A dialogue opened between Perotessa5 (pirotess@juno.com) and Eagle of Arabia (Cadence@inQuo.net). DISCLAIMER: None of this actually happened in the real timeline. Obviously, we were playing around with ideas. I'm sure Cassandra would have a positive cow over the usage of her character Cassandra, and I am having a cow over the use of Tigris. Kinda my fault, I guess. * * * (Now this started 7/22/96 with an innocent letter. (Letters saved and combined herein by Perotessa.)) Eagle said (and I quote) "Glide with you always Rookery sister." I took exception (of course) and in so doing created Cearda. * Perotessa * Cearda: I am from clann na Cearda (Sinclair Clan). What clan do you come from? (Wings flair out in an aggresive posture; eyes glow faintly red) * Eagle of Arabia * Eagle: Steps back in mild surprise, holding paws in the air, draping his wings "I was referring to the rockery clan of the Gargoyles Mailing list. We are clan are we not?" * Perotessa * Cearda: Clann na Cearda is my blood clan, it would be the *only* clan left standing. We are loyal to the one and only true Queen of all gargoyles. We are followers of she known as DEMONA! (Crouches and makes to pounce) Are you loyal or are you a betrayer? Answer or die. Answer wrongly and die! Perotessa: I don't know what I am going to do with that gargoyle (Cearda) but I'll figure something out. There ought to be a leash law around here :) * Eagle of Arabia * Though lying tounge should cut us down, I am bound by my oath to the Fey woman Cassandra never to turn my hand against any who cross my path. As such, I shall remain ever loyal to my crown. And to Demona I do offer my services. * Perotessa * Cearda checks herself before she leaps and looks at Eagle with suspicion. Satisfied, she capes her wings; eyes fading to thier normal color. She raises her head and show off a beautiful silver collar. "Then welcome... Brother." Perotessa: "I think Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir existed whenever Demona found anybody to join. She *is* the quintisential ochter oidhche bheithir (high flying night monster) and makes no quams about that." < :) > Cearda nods and rises, taking a swipe with her halberd. "Tell him about that time we flew over the English channel and made it into France! Oh, he'll love that one!" Cearda flares her wings and slowly walks out of the room. "Well, I'll be a'going hunting now." "Humans or food?" askes Perotessa. She stops, looks over her shoulder, and gives her a sly grin. "Is there a difference?" Perotessa: "Please pray for me! If Cearda has her way, *I'll* be the next course on the dinner plate! Maybe I should have a muzzle to go along with that leash!" :) * * * (All of that is kinda background and then on 8/19 Eagle sent me a letter: ) * Eagle of Arabia * Some of Christine's descendants are members of Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir, so I (the writer) have a very strong interest in this now! For more information, Phantom4 will explain it all. I'll get to work on that. * * * Cearda: Well you better!" snarls Cearda. "Glide with me at your own risk!" She warns. Eagle: Gladly *smirk* Cearda:I'll only Fly with you if you are able to beat me in fair combat! *Eagle turns slowly around from facing Perotessa, to look at the Contentious One with an expression close to laughter.* "You sure your up to it, Cearda? With nothing to do after my Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir sister Tigris died, I was left with nothing to do but stupid battleplay. I learned and studied with Lysander, the best warrior of the fairy realm. Probably spent too much time in the Orient, too. Glide with you always, rookery sister!" *referring to Cearda* "Farewell for now, Perotessa." *nods* * * * (Then the fun began!) - Eagle of Arabia * Perotessa * Cearda smiled (which isn't easy for a beaked gargoyle to do) "You may laugh now, *brother*" she sneered, "But I haven't told you the rules yet." She slowly raised her halberd, giving it a couple of experimental swipes. She crouched low, eyes faintly glowing red. "And the rules are..." She leapt. "There are NO rules!" * Eagle of Arabia * Reflexively, the eagle-headed gargoyle snapped under the leaping gargoyle, and brought his tail across her face in the process. He stood to face her. They now stood in the opposite positions. His eyes were aflame. "You doubt my loyalty? You doubt the loyalty of an entire family descended from one honorable gargoyle who lost her life to the *humans*? The line of Tutela is not so easily dishonored! Ever hear of someone called Lysander?" As he spoke, Cearda crouched again, this time to spring lower and catch him before he could move. However, he immediately launched himself forward at her, and they met in the center. "Lysander, and of course Malcora your old companion, both were my teachers." The contest had begun. Both were of nearly the same height and build. Cearda had a lot of strength over the eagle-headed one, but Eagle made up for it in cleverness. Cearda sticks her foot out to deliver a blow to him as he approached, and it stuck home. He quickly batted her foot out of the way, angrily. Cearda responds with two blows to the face, and Eagle topples backwards. "You should have paid more attention to them, *brother*." Cearda snarled. Suddenly, Eagle's tail snapped around both of Cearda's legs, and she slashed at them with her talons. As she did, she did not see his swing at her head. The blow hit home, a blow to the face that would likely have broken a human's skull. Cearda roared, tipping over on one foot, and slashing his mid section. His Gi tore, but the rest of him moved quickly enough. Eagle swung again, and Cearda caught it. She had an iron grip, and at first Eagle was helpless against it. Suddenly swinging his other fist and using his spiked knees, he suddenly hit Cearda's wrist, and freed his paws from her grasp. "Kae!" he shouted, spun around on the balls of his feet, and slammed his foot into her stomach. She responded by slashing his shirt and chest so hard it drew blood across his breast. "Not that you have anything there to damage, anyway." Cearda shrugged. Eagle scowled angrily. Cearda laughed. Eagle made a sudden dive for her wings, feigning. Cearda moved, but only slightly. She stuck at him with her fist. This Eagle grabbed her wrist and forearm, and twisted downward. He pulled back on her arm, pulling her back to him. He locked his arm around her neck, locking it with the other before Cearda could break his hold. "I'm not waiting for you to like me, Cearda. Only respect me as your clan member!" Eagle pulled back with his hold, and there was a cracking noise. At first, Perotessa was afraid the found was Cearda's neck. Cearda did begin to falter under his hold, but they were moving slowly now, like slow motion. Then they turned to stone. * Perotessa * The first conscious thought that Eagle had, as he felt sleep leave him was to stretch. But a slight movement from his arm quickly changed his mind. His stone skin exploded off his form. He growled slightly, his grip loosening. It was all the opening Cearda needed. She leaned forward then twisted to the right, using her wings as extra impulsion; flinging the younger gargoyle off her back. Eagle went flying across the room. As he finally came to a sliding stop against the opposite wall he shook his head; dazed. Suddenly there was a thump on his collarbone. He looked at the offending object and saw Cearda's foot. Her retractable razor sharp middle claw slowly bobbing up and down. If it finished it's downward swing it would pierce his artery; he would bleed to death. His eyes quickly flickered up to Cearda's face. "Well? What are you waiting for?! Finish me off!" Cearda's eyes twinkled with amusement. "This little battle wasn't to decide if you were loyal or not Youngling. It was simply a small skirmish to test your worthiness to fly at MY shoulder. Nothing more. Besides, you ought to remember your own vow." Eagle looked at her uneasily, "I am bound by my oath to Cassandra to never turn my hand against any who would cross my path." he gritted. Cearda smiled. "I thought so." she removed her foot and stepped back. "You do well to remember that, Youngling." she said lightly. "Well if you two are finished." said Demona who had watched the whole exchange with amusement. "I think maybe it is time to change Eagle's name, don't you Cearda?" Cearda gave Eagle an assessing look. "Indeed. Perhaps Iolair." Demona nodded, smiling. "Sounds good. What do you think Eagle?" Eagle slowly picked himself off the floor and glared at the brightly colored Cearda. She ignored him. "Whatever pleases you, my Queen." he said softly. "What does it mean?" Demona laughed. "It means, my young friend, eagle in gaelic." Perotessa, who had watched the confrontation and the subsequent conclusion, slowly joined the gargoyles. "Very good." she said with forced lightness to her voice. Demona looked at the young woman with a mixture of disgust and a healthy dose of respect and a shade of fear. Perotessa for her part, gave the red maned gargoyle a wide berth. "Cearda, now that this is done would you mind joining me in the Study?" Cearda smiled. "Of course not. You want to pick stories from my brain again, huh?" Perotessa nodded. "You tell some of the best stories." she gushed. Cearda nodded and moved off with the girl. Eagle watched her go with an angry look on his face. Demona took note of that and put a hand on his shoulder. "Do not forget who she is, Eagle." the Queen warned softly. Eagle glanced at her quickly with a slight shocked look on his face, "What? No, never!" "Good." said Demona. She watched as Cearda moved away. "Don't look at the sun-bright gargoyle too long Eagle. She'll burn your eyes out." She smiled slightly. "Never forget that it is she who I have chosen to stand at my right side. She earned her place. She trusts me to do what is right for the clan. I can not betray that trust." Eagle nodded quickly. "Of course not! I mean...I..." "Don't worry about it Eagle. Just remember, even though you may be the last of Tutela's line but I never held much love for her. And you my young Eagle *are* expendable." She gave him a pointed look. The young Eagle tried to look away but the magnetism of Demona's eyes held him. Only when he began to tremble did she release him. "Good." she said softly. "We understand each other." She slowly moved away. "I'll be in the laboratory if you need me." she tossed over her shoulder. She left Eagle in the hall to wonder what the hell had just happened. * Eagle of Arabia * Eagle nodded deeply to Demona as she departed the room. Several moments passed after Demona departed, before Iolair turned away from the direction Cearda and Demona had taken, to go out the back way. He stopped for a moment near the door, and placed his paw on the stone frame, and leaned on that stone for a moment. His eyes glowed angrily, and his claw dug into the stone door frame until the masonry buckled and powdered away. Iolair cursed, closing his eyes in frustration. How could he have been so foolish? What had he been thinking? Demona would never forget this. He had no idea what Demona would think now. His cards were down. She had too many up her sleeve. His life, namely, as today had proven. He was so angry at himself he could have cried. He'd studied under Lysander for so many years. Yet, he'd failed miserably. He might never have the chance to show Demona what he was capable of. He botched that one horribly. For two hundred years after Tutela, her descendants had been the guardians of the Isle of Man. They had thwarted the humans, remained alive. It was they who had deposed the traitorous usurper that had ordered the destruction of the previous clan of the Rushen Keep. They were all followers of Demona, and had been with her at the time when Drake Castle had been destroyed. Their return had been one of destruction for the humans -- a sweet revenge. Demona had only cared enough for Tutela to mark her passing. However, one night during a particularly bad storm, Demona returned from an errand in a particularly irritable mood. All anyone could learn was that she had been heard speaking of Tutela and the members of the Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir that bore Tutela's lineage, as though Tutela herself haunted her. The next night the Clan left the Isle of Man for what was thought to be the last time. As such, until modern times, Tutela's children had been of Demona's clan. She had barely tolerated them. They were collectively brilliant and highly resourceful. Mighty warriors and sorcerers, all highly loyal. Although they were outspoken and strong leaders, she never gave them positions of authority in the clan. She didn't trust them. They were part human, in spirit if not blood. Demona would never forget the day that odd human woman had approached the wedding altar of the gargoyles of Drake Castle, being transformed into a gargoyle before Demona's very eyes. Slowly, and steadily the line began to disappear. Small groups of male gargoyles of Tutela's line would vanish during a battle. Quarrels were frequent, and somehow these mighty warriors began to loose frequently. A newly mated female of Tutela's line overhead her mate of a different tribe speaking with a group of gargoyle, laying plans. This female told the elders of Tutela's line that the others of the Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir conspired to kill all the living descendants of Tutela. In the morning, this female was found slain by gargoyle claws. Then Demona acted. She cast a spell on the females, that none would ever give birth to offspring. Demona would finish exterminating the humanity from her clan. Iolair was stunned. Why had she changed his name? He could not say if he had been shamed or praised. He was determined to try again. Even if by a different father, he was still the descendant and son of Tutela. He would prove himself to Demona. Even if it took his life. Iolair smashed the door down, viciously. He would prove to her that he was not the thrice-cursed betraying weakling cut-throat human he had once been! * Perotessa * It was a few hours before Eagle was found looking at the lake; taking solace from the calm lapping waters. A step scuffed on stone. He alerted but did not turn around. "So you found me, Tessa." a sharp edge entered his voice, "Trying to sneak up on me?" he asked. The young woman came closer chuckling softly. "No, of course not. I've been looking for you." she came abreast the eagle headed gargoyle and joined him in looking out over the water. Eagle shuffled his wings then asked, "Tessa why are you here? I mean, why does Demona look at you like she's afraid of you?" Tessa shrugged, "Probably because she is. I am a Mage, Eagle. Breed and born. This, " she gestured to the keep, " is my home." She gave him a sidelong glance, "I saw what you did to the door." Tessa smiled. Iolair, now knowing what Tessa was, relaxed. "If this is your home, then why is Demona here?" "Demona is a book trained mage. I was born one. I don't need a spell book to conduct my spells. She knows this. I beat her in a duel using only magic. I keep an extensive library of books and invited her to stay and learn from them. She and Cearda have been here for a few years. And then you showed up. "I must admit I am not used to the company but I am glad to have it." she paused then turned fully to the young gargoyle. "So tell me Iolair what do you