It was still a warm autumn. For this Terryann La Rune was eternally grateful as she patrolled the North Wall. Her job was essentially to make sure no greenhorns tried to sneak past. It was bad enough that earlier this week Torin had to be relieved of his post when he charged one greenhorn with the task of rescuing a seasoned Ranger north of the wall. Thankfully, her cousin Xiyra had managed to not only track down the greenhorn, but also the missing Ranger, Ben Wolfston, and escort them both back to the Wall.
Now, Terryann got to watch the gate instead.
She had passed her entrance test with flying colors, and then, not even minutes after, Rurik himself had shown up. Saberlin had explained that Rurik had come to induct them directly into the Vanguard, and so Terryann had the harrowing mission of tracking down an errant Charr.
A Charr.
Terryann had not the experience that others had. Taking on a Charr so early in her career was by far unexpected, but not entirely unwelcome. It was a chance to prove herself, prove her skills and test her bond with her new pet, a Melandru's Stalker like her Uncle's. Illaesa was also more intelligent than the typical large cat. Terryann had no idea if this was typical of Melandru's Stalkers, but she was grateful that she had allowed Terryann to take her as a pet.
The cat's ear quirked as just below what Terryann could hear a sound tantalized her hearing. "Yes, I know. You're bored."
Illaesa only looked at her as if to say, No, I'm not.
Terryann laughed and rubbed the cat on her head in between her ears. Illaesa half closed her eyes in contentment.
Three people stood just outside the catacomb entrance in the Ashford Abbey yard in easy companionable silence. Occasionally one would poke the other in the shoulder. Finally, Siuil La Rune said, "Enough of that."
His eldest daughter, Selena, looked up at him. "Oh, come on Father, Xiyra is late. What else have we to do?"
"She's right, you know," pointed out Terrence, with an easy shrug as Cambe padded up to them.
The feline sat down and nudged her companion, and Terrence fed the cat from a pouch on his belt. "They've been sighted, it should not be long now," said Terrence, after looking back up from Cambe.
"What else is it?" asked Selena, hearing the tenseness in her Uncle's voice.
"She isn't alone and Cambe is uneasy about him," answered Terrence.
Neither was Xiyra about her companion. When Osric had told her to report to Althea, she was rather sure that it would likely have something to do with her Mesmers. Upon approaching the stage and seeing the Mesmer in black, suddenly a sour feeling had descended in her gut.
He wasn't tall by Ascalon standards. He wasn't short either. But he was shorter than her Uncle Terrence, and it was a good thing too. The Mesmer was a very, very skinny fellow. His hair was silver grey and he had ice blue eyes. There was an Elementalist in Ascalon that he could be compared to, but Orion Elek was far more personable and less intimidating man than this standoffish Mesmer. He was as pale as her cousin Selena, and stooped in posture. It was as if he was a man of eighty although he could not be any older than thirty. Xiyra could only guess at his ailment, although the tea he drank to treat it smelled foul.
Finally, they reached the Abbey and she could see her Father and Uncle smile in greeting. Selena looked up, but then her smile immediately fell off her face. Selena was older than Xiyra, and so Xiyra trusted her wisdom.
But it was the look of shocked recognition as she gazed on the Mesmer in Black. Uncle Siuil looked down at his daughter, then up at the Mesmer. Xiyra had a distinct feeling that the situation with the stranger was about to get a great deal worse.
It was confirmed when Selena greeted them instead of the elder Terrence. "Greetings, cousin, greetings… Sir Mesmer… I had not thought I would be meeting you again so soon," she said.
"And you as well," he whispered back, and then said in a stronger voice. "But I should have known. Your… sister?"
"Cousin, actually," corrected Selena crisply.
"Your cousin and you share the same last name. And the other, the Ranger that was with you?"
"That is my younger sister," answered Selena, her eyes thinning slightly. "As I said, I am surprised to meet you again. Ascalon is a large nation."
"Indeed," agreed the Mesmer.
