---

Mike Holmes Rhakleth had been less frustrating than Fahd. Fahd seemed very distant now, and didn't seem to want to hear what she had to say to him. Rhakleth, on the other hand, had been frustratingly patronizing. He seemed to think that what Chimrea was saying couldn't possibly be true. His reaction when she'd mentioned Agnes was... interesting.

Mike Holmes Now, ahead, Belnif sits on a rock looking Southeast toward the desert.

Chimrea had steeled herself to be dismissed by Rahkleth, though she had to make the attempt. Fahd's coldness hurt much more, but she puts it in the box in her heart where she's learning to keep these things. She tries to clear her mind as she walks up to Belnif, rolling the Dead Man's Teeth between her fingers for comfort.

Chimrea "Honored teacher, may I trouble you with my questions?"

Mike Holmes Belnif cackles. "No, but you should ask."

Chimrea "All right," Chimrea says, reassured by Belnif's usual strangeness. She sits at the base of his rock, looking out in the same direction over the desert. "I'm all wrapped up with Old Man Spider now. The stories don't tell me much about him, and Fahd isn't, um, talking to me much now."

Chimrea "Sometimes you know things other people don't."

Mike Holmes Belnif breathes an appreciative air.

Mike Holmes "So what is at the heart of the desert that is your spirit, that you seek to fill?" he asks.

Chimrea frowns, trying to puzzle out the question. Slowly, she says, "I went to Old Man Spider because he could see a balance that I wasn't wise enough to weigh out myself. I didn't know that he would ask so much of me, but I'm willing to pay. Now everyone is treating me like I've made a mistake I need to fix."

Mike Holmes "Do you think it was a mistake?" Belnif asks, still looking at the horizon.

Chimrea "I don't... I think that we need his help, his protection. I don't think he's unfair, but I don't know how to make that matter."

Chimrea "Sometimes I feel like everything I've done since my parents died is a mistake," Chimrea says in a small voice, admitting what she can't say to anyone else. "But sometimes the only way out is forward."

Mike Holmes "Deeper into the desert," agrees Belnif. "Yes."

Mike Holmes He turns to look at Chimrea slowly. "The spirits ask much. Did you think it would be an easy path?"

Chimrea swallows. "It's been harder than I realized, but that doesn't matter. I..." She bites her lip, then speaks in a rush, staring out at the desert. "I'm starting to understand what it means to love a family, a tribe, or a city so much that I'm not important. I want to serve my home."

Mike Holmes Belnif nods silently, and then looks back out into the desert. "Here is a story about the Taker."

Mike Holmes "Once when Cay was riding across the endless plain, he saw the Taker eating one of the spirits that had served him in the long past, and he charged the Taker, intent on making him pay for this loss.

Mike Holmes "The Taker stopped eating and said to Cay, 'Stop, Lord of Orhan. This one owes me a debt. And now he pays.

Mike Holmes "Cay said that he couldn't imagine that the spirit being eaten could deserve this fate. And so he killed the Taker.

Mike Holmes "Days later, as Cay crossed deeper into the dry plain, he found the Taker ahead of him, this time eating a horse.

Mike Holmes "Cay said to the Taker, 'Thou art slain. How is it you are here eating the most noble of animals?'

Mike Holmes "The Taker replied, 'It was not even for the mighty Cay to say that my deal was not a goo bargain. Cay is God of Truth, and he cannot undo something that is true.'

Mike Holmes "And indeed Cay saw that the Taker was right. So Cay killed the Taker for presuming to tell him the ways of truth.

Mike Holmes "And Cay traveled on, and finally reached the deep desert where the spirits of the Synshari roam.

Mike Holmes "And there was the Taker again, this time drinking the last water of an oasis.

Mike Holmes "Cay passed on.

Mike Holmes "

Chimrea is silent through the story and for a long minute afterward, staring out at the desert. "I don't know if I have the right to speak for Green Lake in the bargains that face us. I'll purify myself so I can meditate on it. But I think I understand better, now. Thank you, honored teacher."

