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: Well, first of all an apology. I'm normally pretty good about updating once a week – but I know this one has been a really long time in coming. In my defence, I've been sitting my A Levels (which for all you non-English people out there are the exams you take in your final year of high school, before uni) and because I'm insane, I'm doing 5 subjects … so – 11 exams! The last few weeks have been really hard work and I did try to keep up with my writing … but as you can tell, I fell behind.

Anyway, to cut a long story short – my exams have finished! Hooray!! So all my time is now gonna be spent writing – double hooray!! So there shouldn't be anymore posting problems!!

On another related note, I am finally the proud owner of the Mage Storms trilogy – and that's why there's a bit of An'desha and Karal in this chappie – because after reading the books I think I understand their characters a bit more.

Thankyous are at the bottom of the chappie and this chapter is dedicated to Shadowfax as a welcome back after a long absence! Hope you enjoy

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After the Storm

By: JoeyStar

Timeframe: Set a year or so after Owlknight

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(Palace – Council Chambers)

'Lord Orthallen … it doesn't make any sense.'

Skif's comment and the absolute incredulity in his tone brought a humourless smile to Elspeth's face. Her fellow Herald had returned from his trip into Haven in the early hours of the morning and after being closeted with Kero for a time, he had joined them in the council chambers for an early morning meeting. No one had been particularly interested in sleeping considering they were finally so close to finding out the truth.

Disregarding the tension between her and Darkwind the previous night, she had quietly gotten dressed alongside him that morning and stationed herself by their suite entrance so that when he made to leave, she followed him out. He had raised no further objections; he had even shyly taken her hand but she knew that things were still not settled between them, despite the baby's intervention. And nothing would be settled between them until she found out who had ordered the murder of her brother and sister.

They were so close now that Elspeth could almost feel it. There was a burning desire for revenge inside of her that would have been all-consuming had it not been for the comforting presence of Gwena. Even Darkwind, for all that she loved him, failed to understand the extent of her hatred towards whoever had done this. He understood revenge – certainly he must have struggled with his own emotions after finding out that Falconsbane had perverted his father for so long – but what he didn't understand was that she needed to confront her revenge herself. She wasn't at risk of her emotions overruling her common sense, which was what Darkwind was afraid of, because she had Gwena there to steady her. And besides, Elspeth had read the records of the last Herald-Mages. She knew about Tylendel and she wasn't about to make the same foolish mistakes that he had.

'We shouldn't be so surprised. Othrallen poisoned everything in life,' she said with black humour. "It stands to reason he would be able to reach out from beyond the grave and orchestrate this as well.'

'But …' Skif trailed off, struggling with his words. 'He's dead!' he finally blurted out.

'So was Ma'ar. For a thousand years. That didn't stop him,' Firesong commented languidly.

Kero shook her head at his flippant words. 'But Falconsbreath was a mage. Orthallen was just a normal man.' She considered her words. 'Well, an arrogant, disgusting snake of a man – but still just a man.'

'Which means …?' Skif enquired with one eyebrow raised.

Kero rolled her eyes. 'Which means there is no possible way that he could have had anything to do with this! This – this Ventar, he must be lying.'

Eldan immediately shook his head, smiling apologetically at his partner when Kero shot him an irritated glance. 'I'm sorry Kero, but he spoke the truth. The Truth Spell confirmed it.'

'But that's an inexact magic –'

'It's still magic enough to prove that he was telling the truth,' Eldan said decisively. 'And Ventar was speaking the truth.'

'But there is no possible way that Orthallen could have done this.' Kero met the gazes of the other people at the table. 'Is there?'

Talia and Eldan shook their heads firmly. Skif was still looking amazed at the revelation and Elspeth was studying the tabletop with unrealistic intensity. Of the Alliance members, Firesong was leaning back in his chair and Silverfox had also rejected Kero's statement with a shake of his head. Darkwind however, was looking faintly thoughtful.

'What?' Kero asked impatiently, sensing the silver-haired mage had more to say.

Darkwind looked up, startled to find that he was the centre of attention. He cleared his throat and glanced at Elspeth before answering Kero's sharp question.

