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"New stunt, sorry love. And considering the results, until i've tweaked some things, it won't be 'appening again."

Then with a smile and a wink Sorida vanished in a puff of dark smoke. Oh the joys of magick.

A few shor tmoments later, Sorida found herself in the entrance way, taking only a courtesy glance about before plopping onto one of the few lounge chaises that had miraculously forsaken damage. Thus far.

She pulled her boots off, preferring her feet bare either way, and crossed her legs beneath her, deciding it was ample time to meditate for the time being. She let free a soft breath before slowly going into a subconcious state, her breathing slowing to an absolute stop. As the last beat faded away into nothing, her eyes shot open, blazing gold in their depths, and stared straight ahead.

She was always hard to see considering, but now she seemed even more a blur, her appearance distorted as if by fog. It was a light magic, not likely to disturb, but strong at the same time. Her hands moved then, slowly shaping air into matter and into various, somewhat complicated shapes. At it's purest form, the matter was black.

Kitara lurched and stumbled as Nelo suddenly flung them somewhere else in the castle. “I really wish you wouldn’t do that!” she gasped. She stopped speaking though when she saw Leaowynne sitting there and Kitara just blinked in confusion. She’d never seen a loom and she’d defiantly never seen someone spin their hair into one. She bowed her head, flustered to have been dragged up here to meet someone she’d just barely seen before. “Um, hello,” she muttered shyly.

Sorphiem’s eyes narrowed and he turned his head to look at Zeke. “A curse you say…” he just trailed off, coming to his own conclusions about Hollow without having to pry. So the woman had some weaknesses. He wondered how he could use that to his advantage. “Perhaps you shouldn’t have let her go alone,” he chuckled.

Aideen did not comment on Valerie's thoughts about men. Of course a man could manage a porridge or a stew, if he put his mind to it. But they were generally more concerned with defending their people than matters of the household. It was not that women couldn't fight, or work the fields, or that the lines weren't a bit blurred in general, but the divide was certainly there.

Instead, she thanked the woman for taking charge of cleanup before returning to the chambers once more. There she found the cloak as it had been left in front of the hearth. As an afterthought, she changed into a more practical skirt and tunic outfit, rather than the gown. The wardrobe had insisted on what it apparently now deemed her signature fabric, with its opaque black and wild translucent red.

She met Valerie by the stables, swaddled in traveling clothes. With the exception of her wings, which she did not know how to shrink much less turn off, the garments concealed her well, right down to the deep shadowy hood of the cloak. It was not a perfect disguise, but at least she wouldn't be quite such an obvious beacon in the darkness.

"Are we riding, then?" she asked, warily eyeing the stables. Horses hadn't much listened to her when she'd been human. What would they think of her now?

Leaowynne looked up from her work as the wheel stopped spinning. She gave Nelo a knowing look and beamed over at Kitara from behind the loom. She promptly stood, the wafting ends of her hair becoming detached from the spool as if they had been made of clouds.

"Welcome again, Kitara!" her voice bubbled and echoed. "I see Nelo has subjected you to her magical handywork again."

Nelo began to say something but quickly changed her mind as she looked up at Kitara bashfully.

"You were practicing your magic only an hour ago were you not?" Leaowynne asked. "It is just as well. Training is essential to a newborn. Tell me. How was your first test? Did you like it?" Telling Leaowynne about dropping Rowan square on her bottom from thirty-five feet in the air would be a little... awkward.

Nelo clearly wanted to jump in, but the look her mother gave her suggested it would be unwise. She looked back at Kitara, waiting patiently for a response.

Kitara nodded. "Yes, I was practicing levitating...things," she said ambiguously. "Hehe...it went alright." She ducked her head and strands of hair fell in her face as she turned red thinking about Rowan falling smack on her butt. She decided not to mention that. "But I really did like using magic!!" she added, looking back up at Leaowyne.

Valerie eyed Aideen kindly, appreciating the girl's simple attire. "Don't fear the horse dear. She belongs to me and she's very old, but sturdy. She won't shy away from you. You can sit in front of me while we ride. I wouldn't dream of making you ride on your own just yet. So hop on up!" Valerie extended her hand.

Leaowynne brightened. "That's wonderful! I'm happy to hear your first attempt didn't burn down the west wing of the castle, unlike somebody I know..." This was a passive statement in regard to Anthony... Leaowynne cleared her throat.

