Disclaimer: I don't own Neopets the Darkest Faerie.

A/N: I had this all typed out, complete, finished. Aand then I'm not sure what happened. I thought I saved it, but when I went to open it, the chapter wasn't there. So then I had to write it again.

Chapter 22

Nothing. Tor didn't find the Assassin. He didn't even find any Ixi's. There wasn't even a sign that anyone had been there. Not in any corner of the old mines. His magic practically emptied, his strength nearly drained, Tor stumbled back to the entrance. And once he got there, he didn't have a clue as to what to do. The sun had passed its highest point. There was no way that Tor could even get back to Cogham in his exhausted state, let alone to the lake camp.

Tiredly, Tor slumped against a boulder. Roberta wasn't going to be happy. By now she was probably already on her way back to the camp. He was going to get an earful about this one.

His eyes began to drift shut. He just needed a bit of rest and then he could be on his way.

…..

Tor snapped awake. He could feel eyes on him, somewhere. He struggled to stand, using the boulder as a support, and he drew out his sword. Tor scanned the area, but saw nothing. And then he heard it, the small buzz of an arrow. There was no time to move. He felt a sharp pain in his leg as the head sank through. Tor didn't focus on that, diving behind the boulder to hide from his attacker.

The arrow had gone straight through the armor, the bloody point sticking out the back of his leg. Tor felt sick from looking at it. There was no way for him to remove the arrow at this point. He would have to leave it there. Summing up what strength he had, Tor got back onto his feet keeping his head bent to stay within cover as he drew his bow. He readied the bow, pulling back on the bowstring in advance. He now knew the general area of the attacker from the way the arrow had gone through his leg.

Tor took a deep, steadying breath. He spun around the side of the boulder and aimed his bow, having pinpointed the ixi archer immediately, perched up on the cliff. His arrow hit the target dead center in the chest, leaving Tor will a feeling of satisfaction that only lasted until he found himself needing to sit down. Now he was going to get even more of an earful from Roberta. Sleeping out in the open. One of his biggest blunders, and a foolish one at that.

His head thudded back against the boulder and he looked up at the sky, just letting waves of pain overcome him. He kept his eyes up, refusing to look at the arrow.

It started out as a small dot against the rocky horizon. Tor followed it as it came closer and closer. Soon he was able to make out a mass of black hair flying against the wind, merging with the golden mane of what was obviously a uni. A smile etched its way across Tor's face, thanking whatever god had let this happen.

"Roberta!" he shouted as loudly as his voice would let him, straining it even. The sorceress turned her head in his direction before pointing Solarin—or at least Tor assumed it was Solarin—in his direction. Tor didn't think there had ever been a time in which he'd been so relieved in his life as he was when the hoof beats thudded over the ground toward him. Roberta jumped off Solarin's back and kneeled next to him.

"I want to hit you so hard right now, Tor."

Tor grinned. "Incredibly, I'm very relieved to hear that."

Roberta rolled her eyes and moved to inspect his leg. "What did you do other than get shot and exhaust your magic?"

"I went into the mines to find the assassin. Which I didn't. Not a single thing. That about when I exhausted myself. Barely got out of the mines to being with. It's all coming apart down there. I got out and… well I fell asleep." Tor didn't even see Roberta move. First she was carefully holding his leg to look at the wound, and then she was punching him in the arm with all of her mite, dropping his leg in the process. Tor gave a cry of pain, torn between wanting to clutch his bruising arm and cradling his leg.

"I'm not even sorry about that to be honest," Roberta grumbled. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, winced and sighed. "Alright, I am actually. But you idiot. Going into the mines, fine. Going alone, not so fine but I can get over that. But pushing yourself this far? You know your limits, so don't stretch it to the point that it all breaks. This is what happens. Or even worse things."

"Yeah, got it. Now can you please do something about that arrow? Heal it or something?"

"I can't do anything about it now. I don't know if it hit anything serious or not. I'd have to get the arrow out and remove the armor. This needs at least two pairs of hands, and you'll be too… preoccupied to help."

"Then what's your plan? Just take me back with Solarin?"

"No." She shifted closer and put her arm around his back. "Solarin, go back to the camp. I'll be there." The uni whinnied and took off into the air with a soft whoosh. "Alright, Tor. Just relax."

