The War of Ages...

[Alais d Nitesong]

As I prepared to leave the volcanic chamber with Ozy and Saltera, a curious wrenching of the Annaran magic pulled at me. It was not an assault of my own magics, but it was connected, part of the Annaran base of power.

It shifted, pulled, then forcibly shoved it's way into a powerful soul stone, or something similar.

Stopping where I stood, I studied it as best I could. It was an Annaran curse. A powerful spell, but it was also not quite Annaran. It was changed, different.

I was still long moments before Ozy shifted upon my arm. "We are going to your construction site? Or has something changed?"

I blinked before glancing between Ozy and Saltera. "Something's changed. There is a power alteration and shift to the Annaran sorceries base, but there shouldn't be such a thing here, not on the Emerald Isles, and it's close."

We all touched the staff as I took us from the chamber back to the surface, where I got my first look up close at my home, and what the demons and Malchor had done to it. Nausea threatened to wrench my last meal from me as I surveyed the obscene transformation before me. And then I heard it, Malchor's voice, "I will have your soul as a plaything guardian. I will drink toasts with the blood of your friends to the destruction of this world and then I have been promised worlds beyond this. You will come with me and serve me. Do you like that idea?"

Guardian? Who did he have inside? I looked at Saltera, the question written in the mobile features of elven kind without having to actually speak aloud.

[Malchor]

Malchor tried to pull away from Sai Jon but he was held fast. He watched in confusion as the skin on Sai Jon's face and arms slowy darkened and turned black and the scarred skin turned scaly. Suddenly Sai Jon released him and he stumbled back into the stone table but he could still feel the ravenous power pouring into the gem. He couldn't stop it. He turned and threw the stone away from him just in time as it exploded in a rainbow of sparks and flame. Malchor felt his control over those enslaved by the stone slip away from him and he turned and ran from the thing growing behind him.

[Kor Jon]

Saltera opened his mouth to ask Alais what was wrong but stopped as an earth shattering roar shook the ground below him. He watched as first Tobias came sprinting out the front of the manor carrying a slight figure bundled in Sai Jon's cloak and then followed by Malchor and his personal guards. The strange part was that they did not seem intent on pursuing Tobias but instead they seemed to be running from something.

Saltera did not have long before their pursuers revealed themselves. A gigantic dragon that seemed to be both black and silver beurst through the front of the manor demolishing the front doors and the stonework around them. It was quickly followed by two other dragons, one of which appeared to be a dracolich but it scooped up one of the fleeing guards in his jaws ripping the massive demon in half. Malchor dissapeared in a flash of light just as the black dragon let loose a blast of black and purple flame that shriveled everything it touched. The black stopped as he saw that there were no more enemies to kill and roared in triumph, it's head swung towards them and Saltera could see that his first impression had been mistaken, it wasn't a black and silver dragon it was a black dragon with metal wrapping around the left side of his face and an red artifical eye looking out next to the jet black one.

It was Sai Jon.

[Alais d Nitesong]

Chaos burst through the front entry of what had once been the graceful arches of entry to my unfinished home. First the muffled explosion, and then the fleeing figure of Tobias, followed shortly by Malchor and some of his cronies. Seconds later, the unmistakable roar of a seriously enraged dragon echoed from the structure.

The ground shook as stone exploded into rubble as a great black dragon erupted into view, closely followed by 2 others. A silver that now looked more like a dracolich grabbed a fleeing demon and tore it in two.

I threw up a wall between Tobias and Malchor, but Malchor was not intent upon chasing the boy down. I sent Ozymandias to bring the lad to where Saltera and I stood watching.

The muffled explosion had reverberated through my Annaran link before vanishing. Whatever had been going on, was now over and I was left watching in horrified fascination as the great black dragon turned our direction. There was no mistaking Sai Jon. Even now, with ebony scales covering his body, his implants were unmistakable.

"Sae, th' transformation ist nae complete." My voice was soft, perhaps Saltera heard, perhaps not, but now the demon knew what changes have come upon the man he calls 'brother.'

The dracolich silver moved in our direction, and as he neared, the ruined features resolved into a familiar visage. Garl!

Picking up my staff, I raced with elven lightness and speed across the debris strewn ground toward my old friend and almost constant companion since my arrival in the Emerald Isle's. A prayer ripping through my mind as I closed the distance between us. "Goddess, grant me the power to undo this!"

