Disclaimer: Valdemar, Heralds, Companions etc … none of that belongs to me, it's all the property of Mercedes Lackey. I'm just borrowing the characters for a while … apart from Aline who is most definitely mine : )

A/N: Okay, first comes the apology. Some of you may have noticed (or reviewed) the apparent Chapter 15 earlier in the week and discovered it was remarkably similar to Chapter 1. That's because I had uploaded an updated version of Chapter 1 and accidentally added a new chapter instead of replacing the old one. So to cut a long story short, HUGE apologies for the confusion and it's all sorted out now and here is the REAL Chapter 15.

If you want a little more story, read the bottom of Chapter 1 again since I've updated it.

As in the previous chapter I've put the thankyou's at the bottom of the chapter but as always, thanks to everyone who reviewed and please continue to do so. It's your support that keeps this story going : )

Oh and this chappie is dedicated to Owl for pointing out some of my mistakes and as a welcome to a new reader! Hope you keep reading!

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After the Storm

By: JoeyStar

Timeframe: Set a year or so after Owlknight

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(Kero and Eldan's suite)

'So, what have we got?'

It was the following day and once again, Kero, Skif and Eldan had closeted themselves away to discuss the results of their investigation. The mood of the group, which had been so low in the first few days of the search, was slowly growing more and more buoyant until it had reached the point at which they were certain they were finally making some progress.

Skif ticked the numbers off on his fingers. 'We know that a single man, posing as a Palace servant, brought the morning meal to Kris and Lyra's suite. Once inside he began serving the tea and when the occupants of the room were involved in their conversation, he attacked.'

'I've spoken to Mero in the kitchen and Gaytha in housekeeping and they had some interesting news.' Eldan interjected. 'The serving man in question – I used the description that Darkwind provided – has been a member of the palace staff for several years now. He applied for the post shortly after Lord Orthallen's treachery was revealed and the reference that secured the post came from non-other … than Lord Drevin.'

Kero frowned. 'So we have a traitor put into place several years ago by Lord Drevin. That raises several questions that simply don't make sense.'

'From everything that our fellow Heralds have said, Lord Drevin is not the kind of man who holds grudges.' Eldan said. 'Both Talia and Dirk – who surely knew him better than anyone else – assured us of this fact and everything we've learnt about the man surely points to the fact that he is the most unlikely mastermind behind the attack.'

'And yet everything that we've uncovered so far points to him.' Skif pointed out. 'Take Drevin out of the equation and who do we have left?'

'Alberich didn't think he was guilty.' Kero said. 'And I trust his opinion of people.'

Eldan sighed. 'I trust him too but Kero, Alberich hasn't seen Lord Drevin for years. And it's not so unheard of for people to drastically change.'

'That's true,' Skif grinned ironically. 'Look at Ancar. I'm sure as a child he was an angel.'

'Thank you Skif.' With a gusty sigh, Kero kicked her feet up onto the low table that stood before their chairs and stretched like a cat.

They were a silent for a moment. Eldan was gazing thoughtfully at the far wall, though it was far more likely he was deep in thought than finding the wall particularly interesting. Kero was studying the effect her dirty boots were having on the shiny tabletop and Skif was restlessly drumming his fingers on the arm of the chair.

He shifted abruptly in his chair. 'I've a question. Why did he wait for all of these years? We all know that in assassination situations, you strike when your victim is the most vulnerable. With that in mind, surely it would have been better to attack the twins years ago, when they were younger – maybe even before they were Chosen?'

'Which raises another question: were the twins the intended target.' Eldan drew his eyes away from the wall, a frown-line between his eyes. 'The more I think about this in the terms that we have set down … the more I'm beginning to believe we may be missing the point.'

Kero squinted at him. 'Are you saying that you think Elspeth or Darkwind were the targets?'

'I don't know.' Eldan admitted, 'but I don't think we can rule anything out.'

'Egh!' Frustrated, Skif banged his nervous hand down on the arm of the chair. 'Every time I think that we're beginning to get somewhere someone has to point out the hundreds of other explanations!'

