[quote]"I'm sure this is why the Dragon brought myself and other Sun Children here," Anise reopened her eyes. "I'm sure this land used to flourish just like mine. We can make that a reality again. How would you like that?"

She enveloped the entire space with light and warmth. Healing and soothing. "Remember how relaxing a sun-baked stone feels? Isn't it nice?"[/quote]

The Lady of Stone was as cold as the darkness; at Anise's touch she grinned and returned to the soil, leaving the princess to try her convincing alone in the illuminated cave. She saw the images, felt the words and their meaning -- and when Anise was finished, the Lady was nowhere to be seen ... but her voice rumbled in the walls, thick with sarcasm.

[i]"How lovely! What a quaint little place. All this talk of light and hope has made me remember something I've forgotten to tell you: Shadow has got himself a new champion, one who will crush you and your precious dragon. And now I have something to tell him: there is a place still bathed in sunlight, that is ripe to be plunged into darkness. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to hear it."[/i]

With that, a deadened silence descended upon the cave; the Lady had gone, not to be called back.

After a few moments, the sound of a shovel struck above, and bits of dirt fell on Anise's head; it was Peck, digging his way toward her. A tiny beam of moonlight sifted through -- and Peck's calls of her name were drowned by the roar of the Dragon.

The sword brightened with the call.

[quote]Artemis clenched her jaw, her heartbeat heavy in her throat. Then she stepped forward and took the Lantern.[/quote]

As Artemis' fingers curled around the Lantern's handle -- as the cloth fell away from the bright green within -- the Dragon's roar trembled throughout the island.

The dead flickered and hid from the noise. Their own whispers hissed among the trees, questioning.

Artemis' arm suddenly rippled with shining scales. They gleamed and reflected the light of both Lanterns, raced along her skin -- and within a moment were gone again, though she could still feel a slightly itchy, almost metallic sensation, like an invisible chainmail.

[i]"You hold in your hand the Dragon's defenses."[/i] The Lord of Shadow spoke behind Artemis, but all there was to see was the illusion of his silhouette at the edge of the light, standing among the dead. [i]"Invincibility. Immortality."[/i] There was a grinning hiss in his silky voice. [i]"As frightening as the Dragon is, without this she is as mortal as a lamb."[/i]

He paced around the campsite, slowly. The spirits parted quickly, flickering, to let him pass.

[i]"The dead will do your bidding,"[/i] he continued, while the Dragon roared again in the distance. [i]"As will the darkness, and the cold. I have asked that the Lady of Stone respond to your call, should you require her."[/i]

The dead hummed and whispered again, a haunting sound among the dark trees.

[i]"The Dragon herself is not as fearsome as she seems; she has a psychic power, she will attempt to get into your head, convince you of your errors, turn you against your own reasoning. She has the power of illusion; she can make you see what she wants you to see. Keep your mind clear and cold, strike through. Your greater threat will be her champion -- one like yourself, who wields the blessing of Water and the sword of light. Her will has been known to reach farther than her hand -- ensure she does not get close to the Lanterns."[/i]

He stopped, and he faced her. [i]"What, then, will you do?"[/i]