"Well? Are you gonna fill me in?" Fraener asked, a little irritated. Aetheiria shook her head, "No. Not right now." She walked toward their inn, obviously caught up in thought. Fraener just watched her as she walked away, then headed back inside to deal with their little friend.<br/><br/>Fraener closed the door behind him;  the guy still sitting in the chair, unrestrained, looking depressed. "Ok guy, here's the plan. You are going to stop spreading this stuff around and you are getting out of town. Obviously, the Elder's know where you are. we we told to "deal with you appropriately" and this is what I've decided. You will meet us at the front gates tomorrow morning and we will see you off. This is for your own safety. you understand?" Fraener said. The guy looked up and nodded, saying "Thank you..." before he passed out.<br/><br/>Fraener left the building and walked back towards the inn; the streets being mostly devoid of life now that it was late. The sun was down and the sky was filled with stars. He looked up as he walked, but kept wary of hidden pick-pockets. He made it back to the room unscathed; he walked in, Aetheiria already in bed, seemingly asleep.<span style="font-style: italic">Hmm... maybe she wouldn't mind if I crawl in bed with her...</span>he thought, then undressed, and climbed in bed behind Aetheiria, testing the waters. He felt nervous, yet excited at being so close, so intimate with her. A feeling he never had when he was with Meithera. She curled up deeper into him, snuggling close. Fraener sighed, relaxed and quickly fell asleep.<br/><br/>They awoke the next morning, Aetheiria on her stomach and Fraener hanging halfway off the bed. Fraener woke up to a sharp pain as his headed thudded on the floor. Aetheiria was giggling to herself, apparently having pushed him out of the bed. Fraener stayed on the ground and rubbed his head. "What was that for?" "I never said you could sleep in my bed." she replied as she got dressed. "What are we doing today?" she asked. He pulled himself up off of the floor and took some clothes from her, and started to change as well. "We're escorting that guy out of town. I told him to leave town and stop spreading the truth about dragons." Aetheiria nodded and said, "That's a wise choice for him. When are we meeting him?" Fraener looked out of the window and said, "Soon. We should probably get out there." They packed up their bags quickly and left, nodding to the innkeeper as they headed out. There was only one person sitting by the fire, wearing a hood and nursing a single ale.<br/><br/>They walked outside into the bright morning light and made their way towards the front gate in relative silence, commenting silently about things they overheard from the surrounding peasants. They exited the gate and immediately spotted the man, as he stood out a bit from the rest of the crowd, as he was taller, more attractive, but wore shabbier clothing then the rest of the peasants. The walked up to him and said a sullen hello, then the three of them started walking away from the city. "We'll head a ways away, then we'll split up. You will go your way, and we'll go ours. I expect to never see you again, understand?" Fraener demanded. "Yes. I understand. And I just want to thank you for....." his voice was drowned out as Fraener sensed something, and looked at Aetheiria. A split second later, an arrow erupted from the man's forehead before he could finish his sentence. He crumpled on the ground, instantly dead. Fraener jumped back as another arrow flew through the space he had just vacated. Aetheiria yelped a little and drew her bow, firing toward the man as he quickly approached. Fraener drew his sword as the cloaked man threw aside his bow, dodged Aetheiria's arrows and pulled out a dripping black blade, as he swung his sword with lightning speed against the pair. Aetheiria made her bow disappear and drew her sword, quickly blocking blow after blow. Fraener started to strike as the cloaked man began attacking Aetheiria. They were pushing him back, until the man spat some form of water at Fraener, hitting his arm. "Ahh!" he yelled, as the liquid burned through the fabric and ate away at his flesh. He dropped his sword and stumbled back and Aetheiria fought the man into a stalemate. Fraener yelled to Aetheiria, "It's Malik! Be careful!" He grabbed his sword in his left hand and rejoined the fight, sweat dripping from his face from the pain. Aetheiria had a few nicks and cuts, but seemed to be holding her own against Malik as Fraener flanked him.  "I'm just doing your job for you, fools." Malik sneered, lashing out at Aetheiria with his poison blade. Fraener leapt forward and slashed aside the strike aimed at her. Malik quickly counter-attacked and stabbed his blade through Fraener's thigh. Fraener collapsed from the pain without a sound and Malik laughed and transformed, flying away. Fraener saw Aetheiria firing arrows from her bow again, his vision narrowing. He struggled to maintain consciousness as she dragged him to an unknown location. "...alright. You'll be ok." he heard as he drifted in and out. He woke up and caught a glimpse of a tree. Then another glimpse of clear sky. And finally, the roof of a cave, with the glow of a fire banishing the darkness. He finally gave in. Slipping to unconsciousness.<span style="font-style: italic">This is it... I'm gone from this world... at least... at least I saved Aetheri...</span>