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"Not all that is dark is evil, not all that is light is good." -Elara Alaven The sun was fading in the west. The night shadow was growing fast. The snow covered land turned scarlet-orange in the fading rays of the sunset. Then all was dark. Two small children, a boy and his younger sister, lost hope beneath the shadow of the trees. "We'll never find our way home now. Will we, Vdomiso?" the slim five year old girl asked holding her brother's hand tightly. The boy looked down, but couldn't see her face in the deep darkness. "Not tonight, Lani." He whispered softly. Both children found their way to the base of the nearest tree and slumped down in the snow, they didn't know what else to do. The stars finally came out above them and shone coldly down on the lost children. Vdomiso sat up suddenly listening to the forest around them. "What is it?" the little girl asked with a worried tone. The boy hushed her and strained his ears again. Nothing. No sound, no wind, nothing. The boy was just about to settle back down when he heard a soft bird call to their right. A faint light could be seen far off in the forest, but it was swiftly and silently coming closer. Another bird call to their left this time. Lani huddled against her older brother, whimpering in fright. As the light came closer still, the children could see a man carrying a small lantern in front of him. He paused three or four yards in front of them. He gave them a kind smile and crouched down shining the light on their faces. He had a kind face, dark brown hair and dazzling green eyes. "It's all right," he said in low rumbling voice. "I've come to take you back." "Who- who are you." Vdomiso stuttered partly from the cold, partly from fear. These woods were said to have bad people. At least that's what Papa said. "Oh, just grab them and let's go already!" a woman said appearing suddenly to their left. She took a step towards the children. "Ala!" a voice snapped to their right and the woman stopped mid-stride. The darkness moved and a black cloaked figure stood tall and ominous in the shadows of the small lantern. "I don't see why we have to search the whole forest for a couple of their lost little runts!" The woman hissed sourly motioning to the two children still huddled under the tree; but she came no closer. "We search, because I say so. That should be enough for you." The cloaked figure said slowly, voice firm and commanding. The robed figure withdrew her hood and children could see the figure's face in the light. It was a woman, unusually tall, 6'4" at the least. Her hair was pulled back in a lose braid that disappeared under her cloak. The strands were dark, but the children couldn't determine the color it seemed to change as she moved, first dark blue like the midnight sky, then a deep purple, scarlet, dark gold and mixtures of many more colors and hues. Her eyes were the same, dark but of every color imaginable. She knelt next to them, a kindly smile forming on her dark tanned face. "You- you're one of the Dark Mages. The man from the White Council warned us about them. Vdomiso stuttered his eyes widening in terror. "He said they were evil!" Lani squeaked. The woman's smile faded slightly at the name of the White Council, but she still spoke kindly to the frightened children. "Not all that is dark is evil, not all that is light is good. You must understand we will not hurt you. Dark Mages are not evil, though the Council would have you think so." She paused for a moment. "We will return you to your home. That is why we came, that was our only propose. Please trust me." She held out her hand. Vdomiso looked at it with suspicion, then silently placed his small hand in hers. She pulled them to their feet and called the man over to them. "Take them by the shortest and easiest path back to the village. I will follow." her dark eyes bent their gaze at Ala, still standing where she had stopped. "Wait!" The girl squeaked. "What's your name?" "Elara," the woman said with a smile. "Elara Alaven." The children followed the man into the forest and soon the light from his small lantern was lost. Still the two women stood staring coldly at each other. Finally Elara spoke. "How dare you deify me like that. You weren't even to be seen!" Her voice was low and menacing. The shadows were growing about her. "Why couldn't we just put them to sleep instead of sweet talking them into going with us! It's a waste of time! Why can't we just let them find their sniveling little squeekers!" Ala hissed ignoring the warning tone in Elara's voice. "They would have died before the searchers found them. Villagers don't know the woods like we do." Elraen said her voice still ominous. "So what if they die! They would do the same to-" With amazing speed Elara was suddenly behind her twisting her arm around and forcing the other woman to her knees. Ala struggled to get away, but froze as she felt Elara's cold blade at her throat. "I don't want