Family Ties Are Hardest To Break (Mystery Island)

Family Ties Are Hardest To Break (Mystery Island)
(OOC: Due to a problem, this has been reposted in combined form)
(Story continued in Isle of Perdition, Island Questions)

The whole area was about 50 foot square and surrounded by a high hedge. Off to one side was a small garden containing date trees, several varieties of berry bushes, and vegetables with ripe fruit. In a back corner was a fountain, which seemed to flow out of the top of the four foot high piled rocks and cascaded into a clear pool of water. The grass was a velvet cushion, which added lightness to every step.
When Khalid smiled in his direction, he returned the smile, as he was led to a tent set just off center to the right. From his travels Cole knew the tent was called a buryuut hqiar (literally meaning "house of hair" because the nomads normally built them out of goats hair). Most of the tents were black in color, but Khalid had opted to have color added to the outside. Cole figured he had used the colorful curtains, normally hung on the inside as outside walls. The whole structure measure about 20 feet by 20 feet and looked light as a feather.

Entering the tent, Cole discovered Khalid had kept the outside measurements. So many wizards had homes and other living areas where the outside was smaller than the inside. There were fantastic rugs covering every inch of the floor and pillows and cushions piled everywhere. The small table next to the back wall contained, several putter plates and crystal stemmed glasses.

Khalid motioned to a comfortable looking pile of pillows, for Cole to relax on then sat down cross legged near another pile close to the first. One of the brothers went to the table and filled two of the glasses with a very dark wine and one of the plates with a variety of food items also generously displayed on the table. The brother brought them to Cole and Khalid bowed, and Khalid nodded and said, "Thank you." Then he offered Cole anything he desired from the plate. Cole chose a couple of the figs. Khalid put the plate down on the rug, within easy reach, took a sip of his wine and relaxed back on the pillow.

Khalid looked into his wine glass and sat back up. Keeping his legs crossed he rested his elbows on his knees and swished the wine for about 10 seconds then he looked at Cole. "I do not know how much of my personal history you have found, but I do know you are known for your research, so most should not be a surprise."

Cole had put himself in much the same sitting position as Khalid. He nodded and answered the dark wizard's unasked question. "I did do my homework before I came to work for you the first time. At the age of eleven or twelve, your history ends on any records I was able stop find, until you were around twenty-five. From that point to the present there were only bits and pieces found, none of them which would have allowed you to lose the designation of dark wizard."

Khalid listened and occasionally nodded. "My first kill was by pure accident but it was far from my last. I killed mine and Arianna's mother when I was twelve and ran. No one at the time knew about my blood-magic or if they did had not told me I had the ability."

Cole looked around the room as Khalid talked. There was a marked difference between the opulence and grandeur of the mansion and the simplicity of the tent. No part of the tent was fashioned in riches, only comfortable and safe. He looked down into his own wine glass. Lifting it to his lips, he brought his head up also. Khalid was telling him about killing with very little emotion in his voice. It had become, over the years, a normal way for the man sitting in front of him to take a life, with no regrets. But there was an undercurrent which made Cole think he did have regrets which had been buried by that 12 year old scared little boy. Khalid the man was trying to keep them buried, but they were also trying to get out in the open.
Khalid took a sip of his wine and not looking at some spot on the side drape he continued. "I do not remember much of what happened that first year I was on my own. I remember being scared and hungry most of the time. Somehow I ended up in Egypt's darker side of the Wizardry world. There I found people who said they liked me and would be willing to train my magic and show me how to survive in the world. At the time, I thought that was the only type of world in which I could exist. After a few months, my life before then had become a far away dream." Khalid turned his eyes back to Cole and in a tight voice said, sounding like the child he once was, "I did not know …. I did not know I could have just returned home."

The man who about an hour ago, had tried to have him, Lance and Franco tortured and killed, was now sitting in front of Cole, almost in tears. The elves still seemed to have him under control. Cole watched as their only concern was keeping Khalid calm and helping him stay in rational control of himself. Cole had heard about mind-diving and had even watched it performed, but then it had been to hurt and find out secrets. This mind-diving was to help only. In some ways, Khalid was stuck in the past. The tent was his way of closing the present off; not all the money and power he had earned and stolen, would never invade the atmosphere of the tent. The tent gave him a chance to be what he wanted to be …. not a Dark Wizard.

T-bell walked up to Khalid's side and put two fingers on his temple. Closing his eyes he mumbled something, Cole could not understand. Khalid slowly turned his head toward the elf looked into his eyes and nodded. T-bell returned the nod and took his hand away but did not move from Khalid's' side.
Khalid started again in a much calmer voice. "I was taught the strong took what they wanted from the weak … so I became strong. Not just physically but with wealth and all the prestige, it would buy. I became an assassin."

Cole took a large gulp of his wine and allowed the elf to refill it. "It is understandable Khalid considering the people you were around and the atmosphere you survived in you would think you had to be strong to be able to find love and compassion. You were not too far off you just did not have the right definition of strong ." He truly hoped he was not going to find out Khalid had anything to do with his own wife and unborn son being murdered.

Khalid's hands fidgeted with the goblet he was holding, as he tried to explain. “Frank, I already believed because of my mother that the Magi were weak. The woman who took me in ...she had found me being attacked by a group of hooded Egyptians. She killed them in front of me and then smacked me while saying, That you are Magi elite and yet you've allowed a group of Muggles to almost kill you! Maybe I should just go back to the council and tell them you are unworthy of such a great assignment and Saygar as my Master!”

“Frank, I begged that woman to give me another chance to prove my worth...She agreed...then told me to kill the next person who came into my view! She said it was my last chance and if I didn't carry out my assignment immediately she would kill both of us and then find my baby sister and kill her as well since I would have proven that my mother's genes were weak...” Khalid's hands were shaking; his face was taught with anguish. “I will always see that face...She was not more than five or six...I almost did not do it...but it was her or Arianna...I chose her...” Another elf, who had come quietly from to back of the tent, walked up close behind Khalid, but did not touch him. The elf closed his eyes and just stood there.

"With the money I gained from that, I bought companies and people who would work for me, no questions asked. I saw a girl I wanted once, but at the time she was engaged to another man." Khalid's eyes traveled into the distance again. "I was not deterred. I went to her father and told him I was going to buy his family business and totally dismantle it. After a couple of hours of letting him try to prove to me the company would be worth saving, he stopped, sat in his chair and asked me what would make me save the company…. I told him his daughter as my wife. To this day, I remember the look of horror on his face. I gave him twenty-four hours to think about it." Khalid gulped the rest of his wine and finished with, "She showed up at my door eighteen hours later with her suitcase in her hand."

Khalid stopped as he remembered all the women that had come to him like that. Saying a little aloud, “Did any of them really love me or did they stay out of fear?”

Cole put down his goblet and stared. During his life as a mercenary, he had heard many horrible tales, one thing done to people and things people were made to do to survive. Khalid's story fit as close the top as you could get. "Khalid you were twelve years old when that had happened … you were confused and scared of being by yourself …. The woman used that." Cole realized one other fact, "Khalid she knew who you were… which meant she knew what you had done at your parents house. You basically had been captured, and brain washed."

Khalid looked at Cole for a moment, he was confused, because he thought he knew where the woman had come from. She had told him once she knew people on the council. "Frank, of course she knew me...she worked for the Council … Didn't she?"

"Khalid if she had belonged to the council, she would have returned you to your home…" Cole wondered who the woman was, but for now, he needed other information. The letter Khalid was still holding in his hand was a puzzle he wanted to find an answer.

