Drax’l Ak’bethir gazed eastward, ever eastward. The two moons, Trammel and Felucca, had already disappeared behind the horizon, leaving the forest in a deepening shadow. The stars seemed to intensify in their luminesence with the absence of their lunar cousins. The dark elf pulled his piwafwi closer about his shoulders and gazed over the canopy of darkness, cursing the brightness of the stars he pulled his hood down lower and mulled over the events of the past few days, pondering their meaning.

Saeba had been missing now for quite a few days. This was not good.. but somehow he didn’t think this Sunveil was responsible. Saeba had always been unpredictable, it would not do for her to jeopardize their mission in this way. She must be found and soon or heads would roll, and he would make sure his was not among them…

The discovery of the strangely different darthiiri Myra Sunveil in the tower was another puzzle. She claimed Ilythiiri blood, but she bore no evidence of it. He had let that go.. for now. He knew neither of them had revealed anything of import that evening. It was a sparring match.. two opponents testing each other. But were they truly that opposite? Drax’l’s mind flashed back to what the Matron Mother had once told him, “Drax’l.. listen to usstan.. dossta strength gets dos far ussa dalharuk, but… remember this.. dos can sometimes catch more flies with honey than with vinegar… dos understand?” Drax’l did understand. It was why Sunveil still lived. In fact, he had gone one better, asking a question he thought may be far from the mark, but still striking the target. He had not been sure if this was the one Saeba had been meeting in secret. He knew now that it was. But perhaps if this darthiiri knew more, she could be useful. Better to give her reason to come back. A slow, wry smile faintly touched his lips, “Sssunveil… ulnin udos zhal kyorl vel'bol dos llaar zhaun… xas…”

Then there was the matter of that raven haired rivvil, Alyzia. He had seen and spoken briefly with her near the darthiir village. What she had told him he could scarcely believe. She had asked him if he knew anything about a sword named Wrath! Feigning ignorance, he denied the knowledge. Legends such as that don’t simply come to life…. do they? He had not the time that day to discuss it further, but he would find this rivvil again. This time they would talk at length.. and on his terms, and he would know what she knew.

Drax’l hated the surface. The sun, the darthiir, the smelly rank humans and the rest. “Oloth plynn dos jal….” he muttered under his breath. What had at first seemed so simple was becoming too convoluted… he would need to send a message soon. He wished it was better news.