I'm back everybody! THis is the next chapter with Kyle and Lyn and all of their friends... Another long chapter as you can no doubt see and I would seriously like to say the common disclaimer goes right here... Please R&R! I really like to hear from you guys how I'm doing. I would also love to hear of anybody else's suggestions.

Bright and early the next day rose Kyle. He stretched, yawned, and looked around in the bleak, gray dawn. He looked to his companions to see that, as usual, they were all still asleep. However after the slight celebration the villagers had thrown them he was surprised that he was awake at this hour.

'No' he said to himself as he sat up in a bed. 'I'm not surprised… I'm used to waking up at this time…'

But still as he rolled the covers back, picked up his rucksack, and slipped on his boots he knew that something had changed within him. No matter how hard he tried to tell himself that nothing had changed…all those attempts would be completely futile… Yet reassuring himself was better than not doing anything at all so for the moment that was what he'd have to do.

Kyle walked down as quietly as he could…but unfortunately the inn's steps were very creaky, and when he reached the bottom he felt like he'd brought half the town from its slumber. However again he knew that he was over exaggerating. But the one thing Kyle knew he wasn't over exaggerating about was a strange man who was seated in the bar part of the inn. Now Kyle had wandered in sometimes to inns…but not this early!

Kyle immediately drew his weapon. "Who are you?" he asked calmly.

The stranger didn't reply, but responded by pulling out a small bottle. Kyle could see printed clearly on it: SACAE ALE. Then the man proceeded to drink it.

"I'll ask again: Who are you, stranger?"

The man took a good swig of the stuff, shuddered for a moment and finally said, "I am…" But he stopped at this and waved his hand. "Bah, what does my name matter? Let's just say that I am a shadow from your past." Seeing how Kyle's grip on the hilt grew tighter he then said, "Relax boy. I mean you no ill. See?" The man showed Kyle his belt, and the inside of his coat. No knives could be found. "Truly boy… Come sit down."

Kyle sheathed his sword, and walked over to one of the stools. "I…apologize for my caution sir," Kyle said. "It's just that many of the…shadows of my past want me dead."

The man laughed. "Yes…it isn't easy having the Black Fang after you is it?" Then the stranger took another drink of his booze. Kyle stared with a raised eyebrow at the drink and catching his gaze the stranger held it up and asked, "Would you like some?"

Kyle held up his hand, and shook his head. "No. I don't drink… But thank you for you generous offer."

The stranger shrugged, brought the bottle closer to his mouth and took another long drink. Then he put the cork back on the mouth of the bottle and slipped it back into his coat.

"Well, I have had some fun chatting with you again… But it seems that you don't remember too much… That's a pity. I remember you almost as clear as day… Tell me do you remember anything about the Scouring?"

Kyle shook his head. "I only know what I've read in history books… I know nothing of a firsthand account. The only ones who would know anything like that would be dragons…particularly fire dragons."

The old man nodded. "Indeed… I just hoped that more of your past would be known to you… As the world stands now I cannot reveal anything of importance to you… But I will tell you that you played an important role in the Scouring. Now I know what you're thinking: that was thousands of years ago how could I have played a part in it? On this I shall say no more."

With that a warp spell seemed to materialize underneath the man and as Kyle ran forward to ask him some questions the man vanished. Kyle looked around where the man had been sitting and noticed a small folded piece of parchment. He picked it up, unfolded it, and read it.

'Dear Kyle,

This is a wish that I have… Deliver Lyndis to Caelin and once you've done so…move on to Pherae and help the marquess's son. Once this has been done, come to Nabata desert, and call for Hawkeye, and tell him that Athos sent for you.

P.S. Enclosed is a pin that he gave me… You can use it to prove who you are.'

Kyle reached inside, and pulled out a pin that was shaped like a ferocious, angry looking dragon. He looked at the pin, then the note, and then the pin again. But something was strange about the pin… It was almost as if…Kyle had once owned this peculiar pin… But hearing the footsteps of the innkeeper he quickly shoved the thought into the back of his mind and put the pin in his bag.

"Ah! Young master, I apologize… I hadn't heard you get up. If so I would've had breakfast waiting for you," the innkeeper said with a smile. But Kyle dismissed him with a wave and walked outside.

