Back at Eltnen Fortress, the three warriors sought healing and refreshment. Qelin was likewise taken to a healer, but kept under close watch until he could be interviewed.

Now healed and renewed, Emerali, Devaen and Thori entered the chamber where he was being held. Tension was still present among them from their previous conflict back at Kyola Temple, but at present there were more important things to be concerned with.

"Where's Ansted?" Qelin demanded the moment he saw them. "Is he okay?" He fixed a wide-eyed, inquiring gaze on his three rescuers.

"Thank Aion, he'll be just fine," Thori told him.

Qelin sighed with relief. "Praises to Lady Yustiel." He looked up at Emerali and Devaen with a small, sad smile. "By the Five, it is good to see you both," he said.

"I'd like to say the same, Qelin, but the word 'traitor' associated with your name quells that emotion somewhat. You admitted to the charge at the Temple, now tell us why," Devaen told him gravely.

Qelin bowed his head. "Because I knew... I knew."

"Knew what?" demanded Emerali.

"I knew that General Bakren would betray us all."

Devaen went livid, Thori gaped slightly, and Emerali gasped quietly.

Qelin continued: "It was the night before the planned attack in Reshanta. We were encamped in Heiron so as to be ready to enter the portal before sunrise. I had just been relieved of sentry duty for the night, and I was on my way to my tent when I caught sight of a robed figure making its way toward the general's pavilion.

"Immediately I took out my weapon and started following this person; I imagined that perhaps they were intending an attack on General Bakren. But though the mysterious stranger moved stealthily, they seemed as though they were seeking an audience with him. A light still burned in General Bakren's pavilion; I could see the silhouettes clearly. The stranger entered, and General Bakren looked up and greeted her-yes, it was a woman. They started talking, but though I hid and strained to hear what they said, I could only make out fragments of the conversation.

"General Bakren inquired something of the woman and she responded: 'All is ready, as you requested. Are you certain you're prepared to take this step?' I heard the general laugh and say: 'You may count me as one of your own.' The conversation continued, but they dropped their voices so low, I couldn't hear anything else. A few minutes later, the woman departed, went her way, and General Bakren turned out his light. Questions flew through my mind, but I didn't know what to make of it.

"The next morning, I vowed to ask the general about what went on, but I hardly dared. How could I put the question to him? But he seemed different today, charged with energy as if Aether flowed through his very veins. Something in his eyes warned me that if I asked anything too involved, he would take some action against me. Still, I ventured to inquire if he was well, since he looked somewhat out of himself. He only laughed heartily, slapped me on the back and told me that today was the dawning of a new day in Atreia. That was when I knew for certain something grave was coming. And it did."

Devaen, whose face had gone almost ashen, made a sudden rush at Qelin, seizing him by his shirt and shaking him with the force of his hold. "Damn you, Qelin! You knew something was coming--you could've stopped that tragedy. All you had to do was open your mouth. Why?! Why didn't you say something?!"

Qelin looked into Devaen's fiery gaze and stammered. "Who would've believed me? He was the general. I'd have started a one-man mutiny... what could I do?"

Growling, Devaen pulled back his arm to strike Qelin, but Emerali and Thori rushed to stop him with a flurry of exclamations.

"Let me go!" Devaen thundered. "I won't strike him, but not because you ask it of me. I won't because, as a deserter, I'm no better than him." He released Qelin with a hard shove and turned his back on them all, breathing heavily, trying to control his rage.

"Why didn't you tell me anything," asked Emerali. "Did you have reason to think I wouldn't have given you the benefit of the doubt?"

"You were always kind to all of us, Lady Emerali, but you were the general's right hand. I didn't think you'd believe me," Qelin said.

"Emerali was always fair-minded and open. She always looked out for the best interest of the legion, Qelin. You might have at least tried," Devaen said in the quiet tone of repressed anger.

Emerali gave him a thoughtful sideways glance. How well he remembered and spoke of her! If his words were true, it was no wonder he told her she seemed lost in the Abyss. Devaen turned to look at her suddenly. Their gazes met briefly, and Emerali turned away with shame, having read his thoughts plainly: her present behavior was nothing like what he had just described.

