Night Terrors

[Darth Decepis]

Malastare

All was quiet on the landing pad, and the lone Corellian freighter on it stood against the faint glow of city lights against the night sky. Everything was cast in a sickly shade of burnt orange, with the city's haze casting the hue back down as an early morning fog approached.

The occupants of the freighter Layla had bedded down hours ago, opting to sleep on the ship rather than pay for a night's stay in a hotel. As the crew and their guests slept in the crew holds, a most unwelcome presence made his way to the ship. With the slightest movement of a hand, the shrouded figure reached out with a touch chilled by the dark side of the force, inward to the mechanisms in the ship's bulkhead that held the main access door locked fast. With a muffled clank, the door gave way, and the black-shrouded phantom floated inside without protest from the deck plate below his feet.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Her normal nightly routine was the same as it had always been - quiet contemplation over an ancient leatherbound book. It held pages upon ages of old Lupine parables, exqisitly penned and archaic even to Lupine standards.

It was one of the very few books she'd chosen to bring with her after fleeing Cathar, and it was not an uncommon sight to see her with it, studying it intensely. But now, she simply sat in a silent daze, eyes half closed as she lazily read from a passage. Her mind was elsewhere though, and Loklorien s'Ilancy breathed deeply of the incense that wafted throughout the Cat.

That the crew on the whole had chosen to simply stay on board Layla seemed to be a prudent one, and the Lupine found herself much more at ease in the confines of her small 'home' rather than a strange room. Tak was already fast asleep, breathing softly from the bed as s'Il sat crosslegged, still reading. She paused for a moment, turning to look at the still form of her daughter, and the faintest of smile crossed her features as she though about how the little girl had been adjusting to being away from Cathar.

And then, the smile froze. Her eyes registered disbelief, and a hand went up to trace along the scar running through her left eye. The book was forgotten instantly, and the Lupine's heartbeat sped up. This new feeling - this new presence she felt was something she thought she would never feel again, and s'Il jerked her head to look at the closed hatchway that seperated her from the rest of Layla.

She moved not a muscle, forcing herself to believe that this familiar, dark presence was nothing more than her imagination.

[Darth Decepis]

Darth Decepis, the Dark Lord of the Sith, moved through the freighter Layla with utter impunity. Moving about the general compartments, the Sith Master paused at the door to each of the crew compartments, drawn to the life presences beyond the doors through his corrupt ways.

He paused, staring with his ghastly yellowed eyes at the ramp that lead up to the freighter's runabout. His enemy awaited him there, but there was no hurry. After all, she would have no doubt sensed his presence long ago. He made no effort to conceal it.

A smile split the pale wrinkled face like furrow in a knotted grey oak. The Sith savored this newfound violation of all that s'Ilancy considered as a safe refuge.

Decepis returned his attention to the task at hand, and drew the crew door nearest him open by the force of his twisted will alone.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A sudden, fierce scramble of movement punctuated the Cat, and s'Il was standing. The last thing she had ever thought to happen was now taking place, and she inwardly cringed. An outstretched hand called her gauntlet to her, and with quick work she slid it on, locking it into place. Taking a brief moment to pull the covers farther over her daughter, she passed her hand over Tak's head, ensuring that the youngling would sleep soundly throughout whatever would transpire.

The Cat's hatchway opened easily, and s'Il moved to stand in the doorway. She didn't look at him; instead her whole body remained loose.

"You're supposed to be dead," she said quietly.

[Darth Decepis]

"Am I?"

Decepis turned to face her in a casual and deliberate manner. His face snarled into an open-mouthed grin.

"Is that what you really thought? Did you really believe you had the power within yourself to slay me?"

The smile erased itself into a visage of condescending mockery.

"Be careful my powerful Jedi adversary. Misplaced pride is a pitfall that leads to the dark side. I fear that you are already too close to be saved."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"I watched you fall. No one, not even you, could survive that."

She ignored his last words, choosing to let them fall on deaf ears. The moment she began to actually let him get under her skin was the moment she would lose herself. That was the last thing that she wanted, and the Lupine steeled herself.

