'This does feel rather odd.' Ophilia said thoughtfully looking down at her clothing as she and Cyrus made their way down to the town in Quarrycrest. 'Prior to setting out with Alaic, I honestly can't remember the last time I was in public dressed in anything other than my clerical robes.'

'Err, well there was the dancer's outfit dearheart.' Cyrus felt a traitorous heat flood his veins.

'Well yes - but that wasn't out in the streets and that was for a specific purpose.' Ophilia mused. 'Arianna let me keep it.' She added. Primrose has offered to teach me to dance, so I thought maybe I could wear it for lessons.'

'Oh! Well that's um..'

'Some of our friends are coming!' Ophilia suddenly smiled and moved quickly to the right hand side of the road staring down the next avenue, eyes searching. Her face lit up and she waved.

'Alfyn... and Therion.' She told Cyrus happily.

Alfyn came bounding up towards them, a half eaten pie in one hand and a big grin on his face.

'Oh man,' he said through a mouthful of masticated meat. 'This pie is so damn good!'

Therion stopped a few paces behind his companions and focused intently at the patch of ground that he was idly kicking. He took a quick, furtive glance upwards but seeing Ophilia peering back at him he hurriedly averted his gaze.

'How did your morning go my young friend?' Cyrus was asking the Apothecary. 'Did you learn anything of interest on your travels?'

'Only that this town is pretty darned weird!' Alfyn shook his head, and popped the rest of his pie into his mouth.

'Oh really?' Cyrus looked intrigued. 'What makes you say that?'

Alfyn wiped his mouth on his sleeve. 'Well firstly...' he replied '...We spoke to this guy who had a mighty strange tale to tell. Said he was out walking with his friend, got distracted for a minute or two talking to someone he knew who was coming out of the Inn - then when he turned back, his friend had disappeared. Like he just vanished.'

'I see. Very odd.' Cyrus rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

'You know what was extra weird? - it was right in the middle of the day it happened - I mean how? Could it be a spell or something?' Alfyn looked perplexed.

'Hmm.' Cyrus pondered. 'I don't think there are spells that can make another person vanish against their will. There are some that can make you blend into the background - but that's a whole different thing.'

'That wasn't the only disappearance either.' Alfyn added his expression turning sad. 'I was asked to take a look at a little kid who was totally in pieces - not eating, drinking or talking. Turns out his Mam just popped out to get food for them a couple of days ago and never returned. Tragedy really.'

'Oh my.' Ophilia's eyes misted over. 'Could you do anything to help him Alf?' she asked.

He shook his head. 'Not that would make much difference.' He admitted unhappily. 'Maybe you could come with me tomorrow when I go back.'

'Of course I will.' The Cleric promised.

'Also heard some gossip about a young man who went to meet up with his sweetheart.' Alfyn added. ' Meant to be walking his girl home after she finished work since it was dark. He was seen arriving to wait for her, then 'poof' - gone like the others.' Alfyn looked at his friends quizzically. 'I mean, what the hell right? It's all just a bit creepy to my mind.'

'And rather interesting too' Cyrus mused. 'Might be just the kind of information I was looking for. Let me think on this for a moment.'

'Odette asked Cyrus to look into these disappearances.' Ophilia explained to Alfyn, watching the scholar fondly as he started pacing, absently rubbing at his chin and mumbling to himself under his breath.

'We were heading back to Odette's to report in.' Alfyn was grinning at Cyrus's deep rumination. 'Guess we don't need to now!'

'Did you bump into Primrose and Tressa at all?' Ophilia enquired. 'I was wondering if they had any luck with getting the horse and cart - they seem to still be in town.'

'Yeah, they got it sorted.' Alfyn affirmed. 'They were going to head back to Odette's too - tell her about an incident with that Mayor fellow - but then Tressa bought some rocks and bullied us into helping clean them up for her. Honest word - they sparkle like nothing you've ever seen! So anyway, she decided to set up shop immediately and get them sold 'cause apparently the bloke she bought 'em off knows where to get more.'