Cole kept listening and did not say a word. Khalid was lost in his own little world explaining to him and probably to himself what had happened in the past. By the look on his face, the only good memory was the girl who had shown up with the suitcase. When he talked about her, his face changed… became softer and his eyes lite with happiness. However, the expression did not last long.

Khalid reached for the letter from the only one that had left. He had never opened it and still wondered why she left. “Maybe one day, I will find her again and ask why she ran away.” Her leaving had broken his heart, as she was the only one he still loved. He had a picture of her in this tent. He had hid it as Esmeralda was determined to destroy it.

His lover Esmeralda Russo was the only one that he had grown to hate, as the woman only wanted power. He had two children by her and both had turned out just like her, his daughter Dalphe and his youngest son Jackson.

Putting the letter down as he turned back to Cole, “I am getting off track. I have had many women in my life but only one have I ever loved. A month after our wedding she left that letter and I guess never looked back. You might think that woman was David's mother...It was not. Don't get me wrong, I cared deeply for Shadow's mother but it was not as soul-bounded as what I felt for Lilli. I have not given my name to another woman since.”

"Khalid, why haven't you opened the letter to read what it says?" Cole could not understand. "Your answers could be right in your hand." Cole had a feeling one of the reasons Khalid had not opened the letter was because he had loved the girl and could not stand the idea she had not loved him back or maybe had hated him. The man probably had his answers to all the questions he asked himself so long ago in his hand. All Khalid did was shake his head then went on with his explanations.

Cole reached out and took several of the figs off the plate in front of him. His thoughts had partially traveled back to his wife, when the name Lilli was mentioned. Cole's wife, Maggie, had a mother named Lilli, who had been killed when she was just a small baby, only about three weeks old. Maggie knew this because the couple who had raised her, and eventually adopted her, had made sure she knew she had another mother.

Khalid shook his head as he looked down at the rug he was sitting. In a barely heard whisper, he said to Frank, “Because I cannot… reading was unimportant in what my mother said was my destiny. When Silvia, my step-mother tried to teach me, the words made no sense.”

Cole reached out for the letter. Khalid looked at this hand, then at the letter and slowly put it in Cole's hand. It was time to find out why the girl who had come to him with no fright in her face, had stayed and made him feel like a man who could accomplish anything, even fight the nightmare of a life he was living, had left and never returned. Khalid was not sure he wanted to hear the reason.

Cole started to open the letter, but Khalid started to talk again, so he held it half opened in his hand.
After what seemed like an eternity of swirling emotions, Khalid came to what Cole had witnessed as he quietly spoke, “How to explain what I am facing? I swore that I would never reach the state you witnessed ...I guess I deserve this but not when my family is in danger. There are those that would see those I truly love made a distant memory.” Khalid shook his head as it was coming out all wrong. He had hired Fixer to insure that his family was placed on the right path. Khalid wanted to tell them himself but to do so would break his vow. Smiling as he realized that he planned on still breaking that vow but not yet. Khalid needed to know that he would be insuring the Dark One's downfall as well.
Looking at Cole, the Dark Medjai said, “Maybe if you asked your questions, I could become more focused? What do you need to know Cole to make your decision?”

"We can start with why you hired me and not some other mercenary? I have a good reputation, but I do not come cheap as you have found out. Those people, in the Hog's Head, could have been handled by a couple of other's I know. Then you can tell me where all of this is going to. I will get you your information, because you have paid well and I am getting intrigued by the Caretaker Group you keep bringing up."

"I hired you because unlike others … You...Frank...have not picked any side...If what I am planning was ever to get back to the one most call the Number...well...Frank...how much do you know about him and his connection to the Dark Sect?" Khalid, watched the man's face as he thought, "I can't endanger this man no more than I can Franco. If he has no knowledge of The Number being the one the Magi called "The Dark One" then I will have to figure out a way to keep him safe."

Cole picked his goblet back up and took a good long swig. Rolling I back and forth in his hands, he looked at Khalid and answered his question. "I know about the enmity. I have never had any personal dealing with him or it, depending on your view. At least I do not know of any dealings. That is dangerous territory Khalid if you are even thinking of going up against that kind of power."
Frank, remember when I told you about the woman's threat to me? Her Master? And Frank... what I plan will put me at the proper time back on the path of my destiny."

Cole looked at Khalid. He was almost afraid to ask the one question which had to be asked, "You are going after the Dark One, aren't you? It is suicide, Khalid and you know it." Cole was beginning to get that feeling again, of excitement and worry. The hairs on the back on his neck were standing up straight and his hands itched, sure signs his future was about to get interesting if he choose the path of chaos.
"Yes, I know very well what my destiny is. Frank," Khalid put his cup down and leaned forward supporting himself by putting his elbows on his knees. "Only once before did I do what one day I will do again. He had ordered me to kill Darik and I instead turned on him. My Blood Magic betrayed me and I failed." The elf standing behind Khalid took one-step forward and placed his hand on Khalid's shoulder. Khalid looked at the hand and closed his eyes. When he opened them he looked at Frank and the look of anger, had disappeared from his face. Again, he talked as if he was only remembering what had happened, as if he were describing a scene on a stage. "He ordered the death of all the Sadaki clan as well as Darik's. I had to save them so I made a wand oath to never personally try to destroy him again! In return, Tarik, Arianna and Darik are spared from his order as long as I serve him. Frank, I found a loop-hole in the oath."

Frank put his fingertips together and looked into Khalid's eyes. "I'm listening…."

"You know from the folder about the Caretakers that Hank showed you what the Caretakers true goal is?" Frank nodded; the Caretaker Group was out to protect the Egyptian rulers in the council of the magical world, but they had all been very careful to keep The Pact secret. Their question of how much Khalid knew, must have been plain on Franks face. "Yes Frank I have known for sometime about the group known as The Pact and your involvement in it." Frank only looked down for a second then looked up and nodded. "Don't worry Hank is safe as it was the reason I gave him the chance at getting

the information. You do know that you guys have a traitor in your group?"

"Khalid who is the traitor?" Frank waited, only half expecting an answer.

"If I knew the name of your Rat, he would already be dead as I too had no interest in Marcus Andreas' death! All I know is he reports to The Dark One and that he has asked for the mark, which so far The Dark One has refused to give him. Also Frank, I know he hates you and a few others in the Pact. The Dark One has not given up on getting a hold of you but won't allow this Rat to go after you as he wants you alive! It was the Dark One that informed me of Antonio's gift and how interested he is in Chameleon. He is furious that I won't send Antonio to him..."

When T-bell came over to Frank with a pitcher, Frank picked up his cup and held it so the elf could refill it. Frank looked into the elf's eyes. There was something there but Frank could not understand what the elf was trying to tell him. Taking a very long drink, Frank put the cup back down, and looked into Khalid's eyes. "Khalid, as far as I know I have never had direct dealings with the Dark One. I may have talked to and, working for you, it seems I have worked for some who were connected to him. My main concern if finding the mole among us." Frank wondered if Khalid was getting ready to set him up. Knowing information was better out in the open where he could examine it, he asked, "Khalid, what is my part in all this? What are you trying to get me to agree with, exactly?" Frank sat very still and waited.

"Don't worry Frank, If I had an interest in the slightest of seeing you in the hands of That Thing...You would not have left the island that first time... Nor would I have told you about my plan. No, I want you to stay out of his grasp cause if my plan works than it will be because of you…. Just what I asked you to do in those two notes, Frank. You did receive your instructions, Did you not?"

