Harry followed, feeling slightly excited about the possibility of meeting Grindelwald's personal guard, and apprehensive about the upcoming task. He could only hope that the Demarr Devil Blade would find him worthy, as Khariana's ring had.
Chapter Four: True Form of the Devil Brand – God of Destruction Incarnate
Disclaimer: If you've seen it before, it belongs to J.K. Rowling. Otherwise, it's mine. Naturally, I'm making no money off this.
For what seemed like the hundredth time that day, Harry followed Grilthauk to yet another new destination. He started to wonder just how much of Gringotts pertained to him in some manner or another. This trip led the pair back out of the Evans complex, located deep underground, and back up to the main lobby of the establishment. Upon exiting the compound itself and entering into the large chamber that led to the passage back into Grilthauk's office, Harry braved another look over at the Nidhogg. The beast was far more menacing awake, with its three heads snorting and moving about, than it ever could have been during its hibernating state. He soon wished he hadn't, as the creature seemed to feel the young part-dakaath's eyes upon it, and simultaneously turned all three of its massive heads to meet Harry's gaze. Harry swore that he could hear his heart pounding through his chest as the huge dragon soared ever so slightly off the ground and floated gracefully over to his and Grilthauk's location. A trio of heads moved within reach of Harry, but none moved to attack. Then, the beast unexpectedly dropped to its knees before him. Harry looked on curiously, as Grilthauk offered an explanation.
"It would seem that the Nidhogg has sensed that you are now the Lord Evans, and has thus acknowledged you as its master, Harry. Otherwise, it surely would have attacked. It will not harm you."
Harry nodded slightly, and moved to pet the great dragon's central head lightly. It purred loudly, and the other two heads moved forward a few inches, obviously expecting the same treatment. Harry obliged amicably, taking ten minutes or so to give his new fortress's guardian some attention. Looking back at Grilthauk, who was watching the scene with a patient expression, brought Harry's mind back to present matters. He turned to leave, and the dragon seemed to understand on its own, as it flew back over to its previous place of vigil.
Harry and Grilthauk reached the bank lobby quickly enough, but upon arriving, Harry was greeted by a most unwelcome sight: Nymphadora Tonks, loitering about close to the front entrance to the facility, seemingly staking out the area. Harry hoped that the clumsy young auror was simply on her usual patrol, and not looking especially for him. He couldn't imagine that the Order would have noticed him gone from Privet Drive quite yet, but it would still ruin everything for Tonks to see him now. For a moment, Harry contemplated just moving on with Grilthauk, and trusting that his changed looks would keep her from noticing him. On second thought, he decided not to risk it, and ducked back slightly into the corridor from which he and Grilthauk had just come. Grilthauk noticed his young lord's odd action, and turned to see what had made the boy jump. He saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"Harry, what is the matter?"
"That woman loitering about the entrance, the auror with the neon green hair. She's a member of Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix. There'll be trouble if she sees me here, since I'm supposed to be tucked safe and sound in my relatives' house, or at least so sayeth the old bastard."
"Harry, you are aware, of course, that coming to the lordship of your mother's family automatically makes you an adult by law, correct? She has no authority, legal or otherwise, to take you anywhere, and we would not allow her either way."
No, Harry thought, he wasn't aware that he was now emancipated. He really ought to find a book detailing all of these old pureblooded by-laws now that he officially was one. He'd take a look the next time he visited Flourish and Blotts. Still, Harry knew that his rightful status wouldn't concern Dumbledore a single whit, nor would he likely find any assistance within the Ministry, should it come to some sort of legal battle over the matter. With a bit of annoyance, Harry realized that Grilthauk probably knew this as well, and was testing him.
"Be that as it may, Grilthauk, it would simply cause too much trouble for Dumbledore to know of my location right now, and playing the emancipation card would involve revealing to the old man that I'm Lord Grindelwald's relation. Needless to say, I would prefer to postpone that particular confrontation for as long as possible. Is there any way to distract her long enough for us to get to this other passage we need to take?"
"Yes, of course."
With that, Grilthauk stalked out into the main lobby and hailed a few security goblins. Harry watched from his secluded location as the President gave a few rapidly uttered commands in the goblin tongue, and the three particularly menacing goblins marched up to Tonks and demanded her attention. Grilthauk motioned for Harry, and the latter followed the former into a secluded passageway across the main lobby. Surprisingly, the dakaathi hybrid was a bit concerned for Tonks. He was certainly annoyed with Dumbledore and the Order, but he had come to like her in the few times they'd met.
