���Three more black and green shafted arrows thunked into the viscous shadow barrier that Khyaris held up with a corner of her mind. The two crossbow bolts that followed hit with enough force to pierce the barrier, but the fletchings caught, allowing the glistening tips to stop inches from her temple and back of her neck. It had become a wall of arrows and bolts frozen in midair pointed at her blind side. The barrier was holding . . . so far.
��� ��� Midnight blazed darkly in her hand. Though the muscles in her arm had begun to burn and then numb sometime ago the obsidian blade swiftly moved to keep the projectiles from reaching her unshielded side. The sword that seemed to be crafted of the abyss itself would leap and voraciously swallow some bolts whole with only a minimal hiss of displacement, -every other shaft was split and fell to the ground.
��� ��� She glared into the blackness easily picking out the signatures of those who waited for her to tire or fall. Early on she had stopped counting. They had been outnumbered from the start. Though it seemed like only a handful of minutes had passed, her body told her that the stand off was going on its 7th hour. Still the arrows and bolts came, and she returned in kind, using the crossbow formed of shadowessence that seemed fused to her hand. The bolts of solid shadow ripped forth and striking solidly and silently as she took her time picking out her targets. Warding off the attack at this point had become a mindless matter left more to her instincts than anything else. She knew soon enough the distance weapons would stop and then her attackers would be upon her in force.
��� ��� Of the Shadow Manta elite squad she was the last standing and, by the looks of it, only one other besides herself still lived. Sparing a futile glance at her other fallen comrades she once again went over her options.
��� ��� The major advantage of the Manta had been cut off. There seemed to be a field of force that had leeched the hidden power of the Shadows from the Manta. They had become trapped in an area were the paths to the Shadow Realm were blocked. There was no access to the demi-shadow plane.. in effect, no escape. The spell or whatever it was that the enemy used had brightened the area around the Manta considerably eliminating the deepest of shadow. And any 'shadows' that remained were simply.. flat: two-dimensional. No more than a darker place where the light had shone less. Without escape from the ambush the Manta had to stand and fight, out numbered as they were. And so they did, and so they fell one by one. Those who wielded some power over shadows quickly exerted what they had.. without being able to draw on more from the Shadow Realm.
��� ��� Khyaris wielded more than the others.. and soon her small reserve would be depleted. While she fought, part of her was constantly casting for an escape, either through the present physical plane.. or through the tenuous tendril of a forced shadowmeld/walk that she hoped she could cast. Her scrying for an path out of the 'shadow leeched' area yielded no results, every path she could think of and tested was blocked. They were completely encased. Still she held one last option in hidden in the back of her mind. For several reasons she dare not consider it, until absolutely necessary, on the chance that she would be followed. The loses would be greater than enduring her present predicament to its likely grim conclusion.
��� ��� In-between another flurry of arrows that were summarily 'swallowed' or split by Midnight, she caught the barest motion from Lonaas. So far all the focus of the fire was now on Khyaris, and she was glad of it. Lonaas was completely open and beyond her reach. He had stirred from his place on the ground and moved a clenched hand forward ever so slowly. Khyaris didn't have to look to know what he held.
��� ��� The Black Shard grenade, as they had come to call it, was crafted by her own nephew and it operated on a dead man switch. Once Lonaas grip so much as faltered it would detonate. Though she was out of his reach the explosion of black jagged ice needles would take them both out as well as the closest ring of those who waited to take them.
��� ��� Lonaas dark glinting eyes made contact with her own, awaiting her signal.
��� ��� ''Sen shal ahs!'' the 'Rahi admonition came in a quiet angry hiss. Even though she knew the Manta would indeed dare, she glared at him, ''We're not done yet!''
��� ��� Suddenly the fire on her stopped. Arrows from a single source began to thud closer to Lonaas. She sensed rather than saw that they were drawing up to charge in. Lonaas didn't even so much as grunt as two bolts shot into him. He merely looked on her and whispered an anguished apology ''Sel-Adim''.
