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[Lady Annawen]

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Annawen rolled over and snuggled closer to her husband,her eyes fluttering open at the voices of their servants their voices mumbled but full of surprise and sorrow. Lifting her head abit she looked to her husband and smiled softly,then kissed his neck and his cheek gently,"sleep well my love...,"she said as she sat up and looked about the room,a blush creeping across her cheeks at the thoughts of the past few nights.

Sliding from bed she slipped on her robe then tied it closed around her slim waist,looking back to her husband once more she moved out into the hall and closed the door. Reaching into the pocket of her robe she pulled out her butterfly hair clasp and pinned up her hair just as her chambermaid appeared infront of her.

"M'lady....,"Mariam said as she bowed low to her,"I bring news from Luna....Sanctus actually...,"she said causing Annawen's eyebrow to raise slightly,"what news is this Mariam..?,"Annawen asked as the two of them moved back downstairs into the kitchen,"tis bad news I am afraid...the man who always wore green..is dead...,"she said causing Annawen's eyes to widen,"oh my...how did it happen?,"she asked as Mariam set her a cup of tea infront of her,"...it is being spoken around town it was the black rock.."

Annawen looked up to her a moment then sighed softly,"find a messenger please...I need to send word to Spawn's widow...,"she said as Mariam nodded and moved to do as she was asked.Standing up Annawen picked up her cup of tea and headed into her office,setting the cup aside she picked up her feathered pen and began to write.

M'lady Tika,

I wish to send you my deepest sympathies from myself as well as my family and the Phoenix...if there is anything at all you or your family require please do not hesitant to send word.

Sincerely,
-=Lady Annawen Murakama =-
-=Tejinashi-Ryuu=-
-=Dragon Samurai Clan=-

Sealing the letter with the emblem of the Phoenix she stood up and moved to the door just as Mariam arrived,"the messenger is waiting m'lady...,"she said as Annawen handed her the letter as well as a pouch of gold,"Lady Tika Skyfire in Sanctus..,"she said as Mariam nodded her head and left the room,leaving Annawen alone her own thoughts moving to her husband who was now safe and sound back in her arms.

Taking a deep breathe she moved back upstairs and leaned on the doorframe,watching him sleep peacefully.
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"They say women talk too much. If you have worked in Congress you know that the filibuster was invented by men."
Clare Booth Luce

[Tika]

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Looking around the room, Tika observed just a handful of guests still in the great hall. A couple of familiar faces and some strangers. Lord Gailan and Lord Malic stood talking just off to the right of the memorial. She said her good nights to several leaving as she approached Gailan and Malic to thank them for staying around and watching over her. Spawn had many friends from the past that she had not met and Gailan had offered to see to her safety until the last of their men had been reached and could arrive at the castle.
A movement caught her eye as she was talking to Gailan and she glanced around him looking for the cause. Her eyes fell upon the statue of Spawn and it appeared someone had moved it slightly angling it to face the doorway and her.
" Gailan.." she began "did you see who moved the statue?"
" Moved the statue M'lady?" Malic asked catching her attention.
" Yes it....." she turned back to the statue to find it facing forward again.
" Looks the same to me Tika" Gailan said resting his gaze on it then turning his attention back to her.
She blinked several times and began to speak to Gailan again when the statue moved toward her once again.
" There.. it moved again!" she exclaimed.
Gailan turned and to her amazement the statue righted itself again before he had turned around.
" Tika.." Gailan began turning back to her," you are exhausted and overwrought. You should get some rest, I fear your eyes are playing tricks on you."
" But ..I know what I saw Gailan" she said beginning to doubt her own sanity.
Suddenly Malic's face went white and he whispered out " ... it just moved again .." seeing the statue move once more.
Gailan turned around to find the statue facing them this time.
" Hail there." he called out. " come out of hiding and stop upsetting Tika with your tricks."
" M'lord " Malic stated " That statue is solid marble.. much to heavy for a man alone to move."

"He is moving it." stated a man in a somber voice from beside Spawn's coffin.
They all glanced to the man questioningly. He looked them over in quiet contemplation.
"His essence is here with you." he stated flatly. " He wishes to speak to you."

Tika stared at the man in shock.
"Who are you and how do you know this?" she questioned the stranger.
" I am no one you know. Just a medium he summoned to come here. I come to cause no harm." he replied. " Now the others are gone he is ready to speak with you three."

