My eyes snapped open, I looked around the room quickly, Zehal was where I had left her, still breathing regularly I noticed with relief. I went to lift myself off the bed but every muscle in my body screamed in unison at the effort and I fell back with a groan, my helmet thudding against the wall behind me. I was far more sore than I had believed, my body was repairing itself and was still in the process when I had awoken. I noticed I was still rather tired; I apparently hadn’t slept very long. What had woken me? 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU2PvaufWM
Then I felt it again, a sense in the back of my head as my ward on the door jabbed at me, trying to get my attention. I snapped to full awareness, forgetting my soreness. I was off the bed in an instant, Talthin my right hand, my combat blade held in a reverse position in my left. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNU89ckOQfn
Whoever was at the door had detected my wards and was attempting to disable them. It was a clumsy attempt and whoever it was apparently knew little of energis and how to manipulate it. Not the Vrokandin then? Or maybe it was that man who had escorted him, Naran. He might have some clumsy form of talent at his disposal? I wouldn’t know until I opened the door myself. I turned to Zehal and gently touched her shoulder. Her eyes snapped open, staring at me in the darkness. I put a finger up to where my lips would be. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX5Ktd5WMb
“Someone is trying to get in, be prepared for anything.” Zehal nodded, keeping quiet. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHk9Vsml0e6
I stepped away from her, eying the door. Zehal looked terribe, but her exhaustion had diminished a great deal for such a short amount of rest. Most curious. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTwErcucCQ
I walked right up to the door, placing myself to the left of whoever was trying to get in. I gestured to Zehal to take the opposite side. I looked to the door itself, strong wood, tough, it would stand up to more than any mortal man could put into it. The wards were the greatest defense we had at the moment and was probably all that kept whoever was outside from getting in. But still, were they skilled in energy manipulation in any destructive way they could have blasted the door from its hinges had they wished, so they were likely trying to sneak inside speaking that they either wished to take us easily in our sleep, or they didn’t believe they could take us head on. Either way they were about to have a rude awakening. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yoN710Oq9
I closed my eyes and formed a narrow sensory probe, then ran it along the inner edge of the room till it was at the far wall, then I slipped it through the wall I was leaning against, into the stairwell outside. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIFsWmWTli
Seeing through it I saw the stairwell, empty. The probe drifted up the stairs, soundlessly, having no form to even stir the air with. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqPG0LMmLq
Reaching the top of the stairs I viewed the door, in which I was on the other side of and I saw a shadowy figure standing in front of it, tall and dominating it was an imposing figure. I peered closer, analyzing the form, seeing the flaws of something made hastily and without care. Under it, I could just make out the form of a man, he wore a black cloak disguising his figure but even under the cloak his build gave him away. With my real eyes I looked at Talth, examining the runes upon it. It wasn’t an actual man, that rune wasn’t glowing with anything besides my own energy. Not a vankyre, but….. My heart chilled, why hadn’t I recognized it sooner? 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoWYMydIFR
Standing on the other side of the door was no mortal being, instead it was a creature made of utter darkness, from realms where no light of any kind had ever touched. A shalyr, or shade, a creature of this kind was in and of itself an evil thing, formed from the vilest kinds of energy to do nothing but harm, bent to a will that caused nothing but destruction. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv4sYryKkd
If it had a will of its own and could act on its own then it was indeed a dangerous foe, but if it was controlled then in many ways it was to be feared more, because someone who was strong enough to control a shade was easily strong enough to wield fearsome power, most dark born even avoided those dark realms, only the boldest of them would ever even make pact with shades, let alone try to control them. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOLcTDQoBg
I dispelled my probe as I gazed at Talth, the rune for shalyr glowed faintly as I faced the doorway. Odd, usually in such proximity to a shade it would be glowing rather brightly, but it could have something to do with why I hadn’t sensed it earlier. Being even within the same city limits as a shalyr would usually have woken me right away. One this close should be pounding in the back of my head, the fact that it wasn’t spoke of some way the shalyr had learned to shield itself. An interesting thing, a dangerous thing. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3UIi77t10
I stepped as quietly as I could in front of the door, gesturing to Zehal to stay exactly where she was. Shalyr had excellent hearing and I didn’t want it detecting her. Then I stopped for a moment as I realized something. Shalyr usually potent use of darker energies that would taint a sane mind, so much so they were usually insanely potent forces of destructive energies. It was curious then that this thing was fiddling so clumsily with my ward, then it occurred to me as to why. It knew what kind of ward it was tampering with and it was doing what it was doing to draw my attention, if it knew what kind of warrior it faced then doing such a thing would be immensely unwise on its part, however if it thought I was a Vrokandin Varr it could be reasonably confident that it could subdue me and for good reason. Either way, it was baiting me and it was about time I rose to that bait. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjbEyTTaKo
Nodding to Zehal, I reached out and slowly turned the knob on the door. The tampering with my ward instantly stopped, I however did not hurry or slow, but finished turning the knob and slowly opened the door. On the other side stood the first aspect I had seen, the tall form the shalyr was casting to disguise its true form. Its face was utterly disguised and all that could be seen was a pair of red eyes. I did not stare at this, but exactly where I knew its true face to be. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbC4uFCn97
I stepped through the doorway, ready to defend myself at any sign of offensive movement from this creature, it however remained utterly still. We stood, neither moving for some time, before the aspect the shade had summoned vanished and in its place stood the shalyr itself. Its hood was drawn back, showing a pale face of noble aspect, not outright arrogant like I'd expected, if anything I detected a hint of sadness about it, an amused curve of the mouth that spoke of finding a surprise and finding it pleasant. The eyes, however, were dark, darker than the blackest night and deeper than the darkest abyss. As I sized it up I knew it was doing likewise with me. If it knew anything of the Order it would now be realizing just what a fight it might have on its hands. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE4KCb55D6
It stared at me, eyes examining my armor, my sword, my posture. Finally its eyes rested on the lenses of my helmet and it spoke.
“I would see your face, warrior.” The voice was not dark, but deep and bold as though I was talking to an actual man, also something I’d never heard of. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAZpQzDOBp
“Yes, you probably would like that but I’m disinclined to provide you with an easy target shade, so you’ll have to make do.” I spat the word shade, the more common word for a shalyr like a curse and in a way this was my way of warning Zehal of what we were dealing with, I prayed she had some understanding of what that word meant. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcVmEHejOt
The shalyr chuckled at my words before he spoke again. “Believe me, had I wished to kill you I would simply have blasted the door down. In truth I was hoping to intimidate the protector of the relic into giving it to me, now that I sense it is no longer within the warded compounds of the room. If that stinking Vrokandin Varr I killed had taken the relic when he was supposed too I would already have it, but as things are I am behind schedule and with you now as an obstacle I see that I have almost no chance of simply walking out of here with it.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJSH8QNRAz
So the Vrokandin Varr was dead and the shalyr was after the orb. Two very valuable pieces of information. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPmmsLtbb3
“You are at least right on that count shade. I am more than a match for you and if you do not leave at once I will expunge you from existence.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBISF2NswAg
The shade raised an eyebrow, it was then I noticed his hair wasn’t black, but red, not something I’d ever heard of from such a creature. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp0ze11lY4
“If you could just outright kill me, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. You would have struck me down through the door, so it’s obvious you recognize me for the threat I am. Fact is, I’ve never really come up against a foe that I stood toe to toe with and for all intents and purposes I would not be supremely confident in defeating you. You and I find ourselves both wanting the same thing, that relic, but only one of us can walk away with it. You are in current possession, so that gives you an edge, however from the energis traces I see all over you, you have expended a great deal of energy very recently and so I determine that you are somewhat battle worn, giving me an edge that I will only have now as I am refreshed and ready for the fight. So, what do we do?” He spread his arms wide, pulling open his cloak and revealing a bodysuit of finely knit weaves of metal that didn't reflect light the way they should, as if made to dull it and be nonreflective. Typical of a shade, I figured, but still, a good knack to have and one I found myself somewhat envious of. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsjO19Vqyl
I stared into the vile things eyes, pushing down my doubts about the strangeness of my opponent as I weighed up my options. Thus far it hadn’t shown any sign of noticing Zehal and she could be the edge I needed should a fight break out, but I’d be risking her life to involve her, but how to keep her from a fight should it break out. I saw no good options, so I decided to bluff again, at least in part. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82uD44Eojj
“Have no doubt of this, shade. Should you decide to take the relic from me I have no qualms about sacrificing myself to keep it from your hands, to the point of not only shattering your current form, but obliterating your essence thus making sure you never spawn on this plane of existence again. Thatis the measure of my conviction, take it or leave it.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNglWstBPf4
