Jeice frowned, as if the phrase triggered a bad taste in his mouth.
"We should-"
The next word out of his mouth was "go," but it was drowned out by a deafening CRACK! sound. The floor shook. Outside the embassy, the outer wall had just split four stories up. The building groaned as it leaned a few inces to the west.

Jeice rushed to the door, meaning to get to a window and look outside.

Outside, the guards regained their footing to find a single cloaked figure, somewhat short, but completely hidden stand up from the start of a small crack in the pavement that led to a huge fissure in the buildings west wall.

---

Jeice stepped off the rickety boat, his boots thudding appreciably on the aged and water worn dock. His eyes moved up the slope of thick mist, knee high, that blanketed the bramble flanked trail up the side of the island. The full moon illuminated the fog, giving high contrast to the foliage and sand stone ridges of the coast. The humidity was thick despite the cold weather, and Jeice took a second to wipe a thick coating of moisture off his brow with a gloved hand. He turned to his companion, a sly looking Ice Borne who appeared to appreciate the weather much more than Jeice.

"I don't understand why you're so interested in coming along. I guess no amount of hints that you should mind your own business were could be sufficient," Jeice glared at Seth.

"Oy, didn't occur to you that we both have business on the same island? Neither of us felt like sharing on the way here..." Seth slid a hand through his greased mop of black hair, glaring back at Jeice, mimicking his scowl to mock the sterner fellow.

Jeice ignored Seth's baiting and started walking up the dock to the trail.
"Where exactly on this uninhabited hunk is your business?" Jeice said without looking back at the weaselly prick following him.

Seth caught back up and grabbed Jeices sleeve.
"That hilltop. There's something there I need to take care of. Something, if you tag along, you should best keep to yourself, Jeicey-boy."

Jeice didn't yank his sleeve from Seth's grasp and punt the slightly older but even smaller asshole back down the trail for his insolence. Instead he looked at the hilltop and grimaced. It was precisely where he, himself was headed. Jeice hoped Seth wasn't here for the same thing. Jeice had no desire to fight Seth. The thin, mousy bastard made no attempt to hide his nature but almost flaunted it. Seth radiated power and confidence.

"Lead the way," Jeice muttered, and followed Seth for two hours, until the moon was a fat white orb directly overhead, and the whole hillside glowed.

Upon reaching the hilltop, Jeice's heart sank to the heels of his boots. Where a smooth flat plateau once was, an unnatural raised hump with a small cave opening was in it's place.

Quickly, Seth darted forward into the cave. Jeice's eyes widened and he ran after Seth.

The cave entrance led down a steep grade hundreds of feet into the heart of the small mountain. Seth nimbly leapt down the rocky ramp with Jeice following close behind.

Seth turned suddenly and a bolt of cold air leapt from his hand, pummeling Jeice into the side wall of the cavern, freezing him to the wall.

"Sorry friend, but this is for your own good! With any luck I'll be back in no time. Stay frosty!"
Seth continued into the darkness like a blur, leaving Jeice stunned and pinned to the wall.

After a minute, Jeice managed to come back to full consciousness. He needed to use his power to keep his heart beating. The ice coating his torso was brutally cold, harder than steel.

The next few seconds deafening roars and flashing lights came up from the tunnel, screeches and inhuman sounding bellows. The walls shook and wet dirt and bits of rock fell over Jeices face. He concentrated, his now blue face contorting in effort as he fought to free himself. The noises grew in intensity, and the wall he was stuck to began to shift as an earthquake shook through the now hollow mountain.

The exact moment Jeice managed to break the ice and stumble away from the wall the cacophony stopped abruptly. Jeice clumsily staggered down the tunnel to a cathedral like cavern. He illuminated himself with electric energy, lighting the cave.

Blood scored the walls, cracked and cratered. Jeice moved faster, searching for Seth. After a few seconds, he found a ragged, bloody and unrecognizable body splayed out on the floor. He knelt to examine it. Was it Seth?

No sound alerted him, but Jeice whirled around in a crouch and thick lightning bolts flew from his hands. A shower of blinding sparks and a loud CRACK emitted from a few feet overhead and a large white beast thumped to the ground in front of him. He stood, battle ready, but the beast remained prone. The dragon, yes a dragon, was already injured. Knives of glass like ice stuck out from it's body like porcupine quills. It's eyes, still open, were half rolled up into it's head. Unconscious, but Jeice didn't think for long. It wasn't bleeding much, despite it's wounds and it's belly heaved with steady, unfettered breath. Jeice continued quickly past it deeper into the cavern, searching for what he'd left in this mountain years ago.

When he stepped into the next chamber, a grunt of surprise escaped him and he stepped backwards, nearly tripping. A naked young woman hung in mid air, limbs splayed, eyes closed. She was encased in a bluish aura that revolved around her. The aura was spherical and bright but did not give it's light to the room, nor illuminate it. Jeice sensed what he came for was close, and looked around, but his eyes snapped back to the girl. She was still there, motionless, but when Jeice had looked away he had seen her writhing and lashing in the corner of his vision. He looked left and it happened again. Frightened, he circled left, keeping his gaze directly on the girl. She was beautiful and her body very well proportioned. Was she what Seth had came for? Now behind her his eyes roamed her back, which was a roadmap of deep, crisscrossing ropey scars.

Jeice used his power to vibrate the iron shelf in the back of the cavern, magnetically charging the ore, causing it to crack open like a shell, revealing a long, beautiful black sword sheath, adorned in gold and housing a curved scimitar of exceptional quality. But as Jeice turned back, he saw the dragon again in the doorway, the only exit to the cavern. It looked extremely angry. 

It snarled weakly, gingerly favoring one of his legs but the partially shredded wings acted as a second set of limbs. The eyes glanced to the woman between them, the glow around her pulsing. She was dropped unceremoniously to the hard ground and the glow disappeared except for the glowing mark on her chest. The glow of hot coals reflected from the dragons eyes, but he was too weak to move. Instead, it spoke. "If you harm her... by the gods I will destroy you." It said, his voice masculine and in pain. He made no move to stop the Borne however.

Jeice stood still, holding his prized possession in both hands, keeping eye contact with the dragon. The only light in the small chamber came from the glowing mark on the girl's chest, and the faint pale glow that radiated from Jeice. The girls slumped form was lit by Jeices aura, and he couldn't help glancing down at her. He told himself it was just to stay aware of all possible threats, but in truth he had never seen a naked woman before and could not keep from looking at her exceptional body. He was too amped up and scared to think about the glowing mark that he should have recognized. His eyes quickly went back to the dragon.

"I didn't come here for her, but the corpse in the next cavern apparently did. He has many friends, and I doubt any of us are safe here." Jeice held still, trying to think of what movement the dragon would make to signify eminent attack. Thankfully he was able to stay relatively calm. Dragons were supposed to be extinct, after all.

