A blue vapor swirls within, its edges becoming tainted with a reddish glow... Then the picture stablizes. She sees of all people the Lady Neris, but why? Why would her eye be drawn to this, this heathen?? She is the one who led the oppertunistic attacks upon her own people... but wait, the picture stablilzes....

Neris looked again at the window and sighed. She left her daughter's suite and entered her own, pulling the ceremonial sword used for state occasions from its spot on the wall and attaching it to her belt. She strode out of her rooms and back through the corridors.. She headed to her study instead of the hall where she had made her decision.

Set into one of the walls of her study was a small altar to the Red God, fire burning upon it, incense filling the air around it. She knelt in front of it, grabbing a small handful of the dust the priests kept in a golden bowl beside the altar and sprinkling it on the flames.. The fire leapt higher for a moment and sparkled and the musky scent intensified. She leaned back, sitting on her heels, and closed her eyes.

Recent events flashed through her head.. Receiving the request to aid OathBound.. Discovering, after her forces had already engaged Telani's, that OathBound had sued for peace.. The sickening realization that they had not only been betrayed by their brethren, but had had their honor tarnished. The choice given by Telani.. The chaos that had resulted from her decision..

She sighed and opened her eyes, staring into the flames. Hopefully, Lidy had gotten Rese out.. The sounds inside and outside the keep were growing.. Very, very soon, disgruntled soldiers would find their way here, and she would be waiting.

She expected things to end rather quickly after that.

The crystal goes dark as her thoughs conclude, the final words pulsing through Naieths brain. She covers the crystal quickly, though being carefull to protect it from all elements.

She walks quickly to Telani's study, and does not wait to be recognized before she enters.

M'Lord... news from the Dominion lands.

Shadow Lord, Dark Mistress
Pretty Ladys shouldnt make scary faces!
I

"One would think that I had called a meeting of the High Council...shall the Archmage appear before me next?" pondered Telani. He looked at Naieth's hasty approch, and nodded to her.

"What has come to pass? Matters, I fear, move swiftly at this time, and I would not be caught off guard by them again."

The Tower yet stands
Telani, The Dragon of Inverness
I

It would seem m'Lord, that Neris's death is at hand, though she sends her daughter to us, to follow our ways. She is a child of an honorable parent... shall we see if that has been passed down?

I will go myself to fetch the child and her escort, it seems Neris herself is not willing to leave her home and people. Time is limited, and as such have ordered my fastest warhawks brought around. I can only hope that I get there in time. If I could but have your blessing on this venture, I know we will be victorious!

Naieth waits and watches the tiny movements of his face while he considers her plan.

Shadow Lord, Dark Mistress
Pretty Ladys shouldnt make scary faces!
I

"Alas, it would seem that the honor of an entire alliance of realms lies within but one woman. If her daughter holds but the smallest measure of such honor, she will be an extraordinary individual."

Naieth departed from the room swiftly, heading for the great nesting place atop the Shadow Spire. Mounting her warhawk, and signaling others to follow, she dove swiftly and set off across the woods surrounding the Tower.

Soon, her and her flight were engulfed in mists...a mist so thick that there could be naught seen within it...

...while above the Citadel of Neris, the clouds swirled and gathered together. As if a hole had been struck into them, mists began to pour from the edges of the clouds, and that mist began to engulf the topmost towers of the citadel.

The Tower yet stands
Telani, The Dragon of Inverness
I

A puddle of mists forms out of a tapistry, and a dark cloaked figure steps through it, the edges of the cloak rimmed in blue, striking saphires flash from the interior shaddows. She approches the figures gathered here, and signalls them to gather their things.

Gather your things Rese... your home awaits thee. If thou dost delay much longer the gathered hordes shall devour thee.

Shadow Lord, Dark Mistress
Pretty Ladys shouldnt make scary faces!
I

"Send word to the Lady Leetah...I have a matter I must needs discuss with her. 'tis not a matter for haste, but it is a present concern."

The Tower yet stands
Telani, The Dragon of Inverness
I

*ic*

Rese couldn't believe she'd agreed to go. As she followed Lidy through the corridors, hurrying from one route to the other, taking the small, hidden paths when available, she kept glancing over her shoulder. "She'll come," she thought. "Mom will come and we'll all get out." But as they got closer and closer to the doors that led into the jagged mountains that stood behind the keep, it became more and more apparent that Neris wasn't coming.

