[hr][h1][center][color=goldenrod]S A M I R A[/color][/center][/h1][hr]

The smile on Samira's face only grew wider as she listen to the words of Sira Hezrihd, but there was nothing sweet about it anymore. Like the widening jaws of some great and terrible creature, or the fixed rictus grin of a skull stripped of its flesh. There was something truly unsettling about that smile. And then there were her eyes. The eyes of the Sorceress blazed, a sudden and furious rage awoken there. There was hellfire burning in their amber depths. 

[color=goldenrod]"And I could disable you easier than you could possibly believe, then I wouldn't have to spend my time listening to the pratter of uncouth children. Now..."[/color] With a swish of her wrist, the gilded spikes that tipped the ends of Samira's finger began to flicker with golden flame. [color=goldenrod]"Do not. Doubt. My. Power. Unless you wish t-"[/color] 

Samira's threat was cut off by Jakeem's compromise on their current... discussion. She glanced around the rest of the group, and saw her position amongst them, hopeless outnumbered, her argument already lost. Reluctantly, she closed her fist, and the dancing flames that had run along it disappeared, quenched in the gathering night. 

[color=goldenrod]"Fine, rest if you must. But we are wasting time."[/color] 

She rode on in silence.

[center]__________________________________________________________[/center]

Down in the ravine, Samira dismounted at the foot of the impressive façade of the of the Sanctuary of Aduzahir. It was everything that she had dreamed it to be. There was just the question of getting inside of it now, and seeking the thing that they desired most of all. She could be doing that now if has hadn't been for the damned fools that she found herself stuck with. Did they not know of the urgency of her need?

No... no... of course they did not, no one knew, no one living that was. It just felt that way to her, because it consumed everything else.

Self consciously, she opened the mirror she carried once more and checked her face in it again. What she saw displeased her. It was slipping again. With a flick of her fingers and some hastily muttered words Samira reset the sells and charms and wards about her person until they were all repaired again. There... perfect. 

She paused a moment in front of the ruin and whispered something to the open air, too quiet for anyone else to hear. It would have to do for now, she would not go into the ruins tonight, but at least she could ensure that none of the others stole a head start on her. The edge of her lips twitched upwards once more in the faintest glimmer of a smile. She turned her back to the ruins and walked towards the cluster of tents. 

As she approached, a slave ran towards her and began to speak.

"Mistress, the great and honourable Pascha Jak-" 

[color=goldenrod]"Silence!  Do not speak to me unless I have spoken to you, worm. Now, I care not which tent you have set aside of me, I have little use for it. Bring me whatever passes for food out here in this blasted wasteland, oh, and wine if there is any."[/color] 

The slave bowed and scurried away to fulfil her commands. Samira took at seat at one of her unoccupied camp fires, paying the others little mind. Instead she stared into the flames, and lost herself in memories from long ago.