Building Anew

[Vylrath]

Thankfully, the touch of Kahlan only singed his coat. Cursing, he removed the blackened overcoat and went to his daughter. He would need to feed, if Kahlan thought he was going to keep his energy. Scooping Igraine up, he looked her over for any wounds that could have been forgotten. Without another word, he began to move toward the castle.

He decided to explain his history with the monk, not wanting either one to feel awkward in this situation. Kahlan and Ryuku had already been forced to cooperate under tense circumstances. Ryuku used to hunt me....I caused problems with clans in another realm.Vylrath said, feeling somewhat embarrassed that she'd know he did in fact run. ...but he's proving useful for us. Make him feel at home for me and then rest. I'll take care of Igraine.

Kahlan had done enough for all of them. Even though the Siren was still present, he was more worried about Igraine and the baby. Taking her to her bed chambers, he made sure that she was comfortable enough. He didn't hesitate to order her servants around, to make sure that she had someone there if he had to suddenly leave.

Vylrath stood at the foot of her bed, simply watching. He would need to ask Kahlan what she thought of the energies entering their daughters body. If it harmed the baby, he would be the one hunting Thorin.

[Shin]

D’Angelo watched, very confused, as Kahlan explained what was going on and then suddenly shot into the sky. Someone had attacked the Queen? Where were her other guards? They should have been there to protect her. He growled despite himself and gripped the handles of his weapons tightly, forcing his black orbs to scrutinize every women he could see, as if sheer willpower could uncover the Siren hidden among them.

And so he would wait, crouched low, partially hidden by the corner and the powers of Kahlan. Though, only because he had willed his sword to not absorb anything she was doing. It took a great amount of trust for the man.

An Idea struck D’Angelo then and he smiled despite himself, he took in a deep breath and stepped out from behind the wall, willing his sword active. Whatever was blocking him was instantly absorbed, he would now be visible, not that it mattered much. He would walk within an arms reach of every women he saw, which would take some time, knowing that if it was magic that hid the Siren it would be absorbed by the sword on his hip.

--
Healing the women before him was not an easy task for Ryuku, sure he was well versed in the human body, probably more so than most beings. The difficulty came in the technique and of course ‘what’ the women was didn’t make it any easier, different races had Qi of course but it was slightly different and even a slight deviation required the utmost skill to heal.

As an assassin in his younger years Ryuku had learned techniques primarily for killing, manipulating the shadows, and hiding himself in a manner of different ways. They were still the techniques he knew the best though he used them the least, one could not erase their history. When Kahlan came, a being he could sense from a great distance, he showed no surprise nor did he stir when she knelt on the opposite side of the body. He let her take over the healing, as an angel she was naturally more gifted and talented in those arts then he. However, he paid close attention to the line of Qi that ran through bother mother and child, he carefully guided and maintained that line, preventing the energy from blocking or gathering too much in one place.

Even after the angel finished Ryuku maintained his posture for a few moments longer before setting his hands onto his thighs. He opened his eyes to let his emerald gaze meet Igraines own, he nodded to her thanks and remained silent and unmoving even as Vylrath came to scoop his daughter up and take her to safety.

“I’ll be waiting.” He spoke as Vylrath walked away, the man would know what he meant. The two had a score to settle.

It was at that time that Ryuku stood to his full six foot two inch height and pulled back the dirtied and well-worn hood that covered his face. Silver hair spilled forth, descending to his shoulders and sparkling brilliantly under the sun, even his skin was unbelievably smooth, as if he wasn’t something human, or rather, something more than human.

[Igraine]

Kahlan rolled her eyes as Vylrath ran off with their daughter and commanded that she rest. She could do no such thing. She had felt her power over D'Angelo diminish and fade which amused her. He was going it on his own and she would wait and watch from the walls, drawing the attention of all of those present so he could do his job. She could respect that in a man.

Kahlan glanced at Ryuku and nodded her head in his direction. Her fiery gold hair spilled around her shoulders and she looked entirely comfortable in the presence of such a man. He knew her power and she was okay with that.

"You will find him easier if you stand outside the Queen's Rooms. They're on the second floor to the right of the staircase all the way at the end of the hall. If the guards try to stop you, box them over the ears, and then tell them Kahlan Lothair sent you. They won't question you. I have a Siren to help deal with now." Kahlan bowed her head and turned from Ryuku and lifted herself in the air, the draft from her wings kicking up dirt and debris easily.

In a moment's time she was standing at the front gates high above the heads of the creatures that milled below. She walked to the edge of the battlement and spread her wings and the entire mob turned as one to look up at her in awe. The sun bounced off her white dress and the silver in her wings. She seemed to glow as she stood there, quietly, watching them. Some of the humans had fallen to their knees and were praying to whatever god they chose as they stared at her. Some of the mortals were crazy enough to think her a goddess come to earth in a form they could behold.