The air around the Taliver Mountains was quite cold and slightly…eerie as if something could pop out of any shadow the sun made and take you into the dark. The sun was peeking over the very top of the Mountain and so the shadows were plentiful. Suddenly the door swung open behind him and Lyn walked out.

"Beautiful morning isn't it?" she said.

"Lyn, I know how painful this place must be to you…"

She nodded. "Yes being so close to the Taliver Mountains does evoke some…unpleasant memories." She sighed. "On the other side of this Mountain right here…was where I lived…and where we started. It was around…ten years ago. Bandits came, and they…well, you know. It took only one night. The survivors numbered less than ten, including me."

"…Your parents were some of their victims weren't they?" Kyle said apologetically.

Lyn nodded as tears began to come to her eyes. Kyle nodded. He patted her on the back.

"Personally," Kyle said. "I think that you're lucky to have memories of the past to look back on… All I have is the memories that I could make in the future… But I guess it doesn't do to dwell upon the past much anyways…" Kyle shrugged. "Now that isn't to say that I don't have memories from the past… I have memories of…jobs I've done, and friends I've made, I just don't have any childhood I can recollect…"

Kyle looked up into the sky as it began to grow lighter and he smiled. "It's strange…when you don't have any real family…or friends of the past…or anything…you feel abnormally free…" Kyle laughed slightly. It wasn't a cackle as Lyn had almost expected but a light-hearted gesture. "You don't have anything to really go back to…no home or…anything… You can wander about wherever you want and know that no one will be anywhere waiting for you…"

Lyn cleared her throat and changed the subject. "I heard you talking to someone… Who was it? When I went down there no one was down there."

Kyle looked her in the eyes, and then cast his gaze back into the sky. It was now the early morning and the sun had cleared the Mountain. "I…I was talking to part of my past…" he responded.

"Part of your past? What do you…?" Lyn asked.

But Kyle shook his head. "No… Maybe not. Maybe…I was talking…to myself…" Then he shook his head again. "I don't know anymore."

Behind them the door opened. Lyn turned around, but Kyle didn't. He already knew who it was.

"Milady Lyndis!" came the resounding greeting from the three knights, and Wil. Shortly behind the four was Florina who walked calmly out and then ran toward the nearby stables to check on her Pegasus.

"She really loves that thing doesn't she?" Kyle said, as he watched as Florina let the winged horse eat some oats from her hand.

Lyn nodded. "Yes. She is a pegasus knight, and their mounts are like their children. She especially feels attached to hers."

Kyle snorted. "Good thing I'm not a pegasus knight…" he said.

Lyn stared at him with a confused look. "Why?" she asked him.

He didn't answer her. His only response was a quick gaze, a laugh, and a trudge over to the stables. Lyn however wasn't one to give up easily, and she quickly came bounding after him demanding an answer.

Kyle was deep in the stables tending to the horse he'd captured, and when Lyn finally found him he was combing the horse's mane, cooing slightly to it. Lyn stared at him trying to catch his attention. But it wasn't working.

"He's done that in the early part of the day for the past few," Florina's timid voice said. Lyn turned her head to her friend.

"Though he has a hard heart most of the time…I think that he's actually a sweet man underneath… He is also very strong and skilled. He sounds like you Lyn." Though Lyn was graciously accepting her friend's assessment she was also confused as to how someone could be so two faced.

"You're good dealing with animals," Lyn said.

"Thanks," Kyle said. Then he turned, saw it was Lyn, and turned back to grooming the horse.

"Why is it that you speak freely with our other compatriots, yet you say maybe a word or two to me?" she asked. He didn't answer and his silence only encourage her to continue. "Also why is it that when I approach you do your best to go the other way or pretend to be busy?" Her voice was getting louder and louder.

Again Kyle was silent as stone. Exasperated Lyn threw her arms into the air and cried, "There's the act again!!"

Suddenly Sain's head popped in. "Ah Milady Lyndis, I had no idea you were here." Then he saw Kyle busying himself, and he looked back at Lyn. "Milady, are you having a chat with Kyle?"

Lyn nodded, and said quite loudly, "Yes, Sain. I'm having a talk with our dear friend Kyle. If you wouldn't mind, please leave!" Her harsh tone surprised Sain, and he quickly exited.