"They aren't going to hurt her, right?"
Grilthauk arched a wizened eyebrow at Harry.
"I'm surprised that you are concerned. But no, I merely instructed them to question the young woman about her reasons for loitering. She's doing no particular harm, so they will leave her alone when they realize her status as an auror. We do not recognize the authority of the Ministry of Magic here, but nonetheless, we do our best to avoid confrontations with them unless absolutely necessary. Now, we're almost there."
The winding passageway led to its final stretch, as indicated by the large opening ahead. Harry thought he could see the roots of a tree spreading across the upcoming ground, but decided that his eyes were simply playing tricks on him. Why would trees be growing anywhere at Gringotts, after all? However, after exiting the passage and very nearly tripping on them, he realized that he was mistaken. Looking around, Harry found himself in the middle of a darkened forest, as ridiculous as that sounded. Diagon Alley was in London, for Merlin's sake!
"Goblin, where are we? Why is there a forest smack in the middle of London?"
"Gringotts has owned his land since its founding, and we have simply never developed it. Our destination is not much further."
Harry followed Grilthauk down a narrow wooded path, becoming increasingly wary as the forest continued to darken. Of course, he realized, he shouldn't be too surprised. It was no doubt rather late at night by now. He had arrived at Gringotts around noon, had his initial meeting with Grilthauk, been tricked into undergoing his dakaathi transformation, passed out for several hours as a result, woken up and admired his new changes, gone down with Grilthauk to his family treasury, taken the grand tour there, heard a long story about his legacy, and he had just now arrived in a bloody forest in the middle of London. Quite a day, he thought with a bit of amusement. Harry was brought out of his musings by a slight rustling noise in the trees around him. Just an animal or something, he surmised, as he continued walking. Another rustling sound...but this one came from several directions. The next step would be his last.
Harry halted on the spot as he felt something sharp sticking into the small of his back. His eyes darted about as nearly a dozen figures, both male and female, judging from the outlines of their tight black outfits, seemed to materialize from nowhere around him. Their faces were shrouded in black cloth that matched the rest of their clothing, and all of them were armed, as Harry noticed with a small wave of irritation. Assassins, perhaps? Could this be Voldemort's doing? Just like that filthy serpent to hire mercenaries to try and do his dirty work. But that would mean...where was Grilthauk, anyway? Coming to the conclusion that he'd been completely tricked, and that his only chance to escape was to somehow fight his way out of this, Harry burned inwardly as the augmented strength and speed gifted by his dakaathi blood instinctually began to manifest.
Steeling himself, he lunged forward slightly, breaking the grip of his physical captor. Harry reached behind him and grabbed the startled assassin by the wrist before the latter had any time to react, flinging the slender man headlong at a small bunch of his cohorts. Unfortunately, the man regained his balance in midair, shifted his weight back and landed on his feet in front of the rest. Without wasting so much as a second, he whipped out his wand and took aim.
"Stupef..."
Before Harry could finish casting his stunner, a thin rope wrapped tightly around his arm and jerked it backwards, causing his wand to fly from his hand into the dense foliage, completely out of his sight. Forest green eyes blazing, Harry glanced at the source of the intrusion, a female holding the other end of the rope. Knowing he could likely overpower her, Harry pulled forward and swung the rope to his immediate left with both hands. Like before with the other, the woman landed on her feet, but with a small flip in midair. One spoken word summed up Harry's reaction.
"...Shit."
Harry realized that he was never going to be able to get even one of this mob off his or her feet long enough to be able to mount any kind of counterattack, and he was wandless besides. There was only one course of action left. Harry bolted down the path in front of him, not daring to go back the way he had come. If this had indeed been part of a Death Eater plot, Voldemort would assuredly have forces waiting to ambush Harry at the entrance, in the case that he managed to escape from his hired goons. As Harry ran, he could vaguely feel himself trample a small animal under his feet on the path. Not that he cared in the slightest, particularly given the current circumstances. He could somehow feel his assailants gaining on him.
