The floor of the castle was mostly quiet, indeed it usually was, specially so early in the morning, before most of the castle was up. But from one of the interrogation rooms, it's door left ajar, came the soft moaning of pain of a youngster.

Hikali was silently walking through the castle, continuing with her work but she stopped for a moment hearing something. Her ears twitched and she turned to look towards the sound...a moan...? She bit her lip nervously wondering what was going on and she silently walked towards where she had heard the moan.

The moans continued, quietly and piteously, from the dark room who's door stood slightly ajar. The flames from the corridors torches did little to illuminate the inside, though there was a slight glimmer of gold among the glimmers of dull metal.

Kali peeked into the room nervously blinking her yellow eyes to try and see who was making that sound.

As the light from the slit of the door was covered by Hikali's figure, the moaning stopped. Deep red eyes opened in slits looked towards her silently. The dark figure hung from it's feet, suspended in the air, arms and hair dangling limply downwards.

Kali jumped a little as she noticed the red eyes looking at her. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness a little she could make out the figure. Taking a slow and nervous step back she was starting to regret coming to look in the room. If someone was in there...they where bad...weren't they?

"W..wa...it..." The voice was young and parched, as if speaking was painful. "H...el...p?"

Hikali froze as she heard the other talk. But...its voice...why would someone...that age be here? Was it a trick? But....it sounded in pain at the same time. She slowly opened the door a little more looking in "W...Who are...you.....?"

"T...too...kai." He said tiredly, hands twitching, causing his red wing membranes to catch light as he swayed slightly. He moaned again, droplets of blood falling to the floor below him.

Kali's eyes widened a little as she saw the red wings and took a step back before looking at the blood. That's why...this guy was here...he...was a Redwing...

"Th...thirs...ty..." He whispered. "Pl...ease... he...lp?" Slightly glowing red eyes looked at her fixedly.

Kali looked at him unsure. "I...I don't...have anything with me..." She said looking around the room.

The room had mostly torture elements, but to one corner there was a water fountain, a bucket and some rags over it's side. The red eyes closed in muted pain, then opened again to look at Kali.

Kali slowly walked into the room, seeing all the different things used for torturing did not sit well with her. So she kept her eyes fixed on the bucket. She put the rags on the ground and filled of the bucket with some water before going back over to Tookei silently.

Kei was silent, but as he saw her come nearer he smiled slightly, sharp white fangs making it seem sinister in the poor lighting.

Kali froze in fear, maybe she shouldn't do this. This guy...was here so that met he was bad right?

The smile dissipated as she froze. "P...plea...se? I'm... I'm not... going to...hu..rt you..."

Kali bit her lip hard looking at him unsure but walked over in front of him still holding the bucket. How would she be able to do this...he was upside down...

Kei shifted slightly, also noticing the problem. But as he tried to move his hands up he cried out, falling back.

Kali jumped a little hearing his cry. Well...she really didn't have any other ideas...but... She set the bucket down on the ground before scooping some water up in her hands and moved them towards his mouth, not sure if this would even work.

Kei watched her, opening his mouth and trying to move his head upwards as far as he could.

Kali slowly poured the water into his mouth watching his every movement nervously.

Kei lapped the water, coughing as he swallowed what he could, the rest streaming down his face. His head swung down again, as he coughed some more.

Kali quickly backed up a little watching him then looking back towards the door, worried that someone else could show up.

Blinking a few times as the coughs subsided, he looked at Kali. "Th...thanks." He whispered painfully. She probably hadn't noticed the possible danger of getting so close to him, after all, his hands were free, he could have grabbed her, strangled her if he'd wanted to (and had the strength to) when she was giving him water.

Kali nodded a little watching him nervously "W...What are...you doing here...Redwing..."

Tookei was silent. "Name... is Tookei. He whispered.

Kali looked at him silently for a moment before again nodding "O...Ok... Whats...are you doing here....Tookei...?"

"The... the guards... beat me... up and... hung me... here." He replied warily.

"W...Why are you here though...you...your a red wing...why where you at the castle?" She asked not understanding.

Kei grimaced, eyes closing tightly. "Y...you... wouldn't... un..under..st..and." He said painfully.

Kali watched him, silent for a minute. Why had she helped him... "Why where you at the castle?" She repeated.

"I don't... want to be... bad." He said finally.

Kali watched him silently for a moment "Don't...want to be...bad?" She asked not understanding.

"I didn't... choose... to be bor...n with... red wings." He looked at her imploringly. "Why... does everyone... have to... label me?"

Kali looked at him nervously "B...But...how...does everyone...how to I know...your not bad?" She asked quietly. "How do I know it was right for me to help you...?"

Kei looked at her. "I... asked... nicely... right? Did I... do I... seem bad?"

Kali shook her head a little "N...No...But tricks can easily be played..."

Kei sighed, "I...I know..." He whispered, eyes closing.

Kali just watched him now, doubting herself a little. He...he didn't seem bad...but...how could as know for sure?

"What... what's your name?" He asked, looking at her again.

Kali jumped a little in surprise watching him in silence for quite a while before finally replying "H...Hika...Hikali..."

He nodded imperceptibly. "Th..anks, Hi..kali. You... should go... be...fore you... get in trouble."

Kali bit her lip a little and nodded backing up slowly, making sure not to turn her back on him. He didn't seem to be bad...but...she really didn't want to take any chances.

Tookei watched her, but then closed his eyes. The blood pressure of being upside down making his head pound painfully, and he wished he could just loose consciousness.

Kali went out the door but stopped watching him. He didn't seem bad...so...what was going to happen to him?

Kei just hung there, eyes closed as he moaned again softly.

Kali bit her lip hard as she watched him, and put a hand on the door and started to close it, her eyes not leaving him. She...she did feel a little bad leaving him like this. But there was nothing she could do.

The soft moans continued, but he didn't open his eyes, supposing Kali had already left him.

Kali closed the door and left it just as she found it then just stood there for a second. "I...I'm sorry...Tookei..." She whispered before backing away from the door.


============================================
============================================


The floor of the castle was mostly quiet, indeed it usually was, specially so early in the morning, before most of the castle was up. But from one of the interrogation rooms, it's door left ajar, came the soft moaning of pain of a youngster.

Llamiis was padding down the stairs (gripping steps with his black footclaws) when he heard it. Groans of pain... the sort of sound he was quite familiar with, as it was. He paused, moving one clawed hand to sweep fur away from his earhole to listen better. Hmmm. Walking calmly to the requisite door, the Blackhorn checked in.

As the light from the slit of the door was covered by Llamiis's large figure, the moaning stopped. Deep red eyes opened in slits looked towards him silently. The dark figure hung from it's feet, suspended in the air, arms and hair dangling limply downwards. The room was dark, which made further detail hard to make out.

Well, well. That was certainly different. "Hello," Llamiis said, walking into the room--he was to all appearances quite unperturbed by the odd situation and he smiled slightly as though meeting a new friend. "Who are you?"

The kid felt a bit intimidated by the size of this horned yurble, and was silent for a moment, as blood dripped to the ground from wounds around his body and torn wings. "T...took...ei..." He said finally, voice hoarse.

"Tookei? That's quite a nice name." Llamiis propped himself up to sit on the interrogation table, folding his claws in his lap. "What can I do for you today, Tookei?"

The korbat looked at Llamiis with confusion. "C...could... you get... me down?" He shifted slightly, cringing as he did so.

"Certainly. Why are you tied up, if I may ask?" Llamiis slid off the table and strolled over to the young Korbat, examining the chains. Hmm. Reaching up, he grabbed the shackles in both hands, twisting the metal until it snapped. He caught the falling demon in his arms and gazed down with a smile.

The movement and fall almost made him black out, and he bit his lip as pain ran down his arms. He couldn't answer though, busy registering pain from his numb body and the sudden movement.

Llamiis stood where he was, waiting for the boy to recover. He wondered who had done this... perhaps it was an elaborate prank. On the other hand, he was a Redwing, so perhaps not.

Tookei finally opened his eyes again. "The guards... found me and.... beat me up... they s...said I'd... be interro...in terrogated in... the morning." He said painfully.

"Did they say by who?" Llamiis asked gently, taking care not to jostle the boy too much. If they thought he was going to interrogate anyone who just showed up in one of his rooms, they were sorely mistaken.

He shook his head slightly, "N..no..." He looked up at Llamiis. "Y..you're not... the one... are you?"

Llamiis patted him on the head. "No, don't worry. I've no intention of hurting you. Why were you sneaking around the castle?" He had better get his facts straight.

"It.. I was... outside..." He said, relaxing a bit. "I was... afraid I'd... be killed on... sight if I just... came and... I was debating how... to do it when .... they found me."

"I see. Where did you come from? Are you lost?" Llamiis showed sympathy, apparently sorry that this had happened.

Kei bit his lip. "F..from... from the Redwing fortress." He looked down, "I... I ran away."

"Oh? That must have been very hard." Llamiis could feel the blood from the boy's body drying (stickily) against his fur and sighed internally. He would have to take another bath.

Kei frowned slightly, trembling as his numb hands regained movement. "A..a bit..."

"Well, let's get you in a bed, okay?" Llamiis turned towards the door, the young korbat still nestled in his arms. "You look like you could use a nap." He smiled a bit indulgently at that.

Tookei looked up at Llamiis, a bit surprised. "Th..thank you." He said, resting his head against Llamiis.

Llamiis continued up the stairs towards his bedroom, still smiling. It seemed it was his lucky day.

Kei relaxed further in Llamiis's arms, eyes closing.

Llamiis made it to his bedroom without incident and pushed the door open with his shoulder, balancing the apparently sleeping boy as carefully as he could. Gomi met him at the door with a happy yap, wagging his tail gleefully. "Shh, ssh," Llamiis murmured. "Give me a little room." Gomi wasn't going to back up, though, he was much too happy to see his master, and in the end Llamiis had to scoot the pooch back with his foot while blocking the doorway--a delicate balancing act at best, what with the body in his arms and all.

The boy opened his eyes with a start, looking around in alarm. "Wh...what...?" His spiked tail dangled down, a trickle of blood falling from it.

Gomi hurried to lap it up eagerly, tail going so fast it seemed it would fly off. "Sorry, it's just my petpet. He's friendly." Llamiis had to kneel down to lay the boy out on his bed. "There."

Kei nodded, smiling slightly, white fangs showing as he did. "Thanks." He said, moving his arms a bit to arrange his wings, closing his eyes slightly. His side hurt and it was hard to breathe. He wondered if they'd kicked a rib in...

Llamiis moved across the floor, pulling out the chair from his desk to sit in it. He sat sideways, watching the korbat thoughtfully. Gomi padded over and whined in confusion, hoping for more blood. Llamiis glanced down, then bent over to let the Zomutt at his arms.

Kei just lay there, breathing softly, eyes closed. He winced as he breathed out, and his body ached all over, but he said nothing to that effect, just glad for the soft bed and lack of blood pressure in his head.

Llamiis picked up Gomi as the canine licked him, staring into his petpet's eyes for several seconds before setting him down again with a faint sigh.

Kei's breathing soon indicated the boy had fallen asleep, tailtip twitching slightly every now and then, but otherwise calm.

Llamiis watched him, wondering quietly how hard it would be get that blood out of his sheets...

It had been five hours since the kid had fallen asleep on Llamiis's bed. He'd slept mostly fitfully, perturbed only by the growing pain in his side where two broken ribs made each breath hurt. But the rest of his more superficial wounds, bruises and cuts, had healed on their own.

Llamiis had obviously not sat and stared at the korbat for five hours--instead, he'd absorbed himself in a book, one with green binding and a one word title. He glanced up slightly, then paused, eyes lingering over the teenager's now unmarked body. (Not like that, you perv.)

Tookei stirred, eyes opening and blinking as he looked around in disorientation. Trying to sit up made him aware of the pain and he immediately relaxed back on the bed. At least it wasn't his whole body in pain anymore... he thought to himself as he finally registered Llamiis looking at him. His toes flexed slightly.

Llamiis set his book down on the table, pages down to save his place. "Welcome back," he smiled. "Feeling better?" He already guessed the answer, but it was always a good place to start.

Tookei nodded silently, he shifted his hands, but didn't try sitting up again, looking around the room, then back at Llamiis.

The Zomutt from earlier was curled up by the door, heavily asleep. Llamiis remained seated, picking up his book again.

"What are you... going to do with me?" Tookei asked, looking at Llamiis.

Llamiis looked up, appearing surprised. "Why, nothing!"

Tookei blinked, "So... I can leave... when I want?" He asked, surprised. He didn't move though, remaining on the soft bed and breathing shallowly to lessen the pain.

"Presumably." Llamiis glanced at the door, "Though it might be wiser to leave when it's clear instead." He seemed amused.

Tookei looked to the door, noticing the sleeping petpet and blinked. Just then there was a knock at the door.

Llamiis didn't appear panicked, but gestured for Tookei to lie down and close his eyes.

Tookei gave a start, then nodded, relaxing and closing his eyes. The knock repeated. "Llamiis? It's Penja." Came the voice of the bruce. Kei's ear flickered at the name.

Gomi woke and began barking anxiously at the sound of Penja's voice. Llamiis wanted more time to make sure that the boy would stay still--and not flick EARS--but instead he cracked the door as Gomi tried to wiggle around him. The petpet shut up when the door opened, at least. "Hello Penja." Llamiis smiled lightly. "What can I help you with?"

Penja looked bothered, and she glanced at the petpet only a moment before looking at Llamiis. "Have you been down to the interrogation chambers today?" She asked.

Llamiis frowned a little, looking concerned. "Yes, is something wrong?"

"I was told a redwing kid had been found snooping around outside the castle and taken there, but he's not there now." She shifted, frowning, "They shouldn't have left him there, we have cells for holding people... but now the kid isn't there... have you seen him?"

Llamiis studied her for a second. Then he smiled. "Why yes, I have. He's doing much better, by the way."

Penja looked surprised at this, "Where is he?" She asked. Tookei had been listening with increasing worry, but forced himself to not move, apparently asleep.

The blackhorn tapped his black claws on his thigh thoughtfully. He smiled. "Asleep. Would you like to meet him?"

Penja  blinked, then nodded. "Yes."

Llamiis stepped back, allowing her a view of the room--though he was careful to note that the hall was empty first. "Come on in." He was still smiling. Of course.

Penja looked in, walking forward and scowling slightly as she saw the kid on the bed. "He's not limited or bound?" She asked in a lower tone, so as not to wake the Redwing. Tookei had to make a conscious effort not to move at her words.

Llamiis remained smiling, shutting the door behind him. "He's broken a few ribs, it's quite safe." The boy was doing better than the ear flicking would have indicated, although Llamiis could easily tell he as awake. But then, he had practice. "He's been out for quite a while."

Penja looked at the Redwing with unfiltered hate. "Have you had a chance to ask him what he was doing?" She kept her eyes on Tookei as she spoke.

Penja's face might as well have been an open book... one that was written in all caps. "Trying not to get killed. He's a runaway." Llamiis seemed amused, though he was treading dangerous waters.

"Or so he'd like us to believe I bet." Penja relied darkly. "He's a Redwing, no Redwing would think of running away from their own, they're indoctrined since birth." She spoke from experience, and her voice held bitterness. She turned to Llamiis, "I want him further questioned, and then put in a cell." She said. Tookei's nose twitched as he frowned behind Penja.

Llamiis was quite experienced enough to avoid looking at Tookei, but he nodded to show Penja he'd understood. "He's a terrible liar," the Blackhorn told her. He soaked up the bitterness in her words and let it back out in a smooth-toned statement.

Penja humphed. She wanted to stay and listen in, but had already gathered Llamiis didn't like watchers. "Let me know what you find out." She said, heading to the door.

Llamiis gave her a little wave. "Have a nice day!"

Penja looked at him like he was crazy, then left the room, closing the door behind her spiked tail. Tookei sighed, wincing in pain as he did, looking up at Llamiis. "Y..you *are* the interrogator."

"I never claimed not to be." Llamiis looked quite benign. "I did say I wouldn't hurt you, though, remember?" He stood by the door.

Tookei nodded nervously. While unsure what was going to happen to him, he did realize Llamiis had helped him when Penja had arrived, so he still felt like he could trust the yurble.

Llamiis checked his door carefully and then padded over to his chair to read again. "So tell me, why did you run away?"

Tookei inhaled slowly. "I... don't like the Redwing ideology." He said, "I think... they go about things the wrong way and..." His eyes twitched around the room, "I don't.. wanna be a 'bad guy'."

"Hm. I have a question for you." Llamiis was leaning back in his chair and his expression was quite ambiguous. "Can you tell me what the 'right way' is?"

The korbat blinked, turning to look at Llamiis. "I..." He stopped, wetting his lips. "I don't know..." He said, looking at his feet. "But I don't like wars, or killing needlessly. Niflheim has had enough of them..." He said quietly.

Llamiis twined a finger into his mane, curling the fur around his claws. "Would killing 'bad guys' be needless?"  Niflheim didn't need any more wars... that statement actually told him next to nothing.

Tookei squirmed slightly at this, not looking at Llamiis. "Who... who would decide who the bad guys are?" He flicked his eyes at Llamiis then away, "I..It's kind of relative... isn't it?"

"That depends on who you ask," Llamiis informed him, raising his eyebrows. Rather radical ideas for a young Redwing, but that didn't bother him in the slightest. He tapped his black claws on his thigh as though counting in some cryptic code. "There are some who would say our Queen decides... there are others who would say she would be the bad guy." He spoke lightly, casually.

Tookei nodded, "We're... taught from birth that the Royals are the bad guys." He said softly, the fingers on his right hand twitching.

"Would you be surprised to know that you aren't the only ones who think that?" Llamiis smiled. "Some would say you aren't the bad guys at all..."

The korbat frowned, "But.... the Redwings are deceitful, and they treat others very badly..."

"Would you call complete honesty a solution?" Llamiis had watched Tookei's fingers twitching on several occasions... if only he could come up with a satisfactory explanation.

"I... don't know..." He said, grabbing his twitching fingers to stop them. "I haven't really seen how that would work."

The Blackhorn smiled faintly. "You seem to be having trouble with your hand."

Tookei bit his lip. "I...It's always like that." He said quickly.

"That must be quite frustrating," Llamiis commented lightly. "Well, I have to go walk Gomi, so--" and indeed the petpet was clawing at the door and whining, "--I would recommend you get some sleep, hm?" Llamiis winked and rose from his chair, smiling.

"It is..." He mumbled, frowning as he thought of his father. He looked up again in surprise. "O...okay..."

The yurble picked up his zomutt and gave one last smile before leaving the room.

Tookei lay on the bed, staring at the door as the Blackhorn left. He was alone... and Llamiis had seemed with no intention of complying with Penja's order of taking him to a cell. He looked down, gingerly prodding his side, wincing as he located the broken ribs. Those would make running very painful... He sighed, wondering what would happen to him now.

=================================================

 

It was lunch time and Hikali was just coming back from the kitchen carrying two trays of food. Walking down the hall she came up to Aija's room and knocked on the door lightly "P...Prince Aija...?"

 

There was a soft scuffle noise from within, and the faint creak of a door, but there was no reply to Hikali's call.

 

Kali blinked confused, what...was that? "Prince Aija? I have your lunch..." She said quietly and slowly started to open the door, expecting to again be stopped by Drestal.

 

No one stopped her though, and as she opened the door, there was no one inside, Aija's unmade bed and messy desk all that greeted her.

 

Kali was very suprised to have nothing stop her and she walked inside looking around "Prince Aija...?" She asked walking and setting down the tray on the desk.

 

Still there was silnt. The door to Aija's bathroom was open a small crack, a figure moved within, shifting slightly.

 

Kali jumped in suprise as she noticed the movment out of the corner of her eye. "P...Prince...A....Aija...?" She asked slowly walking towards the door.

 

The door swung open, a dark purple cybunny walking out with a roll of her eyes. "He's *obviously* not here, right Kali?" Dee said, flapping the hat of Aija's attacker at her. "He left this morning." She said, walking over towards the tray and picking at the food, poping some bread into her mouth.

 

Kali jumped in suprise falling back onto the ground. She blinked confused looking over at Dee "W...What are you doing in Prince Aija's room?" She asked confused.

 

"Well isn't it obvious?" She asked, trying the stew, "I'm here to clean up!"

 

Kali blinked a little watching her "H...Hey! Thats...not your food!" She said standing and walking over to Dee.

 

"So?" Dee took another bite as she turned to Kali, "The Prince left to the forest, I suppose to see his parents, I doubt he'll be back for lunch." She said off-handedly. "You really should lighten up, and you know... maybe pay more attention..."

 

Kali blinked looking at Dee "Pay more attention? What are you...talking about...?" She asked confused, for a second glancing at the hat that Dee had with her.

 

"Aren't you supposed to be his personal maid?" SHe asked, sitting on Aija's chair. "Yet it's lunch time, his bed is a mess and you didn't even know he's not here to HAVE lunch."

 

Kali bit her lip a little looking at the ground. She had been...busy in the morning. "But...Why are you here?" She asked confused watching Dee.

 

"Well, I decided to come and clean up here since YOU were busy." She said, eating more of the stew.

 

Kali looked at the ground, a little annoyed from that but said nothing. "I...I'm sorry...I can finish up..."

 

"Sure, go ahead." She said, flipping arond as she soaked the bred in the soup, then munched on it, ignoring Kali. She had left the hat on the desk beside the tray.

 

Kali sighed a little as she went over to the bed making it. "I...It still...isn't right to be eating...the Princes food..." She said quietly glancing back at Dee.

 

"Hey, I'm just making sure it doesn't go to waste. You could have Drestal's food if you want." She said, smirking at Kali.

 

Kali shook her head a little "T...Thats not needed..." She said and finished making the bed.

 

"You're pretty fast at that." She said, poking though Aija's papers. "These big beds are so hard to make."

 

Kali looked at Dee in suprise "Y...You shouldn't be reading those!" She said walking over to the desk quickly.

 

"Oh come off it, like he'll ever know." She said, grabbing a few sheets of paper written in Aija's handwriting and looking at them as she munched on soaked bread.

 

Kali watched her biting her lip and quickly starting to clean the desk. After a moment she then tryed to take the papers from Dee "P...Please...you...shouldn't be reading those..."

 

Dee's hand was quick to pull the papers out of her reach, grinning slightly. "Or what? You'll tell on me?" She said mockingly. "You're way too shy."

 

Kali bit her lip a little watching Dee "B...But i...its not yours...t...to...read..." She said again trying to take the papers.

 

Dee again kept out of Kali's reach, ducking under her hand and hopping to her feet behind Kali, prodding her in an attempt to make her fall forward. "Oh shush, it's not like it's sooo important." She said, looking at the papers. "I flew outside today with Drestal. He seems to be jealous of how I talk to Hikali, but doesn't really admit it." She grinned, "Flirting with the Prince, Kali?"

 

Kali wasn't exacly expecting that and ended up falling forward onto the ground. She blinked and her face ended up getting pretty warm pretty face. Quickly she turned to look towards Dee, still on the ground. "I...I wound never do something like that! H...Hes the Prince!!"

 

Dee had flipped to another paper. She laughed, "Hikali finally opened up to me, we talked and she cried on my shoulder. I think we both ended up falling asleep in the hall, I woke up in my bed." She looked down at Hikali. "Oh really?"

 

Kali's face just got hotter and her heart was pounding in her chest. "Y...You shouldn't be reading those!!!" She said and quickly stood trying to get ahold of the papers.

 

Dee let her take them this time, smirking slightly, "Prince should be more careful what he writes about, or where he leaves such things, don't you think? Imagine the scandal! What would the realm think if they knew the Prince not only sleeps with his bodyguard, but with his maid too?"

 

Kali took the papers backing up a little unable to figure out what to say. "I...Its not what you think! No one needs to know anything!" She said in worry.

 

"It's not? I'm sure all those intimate moments with Drestal are nothing either right?" She grinned mischiviously as she donned the large feathered hat. "I saw them that day, up on the spires. I bet more went on than I was able to see, beyond the hugging."

 

Kali was frozen in place, she didn't know what Dee was talking about really. "B...But...I...." She stuttered unable to get any words out. Taking a few more steps back she shook her head a little.

 

Dee watched her, then narrowed her eyes with a wolfish smile. "Aww, you wanted him for yourself, didn't you? Never wondered why Drestal acted that way around you? I bet I'd act like that too if some lowly maid was trying to swipe someone like the Prince out of my arms."

 

"I...I...." Kali said still backing up until she hit the wall. She didn't know what to sat at all, every one of her words where gone. That wasn't true... "Y......your...w....w..."

 

Dee smiled slightly, then plopped down on Aija's bed, on her side, lowering the brim of the hat. "Speechless, Kali?"

 

Kali looked towards Dee nervously, unable to keep eye contect for more then a second before looking towards the ground, and her tail curled around her legs "W...Why...are...you doing this......?" She asked quietly.

 

"Because you're fun to tease." She said with a light laugh.

 

Kali winced a little at her words opening her mouth to say something but she just closed it and remained silent. She didn't know what to say now and her eyes where locked on the ground.

 

Dee rolled her eyes, then rolled on the bed, stretching out on top of it. "Grow a spine, Kali, really."

 

Kali didn't respond to her and slowly walked over to the desk again, unable to even look at Dee. She silently finished cleaning up the desk and put the papers she had gotten from Dee away as well.

 

Dee sighed, heaving to her feet, feather bobbing in the hat. "Did you hear? There's a Redwing in the castle. Hope they kill him soon, those guys are evil." She said, looking out the window.

 

Kali froze, Tookei...... After a minute she just started cleaning again still silent and not looking at Dee.

 

Dee had watched her reaction out of the corner of her eye. "Maybe they should torture him to death, and try and find out how many of those bastards are left." She smirked slightly, "Wonder how long he'll last."

 

Kali bit her lip, hesitating for a second at her cleaning, no...Tookei was nice...they shouldn't hurt him. Why was Dee saying all this?!

 

Dee walked over behind Hikali. "I bet that sneaky kid came here to try and kill the Prince, in revenge for the trap he set up for the Redwings." She put both hands on Kali's shoulders sudenly, "BAM!" She said loudly at the same time. "Dead prince, Revenge consumed."

 

Kali yelped out in fear and turned, swinging her one arm towards Dee's head. "No! Thats not true!" She cryed out backing up in fear her body shaking now.

 

Dee swerved back, Kali's hand flipping the hat off her head. Her eyes narrowed at Kali. "Oh? What do you know?"

 

Kali blinked looking at Dee for a second and again back towards the ground backing up more away from her "N...N...Nothing...."

 

"Nothing?" She pressed, sidestepping the hat as she took a step towards Kali. "You haven't talked to the Redwing, have you, Kali?"

 

Kali ended up backing up into the desk and glanced back at it then back at Dee "N...No..." She said her eyes lowering to the ground.

 

"You're a horrible lier, Kali." She said, her hand going to pat Kali's cheek. "What do you think of the Redwing?"

 

Kali winced when Dee touched her and she tried to quickly move around Dee and get away from her.

 

Dee put her arm beside Kali and leaned on the desk, trapping her between her arms. "What's wrong Kali?" She asked, as she leaned her face towards the xweetok's. "You aren't having treasonous thoughts towards the Redwing, are you? They're such deceitful things..."

 

Kali leaned back when Dee got closer her body shaking more then before."N...No....I'm not......"

 

"So you agree with me he should be executed?" She said, unrelenting and not backing up.

 

"No!" Kali said quickly and shook her head a little. Her eyes quickly moved away from Dee though.

 

Dee grabbed Kali's chin with one hand, forcing her to look at the cybunny. "No?"

 

Kali froze, looking at Dee in a panic now. Having someone this close to her... It was getting harder for her to breath and her body continued to shake badly. "I.....I...don't t...think...he...sh...should...d...die..."

 

"Why not? They're all vermin that have tried for centuries to overthrow your clan." She said angrily, still holding Kali's chin.

 

"H...He is nice! Tookei wasn't bad at all!" Kali said quickly biting her lip as tears started to form in her eyes and she looked away from Dee.

 

Dee blinked, letting go of Kal as she turned away, picking up the hat and dusting it off. "Tookei, eh? He seems to be quite a good actor, then again you're so easy to manipulate. You'd believe anything anyone told you."

 

Kali was unable to stand now as her legs gave way and she fell back onto the ground looking at Dee, her body still shaking badly "T....T...Thats.......not...t...true..."

 

Dee put the hat on a shelf, looking over at Kali. "No? What isn't? This Tookei already has you under his spell? I hope he hasn't hoodwinked Llamiis too."

