Jaid: Hi guys! Long time no see! Sorry. Here is the –drumrolls please- last chapter! I know, isn’t it sad? After this is the Epilogue and then that’s it. I hope you all enjoyed it and sense it is the last chapter; I have made it especially long; probably the biggest chapter I have ever written. Enjoy!

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Trowa and the others had followed the Kavu for a little while, when they stopped. Trowa turned to the dwarves.

"Do you know what is happening?" he asked.

"They are hunting." Rorco answered a slight smile on his face. "Best leave them be."

"Hunting what?" Hiiron muttered.

"The Pheonix." An un-earthly voice answered, although it sounded vaguely familiar. The group turned. Midii and Heero stood there, seeming to glow a brilliant white. Midii smiled; it had been she who had answered.

"The rest of you had best find another way out. Now." She continued. Heero nodded towards an opening.

"That is where Jaran and the Elf fled too. It would be prudent to follow." He said. Sally nodded and beckoned the others to follow her. The dwarves hesitated, then realized it would be the best thing to do. Hiiron followed quickly, but Trowa hesitated, looking at Midii. She reached out and touched his arm.

"Go, Trowa. Do not fear." She said softly. For a moment, her eyes were no longer a deep red, but the gray blue they had been. "Go."

Trowa swallowed, then ran. Midii turned back to Heero. He nodded and they walked towards the Kavu.

* * *

"What is it? What has happened?" Hilde shouted as she jumped off her horse. An Elf soldier, Galen, turned and saw her.

"Princess!" He ran up.

"Galen, what has happened?"

"We have been ordered to retreat." He answered his dark blue eyes fearful. Hilde looked past him, to the dark sky and army. Her heart stopped.

"No, they can not have failed." She cried.

"I know not." Galen said. "But we must flee; we have suffered too many losses."

"Of course." Kiiron broke in. "Where are your leaders? I can guide them to a network of caves where we can stay and re-group."

Galen’s face relaxed. "That is well. Come, I will take you to them."

* * *

So they flee. Aljin thought, grinning horribly. All is coming together now. He breathed deeply; basking in the tremendous power that surged through him. The time had come; he would not be stopped. So great was his power that not even the chosen ones could challenge him.

"They retreat, m’lord." A Xry hissed, it’s black tongue flicking in and out. Aljin nodded.

"Good, let them go. We will have plenty of time to hunt them later." He said. The Xry bowed and slithered away as Aljin began to laugh.

* * *

"Here we should be safe for a time." Kiiron’s voice echoed in the underground cavern. "There is a spring in the back; we should put the wounded there."

As tired as the armies were, they set to work on attaching torches to the walls, caring for the wounded and the animals and setting up a sort of camp. Lucrezia soon sought out her sister and embraced her.

"I thought you had stayed with the company." She said.

"I was wounded and they thought it best to leave me with Kiiron." Hilde explained as they both sat on the ground, out of the way of those who were still working. "He and I went to visit the old wizards and I met one. But they are all dead now."

Lucrezia’s face became grave. "I do not like that."

"Nor did I." Hilde sighed and looked away. The two sisters sat in silence for a moment, then Hilde turned back to her sister.

"What’s happened?" she asked. "We come here to help fight, and now it seems like defeat."

"Strategic withdrawal, I think is the term preferred." Lucrezia murmured. Hilde rolled her eyes.

"What happened?" she asked again. Lucrezia sighed.

"It is a long tale." She said, then began.

* * *

"She is near here." Heero said softly. Midii turned and looked at him. He looked back at her. Midii shook her head.

"I’ll be fine." She assured him. "Go. Do what you must."

Heero nodded, turned and swiftly walked away. Midii watched him for a while, then continued with the Kavu.

* * *

Pain. That was all that Relena was aware of, pain and darkness. She couldn’t open her eyes and something told her that the view would not be greatly improved even if she could. Every part of her body cried out in protest whether she moved or lied still. Relena wished for unconsciousness to take her, but she remained alert in mind.

Footsteps came to her ears and she grimaced, knowing that another beating or worse was probably coming. Her fears were realized as a kick landed just under her ribs. Relena gasped in pain, and heard a dry, evil laughter.

"Open your eyes, elf." A voice said. Relena didn’t listen. She knew she couldn’t and she wasn’t going to try just because this creature had told her. The command was repeated a few more times, but it wasn’t until a staff connected with her bruised and bloody back that Relena did open them.