to hear anyone ever say that we should let them die again. Do I make myself clear? Do not make me prove my authority again!" Elara released her silently and stepped back, drawing her cloak back around her and disappearing into the shadows. …… Elara sat silently near the fire as Dolperi Neleb returned, the small lantern still in his hand. "The children are safe. Their mother had remained at the house. She sent someone to call off the search," he reported settling down in front of the fire. "Good," the dark mage said with a nod. "We'll see how Council man Marsol will deal with this." "He's of the White Council, how do you think he'll deal with this! Lies, lies and more lies!" The man threw more kindling on the fire, sparks rising into the air above. "I know," she said softly soothing the man. "But there is nothing we can do." "Where's Ala?" Dolperi asked glancing around the small camp. "I sent her to find Somin. She was searching over on the south side." "What did you say to her. I hope you didn't hurt her too badly. Then again maybe that would finally knock some sense into that girl!" Elara frowned. "She has been acting up far too often lately. Ever since her father died, I let her slide because I knew how much he meant to her, but this has gone far enough. I want you to keep a good eye on her, Dolperi." The man nodded. "It will take two eyes, but I will. Do you want me to sneak into the village for news tomorrow?" "No. Let Somin go. The children wouldn't recognize her. They might spot you." Elara grew silent, staring hard into the fire. Dolperi sat listening to the fire as it snapped and hissed. The light shone on Elara's expressionless face. But Dolperi could tell she was troubled. "What is it?" he finally asked, watching her face closely. "Don't try to hide it, I know you better than the others. You can fool them, but not me. Remember I'm a Mage same as you. Same as Ala and Somin. Though Ala is only on her third year, and Somin her fifth," he paused, a hint of dark rainbow glinted in his eyes, the mark of a Black Mage. His eyes would darken as he matured in his skill. "What's on your mind?" Elara frowned again for a moment then spoke. "Something the girl said, 'He said they were evil!'. Marsol is teaching them that we're evil. How can we protect these people, a duty we have sworn to, when they think us evil!" "I don't know, Elara. The White Council has been spreading it's lies for years. It is all the people know." "Perhaps that was our mistake," Elara said looking up over the fire at him, anger burning in her eyes. "We have remained seclusive, disappearing into the woods. Perhaps we should have sent our own into the villages. But we didn't. We remained hidden and now we're paying the price. Every day the White Council turns more villages to them and we are driven out. The people don't even see what's happening to them. Before they know it they'll all be under the Council's power, nothing better than slaves!" Elara stood and began to pace around the fire. Dolperi watched silently. Suddenly Ala and Somin returned and huddled around the fire. Somin felt the dark mood around their leader. So they turned to Dolperi for answers. "Did you get the kids back safe?" in her soft light voice. Dolperi nodded pushing back a dark brown lock of hair out of his face. "They're safe. You're to go in tomorrow and listen to whatever Marsol has to say." "Well, I better get some rest and get an early start. Marsol likes to start his speeches early." The slim woman smiled and crawled over to her bed. Ala soon found her own bed and the clearing was silent again. "You going to get some sleep?" Dolperi asked when Elara settled back down by the fire. "I will. I have to think now," she said darkness wrapping around her despite the light of the fire. "As you wish," the man said sleepily and crawled into his own bed. …… The morning was clear and cool. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue arching cloudless far above. A crowd had gathered in front of the Council mans door waiting for what he would say. Marsol was inside collecting his last thoughts before speaking to the people. He was tired of placating these dim-witted fools. But it was necessary. The children had said that the woman was one of those accursed Dark Mages. She thought she could try to turn the villagers back to them. But it was too late for that! Far too late! The Councilman drew himself up standing at his full height and stepped out his door. The crowd outside grew silent as he made his way to the speaker's platform in the middle of the village. He walked slowly. Let them all come, he thought coldly. He reached the platform and climbed the few short steps. Looking out over the crowd he began. "Citizens! Good people! We celebrate today because of the close escape of two of our little ones." Cheers rang out from the crowd. Marsol paused until it had died down. "But we must still be wary of the dark forces!" whispers ran through the crowd. "They try to deceive us