Jessi: I do own Forgotten Realms... I make no money from this (unless people what to give me some *hopeful smile*) So do not sue!

Tiamet: We're broke. T_T

Jessi: Before reading this story you must have read Yami. Go... go read it now. THEN you may read this one.

It was her child's cries that hurt her. Nothing, not even the blade that plunged into her back could have cut more than the helpless shrieks.

She reached out trying to touch her son... Her hand shook violently and she could feel the hot blood pouring down her back and onto the dry ground beneath it. Her finger tips brushed the ragged cloak he was wrapped in before he was hauled aloft.

The guard, now disregarding her, not even bothering to extract the blade from her back, held her son up by his ankles and drew the dagger from his belt.

She tried to rise, to scream... anything. But her life was draining away with her blood and all she could do was watch on as the dagger edged towards her son's head.

"What is going on here?" Yami Shadowblade rarely had to shout. She could achieve the same effect with a whisper. She edged Ceffyl forward slightly to part the crowd and slid from the massive stallion. The alabaster skinned elf stood there, well aware that her white hair and grey cloak fluttered dramatically in the wind.

Her vivid emerald eyes took it all in: the woman with her lifeblood pouring away; the guard holding aloft a child.

"What is going on here?" Yami repeated herself, letting her hand casually reach up to the hilt of Marwolaeth the Death Bringer, the everpresent black katana that was seathed on her back.

"We are ridding the world of evil, Lady Shadowblade," he offered the babe to her, "A demon child, Lady."

Yami looked and saw the tan skin, the white hair, the tiny tips of horns or antlers and the eyes, the colour of fresh blood. The baby reached out to her, almost pleading with her.

The elf took the child and knelt by the woman. Yami had killed and she knew that this woman's time had come. The woman's hand gently brushed her son's head and her eyes shone with mute thanks. Then they closed and the woman passed on to whatever waited for her in the afterlife.

Yami stood again. The guard reached out, intent on taking the child. With a swift, fluid motion Yami struck him. Although she didn't look it, Yami was very strong. The guard howled as he rolled on the floor, with a small sense of satisfaction Yami saw she had broken his nose.

She unclipped her cloak and turned, wrapping the child within its folds.

In no particular hurry she remounted Ceffyl and started off for home.

*

Yami was amazed that the village of Dihiryn had grown up around Shadowblade Keep so quickly. It looked perfect with vast fields of crops spread around the small yet comfortable homes.

Yami's attention was, however, fixed on the elegant building that stood where a Thayan Stronghold once lay.

Shdowblade Keep was made from a dark stone that Asgwrn had conjured from somewhere. A high wall encircled it, leaving plenty of space for the grounds, which was planted with trees and plants. The single tower in the middle was Yami's and Asgrwn's.

As she rode in her elven eyes could see Asgwrn himself leaning out. As she passed Ceffyl to a servant she pointed to her left. Asgwrn nodded, waved and began to make his way downstairs.

Taking her new ward with her Yami headed for the Walless Church.

*

The Walless Church was the chapel of Shadowblade Keep, dedicated to Corellon Larethian, the chief of the elven gods.

As the name implied it had no walls or a roof, except for what the trees themselves provided. Simple stone benches were dotted about, all facing towards the white marble altar behind which was a beautiful statue of Corellon Larethian himself.

A bowl held the offerings, which would be taken out to the forest by Diahryn, the priest, to be buried at the roots of the trees.

Swiftly Yami kissed a silver coin from her pouch and placed it in the bowl,

"For luck," she whispered to the child lain on the altar.

"Yami!" Asgwrn slowed to a halt as he entered the church and let his robes fall back around him where he had hitched them up so he could move faster.

The elven arch mage bowed once he'd reached the altar and embraced his wife fondly, "I missed you."

Yami smiled and kissed him swiftly.

Asgwrn's pitch black eyes slid to the altar,

"Were you making an offering? And... Yami what is this?"

He saw the child on the altar and took in the horns and glowing red eyes,

"A tiefling... Half-human... and half-demon... He cannot-"

"They lynched the mother in Ryu... They would have killed him too but..."

"Yami... a tiefling's very blood commands them to commit evil... We cannot keep him..."

"But..." Yami voice trailed off but she kept a hand pressed against her abdomen. Yami couldn't have children, due to the work of the Thayans.

Asgwrn ran a hand from his black hair,

"Then what is his name?"

Yami looked up and smiled winningly, "Dante... His name is Dante."