 

Kali looked at Dee in fear shaking her head "H...He is nice...U...Unlike you..."

 

"Of course he is! He got caught and has to work his way out of being killed." She said, making a duster appear as she dusted the Prince's shelves. "I'd be buttery-nice too if I was hanging in an interrogation room."

 

Kali looked at her and shook her head a little "He was kind to me...H...He wasn't bad at all!!!" She said standing and looking at Dee, still shaking.

"Yes, yes. So he wants you to believe." She rolled her eyes with pursed lips. "Just you wait, Penja'll have him killed soon enough, she hates the Redwings with a fervor." She turned to Hikali, smiling slightly, "Don't worry, he won't have a chance to backstab you."

 

Kali shook her head "Your wrong!" She said looking back towards the ground and her tail curling around her. She was wrong...wasn't she...Tookei...wasn't...trying to trick her...was he?

"What would you know, poor... poor Hikali, who's so naive and shy she can be so easily manipulated." She said soothingly, walking over to Kali.

 

Kali winced a little taking a step back her eyes filling with tears. She...she didn't know...what to belive. Tookei...had seemed so nice....

 

Dee walked right up to Kali, hugging her suddenly. "Now now, it'll all work out, and the bad Redwing will be dead."

 

Kali closed her eyes trying to back away from Dee "N...No! He...he was nice to me......." She said quietly her voice breaking. She...she didn't want him to die...but......what if he...was tricking her?

 

"Yes, I'm sure he was." She said, "Did he want something from you too? I bet he got you to do something with his sugary ways." She pat Kali before letting her go.

 

Kali looked at the ground shaking still "H...he asked me......just for water...he...he didn't w...want anything from me......"

 

"Water is something, Kali." She said, "First you ask for small things, get the other to trust you." She walked to the door. "If I were you I'd stay away from him." She turned to look at Kali with a warning glare. "The Redwings will want to kill ANY Royal Clan member."

 

Kali bit her lip looking at Dee nervously and unsure what to say. S...So...he was tricking her?

 

Dee walked out the door, closing it behind her. She padded soundlessly down the hall, smirking silently. That girl was so much fun!

 

Kali stood there for a minute as more tears filled her eyes. She...she didn't know what to do now.

=========================================

Hikali was quietly walking down the halls of the castle looking back and forth as she walked. She was carrying a tray of food which she had just picked up. She had been asked to take this food to Llamii's room. But as usual the xweetok had gotten lost. She knew the relative area though and finally found it, knocking lightly on the door and waiting.

Tookei had drifted into a light sleep after Llamiis had left, and woke with a start when he heard the door, heart racing. He kept silent and unmoving, wondering who it was.

Kali knocked again on the door lightly "L...Llamiis...I...I've brought your lunch..." She said quietly.

Tookei blinked, and with some effort and wincing managed to sit up. It was the girl who'd given him water! He bit his lip, wondering if he should say something, still quiet.

Kali waited still...if he wasn't in...she would just leave the food in his room. Slowly she opened the door, not looking in "Llamiis......?" She called out a little louder.

Tookei blinked, she was coming in! As silently as he could and bearing with the pain in his side, he slid off the bed and moved behind the door, out of Hikali's sight. The bed he'd just vacated had sheets covered in his own dry blood.

Kali walked into the room slowly and looked around. No one was here then... She sighed a little to herself and walked over to a table and set the tray down. Her eyes looked towards the bed and noticed the blood covered sheets. Th...That was strange...

Tookei watched her enter and leave the tray down, looking at the food as she noticed the bed. His stomach growled at the sight of food and he winced, pressing back against the wall.

Kali jumped a little, hearing something but unsure what it was, she looked around but didn't notice Kei, who was behind the door just enough for her to miss him. "...L....Lla...Llamiis...?" She said quietly and with no reply she walked over to the bed. She...should change those sheets...

Tookei bit his lip slightly, then slowly closed the door, so that no one else would come inside the room. "It's me." He said, looking at Hikali.

Hikali jumped, hearing the voice and quickly turned towards Kei. She nearly fell back when she turned and looked at him in surprise, her heart pounding from the shock of finding someone else in the room. "I...Its...y...you...."

Kei nodded, not moving from the wall. "It's ok... I won't... hurt you." He said softly, looking at the bed, "Uhm... that was me, sorry..."

Kali shook her head a little "I...Its ok..." She said quietly. Why was he here? Where was Llamiis? "U...Um...I...well...."

Kei took a step towards her, "Don't... don't tell anyone you saw me here... please?"

Kali unconsciously tried to step back when he came forward but just bumped into the bed. She bit her lip and nodded a little remaining silent.

"Penja didn't seem too happy with me being here... I don't want... him getting in trouble because of me." He said, moving to the desk and sitting down with a wince, nursing his side. His eyes strayed to the stew on the tray, nose twitching.

Kali watched him silently still biting her lip rather hard. When he looked at the food she considered getting him some...but that wouldn't be a good idea...if he didn't want anyone to know he was here.

Tookei looked back at Kali, smiling nervously, "Penja doesn't like me... but... the Yurble has been nice to me." He said, right hand twitching.

Kali nodded a little, Penja...seemed nice to her...but...she guessed Penja had reasons for not liking this guy...he...he was a redwing.

"You're a Royal Clan, aren't you?" He asked, trying to keep his mind off the smell of food, which was making his mouth water.

Kali nodded at him again nodding "Y...Yes...I am...w...why...do you...ask...?"

"Who do you think are the bad guys?" He asked, holding his hurting side as he sat at the edge of Llamiis's chair.

Kali blinked looking at him confused "B...Bad guys?"

He nodded, "Who are the bad guys... for you?"

Kali bit her lip looking at the ground and her tail curling around her "T...twintails......" She said quietly at a near whisper. Even after meeting one...her fear of them hadn't lessened at all...

He blinked, surprised, "The Twintails? Aren't they... didn't they die out?"

Kali shook her head a little but said nothing else, her eyes now looking towards the ground.

"Why are they the bad guys?" He asked, stomach growling again.

"A...a twintail...attacked the castle..." She said quietly "Killed...almost everyone..."

"But that's just one Twintail, why would all Twintails be bad just because of what one of them did?" He insisted, brows furrowing.

"Why else would they have been banished...if they weren't bad....." She asked quietly.

Tookei looked down as he thought that over. "Because the Royals decided they were the bad guys..." He murmured. "But for some people, the bad guys are the Royal Clan."

Kali looked at him, not understanding "W...What are you...talking about?"

Tookei got up, walking slightly towards her. "Don't you see? Your clan banished the Twintails, for them, YOUR clan are the bad guys because you forced them to leave Niflheim."

Kali quickly backed up as he stood and walked towards her. She had nothing really to say but she was making sure he was still a fair ways away from her.

Tookei stopped, but continued speaking, "Your clan locked her up for 300 years... in the battle before that both sides lost many members... And yet you say the Twintails are the bad guys..." He shook his head, "Why?"

Kali bit her lip harder now. She didn't know...she had grown up being told Twintails where bad...and when Qunryun attacked...that just made her believe what she was taught even more.

Tookei turned away, looking at the books on Llamiis's shelf. "Did you know it was the Redwings that caused that fight?" He said slowly. "We... planted lies... made the Twintails believe the Royals had deceived them."

Kali blinked, she...she hadn't known that. She took another step back towards the door. She didn't know what to say...and this was all just confusing her and putting more doubts into her mind.

"That makes the Redwings the bad guys, doesn't it?" He said, looking back at Hikali sadly. "We tried to have the two most powerful clans kill each other, to leave an easy way to grab the throne."

Kali looked at him confused, why was he telling her all of this?! She kept her distance and kept silent. This...went against what she was always told about the twintails...

Kei looked at her, sighing slightly, "You don't understand do you?" He asked.

The door opened and Llamiis entered, smiling as always.  "I don't think she very much wants to," he commented, dropping Gomi to the ground. The zomutt immediately ran to Hikali and tried to jump on her.

Tookei gave a start, looking up at Llamiis in surprise and slight alarm.

Hikali was about to answer when she heard Llamiis and jumped in surprise looking at Llamiis backing up a little and when she saw Gomi come towards her she quickly tried to back away more from it. She ended up with her back agenst the wall.

Gomi followed persistently, wagging his tail.  When she hit the wall he bounced up again, trying to lick her face. "Oh, lunch!" Llamiis looked surprised. "Would you like some?" He was addressing Tookei, leaving Hikali to work her way out of the petpet problem on her own.

Tookei looked at the steaming stew, swallowing saliva as his stomach rumbled in answer. "I.. uh... that... is... uhm..." He looked down, hiding his twitching hand.

Kali tried to push the petpet away from her quickly, not really liking it coming up to her like this. At the same time she was trying to move towards the door to leave, worried she was in trouble for being in the room

"Go ahead." Llamiis smiled indulgently, turning to his petpet. "Gomi!" The zomutt whirled away, running to Llamiis' side immediately. "He wouldn't have hurt you," he said, explaining his tardiness apologetically.

The korbat teen inched his way towards Llamiis's desk, looking at the food with hungry eyes, then back at Llamiis, "Are... are you sure?"

Kali looked at Llamiis, silent for a moment watching him nervously "I...I'm sorry I came into your room when you weren't here..." She said moving more towards the door.

"Of course." The Blackorn turned to smile warmly at Hikali. "Oh no, come any time you'd like."

Tookei sat at the chair, turning to the table and picking up the spoon, quickly scooping up some of the broth and eating. He had hardly swallowed when he took in some more, hungry.

Kali bit her lip looking away from Llamiis and towards the ground. "I...I'm sorry...I...I'll leave now and stop bothering you..."

Llamiis waved a little. "Take care of yourself!" He paused. "Oh, and try not to fall asleep in any more hallways, you'll catch a chill that way."

Tookei blinked, sleeping in hallways? He didn't pause in his meal though, as he ate the stew quickly. He was very hungry and felt as if he hadn't eaten in days. He always felt especially hungry after he healed, he'd discovered.

Kali nodded a little "..Yes...I'm sorry..." She said before turning and quickly leaving the room.

Llamiis shut the door behind her. That had been interesting. Not every day he returned to find small children running amok in his room.

Kei broke off a piece of the bread, soaking it in the stew before munching on that, then looked at the wine with some skepticism.

"I'll take that," Llamiis smiled, lifting the glass from the tray. "You don't need to be drinking yet, I think." Actually, the wine wouldn't hurt the kid, but he'd rather have the wine himself.

He blinked, and nodded. He was already half through the meal and he stopped, staring at the food, then looking at Llamiis. "Uhm... the rest for you?" He asked.

"If you're done with it," Llamiis replied, sipping at the fermented fruit.

Kei frowned slightly. "I... I'm still hungry." He admitted, blushing faintly.

"Then eat!" Llamiis smiled at the korbat. "You just fixed some pretty nasty cuts, after all."

He nodded, turning back to the plate and taking up more food, chewing silently.

He took a pause after a few more spoonfuls of stew to look nervously at Llamiis. "I wasn't... trying to scare her..." He said. "But I was thinking of what you'd said..."

"And drew some very interesting conclusions." Llamiis smiled.

Tookei blinked, "But... if a clan is labeled as bad guys, that doesn't make all the neopets in it bad... does it?"

"Well, if a clan is good, does that make every demon in it good?"

The kid chewed on a soaked piece of bread, then shook his head, "I guess not..." He looked at the food, "But even then everyone tends to act biased depending on someones clan."

Llamiis sat back. "That's true, they do." He twirled his mane around his fingers thoughtfully, twisting the hair into knotlike patterns. "Is that a bad thing or a good one?"

Tookei swallowed the last of the food, wiping his mouth. "I think it's bad... people are different, and not all are the same as the clan they were born into." He said, looking back at Llamiis.

Llamiis nodded thoughtfully. "I see."

There was a knock at the door that made Tookei jump, looking at it nervously, then Llamiis.

Llamiis gestured for him to be calm and headed to the door. He had a pretty idea of who it would be even before he cracked it open.

Tookei nodded, inhaling slowly so as not to hurt his healing ribs. Outside stood Penja, a slight frown on her face. "Llamiis. Have you done questioning that kid?"

Llamiis' smile was clean and friendly. "Of course. Is there something you wanted?"

"Yes, I'll take him off your hands then." She said, moving forward. "Does he have any magic?"

"Not that I can see," Llamiis replied, calmly blocking her way with his stout frame. "He is certainly no assassin."

Penja blinked slightly, looking up at Llamiis as he blocked her. "Then what exactly was he doing? And what are his plans?" Tookei was still seated at the desk, looking at Llamiis's back as he listened quietly.

"I do believe he was hoping for an agreeable home," Llamiis replied, smiling at the bruce benignly. "But otherwise I'd say he had absolutely no plans at all."

Penja scoffed, "Surely you don't believe he's a runaway with no bad intentions?"

"That is what my interrogation has turned up." Llamiis met her eyes calmly.

"Redwings are very good at deceiving and lying themselves through anyone with sweet talk, you know this, right?" Penja said, clearly not believing him.

Llamiis remained smiling. "Of course." He paused to tap his fingers on his thigh experimentally. "Although we spoke about philosophy, not torture."

Penja's tail twitched, "So you are convinced that he's not here on a secret agenda, and wants to ..find a welcoming home here?"

Llamiis' eyes didn't stray from her face. "I am sufficiently convinced that he is not a threat, yes."

"Nor a little spy for the Redwings?" Penja continued.

"What Redwings?" Llamiis asked rhetorically.

Tookei shifted uncomfortably as Penja continued questioning Llamiis, glad the Blackhorn was the one answering.

Penja scowled, "The redwings that survived of course."

Llamiis folded his clawed hands behind his back. "The Redwings are brazen but not stupid. They have survived by their discretion when necessary... and this boy does not have the makings of a spy." Surely getting caught so easily was the proof of that.

Penja was silent for a bit. "He came from the Redwing fortress, correct?"

"Presumably."

"Ask him then, how many are left there, and how much of a threat they are." Penja said levelly.

Llamiis turned and levelled his eyes on Tookei.

Tookei's eyes were wide, and he snapped back to Llamiis, blinking as the older pet looked at him. "I...I... don't think they're a threat." He said quietly.

Penja frowned, eyes locked on Tookei. "How many are left?" She repeated.

Llamiis had done just enough interrogation to determine Tookei's threat level--among other things. Apparently his interests diverged greatly from Penja's... but of course they would.

Tookei looked to the ground, hand twitching under his left. "I...I..." He bit his lip, "I don't know." He said hoarsely.

Llamiis took note of the twitching hand again. Quite an unfortunate flaw to have, that hand. "And why not?" His voice was gentle and significantly less demanding than Penja's.

Penja was looking at the twitching hand as well, as she waited for an answer. Tookei flickered his eyes towards Llamiis and back at his hands. He did know how many there were left. Too well. He didn't want the remnants of his clan wiped out though. He swallowed, "I'm too young... to know."

Llamiis smiled at him. "Really?"

Tookei nodded hesitantly. Penja frowned. "How old are you?" She asked. He looked up, "S..sixteen." "That is old enough by Redwing standard." She replied harshly. Tookei's large ears pinned backwards, mouth dry.

Llamiis took that tidbit from Penja in with interest but said nothing. Social pressure would force Tookei to speak, regardless of what was said or not.

"How many Redwings are left?" She repeated the question in the following silence, and Tookei's grip on his twitching hand strengthened. "I... don't know." He repeated.

"You're lying." Penja said darkly. Tookei winced, closing his eyes and head downcast. "I don't see how we can accept you here if you lie on such a simple question."

Llamiis remained a smiling fixture between Penja and Tookei. It was interesting, actually, since he hadn't lied before... it was very hard for anyone to lie about philosophy, even philosophers. That suggested either a disabling fear of Penja and nervous lying... or remaining loyalties to the redwings despite philosophical differences. Of course, nothing in his face reflected any of that, so he might as well have been a bump on a log to the other two.

"I'm taking him with me now." Penja said, looking to Llamiis.

Hm. Classical conditioning? Tell a lie, go to the dungeon? He eyed Penja carefully. "He has two broken ribs."

Penja shrugged, "He doesn't seem too inconvinienced by them, I'm sure he'll survive."

Llamiis stepped aside. "Punctured lungs are hard to heal," he replied simply.

Tookei looked up as Penja walked into the room, "You healed the rest of his wounds, why did you not heal his ribs?" She asked, standing in front of Tookei, who blinked in surprise.

"Oh, I didn't do that." Llamiis smiled at her charmingly.

Penja looked around at him, Tookei looking up at him as well, for another reason. Was he a healer?? "Self-healing prodigy?" She asked.

"Perhaps." Llamiis raised his eyebrows at her slightly.

"Well then he'll heal his ribs on his own then." She turned grabbing Kei's arm and pulling him up. He winced slightly at the sudden movement that caused a stab of pain in his side.

Llamiis stepped over lightly and grabbed Penja's arm, intending to twist it to  her back and force her to unhand Tookei.

Penja was caught by surprise, grunting as her arm was twisted back, letting the korbat loose halfway through. Tookei gave a small yelp as he fell backwards, missing the chair and falling to the floor. He gasped in pain, as Penja snarled, "Let go of me!"

Llamiis leaned in close to her, yellow eyes unchanging, face still smiling. By now it was apparent that this particular smile was devoid of meaning, though. "Your force is unnecessary," he replied, his voice an undertone.

Penja hissed, trying to pull away from Llamiis. "I said let go." She replied tauntly. Tookie was still on the floor, one hand to his newly burning side as he looked up with worry at the two adults.

Llamiis shook his head. "You aren't listening to me." He sounded disappointed.

Penja snarled, "Llamiis, let GO!" She'd have tried moving but her arm hurt already. She glared at the korbat, who winced slightly, looking down. He coughed softly.

He did so, releasing her and stepping out of the range of attack. Llamiis glanced down at Tookei at the sound of that cough.

Penja didn't attack though, stepping away from Llamiis and massaging her arm."Why are you so bent on protecting him?" She demanded, looking at Llamiis. Kei felt the taste of blood in his mouth, swallowing silently. He didn't move from where he was, though, hardly breathing.

"Protecting him?" Llamiis sounded briefly surprised. "Oh, I see. I think you are mistaken." Llamiis stepped back. How ironic! He wouldn't bother to correct her, though. Well, not beyond that.

Penja growled slightly, turning to Tookei. "Get up." She ordered. Tookei shuffled, grabbing the side of the bed to get up, wincing as he did, coughing. He quickly wiped his mouth, and tried straightening, but hunched slightly in pain.

Llamiis didn't say anything, though, apparently done for the day.

Penja walked outside the door, turning to Kei. "Come on then, let's go." Tookei glanced at Llamiis. "Sorry." He whispered, before walking towards the door slowly.

Llamiis met his eyes unblinkingly and with no change in expression. Sorry? He closed the door behind the two and walked to the bookshelf, removing another book to read, this one bound in brown leather.

The walk down the stairs and halls was long for both though more for Tookei, who's side still hurt a lot from the fall. Penja didn't do anything against him though, just led him on to a cell, and locking the door behind him. He sat on the stone bunk, coughing again as he curled up, wondering what would happen next.







It was getting later, the day done and the work finished. Kali was walking towards the kitchen in silence. She wanted to grab a little food then go to her room. Espoir would be hungry...and she was to by now.

Dee sat at the kitchen table, munching on some crackers with a thoughtful expression, staring off into space.

Kali walked quietly into the kitchen looking around a little and seeing Dee but her eyes quickly turned away as she went towards a shelf to get a little food.

Dee's eyes moved at once towards Kali, watching her like a hawk would it's prey.

Kali's wings where pinned on her back as she fould a little bread, then a small fruit. That would be good...She thought trying to quickly go and leave the kitchen.

"I bet Marissa will be happy to hear the new gossip tomorrow." Dee said as Kali headed for the doors.

Kali froze and looked back at Dee in suprise, she wasn't...planning to tell anyone was she?!

Dee had a sinister grin on her face. "You'll be the gossip of the castle."

Kali shook her head a little taking a step towards Dee nervously "P...Please...d...don't tell anyone!" She pleaded.

"Why not?" Dee said, popping another cracker in her mouth. "It'll be fun!"

Kali shook her head a little "T...There...h...has to be something...t...that c...could change...your m...mind!"

Dee smiled slightly, "You look deviously cute when you stutter so much." She said, "Such a frail young thing, you poor thing."

Kali bit her lip nervously and her tail curled around her legs "P...Please....d...don't tell...anyone..."

"Or what?" Dee said, eyes narrowing as her smile widened.

Kali jumped a little looking at Dee "W...Well...I...I..."

"You'll accuse me of something? Or maybe you'll hit me!" She barked a short laugh. "Oh that'd be hilarious."

Kali backed up a little nervously, she didn't know what to do or say at all. But...if Dee told others...the Prince...Tookei and her would all be in trouble...

"Go on, run along, kid, you can't really stop me, can you." She said.

Kali closed her eyes for a minute before looking at Dee "P...Please...just...don't tell anyone....?" She asked quietly.

"What do I get in exchange for my silence?" She said, vulture eyes on the younger girl.

Kali looked at Dee nervously. She...had to make sure that Dee didn't tell anyone which met..."W.....What...d you...want me...t...to give...you...?"

Dee smiled widely, "How bout you sleep with me tonight."

Kali jumped in suprise taking a step back, w...what was she talking about?! She...had thought she would have to do Dee's work or something...but...why that?! And she...she didn't think she could do that. "I..I...b...u...um..."

"What? You slept with the prince, surely you can sleep with me?" She said with a grin.

Kali bit her lip "I...I didn't sleep with him!" She insisted.

Dee sighed, eating another cracker, "Marissa will LOVE to hear all about it."

"N...No please don't!" Kali pleaded in worry "I...Isn't there something else I could do?!"

Dee was having a lot of fun watching Kali squirm like this. "I don't think so."

"B...But...w...why w...would you w...want me to...to do that?!" Kali asked in worryed. She didn't like this, she really didn't think she could handle something like that.

Dee stood, walking around the table towards Kali, her long thin spiked tail slashing about in anticipation. "Because I'd love to see how it's like to sleep with you."

Kali backed up nervously "P...Please...c...can't I...do...do something...else?"

"No, I think I very much want you to sleep with me." She said, following Kali as she backed up, advancing with longer strides.

Kali tryed to back up more but just went right into a wall. She glanced back at it for a moment before back at Dee in fear.

Dee planted her hands to either side of Kali's head as she lowered herself to be face-to-face. "You're mine, little kitten, and you can't do anything to free yourself, unless you want me to tell the whole castle of your affair with the prince."

Kali froze looking at Dee in fear a few tears forming in her eyes. She didn't know what to do.....she...she was traped...

"Come, Hikali, let's go now." She said, wrapping a hand around her shoulder and pushing her away from the wall, forcing her towards the kitchen door. "We should get sleep while we can, tomorrow will be a LONG day."

Kali bit her lip and winced a little from Dee's touch. She tryed to move away a little looking at the food she had in her hands still "P...Please...Can...I just take this to Espoir...he...he will be hungry..." She asked quietly. She didn't want to do this...but...she had no real choise.

Dee looked at her, "Espoir?"

"M...My Dandan...h...he is in my room..." She said quietly. She didn't want the little guy to go hungry with out supper.

Dee let go of Hikali. "Okay then, you know where my room is, I'll be waiting for you."

Kali nodded a little "O...Ok....." She said quietly, glad Dee had let go of her.

Dee smiled, "And you'd better come." She warned her, as she walked down the hall and into her room, the door cliking closed softly behind her.

Kali watched her for a minute before quickly going to her room and closing the door quietly behind her. She was greeted with a very excited Dandan to walked towards her but stopped, noticing his matster was upset. He gave out a worryed squeek and climbed up onto Kali's sholder rubbing agenst her head as his fluffy tail wrapped lightly around her neck. Kali just stood there though a few tears in her eyes. She didn't know what to do...she shouldn't...have gone near the prince...she should have left Tookei alone...she should have just done her jobs and kept out of the way. But now...She gave Espoir a light pet before picking him up off her and setting him down on the bed, setting the food down beside him. He looked at her confused cocking his head a little. This was unusual. Kali looked at Espoir and pat his head again once. "I...I...have...t...to go....a...alright...?" She said walkin out of the room. The Dandan tryed to follow her but was met with a closed door as he whimpered and squeeked a little sadly, his large tail curling around him and ears pinned down on his head.

Dee had gotten out of her maids uniform and into her small, simple bed. "Not even a third of the prince's bed." She muttered to herself as sh tossed her long hair over her back, fluffing the pillow. She smiled slightly, wondering how long Kali would last.

Kali slowly walked towards dee's room, stopping infront of the door. Hesitating sne lightly knocked on it.

"Come in already!" She hissed, "You take way too long."

Kali jumped a little hearing her and slowly opened the door and walked in "I...Isn't there...something else...that you could have me do.......?"

"No. I already made up my mind." She said, patting the bed as she shifted over against the wall, "Come on."

Kali didn't move for a minute or so, her heart pounding as she finally started walking towards the bed. She wanted to run so badly right now...

Dee just lay there looking at Kali, waiting for her to get into bed, tapping her hand on her thigh.

Kali bit her lip and slowly she sat down on the bed, making sure to keep a fair distance from Dee.

"Come on, I'm sleepy, I wanna get some sleep hee!" She said, pulling Hikali towards her and further up the bed.

Kali closed her eyes trying to some how move away from Dee as her tail curled around her tightly and her wings where as equally tightly pinned agenst her back.

Dee was relentless in accomodating Kali at her side, flinging the covers over both of them as she leaned over Kali's head to turn off the candle, leaving them enveloped in absolute darkness.

Kali's eyes where tightly shut and her heart was pounding. She was still trying to somehow move away from Dee, even a little, she couldn't take being close to someone like this.

Dee curled up in a spoon hug with Kali, pulling her closer as she yawned. "Night Kali."

Kali bit her lip her body shaking a little and she remained silent. Her tail was wraped around her still and she tryed to curl into a ball a little. She just wanted to get away from Dee, NOW!

Dee's breathing relaxed, and the arm draped over Kali grew slightly heavy as the cybunny relaxed, falling quickly into sleep.

Kali slowly moved a little trying to get a little distance from Dee, but with her still touching the xweetok, it was just making her heart pound more in her chest.

Dee didn't move much in response, though her hand was still draped over Kali's arm.

Kali slowly moved a little and tryed to get Dee's arm off her with out waking the other up. If she could do that...she would just try and sleep on the floor.

As Dee's arm slipped slightly, she moved, mumbling in her sleep and cuddling up to Hikali, embracing her again.

Kali again tightly closed her eyes wincing when she was touched. The longer this went oh, the harder it was for her to keep calm.

Dee twitched slightly in her sleep, brow furrowing as she let out a soft whimper, curling slightly against Kali.

Kali's eyes where still tightly shut, she didn't know what to do now....Her arms wrapped around her and her tail got tighter around her body. She knew she wouldn't be able to last like this all night.

Dee whimpered again, head shaking slightly. "No..." She whispered in a low, scared voice. "M...om...Len.."

Kali's one eye opened a little as she looked towards Dee's voice. She...was dreaming....but...why did she sound scared?

Dee's face reflected the fear of whatever it was she was dreaming, her body trembling slightly. "Don't..." She shifted, pressing against Hikali's back with a shiver. "kill them..." She whimpered, ears twitching.

Kali again winced asdee held onto her. She didn't understand what she was dreaming about...and she was curious but...she couldn't take being this close to someone. Her hear was pounding in her chest loudly and her body shaking more then before.

Dee gave a strangled cry, tears falling down her face as she trembled, ears pinned back.

Kali jumped a little at Dee's cry and tryed to jerk away from her quickly.

Dee didn't stop her as Kali pulled away, curling up into a ball as she did, crying and trembling.

Kali ended up falling off the bed and sitting up, looking towards Dee and breathing hard, trying to stop her body's shaking and calm down. She was getting more confused as to what dee was dreaming about...but...she needed to try and calm down herself first.

Dee continued to cry softly, curled up tightly on her bed, half covered with the covers. "Don't... hurt him..." She whined.

Kali sat on the ground watching, silent besides her hard breathing. After a minute she finally spoke "D...Dee...?" She asked her voice shaking as badly as her body.

Dee didn't react to Kali's voice, as she continued whimpering, and moving slightly, brows furrowed. "No... mom..."

Kali bit her lip a little slowly standing. She brought a hand towards Dee, she should wake her...She froze though. She...she didn't know what to do...t...that was her chance to run away.