Kahlan said nothing, but she didn't have to. Everyone was looking up at her, including the Siren. The Siren wouldn't be able to resist beholding the power she had been feeling and she didn't want to be the odd person out, of course.

----------------

Igraine sighed and opened her eyes to see Vylrath standing at the foot of her bed. She started violently and sat up a little straighter in her bed, which hurt. She made a face and shook her head.

"Remind me never to let myself get trapped by Thorin ever again." Igraine rested back against the pillows that were piled up behind her. The bed was huge and she looked small in it. The servants came in shortly after and bustled Vylrath out into the sitting room, clucking like old hens as they told him they had to undress the Queen and tend to her. It took all of probably ten minutes with the maids being very careful to hold her gently as they washed her off and put her in a heavy white shift to keep her warm. They tucked her into the wide bed under the covers up to her waist, as was appropriate for a Queen meeting visitors when she was a-bed.

When they let Vylrath back in he would see that her hair had been brushed and cleaned and her body had been washed and tended to. She looked infinitely more comfortable and calm. There was even a tray of food sitting in front of her and she was eating hungrily, having been chastised for not feeding herself and the baby more food. The truth was, now that the morning had passed, she was absolutely ravenous.

"How are Mother and D'Angelo fairing with the Siren?" Igraine chewed on some fruit, handing him the whole chicken that had been given to her. It was cooked but she didn't want it. He might find more enjoyment from it than she would.

[Vylrath]

Vylrath smirked at his daughter. She appeared innocent, but now he was beginning to rethink that thought. She had knowingly gotten with Thorin, consenting those actions. After regaining strength from the simple meal, he folded his arms, as if to stop himself from an action.

When she acted startled at his sudden appearance by her bed, he simply shrugged it off. His daughter was exhausted and not used to having her father constantly watching over her. The maids were already beginning to spread rumors about him- none of the servants wanted to be in his presence.

“It's not the first time that a woman reacted to me that way.” He muttered to her, wondering how she actually viewed him. Vylrath had never been in her life, up until now, so this moment was beyond awkward.

“I made sure to inform your guards of your condition. They will attack Thorin, should he even try to step foot on your grounds- provided I don't gut him first.” Vylrath explained. He was very familiar with the turmoil his son was going through, but he had to look out for Igraine. After Thorin's actions, he would no longer be considered his flesh and blood.

“I would suggest forgetting him...although that might be difficult once you give birth.” Vylrath didn't let her argue that concept. He would be damned, if he let Thorin near her again. Nervously, he continued to stand by her bed, idly looking about the room, as if he expected Thorin's form to suddenly appear.

When Igraine asked about her mother, he shook his head. Kahlan had probably gone back to the fight, but he didn't know the actual details. He had been too busy watching over Igraine. At least his daughter was thoughtful about his presence- not many were. Without simply feeding, he wouldn't even be able to defend her if he suddenly had to go into a fighting stance.

“All I know is that she came back to save you. You'll also need to thank an old friend. Ryuku showed up at the most convenient time. Granted, I can't stand being in his presence for long...he's a monk. It's bad enough that your mother took form.” He explained, knowing he was responsible for Kahlan's transformation.

In fact, he had provoked most of the actions that day.

Vylrath caressed Igraine's face, making sure she still had her warmth. He could see why Thorin had been lusting after her. Her beauty was possibly more stunning than her mother's.

“You can forget Thorin on your own, or I can force you to...I do not want to show my anger in front of my favorite daughter.” In his passive aggressive threat, he knew that Igraine possessed his stubborn qualities. If she choose to seek Thorin, he would seek the strength of her mother to intervene.

In the back of his mind, he wondered what sort of child Igraine would give birth to- if it had the blood of Thorin, nothing good could come of it.

[Herald_of_Fate]

The Merrow King landed lightly on the bell tower, the modified bell laid on its side on top of the ruin of the structure directly in front of him. His azure blue robes flapped in the breeze as he raised his arms and drew in a breath, the air expanding his chest, his size seeming to grow to accomodate the excess oxygen. Slyail paused a moment, aiming for the correct pitch and tone to make the pulse capable of shattering the Siren's hold. His eyes were drawn below to the battlement, the radiant form of Kahlan Lothair shining like a beacon, a newborn star. Only the mental focus of years of training to control the element of water saved him from being completely mesmerized. I see, he thought, everyone watch the lure while I cast the net. He exhaled in a shout, the deep timbre rippling the air between himself and the bell. Broken as it was, the bell acted as a megaphone, carrying the note over miles as a volume completely impossible to ignore. The Siren's song would be a whisper by comparison, a single quiet voice in what would seem a multitude. The masses below that had chosen to worship might think it the Ragnorok with the sheer force of the sound and sight of an angel. As the shout echoed, Slyail flung himself over the bell, plummeting for a moment before kicking off a wall and sliding down another, landing slightly behind and to the right of Kahlan.

"We've little time to find and stop this menace before she's able to sing and be heard again." He said with a slight scowl. "We need to end this now...before any more damage can be done."