The chamber she was in held torches and was warm, very warm. Two srych stood, leering at her, but in front of them was what had caught Relena’s attention. Tall, robed in black, there was an aura about him that spoke of great evil. Relena knew that he was not a mortal, but nor was he anything she had felt before. The sheer power that rolled off of him terrified her almost past control.

The creature laughed again. "How helpless." He said mockingly. "And so, Lady Relena, Princess of Sank and holder of the Light Powers is reduced to this." His glittering, sickly bright, green eyes stared down at her. Relena stared back, calling upon every ounce of Elvish Princess that was in her. Despite the fact that she was on the ground, dirty, bloody, bruised and clothes torn, the glare she came up with would have made any wiser being at least flinch. Aljin however, only laughed.

"It will be a sweet revenge." He murmured. Relena scowled at him. She looked too much like her mother, Aljin decided, and for a moment felt a fleeting regret that he had not captured the eldest, Dorothy, who resembled her father more. But still, that royal glare had been his at least.

Aljin would never forget the young Elf, no more than a mere century old, who had given him a mortal enough wound for the Elf mage Zela-lil and the Wind Telmari Rimon to bind him away*. Nor had he forgotten that same Elf, older, with an army of his own, fighting against him almost a millennia ago, when the stones had been forged and the Chambers of the Moon built**.

"Yes," he murmured. "It will be a sweet revenge to twist his daughter."

Relena looked at him, unable to keep the puzzlement out of her eyes. Aljin grinned and straightened.

"You and your kind may do what they like, Abluk." He said to one of the syrch. "Just don’t kill her."

With that, Aljin left the room, leaving Relena to back away in horror as the srych reached for her.

* * *

"Are we clear?" Dorothy called. Jaran looked back.

"Yes." He answered, short of breath. Dorothy coughed, trying to get the sulfur out of her eyes and nose.

"Then by all means," she gasped, "let us leave this place!"

"My thoughts exactly." Jaran answered, batting away at the smoke. It had been slow going for the two, even with Dorothy’s elvish senses.

"I think we are close." Dorothy coughed again. "I can barely make out the wind-speech."

"Good!" Jaran said, covering his mouth and nose with a piece of cloth torn from his tunic. He gave one to Dorothy as well.

It was a slow journey. Eyes half closed against the steam and sulfur caused them to trip and stumble over rocks. Thankfully, they had both long abandoned their armor or else the heat of the place would have made them boil.

Then all of a sudden the steam and heat and yellow smoke was gone. There was sky and a slight breeze. Even though it was warm and the ground bare and blackened, Dorothy and Jaran were glad to be out of the hellhole.

* * *

Heero walked softly, though there was no need too. The srych guards had been dispatched with the same ease that he had always had. But as he approached, cries of pain were heard and Heero found himself running, fearing what he might find at the end.

There was a whole group of them. Heero raised his sword and brought it down. Two srych lost their heads and Heero impaled the one that came after them, while bringing out a dagger. He pulled his sword out from the dead srych, dodged a blow from another, whirled and stabbed one with a dagger, then relieved the other of its head with his sword. Around him, the air became blue and bluer, and Heero’s eyes glowed. He moved with in-human grace and speed, till all around him, the srych lay dead. Heero closed his eyes and shook his head, returning somewhat back to normal (if you could use the world normal for Heero…)

He looked around and saw a slumped figure near the end of one wall. Running over, he gently turned it around and cleared Relena’s dark blonde hair away from her face. It was a grayish-white color, except for the blue and black bruises. Her breathing came in ragged gasps, and then she coughed, spitting up blood. Heero carefully cut the ropes that bound her and then lifted her up.

Relena’s eyes fluttered open, and she murmured something in Elvish to low for him to hear.

"It is all right." He heard himself say. "You are safe now."

Relena’s eyes rolled back in her head and she became limp. Heero began to walk.

* * *

There were five of them now, huge creatures made of darkness and shadow. One of the kavu growled and nodded its head. Midii placed her pale hand on it’s orangy-yellow hide.

"I know." She said softly. "They are coming closer. We must stop them now, before they multiply into more."

The other Kavu nodded their heads and growled in agreement. The largest, the Cave Kavu, bent down to allow Midii to crawl up on its head. She smiled and did so. Once she was seated, the six of them started off.

* * *

The three of them walked swiftly carrying their weapons. A fourth followed. The fourth paused and turned into another corridor. The other three noticed, but so intent were they on their mission, that they did not stop to consider their companion.

