Chapter 56: Endings
Avaryss watched closely as the girl considered her next move. She looked at her master, bound to the interrogation table, then…down at the lightsaber in her hand. Xen Loor's fingers curled tightly around the hilt as she looked up at her master, her former master, again.
Avaryss tilted her head, curiously.
The girl was hesitating, she should have been angry, but she wasn't. The hesitation the girl was showing was not from fear, she would have sensed that…no…this was something else…
She could feel the girl's excitement, the thought of killing Sy Dar Bynn intrigued her, but…something was still holding her back.
"You…you want me…you want me to…kill him," Xen Loor murmured, yet she still did not move towards her former master.
"She is being unworthy to carry out your orders, master," Quenya said with a sneer, "She is not being worthy of being your new apprentice."
Avaryss shot the Devish a cold look. Angering Xen here would not help. The young Sith did not want the girl killing her master in a fit of rage, she wanted her to do it because it was the next step in her training. She needed to rid herself of the past.
Avaryss turned to Xen, the girl worried her lower lip with her teeth; she held the lightsaber firmly in both hands, clinging to it for dear life.
"It is not easy is it?" she asked.
"No," Xen agreed, "He…he was my master for so long. I learned at his feet and…we…we had a connection."
Avaryss gave her a sympathetic look.
"It is not meant to be easy," she said, "It shouldn't be. That is why this is considered a test. A mundane would never understand. The bonds formed by apprentice and master are strong. Even when you hate the person you have learned from, that connection remains, it holds onto you, and refuses to let go.
As she spoke the words, Avaryss realized something surprising.
She was not just talking about Sy Dar Bynn and Xen Loor; she was…speaking about herself and Darth Feer as well.
The thought made her frown.
She had sought the man's death for years now…he had had her family murdered, manipulated her during her training, but at the same time, he had also rewarded her successes. He had taught her things she would never have learned in the academy system. He had made her a better Sith.
Hate was the not only emotion she had for Darth Feer, not anymore. In spite of everything that had happened. She felt a degree of respect for her lord, perhaps even…affection?
It was insane, but it was there.
When the time came to finally end him, it would not just be elation that she would feel. When he was gone…she would likely…miss the evil old fool. He had been in her life for so long, she could barely remember what it was like not to hate him, not to contemplate his end.
When that end finally came, what would she be?
What would she become?
She walked up to Xen and put a friendly hand on her shoulder.
"It is not meant to be easy," she repeated, "But…it must be done. He stands in the way of you becoming what you must. What you want to be... You must make the choice. I cannot do it for you."
Avaryss turned to Quenya; the Devish was still standing behind the interrogation console.
"Release his shackles," she ordered, "Let Xen here prove herself to us."
The Devish frowned, but she obeyed, she entered the correct series of commands.
Sy Dar Bynn's bonds fell away; he dropped to his hands and knees on the deck.
Avaryss gently nudged her new apprentice forward. The moment had come, now Xen had to decide what she was going to do with it.
Now…she thought, now is the time to see what the girl is truly made of.
"Make your choice," Avaryss purred in her ear.
The girl frowned as she stepped forward.
Now is the time, the young Sith thought.
Now…we shall see.
Sy Dar Bynn continued to babble as his student approached him. He did not seem fully aware of where he was or what was going on. His supreme self-confidence had been shaken by his defeat; it might even have been broken.
He was likely no threat to the Empire now; all his followers would have to do is look at him, to see him for the false prophet he was.
He had not been tortured, not yet, simply secured in a room. Avaryss had watched him on the monitors, being captured, being defeated by an enemy that he had felt was his lesser had done something to the man. He no longer felt like a Jedi. What he was now, was something less, and perhaps, far worse.
The Jedi that had once walked with senators and other Republic officials was gone.
He looked around the room, his gaze darting back and forth, perhaps looking for a way to escape. His eyes were wild, one was twitching uncontrollably. His robes were torn and dirty his right hand shook as he tugged at his sleeve.
More animal than man now, Avaryss thought.
It would be interesting to see what his Padawan thought of this, seeing her master the way he was now.
He looked up at Xen, Avaryss felt him change in the Force, the clouds of confusion parted, and briefly he was himself again.
"Xen," he gasped, "You…you are free."
The girl nodded, her hands never leaving the lightsaber. She still held the weapon in a death grip.
The Jedi Master smiled.
