8: Eye of the Storm

He turned and looked at her right before they crossed the massive iron drawbridge, “Calm Pela, calm.” He nodded gently and they continued across the bridge and past the main gate. Two guards in shiny black armor approached and Bad Rock stepped in front of his daughter, glowering at them both. “We were summoned, chose to make a stink and I assure you that things will become unpleasant rather quickly.”

He shifted his gaze slightly backwards and they would see Pela’s hands glowing a shimmering blue, indicating that an ice spell was on deck. He turned back and looked at them as they backed up to their posts and stood at attention again, “Wise choice boys.” He laughed a booming belly laugh that shoke his whole body as they entered the main greeting hall. A handsome, dark robed mage greeted them and motioned for them to follow. They walked for what seemed to be forever along the long dark marble corridors of the Dark Queen’s castle. Torch light reflected off the shiny, polished stone which cast strange iridescent shadows in all directions as they moved through the palace. The place was obviously constructed to show the incredible power the resident wielded.

Bad Rock whispered to her as they passed a portrait on the wall, it was a five headed dragon rearing its heads back in triumph, “That is the mistress of the palace.” The painting itself looked evil and foreboding, she could only imagine what the real creature would be like. Bad Rock whispered again as if sensing her fear, “Worry not, she will be in human form.”He turned and smiled gently, she was in fact the only person he smiled at. The mage stopped in front of a massive set of double doors and turned, “Please wait here.” He entered and left them in the hall, Bad Rock turned to Pela, “We need to be invited to enter the hall of the Queen, it is one of the many stupid customs associated with dealing with royalty.”

The instant the guards moved forward, Pela had started conjuring an ice spell just in case they decided to try and do Bad Rock any harm. As nervous as she was, when it came to the creature who saved her life, there was nothing she wouldn’t do for him. Including murder. And she had done that plenty.

As the guards backed up to their stations and they were then escorted thought he palace by the handsome mage, who Pela thought was a rather nice specimen of a man, she couldn’t stop herself form looking around in wonderment and fear. Several times she stopped to look at something that both frightened and repulsed her only to have to rush to catch up to her father.

When the picture of the five headed dragon came into view, Pela gasped and brought her left hand to her mouth to bite down on the edge of her fingers. She wanted to run from the palace. If this was what she was to face, there was no way she could do anything to protect Bad Rock or herself from the likes of that. Even when Bad Rock tried to calm her fears, Pela still felt as though she were walking a gauntlet to her death.

When they stopped before the doors of the hall, Pela stood behind Bad Rock and inched closer to him as she tried to hide herself like she did when she was a child. Of course, his massive frame made it easy for her to hide behind. Still, she turned to look over her shoulder as her hand rested gently on the enormous hilt of his blade. Her voice was a hissed whisper as she spoke to him now.

”I have a bad feeling about this, father. I feel like we’re constantly being watched.”

He turned and looked down at her, he smiled warmly, as he only did when he smiled to her and whispered, “That because we are constantly being watched child.” He snorted a laugh and patted her gently on the shoulder. His hands were massive and if it had not been for his gentleness when dealing with her it would have been an effortless endeavor to crush her chest with one squeeze. “You have good instincts Pela, just be calm, she will sense your fear if you bring it into the hall of the throne.”

The door opened and the mage looked them over, and then spoke, “She will see you.”Bad Rock brushed the man aside as if he was paper and he glared at the massive creature who was tired of all these idiotic formalities, “Come child.” He moved through the huge doors and began walking down the huge hall of the throne. A dark lady sat at the far end, the only bright light shone from seemingly nowhere and encircled the throne she sat on. Her voice was like silk and though she was far away it sounded like she was speaking right beside them, “Welcome Bad Rock, it has been too long.” Bad Rock’s footsteps echoed like small booms as he approached the throne and he responded, “Has it?” Tahkisis raised an amused eyebrow and giggled gently as she stood and began descending the stairs that elevated her throne above the floor, “Why of course it has Bad Rock, just because I have not summoned you for 50 years does not mean I have forgotten you.” He looked at her as the space between them closed to a few short meters and he responded with his deep, gravelly voice, “I suppose that is a matter of opinion, but I am willing to take in the perspective from your point of view for now.” The few minions that still remained looked at each other nervously, that this creature would speak to the Queen of Chaos so brashly caused them to anticipate he was about to be fried on the spot.

“Oh now Bad Rock, I save you for the special assignments.” She cooed the words and he leaned heavily on his staff as he listened, his massive horns glistening in the light that surrounded the throne area, “Really Queen? I thought you had the Man Elf to give those to.” Her face went sallow and instantly Bad Rock smirked as she turned her head away to hide her own anger, there had been a falling out and that was why he and Pela were here, things were starting to make more sense to him now. She turned to look at them again, the mask of calm back in place, “It just so happens that he is the very reason you are here Bad Rock, he made a choice, and now the consequences of that choice are to be brought forth…” He interrupted her and she quirked an eyebrow as his words moved over hers, “And you summon me and my daughter to bring that justice?” She looked at Pela and laughed, “Daughter? This is a human that you found Bad Rock, little more than a pet.” Bad Rock reached and grabbed Pela, seemingly to protect her, but more to stop her as he could feel her anger and that in her recklessness and lack of experience in these situations she might do something stupid.

“With respect Dark Queen, I would request you be kinder to my Pela, she may not be my blood daughter, but she is the closest thing I will ever have, and I treat her as such.” Tahkisis turned and looked at him, a smile of amusement on her face, but there was also more seriousness. She then turned her attention to Pela and then shifted her gaze back to Bad Rock, “Fair enough Bad Rock, I see your point.” He nodded respectfully, “Thank you.”

