Life continues..

[Phelan]

Phelan smiled a wicked smile. "Why not you?" phelan said.

[Nikkii O'seth]

"Oh you would love that wouldn't you?.... You think I want to see that little disgrace of an elf or put myself in her mercy? You would make great bait yourself... She liked the attention she got from you. And you simpleton.... I hate walking around in forest."

Naldany and Darlena looked at them both then each other. Darlena was amused with Nikkii's outburst, but thought about it some. Keyra would be less likely to attacker her first off, but Phelan might be could be too.

Naldany raised her hand. "Phelan cannot see Keyra when she hides herself from those with non-arcane sight, nor can her detect a lycanthrope. And also my dear aunt...... he can't heal poisons or infections like you can."

Nikkii couldn't believe what she was hearing from Naldany, but on the other hand it made sense.

"Keyra might still have some sick bond with you still an that might make her less aggressive.... The only other problem is what to do with her once she is out in the open. "

"She would smell any others if they hide with mother.... I surgest making her go somewhere that other smell will override hers."Darlena noted. "The only place near here that that could happen is the clockwork village to the north... the smell of fires, oil and metal dull my smell sense."

"Wait a minute I never agreed to do this..... I refuse." Nikkii objected. "An if I remeber right there is very little tree coverage or foliage of any type there."

The women thought to themselves for a moment.

"Phelan... these woods use to be your home maybe if luring her out isn't possible then where would someone like her hide?" Naldany whispered.

[Phelan]

"I honestly doubt she is hiding. She probably moves from place to place roaming where she pleases and killing any in her way." Phelan answered her and waited a second before continuing.

"Do my ears decieve me?! I am stunned." Phelan said in mock disbelief. "Nikkii, the great hunter, afraid of a wee elf?!" Phelan making a great show of being shocked to the core. "How could it be that you ran this house, if you would shirk away from an enemy that you yourself twisted and created?" Phelan said.

[Nikkii O'seth]

"You're right I did make her, but it didn't take much coaxing to make her the way she is. And I never go into a conflict with myself not having the upper hand. Only hot heads an the bleeding hearted do so. I disagree with you further more hearing that Keyra roams..... she was a pitiful hunter when it came to moving about. She always needed a return point, her direction over a distance was terrible, she would panic." Nikkii said approaching Phelan.

"That was Keyra then ... a twisted child.....an quite normal. Now is Keyra a grown twisted lycanthrope. So if she roams then she might have a favorite spot to ambush travelers.." Darlena said.

Naldany thought for a moment then took Phelan's hand.

"It's nearly time for the counsel meeting an we shall be going."

Nikkii nodded an Naldany took Phelan with her.

"I wanted you to come with me because I can ask the member where most attacks on teir'dal have taken place. It might not alert them to anything and I would like them to see the man of the house as well."

[Phelan]

Phelan walked with Naldany in the lead to the council. Nikkii glared at his back so hard he could feel it. 'Ah, just like old times. It's too bad really, we were on far friendlier terms right before I died.' Phelan thought as they approached the ancient looking building.

The doors stood open to admit the council members from the houses. Nikkii stepped infront and took the lead in. Phelan looked around the council chamber, it was still the ornate old dome that it had been before guilded in gold and rubies. Phelan's eyes met with the head of the council, he nodded a slight nod, the ancient man gaped at the sight of Phelan.

Phelan took a seat next to Naldany in the open room. Phelan was slightly suprised that the head of the council was still alive.

"Glad to see he is still breathing, he owes me a favor or two." Phelan said in a whisper to Naldany. She arched an eyebrow at him, but sat quiet and Phelan merely smiled and winked at her.

[Nikkii O'seth]

The meeting was going as it normally would dull and boring, full of their own selfish goals. Naldany sat at the edge of her seat awaiting a chance to voice something on the devil-elf attacks. Nikkii on the other hand was making eyes at some of the other house leaders across the room. Finally the head of the cousil acknowledged the O'seth house. Naldany stood up an took a deep breath.

"Your grace, I ask you an the members of this counsil their opinion on a serious matter.... my house an other houses I know have had members attacked by one calling themself the devil elf."

The head of the counsil leaned back in his chair an massaged his eyes. "My dear.... I'm glad to see you stepping up and participating more in Neriak affairs, but we see this person as more of a nuisence than an actual threat... but granted I this elf is causing the humans an elves to watch us more closely I will have some information sent to you."

Naldany bowed an retook her seat. "Phelan do you think he took me seriously?"

[Phelan]

"I doubt it. They don't view this as a problem. The council probably wouldn't mind a full out war with the elves anyways, so they will wait until the last possible second to do something about this. They will send you the information though to appease you, so if that was the goal then it was acheived. I will talk to the old man later in private and see what I can find out as well." Phelan said in hushed tones.

Phelan made sure to catch the eye of the head of the council once more and nodded towards his private council chambers. The old man gave the slightests of nods. All around the room, silent gestures were made and acknowleged, encompassing everything from assasination attempts to saying hi. Phelan sighed, he really did despise some of his race's behaviors.