The dragon growled again and tossed his head dislodging some of the icicles. "She can't move. Not now. You are not leaving here now. You will help her, now that I cannot. You brought that borne here, now we are in danger." Another loud noise reverberated within his thick scaled throat, "If you do not help her you impede the very gods themselves." From the faint light one could see her hastily removed clothes, and an open pack.

Jeice glared at the dragon. He could likely kill the beast in it's weakened state, but that thought only briefly crossed his mind. Things started adding up. A dragon, a glowing mark. His sword, all in one place. Divine intervention was almost never this blatant. Suddenly faced with the moment he expected all his life, Jeice found himself dumbstruck. He had dreamed of the Charred Heart before. Dreamed of the gods intervention. But never with any clarity. He felt unprepared and awkward.

"This is it?" he whispered, and felt himself move towards the girl and knelt beside her. He hadn't expected her to be so young. He had deliberately stayed out of the dark wars and as uninformed as he could. He wanted nothing, no rumor or account to pollute his visions of his destiny, fleeting, rare and blurry as they were. He also hadn't expected this moment to come so soon, nor did he want to believe that the Rogue Borne were the apparent antagonist of his unfolding story.

Jeice reached out and touched the lines on her temple.

Her eyes flared open at that, her hand snaking out to grab onto his wrist with her clammy palm. She was hot with fever and flushed. "Don't... touch the mark..." The woman uttered quietly, her voice was deeper then one thought it would be, but she couldn't say anymore. Exhausted, she slumped back down to the rock and curled into a fetal position, shivering.

The dragon also let himself drop to the ground, his tongue snaking out to the blood slipping from his wounds.

Jeice froze when she seized his hand. When she rolled over he withdrew his hand. He removed his overcoat and draped it over her, then stepped across the chamber, glancing at the dragon, to examine her things.

"Aeolynn is her name, right?" he asked the dragon as he looked inside her pack. He opened it and rubbed his arms a little to warm them as he looked inside.

"Yes, Aeolynn Slayne. I am Teirrol. You... realize who she is?" The dragon almost looked flustered, as he had not realized she was so well known. From what he was aware of, she had kept her name secret. "There should be some blankets in there." Teirrol said a moment later, hissing in pain from his wounds as most of the ice fell from him. The woman on the other hand was silent, probably in shock from whatever she had gone through before she had dropped.

"Blankets, ah huh. That's very nice. I was looking for far more practical things. Weapons, food, other survival stuff..." Jeice dramatically flipped the pack shut hard enough to tip the pack over. He stood and jabbed a finger at the dragon. "That man you turned into sausage meat out there was named Seth. I imagine you don't know who he worked for or else you would be a LOT less nonchalant and friendly about me or about her--" Jeice jabbed the finger again at Aeolynn, "staying here another damned second!"

Teirrol bellowed in anger and struggled to his feet, "You dare move the Charred Heart after her soulstrain? After the battle she just fought for her own survival?! No. No she cannot move. She cannot defend herself." Then the dragon made a very human-like rude noise he must have heard from his mistress. "Weapons? What does she need of them?" The dragon growled again and managed a step forward. A pale hand reaching up from under Jeice's cloak stopped him. "...Enough" She whispered to them, her voice hoarse but her eyes were clear. Her body continued to shiver uncontrollably and to her credit her gaze remained steady on the other Borne, "Tell me what you know."

Jeice bit his lip and collected his thoughts. Bickering over formalities or bemoaning difficult situations could prove lethal here.

"I know you two think your part of the war has been secretive and hidden, and it has for the most part, but rumors abound about the multiborne girl and her dragon. Enough that you're not mythic, only mysterious. I had no idea you were here. But Seth did and if the rumors about Teirrol here are true, than Seth was very powerful. If he was a little stronger he might have succeeded and we three would be dead. The thing is, Seth is a member of an organization of borne, and he was not among their strongest. I'm willing to believe he came here thinking you were unguarded and helpless. When he does not return, they will send more than one borne here, and however many they send each will be above his pay grade. That's just simple logic. Which means--" Jeice now turned his focus towards Teirrol, "That we have to get off this island. Right now."

Teirrol glanced down at his protectorate, who weakly twisted herself so she could see him. A wordless conversation between them began, the dragon growing uncomfortable. "If she does this..." He uttered quietly after a few moments, then rephrased what he had been about to say. "She will move us." The dragon grunted. Aeolynn did not speak on her behalf but no doubt, Jeice could feel her grasp what power she had left. Teirrol knowingly clutched at the ground and pushed his bulk as close to it as possible. Groaning, the walls shuddered. The cavern moved in a circular manner, twisting as it freed itself from the hill it was beneath. The only exit collapsed in a heap. Aeolynn's eyes were squeezed shut and her hand clenched at the cloak when there was a loud CRACK. Her eyes flared open as light spilled from them, engulfing everything in the cave.

Jeice's first impulse was to complain about her showing off and possibly alerting any number of rogue spies in the entire bay, but he thought it would be a bad idea to distract her. He'd yell at her later. In the meantime he braced himself, hoping light transportation wasn't painful.

A moment later the light died and Aeolynn slipped into unconsciousness. Teirrol, who shared a mental connection to her knew exactly where they were, a place that most borne tended to avoid. It was the only place she could think of where they would be safe from any prying or alerting anyone. "Tnemele Elder lands..." Teirrol murmured, smelling the earth around them. Limping to the side, the dragon pushed a claw through the soft dirt, letting in moonlight. The massive fields of the Elder lands were out there, bare from the war before the war. Suddenly, the dragon whipped his head toward Aeolynn, her chest barely moving. "Her heart is weak." It could be very well that that move had almost killed her.

"I can start her heart again if it stops, but if she can't keep it going herself after a while that won't do much good. Is there a reason she brought us here?" Jeice did not like being here. It was very close to his homeland. He wasn't fond of waiting either. And it looked like until his new companions regenerated their strength, there was much waiting to do.

Teirrol rumbled, setting himself down at the entrance he had made. "She was born here. This is where her uncle destroyed everything where it began. It's where a lot of Borne avoid. Safest place she could hide for a few days." He glanced back at her, worry even in his dragonic eyes, "Please, make her comfortable."

Jeice looked around at the dome of stone they were inside. The softest thing in it was... Well... Jeice may have had a largely traumatic existence but he was not timid because of it, but bold in spite of it. He sat beside Aeolynn and wrapped her more tightly in his coat. He took off his muffler and wrapped it around her head, then took her in his arms, holding her against his chest. He touched her neck. Her pulse was dismayingly weak. There wasn't much he could do but keep her warm.

Her short brown hair was plastered to her forehead from sweat, the dark circles under her eyes more prominent in the darkness. Moaning softly, Aeolynn struggled to return to reality, and partially succeeded. From her position she could see Teirrol, then looked up at the borne holding her against him. Her eyes constantly blinked, trying to clear the haze in her mind. "Who are you?" She asked, barely above a whisper.