* * *

"Air." Jaran breathed. "Sweet mother of sky, thank you."

Dorothy murmured an agreement, then opened her eyes. "We can not stay long." She said. "We need to start moving."

"Let’s take care of your leg first." Jaran said with a smile. "I know that Elves have incredible endurance, but it is not prudent to leave a wound for long."

Dorothy smiled back slightly and sat down, bracing herself. Jaran looked at her calf and frowned, then looked up.

"You are in luck." He said. "I do not think it is barbed, and since you have held out so well, we can be assured that it is most likely not poisoned either."

Dorothy nodded. "Are you going to pull it out or make me wait in suspense?"

Jaran grinned. "All right, but brace yourself."

Dorothy hissed and bit her lip as Jaran pulled the arrow out as carefully and quickly as he could.

"You all right?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. Dorothy’s breathing was quick and at first she didn’t seem to hear him, but then she nodded and waved his hand away. Jaran turned his attention back to the wound and grimaced. He needed water, both to clean the wound and for them both to drink. He looked at Dorothy and met her eyes. She looked away in understanding.

"I don’t want infection to set in." Jaran said quietly. "And we cannot go long without water, especially after surviving that."

Dorothy nodded, there didn’t seem to be anything to say…then she stiffened.

"What?" Jaran asked.

"I hear something." Dorothy looked around, then up at the sky. "I think…I think it is dragons."

* * *

"Are we out yet?" Hiiron asked, half choking.

"Not quite." Sally answered, not looking back. Hiiron sighed, then realized something.

"Hey," he called. "Where did the dwarves go?"

* * *

Midii climbed down from the Kavu’s head. In front of them, stood the legendary Pheonix***. Bigger than the Kavu, they were black, except for red eyes and seemed to be so much of shadow, that it was difficult to ascertain if they were flesh and blood or merely spirits. Shadow poured off them like sweat, invading the mind of their opponents. In shape, they were almost humanoid, with scaly and feathered arms and legs, but they’re faces were most definitely bird-like with a long, hooked beaks and a crest of black feathers. Long white claws were on their hands and feet.

Midii felt no fear; she was Courage. She stood still as the Kavu walked forward. The Phoenix and her brood gave a chilling cry of battle, but the Kavu were silent. Midii half-closed her eyes and with her mind, she touched the spirit of each of the Kavu, willing them to go, to fight.

Footsteps sounded behind her and she felt a hand slip in to hers. Heero was here now, and he too poured his power into the Kavus’ spirits. Together, Courage and Strength gave them the power that they would need to kill the Phoenix.

* * *

Something was wrong. The Xry captain felt it, but he had given up on warning his master. Aljin was still in a state of euphoria and it was no good telling the srych; they were too stupid to understand. And that went for the rest of the trolls, goblins and other rabble. The Xry’s tongue slipped in and out as he slithered through the hallways. Then he stopped. Something in the air did not taste right. Narrowing his red eyes, the Xry began to investigate.

He slithered down the hallway, tongue flicking in and out. He was getting closer; he could feel it. All of a sudden, he felt a hot blade stick into his side. Roaring in rage, the Xry writhed, trying to get rid of the pain. Turning, he saw an Elf, clad in glowing white, eyes glowing.

"Where is your master?" he demanded.

"Why should I tell you?" the Xry asked hoarsely.

The Elf grinned. "Because Death has come to call for him."

* * *

Jaran and Dorothy watched as a troop of dragons flew over head, led by a large gold and black one and a huge black one. Suddenly, they flanked and came back. The two large ones landed.

"LADY PEACECRAFT!" the huge one said. "I MUST SAY, THIS IS THE LAST PLACE I EXPECTED TO SEE YOU."

"What are you doing so far South, Mornreg?" Dorothy asked.

The dragon chuckled. "WE’RE HEADED TOWARDS THE BATTLE. I THOUGHT THAT YOUR FATHER AND HIS FRIENDS COULD USE A FEW OF THE DRAGON RIDERS OF YANBAR."

"I suppose. I know not." The Elf answered.

"HMM, LOOKS LIKE YOU TWO COULD USE A RIDE." Mornreg commented. The other dragon stepped forward.

"They call me Deathscythe." He said. "I would be happy to carry you."

Jaran helped Dorothy up, much to her annoyance. Once the two of them were settled, they began to fly.

* * *

"Rorco!"

Trowa, Hiiron and Sally were calling the head dwarf, but neither he nor his comrades answered.

