City of IF

[Chinaren]

~Dons his Star Trek hat of Logic nitpicking~

Bystander 1: "Oh no! He's got the ST hat on!"

Bystander 2: "Blow this for a lark! Infallible logic is about to strike, let's get out of here!"

Bystander 3: "Does anyone know where the restrooms are?"

Lilith wrote: Crap! I know not my best work... but there are some additions to get my point across.... The knight is a kid... (I meant to write that in there but I forgot damn story keeps getting away from me!)



Well, I don't think this actually helps. In fact it makes it slightly worse. :shock:

What's a nobles' son doing out alone in a land dangerously overrun by demons? Why would his father allow this? It doesn't seem likely at all.

I don't have a problem with them fighting the knights, even winning, but it was far too easy. Rai tends to do this in a lot of her stories, makes her characters too uber, and it's the major flaw in her stories still, though she has shown some signs of reducing it a bit.

Anyway, back to yours.

If the DP was to fight, I would have been inclined to draw the fight out a bit, even perhaps had them lose, or come to some kind of draw or something. Sometimes, and I am as guilty as this as anyone, you want to get on with the plot, so you 'skimp' on a scene which could have been so much more.

~Removes ST hat~

Anyway, the rest of the chapter was fine. I am probably making a mountain out of a pimple. :D

[Christalnightshade]

My advice now is that you should let her take you to the cells. Deamons has powers beyond your mind can think. And surely the deamon mistress would not take it more kindly upon you and your friends if you try and fight against a souless monster of hell.

Even if you attack she would only summon more creature, thus endagering yourself and the others, and your new lover. ;)

So Give in try and get a secret way out, or somewhat fool the deamons into leaving you. Or you could add a new charrecter that can take the form of an anything and then fool. Unless you could use your voice to fool them like speakin in their native tung.

So my conclusion after my long ramblings of deamons ends here by saying give in and listen well to any new thing to what you need for the profhocy- a profocy can always change. And it didn't say what moons or suns on what day it would happen.

even if there is two days. You could always excape after getting a bit of small information how to kill them- like the staff od summoning would easily kill them, but not to break the plot get another way of killing them. And I say the deamon mistress would not die until the profocy is fofulled

nightshade in her thinking box. *exits* :P

[Lilith]

Alrighty, so we've got...

The knight is in the next cell (which would be perfect considering the brainstorm I had about how to explain his appearence more.. *coughs* China! *coughs*)?

and

have a staff of summoning enter the picture?

and

Oh and feigning sickness/death routine (a very cool idea.. I never would have thought of it)

What else is running through your sick minds, people? I want results! Where are those brilliant thoughts at?

;) :P :lol:

[Crunchyfrog]

Uhmm, dont forget the feigning death/sickness routine... :P

[Liana]

i think that tobias and should be in the cell next to her. They should have an argument about the whole sexual experience thing. as for Valara? I don't know how to help you there........ perhaps Valara has a weakness for a particular demon servant-boy? You could take advantage of this and bargain your way out? i don't know. I still think her and tobias should have a rather loud argument.

[Lilith]

EDIT! EDIT! EDIT! : Poll is now closed. Writing of Chapter 7 will commence! :shock: Winning option is .... "Valara is screwing some demon kid.... use him as bait!"

[Lilith]

I have slaved away at this for days, you people! It keeps wrigglin away from me and is getting out of hand! You had damn well enjoy it!

Chapter 7: The Finished Prophecy


I looked around, silently fuming at myself for hurting Tobias this way. You can’t get to close. Everyone close to you dies. If you care for him, let him go. I saw no one else in the cells beside us, unless the bleach-white bones of some poor soul from long ago counted.

We are running out of time! Midwinter’s Eve is in three days! I thought as a small half-demon male came into my view. He would have been about 12 but there was no way to be certain. “Hey you! Come here!” I called, hoping his age would give him the gullibility of a human 12 year-old.

He hesitated, unsure of what to do. “Please! I am dying of thirst! Your mistress wouldn’t be happy if I died by anything other than her hand.” Those words struck home. He paled at the mention of Valara and scurried closer, grabbing a nearby ladle from a water pail as he approached. He seemed to be of an elevated status, his robes made of a material alike to the queen’s. He held the ladle out silently, trying to keep as far away from cell as possible.