"No!" Dee cried out softly, sobing slighly as she shook more.

Kali jumped back a little in suprise before biting her lip and bringing her hand down onto Dee's sholder, shaking her a little, though her body was shaking more now by touching her.

Dee woke with a jolt as Klai shook her, panting as she jerked back against the wall, eyees wide and terrified.

Kali's eyes widened in shock as she backed up a littleand fell onto the floor watching Dee in fear.

Dee was breathing hard as she slowly blinked, realizing where she was. She quickly sat up, rubbing her eyes and sniffing.

Kali didn't move just watching Dee in silence, ok...it was time to run...

"Wh... what did you see." She aksed warily, though her voice wasn't the snide, haughty tone she usually used with Hikali, more... frightened and hesitant.

Kali watched her every move, confused at the abnormal tone of voice. "Y...You where just...muttering stuff..."

Dee was silent, grabbing the covers of her bed closer as she looked down with a scowl.

Kali backed up a little nervously watching her, should she run now?

Dee looked back at Kali, hesitant. "It was just a nightmare... a memory... of when I was a kid."

Kali blinked confused "W...When you..were a kid...?"

Dee nodded, looking down at the sheets. "My mom... and my brother were killed by Redwings... I was hidden in the closet and watched..." She shook her head, "They are horrible monsters!"

Kali watched Dee silently, she...she had gone through something that bad as a kid? She bit her lip watching silently, she didn't know what to say.

Dee bit her lip, "I lost... my whole family... to them... all because my dad saved Frathomas fom their assassination attempt..." Her face hardened with anger, "But your clan never did anything to help us... to help me..."

Kali winced a little at her words backing up a step.She didn't know about any of this....She didn't even think she had been born yet. I...u...um......I......" She said not sure what she could or should say.

"You wouldn't understand..." She muttered, shaking her head. "Go on, run back to your room, I shouldn't have told you anything. You're just a pampered little girl." She looked away from Kali.

Kali bit her lip a litle taking a step back "I...I know...h...how it feels....t...to...lose...y...your family....." She said quietly

Dee looked warily at her. "Qunryun? She laughed slightly, uncovering her belly, showing a long scar running across it. "She said it wasn't worth finishing off a Sharptail."

Kali's eyes widened as she looked at the scar then back up at Dee not knowing what to say again.

Dee shook her head, "You always think you've had the worse things happen to you, don't you?" She said derisively. "Life is harsh here in Niflheim, kid, you'd better get used to it."

Kali winced a little steping back, she didn't think that...at all. "Y...your wrong.....I...I don't t...think the worst...has happened to...me. I...I know...h...how lucky I am....to be where...I am..." She said quietly looking down towards the ground.

"You sure don't reflect that, you're always stuttering and quiet, always seeping in the pity and worrying those around you." She spat.

Kali closed her eyes and her tail curled around herself more. She knew that was true...but she didn't want it to seem like that. She kept quiet cause she didn't want to get to close to others...and for her talking was just...hard. She had nothing to say towards Dee, nothing would help her really.

"Go away." Dee said softly. "You disgust me."

Kali winced a little backing up nervously. Did this mean...Dee wouldn't tell anyone?

Dee fell on her side, turning away from Hikali and covering herself with the blanket, "And close the door."

Kali didn't know what to do..."Y...you won't...t...tell anyone...right.....?" She asked quietly going over to the door.

Dee was silent, ignoring Kali.

Kali nervously turned walking out of the room and quietly closing the door behind her before walking back to her room.








Dawn in the castle was a quiet time, except in the kitchens, where maids and cooks gossiped and worked preparing breakfast for the rest of the castle. Dee chatted with Marissa in one corner as they worked on laundry, both hunched over and talking animatedly. Marissa seemed overly excited.

Kali walked into the kitchen silently looking around and seeing Dee talking with Marissa and her heart started to pound in her chest. But she just looked away nervously, keeping back and out of the way.

An ogrin cook turned from the kitchens with a small tray with a cup of water and a small piece of bread. "Who wants to go down to the dungeons to feed the prisoner?" He asked with a sly grin. Many of the maids looked between themselves, all hesitant to speak up. Dee looked at the tray, then at Kali. "I'll go." She said, standing with a dark grin.

Kali didn't move at all and kept back. Prisoner...Tookei...She wouldn't have minded taking him his food...atleast he...seemed nice. She didn't look up at anyone and just kept her eyes at the ground. Though did glance up at Dee a couple quick times.

The ogrin blinked, "Dee? I thought you hated Redwings." He said in surprise. She laughed, "I do, what better way to get back at them? No one will know if I poke fun at him this way, maybe I'll slip some poison in his food." She smirked, as the ogrin laughed.

Kali closed her eyes wincing a little as she heared Dee. Tookei...Why where they all...talking about him like that. He was nice! None of them where nice...if they talked about him like that... She looked up again at Dee, longer this time.

Dee grabbed the tray, and turned to the doors, looking at Kali and smiling at her. "It'll be fun to torture him some myself, don't you think?"

Kali looked away towards the ground biting her lip a little "Y...you shouldn't...judge him...just cause he...is...a...a Redwing....h...he is...nice..." She said so quiet that only Dee would hear her. Since she was still by the door. She looked at the ground now remaining silent.

"Just like you don't judge Twintails, Kali?" Dee said maliciously as she stopped beside Kali. "I wonder if I can make him scream...."

Kali closed her eyes "I...I've already...said I was sorry...to the twintail...that I met...and said mean things to...Penja is right...I shouldn't judge all by clan...no matter how hard it is. You shouldn't judge either......" Kali said still very quiet and unable to make eye contact.

"But that twintail is a guest of the Queen, this Redwing is a prisoner." Dee replied, walking out, "There's a huge difference."

"Not really...you are judging...by clan and blood...cause...of what you went through...just like me..." Kali said glancing up at Dee for just a moment before back at the ground.

"Then maybe you should have spoken up before to take this yourself." Dee said, eyes glinting in the torchlight. "But then you never speak up."

Kali bit her lip harder hearing Dee. She was right but......she...it was hard to speak up anymore...

Dee looked at Kali. "I heard Penja might have him killed today."

Kali blinked looking at Dee "S...She's what?!" She said a little louder then intended.

Dee laughed, walking away from the kitchen slowly.

Kali closed her eyes looking away. No...Tookei...didn't deserve to die!

Dee stopped a few feet away, turning to look at Kali. "You want to see him one last time?" She asked, holding out the tray.

Kali glanced at Dee, was she serious?! No way was Tookei going to die...but...seeing him...wouldn't be too bad. Slowly she turned towards Dee and watched her with a look that asked if she met it.

"Well if you don't want to..." She began to turn away.

Kali quickly took a couple steps towards her "N...No...P...Please...!"

Dee stopped, turning back at Kali. "Well?"

"I...I'll...t...take it to...to him..." Kali said quietly.

Dee smiled slightly, "Okay then, take it." She offered the tray to Kali.

Kali slowly took the tray from Dee "T...Thank you..." She said quietly.

Dee leaned over to Kali's ear. "you better not tell anyone about last night." She warned her. Straightening, she walked past Kali to the kitchens.

Kali winced a little as Dee got closer. She blinked though in suprise. She looked at Dee for a second before nodding and turning to walk down into the dungens with the food.

Dee's voice could be heard, muffled, then a roaring laughter from the rest of the kitchen as Kali walked away.

Kali could hear the laughter and winced a little, but just continued down into the dungens looking around for where Tookei was.










Llamiis was reading. The yurble hunched over his book, apparently intent upon whatever words were occupying him. His long black horns arced back over his head and Gomi slept at his feet, kicking his little legs occasionally as he dreamed.  

There was the sound of clinking of metal on metal and some scuffling. After a few seconds, the door was 'knocked' with a foot. "Llamiis? Breakfast!" Came the maid's voice.

Llamiis blinked, startled out of his reading. He set the book down with the spine facing upwards to save his page. Bad for the binding, but binding could be replaced. Padding over to the door, the blackhorn opened it carefully.

The purple cybunny outside smiled brightly, "Can you take the tray please?" She asked, as she balanced said tray on top of a basket with clean laundry.

Llamiis took it from her and smiled a little. "Would you like some help with that?"

She laughed, "I'll be fine, I need to change your bed sheets... if you don't mind." Her ears flickered, "Or I can come back later when you're out with Gomi."

Gomi was miraculously still asleep. Llamiis glanced back at him. "I don't think he'll be up anytime soon," he smiled, "so now might be better."

Dee nodded, "Fine then." She said, walking into his room and leaving the basket on the floor she grinned towards Gomi. "Looks cuter asleep." She said, pulling the sheets off the bed.

Llamiis took the other end of the sheets and helped her bundle them up. "Quieter, too." He was still smiling.

Dee nodded in agreement. "He's quite excitable." She grinned, leaving the bundle on the floor as she grabbed the clean sheets. "I heard he had quite a ruckus when that Featherwing came." She said, stretching them out.

Llamiis nodded a bit. "He doesn't like... hats." He sounded bemused. "Speaking of, have you seen that featherwing lately?"

Dee shook her head, blinking, "Though Marissa said some of the guards saw him flying off the day after the attempt on the Prince. He looked quite worried."

"That's interesting," Llamiis remarked lightly. "I wonder where he went, then."

"Heading to Gladsheim according to the gossip." Dee said, tucking in the sheets. She looked up at llamiis, "You'd best have your lunch before it grows cold." She said with a slight grin.

"Oh, of course." Llamiis turned to the tray, scooting his book out of the way carefully. "Another girl came the other day, you know."

"Oh, yesterday? I was busy down in the washing, so they sent someone else." She blinked, straightening the sheets before pulling the blanket over them. "Who'd they send?"

Llamiis shook his head. "I was afraid you were ill... they sent a little Royal girl, Hikali." He took a bite of food.

Dee twitched slightly, a small pause as she worked. "Oh... no.. well... I'd heard you were hosting a Redwing, so I... made myself busy." She said.

Llamiis blinked. "Oh, the child. Who told you he was here?"

"Penja told me." She said, as she finished making Llamiis's bed. She turned slightly, "She knows I don't like them..."

"Hm, it seems everyone has one clan they dislike," Llamiis noted, shaking his head.

She blinked, "I guess... isn't it all part of being a demon?" She asked, putting the dirty laundry in the basket.

"Is it?" he asked back, eating his lunch as he spoke.

Dee straightened, smoothing out her uniform. "Well... I'd say... do you have a clan you dislike?"

"Not particularly," Llamiis replied, smiling at her. "I like everyone the same."

She blinked, "I guess that's a good trait for an interrogator." She smiled brightly.

"It's an even better one for a healer," he replied, and winked.

Dee laughed, nodding. "I guess... so did you heal that Redwing too?"

"No, I didn't. Have you seen him?"

Dee shook his head, "No, why? Is he dangerous? I heard he got pretty beat up when he was found."

"I don't think he's dangerous, though I think Penja might be now." Llamiis smiled at her.

"Penja? Why would she be dangerous?" She sat on the bed, crossing her legs. "The guard that did night duty said the kid coughed a lot last night."

"Hm." Llamiis shook his head. "Well, I might be mistaken about her." He looked thoughtful. "Did he cough up blood?"  

Dee shrugged, "I dunno, haven't seen him, nor did the guard, he was stationed at the end of the hall. "Does he have any magic?"

"None worth noting." Llamiis took a sip of his drink. "But he does have magic."

Dee blinked, "Really? What kind?"

"Oh, just some latent power," Llamiis replied. "He hasn't had any formal training at all."
"So... he's really harmless?" She seemed thoughtful at this.

"Pretty much." Llamiis was studying her indirectly as he ate.  

"That's good to hear." She said, standing. "I'd better get going, then." She said, picking up the basket with sudden quickness.

"Take care." Llamiis smiled in parting.

"You too!" She smiled, walking out the door, closing it behind her with her spiked tail. Her footsteps were quick in departing.  












The halls were less illuminated in the dungeons, but a soft coughing came from one of the cells, followed by a whimper.

Kali blinked and followed the noises looking around "H...Hello...?"

The door to Tookei's cell had bars from top to bottom, not the wooden doors of other rooms. Tookei lay on his side on the stone bed, curled up slightly. He shifted as he heard Kali, looking to the door. "Hikali?" He asked, voice pained and exhausted.

Kali looked at Tookei in shock at his condition and voice. "T...Tookei...A...Are you alright...What...happened...?"

Tookei sat up, wincing as he coughed, flecks of blood splattering on pants. "F..fine... nothing... I'm... fine." He said, smiling up at Hikali faintly.

Kali looked at him in worry, that blood...it showed he wasn't. "W...What happened...?"

Tookei looked away. "I just... fell." He mumbled, one hand on his side gingerly. The damp cold of the dungeon hadn't helped him, nor the painfully hard bed. His side hurt more than before and each breath was painful.

Kali sighed quietly "I...I don't...belive you..." She said  going over and getting the keys before unlocking it and bringing in his food. "W...Why are you back here..and....not...with llamiis?"

Tookei looked at the squalid meal, grabbing the bread and biting a piece, munching slowly. "Penja doesn't trust me." He said after swallowing. "Because.. I wouldn't tell her how many Redwings are left." He looked at Kali, then back down, taking another bite of the bread.

Kali blinked confused "There arn't many left though are there?" She asked confused watching him eat and looking at him from head to tail worryed about him being hurt.

He bit his lip, holding back a cough, though this made his side hurt more, grimacing in pain. "N...no..." he said weakly, "But..." He stopped, looking at Kali, "More than Penja thinks... and... I don't want my people killed..."

Kali nodded a little understanding atleast a little "A...Are they...on your side...? I...I meen...are they...nice?"

Tookei hesitated, drinking some of the water. "Not.... not all of them." He said slowly. He looked at Hikali, "Only a few."

Kali bit her lip a little "S...So most of them...are bad...?" She asked watching him still. "I...I wish...I...I could...help you.... Y...your nice..."

Tookei nodded, coughing more blood, but this time into his hand. He hid his hand from Kali, smiling slightly, "Thanks..."

Kali bit her lip at the cough "W...What happened..."

"Penja... grabbed me roughtly, and it hurt... and... Llamiis made her let go of me... but that made me fall." He said quietly. "I've got two broken ribs from the beating from the guards, I think the fall bumped them inwards more..." He winced, "They punctured my lung."

Kali's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't thought he had been that hurt. "W...Why d...didn't Llamii's heal you?!"

He looked up at Hikali oddly. "I... didn't know Llamiis was a healer." He said quietly. He shook his head, looking down, "I dunno... maybe... to make interrogation easier."

Kali bit her lip a little looking at the ground. Tookei was nice...but everyone else was hurting him...

Tookei coughed again, before eating the rest of the bread. "I'll heal... I always do... but... the bone will heal wrong, and it'll always hurt me." He looked down at his right hand, his fingers twitching.

Kali looked at Tookei sadly "I...I'm sorry...." She said quietly looking at his hand "Does it hurt?"

Tookei looked up, moving his hand away. "N...no... it... I just..."

Kali took a nervous stop towards him "Y...You just...?"

Tookei looked away. "I broke it... when I was younger..." He said slowly, "M..my dad... stepped on my hand and... crushed the bones..."

Kali looked at Tookei in shock "W..>What?! W...Why would a...father do that?!"

Tookei winced slightly, looking at the ground. "B..because I was incompetent... and... I couldn't use magic."

Kali blinked confused "C...Couldn't...use...magic? W...What...difference would that make?"

"My whole family can use magic, we... are nobles..." He touched his gold collar. "He wanted... me to be a strong fighter with magic..." He looked up at Hikali, "But I wasn't strong, and couldn't use magic, and I hated fighting!"

Kali blinked looking at Tookei sadly "S...So...you...got in trouble?"

Tookei nodded silently. "It took... weeks to heal, and... the doctor said it was a miracle I can use it somewhat, because the bone was shattered... but it didn't mend properly and it twitches a lot... when I'm nervous."

Kali nodded a little watching him "I...I'm sorry...I...I shouldn;t have asked..."

He shook his head, smiling as he looked up at her, "It's... okay... I like talking to you." He said, "You're very kind."

Kali blinked confused and just for a second the ghost of a smile could be seen on her face but it dissapered quicker then it came. "T...Thank...you..."

HE smiled, "No, it's... I'm really thankful you came... I was..." He looked down, "I was scared." He said in a whisper.

"I...I'm glad...I...could help...in some way..." She said quietly.

Tookei drank the rest of the water. "Well well, aren't you two getting cozy." Came Dee's voice from the door, as her figure appeared, blocking the exit. Tookei looked over in alarm, coughing and wincing in pain.

Kali jumped in shock turning to look towards Dee and backing up a little as her heart started pounding "D.....D....Dee...."

"I suppose he is kinda cute..." She said, walking towards them. Tookei couldn't move, pain immobilizing him where he sat, looking up at Dee in fright.

Kali quickly got between Dee and Tookei watching her in fear. "W...What...a..a.re you...doing here....?"

"Well, you were taking so long, I got worried!" Dee said in mock-worry. "Maybe you'd been hurt, or worse, killed, by the evil Redwing." She said, walking up to Kali. Tookei looked at Kali with worry, who was she??

Kali backed up a little in fear "I...I'm f...fine ....you... c..can...leave...n...now..."

"Oh no, I don't think I will." Dee said, grabbing Kali's arm harshly, nails digging in to her skin. "I wonder what Penja would say... or DO if... her precious Kali were to be attacked by a Redwing..."

Kali winced in pain trying to pull away looking at Dee in fear "L...Let...me...go..." She pleaded her voice staring to tremble.

Dee smirked, "You can't defend yourself, poor thing, lured by the nice words of the Redwing." She flung Kali back against the wall hard. Tokei gave a small cry. "No!" He said, trying to stand, "D...Don't hurt her!"

Kali cryed out in pain as she hit the wall and fell to the ground, the wind knocked out of her. Her body was starting to shake as she looked up towards Dee in complete fear.

Dee looked at Tookei with a sneer, "You're too hurt to stop me, just watch, scum." She turned back to Kali kicking her in the side. "I'll just leave Kali here..." She kicked her again. "Unconscious..." She stomped on her tail, "First..." Tookei stood, holding his side. "STOP!" He said, barreling into her, and pushing her away from Kali and into the other wall.

Kali cryed out from the kicks, her arms wraping around her as she tryed to some how defend herself. Tears swelled in her eyes and she yelped out when Dee stomped on her tail. When Dee was forced away from her Kali's tail wraped around her body and she looked towards the other two scared.

Tookei tried to pin Dee down, and she looked up at him and smiled evilly, then screamed "HELP!" Another figure appeared at the door, looking in. "What's going..." Tookei's eyes went wide at her scream, backing up in panic. Penja walked in and grabbed Tookei, pulling him away from the two maids and slamming him back on the bed. He cried out, falling on the bed, unconscious. "Are you two okay?" She turned to Dee and Kali, Dee was shaking and whimpering in fear, looking at Tookei.

Kali's body was still shaking badly but when Tookei was forced unconsious she quickly struggled to stand "Don't hurt him!" She pleaded, tears still filling her eyes as she tryed to quickly go over to him.

Penja grabbed Kali before she could pass her towards the Redwing, holing her back. "It's okay Kali, he won't touch you again." She said, as Dee stood, shaking. "He was attacking Kali, and when I tried to stop him he jumped at me!" She said, looking at Penja.

Kali tryed to pull away "I'm not going to let you hurt him. He...He was trying to protect me from...h...her!" She yelled out her voice breaking a little. Dee...Dee had planned this the whole time! And now Tookei was hurt more.

Tookei's breathing was faint and wheezing, blood trickling out of his mouth, his face contorted in pain as he lay curled into a ball. Dee quickly moved towards Penja, "She must be confused, he was sweet-talking her when I came, he made her trust him first." She said, "He must have been manipulating her, maybe it's some kind of mind-magic."

Kali looked at Dee with angry tear filled eyes "L...LIER!" She screamed out. "You threw me into the wall, you kicked me! Before this you where blackmailing me!" She yelled before turning and trying to go over to Tookei in a panic. "He needs a healer! P...Please!"

Penja held on to Kali, looking at Dee, then Kali. It was true, she didn't seem herself right now. "It's okay Kali, you'll be better in a while." Penja said smoothly, holding on to Kali firmly but carefully, keeping her from going to Tookei. "Lets go back up to your room, okay?" She said, leading Kali to the door. As Penja turned from Dee, her expression changed from worry to a dark smile.

Kali shook her head as more tears filled her eyes "Your not listening to me! Tookei doesn't even have magic! Dee is just telling you lies!" She cryed out trying to get away from Penja. If she didn't do something...Tookei would be killed because of this. And he was already in pain and needed help. The more she fought to get towards him the more she was starting to panic.

Penja frowned, "Kali, it's okay, you're under a spell, you're not yourself." She said calmly. Dee walked up behind them, "Maybe you should knock her out... for her own good, she could hurt herself."

Kali shook her head more "Your wrong! I'm not going to hide away and watch someone else end up dead!!!" She yelled and in desperation, bit Penja, she didn't know what else to do. Her mind was so mixed up right now, but...She knew now Tookei was nice and Dee had just fed her lies. He had helped her, she needed to help him back!

Penja yelped, letting go of Kali in surprise. Dee frowned, she was putting up more fight than she'd thought, after how quiet and shy she usually was.

Kali quickly went over beside Tookei in worry putting her hands on his sholder "Tookei! P...lease wake...up!" She pleaded in worry.

Tookei's breathing had gotten weaker, and wetter, more blood coughed up and pooling around his mouth. Penja turned to watch Kali, then over to Dee. Dee blinkied, worried frown as she shrugged, "It has to be a spell, I've never seen her act this way before!" Penja nodded, "Go get Llamiis." She said, walking over to Kali. Dee nodded, running out of the cell and down the hall.

Kali looked at Tookei in a panic, "Don't die...p...please don't die. Y...Your nice...p...please...d..don't die......"

Penja kneeled beside Kali, pulling her gently away from Tookei and to face her. "Kali... are you sure you're not under a spell?"

Kali looked at Penja with tear filled eyes "Dee attacked me, S...she said...she w...was going to k...knock me...you...and...blame it...on Tookei. H...he got...her away.... and tryed to pin her down...thats...w...when you showed up. Dee...she...isn't nice...she...she...ended up...b...blackmailing me...for something she found out....."

Penja looked at Hikali, and finally sighed, letting go of her. "Okay..." She said, looking at Tookei with a frown. The Redwing looked very bad, and would probably not make it on his own. Penja looked at the door. "If that's true... then Dee won't get Llamiis in time. She wants Tookei dead."

Kali looked at Penja before back at Tookei "Please don't die....." she pleaded quietly.

Penja hesitated, then moved to Tookei's side, picking him up carefully. "Come on, let's go." She said, standing and walking into the hall. Tookei winced, coughing more blood as he was moved.

Kali watched Penja worried but nodded "S...Should I...go ahead to...where Llamiis is?" She asked.

Penja hesitated, then nodded, "Hopefully he's still in his room." She said, walking slowly so as not to move the child too much. Her brows were creased, and she was frowning. It seemed that... maybe... she had been wrong.

Kali nodded and quickly ran ahead towards Llamii's room, pleading in her mind for him to be there. She went up to the door quickly knocking on it.

Llamiis looked up, then set his book down, once again with the binding facing upwards. Gomi was waiting at the door, wagging but not barking. Llamiis picked him up--if he didn't Gomi would make a break for it as soon as he saw an opening. Then he opened the door.

Penja made her way slower, still going up the stairs with Tookei, who was coughing more blood. She frowned, wondering if he'd make it.

Kali looked at Llamiis her face covered in worry "P...Please he needs help! Tookei is hurt he needs you! P...Please!!!"

Llamiis stared down at her, Gomi wiggling excitedly. Then he smiled and nodded. "All right, lead the way."

Kali nodded and quickly turned running back towards Penja and Tookei. Please hang on Tookei...don't die. She pleaded in her mind.

Penja walked out into the hall, spotting the two ahead and quickening her pace slightly. "Llamiis..." She said, still holding Tookei. He was unconscious but coughing, his shirt and pants covered in blood and he seemed in a great deal of pain.

Llamiis didn't look at Tookei for more than a couple seconds, though, instead he met Penja's eyes and gazed at her steadily.

Kali went over beside Penja looking at Tookei in worry "you can help him right?" She asked looking at Llamiis.

Penja frowned slightly, but couldn't hold Llamiis's gaze. "Heal him." She said, "...please..."

Llamiis didn't really listen, he was leaning over Tookei and pressing his hands gently against the Korbat's chest, Gomi having been dropped to the floor unceremoniously. Red light covered his hands.

Penja stood stone-still and more than a little stiff as she watched silently, looking towards Hikali sideways.

Kali was watching silently, holding her breath and tears still filling her eyes. She looked at Tookei, Please be ok.

Llamiis had identified the punctured lung immediately without even laying his hands on Tookei. The "symptoms" had been obvious. This meant he could get to work right away, which he did, repairing the bonds between broken ribs--slowly, while pulling the rib back up. As he did he worked on the lung from the outside in, which helped push the rib out. Gomi ran in confused circles before darting down the hall.

Tookei moaned slightly as the healing happened, Penja still as she could be so as not to bother Llamiis. She would have rather had the kid on a bed...

Kali bit her lip a little as she heared Tookei's moan and looked towards Llamiis then back at Tookei.

Llamiis continued to slowly build up the organ walls, draining the blood from Tookei's lung now. The bone was knitting better now, and he could solidify it without fear of collapse. He didn't seem at all interested in Penja or Hikali now.

Penja shifted slightly, noticing the pain easing from Tookei's face, his breathing less bubbly and restricted. He'd be fine... there was something else she was worried about now.

Llamiis sealed up the lung completely, focusing entirely on the bones now. Fixing something like this was significantly harder than purging poison since putting a few cells wrong could result in a cancer or something worse, like an extra organ or something.

As Tookei became calm and relaxed in Penja's arms, she looked up at Llamiis, he was still healing something, though she couldn't tell WHAT since Tookei looked quite fine by now.

Kali was silent as she waited. Tookei had told her about how he had been hurt so she was just going to wait.

Llamiis handled the bone carefully, finally putting it back together in a nearly flawless state, though he left a small nick in the rib. The blackhorn stepped back and smiled at Penja, who was staring at him.

Penja blinked, looking down, "Thanks. Can... you take him with Kali to your room? There's something I need to do." She said, handing the sleeping korbat to Llamiis.

The yurble raised his eyebrows, taking Tookei from Penja gently.

Kali sighed in relief as she saw Tookei not in pain anymore. With Llamiis done healing it meant he was alright...right? She blinked looking at Penja confused but said nothing.

"You can ask Kali what happened, I'll be back soon." She excused herself, as she turned and walked off down the hall with quickened pace.

Llamiis turned to Kali curiously, carrying Tookei back towards his room as he did so.

Kali looked at Penja then Llamiis, turning, she followed him back towards his room.

Tookei stirred slightly in Llamiis's arms, right hand twitching as he shifted, not quite making it to consciousness.

Llamiis didn't say anything, entering the room to lay Tookei down. "So what happened?" he asked.

Kali stood near the door looking at Llamiis silently for a minute biting her lip. "I...I...went to...take.....him his food. We...where talking...t...then...Dee showed up..." She started to explain looking at the ground.

Llamiis didn't say anything, but patted the end of the bed to indicate she could sit there. "What were you talking about?"

Kali looked up at Llamiis before back down to the ground not moving at all. "J...just...about what had happened...why...he was in the dungeon...." She said quietly.

"I see. And then what?" Llamiis felt he was talking to a younger child than he actually was, but that didn't bother him. It was just curious.

"Dee...came in...and...." Kali started to say biting her lip a little and her tail curling tightly around her. "She...she threw me to a wall...and...started attacking me. She...she said...she was going to...knock me out...a...and blame it on...Tookei....."

"I'm glad she didn't," Llamiis replied, smiling at her. "What did happen?"

"T...Tookei...he got...Dee away from me...but...w...when he...tryed to pin her down...she...she called for help...and Penja showed up...she...threw Tookei away from us......."

Llamiis raised his eyebrows. "I see."

"D...Dee...tryed to...convince Penja that...Tookei a...attacked me...and he turned on her...That...he had tricked me...." She said quietly. "B...But...Tookei...is ....nice..."

"Yes, he is," Llamiis nodded gently. Hikali was a distracted speaker, it seemed.

Kali said nothing else just standing where she was and looking at the ground.