"Ah, Selena, could you fill us in please," interjected Siuil.
"Forgive me," Selena gave a slight bow. "When I was escorting Terryann to start her training for the Academy, we ran into this man and Old Mack having an argument. Evidently Lady Althea had charged him with putting down Bill, Old Mack's bull, for plaguing the road in between Ascalon and Ashford."
Siuil looked over at the Mesmer, "Alone?"
The stranger snorted, "Hardly a task worthy of my skills. I did so with expediency. But this Old Mack had a problem with this and decided that he would harass me instead of whom he should have."
"You never did tell us your name," said Terrence.
"Ah, that is my mistake," said Xiyra. "Father, Uncle Siuil, Selena… this is Lynn Matheri. He's a Mesmer and an Elementalist."
"A deadly mix," said Siuil. "I can see why someone like you would be here, but not you in specifically."
"For that I have no answer either," admitted Lynn. "But, if it is not too much bother, I would like to finish this before nightfall."
Siuil and Terrence looked at each other. "That's the problem, Mr. Matheri, we have to wait until nightfall. We have to start early in the morning. If this is no problem?"
"None at all, but I know that there is no inn for me to stay. I am sure that this 'Dwayna' would not want the likes of me within her hallowed halls," he pointed out. "So… I am left with no recourse but to request that I stay with your family this night."
Siuil sighed, not sure if he liked Lynn's forthright politeness. He seemed so cold, so distant. Selena answered, "It would be no problem. We are not expecting Terryann home for the next week, so, please, yes, you can stay with us."
"Thank you," said Lynn. "Could you point me in the right direction? If we leave at dawn I need rest. Someplace to study my spells… plan what I will have to do. Do you know what kind of enemies we will be encountering?"
Nodding, Terrence walked over, Cambe close on his heels. "Aye that I do. I will take you to Siuil's home and brief you on where we are going."
"That would be appreciated," admitted Lynn.
Siuil walked into his home and instantly stopped in his tracks. The quiet, as well as the warmth from a roaring fire, was overwhelming. Selena sat in a chair by the fire, one leg crossed over the other and a glass of wine in one hand. "Where's our guest?"
"He retired for the night," she answered, looking up at him. "I trust Mistress Munne's test was not too harsh?"
"No, no," he said, then stopped. "Well, it was interesting to say the least. I had to kill this strange fiend. Unfortunately, there was a small matter of getting to it through a series of traps that I had to set off using Minions and such."
She snorted, "That's nothing. My test involved running through poison to light candles on my first day… while trying to keep Paulus alive to get some icon or some such thing for Mhenlo. I had to keep myself healed, and him. For a monk he knew little of the healing arts."
"That doesn't sound too hard…"
"That was my first task ever as a Necromancer, Father. I was barely sixteen at the time."
"And she sent you?" for a moment Siuil fumed. "You could have been killed."
"But I was not," she said, looking up at him. "And I did another test besides. I suppose it was rather handy that I had also thought of consulting Mhenlo when I did. The skills he lent me proved quite useful."
"I would have almost preferred you a Mesmer," Siuil suddenly changed topics within the topic. "At least, as a Mesmer, you would not be called to the front line as you do as a Monk."
"Father, I am not a Monk," she corrected. "I only study it as a side."
"Still."
"You'd rather me be like our guest?"
Siuil lifted an eyebrow as he stripped off his armor to the tunic and pants beneath. He then cleaned his armor and as he did so, "Surely he's not that bad."
"Oh no, he's just aloof, sarcastic, formal, and colder than the touch of Grenth."
Siuil winced. Obviously Selena and Lynn Matheri were not on the best of terms. Assuming they were on any terms at all. But Selena could also be described as such, and had been by the other Vanguard members, even as she showed some qualities that were warm. "You know…" began Siuil. "I know someone else that is described that way when around strangers. Give him time, Selena, I'm sure he's just extremely shy and so covers it up in that coolness. He'll come around. Until then, I can tell you that you and he are…"
He had to stop to keep from laughing at the look on his daughters face. "Oh, come on, you can't tell me you don't find him attractive. I saw you watch him leave with your Uncle. I also saw the way you looked at Xiyra when she walked up with him. If you eyes weren't already green, I can tell you that they would have been anyway."
