Zurina composed herself. She agreed with Lady Vinara. She was doing nothing but wasting time.

"I think we also can't afford that we don't trust each other" Alira said dryly. "I haven't killed anyone except some dirty thieves some minutes ago, and I did that to be able to save the guild. I didn't come here for protection, I became a vampire after I had joined the guild. I never needed the protection of the guild. And as for me not being able to love... " Alira looked away. "Maybe I'm not, but..." She shook her head. Her new feelings had nothing to do with this fight. Or had they? The vampire looked up, into Zurina's eyes. "I can assure you that there are feelings. Anyway, this has nothing to do with the werewolves, we should go." Her voice trailed way, a bitter sound in it.

"Enough" said Lorlyn iceingly (sorry about spelling) "We're done here. We've wasted enough time with you two fighting. Alira your both strong willed. If you want to fight save it for when the guild is ours again. We will decide with you then. It's up to me and the higher magician's what happens to your position with you being a vampire. You might lose it." Lorlyn turned to Charen. "How much of the warrior skills have you learned? enough to be effective without a vampire bite? I know Vinera knows alot. At the very least can you hold a strong effective shield" asked Lorlyn, her voice still stern.

Alira stared at Lorlyn in disbelief. However, she understood the Administrator's decision. A vampire among the Higher Magicians was a ridiculous thing to allow. The only way of staying in her position was proving that she was trustworthy. She nodded at Lorlyn, then turned her head to Zurina who still didn't seem to be satisfied with her answer. But this had to wait until the danger was banned. In the corner of her eye, she saw Charen look questioningly at her and turned her head. "You can hold strong shields, and your strikes aren't bad either, but you don't know much about tactics." Looking at Lorlyn, she continued. "As a vampire, she would be more useful, but I won't transform her without your OK, Lorlyn and Zurina." Her eyes were cold. This shouldn't be their decision, but Charen's own. However, if she bit someone without their permission, Lorlyn and Zurina would already have one more reason not to trust her.

Charen looked shocked at Alira. How could she let Zurina and Lorlyn decide about her life? "But it is my decision!" She looked at Alira pleadingly.

having charen shielding would leave you and vinera open to attack and let you worry about fighting tactics. Not even becoming a vampire would help. It's a skill that has to be learned.

Alira nodded, though she didn't like this answer. Lorlyn had neither said yes nor no. She gave Charen a conciliating glance. Now she waited for Zurina to answer.

"I agree, having another vampire wouldn't help. We should go through the secret passage. It seems as though they aren't in my office. If they are, we can attack before they know we are there. We have the element of surprise in our favour at least." Zurina said in a nicer tone than she had spoken in earlier.

Akala shuddered. He was scared witless by the discussion between the magicians. But he knew he must steel himself, as they all must, for the fight ahead. 'To the passages, then?', he swallowed the words. 'Lead on, Lady Zurina'

Lorlyn nodded and followed Zurina and Akala. "Perhaps Alira, Vinera, Charen you should stick with us afterall. The more the better." Lorlyn stepped into the passage and shuddered at the smell once again. Picking up speed she followed Zurina though the twists and turns of the thrieves tunnels.

Alira cursed under her breath. First, they didn't allow her to recruit a new vampire, second, Lorlyn didn't like her strategy... if it hadn't been for the guild, she would have turned on the attacker's side now. "So, what do we do then?" Charen walked next to her and had a look on her face like Alira felt. Angry, a little disappointed, but most of all, hungry. Alira definitely had to drink more blood to go through this, she hadn't drunken for a too long time before this evening, and though she had had a good meal about an hour ago, she already felt hungry again.

Lorlyn tugs Akala's arm and pulls him further back, letting Charen, Vinara and Alira pass them. "Before we go up you need to know how to do a shield. I'd feel better knowing you know how. All you have to do is focus your energy around you. Imagine a wall surrounding you, but one you can see though."

*Akala nods, understanding Lorlyn instructions* 'Thank you my Lady, I will try.' *Akala thinks about what Lorlyn said, just for a moment, before attempting to focus his will. He had thought about doing it before, but had never attempted He tried...physically and mentally straining...but nothing happened. Akala turned to Lady Lorlyn*

seeing that akala was having trouble, lorlyn tried to explain it another way. "relax. feel your energy around you. then take more energy to put around you in it's place and push it out."

*Akala nodded. He relaxed inwardly, causing his body to relax. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his energy, feeling its flow, in and out. He envisaged his energy outside of his body, and attempted to harness it...He smiled, thinking he was making some progress*