Elvengirl: I am so sorry for not updating when I said I would. Due to constant sidetracking and general procrastination, nothing really got updated except Rurouni Karel. However, due to some recent events on a forum I'm on, I have more ideas, and know where I can take this story. So yeah, I'll try to be a bit more regular on the updates from now on. Thank you all for being so patient.

The move to Valor came shortly after I recovered. I still had questions, but I never spoke of them to anyone, including Jaffar, who Master has placed in my care, despite the fact that Jaffar was more than capable of taking care of himself. I often wondered how a child of his age, was so skilled in the killing arts. What was his past?

The change of location was sudden and swift. Master simply transported us and everything there. We materialised in a large cavernous room. I glanced around. We were at the top of a large stairwell. It was dark down below, so I could not see where the stairs led, or ended. When I turned around, I saw a large arch, taller than I had ever seen before. It was also dark, and I couldn't see the other end, if it even had one. I walked up to it.

"This feeling...it's so familier...but I've never been...here before..." I mumbled, wandering closer to this great arch. Was this the Dragon's Gate Kishuna spoke of? I stretched my hand out toward the gate. I could almost feel vibrations and a powerful, yet familier, magic pulsing through my body.

"Ephidel, come here."

Master's voice penetrated my thoughts.

"Yes Master?" I turned away from the gate quickly and walked over.

"Go take these books down to the library. Jaffar, help him."

The move did not take long, as most of the books had alreaday been transported to the huge library. It was just a matter of shelving them now. There were books about magic of all types, the history of Elibe, and even storybooks meant for children. I never realised just how many books Master really owned. I decided that I should have to come back and look at them more closely. I looked over at Jaffar, who was clearly not as thrilled as I was at these discoveries. I smiled and went back to work.

We had been staying at the Dragon's Gate for not more than a week when Master announced that we were heading back to the mainland, Bern in particular. I was confused. Didn't we just leave Bern? Had Master forgotten something important? Confused as I was, I came obediantly and asked no questions.

When the spell subsided, and my head cleared I saw that we were in front of a large fortress, albiet not in the best shape. Vines crawled up the cracked walls. The roofs of various buildings had caved in. Windows were cracked, the glass on the ground, not bothered to be picked up. The air was cold, the sky dark. I drew my cloak around me and watched as Master went up to the front gate. He knocked three times and waited. Soon it was opened by and older man. From what I could see in darkness, he was either a brigand or fighter. His face was drawn out and he had a tired expression. He glanced wearily at my master.

"Are you Nergal?" he asked. His tone was that of a kinder man, one who clearly disliked what he was doing.

"Yes, I am. I believe that you were expecting me."

"Indeed. Follow me, please." The man turned and headed back into the fortress. We all followed, in single file. Master, Sonia and her child, Nino, Jaffar, and then me, bringing up the rear. I glanced around. The fortress was older than I had first thought. In fact, it was probably on the brink of collapsing. 'How can people live in such an unsafe place, such as this?' I thought.

"Ephidel hurry up!" Master snapped from down the hall.

"Ah...I'm sorry!" I jogged to catch up.

We were now in a large room, some sort of Great hall, I figured. There was a long table in the middle, with a man sitting at the far head. I gasped. It was the warrior I had spoken to when Master attacked Etruria. Brendan Reed. But what was he doing here? I watched as Brendan nodded and indicated that we sit down.

"So you are the man who sent this letter," Brendan began.

"I am," Master responded.

"What do you want then?"

"I require your assistance."

"In what way..."

"Assassinations, as well as audiences with the King."

"We can do the assassinations, providing they fall in our law, and I'm not to sure about the audience."

"Very well. I understand. Also, I bring a young assassin with me. This is Jaffar. I'm sure he will be very useful to you."

I gasped. I had no idea that master was planning this. I looked at Jaffar, who appeared unmoved. Was I to lose my only friend? I glanced around. No one noticed my outburst.

"Alright, he can join us. Now, you all must be tired. Feel free to rest here for the night. Dinner will be ready soon."

"Thank you," replied my Master.

"Jan will show you to your rooms." Brendan indicated the brigand who had led us here. Sonia smiled, almost seductively at Brendan, then got up from the table. I walked slowly behind everyone as we left, trying to settle everything in my head.A hand touched my shoulder. I jumped, and then turned around.

