Operation Dawning Sea

*Some time ago, Dawnsea Manor during the attack by Houses Sunfire and Felo'melorn*

Alizathel held her head in her hands, her despair beginning to well up inside her once more. Sitting behind the desk at the front of the large classroom, it was all she could do to keep her emotions in check and not break down in front of the more than thirty students and fifteen junior priests, priestesses, and novices that attended her. Although most of the students were engaged in group activities with the senior novices, Alizathel knew that if she could not hold it together enough to keep it inside everyone would be staring and nervous a moment later.

The classroom itself was one of several on the eastern side of Dawnsea Manor, although not along the exterior wall of the structure and therefore lacking windows out into Eversong Woods beyond. The students, ranging in age from children to young adults, were Alizathel's responsibility to teach the ways of faith and guide in their education. They came from all over House Dawnsea's holdings, many of them, like her, having Dawnsea blood directly.

As another sob threatened to force its way out of her throat, Alizathel felt a sympathetic hand on her shoulder, one of her senior priestesses offering her silent comfort. It had been only a few hours since Seluna had performed her dire ritual that had included, amongst other things, living sacrifices. Beyond prisoners taken from a raid on House Felo'melorn's holdings, those sacrifices had also included Alizathel's only sister, Liandriel. That she had gone willingly to the knife, an insane zealot under Seluna's sway, did little to lessen the pain of her loss.

Even now, Alizathel and the other priests could feel Seluna's presence in the heart of the manor house, the darkness that she had unleashed upon them all a palpable force that weighed on their minds. Seluna was in absolute, utter control of the manor and her use of dark magics had been sanctioned by House Dawnsea's matriarch. There was nothing any of them could do except obey and pray for the best or rebel and die by Seluna's hand.

A distant roar made Alizathel sit up suddenly in shock, her eyes wide. Within the classroom, all teaching activities fell silent as each of the novices and priests exchanged glances with one another. The noise was accompanied by the rumblings of additional explosions, and there was only one explanation for such a sound; the enemies of House Dawnsea had come to reclaim what was taken from them at long last.

Alizathel shot to her feet, moving away from her desk and turning her back on the class behind her. She took a pendant from around her throat, holding it in the palm of her hand and looking into it. It glowed green with magic, the light reflected in her fel green eyes as she whispered a spell to it. The spell crossed the short distance across the manor house in a heartbeat, reaching out to Alizathel's betrothed, Gartius. The two often communicated silently with the pendant that the young mage and tutor had created for his beloved Alizathel, and it was through this link that her thoughts shot like arrows.

"Gartius! The day that I feared has come. Please, come to me and let us leave this place while there is still time. It doesn't have to be like this! Please, for me, come back!"

The response, when it returned, was exactly what Alizathel had feared it would be. Gartius's mind had been twisted by Seluna for some time now, his anger and rage leading him and fed by her teachings and the touches of her power. "We must fight off the invaders for the glory of Dawnsea! Don't you see? They are afraid! They've come because they know our Mistress will destroy them now that she has what she's been seeking! Now is not the time to run, it is the time to fight for Lady Seluna! Don't turn coward on me now, Liza!"

Alizathel felt tears running down her cheeks, her mind silently communicating her agony back to her betrothed, "They aren't coming because they are afraid. They're coming because she kidnapped one of their heirs and raided their holdings. You know this. Please...Gartius...if there was ever any love between us, if I have ever meant anything to you...please come back to me before our enemies reach me. Please come and save us from this. Take us away from here. I beg you my love."

His response was distant, and she could tell he was preoccupied. The pendant gave her fleeting glimpses of a hallway and panting House Dawnsea guards as they began to get into position, "You are a coward, Alizathel. You refuse to fight for Her glory because you are afraid. This riffraff will be driven from our holdings and crushed, and then she will rise, a new Queen to lead us into the future. When I am done here with these fools I will come back, and then we will talk of your cowardice and what should be done about it."

