As an honourable man, I felt had little option but to try to free the one known as Faber Smith from the hands of those who had attacked him, once I had learned of his plight. After all, while Nathaniel might be the one with the formal oath about never leaving another of us to stand alone, my own honour binds me to a similar course of action.

However, I did not expect that the events put into motion by that rescue would lead to an armed confrontation between myself, and another of my Lord Michael's servants. Let alone that they would directly lead to an Outcasting.

I have never witnessed an Outcasting before, and I have to admit that I would prefer not to witness one again. Looking at Esek, I could almost feel his pain, and I knew that to a major degree, I had precipitated it, although I refuse to admit that the seeds had not already been sown by his own actions.

Still, everything in its own time.

An abandoned theatre is an strange place for a conflict. And if one of your companions has a pathological hatred of guns, and is about as light on his feet as an elephant, it makes things even more interesting.

Dandelion...a fellow warrior in the War who I have remarkably little time for, although there are moments when she has her uses..had been the one to witness Faber's capture, and had alerted us to his predicament. Thankfully, she had managed to make a connection with him, so that when the time came, she was the one who guided us to his location.

The theatre looked as if it hadn't been used for years The windows were cobwebbed and cracked, and the posters on advertising boards by the main entrance were hanging off in strips. I parked the bike behind the theatre, and as I dismounted, I could feel the music of impending battle singing through my veins. I checked that my blade was loose in its scabbard, and looked around for possible methods of ingress.

Off to the side, I saw a rusty old fire escape, leading to a door on the top floor of the building. Cautiously, I made my way up it, cringing slightly at every creak Dandelion managed to make as she followed me. The door was about as rusted up as the fire escape, and looking at it, I knew we'd be lucky to get inside without making a noise. I paused, and decided to wait for the Morris Minor Cavalry... seriously wishing that Zebediah would actually take his e nineteenth century, let alone the twentieth.

After a few minutes, I heard the putt putt sound as the annoying little green car turned up, and caught Nathaniel's eye as he and Zeb climbed out of it, carrying shields of all the unlikely things. He nodded, and they came up to join us on the landing. I listened, to see if anyone was the other side of the door, but the only sound I could hear was the rattling of half open windows.

"Anyone bring a crowbar?" I asked, quietly. Silence. The next option was a blade, but I have to admit to a loathing of it being mine. In the end Nathaniel obliged, and thankfully I managed to give it back to him in one piece, once the door was open.

"I should go in first and try kindness..." began Dandelion.

The rest of us looked at eachother, and then back at her.

"No. You stay here. We'll call you if we need you."

She looked a little hurt, but at least had the sense not to argue with the combined will of the three of us. Instead, she just nodded, and we made our way inside. I took point, and led us down a dusty corridor. At the end of it, I spotted a man sitting on a chair, reading. Beside him, on the floor, was a pistol.

My first instinct was to kill him. Thankfully, my second instinct led me to check him out first, and after I had done so, I was pretty sure he was human. A little fancy footwork and a chop to the neck later, and he was dreaming of bluebirds. I checked him over, to make sure that he'd wake up later with nothing more than a headache, and then picked up his pistol. Dandelion had said that she had been attacked by men with tranquilliser guns, and this looked which suggested that we were on the right track. I tucked it into my belt..in case anyone else we met in the theatre was only human...and then indicated to the others that it was all clear.

We moved cautiously downstairs, guessing that there may well be some kind of lighting balcony further down the building, from which we could get an idea of the situation. The guess was correct, and we managed to find our way out onto it quietly, without being seen, to take stock of the situation. As we did so, we heard the main door of the auditorium open, which made staying quiet seem even more advisable.

Faber was lying on stage, and looked like he was unconscious. He was guarded by four men, and we could see a fifth man coming towards us down the main aisle. He was big, smartly dressed, and it looked as if he was wearing a mask. That was just the kind of over-done melodramatic entrance that one of the Enemy would use, but when I tried to check him out, I just bounced.