Tookei's hand twitched again as his eyes opened, looking around in confusion, then alarm as he sat up quickly. "No! I did..n't..." He looked around, blinking. "What...?"

"Welcome back." Llamiis smiled warmly at the newly revived korbat. "How are you feeling?"

Tookei blinked eyes wide, "I..." He touched his side, looking down at himself, then back up at Llamiis in surprise. "Fine!"

Kali looked up at Tookei, glad to see him awake "I..I'm glad...you...are ok..."

Tookei turned to Kali, worried expression on his face. "What about you? Are you ok? What happened?"

Llamiis looked at Kali too, silent.

"P...Penja...a...and I...brought you...t...to Llamiis to...get healed..." She said quietly.

"What about that girl? She kicked you! Are you okay?" He asked, still rather confused. He'd been certain Penja would kill him on the spot after Dee screamed for help.

Kali nodded a little "I...I'm fine..." She said quietly. Truthfully she was still quite sore from the kick, but she didn't want to worry Tookei. "I...I c...convinced Penja that...D...Dee was lieing..." She said quietly.

Tookei relaxed slightly, looking back to Llamiis. "You can... really heal, can't you?" He said, in a slightly awed tone.

Llamiis smiled benignly. "Yes."

Tookei looked at Llamiis for a few seconds, then down, "Why didn't you heal me before then?"

Llamiis remained smiling. "Because I expected it would make Penja more likely to leave you be."

"Oh..." He blinked, that... made sense... though Penja had still handled him roughly... He looked up again, "What'll happen now? Where... where did Penja go?"

"I do believe you'll have to ask Hikali."

Kali bit her lip a little "I...I'm...not completly sure...b...but I think she...w...went to find...D...Dee...." She said quietly.

Tookei frowned, "She believed you though, right?" He turned to Hikali, "She knows I didn't... hurt you... that I'm not bad?"

Kali nodded "I....I think...so...."

The korbat's hand twitched, "Will I have.. to go back to the dungeon?" He asked quietly, looking at Llamiis.

Llamiis glanced at the door. "You will probably have to ask Penja, but I suspect so."

Penja reappeared at the door then, right behind Kali. "No, I've arranged a room on this floor." She replied, making the Korbat jump in surprise. Penja turned to look at Tookei, "You owe that to Hikali."

The blackhorn studied her briefly, silent.

Kali turned to look at Penja rather suprise at her sudden reapperance. But she sighed a little, that was good to hear.

Tookei looked from Penja to Kali. "Th..thanks..." He said, confused but greatful for the turn of events.

"I want to know one thing though, why don't you want to tell me how many are left of your clan?" Penja asked, eyes locked on Tookei. The Redwing looked at Kali, then down at the ground, hand twitching. "I... don't want my clan to die out."

Kali watched in silence now looking at Tookei then Penja and back to the redwing.

Penja was quiet, looking at Tookei. Finally she sighed, "Fine... Kali, why don't you go with Tookei to his new room, two doors down." She pointed in the direction.

Kali nodded a little looking at Penja then Tookei "O...Ok..." She said quietly "Y...You feel alright...right?" She asked wanting to just make sure.

Tookei nodded, smiling as he stood. Turning to Llamiis he bowed slightly, "Thank you." He said, before following Kali outside.

Kali looked at Penja "T...Thank you...f...for beliveing me....." She said quietly before walking out of the room and towards Tookei's room.

Llamiis watched the others leave, smiling. "That went well."

Penja nodded as she watched the two kids walk away, then looked back at Llamiis, "Though Dee begs to differ. I managed to catch her and she's in a detainment room at the end of the interrogation hall, but still insists Tookei's magic is beffudling us and that she's telling the truth."

Hali walked down the hall before stopping and slowly opening the door Penja had told her, so this was Tookei's room?

Tookei was beside Kali and he looked in as she opened the door. It was much the same size as Llamiis's, the bed was freshly made and a torch set in the torch-holder, the desk and bookcase empty. "Looks... pretty good." Tookei said in slight amazement.

Kali nodded looking around then at Tookei "A...Atleast...you have a better bed now..."

Llamiis smiled. "Of course." That, of course, meant he was probably to do something with her. In all honesty, it was a pity.

Tookei nodded, he felt excited, it seemed things were working out! He turned, hugging Kali impulsively, "And it's thanks to you!"

Kali blinked in suprise from the hug and tryed to back up a little, ending up tripping on her own tail and falling back towards the ground.

"Ah!" Tookei grabbed her, steadying her before letting go. "I.. uhm... sorry!" He said quickly, bowing slightly and scurrying into the room. "Sorry! I uhm, I shouldn't... sorry!"

Penja frowned with a sigh. "I want to know the truth, how much she had planned and why, and if it's just her or something deeper. I'm worried she'd actually hurt Hikali to get Tookei framed."

Kali blinked looking at Tookei and backed up a little "N...No...I...I'm...sorry....I...I just...Um...I...I just...."

Llamiis nodded. "I'll find out," he promised, wondering to himself if the Castle was always so dramatic.

Tookei looked at her, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have... um..." He was flushed, cheeks red as he turned away. "I just... got excited..."

Penja nodded, "Thanks... and uhm... I..." Penja paused, struggling, "I guess I was wrong about the kid." She said, "I'm still... a bit sore of the Redwings for how they used me."

Kali bit her lip looking at the ground "I...I und....understand that...I...its just...y...you suprised me...a...and its...hard for me...t...to...b...be that close...t...to others..."

Llamiis nodded, but didn't say anything.

Tookei nodded, "It's.. ok, I'm sorry." He said, looking at Kali sideways. "I didn't want... I don't want to scare you..." He sounded worried at that.

Penja shifted, "So anyways, it's still early, I got stuff to do, let me know what you find out." She aid, walking back a step into the hall.

Kali shook her head "I...It d...didn't scare me...I...It just...suprised me..."

Llamiis nodded. "Take care," he smiled. "And everything will turn out all right in the end."

Penja looked towards Tookei's room, then at Llamiis, nodding slightly, "I hope so." She said, then turned, walking away.

Tookei looked towards Kali, "O..ok... I won't... hug you... again, sorry, I didn't... think it'..d... bother you."

Kali nodded a little "T...Thank you..." She said quietly. "U...Um...I have to go...I still have work to do...b...but I'll try and bring you some food a little later...ok...?"

Tookei nodded, "Thanks. For everything." He said, smiling at Kali. He yawned, feeling tired.

Kali nodded "Y...your welcome..." She said turning and walking out of the room, lightly closing the door behind her.

Tookei fell back on the soft bed, reveling in the change, and lack of pain when breathing. Rolling over, he closed his eyes, quickly falling asleep.








Dee sat on the bench in the small detainment room, hugging her anckles as she propped her chin on her knees. Anger and hate reflected in her dark purple eyes, black in the dim lighting.

Llamiis opened the door, yellow eyes picking her out instantly. Gomi trotted in behind him--well-behaved for once. He always behaved in the situations where Llamiis believed it mattered. "Well, this was unexpected," the blackhorn commented casually, closing the door behind him. He was smiling, as always, and his eyes showed no grief at all.

The anger and hate flicked and was gone as the door opened, Dee looked up at Llamiis for a few seconds before she sat properly, turning towards him. "They're all being fooled! That Redwing DID hurt Hikali!" She said at once.

Llamiis smiled. "We shall see," he replied calmly.  "A boy with broken ribs is not much threat to anyone, though, hm?" He gestured for her to follow him and turned for the door.

Dee hesitated, looking uncertainly at him as he turned for the door. "Hikali's a weakling who wouldn't do anything to defend herself, he didn't have to move much to kick her on the floor!"

"I did not argue," Llamiis replied, turning to smile at her again.

Dee blinked, mouth open slightly. She closed it, looking down in a fluster, as she moved to follow him.

Llamiis waited patiently for her to come out, then shut the door behind her.

Dee walked beside Llamiis, still nervous, and insecure about what was going to happen next. Her eyes darted to the hall as if considering escape.

Llamiis kept an eye on her, walking with her towards the interrogation rooms. Like always, he'd avoid painful techniques unless she pushed him, but in this case, he suspected the threat might be more effective than the actual act.

"I..is Hikali alright?" She asked, trying to calm herself.

"Quite, actually, although she was quite concerned about our young redwing." Llamiis smiled at her reassuringly. "Who is quite well himself now, as a matter of fact."

Dee looked away, as anger flickered, "Is...that so." She murmured.

"Mmhmm," Llamiis responded, apparently oblivious. "He's quite lucky, really, he'd punctured a lung."

Dee frowned, "And he survived?" She said incredulously, "He looked pretty much dying when I left them." She murmured to herself.

"Oh yes, I healed him," Llamiis smiled at her. "He's quite lucky I was in my room, wouldn't you say?" They were nearly to the room, but he kept the same pace. No need to hurry.

Dee frowned, "I guess... of course you were there, I knew that. But I... didn't think he'd make it... Penja should have just left him, he's manipulating Hikali!"

Dee was distracted by the conversation and wasn't really paying attention to where they were heading.

Just as well, because throwing people through the door headfirst always ruined the effect. As it was, Llamiis opened the door and held it open for her. "I am fairly sure she will be all right--she's much tougher than she seems, I suspect."

Dee's eyes narrowed at that assessment, knowing it was only too true. She'd miscalculated Kali's reactions and feelings, and now... She stopped as she looked into the room, blinking. "I..I don't... think... that is.. necessary." She took a step away from Llamiis, tail flickering.

He had no tail, but he tilted his head a little and stared at her with his big gentle yellow eyes. "Is it?"

"Of... of course not! I didn't do anything wrong, that Redwing was hurting her, *I* saved her!" She backed up again.

Llamiis took her hand gently. "Then you should be able to hold up just fine," he told her, speaking as though to a nervous child.

Dee looked at Llamiis, then down at his hand, "Y..you do believe me right?" She asked.

Llamiis nodded.

Dee hesitated for a second, "Then why should I go in there?" She said, testing his grip on her, pulling her hand away slightly.

Llamiis' grip was surprisingly strong and he caught her the instant she pulled back. "Because not everyone does," he replied, smile stuill gentle.

Dee inhaled deeply, "A...alright..." She said finaly, walking towards the room with hesitant steps.

Llamiis closed the door gently, Gomi trotting gamely behind her, little tail wagging curiously.

Dee stood where she was, eyes darting around the room nervously. She said nothing though, standing very stiffly, though the tip of her spade tail twitched.

Llamiis smiled and wandered over to one of the tool benches, though he left the implements alone. "So what exactly happened?"

"I went down to the dungeons to see for... myself how the Redwing was... and when I was arriving I saw Kali had opened the door to his cel and was inside with him, and he was talking to her sweetly." She said, eyes glued to Llamiis's every move.

"But before I got to the door I heard Hikali cry out, and when I looked, he was over her, kicking her side and stepping on her tail." She said, inching towards the door. "So I pushed him away, but he managed to throw me to the ground and pinned me down, so I shouted for help."

Llamiis nodded, not saying anything.

She stood, gaining a bit more confidence as she continued, "We were lucky Penja was near, because she came in then, and pulled the Redwing off me and saved us." She said, "Hikali was really paniced and she started saying things... that it was *I* that attacked, but she was so obviously under some spell, she wasn't even stuttering! Everyone knows Hikali stutters!"

"She certainly does." Llamiis picked up a scalpel and turned it upside down. "The punctured lung is a curious detail, though, how did that happen?"

"Probably when Penja threw him off me." She said quickly. "He slammed into the wall and fell unconscious." She looked at the scalpel.

Llamiis lifted it and showed it to her. "This can be used in healing, too, isn't that interesting?"

She nodded nervously. "V..very..." She said, mouth dry.

He smiled ruefully. "Sorry, I find that sort of thing interesting. Where were we?"

"I don't... know much about healing." She said, excusing herself. "Th.. that was all really, Penja... Penja helped Hikali up but when she kept saying the Redwing needed healing she sent.. sent me to find you."

Llamiis raised his eyebrows. "And yet it was Kali who came and fetched me?"

Dee stammered, "I... thought maybe you had... gone out to the gardens... with Gomi."

Llamiis regarded her quietly. "Why the stutter, Dee?"

Dee flushed, backing up against the door. "I... maybe I went a longer route..." She said, "I didn't... want the Redwing... healed."

Llamiis looked shocked. "But if he died, there'd be no proof that it wasn't you!"

Dee blinked, "I...I hadn't... thought of that." She said nervously.

"It sounds like you haven't thought of a lot of things. Would you like some time to work on your story?" Llamiis was smiling broadly now.

"Wh...what do you mean!" She demanded, one hand behind her back, looking for the doorknob.

The interrogation rooms were pleasantly designed so that they locked automatically from the inside, though, and so it wouldn't have done her a whole lot of good. Llamiis sat on the bench and watched her fumble, waiting.

Dee found the knob and tried to turn it, blinking when she was unable to open the door, looking at Llamiis. "I told you the story, so let me go! I have a lot of work to do in the castle."

Llamiis shook his head. "Somehow I don't think I'm allowed. Why don't you wait here while I talk to Penja?" He stood and approached the door.

"T..talk to... P..Pe... You'll convince her I'm okay, right? You'll tell her I was right?" She said, moving from the door slightly.

"Of course." Llamiis smiled at her. "But I have to get out first."

"Yes... yes of course.." She moved away from the door, still right beside it as she smiled at Llamiis, relaxing.

Llamiis smiled back and padded to the door, opening it and slipping outside. Gomi, who had curled beneath the toolbench, did not move. The blackhorn closed the door, padding down the hall wilently.

Dee watched the door close before looking around, then at Gomi. She walked to the bench and sat down, hand pausing at her pocket before leaning on the bench. Inhaling deelpy she closed her eyes. 'Relax, Dee, everything's gonna be fine.' She thought to herself.

Gomi looked up at her and wagged his tail slightly.

Penja sat at her office, looking through a file thoughtfully. There was a bit less clutter than usual, just this one file out, the door of the office open.

Dee looked at Gomi, and smiled slightly, "Hey Gomi, I heard you like blood."

Llamiis knocked on the door to Penja's office, open as it was. It was more polite than merely barging in.

Gomi wagged harder and yapped once--although the understanding might have been limited, the enthusiasm was not.

Penja looked up and blinked, "Llamiis. How goes the interrogation. Over already?" She asked.

Dee grinned slightly, offering a hand for him to sniff.

Llamiis nodded. "Mmhmm."  
Gomi stretched his neck out curiously, nose wiggling in the middle of his face.

Penja leaned back, closing the file. "Has she admitted why she did it? Who she's working for if anyone?" She asked.

Dee pat Gomi's head, her other hand sliding to the scalpel on the table.

"Kill her," Llamiis replied calmly.

Gomi wagged his tail, panting happily at the attention.

Penja's eyes widened in surprise, "Why?"

Dee grinned, "I wonder what else he uses you for." She said, taking the scalpel and looking at it.

Gomi yapped at her, obviously uncomprehending but pleased to have her there for company.
 
The blackhorn shook his head. "She's doing it for her own means. It doesn't matter who she talks to."

Dee took her hand back, cutting the palm open with the scalpel. Cleaning and putting it back, she took a small vial from her pocket, puring a few drops onto her bleeding palm. After pocketing it, she smiled again at Gomi, "Look..." She said, offering the bloody open palm to the petpet.

Penja mused, then frowned, "Why should I kill her?"

Gomi leapt to his feet--as far as the petpet was concerned,  there was no need to think twice. Shoving his nose into her palm, he coated her hand with his slobber, eagerly lapping up the blood. His tail was wagging so hard that it was wagging HIM.

Llamiis made no move to elaborate with body language. "She's dangerous."

Penja's frown deepened. "Dangerous to who? And why?"

Dee smiled, letting the petpet lick for a few seconds before standing, "Good boy." She said, unhurt hand going up to take a small pin from her hair as she walked to the door, kneeling by it to start picking the lock.

Llamiis shook his head. "She's entirely emotionally driven, which makes her both unpredictable and freckless."

Gomi barked angrily and ran after her, nipping at her heels and growling fiercely.

Dee flickered her eyes at the petpet and back at the door, aiming a kick at him, "Oh go to sleep, Gomi." She said, twisting the tool in the lock.

Penja sighed, "I see...She looked at the file in front of her. "It seems her father died saving Frathomas from the Redwings, her mother and brother were then killed by them to retun the favor."

Gomi opened his mouth to bite her foot, but couldn't hang on--the canine petpet was flung backwards to land with a yelp on the hard stone floor, where he rolled painfully. His teeth left angry marks in Dee's foot.
 
Llamiis nodded. "Well then?"

Dee bit her lip, but was finally rewarded with a click of the door. She rubbed her foot, looking back at Gomi with a scowl, they had said it acted quicker than that! She straightened, opening the door and slipping out of the room, closing the door behind her as she looked up and down the hall.

Penja sighed, standing. "I had hoped things could be settled with some disciplinary action only, she's a good worker and does a lot of things around the castle." She said.

Gomi lay limp on the floor, the blood from Dee's foot staining his mouth slightly red.

"It's your call," Llamiis replied. "But I would advise against it."

Dee made her way quietly but quickly down the hall and taking the second flight of stairs down towards the kitchen limping slightly from Gomi's attack. Her bloody palm was balled in a fist and thrust inside her pocket, as she walked quietly avoiding the sentries. Surely He would help her escape!

Penja frowned, "Where is she now?"

"In the interrogation room, with Gomi." Llamiis spoke of the petpet as though he were a person. "Shall we?" He was still smiling, rather inappropriately for the situation.

"In the interrogation room, with Gomi." Llamiis spoke of the petpet as though he were a person. "Shall we?" He was still smiling, rather inappropriately for the situation.

Penja nodded, suddenly uneasy. "Let's go then." She said, walking towards the room.

Dee rounded a corner, the kitchen doors were ahead, she'd be fine! This had gone quite nicely despite it all, she though, opening the kitchen doors. She froze as she did though, two guards inside laughing with the ogrin cook. As soon as they saw her they frowned, "hey! I thought you..." Dee turned, fleeing back down the hall in a panic, the two guards running after her.

Llamiis padded after her, watching the back of her head as he walked. That had taken rather longer than he'd expected. 

It didn't take long to get back to the interrogation room, Penja taking her own key and opening the door, walking inside. She looked around, "Dee?"

The maid was running down the hall as fast as she could, the two guards shouting as they pursued her. She turned and fled up a set of stairs and into another hall, running smack into two more guards who had heard the shouts, grabbing her arms to stop her. "Woah there."

The instant the door was open, though, Llamiis shoved Penja aside and ran inside. The blackhorn dropped by his petpet's side, scooping the limp form up and turning the zomutt's face towards his.

Penja yelped in surprise, she hadn't seen the petpet at all, grabbing the door, she frowned, turning away she looked down the passageway, then ran to the staircase, raising the alarm.

Llamiis put Gomi back down almost immediately, laying him out on the floor and turning about abruptly to meet Penja out in the hall. He touched her shoulder as he passed, but didn't wait for her to follow.

Penja followed him, she'd heard the responding shouts as the alarm was sent and bounced back with the four guards that now surrounded Dee two floors down. "We have her!"

Llamiis glanced up at the ceiling. Good security. Good to know.

Dee was brought kicking and screaming up to where Penja and Llamiis were, and she quieted as she saw them, scowling as she vainly pulled at the grip of the two kougras holding her.

Llamiis walked up to her and studied her for a second.

Dee looked back at Llamiis with a glare. "You never did believe me did you?" She said lowly.

Llamiis reached out with one black-clawed and grasped Dee by the throat. It was very much a sloppy method, but he didn't tighten his grip just yet. "So where were you going?"

Dee's eyes flickered in fear as he grasped her, stiffening. "Th...they... should have... hel.." Her voice lowered to a whisper, biting down on her lip as she looked at Llamiis. Go on... kill me... she thought, it's what HE must have had planned when he invited those guards down to wait for me.

Penka walked up behind Llamiis, putting a hand on his arm, "Wait Llamiis." She looked at Dee, "Who's they?"

Llamiis left his hand where it was, but waited nonetheless.

Dee looked at Penja, but refused to answer. "Why would someone help you?" Penja said, frowning. "Does this have to do with the attempt on Aija and Hikali?" She said. Dee twitched, eyes narrowing slightly, but she kept her silence.

Penja wasn't the patient type. "I want to know what she knows." She looked at Llamiis, then turned to the guards, "Take her back to the interrogation room." Dee froze, "No!"

Llamiis raised his eyebrows. "Talk now, then?"

Dee looked at Llamiis, and shook her head, stubborn, as she reached for her pocket.

Llamiis reached out with his other hand and caught her by the wrist.

Dee struggled to free herself, or force Llamiis to strangle her, the guards still holding her upper arms on either side. Penja frowned as she watched, trusting Llamiis to be capable of handling her.

Llamiis wrenched her hand out, taking care not to crush the bones involved. He wanted to see what she was reaching for.

She winced, fist tight over the small vial that fit entirely in the palm of her hand. She glared at Llamiis, applying more pressure with her hand. The glass of the vial shattered, blood and liquid dripping down to the ground.

Llamiis eyed her calmly. "It won't knock you out while your blood is flowing out of body."

Dee trembled, hand still in a fist, then looked down at her hand, not responding.

Llamiis shook his head. "I can spare you a lot of unpleasantness if you talk now."
 
Dee shook her head, not speaking. She had stopped trembling, both bloodied hands in fists at her side.

Llamiis shrugged and headed down the hall, back towards the interrogation room.

Dee bit her lip as she was dragged along after him, heart sinking as they made their way up the stairs and to the interrogation room. Penja followed behind, eyes on the back of Dee's head.

Gomi was still stretched out on the floor when they got there, and Llamiis gently moved him to one side with his foot.

Dee had lifted her hand, the broken shards of the vial mixed with her blood. She brought her hand to her mouth, sucking on the blood and glass.

Llamiis didn't react, though he saw her take in some of the blood and potion mixture. He did gesture towards the table, though, smiling at the guards as though he were asking them to play cards with him.

The guards walked her up to the table and with some struggle got Dee on to it.

Llamiis didn't see any reason to waste time, and he took her wrists and bound her to the table. Cybunny legs would have to be broken to fit farther down, though, and he didn't want to do that with everyone else here.

Dee fumed through the whole process, not speaking but doing her best to not be agreeable. As Llamiis fastened her wrists, the guards stepped back, Penja at the door, hands crossed in front of her. "I take it you'll want privacy." She said, as Dee tried to kick Llamiis.

Llamiis stepped back out of Dee's range and smiled slightly. "That would be lovely, thank you."

She nodded as the guards walked outside, "Make sure to find out as much as possible." She said, stepping out herself as she glanced at Dee, then closed the door. Dee was huffing, but she was feeling the effects of the drug, eyes heavy. 'Bout time...' she thought, though she regretted not having been able to take the full, lethal dose.

Llamiis walked back over to her and saw the drug had taken effect. Well, that wouldn't be a problem. He reached out and grabbed her right leg in both hands, stretching the limb out against the table.

Dee winced, looking down a Llamiis as she tried to kick him with her left foot.

Llamiis lowered his head when he saw the movement, catching the blow with his horns. Then he pressed down on the long ankle joint, which crackled and snapped against the hard wood, flattening the leg.

Dee screamed, breath quickened even as her eyes closed, trembling slightly.

Llamiis didn't even flinch, locking her right leg in and seizing her left one. "Telling me what Penja wants to know would make this much easier on you," he commented, slamming said leg into the wood and breaking it in two places.

Dee's second cry was weaker, her body shutting down due to the drug, already half uncsonscious from both drug and pain, breath stopping. Her mind was coulded, but she kept herself from speaking, not trusting her mouth as she flailed.

Llamiis strapped her leg in, then crossed the room, picking up Gomi.

The drug finally kicked in, and Dee slumped on the table, her breathing to all apearances stopped, her chest still.









It was by now lunch time and Kali was in the kitchen picking up some food to bring to Tookei. She looked around a little nervously. Dee wasn't around...which was good. But she was still worryed...mainly when she had walked away and heared all the laughing in here...she had a pretty good guess Dee had said something to make them laugh at her.

Tookei was asleep on top of his bed where he'd plopped down earlier, and was sound asleep. The kitchen was quite empty, the ogrin cook that was usually a fixed sight not missing.

Kali was confused to why it was so quite but just got the food and walked out going to Tookei's room. She knocked lightly on the door and waited. If he was asleep...she would just leave the food and go back to work.

The knock barely registered on tookei's sleeping consciousness, turning on the bed and mumbling slightly.

Slowly Kali opened the door and looked around seeing Tookei asleep. Trying not to make a sound she came in and put the tray of food down then turned talking back towards the door. It was better to let him rest...

Tookei gave a whimper, twitching slightly in his sleep.

Kali stopped turning and looking back at Tookei confused when she heared the whimper. Was he still hurt?

Tookei shivered slightly, curling into a ball with a preoccupied face.

Kali bit her lip and slowly walked over towards Tookei worryed, was he...alright?

Tookei whimpered again, tightening in his sleep as if expecting a blow.

Kali watched him with worry and slowly brought a hand towards him but stopped a couple inches from his sholder hesitating.

Tookei yelped silently cringing.

Kali jumped back in fear drawing her hand away. She...hadn't even touched him...was...he ok?

Tookei turned, waking with a start, breathing rapidly. He looked around seeing Hikali as he relaxed, rubbing his eyes.

Kali wtached him in silence still keeping back a ways "A...Are you...a...alright...?" She asked quietly and worryed.

Tookei nodded, calming his breathing. "Y..yeah, it was just a dream." He said, smiling at her, "Sorry if I scared you."

Kali shook her head a little "A...are you...sure...you...s...seemed in...pain....." She asked quietly

Tookei nodded, holding is right hand, "I was... dreaming of my father... when he beat me for being incompetent." He said quietly

Kali looked at him saddly then towards the ground "I...I see..." She said then looking at the tray she had set down "I...I brought your...l...lunch..."

Tookei looked over and smiled, "Thanks!" He said, geting off the bed he walked over to the tray, eying the food before turning to her, "Is that... maid... what are they going to do with her?"

Kali shook her head a little "I...I really don't know..." She said looking at the ground and biting her lip a little. She really had never thought...Dee would do something like that...

He sighed, "Was... she always like that?" He asked, trying the food slowly as he looked at Kali.

Kali shook her head a little "I...I don't think so...she...she was never...actually nice to me...but....She had never...physically hurt me before......"

Tookei sighed, "I... wonder if it was because you were friendly with me..." He said, frowning.

Kali shrugged a little "M...Maybe...that was...part of it...but...she...never seemed to really like me..." She said quietly "And she...h...hatted...redwings..."

Tookei winced slightly, nodding. "But, why would she hate you? I can understand me but.... why you?"

"She...doesn't really like...the royal clan...cause they never helped her...after something bad happened and her family was killed....." Kali explained quiet still.

Tookei sighed, swallowing his food and drinking some water. "Well hopefully after this she won't bother you again."

Kali nodded a little, she was still really worryed though. She...still didn't know if Dee had told anyone...

Tookei continued eating quietly, "This food is realy tasty!" He said, trying to change the subject after seeing her worry.

Kali nodded a little "T...The kitchen's food...is normally good...I...I'm...gl...glad you like it..." She said quietly still looking at the ground.

Tookei turned to look at her, biting his lip. "Hey... cheer up?"

Kali looked at Tookei in silence for a minute before nodding "I...I should...g...get back to...work..."

Tookei nodded a little sadly. "I... I guess." He turned back to his food to hide the frown.

Kali bit her lip a little "I...I'm sorry...b...but....I...I sh...should...."She said going towards the door.

Tookei looked back at her as she reached the door. "Will you come back? When... you're done?"

Kali looked at Tookei nodding a little "S...Sure..." She said opening the door.

Tookei smiled a little at this, "Thanks."

Kali nodded before walking out of the room and lightly closing the door behind her.

The Korbat turned back to his meal, eating silently, wondering what he'd do now.

Kali just walked silently down the halls, then back to her work.





Almost five hours had passed since Dee had fallen into a death-like coma. To anyone else she would have passed for dead. But now she inhaled sharply as her body began to wake, groaning as she registered pain in her legs with the coming of consciousness. Wincing, Dee's eyes fluttered open groggily, disoriented.

She woke to a small black and purple zomutt on her chest, who barked when her eyes opened. Across the room, Llamiis had seated himself in a chair he'd brought down and had spent the past few hours reading. He looked up when Gomi barked and smiled, marking his page with a slip on wood. "Welcome back."