He shifted into his humanoid form as I reached him. The once elegant and handsome creature was now a ruin. One arm was broken, hanging uselessly at his side. Malchor's sorcery was partially gone, and now the ravages of combat before the conversion returned.

I reached up slowly to trace a long gash across Garl's cheek. No words needed to be spoken. We needed to rejoin Saltera, Tobias and Ozy before Malchor returned with reinforcements. While Sai Jon may have startled the Annaran General, he would not vanish and leave now. He would return. We needed to return to Tass' refuge on Odhran, but that instant seemed frozen in time, Garl's return to us would mean the Silvers would no longer need me, and I could go at last. Do that which has to be done once more.

Saltera had seen what would become of Sai Jon before his demise, and I had seen Garl's return once more as the leader of the Silvers.

[Kor Jon]

Sai Jon landed in front of Alais' and her silver eyes slid over the changed form of Sai Jon. There was no doubt in her mind as to who the black dragon was, "G'e'entide m'lord." He changed back to human form and staggered gasping. Saltera caught him before he fell. She walked up to Sai Jon as Saltera steadied him, "Sae, 't hath b'gun fer ye." Her hands curled around the white Rouwanwood staff.

"Never been a lord, not planning on starting now." Sai Jon said with a strained grin, "I need you to get Spike and the others back to Lord Momus. We need to prepare and she needs medical attention." Alais turned again to look at the bundle in Tobias' arms. She kept her thoughts to herself about the wisdom of trying to save her. "The blacks and I will take care of the remaining demons here and meet you back there."

"We haff need tae draw 'em taegether tae send th' Annaran's back. Prithee, dinnae wait tae long tae coome back tae 's."

He stood up, pushing away from Saltera, "I won't be long. These things have been unopposed too long"

"Th' dragon's dae need ye Sai Jon, bu' ye'll haff need o' reinforcements dae ye plan tae stay 'ere verra long. 'Re ye ascertes ye dinnae wish tae keep 's 'ere tae 'elp?"

Sai Jon shook his head, "No, Lord Momus must know and you and Saltera can not be risked. Go." He turned away and Saltera tried to stop him but he gave the demon a look and Saltera fell back a step at the burning black eyes that stared out at him, "Take care of them brother." Saltera gave a tiny nod.

Alais gave Sai Jon a frown, but turned to face Tobias without content, "Ist she still alive?"

Tobias looked grim, "She's alive but she's badly hurt."

"More thence ye ken lad, more thence ye ken." Alais muttered to herself.

Sai Jon gave them one last look and then stepped away from the group transforming again. His massive head swung from side to side and he let out a roar that shook the ground. Several roars answered him as three more black dragons appeared over the horizon. Sai Jon launched into the air and the dragons formed up around him wheeling back towards the manor.

Alais watched him for another second and then turned to the others, "Coome, prithee, dae wrap yer 'and aboot th' staff, we mus' needs be gae'in."

Tobias stared after Sai Jon and then as if answering himself, handed Spike off to Giles, "I'll stay and help the old man, get her out of here." Before anyone could respond Tobias was off and running. Wings sprouted from his back and he took to the air after the dragons.

Saltera watched him go, "Blasted kid."

Alais shook her head, "Th' lad whilst get 'imself intae 'ot water wi' yer broother." As each one wrapped a hand around the staff, Alais uttered the musical words in Annaran and they faded from view.

Two hours later Sai Jon followed by more than a dozen dragons each carrying several passengers who for one reason or another were unable to make the flight back to the manor unaided landed in the increasingly crowded mashalling grounds that were laid out between Tass' manor and the sea. Sai Jon ensured that his passengers were safely down and went in search of Tass.

Jacob caught up to him as he was entering the front doors, "I've found the perfect spot. It's far away from any of the surviving towns and it already has a contingent of demons guarding it. If we threaten it, we should get Malchor to send in reinforcements and if we let it slip that it's our entire army we should get him there in force. You sure about this plan Jon?"

"No, but it's all we got. Where's Tobias, I want to go over what you two will be doing during the battle." Jacob gave him a strange look. "What?" Sai Jon asked confusedly.

"Jon, Tobias stayed on Matlal to help you. The others returned without him."

"WHAT?!?" His voice almost turned to a roar.