The shalyrs somewhat smug look diminished at my words, realizing that in no way, shape or form could he intimidate me into giving him what he wanted, and on the other hand he was now very unlikely to even walk away from this encounter in any shape to take it should he decide to fight me. I could practically see the gears inside of his mind turning as he considered his options. We stood there, standing off for what felt like an eternity, two statues daring the other to move first. Finally he spoke again. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCriwYhwsYr
“You are an exemplary example of your Order, I relent. The relic is yours and I shall not hinder you from taking it, however I have terms to this.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqTSDiJRa6
Quashing my surprise at his use of the word “Order” I put it down as coincidence. As it was my turn to raise an eyebrow. “Terms? From a shade? You have my attention, speak of them and I will consider.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfXLi7m0si
The shalyr nodded; apparently glad I had not dismissed his terms out of hand before hearing them. “The relic you carry, you’ve no idea what it is, do you?” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKgaGiYIIf
Disgruntled that he would know this, but also unsettled by the idea of letting him know that he knew more than me I felt reluctant to admit it, nonetheless he was likely to be able to tell if I was lying so I decided to take as neutral a ground as I could. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnsaJt7RTR
“Unless knowing this somehow fits into your terms I suggest you ask no more questions but simply state your terms, understood?” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezXGso4ErG
Disappointment at my flat rebuttal showed on his face, but it quickly vanished. “Fine then, in that case these are my terms. I wish to inspect the relic for myself, validate that it is the one I seek.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEh5JMEuqn
I snorted, the fact that he had actually asked for that amusing me. “You might as well ask me to just let you walk in and take it. I’m not letting you anywhere near it, you’re a shade and I know many of you specialize in the ability to transport yourselves over short distances, once it was in your possession you could simply blink away. I’m absolutely not letting you examine it.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCUAQCLZlB
He held up his hands defensively. “I understand your misgivings, but my intention is pure in this area. I need not actually handle the relic myself, I only need see it to confirm that it is indeed the one I am searching for. If it is, at least I know that it is no longer with the Vrokandin Varr so I can at least stop looking for it, if it isn’t well then you and I have absolutely no quarrel and I have to be off to continue my search.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybUSoGxGrn
I stared at the shalyr, undecided. As it was I could hardly tell if he was lying, being in no way human, with no heartbeat to speak of and with a perfectly controlled voice, he could easily lie until judgment day and I’d be none the wiser, yet I sensed no lie in his words. Something in me felt as though its words were genuine and Aluri had taught me to rely on that feeling. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo7pvgVVi0
“How do I know you are not lying?” I asked, buying time to think. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdob5F3iKMT
The shalyr sighed, his shoulders sagging for a moment. “Well that’s an age old question between two opposites finding themselves at a crossroads such as this.” He stared at me, evaluating his next words carefully. “I am a shade, made from the most vile of energis, vile magic if you will, created with the sole purpose to cause harm, this is what you’ve been taught in your Order, is it not?” I nodded without preamble, giving no sign to the unease I felt at his continued use of the word 'Order’. He knew about us at the very least. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MkH1CFTSP
“Well in that case you’ve absolutely no reason to trust me and due to my condition you can’t even tell if I’m lying. So answer me this, stuck in our current situation what choice do we have? If not this, then what? We fight to the death? Or I slink off into the shadows, stalking your every step on your journey? All I can do is promise you that I will do as I say, swear it upon my very existence and hope you believe me.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡermhdYTUB9
I stared at the shalyr, scrutinizing him for any sign that would tell me whether this was truth or lie, but as he had said and I had already concluded, it was impossible to tell if a shade was lying. All you could do was go with your gut, and mine told me to trust him despite all I’d been taught. What harm could it do? As long as I made sure he couldn’t make off with it, then all I was doing with giving him access to the room and possibly exposing Zehal, it was possible she could stay hidden from him, though being a shalyr he was adept at seeing in darkness, which meant it was likely he would spot her. In either case a decision had to be made and I decided to go with my gut decision. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4VdUZOaPk
“Fine, but with one further condition. You will tell me exactly what the relic is.” The shalyr smiled. I had just admitted I didn’t know what it was and had asked for this information in trade. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kqCD5eZJY
“Well I am already promising you safe passage with the relic, asking this as well drives the price up, is it not fair I counter with something else?” I couldn’t argue with his logic, so I simply nodded.