Alizathel rocked back on her feet, black despair crashing over her once more. Gartius and half of the House were under Seluna's evil sway. That they could not see it was heartbreaking. That they condoned what she had done, rampant murder of Sin'dorei and kidnapping of an heir, was beyond her ability to grasp. Before she could form another thought, there was a flare of magic through the connection, and her eyes widened as she caught a glimpse of elves falling beneath a warhorse that had been ridden hard through the double doors of the manor house's entrance, a blonde and furious Blood Knight jumping from the saddle and slashing men down all around her. Magic flared and she felt Gartius begin to assault the enemies of House Dawnsea with his power, only to feel greater magic crashing down around him. Through the link she heard elves screaming, heard Gartius grunt with pain and felt the pendant that he wore tumbling end over end. Until there was only the sound of screaming and of armored boots advancing, the distant shouts of the Heir of House Sunfire giving orders in the hallway.

And then the link went dark, and Alizathel felt her own throat become raw as she screamed aloud, "Gartius! GARTIUS! NO! OH GODS NO!"

Alizathel felt herself falling to her knees, her world spinning as the pendant tumbled lifelessly from her hands. She heard the children in her class crying, heard her priestesses shouting her name and running up beside her, but all of it was distant as tears blurred her vision. Hands grabbed her arms, hauling her up and into her seat, her novices fanning her to try to keep her conscious. And all the while in the distance were the thunderous noises of war unleashed upon their home, brought there by vengeance against Seluna.

It was hard to tell how much time passed, in her fog of despair. Alizathel was briefly aware of her students huddled together, talking quietly with anxiety in their voices. She was aware of her novices trying to console one another, or shooting her nervous but hopeful looks that she could perhaps change what was happening, but she could do little other than sit and stare lifelessly at that cold, dark pendant laying on the floor; the remnants of a life that had once been blessed and now was dark.

It was not until the classroom's door was kicked open forcefully that she finally roused, her eyes wide as two armed men stalked into the room, bearing the colors of House Sunfire on their tabards. They blinked in surprise, perhaps expecting the locked room to be full of treasures, the two Sin'dorei glancing at one another and then grinning.

"Well well, no gold but plenty of other treasure," one of them purred, eyeing Alizathel and a few of her priestesses over lewdly.

"Looks like we'll have some reward after all," the second agreed, and they advanced into the room slowly, short swords drawn. "If you all behave no one will get hurt too badly."

Alizathel felt her heart racing, fear gripping her as surely as despair had a moment before. These Sin'dorei, these beasts would slay anyone who resisted. The dark prayers that Seluna had forced them all to use stirred in her mind, and she knew that she could cut one of them down, perhaps both down. And then the next group that came into the room would take her for a combatant, possibly mistaking them all for combatants, and begin to slay the innocents in her care. She rose slowly, a lump in her throat as she stepped forward ahead of her novices, her voice shaking, "T-take me if you must, but please leave the innocents here alone. I will not fight you, I swear it. Please just spare them. Have mercy."

The first elf grinned, eyeing Alizathel up and down like a prize. He glanced back at his companion who nodded, before stepping forward to roughly grab her arm, "You're a sweet enough prize. We don't want any trouble, just some quick loot that no one will notice during the battle. If you're a good little prize, we'll leave the rest here alone."

Alizathel felt cold fear shooting up her spine as she was roughly grabbed, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop what was happening. The soldiers were not acting on orders, and would not heed any words she gave them. Even so, she opened her mouth to speak, her voice faltering as something strange happened. The elf standing further away suddenly shuddered, his eyes rolling up into his head as he fell forward. As he crumpled, Alizathel saw a knife in his back, the wound most definitely fatal.

The second elf turned in stunned shock, his blade coming up only to be parried as a cloaked figure dashed into the room, a dagger knocking the weapon up and away. A second attack was likewise blocked and then with a flash of knives the soldier that had grabbed Alizathel gasped and fell away, his grip on her arm gone as quickly as it had come and leaving her face to face with a cowled figure holding bloody daggers.

