A new path for an outcast? [invite only, Alexiali]

[Innocence]

In the plain light of Ethgan’tors day, Shi’thra turned around to see the man she had finally met, the obsession she felt she had almost claimed. The Moriquendi woman ran her fingers through her pale silver, blonde hair, as if she almost regretted agreeing to this... to taking him to where she lived. Though a small smile painted her face, it was forced... she was so unsure... she liked to pretend that she knew what she was doing but she really did not.

“Lets get out of the open,” she whispered in hushed Moriquendi, looking suspiciously at the people that surrounded and entered or left the temple, as if she was under some form of watch or skepticism herself... As if everyone was a potential enemy. She pulled the hood of her clock over her pale hair, flashing Alexiali a brief smile before motioning him to follow her through the streets and suddenly down a narrow pathway between to rather large, and expensive Moriquendi homes.

Finally she turned to face him, almost suddenly so the Moriquendi man had to halt to a stop just before her face, feeling her soft warm breath on his face again as he had before. She did not make a move to touch him, but he could read the look in her eyes, that sparkled even in the shadows between the two buildings. Shi’thra used one pale hand to pull the cloak from her hair, revealing her striking face again, before opening her mouth to speak. “I just want to make one thing perfectly clear...” she started, before her eyes glanced over his shoulder and the voice was broken, hushed, and she took a fearful step away from him... backwards... her face suddenly paling even whiter in fear.

“One thing that needs to be made perfectly clear,” a male voice behind Alexiali spoke in common. “Is that you, Shi, are a Og'elend... a traitor... consorting with the likes of those we watch... Were you to bed him, and tell him all the secrets you know as you did once before? All the information we had gathered? Ssindossa!*”

“No... Miyal... please... that is not the case at all–“

“Hush woman... when your father hears of this you will be lucky to walk for weeks, do not make me punish you now as you should have last time you were caught... who is it this time? Turn and face me... is it that whore loving Ariva again?”

If Alexiali did in fact turn he would see a Moriquendi that was remarkably similar to She’thra. He had the same striking features, dark eyes, same hair... though where she was eye-catching and feminine, he was completely masculine in his beauty. He stood in all black, his hair braided down his back, his right hand clenched on the silver pommeled hilt of a short sword. His face was a storm of anger, confidence and assurity. Though where the woman had used it as a mask, this seemed to be the true visage of this man, who spoke as if he had the will an inclination to not only spill of the blood of the former noble, but the blood of the woman that could have easily been his sister.

“Name,” was all he said...

*whore

[Alexiali N'mora]

Not for the first time or the last Alexiali cursed Baragot’s arrow, not that it had been his but he’d been the catalyst for it all, the measure’s he’d forced himself to take in order to survive had robbed him of memory, straining him to the point of breaking and flinging him back even as he was forced to run from the Legion. Now he was suffering for that once again, the inability to act decisively like a dagger in his back, rubbing the ribs and grinding him down, he could do nothing except react as he had patterns upon patterns before at the beginning of it all, no thought, no comprehension of the risk, only instinct.

Falling back to instinct was both good and bad but there was no other way for it, the fear in the girl’s eyes, the way she stared back at the person behind him…that told him all he needed to know really. Alexiali’s expression was sad, almost slightly sickly as he nodded slowly to the girl, left foot moving around so that it was horizontal to the wall of the small alley, his right twisting on the heel so that it faced straight towards the male Moriquendi as Alexiali bent his knees, coiling like a spring.

Dimly he remembered how she’d acted before leading him from the cathedral, afraid, cautious, he needed allies and more than anything he knew that the man behind him would know Ariva by sight and therefore would know Alexiali was nothing more than he seemed to be, a defenseless fool – at least against a blade. As he twisted fast though he was proved right on two counts, one good, one bad. The man was armed but the sword was still sheathed, that meant…if only he could get close enough.

Alexiali kicked off with both feet, hands stretched forward to grapple at the assailant, no words being spoken as he leapt for the man, aiming to bare him to the ground if at all possible. Sadly he knew that if he was proficient in unarmed combat Alexiali was already dead…if that was such then he’d accept the prospect and welcome it, the end game and his mistakes being all to clear, if not though then he’d fight for all he was worth…of course the process of that fight depended on how the leap went.