As she sat back on the throne her gaze drifted between them, “I wish for you to meet Rorie Padraig, a black robe mage in my service. He is planning an assault on the castle at Glen Durel and has an assignment of his own, you two are tasked with killing anything that he doesn’t, and if he fails in his task, him as well.” She smiled, “He of course doesn’t know that you will be ‘watching’ him, but he has failed me enough that my trust in him has weigned, and as you know I can’t afford blunders, the timeline is too short.” Bad Rock turned and looked at Pela and then back to Tahkisis, “Very well, we will meet your mage.” Tahkisis smiled and spoke, “Good. You may stay in the guest quarters and I will arrange a meeting for tomorrow morning.” “As you wish Mistress,” he turned and the porter to escort them out was already there, he motioned with a warm smile to Pela to follow.

Pela thought she’d never seen a woman as beautiful as the dark haired woman that sat on the throne in this massive hall. To say the least, she was quite taken with the beauty and confidence this woman portrayed. But that was short lived. It was obvious Bad Rock had no love for this woman and when she referred to Pela as his pet, the blond haired woman’s anger quickly rose and she was already preparing a spell to be cast at the woman for insulting them. If it had not been for the fact Bad Rock grabbed a hold of her when he did, she would have made a grievous error and tried to encase the Dark Queen in an ice tomb to make her think about her choice of words and how she treated people.

Glaring at the woman who walked around Bad Rock, Pela remained silent but seethed the entire time. Pela had never been in any sort of formal situation such as this and because of that, she lacked the manners that were expected of her regardless.

As she heard what the Queen wanted them to do, she would have gladly told the woman to stuff it had it not been for the look her father gave her. But when her father agreed to this babysitting sort of job she had tasked them with, Pela blinked and looked at him when he turned his black gaze to her. There was something in the pit of his black eyes that gave her pause to hold her tongue. He knew something and when the time was right, he would explain it to her in detail. For now, she would follow along.

When they were dismissed and Pela turned to se the nice looking mage that had led them to the hall was there and smiled at her, she suddenly felt awkward and inadequate but still she kept her head held proudly and walked along side her father as they were led out of the hall and through more of the castle.

Like before, as they moved along, Pela would find something of interest, even if it was strangely morbid and found she was beginning to see a pattern here. Like the mistress who lived here, everything had a certain sensuality to it as well as a sense of danger. As she examined one particular artifact of a strange looking statue of a man wearing some kind of robes and the look of sheer terror on his face, she couldn’t help but comment.

”I’ve never seen such utter fear caught in such a detailed way. It’s almost lifelike in it’s reality.”

As she looked to Bad Rock, who had once more halted to wait for her, she saw the look on his face and when she glanced at the waiting porter, who seemed a little annoyed by the frequent stops, she furrowed her brows and looked back at the statue again before she quickly made haste to join them.

”Is everyone so stuffy around here, father? If so, why do they stay?”

Bad Rock waited patiently for Pela as she stopped from time to time, it was her first time here and it was understandable. As she spoke of the statue he nodded gently and also took note of the Porter and his annoyance. He simply brushed it off and turned as Pela spoke again, “Perhaps they stay because she has all their nuts in a sling?” He turned and looked at the Porter who was now glaring at Bad Rock, “Problem son?” The Porter turned and said nothing but the heaviness of his steps said all he needed to hear, he had gotten the man’s goat and in the process a satisfaction in still being in control of his own destiny, for the most part.

As they arrived at their quarters and the Porter opened the door Bad Rock stepped aside so Pela could go in before him and then he turned to the man who had escorted them, “That will be all.” The man turned and stomped off and Bad rock laughed as he ducked and came into the room. It was massive, having its own sitting area and two bedrooms across the room from one another as well as a big deck that over looked the landscape beyond. “Hmmm, as usual the Dark Queen knows how to entertain.” He walked around, never setting his staff down and then walked out onto the deck. He could feel the dozens of questions his daughter wanted to ask him and he looked at her, leaning forward and whispering, “There are too many ears here child, I will explain more later, I promise.”

He leaned back and nodded gently at her, the look on his face was one of assurance that she would have her answers in time, when the opportunity was right.

Pela was no child but in this place, she had a childlike fascination with her surroundings. Nothing was beyond her curiosity, not even the porter who had steadily grown annoyed with her as he escorted them to their quarters. When Bad Rock had mentioned the nuts in the sling comment, Pela actually laughed and the sound was very feminine and lilting. Noticing the way the porter had reacted to the comment, she took delight in knowing her father had indeed gotten under the mages skin.

When she walked into the room, Pela looked around in amazement at how accommodating the quarters were. Her father was no small being and when she saw he easily had room to move around in the comfortable rooms, she gave a delighted, soft squeal of excitement. Remembering the porter was still there, she calmed herself and turned to look at him when her father dismissed him. Once more seeing the look on the mages face, she smiled beautifully at him and waved farewell.

As the door closed, Pela let her gaze settle on Bad Rocks and even as the questions formed in her mind, he calmed her right away with his words. She was quickly understanding what she could and could not do here in this palace and she was beginning to see she didn’t like the confines of this place.

With a nod to let him know she understood, she went about checking out their rooms. When she walked into the room that would be hers, she took note of the oversized bed and walked slowly to stand next to it. She needed steps to get into the thing. Reaching her hand out she noted how soft the linens were that covered it and a smile eased onto her delicate features.

Her eyes drifted around the room then and she walked around letting her senses take it all in before she walked back out into the common area. Rushing over to Bad Rock, she wrapped her arms around his massive frame (as best she could anyway) and hugged him tightly as she whispered into his large chest.

”Why do I get the feeling we’re flies in the middle of a huge spider web, father?”