Mike Holmes Belnif cackles again, very quietly.

Chimrea "And thank you for not looking at me the way everyone else is," she adds, standing and bending in to kiss his cheek before she goes.

Mike Holmes Belnif seems stunned. Chimrea notes that, what with his stinking like a camel, that he probably doesn't get much such attention. Then he seems to snap to, "Oh, one more thing; I know of a man who knows the way of the Taker. I could tell you where he lives, if you wanted to know."

Chimrea stops short at that. "Please, tell me."

Mike Holmes "It is not an easy journey," he relates. "He resides in a cave atop a peak in the Forbidden Ridge. But I can tell you how to get there, if you are determined."

Chimrea "I have friends who can help me," Chimrea says, hoping it's true. She'll listen and commit his instructions to memory.

---

Mike Holmes *

Mike Holmes *

Mike Holmes *

Mike Holmes *

Mike Holmes The group arrives with what Agnes had asked them to deliver. Though they can't at first see what "dome" it is that Agnes is talking about. Then they note the stone rising just out of the swamp, and realize this is what she must be talking about.

Agnes sits on the dome grinding a milky green concoction in a mortar and pestle.

Agnes "Hi guys."

Alquas eyes his surroundings blearily.

Tez smiles and her pace picks up til she's next to agnes, staring at the dome. "Hi Agnes. What's that."

Agnes "This rock is the keystone of a dome that once stood here but has sunk beneath the marsh."

Agnes "There's an outline of power down there. It's ancient."

Alquas "Fascinating." says Alquas, in a bored voice.

Alquas "Why do we care?"

Agnes "Alquas, I know that you dislike me, as much as I have tried to be helpful, even from your very first day here, but I could really use your help. I understand you're something of a chemist?"

Alquas "I don't dislike you, Agnes."

Agnes "I'm mixing up a preservative that I once read about -- spiked with some additions of my own. Could you look at my notes?"

Alquas "I could." Alquas doesn't move, however. "What is this in aid of?"

Agnes "Well, it's nice of you to _say_ that you don't dislike me, but you have seemed standoffish. But that's OK, we're all different here. OK, when Arblak gets back we're going to replace my blood with this stuff and I want my body to stay as intact as possible."

Alquas "A transfusion?"

Agnes "Yeah, that's what he called it!"

Tez suddenly looks more interested. "Why?"

Agnes "Uh, my father, I mean."

Alquas "I see."

Agnes "He's come up with a way to cure the elves but it's going to require my blood."

Alquas "Agnes, to be blunt, I don't trust you."

Tez "I thought I was helping you with that." She sounds wounded.

Alquas "So if you're asking me to help here, I need to know what I'm helping with. What's the blood for?"

Agnes "Trust me? Why?" Agnes reaches out and takes Tez' hand. "You were, but, he came up with a plan. And anyway, why do you think I called for you? I want you to help me with this..duh!" Agnes' disappointment at not being trusted transforms into a smile directed at Tez.

Tez "oh.. okay! but what about Kerem's blood, and.. Fazeris'?"

Agnes "I don't know! Arblak can do it with just my blood, I guess. You tell me."

Tez "Hm."

Agnes "And Alquas, what more can I tell you? My blood will be used to heal the crippling disease that is causing two great and noble elves -- local dignitaries, no less, to heal from their wasting disease."

Tez "I guess we can try. But if he kills you, I'll be mad."

Agnes "Tez, it might seem like that's happening, but I think I have a way around it. Even if it _does_ happen, you have to let him cure them."

Agnes "OK?"

Alquas digests the information about the elves.

Agnes "And if I can't get myself to my father, I want you guys to get my body there. He'll know what to do."

Tez "I don't care about them. They're not my friends."

Agnes "But I am...."

Agnes "...right." Agnes looks concerned.

Alquas frowns, but comes to a decision. "Well, Zhanjiir, if healing is your only goal, I can perform in service to it. Let me see that." He reaches for the recipe notes.

