The next day Dawn, accompanied by her brother went by the guard post; was waved at by the guards at the post,

“Pigs” she thought to herself while keeping concealed in her cloak. She went to go water the plants when she saw a note left by the head cleric for her to grab a few items from the market, so packing her things she left right away.

Coming into the stables Cloud worked for a time until he noticed that the horse master was not in, Cloud remembered being told that for ten years had he never been late. Paying no never mind thinking there was a first time for everything Cloud opened up and began his day. Hours went by and Cloud started to get concerned. The master’s home was connected to the stables so with a quick thought of worry, Cloud hoped the man wouldn’t take it as an act of disrespect as called out at the door and then entered his home. The door was unlocked and Cloud heard voices coming from the upstairs, going up quietly he peered open the door to where the horse master was looking over the blankets to a child in bed. The horse master turned seeing Cloud and escorted him out in to the hall. “My daughter is very sick!” the master replied worried “You’ll need to take on the job yourself today”

“I know of a healer, actually it’s my sister” Cloud said

“The head cleric has come and gone and told me that it’s a very deadly disease that can be treated by a spell but when he told me the price I knew that I couldn’t afford it” the horse master explained “Your sister is young to the act as you have told me, I doubt she would hold the knowledge”

“Is there no way to get the money needed” Cloud said again

“There is one way that I know but I could never do it” he said

“What is it?” Cloud insisted on knowing

“There is a Jousting match that is held in secret from the eyes of the law, the prizes are great and are rated in the value of a jewel. I know of the matches from a mutual friend down at the tavern but I could never get in to it and even if I did never could I win. The jewel this year is a blue emerald and would be the right amount to pay for the curing” he said lowering his head

“You leave that to me” Cloud said “I’ll get you that money” and looking back in to the room where she slept the man sobbed “She’s all I have since her mother died, I don’t want to lose her too”

“You won’t, trust me” Cloud convincingly said and went back to his work

Back in the market just finishing up the shopping list Dawn drops one of the items and before she can pick it up another hand covers it first. Looking up to see the Captain’s face she glows a deep bashful color and then going to get the item notices the chain mail covering his wrists was raised up slightly revealing a symbol on his wrist. Remembering the symbol from the book page she makes and quick thank you and mentions that she needs to get back, but not taking the hint John accompanies Dawn back to the church.

“Look, I thank you for the escort here but I have a lot of work to do so can I talk to you another day” Said Dawn

“Of course you can my dear, until that day comes” he finishes with a bow of his honor and leaving the steps Dawn smiles a fake smile and shuts the church door

“He’s part of the Nod clan” she says to herself and finishing her shift at the church and for the rest of the week she avoids the Captain and makes up excuses why she can’t talk to him at every moment he does try.

Rain has an uneventful rest of the week which after his encounter with the girl seems to be just fine except for the constant way the alchemist organizes his shop.

Cloud had been training a horse on his off time to get it up to speed with the rest, but with the shape the horse was in they would need a way longer time on the diet Cloud put the horse to, with the race now only a week away.

Rain sitting in the shop gets a visit from his brother Cloud

“What are you doing here” Rain asks

“I’m here to ask a big favor” Cloud said

“And what would that be?” Rain questioned

“I need to make a horse fit real fast but she doesn’t have enough time to do it naturally, I have no more prep time to get her ready” explained Cloud

“The best and easiest way I could think of is to imbue the horses shoes with a valor spell” answered Rain

“Can you do it?” Cloud asked

“Yes, but the only snag is that I need fairy dust to complete the spell and this lame excuse for an alchemist doesn’t carry any here” Rain concluded

“How can we get some?” Cloud questioned

“Well we could go out a kill a unicorn and grind down the horn” answered Rain with a small chuckle and taking a glance Cloud stared at him in disbelief “You have got to be kidding” Cloud said “Afraid not unless we wait for one to naturally die which could take up to five hundred years though” Rain continued