Piramay smiled as the scent of charred flesh filled her nostrils. Her eyes were locked on the knights as she watched the life seep from his eyes. Almost casually she let go of his neck and cast him aside. She eximned the flaked off pieces of burnet skin on her hands before glancing at the knight. The skin on his neck where she had been holding him was charred and blistered. His sword arm had been completely obliterated. All that was left was a broken husk of a man. A light giggle escaped her lips.

The knights of Solomnia had been rather persistant since the attack on the northern keep. The loss of one of their high ranking captains had struck quite the nerve, but alas it had not encouraged them to bolster their intelligence any. As was evidenced by the fact that no more than a handful of knights ever seemed to confront Fifth and herself at any time.

She looked around at this group of seven volunteers and only smiled feintly. Two or three more souls to add to the pile. There was a thoughtful look in Piramay's eyes as she pondered whether to reduce the knight's bodies to ash or not.

"Well another lesson is in order I think... the warnings have yet to sink in with these dolts yet. They either need to come at us in greater numbers or learn how to properly ambush your target. These men were an embaresment even by solomnic knight standards."

Fifth looked down with a grin and gently tipped the plate helmet up with his foot so he could look through the eye slit at the burned face of the knight beneath his feet, “The irony is that the plate armor actually cooks them like fish.” He looked up at Piramay and nodded his head with a laugh, “You are correct little phoenix, they are as pitiful as they are stupid, hell, I didn’t even finish my incantation before you took out these seven. You are correct, pathetic even by Solamic Knight standards…”

Just as he finished the blare of horns echoed across the valley and he looked up, the ridge that ran along the whole western wall suddenly filled with what seemed like several battalions of Solamic Knights. He laughed aloud and walked over to Piramay, standing shoulder to shoulder with her, “It seems they have heard your boasting and have come to take your pretty little head my phoenix.” He started laughing again and removed the soul well from within his robes, placing it on the wall of Northkeep Castle, “More souls for the grinder…”

He turned and looked at Piramay, a fierce smile on his face as the horns blared again and the war cry echoed across the valley, “I’d ask if you are ready but…” He had noted that there were already flames dancing around her hands.

Piramay looked out over the wall and looked upon the lines of assembled troops apathetically. Slowly the familiar sultry grin was present. Clenching her hand the fire that had appeared snuffed out as she stepped away from Fifth. "Well it looks like the soldiers decided to quit playing games..."

Looking over at Fifth she winked "I guess I should show them due respect and take them just a hair more seriously."

Piramay closed her eyes taking in a breath. Quietly she begin hissing the words of magic as she lifted her arm straight out. Her hand uponed slowly fingers spread wide and as she snapped her eyes open a vast pattern of runes and sigils filled the air with its center at her palm. It was rumored among many that Piramay's sorcery was different in that it took its tole on her body took a different form. Fifth was one of very few who knew the truth and the magical pattern before her was a seal network she had imposed upon her power.

Three seals that kept her power in check so that she could not easily burn herself out. However this also meant that she denied herself access to a great deal of her power. It was a testament to her ability to control her favored element in that she had placed such dramatic restrictions upon her abilities and yet between her sorcery and wizardly studies she was a match for most normal adversaries.

Piramay's fingers curled placing the tips of her fingers into five places in the center seal. Her eyes looked upon the framework almost mesmerized before she gave a sharp twist. The two rings that surrounded the center frame work began to spin and change before burning away. This would be the first time in a long while Fifth had seen her release the two outer seals. Her head tipped sideways as she pondered things before her fingers slipped away from the final seal leaving it intact. "Don't want to over do it... yet..."

She smiled wickedly at Fifth before stepping up to the edge of the wall looking out over the land between her and the marching solomnic knights. The stone beneath her hands began to blacken. A chill ran up her spine as she began to ponder her options.

Lifting her hand a small ball of fire began to form as the sorceress of flame began to formulate her plan of attack.

Bad Rock turned and looked at Pela, his large black eyes tracing her face. He reached out and took her hand. His hands were massive and her hand just fit into the palm of his. “Daughter, we will be fine, if we were to be dead we would be by now. The Dark Queen likes to toy with her guests, it’s simply part of who and what she is. We are being hired to do a job, we will be rewarded for our success and punished for our failure, it’s as simple as that. We are made to feel like a fly in the web because that is how the Queen wants it, keeping others in a state of unease is one of the many tactics she employees to control her minions… and it is the least cruel.”

He tilted his head, indicating non-verbally that he shouldn’t discuss anything beyond this. “Let’s get something to eat, I haven’t had anything since those cattle livers at lunch.” He patted her gently on the small of the back as he usually did when he expressed love, it was simply too dangerous to hug her due to his incredible size and strength. “If I recall the mess facility is down the hall, not very far.” He winked and lead her out the door, sure enough, not that far away was the mess hall. Several soldiers were inside but there was plenty of room. Bad Rock walked up to the food line, his feet stomping loudly, something he did when he was trying to be intimidating. Many of the soldiers, mostly males, caught the beautiful woman walking in behind the massive creature. They whispered to one another as she passed and Bad Rock ignored them for now. He pointed behind the line and spoke, “I’ll have that.” The cook pointed to the grilled meat, “This?” Bad Rock shock his head and spoke again, his deep voice gravely and getting louder, “NO, That!” The cook turned and saw the raw scrapes laying on the butcher table that had not yet been cooked. “You want the raw scrape meat?” “Aye!” “That’s the meat we were going to use for the stew, it’s the fat trimmings, the heart and livers.” “Bad Rock grunted impatiently and stepped over the serving line, thudding his way back to the kitchen and retrieving what he wanted himself, the line server was dumb founded with what to say and simply turned his attention to Pela.

