[Durelin]

Throwing back the huge black iron doors, Sevora emerged from the meeting hall, a broad grin looking quite out of place on her bloodied face. Her lips were a sickly dark red from the dried blood, and the lines still ran down her cheeks. Her teeth were also covered in blood, making her resemble a hyena just finished with its prey. The others followed her, both with bland expressions, though Naramarth had a ghost of a smile on his pale face, the dried blood on his cheeks only emphasized the paleness of his skin, giving him the gross appearance of a corpse.

"We will meet our escort now," she said to them without turning around, her voice strangely cheery. "Oh Rahvin, I'll need you to purchase me a new dress, I believe" she said, seemingly speaking to no one. "One for travel. You know what I need. And, of course, you must supply us." She paused, and a man emerged silently from the shadows by the door to the meeting hall behind the three members of the citadel. He came up to walk beside Sevora, the Eye tattooed on his forehead barely visible in the dim corridor. "I must meditate on this mission and make my personal offering soon."

"I will see that you are not disturbed."

"Why thank you, Rahvin, dear," Sevora said, looking at him with a most twisted grin, having the slightest resemblance of a fond look. The man's own lips twitched a bit, getting as close to a smile as he ever had.

As the group emerged from the Citadel, Sevora was prepared to shield her eyes from the bright sunlight, but, when the huge twisted metal doors were drawn back, the pale beams of a newly risen moon were the only sources of light. "I was not aware of the time that passed within that hall," she remarked to no one in particular.

Gliding down the great steps, the four went out into the courtyard toward the beginnings of a campsite, out of place on the black stone that covered the ground. Seven of those among the camp came up to meet them, leaving ten or fifteen men behind, all dressed the same. She studied those who stood before them for a moment. One was old, one a woman, one had an uncanny grin, and one… Sevora smiled. "Ghurdan! It warms my heart to see you and pleases me to see you well, Black Heart," she said with mock glee, her eyes glancing toward the long scar on his face. Her grin broadened and her eyes burned. "Though, I am not surprised by your presence, that the High One gave you these orders. He could not have you in the way of your mother's…work." She paused, giggling a bit. "And the outcome has been for the better, has it not? We do get along so well, after all." Her giggles grew louder and she doubled over for a moment, laughing.

In the midst of small laughs, Sevora had each one introduce themselves. She did not ask any questions until it came to the man named Thorgom. "You come from the tribal lands?"

"Yes, Wise One."

"Than you will know of the tribal ways. We will have good use for you." Without another word she moved onto the next man, the one with the uncanny grin. When all had told them who they were and preached their undying loyalty to the Eye, Sevora turned back to Ghurdan. "Why do you wear such?" she said sharply. Her grin had faded a while ago. "And your men -- they are yours aren't they? -- why are they clothed in such colors? We will be traveling through these lands. What colors do you see? What conditions?"

Her gaze went toward all of those before her. "I expect you all to have the proper supplies for the desert and southern grasslands when I return. I must speak to the Lidless Eye and offer him my prayers. The most noble members of the Order, Priest Naramarth and Priestess Dristi, will give you any further orders." Sevora gestured to the two, then looked over the seven warriors once more. They would have to be worked with. No, not with, she corrected herself, They will have to be the ones at the ends of my leashes.

[ June 19, 2003: Message edited by: Durelin ]