“Ok I’ll get the dust; you get the rest of the ingredients together because I need these shoes” and just about to leave Rain quickly asks

“Why do you need this horse imbued Cloud?” Rain says with suspicion

“There is a little girl that is sick, she needs a spell to get better; and with our sister not powerful enough to cast the spell herself I need to win her the money from a race” Cloud explained and turning around to see the skeptic look of approval as if to say you should find another way, Cloud adds “Oh and by the way don’t tell Dawn what were doing, I don’t want her losing faith in me” and he exits. Gathering what he needed around the shop Rain’s hands became full of items; with the last one placed to his mouth Rain hears the door to the shop open. Rain twisted around his head to see Dawn holding a disconcerted look on her face in the doorway and spitting the one item from his mouth to the table Rain looked surprised “Dawn?” Rain said “What are you doing here?”

“I need to see that book again; the one with the symbols of that group”

“The Nod clan” Rain questioned

“Yea” Dawn answers and Rain grabs the book passing it to her, Dawn flipped through it violently to the page with the symbol “That’s it, that’s the one” she sparked

“Yes it is, why are you so concerned about it” Rain asked

“I saw this symbol on the wrist of the Captain this week when he went to pick up something I dropped” Dawn explained and Rain grew worry to his face.

“This symbol, you saw this symbol” Rain said pointing to the page

“Yes” replied Dawn

“You listen to me Dawn, you stay your ass away from this guy ok this clan is extremely dangerous and it makes sense that he would assume the post of Captain to the guard to get some of their plans executed in a city this size” Rain lashed in warning

“Look I have been avoiding him Rain but I want to make sure that all this is what it looks like” Dawn said calmly

“And how are you going to do that ask him” Rain said laughing

“Yea actually”

“Then I’ll be there when you do” Rain bolted

“No I can’t have you or Cloud there, he’ll be spooked if he is working with them; but think about it, it takes a long time to become a paladin knight and to go through all of that just to get in here I don’t think the clan would have patience enough to pull that off, there’s something else going on, something that were missing and I want to find out” Dawn concluded

“You damn well be careful Dawn” Rain cautioned hard to her

“Wait your not going to fight me on this” she asked

“Why bother you just go do it anyway but with spite just like you did sneaking off with that soldier boy” Rain said

“Hey! He loved me” Dawn defended

“He loved your body Dawn and especially here you must learn the difference on that and learn it fast”

“How?” she asked

“You make them earn your trust and your love by putting them through a gauntlet, teaching them that they get nothing until they want everything you have to offer” Rain explained, Dawn was half shocked that he knew so much on true relationships “Thanks Rain” She said smiling at him and taking off to leave she turned around quickly “Oh and one more thing don’t tell Cloud about this; I’m sure that he will go through the roof if he knew”

“That or put you through one” added Rain laughing as she left ”There wouldn’t be one wanting a secret kept with out the other, I should have seen that coming, I hate being the middle child” Rain spoke out to the empty room as he finished gathering the components for his brother.

Leaving the last shop that would have carried the dust he needed Cloud was about half way back to the tavern when two men stopped him by an ally, asking for his attention.

“What do you want?” asked Cloud suspicious as he would be to any that won’t show their face. “Just to help you with your problem” said one man

“We know your looking for dust to make horse shoes of valor” says the other man

“So what of it” asked Cloud and with that the one man smiled at the other and threw Cloud a bag containing in it the dust he required

“What the…”

“Why are we doing this for you; (Cloud nodded) simple we need the horse when you are done and that will be the trade of payment for the dust”

“How do I know you won’t use the horse for some thing evil” Cloud added

“Oh that’s simple too; You don’t, but isn’t the life of that little girl worth more to you right now” the one bolted out, Cloud knew it would be used for evil but he could stop them later the horses gifts would bare voice enough for him to track them down, “How do I find you to give you the horse shoes?”