Bad Rock shoved his way past the food line again, grabbing some bread and making his way to a large, empty table. He pulled up two chairs to sit on and then pulled out the chair across from him for his ‘daughter’. He was about to sit and eat when he heard two soldiers behind him make a comment about some of the fantastical desires they wanted to make a reality with Pela. He turned and spoke, “What was that?” The two soldiers turned and moved backwards as they met his gaze, “The lady is with me, if I hear you disrespect her again so help me Tahkisis I will smash your heads together and eat your brains.” The two soldiers scrambled to their feet and practically ran out of the hall. He turned around and saw Pela approaching with a look on her face that said, ‘what was that about’. As they approached he simply spoke, “Guy talk.”

Fifth watched the dance that Piramay was beginning to play out and he could only smile. “It is always a pleasure watching you work.” He touched the soul well as he hissed words of magic and it activated, she could tell that he was planning to cast with her rather than harvest this time, “Not that I doubt your abilities, but I wish to have some of the fun, if you don’t mind.” As she turned to look at him he winked one of his silver eyes and began to hiss the words of magic. The ambient and the divine began to intertwine as Fifth raised his hands and coordinated his plan with Piramays, though he could read her mind he had worked with her enough to assume what she was about to do.

He launched a massive wall of shadow that erupted from the ground under the front line and lifted about 24 soldiers 50 feet into the air, they were hovering above the trees and gave Piramay a clean line of sight, he removed reagents to cast again and shifted his gaze to the top of the hill, about 50 Knights on horseback had suddenly appeared and he smiled as he spoke to Piramay, “Well well well, it looks like they want their little castle back.”

So this was how it felt to be a part of the Dark Queen’s court. Pela wrinkled her nose. While she didn’t say so verbally, the look she gave Bad Rock spoke volumes of just how she felt about that. Well, fine. If the Dark Queen liked to do this to her people, then Pela would play along. She could do that easily. But in the end, it was the Bad Rock her loyalty and love resided. After all, she had known nothing else but him all her life and she would not abandon him. In her mind, it was the least she could do.

As they made their way to the mess area and Pela saw all the people gathered partaking of a meal, she let her eyes scan their faces to see what sort of people the Dark Queen had in her service. They really no different than any of the other faces she’d seen in her life. Men. Women. Each with unique characteristics that separated them from each other.

As Bad Rock made his request for his meal, Pela was oblivious to the reaction from anyone regarding his choice of food. To her it was perfectly normal for him to eat such a diet. After all, he was not your typical creature and he much preferred his meat raw. Which made it all the more incredible as to why he didn’t devour her when he first discovered her on the roadside after her birth. If anything she would have been a prime, tender morsel for the creature to dine upon.

As the big fella went and got his food himself then proceeded to find them both a table to sit, Pela eyed the many different choices and finally decided on some sort of tender cooked meat in a sauce served over some sort of noodles. With her meal in hand, she walked to the table and noticed the exchange between Bad Rock and the soldiers and the way they quickly scurried away after she heard his gravely say something but with his back turned to her, she couldn’t make out what he had said. When he explained it was guy talk, she mouthed the word ‘oh’ and nodded in understanding. There seemed to be a lot of that going around lately as it seemed like everywhere they went now he was having some sort of guy talk with other men.

Once she got seated and started eating her meal, she let her eyes look around again. There were soldiers and others wearing black or gray robes. These she figured were the mages Bad Rock had told her about years ago. She often asked him what color she would wear if she did wear one and he simply told her what ever color she wanted to. White was too bright for her and red just seemed to clash with the rest of her clothes so she told him it would have to be gray, for now. He merely laughed and shook his head. Leaning over her food she looked up at him and spoke in a quiet voice.

[i]”Is it always this crowded in here, father?”

She wanted to ask him so much more but she simply couldn’t. Not while in this palace. When they finally left this place she ha more questions than her mind could keep up with and no doubt he would gladly answer all of them when ever she asked them.

Bad Rock ate as politely as he could, but meals for him were more about shoveling all you could into one mouthful, chewing hastily and swallowing large chunks. He looked around as she asked her question and nodded, “Aye lass, these are the castle guard, they are always around, and they are always numerous.” He shrugged gently and could see there were a plethora of questions racing through her mind, “Patience lass, I promise you I will give you all the answers when I can. If only the journey had been longer I could have given you more information than I did, I apologize for that.” He shoved another large hunk of meat into his mouth and looked over her shoulder at some of the soldiers across the room. It was odd for her to hear him apologize; in fact that only person she had ever heard him apologize to was herself.

Pela in fact, had the most unique view of Bad Rock, to most he was simply a hired goon, a big meat shield to throw at a problem and have it solved quickly. He was a mercenary, like all Netherman were, but he was unique in that his Draconian blood gave him the intelligence to use magic. He also chose to not carry the traditional weapon of a Netherman, and instead carried a massive broadsword that was so heavy most men could barely lift it much less wield it. He also carried a wizard’s staff that resembled a small tree more than a staff, but many who had mistaken him for simply a big hunk of muscle found themselves on the dangerous end of wild sorcery. He looked back at Pela and spoke in his gravelly voice, “You alright Lass? You look distracted. If you are worried about this assignment and this place, don’t let it cause you to fret, we have been hired for a job, it’s no different than any other job except that this time it is a goddess hiring us. I know this place is less open and out in the wild than you are used to, but I promise you when we are done we will head back to our cottage.” He winked like he always did when he was trying to reassure her and rubbed the back of her hand with his finger.

As others found Bad Rock’s eating habits barbaric, Pela found them normal for him. Nothing he did offended her as it did others. Then again, she had grown up knowing nothing but his manners and while he’d done his best to make sure she had proper manners for a human, from time to time she exhibited some of his own. Particularly when things got…..interesting….as they worked together. As he apologized she gave him an understanding smile and touched his massive hand with her slender one.

”No need to apologize, father. I understand.”