He was big, under that cloak. She could tell just from the way his leather armor hugged his body that he was many times stronger than her and at the peak of physical perfection. Fel green eyes glinted at her from beneath the cowl along with a hint of blonde hair. When he spoke, his tone was calm and soothing, his hands wide despite having daggers in them, "I mean you no harm. I am here to take you from this place."

Alizathel swallowed a lump in her throat, her heart still racing. Wary, she studied the other elf for a moment, no one else daring to breathe, "W-who are you? You do not wear our colors and if you are with them you've slain your own men. How can we trust you?"

"You can't," came the simple reply. The man sheathed his weapons and stepped back, holding his hands out again, "I can only offer you my assurances that I will not harm you. You can't believe me, but you can't stay here. The battle will sweep across this entire manor house before it is over. As for who I am, I am called Braeth'el, and I am here to honor an oath I swore long ago. Before there was a House Sunfire, there were men who fought under the banner of House Dayfire. Good men, who would not suffer cowardice or dishonors such as harming civilians in a battle. Although the fight in this place is just, when my sources discovered that the estate housed women and children for schooling I knew that they had to be removed from harm's way, so I came to see to it that that was done. House Sunfire does not need the stain of your deaths on its honor."

Alizathel took this in for a moment, hope daring to stir under the black despair and fear that had gripped her. She looked back at the other priests, who nodded slowly. She spoke to them, rather than replying to this Braeth'el that had suddenly appeared, "Get everyone together. We're moving now and quickly. We need to get them out of here, Seluna's orders be damned."

She turned to look at Braeth'el her voice still cracking from the stress, "W-we will follow you, as we have no choice. I trust you have some way to get us free of this place? The guards will not allow us to leave and will slay us for desertion."

The handsome blonde elf smiled at her and grinned, his voice low, "As it so happens, it seems I do know a way to get you free of this place, but it involves touching things that Seluna would prefer you didn't touch."

Alizathel felt a cold determination settle in her stomach, her grief pushed down as her rage and will to life surged. When she responded, her voice was flat but confident, "All the better. Lead the way then, Mr. Braeth'el. I, Alizathel Dawnsea, swear that you will not come to harm by the hand of any here while you aid us."

With a smile and a nod, Braeth'el gestured towards the door, as if to escort her to a ball, "After you, my Lady Dawnsea."

**************************************

It had been difficult, making their way through the estate. Fires had broken out all over as the invading forces fought House Dawnsea's defenders. They had to avoid both groups, lest they be mistaken for enemies by either side. There had been much hiding, and much scurrying down the halls like rats, hurrying the children along and keeping them in line and quiet so as to avoid notice.

At last though the group had made it to the corridor that Braeth'el had been leading them towards all along; a corridor that lead to one of Seluna's sanctums that Alizathel had never been inside of. How Braeth'el knew it was there deep within the manor house she did not know, nor did she think to ask. That he seemed confident in his destination was enough. The problem was, the door was guarded by five House Dawnsea soldiers, and she knew they would take issue with her approaching the 'forbidden' areas that Seluna had claimed for herself.

With the children behind her reminding her of her purpose, Alizathel took a deep breath. She glanced at Braeth'el who nodded at her in encouragement before she stepped around the corner and marched towards the men, her stride imperious and her gaze scathing, "Step aside and clear this corridor in the name of House Dawnsea!"

The guards nearly jumped at her sudden appearance, several of them leveling weapons in her direction, "Halt! You will not pass through this door on pain of death. Lady Seluna has ordered all of her portal rooms sealed!"

Alizathel halted, her nerves clawing at her as she faced them down, "I am ordering you aside. I too am of Dawnsea blood and you will obey my lawful command!"

The guards began to mutter, giving her chilling looks, "You are seeking to flee, aren't you? That makes you nothing more than a traitor. Lady Seluna has ordered death for all deserters in this time of crisis."

