The following days were spent in near constant riding.

Lucas performed his role of scout well, advising them on the best paths and avoiding any nearby villages as they entered Mithoran. The deeper into Mithoran they ventured more frequent dodging patrols became. A couple of times they were forced to double back to avoid a patrol.

Throughout their watches, Master Owen and Aurora continued their lessons on rune stances. She was eager to learn and paid close attention to his words and movements, mimicking them as accurately as possible.

Nearing their destination, Aurora had progressed to casting her shield at will and even several smaller shields at once. It was a progression that Master Owen was greatly pleased to see. Soon she would be ready for blending stances and more complicated magicks.

When sunset stretched long shadows, they rode into the heart of Mithoran and the forested rock spired edges of Ilsurni Castle. Aurora rode with Eri once more and used the opportunity to ask about something that bothered her.

"I don't mean to offend you, but why aren't you more involved in the planning of the rescue? After what I've seen of your fighting skill, you're incredible. I mean you could easily beat up anybody I know. So why aren't you hashing it out with them? Is it some male ego thing?"

Eri chuckled loudly as she shook her head. "Tezaro and I think very much alike. That can be great on the battlefield, but terrible in the planning. You see, you need someone with a different perspective to point out the flaws in your plan. That's Owen's job. My job is to tell him when he is being an ass." Her remark had Aurora laughing against Eri's back.

As their journey came to an end, they settled along a bluff hidden in the overgrown wilderness until night concealed their movements. It was decided that Tezaro and Lucas would scout out the grounds of the castle. Although unhappy with the pairing, Tezaro found it beneficial to have a ranger at his side.

Lucas scouted for routes of escape within the dense vegetation while Tezaro analyzed the new fortifications of the castle. They went as far as they dared, close to the walls inspecting for entry, counting guards, noting the timing of the wall and ground patrols, those entering and exiting the castle.

At the height of its glory, Ilsurni Castle was lined with multiple looming doorways, an open space for its crowding visitors. Now nearly all of the arched walls of the castle had been sealed. A few archways, those used for entrances, were left open with metal and wooden gates and a few guards.

Tezaro noted there were three possible entrance sites for them to use. Designed like the spokes of a wheel the outer part of the castle spread out like a fan with an entrance at the top center and at each edge. Rough towering walls of earth that created the bluffs from which Tezaro and Lucas spied, guarded the back of the castle.

The main quarters of the castle were at the back center of the structure and more heavily fortified. But that was not where they were intended to go. They would enter from the southeast and let the shadows of the castle conceal their approach.

Hours later they returned and guided the rest to their hidden spot where the wilderness hugged the walls. Night had completely fallen when they left their mounts behind and silently crept through the trees and vines down towards the castle walls.

Mounds of dirt and large boulders dotted the area that clearly revealed the renovation and redesign of the castle in progress. A fortunate event as Tezaro surmised the clutter of reconstruction which allowed them to hide from the patrols walking the walls high above them.

There was an eerie calmness in the air that clashed with Aurora's racing heart. Tezaro turned back and saw Aurora standing silently by Owen, her eyes wide with worry and apprehension. She was the complete opposite of Eri's eagerness.

When Tezaro deemed they had gotten as close to the entrance as they could without being discovered he signaled for them to remain hidden behind a mound. "A two man patrol will be passing by soon," he hissed back at them.

With their backs to the dirt mound they hid while Tezaro followed the patrol's path with his gaze. "Eri." That was all the instruction she needed before she stepped from the mound, flying disks in hand.

With the skill of an acrobat, Eri spun in the air, letting loose several flying disks. Before she landed by a pile of rocks that concealed her once more, the guards fell silently to their knees. Two gleaming disks protruding from their necks and backs shone in the starlight.

"Nice." Lucas mouthed to Eri. Catching Tezaro's head jerk they removed and hid the bodies away from the path.

"These two will not be missed for a long while, but the wall patrol is coming. We'll move one at a time. Lucas, you'll provide cover." Lucas loaded his bow should the need arise as instructed by Tezaro.

"There are two guards at this gate entrance." The gate was large and imposing, a black mouth which they would have to enter to reach the bowels of the castle. Tezaro continued, "Eri and I will take care of them. Then the rest of you follow." With weapons in hand he and Eri zigzagged through the mounds of rubble and dirt approaching the gate.

They were silent death reapers as they claimed their victims with vicious swiftness. After receiving their signal, Master Owen and Aurora approached but only she advanced from the final mound to the gate.

Lucas met up with Master Owen as each provided protection for the other as they raced straight through the mounds and to the gate. By the time all were assembled, Tezaro had already opened the side gate with the keys he had removed from one of the guards. They walked through the slender tunnel entrance that led to the inside of the castle.