“Just leave them at the final jousting match, we’ll get them on our own” said one voice and hearing in the shadows the movement of feet Cloud peers to the darkness with his heightened sight to see them run off.

Putting the door key to the lock of the back rooms did Dawn just finish up when John showed, “Hi Dawn” John greeted with a salute of his Captain’s helm,

“Captain” she exhaled wary to his look

“Can I take you home” John replied

“Why?” she asked

“Cause it’s a full moon out tonight, lots more cultists out then usual” John insisted and sighing with no good come back Dawn agreed. Taking the quickest way home with them not speaking almost half of the trip John finally broke, “Have I done something to you?” he asked. Looking around she felt this was as good of place as any to asked what she needed out of him. Waving her hand over a ring on her finger making it glow dark purple for the presence of a detect lie spell she turned to him.

“I have a question to ask you” Dawn said turning to face him and with her hand she takes to her grip the dagger she carried without notice,

“Finally” John spoke with relief

“I saw your mark on your wrist and I know what is stands for” Dawn explained

“Oh!” he gasped “I can explain that”

“But can you do it honestly” Dawn said tightening her grip to the hilt

“I used to be an agent for the Nod until…until they asked me to do a job”

“What job?” Dawn inquired

“There were three kids that were the target, I was suppose to eliminate them as a threat”

“What threat could three kids’ poses” Dawn asked

“Separated they were nothing but together they were the single most powerful seer the realm had seen and our leader wanted them dead”

“Who was your leader?” said Dawn

“I never saw his face nor recognized the speech, but I was brand new to the clan then and for reassurance that I would complete the job he threatened to kill my whole family, so …”

“YOU DIDN’T!” bolted Dawn

“I thought I had no choice, and seeing the future our leader knew that a new recruit with still a pure soul could get close to the three without red flagging any warning to the kids so I killed them” stepping away from him Dawn held a look of terror upon her face.

“Oh-my-god” Dawn gasped with almost no voice

“I got my mark that night and learned after; while I was doing the job my family was still being butchered under the leader’s orders. Finding that out I left to make what was left of my life mean something” John explained

He continued to say that he hunted all agents that he could find that worked for the Nod clan and after a repeated amount of times of being captured, beaten and tortured for his incompetence. The leader kept letting him live knowing that being alive would hurt him more then death for what they took. Learning his lesson quickly he went to a knight of the holy order to be better prepared to fight the clan and all Nod agents, and in so doing climbed the ranks of the army very quickly with each passing successful interception of the plans involving the clan until he became Captain. He knew that all the good he did and all the lives he saved and spared would not bring back the three innocent lives that he took from the world nor would it silence the screams of their cries John heard in his dreams every night. But he would not want it to anyway for it would slow his want, his need for continuing on with his mission. Dawns emotions immediately changed from anger and terror to pity and comfort as well as compassion. Getting her to the front of the tavern and before going inside she turned to him thanking him for bringing her home, she kissed him on the cheek and told him that for someone who is good and on the side of good shouldn’t be driven by so much hate. She then left him thinking while she went inside; hanging over top of them out his balcony window Cloud looked down on the end of the meaningful walk they shared but kept his thoughts and comments about the matter to himself, for the time.

John is interrupted with news about some activity from the Nod clan talking with someone new and exchanging a bag of something in an ally way, getting a description of the new target John knew that it was actually Cloud the brother of Dawn. Against John’s better judgment he has a unit tail Cloud, to be followed and Cloud’s progress involving anything with Nod to be updated as it comes in.

Through the night comes a terrible crash that alerts all to full alertness in the tavern, going to Rain’s room for the view of the commotion was best from his window, Dawn and Cloud come running in to see the issue. There is a fierce battle waging to the streets just in front of the tavern involving agents of Nod and the Silverspire high guard with Captain John leading the attack, but as the battle progressed to the eyes of the three Drow does Dawn spot from a unseen corner with her infravision a second Nod group closing in.