"We can get out of here," he said, "We are not beaten yet; there…there is still hope for us. We can escape! The others are still free, we can rebuild the operation, make it better than before, the Sith will not even know what hit them until it is too late."
"The plan was a failure," Xen said coldly.
Sy Dar Bynn shook his head in denial.
"We just need to get out of here. I need to get out of here. This…this…it cannot be how I end. I have such a grand destiny, Xen. You know it to be true. I will lead the Jedi Order into a new age of peace and prosperity. All of the Republic will know me and grateful for my bravery and heroism. I will be immortalized. My name will live forever in the archives of the Jed Order. I will be known as a hero for all eternity.
"And what of me," Xen asked him with a frown. "Where do I fit into this grand destiny of yours?"
He smiled serenely.
"I have one final order for you my Padawan. It will be difficult, but I know that you will be brave, that you will not abandon me."
He nodded his head, his eyes practically aglow with excitement.
"You will need to remain here, to distract the Sith for me. The cause…the cause requires sacrifice, yes, that is what is needed now. If you can draw the Siths' attention away, I can make it to one of the hangars, I can escape. You will be remembered for your bravery, your willingness to die for the cause.
Avaryss said nothing as the Jedi continued to babble, there was no point in saying anything.
The man was digging his own grave.
"You wish me…to stay behind, to cover your escape?"
"It is what is needed yes," Sy Dar Bynn said, "For me, and for the cause."
"We…we could escape together, master," she said, "Between the two of us…we could…"
"It wouldn't work," he babbled, "No…no, no, no, it wouldn't. The Sith are more cunning than we thought. No…a sacrifice is what is required here. The story alone will help me inspire the others, your sacrifice will ensure that the plan goes on, because that Is what matters Xen, the plan…my plan must go on, and I most go on to see it through.
Xen Loor frowned and ignited her lightsaber; the blue blade emerged with an evil hiss.
Her master still did not grasp what was going on. He had not even acknowledged the presence of Avaryss and Quenya in the next room.
"You have a weapon," he said excitedly, "Good, I can use a weapon, it will be best that I don't escape unarmed, it will help sell the story. My brave fight and escape from the clutches of the Sith. You do understand don't you, Xen? You understand why this must be done?"
"Of course, master," Xen replied, her voice becoming a velvety evil purr.
"I understand everything now."
He grinned broadly.
"Good. Good. Now girl, we must hurry, we have little time. Give me the weapon, and I will be off. I must make my escape and return to the others. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten."
Xen nodded. She smiled sweetly at the old man.
"You are right master, a sacrifice is needed here."
"It is indeed," he said bobbing his head, his left eye twitched nervously.
He held out his hand.
"Give me the weapon," he said.
Xen stood over him, her face bathed in the blue light of the blade.
"Give me the weapon," he repeated.
She did not move.
SY Dar Bynn's eyes narrowed.
"GIVE ME THE DAMN SWORD!" his voice was shrill, filled with fear, panic. The man was teetering on the edge, too long had he walked between the light and the dark, it was tearing him apart. His apprentice could see that now, she might even have recognized it. She had been on the same path until recently, now she understood. It could be dangerous walking that line.
She was seeing the result right now, what happened if you failed.
Sy Dar Bynn held out his hand, his eyes growing cold and angry, his desire to flee overriding any sense of confusion, in a few moments he would fully transition into anger and hate. If Xen did not kill him before then…?
Finally…it happened.
Xen nodded.
"Okay," she whispered.
"Here you are."
Time seemed to slow down; at least that is how it felt for Avaryss. She watched as the girl's arms went up and around. Sy Dar Bynn simply sat there not grasping what was happening. Xen' Loor snarled fiercely as she brought the blade up over her head. It was in that moment that her master, her former master, realized his mistake, realized what she had in mind, what she was about to do to him.
The man's eyes widened in horror.
A sound escaped his lips, a terrified squeal that was more animal than man. He tried to rise, tried to dart for the door, it was locked of course, but at that moment it did not matter, this was pure fight or flight, and the Jedi, the thing that had been a Jedi was all flight.
He did not get far.
Xen moved with the quickness of a dark side dragon, her hand shot out, she seized the old man's collar. He squealed again like some kind of farm animal, struggling to get away.
