With in the white sands of the desert, a castle rose to the sky in greeting. The towers and walls blended into the desert sand. One who knew nothing of it's existance would go past it unaware it was even there. It lay a full three day ride from the eastern coast of Rein. From the castle, it took two weeks to get to the Asan boarder and almost a month to get to the Suntemple in the Wastelands of western Rein.

From the four high towers to the lowest level, Bayidah Castle was decorated with little flair. It was a plain looking castle inside and out. It was created during the Dragon-Human wars as a hideout for the dragons, their allies and the desert thieves. After the war, the castle was left almost empty. Only a handful of people who served the Badiyah clan staied. The lord of the castle was the direct decendant of one of Kauket's old allies.

"It seems odd seeing you standing there." a man's voice said as he studied the woman that was on the balconey. "Almost like reading a page out of one of his old journals."

Atela turned and looked at the Badiyah lord. Short greenish hair, red tinted eyes and dark skin. He was tall, thin and his Brauman had an Eastern Reinian accent (more of an Spanish sound). "Lord Royce, your ancestor was a very interging man." She chuckled as she switched to Eastern Reinian. "He was always keeping records of the war even if he wasn't there to see it. Then again, many scholars did so." she sighed turning to look over the desert once more.

Royce watched Atela for a moment longer before he headed his way into the castle. More troops were arriving shortly for their assignments. Wether to head to Ren or towards the desert temple the units were ready to fight.

"We shouldn't be sitting here discussing this. We should already be attacking the Sun Temple!" Royce said as he stood near the head of the table. He looked around at the group that was meeting to discuss the current situations. "Diablo's troops keep growing stronger. How can we just sit by and allow them to out number our own!"

"He has necromancers on his side now." Aladdin replied as he stood. "His numbers haven't changed drasticaly. Our's have. Our flame and fire mages have to keep destorying the fallen just so his units can't become stronger. Our mages aren't that strong. Many have weakened themselves to the point of death. We can't keep fighting the way we are."

"He's already on the move! His troops were seen headed to Asa after our's were!" Royce said as he glared lightly at his fellow commander.

"They are on the move to Asa because the king is dead. He has a chance to corupt the council and gain Asa's support once more." Jacab said as he leaned back his eyes half closed. "If he can do that then his numbers will more than double. Then his next goal will be Rome or Ren. Hell, he could attack both at the same time...or go after all three at once." the prince said. "Queen Angela and Emperor Garion aren't going to let their countries fall to that demon but we shouldn't involv Rome with this battle. With the rumors going around, they may be going to war with Asa anyway."

"Still why should we sit around and wait for blasted Spring?! there is no logic in the descision!" Royce said. The room erupted in an argument over the matter. Some said the troops weren't ready to fight. Others were saying that's what Diablo wants them to do. Others still said that there was no way to tell.

A clicking sound quited the room rather quickly. Atela set her chair down from the leaned position she had it in. She was one of a few women in the room, most of the war council were men...as was usualy the case in such matters. The silver dragon opened her eyes and looked from one commander to another. "If we don'tait for spring, we will end up involved in the Asan-Roman war that is almost ready to break out." She said in a calm voice. "I will not allow our units to be wrestled into a war that we do not belong in. Our war is with Diablo and his units. Let Rome and Asa settle their diffrences while we settle ours."

"Milady, if we keep moving the troops the way they are, Diablo is certian to know what we are doing." Royce said as he looked at the erily calm Dragon.

"He already knows." she replied causing whispers and outraged cries to go out. She raised her hand to silence them. "His troops are settled along the Asan edge of the barrier. They were very firmly informed to allow our troops to pass unharassed."

"Why?" Royce and Aladdin asked compleatly stunned.

"Why would he allow such a thing?" Aladdin asked.

"Because he looks forward to our fight." Atela said flipping her hair back. "This war has raged for over 2000 years. He is wanting to face me know that he knows I've reached my max power. I can't evolve any more. I'm not able to reach the status of a Gold dragon." She said as she sighed mentaly.

"Still why doesn't the Asan council bother either unit of troops?" Aladdin asked. "It's not like they are fond of either of our units. Diablo's tired several times to destory Asa and you are their ex-queen. I see no reason for them to not question why troops of this...magnitude are moving through their lands."

"They have questioned." Jacab replied. "But we have allies in the Asan council just as Diablo does. Our allies are a concidered outcasts and aren't that well respected while Diablo's are very respected. Many figured we'd go for the more respected but that's not the case. The ones that are more respected are only intersted in power and their own little territories." he said with disgust. "The councilers on our side, however, are the blacksheep of Asa. They aren't afraid to go against the more powerful...well at least in council not reality. They support our cause and contact us when they come across information we need."