Beyond them was an open courtyard, an even more difficult terrain to maneuver before reaching the open corridors that led to the tunnels beneath the castle. Once again, Tezaro led while Lucas kept track of the wall patrols. They hugged the interior walls in a dash to the small protection the corridors offered.

Huddled in the shadows of the large pillars of the corridors, they moved swiftly changing directions constantly. Upon entering the walls of the castle Owen had felt a magical pull that had guided them through the corridors and into the actual structure of the castle until they came across a fork in the path that confused him.

Lucas took the opportunity to share his knowledge. "The dungeons are to the left. I'll stay behind and keep watch." He was about to take a few steps back but was stopped by Tezaro.

"How do you know that?"

"The ruins of Ilsurni Castle have fascinated me since I was a child. The history of this is taught to every elvin child. It is why Lord Fennaris is rebuilding it. What it symbolizes." He saw the skepticism and suspicion in their eyes.

"Damn it! I'm tired of you questioning me. I've come this far. At some point you are going to have to start trusting me." Lucas glared at them.

Master Owen heard none of this. Leaving his body behind and flying through the ether in search of that magical pull. He did not go far. His closeness and sensitivity as a Pathfinder had enabled him to feel the dull edge of magic. But he encountered something he had not expected.

This magical texture was all too similar to Aurora and the crystal. An idea he would have to revisit later. He opened his eyes, once again in his body, to hear Eri volunteer to stay behind with Lucas.

"You'll need help. Try, if you can, to be smart about this. I'll stay with you." Eri stood by Lucas.

Master Owen hastily settled the matter. "Agreed. We must move on now. We are close." He did not share with the others what he had experienced and Tezaro did not question him.

They took the left tunnel as Lucas had suggested, and came upon a landing of several stairways. "I cannot tell which of the stairs leads to her. All I feel is a downward pull." Owen did not let his frustration seep through.

"Wait here." Tezaro ordered before he descended a stairwell. He came swiftly back and took another down. He tried two more, before they heard the sounds of fighting coming from below. No sooner had Master Owen and Aurora descended after him that Tezaro came running back, breathing heavily. "This way. Come on."

"How do you know this is the right one?" Aurora raced after them, and suddenly came upon the sight of four guards on the ground.

"Easy. It was the only one that was guarded." Tezaro gave her a sharp grin over his shoulder before continuing on. But it was a few turns later as they headed further down into the levels of the castle that Master Owen stopped again.

They were facing a dead end marked by a four-foot wide block of wall in the center of the small room they were standing in. Aurora was about to follow Tezaro out, but Master Owen stopped them. "It's here I feel it." Owen shook his head and reached out to touch the wall.

"This doesn't make sense." Aurora examined the wall closely as well. It was solid.

"It does if you want to keep people out. Step back." Master Owen walked around the wall until he found a small groove. Tezaro stood in front of Aurora as Master Owen chanted with his hands spread wide across the wall.

Cracks ran along the wall like veins on a leaf as Master Owen's hands shook with radiating power. Master Owen continued to disenchant the conjured wall as chunks fell and disappeared revealing a doorway.

"That was a heavily conjured wall. It probably required the use of a token to pass through." He said for Aurora's benefit. She looked at her Master with a new sense of awe and respect.

"Which explains the lack of guards in the room." Tezaro added. "Let's go."

Opposing sconces lighted the tunnel to a stairwell that led further down. Cautiously they proceeded with Aurora safely between them. One guard was at the foot of the landing, Tezaro noticed, which meant there should be at least one more after that.

Without a sound he approached with his dagger drawn. He tossed it in his hand then flung it at the guard with ease. The body slumped to the ground. Tezaro charged into the room and quickly dispensed with the remaining guard. He was merciful and efficient. His deadliness did not change Aurora's perception of him. In fact, it was at that moment something for which Aurora was grateful.

On the ground level Eri and Lucas stalked the hallways in different directions. But Lucas went beyond Eri's line of sight before she realized it. Discreetly he'd returned to where Tezaro had disposed of the gate guards.

Quickly he removed his sword belt, bow and arrow sling then crouched next to the bodies. Taking the helmet and long tunic with Mithoran emblems and rank, he hurriedly dressed himself before fastening his weapons back. This would have to do, if he was going to free Nim. It was time to see how far his little adventure would go.

As he returned he noticed guards walking from an intersecting hallway heading straight to where he had left Eri. Perfect.

He had to hurry if he was going to reach her before them. With long swift strides he caught her arm from behind, spun her, and placed his dagger at her throat.

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A/N: We are so close to Lily! ...Stay tuned ;P