“You aren’t like the others, are you? Who are you? Her second kid?” I asked, taking the ladle slowly, hoping he would feel comfortable enough to inch closer.

He shook his head. He’s her current consort, Lilith. She’s barren and she thinks she needs a younger mate to reproduce now. Shoren’s voice rang true in my mind, his eyes carefully intent on a particularly slimy patch of moss.

I looked at the child-demon more closely. “Her consort then? Is that what you are?” He nodded and came just a step closer; that was all I needed.

Quickly, I dropped the ladle and grasped him by the throat. As a guard approached, I spun him around and held him fast by the throat against the bars.

“Maybe this will get your queen’s attention Tell her I want to speak to her, NOW! Or the kid is nothing more than a corpse with a broken neck ” I screamed at the guard who took off running. Minutes ticked by.

The kid struggled a bit so I shook him and hissed in his ear. “Stay still. Or I won’t wait for your queen to arrive.” He stopped moving immediately.

As the sound of tramping feet approached, Tobias and Shoren got up and stood beside me at the bars. A group of about 8 guards entered the prison area. One stepped forward, the mouthpiece for them all. “You, Eldahar Her Most Exalted Highness wishes to speak with you, alone. Step back from the door.” She said.

I tightened my grip and smirked at the female. “Really? Do you think I am stupid enough to fall for that? She wants to speak with me alone, then I go without a demonic escort or my friends go with me ”

Two of the male half-demons approached the female and they conversed in low voices.

Shoren! Quick! I thought, hoping Shoren was listening. Find out what they’re planning!

I can’t! She has spells on these ones... but not on the kid. I am sorry! His reply both irritated and disheartened me at the same time. The guards seemed to come to an agreement and turned around.

“You can keep your hostage as a good faith payment that we will not harm you. But your friends stay here in exchange.” The mouthpiece announced with an air of graciousness.

I gave my assent and they opened the door; with much complication, I soon stood outside the cell, still holding onto the queen’s twelve-year-old consort, only now I had him firmly by the back of the neck.

“Damn it Lil! You fool! You’re going to get yourself killed!” Tobias shouted at my retreating back as I was escorted to the queen of demons.

We came to an open area made of exquisite marble, intricate swirls making it so one could stare into them for hours. It seemed to be a pavilion of some kind, raised almost a hundred feet up off the ground so the queen could survey the city in all its glory.

She herself stood at the top of the stairs, awaiting my arrival with a smile curled maliciously across her face. “Well, well, my dear. You seemed to want my attention so badly,... now you’ve got it.”

She waved the guards away and looked at the child that I still gripped tightly. “I had such high hopes for you, Hargarth.” And no sooner than she had said that, she ripped the demon-kid from me and thrust her hand through his chest.

I stared at her while she threw the body away. “He was weak-willed, and he served me no further use.” Valara spat in the direction the body of Hargarth had flown and then turned her attention to me. “Now as for you, what was it that you needed my attention for?”

I mentally shook myself and straightened up. “To bargain for my friend’s release.”

Valara laughed. “Again? Little Eldahar, you got yourself into trouble the last time you did that, didn’t you? And the bargaining chip you had is now dead! What do you have that I want?”

I drew a breath and gave her a smirk, not unlike her own evil sneer. “I know the contents of the rest of the prophecy you seek.”

Her smile faded into a hard look. “You’re bluffing.” She accused.

“No, I am not.. And I know what the Circle is that I have to complete in order to get rid of your ass. I could do it right now if I wanted.” I stood my ground and even advanced a step on Valara. “Why would I bluff?”

“Tell it to me and I may let you live ” She hissed.

“Depending on what? If the rest of it says I am not a threat to you?” I snapped back, hardening my glare to ice-cold. “My friends go free and are safe to the borders of Caladron. Then I’ll tell you.”

Valara contemplated it for a moment and then swept away, leaving me alone in the big open area. I rushed to the edge to watch for my friends to leave the building. Minutes later, Shoren and Tobias were thrown out on their respective asses. I breathed a sigh of relief and then turned as I heard Valara approach. “Now, tell me What is the rest of the prophecy?” She was angry. Her nostrils flared and her eyes were red instead of their usual calm black.

