The rough wooden door swung inwards and Artemis strode inside, followed by Garrett. Their escort pulled the door to the First Keeper's quarters shut behind them and they heard his footsteps recede down the passageway. The room was compartively lavish next to the rest of the Keeper Compound. A rich red carpet covered the floor and a large fire crackled brightly in its hearth, throwing warm red light across the simple yet elegant furnishings of the room.

From a desk at the far wall came the sharp hard sounds of a quill, furiously scratching across a yellowed sheet of papyrus. At the sound of the door closing the man writing had paused, leaving a close silence in the room. His silhouetted frame perked up and listened for a moment and then bowed once more to continue its caligraphy. Artemis and Garrett approached across the carpet making such noise that was rivaled greatly by the quill scratching.

"And so you return Garrett in our 'hour of need'." Came the voice of the man at the desk, his body not pausing from it's scribing. Garrett stopped walking forward and stood stock still "You find it suitable to use my name now keeper Orland? Am I no longer 'the Betrayer' in your presence but a respected brother of the order?" Garrett said quietly to the hunched form. "No Garrett you still are, and will always be, the Betrayer to all who hold the title of keeper until you part from this life. But there is no sense in agitating a man such as you more than necessary." Orland replied. "You're doing a poor job then Orland." Garrett spat. "Perhaps, but in truth your comfort is of little concern at this time." Orland said quietly back. "Why am I here Orland? What do you want?" Garrett said impatiently. " Orland's quill was loud in the silence of the room. "Garrett you are here because you are responsible for the peril this city lies in tonight. You and that woman have brought about something catastrophic and now you must be made to answer for it." Orland said as calmly as if he had told Garrett that it was sunny outside. More silence, which the quill filled with its grating rasp. Garrett laughed darkly all of a sudden. "You son of a bitch." He muttered. "You would have the arrogance to bring Galen and I here as allies and then make us prisoners?" Garrett said accusingly. "You are not prisoners Garrett and we have not accused you of anything more than what you have done. But this crisis concerns all who live within this City and because you have created it you should be the one to remedy it; don't you think?" The fire cracked and popped, embers sparking from the wooden logs to fall as flaming motes of light. "No." Garrett said icily. There was a loud crack from Orland and the scratching stopped. Garrett saw dark ink dribble down the papyrus front as Orland held up his broken quill for a moment.

He dropped it to the desk and pushing back from the desk, turned to face Garrett, smoothing his green and gold robes hastily. Orland's face was that of a man in his forties but with a burden much beyond his years. His dark beard was already flecked with gray as was his short cropped and straight brown hair. His deep brown eyes held smouldering embers behind them now, reflected in the delicate crystal lenses of his gold-rimmed spectacles which he wore low on his nose. His lip trembled with a contained anger as he regarded Garrett from across the utter silence of the room. "No? You would refuse to right such a wrong which you yourself have manufactured with your ceaseless lust for wealth!" He shouted. "Is it so surprising Orland? The Betrayer looking after himself? But no, I don't refuse, not truly, however I will not be the only one to fix this, the foremost reason being that I don't know how." Garrett said truthfully, for he had not the slightest clue as to how such an attack might be halted. "We can tell you how Garrett, that is why you're here, why you've always been here and will continue to be brought here. You are useful; as much as a hammer is a useful tool of the Builder's minions." Orland retorted coldly. "And yet still you wonder why I refuse to help you Orland, time after time why I am the reluctant hero of your sorry endeavours to maintain balance." Garrett replied. "Oh but you are a tool Garrett, I thought you had accepted this by now. When you turned your back on our teachings so long ago you stopped being our brother and became our instrument, just as you are the instrument of every corrupt soul in this city with enough coin to hang before your eyes."

Just then the door to Keeper Orland's chambers opened again. Garrett had his back to the doors so Orland called over his shoulder. "Well met brother." Garrett deigned not to look at the new arrival and was about to retort when a voice sounded from behind him. "Mister Garrett, we meet again." Garrett whirled around now to face the man. Donovan's grey eyes peered gravely from beneath the hood and robes of the keepers as he nodded to Garrett.

"Donovan! You bastard!" Garrett said accusingly. "You see Garrett, you are our tool whether you believe it or not." Orland said, overriding Garrett's rising tone. "What about Galen is she in on this too?" Garrett said, turning back to Orland. "The woman? No she was not aware of Donovan's identity. She was merely another facet of the deception." Orland said. "How can you call this manipulation balance?" Garrett said, still stinging from the revelation.

"Despite what you may believe Garrett the natural order is not balanced and nor will it ever balance itself. This city and it's denizens slide furthur into corruption with each passing day and inaction will not cure this disease. No, this cancer requires a much stronger response than nature can provide. The glyphs, they are the antidote to this poison. Each prophecy each chronicle, every piece of knowledge we have guides us in the pursuit of balance. Therefore we follow these instructions to a fault, using every talent, and every method available to us be it manipulation or even assassination. The scales are tipping Garrett and we are the counter-balance. Your accusation of manipulation should be a word of thanks." Orland finished. "So you think you are gods then?" Garrett said sarcatically. "No just their hands." Orland replied dryly.