Still while he flew through air he remembered Shi’thra’s expression, the undying, confused naivety, she was a young hopeful wanting nothing more than a better life and foolishly thinking she could get it from bedding nobles who, for the most part, would bed the common for nothing more than amusement…how sad. How much sadder still that he was forced into attacking one of his own kind so soon after entering the city, an inevitability if a morbid one.

[Innocence]

The leap was fast, unexpected... a move based on instinct rather than planning. It was a decision that could have lead Alexiali in a worse place then he was now, but for his sake - thankfully - the act itself caught this Miyal so off guard that the pair went tumbling to the alley floor. Alexi’s body smashed his assailant, but once grappled, the stronger muscled strength of his opponent pushed and rolled Alexiali so that his weight crushed against him, and his wrists were pushed hard against the ground.

“Miyal don’t hurt him!” Shi’thra half screamed in fear, running towards the two men as if she would interfere. Her dark eyes seemed almost brimmed with tears, and her voice shock, frail, out of control.

“Shi, you stay out of this, for the trouble you are in now can still get worse and you know it... this is no longer between you and I, or even about you and this stupid fool... this is about me and him!” His eyes never left Alexialis violet depths as he scanned his face not recognizing him, seeing his ripped clothes, unsure of who he was, if he was even a noble or not. “And you are a stupid fool my friend,” the handsome, and stronger Moriquendi said anger still rippling in his voice. “Stupid but certainly dauntless... and I have to give you some credit for that.”

He stood then, getting off Alexiali and standing, dusting dirt from his clothes and sweeping a pale strand of hair away from his face, as it had fallen from his braid. He looked over his fallen foe, though indignation still sprang from the dark depths of his eyes, he held a hand to Alexiali to help him off the ground.

“I apologize at least for provoking you into the need to do that... but I thought you were someone that you obviously are not... though I would like to know who you are, and why you are with the little whore that is my younger sister. She only looks the way she did to you, at nobles, but you do not seem to have the look or the arrogance of one that was born with mythril spoons in their mouth,”

Alexali would hear the hiss of anger from Shi’thra at the words her brother spoke and he would watch from either the ground, or from where he now stood to see her indignantly walk towards her brother her voice angry, vengeful. “You dare call me a whore Miyal?! You dare? And as for him, you know nothing about who he is and yet you judge... he is–“ Her words were cut short as Miyal backhanded her hard across the face. The slap rang through the alley and her groan of pain followed it, tears springing to her eyes.

“If I have to tell you to not speak one more time Shi I will take it upon myself to finish the job your father started... and I have every right to call you a whore for how you betrayed our family...” he turned away from her, leaving her to tend her face and her lip, split and bleeding. “And I apologize for her as well... but who ever you are, and wherever you did spring from I request (though it appeared to be more of an order than a request) that you answer my questions, and I will at least give you a chance to explain yourself before I punish my sister and see if I feel the need to deal with you,” the in the calm anger still boiled in his voice.

Meanwhile Shi’thra just stared at her violet eyed love with pleading... they seemed to ask him to not run, as fear filled glances were often sent in Miyal direction. Whether or not it compelled Alexiali to listen or answer, was up to the former first son of house N’mora.

“But at least allow me to start at least, for I prefer my foe to know my name and identity before I think about killing them,” a small smile grew on his face, but it was a wry one, suspicions but amused. “... I am Miyal Khba, son of Voetsek, head of a group in the city known only as the Winds...” he swept a bow, before his hand returned to the sheath of his sword, awaiting a reply from Alexiali.

[Alexiali N'mora]

Alexiali took the offered hand as he moved to his feet, violet eyes steady on Miyal. As he talked Alexiali moved a few steps away but not far, slowly circling, keeping his eyes carefully emotionless as he backhanded his sister, aware there was more there than met the eye, definitely his suspicions about the girl had been correct, innocent, naïve, hopeful, what a shame. As for Miyal though? He was where the danger lay, the girl clearly couldn’t defend herself. Still breathing in and out heavily after the exertion Alexiali spoke smoothly, ignoring Shi’thra.

