Lydia had watched in horrified fascination as the blade tracked Shenyo as if it were a relentless predator. She felt wrapped in a fog of lethargy but as the sword rained down in fury, she shook loose the shackles that had fettered her brain. Before she could form an energy ball to deflect the deadly trajectory, Shenyo was just gone.<br/><br/>In a flash, he was back, with a kick which would have killed a man and snapped the fine blade from its hilt. The glow, which she believed was its supernatural life force, faded. Lydia was taking no chances with it, and threw the glowing blue orbs, first at the blade quivering in the ground and at the hilt. The jewels lit up from within as the pommel made an effort to spin out of reach. Lydia’s aim was deadly and then the smoke cleared only smoking ashes remained.<br/><br/>Running to Shenyo, she inspected his injuries. He was already healing. His bloody hands braced on his knees and she could see that he was struggling to recover from the relentless attack.<br/><br/>“That left you drained,” she whispered to him, looking around furtively as her hands ran over his body. Moving closer to his ear, she said,<br/><br/>“We have to leave this place. The forest has been the only place we have been safe since we came through the cave. We have the clothes we came to gather.”<br/><br/>Concern for him was plainly marked on her face. Tracing the muscles in his back, she continued to examine him. Lydia was loathe to NOT touch him. A current seemed arc between them and the connection created energy that she felt stirring in her belly. Up until just then, she had not given in to the black spots and the weakness she felt in the aftermath of the encounter with the enchanted blade. With the connection between them established, the black spots began to recede.<br/><br/>Still whispering, she said to him,<br/><br/>“With an enchanted blade there must be a mage to ensorcel it. This entire wasteland is the result of dark magik.”<br/><br/>Suddenly a cold wind blew and Lydia shivered,<br/><br/>“We are too exposed. Come, Shenyo. Let us away.”<br/><br/><br/><br/>