into a false sense of security." "But what of the children!" someone shouted from the crowd. "They say the Mage didn't hurt them or even try to put a spell on them! What say you to that?" "They bring back our children in hopes that we will invite them in, so they may turn us all!" He bellowed over the calls and questions of the people. "They would surly try to kill all of you if they had a chance. The only protection you can find is in the White Council. The only protection from the darkness is the light!" His voice rang out reaching the very back of the crowd. The sun seemed to brighten and it's rays fell on the man's white robe causing it to shimmer and gleam. The light dazzled the eyes of the villagers, and they fell silent. "We must continue the fight against the darkness! We must rely all the more on the White Council. Tell your kin! Tell all the surrounding villages. We must drive out the darkness FOREVER!" The crowd cheered throwing their hats into the air. Marsol stepped down from the platform and made his way back to his house. No one noticed a dark clocked figure slipping silently into the woods. …… "Then he just turned and walked off the platform," Somin finished telling of the Councilman's speech. "Shorter then he normally is," Dolperi said dryly. Ala stomped around camp. " I can't believe he sat that!" she hissed between clenched teeth. "I can," said Elara leaning against a nearby tree listening to Somin's report. "We can't let him get away from uttering those words unchallenged! There must be something we can to!" Ala continued. "Sit down, Ala!" Dolperi roared over the woman's rantings. "But we must strike back!" She protested. "You don't understand like-" "Like you do?" Dolperi cut in. "You're not the only one to lose family at the hands of the White Council!" A slow building anger was showing in Dolperi's eyes. He stood in Ala's path speaking with a low voice. "I lost my entire family! Not just my father. Don't you dare think that I hate them less than you." He took a deep breath, loosening his clinched fists. "But retaliation is not the way! We are better than they are! And I for one will not stoop to their level." With these words he sat back down next to the now smoldering fire. "What should we do then?" Somin asked. "What can we do? Don't get me wrong, but maybe we should just let these people do as they please." "Even if that means letting them make themselves into slaves to the Council?" Elara asked her voice neither angry nor hateful, only sad. Somin turned to Elara. "It is their choice, Elara. They have free will. Isn't that what we're fighting to give them? The right to choose?" The group was silent in thought. None of them stirred, all seemed to have turned to stone. Finally Ala moved hoisting her pack and beginning to walk away. "Where are you going?" Elara asked softly. "For a walk!" The woman snapped back and disappeared between the trees. Elara gaze met Dolperi's. The man nodded and silently disappeared as well. Somin stood and came to stand next to Elara. "Perhaps it's time for us to leave here. All the other Dark Mages have retreated beyond the mountains. Perhaps there..." She left the sentence hanging. "Not yet, Somin. I won't abandon these people until I have no other choice." …… Dolperi followed Ala for nearly half a mile as she wandered here and there among the trees. Finally she turned and started going along a straight path, towards the village. He continued to follow her till they had reached the edge of the forest. Ala skirted the outer edge of the village till she reached the Councilman's house. He crept up behind her. She heard him and spun around knife in hand. "What do you think you're doing!" he demanded in a low whisper. "He deserves to die!" she hissed back. A light appeared in the Councilman's doorway and Marsol stepped out. Before Dolperi could do anything, the slim woman was running towards the man. Marsol cried out, but was cut short by Ala's knife. The Councilman had been caught unawares and wasn't even able to defend himself. His crimson blood looked black in the gloom as it flowed down his white robe to pool on the cold snow. Dolperi grabbed Ala by the shoulders and shook her harshly. "You fool!" he snapped. But they could hear many feet coming from the nearby houses. The Councilman's last cry had been heard. Both ran through the forest as fast as the calf deep snow would allow. It was getting dark and the woods were clocked in shadow. Loud voices could be heard behind them. Torches had been lite. The hunt was on. They continued to run, but the fury of the villagers was adding speed to their pursuit. An arrow whizzed by Dolperi's head and hit a tree with a thunk. Another whizzed by and the man stumbled, a burning wound in his shoulder. Ala paused. "GO!" He roared staggering to his feet. They ran lungs pumping, heart pounding. Dolperi couldn't concentrate enough to cast a shadow spell to hide them. They could spare no time for him to stop and collect his thoughts. Suddenly