"Yeah, we expected him to return with you."

"Take me to Lord Momus. We need to find Tobias now."

Jacob nodded and led Sai Jon into the manor.

[Tasslehofl Momus]

He had left the problems of the war to the hands of the generals. He, a general himself, had left the defenses of the Manor to the Silvers. They, of all the dragons that survived the initial attack, were the most in number. This was due to the fact that they were in and around the manor at that time. It was fortune, if one could call it such, that they were. It, too, was also their curse.

They had been there when his wife was taken, and his daughter went missing.

His rage was better placed at others at the moment. He turned his focus, honing his rage into a thin line. It was time to find his daughter.

She had learned well through her studies. The Elder had taught her well. She had masked her signature and had completely removed all traces of her tracks from those that would think to find her. All save one. He knew his daughter. He, too, had a hand in her learning. And though, even if she was not his biological father, the link he had forged with her was one which would never be broken. He was her father. He would find her.

It was this link that he turned his mind to.

Quietly, he sat in his office, locked off and away from the rest of the manor. Carefully, methodically, he combed the isle of Odhran, searching for a trace of his daughter. Each night, thus far, had proved useless. He knew she had learned well, but it was a tribute to the Elder, as well as himself, how well she had covered her tracks. It would prove to save her if word were to reach Malchor, and this Ashen.

There were nights that he needed to relax, but there was never a relaxing moment. In the times which he sent his image to the city-proper, he kept searching for her, thinking that she would take refuge there, or at least seek out the duels which she had always done. But to no avail.

There had, however, been Byz. She was one who he knew he had to look out for. His words had been harsh, but they were necessary. She was, if all went wrong, the last remaining dragon of his kind. She would be, if all life failed here in the Isles, the mother of his race. He could not afford to let her back into the Isles until all was safe. She was still young, but she would learn. He had faith in his kind and their thirst for knowledge. She would understand…eventually.

He shook his head and set it back on to the path of finding his daughter. He could not allow his thoughts to wonder as they had. He had need to concentrate totally on the lore which he manipulated now.

Hours passed, and yet he still found nothing. He could not help but chuckle. Had it been the Elder sitting here doing this, the office would have been torn asunder. The Elder had little patience for things such as this. But then, the Elder had changed. He had grown… If he so wished, the Elder could challenge him on equal footing. No… The Elder would not do that. He did not know how, but he knew that the Elder would not.

Again, he growled and shook his head, finding his mind wandering to other matters. He forced his mind to the task at hand once more.

Another eternity of hours passed. He had come to the last area of the Isle of Odhran. If she was not here, he would proceed on to the other Isle’s. He would do what he must to find his daughter.

Grain by grain, he sifted through each atom that his mind touched. Then the world stopped. He could tell that there was something there, something close to where his mind was… something, familiar.

Then the image, the information, the trail shattered as the door to his office was kicked open. He closed his eyes, and took control of the rage that had exploded within him. It was too readily available as of late. When he opened his eyes, the rage evident within, he set his gaze on Giles, Alais, and Saltera, who had a bundle wrapped in his arms.

[Alais d Nitesong]

Tobias fled into the night after Sai Jon, and both Saltera and I realized there would be hell to pay. Our directive was clear. Take what remains of Tass' wife back to Odhran.

I can only pray that she will cross the rainbow bridge before we return.

She has been with Malchor a long time. Images of the attrocities Malchor had committed in Annara raced through my mind.

There was no question he would have cooked young dragons and force fed them to Spike. Youngsters she would have known and loved. He was not above making SPike watch as they were eviscerated and placed into the cooking pits. He may even have fed them to her raw. That too would be within Malchor's realm of feasible actions.

Malchor is capable of any attrocity imaginable, and a few that are simply unimaginable. Given the length of time she was with him, he has probably experimented on her, and I find it very hard to imagine that she will ever be whole or sane again.

We solidified in Tass' library on Odhran, and Giles held Tass' wife in his arms. They would all do their best for her, but only time would answer how badly this elf had been scarred.

I glanced at Saltera. We needed to plan our part of the war, and Malchor knows I am here, and he knows I will fight beside them. What he does not know is that I am prepared to use Morrin's sorcery to send them back, with a modification. This spell will work best if most of the Annarans are in one place. I wondered if he had any ideas from his experience when we walked in on Tass.

His expression was barely leashed rage.