Dee winced at the bark, looking around to Llamiis. "L...llamiis..." She moved her arms slightly, as if testing her bonds, "...please... please don't do this..." She whispered pleadingly, "I'm not bad! I was just jealous!"

"I don't really care one way or the other," Llamiis explained, getting up. He was still smiling a little. "But Penja wants to know who 'they' are, so we're both here now. You can talk any time you'd like, of course."

Dee paused, looking at Llamiis. "A..are you going to kill me?" She asked in a small frightened tone.

Llamiis picked Gomi up off her chest and deposited the petpet on the floor. "Not if I don't have to."

Dee's frown quivered, "B..but you... were going.. to kill me... in the hall..."

Llamiis didn't answer, pondering tools.

Dee swallowed, trying to find a more comfortable position but the pain in her legs persisted. Her breathing had quickened, "How long... was I out?"

Llamiis didn't answer that either, finally settling on a scalpel and another kind of knife. Gomi had curled under the table, out of sight.

Dee looked at Llamiis and the instruments, licking her lips as she trembled. "How long... how long was I out?" She asked again.

Llamiis walked over and placed one black-clawed finger on her lips. "It's easier if you ask fewer questions," he told her.

Dee looked up at Llamiis with growing apprehension, finally pulling her head to the side and away from him.

Llamiis used her diverted eyes and took the collar of her uniform in one hand, slipping the knife underneath. Scissors would have been easier, but he didn't want a whole lot of tools lying around later. It took a bit of pressure to cut the cloth at first, but after that it was a simple matter of splitting the dress down the front, totally exposing Dee's body.

Dee cringed slightly at the sound of tearing clothes, eyes shut tightly as her chest heaved. There was a long scar across her stomach, made by a burning sword.

Llamiis paused. Well, that was unusual. "Where did you get that?" he asked, voice unchanged from fifteen minutes ago.

Dee looked slightly towards him. "Q...Qunryun..." She said softly, "I...I was in the... castle when she... killed... everyone..."

Llamiis nodded. "Thank you." He considered removing the ruined dress, but there was no need--it'd be unusable either way now. Turning, the Blackhorn walked down to the far end of the table. He hadn't done this in a while... Taking one of her broken feet in hand, he pressed it against the wood to keep her from squirming. His hands glowed red as he stopped bloodflow to the limb.

Dee cried out as the pressure intensified the pain, trembling as she bit hard on her lip, hands pulling at the restraints.

Llamiis ignored her, since it took concentration to cut a leg off at the joint. The act itself only took a few seconds, though, and when he was done he held up the leg for her to see.

Dee gasped, eyes tearing as she trembled more, short breaths coming fast as she stared at the leg. She couldn't speak, just staring frightfully.

Llamiis paused to heal up the stump--not that it would stop hurting, mind, but at least it would stop gushing blood from that artery. Then he stooped and tossed the leg to Gomi, who siezed it, recognising dinner. Then he took the knife to her other leg.

Dee's eyes followed the leg as far as she could, closing her eyes tightly as she felt Llamiis go for her other leg, bracing herself.

The knife sliced through the joint swiftly, and since Llamiis hadn't stopped bloodflow this time, there was a lot of blood to accompany it. One of the things he'd always been interested in was the way muscles kept twitched after the loss of a limb, as though looking for the rest of themselves. He sealed up the artery, though--if she bled to death now there'd be no way to revive her.

Dee cried out, tears flowing down her face, body trembling uncontrolably. "S..st...op...." She pleaded.

Llamiis raised his eyebrows. "Yes?"

Dee felt her head light, her body trembling in pain. "I don't... know... plea..se...I... I'm... just a... just a... maid..." She whined pitifully.

"Well, you must know something, otherwise you wouldn't have said it," Llamiis told her, still holding her blood-soaked leg. The sounds of soft growling and crunching could be heard from under the table.

Dee whined, "I ju..ust me..and my... friends.. th..the other... maids... fr..friends..." She tried to smile, still crying, "N..nothing...else..."

Llamiis smiled at her, setting her other leg on the tool bench. "You don't lie very well, you know."

Dee swallowed hard, blinking tears out of her eyes. "N..not lying... pl..ease... you... have to... believe me!"

"Do you have proof?" Llamiis asked.

Dee paused, "P..roof? I... I...went... I went to the... kitchen... I..." She trailed off, looking away.

"The kitchen? Why did you go to the kitchen?" Actually, come to think of it, that was an interesting point. Someone as resourceful as Dee would not have fled to the kitchen unless she had a very good reason.

Dee grimaced in pain, legs moving slightly as if trying to accomodate herself, "We... we... always... hang out... in the ki..tchen..." She whispered, "Just... friends..."

"Who are your friends?" Llamiis asked.

"Th..the other maids... we...we're all.. friends..." She continued, "All... all friends.." She whispered.

Llamiis walked over and patted her on the head. "I'm afraid that's not much help," he told her, "so I'm going to keep going." He padded back down to the table's end.

"N..n...no.." She whispered shrilly, legs recoiling away from Llamiis, torso bending away.

Llammis reacted with the speed he'd shown earlier when he'd grabbed her wrist, slamming his clawed hand down onto her stomach violently.

Dee coughed, gasping as she trembled, looking at Llamiis in fear.

Llamiis didn't seem interested in that, though, selecting the scalpel and taking it to the stump of her right leg, cutting through the skin to the muscle. He slid the blade up her thigh to below her stomach, splitting the skin and muscle open. His hands glowed as he did so, which might have accounted for the light bleeding that accompanied the incredible pain.

Dee's eyes opened wide as she jerked up, screaming as pain flared up her leg and stomach, hands pulling at her restraints as she tried to pull them free spastically.

Llamiis didn't bother to flinch. He'd heard screaming from both people he healed and people he tortured, it took more than a scream to burn out his ears. The flailing was a little more difficult, and he grabbed her other leg in an iron grip, trying to pin it down so he could repeat the procedure.

Dee trembled violently within his grip, hands opening and closing into fists, reopening the wounds in them as Dee shook in pain, unable to think clearly.

Llamiis ignored her struggles for now, slitting open the skin on her leg quickly. Then he let go for a second, going for the triangular flap of skin and working his claws under it. It gave a little and he slipped the scalpel under it to free it from the muscle, blood pooling around the tear.

Dee's eyes were disorbited by now, as she pulled her hands down on the restraints painfully, breaking skin on the metal edges, wailing louldy in pain. "C..c...caaaah!" She cried, almost as if trying to articulate something but unable to.

Llamiis stripped the skin from her legs slowly, taking great care not to damage it--he didn't take that level of care with her muscle, mind. He was holding back the blood, rerouting it to her vital organs instead of letting it try to reach the skin that wasn't there, though he didn't have any need to stop the bleeding entirely. Pausing, he glanced up with his yellow eyes.

Dee continued crying and wailing, eyes flicking back and forth as she slammed her hands downwards on the binds, "Cah... he... save... me... B...b...bl.." She descended to uninteligent babble.

Llamiis walked up to her head and put his hand on it, numbing her nerves briefly--or rather, stopping the input from her nerves to her brain, giving her the same effect as full-body paralysis.

The babble quieted, as Dee breathed in short halted gulps, blinking as the pain left her, confused.

Llamiis stared at her, yellow eyes oddly calm considering he'd been skinning her a few seconds ago.

Dee took a deep breath as her eyes finally focused on Llamiis. "Blackhorn." She whispered hoarsely, "In the kitchen..."

Llamiis' fingers tapped on his thigh rapidly, bloody claws making his fur sticky. "Blackhorn in the kitchen?"

Dee would have nodded but instead she blinked quickly, "H....he knows... everything..." Her mouth trembled, "P...please heal... heal me..." She whined.

"What is his name?" Llamiis asked quietly. Gomi was still under the table eating happily. He didn't get fresh meat like this very often.

"C..c..ca..." She paused, eyes trembling as she looked at Llamiis, biting her tongue almost as if some magic held her back from saying the name.

Llamiis waited. "Ca?"

Dee's eyes registered panic. "O..ogrin! He's... Blackhorn... ogrin..." She said quickly, "Cook... He... he... he w...was in... the kitchen... with the... guards..."

"Why would he save you?" Llamiis asked, taking care not to use a tone that would imply he wouldn't save her. Not that he WOULD at this point, but sometimes appealing to dignity worked better than appealing to fear.

"He... always helps... me... he... he said... he said... he would help me... get revenge... on the Royals..." Dee was crying again, "I gave him all... the info I... knew... of the... castle..."

"Revenge?" Llamiis raised his eyebrows. "For what?" He didn't care what she'd told him yet, though of course Penja would. He took a small rag from the workbench and wiped her face carefully.

Dee looked down, seeing herself she cringed, looking away. "They... they did nothing to... help me or my family when we were attacked... by the Redwings..."She paused, breathing deeply, letting her frustration out, "Mom... raped, my brother... tortured and both killed because... dad... dad saved Frathomas..."

Llamiis nodded. "I see..." He was to all appearances sympathetic--even sad. "What did you tell him?"

"Anything I saw, we'd... gossip in the kitchen too where he could hear... so what I didn't know... I'd gather from the other maids..." She seemed to be quite willing to open up now, as if a weight was lifting from her shoulders. "When Kali was assigned instead to the Prince and Queen it was harder... so I... I went myself, I sneaked... in to... read their papers..."

"I see. That was clever of you." Llamiis let her have a compliment, since she seemed to be wanting positive reinforcement now.

Dee's eyes indicated she liked that, "I told him... of the Prince's affair with Kali... and Drestal..." She said, "and about... about the Queen's abandoned kid..."

"Abandoned kid?" Llamiis had never even heard of that.

She blinked again, "The queen had another kid, a pure... pure Royal blooded demon girl, she was... was taken by the father and they left. He... he was really interested in her."

"In... the Queen?" Llamiis had the good sense to look surprised.

"N..no... The ogrin was... interested in the baby... he had them... followed..." She corrected.

"Oh, I see." Llamiis felt it would have been easier to sit down and talk to her so he was less imposing, but dragging the chair over would have interrupted too much. "what for?"

"I d..I don't know." She said, fear flickering again at her inability to respond, "He didn't tell me much, just... listened and asked about what I'd seen."

"And you're sure he never mentioned why he wanted this... or why he wanted to work with you?" Llamiis already planned to work more information out of her, the question was not whether but when.

Dee paused, debating with herself, "A..are you going t..to heal me?"

"What I can, yes." Llamiis looked mildly contrite.

Dee stuttered slightly, she was aware she was missing her feet, but... "Y... you'll help me? I.. I don't.. I don't want... to die..."

Llamiis nodded. "No one ever does... I'll help you."

Dee smiled slightly, "I.. he wants... he said he'd use the information to... to help me revenge against the Royal Clan."

"So you've told me," Llamiis smiled at her, "but what does HE want?"

Dee liked her lips, "I... I'm not... I'm not sure." Her eyes flickered away.

"No?" Llamiis sighed almost regretfully, turning down towards her feet.

Dee felt her heart sink, if that was possible in her current paralysis, and she stuttered, "He s.. he said something... about a new ruler..."

Llamiis stopped short and turned around--rather rapidly. "A new ruler?"

Dee frowned slightly, suddenly nervous. "Maybe."

Llamiis looked thoughtful. Then he turned away again, heading back down to the end of the table.

Dee's eyes were glued on Llamiis, "Y.. you said you'd help me!"

Llamiis looked up. "There are certain things I have to know first," he explained, shaking his head.

"L..like what?" She asked, nervousness growing.

"Like what you and he mean by New Ruler." Llamiis met her eyes calmly.

Dee's lips quivered, "I..I'm not sure what he plans!" She said, "He didn't... he didn't tell me!"

"What he plans? Is he the one planning this New Ruler?" Llamiis rather suspected this was not the case, but he didn't say anything.

"Yes!" She said quickly.

"Yes?" Llamiis raised both eyebrows, making it clear he knew she wasn't being honest.

"I..I mean..." Dee looked away, swallowing hard. "I think... I think he was... working for someone else."

"Do you know anything about this other person?" Llamiis' tone was gentle. "If you know anything else, it would help a lot." And the more I can help you, he added silently.

"He never said much..." She said silently, "But he... he sometimes... referred to a... a Mentor."

That could mean too many things. But she'd been getting more and more vague, but not in a deliberate way. It meant she was dredging up rarer and rarer bits of information, which meant that this line of questioning was over. He walked back up towards her and paid his hand on her forehead. "Try to relax," he recommended as his hand began to glow. As his magic soaked in, he began to cut off the blood flow to her brain.

Dee inhaled deeply, taking the glow as healing, she relaxed, "He did say... he'd leave... if... this...happened..." She said as her brain became foggy. "And leave... a pre..se.." She trailed off, eyes closing.

A present? Llamiis didn't bother to wake her to explain. He expected telling Penja would be more useful. The blackhorn waited the requisite amount of time for the sharptail to be thoroughly dead, then lifted his hand away, crouching to look at Gomi beneath the table. Gomi was bloody and happy, full of Dee's leg.... he wouldn't want to go anywhere for a while. With this in mind, Llamiis wiped his his hands on a rag, grabbed his book, and left.









Hikali had gone and picked up her lunch after giving Tookei his and was now in her room, sitting on the ground beside her bed and sharing her lunch with a very happy Dandan. Half way through eating she had drank the water that had been with her lunch and pretty quickly her vision had blured and she fell unconsious. Espoir quickly went beside his master worryed squeeking and nipping at her ear but Kali didn't react. The Dandan then noticed Kali wasn't breathing and started squeeking louder running around a little and starting to panic not understanding what was going on. Luckly Kali had left her door open a crack while they where eating and he squeezed through the door and out into the hall, calling out louder and running in a circle with worry.

Tookei had finished his lunch and had found himself sitting in a pretty much bare room with nothing to do. It had taken a while, but he'd finally decided to go out and walk around, perhaps find something to pass the time, or find Llamiis to talk to. When he didn't find the Blackhorn in his room, he'd gone on down the halls, investigating. He was quite surprised to hear the calls of a petpet, finally turning a corner and spotting the dandan running in circles. "Who're you?"

Espoir looked up towards the korbat squeeking in worry and running over to him. He grabbed onto Tookei's pant leg tighting in his mouth pilling him a little towards the room before letting go and running back over to the door looking at Tookei. Squeeking again, worry filling the tone of the squeeks. It was easy to tell he wanted Tookei to follow him...and quickly. He then ran back into the room and over to Kali sqeeking more as he looked at her still form.

Tookei frowned, quickly following the petpet into the room... and freezing. "Kali!" He yelled, running to her side he stretched her out on her back, shaking her slightly, "Kali? Kali answer me!" He said worriedly, one hand on her chest, trying to feel her breathe, or her heart beat.

Kali didn't react at all, she wasn't breathing and her heart beat was already weak and quickly fading. Espoir squeeked again, quieter this time but just more worryed. He had gotten someone...but would he be able to help his master?

Tookei's panic rose at this, looking around, what had happened?? Why... he turned back to Kali, what mattered now was saving her! But how could he... "Llamiis... I have to find Llamiis!" He said, standing and going for the door, but pausing with one hand on the edge. He'd been looking for Llamiis for a while now... what if it were too late? He looked back, trembling. Hikali was dying... he couldn't do anything to save her... Tears fell down his face, "Kali... Kali don't die? Please don't..." He walked back to her side, falling on his knees on the ground, "Please wake up?"

Kali didn't even seem to hear Tookei and didn't move at all. Espoir whimpered and squeeked in worry nipping Kali's ear again. Something he normally did to wake her in the morning. But it wasn't waking her up this time. He squeeked again rubbing his head agenst Kali's as the dandan tryed desperatly to wake her up.

Tookei's desperation rose as Kali's heart failed. He bit his lip, he really was useless, like his father said... He cried out, falling on folded hands on top of Hikali's chest, crying brokenly, if only... if only he had powers... if only he could... heal like Llamiis... As he cried, his hands, now on Hikali's chest glowed with a faint reddish gold light.

Espoir squeeked sadly as he looked at Kali, his ears pinned back on his head as he rubebd agenst her head a little more. He wasn't even paying attention to Tookei. He had found someone...and they couldn't help his master. He whimpered a little curling up beside Kali's head.

As the glow began, information seemed to grow in his mind, Hikali had been poisoned, the poison was acting to keep her from breathing, eating at her heart, flowing to her brain... "No!" He shot up, hands still on Kali's chest as a burst of magic entered Hikali, strengthening her loosing heart.

As the magic entered Kali her heart beat strengthened agenst the poison but she still didn't move at all. Espoir looked up at Tookei at his shout squeeking quietly confused and blinking. Was...he helping Kali?

Tookei wasn't sure what to do next but he wanted to save Hikali... he kept the flow of energy, as he tried to coax the poison covering her lung and heart, while stopping it from reaching her brain. He closed his eyes, brows furrowed as he worked.

After a little bit Kali moved a little as she took in a shallow and pained breath. The effects of the poison where still great, but she had finally moved atleast a little from when Tookei had been led in by her dandan. Espoir's head shot up as he saw Kali move and squeeked in worry again spinning in a circle once before looking at Tookei then his master.

Tookei's eyes were still closed, as he worked his magic, gathering the poison from the lungs and heart, then guiding it back up Kali's esophagus, making her cough up the poison.

Kali moved a little more before she started coughing and thanks to Tookei getting rid of the poison that had invaded her body. Espoir's ears pirked up more as he looked at Kali sueeking once loudly.

Tookei's hands were still on Kali's chest, he was trembling from the effort, there was still some left, and her lungs were still ravaged by the poison. He sent another burst of energy, repairing the damaged tissue and purging the last of the poison.

Kali coughed again before gasping for a breath, unconsiously trying to fill her lungs back up.

Tookei smiled slightly as she inhaled, further helping her body recover from the lack of oxygen, strengthening her heart with more energy. Finally deciding he had done what he could, the glow stopped. "H...Hikali?"

Kali was still breathing hard and taking in deep breaths. She didn't wake, but atleast she was alive. Espoir squeeked happly running around the two before climbing up onto Tookei's sholder and happly rubbing agenst his face in thanks before licking his cheek a little.

Tookei smiled slightly, breathing hard himself, brow sweaty, hands trembling. "Sh..she'll be... alright..." He said, looking at Hikali he grabbed her gently, taking her to her bed and depositing her on it.

Espoir jumped off of Tookei and onto the bed beside Kali squeeking and rubbing agenst her head happly before curling up beside her. Kali moved a little as she felt Tookei then Espoir touch her. Tail twitching before curling up around her.

Tookei smiled, "You're... still... not... liking any con..tac....t" His voice faded as his eyes closed, falling sideways, collapsing on the ground.

Espoir's head jerked up as he looked down at Tookei squeeking in worry and jumping off the bed beside him. Was he hurt now?!

Tookei was most solidly asleep, breathing calm and with a calmed look on his face. He'd fallen rather abruptly though, one winged hand twisted awkwardly under his body.

Espoir squeeked a little as he grabbed on lightly to Tookei and tryed to pull him a little, atleast to try and help him move into a better position in his sleep. The small dnadan knew he couldn't do much. But he was trying.

Tookei twitched slightly, as the dandan managed to topple him onto his back, freeing his arm to one side, sleeping stretched out on his back.

Espoir squeeked happly before climbing back onto the bed and curling up beside Kali and falling asleep.








Penja was back at her office, door closed this time, a stack of files beside her and a few to her left, as she read through one slowly and carefully.

Llamiis pushed the door open, face pleasant despite the blood in his grey mane. "Hello again."

Penja looked up,, grabbing her wine glass to drink from it as she did. "Oh, that was longer than I expected." She said, leaving the glass on her desk, as she sat back, "What have you learned?" She asked, looking at her untouched lunch, having left it aside for reading through the files.

"Is there a blackhorn cook here?" he asked, leaning his horns against the door.

Penja nodded, "Yes, Carroncio, the head of the kitchen...." Her eyes widened slightly, looking at Llamiis.

"I think he's leaving us a present." Llamiis raised his eyebrows significantly.

Penja stood immediately, then frowned, cursing, "You've been in there for over six hours... why did you take so long?" She said almost angrily, realizing the cook had had ample time to flee, "Do you have any idea where he might be heading?"

"No," Llamiis replied, turning to leave. "But that's secondary right now, I think."

Penja frowned, "What? Why?" She went around her desk, intending to follow Llamiis.

"A present," Llamiis repeated. Then he turned to look at her, still smiling incongruously. "Don't you want to know what it is? I do."

Penja blinked, a present? She drank and left the gladd on her desk, shaking her head, "What do you mean?"

"From Carroncio," Llamiis stopped and waited. "I do believe he's leaving one. Or has left it."

Penja blinked, "And what present would he leave?" She asked, still rather confused.

Llamiis knew here that she wouldn't move until she had enough information to justify the decision to herself. "Carroncio was receiving information from Dee," he told the Bruce, "And he promised to help her have revenge against the Royal Clan--I will explain in full once we find what he... left."

Penja nodded, "To his room then?"

Llamiis nodded back.

Penja walked out into the hall quickly leading the way down to the lower levels of the castle, past the kitchen and to Carroncio's room. She paused at the door, looking at Llamiis, "What do you expect?"

Llamiis glanced up at the ceiling. "Anything," he told her, which was the same answer as nothing at all.

Penja frowned, "Right..." She shook her head, opening the door slowly, peeking inside. But nothing happened. Opening wider, Penja tried to focus. Why was she seeing so... Penja seemed to loose her footing, falling forward into Carroncio's room.

Llamiis lunged after her, trying to grab her by the collar before she broke her face.

Llamiis was quick enough to barely catch the collar, Penja gave a choked cough as she fell to her knees, hanging forward on the collar, her eyes closed as she sagged further.

Llamiis dragged her back--almost threw her, really, using his greater bulk to his advantage. He hadn't the time to be perplexed yet.

Penja was thrown back rather easily, limp now, unresponsive and not breathing.

Llamiis laid her flat and put his hand on her chest, where it glowed, as he tried to get an idea of what was going on.

The poison had flowed through her body quickly, and had had time to act. Penja's chest was entirely compromised, her lungs dying, her heart slowing with it's last beats. The trace of poison began at her mouth and hadn't flowed much farther down her body, having just consumed it a few minutes passed.

Llamiis picked up on this instantly, and his mind shot back to the last thing he'd seen at her beak--the glass of wine. Helpful but not. He thrust energy into her heart, forcing it to beat for a few seconds longer as he chased down the poison in her bloodstream.

Her heart responded, beating again, a bit stronger, her lungs completely shut down. Some of the poison had already managed to reach up towards her brain, beginning to interfere with it's processes.

Llamiis' magic slid out of her heart and into her lungs, leaving just enough behind to keep the giant muscle beating. He felt what was happening to her brain, but couldn't do anything to stop it except seal it off--a stopgap solution at best.

Penja inhaled weakly as the magic shifted, lungs trying their best to inject oxygen into her system, brows furrowed.

Llamiis plunged more magic into her lungs--a ridiculous amount, actually, but brain damage was the one kind of damage he couldn't undo. If he could fix her lungs he could purge everything else too.

Penja inhaled again, lungs working, pumping once more thanks to the magic, poison loosening it's grip on them as oxygen flooded into her system. Penja's mouth opened as her body tried to make up for the lack of oxygen by inhaling deeply.

Llamiis left his magic in her lungs and started searching out the poison with the rest of it. It was a little like a game of tag. As long as everything was working he had time.

The poison had spread from Penja's esophagus into her bloodstream, most to heart and lungs and some towards her brain, though Llamiis had stopped practically all of it from reaching her brain. It wasn't too copious though throughout her system, as she'd only taken one sip of wine before departing.

Llamiis circled the poison with his magic and crushed it, literally smothering it with raw healing energy. It was a crude but efficient trick he'd learned--the will to live in a victim let healing magic have the upper hand most of the time.

The poison didn't have much chance at this, obliterated by Llamiis's magic, Penja quietly breathing to recover the lack of oxygen.

Llamiis pulled out the remaining magic--one of the nice things about healing magic is that it was one of the few kinds of magic you could have back when you were done with it. (Well, what hadn't been actually used up, anyway.) That had taken a bit longer than he'd expected. Nice present.

Penja groaned, eyes flickering open as she shifted slightly, one hand immediately going up to her head.

Llamiis watched her--looking for signs of impairment. He could ask her a few questions to clarify, but he didn't want to alarm her too much yet.

Penja winced, and finally managed to focus her eyes on Llamiis. "Wh...what happened?" She croaked, "I feel... like my... head was... bashed in."

"Do you know what time it is?" Llamiis replied, which wasn't much of an answer.

Penja blinked, confused, "Uh... not sure... uh... late?" She tried sitting up, a wave of nausea hitting her as she did.

Llamiis put his hand on her chest, holding her back. "Slowly," he advised. "Can you clap your fins?"

Penja scowled, ok that was just ridiculous, and it was so hard to concentrate with the pounding in her head.. She did lay back on the ground though, it moved less. "What happened?" She asked again, trying to rub her temples and almost poking an eye out. "Ow..."

"You got a present," Llamiis smiled at her. If her short term memory was working, she'd get it.

Penja blinked, present... p... She blinked again, eyes widening, "Poison?"

Llamiis smiled at her. "Precisely! Good to see your memory is functioning." Her long term memory was unlikely to be affected, and if it was damaged, it would take a bit more work to tell. "Welcome back."

Penja frowned, angry at herself for not thinking of it before drinking the wine, but suddenly glad she hadn't had lunch when it had arrived. She cursed then, trying to stand suddenly, "Hkal..li..." She said, falling on her side, disoriented.

Llamiis watched her tumble over. "That's not good." He took her fin in one hand, offering to help her up. If this imbalance was permanent, it would make her an effective cripple.

Penja groaned slightly, letting Llamiis help her to her feet, leaning on the wall, eyes closed. "Llamiis, he may have piosoned Kali's water." She said, cracking one eye open, "down those stairs, her room's the third door to the left."

Llamiis nodded. "All right." It wlould actually be useless--if she was already poisoned, she'd be quite dead by now. "Sit down for now, I'll be back." He turned and walked--not ran--down the hall and descended the stairs to disappear from sight.

Penja nodded, sliding against the wall to a sitting position, hoping she was wrong.

Llamiis approached the door and peered inside, hoping the body would at least be in an obvious place.

Hikali was stretched out on her bed, a dandan by her side, and a familiar black and fiery red Tookei lay on the ground next to it.

Kali was breathing normally in her sleep, her tail twitching a little as it curled around her a little. Espoir wasn't nearly as asleep as his owner. He woke and blinked a little looking towards the door noticing Llamiis. He stood hissing a little towards the yurble and keeping beside Kali protectivly.

Llamiis studied both Tookei and Kali from the door... they were both breathing. He ignored Espoir and entered the room, kneeling by Hikali's side to check her health.

Espoir got between Llamiis and Kali angerly, he had no idea what had hurt Kali and he didn't want anything else to happen to her.

Tokei was soundly asleep on the floor, exhausted from what he'd done and didn't even stirr at the Dandan's hiss.

Llamiis was stopped before he could put a paw on Hikali. Loyal petpets were a nuisance. He reached out, trying to lift Espoir by the scruff of the neck so he could get him out of the way.

Espoir hissed more and when Llamii's hand got closer he quickly tryed to bite the hand.

Llamiis swept his hand out of the way, then swept it back to knock Espoir aside.

Espoir yelped a little as he was knocked away and fell of the bed. Kali moved a little in her sleep hearing her petpet's yelp but still didn't wake up.

Llamiis took the opportunity to put his hand on Hikali's chest and check on her.

Hikali's lungs, heart and esophagus were still rather worse for the wear, but the poison was all but gone, some dredges of it still clung to her lungs in small corners.

Kali moved a little more, even in her sleep she didn't take contact with others well. Espoir sat up groweling angerly at Llamiis and biting his leg.

The blackhorn frowned, letting some of his magic trickle into her body to clean up the corners and cobwebs. Someone had done a rather sloppy job. He jerked away when Espoir bit him, though, and fell back (though not down).

Espoir let go of Llamiis and quickly climbed back onto the bed looking at the blackhorn angerly and hissing more.

Llamiis ignored Espoir and moved onto Tookei, putting his hand on the Korbat's forehead. Espoir growled at Llamiis but didn't move from beside Kali.

Tookei was fine, albeit he'd exhausted every ounce of his magic in healing Hikali, knocking himself out quite profoundly. Llamiis shook his head. He'd have to take credit for Tookei's power this time--and keep a closer eye on the Redwing in the future. More importantly, though, stress-related discovery usually limited later strength because of the associated trauma. That was a shame. He released a small amount of magic into Tookei, not to revive him, but to keep the drain from being too severe.

