---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---
		Intro - Rathanael ev'Rhiannon
---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---
     The squeal of hinges echoed in the damp dungeon, and Rathanael 
blinked in the sudden flare of torchlight which appeared as her cell door 
was thrown open.  Three shadowy figures stood in the outer passageway; 
Rathanael squinted at them, but she could not tell who they were.
     "On yer feet, wench," a voice growled as one of the figures stepped 
into the cell.  The speaker grabbed the chains which bound Rathanael to the 
rough stone wall, using them to haul her roughly to her feet.  Rathanael 
managed not to flinch, but she felt a wetness on her shackled wrists 
where the iron had bit into the flesh.  The sharp smell of blood filled 
her nostrils, and her empty stomach growled noisily.
     The guard had produced a large key, which he used to unlock the 
shackles on Rathanael's wrists and ankles.  At the same time a second guard 
stepped forward, sword drawn and at the ready.  Both guards glared 
threateningly at Rathanael, who had not moved sinced she was released.
     "I would advise you not to bother trying to escape," the third 
figure said from the passageway.  Rathanael's eyes had grown more 
accustomed to the light, and she saw that the third man wore the dark 
robes of a sorcerer.  She recognized him as the one who held her magic in 
check.  "Should you make the attempt," the sorcerer warned grimly, "the 
guards are under orders to kill you immediately and without question."
     "I'm dead anyway, aren't I?" Rathanael said in a dry voice.
     "Silence!" the sorcerer snapped.  "You will hear your sentence soon 
enough."  He indicated that the guards should follow him out of the 
dungeon.  The first guard pushed Rathanael roughly from behind, and she 
stumbled out of the cell.
     The sun was just beginning to rise over the distant peaks of the 
Ruathan mountains as Rathanael, flanked by her two guards, emerged from 
the depths of the dungeon.  Outside a dozen more guardsmen waited; they 
surrounded Rathanael as though expecting her to make some sort of attempt 
at escape.  Rathanael smiled grimly and allowed them to push her towards 
the center of the walled courtyard outside of the Hall of Justice.  The 
sorcerer stood on the steps leading into the hall.  With him were the 
Chief Justice, the Duke of Irellia, and an unfamiliar woman in white 
robes.  Rathanael stared at the Duke in surprise, for he was the one 
person whom she had not expected to see.  He, in turn, stared miserably at 
the ground and would not meet her eyes.
     The Chief Justice stepped forward and cleared his throat.  "Rathanael 
ev'Rhiannon," he intoned, "you are, by your own admission, guilty of the 
crime of murder, which is punishable by death."  The Chief Justice 
paused and smoothed his white mustache, waiting almost eagerly for 
Rathanael's reaction.  She regarded him impassively.  With a frown, the 
Chief Justice continued.  "In this matter, however, the Duke has 
requested on your behalf that your life be spared.  The Council has 
heard his plea; we have agreed, for his sake, that you should be 
granted this mercy.  You shall therefore be cast into the Void, to live 
or die as the fates decree."
     The Chief Justice glanced at the white-robed woman, who raised her 
arms and began to chant softly.  A faint glow appeared above the cobbled 
stones of the courtyard; the glow grew brighter as the incantation 
continued.  Faint beads of sweat appeared on the woman's brow as the glow 
became a man-high spot of grey nothingness.  The woman's voice faded to a 
murmur, and one of the guards surrounding Rathanael pushed her towards 
the Void.  Rathanael stepped forward, squaring her shoulders.
     "Wait!"
     Rathanael paused as the Duke ran down the steps.  He clutched 
something small and black in his hand, which he thrust towards 
Rathanael.  "You'll need this," he said softly.  Rathanael looked down at 
the velvet pouch he had given her.  She felt faintly, through the bonds 
which held her magic at bay, the hum of power which came from the bag.
     "Step back from the prisoner, my lord!" the Chief Justice snapped.  
"I cannot guarantee your safety!"
     "Good luck, Rath--may the gods protect you," the Duke said as one of 
the guards guided him away from Rathanael.
      Rathanael nodded briefly in thanks and turned towards the grey 
nothingness which awaited her.  Before anyone could react, she sprinted 
into the Void and disappeared.

