Author's Note: Well here is the next chapter, since I can't seem to get myself to update as often, I will simply apologize. This second arc is nearing its conclusion. There will probably be two more chapters until I move to the third and final arc. Thank you for reading, I really am trying to update this, but I definitely need inspiration.

As always, I own nothing from the Elenium and Tamuli series, that is strictly the property of David and Leigh Eddings.

Enough chatter, on to the story!

A Thief In Armor

(Arc 2)

Chapter 18: Showdown

Part 1.

The heart of Styricdom fairly glittered against the horizon. The descending sun bathed the white city in hues of varicolored light making her seem more a hazy, heavenly realm of rainbows than a city where people did such mundane things as work, sleep, take and loose water.

Sarsos. Her marble-sheathed edifices saluted a time both present and antique. On the surface it was as it always was; a flourishing, graceful place that echoed the soul of her children. However, the air was heavy with an unseen malevolence. It caused the hairs on the back on Talen's neck to stiffen. Something here was fundamentally wrong, something preying just below the surface.

Talen shielded his eyes as he attempted to figure out where he had emerged. Looking around he suddenly caught the alarmed and fearful stares pointed in his direction.

"Hey you! Outsiders! Where did you come from?" A voice in the gathering crowd shouted in Styric. Angry and frightened murmurings began to issue from the rapidly swelling mob.

Talen grabbed a dazed Kyyis by the arm and fled. Angry protests followed him, but the agile thief-Knight was thoroughly experienced in making quick escapes. Almost immediately he lost his pursuers as he wheeled around corners and down side paths. Just to be on the safe side, he smoothly slid and twisted down several more narrow lanes and alleys, leaning finally against a large building concealed by the shadows cast by the overhang above.

Kyyis plopped to the ground breathing heavily. "Whew! Do you think we lost them?"

"For now," Talen answered checking around to make sure no one had followed them. "I'll definitely need to find a less conspicuous way to do that next time." He observed passing a hand across his forehead wiping away the accumulated perspiration.

"Next time?" Kyyis exclaimed. "What the hell, Talen? I never want to do that again!"

Talen laughed ruefully. "Never say never, Kyyis. It's a long walk back to Demos."

"Why me?" Kyyis sighed, cupping his face in his hands and giving Talen a look of pure, unadulterated misery.

Talen grinned impishly and peered around the building. "Come on we're close!" He said, gesturing to his brother. "Keep your head down and for the love of god let me do the talking! Your Styric sounds worse than a drunken cow whose mouth is stuffed full of sod."

"You know, Talen, you can be very offensive. My Styric is not that bad." Kyyis pointed out in an injured tone.

Talen ignored him and carefully walked out into the street, his pace unhurried, his expression nonchalant. During his flight he had only been focused on removing himself and his brother from danger. Even then, in the back of his mind he knew Sarsos had changed since he'd last been there.

For one, he saw no individual citizens, instead the inhabitants gathered in groups of three or four seeming to huddle together for protection. Second, there seemed to be no Atans, even though there was supposed to be a garrison here, as in all the countries of the Tamul Empire. In fact, Talen saw no outsiders whatsoever.

The increasingly nervous young man immediately sought out concealment. He and Kyyis had forgone their armor before the search of Listrange's tomb. Talen was of two minds about that, the armor would have caused him to stand out, here in Sarsos. On the other hand, he had to admit he missed the protection and the invincible feeling he had when encased in steel.

It certainly would have helped when he had been chased by dead clergy in the tombs. The Pandion could not get a handle on how much could change in a single night. His arrival in Chyrellos two days previous seemed a lifetime ago.

"Where are we going, anyway?" Kyyis hissed. Talen didn't answer him, instead pointing ahead to an elegant-looking building covered, like the rest of Sarsos, in snowy marble. As the two Knights neared it, he went around the side of the palatial residence, wracking his memory for the back entrance.

It had been at least ten years since Talen had been to Sarsos, the Styric capital and where the Thousand convened to meet. He leaned against the wall and focused back to the last time he had been here.

Vanion, the former Pandion Preceptor had been injured. Talen remembered that he had been lying down. The location of the back entrance immediately returned to his memory and Talen led his brother quietly to it. It was well concealed as it was located behind a fountain, but the thief had no trouble finding it.