Xen Loor plunged the blade into her master's back, the cobalt-colored blade punched through his back and out his chest. His cries became a rattling gasp; he looked down at the glowing beam emerging from his chest. He coughed and blinked, he seemed shocked at the turn of events.
"My…My…destiny," he gasped, "It…it can't…can't…can't…"
What he meant to say, what couldn't be…he did not say, his former student did not give him a chance to say more.
She whirled again drawing the blade from his back, before he could fall, her weapon lashed out again; there was a flash of light and the smell of burning skin and hair.
Sy Dar Bynn, the architect and leader of the conspiracy against the Sith Empire…lost his head. It came away from his neck and bounced across the floor. The body toppled over with barely a sound, barely a twitch.
Avaryss shuddered.
She felt a shift in the Force, for so long the Empire had been under the threat of this man. He had toyed with the lords, using their rivalries against them. Now…he was gone.
Rivalries would remain in the Empire, but that was just part of how the Empire remained strong. The conflicts would occur as they would normally, with no outside force stirring the pot.
The Empire needed that, it needed to time to catch its breath, and prepare for the next war against the Jedi and the Republic. She could not say when that war would begin, but it would come…
At least now, the Empire would be stronger when that day came. They would not be wasting their strength in pointless feuds that had been escalated by this man's vanity.
Xen Loor stood there, staring down at the body, panting, she swallowed hard and licked her lips; her eyes were wide with emotion, the Force radiated with surprise, shock, and elation.
Avaryss smiled.
She was pleased.
Xen looked up at her, her Sith eyes shiny with tears.
"I…I did it, my lord," she said.
"I can see that," Avaryss said dryly.
'Tell me, apprentice, how do you feel?"
Xen shuddered.
"I…I feel shame, guilt, but…but elation as well, I…I have freed myself from him. My path is my own now."
She took a deep breath, and began to push her emotions back down; Avaryss could feel her trying to do it, to seal what she was feeling back inside a wall of control.
"None of that now," she said, "Your emotions are raw, do not fight them. You must let them flourish, nourish your power. The dark side feeds on strong emotions. They will give you focus, and make you stronger."
Xen nodded, she shuddered, but did not resist.
"I…I shall do as you command, master," she said.
She smiled weakly.
"This…this change…it will take some getting used to."
"It will take time," Avaryss agreed, but at last you are on the right path. You are thinking for yourself and you…
A shiver ran down Avaryss' spine, stopping her mid-sentence.
Quenya had emerged from behind the console, she walked towards the dead Jedi's body, the Force moved through her in a way that Avaryss had not sensed before.
"What is she doing," Xen asked, no doubt she could feel it too.
"I'm not sure," Avaryss said, "Quenya? What are you doing?
The Devish frowned.
"I…I am not being sure, master. I…I feel…"
She walked past them, and leaned down she raised her hand over the body, reaching out with her new abilities.
As Avaryss and her new apprentice watched, Quenya Sai Malloc reached out with the Force, Avaryss could sense the girl's power stretching forth and filling the body of the slain Jedi Master.
Avaryss winced as the Force…screamed? It did not seem like the wail of a living thing, more like what you might hear if you ran a sharp blade against an armored plate. A shadow rose from the body it seemed to be whispering in voices she could not fully grasp or understand.
That shadow fled the body, and took something with it, an echo in the Force perhaps, some final remnant of what had been the man known as Sy Dar Bynn.
When it was over, Quenya shivered as the shadow flowed over her, over her, and into her. The body did not seem damaged, but it had been changed by the Devish's touch.
What she had done, Avaryss could not say, but whatever it was, Quenya had been pleased by it, she radiated with a sense of satisfaction. It was almost as if she had fed on that echo.
She smiled at her master.
"That was…interesting," the girl said.
She giggled.
"It is seeming master that our late friend here had one last gift to give."
"What do you mean?" Avaryss asked.
The other girl smirked.
"Fear, surprise, panic…they are being a part of me now; that last final gasp of life, the sweetness of it ending…"
She grinned up at her fellows.
"I am being most eager to experience this again, master. We should be finding the rest of Sy Dar Bynn's conspirators. I am wanting to see what else that I can take in the final moments of these…criminals."
Avaryss nodded thoughtfully.
She was not sure what just happened. She had fed off life energy; it was a skill she had mastered in the last three year. She had used that power to repair the damage that Quenya's body had suffered, but now…it seemed that the Devish had taken that further. She had clearly unlocked something that her master had never experienced before.
