A Quest for Vengence. (Open to anyone)

[Arkantos]

((Buwahahaha. I arrive, epically, to sow fear and chaos among you adventurers! Or as an epic help. Depends on my mood. ))

The slavers were uneasy. Something was making the oxen low loudly, and noise like that echoed tellingly over the flatlands of the edges of the desert. They didn't like surprises, not one bit. Many of the slaves, too, sensing the unease in their captors, were anxious and afraid, but also some small sliver of hope, still not yet extinguished by their capture, remained in their eyes.

If they knew of the true nature of the young man who traveled with the leader of the slavers, that hope would turn to despair faster than they could draw a breath to scream.

"We are being watched, Velnix."[/b] the man said quietly, casually, to his companion, the slaver in question.

The human started. He looked at the younger man with trepidation and not a little awe.

"How many, from where, and their alignment. Quickly, man, I need details or else we could all be dead!" the human replied quickly, scanning all around them to see the evidence of their pursuers. The first man, now smiling darkly, merely pointed upwards. Slowly, the slaver's gaze followed the index finger higher until it looked nearly straight up.

"Oh, gods..." he began, but was silenced with a swift slashing motion from the first man, who shifted in his horse's saddle, making a revealing clink of heavy armor as he moved around to face his companion better.

"Don't make any sudden moves. They are Dragon Riders. At least two of them. Both relatively young, though one is - wait. Now there is a third. The other two are breaking off from us and going to meet the newcomer."[/b] the first man said as if in a trance, coolly and calmly pointing his arm straight up into the air and moving it around randomly, it seemed, to the human, though in fact the magic-user was tracking the movements of their soon-to-be adversaries.

Now, the reason a magic-user powerful enough to detect Riders wasn't because of simple greed. Nor was it because of ideology - in fact, the magic-user detested the practice of slavery (or at the very least, the capture of formerly freed persons. He had no qualms with using current slaves as breeding stock and creating a slave caste.), and he didn't much care for slavers, either.

No, this magic user was here because it was expected of him, and by more than one master. As Lord Rash'agal, the fearsome and deadly Spellsword, a warrior devoted to purely the detection, disarming, and death of magic-users, he was considered an eccentric by his colleagues, and therefore sojourns into the untamed wilderness of the desert with unsavory characters was expected of him, and the tales the slavers brought back of his savagery and power only added to his allure and mystique on his return.

But as Arkantos the Shade, Captain of the Varden, he was ordered to stop these slave convoys at all costs. But first, he had to know their networks. Just stopping one band wouldn't stop all of them. He had to discover who knew who, where people went, and how much money traded hands. So far, he'd been doing well with both sides' orders. But now things were getting royally screwed up.

Of all the things that had to happen, a handful of Riders had to show up. This was a problem. As a Shade, he detested and envied the Riders, cruel reminders of a status he, himself, had aspired to become as a human magic user. After his foolish summoning of a powerful evil entity from the spirit world, he knew that any dragon would reject him as soon as smell him. But still...perhaps he could use this to his advantage.

"Stay with the new inventory. See that they are kept in as good condition as you can manage while I'm out. Any irreparable damage will come first out of your profits, and then out of your hide. I'm going to go and...deal, with our scaly friends. When I get back, it will be with the heads of three Dragons and their Riders, or three new fortunes to sell to Galbatorix himself. Rejoice in your good fortune, Velnix."[/b] he announced confidently, yet coldly. One did not make friends with the likes of Lord Rash'agal, after all. Spurring his mount, a rather stupid, yet surprisingly strong beast for its kind, he turned towards the direction of the Riders' flight.

Here comes trouble.

[Emily Drachen]

Emily just happened to look over her shoulder, hoping that the slavers where still there, when she noticed something a blasted shade? in the desert. She let out a moan, now she had two problems, "Kyrn, go meet the rider, I have something to do." She didn't even wait for a response before turning her dragon and heading towards the new company, "Let's hope he works for someone i know..." She shook her head as Void drew closer, but very slowly, "Let's see what your made of..." She brought out her black dagger, it's metal reflecting the bright sun.