[Alais d Nitesong]

A million memory fragments raced through my mind.

Tass' rage was thinly leashed as we faced him in his library. I had never told Tass about Annara. Never shared the details of why Morrin had done what he had, and why I had agreed to help him. Had he known, I am certain that rage would not be leashed even slightly now that we had Spike retrieved from one of the worst monsters ever to come from Annara.

I stepped back from the group. There was much to do before we could hope to use those Morrin's work, and the pain I would see in Tass' features was not something I wanted to witness. I knew what he would find in Spike's eyes.

Another step back.

Perhaps that he does not know is a blessing. His hope will not be tested as strongly as it would be had he known.

Another step back... the door stood ajar.

[Alais d Nitesong]

As I moved backward toward the door, waiting for Tass to realize the condition of his wife, his eyes locked with mine.

Saltera’s voice rose in the tense space confined by walls. “Tass, Sai Jon and Tobi found her. She’s a live, but there’s not much we can do for her.” They laid the shell of Tass’s wife upon the table as I reached the doors.

Tass’ voice was barely a whisper, but it carried across the room. “You leave, and I will be forced to take up the blade.”

Daemonbane writhed in the scabbard upon my back, and electricity arced between my old friend and I.

Giles broke the silence, “Sir, can we deal with the mistress now and the threats later?”

Tass’ eyes never left mine, “this is no threat.”

Giles stood with Saltera between himself and Tass. The tension was a living thing in that span of seconds before Saltera asked if Tass could help Spike.

Tass dragged his attention away from me to focus on her. He knew her best of all, but would he be honest about what he found? Khirsah would be, but he was absent still.

I pulled the hood of my cloak up, casting my face into shadows as I know what he will find there. He slowly looked back at me, “You have the power in you, I do not – not yet, nor does my daughter.” His words hit like an accusation in the air.

A shiver ran down my spine, but I raised my voice to the room clearly, “Tass, auld friend, yer wife mus’ needs be ‘ealed ‘n bodda fer th’ mind wilst take time, ‘f ‘t all. There’re thin’s ye dinnae ken aboot Malchor.” Things I had hoped he would never need to learn, but now must face with no guarantee Spike could recover.

His rage burst free as he stood, violently slamming his hands down upon the desk as his voice rattled the very stone that held the manor together, “I can heal her mind! It is the body you must do!”

My fingers tightened around my staff. He was demanding something from me that I could not do. I am no healer! “Dinnae roar ‘t me Tasslehofl. Ye haff nae idea wha’ ye willst face there. Nor wha’ Malchor ist capable o’. Mine sorceries ‘re o’ death Tass, ‘ealin’ ist nae soomethin’ Ah dae verra well, bu’ be ye ascertes ‘t ist wha’ ye dae want? Prithee, dae look verra closela ‘t ‘er mind!”

I would have tried if that was what he wanted, but I did not believe he had looked closely enough yet. I would have done what I could in terms of healing the ravaged form there before me, but Tass’ growl rippled in the room, “Your sorceries are Annaran.” As though somehow that explained everything, but to me, it only muddied the water. Of course my sorceries are Annaran magic, and he of all people should know Annaran magic is not the magic of life.

His next words were the accusation I’d heard in his tone, “and yet you will not heal that which your kind of magic has corrupted!”

My eyes narrowed at him as I sought to hold my temper, “prithee, dae ye look closela b’fore ye ask me tae try auld friend.”

He snarled and stormed around the desk to stand beside his wife, taking her into his arms before ordering me from her presence. “if you will not help her, then leave to do what you will. I will find my way.”

In that instant I knew damage had ben done to us both that might not be healed before my journey to join Morrin. Pain knifed through my insides that he thought I was refusing to do that which he believed was in my capability.

The doors were abruptly slammed all the way open as Sai Jon and Jacob arrived. “Tass! They have Tobi!”

Sai Jon stopped dead in his tracks as he registered the scene before him.

I had remained unmoving and my voice held warning as I said to Tass, “ye must needs make ascertes Tass- dinnae bring ‘er back ‘f ye’r nae.”

Sai Jon scanned the tense group, “What is going on here?”

Tass roared at me, “LEAVE!”

Very slowly and deliberately I turned toward Sai Jon. “Tass’ wife doth ye’ breathe, bu’ ‘t mayst nae be th’ righ’ thin’ tae bring ‘er back.”