"If you like, I can help you practice more!" She bubbled. "We'll go somewhere a little more practical than the library. That is where Rowan took you is it not? I wonder why she didn't take you to the arena... silly girl. Oh well. Would you like to come with me? I can help you in a manner that might not be so... complicated. I believe you would do quite well in any environment for that matter. You positively crackle with magic my dear!" She smiled at Kitara curiously.

"Oh! And don't forget this!" Nelo produced the honey-comb handled wand from her dress pocket with a sly smile. "You left it in the kitchen. I uh... was holding it for you."

Skeptical, but willing, Aideen took Valerie's hand and tentatively mounted the nag. The mare flared her nostrils, and flicked her ears back, but otherwise remained calm. Valerie was there, after all. They trusted and respected each other, the horse and the Valrae, and it seemed that one fire elemental could not stand in the way of that.

Aideen let Valerie take the reigns, opting instead to place her hands into the animal's soft mane, leaning forward just so, her knees tight against the flanks. She'd ridden the mule village mule before, or at least tried to. It had never gone well, but at least she had some vague idea about sitting a horse.

"What is her name?" she asked, voice tense.

Arianna nodded her head to Knight’s command as she drew out her sword. The arena was massive and the platform that jutted out over the arena was devastatingly high up. From that point Knight would command her until she completed her training, there were no other options for her now.

Her sword was only an extension of herself, she had to be stronger than the metal she held. Her mind focused and hardened, she was outside of her element here and she would need to barricade herself from everything physical. She had to become harder than the metal in her sword and as unfeeling. She tensed as her first training was about to begin.

Kitara gasped at Nelo, staring at the wand she held, then looked back down to realize she really didn't have it. "Wait, wha...how?" Kitara stammered at the girl with a pout before snatching the wand back. "did I really drop it?"

Kitara then turned to smile at Leaowyne. There's an arena? And someone burnt the wing down? Oh, I'd very much love to practice some more!"

Hollow was finally able to stand up on her own two feet. She was so annoyed by all the questions. She hated it when people asked to many, but she was in no position to be giving orders. She definetly didnt have the power to silence them.

Hollow was about to answer Kara's question when Thalian burst out about her dying and needing help. At first she was astonished, but then her eyes slowly started to gain their complete crimson color as they narrowed and a snarl appeared on her mouth showing one side of her fangs.

She felt so exposed. Nothing of hers was safe anymore. She was right not to do business with the Valrae. "Thalian believes that I need help and Im convinced that I do considering Im running out of money and food." Hollow was looking at Kara. "I have two apprentices that rely on me for food and shelter. One of them has something of importance to me." Hollow had relied on Zeke to keep the ring safe.

Hollow shot a glare at Thalian. "As for dying..." She started to growl. "I just have a little problem to get rid of, it's nothing..." Hollow felt her ribs shift inside her and her stomach was convulsing. Hollow dropped to her knees and puked the black liquid on to the sand below. Her eyes went back to normal. Her ribs started to suck to the sides of her flesh. She put her hands on her ribs and tried to keep the screams in. She wasnt going to show her weak side to these people.

She tried to get up, but only fell again to throw up more. The black liquid dripped down her mouth and tears started to fall down her cheeks. The pain was unbearable.

.................................................

Zeke was a little annoyed by the bringing up of Hollows curse. He avoided the subject altogether. "We're comming up on a clearing soon. You might want to brace yourself. When Fang slows down it can get kinda rough mister."

Fang could tell that Zeke was winiking to him. They were going to make it rough on purpose just so the demon would concentrate more on the ride than asking questions.

Sorphiem rolled his eyes and help on tighter. If they wanted him to be quiet they could have just said so. "Just get it over with so I can find this Hollow person," he grumbled.

Fang started to slow down really fast causing everyone on his back to surge forward. He then headed straight down to the earth. He was flying straight into the ground. Zeke was having trouble keeping his hold on the spike. One of his necklaces broke off and flew into the sky.

Out of panick Zeke opened his wings and flew off the back of the dragon. Fang landed on the ground quite gracefully, but still hard. Zeke was still in the air looking for the lost necklace. He caught it and came back to the ground with Fang.

"You didnt have to dive to the ground." Zeke complained. "I thought it was fun." Said the dragon.

Sorphiem groaned and pried his fingers from the spike on Fang and slid down from his back, glaring at the dragon. "I really hate you two..." he grumbled. He glanced over at Zeke and rolled his eyes, then turned to Fang. "You have too much fun." He dusted himself off and stretched his wings.