"We can not stay here long!" Trowa shouted. "The sulfer-" he broke off into a fit of coughs. Sally scowled.

"We press on. But…" shaking her head, she continued to lead the other two on.

* * *

Mariemeia felt sore and didn’t want to open her eyes. Something heavy was on top of her, slowly crushing her lungs and wings. She coughed choking. Whatever it was, it smelled.

She tried to move ignoring the hot pain that seared her wings and shoulders. Reaching out her arms, she hit something soft, but strong. Flesh. Mariemeia gasped. She was under a dead troll.

* * *

"Will she live?" Zechs was asking an Elvish physician, as Lucrezia approached.

"I know not, my lord." The Elf answered. "Aljin’s power was very great. To tell the truth, I am surprised she has held out this long."

Zechs sighed and nodded. "Thank you. You may go now."

The physician bowed slightly, then gathered his medicines and left. Lucrezia allowed him to pass, then approached her husband.

"The news is not good?" she asked. Zechs nodded, not surprised that she was there.

"She was the only one to survive." He said. "Very hardy for a mortal."

Lucrezia allowed herself to smile a bit at this observation, then looked at the pale figure on the cot. Mieran’s face was taut, her whole body tense as if she still were expecting a blow. Without her armor, the girl seemed more vulnerable and young; too young for the burden she had been entrusted with.

"She will recover." Zechs finally said. "She is strong." He turned. "There is a council meeting to decide what we now must do. Will you be there?"

"I will." Lucrezia promised. Zechs took her hands and squeezed them slightly.

"Good. I am better when at your side."

"Better? Or just less grumpy?" Lucrezia laughed lightly. Zechs smiled and shook his head.

"Maybe both." He said, as they both left the chamber.

* * *

"He told me this way." Death commented. Life snorted.

"As if you could trust a Xry." He spat.

"You know, you’re rather grumpy." Death said, grinning. "Do you need a break?"

"That’s enough." Purity broke in before Life attacked their grinning comrade. "We are here to find Aljin, and…why is Treize not back yet?"

Life and Death looked behind them.

"I know not." Life answered, as if puzzled.

"That’s weird." Death said. "Do you think he’s found Aljin?"

"Perhaps." Purity did not sound sure. "You are sure the Xry said this way?"

"Yes."

Purity sighed. "Right. Well, we will go this way, and if nothing is there, we find Treize."

"Some group of chosen ones we turned out to be." Death muttered. "Can’t even keep track of our own captain."

Life looked sorely tempted to hit Death with his staff, but a glare from Purity’s glowing white eyes nixed that idea.

* * *

"Treize…" a voice echoed. "I have been waiting for you."

"I know." The man answered.

Aljin came out of the shadows, wielding a sword. He had not bothered to clean the blood and traces of battle away, but the black garb hid it well. Aljin raised his sword, as did Treize.

"This is the deciding battle." Aljin said, as the two began to circle each other warily. "This is where you cease to end."

Treize did not answer. Aljin grew tired of waiting and struck. Treize parried, then forced Aljin back. They stood, as if trying to get a feel for their opponent’s ability. Aljin struck again, on Treize’s left. Treize parried then hit Aljin’s chin with his arm. Not expecting the blow, the evil mage lost concentration and Treize took the chance to bring his sword down on Aljin. Aljin blocked the blow, kicking Treize in the stomach. The kick was hard enough to send Treize flying back a ways. Rolling over, he quickly recovered and stood. The circling began again.

"You are stronger than I thought." Aljin said, an easy humor in his voice.

"I am near old as these stones." Treize answered back, with a wry smile. "Naturally I’ve had time to practice."

Aljin’s face had lost it’s easy expression and he looked at Treize, as if in understanding. Trieze nodded.

"You thought you had rid yourself of me centuries ago. My brethren had other ideas." Treize felt himself growing stronger, as the memories flooded back. "I am no mere mortal. I’m not Elf or dwarf. But I think you, at least, know who I am."

Aljin looked pale with anger. He clenched the hilt of his sword tightly. "Rimon." He spat. Treize smiled and nodded.

"I am Rimon, the one who doomed all those years ago. You wounded me, but I could not be killed. Instead, I am returned to doom you again. And you know who else is? None other than Zela-lil’s son. You will feel his magic again, Aljin."

