Irina nearly let out a screech when she entered the fighting pit for her morning work out. Alexander was standing with his long sword drawn pointed at his father. Alexander's nose was bloody, and his shirt was torn. Jenos was on the ground out of breath, his son's blade over his chest.

Iria rushed over and knocked Alexander's blade away, "Alexander what in the Goddess do you think you are doing?"

Alexander and Jenos looked at each other, and burst out laughing.

"What is so bloody funny?"

Alexander offered a hand to help his father up. "Father tried to show me a maneuver to evade a blade strike while prone when you walked in."

"Just reminded me of another time when people got caught in a compromising position." Jenos stood and grinned at his daughter.

Irina pinked a little bit, "Yes well, you over reacted a bit too if I remember correctly."

"Before scaring the life out of me, was there some reason you came down here, my sister?" Alexander sheathed his blade.

"I was to meet Daniel down here to practice this morning. Have either of seen him?"

"No, and we have been here since before dawn." Jenos handed Alexander his jacket.

"That's strange. Callista said he would meet me after he met with Dark Angel this morning."

"What?" Alexander stopped with only one arm in.

"Daniel went to meet with Dark Angel before dawn. Did he take anyone with him?"

"Callista said he was to go alone." Irina began to notice something was wrong. "What's wrong?"

"Irina, wake Artie, and get 4 horses saddled. Something has happened to your brother. Go!" Jenos slipped into command mode.

Soon as she was gone Alexander turned to his father, "Poppa, I'm…"

"I know. We will talk about it later," he looked his son dead in the eye, "Where might he be?"

"Best place to start is the Vultures beak; it is near the first wall. Look for him there, and check the side alleys."

"Thank you, now go. Do what you need to do. I'll leave the horse waiting for you. Just don't waste time."

"Understood sir," Alexander took off at a dead run up the stairs.

"This is it." Irina indicated the pub before them. The sign hanging from above the door showed a vulture with a bloody beak.

"Not many of the guard venture down here. The thief's guild is rumored to hang out here." Artorus dismounted.

"You two stay with the horses." Jenos started to walk toward the door.

"One of us should go with you." Artorus started to hand his horses' reins to Irina when Jenos put up a hand to stop him.

"I don't need your help." He patted Artorus on the arm. "I'm just going to chat with them." He turned and walked into the bar.

"Are you sure that is a good idea?" Iriana asked, but the sounds of swords being drawn made her spin around and start to the door, only to be pulled back by Artorus as a man went flying through the window into the street. Actually he had gone flying through the window, the boarded up shutters, and its locks. The pair of them peaked in the door to see Jenos in the middle of 6 guys, only to have them on the floor bleeding out in less than it took them to blink.

Seeing the trouble over with Irina spoke up, "Aren't you glad Poppa never had to have a chat with you?"

Artorus just glared and entered the blood strewn pub. Jenos was leaning over a man, his greatsword at the ready.

"Now, are you going to tell me where I can find the man I'm looking for."

"I… I saw him earlier. I don't know where he went. We were told not to touch him. They were going to deal with him."

"Who was 'they'?" Jenos readied the blade.

"Don't know; they paid well. We were to do as we were told, and we got our gold. We only wanted to get paid not end up dead, there is no profit in dying."

Irina walked up and placed her rapier at his throat. "You say you saw him earlier, where?"

"Two or three allies over; he might have been going to one of the brothels. They aren't the cleanest but if you want to shag you can get one down there cheap."

"Daniel wouldn't dare go near one of those places. Callista would have his hide, and she WOULD find out." Artrous commented.

"Come on." Jenos led the way out the back door.

As Jenos, Irina and Artorus proceed through the allies, most people ran away from them, until a young man blocked their path. He couldn't have been more than 17 but held himself like he was much older. He had a deep scar on a once handsome cheek. His near black cloak hid him well in the shadows of the building. The only weapon they could see was an unstrung bow.

"Out of our way, boy." Artorus growled.

The man's cloak covered his eyes, but he seemed to be a part of the shadows. "I know what you seek." The boy's voice seemed to hiss.

"Then you know to not stand in our way." Irina rested her hand on her hilt, "be on your way."

"I have found what you seek." The boy offered an ornate winged symbol. When the Anthal's children went on their first mission each were given a distinctive item. Should anything happen to them they could be easily found. This was the one that belonged to Daniel.

Irina snatched it away from him. "This looks like Daniel's."

"He is that way; in the third doorway. You won't like what you see." Before he could finish Irina and Artorus were running toward the door way.

"Why won't I like what I see, boy?" Jenos fiercely grabbed the young man's cloak. He forced the young man to look into his eyes.

He looked up into Jenos's face, "He is near death, my lord, but shall live."

He saw the truth in the man's eyes. He wasn't trying to deceive them. "Very well, go, and find me better news." Jenos shoved him down the ally.