"We are hateable people." Smiled Zeke innocently. Fang turned back into a human. Luckily for him he is able to transform all his clothes with his dragon an art Hollow had not learned yet. Zeke tossed Fang his pouch and they started into the darkness of the woods with Zeke at the map.

Sorphiem walked with them, all his senses on alert. He did not trust these woods. they seemed intelligent and he had the feeling that something was watching them as they walked. This was not a part of the Realm that he traveled to often so he was not aware of any significance they forest had. "Do you two know anything about these parts?" he asked Zeke and Fang.

"Well we gotta map." Said Zeke showing him the peice of paper. "its a magical map that shows us the way even if things" Zeke tried to put the next word in a way that would not sound so scary "Change.. on us." Zeke looked back at his map that seemed to be changing constantly.

Fang looked back at Sorphiem and then back at the map. The truth was they didnt know anything about the woods. They had hardly been out of the house much less in woods this far out of town. Fang and Zeke exchanged uneasy glances.

"In other words, you're clueless," Sorphiem said. He looked at Zeke's map. "Well, at least we can gather from this changing environment that some very powerful creatures live here. We should be ready because I doubt we are welcome." He hoped those two boys could hold their own in a fight because there was no way in hell he was going to protect them.

He sipped from the spring, finding the water cool, sweet, and surprisingly nourishing. There he meditated for a small while. Throughout the years he had learned to be patient in meditation, but just as his youth had returned to him, so had his old restlessness.

"Don't be alone," the catfish had warned him. Perhaps it would be wise to start his new life, find a community or brotherhood that would accept him into its fold. Then he would not be alone. Then he could learn who and what he was now, and where he was, and in so doing keep his mind off his heart, which was elsewhere. The old fish had given him wise advice, now that he thought about it.

The naiad stood, digging his toes into the lush grasses surrounding the spring. Then he stretched, taking a deep breath of the clear night air, and looked around. There was a far distant castle, which seemed foreboding, but he could smell the sea from that general direction even from where he stood. It called to him. And so he resumed his journey, veering well away from the fortress, toward the distant shore.

"Her name is Lanna." Valerie said softly into Aideen's ear as she gently nudged Lanna into action. The horse graciously obliged and started off at a soft trot towards the back trail away from the city. This dirt path looped all the way around the outer edges of the town and then continued on to the castle. Once they were a fair distance on the main road, Lanna broke off into a graceful gallop that carried them at a surprising speed and distance.

Valerie wrapped one arm around Aideen's waist while she gently guided the horse through the dark woods. Aideen's wings looked amazing. They flared around Valerie and trailed out in trails of fire behind them both. Valerie was impressed inspite of herself, and was not burned at all. Maybe one day she could even use the horse to help train Aideen in flight? If Aideen could fly, riding the horse should feel more than natural as the wind raced passed them. She really would be a splendid elemental one day. Valerie just knew it.

"You're doing marvelously Aideen! You're a natural! Lanna has really taken a liking to you as well! And now that she knows your touch, she will never let you fall no matter how uncertain you might feel. I'm very proud of you!"

Lanna whinnied cheerfully as if in agreement with Valerie. Valerie and Lanna seemed to share a similar personality for that matter. Horses were terribly intelligent, and the Valrae seemed to have a knack for riding them well, even with little practice. Perhaps they were able to link their thoughts together?

"We'll catch up to the others at the castle within the hour." Valerie leaned forward and talked into Aideen's ear. "The castle really isn't far, and I'm a little annoyed Thalian just took off and left you on your own at the house. The boy has no manners!" Valerie was trying to sound more annoyed than anything because she was really quite concerned. It was unlike Thalian to leave the company of guests so suddenly with little explanation. He had been raised better than that. And the empty house...

Valerie nudged Lanna on a little faster, her concern echoing discretely out of every clap from the horse's hooves.

Nelo blushed as Kitara snatched the wand. Leaowynne gave her another irritated look.

"Honestly, Nelo! When will you learn to behave yourself? You are older than all of Kara's countless children combined and then some! One would think you could manage a few manners, especially in the presence of a guest!" Leaowynne scolded. "I believe you have caused enough mischief today young lady! If you insist on acting like a child, then you shall be treated like a child. Go to your room! I will be around to discuss this with you later!"

Leaowynne flared a little, like a tiny what flame being fanned by the wind. She was bright enough as it was, so even this minute increase in her luminous visage nearly hid her facial features completely, except for her deep aubern eyes. Nelo did not dare argue. She looked at her mother with piteous eyes, and then looked up at Kitara reproachfully, her face drenched with silent apologies. Without another word, she turned and sulked out of the room. There was a brief flash and a faint whooshing sound. She must have teleported somewhere.

