A/N: hmm...how to do this...laughs. Don't worry I hope I'll never have one of those random endings again as in "Tower of the Stars". But for now, plowing forward! Don't mob me for not updating! I've had other writing related stuff to do, and it took away from my fanfic typing. Sorry, couldn't be helped.

Seeing the Face He Hated

Mirror had entered Ryan's room and he found her sitting in front of a lit fireplace, peacefully sleeping. He had checked her over and had found that her fever had faded. Thankful, he had carried her over to the bed and covered her. He prayed this would never happen again.

Sable had been overjoyed as well. He now stayed in the room with her, sitting by the fire reading.

Ryan had finally begun eating again and rapidly gained her health back. Within 2 days she was able to come down and meet their hosts.

(Time lapse)

This was the first time all of them had eaten together. Dalamar sat at the had of the table and his son, Dakar, on his right with Sable on his left. Mirror sat by Ryan who stayed at the other end of the table. She wore her hood and her heaviest cloak claiming that there was a chill.

They talked little at the beginning, as a matter of fact the whole meal was quiet and uneventful. Mirror was glad for that.. but then came a conversation (as the meal came to an end) that he had been dreading.

"We thank you for your hospitality Dalamar, but we must be on our way tonight." Ryan said softly.

Dalamar raised an eyebrow, "Have you not told her?" he asked Mirror questionably.

"I...no." he said honestly.

"Told me what?" she snapped, leaning forward in her seat that was much too big for her body.

"We can not leave...the dead..."

No one saw it but Ryan went pale, "The River of Souls.." she finished for him.

"How did you know?" Dalamar asked suspiciously.

"That is my concern." she said coldly, "But still, there must be a way to leave..Dakar can leave."

"Because my father gives me a lot of aid in the matter." Dakar said scathingly.

Ryan waved a careless hand at this, "Mirror, we can easily leave..can't we?"

"I'm sorry..but much of my power left with Paladine.." Mirror whispered shamefully.

This was the first time that Dalamar began to question who his quests where. If not out loud, then mentally. What kind of man was named Sable or Mirror? And what man had red eyes as Sable did? But he knew they wouldn't tell him, so he held off on his own questions... for now.

Sable raised an eyebrow, "I might be able to help..but not a lot. My power has been fading slowly over the years." he admitted.

Ryan sighed, frustrated. There had to be a way out of Nightlund! We could fly..she thought. But no, wouldn't have the "great" Dalamar thought of that? Underground? She quickly disposed of that option. The tower wasn't even on top of its original foundation so of course it wouldn't have tunnels anymore.

She glared at him, "We will not stay here!"

Dalamar stood, "Go ahead. Try to leave, but I will not help you when the dead gather about you to claim your magic..and snuff you out in the process."

She pouted a bit in her oversized chair and smiled, "Oh we will. We will leave this hell hole." she stood, "Come Sable..Mirror. We have work to do."

She glided from the room before either Sable or Mirror could stand. She quickly went up to her room and examined the books along the shelves. She ran a delicate finger along the bindings of the books until she found the one she wanted. She opened it and began to read.

Sable and Mirror had finally caught up and walked over to her, "A book? Ryan, not all the answers to your problems are in books." Mirror commented knowingly.

"Yes, but this book may be just what we need." she flipped past a few pages.

Sable bent down to see the cover of the book without moving it in her hands, "The Book of Magic Circles, Volume III." he read aloud, "I see." he said standing strait again.

Dakar walked in and heard the title, "That book wont help. I've already read it." he said smugly.

"You apparently absorbed very little from this book. It's a fountain of knowledge on how to get out of here. You just never read into it."

"What? How dare you.."

Sable growled, a guttural sound in his throat.

"I..." Dakar took a cautious step back.

"We will be leaving soon..with Ryan's help." Sable said confidently.

"I'll let ignorant dreamers dream." Dakar retorted wickedly and turned on his heel and left.

Sable was about to follow him, "No, we have much to do.. the half moon will rise in a few hours..it is required for this particular circle."

Mirror looked at the magic circle to which she was referring to. "Not a reliable circle.." Mirror read, "Has been known to be ineffective and sometimes dangerous or fatal to user when done incorrectly..." he paused, "Are you sure this is the one?"

She nodded vigorously, "Positive."

"How are you so sure?" Mirror asked suspiciously.

"I just do." she snapped impatiently.

"We must get to work quickly. The sooner we finish the better!" She quickly walked over to a side table and opened the drawer. She removed some calk, examined it for a moment and shoved it in her pocket. "To the basement!" she declared and headed for the door.

