[u]Sparrot[/u]

Sparrot’s beady little black eyes watched intently as the trio of elves had delved deeper in the mountains, he had watched as they had clambered up what had seemed like miles of steep inclination higher and higher up the mountain that was called Mt Skargarth, its peak so high even he could likely not reach its very top. The trails were tretcherous and required the elves conscentration as they scaled higher and higher. He had shared in their celebrations as they had discovered an ancient ruin carved into the side of the mountain, the female elf, Filari, as he had learnt translated the runes around the entrance and spoke aloud the name of the place – the temple of Sinadrai. 

He had been careful to follow them silently into the dark ruins, gliding in the darkness always just out of sight as their torches and natural low-light vision helped them navigate its winding depths. Eventually they had come out into a grand carved cavern that had once served as the audience chamber to a group of elven wizards, allegedly the most powerful the land had ever seen – or so one of the group continued to explain to the others throughout the trip. Continuing past the chamber, deeper into what Sparrot assumed was the core of the mountain they moved through numerous grand hallways, the beauty of their past lost but not forgotten. Finally they reached the chamber that his love had said they would, and as he promised there was a plinth at the centre of the room that was illuminated in a shoft shimmering golden light – a necklace of some kind with a large gemstone fitted into it sat atop the plinth. 

Sparrot waited in glee for the next moment, his love had explained that this point would show him if they had found the real gemstone of Ulrick or not. 

“Is that it?” asked Gilith, his eyes fixated on the stone. 

“I think so” replied Filari, her voice filled with anticipation “Imagine the look on Tobis’s face when we walk back into the academy with the stone!” 

The third elf, Auren looked a little less certain as he eyed the plinth suspiciously before he added his own words to the conversation “We must take care, for example where is that light coming from? Why has it laid here for so long undisturbed I wonder?” 

Filari laughed and walked forwards as she said “Don’t be a fool, we’ve come all this way and here it is now, the fabled gemstone of Ulrick. Imagine the fame and power, and to think of how the king and queen would reward us for returning it to our kingdom!” 

With that she reached out to take the gemstone, but as her hand passed through the golden light she recoiled instantly as her screams filled the chamber and the others rushed forwards out of concern. Filari’s screams soon turned to frenzied laughter as she whirled around to face the other two. 

“What is it Filari?” asked Gilith, his face filled with concern. 

A shrill laugh was his only response as Filari glanced around before looking at her own hands and body in fascination. 

“Filari?” she asked before her wild grin spread even more and she laughed again, shrill and almost violent laughter. Auren was backing away slowly as with a trembling voice he said “I don’t think that’s Filari anymore…” 

Suddenly the female elf jumped into the air and remained suspended about two meters above the ground hovering in place and she nodded slowly as her eyes bored into Auren’s, a deep madness showing itself for a brief moment before she pointed a single outstretched finger at him. Just as he was about to turn and flee she uttered a single word “Devoratus”. A t that moment Auren shrieked in terror as his very life force was torn from his body and he was almost instantaneously reduced to a dusty crumbling skeleton. Gilith fell to his knees in despair with his mouth agape as Filari, or whatever was in their now turned to face him. 

Descending slowly to the ground she walked towards him with an almost alluring stride, a subtle grin on her face and a glint in her eye before she pulled him aggressively into an embrace. He tried to resist and push himself away but her strength and grip were absolute. Pulling him into a kiss she again spoke a word, this time muffled by his own mouth as she forced her tongue erotically into his mouth and the spell took effect. Moments later she held little more than a husk of a skeleton, kissing it gently on the cheek before she released it causing it to shatter into dust as it hit the ground. 

A soft chuckle escaped her lips before she turned and raised an arm and said “Come forth sweet little Raven, I have a message for your master.” Sparrot obediently flew from where he had been perched watching the events unfold with savage enjoyment. 

[u]Phrenesis[/u]

“Simply divine!” exclaimed Phrenesis as she took another bite from the pastry, the gooey centre oozing out. With her mouth half full she asked “How did you make it taste so good?” 

