((as promised the next chapter))

The old women had led them to a small and dirty temple that was decorated with dragons all round the outside, the women didn't even glance at these paintings nor did Kye he went straight in behind the old women. Tris stopped and touched one of the paintings they looked so life like, tribal but life like. Snapping her attention back she ran into the temple and then had to stop again because it was so dark she could not see a thing. When her eyes had adjusted she could see a huge dragon statue by one wall, Kye was bowing to it, she looked round and saw people, acolytes, were in the temple, all of them stood round a pallet on the floor. Kye walked right up to them and they bowed to him, Tris stood where she could see but where she would be out of the way. Kye waved the people to stop bowing "What's wrong why have you asked for me"? he asked. As one the people parted to reveal the pallet on the floor, on it lay and man who was so old his skin was paper thin and so wrinkled he looked like on big crease. Kye said nothing his face set he knelt down next to the man. Placing a hand on his chest blue light flowed out of Kyes hand so bright that Tris had to shield her magical sight, something she had not had to do for a long time. Kye stopped the light and looked up and the people "There is not much time" he told them, then he looked to old man. "your time is near, that you know" he told the man. "Tell me, do you want to go on to and serve them in afterlife" he asked. The old man drew in a rattling breath "Yes, it is what I have always wanted" came the quiet answer.

As if that was a Que. all the people moved back and knelt in a circle round Kye and the man, they all linked hands watching intently. Kye sifted so he was sitting cross legged, his hands on the mans chest and his head bowed concentrating. The temple was quiet the loudest sound was the old mans breathing suddenly the man took in a deep breath and sighed. Then he was still, Kyes head came up so he was looking at the man a bright white light in his hands, hovered over the man. Suddenly a white mist appeared above the mans body it was an image of a man, Tris realised it was what the man had looked like when he was younger. The mist looked at Kye casting its light on them. "Thank you Avatar Kye, I have waited for the moment when I would get to see Our Lord for myself" it said before turning to the people "I go now to what we are trained for, I am not gone. I have merely passed and we will meet again" It told them. The people sighed or sniffed to what the apparition had said them. Kye had said nothing he was concentrating on his spell. Slowly the apparition started to fade until it was nothing. Kye sat straight the white light fading, the people hadn't moved they were watching Kye still waiting "Aliya, will be the next priest in charge" he said quietly to them. The acolytes smiled and stood breaking the circle and left went to the body of the old man.

Kye stood and walked to the door of the temple, speaking briefly to the old women, he bowed to the statue of the dragon and went outside he walked to sit on a fountain. Tris followed blinking in the sun shine, she became aware of how cold the temple had been. "What was that?, What did you do?, How did you do? What does avatar mean?, who were those people?" she asked her questions coming out in a stream. Kye smiled "Which one should I answer first?" he asked "So many questions?" Tris blushed "Sorry, its just I have never seen anything like that before it was amazing" she sat down on the edge of the fountain, she lent over the edge to get herself a drink, "I don't know what I can tell you, I will have to ask Niko, but I can tell you that I aided that mans spirit to pass on into another plane of being." He told her "Those people worship the dragon lords, they believe that when they die they will finally, go to the immortal realms to serve the dragons there" he told her. Tris laughed out loud "they believe in dragons" she giggled "That's silly" Kye raised an eyebrow "really why"? he asked quietly Tris caught his tone and stopped giggling "Well, because everyone knows that dragons aren't real, they are stories to scare and humour children" Kye looked at her, he temper rising, he knew he had to get her to stop before "He" heard. "Tris I am surprised at you, just because this everyone says that dragons aren't real doesn't mean it is true, I would of expected better from my......." Kye stopped paling he stood up "come on we must get back" he said abruptly Tris stood too, "your what" she shouted after him "What did you mean" but Kye didn't answer he walked away quickly.

Back in the town

The guards teemed round the fountain of joy putting up a tent, another body had been found, and this time in broad day light and even worse the body had been left in a public place. Priests moved people back from the area, all of them wanting to get a look. Rumours ran through the crowds about who was killed and if it was the ghost. Finally an official priest came out "It was an Entertainer" he spoke the word as if it were a swear word "She got herself killed by your so called ghost". The crowds murmur broke into a shouting roar as people demanded questions and answers but the priest just moved back inside and the guards stepped forward menacingly. Keth was walking past from he come into the crowd from a side street, "What's happened" he asked of the guards but they shoved him aside roughly and raised there clubs. Keth hurried on past for home, he would ask Yali she would know. As he reached home he was aware of how quiet it was, by his rooms normally Yali and her friends would be outside putting on there make up and getting ready, but there was nothing. He walked up the stairs and saw another of the entertainers one of Yali's friends he didn't know her except her name "Shas what's happened, where is everyone" Shas looked up with red rimmed eyes, "The ghost" she sobbed "Gods curse him, he killed her" Keth felt himself go cold, he forced out the words he didn't want the answer to "Killed who"

"Yali" came the sob, Shas ran back up the stairs and into her room, Keth walked up them numbly Yali, was dead he thoughts raced around suddenly he remembered the globe, he shut his door and sank down sobbing. Had it been a warning he hugged his knees tears streaming down his face. When he paused for breath he heard a soft keening coming from under the bed, he stumbled over to it, and looked underneath it. huddled in the corner was Kora. She was sobbing heartbroken asking for Yali. Keth got down and pulled her close to him hugging her, not saying a word, he didn't think he could right now, he hugged her and rocked her back and forth until her crying lessened "They shouted and said Mama was gone" Kora looked up at Keth her brown eyes big "Keth will you leave me too". She asked Keth hugged her to him even tighter, "No Kora I promise you, I don't know how I will do it, but I will make sure that we stay together". Kora put her arms around Keths neck and hugged him "Thank you Keth, I love you" she kissed his chest Keth couldn't answer, silent tears rolling down his face.

((A rather sad chapter I am afraid, please press that lovely lil button and tell me what you think))