Hidden in her hood, Arie climbed the steps behind Neal and Kel. Tobe walked beside her watching Kel's back as if looking for some sign that he was needed. While Raoul, Flynn, and Lerant walked in front. A servant came and greeted them, then directed the group to the Lord's study. It was a dizzying maze of hallways most of which had banners, tapestries, and paintings hung in them. One picture caught Arie's eye. It was a family picture of the current Lord of Legann, his first wife, and his young daughter. Arie was so surprised she actually froze on the spot, her gaze fixed on the young girl's face. It wasn't until Tobe grabbed her arm and whispered,

"We are being left behind."

Arie tore her gaze from the picture and hurried after the others. She noted that Tobe took one last look at the picture before going with her. By the time they caught up the others had reached the study doors. Stepping in the room Arie's mouth dropped open at the sight of all the books stacked neatly on the different shelves. She was so distracted she missed the introductions.

"So, you're the young lady who brought this blight into the light."

Arie turned to see a slightly round, severe looking man sitting behind the large desk. His pale eyes seemed to bore into the shadows of her hood to see her beneath them. She couldn't help but notice the man looked like he would be cruel if it weren't for the large hound sprawled out across its back at the man's feet. An unmistakable nice dinner plate was on the floor next to the clearly content hound. Arie managed a clumsy bow when she realized what everyone was waiting for.

"Yes, my lord," she slurred in her best common born accent. Neal gave her a slightly suspicious look, Flynn scowled at her, Lerant only stared at her, while Kel remained straight faced as usual. Only Raoul seemed to find it funny. Lord Imrah looked neither affronted nor pleased. Whether it was because he was used to common speak or not Arie couldn't tell, and her anger stirred. She clenched her hands behind her back and did her best to remain invisible, though Imrah didn't seem interested in letting her fade into the background like most people did with servants.

"I've received a report from the king, but I'd like to hear from you what we are up against."

The fire of Arie's anger dimmed, but wasn't yet gone.

"Either you believe the report or you don't. What could I possibly tell you that the king didn't?" There was tension in the room. Arie realized she had slipped again. People didn't refuse nobles if they were of the lower class, she reminded herself.

"That's not entirely true. Sometimes the devil's in the details. Little things can make the difference between winning a battle and losing, it can mean the difference between a few lives and hundred being lost."

Arie was so startled by the man's sudden change that all she could do was stare. So, this is what a general and war hero looks like, she thought. Finally, she remembered herself.

"Telling you will not help; I'll have to show you. But be warned it is not without some risk to you."

Imrah watched her carefully his gaze sliding to Raoul, who covertly nodded.

"Alright then, show me."

Slowly Arie pulled a small throwing knife from its sheath that was carefully secured to her wrist and placed the blade on the desk in front Imrah.

"If you don't have the Gift then I need a drop of blood to make the connection."

Imrah eyed the weapon.

"You aren't asking me to stab myself, are you?"

"Prick your finger is more like it."

A grin spread across his features. "I'm only teasing." He took the small weapon and pricked his right ring finger. Blood welled up almost instantly. Then Arie reached out with her Gift, just like last time it took the form of a blue green arm and hand that clasped Imrah's hand. His blood seemed to fizzle and disappear before both him and Arie were pulled into her own mind.

Unlike last time there was no flood of voices. Imrah; it seemed, kept even his mind quiet, waiting and watching for what she would do. His true self surprised her. He was a leader, that much she had expected, but there was also a compassion for others that was well hidden. This man was a true general. Shoving these thoughts aside Arie built the barriers around the older man's mind and then she focused on the memories she wanted him to see. Like she had done for the king she showed him Mand the farm hand first. Then came Sea King Port and everything she had found there. The slow process of discovering everything she could about this blight, treating it and those that couldn't be saved, and searching for the one who would release such a monster on other people.

