Reaver strolled out of the tavern with a thoughtful expression. Beside him Lorna looked up with mild curiosity and tried to keep pace as best she could with the pirate as he nosed a round the stalls. He spoke eloquently with many of the residence who seem to blush every time he spoke. Lorna stared in wonder as she followed. When they stopped by one stall she tugged lightly on his trousers.

"Reaver?"

Reaver sighed but did not look down. "Ye-s?"

"I did not know you could speak their language," she said in amazement. The statement made him chuckle as coins changed hands and a small package slid into his pocket.

"I have been on this continent for five years, I would eventually pick up a few words here and there," he smirked to himself as he strolled to the end of the stall then looking back he saw that the trader was occupied. He looked down at the stall and grinned, his hand reached out and slid something from the table into his pocket. He walked away with out the trader being none the wiser and Lorna looked at him shocked.

He ignored the expression as they continued to walk down the road. Lorna swept her purple gaze over the people and she spotted a man with a small boy. The boy was jumping at the man who laughed, then reached down to put the boy on his shoulders. A wistful look crossed her face and she looked at Reaver as he chatted with a young lady. A certain longing crossed her and she reached out to the pirate to tug his cloak once more, but the pirate moved forcing the small girl to trot to catch up.

Lorna lost her sense of time as they walked and blinked in surprise when she found herself wandering the alley ways. The dark shadows made her flesh creep and fear made her quiver. Knowing the pirate was just there was of little comfort, but nevertheless she reached out to him to grab his arm. Reaver looked down and made a face, he really hated children.

"Why are we walking in the alley's?" she asked in small fearful voice. Reaver looked down at her at her scared little face and something at the back of his mind tugged. He similarly ignored it and continued round a corner.

"Well my dear, I always hate being in a place with out an escape route," he explained, "and so I take at least a small amount of time to assess the place and come up with a few escape plans. Simple really."

Lorna nodded and understood what he meant. She paused to think to herself then with a look of determination she nodded once more. As she followed Reaver she paid special attention to how things were laid out. At first it all seemed random, but then she started to notice a pattern in the layout of how the buildings were set in. She then felt a light breeze caress her face tussling her hair with a gentle hand. Her eyes widened as she made a realisation. She sped up to close the gap between her and Reaver, reaching out tug his cloak. The pirate looked down with a look of irritation.

"What is it now?" he asked in exasperation as he stopped to regard a cross section of allies.

"Well, um, is the river nearby?" she asked tilting her head up so she stared at him with wide, purple eyes.

Reaver raised a curious eyebrow. "Yes," he replied simply.

"With a lake?" she eyes grew even wider.

A certain curiosity bubbled up in him as he stared back. "Yes, why do you ask?"

Lorna smiled brightly and Reaver cringed inside. "Then am right."

"Well that's much to ones perception of whats right or not," Reaver retorted feeling irritated, "Well out with it girl, I can't stand to see you gloat."

Lorna giggled. "Well at first I thought it was strange how the alley ways seemed almost random," she began, "but then I realised they weren't" She balled her fist and smacked it against her palm in a matter of fact motion, her face determined and serious. "They follow an exact pattern that's almost exactly the same as the isometric designs I saw on the buildings. They follow a definite course. I then began to wonder why this was until I felt a breeze and it clicked. Its a way to keep the whole city cool." She exclaimed, smiling happily. "The way the buildings are arranged makes the breeze from the lakes and river flow in a certain way to cause a air current that flows circular." She clapped her hands as she grinned.

Reaver's jaw dropped. This was the first time he had ever heard anyone, let alone a ten year old, speak so intelligently and he admitted he was not quite sure what she meant, but he gave her the benefit of the doubt.

"Really?" he replied uncertainly. "That's nice."

Lorna grinned happily whether his words were meant to be praise or sarcasm. Reaver gave her a calculating frown before beckoning her to follow. As they walked the houses suddenly stopped and in front of them were larger blocks with hardly any window and a single double door entrances. To Lorna it looked like it could fit some of the house inside with ease, just like building blocks.

"Ahh warehouse," Reaver said with a hint of satisfaction and a glint sparkled in his green eyes as he beheld them. Beside him Lorna looked up with eye brows raised completely disinterested.

"Warehouses?"

"Yes dear, where traders store their goods..."

"I know what a ware house is Reaver," Lorna told him pointedly and Reaver's face fell a little but it was quickly replaced with exasperation. He noted that her tone sounded remarkable like Sparrow's. Result of spending so much time with the women, he surmised, poor girl.

