In this moment all she could now do was to sigh with relief that Talieth Mistborn was stationed safely with the rearguard of their stalled company and not here to observe her Lady and her fosterdaughter as Ae'thenal did canter Nadimir up to where Si'anelle did wait for her upon Finaith. For the moment was tender indeed as Ae'thenal did join her hand with Si'anelle's slender pale hand and did smile, their eyes but for one another alone. Already Nimine was certain that Talieth Mistborn had not failed to note that Si'anelle and her fosterdaughter did but rarely speak a word each to the other. The bond between them that was the Banepearl's doing gifting them the knowledge of one another's thoughts and thereby making speech between them uneeded.

"The bond between them is their love each for the other Nimine Starbrow and that is still greater than the Banepearl's hold." Now turning her head Nimine did see that the young scorceress Jean-Marie d'Quenelles had dismounted and come to stand beside her. "Though now I shall ask you what is the true nature of that love Jean-Marie?" was Nimine's sharp tongued reply for all that she did not intend the use of such a tone of voice. Which caused the young woman's face to colour at once as she did come to realise the meaning behind her angry response. Then sighing Nimine did attempt to excuse her words, "Chaos will ever seek to twist that which is good to its own purpose; - I do hold dear the memory of these two at play when they were but children Jean-Marie. I could not bear to see their good and true friendship become............" And here Nimine did discover she could not further speak further of her fears as her throat did tighten about a lump which she could not swallow and her tears did begin to spill from her eyelids. Softly Jean-Maire did speak to her as she did guide her to a place at Cloud's flank where her tears would not be observed by the others of their company. For the young scorceress had come to know her well enough these past months to understand that for her to be seen openly weeping would sorely test her pride. "Good Nimine, the Lady Si'anelle and your fosterdaughter are aware of the subtle dangers inherent in their service to the Banepearl; - I do truly believe they shall not premit their friendship to be demeaned by its wicked nature." "If it was within the compass of their true born natures that I could bear well enough," Nimine did then say to Jean-Maire even though before this she had thought she would not ever speak in this fashion to another. And in certainty not to a one who was not of Elf-kind. "But if such desires should arise within them Jean-Marie as a foul work of Chaos............." And here her tears did begin afresh as her voice did fail her, the memory of the day that Ae'thenal had made Dechala servant of Slaanesh flee before her sword alive within her. And also her memory of the question her fosterdaughter had asked of her in her despair in the aftermath, and Ae'thenal's deep fear that Dechala had spoken true. "Then we must pray that it shall not happen thus," Jean-Marie did say to her as she did begin to gently wipe at her tears with her fine linen kerchief. "And be watchful in our loving service towards Si'anelle and Ae'thenal so that they may not be entrapped unknowing."

We are watched sweet Ae'thenal, and measured with doubt even by those who do love us : Shifting her gaze Ae'thenal did now glance towards where Nimine did stand weeping beside Jean-Marie in the shelter of her horse Cloud. To see her proud and severe fostermother reduced to open weeping did wound her like a dagger thrust to the heart and Ae'thenal did quickly look away. : Though it is truth still that neither Bronwyn nor Jean-Marie do doubt us Si'anelle: Was her reply as her despair did search within her as if seeking to inflame the wound in her breast so that she also would be reduced to tears. Tenderly now Si'anelle did take her hand and claim it, "Isha did gift us Bronwyn and Jean-Marie to be our true companions sweet Ae'thenal," she did say aloud her words quiet spoken, for all that her eyes were bright with agony. The moment did become exquiste between them as together they did once more revisit the memory Ae'thenal did hold close and secret within her. Of the vision that Isha had gifted to her while on board ship and the promise made, that they would ever be beneath Isha's hand until the ending of the World. And as Ae'thenal's hand did rise, her fingers trembling but a little as she did touch the pale Tearstone she did wear at her throat Si'anelle did quietly say. "Should we care then sweet Ae'thenal, that the six of Hoeth and the enchantress Talieth Mistborn do watch and gauge our every act; - or that those who do love us do doubt and muse at whether our friendship is preverted or not? For all with us shall be dust long before the World does end, and we shall both be the last of Elf-kind on that day and alone in truth." And here Si'anelle did lightly stroke her cheek with her white skinned fingers and smile, the knowledge between them that at the ending of the World they would be free and beyond the reach of all who would doubt them like a bright flame within their hearts. With a sigh Ae'thenal did return her friend's smile, the despair within her that had been her constant companion ever since the fell day that the Banepearl had possessed them both eased a little as she did cover Si'anelle's hand with her own and hold it close to her breast. Then she did feel Si'anelle's anger take flame and saw her eyes become hard, turning her head Ae'thenal was not in any measure suprised to see the she-Elf enchantress Talieth Mistborn standing within the confines of the narrow pass a bow shot's distance from them near to Cedwyn's archers. The enchantress's severe eyes upon them as she did stand with her staff gripped tight within her hand. "Isha I do serve," Si'anelle did say aloud as if to mock the she-Elf, and as the Banepearl cupped within her hand did punish her for her defiance she did say Isha's name a second time until her agony did become like bright razors in Ae'thenal's nerves by virtue of the bond between them. And in the aftermath of that agony they did feel cleansed and pure, their despair driven back for a time. Like as to goddesses who did have to suffer to dwell among lesser beings who did doubt their rule.