a volley of arrows rained down on them and both dove for the cover of a near by tree. Dolperi felt another arrow slash across his thigh as he barely made it under. He propped himself up and was beginning to struggle to his feet when he saw Ala. She lay flat on her stomach, three arrows protruding from her back. Her face was turned towards him, her unseeing eyes wide, blood dribbling from her mouth and nose. He felt for a pulse on her neck, but there was none. One of the arrows had pierced her heart. He closed her eyes with a sigh. "Sleep in peace" he whispered softly. A shout reminded him that he was still being pursued. With an effort he got to his feet and ran. …… It was getting late. The sun was setting. Still Ala and Dolperi had not returned. The shadows grew longer and the darkness deeper. Still Ala and Dolperi did not return. Elara was getting worried when the tall man burst through the trees. He came to a shaky stop, blood running down his arm and leg and side. "What happened?" Elara demanded. "Where is Ala?" Dolperi didn't answer immediately. He bent over leaning on his knees panting for breath. "Ala's... dead... She killed.... Marsol," he gasped, then took a deep breath. "They heard him cry out and came after us. We need to leave now. I tried to lose them over by the west river but I don't how long that will last." He straightened up wincing from the pain of his wounded side. "All right let's get move-" "ELARA WATCH OUT!" Somin cried as an arrow came shrieking through the camp. The woman threw herself against Elara knocking her to the ground. Somin rolled off, the arrow driven deeply into her side. "Somin! No!" Elara scrambled to the woman's side, reaching over her to brake off the arrow. Somin reached out and caught her hand. "No," she said hoarsely, blood dribbling from her mouth. "There's no time! You must go. You have no other choice now." Somin looked deeply into the rainbow-dark eyes of Elara. "You must go." "She's right, Elara," Dolperi said seeing the existent of the wound. "Go, my friend, live for me," Somin said softly giving Elara's hand a last weak squeeze. Then the woman's hand went limp and the life faded from her eyes, her dark blood stark against her pale face. Elara closed the dead eyes and stood. There was nothing she could do for Somin now. She must fulfill her last wish, that they live. Quickly she turned to Dolperi and both slipped into the woods. As they ran, she drew shadows around them, so not even the most keen night creatures could see them. They ran to the East away from the shouts and angry calls of the hunters. They tried to skirt around them, but the villagers had spread wide. "They're trying to trap us against the Soren cliffs," Dolperi mumbled not liking their odds. The Soren cliffs were a sheer hundred foot drop. There was no way he could climb it in his condition, even with the right gear. "Is there any other way out?" he asked. Elara hesitated. "Is there?! "There could be," she said with a sigh. "I could try to make a portal. The only problem is they're unstable. I don't know where it will send us." Dolperi studied her face silently for a moment. "Do it," he finally said. "But hurry." Elara made her way to a clearing and knelt down in the snow. Slowly she drew out symbols on the white surface, softly chanting. The starlight seemed to gather around them slowly swirling to the center of the clearing. Elara continued to chant. The hunters' voices could be heard now in the distance. Still Elara chanted. The light grew and shimmered before them. The dark Mage's hair seemed to shimmer with color, dark and beautiful. Suddenly the light exploded and a rift formed in the air in front of them. Elara was on her feet grabbing Dolperi by the arm they dove into the gape just in time. The rift closed, the light disappeared. The hunters followed the tracks to the small clearing where they suddenly stopped. …… Elara and Dolperi fell through a swirling darkness. The air seemed to stick in their lungs and they couldn't breath. Falling. Falling. Suddenly a light appeared and surrounded them. They hit the ground with a thud. Both took a deep, gasping breath. Heads still swirling, Elara was able to push herself to a sitting position. They were surrounded by white-robed people. Far above she saw the roof of a vast cave. The ground beneath them was a rust-red sand. All the people around them were speaking in a strange tongue that neither Elara nor Dolperi could understand. Across the sands stood a mound of eggs. Huge eggs ten times bigger than any Elara had seen. Dolperi sat up next to her. Suddenly one of the eggs broke open and a strange creature fell out. Elara and Dolperi held their breath as the creature spread it's leathery wings and wobbled towards the closest group of white robed figures. It stumbled up to one girl and the girl knelt down next to it throwing her arms around it. "What kind of planet are we on," Dolperi whispered.

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