Time was a peculiar thing beneath the earth. The Pathfinder community seemed to instinctually know where the sun was even if they couldn’t see it. How Fand missed the sky. How did these people live like this, especially the women and children? All afternoon she had played in the yard with Tugg. He was a bright little boy. She couldn’t help but think how terrible it must be to grow up without the light of the sun and the stars.

Tonight, Fand sat silently beside the hearth fire. She was loath to go to bed. The room she had been sleeping in was Resen’s. It was the room he had shared with his wife. There was a small portrait of Leben, his wife, on the bureau. Her hair was long and blonde. Her eyes were a tranquil brown. Her skin was smooth and a delicate shade of pink. She was utterly beautiful. She must have loved Resen very much to choose a life underground. If Fand survived, she doubted she would so much as go into a cellar again, much less choose a life underground.Though the kiss she had shared with Resen had stirred her, what she felt was not enough to even tempt her to give him her heart. Where was he and what was he doing now? With each day that passed her worry increased. The longer it took the more she feared he was not coming back and neither was Uncle Wert. What would happen then? Where would she go? The thought of being trapped in this cavern sent her heart racing. How much longer could she endure? Was Uncle Wert even alive? Prayers began to filter through her mind and heart.

Elise entered the kitchen and asked, “Can’t sleep?”

“No, Ma’am.”

“Would you like a little tea?”

The question brought back memories of the “tea” Kerzee had served her. Fand said, “No, thank you. I am fine.”

Elise nodded. “All right, if you need anything, just let me know. Good night.”

“Good night.”

For awhile Fand sat staring at the flames. Fire was such a peculiar entity. The way it feasted on the logs bringing light and destruction at the same time. A familiar feeling began to twist inside of her. She knew what it meant. How would it effect her this time? Above this cavern the full moon must be on the rise. Though her skin did not glow, her blood began to tingle. Her shoulders felt strange. The fire light cast her shadow on the wall. Her breath caught in her throat. Her shadow had wings, magnificent wings. The disc, Jerim's Relic, burned cold against her skin and slipped beneath the surface.

In the next room she heard Tugg cry out in his sleep, “Papa!” Was something happening? It had been almost a week since Resen left. Tugg had asked by the hour every day and each night before bed, “Will Papa be home soon?”

Elise always looked at her grandson with tenderness, but there was a trace of bitterness in her voice when she would reply, “Papa will be home as soon as he can be.”

This answer never appeased Tugg.

All the sudden the ground shook. The sound of thundering huge horse hooves filled the air. A bright flashshot through the house like lightening. Something exploded outside. The sound of a ram’s horn blared through the cavern. Fand jumped up and ran to the front room. She peered through the window. A battalion of Sonpur carried torches and were tossing them onto rooftops. Fand knew they had come for her.

With Tugg in her arms, Elise entered the room. Slung across her shoulders was a bag filled with supplies. “There is a tunnel in the cellar. Follow me.”

Fand’s eyes turned back to the window. These people were in danger because of her. People might, no would die tonight because of her. She didn’t want any more people to die. A Sonpur tossed a torch. It landed on the roof. Fand could hear the crackle of fire.”

Elise said, “Come on, you are wasting time.”

“Go. They only want me.”

Elise said, “They have long wanted to destroy this place, its not just about you.”

“Maybe not, but maybe I can buy you some time. Now go!”

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Elise didn’t protest, she said, “Thank you.” With her bag and Tugg, she opened the cellar door. Fand closed the door behind them. The disc burned cold at the base of her neck. It had saved her once, would it save her again? She would soon find out.

She crossed the front room and yanked the front door open. The entire village was ablaze. Smoke burned her eyes. The guards that had been on duty were all dead. Their blood pooled around them. How many families had just been impacted by loss? So much grief lay in front of them. A lump formed in Fand’s throat. They had died because of her. What a curse it had been the day she was born. Zolla had been right, she was a bad seed. If only she had never been born! She made her way to center of the cavern were the orb burned. There, on his huge horse was Trug. His dark eyes met hers. Her growled at her. The disc shot cold through her entire body and propelled her forward. It was leading her to Trug.