Emily drew her sword up against her elbow, ready to stab whomever this may be in the heart, "You better hope you work for Gabatrox, or I will cut out your heart and give it to him." She had to yell, but she was getting closer to the ground by the second. Soon Void was sailing near the sandy earth, gliding towards the new foe.

Void didn't like the smell of whoever this was one bit Shade, me thinks Emily nodded, she knew the smell of shade just as well as if she where a dragon.

Emily let her sword rest on her lap, and she moved her hand towards the back of her head. She removed the band that had kept her hair in a neat pony-tail, letting her hair fall to her shoulders. Her eyes looked as if though they would swallow up anything she gazed at, and her gaze was locked on the new arrival she had not been anticipating, nor expecting. Galbatrox said to gain the profits and bring them back, nothing about a protector among them, "This is sure getting difficult." She said with a sigh

(ahhhh, this is getting way to complicated...and sorry it's short)

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

((Sorry, Im used to not having to worry about coming here))
Vedrit cautiously approached, tenderly seeking them out with his mind, looking for intentions. He found, instead, the hope for Varden. With a smirk, he relayed it to Sonya, who flew in closer,
"Dont worry." Vedrit yelled in the ancient worry, "I am a friend.", and made an exaggerated bow.
"It seems our old friend is here." Sonya commented to Vedrit, recognizing, albiet with difficulty, Arkantos' presence, "But he is not as he used to be."
Though Vedrit and Arkantos had never exactly been on good terms, Vedrit did owe Arkantos much. Without the twisted magician, Vedrit would no doubt be wandering the wilderness, lost between distaste for the Empire and knowing there was little he could do about it, even with Sonya by his side.
Regardless, Arkantos being in company with the small band of travelers, no doubt slavers, roused questions, and only intensified by Sonya's worry of him not being the same.
As Vedrit thought back, the last he had come into contact with Arkantos, the man seemed to be falling apart from the inside out.
'Do you think he meddled with what he shouldnt have?' he wondered

[Kyrn]

Kyrn looked over his shoulder at Emily who had darted away towards the slavers and told him to meet this new rider. "Wait!" Kyrn yelled out but by then she was already out of ear shot. Why am I getting the feeling that this might go very badly Kyrn said to Varith. Because I am getting the feeling as well... Even though, just knowing that Varith was here with him, gave Kyrn the courage to go on. Letting out a heavy sigh Kyrn and Varith flew over towards the new rider.

As the man spoke in a strange language that Kyrn had never heard before, he felt like he was a friend. "You may call me Kyrn, no please answer me, who are you and why are you here?" Kyrn yelled out so this new rider can hear.

[Emily Drachen]

Emily growled and told Void to turn around, Why? Void asked, baffled by Emily's strange behavior. "Because i don't have time for this. and I'd rather deal with whoever this is later." Void only nodded and turned swiftly, gliding back up towards Kyrn and the new rider. Emily had only turned because she felt foolish for leaving a novice at the mercy of a total stranger. She could not think of anything happening to anyone, which confused her Stop acting like a mother hen, Emily She told herself. But she could not fight the feeling that Kyrn might be in danger and it would be her fault.

Emily knew she should not have turned her back on them, for she heard the new rider speak in the ancient language, "Great, an elf..." She really didn't like the thought of meeting a elf, and her speech was a little rusty. She watched as Kyrn and Varith, and the new pair get closer. She called out in the ancient language "Hello, I'm Emily, who might you be?" She had to yell because she was not close enough to talk normally. Void got closer, and he could smell something pleasing Oh, there's a lady dragon... Emily frowned, 'Void..." She was about to lecture, but now they where within hearing range. She let her mind out, hoping that the new pair would let her search their minds.

Satisfied, She drew back, "Its okay, they wont hurt you." She grinned at Kyrn. Then turned her attention towards the new pair, "He does not speak the ancient, hes new."

[Arkantos]

Arkantos watched in silence as the Rider approached him, demanded knowledge of his allegiances, and then flew off again, presumably to go and hang around with the other pair of Riders. He shook his head.