We conferred hastily, and Zeb and Nathaniel agreed to head down towards the stage, to see if they could sneak up on the men guarding Faber. In turn, I waited above, the tranquilliser pistol loaded and ready in case of emergencies.

Unfortunately, the emergency came rather more quickly than would have been desirable. I heard the creak of boards offstage, at around the same time that the men below me did. They turned, and I knew it was party time.

The sight of two of my choir howling, screaming and charging towards you at full speed can be disconcerting. The men guarding Faber paused a moment, as Zeb and Nathaniel bore down on them, and that was enough time for me to snap off a few shots at them. Three went down almost immediately, leaving one of them foolishly turning to engage Nathaniel. That was when I realised why they had shields... the fourth man's shot lodged harmlessly in the one Nathaniel

Nathaniel charged the human, while Zeb headed for Faber, and in the meantime, I tried to get a fix on the big guy. I saw him as he climbed onto the stage, and moved. I threw down the now-empty pistol, and vaulted over the railings of the lighting balcony. There was a move I'd used in years gone by that I had been trying to re-teach myself, and this was a good opportunity to try it out. Commending my soul to my Lord Michael I landed, rolled, and drew my bl icing at the big guy, but not really doing much more than damaging his sleeve. I was a little surprised when he pulled a bastard of a broad sword out of his coat pocket, though.

Then he opened his mouth and Sang. It felt as if I was being hit by thunder, but I managed to keep my feet and moved in against the big guy. I could just about see Zeb trying to pull Faber down into the auditorium, while Nathaniel stepped in between them and me.

The big guy and I engaged, although I was a little surprised when the first hit that connected with me, was with the flat of my opponent's sword. I wasn't feeling particularly charitable, though, especially as my ears were still ringing from the Song, and a katana is not the best weapon with which to try to subdue someone, so I decided not to reply in kind.

Initially, we seemed pretty evenly matched. Now, I think, that was because he had other things on his mind - such as stopping us making away with his prey, but at the time it was comforting. One thing that did surprise me, though, is that in some way his fighting style seemed familiar. I locked the thought away in its own little box, and brought my mind back to the task in hand. I pushed him, and in response he jumped down lightly from the stage. Nathanie though I heard a crash as my companion missed his footing. By then, our enemy had reached Zeb, and knocked him away from Faber. This got me angry, and I tried a kick which should have done for him...however he ducked out of the way with irritating ease.

At that point, Nathaniel joined the party, with a flat of the blade hit to our opponent's legs. He went down on one knee, and in the distance I could hear another Song...this time sung in a female voice. Presumably Dandelion had got tired of waiting.

It didn't seem to have much effect, unfortunately. Our opponent made a move that caused Zeb to be thrown off an attack, and he and Nathaniel went down in a heap of flailing arms. I tried a head kick at the guy, who by this time was really beginning to piss me off, but he made a quick move and caught me on the leg as I did so. It hurt like...well, like the other place...and it was all I could do to land properly. It didn't do much good, however, as our opp e was to open his mouth once more to Sing. This time, I couldn't resist the storm wave, and I went down.

I'm not sure how long I was out for, but when I came too I could see Nathaniel lying on his back looking cross-eyed, and the big bastard was heading for the door. By now, I was angry enough that whether or not it was sensible, I was going to take this guy down. I ran towards him, and launched a kick at him, and was gratified when it connected squarely with the side of his head. We both went down, and I felt his hands closing around my neck. I'd gotten kin ssel by then, though, and wasn't willing to relinquish it just yet, so I tried to knee him somewhere painful. I wasn't pleased to discover the hard way that he was wearing a box.

I was getting ready for another try, when I heard running feet approaching. Then something heavy whistled past my ear and hit my opponent on the head. It gave me the chance to bring the heel of my hand up to his chin, and he fell back, limp. I stood up and turned, to see Zeb holding his shield in...well, in a position which shields aren't usually used in. When I wielded them in the past, it was more common to use the mace with it as the blunt instrument.

Nathaniel came over to join us, knelt down beside our fallen opponent, and reached out to remove his mask. That was when we realised that we hadn't actually checked to see if he was really out of it. There was a flash of red and gold, and I saw him take Celestial form. That was when I realised where I had seen his style before. It was one of those taught in the Groves.