Tookei's eyes flickered, but he didn't wake, shifting slightly on the floor to a more comfortable position. Good enough. Llamiis shut the door behind him, leaving the kids to their rest.

Espoir huffed a little as he watched Llamiis leave before relaxing and curling up beside Kali's head again.

Penja had gotten back up to her feet, leaning heavily on the walls she'd managed to find a maid, having her check the other Royals, as well as the two kids in Ceranda's room. She sent guards to check the kitchens and Carroncio's room for more poison or anything else that could be dangerous, and was trying to make her way up the stairs to her office without much luck, falling again to the ground.

Llamiis met her on thse stairs, and offered his clawed hand as assistance. "She's quite alive, though a little worse for the wear." As close to a report as Penja was likely to get from him.

Penja sighed in relief, accepting his hand, though she missed his hand on her first try. "She was poisoned too?" She asked, "You healed her?"

Llamiis nodded as he pulled her up. "She'd already begun to suffer some of its effects by the time I reached her... I'm not sure how well she'll fare." Which was shorthand for 'she may have brain damage or poor constitution,' but he didn't expect Penja to get all that.

Penja frowned, "She can have time off till she feels better." She muttered, one hand on the wall as she steadied herself. "I feel like I've got to walk on a ship in a storm." She muttered, closing her eyes and wincing.

Llamiis shook his head. "You might feel that way for a while... would you like me to carry you to your room?" He'd take her piggyback if he had to.
 
Penja groaned at the inconvinience, but didn't seem inclined to just rest. "I need to finish going through those files and alert Crizoia." She said, shaking her ehad only slightly, "I'm going to my office."

"You are not," Llamiis told her, "because I won't let you. I can alert Crizoia and bring the files to you if you'd like, but what you really need is bed rest."

Penja inhaled as if ready to retort, but another wave of nausea made her rethink it. She sighed, looking down, "Okay... my room then."

Llamiis nodded and lifted her up onto his back, taking care to avoid hitting her with his massive black horns. The walk to her room was uneventful, and he unloaded her onto her bed carefully. "I'll be right back," he told her, smiling. He was still stained with Dee's blood, which wasn't really an attractive thing to be, but he could clean up after he handled her files...

Penja lay back on her bed, closing her eyes with a sigh as Llamiis left. What a mess... and all seemed to have happened when that blasted Redwing had arrived... she frowned.

Penja lay back on her bed, closing her eyes with a sigh as Llamiis left. What a mess... and all seemed to have happened when that blasted Redwing had arrived... she frowned.

Llamiis entered Penja's office, having made certain that there was no one nearby. Bending down, he retrieved the profile he'd hidden under the cabinet before grabbing the files off Penja's desk. He shuffled the stolen file to the bottom before leaving the office, closing the door behind him. Too bad he didn't have the key to lock it. Then the Blackhorn went to his room, slipping the profile he'd taken behind the blooks on his shelf before walking back to Penja's bedroom, her files nestled carefully in his arms.

Penja had fallen asleep despite her initial need of working to sort everything out, exhaustion and her headache overriding her consciousness.

Llamiis smiled, backing out of the room. He'd hold onto her files for now--better not to let anyone who walked into her room have the chance to take them.







Hikali hadn't moved much for a while now but finally stured in her sleep. Espoir woke up suprised, blinking and squeeking a little as he stood. Slowly Kali opened her eyes looking around confused and blinking. What had happened?

Tookei was still out on the floor, curled over on his side, shivering slightly as he slept on the cold stone floor.

She then slowly moved and pulled the blanket off of her bed and lightly onto Tookei. She didn't understand what he was doing in her room...or how he even knew where her room was, but sleeping on the ground like that wouldn't feel to nice.

Tookei mumbled in his sleep, shifting as the blanket covered him and sneezing.

Kali blinked suprised and for a moment a slight smile flickered on her face though it quickly vanished. She stood slowly looking around confused, what time was it? She still had work to do. Espoir watched Kali confused before jumping off the bed, landing on Tookei then jumping off of him.

"Oof..." Tookei stirred, eyes opening as he looked around in confusion. Where was he? Sitting up he rubbed his eyes with a yawn, blanket slipping off his shoulders as he did.

Kali was standing beside the bed and blinked turning a little to look at Tookei "G...G...ood...m...mor...ning..." She said her voice even quieter then normal.

Tookei looked around at Hikali, blinking. "Hikali!" He said, smiling widely, "You're awake!"

Kali nodded a little "Y...yes... I...am... wh...at... ha...ppened?"

Tookie got up, grabbing the blanket as he did, and leaving it on her bed, "I don't... I don't know, I got lost and was wandering around the halls when I saw this fellow here." He pat Espoir, "And he led me to your room. You were unconscious  and not breathing..."

Kali blinked looking at Tookei in suprise "N...not...b...breath...ing...?" She asked shocked. She had just been eating lunch...She thought looking towards the food that had ben left half done. Espoir squeeked proudly watching the two.

Tookei nodded, "Yeah, I... I thought you would die... I was so worried, but then... something..." He blinked, frowning slightly as he looked down at his twitching hand. "Something happened... I can't... I can't remember well..."

Kali stood there for a second in suprise "H...How...am...I...a...awa...ke...then...?"

He looked up, "I...I'm... not sure... I was...I wanted Llamiis... I wanted to find Llamiis to heal you, but I... don't really know what happened..." He shook his head, smiling slightly, "But you're fine now! He must have come, he must have saved you!"

Kali nodded a little "O...Ok...." She said looking around a little. "I...I still...d...don't...u...under..s....stand...w...why did...t...that.....happ...en...?"

Tookei stood, walking over to her half-finished lunch, and the glass of water. "I think you were poisoned..." He said, turning back to her, "I suggest not finishing this and letting someone deal with it."

Kali nodded a little "O...Ok...S...Should ...we.... g...go...tell ...someone....?"

Tookei bit his lip. "I... think so, but I should probably go back to my room... I don't... wanna get in trouble..."

Kali blinked confused not really understanding why he would get in trouble. "I...I...guess....."

Tookei smiled slightly, "You know I wouldn't poison you but... I dunno what Penja may think yet."

Kali bit her lip a little "O...Ok...t...thank you...for...c...coming here...when...E...Espoir...called you..."

Tookei nodded, holding back from hugging her only barely. "I'm... glad you're alright..." He said quietly, turning to the door.

Kali nodded "O...Ok...I'll...c...come and...s...see you...l...later a...alright?"

Tookei nodded, and walked out of her room, closing the door behind her. He leaned on it, looking down at his hands. What... HAD happened? He felt really tired and weird though...

Kali stood where sge was for a minute as Espoir climbed up onto her sholder. She pet the Dandan lightly "I...I'll....be...r...right back..." She said quietly walking towards the door and Espoir jumped off her onto the ground.







Llamiis had tucked the files under his arm to carry them to Penja's--he didn't see anyone on the way to her room, which was odd but not unpleasant. Raising one black-clawed fist, he knocked lightly on the bruce's door.

"Come in." Penja's voice sounded alert, though bothered. As he entered, he could see Penja propped up in her bed, leaning back on pillows with a dour look on her face.

Llamiis raised his eyebrows at her expression. "Is something the matter? You look preoccupied."

Penja sighed, "Oh it's you..." She frowned, "I can't even sit at my desk without getting dizzy, I almost knocked myself out on the edge just getting to it." She said with a moan. "Is there nothing you can do about this?"

Llamiis frowned. "That depends on a lot of things--mostly on the cause." The blackhorn set the files on her table, taking care to keep them neat. "I brought you your files, by the way."

"Thanks..." She said, noting the frown on the ever-smiling face. He'd looked rather worried when she woke the day before after the poisoning. "How serious was this poison?" She asked warily.

"You're lucky you can see and sit up," Llamiis told her frankly. "I wouldn't push your body too hard."

Penja frowned, "...I see..." She looked at the door, "What about Hikali?"

"I don't know," he replied, shaking his head. "Her petpet was a little... aggressive."

"Espoir? He's quite intelligent, just have to tell him you're there to help and not harm..." She said with a worried tone. "But you did heal her?"

Llamiis smiled faintly. "I did, although I was later than I was for you." For someone so interested in her files before, Penja was quite disinterested in them now.

Penja sighed, "I hope she'll be okay..." She said, looking at the files, then back at Llamiis. "What else did you uncover from the questioning? Carroncio left as we thought, no one knows where he was going and none of the guards saw him leave." She said in an annoyed tone. "Did she implicate anyone else?"

Llamiis raised his eyebrows. "Just the cook," he informed her. "And although she was very interested in revenge... his motives strike me as perhaps more significant." He was twirling his grey mane around his claws in thought, black teeth visible as he talked.

Penja blinked, "I'm listening?"

"A new royalty," Llamiis replied, still working his fingers through his hair.

Penja's expression darkened, "She didn't mention who this new royalty would be?" She asked, "I take it being her she wouldn't want the Redwings there, and after the massacre they're not exactly a best candidate."

"Hardly," Llamiis replied, though he didn't say anything else.

Penja sighed, looking again at the file, "Did you look through them?" She asked off-handedly.

"No, should I have?" Llamiis turned his yellow eyes to her curiously. Of course he'd looked through them, but very carefully, so as not to leave any evidence he'd done more than carried them around.

Penja sighed, "Perhaps. I think we'd best work together on this... I'm not sure how many others I could trust on this." She admitted, "Besides Crizoia and his sister, but they're... not suited for this investigative work."

Llamiis nodded, looking very thoughtful. "I'd take care not to trust anyone at all," he told her, "Although Crizoia and Viel might prove useful resources later."

Penja nodded, "Well, I'll have to look through the files again... somehow I doubt Carroncio was working only with Dee as his helper. There are places and things maids can't find out."

Llamiis smiled. "We need a list of what those places and things are... that should make it significantly easier to narrow it down."

Penja hummed, "Mostly anything in the outer court, the barraks and dungeons." She said after some thought.

"And who is responsible for those areas?" Llamiis asked leadingly.

Penja paused again, then blinked, "The guard." She said, looking at Llamiis, "That... would leave around twenty profiles, the guard is chosen from the soldiers, not all of them work as such." She said, "Of those, there's seven that are Royals, which I would leave last in the list of suspects, I doubt a Royal would want another at the throne."

"A Royal who wants the throne himself very well could," Llamiis replied, eyes sharp. "And twenty profiles is much better than a full contingent."

Penja frowned, but nodded, "Yes, that could be true, but I see no one with enough talent to covet the throne for himself in the castle." She said, "The rest are mostly sharptails, and five featherwings... before I'd have thought the featherwings incapable of plotting, but now I'd rather put them to the fore, as much as Crizoia would hate it."

Llamiis paused. "I'm not so sure we shouldn't consider everyone equally in this situation."

Penja nodded, "Well the pile I'd left on my desk had cooks, maids and guard, so we can begin looking through them if we separate them." She seemed to be indicating Llamiis separate them, as she didn't look too inclined to move from where she sat.

Llamiis did so without protest, shuffling through and checking each profile as though he'd never looked at them before. This process made the sorting last several minutes, and finally he passed the stack of guards to her with a smile.

Kali was silently walking towards Penja's room and stopped at the door lightly knocking on it and waiting, wondering if she was even there right now.

Penja took the files with a thanks and placed them on her lap, separating them in half and offering the first half to Llamiis for deeper examination. She looked up at the knock. "Come in?" She said.

Llamiis' head lifted in curiosity, taking the files mechnacinally. She was very trusting!

Kali slowly opened the door and peeked in "P...Pen...ja...?" She asked her voice still quieter then normal.

Penja's eyes opened in surprise, "Kali! She sat up, as if to stand but her vision swam, forcing her back on the bed with closed eyes. "Child why aren't you in bed?"

Llamiis watched her carefully, pretending to look over the files he'd been given,

Kali bit her lip nervously "I...I was...w...wond...ering...if...y...you knew...wh...at...happ...ened..." She said worried about Penja and how she didn't seem to be able to get out of bed. "A...Are you...o...k?"

Penja sighed, "I'm... fine. Hikali you were poisoned, Llamiis healed you but you're obviously still affected." She looked at Llamiis before back at Hikali, "Just take it easy and rest till you feel better, you're excused from work. Llamiis can you see how she's faring?"

Llamiis nodded. "Can you hold still for a second?" he asked, approaching Hikali and kneeling a little.

Kali looked at Llamiis silently nodding a little nervously.

Llamiis reached out and put his paw on her shoulder--it would be harder from there, but he suspected such a shy girl wouldn't be comfortable with it anywhere else--say, on her face.

Penja absentmindedly turned the profile in her hand over, looking at the page slightly, though more interested in what Llamiis was doing with Hikali, knowing the maid detested any physical contact.

Kali bit her lip a little as Llamii's touched her but just kept still like she had been told.

Llamiis' hand glowed as he performed a basic check-up. Her lungs were partially eaten away, as was her heart, but it was nothing fatal and her brain seemed to be fine. He let go. "Nothing too bad," he told Penja, smiling.

Kali gave a mental sigh of relief as he let go of her. Well...That was good to hear atleast. Met she could go back to work.

Penja nodded, with a small sigh of relief. "Hikali, please just rest today, and I'll make sure to have your workload lightened until you feel better." She said gently, "Now go back to your room."

Llamiis nodded in approval--less work would be good for her.

Kali blinked a little in suprise "I...Its ok...I...I can...do...m...my nor...mal work..." She insister.

Penja shook her head with a stern gaze at the girl, "Rest today, Kali, you almost died yesterday." She repiled, "Even I'm taking it easy."

Llamiis nodded. "Your health is the most important thing you have," he told her, smiling.

Kali bit her lip a little then slowly nodded "O...Ok......" She said queitly looking at Penja then Llamiis. She really did just want to go back to work...

Penja nodded, "Off you go, and don't let me find out you haven't rested today." She said, still looking at Hikali with worry.

Kali nodded a little, she didn't understand why Penja was so worryed. She then turned and walked out ofthe room.

Llamiis shook his head in disbelief.

Penja turned to look at Llamiis as Hikali left. "What?"

Llamiis smiled and shook his head. "Nothing important."

Penja sighed, frowning in disbelief as she turned down to the profile opened on her lap.

Llamiis peered through the profiles with only mild interest, since he'd seen them before. Oh, this one he'd wondered about earlier... he might as well get it out now. Lifting the profile--it belonged to a wingless Shoyru--he sought Penja's attention.

Penja looked up as she caught the motion, looking at the Profile, then Llamiis, "Yes?"

"Where is he from?" Llamiis asked bluntly.

Penja blinked, "It doesn't say?"

Llamiis shook his head.

Penja frowned, fin stretching out for the profile. "That's rare, though it sometimes happens, if I'm not mistaken Carroncio's profile is missing origin as well." She said.

"... that's not suspicious at all," Llamiis noted softly.

Penja hummed to herself as she took the profile, looking at the info that *was* available. "He joined a week after the Redwing massacre..." She said, "Said he'd been traveling and came from some place in the middle of nowhere, no city named..." She frowned, "Perhaps I should ask him some questions."

"Perhaps you should," Llamiis replied. "Or perhaps I should."

Penja considered this, "There's some restlessness in the staff since your questioning of Dee, word of what you did to her has gotten around somehow." She shifted, "It might be better if I questioned him first."

"How will you do it?" Llamiis asked, raising his eyebrows. "From your bed?"

Penja paused, looking at the profile, then at Llamiis. "I guess..."

Llamiis smiled. "We could do it as a joint session, if you'd prefer."

Penja frowned, I'm...." She sighed, finally nodding. "Very well, at least if we're here, there's no reason to get too nervous unless he's hiding something."

"You need to take care of your health, too."

Penja sighed, "I just hope this nausea goes away, I do not intend to stay in bedrest for long." She said, sinking into the pillows, a clawed fin to her forehead as she closed her eyes. "There's a guard down the hall, have him summon Shev."

Llamiis nodded and padded out, immediately recognising the guard as the aforementioned Shoyru. That made things much easier... and much more curious. "Shev, could you come here for a moment?"

The tall shoyru looked over at Llamiis, giving a curt salute before walking over. "Can I help sir?" He asked in a polite tone.

"If you don't mind, Penja and I would like to speak with you." He gestured towards the door of the bruce's bedroom with one dark red hand.

The shoyru's eyes flickered slightly, "Sure..." He said, walking into the room and giving another salute to Penja, who nodded, looking at the shoyru carefully. "Shev, you've been in the castle for quite a short while, how have you found working here?" Penja asked, closing the file on her lap.

Llamiis hung around by the door, a smiling but hopefully unobtrusive presence.

Shev stood straight and mostly unmoving, hands at his sides. "Quite interesting some days, though quite tranquil for the most part." He said levelly. Penja nodded in agreement, "Though these past few days have been quite far from tranquil." She said. Shev's mouth twitched into a smile that quickly faded, "The guards say it's the Redwing kid's fault. That he's brought bad luck to the castle."

Llamiis raised his eyebrows. "What do you believe?" Luck... of course luck is easier than cause and effect.

The shoyru turned slightly to face Llamiis, "I think he just spurred things into action that otherwise would have taken much longer to be discovered." He said calmly.

Llamiis didn't react at all, just nodded thoughtfully.

Penja was inclined to agree with Shev. "How much do you know of what's happened? What else do the guards say?" She asked. The guard turned back to Penja, "Well, we saw... Dee's remains, that's been talked about a lot, and some have used it to scare the other maids. And word got out about the poisoning since you asked about the other Royals."

Llamiis didn't smile, but he looked like he was about to.

Penja blinked slightly, looking at Llamiis oddly. She was still ignorant of what 'Dee's Remains' were, or why they'd upset the maids. She looked back at Shev, "You're a shoyru yet you have no wings, why?" She asked. Shev gave a wry grin, "Lost them in battle."

Llamiis' eyebrows raised. "What kind of battle?"

His tail flickered, "In one of the many battles hat destroyed the Capitol city" He said, "After Frathomas's death."

Llamiis nodded but said nothing.

"For who were you fighting for?" Penja asked. A heart beat of silence. "My family." He said. Penja blinked, face clearly asking for elaboration. Shev put his hands behind his back, "My family lived in the Capitol, we had to fight to try and protect our home, and later fight to flee the city."

Llamiis' mouth turned into a fairly thin line, but he didn't make any sounds.

Penja hummed, "If your home was the capitol city why didn't you say so when you were first asked upon joining the castle guard?" Shev's hands clenched ever so slightly. "I gave the location of where I had been living after that flight, that's all."

Llamiis shook his head. "But it doesn't give any place of birth--that means you should have been asked."

"Oh... that's because I don't know." He said, turning so he could see both of his questioners, hands going to his sides, where his sword hung as well. "I was orphaned and don't have memories farther back than living in the Capitol."

Llamiis paused, smiling, "I see. I'm sorry--that must have been hard for you." And his smile was very gentle and understanding.

Shev shrugged, "Not at all, I'm greatful to those who taught me and was able to form a family regardless when I grew older." He said tranquilly.

Llamiis nodded, smile still spread across his face. "Tell me about your family, Shev."

Shev locked his eyes on Llamiis. "My family is dead." He said flatly.

Llamiis raised his eyebrows. "Before that."

"I'd rather not talk about them." He said with a slight frown.

Llamiis nodded. "I can understand that, but we'd like to know all the same."

Shev looked from Llamiis to Penja, who had stayed silent till now. He turned back to Llamiis, "I don't see how it can be relevant to my work here. I've been an excellent guard and have not once done anything wrong." He said defensively. "Leave my family alone."

Llamiis raised his eyebrows. "We're just trying to get the relevent background information that was overlooked at the beginning. I apologise if this is causing you distress."

"I didn't think it necessary info back then and I still hold to it." He said firmly. Penja hummed softly, "Fine, I'm sure you're right. Now may I ask if you knew Carroncio or Dee?" She said, looking from his file to Shev.

Llamiis wanted to hit Penja upside the head for her tactlessness. Instead he smiled.

Shev blinked at the abrupt change in questions, wary. "Not too personally, though I was aware of them." He said. Penja nodded, "Anything you could tell us about them and their behavior?"

Llamiis watched again--if Penja wanted to make things complicated, she could.

Shev paused, thinking. "Carroncio was a very friendly fellow, would let anyone into the kitchen for treats at any hour, and liked entertaining the maids there... I didn't really notice if he favored any, or Dee. She was not the noisiest one in the kitchen, Marissa is, though Dee had the sparkiest personality and tended to lead over them all." He said, "Carroncio's an excellent cook by the way, we'll all miss him."

A very tidy answer, and on Llamiis suspected was rehearsed.

Penja frowned, "I may miss his cooking but after the poisoning I'd think no one would want to risk eating his preparations." She indicated sourly. Shev smiled slightly, "Was it really the food that was poisoned?"

Llamiis raised his eyebrows at Penja from behind Shev.

Penja noticed Llamiis, shaking her head slowly, "No, it was the wine." She said slowly. "How did you know?" Shev didn't catch the wary tone, but smiled with amusement, "He takes a lot of pride in the excellence of his meals, he'd never poison his own foods."

Llamiis smiled. "Really?"

Shev twitched, eyes flicking from Llamiis to Penja, who looked quite interested in the news he'd just given. Shit... "Well I mean, that's... what I'd think... not like I'd know... for sure..."

"You sounded very confident a few moments ago," Llamiis pointed out, tapping his black claws on his thigh. His long horns were resting lightly against the door, and his black teeth showed when he spoke.

Shev frowned and moved suddenly, sword out and jumping to pierce Penja through the chest. Penja cursed, rolling out of the way and off the bed, Shev's sword stabbing the mattress as papers flew everywhere.

Llamiis's thick lower legs coiled and he sprang, arms out, to tackle Shev, black-clawed hands spread wide and yellow eyes flashing. He used the door as a kick-off point, giving him a little extra distance with which to reach the Shoyru.

Shev didn't stop, whipping his sword out and turning to slash towards Llamiis as the yurble bore down on him.

Penja was trying to stand, but managed only to roll slightly, vomiting violently as nausea assaulted her.

The blade lodged in Llamiis' upper arm, cutting upen the skin, fur and muscle to expose the bone in a splattering of blood as the yurble slammed into him full-force, a heavy ball of muscle and claws.

Shev had the air forced out of his lungs as he fell back against the bookshelf, sliding down as he grit his teeth under the weight of the larger pet, taking out a dagger with his left to stab Llamiis's side.

Llamiis normally objected somewhat to the use of his body as a pincushion, but there was not an awful lot he could do to stop it and made no move to do so, letting the dagger sink into his side without protest. In doing so, he also grabbed Shev by the side of the head, letting his hand glow bright red with magic.

Shev was struggling to thrust Llamiis off him, noticing the glow as he pulled out his dagger and stabbed Llamiis again, "Get... off you brute!" He screamed, panicking when his vision failed. What the hell...

Penja propped herself up slightly on her elbows as she looked over a Llamiis and Shev, she couldn't do much as every move she made made her head swim after the tumbling motion she'd just subjected herself to.

Llamiis severed the connection between Shev's brain and optic nerve, pulling back with a huff of breath. He wasn't bleeding at all, mind, there was no use being a healer if you couldn't keep yourself from bleeding to death. The blackhorn didn't back up too much, leaving Shev trapped... he didn't seem to feel the injuries at all.

Shev hadn't let go of his weapons though, as he blinked blindly as he felt the Blackhorn back up slightly he snarled angrily, dagger moving again to slash his own neck, in a suicide attempt.

Improvising, Llamiis grabbed a book from the floor and threw it at Shev, intending to hit the shoyru in the head--just enough to throw off his balance and keep the slash non-fatal.

Shev cried out as the book hit, a gurgled sound as the dagger cut through skin, though he'd not managed to get as deep as he'd intended. He gasped as blood sprayed everywhere.

Llamiis was on him in less than a second, red-glowing hand over the horrendous gash. he rushing blood dyed his front red as he sought to magically control the tide, sealing up arteries and veins as fast as he possibly could.

Shev tried pushing Llamiis away but he was having trouble as it were, weak as he finally made contact with Llamiis's arm. Penja was finally sitting up, leaning on the bed as she looked on grimly.

Llamiis pursed his lips into a thin line, ignoring Shev's protests. He didn't let his patients die, and he wasn't going to let this Shoyru die either... no matter how much he apparently wanted to.

Shev fell back finally, too weak to stop Llamiis, and the bleeding stopping. He was still trying to let death take him, as if he were forcing his body to not cooperate with Llamiis's healing.

The blackhorn wasn't interested in cooperation, and he literally forced a second wave of magic into the shoyru's body, driving it into the marrow to force a higher output of new blood cells. He was going to drain himself by the week's end if he kept this pace up, he noted.

Shev coughed, and finally sagged over, unconscious as Llamiis continued to heal him, no longer in danger of dying and unable to fight back any longer.

Llamiis continued healing him, though, wanting Shev in a significantly more stable state than he was in at the moment. The blackhorn found himself distracted, though, when a little rivulet of blood ran into his eye, and he sat back with a slight cough. "I think you'll need a maid."

Penja groaned, "I need a new room in the meantime." She said warily, dragging herself onto the bed as she surveyed the blood and vomit. "Ugh what a mess..."

"Would you like help getting there?" He paused, then glanced down at himself. "I could call someone."

Penja looked at the bloodied Llamiis, then nodded, "Call Gadia, she's not as squeamish." She muttered. "Is he going to be out for a while?"

Llamiis looked at Shev. "He should be. He's lost a lot of blood... he won't be able to see when he wakes, by the way." He regretted using the book to hit Shev in the head, it had stains on it now.

Penja nodded, "Okay, go get her, I'll try... salvaging what I can..." She looked at the mixed sheets of papers from the files, some covered in blood and others in her own vomit.

Llamiis smiled faintly. "If you want, I can transcribe everything so it's... legible and clean."

She sighed, "That'd be very nice, though I think you'll be busy..." She looked at Shev, "But later perhaps, I'll need you to fill in a new file for Tookei with what you've learned from him as well." She leaned back on her pillows, ignoring the slashed sheets. "Gods my head hurts." She moaned.

Llamiis nodded. He would have to check on Tookei later anyway... "I'll go find Gadia... stay put for a second." As though she had a choice.

Penja nodded, closing her eyes as she put a fin over her eyes, "She should be in the gardens, she had laundry duty today." She murmured.

Llamiis nodded and headed out into the hall, Shev's blood drying into his mane.

Gadia was, in fact, out in the back of the kitchens, hanging out clean sheets to try, humming to herself. She was a rather pretty deep red kougra, with gold highlights on her leather wings.

Lacking the time to clean himself up, Llamiis probably presented a fairly horrific sight, walking up to her. He smiled slightly. "Gadia!" he called, keeping his voice at a moderate level.

Gadia turned with a small smile... that quickly drained. "L..lamiis... sir... uh..." She looekd at the blood, "C..can I help?"

"Actually, yes, but I assure you the situation isn't as horrible as it looks." He smiled faintly. "Can you come to Penja's room with me? There was a bit of a problem earlier and we could use the help cleaning up." He was careful to implicate Penja, since he knew that no one would really want to be alone with him when he looked this bad.

The maid blinked, eyes widening. "Th..that's not Penja's blood is it?" She said, putting the sheets down int he basket to follow Llamiis hurriedly.

"No!" Llamiis looked surprised and rather concerned that she'd assume that. "I promise you Penja is quite all right."

Gadia looked relieved at that, "Thank goodness... I was so frightened when I heard she'd been poisoned, I don't know WHY they have to keep targetting the Royals.." She sighed, "Wait a second." She said as they enteed the castle. She disappeared through a doorway to reappear with cleaning items. "Right... let's get going." She said, hurrying to Penja's room.

Llamiis padded after, pleased to see she really was quite sensible. They reached the door to the room in no time.

Gadia entered first, gasping at the mess as she rushed in and set the cleaning items on Penja's desk. "Oh... my... Penja, you should relocate, and... is that Shev??" She looked at the fallen guard as she picked out some items and a bucket, then kneeled to start picking up the papers and books. Penja sighed, "Yes it is..."

Llamiis slipped back out of the door, standing back out in the hall somewhat.

Penja looked at Llamiis, "Can you take Shev uh, where he belongs?" She said, looking back at Gadia who put most of the papers back on the desk before looking at the blood everywhere. The mad looked at Penja. "May I?" She asked nervously. Penja scolwled, then waved a hand, "Please..." Gadia smiled brightly, clapping her hands. Three mini shadows popped out from the corners of the room, and immediately set about cleaning up blood and vomit.