He presently passed by a medium-sized wooden house, with a flat roof composed of red-lacquered tiles. Harry paid it no special mind, but upon seeing a dozen or so more similar houses arranged on what appeared to be two sides of a main square, he realized that he had blundered right into the middle of a village. As a few more assassins, dressed in identical garb to those pursuing him, emerged from some of the houses. Harry mentally kicked himself. He had walked right into the tiger's mouth. The group from the forest caught up with him, and the whole village seemed to be closing in on Harry, who looked around quickly for a means of escape. Finding nothing, he cast his eyes further down the unpaved street. In the center of a small dais, made of a black stone similar to that of Grindelwald's portal, stood an ominous-looking sword, seemingly suspended in a field of pure dark energy. Harry felt immediately drawn to it, and bolted in its direction.
With a leap, Harry landed on the black stone dais, wings flaring out behind him. He approached the mysterious brand. It had an ornate design, skeletal designs carved into hilt. The blade itself was broad and of a pure black, such that its very physical form appeared to be an illusion, and was roughly five feet in length. Truly, it was akin to looking upon the very essence of death and destruction. It could be nothing else but the Demarr Devil Blade. Almost as if possessed, Harry reached for the brand, barely aware of the protective field surrounding it. The field attempted to resist the intrusion, and Khariana's ring began to resonate with the Demarr Devil Blade. The earth shook with such force that the heavens themselves trembled, and the barrier shattered with a boom greater than a hundred thunderclaps. The assassins in the village below watched, faces mixed with horror and amazement. Path inhibited no longer, Harry grasped the blade by the handle, and a silky, menacing voice sounded within his head.
"Hehehehe...so, the one who would claim me as his own has arrived at last...tell me, boy, what is your name?"
Harry could hardly believe what he was hearing. He answered out loud.
"My name...? Harry...Harry Evans. Y-you're alive?"
"Of course I'm alive...Harry. Why does that surprise you?"
"W-well...living swords aren't exactly commonplace..."
"How can you be so sure of that? Perhaps you've just never had one bother to communicate with you until now..."
Harry didn't know how to respond to that. He decided to brush the comment off.
"You...you're the Demarr Devil Blade, correct?"
"Demarr Devil Blade? I know of no such name. You may call me...Zharrghast."
Harry's eyes widened, despite all his inherent dakaathi emotional controls. Zharrghast...? Zharrghast as in the fallen god that his great-grandfather had fought against in the demon realm? No, that couldn't be...
The sentient sword that called itself Zharrghast needed no further verbal provocation.
"Hehehehe...you are right to fear me, boy. It is a simple matter for one such as myself to transfer my essence from one medium to another, as I did when that wave of energy obliterated my former body. Surely, it has crumbled to dust within the abyss, but I live on. Did you truly believe that your worthless mortal swine of an ancestor could make an end of ME? Such foolishness...and thus you dare to presume that you are entitled to take me in hand. Pitiable, but such is the way of mortals."
Harry burned inwardly at the insults to both himself and his most distinguished ancestor, but wisely kept his tongue in check. Zharrghast, however, simply dove right into his mind with a level of ease that Voldemort could never hope to match, sifting through his feeling and memories.
"Ahhh...yessssss...open your mind to me, boy. Allow me to feed upon your thoughts and feelings. I can see...such anger and bloodlust within you, festering just beneath the surface of your soul, growing ever stronger. You have not unleashed it yet, but with time, you shall. Ahhh, and you are truly powerful as well, perhaps more so than any other mortal in either realm, human or demon, or at least you shall be when trained properly. You bear the burning emotional focus and essential predisposition towards hate that I find ever so delicious among the human race, as well as the inherent battle lust and consuming pride that make the dakaath the true standard-bearers of the demon realm. Truly the greatest of both realms combined into one single form. Beautiful...a true fallen angel...perhaps you are worthy to take me in hand after all..."
Harry was strangely reminded of the Sorting Hat at Hogwarts. He spoke up again.
"Fallen angel? What do you mean?"