"Ah Sain!" Kent said cheerily. "How fairs our good friend Lady Lyndis?"

Sain was about to say how she was quite upset, when suddenly there was the clattering of metal and a woman's scream. Jaron, Kent, and Sain drew their blades. Florina pulled her lance closer, and Wil knocked an arrow onto his bow. Then one by one they filed quickly into the barn.

"Where is he, Milady?! What has the beast done to you?! I never trusted that Kyle for a second!" Sain was yelling as he made his way inside. When finally he found Lyndis she was kneeling over a body. At first the group thought that she'd killed Kyle because she was crying, but as she turned to them, they could see that he was alive…but barely.

The knights sheathed their swords, Florina's grip on her lance tightened, and Wil nearly dropped his bow. Kyle lay upon the floor, clutching at the canteen he'd just taken a sip out of. He reached up for a moment and his hand suddenly jerked back toward the ground. But Kyle shot it straight up out of sheer will, and then using part of a sty wall he stumbled to his feet.

"D-Damn it!!" he screamed looking at the ceiling. "This was poisoned!" Kyle glared at the tip of the canteen.

Everyone immediately jumped.

"Poison?!" Kent cried. "But who in the world could have done that?!"

Kyle shook his head. "I've no idea… But one thing that has come to me is that it was an act either of Lundgren's…" Kyle paused for a moment and struggled with pain. "or it was from my previous employer… In either situation we'd best be on our way. We've some ground to cover…"

Kyle started to walk off when suddenly he stumbled and dropped to the ground.

Lyn rushed over to his side and knelt down. "You can't go anywhere in your position! Who knows what that poison was! Until we know that we can't go anywhere!"

Kyle pointed to his knapsack. "Lyn. I trust you. In my bag there's a mortar and pestle. Take it, and the flower in the same pocket, and crush the stem, and the root of the flower into a fine powder. Then put it in water mix it up and then give it to me."

Lyn with concern paralyzing her face rose immediately and ran to his bag while the others gathered round. Kent and Sain helped him to his feet and set him up against one of the barn's walls.

"Do you know what this poison was then?" Kent asked. Kyle nodded immediately.

"It is called Versonora. It's a poison commonly used by the Black Fang nowadays. It's for tough targets, takes only about one hour for total death, and is almost impossible to cure. You see the only known cure is..."

Suddenly Lyn held up the items that Kyle had asked for and he nodded. The mortar and pestle were common items but in her other hand was a flower than looked more like a jewel. The petals were shining a deep blue like a sapphire, tiny barriers sparkling like rubies, littered the upper stem, and the stem itself gleamed like an emerald.

"That flower," Kyle said directing everyone's attention to the plant, "is called Graystongue. It is said to grow every one thousand years, all around Elibe except for on one island." He took a reprieve from speaking to combat more pain. Then he spoke. "They grow every year only on Dread Isle. That's because not many people pick them. The Black Fang's base is there…I was there for a while when they…um…captured me once. During my stay they let me go into the forest with a handful of guards and I picked one."

Kyle waited for a while and then laughed slightly. "Pray tell me: 'Tis strange no?'"

Kent watched him sadly. "You've gone made haven't you? What is strange?"

Kyle's smile wasn't one of madness but one of comfort. "That the thing that men can pick freely by the grace of god is more oft than not the very object of their salvation? So then, lingering awhile upon this thought, is it possible that the god's of our salvation are not but flowers in the sight of something greater?" But Kyle quickly laughed again. "Nay…I'm simply speaking foolishness…"

"No Kyle!" Kent said. "You have a wonderful talent for wordsmith! If you truly wished you could stay in Caelin and become a wonderful poet. Gods know we need one."

But Kyle scoffed at the idea. "Poets…sculptors…painters…musicians… All occupations of the fanciful mind are but a simple farce!" His face had grown dark and cloudy again. It hadn't been madness it was true human thought! "They are a mockery of the very ideas that they portray! As their minds so interwoven into fantasy like the threads of a quilt, are they go about life bound to the earth just like the lowliest of creatures…"

But he quickly changed his tune when Lyn walked over with an emerald green liquid in a bottle. "Ah yes. You remembered to take off the berries I trust?" Lyn nodded to his question.