In the few minutes he held her his mind went over multiple scenarios of him using different phrasing to explain that he was something of a prophetic figure like Aeolynn herself. That he believed a goddess, though he knew not which one, had guided him throughout his life to find the charred heart in a moment of weakness and help her through... Well that hadn't been revealed to him yet. All he knew is that she would be the one to destroy the dark army, and his purpose was not to help her do that, but help her with something after it. How was he supposed to know that preparing for this by collecting the treasure he'd been instructed to find and then hide years ago would bring him directly to her. The war had only ended officially mere days ago.
Now what came out of his mouth was "My name is Jeice." anything else sounded psychotic.

Listening to his heart, Aeolynn did not reply for a moment and meanwhile looked over his features, noting his eyes. Then, "You're a lightningborne." She stated. Borne could only recognize the element of their same kind, if they encountered other borne they could only feel that they were, not what they are. "My sister was a lightningborne..." She muttered, her head drooping a little.

Jeice didn't interpret her words as a question, so he didn't offer an answer. He didn't know how she knew, but Jeice didn't plan on questioning too much from here on out. He just continued to keep her close, suppressing a strong urge to stroke her hair. She was beautiful after all, and his body wanted to react to her being close. But he just kept his arms around her, not loose but not too tight, and didn't look at Teirrol. Jeice didn't want to acknowledge any jealousy or mistrust. He was too busy wondering just what the hell to do. He didn't know what the sword was for or how useful he could be. He knew what horrific power was contained inside him, and hoped that wasn't the reason he was chosen.

Morning came quickly and Aeolynn had slept soundly against his chest. As her fever had died she had grown chill as she was only wearing his cloak at the moment. Moving slightly, Aeolynn glanced up at Jeice. He during the night had moved them against a rock so that he could relax. Now that there was some light, Aeolynn could see him better. Now that she was aware she blushed a little. She was naked. Trying not to wake him, she pulled the cloak around her shoulders and stood to her shaky feet. Teirrol lifted his head at that to watch her. Thinking he was still asleep, she let the cloak drop and began to cloth herself.

Jeice was a very light sleeper, and rarely slept longer than 4 hours. He awoke the second she stirred but did not open his eyes. Curious, he feigned sleep, hoping he would learn something though he doubted Aeolynn or Teirrol would speak aloud. When Jeice heard the rustling of clothes stop after a few minutes, and he was satisfied that Aeolynn was dressed and not likely to utter the secrets of the universe simply because he was asleep, Jeice opened his eyes and stretched, but did not yawn. He got up and put his over-sized jacket back on before anything else. He was uncomfortable without it on. Aeolynn might have noticed his "presence" as a lightningborne diminish greatly as he finished putting it on.

She on the other hand had not completely clothed herself. Instead she had on her pants, and the first layer of her shirts, a dark gray in color. Even in the light of the new day one could still see the glow from under the shirt she wore. Aeolynn glanced to him. She was silent however and did not greet him, instead she stepped to her dragon, who's wounds had almost completely healed overnight. Such were beasts of his nature. He nuzzled her, then turned and left them alone in the cavern. "He has gone to bring us some food." She said quietly, somewhat shy towards him and didn't look him in the eye. Aeolynn sat down on the ground, curling her legs beneath herself while several rocks poked their way to the surface. A soft spark began within and fed on the mysterious black rock and a fire sprang to life.

Jeice summoned his courage and sat down across from her to attempt insightful conversation. All he knew about women suggested he ask her a question. All he knew about powerful and/or religious figures suggested he offer information about himself. He decided on trying both. "I suppose you might want to know some things about me?" Jeice rubbed his face down with a palm and decided to make eye contact, though it felt terribly awkward. His eyes were normal size but his irises dominated them, each a pool of deep metallic gray.

Aeolynn felt his gaze, but didn't look up, instead tended to the fire. "I want to know what led you to the place I had chosen, away from civilization and other borne." That's when she lifted her sage eyes to his, bold in her action but her insides trembled at it. She was sure he knew what his eyes did to women and besides herself she looked away a moment later. Aeolynn sighed quietly and idly scratched at the mark on her chest, a slight amount of pain showing on her face.

Despite Aeolynn's thinking Jeice was ignorant of his exotic attractive nature. The event at age 15 where the object of his affection decried him as a subhuman monster scarred him, and he had never courted a girl since, and had been self isolated to the point he never tried again. Girls had stared at him before, but Jeice chalked it up to him being strange.

"That is hard to answer. Would you believe me if I said my intention for coming to the island was not to find you, but to find something I intended to bring to you? I know that sounds strange... But..." Jeice also looked away.

"Why? Bring what?" Her gaze returned to his face, this time there was strength behind them. She glanced to the sword that was near him, "That?" Aeolynn probed it with her own ability. She could sense something... off within it. There was power there that she could not identify.

"-or bring it with me when I came to you, more precisely. These things are not revealed to me. I do what I'm told." Jeice noticed nothing different about the sword. It did make him feel secure and proud to be near it, but he did not know if that was supernatural or sentimental.

He realized what he just said was opening a can of worms but he was happy to have the subject put out there. He looked at her closely. Aeolynn looked to the sword, squinting at it, then back to him. She met his eyes for a second then looked quickly back at the sword. Was she frightened of him? 

"Told?" She asked, tending to the fire again. Sure, there were others who were guided by the gods and goddesses, but most did not admit it so openly. Aeolynn wondered briefly if one of the first borne had meddled with the world's events by sending him messages. They would never admit to being able to alter the path of Tnemele of course.

"Yes, anyone would think I'm crazy or some zealot, but you have a right to know. It's a goddess, I'm sure of that much. She whispers, almost never tells me anything concrete, always suggestions, images. I know whoever she is, she's... Breaking rules, I think. Messages come in emotions, feelings. Guilt is a common one." he looked at Aeolynn. "Not just for herself, guilt for you." Jeice ground his teeth a little but kept a strong gaze on Aeolynn's eyes. He felt compelled to give these words weight.

"Really." She didn't disbelieve him, but his god should be the one to speak to him, not a goddess of another element. Aeolynn wondered briefly if it was her sister and coughed as some emotion came over her as she thought of her martyred family. Pushing it back within her mind, Aeolynn glanced up to him staring at her. Surprising herself, she lifted the edges of her mouth and smiled at him, small dimples appearing in her cheeks. "I'm sure someone has sent you to me for a reason, that we have yet to determine." She meant of course the nature of the sword he had found.

Her smile was infectious, it was beautiful and Jeice didn't notice it may have been forced. "I hate to break it to you but that reason is fairly clear right now. The Rogues have marked you for execution. Seth was the only one I could find sailing to the island. I'm certain he came to kill you." he smiled too, thinking it was funny that she was oblivious to that. "My mission.." the word was choked out a bit, he almost said purpose, "Is to aid your.. Uh.. Fight against them."