'Sorry.' Eldan said with a smile.

Skif rolled his eyes.

:Feeling tense Chosen?: Cymry asked suddenly. Skif shouldn't have been surprised that she had been following the conversation; in fact he expected that both Sayvel and Ratha had been too.

:I just … I don't know where we should go from here.: He ran one hand through his curly hair. :Sometimes I feel like we haven't made any progress at all and I'm giving up all off my time for nothing.:

:Better not tell Nyara that – she just might scratch your eyes out!: Cymry laughed at her own wit and Skif was reminded of his partner – the change-child Nyara – who he had seen less and less over the previous few weeks due to the investigation. She hadn't said anything to him but Skif knew that the situation was far from perfect and soon he would have to talk to her.

Perhaps she could help – if only with the magical side of the investigation. Nyara wasn't a powerful mage herself but having Falconsbane as a father had given her a remarkable insight into the working of magic. And she was far more approachable than Firesong – who was intimidating in his perfection; Darkwind and Elspeth who were still recovering and An'desha who spent most of his time hiding in the library.

:Cymry … : he drew the word out. :What do you think we should do?:

:Speak to Lord Drevin.: The Companion told him promptly. :It's the logical next step, which you would have seen had you not been loosing your patience.:

'We should speak to Lord Drevin.' Kero spoke up suddenly, in an eerie echo of Cymry's words. It could have been coincidence but it was more likely that Kero's Sayvel had been eavesdropping again. And considering the fact that Eldan had started to nod before she had finished speaking suggested that Companions really did share everything.

'There's no time like the present.' Skif declared. 'The sooner we speak to Lord Drevin, the sooner we can try and sort out this mess.'

'You and Kero should go.' Eldan said, standing. 'I want to talk to Firesong about some of the more magical aspects of our investigation.' He smiled at Kero. 'I'll see you later.'

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(Healer's Collegium – Private Room)

Keisha sat beside Lyra's bed, holding her limp hand.

In the days following Darkwind's awakening, Healer Devan had decided that it would be best for Princess Lyra if she were moved to a more private room, away from the prying eyes of some of the Healers at the Collegium. And what with the three Heralds that had been brought in, injured during a rockslide in the northern mountains, the main room at the Collegium had become rather crowded. Therefore, Lyra had been moved to the smaller room that Elspeth had been using up until a few days ago – a room with plenty of bright windows to offset it's size, but a room somewhat removed from the rest of the Collegium.

Keisha felt a wave of sympathy wash over her as she sat, gazing at the princess. Lyra was barely out of childhood; for her to have been struck down so viciously was a terrible blow to both her family and friends who had, by all accounts, suffered enough already with the continuing wars and treachery from within.

Then there was the fact that when she finally did wake up, she would have to cope with the loss of her twin brother. It was something Keisha tried not to dwell on during the time she spent with Lyra, but often found herself returning to. A part of her wondered whether Lyra actually knew what had happened and if that was why she refused to wake, despite her, Devan and Firesong's best efforts. Even Darian, who was more a Mage than he was a Healer, had spent time with Lyra, trying to heal the injuries that were so far keeping her unconscious.

But it was Darian's absence that was causing Keisha to drift towards Lyra's room each morning. Things had been difficult since she had come to Haven but throughout her time here she had had Darian to talk to. Now Darian was busy discussing the magical side of the attack with the other Mages and more often than not, Keisha found that she was left to her own devices.

The people were friendly here, she reflected, but they were all so distracted. They had no time for a young, untested Healer from a distant part of the Kingdom. Perhaps that was why she sought the solitude of Lyra's chamber and why she felt such a strange attachment to the silent girl.

The sound of the door opening stirred her from her reverie and she looked up in time to see Silverfox enter the room, followed quickly by Firesong and Darian. The kestra'chern threw her a distracted smile before turning back to his companions. From what Keisha could hear, it was clear they had been in the middle of a conversation when they had entered the room.

