I had spent the day much like many other days quietly working in my office. A sudden chill crept over me like someone had just doused me in icewater. Something was seriously wrong. Cloaking myself in protective magics I left my office to check on the rest of the hall but nothing out of place.

"Ragnarok" I thought. Perhaps the time had finally come. I proceeded to the observatory but once again found that all was as it should be.

As I continued to wander through the clan hall it suddenly hit me. The last time I had felt this way was the night my dearest Sharp was taken from me into the grasp of Nisstyre...

Hurrying to my workshop I uncovered the mirror I use for my scrying. As I began arranging the materials I would need for the spell, I suddenly stopped. Did I really want to know what was happening in her life? Did I still care for my wife who had given herself completely over to the lord of Nightmare's?
It had been a long time since she was lost to me, did I want to reopen that wound in my soul?

Yes. Sharp was my wife and so much more. Regardless of what may have happened to tear her away from me, I still cared for her. If there were any way to save her still I would gladly do so...

Seive caught Sharp's hand swing down for her dagger quickly out of the corner of his eye.
Leaping backwards, he barely avoiding a flaming slice from the evil blade.
"You're fast, old man" Sharp said with a smirk.
Seive drew his sword, and a strong breeze swirled about the room, even though it had no windows. Again, they circled, again neither could find an advantage. They were evenly matched.
"Sharp this is stupid. If wanted you dead, you'd be dead already. I didn't save you to kill you."
Sharp thought for a moment, then slowly sheathed her daggers.
Seive put his sword away also, and the breeze mysteriously vanished.
"Then why am I here?" Sharp asked cautiously.
Seive thought for a moment, then ignoring her question said "I thought you might be hungry, Come, eat with me."
Seive directed them to a small wooden table, which was arrayed with bread, cheese, and meat. A tall pitcher of fine wine was centered in the middle, along with two place settings.
Sharp was indeed famished, but knew better than to show a weakness.
She sat down slowly, served herself a small portion of food, and began to eat slowly, cutting her food into small bits.
Seive took a large bite of meat, and sat chewing thoughtfully as he watched Sharp eat. "Not even willing to admit to me that you're hungry, eh? Someone has taught you well..."
Sharp looked up for a moment, but said nothing and continued to eat. "What if I had poisoned your food, Sharp, did you ever think of that?" Again Sharp looked up and said simply "If you wanted me dead, I'd already be dead, as you said."
Nodding in defeat, Seive went on:
"You are now in a secret room adjacent to my own quarters in the Shadow Thief Hall. It was the safest place I could think of, although it is close to the borders of the hall, making it slightly vulnerable to invasion. Not many in the clan know of this room, and none know I hold you here. IF they were to find out I held a Leader of a rival clan in secret, both our lives would be forfeit."
Sharp nodded in understanding, continuing to eat.
Seive nodded in satisfation, and sat back to watch her finish.
He felt relatively safe now, although his sixth sense had detected something while they were in the stand off His sanctuary had indeed been violated, by someone, although he could not tell who it was.
However, Seive knew when the time was right, that pathetic trespasser's life would be forfeit to Mask.

Sharp ate the food, famished. The succulent cheese melted in her mouth, and the bread crumbled like velvet as it met her steely lips. Watching him always, not taking her eyes off Seive for one second. Her mind whirled, considering her situation from every angle. "I don't trust him, but I don't feel threatened... He does not hold me here, I can leave now, anytime, he shall not hurt me... Or will he? Do my clan notice my absence?... Where are they?"

Seive leaned back casually on the wooden bench that he sat on. Drinking red wine from a goblet of obscure Shadow Thieve's design. "Drink, Sharp... Drink as if it were just you and I again, old friends in good company." He snickered almost knowingly, did he sense something that she was not aware of?

"No, Seive, now I leave. I can't say it has been pleasant, intriguing none the less. Now will you show me the way, or shall I find the exit myself?" Sharp stood, folding her daggers magically under her cloak. Never faultering, she confidently lurched forward to where she imagined the door would be. Feeling Seive follow her, without looking back she headed towards the murkiness at the edge of the room.

Seive wasn't ready, Sharp had decided to leave too soon. Nevertheless, as she headed for the wall where she thought a door was, he followed quickly.
Slamming into the wall face first, Sharp swore and whirled around quickly, straight into Seive. Knocked back against the wall, she glared at Seive. "I thought you said I was free to leave."
Seive was at a loss for words. "You, err, are....free to leave of course..but, umm, I had wanted to say something to you first..."
"Then let me the hell out!" Sharp stormed past Seive, but he grabbed her arm and threw her back against the wall.
"Wait."
Sharp struggled a bit for show, but stayed put. She wanted to hear what Seive had to say. After all, it was very odd to hear him stammer like this. Usually he carefully calculated what he was going to say, or chose to remain silent. Now it looked as if he wasn't ready to say what he was going to.
Seeing her finally calm down, and making note of the shadowy presence behind him, he began:
"Sharp, ever since you joined me under the house of Nisstyre, I've held a special affection for you. I know at times it was masked as I had a duty to the clan and as your Leader. And I know at one time you held me in the highest regards, only to have me betray your trust. Not a day goes by that I have not thought of you since I left the Church. The relieving of my responsibilities as Leader has opened whole new worlds for the two of us I know it will be hard to forgive me for the wrongs I've done, but I ask you give me a chance. I have loved but one other in my entire existence, and she has since left a giant hole in me. I have felt lonliness and despair beyond comprehension in the long months since leaving the Church. The World awaits us, Sharp...Fill that void inside of me, let us venture out, side by side, hand in hand to conquer, explore..........and..."
Seive took a deep breath and looked deep into Sharp's eyes, penetrating her very soul.
"Love."
At that moment, a horrifying scream erupted from behind him, and before Seive could react, A form swooped down and slammed him in the back, knocking him to the ground, unconscious.
"Kirdan, what are you doing here?!" Sharp gasped.
Bowing, Kirdan said quickly "Come, Lady Sharp, let us flee before the Thieves discover our presence."
Sharp let herself be dragged to the exit of the room by Kirdan, but at the last second stopped.
She went back to Seive's unconscious body, and swiftly took the Sorannon family chain from around his neck.
Her back to Kirdan so he could not see her face, she smiled for a split second, Then quickly threw the necklace in her pocket, and ran off into the night. She and Kirdan had much to talk about on the way back to the safety of the Church.....