“Cloud, there’s more men moving on the Captain, there see them” Dawn points and Cloud nods, Dawn wishes to call out but knows that her mere voice could break his combat concentration, endangering his vary life. “Please Cloud, you and Rain could help them” Dawn pleaded with her brother Rain holding an odd wonderment.

“Why, this fight is not about us” Rain says as more of the battle comes about.

“Then do it for the sake of what we wish to be then” Dawns pushed looking to Cloud who sigh’s at her good reasoning, “She’s right Rain, he could easily be overtaken, lets change that end” Cloud ended going to his room at a sprint for his blade, Rain followed suit although not at all happy to put again his life on the line for a cause not of his own. Heading out the back door way of the tavern Rain sees the units covered by darkness, acting with a striking spell from his hand to expose their act of fatal surprise. Joining up with the Captain’s guard’s Rain and Cloud combine their fierce combat ability with that of the Captain’s, as the Nod units from the dark merges with the other already in the fight. John and Cloud’s team easily fiend off the opposition but in killing the last of the gang members John is injured in the attack. Dawn runs to his side and when she heals his arm she’s moves up the sleeve of his chain to revel to Cloud the mark on his wrist, covering it back up quickly seeing in Cloud’s eyes that he might have seen it he gets up and thanks Dawn and departs. Stopping for a minute to thank Cloud for his help, for he would have lost more than one soldier if he wasn’t there and John then moves to shake Cloud’s hand. Gripping it tight Cloud glared to the Captain and both hold a sense of aggression for the other, conflicted in thinking they already knew what the other was about on the inside.

Cloud leads his siblings back to bed and taking Dawn to her room Cloud stops her at the door. Dawn sees the look to his face and stops him before he even speaks, “I’m a big girl Cloud and I need to be allowed to make my own choices” Dawn shuts the door on her brother and back to his own room Cloud slams his fist into his wall cracking the wood a bit in a small rage, but holding to his emotion Cloud decides in secret to use his sister’s new found love relationship as a trap with her as the bait. Finish off the week with no other incidents occurring do the next few nights bring John by asking if Dawn would share some evenings with him which she naturally agrees. In those nights Cloud takes off after they leave the tavern to follow them and to keep a watchful eye on his sister and the non trustworthy Captain. Cloud returns every night just before Dawn does and heads to bed and the tension between the two grows high for neither of them speaks as they always did. Talk was short and even Cloud’s cautionary words that Dawn liked to hear from his mouth every morning before she ventured off were never again said as she left the tavern. At the end of the week Rain came to the stables “Cloud, your set of horse shoes “Rain speaks as his puts the bag to the side of the stable table,

“Just put them on the bench over there” said Cloud who was just grooming the horse for today’s joust.

“I know that look on your face Cloud, I’m worried about her too but she is at the age where the more we act massively to protective the more that she will rebel against it, why you don’t think she’s… you know, with him” gestures Rain

“No I know she isn’t doing that….I’ve been following her the last couple nights that she’s gone out with the Captain” said Cloud

“You’re doing what!” Rain snapped “Does she know?”

“No! I’ve been home every night before she has” Cloud said

“You have to let her make choices on her own” Rain explained

“Yeah well when you’re the oldest sibling then you can make that choice for yourself ok” Cloud snapped “This city is full of problems and at the moment none of them need to be ours”

“She is our baby sister Cloud but she holds the wisdom to out weigh us both, she wouldn’t just run off not learning from her past mistakes” Rain barked

“Rain please I have a lot of work to do before match so can you leave me to it” Cloud said shoeing the horse

“Yeah sure, good luck with the match” Rain ended slowly leaving the stables

The rain poured down and snorting with an unstable nigh did Cloud’s horse rear growing restless; laying his hand to her shiny coat did he gleam his gentle touch across her mudded and wet neck. Whispering words of elvish calm they bring down her hooves to again settle upon the ground, “I need you girl…you can do this” Cloud said in not so many words but she took it out through his soft tones. It was day two of the jousting and the final day as well, like he had gave his word to the stable master did Cloud reach the end…but he needed to, the little girl’s life was fully in his hands.

