"There should be somewhere more comfortable to sit at least, if you'd like."

She nods. "Lead on."

Through one of the side exits to the arena is a small sitting room. Elana takes a seat on one of the chairs, legs crossed.

Lace sits nearby. "So what was that all about?"

"That," she sighs, "was my mother attempting to remove me from the gameboard, now that I have served her purpose. It is a long story." She unhooks the long cylindrical case she's carrying on her back and lays it to the side so she can lean back.

She makes a face. "Unpleasant. Do you think she's gonna try again soon?"

"That depends if my father gets to her first. Which he has motive to do; she stole the first Elder Scroll from him."

"I don't know what an Elder Scroll is."

Shrug. "No one does, really. Personally, I like the theory that they're fragment of Time, drifting in the wake of the cataclysm at the end of the world. If you read one, it will show you the past, or the present, or the future. Or it will just make you go blind."

Snort. "Sounds like a fun time."

"Quite. One reading that has been very popular named this year the 'Year of Sun's Death'."

"Sounds ominous... Do you know why?"

"No, but... The light of the sun is toxic to vampires. It burns us. So my father reacted with more joy than most to the news of Sun's Death. He went so far as to obtain his own Scroll in order to investigate further. In his reading, he found a ritual that will- taint the sun. Stop it from harming us and allow us to harness its power. He believes that enacting this ritual is what the prophecy refers to."

She nods. "Do you want him to enact that ritual?"

"It requires the blood of a Daughter of Coldharbour. The only two of which in existence are my mother and myself. So no."

"Eesh."

"Well, I don't mind helping you... And I guess it's time for me to explain myself more, too."

"That would be nice."

Nod.

"So - there's multiple universes, and they're all pretty different from each other. I'm not very mobile, so I've mostly been to my own, with a few trips to others." Mostly if Acererak got in the mood for an exotic locale. "One big thing is people - kind of repeat across worlds? Their - basic shape of person, their soul, in some ways their life stories."

"And you... recognized me?"

"Yeah. I've only met one of your alts and one of mine, though I've heard of others. Your alt looks like you, so it was a pretty easy leap."

"I see."

"I'm motivated to help you because of that in part - but also because you're interesting and pretty and this world has cool magic which you seem to know stuff about and you fight well."

"At least I am a good character reference for myself."

Heeee. "An excellent one."

"I will try to live up to your expectations, then."