“Miyal Khba?” He asked quietly, his own eyes weary, treading on ice. “Never heard of you I’m afraid but then again it’s not like I’ve been to Ethgan’tor in half a century at least, can’t remember how long ago I left really.”

Alexiali began with idle wit, arms swinging slowly at his sides as he continued to walk wearily, aware at any moment a wrong word could spark a fight he couldn’t win. He maintained a façade of partial confidence, smiling ever so slightly.

“I was long ago tired of petty House squabbles and felt like doing something with my life, so I left, you might or might not have heard of me at the time but that is to no avail, the family kept it rather quiet…first son leaving and all.”

He continued, dropping the first subtle hint to ease Miyal into the reality, carefully timing his rotation so his end of the conversation would finish as he came back into line with the exit to the alley, not feeling like hanging around if Miyal lost his temper, he couldn’t sweet talk him like he could Shi’thra.

“Events conspired to force me to return and seek aid from the group I’d sought to avoid, they turned me down – as I rather expected – so now I’m here, looking at you and thinking that your operation is rather sloppily run in comparison to the one I used to run outside Ethgan’tor, still.”

Alexiali stopped and offered a graceful, perfected bow and a somber nod of the head to Miyal to placate him, his next words the real stumbling point of the entire explanation as by now Miyal would be wondering who Alexiali was.

“As your sister was about to tell you before you interrupted her.” The Moriquendi outcast explained as he straightened, checking the distance between himself and Miyal then staring at the man’s face squarely, no fear there, only caution. “I was once Alexiali N’mora, first of that House, the one that – as they say – left the flock and turned his back on power, here I am now, an outcast, asking for the help of those who would seek to kill me, rather ironic isn’t it?”

Alexiali inquired innocently, shrugging and finishing with a negligent flick of the hand.

“Of course if your prejudice is just to nobles of any type in general then you can kill me if you like, I do think though that you realize now why I tried to avoid saying my name immediately, it would hardly have benefited me much.”

[Innocence]

Miyal listened without speaking. His dark eyes followed Alexiali as he moved, but the Moriquendi made no step against him, nor did he move his hand from the pommel of his sword. His face was an unreadable mask, but the malice faded from his eyes, though not totally, and a sense of astonishment filled the black depths as if an understanding suddenly came to him. His smile moved on one side, and his stance that had been so hard before relaxed as he shifted his weight from side to side.

“Well my sisters interest in you now makes sense... I know of you N’mora, but I was never a ‘member’ of the household as my sister liked to pretend to be. I had not heard you were back, though Shi likes to keep better tab on these things and not tell us,” He spoke about his sister with bitterness, and as though she was not there... and the beautiful Moriquendi woman just stared, her lips quivering.

“I will be honest with you, former first son, your brother has done worse in your place than you ever did... though I had little interest in this group of ours until a few ears past and so I know little of you... but you are right, we are sloppily organized, and by the sounds of thing you have some experience in these sort of,” he paused unsure of what word to use. “Practices,” He paused looking Alexiali over with curiosity now rather then as a threat... for he wasn’t, not as Miyal considered it. “I also respect you for your honesty in such matters, under such circumstances... the irony is...” the man chuckled. “Ironic,”

He stared at Alexiali for a moment, as if appraising him, looking over his torn clothes before Shi spoke, her voice quacking in fear and apprehension. “May I speak now...?” she asked.

“I guess if you feel you must!” he snapped in harsh Moriquendi, his anger returning making Alexiali think the heated malice was never really for him at all, but for Shi’thra.

“Just... I was going to take Alexiali to father... do you not think he could be help to us? He knows so much about N’mora, and that must count for something right... right Alexiali?” she turned to her ‘love’, her eyes brimming with hope. “Tell Miyal how you said you would help us... tell him I was not trying to bring down the family again as I did before... please... tell him?” her voice began to plead... beg... and Miyal stared at her with disgust, as he looked over her like she was worthless. Before he turned back to Alexiali, the burning fire returned in his eyes.

“Yes Alexiali... tell me how you are going to help us? And stop your begging...” he said with bitterness to his sister, his words hitting her like the back hand had earlier. “You are no worse then a Dorin acting like that... have some dignity woman or I’ll slap you again... or maybe I’ll see if Alexiali would do it to you,” his smile was vicious. “He may be an outcast but at least he still holds dignity unlike you,” his eyes looked amused at Alexiali and then again to his sister, who ignored her malicious brother for a moment stepping towards the man she thought she loved.

