Burr has hauled Prince Sebazhan and the luggage away from the Temple of Dagh, with Thorn padding after him, holding a small token bag. The way has been slow going through the streets, as it seems that the partying has gotten into full swing, like nothing Willow has ever seen in Rephidim, and making the festivities during Harvest Tide seeming stoic and dull by comparison. The people seem to be greatly enjoying themselves, stuffing themselves with food and drinking wine. They even grab items from the vendors without stopping to pay, and the vendors seem to be perfectly fine with this, indulging as well. Tell-talescents hint that certain recreational "spices" are being used by some of the party-goers, added to the heady odor of one of the models of the Ark, which is currently burning, sending multi-colored smokes whipping into the air, spread as they get caught by the winds going over the city.

Thorn appears to be frightened by all the noise and chaos, and keeps close to Burr, holding tight onto his tail with one paw. Burr seems to be nervous as well, though quite probably for different reasons, in light of the events that just transpired at the Temple of Dagh. Prince Sebazhan, meanwhile, shows no signs yet of recovering from his swoon.

Burr has hauled Prince Sebazhan and the luggage away from the Temple of Dagh, with Thorn padding after him, holding a small token bag. The way has been slow going through the streets, as it seems that the partying has gotten into full swing, like nothing Willow has ever seen in Rephidim, and making the festivities during Harvest Tide seeming stoic and dull by comparison. The people seem to be greatly enjoying themselves, stuffing themselves with food and drinking wine. They even grab items from the vendors without stopping to pay, and the vendors seem to be perfectly fine with this, indulging as well. Tell-talescents hint that certain recreational "spices" are being used by some of the party-goers, added to the heady odor of one of the models of the Ark, which is currently burning, sending multi-colored smokes whipping into the air, spread as they get caught by the winds going over the city.

Thorn appears to be frightened by all the noise and chaos, and keeps close to Burr, holding tight onto his tail with one paw. Burr seems to be nervous as well, though quite probably for different reasons, in light of the events that just transpired at the Temple of Dagh. Prince Sebazhan, meanwhile, shows no signs yet of recovering from his swoon.

Willow's hackles rise at the ruckus and she sticks as close to Burr's side as she can, glancing back at Thorn now and again to make sure he's still with the group. "Burr, do you see an inn or someplace we can duck out of here? Hmm… maybe the Pantheon building has been spared enough that we could get him into some cover… although an inn sounds much more appealing."

The Pantheon does look to be just as deserted as Willow has ever seen it, at least for the moment. Finding an inn would take a bit more searching, though Willow recalls seeing one down the street a way from earlier.

"Burr, as much as I think the Pantheon isn't quite the right place to be… it's our quickest bet. Just don't touch the pond when we get in there. Hopefully it'll stay quiet long enough for us to have a place to hide until things calm down and I can wake up Dack here." The Skreek presses a hand against the Khatta's forehead to check on him.

There seems to be nothing particularly unusual about Dack's forehead. He's still unconscious … and the group jogs along, reaching the steps without much incident. Thorn dashes on up the steps, reaching the interior of the temple first, followed closely by the others. Burr finds a place to set down his burdens – feline and luggage – on the floor of the temple.

Sebazhan lets out a light groan, and stirs slightly.

Willow gives the Khatta a shake. "Burr, there's a lovely view of the seaside out near the back. I bet Thorn's never seen anything like it from this high up." She settles down next to the Prince and digs through her pockets.

Burr nods, and leads Thorn out to the Balcony of the Mewses.

Once Burr leaves, Sebazhan's eyes snap open, staring at Willow.

"Fire raining from the sky I was expecting. You leaping and trying to tear my throat out I was expecting. Getting laughed at or spat upon I was expecting," she squeaks, shaking her head. "But having you pass out cold, that was unexpected."

Sebazhan's mouth suddenly twists into a wicked grin. "Oh. I would so hate to disappoint!" And then he suddenly leaps at Willow, grabbing at her throat!

Willow makes a confused choking noise and tries to roll out of the way, kicking her foot out at his stomach.

The rat manages to evade the Khatta's sudden attack, and he swings past her, landing in a crouch. He looks back at her with a wild gleam in his eyes, and a predator's grin.

"You thought to betray me, did you?" hisses the Khatta. "You think you are safe from me, do you? And you think that this weak little fool can't harm you? Oh, he's a worthless little pawn in his own right … but spent properly, he'll give me some pleasure yet."

