As Kyia waited patiently for the others to arrive her thoughts started to wander. "I hate waiting… but the others will arrive soon, I'm sure."   The others, a fine assembly of brave souls. They have such high ideals. Some are new to adventuring and are not aware of what waits them on the road they have started to travel. Others are veterans of many campaigns and she can tell they have had as many twists and turns as she had. Japhith especially.. she feels his heart has been broken before.. as has hers. Kyia thinks back to other times .. to other companions.

    "I've come a long way from my nice quite elven home. A lot further than dear Mother wished for, that's for certain. I never could be the sweet and placid daughter; staying in the city and behaving myself; healing the locals and finding a nice elven lord to marry. I guess she has Father to blame for that." Kyia thinks to herself.  Smiling, she remembers the trips she took with her father, Parrix, as a young girl. They seemed such exotic places and peoples.  Parrix was successful merchant in elven goods and often visited other places and people in his trade. He is well known and respected for the quality of his goods and the exotic nature of his items.  He used to travel far and wide to find items of interest and of course brought elven goods in trade for them. He could always get a good price for the fine craftsmanship he brought. He often would go far out of his way to procure a special item for an interested buyer.  Oh, most of his transactions were done with brokers, but for special items he would go himself.  He is still very careful that the quality of his trades remain at the highest levels.  Since Torik’s death, however, he never ventures far from home. It had been a hard blow for Meiroa, his wife.. and of course for Kyia.

    Tears begin to cloud her eyes as she thought of her brother, Torik. . They were inseparable for so long. They used to go adventuring together, laughing and sharing the days.  He taught her to fight, to defend herself and encouraged her to explore other lands, and meet other people. He would tell her that their city was full of old thinkers and cowards, afraid to learn from others.  She used to miss him when he would go off with their father on his business trips.  That's when she began to wander to nearby places, meeting others that her family would not approve of;  people other than elves.. such as gnomes, dwarfs, trolls, centaurs, minotaur, humans, ogres, and more.  Although her people tolerated some, others were hated by her kind. She had to learn the hard way why.

    Torik was very proud that their father began to trust him more and more with the trades.  He envisioned some day working hand in hand with Parrix , perhaps in lands even further away in places he had only dreamed of.  He was always very careful about the goods he chose and found several choice items that they did not expect. He enjoyed traveling and often took Kyia with him, as did her father in her younger days. One of the places he took her to was not too far from their family forest, to a city named Evermist in a neighboring land. This was the largest city Kyia had ever seen and so many different kinds of people. Kyia became friends with many of the people there, and being a healer of some worth, went on an adventure or two with them.

    On one such trip to Evermist Torik left for home before Kyia as he had a special item that their father needed for an eager client. Kyia stayed behind to care for one of the friends she had made in Evermist.  It was a minor wound from a small skirmish in town. She left for her forest home two days after her brother had departed and was nearing the forest trees of her childhood when she came upon a cold battle scene. There, slightly off the road were two bodies, one elven. As she rushed to see what her skills could provide her heart  stopped.. it was her own brother Torik!! Carefully she reached out to him with her senses.. but he was not there. This was only an empty shell.  Torik was gone; his body destroyed, broken and empty. Kyia’s heart was being ripped from her.  She knelt by his side for an unknown amount of time, tears of guilt and pain and anguish flowing unstopping.   "If only I had not stayed!" she cried. Then she heard a weak moan and realized that the other body was still alive, although barely.   It was a minotaur.  She had only seen those kind a few times in her travels.

    Feeling her responsibility to care for all the injured she knelt beside him to examine his wounds. Even in his weakened and injured condition she could tell he was very strong. His wounds though were very serious, maybe more than she could deal with; and it appeared that infection had set in too. She tended to him as best she could to get him comfortable.  She then returned to the body of her brother.  Carefully arranging Torik’s battered body she covered him as best she could and prayed that another traveler might pass by who could help.

    When she returned to the minotaur she found he was conscious, but only barely, and very weak. He asked how Torik had fared and she sadly told him that he had not survived the battle. The minotaur explained that he had been traveling with Torik on the road and that they had been attacked by robbers. That IronHorse, the minotaur, had fought as best he could but their attackers were skilled and they had been outnumbered. That he had been carrying a hefty weight of gold to deliver to a city beyond hers and that the robbers must have known for they had looked exactly where he had hidden it in his belongings.  Kyia used her magic to heal IronHorse enough to reduce the pain so he could rest.   Still stunned, she set up a small camp and toward twilight a traveler did pass by, Mutrak, a long time family friend of her fathers. He took the news of her brothers death quite hard and begged Kyia to leave the minotaur to die. Their kind was evil and he wanted to finish the job of his death right then and there, but Kyia would not hear of it.  IronHorse had been a companion of her brothers and had fought at his side.  Mutrak agreed to hurry to her father and ask for aid to be sent, but only after he examined IronHorse and knew him to be too weak to cause any harm to Kyia.

