The Story:
The Dungeons

She had rather thought that the dungeons would have been dank and dark, yet to Miraussa's surprise, they were quite clean and well ordered. Probably because of the many people who've occupied these cells, she mused. Well-taken-care-of prisons were more difficult to escape than those falling apart.

A Dark Star drudge had stopped by earlier with a type of porridge for her to eat. Mira hated seeing Dark Stars, even back in Delin. They had no Magic presence, except that of gloom. She knew every time one of them passed by her cell; their nothingness penetrated the aching headache she getting from the Dark Magic of Ajir Palace. She wondered how Rhona, Kauria, what-ever-was-her-name, was doing, as she undoubtedly had a higher perception of Magic.

Then she thought about Rhillan. She hoped he was having some luck; she had worked with him for many years and she didn't want to see him hurt. She hoped she put on a good act about being betrayed by him. By her reckoning, it was well past sunset, and she wasn't dead, so that meant they had both him and the girl.

She sighed and continued the work on her lock. Even the most well-tended locks could be picked by those familiar with the Magic for the job. Mira held her hand against the locking mechanism and concentrated deeply on the position of the tumblers. She had been trying for hours to get the right combination, but while she was familiar with the Magic required, she had not much chance to practice the work. Rhillan was the pick, not her.

"One more tumbler..." she muttered, closing her eyes. She could feel the tumblers move inside the lock.

A sharp click sounded her success. Carefully, she opened her door. The hallway was well lit with torchlight, and she heard only the two guards posted at the end of the hall. She quickly shut her door as they made their pass.

Sighing at the close call and her foolishness, Mira waited until they passed by again. She had been listening to when they walked by and knew she had a few minutes until they returned. She crept silently into the hall, and hoped she was heading in the right direction.

The ominous hallways of the inner palace secretly frightened Kauria, but she was determined not to let them see it, even if Cor could sense it. They lead her forward, but her hands were bound behind her back. She wished she knew where they had taken Rhillan, but he was to be taken to the dungeons, while she was to be taken directly to the Emperor.

At last the approached a long hallway with a large set of double doors at the end. A single guard stood watch over the doors who immediately moved out of their way as he recognized Cor.

"Open the doors," Cor ordered him. "The Emperor expects us."

The doors were promptly opened and Kauria was brought forward. "Just this way," Cor motioned for her to go ahead of him. The guard released their hold on her shoulders; she suppressed her apprehension and walked through the doors.

As she passed the threshold of the doors, a sudden wave of terror washed over her, equal to only one experience she had had before: the Dark One. She froze and the doors slammed behind her; she was the only one who entered the dim room. "What the..?" she whispered and hastily turned back to the door, her hand reflexively reaching for the handle.

"Kauria?" a familiar, surprised-and hopeful- voice asked. "Kauria, is that you?"

Kauria froze, her arm extended. Did she hear right? Was it....?

She slowly turned around, and she could see him, half-hidden by shadow, standing near a table. "Who?" she asked, hoping her voice didn't crack.

"Kauria, it is you!" he cried. He stepped into the torch light, and Kauria instantly recognized him. His short brown hair and light features were all too memorable.

"Gedry?"