Riders these days. The Shade drew upon his human memories, or rather, the persona of Arkantos relayed his memories in cooperation with the evil spirit named Rash'agal. Now the Shade knew how truly weak the Riders these days were. Few, if any, of the old guard remained. Only Verinas, the flighty former Seer for Galbatorix, showed any promise any more, and that was because it was he, the Shade, and he, the noble Captain, that was schooling her and her dragon.

He sighed. ...Such foolishness...This is getting annoying. I'd better go meet them on their own playing field, then. Just to let them know exactly what's going on here.[/color] Complaining to his other half, the kindlier Arkantos took over, as Rash'agal became too irritated by the situation to not kill all of them in a semi-suicidal rush. Drawing upon Rash'agal's knowledge, shared only reluctantly, Arkantos chanted in the ancient language for several minutes, until a coalescing nexus of magic formed on his shoulderblades and spread outwards, giving the visual appearance of wings.

Of course, that was just what he wanted it to look like. In reality, it was nothing more than gravity manipulation and a slight immaterial enhancement, to increase his airspeed and prevent wind resistance, something the Riders most definitely did not have the ability to yet accomplish. Not that any of them would ever have enough open-mindedness to deal with a Shade unless ordered, much less actually learn from one.

Letting his horse go back to the convoy with a friendly pat and words in the ancient language to give it guidance and protection, he knelt down to the ground before leaping in to the air, taking to the sky as naturally as any dragon - perhaps even more so, since his magical knowledge was completely conscious and not taken for granted.

Flying swiftly, faster than the wind, he quickly reached the other Riders. The Varden Shade smiled as he recognized an old rival, Vedrit the elf, and his pearly-white dragon, Sonya. He'd had several run-ins with them before, and considered them allies, if only somewhat. The other two...they were newlings, he could tell, as their dragons were nowhere near the size and age of Sonya. One of them served the Empire - an oddity, as he hadn't been made aware of a new Rider among the Empire's legions when last he visited the royal palace. The third one - he was an enigma. Most likely, he was a neutral Rider without a liegelord, as most of the less-skilled Riders usually were.

"SILENCE, ALL OF YOU!"[/size] he commanded in the ancient language, sending forth a massive shock wave of irresistible power to forcibly prevent speech - and therefore, a counterattack - while he figured things out. The spell used a lot of his magical power, of course, because he'd not bothered for subtleties like a variable level of consumption and instead shot for an all-or-nothing infinitive. He could afford the loss. After all, he did love the dramatics, and nothing was more dramatic than a winged man flying at you at high speed, speaking ancient words of command in a voice that seemed to resonate from within.

For an added bonus, he even extended a flicker of thought and created a massively long sword, easily over eight feet and made completely of hardened darkness and fire. A breeze blew, and the Shade allowed his other unique item to show - his cloak. Though the wind moved swiftly and blew about, his cloak remained unnaturally still. Indeed, the more he moved, the more his covering robe remained still.

"By order of Captain Arkantos Halimar of the Varden, and Lord Rash'agal the Spellsword of the Empire, all three of you have fallen under my jurisdiction. One at a time, I'm going to release your bonds. You will land, and we will talk this out like civilized folk. Otherwise, I'm going to personally rip your dragon's soul stones from their bodies and wear their skins as my clothing every single day for the rest of eternity."[/b] he said darkly, authoritatively, alternatively speaking in the ancient language and the common tongue, so that those who knew his foreign words would know he meant every word of it, and those who didn't would understand that the thing they dealt with now was far beyond any of them, even combined.

No one, save a particularly brave or stupid hero wishing for a swift death and immortal legend, dared to oppose a Shade. He released them from his spell, reveling quietly as he regained his lost energy, but increased the pull of gravity slowly upon all of them until their sheer mass prevented the Dragons from doing much more than standing up - flight and rapid movement would be beyond them, as would fighting and magic use for the Riders.

((Mufufufu. I'z be haxing. ))

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

Vedrit shook his head at the dramatics of Arkantos. Whether or not he seemed different, this definitly was the same Arkantos.
Regardless, Vedrit had to obey, even if he wasnt forced by Arkantos' unnecessary force.

Remaining on his dragon, he waited for Arkantos to explain, though he really wasn't expecting him to acutally do it. He'd probably say, in some extravagent and over-the-top way that we were ruining his fun.