    Soon, true to his word, Mutrak returned with her father and several other townsmen. The death of Torik was a hard blow and you could see Parrix age as the evening deepened. He ordered Kyia to leave IronHorse and return home to her mother while he prepared Torik’s body for the rites. It was the first time Kyia flatly refused her fathers wishes.   There was an injured being that needed her help. She would not leave him. He had fought beside Torik and been wounded defending her brother's back, she would not abandon him.  In his pain her father cursed her and attended to the task of Torik’s broken form. Kyia retreated to IronHorse’s side, feeling at least she was needed there. So much lost in so short a time. Sobs overtook her but her father was unable to see anything but Torik’s body. As they finished what they needed to and their friends  carefully carried the heavy burden towards the city, Parrix came to Kyia and held her in his arms.

    "Daughter, I know you have a kind heart, forgive my harsh words of before. But I still must ask  you leave this evil creature and come home. Your mother will need you.. as do I."

    She had never seen him in such pain.  Kyia felt her world crashing in around her.  Seeing her father so broken, her brother gone, and knowing her mother would be lost.. but there was a body she COULD heal.. or could try.   "Please forgive me Father. IronHorse fought beside Torik.   I came too late to do anything for Torik, may the Gods forgive me, but perhaps I can help his companion.  If I CAN help I must try. I cannot lose this last bit of Torik.  He would want me to give aid to his friend." Fresh tears flowed from both Parrix’s and Kyia’s eyes as they parted.

    With a sigh Parrix says, "I cannot support you in this daughter, but you are head strong and I know your heart is too big.  I will see that you are supplied and when that being is stronger will take steps to protect you.  Promise me that when he is out of danger you will return home."  Kyia made that promise to her father and returned to IronHorse’s side.

    For days he laid barely conscious. Infection had taken over his body and he struggled with high fevers.  Kyia used all her skills to bring him back from the brink of death many times.   She would not leave his side. She was becoming weak herself.  People from the city did come daily and made sure she took food and had a fire for warmth. They brought her the supplies she asked for only so that she would return swiftly to her family. She hardly slept for over a week and would not trust those that visited her to watch the minotaur, certain that they would undo all her efforts to prevent his death.  The fever finally broke and he seemed out of danger of immediate death, however Kyia felt she still could not leave his side.  He was still very weak and unable to defend himself.  Her father, true to his word, did begin sending others to their camp to sleep by their sides, unwilling to believe that this evil creature could do her no harm.  These friends made sure there were no weapons near the minotaur; nothing that he could use to harm her.  Unfortunately they didn't realize that his most dangerous weapon was hidden in his words.   Conscious now IronHorse spoke to Kyia of many things.   He told her of his friendship with her brother. They had traveled together before but not often. They had just traveled some of the same routes and so had recognized each other on the road.   Torik, being a kind soul had shared his fire with IronHorse on occasion, and had accepted IronHorse’s hospitality a time or two.  IronHorse worked for a guild in Evermist and traveled widely on guild business. He was from the city of Valmyr  but preferred the company of those in Evermist.   Kyia was fascinated with his tales. He knew so much and it certainly seemed  he was not the demon that her townsmen seem to think.   He spoke of beauties he had seen and shared thoughts of sorrow with her.  They shared much as he healed and grew closer and closer in the weeks of his recovery.

    Kyia hesitated to declare him well enough for travel, afraid she would never see him again. She found she thought of nothing else but IronHorse, and it seems he was as taken with her. He knew he was now strong enough to return to Evermist and asked Kyia to come with him. There was no other place Kyia would rather have been but she had promised her father she would return home when IronHorse was out of danger and so she returned to her family home when IronHorse left for Evermist.

    Of course her family was overjoyed to see her return. People said it was the first time they had seen her parents smile since Torik’s death.   She hated to cause them further pain but she felt so empty without IronHorse at her side.   She said nothing for three days but cared for her parents and assured them she was fine.  They shared their grief for Torik and most of the people of the city came to give what comfort they could.  On the morning of the 4th day she told them that she was leaving for Evermist.  That IronHorse was waiting for her and she wished to share time with him.  Her parents wept and begged her not to go but knowing their daughter, they knew it would do no good.  Meiroa had not the strength to argue with her headstrong daughter.  She was empty by that time; only a shell of her former self.  Kyia wished she could heal her mother but knew that it would take time for things to find their place again.  She would not abandoned her parents but the draw to be with IronHorse was great.  She left that afternoon for Evermist.  It was only a week and a half's journey by foot.  When she arrived in Evermist IronHorse greeted her most warmly. They spent much of their time together, hunting and traveling the lands.  Kyia was very happy. Torik’s death had left a hole in her life but IronHorse was filling part and adding even more to her life.  She was falling very much in love.