"Fine I didn't come here to debate philosophy with you, hell I didn't even come here voluntarily. If you know how to stop these things, how to maintain your damn balance then tell me so we can get on with finishing this. It's not like I seem to have a choice in the matter anyway." Garrett said sullenly.

"Ah now you accept your status, good." Orland said. "I don't accept anything beyond stopping this latest catastrophe, I will never consider helping you a forgone conclusion." Garrett said. "Bah! Latest catatstrophe! A race of powerful and evil beings from the beginning of time are invading and destroying this city and you speak as if this were nothing more than an errand we would have you run." Orland said testily. "Look, you wanted my help and now you have it, so why don't you just get to the damn point!" Garrett retorted.

"Would that it were that simple Garrett." Orland said. "There is to be a council shortly and you must be in attendance, this matter still requires some discussion before you can be sent out."

"Discussion? What the hell is there to discuss? You said you can tell me how to end this. What more is there?" Garrett said impatiently. He was growing tired of jumping through Orland's hoops. "You will know when the council is called, until then return to your chambers and wait for someone to summon you to the council tower." Orland said and turned back to his desk, obviously indicating that the discussion was finished. This angered Garrett to no end, but then so did most of the keeper's actions. Artemis, who had remained silent and motionless during the entire discussion made a polite motion for Garrett to follow him out. Donovan approached Orland and began talking to him in hushed tones as Garrett followed Artemis out the door.

Once outside in the hallway he drew up his hood and matched pace with Artemis as he led Garrett back to his chambers. They walked in silence for some time before Garrett spoke up as they walked. "Do you believe what Orland said in there? About balance and manipulation?" For a few moments Artemis didn't answer. "I believe that it is the duty of every person to do what they can." Artemis said quietly.

Garrett bid his keeper companion a short farewell at the entrance to his chambers before slipping inside. Galen looked up from the book she was reading as he entered. She was dressed in a simple sleeping gown, her bodysuit lay in a heap next to her boots by the dresser. Her long red hair cascaded down her back and her soft beautiful features glowed in the lamp-light. "One of the keepers lent me this. She said, gesturing to the gown. "Although she didn't seem to pleased about it." Galen said non-chalantly. "How are you feeling?" Garrett asked quietly. "Fine I suppose, although she told me what happened, with the Raknesh and…" She trailed off, pointing weakly at the curtained windows masking the city beyond. Garrett said nothing. "I didn't think it would come to this. All that's happened it's….. it's my fault isn't it?" It wasn't really a question so Garrett didn't answer it. He moved to a desk and began to unlace his boots, with one foot on the chair. "The keepers are calling a council soon, they want me to attend." He told her. "Why? What's going on?" She asked, putting the book aside on the night-table and sitting furthur up in bed. "They believe that there is a way to stop this, to stop those things and they want me to do it. But, for some reason there needs to be a council first." Garrett said as he tossed his boots aside and began to undo his cloak. He was still angry at the memory of Orland's face. "Well I'm sure the keepers will know what to do." She said.

"NO!" He shouted and pounded his fist against the desk, making Galen jump. "They don't know! They don't! And it's people like you, who think that all will be taken care of as long as the keepers are in control, that let them have a free reign over us all! Over…..over me." Garrett finished his tirade weakly and then set to undoing the clasp on his cloak. For all his dexterity he couldn't seem to get the damn thing to loosen and so he pulled uselessly at it before letting out an angry sigh. Then Galen was there, beside him, her hands moving delicately between the folds of cloth. With a slight pull the clasp came loose and Garrett's cloak and hood fluttered to the floor, leaving him in his black undersuit. She began to remove the equipment strapped to him, first his sword, and then his small quiver and belt. He stood motionless as she did so, his mismatched eyes following her light movements about his body.

When all his equipment was removed she stepped back. He took her hand as she did so, and pulled her a little closer. They were almost the same height and so Garrett's eyes stared directly into hers. "Thank you." He said, holding her hand gently in his own. She stared back unblinking into his eyes and smiled slightly before shrugging her shoulders and breaking the contact as she moved to sit back down on the bed-side.

Garrett shook himself mentally and started to organize his equipment properly for easy access should he need it. "The keepers believe you can stop this?" She asked, watching him work. "I don't know what they believe but for the moment it appears that yes I am able to do something about this." Garrett said, hanging his cloak on the corner of the dresser along with his sword. "And what do you believe?" Galen said. "That I don't have a choice." Garrett replied, setting his bow and quiver on the empty chair. "So you will do this because they tell you that you must, even though you don't believe in it but simply because they have ordered it?" Galen said in a surprised tone. "I will do it because it is as much my trouble as it is their's, but other than that yes I do it because they order it. What I believe often becomes irrelevant." Garrett said, his mind sickening from all this talk of belief and alligience. "Do you trust that they are correct?" She asked. "I don't know!" He said sharply. "I don't know if I trust them, I don't know why I'm doing this! All I know is that I'm tired of questions and tired of troubles and that I wish to sleep." Galen's eyes blazed at him. "I am not a keeper and I am not your enemy. The Raknesh may be my fault but the true cause of your anger is not their presence and therefore not my fault." Garrett glared back at her defiant eyes for a moment before dropping his gaze. "I apologize Galen, you're right. But I am tired and right now all I wish is sleep." He pulled the black shirt over his head, revealing the lean and corded muscles on his chest and arms, before tossing the garment over the chair. As he turned back around he noticed Galen's lingering gaze upon him. She quickly shifted her eyes to his face however. He was about to lay down when the lack of a second bed dawned on him. "I'll sleep there." He said pointing to the small window seat below the heavy curtains. He snatched his cloak from the dresser and fit himself into the small space as best he could, wrapping the black material about himself and laying his head upon one of the small cushions of the seat. Galen seemed fairly quiet at this but lay back into her bed all the same and turned out the lamp. Garrett drifted into his typical light sleep within moments.