��� ��� ''Sen!'' within a blink of an eye, she was on him, leaving the wall of arrows to clatter in a heap behind her. She brought Midnight down in a wicked arc to cleanly sever his hand at the wrist and, mindless of the arrows that pierced her thigh and side, she flung the hand and the grenade clenched within over the circle that was closing in on them. A heartbeat later screams and grunts echoed around the area as black crystalline shards ripped through flesh and bone. Midnight moved in exacted grace to meet the shards that would have taken Khyaris in the face and chest.
��� ��� She knelt, grabbing Lonaas by the stump of his forearm, and risking the expenditure of precious energy and concentration, she Called the Shift to lend just enough strength to pull him up and slide under his arm, bearing his weight across her shoulders. She was quick enough with Midnight to take the heads of the first two dark elves that descended upon them, cutting her a path forward even as a mass crashed into her from behind. The blade sinking between her ribs from behind was only a distant sensation. All she could do was twist under the weight of her fellow Manta and her attacker as she fell. Midnight swung upwards to bury itself in the abdomen of the dark elf who died twisting the blade into her, with a snarled gurgling hiss. Thickly accented at is was, she understood the words '' . . clense . . . you abomination . . . you filth!'' Resorting to her last dregs of Shadow majiks she melded and faded , taking Lonaas and the dead elf with her, even as the rest of the attackers fell upon their smoky non-corporeal after-image.

��� ��� She always hated shadow walking blindly. It was so.. imprecise. Now, more than any other blind 'walk', she had that feeling that she wouldn't make her destination.. but this time the feeling was one of detached curiosity rather than a fear. She felt too tired, to close to the end to get apprehensive about it.
��� ��� Until she fell heavily onto the deck of The Tempest.
��� ��� Under the sudden weight of two bodies and the throb of her wounds she knew unconsciousness would soon claim her. As she waited she wondered, with the detached state of mind that comes with excessive trauma, why there would be a raging storm over the ship of one who controlled the Elements. A barrage of slicing sleet and heavy hail deafened her with a terrible roar as it battered the ship.
��� ��� Lonaas was pulled off and then the body of the elf, before she felt a blade at her throat. Her eyes swiveled to meet the cool green eyes of one of her Shadow Manta.
��� ��� ''Hello, Tarsha.. would you see to Lonaas please?'' she managed quietly in an all too calm voice backed by a weak smile. It didn't occur to her that her voice was thundered out. Tarsha looked her over and shook her head in mute disbelief as she helped Khyaris to sit up before looking to Lonas. It seemed as if the looming unconsciousness would wait a while longer. Khyaris was able cast another glance around her and then knew with certainty that the Tempest wasnt only being assaulted by a storm.. but was pitched in battle.
��� ��� Two much larger frigates loomed dangerously close, one was angled close enough to board the Tempest. The crew of the larger ship was preparing to overrun them when abruptly twin bolts of lighting shot down through the main masts. The bolts splintered the main masts of their ship before the brilliant tendrils of electricity danced among the boarding crew twisting them into morbid frozen postures as they plummeted to the churning waters below.
��� ��� She turned in wonder to see the captain of the Tempest at the helm. Stormy's eyes blazed brightly as she wielded power of the Elements and they glinted dangerously with something else.. a look that Khyaris knew all to well. Stormy was walking the razors edge of insanity.. and loving it. A shudder ripped through Khyaris frame.
��� ��� Stormy laughed aloud and then shouted commands in a mixture of 'Rahi, Mentavnian and the common tongue. The crew of the Tempest cheered triumphantly and surged forward. They meant to take the larger ship. The Tempest would triumph, there wasnt a doubt in the ozone filled air. The fever was catching. Khyaris even managed to push herself up using Midnight as a brace. ''We aren't done yet,'' she said to no one in particular as she began to move toward where the other crewers were headed.
��� ��� Her progress was suddenly impeded by the hand that grabbed her shoulder and spun her about. Nearly losing her footing she managed to stand, wavering slightly as she looked into Stormy's intense silver-gray eyes. Stormy gave Khyaris a quick appraising glance before nodding once and hauling back to slam a fierce backhanded blow to her jaw, knocking her out cold. Stormy looked down on her prone body with a smirk that was half apology, half sadistic pleasure.
