A/N: Wow... hmmmm… I can't believe I wrote that * blush * I'm not usually one to write smut from the view of a watcher… heh… heh… anyway, I love this chapter, because so much stuff happens… So much is revealed, yet so much is hidden * squeal * I love it… It's kinda long too.. Oh, and remember Irnai? From POTS? She's in here… I kinda leave her for a while after this, but she'll be back.. I'd also like comments on the characters, what you like about them, what annoys you, who you want to see more of, etc…. you know, I want constructive criticism… Anyway…. Oh, and I tried a kind of song fic thing there with the chant (It's from the lion king broadway show soundtrack, and I just spelled it out phonetically) I don't know if it really worked… I'd like a comment on that. I just go the idea for that scene when I was listening to this song, so I stuck it in…

Gods damn him…Black God take him…the stupid… Damn him…. She couldn't believe Timos had been so treacherous. She had seen the door closed firmly, but he had not had it locked, and she thought she could hear him. She looked in the main suite and found no one. She shouldn't have looked in that room. As she opened the door, she could see something she never wanted to ever again. She could see Timos, his body flexing and tightening and… that woman was at least twice his age! She didn't see who the woman was, but she didn't need to. She knew this woman wasn't the only one. That was how Timos had gotten so far. He had slept with every person who had been in his way, which would have meant men too. The very thought sickened her. She was awakened from her thoughts by a moan and a squeal. She watched for one moment as he kissed up and down the woman's body, then she rushed at him. She pushed them both off the bed and tangled the sheet around them in the process. Then, she ran. As she ran through the main suite, she grabbed all of the papers and money on the desk. If he wanted them back, he would have to come to her.

* * *

He stared into the globe, transfixed by the woman it showed. She was the opposite of his perfect Lily in every way, and hypnotizing, but not enough so as to distract him from his aim. He must have Lily, he must. And if any tried to take her, well, he would make sure they were dealt with. And if she herself wouldn't give in… He sat back, a small, cruel half-grin on his face.

* * *

Lewen was sick of having to deal with this. For years, and years, he had had to be perfect, absolutely perfect. There weren't enough hours in the day. So, like many young, unhappy nobles, he had turned to something which was easy enough for him to get… drugs. At first, it had only been jadeflower and huzzahthorn, but it had moved on to the truly powerful drugs. Even now, he was using fritica, a drug used sometimes by Seers in the Copper Isles and Carthak. All one had to do was make a small pin prick in their skin and sprinkle the powder in. Like venom, it was strong and fast, and would affect the user within a few minutes.

Lewen opened his pouch and took out a bit of stone and thorn, as the hallucinogens were known (A/N: that would be jadeflower–stone and huzzahthorn-thorn) and swallowed them quickly. He found that the effect of the fritica was most powerful when he prepped with other drugs. After a minute, he took out his dagger and made a slit in his arm, then poured fritica into it. Perhaps this large dose, larger than any he had ever taken, would ease his troubles. He let the drug begin to take affect, and he began to hear a chant in his head.

mamayeh, mamayeh, mama-yeh, wozah, o wozah, mamayeh,

wozaham fana, mamayeh, o wozah, mama-yeh

Lewen turned his head to the side with effort, and fell to the floor. He couldn't even feel the pain as his dagger fell from one hand and cut the other wrist. Perhaps, for once, he would no longer ever feel pain.

* * *

Zara knocked on the door. She was looking for a gown that she had leant Lily, and she though she'd just go get it. The door opened slowly, showing a disheveled Nera dressed in a dark blue dress in the dark room. Zara picked up the meal that obviously hadn't been eaten. She reheated the pot of water over the stove, then added a few herbs and some tea leaves from the Yamani Islands. She poured a cup and handed it to Nera. Nera drank it automatically, then turned back to Zara.

"What's wrong, Nera? You aren't usually like this."

"Lily, Kendi, Timos…."

"Timos?"

A nod, and a grimace of pain.

"What did he do to you?"

Zara shook her head as she heard the story. She had heard of that boy. She knew only one way to help Nera, and it all stemmed from those papers. She picked them up from the table, and began to smile as she read them.

"Nera, I have an idea. We can get Timos back, and make you feel better in the meantime…

"Whatever I have to do…"

* * *

Meanwhile, far to the North, a woman was sleeping soundly in her bed. Irnai Tasren slept soundly, having not been interrupted by a vision for years. Her husband, Uinos was puzzle, therefore, when he awoke a few hours later and saw his wife's body shaking and her lips moving frantically.

* * *

In her dream, Irnai saw a middle-aged woman, with eyes the same green as hers and smoky-brown hair. The woman was dressed in spring green with a white apron. She looked motherly and kind.

"Irnai, you must help me."

"What can I do, Green Lady? I have not had recourse to my powers for years, and I know not how to use them."

