Khymarah left her house wearing her blue town dress and black hood, drawn close to try and hide her garish red hair, which she had tied back tightly into a low chignon. No sparklies today, she didn't want to be noticed as a galdor unless it was by field. She had the Persuasion spell memorized in her head before she left home, just in case. The news about Dorhaven was horrifying, and the galdor had decided she would sit back and watch no more.

Walking briskly, she made her way to Fion's house as fast as she could. Reaching the front door she rapped on it urgently. Oh Alioe, I hope I'm right about this.

Fion was busy weeping at her kitchen table when she heard a knock at her door. Piran was out, spending the day with the potter and she didn't want to go fetch them while she was like this. She didn't want to answer the door either but time wasn't going to stop because she was upset.

She had family in Dorhaven. She had friends there.

Fion opened the door, sobbing, only to see Khymarah on the other side. Fion tried to stop but she couldn't. She smiled but it came out as a grimace.

"Hel-lo, Khy-ma-rah." She managed, before dissolving into a painful, haunted wail.

She knew her boss wouldn't give her time off work to go to the funerals.

Khymarah stood startled for a moment, before regathering her senses. She ushered Fion back into the store and closed the door, hugging her around the shoulders. In all the excitement she had forgotten Fion might have people she knew in Dorhaven. She pushed back her hood.

"Fion, Fion. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for my whole stinking race!" She didn't know what else to say. Leading the distraught woman through to her own kitchen table, she sat her down.

"Where is the teapot dear? Let me make you a cup of tea."

"N-not your f-fault." Fion managed to push out, each word hurting her throat.



Fion tried to stand up again to get the teapot but her legs wouldn't comply. She couldn't speak well so she just pointed at the teapot, sitting on a helf at about eye level. She was making a complete fool of herself and she knew it.

"My un-cle, can't vi-visit." She tried to explain.

She wiped her eyes on her already damp sleeve and despaired.

Khymarah walked to the teapot and began preparing the tea. She didn't grasp what Fion was saying about her uncle at first, then a little drop in her stomach made her realise what she was saying. She wanted to cry, but she knew that was little good. Instead, she returned to the table and sat beside Fion whilst the tea brewed.

"I can't believe they would do this. I mean, I know the galdori are fools and some are downright dangerous, but something like this. On this scale." She smacked her fist on the table.

"Its not right!" Taking a big breath to compose herself, she looked at the upset woman.

"Fion, I need to talk to you about something. It's related to what's happened in Dorhaven, and I think your where I need to start." She paused, then walked into the kitchen to pour the tea, scouring the cupboards for cups. Returning with the tea, she placed one in front of Fion and sat down. Putting a hand on Fion's shoulder, she spoke.

"I want to join the resistance. I need to know how to find the Freedom Fighters. And now, with all this, I think I will need your help." She felt awful dumping the news on Fion when she was like this, but if she didn't act now she probably never would.

Fion took a moment to understand because she was feeling slow today.

That only made her response more spectacular.

"Are you insane!" She cried, fear bursting from her words, standing so abruptly that her chair fell onto the floor, "No, no! Jon Serro is a murdering bastard! Back in the old days maybe but... They'd kill you!"

Fion's eyes misted again as she thought of just exactly what could befall a pretty, kind woman like Khymarah. Then she remembered her strange obstinance from the day before.

There was power there, surely.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Khymarah, I'm not myself today." Fion righted the chair she'd pushed over and sat on it once more. "There should be more people like you. Maybe then things will start going the right away again and there won't be so much talk of carnage."

Fion looked Khymarah in the eye.

"This probably won't be easy but I think we can do something. I'll vouch for you." She choked for a moment. "You have to trust me and you'd have to learn to keep secrets that aren't meant for keeping but... If you are sure..."

Fion gave her a moment to respond.

Khymarah jumped at the woman's outburst. She hadn't quite expected it. But she was ready to stand her ground on this one. There would be no more standing by watching injustice before her eyes.



Taking a breath, the red head nodded.