From the direction of the balcony, racing steps can be heard, coming toward Willow and her feral attacker.

The Skreek tenses, trying to watch for the Prince's next move. "BURR! HOLD!" She swallows. "Some wizard. I've finally figured you out I think… or at least your hand in this. Some omnipotence, you have to use an artifact of Bosch to even get to here. Let the Prince go… Tyrne or Kroz or whomever you really are. Neither of us are your pawns anymore."

The black Khatta hisses at Willow, and from Willow's perspective, it's not clear what Burr is doing, though his footsteps have gone silent.

"Sebazhan is indeed my pawn … as are a multitude of weak-willed souls in this city. I own them. I control them, even as they indulge in what they think are their greatest fantasies. I have pulled free all of the stops on this 'holy' of nights. They act free of any inhibitions … and should you try to escape through the streets, you will not last long. Your time has come to an end. It is time to correct the mistakes I've made … and begin anew," the cat hisses.

"You don't own me," Willow hisses back. "All your power and you can't even own a rat. Some master you are, king of the weak. I've never been afraid to die, not by your hand or anyone else's." She starts to back away towards the pool. "Sebazhan, I know you're in there somewhere. You can hearhim calling you weak… but you've fought him for this long. Fight him now… ask the Star to give you strength and you'll find it."

"The Star?" spits the cat. "What strength did the Star give anyone when your sisters died squealing on my altar? If the Star cares nothing for innocent children, why should the Star care a thing about a weak-minded, pathetic fool such as Sebazhan?"

The cat continues, "Do you know what? Your sisters died for no purpose save for Abzhalom's thirst for power. He thought he could invoke me and control me. But that was fine with me. The line of Naochi would die out, and my little pawn would move in to take the Naochi lands … and in due time, I would find my vessel to move in and take what is rightfully mine."

"But my incompetent descendants allowed a kitten to sneak into the throne room!" hisses the Khatta. "A kitten! Oh, but that worked out all right. I came up with a new plan. A new way to move my pawns into place."

Willow trembles, biting on her lip hard enough to taste blood in her mouth. "The Star gives us all free will, evenpeople like you and Abzhalom. If there is one lesson I have truly learned through my travels, it is that one truly can't understand love until one is without it. Yes, my sisters died… but I am here alive, and I will honor their memories and those of my family. I am grateful that my sisters only had to suffer a small amount of the evils that I did and they can rest with the Star for eternity now." Willow forces herself to stand straight. "You can say whatever you want to about the Star, but it always delivers what it promises to deliver. It does not bribe. It does not threaten. It does not lie. It may not send down thunderbolts to destroy baby murderers, but it does promise justice in the end. Sebazhan, the Star loves you… Tyrne doesn't. It's a leap, but if a bitter woman like me could make the leap, then you can too. Please try."

The cat hisses at Willow. "Let's see how much you believe in the Star … when your last breath gets caught in your throat, you filthy rat!" And then the Khatta leaps at Willow once more!

The Skreek tries to sidestep the attack, ducking around one of the statues.

The Khatta seems to be tripping over his own feet as he leaps, and slams right into a big cheetah that was standing behind Willow. The cheetah grabs the Khatta and lifts him off the ground, letting his feet dangle in the air. The Khatta hisses and slashes … and grins.

Outside, the shouting grows even more loud. It looks like the debauchery is reaching new levels. It's … they're acting like animals out there.

It's as if all the people have just plain gone mad.

Burr looks like he's seething with anger … He tightens his grip around the Khatta's neck.

Willow walks over to the Khatta. "Burr, don't. He can't help it." She taps her head and then looks the "Prince" in the eye. "Star, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise against me. Many be they that say of my soul, 'there is no help for him in his Star.' But thou, O Star, art my defender; thou art my worship and the lifter up of my head. I did call upon the Star with my voice. and he heard me out of his holy hill. I laid me down and slept, and rose up again; for the Star sustained me."

"I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people that have set themselves against me round about. Up, Star, and help me, for thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheek; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord; and thy blessing is upon thy people," the Skreek concludes. "Send your masses, Dagh… you have no power over me. And Sebazhan, look at me. I love you with all of my heart and I will help you fight this monster. Star give you strength and let you hear my words."

