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Meanwhile, in a nearby wood, five hooded figures sat around a campfire. Their hands held fast in a circle, they chanted an ancient song as old as the land itself. The wind rustled around them, and there was a strong aura of magic. One man stood in the center by the fire, palms held upward to the sky. His robes billowed around him, dancing in the wind; despite this distraction, his face remained blank and expressionless.

"Son of Green-Palm, rise and stand before me," chanted the man, beckoning to a boy in a green cape; the only one not in black. The boy stepped forward, looking nervous. He knelt before the man and bowed his head in submission.

"I am here, ready to do as the Circle commands. I live only to serve the Great Circle," the boys words came out in hesitant, broken jolts, his voice catching on some of the words; there was no conviction behind them.

The leader grabbed the boy's hair and pulled back so he was staring into his terrified eyes.

"May I remind you, boy, that it is your head if this is not done correctly." His voice was even and betrayed no anger -- only those who knew him well knew of the true malice it disguised; the boy knew him well enough. The boy also knew that if he did not go through with this test, even more lives would be lost.

"I know," the boy said in barely a whisper.

"Then do what must be done," the leader spoke in a booming voice.

He bowed his head submissively Hide my emotions...build a barrier...my mind is the fortress... and after a breath spoke evenly with a steeled passion, "I, Nicholas Delta, am here, ready to do as the Circle commands. I live only to serve the Great Circle and will fulfill the duties that are my honour to receive by the Great Circle." there was a deadly silence as the leader smirked at the Nicholas.

"Then go," he commanded, "to the capital." The leader regarded the boy -- he was young, very young -- the perfect age to complete the mission. Nicholas stood, set his jaw, and bowed to the leader, then finally, to seal the deal he reached his hands into the fire and pulled out the red hot iron brand, which he placed into the flesh above his right hip wincing, "Lucidorus" it said.

Then the circle bowed their heads, and the leader smiled. Nicholas turned to stare at the distant lights of the city, dreading what was to come. He put the iron back into the fire and gritted his teeth against his new pain. It was nothing to him however, "I've suffered worse," he reminds himself.

As he walked, Nicholas reviewed the plan in his mind. It was simple, really. He would call upon his noble lineage and gain status and respect in the court; he would act as mole and relay information back to the Great Circle; he would bring about the destruction of the throne...simple. That was, unless those damned Collectors got in the way.

He grinned, reveling in the power the Lucidorus had, because of their inside sources, they had known about Lady Sita's plan to use the Collectors long before it had been announced. They would not be hard to avoid, now that he knew they would be there; he just had to stay out of their way, and that would be easy -- they each proudly bore the emblem of the Collectors. All the same, he wished they would not be there, they would make his already difficult task that much harder.

Unlike the Lucidorus, the Collectors' emblem was not branded but tattooed. He ran the two symbols through his head, comparing them; the Lucidorus was only the word, cleverly crafted to stand for the meaning of the word: those who clarify. The Collectors' symbol was something different all together -- a ring of small black circles around a sword with a pentacle in the hilt; if one looked closely enough one could see the the black circles were, in fact, not circles at all but many different types of flowers, with the sacred rose at the top of the circle. A strange symbol for ones whose evil could make Satan himself cringe.

Nicholas came to a fully-prepared and saddled horse -- it was ready for his journey. He patted the mare gently and she gave a soft nicker in response. He had always loved horses; Nicholas wondered briefly what his life would be like if he had become a stable hand instead of one of the Great Circle. He laughed as he mounted, playing out his imagined life: He would have started as a young boy fresh from home - probably taking on a less than appealing job cleaning out stalls at the palace. His wonderings were cut short as the stable door burst open with a bang, startling his mount into a small rear.

"Nicolas! Please don't do it!" cried a young girl, running up to his horse and clasping his hand.

"Foolish girl!" whispered Nicholas furiously, grabbing her wrists, "If the others knew you were here right, your head would be stuck on a pike!"

"I don't care!," The girl wailed, tears streaming down her pale cheeks," I wouldn't mind dieing, if I only knew you wouldn't carry this through."

