Continued from S3-3-13: Antonia Forli. “Quite right,” Dune told Antonia in and approving tone, as he stood to face the companions. “It means nothing!” Rodrigo sneered. “The stars don’t govern my actions and Lennara is returning home with me… regardless of what you’ve done to her!” “I will not!” Lennara spat, sinking back against Antonia for support. “The elithior have spoken,” Antonia addressed Rodrigo in a commanding tone. “You will not take our beloved sister from us… Certainly not against her will!” “Perhaps you should look again?” Syn challenged, drawing all of their attentions. He stood in the archway, looking up at the night sky; his eyes alight with cold, blue hellfire. “Iuchyr is gone!” one of Dune’s male students announced in shock as he looked to the heavens; where the river of stars had been just moments before was only blackness. “So Angharand’s path to Teirny is now clear. Does that mean that the elithior have chosen to let them take Lennara?” he asked, turning to Dune for guidance, only to find the Eshmirian starring at the sky in stunned disbelief himself. “No!” Antonia announced, stepping forward and turning the telescope to where the missing constellation was. “It’s nothing but a sorcerer’s trick! He summoned a cloud to obscure Iuchyr, but the stars remain unmoved.” “But how could a simple spell obscure a god,” Syn replied, turning first to face her and then Dune. “If an intreatment to Lassa can blot out your elithior, then how can they be mightier then the lady of air, who is but an Elemental Lord… not even a Lord of Law or Chaos?” “Your spell merely blocks our earthly vision,” Dune countered, his normal calm, arrogance restored by Antonia’s quick thinking, “and proves that the elithior reign above all elements. You can fool us with your sorcerer’s tricks, but the stars remain just where they were,” then he turned toward Rodrigo, “and your path is still blocked!” “I don’t care about stars or spells,” the Vilmirian knight scowled. “Lennara’s father summoned her home, and whether her husband to be will still have her or not, she’s coming back with me! Even if I have to bind her hand and foot and throw her over my horse!” He turned to face his cousin at the last to be sure the spoiled little girl understood he meant exactly what he said. “Enjoy your final night under the stars,” he addressed Lennara directly, “and bid farewell to your ‘friends’… Because we’re leaving at first light!” Then he turned and stormed from the observatory, leaving her to cower into Antonia’s comforting arms, sobbing at the realization that he would do just what he said he would. But as they retreated in Rodrigo’s wake, Blade, Rynard and Syn all took notice of where the real strength in Dune’s group lies… in Antonia! To be continued on S3-3-15: Thayland Dune. The fourteenth installment in the third "Book" of my Stormbringer character's adventures. Thanks for looking... Hope you enjoy! Comments and suggestions always welcome and appreciated! I had hoped to have the final few installments ready by the time I got caught up posting what I had ready, but I didn't quite make it... I'm still working on one final image and the narratives for the last five, but I hope to have them done soon. Sorry for the "dramatic pause", but I hope it will not be too long!