The cloaked figure slowed as he neared the entrance to the firehall.. Hissed beneath that overhanging hood which cast a dark shadow over his features, a measured intake of breath.

The merriment which he could scent on his forked tongue as it darted out from between his lips was almost too much to bear. 'Bah', thought Saenssath as he lingered for a moment in the doorway, 'The stench of human flesh.'. His fingers closed tightly around the black shaft of the metallic spear he held beside him. Each of his digits possessed a single needlelike claw, which seemed to leave a trace amount of liquid upon whatever he touched. Smoothly, he wandered into that place of merriment. The stench of humans grew. 'There..' The concealed thought as his eyes caught the object of his being here.. The sole reason. His gaze narrowed visibly, light glancing off of those reflective surfaces to reveal only briefly, the green pigmentation, and the diagonal slant.

A pretty girl, really, he may have thought, had he cared for such things. Dressed casually in a white dress. Unaware of the darkness which had settled in around her. Or perhaps all too aware. As Saenssath stood against the bar some feet to her left, he deposited the spear against the counter. About to make a move, he started to turn towards her. But no.. He stopped himself abruptly as the armored knight made himself comfortable near her, and immersed himself in conversation.

He could wait. He could wait for a long time, if he needed. And while he did so, he began picking up on the conversation, listening in.. And scouting the place, with those eyes, as he did so.

"My guards tell me Aralina was here earlier." It was a statement from the knight, directed at the girl.

A moment's pause. He heard the grate of the bottom of a mug against the bar counter as it was picked up, presumably by the girl. "Aye, milord. She was." The sound of shuffling feet and the clink of armor as he drew closer to her. "What happened?"

"She threatened me again.." The girls plainly spoken comment. A bit of a catch in her voice. "She threatened me again.. to persuade me not to testify, which I intend to do."

A smile formed beneath his darkened hood. Saenssath couldn't help but taste the fear given off from the woman in the form of risen body heat. His tongue lashed out again, head turned in the other direction.

"And she got away again?" The gruff voice of the other spoke. "Aye milord," Came the prompt reply. But it was followed by several moments hesitation. "There was a fight outside.. between she and.." Her voice dropped almost to a whisper, "Someone else I know...." Her voice trailed off. But she recovered herself well. Quite well, mused Saenssath. "But in the end, she escaped."

A pause. This time from the knight. It was a pointed silence, followed with the shuffle of movement. As he turned his face and it became obvious, his reason. To address his guardsmen. "Perhaps if my men paid less attention to gossiping, and more attention to their duties, we would have caught her." Saenssath's smile grew. So.. The guards are that lax in their duties. A possible chance. But still, he waited, to see what else he might learn. "Know this, milord.. I -will- be at the trial tomorrow," The girl interjected, defiantly. "I have the twins under guard and will -not- run from her."

A silence. Perhaps the man simply nodded his agreement. But Saenssath heard him, again, "I will be there soon, as well.. As soon as my duties permit." The stranger's eyes caught the light as he looked briefly towards the two, their sudden silence unnerving to him, as though he'd let them both slip through his fingers. But he cursed inwardly as the guard noticed his interest in the woman.. And looked directly at him. Saenssath returned his gaze swiftly back to a neutral spot on the far wall.

"May I help you?" The comment was obviously directed at him.

Saenssath's luminescent eyes became narrowed slits as he stared forwards, tongue flicking between his teeth. A different tactic came to mind. And again, he almost smiled. His eyes retained their casual focus as he looked briefly to the girl, before turning his head to give Blackthorn his full attention. The movement of his head beneath his hood gave the impression of a man with a broken neck. But the shadows worked well to conceal his face. "Sshe iss not ssafe here," He said in a slow, yet neutral tone. His S's seemed drawn out.. As though a rattle shaken rapidly.

The man narrowed his gaze upon the stranger. "And why not?" He leaned forwards to get a better look, but Saenssath drew back. "Are you threatening her?"

Saenssath smiled slowly. This tactic would work. His eyes glinted as they caught the light, and he focused them upon the knight's. "You musst trusssst me," He spoke slowly and gently. The eyes beneath the hood seemed to sway, hypnotically, side to side.. almost serpentine. "I ssee many thingsssss.. Know many thingsssss.. " He continued, not taking his eyes from him.. Not moving a muscle except his neck.. Swaying gently.. as a reed in the breeze. "You mussst trusssst me. Sshe isss not ssafe...."