"What, indeed? You and I are much alike, young dakaathling. Both of us have been persecuted time and again by those incapable of understanding us, cast aside for the convenience of those who would pretend to be above us. Your Ministry of Magic made a scapegoat of you, for fear that your continued existence would disturb their corrupt and ordered existence, just as the elder gods cast me out to prevent me from using my powers to disturb theirs. And now, you would fight against their base corruption. You would fight against the false serpent lord, whose mindless ideals would but replace that cancerous regime with another. You would fight against the old fool who stands a fruitless vigil, ever incapable of the great duty he presumes to assume, ever unwilling to stand aside. As I am the incarnate fallen angel, the god cast from the heavens for his supposed sins, so must you be as well. We are kindred spirits...Harry Alphonse Evans, descendent of the fallen seraphii, bastard prince of the dakaath. I will allow you to take me in hand. With my power, you shall slaughter all that would dare rise against you, and you shall provide me with the blood and the souls of your enemies. We shall be as one. Now, let us obliterate these black-garbed swine that would presume to take our life. Let their flesh and blood be the feast with which we will toast our ascendancy."
And so, Harry lifted the devil brand, the incarnation of the fallen god Zharrghast. Both Harry and Zharrghast glowed with an ethereal aura, forest green mixing with pure black in a harmonious dichotomy of life and death. Turning to meet the assassins, they spoke as one from Harry's mouth, a truly satanic smile adorning the young wizard's fair face.
"So, then...which of you would like to die first?"
Naturally, they received no answer. They recognized the woman that had disarmed Harry earlier by the rope in her hand. Harry raised Zharrghast into a fighting position and prepared to charge, when a familiar voice called out.
"Harry, stop this at once!"
Harry lowered Zharrghast, both knowing that they held the advantage. A harried Grilthauk ran onto the scene. There were a few grass stains on the front of his battle hauberk. A ways behind, an old man hobbled over as well, supported by a young woman. The surprise at seeing Grilthauk was enough to break Zharrghast's hold on Harry's mind.
"Harry, there are your allies. You must not fight them!"
"Hmph, pay him no mind. He lies. Slaughter them all."
Harry whispered to himself.
"No, Grilthauk wouldn't lie to me; he swore everlasting fealty to my mother's line, and he hasn't steered me wrong yet. If these people are my allies, I can't fight against them."
"They are useless. I am the only ally you need. Kill them. Acknowledge our true nature."
Harry wavered, torn between listening to reason and hearing Grilthauk out, and indulging his rising lust for blood and succumbing to Zharrghast's wishes. Thankfully, curiosity won out in the end, and Harry moved to place Zharrghast on the altar above which he had been sealed. Zharrghast sensed Harry's decision, and was only slightly annoyed.
"Very well then, I shall prod you no further. You shall see the true state of things with time. Perhaps these swine shall even prove moderately useful, should the little goblin be indeed telling the truth. If there shall be no bloodshed today, I shall return to my rest. Know that when your hand rested upon me, our souls became as one. I shall remain here. To cross over time and space is no matter for me. Whenever you have need of me, all you need do is call out to me with your mind. I shall hear your plea and come to your hand. Until then, my fallen angel."
With that, Zharrghast returned to his initial position above the dais, and the protective shield returned. There was no need for concern. His fallen angel would succumb in time, and then Zharrghast would have a suitable vessel with which to conquer the mortal realms and rise up against the elder gods once more. Yes, he could afford to wait. After all, what was a short few months or years to an immortal?
Harry fixed his eyes on Grilthauk, his mind pulsing fromhaving beenhost to Zharrghast. The ease with which the latter was able to worm his way into Harry's consciousness and assume control frightened the young part-dakaath. At that moment, he decided that he would find a way to control Zharrghast, and until then, he would not call upon the cursed sentient blade unless absolutely necessary. Harry could feel the pure power he had held with Zharrghast in his hand. Had Grilthauk not arrived, they...that is, Harry and Zharrghast could well have obliterated the better part of London with one blast of chaotic energy. With that power, Harry knew that destroying his enemies would likely be as easy as turning over his hand, but he just didn't consider the whole idea to be worth sacrificing his soul over. He could surely find other ways to accomplish his destiny. Shaking his head, he walked down the dais to where Grilthauk was waiting, the terrified eyes of the assassins and villagers squarely on him the entire way.
"Harry, thank the ancestors, you're all right. I had truly feared the worst. The Shinn Kohaku have never taken kindly to strangers. I should have notified them of our coming first. First we were separated, and then I was attacked from behind. When I came to, I hurried to the village as quickly as possible to notify the leader of your ascendancy and disappearance within the forest. When I arrived, I saw that the entire village gathered at the dais, and went to investigate. And then...what happened, Harry?"
