PILLARS OF FLAME

Rating: PG
Genre: action, vague bit of detectoring
Setting: an island
Main Characters: Darc, Kharg, Lilia, Samson

Note from the authoress: I know that Samson has died. But I love him so much so I performed ritual and brought him back from the dead. Just so he could join the others in this story

Part 2

Kharg and Darc ran to the inn, determined to prove to themselves that Lilia had gone back there the night before. But to no avail. The inn had no one besides a man, a relation of the woman who generally ran the inn, he was there while the owner was away visiting a sick relative in Cathena. He assured the brothers that Lilia had not returned the previous night. Darc sat down heavily on a nearby chair.

"Dammit! This is all your fault Kharg!" he growled angrily. Kharg turned on Darc

"My fault! How can it be my fault!" Darc glared at Kharg before replying, in an incredibly sarcastic tone, with the words Kharg had uttered the night before

"Its not like much can happen to her in the middle of town" Kharg shook with anger at Darc's imitation.

"Perhaps you should have taken it upon yourself to follow her, since you obviously don't trust me. This is as much your fault as it is mine" the door slammed shut behind them, suddenly, causing the brothers to jump. As one, they both turned to face the door. Standing in front, half in shadow, half in light, was Samson, a grave look on his face, and a frustration glowing in his eyes. He spoke to the brothers, slowly and softly.

"Listen, you can stand here arguing about who's fault it is that my daughter has disappeared, or you can help me track her down! Which will it be" feeling guilty Kharg and Darc glanced at each other before answering at the same time, assuring Samson that they would assist him in finding Lilia.

Ten minutes later Kharg and Darc were walking the town, asking all those who had attended the party the night before if they had seen Lilia the night before. But nobody in Yewbell had seen her. Within an hour they both collapsed at the inn, having spoken to everyone and found no trace of Lilia. Samson joined them soon after, anxious for any leads they might have found. They shook there heads at his questioning look, and told him that they had found out nothing from their search. Samson paced around in front of them.

"She can't have just vanished! Somebody must have seen her! Did she say anything before she left last night?"

Kharg shook his head softly, but Darc sat up, suddenly alert.

"She said she was meeting a friend at the inn." the other two looked at Darc, before turning their gaze slowly to the inns welcoming front.

"He said she hadn't returned there."

"But her friend may have shown up. We should ask." the three entered the inn, for the second time that day. Kharg approached the man behind the counter.

"Did anyone else enter the inn last night?" The man gazed at them for a few moments before shaking his head.

"no, nobody came here last night" Kharg thanked him and turned around, about to say something, when he noticed the look on Darc's face. Darc's eyes were narrowed, and he glared at the man for a moment, before muttering, just loud enough for Kharg to hear

"He's lying." Kharg shook his head hopelessly, dragging his brother out of the inn.

"You just don't trust anyone." He said, wearily. Darc focused his attention on his brother

"I mean it. He was lying, I'm willing to bet anything." Kharg shook his head.

"Ok, so suppose he was lying, what exactly does that prove?"

"That someone did show up last night. We have to find out who, and where they are now!" Kharg gave a laugh

"And, pray tell, my naïve brother, how exactly do you plan on going about that. Whoever was there is long gone by now." Darc shook his head.

"I don't know, but somehow we have to find out!" Samson listened to all of this, a smile spreading over his face. He turned and walked back into the inn. The other two noticed him go, and stood to follow him. As they entered the inn they stopped in amazement. Samson held the man by his collar, and was holding the gun at his head. As they watched he hissed something in the mans ear. The man whimpered and then cried out

"Ok, I'll tell you all I know! Just don't shoot me!"

"Excellent" Samson drawled, lowering the man, but keeping his gun trained on him. The man was sobbing in fear as he started to talk.

"A woman came in around midnight, she said she was there to meet Lilia. I told her Lilia hadn't returned, and she got annoyed. She forced me not to tell anyone but Lilia that she had been here, before leaving. She said something about the forest past the ruins. I swear that's all I know!" The brothers exchanged glances.

"The forest?" questioned Kharg.

"Yes, she said that when Lilia returned to tell her that she was in the forest. Only Lilia never returned."

Darc grinned slightly.

"looks like we're heading to the forest then. Kharg nodded and the trio left the inn, walking across town to the ruins.

END OF PART 2