“Please Alexi... please... just tell him... convince him... for me?”

[Alexiali N'mora]

Alexiali once more flashed his eyes from one to the other, this reminded him a lot of a situation he’d been through an era or two before he’d been deposed as leader of the House, a young Crimson Tiger who needed to learn a lesson, at the time Laura had been around to help out but now? Now he was going to have to do it himself. He kept carefully blank features even as the threats tumbled back and forth, a coherent picture rolling slowly through his mind, ideas clicking into place of the truth behind it all, as had been the case before on a larger scale.

“For starters I wouldn’t wave swords around on or off the street without knowing I could get away if need be. Intelligence is key.”

The Moriquendi began easily, his voice turning almost tutor-like as he kept still, facing Miyal levelly, refusing to look at Shi’thra and be goaded into something. It wasn’t he didn’t care for the girl but she wasn’t even a remote threat here, there was nothing she could say that Miyal would really listen to and besides, she might love Alexiali but he couldn’t love one such as her, love for the sake of love rather than love itself.

“If what I read from you is right then you intend to go after larger houses first, that’s a mistake, you need to offer your services to the smaller houses who won’t have a problem with such associations and won’t suffer from them, build yourself up a bit more and move away from what you ‘are’ to what you ‘seem’”

Alexiali glanced away for a moment thoughtfully, his mind whirling.

“I’m not sure what stage your at.” He commented absently. “But it’s always good to have reserves, backup plans, that’s how they do it beyond and how you should do it here, classic techniques are not always the best but neither are they worthless.”

He continued, stopping slowly, letting Miyal mull other the words, just a hint really of what Alexiali knew in that respect, he hadn’t lost it all but the combat skills were gone as was the Arcana, all jumbled memories. For now Shi’thra would get nothing from him, later if this worked out he’d talked to her, try to get it through her head, sadly survival always came before the explanation, it had to by necessity.

[Innocence]

Shi’thra watched him. Hurt flashed deeply in her dark eyes as she was ignored, and subjected to hurt and suffering by one she thought cared about her. “You,” she said not even bothering to listen to the words he spoke to her half-brother. “You... you are just like all the others Alexiali! I hate you!” she screamed the words at him, running from the alley after pushing past him hard... intentionally, knocker her shoulder into him as she fled.

If there was a chance that he would turn to go Miyal would step forward and rap him bodily by the shoulder. It would not be an aggressive gesture, but certainly one that meant him to stay. “Ignore her...” he said bitterly, finally after making sure he would be gone. “She will never know what love is, fo she just desires the attention she would get from others if they knew she was bedding you... it has nothing to do with who you are, and everything to do with the reputation you hold. That and I think she enjoys getting punished by her father,” at that Miyal snorted with insinuated contempt, before returning to the conversation at hand.

“As for what you are saying I do understand it... and it is logical in its simplicity. But I am not the one that runs this ‘operation’ as such,” he sighed a little. “I am much like Shi... a pawn and a tool used by the man... her father... that attempts to head this piss poor excuse of a group. I will be honest with you N’mora... I don’t like your kind, nor will I ever; but you do not seem like the kind of noble that I have been taught to hate. And I find that you seem to command respect even with your clothes torn and being an outcast of such an old House. I do not think we could ever be,” he paused. “Friends... but I have a feeling you may be able to help me... at least with getting this group where it belongs. Maybe in return I can help you instead,”

Liya let his smile turn into one of amusement, and friendly hatred - if such a thing existed, before he turned on his heels to walk the opposite way Shi’thra had run. “My offer stands, at least for the moment... if you are interested further in discussing what we are then by all means feel free... but otherwise good luck with finding comrades in the city N’mora, for they are few and far between, and not willing to insecure the wrath of your father or brother... and either way you decide... stay away from my sister, for both your sakes,”

He then started walking away, leaving Alexiali with a decision to make and contemplate...

