[BAN]  Bane watched the forms move through the world so many miles away from where he sat, eyes shut, in front of the fire. He made a low growling sound deep in his throat as he saw the band of travellers happily riding to their destination. A hand gripped his shoulder.
“You have done well, to see so clearly,” the hand was removed as Bane opened his eyes and drew in a deep breath. The voice turned hard, “ but not so well to let it happen in the first place.”
Bane leapt from up from the floor spinning as he did so to confront his master. “I thought I had time!”
Sade turned his head, face expressionless, “You were wrong.”
Bane lowered his head. “I know. But it was unexpected, there was no reason to suspect that Ageless would even see her let alone offer her a place in their pathetic little army. If she’d stuck to the damn road she wouldn’t have either.”
“Can you do anything about it?”
“Of course I can. I told you,” he smiled a sarcastic smile, “she loves me.”
Sade raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“She’ll join us.” Bane was serious now, “She will.”
Sade stared at him for a moment, “If she is as good as you seem to think –“
“She is.”
“Then we could use her. The two of you together could be very useful indeed.” He looked back to whatever he was doing. Bane stood silent watching his masters hands move in the darkness. “I am however concerned about something. Here.”
Bane took the wine glass offered to him, “What?”
“You were attached to this girl, very attached I think. She is now among our enemies, the only person who could defeat you - in a physical battle anyway.  I cannot help but wonder, if she doesn’t forsake ageless for us…”
“If she doesn’t?”
“If she doesn’t forsake ageless for us, could you kill her?”
Bane grinned, “I can kill her.” he swirled the wine around in his cup and took a large, long sip. “She will join us. But if she doesn’t, I can kill her.”
Sade smiled, a slight lifting of one corner of his thin lips. “That is good.”
Bane smiled back and drained the last dregs of his wine, “Or she’ll kill me,” he added under his breath. “What was it?” He held up the empty cup.
“In the wine? Something to make you relax.” Sade moved closer to Bane holding him immobile with his eyes. “Sit down again and open your mind to me.” Bane sat again in his place by the fire and closed his eyes. “Good. Now
let me in Bane. I will show you how to use your power. Make you invincible.”
The cold palms pressed against his temples from behind and he felt the electric darkness surge through his mind. Bane sighed and sank into it willingly.

** *** **

[AVE & TOR]  The ground shook as the ugly beasts charged towards them.  The towering figure of the troll advanced from the rear.  Avelina stood with staff raised, in a defensive stance, ready for any of the creatures that made it through Defiler's magic attack.  The grass about him had blackened as Defiler sucked its life-force to aid his magic.  As the mass of orks were about to close with the two young humans, Defiler released his spell and a wave of fire ripped through the orks.  Half their number died as the flames consumed them; the survivors retreated a little in disarray, dodging companions who ran with terror-filled eyes as they burned alive.  A sharp bark of command from the troll restored order and soon Avelina was using all her skill to stay alive.  She had rarely before fought an ork, and the first of her opponents surprised her with its great strength and unnexpected speed (considering its size).  After she knocked two of them down Avelina found it didn't get easier at all...but she managed to block, parry and thwack, and somehow stay alive.

Meanwhile, the land about Defiler blackened and died increasingly as he drained its life-force to feed his magic.  As he raised his hands to send another bolt of fire through an ork, he noticed a strange red flash coming from somewhere in the trees a little distance from the skirmish.  No time to think on what it might be, the dark mage took out several more orks with little effort, until he stood faced by the troll alone.  Avelina gave a final thwack to the back of an orkish head, then stood her ground next to Defiler...looking up at the troll's mighty form, wondering what would come next.

the Trolls 8 foot wirey frame towered above them wielding his 2 handed sword with relative ease. his eyes glowed red with some sort of unholy brilliance.  Defiler sensed something wasnt right with this creature. the creature then
gave a roar of anger and lifted his sword above his head and swung at Defiler wildly and uncaring. the creatures muscles all seemed to move with extreme agility without some sort of magical aid.