She was starting to feel less nervous as she noticed how the guards gave them plenty of room. While she still felt confined, she didn’t feel suffocated. Yet. And that was always a good thing. It was when she felt cornered things went….bad. And right now, she knew as long as he was with her, they would be just fine. As she took the time to look at the guards that dared to look at her, she saw one in particular that was quite a handsome fellow and she held his gaze for a few moments longer than what was considered proper. Her attention was brought back to him when he asked if she was OK and that she seemed distracted. Smiling shyly, she nodded.

”Yes. I’m fine. It’s just that I’ve never seen such things before. You know me. I want to see it all in one day, even though I know that’s impossible. I wish your patience would flow to me in times like this. But you’re right. I can’t wait to go back to our cottage. You know I’d rather be outside than stuck inside any building, no matter how large it is. Or how beautiful it may be.”

Tilting her head slightly, she smiled even more.

”Is your meat good?”

Rorie looked up as the soft knock came through his door and he answered, “Enter”. A Page of the Dark Queen entered, bowed low after he approached and then handed Rorie a scroll sealed with the mark of Tahkisis. Rorie nodded without a word and the Page left. Rorie unrolled the scroll and read the contents, anger filling his face and he hissed words of magic. The scroll evaporated in flame and he tossed the ashes to the floor.

Furiously he grabbed his reagents and made his way to the room he was told that Bad Rock was quartered. Arriving he knocked but there was no answer. After a moment he hissed words of magic and touched the latch, it unclasped and he pushed the heavy door open and walked into the room. He looked around idly and inhaled deeply in frustration. Was it not enough that she didn’t trust him anymore but now she was strapping him to a Mercenary that he would have to babysit and walk through the process? He walked to the balcony and sat, lighting a pipe and sitting, looking over the landscape that spread out from the castle grounds.



Bad Rock finished the last of his meat and nodded, “It was as good as not killed fresh by me meat can be Lass.” When Pela finished he grabbed her tray and took it to the dish mess and escorted her out of the hall and back to their room. As he got closer he put his hand out for Pela to stop. He gripped the staff tightly and took a soft step towards the door. It was amazing how such a massive creature could go from thundering stomps to whisper quiet sneaking steps instantly. He waved his hand over the door and the knob glowed blue. The faint smell of pipe smoke lingered in the hall and he turned his massive head motioning for Pela to be on her guard. Pushing the door open with the end of his staff he placed his other hand on the hilt of his sword. It was a technique Pela had seen before; it was preparation to wield the staff like a club, casting a channeled spell through the magical weapon and then sweep striking with the blade all in a manner of half a second. It was a triple threat that felled most opponents before they had a chance to react.

As the door opened the scent of cherry pipe smoke became stronger and Pela would see Bad Rock come off his guard and turn to look at her, a calm expression on his face. He winked and walked into the room. As she followed a Black Robed mage, more handsome than the first mage they had seen when they first arrived approached and bowed to Bad Rock, introducing himself. He then looked up as Pela came around from behind Bad Rock and his face instantly softened. “My my, when I was told I would be working with someone on this assignment I never imagined it would be someone so breath taking.” He smiled warmly, grasping her hand gently and kissing the back of it. Bad Rock growled under his breath and walked over to the end of the room, opening the large balcony doors to let the air in and then turned looking back at Rorie as he was charming Pela. Bad Rock could see instantly that she was intrigued by him, and it wasn’t that which worried him, it was a minion of the Dark Queen making a pass at her that was the thorn in his side, ANY minion of the Dark Queen.

In his gravelly voice Bad Rock spoke as he approached Pela and Rorie, “Well let’s not dawdle Rorie; give us the details of the plan so we can begin preparations.” Rorie turned from Pela and spoke in a kind voice, “So eager to begin? Very well, I like to get to know people a little more before getting to business but I will accommodate.” Bad Rock looked at him and responded, “It’s not a matter of being eager Lad, it is merely a matter of time, and I was told we would be embarking tomorrow for this mission.” Rorie nodded and smiled, “You are correct, the timeline is short.” He turned to Pela and pulled out a chair for her to sit in, then sat and looked across at Bad Rock who was seated on the floor but was still looking Rorie dead in the eye even being so much lower than him.

This was where Pela changed. When the possibility of a threat had been discovered, her face took on a blank look and she became very calm. Like Bad Rock she smelled the sweet pipe smoke as they approached their rooms and knew something was amiss even before the massive creature passed his hand over the door knob. As Bad Rock pushed the door open with his staff and prepared to use his sword, Pela waited behind him as she always did, her voice whispering the spidery words of magic as she prepared a spell for the unsuspecting intruder. With the enemy’s attention focused on the huge form of Bad Rock, they never saw Pela until it was too late as she easily sprinted over Bad Rocks back and delivered a devastating spell they never even had time to scream.

But when the big guy turned to her with a calm expression as he saw who was in the room, she dared to peer around Bad Rock to see who the creature had seen and let her spell drop. She gaped softly when she saw the handsome features of the mage who waited for them to return. She was so taken by him that she didn’t realize he had a hold of her hand until she saw it brought to his lips. Her eyes watched his lips make contact with the back of her hand and she felt a tingling sensation slip through her that started there and quickly spread throughout her body.

Slowly pulling her hand back, she gently covered the hand he kissed with her other. When Bad Rock mentioned his name, she blinked and looked from Rorie to Bad Rock then back again. This was the mage they were to kill if he failed? Such a crime. He’s so handsome…..and so charming. And here Pela wanted to get to know the handsome mage. So much for that. Still….