I gave her a smile and let myself fall backwards off the edge of the pavilion. Let’s see if I can work these! I thought as my mind gave the command for my wings to move. They obeyed perfectly, and I flew as if I had done so all my life. The rush was exhilarating. I dipped down low to where Shoren and Tobias were and led them quickly out of the city. They had to go into a full-out sprint to keep me in their sights.

Once beyond the borders, I slowed down and let them catch up. “And now we’re back to square one,” I said, a little breathless as the excitement of my first flight wore off.

The guys caught their breath and gave me dark looks. “She said.. you.. were... going... to.. join.. her ” Tobias said, clutching a stitch in his side. Shoren, having shifted into his wolf form for the duration of the run, was in much better condition. “We seriously thought...”

I cut him off with a slight motion of my hand. “Me? Join a demon? What the hell were you thinking?” I replied, exasperatedly.

“That you were just about desperate enough to do anything,” Shoren replied without missing a beat. I gaped at him.

“Do you really think I’d sell out?” I was shocked. The boys I had grown up with were now men who didn’t trust me. Maybe that’s because you don’t trust us... I heard Shoren’s upset voice whisper in my mind. I glared at him.

“So, now what do we do? She going to come after us, well you anyway.” Tobias asked, shooting me and Shoren furtive looks.

I sighed and held my forehead in my hands. “I believe I need to hear the rest of the prophecy...” I muttered still thinking.

Shoren dug in his pocket and pulled something out. “Well good thing I palmed this when that old Keeper wasn’t looking.” He held the Prophecy Gem in his hand.

I took it quickly with an appreciative grin. “I always knew you were the bad influence. And you had us all fooled. Everyone else thought you were the good one.” I replied, giving Shoren a sly look.

“Ah, the apple the rotted the rest of us to the core! Always knew you had it in you, Shoren!” Tobias agreed, thumping Shoren on the back.

Shoren held up his hands in innocence. “Hey, I just thought it might come in handy!”

I unwrapped my hand and reopened the already healing wound. “Here goes. Catch me if I fall?” I said to the guys. They nodded silently. I smiled and grasped the gem in my bleeding hand.


Again I heard the smooth monotone voice from before:

Ever the Dark exists,
For that is the fate of the balance;
One cannot be without the other.
Dark and Light;
Evil and Good;
Prey and Hunter.
All coexist with each other in duality
And the Grand Design is maintained.
On the night when Dark and Light are equal
And the Light from then on increases,
The Lightbearer will complete the circle
And the Dark will fall back.
The Grand Design will forever be changed
And the Light will finally prevail.
The world will become a world of peace.
Conflict, war, and hate will be forgotten in the hearts of humans,
And yet there will still be the chance for the Dark to return.
Unless the Circle of Gaia is completed,
Held in balance for eternity,
Air, Water, Earth, and Fire
The Lightbearer will bind them all
and they will become as one.
To stop the Dark,
The Light will die.
One must be let go
To save the millions
That would otherwise suffer.

“Damn it!” was the first thing out of my mouth when I had opened my eyes once again. Shoren and Tobias held me safe and out of sight in the brush.

“What did it say?” Tobias asked.

“Anyone remember where the Circle of Gaia is?” I replied quickly, trying to get up.

“You and history never did mix, did you? As I recall, it’s somewhere in.. Jaden.” Shoren breathed, his eyes fixing on another figure nearby.

Well now, someone has approached us... and the rest of the prophecy known only to myself. Who is the newcomer?

[Crunchyfrog]

Somebody with something to trade. He needs the heroes to help him with something, and will help them in return. Maybe not now, but later on in the plot. That's all I can come up with...

[Chinaren]

A wizard maybe, someone who can assist them as Frog said. They need help!

[Christalnightshade]

Ah ha!!!!!!! jippppeeee!!! Ok I have an idea.

Now I think the help should be one of valara's creatures, even if some might be killed, i'm sure there would be one that would be willing enough after torment and suffering to go to you. and well wariors would work well to.

quite an perdicament your having here. there is always magic items around somewhere. ;)

[Lilith]

Poll's up! Now vote... or else! :shock: :cool: ;)

[Christalnightshade]

Quote:
The Lightbearer will complete the circle
And the Dark will fall back.
The Grand Design will forever be changed
And the Light will finally prevail.
The world will become a world of peace.
Conflict, war, and hate will be forgotten in the hearts of humans,
And yet there will still be the chance for the Dark to return.
Unless the Circle of Gaia is completed,
Held in balance for eternity,
Air, Water, Earth, and Fire
The Lightbearer will bind them all
and they will become as one.
To stop the Dark,
The Light will die.
One must be let go
To save the millions
That would otherwise suffer.

