It had been two days since he had received the letter from Rethelia.  Two days he had been traveling as swiftly as possible back to Stormwind from his latest academic venture.  The letter seemed urgent to him, and as such his ancient mind made all sorts of presumptions on the situation ranging from diabolic to just plain strange.  And as he arrived in Stormwind, he immidiatly headed for the Old Town tavern, The Pig & Whistle.  He neglected to tell her where we were meeting intentionally.  Though he did leave the hint of a trail, thanks in no small part to his currently employed succubus, Jhorlith.  Much like himself, the demon was very much unlike the rest of her kind and her skills in subtle fel manipulation was something to be admired.
As he sat at a table upstairs in wait, he felt a familiar presence edge at his mind nearby.  Straightening up in his seat, he glanced over at the stairs in time to see Ms. Fallowtide, looking a bit more worn and tattered at the edges than normal.  But the smile on her face edged a bit of the concern, but he wasn't sold that everything was fine as of yet.  "Please, take a seat." he said, indicating specificly the only empty seat at the table.  She sat down with a nod, turning to Keido, studying him.  "I trust you've been well."  He folded his hands before him, resting them on the table.  "Well enough," he said.  "Though, your letter seemed rather urgent."  She paused only for a short moment.  "Not... urgent, not temporally anyway."  He nodded his head, his expression easing and softening as more concern was lifted from him.  "I'm not sure how to explain it concisely, but I have been offered a choice, is a sence."  He raised his head back up, watching her closely as the concern began to build anew. 
"You know of my old association with the Countess Paxineau, correct?  Paxineau Cheraville?"  He sat just slightly more straighter, remembering well the stories he had heard, though there was no reason to let her know right now.  "I can recall a few things you've told me, but normally you don't like to discuss such things."  'After all, we all have things we would rather not revisit.' he thought to himself.  She laughed at that, a bit of that light smile returning.  "No.  No I don't."  She paused again, as if gathering her thoughts and he sat there patiently.  Finally she spoke again.  "I have recently come into the possession... a loan really, of her old books."  At this, Keido raised his eyebrows.  "I want to destroy them, to put it frankly.  They are not books that should be in circulation."  And already the gears were spinning, processing the information and seeking viable solutions.  "Understandable." he said.  "Though, have you given it alot of thought, this action?"  She only nodded.  "I have.  I am still thinking, for there is a catch."  She paused again, seemingly considering her words carefully.  "The owner that has lent them to me is a very powerful warlock, both politically and... well..."  She shook her head, leaving it unfinished as she seemed to lose her words.  He only gave a half sounded 'Ah' as he looked down at his hands, noting a slight twitch in them.  She finally found her words again and put them to use once more.  "I do not enjoy making enemies, but I feel like I have a... responcibility to dispose of the tome."  
Finally, some of the gears clicked into place in the mind of Keido.  "There is a solution, you know?  It wouldn't be incredibly impossible for these tomes to be mistaken as Academy property.  And then be accidently destroyed, of course."  He couldn't help giving the slightest twinge of a smile at this thought, at which Rethelia only nodded.  "And she may not ask for them back... not with any kind of speed.  But I imagine she would see through this."  He continued to look at his hands as they steadied.  "Not if another disposes of them."  He looked up from his hands at Rethelia again as she gave him an odd look.  "You really think she would not see my hand in it?"  He only shrugged slightly.  "Maybe.  Maybe not.  After all, I am just a clumsy old man, prone to all sorts of mistakes."  Finally, a bit more of her smile came out.  "And the danger to yourself?"  He had already made the mental calculations and dismissed the issue before it was brought up, and declaired as such by pretending to swat the issue away.  "I'm old.  Most of my life has been long over.  Any danger to myself is minimal compared to anyone else."  She stood a bit stiffer this time.  "I don't accept that answer at all."  He gave a slight nod. "I wouldn't have expected you to.  But, it is a solution."  She furrowed her brow and he could practicly see her try to find an alternate solution.  He closed his eyes and continued to talk.  "My only obligation is the continued welfare of the Future.  And I am not a part of that Future.  I am only it's Past.  The base upon which it can be built."  Rethelia shook her head, seeking to disuade the old man.  "We are all artifacts of the past-  tools that will need to be set aside in time."  She paused for a moment again, but continued on before he could.  "When the Legion is defeated, there must not be any of us left.  But this is beyond the scope of what I need to do next."  
Keido gave a nod of his head.  "True.  But then again, the knowledge and wisedom that our kind has gathered should not be lost to time.  The latter more so than the former.  Otherwise it would be short work to reform another Legion."  Rethelia only nodded.  "And, there is also the matter than you admitably have a longer shelf life than I do, currently.  I do not hold any pause to putting myself in danger is it ensures the continuity of others."  She turned to look at him.  "Even if that were true, I am not certain whether to hide behind a lie, to try and decieve this woman, or to state to her clearly, 'I have destroyed these books.'  I feel it is for the best.  She may think me more powerful than I am if I am bold."  She rubbed her eyes, suddenly appearing much more worn than previously.  "I could just take the tomes by force and destroy them myself.  The reason the Legion still exists is simply a matter of number.  A fact and example we could learn from.  In numbers we are stronger than anyone is singular."  He opened his eyes then, looking evenly at her as she set her hands in her lap.  "This is... true.  But danger to you is danger to your Academy.  And I believe in true teaching more than the falsehood in these books.... well, more than I hate the falsehood, I shoudl say."  Already, another matter he dismissed outright with a wave of his hand.  "Nonesence.  The need of the Academy is stronger than most are wanting to admit.  Another will assume my mantle if something were to befall me."  She only frowned.  "Since when did you think so little of yourself?"  He only smiled.  "That's just the thing.  I don't.  I just hold high hopes for others.  And besides, the things I've lived through until now, do you really think that this would be the greatest danger I've faced?"  And now, she smiled.  "No, but perhaps you have forgotten how to deal with the more mundane troubles of this place.  A man can be struck down by a wolf as well as a dragon, neh?"  She paused again, the smile wavering.  "And this wolf scares me."  He gave a slight chuckle, trying to bring that portion of a smile back.  "Politics.  Though, even then, I know how to hold my own.  I have a few Aces in my sleeve at all times." 