"Indeed," was his reply as he approached them rubbing his hands a little. Lorna sighed when she realised what he possible wanted. "Pirates," she muttered solemnly and followed regardless. She suddenly stopped when something vibrated against her collar bone. Her finger tips went to the necklace and fear erupted in her chest. She grabbed Reaver with out hesitation and tugged at his arm her small voice whimpering fearfully in her throat as a deep sense of dread crept into her bones.

"What's wrong with you, you silly girl," Reaver chided trying to wrench his arm out of the small girls grip. Tears stung her eyes as she let out a squeak.

"We have to go Reaver!" she told him in a near scream.

"What in Albion is your problem!" Reaver tugged his arm when a click made his ears twitch, beside him Lorna froze, still as a marble statue.

Silence reigned amongst the warehouses until all of a sudden a gunshot rang true and lead shot whizzed past his ear. Taking out his pistol he aimed blindly at where the shot had come from and fired. The bullet flew true and much to his satisfaction a disembodied cry and thud made him smirk.

"Please Reaver," Lorna squealed returning to her senses, "we have to go!"

More shots ran out and one clipped Reaver on the shoulder. He let loose a low growl and gritted his teeth. Lorna squealed again but Reaver ignored the small child's protest as he fired again. Men dressed in dark clothing began to creep out of the alleys and warehouses like insects as the slowly began to surround the pair. To Reaver's horror he realised that the odds were really against him this time.

"Please Reaver," the small girl pleaded, "He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day!"

"Never a truer word spoken." Reaver conceded her words to be true and grabbed her instinctively, then bolted as fast as his legs could carry them both despite the stabbing pain in his shoulder. Lorna looked at the blood steeped jacket and put a hand on it. A low purple glow surrounded her hand. Reaver was to busy to even notice the pain disappear as adrenaline kicked in. Lorna felt a wave of sickness pass over her and she gripped the Pirates jacket with as much strength as she could muster. She looked around and stared in shock. The men were quickly gaining on them but the alley's proved to narrow and they stumbled over each other in a frenzy to capture their prey. This thought chilled her worse than her sudden weakening of body.

"Go left," Lorna said in his ear. Reaver gave her a odd look. "Trust me, go right and it will be a dead end."

"How do you know?"

"Trust me please," she retorted and as they skidded round the corner he took left and dashed down the jagged alley leaping nimbly over garbage and debris that was strewn across the alley way. His lungs began to scream and his legs ached but he dared not stop. For some reason the thought of the girls protection came precedence over all else. He wrestled with the idea but it only gave him a headache right at the time when he needed it to be clear. He decided to relent this time to it but vowed to re-evaluate his thought processes at a later point. If he was not mistaken he could feel a small sense of satisfaction in the back of his mind, but chose to ignored that too; running seemed a bit more important.

As he came round another corner indicated by Lorna he came skidding to a halt. He panted heavily and swallowed staring before him in horror. Lorna protested loudly that they were finally pulling away, but stopped when she saw his expression. She looked where his eyes were held by the largest cat she had ever seen and just by sitting it seemed almost as tall as Reaver, and the pirate was not exactly small. It sat on its haunches staring at them with intent and intelligent white eyes that glowed. Its heavily muscled body was covered in a short, course sandy coloured fur with a thicker ruff about its jaws which was white flecked with red. Along its back was a long thin black stripe that ran the length of its body to its tail which was tipped with white, the same with its rounded ears. Its sandy flank was also flecked with thin red markings. It just sat there calmly regarding them with a solemn recognition and Reaver shivered.

Lorna stared at it pain crept over her heart as they locked eyes. She whimpered as a tear streaked down her cheek. Reaver jerked when it moved and stood on its massive paws revealing the length of its muscled body.

"I think its going to let us pass," Lorna whispered in small voice and Reaver nodded slowly edging his way passed the monster of a cat. As they inched passed the cat's bright eyes watched them pass as the pursuers were closing in blocking the alley way in a dense wall of black. When they were passed it surged forward and with a colossal, earth shattering roar it broke through the wall of black like a flash of yellow lightning. The men fell back with cries of pain and fury, as the vicious animal tore through flesh and bone, with wet sickening crunches of bone and sinew. Blood spattered the walls and floor baptising it with its crimson brilliance. Lorna watched over Reaver's shoulder with a blank fascination as a small sapphire glow illuminated her chin and Reaver's shoulder as he fled from the scene.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sparrow enjoyed wondering around the market with Corban. It was so pleasant to talk with someone who was not trying to make suggestive passes every few minutes. Even as they chatted about his home land Sparrow could not help but feel a loss of presence. At first she thought it was the happy smile of Lorna she was missing, but to her grievance it was Reaver. Despite his arrogant swagger she missed him. She dared not say this to Corban for fear of hurting the dark man's feelings. It was odd to think about, but even as she smiled and conversed she could not shake the feeling.

