laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Arhus led those he had called friends for millennia, although here in Ciechanow it seemed as just a few years had gone by as none of them had changed physically since the day they had first arrived here. From the marble steps that descended from the central temple that was the home of their benefactors, he felt a sense of urgency and some relief as well as he looked at his beautiful wife, Elminoir.

"I'm amazed we had been this blind for so long," he stated humbly.

"We each have our own realms to command and guide, we can't be totally blamed," Yaeby defended. "She wasn't one of ours anyway."

"But many of her friends were," Archantael countered.

"I'm just sorry I didn't see it sooner," their newest member, Death, added quietly.

Elminoir grinned at him sympathetically. "You inherited a most degenerate state, unfortunately. His network was even more intricate than we had imagined until recently with these crusades. Only major events catch our attentions, he worked in the shadows quite effectively."

"Now it seems that someone else was pulling his strings," Arhus was glad that the present chapter was finally over. Now he could concentrate on cleaning up the mess that had been created. He stopped and faced those he helped govern the world with. "Well, let's give her the news." In an instant, their bodies vanished in a coalescing pillar of brilliant light as the unique auras surrounding each member became one that then descended in a large garden.

His brown eyes caught sight of the archmage who appeared like a little girl who now sat in the newly repaired gazebo in her signature wooden chair. She looked up with a start as they walked to her and stopped, forming a half circle around the accused.

"Lorayna," Arhus began. "You've been found guilty of treasonous acts against the Ring and they want to see you right away."

Jumping up, the little girl backed as her chair vanished. "No. I've done nothing wrong," she declared defensively, gripping her tome tightly to her chest like a shield.

Death approached her slowly, his dark eyes, long brown hair, slicked back into a long ponytail and strong demeanor only supported his name. "You hadn't the strength to be loyal in working with the outcast. Maela is dead and your master has no more use for you. Had you not attacked Kailee in this very garden, we may never have known about your treachery."

"She attacked me first. I was trying to get her to release, like they told me to. I'm the victim," she pleaded as she continued to retreat.

"They never wanted her to release," Elminoir countered. "You were lied to by a very powerful mentalist who deceived Sater for many years. Maela is responsible for both Dark Ages in an attempt to unbalance the world and you helped her accomplish a great deal."

Lorayna defiantly stood her ground and suddenly screamed out as a white, mesh-like field surrounded her and tightened. As her silent scream continued, the mesh soon crushed the elongated female into the nether, and then evanesced into the clear blue sky. The Charikar had declared their judgement as the Five remained silent for a moment.

"Glad that's finally over," Yaeby quietly stated as he wrapped an arm around his wife, Archantael's waist.

Elminoir thought for a long moment as Arhus knew there was on more thing to do. Sea blue eyes glanced to him in the unspoken language they had shared for so long, and they both turned to the other three. "No, there's one more thing to do before we can declare justice served."

* * *

Eirianwen sat quietly in reverence as Bronwynne concentrated towards Kailee and Adgertesse's resting place. The enormous oaks that surrounded their normal bed now stood as columns separating the vibrant rose bushes and other colorful flowers which exploded with brilliant life and fragrance. Next to the waterfall and flowing river, she felt it served a perfect place for them to be remembered. Meadhran approached quietly and crouched next to the queen, placing a consoling hand atop her own, still wet with tears that she had been wiping away most of the afternoon.

She glanced to him and noticed their children beyond, bedecked in their finest to honor their friends. "Sometimes I hate being able to see the future," she grinned.

"You knew about this also," he asked and she nodded.

"Years ago when I gave her friends the prophecy in Couronne." She sniffed. "I should've been able to change it, knowing what would happen."

"You were given the time and place?" Eirianwen realized that she hadn't but, should've delved deeper. Looking at their hands, she remained quiet. "Then you can't blame yourself. There are some things that are meant to be irregardless of what we know, or think we know." He smiled warmly. "She wouldn't want you blaming yourself for her choices and I'm sure that would be the same for you."

She smiled at him realizing his point and kissed him gently. Sighing, she stood up, composed herself as Bronwynne turned to her, now the crystal skinned elf so she didn't damage the trees between here and the lake, and nodded. "We're here to honor these two friends of Kevelaer for their sacrifices, for their friendship and faithfulness to seeing old walls broken down. Kailee and Adgertesse were my sisters and they will never be forgotten," she eyed her sons and daughters. "Not by any succeeding generation, forever. They and their friends strove for a world that many have forgotten and these heroes gave their lives in pursuit of that belief." She bowed her head, trying to remain in control but, finding it very difficult. "Humans and elfkind will ever be neighbors. Our fight is their fight for the only thing that truly separates us is air." A point that she wanted to sink in to their minds and something she had been teaching them for centuries. "We will continue to strengthen our bond to Wroclaw, Astara as well as Lamar. Kailee's dream as queen was for this goal and it will be realized."

As they stood for a quiet moment suddenly, five pillars of light illuminated from high above ground: green, blue, red, white and yellow, and Eirianwen knew immediately who they were. Stunned, she stared upwards as did they all. As they watched, a cone of white light poured from the boughs above where the two girls lay and Eirianwen nearly knelt at the display of power that charged the air. She quickly tried to see beyond the surrounding foliage but, had no luck as the intensity was blinding. As soon as it had started, it was over and she quickly glanced upwards to the columns of light and noticed the human faces within. Three men and two women looked at her, nodded and vanished.

On the wind, she heard a soft, unrecognizable female voice. "It is done."