"I didn't know that this was even possible."

"Well… I haven't tried it yet."

"What?"

There was a blinding white flash and Tor closed his eyes tightly in pain. He felt the rocky ground disappear and be replaced with grass. The hot, dry air of the steppes was gone in a cool, fresh breeze. Tor rubbed his eyes. "Well that was different." He mumbled and opened his eyes. They were in the camp, the very middle of it actually. Other soldiers were staring at him in shock.

"Medic!" Roberta shouted, before facing Tor. Her eyes were dull and tired all of a sudden and Tor guessed that what she had just done took a lot of energy from her. "How was it different?" she questioned.

"You mean it wasn't for you?" Roberta shook her head and stepped back so that the medical neopets could lift him onto a stretcher. She walked beside his head, looking down at him to show that she was listening to him. "It was just a blinding flash. I didn't see anything else."

"Hm, interesting."

The healers transferred him to a bed, careful not to let his leg move too much. One of the healers looked at him, her eyes holding a hint of sympathy. "This is going to hurt."

"I figured." Roberta positioned herself on the edge of the bed, leaning over him in a way that let her long hair block his view of what was happening. She gripped his hand and said, "Relax."

And then the searing pain began. Tor couldn't see what they were doing, but it felt like hot lava burning away at his flesh. He grit to teeth and squeezed Roberta's hand so tight that she sucked in a breath of pain. It lasted for a full minute before it began to ebb away.

"Arrows out," a healer said, tossing the two broken halves into a bowl. Tor grimaced at them until Roberta turned his face away. "Nothing major. You'll me fine by tomorrow, Sir Tormund. We applied a potion that should close and heal the wound, but it will take a few hours to take full effect. For now, rest and restore your energy. Here," the healer, an old aisha, handed him a glass filled with a sweet smelling potion. "That will help you to sleep as well as restore your body.

"Thank-you," Tor said, draining the glass. Roberta took it from his hand and set it on the table. He was already feeling drowsy.

"Lady Roberta, if you will follow me," the aisha said. "You're exhausted too and we must apply a salve to your wounds."

"Wounds," Tor questioned Roberta. "You didn't tell—"

"I tell you when you wake. They are nothing serious. Sleep. I'll tell your father that you're alright."

Tor frowned. "Fine."

Roberta smirked. "Don't pout."

…..

Tor slept for a few hours, through the rest of the day and well into the night. When he did wake it was shortly after midnight, the moon causing the camp to glow. Tor looked around the medical tent. It was completely empty apart from him. He sat up slowly, feeling stiff. A crutch had been leaned against the bed so he grabbed it and shuffled out of the tent. Several campfires were going, neopets sitting around them. Tor began to look for his father, to make sure that he was alright.

"Tor," Roberta greeted him, suddenly appearing at his side. "Come with me. I know where your dad is."

Tor smiled, relieved that he didn't detect dismalness to her voice. She kept her pace slow to match his. Tor glanced at her quickly, catching the way she was walking with the smallest of limps and the way her cheek slightly moved as though she was biting the inside of it. "What happened today? The healer said something about you being wounded."

"Hm." Roberta pursed her lips. "Towards the end, when I was getting out of the caves with the others. We found the assassin, but I barely even got a glimpse of him, he disappeared so quickly. I haven't a clue where he went to. When we were leaving there was a surprise attack. They came from one of the side tunnels, five of them. I'm not quite sure what happened, but one of the got me. No bites, but I caught some blows with their claws. I'm fine though. They might take a while to heal completely, but they're much better already from the salves."

"Was anybody—"

"I'm not sure how many died. A lot." She didn't look at him as she asked, "Grayson informed me of Torakor, or Master Torak. I'm sorry. You know that he's not gone, not really."

"Yeah. He was still my mentor though."

"I get it," Roberta murmured. She didn't say anymore as they had arrived at one of the campfires. Tor immediately picked out his father from all of the others around the fire, mostly those from the farm. They both took an empty seat, drawing everyone's eyes to them.

"Tor! Are you well?" His father questioned, staring wide-eyed at his son. "I checked in before but you were asleep. The healer said that you would sleep through until morning."