Agnes hand it over.

Agnes "Uh...right?"

Tez "Yes. You're my best friend."

Agnes beams.

Agnes "Tez, in the worst case scenario that is at all plausible, I'll always be with you." Agnes taps her head and gently touches Tez'.

Tez thinks warm thoughts, tinged with worry.

Alquas examines the notes in a cursory fashion. "Hmm.... should work. Although I'd use agathi oil rather than halewater. Some unusual additions here. What's the purpose of the shaplam root?"

Agnes Smiling, Agnes responds to Alquas' professional interest. "It'll form crystals in the adjacent tissue, allowing the other ingredients to suffuse through the flesh. It's essentially a solvent."

Alquas "Ah? I would have used purified Aijantik acid, myself, but no doubt you make do. Very... creative."

Agnes "Yeah, this isn't really my specialty, more of a hobby. My dad knows more than I ever will about this stuff."

Tez peeks over Alquas' shoulder

Agnes "Tez, I know it's weird going in this direction, but if I could have a bit of your blood in here, I'd appreciate it."

Alquas "A few minor adjustments, then, but this is otherwise sound." He passes the notes back. "You might even live."

Agnes "The notes say that the blood of a loved one is beneficial..."

Tez draws a small dagger, and smiles. "How much do you need?"

Agnes "Just a few drops, I think."

Alquas steps back, slightly, at the drawn dagger.

Agnes bites her lip. "So, were Chimrea and Kerem too...busy or something to come?"

Tez glances up at Alquas curiously.

Alquas "I believe they were left notes, Agnes."

Agnes "OK, well, I'll brief you two. We're going to engage in a ritual. I'm going to attempt to penetrate this dome's presense as Arblak takes my blood and replaces it with this preservative. As I expect this ritual to evolve, I will happen to have access to a spirit that I can give away. I understand that, you, Alquas might have a use for an extra one?"

Alquas "I do?"

Alquas "Oh... you mean the arachnid?"

Alquas "Chimrea had said... well..."

Alquas looks uncomfortable around this particular subject.

Tez closes her eyes and says a prayer to the being inside of her, then picks a fresh spot on her arm and slices it neatly. Not that it wouldn't have been easier to reopen one of the other hundred cuts that cover her skin, but this has more meaning. And besides, it doesn't even hurt much. She lets the bright liquid drip into the receptacle, watching it.

Mike Holmes As the blood comes out of Tez's hand, she feels instinctively that whatever is being done here, more blood would be better. She feels her child kick inside her.

Agnes "Yes, your life-debt for Kani is what I mean." Agnes smiles at Tez's drippings and mixes them into her concoction.

Tez peeks one eye open, eyeing the bowl, then digs the knife deeper into her arm, sending a fresh spurt of blood into the concoction. "That wasn't enough. Here."

Alquas averts his eyes form the bloodletting, staring fixedly into the middle distance. "Ah... yes. Kani."

Alquas "I am... unclear on exactly what the arachnid desires. If Chimrea were here..."

Agnes is drawn closer to Tez by her sacrifice. "Thank you."

Agnes "Yes, I'd hoped she would be. I believe that you are expected to donate a spirit to OMS because he allowed Kani's to leave."

Agnes "That would traditionally be filled with your own, but you may be clever enought to arrange something else."

Alquas "Any spirit? Or is the spider... selective?"

Agnes "In this case I think I'm offering you a free pass."

Alquas looks even more uncomfortable, if that's possible.

Agnes "Maybe it will help you trust me."

Agnes "Like you, I don't know the details."

Tez waits til she feels like she's given enough before pulling out a handy strip of cloth (she'd started carrying some since she'd realized how often she'd need them - and besides, Kerem wasn't using that bedsheet anymore.) and tying it around the wound.

Agnes helps her apply the bandage.

Tez lets Agnes take over, just holding it in place so she can tie it. "Thanks."

