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Paladine sighs and shakes his head. "Then I am sorry, Kerobian, I cannot stay our march. I am but one voice in many on this journey. I cannot stay it without proof or good reason."

Tamara tosses her head and prepares to leave, smirking.

"It is not a lack of trust, Kerobian. I ask you... would you, yourself stay a planned operation on the word of one you trusted, if he could not bring you some form of proof? Any form? Kerobian, think hard on what you are asking of me. There is truth and there is TRUTH. And how are we to judge the truth of what you say, if we have nothing to base it against. I know full well you believe you are telling me truth as you see it, but to accept something blindly at this stage is no different than you telling me that to march against my sister will be dangerous... We both know it will be, but such a knowledge is not going to stay either of our hands."

"Actually, little brother, it would be best if he heard it from me." Comes a low rumbling voice from behind him.

Tamara's eyes flash with hatred and she starts to move forward, but again Paladine stays her, though he, too, seems taken aback.

"Small but mighty..." laughs Emnast softly.

Emnast sighs and reaching up, lifts the smaller dragon down. "As much as I'd love to continue this family reunion... we need to talk of other things. There is but one way into the shadowed realm that is, at this moment unwatched. And I almost played into her hands by severing that one as well."

There is something odd about Emnast's appearance. To Ker's trained eye he appears to be teetering on the fine line between this life and the next. And when Shia steps out from behind his massive forearm, he thinks he understands for she practically glows, even in her kitsune form, with life energy.

"Em and I were cutting his small pocket realm off from hers to provide you all with a safe haven. But incursions of the last few days made us curious, so I did a bit of real-time scrying. Your young... at least I suspect they were your young, are no longer yours. Do not withhold your hands. They are masses around the edges of the realm, awaiting your arrival. They look normal at first glance, but as she has done in the past the Dark One has been busily resculpting their minds as well as their bodies. Do you remember the worm you removed from Skull Dancer, Uncle? I now know how it came to be roaming so freely from the depths.

Shia shakes her head. "Em and I have made our choice, Uncle dear. His life force fueled my efforts to scry her out, and for now I serve as a repository for his energies. It is all that keeps him from going back over to her call. But I beg of you do not be so foolish as to fall into her trap. She knew you and Uncle Fizban would come for the young. She knows you both well. So please, don't go in there. At least if you do, go in armed and prepare for the worse. A few may be saved, but most will need to be destroyed. Because she focused on the young, the worms have made inroads that a mature individual would have fought off. Many are ready to spawn at but a single contact."

"Then this one has no power to lend us aid..." growls Tamara savagely, drawing herself up to her true height. "Then this one has outlived it's usefulness... Die!" she cries in triumph and sends a massive bolt of energy directly at Emnast.

With a cry of dismay, without a single thought as to her own safety, Shia launches herself between the bolt and the rapidly aging dragon.

"SHIA!!!!!!!!!!!" Emnast's anguished cry rocks the heavens as he catches her in his arms.

"Shhh..." she murmurs coughing slightly, reaching up with a trembling hand to touch his face. "We both knew it would come to this. Remember our plan... remember......"

Only to be bowled over by Jor. "I'm sorry, apprentice, but I must interfere." he says gently positioning himself between the goddess and mage. It is not yet her time, nor is it yours... or your brother's. Go... he needs you... to assimilate that which has been purified through a loving understanding heart. Would you lose them both?"