This clearly shows it should be darkdeamon that should ban-together with your group... But soren is probably the one you'll have to let go... The dark to be reborn.. mmm... sounds like something a twist... a deamon of the black waters the curse bringer...

Edit: Lil the poor light protected by her mother such a long time ago... time will tell us as some years do, on the first day she will fall to someone dear.... but rize a phoenix of just... sorry that was a peom but it fits....

[Lilith]

*looks like she's about to cry* The poll has been up for a long time... AND IT'S A TIE! PLEASE SOMEONE BREAK IT? :shock: :(

[Chinaren]

Whoops. :blush:

[dinranwen]

You know Lily. If it comes down to it...You can break the tie.

Either choose one of the top winning options to run with....or simply combine the tied votes together.

Either way, you break your tie...and you might just come up with something interesting if you go for the whole combine ideas thing.

[Lilith]

Now look at that! This is a three-way tie now, which is worse than before! THAT'S IT! Now you have a "speed"** poll! Y'all have 24 hrs to declare a true winner out of the 3 top options ... or my fingers will twist the story in cruel and unnatural ways.... and you guys should know by now that it isn't pretty when that happens.... :lol: :-x

**"Speed" is a borrowed idea from Chinaren... Thanks, China!

[Kang]

Lilith your going to either praise or shoot me on this idea since the prophecy has not been fully revealed one of the demons on the inside could have heard the whole prophecy and knowing that things could get very ugly could turn and join your party farfetched idea but you never know

[Christalnightshade]

Quote: you break your tie...and you might just come up with something interesting if you go for the whole combine ideas thing.

F5 din. That is what I did and it came out quite well, the problem is that you can go of your road, but you have support to support your story... etc. and I'm sure it won't fall...

[Lilith]

Kang, this is the full prophecy.. and if you have read into it enough to decipher it's meaning... KEEP YOUR BLOODY MOUTH SHUT! I know you well enough to know that you probably aren't gonna like what the prophecy says but, oh well,.. chances must be taken.. muahahahahahahahahaha! :lol: :lol: :lol:

I wrote: Ever the Dark exists,
For that is the fate of the balance;
One cannot be without the other.
Dark and Light;
Evil and Good;
Prey and Hunter.
All coexist with each other in duality
And the Grand Design is maintained.
On the night when Dark and Light are equal
And the Light from then on increases,
The Lightbearer will complete the circle
And the Dark will fall back.
The Grand Design will forever be changed
And the Light will finally prevail.
The world will become a world of peace.
Conflict, war, and hate will be forgotten in the hearts of humans,
And yet there will still be the chance for the Dark to return.
Unless the Circle of Gaia is completed,
Held in balance for eternity,
Air, Water, Earth, and Fire
The Lightbearer will bind them all
and they will become as one.
To stop the Dark,
The Light will die.
One must be let go
To save the millions
That would otherwise suffer.

[Kang]

well it makes sense now since i'ce had a day to recoop and have gotten some MUCH needed sleep. ok with the prophecy out there i still say some of the Demons may have gotten wise and try to switch sides to prevent to the prophecy playing out as it is described. for an idea,

[Lilith]

*rubs hands together maliciously and cackles* Muahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! You asked for it! And oh, won't this be good fun? Muahahahahahahahaha! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Masterweaver]

Soooo... When's the next chappy?

[Christalnightshade]

Quote: and if you have read into it enough to decipher it's meaning... KEEP YOUR BLOODY MOUTH SHUT!

Well... sorry.

Didn't mean anything by saying what I tought that part and the falling of the light meant... Atleast treid to desciver. my poems are much hader to make out., because it doesn't make sence and it rarely rymes.

[Lilith]

Here it is, hot off the keyboard!

Chapter 8: Jaden

The figure appeared to be human at first, until I spotted his eyes. They were completely black, a sign of a demon from Valara’s bloodline. He was rather tall and well-developed muscles marked him for a fighter while light brown hair blew haphazardly across his face. I got up finally and drew my sword, still trying to catch my breath. “What do you want? You are not welcome in this party.” I stated, as Tobias and Shoren withdrew their weapons as well and stood beside me. I was grateful for them to lean on for I would be collapsing without them on either side of me.