'I have heard that this Orthallen was assuredly no mage,' Darkwind ventured, speaking carefully. 'Yet perhaps he had more mundane means.'

'What are you getting at?'

Elspeth removed her eyes from the tabletop and looked at her lover with understanding in her eyes. She answered Kero's question before he could. 'Loyalty,' she said with a finality that brought the hint of a smile to Darkwind's face.

'Yes ke'chara,' he agreed, reaching out to take her hands in his. Elspeth was slightly surprised but accepted his tentative touch with a brief caress of her own, twining her fingers around his. It was the first intimate contact they had had since their troubles had started days before and though it was small, it was a step in the right direction and the darkness in Elspeth's heart receded a little.

'Loyalty?' Kero didn't seem to have followed Darkwind's thoughts as Elspeth had done.

'Loyalty – of course!' Firesong had no such problems. He inclined his head towards the older Tayledras. 'I bow down to your intelligence, oh great one.'

Darkwind pushed his silver hair back and scratched his temple with one hand, affecting a weary expression that made his friend's laugh. Elspeth, on the other hand, felt her jaw tightening at such a light-hearted display. Had everyone else forgotten what had happened?

:Of course not, dearheart,: Gwena told her, sounding far older than Elspeth knew she was. :But everyone deals with grief in different ways. And you are so close to the end of all this now.:

:Is that an example of Companion foresight?: she returned, feeling disgruntled that Gwena had invaded her thoughts so easily.

Gwena snorted. :If we told you Heralds all our secrets then are air of mystery would be destroyed.:

'Is someone going to tell me what you're all talking about?' Kero demanded, her hands balling into fists.

Firesong decided to put her out of her misery. 'What Darkwind and Elspeth are saying, in a rather oblique way, is that if this Lord Orthallen was such a magnanimous person then surely he could have inspired intense confidence in an employee.' He sat forward in his chair as Kero listened, rapt. 'Such loyalty as a master might inspire in a servant.'

'So much so that the servant would carry out the master's will after his death?' Skif was sceptical. He flopped back in his chair, cocking one leg up over the arm. 'Isn't that reaching a little far?'

'Perhaps,' Talia interjected thoughtfully, 'but Rolan believes it would be worth asking Ventar about it.'

'Ratha thinks so too,' Eldan put in.

Kero looked reluctant. 'I'd disagree with you but Savyel is chewing my ear off and you haven't been shouted out until you've got an irritable Companion sitting in your mind.'

All the Heralds around the table grinned and even Firesong and Darkwind could empathise, considering their own respective bondbirds. Only Silverfox was not in the possession of such closeness with another entity but he just smiled tolerantly.

'And Cymry and Gwena agree as well,' Elspeth said quickly, almost eagerly, having received a nod from Skif. 'Which means that we must question this … this Ventar again.'

'Elspeth …' Darkwind began, fingers tightening around hers.

She shot him a tight, little smile and slid her hand out from underneath his. 'Kero?' she said, ignoring her partner's silent protests.

The older woman stood up abruptly, pushing her chair back with a painful disregard for the carefully polished floor. 'No time like the present.'

Eldan stood as well, preparing to leave. 'I'll go and speak to Selenay. I know she's anxious to hear what's happening.'

Elspeth smiled at him gratefully as he drew level with her. 'Thanks Eldan. I'd speak to Mother myself but …'

He squeezed her shoulder comfortingly before leaving the room and shutting the door quietly behind him.

Kero braced herself on the table. 'What about the rest of you?'

Firesong held up a hand. 'I wish to talk to An'desha about this man's lack of magic. Perhaps this is something that Ma'ar came across in his time.'

'Good idea ash'ke; I will come with you.' Silverfox rose with the mage and after bidding their respective goodbyes, they both swept from the room.

'Come on then.' Kero grabbed a disgruntled Skif by one arm and hauled him up out of his chair. 'Time to introduce you to our resident guest.'

'I spent all last night reading about him!' Skif complained. 'I think I know enough.'

'So you don't want to come?'

'I didn't say that.' He followed Kero and Talia towards the room's entrance. 'But do you know how many people have reported that they've had their chickens stolen?'

