Richard looked around the shop. He had managed to slavage most of the antiques and mystical objects from the wreakahge of his old shop and now his ome had been rebuilt , he was actually very happy with the results . This time , he had added touches to his own .Defences far more powerful than the old shop had been given . But he had lost his orb . It was a beutiful thing made of Emerald and etched with the most powerful of runes . He had found it ages ago and didnt want to lose it . Where had he bloody put it . He got a bit wound up and was on the verge of losing his temper when he finally spotted it under the desk . Picking it up he placed it upon the counter and starred into it for what seemed like hours . As he did so , his head was filled with images , memroies of the how he had discovered the orb and the beautiful lady he had met during that adventure . Finally he looked up and noticed the time . Putting the orb in a safe and secure place , he locked up and went up stairs . As he enterted the lounge he cast a spell amd vanished

Moments later he reapered in an ally next to the Emerald dragon Chinese restuarent , were an old freind waited for him .

As it tunred midnight Richard returned home , only to find a stanger on his doorstep. She was badly wounded and covered in dust and blood. Richard recongnised what she was instantly and took her inside . Richard removed her robes and set about cleaning and healing her wounds . After about an hour he was satisfied she would live . He spend the next hour casting other spells , making sure she wasnt bugged or poisoned . Finally he sat in his chair and waited for her to revive .

While he waited the phone rang and Richard got the news about the elven city .

As the new day dawned the Elf roused from her sleep. She looked round at the bed she was in and her unclothed condition . " i apologise my lady " richard said entering the bedroom with a cup of tea and some crumpets " but you were badly injured and i needed to tend your wound s. " . He gave her the tray with breakfast on . " i apologise but human food is all i have ". The elf Smiled . taking the breakfast tray . " thank you " she said , eating the crumpets . Richard sat in his chair . " i am sorry but it looks like most of your people in the city were killed ".

The elf finished her food, tears in her emerald green eyes . Richard was at a loss as to what to say. It had been many years ago that he had last had to comfort some one for a loss . So he just sat there and waited for the elf to speak . " im sorry " she apologised, wiping away the tears " im on your house eating your food and ive not even introduced my self ". She looked at Richard . " i am Alyia Silvazian of House Silveazian and i came to you becouse it is chronicled in the house records that you once helped us many years ago ." Richard stood up . " we humans dont live as long as you my lady , it must have been a ancestor ". Alyia looked at Richard ." your house sir is still linked to mine through honour and blood and i would call upon that now . I need to reach the land you humans call ireland and with what has happened the portals are no longer active . That means i must travel the old fashioned way " . Richard hated it when people called honour into it . Thats why he rarely made oaths . becouse some bastard would always bring it up when it was inconveniant . " very well i will see what i can do "

A day later Richard and Alyia sat on a plane to Dublin . Richard wasnt about to endanger innocents and so he had booked a private jet through an old freind . However as they neared the Irish Coast , this turned out to be a very bad decision . Richards old freind , George Barns who was also their polot came walking into the passanger area . Richard was about to ask what was up when he pulled a gun. " I trusted you richard " he spat " but now i know the truth . You brought one of them on my plane , a stinking filthy elf and you" . George fired the gun , hitting Richard in the chest and knocking him out of his seat . " filthy sorcerer " he spat , shooting Richard again and again . He then turned to Alyia. " and you , you pointed eared freak are gonna die too "Alyia Smiled and stood up. " i think not human " she said .

Richard sat up to find himself on a beach , Alyia sitting next to him . A little way out in the water was the burnt remains of the aircraft . " what happened " he asked " wheres George". Alyia pointed to a shredded body laying in the surf ." come we must go before the authorities arrive" she said grabbing Richards hands . As they moved away from the beach , bullets tore up the ground around them. Richard looked round and swore . Coming towards them was two men dressed in combat armour . They fired again and Richard felt a bullet hit his leg . " damn it" he shouted and pulled a gun of his own . He fired at the men, not really aiming , just hoping to give him and Alyia time to reach the trees and cover . Alyia sprinted forward and reached the forest a Fraction ahead of Richard . Once inside the woodland , Richard begain to cast a spell. A magic energy feild came into being around Alyia. " run " he said " ill distract them . Alyia kissed him , then bolted for the deeper wood . Richard waited until the two men entered the forest , then he lept up and fired . The first man flew backwards as the explosive charge in the bullet tore through his chest armour. His companion opened fire in retaliation and narrowly missed Richard who ducked back behind the tree. Rummaging through his pockets , Richard picked out a small green ball and threw it as hard as he could . It struck its target on the face plate and expanded , becoming a huge bal, of vicouse slime that engulfed the man complelty . Richard stood up . " That substance is an explosive compound developed By the secret service . it is totally stable until an electrical current is passed through it . You may thinkyour safe in the woods , however this is a taser " The man struggled but could not escape . Richared smiled as the two electric darts fired and the mans world ended in a ball of flame . He then turned to the other one , who was struggling to get up. " I see your still not dead " Richard said kicking him in the chest . " but your armours buggered . i mean look at this big hole right here " . Richard pocked the mans chest with his gun . " im guessing your some how connected to the knights , what with my ex freinds rant on the plane and im also guessing you wont tell me anything " The man nodded . " You will die for corrupting mankind" he shouted , then fell back as Richard licked him in the chest . " just so you know as soon as you die , this " and he placed a small emerald on the mans bare chest , " will absorb your soul and i will get to torment it forever ". The man screamed and tried to move but Richard kept his boot on the mans chest . " now my freind you die" and he fired his gun , emptying it into the knight . Picking up the gem he tunred and walked way , suprised to see Alyia standing there . " did you really take his soul" she asked , shaking slightly ." no " Richard replied " i just wanted him to die thinking he would be my eternal slave . its the small things that make life worthwhile " .

By sunset they had reached a small cave . " this is it "Alyia said " a gateway to the other world . Humans are not allowed here " Alyia looked at Richard , then takingh is hand , they entered the Otherworld

A few days later Richard returned home , appearing in his living room energised and happy . Then he read his mail and watched the news . Saw that the palladin was been blamed for terrorists activity and discovered Bennet had been arrested . He made some calls and checked with important people . Luckily it seemed he was safe for now . But with the Knights of purity you never could tell.