��������Elbee Nigh stared out the window of his father's throne room, watching the rain batter the land of Maconnor outside. Suddenly, the wide double doors of the room opened and a figure in black, thoroughly soaked from the rain, strided in. Elbee gave no sign that he had even noticed the figure and kept looking out the window in deep thought. As the figure came closer it threw back its soaked hood to reveal locks of fire red hair and intense green eyes. The figure then made a low bow and addressed Elbee.
��������"You summoned me, my liege?" For the first time Elbee acknowledged the figure's presence and turned to face her.
��������"Yes, Sora, I am in need of your...skills."
��������"Whatever you command, my liege," responded Sora, not lifting her head up. "What is it you wish me to do?"
��������Elbee began to circle Sora's kneeling figure, like a shark circling its prey. "As you know my gir...I mean Yuzra betrayed me, humiliating me in front of my own subjects and making a mockery of my trust in her."
��������Elbee paused as if waiting for a response, but Sora remained silent. "Before anyone could apprehend her however, a mysterious cloaked figure dropped from the sky and took her, leaving a ransom note."
��������Elbee paused again and this time Sora responded.
��������"A ransom note that you ripped up, suggesting you don't want her back."
��������Elbee halted his monotonous circling and stared at Sora.
��������"Indeed. But I now realize that I need her back and thus require your services."
��������For the first time Sora looked up. "Sire?"
��������Elbee began to circle again. "I'd leave that treacherous scum Yuzra to whatever fate her kidnapper has in store for her, but she needs to be made an example of. I have to show the people that traitors, rebels, and infidels do not go unpunished. That is why you must bring her back alive, Sora."
��������"I understand, my liege." There was a moment of silence before Sora spoke again. "Will she get a trial?"
��������Elbee stopped circling again, clearly pondering over what would be the best response. After a moment he responded.
��������"Yes...I must, after all, keep up my kind, peace loving appearance if my plan is to work..." What Sora didn't hear was Elbee thinking to himself, "That doesn't mean the trial has to be fair... "
��������"You can go now, Sora," Elbee said, waving a dismissing hand and turning his back on her. For the first time since her arrival Sora was on her feet.
��������"One more thing, my lord."
��������"Hmm?" Elbee turned to face Sora again.
��������"If I am to track her I'll need..."
��������"Oh! I almost forgot!" Elbee reached into a pouch on his waist and pulled out a small golden comb that gleamed in the dim candle light.
��������"There are still a few hairs in it that may also prove useful." Elbee said distractedly, pulling out a single blue hair from the tangled forest of the comb.
��������"Yes, thank you, my liege." Sora carefully took the delicate comb from Elbee�s hands and bowed again. Then she turned to leave, creating a trail of water from her still dripping clothes behind her.
��������"Oh, and Sora."
��������Sora turned around to face Elbee again.
��������"Yes?"
���������Make sure you bring her back alive. You have a knack for killing things...�
���������Yes, my liege.� With that, Sora strided out of the large room, heading back into the brutal rain.
���������So...you�re sending Sora out after your kidnapped girl...or is it ex-girlfriend?"
��������Elbee swung around, startled by his father�s sudden appearance, accompanied by a pair of his burly bodyguards.
���������Now did I give you permission to use Sora? She is my assassin. Did you ever think I might need her for other tasks?�
��������Elbee studied his father before boldly asking, �What tasks?�
���������All I�ll tell you, my dear son, is that it is a series of large scale operations that you need not concern yourself with at this point in time.�
��������There was a slight pause before Zero continued.
���������You needn't worry about me recalling Sora, I approve of your actions, but son...�
��������Zero came within arms length of Elbee before finishing menacingly, �Don�t use any of my servants again without asking me. Do I make myself clear?�
��������Elbee stood his ground, unwavering. �Clear as the crystal windows in this very palace.�
���������Good.� With that, Zero turned on his heels and strided out of the room, his bodyguards in close pursuit. Once his father had left the room, Elbee thought to himself angrily, "He wouldn't dare do anything to me. I'm his only heir, I'm all he�s got."
��������Elbee then returned to his place at the window watching the rain pour down. "How strange the rain is," he thought. "To be life giving, yet destroy, to cure thirst and yet drown." As Elbee looked out the window he dreamed of how he would raise Maconner out of the ashes and give it new life when he became king. Most of all however, he was looking forward to publicly torturing Yuzra, and that night, he was lulled to sleep by imaginings of Yuzra�s anguished screams.