Burr seems to be straining, as his face goes through several expressions. His muscles tighten and relax … and at last he slowly lets his grip on the Khatta's neck lighten a bit.

"You'll die a martyr," hisses the Khatta in a choked voice as his feet drop to the ground again. "Are you prepared for that? Oh yes … and your big friend and his cub, too."

Inebriated, crazed-looking people lumber up toward the steps. Some of them are prancing about like idiots. Others seem to be lost in delusions of ecstasy. Some have eyes wild with feral hunger.

"And you're already dead. How sad it must be to inhabit abody and not feel any of the compassion or love it's capable of." She looks up to the cheetah. "I'm sorry it has come to this. Get Thorn and try to climb down the cliffs. You might be able to escape. I hope you can forgive me for all of this." She puts a hand on the prince's shoulder. "And as for you… "

Burr gives Willow an incredulous look. He hasn't a free hand to sign anything, though.

Willow kisses the Khatta's cheek. "I forgive you." She's slightly tensed, expecting to have her cheek bitten or clawed at, but it doesn't stop her from her gesture.

The crowd presses up against the outer columns of the Pantheon. Only their drunken stupor and their tendency to trip and stumble over themselves and each other keeps them from swarming the temple just yet.

Burr drops the Khatta, and scoops up Thorn under one strong arm. "Let's run!" he signs to Willow.

The Khatta drops to his knees, but slowly rises back up to his feet, glaring balefully at Willow. His eyes, however, are unsteady, as if unable to focus directly on her for more than a fraction of a second.

The Skreek looks at the prince. "Then run, Burr. I'm not abandoning Dack. It's all right. I understand it now. I'm not afraid. Now go on." She holds her hands out to the Khatta. "I'm going to kneel here and pray for you and for the souls of Dagh's victims. If you will allow me, I'll show you how to pray as well. Please, join me?"

A few of the people stumble into the temple … and one of them makes a grab at Thorn. This prompts a punch from Burr that sends the drunkard staggering … but there are several more to take his place. Burr seems intent on holding still … but when it's evident that Willow has no intention of leaving, he bolts for the balcony.

The prince's hands shake … and then they reach stubbornly for Willow's throat. This time, they reach their mark.

Willow grabs the Khatta's wrists and locks eyes with him. She fights to swallow down enough air to speak.

The Khatta's hands are shaky, and haven't succeeded in throttling Willow just yet. Her voice may be a bit choked, but she still has the air to breathe and speak for the moment.

It looks like Burr has disappeared, meanwhile. Hopefully, he's a good climber.

"Star, please forgive them all," the Skreek gasps out. "Please protect my friends, and pour your love into the hearts of these people. They don't know what they are doing, but I know that you love them no less than I… " She gasps down another breath. "My sisters, mother, Nene… "

The hands close on Willow's throat … and tears run from the Khatta's eyes, his teeth clenched as his body shakes.

Willow's eyes are just as damp. Bits of redness begin to creep into her vision as she releases the Khatta's wrists, one hand held out to him in a gesture of offering, and the other wipes against her face and presses against Dagh's hand gently. ( I'm not afraid. I don't know why I'm not… but I'm not afraid. I think I understand Testament-Blaze now. ) Unable to speak now, she simply mouths her prayers silently and waits for the darkness to come.

The darkness doesn't come, though. The Khatta slowly pulls his hands away from Willow's throat … and each move appears to be very deliberate and a struggle. He slowly pulls his hands up toward his own throat, claws bared.

The Skreek shakes the clouds from her head and lunges for Dack's hands. "No! You won't kill him!"

As the Skreek lunges at Dack, they both stagger backward, past the ring of idols…

Claws slash out from demented townsfolk and tourists, grasping for the Khatta and Skreek, as they stumble toward the glowing pool…

Dack stumbles backward. Willow for a moment seems to have an opportunity to let go in time … but since she's still holding onto him … they both go splashing into the pool!

The demented revelers stagger back as they get splashed by the rivulets of faintly glowing water … and it seems to swallow up the Khatta and Skreek as they fall into it … the crystalline bottom pulsating and warping …

Willow kicks her legs out, trying to drag both her and the prince back to the surface of the water. ( I hope he doesn't try to drown himself… )

It seems to take an incredible effort, and the waters churn around the two for a moment … but at last Willow reaches the surface. Her neck is sore, and every breath of air is sweet … but her eyes sting with the water that has gotten into it. She can hear the sounds of the Khatta thrashing about, coughing and gasping and spitting out water.