"I will father…" the young man mumbled as he ran away drawing his cloak tight to him.

With the boy gone, Jenos approached where Daniel lay. His armor was covered with blood and green sick. He wasn't moving, and was paler than Jenos had ever seen anyone. "Is he alive?"

Irina looked up at her father, tears nearly coming. "Yes, but he is a mess."

"Artorus can you help me get him over a horse? We must get him to a healer." Jenos bent down to pick up his son.

"What in the Goddess happened to him?" Artorus held up Daniel's other side.

"Dark Angel betrayed him." Irina spat.

"That was Dark Angel we ran into back there. He wasn't lying. I think someone was trying to get us to blame him for Daniel's death. He knows too much and wanted us to silence him for them." With Artrous's help he managed to get Daniel to a horse. "Come we must get your brother home."

Later that day Alexander appeared at his father's bedroom door. Artorus and Jenos had placed Daniel there so that Callista could care for the baby in their room. Not wanting to disturb his brother's sleep, Alexander knocked softly on the door. Jenos looked up at him, and nodded. He followed Alexander down the hall to his room. Once inside Alexander locked the door, and cast whisper on his father and himself.

"What did you find?"

"More than I hoped actually." Alexander sighed, and saw his father motion to continue. "One of the local beggar boys was paid a silver to deliver the message to Daniel. Daniel was to meet him at the Vulture's Beak before dawn. The locals say he showed up, and was met by two people."

"Man or women?"

"The bar keep says it was two women, but some of the patron's say a young boy and women. I'm more inclined to believe two women."

"Continue."

"He left out the side door with them, from there no one knows. Some of the ally residents say they heard a scuffle but that isn't unusual for those parts of town. They thought he was just another drunk or fell pray to foul play."

"He was surprised by something. It isn't like him to not to at least get a hit on something attacking him."

"What ever hit him did a good job of it." Alexander sighed, "Speaking of which, how is he doing?"

"We had Priestess Katherine check him over to make sure there was nothing seriously wrong with him beside the obvious."

"Her?" Alex raised an eyebrow at his father.

"Yes, her, she is one of the few clerics I trust. There is something to say for a cleric who is more interested in helping others through the Goddess than government. She delivered all of you kids. If I trusted her when you were babes in arms I trust her now."

Alexander sighed. "What did she say?"

"Your brother was poisoned by the same stuff that killed your mother."

"Mother didn't die from that knife wound." Alexander glared at his father.

"No but I would bet she was killed by the poison spell that was used on your brother. At least that is what Katherine says."

"Forgive me, but what is Daniel doing alive if it was the same stuff?" Alexander looked at his father like he had gone nuts.

"Your brother is a little tougher than your mother."

"I don't think mum would have liked to have heard that." Alexander couldn't help a slight smirk.

"Your brother is like a strong oak, tall, hardy and strong; while your mother was more like poison ivy."

"Poison ivy?" Alexander raised an eye brow, wondering if his father was making a joke.

"Yes, a hard chill could harm it but you rub it the wrong way and you would be in a heap of trouble." Jenos chuckled.

"At least Daniel is alright." Alexander sighed.

"Katherine cast a spell that helped him get his strength back, but it is going to be days before he can get out of bed. He took a real beating out there."

"We will find out who did this." Alexander clapped his father on the shoulder and they walked out of the room.

Jenos was dozing in the rocking chair when he heard someone clear their throat. Tirai Osdarin was standing in the doorway with a tray.

"You didn't come down for dinner. I thought I would bring you some. Alexis would strangle me if I didn't make you eat something."

Jenos smiled and began to stand, but was motioned to remain seated. Tirai brought him his food, rested a hand on his shoulder briefly before turning for the door.

"Tirai…"

She turned and looked to her old friend. "Jenos?"

"Save me from myself. My children are losing their patience with me, and I'm becoming more and more useless. It's driving me to madness."

Tirai moved to the bed and sat on the edge. "Save them from the man who wants to solve everyone's problems, or save them from the father who cares too much?" She raised an eyebrow at Jenos. "Or save them from the husband who is too much of a Warblade to properly grieve?"

Jenos chuckled. "Are you sure you're not still in my head, Little Ghost?"

"If I were, you would have fallen out of your rocking chair by now." She smirked. "Still, at least I'd look young again."

Jenos chuckled at his friend. "You're kidding, right? Half the time, new patrons here thought that EITHER Tirai they saw was Lexi's daughter."

This brought a chuckle from Tirai as well. "You sweet-talker. But seriously, Jenos. In spite of yourself, I know that you're quite capable of being thoughtful when you need to be. We all might have different thoughts in our heads, but all of us miss your wife and are dealing with the pain in our own ways. Your little Tirai probably didn't need to yell at you or tell you to stay out from underfoot, but she's a grieving young woman who doesn't know how to make her pain, or anyone else's, go away. Alexander's outburst was off-base and uncalled for, but he's a grieving young man who doesn't know how to make his pain, or anyone else's, go away." She stood up and moved for the door. "Not too different from their father, actually."

