The Story:
Deja Vu?

The once-spy quickly guided them down several corridors, eventually leading to a narrow staircase heading straight down. The old corridor was musky and a sconce Gedry procured as an afterthought was the only illumination to be found.

"Where are we?" Rhillan asked suspiciously.

"The old passages beneath the surface. Hopefully, they won't remember I know about these until we're gone."

"How are we supposed to leave the palace?" Miraussa asked. "We're beneath the surface."

"These rooms were used during sieges," Gedry explained. "They have hidden accesses ways to the surface."

"This does seem familiar," Kauria said, suddenly uneasy. "I feel like I've been here before." A strange chill filled the hallway.

A sharp click sounded behind her. She paused and looked around, but could not see well past the light of her candle. Shadows from the low torchlight darted across the walls of the corridor. Nervous, she pressed on, a little faster...

"Kauria, is something wrong?" Gedry's voice startled her. "Did you sense something?"

Kauria shook her head vaguely. "No, it's was nothing. I haven't sensed anything since I was captured. I thought it must've been Cor blocking my mind."

"That's actually how we found you," Rhillan mentioned. "Mira couldn't sense where you were held, but she could sense a total absence of magic around that hall you were in. We figured it was Torrel masking your presence."

"Come to think of it," Lady Miraussa added, "I haven't sensed anything since we found you." She frowned, glancing among the three. "That's odd. I'm barely picking up Rhillan and your friend, and I don't sense you at all."

"Really?" Gedry asked. "I'm only slightly familiar with Magic, but I shouldn't blocking spells be set in one specific location?"

Mira nodded. "That's how it generally works."

"Unless, of course, the caster is present," Rhillan said, looking straight at Gedry. "Then he or she could reset the spell to follow Kauria."

"Are you implying that I'm blocking your powers?" the spy asked angrily. "I thought I told you I'm on your side!"

"I'm not implying anything. I just said..."

"Stop!" Kauria interjected. "Gedry's not our enemy. I trust Gedry with my life, Rhillan. I'd follow him anywhere."

Gedry turned to Kauria with a soft smile, taking her hand. "I'm glad to hear you say that, Kauria."

Something dark was present and getting closer, sending chills through her. . .

"Kauria?" Gedry squeezed her hand.

"What? ...oh!" Kauria dropped his hand. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I must be having flashbacks from Princess Aralia's memories..."

"We are getting close to where her rooms are supposed to be..." Gedry said.

"That was strange," Miraussa broke in quietly. "When Gedry touched you, I couldn't sense him at all... "

"Let me touch you," Rhillan asked quickly, and put his hand on Kauria's shoulder.

"You've disappeared, too..." Miraussa shook her head. "If it's a blocking spell, it's the strangest one I've ever seen. "

"What do you mean?" Kauria asked.

"Well, blocking spells stop you from sensing something, like a blind preventing a person from seeing. This spells seems to be absorbing the energies, not hiding them. It's like trying to absorb sunlight before it you can see it."

"Could it be the pendant, perhaps?" Gedry suggested, glancing at Kauria.

"I did get the pendant at the same time I stopped sensing anything..."

"The Star Pendant?" Miraussa repeated. "That's a possibility."

"But one we can't check unless she takes it off," Rhillan added. "I'd rather not risk that. Anyway, let's not tamper with spells Torrel might detect."

"I wouldn't worry about that too much," Gedry said. "These deep passages have magic barriers as well." He paused, glancing about him. "In fact, I think we're deep enough now. This should be the place. Look, there's a door in that cornor."

Gedry pointed at a small wooden door, hidden in the corner's shadows. The four slowly approached, and Gedry tested the handle.

Her persuer neared, and she reaced around the cornor, knowing she wouldn't outdistance this Cold Thing... She stopped to gather her strength, and meet it face-to-face...

Kauria blinked, wishing her head would stop playing tricks on her. Just for a moment, the hallway looked exactly as it had in Aralia's memory. She shook her head, and looked up to see Gedry opening the door, motioning for her to go in. She stepped forward, banishing the unsettling memories.

"Kauria..." he whispered just as she walked past him.

She paused in the door frame. "Yes?"

"You said you'd trust me with your life, right? Follow me anywhere? Would you promise me that?" He spoke quietly, and she answered the same way.

"I went to Farlin, didn't I? Of course I'd promise you, but why-"

"Promise you won't leave me," he whispered urgently.

She nodded slowly. "I promise, Gedry. I won't leave you."

"Good," Gedy smiled just as Kauria blacked out. "Because this time I'm not letting you get away so easily, dear one."