Llamiis padded over and scooped up Shev, though he was obliged to throw the guard over his shoulder. "I'll be back later," he told the bruce, stepping out the door to head down to the interrogation rooms.

Penja nodded, sinking lower on her bed. Gadia had so many questions, but refrained from speaking after looking at Penja, letting Llamiis take the guard to continue her work, cleaning the books with the help of the shadows before putting them back on the shelves.

Llamiis stood in the doorway of one room, still holding Shev. He had to decide what to do with the spines on the back of this shoyru... it was tempting to break them off one by one, but for that he'd have to either let him miss out on the experience or tie him chest-down, which could be awkward later...

Shev groaned faintly, as he began to recover. Tail tip twitched, though the shoyru didn't seem quite ready to relinquish his grip on darkness.

With that extra impetus to drive the decision, Llamiis settled on binding the Shoyru to the table with the spines pointing upwards. He anchored the tail down with a weighted chain as a precaustion against a faceful of tail spikes.

Shev was still struggling to wake (or maybe not to) as he was bound to the table, one cheek against the cold surface.

Llamiis considered dealing with him now, but a night alone in a cold dungeon would be a good aid for interrogation. He turned and headed back towards the door.










Tookei had left Hikali's room and wandered after a while to his own, stopping at the door to look past it to Llamiis's. He was still wondering what exactly had happened to Hikali and why he was out cold on her floor... maybe he knew... Turning he walked up to Llamiis's room and knocking, hoping the Blackhorn was in.

Llamiis was not in, though, though Gomi was, as evidenced by the small snuffling nose that poked out from under the bed. the room was abnormally neat, the sheets folded back with perfect precision and the books arranged carefully by height.

Tookei knocked again before opening the door carefully, looking in. Hm... not here... He turned to leave but hesitated, entering and closing the door behind him. Maybe eh could wait here... and read a book... He looked at the bed, "Gomi?"

The petpet wiggled out from under the bed, proudly holding a long bone in his mouth. He wagged at Tookei happily.

Tookei blinked, "Woah nice bone." He said, walking over and petting the petpet on the head before going to the bookcase, looking at the books in turn.

Gomi disappeared back under the bed, resuming whatever activities he'd been at down there(probably bone related.)

The books were rather mixed. Some of the books seemed to be nothing but collections of children's stories, while others were obviously books of philosophy or other lofty things. A few were undecipherable. There was one ywllow-bound book on the top left, for example, that simply read MONSTER. A dozen books had no titles at all.

Tookei hummed, finally choosing one of the children's stories with curiosity, pulling it out carefully.

The book slid out easily enough, and so did something else--a set of papers, somewhat bent up but none the worse for the wear, or so it seemed.

Tookei blinked with a small eep he grabbed the papers with his other hand, taking the book and leaving it on the desk as he looked at the papers.

A familiar face stared back at him, though it was a bit younger looking. Bright yellow eyes and long black horns dominated the picture and the face was wrapped in a smile.

Tookei blinked in surprise, sitting at the desk and holding the papers in his lap, reading with curiosity.

It began with basic things--name, clan, occupation. Parents: Unknown. Place of origin: Kinderheim. The preliminaries. Then, under education, it started to get a bit long, talking about something called a Kindergarten and a fostering for orphans.

Tookei blinked at the mention of the orphans and Kindergarden, as he continued reading with interest. He did pause to look at the door, but then went back to reading.

The coast was clear, and the file was getting more interesting. There was brief mention of a large fire which burnt the kindergarten to the ground--explained as a brief gap in education. after that came a date of graduation and the end of the first page.

The education Llamiis had received was quite different to the one Tookei had been given, and he noticed this with some envy, though the fire seemed to have been quite big. He looked at the door as he turned to the second page, taking care not to further bend the pages, or mess them up.

The second page talked mostly about family--a wife and son, the latter of which dropped out of mention quickly. Apparently Llamiis' wife had left him reently--or at least recent by the time of mention, which seemed to be during an apprenticeship of some sort.

Tookei was reading quicker now, not sure how much time he had on his own, but having by now found the papers very interesting, thought of Llamiis and the door leaving as he kept reading. Apprenticeship? And why was there no mention of his son?

It unfolded that this apprenticeship was for interrogation, a profession Tookei already knew Llamiis had--although the spprenticeship was taken up rather late in life. There was a curious footnote about Llamiis disappearing suddenly, dated near the time war broke out. Tookei didn't have a lot more time, though, since footsteps could be heard down the hall.

Tookei's large ears flicked, snapping him out of his reading as his eyes shot to the door, shuffling the papers back how they were and hopping from the chair, grabbing the book and turning to the bookshelf.

Tookei quickly put paper to book and pushed it into the bookcase quickly, hear thumping at high speed as he then turned and slammed down on the chair. He'd not been quite as tidy putting the book back, and the immaculate order Llamiis had of his books was marred by the hastily-placed book, though the papers weren't sticking out.

Llamiis entered the room--why was the door open?--and paused, staring at Tookei with an unreadable expression. He looked like he still had a faint smile, but everything else was dreadfully out of place. His mane was caked with blood and his hands were red with it. More horribly, he had two deep wounds on his body, one exposing the white of--maybe bone?--but neither of which bled. His yellow eyes seemed to want to pierce Tookei.

Tookei looked at the door as Llamiis came in, he could feel his heart in his throat, and expected Llamiis could hear it pounding. He was speechless though as he stared at Llamiis, shocked to see the blood and wounds. Almost a minute passed before he choked out some words. "Wh...what happened?"

Llamiis smiled faintly. "Nothing at all." He walked to the bathroom and ran the tap, intending to get some of the blood off his front.

Tookei swallowed his heart (or the lump in his throat in any case) as he hopped off the chair. "But... you're wounded! And the blood!"

"...I'm all right, I promise," Llamiis looked up as he cleaned. "But tell me, why are you in my room?"

Tookei stammered, hand twitching as he backed up a step. "I... I was waiting for you..." He said quickly. "I wanted... uh... to ask you something."

Llamiis remained smiling. "Yes?" It was good to get the blood out from between his fingers, it made the fur stick.

Tookei blinked, "Well... I... it's about Hikali and uhm... what happened last night..."

Llamiis raised his eyebrows to prompt Tookei to continue.

Tookei frowned, "You.. you healed her?" He asked, "I just... remember getting there and she wasn't breathing... and uh..." He looked down at his hands, "The rest is kinda fuzzy till I woke up this morning on her floor..." He said finally.

Llamiis nodded. "Penja had already been poisoned and I was concerned, so I followed you and by luck I reached her in time to help her." He smiled.

Tookei frowned, staring at his hands as his right one's fingers twitched. "I... thought so... but..." He seemed confused, but then shook it off, smiling slightly, "Thanks for saving her..."

Llamiis smiled. "I'm glad I was able to be there in time."

Tookei nodded, "Me too..." He inched towards the door, "Well tha's it... I'll uh... go to my room then, I don't wanna bother you." He said, grabbing the doorknob.

Llamiis watched him go, saying nothing.

Tookei closed the door slowly and then turned half running down the hall to his own room, closing the door quickly as he finally slid to the ground with a sigh of relief.

Llamiis, inside, immediately walked over to the bookshelf, pulling out the haphazardly stuffed-in book.

Tookei sneezed, resting his back against his door as he looked at his empty bookshelf. Aw man he hadn't asked for a book... he hadn't been ABLE to... he wondered if Llamiis knew he'd been reading the profile...

Llamiis slipped out the profile and scrutinised it closely.  It seemed he'd been careless... well, he'd had to do something about that... but right now.... he crossed the room and sat on the bed, taking stock of his injuries.

Tookei fidgeted, playing with his pointed tail with a frown. He felt... guilty... and it didn't help he was pretty sure Llamiis had realized what he'd done... Finally he got up, puse calmer but mind not a bit as he turned to the door, hesitating.

Llamiis was focusing on the injury in his side first--the problem was that he'd have to reopen the wound to heal it. He sat, weighing his options.

Tookei finally opened the door, padding quietly back to Llamiis' room, pausing again at the door, hesitant. Would he be mad?

Llamiis began increasing cell growth, forcing the two sides of the wound closer together. As he did so he expanded the capillary network so the flesh didn't die right away.

Tookei brought a hand up to knock, fist pausing inches away. Llamiis had been hurt... maybe.. maybe he shouldn't bother him... but then again he hadn't seemed too worried about the wounds... He chewed his lip as his right hand twitched. Then he sneezed loudly.

Llamiis would have exploded capillaries from his arm if he hadn't half-epected Tookei to lurk outside. As it was, he worked his way to a stopping point and crossed the room to crack open the door with a smile.

Tookei looked sheepish as he sniffed slightly. "I... I'm sorry!" He said quickly bowing his head.

Llamiis raised his eyebrows. Such a sensitive boy...

Tookei didn't look up. "I was waiting for you and thought I'd read a book, because I was bored and the profile slipped out..." He said quickly. "I didn't mean to read it but... I got curious..." He said voice fading as he spoke till he was silent again. "B..b.but I wasn't ... looking for info or anything like that on purpose!" He looked up at this, worried eyes with tears at the edges.

Llamiis smiled down at him, though inside he was caught up in knots. Brain and everything else, too. "And do you think you can keep a secret, Tookei?"

Tookei's lip quivered. "I... I think so..." He said, unsure.

Llamiis smiled. "Then it'll be our little secret." In truth, Tookei was not the worst person who could have found him out, although he'd rather no one have found it at all. The fewer footsteps he left marking the past the easier it would be for him.

Tookei blinked, rubbing his eyes as he sniffed again. "...you're not mad?" He asked.

Llamiis shook his head and winked. "Just keep it between you and me, okay?"

Tookei nodded immediately, "I promise!" He said, brightening considerably. He'd been sure he'd get hit for having snooped around Llamiis's room like that.

Llamiis nodded. "Run along then," he smiled reassuringly. The soft touch could have an amazing effect sometimes...

Tookei nodded, half skipping, half walking back to his room, looking back to Llamiis as he paused at his door before entering.

Llamiis was withdrawing back into his room--backwards, as it were. Then the door shut with a soft clock and the yurble was seen no more.

Tookei breathed in deeply, then sneezed again, and frowned, entering his own room and closing the door with a sniff.

The next morning when Llamiis woke, it would be to find two sheets of paper someone had slipped under his door.

He spotted them immediately, since he woke facing the door. Gomi was still asleep, but since he was at the foot of the bed Llamiis knew he'd barely notice. The bed smelled a bit like blood, though. The blackhorn rolled out of bed and padded across the room on flat feet to pick them up blandly. What was this?

The setup was much like the profile Llamiis had failed to hide from TOokei, in roundish lettering of a kid, starting with "Name: Tookei Flamestart" at the top.

Llamiis' expression failed to change, but his eyes scanned the page quickly, soaking up the information it held.

The text contained a fairly detailed story of Tookei's life, the training and methods used by the Redwings to train their children, from his perspective, how he'd failed to develop any magic, and the private 'tutoring' of his father, starting with how he'd had his hand crushed in a training session.

Ah, that explained it. Hm, was this Tookei's idea of an apology? Or was it rather a bribe? Llamiis contemplated this, flipping to the second page in a calm kind of way, though his eyes were fully attentive.

The second page detailed more recent things, how his father had made him witness the torturing of a Twintail girl his age, that had then been forced to follow out assignments he refused to obey (mostly assassinations), and how he had come undercover once before to the Castle, to lure the Prince to the Redwing City. The last told of how Tookei hid from his father so as not to go to war with the Royals, and finally escaped the underground fortress to come to the castle. On the back of the second page was a smaller note. "I thought it would be fairer if you knew my past as well. I'm sorry, Tookei."

Llamiis lacked the inclination to shake his head at this, or else he would have. This boy was despairingly honest. It boded well for Llamiis, though, and that would be satisfactory enough. He set the profile aside on the table and roused Gomi, who squinted at him sleepily.
 











After a day of resting it was morning and Hikali walked quietly to the kitchen looking around quietly.

The kitchen was quieter than usual, even Marissa wasn't chatting as loudly as she ate breakfast with the other maids. Gadia looked up in surprise as she saw Kali come in. "Kali! I thought you'd still be resting child... are you sure you're up to working again?"

Kali blinked in suprise looking towards Gadia and nodding a little "Y...Yes...I'm...f...fine..." She said quietly looking around a little. Why was it so quiet in here?

Gadia smiled slightly, "Well have some breakfast then, your work has been lightened, we've shifted chores around a bit." She said, patting the table.

Kali nodded a little as she walked over "Y...You...d...didn't...have to...d..do that...I...I'm fine..."

"Nonsense, Kali, we all heard how you'd been poisoned, and you don't look fine." She said, serving Kali breakfast and a cup of warm milk. "I want you to take it easy, okay?"

Kali looked at Gadia for a moment before looking at the food. She really didn't understand why Gadia said that...she felt fine...for the most part. "O...Ok..." She said quietly. "T...Thank...you..."

Gadia had been worried sick since she heard of the poisoning, thinking she'd loose yet another child. She was tired, having done much in the past few days, and it was evident in her eyes and shoulders, but she sat with a warm smile to finish her breakfast.

Kali looked at Gadia again biting her lip a little "A...Are you....o...ok...?" She asked quietly before taking a bite of her food.

Gadia nodded reassuringly, "Of course, dear. Just eat up, you look like you need it, you skinny girl." She said smiling at Kali. She wanted to hug the girl for being alive and well, but knew it was best not to touch her. The last thing she wanted was to make Hikali shy away from her.

Kali nodded "O...Ok...." She said keeping quiet now as she just ate her food and drank the milk.

Marissa walked up from behind Kali as she was finishing, and glomped her quickly. "Marissa!" Gadia said angrily, as Marissa laughed slightly, "Good to see you alive, Kali." She said, then pointed to a tray on the counter. "For Tookei."

Kali yelped a little in suprise and tightly closed her eyes and froze up when she was glomped. After a moment she slowly opened her eyes and looked towards the tray. "O...Ok...I...I'll go take it...t...to him..."

Gadia looked at Marisa with a reproving glare, as the lupess stuck her tongue out childishly before grabbing another tray and going out of the kitchen.

Kali sighed a little as she stood and picked up her dirty dishes. She really hadn't eaten a lot...but she just was never hungry or ate a lot.

Gadia followed the xweetok girl with her gaze, as she finished her own breakfast quietly.

Kali threw out most of the food she hadn't eaten, except for the peace of bread she hadn't touched. She was planning to drop off that for Espoir for his breakfast.

 Gadia sighed silently as she took her plates to the sink, and began washing them. "Kali you can leave your dishes, I'll finish cleaning them." She said.

Kali blinked looking at Gadia "A...Are you..s...sure...? I...I can do it...."

Gadia shook her head, "No, go give Espoir his breakfast and take Tookei's tray up to him."

Kali nodded a little "O...Ok...T...Thank you..." She said quietly and going over to the tray and picking it up, the bread she held in her tail. She turned want walked out of the kitchen.

Gadia watched her leave, shaking her head slowly as she turned back to the dishes.

Kali walked over to her room for a moment to give Espoir his breakfast, though the petpet was more interested in the tray of food then the bread alone. She then walked to Tookei's room and knocked lightly on the door waiting.

Tookei was asleep in his room, bundled up in his bed and with a slight fever, having stayed up late the night before writing. On his desk and on the floor around it were various crumpled up versions of his profile. There was no response from within except a cough from the sleeping korbat.

Kali blinked standing there for a moment before walking in "T...Tookei?" She said quietly. Oh he was still asleep? She walked in and over to the desk and placed the tray down...after moving some of the crumpled papers away.

Tookei lay on his back in bed, brows creased slightly as he coughed again with a small groan.

Kali turned looking toward Tookei a little worried and walked over to his bed. He didn't...seem to good...

Tookei's breathing was heavy, and brows were furrowed in discomfort. He shifted slightly as he slept but showed no signs of waking.

Kali bit her lip a little looking at him worry growing a little. What...was wrong with him? She then looked around the room and trying to think what she could do to help him...

Tookei just continued sleeping, coughing every once in a while as he shifted uncomfortably. His hair was matted against his forehead slightly, and his cheeks were faintly tinted red.

Kali looked at Tookei biting her lip a little harder. Slowly she brought her paw towards him and put it lightly on Tookei's forhead...he...seemed warm. Quickly though she brought her paw away and backed away slightly.

Tookei twitched slightly at the contact of the cooler paw, but just tilted his head, not waking.

Kali turned and walked towards the door "I...I'll...be...r...right back..." She said quietly. Closing the dor quietly behind her she walked back towards the kitchen.

The kitchen was in it's usual bustle as more trays were sent to the different rooms of the castle, dishes were washed and laundry separated. Gadia was supervising as sh edid this last part, and looked over as Kali entered.

Quietly Kali walked over to where she knew the towels where and took one, making sure not to get in anyones way as she went. She then walked over to the sink, planning to get some cold wanter for the towel.

Gadia blinked, "Kali? What's wrong?" She asked.

Kali jumped a little in suprise and turned looking at Gadia "U...Um... T...Too... Tookei... has... a...a... f..fever...and I...I... came..t...to get... s...something to... h...help h...him.... a...a little..."

Gadia blined, "Oh.. I see... okay then." She smiled slightly, "I'll make him something so he feels better once he wakes, okay?"

Kali nodded a little "O...Ok...T...Thank you..." She said before leaving the kitchen with her cold towel and going back towards Tookei's room.

Tookei was still asleep, coughing as Kali entered the room again, moaning softly.

Kali bit her lip walking into the room and over beside Tookei and lightly putting the towel on his forehead.

Tookei inhaled quickly as the towel made contact, but he slowly relaxed as the wet towel cooled his forehead.

Kali moved back a little watching Tookei nervously, atleast he seemed a little relaxed now.

Kei coughed again, though he was shifting less, laying still on his back. Some of the towel's water trickled down into his face.

Kali looked at him for a moment before walking towards the door "I...I'll be back later...t...to check...on you..." She said quietly and walking out of the door.

Tookei didn't respond, sleeping on with slightly more tranquil breathing.

Tookei didn't respond, sleeping on with slightly more tranquil breathing.

Kali closed the door sighing a little hoping Tookei would be alright with some rest. She then walked down the hall quietly...she still had work to do...

After about an hour of work, Gadia came to Hikali as she worked putting away clean laundry. "Kali, I made this for Tookei, why don't you go check on him?" She said, with a small tray and a mug of lemon-scented tea.

Kali blinked, looking at Gadia and nodded "O...Ok...Thank y...you..." She said quietly taking the tray and walking back to Tookei's room knocking on the door lightly before opening it slowly to look in.

Tookei was awake, he'd gotten up and set the towel to dry, as well as the pillow, that had been wet with the falling water. He'd tidied up the papers into the trashbin and eaten some of the breakfast Kali had left. He sat in the corner of his bed, curled up and hugging his knees, shivering slightly as he blinked tiredly at Kali.

Kali looked in suprise "T...Tookei..." She said looking around noticing that things had been cleaned up. "H...How...a...are you...f...feeling...?" She asked worried and going over to him.

"F...fine." He said, though it was clear he wasn't, shivering slightly, eyes red.

Kali bit her lip a little and came beside Tookei "I...I brought you s...something...T...Try some...it...m...might help..." She offered the mug of tea to him, and it was clear she was worryed about him.

Tookei looked up, and nodded slightly, taking the mug in his left hand, his right twitching too much to hold the container and hot liquid without spilling it. He sniffed, coughing before sipping some of the tea.

Kali watched him worryed and nervously brought her hand towards his forhead to see if he was still warm.

Tookei blinked slightly as he watched her, faintly surprised she'd touch him. His forehead was hotter than before, burning to the touch. He drank more of the tea, shaking slightly.

Kali quickly moved her hand back blinking in suprise "Y...You...s...shouldn't...be...up..." She said looking at him worried.

Tookei blinked at her silently. He seemed half in a daze, not really paying attention. "The pillow's wet..." He said softly, drinking more of the tea.

Kali nodded "I...I'll...go and...get you a...new one...b...but...then you...h...have to...r..rest...O...Ok?"

Tookei nodded slightly, finishing the tea and placing the empty mug on the bed in front of him, leaning on the cool wall with alf-closed eyes.

Kali nodded and quickly left the room, not before grabing the towel from before. She then went to get a pillow and get some more water for the towel.

Tookei watched her go, blinking as he looked at his feet. He felt so miserable... he'd never felt this sick before, he'd always heal quick enough... why wasn't he healing now? Slowly, Tookei toppled over, curled up as he closed his eyes, falling asleep on top of his bed.

A minute or so later Kali came back with a new pillow coming over beside Tookei and trying to atleast get the pillow under him, while not touching him as much as possible.

Tookei shivered slightly as she tried getting the pillow under him, whimpering softly.

Kali bit her lip nervously as she tryed to get Tookei in a better position. Then she put the cloth lightly on his head...why was he so sick like this?

Tookei blinkd heavy eyes as he looked up at Kali. "Th...hanks...." He whispered, eyes closing again.

Kali nodded a little looking at him worryed...there had to be something else she could do to help...

Tookei coughed, but seemed to relax slowly, still shivering on top of the bed, though it was clear the wet coolness helped soothe his fevered state.

Kali watched him in silence, glad to see that helped him. She still had work to do...so she was planning to go back to it soon. "I...I'll be...back a little...l...later to...ch...check on...you..."

Tookei moaned, "Llamiis..." He whispered, eyes flickering to her, "A..sk him?"

Kali looked at Tookei and nodded "I...I'll do that...m...maybe he...c...can help...you..." She said quietly "J...Just rest now...o...ok?"

Tookei smiled slightly in thanks, eyes closing again as he gave a small cough.

Kali bit her lip and turned walking out of the room and closing the door lightly behind her. She would go find Llamiis first. Just tell him about Tookei...then she would head back to work.















The door to the interrogation room swung open with a long metal grating sound, then paused and swung shut again with a long whine. Llamiis entered, paw pads stepping softly on the slick stone--smooth and cool flooring that was designed to be easy to clean. Something could be heard rustling, then it dropped to the floor with a soft "hump" and a "whuff" and then there was the mad scramble of four small sets of claws skittering across the stones.

Shev had tried upon first waking to free himself, but had long since given up on the futile task, falling into sleep and wakefulness as the long hours went by. The sound of the door made him perk up though, head lifting slightly as he bared his teeth at the sounds. The lack of sight made him start at the smallest of noises, tail straining against the weights attached to it.

Llamiis watched him strain for a second, then nodded--not that Shev could see it--and grabbed a towel from the bench. He'd brought a few things with him, since oil and flint weren't lept down in the rooms... safety reasons. "I think you already know what I want to know," he told Shev calmly.

Shev snarled in response towards Llamiis's voide, head lifting from the cold table.

"I'll take that as a yes." Llamiis' voice was very pleasant, though not necessarily upbeat--for all its niceties, there wasn't actually any feeling in it. There was the sound of liquid pouring from a flask as the blackhorn soaked the towel in oil.

Shev strained against the restraints, "You'll get nothing from me, Llamiis." He hissed.

"Oh, I don't know about that," Llamiis replied as he grabbed Shev's tail, forcing the towel down over the spikes so it'd stay put.

Shev's tail tried to lash out, muscle tightening as he squirmed in his restraints, snarling again.

It wasn't too hard to get the slightly moving spikes to pierce the towel, though, and Llamiis got the towel on Shev fairly easily. In the process, though, he sliced open his thumb on one of the tailspines, and he withdrew his hand quickly, cutting off the bloodflow and pausing to heal himself fully. He couldn't numb his fingers during this, he needed full dexterity to interrogate properly.

Shev felt the sudden removal of fingers, smiling in his blindness. He shook his tail to the sides, trying to fling whatever it was that stuck to it off.

The oil-soaked towel was firmly set, though, and Llamiis' hands reappeared, pinning the ends together--after a couple tries--so that the towel wrapped all the way around the tail. The blackhorn was remarkably calm, apparently impervious to frustration.

By now Shev was quite aware of the range of movement his tail was permitted, and grew calmer, waiting till he felt movement from Llamiis to twist his tail and try to either cut the yurble again, or make whatever he was doing harder to do. He didn't speak, but snarled periodically in frustration.

Llamiis did none of the above. What he DID do, however, was take up the flint and strike it right above the oil-soaked towel, making the entire tail section go up in a fiery blaze.

The sound of the flint confused Shev for only a few seconds as he heard the flames and felt the heat, the towel sticking more firmly as it caught the flames. He tensed, shaking his tail wildly in a vain attempt to get rid of the towel, banging his tail downwards to try to dislodge or burn out the flames. Clenched teeth and eyes firmly closed against the pain he refused to cry out.

Llamiis had pinned the towel together, and the cloth was pushed down to the base of the spikes, so there wasn't much Shev could do. The flames ate up the oil soaked towel greedily, burning the fibres of the cloth into Shev's flesh as it began to eat through his skin.

Shev gasped as the pain grew, tail pulling at the weight in spasms as he shook, clenching his hands tightly against the pain flying up from his tail, rolling it from side to side against the cool table, in the space between his legs, though it did little to cool the upper half.

Llamiis watched these spasms with little actual interest. He'd seen it all before. As the room filled with the smell of burning meat, the bone encasing Shev's spines began to contract, cracking and splitting open to the nerve.

Shev finally let out a grunt of pain at the first crack, breaths coming quicker as he braced himself, biting his tongue against the increased pain.

Llamiis just stood by and watched as the fat under the tailskin sizzled and began to dissolve. Gomi licked his toes, confused, but Llamiis didn't pause to pet him. "This is so unnecessary," he lamented aloud.

"D..di..dn't..." Shev gasped, "Y..you g..get en...ough..." He grimaced, "From... Dee?"

Llamiis smiled but didn't answer as a section of fat fell away from the flesh, peeling off under the heat to hit the table and lay there, burning on its own.

Shev pressed himself against the table in growing desperation, short gasps of pain as his tail continued to burn. "What.... DO you... want?" He snarled.

It was reaching the point where blood would be a pressing issue if Llamiis didn't step in, which he did, setting his hand on Shev's side where the shoyru couldn't reach him as a roundabout way of reaching what he needed. "Names," Llamiis replied as his hand glowed red to match the flames. The fat was an excellent fuel. "Do you have any for me?"

Shev trembled as more bone splintered blinded eyes rolling around in pain. "N..none.. th..at y..ou.. d...don't... know." He gasped.

"That's too bad," Llamiis replied, hearing the crackle that wasn't just fire and smiling again. He held off the blood from that area now as the fire ravaged muscle, still burning on fat residues.

Shev gave a yell at a particularly loud crack, gritting his teeth. "D..dee a...and C..Carroncio... w..were the.... only ones..." He breathed, eyes looking around wildly.

Llamiis stood by, watching the stringy muscle melt. "That's too bad." The fire was spreading up Shev's back now, which was unfortunate, but it needed fuel and the fat was the best part, as far as the fire was concerned. The yurble let it go. It wasn't as though this particular fellow would need his scrotum or intestines later, after all.

Shev thrashed as the burning went higher up his tail, shaking in earnest and feeling weaker. "IT'S TRUE!" He screamed, pulling his hands downwards, cheeck against the table as he foamed at the mouth.

Llamiis didn't respond, watching the fire with all the interest of a pacifist with a sword. Even though motivations were of interest to him, there wasn't much farther he could go without more names.

Shev closed his eyes against the growing pain as the fire advanced, moaning and foaming as he struggled to deal with the ever intensifying pain. "T...Tookei." He said, spitting flecks of white as he spoke.

"Beg pardon?" Llamiis asked, though his facial expression didn't change.

"Too...kei... kn...knows..." He groaned out, "M..more th...than... me..."

Llamiis smiled tightly. Tookei was an easy target... almost a foolish one. If Tookei was really a coconspirator, would it occur to Shev that it would be too easy to name him? His hand was still gowling, and now he used his presence in Shev's body to suddenly cut off all communication between nerves and brain briefly--then suddenly letting the Shoyru have it back.

Shev twitched, then screamed as the pain came back in full force, hitting his head against the table. "H...his f..fath...er..." He managed, "As...ask... ab...bout... him."

Llamiis rubbed some smoke out of his eye--the whole room smelled like charred flesh and cooking fat now, and Gomi was whining inaudibly under the crackling of bone and fire. "I'll ask you instead."