��������Gem paced the floor of the abandoned house, agitation written all over his face.
���������I thought you said she�d 'crawl back' by now, Gem.�
��������Gem whirled around to face Kyri, the speaker, and yelled angrily, �If she had any sense she would have by now!�
��������Aerin stopped stroking her merlin, Tiw, and looked up at Gem for the first time since Sevena had stormed out of the �hide out.�
���������I think we have already affirmed that she has no sense.�
��������Gem turned from Kyri to face Aerin, his eyes flashing in anger.
���������Are you saying that I used bad judgment when choosing the sorceress to join us?!�
��������Seeing Gem�s utterly infuriated face, Aerin backed down. �No, not at all.�
���������Good! I�m the leader of this rebel faction and it�s time you all realized that!�
���������No one said you weren�t the leader,� Matthias said soothingly, trying to cool Gem�s temper. �Aerin was just saying that Sevena is a fool and...�
���������...is putting us all in danger gallivanting around the country side looking for Elbee�s girlfriend.� Kyri finished.
��������Gem began to pace the room again, obviously in deep thought.
���������It would be dangerous to go after the sorceress now. You said yourself that the royal guards are after her and if that is the case, then anyone associated with her would be suspected of being a rebel.� Aerin stated, allowing Tiw to climb onto her shoulder. �Not to mention she is probably going to get us all killed, running off like that on impossible missions.�
��������Gem stopped pacing and stared and Aerin once again. �I just hope she isn�t caught and then connected to us...�

��������Sora sat alone in the bar, fingering the comb on the table in front of her. From the life-force she felt from the comb she could tell that Yuzra wasn't as far away as she had thought. Now all she had to do was drag Yuzra back for a trial. Sora stirred the sake in front of her with her finger lazily. Tomorrow she�d head out on another of the many quests she had been sent on in her life, another quest to prove her family's loyalty to the Nighs, another quest to show her family's thanks to them. Suddenly another person entered the bar. Without turning around she knew who it was.
��������"Edgenops, a little late aren't you?" There was a slight pause before Sora continued. "You don't have to tell me why you're here, Elbee sent you to help me, right? Even though he knows I like to work alone...."
��������"Actually he sent me to make sure you didn't kill Yuzra...by accident of course..."
��������Edgenops sat down next to Sora, but they did not notice the figure in the corner of the bar craning their head to listen to them.
��������"Well, if master Elbee wishs that you accompany me then there�s nothing I can do about it..."
��������Edgenops remained silent, staring down at the bar counter. Sora took another mouthful of sake and then asked, "Edgnops, why so melencholy? You are about to embark on a quest to serve our most nobel lords, Zero and Elbee Nigh..."
��������Edgenops kept staring at the counter. "Sora, you know why I decided to work for Lord Zero and Lord Elbee..."
��������"Yes, I know."
��������There was a slight pause before Edgnops continued.
��������"The best and easiest way to enact revenge is through Elbee and Zero..."
��������"Why Edgnops, my friend, how do you expect to rise in the ranks if you don't do a little grunt work?"
��������Edgnops snorted and then looked up at Sora. Before he could respond however, Sora continued.
��������"The great and honorable Nighs have been good to my people, and I owe them everything. If it wasn't for them, you humans would have wiped us out a long time ago, just because you fear what you do not understand... All enemies of the honorable Nighs will be crushed, that is what I do to thank them for saving me and my people. But what will you do, my friend, to thank the Nighs for giving you the chance to avenge your family?"
��������Edgnops was silent for a minute before he responded.
��������"I have always respected the Nighs for helping me, and I give them my loyalty."
��������Sora and Edgnops sat alone in silence. When they finally left the bar they were oblivious to the figure that followed them through the night...

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