[Cari]

::I'm wondering if that is one question we might not want answered,:: Cari
sent to Eric Hood and Lovvorn.

The image of the blond-haired man's death agonies on the pyre was still
clear enough, and the being in front of them was neither ghost nor man.
She simply wasn't sure what he was.

[Gwit/Alexandrin]

        The blonde man's green eyes met those of the red-haired man, and
nearly smiled.  Again, that flicker of armor and the sword still sheathed,
though this time the flames that burned around him were but a memory.
::New forms and new names,:: he sent softly so that only Cari and the
red-haired man could hear.  ::And a new charge.::  The hand on Gwit's
shoulder dropped, hovering near the faint shadow of the sword-hilt.  "You
have what you need from these people.    Do not try to take more."

        From the way he stood, between the four and the shanties, showed
his care for their strength.  Mage and blade and cloth merchant, but
something more about each of the three that called for caution.  But he
did not waver, as if his companion's staff and his own ghostly sword were
enough.

[Lawrince/Cari/Yals]

Lawrince blinked; trying to chase away the residual image of Elven armour
overlaying brown homespun. He was sure the exertions of the night had him
hallucinating, but some small instinct told him he tread into a twilight
realm that bureacrats wisely never strayed. A realm that could not be
charted or disciplined - that shifted faster than fevered dreams.

He was also thankful that the strangers' interruption had kept Mr. Hood
from committing violence - an act that he had not the courage to stop.

"We probably should follow," he said, turning to follow Lovvorn, "Before
the trail gets cold."

~Why am I even finding it odd......?~ Cari briefly mused, once more
meeting the green eyes of the once-Legentor, ~If Semareth can be
resurrected from only Sh'aljien's desire why can't a Legentor rise from
his wind-blown ashes? The only questions - ones I won't ask - is by what
God's or Goddess's whim was he called back, and who is and was the
red head?~

The red head was smiling, and said, "Most folk call me Yals."

He straightened from leaning on his staff, and added, "As to who we are,
well that has a tendency to change - as does the need."

Yals looked at each of them and his expression turned more serious before
he added, "Perhaps it would be wise if we joined you - where you must walk
skirts protected lands."

::And whose lands are those?:: Cari asked.

Yals chuckled and said, "They belong to themselves. Even though they
looked spiritless while the Demon ruled here life always sleeps beneath
the soil."

::Riddles. Always damned riddles...,:: was all Cari added before following
the envoy and Lovvorn.

[Eric/Lovvorn]

These new strangers and all the stray thoughts flying around were
beginning to make Eric uncomfortable.   His sharp blade
danced between his nimble fingers as he considered his options...

<<...kill them all...kill HALF of them... kill MOST of them...>>

"Oh, Eriiiic..."   called Lovvorn.

The ground shook with a thunderous boom as Lovvorn opened
another crackling portal amidst the remains of the burned-out
shack.

"Care to do the honors...?"  Lovvorn waved at his portal.   "Or maybe
we should let His Envoyness go through first... or one of these
mystery men..."

[Yals/Lawrince/Cari]

"I'll be happy to oblige," Yals said, tucking his staff under his arm and
casually moving towards the portal. "A good attention getter," he added to
the mage - then stepped on through.

Cari gestured that the envoy should follow her. Again she held several
matrixes ready. Then she too stepped through the opening.

[Eric/Lovvorn]

Eric went through next, followed closely by Lovvorn.   They emerged
in a small clearing surrounded by trees.

"What?   The forest again?"  protested the pudgy mage.  He was breathing
heavily from his magical exertions, and looked like a man in desparate
need of a few drinks.

"You know,"  he continued  "this is getting monu...
monotu...monum...boring."

[Yals/Cari/Lawrince]

"Tis been a hard night," Yals said, studying first Lovvorn and then the
envoy, who seemed to be suffering from sore feet. "Perhaps a drop of
fortitude would be of aid." He held out a leather wineskin

At Cari's somewhat dubious expression he laughed and said, "Its nothing
more than a bit of honey mead."

[Eric/Lovvorn]

"Ooooo-"  Lovvorn reached out for the skin, but Eric slapped his hand
away.

"There's time for that later."   Eric frowned at Yals, and then turned  his
attention to the forest around them.  The ground was moist... excellent
for footprints.  Unfortunately, there weren't any.

 "Lovvorn, show us where he went."

Lovvorn sighed, licked his lips, and cast a spell.   There was a
release of power as their quarry's anti-tracking wards were
broken.  A set of well-formed footprints now littered the floor
of the clearing.

"Happy now?"

"Looks like he walked around a good bit."  said Eric as he knelt
down to study the tracks.  "and he was carrying something
heavy."