An Interesting Turn of Events ((Part Five))

[Keptah]: "Can you see it ahead of us?" **He asks Cymera**

[Cymera]: yes *she eyes him with a smirk because he looks to be hiding in the bushes*

[Keptah]: "What is it you see?"

[Keptah]: "I ask."

[Cymera]: i assume you are speaking of the ship

[Cymera]: *her eyebrow arches in interest*

[Keptah]: "And it is why you are incorrect, Cymera..."

[Cymera]: what is it you speak of then?

[Keptah]: "Death, war, souls to be left for wandering... Chaos... I see these things as mere objectives which we, meaning; you and I, must come to pass and complete... Together..."

[Keptah]: "You and I, we are one... United... We are legion, yet in two forms... Not one."

[Keptah]: "Twice as strong..."

[Keptah]: "My goals are yours."

[Keptah]: "And yours are mine..."

[Cymera]: *she considers his words* i intend to keep the souls i capture

[Keptah]: "As do I."

[Keptah]: "Yet in a strange way, we are but Death in two forms... Like the right and left hands... we are connected, and think as one."

[Cymera]: *she nods in agreement*

[Keptah]: "Agatone..."

[Keptah]: "You know him?"

[Cymera]: *she grimaces at the name* unfortunately...

[Cymera]: he believes i am in league with him and his group of "watchers"

[Cymera]: i lead him to believe that but he is sadly mistaken

[Keptah]: "He is a dog... A man whom thinks he is of power and might, he speaks lies of you being an undercover agent to Invicta, and that you are watching me for the Order of the Silver Dragons... He says you have the writting within your robes..."

[Keptah]: "The fool insults us..."

[Keptah]: "He must be put down like the dog he is..."

[Keptah]: "He said that he'd help me if I gave you to him, that itself is an insult to a king of the dead..."

[Keptah]: "How dare he speak lies then of slavery..."

[Cymera]: *she reaches within her robes and pulls out a piece of parchment bearing the dragons seal* this is the paper he speaks of... he did not look at it closely

[Keptah]: **He turns to examine the paper**

[Cymera]: commander sook gave me the order to watch over you during your time in silverar's tower

[Cymera]: this is the official command to do so

[Cymera]: *she chuckles at agatone's stupidity*

[Keptah]: "Why are you showing me this?"

[Keptah]: "I did not ask to see it, did I?"

[Cymera]: to show you that i am not in league with invicta as he believes

[Cymera]: *she shrugs and places the parchment back into her robes*

[Keptah]: "I never suspected you were nor did I ask to see it... I don't doubt you, and I have full trust within you, Cymera..."

[Cymera]: *she looks deep into his eyes... the shadow of a tender smile appears on her face before she looks away* i am glad

[Keptah]: "To feel the need to prove that you are not corrupt is... Let us just say, questionable..."

[Keptah]: "But I know you aren't."

[Cymera]: you have no need to question my motives

[Keptah]: "And I don't... So you will not mind if I test your loyalty now, hrm?"

[Cymera]: *she turns to him with a smirk* what would you ask me to do?

[Keptah]: **He draws his dagger from his side, and hands it to her.** "I want you to hold this dagger and cut your thumb off in an act of loyalty... We can replace it with dark magic... But... The pain you will endure shall allow me to believe you are loyal..."

[Keptah]: "Do not cut it off until I say so..."

[Keptah]: "...Alright?"

[Cymera]: *she takes his dagger and examines it* this is a very nice artifact... *she grips the hilt firmly and stares deep into keptah's eyes*

[Keptah]: **He stares back into her eyes, his demonic gaze seems to hold great conflict as he remains quiet. He then breaks the silence as he speaks.** "You do realize you will be losing your original thumb... and that it shall be replaced with a... fake... one... You are willing to lose such a vital piece of the hand for me?"

[Cymera]: *she shrugs* i know great spells of healing and illusion... the fake one will work just as well as the real thing

[Keptah]: "...What if I told you that it would never be like the real one, as if the dagger was able to hinder something... forever?"

[Cymera]: *she eyes the dagger curiously* will it hinder my casting movements?

[Keptah]: "Perhaps."

[Keptah]: "Perhaps not."

[Cymera]: *her eyes briefly flash pale blue* i will not do it if it will hinder my talents

[Keptah]: "It shouldn't. Unless your arm is somehow useless without a thumb."

[Cymera]: *she chuckles* i have endured worse i am sure...

[Keptah]: "You stand willing?"

[Cymera]: *she nods once*

[Keptah]: "...Loyalty... You are so willing to please a man who holds no heart in his chest, and you would even sacrifice body parts... Not just useless parts, but vital parts... And when I say it could but shouldn't hinder your powers... You believe whatever I tell you, for all you know that dagger can sap magic, yet... You trust what I tell you... I must admit... Such loyalty you have I wonder why you..."