Aeolynn's smile lifted into an almost vicious smirk that faded almost as quickly as it appeared. "They do not know the extent of my power. Ironic that they appeared when I was in my moment of weakness." She almost grew suspicious of Jeice, then shook her head to clear the thought. If they had wanted to kill her using this lightningborne he would have tried it already. Thankfully she did not need to dwell more on the matter as Teirrol returned with his kill, a wild buck from the plains. He tore off a leg and carried it to the two borne around the fire. Nodding to him, Aeolynn speared it with a metal rod that had not been there a moment ago and settled it on the flames. Even the crackling of the cooking meat could not hide the growling of her stomach.

Jeice was hungry too, though he was accustomed to far less rustic food. He thought momentarily of his personal things left on the sail boat at the bay island harbor. They were just hygiene items and food anyway. Jeice traveled very lightly. Then he realized she was making some sort of comment.
"They know far more about you than I do. It's their business to know about powerful borne. And none are more powerful than you."
Jeice thought about it for a moment, and thought to add a little philosophical flavor.

"If your story was some great book, it would be a tragedy. Your power is supposed to kill you, consume you. And if you don't die you go insane." Jeice didn't know the specifics behind the Stealer's curse. He was speaking of the burdens of being a hero. "So they're just trying to tie up loose ends, I guess. Though it already seems not quite so." Jeice looked up at the stalagmites of the roof, wishing he could touch Aeolynn again.

She stared hard at him, wondering where he had heard this information. Then, "My uncle stole the souls of those that were innocent, and in that fact, he went insane from the constant stress on his mind. Guilt one might say. My sanity is partially protected by this mark-" Aeolynn pointed to her chest offhandedly, " And instead of consuming me, I am given the choice to battle for my soul. I choose to live..." Sudden emotion thickened in her throat, and the borne attempted to swallow and looked into the fire, tears forming in her eyes. "I know not what for now. Maybe I should let this group kill me and release me from my pain." Teirrol looked up at that and crooned to her.

Jeice blinked rapidly, realizing his words were brutally on the mark.
"You don't read much, I think. What I said came out of a philosophy text book from two and a half centuries ago. Frightening how true the words are..." Jeice longed to hold her again and could not bring himself to do it just yet. It didn't seem prudent.

Jeice did take an opportunity to come closer. He picked up the sword and came to sit next to her. He set it in his lap, and leaned towards her. Their thighs were touching, and Jeice was very aware of the contact. "This belonged to a conqueror. He lived almost two thousand years ago. He says it was given to him by a god. Back then there were no borne, no magic, and yet, as long as the man, Pentar, he was called, owned this sword, he was promised an empire an absolute rule. A thief, who would later weave his own legend, stole the sword and the empire crumbled. Archaeology has only recently dragged itself out of it's fascination with the first Martyrs and gone deeper into our history. This I found in a place dating back two hundred years before the first. But the sword is much older. I still don't know what it means for us, but the goddess wanted me to bring it to you. She didn't say give it or use it. Just bring it with me."

Wiping her premature tears away, Aeolynn blushed at how close he had set himself down to her. "Strange..." She said, reaching out a hand and gliding it down the length of the swords scabbard, tracing the fine details. While she did this, the borne tried to determine what exactly was being passed between them, other then information. There was an odd feeling of attraction she could not place. Her blush still evident, Aeolynn looked up at him, being very close to him as her eyes trailed on the details of his face that she had not noticed before. A warmth began to spread from her core, and she dropped her gaze at that, suddenly nervous to look at him and withdrew her hand.

"Yeah, I mean, everything is so decentralized now. There's no continent-wide empire to overthrow and replace. Maybe it's meant to reunite... Us. I honestly don't know." Jeice got a little bolder. He handed her the sword, leaning towards her, letting their shoulders touch and her hair brush against his cheek. She had a wild smell, not any perfume or deodorant, but not bad by any means. It was intoxicating, in fact. Jeice's heart started beating faster.

Jeice suddenly realized what was happening. He and Aeolynn were mutually attracted to each other. He blinked a couple times. She must be very lonely, especially after completing her revenge. She needed to know she was still valuable and cared for by anything. Jeice knew the feeling.


Aeolynn watched him out of the corner of her eye, through a barrier of hair. "I still don't see what this sword has to do with me..." she accepted the sword from him, touching his hand while she did so. Her realization of their chemistry became aware within her mind about the same time his had. "Jeice..." she said suddenly, pulling a few strands of hair around her ear, "is there something here... Other then your mission...?" her eyes glanced around herself before Aeolynn could bring her gaze to him.

Jeice's jaw dropped. His mind whirled for the right thing to say, also demanded to himself that no matter what he said, don't stutter, don't stutter, don't stutter-- "If you're thinking what I'm thinking, that might be a bad thing. I mean what we have to do is a matter of life and death... And future.. And.." he trailed off, looking into her misty green eyes. He set a hand on her thigh. "Yes I feel something more."

She blushed, but she did not look away, "I think I do too..." It was unfamiliar to feel something for someone she had just met, their connection was too real to deny. Aeolynn could call it lust... Though she didn't want to. Her eyes glanced to his hand, the heat between her legs growing as she was pleased he was touching her. Moving tentatively, Aeolynn leaned further against his shoulder.

Jeice placed an arm around her shoulder. It felt strange to be able to just connect with her physically so easily. It was harmless, natural for two lonely people to mesh like this. He thought it best to add something more emotionally tangible. "Maybe it's because I understand what it's like to be different. To have so much power and so little control..." He rested his forehead on hers.

Aeolynn sniffed, tears starting to form in her eyes again. The feeling of someone against her, a fellow person comforting her. All this death and blood on her hands, "Its been... so long." She whispered, the tears slipped down her cheeks, landing on his hand. "I wasn't born this way... I was forced into this. Forced to rise up and protect those that now want me dead."

Jeice hugged her a little tighter. "They're just trying to protect the world from something they think is dangerous... Maybe we can reason with them."
Jeice couldn't help but lie to her, at least in this moment where she needed to be reassured so badly. "I'll be here with you no matter what. At least you don't have to be alone."

The tears cascaded down her face now. Those had been the exact words Myrin had told her when they were first were cast in the dungeons... before their long torture. Four years they lasted, until he killed her brother. She gasped and grabbed at her chest, the mark burning intently. A voice inside her mind whispered, When the Rogue take your body they will rape you as I did and will continue to do when you join me in hell... Taebold's voice made her physically flinch.

Jeice pulled her against his chest. He didn't know how, but he felt something seize at her from inside. He again felt the strange sorrow from outside himself. Something told him lying wouldn't serve as much purpose as he thought. Many times before he'd felt this queer feeling, where it felt like his decisions and actions were his own, but he knew he was a puppet on a string.

"Seth, he wasn't a normal rogue... They're supposed to be principled and dogmatic, he was taking too much pleasure in his task. Something is wrong here, and we should find out before we act rashly."