think?" He shrugged. "I am a little surprised; surprised and uneasy. I really messed up tonight." Tessa nodded sagely. "Ah yes. The skirmish. I guess it's just Cearda's way to judge weather or not you are worthy of trust. She doesn't trust easily you see." "But they both trust you." Perotessa turned away rubbing at her arms. "They don't have too. I don't ask them too. I...I guess they just do." she finished lamely. "Maybe we should go back to the keep. It's getting late; or early depending on how you look at it." Iolair turned and walked with the human back to the keep. "Perotessa, you've been with Demona a few years -- tell me, how should I feel about being renamed?" Tessa gave him a quick look. "Why you should feel honored! They've accepted you; you're part of Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir now. I'd envy you if I were capable of it. At least you belong to someone. I am still outcast." she shrugged. Iolair thought about that for a moment then grinned. "They've accepted me? But I thought-" "What? That your actions would have singled you out? No. You remembered your vow. They respect that. Or at least Cearda did. Sometimes I think if it were not of Cearda, Demona would do something rash. Maybe, maybe not." She opened the door to the keep and entered the kitchens. Together both gargoyle and human went to the study, where Tessa knocked on the door then opened it. Sitting before the fire was Demona and Cearda, who broke apart as if in secret conversation. Upon seeing the newly named Iolair, Demona smiled pleased. "I see you two have found each other." she said giving Tessa a pointed look. Tessa for her part blushed and moved away from Iolair. Cearda rose from her chair, took up her ever present halberd, and looked at Iolair. "Well youngling. Should we try this again?" "Going hunting?" asked Tessa. The orange gargoyle nodded. "I thank you for your willingness to shelter us but I must insist on fresh meat every night." Tessa sighed, "As you wish. Demona will you be going also?" The red maned gargoyle tore her eyes away from Iolair then shook her head. "I don't think so. I saw a spell in one of your books that I think I would like to try. If you would be so good as to assist me." Tessa nodded. "As you wish Queen of the Clann." * Eagle of Arabia * The thought of hunting immediately brightened Iolair's mood a degree. Fresh meat. Not just a lousy rabbit this time. A boar. He wanted to take on a boar. Pig meat was sweeter than deer or rabbit, although he had other favorites. Unicorn especially. It was little wonder the fairy creatures were on the verge of extinction. If Oberon missed them, he'd make more. Iolair mused his either of his sisters' remarks to such an opinion. Luckily he was not alone in his feelings. Outside the Keep was a large forest full of game. One could probably go for a walk and trip over it. However, tonight Cearda could sense Iolair's anxiousness to whet his talons, and smiled inside. "Come hunting something larger this night, youngling?" she inquired bluntly. "Aye. The blood burns hotter tonight." "Don't let it burn your brains away." "Yes, Cearda." "Well, you're in luck. Look." Iolair swooped lower, but it was unnecessary. His eagle-eyes could pick out a mouse at two thousand feet. There were hoofprints in the ground. Not only that, looking closer, he saw how fresh they were. "Made only minutes ago." Cearda nodded with satisfaction. His eyes were extremely useful. For all practical reasons, he had all the abilities of the falcon, yet was a gargoyle. A very advantageous ability to have on one's side. Hardly a curse, Cearda mused to herself for a moment, watching the terrain carefully. According to the spells Cassandra had cast upon him, his eagle-ness was one part of him that could be shed when he met the terms of the spell. It was he who termed it his "curse". Something in his past made him want to call it so. If Perotessa was so anxious to pick tales from her brain, why should she not try this youngling? He seemed to have as many secrets as Demona herself. "We've startled them." Iolair observed. Whatever he was looking at, it probably indicated that their quarry was aware of their presence. "Distract them." Cearda commanded. "I'm twice the thing's size. It won't come near me." "Then make as much noise as you can." Cearda broke off, turning in one direction. Iolair trimmed for the other direction. Iolair landed among the trees, perching among the tree limbs. His vision narrowed, and he picked out the boars in the distance. He leaned his head back and screamed his high falcon-like cry. The boars paused, and looked up. Iolair leapt, coming to rest on the forest floor, and screamed again. The piercing cry shattered all the ears that heard it, but his own. The boars raced in the other direction, retreating. It was a good thing they did. Iolair might have torn it's horns out of it's skull. The boars vanished, racing in Cearda's direction. A fog was coming in, and so Iolair tasted the air. It had a strange, tangy scent he did not like suddenly. Like sweat. Like poison. Iolair turned about, spotting in the dark the plumes of heat behind one fallen tree. He roared, spreading his wings again, threateningly. There was a hiss of air, and the blowpipe had done it's job. He snarled, eye burning, not noticing the small needle of wood imbedded in his shoulder. He raced at the hiding figures, but Iolair became dizzy, and toppled into the forest soil, straining to tighten his claws. Cearda was disgusted. These boars did not run for hunger, but for fear. They had already been fed. They would not charge an attacker. Cearda slew one, but it was too easy. What kind of unnatural forces worked on these animals. Hefting the carcass over her shoulder, she flared her wings, and whistled to Iolair. No reply. This was strange of him. He always heard her, even miles away. They were not so far apart now that he could not reply. Where was he? Cearda trailed the boars back to where the eagle-cries had sent the boars running. In one particular spot, she found claw and boot marks, the signs of a struggle, and various pool of blood. Some of it was sweet, human blood. The other was the tangy taste of a gargoyle. Cearda also found a two cubit eagle feather. Cearda cursed, and took to the wing. The Queen would be little pleased at this night's hunting. * Perotessa * Perotessa held aloft a black caldron as Demona chanted a spell from a book. Suddenly both startled. The spell fell to the floor in disarray. "Did you feel that?" asked Perotessa. Demona nodded frowning. "What could it have been?" "I don't know. Cearda and Iolair are out there though." Demona frowned. "Indeed they are." she closed the spell book. "Will you come?" Tessa put down the caldron. "Of course, my Queen." "Don't mock me!" snarled Demona. Perotessa stared steadily into the gargoyle's burning red eyes. "I am not." Demona's snarl slowly left and she turned away. "Come then." Perotessa grabbed up her swordbelt and called. "Silver Claw!" From the darkest shadows of the room a large behemoth form rose and ran after the mage. Neither rider nor mount broke stride as Tessa vaulted onto the huge black wolf's back. She grabbed ruff, hooked her feet over his hips, and pressed herself closer to her mount. Deeply breathing in his musky smell. Demona spread her wings, chanted a small spell and was swept up off the ground. Cearda slowly circled over a small clearing in the forest. She may not have Iolair's keen eyesight but she knew trouble when she saw it. Chained to a tree unconscious was Iolair. She had no idea what his captors had done to him. Her halberd glowed softly, humming. It was a magical blade that worked against other magics. It had been given to her by Demona as a sign of worthiness. She kept it with her always. At the present, it was trying to tell her that magic was being constructed. Also, there were creatures below that were of magical origin. She growled softly. Magic which might be used against Iolair. And since he was unconscious, he wasn't even aware of it. Just as she was to give battle cry and attack she heard the sweetest sound she'd ever heard. The long singing howl of Silver Claw. Perotessa and Demona were coming. Silver Claw bounded into the clearing all abristle, Perotessa lost in his hackled ruff. The wolf's growl was deafening. Perotessa quickly took inventory of the whole situation then rose up on Silver Claw's back. "How dare you attack a guest of my home!" she cried. Three humans, the three that had captured Iolair, shuffled backwards uneasily. But she wasn't talking to the humans, but to the two dark elves who were feeding the fire. One, a male with dark hair and amber eyes, turned toward her a sneer on his lips. "Ah, so the *great* Perotessa has left her ivory tower. It's about time you came to introduce yourself to your siblings." Tessa tossed a lock of her own black hair out of her eyes. "I am a daughter of Oberon. You have not been invited here. Release the gargoyle and you may leave with impunity." The dark elf laughed. His companion a female smiled showing off her sharp eyeteeth, "I don't think so *sister*." he said. "Then you will pay in blood for trespassing on my land!" Silver Claw launched himself upwards, leaping high into the air. At the apex of his leap, Perotessa launched herself at the male dark elf. He was as quick as she was; she drew her elfin wrought blade. There was the sound of light delicate metals clashing together. "Demona!" she called. "Now!" The red maned gargoyle charged the humans. They, upon seeing the huge wolf, had started to flee into the woods. Demona launched herself at the slowest, dragging him down with her talons. He screamed and began to thrash. In such an awkward position there was no way for her draw her weapon. She head butted him then dove for his throat. He gave one gurgled cry as her fangs found their mark. She crushed his windpipe then tore. Her sharp canine grazed his artery and she was sprayed with blood. Her victim went into convulsions. She dropped him and chased after another one. Silver Claw landed only a foot away from the female elf. He snarled then reared up on his hind legs snapping at her head. She drew her own blade and made a swipe for his unprotected belly. The wolf twisted to the left, fell to his forequarters, and whipped his hind end around. She fell with a small gasp looked up and saw Silver Claw's jaws just about to clamp down on her head. Screaming she made an ineffectual stab with her blade. She felt wolf spittle spray her face and his hot breath as he just missed. Perotessa leaped backwards as her opponent attacked with a flurry of quick strokes. All she could do was parry and retreat. He wasn't giving her an opening at all. Breathing hard she spoke a word. A branch of the tree they were under lowered, fouling his blade. He cursed disentangling it. He glared at Tessa. "Your tricks won't save you!" he warned. "I don't really care. You know as well as I that you can come no closer to MY keep! You do well to remember that!" She spoke another word. A root from the same tree rose tripping him. He fell forward in his lunge and sprawled face first in the needles. "You should take what's left of your henchmen and go. Why you attacked the gargoyle I have no idea, but you are not welcome here." He spat out dirt and pine needles and scrambled to his feet. "We were told to bring the eagle-headed one to Oberon. He has information and gifts that would do well in Avalon." "You'll not be a'getting him this way." vowed Tessa. She risked a quick glance at Demona who was knocking out the third human. She could see that Silver Claw had the female elf well occupied. Iolair still hung on the trunk of the tree. She reached out with her mind and cried, *Now Demona! If we are to save Iolair it has to be now!* The bloodstained gargoyle looked quickly at her then nodded. She gave battle cry and joined Silver Claw in attacking the female dark elf. Cearda heard Demona's battle cry and knew it as her signal. She folded her wings plummeting swiftly. She screamed in defiance then struck the tree that Iolair was chained too. She anchored herself with her middle claws, rose her halberd and cut his chains. She slung the unconscious gargoyle over her shoulder and shot away into the night. Perotessa seeing Iolair's rescue smiled. "Silver Claw!" The wolf leapt over the elf woman, catching her in the head with his hind claws. She was spun to the ground. Demona once more spoke her small spell of wind and was tossed up into the air in flight. Perotessa crossed swords with the male elf one last time, then spoke another small spell. A large branch suddenly lowered directly in his path. She made a wild leap for Silver Claw's back; found her seat and urged the animal to his fastest pace. When she finally arrived back at the keep, Iolair was laid out on a couch in the study. Cearda was looking at him in some concern. Demona was wiping away the last of the blood from his body. She looked up at Tessa as she exploded into the room. "Isn't he awake yet?" she asked incredulously. Demona shook her head. "No. I have no idea what type of poison they struck him with." "At least he sleeps peacefully." said Cearda. Perotessa glanced out the window. "We're lucky. I didn't know that my father wanted him so badly. This land is protected from Fey. Only Oberon and myself are welcome here." she said softly. "The sun is rising. We'll know more tomorrow when Iolair wakes up." she concluded. Demona stood up and backed away from the couch. "I think you should talk to your sire." she advised. Tessa nodded. "I will. He has a lot to explain. Especially if he contracted those five for abducting Iolair." Cearda spread her wings then closed them settling in for sleep then she wailed. "I forgot the boar!" The first of the sunshine poured into the window. The three gargoyles turned to stone. Perotessa sighed and turned away. She put her swordbelt on her coat rack and then looked over at Silver Claw. The huge wolf stared back with dark brown eyes. She scratched the white spot on his throat. "Father will just have to explain why he wants Iolair. And if the explanation isn't a good one, I'll just have to make sure he doesn't get another chance at abducting him." she told her companion. Silver Claw panted in agreement, then looked quickly at the couch. It began to groan in protest of the intense weight then broke. Tessa gave a startled scream and jumped back then laughed in relief. Iolair wasn't damaged. "Looks like Da will be a'owing me a couch as well." she told Silver Claw. The wolf laid back his ears and smiled in amusement. * Eagle of Arabia * There was the sun. It was so hot, it beat on one's skin. Amid the brush and rocks, and single island floated in the air. The dreamer perched on the edge of this island. It was Avalon. Oberon was there, looking for him. "WHERE IS HE? I generously allow your pets to roam this island, and you cannot even keep them on a leash." "I apologize, your majesty. These are not just lowly mortals, and go at their own whims, even though their powers may be small and feeble." "Feeble? Child, you don't understand, that child had the power! More than any other mortal, he had potential!" Oberon said the final word with strong conviction. "We can hunt him down for you, milord." a new voice asked. "Nay. If he has dispatched messengers, then this demands my personal attention." "As you wish, milord. He currently resides in the keeping of Perotessa