She paused for a moment, once again organizing her thoughts.  "She did not threaten, but she did allude to accusations of improper magic.  I'm not sure how well I would stand in such a trial."  His own smile faded a bit, recalling only too well the Warlock Hunts of the past.  "Aye, accusations are hefty things anymore.  Though, would not the tomes you have implicate you, if nto her as well?"  She gave a slight shake of her head.  "The tomes would be destroyed by then, but I have others.  If she wished to retaliate."  But he would not relent. "Even if they go missing and she seeks recompence, that will imply that she herself owned them and gives the accusation of her misusing magic merit."  Once again, the slight shaking of her head.  "Oh no.  She is too clever for that.  She would not seek legal action against those books."  He couldn't help a bit of his own fashion of humor then.  "Then there is no worry over destroying them, at least legally."  And though he jested, the plans were already running their courses through his mind.  "Look at me Rethelia.  Tell me what you see."  She turned her head slightly, studying the old man.  After a long pause she finally answers.  "I see a friend."  He nodded.  "And what do you think this Countess Paxineau will see?"  She paused again, but only shortly.  "It is not the Countess herself... the Countess is dead... after a fashion."  Already gears grinded to a halt as new information was processed.  And somewhere in the back of his mind, he noted that even he himself had died, after a fashion, and yet here he was now.  "It is her last student.  A Lady Belmilia Howell.  I cannot guess what she will see in you."  He raised his brow again.  "I see, but that aside, to most I am simply an old man barely tainted with a hint of the fel.  This is an appearance I work very hard to maintain for many reasons."  She gave a nod, but still pushed the issue.  "This may rest in your favor, but I don't like the idea of you taking on the danger of my mistakes." 
At this, he smiled, almost wanting to laugh.  "It is nothing to me.  The returning of past favores."  She blinked at him.  "What favors have I done for you?"  And again, he continued to smile.  "Whatever they were, I doubt they measure to this."  He paused and gave a slight nod.  "You gave an old man hope for the Future.  That alone is enough."  And now, she gave a hint of a smile.  "You never lost that hope.  Not truely.  I don't belive it."  "It is still there." he said.  "A flame to light the path.  Which is why I would gladly aid you in this matter in whatever fashion I can."  She nodded.  "All right.  I will think on this some more.  Mostly likely destroy these books... and when she asks for them again- that is when it will matter."  He gives her a reassuring nod.  "Thank you... for hearing this ramble.  I have been debating it too long."  "Well, when that occures, I will attempt to be nearby."  He unfolded his hands and continued.  "I'll cancel my trips and attempt to remain locally for the time being."  He then gave Rethelia the warmest smile he could.  "And that's what the old is there for.  To hear out the young."  She gave him a laugh in turn.  "And who do the old speak to?"  He couldn't help but glance at the succubus that had just walked up the stairs.  Jhorlith has interesting timing, though she had left her post outside the tavern for a reason.  'I'll have to talk with her after this...'  His gaze lingered for only a moment on the demon.  "We make do."  Rethelia raised her brow at him and the demon.  "Poor company, if you ask me."  He could feel the demons sharp-tongued retort building.  So he responded before she could.  "Oh, she is better company than most.  Makes an excellent tea.  And like myself, has a certain level of deception to maintain, if for no other reason than appearance sake.  Besides, whan have you ever known me to take up normal company?"  Rethelia looked at her hands.  "The demons I call only speak in the same riddles and answer the same questions.  They see me differently now, but it is... wearying.  But, that is another matter all together.  I have taken enough of your time."  She looked back at him, finally returning the heart warming smile as he gave a chuckle in turn.  "If you have, I've not noticed."  She stood up, smoothing out her robes.  "I... I need to go, in any case.  But perhaps- we still need to catch up."  He nodded to her.  "It's refreshing to talk with others, especially a dear friend.  And aye, there are more stories I've yet to tell you."  They smiled at one another.  "I would very much like to hear them... but not tonight."  He senced the note of urgency, but left his concern out of his expression.  "Take care of yourself, Ms. Fallowtide.  And do not hesitate to contact me if you ever need me."  She inclined her head.  "Stars keep you, Keido.  And please, you do the same."  And with that, she left.  Finally, the concern made it's way to his expression as he gave a sigh, turning back to Jhorlith.  "Todays youth... the trouble they get into.  Time moves on and things never change."  He straightened up again as the succubus took the seat Rethelia had just been sitting in.  "Now, what is so important?"