Do not own Forgotten Realms... I think you all get the picture by now.

"They're all gone Lord."

Asgwrn ran a hand through his hair,

"Send out search parties. I want the horses found."

As the servant hurried away Asgwrn reread the note in his hand. The one that had been left on Yami's pillow.

Asgwrn,

I know where Dante is. My visions showed me where I can find him.

I have no doubt that you will discover what I have done soon after reading this note. This is for your own protection. I have never yet been defeated and magic does not affect me. You, however, are as vunerable to an enemy arrow, blade or spell as any other... I love you... I cannot lose you. I cannot see you hurt.

I will return as soon as I can with Dante. Please do not follow me.

Yami

The archmage swept into the keep and up the tower into his labouratory. There the lines were already forming on the parchment, becoming the map that would led him to Dante.

"Yami, Yami, Yami. Don't you know it'll take more than that to stop an archmage?"

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Yami slashed through the shield with Marwolaeth, the blade biting into the arm that held it. With one more strike the bandit lost his head and Yami moved on to her next target.

The katana kissed the last man's throat, opening up a bloody line. Yami watched impassively as he fell, then used his cloak to wipe the gore from Marwolaeth.

Her mind had been on other things and she had not seen the ambush. Kai had been scared off and had galloped off, back to Shadowblade Keep.

Seathing her katana she wondered what the bandits had been doing. They had set torches around a nearby cave mouth and their mage, who was now lying dead with the rest, had placed runes about the entrance.

Yami stepped through the ring of torches, her curiosity drawing her onwards.

All of a sudden something burst out of the cave, growling in fury. Yami leapt backwards, her cloak brushing against a rune, smudging one of the lines.

The equine creature snorted and burst through a now-visable barrier that shattered in its wake like glass. Yami sidestepped and hauled herself onto its back,reaching for a dagger on her belt. This was halted when the animal began to buck and Yami grabbed for its mane. When she saw that her fingers passed through the hair like smoke she held on with her knees instead.

The alabastar elf was jolted in this manner for many minutes before the creature tried and halted. Yami slid off its back and reached for a dagger just in case. The creature seemed more interested in a nearby stream, letting Yami take a closer look at it.

It looked like a horse, but could only be mistaken for one from a great distance. It was a flat grey colour and had six legs. Dark shadows that lay across its skin revealed its bones and the hooves, mane and tail faded off into tendrils of mist. It regarded her with it dull black eyes before it began to drink.

The Shadowblade sighed and resume her journey on foot.

About five mintues later she saw that she had a follower. The, for want of a better word, horse was following her. It stood there staring at her.

Yami ignored it and stared walking again.

Mistress...

The telepathic voice echoed through Yami's mind and she spun around, her hand all ready on Marwolaeth's hilt.

Mistress... where are you going?

The horse... was talking? There didn't appear to be any way to stop the horse from talking and since there was nothing she could do about it she mearly accepted the fact.

"To the mountains..."

I could get you there faster Mistress. By travelling on the Plane of Shadow.

"You would do that? Why?"

You stayed on my back... So now you are my Mistress.

"Are you sure? You should know that I'm going to rescue my son from an archdevil..."

And you can get there faster by riding on me Mistress.

"Then I'll have no more of this 'Mistress' talk. I am Yami... Yami Shadowblade."

And I am Rhuthr, an ecalypse of the Shadow Plane.