Continued from S3-4-10: All That I Have to Offer. “Lady Nykira, what a surprise,” Rynard said sarcastically in a jovial tone, as he greeted her and Syn with a sly smile. The racket form Syn’s room through out the night had made it clear that he hadn’t spent it alone, and the only things that surprised him about seeing Nykira was her garb of soft leather armor and the broadsword hung at her hip; though he had to admit that her tight fitting breeches and short tunic flattered her slender, shapely and well toned figure quite pleasingly. “My uncle blamed me for corrupting his son and cast me out… So I decided to join the two of you,” she explained in an almost authoritative tone, as she hefted her traveling pack and strode pass them both, but paused at the door and turned back to ask; “Well, are you coming?” “I suppose so,” Rynard replied with a broad smile, as he looked to Syn with great amusement. He knew that the Dragon Lord tolerated things from him which might well be the death of any other human, but he also knew that there limits to even what their friendship allowed him, so he stifled the laughter that wanted to erupt from him as he fell in behind him and marched after the spirited Ilmioran lady. The predawn grey had just begun to lighten the morning sky when their “escort” of city guardsmen followed them to the stables, watched them mount their horses and then lead them to the city’s gate. There their captain reminded them that their welcome in Oberlorn was more then worn out in less then elegant terms, and then quickly retreated behind his men when Syn turned back to fix him with a stare that bore straight to his soul and turned his bravado to cowardice in an instant; something that never failed to amuse Rynard. But they all had nothing but good riddens for the place, and rode off as dawn broke fully setting the sky alight with gold, yellow and blue… and not a trace of red to be found. If the fair weather held, Rynard knew they could make Raalston by nightfall, Barlimm the next day, Bakshaan in two more and Ilmar on the Pale Sea six days later. From there, all of the Young Kingdoms were open to them, and their only worry would be where the winds of fate would take them next. Though he hoped for the chance to take a certain Argimilite free-merchant up on her invitation to visit Cadsandria, he had come to accept the fact that, so long as he traveled with Syn, their destinations were not always of their own choosing. It was the dawn of a new day, in more ways then one, and Nykira promised to be charming company. She had already brightened Syn’s always brooding silence, which had become even darker then normal since they parted with Blade and her enthusiasm about taking her destiny in her own hands was infectious. But, in a dark alley of Oberlorn, where the morning light seemed afraid to tread, a dark cloaked figure strode toward another that waited in the shadows. “Kill the Filkharian anyway you choose, but the woman is to suffer every brute’s pleasure she can before she dies… and the Dragon Lord must watch, before you burn him slowly. I want him in agony for as long as possible, pleading for death, before his soul goes to what ever hell awaits him!” Verga handed a heavy purse of jewels to the hooded Mereghn with a cruel and evil smile. She knew that Ilmiora’s infamous secret society of assassins would never rest until their contract was fulfilled and her family was avenged. But more importantly, no man, not even a Melnibonean, would treat her as a common whore! The end of book four... To be continued in book five. Thanks for looking... Hope you enjoy! Comments and suggestions always welcome and appeciated!