O.K. OS is back up and running for a while. Here's the next piece, 
(beta, beta, beta!) so help if you wish and enjoy!

Windlily


*****************


	Nephlyte hadn't gone to sleep, even though his body demanded that 
relief. He still had questions he needed answered, things that had to be 
decided. How Aurora had known to bring him to Mender needed to be 
answered. Mender's cryptic statement about Shadow-spawn only existing to 
protect Aurora needed an answer. He glanced at that youma's head where 
it rested on his outstretched foreleg, the white fire of his eyes hidden 
now as he dozed. That made no sense at all. Aurora was only seventeen 
years old. Shadow-spawn had appeared in the youma records a thousand 
years ago tethered to a small piece of territory that he would allow no 
other to enter. Yet here he was now, letting a youma he had once tried 
to stomp into the ground for daring to sit on his back rest against his 
side. And Mender's own uncharacteristic behavior towards this human girl 
needed an answer. And he had to formulate a plan to get Aurora and 
himself out of the Dark Kingdom safely.

	She stirred a little against him, sighed then cuddled closer. The 
feelings that flooded over him where strange. And confusing. He was 
Youma! Born from some powerful and dark dream of the Presence Itself. 
That was how all Youma came into being. Youma! Who by nature did not 
believe in mercy, did not understand compassion, could not fathom the 
concept of love. Youma, whose loyalties where dictated by fear and power 
and shifted as easily as find sand in the wind. He knew these things 
were the absolute truths of the Children of the Dark Presence. Yet here 
he was, enthralled by this human girl. When exactly had she become so 
precious to him? And he wanted desperately to know why. He studied the 
beauty of her face for a few more minutes then carefully gathered her up 
so he could move.

	He laid her back gently into the warm hollow Shadow-spawn had created 
with his legs and body and made sure the fur was well tucked around her, 
ran his fingers down the curve of her face tenderly, then straightened. 
Whatever the reason, it would have to wait. He knew that the longer he 
stayed with her now the longer she would have to stay here in the 
Darkness while he lay in the pool. And that was something he would not 
subject her to. He would not to wait for Mender, but go back in now. He 
had just pulled the shirt off and was tossing it to the table when the 
door opened. He turned his head, expecting to see Mender. The two High 
youma stared at each other in stunned shock.

	"You?!" Malachite snarled, a dark purple sphere of raw power forming in 
his hand.

	Nephlyte tensed, ready to throw himself out of the way, heard 
Shadow-spawn's angry hiss behind him and the sound of the youma surging 
to his feet. The dark sphere winked out with a crackle as Malachite 
stumbled forwards and sunk to one knee, Mender's heavy tray having just 
connected with the back of his head with a solid 'thwack'.

	Malachite steadied himself with one hand against the wall, the other to 
the floor as the edges of his vision darkened, started to push himself 
back up. Nephlyte laced his fingers together, drew back and swung as 
hard as he could, putting all his weight behind the blow. The back of 
his doubled fists caught Malachite across the face as that youma pushed 
himself up and sent him back into the wall to slump down unconscious.

	Nephlyte stepped back, his body quivering with anger, exhaustion and  a 
little fear. *By the Darkness Itself, that was too close!*

	Mender 'tsk'-ed to himself as he narrowed his eyes and frowned, all the 
dire possibilities of this encounter spinning through his mind. 
"Nephlyte, sit down before you fall down, please."

	The High Youma rumbled at him, ignored his advice, of course and 
widened his stance to keep on his feet as he swayed, crossed his arms 
and glared at the fallen form of Malachite.

	"We'll have to kill him."

	Mender narrowed his eyes and tapped at his chin with one long finger. 
Yes, that would be the easiest solution to the problem, but the wisest? 
He frowned as he mulled that over trying to see all the consequences of 
that potential action. He had just about decided that Nephlyte was 
correct when something happened that hadn't happened in a little over a 
thousand years. His gift activated. 
His power had one last thing to show him. He giggled as the future spun 
itself out before his eyes, showing him the way. He nodded to himself. 
Yes. The scales always find a way to balance themselves, even if it 
takes a thousand years.

	Nephlyte's head snapped up at that uneasy sound and he scowled. "What 
is so amusing, Mender?"

	"Oh, life, death, nothing, everything." Mender grinned back. "Can't 
kill this one. Not yet. He still has an important part to play."

	"What are you rambling about? He knows I'm here and alive! As soon as 
he comes to he's going to do his best to remedy that situation."

	"No. He won't. I'll see to that." The gleam in Mender's eyes made him 
uneasy.

	"How?"

	"Oh, he wants something I can give him." Mender was all teeth.

	"And what would that be?" Nephlyte doubted that Mender had anything to 
offer that Malachite might want as he watched the grey youma squat and 
start to straighten the High Youma's body.