"So we are going to be left in the dark about who our council allies are?" Royce asked crossing his arms.

"Yes you are." Atela said as she stood. Aladdin and Royce almost immidantly sat down. "The council members are to remain secret until they choose to reveal themselves. If it were to leak out who our allies were, Diablo's allies may try to get rid of them." She said as she walked around to the window sitting on the sill. This was very unleader like but she needed some air. It was too crowded in the room. She felt as if she couldn't breath. "As for the reasoning behind not going to the dome before spring, there is no need to. If our troops try to enter it, they will be killed instantly. As would Diablo's. The only one's that can enter it unharmed at this point are myself, Diablo, Dusk and a few others." She ran a hand through her hair. "It's a seal that was placed to prevent Diablo from opening the rift he had started. He was trying to merge this relm with that of another. We were almost too late last time. We can't risk him merging this world with the one I was raised in. That relm has weapons Kyoko's inhabitants can not fight against. This relm will be destoried and the other take over compleatly." She blinked shaking her head. ~Where did that come from? Is that what he is really trying to accomplish again? Merging our world with the Relm of Earth?~ She thought as many whispers went through the crowd.

"Milady, how can you say that we would not survive this merger?" another member of the war council asked.

Atela gave a grim chuckle as she turned to look at the man. "Because we are mainly a magic based socity. Magic is nothing against a bomb of such power that it's fire rival that of a dragon's. They have weapons that can penatrate through out mail and plate armors. They have weapons that can kill you if you breath in the dust or if you just smell it." Her words and expersion were grim to the council.

"How do we stop this...this...impending disaster?" one member asked as she clutched a pendant she wore. Worry clear on every ones' faces.

"The dome is a seal as I said. The plan," Atela said as she raised her hand an image forming in the middle of the table, "is to fight within the dome as the seal weakens. As long as Diablo can't finish tearing the rift, we won't have to worry about the worlds merging...but...." She tilted her head as she though. "We do have to worry about some of our troops being drawn into the rift sending them to the other relm or someone from the other side ending up here."

"But there are reports of such rifts opening all over the place from time to time." a male member said.

"That's true but those aren't everyday accurances. Those portals are formed because they need to be. Time and space in the area they form are unbalanced and to rebalance them, an item or person must be....displaced." Atela put as delicatly as she could.

After that explianation, the council went on to further discuss the possiblities this rift would have on the world. Atela sat back and listened to their talk as she staried out the window. She gave answers every now and then but only about her old world.

It was well into the night before council broke. There was a better understanding of why they needed to wait until Spring and on how to move the troops. Many people were at odds now but as long as they didn't betray Atela, she could handle some confilct with in the troops.

The port towns were unusualy busy for this time of year. Normaly the winter months show little profit and travel by the seas. With the activities going on in the deeper parts of the desert though, trade ships were docking at least twice a week. One set of ships had supplies for their normal customers while the second set were supplies for the fighters at Badiyah Castle.

A man of 27, with black hair and sea blue eyes was over seeing the unloading of the supplies to the Castle. Normaly Aladdin or Royce would over see it but several meetings were being called at the castle leaving the half siren the unsavory job of dealing with the tradesmen.

"Alright, get it loaded!" Marduk called as the papers were signed and the bill payed. "I swear these traders get ruder as the weeks go by." he muttered as he watced the desert units load their wagons for the three day journey back to the castle.

Draconis had not been to Rein. It was one of the countries he heard much about. The people there were odd as always, and spoke in that funny tongue of theirs. Turbans and spiraly buildings could be seen in the port city in the distance and all around him.

Marduk watched the first of the wagons start out of the port city. "Careful of Diablo's units. Several were spoted around the dunes." He called out to the drivers.

"Yes Sir!" they called back as they began their trip to their training grounds.

Several women glanced at Draconis as they hurried by. Men were keeping an eye on him just in case he was there to cause problems. Strangers were watched closely in the port town since this one was allied with the thieves guild. "Is there something we can help you with?" a couple of people from the desert unit asked as they saw Draconis. Their words weren't unfriendly just had an edge to them.

"Not unless you feel like directing me out of the city" Draconis said politely as he looked around, his hand already whizzing over parchment as he wrote.

One of the men chuckled a little as he signaled to Marduk. The unit commander nodded and made his way over to the three.

"Where are you headed?" the other asked watching Draconis with some wonder.

"oh no particular place. Into the desert. Probably the wastelands if i keep heading north" Draconis said casually.