Cursing, I yelled out to him, demanding his name, but all I got in return was a cry of pure fury and he was gone before I could react. Then I looked around, and realised that the others were staring at me as if I'd temporarily taken leave of my senses.

"Didn't you see him?" I demanded, but they looked blankly at me. "He was a bloody Seraph."

Well, if nothing else, it got them worried. But then, it had got me worried, too. Why would a Seraph attack and capture a Malakite? It didn't make sense, and I suddenly had this bad feeling that Celestial politics was about to jump out at me and grab me by the throat.

I rubbed my neck, which was still feeling tender, and then we set about getting the flock out of there. Zeb picked up Faber, while Nathaniel took charge of the sword the Seraph had been using, and once we had rounded up Dandelion, we headed hotfoot back towards Zeb's museum.

For someone who had just had his butt pulled out of the fire, Faber was surprisingly unhelpful about the nature of his plight when he finally came around. I don't know if it was his natural Malakite paranoia, or the fact that by the time he did, the majority of Southampton's angelic population was in the room looking at him. Out of my own inherent Malakite paranoia, and the fact that I was carrying one of the hotter items in Southampton around in my pocke d seen another being called Faber, I stepped out as he began to awaken, to take a look around Zeb's museum.

It sounds like it took all the persuasion they could muster to get out of him the fact that he was in Southampton to meet Eli. By God was it an interesting revelation when it finally came out, though. Given that Lord Eli had been missing presumed fed for quite some years. I wasn't hugely pleased when Nathaniel came out to join me, and told me that he'd invited Faber to stay overnight at the flat. However, unfortunately, I could understand the logic behind a wheel probably had as good a chance of keeping Faber in one piece as anyone else in Southampton.

Lucas and I headed back to the flat on the bike, while Nathaniel followed on behind in the Morris Minor with Faber. I think the only good side he could see to the task was the fact that Burdock was nowhere to be seen. I checked the flat over once we arrived, but couldn't see anything untoward, so I settled down to wait for the others...although my concentration wasn't helped by Lucas bouncing around all over the place. While I actually like the kid, he ca t to cope with at times. In the end, he settled down to go through my record collection, while I maintained my vigil.

Nathaniel arrived some time later, a still rather dazed Faber in tow, and helped him upstairs. At least, even dazed, our guest could appreciate good weaponry - obviously a true Malakite - and he spent a few minutes looking around the flat at my collection. He even complimented me on my katana, which I had put back on its stand on arrival.

After a while, it was generally decided that the best thing would be for our guest to head next door and sleep off the remains of the drug, in the hope that in the morning he might be more clear headed, and rather less unhelpful. We showed him to his room, and then I sat down, although by then Lucas was bouncing around again.

"Don't you ever relax?" Nathaniel snapped at him, as he began to repeat the security checks that I'd already done.

"What's relax?" he asked, brightly.

I shook my head, and then decided it was time for the lad to discover alcohol. I crossed to the drinks cabinet and pulled out one of the good whiskies, the bad one - a Japanese distillation that one of my students had given me - and a bottle of sake. I handed him the Japanese, working on the theory that he probably wouldn't mind what it tasted like, and was a little surprised when he poured himself about half a pint of the stuff. Still, it was his headach ly lucky, it might mellow him out.

Then I went into the kitchen and heated up some of the sake, before bringing the flask and two cups back. As usual, Nathaniel looked down his nose at me...but then he never did approve of me eating and drinking, let alone drinking alcohol.

And as usual, I ignored him. Personally, I find that living for the moment and enjoying it is far more rewarding than permanently brooding, and I believe it actually makes me appreciate the necessity of fighting the War even more.

Anyway, I know just how much sake I can drink before I even vaguely begin to feel the effects.

By the time I got back, Lucas had downed the whiskey, and he did actually look as if his rate of bounce had dropped slightly. I handed him a cup of sake, and then sat down with my feet up, my own cup resting on my chest. Lucas put Vangelis's Heaven and Hell into the CD, and I started showing him how to relax.