Sai Jon looked at Tass, telling him that his son was now captive and that because he’d gone to get Spike.

Tass laid his wife on the desk before turning to Sai Jon, “Then we will find him.” He was all business once more.

Tass then turned once more to me, “you have chosen your path, now leave.”

And so it had come. My time to depart, but not the way I had thought it would.

Giles and Sai Jon offered to help, but he declined the offers of healers before fixing me with a hard stare. “I have other means.”

I let no emotion come to bear as I returned his hard look, “dae ye save th’ body tae torture th’ mind auld friend? Prithee, dae ye look verra deepla.”

“Lady Nitesong, your advice is heard, now your services here is no longer required. Leave.”

Sai Jon looked between us and I nodded gravely at the changed dragon, “f tha’ ist yer wish.”

I gave Sai Jon a long look, willing him to remember what I had shared with him before turning for the door, “Ah wilstbe ‘pon Matlal whence Saltera ist reada.”

As I walked into the hall, Saltera followed. Daemonbane rippled upon my back and heading for the balcony that looked toward Matlal, I could hear Saltera’s foot steps. I talked quickly to him, telling him where to find me on Matlal, and where I would need him for the casting. I paused, muttering several imprecations in Annaran as I regarded the dark shape that had become my second home.

Saltera walked up behind me, “He’s in pain.”

I took a deep breath, but did not turn around, “Aye, ‘e ist. Bu’ Ah’m nae ‘ealer Saltera.”

He remained unmoving behind me, “have you ever loved someone and had them taken from you?”

The ring I wore reminded me every day, and my own anger broke through. In pain and frustration, I drove the point of the Rouwanwood staff hard against the stone floor before turning to face him. Daemonbane hissed sensing my anger, and the proximity of a demon. “Ah didst watch ‘is starship vanish intae one o’ th’ ‘armony suns, ‘t was nae option Saltera.” I held up my left hand, where the star fire and infinity ring glowed faintly still. Uly had gone knowing his fate, and nothing could have stopped him from doing it anyway.

I buried that pain ruthlessly before whispering soft Annaran words that set my form to shimmer in the night before fading from view.

[Alais d Nitesong]

I left Odhran behind, coalescing upon the black sand of Matlal. A place I had begun to think of as home.

The surf crept lazily back and forth across the sand with a soft whoosh as I took a moment to stare up the mountain to where the abomination to my construction now stood. The graceful elven curves, the fluid stone carved with such care to look so much like my homeland was now turned into something grotesque and twisted. Malchor had destroyed even that last project I would undertake.

I knelt down, taking a handful of the black sand. Curling my fingers around it, this was the place I had stood when I tried to reach out to Khirsah. It was here I had touched primordial darkness not once, but twice. I slid the handful of sand into my robes. I would have a rememberance of my time with the dragons in this mystical place.

The sounds of reorganization drifted down to me. They could not see me here in the darkness, alone on the sand. Good, they were forming up after the attack by the blacks. Sai Jon had left us to harass and harangue, and I can only guess how much success he may have had.

I moved across the sand in silence, heading for the small cliff that rose above me. From there, it should have been the lush green grass of the Emerald Islands, but was now nothing but charred and blackened waste land. With a soft whisper, I pulled the blackness around me before moving onto that open ground between myself and the pile of obscene rock that Malchor had twisted and defiled.

The corner stone where Daemonbane had once rested remained and I paused, standing upon the now empty surface, cloaked in darkness to listen.

[Kor Jon]

Saltera watched Alais disappear from sight. "Bloody mages!" he swore. Their one hope of surviving this war was wandering around demon infested areas alone and unprotected. He muttered a quick tracking spell and an image of Alais standing on a black sandy beach coalesced in his mind. He cloaked himself in darkness and repeated the words Alais had used to transport herself.

He appeared on the beach and could see her foot prints but she was gone. His mind reached out and he could feel the spell she used, it was familliar. Before he had even stopped to think about it he began to sing in Annaran and he rushed through the night. Suddenly he was behind her.

She was standing outside the ruins of what had been the manor, "You shouldn't be out here alone." he whispered.