As Talen suspected, the lock was barely a challenge, though the enchantment laid on it was fairly convoluted.

Kyyis' eyes widened as they entered the residence, which was well-lit from the overhead sky-lights built into the ceiling. "Talen, where are we? Who lives here?" He asked.

A flare of brightness brought the room into greater illumination as Talen finished lighting one of the mounted candles. The residence was lovely, large and open with splashes of vibrant tapestries and mounted oil paintings. The décor was spare giving the room a feel of vastness.

"Oh, it's just a little place Sephrenia and Vanion like to call home." Talen replied lightly. "You should be able to re-provision us fairly quickly…"

"Hold on, Talen. You're assuming a lot here. We can't just steal from a former Preceptor and a Styric high priestess!" Kyyis said, incredulous.

"Stop being so priggish, Kyyis. I'm sure our little mother won't mind us borrowing a few things. We are serving a greater cause." Talen said, locating a loaf of bread and biting into it. He split it and tossed the other half to his brother.

Kyyis hesitated briefly before tearing into the loaf hungrily. His protests momentarily silenced, Talen headed further into the residence, casually rifling through owner's possessions.

He soon found what he was looking for, a long, shimmering, forest-green cloak that was deeply hooded. He pulled it on, satisfied with its fit. He called instructions back to Kyyis as he further explored various rooms.

"They keep all the foodstuffs in the cellar. There's a staircase down the hall on your right. Get as much as we can carry."

Talen stopped at a row of dorm-like bedrooms and peeked inside. A quick investigation turned up another green cloak. Across from one of the beds was a workbench with several corked bottles. He filched them all and headed back to where Kyyis was finishing his bread. He handed a confused looking Kyyis the cloak. "Why aren't you getting the food?" Talen asked.

"You obviously know this place, why am I getting all the supplies?" Kyyis asked as both Knights headed down the hallway toward the cellar.

Talen frowned and began patting his shirt. "I told you I have to see the Thousand." He replied absently. Finally he fished the ancient book out of his lapel. "Here." He said handing it to Kyyis.

"What is this?" his brother asked examining the ancient tome.

"One of the two ciphers, apparently."

Kyyis' eyebrows shot up as he opened the book and began examining it.

"Don't bother." Talen offered. "It's an ancient version of Styric. We'll probably need Sephrenia to translate it."

Kyyis continued to look at the book. "Sephrenia? Why don't we get Flute to translate it? She was around when it was written, right... Talen what is it?"

Talen's face had gone pale at the mention of Flute. He didn't answer right away, but instead looked down.

"Talen?" Kyyis asked again.

"I have to go now. Get whatever you can ready…" he said as he changed directions to return to the entrance. "If I'm not back by dawn, take the cipher and get as far away from Sarsos as possible."

He turned back to Kyyis who was staring at him stunned. "Talen…you're not going to challenge the Thousand are you?" he asked.

Talen balled his fists at his side. "I don't have a choice. I don't have enough time to chase down a flighty Styric priest. The best chance I have to find out about Anon's tower quickly is the Thousand."

"By yourself?" Kyyis asked. "Maybe you haven't noticed, but Sarsos is feeling a little hostile toward foreigners, and our only ally is a whole continent away. What if something happens to you?" he continued.

"I have to take that chance, Kyyis. This 'Anon' has our Princess, the only heir to the Elenian throne! Just promise me if I don't come back that you get the cipher out of here. Get it to Prince Sparhawk."

Kyyis looked at Talen helplessly.

"Kyyis, do you understand?" He asked, grabbing his brother roughly by the shoulders.

His brother nodded grimly as he studied Talen's feverish eyes and pale face. "Talen, don't get killed alright?"

Talen turned and left, leaving Kyyis unanswered.

Part II

"Where are they?" Queen Ehlana asked. "They have been gone almost two days now!" The beautiful blonde queen paced up and down the chambers set aside for her use muttering angrily.

Candlelight sconces lit the chamber brightly, illuminating the richly appointed room. Heavy carpets and tapestries threaded with crimson and gold attested to the importance of the guest quartered there.

"Are you certain Danae went with Talen?" she asked a young lady who had been attending the missing princess. The girl nodded vigorously, her face pale under the Queen's scrutiny.