I heard a hurrumph from Nathaniel as he walked past to check the lounge window. However, then I became aware of something else. I wasn't sure if I was hearing, or feeling it, but it was a kind of buzzing. Then I realised that it was coming from the pocket where I had the Crystal I reached for it, and was suddenly back in the hall of pictures, and I immediately felt a shiver down my spine. The time I'd been here before, I had been alone...and puzzled...bu

In the distance, I could hear footsteps coming towards me, and for the first time in a very long time, I felt scared. It wasn't a feeling I much liked. I glanced around, and saw that the corridor made a right angle near me. I ducked around the corner and waited, wishing I had my blade with me. Then I reached down and realised that it was in my belt. I rested my hand on the hilt, and waited.

I could hear the footsteps coming towards me, and looked at the door of my cell. A guard blocked out the light from the bars, and I heard a key rattling in the lock. Then the door opened, and two men came in. They pulled me to my feet, and bound my hands, and then somewhat roughly dragged me out of the cell. I was marched down a corridor, and out into the bright, blazing sun of a summer afternoon, and in front of me, I could see the Block.

I knew that my time had come, and offered my soul to the Almighty, and to my Lord Michael, apologising to him for failing him so soon, and hoping that he would give me another chance. They led me over to the Block and I was forced to my knees, and my head was pushed onto it, and then I could hear a new set of footsteps approaching. I tried to look up, but was forced back down again. The footsteps stopped beside me, and I heard the charges against me being had been done, the figure beside me moved, and I heard the chink of metal on stone as he picked up his axe. Then the priest intoned the last rites, and the blade came down on my neck...

I was back in the corridor, and I was shaking. I tried to get a grip on myself, and listened. Finally, I could hear the footsteps retreating. I waited until I was sure they had gone, and then came out from where I had concealed myself. I looked over at the pictures, and saw that some of them had changed from their angelic to their demonic aspects. The last one to have changed was the picture of the woman.

Beleth?

Is that who I had heard?

Certainly, memories of that day in 1535 rated as nightmares, as did the trauma that followed it.

Then, suddenly, I was back in my apartment. Nathaniel was standing over me, blade drawn, and the Crystal was out of my pocket.

"You idiot!" he hissed.

I shrugged, and slipped the Crystal back into my pocket.

Then, we heard music. No, music is too kind a description. I never had been a fan of the trombone, and having one tuned up outside my window at three o'clock in the morning was too much, especially after experiencing one of Beleth's nightmares. I crossed to the window and opened it.

"Why don't you learn the sax?" I shouted, then slammed the window shut again. The noise stopped, and I could see him out there packing up his stuff.

"I don't believe in coincidence," Nathaniel commented, and as I thought about it, I had to agree. "I'm going after him. You stay here."

I nodded, and watched as he headed downstairs, before taking my katana off its stand and starting to walk patrol around the flat.

Some time later, the doorbell went, and I cautiously went down to answer it. I looked out of the spy hole, to see Zeb waiting, so I opened the door for him.

"I was looking for my car keys?" he said.

"Let's go upstairs."

We talked for a while, and as we did, I got the distinct impression that he also wanted something else. It was pretty obvious, when I thought about it, that it was to do with Faber, and was curious to know what it was. After all, Laurence and his servitors aren't exactly bosom buddies with Eli's people. Then I heard a key in the door, and went down to intercept Nathaniel before he came up.

I have to say, I was a little surprised when he held up a can of spray paint.

"What's this...and don't say an aerosol."

To be honest, it was a little hard to describe it as anything else...given that that was exactly what it was... but I tried to check it out anyway, and guess what? It still looked like an aerosol.

"The trombonist spray painted a door in wall with it, then handed it to me and left through it."

I raised an eyebrow, then told him that we weren't alone.

"Zeb's upstairs. Do you want to tell me down here?"