As the chair was pulled out for her, Pela sat down trying to be as ladylike as she could and folded her hands in her lap. As she sat across from Rorie, she took note of a good many things about him. He was confident. There was an air of mystery about him. He was indeed handsome. His eyes reminded her of the calm sea. His voice, while deep, had a soothing tone to it. He was no small man by any means and his hands were not cold and clammy like the hands of most men she’d touched. It took all of her will to concentrate on the plan he was telling them and not on Rorie himself.

A chuckle escaped Piramay's lips as she held her ar over the rampart edge dropping the ball of fire to the earth below. As it descended she began incanting once more. Her hand slipped into her ro9bes finding the ingrediant she needed casting it out as the ball of fire hit the earth. A plume of flame erupted into teh air and Piramay finished her spell. A strong wind rush passed and down the wall striking the plume before splitting apart. The plume erupted into a wall of fire as the flames were fueled by the wind spell she had cast.

While she could have easily achieved the same effect with her will alone it was less taxing on her being t incorperate her magics in tandem. With the wall of fire roaring in front of the keep Piramay made a grasping motion and a stream of flame was being drawn from the wall into a rapidly growing ball that hovered just at the edge of an outstreched hand. Her hand drew back and thrust forward sending the roiling ball towards the floating soldiers. It whistled through the air and there was a loud clap of thunder as the ball detonated amdist the helpless men engulfing them completely cooking them in their great armor.

Again she drew from the wall eyeing the approaching cavalry. This one she cast to the earth and rolled it upon the ground like a bowling ball. As the knights began to turn to avoid the ball of death Piramay smiled makign a motion as if she were breaking an object in her hand. The ball shrank in size and split into 5 smaller projectiles spreading out to catch the riders mid stride of their commited paths.

Bad Rock listened to the plan and though he thought it had holes he nodded in satisfaction. The fact was this was an intrusion into a castle he didn’t even know existed until about an hour ago and he would be facing foes he knew almost nothing about. He looked up at Rorie, pointing to the hallway he planned to enter the castle through. “You are certain this is the best access? How is it you know this place so well?” Rorie looked at him and then Pela before returning his eyes to the floor plan of Glen Durel castle, “This was my home, I grew up here. I can assure you this is as detailed a map as one can produce and this is the most central point plus there are three exit points within twenty paces should things get sticky.” Bad Rock looked at Pela before responding to Rorie, he could see that she was thinking the exact same thing, “You are planning escape routes which suggests the target is not going to make this easy, Tell us more about the purpose of this mission.”

Rorie looked up at Bad Rock and spoke, “This is an extraction, we are to kidnap the child and bring her back to Tahkisis. I will then assume the role of father and raise the child myself rather than her real parents.” Bad Rock looked at Rorie and then to Pela. He nodded and looked back at Rorie. “I assume then it’s the PARENTS that won’t make this easy.” Rorie smiled and nodded, “That would be a correct assessment. Her mother is an accomplished mage, one of the fastest casters on Krynn and not to be taken lightly. The girl’s father is Myth’alas Thel'radin.” Bad Rock’s eye brows went up and he turned to look at Pela, he knew she would not have heard of him and he spoke, “Son of the Speaker of the Stars, a very accomplished Silvanesti Elf and not so coincidently a former assassin for the Dark Queen.” He leaned back slightly and continued, “So, it seems that the Dark Queen wants some punishment doled out for leaving her service?” Rorie shoke his head, “No, I want the child, his death would merely be a target of opportunity.” Bad Rock cocked an eyebrow and leaned in… “So there is another connection here, say, to the mother?” Rorie become obviously uneasy and rolled up the map. “Those are details that don’t need to be divulged. I will meet you in the Sanctum of the Shadows tomorrow morning at dawn; I trust you know where that is?” Bad Rocks stood, towering over Rorie, “Aye lad, I know where it is, we will see you at dawn.”

Rorie stood and kissed the back of Pela’s hand again and walked out. Bad Rock turned to Pela and she could see by the look on his face that he had plenty of thoughts of his own. He spoke in a whisper, “The mage lies, he does not intend to keep that child, I could see it in his eyes.” He nodded to Pela and she would have seen this a hundred times, Bad Rocks ability to ‘see’ the truth through lies was one of his specialties. He used this ability many times to get to the bottom of things and he could see that this was a much more complicated situation than they were originally made to believe. “It matters not lass, we are here because we were hired, all the lives at stake do not concern us, we must keep that focus and be ready.” Pela knew Bad Rock, he was not a ‘good’ creature, he had killed many, on a whim in several cases, and life was not very precious to him, he saw everything and everyone as expendable. To him this was a job, they were hired and he would do it. This was the real paradox in their relationship, he could have as easily eaten Pela as he could have taken her in.

He stretched and leaned back, “Well lass, we should get some sleep, I will see you in the morning.” He winked and smiled the crooked, toothy smile he always gave her and thudded into the room that was designated as his. She could hear him shuffle for only a few moments and then the sounds of his snoring filled the air.

Pela listened to the plan and like her father, found flaws in it. She’d learned the skill of strategizing from one of he best in all of Krynn. When Bad Rock was hired for a job, he studied his target for weeks, months if necessary, to learn everything there was about them. And when taking on such a task as invading this castle was no small job.

As Pela learned they were going to extract a child, she looked at Bad Rock and he could tell by the look in her eyes she was not happy with that fact. While all other times she, like Bad Rock, saw everything and everyone as a job. They were being paid to perform a duty others had no stomach or nerve for. But a child? Why had fate saw fit to give her a second chance with a creature such as Bad Rock only to have her help in the abduction of a child?

Pela had become very good at reading peoples reactions, or lack there of. As Bad Rock narrowed in on why Rorie wanted to take the child as an act against the mother, she noted his unease and found the true reason the mage wanted to take on this task. And she saw the look that slipped into his eyes for a brief moment. Hatred like that was deep rooted and could cause a person misjudgment. Another reason Pela was not comfortable with this whole situation.