Her hands clenched into fists as she looked up to him, and s'Il took a single step out of the dorrway. The hatch slid shut, locking in place. If nothing else, Tak would be safe if things came to blows. And somehow, the Lupine knew that that would be the inevitable conclusion of the brief talk.

"Your grief is with me, and me alone. Leave the others be."

[Darth Decepis]

Decepis laughed at the predictability of her response.

"You are as vulnerable as the weakest of those that you coddle, young Jedi. You feel their pain. You rage at their perils."

His eyes glanced in the direction of Sanis's quarters.

"Your captain is a light sleeper. I wonder if he will stir at sudden noises."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"One person's vulnerability is another's strength. If you cannot wrap your twisted thoughts around that concept, then I truly feel pity for you."

s'Il sneered, looking Decepis up and down. "You are old and frail, and your mind is the only thing keeping your bones in barely working order. I concede that you are stronger than I in the Force, but that alone does not win the battle."

She took another step forward, her hands going to the railing that lined the walkway leading to the shuttle. She leaned almost casually upon it, her eyes still on the Sith.

"Don't threaten those close to me," she very nearly scolded him, "if they're not the ones you ultimately want."

[Darth Decepis]

"Why should you care? You are worth more than a thousand of those dullards."

A gnarled hand moved slightly to the door, and screaming could be heard beyond it.

"And I would butcher a thousand more to have you, Loklorien!"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She ground her teeth, starting a little as her body moved instinctively. "Stop that."

The yelling that reached her ears was horrid, and s'Il cringed inwardly. "If you want me," she growled, "then you come to me."

[Darth Decepis]

"We have plenty of time for that later. Give your captain's soul your blessings. Soon, it will part us."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

The Lupine very literally growled her next response, allowing her single eye to fade from its' normal metallic hue to a much more feral yellow - a yellow that somewhat even resembled the Sith's own eyecolor.

She surged forward, at Decepis, and brought a hand up to try and catch him on the side of his face where she had struck him before; during their last fight.

[Darth Decepis]

The Sith Master shrunk back, crouching to let the Lupine's angry fist punch only air. His serpentine lightsaber fell into an open hand from a scabbard hidden in his robe's sleeve, ready to spark its deadly beam forth through his onrushing adversary.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Her strike passing harmlessly through the air where his head had been only moments before.

s'Il brought herself to an immediate halt before his lowered form, her own body low to the decking as she glared pure hatred at him. She made no move to ignite her sabre gauntlet, instead looking for an opening. If she could get in close enough, the Lupine fully intended to make this fight horrendously physical.

[Darth Decepis]

Seeing that his opponent did not prepare to parry or avoid his attack, Decepis ignited his saber, the blade reaching out on a path for the lupine's chest.

Her pompous arrogance would make a corpse of her yet!

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She side-stepped easily, keeping her gaurded stance. Her blades remained dormant still, and the Lupine stayed wary of his now active weapon.

"You seem so intent on possessing me," her feet shifted and she lowered her shoulder, fingers hooked like talons and waiting to rend his flesh, "... and yet you would try to kill me?"

An almost evil grin crossed her lips, "I think all that Darkside use has addled your brain."

[Darth Decepis]

"Don't expect my avarice to save you from your own stupidity."

Decepis swung his saber about in a tight loop. If the lupine continued to bare her impotent paws at him, she would have them spilled to the deck below her.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A dodge left brought her to the other side of the Sith, and momentarily away from his blade.

She jabbed inward in the same motion - a feint - to gauge his reflexes. A cautionary habit on her part, s'Il fell back on the hand-to-hand techniques she had learned over the course of her years on Cathar.

The only difference now though, was that she was forced to defend any defensive blocks; lest she wanted to lose more than just her eye.

[Darth Decepis]

Decepis gauged her, slapping at her feint with his saber, but returned to guard.

A tool crate adjacent to the mechanic's doorway began to slide along the floor, headed toward the back of s'Ilancy's legs.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Her jab was pulled back quickly, and the Lupine hopped back a few steps. The sound of the crate squeaking along the deckplates made her pause for a moment, but her eyes never left his form.