Sonya was likewise quickly tired of Arkantos' theatrics. Wings, swords of fire and darkenss. Impressive to the uneducated, maybe, but to anyone who knew Arkantos, it was just another display. The other two, who's names Vedrit still hadn't learned, would be wise to be quiet and let Arkantos tire himself on his display. As insane as Arkantos might seem to be, he was worse than he seemed.

[Emily Drachen]

Emily would have let out a sigh if she knew it would have been safe. But she didn't dare make a sound as the shade spoke. She didn't care for threats, but she did ever so wish the shade would just let her go. His words brought little amusement from her. She was not even afraid. She had destroyed many shades in the past, without a dragon, too. This would be no different, if she had to fight at all.

Void was equally unimpressed. He had coughed up his soul stone when he turned of flying age, trusting it with the elves, secretly from Galbatrox. Emily let a small smile escape. She wanted to laugh, but didn't. She felt herself pressed with gravity, also forcing Void lower to the ground, Next time, ill put curse wards on us Emily thought as they descended to the ground.

Emily was having a hard time with the Shade. She found him very angry, mad, crazy, and a whole bunch of other stuff she didn't care to think about. She knew Void was getting irritated now, and she wanted to sooth him, but she didn't talk. She hated blocking everything from her mind, because she loved just roaming other minds. At that moment, she felt something try to reach her. She gasped, but she didn't know what else to do. She knew the feel of the mind, Galbatrox was trying to find her.

She closed her eyes tightly, but she knew Galbatrox would only get static. She opened her eyes and glared at the Shade, and she mouthed the words let me go. or else Galbatrox will send others after me She moved her arm up and showed the Empire crest, it was glowing. She let out a moan as the heat from the crest started to burn her arm. But her face didn't show any pain.

She closed her eyes again, searching for a spell that she could use without talking. some nature spells of plants and trees came to mind, but she ignored them. Finally she gave up. Only nature spells would pop into her head, but they were not really any danger to anyone. She finally got tired and opened her mind again, all she wanted was to keep track on Velnix and the slavers, she could not afford to loose them. But it was hard with a crest burning into your wrist.


(Hmmm, im wondering iif her thoughts about shades are changing

[Kyrn]

Kyrn turned to see Emily and Void coming back to them. He smiled to himself. I guess were not alone in this anymore. He said to Varith. Varith was getting irritated. "I was hoping that this would be a quick find and kill quest but it looks like this is getting rather difficult." Varith said to Kyrn.

When Emily came up Kyrn was startled by a sudden overwhelming power. A man, at least Kyrn thought he was a man, flew up next to him. Kyrn was about to draw his sword when Varith told him to stop and listen. "This thing, is stronger then you, it sounds to me that he doesn't wish to fight, he just wants to learn why we are here." Kyrn nodded and as the pressure increased and him and Varith descended down to the ground.

The moon had finally reared its bright full face. Kyrn left out an exasperated breath, the last time he had slept was only an hour before he met Emily. Lately that's all he got for sleep as his dreams were plauged by visions of his dead family and the entire scene where his family was murdered.

[Arkantos]

Arkantos gazed in terse silence at each of them in turn, measuring their relative power in might and their dragon's ability. He took the silent communication from the only female Rider in stride; the woman was arrogant, annoyingly so, and to think that Galbatorix favored the likes of her more than anything else in his kingdom...

He could always just poison or kill her himself later, when she was alone and separated from her dragon. Yes. Perhaps that was the way to go. He wasn't much for such cloak-and-dagger tactics, but it was a logical thing to do.

"..."[/b] he waited for them to speak, but they did not. He gazed in curiosity at the Empire's crest, branded into the flesh of the woman, Emily, and idly considered invading her mind and enslaving her to his will, instead of the King who he rather wished would just go off and die already, if only to let humanity thrive and progress itself to a level of civilization to rival that of the elves and dwarves. But enough about the quasi-Shade's plans for the future of mankind.

Another flicker of thought, and the wings and sword, too, vanished.