Feeding off life was one thing, feeding off death…?
That was a skill that was alien to her.
I still have much to learn, Avaryss realized, was what Quenya did something new, or had the ancient Sith possessed such skills, she had not read about it in her research, but then again, life is what had interested her, restoring it, death she thought was simple, and easy to quantify.
It seemed that she had been wrong.
In that moment, she felt daunted.
How can I hope to teach others if the mysteries of the dark side remain locked to me? If my students possess abilities beyond my own, how will I keep them in line?
She found herself thinking of her own master, not Feer, but Master Adaz, the blade master who had first put her on the dark path. When she had first become a squad leader on Fury 9, she had sought him out, asked his advice on how to mold the hopefuls under her command. He had offered her…sound advice. The pure blood had never achieved the rank of lord, but she had learned so much from him.
It was to his wisdom that she looked now.
The appearance of strength can by just as valuable as actual strength, my student, the old man had told her once, as you teach, you must be willing to learn as well. Offer what you have learned, and at the same time, take from them, learn to see your weakness through their eyes, and use that knowledge to eliminate those weaknesses. You should never stop learning that is the path to true power, true domination.
Never believe that you know everything.
Good advice, Avaryss realized, and it did apply here.
She smiled.
I'll look into this, she thought; The Citadel back on Dromund Kaas contains most if not all of the records of our Empire and the power that the masters of the past wielded. If there is anything in those records that might explain what Quenya is becoming, I'll find it, and…find a way to turn it to my advantage.
She nodded to herself.
Thank you, Master Adaz.
In the meantime though.
They had other matters to attend to.
She turned to her new students. Both radiated the dark side now, both were eager to be led further down the dark path.
She did not intend to disappoint them.
"Send word to your old comrades, Xen," she ordered, "Inform them of your dear master's death, and that they need to gather to plan their next move. Tell…them, that before he passed, he left you with orders, what to do in the event of his demise."
The former Padawan gave her a sly smile.
"We should probably return to the surface," she advised, "My master's ship is there, locked down at the spaceport, the plan will likely work better if we arrive in that, it would help sell the story, don't you think?"
"Yes," Avaryss agreed, "It would."
Quenya frowned.
"Our quarry has no doubt sensed the death of Sy Dar Bynn, they will be being wary of a trap. How do we hide our new alignment from them? Wil they not be sensing us when we arrive?"
"Fear not, my friends," Avaryss said, "there are ways to hide in the Force, to mask the darkness within. We Sith have had centuries to learn the arts of concealment, and given the loss of their leader, the remaining conspirators will likely be feeling lost and confused."
"Master Sy was always larger than life," Xen agreed, "The others trusted his judgment, even over their own."
She giggled.
"They will never know what hit them."
Avaryss sent word to Captain Brune to prepare for the next stage of her plan. She and Xen would be making their way back down to the surface, to retrieve Sy Dar Bynn's ship.
Once that was done, and the message was sent to the remaining leaders of Sy Dar Bynn's conspiracy, things would happen fast. They would need soldiers, men trained to deal with Jedi.
As soon as Xen heard back from her former allies, they would be ready.
As soon as the conspirators gathered, they would be ready to…take care of them.
Xen was right, she realized.
The fools would never know what hit them.
IOI
The rogue Jedi conspiracy had been threat to the Empire while it had functioned. Its agents had pushed many dark lords to the brink of tearing apart the very fabric of the Empire itself in trying to avenge the various slights they had brought to light.
Despite the threat it had posed, its ending was…actually quite anti-climactic. The cell leaders died with little resistance, so lost they had been without their charismatic leader.
For Avaryss…it was almost disappointing.
The fall back spot that the conspirators had chosen was an old mining complex on a small moon near the border of Republic space, the facility had been abandoned long ago, long before the Empire had returned, the minerals that had once attracted people to the no name rock, had run out decades earlier. Only the weak atmosphere of the small planetoid had ensured that the buildings had not crumbled away into nothingness.
The place had been forgotten, it had not even been touched by the Empire when it began its campaign to conquer the Republic. It was a perfect location for a safe house.
Unfortunately, Avaryss had now learned of its location.
The safe house was no longer safe.