When he kissed her hand this time, she felt a change in his grasp and his lips were harder than they had been the first time. He was clearly upset by Bad Rock’s insight and she found that troubled her a great deal. As she stared at the door Rorie exited out of for a moment, she wondered where to even begin to tell Bad Rock how she really felt about all of this. When she turned to see the look on his face, she knew he shared her sentiments and there was no need to discus it in depth right now. But when her father revealed that Rorie didn’t intend to keep the child, she blinked and her hand slowly came up to rest on her upper chest, the only indication she’d ever given to show she was upset. She could have argued until she was blue in the face with Bad Rock on the injustice of this but she knew, in the end, that wouldn’t change anything. As he said, they had been hired to perform a job and they would do it to the best of their abilities. Abilities she hoped were honed enough to keep them from getting killed.

As Bad Rock announced he was going to bed, Pela kissed his large cheek when he bent down for her to reach and she bid him pleasant dreams. When she heard his snoring, she knew he would sleep soundly for the next several hours. But sleep was the last thing on her mind. She wanted….no….NEEDED…to know who this woman mage and Myth’Alas was. It was the only way they could have a clear advantage over them if they wanted any way to defeat them.

Looking at the door, she chewed on her bottom lip before she glanced over her shoulder at the door that led to Bad Rock’s bed chamber. She was taking a huge chance at what she was thinking but in the end, it was her and Bad Rock’s safety that mattered most. She would deal with his anger later.

Walking to the door, Pela turned the knob slowly until she heard the faint click letting her know the door could be opened. Very slowly she eased it open, just enough for her slight form to slide through sideways then closed the door as quietly as she had opened it. She stood outside her room, heart pounding, and looked up both ends of the hallway. Finally she started walking in a direction. She had just turned a corner when she saw another black robed man walking towards her.

”Pardon me, but could you please tell me where Rorie Padraig’s quarters are located?”

The man quirked a brow and smirked, which irritated Pela, then pointed down a hall and told her which door to knock on. Thanking the mage, she quickly made her way in the direction she had been given. When she stood before the door she had been told was his, she stared at it for a few moments and swallowed hard. Glancing down both ways of the hallway, she finally lifted her hand and knocked softly and waited to see if she would be permitted to enter.

Rorie got into his quarters and removed his robe again. He was shaken by all this but he refused to let it get to him. This was something he needed to do, in fact, he had already done it, but last time he had all but killed Myth, tortured Rayann endlessly and made off with Shulamite. He was shaking his head at his own thoughts and running over the new plan, how would he get Shulamite while babysitting the two Mercenaries. He was unsure of the motive behind Tahkisis decision to hire them, was it to watch him? Was it to change things up enough to throw Myth and Rayann off? Was it to take the child and deliver her directly to the Dark Queen? He did not know and time was too short to figure it out, he would have to improvise, luckily this was something he was very good at.

He was turning to go to his bed chamber when he heard a soft knock on the door. It was not the usual knock that a page or one of his servants would make and he quirked a brow. Tahkisis never knocked so he was sure it wasn't her, but at this hour who could it possibly be? He made his way to the door and spoke, "Who is it?" When he heard the soft, feminine voice of Pela he actually swallowed hard and furrowed his brow... what was she doing here? Of course the fantasies came in and out of his mind as they would with any man when a lady made a late night call, but he didn't assume that she would do this after JUST meeting. He opened the door and smiled warmly, "Pela, what a pleasant surprise, please, come in."

Pela was thankful when Rorie opened the door and allowed her entry. She was starting to get the feeling she was not alone in the hallway even though she couldn’t see anything or anyone skulking about. In fact, she actually questioned herself if this were a good thing to do when the door opened and she saw Rorie’s handsome face. With a slight hesitation, she slipped into his quarters and waited for him to close the door.

As she stepped in, she looked around his room and immediately smelled the hint of the sweet cherry scent of the pipe he smoked. Books upon books lined the walls, a table sat off to the far side with several different containers in them and she was curious as to what they were. Regents were foreign to her.

Finally she turned her attention to the mage and when she looked at him this time, without his robes, she felt a flutter stir in her stomach. Her eyes slipped over his form as she took in his masculinity. He wasn’t full of muscle but he was definitely male. Forcing herself to concentrate on the reason she was here, she blinked then brought her eyes back to his.

”Pardon my visit at such a late hour, but I need to know.”

When Rorie gave her a confused look, she continued.

”You are at an advantage. You know what the parents are capable of. It’s only fair father and I know what they are as well. It appears he knows what the father is capable of, but I, unfortunately, am in the dark. Tell me all you know so I will be prepared for tomorrow’s confrontation.”

She didn’t ask. She didn’t suggest. She all but demanded to know what Rorie knew. While it could be taken as rude, yes, and in most cases it would be. But Pela wasn’t one to beat around the bush. She was, if nothing else, direct. This was due in part to her father and in part to the fact she didn’t really want to be in this place and the sooner they took care of the job they’d been hired to do, the better. Then she and her father could be on their way and never return.

Rorie appreciated the woman’s forwardness; in many ways she reminded him of his sister, strong willed and determined to have what she wanted…, it was also the thing he loathed about his sister. He smiled and his face reflected a strange kindness, almost as if the mask of a tyrant had been lifted and a true self was being revealed. “Come Pela, sit and have some tea and I will be happy to give you all the information you desire.” It was odd, he was more than compliant to her request, in fact he was willingly divulging all she wanted to know, and he was looking at her with hunger in his eyes. He brought her to a very comfortable chair and sat down across from her, waving his hand a delicious smelling tea and trays of cheese toast with broiled tomato appeared on the table between them. He poured a cup of tea and handed it to her, then one for himself. Looking at her with his sea blue eyes he smiled and spoke.