'I thought you would have accounted for half that figure by yourself,' Talia quipped.

Skif's reply was just audible and he sounded insulted. 'I never stooped to stealing lifestock.' His companion's laughter rang out and then they were gone, disappearing out into the corridor beyond the council chambers.

Which left Elspeth and Darkwind sitting at the table; the latter looking concerned and trying to hide it and the former purposefully not meeting his gaze.

'I should join them,' the Hawkbrother said at length. 'They will need someone to lower the magical guards on the cell.'

'We should join them,' Elspeth corrected levelly, easing her chair back from the table in preparation of standing. 'Either one of us can lower that barrier. Firesong said it was like the Heartstone, keyed to all three of us.'

'Elspeth –'

'No.' She slammed her hand down on the table, making them both jump. 'Don't start this with me Darkwind. You're not going to stop me this time.'

'I'm just trying to – '

' – protect me, yes, I know,' she sighed with exasperation and not a little anger. 'Darkwind, I'm a Herald Mage. I don't need your protection and I never have.'

'Elspeth, things have changed now,' he protested, golden skin flushed. 'You're pregnant!'

'Oh really? I hadn't noticed,' she snapped sarcastically. 'Now where did this bloody bump come from?' She jabbed down at her swollen stomach and Darkwind flinched at the anger in her tone. 'I'm pregnant Darkwind, not stupid. And I want to see the man who murdered my brother!'

He looked upset and ran a hand through his long hair while he fought to control his emotions. 'I can understand that Elspeth but I'm can't help worrying about you. I don't want to loose you to this – to this … this anger that you are feeling.'

Oh why didn't he understand that this was something she had to do? Suddenly weary of all the arguing, Elspeth tried to stand up but found that she did so too quickly and overbalanced. Before she could fall into the table, Darkwind was there, his strong arms turning her so that she stood safely in his grip. Looking up into his pale blue eyes and strong, handsome face, guilt flooded Elspeth at the way she had been treating him.

No – I have to do this! I have to get down into that cell ... I have to convince him! 'Darkwind,' she whispered persuasively, 'when … when Falconsbane did – well, when he hurt your father … didn't you pray for the chance to face him? Just once? To see who could do that to someone you love?'

His gaze darkened and Elspeth knew he was remembering the turbulent times in which they had met. He had been so proud then and in so much pain that it was a miracle that he had ever let her close. She could see that pain awakened anew in his eyes now and hated that she had caused it. But that was the price she had to pay if she was ever to get down into Ventar's cell.

'Of course,' he returned finally. 'I don't think I've ever hated someone so much. I've certainly never wanted to hurt someone as much as I wanted to hurt Falconsbane.'

'Then you do understand. Deep inside. You do understand that this is something that I have to do.' She looked up at him pleadingly, leaning into his embrace and hoping he wouldn't see through her desperate ploy. 'I hate this fighting Darkwind. I hate that my words and actions upset you. I love you ke'chara … but I must do this. I must.'

'I know,' he murmured, head bowed so that his long hair tickled her face. 'I've known all along, I just – well … I wish I could take this from you. This pain; this hatred. I should be able to … but I can't.'

'There are some things that I must with deal with on my own,' Elspeth told him seriously, feeling disgusted with herself that she had manipulated him so easily. If he ever found out ... she quickly excused her actions by promising that she would only be so deceptive for a little longer.

Now steady on her feet, she stepped away from him, expecting him to follow. When he didn't, but remained standing by her chair instead, she turned back and took his hand firmly in hers, smiling encouragingly. 'But that doesn't not mean I cannot have someone standing beside me.'

His answering smile was so warm that she thought she was going to be sick with guilt as they left the room together.

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(Companion's Field – Firesong's ekele)

'So then I asked Natoli if she thought the theorem would work properly, if applied in a more practical sense and she said she wasn't sure but it would certainly be worthy of a trial. So we're going to get up early tomorrow and –'

'An'desha?'

Karal broke off his narrative, head turning towards the sound of the voice. Though he couldn't see who it was, he recognised the voice was that of Firesong and couldn't help wondering why the mage was here, in the garden, when he was supposed to be in an important meeting.