He smiled warmly. "Good…"

Originally Kyle was reaching out to take the glass bottle from Lyn, but she walked over and put the bottle at his mouth. Then she tilted the bottle, and Kyle's head back and allowed the liquid to slide down and back into his throat.

"Ok," Kyle said pushing himself off the wall and stretching. But suddenly effects of the poison forced him to fall to the ground.

"Ah! Damn it!" he yelled into the air.

Lyn knelt down grabbed him by the arm and put his arm around her shoulder. Then she stood slowly and helped him to get to his feet.

"I forgot…" Kyle said. "I still need to let the antidote make its way through my body…"

Lyn assisted Kyle in getting on top of the horse, and then she got on behind him. "We've still got ground to cover," Kyle heard her say to the others. Her tone was normal but when he looked back at her there was a resolve in her eyes that he'd never seen before.

When the group had gotten out onto the main road Kyle turned and asked: "Lyn, what has gotten you in such a rush today. Not to insult you, but that's what I do."

The girl simply answered, "I realized that we needed to get going that's all."

The daylight that "Lyndis's Legion" had been riding by soon began to turn dark. Kent, suggested that it was time to find a place to stay for the night. Lyn acquiesced, and sent Sain and Wil off to scout ahead and find a place to stay for the night.

Kyle pointed up ahead at an old fortress that the two had stopped by and Lyndis pulled alongside them.

"This mildewy old fortress? Surely you jest Wil! We can find better than this!"

"It's fine," Lyndis said. "I prefer a place where I can see the stars anyway."

The group moved quickly into the fortress completely unaware of approaching danger. After checking out the perimeter of the fortress on his own Kyle was sure of a few things. This fort wouldn't be well defended anymore. If bandits attacked then he'd have to make sure that there were a few people to take the far right wall. It was cracked and looked like only a few good hits would bring it down.

He was walking back toward the center of the fortress when Lyn came toward him supporting a woman much like she'd supported Kyle earlier. The woman had brown hair, and slightly brown eyes. Lyn explained that this was Natalie and that she'd come looking for her husband Dorcas. Lyn handed Kyle a picture. Whoever it was in the picture reminded Kyle of a big gorilla with a goatee.

"I haven't seen anyone like that. But I shall keep my eyes open," Kyle said.

Lyn sat Natalie down on a small bench. "Listen," she began. "the group decided that we're going to set up camp in the center of the fortress where Natalie has been staying. We're mainly going to stay tonight so that we can watch over her… She has an illness that keeps her from traveling far on her leg. I'm just afraid that…"

Suddenly Kent ran in and cried, "Bandits! They've surrounded the entire fortress!"

Kyle's eyes narrowed into slits. 'Damn these guys…' he thought to himself. 'They just never give up do they?"

The young man moved forward and began shouting orders. "Florina and Wil, you two take the far right wall. Try to protect it in case it falls. It's in need of repair and I'm not gonna fight a battle on three sides. Kent and Sain, you two take the main entrance. You two are the hardiest of the bunch of us, and that's what we'll need for defending the base right now. Lyn you take the far left entrance. I'm gonna stay right here, and help protect Natalie." With that he helped the woman to her feet, and allowed her to use a stick that he'd carved to help him walk easier. She hobbled back into the center of the fortress. When he was sure that she was far enough in he got in the center of the passageway to bar entry, just in case he wound up alone, and drew his sword.

Shortly however a man wielding a large axe came running in from the east. At first Kyle was weary however the man explained that he was Dorcas and that Lyn had told him that Natalie was here. Kyle re-informed him that yes she was indeed inside of the fortress being protected by the group.

"Listen, I trust you, and for an axe wielder that is strange. Go to the far right wall, and see if Florina and Wil need help. If so your post shall be there." The man nodded and ran off.

Kyle could see Kent and Sain fighting hard. Kent seemed fine, but Sain looked like he was about to collapse. Kyle ran up and handed him a vulnerary that his companion wolfed down.

The light that the bandits were trying to fight by was quickly fading and they were beginning to run into each other from their lack of vision. When one of the bandits hit one of his own friends there was cursing and suddenly one of the bandit's no doubt the leader cried, "Pull back rogues!"

The sea of brigands began to fade, and Dorcas walked up to Kyle. In his eyes were tears yet his voice was as clear as ever.

