I've not felt quite myself since the incursion. I've no regrets about the decision that Ellyana and I made - to go through the doorway in the throne room, and face whatever lay beyond. And in common with all the other brave souls who made that very same decision, we knew full well that the escapade might demand that we be willing to pay the ultimate price, to make the greatest sacrifice possible for the safety of the lands we call home. And all who passed through that doorway made the decision willingly.
Since that time I've spent a lot of time sleeping. And when awake I've hunted wretches, spending marc after marc roaming the N'Rolav tombs and slaughtering every creature I stumble upon. There's so much nervous energy, and it needs to be released somehow. I must have been more wound up than I realised at thoughts of what might be won, and what could be lost. But the decision was made, the die cast. And the thought echoing loudest in my mind was to protect Ellyana, come what may. To look to the safety of my lady, to that of the others there, and for myself - the thoughts went around and around as we prepared for the foray. Since our return I've paid the price, both in my mind and in my dreams, for the state of over-controlled tense excitement which I allowed to take me over.
As I say, while awake I slay wretches. It's a method I've used before, letting mindless slaughter slowly release negative thoughts and emotion. It's something I can control to a certain extent ... the dreams are a different matter. Those are where all the possibilities come to mind, images of what could have been, pictures of what might have happened.


We passed through the door and walked along a long road, keeping a wary watch for any trap or attack. But there was nothing except that road. Nothing to our left, nothing to our right, nothing ahead, and as we moved along, nothing behind. We walked for marc after marc, or maybe for just a few moments. There was no way to mark the passage of time. At last, or perhaps it was very soon, we came to a town. It resembled Dundee to some extent, and Milltown too, all overlooked by a temple similar to that in Branishor. It was as though the area was a distillation of the entire lands.
We started to hear howls and shouts, and moved forward warily, following the orders that though spoken quietly came easily to our ears. The sky, bright above us though devoid of the 'rifter or any other obvious source of light suddenly darkened and a fierce wind whipped around us. And then the horde came, screeching and slavering as they attacked.
Time passed. Again it wasn't possible to tell how long we fought. We made advances, we fell back. Regroup and attack once more to regain lost ground. The earth was covered with a carpet of slain demonic creatures, and in amongst them lay a few fallen comrades. Ellyana and I took up a position at a point where one of the town streets opened out into a square, though truth be told we couldn't really see the square for the mass of creatures running at us. We fought off the first wave of attack, and my lady snatched an opportunity to heal us both. Our hands touched for a moment before the foe came at us once more. Again we strove to hold them back. Ellyana fell and I stood over her, giving her a chance to recover, as I struck out at the enemy.
Suddenly all went silent. Comrades were grouping together, and cries of relief sprang from some lips. Word went around that our task was done, and the order was given to march back and once more we walked that road. Behind us a shattering explosion shook the ground and the town we had fought so long to hold. There was some conversation around us, talk of a meeting a couple of marcs after we returned to the throneroom. Ellyana and I spoke quietly, but somehow none seemed to hear. And on our return our messages seemed to go astray for we received no replies.
We went to where we had heard the meeting was to be held, quietly greeting friends as we arrived, but again for some reason others seemed not to hear. We arrived to find comrades, grim-faced and some weeping, listening as a roll was called, and reports given of those who did not signal their presence. In faltering tones, what was known of the fate of those who had not returned was announced. And then these words washed over me ...

'Lady Ellyana Lilli the Sylvan and Lord Pallas the Perceptive, last survivors of the rearguard formed to cover the final withdrawal, fell in the square. Holding their position to the last, they were overrun by large numbers of the enemy. Observers report that Lady Ellyana was wounded and fell to the ground:Lord Pallas stood over her, protecting her and himself as long as possible. He was seen to draw a small dagger from his belt as he finally fell under a swarm of enemies.
During the later retrieval of those lost, the following points were noted -
The bodies of Lady Ellyana and Lord Pallas were surrounded by a large number of fallen enemies who had been despatched either by blade or hammer - both must have fought fiercely as long as they could.
A wound on Ellyana's wrist appears to have been made by one of Pallas' blades - the dagger in his left hand was, on testing, found to be covered with a fast-acting, lethal poison. One of those later charged with recovering the fallen was heard to comment that Pallas must have given Ellyana one final gift - a quick, clean death. At the last he fell over her, protecting her body from further assault. It was noted that the two died hand-in-hand.
The bodies, unlike some, were not despoiled by the enemy. It is suggested that when they clasped hands at the last moment, some unexplainable force between the two protected them even in death.'

Other names were mentioned, and I realised those named were not at the meeting, and at last all became clear. Ellyana and I exchanged a glance as the scene around us dissolved before our eyes. All was explained - why silence had fallen so rapidly in that frantic fight, why comrades had seemed to not hear our words or reveived messages we sent. I, and Ellyana too, took one last look at the faces of those who had survived, the friends we must now leave behind. We floated up and away from the assembly as it faded from sight. In the distance I made out a bridge, the arc of a rainbow, and we drifted toward it, ready for our next adventure - side by side, hand in hand.


I woke, confused and anxious. Confused as to whether I had in fact returned through that door, and anxious for Ellyana's wellbeing. I turned to watch her as she slept, noting with relief her easy, regular breathing. She was resting peacefully so far as I could tell. And, I hoped, her dreams were more pleasant than mine had been.