Tor shrugged. "Sleeping potions don't affect me much."

Hubert tilted his head slightly. "How do you feel though?"

"Exhausted, though I know that I won't be able to sleep another wink. I just hurt in general, I can deal with that however. Can't walk without a crutch. But I'll be better by morning."

Tor heard his father sigh. "I'm relieved to hear that. Very relieved. I couldn't imagine just the thought of sleeping a few moments ago, yet now the thought seems very appealing."

Tor laughed. "Go to sleep. I'll be here in the morning."

The older lupe stood up wearily. "I'll be counting on that. Glad to see that you are well."

"You too dad."

When his father was gone Tor blew out a long breath and looked at Turk sitting across from him. "He looks older."

Turk nodded grimly and poked the fire with a stick. "My dad is the same. I don't think that it was the actual fight as much as the worries they held over us."

"I'm shocked, Turk, that you understand emotions," Aryanna said from the left side of Roberta. Tor smirked and sensed an oncoming argument between the two. Everyone else seemed to sense it too and so while they were all caught up in that, Tor discreetly turned to Roberta.

"So, what's our next move?"

He was surprised to see the small smile that crossed her face as she handed him what seemed to be a negg slice. "I've been awake for the last hour wondering the same thing. I think that you might like what I came up with."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"Thieves seem to be aware of everything, don't they? They've got eyes and ears everywhere. And most consider them as dark. If the Assassin is trying to build up supporters, maybe he's spoken to them."

Tor grinned. "And if he hasn't, they'll probably know something anyway."

Roberta nodded. "So what do you think?"

Tor took a bite of the negg, the fruit crunching between his teeth. "I think we ought to visit some old friends."

….

Wrapped tightly in their cloaks, remaining completely inconspicuous in the shadows of night, Tor and Roberta snuck through the alleys of Meridell, having arrived outside of the gates on their unis. Reluctant to be questioned, as it would be hard to explain that they were on their way to meet with a couple of highly wanted neopets, they waited until the guards had turned their backs. Then they slipped into the city.

It wasn't easy for Tor to sneak quickly while using his crutch. He hid it under his cloak, keeping his left arm out of the sleeve to be able to use the crutch the way he was. The sleeve only dangled by his side as though his left arm was completely useless, or gone completely. Tor refused to let his wounded leg impede him were things to go awry. His right hand held a dagger hidden in the sleeve and if the situation called for it, he could be as quick as a flash.

It wasn't that Tor feared the thieves. They all had a sort of understanding after the Darkest Faerie's downfall. Tor did not bother them, letting them carry out their daily lives of stealing while the other knights and guards sought to control them. As long as the thieves covered their tracks, an act in which they were all well trained in despite an occasional slip-up, then they would be fine, even with one of the strongest, most well-known and respected knights of Meridell knowing of their location. Tor liked the arrangement, as did the thieves.

Music could be heard inside the building, not loud enough to attract attention, but cheerful enough that Tor could tell that once inside he would be surrounded by drunken neopets. Roberta rapped three times on the wooden door with her knuckles and added another two with her boot, two very distinct sounds. A small, rectangular panel, eye level on the door slid to the side and Tor looked into a pair of bright green eyes from under his hood.

"State your business," said a gruff voice.

Tor and Roberta both pulled back their hoods for a couple seconds before putting them back in place and Tor caught a flash recognition in the green eyes. "We've come to speak with Dolosuno," Tor said lowly. Dolosuno, the leader of the Meridell Thieves Guild, also known as the Sly One. Tor had never seen his face, always covered by a hood. He didn't even know what type of neopet the man was. Nobody did except for those within the guild, hence the name, the Sly One. Some weren't entirely sure if he even existed or was just a made up story.

"No can do, buddy."

Tor sighed and glanced at Roberta. She looked just as aggravated. "Alright, listen buddy, I know that you are aware of who we are. I saw it in your eyes. Let us in. We'll make it worth your while." Behind him, Tor knew that Roberta was holding up a bag of neopoints. He saw the greed in the green eyes, the desire for some small amount of wealth. He smirked underneath his hood. The less mindful thieves, newbies, were always easy to convince. The bag did not hold more than a hundred neopoints, an amount the Tor once found to be incredible, just like this guard.

