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Listle stared at the others. "I'll become an illusion once again."
A silence descended on the small clearing. Kern tried to sort out all Listle
had told him. The elf had always been unpredictable, but this this was
unfathomable. A dozen emotions clashed in his heart. Sorrow that Listle had
known such anguish. Anger at the evil mage that dogged her footsteps. Fear
that the elf might vanish in a puff of smoke at any moment. But most of all,
he felt a profound confusion. Only a short while ago, after she had kissed
him, he had seen Listle in a whole new light. Feelings he had never imagined
before had stirred in his heart. But now he didn't know what to feel. How
could he love some-one who wasn't even real?
Listle stood, her jaw set, with deep sorrow in her eyes. "I'm sorry I've lied
to you all for so long. I... I
can under-stand if you want me to leave." She started to gather her things.
"Listle, do not " Miltiades began, but he was inter-rupted by two brilliant
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sparks of light floating into the clearing. Both were a shimmering aquamarine,
though one spark was slightly more green than blue, and the other slightly
more blue than green. Abruptly the sparks flashed, and in their place stood
two ancient, sweet-faced elves.
"Brookwine! Winebrook!" Listle exclaimed.
Trooper raised a bushy eyebrow in surprise, casting a glance at Kern. Kern
nodded, confirming the paladin's unspoken question. These were the two elven
mages from Listle's story.
"Listle," Brookwine began in his tremulous voice, "we are so glad that we
have "
" found you," Winebrook went on without pause. "Pri-mul sent us to warn you
that "
" one of Sifahir's minions has discovered your "
" whereabouts. You're in terrible "
" danger!" The two elves finished as one.
Listle sighed, reaching out and holding their fine-boned hands. "I know," she
said glumly. "I was attacked a few hours ago. But that particular beast will
trouble us no more, thanks to my friends here."
Quickly she relayed the tale of their encounter with Sif-ahir's illusionary
minion. When she finished, the two wispy mages bowed deeply to the others.
"We are most grateful for "
" your slaying of the beast "
" that sought to deliver us into "
" Sifahir's hands once again."
The elves smiled their beguiling smiles, eyes glowing green-blue and blue
green.
"Er, don't mention it," Trooper said, seeming at a loss as he turned his gaze
from one mage to the other.
"Can you stay a while?" Listle asked the two ancient mages hopefully, but
Brookwine and Winebrook shook their heads.
"I'm afraid we dare not "
" linger, dear Listle. We must return to "
" inform Primul of this development," they said in their fluid manner.
"You know how the green elf thinks us "
" to be flighty, and how angry he "
" gets when we dilly "
" dally."
Listle laughed despite her recent ordeal. Seeing her old friends always lifted
her heart, no matter the circum-stances. "Take care, you two," she whispered,
hugging them tightly. "And don't let Primul bully you."
In a wink the mages vanished, and two glowing sparks fluttered out of the
clearing.
Listle fell silent then. Her worst fears had been realized. Her secret had
been revealed. She knew the others would never regard her the same way again,
especially Kern.
Trooper spoke, as if sensing her thoughts. "Well, let's have no more talk of
leaving tonight," he said testily. "It's too late for such serious matters,
and this old man needs his sleep." With that he rolled himself in his blanket
and almost instantly began snoring.
Listle saw Kern gazing at her, the expression in his eyes impossible to read.
She took a hesitant step toward him, wishing he would say something . . .
anything. For a moment she thought he was going to, but then he too turned
away and, climbing into his bedroll, shut his eyes tightly.
Listle felt a preternatural chill behind her. She looked up to see Miltiades.
The paladin seemed to be regarding her with his empty eyes.
"It is a burden, being so different, is it not?" he said softly in his eerie
voice.
"Yes," she whispered. "It is."
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"You must not despair, Listle Onopordum," he said, a stern note in his usually
gentle voice. "You fought hard to have the chance to live. Do not throw it
away, for any rea-son."
With that the skeletal knight stepped away into the shadows, leaving her
feeling completely and utterly alone.
* * * * *
A scream of rage filled the cavern of the pool of twilight.
"Why did you not tell me that sunlight would destroy my beautiful shadow
fiends?" Sirana ranted. Her lovely hands were clenched into claws, her
misshapen face twisted even more grotesquely than usual.
Was it not obvious?
the guardian of the pool asked mock-ingly.
They were creatures of darkness.
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