For Anise, releasing the light felt perfect. As if everything could be made right. She felt warm. Clean. Happy. She looked at herself to see the dirt and wounds on her appeared to be washed away. She found herself paying little mind to the squabble going on behind her. Then one pulled ahead of her on a larger and older gryphon.

[quote]"Please let me announce your arrival. You'll frighten the Roost, and that won't help your cause. Follow us."[/quote]

She nodded once with a smile. "Very well, go ahead."

As Anise watched the lady walk away the blue egg whispered to her. She listened as hard as she could, but she couldn't tell what it had to say, and something seemed wrong. This instantly put her on guard, and while she waited for the lady to return she decided to keep glowing softly. She could still see the green lantern from here. She then remembered Rhea and the purple lantern from before. Perhaps it was here as well.

She closed her eyes and whispered to herself. "Peck, I promise I will do everything in my power to save you."

When she reopened them she saw an old man standing before her with a skeptical look on his face. She considered for a moment how she should introduce herself. She understood that not everyone believed that she was the new Lady of Light. She would have to earn that, and she knew for a fact that wouldn't be easy. However, she felt she would lose all credibility if she just used her real name to introduce herself.

She smiled and looked the old man in the eyes. "Greetings, I am the new Lady of Light. I know that the previous Lady was slain by the Lord of Shadow. I understand the challenge that is before me because of this." She paused to let him think about what she said. "I am here because a friend named Peck has been taken by the Lord of Shadow. I would like to gain possession of the Lantern of Scales to save him." She stared off towards the mountain feeling that time was pressing. "I am afraid I cannot stay long. I know this is no small decision to make, but time is of the essence."

Anise felt certain that the urgency of the situation got across to him. She faced the old man again. "With or without your help, I must save him. I must do it by myself, but that doesn't mean I can't get help from others before I arrive." Again, she paused. "Even if the answer is 'no', I thank you for your consideration."