From alt.pub.dragons-inn Wed Nov 30 09:51:28 1994 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:7911 Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Path: netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!malgudi.oar.net!sun!vax.cns.muskingum.edu!hsexauer From: hsexauer@muskingum.edu (Rapunzel) Subject: [Legacy] Object of the quest Message-ID: <1994Nov28.145821.1@muskingum.edu> Lines: 131 Sender: root@sun.cns.muskingum.edu (Operator) Organization: Muskingum College Date: Mon, 28 Nov 1994 19:58:21 GMT Laurenth started at the sound of a scuffling coming up the stairs. She scanned the hall helplessly for a hiding place, realizing too late that there was really no where to hide. At best, she scooted down next to Xel'eman's case in hopes that she could keep it between herself and the newcomers until she could escape down the stairs. The mage had been so absorbed in contemplation of the murals that she had neglected to consider this eventuality. She ducked her head and pressed close against the case. A decorative knob pushed uncomfortably into her back. She peeked around the case furtively. She could see the shadows of the newcomers thrown into relief on the mosaic floor by the bright light from the crystal spire. They had paused at the top of the stairs as she had to let their eyes adjust. In a moment she hunched back out of sight, waiting for them to advance. "Well if I hadn't seen their architectural style before I'd never believe it," came a familiar voice. Laurenth released her pent up breath with a sigh of relief upon hearing the valeman's voice. She quickly stood to face them, unwittingly alarming them. Ruel choked back a shout and hauled back on Aleric's arm, preventing him from disemboweling her on the spot. The Lyorn had instinctively lashed out with Xel'ha as soon as he perceived a threat. "Dear god! Don't you know better than to do that Laurenth?" Aleric demanded as he unwound the tension from his lean frame. "I could have killed you before I even knew who you were!" He raked his fingers through his hair and forced himself to relax. "If I had known initially it was you I wouldn't have been hiding in the first place," she retorted tartly. The Lyorn gaped at her. "What am I supposed to do: shout ahead that I'm coming up now, anyone not expecting me forget I'm here?!?" Laurenth giggled in spite of herself. "I truly am sorry, Aleric. But I wasn't expecting it to be you. I figured it would be Jaerodyn and Durstrin who found me first." Ruel held out a forestalling hand before Aleric could answer. "Where's Kia? Wasn't she with you? We heard a report that you four had split up, but Kia was supposed to be with you." He surveyed the hall quickly to make sure he hadn't missed the Lyorn girl's presence. "She was," Laurenth began slowly, "until we were found by Shekiren. We had to split up then, and she led them away intending to rejoin me later. I haven't seen her since." She patently refused to voice her suspicion, that the girl had been injured, or cut off so that she was unable to regroup. "How long ago was this?" Aleric asked quickly, stepping closer to Laurenth urgently. "Close to two hours I think." Ruel and Aleric exchanged worried looks. "We overheard some of the plans the Shekiren were making," the valeman explained, "and they were particularly interested in making Kia and Jaer one of them. Their plans for the rest of you were only marginally more appealing. Death would be better than that any time." "And there is no way I can even tell where she might be," Laurenth mourned, wringing her hands. This news added an unpleasant cast to her prior fears, making her wish she hadn't acceded to the Lyorn girl's wishes. "But maybe there's still time to find her before.... that, happens." She swallowed convulsively. "Is Tierge with my brother then?" Aleric asked, remembering nothing mentioned about the other mage in the Shekiren's councils. "She's obviously not with you or Kia." Laurenth paused, biting her lip. She'd forgotten these three had no idea what happened to the rest of their party, or of Tierge's death. "No, I'm afraid not. She was killed in the courtyard when we came in. The tiger stayed behind to watch over her." She spoke in a rush, trying to get the words out before she could feel their impact. The others understood the implications immediately, and were showing grief over her death. There was little else to say about it now, so they left that issue for later attention. Laurenth turned quickly to the case which had been obscured until this time by her body. She heard the others catch their breath when she stepped aside, revealing the celestial blade in its case. "However, the situation is not entirely bleak. I did find what we came for." Aleric ran his hands over the glass reverently, yet feeling a sense of familiarity as he studied the blade. "You couldn't take it out?" he surmised. "Didn't try. I wouldn't be able to lift it anyway, right?" she replied. "I was going to leave that to Jaerodyn." The Lyorn didn't say anything. He felt the glass case along the seams, deciding how it would open. Then he settled for lifting the entire cover off, and set it carefully on the tiles beside the base. Xel'eman pulsed slightly, as if in response to Xel'ha's presence which had been registering the celestial blade's presence since entering Highspire. Hesitating a bit with hand hovering over the hilt, Aleric heard anew a fragment of the prophecy flitting through his mind. Firming his resolve and dismissing the fragment, he closed his fingers around Xel'eman's grip and lifted it off the base. A tremor ran through his hand from the blade, stabbing him with a shock of chilling malevolence. At the same time a sound like a screeching banshee echoed throughout not only the hall but all of Highspire. Some minute aspect in the celestial blade's nature cringed from Aleric's palm. The feeling of revulsion emanating from the sword touched not only Aleric, but the others as well. It ceased the banshee wail, but the sensation did not change. "Ah hellfire," Aleric swore. "I should have paid closer attention to the prophecy. It warned us about that." -- hsexauer@muskingum.edu DIPLOMACY: The ability to tell someone to go to Hell so that they'll look forward to making the trip.