[Alexiali N'mora]

There was not much Alexiali could do about the girl now, she needed time to calm down and then Alexiali would try and sort her out, of course the only way to do that was to get with Miyal and his group, the N’mora outcast needed the contacts and skills the group could provide if he was to get anywhere here, he needed to regain the ability to defend himself and gain intelligence, the more practical tools of the trade that would gain him the respect he required to return to a position that even remotely mirrored what he’d had at the House. In order to do that he needed Miyal…

Besides how did helping this group hinder his aims? It didn’t hinder them at all and helped them quite a lot, having a group that relied on him would be useful, even though Alexiali was not naturally one to like people doting on him it served to have loyal aides, as Laura had been one in the House. Ah Laura how he missed her, dead as she was after such unfortunate incidents with that Elf, he’d never quite found out how but the bandit trail had been there and the conclusion was inescapable, how sad. Ultimately she’d always wanted revenge on Baragot and the commoners had never understood him for what he was, even Baragot hadn’t understood.

His men had been good at what they did though and probably still were out there, somewhere, the Forgotten Legion. Alexiali though had nothing, Baragot might be dead or alive but all Alexiali had was himself and it was raw meat to work with, even an encounter with one of the Legion would kill him in moments, especially one like Wildar, the hard-nosed Sergeant or some of the senior officials he knew permeated that particular group.

Not that thinking of that sort of past was doing him any good, he needed to regain skills and above all avoid the wretched Arcana at all costs, he wasn’t going down that path again, Master he may once have been but if anything death would have been better than surviving the pain of the transition from being able to affect the world to being a new cub to it again.

“I think I’ll come with you for now.”

Alexiali commented, his eyes distant as he glanced after the girl’s form before following the sword wielding brother.

[Innocence]

Miyal turned and nodded. He was pretty sure that Alexiali would come, but he had wanted him to make the decision was his own, and the fact that Shi’thra had complicated things more than were necessary made the dark eyed Moriquendi began to despise his sister more and more with every passing cycle. “I think you are making a wise choice there N’mora... first things first those clothes really do not befit you... and it is winter after all no matter how the rumors fly in Ethgan’tor of things you have gone through every man needs to stay warm...”

They walked through the streets and Miyal flipped his black cloak over the short sword at his waist, his eyes holding no fear or worry in them as Shi’thra’s had, just the same contempt and malice they always did - in a way he was just as bad as the nobles themselves. They passed through crowds, and down streets and alleys that were eerie and empty... but eventually they came across a home, which was large but certainly not as extravagant as many of the places in Ethgan’tor... but beggars could not be choosers. “Feel free to ask any questions you feel are relevant N’mora,” finally Miyal said breaking the silence as he opened the door to the marble place that may have been his home.

Inside there was nothing to bother describing or even to look at. The place seemed to be a gathering place, or a place to keep belongings and nothing more. It didn’t look lived in, let alone a place he came often. In fact apart from a few seats and a table the room they were in was bare of furniture, however bags of things were scattered around. Miyal moved to the bags, listening if Alexiali spoke, pulling out a shirt and breeches both in slightly faded black, and a cloak of the same ebony color, but a deeper less worn color. He through them to Alexi, with a nod.

“There’s a bathroom in the next room if you want to clean up at all too... though I doubt you’ll get warm water you can get clean anyway... there’s a pump out back. I’ll wait here for you... but you can still ask questions, and I can yell the answer back to you if you wish... but make it quick N’mora,” he snapped. “I don’t want to have to have Shi father thinking about you and getting angrier by the minute, cause I can vow by Ioannes that is where she has run too... to the arms of her daddy” he said in a mocking tone, awaiting for whatever the former noble decided to do.

[Alexiali N'mora]

Alexiali offered an understanding smile regarding clothing, he hadn’t wanted to mention it but new clothes would be quite a help, right now he stood out a mile off, give him a change of clothes and his appearance was hardly unique, cover over the scars and tears and he’d fall into the middle of any Moriquendi crowd that didn’t contain members of his family or Shi.

Taking the clothes that were handed to him Alexiali nodded wordlessly and vanished into the bathroom. Once there he removed his belt and what few crowns he had, beginning by washing himself down and re-dressing, the rest of his clothing going into a bundle within the dirty cloak, the only part of his old clothing that was left? Fingerless gloves and boots, the parts that had survived. It wasn’t amazing and Alexiali hardly looked unique but that was the entire idea, in a city where black seemed a fashion accessory it’d do.

