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She stepped through to notice the dark elven army, their black armor of plate and chain which reflected no light but seemed to absorb it instead as they stood, eagerness in their eyes.

"I've made contact with friends who are going to be fighting with us in this battle. Some who have been unfriendly in the past. This is the second of many trials for us to open doors and allow the world to see your greatness. Paladins from Exmoor as well as dwarves from the Black Anvil, Stormfist and the Misty Hills will be fighting alongside us. I'm trusting all of you to focus your anger on the beasts and men within the castle we're going to assault instead. May your ancestors guide you in this fight and I hope to take all of you back home once it's done." They saluted in unison then she turned to Tess.

"I've already scouted the castle, take the scene from my memories," she informed.

"What? When did you do that?"

"Earlier this morning. You must not realize how much power you display with each gate you open. Tia and her mother probably knew we were on our way three days ago."

"Doesn't matter," Duke Otnel interrupted. "Their end will be the same."

Concentrating, Kailee delved into her friend's surface thoughts and received the image of a large, star shaped castle near a large lake which rested in a wide valley within the mountains. Surprisingly, not far from their present position. "Okay, thank you." She turned to the army, now assembled and waiting. "Brothers, we're going to join with the men of Exmoor and travel to this castle with them. Remember, we're all in this fight together." Opening another large tear in reality, she allowed the army to quickly move into the forest near the camp of her allies and hoped a fight within their ranks wouldn't begin. Once all had passed through, she joined them and quickly moved towards the Knight-Commander who was organizing the men of Exmoor.

Green eyes turned to her as Sir Clement smiled. "I hope Enestius enjoyed breakfast, for his next will be with his father in Nurmes."

Kailee nodded. "I've gotten the location and we can leave as soon as you're ready."

He climbed into the saddle of his warhorse as it continued to back from the demon before it. "Mount up!" She watched as the almost three hundred templar and men-at-arms rose onto the backs of their steeds, polished armor proudly displayed and glinting in the sparse light penetrating the forest's layers. She turned and took a deep breath, then concentrated on a large clearing to the southwest of the castle, then wiped wide with her hands and opened an enormous gate. Thundering past her, horses charged into the green, rolling field towards the high grey wall. Soon after, her own contingent of dark elves were followed by two gold dragons carrying Katsandra and Danaca into the sky over Enestius' home. She stepped in and dropped the heavy weight and took a deep breath.
Golden eyes looked up to see the chaos ahead as bolts and arrows flew at the two units, one attacking the gate as the other hit the walls to the north of it while gouts of flame launched from their air support, burning the parapets clean above.

"Ready," Tess asked as she turned and noticed the evil grin.

"As ready as I'm going to be," she nodded and noticed the guard move around to her front, shields up. She scanned the roof of the keep and noticed a large group of defenders also there firing into the attacking groups now climbing over the merlons. "I'm going to open a small gate at the top of the keep, be ready," she announced, then swiped again before the unit who sprinted onto the stone floor to attack the nadlac defenders, now caught offguard from behind. Tess led her into the fray as Kailee dropped the gate and spun to notice four others, axes and hammers brandished and charging.
Unsheathing her sword, she cut and blocked soon dropping two as the remaining pair turned on her, black stringy hair fell over dark faces of mottled maroon and deep brown, sharp teeth and beady, but intelligent eyes. One immediately caught a dagger in his neck as Kailee blocked and cut at the second who doubled over as she withdrew the bluish glowing blade from his midsection.

She took a quick moment to take in the scene as her royal guard's weapons and shields fiercely mowed through their immediate threat, knocking some off the high wall through the merlons as they attacked another. Turning, she scanned and soon noticed the wooden doorway leading into the keep and moved towards it.

"Wait," Tess implored as she jogged to the entrance. "I'm more suited to checking these things out than you are." Kailee moved to her friend's side and raised a protective, magical barrier for any potential traps which suddenly exploded as fire filled their vision, washing over the invisible barrier and away from them.

"Like that," Kailee jabbed as Tess jumped back.