in her Ivory tower." "Very well. I shall go." And then the sun set on the dreamer. When Iolair stretched, his claws dug into the soft matting of Perotessa's couch. Dizzily, he blinked. What was he doing on the bottom of her couch? Iolair began to come to his feet again, stumbled, and fell gracelessly onto the floor, his paws on the side of his head. "Ooooh.... headache." "I'm not surprised. You got hit with a poison made virulent by fae magic." Iolair sat up, not getting up, continuing to rub his temples. Demona and Cearda approached him, curious. He look up at them. "I'll be hale in a moment, my queen." "Would you *mind* explaining what happened?" Cearda asked tersely. Iolair stood, one paw on his temples, facing her. "I don't know... exactly. One minute I was herding boars, I heard something behind me, swung around, and..." He stopped, confused. "Iolair, do you know who Oberon is?" Perotessa inquired. Iolair laughed. "The original pompous windbag of Avalon. Why?" Perotessa smiled. "I take it you've met him." Iolair was serious again. "We've met." His expression was unpleasant. "Do tell." Demona added. Iolair bowed to her, and thought. "I was adopted by a clan of fae/gargoyle hybrids after I couldn't find the Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir when my... companion, was murdered. They took me to Avalon the first time. Oberon paid little attention to me, until I ran into my sister gargoyle Malcora there." "Malcora?" Cearda cut in. "The salmon gargoyle who's name means heart-of-darkness?" Iolair looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "That's her." "We know her." Demona said curtly. "Go on." Iolair nodded. "She had a daughter by that time, and Oberon seemed to like the child a great deal. He didn't care for Malcora much. Then I met him. At first he looked at me with this expression that said What-manner-of-insect-are-you?, but then he asked me my name. Then he ordered me not to leave Avalon." "How did you arrive here?" Perotessa clarified. "Someone else... brought me." Then Iolair was silent, his tale done. Cearda brushed aside Demona's hair, and whispered into her ear. "Whatever Oberon wants him for is not of his knowledge." Demona nodded. "Well, if it makes anyone feel better, I have a pig on a spit, and am preparing a proper dinner. We're about to have a guest." "Another?" Demona scowled. "Who?" "Oberon himself is coming." Iolair took an involuntary step backwards. "I'd face a whole clan of gargoyles before facing him." "Well... that's just the trick. Don't face him." "You are allowing him here?" "Just until I know what he wants." * Perotessa * Perotessa laughed, "Besides, who said anything about you three being here when he arrives?" She turned and made her way toward the door. "Come this way. Unless you like the idea of meeting the 'original pompous windbag of Avalon'." Demona shrugged and moved toward her. Cearda hefted her halberd, picked up the woozy Iolair, and followed. "As you know," started Perotessa,"I am a mage. I am also one of the few daughters of Oberon who inherited his magic. I was conceived here in the mortal world; just another one of his many children he sired while banished from Avalon. Because I am female, the magic runs stronger in me than in any of my siblings. But also because I am female, I am not welcome on Avalon. I am half human after all." she shrugged and opened another door; one to the cellar. "Careful the steps are slippery." She lifted a torch to illuminate their way. "Where are we going?" asked Cearda. Tessa laughed, "I'll tell you now listen." "So, to keep me free from any mischief the other Children might see fit to wage, Oberon my father set aside this island for me. He created the Keep and the surrounding forests. He gave this to me as a place to stay since I couldn't go back to the mortal world and he wanted to keep me close. And then he gave me something that was enormously important." They had come to the end of the steps. She raised the torch higher spoke a word. The whole cellar was illuminated in the torch light. "He made me guardian of the Gate. The Gate of Time and Space. This Gate can take you anywhere. Anywhere in time and anywhere in the world. All it takes is for you to concentrate. I will do the rest. If you travel through the Gate, Oberon will not be able to find you. When you are ready and he has gone, I'll retrieve you. Now, how does that sound to you?" "Where shall we go?" asked Cearda. "I've no idea. But you better make your mind up quickly; he's here." Demona cursed softly then turned to the youngest member of her clan. "Well Iolair, it's up to you. Where and when do you want to take us?" Iolair thought of a place and time and then nodded. "I know." "Quickly then." warned Tessa. "Just go to the door, knock three times. The Gate will open and you'll be sent to whenever Iolair has chosen." The three gargoyles nodded and slowly made their way toward the massive door. From up above Tessa could hear Silver Claw's warning bark. Her father was looking for her. Demona reached the Gate. She grabbed the large ring and then let it fall three times. The Gate creaked then squealed. With a great onrushing of wind it suddenly opened. The three gargoyles were blinded by the light that streamed out and staggered back. "Go on!" screamed Tessa! "All will be well!" With difficultly the three gargoyles struggled forward into the archway of the Gate. A huge blast of light, wind, and sound suddenly enveloped them and the Gate slammed shut. Tessa blinked. "Well that was easy." she murmured. She turned around and started back up the steps. "Oh, I forgot to tell them." she shrugged. "I hope that their not too disappointed as to where they end up. After all it is MY Gate. I might as well have a *little* choice in where and when they're going." She put the torch back in it's bracket and left the cellar. As she closed the door she was confronted by the large form of her sire, Oberon. She gulped then gave him a low curtsey."My Lord...." "Daughter." he said. His blue eyes studied her. "I see you used the Gate. And where did you send them?" Tessa looked up slightly panicked. "No where special. They just didn't want to be around when you showed up. Tis all." she explained. Oberon sighed. "Then I guess I'll just have to wait for you retrieve them." Tessa smiled a bit evilly. "And what makes you think there will be something for me to retrieve." Oberon startled. "Even you aren't that stupid Perotessa." "You know as well as I, if pushed, I would do anything to keep that gargoyle from you. Even this." Oberon stared at his daughter with mild disgust. "I suppose it's just your mortal blood coming to the fore." "Nay father. Tis my Fey blood. You pushed; I just did what had to be done." "We shall see my daughter. We shall see." * Eagle of Arabia * "The mist is clearing." Cearda observed. Indeed, the light was fading to normalcy. Iolair, anxious and curious, was standing on his own now. Cearda was in the lead, and Demona guarded the rear. An explosion rocked, and all three were thrown to the ground. A shape, large and dark swooped overhead with the thrum of a strange kind of engine. Piercing bursts of light were firing from it, exploding when the beams hit the ground. "Get down!" Demona shouted. Another shape appeared in the mist, winged. Demona looked up at him, suspiciously, but he reached out a paw to help her up. "We have to get your three out of here! You're in the middle of a war zone!" "War against who?" Iolair inquired dubiously. "Look out!" His warning was almost a moment too late. Cearda leapt to one side as another laser-firing thing came flying by. "Good question." their rescuer told Iolair, as they began to run off in the direction he indicated. "They landed July second. Nobody knows anything about them, except their big, powerful, and all over the face of the world. They've even got Oberon himself hiding." "A comforting change." Cearda noted. "Who?" "Look there." the new male said, pointing down the rocky slope toward the valley below. A enormous human city lay there, of stone streets, towers of iron and glass, and thousands of motorized carriages. A modern city. Hovering over the entire valley, miles large, was an enormous alien-looking thing. "What is that?" Iolair asked, looking up at the thing hanging over the city center. "Those are the aliens." All three looked at him dubiously. "What year is this?" Iolair asked. The gargoyle turned to him. "2070. When are you from?" "1247." Cearda answered. "Eight centuries out of place." the male sighed. Demona looked at Iolair. "It's the future even for me. I was born in the 1980s." "The president is evacuating all the major cities these things are looming over, but their all over the world. I can't tell why the humans can't see their under attack." "Humans are fools." Demona put in. Iolair harumphed in confirmation. The male, dark blue in color with single-fingered wings and a mildly muscular build, hoisted his large laser weapon. "Wanna take a stab at it?" Demona and Cearda glanced at each other. "Those guys aren't going to wait for dark to start blowing the humans away. We're going in danger too." "We'll help." Demona decided. "Great. What do I call you?" Everyone turned to Demona. "I am Demona. Queen of the gargoyles of the Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir." The male's eyes widened suddenly. "WHAT? Well, why didn't you say so! We are Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir! We live in a fortress in the Sequoia National Park. Come!" "Wait, what city it this?" "Los Angeles!" * Perotessa * "Los Angeles?!" wailed Iolair "This isn't where I wanted us to go!!!!" Demona turned on him incredulously. "What? But I thought-" Cearda spat into the dirt. "Must have been Perotessa. I tell you, you canna trust a Fey." Demona growled her wild cat growl, her eyes lit. "If this is her answer to *hiding* from Oberon, possible annihilation, I think I rather would have confronted the elf." The strange male gargoyle watched the whole exchange with some amusement even though he didn't know exactly what was going on. "Can we go now?" he asked. Demona turned toward him "So, stranger what is your name?" "Name's Laser Ice; you'll find out why soon enough." he turned and started to walk away. Demona's hand shot out and stopped him. "You'll explain it now." she said coldly. "I've killed for less." Laser Ice looked at Demona's hand as if amazed that it touched him. Then he looked up at Demona herself, and realized that he should be amazed that he was still alive. Fear as cold as the coldest ice traced a path down his back. Yes, he'd head tales of she known as Demona. She had been a warrior of immense talent. A killer and a general in the fight to liberate gargoyles. She didn't trust humans and if it weren't totally impossible, it could be thought that SHE was the one to mastermind *aliens* coming to earth to wipe out the whole human race. (Read that Eagle and tremble!! HA HA HA) He gently shook himself free of her hold and said softly. "I am known as Laser Ice. And this is why." He hefted the laser, targeted and fired. The beam struck a nearby car. It instantly froze dripping icicles then it began to crack, and fell apart in chunks. "That's why I am called Laser Ice. I am the only one of my clan who has one of these and I am very proficient" Demona looked at what used to be the car and then at the young male gargoyle. She glanced at Cearda. "We'll come with you." They spread their wings and launched themselves into the sky. Laser Ice took the most hazardous position under them while Cearda and Demona soared wingtip to wingtip just above him. Iolair, as the most vulnerable positioned himself above them. (Eagle, Dearest, why is the sun up? Shouldn't our happy gargoyle friends be sleeping?) "I didn't have any trouble soaring here earlier," said Laser Ice. "These alien guys can't hit anything. Least of all something as tiny as us. I hope." "I am glad to hear that." muttered Demona. Their flight for the most part was uneventful. True to his prediction, alien craft zoomed past the winged creatures but did not fire upon them. It seemed as though they went out of their way to AVOID the flying gargoyles. Soon the Quadrumvirate came into sight of the park. "See over there! That the clan!" Emerging from under the boughs of pine were a motley collection of gargoyles. Demona cast another glance at Cearda. She nodded in understanding. "Iolair! Come!" with a flick of her wings she broke out of formation hovering in the air. Surprised, Iolair came to a sudden stop dropping a few feet in altitude. "What? I don't-" "Come!" she commanded, spreading her wings, catching a second breeze and soaring upwards. Iolair struggled with the sudden shift. His broad eagles wings not capable of the quick darting maneuvers of Cearda's. With a few beats of his span, he was able to catch an updraft and follow her. Laser Ice didn't comment on their departure, simply folded his wings and came in for a landing. Demona followed slowly making a small circle before closing her wings and floating down beside him. A large bull horned male quickly was at Laser's side. "You came back! And you brought guests and news, yes?" "Aye, Sampson. This is-" "I am but a visitor to this place." said Demona quickly. "I would know if I am among friends or foe. Who art thou loyal too?" Sampon's smile faltered, "Loyal too? We are Clann na ochter oidhce bheithir. Clan of the high flying night monsters. We follow the (teachings) of she who was known as Demona." Demona nodded. "Tis good." She flared her wings; eyes blazing red. "I _AM_ Demona." Sampson took a step back. Was it possible? Was this female gargoyle really THE Demona? "You mean you're named after the original Demona?" he asked hopefully. For if she was THE Demona, his mind might not be able to cope. The red maned female shook her head. "Nay my young friend, I am Demona the Deathless." Sampson's legs went weak. He fell to his knees before her, wings wide head bowed in total submission. "Oh my god...Then welcome my Queen." he breathed. Demona cast a possessive glance over the other gargoyles who had gathered around. She was in her element here. This clan who called themselves her disciples would soon learn what it meant to be Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir. She tilted back her head and gave battle cry. Cearda, who had taken Iolair to a higher safer elevation till Demona deemed the clan safe, answered her summons with her own battle scream. In total exuberance, Iolair echoed it with his own. Cearda tossed him a look of exasperation then folded her wings and power-dived to a lower altitude. Iolair copied her move, in essence becoming her eagle-headed shadow. She moved only one feather of her span, but it took her out of her dive, in a full laid out position as she made a low fly-by. Iolair followed, snapping his great span out to it's fullest. "It's Eagle!" squealed a young voice. "And it looks like he's finally found a mate." said an older female voice. Demona smiled at the clan's prattle. If they only knew... Cearda banked and returned to the clearing where Demona waited for her to land. She took one last look at the situation then landed. Iolair copied her movement, looking about for trouble before landing beside her. He was instantly mobbed. "Eagle! Oh Eagle! You've returned!!!" (Get out of that! HA!) * * * The crowd of gargoyles was all around him, and he reacted by instinct. He reeled, crouched, and