Chapter Two

Meanwhile, in a nearby wood, five hooded figures sat around a campfire. Their hands held fast in a circle, they chanted an ancient song as old as the land itself. The wind rustled around them, and there was a strong aura of magic. One man stood in the center by the fire, palms held upward to the sky. His robes billowed around him, dancing in the wind; despite this distraction, his face remained blank and expressionless.

"Son of Green-Palm, rise and stand before me," chanted the man, beckoning to a boy in a green cape; the only one not in black. The boy stepped forward, looking nervous. He knelt before the man and bowed his head in submission.

"I am here, ready to do as the Circle commands. I live only to serve the Great Circle," the boys words came out in hesitant, broken jolts, his voice catching on some of the words; there was no conviction behind them.

The leader grabbed the boy's hair and pulled back so he was staring into his terrified eyes.

"May I remind you, boy, that it is your head if this is not done correctly." His voice was even and betrayed no anger -- only those who knew him well knew of the true malice it disguised; the boy knew him well enough. The boy also knew that if he did not go through with this test, even more lives would be lost.

"I know," the boy said in barely a whisper.

"Then do what must be done," the leader spoke in a booming voice.

He bowed his head submissively Hide my emotions...build a barrier...my mind is the fortress... and after a breath spoke evenly with a steeled passion, "I, Nicholas Delta, am here, ready to do as the Circle commands. I live only to serve the Great Circle and will fulfill the duties that are my honour to receive by the Great Circle." there was a deadly silence as the leader smirked at the Nicholas.

"Then go," he commanded, "to the capital." The leader regarded the boy -- he was young, very young -- the perfect age to complete the mission. Nicholas stood, set his jaw, and bowed to the leader, then finally, to seal the deal he reached his hands into the fire and pulled out the red hot iron brand, which he placed into the flesh above his right hip wincing, "Lucidorus" it said.

Then the circle bowed their heads, and the leader smiled. Nicholas turned to stare at the distant lights of the city, dreading what was to come. He put the iron back into the fire and gritted his teeth against his new pain. It was nothing to him however, "I've suffered worse," he reminds himself.

As he walked, Nicholas reviewed the plan in his mind. It was simple, really. He would call upon his noble lineage and gain status and respect in the court; he would act as mole and relay information back to the Great Circle; he would bring about the destruction of the throne...simple. That was, unless those damned Collectors got in the way.

He grinned, reveling in the power the Lucidorus had, because of their inside sources, they had known about Lady Sita's plan to use the Collectors long before it had been announced. They would not be hard to avoid, now that he knew they would be there; he just had to stay out of their way, and that would be easy -- they each proudly bore the emblem of the Collectors. All the same, he wished they would not be there, they would make his already difficult task that much harder.

Unlike the Lucidorus, the Collectors' emblem was not branded but tattooed. He ran the two symbols through his head, comparing them; the Lucidorus was only the word, cleverly crafted to stand for the meaning of the word: those who clarify. The Collectors' symbol was something different all together -- a ring of small black circles around a sword with a pentacle in the hilt; if one looked closely enough one could see the the black circles were, in fact, not circles at all but many different types of flowers, with the sacred rose at the top of the circle. A strange symbol for ones whose evil could make Satan himself cringe.

Nicholas came to a fully-prepared and saddled horse -- it was ready for his journey. He patted the mare gently and she gave a soft nicker in response. He had always loved horses; Nicholas wondered briefly what his life would be like if he had become a stable hand instead of one of the Great Circle. He laughed as he mounted, playing out his imagined life: He would have started as a young boy fresh from home - probably taking on a less than appealing job cleaning out stalls at the palace. His wonderings were cut short as the stable door burst open with a bang, startling his mount into a small rear.

"Nicolas! Please don't do it!" cried a young girl, running up to his horse and clasping his hand.

"Foolish girl!" whispered Nicholas furiously, grabbing her wrists, "If the others knew you were here right, your head would be stuck on a pike!"

