The images flickered through his head chaotically. Kane. A beautiful, but shy, young woman. A scornful voice. "I could never love someone, like you." A gunshot. Hands covered in blood. Kane's scream.

Diarmuid opened his eyes. Normally, servants like himself, did not need sleep, as they were supplied with mana by their masters. But he found it an excellent way to pass time, and since two masters were yet to summon servants, it was unlikely, but not impossible, that someone would attack. That's why he'd chosen to sleep on the roof. Higher up, he had a better sense of the area, and if something was off, it probably would have woken him up.

Kane's voice pervaded his thoughts. "The two missing masters have made themselves known. Meeting please."

Diarmuid dematerialized, reappearing by Kane's side. He couldn't help but be curious about his dream, but he kept it to himself. It wasn't his business. Kane gestured to the laptop he had balanced on his knees.

"Giselle Matou, and Damascus Velvet. You probably remember their families from the Wars you were in. The Velvet name is more recently renowned, but the Matous have been there since day one."

Diarmuid nodded. Cu Chulainn curled his lip. "Matou. I'm familiar with the name. What a disgusting legacy."

Kane nodded slowly. "However, I think Giselle is unaware of the atrocities committed by her forefathers. Around 150 years ago, the Matou's bloodline became diluted, their capability to use magic was dulled. They adopted one of the Tohsaka daughters in order to renew the line. All I can think, however, is that she was raised unaware that she had magic. At some point, her parents must have escaped, and raised her as a normal human."

Diarmuid quirked an eyebrow. "Tohsaka? but wouldn't that make her…"

Kane finished his sentence. "Related to me? Yes. Although distantly."

"What about this Velvet boy? Ally? Threat?" Cu Chulainn interjected.

Kane switched tabs. "It's hard to get a read on him. His school history marks him as a delinquent, and yet, his grades are through the roof. He might be a wild card. But I say we try to make an ally of him if possible."

"And how should we go about meeting with the ones you selected?"

Kane smirked. "Extend an invitation."

Cu Chulainn arched an eyebrow. "Is it wise to reveal our position like that?"

Kane's smirk disappeared. "No. That's why we will be designating a meeting area well away from me." He took a neatly folded map out of his pocket and spread it on the bed beside him, the slightest quiver evident in his hands.

Diarmuid drew attention to it. "Kane, are you well?"

Kane brushed him off. "I'm fine. Summoning you just took it's toll is all." He gestured to a clear spot near the center of the map. "Here, this is the park, it'll be empty late at night, and it's a clear spot, away from any buildings. It keeps collateral damage to a minimum if a fight were to break out."

Cu Chulainn nodded. "I see your point, but isn't it true that the park is full of trees? With that many hiding places, it leaves us all vulnerable to assassin."

Kane frowned. "That is true. And I don't doubt she'll hesitate to strike… Perhaps, here." He moved his finger. "This field is wide open. It's on a farmer's property, but at least, even then, contact with the mundane world is kept to a minimum."

Cu Chulainn nodded. "I like it."

"Very well." Kane went to the window and called down a large raven, weaving a spell over it, making it into his familiar for a short while. The Raven took flight, and Kane closed the window. "That should deliver the invitation well enough."

Abeytu lifted his head from the book he was reading as a scratching at his window made itself known outside his window. There was a thud and a strangled cawing sound, then one of his servants appeared before him, a raven struggling in his grasp.

"I found this outside." The servant stated. "A spy?"

Abeytu's lips curled into a cat-like grin. "No. A messenger. Let him go. It's from Kane."

The tall man released the raven, which fluttered to Abeytu's shoulder and lovingly tugged at his hair. "Kane, the man you wanted to ally with?"

Abeytu scratched the bird's feathers. "The very same. Let's see what he has to say." Abeytu picked up the bird, turning it onto it's back, and gently stroking its chest when it struggled. "Shh." The raven let out a raucous caw, but stilled, allowing Abeytu to use magic to extract the message. The young man grinned. "Perfect." He said. Then picked up the bird, returned to the window, opened it, and released the raven.

Saika startled as her shutters burst open and the raven bumbled into the room, it's rough cries filling the air. The small girl raised her hands over her head as the bird began to dive bomb her. "Caster!"