He spoke, almost in a rasping voice. “You... you are the winged one who killed Derek, my little brother. And you’re also the one who’s got Mother so wound up.” He chuckled, a harsh sound making me grind my teeth.

“Yeah and if you come a step closer, you’re next on my list!” I threatened, although losing my fierceness as I wobbled and fell.

The demon cleared his throat and spoke again, this time sounding close to human. “Little one, I have no quarrel with you. The enemy of mine enemy is my friend. I quarrel with my mother. She threw me aside when Derek was born and I have made it my life’s work to stop her spread of corruption.”

Shoren and Tobias shot him a distrusting look as they pulled me to my feet again. “Oh, no!” I said softly as the Prophecy Gem escaped from my fingers and shattered on the ground. A huge whoosh was heard as a brilliant red light blinded us all.

“Well, that was unexpected,” Tobias commented, resting his hand on my shoulder. “You okay?” He asked, concern creeping it’s way into his voice.

I shrugged him off. “I’m fine. Now you, demon. Your name?” I queried, turning my attention to the newcomer.

He smiled. “It’s Connor. Now, would you mind letting me help you? You are horribly weakened from that thing.”

I was shocked. “A demon wants to help me? What for? Is Valara finally out of ideas and thinks I’ll be stupid enough to fall for this?” I snapped back, nearly falling again but not because Connor caught my arm and pulled me to my feet steadily. Tobias and Shoren were on him in an instant.

“Unhand her, fiend!” Tobias shouted, his weapon right up against the demon’s throat while Shoren had shifted into his wolf form and complied with menacing growls.

I finally had regained enough strength to stand on my own and shook Connor off. “Boys! Play nice for once!” I warily watched the demon and signaled to Tobias and Shoren to back off. “Well, Connor. We’ll give you a trial run. We need to get to Jaden and quickly.” Tobias and Shoren looked at me shocked.

Shoren, we need help and if he truly is against his mom then he’ll be a welcome asset to us. If not, then we will use him until we no longer need him.

Shoren nodded quickly and a second later, so did Tobias, although both still watched Connor warily. I put on my best smile and took Connor’s proffered arm. “Ah, my lady. I have just the thing to get us to Jaden quickly.” He made a small hand gesture and a piece of the earth broke free from the ground and floated at just the right level for someone step on. Connor carefully guided me on and Shoren and Tobias hurried after me. Connor grinned breifly at all of our scared looks when the piece of earth began to move quickly to the east.

Within an hour, we had arrived at the borders of Jaden. Tobias, Shoren, and I got off the floating piece of earth quickly as we could and looked around at our surroundings. Jaden was completely opposite of our homeland. Where we had fighters in fortresses planning their most recent campaign, they had decadent lords who built luxurious palaces and held happy little garden parties for their ladies. We were all in awe of the majestic spires of towers that seemed to touch the sky.

“Put those wings away, people will mark you for more than a mere foreigner if they see those,” Tobias whispered in my ear quickly as we spotted a group of riders making their way towards us. I nodded and complied quickly, an odd tingling sensation shooting up my spine as my wings folded into my back and left not a trace of themselves.

“You too, Connor. Do something about your eyes.” Shoren snapped as the riders came ever closer. Connor nodded and his eyes shrunk into pupils and the irises were the color of the ocean.

I recognized the foremost rider when he dismounted rather ungracefully. “Eclipse!” I called to him, a grin spreading across my face. The gangly young knight grinned breifly and then moved aside as a much older knight dismounted, grace and balance perfectly intertwined, his golden and well-kept armor glittering in the sun. A last knight in silver armor and between the other two age-wise barely made a movement and suddenly he was on the ground.

“Son, do you know this bold woman and her companions?” the golden-armored knight asked.

“Father, this is Lilith and her friends who made me come back home with such haste and all the information I gave you earlier this very day.” Eclipse explained, shuffling from foot to foot under his father’s gaze.

“Ah! Well then, allow me to introduce myself. I am King Arcon, ruler of Jaden. You have already met my youngest son, Eclipse and this strapping lad behind me is my oldest son, Veltan.” the gold-armored one extended his hand which I gripped and shook firmly and then gestured towards the silver-armored knight.

