ark looked at the girls, looked at Kat, grinned and then looked back at the girls. He headed towards the center of the room and allowed himself to be swamped. He hadn't wanted to come to the ball but now he could see a way to be cheeky and he wasn't going to let someone like Kat stop him. Kat decided to play the same game and she too allowed herself to be adorned by the men in the room. Jade watched them both and laughed. She then headed over to where the most important people were standing. She greeted the King and Queen warmly then spotting the Dryad Queen headed her way.

"Laryssa it has been to long" Jade said and embraced her warmly "Yes it has."

They chatted for a few minutes about magick primarily but soon their conversation turned to Kat and Mark.
A song like the tango came on and Mark and Kat got even more competitive, both trying to outdo the other and both trying to get the others attention. As it reached the point of the song where you were meant to change partners Jade moved her wrist slightly. The result of her small spell made it that Kat and Mark ended up dancing together.

"You cheated" Laryssa chastised Jade playfully
"I know" and then Jade and Laryssa giggled.
"I have something that may interest you" Laryssa said seriously
"What may that be?"
"You'll see. Just be in the forest tomorrow"

Jade nodded and again the conversation changed. Jade and Laryssa then went and spoke to the Queen about her pregnancy which she didn't just know about. It did however explain her throwing up every morning. The Queen then told the King and the King waved at the band to stop. He proudly announced the information. A cheer went up and the music started again but more festive. Jade even allowed one gentleman to take her to the dance floor. Kat and Mark were still dancing together but stopped to watch Jade dance. Kat had never seen Jade dance before and she was amazed. Jade had gotten someone else in to teach Kat how to dance but it was clear that Jade outstrip her teacher by miles. Kat wondered just how much she didn't know about Jade.

***

Jade summoned Kat early the next morning. Jade was already dressed and wearing a gray cloak. She looked Kat over and then told her to remove her knives. Kat protested loudly to that but Jade said that she wouldn't have it any other way. Jade held a high respect for the forest and the Dryads and after Kat knew they were going to the forest she removed her knives and handed them to Jade. Jade wrapped them carefully and the put them away. The left the inn not long after and only a few people were awake. It was a bit of a hike to the forest and they walked it in silence. Kat had a thousand questions she wanted to ask but kept silent. Kat knew that Jade was talking to the Dryad Queen last night. Kat knew she was part Dryad and also knew that Dryads didn't roam far from their forest so seeing the Queen last night was a rarity. Rumor had it that the Queen had come only to see Jade. Was that because of Kat or because of Jade's current quest or both. They reached the edge of the forest and Jade smiled at Kat before entering. Before she got to the heart of the forest she stopped and told Kat to stop and be quiet and watch. A few seconds later Mark appeared and was looking around trying to work out where Jade and Kat had gone. A faint noise of a twig breaking in the distance made Mark pull out his knives and get ready for an attack. Within a few brief moment he was without knives and pinned to a tree.
Jade burst out laughing and appeared from behind a tree.

"That dear Kat is why you don't bring knives into the forest and Mark, don't ever follow me anywhere I haven't asked you to escort me to"

Kat had watched everything unfold so quickly and was rather impressed by some of the moves she had seen. She wondered if she could get one of the Dryads to teach her.

***

While Kat was getting some technique lessons and Mark watched pouting from his earlier experience Jade and Laryssa spoke

"I had heard about your quest and because of your kindness I have decided to give you this" Laryssa hands Jade another small wolf.

This one was the same size as the one Jade already had but was white. It had been found in one of the trees in the last couple of days. Laryssa also told Jade that she had heard that the last piece was in Alzuri. In return for the wolf Laryssa wanted a favor. She wanted to go to the underworld with them. Jade nodded knowing she could do nothing but agree. As it neared evening they all left. Their journey quite again with Mark by their side instead of a few meters behind. Kat knew that something was troubling Jade but said nothing.
They returned to the inn and Jade sent Mark off to find a carriage. They were to leave that night Jade had said as they had a very long journey ahead of them. Once again Jade asked Kat if she still would come despite all the dangers. Kat nodded saying that she would stay by Jade no matter what. Jade then embraced Kat and then sent her away.

It was close to midnight when they left the town of Teknosar. The went through two villages before Jade ordered the coach stop. She made everyone get out and then paid the coachmen before sending him home. She ordered them to set up camp and then spoke to Mark about travelling the old ways. Kat spent her time sparring while waiting for Jade to finish. After Jade and Mark finished talking Mark went hunting and Kat sat down by Jade to ask some of the questions that had been playing on her mind.

Jade hadn't gone far before she tapped her staff and a faint blue glow eminated from it. Mark turned and faced her angrily but Jade cut him off before he could say anything.