"I am not jealous of Xiyra," retorted Selena.
Siuil lifted a brow. "I'm not!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air after setting down her glass of wine. Realizing that her volume might have awoken their guest, she instantly quieted. "Father, please. It'd never work out."
"Oh, come on, you're covering all four magical professions. He's a Mesmer with a side specialty of being an Elementalist. You're a Necromancer who also happens to be a Monk," with a shrug, Siuil sat in the other chair. "You'd be great for each other."
Her incredulous look spoke volumes, "Father!"
"Look, all I'm saying is that the other women your age in Ashford are married with children. I'm not saying to have to do so immediately, but has it not crossed your mind?" he sighed. "Oh, don't get me wrong, Selena, I'll give this talk to Terryann when the time comes. I just want to make sure you're happy. If not him, then maybe…"
"Who? Pitney? That prize hog farmer I can never remember the name of?"
"Then perhaps not in Ashford," he chuckled. "There are plenty of other single bachelors in Ascalon."
She sighed, "Keep this up and I'll likely be married to Stefan before winter."
Siuil caught the sigh, "Why, has it crossed your mind? And why Stefan? If I'd known you'd take a leaning for Warriors I'd have…"
"Father, please, if I take a man to marry, let him be of my own choosing. As someone who has graduated from the Academy, I deserve the right to choose my own husband, assuming I want one, unlike the other women who had theirs chosen for them," Selena's tone was a bit sharp, but Siuil knew that it was also her right.
"Fine," he said. "Now I can't even pick one out for Terryann, she's also graduated from the Academy and so has the right to choose her own match."
Selena smirked. "Now, now, Father, just because we have that right doesn't mean we won't ask your advice either."
"Small consolation."
At the top of the stairs, Lynn Matheri listened to the conversation below. He wasn't used to being discussed in the manner that they seemed to take the conversation. Such things were always discussed about his brother. He let a small sigh escape. So, both girls had noticed him. That was rather interesting. Unexpected. A bit uncomfortable.
Very strange. Alien, perhaps would be a better word.
No one had ever discussed Lynn has a viable bachelor to whom one could arrange a marriage with. No one had cared, nor wanted him for a husband. But here was a father would not only suggest it, but also opening encouraged his daughter to pursue it. And said daughter had called him attractive; had looked upon her own cousin in jealousy when she realized that Xiyra had been the one to escort him to the Abbey.
Lynn silently returned to his room when the conversation turned to the rights of the women in Ashford. He had little interest in that so long as he had the right to refuse. It was not as if he would not welcome the attention… well… truth be told he was not sure how he felt about it. As he had first remembered, such an issue had never before come up in conversations, at least not seriously, before. I'm attractive? He wondered as he looked in a mirror. I'm desirable? Strange.
He lay down with this
thought in his mind. Then he asked himself, What if this Selena
decides to follow her father's advice and actively pursue a
courtship with me? What am I to do then? Do I want to refuse?
Accept?
Unfortunately, in the back of his mind, this felt like a betrayal if he did. One who had actively pursued him he lost years ago. It had possibly been his fault, but Akara's disappearance was always a bit strange. Too perfect, no traces. It wasn't as if she unintentionally left traces of herself behind, no, actually, the thief loved to leave 'calling cards'. It was the lack of a calling card that made Lynn rather suspicious on whether the leaving had been totally willing. He suspected she hadn't wanted to leave willingly, and so wondered about her. Worried about her.
Eventually he simply gave her up for dead.
With that, he fell asleep and into dreaming.