Veltan approached slowly. “It is an honor to meet those who sent young Eclipse here back home to us safe and sound. He snuck away awhile back after Father forbade him from leaving.” He bowed low and raised his head enough to look me in the eye. “We are in your debt, my lady.” He then took my hand gently and pressed his lips to my fingers.

He was very pleasing to the eye. Ice-blue eyes, golden-colored hair and a smile to charm the birds out of the trees. He was like some ancient Greek hero of myth and legend, blazing as brilliantly as any god.

I nodded in what I hoped was a demure manner, surreptitiously checking for drool. “Well, we were only passing by and he happened to catch us at the right time. We really had nothing to do with it.” I explained slowly but Arcon cut me off.

“Ah! Save your tales to regale us with at dinner tonight! We are throwing a grand feast for the successful return of Veltan and his troops. He and his legion have routed the barbarians on the south border of our lands and made sure those vicious dogs will never return!” Arcon and Veltan steered us toward the exquisite palace in the nearby city.

Shoren and Tobias kept their faces clear and devoid of all emotion but I could tell that they were both highly irritated. First by the joining of a demon to our little group and then we were being detained by a party with a bunch of smooth talking pansies. Connor seemed to be pleased for some reason as numerous ladies looked him up and down.

We came to a stop in the entrance hall where several ladies in glittering gowns awaited. They immediately started greeting Arcon, Veltan, and Eclipse with hugs.

“My daughters, meet our guests. Lilith, Tobias, Shoren, and Connor.” Arcon gestured to each of us in turn. “Our guests have been traveling for awhile. Girls, take Lilith and let her get cleaned up for the banquet, would you? Veltan, Eclipse, and I will take Tobias, Shoren, and Connor to get cleaned up as well.”

I was steered away from my male companions, surrounded by simpering women, most of them viewing my travel-stained garments and unkempt appearance in pity.

Soon, all I heard was “You poor dear, having to be around all those men for so long. No female companionship whatsoever.” I was shoved into a large bathroom that was prepared with a steaming hot bath in a marble bathtub with claw-feet. I sank down into the hot water, enjoying the peaceful silence in comparison to the senseless chatter of the king’s daughters. But my relaxation time was to be short lived, for the girls burst in as I was getting out of the tub and wrapping a towel around myself.

They put a corset around me first and one of them put her foot in my back to tighten it so I could barely breathe. “Um, I.. can’t breathe!” I gasped.

“Oh don’t worry, hon. You’ll get used to it.” one said offhandedly. Then they put me into an emerald green gown, low-cut in the front and straps crisscrossing over my shoulders and upper back. The bottom part wasn’t poofy like some gowns were; on the contrary, the skirt of the dress was rather slinky with a slit up the side that went to my thigh.

As the finale of this cruel and unusual torture, they sat me down and pulled and twisted at my hair until it was in some complicated knot and a few ringlets framed my face. The daughters of the king, finally satisfied with their work, lead me to the entrance hall once more where we were greeted by King Arcon and his two sons and Tobias, Shoren, and Connor.

“My, my, ... you do clean up well, don’t you? Did your father allow you to run rampant for your whole childhood, my dear?” I stiffened at the king’s words.

“My father was a good man. He raised me to the very best of his ability. He trained me well and the result stands before you, King Arcon,” I said very pointedly, narrowing my eyes and watching the old king’s eyes explore the gown. Veltan came by and smoothly lead the way into the magnificent dining hall by grasping my arm gently but firmly. A huge rectangular table filled the room from end to end and lords and ladies dressed in their finest stood and chatter died down.

“Presenting, King Arcon, his sons, and their guests from the Alt Lands!” A loud mouthed chamberlain called to the diners. Arcon took his seat at the very head of the grand table, Veltan to his right and Eclipse to his left. Veltan waited unitl I was seated and then sat down between his father and I. Tobias and Shoren were seated across from me and Connor to my left.

“Forgive my father’s rudeness. He is getting on in his years and sometimes says things that should not be said, my lady,” Veltan whispered in my ear.

I gave him a half-smile. “What is there to forgive when someone says something he doesn’t mean. And you really shouldn’t call me that. I belong to no one here and I am not a lady of your land.” I replied diplomatically.

