For your amusement and approval, I present the following: ----- Under the eclipse of the greater moon a figure made her way through the canyons of the far south. Had mortal eye been able to see, the figure would appear as a human girl of 13 or 14. Black skin and blacker hair set of her gossamer raiment; now pearly white, now translucent red. Impatient and growing angry, the girl's time was limited. The moon bridge only worked during an eclipse, and could not carry anything material. Too much time had already been spent on this non-urgent, albeit important, matter. Then the girl spoke. "Ah. Shadow. There you are." With a quick reach through unseen dimensions she held a formless patch of darkness. Formless, though it seems to writhe and attempt to escape her hold. "Mercy, Lady, mercy!" it cried. "And what have you done that you require mercy Shadow?" the girl asked in a curious voice. "Nothing, Lady, nothing," the creature whined. "I tried to do as you ordered, but," then the creature shrieked as the girl's grip tightened. "What a liar you are Shadow. Do you think I can't see what you've begun here? Do you think I don't know what that would require?" "Please Lady, don't wreck your vengeance on me . . ." "Really Shadow, how melodramatic you are. 'Wreck my vengeance' indeed. So you have failed to follow my orders. So some competitors have reached the dragons ahead of me. So I need to begin all over again." The girl's voice rose over the creature's pleas and protests. "So I am now far behind the leaders in the little game we're playing." She paused. "So you are responsible for this situation. Still, what sort of vengeance could I claim?" The girl shrugged. "After all it's not like I chose you for this mission because I _trusted_ you." "What?" The girl smiled at the creature. "Silly Shadow. How many in my service do you suppose can travel the moon bridge and still survive in the world? This plan always was something of longshot. Still, I'm sure you can see that your service is valueless to me now." "You're going to free me?" Hearing the intent behind the words, the girl giggled. "Clever Shadow! Is that what you've been after for so long? For me to let you free in the World?" Her voice turned stern. "No. I'd never do that." She petted the creature as she continued, "but Sister Lucia can always use assistance." "The Realms of Light? No! No!" The creature cries grew shrill and its struggles more frantic, but the girl's grip never wavered and she smiled brightly. "I'm sure she'll give you _just_ what you deserve." Stuffing the creature into a pocket in her gown the girl then brushed off her hands. One task accomplished, the girl looked around thoughtfully. Demerhaze, the night goddess, still had things that must be done before tonight's eclipse ended. Jefferson (Exquaestio) http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