The man blinked.. He seemed to be having trouble focusing.. And his brow furrowed in a scowl as he continued to stare into this stranger's eyes. "I trust no one, that I don't already know.." The knight said slowly.. Which deepened Saenssath's smile. It was working.

His eyes remained locked with the knight's. Those eyes.. that voice.. soft and warm despite the hissing quality.. "I am a friend... Trussst me. It iss nessssessary. For her protection.. Trussst me.." The way the light hit the eyes.. the gentle sway.. The steady tone...

The man seemed to fall under the trance.. head clouded as he'd meant. But his hopes were shattered as the man grasped at his chest as though something had slapped him. And blinked rapidly, the effects of his trance having worn off.

"I think not. I agree she is in danger." The man scowled, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. "But I don't trust you."

'Curssed humanss,' thought Saenssath to himself. 'Alwaysss with a protection of ssome ssort.'

The girl he'd been watching suddenly broke away from the bar, and hurried away. His eyes briefly watched where she'd go. And yet another switch of tactics. He smiled.

"Then I cannot help, can I?" An arrogant tone forced from within, and a hiss of indignation. Saenssath grasped the hilt of his spear and started across the room, leaving the startled and dumbfounded knight watching him depart.

Saenssath smiled to himself as he left the confines of the hall. Leaving the disgusting scent of the humans behind. And then.. ducked off the trail, out of sight..

She leaned over the crib, gently placing the blanket over the child sleeping within. Her heart still pounded in her chest as she ran a finger along the tiny boy's cheek. Several thoughts flowed through her mind.. About the stranger in the hall.. The threats from Aralina.. And why the child's father didn't come home. Home to her. A tear ran down her cheek, splashing upon the blanket, in the crib.

But.. She lifted her eyes and looked about the nursery. How could one stay afraid in such a place? It was so calm.. so peaceful.. so.. A chime sounded in her ears.. A chime from the direction of the window. She paused.. and frowned, unsure if she had imagined it. Slowly, she began to move towards the window, to investigate the sound.

Her heart caught in her throat as twin eyes appeared just beyond the window.. But was calmed. They seemed so.. so warm. So caring. So tender.. Everything she missed. A warm and soothing voice spoke, inside her head.. "Come, my child. Come to me." It said.. She found herself drawn closer.. Those eyes.. They seemed to bring with them promise of an end to her pains. Her fears.

A warmth filled the room. A gentle tune began, seemingly from nowhere. The voice.. always there.. It would protect her from all harm. "Come, my child. The time for suffering is past. Come closer, that I might wrap my arms around you, in protection..."

Yes.. protection.. she thought to herself. Tis what she desired most.. Tis what she wanted. She moved ever so close to the windowsill. "Down here, my child," The voice came again.. warm and compassionate. "Look.. that I might take your pains."

Yes.. I want that.. she thought again. And found herself opening the catch on the windows.. Pushing them open to look down towards the moat.. The door opened casually behind her. Blackthorn, standing there. "Liz?"

Fast as a lightning strike, something lashed out and clamped firmly onto her arms, sending tendrils of pain lashing through her spine. Her first reaction, to jerk back from the pain, failed as the thing pulled her closer to the edge. Muscles tensed. The tingling warmth of the venom flowed through her veins.. The last thing she remembered as she fell towards the open portal.. the eyes of him.. the stranger.

His jaws firmly clamped upon her arm, Saenssath hurled himself, with her limp form dragging behind, towards the moat, far below. His form, now devoid of the armor and cloak he'd worn before, revealed that of a man.. But not a man. Perched upon his neck, it seemed a snake had sprouted from between the shoulders. The green scales glistened as they punctured the still surface of the water, transparent lids closing over his eyes. A loud splash as she was dragged down with him, her garment trailing and clinging to her, in the cold murky water.

Immediately, he pushed towards the floor of the moat where it would be more difficult to follow, if one should be foolish enough to try. A second splash behind him. 'Figures' The wry thought snapped across his mind.

Seeming at home in the water, he set aside all thoughts of his pursuer, waving his body and kicking his legs, to provide propulsion, and swapping the limp form of the girl from his mouth to his slender scaled arms. He knew she was unconscious, by her drag as he slid further beneath the depths. The air bubbles blossoming from around her lips confirmed this. He nearly smiled as he caught sight of his destination..