Toronian sat high in his vantage point on scylla, his black pegasus.  he watched with mixed disgust and anger when he saw the troll as he knew it was part of his hated enemy yet he was helping it to test the pairs fighting ability but if they couldn't overcome the creature he would then intervene.  yes, he wouldn't allow them to die at the creatures hands so easily. he decided to watch and wait. he was concerned about Defiler though he was a Mage who used life energy to power his spells only the Dark Magi used this ability so that meant this ones travelling companion was his enemy too. he was learning his fighting style working out his favourite spells. obviously the spell Toronian cast upon the Troll was a needed advantage for himself as he used the energies of the cosmo, and once cast the spell returned the energy it used.

---

The trees to their left withered and died as Defiler launched an attack at the maddened troll.  the fire ball he hurled at the great beast was larger and more powerful than those he had used on the orks...yet at the moment it should have struck the troll, his spell dissipated, causing the troll to pause only a moment in its forward motion.  Defiler's eyes widened in disbelief.  Avelina looked slightly startled, not understanding what was wrong with her brother's magic.  The troll advanced and swung at Avelina with its great sword.  With an effort she knocked its tip aside using her  staff, then ducked and rolled off to the side, temporarily out of the troll's reach.

Meanwhile Defiler threw a spell of ice at the beast - the Mage staggered back in shock as this too had no visible affect on his opponent.  The battle with the orks had wearied him already, draining the energy of living things inevitably becomes tiring.  Under normal circumstances either of his spells would have been powerful enough to rid them of the troll.  But something was aiding it.  Defiler danced out of the reach of the trolls swinging sword as he remembered the red flash he'd seen.  Something or someone else was interfering.  Defiler threw himself onto the ground as the troll slashed at the air where he'd been standing moments before.  There was no time to ponder the motives of the troll's unseen helper, he needed his concentration to try one last spell.  Avelina felt his intent and advanced on the troll, using her agility and speed to keep herself alive while she distracted it from what the mage did.  A shudder ran up her arms as she blocked a blow from the trolls sword on her staff.  She knew she lacked the strength to combat the troll for long.  Rather than engage it directly, Avelina decided it was best to stay just out of reach of the troll.  Even with her trained and natural speed, this was a difficult task.  The troll was more intelligent than its orkish companions had been...as Avelina ducked away from its sword, the troll suddenly brought its leg up unexpectedly and knocked Avelina to the ground.  She lay stunned, the pain brought thoughts that her leg was perhaps broken.  The troll let out a bellow of triumph.  It stopped short and quickly turned as it felt a spell being released from behind - the world around the troll turned black, the light was smothered and it slashed out wildly and blindly in front of it.  the spell enclosed around the troll...it was one of great power, designed to utterly crush the
individual it was directed at.  The spell was a hard one, not often used.  Its victims were enclosed in darkness and then crushed out of existence, oblivion would take them.  Or at least thats what usually happened.  the darkness enclosed the troll, but as it shrank in around the creature the spell was fought off by that which protected the troll still.  Both were powerful spells and the energy of each lashed back and forth, one would eventually override the other.  Defiler's body shook badly as he struggled to control his spell, sweat poured from him.  In one final effort he threw the last of his leached power at the troll, light exploded around the creature...Avelina covered her head with her arms where she still lay.  Defiler wavered on his feet then collapsed - his strength gone.  Before he blacked out he had time to see the troll still standing, bewildered but certainly alive.

the troll was shaken from the experience but still untouched by any spell of Defiler's.  Avelina still lay, crumpled and hurt, unable for the moment to move.  The troll looked at the body of the mage, crumpled on the ground and from all appearances dead.  The great beast turned to the young female, its eyes glittered as it hefted its sword.  It's master, Sade, would reward it well for the death of this pitiful human.