In reply to Ila (msg # 151):

"Why do you believe Nelek isn't Nelek?" Aalyssa asked softly.

"I saw who he really is, he changed after he drank a potion." Ila said. "The real Nelek is on an island, I saw him too. And there's another man who was pretending to be Nelek before this one, they're friends and aren't human. When they're in the water they have tails and don't need air to breath."

In reply to Difyr Bateman (msg # 152):

"I hope so as well. They've probably moved out of the area now. But I don't think I will be the one catching them." Shawn winced and sighed. "I think I'm too old for guard duty now."

"Hopefully all these men can keep us protected and still capture those raiders." Difyr said. She did not say it, but thought it was time for Shawn to retire.

"Wulfsen will more than likely send a message to the King for more men. At least the keep should be easy for them to defend, with the wall around it and everything," Shawn replied. "I'm sure Uncle James will be very disappointed that I want to retire but I...I just can't do it any longer. And my focus needs to be on my daughters now."

In reply to Ila (msg # 154):

Being an elf, Aalyssa was more open to reports of magical creatures than humans would be. "Like mermaids?" She hadn't been aware they could shapeshift but then she'd never encountered one before. "And how is that they make themselves look like Nelek?"

In reply to Aalyssa (msg # 158):

"I guess.... They drank a potion, I think they use Nelek's hair to make it." Ila said. "Nelek said they were friends of his wife's first husband."

Ahh. Something I can hopefull use as a test. "Do you remember them saying his name?"

In reply to Shawn Spenser (msg # 157):

"You were wounded- not for the first time either." Difyr said. "I think you earned retirement."

In reply to Aalyssa (msg # 160):

Ila closed her eyes. "Nelek said he was a king... he called him Tabor." Ila opened her eyes and looked at Aalyssa.

In reply to Difyr Bateman (msg # 161):

"I had actually been thinking about it for some time, since the first injury," Shawn replied. "I know I never really got back to where I should be and was relying on my walking stick more and more."

In reply to Ila (msg # 162):

Aalyssa's eyes rounded and she rocked back on her heels. "Tabor." Oh she remembered him all too well, though she didn't remember him changing his looks to look like someone else. Still, many years had gone by and he certainly could have found something magical to use. "Thank you, Ila."

"Can you help Nelek?" Ila asked. "I told his wife, Aislyn, but she did not believe me. I told Xavier but I don't know if he believed me either, he left and hasn't been back."

"I will speak with them. I'm an elf so I understand more about magical beings than humans do."  Aalyssa gave Ila a gentle smile. "You must admit that to one who is not familiar with magic, the tale does sound far-fetched."

In reply to Shawn Spenser (msg # 163):

Difyr frowned. "It does not look like Aalyssa is calming Ila down."

In reply to Aalyssa (msg # 166):

"I thought I was going crazy." Ila admitted. "I'm glad they caught Mazi, he was even crueler than the other one."

In reply to Difyr Bateman (msg # 167):

"Sometimes you have to upset someone to get to the truth." He glanced over. "It appears Aalyssa may believe her so that should soothe her."

In reply to Ila (msg # 168):

"No, you weren't going crazy. You were just witnessing something you didn't understand."

In reply to Shawn Spenser (msg # 169):

"But what the girl was saying was crazy." Difyr said. "In the long run humoring delusions does more harm than good."

In reply to Aalyssa (msg # 170):

"The sooner Aislyn knows, the better." Ila said. "Nelek was worried about his children too."

In reply to Difyr Bateman (msg # 171):

"True. I suppose it all depends on Aalyssa's thoughts on what the girl told her."

In reply to Ila (msg # 172):

"Unfortunately he has reason to be worried about them after today," Aalyssa said sadly. "I will speak with Aislyn and Xavier, as soon as I figure out who he is." She gently touched Ila's shoulder. "Now you get some rest."

In reply to Aalyssa (msg # 174):

Ila obediently curled up on her side and closed her eyes.

In reply to Shawn Spenser (msg # 173):

"You think it could be true?" Difyr asked Shawn.

Shawn looked Difyr in the eyes. "Look at the things Galina has done. We have seen some very strange things over the years, Difyr." He shrugged. "Why not someone who can make himself look like Nelek." He glanced over at Ila again. "She looks relaxed now, which  tells me Aalyssa must have believed at least some portion of the story."