane to reform by the bed.

He felt his cock swell and harden as he gazed on the woman in bed. She was a young elf, no older than thirty-five, and extremely beautiful The elf was lying on her back, one arm over her head, the other under the covers. He shifted himself uncomfortably, remembering his interrupted tryst with Cecilia. Business first, he thought, looking around for any sign of where Solyma might have gone.

Tancred silently took the form of mist and slid under the doorway to the living room. He reformed in the shadows cast by the dying fire. The door to the parlor was closed, with his superior vampiric hearing, he could hear what sounded like someone painting. The couch by the fireplace drew his attention back to the room. He crept over to standing between its occupant and the fireplace. Nestled in a bedroll was Solyma, beautiful as ever, her body turned away from the fire. Tancred wondered at the situation for a moment. Solyma would never leave an elf, especially a female one sleeping alone, at least not if she had any say in matters. Perhaps she had been kicked out of her bed, he thought.

The vampire stood still for a moment. He really had no choice. Valkersan was going to kill him and Cecilia no matter what he did, at least with Solyma alive he had a chance of escaping. Especially if she still had Valkersan's crystal. He reached down to shake Solyma awake. Just before he touched her he saw her beautiful exposed neck. The soft, creamy skin of her neck curved delicately down from her jaw to her shoulder. Her red hair reflected the last light of the dying fire and contrasted wonderfully with her skin. His cock throbbed when he saw the gentle pulse of her blood beneath the surface of her neck. The smell of her intoxicated him, filling his mind with a red mist. She's going to kill me for this, he thought, as he opened his mouth and lowered his jaw to her neck. But hey, a vampire's got to eat. He bit quickly, sinking his fangs into her neck. Solyma's eyes opened in shock as she felt the vampire's fangs biting her. She tried to yell but found the waves of pleasure overcoming her. Her attempted cry for help came out as a weak whimper of pleasure.

Solyma tried to turn to see who was assaulting her, but strong hands kept her pinned on her side. Her legs thrashed against the bedroll, pulling it down her body . Unbridled lust ran through her body as the vampire drank her blood. Her dreams of Penelope came back to her, she wanted run into the bedroom and pull Penelope from the bed. Solyma moaned as she imagined burying her face between the elf girl's slim thighs. But try as she might, her hands lacked the strength to do anything more than clutch at the couch.

Tancred felt Solyma's rich blood flow down his throat. He gasped at the spiciness and heat of it, nearly losing some of it in surprise. His head began to swim and lust overcame him as he drank of her. Almost unconsciously he found himself stripping his clothes off and pulling the bedroll fully off Solyma. He pulled away from her for a moment as he hiked her nightgown over her breasts and rolled her onto her stomach. Crouching on the couch behind her, he lifted her bottom in the air and eagerly spread her legs apart. He placed himself at her entrance, finding her wet with want and desire. Tancred groaned with desire as he plunged himself deep into her, his hands running over her hips and up her body to cup her breasts.

Solyma nearly fainted from the pleasure as her unseen assailant thrust into her. Her toes curled in delight as he began to maniacally fuck her from behind. "Oh, no, not here," she gasped as she clutched at the arm of the couch, her body jerking with each fierce thrust. She felt hands at her breasts, squeezing and kneading, then rubbing and pinching her nipples. Solyma moaned loudly as she was raised onto her hands and knees. She felt one hand dive between her trembling thighs and begin to rub her clit. She gulped and gasped for air as she began to cry out in pleasure. She barely noticed as a hand left her breast and turned her head, sweeping her long hair away to expose her neck. Her mouth opened wide and she let out a loud cry of pleasure when the vampire's teeth sank back into her neck. She shuddered uncontrollably, falling back onto the couch, her upper body hanging over the arm, as she orgasmed. Her vision faded in and out as tremors ran through her body. Her mouth worked silently as her orgasm stretched out to until it seemed that she would faint. Finally, with one last scream, she did.

Tancred had to force himself to stop drinking Solyma's blood. He pulled back, praying that he hadn't taken too much, still pumping madly into her trembling body. Although she had gone limp, her inner muscles were still squeezing furiously at him. No longer able to control himself, he groaned loudly and came deep into her. He stayed like that for a moment, on his elbows, hovering over her prone body. He panted, licking the last stray drops of her blood from his lips. Nothing like that had ever happened to him before, he had never lost control of himself like that. Tancred felt too drained to move and slumped onto Solyma's back. He vaguely hoped that she didn't mind. Solyma slowly swam back to consciousness after a few minutes. She could feel the weight of her attackers body lying on top of her. After a few moments struggle, she got her hands under her and pushed herself up and out from under him. He slid to the floor, landing with a loud thump. Solyma groggily pulled her nightgown back over herself, her hands gently touching the bruises on her neck.

"Vampire," she whispered. "I should have remembered to set the alarm for the undead." Her eyes widened when she knelt to examine the vampire's face. "You," she said. "You!" she yelled. Her hands flew around the vampire's neck as she began to throttle him. "I knew it! You always had your eyes on me! How in Aeleon's name did you find me?"

Tancred was too weak to resist as Solyma pounded his head against the carpet. "Valkersan, sent, me, to, kill, you," he managed, his words separated by the dull thud of his skull smacking into the floor.

Solyma dropped his head back to the floor as she stood unsteadily. "Hector!" she screamed, "get a stake!"

Hector snapped his paint brush in two when he heard her scream. He had managed to ignore the heated cries and moans before but this was different. He quickly broke a chair leg off and rushed into the living room. He saw Solyma leaning against the couch, a naked man lying on the floor by the fireplace and tugging on her nightgown. He darted over to the man and raised the stake.

"No! Wait, Solyma!" the man yelled. "I wasn't going to do it! I need your help!"

Solyma waved at Hector to stop. He floated over the man, stake still at the ready.

"What do you want, Tancred? I thought I'd never have to see you again," Solyma said irritably. She looked at his clothes. "Your tastes have changed. When I knew you, you would never have worn anything that wasn't blood stained leather."

Tancred sat up, groping for his breeches. "Valkersan is back," he said.

"I know that. I met him in the College gardens."

"He wants his crystal back."

"I know that too, why were you trying to kill me?"

"I wasn't, I just got a little carried away. There was something in your blood that made me lose control."

"What can I say, I have that effect on men. And women. Why did you say you were sent to kill me then?"

"Valkersan has an," he paused, pulling on his breeches, "acquaintance of mine. He plans to kill her if I don't do what he says."

"He'll kill her anyway. And you too if he hasn't changed over the years."

"I know that, that's why I came here. I need the crystal. With it we can beat him."

"I don't have it."

Tancred began to panic. "What do you mean, you don't have it? How could you lose it?"

"I didn't lose it," Solyma said, sitting back on the couch. "It's gone. I used it in an experiment and it was consumed."

Tancred moaned and held his head in his hands. "Then we're all dead. Valkersan will kill us all."

"No he won't. Asgrim's free, he changed as much as you did. Now all he wants to do is repent for his past deeds."

"Really? Asgrim does?"

"Yes, as unbelievable as that is. But with his help we could match Valkersan easily."

"Not how he is now. He used the bodies of some Corthronos to boost his power. I don't know where he got them, but with them he's unstoppable."

Solyma grimaced. "Its a long story, I'll tell you one of these days." She shook her head. "Even with his power augmented we should still be able to get your friend back from him. We'll just have to find some more allies to destroy him."

Tancred looked up. "Thank you. We're even now."

"Not quite, you owe me for my blood."

"What do you want?"

"Not much, just don't tell anyone what we used to do, you know, the plans to conquer the world."

"I won't tell anyone else."

Solyma stared at him. "Anyone else?"

Tancred coughed. "Well, ah, a lot of the noblewomen around here find the idea of making love to vampire pretty exciting. But they go absolutely crazy when I tell them about planning to conquer the world."

Solyma covered her face with her hands. "How many?"

"Oh, I'd guess around twenty, thirty women over the years."

"Hel's blood. As long as none of them know the Chancellor."

"None of them do."

"That's a relief."

"Except his wife."

Solyma gritted her teeth. "His wife?"

Tancred smiled sheepishly. "What can I say? He spends more time at the College than at home with her. She gets lonely. And, uh, she's the one who Valkersan has."

"Of course she is." Solyma pinched her forehead. "Of course she is."

Hector had long ago lowered the stake. He left the two in the living room and returned to his model. He realized that he was getting far too used to these sort of things happening.

Chapter Four: A Night on the Town

Cecilia Abrovagny huddled in the corner of Tancred's living room, her eyes following Valkersan as he roamed around the room, examining pictures and knickknacks.

"What, what are you going to do to me?" she finally asked.

Valkersan stopped, his hand holding a framed portrait of a young woman. "It all depends on how well Tancred follows orders," he said, with a charming smile. "If he does as he is told, you and him will be free to do whatever you want. Otherwise," his smile broadened and became more sinister, "we will be spending some time together getting to know each other, intimately."

Cecilia swallowed nervously and tried to retreat further into the corner.

"Oh stop that," Valkersan said cheerfully. "You wouldn't be able to get away from me anywhere in the city, much less in this house. Why don't you have a seat? You can at least be comfortable while we wait."

Cecilia slowly got to her feet and shakily walked over to the couch. She sat on the end, her hands resting on the arm and plucking at the fabric. "I'm the wife of the Chancellor of the College," she said in a nervous and defiant voice.

"Really? How fascinating. What is a good married woman doing, having an amorous encounter with a vampire?"

"I, that's none of your business. My husband is very powerful, he'll destroy you if you harm me in any way!"

"Will he? I would like to see him try. In my experience, the Chancellors of the College have been ineffectual bureaucrats."

Cecilia raised her head defiantly. "Then you don't know my husband. He's the most powerful mage on the planet. When he finds out about you, you'll be gone before you know it."

"Well then, I should enjoy what time I have left then, shouldn't I?" Valkersan sat next to Cecilia, leaning close to her.

Cecilia drew back, her eyes wide. "But you said you'd wait for Tancred," she whispered.