"I don't care!," The girl wailed, tears streaming down her pale cheeks," I wouldn't mind dieing, if I only knew you wouldn't carry this through."

"You have no idea what you're talking about," he retorted, "go back home, Elena, before someone gets hurt."

The girl- Elena- shook her black tresses vigorously, she set her mouth in a hard line and stared at Nickolas with large blue eyes.

Chapter Two

Meanwhile, in a nearby wood, five hooded figures sat around a campfire. Their hands held fast in a circle, they chanted an ancient song as old as the land itself. The wind rustled around them, and there was a strong aura of magic. One man stood in the center by the fire, palms held upward to the sky. His robes billowed around him, dancing in the wind; despite this distraction, his face remained blank and expressionless.

"Son of Green-Palm, rise and stand before me," chanted the man, beckoning to a boy in a green cape; the only one not in black. The boy stepped forward, looking nervous. He knelt before the man and bowed his head in submission.

"I am here, ready to do as the Circle commands. I live only to serve the Great Circle," the boys words came out in hesitant, broken jolts, his voice catching on some of the words; there was no conviction behind them.

The leader grabbed the boy's hair and pulled back so he was staring into his terrified eyes.

"May I remind you, boy, that it is your head if this is not done correctly." His voice was even and betrayed no anger -- only those who knew him well knew of the true malice it disguised; the boy knew him well enough. The boy also knew that if he did not go through with this test, even more lives would be lost.

"I know," the boy said in barely a whisper.

"Then do what must be done," the leader spoke in a booming voice.

He bowed his head submissively Hide my emotions...build a barrier...my mind is the fortress... and after a breath spoke evenly with a steeled passion, "I, Nicholas Delta, am here, ready to do as the Circle commands. I live only to serve the Great Circle and will fulfill the duties that are my honour to receive by the Great Circle." there was a deadly silence as the leader smirked at the Nicholas.

"Then go," he commanded, "to the capital." The leader regarded the boy -- he was young, very young -- the perfect age to complete the mission. Nicholas stood, set his jaw, and bowed to the leader, then finally, to seal the deal he reached his hands into the fire and pulled out the red hot iron brand, which he placed into the flesh above his right hip wincing, "Lucidorus" it said.

Then the circle bowed their heads, and the leader smiled. Nicholas turned to stare at the distant lights of the city, dreading what was to come. He put the iron back into the fire and gritted his teeth against his new pain. It was nothing to him however, "I've suffered worse," he reminds himself.

As he walked, Nicholas reviewed the plan in his mind. It was simple, really. He would call upon his noble lineage and gain status and respect in the court; he would act as mole and relay information back to the Great Circle; he would bring about the destruction of the throne...simple. That was, unless those damned Collectors got in the way.

He grinned, reveling in the power the Lucidorus had, because of their inside sources, they had known about Lady Sita's plan to use the Collectors long before it had been announced. They would not be hard to avoid, now that he knew they would be there; he just had to stay out of their way, and that would be easy -- they each proudly bore the emblem of the Collectors. All the same, he wished they would not be there, they would make his already difficult task that much harder.

Unlike the Lucidorus, the Collectors' emblem was not branded but tattooed. He ran the two symbols through his head, comparing them; the Lucidorus was only the word, cleverly crafted to stand for the meaning of the word: those who clarify. The Collectors' symbol was something different all together -- a ring of small black circles around a sword with a pentacle in the hilt; if one looked closely enough one could see the the black circles were, in fact, not circles at all but many different types of flowers, with the sacred rose at the top of the circle. A strange symbol for ones whose evil could make Satan himself cringe.

Nicholas came to a fully-prepared and saddled horse -- it was ready for his journey. He patted the mare gently and she gave a soft nicker in response. He had always loved horses; Nicholas wondered briefly what his life would be like if he had become a stable hand instead of one of the Great Circle. He laughed as he mounted, playing out his imagined life: He would have started as a young boy fresh from home - probably taking on a less than appealing job cleaning out stalls at the palace. His wonderings were cut short as the stable door burst open with a bang, startling his mount into a small rear.