[Keptah]: "Are so willing... Just to prove a pointless point... Give me the dagger..."

[Cymera]: *she hands over the dagger* if you must know... yes i trust you... i admire your talents... *she pauses* and... if you wanted to kill me you would have done so already... you yourself said that

[Keptah]: "... I will not watch you bring harm to yourself over a pointless little act to show that you are loyal... I just... Well, let's just say I am not used to this kind of... friendship... Many whom I have allied with... are not truely loyal..."

[Keptah]: "... I admire how loyal you are... and I am not one to say this often... But, well... You are too valueable for an act like this."

[Keptah]: "You are the first and only to show such loyalty. For this, is why... I believe we are so very much the same, You and I..."

[Keptah]: "Death in flesh, right and left hand."

[Keptah]: "Connected to the body and brain of one."

[Cymera]: *she nods in understanding* i have had alliances turn bad in my lifetime as well... i will never betray you... i value this friendship as well... it will only bring good things for the both of us

[Keptah]: "Indeed... Indeed it shall, you see... We are destined for greatness, you and I."

[Cymera]: *she smirks as she looks ahead... shadows briefly tickle her feet*

[Cymera]: yes we are

[Keptah]: "And it is why I tell you that we have made new enemies, for the enemies I meet are yours."

[Keptah]: "Caredoc, Moki, the Amazons of Hyboria, and Agatone...."

[Cymera]: *her brow creases* what have these individuals done to become our enemies?

[Keptah]: "Many great things."

[Keptah]: "Caredoc, because he is everything we stand against... Moki, because she is Caredoc's lover, Amazons, because they are everything we stand against, And must I say of what Agatone has done to us?... I think not."

[Cymera]: *she considers his words* so what do you propose that we do about it?

[Keptah]: "I don't think it is a good time to speak of such trials..."

[Cymera]: *she nods* very well

[Keptah]: "Tell me, why are you so loyal to one whom seeks death, destruction, and chaos to all?"

[Cymera]: you alread know the answer to that... you were once like me... i have always had a hunger for souls... this hunger has only grown stronger as my powers grown

[Cymera]: but... i will never give up my gifts... never...

[Keptah]: "You see these creatures behind me?"

[Cymera]: *she eyes the undead monstrocities behind him almost lovingly* yes

[Keptah]: "They are all my former apprentices."

[Cymera]: *she chuckles* that does not suprise me... some of my former aquaintences have met a similar fate

[Keptah]: "You see..."

[Keptah]: "... I am no hero. Nor am I an man of honor."

[Keptah]: "I've lived aeons."

[Cymera]: i know...

[Keptah]: "Why? Because I survive... and that is only gained by backstabbing."

[Keptah]: "Do you fear that I might betray you as well?"

[Cymera]: i have no way of knowing what you may or may not do... i simply treat you as i have treated other strong alliances... i am very loyal but consider everything with caution

[Keptah]: "Caution because you do not trust me, correct?"

[Cymera]: no... i do trust you... but i am still cautious... it is second nature to me

[Keptah]: "Let us say that you were helpless, and held captive to one... Do you think I'd try and put myself in danger to help you?"

[Keptah]: "Or do you think that my friendship is one of benefit? That so long as you are useful I will 'like' you...?"

[Cymera]: i would hope you would help me if i were in danger... but i dont know if you would... i hope it would never come to that

[Cymera]: know that i would come to your aid if you needed me... *she looks almost embarrassed to admit this fact*

[Keptah]: "Why would you?"

[Cymera]: i feel that we are the same... *she sighs and looks away from him* i have had dreams of you...

[Cymera]: i have never had dreams of anyone before

[Keptah]: **He arches an thin eyebrow, nodding once.** "I see, tell me of the meaning of these dreams..."

[Cymera]: i do not know their meaning... they are cryptic and split apart...

[Cymera]: i am with you in a great library... one i have never seen before...

[Cymera]: then i am with you in a cave covered in jewels and fire is coming from your eyes...

[Cymera]: then we are in a tower... and there is an explosion... and the heavens bend to our will...

[Cymera]: i have had many such dreams since out alliance

[Cymera]: i do not know what they mean...

[Keptah]: **He raises a clawed hand to his chin, tapping a single black talon upon his upper lip, pondering.** "Strange... Very... And I too, have gained some sort of trait since our alliance..."

[Cymera]: *she turns to face him again* please... do tell...

[Keptah]: "I never knew it, but I somehow have a strange reaction to sights. When Agatone had you in his..." **Growls** "... Filthy hands, I had experianced some sort of... rage..."