The worried mother continued to pace. "When I get my hand on that young lady…"

"Ehlana, please calm yourself." Dolmant said quietly.

The Queen stopped and fixed the Archprelate with a deathly stare. "My only child has vanished into thin air!" she said just as quietly. "She has been missing for almost two days now!"

Dolmant held up a hand. "Hardly thin air, your Majesty. Several witnesses have seen your daughter in the company of Sirs Talen and Kyyis. Surely she is safe with the protection of two trained Knights of the Pandion order."

Ehlana sighed, some of the wind going out of her sails. "Yes, my dear, dear Dolmant. But that was two nights ago!" she said her voice shaking. "What if something happened…to all of them? Kyyis, and Talen…they are so young, still children really…"

Dolmant felt a small smile play at the corner of his mouth. The Queen truly had the heart of a mother, Kurik's sons had grown up years ago, but to the Elenian Queen they would always be boys.

The aging Archprelate stood and walked to where Ehlana stood, her arms wrapped around herself in helpless worry. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders.

"Ehlana please remember those crypts are quite extensive. They run underground beyond this Basilica, into the city proper. It will take time for them to find what they are looking for. Have hope; they will return, I know it."

Ehlana nodded slightly, tears gathering in her eyes. The emotions she normally kept in check threatening to overwhelm her. "It is already hard enough with these horrific abominations I see outside, and no word from my Sparhawk in ages…now my only child vanished! I can't bear it!" She drew back from the Archprelate and wandered over to the window, sighing disconsolately as she studied the barren landscape looming outside.

A wall of fire surrounded Chyrellos in a semi-circle obscuring anything beyond the city from the direction of Elenia. Ehlana leaned her head against the window and sent up a silent prayer that her husband and daughter would return to her safely.

There was a loud rapping on the door and the young Queen looked up and gestured for her guard to allow access. Sir Bevier led a small group into the room; including Berit and Olet. Ehlana also recognized the Cyrinic's tutor, Sephrenia's young doppelganger. Ehlana could not recall her name though she remembered the young lady fainting. She appeared to be feeling better, though still a bit pale.

"Has there been any news on where princess Danae is?" Berit asked.

Ehlana shook her head mutely, not trusting herself to speak. Olet came over and wrapped her arm around the Queen. She and Berit's red-haired fiancée were very close. "Do not concern yourself my lady; I am certain your daughter is quite safe."

At that moment, Ehlana caught the Cyrinic tutor draw her brows and clamp her hands together tightly. For some reason the worried gesture made the Queen's stomach flip. The dark haired woman looked up catching Ehlana's gaze. The woman who so closely resembled Sephrenia attempted a smile.

"We are all praying for the safe return of your daughter, your Majesty." The woman said fervently.

Y'phira. Ehlana suddenly recalled the young woman's name. For some reason Y'phira seemed just as worried about Danae as Ehlana herself. Ehlana laboriously summoned a smile to return. "I hope your feeling better, lady Y'phira?"

The young woman blushed. "Yes thank you, your Majesty. I'm sorry for troubling you all."

"Now, now, none of that!" Ehlana said, waving her hand and smiling genuinely. "It wasn't any trouble at all I'm just glad you're all right. And please call me Ehlana in private, 'your Majesty this, your Majesty that…becomes tiresome after awhile."

That pulled a gentle laugh from Y'phira, and with a sudden realization Ehlana found she absolutely adored the sweet-natured young woman. Just as suddenly the Queen realized that she wasn't the only one. Sir Bevier's riveted gaze was glued to his young tutor and the sound of his laugh had an undeniable effect on him.

She exchanged a wink with Olet, whose lavender eyes sparkled with mischief. There would definitely be plans for the Cyrinic preceptor.

Several hours later, Dolmant had left, along with his retinue. Ehlana dismissed her maids and seated herself across from the lovely, luxurious vanity that had been provided with her rooms. The candles and sconces began to burn lower as evening approached. The lonely Queen picked up one of her favorite combs, a gift from Sparhawk, and began pulling it through her long, pale hair.

Studying her reflection as she drew the comb down her locks, she noticed dark circles under her eyes and the lines of worry around her mouth. If her husband were here he would have drawn her into his arms and commanded her to relax until she was rested. As it was, she was barely able to sleep more than an hour at a time.

