"Did you have to hit me so hard?" Alexander nursed the goose egg sized bump on his head.

"I said I was sorry. I thought you were someone else." Jenos apologized.

"Yeah, one of the drawbacks to being in disguise." He glared at his father. "Now can you tell me what is going on?" He looked to his mother.

"This is your show sweetheart." Jenos held his hands up in surrender.

Alexis sighed, and cast a whispering spell on them so they couldn't be over heard. "The women that was you mother died a week ago Alexander. Only the Dark Lady is left."

"So what are you, a construct? A clone? "He eyed Alexis warily.

"I'm a celestial, like you father, ordered to remain on the mortal realm to protect the guardians heirs." Alexis recited.

"Reincarnation." Alexander breathed. Alexis nodded. "We need to tell the other's they will want to know you are alive." He hugged his mother tightly, letting his tears fall into her hair. At his words, his mother stiffened. "You will tell them won't you?"

"We can't. It is part of the rules." Jenos said sadly.

"Then why tell me?" Alexander stepped away from his mother.

"Because you will know me longer, and I need to be close to the family. You can help me there." She looked into her son's eyes, "You will also keep our secrets."

"Know me longer?" Alexander looked to his father. "What is she talking about Poppa?"

"You are a half celestial Alexander; a child of the heavens and earth. You are graced with a long life my son." Alexis wiped a teary hand on his cheek.

"I do not understand."

"You could live to see 10 generations or more of this family; provided you don't meet any sticky ends." Alexis steeled herself. "You must carry my secret until another comes along that can take your place."

"What of the other's? They miss you already Mum. They need you. "

"No they don't. Tirai is the matriarch and runs the inn. Your sister Tirai runs the pub, and is happy doing so. Daniel and Callista have a fine family started, as do Irina and Artrous. Wallace takes care of his mother, Artrous takes care of Rachel, and Daniel will take care of Tirai. None of them need me anymore."

"Some one is trying to kill us Mum."

"I know; one of them killed me." Alexis looked at him a little annoyed.

"What are we going to do about it is the question." Jenos murmured.

"We have 30 years of suspects but nothing solid. It could be anyone any of us have ever slighted."

"Daniel and Iriana have found a symbol, and were following up on its origins." Jenos explained. "We sent Tirai and Wallace out to scout an abbey that was associated with the symbol." Alexander handed her a piece of parchment with the symbol on it.

"Gladston Abbey?"

"How did you know that?"

"Just the story related to it, battle of light vs dark priests. Light wins, only have the madness swallow their home."

"Would the priests there have any grudge against us?"

"No the local priests made a new church closer to their crystal. They also became very selective of those who they let in. Most of the locals won't go near the old abbey even now that the Taint has been lifted. They consider it a place of evil. It is possible that some of the mad priests from there could still be around, but highly unlikely."

"I know that place." Jenos spoke up, "They often send recruits there to test their metal. Generally harmless place, but occasionally something happens there."

"Why didn't you tell us that before?" Alexander glared at his father.

"You just said an abbey near the town of Greenwinds you never said the abbey's name before." He shrugged.

"Has there been any word from Tirai?"

"She is on her way home as of yesterday. We haven't heard anything since."

"Mum, do you remember if any one we knew was from there?"

"Only socially as far as I know." She shrugged.

"Who was that?" Jenos asked.

"Irina's competition," Alexis smirked.

"Oh… that fluffy brunette that set off the whole argument?" Jenos rolled his eyes. "What was her name?"

"You remember her after all these years do you?"

"High Priest so and so from Gladford I forget. A girl with that sweet of figure is hard to forget." Jenos gave his wife a wry grin.

Alexis cleared her throat. "I think you mean the daughter of Jean-Phillipe Sibert."

"That was it Kasey, her name was Kasey Sibert."

"That wench," Alexis practically growled. "Her father sent a messenger a couple days after that party. He demanded that Rachel pay him 500 gold, and a letter of intent to marry or he would let the cardinals know how Artrous had taken advantage of an innocent maiden because of his status. Rachel told him where to shove it. If he was inappropriate with anyone's daughter it was with yours." Alexis pointed at Jenos.

"I wouldn't say inappropriate. He kept the end of his bargain with father. They were married by the end of the month. And the only time he knew they went beyond what he 'requested' is when you found out she was with child a year later." Alexander held his hands up in surrender. Aside he murmured, "That is not what he said a week later in the hay loft above…" Alexis immediately put a hand over his mouth.

"There are something's parents don't want to know about, especially from overly nosey 14 year olds." Clearing her throat, Alexis continued hoping that it would blow over. "As I was saying, Kasey was rather taken with Artrous. He told me later she used a spell against him that night." Alexis growled the last part. "He managed to see through her deception, and sent her away. And it is common knowledge what happened after that in the fighting ring between Irina, and him."

"Is she capable of something like this?" Jenos asked.

"Could she have orchestrated something like this? I don't know. She was just 16 when I last saw her, and more powerful that I gave her credit for"

"And non-verbally casting charm spells." Alexander mumbled.

"Did her father try contacting Rachel after his refusal?" Jenos asked.

"No but the gossip grapevine did say ours wasn't the only family contacted like that."

"So could have been something could be nothing at all."

"I wish there was a way to catch who ever it was in the act." Alexis thought out loud.

"You tried that once and it failed mother." Alexander glared at her.

"I stopped the guy from taking little Jen. I didn't count on some sneaky priestess killing me. You don't expect your healer to be killing you." She snapped.

Jenos laid a hand on her shoulder, "You had a good plan but this time we need a back up plan."

"They aren't stupid enough to come after Little Jen at the moment. He is just too well guarded. Daniel is not leaving the house for a while. I love my brother but he can barely lift a sword right now." Alexander shook his head, "Artie has been shot at once. He could be again, but they know better than to take him on so soon. That leaves one person, me."

"Alexander I don't want to use you as bait."

"The way to catch them is for them to attempt to take me at one of the upcoming galas. Mum, you and I were planning on going anyway."

"It's too risky." Jenos stood behind her with his arms crossed.

"If they try what they did with me they will kill you." Alexis said her voice full of worry.

"Daniel survived."

"He got lucky." Jenos stood like a stone wall.

"It is the best way to catch them."

"How can you be so stubborn?" Alexis said frustrated with him.

"Because I take after him" pointed at Jenos, and then got a mischievous look in his eye, and then he looked at his mother, "and you."

"You are not doing it." She put her foot down.

"Mummy," he said in a sickly sweet voice.

"What ever it is no. I know that tone of your voice and what ever it is, no. Absolutely no." She did not like that look in his eye.

Alexander turned to his father, "Poppa, if I could figure out a way a plan, would you do it?"

Alexis was mouthing "No" over and over again.

"I would want to hear it first. I reserve the right to tell you yes or no then. My answer will be final."

"Agreed," He rubbed his hands together. "Poppa, are the stories of how charming you were when younger true?" He gave his father a mischievous grin.

Alexis rolled her eyes. "Oh, no."