Slyail's keen eyes and ears scanned the crowd below, but he could not pick out his quarry. Her voice seemed to move as if the creature were leaping to different points in the crowd and outside it. His head still darting to and fro, he spoke again.


"She's trying to hide...she's afraid.I cannot zero in on her like this. Can you?"












---------------



Helena was terrified, by the sound of Slyail's shout and the sight of a battle-ready angel on the castle battlements. What the hell had the Unseelie King been thinking, sending her alone against such a foe. She watched beneath her glamouar as Slyail joined the angel. Just as she suspected...a Merrow. And not just any Merrow but a Grand Tide Mage at that. It wa all she could do to keep from shaking.



She considered running off, but decided that would be tantamount to suicide...the angel would see such a thing and come down on her like a hawk. Cunning was the only weapon left to her.



"Help us...the witch is among us," she cried at the angel, hoping to incite a panic and slip away. Her gamble worked as several people took up simliar refrains and moved to seperate. As the crowd scatterrred she would seek to slip as close to the castle as possible, hoping to infiltrate once the guards came to quell the corwd.

[Shin]

Of all the virtues that there were, patience was one Ryuku had in abundance. He had nothing but time, so there was no reason but to wait for Vylrath to gain his senses back. He was addle brained and focused only on the Queen, his daughter, and that was a distraction Ryuku couldn’t have if he planned on challenging the man in combat. As it was Ryuku didn’t think the man he saw was nearly who he had been all those years ago. Vylrath would probably deny it… but Ryuku could see it in his eyes and the way he walked.

Ryuku had devoted the entirety of his life to one thing, seeking perfection and to constantly push himself and reach limits that most people would have believed impossible for a mere human. Yet, here Ryuku was, living proof that if one tried that they could become something more, something greater. He ignored the angels comment and instead began to walk away from her. Angels were proud creatures he decided, having known a few, and to him it seemed that this one was no different.

There was hope and Ryuku held hope that he could perhaps guide others down the same path he went. To unlock the secrets of one self and make apparent all that was hidden, to make the unattainable now attainable. He smiled realizing how far he had come from the boy being trained as an assassin, a shinobi, to the man he was now. That smile only grew wider knowing that as far as he had come he still had so much more before him; he had only scratched the surface.

Ryuku left the garden, going nowhere in particular, just wandering about, turning where he pleased but always staying in the main corridors. He was either ignorant to how he looked, or didn’t care, because he still wore his dirty rags as he walked the fine castle, seeming mismatched and out of place in such a grand place. He had been stopped on several occasions as he walked, but a few quick words and a reassuring smile and he was on his way again.

--

There were so many people that D’Angelo was beginning to second guess himself. Perhaps diving into action wasn’t the smartest course? It was too late now even if he wanted to back out, he’d have to count on a large measure of luck to pass close enough to the glamoured Siren that his sword could strip her of whatever illusions she wore. But what then he wondered? Did they want him to gut her? Was he was supposed to keep her alive for questioning?

All thoughts were violently removed from him as the loud echoing sound created by the Merrow over whelmed him and forced him to cover his ears for protection. “By the gods!” He cursed, but it was drown out by the sound of that bell. D’Angelo looked up to see Kahlan in all her glory with the Merrow landing next to her, perfect he thought, scare the thing away.

His black orbs dropped to the ground once more, studying the faces that were inadvertently looking to the grand spectacle above them. But then, something happened, D’Angelo heard a women scream above the sound of the bell and saw the people in that direction scatter. A smile curved onto his face, and like a predator he moved towards where he had heard the women yell.

No one else had known a Siren was present, or anything of the nature. Sure, assumptions could be made, but these were normal folk and this would have been the only person not enamored by the glorious sight that was Kahlan, or at least, the first to break the feeling of being transfixed on her. It was a place to start and so D’Angelo rushed to that area, trusting in the magics of his sword to find the creature he was looking for.

--

There was still no answers from the spirits and William quickly abandoned that course, he would have to do this on his own. Still pressed in the throng of people he all but bent over in pain clutching his ears as a unbelievably loud sounds echoed off the walls and out over the country-side. To a half-fey like William it was so painful he dropped to a knee, any louder and he was sure his ears would be bleeding.

His vision spun for a moment and he was forced to stay where he was knelt recovering. He wasn’t broke from his trance until he heard a women scream, but with the bell echoing in his ears still all the sounds were muffled and he couldn’t make out what she said, only that other began to react and people began to move and scatter.

William was nearly trampled by the moving crowd and was pushed closer to the gate as people moved. In a moments time the slim half-nymph found himself tucked into a corner, partially through luck and skill. There he could brace himself against the wall and become near invisibly covered in the shadows and his shifting cloak, which turned to blend in with the stone.

[Igraine]

Igraine watched her father and she shook her head and smiled at him. He was trying, and for that she was grateful.