Securing his helmet to his head Cloud griped tightly to his lance brought to him by the young soul in care of the task. The water rained down hard but looking to the group hosting the event Cloud knew the rules…there were none. You rode in the weather that was to your trial, only cowards backed out in their world and Cloud had never been one in his life. These monsters didn’t scare him one bit, to the group Cloud stared seeing the prized emerald on the royal red pillow inside a opened iron box, guarded by four heavy armored men that in the state of weather Cloud knew he couldn’t take. Tightening his thighs firmly to the saddle, a sinking feeling starts to take to his steed, shaking the reigns Cloud commanded her to chop back to the muddy surface and readjust. Full bonding ship of a steed and rider is absolute, and with the dreaded face of the last one in Cloud’s jeweled path did it count for everything. Laced in black gold metal was the armored knight Cloud was to face. His steed was black and both drew heavy with a look of victory torn to his defeat, never had he been unhorsed or beaten was Cloud told before the match…he was their undefeated champion in the joust and fully ready for the match he was.

Both took to their places on the well lined path and looked to the boy baring the ready flag signaling there take off, arching there wrists did they signal to him their readiness. Escaping his sight off past the boy Cloud’s eyes changed coarse to the sight of a figure in the dense part of the deep woods. No one he was told knew of such a place…a druid was the only one who could’ve known, such beings only care about the bent blades of grass ripped by the horse shoes, the waste of their lives to foolish challenges wasn’t an issue to them. The flutter of the flag was missed to his ears but the rearing roar of the black horse brought Cloud snapping back to state, he was now behind in the speed race. Snapping at the reigns did mud at his back fill the air as his brown mere maiden sprang to a sprint. Spitting through his helmet visor did the rain sprinkle upon his face as the jolting charge tossed upon him the rush, breathing heavy Cloud heaves to the mouth guard until the final passing where all breath seemed to stop, the wood splintered and cracked as the lances smashed upon each rider like rams in a territorial conflict. Hitting Cloud did Cloud’s body bend backward from the lance flattening upon his chest plate allowing his spin to touch the mare’s rear as the lance of the knight hit him square. Taking a glance through the air filled with wood Cloud only got a glimmer of the hit he made as the knight already was halfway recovered from the blow which hit only to his shoulder.

Stopping the horse to a skidding halt Cloud pulls his helm from his face and with a swift toss ridded his hand of the broken lance. Cloud makes a wipe to his eyes clearing them of the rain water, and gazing again to the shade on the hillside the figure still holds a spectator look. What were they doing their Cloud wondered as he took his new lance to his hand and put to his head again his helm. Nodding that he was again ready did the flag flair up to the sky and both now took off the lines, smashing again to the eruption of wood spraying to the sky Cloud hits hard upon the enemy chest plate but with the hit came a price. The black knight’s lance skidded up after its chest hit and with the serrated edge it peeled the helm off Cloud exposing his face to a violent scrape across it. Dropping his lance stub Cloud placed his hand to his face as the rain water coming down made it sting, it was a shallow cut but hurt just the same as if being hit by a rearing horse. The rules Cloud knew stated that the match must end and if any defensive armor was lost it can not be regained until the match was done…and one round still remained. The black knight took his own helm from his head for a show of respect; he tossed it to the ground, but was holding an evil grin for even though the strike wasn’t intentional it was still good to see. The sight of the little girl ran through Cloud’s mind, he must succeed and gaining a thought on how to hit him without now being hit did it come like lightning to his mind. Taking to their final stances, Cloud readied his lance and stared deep to the eyes of the black knight who only stared back, the flag was lifted and so did the front hooves of the steeds. Cloud saw the raise upon the knight’s lance…it was aimed to his face for a fatal blow. Cloud hammered on the brakes slowing his steed fast in mid sprint and the skidding hooves brought a rush of mud to the front. The black knights steed rushed straight into it and tossing the lance to a side grip Cloud tossed the lance striking the knight as his horse reared up to protect her eyes. With the angle and speed the knight was now at the thrown lance only had one outcome remaining, and slamming hard to the muddy dirt the black knight fell to his back losing of the match.