roared at them. Stunned and startled, they retreated a few meters. Cearda, standing before him, smiled as he corrected them. "I am Iolair. An attack by gargoyles is the same to me as an attack by humans." The gargoyles gulped, and backed away. Cearda took place in front of him before Iolair struck out at them. "Iolair is my servant. I have NO mate." Cearda snarled in addition. The triumvirate was crouched, poised to challenge these gargoyles who called themselves Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir. In the moonlit glade, a new light suddenly appeared above them in the air. A fey decked in white smock white a delicately fashioned dagger on her belt, hung before them, looming. "PERHAPS NOT, BUT DEMONA HAS." she declared in a loud voice. "Don't you dare mention him!" Demona bit back, "The humans will pay for his death!" Disinterested, the fey turned to Iolair, who unconsciously took a step even further behind Cearda, crouching. His expression was terrified. "COME FORTH NOW, MATTHEW." As though compelled to, Iolair trotted out from behind Cearda on all fours. He down on the ground before the fey, his tail twitching behind him nervously. His hands were being held in front of him in the dirt, as he bowed to her. "Yes, milady Cassandra?" "You failed to answer my hails." Iolair was sweating profusely, as though he were fighting a heated battle. "What punishment do you prescribe for me?" "What punishment?" Demona cut in. "MATTHEW HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH IGNORING A DIRECT SUMMONS." Demona turned to Iolair. "Iolair, tell me about this." Iolair did not answer. "HE CANNOT HEAR YOU." Demona cursed. "Release him!" "I WILL NOT." "That's twice in one day! Why him?" "BECAUSE HE HAS ANOTHER TRUE NAME." "True name?" Cearda asked. "A PERSON'S TRUE NAME IS USED LIKE A MAGICAL CHANNEL WHEN PRACTICING HUMAN MAGIC. ANYONE WHO KNOWS THAT NAME CAN USE IT TO CONTROL THEM." "Then you tell me, what was his crime?" Demona insisted. "He ran away from us, and would not answer us when we called him back." One of the gargoyles explained. "Why did he run away?" No one answered, all unwilling to. Demona turned to Iolair, then to the fey. "Release him! Let him tell me!" "I ALREADY KNOW WHY HE DID NOT." "Why?" "FEAR." "Of who?" "ME." Cearda's eyebrows furrowed. The faithful Iolair, following his vow all these years purely out of fear of this one fey? "Impossible." Cearda cut in. "He must had another reason." "Tigris..." Iolair muttered, as though barely forcing the word out. "Who?" "Tigris," Another of the crowd of gargoyles explained. "She was a daughter of the clan when Eagle was adopted into it. They saved each other's lives, and were always together." "What about her?" "Tigris and Eagle went out on patrol one night, and disappeared. Cassandra found Tigris's body -- shot through the heart. Eagle was never found, but word reach us he was still alive. We tried to reach him, but he never responded." the gargoyles explained. Demona's eyes were furious. Iolair, a gargoyle murderer? "Impossible." Cearda repeated. "Iolair is not a killer. He obeys his vow." Demona turned to the fey. "He was afraid of you? Of your rebuke, your revenge for her death? Do you know what truly happened?" The fey did not answer. "Were you going to kill him? Is that why he ran away?" Demona asked, furious. "You may not understand, feyling, what it means to be a gargoyle, but we do not turn on one another!" "PROUD CHILD! CAN YOU TRULY SAY YOU DO NOT TURN ON YOUR BRETHREN?" Iolair growled, low at first, but it grew stronger. "You... you would have killed me! The whole clan would have!... " Iolair gasped for his breath, to hold his concentration. "I loved her! I would never have harmed her! It's all the human's fault... the humans..." "MATTHEW, YOU _ARE_ HUMAN!" the fey told him heatedly. Iolair snarled indignantly. "I AM NOT! YOU SAW TO THAT YOURSELF! YOUR BLOOD FLOWS IN MY VEINS!" he screamed angrily. Demona's stance suddenly changed, her hostility growing. "THE MAN WHO KILLED HER WAS YOUR FATHER!" "That man was not my father." Iolair snarled. "He murdered an innocent girl!" Iolair, still fighting the fist of power around him, reached up, struggling against Cassandra's power. A sudden beam of energy leashed from his outstretched hands, impacting Cassandra forcefully. The fey fell backwards against the ground. Iolair stood, fuming. The fey, laying on the ground, moaned. She'd stopped glowing and hovering, and was rubbing her head tenderly. "Eagle... why do have to overreact so much?" "Huh?" Iolair asked. Cassandra got to her feet. "I was only *acting* for your friend's benefit." Iolair scowled. "Seems awfully real when you're using my name against me." Cassandra glared at him. Iolair ignored her and returned to Cearda's side. Demona and Cearda looked at him. "Iolair, your story...?" Demona asked, chin raised. Iolair sighed. "My father thought that his children were being killed by gargoyles, and so he came hunting us. He found me and Tigris, tried to shoot me, but Tigris... sacrificed herself for me. She died in my arms. I... couldn't return to the Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir with only a handful of other testimonies proclaiming my innocence. I was too young!" "That was sorta my fault." Cassandra put in. Iolair ignored her. "Besides, it was the tradition of the Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir to banish criminals, not slay them." "I still wonder how much of my clan you really are." Demona scowled. "What is this war you are fighting?" "Clienartians, as the fey call them." Cassandra noted. "They're insect like, mean, and nasty. Their goals is to wipe out every living thing on this world, gargoyle, fey, and human alike, and harvest earth of resources. Their weapons are iron based particle accelerators, and are deadly to *everyone*. The gargoyles have an advantage over the humans, but those of us in the city are completely defenseless during the day -- should an attack start. I can't save all of them." "IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT!" came a new voice. A young, red colored male appeared, panting, rushing forward to Cassandra. "Cassandra! The alien's attack has begun! Tokyo, Moscow, Washington D.C., and New York have all been obliterated! A fireball the size of a mountain rolled through Los Angeles, and there's a crater ten miles wide through the business district! There could be thousands of people dead and hurting down there!" "Let the humans all perish!" Demona cut in. "All of our kind were shattered in the blast!" the little red male finished. Demona's jaw worked. No win situation. "What do we do, my queen?" Iolair asked Demona. "Do we fight, or do we let the aliens destroy the humans?" * Perotessa * Demona caped her wings and turned away with great flourish. "Let the humans suffer." Iolair blinked in confusion then ran in front of her to stop her. "You can't be serious! You heard what Cassie said." "I did." she glanced downwards the stooped picking up an odd shaped rock. "Cassandra. Catch." she tossed the rock at the fey. Reflexively Cassandra reached out. The rock fell into her hands which clutched it tightly. Then she screamed in mortal pain. A green mist began to rise from the thrashing fey then more swiftly left her body in a rush. With one last cry, Cassandra fell to the ground. The odd rock still clutched in her hand. Demona walked toward her still form and stood over her. "I would think that you would know better than to take a gift from a stranger." she said softly. Cassandra groaned and sat up looking at the stone that Demona had tossed at her. Her jaw dropped; with a scream she threw the rock away and scrambled backwards. "Yes." said the gargoyle queen. "T'was a piece of iron. The only thing that can steal a fey's powers. You're human now Cassandra. So, what should I do?" Iolair stared at the now human Cassandra then whirled Demona around to face him. "What have you done?!" "What I deemed fair revenge." Demona said calmly. Iolair took a step away from this Demona. She was not the same gargoyle that had watched the skirmish, or had taken care of his hurts. This Demona was cold without a flicker of warmth. Was this the _TRUE_ Demona? She turned back to the now sobbing Cassandra, "Answer me human!" she snarled. "What should I do?" * Eagle of Arabia * "What... what is it you want?" Cassandra sobbed from the forest floor. Cearda looked at the horrified clan surrounding the fray. "WHICH OF YOU IS A FOLLOWER OF DEMONA, AND WHO IS A FOLLOWER OF THIS FEY?" There was a murmur in the crowd. Demona was watching Iolair. He was looking down at Cassandra. "I was trying to help you..." Cassandra wept to him. Iolair's expression hardened into one of pure contempt. He leaned back, and stuck her across the face with his foot. "THIS is for ruining my life, THIS is for using me, and THIS is for Tigris!" He snapped the back of his foot across her face twice more, and it became clear how hard he was hitting her, because there was red blood pouring from her face -- her nose was broken. Demona touched the shoulder frothing Iolair. "Not now, child. Another day. We all want our vergence on the humans. I have waited two hundred years -- you can wait just a little while." "Not if I can help it!" said a voice from the crowd. There was a scream of terror, as the crowd suddenly parted. Demona and Iolair turned, just as the laser beam nearly cut them both in half, dashed to the ground. The laser did serious damage to two trees. "What are you, fools? Do you just stand around? Cassandra is clan, and she's been violated! Do we just mutter about like frightened children?" A single figure stood in the parted crowd, eyes red and blazing, holding the massive laser rifle in her hand as if it were a child's toy. She was one of the tallest gargoyles, and undeniably the most powerful of the females. She was blue from head to toe, with blue eyes, and even blue hair. Her wings were folded between her arms, and her glower was fierce indeed. She fired the weapon again. Cearda was suddenly very unlucky, and before she could react, was burned in one leg, falling onto her back. Iolair snarled, and bounded over to her. She was holding the burn in one hand. Unsure of how bad the injury was, he turned to the blue newcomer. Iolair leapt. The blue one met his charge. Both were in rage. A terrible fight ensued. The first target Iolair chose was the laser weapon, and at first he managed to get it out of her hands. Demona reached over and picked it up. The new comer went for Iolair with sudden fury. At one point, Iolair had her down. "I'll make it quick." he snarled. The blue one gasped at something, and Iolair's eyes caught a glimpse of her face for a moment. He stopped. The blue one did not loose a moment. Throwing him backwards. Iolair recovered quickly, but she was already on top of him. She had him pinned up against a tree. "That was most refreshing." she said. "I haven't run into anyone who can fight like you in a long time." Iolair's tail snapped across her legs, but she stamped her foot down on it. Iolair winced. He was pinned -- again. "What happened to you, Matthew?" Iolair looked at her. "Yes. I know your truename, Matthew Cadence Shelton. I knew you. I knew your sister Christine Patya. Don't you remember me?" She was twenty years older, but Iolair still recognized her. "Tigris." Iolair was in utter shock. All the hatred and anger fell from his mind, and without a thought for his life, he wrapped himself around her, crying. Cearda and Demona were stunned. He was moody, yes, but this was beyond everything they knew of him. Tigris returned his friendliness, but Iolair's fit of tears was unabated. "All that I've done for these last years was get revenge on the humans for you!" "The humans? The hunters?" "No, all humans." "Not all humans in the world were responsible." "They're all humans! That's reason enough." The large female scowled. "Eagle, what's happened to you?" Iolair returned to Cearda's side, helping her up. "I learned what it means to be Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir." "THE ALIENS ARE ATTACKING AGAIN! WE NEED TO GO!" another gargoyle shouted. Cassandra stood, looking at Iolair with desperate eyes. Iolair looked at Tigris once, but remained at Cearda's side. "Oath or no, I have to choose my own path." Tigris helped Cassandra up to her feet. Iolair, meanwhile, picked up the iron fragment Cassandra had dropped. The iron was absolutely hot with energy. Iolair held it above his head, titled his head back, and let the energy flow from the rock into him. There was a crackle as the pure magic flowed into him. For a moment, his eyes glowed green, but then it faded, and the iron clump was an iron clump again. Cassandra watched Iolair with astonishment. "A lot of gargoyles are going to do if you don't help." Cassandra told him. "I obey my Queen." "You have strange priorities." Iolair reflected for a moment, thinking of the Demona he had once know. Strong, reliable, compassionate, and loving. Now she was dark and icy. Yet, she was the path he'd chosen. He would follow it. Demona smiled. "I knew I could count on you, Iolair." "Always, my queen." "If you're going with them, then I'm definitely going with you." Tigris stated defiantly, taking the laser weapon back from Demona, who did not protest. "To keep you out of trouble." she turned to Cearda. "...and I'm not mated either." Demona laughed. "It's your job to keep up." "I may surprise you yet." "We'll see, young one. We'll see. I respect Iolair. I do not respect you." Tigris raised an eyebrow. "Feelings mutual, I'm sure." "Hello, everyone. Did I miss anything?" Perotessa's voice came. The trio turned to her. Cearda was still wounded slightly in one shoulder, and Iolair was a positive mess. The question was rhetorical. No one answered her. "Lead the way home, please." Demona insisted. "This place sickens me. "Oh, does it? You'll be seeing it again before you know it. However, it would be a pleasure to lead you home." "Very well." Demona said, following Perotessa. Cearda, leaning on Iolair, followed. With Tigris taking up the rear, fanning her gaze with the laser in hand. Cassandra watched them leave with contempt. She turned to one of her companion gargoyles. "Commence the attack. Different gargoyles will have to be presented to the American President than Demona." They nodded. Cassandra stood up, shaking in her shoes. "...and call Sharm. Tell her it's an emergency, and tell her to bring Christine and Tanya." The gargoyles nodded, and began to move off. Cassandra turned once again in the direction Demona and others had taken. "If you want hunting, Demona, I'll give you a hunt." * Perotessa * Perotessa sat atop her great black wolf, Silver Claw. Demona was next with Iolair supporting the injured Cearda. Tigris took up the rear. Tessa turned around on Silver Claw's back smiling. "I brought presents for everybody!" she said gleefully. From thin air she produced a book. "Here, I brought this for you Demona." She presented the book the gargoyle. Demona glanced down at the cover. "One thousand and one spells for the sorcerer on the run. Spells for the traveler, the road weary, and the lost." She smiled and looked up at Tessa. "Thanks." "I thought, you'd like it. Check out page four hundred and thirty-five." She slid off of Silver Claws back and went to Cearda. "For you, I brought provisions, but I think you need my more immediate services." Iolair