Of course, Harry thought. That's who these people are. Grilthauk had mentioned that Lord Grindelwald's elite personal guards, who Harry knew, were guarding the Dema...Zharrghast, were a contingent of ninja from the Shinn Kohaku clan. Harry's memory lapse had nearly cost both his own life and those of some of his staunchest allies. Such mistakes were unacceptable, and Harry vowed to be more careful in the future. He supposed he ought to give Grilthauk an answer. Harry spoke of being ambushed in the forest by the Shinn Kohaku, of attempting to fight back and being disarmed, and of fleeing from them into the village. Harry realized that the "animal" he had supposedly trampled down back in the forest was probably Grilthauk, but decided, for the sake of the old goblin's pride, to let him continue to think that he's been attacked. It didn't really matter to Harry. At this point, the old man from earlier, who had long since made it over to their position, spoke up.
"It would appear, young one, that we owe you an apology. You were forced to undergo this terrible ordeal because we attacked you, with no provocation on your part. Please accept our sincerest apologies."
At least he has some shame, Harry mused.
"Apology accepted. Think nothing of it. All that matters is that we're all alive and well. May I ask your name?"
The old man bowed slightly. The young woman at his side helped him back up. She was pretty, Harry thought, getting a better look at her. She looked to be in her early twenties, and had soft, sparkling brown eyes and creamy porcelain skin. Her hair was a raven black, much like Cho Chang's, but without the shine, and was put up in a ponytail. Harry figured that it probably extended slightly below her shoulderblades when let down. She was a bit taller than most girls her age, being just a few inches shorter than Harry was.
"Ah, yes, of course. My name is Kenzo Kurahama, the elder and leader of this village. The young lady next to me is my granddaughter, Hitomi."
Harry returned Kenzo's bow respectfully, and flashed Hitomi a small grin, which she returned shyly.
"Harry Alphonse Evans, great-grandson of Lord Grindelwald. The pleasure is mine."
At that revelation, shocked whispers began to circulate among the town's populace. Most looked to Kenzo for direction. The old Shinn Kohaku leader walked up to Harry and took his hand, examining Khariana's ring, which he knew that only one bearing Grindelwald's blood and legacy could wear. The very fact that it adorned Harry's finger was proof enough for Kenzo. He turned to his villagers and nodded with a beaming smile. Almost like a wave, the Shinn Kohaku, including those who had tried to kill Harry not an hour earlier, fell to their knees and kowtowed before the new lord. Harry arched an eyebrow at the display, and turned to Grilthauk, who in turn spoke to Kenzo.
"Master Kurahama, our young lord has had a tiring day. Perhaps we could have a seat somewhere and talk? We have much to discuss."
"Of course, general. We'll have a seat in my house."
With that, Kenzo headed off toward the largest house in the village, a two-story abode built much in the same style as the other, smaller ones, Hitomi supporting him. Harry followed, and Grilthauk took up the rear.
Upon entering the abode, Harry, Kenzo and Grilthauk all took seats at a small table in the main room, with Hitomi standing a step behind her grandfather. Kenzo turned back to her.
"Hitomi, dear, would you be so kind as to brew us some tea? I have much to discuss with the general and our young lord."
"Yes, grandpa."
She smiled slightly, noticing Harry's gaze on her, but left to make the tea. Meanwhile, Grilthauk turned to Harry.
"Now, what exactly happened when you laid hands upon the Demarr Devil Bla..."
Harry interrupted.
"...Zharrghast."
Grilthauk looked confused, but there was an underlying horror dawning in his eyes, indicating that the old goblin chieftain half suspected the truth and was desperately hoping that Harry would not confirm it. Kenzo wore a guarded expression, a result of his own years of mental training in the Shinn Kohaku, but Harry ventured a guess that the village leader that arrived at a similar conclusion.
"The sword, the Demarr Devil Blade, is sentient. It spoke to me as I touched it, and indicated that its true identity was in fact that of Zharrghast, the fallen god that my great-grandfather, the late Lord Grindelwald, battled during his last years within the demon realm. According to what I was told, Zharrghast transferred his own essence into the brand just as his body was hit with the reflected pulse of chaos energy during the battle. Tell me, did Lord Grindelwald ever wield the sword after defeating Zharrghast?"
