Udonna was braiding and unbraiding her hair.

It wasn't a particularly amusing activity, barely entertaining, but at least it was something to do. Her eyes had adjusted and readjusted every time she closed and opened them. Now she was just staring at her hair which somehow still looked red in the lack of light.

Some days she messed with the laces of her corseted top, some days pretended to draw runes on her arm. Casting runes might have gotten her out of the chamber, but she didn't have her magic, and runes were not her best skill.

Most times, however, she spent sitting on the bed, listening to water drop to the floor of the cave, and getting lost in thought. Some thoughts were painful, some were hopeful. She wondered what Clare was doing. Maybe the Rangers would teach her how to battle? None of them were quite so skilled in the various branches of magic that Udonna was. They could do simple conjuring, basic transfiguration, but they would not be able to teach Clare what she could.

Koragg, or someone, was walking down the corridor, footfall heavy. And, surprisingly, she heard a few other footsteps. Maybe Necrolai had come? Or someone else? Imperious? She still hadn't met the new general.

When they reached the blocked entrance to the cell, Udonna barely looked up. She saw Koragg and two hidiacs. But when she looked up again, she realized that the hidiacs were carrying someone who looked fairly familiar.

"Calindor," she breathed, getting up, a portion of hair still braided. She stood up as the vines receded, but she didn't dare approach. Just from body language, she knew that Koragg was irritated and she didn't dare evoke more rage from him.

Without a word, Calindor, his body weak and limbs limp, was tossed into the cell. Udonna rushed forward to catch him, but he was a bit heavy and she stumbled back a bit, finally kneeling to support his weight.

"Why?" She asked Koragg. It could have been why have you done this? Or Why are you allowing me to see him, but Koragg didn't feel like answering any questions.

"Imperious has given you half of an hour," he said.

Udonna nodded and the vines swallowed up the entrance. She still saw the glint of his armor as he and the hidiacs walked away.

Calindor stirred and looked up, dazed. "Udonna?"

"Calindor," she returned, helping him to sit up. "What's happened to you?"

"I've been a prisoner here. They captured me during the war after Daggeron turned on us," he said sadly. He looked rough. As if he had been beaten, which Udonna had no doubt was probably the case.

Daggeron. Daggeron. Had he betrayed them? Her heart sank as much as it possibly could. Her son, Bowen, could have been killed if that were the case. She tried to block that out, tried not to think about it. But if Daggeron had truly betrayed them, well…

"It's been twenty years," Udonna told him. "How could you be kept here so long?"

"It hasn't been easy. They starve you."

Udonna thought guiltily at the fact that she hadn't really starved while she had been here. Koragg was actually fairly good about bringing her at least an apple, maybe some berries, during the day. And, she noted, water.

"I'm sorry to hear that," she replied carefully. "Truly."

"I'm tough, Udonna. Don't you worry."

Udonna offered a weak smile.

It was unbelievable. Twenty years and the man had survived that long. Maybe Leanbow had… no. That was wishful thinking and she absolutely knew it. Leanbow had died. Died. Died. Died. Died.

She chanted it in her head, remembering, for the hundredth time, that heart-wrenching feeling of watching your loved ones die.

"Udonna, what's wrong?"

The woman didn't respond immediately, instead, shaking her head.

"You're thinking about Leanbow, aren't you?"

Udonna stopped shaking her head and nodded sadly. "Yes," she breathed.

"I'm sorry, Udonna. But he's gone," he said. "He was… destroyed by the Master."

"Killed," she corrected him without thinking. "Leanbow was killed."

"Yes. I'm sorry, I was trying to be delicate."

"It's alright. I've long since accepted that fact."

Calindor put an arm around Udonna and offered her that weak smile in return. "You seem a little less distraught than I thought you'd be."

"I've had twenty years to process and grieve. It of course still devastates me to think about it, but…" she trailed off, finally finishing with, "I'll manage."

"Is Clare...?"

"She's still alive," Udonna said quickly. "She and I have been living in the forest, a little ways from the old village, in a place I created after The Great Battle."

"Is she alright?"

