------------- Tales of The Raptors – In Shadowed Minds

Her memories were very well hidden, and even her unconscious mind threw up defenses and distractions to hide her thoughts. Wendy searched for some clue, some evidence to point towards the villain behind this whole affair. There he was, appearing in fuzzy, dark images, but his voice, his manner, his face was unmistakable.

The scene was some time in the past. It wasn’t clear in the Mord Witch’s mind exactly when. The man she spoke to was also Mord Elven, a handsome, middle aged elf, well built and seductive, strangely dressed in Carellonian styled finery and wearing dark sunglasses. His speech was as refined as his tunic and jewelry.

“Do you understand your orders, Melytis, my darling?”

The woman responded. Her voice was not the screaming battle cries Wendy had heard from her lips earlier, but a soft, melodic chant, a seductive hum of elven grace.

“Do you really think I would not, ambassador?”

“I merely wish to hear it from your lips, my vituperate viper.”

She smiled, coy and ferocious at the same time.

“I am to watch the others, Lord Vorn. It will be my task to ensure they do not get out of line, that they obey the Prince’s orders to the letter. Yes?”

Drazin nodded his head and smiled. It was not a friendly or pleasant smile, but that of a master gaining joy from the torments of his slaves.

“Yes, dear lady. Now, we will discuss the upcoming Goblin action. I have decided to approve the plan for the invasion.”

She shifted her gaze.

“Against my advice? You must realize these Shadow Goblins are no match for the mountain’s defenses. They will be slaughtered.”

“Yes, they will. Do you have a point?”

“I,… it doesn’t sound,…”

“It does not matter how it sounds to you, Melytis. I have decided. Give the order.”

“Yes, ambassador. But what do I,…?”

“Very well. You wish to know what I have in mind. Here it is. I do not care if the entire Shadow Goblin race is wiped out. We no longer need them. What we do need is information. They will get it for us. We already know the defenses of Syvasgaard, and to a lesser extent, Kar’Dhaer and the Temple of Isis. But what of the students? Which of them will pose a threat and which are not important? The attack will target the school and the students, especially those who live off campus. This way, we will learn which can take care of themselves, and thus which ones to worry about. Those who run or hide or die are of no consequence. Now do you understand?”

The woman smiled and moved closer to the ambassador, running her hand up the sleeve of his tunic.

“Yes, of course, ambassador. A brilliant plan as always,… assuming the Shadow Goblins don’t find out about our real intentions.”

“You will make sure that they do not. Prince Vahnihk would be quite upset with me if this failed. And I, in turn, would have to pass that misery and pain on to you, dear lady. It is, simply business.”

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