Several times, she almost grabbed Lidy's hand and begged her to wait while she went back to convince her mother to join them. She knew, if she just asked one more time, she'd come. Neris's words echoed in her mind.. "I'm not letting our line die here.. You're very obviously my daughter.. You're an honorable warrioress.. You two need to go. If I come with you, they'll hunt us.." Her mother was giving up any chance of surviving so that she could get out alive.

Honor.

The word pounded against the walls of Rese's head. It was a beautiful word, speaking of great deeds and heroes, sacrifices rewarded.. But it was an awful word, showing scenes of death and destruction caused by devotedly following the path of honor.

She would never, never forget what happened here today.

The halls at this end of the keep were eerily quiet, and Rese was glad to enter the room Lidy led her into.

It was a strange little chamber; every wall was covered in tapestries depicting various scenes of every day life in the kingdom. Rese looked at Lidy questioningly; she had never seen this room before.

Lidy started toward a hanging depicting the mountains behind the keep.

"It's this w--"

The old nurse cut off as she caught sight of the swirling tapestry. "What is that??" she gasped, pulling Rese back, away from the wall.

A figure stepped through the swirling colors and spoke. "Gather your things Rese... your home awaits thee. If thou dost delay much longer the gathered hordes shall devour thee."

Rese blinked, staring at the figure, unsure of what to do. "I-- Who are you?" She looked closely at the form, then it dawned on her.. Blue trim.. Sapphires. Angelican. She stepped toward the figure. "You're from Tela-- I mean, you're from Inverness?"

Dominion..?

[This message has been edited by Neris (edited 11-08-99).]

Messengers came and went. Then, the first signs that war had resumed.

Reports of a massive assault that had been renewed.

Telani commanded the appearance of his scribe once more, who set about his weaving swiftly...

The Tower yet stands
Telani, The Dragon of Inverness
I

Each oaken leaf bore the changing words of spider silk, so well known to be Telani's handiwork...

I have heard of thy revolt against thy lawful ruler, and, to my amazement, hath heard that by thy Barnabian code it is indeed considered lawful to have done so!

I have awaited thy messengers to inform me of whomsoever hath taken her place, but have heard naught. Thy dread silence hath made these weighty matters of grave concern.

By law, and by honor, I have awaited the chance to resume discussions of the terms already agreed by thy lawful ruler, in honor, and to see if thy newest ruler would indeed honor those terms that already bear the Dominion's seal.

For lack of an answer, I must assume that Cuchulainn doth speak for thee by his actions...for he hath resumed full offensive against Inverness.

I must assume, by thy acts, that thou doth no longer long for peace, and that thou doth ignore the committments of thy past rulers.

If thou doth wish a resumption of talks with Inverness, I shall await thy messenger. Rest assured that thy messanger shall receive the treatment that both Honor and the Laws of war require.

Telani, The Dragon of Inverness

Asking cautiously, the Sprite seeks to discover who rules within the Dominion...the last leaf is reserved for whoever holds that claim, and the Sprite, so long as she is given no threat, awaits a reply.

Swift as the fae winds...
So fly I
Telani's Alt

Angelique has shown me your plight, she heard your mother Neris's call. Inverness has answered you, Telani sends me to do her bidding. Your time is limited, come. They seek you. I fear I have come too late to rescue your mother, but if Angelique wills it, you will not suffer her fate.

She streaches out a blue gloved hand and taking her by the shoulder heads her into the mists. The tower shakes with a clap of thunder, and voices ring out down the hall.

As they pass through the mists, a corridor opens in front of them. The mist becomes firm enough to stand on, then forms itself into stairs leading upwards. Naieth does not hesitate, and walks swiftly up the stairs. A large hawk-like bird waits for her there, and screaches what can only be interpereted as a greeting. Rese looks behind them, and can see the separation between the tower and the mists growing as the mist retreats.

With a mighty roar, the side of the tower where they had so recently left is broken down, and a rather bemused Tuwatha stares back at her before raising the alarm.

Naieth swings fluidly into the saddle on the warhawk, and indicates that the others should do the same. She motions to the other birds, and they take off into the mists, reapearing far away over the lands of Inverness.

Shadow Lord, Dark Mistress
This place is dangerous... OOH how exciting!
I