Author note: I saw on the news what happened in the USA yesterday, when some people caused an insurrection in Washington at Capitol Hill and there was even a shooting where some police officers got wounded. I don't know how many among you readers are from the USA, but I hope you are all safe and that the mess didn't touch neither you nor your loved ones in any way.

oxoxoxoxoxo

The small army of Elves and Meg's party walked through the forest for nearly two hours, until Elhan stopped in front of an enormous tree. "It's here, I can feel the power of the Lanthorn resonating with the secret entrance", he spoke some words in Elvish and a line of white light appeared on the trunk, quickly forming the shape of a door on it, "Be aware that you are walking where few others had the privilege to. Step carefully", he addressed the adventurers before passing the gate.

I'd be happier to step on your entrails after having ripped them out of your body!, Margaret Dawn thought angrily, but she held her tongue and just followed him inside the gate, only to stop and stare in wonder: even in such a dishevelled state, with most of the buildings ruined and broken, the streets littered with corpses and the acrid smoke from the many arsons lit by Irenicus' minions filling the air, Suldanesselar was magnificent.

It consisted of a myriad of platforms set on treetops, with long narrow walkways connecting every platform to the others in what seemed like a giant spiderweb and the buildings were made of willow, walnut and oak wood streaked with gold and silver. As they surveyed that scenery of destruction, for the first time since meeting him, she saw Elhan's face twist with a mixture of sadness and worry.

"My brothers and sisters...My home...", he whispered, his voice cracking slightly, but then he squared his shoulders, "We must put an end to this destruction. Human, you and your party must find the High Priestess Demin, or Queen Ellesime: they will know how to activate the magical wards of the city. My men and I will take care of the creatures the Exile has brought here. Demin's house is in the south-western part of the city".

She nodded, a small flicker of compassion passing in her eyes, "We will do our best, general. May the Gods watch over you". He looked at her for a moment, his expression softening, "And with you as well", he replied, then he barked some commands in Elvish and his men split in four smaller units, each one taking a different path into the depth of the city.

Meg and her companions took the path to the South-West, but after only a couple of minutes, they stopped dead in their tracks: like nightmarish sheepdogs, two Clay Golems were gathering some children and leading them towards the path to the South, while two Adamantite Golems were leading the adults towards the one to the North.

The adventurers focused first on taking down the Adamantite Golems, combining their spells with their weapons and when the creatures fell, they joined forces with the grown-up Elves to destroy the Golems guarding the children. One of the warriors smiled at the party members, "Diola lle, mellyn", he said in Elvish with a small bow, "Amin naa Beleg". Jaheira smiled back, "Lle creoso. Amin naa Jaheira", she replied in the same language, then she switched to speaking Common, "Does any of you need healing?". He nodded, "Some of us are wounded, yes. We would be most grateful for your assistance", he added, as four adults moved towards the party.

Margaret Dawn intervened, "The children first, if you don't mind". Beleg smiled again, "I do not mind at all, but your worry, though appreciated, is unnecessary: none of the children was touched, as far as I know". She looked the little ones carefully, not fully trusting the word of an Elf, but she saw with relief that he was telling the truth, "Ilmater be praised. Come closer, then", she told him.

Aerie was puzzled, "Why would Irenicus spare the children? What reason could he have for not harming them?", she asked the adult Elves. "I do not know", Beleg said, "Maybe he needs them for some dark ritual. His minions have been herding all of the children they could find towards the southern part of the city...Now that I think of it, that is the only part of it which seems untouched".

Edwin frowned, turning towards the South, "You may be right about it: I see no smoke rising from that direction and the buildings are still intact, as far as I can see from here (Strange...Unless he plans to use them as a blood sacrifice, of course)". "Stop this nonsense, all of you: you may scare them!", Meg scolded both the Elf and her friend.

The Red Wizard muttered something unintelligible that could have been an apology, "What are we going to do with them now?". "I think they will be safer if they leave the city", she turned to Beleg, "Elhan and his men are fighting the monsters at the moment, so they can't protect you. We'll lead you to the city gates". "But Meg, that would take time and...", the Kara-Turan tried to say, but she cut him off.

"The safety of these children comes first. Ilmater has already forgiven me a lot of mistakes, but He could never turn a blind eye if I abandoned them to their fate only to save my own life", she stated, Life which I have already given up on anyway, she thought, but she knew better than to say it out loud.

He nodded, but his expression was suspicious, "Of course I know this, sekai no hikari. I merely wanted to suggest we split: Minsc, Boo and I will go with the Elves to the city gates, while the rest of you will go and look for Demin". "No, it would be too hard for us to find each other in a place we don't know our way around. We'll just go all together and that is not up for discussion!", she added sharply.

"Demin's home is a two-storey building made of chestnut wood and has a crystal fountain shaped like a blossoming rose in front of itself, you can't miss it", Beleg informed her as they walked, "I am grateful for your help in this difficult moment". "You're welcome", she replied and her lips curved in a bittersweet smile as she looked at the children: she would not live long enough to have children of her own, but she would at least lead these ones to safety.

oxoxoxoxoxo

They found Demin's house easily enough, but once inside, they were faced with three Rakshasas, who were trying to kill the High Priestess of Rillifane. Having already faced a similar situation in the past, the adventurers made short work of the enemies without getting too much of a beating, also thanks to the help they received from Demin herself and when the last Rakshasa fell, she sagged to the floor like a sack of potatoes, exhausted.