Slowly, hesitantly, the door opened just a crack. A dark blue hand slipped out and Roberta tossed the bag into the palm which quickly disappeared. Tor heard the neopoint shaking around, their metallic clinks very distinct to his ears. Then the door opened all of the way revealing a skeith, other than Tor though not by much. A long, thin rapier, dented and chipped hung at his belt. His clothes were ragged and a red bandana was tied around his head. He ushered the two in and locked the door.

Just as Tor had expected, neopets milled around the room, laughing, dancing, drinking. It was the way of the guild. When they weren't thieving, they were partying, even during times of war when others were out fighting. Many didn't even know that half of these neopets existed, living within the building, only leaving to steal. Tor accepted it, even though it made him angry to think that while his friends were all out fighting, many dead just today, here was a safe haven for those who just didn't give a damn for anyone besides themselves.

"Where is Dolosuno?" Roberta questioned the doorman.

"Downstairs. One moment. HEY BRACCUS!" the skeith shouted loudly, causing Roberta to jump and Tor to chuckle at her expense. Across the room a red lupe, probably around Tor's father's age, looked up. The skeith waved him over. Braccus didn't seem happy at all, but left his… companion, a pretty aisha much younger than Braccus.

"What is it?"

"Take these two down to the boss."

Braccus looked at Tor and Roberta suspiciously, unable to see their faces under the hoods. "You fool, Al. What do yeh think yer doin'? The boss is gonna kill yeh!"

Tor cleared his throat, catching Braccus's attention and tilted his head so that the light would show his face. "I don't think there's going to be any problems."

Braccus chuckled uncomfortably. "Ah, well of course not, Sir Tor—" Tor glared at the other lupe, cutting him off from completing his name. Not that it would help as most knew him by the name of Tor. "Er… yes. Well, follow me then, both of you."

The small group of three made their way through the crowded room, picking their way by the merry thieves. An aisha draped her arms around Tor's shoulders, pleading for a dance. He gently pushed her away and shrugged at Roberta who seemed annoyed by the event. Tor was thankful to get down the basement steps where there were only muffled sounds from above.

Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs Tor could see a lone figure sitting at a table, a mug in one hand and a book in the other. Dolosuno, he knew. Once again the Sly One was covered by his cloak, keeping his face in the shadows, his hands covered by leather gloves despite the fact that he was inside.

"Braccus, go back upstairs," Dolosuno spoke lightly, without even looking up from the book. Braccus bowed in acknowledgment and respect before quickly going back upstairs, probably to go and find his companion. Dolosuno gestured to some empty chairs across the table. Tor frowned at his chair while Roberta took the offered seat. "Wondering how you can sit without me knowing of your injury, Tor?" Dolosuno chuckled. "Too late."

Tor laughed quietly in return. "I should have expected no less." Tor withdrew his crutch from the cloak and set it against the table after lowering himself into the chair. He could feel Dolosuno's eyes on him. "I don't believe that you have met Roberta."

"No, I can't say that I have," Dolosuno remarked, looking interestedly at the acara whose face was also obscured by her hood. "It may help if I could see your face, Milady."

"It's Roberta. And it would help if I could see yours, though I have a feeling that that's not going to happen. Your name however, very creative. Dolosuno being a variation of 'Sly One' in ancient tongue."

Tor got the impression that the thief was smiling, though he could know for sure. "Your intelligence is known across the lands for being great. But I don't suppose that the two of you are here, in the dead of night during a war, to discuss my name." Dolosuno closed his book and set it gently on the table. Tor found the tome oddly intriguing. Obviously very old, the leather was worn and faded. There was no title visible, just the dark brown leather.

"You're right," Tor said, pulling his eyes from the book. "I'm going to get straight to the point. Have you been in contact with the Assassin?"

"I have."

"How long ago?" Roberta questioned.

"Weeks. Maybe four? He appeared within a purple cloud, just a few feet from where we are now. I was reading my book, quite surprised by his sudden experience. Of course, I knew who he was right away."

Tor was shocked by the level of cooperation he was getting from the normally elusive thief, never one for a straight answer. "And what was it that he wanted."

"My backing to his cause."

"And what is his cause, exactly?" Roberta asked. "Is it just to control all of Neopia?"