The Skreek shakes the moisture from her fur and clambers to the edge of the pool in the direction of the noises. "Peh."

Now that the Skreek has a moment to listen … it's a whole lot quieter now. And there's an echo. She clambers up onto a tiled floor in the middle of … the Pantheon … no … it's a stone chamber that has the same proportions as the Pantheon … but this isn't some open-to-the-air structure in Parthos. This is a stone chamber, with most of the sections between the pillars being sealed with stone. Others reveal archways leading to dark corridors.

Ariel sits beside the pool, her feet dipped in the water. She looks quite calm and detached as the black Khatta drags himself out of the water and collapses, gasping, on the tiles.

Willow carefully kneels down next to the prince and pounds on his back to help him clear his lungs. "Um… hello Ariel. I suppose this is a silly question, but are we dead?"

"Nope!" mews Ariel, splashing a bit of water as she kicks her feet.

"That's a relief." The Skreek relaxes a little. "Where are we?"

The black Khatta coughs up a lung-full of water.

Ariel purrs, "You're on the other side. You're in the land of the gods. Weird, huh? I don't think that makes you deity, though, so don't get any wild ideas!"

"No wild ideas at all." Willow carefully rolls the prince over on his back. "So what happens now? Can we get back home?"

"Yes, you can," the kitten mews. Ariel gets up from the side of the pool, her bare feet slapping on the tiles, as she walks over to the wall, and grabs a couple of big fluffy towels. She tosses one to Willow, and the other to Dack … smacking him in the face in the process. "Oops!" she mews.

Sebazhan takes the towel and rubs his face in it vigorously.

Willow does likewise. "Prince Dack? Are you all right now?" she squeaks out between rubbings.

Sebazhan puts down his towel. "I am … sorry for what happened. I … Sorry isn't good enough. I'm so … humiliated." He goes back to covering his face and rubbing vigorously with the towel, looking away from Willow.

Ariel says, "If it helps you any to figure out where you are … we're deep below the surface right now. Magic gets stronger down here. But that's not necessarily a good thing. Have you ever seen the picture books of where Dagh lives? Where it's all fire and lava and torment? Well, that's down here, too."

"No! Prince Dack… you SAVED me! I know what magic can make you do, you remember when I pegged Burr's leg back in Naochi. This was the same thing – but you stopped yourself before Dagh could kill me." The Skreek unties her hair and ruffles it madly with the last dry portion of the towel. "Below the surface? So we're still on Sinai?"

Dack says, "You have a curious definition of 'saved'. If a Vartan pushed you off of Rephidim, then swooped down to catch you, you'd hardly call him your hero, would you?"

Ariel waits for Dack to finish, then mews, "Yes, you're still on Sinai. Sort of."

"You were not in control of yourself, and I refuse to let you take responsibility for what you were made to do. Although when we get back up, I'm going to have a talk with you about that throne of yours." The Skreek hangs the towel around her neck. "Is this part of the Moltpaa? How do we get out?"

Ariel says, "Moltpaa is up from here. You came here through the crystals. And it gets worse further down. As for getting out … " She furrows her brow, looking to be deep in thought.

Dack raises his hands. "Fine, fine. I won't try to persuade you to change your mind and to beat me senseless when you have the chance." He sighs.

Ariel looks to Willow. "I'm very sorry for what Dagh did. He seems to be awfully worked up about something."

The Skreek squints her eyes and glances down the dark tunnels, trying to make out anything down their length. "Do you know what he's worked up over? I think I remember him mentioning something about a purpose and such."

Ariel mews, "He's always had some sort of grand megalomaniac plan. Ever since he created me. I doubt it's anything really coherent anymore, though."

Willow's eyes widen and she whirls around to face the white kitten. "Dagh created you? I thought you were a wizard like Dagh was."

Ariel shakes her head. "No. I'm not a ghost, because I was never alive. I'm an artificial construct. But I do have feelings, just so you know."

"Ariel, I don't mean to say this as an insult… but so far you've shown yourself to be a very loving and innocent person. You also seem to care for Dagh a great deal. Why did he create you?" The Skreek sniffs cautiously at the air.