'Odette isn't home anyway.' Ophilia laughed. 'She commandeered Olberic to escort her to meet with someone about that book Cyrus is looking for. Poor Olberic, I don't think he quite knows what to make of her!'

Alfyn chuckled. 'She's a mighty direct lady that's for sure. If all Scholar's were like her and our Professor here, I might have wished to get myself a whole lot more book learning than I ever did.'

'Yes, she is simply wonderful.' Ophilia agreed with a smile. 'She took finding Cyrus and I in bed together exceptionally well I think, all things considered.'

Alfyn choked. 'I beg your pardon! She found what?'

'Hey! It was only because I was having nightmares again!' Ophilia protested, smiling at her friends incredulous expression. 'Oh Alf, get your mind out of the gutter for a change!' she giggled.

'You mean nothing happened? - oh for goodness sake!' Alfyn shook his head woefully. 'Do we have to physically lock you two in a room together till you finally get yourselves sorted?'

'Oh my, what a shocking suggestion!' Ophilia smile grew.

'Well Sister,' Alfyn looked at her mischievously 'If the Prof is kicking his heels and you fancy some practise or inspiration in the meantime..' the lad wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at the Cleric.

'Hey! Are you hitting on my girl Alfyn? I'm standing right here you know!' Cyrus waved an accusing finger at the Apothecary whilst grinning boyishly at the flush that suddenly burned Ophilia's cheeks. He bounced towards them both, put an arm around each of their shoulders then started to usher them along enthusiastically. 'I think I have an idea.' He declared - his eyes bright with eagerness. 'I want to go and check out the area around the Inn where the gentleman you spoke of vanished.'

'What are you thinking Prof?' Alfyn asked - taking a quick look behind to check that Therion was following.

'Hmm, well..It occurs to me that since people are disappearing both in the day and at night and since people generally don't just vanish into thin air, there is a good chance that they are being kidnapped. To what purpose who knows - but it does mean there needs to be somewhere fairly close by that the villain can hide his victim or the act would be noticed. I propose we go and have a good look around and see if we can find any clues.'

'Shucks, Professor - it's just like playing detective.' Alfyn beamed excitedly.

~0~

'So you mean they are always like that? How on earth do you deal with it Sir Olberic?' Odette grimaced.

'Don't misunderstand me Odette,' Olberic frowned. 'Perhaps I do not explain myself well.' He thought hard about what he wanted to say. 'At all times, every one of my companions has a quite overwhelming capacity for excellence and drive, it's just delivered in a unique way.'

'Well, I don't doubt that, Sir Knight.' Odette patted the arm she had taken hold of as the two of them walked the heavily trafficked road just outside of town. 'It's more that everyone scurried off doing their own thing without a thought. Oh, and the completely obnoxious display of affection that oozed out. A man like you, used to the formal rank and file of military life - it must vex you surely?'

Olberic chuckled. 'Actually, I find it rather liberating. I certainly haven't laughed as much in many a year, or had occasion to genuinely feel part of something worthwhile. In the time since the fall of my Kingdom I freely admit to feeling very little at all, but our crazy band of miscreants?... No, I don't think I can explain it - it just works. I genuinely care for them all.' He shrugged helplessly.

'So, there is a romantic hiding away underneath all that muscle after all. Interesting.' Odette observed with a smile at the uncomfortable blush that rose from the Knight.

'I think your mistaking me for Erhardt. It's happens. His reputation for passionate feeling definitely coloured my own quite incorrectly.' Olberic protested.

'And I think you misunderstand your own appeal, Sir Olberic.' Odette smirked. 'Why, when Eliza wrote to me of your meeting in Noblecourt she actually gushed about you. I have never known the unflappable Eliza to gush before.'

'Ah. So Eliza is part of your little network too.' Olberic nodded. 'Makes sense I guess.'