All throughout this Imrah was expressionless and none of his emotions came through. It irked her that this man didn't seem to care. Slowly the memories of the failing fight against the poisonous disease rolled by. Arie's barely tempered rage was reignited as she watched the people suffering all over again and as she showed Ark on the ship. The memories wavered briefly under her biting anger, but she viciously pushed that aside, and the memories came in focus again.

Next came to the field with the King's Own scattered like broken dolls. The feeling of those lives slipping away, and the punch of death. The things that the Queen Rehah shared with her and Raoul about the attackers. Then they were back at Sea King port and looking over the burnt shell of the port town. She showed him the bodies, the memories of those who had passed mingled with the image of burnt or broken bodies. Arie's mind turned to the mayor of the town who had supposed to protected his people. Instead, he took money and allowed the suffering of those he sworn to governing.

Not unlike the nobles.

With that thought she thought she saw the image of a younger Anna smiling with Imrah and his wife. This time her anger would not be shoved aside. This time she heard the screams for blood not long after Anna's death. Fear and pain choked the memory as she fled. Her feet felt like they had been melted to the bone. The smell of seared meat was stuck in her nose and throat. Dogs bayed loudly behind her, only to be silenced when they released who they chased. Still the humans drove onward, searching, hunting. The walls that protected Imrah bowed and warped before fading. The fear of the memories quickly seemed to take root in him. He instinctively reached for a weapon to protect himself from the pursuers, but like she had been all those years ago, he was helpless.

It suddenly clicked in her mind that this was the past, and it could only hurt her or them if she allowed it. With a scream Arie shoved Imrah from her mind and slammed those memories back into the depths of her own mind.

He sat in his chair taking a deep calming breath. Raoul and Neal stepped closer to the man asking if he was alright or if he needed anything. Kel was supporting Arie by gripping her upper arm. Tobe watched everything with well-hidden curiosity.

"I apologize, my lord. It seems the last few months have caught up with me. I hope I didn't harm anyone." She was so startled by the detail of the memories that she had almost forgotten they were in fact memories.

"What was that?"

For the first time she saw what looked like genuine horror and fear on the noble man's face.

"A nightmare. I'm sor-, I did not mean for that to happen."

The general's hand shook as he reached for a glass of juice beside him. He took a quick gulp to calm himself before clearing his throat. Then the fear and horror was gone and back was the self-assured general.

"You seem to have the experience with dealing with this. What do you suggest we do?"

Arie swallowed, he was serious she realized. This man actually wanted her opinion and would listen to what she had to say.

"Close the gates. Don't let anyone or anything in until they have been searched magically first. Have regular sweeps of the city, especially the poorer areas. That's where it will breed unchecked because of the close quarters. Those are also the people who won't trust your soldiers enough to speak up and those will be the people that won't seek a doctor or healer because they can't afford to. But be warned, harsh treatment of these people will only cause the problem to explode beyond even the Gods' control."

Imrah rubbed his chin thoughtfully and shook his head.

"I can't close the gates. To do so would cause a panic like you wouldn't believe and I don't have enough Gifted people among the guards to check the whole port."

"Then gather anyone who is Gifted with the sight, healing, or passive magic. Bring them here and have them checked and trained. Partner them with your guards. I would even suggest paying them. This will take them away from their work and families. Many can't afford not to work. So, make it worth their while."

Imrah nodded clearly impressed with this plan.

"Very good, Nadia will take you up to your quarters." He now turned to Kel. "I assume you won't mind sharing a room with her?"

Kel gave an easy smile. "I wouldn't mind at all."

"Good." Then he turned back to Arie. "After Nadia shows you where you will be staying, she can take you to get something to eat. I will send out a call and maybe you will have your students by tonight. More than likely, it will have to wait until tomorrow to get people here."

Arie opened her mouth to say point out they needed to work on this now when something sharp dung into her arm. Kel's nails. So, instead, she bowed and did her best to walk straight out the door.

Outside the door Arie let out a sigh. That went better and worse than she had expected.