"Well?"[/b] he said at last irritably. "Explain yourselves, all of you! Well, with the exception of you, Vedrit, and you, Sonya. I'm perfectly aware of your penchant for wandering around in the middle of nowhere."[/b] he addressed all three Riders, but turned to the pearl and her elf partner specifically. He didn't like the fact that Vedrit was still refusing to be directly commanded by the Varden and remained somewhat neutral, though he himself was hardly any better, being somewhat of a double-agent who also didn't hesitate to further his own goals.

"We don't have all night. Now, either we can get the pleasantries sorted out, or we can all try and kill each other. There are three of you; you might want to consider it. I'd give you four-to-one odds. In my favor, of course."[/b] he continued, slightly more affable, gesturing at all of them broadly before smirking arrogantly, knowing perfectly well he was being an arrogant ass and enjoying every minute of it. Shades, after all, were very vain creatures, for all their alienation from the masses of normal humanity.

[Emily Drachen]

Emily simply ignored the Shade. She could feel the shades spell slowly leave her and started to place wards around herself and body as soon as she was able to make magic. She also placed several of her curse wards around her and Voids minds. "Okay, now to deal with this..." She didn't even glance at the Shade. As soon as Void's feet touched the ground, she had jumped off and feel to the ground. She started to dig up a hole in the sand, getting a little angry when the sand tumbled into the ground.

Void watched as Emily started to get frustrated and let out a huge breath, fire coming out of his nostrils in annoyance. Emily, give it up Emily muttered a few words and got up, kicking the sand back into the hole. "Blast it!" She said a little lower then a yell and threw up her hands in annoyance with the sand, "This blasted sand is as annoying as Galbatrox is!" She finally turned and looked at the Shade, "My business in none of your concern, whatever your name is." She let her arms drop to her sides and started to think, All i remember him saying is Arkantos something' rather

Emily shook her head and walked towards Void, cringing as the burn in her arm got worse, "All right, all right." She stopped and drew a circle with her shoe in the sand, then mumbled something and a perfect hole appeared, "I hate magic." She said and bent down. She put her hands together and moved her lips silently, and the hole filled with water, 'Well, i guess there is water around here somewhere." She closed her eyes and moved her lips again, and the water turned black. She dipped her emblem in the water. But she got nothing. She released the spell and let out a sigh, "Great..." She shook her head. Her job was getting messed up, and it was all thanks to the new rider and the Shade.

She got up, releasing the other spells that she had said. The wards were draining her, but she kept them. She looked at the Shade, "Now... What do you wanna know?" She looked at the Shade, a questioning look in her eyes.

Void snarled at the Shade. They really didn't need this. Emily looked behind her and smiled, "Hey, as soon as we can get out of here and get the money for Galbatrox. We can go visit the Elves, alright?" She smiled as she moved to scratched Voids thin, and His mood brightened up.

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

Vedrit, excused to his silence, kept it. It wasnt that he didnt like being ordered by the Varden, its that they havent given him much to do. A few tasks, here and there, but not much else. The partiality to wandering part was true enough, though.

He, however, did listen intently for the stories of the other two. Few people travelled the Hadarac, much less three parties, each from different directions, and different intentions.

Sonya watched as the female rider dug fruitlessly in the sand, cursing the sand as it fell back in, wondering why she didnt ask her dragon to aid her. His fire would have turned it into glass, or could have moved far more of it at once than she could. Even half a dozen other spells would have saved her the effort of making a perfect hole in the sand.

Humans. What they lack in ingenuity they make up for in brash actions. Arkantos was the very epitome of examples of it.

[Kyrn]

Kyrn looked over as Emily clawed into the sand and said a few choice words. Kyrn began to wonder if she was crazy. Who was he kidding, of course she was crazy, the other rider seemed crazy and this THING, was most definitely crazy. It was like a crazy party in the desert. Kyrn, still atop Varith looked out towards the direction of Velnix and his band of Slavers.

After a moment of calm he looked back toward this creature. He wondered if he should just tell him why he was here in this desert that seemed to go on forever. He grasped his father's sword's pommel as his anger grew from his memories. Finally "I am here for one reason and one reason only...to Kill that bastard Velnix for killing my parents, and sold me and my younger brother into slavery." Kyrn said with an icy stare. Varith growled as the anger seeped into him from Kyrn.