'There are a number of us.' Odette replied suddenly serious. 'Some you have yet to meet but I think you most likely will. I have never truly been as obsessed with patterns as Susanna - but even I could not help but be amazed at the people Ophilia picked up to travel with.' She shook her head.

'You think there is danger beyond that which is already apparent.' Olberic said, more as a statement than a question.

'Make no mistake Sir Olberic. Something is building. Has been for many years. Our own network watches, tries to make sense of the information that we gather - but I cannot help but think that you and yours.. may well stand in the front line when the battle begins.' She sighed unhappily. 'I had no wish for Cyrus to be caught up in any of this.' She admitted. 'I protected him from my own involvement - not because of a lack of capability, the man is brilliant.. but from a selfish desire to see him achieve all the things that I gave up when I became embroiled in this whole mess.'

'He is a brilliant man. And one with a remarkable moral compass.' Olberic took a sidelong glance at his companion. 'I suspect that it is something he received a positive education in from his mentor. He does you proud Odette.'

'And yet, I have seen things developed in him in that I have only seen a hint of in the past.' She smiled softly. 'There is a new tenderness of spirit and a much gentler confidence. In all, I suppose I cannot truly say that I am unhappy that he has found a place beside you all.'

Olberic raised an eyebrow at the Scholar 'Why Mistress Odette, I do believe there is a romantic hiding away underneath all of your snark after all. Interesting.' He grinned.

Odette squeezed his arm painfully tight. 'And you repeat that to no-one - ever - you hear me boy?' she chuckled heartily.

~0~

'Come along Therion, put in some effort. You were the one who found our way in to the Obsidian Brothel. A hidey hole in a town can't possibly be beyond your admirable skill.' Cyrus chided the thief, who had followed his companions to the Inn but had then just lounged against the wall, showing no interest in their search whatsoever.

'Nice try Professor, but I know you are astute enough to have already seen the concealed sewer entrance that was glaringly obvious the second we arrived.' Therion scowled back at the Scholar.

'What concealed entrance?' Alfyn asked puzzled.

Cyrus chuckled. 'This one.' He admitted pulling back some foliage from the wall behind the Inn and revealing a small door.'

'So why exactly have we been searching for twenty minutes if you two both already knew it was there?' Alfyn looked even more perplexed.

'Because the idiot-genius was trying to make me feel part of the team.' Therion sighed in frustration. 'Can't you even let me sulk in peace?' he moaned poking Cyrus in the chest as he walked past him to pull the lever opening the door.

'I think not my miserable friend.' Cyrus murmured, holding out his hand to help Ophilia climb over the uneven ground into the sewer network.

The passage they came into was low enough that both Alfyn and Cyrus had to duck to safely manoeuvre along it. Added to the dank sliminess of every surface, the overriding odour made the ambience particularly unpleasant.

'Do you wish to continue dearheart?' Cyrus said quietly to Ophilia after reaching the end of the first passage which forked into a junction of two possible routes - both looking as completely unappealing as the first. 'We can come back later in greater numbers if you so desire.'

'No, I'm fine.' Ophilia was pleased to note her voice didn't even tremble.

'I will provide light from the front.' Cyrus decided, 'Alfyn could you bring up the rear- and perhaps you could allow him the use of the lantern Ophilia?' She nodded and unattached her treasure and handed it to the Apothecary. 'Therion, would you please provide an arm to our Cleric while we travel. I fear the path may be fraught.'

'There is no need, I... oh!' Ophilia's protestation was cut off by a cool hand slipping into hers, lacing her fingers tightly. After a few seconds his thumb lightly caressed hers. She squeezed back.

'Good then. I think we shall explore the right side passage first.' Cyrus raised a hand and a small ball of flame appeared hovering over his palm.

As they explored the tunnels the atmosphere became noticeably more oppressive the longer they endured it and the putrid the smell become much more intense the deeper they delved.