Dalamar suddenly filled the doorway. She looked as if he has been about to say something but her looked petrified now. She stared at Ryan, his eyes wide with recognition and fear.

"You...you...!" he stammered.

"Me?" she inquired calmly, innocently.

"You.. you're the reason of the dreams! I see now why you hide your face from me!" he spat, suddenly very menacing. He hunched over and crept toward her like a creature stalking its prey.

"I don't know what your talking about." mentally she was slapping herself for being so stupid. She should be wearing the hood at all times.

"You're much more beautiful than I thought you would be, being his spawn." he began to circle her, studying his opponent.

She avoided his gaze, shielding her eyes. Her eyes would be a dead give-away. "You flatter me!" she pretended to be embarrassed.

"You. You are the reason he has been haunting my dreams." Dalamar accused softly.

She slowly turned to look at Dalamar. There was no use in hiding anymore. She gave him her crooked smile.

"The smile of your Aunt." he mused, humored.

"What has he been telling you?"

"Who? The Master?"

"He's still considered the 'Master'?" she asked sweetly, she longed to know more about her supposed 'father'.

"He will always be the Master of the Past and the Present." he replied grimly, "I am nothing but an underling..even at my age and him being.. 'dead'. I still play as the slave.."

Ryan smiled, her 'father' was good..really good to still wield so much control over the living.

Dalamar shook his head, chasing the old memories away. "I am to help you now.. Milady." he bowed, which was more of a mock then real respect. He probably detested the thought of being someone else's underling or servant again.

"Does this mean we have to take you with?" she retorted in response to his mock bow.

"If you wish. It's not my choice to make, for you will be the one casting the spell not I." he continued smoothly, though he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Has been mage." Sable growled, "Unworthy Necromancer. That's all you are now. Go sleep with your dead. No one else wants you." He sneered.

"Enough!" Ryan interrupted before Dalamar could respond, "I have no time for this! We now have less time then we started with! Dalamar gather your things, I'll take you with..for now."

"You are too kind Milady." once again bowing with a grin.

She rolled her eyes, "Just hurry. I will not wait for you." she returned bluntly.

She left the room, her robes swishing along the floor. She quickly began her decent on the spiral staircase that led back to the basement. Sable immediately followed and Mirror, more slowly. Dalamar rushed from Ryan's room to prepare for his escape from the tower.

He sneered as he walked. She was nothing more then a child still. Young compared to him. She didn't even know him very well. He would leave the first chance he got. Maybe kill the spawn before abandoning her 'friends'. He would finally be free!

He entered his room and began to rummage through his things. He wouldn't even bother going to his old Shalifi's laboratory, even though it held the most valuable things in the tower, he couldn't enter. The guardian would kill him if he tried. He began to shove things aside, unable to find what he was searching for on his cluttered desk. A thick volume fell from the table and hit the floor with a thud. Sighing he bent to pick it up.

As his fingers closed around the book, he realized that there was someone standing before him in black robes. He didn't stand up but looked up from his vulnerable position.

"Shalifi!" he gasped, "Bu..but..I'm not..sleeping!" he stammered.

"So, she's a spawn is she?" the robed figure droned in a casual voice.

"I..I d..did not mean it Master.." Dalamar was standing strait again and holding the book like a shield.

"You meant every word. I thought you learned never to lie to me." he nodded to Dalamar's chest.

Dalamar gasped as pain rushed through the muscles in his chest. He coughed and staggered back, reaching for the support of his chair.

"She's the one Dalamar. She will end this all..if you help her. I know she is young, as young as I was, but he posses power that you can only dream of now."

"You..you are sure?"

"You fool! Have I ever not been sure about anything!" the robed figure raged. He then took a deep breath and calmed, "I have thought this over very thoroughly. I am absolutely positive. She is quite capable of the task at hand."

"To fight an army? Has being dead clouded your senses?" Dalamar hissed, doubt coating his voice.

"She will not be fighting the army.."

"Oh..well then.."

"She will be fighting a Queen!"

Dalamar went pale. "No!" he whispered hoarsely.

"You have your orders, student."

"I am not your student anymore!" Dalamar spat.

"You will always be the student...always...inferior..." his voice trailed off as the image faded.

In his frustration Dalamar hurled the book at where the robed figure had been standing. Leaning on the desk, recovering from the pain he muttered reluctantly, "Yes Shalifi..I will obey..your commands."