And none shall stand in our way! Varith added and let out a roar. Kyrn could tell that Varith wanted nothing more than to end Velnix's life. Varith raised his spiked tail and slammed it into the ground causing the sand to fly into the air. "If you require nothing else then let us be on our way so we may end our hunt." Kyrn said not taking his eyes off of the creature.

[Arkantos]

Arkantos was rapidly becoming bored. This was not normally a bad thing, as Arkantos, before his turning into a Shade, would often take to drinking, flirting, and practicing his magic - frequently at the same time. This made him quite popular among the common soldiers because of his affable nature, but now that he was a fearsome Shade, and more unpredictable than a pit viper, he didn't do those things when bored.

Now, he just killed. Killed, and maimed. Oh, and there was lots of explosions. He liked those a lot, too.

"Fair enough. If you want to kill them, by all means go ahead and do so. I certainly won't stop you. In fact, if I'm particularly whimsical, I may even assist you...Kyrn." he said lightly to the newest Dragon Rider, making a quick dive into the man's mind to see his name. Sure, it was taboo, but Arkantos was the kind of man who would rather skip the normal sort of pleasantries associated with meeting new people and get straight to the threatening, fighting, and carousing. If they were women, flirting and seducing.

He turned and made as if to say something to Emily, but he felt the rather rude presence of curse wards. How silly. They were hastily crude, but effective; it would take Rash'agal a few minutes to disarm them without the woman and her dragon becoming aware. Meanwhile, Arkantos had some burned bridges to rebuild.

A small step, a flicker of shadow, and Shade was now standing in front of Vedrit and Sonya.

"Vedrit, Sonya." he said, seriously being polite for once. He even made the elven opening statement for greeting someone whose station is somewhat above their own. "Well met, Rider. It seems I've had a sudden attack of conscience just now, and so I feel that it would be rude of me not to offer my apologies for my past conduct when dealing with both you and your dragon. Sonya, I know that you don't like me - you probably never did when I was human, and now you revile me as a Shade. I can't change that. But I can hopefully at least apologize for my misdeeds. We are allies, after all. Whether you accept that apology is up to the both of you - but at least I will have made it, and my mind can rest a little easier." he said quietly, casting a listening ward around their immediate area so as to prevent the other Riders from eavesdropping, specifically the servant of Galbatorix.

He bowed, a rarity for him (he hadn't bowed as deeply since he'd become a Shade, and even when human, his pride was such that he would allow few to surpass him in rank or ability that he could not, himself, also achieve), and handed the elf a strange object, a pendant, made of what seemed to be black stone, but of surpassing lightness and a luster that was far beyond any normal mineral. An ancient script, more complex than the letters of the elves and far more mysterious than the runes of the dwarves, covered every inch of its surface.

"Take this. It's a relic I found years ago, back in the warehouses of Ceunon. It has, from what I've discerned about it, the ability to rapidly accelerate magical growth and capability. It's how I got as strong as I was when I was human. But be careful; if it is what I think it is, you might have a Grey Folk relic on your hands now." he said as he shoved the thing into the elf's hands and walked away briskly, determined to leave as soon as possible, now.

Rash'agal informed him that he had successfully created counter-wards to bypass the Rider and Dragon's mental defenses, and Arkantos took the opportunity to attempt to break them, shielding his own mind heavily while also attempting to drain her magical energy from her while attacking her mind. All of this, of course, he did while not saying a single word, and still walking off, back towards the slaver's caravan. He had no more need to deal with these people. But, if they acted in the predictable fashion that he knew they would, then he would have some entertainment while watching the slavers being slaughter by a vengeful Rider and Dragon.

[Emily Drachen]

Emily had felt the touch. The touch of another thing, but she didn't recognize it. She knew shades had more then one soul occupying their bodies, but this soul was strong. Emily had never felt this before, but that's how she liked it. A Challenge. She could feel each little curse ward breaking apart. She was glad that Voids where still intact and untouched. She let her mind open, weakening the final wards before she felt a strong power take her mind. She did her natural reaction to such things. Think about something useless. She started making up a poem, trying to find the mind onslaught. Her face was normal, a smile on her face and she was looking at the sky, but inside there was nothing but...