He and An'desha were in the garden of what had once been Firesong's miniature-vale. It was located in the corner of Companion's Field and, as far as Karal knew, had been constructed some time before he had originally come to Haven, back before the Mage Storms, when he had been nothing but a lowly secretary.

During the time that Firesong had spent back in the Tayledras Vales, tutoring his new student Darian, he had left the ekele in An'desha and Karal's care. It had remained empty during the time An'desha had spent with the Shin'a'in, training to be a Sharman but when the mage had returned to Haven, he had taken up residence once again. Thus whenever Karal and his friend met socially, they usually chose the beautiful gardens of the tiny vale. It was a place that Karal remembered well from his time with sight and it was also the place that he felt at his most peaceful. Even now, being one of the only Karsites in a country that held an almost innate racial hatred of anything Karse, was difficult and he would often come here, with or without An'desha, to relax.

Beside him, Altra yawned and stretched. Once his eyes were open and Karal consciously made a connection between them, he could see Firesong approaching through the Firecat's eyes, Silverfox trailing after him. Karal could also see An'desha, who had picked himself up off the ground at the Healing Adept's call and settled next to Karal on the bench.

'I should very much like to come with you to meet Natoli tomorrow,' An'desha told him quickly, as their visitors neared. 'Perhaps you can tell me more about it later today.'

'Of course,' Karal promised easily, turning his sightless eyes to where Firesong had halted before them and giving the Healing Adept the uncanny impression that Karal was looking directly at him. However, in reality, his gaze was a great deal lower, directed out of Altra's eyes. Because while the Firecat was the size of a small mastiff, he was no match for a human.

'Can I help you Firesong?' An'desha asked politely, squinting up at the mage.

'Your errand must be important,' Karal observed, 'you were almost running.'

Firesong fixed him with a disapproving look. 'For one who is blind you see far too much Karal.'

Karal shrugged. 'There have to be some compensations.' When the Firecat hissed he reached down hurriedly and scratched the top of Altra's head. 'Aside from Altra of course.'

'Were you not supposed to be meeting with Kerowyn?' An'desha asked and Karal recognised the diplomatic tone behind his question.

'We have met with her already,' the Healing Adept dismissed the conversation with a wave of his hand. 'Actually, it is you that I wished to speak to.' He was looking at An'desha.

The An'desha that Karal had first met would have gone with Firesong without question but now the half-Shin'a'in frowned slightly. 'Karal and I were talking Firesong and –'

Luckily, Silverfox stepped forward and forestalled an impatient outburst from his lover. 'Please An'desha, this is important and we will not take a great deal of your time.'

An'desha chewed on his bottom lip and then rose. He stepped out of Altra's vision and then Karal felt a hand touch his shoulder. 'Karal … would you mind?'

The Karsite directed a smile towards where he thought An'desha was. 'Go on. Natoli's expecting me anyway. I'll ask her about tomorrow.'

'Thanks Karal.'

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An'desha struggled to keep pace with Firesong as they left the ekele behind and began walking back towards the palace. His friend obviously had something important on his mind but An'desha couldn't begin to guess what that was and Silverfox was giving him no clues, simply sweeping along on his lover's wake without comment.

When they had reached the edge of the field; the Companions having ignored them as usual, An'desha pulled up short, gasping for breath in a very inelegant way and resisted the urge to lean against the nearby gatepost.

'Firesong,' he puffed, 'will you please tell me what this is all about?'

The Healing Adept faltered and then turned back to find An'desha staring enquiringly at him and Silverfox watching them both silently. Firesong was frowning thoughtfully, white eyebrows furrowed over the half-mask that he wore. He had evidently been so deep in thought that he had failed to notice what effect his rapid progress across the field had had on his companions.

'Ke'chara, will you not just tell An'desha?' Silverfox prompted gently, 'before you tie yourself in any more knots?'

Firesong blinked at Silverfox's words and then look speculatively at An'desha. Silverfox cast around for an appropriate place to sit and his eyes lightened on a low bench a couple of feet away. He led them over and Firesong waited until they were all settled before speaking again.