Aljin was shaking with rage. Losing all his control he sped towards Treize with such speed, that Treize barely had time to defend himself. The blows were heavy and hard, as they both fought for supremacy. For the first time since Aljin had regained the crystal, he began to feel fear. ****

* * *

"It’s this way." Death said suddenly.

"How would you know?" Life asked.

"I smell fear." Death replied sarcastically. Life snorted. Purity just sighed, then nodded to Death.

"Lead the way."

* * *

"One more." Courage said, coughing.

"I do not think the walls can hold." Strenth told her.

"Maybe not." She agreed. "But the Phoenix must be destroyed forever. Otherwise, all this work will be done in vain-" She broke off as she strove to keep the main Phoenix from entering her mind. Strenth joined his power to hers. Together they fought it off. Four of the Kavu were fighting; one was dead. The Rock Kavu was the only one not seriously hurt.

"Keep on." Courage whispered. "Keep on, you must!"

The Kavu roared again and charged. The Phoenix screamed in anger, pain and frustration. It swiped at them with it’s claws and caught the Lava Kavu, slamming it against the cave wall. The beautiful, orangey-gold creature fell to the ground, lifeless. The Phoenix roared with victory and began another swipe, when an ax embedded itself in its hand. Screeching, the creature turned, only to face a dozen axes flying it’s way. Courage and Strength looked; a troop of grim-faced dwarves stood there. The Three remaining Kavu ran at the Phoenix, finally bringing it down. The Phoenix gave a dying cry, as it ceased to exist in Erthe forever.

But the danger was not over yet. The ground around them rumbled, shocking Courage and Strength from their mind link. They both fell to the ground, Couarage unconscious, Strength dazed. One of the dwarves threw her over his shoulder, while two of his companions helped Strength.

"There’s an Elf over here!" one shouted. Rorco turned.

"Bring it." He said gruffly. The dwarf carefully picked up the wounded princess.

"Move quick, lads!" Rorco shouted. "The walls tell me they can’t hold up much longer!"

"Hai!"***** Shouted the dwarves, as they began to run. The Kavu followed.

* * *

"They are coming closer." Galen said. Hilde nodded. The dark army approached the citadel of caves that hid their enemies.

"They are surrounding us on every side." Hilde said, looking at Kiiron worriedly. "They come from the front, the left, the right…" her voice trailed off.

"Well," the old man said, unsheathing his sword. "They can’t get away this time."

Hilde and Galen stared, then broke out into grins. Notching their bows, they and the others in the front gave out a great war cry. Human trumpets blared and above, the Sky-borne and their eagles cried out for victory.

All became silent and tense as the army drew nearer. The srych had a war song of their own and it hurt Hilde’s ears. Trolls began to throw large boulders. The Sky-borne and Elves released their arrows, while some of the dwarvish squadrons threw axes. Hilde notched another arrow and let it fly, then was shocked by something in the air.

"Dragons!" she yelled. Indeed, there was a whole fleet of them. Already, their riders were sending down flaming arrows. Another rallying cry came up from the gathered armies, just as the dark army wailed in anger. Hilde smiled as a slim, blonde figure raised her arm and waved.

* * *

Trieze was breathing hard and his lip was bleeding. Aljin fared no better. They had broken off their tense fight and now were boring their eyes into each other’s skulls.

"You will tire." Aljin said hoarsely, then grinned. "That is one advantage to being dead; I have much energy stored up."

"Not enough!" a voice rang out and a sword went through Aljin’s middle. The mage looked down in shock, then choked as the sword was withdrawn. He turned. Death grinned.

"I’ve come to call for you." He said. Aljin grew angry again and prepared to raise his sword, but it was blocked by another.

"You’re time here ended long ago." Purity said quietly. "You no longer have dominion here. Go back from whence you came!"

Aljin felt the hate boil up again. If Purity had been female, he would have been the exact image of his mother. As it was, he was a very close copy.

"You." Aljin hissed and in that one word, centuries of hate, anger and plotting for revenge came out. Purity flinched slightly, and Aljin took advantage of his slight off-guardedness to force him back, knocking him to the ground. He raised his sword, but Death stabbed him again.

"Doesn’t work that way." The dark-haired Elf said. "You try to hit one, the other hits you."

"That is right." A new voice said. Aljin turned to see Life, just before his chest was impaled. Treize stood, guarding his only escape route. Aljin pulled his sword away from Death’s then hit him in the face with the hilt. Death fell, dazed. Life pulled out his sword, but Aljin knocked him away. Purity was on his feet again, and he and Aljin traded blows. It was an odd sight; the tall, dark mage and the small, slender figure clad in glowing white.