Galen's thrashings awoke Garrett after about a half hour of sleep. He started awake in the darkness of the room to see Galen snatching and hitting at the air, writhing about in her sheets and moaning loudly. He lightly rolled out of the space and moved to the bed side.

"No…. no no no no no no no no no no…."

"It wasn't me, no no no no no"

"I'm sorry (sob) please don't….. no…. no no no no no no"

"Stay away! (sob) I don't want to see!"

"NO!"

Garrett grabbed her thrashing arms and pinned them gently but firmly to the bed. He leaned in to hold her still but she was thrashing hard and close to screaming. Without thinking he brought his lips to hers and kissed her firmly. Her eyes started open and she thrashed for a moment more but more out of surprise than terror.

Garrett pulled back quickly and released her. She stared at him in the darkness though she could not see his face. "You were having a nightmare…. I uh….. I couldn't really calm you down so I….. I apologize." He said sheepishly. "It was about the tomb above the Raknesh cave, that voice in my head, it was threatening me; telling me terrible things about what it was going to do all…. In the voice of a child." Galen trembled slightly but she seemed quite calm. "Please… please…. Stay with me." She implored him. There was silence for a time. "Alright." He said, and slipped quietly into bed.

She wrapped her arms about him and pulled close. He could feel the heat of her body through the soft material of the gown, smell the richness of her flowing red hair as it brushed lightly against his face. He put his protective arms around her in return. She looked up into his face and then kissed him with the intensity of every look she had ever given him. As they broke she whispered to him: "You have protected me, saved me, and despite all I have done cared for me and I for you. I love you Garrett." He pulled her close this time, welcoming the feel of her full red lips. He ran a hand through her red mane and down her back to her waist, holding her to him. Feeling stirred within him as her tongue roamed about the inside of his mouth. He was unskilled at such action, but the raw feeling was there to guide him. Slowly and gently he tugged at the sleeping gown and she at the pants of his undersuit, until they both lay unclothed in each others arms. They each reveled in the feeling of the other, he the warm smoothness of Galen's skin and she the hard and lean muscle of Garrett's body.

They coupled there, in the cold of the keeper vaults, the city burning about them and a different type of fire blazing within them. At the climax Galen cried out in pleasure that seemed to last an age, and Garrett did as well for what had passed between them. Exhaustion took them then and they fell into a deep and pleasured sleep in each others arms such that neither had known in all the years of their life.

The hard rap on the door was a cruel awakening for Garrett. About him was the clean white linen of the bed, Galen lay asleep in his arms, the sound and feel of her breathing was upon him. He smiled and slipped out of her embrace without disturbance, an easy task for one of his skills. Quickly he pulled on his undersuit pants and went to the door, opening it a crack.

A sliver of light stabbed into the dark room through the opening as keeper Julius leaned in. "The council is assembled Be-…..Garrett. You must come with me." Julius said, holding the lamp aloft in his hands. "Ok wait here." Garrett told him and shut the door before he could protest. He turned back into the room and dressed quickly, pulling on his shirt and belt and strapping his sword across his back so that the handle jutted above one shoulder. As he swirled his cloak about his shoulders Galen came quietly awake. She sat up in bed, holding a sheet across her chest to cover her nakedness and keep off the chill. Her red hair was in disarray but that only seemed to increase her beauty. "It is time then." She said. Garrett nodded as he fastened the clasps on his cloak. She stood up from the bed and pulled the sheet up around her body before coming in close to Garrett. "Please, I don't want to lose you, to lose this." She said.

He looked into her eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time. I am not who I once was. She has changed me and I don't know….I don't know if I want it or not. I mean I think I do but…

Unable to come up with a response he leaned in and kissed her tightly. "You won't lose me." He said as they broke apart. This is not who I am…. But I don't care, I've lived too long in the embrace of the shadow. I now have a greater prize than can be taken…

He made one last check of his clothes and then went to the door, pulling up his hood in the process. As he reached for the handle those feelings that had swept through him in this room were snuffed out for the time being. He was Garrett, master thief, once more as that handle turned.

"What will you have to do?" Galen called out, he face worried but still with the shades of pleasure that had been there. Garrett thought about this question for a moment. "What I can." He said and then that door was open.