Frank thought for a moment before he said anything. Khalid was still being couscous about the instructions in the notes he sent, to the Hog's Head, when he was questioning the members there. Khalid wanted the codebook, but for some reason it was getting stranger to think he was out to destroy the Caretaker Group, so there was something else going on. "I got your notes, and I have gotten some of the information. I will be going after the rest very soon. You will get your money's worth." Frank had to see if things had really changed from the house, so he added, "Then I will move on to my next employer." He took another drink, watching Khalid's expression the whole time.

"Frank, doesn't this tent tell you anything about what I truly care about?" Khalid knew if he went into a long speech about how he just wanted help would cause Frank to believe he was hiding something, so he took the simplest way of answering his question.

"I see you care about family … I see you care about having somewhere to go where you have some peace of mind …. I even see you have more than one side to your personality." Frank looked at the two elves. T-bell was standing close to Khalid, but acting more like a butler than a guard or guardian. The other elf still stood behind Khalid, with his hand on the man's shoulder and his eyes closed. "I will have to say, it worries me that you require mental assistance. Your two sides are too dramatically opposed to give me a lot of confidence. I told you already Khalid I will work for you. I will do what needs to be done to get you what you require but you do not own me. I have not touched your payments to the bank and will not touch them until at least this phase of my employment is finished." Frank did not like being trapped into a job, so he let Khalid know one thing, which he had not told many other employers, and had only done once before. "Khalid, I will walk away if I think you are only taking revenge on others…. You did not tell me about a possible heart problem with Franco … Keep information from me again and I leave… as long as you understand and can accept that fact … I will stay … it is up to you ..."

Khalid looked at T-bell, nodded and then in a very firm voice replied to at least one point in he mercenary's voiced concerns. "Frank as for Franco's whole in his heart, I was assured that it had been closed."

"T-bell and his brothers are here for the same reason that my grandson Antonio requested that you be brought into any dealings where Chameleon is out, in connection to himself." It had been one of the very few request, Khalid's grandson had ever made. Before T-bell had arrived with his brothers, Khalid never would have even listened to the request, but things had changed. His grandson was still willing to work for him, but needed the ability to control, Chameleon, who had been designed and bought into being to be a weapon for the other three lives occupying the same body.

"T-bell, you have searched this tent and the house for what Darik warned you about?" T-bell gave Khalid a nod, closed his eyes for a second and then opened them. Khalid laughed a sound Frank had never heard the man give before. "It seems T-bell has sent everything he found, items all made out of crystal, back to the original owner, in many more pieces then they found their way to me as. He will also be keeping an eye out for new arrivals of gifts."

Frank nodded, realizing T-bell only spoke mentally to Khalid. He had heard the elf once, earlier that day, but mental communication appeared to be the desired form. "Either your information was bad concerning Franco's heart or someone did not want you to know. We should be hearing from Lance soon, on that subject …. On the subject of Chameleon, I am working on establishing a friendship and a teaching position. He is beginning to think of me as a Saygar. I also think, Antonio and he are communicating … not totally yet, but there is a connection being established. Chameleon is still extremely leery about having a friendship with Antonio, because he spent so much of his time reasoning out the fact the others wanted him gone, he is having a difficult time rationalizing, Antonio may be willing to let him stay. It is an interesting experiment to me to see the byplay between two mentalities, living in and trying to protect the same body." Frank reached out and took some fruit for the plate he was still sharing with Khalid.

"Frank, I want nothing to destroy what Antonio has found with Kat Spellman and that includes Tony. I lost my soul link; Antonio will not lose his. Do whatever is needed to get them working together?" Khalid had still not sat back and relaxed. He knew Kat Spellman knew of the different personalities and she accepted them, as part of Antonio. He also knew she was very leery of the Chameleon part; she was friendly but from the reports he had received she was very standoffish, when he was out. Her brothers would look out for her, but Kat was headstrong, and may not listen to them. If Antonio could freely communicate with Chameleon, he would be able to better protect her, no matter which of his persons was out. Khalid was always on the lookout to find ways to help her.

"I will do what I can, but if you know about The Pact, you also know we have made an unwritten vow, to protect each other. I am being put in the spot of protecting Antonio, but possibly destroying Chameleon. Antonio has always made it clear, if Chameleon could not be brought under control, he was to die, thus killing Antonio. I will honor my friend and Pact brother's request if necessary." Frank was inwardly cringing. When they were all young, a simple thing such as controlling another part of someone, seemed possible as all other impossibly things seemed. As they all matured, the world became darker and lines became fuzzy and in parts frayed. He would carry out his friends request, but it would be one of the hardest things he had ever been asked to do.

"T-bell is my Saygar as I was untrained in the use of my Blood-magic. As for those that thought me a fool...well we will see who is the fool." Frank smiled and nodded to T-bell. The elf could hold his own. Darik had trained them so they knew their business.

"You have made a good choice in your Saygar, Khalid. Never go against what he says. He knows more of your past, than you will ever realize." Frank had knowledge from the past about Darik's involvement with his blood-brother, than he should. It was information given to him confidentially by Darik and would never be divulged to anyone else without Darik's permission.

Khalid smiled as he looked at T-bell with love and respect."My Godfather Darik picked him." T-bell nodded, returning the same looks.

"T-bell, check on my great-nephew. As mad as he is at me Lance might go against his word, do not hurt him though as I have by my foolishness given him more than enough cause for concern." Frank watched T-bell look into Khalid's eyes, very closely then the elf nodded. Looking over to the other elf, he nodded once and disappeared. The elf behind Khalid, put both his hands on Khalid's shoulders and opened his eyes. Frank felt like he was almost under a Muggle microscope the elf's stare was so intense for a moment. Suddenly Frank felt very calm, almost euphoric, but his thinking was not clouded.
"Khalid, what is happening?" Frank could sense something was up. Khalid's was appeared to be listening to something far away, before he turned back to Frank.

"Somebody is here on the island and as mad as Lance is at me...well it could be Martin or Arianna or even Tarik. Frank, I don't blame him as I could have killed Franco which was never my intention. I have given Lance no reason to believe anything except that I have gone insane.... Frank none of them can believe anything different."

Frank instinctively looked toward the front flap of the tent. As calm as he was feeling, his body would not let him totally relax. Too much had happened in the last twenty-four hours. Before he started to turn his head back to Khalid, he said, "With all the people you have on this island, and the small army you call your security guard, I would think the person who has just arrived, would be expected to be here, or you would have heard alarms going off." Frank calmed, when he had heard his own diagnoses of the situation. "Khalid, that makes no sense. I believe from my own research, all of them and others are trying to accomplish the same thing you are. I also know Tarik, is not on a head-hunting expedition to find you and kill you. What changed his mind I have no idea. He is still looking for you, but only seems to want to talk. Why let them believe the worst. With the power, I have seen your family can wield, you could accomplish a lot in a very short period of time … Why keep this family feud going?"

Khalid looked down at his cup and ran his finger around the rim several times, before giving Frank an answer. "Cause for them to think anything else will alert the Dark One to my true intentions and that will break my vow before I am ready to.... Frank...That can Never happen or They are without the protection of my vow! And that means Those Destine to Deal with the Dark One are going to Fail!"
Frank stood up and stretched. He was not used to sitting in one place for so long, even with the comfort the stacked pillows and soft rugs provided. He walked over to the folded back front flap and looked outside. His eyes were not focusing on anything special, when he agreed with Khalid's reasoning. "I will keep your secret, but I still think it is wrong." As Frank turned, T-bell appeared in the same spot he had left.