An inhumanly tall figure appeared, long blond hair floating about him in a gravity defying manner. He reached out and grabbed the bird. "It's a familiar, Mistress."

"Well I gathered that much, thanks." Saika retorted. "What does it want? Surely if it were spying it would be more sneaky."

"He's carrying a message." A shorter man with copper hair appeared.

Saika snapped her gum, tapping her lip with her pencil. "What does it say?"

"Do you know a man named Kane Tohsaka?"

"Not personally. The Tohsaka family is famous though."

"He's asking, very politely, I might add, for a meeting on the outskirts of town."

Saika pursed her lips, thinking for a moment, as she went to the window and held the shutters open for the bird as it wriggled free of Caster's grasp, circled the room once again, and flew out the window. "I'll accept his invitation." Saika decided.

The first Caster finally spoke. "Is that wise, young lady?"

Saika curled her lip. "Don't call me that, you sound like my mother. And I'll make my own choices, thanks. I don't need you to second guess me."

Damascus lay in bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling. How had it all come to this? Of course, he supposed, it wasn't much of a surprise. When his father had died, he'd known somewhere deep down, that fighting the war would fall to him. However, he'd hoped, somehow, that the war would never come, or that his uncle would take up the mantle, or perhaps one of his sisters, or his mother. Even though he knew he was the most powerful mage in the family. Wishful thinking, perhaps, but it hadn't stopped him. He didn't even blink as the female Rider walked into the room, a raven perched on her arm. "As message for you sir."

"What?" He said in a harsh, irritable tone.

"It's from the Tohsaka heir, sir. He wants to meet outside of town tonight."

"Fine." Mask quipped, not in the mood to argue.

"May I take my leave sir?" The woman asked.

"Yes, you are dismissed." Mask said blandly.

The woman walked out of the room, and released the Raven into the sky.

"Hmmm, interesting, most interesting…" the master of the assassin's spoke. The tall servant let go of his coat, the scrying glass hidden once again from view. "Kiiiiiill?" It asked.

"Yes, my sweet." The voice said. "But not yet. We'll wait until they're all in one spot, then poison the well."

The more animalistic servant burbled in the background, holding a shrivelled apple that couldn't have been more than a day old, was was now mushy and rotten.

Night fell, and Kane made his way discreetly to center field. It was time for the meeting. There was a rustle in the brush to his right, and he instinctively ducked to one side before whirling and lashing out at the figure beside him. Abeytu deflected his punch with a forearm. "Easy there tiger. I got your message."

Kane laughed, before tackling Abeytu in a bear hug. "I'm glad you came." He said.

Abeytu smirked. "It's the least I could do. I owe you one."

A brief glow filled the clearing, and a younger girl cleared her throat. "Kane?"

Kane turned to her. "You must be Saika. Thank you for coming. We're just waiting on one more now."

There was a soft whinny, and a white horse trotted up to them, A barely clothed, but regal woman sat upon it, and behind her, with one arm about her waist, was Damascus. He let go, and slid down off the horse. His servant looked to him for permission, and when he nodded at her, she vanished in a puff of blue glowflies.

Kane looked about the group. "I gathered you all here today, to discuss an alliance. I know that it is likely very few of you, if any, see me as threatening, and believe this is probably a ploy to cover my ass in the future. I will put all your worries to rest by saying, That is the truth." Kane paused, gathering his thoughts. "But I'm willing to bet, that the rest of you also recognize that the Berserkers, Archers, and Assassins are very threatening at the moment. Look around at each other. Tell me, do you see anyone that you would never consider trusting."

Abeytu shook his head. "If you trust them, brother, then so will I."

Damascus was silent, likely analyzing all their abilities.

Saika piped up. "What makes any of you trustworthy?"

Kane shrugged. "Perhaps you'd like to face Berserker alone?"

Saika opened her mouth to reply, then closed it again.

Kane nodded. Then looked pointedly at Damascus. "Does anyone have a direct objection to this alliance?"

Damascus shook his head. "Very well then, I suggest, until at least Berserker and Assassin are out of play, we look to each other as allies."

Kane frowned as Diarmuid's voice entered his mind. "Kane, something's wrong. We are being watched."

Kane looked about to his fellow mages. "We're not alone."