"The wastelands aren't any where a normal traveler should go." Marduk said as he stopped by one of his men. "It's full of demons and there's been a lot of fighting there."

"Commander, the units are all moving." a messenger said to Marduk.

"Catch up to them. I'll be there in a moment." Marduk told the others. With a formal salute, they headed back to the rest. "There are two exits to the town. One that leads you closer to Asa and the one we are taking that leads you deeper into the deserts." He said pointing at each of the exits. "Which ever one you take, good luck. You'll need it with the dark demons roaming about." He said as he started to head back to his unit.

"yes yes I suppose I will" he said not really paying attention "though if shes out there I dont think Ill have to worry....hrm" draconis said as he wandered into the city.

Marduk watched Draconis a moment more before he shook his head and headed back to the unit. "Careful with the supplies!" he called to his units as one of the wagon wheels hit a rock. "We don't need any thing broken. Who knows what they've got us hauling back!" ~I wonder who he was talking about...~ the commander thought looking back towards the city as his unit started their three day journey to the castle.

Draconis spent much time writing about the city he was experiencing when he reached a gateway to the desert. He looked at it. He couldnt remember if this was the way into the deep desert or not. HE checked his supplies; plenty, good. He set out into the desert.

"How many?" Atela asked as she looked over the map at Badiyah.

"Three units. Each one small. Only consisting of 10 or 15 creatures." Aladdin said as he pointed to where the units were.

"Send a unit out to meet the supply unit." Atela said as she grabbed her staff.

"Just where are you going?" Royce asked as she went out to the balcony.

"She's on patrol anyway." Aladdin said with a shrug. "She may as well take out some of Diablo's men."

"I'll check in when I find out anything." Atela said as she flew off. She was growing irritable in the castle anyway. They kept her from doing anything that she would normaly do...except train. They had no say in that matter.

Marduk's unit hadn't ran into any trouble yet. There was still the chance they would but with everyone on alert, it would be hard for them to be taken by surprise.

Several hours found Draconis panting as he traversed the desert sands. he had no idea where he was going, and he was very hot.
"stupid desert" he thought as he took a sparing sip of water. He had plenty, but he was smarter then that.

~Sandstorm is coming....~ Atela thought as she flew up higher when the wind started to pick up slightly. ~Not good. I'm still a several hours from an oasis....~ She looked down and nodded as she saw no one out. She had flown several hours quickly through the desert heat. If she had been traveling on land, it would have taken her almost two days to get where she was now. "Diablo's men aren't moving either. I haven't seen any at least...." She said with a soft sigh.

Draconis sat on top of a sand dune over looking the sea of sand. He sighed. What a trip. How can people live here?

"I want to know how you got here this quickly." Marduk said as Atela helped the unit settle in the caverns.

"Dragons can fly much faster than their large bodies make people think." She said simply. "I can fly to Asa and back in less than a week." She said when the commander rolled his eyes. "Get the rest of the unit in here and settle down for the night."

"Where are you headed?" Marduk asked as Atela spread her wings when she reached the mouth of the sand cave.

"Scouting. I'm board as hell and not really comfortable staying in a cavern with a lot of people...you really don't want me to start freaking out." She said before taking off. The winds outside had picked up and sand was starting to blow harder across the landscape. She headed for an oasis that was hidden by more sand dunes. She'd stay there until the storm passed.

"craaaaaap" draconis sighed as he pulled a hood over his head, while wearing his cloak. A wind had sprung up and he was getting pelted by sand.

Atela saw someone walking in the storm before she landed in the sand. She took her human form shielding her eyes from the sand as she got her desert gear out of her pack. Her gear was that of the men's garb since the women's would have given away her identity quickly to any that saw her. Since Atela could not tell who it was she passed over, she approached Draconis caustiously staying about 10 feet back from him, her swords in their sheaths. Her voice was muffled by the clothes as she spoke. "Nasty storm's coming. There's an oasis about a half hour's journey if you can make it." She called out.

Draconis couldnt find the source of the voice, as looking would mean getting hit in the face with sand.
"what did you say?" he asked. He did not understand rein

When the traveler spoke, Atela nearly froze in place. ~What is a Roman doing here?~ She wondered as she drew closer to the man. "Forgive me. I didn't realize you weren't from here." She replied slipping into Braumen, her voice still muffled by her clothes. "There is an oasis about a half hour's travel from here." She repeated. "These storms like to take traveler's by surprise."

"Ill be sure to hurry then, maybe there will be some shelter up there too" Draconis said hopefully.

