Emerali leaned back in her seat, prepared for a trying session with this prisoner. "Well, I've got all day. If you don't wanna talk today, there's always tomorrow. Daevas have forever."

Leiva chuckled wickedly. "But does Elysea?"

Emerali's beautiful features darkened. "The rifts from Elysea open constantly, but never with the level of Aetheric energy that they opened with yesterday. I know you Asmodians are hatching some dangerous scheme. Tell me what you're up to."

Leiva only smiled.

Emerali rose and approached the bars, her eyes smoldering. "Don't think that because we Elyos happen to serve the Light that it renders you safe, Leiva. There are Elyos among us of far less sympathetic minds who won't hesitate at the chance to torment an Asmodian who threatens the existence of our world. Tell me, would you find it humorous still if you were to be beaten to within an inch of your life then sent back to Asmodae bound and gagged with a note pinned to your flesh, reporting that you were captured and forced to betray your comrades?"

Leiva chuckled. "No one who knows me would believe that for a moment."

"I think they would if various Elyos legions marched through a rift into Asmodae, with you in tow, against one of your fortresses. We Elyos can alter Aetheric energy as well. I don't imagine your compatriots would appreciate that. You'd be charged with treason. I understand that your own prisons quite terrifying," Emerali told her.

Silence fell for several minutes. At last Leiva seemed to reconsider. "Yesterday's invasion of your precious Heiron was only the beginning," she said at last. "There's much more to come. That was merely a distraction. While you Elyos were busy fighting us back, an Asmodian warrior with a special mission was making their way to a chosen position from which to strike at you from within your own land."

"Who was it, and where were they deployed?" demanded Emerali.

"That much I don't know. But I can tell you this: they're already here, and you don't have much time."

"What's their plan? You must know that."

"I don't, but I know how you can find out. The secret military base from which all of this stems is hidden deep beneath the snowfields of Morheim in the northernmost region thereof," Leiva informed her.

"What kind of resistance will I be met with?"

"On the surface, none--at least not during the day. At night, it's another matter. Underground, you'll have to contend with many soldiers, but it's Kildim you want. He's the father of this plot."

"How will I know where to look if the base is under all that snow?"

"There's a memorial statue there. It is a false memorial built only to mark the location to those in the know."

Emerali narrowed her eyes at Leiva. "How do I know you're telling me the truth?"

Leiva rose and stood before Emerali. "I guess that's a chance you'll have to take, isn't it? I gave you the information; do with it as you will."

After a moment's contemplation, Emerali withdrew and began to retreat. There wasn't a moment to lose--she had to follow that clue as quickly as possible.

"Oh, Emerali," Leiva called after her.

Emerali paused and glanced over her shoulder.

"May the shadows be upon you."

Emerali departed with even greater haste, but in her ears rang the bloodcurdling sound of Leiva's malevolent laughter as it echoed throughout the prison.

_______________

Emerali watched the swirling of the open rift into Asmodae with a degree of trepidation. She had told no one of her intention, and hadn't even given all the details of the situation to Governor Fasimedes. She was utterly alone now with nothing but her faith in Aion and the five Empyrean Lords.

"Faith and arms! Aion, please be my guide," she appealed, gazing at the early morning heavens. Inhaling sharply, Emerali dove into the rift.

Immediately, Emerali found herself standing on the snowy wastes of Morheim. All was still except for the falling snow which flurried silently through the frosty, crystalline air. She felt a chill run through her body, but it wasn't only the wintry weather that chilled her. It was the sense of total isolation that froze her to the core. Emerali longed for her friends--for Thori's wisdom, and Devaen's wit. She pulled her mantle, white for concealment, close about her and squared her shoulders. There was nothing more to be done; she had made her choice.

After surveying the landscape cautiously for some minutes, Emerali advanced, harp in hand. She was conscious she could meet an Asmodian at any turn. She was on enemy territory without a single friend in that part of the world.

Emerali traversed the snowy terrain with no trouble save a few encounters with some wild animals that were guarding their territory. But Emerali was too wise to exult over any of these victories. Her eyes were ever scouring the snow-laden trees and the blanched hills and knolls for a sign of Asmodians. How much farther to the memorial statue Leiva had mentioned, she wondered.

After an hour of plodding through what seemed like endless snow-obscured pathways, Emerali began to wonder whether Leiva had merely sent her on a wild chase. At last Emerali came to a dead end. There was nothing in the direction she had taken except a mountain wall.

"By the Five! Now what?" she muttered to herself.

Suddenly, Emerali heard a low whizzing noise past her ear. An arrow hit the rocky mountain wall ahead of her. With a low cry, she whirled about. Several more arrows rained down toward her. She had the presence of mind to cast her shield spell before turning and running back in the same direction she had just come.

Emerali ran as fast as her feet would carry her. She dove behind a rocky crag, poised to fight, but she had a sinking feeling that she was about to be seriously outnumbered.

______________________

"I can't believe it's been almost two days, and we haven't heard anything from Emerali," Thori said. "I tried her house, but she's not there. I'm getting really worried about her."

She was sitting with Devaen at the eatery in Verteron Citadel after a day's mission in the area. They had fulfilled their duty for the day, but their hearts hadn't been in anything they had done, and their distraction had caused them some rather nasty wounds. All they could think of was Emerali.

"So am I," Devaen said, gravely. "I know she's upset, but I never expected her to leave her home."

"I wish we'd never joined that stupid legion. All it did was make things worse," Thori said.

"Damn that whole miserable group! They're nothing but selfish, gloating porguses! Emerali was already burdened with fears of abandonment, and they burned them in further. I'm partly to blame for it, too. What she told me was the absolute truth." Devaen was silent for some moments. "She's terrified of failing and being failed. With that fear, she's built a wall that's difficult to penetrate."

"I only hope she'll give us a chance to try and reach her again," Thori sighed, gloomily.

A hush fell between them. At last Thori spoke, trying to sound cheerful. "How about a drink? I think we've earned it. Maybe it'll help us relax."

Thori's voice roused Devaen. "Hmm? Oh, sure, why not?" he said, absently.

Thori rose and went to order the drinks. She turned to look at Devaen while she waited to be served. He was sitting in the same attitude as he had been back in Heiron: eyes tightly shut, left hand clenched in a fist. What was he doing? At that point, the bartender called her attention. When Thori turned around to head back to the table, she saw that it had been abandoned, and that Devaen was heading out the door.

Quickly setting the drinks down, Thori ran after him, but was blocked by a group of incoming patrons. She tried calling his name, but by the time she had gotten past the people, she only just saw Devaen disappearing into a teleportation portal.

Thori ran up to the Teleporter. "Where'd you just send that Daeva?" she demanded.

"Eltnen," was the response.

"Send me after him!"

Thori was immediately teleported to Eltnen, but by the time she had reached the teleportation pad, Devaen was nowhere to be seen. Thori looked all around at the milling crowd of Daevas. "Where could he have gone?" she wondered. A shiver ran along her spine. She sensed that there was danger; that Emerali was in trouble and that, somehow, Devaen would be, too.

"Please, Aion, watch over them," Thori whispered.