Agnes "I believe that Arblak will arrive sometime before midnight. That is the hour when we will take to the dome and attempt to redo the great magic that was once done on this spot. Are you both willing to help?"

Alquas "i... well." Alquas wishes Chimrea was here. "I suppose... what further use will I be?"

Agnes "I could really use the support of friends. I'm not entirely sure what to expect and your knowledge could be a big boon."

Tez "Of course." She grins. "It sounds exciting."

Agnes "And anyway, you need to stay around to collect your spirit, right? I mean, I guess I'm just assuming that you're interested..?"

Tez "What else are you going to do anyway."

Alquas "Sleep?" he replies, half-heartedly.

Tez "You can sleep when you're dead." she says cheerfully.

Alquas "Oh good. Will that be soon?"

Tez looks at him funny "Do you want it to be?"

Alquas stares at Tez for a few seconds.

Tez blinks back at him

Agnes "I think he doesn't. He avoids risk."

Alquas opens his mouth to say something, but thinks better of it.

Alquas He inches away from Tez, slightly, and hopes like hell that Chimrea shows up soon.

Mike Holmes Off in the distance, there's a cry from the city, "Aaal-quaaas!"

Tez licks off her dagger, dries it, and puts it back in its sheath

Mike Holmes Somebody with a Vajaar accent is looking for Alquas, it would seem.

Tez "I think we should put some of Kerem's blood in too. Maybe Alquas, but he's scared."

Agnes "That doesn't sound like Chimrea."

Agnes "Come on Tez, he's not too scared to donate a little blood for the greater good..."

Alquas is temporarily distracted from looking around for the source of the voice.

Agnes "Are you sure it would help?"

Alquas "My blood?" he says, backing away from the two of them, now onto the very edge of the dome,

Tez "No. I know Kerem and Fazeris' blood would help though. But they're not here."

Agnes "Maybe a relative of Fazeris would work?"

Tez tilts her head to one side. "She's not here either."

Alquas is reluctant to turn his back on the women, but has to to look around for the source of the voice. He considers getting back aboard the raft to look for it.

Agnes "Maybe whoever's looking for Alquas has some blood." Agnes winks at tez and nods at Alquas with a naughty grin.

Tez giggles.

Tez hops into the muck and sloshes off to look for the source of the voice.

Alquas "Tez, what are you doing?"

Tez "I'm finding out who wants to find you."

Alquas "That might be unwise."

Mike Holmes The voice, familiar now as his brother's calls out again, much closer. Looking in that direction, Alquas sees his brother, Jaffar.

Agnes sits cross-legged on the dome surface and burns incense and meditates for a bit.

Alquas "Indeed, it would not be wise at all. Come back, Tez. It's my brother."

Alquas fingers a potion bottle beneath his robes.

Tez snorts. "Why? He's just a man."

Mike Holmes Jaffar spots them, and makes his way a little into the bog. He stops before getting wet, and decides to shout, "I have a message from father!"

Agnes Despite the intrusion, Agnes' mind is clear.

Alquas "I have nothing to say to my father, Jaffar."

Tez continues slogging her way through the muck, "What is it?"

Chimrea is wading through the muck, skirts girdled up around her waist, when she hears the shouted conversation. She hurries toward the group.

Mike Holmes Jaffar sizes up Tez. "Tell my brother that my father wishes to parley. And..."

Mike Holmes Jaffar can't seem to cough up the remainder of the message.

Tez "And?"

Chimrea "I'm sorry I'm late," Chimrea says as she approaches, to announce her arrival and maybe break the tension crackling between Alquas and Jaffar, who she doesn't know. "What have I missed?"

Alquas "Spit it out if you must!" Alquas shouts, angrily, to Jaffar. "Then go!"

Mike Holmes Jaffar tries to ignore Chimrea coming from the same direction as he. He turns to Alquas and shouts, "Father says that if you come back he will forgive all. And..."

Mike Holmes This seems even harder for him to spit out.