Leaowynne cleared her throat. "I'm sorry you had to bear witness to that Kitara. Honestly, sometimes that girl can be... oh... nevermind. She means well. She just gets a wee bit excited." She sighed. "As I was saying before, I would be happy to assist you in your training. As one of the three Greater Spirits who dwell here, I believe I am the most suited to tutor you in the ways of magic without injuring you. Hahaha." Leaowynne bubbled in her echoing laughter. Although, the thought of being injured during a simple magic lesson wasn't too reassuring despite her light-hearted manner. "Shall we go then?"

Leaowynne held out her whispy glowing porcelain fingers. "Just take my hand and I will direct us straight to the arena. And don't worry. My teleportation magic is far more subtle than Nelo's, and easier on the stomach by far!" Leaowynne grimaced a little, a strange expression to witness on her lovely face. Clearly she had experienced her fair share of Nelo transports over the course of time.

Knight glared down at the battle-ready woman. He rolled back his sleeves and held out one hand. He brought the cupped hand to his mouth and blew on it gently. A black and violet flame oozed into his palm like burning tar, and he cradled it gently as he walked to the very edge of the high platform. He almost seemed to be whispering to whatever was in his hand, which was a little unnerving. He held it out over the arena like he would drop it right onto Arianna's head. But before he did so, Knight shouted.

"This is your first phase of teaching! This is also the physical stage of your lessons! You will confront what I set before you by physical means alone! You MUST learn to confront any enemy, even spiritual or magical creatures, by means of effective physical assault! If you exercise any magic whatsoever, I will end the lesson and force you to begin anew, only with a much more challenging opponent! You will have five minutes of rest between each enemy! Should you make too many mistakes, you will get no rest at all! Now GO!"

With this last command, the burning oozing flame in his hand dripped down to the sandy floor of the arena like black acid. Once every drop had fallen, it collected itself into a squelching inky puddle. It began to rise and take shape. The sand beneath its towering form became so hot, it actually melted and crystalized into molten black glass. The shape grew larger and bulkier, bubbling out into strange collections of boiling blobs that slowly began to take the shape of muscle and limb. Before Arianna knew it, she was standing face to face with an enormous wolf-like creature that stood nearly twice her height and more than four times her size, even with her wings.

The creature reared its head and howled at the craggy dark ceiling hidden in the shadows above. Molten tar dripped and hissed from the wolf's jowels, intermingling with the blood and flames that trickled around its ebon fangs. Every fang was easily the size of Arianna's forearm. It's face was terrifying and strange. It looked more like the skull of a wolf rather than a complete wolfish visage. The tar oozed over the surface of the boney head in thin layers that barely managed cling to it as they swam over the face. It would run down like water, revealing the scarred white bone beneath before oiling over again. The wolf took two steps in Arianna's direction, moulding the sand into more glass with each step. Its gaze bored into Arianna through empty eye sockets. Knight glared down with an equal look of malice.

"BEGIN!" He shouted, and the wolf obediently lunged for Arianna.

Hollow AND Sorida

Kara's face quickly changed from curiousity to great surprise, fear, and concern as the thin girl named Hollow wretched onto the soft blue grass. The grass wilted beneath the stuff spilling from this broken spirit. Hollow was more than just sick in body. She bore a poison of the soul. This was incredibly serious, and without hesitation, she scooped the girl up in her arms as her wings snapped open and bounded towards the castle. She was holding the girl close to her chest. She didn't care of Hollow threw up on her. Kara winced a little when she discovered how light she really was. No wonder Thalian had been so panicked.

Thalian had followed her lead and was right on Kara's heels in the air. It was the first time Hollow had seen him fly, and it definitely seemed to suit him more than riding a bloody horse. His eyes still mirrored the same fear as they had during his little outburst. No matter how he tried, he just couldn't shut his brain off.

Kara's got her. She's going to be alright. She's going to live... He kept telling himself. But even in Kara's care, he couldn't help but feel doubt and uncertainty for Hollow's situation, which he had just witnessed again first hand. And on top of everything else, whoever was searching for her was drawing terribly close. They would be in sight soon. He could only pray that whoever they were, they were not on their way to do Hollow any harm. And if they were, he equally prayed they would be easy opponents to bring down. He glared fiercely in front of him, and even drew his strange sword. He wanted to be ready for anything.

Kara winced a little when he drew the blade, the sudden presense of its overwhelming rays of magic jarring her slightly.