'An'desha,' he began, sounding tentative. 'You know I hesitate to ask you this but …'

'You want to know something about Ma'ar, don't you?'

Firesong looked affronted. 'How did you know that?'

An'desha smiled. 'You always get this peculiar look upon your face when you wish to know about Ma'ar. Your curiosity begs for you to ask but your compassion does not want to hurt me.' He laid a gentle hand on Firesong's shoulder. 'I have changed much, my friend. I am no longer so easily hurt. You have only to ask and I will tell you what I can.'

Silverfox laughed behind his dark hair. 'He has you there ke'chara.'

Firesong pulled a face. 'And here I was trying to be sensitive …'

He affected such a wounded expression that An'desha joined Silverfox in laughter. 'Hush peacock,' the kestra'chern said fondly, 'and put An'desha out of his misery.'

Firesong cleared his throat. 'During our questioning of this Ventar creature – that is to say the servant who murdered Prince Kris – we discovered something that … well, something that is unheard of. I would not have believed it myself had I not witnessed it with my own eyes.'

'Are you being purposefully cryptic Firesong?' An'desha light tone hid the very real exasperation he was feeling in the face of the Tayledras's pontificating. It seemed that despite the years that had passed and everything that had happened, Firesong had – and probably always would have – a whimsical, teasing nature that constantly irked his friends. Though he had certainly mellowed after the events that had scarred his face so, An'desha wondered how Silverfox had coped with partnering the Healing Adept for so long. When he and Firesong had been together, several years ago now, their relationship had certainly been marred by Firesong's complicated personality and needs. And of course by the fact that they had been woefully unsuited for one another – unlike Firesong and Silverfox appeared to be. An'desha wished them all the luck in the world; in fact, he envied them for the closeness they shared. Since Firesong, An'desha had been enjoying his independence but that didn't stop him from getting lonely sometimes.

''You're right; I am being purposefully cryptic and for that I apologise,' Firesong said honestly. He ran a hand through his long loose hair, unconsciously fluffing it. 'The plain fact of the matter is that I am … I am baffled by what happened to Ventar. You know that he is supposed to be a mage?'

An'desha nodded.

Firesong threw his hands up in the air. 'Apparently, not any more.'

'I don't understand.' An'desha stared at Firesong in confusion. 'What do you mean?'

'Ventar is a man who does not possess any magic,' Silverfox answered for the mage.

An'desha blinked. 'He is not an Adept?'

'He is not even an Apprentice,' Firesong told the Shin'a'in bluntly.

An'desha shook his head in bewilderment. 'But he used magic! He attacked Darkwind and Elspeth with magic! He killed with magic!' When neither Silverfox nor Firesong were forthcoming with any further information, An'desha narrowed his eyes. 'I do not understand this.'

'Then you are not alone. And it is about this very subject that I wish to ask you.' Firesong rose from the bench and began pacing, his robes flapping around his. After completing his miniature circuit a couple of times he paused and spun back around to face An'desha.

'Is it possible to remove a magical gift from someone?'

An'desha first instinct was to say 'no.' To reject Firesong's incredible question with an disbelieving laugh and a shake of his head. He had never heard a more laughable statement in all his years as a mage and he wanted nothing more than to disregard the Hawkbrother's words. But then he found himself searching his memories as Firesong had obviously wanted him to do – and not just those belonging to him, An'desha, but those that stretched back thousands of years. Those that belonged to Ma'ar.

As Firesong and Silverfox waited, the former shifting restlessly and the latter sitting patiently, An'desha sifted through those memories, trying his best not to cringe at the horrific nature of many of Ma'ar's.

Then suddenly, his eyes snapped open and he realised he had found Firesong's answer.

'No,' he said with certainty.

Firesong looked stricken, as if An'desha had been his last hope and even the normally placid Silverfox couldn't hide his surprise.

Before either of them could speak, An'desha rose and faced them. 'But I can explain your problem. Because while it is impossible to remove a gift that someone already possesses, it is quite conceivable to attach your gift to another person and use them much as a Channel is used.'

'Do you mean …?'