Valkersan leaned still closer, his lips close to Cecilia's neck. "Oh, I will," he said, his breath brushing against her skin. He pulled back and looked at a clock set on the fireplace mantle. "Ten minutes after twelve o'clock. The sun rises at, six o'clock? It appears that Tancred still has quite some time. Unfortunate. But the anticipation of a pleasure is as great as the pleasure itself. As I'm sure you would know." He moved closer to her and ran his finger over the line of her jaw. "Do you eagerly await the time each week when you can slip away from your loving husband and meet with your vampire lover? Do you lie awake in bed on the night before your meeting, anticipating what will happen? Do you begin to sweat on the coach ride from your house to here?"

Cecilia was frozen. She remained motionless as Valkersan cupped her chin and brought his mouth to hers. He kissed her deeply as his hand stole up her leg to reach under her dress and stroke her thigh. A quiet whimper escaped her mouth when his fingers brushed against her bare sex. Cecilia gasped as he inserted a finger into her. Her trance broken, she jerked back, panting loudly, her eyes angry and scared. "Get away from me, you monster!" she yelled.

Valkersan laughed, bringing a shining finger to his mouth and licking it clean. "I shall obey you, for now, my lady." He rose with a mocking bow and resumed his slow, even pacing across the room.

Cecilia followed his movements. Her heart was still racing from his touch. She shuddered at the thought of having to, to, lie with him. Hurry Tancred, please, she thought.

* * * * *

It had been difficult to gain entry to the College grounds this late at night. The golem manning the guest entrance had been particularly difficult. It had taken a good deal of convincing on Solyma's part, but the golem had finally agreed to send a message to the Chancellor's office. After a short while a message was sent back, allowing Solyma and Tancred access to the grounds. A quick walk later, she and Tancred had arrived at the Chancellor's office.

"Why didn't we bring that servant of yours along?" Tancred asked as they stood outside the door of the Chancellor's office.

"I wanted someone to stay with Penelope. Just in case Valkersan decides to send else to follow through on your job. And he's not my servant," Solyma answered, knocking on the door, adjusting the tunic and breeches that she had hastily dressed in, to appear more presentable.

"Penelope? Oh, that exquisite little elf. How was she? As sweet as she looks?"

Solyma glared at him. "I wouldn't know."

Tancred grinned toothily. Solyma glared harder. His grin widened. "Whatever you say, Solyma, whatever you say."

The door swung open, revealing the Chancellor's office. The Chancellor was sitting behind his large oak desk, somewhat obscured by piles of papers and books. Solyma and Tancred were surprised to see Asgrim seated in a heavy chair in front of the desk. His helmet was still on although his sword had been set against the wall by the office's fireplace.

"So, Solyma, what is so urgent that you need to see me at midnight? Ah, and Tancred, what are doing here?" the Chancellor asked.

"It's a matter of life and death, sir. A mage of great power has revived himself and is present in the city. His name is-" Solyma started.

"Valkersan? Yes, yes, Asgrim here was telling me about him. Quite a nasty fellow, had a peculiar set of allies when he was still alive. Who were they again, Asgrim?"

Asgrim looked at Tancred and Solyma, trying to read their eyes. "A vampire lord. A brutal warrior, prone to dressing in bloody leather and hunting wild beasts," he said, turning back to the Chancellor.

"Who was the other? Some inconsequential sorceress?"

"Yes, she was the newest member of the group. Quite empty headed and rather ugly as well. Quite irritable as well, she was always scheming to advance her place in life."

"I'd wager that her plans didn't turn out too well in the end," the Chancellor laughed.

"No, they did not. She never thought them through."

Behind Asgrim, Solyma opened and shut her mouth. She clamped her mouth shut, feeling her face begin to redden. Beside her she could see Tancred struggling not to laugh.

"And you make four," the Chancellor said.

"Yes."

"Very well, I'll make sure that our top investigators look into his activities. Tancred?"

"Yes, Chancellor?" Tancred answered.

"Oh, call me Thomas, you known me for twelve years now."

"Of course, I'm sorry Thomas."

"No need for apologies, what was it you needed? Did my wife send you?"

"Not exactly."

"Really? Well, I wonder what has happened to her. We were supposed to meet for a late dinner an hour ago."

"That is what I, we need to talk to you about. Valkersan has taken your wife hostage."

The Chancellor stood up suddenly. "What is that you say? Taken hostage?"

"Yes, sir," Solyma said. "He knew that you had just hired me and that both you and your wife knew Tancred."

"What does any of that have to do with him taking Cecilia hostage?"

"I've had some encounters with Valkersan over the years. While popular rumor believes that he was betrayed and killed by his stunningly beautiful and clever," she looked at Asgrim meaningfully, "student, in actuality he merely retreated from the public eye. He never stopped his attempts at world conquest though. I've been fighting him for some years now. I thought that he had been dealt with for good, but apparently I was wrong. He tracked me to Corannon and wants to use your influence to ruin me."

"Very well, that sounds like the bastard I know from accounts. But what of the connection between myself and Tancred?"

"Valkersan has always had the strong belief that vampires are the best killers available. He knew of Tancred's exploits as a swordsman in the wars with Kilasat and that you and your wife were on close terms with him. By threatening your wife Valkersan hoped to get Tancred to kill me."

"Kill you? By Aeleon, that's horrible. Tancred, what happened?"

Tancred cleared his throat. "When Valkersan showed up at my door with Cecilia, naturally my first concern was for her. I agreed to do as he said and he gave me until sunrise to complete my mission. I immediately went to Solyma and told her of the situation. We decided that the best course of action was to mount a surprise attack on Valkersan as soon as possible. We believe that with the help of the College and Asgrim here, we can muster enough power to free Cecilia without any harm coming to her. If we do not act, I shudder to think of what might happen to her."

"I'll alert the guards. We can leave immediately, they can follow us," the Chancellor said, grabbing his staff from where it was leaning against his desk. "Let's go." Solyma waited for the Chancellor and Tancred to leave the room before turning to Asgrim. "Empty-headed and ugly?" she said.

She had the feeling that Asgrim was smiling when he strapped his sword over his back. "It seems that you and Tancred have both sought to create new lives for yourselves. I was merely ensuring that no suspicion falls on you," he said.

"By calling me ugly?"

"Would you rather be tried for your part in Valkersan's plans? The courts here are fair, you would probably only spend the rest of your life in prison. In other places you might be disemboweled publicly."

"Fair enough. You'll have to tell me why you've changed so much one of these days."

"I will endeavor to do that," Asgrim said, holding the door open for Solyma and then closing it behind them.

The pair hurried to catch up to Tancred and the Chancellor. The Chancellor had a College guard in tow and was gesturing and talking loudly.

"You get every guard available over to Tancred's town house, do you hear me? And contact the Palace. Tell the King that, damn, the King's out of town now, tell whoever's in charge that a grave danger has risen in the city and that the Knights of the Shield should be put on alert. And get us a coach!"

The guard nodded and started to leave. Tancred caught him on the shoulder and said, "Be sure to ask for the Guardian Knight, I believe he's in the capital now. We'll need all the help we can get."

The guard nodded again and set off at the run, calling for the guards to assemble.

"How are we going to stop Valkersan without endangering Cecilia?" Tancred asked.

The group had passed out of the main building of the College into the main grounds. "We'll hit him with everything we can, as soon as we can," the Chancellor said.

"That won't work, he'll sense us coming from a block away, even if we do mask ourselves," Solyma said.

"Then what do you propose?"

"This," she said, conjuring an elaborate weave about her body and face. As they walked it settled into place. Her skin began to pale and appear clammy while two unhealed puncture marks appeared on her neck with a dried trickle of blood from each of them. Her eyes glazed over with the look of death and her breathing ceased to be visible. When it had finally settled, she had the appearance of a vampire attack victim. "There, how does it look?"

"Gods above, you look horrible," the Chancellor said. "But you won't fool him walking about like that."

"Oh, right. Tancred?"

Tancred stepped over to Solyma and scooped her up in his arms. After a few moments of arranging she hung in his arms, looking convincingly dead.

"How about now?" Solyma said. Her lips did not move.

"Very dead," the Chancellor said. "So what's your plan?"

"Tancred carries me into the house and says that he killed me. He then gets Cecilia out of the house and away from danger. When she's clear, we attack."

"Unless anyone has anything better, that sounds like a plan."

They had just reached the guest entrance to the College. No one objected to Solyma's plan and the Chancellor called out to the golem manning the gate to open the entrance. As the tall steel gate swung open, a figure dressed in a chain coat and breastplate and carrying a shield could be seen. The figure turned from speaking with the golem and looked at the group. His mouth opened in surprise when he saw Solyma in Tancred's arms.

"Just great," Solyma muttered.

"Solyma!" the Knight yelled. "Adramas above, what happened?" The Knight looked at the hulking form of Asgrim and the faintly glowing eyes of Tancred. He reached a conclusion and pulled his sword from his sheath faster than the eye could follow. "Set her down, vampire!"

"Kerrith! Kerrith, it's all right, it's just a weave," Solyma said. Kerrith looked around, trying to find the source of her voice. Solyma sighed in exasperation and pulled the weave down her face. "Kerrith! Dammit, I'm alive!"

"Solyma? What is going on? I just arrived from Willowsrun with the carcass of the Corthronos." He sheathed his sword, glancing suspiciously at Asgrim and Tancred.

"Corthronos?" the Chancellor interrupted, "Are you the Knight sent to track down that summoner?"

"Yes, sir. The summoner was," he stopped, thinking, "dealt with. The Corthronos are no longer a threat."

"Capital! You," the Chancellor said, pointing at the golem, "take that wagon inside, make sure its kept somewhere safe. Now, Knight, we could use your help. A rogue mage has arrived in the city and has taken a hostage, my wife. Can you help us?"

"Of course, sir. My sword is yours."

With things somewhat sorted out, the motley group climbed aboard a coach brought round to the entrance. With a clatter of hooves they set off down the street, heading toward the fancy neighborhood where Tancred's town house was located.