"Thalian!" She called behind her. "What on earth are you doing?! Put that thing away at once! You'll give away our position!"

"Hollow has already unintentionally given away our position!" Thalian shouted back. "There are some people looking for her and they're gaining! I want to be ready incase we don't make it to the castle in time!"

Kara frowned, wishing he had something before they took off. The castle was not far now. Another moment and they would be beyond the main gates and landing square on the balcony of her own chambers. She called out to Sorida in her thoughts, alerting her that there might be trouble before they reached the castle. She only hoped it was nothing serious.

"Lanna," Aideen murmured to the mare just before they started moving. That was all she had time for. And did they ever move! At first, the elemental focused as best she could on staying seated, but as the mare’s gait smoothed into a gallop, she found herself falling into a daydream.

"Ow!" she cried, staring at her arm. A large set of tooth-marks marred the skin, and her forearm just above the wrist was already starting to bruise. "He bit me!"

"I can see that," her lover replied, suppressing a chuckle and examining the injured arm. "He really doesn't like you, does he?"

As if in response, the mule snorted, looking down his bulbous nose at the girl. She would enter his fields with her high, proud step and her head in the clouds, and pay too little attention to her work. Good workers kept their feet on the ground and their minds on the soil. And yet here she was, presuming to hook the mule to a plow. Even with the help of a respectable boy, this was unacceptable.

"No, he does not. Remember when he bucked me off after only minutes on his back?"

"You were nervous."

"Yes, but mules shouldn't buck." She narrowed her eyes at the animal, who snorted again, and stamped his hoof.

"They should not, but that doesn't mean the never do. You should wrap that arm, to keep the swelling down. I'll finish up here."

She pecked him on the cheek, smiled sheepishly and jogged back to the town. She'd return to help him soon.

Between the rush of the wind on her ears, and her own reminiscence, she barely heard Valerie. She barely payed attention to her wings as they splayed carelessly behind her. Riding a horse was like being in another world, at once in the air and on the ground. Horses had always been rare visions in the distance, and nothing more, until Lanna and Valerie. In spite of herself, with her face still well hidden in the shadows of the hood, Aideen smiled.

The hideous creature lunged at her, she ducked and rolled out of the way. What the hell was that thing?! It was disgusting and dripping, she stood back up and threw a few daggers hitting it where it’s eyes should have been. But the creature laughed and swallowed them into his body! How was she supposed to defeat this thing not using magic? Not that she knew any.

That’s when Arianna noticed the black glass where the creature had stood. She quickly bent as the creature lunged at her again, this time she somersaulted out of the way grabbing up a hand full of sand. Then he lunged at her again, this time she threw the sand in it’s face before diving out of the way.

Hollow kept her eyes closed but they still managed to spill out black tears that burned her cheeks. She didnt even have the strength to open her mouth to scream. Everytime her bones quivered she lost a little of her will to live. Was it really worth it?

Fang was about to speak when Zeke yelled out. "She's moving and fast!" Fang ran over to the map. The litte dot that was supposed to represent Hollow was moving fast across the paper. "Is it her or someone else?" Fang asked

Zeke shook his head. "Have you ever seen Hollow move like that?" Fang let out a growl "We're going in" He grew into the familiar black dragon and Zeke jumped on quickly. "You dont have to come if you dont want to, but were going to...." Fang was already off Leaving the older demon on the ground.

He dashed through the trees as fast as he could manage. They started bending out of his way. The dragon wasnt sure if he was doing it or something else. He let out a roar that shook the ground before he entered the clearing. He immediatly spotted the winged creatures and Hollow. He took to the air after them. Zeke drew his sword.

Kitara gaped, which she seemed to be doing a lot of lately and when she finally managed to regain her composure, she took Leaowyne’s hand with one last glance out of the room in Nelo’s direction. “Alight, I think Nelo is cute, but okay. Let’s go then!”

Within a few seconds and few hurried words, Zeke and Fang were gone, leaving Sorhiem gazing into the sky after then. Hm, should he follow. He certainly wanted to find this Hollow and discuss products with her, but he was going to go at his own pace. Spreading his wings, he rose into the sky and lazily flew towards the castle he saw not too far from him.

Valerie's heart was pounding about as hard as Lanna's hooves were beating into the dust. Something was wrong- and close.

"Hang on Aideen! Our friends may be in trouble! I sense some terribly strange beings nearby and they're on a blazing trail towards the castle, and I believe Kara and Thalian might be directly in their path. Lanna HYAH!" Valerie's comman spurred the horse at break-neck speed down the path. But she was very graceful on her legs and did not jar her passengers at all.