Shev was silent, except for the sounds he couldn't help making at the pain he was suffering, body trembling at each crack of bone, gasps as the fire lapped up new flesh. "J...just a s..s.old...ier... do..on't... know.. what... the s..son d...does."

"A nonmagical son that had his hand broken is surely useful," Llamiis noticed that the body's oils were making a terrible mess and the table would surely be blackened by the end of this. "But I'd rather know what you know." He was having to start protecting the organs now, but he didn't mind. There was still plenty of time.

Shev groaned, he couldn't take much more pain and was starting to loose focus, thoughts dissolving as pain overtook him.

Llamiis peered down at Gomi, who was suffering dearly from the smoke. The petpet peered imploringly up at him and whined. Llamiis went back to watching the flames. "Remember that I can end this when I think we're done."

Shev gave a louder whining sound, a cry of despair, "V...v...t." He cried out.

Llamiis' eyes turned to Shev's face but he didn't move, not interrupting.

"V...Ar...t..." He gasped, struggling to pronounce the name he could clearly see burning into his brain as an escape to the pain. "VARLOT!" He screamed.

The blackhorn's yellow eyes flew open wide as he suddenly shut off the connection between Shev's brain and nerves. He mouthed the name silently. The shoyru's lower organs were struggling now and the fire was near Llamiis' hand.

Shev gapsed as pain stopped, short, struggled breaths as he slumped on the table, eyes half closed. It had worked... just that one name, and the pain was gone. He was silent, not adding to it, why give more information than had been asked for?

Varlot... any other names would be extraneous. Even any co-conspirators would be extraneous, and Llamiis didn't believe in Shev knowing such as it was. "What does he want?" the blackhorn asked, calm-voiced, yellow eyes on his victim's face. The flames licked at the shoyru's body, but the soldier wasn't feeling any pain... not now anyway.

The shoyru's breath moved the foam on the table and around his mouth, eyes seeking Llamiis by sound, even if he could not see him. He seemed to be pondering silence, but he could smell the burning, and could hear the cracking of his spine. It was something eerie... to hear and know it was him, yet not feel anything.

Llamiis waited.

"R...replace the cu..rrent Queen..." He said haltingly, "w..th smone... more... cap...pable..."

It was like the last piece of a puzzle you already knew the answer to. A far-reaching gambit, but one perfectly in line with the ideals he knew so well. The blackhorn was silent, but the blood reaching Shev's brain reduced to a trickle and then to to nothing at all as Llamiis closed off blood vessels.

Shev's eyes closed, further relaxing as his thought grew fuzzy, the nagging feeling of having utterly failed following him as he faded and finally exhaled for the last time.

Llamiis lifted his hand away and surveyed the flames that were rapidly eating the body, strolling away from the head of the table. As he passed the burnt-out tail, the yurble dipped one black-clawed finger in the ash, lifting it for study as he paused. Then he wiped his hand on his thigh and headed for the door, Gomi running quickly behind.

Llamiis opened the door to his room, the taste of smoke in his mouth. The smell of Shev's cooking flesh was deeply ingrained in his clothes and he could smell nothing but that.

Llamiis's room was impeccable. Not a trace of dirt or dust in sight, even the torch holder gleamed in the flickering yellow light. His bed had had the sheets changed and folded perfectly, and the pepers of Tookei's profile sat aligned to one side of a tray where lunch was set in harmonic positions, the main plate covered to keep from going cold.

The blackhorn stood in the doorway, surveying this for several seconds. His mouth went thin but he walked in, heading for the profile before the lunch. He shut the door behind him.

The profile lay with the pages in the correct order, the exact same pages that he'd read in the morning, that had just been meticulously placed one on top of the other and placed squared with the edge of the table.

His mouth remained a thin line and he sat, rereading Tookei's profile while Gomi retreated back under the bed, deeply unhappy with the whole smoke and heat thing.

The remains of the bone had also disappeared, as well as any dust under the bed. Instead there was a small round carpet and a plate with scraps from the kitchen.

The sound of eager eating commenced from under the bed, reminding Llamiis to lift the cover off the main plate so he could start eating, too.

The food looked a lot plainer than the usual fare that had been served till then, making Shev's comment on the cooking come to mind. Still, it was a good looking slab of meat and mashed potatoes.

Llamiis ate while rereading, this time with an eye towards what could be a problem.

Most of the first half of the profile was pretty inocuous, if at least helped see why it was certainly secure to think most redwings were sneaky, and hated the Redwings, as it was burned in since very young. The second half however, when Tookei began mentioning his father, had various points that could cause... problems.

He would have to edit those out in the final version. Llamiis read them again, this time with an eye towards revision.

The incident with his hand was inocuous enough, then came the torture sessions to a Twintail. There, Tookei mentioned how the girl, about his age, had had her powers sealed off and controlled released by his father, and how after being sent to Neopia on a mission, had been seen missing one of her tails.

He'd have to remove all of it, he decided, chewing a mouthful of potato. And find out who his current maid was while he was at it. And he'd begin immediately. Rising, Llamiis fished out some paper and a pen (quill?). He'd omit that apology, too, of course.

Kali had quietly walked over to Llamii's room, atleast it wasn't far off from Tookei's. She knocked lightly on the door and waited, wondering if he was even in his room right now.

Llamiis ignored the knock, continuing his transcription--his handwriting consisted of small, cramped letters.

Kali stood there for a minute biting her lip and knocking again "L...Llamiis...a...are...you...t....there...?"

Hikali. Llamiis set the pen down and took Tookei's version over to the bookshelf, hiding it behind a book of philosophy. Then he went to the door, opening it. He still smelled of burnt flesh, but that couldn't helped.

Kali blinked looking at Llamiis, she smelt something rather quickly but knew better then ask. "U..Um...T...Tookei... H...He has...a...pretty...bad...f...fever... A...Are you...b...busy...?" She asked quietly.

"No, I was just eating lunch." Llamiis smiled a small smile of reassurance. "How did he get a fever?"

"I...I don't...know...but...it has gotten w...worse...s...since this...morning..." Kali said looking towards the ground for a second "C...Can you...t...take a look...a...at him?" She asked looking back up at the large yurble.

Llamiis smiled down at her. "Let's go," he nodded, gesturing for her to lead the way.

Kali nodded and turned walking back to Tookei's room before opening the door and going over beside Tookei.

The blackhorn followed her in silence, thoughtful.

Tookei had fallen asleep again, half stretched out on top of his bed, shivering slightly, the damp towel still over his forehead.

Llamiis put his hand on the young redwing's chest--it glowed red and the blackhorn pushed his magic into a body for the third time that day.

Kali stood and watched nervously looking at Llamiis then Tookei and remailing silent.

The bacteria Tookei had contracted on his night in the dungeon had bid it's time since then, waiting for a chance to proliferate, time that had become ripe when hiss naturally superior healing abilities had stopped as he'd spent a night of exhaustion sleeping on the cold stone floor of Kali's room. A day later and a night of staying up had helped develop the fever that now consumed him.

Llamiis would have shaken his head, but he had better things to do. It would be more time-efficient to use his magic to boost Tookei's immune system than it would be to chase down and totally eradicate the virus. Unfortunately, that would also take more magic. Resigned, Llamiis began pumping magic into Tookei's system.

Tookei coughed lightly as the magic flowed into him, but he seemed to relax slowly as the seconds passed by, face relaxing as his body used the magic to fight back the virus.

Llamiis didn't have to use as much magic as he normally would have, since Tookei's body knew how to use it, but it was still a sizeable chunk that he left in Tookei's body when he lifted his hand away. "There, that should help." Llamiis smiled at Hikali. "Thanks for telling me."

Tookei slept on as his body did it's work, but it was already apparent the fever was under control.

Kali looked at Llamiis and nodded "Y...Yes...t...thank you...f...for...helping...h...him..." She said quietly before looking at Tookei and glad that he seemed to be in a better condition now.

Llamiis nodded. "Let me know if something serious happens, all right?" The yurble's smile grew more friendly. "I know I can trust you with him."

Kali blinked in suprise when she heared Llamiis but nodded a little looking towards the ground "I...I will..."

Llamiis nodded and left the room, padding back to his own room. He left the smell of char behind.

Kali watched Llamiis leave rubbing her nose a little. What ever that smell was...she...really didn't like it!

Dark green eyes watched as Llamiis left Tookei's room and went to his own thoughtfully.

When Llamiis got in his room, he locked the door and retrieved the profile, resuming where he'd left off.

Kali stood there for a minute before picking up the tray from breakfast and the one she had brought Tookei's tea. She then grabbed his old pillow with her tail and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. She would come check on Tookei again after she dropped this stuff off.

A Kali left Tookei's rooms and walked to the lower levels, she could see the yellow tip of Tresa's tail disappear down another corridor.

Kali went and dropped off the trays and put the dirty pillow where it belonged before going and continuing her work.


Less than one hour later, there were three pages of profiles written in Llamiis' small, cramped style. The originals, of course, had been burned and the door was now unlocked. Llamiis had kept his lunch tray inside the room, though, as he was much interested in meeting his new maid.

Tresa had waited quite patiently, folding laundry in the itchen quietly. After Llamiis had unlocked his door, and she'd finished perfectly folding yet another sheet, she stood, walkingup to Llamiis' door. Knowing her hooved feet could easily be heard on the stone floor, she immediately gave a soft knock on the door. "I'm here for the lunch tray." She said loud enough for Llamiis to hear.

Llamiis raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Come on in."

Tresa unconsciously took a deeper breath as she opened the door and walked inside, a faint polite smile on her face as she curtseyed, "My name is Tresa." She introduced herself, "I've been assigned to this floor in Dee's replacement." She said, looking at the tray's location briefly before looking at Llamiis.

Llamiis nodded, smiling back. "It's nice to meet you." Gomi wiggled out from under the bed, nose working curiously. The yurble leaned over and grabbed the tray, handing it to her. "Here. I'm sorry it took so long, I got a bit distracted."

Tresa nodded, "That's fine." She took the tray carefully, avoiding contact with Llamiis' hands. "I hope you found everything in order?" She said, taking a step back as she held the tray.

The yurble nodded. "I hadn't expected to see someone so soon, but it's nice to see another blackhorn here." Actually, her clan didn't matter at all. But it was a typical thing to say, and it was the kind of thing that could possibly put her at ease.

She smiled slightly, "It's nice to be able to attend to another blackhorn." She said in return.

Llamiis nodded as though he appreciated the sentiment.

She noded slightly as she backed out of the room. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call for me."

"I won't--thank you for your patience!" The yurble waved slightly.

Tresa smiled faintly as she held the tray in one hand, closing the door in front of her. She paused, then took the tray in both hands, walking off towards the kitchens.

Llamiis turned away, watching Gomi chew on the leg of his bed. That had been fairly unproductive... but oddly interesting.










The day was fading but there was still about an hour of light outside, long shadows from the walls and trees. There didn't seem to be many people out in the courtyard, except a couple guards doing their rounds.

As soon as they where in the courtyard Espoir gave a excited squeek and jumped off of Kali's sholder and started running around and climbing up the closest tree. Kali stood there watching him for a moment before walking slowly towards the tree.

"...on't hurt me!" Came the faint, familiar voice from around the side of the castle.  "You caused me so much pain! I'm getting my revenge NOW!!" Came a female voice, also familiar, followed by sounds of scuffling and choked cries from the male.

Kali blinked in suprise hearing  the two voices and quickly reconizing the male one. With out a second thought she quickly went towards where she heared them. Espoir was more excited about being outside again finally and took no notice as he climbed higher into the tree.

Teinzel had Tookei pinned against the wall, her hands around his throat as she throttled him. The korbat was flailing, hands trying to pull the stronger xweetok away as he struggled to breathe.

One of the guards what was making his rounds heared the voices and glanced over to see Kali going over to the noise. That was interesting... Slowly he walked towards them.

Kali's eyes widened in shock as she saw the two "S...Stop! W...What are you doing?!" She asked quickly going towards them and with out thinking twice grabing onto Teinzel's arm and trying to make her let go of Tookei.

Tookei looked over in shock at Hikali as she ran to help, Teinzel snarling at Hikali as she lashed out with her foot, trying to kick the maid away, not releasing her grip on Tookei. "Stay out of this!" She shouted.

Kali yelped in suprise for a moment moving away but bit her lip and again moved forward trying to make the other xweetok let go of her friend.

The guard saw the fighting and quickly walked over on the other side of Teinzel and grabed her with his clawed hand. "You might want to stop that before you cause anymore damage..." He said looking at her with his bright yellow eyes.

Teinzel finally let go as she was grabbed from both sides, pulling back to try and get free of them. Tookei coughed, sliding down the wall to the floor, rubbing his neck and shaking slightly.

Kali quickly got down beside Tookei worryed "A...Are you...o...ok?! W...What happened...?" She asked in a slight panic.

The guard hung onto Teinzel still and moved her farther away from the redwing. "Now what was that for..." He asked then noticing the stub of a second tail. "...Miss Twintail?" He asked looking at her in the eyes. He had heared about a twintail being in the castle...so this was her?

Tookei nodded weakly, "I...I'm fine... thank... thank you." He said, trying to smile at Hikali as he gasped for breath.

Teinzel growled, a sword forming in her free hand, "Let me go." She said lowly. "That Redwing has to die!"

Kali nodded a little looking at him still really worryed but hearing her words she moved a little so she was between Tookei and Teinzel. Seeing her act like this...and knowing what she was. Her tail curled around her tightly and she looked towards the ground, unable to look towards Teinzel.

The guard brought his tail below Teinzel's throat as six spikes shot up around the tail. "Please put that away before someone gets hurt twintail. I'm not going to let you kill anyone."

Tookei looked at Kali as she placed herself between him and Teinzel, surprised at this. Why... was she risking herself like that?

Teinzel froze, glaring icily at the guard. "My name is Teinzel." She said, finally letting her sword disappear she seemed to calm down. "Let me go." She growled lowly again, pulling her arm away from him.

Kali bit her lip her body shaking a little as she lookeda t Tookei again "M...Maybe...w...we...s...should...l...leave..." She suggested.

The guard chuckled a little "Good girl. Teinzel really? Interesting name" He said as the spikes around his tail folded back up. He slowly let go of her, ready just incase she turned to try and attack the redwing again.

Tookei stood slowly, eyes still on Teinzel. "I'm... I'm really sorry..." He whispered.

Teinzel glared back at Tookei, but ddidn't move. "You're lucky, brat. But I *will* make you pay." She said, turning to walk away with a flick of her tail, completely ignoring the guard.

Kali stood up watching Tookei worryed glancing over to see Teinzel walk off then looking at the guard silent.

The guard watched her sighing a little as she left. "Strange girl..." He muttered looking at the red wing korbat now "You ok kid?" He asked glancing at Kali. He had seen the girl before...but she never seemed the kind to go in the middle of a fight.

Tookei nodded, "Yeah, thanks... for stopping her." he said quietly.

The guard nodded and got down lower to look at Tookei at eye level "Can I ask you...Why she did that?" He asked curiously. Up close he seemed to have features of a krawk, long red hair covering a lot of his face, and strangly enough unlike a lot of krawks he had ears. Kali looked at the guard nervously taking a small step back.

"Uh..." Tookei backed up, but just met the wall as he looked back at the krawk. "I...it's a long story." He said weakly, looking down.

The guard just nodded a little and smiled kindly "Its ok if you don't want to say. Can I atleast ask your name? I would prefure not to call you kid or redwing." He said offering a clawed hand to the korbat. "Names Viikan" He added glancing at Kali for a moment before back at Tookei. Both of these kids seemed shy...but the redwing seemed more open then the royal.

"T..tookei." He said, slowly shaking Vii's hand and pulling back. "She... she was tortured... by my dad." He said, looking towads where Teinzel had stormed off.

Vii nodded a little "I see...but that is no reason to blame the child is it? You did nothing to her right?" He asked curiously still smiling. Kali watched silently keeping a good ways away from Viikan.

Tookei quickly shook his head, looking down. "No! ...but... s..sometimes she'd get punished instead of me, when I.. refused to do what my dad asked me to..."

Vii listened to him nodding a little "Ah...Well it might be best to avoid her...and try not to stay alone to much...atleast till she cools her head ok?" He suggested.

Tookei nodded, biting his lip, "Th...thanks..."

Vii nodded a little and smiled standing and walking off "No problem" He called back as he left waving his hand a little. Kali bit her lip watching Vii before looking back at Tookei "A...Are...y...you...s...sure your...o...ok?"

Tookei turned to Hikali, nodding, "Yeah, thanks... for helping me.." He said, smiling at her, "I wouldn't have been able to stop her alone..."

Kali bit her lip a little "I...I...d...didn't...h...help...a...at all...I'm...s...so...sorry..."

Tookei shook his head, "You actually tried, Kali, despite your fear." He smiled gentyl, "It's... the second time you've helped me."

Kali looked at Tookei unsure really and looked back down towards the ground tail curling around her a little.

Tookei reached out to put a hand on her shoulder, pauing just above her, then biting his lip he took a step away. "Thanks..." he said quietly, "Y..you're the only person who's stood up for me besides Llamiis."

Kali nodded a little "Y...You...w...welcome..." She said quietly not moving or looking up.

He wanted... to hug her... but he just stood there, uncertain. "Wha..at were you doing out here?" He asked at length.

Kali bit her lip a little "I...I b...brought...E...Espoir out...f...for a w...walk..." She explained quietly.

Tookei smiled, "Where is he?"

"I...In...o...one of the...t...trees" Kali replyed quietly.

Tookei, looked around, "Come on, let's go, don't be so sad, okay?" He saind, lightly brushing her hand with his.

Kali bit her lip a little 'O...Ok....." She said still rather quiet.

Tookei walked back where Hikali had come from, looking at the trees as he went. "Espoir!" he called.

Kali followed Tookei silent as she looked around. There was a squeeking from the top of one of the trees as a small head poked out from around the tree and towards the two.

Tookei's ears flicked towards the sound before he turned, smiling as he looked up at the petpet. "Hey Espoir! Having fun?"

Espoir gave a quick and happy squeek before running and jumping around the tree more. Kali watched him in silence, and a small smile again formed on her face for a minute.

Tookei missed thesmile as he watched Espoir, laughing slightly, "Looks like it..." He saind, studying the branches before running up to the trunk, jumping up and climbing up onto the lower branch, wings flared out as he clambered onto the branc and looked upwards.

Espoir squeeked again quickly climbing down a little before landing on Tookei's head. Kali watched the two silently, wings pinned on her back and tail curled around herself.

Tookei grined, looking up slightly at the dandan, "You like jumping on me don't you?" He said playfully, climbing further up the tree.

Espoir squeeked as if saying yes to Tookei's question as his tail swing back and forth behind him and he stayed on the korbat's head.

Tookei laughed, as he sat on the last stury branch, letting his feet dangle down. He looked down at the ground and waved at Kali happily.

Kali watched them waving a little, though having no plans to take her feet off solid ground. She was quite tired and was doing her best to completly hide it. Espoir squeeked and jumped off of Tookei's head and onto the branch above him. He squeeked proudly this time, as if saying he could go higher then Tookei.

Tookei looked up at the petpet with a wry grin. "Oh competitive are we?" He said, reaching up to try and snatch the Dandan's tail.

Espoir squeeked and jumped up higher so Tookei couldn't reach him and squeeked again.

Tookei laughed, balancing on th ebranch as he pulled his feet up and stood, using his wings for balance before reacing up to the next branch. "Come back here you midget!"

Espoir squeeked climbing up higher to keep away from the one chasing him. Kali watched nervously taking a slow step towards the tree "C...Careful..." She said quietly.

The quiet voice of Kali didn't reach Tookei as he climed up higher, keeping close to the trunk of the tree, hands and feet grabbing on to branches, his wings flared out for extra balance.

Kali watched nervously and getting right beside the tree "C...Careful..." She said again watching worryed. Espoir was enjoying this game, it was something he didn't get with Kali and just kept climbing higher.

The tree was beginning to sway under Tookei's weight as he was on the smaller branches, and finally the branch he was standing on snapped. Tookei gave a yelp of surprise as he fell down, the branch he was holding on to bending and breacking with another snap, the tree shaking madly as the korbat fell backwards.

Kali's eyes widened in shock as she quickly got below Tookei, forgetting about the fact he was bigger then her and trying to catch him wouldn't work to well. Espoir yelped in suprise as he hung on tightly to the tree as his tail wraped around the branch he was on.

Tookei fell further, back hitting a sturdy branch as he cried out slightly, tolling and finally spreading his wings as he managed to kick away from the tree, gliding away and landing in a rolling heap off to one side. He stopped finally laying on his back, looking up at the darkened crimson sky. "Owww..."

Kali watched Tookei in worry and quickly went over to him "T...Tookei! A...Are you ok?" She asked in a slight panic. Espoir watched squeeking quietly and worried and slowly climbed down the tree.

Tookei looked up at her, not moving from his sprawled out position. "...yeah, I think..." He said with a sheepish grin.

Kali bit her lip worryed "A...Are...y...you...s...sure?" She asked looking at him from top to bottom worried he had gotten hurt.

Tookei didn't seem too damaged besides a few scraps, but he still lay where he'd ended up, nodding slightly. "Yeah.. the sky looks very pretty, you know?" He said, looking at the pink and orange clouds.

Kali blinked confused "T...The sky...?" She bit her lip looking at him "C...Can...y...you...g...get up?"

Tookei nodded, pointing up. "I've not seen many sunsets... I've lived underground most of my life." He said conversationally, not moving to get up.

Kali bit her lip a little harder, why was he talking about the sky? The sky was the sky...it never changed... She thought turning to look where Tookei had pointed.

The usually clean Niflheim sky had traces of fluffly clouds, that were tinted in various sunset colors from dark purples to goldens nearer the sun. It was a very rare view, as clouds were never seen in the drought years.

Kali blinked in suprise her eyes fixed on the sky, she...had never seen that before. Though she had never really looked up at the sky before since she had no interest in it.

Tookei smiled slightly as he watched her, tugging a bit on her tail. "Come lay down and we'll watch the sky together."

Kali bit her lip as little as Tookei tuged on her tail a little "U...Um...O...Ok..." She said quietly sitting down and again looking up at the sky.

Tookei smiled slightly, watching as the sky turned to darker hues of purple and blue, silent.

Kali watched in awe at the sky as a small smile formed on her face.

It was getting quite cold as the sun dipped below the mountains, the gardens already dark with shadows as the guards turned on the outer torches. Tookei sneezed lightly.

Kali blinked looking at Tookei biting her lip a little "M...Maybe...w...we..sh...should go...inside...I...I meen...y...you where sick...i...in bed...y...yesterday..." She said quietly. Espoir had already curled up on Kali's lap seeming quite content on where he was and not wanting to move.

Tookei hesitated, looking at Hikali. "I think... I'll stay a while longer, why don't you go, you look tired, you've been working all day."

Kali bit her lip harder looking riht at him "Y...You can g...get up.....right...?"

Tookei winced slightly, then smiled faintly, "I'll be fine, promise! I just... need to stay like this for a while... I.. don't wanna bother Llamiis." He looked down with a frown.

Kali kept where she was sitting and looked down at her sleeping petpet petting him lightly. "I...I'll...w...wait...t..till you can...g...get up..."

Tookei sighed, "But... you really should go to bed, aren't you tired? I... don't wanna be a burden..."

Kali shook her head a little. She was doing her best to hide it...but she was very tired. She just didn't want to leave Tookei alone after what happened.

Tookei sighed, "Kali I'll be fine, I doubt Teinzel will come back, and if you fall asleep here I won't be able to carry you back!"

Kali shook her head again "I...I c...can wait..." She said looking back up towards the sky.

Darkness had fallen fully by now, and a few twinkling stars had begunt o appear. Tookei sighed, looking up as well. "Sorry... I always seem to make a mess of things."

Kali shook her head a little "N...No...its...o...ok. Y...You d...don't..." She said quietly watching the stars begin to apper.

Tookei said nothing, though he was quite certain of it. He'd brought prblems to the castle and always needed help. He hadn't done anything right!

Kali bit her lip a little "T...Too...kei...T...Thank...you..."

Tookei blinked in surprise, "What for?" He asked.

Kali looked at the ground for a moment as her tail curled around herself "Y...Your...m..my...first friend...." She said then looking over at him.

Tookei blushed slightly, "...you're my first friend too."

Kali nodded a little and smiled slightly "S...So...t...thank you..." She said as the smile faded away.

Tookei looked at her, "You should smile more often... you look very pretty."

Kali blinked in suprise as she quickly turned to look away from Tookei and towards the ground. Her tail curled tighter around her but she said nothing.

Tookei blinked, frowning slightly. "D..did I say something wrong?" He asked worried.

Kali bit her lip and shook her head a little still not looking up. She...hadn't heared anyone say that to her.....well...except for her parents...but it was still a suprise to her.

Tookei tried sitting up towards Hikali, biting back a cry as pain shot up his back, falling back against the ground.

Kali jumped a little and looked back towards Tookei "Y...You...r...really...h...hurt...arn't...y...you...?"

Tookei smiled faintly, "I... hurt my back..." He said weakly.

Kali bit her lip a little "S...Should...I...g...get Llamiis?"

"No!" Tookei said immediately. "I... He's tired, I know he is, I don't... wanna keep bothering him..."

Kali nodded slightly "O...Ok...T>..Then...l..lets get you...t...to your...b...bed..."

Tookei frowned slightly, "I can't sit up without my back hurting though..."

Kali bit her lip a little "I...I don't...t...think...I...I could...c...carry...you..." She said worryed unsure what else they could do.

Tookei sighed, "Just leave me here, I'll heal eventually and go back on my own."

Kali shook her head a little looking at him worried "N...No..."

Vii was coming back through the courtyard when he saw Kali and Tookei blinking in suprise. "You two still out here? Its getting pretty cool with the sun gone..." He said chuckling and going over to them.

Tookei looked over at him in faint surprise. "Oh... uh... we were looking at the stars!"

Vii laughed a little as he looked up at the sky "I see...Well they are quite nice arn't they?" Kali bit her lip nervously looking at Vii then Tookei unsure what to say.

Tookei nodded slightly, "Yeah..."

Vii glanced down at Tookei chuckling and offering a hand to him "But it late. It might be better for both of you to get back to your rooms. Staying out here where its cool, you could get sick."

Tookei bit his lip, looking at his hand. "...I...I can't get up." He said softly.

Vii blinked in suprise "Did...Something happen?" He asked looking at Tookei then Kali. She just turned her gaze away quickly and nodded slightly.

Tookei sighed a little. "I fell out of the tree and hit my back on the way down. My spine hurts if I move..."

Vii nodded a little looking at him then Kali "And I'm guessing you can't really carry him huh?" Kali bit her lip and nodded looking down at the ground. Vii chuckled looking back at Tookei "How about I carry you hm? Would be better to lay in a bed then on the ground."

Tookei bit his lip, "I don't... wanna be a bother."

Vii laughed and shook his head "Not at all. If I can help I'll help, that is if you want the help?"

Tookei nodded, "Y...yeah, thanks."

Vii nodded "No need for thanks." He said carefully getting down beside Tookei and lifting the redwing up. "Just point me in the way of the room" Kali watched then stood now carrying Espoir in her arms, she would follow and make sure Tookei was alright.

Tookei winced slightly as he was picked up, but nodded, pointing the way silently.

Vii smiled and started walking the way Tookei pointed, Kali following silently behind.

Tookei continued leading Vii through the castle to his room, finally they reached his door.

Vii chuckled a little opening the door and walking in "You just rest then ok?" He asked setting Tookei lightly on his bed. Kali had followed and once she saw Tookei was in bed she turned and left walking back to her room. She knew he would be ok now, and she really...*really* needed to sleep.

Tookei nodded, "Thanks... what was your name?" He asked, looking to see Kali leave.

Vii laughed "I told you didn't I? Oh well. Its Viikan" He said with a grin.

"Viikan... I appreciate the help." He said with a smile.

Kali sighed as she opened the door to her room and lightly closed it behind her as she went in. She lightly put Espoir on the corner of her bed before falling on it herself, she didn't understand why she felt this tired.

Vii chuckled "You can just call me Vii alright?" He asked standing and walking over to the door "And don't mention it, I'm just glad I could help. Better heal fast though...that girl seemed worryed about you."

Tookei nodded, "I'll be fine by morning." He said with a grin.

Vii laughed a little "Thats good to hear. Night then" He said leaving and closing the door behind him. He chuckled to himself, the kid seemed pretty nice, he thought then turning and walking down a hall away from the room.