[Nikkii O'seth]

"That was kinda my goal here but it also upsets me some to see that they don't care how big of a threat Keyra can be.... I guess it would take her sneaking in here an burning down their houses to make them care... We know she is capable of this it's only a matter of time before she does this." Naldany said leading against Phelan.

Now a member of the J'narus was speaking on the human attacks on their outposts an attempting to gain permission to wage their own attack on the closesthuman settlement. There was many mixed feeling on the issue,but in the end he was granted permission by the counsil leads. Nearly an hour later the meeting adjorned an wasn't soon enough for Nikkii, she got up an left out as soon as she could. Naldany an Phelan stood up too, the head of the counsil was waiting for Phelan. Naldany kissed him on the cheek and let him go.

"Don't be too long..... I will check on Aramis for you." Naldany said as she walked off to catch up to Nikkii.

Naldany quickly made it back to the house an went straight to where Aramis was doing his routines. He had stopped an was sitting down sulking.

"Aramis.... Darlena got hurt doing what she felt was right, it not something for you to dwell on."

"Mom she was hurt because I was weak an careless. Father has me doing these steps but I want more...... I accept that I have much more to learn, but I don't want to waist time learning slowly." Aramis said complaining.

Naldany placed her hand on Aramis. "Son I will teach you some spells to help but I don't want you running off to fight her or using them on your father..... "

[Phelan]

Phelan made his way over to the elderly head of the council. The man was shorter than Phelan by at least 2 hands, his eyes a dull red color and he walked with a limp. The man looked as Phelan remembered him before he had died.

"Hello again." Phelan said with a smile.

"Lord O'Seth? is it again?" The old man said with a smile as well.

"Yes, I figured things didn't go right for me the last time, why fight what fate has handed you?" Phelan said.

"Ahh, a most intresting philosophy." The old man said heading for the private chambers. "So what is it that you want, then?"

"Well really just information at the moment. I can offer you some, you can offer me some and the Neriak will continue going round and round." Phelan said as the door closed behind him.

"Ahh I see, well what is it that you are looking for exactly?" Came the frail voice.

"I want to know, what you know about the so called 'devil-elf'."

"Oh, that. I told you we would send over a report of what the council knows, with in the hour. If that will be all."

"Sir, I'm not sure you are aware of what you are up against. We are talking about a person that has yet to bested by the best warriors of Neriak. I know who she is and I am telling you that you have a big problem as long as she is killing people. This won't pass over, this won't just go away. The humans have some great warriors as do the elves, however none of the will beat her either, because they don't realize what she is.

We are talking about an Elven hunter, who was an apprentice to a well known person in Neriak. Which twister her mind beyond belief, now she is something more, she is a Lycan also. She easily could cut through a cadre of guards from Neriak. Do you understand what this means?"

"Yes, yes, we know. We don't care. If it aggitates the Elves into a war with us, then perfect; we will finally be able to wipe them from the land. If the humans start, we'll finish them too. Unless this she elf comes into our borders fully, we are not going to do anything, period." The old man said, his voice growing stronger as he continued.

"Very well, if that is the case, then you seal your fate. She will be coming here." Phelan said.

"You know that I owe you no favors... I destroyed the houses that sat where Seladria once did. The council had been informed that Seladria would be requesting reconsitution and they were ready to vote yes and give you a seat. Our deal was completed, it isn't my fault that you died in battle.

But obviously you didn't die, since you are standing before me drawing breath. However, my debt was paid in full."

"Oh I did die sir, very much so, but I am back now. I still know of your previous dealings with the elves, I have contacts with in the elven community also. Trust me, there are still terms upon which to make bargains." Phelan said before leaving.

"Wait!" The old man said and Phelan turned. "Does it hurt?"

"Does what hurt?" Phelan asked truly puzzled.

"Dying? Does it hurt?" The man asked looking down at his desk ashamed.

"No, it was quite peacefull." Phelan said and then walked out the door.

With his memory mostly restored he decided to head over to Patryas' house and see what had become of his childhood friend. As he weaved through the mess of houses, he entered a courtyard. There stood Patryas' house, looking as foreboding as ever. Phelan went to the door and knocked.

He waited for awhile and there came no answer. He tried to peer through the windows, but the house seemed to suck the light and no relinquish it. Phelan shrugged and headed home.

[Nikkii O'seth]

Naldany showed Aramis how to focus more energy into a solid point. This was a spell that Naldany was fond of using at one point in time. An aura formed around her an the sword, and soon the aura formed into tiny shards like daggers an with a slight twitch they flew from her an stuck into the wall infront of her.

"Now this is a spell for someone that always attacks from the front.... it's not very powerful but if enough of the shards hit, they won't be going anywhere fast. I think of it as thousands of tiny cuts, one won't be but a minor bother but one hundred would be much more serious.I did do this to your father ...... and no I will not go into it with you." Naldany kissed him on the cheek before heading out. "You pactice that but keep doing what your father instructed....I will be checking in on your sister an cousin."