He did. It seemed as if he had followed the man, who had then finally started talking to him. However, he had made about as much sense to Nathaniel as a book on higher mathematics, going on about voices telling him to do things and not do things, and always being there. The episode with the aerosol was by far the strangest, though, and began to conjure thoughts of Eli. Faber had said he was supposed to be meeting his Superior, but he didn't know where or this strange character was drawn to my window.

I was still puzzling this - having about as much patience with coincidence as Nathaniel did - when the latter headed upstairs. I followed him, and saw him throw the can of paint to Zeb. However, the Laurentian didn't show any more sign of knowing what it was than I had. I guessed that it was down to asking Faber.

A short while later, we heard the sounds of Faber stirring...and boy did it sound like he wasn't a morning person. Neither was Lucas, as he came out of his drunken stupor, either. A wheel with a hangover. Ouch.

"Didn't you tell him to drink lots of water, Case?" asked Nathaniel, almost innocently.

"Damn. I knew there was something I had forgotten."

Lucas made for the kitchen, while Faber continued to stir. I was still wary about letting Zeb talk to our guest, and tried to stall him, but he wasn't having any of it. Of course, my great argument wasn't helped by being interrupted by the blasted phone.

I crossed to it, and heard Bernard's voice at the other end of the line. Apparently the Hyenas were on their way over. I guessed that Tony had said something to them, but wasn't willing to wait and find out what it was. Then the phone rang again. I snatched it, and recognised the caller as Esek...the other servitor of my Lord Michael that I was aware of in Southampton.

"I think you've got some hot property just now. Want somewhere safe to store it?"

"Given that the Hyenas are coming, yes."

He gave me some directions, and then hung up. I looked at the others.

"I don't know about you, but I think it would be a good idea to get Faber out of here before our Dominican friends turn up. Any objections?"

There were none.

"Good. I'll take him on the bike. You follow." And I gave them the address. I could almost hear Nathaniel forming the words "you idiot" again, but I ignored him. I threw my house guest a helmet and a jacket, grabbed both my blades, and then sprinted down the stairs. As soon as we reached the bike, I turned the ignition and revved the engine, and was out of there before the Morris Minor detachment hit the beach.

We sped away from my apartment, towards the suburban address Esek had given me, and eventually drew up outside the house. I was somewhat surprised to hear the music of battle singing through my veins, and suddenly wary, I made sure that the bike was parked around the back. Then I went back around to the front with Faber and knocked on the door. It was opened by a woman, and as the battle music had heightened my sense of paranoia, I decided to check her ou discover that she was a Soldier of God.

But why the sound of battle?

She let us in, and showed us into the front room, and then I saw Esek.

Now, as you may or may not be aware, I had only spoken to Esek on the phone before. What I wasn't expecting was to see the masked man from the theatre.

"Ah, Cassian," he said, with a smile, "good to meet you at last."

I looked at him, surprised, and decided to check him out: just to make sure I wasn't going insane. I really didn't expect to get back what I did. In his heart, I could see that he was the source of a lot of our recent problems, and the list of his peccadilloes startled me.

It seemed as if he deserved the wooden spoon of the year award, for stirring up trouble between us and the Dominicans. And yet he'd also been working with the Dominicans somehow. Then I read of his other recent associate. A Grigori. Worst of all, however, were his ambitions against Lord Eli. Apparently, his ambition was such that he wished to take Eli's mantel upon himself, and take his power. And I had brought him two items which would help him achieve t Crystal.

"Faber, get out of here now," I commanded, and with a smooth movement I drew my blade and lunged at Esek. I caught him by surprise, but only managed to cut his shoulder. He reached for a blade, and as he did, I felt something bite into my neck. I reached down, and pulled out a tranquilliser dart. I tried to fight the effects, hoping that I'd got it out quickly enough to minimise the damage, and then turned back to face Esek.

As I did, I heard an ear-splitting Howl. Believe me, it's much more pleasant being on the side of one of my Lord's servitors when he does that, than being against him. I froze, and while I could see Esek advancing on me, sword at the ready, there was nothing I could do about it. Then a chair flew through the air towards us, knocking us apart. I looked over, to see Faber reaching for another piece of furniture, and the lass who had opened the door to us ly P>

I figured that made us even.

