A few people seem to not understand the concept of REVIEWING!! Please, for the story’s sake, review each chapter individually, as this will help me immensely. If you have any information about the animals I am using for Vedren’s part, then please help me out a little. I know quite a bit about them, but not everything, and this story has to be good. I know it seems a little rude for me to demand reviews, but it is also rude if you read and don’t review. I don’t like leeches… Another thing; magic in this story does not have any limitations except the power of the wielder. There is no need for powders, potions, energy from a living thing; nothing. Many of you will recognize the name of the elf in this chapter from my Eragon fan-fictions, Existence and Extinction. This is one of my favorite characters, and I knew he deserved a spot in this book.

Sarah was prodded awake by Drek, who was standing over her with his muzzle very close to her face. For some reason she wasn’t afraid of his teeth being so close to her neck, and she pushed him away and sat up angrily. She had slept with her clothes on, and she massaged her wrist where the black leather gauntlets were. They were much lighter on her than they should have been, and they fit her as if made for her.

She yawned loudly. She had found that the thin blanket that she had slept on was quite comfortable, especially as the dragon’s home was very hot even when he wasn’t there. She raised her hand and grabbed a chandelier with her mind, pulling herself up. The gloves had become her favorite possession in one night, and she found life much easier with them. She had not taken them off since she had received them, and she doubted she ever would.

“Wow, you humans sleep late. It is nearly six!” Drek said.

“I sleep in, and a few humans get up an hour after going to bed, about one in the morning. They’re called idiots or Marines, depending on their profession.” The dragon chuckled at the joke. “Well, what now? I suppose it’s a busy day doing nothing?”

“Not quite…” There was something in the dragon’s voice that made her nervous. “I found out from a trusted friend that you are very distantly related to the real sun-elves on your father’s side.” Sarah twitched at the news. “Even that little can lead to a connection with magic…so…”

“You’re going to try and teach me?” The dragon smiled and nodded. “Magic is an art that you must be born to perform, and it can very rarely be learned. I want to do this in case you need to defend yourself.” The dragon thought for a moment. “Most sun-elves were taught how to create magical light when they were just old enough to control it; about two. Hold your hold palm upwards and will light into being. I know it seems ridiculous, but so is the use of a wristwatch to me.”

Sarah sighed, holding her hand out with the palm upwards. She thought very hard about a ball of light appearing in her hand…but of course nothing happened. She tried again, and yet it seemed that the room wasn’t getting any brighter. She focused all her will on that one thought. Light! She screamed in her mind. She would have had better luck getting a badger to break-dance.

“I don’t think its working.” Sarah said with finality. Drek raised his own hand and a ball of white light appeared. It seethed and sizzled, trying to escape his grasp but not succeeding. He banished it and looked at her critically. “Is there anything a little simpler?”

“Magical light is the simplest form of magic, at least besides kinetic magic, but you have already handled that with those gauntlets.” The dragon sighed. “Try one more time, just for certainty.”

Sarah raised her hand again and focused her will. Nothing happened. She sighed. “I don’t think I can use magic, Drek. I’ll leave it to the real professionals.” She glanced at her watch. “So, now what?”

“I think you should find yourself something in town to do.” Drek said. “I have business, and I can’t stay here to watch you. I trust you can take care of yourself?”

“Of course I can!” Sarah said. “Oh, by the way…are sun-elves considered royalty?” Drek smiled.

“That they are. They were worshipped by the Aztecs as gods for many centuries, and they are held to be the greatest of the spellweavers.” He nodded towards her. “Well, stay out of trouble, elf. Don’t make me have to pull strings to get you out of prison.”

Sarah left, stepping out into the street. There was a gathering of what looked like children in the dim light, but soon turned out to be huge rats standing on their hind legs. They had clean grey fur that was well groomed, and they held knifes and swords. Some of them even wore armor. One of them wore a strange looking shield with a star emblazoned on it in lime green. They saw her and bowed slightly, their black eyes glimmering.

They ran off, chittering loudly at each other. “Those are members of the Rodkree clan.” Drek said from behind her. “They see sun-elves as their masters, and will seek to please you any way they can. I have no idea why, but be grateful that you have an army to back you up.” He snickered. “They are scavengers for the most part. They don’t look like much, but when they must fight, even one of them can defeat a trained elf. They are quite well-mannered for rodents, really.” Sarah nodded, looking back at the retreating forms.