"Sand, wonderful sand. its in your shoes its in your clothes. Sand, wonderful wonderful sand, its everywhere its in your hair its sand, wonderful sand." She just replayed the song in her mind over and over again. Meanwhile Void worked on putting the curse wards he had on to Emily. They had been threw the drills countless times. Void kept his mind shut, working out the small kinks before he finally felt a ward lift and go onto Emily. It was only one, but it should kick the shade out with enough pain long enough for a counter. Now Emily's song spread threw everyone's minds. At least the ones who are open, that is.

Emily could feel the strain on her mind ease just slightly. She working her song into the shades head, hoping its tune would take his spell away and force him to remove the infernal song from his head. Emily moved and knelt, staring at the shade. She was humming her song, and Void was shaking his head.

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

To say Vedrit was very confused was an understatement. On the same token, if Arkantos truly was trying to make amends, then maybe Vedrit could find it within himself to forgive Arkantos. Even if he were playing at something, the pendant certainly was not from any races Vedrit knew of.
As suspicious as he was of Arkantos, who apparently was a Shade now (which explained what Sonya had felt when they first arrived), he could only take Arkantos at his word.

The womans song, of sand and its irritation of all things, was much unwelcomed. In concert, he and Sonya pushed back with their minds, their push fueled by the feeling her song invoced; irritation.
The push was a tactic Vedrit had thought up. If someone pushed or prodded at his mind with an image, or sound, or thought, he would use that to focus his own mind for a counter. Being that the thoughts were similiar, it would quickly create a stale-mate. That was one-on-one with his equal. The femal Rider, though skilled, was spreading herself thin, trying to reach everyones mind. Even if her dragon shielded her mind with his, Vedrit was doubtful they would be able to stand the assault of however many minds there were poking hers, and Vedrit suspected that Arkantos, who was powerful as a human, was the instigator. He was the only one who would have the gall to do such a thing.

[Kyrn]

Kyrn was surprised that the shade said that he didn't care what happened to the slavers. "Aren't you there to protect them?" Kyrn asked. Maybe its true what the old tales said, about how shades truly are mad. He still griped the handle of his sword with a firm grip. He looked at Varith, "If he will not stop us then now is the best time to take flight, and destroy those slavers. It is dark, and Velnix is only expecting Emily." Kyrn nodded his head. And was about to tell Emily of his plan when an odd song drifted into his head. It was like an annoying buzzing in his ears that wouldn't stop. As a rider even though its already been six months, he's had no one to teach him anything. He's had no mentor, nothing. Why only a few hours ago he had just learned how to use magic and only one spell and one word.

Kyrn shook his head. I'm growing tired of this, he thought. Kyrn turned and hopped onto Varith's new saddle and looking over toward Emily, "We'll I think that Velnix has lived an hour to long. If you wish to stay and see who has the bigger sword with the shade then fine, but I'm going to end that bastards life. You other two," He said now to Vedrit and the Shade. "If you want to join me then do so." And with that Varith lept into the air and with a few thrusts of his wings he was airborne. Kyrn wasted no time and already drew his sword. He held it back behind him so it would not interfere with Vairth's flying.

He looked down and saw the bonfires that showed Velnix's camp. Many feelings now flew through Kyrn. Terrified, excited, worried, but the feeling that was most prominent was anger. Through Varith, Kyrn's anger was amplified into a burning rage,

Tonight there will be blood.

[Arkantos]

Arkantos hummed along to the song, enjoying it in his madness. Or rather, the Shade's madness. The mind of a Shade was never one to lightly enter in to, and Arkantos's was bad enough before sharing it with an ancient evil entity. An eyebrow ticked back and forth with the rhythm of the little ditty, easily firing off a counter-ward that began battering away at the dragon's mental ward before he stopped, suddenly, with an expression of sudden fear.

"Oh boy. Oooh, boy. This is bad. This is very, very bad. Vedrit, I wasn't here, okay? All of you, if anyone asks, I wasn't anywhere within one hundred leagues of this place. I've got to get out of here....NOW!"[/b] he stated with growing panic, his magical sensory web apparently detecting someone that, while he didn't mind too terribly, would really rather not have to deal with right now.