' … we can tell them.' Firesong was saying, his expression hidden by one of his ever-present masks. This one was decorated with gold and silver feather patterns, Keisha observed distractedly. It almost looked as if Firesong himself had feathers like a gryphon. 'Though Darkwind may know more. I pushed him as far as I dared.'

Silverfox shot the Adept a disapproving look. 'You should be more gentle with him, ash'ke. You have no way of knowing what he went through. None of us do.'

Firesong acknowledged his chastisement with the wave of one elegant hand before turning his attention onto Lyra. He and Silverfox walked over to her bed and began talking in undertones to one another, which gave Darian a chance to greet Keisha.

'Heyla!'

'Hello yourself.' She touched his face gently. 'What are you so happy about?'

His eyes danced. 'Well by all accounts we're actually making some progress. Firesong and I have just been examining the room and while we didn't find very much, what little we did discover should help us to find out who's behind all of this.' His face sobered. 'It was horrible ke'chara. The blood and the scorch marks … it reminded me of Errold's Grove.'

Keisha was smiling sympathetically when a movement from besides the bed caught her eye. Firesong and Silverfox's conversation had become more heated and the former was gesticulating wildly.

Darian followed her gaze. 'Firesong said something strange back in the room.' He told her idly. 'You know that heavy use of magic often leaves a slight residue? Well he said that there was something familiar about the residue.'

'What do you think that means?'

Darian shrugged. 'Maybe it's like that Falconsbane – the power of the residue I mean. Maybe that's why it's familiar to him.'

'You should ask him.'

'Enough about Firesong.' Behind them, the Adept was entering an all-familiar healing trance over Lyra, with Silverfox standing watch. Whatever they had been arguing about had obviously been put aside in the face of the patient's needs. 'How have you been?'

Now it was Keisha's turn to shrug. 'I'm fine.' She felt uncomfortable answering such a question because she didn't want Darian to know how much she was missing him, especially when there was really little he could do about it. Keisha was helping in the healing wings, as she could and Darian was helping the investigation, as he could. It was selfish of her to keep him away from that.

'Really?' He pressed, dark eyes serious.

Keisha smiled reassuringly, sensing his worry through her Empathic abilities. While not as strong as her sister Shandi, she was still required to Shield around others. The only person she could be normally be completely relaxed with was Darian – he was so open with his emotions- but sometimes, like now, even his feelings got too much.

'Where's Kuari?' She asked, partly because she truly was interested and partly to change the subject.

Darian pulled her up out of the chair and led her over to the window. 'Look,' he pointed to a small dark speck, huddling in a nearby tree. Keisha peered through the glass and saw that indeed, the shape was a bird and certainly a nocturnal one for no others would sleep so soundly in the middle of the day.

'He told me the investigation was making his head hurt.'

'He said that?' Keisha had been under the impression that bondbird's were unable to formulate complete sentences and often spoke their needs in images rather than words.

Darian grinned. 'Not exactly. Sometimes I feel like I need a translator to communicate with him but this time he was painfully clear.

'Does he not like Haven?' Keisha wondered, watching as Kuari flicked a wing to ward off something unseen.

'Oh no – he found it really exciting at first but …' Darian pulled a face. 'I think he misses his parents and the Vale.'

Kuari's parents, Hweel and Huur were the bondmates of Darian's adoptive older brother, Mage-Scout Snowfire. It was a curious parallel that while Kuari missed them, Keisha knew Darian missed Snowfire just as much. The older Tayledras had been Darian's mentor before Firesong and, as Darian often said, was the reason he was still alive today.

Thinking about parents, Keisha found her thoughts turning to her own. Sidonie and Ayver Alder had never really understood her as a person. They had been shocked and horrified when she had finally told them about Darian, but perhaps that was because at the time she had only just returned from a long trip northwards – a trip her parents had known nothing about and it had undoubtedly come as a surprise to them to realise that their little girl was now an independent woman. Their reaction had been part of the reason that she had finally settled in the Vale with Darian but it didn't stop her from missing them. After all, they were her parents.

'And you?'

Darian tore his eyes away from the window. 'Me?'