Gritting her teeth, s'Il pulled on the Force, knowing full well that her mental powers fell dismally short of his own. A fierce determination flashed in her yellowed eye though as the sound of the crate slowed to a bare crawl.

That she was outmatched in that aspect meant little to her. She would play his game for as long as she could hold out.

"I regret not having another ledge to drop you from," she growled, a small amount of strain in her voice.

[Darth Decepis]

The crate quickly jerked away from s'Il, as Decepis relinquished it's hold on it. The Jedi was then flung with great force against one wall, and then the wall opposite. The Dark Lord followed it up with a swinging strike intended to decapitate his nemesis.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il only had time to hear the tool crate clatter against a far wall, spilling some of its' contents onto the decking before her whole body was thrown to the side like a rag doll.

A sharp, pained exhalation escaped her lungs as she hit the first bulkhead, and a cry left her lips upon hitting the second. The Lupine twisted in the air, and reaching a hand out she called one of the scattered tools to her hand. The Cizerack sized socket wrench hit her palm at the same time that she saw Decepis raise his blade.

With a smooth motion the Lupine let loose the tool. It shot through the distance between the two, aimed for his sabre hand.

[Darth Decepis]

The wrench hit below the emitter, closing the jaws of the serpent blade and sending it clattering across the floor. Decepis snarled, and lunged for his weapon.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il hit the deck roughly, rolling in order to best absorb the shock from the metal decking. She came to a jarring stop against a bulkhead, resting momentarily on her side and letting out a groan.

Throwing her hand out though, the Lupine called his sabre to her, watching with grim determination as it clattered across the deckplates - past him and toward her.

[Darth Decepis]

She'd gotten the drop on him and he knew it. Instead of wrestling her over it, he stopped short, gnarled hands spreading wicked fingers wide.

"Go ahead and do it. Take my weapon as your own and strike me down here and now!"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

The cool metal of his lightsabre slapped into her palm.

s'Il wrestled herself up to her knees, holding the weapon in one hand as she stumbled finally to her feet.

"What," she said, regaining her breath, "... with this?"

The Lupine brought her other hand up, wrapping her fingers around the emitter.

"Oh I don't think so."

And with a snarl, her hands clenched even tighter on both sides of the sabre. A horrid wrench was all it took - a motion bourne of hatred and rage - and the weapon was broken into two pieces at its' narrowest point.

"I think we're going to do this my way."

Dropping both halves on the deck, s'Il started forward, fury raging in her tawny eye.

[Darth Decepis]

"Ha ha ha ha ha."

The laugh was mocking and the smile on Decepis's face poisoned s'Il's confidence. The two ruined pieces slid from the deck, gliding up into the Sith Lord's wrinkled hands.

Before s'Ilancy's very eyes, head spawned tail, and tail spawned head - the metal and wires knitting together before her eyes. What was one was now two, and Darth Decepis ignited his twin blades in unison.

"For all your strength, your spirit, and your anger - you will never defeat me. Give me more! Bring this entire ship down on me into ruin. You will seal your destiny and be mine forever!"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"What Sith trickery is this," she hissed, slowing her advancement only slightly.

Her own sabres stayed silent as she refused to ignite them. "Are you so unsure of yourself that you cannot take me with your own two hands?"

[Darth Decepis]

"You seek death's embrace, not it's razor's edge?"

Decepis nodded.

"So be it."

The door nearest to s'Il opened.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirrsseeto shambled out of his quarters, not in his right mind. He reached out with both hands and grasped s'Ilancy around the neck, hoisting her off the ground.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Hurk!

Only a choked, shock-filled yelp ensued from her throat as Cirr's massive paws went around her neck. Pulled up, her feet missed the deck by feet, and the Lupine struggled in vain; legs kicking the air as she scrambled to wedge her fingers beneath his so that she could loosen his grip.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

The grip tightened further, starving her of blood flow until her extremies tingled.

Cirr's face was no longer his. He smiled in a way she had never seen him smile. Not his boistrous, good-natured grin, but a baleful grimace, lips peeled over sharp teeth.