'I think it's time we should turn back.' Cyrus eventually admitted after they had travelled for what seemed like miles. 'We've been down here a few hours already - we should return with something to properly mark our progress. I have an excellent sense of direction but I am becoming unsure which passages we have explored and which we have not. There are just so many variations.'

'Seriously?' Therion sighed. 'I guess it reflects all the time I've spent slinking around places like this that I know exactly where we are.'

'I'm lost.' Ophilia admitted. 'If we got separated you'd probably never see me again!'

'Good job I ain't letting go of you then huh.' Therion chuckled. 'Pretty tired of hearing 'Where's Ophilia?' on this journey. Should get you a belt and a leash. Bet no-one would stop me!'

'We could get her name engraved on a tag saying 'If lost please return to the nearest Cathedral!' Heh.' Alfyn snorted.

'Ho. Funny.' Ophilia huffed. 'Cyrus! Are you laughing?' she added indignantly.

'Who me? I wouldn't dare my darling!' Cyrus replied, trying to sound serious.

The companions had just turned back and started to retrace their steps when they all heard a fear-fraught scream pierce the stagnant air.

'This way?' Cyrus turned and hurried in the direction the scream had come from.

'Do NOT let go of me.' Therion warned Ophilia as he picked up his pace following Cyrus.

The scream came again a second time - much closer. At the end of the passage there was a door- the first such they had encountered on their exploration. It was locked but it took less than a second for Alfyn to break through the half rotten timber with his axe. The space beyond was very square, lit by lanterns and obviously inhabited.

The first thing that grabbed their attention was the woman prone on the floor over by the far wall. Her scream pierced the air for a third time at their entrance, then she started to babble incoherently. Alfyn and Ophilia were over to her and supporting her immediately.

Therion and Cyrus were both frozen, their observation drawn more to the room itself than the woman's plight. There was a hell of a lot to take in. The first, and most noticeable reference was the contraption that the woman had fallen from, and the two others like it that were along the same wall.

'Alfyn. There are more.' Cyrus caught the boys attention and motioned two unconscious men, upright against a wooden rest and attached by straps across the head, chest and feet. A heavy tube ran from their arms into a glass tank bolted to the wall next to them. The tubes were pumping blood slowly from the victims.

'What the hell?' Alfyn swore. Cyrus came across and they both stood looking at the setup in dumbfounded silence.

'Can we get them out?' Cyrus asked quietly. Ophilia was also looking up while still holding the terrified woman in a close embrace. The Cleric gently reached down to the woman's naked arm, turning it over to inspect the wounds on it.

'It looks like something quite thick is inserted into the underside of the arm, it runs down towards the wrist.' She advised quietly. 'I think if you remove it very carefully you should be able to get them down.'

'I ain't never seen anything like this!' Alfyn breathed as he inspected the first man's arm as Ophilia had suggested. 'It's properly amazing. The kind of stuff this could be used for...' he shook his head in wonder. Carefully he drew the rod from the man's arm, checked to make sure there were no other places of attachment and once he was happy, Cyrus cut the bonds and the man fell forward into the Apothecary's waiting arms.

Quickly checking his vital signs, Alfyn laid the man gently beside Ophilia who was persuading the woman to eat a piece of soft fruit, then they moved on to the second man and repeated the process.

'Think you might want to look at this Prof.' Therion came forward when the second man had been freed and the healers were giving all of the victims closer attention. He held a gem of some kind with his thumb and forefinger, well away from his body.

Cyrus took the crystal from the thief and looked at it closely.

'I think that's... is that blood?' The Scholar took a sharp intake of breath as he held the crystal up to the nearest lantern to scrutinize it closer. 'It is blood.' He breathed. 'More than one type too, by the look of it. What the hell is going on here?'

'He keeps on taking and taking our blood.' The woman in Ophilia's arm was sobbing now. ' Day after day.'