* * * * *

"Don't worry, mother. Kerrith told me that the bill will be taken care of," Selene said. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked around the rooms that had been assigned to her and her parents. They were far better than what she was used to, large and well furnished. Her father had already fallen asleep in the master bedroom.

"I suppose it's all right then," her mother said. "We're very happy for you. You know that, don't you?"

"Yes, mother. You've told me that every day since we left Willowsrun. Why don't you go to sleep. It's late."

"I'll do that, dear. Do you know when Kerrith will be stopping in?"

"He said that he'll stop by tomorrow morning. He has to make sure the College gets the corpse." Selene shuddered, remembering the sight of the Corthronos pulling itself towards Willowsrun and fighting with Kerrith.

She said good night to her mother as they both retired to their rooms. Selene tossed and turned for a long time, already missing Kerrith. There was also a faint smell of decay coming from the next suite of rooms over. She wondered if something had died between the walls. The smell disappeared after she opened a window and she quickly forgot about it, falling deeply asleep.

* * * * *

Solyma felt her heart pounding as Tancred carried her toward his house. She prayed that her weave was good enough to fool Valkersan completely. If it wasn't... She refused to finish the thought. The feel of her dagger nestled under her tunic on her back reassured her somewhat, she just hoped that Valkersan could be hurt by such mundane means. Glancing around, she saw that they were at Tancred's doorway. Solyma took a last deep breath to calm herself and waited as Tancred stepped inside.

* * * * *

"Tancred, you're back," Valkersan said as Tancred stepped into the living room. "How disappointing, you actually killed her. Was it hard for you to do? You always did have feelings for her."

Tancred dropped Solyma onto the rug. She thumped loudly. "Let Cecilia go, then we can talk," he said.

Valkersan sighed. "And we were getting to know each other so well. Very well then, my Lady Abrovagny, you may go."

Cecilia hurried from the room, pausing at the doorway to look at Tancred, he nodded and she ran out of the house.

"You certainly have changed, Tancred."

"For the better."

"If you say so. You do realize that I have to kill you now, don't you?"

"I assumed as much. You do realize that I'll fight you."

"Of course. You will lose."

"Perhaps."

Tancred whipped his rapier from its sheath as he darted towards the fireplace. Valkersan let out a stream of flame that set the wood paneling of the wall instantly ablaze, missing Tancred by inches. Tancred jumped at the wall and kicked off, flipping behind Valkersan while slashing at his neck. Valkersan parried with his staff behind his back then spun and jabbed the butt of it at Tancred's face.

The vampire ducked, barely dodging the staff, and cut at Valkersan's wrist. He connected and opened a deep wound that bled yellow, hissing blood.

"Very good, you've improved your blade work in the time since we last met," Valkersan said, quietly circling the room, his staff spinning in slow arcs. The fire on the wall had spread to the roof, smoke was beginning to spread and fill the room. With a flick of his wrist, Valkersan sent a bolt of lightning towards Tancred. The vampire dodged a split second too late and caught the bolt on the shoulder. His body spun as he fell to the floor and rolled to dodge another bolt.

Valkersan slowly approached him, lightning blasting from both ends of his staff. "Stop struggling and give up. It will be less painful that way," he said between blasts. Tancred had dropped his sword and was frantically twisting and jumping to avoid the bolts of lightning. His expensive paneling and paintings exploded into shreds of wood and cloth as the lightning spattered over the wall. Each bolt came closer and closer to hitting him, until finally a bolt caught him on the leg. He went down heavily, his pant leg smoking and the flesh beneath it charred to the bone.

"What are you waiting for? Finish me off," he said through gritted teeth. Behind Valkersan, Solyma silently reached behind her and pulled a long dagger from its sheath. Tancred forced his eyes to remain on Valkersan as Solyma crept up behind him.

"This is how it ends, I applaud you for not begging," Valkersan pointed his staff at Tancred, prepared to blast him from existence. He grunted as the tip of a dagger emerged from his chest. The metal of the blade hissed as his blood ran from its tip to fall to the floor. He turned calmly, his steps slow and deliberate, to face Solyma.

Solyma had dropped her weave of illusion. Valkersan stared at her face and then grinned widely. "The old knife to the back trick, I would have thought you would be tired of it by now," he said, a trickle of blood flowing from his mouth.

"If it works, do it," Solyma answered, her voice shaking, pulling another dagger from her boot.

"You won't have the chance," Valkersan said, bringing his staff up to strike her. He stiffened again as Tancred shoved his rapier through Valkersan's chest, twisted the blade, and pulled it free.

"Never leave a foe at your back. I always told you that," Tancred said, his eyes glowing.

Valkersan staggered away from them, embers from the burning house settling on his hair and cloak where they extinguished themselves with a hiss. Tancred and Solyma followed him, spreading out to each side.

Valkersan looked down at his chest, the blood had already stopped flowing. "I'm harder to kill this time around." Before the two could continue their attack, Valkersan had raised his staff and summoned a portal behind him. "We'll settle this the next time we meet, I promise it," he said, stepping through the portal. Solyma threw her dagger at him and watched as it bounced off an invisible shield and fell to the floor. She screamed at Valkersan and made a obscene gesture as his portal closed.

"Dammit!" she yelled. "We had him scared! We could have finished him off!"

Tancred limped over to her. "Let's get out of here, otherwise we won't have a chance to finish him off."

Solyma appeared to notice the inferno raging around her for the first time. She grabbed Tancred's shoulder and helped him limp towards the door. A few moments later they emerged, singed but otherwise unharmed by the fire. They found the rest of the erstwhile Valkersan slaying group waiting for them.

"Well, you all helped so much," Solyma muttered as she slumped on the sidewalk opposite Tancred's flaming house.

"Don't be so cruel," Tancred said, sitting next to her, his leg still smoking. "It just happened too quickly for them to intervene."

Solyma waved her hand dismissively. "What do we do now? He doesn't have a hostage, but we don't know where he is."

"He seemed very angry at you, why don't we just wait for him to come after you?"

"What!? No! I'm not going to serve as bait for him! We stuck a sword and a dagger into him and her barely flinched! I can't do this! I'm getting out of here and I advise the rest of you," she pointed at Asgrim and Tancred, "to do the same. He'll be coming after you!" Solyma stomped off down the street, still yelling at them, her voice rising in pitch and intensity. "No more of this hero bullshit! Let Kerrith handle Valkersan! That's what he gets paid for!"

Tancred looked away from the slowly retreating form of Solyma, watching as she kicked a lamp post and limped away cursing, to the Chancellor and Cecilia. He saw them locked in a passionate embrace, their mouths clamped over each other. He sighed softly, regretting the lost evening. Asgrim and Kerrith were politely looking at the burning house. In the distance, the bells of the fire brigade were coming closer.

Tancred winced as he pushed himself to his feet and limped over to Asgrim and Kerrith. "What do you think we should do?" he asked them.

"About Valkersan or about Solyma?" asked Asgrim.

"Either."

"I'll report back to my superiors on Valkersan. We can mobilize and begin to track him down with the assistance of the College. It should not take long to find him," Kerrith said. "If what you told me of him is true, the three of you will be in the most danger until then."

Tancred nodded. "He'll want Solyma especially. She stabbed him in the back twice now-" Tancred froze, his mouth open as Asgrim looked at him in surprise. "I mean, she stabbed him in the back once, I stabbed him in the back also, that makes twice." Tancred smiled. Brilliant recovery, he thought smugly.

Kerrith looked at him questioningly for a moment. "In any case, I think that you should all stay at the Palace until we find him." He looked down the street to where mounted guards and Knights could be seen galloping towards the fire. "I will make my report to the Guardian Knight and then escort you to the Palace. Where do you think Solyma is headed?"

"Back to the Palace. She never leaves without her things," Tancred answered.

"Really? Have you known her long?"

Tancred cursed silently while smiling on the outside. "I've met her occasionally. Here and there over the years."

Kerrith eyed him appraisingly before turning and approaching a mounted Knight. Tancred shook his head as Asgrim walked closer to him.

"I take the time to devise a decent cover for you and Solyma and then you ruin it," he said.

"I didn't ruin it!" Tancred yelled. "That Knight has no idea what is going on!"

"Shhh," Asgrim hissed, signaling Tancred to quiet down. "I understand that you and Solyma are on edge. I understand that you both fear Valkersan-"

"I-am-not afraid of Valkersan!"

Asgrim looked at Tancred. His eyes seemed like bores and Tancred soon crumbled under their assault. "Alright," he mumbled, "so we're afraid of him. Who wouldn't be? The man was a lunatic, now he's worse."

"Which is why you should do your best to follow the Knight's advice. He speaks sense."

"Yes, but will they be able to deal with Valkersan?"

"Perhaps, perhaps not. We may need to help them."

Tancred nodded gloomily. "Gods. I blame Solyma for this. She brings this type of chaos with her wherever she goes."

Asgrim nodded in agreement. Together they watched Tancred's house slowly burn.

* * * * *

Solyma stomped through the still busy market section of town. She flinched unwillingly as a man carrying a bag of flour to an all night bakery bumped into her. She forced herself to stop and breathe deeply, trying to calm herself. She stretched slowly, accidentally bumping a man next to her. She ignored his catcall and moved on through the market square. Solyma stopped when she saw a flower seller's booth. She moved over to the booth and and leaned over to study the flowers.

"Looking for something to brighten up the place, young lady?" the elderly flower seller asked with a smile.

Solyma smiled at the "young lady". "Yes, something romantic," she said, thinking of Penelope.

"These roses are just cut today, don't they smell lovely? Thornless too."

Solyma sniffed. "They do smell wonderful. How much are they?"

"Twelve marks for a dozen."

Solyma winced as she reached for her pouch. She counted out twenty-four marks and placed them in the woman's dry palm. She felt an unfamiliar tugging at her heart as she imagined Penelope's smile upon seeing the roses.

"Thank you deary, I hope that they help you with your young man. I can tell you're in love, I hope he feels about you in the same way."