"I have no problem forgetting my half brother. It may take some time to fully get over him, but I intend to do just that. He is wrong though, I will tell our daughter who he is and how he was before he became a Vuri. She will understand that she was made through love, however twisted that love became later on." It was a pretty speech, fit for a Queen, and Igraine continued her feast of fruit and cheese and some greens. There were a few pieces of what looked to be bacon or some sort of pig meat and she ate it gingerly, her stomach not altogether sure whether it could handle meat just yet.

The sound of the Merrow's call split through the room, as if no one was safe from it's half deafening echos. Igraine jumped, startled into covering her ears with her hands and looking to Vyl for answers. It scared her half to death and she felt her heart hammering in her chest. Even after the first blast her ears felt numb as if they were stuffed with cotton so thick she could barely hear.

She glanced down at her tray of food and was surprised to see that she hadn't upended the whole thing all over the bed. She had eaten her fill at least and set aside the food and tried shaking the stuffy feeling out of her head.

"I think they're working on the Siren problem!" Igraine yelled, being unable to hear herself she assumed her father couldn't either. Vaguely she wondered if she would have permanent hearing damage.

------------------------

Kahlan felt the Merrow land behind her as the incredibly loud sound echoed through the surrounding land, vicious vibrations ricocheting off of everything. Dimly she was aware that the echo would probably be quite loud inside the Castle and she hoped that Vylrath was taking care of Igraine as he promised.

Kahlan herself, though, was unruffled by the sound. She had known it would come and so she had blanketed herself in enough magic to protect her ears. It wouldn't do to have the Angelic distraction go to it's knees. She had to seem all powerful and undaunted by the loud sound. Besides, if she were in her true form no mortal could behold her without going blind. Her presence alone gave off enough powerful sound that ears would bleed when she was in that form. Kahlan wouldn't do that to any of the innocent people milling around with that god forsaken Siren.

When the woman screamed Kahlan narrowed her eyes and locked on to the woman that had screamed.

"The Gates remain closed. No one goes in, no one goes out." The order was loud and clear. Those praying saw it as a sign of retribution. Those that saw her as a goddess saw divine intervention. The Siren only saw death in the silver eyes that had locked on to her.

"Your King chose a poor time for your...excursion." The Angel spoke, the subjects were confused for the Queen was not married and there was no King. The Siren would understand. Those that had chosen to start running would begin to slow, confusion setting in but the warmth that blanketed them as Kahlan looked at their souls calmed them, her power inching ever closer to the red haired Siren. She could see straight through the glamor as she got closer. The Siren was beautiful but in an ugly sort of way beneath all of that deep rooted magic.

"The Men in this group will circle the women. All red haired women will move to the center of the circle immediately." Kahlan said. She knew who the Siren was, but she was going to have a little fun with her. The Siren and no hope of escape now. Everyone's ears were muddled, but Kahlan's voice cut through the confusion, not clearing their senses but giving them direction. The vibrations would still muddle the Siren's call, she was alone here.

After much grumbling the men circled the women and the women pushed all seven of the red haired women in the group to the middle. The Siren would be one of them, she wouldn't have a chance to remove her glamour without alerting everyone in the group.

Without taking her eyes off the Siren, Kahlan murmured to Slyail. "I have her. She's one of the red haired women in the center down there. Shall we have D'Angelo take care of her or should we drag her kicking and screaming somewhere and take care of her ourselves?" Kahlan was not obviously as benevolent as most Angels. Kahlan was a Queen of humans but she was also what Heaven considered a High Commander or War Lord.

[Vylrath]

Vylrath was surprised that Thorin had wanted to keep his relations secret. Even after everything, at least Thorin had thought of his consequences if he kept in contact. Just then, his thoughts were interrupted by Slyail''s call. The intense sound, caught him completely off guard, making the once composed man react defensively.

It was that moment, that he realized he was the only one here to protect Igraine, if anything should happen to find them. “Your mother is a strong woman. I don't have any doubts. I have no idea what their plan is with that attack though.” He said, rubbing at his sore ears. Vuri ears were just as sensitive as a demons, if not more. It might be humorous to Igraine, but it was pure pain for him. His composure remained shaken, although she would watch him attempt to calm his nerves.

Vylrath had never actually fought a Siren, or personally dealt with one. He only knew that he didn't stand a chance, from the way Kahlan had described the situation to him. Embarrassingly enough, he was at his daughters side without a weapon to defend her.

“Once this stupidity is over, I'll need to fashion myself some armor and blades.” Vylrath continued rubbing at his pointed ears, the pain subsiding little by little.

“Do what you want with your daughter...I'm not going to interfere, unless he tries to harm you two.” Vylrath said, speaking of her reaction to telling Morgana about her father. He still didn't think it was wise, but he could see that she had already settled on the thought.