"Nicolas! Please don't do it!" cried a young girl, running up to his horse and clasping his hand.

"Foolish girl!" whispered Nicholas furiously, grabbing her wrists, "If the others knew you were here right, your head would be stuck on a pike!"

"I don't care!," The girl wailed, tears streaming down her pale cheeks," I wouldn't mind dieing, if I only knew you wouldn't carry this through."

"You have no idea what you're talking about," he retorted, "go back home, Elena, before someone gets hurt."

The girl- Elena- shook her black tresses vigorously, she set her mouth in a hard line and stared at Nickolas with large blue eyes.

"You are the one that is likely to get hurt -- don't fear for my safety, fear for your own!" Her voice was filled with a conviction beyond her years.

Nicholas released her wrists roughly and turns to continue readying his horse's saddlebags.

Chapter Two

Meanwhile, in a nearby wood, five hooded figures sat around a campfire. Their hands held fast in a circle, they chanted an ancient song as old as the land itself. The wind rustled around them, and there was a strong aura of magic. One man stood in the center by the fire, palms held upward to the sky. His robes billowed around him, dancing in the wind; despite this distraction, his face remained blank and expressionless.

"Son of Green-Palm, rise and stand before me," chanted the man, beckoning to a boy in a green cape; the only one not in black. The boy stepped forward, looking nervous. He knelt before the man and bowed his head in submission.

"I am here, ready to do as the Circle commands. I live only to serve the Great Circle," the boys words came out in hesitant, broken jolts, his voice catching on some of the words; there was no conviction behind them.

The leader grabbed the boy's hair and pulled back so he was staring into his terrified eyes.

"May I remind you, boy, that it is your head if this is not done correctly." His voice was even and betrayed no anger -- only those who knew him well knew of the true malice it disguised; the boy knew him well enough. The boy also knew that if he did not go through with this test, even more lives would be lost.

"I know," the boy said in barely a whisper.

"Then do what must be done," the leader spoke in a booming voice.

He bowed his head submissively Hide my emotions...build a barrier...my mind is the fortress... and after a breath spoke evenly with a steeled passion, "I, Nicholas Delta, am here, ready to do as the Circle commands. I live only to serve the Great Circle and will fulfill the duties that are my honour to receive by the Great Circle." there was a deadly silence as the leader smirked at the Nicholas.

"Then go," he commanded, "to the capital." The leader regarded the boy -- he was young, very young -- the perfect age to complete the mission. Nicholas stood, set his jaw, and bowed to the leader, then finally, to seal the deal he reached his hands into the fire and pulled out the red hot iron brand, which he placed into the flesh above his right hip wincing, "Lucidorus" it said.

Then the circle bowed their heads, and the leader smiled. Nicholas turned to stare at the distant lights of the city, dreading what was to come. He put the iron back into the fire and gritted his teeth against his new pain. It was nothing to him however, "I've suffered worse," he reminds himself.

As he walked, Nicholas reviewed the plan in his mind. It was simple, really. He would call upon his noble lineage and gain status and respect in the court; he would act as mole and relay information back to the Great Circle; he would bring about the destruction of the throne...simple. That was, unless those damned Collectors got in the way.

He grinned, reveling in the power the Lucidorus had, because of their inside sources, they had known about Lady Sita's plan to use the Collectors long before it had been announced. They would not be hard to avoid, now that he knew they would be there; he just had to stay out of their way, and that would be easy -- they each proudly bore the emblem of the Collectors. All the same, he wished they would not be there, they would make his already difficult task that much harder.

Unlike the Lucidorus, the Collectors' emblem was not branded but tattooed. He ran the two symbols through his head, comparing them; the Lucidorus was only the word, cleverly crafted to stand for the meaning of the word: those who clarify. The Collectors' symbol was something different all together -- a ring of small black circles around a sword with a pentacle in the hilt; if one looked closely enough one could see the the black circles were, in fact, not circles at all but many different types of flowers, with the sacred rose at the top of the circle. A strange symbol for ones whose evil could make Satan himself cringe.