"Let me see my wife," he said.

Kyle wasn't going to get in his way. He stepped forward and let Dorcas pass. He could hear Natalie's cries of happiness, and Dorcas's apologies. It made him want to smile though he tried his best not to show it.

Lyn walked up to him. "You okay?" she asked in a sweet voice.

Kyle nodded without saying anything. His head was bowed so that she couldn't see how horribly red he was turning. Lyn smiled at him and walked on to check on the other members of the team.

Dorcas was going to take his wife back home and then be back in the morning to say his goodbyes and thanks. But Kyle had a different idea.

"Since you need money, and we need all the help we can get in this endeavor, why don't you come with us? When this task is complete I'm sure Lyndis would give you some money as compensation for Natalie's leg."

Dorcas stroked his goatee and replied, "I'll have to think about it… But it's possible."

He watched Dorcas ride home at a leisurely pace as Natalie turned back to smile at him and laugh and tell jokes… It was rather comical to see and it almost warmed Kyle's heart… But it wasn't enough to truly bring himself to tell Lyn…

"Hi!" Lyn cried poking her head suddenly in front of Kyle's vision. Startled Kyle stumbled on the wall he'd been sitting on and fell off to the other side doubled over.

When he stood up he brushed himself off. "Hi," he replied. She stared at him for five minutes and finally he asked, "Is everything ok?"

She nodded. "Yes. I'm just looking at you. Is that a problem?"

Kyle shook his head slowly. "No… I suppose not."

Lyn followed where his gaze had been originally. "Ah, you were watching Dorcas and Natalie. Marriage is a funny thing isn't it?"

Her question caught Kyle completely off guard and he stumbled on the wall again nearly falling off. When finally he'd regained his balance he replied, "Um… Yeah. Marriage is sure a funny thing."

Suddenly however Lyn's second question seemed even more random than her first. "Kyle… Do you remember your parents?"

Kyle had drawn his blade out and had started checking it for blood when she asked this and as he replied he absent-mindedly sheathed his blade. "No… All I really remember is waking up here. Well not here, I woke up on some kind of fortress in the middle of an island…" He waved his hand to brush away the confusion. "No, I have no memory of my parents."

"Have…you had any family since you got here?" she asked more shyly.

Kyle scratched his head and replied, "Well the only real family that I've had since getting here is…well you and everyone else." He wasn't sure if stating her as the first family he'd had had alerted her to how he felt. But when he looked at her face she hadn't seemed to have paid much attention. Kyle sighed in relief for that.

"So…I'm the first family you had since getting here…" She suddenly said. "So how do you think of me as family? Am I like a sister to you? A cousin? Do you think of me like your mother?" Suddenly she took an enormous pause. "Or do you think of me as a wife?"

Her question lingered in the air for a few moments and suddenly she started laughing and then for no reason Kyle started laughing. The two of them stood outside the fortress as Natalie and Dorcas rode away laughing about as hard as they could. A symphony of laughter one could call it.

Sain was coming out of the fortress and spotted Lady Lyndis when suddenly he heard Kyle roaring with laughter.

"Yeah!" Sain heard the man say. "That's it! I think of you as a wife!" Then more roaring laughter. "Come here! Let me give you a kiss!"

Then Lyn nearly doubled over laughing herself. She stood for a moment where Sain was her, still laughing her guts out, and then she began to walk toward Kyle. Sain drew his weapon and charged.

The knight neared Kyle raised his weapon in the air and prepared to strike. But quickly Kyle stopped laughing, drew his sword out, pushed Lyn away and parried Sain's blow.

"Sain!" Kyle cried out holding his friend at bay. "What in the hell has gotten into you?!" Sain was strong Kyle knew that much. Kyle also knew that one of his two arms had healed but the second had not, and without the aid of that second arm holding Sain off would be that much harder.

"You….You…Villain!!" Sain cried. Kyle broke the lock with Sain. However the knight readied his sword for a second attack. "You… I thought that you were only protecting Lyndis, weren't you?" Sain asked both provokingly and accusingly.

Kyle knew this bait and he wouldn't fall for it. "I have promised to protect, and follow. That is all. The two of us were having fun. We were just sharing a laugh. Why is that so bad?"