[Cymera]: *her eyes flash pale blue as she remembers agatones calloused hands caressing her neck*

[Keptah]: "... Strange that I had felt such a thing, its meaning quite unknown."

[Cymera]: yes... it is quite interesting...

[Keptah]: "Perhaps you can enlighten me with an answer? I do not know..."

[Cymera]: i am not sure...

[Keptah]: "I see, it is a strange thing, no?"

[Cymera]: yes it is *she seems as puzzled as he is*

[Keptah]: "Why don't you tell me more about yourself, as I have not much knowledge upon your past."

[Cymera]: *she sits on the beach and places her feet in the cool water as she looks off into the distance* what parts of my past would you like to know? i have experienced a lot

[Keptah]: **He walks closer to her and squats. He speaks in a calm and almost emotionless tone.** "I have lived aeons... Tell me of everything that has shaped you into the beautiful dark thing you are now."

[Cymera]: *she smiles* i was born in badsur... my father is a wine merchant so naturally we lived in one of the many villages along the trade route...

[Cymera]: i was always an odd child... i didnt have many friends growing up... just a dog that was my constant companion...

[Cymera]: one day, he died... i was devastated... some neighborhood children saw me crying and began to throw rocks at me and call me names...

[Cymera]: i dont know what came over me, but i was suddenly in a blind rage... i wished my beloved dog was with me to set those children straight...

[Cymera]: all of the sudden, an animal streaked passed me and attacked the children... when they lay motionless on the ground, the animal trotted to me and sat by my side...

[Cymera]: it was my dog... but... it wasnt my dog... i feinted...

[Cymera]: when i awoke... i was in my bed and a strange man in beautiful robes was seated beside me...

[Cymera]: it was my master *she smiles fondly* he explained that i had special talents that needed shaping and offered to train me at the great library in khemi...

[Cymera]: i began my training the very next week...

[Cymera]: i trained hard for 10 years...

[Cymera]: learning everything there was to know of the sacred art

[Keptah]: "Hrm..."

[Cymera]: i began showing interest in mercenary work... it all seemed somewhat glamorous to me...

[Cymera]: before i was allowed to join one of these groups, i was required to serve the king for several years... so i joined the king's guard...

[Cymera]: there, i was put under the instruction of a necromancer named eevo... he taught me even more or the art....

[Cymera]: it was also in the guard that i first learned of betrayal... our commander, lady challa, betrayed one of my dearest friends, ophion, and later betrayed me...

[Cymera]: i came upon ophion in the market one day and found that she was in a mercenary group... i left the guard without a word of departure and joined the midnight brigade...

[Cymera]: that is where i first met willyanderz *she chuckled lightly* such a character...

[Cymera]: those were my favorite years... we were like a family...

[Keptah]: "I fought the King's Guard before... Challa is a coward, hiding behind the front lines... Sending young men and women to do her dirty work as they try and enforce the laws of a barbarian."

[Cymera]: of that i know much about *she grits her teeth*

[Keptah]: "It is why I am not afraid to tell you that I pitty you."

[Keptah]: "You were misguided... Serving and assisting a lie."

[Cymera]: do not pity me.... my experiences have only made me stronger... i am just sorry i did not leave the guard sooner than i did

[Keptah]: "You were blind... Only now are you awakened."

[Cymera]: the brigade unfortunately disbanned as our leader pariah was mortally wounded...

[Keptah]: "Good."

[Cymera]: i felt lost... i had nowhere to go so i spent years wandering... trying to find answers...

[Keptah]: "Pariah was weak, it is good the earth lost a weak soul."

[Keptah]: "And as for you being lost, since when were you not lost?"

[Cymera]: pariah was cimmerian... that is all

[Keptah]: "You only now are awakened..."

[Cymera]: i was saddened most by the loss of my friend ophion... she was like a second master...

[Cymera]: i decided to return home...

[Cymera]: my master was on his deathbed...

[Keptah]: "So many years you have lived a lie... a false dream created and sold like a product, loyalty and honor wrapped in glory and valor.... Bleh, and why long for the lost master?"

[Keptah]: "I killed my master..."

[Keptah]: "...Once I had found my powers strong, I slain the dog..."

[Cymera]: he was like a father to me... i am sorry you did not have that relationship with your master

[Keptah]: "Why?"

[Keptah]: "What is a relationship? It is a pact where two work for a same gain."

[Keptah]: "This pact is broken when one is weaker..."

[Cymera]: perhaps... but i did respect him... is that so wrong?

[Keptah]: "Weakness creates inferior halfbreeds... One must cut the weak link out and move on."

[Keptah]: "It is why I asked you before what do you think I'd do if you were not useful to me... You desire my answer?"

