-BY: LIRA-CHAN-

-NOTE:- I'm curious. People are used to seeing Dyrnn in the interludes. I mean, it's like the interludes are only good for spying on Dyrnn, right? Did anyone -miss- him when we took a peek at Zypphn instead? Anyone? No one? Hmm? Well, anyway, he's back this time. You may now rejoice. Or not; suit yourselves. I also won't be getting the rest of the story up on FP right away. I'm sorry. T_T

Dyrnn was in the throne room in his castle in Heaven. Quite frequently, the large room, with its vaulted ceiling, would be filled with angelic citizens. The throne room was where audiences were held, and at those times citizens could petition Dyrnn with their problems. However, on that day the throne room was empty. Dyrnn was the only angel in the room, walking idly back and forth in front of the dais itself. On the dais were two large chairs, richly upholstered and inlaid with gold, but made of wood. Rich, dark wood. For the past four years, only one of those chairs had been in use. The second chair was the Queen's, and the current Queen was Corrinth. Corrinth was gone.

Dyrnn had been telling the citizens that Corrinth was sick. For four years, the Queen had been "ill." Surprisingly, civil unrest had not yet become a problem. Dyrnn really wanted to do something, something different, before it did become a problem. Corrinth was Dyrnn's wife, and yet he did not have love for her. After some years, he had come to accept her, but he did not love her romantically, as his wife. To please the kingdom, a Queen was required. Dyrnn would just as soon tell his people that Corrinth had died as he would tell them she was well. If she died, things would be simpler. If she died, he could remarry.

At that point, one of Dyrnn's advisors entered the throne room. Searching for Dyrnn, no doubt. Perhaps the man would have news of the search for Dyrnn's wife. It wouldn't hurt for Dyrnn to ask.

"King Dyrnn," the advisor said quietly, dropping in a bow.

"Yes, yes," Dyrnn muttered impatiently. The problem with the missing Corrinth was still irking him, and he was not in the mood for formalities. "You've brought me news, correct? Start speaking."

"Yes, my liege," the advisor agreed, obviously less willing to depart from the formalities and risk the wrath of the Holy King. "The group of advisors conducting the search for your missing wife... They've compiled a report, detailing all the different components of their search."

"My wife?" Dyrnn asked, eyes lighting up. "And you say the lazy bunch of fools I set to finding her have finally gotten their facts organized enough to share with me? If that's the case, get right to the details. We must have tried dozens of things by now. We don't even know what city Corrinth is in!"

"Actually..." The advisor began, worried that his King would curse the bringer of the news, and not those responsible for his having to bring bad news. "A month back, Corrinth was discovered to have been staying in a town in the southwest by the name of Twoford. Her actual place of residence during the past four years is still unknown, for she has since vacated the town. I apologize on behalf of the search team, for the time they took in relaying this information to you, sir."

"It's alright," Dyrnn said dismissively, refusing to worry about anything other than Corrinth's current whereabouts. "Don't tell me that the search team has no other news, not after all this time?"

"There's more, my lord," the advisor admitted. "Since locating her highness, Queen Corrinth, the search team has made many creative attempts to... Ah... Do away with her. As you requested, of course."

"Go on," Dyrnn mused, understanding the advisors worry regarding Dyrnn's wish to assassinate his wife. Yes, proclaiming the Queen dead would solve many problems. But first, the Queen would have to die.

"The first attempt... On the Queen's life... Was made when the Queen was on the road north, just outside of Twoford. Rather than eradicating a troupe of bandits locals had been having problems with, the search team enlisted the assistance of the bandit king. The bandit king was given the image of her on the road. When the Queen arrived, he was ready to rob her, as the bandits do all passerby of wealth, then slit her throat, killing her. However...

"The search team returned to speak with the bandit king about payment, and instead discovered thirteen corpses still in the wood. Inspecting the corpses, no cuts or bruises or other physical injuries related to death were discovered. Rather, the search team reports that the bandits appeared to have been struck by lightning, electrocuted and rendered lifeless. Each man, struck individually by lightning. The search team hypothesizes that magic was involved in the slaughter of the bandits. Whether or not the bandits ever met up with Corrinth is unknown, however, Corrinth was reported to be alive still, and traveling on the north road."

"So the first attempt, despite creativity and resourcefulness, was a failure," Dyrnn summarized.

"I'm afraid so, my lord. However... Further attempts were made."

"Continue with the report."