'Do you miss the Vale?'

His eyes became distant. 'Sometimes,' he admitted. 'But we couldn't stay there forever, could we?'

It was a remarkably astute observation and Keisha opened her mouth to disagree when she realised that he was right. As much as she and Darian both loved the Vale, it wasn't in Darian's nature to stay in one place forever. While she could picture them growing old together within the Vale, she knew that Darian's adventurous spirit would most likely drag them all over Valdemar and her neighbours before that.

'No, we couldn't.' She ducked under his arm and leant her head against his chest, both simply watching the world pass by outside.

Beyond them, Firesong sighed gustily as he withdrew from the Healing trance Once again even his efforts had been rejected and Lyra lay as still as ever on the bed.

'Keisha?'

Keisha turned in Darian's arms and they both looked back to see Firesong beckoning Keisha over. There was a frown on the handsome Tayledras's face, just visible behind his mask and Keisha wondered what the problem was. Firesong had tended to Lyra many times since the attack; had something changed to affect his mood so?

'What is it?' She asked, invoking her Healer's sight and running it over Lyra's body. There didn't appear to be anything different to her but perhaps Firesong, with his greater ability had noticed something she had overlooked.

'I'm going to speak to Devan and I'd like it if you could come with me.' He told her. 'I've an idea about Lyra that may require your aid.'

'Of course.' Keisha was willing to try anything if it was going to help her patient. When the handsome Adept moved towards the room's door, she blinked. 'We're going now?'

'Well, we could wait but – '

'Okay!' Keisha waved her hands, sensing that Firesong's famous sarcasm was about to raise its head. 'I'm coming. Darian – I'll see you later?'

The young man nodded, offering her a frustrated smile as Firesong swept out of the room. Keisha hurried after him and almost bowled over a palace servant who was entering the room with a tray in his hands.

'Sorry!' She breathed before disappearing into the corridor beyond, leaving the door slightly ajar.

Darian felt his smile becoming forced and dropped it swiftly, turning his gaze back into the room to find that Silverfox was watching him thoughtfully. He stared back at his teacher's partner, wondering just what the older man was seeing in him. Silverfox was remarkably perceptive.

'It's been hard for you, hasn't it Dar'ian?' The kestra'chern asked finally, folding his hands neatly in his lap. 'For both you and Keisha. Being here, I mean.'

'What? No – of course not!' Darian assured him quickly, wondering whether Silverfox had progressed to reading minds. 'Everything's fine! Well, not fine of course because of the attack but –' he broke off when he realised that Silverfox was laughing behind one elegant hand. With a sigh, Darian pushed his hair back from his face and admitted, 'it hasn't been at all as we expected it would be.'

'Nor for Firesong or I, either.' Silverfox commented, looking at Lyra. 'I think you would have had a better time of it without the attack. I remember when I first came here with Firesong … the Queen was a most gracious host.'

'I've barely seen her.' Darian said with a shrug. 'But I can understand that. Oh – thanks.' The servant handed him a cup of sweet-smelling tea and Darian smiled distractedly.

'Selenay has seen much suffering in her life.' Silverfox agreed. 'All of her family have. I remember Elspeth once saying that she thought the rulars of Valdemar were cursed. Thank you.' He accepted his own cup and blew on it gently. 'With Valdemar recently it just seems to have been one thing after the other.'

'Since the Mage Storms?' Darian asked. He sat down in Keisha's vacated chair with a sigh of relief, cradling the tea in both hands.

Silverfox shook his head. 'Before that even.' Raising the cup, he touched the liquid with one finger and flinched, blowing on it again. 'The troubles started when Elspeth's grandfather was king.'

'Really?' Darian had heard these stories before of course – Firesong often spoke of Elspeth and Darkwind, his friends from Haven – but never from Silverfox. It would be interesting to have the kestra'chern's opinion on what had happened.

'During the Tedrel Wars, King Sendar was assassinated.' Silverfox told him, putting his cup down on the table by Lyra's bed. 'It wasn't until years later that they discovered who had been behind the attack.'