Dack looks long and hard at Ariel, and it finally sinks in that he's … somewhere else. "How far did we … fall?"

"I wonder if this place is linked to Moltpaa somehow; not just by tunnels, I mean, but by culture or something else," Willow muses to herself.

Ariel mews, "Well, maybe. A lot of history has gone by that I don't know about. I've been around for a very long time … but sometimes I go 'dormant'. Especially when magic grows weaker."

Ariel continues, "A very long time ago, the Katthas who were the ancestors of the Olympians settled in this part of Sinai. There were several scholars amongst them who studied the strange things that happened at the surface that didn't happen so much in the skies. Tyrne Dagh was among these men and women, and he was the first of their number to discover how to control the forces we now know as magic."

"Did he try to go deeper into the earth to get to more powerful magic?" The Skreek wrings out the corner of her shirt.

Ariel nods. "And they made me, and they found out how to make themselves live very, very long, too. But they also tried to become gods. Whether they succeeded or failed is a matter of opinion."

Willow taps her foot. "Does the wizard Kroz fit into this in some way? This is just a wild swing in the dark, but I'm figuring he was the one who created the throne. I remember seeing a vision once of one of Tyrne's descendants mention he was doing to make a deal with Kroz to 'honor his ancestors'."

"Oh," says Ariel. "Not really. I don't know much about that, since I kept well clear of that. Kroz is from Bosch. You may not know this, but Bosch wasn't always like it is today. But it's much the same story as with the Olympian 'gods'. A bunch of mortals who wanted god-like powers. And they got more than they bargained for. That story has been repeated many times across Sinai, it seems."

Dack wrings out the sleeves of his outer jacket, meanwhile, listening quietly the whole time.

The Skreek gives herself one final shakeout. "Brrr!" She sniffs. "Are there any other gods down here, or are we in Dagh's domain? Fires… I hope Burr and Thorn got out of there all right."

Ariel mews, "Yes, there are other gods, but most of them aren't to be dealt with. Dare I say it, I think I'm a bit more reasonable than the others down here."

"Just wondering if there's anyone I need to dodge." Willow sighs. "Ariel, can I help you or Dagh in any way? And I don't mean as a servant or a pawn… but I mean really help, like I was trying to do in Abu-Dhabi."

Ariel smiles. "You know, I was thinking to myself that I really wish I had someone as nice as you for my priestess… " She frowns. "But I don't know if it's such a good idea for me to have people praying to me. I can't really answer their prayers, after all." She sighs. "Well, Morpheus is, not surprisingly, slumbering. Nobody's been able to wake him for ages. I like the new Morpheus a lot better. He's interesting, but he's easily distracted, and now he's gone for some reason. Ashtoreth is really mean, and likes killing people. Behemoth is just a big brute. Primus and Logos talk calmly and sound like they're so nice and wise, but they're really quite evil. Just don't tell them I said that. Kasaris – that's Dagh's sister – is pretty mean, too … but I tolerate her because she's at least nice enough to talk to me."

"Sinai and Arcadia and Fortunatis are all make-believe, by the way," Ariel mews.

"Well … coming from a goddess, I suppose I can't get that on a better authority," quips Prince Sebazhan, smirking.

"I'll be your sister if you'd like. I know that we probably won't be able to talk as much while I'm on the surface, but I can leave you flowers and letters whenever I go through Olympia." Willow stretches out. "Unless there's something we can physically do here to help, we should probably try to find our way back. I need to make sure Burr got out of there safely."

Ariel smiles at Willow's offer, but then sighs, looking a bit guilty. "I'm sorry. I kind of like having visitors here. I don't have them very often. Not for real, anyway. But … I think I can help you back out. You could just go back through the pool … but I think things are probably still pretty ugly there right now. I can always tell when Dagh is throwing a fit." She looks around at the passages. "I usually just cheat to get around, so it's hard for me to give directions to people who have to walk all the time. Uhm … "

"Would it be safe here to rest until tomorrow when things calm down? I don't mind staying." The Skreek's tail switches back and forth.

Ariel smiles. "That would be just fine. Uhm … I could go check on your friends, if you like. Oh yes, and Morning-Mist is getting married, by the way, and she's glad to hear that you're okay."