She would most likely try something he'd regret in the morning, if she got ahold of him.

"Grind!" he commanded, and a six-foot by six-foot hole in the universe suddenly decided it would be a good time to appear, linking two otherwise unconnected points in space with each other. The edge of the portal, an invention of Arkantos's, and perfected by Rash'agal, were thin, and silver. But it cut in to the ground with a deadly sheerness that made a neat cauterized gouge in the sand.

"Fair thee well. I'll most likely try and kill most of you later. That newling...teach him the ropes. He's got a bright future ahead of him; just don't say that to the Rider who's approaching...She'd beg to differ...."[/b] with that parting word, he waved cheekily, then darkly, before stepping through the gateway, which revealed a white stone courtyard filled with bright ever-blooming flowers. With a small *snick*, the gateway collapsed in on itself, and the ever-bizarre Shade was gone.

But....

What was it he had fled from?

[Emily Drachen]

Emily's song snapped off and she looked at the shade with confusion, "Okay.....you where not here..." She was kinda confused by the shade. She grinned as she lifted her hand to wave him off, "Okay! We should meet again, maybe i wont be Empire and we could be friends." She smiled and stood, watching the shade tell her and Vedrit something, "Don't worry, I can handle him." She waved one last time as the shade pasted threw the portal. She then turned to the elf, shrugging, "I better get going before Kyrn kills himself, "She smiled as she walked towards the elf, 'By the way. I'm Emily, this is Void." She made a sweeping arm gesture towards the black dragon who was looking more confused by the moment, "I hope you don't mind helping me keep an eye on him til this little madness is over with?" She didn't wait for a answer, she was already halfway toward Void. She smiled and lifted herself onto her dragon, brushing a straw strand of hair from her face. She looked at the Elf and laughed, "Don't worry. You wont see me after this unless you also have an uncle in the elven country." She turned her head away from the elf and felt Void shoot into the sky. She leaned forward and gripped the sides of Voids neck, wishing she would have kept her saddle, "Oh, well."

Emily could feel something new in the area, then wondered why the shade was scared of, I'm wondering if it has something to do with this new presence. She shook her head as she caught up with Kyrn. She extended her mind towards his and caught it, Be careful, he knows how to use magic. Void pulled up beside the red colored dragon, Emily grinned. She leaned over towards Kyrn and his dragon and rummaged threw the bags, pulling out the clear flask with the strange fluid. She also pulled out a rope and then moved back into her seat. She tied the rope around the lid of the flash and placed it around her neck like a necklace. She gave a laugh as Void surged past Kyrn. Emily was having the time of her life. She had met an elf, a very strong shade, a new rider and she was about to meet the man who ruined her life...Wait, why was she happy about that? She didn't know why, but the thought of Venixs blood on her dagger made her laugh with joy. She wondered if the elf was following them, but could really care less. She really didn't want to worry too much. After this she would be going to Palancer Vally, then visit her uncle and aunt in the elven country.

Emily saw the slave camp coming up, and then she frowned. Velnix was looking right at her. She let a sigh escape her mouth and then extended her mind toward Kryn, Do not attack yet, Ill give you the signal. She also had extended to the elfs mind, but she didn't know if he had heard. Too bad she didn't even know what the signal was yet, but she didn't ponder that much. Void was now nearing the ground, and Emily felt Velnix touch her mind. She closed her mind before Velnix could get hold. She felt her stomach churn as Void landed, she almost threw up as she watched Velnix near Void. Void was growling as Emily dismounted from him, she made shush noises to him, but he kept growling.

Velnix smiled and said, 'Hello there, birdy."

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

Vedrit, who was just coming to terms with the strange behavior from Arkantos, was again jostled by the femal Rider. Exchanging looks and thoughts with Sonya, Vedrit made no reply, not that he had the chance to voice it.
Confusion indeed.
The little slaughter-expedition was none of Vedrits business, and opted to remain where he was; he figured proper explenations would be shared after the four have their little soiree. His brothers sometimes said "You get what you are looking for, when you stand still."

((Sorry its short. I borrowed Avatar from my sister, so I was easily distracted))