Alizathel felt her heart skip a beat as the men began to rush towards her with drawn blades. They crossed half the distance between them before she felt the air rustle, blowing her short black hair forward as two thrown knives passed so close to her head that she could hear them tumbling end over end in the air. Two of the rushing guards suddenly sprouted daggers from their eyes, their lifeless bodies falling as Braeth'el darted forward and around her, his weapons flashing.

The first guard slashed at him only to have his attack blocked and his arm slashed by Braeth'el's poisoned weapon. The second came into flank him and found himself tumbling as Braeth'el kicked out with his leg, tripping the elf and sending him flying. The third rushed in behind his wounded companion, shouting a warcry. Alizathel watched, almost dazed, as Braeth'el casually stepped forward, dodged his clumsy attack, and punched him in the throat so hard that he collapsed backwards gurgling. A quick slash sent the elf who had been tripped to his grave with a mortal wound, and a backstab into the wounded elf that was trying to flee ended the fight.

Braeth'el turned to shout to the priests he was escorting, and as he did so Alizathel's eyes widened in horror. Three more guards rushed from around a bend in the corridor, one of them leveling a crossbow as Braeth'el's back. There was no time to react, no time to warn him, and only the pounding of her dark prayers in her mind.

Braeth'el turned, hearing the guards and knowing he would be too late as he saw the crossbow being leveled. He brought his daggers up, his body standing as a shield before the priestess behind him. He heard the children screaming behind him and he shook his head, hoping that he had not failed in his clandestine mission. A moment later he blinked in shock as the crossbowman stumbled, blood running from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears as he fell lifelessly to the floor. The other two elves cried out, one of them also bleeding from his eyes as the second screamed in terror and ran face first into the wall, the two joining their companion on the ground.

He turned to look back, nearly gasping in surprise at what he saw. Alizathel still stood in the center of the corridor, one of the children under her care having run forward to protect her. He clung to her leg, looking with awe up at her. Her own gaze was dark, her form shrouded with shadows and dark black wings made of shadow stuff gracefully arching from her back. A hand had fallen around the child protectively, one wing cradling him as if to keep him from harm. She looked like an angel sent down from the heavens to stop the innocent from coming to harm, and Braeth'el had to blink once and remind himself that she had just silently slaughtered three men with dark magics to shake the image off.

A moment later Alizathel's power faded and in the same moment there was a sudden feeling of a heavy weight being lifted from everyone's shoulders. In that moment, deeper within the estate, Selun'athiel Dayfire was slain by her attackers, and her dark power that had held sway over the manor began to fade. Throughout the estate House Dawnsea defenders fell back, while House Sunfire and Felo'melorn soldiers routed them and began to burn the estate down.

In the corridor Alizathel felt Seluna's darkness pass almost like a sigh of relief. Although grief still clutched at her heart, a burning little ember of willpower within her rejoiced as she knew the witch had come to a bad end at long last. She lashed out with her power one last time, the doors blocking the portal room blowing open with the force of shadowy tendrils that struck them, the glitter of a portal that would lead them to safety filling the hallway.

Braeth'el offered Alizathel a formal bow before gesturing towards the glowing portal beyond, his voice soft now, "This is where we part ways, Lady Dawnsea. May you and your charges live in safety and peace going forward."

Alizathel returned the bow with a curtsy fit for royalty, "I will never forget what you have done, Braeth'el, for as long as I shall live. In light or shadow, justice and honor still live on it seems. Farewell to you, and may the gates of Quel'Thalas open for you always."

With that Braeth'el turned and disappeared down a side corridor, gone from sight in an instant. Alizathel took a deep breath to steady herself and then turned towards her charges, "Alright everyone, through the portal. It will likely lead to another Dawnsea holding where we will at least be safe. Single file and quickly now."

The children and priests hopped to obey, quickly moving to safety and leaving Alizathel alone in the corridor. She paused for a moment, taking one last look at the place that had been her home for many years, the place where she'd loved and grown up and that was, even now, being consumed by a raging inferno. With a small sigh of farewell she turned from it all, disappearing into the flickering portal and safety beyond.