As the girl shivered to the small bed he built the horse master took a cold cloth to her forehead. Knocking upon the door brought the horse master to see Cloud holding a cut to his face and to his hands bared the emerald jewel. Cloud placed it to his hands and in a massive sight of joy was Cloud’s deed repaid in full, the cleric was brought that night to cure the girl and with some left in the cost did the priest aid to a cure on Cloud’s face as well.

Cloud left the home with a sense of goodness bubbling in him when he spots the men who wanted the horseshoes across the street. Seeing that they had them to their grasp they toss to Cloud a hand gesture of concluded business; Cloud didn’t even look back for he couldn’t imagine the use they might be now for. Just ignoring the issue for the time Cloud returned home to his siblings, but not before the high guard to his tail saw the small event that he now returned to report.

That evening when Dawn gets ready to go out with John, she sees Cloud at her door way “Hi” she says short to his sight as he notices earrings to her ears that he hadn’t seen, John must had brought them for her. Just smiling at her he walks up to her and holds her hand “Just observing” Cloud says

“Ok that’s kind of creepy” she replies

“I’m just observing how beautiful you have grown over the years I’ve been your brother, and I’m not here to tell you not to hang out with this Captain John, I just want you to be aware that men will do anything to get want they want”

“He is not like that Cloud! Can’t you see that yet!” she snapped turning away to comb out her hair “No I can’t, how can I when my job over the years has been to protect you” Cloud says leaving the room, thinking he is still their she turns to say she’s sorry for snapping but sees nothing but an empty doorway, and hanging her head with guilt Dawn finishes getting ready.

Cloud watches her go and instead of following her he heads out for a much needed walk for himself, but on his returning way home decides to swing by the guard house to see what kind of evening the Captain has planned tonight. Cloud goes to an area of the roof where he won’t be spotted to witness the Captain talking to a bunch of assassin dressed men all wearing the mark of the Nod, making out what he can in the conversation hearing phrases such as I want to know weaknesses in the unit structure, and where to do to the most damage. Cloud fills with rage but before he could jump down and act he sees Dawn looking up where he sits yelling to him but not fully making out the figure being her own brother, only the shadow she saw.

Cloud is startled and with quick thinking heads off into the shadows trying to lose her sight of him. She runs into the guard house to warn the Captain when she sees all the assassins, gasping she turns to run out when her arm is grabbed by John

“Let go of me you bastard!” she cries

“I can explain Dawn” he says and then turns to his men “Show her” and opening up their assassin clothing to reveal their guard uniforms John explains that they are his men undercover trying to locate the big section of the Nod hiding out within the city.

“You have nothing to worry about Dawn ok now lets go have a nice evening, by the way you look beautiful tonight” John compliment, with a believing smile Dawn gives back they head off for their evening.

Rain is awakened by the sound of metallic rustling in his brother’s room and going to it gets the sight of Cloud suiting up with weaponry, “What are you doing?” Rain says half asleep

“That son of bitch John has Dawn wrapped around his finger and he’s been working with the Nod clan this whole time plotting to undermine the city and take control from the inside” Cloud barks

“Where the hell did you get that from?” Rain asks franticly and Cloud explains how he over heard a conversation with the captain and the assassins.

“Well you’re not going by yourself I’m going with you” said Rain getting his stuff and meeting him outside.

“Where to” Rain asked and Cloud tells him about a building he sent the men to.