While worry and loneliness for her husband and daughter kept her awake well into the night, sleep offered no respite. Ehlana's dreams were haunted by inferno hued skies, barren landscapes and nightmares of Sparhawk falling through bones and darkness, reaching and calling for her. She could never get close enough to him. She had awakened with tears in her eyes, sobbing for her beloved.

The slow and hypnotic combing of her hair, coupled with her exhaustion and lack of sleep was having a strange effect on Ehlana. As she sleepily studied her mirror her room appeared to darken. Oddly enough, she felt as if she were not alone. Tipping her head to one side she could see a figure standing behind her. Turning around she glanced at her chamber which was empty.

Assuming her mind was playing tricks on her, the pale Queen returned to her mirror and the figure was gone. She picked up her comb again.

It could have been minutes or hours later, but most of the candles had gone out save one. Ehlana could feel the comb continuing to be drawn through her hair. In a strange, bemused reverie, the Queen realized that she was no longer the one combing her hair. She looked up into the mirror where a woman continued to gently pull her silver comb through Ehlana's gleaming locks.

The single candle revealed a ravishing young woman, as dark as Ehlana was fair.

"Who are you?" she asked the young woman.

"There are some who call me Lillias, your Majesty," her voice a seductive purr.

The name seemed familiar to Ehlana, but somehow she could not place it. "Why are you in my chambers, Lillias? Who let you in?"

She felt the stirrings of alarm, but somehow her body seemed to not respond to her urgency. The woman continued to comb her hair, ignoring Ehlana's questions.

"What do you want with me?" Ehlana persisted. The woman smiled as she continued to pull the comb through Ehlana's hair, and finally deigned to answer.

"I came to take you on a little excursion, little queen, there's someone who wants to see you."

Ehlana found herself rising from her seated position as alarm spread to full-fledged panic. She could no longer control her own movements. The queen obediently followed Lillias to the entrance of her chamber. Outside the door, Ehlana's guards lay slumped, their still, unmoving bodies sending a shock of grief and fear through her.

Ehlana fought to resist the compulsion on her body as she followed Lillias down the winding staircases of the Basilica. However much she tried to scream, shout, or even stop her footsteps, she invariably remained silent and mobile.

The two women exited, walking past guards talking quietly on the third watch. None seemed aware that the Elenian Queen was wandering away from the Basilica escorted only by a dark-haired intruder. Despair and rage bubbled up as Lillias turned and smiled at her. "We are almost there, little queen." She whispered maliciously.

To Ehlana's growing horror, they were headed directly to the barren, inferno-hued landscape that had appeared two days ago. The Queen had heard reports that anyone who stepped into that place was utterly, and completely lost, never to be heard from. The other half of Chyrellos had been completely engulfed by it.

Tears began to slide down the pale woman's face as her feet continued to eat the distance between her and hell.

As her foot crossed the threshold between realities, her last though was of her beloved Sparhawk.

Part 3.

The pure, pristine pillars loomed above Talen, at least ten times his height. The Hall where the counsel met was an immense, imposing, monstrosity of an edifice. Talen privately reasoned that it was at least a little bit of posturing on the part of the Thousand. Though, to be fair, there was an incredible amount of ego that had to fit into one building. Viewed though that lens, the hall might be considered downright modest.

Talen quirked up a corner of his mouth, but his eyes were wary. Whatever the reason, he couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated. Still, he had a princess to save, even if that princess was theoretically an invincible goddess. He just didn't trust Danae to keep herself out of trouble.

Squaring his shoulders he quickly climbed the stairs to the structure, wasting no time. His body eclipsed the sun's nearly complete rotation, his long shadow a lone figure against the slanting, burnished rays.

Talen's boots lightly echoed in the spacious hall leading to the open air amphitheater where the Counsel met. For the second time that day he wished he had brought his armor. As Talen drew closer he could hear voices drifting back to him, snippets of intense conversation teasing his awareness.

Talen realized conversation may have been too mild of a word. Because of the largeness of the structure and it echoes, the discussions going one were both augmented and distorted, making it difficult for Talen to comprehend what was going on, not to mention every thing said was in Styric. Despite the fact that he couldn't understand exactly what was being said, he did know from the inflections, loudness and overall air of hostility that there was some serious arguing going on.