��� ��� ''I'm sorry, Sel-Adim. My ship, My rules. You aren't going anywhere. Not like that. I'll bring you back a war trophy when we get back.'' Glancing once to Tarsha she jerked her head towards Khyaris and Lonaas. ''Take them below decks and let Tima tend them, Then join me.''
��� ��� Stormy began to head towards the fray brewing on the deck of the frigate. As she passed the body of the dark elf she pointed the tip of her cutlass at it and called over her shoulder. ''And have someone get rid of *that*! Its staining my deck!''

��� ��� The captain of the Silver Sword stared at this upstart captain of the Tempest as she inspected the ship and its crew. He angrily flexed against robes that bound his hands. How could this, animal, this renegade, this woman could have defeated him and frozen the Phalanx. Obviously she was some sort of mage but to be beaten by a woman. How did this woman come to be standing on the deck of his ship How could he show his face in the shippers guild hall again. He observed this woman. The way she stood with that cocksure attitude, the way she spoke mostly in jests and jibes. This woman is a pirate, no doubt self- centered, arrogant. Perhaps he could turn this to his advantage.
��� ��� ''Well, this crew wasn't chosen for their looks.'' Storm smiled as she inspected the line of men, ''Maybe the rough bunch was brains?'' Some of the manta chuckled, keeping the weapons at the ready in case someone decided to get wise.
��� ��� ''Captain!'' there came a deep full voice from the stair well leading below decks. Zeen, a ebon haired, bronze skined elf, and Storm's second mate appeared. ''This ships carrying supplies enough for a few hundred troops as well as supplies for the officers. There quite a variety of liquor down here too. I think we could have ourselves quiet a party.'' The crew cheered in agreement.
��� ��� Captain Storm Laughed, ''Well.. Im sure the horrible crew of the Sword don't mind us partaking of a bit of their bounty!''
��� ��� ''As a matter of fact, we do''
��� ��� Storm turned slowly, knowing full well who had spoken. She smirked at the rival captain.
��� ��� ''Oh, Im so sorry, Captain Dosar, but im afraid these goods will have to be confiscated.. For the..''
��� ��� ''Honorless Bitch!'' Dosar screamed.
��� ��� ''Honorless?'' Storm said, ignoring the rest of the insult, ''A less honorable pirate would have run your crew through and would have had you hung from the bow sprit.''
��� ��� ''If you have you the honor to face me!? Man to... Bitch?'' Doser spat.
��� ��� ''Why should I? I've got your ship. Your crew and your goods.'' Storm smiled at the seething captain, ''I think you're forgetting who's in charge here.''
��� ��� ''Coward! Will your crew follow a honorless coward? Face me.. I'll fight for my men and my ship my cargo. Prove yourself to your crew, Bitch.''
��� ��� Storm seemed to consider this. She turned her back to Dosar smiling around at her crew mates. ''What say you, my crew? Will you think more of me if I duel this man and cut him into shark bait. Course if I loose he'll get his stuff back?''
��� ��� Tarsha stepped up to Storm back ramrod straight. ''Permission to speak with freely, Captain?''
��� ��� ''Oh, of course, first mate.''
��� ��� ''Well, not to doubt that you'd hand this man's ass to him, but we'd rather not risk the rum.''
��� ��� Storm chuckled then turned to Dosar, anger blazing in his eyes.
��� ��� ''Coward! With a crew of Cowards!'' he shrieked.
��� ��� Storm stepped to him and leaned on him. ''I don't have to prove myself to my crew. You could consider yourself lucky that I've proven to you im not a fool. Don't press your luck, trying to test how merciful I am.'' Dosar simple glared at her his anger striking him dumb. Storm heard the sound of a single person applauding. She turned to see Khyaris back on her feet.
��� ��� ''Well done, Captain.''
��� ��� Storm saluted, ''Thank you Sel-Adim. How's the jaw?''
��� ��� Khyaris simple smiled. A smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
��� ��� Storm laughed.

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