Bowing to Khalid and then even a small bow to Frank, he said out loud, "Master Lance is operating on Master Franco at the moment. The med-elf's assisting him, told me there was a second hole in Master Franco's heart. It can be repaired, but Master Franco will be weak for about a week or so." T-bell said the last part more in Frank's direction than Khalid's. The elf knew plans were being made for Franco to be questioned more, and he was telling them, more questioning could mean the human's death. "Master Lance will be giving a report when he is finished, but that could be a while yet." T-bell looked at the other elf, who, took both hands off Khalid's shoulders, took a step back and closed his eyes.

Khalid blinked several times and then gave no other sign he was being watched. Frank knew better than that point. Khalid was under twenty-four hour surveillance by at least one of Darik's trained elves.
"So who is on the island?" Khalid said aloud, more to himself than Frank. "I felt a blood link so that means family … Antonio and Corbin both try to avoid the island." Turning to T-bell he said, "I think we should investigate, please."

T-bell nodded and looked at his brother elf. No words past between them but the other elf nodded and disappeared. Frank noticed when the elf disappeared Khalid almost jumped and his facial expression went sour. T-bell, put two fingers to Khalid's forehead, and the man's expression went back to what it had been a moment ago. T-bell took his fingers away, but watched closely, until Khalid looked at him and nodded, then the elf stood back, like a butler waiting for orders. Before anyone could say anything, the other elf was back in his original position. A silent message passed between the two elves and T-bell said out loud, "Master Antonio is waiting for you in your study, Master Khalid. He appears to be very relaxed." T-bell then stood and waited for instructions.

Frank looked toward the house through the open tent flap. You could barely see the roof of the third floor from his position. The elf had used the name Antonio, and Frank was taking it for granted, he could tell the difference in between Antonio and Chameleon. This was interesting.

Questions were running through Coles head at top speed. He was not sure where to start. Trying to get his thoughts to settle on a starting point Cole looked around the tent. There were rugs of many different sizes. By the patterns, Cole guess different people were involved in their weaving. On a wall was a picture of Tarik, Khalid's younger half-brother; Tarik would be interested it was here. Cole could only see two books; one looked like a photo album and the other appeared to be a child's reading book. This was also a surprise because Khalid's family was avid readers and took every opportunity to learn they could.

As he was just about to ask about the circumstances of his hire, a light breeze whirled around the room and several of the thin curtains flapped in the wake of the gentle wind. As one beautifully colored scarf moved to his right, a picture on hanging from the tent frame in another area of the tent caught his eye. "What … why …." kept running through his head as he got up and slowly walked toward the spot. Pulling back the now unmoving flap, he looked at the picture. It was of a young girl about 17, maybe a little older. She was beautiful and the spitting image of his deceased wife. Looking a little closer he realized it was not his wife, but a duplicate of a small tattered picture she had in her treasure box… a picture of her mother, which had been given to her when she was very small. Her mother had died.
Cole turned back to Khalid and grabbed his eyes with his own, "Khalid, why do you have a picture of my wife's mother in your tent…. Explain." Cole was confused.

Khalid looked on in horror as Frank slowly removed the picture from it hook and walked toward him. He wanted to scream, because Khalid's deepest fear, the one, which he had never been able to get out of his mind, was out in the open, laid bare for others to laugh at. “So she ran back to her betroth and had a child by him...Frank, that is my wife...Lili...The one that wrote that letter...Was she happy with him?”
The emotions chasing each other around in Cole's chest were causing pain; not the type which could be treated by a doctor, but the kind, you had to survive until it could be buried. He thought he had buried his very deep, but there they were again, causing his eyes to smart and his chest to tighten.
"Lilli's brother knew that I married her. He was there the night I forced her father to choose his company or his daughter. As far as I know the two men have not spoken since..." Frank tried to put the facts together. Lillie was Richard Greene's Aunt. Which meant she was William Wade's niece. William Wade was the lawyer who found Lillie and Maggie, sending Maggie to his brother to be raised and protected. William Wade was killed by torture in his own home, supposedly because of information he was hiding.

"William Wade may have known who Lillie was, but when he sent Maggie to live with Greene's parents he never told them. All they knew according to Maggie was, she was a foundling of a dear friend of Williams. She was happy with the Greene's I can tell you that." Frank stared at the picture of the young bride of Khalid's. It made his heart turn, because his dear Maggie had looked so much like her mother

"Another family I have destroyed without meaning to." Khalid paused and then asked with questioning eyes, "What does it say? Why did she leave me, when I was about to turn myself over for judgment ... to be worthy of her?" It was almost as if he did not want to know what was in the letter, but had to.
Frank whipped the one tear away which he had not realized had escaped his misery, and slowly read the letter to Khalid. When he was finished, he put his hand down and passed the picture and letter to Khalid. "Seems, I need to start calling you Father or something to that extent." Frank again got up and walked to the open flap of the tent. He needed fresh air and he did not want to watch another man's misery.

"Richard's father was my Lilli's brother." Khalid was carrying on a war of words inside his head. He wanted to contact the Greene's and thank them for taking care of Maggie. They were blood-tied. He also knew if he did others would notice and put all of them in more danger.

"No...Nobody can know of our blood tie.." was the only rational thought he could break out of the swirling thoughts and emotions. T-bell had put both hands on his head, trying to stop the crazy swirl. Khalid started to breath heavily. "But Frank it means that you have Blood Magic mixed with Elvin Blood. Especially if you mixed blood with my daughter...my daughter" The last two words were said
with a breathless quality.

Frank turned and nodded, "We had a full blood joining ceremony, so we would be one in all ways. I think you are wrong about the blood-magic though I have never had any signs…" but Frank stopped short, because it would explain one occurrence which had always puzzled him. When he had found his wife, dead on the floor of their cabin and held her in his arms, he had felt such grief, that the house had basically exploded outwards. He thought it was just the grief but maybe something had added to the explosion. "Khalid I do not want your blood-magic … I have seen what it can do and I do not want it. I will talk with Darik and have it removed or shut down." Frank again turned to the outside world. "Ah, Maggie what did I do to you … I am sorry girl … I am sorry…" he thought to himself, quietly letting out the tears which would not stay locked away anymore.

Khalid looked at the picture in front of him and made a promise to himself he would learn how to read the letter from his Lilli. In a whisper he said, "Now I understand why Wade was killed and I was made to look like the one that ordered it..."

Frank did not even acknowledge what he almost heard Khalid saying. He was lost in the past, sitting on a floor of a cabin with not more walls, holding the most beautiful girl he had ever known in his arms.
Khalid got up from the cushions and walked over to where Frank was staring off into the distance, his eyes unfocused. He put his hand on the man's shoulder and quietly said, "Frank, don't fear your blood magic as it is special. I have tried to get rid of mine. My grandfather would have had me trained to use it had he not believed a lie my mother told him. She told him I was not his son's child. So my family never looked for the sign that I had it."

Slowly Khalid removed his hand from Frank's shoulder and took the two steps necessary to place himself in front of his son-in-law, so he could see his eyes. "It is unique to each that has it. With me, I turn my enemies own skills against them. Antonio can create any personality needed at the time. Tarik is able to understand and translate any language whether he has learned it or not. Lance is in a special area as he might one day tell you. Martin has the gift of diving into any mind and seems un-blockable. I will be interested in seeing what yours will be...but The Dark One must never find out you have it, Frank...Never!"

When Frank turned his head, he found it at first impossible to focus, then reality slowly came back to him. "Well I guess I better have a long talk with Darik then. If I have to have this, I better find out how to control it …" Wiping his face with his fingertips, he looked more pointedly at Khalid and said, "What now?"