“We’ll sit in the rafters and wait tell he shows up then we’ll take them with a surprise attack, I’ll finish off that bastard once and for all” Cloud burns from his voice as he snaps the straps on his horse hard to head off to the building.

Enjoying a nice midnight picnic by the shoreline John was about to tell Dawn about her brothers behavior when John’s men came riding up on horses behind them.

“Sir!” the one man cries “The governor has been taking hostage into an old abandoned building by Nod, they got past his guards by means of a fast riding horse, we couldn’t even keep up to it.

“We must get him out of there” commands the Captain

“I’ll come too “Dawn says

“No It’s too dangerous” John replies

“You might need a healer again and I see no one else stepping up for the job, I’m going” Dawn insists and she passes him to get on to her horse.

“Fine” John says with reluctance getting on his horse “You stick close to me at all times” She nods with a smile and they take off to the building. Spraying dust down to the dirt floor below, Rain and Cloud get set up in the roof beams and see the governor tied in to a chair.

“Hey Cloud isn’t that your horseshoes” says Rain pointing to one horse tied up

“They must have brought the governor here with it, that’s why they needed the shoes; the speed was to jump the moat around the governors building” Speculated Cloud

“John is going to use the governor to gain access to the rest of the city” guessed Rain when suddenly they hear a sound out front like a battle was going on, with it quickly spilling in to the building corridors and moments later in to the room they were hiding Cloud and Rain witness the battle coming to a close.

“Let’s go the next room and help the fallen men get their rebellious revenge on their leader” Cloud whispers and Rain follows him to the next room. They drop down to see four men in assassin clothing looting the dead, and with lightning fast skill Cloud kills two of the men with single hits and Rain follows by shocking one to death, Cloud takes down the last one with an little sword skirmish that bares Cloud’s blade deep to his upper chest.

“You see what you can find about future plans on these guys I’m going to deal with John” Cloud says as he leaves to the main room. Checking the bodies for plan papers or special items Rain opens the robes they were wearing to reveal Silverspire guard uniforms underneath them

“Shit” Rain sparked and he checked the rest.

Impaling the last to the room John looked around” Well I think that’s all of them” John huffs to Dawn killing the last man guarding the governor.

“Not yet I see one more” Cloud barked entering the room

“Cloud…What the hell are you doing here” Dawn shockingly said

“Saving the life of you and the governor …. From him” Cloud snapped point his blood dripping sword at John

“Dawn stay with me…..Remember what I wanted to tell you earlier it was about your brother’s involvement with the Nod” said John

“My brother…Nod! He’d never go with their side he’s a paladin like you John” Dawn said trying to calm things down

“He enhanced horse’s hooves to make it more powerful.... strong enough to take the governor from his home and kill his guards, to get access to the city from within”

“TO SAVE A LITTLE GIRL”S LIFE IS WHY I DID IT!!” Shouted Cloud

“If I wanted to kidnap a governor like you did I wouldn’t have needed the horse” Continued Cloud

“Dawn, get the governor out of here” said John aiming his sword at Cloud

“Rain is in the next room Dawn go there” Cloud demanded “No! Go out side the rest of my men will get you to the guard house Dawn go there” John braked louder

“Shut-up and Stay away from my sister” Bolted Cloud

“Don’t listen to him Dawn your brothers evil” John said

“What, Evil?” Cloud said baffled

“How dare you get so involved with her and in her life with that evil strain that is running through your vanes!” snapped John

Laughing a little Cloud barks “That’s good, did you practice that one in the mirror a few times or is it that much easier to say when evil is purely staring back at you”

“Stop it you guys, stop it” Dawn cried out getting scared at their intent

“I’m so far from evil and way closer to god than you will ever be” yelled John

“You’re not close to god, looks to me like your trying to replace him” bolted Cloud

“AHHHH!” said John as he swings at Cloud to start the fight. Dawn starting to panic runs the governor out of the room and tells him to go outside to meet the guards, seeing him off Dawn turns and runs to the other room to get Rain.