[Cymera]: only if you choose to tell me

[Keptah]: "Even if you had lost control of all your spells and was held knife point to an insane leader of some cult..." **He pauses.** "I'd never."

[Keptah]: "...Leave you to die..."

[Keptah]: "In a strange way, that I have no answer to..."

[Keptah]: "I have grown to appreciate whom you are, and I have experianced many strange things like emotions that I have no knowledge about..."

[Cymera]: *she looks up and smiles almost tenderly* i am glad you would not leave me to die... and i would not leave you...

[Keptah]: **He shrugs, nodding once.** "It is something I do not understand..."

[Keptah]: "So think nothing of it."

[Cymera]: they are human emotions... you are no longer completely human... i see it in your eyes...

[Keptah]: "What are they?"

[Keptah]: "Can you tell me? For I have not felt them since... well, I doubt I have ever had them..."

[Cymera]: i am not sure... it is as though you live on two planes... this one and the plane in which our servants walk

[Cymera]: i apologize... but i find it most intriguing...

[Keptah]: "Why?"

[Cymera]: i have never seen anything like it before...

[Keptah]: "Seen what?"

[Cymera]: eyes like yours

[Keptah]: "Do use details..."

[Keptah]: "I suppose after..."

[Cymera]: they seems almost demonic... yet i have seen demons and they do not have eyes like yours

[Keptah]: "After aeons... I have become my own demon."

[Cymera]: *she nods in understanding*

[Keptah]: "Darkness can transform a man..."

[Keptah]: "It can change them..."

[Cymera]: that i know well... i know that i have changed myself...

[Keptah]: "My powers were gained through Death itself... I had to die and visit the world that awaits us all, and then pull myself back to the living realm... I met with the presence of Death... and when I returned to the living realm, I had come back to life with the knowledge of death and more..."

[Keptah]: "...I had become one with Death."

[Keptah]: "A mere part of it..."

[Keptah]: "Since then, I had been power hungry..."

[Keptah]: "... I found a way to cheat death through body snatching..."

[Keptah]: "My hunger only grew..."

[Keptah]: "... As did my power."

[Cymera]: yes... *she smirks* i have met cyril...

[Keptah]: "I know..."

[Keptah]: "Cyril..."

[Keptah]: "Was the first soul to have taken full control over me during the age when I was weak after a battle with a rival mage..."

[Cymera]: i thought you said he was weak..

[Keptah]: "I was shattered and needed a host to survive... Cyril wanted power... He could not control death like I..."

[Keptah]: "He was always weak."

[Cymera]: weak in power but not in soul?

[Keptah]: "He merely could not be absorbed fully when I did not need him anymore... Because he was of my own blood."

[Cymera]: i see...

[Keptah]: "So I discarded him."

[Keptah]: "Since then I have been more powerful than ever... Yet..."

[Keptah]: "... I have felt something new when we forged a Pact..."

[Cymera]: what new feeling?

[Keptah]: "When Agatone was holding you against your will... I was bright with a blood thirsty rage... willing to allow him to strike me down, just to save you... I was sacrificing more and all it took just to make him let go of you..."

[Keptah]: "Why would I be driven to this? I do not know why... Perhaps a weakness? Or a spell?"

[Cymera]: i do not believe you were under a spell of any kind... i believe that you are beginning to trust me and dare i say it... care for me...

[Cymera]: that is the only explanation i can come up with

[Cymera]: *a feint smirk comes across her face*

[Keptah]: **He waves a dismissive claw** "What are these things?"

[Keptah]: "What are they?"

[Keptah]: "I do not know, but perhaps you are correct."

[Cymera]: perhaps you are more human than you think...

[Keptah]: **He frowns at this thought.** "Hrm..."

[Keptah]: "Doubtful."

[Cymera]: it is nothing to be ashamed of

[Cymera]: it doesnt make you any less powerful

[Keptah]: "Hrm... I know it doesn't..." **He rests his jaw upon a fisted claw.**

[Keptah]: "... Is it a sign of weakness?"

[Cymera]: never

[Cymera]: if anything... the bonds we make with others makes us stronger

[Cymera]: that is what i have always believed

[Keptah]: **He nods once as he removes his clawed fist from his chin.** "Indeed..."

[Keptah]: "Could you teach me more of this 'emotion?' you speak of? If I contain it... Then perhaps I should... learn once more of what it is... No?"

[Cymera]: i would be glad to... right now though, it is late and i fancy a drink... would you like to accompany me to the library for some of my father's wine?

[Keptah]: **He nods once.** "I suppose so, it wouldn't be me to reject an offer of kindness from one I do trust."

[Cymera]: *she smiles and takes his hand... shadows begin swirling around them and they disappear, having transported to the library*