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Oloa

When Oloa was brought into the dinning room, Bryan could see another reason why it would be so horrible to lock her away. She was beautiful and to hide a flower in a basement with no sunlight was a crime itself! Her skin was brown and her hair black just as Taden's was but there was something about them… Hair like obsidian and skin like oak wood… And her eyes! Those emerald eyes!

"By Notch!" exclaimed Bryan. "Are you human or some marvelous work of art brought to life?"

"I am human." Replied Oloa. "However I find that question of yours to be an excellent compliment, Bryan."

"You know who I am?"

"Everyone knows who you." Stated Taden. "What other person would wear the colors of the House of Carthach who is not a member?" He then walked over to Oloa and they embraced.

Bryan smiled as he watched them embrace but once more felt a feeling of loneliness in his heart. Was there someone for him?

"This love." Bryan thought. "It can make someone mad enough to be madness incarnate! It kills those who search for it… It kills me for I have no love, no other half of my heart."

Alberich's heart however was unmoved. He had his public reason for imprisoning Oloa be her criticizing of him. His private reason had been that he liked beautiful things and when he saw one he wanted it. All he saw was someone with his arms around his beautiful thing.

Eustace's eyes however were on Alberich. He saw the look in the mayor's eyes. A look most hateful was in Alberich's eyes.

"Mine!" thought Alberich. "She is mine! She is beautiful and if I find something beautiful I take it! Were Croi-Dragon not here I would plunge an iron sword into your back, Taden!"

"Why such hate in your eyes, Alberich?" thought Eustace. "Is Oloa your critic or the subject of lustful affections that you have yet to carry out?"

The time for thoughts soon ended as the sound of Chris breaking out of the chest he had been thrown into rang through out the manor! Calling Bryan's name, Chris searched the manor, even walking past Bryan no more than three times before finally finding him.

"If I was a creeper I would have blown you to bits." Commented Bryan.

"You knocked me out!" exclaimed Chris, pointing a finger at him accusingly.

"You are a master of stating the obvious, Chris." Bryan then turned to Taden and Oloa to introduce Oloa. "The girl would be Oloa and we are all about to go mining so Alberich may prove his claims."

Upon seeing Oloa, the thoughts in Chris' head turned into ones most sinister. They became even more sinister when Chris realized just what he could do when they went mining. Accidents did happen after all.

"I love to mine." Commented Chris, his eyes darting from Oloa to Taden to Bryan.

"Really?" asked Bryan. "I don't believe you but it may have been something you came to love since we last met."

"Who is this?" asked Oloa, gesturing at Chris.

"He is Christopher the Backstabber." Replied Taden.

"Do not call me that!" Placing his hands around Taden's neck, Chris dragged him forward. "I have improved greatly since those days!"

"Down, Chris." Ordered Bryan in the dullest tone possible.

"And you will stop talking to me like I'm a dog!" said Chris, releasing his Taden and turning to face Bryan. "I am a human!"

"A human who acts like a mad dog." Commented Bryan. Chris suddenly started smiling and nodding. There was no reason that should have been viewed as a compliment but Chris did anyway. "I need a shorter leash."

"Not too short though, Bryan." Warned Chris. "After all my teeth are sharp and I'll bit back."

"You need teeth in order to bite back." Countered Bryan. "If need be I'll pull out everyone of your teeth myself be they literal or metaphorical."

"You certainly are a no-nonsense person." Commented Oloa.

"Not exactly." Replied Bryan. "I can tolerate most forms of nonsense, I just can't tolerate his form of nonsense."

"Who would?" asked Eustace, rhetorically. The answer, although a rhetorical question does not need an answer, was Thomas.