"Mark, before you even think about telling me off you had forgotten one minor detail, I can't see in the dark. I am using a pale blue light so I can see and so it wont upset your eyes"

Mark muttered under his breath and Kat smiled warmly at Jade. Jade sighed and wondered if it had of been better if they went over the mountains instead of through them. They kept walking through the underground labrynth and Jade was starting to wonder if Mark was leading her around in circles, she wouldn't put it past him anyway. She noticed that some of the walls had symbols on them and the further they went the more symbols appeared. Before long Mark stopped and turned around.

"Put your light out"
"Pardon?"
"Do as your told put your light out now"

Jade a little shocked by his rudeness let her light go out. She stood as the darkness swallowed her whole again. She didn't like this feeling of not being in control but that couldn't be helped. She played with her rings as her eyes got adjusted to the darkness as well as they could. Her talismen was feeling warm around her neck which set Jade even more on edge. As she looked around though she couldn't see Kat or Mark's figure. Spotting a wall just to her left she walked silently towards it and leaned against it holding her staff very close to her side.

Jade must have spent hours against that wall with thousands of things running through her head. In actually fact it could have been a few minutes though Jade couldn't really tell. Her talismen seemed to be jumpy which wasn't calming Jade at all. She wondered where Kat was and even thought about sending a scrying thought her way but which way was her way. She turned slightly and ran her fingers over the wall and discovered that it was covered in symbols. These ones she understood though as they were the same on her talismen.

Strange Jade thought, This language is over 5 thousand years old and only a few people understand what it means, why is it down here under all this earth

Jade turned as she heard a noise and watched quitely as a figure drew close to her. She moved quickly and struck at it pinning it to the ground quickly. The body wriggled trying to get free.

"Let him go" came a voice in the background which Jade recognized as Kat's

Jade released the pressure and it scrambled up very quickly speaking in the other language and by the sound of it swearing then it turned to Jade

"Where the hell did you learn to fight like that, I didn't even make a sound!"

Jade laughed as she recognised Mark's voice but didn't answer the question.

"Why did you two leave me?"

This time it was Mark to avoid the question. Jade went to ask Kat but decided to ask her later away from Mark. She also went to say something about the symbols on the wall but decided to let that rest to. She wanted to know more before she said anything. The information wasn't that important but it did explain to Jade what "rank" if you could call it that she was amongst her kind. She wished Darryl was here again as he taught her so much. Mark said they would call it a night and the trio settled down to eat and then rest. Jade tried to mediate but found it hard. She leaned against the wall and drifted in thought.

***

Darryl was three years older than Jade and had found her when she was just reaching puberty. Her race had been obliterated and the rest tracked down for personal use or hunted by people who were afriad. She was scruffy and couldn't even remember her name. She had learnt to fight and steal for her own survival. It was during one of those times when she was caught by Darryl. She had looked at him so scared and almost willing of her death. He held her face in his hand and remembered the way his eyes widened. One of his men had asked if he wanted Jade killed but Darryl swung at him and said that anyone who touched Jade would be killed by Darryl himself. He then asked her for her name and when she replied she didn't know he named her Jade.
After being in Darryl's care for a few years a new King sat on the thrown and his decree meant that Jade and Darryl didn't have to hide no more. Darryl was of the same species as was his parents and was one of the few families that weren't touched. They were born of royality and when the war against their people had occured they simply vanished off the face of the earth. When Darryl took Jade to meet his parents they smiled at her gently and gave their blessings to the both of them. Jade hadn't understood then but she understood now.

***

Jade opened her eyes at the sound of movement. Mark was gone again but Kat was hunched ready for attack. Jade went to pick up her staff but couldn't seem to find it. Immediately Jade was on her feet. A figure came from her side and tackled Jade down and three attacked Kat. Jade threw the figure but released it had grabbed and ripped her amulet of her neck. Jade went after it but was struck from behind and slid to the floor. Kat cried out in anger bringing Mark's return. He spotted the other drows and yelled at them.
Kat bolted for Jade's side and said many things and refused to let Mark near her or Jade. She wanted an explanation. Mark was holding a drow against the wall and it seemed he wanted an explanation too. The drow simply handed him the talisman and Mark's eyes widened then narrowed.

"So what if she holds a sacred talisman there was no need to knock her out!"
"That wasn't me that was Michael"
"Michael you know that a talisman is useless to us"

Mark quickly dropped the drow he was holding and attacked Michael. Kat moved and stopped Mark from attacking to much and grabbed the talisman back. She didn't know what it was but she knew it was Jade's and no-one was going to steal it off her again. Secretly though Kat also hoped it could heal Jade.