"T-bell, there is no way The Dark One will know of his true instructions...If I tell him here?" Khalid needed to give Frank some type of reassurance, but he was afraid of what would happen if it got out. He looked at his Saygar for some type of assurance of safety. Receiving the message in his head, that the whole area was securely blocked, he continued; answering the questioning look on Franks face.
Khalid patted Frank on the shoulder, and then led him back to the table for some refreshments. "Now Frank, we go through each of your instructions...one at a time and I tell you the purpose behind each … Then after you know...T-bell will erase the purpose from my memory though it will remain in my chessboard. So what was your first order and what was the result?"

Frank stepped back into the cool, shadow of the tent and looked at Khalid. Following Khalid to the table in the back of the room of the tent, he tried to think how things had gone at the Hog's Head. He had tried to get all the information Khalid had wanted, but had come up short in a couple of aspects. But he was still working on those from another angle. "The most important part of your orders were to get a copy of the Caretaker Codebook along with examples of Franco Spellman's, Arianna Sadiki's and Richard Greene's handwriting. I was able to obtain three copies of each of the person's handwriting, having them use different forms of their names. As for the Codebook, I do not have a copy of it, but soon will have enough control over the writer to get him to make me a copy and then not remember what he did" Frank took the goblet offered by T-bell and took a long drink. This was a new experience for him. None of his previous employers had ever explained why they needed something, they had just told him what his job was and he collected his money when he was done.

Khalid nodded and added, "Now that you know I can't read Frank...there should be a question in that head of yours concerning that order? Out with it."

Frank took a sip of his drink, put his goblet down, and crossed his arms across his chest. "If you do not want the Codebook so you can read it, then you want it for someone else to read. The person you give it too is going to have a lot of power over that group. They will be able to have them do things, which would normally come from their bosses who …" Frank stopped then slowly reasoned it out, out loud. "That is why you wanted the sample signatures … you are planning on having them do something they would not normally do." Frank was getting close to walking away…. If the unprotected Khalid, had made the plan, he was not sure he wanted any part of it.

"Frank neither that book nor the signatures are to ever leave your hands. It was because of the four personal guards to my sister Arianna that made this move needed. I want you or your men to personally check, double check...If you have to...but any that are not true to the Caretaker cause ... I want dealt with ... permanently ..."

"That was why Khalid had offered him his pick of any of the 50 or so men on his security team, which was about a thousand or so strong. Richard figured there were a thousand or more men and woman in Khalid's little army. He decided each of them would be checked also once he had his own group up and running. "It is going to take some time Khalid to get the group to work together. I already have a couple of men who can act as sergeants, so to speak. I will of course be moving to the island you have given me for the training. You will be welcome there at anytime, but until I know my men's aptitudes, do not come without your elves and a couple of people you trust."

Khalid made a grimiest but nodded. He knew personally what it was like to be betrayed, by men you had taken care of and thought you had their respect. "I sent those guards to protect my family and instead I find out they held the Dark One's mark! Frank, It must look like I was unaware of who I ordered to be killed ... Can you do it?"

Frank had never given thought to a long-term mission. Usually he liked one's he could accomplish in less than a month at the most, get paid and move on, but this was promising to be a lot longer to get through. It would take him at least a month, to make sure he had picked the right people to be in his "security guard" and then see if they could complete the training he had in mind. He smiled thinking how good it was going to be to be back in training. He was getting weak himself, but had been putting off the sweat and pain he would have to push his body to endure to get back to where he wanted to be. "There are ways, Khalid to look like the training was too much for them, or as if they just disappeared, like the ones I sent to the South Pole with no gear. Just make sure the money is in my account, to get the supplies I will need. If you find a man who shows promise let me know, but do not send them. I will devise a test to see if they belong in the group."

Khalid smiled and slowly added, "If you can somehow make my sister aware of the traitors in her ranks...then all the better...but Frank always remember none of them can know why I really wanted that book...especially not the writer Seth Wright."

Frank looked up sharply. "You know Seth Wright, codes the Codebook? And you made me put those people through what I did when all I had to do was go after him? I hope Khalid that was the old you which put me in that situation. I did some damage I did not want to do, to some people I owned a lot too, especially Richard Greene. I know I am in no position to give you ultimatums, so take this as a suggestion if you must, do not put me in that position again, if you want the traitors taken care of… I have walked away from jobs and money before and I can do it again. I have ways of getting lost not even you can fathom." Frank was mad. He had spent hours getting information, which could have been obtained in about two hours, and no one would have known he was even involved. Now he had a target on his back, as far as the Caretaker Group was concerned, and it was extra bright to the Spellman boys. Frank slammed his drink back and held out the cup for a refill.

"Frank, I never thought they would give his name up to you. I need my sister to add to Seth Wright's protection as we are not the only ones wanting that Codebook...So does Zia!" Khalid raked his hand through his hair. He now had to feel responsible for a son-in-law he did not know he had.

Frank thought for a moment, then said, "I will personally see what I can do about adding protection to Mr. Wright, after I get the Codebook from him, of course. It looks like you are going to be putting me in the position of trying to protect people, without letting them know they are being protected." Turning up one corner of his mouth, in what resembled a smirk, Frank shook his head slowly. Although he was getting in deeper and deeper, by the minute, it was also becoming an interesting problem, which needed to be solved, and he had a pension for solving problems. When he could get past the fear and the pain, which came along with many of his "problems" he would think of them as games, without many rules which tended to add to the "fun". "They will change the book as soon as they discover any discrepancies, but it will give me a place to start and a trail to follow. Khalid this is going to cost a lot of money, if you want it done right."

Frank you seen how they work. What will be the two things my sister will do once she realizes we have the Codebook?" Khalid had sat back down on the cushions and motioned for Frank to do the same.
He was going to refuse, but decided, he may as well be comfortable for now. Khalid did not seem in any hurry to end his stay in the tent. Frank was wondering how Lance was making out though. Taking the seat offered he looked in Khalid's direction. He noticed, the man had placed Lilli's picture prominently on the low table near him along with the letter, carefully folded and set under the edge of the picture frame. Reaching out for a small apple, mostly to just have something in his hands because he did not need any more drink, he answered Khalid's question, "The first thing she will do is totally re-write the book … probably using someone else besides Seth Wright. That man is going to go through some treatments, because she is going to want to know, if I found anything else when I get the book from him. The second thing she will most likely do is set a trap, thinking I would want to get a copy of the changed book. I won't need that though because all I want the book for is to give me a starting point of what and who I am looking for which could cause the Caretakers problems." Frank stopped and tossed the apple in the air a couple of times, "You realize Khalid I may not have to worry about the Dark One or Zia, because if the Caretakers catch me, they are never going to believe I am on their side. If that happens, I hope you can come up with some plan to get me free." Frank raised his eyebrows to Khalid.

"Remember that my true plan is in my Chessboard? Well that Chessboard will not be here but it is headed to Darik as we speak. It will only be used to protect you and those that serve you. Now Frank continue as my grandson has never been known for his waiting skills...And Frank, Antonio must know none of this plan. I trust him but should the Dark One get a hold of him..."

"Something else you wanted was the files Franco has on the family and the stories he is working on … I know where these files are; two places his office which I would be willing to bet has a blood trap on it and in the bank in Diagon Alley. To get thoes files, he has to be present and not be under any durress. I have not figured out how to handle that yet, but I was getting close until you …" Frank paused, because it was because of the un-regulated Khalid, Frank had been unable to convince Franco to give up the files. He had been hoping to bring Franco to Khalid's island and talk to him about them, maybe using a touch of the truth serum he had used in the Hog's Head … but Khalid had gone crazy and had him tortured … causing Lance to dig his heels in deeper along with Franco about giving anything up. "Let's just say it has become monumentally harder to get the information now. There is still a chance but it is going to take longer and cost more…" Frank hated to keep bringing up money, but it was the one thing he was going to need a lot of, if he wanted to get the equipment and men he needed, not to mention a few healthy bribes along the way."