The baker gazed up, his eyes filled with hatred as he continued to work kneading dough and other various substances, barley pausing as he mumbled something about his life’s work and possibly something about it going to waste. 

“Did you mean the pastry or your daughter?” Phrenesis retorted with a cruel smile, the man keeping his head down as he avoided meeting her gaze. 

“Oh you’re no fun anymore…” she moaned before giving him a drawn out exaggerated sigh “but, you have done everything I have asked. So as promised once this is over I will spare not only your daughter, but also yourself – so just relax.” 

The baker looked up, a glimmer a hope still in his eye as he watched the thing that had taken control of his daughter take another large bite of the pastry. 

“Of course it may still be some time, but I’m almost done with you” she said casually as he returned to his work. Opening the small pocket-book once more she frowned as she saw that the pages were still blank. Leaning over the book she reached over and grabbed a quill an inkpot from the counter amongst the general clutter before starting to draw in the book. After some considerable time she was happy with her creation she sat back and examined it. It was a scene of a village filled with terrified villagers that were fleeing the destruction of the giant pie-beast monster she had drawn as it reared up behind an expertly drawn Ada and wagon, a perfect drawing of Ada riding behind Willow with her face oblivious and happy. The beasts gaping maw was filled with hundreds of teeth, each razor sharp and gleaming. It was all quiet graphic really. She then wrote a simple question mark beside it before sitting back. Not that she wanted to rush Aergar, after all he had his ways – and he knew how difficult it could be to toy with Ada Lovelace of all people. It was simply impatience that drove her actions as well as an ever burning desire for revenge that rested deep within Phrenesis. 

Shrugging she closed the book before yawning and stretching upwards. Suddenly her new feline friend jumped up into her lap, the black cat purring fiercely as it rubbed itself against her in an attempt for attention. “What to name you…” she thought aloud as she scratched at the cat’s ear, stuck for ideas. She looked at the creature, its coat was now a thick midnight black with a subtle sheen, perfect for moving unseen with its new lithe muscles and almost feral appearance. Shrugging again she stood suddenly, the cat springing from her lap at a moment’s notice before she strode over to the doorway, pausing besides a large ledger and examining its contents for a few moments, running her finger down the page as she searched. 

Seeing the next delivery to Eira she decided that it would be better to ride on a cargo airship than spend the next however long trudging through the wilderness in an attempt to get closer to Sparrot. He should be done with his task at any moment, and she was ever so curious to know if the old fool Tobis from that ridiculous archaeological guild had gotten any closer to Sinadrai. It was a name that was oh so familiar to her, but it always danced on the edge of her memories. Once before a long time ago when Phrenesis had inhabited some kind of elven lord he had told Sparrot of an artefact of some sorts that was supposedly lost there or so Sparrot had told him. There was nothing Phrenesis could remember from that time, and it had been difficult to get more of an accurate description out of the bird. Despite his many uses, the little one’s habit of speaking always in riddle and rhyme seemed to prevent him from describing anything in great detail. As she walked through the town with the cat at her heels she wondered idly if it would ever be possible to make her feline companion capable of speech. Surely a cat would be able to describe things in vivid detail. 

High above the cliff’s of Tariq airships circled and came in to land whilst others took off to whichever destination they were headed. She smiled as she imagined her cakes and pastries being shipped off to various cities, where nobles and merchants as well as any other who could afford such luxuries would be unknowingly ingesting her little secret. He’d be able to control a large portion of the people who mattered throughout Emanseria. Jabari had been her test to see just how easy it would be, and it had shown the exact potential of her plans. She now realised that she would be able to arrange the demise of anyone, influence the lives of millions and impose any decisions across the entire realm. Of course she had promised a Kingdom to Aergar, but that was fine, and now she knew it was definitely possible to keep such a promise. He would make a good king, probably, maybe, hopefully not. Smiling as she imaged what she would be able to do in an entire playground of Emanseria, and of course it made sense to make sure Ada Lovelace was one of those people that was her plaything in this oh so pretty picture.