“So tell me more about this group, it’s aims and it’s organization, how many of you are there?”

Alexiali had asked as he washed, knowing that was probably the easiest way to get a general overview, specific questions could be asked later. Presuming the explanation hadn’t finished by the time Alexiali returned he held the clothing up questioningly.

“You can continue as we walk I suppose, wouldn’t want to cause more problems than we need to, I won’t be needing these any more.”

He explained, quite happy for Miyal to lead off as he followed, listening as they went.

“What sort of things are you doing at the moment to further the goals you have? What progress have you made?”

Was his second generalized question as they walked…where-ever they were walking.

[Innocence]

While he dressed and clean Miyal began to speak, loud enough so he could hear as he lounged on one of the couches. “Well I guess you can say we are an idealistic group of men and women,” he stared, almost as if it was a recruitment speech. “Our aims are to end the oppressive and corrupt system of rule that is in our fair city. As a people we turned our back on the evil ways of the past, but yet we still can not seem to run away from the evilness in a nature, and have just found another,” he paused. “Outlets for it... or so Shi’s father likes to put it. But I am in the group so I can understand where he is coming from however. You have been a noble, well Alexiali, you are a noble... with the hierarchical system that has been set up with the nobility Tiers, all it does is fuel the basis for jealousy, solecism and cruelty. Look at you and your brother for an example...” he paused and watched Alexiali walk from the room, changed, and looking more of his position then before.

“Even the houses that preach light and goodness are in the same manipulative pattern as the rest. Look at House Alkar’oloth, the so called House that had forfeited darkness in way of the light. They are one of the newer noble houses, I do not know if you know of them... but for all their pious and loving life nature - they are still willing to commits acts of murder and assassination to move up the Tier ladder,” Miyal made a face that could only be called a mixture of hate a disgust. “I mean the first son of the Star house, just below the monarch was just recently killed, and not by one of my group... we can only think that it was the work of one of the other houses... it makes me sick,”

“I guess after telling you this... our goal is to amend this structure... slowly and surly collecting as much information as possible to bring down the houses and nobility. We may commit murder, we may to things that are, as I said, corrupt, but the end does justify the means in this case,” he paused as they headed for the door, exiting and shutting it slowly behind them. “As for membership, we have a core number of around 55 members as I can place it... though there may be more... or less... the only one who truly knows is Viltish, Shi’s father.

“As for furthering out goals... as I said, we have just been slowly infiltrating houses, investigating its members. We have no done much I have to admit... Shi’thra’s little blurt to Ariva got almost five of our member killed in the N’mora house, and she was spared only because I believe you brother found some amusement in her. That set back caused many of the people we had recruited to think twice about doing anything much. Though a lot of work goes into training, especially the younger ones. The more skills we have, the better we will be able to step up operations,”

As they spoke the wove through the streets, but it did not really matter where they were, only the words that were ebbing spoke.

“As for progress... well I can’t say much... but we have not been around all that long, even with the amount of members we have... plus,” his tone turned dark, as a whisper escaped his lips. “I do not trust or believe in the leadership of Viltish much... if I can speak frankly with you Alexiali. And I do not think we will get anywhere without the confidence of one that knows what he is doing–“

Finally he stopped. The place they were out was not out of the ordinary, in fact it just looked like an ordinary house in the Moriquendi city. The architecture, the design were all normal, and for a structure it certainly looked to be owned by a more well off person, maybe even someone of lower nobility. Miyal thudded on the door, shooting a look to Alexi that told him to be quiet. There was no answer, and the dark eyed Mori sighed. “Look you bastards,” he snapped in an angry whisper through the door in their native tongue. “You can let me in now or you’ll pay for it later,”

The door opened, another Moriquendi opened the door, his light hair and eyes in combination almost unnerving. He did not look much older then 18 patterns or so, in at least human terms, and his face though seemingly stubborn seemed rather apologetic. “Sorry Miyal,” the young man said. “But just Shi told us if you came we weren’t to let you in or she’d have Viltish... well... you know...” he trailed off, his eyes glancing at Alexiali curiously.