An'desha nodded seriously at Firesong's dumbfounded expression. 'In my opinion, and from Ma'ar's experiences, it's likely that your man's Mage Gift belonged to someone else.'

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(Palace – Secure Room)

Elspeth kept a firm grip on Darkwind's arm as he helped her down the stairs towards the room in which the servant, Ventar, awaited them. She was filled with a mixture of urgency and anticipation and although she had promised Gwena that she was well in control of her emotions, she could feel the Companion growing unsettled in the back of her mind.

Below them, Kero, Skif and Talia stood in a circle in front of a strong, iron door and as they reached the bottom of the steps and made to join them, Talia withdrew a large key from the pocket of her Whites and looked across at Darkwind.

'Could you lift the wards?'

As Elspeth watched, Darkwind crossed to the door and pressed his hand against it. He muttered something underneath his breath and she felt the air shift around them as the magical wards around the cell were reduced to nothing. Only then did Talia turn the key in the lock and after dragging back a series of complicated bolts, the door swung slowly open.

And there he was. The man who had murdered her brother.

Somehow Elspeth had expected him to look more imposing. She remembered very little from her first unfortunate meeting with the servant; and that was locked away inside of her, in a place she was very unwilling to touch. But surely it hadn't been this broken shell of a man who had ripped her brother out of life and sent him to the Havens?

Anger kindled in Elspeth's soul as she glared at him. Gwena began voicing her unease but Elspeth let the words wash over her without them registering in her mind. There was no room in her thoughts for the Companion's concern.

Darkwind glanced back at her and she realised she had been standing in the door, staring hungrily at the man for some time while the others moved into the room. Feigning sudden weakness, she pressed a hand to her forehead.

'Elspeth?' Darkwind was by her side in an instant, his arm coming around her shoulders in an instinctive motion that she would have resented in the earlier stages of her pregnancy. Now, however, it was just a means to an end and she accepted his support gratefully and didn't protest when he led her over to the low, wooden bench that served as the cell's bed and sat her down.

She was a great deal closer to the man now. He was crouched in the corner by the end of the bench, his back to her, rocking slowly backwards and forwards. From his lips she could hear an incessant mumbling and had Elspeth been thinking rationally, she would have realised that this man had completely lost his mind.

Talia crouched down in front of the man while Skif and Kero flanked the doorway. Darkwind joined her on the bench and they watched as Talia pressed her hand against the man's forehead and flinched.

'Can you get anything out of him?' Kero asked upon seeing Talia's reaction.

The Queen's Own sat back on her heels. 'I can try,' she said finally, 'though we do not have Firesong here this time to keep him lucid.'

'Should we fetch a Healer down here?' Skif suggested but Talia shook her head. 'It was all Firesong could do to keep him sane yesterday. I asked him about it this morning and he said if he were to try again he could very well ruin the man completely.'

The look on Kero's face suggested this wouldn't be such a negative outcome and internally, Elspeth agreed with her.

'I will see what I can do,' Talia promised, turning her attention back to the man, who still had not ceased in his rocking and apparently had no idea that they were even there.

So this was the pathetic excuse for a human life that was the reason that Elspeth no longer had a brother. The anger inside her was growing; so too were Gwena's protests and with a decisive move, she slammed her barriers down and shut her Companion out.

'Ventar? Ventar, it's Talia. Do you remember me?'

Elspeth glanced up at Darkwind out of the corner of her eye but saw that he was still purely focused on the snake Ventar.

'Do you remember what you told us yesterday Ventar? About Lord Orthallen?'

Elspeth smiled as the man's back stiffened and his rocking slowed. Talia was upsetting him … he deserved to be worse than upset after everything he had put her and her family through.

'Orthallen,' Ventar agreed, the word coming out so quietly that Talia had to repeat it to the other occupants of the room.

'That's right, Orthallen. Can you tell me how Lord Orthallen gave you your orders?'

The man twisted, burying his face against the wall. Elspeth's fingers curled around the hilt of the throwing knives that were strapped into her wrist sheaths.

'Orthallen,' Ventar whimpered again.

Talia nodded encouragingly and repeated her question.