The next morning held the promise of a clear and warm day once the chill left. Lynn was awake and ready to go, as was the La Runes. Siuil led them out and towards the North Gate. Selena stopped and said, "Be careful, Father, Master Matheri. I must see to some things in the Catacombs. I will see you upon your return."
Siuil hugged his eldest daughter and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Don't forget about what we talked about last night."
"I have not forgotten," she said. "Farewell, Master Matheri."
"Farewell, Selena La Rune," said Lynn, and, much to his surprise he meant the next statement and said it with some warmth. "I hope we meet again."
She looked mildly surprised, but smiled, "I do as well. Uncle Terrence, Cambe. Be careful all of you. Ascalon has seen enough death in these past months. I do not wish the next funeral to be any of yours."
With that she entered the Abbey yards and Terrence said, "Nor yours!"
Her voice filtered in through the trees, "Like that would ever happen!"
"Silly shit, isn't she?" said Terrence as they walked the path that had once been infested with bandits but since Terryann had taken out Alain with the aid of Farrah Cappo had been relatively bandit free.
"I hadn't noticed," replied Lynn dryly. "But I admit, she is… interesting. Intriguing. One does not see many Necromancers who also follow the path of Healing where I come from."
"They're actually quite rare here too," said Siuil, then he realized something. "Hey, you don't come from Ascalon, do you?"
"No, I do not."
"Where do you come from then?" asked Terrence. "You don't look Krytan… or really all that Orrian either."
"And you're definitely not Canthan," said Siuil. "Are you from the Wilds?"
"The what?" asked Lynn.
"Guess that answers that," chuckled Terrence. "So, you're not from Ascalon, Cantha, Kryta, the Wilds of Maguuma… you don't look like a dwarf…"
"Or Charr," said Siuil.
"That leaves the desert," said Terrence. "But I have not heard of anyone actually from the desert."
"A place so harsh would not be known for any set settler," said Lynn. "So, I would say you have me."
"You're from the Crystal Desert?" Siuil stopped in his tracks. "I thought no one could live there!"
A small smile was all that escaped Lynn. "And that is exactly how I prefer it."
The conversation pretty well ended there.
The first sign of trouble was a subtle change in the dark clouds to the North, and then they swept down like a tidal wave breaking on the harbors of Kryta. Fire and sulphur rained down and destroyed everything in its path. Those who were fast took refuge in the cave just west of Ascalon in the former devourer breeding dens. Those who were lucky simply survived by some twist of luck that allowed them to when the sky rained fire.
But, even those who had been shepparded by the Necromancers into the catacombs were not safe, as the earthquakes then ripped through the land, causing most of it to fall. Thousands died when the stone building shook and collapsed upon them, as well as most of those who had taken refuge in the catacombs. Even though some survived, they were trapped, and when the bottom of the lake above cracked, most of those, too, were drowned. Those who survived called the cataclysm The Searing.
Too few were left, and the Charr marched southward.
Siuil scrabbled back to the surface. He, Lynn and Terrence had found an old tunnel that led to the catacombs but before it could be fully explored, the Searing occurred. Siuil turned around to look, but only saw a dusty and dirty Lynn. Lynn leaned on his staff heavily, closed his eyes in pain. He sported a nasty bruise and a cut on his head, and who knew what those black clothes hid beneath. Siuil took his shoulder. "Are you all right?"
"I've seen worse."
"Terrence?"
"Dead," replied Lynn.
"How… how could you know?" asked Siuil. "There are pockets of granite in those catacombs. He could have ducked in there!"
"Siuil…"
"Come on, we have to," and with that Siuil began to pick the stones up and simply throw them aside.
"Siuil, let him go," the sharpness in Lynn's voice brought Siuil to like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over him.
"How can you know he's dead?"
"Because I saw the roof collapse," replied Lynn. "I'm sorry, Siuil, there was nothing I could do and if I didn't dig myself out…"
Siuil felt an icy prick in his heart at Lynn's words. "You… let… you simply let him die?"
Two seconds later, Siuil picked Lynn up by the collar, "You let my brother die!"