---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---
		Intro - Rathanael: through the Void
---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---
     Rathanael slowly returned to awareness.  She could feel bright 
sunlight, warm against her face, and she heard a faint rustle of leaves.  
She lay still with her eyes closed and listened for Daren's footsteps.  
Her lips curved in a faint smile.  He was late, as usual--she must have 
dozed off while waiting for him.
     Abruptly the direction of the breeze changed, and Rathanael caught a 
whiff of something which reeked of sweat, urine, and blood.  Her eyes 
flew open as she realized that what she scented was her own stench after 
having been in the dungeons below the Hall of Justice for so long.  
Suddenly a thousand little aches and pains made themselves known to her, 
and a painful throbbing began behind her eyes.  "Daren," she moaned 
softly, curling up into a fetal position.  They would never again meet in 
the clearing behind the cottage.  Her world, her life--everything she had 
ever known--was lost forever.  Rathanael lay still for a very long time.
     When Rathanael finally roused herself out of her torpor of despair, 
the sun had begun to set and the air had turned chilly.  Rathanael sat up 
and rubbed at the tear tracks on her grimy face.  As she did so, she 
realized that she still held Daren's last gift to her in her tightly 
clenched fist.  The muscles in her hand had begun to cramp, and she had 
to struggle to unclench the fist.  "What's this?" she murmured softly, 
examining the velvet pouch.  It had the sigil of the Duke of Irellia--an  
eagle in flight with a serpent in its talons--embroidered on it, and it 
appeared to be empty.  A brief examination of the magic Rathanael had 
sensed in the bag, however, revealed its nature.  She opened the pouch and 
reached inside; her arm went in nearly up to her shoulder, despite the 
pouch's small proportions.  As she felt around within the bag, 
Rathanael's hand grasped a familiar object.  "Cylanor!" she breathed, 
drawing the object out of the bag.  The sword glowed faintly despite the 
approaching darkness.  "I thought you lost," Rathanael murmured, tears 
running down her cheeks.  She pressed her lips to the blade; it was warm 
to the touch.  "My thanks, Daren," Rathanael said aloud to the empty 
air.  "For this more than anything else you've ever given me, you have my 
undying gratitude."
     Rathanael reached inside the bag once more and felt to see if it 
held anything else.  To her surprise, it did.  Cylanor's scabbard, a 
change of clothing, a woolen cloak, and a sack of gold emerged one by one 
from the pouch.  "Gods, Daren," she said with a dry chuckle.  "If they 
knew about this, they'd hang you for aiding a criminal--and never mind 
your fancy title!"  Her chuckle faded; she would never know what had 
happened to Daren after she stepped into the Void.  Struggling against 
the feeling of despair which threatened to descend once more, she 
returned the items to the pouch.  She placed the cord of the pouch around 
her neck and tucked the velvet bag out of sight under her tunic.
     "Now," Rathanael said briskly, grimacing as she caught another whiff 
of the foul odor which emanated from her body.  "I'd give anything for a 
bath and a decent meal."  She concentrated for a moment, and the air 
shimmered around her form.  When the shimmer faded, she tossed her mane 
and galloped through the forest in search of civilization.

			*    *    *    *    *    *

     The tavern was shabby and the service was poor, but the food was hot 
and filling.  Rathanael ate "enough to feed a horse", according to the 
tavern keeper, who kept up a steady stream of chatter as he served her.  
Rathanael gave him an extra gold piece to go find something better to do 
when he seemed inclined to linger as she ate.  He disappeared into the 
kitchen with a hurt expression--but he kept the gold.
     Rathanael felt much better when she had eaten.  She had stopped to 
bathe in a stream as she went through the forest--though she wouldn't 
feel really clean until she found some soap, she at least felt that she 
could stand upwind of someone and not garner unwanted attention.  She had 
burned her old clothes in the forest.
     Having settled her bill with the tavern keeper, Rathanael wandered 
out into the streets.  It was late--somewhere in the distance a bell 
tolled twelve times.  Few others were abroad at the late hour, and those 
who passed Rathanael hurried along with their cloaks drawn close about 
them.  Rathanael reached out and tapped a young man on the shoulder as he 
hurried past.  "Excuse me--"
     The young man whirled and drew a dagger in a lightning-swift move.  
Rathanael stepped back with her empty hands in the air; when the young 
man saw that she carried no visible weapons, he relaxed slightly and 
lowered the dagger to his side.  "What do you want?" he demanded.
     "Sorry," Rathanael said with a grimace.  "I just wanted to ask if 
you knew of a good inn around these parts."  She stifled a yawn.  
"Preferably one without too many fleas."
     The young man grinned nervously.  "You might try the Dragon's 
Inn--it's two blocks down, on your left.  It's pretty well-known--I'm 
surprised you haven't heard of it."
     "What's so special about it?"
     The young man shrugged.  "It's a place where adventurers go to find 
adventure.  It's not too expensive, and the innkeeper's a decent guy."  
He sheathed his dagger.  "If you'll excuse me--"  He disappeared into the 
night.
     Rathanael frowned and resumed her wandering.  "Adventure, eh?" she 
mused aloud.  "I suppose I need something to do, as long as I'm here..."  

---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---