Enemies Within

*Eversong Woods, Dawnsea Chapterhouse*

The chapterhouse was a small structure, containing a central shrine surrounded by corridors that had several rooms to accommodate the priests and priestesses that called the edifice their home. Deeper within the building, behind the main shrine, were a few rooms reserved either as storage or as the personal office and living quarters of the Prioress of the shrine. It was within the deepest part of these private areas where Alizathel's personal sanctuary was placed, and it was here that she performed her morning rituals.

Young for a Sin'dorei in such a position of power, Alizathel looked humble kneeling upon black velvet cushions before the marble slab of her personal altar. Eyes closed in meditation and prayer, her hands rested in her lap and her breathing was calm, even as the acrid, burning scent of the incense drifting from the censers on either side of the altar stung her nose and throat. Her prayers were silent, her inner voice quiet as she sought wisdom not from the Light, but from the shadows that gather at the light's edge; from the power rooted deep within the individual and their own selfish desires.

The priestess released a deep breath, her next inhalation taking in more of the incense and causing her eyes to water. The painful distraction was part of her meditation, part of her ritual to maintain her inner focus and iron will. It was nothing compared to the discomfort of bending and channeling shadow through her living form, the destructive force unnatural to one who had once been a simple healer.

Just as she was in the very deepest recesses of her meditative pose, the door to the small shrine burst opened, startling her; no one should be entering this part of the chapterhouse, as the only way into the almost closet-like room was through her own sleeping quarters. She rose quickly, her fel green eyes affixing the intruder with an intensity that made the other Sin'dorei falter in the doorway.

"P-prioress! A thousand apologies for the interruption, but he's here!" the novice priestess squeaked under Alizathel's stern gaze.

"Calm yourself, Namari, and tell me who exactly 'he' is if you would," Alizathel responded, her voice calm and controlled. It would not do to make the novices too fearful or they would not think for themselves, which is precisely what had put them all in this remote chapterhouse in the forest in the first place.

"T-the Master at Arms, Prioress," novice Namari replied, her voice frightened. "H-he said he wishes to speak with you immediately, without delay."

Alizathel's eyes widened and she felt her heart beating fast in her chest. The Master at Arms of House Dawnsea did not pay a visit for friendly chat, nor should his attention be on this minor little branch of House Dawnsea's holdings. Alizathel had spent great effort to avoid the notice of the rest of the House for as long as possible. It seemed now her efforts had failed. Worse, she had recently had a clandestine meeting with a member of House Sunfire. Should someone have discovered this...well, it was best not to think of it. When she replied, her voice had the same tightly controlled tone to it, "Very well. Bring him into the shrine room itself and I will be there in a moment."

As novice Namari bowed and backed out of the room, Alizathel silently cursed to herself. She turned to the altar, taking up one of the censers and hanging it from her belt. From the top of the altar she grabbed a skull-headed mace and also strapped that in place, and then sat a crown of dark iron atop her short, black hair. As she passed through her sleeping quarters, she paused to glance at herself in the mirror. Blackness greeted her gaze, her own dark black dress with its long sleeves drinking in the light. Combined with the black crown and her own black hair that partially covered one of her eyes with the way it was styled, she was as unlike the typical Sin'dorei as one could get. She gave herself a grin before turning from the mirror and heading towards the shrine; impressions were important after all.

As she passed through the corridors she saw the rest of the novices gathered here and there in alcoves, talking quietly to themselves. Everywhere fear permeated the very air; all here knew what such a visit might entail and after the disaster that had befallen Dawnsea Manor recently none wished to guess what might come next. Alizathel offered her flock grim smiles as she passed, feeling very much like she was walking towards her own noose.