"Well, now that it's open," she moved towards it and concentrated as the sergeant and his men joined them, then pulled on the large, metal ring to reveal a darkened stairwell and sounds of combat within. Kailee stood as Adgertesse' silently moved down the stairs and was soon followed by five of her guard who nearly pushed their queen out of the way. As they made their way downward the remaining sergeant and five other guard followed behind, the last closing the door behind him. Each of them having night vision had no problem seeing in the dim lighted hall as they finally approached a landing and hallway beyond. Kailee could feel the pulses of magic which exploded not far to their left. Enestius was fighting for his life, it was Tia's turn.

Reaching out, she soon found the mage in the room to the right, quickly gathering things for her escape. "Sergeant," she whispered, "Remain in the hallway and keep everyone else away".

"Madam?"

"There's someone in there that I have to face alone," she stated as Kailee moved to the ornately carved, mahogany door. In an instant, her body disappeared into a black, gaseous form which seeped underneath the long, thin crease and into the room. Inside, she noticed the mentalist and bride of Sater who suddenly stood and concentrated, pack in hand. Kailee's body returned to it's normal state as Tia spun and began prepping a spell.

"I knew it," she seethed. "Took you long enough," Tia grinned darkly as dark blue light erupted around her hands. "Now, I get to watch the murderer of my love die." Suddenly, lightning lurched from her outstretched arms and blasted the shield around Kailee.

"I did you a favor, more than once as I recall," the green and brown clad, vampire reminded as she mentally blasted her target who dropped to her knees as hands went to her head. "I loved you and then you join the very one who tried to kill me and our friends."

"Spare me," Tia spat, eyes reddened with anger as she glanced up and fired her own blast of energy, catching Kailee at a vulnerable moment and knocked her off her feet. Hitting the rug hard, she realized that her friend was too far gone to save as she pushed herself up to see the petite mentalist grab a sword whose dark blade's aura of swirling black suddenly made Kailee nervous as she stood and backed. "Seems you're not the only one with friends who know how to make special weapons. This one was created to remove the plague of my existence once and for all."

Kailee launched a firebolt which was suddenly absorbed by the sword's blade, a surprise which allowed Tia to swing. Lightning reflexes allowed her to avoid a cut that would've removed her head from her shoulders, which she used to charge, pin Tia's wrists backward as she shoved the smaller girl to the floor. Tia screamed with rage as she tried desperately to loosen the strong grip, then headbutted Kailee which gave her the moment she needed. Suddenly, Kailee felt the blade along her back and the searing pain which threatened to drain her soul from her body.

Suddenly, the world went red and the bronze skinned woman morphed into the demon within, claws tore into the thin wrists as long fangs bit deeply into the jugular of her victim as the wooden floor soon sported a burned silhouette where Tia once lay. The sword fell off to the side, clanging harmlessly away as Kailee jumped to her feet, spine still aching from the cut. Rage soon gave way to realization of loss as she dropped to her knees and the pain of her wound announced itself louder with each moment. Concentrating as she ground her teeth, eyes pressed shut, the long thin line slowly sealed with a thin scar visible through her cloak and shirt. Once done, she opened her eyes now misted from the deed now completed and sighed heavily. The one who had taken her by the hand in Laksay was gone.

The door opened and she turned to notice Adgertesse's concerned look. "Katsandra and Danaca need your healing abilities, now."

"Okay." She pushed herself up and sprinted with her entourage to the right and quickly into a scorched room whose air was full of the acrid smoke from an explosion which claimed not only Enestius, but also the furniture and the trio of friends come to kill him. Shocked, she ran to their side, slumped over and laying against the stone border to the large fireplace as their life ebbed away.

"Don't you dare," Kailee screamed as she placed her hands on Katsandra's chest and quickly healed her enough to remain in the land of the living, then moved to Danaca and did the same. Thurgen was still alive, just unconscious as his vestment survived the last ditch effort from Sater's son to take a few more victims with him.
She turned to Tess and her men. "Get them to a clean bed and let them rest."

"Alright," Tess nodded and moved to gather their friends as Kailee plopped down onto the charred floor, blackened as were the walls and ceiling. Kailee rested her head atop her knees and watched them carry the trio of heroes out of the room and realized they had experienced the same thing not forty plus years ago on a distant hilltop. Some things never change.