Nicholas came to a fully-prepared and saddled horse -- it was ready for his journey. He patted the mare gently and she gave a soft nicker in response. He had always loved horses; Nicholas wondered briefly what his life would be like if he had become a stable hand instead of one of the Great Circle. He laughed as he mounted, playing out his imagined life: He would have started as a young boy fresh from home - probably taking on a less than appealing job cleaning out stalls at the palace. His wonderings were cut short as the stable door burst open with a bang, startling his mount into a small rear.

"Nicolas! Please don't do it!" cried a young girl, running up to his horse and clasping his hand.

"Foolish girl!" whispered Nicholas furiously, grabbing her wrists, "If the others knew you were here right, your head would be stuck on a pike!"

"I don't care!," The girl wailed, tears streaming down her pale cheeks," I wouldn't mind dying, if I only knew you wouldn't carry this through."

"You have no idea what you're talking about," he retorted, "go back home, Elena, before someone gets hurt."

The girl- Elena- shook her black tresses vigorously, she set her mouth in a hard line and stared at Nickolas with large blue eyes.

"You are the one that is likely to get hurt -- don't fear for my safety, fear for your own!" Her voice was filled with a conviction beyond her years.

Nicholas released her wrists roughly and turned to continue readying his horse's saddlebags. When he was finished, he turned, expecting to see an empty barn, but instead saw Elena still standing there, watching him. He was just about to bodily throw her out of the barn when he stopped, sighed and took her face in his hands, stareing into her blue eyes with his own brown ones.

Chapter Two

Meanwhile, in a nearby wood, five hooded figures sat around a campfire. Their hands held fast in a circle, they chanted an ancient song as old as the land itself. The wind rustled around them, and there was a strong aura of magic. One man stood in the center by the fire, palms held upward to the sky. His robes billowed around him, dancing in the wind; despite this distraction, his face remained blank and expressionless.

"Son of Green-Palm, rise and stand before me," chanted the man, beckoning to a boy in a green cape; the only one not in black. The boy stepped forward, looking nervous. He knelt before the man and bowed his head in submission.

"I am here, ready to do as the Circle commands. I live only to serve the Great Circle," the boys words came out in hesitant, broken jolts, his voice catching on some of the words; there was no conviction behind them.

The leader grabbed the boy's hair and pulled back so he was staring into his terrified eyes.

"May I remind you, boy, that it is your head if this is not done correctly." His voice was even and betrayed no anger -- only those who knew him well knew of the true malice it disguised; the boy knew him well enough. The boy also knew that if he did not go through with this test, even more lives would be lost.

"I know," the boy said in barely a whisper.

"Then do what must be done," the leader spoke in a booming voice.

He bowed his head submissively Hide my emotions...build a barrier...my mind is the fortress... and after a breath spoke evenly with a steeled passion, "I, Nicholas Delta, am here, ready to do as the Circle commands. I live only to serve the Great Circle and will fulfill the duties that are my honour to receive by the Great Circle." there was a deadly silence as the leader smirked at the Nicholas.

"Then go," he commanded, "to the capital." The leader regarded the boy -- he was young, very young -- the perfect age to complete the mission. Nicholas stood, set his jaw, and bowed to the leader, then finally, to seal the deal he reached his hands into the fire and pulled out the red hot iron brand, which he placed into the flesh above his right hip wincing, "Lucidorus" it said.

Then the circle bowed their heads, and the leader smiled. Nicholas turned to stare at the distant lights of the city, dreading what was to come. He put the iron back into the fire and gritted his teeth against his new pain. It was nothing to him however, "I've suffered worse," he reminds himself.

As he walked, Nicholas reviewed the plan in his mind. It was simple, really. He would call upon his noble lineage and gain status and respect in the court; he would act as mole and relay information back to the Great Circle; he would bring about the destruction of the throne...simple. That was, unless those damned Collectors got in the way.

He grinned, reveling in the power the Lucidorus had, because of their inside sources, they had known about Lady Sita's plan to use the Collectors long before it had been announced. They would not be hard to avoid, now that he knew they would be there; he just had to stay out of their way, and that would be easy -- they each proudly bore the emblem of the Collectors. All the same, he wished they would not be there, they would make his already difficult task that much harder.