stopped. Cearda looked down at Perotessa who was studying her leg. "This won't hurt." she promised. She spoke a word; her hands began to glow faintly with a yellow light. She didn't even look up at Cearda. She pressed her hands to the injured leg. Cearda hissed then sighed as the pain began to leave. "Feels wonderful." Tessa nodded then backed away. "There. How does that feel?" Cearda placed weight on her leg. "Great!" Perotessa nodded and began to move back to Silver Claw. Tigris called out suddenly, "Hey, Tessa catch!" She tossed something at Tessa, who caught it and studied the object. "Hey, why isn't she screaming and thrashing around on the ground?" asked Tigris. Perotessa put the piece of metal in her pouch. "I am only half Fey. Things that effect them have no power over me. I am immune to metal." She turned away. "Hey! This is pretty cool! A perpetual darkness spell." announced Demona. Tessa smiled hugely. "I thought you'd like that one! So what do you think?" Demona began to look at the list of ingredients needed to complete the spell. "We'll need pure water, a feather of an eagle." "Got that!" said Iolair. They smiled. "A dash of gargoyle's blood. Let's see here...and a pristine laboratory." she sighed in disappointment. "We don't have one of those." Perotessa smiled slyly. "Maybe we do, maybe we don't. Actually, we're kinda close to my *uncles* lab. And since he's not here right now, we could go there and conduct the spell if you want." Demona closed the book with a snap. "Lead away, Tessa!" The half fey would have lead them there immediately but Silver Claw barked warning. "Get Down!" She screamed. And not a moment too late. A laser blast tore apart two huge trees! Iolair leaped for the undergrowth. Demona fell back till she was back to back with Cearda. Tigris raised her laser rifle and began to shoot indiscriminately. Huge, monstrous shapes rose out of the brush. Perotessa drew her blade and Silver Claw attacked with snapping jaws. The *aliens* took aim and fired. Perotessa leapt out of the way and attacked. A second laser blast hit Demona who fell shrieking atop Cearda. Both went down. Tigris took aim at the alien murderer "Demona the Deathless? HA!" She hit the first alien's exo suit. It exploded in a shower of sparks. Perotessa was able to get her blade past the large arms of the exo-suited alien she had squared off against. A clear liquid suddenly spurted out of a cut she was able gouge. She leapt back afraid that it was toxic. Iolair rolled to his stomach, saw Demona clearly dead and Cearda knocked completely out. He growled, scrambled to his feet, and leapt upwards. With his retractable middle claw out he struck a fourth alien; his claw scoring a cut from it's left eye downwards across it's face. Landing, Iolair whirled using his tail as a whip striking the piece that he had just cut. The exo-suit tore open revealing the alien inside. It screamed and began going into convulsions. Iolair showed it no mercy, pouncing on it tearing the alien out of it's suit with his talons. A fifth alien ground trooper stalked Tigris from her blind spot, stepping over the corpse of Demona in the process. What it didn't see was Demona turn over and rise to her feet. Eyes lit red, Demona thrust her talons into the back of the exto suit. The alien screamed. Demona used all her strength to whirl the alien around. Cearda's halberd chopped off the suit's head. Where there had been battle now there was only the echo of violence. "Is everyone alright?" asked Perotessa. "I am fine." said Cearda. "Damn creatures!" cursed Iolair. "Let's get out of here now that the getting good." advised Tigris. "I agree." said Demona. "My *uncle's* lab is close. Let's go!" said Tessa. "Silver Claw!" The large black wolf trotted over and she clamored aboard. "Come, this way!" They ran through the forest till they came to a fall of rocks. "This is your *uncles* lab?" asked Iolair dubiously. Perotessa nodded. She closed her eyes made a sign of power and spoke a word. One especially large boulder suddenly moved inward then up revealing a dark passageway. "My *uncle's* lab. Come on." The entered with some misgivings. They walked down a flight of stairs in the darkness then were directed: "Ok, stop." said Tessa. She spoke another word. Light suddenly flared. Mage Light. And they got their first look at the lab. For something that was under a bunch of rocks it was a great condition. Demona squealed with delight. "I'll get started on the spell immediately!" She put the book on the bookstand and began to rummage around. "We need pure water." she directed. "Got it!" said Tessa who came toward her with a bucket. "He's got a well." she explained. Demona nodded. "We need a cauldron." "Here." said Iolair. "We'll need a fire." Cearda smiled finding a cache of matches. Only Tigris didn't help in finding things for the spell. "Are you sure we're doing the right thing? I mean perpetual darkness. How in the world will gargoyles be able to heal without daylight?" Demona snorted." Shows how much you know. The spell lasts only seven days. If the gargoyles are unsuccessful in their bid to help the humans then they deserve to die." She returned to the spell book. "Lets see here. An eagle's feather shredded and burned." She looked over at Iolair. "Go ahead pick one out for me." Iolair stretched one of his wings out studied the feathers then plucked one out wincing. "Here." She began to shred it, put it into a small dish and burned it, then put it into the pot. "Good. Now we need a zest of harpy's heart." She frowned. "Harpy's heart? Where in the world are we going to find that?" "Check the rack." suggested Tessa. Demona turned and looked at the components rack. Her jaw hung open as she began to read the vials. "Who is your uncle?!" she exclaimed. "I've never seen a selection of components this complete!" Silver Claw gave a warning bark. "What the hell are you doing here?!!" The group turned around and looked at a strange creature who stood atop the steps watching them. Demona looked at the *man* and promptly began screaming. Perotessa smiled quickly then schooled her features, facing her *uncle*. "Oh...uncle...How nice to see you! Demona! Please!" "Who is he?!" the red maned gargoyle demanded. Perotessa turned; she wouldn't miss seeing Demona's reaction to this for anything. "This is Lennox. He is the son of your daughter from the future who has yet to be born, and MacBeth." Demona's eyes lit red. "Tis impossible!" Tessa shook her head. "No it isn't. As you know the three races are capable of being integrated. Lennox is simply a hybrid of Gargoyle and human genes. Of course he had help in his creation and subsequent birth. Lots of fey help. Therefore he's more fey than human or gargoyle. That's why I call him uncle." Lennox stared hard at Demona then at Perotessa. Indeed he was a pale imitation of a gargoyle. His wings were smaller and didn't look capable of holding him in flight. His facial features also were more human, more MacBeth's than gargoyles. His ears were pointed. "You haven't answered me, niece. What are you doing here?" * Eagle of Arabia * Perotessa beamed. "Oh, just dropping by. Hope you don't mind if we borrowed a few thing. How's your mother?" "Quite well, actually. Mysta's feeling a lot better since Elisa and Goliath were able to hunt down that potion for her. It looks like she'll live for a long time yet." "Oh good. I knew sis wouldn't let me down." Perotessa turned back to her guests. Demona was agape, Cearda seemed to have a decisive interest in the whole thing, and Iolair and Tigris had no clue what was going on. "Oh, Iolair I'm sorry. You haven't met the Manhattan clan. I wonder if we could make a side trip there." Iolair shrugged. Tigris only blinked. Demona looked at Lennox sharply. "Who *is* your mother?" "Mysta." He answered instantly. "Your daughter." "And your father?" Lennox looked at Perotessa, who nodded. "You don't know him." Demona scowled. She hated being in the dark. "Would you mind if we finished our task?" Lennox sighed. "No, I don't mind. I just wish I knew you were coming, is all." "I pop in and out a lot." Iolair's head turned aside, as if listening to something. Tigris looked at him, puzzled. A dull roar was heard, becoming louder. "Is it the rocks?" Cearda asked. "Impossible." Lennox observed. "They're programmed not to." "I'll look." Iolair volunteered. He stepped past Lennox, who followed. "Try not to get yourself hurt this time." Cearda observed. Iolair laughed. The ground was still shaking when the two males reached the outside. The stones were not moving, but they were shaking more and more as the quaking increased. Clouds stormed over head, filled with flame and lightning. "They're moving." Lennox observed. "Let them keep moving." Iolair turned away, disinterested. Lennox watched a moment more, and followed. "What it is?" Cearda inquired as the returned. "The alien-thing is moving southwest. Nothing important. Let's just finish this." Demona nodded, and went back to her ingredients. She had created a quite noxious bath of ingredients in the cauldron, but many there could sense the magic emerging from it. Undirected, undefined. Demona began to chant in latin, holding one paw with a spring of thistle in it, over the bath. When she finished, she dropped the spring in. The mixture glowed. "It needs to sit for about fifteen hours." Demona concluded. "Easily done, I'd say." Lennox commented, turning his wrist over, producing a quartz watch. "Fifty, forty, thirty, twenty, ten... now!" he counted down. The gargoyles turned to stone. In the evening, Perotessa returned. The mixture still required three hours of sitting, but the night was coming again, and it appeared that the spell would begin to take effect. Perotessa sat back, and waited for the sun to finish going down. As the mixture finished curing, Iolair and Ceadra sat in one corner happily devouring two stags. Demona had eaten little, too excited over her creation. Lennox and Tigris, meanwhile, ate Eat- n-Go burgers. Perotessa couldn't help but notice the culture difference. Tigris nodded to Iolair. "You still eat like that?" "I can't eat cooked meat. It makes me ill." Iolair explained. "Still? I'd hope it would mend as you got older." Iolair shook his head. "Do you miss what you can't eat?" Iolair considered that. "I do not think so. My tastes are too different now." Tigris nodded. "Too bad. I really like human food." "You should try Chinese, Tigris." Lennox noted. "It's done!" Demona announced decisively. Cearda left the carcass with Iolair. "It will be dark for the next week!" "Excellent." Cearda nodded. "I expected more of a display." Tigris noted. "Do not broadcast your ignorance, child." Demona advised her. Another slight rumble in the earth. "What was that?" Cearda asked. Iolair's eyebrows raised, and he left to go find out. He returned about five minutes later, breathless. "Demona! My Queen! You must come see this!" "What is it, Iolair?" Iolair stuttered unintelligibly for a moment, trying to explain, then, in exasperation, he grabbed Demona's wrist, and dragged her out of the laboratory after him. "What? What are you ranting about now?" Iolair took to the wing, and Demona followed. After all, she'd allowed him to drag her this far. They crested several hilltops to the Southwest, when all at once, Demona saw it. In a large, flat valley of salt and sand, the enormous city- sized alien ship had been blown to pieces. The flames leapt miles into the sky. Gargoyles of the clan they had left the night before flew in every direction openly, as humans moved among them. Bodies of slain aliens were thrown into the inferno. Gargoyles and humans alike slew them. Chunks of the massive spaceship broke off, and crashed to the ground, causing the ground to quake. "Humans and gargoyles working and fighting side by side, my queen. The humans obliterated the aliens." "Incredible." Cearda muttered. Demona and Iolair turned, seeing the others approach them from behind. They had, apparently, followed. "Ha! Seven days then. Seven days of humans and gargoyles at peace. What are you going to do with it, Demona?" "I already know what we're going to do." Perotessa announced. "What?" Cearda asked. "You, Demona, are going to speak to the American President. That is the reason I sent you here." Perotessa said, smiling defiantly. Iolair shifted uncomfortably, as Demona's eyes turned red. * Perotessa * "You brought me here to meet the president?! Fine! Then I'll meet the **** president!" She whirled "But I won't like it." she sniffed. An hour later, surrounded by the clan who claimed to be Ochter Oidhche Bheithir, Demona waited impatiently for the human's president to show up. She growled softly. Cearda watched her with concerned eyes but said nothing. Iolair and Tigris softly spoke to one another separate from her. Perotessa scratched Silver Claws back and fiddled with his ears. Then over the public address system came, "Ladies and gentlemen. Showing his appreciation to they who are the Guardians of the Night, President of the United States of America, James Canmore." "What?!" hissed Demona. From the hanger came a man. A brunette but still his bloodline was evident in his face. He was a Canmore. Maybe not The Hunter, but of the same bloodline. She knew they shouldn't have helped the humans. Secret Service men cleared a path for him and then an area around Demona where she would meet him. She licked her lips nervously. She knew exactly what she was going to do. President Canmore smiled and offered her his hand. She took it her flesh prickling. "I am glad to met you, Miss?" Demona stared at him, her eyes glowing red. Then she said in her best Inigo Montoya impression, "Hello," she said. "My name is Demona. You have chased and persecuted and slaughtered my people. Prepare to die." President Canmore drew back horrified. "Wha-. Wha-. Wha..." "Hello," she repeated, crouching low starting to stalk him. "My name is Demona. You have killed my people. Prepare to die." The Secret service men shook themselves out of their shock. They didn't have a clue what was going on. All they knew was that their president was in danger and that they had to get him out of harms way. Demona threw the first man who tried to stop her across her body. "Hello," she repeated, "My name is Demona. You have killed my people. Prepare to die!" She crouched, preparing to leap. Her jaws opened... "I think we'd better be going now!" said Perotessa quickly. "I call forth the GATE!" She bellowed. Demona sprang! The Gate swung open consuming her, light streamed out touched Iolair, Cearda, Silver Claw, Tigris, and Laser Ice. The sound became deafening. "Home James!" yelled Perotessa The Gate slammed shut. * Eagle of Arabia * *laughs* Okay, Perotessa. You got your revenge. :) Inigo Montoya... I read through your new Rude Awakenings version. Was it the holes you wanted help with, specifically? ****************** There was a dazed noise as Laser Ice realized he wasn't where he had been a moment before. They were still in a forest, but something was so utterly wrong he could almost smell it. "Laser Ice? What are *you* doing here?" Tigris inquired. "I... I was following you..." Tigris threw her hands up in frustration. "Baah! We were leaving for God-Knows-Where, Laser Ice. Why do you always have to follow me wherever I go?" "Well I..." he stuttered, but Tigris cut him off. "Oh, never mind." Iolair was seated on a rock, looking out from a hilltop across a valley, his