Elspeth felt her stomach becoming tight with fury as she surreptitiously loosened the straps of her throwing knives. How could Talia treat this – this perchi – so charitably?

'Orthallen,' Ventar said for a third time, his hands clawing at his own arms, leaving deep, red furrows.

Talia sighed and looked back over her shoulder at Kero. 'I'm sorry, but I think that's all –' she broke off abruptly and spun back around to face Ventar.

'What is it?' Kero demanded.

Talia held up a hand and leant in so that her ear was almost pressed against Ventar's lips. After a few moments in which everyone waited impatiently, Talia drew back looking grim but not a little satisfied.

'Letter,' she informed her audience. 'He keeps saying 'letter'.'

'A letter from Lord Orthallen?' Darkwind wondered aloud.

Talia nodded. 'I believe so.'

'Of course!' Kero turned to Skif. 'Go and search Ventar's rooms here at the palace. Gaytha will be able to tell you where they are. If you don't find anything there, then pay another visit to Lord Drevin and see if you can look in Ventar's old room.'

Skif saluted her. 'Aye Captain,' and before she could chastise him for his lack of manners, he had scampered out of the room.

'Is that everything you can get from him Talia?' Elspeth asked, her voice sounding oddly tense. Darkwind glanced over at her, a frown between his eyes, but she didn't notice.

'Yes,' the Queen's Own said decisively, her eyes fixed on Ventar with a mixture of disgust and pity. 'He is nothing more than a shell now.'

'Good.'

And before anyone could react physically, Elspeth drew her arm back, took aim at Ventar, and released one of her throwing knives with all the coolness of a professional assassin.

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Okay, before anyone gets upset, I know I promised angry Selenay but a couple of new plots ideas jumped into my head and Selenay got pushed back … anyway, she will definitely be making an appearance next chapter!!

On to the thankyou's:

Shadowfax: Welcome back!! Hope you enjoy the Owl trilogy – I think they're some of my favourite ML books, 'cos you get to see how characters like Firesong have matured. It's always fun to put Firesong in situations that he can't explain, because he's normally so cocky – so I'm glad you enjoyed that part : )

G. Zan: I wondered who was going to notice that my culprit is a dead guy – lol. By this time you should know how that is possible. Sorry about the lack of angry Selenay – that will come in the next chappie, I promise!

keepers for me: Wow – all 17 chapters at once? That must have finished you off!

Hildi-chan: I'm really happy you liked the Darkwind/Elspeth bit, because I didn't originally intend to write anything like that in the last chapter. But I realised that they hadn't been in the story much so far … so I thought I'd catch you up to what had been happening with them – and of course, the baby!

faeborn2930: It's was really hard to write Darkwind/Elspeth's relationship because I have no personal experience of how such loss can affect a relationship … so I'm very glad you thought it was okay : )

Konitsu: I could never hurt Silverfox – that's guys like the ultimate pacifist. It would just be too mean! Skif always gets the rubbish jobs – see what Kero's sent him to do in this chapter?

Lizai: Hope my story's still making sense ; ) You know, I'm still not sure what I'm gonna do with Lyra … maybe I should leave it up to you guys whether you want her to wake up or not. What do you think?

Breezefire: thanks for the correction on that typo – I always love getting constructive criticism! And as for mysterious servant guy … his story's just getting more and more complicated in every chapter …

etcetera-cat: ooh – embarrassing typos! Thanks for nit-picking – I've corrected them both now : ) You know, I worried that making Drevin's servant 'bad' would be too predictable – so I'm really relieved about what you said in your review! And I'm also glad you liked the twist – it was my favourite in the story so far because I hope it left everyone going: 'Orthallen? But he's dead!!'

Pyrinsomniac: well – almost sleeping Lyra and angry Selenay : ) next chappie I PROMISE!

Queen's Own: yup yup – Lyra … still sleeping. It's kind of an author's cop out because I don't really know what I want to do with her yet, but at the moment she doesn't really have anything to do with the plot so … she's just gonna sleep a little more.

Next Chappie:

- Lyra sleeps (no surprises there)

- ANGRY Selenay!!

- The conclusion of Elspeth's attack

- Skif's findings

As always, read, review and enjoy : )