The woman smiled sadly and gestured behind Irnai. Irnai turned and found herself on the sidelines of the Game of the Gods. Although she had had many visions, she had not had one like this, ever. On one side was Chaos, shifting in shape constantly. On the other side was the Goddess. The Goddess reigned in a golden throne, with hair the same color of gold hanging in loose waves decorated by a wreath of spring wildflowers. She wore a gown of many colors, each sheer so that whichever way she turned, the light caught a new color. Her eyes were no definable color, and she held a small shape in her hand. In between the two goddesses there lay a board, painted in colors that formed the shapes of countries with phrases written in strange runes. Chaos opened her hand and twenty figures appeared on the board, each a real, moving person or creature. The Goddess did the same. Behind the Goddess, many of the gods clustered, watching, waiting to ally. Irnai knew, instinctively, that each god had twenty players, and each might contribute theirs to either side at any time. Irnai watched Weiryn step up, open his hand, and set a small figure down amongst the ranks of the Goddess's players. Another, whom she recognized as Airril, God of Magic, set down another player for the Goddess. Weiryn's player and Airril's stepped together and joined hands. The Green Lady herself stepped forward, and added four players to the ranks, each of whom joined behind the other two donated. In a line, several gods stepped forward and swelled the Goddess's ranks, including Mirasa, Goddess of Friendship, Mithros himself, and Sakuyo, a Yamani god. When they were finished, each of the main players named the players she had selected, as well as those who had been given to them. Chaos began.

"Timos, Rithal…"

And so she continued. Irnai ignored most of what she said, not knowing their names, or wanting to. The Goddess then spoke, her words a whisper of mellifluous music.

"Veralidaine Sarrasri, given by Weiryn. Numair Salmalin, given by Airril. Tenera, Liliath, Histia and Kendria Salmalin, given by Sarra, the Green Lady. Nzara Sitalin, given by Mirasa. Sintani of Conte, a joint gift from Sakuyo and Mirasa. Thayet and Jasson of Conte, as well as Jonathon Iliniat, all gifted by Mithros. My own players will be revealed at such a time as I deem necessary. I have but one other. One gifted to me by an old one, herself. Given to me by the patron of the Green Lady and all seers and prophets, Aliani."

Irnai trembled to see Chaos' anger at the secrecy of the Goddess, but it was evidently within the rules. Irnai peered at the last shape the Goddess held up, and the Goddess turned towards her. When those mutli-hued eyes met hers, swirling with power, Irnai could feel a change within herself. Whereas she had been previously devoted solely to the Maiden Seer, who must be the same Aliani, she now found herself caught up in the questioning of those eyes. With a spiritual thrust, she put her power and life and devotion into the Goddess' hands. The Goddess nodded quietly and turned back to face Chaos.

"Irnai Tasren, Seer and Prophet of the Coming of Keladry, gifted by Aliani."

The Goddess opened her hand, and there stood the exact replica of Irnai. She saw her own waves of dark hair and her bright green eyes. But instead of being clad in her customary blue-grey, she was clad in the spring green of the servants of the Goddess, but a shade darker than the Green Lady's garb. Her hair was decorated by flowers and tiny braids, and she wore a talisman necklace of spring green decorated by the symbol of the Goddess.

Suddenly, the scene changed, and it was only her, the Green Lady, and another woman in a small, brightly lit room. This woman had skin as white as marble and pitch black hair and eyes. She seemed to have no pupils, as they were the same color as her irises. She was dressed in a blue-black dress, with dark blue jewels and the same talisman as the characterization of Irnai had. It was the one bright spot in the dark field. Irnai looked at her for a moment, then curtsied.

"Oh, stop… We both serve the Goddess, do we not? I am Shadira, Minor Goddess of the moon."

The woman twisted her hand, and bright ball of light appeared. She twisted her hand once more, and it was gone.

"The Goddess gave me the duty of giving you your customary gifts. She has given you a mount, smarter than most, and a hound. She has also seen fit to give you a blade. She calls it Nadre. She also sees fit to give you a set of books, supplies, money, jewelry and gowns. She has also seen fit to give you a piece of country that belongs to her as is required by those who worship her. You are now Irnai of Threnall, and you shall go the court as such. There, you will find your work and you will receive further orders from the Lady there."

The woman gestured behind Irnai, and Irnai turned quickly. There stood a beautiful cream-colored mare and a tall, lithe, cream-colored hound, with a thick collar. Never before had she seen such fine creatures. A large green stone, engraved with the Goddess's symbol was inset in the dog's collar, and a similar one in a metal chain around the base of the horse's neck. The same stone was also inlaid in the hilt of a simple, graceful blade. Irnai picked it up and balanced herself. It fit perfectly into her hand, and she knew she would not be burdened to carry it. Beside the two unearthly creatures, there lay a trunk, which, when opened, held a large cache of fine gowns and jewels. On top of the trunk lay the ownership pqpers for the lands of Threnall. Irnai turned back to thank the woman and found her gone. She then turned back to the Green Lady.

"As you will be helping the daughter of Weiryn and myself, and her family as well, we wish to give you some gifts, in addition to those of the Goddess. We give you a bow and arrow, made by Weiryn's hands, and a hound bred from his lines, a smaller one than this fine gift the Goddess gave. His name is Myrgin. We also wish to give you the gift of Wild Magic, but only for Myrgin and the other two companions. Any further gifts will be given as you need them." The Green Lady nodded, and Irnai felt herself falling…

She woke up, with a sigh, and sat up into what she was sure would have been the midday sun. But, no, it was still morning, and she swung her legs out of bed and stood up. She walked quickly, half-running, to an unused room, and found everything she had known would be there. She closed the door quickly and sealed it with a minor spell, then turned around and walked down the hallway, ready to start the day.

* * *

A/N: Oooohhhh, that was a nice long one, huh? Anyway, that's your dose for the moment, I have to go work on my other fic (A Song of Ice and Fire, go read it!)