“The parents are more than capable of destroying us, Myth’alas wields a sword known as ‘Blue Moon’; it’s a legendary weapon that has been in the Elven nation for millennium. The sword itself is capable of feats beyond imagination and trust me when I say Myth wields the blade with a precision and speed that will boggle your mind. Rayann, the mother of the child is a Red Robed mage of Lunitari and she has also been favored with a special grace by the gods of magic. She has a casting style known in the wizarding world as ‘loading’, she is capable of stacking one spell on top of the other, up to three at a time. She is one of if not the most formidable mage you will ever face, the only mage that is capable of being more powerful is her daughter Kali, but we believe Kali is dead.”

He looked up at her, noting the look on her face and continued, “Myth’alas and Rayann are a duo of destruction and I can assure you that this extraction will not be an easy one, but it has been done before, by me.” He saw her face twist in curiosity and he smiled as he continued, “I have extracted the daughter of Myth and Rayann once already, along another timeline. I kidnapped her and brought her back to the celestial plain, raised her as my own daughter and then returned to Krynn so as to bring forth the justice against those who oppose the Dark Queen. Myth and Rayann are enemies of the Queen, it’s as simple as that Pela, they have been a major thorn in the side of Tahkisis and though it may seem cruel to kidnap their daughter and use her against them this is war and where war is concerned all is fair.”

He looked at her over the rim of his tea cup as he sipped and then set the cup down on the table, reaching across the table and taking her hand, “I want you to know that since I have faced these two before I will guide us, and I will protect you to the best of my ability.” She could see in his eyes he was being truthful, and the fact that he was now gently rubbing the back of her hand wasn’t hurting his sincerity.

Pela watched Rorie’s facial expressions and the way his eyes moved. She’d learned at an early age one could get a lot of unspoken information from these two things. Sitting in the chair, she accepted the tea and found its taste to her liking, surprisingly, but she let the food alone. It wasn’t like her to eat much, let alone anything such as what was offered to her here. While she could have easily eaten all she wished when she and Bad Rock went for a meal, she knew when they got back on their own the meals wouldn’t be as extravagant so she kept to her own principals of eating within her means.

But the tea, that was most enjoyable and she sipped it slowly as she listened to him describe the parents of this child, one he had already kidnapped. She found that tickled her curious nature. So if he kidnapped the child once, why were they doing it again? And how did the child die? All of these questions would be answered when they reached this castle at Glen Durel, no doubt.

The fact the father wielded such a weapon and possessed such incredible speed will be something her father would no doubt be prepared for. But the mage, on the other hand, would be something to contend with. Pela had never really gone head to head with another mage before, let alone one who could cast as quickly as this woman apparently could.

As he reached across the table and took her hand in his once more then started gently rubbing the back of her hand with his fingers, Pela looked down the slowly let her eyes slide back up to his. She didn’t try to remove her hand from his as she tilted her head slightly.

”I thank you for your offer of protecting us but you should concentrate on the child. After all, that is what the mission is all about, at the basic level. Father and I will engage the parents to distract them, if nothing else, from you. And I have no doubt we will need to be ready to engage them the moment we arrive. No sneaking about sort of thing.”

She nodded her head as though to let herself know that was indeed the best way to handle the situation. Her eyes still held his as she took another sip of her tea. She’d never been alone with a man before, let alone one as handsome as this mage. She would have loved to stay and talk more with him, but the hour was growing late and now that she had the information she needed, she would be able to finally get some rest.

Still, she remained glued to the seat. Why? She knew she had to stand up and leave, but something held her where she was. Again she looked down at the way his fingers slid over the back of her hand before she blinked slowly and drew her eyes back to his.

”I should be getting back now. Father is a sound sleeper but I need not press my luck anymore than I have already.”

There was multiple meanings in her words for they both knew she was pressing her luck in more ways than one right now.

Rorie smiled warmly as she spoke and nodded his head, there was desire in his eyes but he responded to her wishes, “Pity that you have to go… perhaps another time then.” There was obvious intent in his statement, but he too agreed they would need their rest and a good romp was not necessarily the best thing the eve before a battle, not that he hadn’t in the past. For a moment he considered pressing his luck, however he also didn’t wish to invoke the wrath of Bad Rock, though he knew nothing about the creature he didn’t appear to be the type one wanted to mix it up with.

He stood and escorted Pela to the door. Opening the door enough for her to exit he spoke, “I shall see you in the morning then Pela, rest well.” As she exited the room he closed the door and the demeanor fell, his heart was racing, it had been a very long time since his heart was captivated by a woman, it was almost regretful that he would have to kill her tomorrow.

As Pela glided across the floor of Rorie’s room to the door, she once more let her eyes take in the masculine form before she looked into his sea blue eyes again. Bidding him a well rest, she slipped out of his room and back into the hallway. If Rorie only knew Pela’s thoughts were so much along his very own, they would have no doubt tried to kill each other right then and there just to get it out of the way. Still, Pela stood a moment outside his door to take several deep breaths and get herself under control before she returned to the room she shared with Bad Rock.

Glancing both directions in the hallway, she walked back through the quiet palace to her own quarters and just as she had done when she left, she quietly turned the door knob, opened the door just enough for her slender frame to step sideways through then closed the door until she heard the soft click letting her know the door was indeed latched.

Bad Rock was still snoring and she glanced toward the door of his bed chamber before she glided silently across the floor to her own bed chamber. Tomorrow would prove to be quite the challenge. As she let her worries settle, she stripped down to just her under clothes then slipped into the enormous bed and drew the soft blankets up over her exposed skin.

As her head sunk into the soft pillow, Pela finally closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. And she dreamed of sea blue eyes, a warm smile from a handsome, bearded face and blood.