A set of large doors stood shut, the meeting room beyond. Under normal circumstances, Talen would have hung back, picking up information about what was going on and figure out how he could use it to his advantage.

However, these were not normal circumstances.

With a muttered word and quick gesture the solid granite doors exploded open, ripping off their hinges and leaving a spattering of crumbling rock. The arguing and conversation stopped abruptly and every head turned toward what had formerly been the entrance to the Thousand's convention.

Talen strode in unhurried, hands stuffed in his pockets with an insolent smirk on his face.

"Hullo, ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to interrupt your session, but I require some information," Talen said as he cavalierly headed toward the center of the chamber. A dark-haired, dark-eyed woman stood at the podium, staring at him in certain shock that was rapidly turning into cold fury.

Talen felt a chill of unease; the woman didn't look quite sane. For one, her eyes seem to burn with a fire all their own, and they were very, very dark. "Who dares interrupt the assemblage of the High Counsel of the Thousand?" she thundered in powerful, seemingly inhuman shout.

Talen blithely ignored her and turned to the Thousand gathered. A general murmuring had begun since Talen had blasted the doors. "I'm looking for Anon's tower." He said directly. "If someone can point me in the right direction, I'll be happy to let you get back to your little squabble."

All the murmuring immediately ceased as an ominous silence filled the hall. The gathered priests immediately made warding signs and shrank back. An older man with salt and pepper hair finally stood. "Young man, that name must never be spoken; it is forbidden!"

"Fine, but can anyone tell me where his tower is" Talen said, growing more anxious. This was not going the way he intended. Not to mention that he felt the gaze of the burning-eyed woman behind him and it made his skin crawl.

The older man wrung his hands. His eyes were a peaceful gray, but his face was drawn in a worrisome frown. "It is the stuff of antiquity and legend, my son; no one has laid eyes on the Tower of Bones for centuries. It was destroyed along with the Three."

"If it was supposedly destroyed," Talen interrupted, "Why did I get a direct invitation from one of Anon's minions?" There was a collective gasp as Talen rushed on "He has taken one of your goddesses hostage, you must help me!"

The older man's eyes widened. "Our goddess? Who? What has happened? Explain yourself young man."

"ENOUGH!" A powerful and terrible voice thundered.

Talen whirled around. The woman who had been staring at him now commanded the room.

She walked toward Talen menacingly, he dark eyes reminding Talen of the bowels of hell. "We do not entertain lapdogs of the Traitor." She said softly. Talen felt himself lifting off the ground. Was she using the Secrets?

"Shendar, stop immediately! This is not our way!" The older man protested reaching out a hand to counter the power lifting Talen.

"You forget yourself, Elatat, I am Over-priestess! This vermin is an enemy of all Styricdom. He is a lackey of our greatest foe!"

There were dynamics at work that Talen didn't understand. However, one thing he did know. Shendar would not stop until she destroyed him, he could feel the tension of her enchantments and see the deadly intention in her eyes.

He muttered a counter-spell and gestured quickly. Suddenly, Shendar went flying backwards as her powerful magic recoiled in her face.

The Counsel erupted.

Suddenly a Thousand high priests and priestess turned on him. The air thickened with the potential of magic about to be unleashed. The seconds slowed to Talen's echoing heartbeat as he counted down the last moments of his life.

…thump. Maybe he should have been a bit more diplomatic…

…thump. He hoped that Kyyis would do as he was told and get the cipher to Sparhawk. Perhaps the Elenian Prince would be able to put the rest of the pieces together…

…thump. He would really miss his mothers and brothers…Berit and Sparhawk and Ehlana…

…thump. And Danae. Oh god, Danae…he had never…

The first spell came flying and Talen used his talent to brush it aside. The second and third he was able to counter with a general shield, but the next slew broke through the rest of his defenses and pounded into his with the force of a gale. Talen felt himself falling as his knees crumbled beneath him. The sound around him was deafening and his ears were ringing. He struggled to look up, hoping for a last view of the sky before his final breath. A pinpoint of light above caught his attention. Was this death, come for him at last?

The point of light exploded, and everything went white.