Shadows dance across the walls fed by the light of aflickering candle… A solitary figure sits in front of an oldand battered wooden desk in this small room. He's hunched overthe desk , his right hand holds a quill. Gently, his indexfinger taps on it…

{What do I say? How can I tell her goodbye? … how do Ithank her for all she's given me?} O o . Jarik ponders,{I never thought I would meetsomeone who would touch my soul.Not like this… How can I ever thank someone for restoring mybelief in myself?}

The fox takes a couple breaths and dips the quill into theinkwell. Slowly he lowers the quill to the paper and begins towrite:

Gentle Lady Azhtar,

Beautiful soul… I am writing to say farewell… and thank you. You were right… This time, this life, nothing could developbetween us. At least not at this time. Fate has made adifferent plan for each of us. I cannot deny what I am. Myheart and soul are dedicated to my vow of knighthood. It's acall that I cannot ignore but my destiny pulls me elseware. Itsaddens my heart to leave you for now…

In the short time I was blessed with your company you didsomething this knight never was capable of doing. I've spent mylife trying to help others, restore others' lives. You, my dearAshtar, saved mine. I buried my soul with my family long ago. I never went back to free myself from the past. It haunted mewhere ever I travelled… until I met you.

Your kindness awoke something in me I had forgotten Ihad… hope. Hope for myself, for the future, for my future. This is something I can never repay dear, sweet, Azhtar. Ifinally crawled from the rubble of the past. and I found youremerald eyes greeting me in a new world. At that moment, partof me changed forever. Your gentle smile saved a knight fromhimself… I may just be a relic of the past, part of the oldway, but, you've given me the fire to continue, no matter what. Your faith in me, the honor that you gave me, serves to drive myvery soul.

No matter where I go, I will think of you. From this moment Irededicate my life to help the weak, the defenseless. Those whowould do harm to the innocent will face my wrath. Those whoseek to corrupt and corrode the sanctity of life will answer tome, Sir Jarik Fireclaw, Paladin of the Order of Crydon. I dothis for honor, for peace, and for you. I know now I can faceanything knowing I have your friendship. Thank you, ohwonderful Azhtar, for treating this poor exile with kindness.

I will travel into the heart of darkness… the world ofdecay… and I will not fear, because now and forever, thisknight vows to truely make a difference. I may not change theworld, but if I save one person, as you saved me, then that isall the difference I ever need make. One person willing tostand for what he believes in can create a storm that no amountof force can ever silence. I AM SIR JARIK FIRECLAW, KNIGHT, ANDI WILL BE HEARD!

Our paths may never cross again… but I will never forget you. Thank you for being a friend.

Your friend, always,
Sir Jarik Fireclaw,
Lord of the Order of Crydon

Jarik stops to brush a tear from his cheek and refills his pen. Below his name he writes one more line, a line in Crydonian. Heknows she won't be able to read it, perhaps for the best. Asoft smile appears on his thin black lips and the letter iscarefully folded over… Jarik uses some of the wax from thecandle to seal it shut. With a swift motion, he extends asingle black claw and carves his initials into the wax seal.

The fox stands and stretches. He picks up his soft linen shirtand pulls ot over his torso. Next, the shoulderbelt and pouchis locked in place. The Symbol of the order sparkles where hehad resewn it onto the belt. Around his waist in the beltloopsof his pants goes his swordbelt. A quick tug and a flip of thecatch and it's secure. His ebony tapered legs slide into hissoft riding boots one at a time… He locks the buckles on theboots snugly to his calves. With a swirl of black his cloak iswisked from the bed and wrapped around his form. A couple softclicks insure that it is properly secured. Finally, he pulls onhis half-finger leather gauntlets and makes fists with hishands. Softy he says, "And now, it is time for me to go."

He pulls his hood up so it obscures his face and he extinguishesthe candle. The fox picks up the letter and opens the door onelast time. He stands there, just for a moment as he looksaround his small room. Quietly he makes his way through themaze of corridors to the door of Lady Azhtar's room. He doesn't make any noise. He just kneels down and slides the letterunder the door. Slowly he stands and looks at the door."Farewell, dear Azhtar." Is the last thing he whispers beforehe turns and walks away from the door. Jarik never looks backas he walks toward his destiny…