She entered the shrine room itself through a side door, moving past the red and gold holy shrine to stand in the center aisle of the rows of intricately carved marble benches, her eyes taking in the sight of the Sin'dorei who had entered from the main double doors that lead out into the forest beyond. Two of them she dismissed at once, for they were clearly Blood Knights wearing Dawnsea's emblems and had been brought as bully-blades as necessary to ensure compliance. It was the third she studied shrewdly, her eyes taking in the sight of the exquisite leather armor and slender swords at the Sin'dorei's hips. A short cropping of blonde hair capped a face that held only malice in its gaze, the Master at Arms of House Dawnsea being a slender, lithe elf yet capable of inflicting death in a moment's notice.

"Master Methas Sunspark, it is an honor to greet you. How may I assist you?" Alizathel purred in just the correct tone of politeness. She offered the other a deep curtsy to show respect.

Master at Arms Methas Sunspark grinned when she addressed him, his eyes running up her curvy form in a manner that she found immediately distasteful, as if he were appraising her for her value or selecting an excellent cut of meat. He strode towards her, his voice booming, "Prioress Alizathel Dawnsea, I come on official business to bring you the word of your Matriarch."

Alizathel felt a lump forming in her throat and simply nodded; the last thing she wanted was Kenzie Dawnsea taking an interest in her, or in the chapterhouse. It was the primary reason she'd reached out to Selenthiel Sunfire in the first place; to avoid being under the thumb of the ruthless woman who, until now, had seemed content to enjoy the finest things in life and leave the rest of the Dawnsea bloodline alone. It seemed that time was to come to an end abruptly.

Getting no response, Methas drew closer, his Blood Knights milling about behind him and eyeing the shrine over with disinterest. When he spoke, it was in an almost gloating tone, as if he knew her discomfort, "Lady Dawnsea has purchased a new estate close to Silvermoon. It is to replace the one that was...so unfortunately lost in recent times. You and your clergy are to rededicate and bless the structure prior to the magic users laying down the wards and guards against our enemies."

"It would be our honor to bless the estate and its grounds," Alizathel responded dutifully. "It seems that you have been sent on an unnecessary journey, as I would happily have agreed to this request even if it came through missive only. You honor us by personally delivering it."

Methas's grin widened and he came within a few inches of Alizathel, this time not hiding his gaze as he ran his fel green eyes up her body from her boots to the crown atop her black hair, "It is my duty to ensure that the House is running in an orderly fashion so the Lady Dawnsea is not...bothered. Things such as the loss of an entire estate and the guards who are stationed there tend to get her notice, and she would prefer that such an event not recur with her new holdings. It would be a shame if someone had to be...harmed...to ensure that such a thing didn't happen again, wouldn't you agree?"

There was no mistaking the menace in his tone or the implications of his words. Alizathel swallowed and nodded, her voice low, "I would have to agree, Master Methas. House Dawnsea's holdings should remain unsullied by our enemies. You can, of course, depend upon us to bless the structure properly."

"Good, good," Methas purred in her face. His grin widened, becoming mocking now as he said something that shocked Alizathel to her core and made her gasp aloud. "There is another matter that I am to task you with. We know that Seluna's essence has been placed in a phylactery. Lady Dawnsea wishes it found. Immediately."

"I-I know nothing of such an artifact," Alizathel stuttered, her eyes wide. "I was not of Seluna's inner circle as you well know. I have already answered all of the questions that your Blood Knights put to me on the matter."

Methas moved so close now that his breath was hot against her neck as he whispered in her ear, his hand caressing Alizathel's face, "That is a shame, because the Lady Dawnsea suspects otherwise. Very few of Seluna's priests escaped the fall of the estate. You and those here are all that is left now, treasure that you are. It would be a shame if you failed to reveal information that you might be aware of. Possibly fatal..."

While she had been intimidated before, Alizathel found Methas's touch to be repulsive. When one of his hands slid up her thigh, rage built in her. Dark, inky black shadows began to seep from her, the power of her faith drawing from her anger and bathing her in the energy. A tendril of the shadowy power came up, wrapping around Methas's wrist where his hand was still caressing her face. When she responded this time, her voice was icy cold and condescending, "If you do not step back from me immediately, you will come to learn just how I survived. Commoner trash will not place their hands on me, regardless of their station. You forget what blood flows in my veins."