She had the golden complexion of her race, but differently from the other Golden Elves they had met until then, she had raven-black hair and dark brown eyes. "I thank you, strangers", she said with a small smile, "And I apologize for having only questions as a reward for your assistance. How did you enter our city? Outsiders rarely find their way inside our walls and in these times, with the magic of the Exile shielding it from view, it is even more difficult. Are you in league with him?", she asked, her eyes narrowing with sudden suspicion.

Meg snorted, "Were we his allies, you would be dead now", she snapped, "And since you asked, we got inside your precious city because we were the ones to fight Bodhi and get the Godsdamned Lanthorn back, while your men were having a nice picnic in the forest". "Meg! Mind your manners!", Jaheira scolded her, then she turned to Demin, "Forgive my daughter, please: she is not fully herself these last days". The Elven woman started, "Bodhi! You fought her? She is dead, then?".

"Damn right she is", Imoen intervened, her face twisted with anger, "And don't ya try and give us the 'I have no idea who you're talking about' thing, 'cause we know full well who she and Irenicus are and what you did to them". Demin seemed to shrink before the young thief's rage, but her gaze was defiant, "We did what we thought was right, Human. You are not an Elf, you can't understand...".

"No, it's you who can't understand!", the pink-haired girl shot back, "Ya stripped them both of their souls but left him his powers, then you let those two loose outside your gates, washing your perfect, little elfin hands of it and ya know what happened? That they stole our souls to restore themselves!". The Elf's eyes widened with shock at those words, "Your souls?", she whispered, horrified. "Yep, Irenicus took both me and my sis", Imoen tossed her head towards Meg, "And then he used a sort of machine to suck our souls out from our bodies and to stuff them into his body and that of his own sister. I got mine back, but Meg here is still soulless and if we don't get hers back too, she'll die".

Demin looked at the Ilmatari, gulping, "I...I had no idea they would...I am sorry, Human. You have my word that we will try to make amends for what happened to you all, but...". Margaret Dawn cut her off, her tone was icy, "I don't give a possum's fart about your apologies, Elf. Because of you and your slut of a Queen, my father and a friend of mine died, my mother lost her husband, a dearest friend of mine lost his witch, my beloved was turned into a Vampire...". Anomen shuddered at those words, taking a sharp intake of breath and paling slightly and she put an arm around his waist before going on.

"Another friend of mine was put under a Geas and my sister was imprisoned, tortured and finally had to go on without a soul for months, before we managed to restore her. So don't. Don't give me your speeches, don't spout your pitiful apologies and don't promise to 'make amends' for our losses and suffering, because the only way you could do that would be to feel for yourself what we did. Just tell us how to get into the Palace, that's all we're interested in hearing from you".

The High Priestess was silent for a long moment, as if the Ilmatari's coldness had turned her into an ice statue, but finally she nodded, "So be it, I will tell you. But I need to ask a favour of you, even if I have no right to". "Out with it". "The monsters that the Exile has let loose in our city must be stopped, or my people will be destroyed. I ask that you summon the avatar of the Leaflord, so that He will vanquish them for good. It's our only hope, please...".

Meg's tone softened a little at seeing the desperation written on the other woman's face, "How can we summon Him, then?". Demin smiled with relief and gratitude, "I knew you would not let us down: soulless you may be, but I sense there is still some measure of goodness in your heart", she said, "You need to get to the Temple of Rillifane and put three artefacts onto the altar: a Moon Blade, the Goblet of Life and the Talisman of Rillifane. This will enable the Leaflord's avatar to manifest Himself".

"Can you draw a map for us? It will help us find them sooner". She got up and quickly took the parchment and quill that the Painbearer was handing her, "I have to warn you, though: the Goblet is currently in the hands of one of the Exile's servants, a Black Dragon. The foul beast has claimed the clearing just outside the borders of the city as its own and the men sent to kill it...". "They didn't come back, did they?". "Yes. They are in Arvanaith now", the Elf's lips curved downwards with sadness and grief and a tear ran down her cheek. "We will make the monster pay for their deaths and take the Goblet back, you have my word on this", Margaret Dawn promised, "What about entering the Palace?".

"The Exile has put a seal on the doors, so that nobody can pass through them, but I am confident that Rillifane will dispel it. To reach the Tree of Life, you will need both the Stone Harp and the Stone Horn, which will open the secret passage. And then...You will have to face the Exile himself". Not if I can avoid it!, Meg thought, Our deal only holds as long as Jon lives, but if we kill him...No, I can't let him die. I can't. No need for the others to know, though.

Minsc's voice startled them all, "We will meet the evil wizard and then Minsc, Boo and our good friends...", he shot a look at Edwin and added, "And the grumpy wizard too, will give the evil wizard Irenicus the hardest buttkicking of all! And Boo will go for his eyes to finish him off!". Demin blinked, then she couldn't help chuckling, "Your resolve warms my heart, Human. I will pray to the Seldarine for your victory. May Rillifane's blessing be with you all". The Ilmatari's fists clenched tightly, but she smiled all the same, "Thank you, High Priestess. Come, guys, let's go and find the artefacts".

oxoxoxoxoxo

Diola lle = thank you (Elvish)

Mellyn = friends (Elvish)

Lle creoso = you're welcome (Elvish)

Amin naa = I am (Elvish)