Welcome to Gaia! ::

Kyrion landed silently to the left of Archer, folding his ivory colored wings back as he surveyed the group.

"We thought you lost Archer." Issildia said in a somber tone before immediately turning her attention to Kyrion.

"Lord Iroea." She stated, bowing slightly before standing normally.

"Why are you not within azerian lands...?" she inquired impatiently, curious as to why the azerian ruler was so far from his lands.

After returning her gesture of respect in a similar manner, Kyrion replied. "I require information, and I do not wish to put my people in the path of danger once again, thus I am pursuing this endeavor personally, Lady Nevar." He finished, addressing her as a noble of similar standing, something that she had not anticipated.

Abandoning the topic to the current situation Issildia's attention returned to Archer, "Where have you been since the battle?"

"I see..." Issildia replied while glancing briefly at Kyrion who seemed to be ignoring their conversation.

"I won't offer any excuse as to why we left without you." she admitted. "But a reason I can give you. We departed soon after the battle to gather information as to what exactly happened. It seems that a third party is involved in this..."

It was then that Kyrion interrupted, "At least none of you are completely without intelligence...one would hope that you would have caught on to things by now."

((Alright. Kei...You're gonna have to calm down with the language. I know it takes away from the dramatics of the speech, but this is still Gaia you know. lol.))

~As Niobe spoke to him, Darsha could only smirk at her. He did not seemed to get involved with this battle, but was wise enough to know where his priorities lie.~

I admire your loyalty child, but have you anyy idea as to what creature now threatens your master? Your threats fall on the wrong ears.

~With that, The three warriors, Azrielle, Malkaia and Aschera began their assault on the man in front of them. His movements were stiff due to his decayed flesh, but he seemd to be growing more used to his body with each passing second. Once the first of the three, Aschera, punched the man in his jaw causing him to stumble backwards a bit while Malkaia and Azrielle broke off to the side of him. Aschera continued his assault, hitting him three times in the jaw, and once in his chin in a massive uppercut which sent him hurling upwards. Time almost seemed to slow down as Azrielle and Malkaia leapt into the air after him. Once they reached his position, Azrielle struck with an upward slash dragging his blade across the back of the man, while Malkaia raised his blade and slammed it hard into his torso, sending him hurling back down to the ground. To their disbelief however, the man landed on his feet, and his wounds healed once again. It was then that his eyes flashed, and he struck out at Aschera.

His movements had dramatically hastened in the small amount of time that he had been attacked. Azshera had little time to react as the man grabbed him by his head, and slammed him hard into the wall behind him. Once Azrielle and Malkaia landed, he turned his attention toward the two of them, his body suddenly faded into the wind. Thw twin warriors' eyes widened, as they searched the room for his presence. It became clear that this technique was no illusion as they could not sense his aura once he vanished. He reappared to the left of Malkaia and swung his leg around in a devastating kick to his ribs, sending Malkaia plummetting into the very sarcophagus in which he had emerged. Azrielle attempted to attack the man with his blade, swinging it at his head. Miraculously, he blocked the blade with his forearm, causing the legendary blade, Mugetsu to shatter completely. In shock of this event, Azrielle could not react to what he had seen, and it was then that the man made his final attack. He spun to the rear of Azrielle, wrapping his arm around his neck, and forced his hand, his claws extended, through Azrielle's flesh. His hand was covered in the blood of his prey as he lifted him off the ground. Azrielle's grunts were loud and suggested that he was in excrutiating pain, as the man then dug his fangs into Azrielle's flesh.

Malkaia and Aschera could only watch with horror as they attempted to regain what little of their composure that they could. It did not take long for Azrielle's voice to grow silent as the man slowly stood from his position. His fangs dripping with the blood of the fallen warrior as he set his sights upon Azrielle's twin. The air within the tomb had begun to grow cold as the man walked back toward Malkaia. Azrielle's body had begun to darken as if it were burning as it sunk into the ground. The shadow that was missing from the body of the man that now walked toward Malkaia had returned. Darsha, having read enough of the inscription on the wall to understand the situation, now had a panicced expression on his face as he witnessed the downfall of Malkaia's twin.~

MALKAIA!!! We have to leave here. NOW!!!

Issildia's expression became one of anger as she slowly turned to face Kyrion.
"What do you know?" she questioned icily, disregarding proper behavior in the presence of one of his status.

Kyrion met her eyes with equal disregard. "More than you, it would seem Issildia."
There was a subtle hiss of metal as she drew her blade Nyththirren, and in an unseen instant had it leveled at the Azerian's neck. Though to her surprise the icy metal of his own blade bit into the skin at her throat as well.

They both stood as statues for a moment, waiting to see if the other would make a move before Kyrion spoke. "Akurei Takinowa the current lord of Trenius Sekia is responsible for the slaughter of the larovian forces, as well as the fall of Faltora." the azerian said in a stoic manner, both their forms still remaining frozen in place.
"Why?" questioned Issildia as she became aware of the slight trickle of blood at her neck, wrought by Kyrion's own blade.

"I do not know," he replied in the same utterly flat manner. "But it seems that Lord Takinowa was previously an ally of your father...I need to know why he committed this betrayal...Now if you would...I really would prefer not to kill you."

At this they both withdrew their weapons and sheathed them in the same instant.
"You do so remind me of him." he commented dryly to Issildia as her hand went to the shallow cut at her neck.

"Who" she inquired in a similar tone.

"Your father." Kyrion answered as he looked to the others, not bothering in waiting for her reaction. Though to his disappointment none was forthcoming as Issildia became silent, at this Kyrion addressed the others.

"If we intend to discover anymore information concerning this, then I advise that we leave now."

Issildia looked at Sin with an expression of slight disdain.
"Don't start." she uttered in warning at his previous comment.

"But Kyrion is correct...we should get moving." she admitted while directing an irritated glance at the azerian ruler, who chose to remain silent during the conversation.

Wordlessly Issildia retrieved the gray destrier from where it had been feeding off what little grass could be found beneath the light blanket of snow, and mounted the horse. She also retrieved the roan that Sin had ridden thus far and led it along side her own until she reached Sin and tossed the roan's lead rope to him.

"Lle auta yeste" Kyrion stated in anierian as he unfurled his wings and took to the sky, flying on ahead to scout since he did not currently have the patience to wait for them.

"He is going to scout ahead." Issildia translated in an emotionless tone as they came to the banks of the river. At this point of the Qeu' Dari the water was no more than ankle deep, but it was moving quickly across the dark polished stones that lined the riverbed.

As she signaled for her horse to cross as a swift walk she looked over at Sin. "Be wary of Kyrion, a good ruler he may be, but trust is not one of his strengths. He will do anything to ensure the well being his people...even if it means leaving us to our deaths."

Issildia sighed as he asked his question
. "You must understand Sin, if I allowed my emotions to rule me, I would be of no use to any of you. Watch your home be destroyed and all that you once called a comrade be slain...and tell me how you would manage afterwards...it is a matter of survival...nothing more."

"Hopefully you will never have to experience it..." she replied in a somber tone as they cleared the broad shallow expanse of the river.
"And do not concern yourself with such things interfering with my skills...I would never allow emotion in any form to endanger those I consider comrades. I've lost far to many to allow those that remain to be taken by death."