These kind of stories – full of famous and important people – were the kind that Darian had been raised on, back in Errold's Grove. His eyes were as round as saucers as he listened to Silverfox's narration.

'But that's a later story. After King Sendar's death his daughter, Selenay, became Queen. She soon met and married the King of Rethwellen's middle son, Thanel. But Thanel was treacherous and only interested in power and when he found he couldn't control Selenay as he had hoped, he tried to kill her.'

'Really?' Darian felt like he was five years old again, sitting at the feet of his parents while they related a bedtime story to him.

Silverfox nodded sagely. 'And he would have succeeded had it not been for one Herald Alb – Dar'ian look out!'

But Darian was still so enthralled with the story that he barely heard Silverfox's warning before the heavy candlestick holder was slammed down against his head. The force of the blow threw him from the chair and his stunned form hit the opposite wall hard enough to bruise. He dimly heard the sound of another chair crashing over backwards and what he thought was Silverfox's voice but when he tried to rise the pain in his temple escalated and he blacked out.

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(Haven – Lord Orthallen's Residence)

Kerowyn squinted up at the impressive building for several long moments and then dismissed it's grandeur with a wave of her hand. 'Is this it?'

:Not impressed Chosen?: Sayvel remarked, turning her head so that one bright blue eye was firmly fixed on Kero.

:I've seen better.: Kero replied, for once being serious. Compared to the palace at Haven and some of the dwellings that she had seen in Rethwellen, Lord Orthallen's house was showy but not overly impressive. :Do you think he was compensating for something?:

Sayvel snickered in her mind and sent her Chosen a rather rude image. Kero shook her head. :I was talking about his lack of humanity, Sayvel.:

:I'm sure you were.:

'Well?' She asked of Skif once more. The ex-thief pulled his eyes back from the large house and grinned. 'Yes.'

'Are you sure?'

Skif's grin broadened. 'Kero, in my youth I spent many a cold night enjoying Orthallen's hospitality.'

Kero arched an eyebrow.

'Hey – I earned it!' Skif protested. 'I worked for my keep! I'm surprised he never noticed the extra page that kept popping up, the amount of times I was there.'

'Well you remember Orthallen. He didn't care about anything or anyone unless they effected his precious plans.' Kero said bitterly, recalling how much damage the Haven noble had managed to do during his tenure as Lord-Uncle to the Queen. Although Kero had had little to do with him personally, his treachery had affected all of the Heralds and it still left a sour taste in anyone's mouth were they called upon to talk about him.

'You know Kero, if you want to do this subtly I know a foolproof back entrance …'

Kero shook her head at Skif's suggestion but a smile returned to her face.

:You know Kero that may not be such a bad idea.: Sayvel put in sarcastically. :Companions climbing through windows and scaling rooftops …:

:We could just leave you behind.: Kero threatened.

:If you wanted to condemn yourselves.: Sayvel shot back tartly. :Now listen, young Skif is talking to you.:

Wondering how Savyel always seemed to get the better of her and glaring at the back of her Companions head, Kero asked Skif to repeat his question.

'I said: are we going to go in then?'

'Of course.'

'I just hope Lord Drevin is here.' Skif said as they rode through the wide gateposts and into the inner courtyard of the building. 'It would be a shame if we've come all this way for nothing.'

'All this way …? Someone's been spending too much time off the circuits.'

Skif shrugged. 'Nyara likes having me around.'

Kero recalled Skif unusual mate – the change-child Nyara. She had seen the cat-like woman around the palace a couple of times but hadn't spoken to her in some time. 'How is she?'

Skif's eyes lit up. 'She's good. It was hard at first – after Falconsbane. But now she's doing really well.' He ran one hand through his hair self-consciously. 'After everything that she's had to deal with, I sometimes think it's a miracle.'

As they approached the front steps of the house, a neatly livered man walked down them and paused just before the bottom, looking them over with a regal air. 'This is the house of Lord Drevin.' He announced. 'Might I enquire as to your business here?'

