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The trek through the mountains was not difficult to do, but for those who were not familiar with the secret trails it might be hard to find. The Blood Knights had hidden their to their Keep very well, to keep away intruders, but the road was easy enough for horses to traverse, living or not. They then finally came upon their mountain fortress, the Keep of Pale Night.

(Exit to Keep of Pale Night)

He turned around and called out, "who's there?"

Some more stones clattered and he heard a familiar voice, "I thought that was you." A figure jumped out of the rocky mountain side, rolled, and stood up. It was Tira. Dar then slid out of wherever he was hiding.

"What are you doing here? and... how did you find me!?" Valen could not believe what was happening... If any others in the Order found them, they would be killed on the spot, or worse.

Tira smiled mischievously, "oh, did I forget to tell you? I am a tracker, quite good actually. We lost you for a bit in that city, but I talked to some trees and they told me where you had gone. As for why we are here, Dar sorta reminded me that we owe you. First you rescued me, and then you helped us beat that monster thing."

"Saving you was nothing personal, Dar saved my life before that, we are even. And for that Fury, Azura did all of the real work."

Tira just shook her head, Dar was kinda just standing in the background. "Sorry Val baby, we are sticking with you until we are even, and nothing you can say will change that."

"There is a fortress above us with 5000 Vampires who are currently having a feast of blood."

"Oh....."

"Yeah, and if they find you it will not be good.... ok, you need to leave." Tira started to protest but Valen held up one hand, "I will meet with you again... after I complete something.... my Order is going to war, a great force marches here to threaten the whole world.... When we are finished I will meet up with you again, go west and travel to Ostermark, it is a port city along the Northern Sea. You will be safe there. I will send a messenger bird to you so we can stay in contact."

"But if you are going to battle we can help."

"No, it is a battle not suited for mercenary units. I am sorry, but I promise that I will allow you to repay whatever debt you feel you have." He put his hands on her shoulders and it was then he realized how small she was. And so young too, still a child by his standards. "I promise I will return to you."

She looked sad, but nodded and then pulled away from him, "come on Dar, we don't want to be here when the Vampires run out of food." They turned and started down the trail and she turned back just as they were about to be out of sight, "you better keep your promise," she whispered, but Valen still heard it. He nodded, but they were already gone.

Valen then turned and started heading back towards the Keep.

Kraith landed by Valen a few minutes later and got rid of his wings. he squinted at the far off figures. "Is that bear?" Kraith looked harder, "Well, whatever it is it's big." He took a gulp of blood being careful not to spill any. He looked all around before realizing that Rori was perched on a high ledge a few yards in front of them.

He drank the rest and set the mug aside. He whistled and Rori turned her head toward him. She got up and stretched her wings out. She took a quick jump and glided down to Kraith. Kraith smiled and then started to stroke her gently with his hand. Rori turned toward a rock and picked it up and nudged Kraith with her nose. He took the rock from her mouth and threw it far from the side of the cliff they were by. She ran off the edge and extended her wings. The air caught her and she flew quickly she caught the rock in mid air and whipped around while doing a barrel-roll. She flew back and dropped the rock by Kraith. They played fetch until Rori decided to lay down beside him.

Kraith yawned his was getting a little tired. He ran to the edge of the cliff and jumped off. He snapped his fingers and bat wings formed on his back, he flew down until he gathered enough speed to pull up without doing much work. He rose into the moonlight and from where Rori was at you could see him as a black figure with the moon in the background. He swiftly dove towards the ground speeding at around thirty miles an hour. He pulled up before hitting the ground and flew to the castle. He was only inches from the ground during the speedy flight. He pulled up a bit and then landed by the castle entrance. He snapped and the wings went away. He entered the castle.

Kraith dragged his feet to the slow tempo of their march. He wondered what Rori was doing and also wondered where she was. Rori had stopped for a quick feast at the top of the mountains way ahead of Kraith. She finished and ran to the front of the army. There she was on a constant watch, still keeping the army barely in view,

Far below her a group of a hundred Dwarves were marching through the mountains. They were marching west to try and catch up with the allied armies that were standing against the coming Undead hoard. They were out on a patrol when the news came of the threat, and when they heard they restocked their supplies and headed out immediately, not wanting to miss out on the action! But, unbeknown to them, there was a group of Ogres watching the pass for any unlucky enough to travel it. They had spotted the "stunties," as they call them, miles away, and they were now ready to create a rockslide to kill many of them.