"The crystal!" Treize shouted, running nearer. "We cannot harm him if he still holds it!"

Aljin blocked a blow from him, then turned to Purity. The guardian stabbed his chest again, but just as he did so, Aljin brought his sword down, slashing across Purity’s body. The cut began on his left shoulder and ended at his right hip. Purity fell, crying out. Death and Life, now recovered came forward. Aljin was wounded and it was three to one. Death took his payment and the last thing Aljin ever remembered was the three shattering the dark crystal to pieces.

* * *

The battle raged on. But something odd happened. Suddenly, the trolls were affected by the sun and turned to stone. The Xry simply faded away, screaming, while the srych and goblins became confused by the sunlight, almost killing off each other. ^

"What is going on?" Galen asked. Kiiron laughed out loud.

"They did it!" he shouted. "Aljin is gone; he cannot drive nor protect his vile monster anymore!" With a rallying cry, the armies sprang forward and drove off the dark army, killing most of them.

* * *

"This is a really long walk." Hiiron sighed.

"Yes it is." Sally agreed. "But-" she broke off. "Trowa, does that troll over there seem to be moving?"

"Yes." The tall young man agreed. "I wonder-" he ran forward, as did Hiiron. With Sally’s help, they moved it off enough to find a slender woman, with black wings and numerous wounds.

"A Skye-borne." Sally whispered. She bent down and felt the girl’s feverish brow. "She needs help now. Trowa give me your water skin. I know it’s warm, but it is all we have."

Trowa obliged and Sally carefully poured some into the girl’s mouth, then bathed her head with it.

"I cannot do much here." Sally said. "Hiiron, would you carry her?"

"Yes." The young man answered.

* * *

"Quatre?!" Duo said, fear evident in his voice. They had returned to their normal selves somewhat, although they still had the weapons, clothes and armor granted them. Blood stained Quatre’s, and the glowing whiteness of it only seemed to make the blood redder.

"We must get him out of here." Treize said, picking him up. Quatre moaned slightly.

"Right." Duo said, his mouth feeling thick with fear. "Wufei-"

"You go." Wufei had collected the shards of the dark crystal. "I have one last thing to accomplish." He met Treize’s eyes and the other seemed to understand.

"Do not tarry." He advised. "The evil will that held this fortress together is crumbling."

"I know." Wufei said quietly, then vanished. Duo followed Treize out.

*****************************************************************

Jaid: There you guys go! For more info, go to the Epilogue! And don’t forget to read the notes I’ve provided!

* Zela-lil was one of the ancient Elves. She went on to marry a Sithon Elf, Anmar who became king of the Golden Wood or Theintoviel. Rimon was a Telmari; one of those who Erian created to help Him guide and protect Erthe. Rimon was more often seen among the peoples of Erthe and got more involved in their wars and business than most of the Telmar.

**Hee, hee, have you guessed who this is yet? Yup, Zechs or Prince Millardo was present the both times Aljin made war on Erthe. The first time, he was merely a young archer sent to fight. By the time Aljin came back, Zechs had become an Elven lord with his own army to command.

***No one knows how the Phoenix came into being, but the Elves hold that it was Yii, a Telmari who betrayed Erian for his own power and gain. It is said that Yii took dragons and then formed from them shadow creatures. But that’s a whole other story…

****As said before, Rimon was the Telmari who got more involved. He often took mortal form when on these excursions, and in the first fight with Aljin (Yii’s protégé), he was heavily wounded. The rest of the Telmar rescued him, but they and Erian had warned him against getting too involved. Rimon begged to be forgiven and Erian knew it was Rimon’s great love for Erthe and her peoples that strove him to fight for them. Rimon was placed under a heavy sleep for his punishment, but Erian in His mercy promised Rimon that he would come back and help Erthe defeat Aljin once and for all. However, he was to become very much like a mortal for a short time and when Aljin was defeated, Erian would bring him back with the rest of Telmar and restore his powers and memories. (whew, I could write a whole ‘nother book!)

*****Yes, I know it means "Yes" in Japanese. But it’s a fun word to shout! Try it!

^ Trolls turn to stone when exposed to the sun, and srych and goblins hate it’s light; it confuses them. Aljin was able to keep these things from happening as long as he was in power, but when he died…yup, the Xry were Aljin’s creation, and now that he is completely destroyed, so are they.