Sarah saw many more of the Rodkree as she walked in the streets, and she realized she had seen many of them the previous night. They all watched her from the shadows, darting from hiding places. There were some arguing over a rusty sword in an alley, but they stopped as she passed. Even though they were rats, she felt better knowing that a there was someone around that she could trust to not stab her in the back.

The two ogres were sleeping side-by-side outside the estate, a large bottle of what looked like rum between them. Sarah saw a sign swinging over the door of a dark building, and was surprised to see that it was in English. It was apparently some sort of bar; a tavern if she remembered her stories. She stepped through the doors and into the dark room.

There were tables sitting in no distinguishable pattern, each with at least four chairs of varying sizes. There were a few creatures sitting around, too drunk to leave and not drunk enough to want to leave. Sarah noticed the only elf in the room was sitting at the counter, hunched over. There was something about him that seemed very odd

His hair was like liquid silver, and his fingernails were metallic. His skin had a strange bluish tint to it, and his eyes were grey and bright. He looked at her as she sat down, frowning. There was something about the look he gave her that frightened her, and she saw that his pupils were slitted.

“Well, you can trust me to keep your secret, my lady.” He said in a deep, smooth voice. His very words seemed like a song on their own.

“And what is that?” Sarah asked. He smiled.

“That you are not supposed to be among our kind.” He knew what she was. She tried not to notice it, but she flinched anyway. “Don’t worry; I can keep your secret. I’m not an elf either, if you must know. I am Lunaris, though most call me Twilight.”

“Well, Twilight, how did you know?”

“I could smell human on you. It is too strong for you to have just been around them, you had to have been one. I know you’re hiding out, just like me.” He smiled, revealing razor-sharp teeth. “I am an Akrakt, if you must know. I am what you call a-“

“A shapeshifter, yes, I know.” He chuckled. “You are a little different from the one I know.”

“I would rather be in the form I was born in, but I lost my power due to an incident with a Shadow. Nasty creatures, they are.” The elf sighed, standing up. “Well, miss, if you ever need help, I will see what I can do.”

“Thank you, Twilight.” The Akrakt left and Sarah followed after a few moments. One of the Rodkree was standing outside. He was dressed in full plate armor that hugged his thin body, and was no higher than her hip, like all of his kind. He had a sword belted at his waist, and his light grey fur was neat and clean. He truly looked like a knight in shining armor, despite being a rat. He smiled widely when he saw her, his hairless tail swishing behind him.

“Hello, my lady.” He said in his high voice, bowing to her. “I was instructed by our king to accompany you.” Sarah smiled at the rat’s statement.

“I don’t think I really need a bodyguard, sir…”

“I am Sir Nefrol of the Rodkree.” He said proudly. This was obviously a knight, and a great one at that. He coughed and looked down. “But my friends just call me Nef.”

“Well, Nef, I don’t really think I need a bodyguard.”

“Then not a bodyguard, a…what’s the word…companion?” He sighed. “I have to go with you even if you refuse, as are my orders. His Majesty is very…um…well, stubborn.” He yelped, holding his snout shut and raising his round ears in alarm. “Please don’t tell anyone I said that!”

“I won’t.” Sarah said with a smile. She had not really minded rats, and this creature’s personality was very likable. “Well, I guess I have no choice but to accept your companionship.” The rat bowed, falling in step behind her, his bare feet scratching the dirt with their small claws.

Sarah tried not to notice him, but she was forced to, as he kept making chittering noises. His armor made no sound at all, and it was as quiet as if he was naked, all except for his chittering. Sarah stopped, seeing a man opening up a market stall in the middle of the street. She approached and looked at the counter in front of her.

There were weapons of every shape and size, some old and rusted and some new and brilliant. The fat man looked at her strangely. He was not an elf, nor a human, but she didn’t know what he was. But he smiled warmly and she was willing to forgive his shortcomings…whatever they were.

“Well, I see you need something. What would you like?” He said in a deep voice. He had a small scar on the top of his bald head, and it gleamed white in the dawn sun.

“Well, I don’t really know what I could use, much less if I would need to use it. I just found it interesting that you appeared out of nowhere, selling the one thing I don’t have.” She looked at the rat by her side, eyeing the foot-long sword at his belt. “I have never held anything more than a steak-knife, and I doubt I could defend myself from anything. I don’t think anything would have reason to attack me.” The man looked at her grimly.

“There are more thieves in this city than most of the human ones I have visited. I sell guns and such there, and proper hand-to-hand weapons here.” He picked up a short dagger, eyeing the small pearl in the pommel. “Well, if you’ve never held a weapon before, then now is the best to time to try. You look like one that would prefer a blade to me, but I’ve been wrong before. Hold this in your hand and see if it feels right.”