    IronHorse told her of his work.  It was hard for her to imagine that the being she cared so much for was an assassin.  All Kyia stood for was opposed to his profession.  Kyia was Life, IronHorse was Death.  Kyia was Light, IronHorse was Dark.  Kyia was warmth, IronHorse was cold.  They were opposites in most ways, but only together did they feel whole, and somehow Kyia found she could accept it.   After all, on her many adventures she had known others to kill for no cause at all.  At least IronHorse chose who he would kill.

    After much time IronHorse bowed before Kyia and begged her hand in marriage.   Showing a part of himself he hid from the rest of the world he told her of his great love for her and his fear she might leave his side. He asked her to be his bride and stay with him forever.  All she could think of at the time was how happy she was.   She accepted without hesitation.   Only later did she realize how her parents would feel about their union.   They were married in Faerie Circle outside of Evermist with many friends blessing their union.. but no family.   There was much joy but still an empty hole.

    "All of this seems so foolish now, thinking back on it.  How could I have been so blind?", Kyia thinks to herself.   She remembers that over the next several weeks after their wedding IronHorse had become moody and quiet.   She did not know what she may have done to upset him and when she tried to talk to him he would try to reassure her that it was nothing.   One morning as she was taking her stroll threw the forests around the outskirts of Evermist,  IronHorse met her and asked if they could sit and talk.  Kyia could see there was something  troubling her beloved. As they sat to talk IronHorse weakened and began to cry.   He told her he could no longer continue the lie, that his love for her was so great he had to clear his soul, even if it meant losing her love.   That it had been him that had killed her brother Torik.   That he had been hired by a rival merchant to kill her brother and take the rare item he had been carrying.   But Torik was a skilled fighter and had  luck on his side that day. He had wounded IronHorse mortally during their battle before he succumbed to the wounds that IronHorse had inflicted on him.   When IronHorse did eventually come back to Evermist he confronted the merchant that had hired him and refused the fee, vowing never to deal with that man again.   Since his return he found it hard to take any further
contracts and was considering giving up his profession.  The pain he saw in Kyia over Torik’s death was more than he could bare. His love for her was such he could no longer lie to her.  It had been him.    He was the murderer.

    Kyia was stunned.   He had lied to her.   He had told her tales of Torik to gain her trust.   Her whole family.. nay.. her whole CITY had warned her of the treachery of their kind and she had refused to listen. She had not only healed the one that had murdered her brother, she had given him her heart, her body and her soul.    Kyia ran leaving IronHorse behind in the forest.   She left , she had to get away from him.  How could she have been so blind?   How could she have trusted so completely?   For the rest of the day Kyia wandered in the woods.   It provided strength to her, as it always had.   She regained some of the peace she needed in their soothing sounds and motions.   When reason returned to her she could see that IronHorse seemed to have been sincere in his confession.   After all, he did not have to tell her at all and she would never have known.   But although she might feel him to be sincere, perhaps even in his love for her, there was no way she could abide his presence in her life again.   She made her way back to Evermist and going to the head builder of the land asked him to please divide the house she shared with IronHorse.   She no longer lived with him in any way.   Seeing her state of resolve he complied immediately and before the night was done Kyia had her own rooms, secure from IronHorse.

    In the days to follow they saw each other on occasion.  Each time Kyia felt her heart break a bit more.  No words were spoken between them. Kyia eventually left Evermist to find other places to adventure.  She could not stay at home with her mother and father although they still wish it.  And IronHorse?   She heard he had taken another lady; one from his past that had returned; but she tried to hear as little as possible about his adventures.   She continued to aid all in need, her compassion even seemed to grow in her solitude.   Almost as if she would fill her life with love and compassion of her own making to fill the void of the betrayal done her.   Still, some times, when she sees a couple newly in love, a tear will form in her eye and she will have to turn away.   Some have heard soft sobs coming from her direction on some nights, as she lies alone.   And hidden deep in her pack of belongs she carries a picture she had done of IronHorse. He had signed it "… with my undying love. IronHorse".

    As Kyia gazes at the stars, remembering, the sounds of approaching people break her reverie. "Thank the Gods it has grown dark and they cannot see my swollen eyes", she thinks to herself. Smiling she says to the newly arrived group   "Greetings all! And welcome back.  It is so good to have you all return safely."   She then gives each person a warm hug, sharing the energy of their mutual caring. "So tell me what you have discovered?" and she listens attentively as they tell her their findings.  "I am truly blessed with such good companions.", she thinks to herself as she looks at the group of gathered friends surrounding her.  "I can find a measure of happiness even though I may never share my heart with another as I did with IronHorse."

But then of course, we do not know what the Gods have planned.