Trug barked an order. Two Sonpur rushed to her side and took hold of her shoulders. The disc was so cold she couldn’t even feel their rough hands upon her. She did not resist as they hauled her to Trug.

The huge beast looked down at her. She dropped her gaze lest he see something in her eyes that might betray the power of the Jerim’s relic. Roughly he pulled her onto his horse. She did not fight him. He yelled something and all around her Sonpur came out of the houses. This village would soon be ash. Her eyes scanned Resen’s home. Fire danced through the windows creating grotesque shadows. The portrait of Leben was burning, no most likely burnt. Were Elisa and Tugg safe? Would they be safe? Resen never should have brought her here. Never! The stench of Trug filled her nostrils. She was keenly aware of his strength. Any moment now she expected him to place a kerchief over her face and sent her into oblivion.

The Sonpur mounted their horses. Trug growled low in his throat and all the horses leapt forward.They were not running toward the cavern opening. They were headed for the blue orb. A strange sputtering noise erupted from the orb. It burst open and engulfed them all. The next thing Fand knew she was falling in deep darkness fast. It felt like the plunging of a hawk upon a terrified rabbit. Only she wasn’t terrified, she was resigned.

Trug’s huge hand held her firmly in place. Her back was against his massive chest and she could feel his heart racing. Was he afraid of this void? It seemed so. When they landed it was a gentle cessation of motion and not a jolt. Fand looked around her. She was in a circular room. The place smelled of incense. Overhead was a skylight. Silver fingers of moonshine illumined the room. Fand looked around her. On the wall was a mural painted in the same style as Kammin Spire. Fand's eyes locked on the portrait of a man. He looked like Zog. In his hands was Jerim’s relic. The word, Beidenueng, on the disc glowed. Heat emanated from the disc beneath her skin. In the mural the pregnant girl stood beside the man who looked like Zog. The girl’s eyes and hair were the same color as Fand’s. Confusion swirled in Fand’s head. What did this mean?

Trug dismounted from his horse and pulled her off his saddle. From there he carried her to the center of the room. He snarled at her and placed her in the circle of moon light. In a flash of fire, he and his horse disappeared.

Double doors flew open to Fand’s left. Hooded men silently entered and fanned out along the wall. A strange ringing sound filled the room and curtains shot closed covering the mural..

A single man emerged from the opened double doors. He shouted something Fand did not understand. Instantly a foul wind blew into the room. A foul wind! It smelled of rotting flesh. It ripped at Fand's hair and gown. NO! This must not be! After all she had endured to be brought back to Angs again! She tried to move, but she was frozen in place. Desperately she prayed, No, please no!

Rainbow lights swirled down through the sky light. Churning light that materialized into Angs inches from her. He pulsated with flashes of red, violet, blue and yellow. Fand could feel the stirring in her blood. The power of Angs drew her to him. Her heart rate increased when he place his hand beneath her chin. In her head a voice whispered, Your True Love has arrived at last. Was this the voice of Angs? He never spoke aloud. He turned his gaze upon Fand. How well she remembered each angle of his face. The light in his eyes pulled at her core. He smiled at her. His entire body throbbed with colored lights. There was a rhythm and a pattern to the pulsation. The lure of it seeped into her body and mind. He would have her, he would have her this time!

A jolt of blinding pain thrust down Fand's spine. It caused her look up and away from Angs. Through the skylight she saw the full face of the moon appear. She felt the disc traveled beneath her skin from the base of her neck to the palm of her left hand. Angs pulled her closer. A beam of pure moonlight sliced through the narrow space between them. In her hand, the disc melted revealing the stone. Strength that she did not possess flowed through her left arm. In her mind flashed the words, "The Prophet Jerim held the stone of Cedrin in the ring of execution. A beam of moonshine penetrated the stone and destroyed the army of Caldas." She held up the stone for Angs to see.

Horror filled his eyes. Before he could take a step back, moonlight shot through the stone and hit him in the center of his broad chest. His body exploded in fiery light. Searing pain radiated from Fand's hand. The stone fell. There was another explosion as it struck the floor. The floor heaved and Fand felt herself take flight. Glass shattered as her body penetrated the skylight. She was flying high and far into the darkness.