Beyond talking, Aeolynn could only cry into the fabric covering his chest, both hands clenched over her charred heart. It had been a while since she had allowed herself to cry, to release all the emotion she had forced to well up inside of her. For the longest time she had become a symbol, a sign of freedom and peace against the darkness that Kroescolo had signified. She was just a woman underneath it, with a woman's needs. Aeolynn hiccuped absently, curled into a ball within his embrace.

"It's okay... I'll find a way to make this worth it. Many people had to die for me to suit my purpose, just like you. There's no way we can give up until it means something." he squeezed her closer, feeling his soft shirt dampen with her tears. He had expected this. People were supposed to be shocked when their heroes show weakness. Though he wasn't a hero... Yet, he knew what a terrible monster Responsibility was.

Teirrol was watching them, then sniffed at the fire. The meat turned by itself to cook the other side as he hadn't wanted to bother the two borne.

Quietly, in a subdued voice she told him of her family. How her sister almost killed Kroescolo well before Aeolynn had become a woman, how after she failed his generals took over, how they completed her uncles wishes after he had been cast into the rifts. For four years her brother and her suffered in the dungeons of a castle Kroescolo had stolen. When her jailer finally tired of the endless rape and torture, he killed Myrin. It unleashed her onto the entire castle, killing everyone inside. She had nursed her wounds and escaped, knowing her uncle would find his way back. Another four long years later, after training herself in all the elements she had, she was prepared for her uncles return. With the help of several other borne she managed to kill him, but at the cost of using the Stealer. That was why she was now the Charred Heart of the Nagei legend. By the time she had finished recounting her past the meat was fully cooked, and Aeolynn was in a state of odd emotional calmness. Aeolynn however made no move to separate herself from Jeice.

Jeice also had no attention to the food. When she was finished, he started his own story. He told about his father, a tall lion of a man with tan skin, a curly samson-esque mane of hair and beard. How his father was his tribes prophet, how they lived amongst the elder plains viewing them as sacred. How his father did everything according to religious tradition, his religion being more a cult than anything. How Jeice's mother was a 13 year old girl killed by giving birth to him. How his father, a powerful lightningborne in his own right, thought his son was the messiah.

"Not a messiah, but I am infected with terrible purpose and power..." Jeice added. He continued explaining the event of the Tempest, where lightning bolts the thickness of towers had pummeled the earth like meteors as his father bore upon him some sort of incantation which skyrocketed Jeices power into that nearing a God's. He watched his father pulverized into dust, screaming thanks to his God just before he was hammered into nothing from one of what would be hundreds of lightning beams that would scorch the western elder plains, killing thousands. Jeice shared about how he became his new visage as lightning coursed over and through him. He left out the part about the pain. The pain that he still sometimes felt summoning lightning. He spoke about how a voice guided him across the burning fields to the safety of the mountains. He said all this continuing to hold Aeolynn in his warm embrace. He too felt better sharing his story. But he did not cry.

"I heard about that..." Aeolynn replied, "It happened right before I was imprisoned." It was interesting that they were both united in past pain. She readjusted herself in his lap, bringing her face to lay against his collarbone and her forehead against his neck. She felt safe with him, something she hadn't felt in years.

"Yes. I still don't know who was responsible for it, myself or my father. I have never tried to summon my full strength. I still hope it won't be necessary. I don't want to believe I killed those people." He let one of his hands trail down her arm. Her skin was smooth, but the flesh underneath was hard and strong, just like his own. He breathed deep of her hair. It still smelled wonderful, unwashed as it was. Everything about her seemed sensual to his senses.

She didn't reply immediately, instead closed her eyes and listened to his life, his breathing, his heart. "Even if you were the reason so many died... what happened happened... you can't change that." Aeolynn uttered quietly, wiping her red eyes with her hands. "It did however make you who you are, lead you to this point." She starred off, her eyes out of focus, "Everything in your life, in mine, was meant for this." Aeolynn suddenly sat up and twisted in his arms, her face a few inches from him. This time she looked into his eyes, unafraid and unembarrassed. Her head tilted slightly, "Do you believe in fate?"

"No. Fate implies futility." Jeice braced himself for what he feared--and hoped-- was an incoming kiss. "Even when things are out of our hands, we still have a choice, even if all it is, is hope. No I believe in destiny." he leaned a little closer so that their lips were separated by a hairs breadth.

Aeolynn smiled at that, a true smile. She looked into his eyes so close to her own, saw the beauty in them like living pools of liquid metal. "...Destiny." Aeolynn repeated, her slight form trembling in excitement. Her breath caught in her throat but before she lost her nerve she pressed her lips to his. 

Jeice met her kiss, marveling at the softness of her lips. He had only kissed a girl a scant few times, none more than pecks or that amusing way young people purse their lips and push them together for a while, thinking that's what a protracted kiss was. But he wasn't stupid and figured it best to follow her lead. Her lips moved around his, up and down, and he followed suit, kissing her upper than lower lip, hoping he wouldn't expose himself as an amateur. Boldly, he kissed a little harder after a moment, hoping showing initiative would hide his lack of experience. He added pushing a hand into her hair for good measure. Though he wanted to do that badly anyway.

She leaned into his hand, a soft sound of pleasure from her throat as she loved having her hair played with. Aeolynn matched his passion and pressed herself further against him. Unlike him however she wasn't thinking about much else but him. The feel of his skin against hers, his body against his and the warmth spreading between them.

Once she pressed her breasts against him and matched his intensity he figured all bets were off as far as guesswork and he decided to trust his instinct. He caressed her hair with one hand and used the other to press into the small of her back, keeping her close. She seemed to appreciate him taking the lead so he pressed the tip of his tongue tentatively through her lips.

Aeolynn allowed him to do so and tentatively touched his with her own. Smiling, she leaned away from him so he would follow her backwards, the stone pushing out to catch her as she fell back and cushioned her comfortably. She wanted to feel him over her, protecting her. Having separated herself from him a little a chill washed over her skin, causing goosebumps along her pale skin. The only part of her that wasn't cold was... well, he'd find that area soon enough.

Jeice licked his lips. She wanted him on top of her. He wasn't going to refuse. He removed his clunky jacket first, leaving only his skin tight undershirt covering his chest. It didn't leave any of his musculature to the imagination and was made of a very soft cottony material. He pressed his body hungrily to hers and kissed her much more forcefully. His excitement took over, and he felt himself get hard in the same area she was getting wet.

Although her shirt wasn't exactly as tight as his, it was rather pressed to her across her chest. Because of the chill in the air her nipples were quite prominent against the much softer skin of her breasts and showed against the shirt. Aeolynn moaned softly at the feel of his body pushing her to the rock, cradling his hips with her own as he had settled himself in between her legs.

All doubts about himself were gone now. He could feel her soft breasts and hard nipples against his chest, and she could likely feel his erection pressing against the space between her legs. And her moan in response to this contact triggered his instinct to take her. His hands roamed down her sides and his hips pressed forwards. He kissed down her neck, tasting her skin. His fingertips found the hem of her shirt and he started tugging it up. 