Aramis smirked and nodded to her before he continued to do his training. "Oh yes mother I will.... I'll get that elf .... and then father...." He said in a hushed tone.

***

Out in the forest Keyra perched herself high up in a tree overlooking the halfling settlement. She watched the people come and go, the strong the weak, and the weathly.

"You're an outcast..... they won't accept you, they want to hurt you." A voice went thru her head. "They will take you home from you... you must protect us."

"No .... it's wrong, I'm tired of hurting people...." Keyra covered her ears an spoke to herself. "I protect the forest from those that do harm."

"The more of them that come the more they take.... there will be no more of us... stop them."

"I am only one I can't possibly stop them all."Keyra said

"Turn them Keyra.. Lycanthrope care for the forest an you can have a new family.."

Keyra smiled with a toothy grin. "Yes my own pack..... Yes then I will not be lonely any more..... I will have a family and a home."

[Phelan]

Phelan found his way to his room. It lacked the warmth that it had before he had died. Naldany had gone through great lengths to decorate the room then, now it was just plain. That was the way Phelan perferred things, but his heart ached that she had suffered so much because of him. He sat down on the bed with his head in his hands.

'Why is it that I always hurt those that I love? Why does fate bring suffering to those in my life? Do I seek out this kind of thing? It must be my fault...perhaps if I just quit worrying about others and just focused on number 1, my family and me, perhaps then we could be happy.'

Phelan closed his eyes and sunk into thoughts and the what if's of the past. The room seemed to disolve and nothing mattered but his thoughts.

[Nikkii O'seth]

Darlena has finally has the strength to get up from the bed only to be brought news of a new attack rumored to have happened. Olantar came in accompained by Blexanu.

"My' lady an outpost of ours observed an attack on some halflings."

"Halflings.... why does that interest." Darlena asked covering herself.

"These halflings wasn't killed but was infected.... they became like you.... so to speak." Blexanu stated, Darlena raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean? Like me how?" She said.

"What my second is saying is they became lycanthropes, they was killed by our gaurdsmen posted out there an we suffered a loss of one..... They was not fully changed." Olantar said

"Inform my mother an tell Phelan of this..... and I want a tighter watch placed on Aramis. I might have to go after her myself."


Naldany walked about reading the report that was sent to her, it was not a very good report more like a summery of somethings. Naldany went to place the papers in her room and apon opening the door she saw Phelan laying down on the bed. She looked about the room an was a bit embarrassed that it looked so stale an plain now. She sat next to him an rubbed his chest.

"They gave me this report but it barely scratches the surface of what we need to know.... just mainly attacks along the river an on the north border... we still have a few hours maybe till dinner will be served so how about getting your wardrobe fixed again." Naldany said smilling.

[Phelan]

Phelan jolted slightly at her touch, he hadn't heard her enter the room. He opened his eyes and left his thoughts nagging at him like bats in the night.

"Sorry, you startled me. Umm... sorry what did you say?" Phelan said a bit disoriented.

"Are you feeling well?" Naldany asked a bit concerned.

"I'm fine, just alot on my mind thats all." He said with a smile. "You were saying?"

"Oh, I was just saying that this report really doesn't say much, it just accounts attacks along the river and upon the northern border...... This can wait till later, though. Dinner will be soon, how about we get your wardrobe proper again?" She said smiling.

"Sure thing love. How about the normal black leather pants with the white shirt?" Phelan said hopefully, but Naldany pursed her lips and scrunched her nose and he knew that he would have no such luck.

[Nikkii O'seth]

"Nope not for your status my love.. I think more of a gold trim and black.... And for a shirt I think a deeper shade of red also with gold trimming."

Naldany had stopped looking at his clothing and focus more on Phelan's features. She inched closer to him seeking his touch once more. She kissed him on the lips and it was then a loud banging on their door occured. Phelan sighed and hopped up to see who it was.

"This better be important."Naldany said playfully.

Phelan smiled back and opened the door to see Olantar an Blexanu.

"My'lord and .... My'lady I was told by madam Darlena to inform you on the attack that just occured. Olantar briefed Phelan as quietly as he could to keep Naldany from over hearing. Naldany's ears twitched atempting to hear what they was saying but could not do so.

[Phelan]

"Do not pursue her until we have decided a course of action. Ask Darlena what she wishes to do and tell her Naldany and I would like to discuss a course of action after dinner." Phelan said. "oh and Olantar...."

"Yes my'lord?" Olantar replied.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not a lord." Phelan said with a chuckle and patted him on the shoulder. "It's good to see you again my friend."

Olantar grinned at him and left with Blexanu trailing after him.

Phelan turned back to Naldany, who was leaning forward obviously trying to figure out what was going on. Pheland smiled at her and closed the door and bolted it.

"What was that all about?" She said, obvioulsy expecting to know.

"Oh... that was about another attack, thats all. I told him that we would talk to Darlena tonight about coming up with a course of action..... Now about those clothes." Phelan said as he pulled off his shirt.