paws under his beak, as if it were his chin. Tigris stepped up behind him, and ran her talons through his neck-feathers. Iolair shivered at her soft touch, and twisted in complaint. "Don't..." "Sorry." she muttered. Iolair return to his watch. "What are you doing?" "Waiting for Demona and Cearda's return." Another pause. "Do you like her?" "Demona?" "No, Cearda." Iolair's paws fell to his knees, looking back at Tigris. "How do you mean?" "I mean, do you love her?" Iolair was astonished. "She is my leader. I am her acolyte. That is all." Tigris laughed. "Really? What other female gargoyles have you been around in the last twenty years?" Iolair stood up hastily. "What are you suggesting? After the human Terra died, I was left alone! I befriended Lysander, and we grew up together. Then she went off and chose a mate, and I got left high and dry! Then I found Demona. She accepted me for being a gargoyle, at least. She didn't laugh at me, or try and treat me special, or suddenly halt conversations when I came into a room where she was! She treated me like a *clan* member." "Calm down, Matthew. I wasn't making a personal remark or anything." "That was how it sounded to me." Iolair grumbled, sitting down on his rock again. There was another moment of silence, before Cearda and Demona appeared through the fog. Iolair went off to meet them. "We did not find Lennox. He must have been left behind." Demona concluded. "Perotessa is anxious we move on." Iolair reported. As they organized their various possessions, preparing to move on, Cearda caught Tigris trying to hold Iolair's shoulder before he batted her away. Once they were airborne (except for Perotessa and Silver Claw), Iolair drifted into his customary position the uppermost side. Cearda pumped her wings once or twice, and fluttered nearby him. "Does she bother you?" "Who?" "The arm-winged one with the blue hair, blazing like Demona's?" "Tigris? Well, I suppose she has reason to act like that to me. There's no rule that says she cannot." "How so?" Iolair was silent a moment. "We were betrothed, long ago." Cearda nodded. "Did you love her, then?" "Yes." "Do you still?" Iolair sighed, his flight-path jittering slightly as he was nervous. "Yes. I do." * Perotessa * Cearda turned her face away, unwilling to let him see the contempt on it, and laughed. "That's how you differ from Demona and myself. We are no longer capable of love." She snorted. "There might be hope for you yet, Youngling." Laughing she slid back to her normal position; beside Demona on her right side. Iolair glanced down and watched as a small conversation ensued. "NANE?!!!" "SA!" "Iolair?!" "SA!" "I don't believe it!" "Believe it!" Demona glanced upwards at Iolair. She scowled then closed her wings, diving down toward the form of the loping black wolf, Silver Claw. "Perotessa!!" The halfling looked up. "Yes, Demona?" "We must stop." Tessa sat up. The shift in weight signaling Silver Claw to slow. "What? Why?" "I've got to talk to you." Demona came down for a landing then caped her wings. "Iolair must be tested." "What?! But I thought you just tested him!" Demona frowned impatiently. "That was just a skirmish. This time he must truly be tested. His loyalty, his trust. His faith in me." "Don't you trust him?" Demona gave a snort of laughter. "I Don't TRUST Anybody." Perotessa nodded in understanding. "So, what do you have in mind? I mean we're so close to the Keep, we could be home in less than an hour." "Lets go back to the Keep. I'll have a plan by the time we get there." Perotessa nodded and signaled Silver Claw to continue. Demona spread her wings and was instantly picked up by an updraft. Soon she was once again at Cearda's side. "What?" asked Cearda. "I am thinking." "Poor...poor Iolair." She glanced up. "And he doesn't suspect a thing." "All the better." * * * Once at the Keep, Demona cornered Perotessa and gave her a sketch of what she wanted to do. Tessa nodded casting a glance at the intended "victims". Then Demona went to talk to Cearda. "But I want to go! Please Demona." "No! You are to stay here with Tessa." Grumbling Cearda acquiesced. "Oh, alright." Demona flashed her a smiled, then turned to Laser Ice, Tigris, and Iolair. "Would you three mind coming with me?" she asked. "Where?" asked Tigris, suspicious. Demona shrugged. "To my lab. You can leave your weapons here." Frowning, both armed gargoyles laid down their weapons then the three followed Demona up to her lab. Perotessa watched as they disappeared around the corner and spoke her spell. There was a flash of green light then silence. Cearda came up to the halfling. "Well, that's that." "Yes." said Tessa softly. Cearda stared at the stairway. "I hope he doesn't fail." Tessa shook her head sadly and turned away saying: "We'll know soon enough. If he fails he'll die." Cearda sighed tiredly. "Fitting." * Eagle of Arabia * (Ahh! You're running with it! *Jonathan Frakes voice* "Excellent!") Iolair awakened with a splitting headache. He had no idea how long he had been asleep. He awakened groggily, certainly not out of stone sleep. He found himself in a stone hewn room with one brazier flaming next to the far wall. Beside the brazier was a sword. A scream echoed from some place unknown. Iolair spun around. A cavern led off out of this room. Iolair turned back to the brazier. He found a torch behind it, and lit it in the brazier. He took the sword in one paw. Hanging from the sword was a small key. The scream came again. Female -- in terror. Iolair, turned, and carefully paced down the corridor in the direction of the sound. The screams came again and again, each time differently. As Iolair moved on, he could hear chains, yelling, raucous laughter, and the sound of laser fire. He beheld an astonishing sight. A Demona made of stone stood with a laser weapon in hand, blasting holes in humans chain on one stone wall. She was laughing and cursing the humans. Another figure approached Demona from behind as Iolair watched. The second figure, and human woman draped in a dark cloak, raised a mace to strike at Demona. Iolair cried out, but it was too late. The mace hit Demona, and shattered the stone inside her. Somehow this didn't make any sense to Iolair, but it did not matter now. Iolair charged forward, intent on killing this human. He took her wrist forcefully. Surprised, she spun around. It was Tigris. "Tigris! You... you're human!" Iolair exclaimed. "Eagle! Isn't it wonderful? Now you can turn back into a human, and we can be together!" "What?!! Turn back...? This is what I am! I would DIE if I were human again!" "But please, Eagle..." "Why did you kill Demona?" Iolair demanded, referring to the stone shards on the floor. "She was killing my kind!" "YOUR KIND! You *belong* with us! Let the humans perish!" Iolair exclaimed, waving the sword in the air with gestures. "What has happened to you? You *were* human? Why can't you act like one?" "GRARRRRRRRRRR! I'M NOT A HUMAN ANYMORE! HE WAS WEAK, CHILDISH, AND STUPID! I have grown beyond being human!" "You're being blind, Eagle. Can't you see she's using you? She'll turn against you at any moment!" "Tigris, she saved my life, and gave it back to me more times than I can count! I owe her more than I can repay! I will not abandon what little trust I may have earned in her heart!" "You're being a fool..." Suddenly, a laser blast filled the air. Tigris crumbled to dust on the floor. Iolair looked up in alarm, to see Laser Ice, human, blowing smoke away from his gun. "Just takin' care of these ugly monsters!" Iolair roared, and decapitated the human with his sword. The illusion suddenly changed. Demona and Tigris stood on either side of Iolair. All their eyes were in rage. Iolair held the sword steady in his grip. Demona snarled at Tigris, and she growled back. "Come Eagle! Let us slay her depart together!" Tigris said. "You are a traitor, Iolair. You have no place among us!" Demona snapped back. "Unless you will break your love and kill her, I will kill you for being the human traitor you are." "He'll have a fine time trying." Tigris snarled. Iolair turned to Tigris, ready to bring his sword down on her head. * Perotessa * Suddenly the form of Demona shimmered and switched positions. She watched, a maliciously satisfied look on her face. "Yes, Iolair. Kill her." she hissed. Iolair stared at the Demona then stopped his downward swing. Swiftly, he turned and buried the sword into her flesh. She screamed, hands clutching at the cold steel. "Iolair..." From behind him, Tigris began to laugh. Iolair turned and watched her; her form began to slowly expand growing larger then fell into itself her mocking laughter getting louder and louder. He turned back to the Demona. She had crumpled to the floor her bright red blood pooling under her body. "What have I done?" he asked himself. Horrified he dropped the sword. "Is this the extent of your love, Iolair? Is this how you see yourself?" Tears blurring his vision, Iolair turned slowly in the direction that the voice was coming from. Demona just as alive and vibrant as ever stood, wings caped around her form, behind and slightly above him. Her face reflected her sorrow of his decision. "I can not say that I am disappointed; nor can I say that I am pleased." "Demona....my Queen!" Iolair tried to move toward her but she stopped him by raising her hand. "Do not." she said softly. "I see now, what I should have seen when I first meet you. Iolair. Eagle. Matthew. You may be a gargoyle in form, but you are human in soul. You can not change what you were born as." Iolair shook his head. "No, you're wrong. I _AM_ a gargoyle! I have a gargoyle's soul!" Demona smiled sadly. "You come from the flesh of a human woman-" "She was a gargoyle! Inside, in her heart, in her soul she was a gargoyle!!!" There was a flash of light. Cearda appeared out of the darkness, but a Cearda that Iolair had never seen before. This Cearda was ethereal, supremely beautiful. The gold jewel which was embedded into her collar flashed; the silver glowed. "My Queen." she said, greeting Demona. Next to this Cearda, this *queenly* Cearda, it seemed that Demona should be bowing at _her_ feet. Iolair felt his knees go weak; slowly he sank to the *floor*. "Cearda?" She didn't seem to hear him, turned to Demona. "How did the test go?" she asked. Demona frowned. "He failed. 'Tis best just to leave him here." Cearda glanced at Iolair; her form began to glow like fire. "He's young." she decreed. "He'll learn." Demona snorted in distress. "But will he learn in time?" Cearda shook her head. "I do not know. I... I can not see that far." "What of his relation to Tutela?" Demona asked suddenly. Cearda fell silent. She knew of Demona's contempt for the shape-changed human. "I believe that perhaps Iolair's exposure to Malcora may have nullified that." "He's a time shifter. Trusted? Never!" Demona said sharply; changing the subject. "What of Lysander? May not her influence have helped?" "A fey?! You would have me trust a fey trained, time shifting descendent of Tutela?" Cearda smiled calmly. "Who said anything about trust? I think that it is time to see how well Iolair has learned his lessons." She turned back to the bedazzled gargoyle. "Arise, Eagle of Arabia known to me as Iolair." she commanded softly. Without a will of his own, Iolair effortlessly was on his feet. "I, Cearda the Oracle of Byzantium: The Gold-Fire Gargoyle, send you upon a quest. "You will take with you this Halberd, my own won in battle and bloodshed. Keep it with you at all times Eagle-headed One. It will protect and warn you. "You will take with you two companions; Tigris your *wing mate* from long ago and Laser Ice, Tigris' current *wing mate*. You will find that there are many obstacles in your way. Some from without but more from within. "You are to retrieve for me this object." She held out her hand. A gold light rose from her palm twirled then began to grow in size. It took shape; the shape of a gold tiara. "This is the Tiara of my youth. Retrieve it for me Eagle and you will gain what is rightfully yours. Fail in your quest, and you will be banished from Clann na ochter oidhche bheithir forever. Your name will be an anathema that all will know. None will ever willingly take you in ever again." Cearda made a gesture with her hand. Eagle found himself clothed and geared for travel and battle. Beside him Tigris on his right, and Laser Ice on his left. "Go now. Good hunting." * Eagle of Arabia * (Go easy on myself? Okay...) The descending of the sun met the gargoyles with slow anticipation. Tigris and Laser Ice exploded from their stone forms and looked about them with confused expressions. The setting, their clothes and weapons were all unfamiliar to them. Iolair did not awaken. Tigris, suddenly concerned, approached the stone figure. Her ears perked when she heard it making a soft noise... almost like squelched screams. Alarmed, Tigris hit the stone figure, and it cracked, shattering like an egg. From the stone pieces... someone fell out, collapsing to the ground with coughing and wheezing. Tigris leaned over the figure. Iolair had become a small, dirty brown haired human boy or about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a green tunic. The human rolled out of the stone pieces. Laying on the ground, he saw his hands, and began to cry. Tigris recognized him. "Matthew?" The boy turned to her, and she immediately recognized him. He felt his hair, and his nose, as if taking it in, and found himself only crying harder. "Do stop it, Matthew. You'll only make it worse by crying about it." "I can't help it!" he wailed, "I'm... I'm *human*!..." "It can't be so bad. You always said it had been a curse. Don't you think it would be just like old times?" "Tigris... that was twenty years ago!" he continued to wail. "Twenty years, and you're just as immature as the day you met me! Some gargoyle you are, you cry like a girl for heaven's sake!" "Who was she?" he continued to cry. "Who was she that she would *do* this to me?" As nice as Tigris found it to have new travelling clothes, she took them off and bathed. "Quest or no quest. I'm not starting until I'm good and ready." "By the time *you're* ready, Tigris, it'll be time to go back home." Tigris only made a motion with one paw, and made him leave her to bathe. However, she insisted that Matthew stay. "I don't want you to leave my sight." Matthew leaned back against a tree. "Don't you want your privacy?" Tigris made a motion with one talon, for him to undress. Matthew looked at her pitifully, but then resigned, and complied. He joined her naked in the water. For the first time in decades, he shivered at the coldness of the water. Tigris, although she had always been a head taller than he, now nearly towered over him. She took him in her arms, and held her close. Reserved at first, Matthew touched her. She felt warm and smooth to the touch, and so he held on to her for warmth. As he did, all the water seemed warmer. Her laid his head across her breast as she held him tight. "It's been years since we've done this." Tigris said. "Does it make you feel any better? Somehow, I always did." Matthew sighed. "I... still can't believe you're alive. I... though you were dead for so long... if I'd only known..." "I was shot." Tigris said. She touched a spot on her chest, where a small scar still remained, despite nights and nights of stone rejuvenation. "Here. Cassandra found me. She knew how much we meant to each other, and somehow she