Xen had informed her of the upgrades that their friends in Republic SIS had provided for this base. They were never meant to defeat an attacker, just to buy the conspirators' time to evacuate, and insure that no one discovered the truth about what they were doing. The complex's reactor had been rigged to go critical if discovery seemed eminent. They would need to be wary.
It would not do to have any of their prey disappear in the flames. If any of these men and women survived, there was a chance that the conspiracy would continue.
Avaryss was determined to not let that happen.
They had made the journey in Sy Dar Bynn's ship. It was a fancy thing, more fitting for a wealthy aristocrat than a Jedi. Avaryss had already claimed it as her own. Holli had gone over it, made sure that no surprises remained. When this mission was done, it would serve as an excellent trophy, it would be a conversation piece for whatever lords paid her a visit.
At that moment, however, the ship was not on a pleasure cruise. It carried a full company of Sith commandos, men and women trained in skills necessary to defeat Jedi. Lieutenant Mithel and his fellow survivors had volunteered for this mission, eager to get some pay back on the Jedi that had killed so many of their friends.
Avaryss had not refused. She understood the value of vengeance, what finally attaining it meant.
She was more than willing to let the soldiers claim it.
Quenya flew the ship while Xen sat in the co-pilot's chair. During their journey she had spent her time constructing a new lightsaber from the parts she had found on board. Xen's weapon had been destroyed back on Nar Shadda, she had needed a new one, and it seemed fitting that her late master provide her with what she needed.
Though she had serviced her own weapon many times, Avaryss watched her new apprentice work with a sense of wonder and curiosity. It was one thing to repair something that was already built, it was quite another to construct a new one from scratch.
When the communicator crackled to life, Xen paused what she was doing and answered the call, a series of tones sounded over the cockpit speakers, tones that Xen answered by entering a series of numbers on the communication panel.
Finally, the Jedi below responded.
"Nest to silver bird, come in silver bird."
"Silver bird to nest," Xen answered, "I'm reading you loud and clear."
"Xen," voice at the other end of the line gasped, "Thank the Force you are alive! We…we felt Master Sy's passing! Are…are you okay?"
Xen glanced up at her new master, Avaryss nodded.
The girl smiled.
""I've suffered a few scrapes and burns, but I am otherwise fine. Master Sy…I…he…it…it was horrible, horrible."
"I'm sorry Xen," the voice at the other end of the line said, "Proceed to landing pad one, we…we had feared the worse when we arrived and you weren't here."
"It took time to get away," Xen said dismissively, "I had to make sure that I was not being followed. The Sith that was after us was quite cunning."
Avaryss smiled.
"Thank you, apprentice," she mouthed.
Quenya rolled her eyes.
"Oh please," she murmured under her breath.
Xen ignored the exchange.
"Is everyone here?" she asked, "We have much to discuss."
"Copy that, Geph and Toal arrived last night; that is everyone. We await your arrival, and will see you on the ground soon, may the Force be with you."
"And you," Xen said ending the transmission.
She looked up Avaryss.
"They are all there," she said, "We can begin."
IOI
What followed was over far too quickly.
Xen brought the ship down, no sooner had they landed that they were met by two men in Republic military uniforms, more Republic commandos.
Avaryss had feared that one of the Jedi might have seen through her deception. When she had first begun her apprenticeship under her master, he had taught her how to conceal her alignment in the Force, just in case it ever became necessary for her to travel undetected on a Republic world. The spell could be taxing, but it served its purpose. Any Jedi that reached out with the Force would have felt only grim determination from the vessel. Her power had all but masked their presence.
Now the Jedi had not even seen fit to send out one of their own to meet them. From the complex Avaryss sensed only fear and confusion, for too long this lot had given themselves over to Sy Dar Bynn's will. Now…they seemed lost without him, any hope that she felt from inside was centered on the idea that Xen had some sort of final order from their master, that she knew what they were to do next.
The realization sickened the young Sith.
This is what Sy Dar Bynn's mission had done to them. They had been so driven to make the Sith answer for what had happened during the war that they no longer had any will of their own. They had thrown away everything in hope that their master could give them revenge and that they could call it justice.
What fools they all were.
Xen led the way, clad in her Padawan robes. Avaryss and Quenya followed behind her, dressed in the brown robes and cream colored tunics of the Jedi, their hoods pulled up to hide their faces. For Avaryss it felt like treason to be so garbed, but for the good of the mission she tolerated it.
She would not have to be so clad for long.
