Kagami: thank you thank you thank you..

Feral: quintatangles somethings, :) Devius will be in the spotlight soon...hope you like what I got in store for him -grins- and yes I was a bit lazy and copied game script...I will try to do better :)

Shadow: the story is not quite over yet - winks- ;)

thank you all for the nice reviews

chapter 4

The giant airship lay on the ground in flames, dark clouds of thick smoke rose from the wreckage and filled the air with unbreathable, putrid fumes of burning chemicals. The red headed magician stood like a statue next to the wreck as he watched the man and woman walk away into the dry, dead green terrain. Upset that Stroud was not following his lead to return to the castle, he meditated for a moment about what was happening, and what may happen next.

"He is a young man following his lower instincts." Julius thought to himself. Julius could picture what was going to happen. Stroud would develop more feelings for that woman and become completely irrational.

"Perhaps I choose the wrong puppet to play with." He said under his breath as he smirked and then vanished.

A Walk in the Desert

"I don't know how you can wear that heavy coat in this heat." Isabella said to her traveling partner.

"Mavoles are creatures of the desert, you, I would think, should know that." Stroud replied. "The heat doesn't bother me, In fact the air feels rather pleasant compared to what I usually have to breath back home in the mountains.

"The same air that brought an end to your mother?" Isabella asked carefully. She knew it would upset him.

"Don't even go there." he said shaking his head.

"It bothers you, I mean, the thought of her demise still consumes you?" She said trailing along behind him as he walked a bit faster. Suddenly he stopped.

"What do you want from me?" He asked. "I don't understand why you are even following me now. Your little display out in the woods at Westlake was impressive but the game is over."

"I" She looked down as she struggled to find the right words. "I found you to be an interesting man, I just wanted to be your friend, I wanted to help you."

"Help me?" He chuckled. "Like how?"

"You are full of turmoil inside, I can help you sort it out, maybe help you find peace in your life." She said.

"I seriously doubt that." He replied but unsure of himself.

"I'm sorry your mother died, but...."

Stroud rolled his big grey eyes and turned away.

"What is it?" she asked.

Stroud slowly turned around and looked up at her with his head tilted. Examining her deep, blue, inquisitive eyes, he was trying to make a quick decision of whether or not she was worthy of the dark secret he carried. He remembered, from his brother and other tavern talk rumours that she was the infamous Mavole with a big mouth and didn't always have the ability to shut it. But. She was obviously a friend of Medusa's at one time so perhaps it would be safe to tell her the truth.

"Medusa is not dead...yet." Stroud said with a gleam in his eye waiting for her reaction, and expected her to not be able to understand.

Isabella gasped. "Your joking right?"

"Nooooo" he said. "What you don't believe me?"

"If she were alive wouldn't Count Lee have known? Why does he mourn for her if she is not dead? Why didn't he tell me, and WHY would he lie? Tell me that then if you are truth?" She said as her voice became more angry in tone.

"Silly girl, it doesn't take ingenuity to figure that one out" Stroud retorted.

"I don't understand" she said.

"I figured you wouldn't" he sighed as he looked up to the light above. "My mother is alive, safely hidden away, and well cared for, she will never be cured of her illness but at least she is where she wants to be and can fade away surrounded by those she wants to be with. And you would be wise to keep that knowledge to yourself." he said with his fingers on her chin. He lifted her head and looked into her eyes to be sure she understood him now. They began to walk again, side by side but slowly now. The sound of the gravel crumbled beneath their feet.

"Yes, I know, I see her?" she asked.

Stroud paused and thought about her request. "I guess....but she is not the same woman you knew of years ago"

"I was afraid of that, but, really, it's ok. It's just that it would mean a lot to me to see her again. So where is she?" Isabella pleaded with him.

"In Jadd, with my brother..." he said sadly, fearing he had said to much.

"So is that why you are going to Jadd?" she said trying to look up to him.

"I try to go there as much as I can, I left Gu..Devius in charge of our mother. It was for the best, and besides, he was, after all, her favourite. But sometimes I do feel guilty for not being there. I cannot do anything for her but at least I could be there to hold her when her time comes. I have affairs in the world that I cannot abandon and I fear if I spend to much time in Jadd, people will catch on. How wretched I am." He lamented.

Isabella grabbed his hand to stop him. "Now don't put yourself down like that! I cannot describe your mother's joy when you were born, she loved you, that I know. And I'm sure things would be so different if she could have been there for you and your fa...."

"Enough." He said stopping her. "I don't want to talk about this."

"Very well my lord" she said as she gently placed a hand on his arm.

Onward they traveled. They approached Menos village, Stroud recommended that they cut around and stay to the outskirts to avoid making a public appearance. As great a leader Stroud could be, he was not very fond of mingling with the common people. He could not go to any village without being followed by admirers, grateful citizens, respectable men. Little children would come from out of nowhere, sometimes handing him flowers or other trinkets. He prefer be left alone but he would bite his tongue and get through it.

As they got nearer to the prickly desert, the ground was becoming more sandy and harder to walk in. Stroud finally took his coat off, showing a neatly cut, military type suit of black and red underneath. They did not have to go very far through the desert before the yellow, rocky horizon gave way to a huge city clad with beautiful orange, pinks, tans and yellows. As they walked through the stone gateway, the city was alive with people going about their business. Lovely tapestries and rugs hung on walls and lay on the floors to give more softness to the already fine sandy ground. Isabella could not believe her eyes, it was incredible to finally see the great city that she had, only until now, seen in books. A drawing could no way capture the exquisite scenery of this oasis. Stroud nudged Isabella and told her to keep up.

"Look straight ahead and keep walking" he whispered.

Some townsfolk looked to the couple with a curious stare, but quickly returned to whatever they were doing. Suddenly a loud bell in the tower above chimed the hour. Isabella looked up at the enormous mansion.

"What sort of place is this?" she inquired.

"My brother's manor, he is the ruler of this town." Stroud responded, puzzled, he thought for sure she would have already known that.

She did know, but just wanted to make sure. She was nervous. Isabella was not really looking forward to seeing Devius again. She had met with him a few times before and had seen him here and there. He was indeed a powerful man and not to be trifled with. Isabella would have to be careful, and keep her wits about her.

Stroud led her up the front walkway of the manor, she looked up to see the huge front doors open. A maidservant greeted them.

"Welcome Dark Lord........."