knew that you would come back again someday. She linked us together, Matthew. As long as you live, I will." Matthew sighed. "Why the sigh?" Matthew looked the woman in her deep velvet eyes. "After you died, I met a woman from one of the realms of the faery. She invited me to come with her, and meet the gargoyles that protected *her* home. I went with her, and became close to her, like I had been once with Terra, my human mother. As we journeyed toward that realm, there was a skirmish -- I never learned exactly who with. She was killed too. I felt devastated all over again. "But there was someone else who was devastated too -- she and I comforted each other. She was Lysander. Neither of us knew then about her fae heritage. We grew up together at a castle with a firedrake king, protecting. We were only children of a rookery then. I was the adopted one, and they ridiculed me. Except Lysander. I learned the meaning of honor from her." Matthew shifted, holding her by her shoulders. Her arms and arm-wings wrapped around him kept him warm as he floated in the pool. He took a breath and continued. "Together we learned battle skills. She always exceeded me in skill. However, there came on day when I began to sense a change in her. She had fallen in love with another gargoyle from our rookery. I let her be, as long as we were wing companions, I felt she was still my friend, that we still fought side to side was enough. "One day... something happened. We were on patrol when we were suddenly attacked by some humans. I was injured, and Lysander took me home quickly. However, when we arrived, the castle had vanished, and we were captured. "Lysander found out what had happened. We were no longer in the world we had left. We were experiencing a prophesy of the future of our clan. We were instructed that, if we did not prevent the destruction of the castle, then all time would be destroyed because of the special properties of the castle, even if it took all of time. We were both made immortal -- never to age again until our quest was complete. "After we came home, Lysander and I learned a lot about each other. She married the other, and I accepted it. I glided alone for several years, until one day I... became angry at one of the humans, and killed him. They banished me." "Why did you kill him?" Tigris inquired. "He... he reminded me of my father. The one who... who killed you." Tigris sighed. "Ever since I have hated humans. It was their fault I was banished. The other gargoyles still remained my rookery, and were still loyal to me. The humans despised me. So I left. I survived on my own for a while, but in a battle with a Gnome-giant, I was badly injured. Somehow, I wound up in the mortal world again, and I was found by another gargoyle. "It was Demona. She showed compassion on me, and helped me recover. I have been her follower ever since. We used to have a larger clan, but it was destroyed by some humans." Matthew stopped talking, but kept holding him. "Cassandra may have just as well made me immortal then. Did you abandon your previous quest?" "I can only do so much when I am banned." Tigris sighed. "Perhaps you must resolve that quest, before this one may be." "If I do not resolve this one, then I would be better off dead. If only..." He felt so strange calling Cearda by that name now, as he remembered the gargoyle he had seen. "If only the Golden Oracle had let me be myself as I should, then we could spend it together... as mates... just like we used to dream..." Tigris took the boy's chin in one talon. "We already are, perhaps not in name, but in spirit. We are one, not only on this quest, but forever more." "Oh, Tigris, I love you!" Matthew answered excitedly. "Hey, I don't know if Demona hates you because you're Tutela's son, because you used to be human, or because you have a loving heart, but I know I love your for all those reasons... and so much more. Human, gargoyle, or even fae (if that were possible) -- it doesn't matter to me." Tigris and Matthew leaned closer, and kissed. Tigris put her arms around the small boy, and they locked their mouths together. She wrapped her tail around his legs, and he wrapped his legs around hers. Together, they laid down on the shore of the pool, and let their feelings merge. Matthew returned in the evening, after having seen the first full day he had seen since the slow metamorphosis that had made him a gargoyle, had begun to cause him to turn to stone while the sun was up. His explorations had been fruitful, a big change to all the failed trials he had been put through recently. Perhaps it was... all in his mind. It all seemed so pointless now. He hated humans. But why? He had no reason anymore. He had Tigris, and she was enough to make him feel whole again. He still hated the humans. Worse still, he hated all humans, especially himself. He would have killed himself, if only he could have found a better reason to. Dressed in Cearda's green tunic, he met Tigris and Laser Ice as the sun went down. Immediately, Matthew realized something was wrong. Tigris's eyes remained aflame. She looked at Laser Ice and Matthew with a looked of anger, and ran off in one direction without even picking up her pack of provisions. Laser Ice was on fire, it seemed, too, and he went charging after Tigris. Tigris flew away, as fast as she could, as if trying to outfly him. Laser Ice charged her madly. What was this...? Matthew suddenly turned, to look at the rising moon. It was not only full, but the Breeder's Moon. How was it possible? It was still a long time until...? Cearda had displaced them in time again -- that had to be it. Matthew looked after Tigris again, desperately. He felt so alien, not feeling as Laser Ice did on this night. Tigris and Laser Ice were already out of sight. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! TIGRIS!" Matthew screamed, clutching his arms in self torment. "I'm nothing but a heartless little human..." He drew the sword from his belt, and pressed the tip against his chest. * Perotessa * Just as he was about to fling himself headfirst into death he heard "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. I am disappointed in you Matthew." Gasping he looked up and saw a light like fire make it's way steadily through the trees. The ball of flame snapped and crackled growing more intense while not giving off any heat. With a sudden enraged roar, a form took shape and stepped out of the heart of the raging inferno. "Cearda." he breathed. The Gold-Fire Gargoyle Oracle of Byzantium looked down at him as she floated gently ten feet off the ground. "Cearda. What are you doing here?" "Just checking up on you." she said softly. From the darkness came a scream of gargoyle ecstasy; female. It was quickly echoed by a males roar of intense pleasure. Cearda smiled faintly. "Mating." she stated. She looked down at the crestfallen human. "Put down the sword Matthew." she commanded. In the presence of *this* Cearda it was all Matthew could do not to fall on his knees in worship. He did as she commanded. "Now, go pick up the halberd." Matthew turned looking for Cearda's halberd; her magical weapon. He quickly was able to make out the shafted axelike weapon leaning against a tree. He curled his hand around the shaft and hefted the weapon. It *hummed* in his hand. "I gained that weapon in battle against the Hunter." she told him. "It is a magical weapon. It will protect you in battle; warning you against any who would use magic against you." Again out of the darkness came the sounds of frenzied mating. Cearda took note of Matthew's reaction and took pity on the human male. "All will be well Matthew. Have faith. If her love is as strong as your's is then you have nothing to worry about." "But it's the Breeder's Moon." he said sulky. "Why did you have to bring us here at this time?!" The fire behind Cearda blazed brighter then simmered down to a more pleasant glow. "Do you honestly think a female gargoyle is *NOT* in control of her heart during the Breeder's Moon? The Breeder's Moon is simply a *reminder* for gargoyles to mate; to bring children into the world. Who those children's *parents* will be, is up to the mind. Sometimes, the heart does not follow where the breeding urge would take it." Matthew looked up at her, hope shining in his eyes. "Then...then she won't....*love* Laser Ice?" he asked. Cearda shrugged. "How am I suppose to know? I am a far seer, not a telepath. Only Tigris knows the answers to the questions you ask me." She ruffled her wings. "But that is not why I am here. You forget your quest, Matthew." The young man at least had the decency to look abashed. "I've had a lot of things on my mind." he mumbled. Cearda arched a brow, "I can imagine. Listen to me Matthew and listen well. This quest you embark on is important. You are not only on a quest for an object but on a quest to reconcile yourself to who and what you truly are. Only when you are in acceptance of who you really are will this quest be over and you will find what it is you are *truly* seeking." Matthew frowned, "I don't understand." "You will. I have faith. Then you will return and be a stronger *person* for your quest. And you will bring me my Tiara won't you?" she asked. Matthew couldn't see it on her face, but he could tell by her voice; she was smiling. He nodded. "What ever you want, milady Oracle. If you asked me to get you the moon I would try." "Very good. Remember Matthew. Keep that halberd in your hand at all times. It may very well save your life." "I'll remember." he whispered. He looked at her and watched as she slowly faded back into the heart of the fire. "Cearda!!!" "Remember...." the fire sighed. The fire roared to a crescendo then died out. He stood looking at the where the fire had been then sighed and turned away. Out in the darkness came another roar. "Feh! Mating...." he cursed. He tapped at the ground with the halberd's shaft not knowing exactly what to do now. There was a another roar accompanied by a squealing grunt. He frowned, "Pigs?" Out of the darkness three shapes suddenly exploded into the clearing. Matthew gasped and stumbled back in shock. "Trolls!" The small squat creatures with their pig like snouts and pig like tusks ran on two legs but when really in a hurry fell to all fours. Their triangle shaped ears where pinned back against their heads and they glanced around with small eyes lit with a feral light. They made low grunting sounds; their stench was stomach turning. Matthew swallowed. He had dropped the sword and now all he had was Cearda's halberd. It wouldn't be much use against a pack of trolls but maybe he was lucky and these three were it. He moved back till his back was protected against a tree. One of the trolls saw the movement and squealed enraged noticing Matthew for the first time. It pawed at the forest floor for a moment, then charged. Matthew waited till the last moment then made a sudden movement with the halberd. The trolls body went by and landed in a twitching mass beyond him. It's head flew into the air then fell with a thud and rolled into the darkness. The other two trolls, seeing what had happened to their pack mate growled low. "Come on!" challenged Matt. He looked behind the two trolls and saw more eyes; troll eyes. "So you think sheer numbers will be able to defeat me?! Come ON!!!!!" The trolls poured out of the forest and Matt was suddenly overwhelmed. He hacked, slashed, and gouged at anything that moved. The forest was engulfed in the screams of battle. Matthew gave a battle cry as they trolls, their first onslaught repealed, withdrew and studied this enemy. Then they began to circle him. They still had numbers on their side. Matthew hadn't escaped without a few badges of valor himself. Scratches and bite marks marred his skin yet he stayed in a battle stance waiting for the trolls to attack again. And attack they did. They tried to come in at blind angles; two to three waves attacking at one time. Matthew continued to move killing trolls or repealing them. "I just wish I was in my gargoyle form." he thought desperately. "I always have more strength as a gargoyle!" His hands tightened on the halberd. "I wish I had more strength!!" The halberd suddenly blazed with white light, blinding the trolls who fell back. Matthew felt it's power enter him; lending him strength to continue. But the trolls had, had enough. This was one opponent that they were not going to be able to beat. Just as suddenly as they had appeared, they disappeared. Matthew leaned back against the tree and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. Bodies of trolls littered the ground around him. "Well that was...distracting." he sighed. Carefully he stepped over the bodies and looked around. "Now what to do?" His question would have to go unanswered as a twig snapped then two forms came out of the darkness. Gargoyle forms. Tigris, arms wound around Laser Ice's waist came into the clearing. "My goodness Matthew what have you been doing?" "And where have you two been?!" he demanded though he really didn't want to know. "I could have used your help!" Tigris shrugged then playfully nipped at Laser Ice's throat. The male made a soft growling sound then draped his wing around Tigris' shoulders. She shuddered but didn't object. "We were...uhm....busy." she giggled. Matthew glared daggers at Laser Ice. His heart was breaking and there was nothing he could do about it. "So, now what will you do?" he asked softly. Tigris caressed Laser Ice's firm stomach them stepped away from him. "Matthew, you understand the importance of the Breeder's Moon do you not?" Mutely Matt nodded. "I know you're in pain Matt but it doesn't have to be this way. You are the one I love with all my heart and soul." Matt stared at Laser Ice, "What about *him*?" Tigris glanced over her shoulder, "He is the sire of my child. The mating bond is there but I feel for you Matthew. We are bound by our souls. Join with us, the both of us. Help us raise this child. The three of us together." Matthew's jaw dropped, "Are you serious?!!" Tigris nodded, "Deadly serious. It would kill me is you said no. I love you that much." Matthew's hands began to tremble, the halberd fell from his numb fingers. "Tigris, oh Tigris How I do love you!" (*sniff* *sniff* *sniff* from the author) They rushed to embrace each other, filling each other's arms. Tigris held him closely then drew away slightly and held out an arm to Laser Ice. He slowly accepted their invitation and joined them in their joy. * Eagle of Arabia * "There appears to be a valley opening up on the left side of the mountains." Laser Ice observed, trimming his flight slightly. Matthew turned his head in that direction, and squinted through the dark. "I can't see anything." he said. "That's okay." Tigris interjected. "That's why he told you." Matthew nodded, and returned to looking straight ahead as Laser Ice and Tigris glided on, with Matthew hanging from Laser Ice's shoulders. Each of them held a pack with provisions, but it had been an interesting trick to equalize the packs, making room for someone to carry the human. Laser Ice didn't mind -- Matthew was light weight. He held Cearda's halberd, a dagger, and a small pack. Tigris wore a dagger, a quiver of arrows, and a maple strung bow. Laser Ice, as usual, still held his laser-weapon. Matthew had also given him the sword. Matthew's confidence and mood had risen, and Tigris was determined to keep it that way. "Are you sure you