Rhyssa lit the candles, curled into the large chair, and began to
read. She was behind on the stories in the library, and tonight she
finally had the chance to catch up. The hours of the night ran by
quickly, and the candles had burned low when she felt it. Suddenly,
pain hit her and she thought she would pass out, before realizing that
this wasn't physical, nor even mental pain. This was a tearing apart of
her soul.

She felt an emptiness in her heart, and tried to find
the source of this feeling. It was then that she realized that her ties
to her lord were missing, gone completely, shattered. She could no
longer feel him in her soul, but the feeling was different than when
she had been pulled back to Ispar. Then, she knew he still lived and
they would be reunited, but now...

Tears began to run from her
eyes and she rubbed them away almost angrily. Then she felt it, a
gentle, soft touch against her cheek. The touch came again, this time
against her lips, and s!
he knew. It was her lord saying good-bye to her, one last time. He was
no longer in Dereth. He was free. She began to sob more openly now.

She
remembered all the times they had sat on the mountains overlooking
Stonehold and simply talked, about themselves, their lives, their
dreams and hopes for this land they now lived in. He had told her of
his past, and the charge given to him by the One. She vowed to help in
in his quest, to fight by his side forever. Now it seemed that forever
had come. He had completed his journey, and now was granted peace,
finally. She had known that she was to lose him one day, but hadn't
wanted it to come so soon...

She continued to cry, but the sobs
softened, becoming more of a benediction now. They became tears of joy,
for her lord had won his dream, and been rewarded. They became tears of
sadness, for now she was required to walk this land alone, without him
by her side, until she too was released from her duties and could go to
join! him.

Rhyssa finally fell asleep in the chair, exhausted from
the emotions that she felt. Tears still stained her cheeks, but her
face was peaceful now. She didn't stir when Viztor walked into the
library looking for her, to tell her the sad news. He saw her alseep,
and gently picked her up from the chair to take her to her own room.