"We meet again, Ephidel."

"Indeed we do, Brendan Reed."

"Just Brendan will do. You really haven't changed much since that night, and that was several years ago." He smiled. I had no idea that he had remembered me.

"I..guess I haven't."

"You look very confused right now."

I nodded.

"I am. I don't know what to think right now."

"I understand. I'll try to help you, I promise."

"Thank you."

"You look tired. Go get some rest and we'll talk more later." Brendan led me to another part of the fortress, "This is your room. Now...get some sleep."

I smiled and entered the small room. Taking off my boots and cloak, I crawled into bed, not bothering to remove the rest of my clothes.

I awoke several hours earlie, only to find a strange woman looking down at me with a concerned look on her face. When I opened my eyes, she smiled.

"You've finally woken up. You must be hungry."

I nodded and sat up, glancing around as I did so. The room was a bit larger than I had first thought. There was a bookcase against the far wall with a small desk beside it. My bed was against another wall, this one with a window looking out onto a courtyard. I turned my attention to the woman. She was thin, homely-looking. Her face bore a tired expression, similar to that of the other man, yet different at the same time. Her eyes were a deep brown, and they bore constant concern. Her hair, brown as well, fell to between her shoulder-blades. It was faded. She wore simple peasent clothing, a homespun dress with a white apron. She looked over at smiled at me again. When she smiled, the exhaustion she bore seemed to disappear.

"Here," she said, handing ,e a bowl of stew, "It's not much, but it's still good."

"Thank you," I replied, taking the bowl. The stew was the best thing I'd had to eat in days and I ate it greatfully. It was gone in a matter of minutes.

"It was very good," I said after I finished.

"I'm glad you liked it. I'm Seren Reed, by the way."

"My name is Ephidel."

"Ephidel, that's a very elegant name."

I looked away, embarassed at the compliment. Seran smiled yet again and gave a little laugh. This caused me to smile as well.

"You look as old as Uhai, yet you act so much like a child. How are old are you?"

"I'm not...sure really..." I mumbled, "I haven't really been keeping track since master created me. I think it's been about eight years..."

"Created?"

"I'm not human," I admitted bluntly, somewhat annoyed, "I'm a morph."

"That's right. When Brendan spoke of you, he made you seem, not altogether human, but something entirely different."

I opened my mouth to say something, but Seran stopped me.

"I'm Brendan's wife."

I mentally berated myself for not catching onto the last names.

"So, how are you feeling now?"

"Much better than last night."

"That's good. Brendan was worried about you."

"He was?" I barely knew the man. Why would he be worried about me?

"Yes."

"Why?" I asked, confused. It made no sense, really.

"That I do not know, but he does wish to speak with you. Perhaps you can ask him them."

"Alright," I decided, slowly climbing out of bed. Seran held out a new set of clothes for me.

"I hope they fit," she said as she left the room. I looked down at the clothing. A black tunic and black pants. I sighed. Black always brought out how pale my skin was, and the air of malice that my eyes seemed to give off. But, then again, it was the thought that counted, correct?

I got dressed quickly, the new clothes fitting rather well, and headed out into the hall where Soren was waiting. She smiled when she saw that I had changed.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

"You're welcome. I'm so glad that they fit. Now, please follow me." I followed Seran through the fortress, which was certainly more cheerful during the day as opposed to the night. I was able to look around and see the various coroded antiquties, such as the large, faded, tapestries that hung on the wall. Seran stopped at the end of a long hallway, where there was a small wooden door.

"Brendan's in there," she said and walked away with a nod. I nodded back, with a small hope that I would see her again. I then turned to the door and knocked softly.

"Come in," came Brendan's gruff voice. I opened the door silently and stepped into the room. Brendan was seated comfertably by a fireplace, though there was no blaze of flame. A large double-headed axe leaned up against his chair.

"You wanted to see me?" I asked quietly.

"Yes Ephidel. I did. You see, there are a few things I wish to discuss with you."

Elvengirl10: My apologies! I have not updated in so long. I'm so sorry. I've been so busy plus a huge writer's block and alot of distractions. I only wish that this will make up for it and I promise to try and update more regualrly.