“Shi’thra will be dead by morning if I have it my way,” Miyal spoke harshly, pushing past the boy without apology, and moving down the dark stairs that slowly came into view. Unusual. Rather then going into the house, they seemed to be going... under it. The stair way was long, and almost half way down, there was a landing lit by a flaming torch as the light from the open doorway was swallowed as it closed behind the pair as they walked. “Just say nothing... if Shi’thra does anything to you though you can be a judge of how you wish to act with her. I will try and get you into see Viltish, for only he can decide what can be done with you...” he stopped, looking around a room lit be what looked like crystal orbs that illuminated the room. It was filled with tables, chair and couches... but it seemed eerily silent. No one was there, nor was there any sound at all.

“This isn’t good...” was all Miyal said. “This really isn’t good... to be this empty, something must have happened and I bet it was Shi’thra related... by Ioanness I wish that little bitch would just keep her mouth shut... wait her Alexiali... the room doesn’t have any force traps - a little trick we picked up from the N’mora’s - but some of the other corridors do... so stay here... I’m going to have to see what’s happened. He slipped out of the darkness, leaving Alexiali alone with his thoughts for the moment.

[Alexiali N'mora]

Well well, how lovely was this? Alexiali waited, knowing there was little else for him to do, he summarized, probably correctly, that before the end of this all he was going to have to do some killing, display some sort of backbone, it was possible and in a way probably good, bad wood needed to be culled so that those that needed to and were worthy of progression could progress, that was why Alexiali was here after all, to progress one way or another.

Shi was going to have to be dealt with too, sense needed to be hammered into her and it was going to have to be the hard way, Alexiali himself was versed in the nature of hard justice and it would be but a simple matter to put that into practice, a very simple matter indeed. As it was he had made the decision, come to the point as he wordlessly waited for the Moriquendi to return or for another to appear, half expecting Shi to come running up and trying to kill him or demanding answers, either way she would get answers, answers she would not like but desperately needed, that was the way of it all, the way of things.

Calmly Alexiali kept his gaze alert, hands neatly behind his back, resuming a pose that was very like his old one, the way he had waited before, spoken to others in before, the calm, analyzing pose of someone who was very sure in themselves and very sure of what they were going to do.

[Innocence]

"I knew you would come. I knew he would bring you... I knew it... I know it all Alexi when it comes to you. I knew our love would bring us togethor again. You were just making a ploy so he would bring you here wern't you my love? I knew you would not abandon me... I knew that you loved me..."

It was a voice that by now Alexiali recognised. The soft, and confused words of a woman that thought love him. Loved the visage of the first born noble son... and image that was a mask and no more than that. She approched him from the door behind his figure; and with each word that she spoke she took a step forward, till with those last words... I knew that you loved me, Shi'thra, the Moriquendi woman, wrapped her arms around his waist and placed a soft but wet kiss on the side of his neck.

It did not matter what Alexiali did now. She assumed that he loved her, that now they could be togethor for all time, and Shi'thra would not think that hewould do or say anything to hurt her. So her fingers just idely wondered his body, sliding over his chest and the clothes that were not his. Rubbing her head against his, leaving him with a decision to make on how to deal with the situation at hand.

"I knew you would finally see how much you need me, and ho much I need you," she whispered into his ear, her tongue flicking out and caressing the lobe as the once noble Moriquendi deliberated on how to deal with her... with this situtaion... without jepordising all he had gained so far.

"I knew you would see how much we need each other..."

Sorry it took so long and is so short *sighs* and crap

[Alexiali N'mora]

The woman really did need re-educating. Alexiali endured her rather insufferable attentions with grace but when she’d finished fawning he very quickly and coldly attempted to take control of the situation. Had this been before the incident with Baragot he’d have had her on the floor when he’d come close but he’d lost those skills – for now – into the distance of time so he was instead relegated to playing with instinct, still, instinct worked with the likes of Shi’thra.

