Sister ShadowLife watched the entrance of the caverns and waited. She had witnessed the girl and her companions enter the dark place, and knew without a shadow of a doubt that they had walked straight into a trap laid by the Inner Sect. She was certain, however, that the followers of the Sect were intending to capture the girl alive for their own purposes. Of the warrior or the cultist, the priestess cared not if they survived. Once the Sect moved out from the caverns with the girl, she would follow them to the heart of their organisation and uncover the leaders behind this mysterious renegade sect.

A noise behind her caused her to turn. Sister Mortimia stepped out from the dimness of the gnarled trees. "The girl has entered the caverns?" she asked as she approached, her staff in her hands.

Sister Shadowlife nodded. "We will wait here until they emerge, and follow afterward." She frowned at the younger priestess. "Where is Sister Fallowmoon? I thought she was with you?"

"She is with the skeletons," replied Sister Mortimia, coming closer. Without warning, the priestess lifted her staff and hurled a hazy life-draining globe at Sister Shadowlife.

Tales of Sister Shadowlife's legendary feats were justified as the older priestess flung herself to one side to avoid being hit by the globe. However, as she attempted to pick herself up, the end of Sister Mortimia's staff cracked against the side of her head, sending her reeling to the ground again with her own staff flying off to one side. Dazed with blood streaking down her face, Sister Shadowlife looked up to see a gloating Sister Mortimia coming closer, her staff pointed at her like a spear.

"So ends the great Sister Shadowlife," mocked the younger priestess. "Krypta will reward the Inner Sect highly for this."

Sister Shadowlife shook her head. "You? Part of the Sect? You must be mad to think that Krypta approves of your acts of defilements."

Sister Mortimia snorted. "It is ignorant thinking like that which is why the Order of Krypta has not dominated Ardania as it should! Krypta has provided the means for Her power to reign supreme, and yet you, so-called follower of Krypta, refuse to even consider using it!" She held her staff with both hands as she prepared to cast her spell. "Consider this a favour from me, sister. Perhaps Krypta Herself will convince you when you meet Her face to face."

A rustle of dead leaves sounded from one side. "Sister Mortimia!" came the surprised call as Sister Fallowmoon stepped into view. "What are you-?"

A half-snarl on her lips, Sister Mortimia swung her staff towards newcomer. Before Sister Fallowmoon could even react, the surge of Kryptian magic filled the air as a semi-transparent, life-draining globe slammed into her. The priestess fell to her knees, mouth opened in a silent scream, as her life-force was drained from her body, dissipating into the globe around her.

Sister Mortimia turned to find Sister Shadowlife already on her feet. However, instead of running to retrieve her own staff, the priestess came at her, pummelling into younger priestess in an attempt to grab the staff away from her. The two priestesses struggled as each attempted to wrest control. Kryptian magic surged and disrupted as both priestesses called upon their powers, only to have it countered by the other.

For a while, it seemed that neither were gaining any advantage, and then Sister Shadowlife saw her opening. Sliding her hands along the staff upon Sister Mortimia's hands, she spoke the arcane verse to a simple spell. Sister Mortimia shrieked as she released the staff, her hands blistered and withering painfully.

"Consider this a favour returned, Sister Mortimia," growled Sister Shadowlife through gritted teeth as she swung the staff to crack against the younger priestesses's forehead. The Inner Sect priestess crumpled to the ground.

Sister ShadowLife went over to check on Sister Fallowmoon who was still groaning on the ground. The life draining spell had weakened her limbs and robbed her body of life-sustaining energy. Some days of rest and sustenance would see her recover, but for now, the priestess was in no condition to even stand.

If Mortimia was one of the Sect, then the Sect would know we are here, thought Sister Shadowlife. They might have known about us trailing them all along. She stared at the cavern entrance with growing apprehension. Krypta's blood, let it not be too late...

Tomas as silent as he observed the red robed priestess before him.

Aunt Daedra sniffed. "You are getting sloppy, Tomas. In the past, you wouldn't have caused such a commotion breaking into the Temple."

Tomas nodded towards an open-mouthed Kievan behind him. "I had someone else along."

Kievan finally found his tongue. "Someone else!?" he blurted. He pointed at Tomas. "You have to be joking - I have absolutely nothing to do with this man."

"If that is so, then you are to be killed," intoned one of the priestesses next to him.

Kievan blinked. "Pardon me - I meant that I had nothing to do with this man until I met him earlier this evening."

Tomas sighed. "Let the boy go, Daedra. He is too young to be mixed up in these matters."

Aunt Daedra considered the request before shaking her head. "I'm afraid I cannot. There is too much at stake, and the slightest error can ruin everything. You will both come with us to the Temple."

And so for the second time that night, Kievan found himself back in the Temple to Krypta. They had both been ushered into a small chamber at the heart of the Temple which consisted of a plain wooden table and four chairs. Reddish tapestries depicting aspects of Kryptian lore decorated the four bone-white walls of the room. Kievan had found (to his mounting despair) that none of the tapestries had any windows or openings behind them. The young thief fretted as he paced around the room like an caged varg.