Jenos paused for a moment as Tirai went to leave, letting her words sink in. "Tirai, before you leave…"

She turned. "Yes?"

"You said everyone was dealing with the pain in their own ways. I know you and Lexi were close, but you don't show it. What's keeping you in one piece?"

She smiled from the doorway. "You, of course."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Me? Like the oaf I am, I haven't even tried talking to you about what you must be going through."

"Like you and I ever needed words, Jenos."

Tirai wanted to check on Daniel before she headed to bed. She couldn't help smiling at the last time she saw Jenos asleep in that chair, when Daniel was first born. As she left, she pulled the covers up on him, then headed to bed. At the other end of the hallway, Jenos settled back down to go to sleep himself, half hoping that he would see Alexis again that night. Only that night, Alexis didn't appear in Jenos' dreams; she appeared elsewhere, but this person knew what she was as soon as the mist formed.

"Hello, Alexis."

Her longtime friend smiled back at her. "Hello Tirai."

"She has bound you, too?"

"Not exactly." Alexis sat on the bed next to her, "I've been offered a choice. I can go back if I want, but my time is running out."

"What are you waiting for?"

"You," Alexis said simply.

"Me?"

"Why haven't you given him your offer?" Alexis's eyes bore into hers.

Tirai paused, looking at the floor. "I cannot do that, Alexis."

"Why not? You have been granted a long life, and my children respect you. Jenos already goes to you for comfort."

This time, she looked to the door. "He only takes comfort in my words, Lexi."

"If you hadn't died, you and Jenos would have been married within the month." Alexis gave her a weak smile. "And you can't deny that fact."

"No, I can't." she looked at Alexis sadly.

"You have lived your life second-best; take what should have been yours in the first place."

"Jenos and I would have married, but it wouldn't have lasted long."

"I wouldn't have stood in your way."

"I know, but Alexis, when Jenos ended my life, you forget… I was already dying. I just didn't know it then. If I had stayed I would have been dead with in months. I would never have been able to give Jenos what he deserved, a family. And knowing him, he never would have taken any more chances with his heart."

Alexis sighed. "And you won't do it now?"

"I cannot fill the place in his heart that you have left behind. I have my namesake, and she is as good as a daughter of my own. I have been a part of your family for many years and I plan to be a part of it for many more."

"I can no longer be there for them as I once was... or for him. You know that." Alexis looked into her eyes.

"I do." Tirai sighed. "I just didn't think it would be this soon."

"Thirty years he and I have had together."

"You should have had many more," Tirai said sadly.

"Everyone wishes for one more day with the one they love." Alexis said sadly. "You and I both knew this day would come. "

"I've known since the day I walked in that door," she sighed, "I didn't want this to happen now. "

"You and I have had to live by our bargains, even if things didn't turn out like we planned." Alexis eyed her.

"I know, but that doesn't make it any better."

Alexis only nodded. "You have always been the other half to Jenos. He is soul bound to you."

Tirai looked up quickly at her, as if a secret was let out.

Alexis gave her a slight smile, "I've always known Tirai."

"Yet you never said anything."

"It wasn't my place to. " Alexis sat on the bed. "Jenos gave his heart to me and everything but since that night….part of his soul became bound to you. I just didn't know it at the time."

"You are not angry?"

"What reason do I have to be angry? You helped me raise Jenos's and I's children. I don't know what I would have done with out you being there. You were there when I needed you. I'm asking you take up the mantle you promised you would. "

Tirai sat there silently for a moment before she spoke again. "What must I do?"

"You are the new matriarch, the new steward of the house of Anthatal. Use your power wisely; I am leaving my greatest treasures in your hands – my family and my husband."

"Anything else?" Tirai looked up at her again.

"Give a message to Jenos, and Alexander." Alexis licked her lips.

Tirai nodded for her to continue. "Alexander is to bring my chest to his father, no questions asked. Only Alexander can retrieve it, and it is time that Jenos saw what was inside. The key is behind Jen's great sword on our mantle. To Jenos tell him… tell him I miss him and I want to come home."

"What is in the chest?"

"The reasons and the means for me to come home."

"What are you going to do now?"

"Do as my Goddess asked of me, protect the blood line." Alexis stepped into the mists. Before she dissipated, she turned once more to Tirai. "I'm hoping you'll do as we agreed, and take care of Jenos... however you see fit. But enough of this; I think it is time for you to wake up."

"Why do you say that?"

The mist had completely concealed her . "Because you are about to kiss some wood."

"What..."

Tirai's eyes snapped open as she awoke, to find herself falling out of bed, tangled in her sheets. She landed face first into the wood floor. Muffled, Tirai commented, "Now I know how Jenos felt."