Unlike the Lucidorus, the Collectors' emblem was not branded but tattooed. He ran the two symbols through his head, comparing them; the Lucidorus was only the word, cleverly crafted to stand for the meaning of the word: those who clarify. The Collectors' symbol was something different all together -- a ring of small black circles around a sword with a pentacle in the hilt; if one looked closely enough one could see the the black circles were, in fact, not circles at all but many different types of flowers, with the sacred rose at the top of the circle. A strange symbol for ones whose evil could make Satan himself cringe.

Nicholas came to a fully-prepared and saddled horse -- it was ready for his journey. He patted the mare gently and she gave a soft nicker in response. He had always loved horses; Nicholas wondered briefly what his life would be like if he had become a stable hand instead of one of the Great Circle. He laughed as he mounted, playing out his imagined life: He would have started as a young boy fresh from home - probably taking on a less than appealing job cleaning out stalls at the palace. His wonderings were cut short as the stable door burst open with a bang, startling his mount into a small rear.

"Nicolas! Please don't do it!" cried a young girl, running up to his horse and clasping his hand.

"Foolish girl!" whispered Nicholas furiously, grabbing her wrists, "If the others knew you were here right, your head would be stuck on a pike!"

"I don't care!," The girl wailed, tears streaming down her pale cheeks," I wouldn't mind dying, if I only knew you wouldn't carry this through."

"You have no idea what you're talking about," he retorted, "go back home, Elena, before someone gets hurt."

The girl- Elena- shook her black tresses vigorously, she set her mouth in a hard line and stared at Nickolas with large blue eyes.

"You are the one that is likely to get hurt -- don't fear for my safety, fear for your own!" Her voice was filled with a conviction beyond her years.

Nicholas released her wrists roughly and turned to continue readying his horse's saddlebags. When he was finished, he turned, expecting to see an empty barn, but instead saw Elena still standing there, watching him. He was just about to bodily throw her out of the barn when he stopped, sighed and took her face in his hands, stareing into her blue eyes with his own brown ones.

"Elli," he says, using her pet name, "you know that I wouldn't do this if I didn't have to. Please, just trust me and everything will be just fine. Now please, get home and get there safely." She looked for a minuet as though she were going to protest, but then instead sighed and turned to leave.

Chapter Two

Meanwhile, in a nearby wood, five hooded figures sat around a campfire. Their hands held fast in a circle, they chanted an ancient song as old as the land itself. The wind rustled around them, and there was a strong aura of magic. One man stood in the center by the fire, palms held upward to the sky. His robes billowed around him, dancing in the wind; despite this distraction, his face remained blank and expressionless.

"Son of Green-Palm, rise and stand before me," chanted the man, beckoning to a boy in a green cape; the only one not in black. The boy stepped forward, looking nervous. He knelt before the man and bowed his head in submission.

"I am here, ready to do as the Circle commands. I live only to serve the Great Circle," the boys words came out in hesitant, broken jolts, his voice catching on some of the words; there was no conviction behind them.

The leader grabbed the boy's hair and pulled back so he was staring into his terrified eyes.

"May I remind you, boy, that it is your head if this is not done correctly." His voice was even and betrayed no anger -- only those who knew him well knew of the true malice it disguised; the boy knew him well enough. The boy also knew that if he did not go through with this test, even more lives would be lost.

"I know," the boy said in barely a whisper.

"Then do what must be done," the leader spoke in a booming voice.

He bowed his head submissively Hide my emotions...build a barrier...my mind is the fortress... and after a breath spoke evenly with a steeled passion, "I, Nicholas Delta, am here, ready to do as the Circle commands. I live only to serve the Great Circle and will fulfill the duties that are my honour to receive by the Great Circle." there was a deadly silence as the leader smirked at the Nicholas.