"They're going to kill us," he said with conviction. "No one breaks into the Temple and leaves alive. At least no one, as far as I know, has tried to break into the Temple at all. I am such a fool to have dared to try. After they deposit our life-drained bodies outside the walls for everyone to see, then people will be able to forever say 'Poor sods. No one breaks into the Temple and leaves alive.'"

Tomas closed his eyes and sighed. In contrast to the young thief, he was seated on one of the chairs with his hands placed calmly on the table. "You worry too much for one so young, boy."

"Don't call me 'boy'," Kievan retorted. "And you place too much trust on that priestess for one so experienced."

"I know her," said Tomas. "I don't think she'll kill me."

"You!? What about me?"

Tomas regarded him critically and answered honestly, "I'm not sure."

"What!?" Before the young thief say anything else, the chamber door opened to admit the familiar figure of Aunt Daedra followed by another priestess. A death-like grip clutched at Kievan's heart as he regarded one who could only be the Convent Mother, one of the most powerful and dreaded priestesses among Krypta's followers. Kings and rulers have probably found themselves as tongue-tied as Kievan at that moment.

"Krypta's blessings, Convent Mother," greeted Tomas almost languidly. He did not stand.

Mother Darkfriend regarded him coolly with her piercing gaze. She briefly looked at Kievan (who had now, in addition to being struck dumb, turned several shades paler) before turning her stare back to Tomas again. "The years have not dulled your abilities, Tomas. Or your insolence."

Tomas smiled. "Some of us never change, do we?"

Mother Darkfriend narrowed her eyes. "No, we don't." She settled herself down on the chair opposite Tomas while Daedra stood just behind her. "Good to see you looking well."

"That's a surprise," said Tomas. "I believe that the last thing you said to me was that if I ever returned to the Temple, you'd animate my bones while I'm still alive and make them tear my own flesh off." Tomas pondered thoughtfully. "I wonder if that's really possible."

"Tomas!" cautioned Daedra. She was about to launch into a sharply worded reprimand when she was stopped by Mother Darkfriend's raised palm.

"That was then," said the Convent Mother. "And it was said mainly because you took Lydia away from us. How you came to win her heart from me, I'll never know, but I was certain that you would have eventually left her, broken and betrayed, and I could not allow that." She lowered her hand. "However, the years have shown that I can be mistaken. And that you can be.. loyal."

"I have always been loyal," replied Tomas. "Only never to you."

"That matters not," said Mother Darkfriend unperturbed. "You have demonstrated loyalty to those you care for. An interesting trait - for an assassin."

By now, Kievan had found his voice. He stared incredulously at Tomas. "You're.. you're the real Tomas the-" He buried his face in his hands in despair. "Oh dear."

Daedra looked at him quizzically, but said nothing.

"So what of it?" asked Tomas to Mother Darkfriend suspiciously, ignoring the young thief beside him.

The Convent Mother leaned back on her chair before she asked, "The Inner Sect. What do you know of them?"

"Enough to know that they want my daughter. And that they hired some rogues from Centuria to track her down and abduct her."

"But what of their ultimate purpose?"

It was Tomas's turn to lean back. "That," he said,"is unimportant to me. I don't care about your Order's internal squabbles or politics. All I want is to get Lydith away from them, and you, and all priestesses in general." He glanced sourly at Aunt Daedra. "Which I probably should have done in the first place."

"You might when you know what these so-called priestesses do," replied Daedra, her voice grim. "The Inner Sect is interested in expanding the power of Krypta to dominate all other religions. We think that they obtained their beliefs from the now-vanquished Lich Queen. Perhaps they, or at least their leaders, were even once followers of the Blighted One. But their idea of furthering the Order of Krypta involves locating women with special Krypta-given powers, whom they refer to as "daughters of Krypta". They believe Krypta favours these "daughters" and that they are to follow the same path which the Liche Queen took when she was once human." Daedra paused as Tomas took this all in.

Tomas drew a deep breath. "So you're telling me that they want to turn Lydith into one of these lich things? All the more I feel that I should take Lydith with me."

"Lydith is not here," revealed Mother Darkfriend. "She left the Temple earlier this evening."

"I know," said Tomas dryly. "I overheard a conversation between one of your priestesses and a lich in one of your rooms."

Mother Darkfriend looked up sharply. "Here? In the Temple?" She hissed to herself. "The Inner Sect is getting even bolder than ever."

"At least now we know how Lydith has been receiving those visions," said Daedra.

"Visions?" Tomas asked.

"The Inner Sect has been sending her visions over these past few months," said Daedra. "She believes that she is going off to rescue me."

"But if you knew about these visions, why did you let-" Then it all clicked together in Tomas's mind. He sprang up, and pointed an angry finger at Mother Darkfriend. "This is another of your twisted schemes, isn't it!? You're using Lydith as bait for the Inner Sect!"

Mother Darkfriend stared impassively back at Tomas. "The Inner Sect must be destroyed by any means necessary."

"And that's what Lydith, me and all of us are to you, isn't it?" snarled Tomas. "A 'means'. Well, you can exclude me and Lydith from your little crusade against this Inner Sect and their lich-making plans."

Not a muscle in Mother Darkfriend had stirred, but somehow she emanated displeasure. "I believe," she said finally. "That you will have some interest in seeing the Sect destroyed, Tomas."

"Yeah? Why?"

"Because of what they did to Lydia."