Sarah took the blade in her hand, frowning. “I don’t think so. It feels far too light for a weapon. What should it feel like?”

“I can’t tell you, or it would keep you from choosing something that fits you.” He turned and dug around the shelves. He handed her a short sword with a slightly curved handle. She shook her head after holding it. He then handed her a large sword, something she couldn’t even lift. She glanced down at the bottom shelves, and a curved sword caught her eye. It was a long sword and it curved gracefully. A rapier if she remembered, or maybe it was a saber, but it didn’t really matter what it was called.

She held it in her hand and it felt almost weightless, the blade seeming to already be an extension of her body. She knew in her heart this blade matched her perfectly. But, of course, she had no money. She handed it back to the man. “At least I know what to look for when I do have the money.” The man nodded, smiling.

Sarah sighed, looking at the growing numbers of people now walking the streets. Nef followed her closely, a clawed hand on his sword hilt. Sarah saw a large building ahead, an elf sitting outside with a cut leg. He was bleeding fairly badly, and she knew that if he didn’t get help he would die of blood loss. Nef ran to his side just in front of her, swearing loudly when he looked at the wound.

“It’s pretty bad.” He said. “You were attacked by something with a beak, no?”

“A…a griffon.” The elf said, wincing as his leg was raised. Nef brought out a rag and tied it over the wound, even though it might become infected. The rag was soon soaked, however, and he was forced to take it off. Sarah thought about what Resk had said and she held her hand over the wound, willing it to heal with all her power.

At first, nothing happened, but then a faint glow appeared and the wound began to seal closed, the blood stopping. The man relaxed as the pain receded. Sarah gasped as she realized she had just done magic. The man sighed, his face pale.

“Thank you, kind lady.” He said. “I am glad there was a healer nearby…I need to get back home and rest.”

“Do you need help?” Sarah asked, her mind numb. The elf shook his head, standing and using the wall for support.

“I can wait here for a while, then I’ll get home…” Sarah nodded, leaving the man and shaking her head. She had used magic! Against all the odds, she had done the impossible. Nef strode by her side, looking up at her in concern.

“Are you alright, my lady?” He asked. She nodded, blinking her eyes. “Are you sure?

“I’m fine…just don’t like blood.” She said quickly. Nef chuckled.

“A sun-elf that doesn’t like blood? What is the world coming to…er, no offense, my lady.” He said, ears jerking upwards at his words.

“None taken.” Sarah said, walking towards a group of people. “Any idea what’s going on?” Nef snarled in disgust.

“Slave auction.” He said in a low voice. Sarah gasped and angled away from the gathering, heading into an alley. There was a lizard-man in the alley, standing by a large wooden door. The creature held a halberd at his side, and he was leaning on it wearily. “I would advise you to not get any closer…” Nef said, pulling her out of the alley. “That is an evil place.”

“Why is that man guarding it? To keep people from getting in?”

“To keep things from getting out.” Sarah understood perfectly. “It is a prison for the undead, mostly, but there are some other creatures there. Worse creatures…” He trailed off, pulling her further down the street. “Speak of the devil.” He muttered as a black figure approached. He pulled her out of its path. It was like a man, but solid black, like it was made of pure darkness. Its eyes glowed crimson and it glanced at them in obvious contempt as it passed.

“What was that?” Sarah asked softly, shivering. The air seemed to have grown very cold.

“A Shadow.” Nef said with a shudder. “Right nasty creatures they are, you never want to see one again, and you never want to be in its way.” Nef sighed heavily when the black creature vanished around a corner, the air heating noticeably. “They are the worst creatures that are allowed in the city. Never, under any circumstances, let one touch you.”

Sarah couldn’t help but ask. “Or else…”

“You’ll fade into darkness yourself…” Nef shivered and stamped his foot. “Gods, those things are horrible. Why they are allowed to roam free, I’ll never know…” Sarah was led through the streets by the rat now, and he made sure they stayed away from most of the fouler creatures.

“Nef, how old are you?” Sarah asked.

“Eight. Why?” Sarah jerked in surprise. “I am a rodent in his prime, but how old are you?”

“Twenty-four.” The rat rattled in his armor for the first time. “What? I’m not very young…”

“You look far older than you are.” Nef said, shaking his head. “Incredible…only twenty-four.” Sarah frowned at the rat, following him once again.

“What have I gotten myself into?” She asked herself once again, mouth agape as a manticore passed them.

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