"There is. It's where I'm headed and happened to see you." Atela said as she drew her cloak tighter around herself. "I'll lead you there if you like. It's the only shelter around for several miles. Well any that's not occupied already." She said as the wind began to blow more. She started to turn from him towards the direction they'd be traveling.

Draconis followed the strange desert person. He didnt find it odd in the least that this person just kinda...showed up

Atela watched for Diablo's and Marduk's units as she lead the way to the oasis. It was slighlty longer than intended as the winds kept getting stronger as time passed.

The oasis was settled behind some sand dunes. Though the sands were blowing hard off the dunes, it was not settling in the small valley they created. The hut was settled against one of the dunes for extra protection against invaders. The hut was set up for the members of the desert troops. Most of the commanders had one and she had a skeleton key to the various ones set up around the desert.

"Here we are." She said as she unlocked the door of the hut. From the design, it was made to fit three people comfortable in it for a few days. There were no walls separating the sleeping areas from the living areas. They all just blended together really. It was furnished with a couple of chairs and a couch. The fireplace had wood stacked beside it for cooking and keeping the hut warm during the night.

Atela took her swords off her belt and placed them on a hook beside one of the beds before she hesitated to remove her cloak. It wasn't until now that the thought hit her that this man may be able to recongnize her...

Draconis entered the hut and sighed with relief. He removed his hood, which for him didnt do much. He removed his Roman army helmet.

Atela had her back to Draconis as he removed his helmet. She gave a silent sigh of defeat as she removed her desert garb and hung it along side her swords. "These storms can last a few hours or a few days depending on how strong the winds are." She said as she turned to look at the Roman. She couldn't speak any more as she openly stared at Draconis. Everything else she was going to say was lost.

Draconis set his stuff down and looked up at the person he had met and stopped. Atela...the empress....awake.....

Atela stared a moment longer before she ran a hand threw her hair to push her bangs back. She walked over to a chair and sat down so she wouldn't fall over. "What...." she started then stopped trying to think of what to say. "Draconis, why are you here?" she asked curiosity clear in her voice and more than just a hint of confusion. Since she left Rome, Atela figured she'd never seen any of her friends again. This was a very big shock for her.

Draconis opened his mouth to speak.
"I.....ah.......I-Ive been ordered here, ma'am" he said.
"I....garion...and myself of course after the research....I w-was told to record what you will be doing....right..right up till the end"

Atela closed her eyes and rubbed her forhead. She started to speak then stopped as she opened her eyes, looking at him. "Don't call me ma'am, Draconis. Not when no one is around. I hate that word. Makes me feel old. Besides, it doesn't sound right coming from you...not when I grew so use to hearing you say my name." She shook her head, her mind racing. "I think you better start at the research, Draconis. What research did you and Garion do?" She asked as she stood to make a fire.

"we looked in on info about a place where three countries meet. Also we talked and assumed...came up with the theory that there may be something in this rift between worlds" draconis said.

Atela stopped in mid action. She didn't turn to face Draconis as her eyes went wide. She finished setting the wood in the fireplace, watching for the fire to catch before she stood, returning to her seat. "The rift.... The only written document on that is my journal in one of the libraries." Her voice was a little shaky as she spoke. "So you know....that I've known about this for three years then."

"and we also know that there isnt much time. I dont know what Garion plans to do with the rift. Im just supposed to be here" Draconis said quietly.

Atela ran a hand through her hair. "If he's smart, he'll leave it alone. I already have men in Ren waiting for the spring." She said looking away from Draconis. She sat there in silence a moment thinking. "I'm glad you are here." She said quietly. "I just don't want you hurt, Draconis. I've already hurt you enough."

Draconis didnt say anything to the last sentence.
"Oh, I dont think my purpose was to get killed atela" he said.
"I think Im supposed to bring the knowledge back to rome. I could be wrong of course.."

Atela gave a small chuckle as she smiled. "I wouldn't be surprised if that is your purpose, Draconis." She said looking out the window briefly. "This storm's going to last awhile I'm afraid." She sighed. Atela tilted her head a little before getting up and going to her pack to get her some dried fruits and water. "What have you been doing with your time?" She asked as she offered him a package of the fruit.

"oh, reading mostly" draconis said. He wasnt about to tell her his recent habit.

"Just reading? That doesn't sound like you." Atela said sitting back down. "How are the sisters doing? and Aleena and Aura?" She looked down slightly. "I don't have the right to ask but I want to know if they are doing ok. And...are you doing ok?"

"Im here arnt I?" Draconis said looking outside.
"Aleena and Aura have taken over the castle in a sense. And the sisters...I havent seen them. Akira is frantic" he replied with a bit of worry.