Mike Holmes "It's my duty to tell you that you will replace me as his number one son."

Tez looks at Jaffar, then looks at Alquas, and back again. She giggles.

Alquas glowers darkly at his brother for a few moments. Then, "Are you done, Jaffar?"

Mike Holmes "Yes, quite," Jaffar spits out. "Any message in return? I expect we'll see you soon?"

Alquas "Tell my father I recieved his message. And tell him... tell him..."

Mike Holmes Jaffar waits impatiently, arms crossed.

Chimrea "That you can't put sunshine back outside of a room after the window is opened?" Chimrea suggests, looking at Jaffar thoughtfully as she sloshes past.

Alquas wishes he could say this qietly and still have his borther hear.

Alquas He takes a deep breath.

Alquas "Tell him I will think about it."

Tez "Do you like elves?"

Mike Holmes Jaffar is struck dumb by Alquas' response. He squints at his brother, sizing him up, and then says, "I'll tell him that."

Mike Holmes He then turns and exits quickly.

Mike Holmes He stops and looks at Tez.

...

Chimrea finishes squishing up to the rest of them. After Jaffar leaves, she looks at Alquas steadily and asks, "Did you mean that, or were you just getting rid of him?"

Alquas looks fixedly into the distance. "I didn't mean it." he says, quietly.

Chimrea grins at Alquas. "I knew that," she whispers. "I thought the others might need to hear it."

Alquas peers after Tez, chasing after his brother.

Agnes Coming out of her trance, Agnes notices Chimrea. "Ah! I'm so glad that you've come. Do you recall when you accompanied me into the White Woods in search of a cure for the elves? Arblak has been working on the problem since then. And his researches have paid off with a forumula to save them. I need some help, but I think I can help you, too. Can you tell us what Alquas owes to your Old Man Spider?"

Chimrea "That's wonderful," Chimrea says to Agnes. "I promised Old Man Spider I would bring him a spirit to serve him."

Agnes "Where will such a spirit come from? And is it your debt or Alquas'?"

Alquas is still staring into the distance, distractedly.

Chimrea "I made the promise, so properly it's my debt," Chimrea says. "As for where to find the spirit, I think he meant that I should bring him one of our dead, but I'm still figuring that out. Why?"

Agnes "I shall engage in a ritual this night and I believe that in doing so, I will have a spirit surplus to my needs. I thought you and Alquas could use it to get out of this predicament."

Alquas turns to look at Chimrea's reaction.

Chimrea tilts her head. "What spirit?"

Agnes "Mine, of course."

Agnes "...It is mine, right?"

Chimrea is aghast. "You're going to die?"

Agnes looks off in Tez' direction and winces. "Um...I'm going to transcend my need for this spirit." She gestures at her body and gives up trying to point to her spirit.

Chimrea "I don't think I understand," Chimrea says slowly. "If your spirit's gone, it would be a terrible thing for your body to still live. Is that what you're talking about?"

Agnes "Two truths have converged on this spot for me. Arblak needs my blood to cure the elves. All of it. Also, there is a most significant mental node beneath us. It is a thing sufficiently complex to house my mental essence and give me access to the Truth of existence. It is a thing which I would normally have to wait years and years to attain but I can feel some special link with this place. I must try."

Agnes "These things mean that my body, under normal circumstances would be wasted. But I hope to preserve it for future use. I have no need of the spirit and I _think_ that it would only cause harm by sticking around."

Chimrea opens, then closes her mouth. She shoots a look at Alquas, to see if he knows what Agnes is talking about.

Alquas "Don't look at me, Chimrea. It sounds perfectly insane to my ears."

Agnes scowls gently. "How's that?"

Alquas "Mind stored in metal? Mages have attempted such things, but the creations have always ended up as dead as the donors."

Agnes "Not in metal -- there is a net formed by minds that aggregate. It is possible for one to exist on that very network."

Agnes "This place is merely conducive to such an arrangement."