"Yourr frrjiends cannot save you. Only jI can sparre yourr ljife now."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"You would kill my soul," was all the Lupine was able to gasp out in protest, her struggles weakening.

She saw spots, and with a last desperate effort, s'Il lifted her legs up, wrapping them around his arms and pressing her bootsoles into his face.

[Darth Decepis]

"The Dark Side will not destroy your soul. It will empower it to your wildest imaginings."

Decepis lashed out with a blade, piercing the Cizerack's back and causing the big alien to stumble and fall to the ground with a cry.

"In time, you will learn to appreciate only yourself and your own destiny."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il crashed to the deck, managing to pry Cirr's hands from her neck. On her knees, she pulled in a lungfull of air as one hand went to her throat, and the other went to the deck to steady herself as a coughing fit overtook her.

"'Not destroy'?" she managed to croak, "... look at yourself - you're twisted; you're selfish and have no thought to those around you."

Rocking back to bring in more air, the Lupine lifted her face upward.

[Darth Decepis]

Decepis regarded the lupine's words with a ponderous expression, and then drove a saber blade down into the Cizerack's temple, extinguishing his fire from the universe forever.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

His move horrified her, and s'Il gave a cry as she watched the Sith pull his red blade from Cirr's head.

Her body shook then, her mind snapping as she stumbled to her feet.

The orange blades of her sabe gauntlet flared to life then, and the Lupine lunged at Decepis.

[Darth Decepis]

"Where was this before?"

Decepis met a bruising swipe from the Jedi by criss-crossed blades in a guarding block.

"Where was your anger and sense of urgency? Did you think me a liar? Your friend paid for your arrogance with his blood!"

Decepis glared icily at her, pressing his blades against hers with unnatural strength.

"Give yourself to the dark side completely. Your compassion will save no one. Only your selfish rage and fury can grant you dominion over what is yours!"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

With grim determination she held her ground, eye raging as she put her own weight into this shoving match he'd started. If she was surprised at his sudden show of strength, it didn't show.

"There is nothing selfish in wanting to kill you," was her only answer.

Pushing against him, the Lupine took advantage of this slight opening and kicked out with her leg, intending to catch the Sith on his knee.

[Darth Decepis]

"Aagh!"

Decepis went down, unable to brace against her pressing attack with his legs taken from beneath him. As he felt to the deck, he chopped parallel with it to try and sever the Jedi at the ankles.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A brief moment of satisfaction glinted in her eye, and s'Il let a very foreign smile of malevolence twist at the corners of her mouth. For the briefest of moments she felt it - felt that touch of darkness at the edges of her senses.

A nimble hop and she was clear of his sabre...

... except that the Lupine had not taken into account the other blade, and her confidence was cut down as his second weapon passed cleanly through her left ankle, sending her crashing to the deck at his side as her now-removed foot tumbled awkwardly a short distance away.

[Darth Decepis]

Decepis took his time rising to his feet, twin blades sheathing themselves as he stood to look at his dismembered enemy. The smell of ozone and burned flesh quickly filled the corridor.

He extended his arm towards s'Il.

"Take my hand, Loklorien. It is pointless to continue this fight. Become what you were meant to be."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Will it hurt?"

"A bit, yes. But we all have it, and it is something to take pride in."

"... How old were you when you got it?"

"Oh, I was your age, maybe a little older." A wink, "I wasn't as smart as you; it took me longer to memorize all of the Houses."

The little girl beamed, her father's words making her proud of her accomplishment. She'd recited all of the Houses - Greater and Lesser - and had thus earned the right to carry her House Brand. "Will it look like Dama's?"

A gentle, fatherly smile, "Of course it will. After a few weeks it'll be as beautiful as Dama's."

There was a lull in the conversation as the iron was prepared.

"I wish Dama was here."

"She is. You just can't see her. She always watches over you, and will never let anything bad happen to you."

"Really?"

"Really."

Another pause.

"Are you ready?"

The little girl sat with her back, bare and waiting to recieve its' branding, to her father, nodding her head in silence.

"This will sting, Lok."