"I will keep your plan from Antonio, but my protection will be extended to him. I will have to come up with something if he starts to get suspicious on why I am concerned about his well being more." Thinking for a moment, Frank had an idea which made him smile, "Maybe I can tell him, I am not protecting him, but my new pupil Chameleon." "Frank are you not curious why I am so interested in Franco Spellman and his career?" Khalid asked, as he popped a fig into his mouth.

"Khalid I am interested in anything which will add to my knowledge on how to proceed with your requests .. so I will ask, why are you so interested in Franco Spellman's work?" Frank sat forward and placed his elbows on his knees, still playing with the apple in his hands.

"As for Antonio, do what you feel is best but Zia can never get her clutches in Chameleon ever again..." Khalid added.

"It would be nice if I could neutralize Zia's abilities for a while …" seeing Khalid was not going to offer any suggestions, he continued, "but I guess I will just have to keep an eye on Antonio. I gather that is why you suggest I take him on and train him, because it would give me a reason to keep him close."
"Franco has a knack for finding things out as The New Editor...It will be him that decides what stories the Daily Prophet cover." Khalid said in a very steady voice. "If left to decide on his own if he should take the job...well I can't afford to leave it to him. His knack has put him in my son's cross hairs as you know. I need those stories to deal more with what The Number is doing...any ideas?"

The first thing Frank thought to say was tell him what you have just told me, but he knew that was not going to happen. "I get the impression from Franco, he is thinking of turning the position down as the new editor. I can understand this would be something the man would do, because he would feel it would hamper him in doing the reporting job he enjoys. You may not have the chance to help him decide what stories should be written and pass his desk with his approval." Frank took a breath and focused on the back wall of the tent, past where Khalid sat. Finally bringing his eyes back to meet Khalid he offered, "Maybe if you can get information to him from say and outside anonymous source about the Number's doings, he would aim at them but seriously Khalid, the man cannot be bought. If he takes the job, he will have the complete backing of the Caretaker Group, Darik and The Pact. Anyone important to him will be guarded. Since you want to keep him alive, part of the guarding force will be me and my men. If you want to do this right, then I will tell you now… do not go against the men and power you are relinquishing to me. If that is your plan … let me know here and now and I will walk away. You may not like my methods at times, but I will get the job done for you. So tell me now, do I still work for you or not?"

Khalid stared back at Frank. His new discovered son-in-law had guts. The man was sitting in the middle of an occupied island, where is death could be ordered in the blink of an eye, no questions asked and he was challenging Khalid's authority. "Frank, what would happen if Franco believed he was broke to be controlled...and then after forced to accept the Editor position...was told to stay away from anything that dealt with the Number?"

Frank had been waiting for an answer to his question. When Khalid asked another question in response, Frank had to take a deep breath and fight for patients. The Dark Wizard had heard his question, but was going to answer only when he felt it necessary. Frank did not want to get into a war of words, so he took the new question as an affirmative answer to his acknowledgement that he was still employed. "He would take it as a challenge. The man would do everything in his power to find out any information he could about the Number and publish it. " Frank stopped and smiled. Khalid's smile had told him he had hit the nail on the head. It would be the one thing which would guarantee, the Number would be openly discussed, ridiculed and his followers scorned and probably brought in for questioning by the Ministry and any Auror who get their hands on one of them.

Khalid nodded. "Bingo! Which is one of the reasons you Cole will do anything in your power to BREAK Franco Spellman! Can you guess the other?"

Frank watched the thin veils of material of the tent, flutter in the slight breeze of the garden area. "I can Franco, or at least make him think he is broken and agrees to work for me, but that agility to keep him in control will diminish over time because Franco will realize his short comings and start to train against whatever I use as a control mechanism, and his family will help, especial Neo I think." Frank's smile grew bigger, "But I think you already know that Khalid. His weaknesses will eventually become his strengths and the Number will be blocked."

Again Khalid nodded. "Bingo, So to insure he has no weaknesses...what must you do Cole to all the Spellman's starting with Franco?"

"I will just have to start pointing out all their weaknesses …. Without getting killed in the process." Frank stopped for a moment, to make sure Khalid understood his qualms about what he was being asked to do. Continuing he said, "If I am going to ask my men to go up against the Caretakers and the Spellman's in particular, I want a promise from you their families will be taken care of if they are killed or injured past the point of working for me…. You have given me fifty to start the training with, and that is fine … If I teach these men what they need to know to survive your plan, than I need to know they will stay and give me everything they have."

"Done! Also Frank if you can find other ways to pinpoint their weaknesses without having to totally break your friendship with Marco...do so. If you can trust him with the plan where his brothers and nephew are concerned...then I leave the decision to you? But understand if you do and they get their hands on him...The Dark One will torture him far worse then what I did to Franco? … Now what else was you instructed to do?"

Frank's mind was running fast over what equipment he was going to need, how he was going to have to train his men, how to set the Spellman's on their own family training program, how much to bring Antonio/Chameleon in on the plans and what he needed to do first before beginning all of this new job. He was really hoping Khalid did not have much more to throw on his plate. "There was not much more to your instructions. You wanted me to encourage your sister, Arianna to get into another line of work. We both know how that would end. Khalid, I know but have not had it confirmed, she is in charge of the Caretaker Group. Too many times the others looked to her at the Hog's Head before they answered or did anything. She will not relinquish that position, so I will have to work around it. I would enlist Richard's help, because he cares about her almost too much, but he would only try and protect her more, but not try and stop her." Arianna Sadaki, was too strong a woman to give into what her brother wanted. Frank understood that from the moment he had her alone in the storeroom of the Hog's Head.

"As for visiting Tarik for the translations, I may have to find another way there. Tarik is powerful, with his Blood-magic still not totally under control. Darik, is his Saygar and his protector. Any parts of the translations he may still have are most likely locked away and require a multi-level blood key to open. The only thing I can promise you is I will keep looking and if I get a hold of them, bring them to you." Frank could not promise anything else. He had a plan to get some of the translations and it involved a couple of the children at the school. He was not about to give Khalid, even if he was being protected by the elves the information he thought he knew.

Frank sat back on the pillow and watched the Dark Wizard, adding, "As far as taking Antonio, into my group as a trainee, I will try it, but I want an agreement from him he will give it everything he has. I do not want a scared, timid member of your family doing only what they think you are forcing them to do. It will not work … and although I am always watching my back, I do not want someone who I cannot trust, to be helping me.

Khalid held up his hand. He knew Frank was getting to the point, he wanted to get on with his job, but he had to make sure the man understood the nuances of the people he was going to be involved with. "Let's take this one at a time Frank. First Arianna, her exact words please?"

(Frank at Hog's Head) "Princess, I know you are smart enough to have made a very logical guess on whom I am working for … He wants me to suggest you find another job or at least start to really concentrate of being the best Librarian you can be at Hogwarts… He cares about you and does not want to have his hand forced, as he puts it."

(Arianna) "… "You can tell my brother too …. well just tell him thank you for his offer but I need to decline his wishes."

(Frank) ""Sorry Princess but I need you to really understand what you are being asked to do."

(Arianna) ""Oh, I fully understand, Frank Cole, but you are wasting your breath, so why don't you just leave."