Chimrea "I don't know if what you're talking about would work at all," Chimrea says frankly to Agnes, "and to separate the spirit from the rest of you sounds terrible. But... if I could bring a willing spirit to Old Man Spider, I think that might be very important later. I don't know."

Agnes "I can't make you understand the mental ramifications of what I'm talking with these...just...words. If you want me to peer into your mind we can talk like that and you'll see." Agnes smiles. "But I suspect you're not that interested. In any case I _am_ making this offer. And...I could really use some help with this."

Chimrea takes a deep breath. "What do you need me to do?"

Agnes "Thanks."

Agnes "So, I might need help on two levels. First, Arblak may need help performing miscellaneous chores regarding the extraction of my blood and the preservation of the rest of my tissue. Then, I'll need help in my head. I can open a link with my own mental state that will allow you and the others to step in and help me to reach my center. I meditate, but this is going to be like...for real."

Alquas "This is madness, surely. You would give your own sould to a spider, and you think your... mind alone will live on without it?"

Alquas is looking at Agnes incredulously,

Alquas "i mean, animation, yes... but true sapience requires a soul, surely? It is not a thing to be discarded?"

Alquas "Perhaps I am not... these concepts do not translate well?"

Agnes First, as my father explains it the spirit and soul are different. Second, the center of thought is neither.

Alquas "Hrm. Then truly I do not understand."

Agnes "There are stories of others who have attained this higher state that I am seeking. We will follow their path inward."

Chimrea nods. "I will do my best to help."

Alquas "If... then, you wish to... transcened your mortal form... why the preservative? Do you intend to return to your body?"

Agnes reaches out, taking Chimrea's hand and giving it an affectionate squeeze. "Thank you. I am truly greatful." Her smile reflects both joy and sadness at the conflicts that Chimrea and Agnes have had.

Chimrea squeezes back, and her smile echoes Agnes'. "I said I was going to give you the same chance I would him," nodding at Alquas, "and that means trusting you. I'm scared for you, but lead and I'll follow."

Agnes "Oh, great question Alquas! Two reasons. If all goes perfectly, I'll be able to retain the body as a vessel through which I can influence this illusory 'physical' world. It is a way to retain my connection with, among other things, you all. But also, you guys need to see my father and Ohidnar. He will be able to prepare my body no matter what happens. That is my final request -- though hopefully not so literally."

Agnes "Please take my body to my father and you will have a look at the Murlogi world and perhaps even the High King himself."

Alquas pondrs a moment. "i do not fully comprehend what you are trying to do, Agnes. But if Chimrea thinks it is the right thing, I will aid you."

Chimrea gulps a bit at that declaration, but does her best to hide it.

Agnes "Ah, and here is our friend, Arblak. Midnight must be drawing near."

Mike Holmes The group settles in to the long work of making sure that the preparations are made correcly.

Mike Holmes Or correctly.

Chimrea does her best--her rituals are probably very different from Agnes', but she still has an eye for the sort of things that must be observed.

Mike Holmes As they do the preparation, Agnes tells everyone what is to be expected. Alquas and the others realize that this involves them all going to the "realm of the mind" where the illusory physical world will be thrown off.

Mike Holmes And the landscape will become that of Agnes' mind.

Alquas "Chimrea, are yous ure about this? If you want my help I will follow, but..." He looks uneasy at the thought of traipsing around Agnes' mental landscape.

Chimrea "I think it might be important for me to go," Chimrea answers gravely. "But it will be dangerous, and I can't in fairness ask you to risk yourself." She smiles. "I admit I'd feel better with you to watch out for me, though."

Alquas nods. "Then I'll come."

Agnes gestures for those who are accompanying her to breathe deeply of the incense that she is burning and to join hands.

Agnes Her eyes glaze hard and her pupils narrow to a pinpoint as the drugs seize the flesh surrounding her mind, helping to free her from the illusion.