As the day slowly drew into evening Sparrow stopped by the stall that she had ring at earlier. As her blue eyes scanned the wares her heart sank. The ring she had spied earlier was gone. She sighed sadly and left it with a sweep of her skirts. She took Corban's arm and he looked down at her downcast face with a worried frown.

"What's wrong Sparrow?" he asked as he lead her through the throng of people.

Sparrow shook her head and smiled. "Its nothing really."

"Come on you can tell me," the man encouraged with a wide, white grin.

She giggled girlishly. "Well it was just that... there was a ring on that stall I liked the look of that's all."

"Oh really?" Corban looked round curiously and she tugged his arm a little so that his attention came back to her.

"Its gone now," she said with a sad sigh.

He nodded in sympathy and wrapped his arm about her shoulder making her blush as he squeezed a little. He gently guided her back to the inn just as the sun touched the sky line of houses and the sky melted into hues of pinks and oranges staining the clouds with its gentle summer glow. They passed into the bar where the owner was busy checking the various bottles behind the vast wooden counter.

He waved to them a cheery grin on his round face as they passed. They greeted him warmly and passed through to the rooms hidden behind the door. As they strode down the hall way laughter and giggles could be heard. They looked to each other as they curiously edged nearer, down the corridor. They stopped at a door which Sparrow noted to be Reaver's room. Corban opened the door to Sparrow's room and gulped. He looked at Sparrow almost fearfully.

"Um Sparrow?"

"Yes Corban?" she turned to him as her hand was half way to the door handle. Seeing Corban's expression she became concerned.

"Lorna isn't in the room." Sparrow's eyes widened in horror and she glared at the door in front of her with intense anger and loathing.

She took a step backward as she judged the door with a raised eyebrow as female laughter filtered through. Corban watched stunned as Sparrow's leg sprung forward with the speed of an arrow and the door crashed open. She confidently strode in her blue eyes icy as she looked round the fairly large room. In a chair, surrounded by at least five women was Reaver retelling a tale as he had a goblet in one hand and a girls face cupped with the other. They all stared at her in mute shock as her gaze sent chills into the room. Her eyes finally rested on the bed where a wide eyed Lorna, surrounded by just as many women, was busy pampering the young girl. Sparrow's eyes locked with Lorna's wide purple gaze. With a sheepish smile she slid from the bed and fled the room much to the protest of the young women lounging on the bed who were scantly dressed at best.

Reaver's face darkened as he stood to confront Sparrow. The women watched with bated breath as she approached him with a hard expression. They stared at each other, Reaver with a look of blank disinterest and Sparrow of intense hate. Her hand flashed and connected with a resounding slap across the pirates face. He had been expecting it, but made no effort to deflect the blow as he stumbled a little under its force. Pain cascaded through his jaw and cheek as a rosy red hand shaped mark appeared over his face. The women let out squeals of protest as they surrounded the pirate to support him before he fell over. He worked his jaw a little to make sure it was not broken and he glared balefully at the rigid women. He refused to look away however and she stalked out leaving him with his group of women who began to fuss.

Corban looked down at him with a dark smirk. "You know you are your own worst enemy," he laughed as he turned to walk through the door, and over his shoulder he said, "And your making it much easier for me." He closed the door with a snap leaving Reaver, a white rose amongst black orchids that fussed. He made no effort to push them away as he stared at the floor with blank eyes and yet his chest felt heavy.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Garth strode into the entrance hall of the library taking a deep breath, inhaling the familiar fragrance of books and ancient magic. He smiled a rare smile and swept his eyes over the book cases that nearly reached the ceiling. Balconies traversed the room in a maze of stone and wrought iron suspended in mid-air with the will of many thousands of years. Just this cavernous room alone contained the knowledge of thousands of generations of Mage's and wizards. Men and women in robes of every conceivable colour floated past their skin illuminant with the glow of their will scars.

He stepped lightly across the entrance to where a desk sat following the concave curve of a spiralling pillar. Behind it was a sickly looking man but his will scars shone as bright as his own. He looked up with dark, heavy lidded eyes and spoke in a slow weary deep voice the native tongue of their people.

-Hello, how may I help you on this... day?- A muscle in the man's cheek twitched in amusement though the joke escaped Garth as he bowed slightly.

-I am here looking on anything relating to the old kings of Samarkand perhaps in the earliest history- Garth replied and the man waved vaguely in a direction were an ornate crystal fountain gurgled and gushed.

-You can try history section, ancient history will be labeled with AH- he said in a bored tone as his eyes went back to the scrolls sat in front of him.