[Alais d Nitesong]

Groups of undead, demons and other fell creatures moved in groups over my island. Their filth and destruction have turned my once beautiful home into chaos and ruin. The island, even by the faint light of the waning crescent could no longer be called beautiful. A part of me bleeds for this land and what it has suffered. My instincts scream for me to do something to relieve the suffering I feel in the ground beneath my feet, but that must wait for others. My resources must be used for other purposes, and yet....

Movement behind me, and a low voice nearly had me jumping from my skin! "You shouldn't be out here alone."

I whirled around, pulling an Annaran dagger from my sleeve at the too close voice. Saltera's cloaked form resolved before I struck, but where I would have reflexively struck for a throat, would have reached only to his chest. "Saltera, forsooth ye didst giff me a fright!" My own words were a harsh whisper.

I turned and pointed toward the growing numbers gathering upon the mountainside. "This ist good fer us Saltera. Th' gatherin' o' th' 'ordes. 't wilst make our job tha' much easier." A pang of guilt stabbed at my heart, knowing that Saltera was not going to get clear of the area before Sai Jon and Tobias would drop their cannisters on the remaining hordes. He couldn't get clear. The spells we would use to send the Annaran's back would drain him, leaving very little for him to use to displace to safety. I know. I was once the very same anchor.

A small group of Annarans headed toward where Saltera and I stood cloaked in darkness. They spoke in Annaran, and their words chilled me. Malchor was rising fast in the ranks, and soon there would be confrontation between Malchor and Rael. I had not seen nor heard anything from the General that the Annaran's had spoken so highly of in Riverbend. I had almost forgotten about the one who had promised them this freedom, and that was not a good thing to forget. Malchor was not the original leader, but by deed, he has grown in stature. And that had left Rael to his own devices, unnoticed, and unfollowed by us. The fact that Malchor was growing fast enough to present a challenge the followers knew about presented problems we needed to face as a group.

"Saltera? Prithee, didst ye ken wha' they didst say? Ah thin' ye shouldst giff this information tae Sai Jon 'n Tass, neh?"

I was hoping Saltera would leave me for some time. I have a score to settle before I go.

[Kor Jon]

Saltera didn't even flinch as Alais spun to attack him. She hadn't been expecting him but he trusted her now, besides her knife wouldn't have made much of a dent in his armor. He watched the gathering horde with a critical eye, something didn't seem right.

Alais commented on an overheard scrap of conversation concerning Malchor and some old general named Rael. Saltera shook his head slightly constantly scanning their flanks, "Nothing new as far as I can tell. We've been dealing with Malchor since we got to this world and as far as I can tell the only new fact is that Rael is still alive," he whispered stopping halfway as one of the groups came uncomfortably close to where they were hiding. She was becoming far too reckless. "Alright, we've seen them. Now we both need to leave. Your vengeance will come but not if you die here."

[Alais d Nitesong]

I turned toward him, the sliver of moonlight reflected off the water, and probably off my eyes. He wanted me to leave, but I've just gotten here.

"Ah've nae intention o' dyin' 'ere Saltera. Bu', Ah've soomethin' tae dae b'fore ye 'n Ah dae our part 'n this thin'."

I summoned my staff into my hands, the white wood shimmering faintly in the darkness.

"Tha' was tae haff been mine 'ome Saltera. 't was tae haff b'coome th' start o' growin' 'n d'velopin' Matlal. 't was Garl's 'ome, 'n th' 'ome o' th' silvers. 't was tae haff been th' start o' great thin's fer th' dragons 'ere.....bu' nae, 't willnae be. Ah've a debt tae settle this night Saltera."

A personal thing that would take stealth and conviction. A strike at these filthy beings that would be remembered by any who might escape and survive the plans Sai Jon has for them.

"We haff need o' findin' Rael. Dae ye thin' ye mayst ge' word tae Sai Jon?"

It would do me no good to vanish from him, his tracking abilities were better than I had expected. Were I to leave him here in the dark, he would follow. He needed to go because he wanted to go, and then I could move.

Daemonbane whispered, and I nodded to the voice of the blade.

[Kor Jon]

Saltera considered his options and finally shook his head again, "I can't leave you out here alone. Rael's not an immediate threat. We will warn the others later." He looked around again, "You're intent on this course then I will be with you." Saltera stepped past Alais and turned to face her. "I've seen that look before, on Jon. If there's going to be blood then let us shed it, but I will not leave you until your task is completed and we have sent these abominations back to hell."