Tez clasps Agnes' hand and grins, inhaling the incense and feeling the heartbeats of her friends shift from the random, unaligned beats to a strange harmony

Kerem wanders by, bored. "Hey, guys, what's up?"

Alquas "The ritual has started, Zhanjiir. You are late."

Kerem "xxx

Kerem runs in, irritated. "Hey, guys. What's up?"

Agnes stares at Kerem as he approaches, already losing track of the illusory world.

Kerem "What ritual? What are you DOING?"

Alquas "Agnes wishes to transfer her mind into... well, somewhere."

Agnes "Come, friend."

Alquas "I am hazy on the details."

Kerem "..."

Kerem "Chim?"

Chimrea "We're going inside Agnes' mind," Chimrea says, trying to concentrate through the filter of orchid fumes. "She wants to join part of herself to a collective she's found here, and give the rest to Old Man Spider for my debt." She sounds a little dazed.

Kerem "...uh...okay. I guess...what do you need me to do?"

Mike Holmes *

Agnes "Breathe...come...ride..."

Mike Holmes *

Mike Holmes The world seems to fade away, the smoke becoming something else, and a sense of weightlessness coming over everyone.

Agnes Each participant experiences different aspects of the same thing. It is as if, together, they are having to squeeze through a tight and squishy tunnel into the brightest pitch-black not imaginable. After an endless few moments it is over and they are together in a cold open cavern with no visible walls or ceiling.

Agnes Panting, "Ooof...that was harder than I expected."

Alquas blinks.

Alquas "Your mind is emptier than I expected, Zhanjiir."

Kerem "It's about as dark as I assumed it would be."

Alquas looks for Chimrea.

Tez blinks. "That was fun. What do we do now?"

Mike Holmes In the distance, beyond the verges of Agnes' mind, there is another mind somehow also perceptible. Small, weak, but there, nonetheless. Agnes knows it's the mentality of the dome, to be dealt with later.

---

Mike Holmes "Me?" he asks. He considers the question for a moment. "Elves are weak. We will conquer Lys one day, and take their arts."

Tez "You'll take their arts? Then what?"

Mike Holmes Jaffar seems to be somewhat interested by Tez, "We'll take their arts, and then we'll conquer the Itanians. And then the Ikaiti. And the world, eventually. It is foretold."

Tez "Then what?"

Mike Holmes Then the world will end, and an age will dawn where all will live in the glory of Z'taar, who will create new worlds for us to conquer. And so on into the end of time."

Tez "Doesn't that get boring after a while?"

Mike Holmes "There is no glory and honor, but the glory and honor of war. You, obviously, have never tasted it, or you could not ask such a question," he says dismissively.

Tez laughs.

Tez "I've killed before. It was fun."

Mike Holmes Jaffar is taken aback by Tez's cavalier attitude toward slaying. "Did you kill with honor?"

Tez "I killed for my god. That is honorable. How do you kill with honor?"

Mike Holmes Jaffar waves her off, sure she's jesting. "I have no time for such tall tales. I have to be back to my father."

Tez "I went to the realm of Z'taar once." she says, off-handedly.

Mike Holmes Jaffar shakes his head patronizingly. "Do not say such things. It is blasphemy. I should have to slay you where you stand by my people's custom, should you go on like this."

Tez "That's not very nice of you. I'm not lying or anything."

Mike Holmes Jaffar tries to guage Tez. "You... you're serious, aren't you."

Mike Holmes "OK," he says with a smile.

Tez "I followed the Praelector."

Mike Holmes Jaffar was about to offer up a challenge, but this stops him short. "The Praelector? Who was sent to meet with my father? He has gone to see Z'taar in his mighty hall?"

Tez "Your father sent him huh?"

Mike Holmes "No, he was sent to meet with my father, I said. He had some business, we've heard, and he seems to have disappeared."

Tez "He tried to kill Alquas."

Mike Holmes Jaffar does another stare at Tez, designed to see if she's lying. "Why would he do that?"