"Could you deliver a message for me? Just tell Burr to meet me at the inn in Dack. He should be able to manage passage there all right. If it's too far, we'll try to meet at a spot outside of town." The Skreek settles down on the floor of the chamber. "Wow… I hope I can make it in time for the wedding. Mother Diamante should have another daughter to dote over finally. I was sad to hear about what happened to Nene."

Ariel's ears blush. "Oh! Uhm … Actually, the wedding is tomorrow, I think."

Prince Dack hmms. "I must have misplaced my invitation."

Willow sticks her tongue out. "Well foo. I can't even be there to try and catch the bouquet." She smirks. "It's all right. I'll just have to make sure Misty gives me all the gooshy details when I visit her again."

Ariel mews, "Well … Oh!" She snaps her fingers. "I know how you could get there by tomorrow!"

The rat raises an eyebrow?

Ariel says, "Okay … uhm … I hope nothing has collapsed … but I think I can get you up to Moltpaa. There's this tunnel network that runs underground, and there are these carriages that run along them … oh … you'll just have to see it to believe it, really."

"Come to think of it… I think I have seen it." Willow pats her pockets again and pulls out a silver coin. "Here. This is half of my savings. Give it to Burr if you find him and tell him that if his own money isn't enough, to use this to get to Diamante. He's really distrustful of anyone he thinks is magical, so I should probably give you some kind of proof that it was me delivering the silver… hmm."

The Skreek pulls out a chitin knife and starts sawing at the end of her ponytail, cutting a small lock of the black hair away.

Ariel giggles. "I could just pretend to be a real girl. Or maybe I could give it to his cub. Or – oh! Well … that might work."

Dack frowns. "I could cover that, you know. It's the least I could do, having nearly strangled you after all."

Willow clumsily ties the hair into a crude knot and hands it to Ariel. "There." She grins at Dack. "Considering how strapped I am for funding, I'll accept. But let Ariel deliver my silver and you can owe me. I'm not sure how well Burr's nose works, but he might trust a coin with my tooth marks on it more than your scent."

Dack nods. "Fair enough."

Ariel takes the lock and tucks it into her robes. "All right. First, I'll try to get you to the carriage. Then getting to your big friend should be simple. I can take shortcuts that you can't, after all."

The Skreek grins and bobs her head up and down. "Let's try to get to that wedding. I know Mother Diamante has a dress that fits me just fine, although I'm not sure if Prince Ral's clothing will do much for you, Prince Dack. Either way, I would dearly like for you to met one of my closest friends."

Ariel purrs, "All right … just follow me … and keep quiet. And try to keep up. If I forget and go too far ahead … I'll figure it out and come back for you, okay?" She winks, then heads toward one of the tunnels. "I think this way will take us there… "

Dack gets up, dumping some water out of his boots, then puts them back on. He extends an arm to Willow. "Shall we?"

Willow balks for a moment; some old habits still die hard. But… in this one particular case her habits relent, if only this time. She loops her arm into Dack's own. "After you, Prince Dack."

Some time later, wandering through a maze of twisty little passages all alike … except for the crystal cavern, the bridge across an inferno, and through some ruined halls full of toppled statues of rats, the Khatta and Skreek were led to a long hall with channels running its length … and a huge stone carriage that rolled right up to a platform for them to board.

Now, they sit on stone pews that run the length of the carriage, with an aisle running down the center, and windows that afford a view of the tunnel system zipping by outside. A few Hookas sit across the carriage, honking amiably at each other. And Ariel is off delivering a lock of hair and a silver coin to Burr, hopefully.

"I know a lot of languages, but I don't understand a peep of Hookah. I wonder how they get down here anyways?" Willow leans back in her pew. "Prince Dack? Can I ask you a few things while we have a little bit of time to spare?"

Dack shifts a bit, trying to get comfortable on the hard stone pew … which looks as if, once upon a time, it might have sported a cushion (long since decayed), and really could use one now. "Certainly."

"What do you remember about what happened? I mean, we were in the temple and I said a prayer… and then you just passed out on me. I'm wondering if anything was going in in your head while you were out, of how much of what happened do you remember? Do you normally remember what you do when you use the chair?" the Skreek chitters, running a finger across the top of the pew and frowning at the dust.

Sebazhan says, "I … remember a jumble. It's … it's not so much memories, really … as sensations. I remember getting a pounding from Dagh. That is all I remember." He frowns severely. "This has never happened to me before."