She giggled at his attempts to remove her shirt and helped him by raising her arms up. When that article of clothing was gone her hair now was quite messy and tangled, but she didn't care. Now partially bare before him, Aeolynn looked up, a light blush on her cheeks. The mark between her breasts pulsed with every beat of her heart, spreading from the center like a star. It lay like a smooth bed of coals, seemingly hot. Her breasts on either side however moved with every breath she took, which now had quickened.

Jeice ignored the mark, it was something shown to him many times in dreams, but the breasts were new and far more interesting. He skipped the touching and went straight for his real desire, to taste them. His lips wrapped around her left nipple and he sucked it into his mouth, where his tongue first sampled it then began to flick against it quickly. Her other breast he gripped with his left hand (Jeice was left handed) and squeezed gently. His hips, independent of his mind, grinded against hers of their own accord.

Her eyes rolled back into her head at that as she literally shivered under him in pleasure. A gasp escaped her lips and one hand slid into his hair, holding him to her. Her other hand had other plans and explored his back, sliding down to his nicely shaped ass beneath the cloth of his pants. It was her turn to nudge her hips against his. Aeolynn smiled from his attentions and the hand that was over his spine traced a half circle to his navel. The smile turned to a smirk as she fully investigated the pressure being pushed against her core. Gripping him as best as she could with his pants in the way, Aeolynn shifted herself beneath him until she could press the tip of his manhood against her own sex.

Jeice released her, and watched with great interest as she gripped him and rubbed herself against him. This was his queue to start tugging her pants off. This revealed another layer of clothing to his dismay. However when he broke from her contact long enough to remove his heavy and thick pants, he had nothing on underneath them. This brought no shyness for him. His manhood was long yet not overly so. What was truly exceptional about it was it's girth. He came back close to her, and invited her to grab it again. She'd find her fingers barely able to reach around it's circumference. His hands meanwhile found their way back to her supple breasts.

Aeolynn's eyes widened pleasantly in surprise at this, but her view was cut short as he went back to her breasts. Instead she explored him with her hand, stroking the smooth skin and impressed by the heat he was producing. Seeking his gaze, Aeolynn kissed him with unreleased passion, now rubbing herself with his tip a bare scant cloth separating them. His precum mixed with her own lubrication that had soaked her panties through and through.

He kissed her back, their tongues both pushing and sliding as he kissed her hard. Somehow while doing this he tugged her panties off, revealing her slick and shiny pink sex. Now this was totally new to him, but still he thought instinct had it covered. He pressed the fat head of his length inside her, and they both tensed from the contact. She was tight and he was large, but the lubrication was very present. He pushed first his naked chest against hers then the thick length of him slowly inside her. A low, growling moan came out of deep in his throat.

She pulsed around him, the initial shock of him entering fading as the breath she had been holding was released. It had been a while since she had lain with a man, and the pain was there but Aeolynn couldn't have gotten to where she had if she didn't have any tolerance to it. Cautiously, she adjusted to his length and moved beneath him to get more comfortable. Her sound of pleasure was a lot different then his, and almost sounded like the mewl of a cat. Opening her legs further, Aeolynn pressed both hands to his ass now and urged him forward, pulling his entirety inside her.

Jeice loved her high pitched moans and answered them with his own low groans between his breath, which was loud panting against her neck. He loved her pushing on his ass and he responded by pushing hard, feeling his pelvis crush against hers as he explored the deepest parts of her. His hands gripped the under side of her shoulders, and he began thrusting deep and hard. What reaches of his mind that weren't busy being amazed at the pleasure of feeling the incredibly tight and slick feel of the space close to her cervical wall was concentrating on not immediately climaxing. Still he could not stop himself from pumping deep and hard, his chest sliding against hers. His moans became louder and longer.

Now that he was railing her into the soft rock she had created beneath her, her hands gripped his upper ribs along his back. Both of her legs were wrapped around his waist. After a few moments her right hand slid between her legs, rubbing herself to the rhythm of his thrusts. Aeolynn's eyes were closed in ecstasy, her mouth open as she occasionally bit her lip. On their own her hips started to angle upwards. She was ready.

He began to shudder in his own ecstasy. Everything she did, from wrapping her legs around him, to the angle of her hips, everything made her feel more intense around him. When her hand began rubbing the sensitive spot just over where he penetrated her, he felt her get even tighter as her own pleasure caused her to squeeze down on him. This was all too much for Jeice to handle. No thought even crossed his mind she might not want his seed inside her. He went from strong, hard thrusts to speeding, quick, shallow ones and he cried out. Suddenly his hips met hers with surprising force, and he came harder than ever in his life. He moaned her name as she felt her deep core fill with hot come.

In sync with him her hips bucked upwards, taking his thrusts again and again as she began to moan, then shriek. Her orgasm shuddered through her body and leaving her limp and gasping for air. His weight above her was comfortable and she didn't want him to withdraw himself immediately. Instead she breathed over his shoulder, calming her speeding heart with her arms wrapped affectionately around him.

Jeice also went limp against her. He trembled here and there as little aftershocks of his orgasm made him flinch and push his hips forward. He panted against her neck and kissed it reverently in between breaths. She felt warm and wet and perfect underneath him. He didn't want to let go.

Aeolynn smiled against his own sweaty skin. However she knew if she didn't clean up soon she would be at risk for an uncomfortable infection. Even that thought couldn't get her to speak to him, to tell him what she needed. Instead she relaxed her legs beside his and sighed, completely at peace and relaxed.

Jeice stayed there comfortable and spent for a few minutes, then released her, realizing he may have introduced her to currently unwanted genetic material. He sat beside her, leaning back. "Sorry I couldn't help it," he smiled but looked apologetic.

She smiled too and shook her head, "That doesn't matter... I haven't bled in a few months since I became the charred heart, I doubt I could..." Aeolynn touched her stomach, "I doubt I can get pregnant." She stood and excused herself, standing and walking outside to do her business and clean up. It was amazing to see her body from the front, and compare it to her back. There were a few scars other places, but not nearly as bad as the thick scaring of her back.

Jeice watched her go, feeling happy and relaxed. When he saw her go, he didn't see the scars or the mark, visually not anything more than her round cute ass. What he saw was a vulnerable woman who needed love and affection. He was very happy to suit those needs.

Teirrol had slipped out when they had started making out, snuffing out the fire as he had left. The meat was a little overdone, but plenty edible. Aeolynn came back inside, shaking out her hair. "Want to take a bath?" She asked, smiling at him.

"Sure." Jeice supposed making a sex couch out of rock indicated she could make just about anything. He stood on somewhat still wobbly legs. His orgasm had turned his quadriceps to mush. She seemed oddly graceful after what he'd just done to her, but maybe she was very sexually experienced. His form was chiseled like stone, from years of religious exercise. His skin looked glossy and unnatural in the fire light, but that just added to his exotic looks. 

She chuckled, then crouched to the right of the fire. The stone sunk smoothly into a nice trough, easily able to hold them both. After concentrating it fill with water, then heated into a steaming pool. Aeolynn was already inside, moving her hands in the nearly scalding water. "Coming?" She asked, grabbing some soap from her pack.