Grilthauk answered.
"No, Harry. Lord Grindelwald was far too old by then to possibly have been able to wield a sword of that size. It would appear that he unwittingly brought our worst nightmare into our world. He was not aware that Zharrghast lived within the brand, of that I am certain."
Kenzo spoke up as well.
"Tell me, young lord. What else did the blade, did Zharrghast tell you?"
"He told me that he and I are kindred spirits, of sorts, and that our souls were bonded when we made physical contact. He said that if I ever had need of him, that all I had to do was call out, and he would come. Until then, he seems content to remain in stasis. What bothers me the most is that he seemed to be able to assume control of my mind at will while I wielded him. Grilthauk's arrival diverted his concentration just long enough for me to be able to regain control and shove him out."
Grilthauk spoke up again, looking pensive.
"Zharrghast is an entity of the purest evil, the very incarnation of destruction. His presence here is very dangerous, especially given the fact that he has a link to you, Harry. I would advise not calling upon him, unless circumstances yield absolutely no other recourse."
Harry looked back at the old goblin.
"I had already come to that conclusion on my own, Grilthauk. Enough talk about Zharrghast, let's move on to another subject. "
"Very well, what do you plan to do now? Unfortunately, we have lost the Demarr Devil Blade as a viable resource. Regrettable, but it can be overcome. Now, Harry, I think I should warn you that though your dakaathi transformation has been completed due to the effects of the potion, your body and magic still needs that full month to adjust to the changes. I would suggest using the mean time to train."
Harry agreed with Grilthauk's suggestion. He wasn't about to go around attacking Death Eaters or anything of the like during the summer. Harry was perfectly content to let Dumbledore and Voldemort pick each other's forces apart, at least for the time being.
"Sounds good to me. I'll head back down to the compound tomorrow and pick up the needed tomes and items. First, I need to decide where I'm going to stay. I need somewhere that I can do spellwork without the Ministry catching onto me."
At this point, Hitomi returned with tea. Her glance lingered on Harry for a few moments longer than necessary. Kenzo continued the discussion.
"If I may offer a suggestion, young lord? Perhaps it would be prudent for us to commence setting up an information network of sorts. It would be much easier for us to keep track of enemy movements if we had certain operatives placed in strategic areas, keeping an eye out for odd occurrences and an ear out for any useful information. As for your lodgings, I would be honored if you would consider staying here in the village. There are wards in place here to stop the Ministry of Magic's detectors. Our actions tonight have caused you great hardship. The least we can do is offer our hospitality."
Harry turned back to the village leader. The tea was making him noticeably drowsy.
"That sounds like an excellent offer, yes, I think I'll take you up on it. As for the espionage network, I'll consider the matter. We'll discuss it again later."
Kenzo nodded.
"You look to be quite tired, young lord. Perhaps you might want to get some rest? These matters can all be discussed later. Hitomi, please show the young lord to the guest room."
"Yes, grandpa. Right this way, my lord."
Harry, too tired to argue, took his leave of Grilthauk and followed Hitomi up the stairs. They stopped outside one of the upstairs rooms. Harry opened the door, nodding his thanks to Hitomi.
"My lord?"
Harry turned back to the young woman.
"Yes? And please, call me Harry."
"Very well. Please accept my thanks, Harry, for accepting grandpa's offer to stay here. The events of this evening were weighing heavily upon him. He would have felt much worse had you declined."
Harry sent her a small smile.
"You're welcome. Good night."
"Yes, good night, Harry."
With one last glance at Harry, Hitomi returned downstairs. For his part, Harry plopped immediately onto the futon, not even bothering to remove his robe. Folding his wings around himself like a protective shroud, Harry fell quickly asleep, the life-changing events of the past day weighing heavily on his mind.
(End Chapter Four)
Author's Note: Hmm, I don't really know how I feel about this one. I really thought the quality started to go barreling downhill after the entire scene with Harry and Zharrghast. However, I needed to keep going, because I wanted to begin the next chapter at the "next morning" point. I'll be honest about it, I'm much less satisfied with this chapter than I have been with the others, but I guess that just happens sometimes. I hope you all like it more than I did. There'll be a lot more discussion of the Shinn Kohaku in the next chapter, but I figured poor Harry already had dealt with enough for one day and needed a good night's sleep. Thanks for the reviews, as usual.