“State what you think is fair and I‘ll consider it.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwwb3JqzXy
The shade seemed pleased with this and stood pondering for a moment, the gears in his dark mind pondering what he could reasonably ask for and possibly get. He seemed to finally come to a conclusion.
“If it is what I seek, I want a chance to examine it in some detail, but that’s if! If it is not what I seek, but I still recognize what it is I will give you the information without preamble. Are we agreed?” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu6CEB3fI6
“You wish to examine it? In detail? As in touch it?” My tone of voice spelled out exactly what I thought of that. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp32ND2CLA
“Yes.” The shalyr conceded. “Touch would be necessary, however, I am not properly prepared to examine it now, I will need time to gather my instruments, as such, you will have time to prepare for my coming and I strongly suspect you have means of preventing an entity such as myself from simply blinking away, correct?” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePD7Q5wT9F
“I could.” I bluffed, not actually knowing how to do that yet but an idea was already forming at the back of my mind.
“So we are agreed, shall we proceed?” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hvSv9IUpQ
I nodded, and slowly backed into the room. “Do not proceed into this room unless I give you permission, understood?” I ordered. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27hbhVj0gg
He nodded, silent now, but I could see the excitement in his eyes. He wanted this, badly. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7x9ExcWNq6
I turned my head, deliberately looking at Zehal before speaking to her. “Make sure he doesn’t move, if he does don’t hesitate to kill him.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhtB3jIUjv
Zehal stepped out from behind the door and nodded to me while eyeing the shalyr. The shalyr stared at her, dumbstruck. It was obvious to me now that he had been listening carefully after I opened the door and he had determined that I was alone, but Zehal had disguised herself well enough to elude his keen senses. The shalyr recovered his composure and now stared at Zehal with renewed interest as though she was the relic he was after. She smiled roguishly at him and winked, his grin spread wider as he continued to stare at her like she was the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq7yBKn9jd
Without turning my back on them I began to walk towards the chest, then thinking twice I cast another ward on the door, this one silent and much more subtle than the previous ones. Should he attempt to enter the room in any fashion without the ward being disabled first he’d find himself immensely slowed for a precious few seconds, thus giving Zehal precious time to react. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlteMIGlGQ
Still not turning my back I moved the chest out from between the two beds and opened the first chest. I saw now that the shade had turned his attention completely from Zehal to me, eyeing the chest with something that bordered on insane hunger, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. Like a madman on a quest, I decided, whatever it was he was after I found myself on one hand hoping this was it as that would mean it must be something that would be incredibly valuable to the Order, but on the other hand, that meant he’d be all the more crazed to retrieve it from us by likely any means necessary. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSX2RJuDiS
While opening the second chest I decided to query the shalyr as to what it was he sought. He simply shrugged at my question. “It’s simple really, what I seek used to be somewhat common back when it was made, though that did not diminish its value. Now it is a very rare thing, all its fellows are either lost, destroyed or under incredibly heavy guard. When I heard this could very well be what I was seeking I simply had to come looking, such an opportunity could not be passed up.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTh5D1N6RSK
“None of which answers my question.” I said, fixing the shalyr with stern stare as I set the inner chests lid aside. The shade looked at the lid, eying the scroll work on it, no doubt trying to decipher the text. The mere sight of the lid could confirm or deny his suspicions, but I saw neither joy nor disappointment in his gaze, so I assumed it had revealed nothing to him, or he was simply disguising his reaction very well. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABRRshPxiE
“Yes, well what I seek is something your particular Order has great reason to cherish.” At these words he fixed me with a very direct look, and I stared right back, my heart pounding in my chest as my hands gently folded around the crystalline globe. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQK5HJAJtV
“Back when they were first made, those who made them made them with purpose, knowing that there would be great times of need to come in the future, times when those with evil intent would set out upon the world with power to destroy almost everything in their path. These things were made with the sole intent of making sure that there was a way to fight this evil, that there would be power to match them, so one way or another, sources of power were either created or tapped. These beings created certain devices you could call them, that could tap these sources of power, providing completely untainted, uncorrupted power allowing them to lay waste to the evil forces confronting them, to even match the greatest foes they had and it was one such device that was used to bind the ancient dragon Bor Alathk to his prison here, before he was released quite recently in fact.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwejRuuMiOs
My heart was truly pounding now, was I holding just one of the most ancient and sacred relics my Order had ever sought? To rediscover such an artifact was beyond belief, and meant that above and beyond anything else right now I had to protect this thing. I simply had too. I had one more question for the shalyr before I showed him the relic. “And these relics, what did they look like?” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiewBgcJkt
The shalyr smiled at this question, noticing I had yet to lift the relic to where he could see it. “They actually took many shapes and forms, these forms depended quite a bit upon the particular source of power they tapped. There are six known types that still exist. First there is the Azhrak, a very small stone that is black in color. Unremarkable in every way except that it is always icy cold to the touch even when introduced to extreme heat. Secondly there is the Moroos, it is metallic and could easily be mistaken for the broken part of a blade. Thirdly is the Isahelm which is a gem also, but it is clear and has many facets like a gem you would see in a crown. Fourth is the Zagarak, its substance is unknown to me but it looks similar to a large spike approximately a foot long, its color depends quite a bit, though on what I am not sure. Fifth is the Ak Milis, which resembles an eight pointed star and looks a great deal like gold, but is stone like. Last of all is the greatest and most powerful of them all, the Tagarius. This particular relic is said to not only be a source of great power, but contain other powers that will compliment the user, should he or she.” He directed this last with a wary look at Zehal. “Be worthy to wield it. Exactly what this extra abilities are varies to great extent and I have yet to discover all those myself even in my long life.” I found it interesting that he referred to having a life. Shalyr did not live and disdained such a thing as trivial and below them, for one to use that very word in reference to self was strange. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG0vEFsXZF
The shalyr was still eyeing Zehal, but I sensed a deeper purpose. He was baiting me, waiting for me to reveal something that I most definitely didn’t want to, but I had little choice. “What does the Tagarius look like shalyr?” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7U1KmZjVU
The shalyrs eyes slowly slipped from Zehal back to me and a very open smile crept onto his lips. “It is a perfectly round sphere, utterly flawless and barely perceptible to the keenest of eyes as it is perfectly clear, perfectly, pure.” He said the last word with what sounded like longing, his eyes boring into the chest as though he was willing himself to be able to see through it to the relic I held. No, not a relic any longer, to the Tagarius I held. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdelF5w9Ln
Slowly, finishing a final warding against any attempt to snatch the Tagarius from me under my breath over the Tagarius, I stood. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUUrk53o54
The shalyrs eyes stared at the seemingly empty spot in my hands. “It can’t be true.” He whispered. “All these years of searching, all my life’s work since my punishment comes down to this, down to this one moment.” His eyes switched up to me. “You’ve no idea how very long I’ve sought this thing, this beautiful creation in your hands.” He said this last with a measure of pain in his voice, like he'd lost something long ago and the wound still pained him. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7nJWO6jnD
He stared at the Tagarius as a man would stare at a lover that he had never been able to touch but had sought all his life. I had never thought to see such a thing upon the face of a shalyr, but he looked upon the small thing in my hands with utter rapture. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBB1dy2w5y
He sighed, closing his eyes and leaning back, placing hands on his hips. “You’ve no idea how lucky you are to have found such an ancient piece of history.” He paused for a moment, seeming to take a deep breath, something no shalyr actually needs to do before resuming. “Well, it is time I told you what I meant by experimentation. Don’t worry, it doesn’t require me to touch it, but it does require me to do other things.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGPCCd61SB
“Such as?” I asked. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDztXuD17a
“Such as experimentation, I have instruments that I’ve used to study these things, tools I will show to you and allow you to inspect before I use them. They will enable me to figure out whether this still functions, or whether those Vrokandin Var have broken it and if it is still usable, well having you around is going to make things infinitely easier.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfbjjw7lQI
“How so?” I asked. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjaSJIIuPf
“Think of it as a balancing act. I, a creature of absolute darkness and you, a man who wields literal light as a weapon. Acting as polar opposites we can help to reactivate this Tagarius without needing to pour massive amounts of energy into it.” 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRwz2gVTMW
“How is that going to work?” I questioned. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4JM5DqaDr
“All in good time.” He said. “I have to depart now, I have a great distance to cover to retrieve my instruments. I will see you then.” And before I could so much as speak another word he’d disappeared from the doorway and into the darkness of the house. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TjP0JTTWy
Zehal gingerly closed the door before backing from it and looking at me.
“Now what?” She asked.
“Now, you get some rest.” I replied. “I’ll stand watch.
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