Ropes lashed against the rock, where he'd placed them should such a situation come up. He shoved her limp form towards them, lashing her quickly yet efficiently. His fingers shot through the murky water to draw the wickedly curved dagger from the sheath, the blade seeming just as serpentine as he. Even in the murky water, it glimmered slightly as he plunged it deeply between her breasts.

A cloud of red began to diffuse with the water of the moat as it spilled from her form. Her body jerked spasmodically out of reflex. He smiled wickedly, but pushed off from the wall with his stubby clawed feet, his shoulder slamming into the armored guard, who had followed. He shoved him aside, and continued his swift journey to the shore.. And as he climbed out, the water sliding from his green hued scales.. He bent to retrieve his equipment, hastily donning the leather armor and cloak, before picking up the spear and retreating.

A smile as he ran towards the forest. 'Dead men tell no tales,' He smirked to himself, 'Women, too.'.

He travelled easily upon the path through the forest. Time to collect his pay on a job well done. Saenssath smiled to himself, almost cheerfully. It certainly had been easy.. And right beneath the noses of the foolish guards, he mused.

But wait.. He stopped his forward motion, gripping the spear ever so tightly. What was that... He heard the distant clinking of metal armor.. moving swiftly through the forest, after him. His tongue flicked out to taste the air, and his expression switched to one of distaste. 'Human.'

He changed his path, leaping to one side, crashing through the underbrush at the side of the path just as an arrow sailed past his head. He flung aside the cloak, which hindered his movement as he split aside tree branch and bush with the triple pronged head of his metallic spear.

His pursuer still insisted on giving chase, even following him through a dense patch of thorns. Saenssath brightened a little as he caught sight of the clearing, up ahead.

Upon gaining the ground, there, he swung around to face his opponent, his thumb sliding over an impression on the shaft of his spear. Ominously, the space between the prongs grew as they split down the middle.. Forming three seperate spear heads. A crackling orb of energy formed between them as they began to rotate slightly.

The man had changed directions, rather than following right behind him. Saenssath concentrated on listening, tasting the air with his forked tongue, until the man crashed from the bushes in a direct charge, towards him. He was a knight. That much was clear, by how he was dressed. Yet it wasn't the same, he had faced in the moat, or in the firehall, earlier. This one seemed more.. youthful. He set the end of his spear firmly against the ground, against the charge.

At the last moment possible, the man's eyes widening at the energy arcing between blades on the spear tip, he leapt through the air, to the side, shoulder hitting the ground hard, as he rolled. The knight stood.. And turned to face Saenssath casually.

'Thisss sshould be fun', mused Saenssath, lifting his spear from the ground, and spinning it in an arc over his head before returning it to a guard position, in front of himself.

The man moved faster than he would have expected, with an axe of such size. Saenssath swing his spear to block as the diagonal sweep bit at his legs, but it was a futile effort. A gash opened through the leggings, and a dark orange blood leaked out. He hissed angrily, leaping away from the attack. Without a word, Saenssath leapt in, his jaws parting, spear to the side.. His head darted swiftly to the neck.

The chainmail hadn't looked -that- tough. He recoiled, the bitter taste of steel in his mouth as venemous spittle trickled from his mouth. A hiss spilled from his throat. His cobra like hood rises to it's fullest, threateningly.

The man spun, his axe lashing out at chest level with Saenssath's neck. He swung his spear up to guard, but again too slow, the axe blade grazing his forearm. Furiously, he thrust the spear downwards after warding off the axe, to impale the man. But it was anticipated. The knight spun away, then countered with a shoulder thrust towards him.

Saenssath did the simplest thing to do.. He stepped aside. A venemous hiss, and he struck again with viper like speed to the knight's armored neck. Perhaps it was weaker there..

But no. It wasn't. He gagged in revulsion as his fangs scraped against chainmail, leaving twin streaks of venom on the steel. He spun to one side as the already blood stained axe swung up towards his chest. It felt nothing but empty air as the snake's spear pierced the air towards the armored side.