Very deliberately, having not even twitched during the past incident – aware the others were probably watching somewhere or would be here very soon – Alexiali raised both hands. Spinning fast and taking a quick, graceful step away Alexiali emerged with is hands before him, between him and Shi’thra, facing her. From this position he moved forward, right hand cupping her chin, holding it firmly in the manner he’d held her back in the cathedral as his left yet against sought out a wrist. His violet eyes locked onto hers, cold, somehow impersonal now; he didn’t remember the skills but he remembered the looks and the experiences, the eyes of the focused killer were one of the more vivid memories; the memories of the looks those eyes had produced vivid in Alexiali’s mind.

He’d scare the girl if she had any sense at all; after all she would have absolutely no idea of Alexiali’s skill; her love for him was probably so blind that she’d forgotten her brother had bested the N’mora exile, all the better for this little demonstration.

“What you need girl is a wake up call to the world.”

Alexiali said, hand holding her chin there to look into his eyes as he cocked his head to one side again, this time his expression remaining hard rather than softening into sympathy.

“I took the wrong approach really, too much sympathy, your brother was right – you need a good slap rather than sympathy.”

He accompanied the words by releasing her wrist and chin, right hand flicking left and then back to the right, backhanding the girl across the face, his expression never changing an inch from the harshness it had taken on before as he stepped back a few paces.

“Get it into your head girl; I am not going to love you just because you love what I was or what you think I am, I am no Lord, I am no great savour of the people. I’m a very, very bad man Shi’thra, your brother is equally bad, this is war and you are right now not helping anyone, least of all me.”

He finished, ready to catch her wrists again if and when she rushed at him, because she would, she would or she’d run away.

[Peach]

When Alexiali spun away from her warm body, so gracefully in his own way, it was as if he had ripped out her soul and taken it with him. How could he be so cold, so unfeeling? It was as if this man was really carved out of the marble that he resembled. Without a heart, without any emotions that showed in his unwavering eyes. Shi'thra felt a chill wash over her skin, whisking away the tingling feeling of anticipation that had been so rampant before. The dark elf started to shiver, and wrapped her thin arms around her chest to still the tremors. Am I that disgusting? Never before had she met such resistance... And it felt horrible, at the very core of her soul. Everything that she cared for had seemed to turn their backs upon the Esh'laheir. Her bones ached, and a burning sensation laid residually upon her hands and lips. The things that had been touching perfection in the not so distant past.

Soon, the anger that accompanied rejection began to mingle with the sorrow. Who was he, an outcast, without true family and home, to treat her like a young girl without experience in life? He had judged so wrongly, to her, that it made a fire well up in the very pit of Shi'thra's stomach. Perhaps he had another woman with whom he could dispel his urges... The very thought made the pale elf's heart start to palpitate with jealously. "I'm more awake than you ever could know. I feel the world around me, Alexiali. I am whole." Her voice, once so soft and warm, shook with unbridled emotion. Tears ran from her dark eyes, moistening the hand that rested so casually upon her cheek. Such a man, such a wicked and inhuman man would never know how it felt. To be touched hesitantly, a facade of care, sending uncontrollable ripples of energy through her lithe form. It may have been a game, only a belief, the way she loved him. But it seemed as real and tangible as the stone walls around her. As the violet of the former-noble's eyes... So beautiful, more magical than any Arcana.

Although the one before her had been raised to be a killer, Shi'thra wasn’t born without determination, herself. His refusal of her had become a contest, one which she would win, without question. The flashing look in her eyes that Alexiali had seen in the temple returned in full force, intensifying her elven loveliness. He would hold her off with all his strength, maybe even slapping her as Miyal had, and Shi knew it. "But I only want to help you. Won't you help me, as well?" Casually, she slipped her arms out of her dress, and let the cloth pool around her feet like water on the floor. Standing there, only in her undergarments, would be a sight that many a man couldn't refuse. Her body was thin, yet with a hint of the curvaceous sights of a woman. Slowly, Shi'thra stepped towards him, every movement as sensuous as possible. "You know that we were meant to aid each other." Cautiously, she reached out a hand, meaning to run once again along the perfect features of his face.

The soft light bathed her skin, making it seem as luminescent as moonlight. She was so close... Alexi could see her individual eyelashes, the tears that clung to the ends of them like glistening diamonds. This 're-educating' would be more difficult than he had previously thought.

ooc: I think I understand the plot, but if you could send me a short PM summarizing it, that would be good too.