Jeice slid in across from her. It felt great, hot as hell, and he was sometimes nervous around water but still rejuvenating. He closed his eyes, still riding the dreamlike high of the past few hours. A part of him nagged that this could be a waste of precious time, but that voice was tiny.

Aeolynn soaped herself up, paying close attention to her sex since that had had a foreign object inside and sat down in the water, getting her hair wet. Her hair looked black in the water, and she slicked it back, making a soft sound of happiness at having it out of the way. "Soap?" She made to toss it to him and grabbed a vial of flower oil to soak her hair in.

Jeice politely refused the soap. He'd never been sick a day in his life and felt soaking was good enough, plus he hated the stuff. Always so smelly and even when not left his sensitive skin coated in residue. No, he was content to lie in the water and doze for a while, only paying attention to her legs brushing against his and the sound of her preening.

She quirked her head at that, but shrugged. Taking out a white bone comb, she hummed a light tune and brushed her hair carefully. With her back to him she used her power to trim any unwanted body hair since her last bath. Aeolynn glanced at him behind her and submerged herself to rinse off. Turning back to him, she surprised him by leaning her slicked body against his.

Jeice opened his eyes at that. He grinned at her and took her butt in both hands. He kissed her playfully, smiling against her lips. Her body felt warm and soft against his. "Don't tell me you want more?"

She laughed and winked at him, "I could probably go for more..." Aeolynn told him, but she leaned her head back, just looking at him. "In all truth... whoever sent you to me couldn't have done a better job." She smiled at him, her dimples showing.

Jeice smiled, feeling proud, and truly successful, for the first time in his life. Still, his urge to have sex with her had dimmed just enough to realize there was work to do. "Do you still have allies? Friends? I in no way mean to underestimate you, but you couldn't have done this all alone..." He rubbed her butt and grinned playfully, showing he wasn't making a jab. His reason for asking was very serious, however.

Aeolynn nodded, "Well yes. They are all in Larinith. There's Jaskan, Onea, Kalere, Chase, Derigoth, Misheema and Ty. Others... died in the war." She looked away. "But Jaskan has pushed for peace in the major cities, and is currently the head of the trading council in Larinith. I normally have light jumped back and forth while I was hunting down the generals, but for now I don't think it would be... safe."

"Yes, not safe for him, anyway. The enemy we face is numerous and has far reaching influence. This much I know." Jeice let go and tried to take a serious tone. A small war of horny normal borne and intelligent, duty minded borne was lost by the hormones inside him. "There's going to be time for us to... Please each other, but we need to start soon. Now preferably. Which of your friends could best speak to Jaskan on your behalf and draw absolutely no undue attention?" his face went stony again. He wasn't conscious of how his sexy smile could go hardass in a second.

"Ty. Ty was blessed with a companion as I, he and Teirrol can communicate and we can get a message through." She didn't say that Ty was a nightlyre, but she assumed he wouldn't have a problem with that. "What did you want to say?" Aeolynn quirked her head, her arms over his shoulders.

Jeice pondered this for a moment, wracking his brain for the memory-like dreams that always came out of sequence, out of order and out of focus.
"I need to meet Ty, if possible. In person. So long as I sleep before the next time I see him, I'll know what to say." Jeice's words almost sounded like mildly frustrated sighs as they came out. He didn't like admitting he was following a script, one with only about a random 10% of the words legible. He was terrified to ad-lib, but the name Ty triggered an instinct to act without knowledge. He looked at her and his big eyes pleaded with her to just go with it and don't think he was nuts.

"I don't want to ask Teirrol to fly us there for a few days, his wings haven't fully healed yet. So I think it would be best if we walked till then." Moving away from him, Aeolynn grabbed a small towel from her pack and began to dry herself, handing another one to Jeice. When she was done she dressed quickly, her stomach complaining. While Jeice was drying Aeolynn brought out two small wooden plates and dug into the meat, separating two portions.

Jeice had lived both the poor working class and absurdly high class life. Though he was largely a product of the more hard working and effort minded life style, good food was a vice he tried to afford himself at all costs. The haunch was dry, flavorless and intensely gamey and he hated it, but food was food. They left with their small provisions. As they walked, Jeice often asked directions but then set the pace. He walked in a constant fast stride, unwilling to break for rest with any frequency. He showed few signs of perspiration under the hot sun. He barely flushed at all, and his heavy and black clothes seemed to give no discomfort. He must have seemed deep in thought to her, as he did not initiate conversation except to ask when to turn, which was oddly frequent.

She relished the comforting silence, talking about minor things while they walked, getting to know each other. Occasionally she slipped her hand into his. Teirrol trotted next to them, though most of the time they couldn't tell because of his affinity for the air around them. It took two days for him to feel comfortable enough to fly with passengers. Aeolynn took out a strap, double lined and seamed and wrapped it around Teirrol's neck, stepping on his arm to get onto his back. Aeolynn smiled, "You ready for this? It will be a little different then flying with your element."

Jeice had never flown with his element, though he knew he could. He knew the principles behind lightning flight were very different from air flight, because of his research into the nature and physics of it. He knew this would be different, probably a lot to do about grip, balance, and being mindful of inertia. He wasn't stressed out by the idea of riding a dragon for the first time, he was stressed out by the idea of exerting himself enough to fly and possibly causing a holocaust with said exertion. "Sure, can't be too hard." he hopped upon Teirrol's back, not caring that he was "riding bitch" on a dragon. He was too busy thinking of the dream he had the night before.

There was a pressure building behind them, as Teirrol stiffened in concentration, then, without warning he leapt into the air. Aeolynn laughed in delight, completely at home up here. The ground disappeared beneath the cloud layer and Teirrol pumped his wings, sending them even further skyward. The air was thin up here, but they wouldn't notice. Aeolynn settled back against Jeice behind her, barely holding onto the strap.

Jeice held onto the dragon's saddle for dear life. Teirrol's undulating back, constant shifts in tilt, altitude speed and direction kept Jeice very busy with staying on. But it was really exhilarating.

He leaned in to Aeolynn's body and yelled into her ear over the rushing wind how soon they would reach the city.

"At this rate..." She yelled back, then laughed, "Soon!" Teirrol had already begun spiraling down, gliding on the wind. Wisps of cloud fluttered by until suddenly the cloud layer was gone, burnt away from the sun. On the horizon the sea shimmered, a golden city lay just before it. In the center of the city was a crowd of buildings, the middle being the most prominent, built of deep red brick. Surrounding these main buildings in a large circle was the rest of the city with its fish markets along the coast and the housings on the other side. On the top of the roof of the red building was a silver blotch. As they circled closer they could make out the lupine shape... though it was odd, from the distance they were at the wolf was larger then a horse. Dwarfed by it was a humanoid standing next to it. "That's Ty," Aeolynn yelled to Jeice.