	"A memory. Nothing more. Yet he will pay dearly for it." Mender 
muttered as he turned Malachites head, probed the rising knot on his 
skull with his long fingers.

	Nephlyte snorted. "I don't think so. Get me a sword."

	"No."

	"No?"

	Mender looked up into the anger that hadn't been reflected in that soft 
question. "No. If it needs to be done, I will do it and in my own time. 
You have no say in the matters of life and death in this House. Remember 
that, High Youma."

	Nephlyte blinked in shock at the old youma as those cold deliberate 
words sank in. At the moment he and Aurora were at Mender's mercy. 
Mercy. A thing that the Youma did not believe in. It was foolish to 
forget that. Especially when he was too weak to defend either of them.

	He cocked one eyebrow at Mender. "So you expect me to place the safety 
of my life and Aurora's into your assurances that you can control and 
contain a High Youma?"

	Mender "tsk"ed as he cast a spell to keep Malachite unconscious. "I 
don't think you have much of a choice now, do you Nephlyte? In fact I 
know you don't. So stop being so...obnoxious. I can and will keep him 
controlled and contained, as you so delightfully put it, long enough for 
you and Aurora to escape. Though I won't do it for nothing, of course." 
The maniacal grin never touched the cold calculation in his eyes.

	"And what price will you put on this piece of assistance, Mender?" 
Nephlyte asked as he narrowed his eyes.

	"That you follow my instructions for the next four days. Very cheap for 
the amount of work I'm going to have to do." Mender sighed heavily.

	"That depends on what those instructions are." Nephlyte waited for the 
trap. Youma bargains that traded on deeds and promises where much more 
dangerous than an exchange for physical items. They were like the human 
tale of the Monkeys Paw. You had to watch the wording of them or you 
might just get exactly what you bargained for.

	Mender nodded. "They are simple enough. You will go with Aurora and 
Shadow-spawn to the Zenith Gate under a ward I will cast for you, keep 
her and yourself safe and undetected and escape. But you must be there 
within four days or the contract is null and void and I let Malachite 
go."

	"The fixed Gates will be opened for the armies to go through?" Nephlyte 
questioned, still hunting for the trap. It was too simple of a request. 
Dare he accept the terms? What was he missing?

	"Exactly. Easy enough for three youma to slip through with the rest of 
the horde, dont'cha think?" Mender winked at him.

	"The whole thing is too easy. It is not like you, Mender." He eyed the 
youma, confused and suspicious.

	"And how do you know what I am or am not like, High Youma? I have 
stated my terms and conditions. They are as they are. Do you accept them 
or not?" He watched Nephlyte consider, watched as he glanced towards the 
fur bundled shape that still slept peacefully and blissfully unaware of 
her beloveds uncertainty and fear between the protection of 
Shadow-spawn's carefully placed hooves.

	"And if I refuse?" Nephlyte tried a different track.

	"Ah, then I let Malachite wake up outside of my House. I will honor to 
the letter the bargain Aurora and I made. It was that you would both 
have the sanctuary of this House until you were healed enough to leave. 
You may have the use of the pool until you are completely mended, then 
you will leave. And Malachite and Beryl will be waiting for you."

	Nephlyte dropped his head, studied the rippling pattern of the uneven 
floor. He had no choice but to accept the terms that Mender offered and 
the other youma knew it. But why? Why would Mender offer such a simple 
solution to his current dilemma? There had to be a catch, but Darkness 
Itself, he couldn't detect it.

	"I accept your terms and agree to your conditions." Well, it was done 
and now he was bound by it. He'd find out soon enough.

	"Wonderful!" Mender crowed. "Now," He gathered Malachite up into his 
arms and stood, "you get some rest while I get things ready! I'll be 
back in a bit."

	*Crazy. Mender was insane. And I just made a bargain with him.* That 
was the only thing Nephlyte could think as the youma's "Oh, yes, just 
wonderful!" echoed back as he scurried away. He sighed, shut the door 
and leaned back against it, the weariness that threatened to take him to 
his knees finally showing as a fine tremor that ran through his entire 
frame. He heard Shadow-spawn make a soft hissing nicker, looked up. The 
youma had moved from his guarding position over Aurora, stood at her 
side and seemed to gesture with his head for Nephlyte to come. It was an 
invitation he couldn't resist. He made the few steps to her side and 
sank down, not caring that the floor was rough and cold against his 
skin, formed himself around her and let himself fall into the quiet rest 
of sleep.

	Shadow-spawns growls and Mender's mutters brought him back up.

	"Oh, stop complaining. They're not that heavy and a beast of burden you 
where and will be again." Menders voice. He pushed himself up to one 
elbow, watched the tall youma fuss with the rope connected bags draped 
over Shadow-spawns back.