[Trydian]

Trydian traveled with his powers willingly, the chaos sword in his possession once again. He felt whole, no longer longing for the existence of the blade. The landscape of Ulster was not something he would see, but the walls of Igraine's castle instead. Trydian had used his demonic ability to travel, being sure to mask his actual strength. The chaos sword was restless, which made him guess that something else was calling to it in the castle. It would take a great entity, or several entities, to provoke the sword into responding with such a furor.

When he entered the castle hallways, the guards acknowledged him briefly. He was not a stranger here, having known Igraine his entire life. The guards simply accepted him as a common visitor and nothing more. That was the reaction that Trydian wanted.

There was another presence here as well, one that shocked him to the core: Vylrath Xanathi. If his presence was real, then he would have to rethink his plans. Vylrath was always cunning and calculating, even if it appeared as though he would never accomplish his threats. They had never gotten along in the past and he hardly saw his father. However, when they did cross paths, it was never a warm welcome from either side. Trydian hated his father, but he couldn't let his bruised past botch up his plans.

Calmly, he let the guards escort him into Queen Igraine's chamber's. They announced his arrival formally, as if Queen Igraine might reject his entrance. He walked further into the room, taking note the strange man that stood only a few feet away. The man was watching over Igraine intently, as if he waited for some dire reaction from her. He could feel his father's presence, but there was no possible way it belonged to the man guarding Igraine. His father was dead. Only a fool would bring someone like Vylrath back to the living.

Shrugging the man off, he addressed Igraine as he always had. “I'm sure that my mother is in a panic. If she's near, I will have to speak to her.” Trydian said, looking Igraine over. She looked shaken, as if something had struck her only moments ago. Trydian had missed the piercing call of Sylail by mere minutes.

Trydian didn't mention Thorin, doubting that Igraine wanted to start a conversation with that man's name. Sighing, he wondered how they could talk privately when she was being watched. “You'll have to ask your friend to leave...I need to speak to you alone. This is about my sister's life and yours.” Trydian said, deciding to make it sound as urgent as possible.

He stood by her bedside, waiting for the other man to exit. There was something familiar about him, but he didn't have the patience to ponder. Igraine would notice that his demeanor had changed only slightly. His nerves were practically crawling from anticipation. The sooner he convinced her to visit King Pendaran, the sooner this could all end.

The sword continued to react as if it felt the presence of Vylrath in the room. In truth, it would acknowledge the original Master with a greater energy. Trydian decided to ignore the strange hue that pulsated from the blade itself. His mind was on the thoughts on politics and not the fact that Igraine might question why he had his Uncle's blade.

[Herald_of_Fate]

Slyail watched as the guards surrounded the women, his swiftly calculating mind trying to find some anomaly. Then there it was, plain as day but unnoticed by anyone who did not have deep knowledge of the water element. Every single human soul at the gate was still soaked by the flood...all that is except for one, a demure red-headed woman who appeared no older than twenty, clad in the simple dress and apron of a scullery maid. The Water Mage knew that only a being whose natural make-up was as intertwined with water as his own could dry so quickly. His eyes came alight with blue flames and his hands became surrounded with orbs of swirling, pulsating water.

"I see you, Siren...your King's plot is foiled! Surrender and you may be spared! Fight us and no mercy will be shown to you!!!" The Merrow king thundered, poised and ready for an attack. If she sang, he'd only have a few seconds to silence her before her spell retook the crowd and complicated matters even further. "If you sing, I promise you will be struck down before you finish the first note!"

In truth, Slyail was adverse to killing another denizen of the oceans, even if that creature was a member of the Unseelie court. However, the danger she posed to both himself and his allies was far too great. Unless someone could silence her voice, she was a mere time bomb, waiting to explode amongst all the powerful beings gathered here. There was another danger too, one which the Queen herself had to be made aware of. The humans here had witnessed several high level magical events, seen the true form of a warrior angel, and were now watching the Merrow King with a mixture of awe and shock. There were humans who would not except this, attempt to usurp and destroy what they considered the unnatural ways of the Fey. They had to clean this up properly or the Unseelie King would be the least of their issues.




-----------


Helena stared at both the angel and the Merrow with eyes full of fear and malice. Who would have guessed that such a powerful collection of Fey had gathered under the Seelie banner? She could not hope to ensare them all before they managed to strike her down. Without speaking, she stepped out of the crowd, dropping her glamour, appearing as. the sensous, nude seductress she was. The men in the crowd, even Slyail himself, could not help a appreciative glance at the creature, built to fuel the fires of a man's lust. She held up both hands to indicate her surrender, knowing further mischief was tantamount to suicide. Perhaps there would be a condition in which escape was possibile if she chose her moment. The only way to report back to her King would be to survive this ordeal. Besides, who knew? She might be able to sway a captor or two.

[Igraine]

Igraine blinked as Trydian walked in and she frowned when he didn't realize who was in the room with them.