Kyle's response was intended to catch Sain off guard. Instead it made him angrier. "Yes. You promised only to protect and follow. You NEVER promised to have fun. You NEVER said that you were going to share a laugh." Kyle shrugged and watched as Sain leapt at him holding his sword high in the air.

Just before Sain's blow landed, however, Lyndis had parried the attack with her own blade.

"Sain, have you gone mad?" Lyn asked. "Kyle is one of my friends. He is by no means less in my sight than you, and you shall treat him as such!"

Sain allowed the consequences to roll around in his head. The combination of Kyle and Lyn together would be stronger than him, and if he did back-down and be the bigger man…Lyn might respect him more for it. Sain backed off, sheathed his sword, and began walking back into the fort.

Before he was completely inside he said, "Just be careful of who you choose to be your friends."

Lyn watched him go back inside with concern. "I hope that he's alright…"

Kyle didn't watch him leave but quickly said, "He'll be fine… He's just suffering from something."

Lyn turned to him. "What do you mean?" she asked. "What is he suffering from?"

Kyle was turned away staring off into the night sky. "He's suffering from an ailment of the heart… He's in love I believe."

Lyn looked back into the fort. "Well he is quite a womanizer… He probably gets bored simply wandering around like this."

Kyle gave a quick snort like that of a bull, and then he shrugged. "Yeah, even I get bored when there's no one to kill."

Lyn suddenly yelled at Kyle. "Oh please! Do not try to sound so indifferent!"

The young man turned to his agitated companion. "Whatever do you mean? I wouldn't have survived if I hadn't kept an indifferent attitude!" Now he was raising his voice as well.

"Come off your high horse Kyle, for the sake of the group at least!"

Kyle turned and yelled in anger. "DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE I'VE KILLED?!" Lyn suddenly could find nothing to say. Kyle bowed his head and continued. "Every night whenever you hear awaken with a scream…I'm being haunted by poltergeists of the people that I've killed. I have not had good night's sleep since I met you… You were just so innocent…and it tore at me…"

But Kyle judged then that he'd said too much. "I apologize. I've rambled for too long. Get yourself back into the fortress and get some sleep. I'll stay up and assist Kent and Sain in keeping the watch. My arm is nearly healed anyways."

Lyn's face was one that looked stricken with both terror and disbelief at what Kyle had told her. He walked back inside with her just as far as the bed that he'd laid out near the entrance and picked up his lyre and walked back out. Kyle leapt onto the roof of the fortress and sat there plucking at the delicate strings while allowing Lyn's frightened face flood his mind.

In truth he'd slightly wanted to paralyze her with fear. He'd hoped that by doing so he'd find some joy from her that he hadn't seen…and yet it had only served to make him think less of himself. Suddenly he began to doubt all the training he'd had….

The strings sounded sad, almost in accordance with his soul's lamenting. He plucked another and felt his heart sink another few feet. A song that he knew from somewhere snaked its way from his mind to his fingers and before long to his mouth as well.

"Through the fire and the stars…came the wandering tears of the dreamers lament… From the lament of the heavens came the fire…from which the rivers were made… Then the stars lament as the children of earth war against each other… Nothing to say for it… nothing that could stop it…nothing to fix the broken soldiers… Nor to redeem the broken blades…"

He stopped abruptly and looked into the night's sky. Lyn's destiny was coming closer. With every step "Lyndis's Legion" took Lyn was closer that much closer to her grandfather, and Kyle was helping… This was the first time that he'd done something for someone else without expecting any compensation and it was a very good feeling in his opinion.

Bus still…he couldn't let his newfound emotions take him over. No doubt the Black Fang was till off in the shadows simply waiting for him to slip up… If they got Lyn…

Kyle squeezed his eyes shut and tried to force the thousand of methods of torture that they'd put her through…and in the end Kyle would kill them all. Of course Kyle already knew that it was his destiny to kill them all anyway…but that fate was for later, and was one that Kyle was anxious for. Though Kyle didn't want to admit it he was falling in love with Lyndis of Caelin… He turned his attention to the Black Fang and how they must be trying to get at him…

Though Kyle knew they were after him only the gods themselves knew the purpose of their pursuit. But so far they'd encountered no one from his old 'Family'. For now Kyle tried to forget about it, and he let himself get lost in the myriad of stars.