Emerali cleared her throat and raised her head. "Unfortunately, I don't remember how I was, but I do know that if you'd taken a chance, the wheel of fate would have turned in a far different direction. Maybe I would've believed you and taken steps to stop Bakren before we reached the dire point of confrontation." Weary and saddened, she took a seat on a low stool and sighed deeply, shaking her head.

"Qelin," Thori began, speaking for the first time, seeing the emotion that had passed through her friends. "You said something back at the temple about the fate of Elysea being intertwined with Emerali's lost memories. What did you mean?"

"I... have the notion that General Bakren is in league with the Asmodians in some sort of elaborate plot against Elysea, and somehow I believe that Lady Emerali is at the heart of it. She was always a Daeva of great promise--radiant as an Aether gem. At first the general seemed to admire and treasure that in her, but then... I believe he began to resent this. I believe he wanted to expressly rid himself of you, Lady Emerali." Qelin looked up directly at Emerali. "Whatever the fate of Elysea is to be, you seem to be instrumental in it. I'll wager he thinks you're dead, and that with you out of the way, he's free to bring his plans to fruition."

"If this is what being a 'Daeva of destiny' is, I don't like it. Somebody I don't even remember has it in for me, and I'm still trying to piece my past together," remarked Emerali.

"You can't question Aion's will," Thori said, quietly.

"I guess I was blind to Bakren," Devaen said turning back to the others. "I should've noticed the change in his behavior. He did start making little chilling differences toward Emerali. I never paid much attention to it; I just thought maybe he was under a lot of stress with the war. I didn't see it coming. None of us did."

Emerali struggled to contain her weariness and anger as she brought her eyes back to Qelin's woebegone face. "What's done is done. Your sentence will be to live with the burden of responsibility, but you already know that. That's why you tried to execute punishment on yourself in the fires of the Kyola Temple. Pray hard, Qelin, that's my only recommendation to you." She looked up at her friends, though it was hard to meet their gazes directly, feeling as down as she did. "The Solorius Festival is coming soon, and that's a good time for an attack, when the city of Sanctum has lowered its guard some. We'd better inform Governor Fasimedes of what we've learned today, and warn him to redouble vigilance."

_____________________

The three friends headed to Sanctum and duly reported all that had happened. The governor agreed heartily with their suggestion to augment the watch at all times and especially at the Solorius Festival.

"Every Daeva is to come armed and ready for anything. I wish we could all just enjoy the celebration, but the fate of every Elyos is at stake. Aion be with us all," Governor Fasimedes said.

They were then dismissed.

Without taking leave of her friends, Emerali departed, desiring to be alone with her thoughts. She had no desire to go home, however, and she headed for the Banquet Room.

Selecting the shadiest, most isolated part of the place, she sat and ordered a small meal and drink. But when the food came, she found she had no appetite. She put the plate away from her and laid her head on the table.

How miserable Emerali felt right now! She wished ardently that she had never ascended. Daeva of destiny, indeed! Destined to be leader? How so, when she had a habit of abandoning her friends in the thick of battle? How could she ever lead a group of Daevas into a fray in the heart of Reshanta?

"And all of Elysea's fate rests on me? How can I bear that kind of a burden? Mighty Aion, if this is true, I wish you'd selected someone else. I don't think I'm the hero Elysea needs, especially with a broken memory and a fear of being abandoned by my comrades--a fear so great it leads me to plunge ahead and leave my friends behind," Emerali prayed aloud.

A thought entered her mind, soft as a ballad. "Courage," it said. "All will come together for the greater good of all. If you were chosen, it is because in the deepest fiber of your soul is the necessary fountain of power that can save Elysea. It is a burden, but one that you can and will bear."

"Help me, then, I beg of you, holy Aion! The battle hasn't even begun, and I'm already so tired..." Emerali whispered in response.

She remained in her attitude of self-defeat for several more minutes, but at length she felt as if she had been infused with a breath of life. It roused her, and she lifted her head and sat erect. A gleam came into her eyes. "I'm a Daeva, and it's time I started acting like one. We've had enough bouts with fearful cowardice and betrayal. I will rise to the call."