"It's fine, Trydian. Whatever you have to say you can say in front of our Father." She gestured toward Vylrath who was standing nearby. She agreed that he looked radically different with his bright red hair and solemnly wicked blue eyes, and he was younger too. However, the old features were the same. You could see the edge of his jawline and the proud tilt of his head. Vylrath was a martyr and a bastard of epic proportions, but Igraine loved him. He was her father and he had done nothing wrong to her, even if he had tried to scare her to death just a few hours ago.

Igraine looked stately and alert despite her fallout with Thorin. The food and the healing had revived her and the child growing in her womb. She leaned back against the pillows piled behind her, conscious of the fact that she was only wearing a thick white shift in the presence of these two men. She didn't let it phase her as she looked at Trydian. He was so unique with his one violet eye and one turquoise. His silver hair was a throw back to Vylrath's more random days as a Demon, she knew, but it suited him. He was handsome, of that she had no doubt, and he was attractive in the demonic sort of way. She was glad that she knew him to be her half brother and nephew. Having children with him would be insanely confusing for everyone involved. Would the kids be cousins or nieces and nephews? It made no sense to her and she shook her head to clear those cobwebs.

"I heard you sold yourself to the Unseelie King to save Sebilla. That was admiral of you." Igraine motioned to a chair on the opposite side of the bed from Vylrath, but no nearer to her than Vylrath was himself. Her emerald green eyes took Trydian in, sized him up, looking for any threat to her. She knew that it would be difficult for him to go through with anything that the Unseelie King told him to do -- but she was certain that he would do it for Sebilla. They had a love that neither of them seemed to acknowledge.

"Tell me what is expected of me. I have a feeling the Unseelie King has a message for me, even if he did not directly tell you one."

----------------------------------

Kahlan watched the Siren closely. As she shifted into her natural form the Angel was amused. She snapped her fingers and pointed at the Siren.

"Toss her a cloak. We will see that she is...properly clothed once she is restrained." Kahlan turned to Slyail and motioned to the Siren, who was currently being cloaked by one of the guardsmen. Her eyes were dancing with amusement at the sight of Slyail being momentarily captivated by the Siren's body.

"How shall we restrain her properly? She can't be trusted around the guards. A gag seems hardly appropriate, but it would work to eliminate any humming or singing she could do." Kahlan said, glancing back down at the Siren. She spread her wings and stretched in the morning sun. She supposed Igraine should have a say in what was done to the creature, but Kahlan usually took care of the more practical side of taking prisoners. Her eyes floated down to where D'Angelo would be standing and she smiled at him. He was more helpful than he knew.

"We have a device that is akin to torture when used. It would require a gag and then a special metal device that clamps over the mouth and neck. It's quite devious and is used typically in the procuring of information by those that specialize in torture. It can be taken off for meals, but it would eliminate her ability to really transmit anything worthwhile. There is also a gag and a large leather mouth and neck cuff. That gets closer to the skin than the metal mask, and I daresay it's a tad more comfortable." Kahlan said to Slyail as she watched the Siren carefully.

As for the patrons of Ulster, they were used to strange acts occuring around the Royal Family. It was something they accepted in return for the ultimate protection. It was the first time that any had truely seen an Angel on the battlements but most were in Awe, and those that had begun to run away were slowly filtering back. Most of them feared that they had done something wrong in order to bring her about, however when the pair on the battlements fished out the creature of their current discomfort -- they were happy.

Some of the citizens cheered and others spent their energy hissing and making signs of protection against the Siren. She was evil, she was nasty, and she had used them without their consent. The citizens were more than happy to thank the Angel and the strange Mage that was standing beside her.

Kahlan smiled benevolently down on the citizens and raised her hand in blessing. Her eyes glancing boldly between all of the faces and finally back to the Siren.

"Slyail, my dear, I do believe that I am going to have to drop this form sooner rather than later. I feel that I should conserve my power should this creature really give us hell. It is imperative that you know, if I do end up having to deal with her personally that you do not look at me and you create some sort of shield that can absorb sound and light. It will be a nasty awful mess if she forces me to my ultimate form."

Kahlan mused as she spoke to Slyail. She turned from those gathered and walked a few feet and dropped behind the wall. Once there she stretched and formed back into the humanoid shape that she normally assumed and felt most comfortable in. Once that transformation was through Kahlan walked through the gatehouse door and out into the crowd milling about the Siren, who was now ringed in thrice by guards. They parted to let Kahlan near and she smiled almost wickedly.

"If you speak, you will die. I want you to know that." The Siren would feel that she was the Angel and she might fear the fiery blonde haired woman even more for that easy transition.

[Shin]

As Ryuku walked he contemplated the events that had brought him here, the great distances he had gone and the journey he had walked. Now, of all places, he ended up where his only professional failure resided. It wasn’t coincidence, Ryuku didn’t believe in coincidence. He was here for a reason, but was that too finish a job long forgotten or something more?

Ryuku didn’t want to kill Vylrath, not now. The days of being an assassin were long behind him; but was it beneath him to seek a challenge? The thought disturbed Ryuku slightly. Despite being deep in concentration Ryuku remained absolutely aware of his surroundings, he was aware of the plight going on outside as well as the sudden arrival of another tainted individual.