"Maybe he felt the need to play his card early on you like he did with the favor I owed him… or you, however you look at it. He did it once when I converted to the Star, and apparently did it again when I asked the Star to help you." Willow swings her foot back and forth as she considers.

"I never meant to endanger you or your friends," the prince says. "I honestly wasn't expecting you there on Landing Eve."

"Maybe it was providence then. Testament-Blaze always said that the Star works in mysterious ways." The Skreek glances outside of one of the carriage windows. "What were you expecting?"

"Nothing. The same as every year," Sebazhan says with a shrug. "I go to pay respects to Dagh … who is my ancestor. Suffice it to say that I'm not inclined to carry on that tradition henceforth. Many-times-great-grand-father or not, I don't take kindly to being … used like that."

"I'll help you get rid of that throne, Prince Dack. I've got a little over three months left until I have to meet up with my ship again. If you need me during that time, I'll be glad to lend a hand." Willow's expression hardens a little. "Abzhalom doesn't pay you any regular visits, does he?"

"I haven't seen my uncle since … " Dack frowns. "… since a very, very long time ago."

Willow picks up her tail and starts scrutinizing it. "Youmentioned that Abzhalom said he was going to let me live. Did he ever tell you why?"

"Not precisely, but I got the general idea," says the prince. "But it was all a lie. He was just lying to me. Trying to make himself look like he was in control all along. That everything was part of his master plan."

"I believed it because I wanted to believe it," the Khatta growls.

The Skreek lets her tail drop and leans back into the chair."Sounds like Abzhalom has a lot in common with Dagh himself. Sebazhan, don't be too hard on yourself… there is no sin in being an innocent. The sin lies in those who take advantage of the innocent. If we all trusted everyone and took everything that was said to us as the truth, then the world would be a much nicer place."

"Well, we don't, and it isn't," sighs the Khatta. "And thanks for not letting me rip my own throat out, by the way."

"That's right… it isn't. So we need to make sure that whatever we perpetuate in life, that it will result in more innocents and fewer evil ones. Misty was one of the first real innocents I ever met; it's probably why I liked her so scruddy much." She smirks. "As for your throat, I'm not letting you get off that easy. Sorry Dack, but I like you now, and that usually means I'll be popping up at all sorts of interesting times when things start to happen."

"Well, before you like me too much, you should probably knowthat part of Abzhalom's supposed master plan was for you to get married off to me, after you'd been rendered bitter and vulnerable and desperate for any sort of affection."The Khatta sits back. "And, yes, I know you're a Skreek and I'm a Khatta … but Krozite genetics are a curious thing."

"Actually, I think it wasn't Abzhalom's idea at all," the black Khatta adds. "I think it was Dagh's. But he obviously changed his mind somewhere along the way."

"I know. And I was about to let you know that I know of a calico Khatta in your town that is very much enamoured with you." The Skreek's smile fades. "I'll be blunt, Dack… I could very easily fall in love with you. But I don't think that's quite my calling. I think I still need to figure out what love really is before I start looking for it in any specific person. I know this sounds horribly corny and cliche', but for now the Star's love is enough for me."

Sebazhan smirks. "The Star, hmm? Well, I can't very well compete with that. I remember what Ariel was talking about … " He shakes his head. "Ariel. Goodness. But she was talking about you being a priestess. So … are you a priestess for this Star now?"

"Nope. Just a student, or whatever you call us newbie members. The Star answered my questions in a way that sounded right. After that, everything finally started making sense." Willow snuffs sharply through her nostrils. "The Star isn't some mortal turned god, it doesn't claim to be able to slam baddies with thunderbolts or force people to stop being evil. It told me that I had free will and I could do good and evil, and everyone had that same right. It told me that I would suffer and maybe even die in its service, but it would always give me hope and strength when I asked it, take away my fear, wipe away my bitterness and drain my anger. So far it's lived up to all its promises, and has only asked for love in return. No blood sacrifices, no horrific deeds, no promises of wealth. Just love."

Sebazhan makes a wry grin. "Well, if Dagh hates it so much, maybe I should find out why it bothers him so. You wouldn't mind telling me more about it on the ride to Diamante, would you?"

Willow yawns lazily. "Be glad to. The Diamantes might even have some spare books on it, although I won't impose on them too much if I can help it." The Skreek taps the pewwith a blunt claw tip. "I really wish there was something to eat on this ride… "