Solyma smiled hesitantly, "So do I. Thank you." She resumed her walk towards the Palace, smiling as she smelled the delicate scent of the roses. Love, she thought.

* * * * *

"Hector? How is Penelope?" Solyma asked as she quietly closed the suite's door behind her.

"Still sleeping. Did you rescue the woman?" Hector said, setting his sword down next to him on a table. He looked incuriously at the bunch of roses in Solyma's hand.

"Yes, Valkersan escaped though. Are the bags still packed?"

"They always are."

"We'll leave at first light then."

"How many supplies should I pack?"

Solyma thought for a moment. "Two weeks. Let's head north and visit the elves. They should have forgotten what happened last time. And Valkersan isn't likely to try to reach me there."

Hector nodded and floated out of the suite to gather their supplies for the trip.

Solyma kicked off her shoes and wriggled her toes in the carpet as she walked over to the bedroom door. She listened to the faint sound of Penelope's breathing and opened the door. Slipping into the dimly lit room, she closed the door behind her and waited for her vision to adjust.

Heart racing, she stepped over to Penelope and leaned over the elf girl. She knelt there for a long time, watching Penelope breathe. She felt a painful surge of lust rise in her. Several times she reached out to her and drew back, her heart pounding. Love, she thought again. She shook her head. Solyma set the roses down on the bed as she gently reached out to touch her shoulder. For some reason she found herself stopping. Her hand hovered above Penelope's shoulder, shaking slightly.

Shaking her head in disgust, she pulled her hand back and left the roses beside Penelope. She walked back to the door, casting one last glance back at the sleeping elf, and silently slipped out again.

* * * * *

Valkersan stepped from the portal into the street just outside the Dragoon's Helm. His wounded arm spasmed involuntarily as the muscle beneath twitched and rippled. Clutching at his arm, he stepped into the inn. A sleepy clerk sat dozing behind the bar of the common room. He jerked awake, nearly falling from his chair as Valkersan slammed the butt of his staff into the floor.

"C-Can I help you, sir?" the clerk stammered.

"Where is my room?"

"What's your name?"

"Valkersan."

"Oh. You're upstairs, take those stairs and head straight back. Your rooms are at the very end of the hall. Your servant is already up there." Valkersan turned and climbed the stairs, leaving the confused clerk behind him. He walked down the hall, sensing the presence of other's sleeping behind the doors. He opened the door to his rooms with a wave of his hand. He grimaced at the sight of Merkin's decaying body sitting in an expensive arm chair.

"Get out of my sight," he hissed. Merkin staggered out of the room, his bloated body leaving patches of skin behind.

Valkersan stood alone in the room. He raised his wounded arm and watched as it slowly changed. His nails, already strange, lengthened into claws as the skin on his arm melted away, leaving raw muscle behind. He flexed his new arm and then let it drop, his sleeve covering it. Valkersan walked to the window and opened it. With a wave of his staff he summoned a insectile construct. The buzzing insect dripped venom onto the wooden sill, leaving discolored splotches.

"Go, find Solyma," Valkersan commanded. The insect leapt into the air, wings blurring, and sped into the night.

When the insect had gone, Valkersan pulled a chair over to the window and sat down. He leaned his staff against the wall and watched as his body began to change. He could feel the Corthronos making up his body changing it to a form more suitable to them, he welcomed them and allowed them to reshape his being.

* * * * *

"I'm sorry honey, we don't have any job openings," the woman behind the counter said.

Solyma looked at her in confusion. "Oh, no, I'm not here for a job," she said.

"Here to pick up your man?" the woman asked. "I'll call a bouncer to help you."

Solyma looked around the brothel's lobby. A few clients were looking over the available ladies of the night lounging at the bar. The women were dressed in light silk robes over various pieces of lingerie. From deeper inside the brothel, she could hear faint laughter and music and smell food. She turned back to the woman. "No, that's not why I'm here."

"Why are you here, then?"

"Why does anyone come here?"

The woman looked at her for a second and then shrugged. "What's your preference?"

"Do you have any elves?"

The woman laughed. "No elves work in brothels, at least none I've ever heard of. And I've heard of them all."

Solyma frowned in disappointment. "How about a slim blonde? With blue eyes? And long hair."

"Sure. Hey, Alice, Beth, you've got an interested customer, come over here," the woman yelled. The two blondes looked over from where they were seated at the bar and walked over, being careful to put extra sway into their hips.

"This is Alice," said the woman, pointing the taller of the two women, "and this is Beth," pointing at the other. "How do you like them?"

Solyma looked over the two women. They seemed mildly surprised to see another woman looking them over. Alice had a body similar to Penelope's, but she was about a foot taller than the elf. Beth matched Penelope's height but was much fuller in the bosom and hips. Solyma sighed, "How much is it for a night?"

"A hundred marks for the entire night or forty for an hour."

Solyma groaned inside as she checked her pouch, she still had plenty of gold left from her first week's pay at the College. She looked over the waiting women again. Neither one even approached Penelope in looks. Penelope, she thought, feeling her heart give a lurch. "Both. For the night," she finally said.

The woman behind the counter raised an eyebrow. "Both for a night it is, that'll be two hundred marks, up front please."

Solyma quietly counted out the twenty ten-mark coins.

"Thank you," the woman said. "Alice, Beth, show this lady to the room, will you?"

"Sure thing, Mrs. Palm," Alice said. She had a rather high pitched voice that instantly grated on Solyma's nerves.

Alice led the way deeper into the brothel and then up several flights of stairs. As they were walking, Beth slipped her arm around Solyma's waist and squeezed it lightly. Solyma looked at her and returned the favor.

The room was nice, not anywhere near the standards of the Palace, but equivalent to a good inn. There were chairs and tables, perhaps more than were necessary for a normal bedroom, but useful for unusual sex. The bed was the centerpiece of the room. It was massive and four posted with a canopy draped over it. A large skylight was mounted in the ceiling. During the summer it was likely opened to allow a fresh breeze into the room.

"How do you like it?" asked Beth. Her voice was much more pleasant than Alice's. "We have some different rooms for different, tastes."

"This will be fine," Solyma said.

"What would you like us to do?"Alice asked, her hand running up Solyma's leg as Beth squeezed her bottom.

Solyma sighed as she felt herself slowly becoming aroused. "Beth, do you know how to play the innocent?" she asked as she sat in an overstuffed armchair with Alice and Beth perched on the arms.

"Oh, yes! I do know how to do that!" she said, her eyes wide and innocent.

Solyma smiled. "Good, do that. Undress and get into bed. Pretend you're asleep." Solyma watched as Beth complied, easing her robe over her pale shoulders and letting it drop to the floor. She shyly slipped off her bra and panties and sat on the bed with her stockings still on. She primly crossed her legs, her profile to Solyma, as she slowly inched each stocking down her leg before setting it down beside her other undergarments.

As Beth was sliding under the sheets, Solyma was slowly undoing her tunic and breeches. By the time Beth had begun to feign sleep, Solyma was naked in the armchair. She spread her thighs and began to lightly rub herself as Alice approached the bed from the other side.

Alice had already shed her robe and was wearing nothing underneath. She knelt by Beth and slowly pulled back the sheets, exposing Beth's naked body. Alice began to stroke Beth's body and then looked at Solyma. Solyma nodded silently, biting her lip as Alice leaned over to kiss Beth's shoulder.

"Nibble her ears," Solyma said, her voice trembling.

Alice kissed her way up Beth's neck and began to gently nip at the curve of Beth's ears. One of her hands stole over Beth's body to cup and squeeze a breast.

"Kiss her," Solyma moaned, her fingers sliding into herself as she slumped down in the chair.

Alice leaned over Beth and deeply kissed the woman. Solyma watched in appreciation as Beth pretended to wake up and began to struggle against Alice. Beth succeeded in pulling away from Alice long enough to sit up, her full breasts bouncing delightfully.

"Oh!" she cried, "what are you doing!"

Alice straddled Beth's body and began to rub her breasts against Beth's. "Oh no! Stop this! This isn't right!" Beth gasped, her hands going to her mouth in mock horror. Solyma watched as Alice kissed Beth again. Beth struggled for a moment and then, slowly, gave in to the kiss. Her hands slowly ran over Alice's sides and then slid down to hold her bottom. Solyma leaned forward as Beth's fingers began to probe Alice's nether regions. Alice broke the kiss and leaned back, her breasts thrust forward for Beth to suck on. Alice began to moan ecstatically as Beth sucked on her breasts and slid two fingers into her pussy.

Solyma couldn't control herself anymore. She jumped up from the chair and threw herself down beside the two moaning women. She grabbed Alice's free hand and guided it down to her pussy, crying out in pleasure as Alice began to thrust her fingers into her. Solyma gasped as she came, her hips bucking against Alice's hand, hands twisting the sheets.

As she felt her orgasm fade, Solyma turned to the women. They had slowed their actions and were watching her expectantly. Solyma made a low animal noise in her throat as she pulled Alice off Beth and buried her face between Beth's spread thighs. Solyma began to lick enthusiastically at Beth, delighting in the taste of her and the sound of her whimpers of pleasure. Solyma gasped again when she felt Alice's mouth on her, licking at her from behind.

Solyma thrust two fingers into Beth, then slowly worked in a third, eliciting a squeal of pleasure from her. Solyma began to pump her fingers rhythmically into the woman until Beth came loudly, her pussy squeezing tightly at Solyma's fingers.

Solyma kissed her way up Beth's sweating body, finally kissing her deeply on the mouth. She stayed locked in the kiss for a long while, savoring the feel of Beth's soft lips and Alice's probing tongue. She broke the kiss to look back at Alice, seeing only her hair, shaking as Alice lapped at her.

"Yesss, ohh, gods," Solyma panted, feeling herself near a second orgasm. She cried out wordlessly when she came again, pushing her hips back against Alice wildly. Finally, she froze and then collapsed onto the bed, every muscle in her body limp. Alice and Beth lay down on either side of her and began to gently kiss her and stroke her hair. Solyma slowly rolled over onto her back, a satisfied smile on her face. She pulled a pillow under her head, staring up at the canopy as Alice and Beth snuggled up next to her, their legs entwining.