-Thank you,- Garth replied politely and as he walked in the direction indicated he muttered, "For nothing." He sighed and looked up at the vast bookcases with a sense of dismay. This was going to take a while. Though his mind reeled at the thought of how much knowledge must be here he forced himself to concentrate on the important goal. He knew very little about the kingdom of Jupitus save for the few scraps of information he had found on his travels. The fact that the map he received from Reaver was blank was also troubling. Was there something he had to do, a spell to use, a potion or something more mundane to make the map reveal itself. He sighed as he spotted a book labeled 'Ancient Kingdoms'. He picked it up and browsed through it but put it back with an irritated scowl. This was going to take a while.

Sometime later in the afternoon the air in the library began to cool as the sun's heat dissipated much to the inhabitants relief. However much time he spent Garth was no closer to an answer than he was when he came in. He sat upon a pouffe not too far from the fountain as he looked in books that he had piled next to him in a tower that was diminishing. Slowly he made his way through one then put it on an ever growing tower on the other side of him.

A strange rattling made him peer up and a small man with a magnificent silvery beard that trailed between his legs trotted over. He wore a robe of purest white that was a definite contrast to his dark, almost black skin and about his neck was heavy looking necklace of a simple fashion that seemed vaguely familiar. He sat with a huff on another pouffe that protested as he sat just in front of Garth and curiously Garth peered around, but a chill settled over him when he realised there was no one else around. The place was empty, or so he thought and down one aisle stood a tall man who was frozen like a statue, staring in his book. With a quirk of his eye brow he looked up at the old man suspiciously. The old man peered back from under heavy, white eyebrows and his hair was slicked back, but not in the customary braids a lot of Samarkanians wore. In fact the only thing to indicate he could possible be from Samarkand was the black of his skin and dark brown of his eyes that bore into Garth's own. Everything else about him seemed foreign.

"You look lost boy," he said in the language of Albion. This definitely surprised Garth and he nodded dispiritedly.

"It would seem that way," he replied and the stranger chuckled deeply. The sound carried with it a deep sense of wisdom and Garth felt awed by it as he sat opposite him.

"Well what are you looking for?" he asked with a tilt of his head.

"Well, I am trying to find more about an old king Jupitus," Garth said with a heavy sigh as he rubbed his tired eyes. The stranger regarded him with amused eyes as a smile twitched under his beard.

"Well, thats the why but not what you are really looking for is it," the old man stated pointedly, "so what are really looking for?"

Garth stared at him and he was forced to think. After a moment he spoke again. "Well, a way to read a map that looks blank."

"Hmm well there are many ways to read a blank map," the old man replied, "may I look at it?"

Garth gave him a measured look and hesitantly retrieved the piece of parchment from his inside jacket pocket. He handed it over to the old man who snatched it. Garth cringed inwardly as he watched the old man flick the parchment open with rough movements. He stared at both sides flicking it back and forth. Garth nearly cried out when the old man began to tug the parchment and the poor mage feared it may rip in half. Uneasiness came over him and something told him he should not of given him the map. He watched as the old man sniffed it, then licked it. Garth felt revolted as the old man smacked his lips as if he were taste testing wine. The old man hummed and nodded to himself as he threw the map back to the horrified Garth. With a certain reverence Garth folded up the map and deposited it back in his pocket glaring at the old man who sat with his face scrunched up like the bark of an old tree.

"To the east lies a temple hidden in heat of darkness, buried by the remnants of mountains and there you shall find the light to your blankness," the old man said in a voice that vibrated and Garth could feel his bones rattle in the shell of his flesh. He held his breath as the old man then looked at him blankly, "I'm hungry!"

Garth let his breath go explosively and shook his head with a weak laugh. "Thanks any way old..." he looked up and blinked. Th old man was gone and he had sensed no use of will, nothing. The pouffe was also undisturbed, holding its plump roundness. Baffled he stared about the library where people meandered intent on their own business. He sighed.

One mystery after another it seemed for Garth as he picked up a book. He looked at it a moment taking in the cracked look of the leather volume and as he turned it to look at its smooth spine it read. 'Secrets of the Araga desert'. This immediately caught his attention as this was the desert lying to east nearer the mountains. Now he felt like he was getting somewhere as the words of the mysterious old man roamed round his mind. 'To the east lies a temple hidden in the heat of darkness' this was definitely a clue but how it related to their present predicament he had yet to fathom.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N- Thank you so much for the encouragement from all who that reviewed. I have not quite recovered yet but this just kept rattling round and round in my head. For all authors they should know what I mean. I also apologise for any grammar and spelling mistakes I had over looked as I said I haven't quite recovered yet. I hope I haven't disappointed with this latest instalment of the chapter. Also for the naming of the desert I took from David Eddings series Belgariad because I thought it sounded cool. Anyway review as always and the next one should be up soon.