'They are okay.' Alfyn had finished his examination of the men. 'They have been put to sleep with something. Lost some blood but otherwise seem healthy enough.' He got up and started looking around the room. There were a number of benches, racks of bottles and potions and a number of crammed bookcases. On the floor there was a large inscribed ritual circle. Several closed doors led off the main room.

Ophilia had finally disentangled herself from the frightened woman. 'She says there are other's.' The Cleric reported quietly to her companions.' We should check those other doors.'

The rooms were locked, but this time Therion got out his picks and worked on them. The first two rooms were empty, but ready for habitation with beds in a bunk style, a long table and a privy area set up neatly in each. Alfyn and Cyrus gently persuaded the woman into one of the empty rooms and carried the two men in too laying them down on bunks.

The third room held the other prisoners. Six in all, four men and two women. Most were sleeping but two were at the table and stood up in alarm when the door was gently opened.

It was quickly ascertained they were in good health.

'In honesty, we are well fed and well looked after.' One of them explained. 'Once a day we get taken out, tied to those tanks, and sent to sleep. When we wake we're tired and a bit sore.'

The last room that Therion unlocked was the one that broke them. As soon as the door was opened the stink of death was obvious. There were sixteen corpses in all - every one of them exsanguinated and all in varying states of decayed mummification piled up, discarded without any respect at all.

'This is.. hell.. what is this?' Cyrus asked.

'Hell is right.' Ophilia replied quietly.

'We need to get the living out of here.' Alfyn said firmly. 'Then we can worry about whoever is doing this.'

'Mmmn. Get them out and then we'll keep a covert watch on the entrance. Once the villain realises he has been discovered he may run. We can't let him get away.' Cyrus took the blood crystal out from his pocket and stared at it again. 'I wonder what use these have?' he mused. 'What can possibly be worth all of this?'

The companions quickly started to round up the prisoners, the two that were still slumbering supported by others so as not to be left behind.

'Okay Therion - if you can lead the way and get us out of here.' Cyrus said.

'Just where do you think you are taking my sheep? A sibilant voice interrupted the preparations. Several of the prisoners screamed.

A tall man stood in the doorway of the room, wrapped and hooded in a black Scholar's cloak, wielding an evil looking hand sickle. His face was gaunt and pale, and despite his empty looking eyes he had a slightly amused smirk on his face. He stepped into the room and surveyed the crowd before him. His eyes settled on Cyrus.

'Ah, a fellow scholar.' He hissed in his strange rasp. 'Who do you think you are to steal my livestock?

Cyrus drew himself up to his full height. 'Please, continue with the evacuation.' He ordered Therion. 'Go - all of you.' He added.

The strangers smile only seemed to widen. 'Yes - off you go little sheep. I will come and find you later.' The man held up a large key. 'They will be going no-where through a locked door!' he smirked even wider at Cyrus.

Therion started to lead the group out of the doorway, Alfyn and Ophilia at the rear.

'Bring help.' Ophilia murmured quietly to the Apothecary. 'But keep Tressa away - she doesn't need to see this.' She added firmly.

'You ain't staying?' Alfyn grabbed her hand and tried to pull her physically through the door.

'I won't leave him alone.' Ophilia stated simply.

'By the gods girl!' Alfyn looked torn. He reached in quickly and kissed her. 'If you let anything happen to yourself, I will bloody kill you.' He turned and took off after the escaping party.

Ophilia stood in the doorway and looked back at the two Scholars who were now in conversation.

'What work is it you're doing here?' Cyrus was asking with genuine curiosity. 'I note the old High-Hornburgian runes that make up your ritual circle, but they are incoherent to me. All of the tomes from that kingdom were lost in its destruction, so you cannot be just any ordinary Scholar. And these?' Cyrus brought out the blood crystal. 'Blood magic obviously - but why so many different blood types in one stone? What does this achieve?'

'Ah, always a seeker of knowledge.' The strange man chuckled. 'Perhaps you have heard of me.' He said grandly. 'I am Gideon, the necromancer.'