"Do you want anything else right now?" Beth cooed into her ear.

Solyma yawned. It must be past two in the morning by now, she thought. "No, not now," she answered sleepily. "I just want to sleep."

Beth nodded and leaned over to blow turn down the lamps. She then cuddled up against Solyma, her soft breasts pressing against Solyma's body. On her other side, Alice did the same. Solyma began to drift off to sleep, the pleasant feel of soft female skin on both sides of her. Just as she was falling asleep, she thought of Penelope. Her eyes snapped open in the dim room and her sleepiness disappeared. Her heart ached unfamiliarly for a long time as she stared up into the darkness. What's wrong with me? she wondered, until at last she fell asleep. High above her, unnoticed, a hideous insect landed on the skylight and peered into the room.

* * * * *

"Solyma! They're wonderful! Thank you so much!" Penelope said.

They were seated in a grassy field near the seashore, the warm sun gently caressing them. Penelope laughed in pleasure as she sniffed the roses again. Solyma laughed along with Penelope, her hands pulling the elf into a warm embrace. She laughed again when she realized that they were naked.

"I love you, Penelope," Solyma said, looking deep into her eyes.

"Oh, I love you too, Solyma. Ever since I first saw you, I've felt that way!" Penelope answered, hugging Solyma tightly.

"Really? I was so afraid of telling you that, I was afraid you couldn't love another woman in this way."

"That was silly of you! Couldn't you tell that I wanted you?"

"No, no I couldn't. Which is strange, I'm usually very good at that."

"Well, I'll show you how much I want you," Penelope grinned, lying back and teasingly parting her legs.

Solyma grinned as she gently held Penelope's knees apart. She looked up to the elf's face as she began to slowly kiss her way up Penelope's thigh. She was rewarded with a gasp of pleasure when she began to lightly run her tongue over Penelope's quim, her head spinning at the taste of the girl.

"Solyma," Penelope groaned, "yes! More-" her voice began to be drowned out by a loud buzzing. Solyma watched in horror as Penelope disappeared from the idyllic scene, leaving only darkness behind, darkness that spread and swallowed everything.

Solyma woke with a start, bolting upright. She cupped her face in her hands, groaning softly. "What is wrong with me?" she said to herself. Beside her Beth stirred and reached out to her.

"What's wrong?" she asked sleepily.

"Nothing-" Solyma stopped. The buzzing from her dreams was still there. She slowly looked around the dim room, searching for the source. She grimaced when she saw the insect, almost identical to the one she had incinerated in the gymnasium. "Worked one time," she said and flipped a fireball at the insect. It failed to dodge and went up in a cloud of greasy ash and smoke.

Alice and Beth were both awake now, shrinking away from Solyma.

"Don't worry about it," she said. She slid out from the bed and walked over to her clothes. After she had finished dressing she placed ten ten-mark coins on the table. "Something for you two," she smiled.

Alice and Beth smiled back, eying the pile of gold greedily. Solyma smirked as their solicitousness disappeared and walked from the room. She stretched slowly as she made her way towards the stairway. Just as she approached the head of the stairs, she heard the sound of breaking glass from the room accompanied by shrill screams of terror.

Years of similar experiences took over as she bolted down the stairs, pulling a weave of concealment over herself. Leaping down the last three stairs to the second floor, she sent a ragged bundle of concealment weaves down the stairs while she skidded towards the nearest door. She tested the handle and found it open. Moving quietly now, she slipped into the dark room and closed the door just as someone pounded down the steps.

Valkersan raced after the badly spun concealment weaves. Solyma had no doubt become sloppy in his absence, he thought. He landed on the bottom of the stairs and ran towards the street, staff flaring with fire and lightning, following the weaves. As he ran past screaming customers and workers he felt the weaves stop. Perhaps she thinks she has escaped, he thought, as he slammed the front door of the brothel open and jumped into the street.

His eyes searched for her, following his senses to find the weaves. He looked down and saw the bundle of weaves, hiding nothing, serving only as a decoy. He closed his eyes and extended his senses over the entire building. Using all of his concentration he felt the slight disturbance that marked an extremely well done concealment weave. Valkersan opened his eyes in time to see a barely noticeable distortion in space jumping from the brothel's rooftop to an adjoining building and disappearing.

He cursed and lashed out with his staff, setting the building's roof ablaze. Screams rose around him as flaming debris began to waft into the street. He turned and smacked aside a running man as he drew a portal in the air. Beyond it, he could see the Palace gymnasium, dark and silent.

* * * * *

Bradley brushed at the dust covering his robes and coughed as it billowed around him. The ruins of Solyma's tower were eerily lit by the moon filling the glade.

"No sign of the Corthronos," he said, wiping his face and hands with a handkerchief.

"But Kerrith said that they were killed inside," Magda said.

"I think they were, but someone or something moved them."

"Why would they do that? Some people were burned just covering the leader with a tarp."

"I'm not sure, I think they might have wanted to incorporate the Corthronos' power into their own. It's a bad choice though."

"Why? Will it kill the person?"

"No, although that might be better. The Corthronos will begin to take over the person's body and mind as soon as they have a chance. Once they do they'll try to duplicate what almost happened here."

Magda shivered, wrapping her arms around her body. "You mean they'll try to summon their leaders again?"

From behind her, Havas spat and cursed. "We'd damn well better find the damn fool who took the bodies then, shouldn't we?" he said.

Bradley picked up his cloak from where he had left it on the grass and draped it over Magda. "Yes, if someone doesn't find him and stop him we may be on the receiving end of an invasion the likes of which we have never seen."

Chapter Five: Three Hours Before Dawn

Cloaked by the dark of the Palace gymnasium, Valkersan felt power run through his blood. With each passing minute the Corthronos gave him new power and changed his body. Like a god, he thought, his teeth crackling with electricity as he smiled.

The tiny spitting arcs of lightning cast stark, distorted shadows across the gymnasium. A simple target dummy became a looming figure of menace by their light. Valkersan laughed quietly as he slashed open his arm and legs with his newly grown claws. As the last traces of human blood flowed from his body, he changed even more rapidly.

He lurched across the floor as he grew, clawed feet scraping long lines on the floor, bones creaking and cracking as he rose to half again as high as a man. He exhaled loudly in the dark as his skin dripped from his body to pool on the wooden paneling of the gymnasium's floor. He passed a clawed hand over his face, feeling his lower jaw separate into two mandibles, each spiked on the end, his teeth sharpening to razor edges. Stepping slowly into the squares of moonlight cast by the windows, he admired his new form. Revenge, he thought, and conquest.

* * * * *

Asgrim stood behind and to the side of Tancred as the latter knocked on Solyma's door. After a few seconds it was opened by a floating helmet and gauntlets.

"Yes?" it said.

Tancred squinted at Hector and answered, "We're friends of Solyma, we were going to meet her here."

"Really?" Hector said, "Unfortunately she's not in right now."

Tancred hissed and clapped his hand to his forehead as Asgrim grunted. "Of course she isn't, did she say where she was going?" he asked Hector. Aside to Asgrim, he said, "She's probably out of the city by now with every piece of silverware in the Palace."

"No, I'm not," Solyma said from behind them.

They turned to look at her. Her hair was wild and she smelled of smoke and, "Sex?" Tancred said, sniffing loudly. "By the gods, Solyma, don't you get tired of it? How many people have you had tonight?"

"Two," she said, nervously scanning the living room before stepping inside.

Asgrim and Tancred followed her. "Do I want to know why you smell of smoke?" Tancred asked.

"No, but I'll tell you anyway. Valkersan found me and nearly killed me." She shuddered at the memory of the roof turning into an inferno and barely making the jump to a neighboring building.

"I told you we should have used you as bait."

Solyma ignored him. "Hector, are the bags packed?"

"Yes, and the supplies are ready as well," he answered.

"Good job, we're leaving now."

"Very well, I'll go saddle Tom and Alice."

"I'll be along shortly."

Hector bobbed and floated out of the room, carrying their bags in both gauntlets.

"Are you coming with me?" Solyma asked as she turned to Asgrim and Tancred.

"I still think we should stay here. The Knights are very good at what they do," Tancred said after several moments silence.

"What about you Asgrim?"

"I must endeavor to atone for my past actions. By staying here I may be able to fight Valkersan and prevent more bloodshed."

"You could also atone for your past actions by coming with me and being my bodyguard."

Asgrim laughed, a deep vibrating rumble that caused glasses to shake. "Always amusing, Solyma, you were always amusing. No, I shall stay here. I recommend that you do the same."

"No thanks, while I'm sure the Knights will be able to deal with Valkersan, I don't want to be caught in between during the fighting. But you two can do what-" She was interrupted by a loud explosion from somewhere beneath the room.

Solyma swore and ran to the bedroom to grab the last of her things. She snatched up her saber and stuffed her clothes into a satchel before pausing near the bed. She looked at Penelope, still asleep despite the noise, and quickly kissed her on the cheek before running out of the room.

She scanned the living room for anything of value, passing over Hector's models, she scooped up several bottles of wine and a silver tea set. Turning to the door, she saw Asgrim leaning his back against it, shoulders braced and his arms spread.

"Asgrim, I'm touched by your concern, but get out of the way..." She trailed off when she saw Tancred with his rapier in hand, looking intently at the door. "What-?" she began as a clawed hand punched through the door and pulled a good quarter of it down.

Solyma dropped the wine and tea set, being careful to drop them on the cushions of the couch, as she drew her saber. She gulped as a distorted face, still barely recognizable as Valkersan, peered through the ruined door at her and Tancred.

"Good evening," he hissed. "Am I interrupting something?"

Valkersan ducked as Asgrim punched through the hole at his face. Asgrim stepped away from the door, pulling his sword from his back and assuming a ready stance in front of Tancred and Solyma.

"Where are the guards?" Solyma yelled, "This is the Royal Palace! The last time I checked it had guards!"