Turning to see his sister enter the room Rain sparks in shock,

“Dawn what are you doing here, never mind we have to get you out of here Cloud just went to kill John, Dawn, John is evil” Dawn gazed to the ground seeing the dead men to it and covering her mouth Dawn gasped “Those are his men” she snapped

“Who’s” Rain questioned

“JOHN”S” Dawn cried and babbling while crying to tell Rain about the cover operation and why John thinks Cloud is evil, Rain tells her back why Cloud thinks John is evil.

“We have to stop them or they’ll kill each other” Rain bolted and both hurried to the main room.

The two fought their way over furniture and all around the room until Cloud trips over a chair behind him, losing his balance as well as his sword. Cloud falls to his back upon the ground with John a winning smile.

“Now it’s time for you to die!” John says standing over him and turning his sword around holding it with two hands John raises it into the air to drive it in to Cloud’s chest. Rain and Dawn come running around the corner to see Cloud on the ground about to be ran through, “John no!” Dawn shouted as she bolted to cover Cloud but fearing for her life Rain grabs her ankle. Falling to the ground Dawn’s dagger slips from its sheath and slides across the floor towards Cloud’s side. Coming toward him, Cloud grips it with John’s chest open for attack and thrusts it into John’s Armor piercing it through to his heart. Spinning backwards to get to his feet Cloud grabs his sword and goes up to John’s side. Looking up and seeing what transpired Dawn screams out while struggling free of her brother’s grip to run to John’s side. Pulling out the dagger she tries to heal him but the wound won’t close.

“I can’t stop the bleeding John” Dawn says crying by his arm “I’m not strong enough”

Cloud getting to his feet and holding his side walks over to Rain who holds a bad look back to his brother “Those men we killed in that room Cloud, they had guard uniforms under the robes, they were his men in the middle of a cover operation, John was on our side the whole time” Rain explained at a whisper as they watch John’s final moments to life with Dawn to his side.

Throwing his head back against the wall and closing his eyes Cloud huffs out a breath of stupidity “Then his mission is now mine” and with a small limp does Cloud move slow to up to his sister. Dawn watches John’s final breath move his body limp and covering his eyes to close them did a tear run to her face, but changing to a scowl Dawn glared to Cloud on his approach “Dawn, Rain just told me I…..”

“Don’t” Dawn said wave her hand at him “Don’t you DARE! Try to apologize to me you narrowing thinking simple minded Drow! That’s all you are to me right now is one of them and he’s dead because of it” she gets up and runs out of the room, reaching to grab her arm she pulls away yelling to him ”Don’t touch me and stay out of my LIFE!!” and runs out. Going to go after her Cloud is stopped by Rain “Let her go Cloud, she doesn’t need us right now, let her be alone” The brother’s stand still hearing her cry through her fast paced run and Rain looks to the look of his brother that only holds shame.

As Rain came home did he see Dawn staring to the common room fire, he could see the tear streams had dried to her face and only a cold look of hurt remained, “You miss him a lot don’t you” Rain said pulling back his hood but her look she gave brought no words, “Is Cloud home?” Rain asked “Don’t know…don’t care” Dawn replied in monotone.

“I know you loved him I’m sorry” Rain sympathized to her, “I didn’t love him Rain”

“You go to a mid night picnic, with new earrings and new intent…Dawn please your not fooling me”

“It was what his mission was that I enjoyed, his statement in life” she snapped back annoyed

“So looking they way you did was to impress his mission then, I’d think you’d find the relationship one sided” Dawn glared and said nothing back, “He’s a human male Dawn…and you’re a female”

“God Rain I wasn’t having sex with him,” Dawn snapped in defense

“No need to get mad or hide anything Dawn”

“I’m not alright!” she scolded and coming to him Dawn slapped him in the face and took her leave of the room.