"The second attempt by the search team on the life of the Queen. The second attempt was less involved than the first. Having located the corpses of the bandits, and having followed the north road to the nearest city to the north, the search group located the inn where Corrinth was staying. Rather than risk discovery by attacking her highness directly, the team sought out a local pickpocket, skilled with knives, and paid him to murder Corrinth upon her departure from the inn. For reasons unknown, the pickpocket failed to take the life of the Queen. However... He did not encounter whatever force or mage that had done away with the bandits, and lived long enough to speak with the search team."

"So the second try was also a flop," Dyrnn interjected.

"Not exactly," the advisor said delicately. "After speaking with the pickpocket a second time, the search team made a discovery. The source of the magical lightning was still unknown, but Corrinth was discovered to have acquired two traveling companions. One, another girl, aged roughly thirteen years, copper of skin and orange of hair. The other, a man, middle-aged, in his thirties, perhaps, with brown hair and eyes, and skin of a lighter shade than the girl."

"That's interesting..." Dyrnn admitted. "But did the search team continue in pursuit of my wife?"

"Yes, in fact, a third attempt was made on her highness' life a rough week later. Still following the Queen and her companions on the north road, the search team encountered a wild mage. The man had the ability to control and affect wild animals, which was deemed useful by the search group in attempting to do away with her highness. The mage was paid to set wild animals upon the Queen. According to the search team, the mage did set a wild boar upon the Queen and her companions, but the mage failed to end her highness' life. Speaking with the wild mage after the incident, the search group discovered that it would be impossible for the man to do away with the Queen, because of 'the lightning magic protecting her.' However, the source of the lightning is still unknown."

"Another failure," Dyrnn muttered dejectedly. "Continue, if there is more to be told. Perhaps the team should have just attacked Corrinth."

"There was a fourth attempt... In another city, the search team met up with an old peddler in possession of many magic talismans. One of the charms he possessed was a death-pendant, a locket with a curse on it. The death-pendant was accompanied by a life-pendant; when the person with the life-pendant triggered the spell on the two necklaces, the curse on the death-pendant would still the heart of the person or creature wearing the second necklace. The search group purchased the life-pendant, paying the peddler to sell the death-pendant to Corrinth. However, one of Corrinth's companions forbade her to purchase the death-pendant, and she escaped the spell with her life and with a small burn on her arm."

"Have I mentioned that the search team is comprised of a bunch of incompetent fools?" Dyrnn asked spitefully, disheartened by yet another failure. "If one of the lot had just bought a crossbow and shot the girl, then we would all be better off."

"There was one more attempt made," the advisor admitted tentatively.

"Go ahead, continue."

"The support group lost Corrinth and her companions two weeks back, but they did make one last try at the Queen's life. The results of this attempt are not yet known. Realizing that their previous attempts had all resulted in failure, the search team decided to resort to more conventional methods. The search team hired an assassin by the name of Nikolai, paying him to kill the Queen. He was equipped with the image of her highness, and sent out. Like I said, that was two weeks ago. After assassinating the Queen, Nikolai has been instructed to return with proof of her highness' death before he can expect payment."

"So now we have a real assassin on the job," Dyrnn mused. "I approve."

"Shall I inform you when there is news of Nikolai's success?" the advisor asked, obviously relieved that the ordeal was over.

"You do that," Dyrnn agreed. "I will wait for news about this assassin. Until then, the search team has my permission to leave the matter be. Report to me as soon as there is news."

"I will, sir," the advisor said, bowing deeply.

"You may go."

The advisor bowed again, and left. Dyrnn returned to pacing along the length of the dais. His search team really was a group of fools. Bandits, pickpockets and incompetent mages? Not to mention old peddlers. What was his kingdom coming to... But no matter. At long last, Corrinth had been located, and a true assassin had been hired. All that there was left for Dyrnn to do was wait.

-NOTE:- A few notes I'd like to leave you with. First... Everything is beginning to make a little more sense, correct? It's still kind of silly, the ways Dyrnn's search team attempted to assassinate the Queen... But now it can be seen that none of those events were just random occurrences as written by me. In addition... I need to clarify something. I promised slash. I may have said this already... But there really isn't a hint of a pairing, is there? I mean, only now are there even two male characters in the same area. And they aren't exactly on friendly terms. And whatever became of Piers? Well... There -will- be slash, I promise. However, it won't be for a few chapters more, I admit. Finally- A semi-spoiler. I apologize if you didn't wish to know. The spoiler- two male-male pairings, because I -feel- like it. However, this story is a fantasy-adventure sort of thing first, and a romance... Perhaps fourth. Just... Don't yell at me for not delivering to your satisfaction, if you choose to be displeased.

This is my nanovel, after all. *cackles*