The Heralds dismounted smoothly and Skif let Kero take the lead as she nodded her head to the man. 'I am Herald Kerowyn and this is Herald Skif. We're here to speak to Lord Drevin concerning a matter of some urgency.'

The man took in their white uniforms and the Companions who were staring unashamedly back at him and then coughed into his white glove. 'I shall go to Lord Drevin and see if he is available to speak to you. Please wait here.' With that, he vanished into the interior of the house, leaving them standing on the steps.

'That was rude.' Skif looked up at the clear sky above them. 'After we dressed up for him and everything! Oh well, at least it isn't raining. I suppose I can't do us any harm to wait.'

Kero frowned at the man's behaviour. I bet he was Orthallen's servant, she thought.

:For once Chosen, I'm not going to argue with you.:

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(Healer's Collegium – Private Room)

Silverfox stood up so quickly that the chair fell over backwards, hitting the floor with a crash of splintered wood. The servant who had served them the tea stared at him across Lyra's body, hands firmly wrapped around the silver candlestick holder than was now stained with Darian's blood. Beyond him Silverfox could see the young man in question, slumped on the ground, blood on his forehead. He wasn't moving.

Silverfox held out his hands in a peaceable movement. 'I don't want to hurt you.'

'Hurt me?' The man laughed and there was an edge of hysteria to his tone. 'You don't know the meaning of the word!'

'Maybe not.' Silverfox conceded, painfully aware that should the man attack him there was nothing around him that could be used as a weapon. Just for once it would have been nice to be blessed with even the smallest amount of Mage Gift. He began edging slowly around the bed. 'Now why don't you put that down?'

The man stared at him. For some reason, Silverfox got the impression that he wasn't used to being spoken to in such a gentle tone. He continued to make his way around the bed. 'I don't believe you want to hurt the princess.'

The man looked down at the sleeping girl, whose face was turned away from him, and then back at Silverfox. He opened his mouth to speak but then glanced sharply down at Lyra again. Dropping the candlestick holder he grabbed her by the shoulders and jerked her up off the bed.

'What are you -!'

'She's wrong!' The man shouted, suddenly furious. He let Lyra fall and turned on Silverfox. 'She's all wrong!'

'I don't understand – '

'She's WRONG!'

The kestra'chern never had a chance. The man's hands shot out before him and a huge bolt of power flew across the room, throwing Silverfox back into the wall behind him. Silverfox cried out as he fell to the floor, his muscles shaking from the power of the magic. His usually silver-tongue had failed him and it was clear who he was facing now. This must be the man who had attacked Elspeth and Darkwind – who had killed Kris – and who had precipitated everything that had happened since. Silverfox could hardly believe he had the gall to return to the palace! How had he even got in?

A second bolt of pure magical energy swept over him and he bit back a scream of agony, all thoughts disappearing from his mind as beyond them, Darian began to stir.

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Darian's head was pounding and he felt sick to his stomach but something in the back of his mind was telling him that he needed to wake up. He had been drifting in and out of consciousness for the last few minutes and he still had no idea about what had happened.

A sharp crash and a cry of pain caught his wandering attention and he opened his eyes. From his vantage point on the floor, all he could see was the wall in front of him and before he could turn over someone else demanded his attention.

:?:

:??:

:???:

The questioning in his mind was Kuari - who had no doubt felt the pain of whatever had knocked Darian unconscious - and was now flooding his mind with queries.

:Kuari …:

:Why sleep? Why pain?:

:H-Help …: Darian tried again, wishing for the first time that Kuari was more like the Heralds Companion's – capable of speech and thought purposes rivalling humans. :Get help …?:

:Help?: The bird sounded confused.

:Get help …: Darian sent him a picture of Firesong and hoped his bondmate would understand.

'Where is she?!'

The shout captured Darian's failing concentration and with an audible groan he forced himself to roll over and locate the origin of the noise. When he realised what was happening he lurched to his knees and groped wildly for his Mage Gift.