Methas withdrew a pace, his face contorted in rage. Behind him his bully-blades turned, each grasping sword hilts in a menacing fashion. With the distance between them restored, the shadows around Alizathel began to fade. It was for this reason that she was taken by surprised when Methas rushed forward again, his hand coming out to backhand her before he shoved her. She tumbled backwards, falling onto the smooth marble floor, her iron crown clattering on the stone as she crumpled, her dress like a pool of spilled black ink around her. Shadows raged from her, tendrils lashing the air around her. Through a purple haze of dark magics she gazed up at him, fearful and infuriated all at once.

He grinned down at her, hands on his hips and his Blood Knights flanking him with drawn steel. His voice was cold and commanding now as he gazed down at her, "Learn your place, Prioress Dawnsea, lest you lose it. The Lady Dawnsea has been disgraced, and she has not forgotten who was present at the battle, who failed in their service to her. As you lay on the floor, consider that it is symbolic to where you are in her mind even now."

Silence reined for a moment, and the shadows around Alizathel continued to rage. After what seemed like an eternity, she managed to choke back her rage enough to get them under control. Still laying on the floor, she dipped her head, her voice low, "I-I apologize, Master at Arms. I will heed our Lady's word."

"Good, see that you do, Prioress," Methas said coldly. He eyed her over again like she was some treat that had been dropped, his gaze lingering on where her dress had exposed her pale white legs. "The Lady Dawnsea wishes to have the phylactery in her possession as quickly as possible. Being one of the few survivors of the manor house, you will investigate and locate it before bringing it to her. Do not fail her, and do not fail to bless the new estate properly. Her eyes will be upon you, do you understand?"

"Yes, Master at Arms," Alizathel responded from her place on the floor.

Methas grinned, "Good. I will leave you to your reflection and meditation then, Prioress. We will meet again quite soon."

With that he turned, his Blood Knights grinning at her before sheathing their blades and stalking after him. It was not until the double doors had boomed closed behind them that Alizathel managed to release the breath she'd been holding. A shaking hand came up to rub her face where she'd been struck. A side door opened and two novices rushed in, gasping as they saw the Prioress on the floor. They ran over to her, quickly helping her to her feet, one of them handing her the dark crown that had been on her head. All of them looked worried, their eyes full of questions.

Alizathel shook her head, knowing the news she would share would not be good. The priests and priestesses of the little chapterhouse were part of House Dawnsea, yes, but they had secretly betrayed it. That they lived was because they had fled the battle at Dawnsea Manor, and had refused to support Seluna in her madness. How much of their rebellion Kenzie Dawnsea knew of was questionable, but the Master at Arms would complicate matters and could have them all killed if they were not very careful. They were walking on a sword's edge now, all of them, and it was up to her to lead them safely across.

In a voice tinged with worry, she gave orders to her novices, "Gather the others. We must prepare for a blessing. Send the senior novices to my personal quarters. We need to begin planning how to seek out Seluna's phylactery. The day we've all feared has come."

The novices gasped and then bowed deeply before hurrying off, their concerned shouts beginning to echo through the chapterhouse as the news spread. Alizathel herself stood still, gazing down at the black iron crown in her still shaking hands. She glanced up at the door to where the three had left, her voice laced with venom now, "I shall do your task, Methas, but not in the manner in which you would prefer. When I find her, when I find Seluna's phylactery, I will ensure that it is taken care of properly. Never again will I stay my hand, and I swear I will prevent a recurrence of what happened. Even if I must be used as a game piece by others, I will take Seluna somewhere that you will never get her."

She breathed out, her anger growing, her last words an echoing whisper spoken through rising shadows, "And once I do, I will have the resources necessary to ensure that you never touch me or anyone else ever again."