I spun and launched a kick towards my opponent. When he hit me on the same leg wound as he had caused the day before, long before I could hit him, I rapidly remembered that that had been a mistake last time, too. I came out of the kick and landed in a crouch, and then heard the sound of the window breaking. I looked up to see Nathaniel, Zeb and Lucas piling in to join us.

Nathaniel looked at me, an almost hurt expression on his face.

"You started without me?"

"Sorry...I hoped he'd talk first."

In the meantime, Esek was looking around him, fast realising that he was outnumbered. I looked at him.

"Why didn't you talk first?" I asked, "back in the theatre."

"I didn't realise who you were," came the answer.

Nathaniel looked at him, strangely, then over at me.

"I would have thought the burning hands would have been a give-away," he commented. Esek said nothing.

"And then you ran away," I added, well aware that it was very wrong for a Michaeline to do that. His retreat had been one of the things that had made me think that whatever else he had been, the man in the theatre had not been a servitor of my Lord. When I realised that he had been, the alarm bells started ringing.

"Who set you up to this, Esek?"

"Who do you think?" came the reply, and he shot me a knowing look. Surely he couldn't mean our Superior? And yet he was a Seraph, and Seraphs were supposed to always tell the truth.

"Are you saying that Lord Michael made you do this?"

"Yes...didn't he mention it to you? Never mind, its not too late for you to help me."

I looked at him, not wanting to believe him. After all, why would Lord Michael send someone to Earth to make things between ourselves and the Hyenas even worse. Especially when he knew I was in town, and that they'd already been interested in me. I thought he thought more of me than that...else why would he have rewarded me in the past.

"Did Lord Michael order you to work with the Dominicans?" I demanded.

I was met with silence.

"Did Lord Michael order you to work with a Grigori?"

Again, Esek remained silent, although off to one side I could see that Nathaniel was less than happy to learn that our opponent was having dealings with one of the Watchers.

"Did Lord Michael ask you to steal Lord Eli's power?"

Nothing. He just looked at me, hatred in his eyes.

"You've run from me once, Esek. I suggest you get ready to do so again," I said, finally, and brought my blade up once more.

"Do not presume to order me about, pup," he replied, and brought up his own weapon.

And then we heard the Song. Immediately, I felt that I could not hit Esek if I wanted to, and I looked around. There was a woman by the window, and she was the one who had uttered the Song.

"Why don't you two put down your weapons, and start acting like civilised people?" she asked. I looked back at Esek, unwilling to comply, and then realised that something was very wrong.

As I watched, he fell to his knees, a low moan issuing from his lips. Then his face contorted in pain, and he was gripping onto the hilt of his blade so hard that his knuckles were whitening. From where I was standing, I could almost feel his pain, and the realisation hit me that I was watching one of my Lord's servitors going over the edge. Obviously his lies, and his ambitions had finally become too much, and the woman's Song had triggered the wrath of Boy were the Triad going to be pissed when they found out.

I rested my hand on the hilt of the wakazashi and called to my Lord, but there was no reply.

"Very amusing. Now give me the Crystal," the woman demanded.

As she spoke, I turned to face her. "And why should I do that?"

"It's mine."

"No. As I see it, it belongs to the House of Eli."

"I am Eli's daughter," she replied, with a malicious smile, "give me the Crystal."

I looked at her again, and then shook my head. "No."

"Maybe you should show it to Faber," Nathaniel commented. I reached into my pocket and pulled it out, making sure that I was a long way from the woman, and then I showed it to Faber. However, he just shook his head.

Then I felt the dratted thing begin to buzz again, and knew I had to get out of there. I started backing towards the door, planning to get out the back. Nathaniel saw me moving, and crossed to join me.

"You'll regret this," hissed the woman, but my main concern was to keep the Crystal safe until my Lord could see it. We got out of the door, and sprinted for the back, and in moments, I was revving up the bike. I glanced at Nathaniel, who seemed less than happy.

"I hope your obstinence was worth it, Case."

"We'll see," I replied.

"That thing needs to be destroyed."

"That is why I want to give it to Lord Michael."