'Can't say I have, but I suppose that figures.' Cyrus was rubbing his chin thoughtfully. 'But really sir, even if necromancy is your chosen path, I fail to see how any self respecting Scholar could actually perform such sick horrors.'

Gideon's expression turned cold at the sudden rebuke. 'You think yourself above taking the actions required to further your work?' he asked with derision. 'Then what can you ever hope to achieve?' The man sneered 'You bind yourself up with morality and you will always fail.'

'Maybe.' Cyrus sounded thoughtful. 'There is always a way that can be found that does no harm. A longer route usually, but no less effective.'

'Pfft.' Gideon dismissed the words with a wave of his hand. 'These sheep I harvest, they have no purpose - they have no use to the world. Better they become part of something great, than fade into insignificance.'

'And what of their loved ones?' Ophilia said, finally stepping back into the room. 'Each one you kill have those that rely on them, love them - miss them. Your actions are like a stone on the water, rippling misery and pain out in ever greater circles.'

Cyrus's eyes had grown wide. 'Why are you still here?' he asked horrified. She ignored him - still looking directly at the necromancer.

'Ah. A bleeding heart - how apt. And it will be bled my dear.' Gideon turned his attention back to Cyrus. 'A shame that you feel as you do. It could have been useful to have another mind to share in this endeavour. But no matter - I will simply end the threat you bring.' He stepped back a step and grunted a few words in a guttural language.

Bones appeared, whirling and spinning - forming into vaguely human shape and then falling apart again in rapid movement. They started to edge towards Cyrus.

'Really?' Ophilia snorted. 'The undead.. necromancy... kinda my forte.' She raised her staff and called on the light. The issuing beam crumbled the bones to dust in seconds. 'Got any more?' she asked sweetly.

'A Cleric? You bought a daughter of the sacred flame with you?' Gideon looked horrified. 'How dare you bring her here!'

Cyrus was staring at Ophilia - his mouth hanging open. She shrugged at him while erecting her reflective veil just in time for it to redirect the dark bolt that Gideon fired off at them both. Two more dancing bones appeared in rapid succession, and another volley of bolts.

Cyrus started his own casts, raining fire down on the necromancer whilst Ophilia disintegrated the bone attackers again. Cyrus' elemental magic seemed to be having little effect on Gideon, he shrugged of bolts of ice and lightning just as well as he did the fire, some kind of shielding kept the worst of the damage at bay.

The same could not be said of the luminescence that shone forth from the tiny Cleric. Each cast seemed to wither him from within, as if tugging at the very darkness of his soul. He started to become angry. Each deflection of his cast and each destruction of his whirling bones seemed to raise his ire further and further. In blind fury he threw himself at Ophilia his sickle raised.

Completely unprepared for a physical attack Ophilia was slashed heavily across the chest and thrown a distance across the room crashing into the wall. At her momentary incapacitation Gideon pressed the advantage to throw a mighty bolt of darkness at Cyrus, who crumpled under its ferocity. Gideon raised his sickle to end the job.

'Oh no you don't.' Ophilia charged at the necromancer - smacking him a blinding blow with her staff, while channelling a rapid heal, taking the sting off her own wound and bringing some life back to Cyrus who raised his head woozily. While Gideon got himself back to his feet, Ophilia raised her reflective veil again and hit back out with her staff as the necromancer came at her again with his sickle.

Ophilia was in no way built for a physical fight with a much taller and stronger man. Trying to counter his slashes was getting harder and he knew it. She wasn't going to last much longer, she realised - standing between the madman and Cyrus, trying to give the scholar time to recover his wits. Suddenly a smile bloomed on her face.

'All yours.' She said happily falling to her knee's and covering Cyrus as Olberic brought his sword in a powerful wide arc and the necromancers head went flying across the room.

'By all the bloody God's!' Odette's voice rang across the room. 'What the hell were you two thinking!'