"The whole cavern collapsed on him, man!" Lynn neatly broke Siuil's grip and dropped deftly back to the ground. "Get a hold of yourself. There was nothing you or I could have done to save him. He is dead. Let him go. Move on and be grateful you have survived."
For a moment Siuil was stunned by the Mesmer's coldness. "Have you no place in your heart for others?"
"No," answered Lynn. "Those I did care for threw that back in my face. I was the odd one, the Sly One. Nor do I care anymore. I have learned, the hard way, mind you, that the only one that I can ever depend on or need is myself. You would do well to learn the same thing."
Lynn turned, picked up his staff, and turned to leave. "Are you crazy?" Siuil shouted. "You won't last five minutes with the Charr…!"
"If I can take on Gods, I am sure I can handle a few near intelligent overgrown felines."
"Fine! What if I need your help? What then, Matheri, would you also leave me to die?"
"Die or live, I care little, La Rune," came Matheri's voice from beyond the hill. "If you wish to live, fine, come with me. If you wish to die, that's your own choice."
"I can't leave my brother!"
With that, Siuil became suddenly aware that Lynn Matheri had indeed left him, and, for all intents and purposes, for dead. "Damn you! I'll take out a blood oath on you, Matheri. Mark my words!"
The wind was his only answer.
Two Years Later
Xiyra and Terryann La Rune escorted the numerous refugees into what had used to be the Ascalon Lake, but now was a pit in the middle of Ascalon City. Here was the last bastion and last hope of all of Ascalon besides Rin, and even then, no one truly knew if Rin still stood. Finally, with a sigh as she petted Illaesa, Terryann said, "That's the last of them."
One woman stayed behind, a look of worry on her face. "What's wrong, Aunt Resilia?" asked Terryann.
"I don't see your father or my husband… and your sister is not here," answered Kristal La Rune, Terrence's wife and Xiyra's mother.
The woman was Krytan as Terrence had met her on one of his trips into the mountains and beyond. It had been many years since he'd last been that way, but once had been enough to meet Kristal in Nebo Terrace. Now the woman was almost considered an enemy but for her daughter's heroism and her husband's loyalty. Mostly, the people of Ashford accepted her as their own, but some, especially here in the city, did not.
Terryann's worst suspicions came true when a guard spotted her and walked over, "You! No Krytans are allowed in city walls. Go back to the Ambassador's camp where you belong."
"Are you daft, man," said Xiyra. "Do you know who I am?"
He looked at her as she pulled off her helm, then pulled back in surprise at the insignia of the Vanguard that hung around her neck. "Madam, an honor to meet a hero of Ascalon. But the King gave specific orders…"
"You kick this woman out, you kick out my blood," responded Xiyra coolly. "For Kristal La Rune is my mother. You kick one out, you kick us all out and we leave as you then have cast us out of our nation. Now, what is this about the King's orders and some Ambassador from Kryta?"
The guard clearly now looked unsure, "Forgive me, my lady, I did not know. It's just that her arrival and the Ambassador's arrival…"
"We brought her from where these others came from, a town just North of the Wall," said Terryann. "We brought her from Piken."
"Piken?" the guard's eyes widened. "Truly? But why would she be there?"
"I was among the healers helping the wounded," answered Kristal. "I may not have the magic of healing, but I know something of herblore. But our supplies ran out and only those dedicated to Dwayna can help them now."
"Welcome, then, Lady, back to Ascalon City," said the guard. "But expect more distrust and suspicion, thanks to that Ambassador out there. The King left orders that no Krytan would enter Ascalon proper, the former boundaries of the city either. On pain of death."
Xiyra harrumphed her thought of that order, but motioned to Terryann, "Perhaps we should find Tydus now. I do not like how this is going."
"Stay here with your mother, Xiyra," said Terryann. "I'll be right back. I think I know where to find him."
With that Terryann left while Xiyra guided her mother to a little used outcrop above the city. Here, they had some privacy away from the patrolling guards and were able to avoid further incident. Kristal looked out over the wall of the city to where the old wall used to stand… and to Althea's ruined stage. Xiyra watched the city below on the other side, watching for a sign of Terryann and at the group of hawkers selling wares near the storage with some amusement.
She still didn't see Terryann, or her cat, until it was too late. "What's so funny?"
"Them," pointed Xiyra then she stopped suddenly.
Perhaps it was the way that the two Warriors moved that sent sudden tears to her eyes. Tears of relief… gratefulness… but she ran around the slope of the wall and down by the storage where he now stood, haggling with the Xunlai agent over price of storage. Kristal walked over and gasped as well upon seeing the battered armor. Terryann, known for catching details, but this time out in the fog on this one, didn't catch one and continued her one sided conversation with Xiyra until she realized Xiyra wasn't there anymore.
"What the…?"
Then she saw. First, she saw the tall Warrior woman and smiled in recognition at their Guild Leader. Arya Bladedancer had recruited them shortly after the Searing and had been in and out of Ascalon over the past two years.
But the other…
With a strangled cry she ran down after giving Illaesa a look that meant 'Stay put'. The cat sat down. All that could be heard was a drawn out, and happy, "Father!"
Xiyra had hugged the man by this time, kissing him on the cheek that could be seen under the grime. "Uncle Siuil! We thought you were dead!"
"For a long time, I thought I was," he admitted. "Where are the others?"
Terryann and Xiyra went silent, and Terryann said, "Father, come on, Kristal is waiting. It's better if we catch up together."
"Selena?" Siuil asked quietly.
Terryann and Xiyra exchanged a look between them. Siuil seemed to age. "No… Gods… why her too?"
Taking his arm, Terryann led him up the hill to where Kristal waited. Seeing Kristal, he went and bowed before her, head bowed as she sit in front of him. "Terrence?" she whispered.
"I'm so sorry, Kristal, there was nothing…" he stopped, choking back his tears. "But I can tell you that someone could have saved him… and did nothing."
Xiyra had slid down to a crouch as well. Terryann hugged her cousin. "I'm so sorry, Xiyra," she whispered.
Sitting in mute shock, Xiyra only shook her head, Terryann asked instead, "What do you mean, 'Someone could have helped, but did nothing'?"
"I am saying that a man who had the power and time to save Terrence let him die," Siuil seemed to go stone like.
It was the new voice that interjected that took them by surprise, "And the same man left Siuil for dead. I found Siuil wandering the blasted area around Grendich Courthouse. If not for me, your father would have died from Lynn Matheri leaving him for dead."
"Arya?" asked Terryann. "How long have you known?"
"Not long, I just met him and escorted him right back here," answered the Guild Leader and Warrior, Arya Bladedancer. "I figured you'd want him back. Had I known about Terrence…"
"Nothing you could have done, Arya," said Siuil. "It was done before you found me."
"Huh, yeah, well, maybe if I'd found you sooner, I could have helped dig him out," said Arya. "If he wasn't dead too long I could have resurrected him too."
Like Xiyra, Arya shared the professional leaning of also being a Monk. Kristal and Xiyra stared at the other woman in shock. Where others wore the full plate, chain, or scale mail, or even the leather skirting and shirts, Arya wore very little. Xiyra had heard of Gladiator armor, had seen it on a few men, but never on a woman. Combined with this was the outrageous and bright clashing colors that she had dyed it. "Oh, ah, yes, Arya, this is my cousin Xiyra La Rune, Terrence's daughter, and the Mesmer is Kristal La Rune, Terrence's wife. Xiyra, Aunt Kristal, this is Arya Bladedancer, the Guild Leader of the Knights of the Shadow Empire Guild I was telling you about."
"You mean the one you joined on our behalf," asked Xiyra, still in mild shock.
"And I'm grateful for," said Arya. "Heroes are handy to have around. But I did not expect to hear Lynn Matheri's name attached to a blood feud."