Veltan gave me a small smile. “You may be one day, you never know”

My next response was drowned out when Arcon stood and shouted, “Hear one, hear all! My eldest son, Veltan, has been victorious in his campaign against the barbarians of the south border! My youngest son, Eclipse, whom we all mourned as dead, has returned to us this day as well! And our neighbors to the west Alt Lands have joined us for these two happy occasions being celebrated tonight!” A roar of applause and approval flooded the hall as the king took his chair once more and the feast began.

Lilith, we need to find out where the Circle of Gaia is, now. Get the information from Veltan. Eclipse says that he doesn’t know, but he’s heard Veltan speak of it before. As soon as we get the info, Connor will create a distraction and we’ll get out of here.

I caught Shoren’s eye and gave him, Tobias, and Connor all a quick nod.

Just as I turned my head to speak with Veltan, he spoke. “Lilith, you aren’t eating much. Is the air too stifling in here for you?” Concern marred the handsome features of his face. “Would like to step out for some air with me?”

I murmured my assent and he lead me out a set of stained glass doors to a garden right outside the hall. “Veltan, do you know of the Circle of Gaia?” I blurted out as soon as he shut the doors.

Veltan frowned. “Yes, I do. Why do you ask such a question?”

“Because I have to get there, before midnight on Midwinter’s eve! Please, tell me where it is! It is very important!” I pleaded.

Veltan’s face smoothed. “But of course. Whatever you like my dear. On one condition. When you return, you will marry me and rule at my side here.”

I turned pale. “What?”

He smiled. “You aren’t like the girls here. You have passion and sensibility. The other girls here give simpering smiles but have no brains nor wit.”

Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! I thought, as I thought of a way to get around his question but still get the information I needed from him.

Damn it! Why me? Alright then, how do I get the location of the Circle of Gaia from him?

[Liana]

what are you waiting for? seduce him! Sweet talk him into it, Saati. Have her use her charm, or body if it comes to that. Lol. Or you could threaten/kick his assinence. There are really a great number of things you could have her do. I personally think that she should seduce him though. It makes for a better story.....at least a more interesting one. *pulls up an arm chair and popcorn* Now go for it!

[Masterweaver]

Go into a private room and beat him up with your wings. Tell him that either you will get the information or the wormlings will get dinner.

COOL CHAPTER!!!!

[Chinaren]

Agree why not already? If you change your mind you just don't go back that way. :shock:

[Crunchyfrog]

Oh its got to be seduction. And seduce the reader as well. And, maybe Lilith could get seduced too, without realising it!

[Lilith]

*laughs happily as the readers (especially Liana and Crunchyfrog) play right into her hands* Okay a little while longer for more to have a chance to throw options in. ;)

[Mastermind]

Hmmm... Agreeing, and then change your mind could work, but it might become a problem if Veltan decides to come with you. Seducing him could get the same problem. You could just leave him behind, or kill him if necessary, but I don't think angering one apparently quite powerful nation would be wise, as you already have the demon army after you - this would count for Masterweaver's idea as well.

How about you tell him the truth? Parts of it, anyway. If he still insists, you can go all offensive at him, accusing him for putting his own desires before the survival of mankind and stuff.

[Kang]

Dang you never make it easy for people do you.. hmm lets see the seduction would probably be the best route but mix in masterminds idea of divulging some fo the truth then just as Lilith get the information and her prey is at his point to try relish her just quickly bail the hell out of there and get on the road!!

[Lilith]

A.) Tell him some of the truth.
B.) Seduce him.
C.) Beat the shit out of him.
D.) Combo A.) & B.)
E.) Just do it all!

Any others?

[Liana]

mwhahahahaha i can't wait til the next chappy. I want to see some seducing....... sorry I'm a bit hyper today. No matter which one is chosen it'll be an interesting story. Now hurry up and put a poll up! lol just kidding saati.

[dinranwen]

Awww...too late for the poll! Oh well, I was going to tell you to slap his face, but that wouldn't have been wise now would it?

Rather I would've suggested that Lily tell him "No, at least not now, not so sudden, and if you like my brains, you'll respect that."

Of course slapping him sounds so much better...

Oh well.

Se cera Se Cera.

[Masterweaver]

Hey now, vote for beatiing him up, right? You're a good guy, and you must fight for what's right. Besides, practically every other option involves seducing him. :wacko: