Back out in the hallway, Izarius was keeping watch over where the inner sanctum door had sealed up. Any that wished to see Imperius were sent away with a statement that he was tending to Anaurael. None questioned him after that. It was too important to keep her calm and well-rested. The double pregnancy she was bearing was going to tax her each time. Even Malthael left her mind alone to ensure she could rest properly. He was far too intrigued with the new chamber revealed.

"What do we know?" Malthael asked Tyrael when they approached the ancient room.

"Your guess is as good as mine right now," Tyrael shrugged. "Kulle's works were removed and being studied. With intense caution, of course."

"As always..." Malthael agreed. "Hmm. Should I speak with that Vecin seer?"

"You could. I'll be going over what is in the room," he nodded. Malthael vanished and reappeared before Myriam's wagon. She was flirting with Lyndon, and the scoundrel was completely enjoying it. But, at the sight of Malthael, she sighed.

"Celsa, we are going to have to continue this at another time. My attention needs to be focused elsewhere. Ah! Give me twenty minutes," she smiled.

"I'm counting the seconds!" he grinned. She laughed and let him walk off. Then she glanced at Malthael with a form of irritation.

"I'm sure you were expecting me?" Malthael mused.

"As much as I wish I was not," she scoffed. "What do you wish to know?"

"I want to know what to expect in the room that was just discovered. Tyrael also wanted to know," he said and crossed his arms over his chest.

"What you see is what you get. As long as the girl does not go in there, all will be fine."

"Something will trigger?"

"Yes. Her panic. We do not want that. She is far more sensitive than she seems. You do not want her babies harmed, yes? So, do not bring her here. The more she is kept safe, the better off things will be. It is what I said before."

"True. And...you were correct about the new body forming. I thank you."

"For what it's worth, you're welcome. I do worry for the girl, though."

"She has been getting quite ill of late."

"So, she has! Oh! The poor dear! I have something to help with that. Here!" she said and moved her bulk into her wagon and brought out a small teabag. "Seep this in hot water, and let her drink the tea. She can reuse this as much as she wants. Just dry it out, and it can be reused."

"I'll take it," Izarius said when he appeared from Malthael's prodding. "Malthael cannot handle anything, but I'll ensure she gets this. You have my thanks."

"I wanted to ask you something," she said, and she regarded him carefully. "How deep is your love for the girl? The one you call your sister?"

"Her health and happiness are my first priority. I only see her as my sister. Nothing more," Izarius said. "I understand why you said what you did before, but no more of that!"

"Yes, yes, of course, celsa. You do not have to worry about that. But, do remember. The more she is here with us and not up there, the weaker her babies will be. Try and keep her up there as much as you can. I am sure you know this."

"We all do," Malthael said with boredom. "What you speak of is...redundant."

"It is not!" she insisted. "I am only reinstating it to show importance!"

"Trust me. She is not coming down here, if she does not have to," Izarius said.

"Good. Ah, at some point, you may want to check on Itherael," she said with a chuckle.

"Is that so?" Malthael asked. At her nod, she suddenly turned to see two children running at them. Many of the Horadrim had small children and didn't feel comfortable leaving them behind in other families. As long as they were looked after and kept safe, Tyrael was fine with it. Since they were in Kurast, there was a babysitting section set up. These two boys were able to slip away to explore.

"See?! I told you that angels existed!" the blond-haired boy said and pointed at Izarius.

"That's fake!" the other brown-haired child said. Izarius now looked at the children and chuckled. Myriam only grinned at this.

"Oh, no, child. I am quite real," Izarius nodded. "and also very busy."

"If you're real, then why didn't you save my Mum when the demons attacked?" the boy asked. Izarius knelt down on one knee to regard the child easily.

"How long ago did this happen?" he asked.

"Um...four years ago. I'm twelve years now. My Dad just barely got me out with him in time. Mum gave herself up to keep us safe," the boy frowned. Myriam shook her head sadly. Malthael merely listened in his invisible state. It didn't matter to him at all.

"I am sorry to hear of the loss of your mother," Izarius said softly. "But, at the time, I was stationed elsewhere. Also, angels were forbidden to hold back demon attacks. There was a pact made long ago that kept us from doing this. Demons disregard everything. However, things are slowly changing now. We will guide those down the right path to kill these demons."

"There was something that I have. Um...if I give it to you, can you use it to find the one that killed my Mum? It's a claw. I think," the boy said. Now Malthael gave his direct attention. Even Myriam was intrigued. The boy's friend had already run off on hearing his name get called.

"You say you have a piece of the demon that killed your mother? Hmm. Yes. Bring it to me," Izarius nodded and stood up. The child nodded back and ran off. He came back moments later with the claw-like item, and Izarius knelt down again to see what was brought. The item took two hands for the boy to hold, but it would have fit in his large hand easily.

"Dad doesn't know I have this," the boy frowned. Izarius took it carefully and studied it silently. He reached for the mirror at his side to contact Greed. Gurzick appeared shortly after with a nod.

"Greed, this is a claw from a demon that slaughtered this boy's mother about four years ago. Think you can find out if this demon still lives?" Izarius asked and handed over the claw.

"Oooh! I love a challenge like this!" Greed cackled from the crown. "Hmm. This is not a claw. It's a tooth. Not too sharp, from what I can tell, so an older demon, for sure. There is dried blood on it, as well as in the root section, so the tooth was healthy. Likely got knocked out. It happens quite a bit with fighting brutes. It looks like an outer tusk, too, from how it curves like a claw. A mature one, at that. I have an idea of what sort of tooth this is, as well as from which demon, but demon teeth do grow back. Four years you said? The missing tooth may not be as large as the other. It tends to take about ten years for full, large tooth regeneration for some demons. Especially one of this size and shape. Powerful demons have regeneration, but brutes love the scars they get. It's a form of bragging to them. I will need it brought to me to study it further. Did the cub want this back?"

"Did you want that back? Or can Greed keep it?" Izarius asked the child.

"If the killer of my Mum can be found and killed, then it can be kept by him. I won't need it," the boy nodded. Gurzick came to and looked in his bag to pull out an exquisitely made dagger to give the child in return for the tooth.

"If I do not find the one that killed her, then you may trade that back for this tooth," Greed said. "Let that be my contract with you."

"Wow..." the boy gaped.

"Just don't go using that until you are trained on how to use it. And don't show it off yet," Izarius warned. The boy nodded. "Where is your father?"

"Oh. I can get him," the boy said and scampered off. A short moment later, he was dragging a man in Horadric dress similar to Lorath's dress back by the hand.

"Easy, Rondal!" the man said. At the sight of Izarius and Gurzick, he paused.

"Greetings. I am Izarius, an angel of the High Heavens. I was here on small business when your son told me of his issue with a demon murdering his mother, and your wife. He kept a piece of the demon all this time. Did you know this?" he asked.

"What?! You did?!" the man gaped at his son.

"I'm sorry, Dad," Rondal whimpered.

"It's fine. But...why?" he asked.

"In case...we could find the one that...killed Mum...and..." the boy sniffled and got pulled up by his father to get comforted. Myriam already had a handkerchief to dab away the tears she felt.

"I don't know what happened to that thing after we fled. Or what happened to her," the masked man swallowed. "But...if answers could be found and justice met..."

"We'll find out what happened. Give the details of her last location to another to get a map drawn up. Then give it to Gurzick, here. If we can pinpoint anything after so long, we will tell you," Izarius nodded. Another demon dead was just one more demon to cross off the long list. At a nudge to his mind, Izarius stood up tall again. "I need to return to the High Heavens. I'll deliver the herbal remedy to my sister. Give Gurzick all the information you can."

"Oh! There is something you must know!" the man said.

"What is that?" he asked.

"That wall that we found in the hidden oasis chamber. We know of the prophecy that was there. We were able to decipher it. It says that a mortal form of the Angiris Council would be created. To match the one that is there in the High Heavens," he said. Now Izarius gave off the sensation of disbelief.

"I shall inform Tyrael," Malthael nodded and vanished.

"I need to tell Imperius this," Izarius said.

"No. Not yet," Myriam advised. "Wait until her current ones are born. Then it will be safe."

"That's right. Stress. Very well," Izarius nodded. He made sure that Malthael got the mental message, too. She nodded and watched him vanish. When father and son left, she saw Lyndon returning.

"I told you I would count the seconds!" he grinned.

"I knew you would," she giggled and leaned her heavily busted bulk on her staff.

"Now, ah, where were we?" he asked. As they started up their conversation, Malthael had moved right to Tyrael to mutter in his ear. Now he turned to stare at his spiritual brother with shock.

"It is what was just told by that female," Malthael shrugged. "And, of course, Imperius cannot know just yet. You would know why."

"I understand that, but...how?! A mortal Council?! It makes no sense!" Tyrael argued.

"Think about it," Malthael said carefully.

"Then how would Hope come around?" he growled out. That actually had Malthael pause.

"When the time comes...we will know..." Malthael responded wisely. In a way, Tyrael was disgusted. And he now realized why Itherael felt as he did. The elusive Archangel may not have admitted anything, but Tyrael was able to pick up on various sensations now. As he thought about this, he realized that he didn't want to share her with any others. Imperius was the only exception. Just as he was about to redirect his attention back to the current issue at hand, he felt a soft pulse to his mind. Anaurael was trying to call me back to Heaven.

"I'll be back here later," Tyrael said. "Anaurael just called for me."

"Did she? Interesting. I shall inform Izarius to give a message for you," Malthael seemed to chuckle. Tyrael teleported back to Heaven and found himself in her room. Imperius had to check on the troops, and she was left alone. Izarius was trying to get hot water for her to set up the tea, and he was now giving Lorath the message about Tyrael's call to the High Heaven's. Azarius, Mithus, and Darius were there, but they wouldn't respond to her unless she requested them.

She was sitting on a small, hand-carved oak wood and plushy cushioned stool, as she gazed out a window. She was wearing a light, golden gown to keep herself from overheating, and she was rocking herself gently with her arms crossed over her belly. She was only doing this, because she felt a touch ill. The breeze that came in did calm her, but only by so much. He moved to her side to kneel down to see her at eye level. "Anaurael? Are you all right?"

"Imperius...had to check on the troops..." she sighed. "I'm...so tired..."

"And you can't sleep?" he frowned.

"When Imperius holds me to his core, I sleep easily then. His aura cools me. Likely because we share the same Light," she smiled softly. "But...I get lonely so easily now..."

"You have Darius and your brothers here," he chuckled softly. "Even Izarius."

"That isn't the type of comfort I crave," she said softly. Now he looked at her and was able to gather her up into his arms to carry her. Azarius was quick to get a larger chair for him to sit in to hold her in his lap. She pressed into him, and he squeezed her.

"Feel better?" he asked. At her nod, he smiled and gently ran a hand along her back. She looked at him and planted a desperate kiss on his mouth. Then she pressed her face against his neck. She was troubled, and he gestured for her to talk about it.

"I don't know why," she shivered, and he squeezed her. "I feel...strange. Around Itherael. Like there's...something missing about him. I can't put my finger on it."

"How is that?" he asked.

"I feel like there is more between him and I. That...something more had happened. I don't know. Maybe it's just me," she sighed and rested against him. When he saw Malthael appear before him, a gesture to say nothing was done.

"She cannot hear me. I am able to only speak to you. If she knows I am here, then my focus will break. Itherael...did...become something more. Anu required it. She was forced to forget," Malthael said. Tyrael's breathing slowed as if to comfort her, but it was carefully restrained control. "Her mind subconsciously remembered how to make herself forget. Itherael did not want to do anything more...but...Anu ordered it. In order for the champion in her soul to become whole. Do not worry about Auriel. Her essence of Hope is always very strong. So, Itherael shared his Song and physical form with her. It had to be done. He does not wish for it to happen again."

"Anu requires much. Doesn't he?" Tyrael said, but it was also said in a way to comfort Anaurael. "Of course, I'm sure that everything will be fine. Itherael does see you as his sister. He protects and cares about you very much."

"He is madly in love with her," Malthael muttered out. That had Tyrael sigh, and he forced a chuckle when Anaurael pressed into him even more. "Watch how he is with her next time."

"Tyrael," she said. "what do you think of Inarius?"

"Do you really want to know?" he asked with a small smile. At the look she gave him, he tickled her lightly to hear her laugh. "I honestly don't know what to think about him. In all honesty."

"I see. And where is El'druin?" she frowned.

"Right here," he said and gestured to how the glowing sword hung at his hip. "I always have El'druin with me. If I need it, I can rest my hand on the hilt. Why?"

"I thought you always had to hold it," she blinked.

"That was before I had a carrier for it," he smiled. "I can't hold it all the time. Such as if I need to sleep or bathe. Most of the time, I just keep my hand on the hilt as I walk."

"You missed a time when you don't hold it."

"Hmm?"

"When you're with me," she blushed. A slow smile spread over his lips, and he kissed her in a rather gentle manner. Her hand moved to caress his cheek.

"How could I forget that?" he seemed to ask in a teasing way. At her look of mild scolding, he grinned and tickled her again. "I do need to get back to Sanctuary."

"Must you go?" she frowned.

"I have a new room to excavate. I need to oversee it."

"How long...do you think it will be?"

"I'm not sure."

"Don't leave her," Malthael warned. "She cannot have any stress. Izarius has already spoken with the one called Lorath. Your absence is understood."

"Then again," Tyrael thought, as he regarded her. "If I'm called here, it's mainly for you. Your, ah, delicate state is always a first priority. I believe I'll stay. If an emergency comes up, that is when I will go. I think you need me more."

"I really do," she whispered. Then she gasped and moved quickly to lean over the ledge to vomit. That had him grimace and move to help her.

"Yeah, you do," he sighed. Then he looked down at the dizzying ground below them with a small grin on how to cheer her up. "Hmm. It looks like your room is directed over the city of Kingsport. I could be wrong, but, if I'm not, make sure you aim for Lyndon. The scoundrel that likes to flirt."

That got her laughing a touch painfully after she rinsed out her mouth with some water. Even Darius chuckled at that. Azarius and Mithus only nodded with agreement. The rest of Tyrael's time was devoted to ensuring her proper health and care. He had no choice.