know where we are going?" Tigris shrugged. "Alright, I give. I've no idea where we are going. My intention is to find out *where* we are." "If we are anywhere." Matthew noted. "What?" Laser Ice asked. "I mean we could be in a fairy realm." Matthew suggested. "I know of only two... entities in the universe that can transverse time, and I don't remember any Oracle mentioned as one of them. It just occurred to me. It's quite possible we are in a realm of faery." Tigris nodded. "That makes more sense that anything you've said today." "Do you think you recognize it?" "I can't even *see* it." Matthew sighed. For a moment, he sighed and there was silence. Then, he began digging through his pack, looking for something. Tigris looked at his activity with a curious expression. Unbuttoning one small pocket, he gave a large sigh of relief. "Bless your heart, Cearda." he muttered. From the pocket, he withdrew a large jade ring, crafted for a gargoyle's finger. Tigris wore a curious expression. Matthew smiled. "Something Lysander and I share in common. I've always kept this." The ring was too big for any of his fingers, so he just held it in the hand opposite the halberd. He moved it in a circle, concentrating, trying to remember all his lessons. Suddenly, the ring flashed, and Tigris shielded her eyes from the green light. "That way." Matthew announced. "What's that way?" "My old home, Castle Gorebash. This is my old faere realm, from before I met Demona." Laser Ice banked to the east, following the indicated direction. "We can find out more about our quest from there." Tigris surmised. Matthew nodded. "Hopefully, I can repay some... old debts." The clouds had been gathering for many hours, and it looked like a storm might have been brewing. Laser Ice had hoped it would not begin to pour, but when it did Matthew insisted they go on. Tigris could sense Matthew's apprehension rising, and tried to think of the best way to calm him. "If Demona wants you dead, why do you stay with her?" A wind had risen, and the gargoyles were beating their wings harder. "She took me in, brought me back to health, and taught me." "Taught you what?" "She taught me." Matthew bit back harshly. A sudden crosswind made Tigris forget Matthew for a moment, as she struggled to remain afloat. Laser Ice was banking about erratically. "It's either up or down from here!" he said. Tigris furrowed her eyebrows, and sternly fought for altitude. Matthew had made a good call. If only they could get above the clouds... Laser Ice had a bit more success, and Tigris followed his wake. His size and Matthew's gave him a bit more ballast in the wind. It also made him harder to carry. "Don't fight it!" Matthew shouted. "Use it!" "Easy for you to say!" Laser Ice bellowed. "You don't have wings!" "Not like yours, anyway." Matthew replied. Trying to keep the wind from tearing his wings off his shoulders, Laser Ice opened his wings spread-eagle, to find a wind in the right direction to carry him up. There was a sudden snap, and Laser Ice shot backwards, riding the winds backward. Tigris turned around, and allowed herself to ride the same current. Laser Ice, once he had turned around, negotiated the strong cross drafts until they found themselves above the clouds. Two moons shone brightly overhead. Matthew looked at them, curiously. One was large, with a large red ring and red and blue gaseous swirls, hanging very large in the sky. The other was smaller, and appeared silver, black, and green. "Those aren't my moons..." "Where to now?" Tigris panted. "We can't navigate without ground below us." Laser Ice complained. Matthew appeared thoughtful. "There's something really familiar about this." "What do you mean?" "Faery realm, yes. My old one, no. I scouted out the countryside this morning past, and I saw a gleaming sliver city in the middle of a large forest." "Why didn't you tell us?" "Things got... complicated when you woke up." "Ah yes. Sorry about that." Tigris apologized. Matthew refused to reply. "Talk to me Matthew. What are thinking?" Matthew sighed. "I'm trying to decide." "Decide what?" "How I feel." "And?" "I don't like the fact that you and Laser Ice are mates." Tigris sighed. "I understand. We were so long before we were reunited." Matthew nodded. "The night past..." Tigris nodded. "Was for you and only you." Matthew blinked. "I don't understand." "I love you both... differently." Matthew nodded. "I understand that *far* too well." Tigris sighed. She'd botched that one royally. "Laser Ice is my mate in body and mind. You are my soul-mate." Matthew scowled. "Oh I see, and that's supposed to make me feel better, is it? If we both suddenly died, which would you miss the most?!!!" "Matthew, calm down." Laser Ice said softly. Tigris appeared hurt. Matthew's expression was flaming all of the sudden, angry again. "You have two mates." he fumed. If he had been a gargoyle at that moment, Tigris knew his eyes would be burning. "Nothing in the tradition of the gargoyles says that I cannot have two mates." Tigris bit back. "That is a human idea. The child will have two fathers. A whole clan if need be, that is the gargoyle way. Never forget that." Matthew sighed. "You are right. I'm just... being human." "You are human. Don't beat it over your head." Tigris replied. The storm below had tapered away, and some semblance of ground below was becoming apparent. A small point of light shone on a mountainside below. The mountains were now running right below them, and it was decided to head for that light. It was a blue point of light, twinkling below, and the two gargoyles circled down. The winds were calmer now, and the landing was easy. Matthew slid off Laser Ice's shoulders, approaching the light. He held the halberd and the ring in his hands. The ring kept leading him toward the source of the light. On a stone pedestal next to the forest line, a small sapphire was set, radiating pulses of blue light. "Matthew, look out!" Tigris exclaimed. A man had appeared in the light. Matthew stopped moving closer. The man appeared to be dressed in blue, in the blue light. He wore a tunic and robe. A woman appeared standing next to him. "All is well." the man said, a familiar voice. "Cearda told us you'd be coming." Matthew was still uneasy. "You know Cearda? How?" "The same way you know her, lad. Come. My house lies up the mountain path. Come, and be our guests there as you attend to your quest in this land." Tigris stepped forward. "Who are you?" "My name is Cadence, this is my wife Rialamaya. Cearda told us your quest would be in this land when she was able to far-see that the object you seek would be found here. I raised the storm that brought you here." Tigris remained dubious for a moment. Then, in the blue light, Tigris saw Cadence's face. It was Matthew's? Cadence, as it turned out, was who Matthew would have been had history gone another course. Tigris probed into his mind deeply. His answers were more often than not, astonishing. "No no no, gargoyles are extinct here. They were killed off long before my time." "Your time?" "Yes. Now is 6000 years since the start of recorded history in the world of Lacon. 6075 to be precise. Somewhere around the year 4000 Y.C., our second sun became so large and inflated that it expanded nearly two parsecs in twenty years. In the year 4034 Y.C., it imploded. This world had great and mighty space fleets then, and we were barely able to shield out world from the blast. To this day, our world is surrounded by dangerous, high energy matter and gasses from that explosion, making it impossible to reach save through magic." "Wait a minute, world? As in planet? I thought this was only a faery realm?" Laser Ice interrupted. "That is what Faery realms are, sir gargoyle." Cadence explained, turning on the trail a moment, to face him. "That devastation left this world in ruins. Free floating, uncontrolled magic began to wreak havoc of good and evil in this world, and the one race of humans that had lived here, and killed the gargoyles, became millions of squabbling races of creatures, very few even humanoid. Most people in that day were transformed into something non-human, and humans became extinct as well." "But, you're human, aren't you?" "I'm getting to that. Be patient. These creatures intermingled for a time, but then began to separate out onto the four different continents of this world. To the western north of here is Mylara, where the Drakes and half-tree humans called Dryads make their homes and cities. To the east is the giant land of Myndyn, where the humanoids with a natural affiliation for water and lakes live, called the Naiads. The small land to the southern west if called Jaymy, where the deformed, squat humanoids called Dwarves made their homes mining in the mountains. Except for the dragons, all the non-humanoids were rejected and spurned as nothing more than 'talking animals'." Cadence's wife, Rialamaya, harumphed at the remark. Matthew went up in the trail to hike behind Cadence. "They came here, to Aslyn. My aunt is queen here, a shape changer." "Are you a shapechanger?" Matthew inquired. "Nay, brother. The Mother Protector Lionora Whitar became a shape changing Shutarian long into her youth. Before that, she was the same as I." "What are you?" Matthew inquired. "You look human?" Cadence stopped, and set his hands on Matthew's shoulders. "It's an illusion, for you three." "But..." Matthew protested. Cadence continued up the trail. "I too am a prince, of sorts, I guess. My grandfather was the greatest prophet this world has ever known." Matthew felt a stirring rush then. "Prophet?" Cadence smiled. "The Ancient One. He saved Aslyn when the Dragons tried to invade in 5112 Y.C. I am his heir." Matthew did some mental calculations. "That's nine hundred years! Do we ever measure years the same?" "Close enough." Cadence replied. "Exactly how old are you, hmm?" "By human standard?" "Years." "Seventy three." "Point and case. Your obviously seventeen by human standards." "I'm immortal." "Precisely." Matthew was now past confusion, and decided not to say anything else for the remainder of the hike. Which was not long, they soon arrived at a large brick house, much like a large house built into a mountain, in modern earth. "You won't find another house like it on this planet." Cadence said. The house was four stories tall, and a bridge ran across a river from the trail to the front door on the second story. There were numerous windows and gables, some stained glass. In the moonlight, the Matthew and the gargoyles all noticed the large window with the gargoyle portrayed in it, built onto both the third and fourth stories. Cadence said "Open, Sesame!" to the front door, and it unlatched and opened. Matthew smiled, and followed Cadence's invitation for all to go inside. "The children are all in bed, but there are guest rooms downstairs. This is the main floor. You can shower, and then meet me in the kitchen for your breakfast. The rest of the family won't eat until long after sunrise." Rialamaya put in. She had a sharp voice, but very high. She sounded a lot like Tigris, but they looked nothing alike. "This evening, for dinner, there will be a banquet in the ball room, down the hall there, where we will discuss your quest." Cadence said. Rialamaya motioned to the gargoyles to follow her down the stairway to the right. Cadence motioned for Matthew to follow him. The living room, the room they had first come into, was furnished wish many neat couches and chairs, all pristine white. There was a wall in the middle of the room with a stained glass window in it, partitioning the room. On the other side was a projector mounted television, computer, and many other implements of stereo and electronic entertainment equipment. Cadence sat down at the computer, and began working with a pen on a tablet. "Describe this thing." Matthew pulled over a chair, and described the golden tiara Cearda had shown him, to Cadence, in great detail. Cadence set the computer to searching. "Are there many other computers here?" "Only the ones I've made. Lionora has one, and a few other people on the good side." Matthew considered that. How did he know to trust him? He couldn't decided. He just trusted him, like here was something inherently good about him. Cadence suddenly looked aside for a moment, and sighed. "Coming, Ri." "Say again?" "Rialamaya. She needs me downstairs. I'll bet you twenty gold pieces it's the plumbing. It's interesting running a septic tank on another planet, I'll tell you." Matthew nodded. He still hadn't exactly grasped what was going on. "Found it." Cadence announced, looking at the computer. He began to sift through the information. A large map appeared, and two red lines pinpointed a spot on the map. "Terrific. Now I see why you're on a quest, not a mission." Cadence muttered. "What?" "It's on the bottom of the ocean, in the middle of enemy territory." Matthew sighed, hopes falling. "But not impossible. I've been on worse quests." Cadence sighed. He looked Matthew in the eyes. Matthew met his look sadly. "I can help you find it and get to it, but you are going to need to consent to allow me to work on you." "Work on me?" "Help you become more like yourself." Matthew sighed. "Cearda said this journey would be for my heart as well as the tiara." "Very well then, brother." Cadence smiled in a friendly way. "Come over here." He motioned to a large cluster of couched, all together, intended as almost a bed to sit and watch tv on. The television was off. "How do you get tv signal?" "Mostly from videos. Our satellites do pick up signals from earth, but they are almost a decade old. Speed of light, you know. I really don't like the shows that were on back in the nineties." Matthew nodded. "Go to sleep." Cadence instructed. "This is your bed for the night." Cadence went downstairs, leaving Matthew in the dark, as he lay there. He missed Tigris. He decided he'd finally lost Tigris forever. She and Laser Ice were mates. Soul-mates she'd said. It all felt wrong, for some reason, and Matthew couldn't shake or ignore the feeling. Thankfully, Matthew went to sleep not long after. The ballroom was filled with activity when Tigris and Laser Ice arrived the following evening. Cadence and Rialamaya oversaw eight children in setting up tables, tablecloths, plates, flatware, glasses, chairs, and food arrangements. They failed to notice their two guest gargoyles for several minutes. They children were all girls, Tigris noted, except for one boy, the youngest. He was only a toddler, and his attention drifted to the two gargoyles. "Ooooh! Pretty!" he exclaimed gleefully. Laser Ice shouldered Tigris, and she blushed. Tigris touched the little boy's face with the back of one of her talons. The boy held the talons in both of his little hands. Cadence appeared behind them, laughing. "I think she's taken, Jeyshon." The child gibbered excitedly, holding Tigris's talon. "Where is Matthew?" "He's... asleep still. He had a long night. I don't think he's had much lately." Tigris blushed. Cadence's eyebrows went up. He pulled a small object out of the pocket of his Ladies' Wranglers, about the size of his palm, and began moving it in front of Tigris and Laser Ice, looking at the electronic display. He nodded, studying the readings for a few minutes. "Uh huh. How long have you been pregnant, Tigris?" Tigris looked at Laser Ice for a moment and turned back. "One night..." she thought of Matthew, and hesitated, "...perhaps