"Yes. I had to tell her about her lineage some time ago, I forget how long, and she acted as the Gatekeeper for a short while. Niella's magic was used up, however."

Calindor took this in and asked, "do you think your powers have progressed to the point where you could raise the gates?"

The question was strange. She hadn't really considered it too much. Surely it wasn't outside the realm of possibility for her captors to try something like it, she thought bitterly to herself.

"I'm… not sure," she said carefully. "I'm certainly stronger, but it wasn't my gift."

Calindor nodded but didn't say anything.

"You seem calm for someone whose release is indeterminate," he said finally. He was trying to be humorous, to make her laugh. He liked doing that when they were young. Udonna had once suspected he had a slight crush on her.

"I have faith that we'll win."

"We?"

"The new mystics. Rangers, as they're known now. They're quite a force," she said proudly. "I was surprised when the crack in the gates appeared. But the Xenotome foresaw the resurrection of the Mystic Force, and I knew I had to guide them. It's what Leanbow would have wanted."

"The Xenotome?"

"It's The Book of the Unknown. It's related to the Book of Prophecy in ancient texts. Mystic Mother gave it to me after the war."

"What's its purpose?"

"It's…" she lowered her voice to barely a whisper, "the source of the Rangers' power."

Calindor stood up and paced. Udonna was surprised he could, the space was so small.

"What is it," she asked, drawing to her feet.

"Where is Rootcore?" He asked. Udonna was about to answer when something struck her.

"I never told you what it was called," she said evenly. Calindor turned to her, looking quizzical.

"What?"

"The base. I never told you it was called Rootcore."

Calindor smirked suddenly. Udonna's heart seemed to stop and she backed away as much as she could as Calindor stood there, seeming to change before her eyes. Her stance became defensive, but she knew that she would not be able to beat him in her current state. He was physically stronger than her before the war, his magic was probably so much more powerful now as well.

"You're right," he said in a low voice.

A dark energy coursed through him and in a moment, he was a monster. He looked like a mummy, jewels decorated him. Udonna knew what that meant. It was an ancient punishment. When you gave up your humanity, you were laden with gems to mark your greed and corruption.

"Calindor, what's happened to you," she asked, disbelieving what was happening.

"I am now known as Imperious," he snarled before raising the fan he was holding and preparing to cast a spell. Just as the tip of the fan began to glow with power, the vines again returned into the walls and Koragg stood there. Udonna couldn't see his face of course, because it was hidden by the visor, but she could feel something in him. Her senses could feel anger.

"I thought we agreed to leave the sorceress unharmed," he said gruffly. "The Master needs her alive."

Imperious lowered the fan, staring at the Knight.

He wanted to curse at the man for interrupting. This woman had always been such a pain in his side. She had turned his teacher soft, she had impaired the judgment of the leader of their forces. And she had convinced Leanbow against his strategy for the war. But he was grateful for one thing. She had been, indirectly, the reason that he had defected and joined the forces of darkness, granting him more power. And, he thought to himself, the reason they held Leanbow. Imperious was surely going to use Leanbow to bait her.

"Ah, you're right. She's a useful source of information and leverage. How could I forget?"

Source of information rung in Udonna's ears and she realized what she had done. She had told Imperious about the Rangers' power. The Underworld, The Master, and their forces were the reason behind every misery she had ever faced and she, even against her own morals and values, wanted to make Imperious and Koragg suffer. She despised this. She despised them in this moment.

"I can feel you wanting to attack us," Imperious gloated, watching her face now, "but without your magic and snow staff, you stand no chance. Are you willing to risk such a thing?"

Udonna remained silent, just glaring at him.

A pity, Imperious thought. If she had decided to try something, he could have returned and attacked her back. Her will is still as strong as ever.

"Come, Imperious. You have what you need."

Imperious gave one last chilling look at Udonna before turning and leaving the cell. Udonna kept up her defensive stance until they had both left and the vines covered the entrance again.

Yet another betrayal. Udonna was tired of them. She couldn't take it. But then she realized that if Calindor had turned to the dark side, he had most certainly lied to her about Daggeron. Bowen could still be alive.

And knowing what she had done by telling Calindor what she had, she still felt a guilty sense of hope for her son.