"Then go," he commanded, "to the capital." The leader regarded the boy -- he was young, very young -- the perfect age to complete the mission. Nicholas stood, set his jaw, and bowed to the leader, then finally, to seal the deal he reached his hands into the fire and pulled out the red hot iron brand, which he placed into the flesh above his right hip wincing, "Lucidorus" it said.

Then the circle bowed their heads, and the leader smiled. Nicholas turned to stare at the distant lights of the city, dreading what was to come. He put the iron back into the fire and gritted his teeth against his new pain. It was nothing to him however, "I've suffered worse," he reminds himself.

As he walked, Nicholas reviewed the plan in his mind. It was simple, really. He would call upon his noble lineage and gain status and respect in the court; he would act as mole and relay information back to the Great Circle; he would bring about the destruction of the throne...simple. That was, unless those damned Collectors got in the way.

He grinned, reveling in the power the Lucidorus had, because of their inside sources, they had known about Lady Sita's plan to use the Collectors long before it had been announced. They would not be hard to avoid, now that he knew they would be there; he just had to stay out of their way, and that would be easy -- they each proudly bore the emblem of the Collectors. All the same, he wished they would not be there, they would make his already difficult task that much harder.

Unlike the Lucidorus, the Collectors' emblem was not branded but tattooed. He ran the two symbols through his head, comparing them; the Lucidorus was only the word, cleverly crafted to stand for the meaning of the word: those who clarify. The Collectors' symbol was something different all together -- a ring of small black circles around a sword with a pentacle in the hilt; if one looked closely enough one could see the the black circles were, in fact, not circles at all but many different types of flowers, with the sacred rose at the top of the circle. A strange symbol for ones whose evil could make Satan himself cringe.

Nicholas came to a fully-prepared and saddled horse -- it was ready for his journey. He patted the mare gently and she gave a soft nicker in response. He had always loved horses; Nicholas wondered briefly what his life would be like if he had become a stable hand instead of one of the Great Circle. He laughed as he mounted, playing out his imagined life: He would have started as a young boy fresh from home - probably taking on a less than appealing job cleaning out stalls at the palace. His wonderings were cut short as the stable door burst open with a bang, startling his mount into a small rear.

"Nicolas! Please don't do it!" cried a young girl, running up to his horse and clasping his hand.

"Foolish girl!" whispered Nicholas furiously, grabbing her wrists, "If the others knew you were here right, your head would be stuck on a pike!"

"I don't care!," The girl wailed, tears streaming down her pale cheeks," I wouldn't mind dying, if I only knew you wouldn't carry this through."

"You have no idea what you're talking about," he retorted, "go back home, Elena, before someone gets hurt."

The girl- Elena- shook her black tresses vigorously, she set her mouth in a hard line and stared at Nickolas with large blue eyes.

"You are the one that is likely to get hurt -- don't fear for my safety, fear for your own!" Her voice was filled with a conviction beyond her years.

Nicholas released her wrists roughly and turned to continue readying his horse's saddlebags. When he was finished, he turned, expecting to see an empty barn, but instead saw Elena still standing there, watching him. He was just about to bodily throw her out of the barn when he stopped, sighed and took her face in his hands, staring into her blue eyes with his own brown ones.

"Elli," he says, using her pet name, "you know that I wouldn't do this if I didn't have to. Please, just trust me and everything will be just fine. Now please, get home and get there safely." She looked for a minuet as though she were going to protest, but then instead sighed and turned to leave.

Nicholas smiled sadly, glad that she was finally leaving to be safe. Then he rode out, noticing the dark clouds that foretold a storm.

((Heehee))

Chapter 3

Sita paced the flagstone floor of her room, impossibly tired but unable to bring herself to sleep. A sudden rap on the door jarred her from her thoughts, causing her to gasp.

Chapter 3

Sita paced the flagstone floor of her room, impossibly tired but unable to bring herself to sleep. A sudden rap on the door jarred her from her thoughts, causing her to gasp. She strode over to the door and opened it, then gazed out at the person on the other side. A very tired Liam was holding a blanket and a glass ball, "My Lady, it's the prince, his temperature is rising by the minute..."