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Realizing that in all the confusion and commotion they had forgotten to check him, Ishtar and Duzell had planned on returning to La Naan to see if Seiliez might be Phelios. However, through an unexpected twist of fate (or some would say misuse of fate) they end up North, in the kingdom of Ci Xeneth. Ci Xeneth is the domain of Lord Jened, Ishtar's uncle, an evil, murderous man with an obsession for Ruelles and a burning desire to gain the throne of Pheliosta. Deciding to make the best of the situation, Ishtar and Duzell decide to postpone their return trip to La Naan until they've had a chance to determine if either Jened or his daughter Falan is carrying the soul of Phelios. Wishing to avoid discovery by Ishtar's twisted uncle, the pair gain access to the castle by befriending Jened's knights, and convincing them that they are actually two siblings named Ishta and Du. llsaide, their captain, seems particularly taken with Du, and after Ishta casually informs him that Du is her sister--and available--asks the increasingly frustrated Duzell to be his girl. Reluctantly, Duzell decides to play along, knowing that this will get him closer to Jened and Falan. As Duzell contends with an amorous Illsaide, Ishtar is confronted by Diaage, Jened's High Sorcerer. Diaage is not to be trusted, but he does reveal the dark secret behind the creation of Ruelles, and the reason her uncle keeps a collection of vicious monsters in his dungeon. What he doesn't reveal to Ishtar, however, is that he knows her real identity and mistakenly believes she is the reincarnation of Phelios. What he intends to do with this information is a mystery, and one that may be revealed as the castle is attacked by a powerful monster and an unexpected visitor, Prince Vord, shows up looking for Princess Ishtar. In the bonus comic, "The Sun and the Moon," learn about Darres' background, and the path to his position as Ishtar's personal bodyguard.
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