Jeice managed to gracefully dismount Teirrol after they landed and not look as dizzy as he felt. He stood behind Aeolynn waiting for her to do the talking. That certainly seemed prudent. If he was to inject a bit of prophetic lunacy into nationwide politics, he'd need Aeolynn to back him up every step of the way.

Ty was an interesting creature. Nightlyres were every inch a predator. Their bodies were chiseled with muscle, wearing pure cream colored skin and wine colored hair and eyes. He was tall, towering over Aeolynn and his wings were folded, but it was obvious they were much larger then they appeared. He smiled softly when Aeolynn climbed down after Jeice and held out his claws so he wouldn't hurt her when she launched herself at him for a hug. It had been a while since she had seen him, as he was away with his people most of the time. Aeolynn had had Teirrol contact Graymeine a few days ago, the huge timber wolf sitting patiently on the roof as if he completely belonged there.

"Is Misheema here as well?" Aeolynn asked him, a smile brightening up her face. She was very happy to see him. Ty solemnly nodded, "Yes," He replied in a deep baritone, then turned his gaze to the lightningborne. "Is this Jeice?" His stare was steely and his emotionless confidence behind it was enough to shake most people. Ty silently tried to gauge the other borne's gift, but was unable to take an accurate reading.

Jeice sensed much power in Ty. He'd never seen a nightlyre in person before and the humanoid's size was intimidating. As was the whole of his appearance. Jeice saw a slight blink of confusion flash across Ty's face. Jeice kept his poker face on. The added benefit of his heavy synthetic rubber clothes was that, beyond suppressing his power it masked it as well. Jeice looked to Aeolynn. He wanted to be able to talk with Ty somewhere very safe. It could be likely that they were already under surveillance.

Aeolynn touched Teirrol after Jeice's glance and in response Ty slid a claw into Greymeine's fur. Both of them attained a fogged look in their eyes. Without a word Ty nodded, then nodded again in understanding. "Please, come with me." There was a set of stairs that led to a door, the inside of the building dark. The wolf he was bonded to stepped lightly to his feet before he dispersed in a flurry of snowflakes, disappearing into the breeze. Teirrol, not quite as dramatic simply faded into the wind. Aeolynn smiled, then moved ahead of Ty into the corridor. The nightlyre looked down at him, then also smiled, though his seemed heartless, a human emotion for him as nightlyres rarely showed any sort of emotion. "Please, this way."

Jeice followed Aeolynn and Ty down a corridor leading into the heart of the large building. Jeice was discomforted by the structure. Too many windows, not enough guards. Jeice felt certain he'd see bloodshed before the end of the day. "What is your title, Ty?" Jeice asked offhand as he looked around.

"Ambassador." Ty said after a moment, taking them into the center library. "I am also Frore's champion." Iceborne. "Ty keeps the peace between humans and nightlyres." Aeolynn explained, knowing where they were heading. Inside the library was a series of offices, these having no windows and lit by several long burning lanterns. "We use these rooms to keep old scrolls, so that the natural light of the day does not destroy them. Now," He turned and shut the door behind them as they entered one. "Aeolynn said something about you needing to speak to me. That you are suspicious of anyone around you." Ty said this, no hint of disbelief in his voice. He was quite the serious person.

Jeice followed Ty into the small, dark office and positioned himself so that he was facing the door. There were a few chairs inside but Jeice elected to stand. "I'm not sure precisely what we shall discuss. I suspect you know more about this issue than I do. You know a rogue came to assassinate Aeolynn. I am certain she is not the only one they want dead." Jeice remained stone faced, his posture also as unreadable as his expression, standing slightly slouched with his hands at his sides. His voice was calm but cold.

Aeolynn on the other hand was relaxed and sat in one of the chairs, stretching her legs. "I... know of a little. Jaskan has been having issues with several borne politicians, trying to push their ideas on the council. They have already swayed a good amount of them." Ty glanced to Aeolynn, a frown crossing his features before he returned his gaze to Jeice. "You think they will try to kill Jaskan?"

Jeice met Ty's gaze, still with his own eerie, fairly unnecessary hard ass face, and cold eyes. "I can see you are not interested in pussyfooting or the usual political game of charades, so I am going to tell you the truth, the insane, unusual truth. I have seen things in my dreams, images, prophecies. Some of come to pass, others may yet still. I was led to Aeolynn in her soul strain while I retrieved something important from the bay isle cave she happened to be in. An iceborne rogue using the name 'Seth' attempted to kill her. I do not know why, but I do know they will try again. They might come for Jaskan, but this I have not seen. I do know they will come for you, Ambassador." Jeice tilted his head, as if to point at Ty with a stray lock of porcelain colored hair.

He grinned briefly, "Let them come. It has been awhile since I have had the opportunity to fight another borne... I enjoy it. Though, not enough to start another war," Ty added, offhandedly. All the information he learned was being relayed to his mate, whom he shared a mental link with as did all nightlyre pairs before him. Ty lifted a claw, "Go on. What else have you seen?"

Jeice's eyes closed for a moment. "The visions are always blurry, never clear. No faces, no names, fleeting images, sensations, emotions. Our common enemy feels jealousy. Greed, even hate. The one who remains hidden and pulls the strings is human, and male. Many heed his call. He promises peace and plans war." Jeice sighed. "This man could be a Rogue borne, but it is more likely he is above that. A politician, maybe. I do not know if he is a borne at all. But many borne do his bidding. I wish I knew more." Jeice's eyes opened again. They were less cold now. They glimmered with a strange, unreadable emotion. He looked almost sad.

Aeolynn tilted her head and sighed quietly, it was all too familiar to her uncle's past campaign. At least no one had died yet. "We will do what we can to find this man. Also, do not be alarmed Jeice." The door opened and was quickly shut, a woman who looked like a nightlyre, but her wings were missing. "Misheema." Aeolynn whispered, standing quickly to hug the slightly taller female. "Aeolynn, Ty said you had come!" She had a lot more emotion behind her then her mate, as she had been raised by humans. Ty had found her a year ago, beaten and bloody after humans had torn off her wings, they had become close the moment she had regained consciousness.

Her light rose eyes looked to Jeice, "Hello." She smiled, "I know everything you have told Ty. I am Misheema." The nightlyre reached out with a hand, the claws that were on Ty's hands missing from hers.

Jeice took her hand lightly and forced a smile. Everything felt wrong, this felt too formal and not urgent enough. He felt like something bad was going to happen thIS day. Maybe soon. "I hope you are well prepared for attacks on this building." Jeice turned back to Ty. "I think they know we are here together and won't resist the urge to kill two birds with one stone."

"That is why I asked Misheema to meet us actually." Ty mentioned casually while she stepped over to him, naturally fitting herself into the crook of his arm. "I'm a healer." Misheeema began, then glanced to Aeolynn as she had snorted at that.

"She's not just a healer, she's an amazing one." The multiborne grinned, "If they choose to attack us they had better think twice."