"She said she was sorry she could not accept your offer. I asked if she understood your request and she agreed she did." Frank sat back up. "She is a lot like you Khalid, very strong willed and is not used to being told what to do. She will fight you, and if you insist on her not knowing your true agenda, then you are going to have a hard time, not getting her killed or hurt. I personally am not looking forward to circumventing her authority everywhere he has laid the ground work to be listened to and her orders followed, no questions asked."

"She is doing exactly as I need her to. By refusing, I am assured Arianna will not be handing her Caretakers over to anybody. You made sure to force her to reveal how she felt for Richard. She has been a widow to long." Khalid was pleased with the way his plan had progressed. He had thought long and hard how to get the people involved acting in a way he needed them too. Over the years as a virtual exile from his family he had studied how things worked. He could not read books, but he had taught himself the art of reading people and judging their reactions to circumstances, given who they were and what they believed.

It was Franks turn to nod. "She will hold on tight to that group of hers. As far as Richard is concerned, I think the problem there is going to be him having the courage to ask Tarik for her hand. He wants too, but he is more worried the possible rejection, on her part, will cause a rift in his and Arianna's relationship and even bleed over to how Tarik treats him. It would be nice to give him a little push in that direction, but I have never been good at match making." Frank added with a little chuckle. It had always been his job to break up matches of different sorts, never to get two people together.

"Knowing my baby brother, he is just waiting for Richard to ask. Do what you can to give my sister the push she needs as well as Richard... Maybe if it is known that I plan on marrying my sister to another? Through we will inform Darik that I have no such intention but support my sister's choice."

Frank could not help but show his skeptics about this plan. "Khalid, I like your sister and I admire her fortitude. Under different circumstances, I would be interested in opening up negotiations for her hand. But," Frank quickly went on when he saw the shadow slowly starting to descend on Khalid's face, "… I also know I am a hunted man and the two of us under ideal conditions would never suit each other. I would be glad to help get the two of them together. Do you really think she would take it seriously if you let it be known you were arranging her marriage to someone else. You are not exactly considered part of the family anymore, and your designation as head of the family, the one thing which would have given you the right to choose her husband, under the old rules, may have a very large question mark after it." Frank knew of the ancient rules. If he had known Maggie's background he would have had to come to Khalid for permission to marry her. As it was he asked Richard's father. In a lot of ways the magical community was still governed by the past, which could be good or bad. Frank would be interested if Khalid's ploy worked.
"Frank until I am officially declared a Dark Medjai. I still out rank Tarik. Believe me through I have unknowingly to him, back his decisions. But both Tarik and more importantly Arianna know Medjai law. As eldest son I, and only I, can choose my sister's future husband. If our father was alive then it would fall to him. I have known for some time that Arianna and Richard are soul bound. It is the only law that Tarik can use to allow Arianna to marry a man not of my choice. … Frank, I will not allow my sister's stubbornness to destroy her happiness! If I must force her by trickery then so be it."

"If that is the way you want it, get in contact with Darik and let him know what you are planning. I will start the ball rolling with a note to Arianna, to prepare herself to be wed within the month. I will not say who at this time, just that she will be notified at least three days prior to the wedding if that would work for you." This was going to be a new aspect of the game for him, and would give him a chance to study both Arianna and Richard.

"Let's give Richard a chance to court her. Make it one year and Darik was informed that I agreed with Tarik's choice last year. I am just glad that I did not have to go to this extreme with him and Sasha... Frank, what is Richard's specialty?" Khalid was so relaxed, the second elf behind him had stepped back two more steps and had actually sat down. Frank nodded. "All right I will have the note read one year, but I personally think that is too long … but it is up to you. Richard had two specialties. One is finding things, people and information. Which makes me a bit leery of getting too close to him too many times. The second is his interest in plants, the man is a good Herbologist. From my research into him when I found out he was a cousin by marriage, I have found people think he can grow anything from basically nothing. Some of the plants, I have see, which he had a hand in growing are a very impressive size. I was even able to sneak into the school and examine his herb garden. There are some plants I do not recognize, but everything is flourishing." Frank stopped as he remembered one mishap which almost got him caught on his sojourn into the garden. "The man also two Devil Snare Plants caroled in one corner of the garden area, well protected with fencing and magic. If I had not known what they were I could have been in a lot of trouble."

A thought came to Frank about the previous part of the discussion. "Khalid would you mind if I sent Arianna, some presents from an admirer? It may help to push the two lovebirds together quicker. There is nothing like a little jealousy to speed things along."

Khalid looked at Frank for a long intense moment. The man had already said he had special feelings for Arianna and he wondered if he might be opening a gate he shouldn't. It was a chance he was willing to take, because as Frank had said, he and Arianna did not suit. "Once he marry's Arianna, he will gain both Blood and Elvin Magic. They usually target a specialty and increase it a hundred fold. Do whatever is needed. As for time frame, give Richard enough time to court her and spoil her?"

Frank nodded, his mind wondering to some of the gifts he could send Arianna; not expensive gifts but gifts which would have someone wondering if she was being watched, and wooed. Khalid's next question brought him back to the tent.

"Now for Tarik?" Khalid had watched the byplay on Frank's face, so he introduced another subject to get them back on track. He was a little worried about leaving Antonio to his own deviltry at the main house.

"T-bell, have one of your brothers keep on eye on my grandson, please." T-bell nodded to the request, closed his eyes and when he opened them he nodded again. This seemed to qualify as a message that Antonio was being watched, for his own good, of course. Khalid turned back to Frank and continued, "Now where were we … Yes, my baby brother! You are positive Frank that Tarik believes all the Runes were destroyed?"

Frank wanted something to drink, but he did not want anything strong. He put the apple he still had been absentmindedly toying with down and picked up his cup. Before he could tell T-bell what he wanted the elf was standing there with a pitcher in his hand. He poured a familiar orange liquid in the cup; he had been given pumpkin juice. Frank smiled and thanked the elf with a nod. To Khalid he said, "No, Khalid I am not positive he believes all the Runes were destroyed. In fact, I think he still has some of the translations locked away somewhere, but I also know it will be next to impossible to get your hands on them. If they are not destroyed now, the first time someone seriously goes after them, they will be destroyed. There is something about the Rune message, which frightens Tarik badly. The only things I can do there are keeping watching and keep my ears open for any scrap of information concerning any existing pieces."

A look of stern determination quickly dropped into place on Khalid's face. "Frank, I hate to push my baby brother...but his fear has clouded his judgment to their importance in beating The Dark One!" Khalid had made a decision in a split second of consideration. "So Be It! My brother has forced my hand as only he can read them due to his blood magic...especially once he becomes a Master Saygar! Use whatever means needed to get him to translate those runes, including his family and the Princess Tia Andreas. All I need is when the battle will be." To himself he added, "So I will know when to strike and kept the Dark One's off of his true destroyers...cause either way my vow will no longer be needed."

Frank raked his hands through his hair. "Khalid I know those Runes are important to you, but it could get pretty nasty, trying to get the information you want. When you say by whatever means needed, you are opening the door to your brother, sister and others getting hurt. I can get the information for you, but the people involved will not come out of this unscathed .. are you sure you want to open that door, so wide?.... It could make what Franco has been put through look like a picnic outing."

"Frank, the young princess is already on the Dark One's radar...Do you think we can do anything worse than what he could? Tia is soul bound to Antonio's son Landon Russo. She already has Blood Magic, which will double when she and Landon are married. On top of that she will gain Elvin Magic...Frank she fears her Blood Magic and yet she is guardian of a very important box that The Dark One ...Will Stop At Nothing to get! It is the only reason I have allowed Shadow to torment her is to have her blood magic tapped so she can be trained. If you can think of ways to achieve your goals with as little injury as possible then do so...but she will face the Dark One one day...prepared or not! I will not allow her to end up like me or worst like my nephew Tommy."