To this very day the Lupine could remember the pain from recieving her House Brand; it was a pain that she took pride in, though. But now; now was a pain that brought that memory forth with a vengeance, and s'Il curled into herself. His words registered through the throbbing of seared and cauterized flesh, and she let out the barest of sobs.

Her arms went around her middle, as she felt the beginnings of that special kind of nauseau that followed butchery... and one hand closed around the handle of a Cathar dagger stuffed into her belt. Her sabre had disengaged when she'd hit the deck, and the Lupine made no effort to use it.

It seemed like an eternity that she lay there, with the Sith standing over her.

Finally, tentatively, s'Il lifted her free arm. Her hand shook, fingers seeking out his own.

[Darth Decepis]

Decepis's fingers intertwined with s'Ilancy's own, and the two formed clasping hands.

"You have chosen wisely, my child."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She let him help to pull her up, faltering only once at the loss of her foot. Time had seemed to slow down to a crawl, and s'Il felt a single, hot tear of defeat; if only for a moment.

Supported on one leg, the Lupine used the momentum of his pull to bring the two even closer. Locking her eye with his, she slid the dagger smoothly from its' resting place, aimed for his gut while in the same motion pulling the Sith Master into one last embrace.

[Darth Decepis]

"Ah...."

Decepis exhaled in what could have been either suprise or release. His withered hands held s'Il's tightly, and maintained their close distance.

He reached up with one hand to brush aside the tear on the Lupine's face, a splatter of crimson on his hand smudging against her cheek.

"....whose blood might this be, my young apprentice?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Eyes wide, s'Il could only stare at Decepis as he wiped gently the tear from her cheek.

"....whose blood might this be, my young apprentice?"




Loklorien s'Ilancy bolted upright, letting a small cry escape her lips as one arm going out to lever her up while the other threw the bedsheets off. They fell harmlessly on another body that was sleeping beside her.

A hand came up to wipe at a tear that'd formed while she still slept.

If it was possible, she would have broken down and cried where she sat, if not for the dream alone. But, its' meaning was clear, and that was what scared her beyond words and sound.

He was still alive; he'd survived the fall on Cathar, and there was no denying the fact that Darth Decepis was coming back.

[General Dan]

"Mmm"

The body next to her stirred slightly, rolling away from her, and taking some of the sheets with him.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

There was no telling how long the Lupine sat, body shaking in the wake of such a dream.

With a last long exhaled breath, s'Il closed her eyes as she once more settled back down into the covers, having to reclaim some of which Dan had taken with him.

She would not be able to drift into sleep for a long while though, as the fear of once again having to face the Sith - even in her nightmares - was too prevailent.

[General Dan]

"Dreaming again?"

Dan's voice gently broke the silence, and his tussled grey hair turned on his pillow.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A sullen look descending upon her features, s'Il nodded in affirmation.

She stared at the ceiling.

"I'm scared."

[General Dan]

"You?"

Dan arched an eyebrow, reaching an arm over her chest.

"I can't imagine what would scare a person like you."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"You place too much confidence in me," s'Il grumped, shifting a little so that she lay flush beside him.

It seemed as though Dan had always been with her; always was there to comfort and offer soothing words. She was grateful for his presence now more than ever.

"It's not so much a 'what' as it is a 'who'."

She inhaled deeply, then let the air out slowly.

"He's supposed to be dead."

[General Dan]

"It's just a nightmare."

Dan soothed her, rubbing a hand along her arm.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

There was a short silence between the two, as s'Il absent-mindedly digested his words. She turned her head, looking away from Dan for a few moments before turning back to face him.

Locking eyes with him, the Lupine bit her lower lip.

"How long have we known eachother?"

[General Dan]

Dan mulled over the question for a few seconds.

"Twenty-two years this spring."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"A while then," was the soft reply.

She let a hand come to rest on his arm as her thoughts returned briefly to the last seconds of her dream.

"With all these years behind us, I have to wonder - what would you do if I died?"

[General Dan]

"Well, I..."

His brow furrowed in thought for a moment.

"...I suppose I would carry on as best I could. Don't rightly know how well I would get along. You've got a way of completing me."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A moment passed before s'Il looked up to the ceiling.

