Continued from S3-2-7: Nebi, daughter of Clan Madal. “I Nebi of clan Madal,” she introduced herself as she stepped out of the shadows and returned the arrow to her quiver as a sign of her non-hostile intentions. “I’m Rynard Adae,” Rynard replied, as his eyes roamed the exotic beauty. The small bronze breastplate and short leather skirt she wore didn’t conceal much of her slender, well toned, but clearly feminine figure cast in brownish-bronze skin, like the color of dried leaves. “This is Blade and Daeron Syn,” he motioned to the Dharijorian warrior and Dragon Lord in turn. “You no come to trade with the dark one, you come to kill him?” Nebi inquired in a hopeful tone. The Mabden had nearly destroyed her clan; turning its men against their own kin, and taking many of its young women who were never seen again. “We’re here to rescue a young woman he holds captive,” Rynard answered. “But if we have to kill him to free her… we will!” “And men of Madal clan who serve him?” she questioned, eyeing him closely. “Our only interest is the young woman Xorn holds captive. But if the men of your clan try to stop us, we’ll do what ever we have to,” he replied honestly, to Blade’s surprise and horror. But just as she was about to try and soften Rynard’s statement, Nebi shook her head in agreement and said; “Men who serve the dark one take woman from clan who no one see again. They give hair to wear helmets,” she motioned to the distinctive, high, leather wrapped top knot her hair was pulled up into. “They no Madal clan now!” “Nebi help you take woman,” she announced. Then she focused on Rynard. “You may not want woman back after what dark one makes her do. Nebi see him make women do many bad things… sick things! He do cruel things and hurt them till they beg to do things for him. Nebi see many good girls from clan do nasty things for him and men who serve him.” “This young woman’s father sent us to bring her back to him,” Rynard started to explain, but Syn interrupted him. “If you do not serve Xorn, how have you seen what happens inside his fortress?” The cold blue hellfire ignited behind Syn’s eyes as he stare into her’s, seemed to bore straight into her soul. “Dark one take old place,” she replied, frightened by the strange light in his eyes. “It here from before the sands. This Madal clan home for many, many lives. Nebi play in dark one’s place when little girl. Many ways in that not many know… Nebi know ways in no one know!” She saw smiles grow on all of their lips, even Syn’s, and smiled back, although she didn’t appear to understand what had made them all so happy. “Tell us more about these unknown ways into the fortress,” Syn asked with a sly smile. To be continued on S3-2-9: Dregolath Xorn, slaver of Pan Tang. The eight installment to the second "book" of my Stormbringer characters' adventures. Thanks for looking... Hope you enjoy! Comments and suggestions always welcome and appreciated!