The knight easily moved aside, and wound up with a straightarmed punch to the Viparious' serpentine mouth. Saenssath easily deflected the guantlet with the crackling head of his spear, sparks flying as the energy tasted metal. He twined his head around, striking quickly at the man's arm. A reverberating pain flowed through his spin as the second hand, still with the hilt of the axe in it, slammed into the side of his head. He staggered back a little to get his bearings, seeing stars and black spots floating about his vision.

He swung blindly, with the spear, only to be rewarded with the sizzling crack, and the resistance of the spear as it found it's target. He hissed triumphantly, but it was short lived. The axe bit again through the legging of his left leg, opening a deep gash. His blood trickled in a flow like lava, down the legging, to meet the ground.

A sharply hissed warcry. He spun the spear over his head, regardless of the pain wracking his body.. and brought it down sharply towards the knight. The man's axe flew up to ward off the attack.. He pivoted, pushing his shoulder again towards his opponent. Saenssath twisted, content to let the human slip past. A wicked gleam simmered in his eyes. He lashed out, opened jaws passing through the open face of the helm, to clamp onto the man's nose.

Blood began to pour, amidst the shouts of the knight, and the snake recoiled, licking the taste from his lips with satisfaction. But the knight wasn't set back. Before Saenssath had time to render a second attack, he turned his head towards the snake in an armored headbutt. Saenssath twisted his head to the side, letting his opponent taste empty air before shoving him backwards, prodding sharply with his spear towards the man's gut. The attack, slow and unwieldly, sparked along the side of the knight's armor. A grin from the bleeding nosed knight.. His axe arced around, and crashed towards Saenssath's head in an overhand swing.

He flung his spear up, horizontally, to catch the axe below the blade. He held the man's gaze. Grinned slowly as he kept the weapons locked there. A stubby clawed kick rose to slam into the man's gut, forcing him away. And sending a jarring ebb of pain through the snake's body. He sucked in a hiss, and a curse.

Several more blows traded.. The two combatants moved through the clearing, at each other's throats. The hissing of the snake.. the silence of the warrior. The warrior withdrew.. the two were becoming weary.. hits scored visible in the blood running from each, the red and dark orange mixing together upon the ground. Their glares locked.. The knight swung his axe hard, at the snake's side. Saenssath twisted to block, but his eyes widenened, fork tongue darting out with a hiss as the blade pierced through his armor, and bit deeply into his side.

'I will not be defeated by.. this..' Another thought to himself. He clamped a hand down upon the man's shoulder, not even attempting to pull himself off the blade.. Energy drawn into his body from an unseen source. A green aura began to permeate his body. "Noxia Navass," He hissed out. And the glow shot up the blade of the axe, and into the man's body. The glow transferred.. from snake to man.

And the man seemed ill for a moment as nausea overtook him, the poison spell seeming to grapple to take hold. But he shook his head to clear it.. the glow faded. The man smiled despite the blood flowing down his face. He dug the axe blade in deeper, drawing a strangled hiss from deep within Saenssath's throat.

"Damn wizards," The man murmured.

Saenssath gathered the spear.. Pushed it towards the man's gut.. feeling weakened. But as the sparks hissed, burning through the armor and scorching flesh beneath, the knight fell back, gasping.

The knight glared.. gathered himself up for a final leap. Saenssath planted the spear against the ground as the man leapt.. The space of a few heartbeats.. The axe blade splitting aside his armor to find purchase in tender scales and flesh.. The triple blades, sparking on the end of his spear impaling the man through the side.

It all seemed to begin to fade as the knight staggered back..

'From me... they'll learn nothing'. Thought Saenssath.. Almost smiling at that thought.. Straining as he sank to his knees.. To find the panel on the spear. It flipped up with his thumb. The digit passed across another impression, more hidden than the first. And he collapsed, first to his side, and then to his back, the spear laying across his chest.

The triple blades began to rotate more quickly, building up in a whine. The knight sucked in a sharp breath as he continued to back away, "Damn magicians.. this isn't gonna be good.."

And it moved in slow motion. The spear head stopping abruptly. The sudden explosion erupting from the sphere beneath the spear head, pushing it's way outwards, flinging back dirt and debris. The shockwaves, scattering bushes, knocking down trees.. And hurtling the limp knight backwards through the forest.

And as soon as it began, it was over. A large crater lay in the center of the clearing, where Saenssath had stood, moments before. The knight groaned, in pain. And then everything went dark...

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