"I am not sure that either your Superior, or the Dominicans should have it. We should give it to a third party to get it destroyed."

"I intend to give it to my Lord," I repeated, then looked to him, "assuming I can keep it away from her." I indicated back towards the house.

He looked even less happy.

"You don't have to come with me, you know," I said, "I release you from that."

"Yes I do," he said, firmly, and got on the back of the bike. I gunned the engine, and sped off...and then found myself, plus bike, plus Nathaniel, plus the Crystal, back in the hall of pictures. I braked, and came to a standstill.

"I assume you can get us out of here?" Nathaniel asked, his amusement quotient going down another three points.

"The door's that way."

I headed for the exit I had used the first time I had been there, and manoeuvred the bike out of it...to find that we were right back where we started. I cursed, and looked around. The pictures had their demonic aspect this time, and the backgrounds were shimmering. That made me even more uncomfortable than I had been before.

"Any bright ideas?" Nathaniel asked.

"Only one that I can think of," I answered. I reached for the wakazashi once more, and tried for the second time to contact my Lord. I hoped he wouldn't be too angry with me...after all, I tried hard not to make a habit of calling on him.

He arrived in a swirl of black feathers, and regarded me. I bowed my head and waited for him to speak.

"What are you doing in the Dark Marches, Ka'shi'an?"

"I was unaware that that is where we were," I answered, somewhat surprised, "this is the place I spoke to you about...the room in the Crystal."

And I started to brief him again on how I had found the Crystal, and what had happened subsequently. To say that he was unhappy that Esek had become Outcast would be an understatement, but I got the impression that it wasn't a surprise to him. Then I reached into my pocket, got out the Crystal and tossed it to him.

He looked at it, almost a look of distaste on his face

"This is one of Beleth's nightmares."

Then he made a fist, and started to squeeze. As we watched, cracks began to appear in the walls of the hall. They increased, and multiplied, and soon the place was coming apart around us. Then we were back in the dojo, and my Lord was letting crushed glass fall from his fingers. Completely irrationally, the thought came to me that the beanie frog was going to be recording some interesting events if it really was a bug.

"Is there anything else I should know about this matter, Ka'shi'an?" my Lord asked.

"Are you aware that Esek was trying to sow dissension between us and the Dominicans? He claimed you had ordered him to do so"

He looked at me, and frowned.

"I did not," he answered, and I knew my faith in him had been valid, "what else?"

"That he was working with the Dominicans...and with a Grigori."

The frown got deeper.

"I am now," he answered, and I could hear rumbling cannon in his voice, "anything else."

I paused a moment, trying to decide how to phrase the thing I had learned from Esek. Finally, I decided that it was probably best to come straight out with it, knowing my Lord would know that what I spoke was the truth.

"Were you aware that he was trying to capture the Lord Eli, and assume his power."

My Lord looked, his expression dark.

"I am now," he repeated, and the cannon sounded as if they were firing. I stood looking at him, hoping that his anger was at what I had told him, rather that with me. Finally, after a few moments, he stepped towards me. I bowed my head and waited in anticipation.

"You have done well, Ka'shi'an," he said, anger still in his voice, but now I knew it was not aimed at me. Then I felt his hand on my forehead. It felt cool and steady. "As a reward for your service, I grant you the ability that I give my Seraphim: to help your attacks strike home."

I felt the new power coursing through me, and then looked up at him, and saluted.

"Thank you, my Lord."

He nodded, then turned to Nathaniel.

"You have also done well. Be sure that I will commend you to my sister...next time I catch her."

Nathaniel inclined his head to him, but I had the feeling that he was less than happy at my Lord's phrasing.

"I expect that Esek is going to be less than happy with me," I commented, and saw a half smile on my Lord's face.

"One judges a man by the quality of his enemies, Ka'shi'an," he replied. Then he nodded to me once more, and was gone.

I looked over at Nathaniel.

"Well?" I asked, with a wry smile, "was it worth it? The Crystal is destroyed."

"We'll see," Nathaniel replied, his tone mirthless, and made for the door.