"I am more sure of this than anything in my life Fion. I can't let this happen anymore."

Fion nodded, rubbed her nose with her hand and then slurped at her tea.

"You and I are going to have to go to the pub then." Fion said after a pause, "I'm off work tomorrow night. You might want to think about dampening your field if you know how."

Fion froze. She wasn't supposed to know they could do that.

Khymarah looked at Fion sharply. It was more out of surprise than anything else.

"No, I'm afraid I can't. That's a level three spell. I can cast Persuasion, but nothing will dampen my field yet. I am still only doing level two training. I can attempt to cast Suggestion as well, but I won't even begin to try and cast a level three spell. I can ask the mona to perhaps keep itself occupied, or to lower my field temporarily if it pleases." She narrowed her eyes.

"How do you know about that?"

Fion was an excellent liar, except for when she was completely put on the spot.

Like now.

"I, uh, heard about it back when I worked in the Stacks. From some drunk students." She said not entirely levelly.

He'd come to her apartment building without a field, even though he was one of the most powerful galdori that she'd ever met. It had been so very exciting. They'd let the tension between them go.

Nine months later, cue Piran.

She didn't think Khymarah would buy the truth much other but she wasn't planning on telling it.

Khymarah nodded. Fion was hiding something, but she wasn't going to push any further. If there was a secret she wanted to protect, so be it. Placing her hands on the table, she looked at the teacup steaming in front of her.

"So you want me to meet you tomorrow night at a pub?" She wasn't completely lost, but she was close.

Fion relaxed gratefully when Khymarah let her off easy. She sipped at her tea again to calm her nerves.

"Meet me in front of the fountain in Crosstown court. Dress casual, as close to what I'm wearing as you can. It won't help you much but at least people will have a harder time recognising you and from a distance you'll not look like a galdori. Business gets done down in places like the Book and Bell, which is probably best for you because they won't slit your throat soon as look at you. They'll glare though and they may not be happy with me either." Fion smiled reassuringly, "They warm up pretty quick though if you play your cards right."

She sobered.

"They may well make you prove yourself though."

Fion sat back. That was the business end almost concluded, then.

"I don't want to upset you but I think we've got about fifteen more minutes until the adrenaline and the necessity runs out and I start crying again." Fion could already feel the numbness waning, "Possibly less. I'm terribly sorry, I just can't help it."

Khymarah listened very carefully, taking in every detail she could. Prove myself? she thought. I'd better find something useful in that damn grimoire I borrowed. She would have to dredge through her wardrobe and see if she could find something similar to Fion's outfit. There were a few things she had for when she'd gone sitting in taverns, they might work.



The redhead nodded and took up her tea, taking a very large sip.

"I completely understand Fion. Thank you for this, and thank you for taking the time to talk to me in such horrible circumstances. Will you be alright till tomorrow night? I don't like leaving you like this." She frowned, drinking more of the tea.

Fion waved her hand airily.

"No, thank you for the concern. I'm glad you stopped by, I needed to see a friendly face. It's just that getting all this out is going to take a while and I can't do anything constructive until I do. I... get very embarassed, showing my emotions like that." Fion shrugged, "I'm going to be doing it all day though. Hopefully I can get some of it out before I have to go out and run some errands. Not overly hopeful, though."

Fion's face started to redden.

"I'll be fine."

She always had been up to date, anyway.

Khymarah nodded and finished her tea. Smoothing her hands over her hair, she smiled at Fion.

"Don't feel embarassed, its good to let go with a friend. I hope you feel better soon Fion, I truly do." Pulling her hood back up over her hair, Khymarah stood.

"I am going home to study as much as I can before tomorrow evening. Be safe Fion. Don't see me out dear, just relax and finish your tea." She squeezed the woman's shoulder again, then turned and left, waving briefly at the door before scurrying out across the street.

Fion smiled tremulously.

"Thanks, see you soon."

Once Khymarah was out the door she said to herself, "That was nice of her."

Then she started wailing again, aching all over like she'd just been beaten.