The two soldiers recognized Xen immediately and ushered her forward. They said nothing about her two companions, likely they did not know every Jedi involved in their little conspiracy on sight.
Avaryss said nothing, Xen was the one who was known here, and all of concentration was at that moment directed towards clouding the Jedi's perception. By now the soldiers on board their ship were starting to emerge, they would move quickly, cutting off any avenue of escape.
When everything was blocked off, that is when the fun would begin.
The soldiers showed them into the complex's main floor, Avaryss counted no less than nine Jedi here, and about thirty or so soldiers. She was not overly worried however, she sensed only fear and confusion from this lot, so lost they were without their leader.
"Xen!" a young woman with short blonde hair cried out. She like, Xen was dressed in the robes of a Padawan, in fact most of the Jedi here were, Avaryss saw only three that might be knights, and she sensed no other masters.
"Hello, Greta," Xen said with a hint of a smile, "I'm glad to see you made it."
The other girl did not even acknowledge Avaryss and Quenya; they all seemed preoccupied with their own things.
The blonde haired Padawan frowned; she had tears in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry Xen," she said, "Losing your master, it…it is not easy."
"No," Xen said flatly, "It isn't."
The Padawan did not notice that Xen had her lightsaber in hand; it was all but hidden by the sleeve of her robe.
"I wanted to be the first to tell you that you aren't alone. We are all here for you, and ready to continue Master Sy's work."
Xen did something then that the girl did not expect.
She giggled.
It threw the other girl off balance for a moment, but that was all that was needed.
"Yes Greta," she said, "I think that you should be first."
Xen laughed and embraced the other girl. Avaryss watched her, the young Jedi seemed confused, her expression…curious.
The curiosity ended when Xen ignited her lightsaber, the blade punched through the Padawan's chest. And out her back.
The girl…Greta gasped, her eyes wide with shock, she did not even seem to realize that she had been killed.
Xen gestured with the Force, flinging her body back. All eyes in the room turned in shock and horror!
Xen spun her new lightsaber. Its red blade rippling like fire, two small cross guard blades emerged from the hilt as well, forming a cross of red flame.
Xen Loor laughed loudly as she whirled her blade before her.
"The Empire says hello everyone," she shouted.
One of the walls exploded inward.
Hell was unleashed.
Led by Beric Lylos, Sith commandos poured through the breach firing their weapons, the sudden attack catching their enemies off guard.
Avaryss drew her own blade, dropping the spell, and reaching out with the Force to seal the doors.
No one would escape this room.
No one would escape period!
Avaryss and Quenya lit their own weapons. Avaryss had provided her two apprentices with red crystals for their weapons. If they were truly to serve the dark side, they needed a weapon that reflected that alignment.
Three of the Jedi had been caught completely by surprised; they were gunned down before they even had a chance to raise their weapons.
Quenya and Avaryss stayed back to cover the doors. By now the remaining Jedi realized what was happening, shouts of Sith and defend yourself rang out.
It did nothing to change the outcome of the battle.
Avaryss used lightning to keep the enemy back, while Quenya unleashed her new powers on them. Shadows seemed to rise out of the floor wailing and whispering; the Jedi and Republic soldiers were caught completely off guard. Though she could not see them herself, from the reaction of the enemy, it seemed that Quenya' shadow forms were something out of their worst nightmares.
Xen was in the middle of them, laughing and crying at the same time, her emotions were almost out of control as she butchered her former allies.
She nodded pleased by what she was seeing.
Darth Hecaetus had been right. Corruption was the way.
More troopers emerged through the breach, HK-Sigma 3 was with them, firing his flamethrower and blasting away with a pistol in his off hand.
The conspirators had not been ready for a fight, they fell quickly one after the other, and then…just like that…it was done.
The enemy was no more.
Avaryss nodded, pleased with the carnage she and her fellows had inflicted.
She regarded the dead; it did not seem that she had lost a single soldier, the advantage of a surprise attack. There appeared to be wounded, but that was not the same thing.
She nodded thoughtfully.
It is done, she thought, my master's work, and the will of the dark council is done.
She found herself thinking of her master's wife, and what she had said, about Avaryss not being capable of doing this.
You were wrong milady, she thought to herself, now you will find out just how wrong.
She imagined the look on Lady Feer's face.
Be ready, she thought.
I'm coming home.