Wheeling Finaith about to set her back towards Talieth Mistborn Si'anelle did once more breath her soft and silent whisper into her mind, : Bronwyn has persuaded the giantess Sebekneru and does return. Soon there shall be Orcs and Goblins enough pressing in upon Talieth Mistborn, then she shall indeed find cause to better occupy her idleness if she does love life : From her seat upon Nadimar Ae'thenal watched Bronwyn as she did now approach them. The Half-Elven woman entirely unhurried in her stride and her green eyes merry with amusement as if dealing in parley with an irritable giantess who had attempted to strike off her head was but a child's lighthearted game on a Summer's day. : Soon enough Sebekneru will wish to know more than Bronwyn has told her Si'anelle : : But by then we shall be guest holy and within her lands sweet Ae'thenal : Si'anelle did tell her as she did smile, her beauty fair and terrible. : You did well teach Sebekneru a lesson that she should not seek to trifle with us; - and in that the risk has been small that the giantess might deny us in the aftermath : : However not all of our company did not approve of my act Si'anelle : Ae'thenal did then point out to her friend. : We must in truth earn this giantess's trust, for she is good at heart for all that she is given to swift moodiness. In her we may well find another true friend to ally with us for a time : Her Si'anelle did sigh then and Ae'thenal sensed the beginings of her despair as it did make its slow and creeping return to claim her for its own. : May you ever be my conscience sweet Ae'thenal : she did say to her, her close touch within her mind tender and gentle as her friend did slump a little in her saddle as if she was afflicted by a bitter weariness. : For all I do know in this present moment is the Banepearl's rising lust for blood and the urgency of the need to swiftly find sufficient wicked creatures to provide that blood :

However before Ae'thenal could make a reply to her friend Nimine did come to stand at her stirrup, her hands upon her narrow hips. And if her fostermother had indeed been distressed and weeping within this same hour she could not know it in this present moment. For all her disciplined severity was about Nimine like a well worn cloak as she did now raise her face to her, the set of Nimine's violet eyes beneath her helm informing Ae'thenal that her fostermother did intend to chide her. "I do see Bronwyn does now return to us, and by her face it is plain she has won success," Nimine did tell her. "Though how your companion may have achieved this act in the aftermath of your ill disciplined display I do not dare to hazard a guess Ae'thenal. I did think our intent here this day was to win an ally, not to reave among these women and cause them to take up arms against us. Would you have us battle our way across the Borderlands in the aftermath of your ill considered folly? - tell me that Ae'thenal." It was her good fortune that Bronwyn did own sharp hearing by virtue of her Wood Elven blood, for as she did come up to them her smile and her words did serve to defuse Nimine's annoyance; - and furthermore did save her from making a reply in the face of her fostermother's annoyance with her. "My Lady," Bronwyn did begin, for she did always habitually name Nimine, 'My Lady', to Nimine's constant bemusement. "There is small need for such a speech as a gift to your fosterdaughter, for Ae'thenal did act as a trumping card for me to lay down before Sebekneru in our game of words. For we now are welcome in these lands and are invited to journey with Sebekneru and her women to her holdfast as her honoured guests." Which caused Nimine to set her eyes upon Bronwyn as if she was being made to suffer yet another of the Half-Elven woman's jests, before she did sharply incline her head and go to pass word to Peledym and Cedwyn that they did no longer have to stand at a halt beneath the frowning walls of this narrow place and could now continue on their way.