The medium seemed to float as he walked toward the great hall doors and closed them. He then took Tika's arm and began to guide her toward the coffin. Gailan reached for his sword as the man touched her and he, in a quiet voice to Gailan, explained there was no reason to fear him. He meant no harm. Reaching the coffin he took her hands and placed them on Spawn's face then moved them under his head. He whispered quietly for her ears only
" The body is still warm. I will explain to you later."
He moved them around to the statue that seemed to follow their every movement.

Chanting words, the medium called forth for Spawn to join them. A shimmering began in front of the statue and soon took on the shadowy form of her husband. Tika reached out for him but her hand went through the shadow. Gailan stood in shock, the color draining from his face as he saw his old friends form take shape.
The medium explained they had very little time to speak . As though carried on the wind the voice of her husband explained what had happened. Spawn thanked Gailan and Malic for watching over her and keeping her safe. They asked questions to which Spawn explained that the medium would explain more to them later.
Tika informed him of Talon's plans and his want to know of a will.
Spawn replied " You are my will, love. All that is mine is now yours until we can be together again. You two are her witness to this" he nodded toward Gailan and Malic.

He began to shimmer again as the medium began to loose energy to keep the link open to them.
Spawn quickly told them to listen to the medium and explained they must say their farewells for now. He spoke one last time as he began fading away from sight. " Tika, I know you will do what you think is right love. I ..love .. you... "........ and he was gone.

The medium collapsed to the floor and Gailan and Malic rushed forward to assist him. Gailan moved the man to a chair and Malic found some drink for the man. Once the medium had been settled, Gailan and Malic excused themselves to get fresh air and explained they would just be outside the main entry. Tika and the medium spent the next hour speaking as he explained what he knew. He left shortly there after with a promise to return soon.

Gailan walked into the room minutes later and asked where the medium had gone. Tika explained he had left with a promise to return. Gailan looked at her strangely. The medium had not passed him at the main entry. He, for all purposes, had simply vanished.

[Malic M'real]

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Having a hard time dealing with the loss of his former leader and teacher, Malic returns to view and pay honor to Lord Spawn again. He did not him very long, just a few months. However, Malic felt a certain sense of duty and feels he mayhaps abandoned his lord by not turning him back to the light in time. "Why did you have to fool with that dammed rock!" he shouted as he slams his fists down on the statue.

Angry and full of sorrow Malic leaves and heads to the Shrine of Justice to ponder what will come of his mentor. "what if the others succeed in their plan?" he thinks, "then what?"

With that Malic began to meditate and stayed at the shrine for the night.
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The Light of Virtue Shines Through All Darkness
Earl Malic M'real-Skyfire
Lord Chancellor
Governor-Regent of Sanctus
Earl of Sanctus- Steward of the Sanctan Throne
Justice Paladin of the Holy Paladin Council

[Tika]

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Tika pushed aside the curtain looking out the window at the night sky. Accessing the hour to be close to two in the morning, she closed the curtain and turned to her friend Lady Temptation.

"The men will be here soon. We will need to work quickly and quietly." she whispered to her. Temptation nodded back to her replying..

" Lady Ishtar will arrive tomorrow."

A light tap on the great hall doors alerted them to the arrival of the men. Tika opened the doors to allow them entry and they assured her none had seen or followed them through the caves. One remained guarding the exterior door.

She led them down the steps into what had been her husband's laboratory. Though the outer walls had been temporarily repaired and most of the mess cleaned up, a heavy dusting still remained. Tika walked to the easternmost wall and, carefully feeling along the bricks, found the one loose one. As she pulled it from it's spot the floor beneath it began to shift and soon a stairwell was visible. The men made their way down these stairs and retrieved what they had helped Spawn place there not long ago. Once they had all come back up, she replaced the brick and the floor closed over the hidden staircase once again. Lady Temptation, with straw broom in hand, quickly whisked the dust about to hide the footsteps on the floor as the men walked back up to the main hall. After what seemed an eternity to Tika, they had completed their task and had headed back out through the caves to deliver their burden to the planned destination.

Tika, with Lady Temptation at her side, looked down at the familiar face of her husband in the coffin. She smiled as she reached for the concealing makeup made of flour, water, oils and dyes from various plants and started to place it over the scar on his cheek.......