The Head of Commander Haalien

Axilla Interstellar came again to Valanaar on Zephras Isle, and there Winterland, a hunter like herself, took the road beside her; and he would walk with her through most of what followed. Her first errand was the one called "Bugged," and she saw it through: eight Enchanted Skyhoppers fell to her arrows. With that she came into the strength of her tenth level, and a picture was taken to mark it. Chuleta, a druid, kept company with her for a short while in Valanaar. In that brief fellowship she heard the words of the Grand Skyseer and listened to Ayessa, and so "A Grand Adventure" was ended. She went then to Riaani Nightwind concerning "The Broken Construct."

Then she went out into the Gustberry Lowlands, where Bandit Highwaymen and Ornery Galestriders stood against her, and down into the Shriekling Den. She passed on into the Shen'dar Highlands and to Windsong Lake, and there she gathered the meat of the Windsong Crawlers for "Crab Season." In the Shen'dar Highlands she took up the hunting of the Al'Aketh Assassins, and Fiasko, a druid, and Evil, a rogue, joined her for that task. Ten assassins fell before the errand was done, and Evil went his way soon after. Fiasko walked back with her to Valanaar before they parted. There she completed "Taming the Beast" more than once, and in the Lowlands she slew a Vuldren Alpha. Returning, she was given "Training the Beast," and she came into her eleventh level. After that she went down once more into the Shriekling Den. There she took the Crystallized lightning from the Shriekling Cave, and the Shriekling Matriarch fell.

Beyond the Shrine of Akir lay the Shadowgale Forest, and it was a hard country to her; she fell there more than once before the way was won. Yet she did not turn aside. She completed "Unnerving Silence," and she gathered Lady's Tear Moss for "Tears of the Lady." Winterland came to her side again, and together they took twenty Pristine Shriekling Feathers for "Feathers for Binding," while many pictures were taken among the trees. In the Ruins of Ban'aethal she drew the essence from the Wind Hollows for "Unwelcome Spirits." There Winterland at last parted from her, and Powdur, another hunter, took up the road and stayed with her to the end. Among the ruins she gathered Abandoned Belongings for the refugees and found Resaan's Heirloom.

Then Axilla turned upon the Al'Aketh themselves, their Stormchasers and Footsoldiers. By Nightclaw Cavern she recovered the Bloody Heirlooms, and she struck down Commander Haalien and bore away his severed head for "The Ties That Bind." She gathered the ears of the Al'Aketh cultists, for mercy had fallen on deaf ears, and she read the Ripped Missive. In the midst of that work she came into her twelfth level. Within Nightclaw Cavern she found Jorel Windsinger and healed seven injured druids, and so "The Wounds of Betrayal" was ended. From there she went on to Shen'dar Village, with "The Fate of the Den" still in her keeping and the road still running on before her.

Also seen that night