"Those are my thoughts. You see, he told me some shit story of freedom for all of my thieves. He offered money, an incredible amount of wealth. But it was all lies. He took me for a fool. I would have no money should I have given my assistance. I would be a slave to him, as would all of those neopets upstairs." Dolosuno leaned forward slightly, folding his hands on the table. "Within this guild we are a family. Nobody will mess with my family. If they do, well then there is going to be some trouble. You feel the same way, right Tormund? He took your sister after all, had her turned into a werelupe."

Tor grit his teeth. Yes, he understood completely how this man felt. "I agree."

Dolosuno nodded slightly. "I turned down his offers, as you can see. I will not be enslaved, nor will my family. You see what he has done to the werelupes, how easily they trusted him because of strength. I am not so naïve. I cannot say the same for other guilds however."

"What do you mean?" Roberta said.

"I have many friends… and enemies all across Neopia. The Assassin has spread his influence very widely these past few months, since before even your encounter with his at the celebration in Brightvale. Uprisings in the various regions in the Lost Desert. The Haunted Woods have become even more dangerous to the average traveler. Ever the icy monsters of the north are under his influence." Dolosuno explained in a grave voice.

Tor gaped, just simply stared at the master thief with wide eyes, unable to come up with words. "You're kidding."

"Sadly, I am not."

Roberta was clenching her fists. "That means he could be anywhere on the planet at this point!" She let lose a long string of curses that would cause a sailor to plug his ears. Despite the situation, Tor and Dolosuno both let loose the slightest of laughs.

"Rather colorful language," Dolosuno remarked.

"I think it fits in very nicely with the scheme of things here," Roberta said with bitterness. She looked at Tor from underneath the hood. "What are we to do?"

"You must find the Assassin!" Dolosuno interjected. "You two are the only ones who can do it at this point. Nobody else is willing or has the power and skill of you both combined. Not anywhere. Even your mentor Seradar cannot win this fight, not at his age. Though his magic is strong, old age has slowed him in a way that it hasn't the Assassin. He keeps himself strong will his use of Dark Magic, though I am sure that you know all of the basics, Roberta."

The acara nodded soberly. "Yes. Even though the Assassin is hundreds of years old, the dark magic preserves him. Though it has already taken his mind, his body will withstand it for many more years to come. At this point however, another hundred is the most."

"Indeed. Imagine the destruction and horror he will make out of Neopia by then. You two can stop him. Your skills are up to par with his while you are together. Other than the occasional fluke." Tor knew that he was speaking of the wounds he and Roberta had received. "You were both chosen by the heroes of Altador, a decision that would not have been made lightly. You are both practically assassins yourselves, though you are Assassins of the Light."

"What else can you tell us of this Assassin?" Tor asked, feeling slightly uncomfortable at the title he'd just been given. "How are we to find him?"

Dolosuno shrugged. "I cannot say that I have an answer to that. However I will have my thieves keep an ear out for information, and I will contact the other guilds who have not strayed into the Assassin's clutches. When information is found, it will be sent to you."

"Very well. Thank you Dolosuno, for your help." Tor said graciously. He nodded to Roberta and they both stood, Tor using the table as a support as he hid his crutch in his cloak.

"I have one more question, if I may," Dolosuno said suddenly. Tor looked at him, waiting. "Are those the Cloaks of Heroes?"

"They are," Roberta answered slowly, confusion evident.

"Interesting… Well I will contact you both when I have received information." Dolosuno picked up his book again and began to read.

Tor and Roberta left the Thieves Guild quickly, doing their best to avoid the drunken neopets upstairs.

"That was interesting," Roberta remarked when they were outside. Light was beginning to blend into the dark night. "I didn't expect him to be so… forthcoming with his answers."

"Neither was I," Tor said. "He never was in the past. But perhaps with the threat of the Assassin hanging over his guild, he's looking for advantages."

Roberta pulled back her hood and brushed her hair back into place. "Perhaps. Do you think that you could use smoke step yet? We need to hurry and get back to camp."

Tor frowned thoughtfully. He felt back to his usual self, except for his leg. Still slightly drained but not terribly. "I think I should be able to handle it. Slow Time?"

"As much as you can. See you at the camp."