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A/N: I have recently updated my Patreon. I’m going to be doing more with it in 2017 including a bunch of free stuff so it’s worth a look even if you don’t want to back it.

Andarian walked to the centre of the room, closed his eyes and brought up the image of his closest friend and ally before speaking his invitation. “Pynaria-ida, hear my call. By our friendship and our alliance I request my presence.” As he spoke the winds caught up his words and whisked them to her.

“I don’t know why you’re calling her,” Xantaria muttered from where she was leaning against the wall watching him. “It’s overkill to send one of us after this human girl.”

He opened his eyes and looked over at her. “You know that I wouldn’t waste my energy if I didn’t think it was necessary.” He looked back to heart of the room as Pynaria teleported in. Ribbons of fire burst around around thhe room before forming in to a shape that approximated a bird hovering over his head. She always did have the best control of her resonant form. “Good evening, Pynaria,” he said. The firebird cocked its head at him then collapsed back into ribbons before re-coalescing as a woman with wings and hair of silver flame.

“Anda!” Se ran the few steps to embrace him. “It’s good to see you.” She glanced over at Xantaria. “Hi, Xan.”

“That’s Xantaria-ida to you!” Xantaria snarled.

“Whatever you say, Xan.” Pynaria shrugged and looked back at Andarian. “So you want me to go after that girl who’s found the Key. The one that poor messenger of yours had a run in with?”

“You keep abreast of the news,” he said, unsurprised.

“It’s not like I have I have anything better to do.” She shrugged again. “So tell me if I fail will you let Xan banish me as well?”

Andarian raised a gold eyebrow and shook his head in amusement. “Take the kid with you, Pyna. Give him a chance to redeem himself.”

“You know you’re too powerful for those laws to apply to you,” Tonara growled at her.

“So was Kaylaria,” Pynaria said coldly. “But that didn’t stop you from locking her up and throwing away the key did it?” And look were that got you.”

“We didn’t throw it away,” Andarian protested. “The rebels stole it.”

“It’s a human figure of speech, Anda,” Pynaria said. “It means imprisoning someone with no intention of ever releasing them.” She tutted at him. “Okay, I’ll kill the human girl for you, but for once I actually agree with Xan. Why are you sending me? She can’t be that strong?”

“Trust me, Pynaria. She’ll be hard to kill, and please bring the key back with you while you’re at it.”

“Why?” Xantaria interrupted. “I don’t see why you want it back?”

Andarian clenched his jaw and resisted the urge to glare at her. He counted to ten and explained slowly. “Because it’s ours, because someone else might find it and learn to use it if we let it out of our sight again. I dislike leaving powerful artifacts lying around where anyone can find them – especially when I was forced to make them.” He kept his eyes on Tonara’s face but she just kept scowling. Not a hint of enlightenment in her eyes. “You don’t get it do you?”

“Of course she doesn’t,” Pynaria said. “Our illustrious leader has a great deal of power and no brains at all. If she did she would recognise the obvious when she saw it.

“Bitch!” Xantaria hurled an attack at Pynaria who sidestepped it with a yawn and teleported away before she could attack again.

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