She flinched as Valkersan blew away the rest of the door with a casual wave of his staff. He stepped through, taller even than Asgrim, ducking under the doorjamb. He no longer would inspire any comparison to a human. He looked far more like the, Solyma began to sweat nervously, Corthronos.

Tancred was already out the double doors and onto the balcony when Valkersan stepped closer and found himself blocked by Asgrim. Tancred motioned urgently at Solyma and then began to climb over the railing.

"Join me Asgrim, I may still be forgiving," Valkersan said, his staff at the ready.

"I am sorry, but never again will I join forces with one such as you," Asgrim rumbled.

"Very well," Valkersan said with a shake of his head. With that he swung his staff in a whistling arc that ended in an explosion of magical energy on Asgrim's sword.

Solyma watched in awe as the two dueled back and forth, splintering furniture in their wake. Asgrim had the upper hand at first, his sword and strength forced Valkersan back towards the door. Sparks spat from their weapons as they clashed, Asgrim forcing his sword down against Valkersan's staff. They paused, locked together, and then Valkersan slowly began to force Asgrim back. Valkersan twisted and spun his staff away from Asgrim's sword, spinning around Asgrim to strike him with a double handed blow against his helmet.

The air filled with the boom as Asgrim's helmet was knocked off to fly through the wall, leaving a hole the size of a man's chest. Asgrim staggered to face Valkersan, still addled by the blow. His parries came too slow as Valkersan began to beat him back towards the hallway, his staff blurring as he smashed and jabbed at Asgrim. Asgrim faltered for a moment and his sword was knocked from his hand to jut from the wall. Valkersan laughed contemptuously and smashed Asgrim through the wall into the hallway beyond.

Turning to Solyma, he grinned and began to approach her, his staff weaving in blurred arcs. Solyma looked down at the saber in her hand and compared it to the massive two-handed sword that had been knocked from Asgrim's hands. She turned and ran for the balcony.

"Solyma? What's going on?" she heard Penelope ask just before she had reached the doors. Solyma slid to a stop and turned in horror to see the elf standing in bedroom door, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"No! Penelope, get back in the bedroom!" Solyma yelled, but too late. Valkersan had spotted the elf and snatched at her with his right hand. Penelope screamed as his claws drew blood from her arm as he pulled her towards him.

"A pretty little elf," he leered, "something to do after I'm done with you, Solyma."

Solyma stood at the balcony doors, fury and fear racing through her body. Behind her she could hear Tancred yelling at her to run and forget the elf. In front of her she saw Penelope's terrified face. Common sense and instinct told her to run, to get as far away from Valkersan as possible.

"Let her go!" she heard herself yelling. "Let her go, you rotted, impotent, syphilitic, bastard!" Valkersan laughed and shook Penelope, delighting in her fear.

"Come and get her," he mocked, holding the elf out at arms length and supremely confident that the Solyma he knew would never risk her own life for another, even a beautiful elf. He laughed again, fully expecting Solyma to turn and run, especially after her little show of defiance.

Valkersan stopped laughing when Solyma charged him, saber held high. He swept his staff around to crush her skull and was amazed when she rolled under it and hacked at his right arm. Solyma felt her saber connect and slice deeply into his arm, bone grating beneath her blade. Solyma ducked in closer to him as he roared and swung his staff at her. She was inside his guard now, his staff too long to be used effectively in close combat. Solyma hacked at his right arm again, this time at his wrist. She shouted in triumph as the small bones of his wrist separated with the muscle, leaving him a bare stump that gushed blood.

Solyma kicked his kneecap, causing Valkersan to stagger backwards, as she pulled Penelope to her feet and propelled her towards the balcony and Tancred.

"Get her out of here!" Solyma yelled over her shoulder as she turned back to Valkersan. She could hear Tancred cursing as he hoisted Penelope over his shoulder and leapt from the balcony.

"Amazing," Valkersan hissed, his wrist already healed over. In his left hand he held his staff pointed at Solyma. She began to pull together what weaves of defense she could, knowing that Valkersan could brush them aside like cobwebs.

Just as Valkersan was about to unleash a killing blast of magic, Asgrim rose behind him and swung his sword at the monster's neck. Valkersan sensed the blow and spun, managing to partially deflect the blow with his staff. The sword still cut deeply into Valkersan's shoulder, slicing deeply into his chest.

Asgrim wrenched his sword from Valkersan's chest, his eyes blazing crimson, and readied another strike. Valkersan staggered away from him to collapse in front of the fireplace, the massive wound to his body already healing. Asgrim lunged at him, trying to kill him before he could heal, but Valkersan managed a desperate parry as he stood.

Solyma swore loudly as Valkersan stood, completely healed but for his lack of a hand. She turned at the sound of loud footsteps and was relieved to see Palace guards along with Knights rushing into the room. At their van was Kerrith and another Knight dressed in exquisitely crafted plate mail. Valkersan hissed in rage as he saw them, backing away towards the parlor.

"Come on!" Solyma yelled, "Before he can recover!" Asgrim charged after the retreating Valkersan, Solyma just steps behind with the assembled men-at-arms behind her. Valkersan stood in the middle of the parlor, his mandibles clacking together in frustration and rage as he surveyed the warriors rapidly surrounding him on all sides.

"Time to finish this," Solyma said grimly as Valkersan turned his hateful gaze on her.

"Perhaps," he said, "perhaps not." Solyma saw him begin a portal. As fast as he could trace its outline on the floor around him, Valkersan had summoned a portal and fallen through it.

"Not this time," Solyma grunted as she hurled herself through the portal. A second behind her Asgrim tried to follow and found the portal shrinking too fast to do so. Solyma tucked and rolled as she hit the ground on the other side of the portal. She hopped to her feet and spun madly, looking for Valkersan. Too late, she realized the foolishness of following him through his own portal as a binding weave hit her in the back and slammed her to a wall, her saber fell from her hand to clatter on the floor. Expensive wallpaper, she thought inanely as Valkersan spun her around to face him.

He wheezed for breath, exhausted by the effort of healing and creating a portal in such a short amount of time. He collapsed into a chair, nearly breaking it under his weight. Solyma watched him as he sat, too spent to even threaten her or do anything other than maintain his binding weave. Carefully, without showing any sign on her face, she began to extend her own counter-weave and began to slowly pick at the binding weave.

* * * * *

Selene awoke suddenly when she heard the heavy thump from the other side of the wall. She sat in bed, heart pounding, listening for any further noises. There was another louder thump against the wall, then silence. Selene pressed her ear to the wall and strained to hear anything. Unable to, she slid back down under the sheets and quickly fell back asleep.

* * * * *

Chaos reigned in the parlor. Knights and guards were shouting as the massive demon, Asgrim, crouched on the floor, trying to detect where the portal had gone from the traces of magic. Kerrith stood off to the side, wracking his brain, trying to remember where he had seen furniture and wallpaper like that on the other side of the portal.

"Adramas above," he gasped. "They're at the Dragoon's Helm!" he yelled.

The room went silent.

"How do you know?" asked Dravon, the current Guardian Knight of the Shield.

"The wallpaper and furniture, my lord. I was just there."

Dravon nodded to the other Knights and they began to quickly file out of the room. The Palace guards followed along with Asgrim. "Good job, Kerrith. Let's go, we'd better hurry if we're going to save that woman."

Kerrith nodded and followed the Guardian Knight. As he was leaving the room he paled. Selene, he thought. His walk became a jog and then a run as he raced towards the stables to retrieve his horse.

* * * * *

Tancred tried to comfort the weeping elf girl as he led her towards the main wing of the Palace. "Don't worry," he said soothingly, "Solyma can take care of herself."

"But that monster was trying to kill her!" Penelope sobbed. She sneezed explosively. Tancred handed her a handkerchief and winced as she blew her nose loudly.

"Solyma has faced worse things than that and she has Asgrim to help her."

Penelope nodded, hope appearing on her face. "So you think she's all right?"

"Of course she is. I think we should worry more about those cuts than Solyma."

"Oh, I guess so." Penelope sneezed loudly three times in rapid succession.

"Might I ask, do you normally sneeze this much?" Tancred asked as Penelope blew her nose on his last handkerchief.

"Oh no, someone left roses on the bed. They look very pretty but they make me sneeze-" she sneezed again, "so much and I'm allergic to them." She looked up at Tancred. "You really think she's all right?"

"Yes, I do," he said, "most likely she's already tied up that monster and is waiting for the Knights to show up and haul him off."

* * * * *

Solyma cursed silently as her counter-weave failed to do anything against Valkersan's weave. She cursed again as she watched Valkersan finish a large portal in the air, all he needed to do was activate it and he could travel dozens, even hundreds, of miles in a second. She stopped her picking at the binding weave when he slowly turned to her.

"All is ready," he hissed, his voice slurred. "In a moment I will open a portal to the realm of the Corthronos and we will wipe this petty kingdom from the map."

Solyma remained silent, groaning inside. Valkersan was even more insane than when she had first known him. Her eyes flicked to a door across the room as she saw a bloated corpse stagger from it and approach Valkersan.

"Merkin, faithful servant," Valkersan's voice dripped sarcasm. "You shall be released when the Corthronos pass into this world. Won't that be nice?"

Merkin struggled to make his lips and tongue shape words. He failed as the swollen flesh around his mouth prevented him from moving them. All that came from his mouth was a raspy rush of air.

Solyma watched as the corpse sat heavily in a chair. She winced as a large amount of its left cheek slid off its face with a wet slurp and splattered on the rug.

"They're going to bill you for the damage," she said.

"Let them," Valkersan said, turning back to his portal. He began to gather his strength to activate it.

"Valkersan?" Solyma said quietly. She took a deep breath.

"What is it?" he hissed, not turning from his portal.

"I'm really sorry for killing you, really, really sorry," she said, her voice contrite.

Valkersan turned, jaws opened wide in amazement. "What?" he finally said.

Solyma did her best to simper from her position stuck to the wall. "I'm reeeaallly sorry. I was being stupid, as usual." She giggled inanely. "Could you pleeease let me down? I'll show you how sorry I am." She tilted her head to the side and licked her lips slowly.