Siuil looked up at Arya, "You know Matheri?"
"In passing. He is a member of our guild, unfortunately, I guess considering his past," she said, vaguely uneasy. "But we never see him, nor hear from him. Only through his friend, Akara Nikhiora, do we hear anything."
"Who?" asked Siuil.
"Our Guild spans Tyria," said Arya. "Akara hails from Cantha, like Matheri, I think. At least, I know she isn't from Kryta or Ascalon."
"I thought Matheri hailed from the Crystal Desert…" said Siuil.
Arya shrugged. "As I said, I don't know them well, although Akara is handy to have around. So is Lynn, really, when you can find him. All he's interested in is learning as many spells as possible in order to gain power. I'm afraid I can't allow killing among Guild Members, however."
Siuil set his jaw, "Fine, then, I won't kill him."
Arya lifted a brow, "Good. I like having him around."
"Arya, we have lost a few of our family," said Terryann. "Is there any place on your Guild Island that we can erect a memorial to them?"
"Of course!" exclaimed Arya. "I'll get Akruan to help you with it. But, you have to get to Lion's Arch to catch the boat there. Since the last Guild War, no one on the main continent will allow a Guild Hall on the mainland."
With that the mood again turned somber, and Siuil asked, "How did Selena die?"
"She, too, was in the catacombs," answered Xiyra. "Only, they were trying to save people from the Rain of Fire. Selena went in… to guide citizens from Ashford to safety…" Xiyra wiped away tears. "Damn it, it was supposed to be a refuge…"
"No one survived?" asked Arya.
"Oh, some did. Some of those catacombs are well supported. It wasn't that that killed the majority, it was when the lake above cracked open and flooded the rest," answered Terryann, and then she closed her eyes. "I… saw the lake drain. I knew what it meant. I was coming from Barradin's Estate and was running for cover when it happened."
They were silent for a moment, Kristal explained, "Some still survived, somehow. They clung to life and the Necromancers and Mesmer's from Foible's pulled them out. The Monks healed those they could and for the first time in ages, Dwayna's Avatar descended in the Abbey. Now the Abbey is an Asylum for the insane. The Necromancers and Mesmers take care of them as best they can while keeping the undead and Grawl at bay. They renamed it Sardelac. But, there was no sign of Selena. Munne said she'd keep looking. Then I was sent to Piken and other places North of the wall. I was at Rin, too. I haven't talked to Munne lately, though."
"Perhaps someone should," suggested Arya. "What does Selena look like?"
"She's very small for her age," said Siuil. "She'd be twenty-five now. Selena is… was… about five one, and very light. I'd say no more than a hundred pounds, if that. She favors… short hair. The same dark color as mine, only slightly redder. Green eyes. Pale, but healthy skin, unlike most necromancers. If she weren't dressed as a Necromancer, you'd never know. She doesn't even have the scarring…"
"I see, so a perfectly normal young woman that may or may not be in Necromancer's armor," repeated Arya. "If anyone found her, I can tell you that her armor would have been wrecked. Most of whom we saved had no armor left, just scraps of clothing underneath. No one would know what her profession was until she showed her skills. Does she favor any particular color?"
"Orange," answered Terryann. "Or gold. Typically those colors. Sometimes silver. She was also relatively modest. She hated Munne's armor, I can tell you that."
"Okay, a perfectly normal young woman, no planned scarring, modest," said Arya. "Describes half of Ascalon, but… very unusual for a Necromancer no matter what part of the world. If she turns up as a Necromancer, I'll be able to spot her, I can guarantee that. But, I don't want your hopes to get up too high. Chances are that she is, indeed, dead. But I know members who regularly traverse the Underworld. If they spot her, I will tell you."
"And if they don't?"
"Chances are that she is alive, then," said Arya. "Don't keep your hopes up too high, but don't give up on it either."
With a short wave afterwards, Arya took off to leave the La Runes to their grief.