The only thing Frank could do was nod. This job was not going to be quick to end. It was going to be difficult to finalize the results with his other clients and get the men trained. He would have to see if any of the men offered were good at surveillance because he was going to need a lot of information, which could be obtained that way. He also had to get the Codebook, which if everything went as planned would only take about five hours on any given day. "Your instructions are understood, Khalid. The one question I have is if there is a limit on my time to get what you need accomplished?"

Khalid had leaned forward and was holding Franks eyes in his own with the intensity of a steel lock. "The only time frame you have is getting the job done prior to The Dark One finding a way out of his prison. Frank...after my memory is wiped...your mission can only be changed by Darik. Even I cannot call you off! So I will understand if you choose to not accept the assignments. However, understand this Frank...If you agree then there is No backing out! Cause my godfather Darik and T-bell are risking everything to help us succeed....including giving a few elves a choice. Please remember though they are free elves and have asked Darik to help him in this? So what is your decision?" The man's eyes finally let go of Franks and Khalid sat back, looking relaxed, but watching every movement Frank made
Frank looked at Khalid, the other elf still sitting behind Khalid and T-bell. He was being asked to give up a good portion of his life to concentrate on one thing. There was not going to be much time to follow other trials he had been mapping out for his life. He was defiantly going to be in a lot more danger than he ever had. He was also going to be dependent on others to stay alive and others were going to be depending on him. It had been a very long time since he had made any kind of commitment, which could come close as this one was to permanent work. He would be a hunted man, but that was normal, and he would have a place to run too if things got too hot. He would be playing both sides of the fence with a few people, but he could also protect most of them from the middle of the fence. He would actually have family again … something he had not dared to admit he missed before now. Shaking his head, he said, "I don't plan on living for ever, so I may as well have an interesting time, while I get to live…. I will help you with your plan Khalid."

nodded and visibly relaxed back into the cushions. The elves knew part of the future from the eyes of their Seers, but their ancestors had made it clear they were never allowed to tell the human's of their fate and give them any type of timetable or assistance in speeding the results along. Several had come to Darik and requested to be put on the team of those elves who wanted to help humanity, whether humanity wanted them to or not. Darik had made his choice and the three which had been chosen, had received special training for this days start of humanities future. Khalid looked at T-bell and reverently said, "T-bell, the honored elves please?"

Frank watched as three elves came from behind the curtain at the back of tent. Each came forward and bowed first to Khalid and then to him. As they took their place next to T-bell he introduced them. "This is Crimta from the Hill Clan. Their specialties are rope making, weaving, and traversing large areas of ground quickly. This is Tarnis from the Woodlands Clan. Their specialties are woodcarving and tracking. And this is Grimston from the Mountain Clan, whose specialties include tool making, traversing underground passages and climbing. You know Rebell, who is with Master Lance, helping repair Master Franco's heart. He is from the Mist Clan who specializes in boat building and sailing.

Rebell has also been trained by Saygar Darik to block blood-magic. The fifth in the group is Saygar Darik, who is from the Village Clan. They are travelers and information gathers. They specialize in selling the other clan's goods and trading for what we all need." T-bell stepped back and all the elves bowed again, then stood waiting for orders.

Khalid looked at the elves and actually inclined his head in a bow. "I am extremely honored to have you all here. You are giving up so much and make me feel small in my abilities. I would love to send a gift to each of your clans but I know they are not to know you are here today. They all will be honored though when our job is done. Again thank you." Khalid again nodded in reverence to the group.
Frank watched, only acknowledging the introductions with a nod. He rose when all had been introduced, and Khalid had his say. He really was not sure what to do next. He had never studied elfin customs. Looking at T-bell he said, "T-bell please give them the proper thank-you for helping. I am not sure at the moment how I am going to proceed, but Khalid has given me an island to use. I do not know what the conditions are at the island, because it is my understanding it has not been used for a while. If any of you need a place to stay until I get organized, you have full use of any of the facilities there. Supplies will be provided if you tell me what you need." Frank stopped because he had no idea how to proceed. He looked to Khalid, who had more experience with elves than he had.

"Frank, it is these elves that have gotten the island ready for your use. Everything that you need is already there. The only thing they were unsure about is your men's quarters and your questioning room. As for thanking them...just treat them as you would Darik, who I know you, have dealt with before? … "And Frank for No Reason are they to be Mistreated by your men! They understand that in front of others they are House-elves as their true purpose can never get back to the Elvin Council but in private...They are to Be Treated with Respect!"

"There is no problem there," Frank said to the elves. "Then you all may return to the island where I will meet you. I have not sent any men there yet. Khalid has a well organized bunk house, so we will use that idea. There will be about fifty men occupying the bunkhouse and they will be in charge of cleaning it and maintaining it. They will also be in charge of getting their own meals. You all will stay in my living quarters, whatever they are. Pretend to the best of your abilities to be house-elves when they are in my living quarters, but otherwise you will have full use of the buildings. I know you are free elves, and will agree to have any of your families visit you. We will set up a private area for you to live if you like. You will be responsible for the safety of your own families."

Frank was not sure how to handle the questioning room. "As far as the room used for questioning. It will need wall chuckles, a table and chairs in the center, no windows and a metal cot, with a reasonably comfortable mattress. The rest I will add as I see what will be required. I want it well lite also, with a single door, lockable from the outside with a bar drop." Frank looked to Khalid to see if there was anything else he needed to cover.

Khalid was working through his robes to reach a pocket on the inner lining. "Frank, I know that I can't let on to most that you are my Son-in-Law but believe me, One Day the world will know! Until then use this as needed" He handed Frank a key explaining, "That will get you into my vault in Diagon Alley. It will also get you into my vault in Egypt. The one in Egypt is being watched and monitored though, so it is only for absolute emergencies." Khalid smiled and nodded answering the unasked question on Franks face.

"T-bell were you able to find out if Martin knows or Lance? I felt one of them...but which I am unsure?" Khalid had felt someone trying to read his mind, when Martin and Lance had first been brought to the island, by mistake, before they were sent on to the Hog's Head.

"No Master Khalid, the other human, made a very slight contact, but we feed his try back to him harder than he sent it out. He read nothing but I afraid he left here with a headache. I forgot to buffer the return feed." T-bell was smiling and Frank had the feeling, his forgetting was on purpose.

Khalid stood up and streatched. "I think it is time to see why Antonio is paying us a visit." To the elves he said, "You may go to the island now. Thank you again, my friends." Crimta, Tarnis and Grimston, bowed and one by one disappeared. T-bell motioned for his brother to go to the mansion and check on what they would find when they walked there, then he took his place directly behind Khalid. "Ok, let's see if this works." Khalid looked around for something to you a bit of magic on, and saw Lilli's picture still on the floor. Pointing his hand toward the picture he tried to levitate it back onto its place of honor on the small table he had been sitting near. The picture slowly rose and established itself on the table.

Khalid smiled, because with his magic still intact he know he had not broken his vow, by telling Frank what he did. "Good very good, now let's go." He motioned toward the tent door, letting Frank know he should go first. Following his son-in-law out he did not hear Lilli's picture say, "About time, my love … about time."

As he walked through the hedge headed to the mansion, T-bell wiped his mind of all the reasons he had written the messages to Frank at the Hog's Head as he had worded them. He would still remember what he had written, but not the secret means behind the words.

(OOC: Continued in Isle of Perdition, Island Questions)

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