The path Ryuku was walking deviated and the Monk knew he was headed towards Vylrath and this new person. There was a certain amount of respect Ryuku held for his former mark, and he would be dam if he let another individual defeat his challenge, especially while he was still weak.

Still draped in rags Ryuku stepped into the queen’s doorway, hands folded behind his back as he leaned against the door frame. He gave Vylrath a slight nod but remained silent that and instead focused his attention on this new individual.

--

Events unfolded nicely, better than D’Angelo expected actually. As the red haired women were brought to the center, all of their eyes on the Angel and Merefolk above them all, D’Angelo slipped behind the women, halfway between them and the crowd. He kept both hands on the hilts of his concealed weapons ready to spring forward at a moment’s notice.

There was an audible gasp as the Siren stepped forward, shedding her façade and bearing her true form. D’Angelo was momentarily stunned by her form, lust threatened to take control. Thinking quickly he diverted his eyes to the ground and pushed his way through the other women.

“Get me something to bind her hands with.” He snapped at one of the awestruck guards, careful to avoid looking at her. “And be quick about it.”

--

William pulled the cowl of his cloak back which stopped the magic of the item from blending him into the stone. He walked forward out of the throng of people, his eyes locked directly onto the Sirens face. It was obvious that William was fey himself, he was too foreign and too beautiful for any normal man.

He walked with an unearthly grace, stopping before the naked women, smiling politely. William remained unaffected by the Siren’s unnatural beauty, unlike many of the men around him. “I have something to bind her.” He spoke to D’Angelo.

He reached into the quiver on his back and pulled forth a gnarled and twisted looking arrow. He brought the piece of wood to his lips and whispered something that caused the wood to bend and twist further. “Extend your arms, wrist together, please.”

The piece of wood would move of its own accord if she moved into the position he directed, twisting and bending to trap both wrists together tightly, going as far to rub skin raw and dig slightly into flesh. “I am truly surprised to see you here.” William said offhandedly, talking to the Siren with a casualness that suggested familiarity.

“Surely your king knew you could not succeed here. A suicide mission? Or… there is more than what meets the eye going on? Someone slipping in somewhere else with all the attention focused on the front, or you seek to get inside for another means?” It was all speculation of course, William had no proof an of the things he claimed, but he was weary of his darker brethren and knew of the treachery that they were capable of.

“I would gag her and get her inside before the men riot.” He said in a low voice to D’Angelo, looking out over the crowd to make sure none were being so bold as too move to her rescue.

[Herald_of_Fate]

Slyail allowed his powers to dissipate, his eyes once more assuming their colorless, mirrorlike quality. The Angel's true form was a far different experince for Slyail than many others. There seemed a strangely ordered pattern to the light, the sheer force she radiated that Slyail would find even more captivating than the sight of the Siren herself. The Water Mage nodded his ascent as he fell into place behind her, eager to hear what information could be wrought from their captive. The talk of torture, however, was something he felt strongly against, though ultimately he knew there may be no other way to obtain what intelligence they hoped for.

"I would ask that you resort to torture only once simple questioning has failed..." The Merrow King intoned to Kahlan. "The Unseelie do not accept failure. For her to surrender to us carries a death sentence of which she is well aware, even if she did manage to escape."

He let his words sink in. Slyail was no stranger to Unseelie politics, having had to maintain the Merrows' previous neutrality in the conflict. While he had not met the Unseelie King, he was more than well versed on the sadistic nature he took in making examples out of those unfortunate enough to fail him. The Mage watched the newcomer with a bit of curiousity, his woodland magic foreign and strange.

"Well met, young one. It seems you've come to us at something of an awkward moment. I am Slyail Undertow, King and Reejerey of the Deep Kingdom. Your aid is appreciated." He said, offering a webbed, clawed hand to William.

----------------

Helena's silence was equal parts fear and defiance. She knew that her Lord was severe in his punishments, but had she truly failed yet? She'd been sent to gauge their strength and discovered at least three powerful enemies, as well as the fact that the Merrow had joined the Seelie Court. This changed much for the Siren knew that there were other Fey races whose stance on the conflict might follow the Merrow lead. Before this mission, she herslef had been sent as an envoy to several of them, using her seductive qualities to sway several of their rulers to promise resources to the Unseelie campaign. It occurred to her for a moment that her capture might have been orchestrated by her Lord himself, her being privy to so much information making her a source of propaganda. He had sent her unsupported against an Angel, a Merrow Mage, and gods-knew-what else. And he'd always favored her darker cousins, the Banshee, whose voices carried only Death to her who only tempted. Had she been used?

Not that it mattered now. She was firmly in the enemy's grasp without the ability to ensnare them with her looks or voice. What could she do? She felt betrayed as she saw the truth of her situation. They were going to torture her?! Would they even believe her if she told them the truth? Was phase two still proceeding, regardless of what happened to her? Hanging her head, she allowed a low sob to escape her lips.