Mike Holmes "What has my brother done?" he demands, sudddenly

Tez shrugs. "He was sent to kill you all. Alquas was just first on his list."

Mike Holmes "Then why are you not all dead?" he asks, smugly.

Mike Holmes "Starting with Alquas."

Tez grins. "We caught him trying to kill Alquas, and wounded him. He ran. We followed him, hurt him. He surrendered. I was going to keep him, but Akalatan was hungry."

Mike Holmes "Akalatan? The serpent god? You're saying that the Praelector is... dead? Mahbe worse? His soul eaten by a snake god?" Jaffar seems to be on the verge of becoming incensed.

Tez doesn't look like much, despite the sheathed sword and the shield across her back. She is a woman, after all, and clearly pregnant. She doesn't seem to quite focus on Jaffar when she talks to him, more...speaking through him. The tilt of her head and glimmer of red in the depths of her eyes seem unconscious. "He is dead. His soul passed on."

Mike Holmes Jaffar has heard more than he knows what to do with, "I cannot tell what of what you say is truth, and what is lies. But I think you've done some wrong to somebody important to my people," he pauses for a while. And then, "You must come to see my father."

Tez tilts her head to the other side. "I can't. I have to help Agnes. Maybe later though."

Mike Holmes Jaffar draws his sword. "That was not a request."

Tez grins. "Is this how you fight with honor?"

Mike Holmes He looks furtively towards the others in the distance, and back toward the city, to see if anyone can see him threatening her.

Mike Holmes "You demand fair combat?" Jaffar asks

Mike Holmes "I thought I'd already won."

Tez "Really? How does that work?"

Mike Holmes "Are you challenging me?" Jaffar asks, clearly in a state of cultural confusion.

Tez "What's the difference between a challenge and hitting someone with a sword?"

Tez does not seem particularly bothered by being left alone with the warrior.

Mike Holmes "Honor," says Jaffar.

Mike Holmes "Are you coming with me? Or fighting me? Or forcing me to use force?" says Jaffar, trying to communicate.

Tez "Alquas says that honorable men don't hit women."

Mike Holmes "Well of course not," says Jaffar. "That would be dishonorable to strike a lesser. But that assumes a lesser, and not an enemy. You seem to be the latter. And I will take you one way or the other."

Mike Holmes "So what's it to be?" he brandishes the sword.

Tez draws her own sword and shield. "I'm not your enemy, unless you want me to be."

Mike Holmes "

Mike Holmes "OK, we do this your way," says Jaffar, obviously overconfident in his own abilities.

Tez grins. "Honorable combat." She unties the bloodied bandage from her arm, and ties back her hair with it. She drops into a fighting stance, her eyes gleaming. She watches the way he moves, compares it to how Alquas moves, and tries to anticipate his movements.

Mike Holmes Jaffar makes an undisciplined lunge, and soon learns his lesson. Tez's sword comes close to taking his head off, and he realizes that she's holding back some. His assessment of her altered, he takes a more serious fighting position himself. He is quite a competent fighter, as he makes a much better attack.

Mike Holmes But Tez is still by far the better warrior, and motivated here as well. After a short dance back and forth, finally Tez has Jaffar by the throat, her sword pointed at it, and his sword some two paces off from them where it had flown due to a very well executed disarmament maneuver. Her hand, holding his neck, glows red, and fear shows in Jaffar's eyes.

Mike Holmes "You win," he says, swallowing his pride yet again today. "What now?"

Tez "Tell your father I'll send for him when I'm ready to talk to him." She touches one of his wounds and licks the blood from her finger thoughtfully. "Or you can stay with me and help." She releases him, and finds a convenient broad leaf to paint with his blood, looking to see if it will be useful in the upcoming ritual.

Mike Holmes Jaffar looks over to the dome area, and frowns, not wanting any part of it, "I'll tell my father."

Mike Holmes He turns cautiously to leave.

Tez "wait."

Tez "I think the going rate for passing through realms alive is ten drams."

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