Valkersan limped over to her. He stood in front of her, looking down at her face. "Do you really think that would work on me? A pathetic attempt at seduction? If I wanted you now, I would take you and you could do nothing to stop me." He leaned closer to Solyma, the harsh smell of acid wafted over her as extended a long tongue to lick at her cheek. The trail of saliva burned irritatingly on her skin. "Do you truly want me?" he whispered.

Solyma gulped, "Of, of course I do." She smiled as best she could but couldn't help wincing as Valkersan squeezed her breast.

"We will have time after the Corthronos arrive, an eternity if you wish." Valkersan laughed and turned away from her. With a wave of his stump he activated the weave forming the portal. It throbbed to life, the spiraling and looping pattern beginning to spin.

The space inside the portal began to twist and warp as the weave finished forming and began to push a tunnel to the home plane of the Corthronos. A high humming filled the room, Solyma recognized it as the same that had filled the basement of her tower when she had accidentally summoned the Corthronos.

Plaster began to sift down from the ceiling and the furniture began to skip and jump over the floor. A dog began to howl in the distance as the space within the portal began to form into a hazy image of the Corthronos home-world. Solyma could see the Corthronos already gathering on the other side, eerily still and bathed in a reddish light.

* * * * *

Penelope tugged on Tancred's sleeve as they half-ran, half-walked along the street. Several blocks away, the sign of the Dragoon's Helm could be seen, lit by a small magical light.

"Penelope, this is an idiotic idea," Tancred said.

Penelope slowed slightly and turned to face him. "Don't you care about Solyma? I thought you said you were her friend."

Tancred rolled his eyes. "I do and we are. But she certainly wouldn't expect me or you to come down here and rescue her. Look," he pointed at the Knights and mages gathering outside the inn, "they are quite capable of handling it."

"But Solyma might need our help!" Penelope pleaded, tears in her eyes.

Tancred rolled his eyes again. "Fine, but stay behind me and don't do anything stupid."

* * * * *

Hector returned to the suite of rooms to find it destroyed. Every piece of furniture had been destroyed in the living room along with most of the furniture in the parlor. The doors hung from their hinges, splinted and cracked. Blood had splattered over the carpet and eaten through to the floor. He floated around the living room, trying to salvage anything. He picked up a model ship, amazingly still intact within its bottle. As he lifted it to inspect it, the model within shook itself to splinters as he watched. Hector sighed and left to unsaddle Tom and Alice. He had a feeling that Solyma wouldn't be needing them anytime soon.

* * * * *

Asgrim looked over to Tancred as he walked up, Penelope in tow.

"Why is she here?" Asgrim asked.

"Don't ask," Tancred scowled. "When are they going in?"

"Soon. They're just waiting for the Chancellor to show up."

Tancred stopped his reply and looked up at the inn. "Do you hear that?"

"Yes."

A high pitched humming echoed across the street. Dogs began to howl in the distance as awakened citizens began to pour into the street.

"Everyone, get back in you homes and stay there!" Dravon ordered. Most complied although a few hovered in their doorways to see what was going on. "We move now," he said, pulling down the visor on his helmet and hefting his sword and shield.

A senior mage from the College walked up to Dravon and inclined his head. "We've found which room contains the renegade. We're ready to open a portal as soon as your men are ready."

Dravon nodded and signaled the Knights to line up. Among them, Kerrith nervously shifted his grip on his sword, worry for Selene eating at his heart. As the order came to move out, he lowered his visor and steeled himself for the coming conflict.

* * * * *

Valkersan turned from the portal rapidly forming in the room to Solyma. He let her drop from the wall and pulled her toward him with a curl of his claws.

"Now, I will take you up on your offer," he said, voice dripping with menace.

Solyma forced herself to keep from drawing back as he lowered his monstrous face to her's. His mouth opened and his tongue snaked out to flick across her lips. Solyma closed her eyes and opened her mouth to accept his tongue. She barely stifled a shudder of revulsion as it slipped between her lips. She began to gently suck on it, caressing it with her tongue and lips.

Solyma felt Valkersan let the weaves binding her drop. She slowly raised her hands to the back of Valkersan's head and drew him closer. She nearly gagged as his tongue slid deeper into her mouth, tickling the back of her throat. Opening her eyes, she could see the portal almost complete behind Valkersan. Steeling herself, she opened her mouth wider and then bit sharply down on Valkersan's tongue. Valkersan jerked back, eyes wide as he tried to free his tongue from her mouth. She bit down harder and felt her teeth connect. Valkersan roared as he tossed her backward to fly into the wall.

She spat the wriggling tongue out and spent a disgusted moment spitting and wiping her mouth. Valkersan was quickly recovering from the pain and was stalking towards her. She waited until the last instant and drew a dagger from her boot. As he lunged forward to grab her, she dove between his legs and slashed at the tendons on the back of his ankle. With another roar he dropped to one knee as his foot gave out from under him.

Solyma desperately jumped at the portal, trying to cut the weave forming it with her hand. Just as she touched the weave, she felt a clawed hand close over her ankle and drag her to the floor. She stabbed her dagger into the floor and clung to it with all her strength as Valkersan tried to pull her back toward him. As her grip began to falter, she saw another portal form in the room. An armored Knight jumped through.

"Solyma!" the Knight yelled.

"Aggg, Kerrith! Get him!" she jerked her head back towards Valkersan.

Kerrith slashed downward, cutting deeply into Valkersan's arm. Solyma sprang to her feet as Valkersan lost his grip on her ankle. She sprinted to Valkersan's portal and seized it with her hands, pouring every ounce of strength into severing the weave.

Too late, she thought, as a gust of foul metallic wind blew her hair out into a long streamer behind her. As the portal completed itself at both ends, Corthronos sprang to their feet and charged into the room, weapons at the ready to be met by Knights leaping from the other portal. The clash of metal rang through the air as the inn room was filled with combatants. Solyma rolled under the portal as a Kerrith ran a Corthronos through with his sword and was pulled to the floor by the still struggling monster.

Solyma covered her ears as a lightning bolt split the air, the thunderclap shattering the windows and breaking every glass in the room. Ducking under a leaping Corthronos, Solyma reached out to the portal and began to pull madly at the weave.

* * * * *

Asgrim and Tancred watched in horror as the second floor wall disappeared in a cloud of fire and smoke. Corthronos tumbled from the second story like a deadly waterfall to land on the street and sprint away in every direction. One charged for the screaming Penelope but was cut in two by Asgrim. The sounds of battle filled the streets as Knights and guards chased after the fleeing Corthronos. Tancred ducked as a wild fireball flew down the street.

"Come on, we've got to get out of here!" he yelled as a lightning bolt blew chunks of stone from the wall above his head. "Penelope! Penelope!" he called. He grabbed the frightened elf and threw her over his shoulder. "Asgrim! Let's go!" He cursed in three languages when he saw Asgrim charge towards a nearby melee.

Tancred staggered towards an empty alley, dodging a spray of razor sharp ice crystals and weaving around a mortally injured Corthronos.

"Now stay here," he told Penelope as he set her down. "As soon as things quiet down a little, I'll go check on Solyma."

Penelope nodded, her eyes fastened on the cloud of smoke billowing from the upper floor of the inn.

* * * * *

Solyma tugged at another strand of the weave, searching wildly for the pattern that held the portal open. As she severed it, the portal rocked and began to spin on its axis. Solyma backed away as the portal rolled toward the street and fell from the room. She crawled over to the edge of the floor in time to see the portal slice a corpse in half. Following its course, the portal would end up in that empty alley across the street. Solyma sighed in relief until she saw Tancred and Penelope hiding further back in the alley. She swore and stood, looking for a way down.

She found one in a rug that was hanging over the edge of the floor. Before she could climb down Valkersan stepped in front of her, clawed hand raised. He began to unleash a weave to kill her but before he could complete it, a bloated figure crashed into him. Valkersan rolled, trying to dislodge Merkin's death grip from around his waist.

Merkin looked up at Solyma as Valkersan struggled to his feet and started to conjure a fireball. Solyma nodded and threw her dagger, missing Valkersan but striking the bloated belly of Merkin. He seemed to smile as the gases trapped within his decaying body rushed out and touched the fireball in Valkersan's hand. There was a smell of the sewer and then a damp explosion that hurled everyone in the room to the floor. Solyma was one of the first to rise. Where Valkersan had stood, there was only a sputtering fire and scorch mark. On the wall behind it, the remains of Valkersan and Merkin lay smeared across the wood paneling. Avoiding the flames, Solyma quickly ran over to the carpet.

She climbed down it and dropped the last few feet, narrowly avoiding landing on a mage. Solyma kept low, trying to avoid attracting the attention of any Corthronos , as she ran towards the spinning portal.

* * * * *

"I think most of the fighting is moving away," Tancred said as he peered around the alley entrance. He jerked back as a Corthronos stabbed at him with a long barbed spear. Motioning for Penelope to retreat further into the alley, he drew his rapier and waited for the beast to approach. As it lunged for him he seemed to blur sideways, the spear passing through empty space and clattering against the wall. Tancred brought his sword down in clean cut on the Corthronos' neck, neatly severing its head. He was amazed when the monster dropped its spear and began to flail around with its bare hands. Tancred began to duck around the monster, cutting and slicing at its flanks and legs. Eventually he had sliced every major muscle and tendon in the monster's body, leaving it crippled on the alley floor. Despite the massive amounts of blood sizzling on the stone of the alley and eating at the leather of Tancred's boots, the Corthronos was still twitching.

Tancred watched it for a moment, wondering if its blood was palatable. Seeing the moss and weeds that grew in the alley shrivel upon contact settled the issue. Gradually the movements of the monster slowed and finally ceased.

"That is a hard beast to kill," he said, wiping his sword on a rag picked up from the alley floor. He looked up at the sound of retching. Penelope was throwing up on the other side of a trash bin. He was about to move to her when he felt a disturbance in the air behind him. That alone saved his life as he instinctively dodged the spinning portal.