[Trydian]

“I hardly did it to be admiral. I had to guarantee her safety, so I gambled with a tainted soul.” Trydian said, startled only that Vylrath was standing in the same room with them. Some other man emerged from the hallway, his essence completely different from the rest of them. His father might count on him to attack, but he didn't have business with him- he was here for Igraine.

Trydian removed the scabbard holding the chaos sword and began to present it to Igraine. He knew that it would be a low blow to Vylrath, especially after the sword had been entrusted to him. By right, it should go to Vylrath, but he wasn't an idiot to trust it with him. “You are requested to speak with King Pendaran. The King assumes I am a fool, but I don't think he counted on this sword, or the number of alley's on your side.” Trydian paused, knowing it would be hard for her to see him leave again. His journey had been simple and the task complete...if she agreed, that is. Once he gave her the sword, she would at least be able to defend herself if King Pendaran decided to attack her.

He watched her lift the scabbard and place it across her lap. There was little she could do in her condition, but he felt better knowing that the sword rested in her hands.

“He only requested your presence...no one else.” Trydian finished, glaring toward Vylrath. Vylrath was known for involving himself and ruining carefully laid out plans. If Trydian had his choice, he would have been thrusting a blade into the man's chest and sending him back to the spirit world.

“You are a fool for welcoming back father into your stronghold.” Trydian expressed, knowing that it was his personal opinion and not something connected with his task. He was hardly one to take things personally, but seeing his father alive and well created a fresh anger.

Turning back to Igraine, he decided to further explain the consequences if she did not meet up with King Pendaran. "Right now, my sister is in his hands. I fear he will do something to her- he knows of her powers. I found out, that she was offered the chance at a gift from him of her choosing. She turned him down. When I discovered this, I forced her to accept the gift and request to have control over her Seer abilities." He brought up a hand, silencing her before she could argue. Igraine was known for being the only one capable of calming Trydian's rage. "I don't know if it was wise of me...but she is a mere mortal in a complex world beyond her understanding."

Trydian was not fearful of torture if she refused. His thoughts were with Sebilla and her well being. If Igraine was able to use the sword, then maybe she wouldn't be so helpless against the King.

[Vylrath]

Vylrath smiled, amused by Trydian's demeanor. He could see himself when he was younger, Trydian's stance mimicked his. Vylrath was sure that Trydian didn't know how alike they were, already hearing curses from him.

“Well, at least you look like your mother. I can't say that you possess her charm though.” Vylrath said coolly, keeping his calm. Now was not the time to provoke someone like Trydian. Trydian was a full demon, who would not hesitate to fight him in such a small closure.

Nodding toward Ryuku, he wondered if the monk was confused by the family relations. “Trydian is my son by my daughter Caela. Igraine is my daughter from Kahlan...they are half siblings.” Vylrath waved at hand at Trydian, as if to ward off some undesirable. “He is the only one in the family that is still carrying my demonic blood.” Shrugging, he noted the exchange between Trydian and Igraine. His thoughts went to the sword. The sword should have burned Igraine, but she took it like a normal blade. He found that very curious, even alarming. Did the sword lose it's effect? No...it still beckoned and gave off its foreboding hue.

“Tell me, Igraine. Are your hands scorched?” Vylrath asked, going over only to inspect her. Her hands were unscathed. The sword should have reacted to a creature like Igraine, instead it allowed her to carry the blade as if it acknowledged her for a master.

Vylrath leaned against a wall near Igraine, watching the surprised reaction of Trydian. Trydian might have been master of the blade, but he didn't know all of its inner workings. “The blade only responds to tainted individuals. My monk friend would burn from touching the hilt alone. Igraine is from the Fey world and she would have received the same fate.” Vylrath explained, deciding to let himself feel the heartbeat of Igraine and the baby.

The souls of the mother and child were the same, but something lingered. There was some sort of taint left by the father, almost like a branding. Vylrath recoiled from sensing Igraine. The one pure creature he had tried to protect, was now as tainted as the rest of them. He looked toward Ryuku, but he knew that he wouldn't be able to lift such a taint. The taint had already claimed and rooted itself in their souls.

“It seems Thorin left you a gift. You and Morgana are tainted with darkness. That is why are you are able to lift the blade and not be harmed.” Vylrath was thankful he was leaning against the wall. He wasn't sure if anything else could hold him up. This once pure woman, was now holding a taint like a demonic being.

How could he explain such a thing to Kahlan?

For the first time in his life, he was too enraged to speak. In a single moment, he hadn't been there to protect her.

“Watch over her, Ryuku. I need a moment to myself.” Vylrath left them, more than likely confused. He needed to think things over carefully. If Thorin had that much power, he wondered if he was aware. Shutting the door behind him, at least he would have some peace in the hallway. He didn't want to suddenly attack Trydian, or break down in front of her.