Her caramel-colored body and black mane were perfectly streamlined with Valerie and Aideen's bent forms, and her footing was sure as she finally broke through the last fragments of the treeline.

There-- In the sky--- A creature was in fast pursuit of Kara, the girl in her arms, and... THALIAN!

Valerie shouted this last name, and broke into a hellish charge in the direction of the assailants. Her whole body began to crackle with strange magic. Even Lanna was beginning to glow in an odd fashion.

"Mother?" Thalian dropped his guard and nearly tumbled over himself in mid-air to turn around and gape at the approaching party. It was his mother and... AIDEEN?! He started to have doubts for a second, and then a fierce grin crawled across his face. Well if the girl is going to singe anyone, now would be the perfect time for her to learn... His pause cost him precious speed however, and before he knew it, their pursuers were only feet away from him in the air.

This is not going to end well... He thought as he braced himself for the inevitable collision.

Kara knew Thalian had stopped for she felt the distance between their spiritual pressures increase rapidly. She also felt the presense of two other energies. One was definitely the feisty static of Valerie. The other was someone foreign to her, but not threatening. No matter what, she could not turn around though. She MUST get Hollow inside the castle without a moment's delay. She only hoped Thalian could stall them long enough for her to hide Hollow far from the reach of her pursuers. In the meantime, Kara began feeding a warm healing glow into Hollow as she hugged her closer to her chest. The warmth came straight from Kara's heart, gifting healing energy sapped directly from her own spirit. This girl was not going to die now, not if she could help it.

She called to Sorida again in her mind, praying hard she would be heard this time.

"SORIDA!"

Leaowynne cringed once the wave of clashing spiritual pressures outside the castle finally hit her, and Kitara's fur began to bristle and stand on end all over the place. Leaowynne stood still as a statue, still holding onto Kitara's hand, while she sought out the parties and tried to assess the situation. Kitara looked like a giant ball of golden fuzz by the time Leaowynne broke into action, tugging Kitara along behind.

Without a sound or a second's hesitation, they reappeared right in front of the castle gates. Leaowynne looked up and saw Kara soar over their heads at a blurring speed. She saw two strange pursuers, one of which was a black dragon! Thalian looked like he was about to have a little trouble with BOTH of them, and she could see Valerie and another strange being charging towards the castle in the distance. This was about to become a terrible mess...

Leaowynne squeezed Kitara's hand comfortingly in the chaos, and whispered down to her.

"Do you remember the levitation spell you practiced, Kitara? I want you to focus that same spell with all your might onto Thalian. He is about to have an awful headache, and the softer you can manage him onto the ground when he uh... intercepts the enemies, the better..."

Leaowynne did not wish to interfere. If Kitara was going to practice, now was as good a time as ever.

The creature yowled fiercely as it tried to scratch the shards of black glass from the empty eye sockets of its oily skull. Flames and acid spewed from between the fanged jaws dangerously, melting and moulding more black glass in all directions. A few hot shards singed Arianna badly. The black wolf of boiling flames and shadow began charging around blindly, snapping its jaws at anything and everything that might be in front of it.

Knight looked down at the scene with his usual indifference.

"FINISH IT YOU LAZY GIRL!" His voice bore down on the arena with the force of a tidal wave.

There was activity going on at his castle. He could feel it, even from the hot distant mountains of Ik'Thella where he now made his home. He only hoped someone would not finish his work for him before he had a chance to crush the life out of them all personally.

He stared down at Arianna coldly. He merely wanted this girl to eliminate most of the hard work for him. Kara would in all likelyhood kill Arianna in the assassin's attempt to murder her, but with the display of potential Arianna had been demonstrating thus far, he knew Kara would not escape without injury in the least. And then he would take his chance. He smiled to himself, looking forward to snapping Kara's neck in two with his bare hands.

"OW!"

The ground came up fast. In fact, she didn't even remember falling. Wait...what?

Sorida blinked, cursing under her breath as she stood and dusted herself off.

"What in the name..."

Her equilibrium found, her mind finally pulling free of the dredges of her previous state, it came flooding to her.

"I just cannot make a visit without something 'appening, now can I..." she muttered, moving her hands and focusing as she spoke, her subconcious already trying to form a helpful plan. In a matter of seconds she was at Kara's side, blinking slightly with a show of concern on her face for Hollow.

"Yes??"