Calloway ascended the stairs in the castle. After some convincing with knowledge only he knew Silvia broke down in tears and then it took nearly an hour to calm her down. Afterward she was more than willing to disclose the rest of the information that he desired.

At the top of the stairs there was a grand hallway dressed in the finest of all elven designs and drapery. A line of doors on either side of the hallway were decorated with the same flourishing luxury.

"Eeny meany miney, oh it's this one." With [Greater shadow step] he was able to walk through the hallway without making a sound or letting his presence known. There were four towers that each housed a treasured stone. They were powerful spirit stones that could contain the most powerful of summoned creatures. The High Elementals.

He picked a door and at the end of another hallway, then went through another door. Inside the last room was a room that resembled a small chapel. It had high windows and gorgeous paintings. At the far end of the room was a mural it was a beautiful rendition of the room's occupant. A hooded angelic woman with flowing wings.

"Who goes there?" A disembodied female voice rang like angelically through the room.

"Just little old me. Hey Lucinda, want to go on an adventure?"

Lucinda was an earth high elemental and her design was strongly based on the female angel of hope from Blizzard's Diablo 3. Minor changes included the silver sword and shield she wielded as well as the lack of ribbon wings. The wings were replaced by the same luminescent dust cloud that followed all the Wraith class Earth Elementals.

She appeared before him with her guard lowered.

"It can't be..." her weapons dropped from her hands.

"In the flesh, let me introduce you to your temporary replacement, his name is Sarge."

** ** **

There she was.

Calloway was on his way out of the castle when he saw HER. The Princess. His entire body froze as he watched her discuss something from a distance with some Elven dignitaries.

She was just as beautiful as he remembered if not more so. The elegance and dignity she had as she held herself stole his breath. Here was a doll that now breathed the same air as him, a doll he'd fallen in love with. Doll, no. She was no mere doll, she never was. She was his companion in many ways as he led her around the city when he went on his creation benders. She was a sound board as he contemplated how to make the city better. She was all that, and the single strongest NPC in the entire kingdom.

It was easy to forget that her back story was as the nomadic warrior maiden. Her height wasn't impressive as she was not often taller than most of the Elven men or women. Her skin wasn't as fair as the fallen snow, and she would never be a damsel in distress.

These were the exact qualities that Calloway loved about her. He loved things that defied traditional stereotypes, especially when they seemed like they could fit that way.

Her eyes were not clear blue, they were green cat eyes that could pierce the darkness. Her hair did not shimmer gold against the sun, it flowed crimson from her head like rivers of blood. Her skin wasn't milky white, it was pale with freckles that looked like she'd been seasoned with cinnamon sugar. Her face did not bear the familiar flourishing white silver marks of royalty and power. Instead two light brown lines came from her hairline down to her cheek bones over her eyes like teeth. On more line stretched from her bottom lip to the bottom of her chin. Her dress may have been elegant and covered most of her, but it also covered the huntress tattoos that dressed her arms, legs and most of her body.

No, now that he saw her it was very hard to forget that she was the Warrior princess, as beautiful as she was deadly. She truly was the princess of the City of Perils. A city designed to slaughter raid parties, a city full of tamed monsters, summoned creatures, hardened warriors, deadly knights, and powerful elementals at every turn.

She excused herself and walked down the hallway in his direction. She didn't see him, not yet. He steeled himself for his first encounter with the single most beautiful woman in the world.

** ** **

Princess Shayley listened to the elders drone on about concerns within the city. This time they commented on the prisoner Naomi who was to be put to death in the next week.

She was sad about it, the girl showed great potential, but justice had to be served and the girl had run through all of her second chances. It was to be their first execution of one of the original residents of the city, so it was a hassle as they debated how public it would be and its manner. At first, she had suggested exile but had been ruthlessly turned down by those believed there should be a church to Brother Calloway.

It was one head ache after another, she hated politics, she'd much rather be hunting something strong.

"Excuse me, gentlemen. I have other matters." She left the dignitaries to dispute their moot points on the merits of Brother Calloway's name.

She didn't see him at first, not really. He was shrouded in a nothingness that drew her attention elsewhere. He was wearing simple leather clothes. They weren't the clothes worn by those of the court, they were clothes of a warrior. She only noticed him when he went out of his way to bump into her.

"Pardon me, my lady. I'm on an adventure."

An adventurer? It couldn't be! She spun on her heels, but he was nowhere to be found.

She looked around for him. it couldn’t have been an adventurer, much less the adventurer that she treasured so dearly. When she was certain there hadn’t been any body she fiddled with the ring on her finger.

“Come home soon, Calloway. I need you.” In that one moment she wished with all her might. Her people didn’t have any gods, at least not anymore. But she hoped that someone somewhere could hear her and make her wish come true.

** ** **

Wendy was devastated by the news of her daughter's capture and death sentence. Naomi was always a wild card and she hoped that it would never come to this, but now reality had caught up with her.

Yvette, Wendy's oldest, comforted her. Yvette was more mild-mannered than Naomi, but they had a deep love for each other. She had on the waitress clothes for their café still. After the guards showed up to the café and informed them of their precious one's fate they closed the café and shut their doors.

"It's going to be okay mom, we'll think of something." Yvette cuddled her mother who was sobbing at one of the tables. With all the doors and windows closed during the day it made the café seem that much more empty and sad, but they couldn't help that.

Someone sipped noisily at a cup of tea. Yvette looked at the stranger clad in black. There wasn't supposed to be anyone left.

"Man, the tea in this place tastes great, my compliments to the chef." The man once again sipped loudly at the tea.

Both Yvette and Wendy just stared at the intruder.

"Excuse me, sir. We are closed." Wendy spoke in broken elvish as she sniffled.

The man sipped at the tea again.

Yvette was quickly losing her temper. "SIR. We are closed, I'm going to have to ask you to leave!"

Once again, he sipped at his tea and made happy sounds.

Yvette stood up and stomped over to the bar where the man sat. She slammed her hand on the counter next to him. "Listen Jerk! If you don't leave right now I'm going to call the guards."

"Your daughter is on death row," Calloway spun around and looked at Wendy. "I've come to make a deal." He sipped at his tea and ignored Yvette.

"... ...What kind of deal?" Wendy strained.

"Mom, don't listen to him! We don't even know who this guy is." Yvette said.

"My price is high, but I offer more than your daughter’s freedom." Calloway sipped the last of his tea.

"What else?"

"A second chance for your marriage, but if that isn't tantalizing, how about a chance at a bright future for your daughters."

"Mom!" Yvette stammered.

"Tell me, Wendy, what price would you pay to have your family whole again?" Calloway met her eyes.

"What are you asking for, we don't have much money?" Wendy straightened her back.

"Just one thing, Everything."

"You're a devil." Wendy stated.

Calloway's evil smirk spread across his face. "I've been called worse things. Do we have a deal?"

"Mom, no!" Yvette tried to stop her mom but it was too late.

New Quest: Save Naomi Starchaser

Reward: Wendy Starchaser, Yvette Starchaser, and everything they own. <Click here> for details.