The portal sliced the Corthronos' leg off as it rolled into the alley wall and stopped. Tancred eyed it suspiciously and called for Penelope to join him. The portal was jammed halfway into the alley wall, almost parallel to the ground. It began to pulse and throb alarmingly.

"We'd better get away from this thing," he said, pulling Penelope away from the portal.

Without warning the portal gave a great shiver and expanded rapidly, its edges tattered and falling apart. Penelope screamed as she fell into the portal. Tancred grabbed for her hand and missed, barely avoiding falling into the portal himself. He could see the elf lying about fifteen feet below him, apparently unconscious from the fall or the sight of hundreds of Corthronos gathered about her.

"Kersvan protect you," he whispered as he pulled a dagger from his belt, hoping to at least give her a clean death.

Solyma screamed from the alley entrance as Tancred raised his dagger to throw. She tackled him, slamming the vampire into the alley wall. The dagger fell from his hand to bounce off the edge of the portal and fall to the rocky ground beyond.

"What are you doing?" he said, "Look! Those things will tear her apart!"

Solyma looked down into the portal. She could see that it was deteriorating rapidly, its last expansion a side affect of the weave's destruction. Penelope was stirring slowly below. Solyma watched as Penelope gasped and rose to her feet, turning to flee but finding no escape in sight. The elf looked upward and saw Tancred and Solyma.

"Help me!" she yelled.

Solyma wove ring of fire and threw it around Penelope. The fire rose to the height of a man, temporarily halting the Corthronos' advance. It would soon die, and with it Penelope. Solyma lay on the ground and leaned over the portal, her arm extended as far as possible. Penelope jumped for it but fell far short.

"Give me your sword belt and grab my legs!" Solyma yelled. Tancred obeyed as she bent further over the portal. Still Penelope could not reach her, although her finger barely brushed the leather of the belt. Solyma cursed as she saw the fire beginning to die out. She handed the belt back to Tancred and pulled her legs free of his grasp to drop into the portal.

She landed with a cloud of dust next to Penelope. Penelope looked at her with a mingling of relief and sadness. Kneeling, Solyma formed a stirrup with her hands.

"Get on!" she ordered.

Penelope saw what she meant to do and placed her foot on Solyma's hands. Above them, Tancred was leaning as far over as he his belt dangling down. Solyma grunted and lifted Penelope up and onto her shoulders. She staggered as the elf's skirts swirled around her head. Arms waving for balance, Penelope managed to grab the belt with both hands as Tancred pulled her up.

"Come on!" Tancred yelled, dropping the belt as far down as he could manage. Solyma crouched and jumped but failed to come close. The portal, already unstable began to close swiftly.

"Can't she fly or something?" Penelope cried out.

"No, she never could get those weaves to work," Tancred grunted, leaning further over until he would have fallen if Penelope hadn't grabbed his legs. The portal was large enough to fit two people at one time.

Again Solyma jumped. Again she missed the belt. She looked around her at the dying fire. It had gone out completely. Now the Corthronos were waiting and watching her futile attempts to escape. The portal had shrunk to a size that would allow a good sized man through.

Tancred stood and dropped, swearing, into the portal. He landed next to Solyma who immediately began yelling at him.

"Why did you do that? You idiot!" She pointed to the portal, now too small to admit any adult. "Now we're both going to die!"

"Maybe," he said, pushing his rapier into her hand and picking up his fallen dagger.

Above them, Penelope let out a distraught cry. "Solyma!" she yelled, her face barely visible through the portal. Solyma looked up and gave a jaunty salute with the rapier as the portal closed, leaving only the yellow sky of the Corthronos' world.

"We certainly picked a nasty way to die," Solyma said.

"I don't know, they'll probably tear us apart so quickly that we won't even have a chance to feel the pain," Tancred said, waving his dagger at the Corthronos.

Together, they stood back to back and watched the Corthronos advance.

* * * * *

It had taken nearly a week more to scour the Corthronos from the capital. Sewers and abandoned warehouses had to be searched from top to bottom, but in the end no trace remained of the Corthronos thanks to the Knights and the diligent citizens and guards of Corannon.

Asgrim, Hector, Kerrith and the Chancellor sat in the latter's office, medals of bravery for Tancred and Solyma lying on his desk. They had sat most of the morning, silently staring at the two medals.

"They were very brave," Asgrim finally said.

The others nodded.

"When is the funeral?" Kerrith asked.

"It's being held in three days, the King is going to deliver a speech," the Chancellor said.

Kerrith nodded. "Amazing considering how he reacted when he first heard the news."

"Yes, I'm told on good authority that he wanted Solyma tracked down and arrested until he learned she was dead. He wasn't too kind in his orders concerning Tancred either. He mentioned a stake and a long stay in the sunlight."

"So why did he change his mind?" asked Hector.

"They're dead, they can serve better as heroes for their sacrifice than examples to other reckless types," the Chancellor said.

"And they did save Penelope."

"Yes, I imagine saving an elf princess does a lot for one's reputation. I hear that Queen Amadrin is awarding them posthumously as well."

They sat in silence for a while until Hector finally said, "You know, I don't feel as if she's dead."

"Really? Why?" asked the Chancellor.

"I think I can still feel her, although when I try to contact her I can't."

"You can communicate with her at will over a distance?"

"I could."

"Remarkable. I've never heard of a familiar being able to do that before. I wonder how she did that?"

"I believe she said it was an experiment with an artifact she found."

There was a long silence.

"Does anyone really know what Solyma did with Valkersan's crystal?" Asgrim asked.

They turned to look at Hector.

"Could I see your monocle?" the Chancellor asked.

Hector raised his visor and floated closer to the Chancellor who was flipping through a thick tome.

"The Crystal of Valkersan was said to have been a disc roughly an inch and a half in diameter fitted with a metal rim, much like a monocle," he read. "Clever, incorporating the Crystal into you would hide it from someone looking only for the crystal. I wonder where she got the Crystal in the first place?"

Asgrim coughed. "No doubt in her conflicts with Valkersan."

"Yes, no doubt. I wonder if she really is dead? Do you think you could keep trying to contact her, Hector? The faculty here at the College will lend assistance, after all, she is a lecturer here."

Hector nodded. The Chancellor nodded back and there was silence again. It was broken by a knock at the door.

"Enter," the Chancellor called out.

A man dressed in robes dusty from hard travel entered. He bowed and greeted the Chancellor.

"Ah, Bradley. What is the status of the summoner's tower?"

"Destroyed. I fear that another mage may have taken the bodies of the Corthronos and incorporated them into his own. If he has-"

"Then he will attempt to summon the Corthronos into this world, yes, that has already happened and been dealt with."

Bradley gaped in astonishment. He began to stammer an apology for being so late with the news.

"Do be quiet Bradley, your news wouldn't have helped us anyway. Have a seat, we're drinking to departed friends. Hopefully they'll be back one day."

Epilogue: On the world of the Corthronos

Solyma and Tancred had found the cave a few hours earlier, just in time to avoid the massive thunderstorm stomping across the landscape. It was located in a small range of hills just within visual range of the towering abandoned cities that were scattered over the landscape. With luck and Solyma's weaves of concealment, they had managed to escape the Corthronos. A small spring flowed from the back of the cave, and they still had the tough yet nourishing roots scavenged a day earlier.

"I'm taken care of," Solyma said by the small fire, tying off a bandage around her upper arm. "But what about you?"

"I'm feeling hungry," Tancred said. The numerous injuries he had taken during their first fight with the Corthronos had yet to heal.

"There's only one solution to that."

"Yes."

"Try not to take too much, I'd rather not end up as a vampire," Solyma said as she shifted into a more comfortable spot and tilted her head to expose her neck. Tancred licked dry lips as he leaned over Solyma. He ran one hand up her back and buried the other in her hair. Solyma closed her eyes as she felt Tancred's lips brush her skin, a gasp escaped her lips as he bit into her neck.

She sighed softly as he began to drink from her, her hands moving to his head as she lay back on cavern floor. Tancred pushed up her tunic and began to caress her breasts as she struggled to pull off his shirt. His hands moved down her stomach and grabbed the waistband of her breeches, with a single pull he yanked them down to her knees. Tancred pulled away from her, licking the blood from his lips to tug her breeches off her slender legs.

Solyma spread her legs in invitation as Tancred finished pulling off his clothes. He kissed her deeply as he thrust into her. Solyma gasped and wrapped her legs around his waist, urging him deeper, her hands clutching at his back as he buried himself in her.

She shuddered as his mouth traveled down her face to bite at her neck again. Her nails dug into his back as Solyma felt an orgasm coming soon. She whimpered in pleasure, eyes wide and glazed over. She squeezed her eyes shut as her climax washed over her, her back arching against Tancred and her thighs tightening around his waist.

"Gods, Tancred," she moaned as he raised himself over her, supporting himself with his hands, and began to pump into her rapidly. She let out a moan with each thrust, her voice rising in pitch as his tempo increased. "Yes, Tancred," she managed to gasp between thrusts.

Tancred groaned as he pumped into Solyma's writhing body, her blood surged through his veins, filling his mind with a red mist scented of cinnamon. He lost all control of himself as the smell of her and feel of soft skin on his flooded through him. With a wild roar he pushed one last time into her, feeling his seed shooting deep into her. Solyma screamed in pleasure, her hands clutching at Tancred's shoulders. Her second climax left her limp and breathless beneath him, her heart racing. Tancred softly kissed her again, his hand gently stroking her hair as he rolled off of her. For a moment they lay there, all thoughts of danger and the Corthronos banished from their minds.

* * * * *

"Did you hear something?" Hector asked the silent room. Around him, the group looked up but said nothing. "It sounded like a moan, or a scream."

"Good or bad?" asked Asgrim.

"Good," Hector said. Bradley and the Chancellor grinned while Kerrith looked out the window and coughed embarrassedly.

"I guess this means Tancred is alive as well," Asgrim said.

"We'll find them," the Chancellor said, looking at Hector, "We'll find them."