"No, you'd forget about me. Not right away, though. Maybe for a year you'd be lonely, but one day a woman who's still got both her eyes would come around and catch your fancy. She'd spend evenings with you, cook for you, talk to you, and make you happy again.

"Sanis would take Tak, and you'd go on about your way."

[General Dan]

"I'm old, Lok. Older than you. I've got too many scars to ever try and rebuild should I have to. There isn't anybody who sees me in the light that you do."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il looked at him.

"Do you love me then?"

[General Dan]

"Well, I've honestly never thought about it. Just seemed like we didn't have to say it or ask about it."

He smiled at her.

"Yeah. Yeah, I love you."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A ghost of a smile.

"Always wanted to hear you say that," she whispered while giving his cheek a small kiss, "I love you, too."

Shifting, s'Il pulled away a small distance.

"But I can't just brush off such a dream. I know what I saw, and I don't want it to come true."

[General Dan]

"Would you feel better about this if you weren't on the lam, so to speak? I know I haven't been able to keep watch over you and Sanis, and you've largely been on your own."

Dan sat up slightly.

"I think it would be good for you, to stay close to me. That, and I'll be honest, the Cause could use a woman of your integrity."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Her eye following him as he sat up, s'Il canted her head to the side.

"Being on my own isn't something I've just started doing, you know. But, at the same time you know that I would do most anything to just have you about more. If you think I should be close to you, then so be it.

"As for the Cause, I'm not entirely convinced that they could use an old Jedi who's skills are atrophying, and who'd rather spend her time in a library re-recording lost Lupine parables and lore."

She made a face. "There's no integrity in that."

[General Dan]

Dan lowered his eyes.

"We're in a bad way. I don't think you rightly understand the gravity of it. After Endor, we lost so many of the folks the cause had looked up to for guidance.

We need leaders. We need inspiration. By deeds or words, it doesn't matter.

That, and there are others. Others like you."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Other Jedi? It wouldn't surprise me. I'm not the only one who went into hiding after the Purge, so I'm sure there are others."

[General Dan]

"Don't you want to join with them and work together to bring the Order back? Everything that is right and just, that we should stand for is on such delicate footing. The Rebellion, the Jedi. We are all so fragile."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Would I like to? Yes, I would. But I don't rightly think I can.

"I was just starting to relax; to get comfortable without having to worry about some monster out to wrap me around his finger. I have a daughter who doesn't need to worry about whether her mother will come home to tuck her in that night and tell her bedtime stories."

s'Il closed her eyes, Decepis' visage still burned into her mind's eye.

"All of that is different now though, because now I know he's still alive. And it scares me more than anything that I'll lose myself and become what he wants me to be.

"I don't know if it matters that I surround myself with ten people or ten thousand - he would still slaughter whoever stood in his way."

[General Dan]

"Not while I'm around." Dan asserted firmly.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Opening her eyes, s'Il shook her head slowly.

"This isn't like the Rebellion against the Empire, Dan."

[General Dan]

"Then lets forget about the Rebellion for a while. I'm talking about me."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"You?"

Sitting up to match Dan, s'Il gazed at him.

"Alright then. How can you be so sure?"

At the look on his face, she expounded. "You say that nothing would happen as long as you were with me - I want to know how you can be so sure about that."

[General Dan]

"You ever feel so passionately about a thing that it becomes a certainly by will alone?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"If I could do that, I wouldn't be in the mess that I'm in right now."

[General Dan]

"Okay. Maybe certainty was hyperbole, but isn't it worth giving it all you've got if you love something? I'm not going to debate you on fortune telling or other mysticisms, but I think that for whatever reason, you will be safer here.

I know you'll be happier here."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

The Lupine gave a small laugh.

"I suppose I would."

She let out a long breath and settled back down into the covers.

"I also know that bickering with you about something is a rather futile effort, so I'll conceded you this battle."

[General Dan]

"Not all of us wizards are deft in things magical. Some of us are simply argumentative smart-alecks."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Oh go to sleep you old buffoon," was her grumpy, albeit goodnatured jab as the Lupine rolled to her side, facing away from him.