The servant was forced away from the writhing Silverfox as Darian's bolt of fire caught his shoulder. But rather than throw the other man across the room as the bolt should have done, the servant merely stumbled backwards. As Darian swayed on his knees, the man shook himself and turned on the young Master, eyes burning like black pits in his face.

He stalked across the room towards Darian, his hands brimming with pure magical energy. Darian invoked his Mage Sight automatically and what he saw made his heart sink. This man had more power than Darian had ever seen – even in Firesong, who was reputedly the most powerful Adept of their time. In a straight magical fight, Darian would have no chance against this servant, whose own power far eclipsed his own.

Yet there was something strange about the man's power. It seemed disjointed somehow, hanging in an aura around the man rather than being an integral part of his body. Before Darian could consider this any further he had to brace himself for the approaching attack, tightening his magical shields.

The servant passed before the open door and by this time any semblance of sanity had faded from his face. His hands exploded in a riot of colours and Darian's shields were battered aside and his skin began to burn.

'Where is she?!' The servant demanded, repeating the question that he last been addressed to Silverfox.

'W-who?' Darian gasped out.

'Where is she?!' The servant shouted desperately, almost as if he hadn't heard Darian's response.

'I-I don't know …'

'WHERE IS SHE?!'

'I don't know!'

The pain intensified and Darian felt tears trickling down his face, mingling with the blood that was already there. Through the Healing side of his magic he felt his nervous system shutting down and his heart slowing as the servant's magic cut into his soul.

When the servant asked his question this time, Darian was already welcoming the release from pain that death would bring.

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Uh oh! Things don't look very good for Darian do they? Or Silverfox for that matter! I hope that was a bit more action-based and I'm sorry for the nasty cliffy! It had to be done!!

As for whether Darian will survive … well, I killed Kris, didn't I? : )

Anyway, onto the thankyou's:

lauracanski: hey – welcome back! I didn't think you were reading this anymore : )

Alarivana: you noticed the change in length huh? I wasn't happy with the length of some of the middle chapters so I've decided to try and do 7 page chapters. It's easier than I thought – some of this story just seems to want to tell itself ; )

PrettyKittyOreo: hehe – sorry about the mix up with the chappies but still, I nice to have such prompt reviews! Oh and if your school is over does that mean you're in yr 13 or something?

Lizai: I'm not surprised you didn't like the chapter seeing as it was the same as the first one! Sorry about that! Fair enough about the discussion – I hope this was a little more up your street seeing as something actually HAPPENED.

etcetera-cat: thanks for letting me know about the chappie problem! –blushes- it was sooo embarrassing! Oh and thanks for defending my dialogue-heavy story … I was starting to get a bit worried. And Alberich's birth – snicker – damn, I'll have to correct that!!

Owl: can I ask what it was about the first chappie that put you off? I'm curious because I want to try and make it more interesting to new readers. Oh and thanks for the tips about some of the other stuff I wrote! The best reviews are the ones that point out mistakes ; ) I'm glad you liked Alberich – he was actually really hard to write for and I was worried that he ended up sounding like Yoda! About Firesong and Silverfox … well, they have some interaction in this chappie but because their relationship isn't key to the story I can't promise there will be a lot more in the future. But I'm sure I can put in some small scenes – they're two of my fav characters.

Pyrinsomniac: I have to keep you wanting more otherwise you won't come back!!

faeborn2930: does this chappie contain enough advancing? I was worried that the story was getting too dialogue based so I spiced things up a bit with a good old battle!

Hildi-chan: I'm glad you like the length! It's something new I'm trying out – this chappie is about the same length – and I think I like it, so expect long chappies to become the norm!

Aeriel Ravenna: Thanks for the pointers – I honestly like getting criticism because I know from personal experience how annoying it is when people get fanfic facts wrong. So please, nit-pick away! It only helps me and you're so polite about it that I'll never get angry : ) : )

Next time on 'After the Storm'

- Find out what happens to Darian and Silverfox

- Kero and Skif meet with Lord Drevin and discover some interesting facts

- Lyra sleeps some more : )

As always, please read, enjoy and review!