	"Ah, good. You're awake. Here." Mender went to the little table and 
brought him a pile of clothes as he pushed himself up to sit.  "Time to 
get going."

	He bit back a groan as his still weak and pain tinged body reminded him 
that it was still in bad shape. Well, bad shape or not, he had to 
function. He willed the pain away, ignored the weakness as he looked 
over the coarse fabrics and worn leathers that Mender had handed him and 
wrinkled his nose in an unconscious gesture of disgust.

	"What? You were expecting your uniform, High Youma?" Mender blinked and 
gave him what passed for a sweet smile.

	"No. I'm not stupid, Mender. Just something a little less," he paused 
for a moment as he glared at the clothing, "used."

	"If you're going to be a lowly rank and file, best dress and act like 
one, don'tcha think, Nephlyte?" There was a hint of warning under the 
grin.

	Nephlyte didn't answer, just put the disgusting things on. "Where's 
Malachite?" He asked as he dressed.

	"Oh, contained." Mender answered nonchalantly as he went and leaned 
over Aurora.

	Nephlyte tensed, ready to move as Mender reached down. The youma did 
nothing more than softly touch her hair with a strange look on his face. 
It took Nephlyte a moment to place it. It was the same expression that 
humans made when they were with children they cared about. It was very 
strange to see on this youma. Then Mender straightened and the 
tenderness was gone.

	"Eeee. That hair! Got to do something about that hair! The hat. Yes, I 
knew I forgot something! Well, we'll get it on the way out. Don't let me 
forget now. Now, what was I going to tell you?" He tapped his chin as 
Nephlyte went to one knee by Aurora, getting ready to wake her. "No, let 
her sleep until she wakes up on her own. Well, I guess you are ready to 
go. Everything you should need are in the packs."

	Nephlyte lifted Aurora into his arms, told himself he could and would 
carry her out even as his body warned him it could and would not.

	"Where are we going?" Aurora murmured.

	He looked down into her barely open dark blue eyes and found himself 
smiling. "I'm taking you home. You just rest now."

	"O.K." She snuggled back against him, trusting and certain in the 
knowledge he would keep her safe. It frightened him and made him 
strangely content all at the same time. He would keep her safe, to the 
best of his abilities. Shadow-spawn came and went to one knee before 
him. He eyed the black creature, still uncertain about it's apparent 
change of heart.

	"Here, let me hold her while you mount." Mender took her out of his 
arms before he could protest. He glared at the youma, but Menders whole 
focus was on the young woman he held. "Get on, Nephlyte. She is yours, 
not mine."

	*Yours. Not mine.* Those words echoed in Nephlyte's mind as he 
straddled the wide back and grabbed for mane as Shadow-spawn surged to 
his feet. He didn't hear that last forlorn, "Never mine."

	Mender handed her up without a word, his face set like the grey rock it 
resembled. Then he turned and led them out, walked silently beside them 
down the hall with his head down and long fingers laced behind his back.

	"Wait here." He stopped in front of the doors to his horde, came back a 
few seconds later with a wide brimmed hat and a sheathed sword wrapped 
in it's belt. He unwrapped the belt and buckled it at it's widest. 
Nephlyte took it with a grateful nod and managed to get it over his 
shoulder and head and into a comfortable position across his back. He 
looked at the hat, balked in taking it from Mender's hand

	"Wear it. If for some reason the Ward slips or you run into one of the 
youma who can see through them, you'll need it. One look at that mane 
and they'll know who you are."

	He frowned but took the hat, pushed it firmly down on his head.

	"The Zenith Gate. Four days."

	"We'll be there. You just make sure you keep your end of the 
agreement." Nephlyte grumbled back.

	"Oh, you'll be the first to know if I can't." Mender grinned as he led 
them to the front doors.

	"Ha. Ha. Very funny."

	"Well, I thought it was!" Mender giggled as he made the gestures that 
created the concealment ward. Then he pushed open one side of the great 
doors and waved them through. "Get out."

	Shadow-spawn took a step. "Wait." Shadow-spawn stopped at Nephlyte's 
request. "Why Mender? Why are you helping us?"

	Mender cocked his head and looked up at him with a playful gleam in his 
eyes. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, Nephlyte. Besides, I've 
received fair payment for my services. Now, get out of here, 
Shadow-spawn!" He made a shooing motion with his hands and the youma was 
off. Mender watched Shadow-spawn turn towards the South at the bottom of 
the path then closed the door and went back to deal with his uninvited 
guest.

************************************************************************

O.K. Thoughts, comments, even a yeck appreciated. ^_^

Laters!

Windlily

trichm@iu.net