The blue stone of the City of Bones blended into the sky above, yet it was as red as any other Amaratese city. Cadaoir was orange and yellow, painted by the desert that he had left behind. He had travelled for days and days, up until a caravan train came and offered transport. He agreed, reducing his travel time considerably.


    The Monk had taken a break from the game for several days to conduct business on the outside. He had visited lost friends and lost teachers, an attempt to rekindle relationships and open doors once closed behind him. It was not as much a pleasant experience as he had hoped, reuniting with the martial arts he had scorned long ago. With careful diplomacy some doors were opened to him again, but the whole experience had left the man still in doubt. He no longer knew what the path he was meant to walk was. All he knew was that his most reliable comfort, right now, was behind a pair of goggles hooked up to a computer system in his home.


    When Cadaoir returned to The Law of War, spawning on the empty road to the City of Bones, he continued his journey to visit Autumn, the Spirit Island''s contact in the south of Amaratsu. Her place of work was on the southern side of the city, a hive of trading businesses and storage facilities. Cadaoir left tall blue buildings and shadowed streets behind him as the city opened up to low laying storage units and wide paved lanes, where horses pulling crate filled carts trotted from one destination to another. It was at the centre of this district that Cadaoir found a small square building with a blue hip roof. The building had no windows, only large wooden double doors at its front. They were ajar, so Cadaoir entered.


    ''Hello?'' Cadaoir could see nothing for the darkness inside. ''Is anyone here?'' His voice echoed loudly off the stone walls.


    A yellow light appeared in the distance, moving across his line of sight, vanishing and then reappearing from behind objects hidden in the shadows. Eventually it came towards him directly, illuminating long rows of shelving that ran from each end of the building. ''Who is it?'' A woman''s voice called, deep and raw, indicative of someone who worked amongst dust and dirt.


    ''Cadaoir.''


    ''Cadaoir!'' The voice cheered as the light approached rapidly.


    ''Is that you, Autumn?'' He peered at the candlelight.


    ''Yeah it is. Open the doors will you, let some light in.''


    The Monk pushed the doors outward, narrowly missing a man walking by as they slammed into the outside walls. He gave Cadaoir a disapproving look, but did not stand around to complain. The daylight flooded into the storage building and Autumn could be seen properly.


    She was a Blacksmith, one of the two final classes on the Trader Job Progression. Her clothing was dirty grey with other black and yellow stains covering the knees and elbows. A tool belt hung on her waist and slunk to one side, mirroring her greying hair that fell to the side lazily. She was a hard working woman and not afraid to show it. ''Where the hell have you been?'' She blew out the candle in her hand.


    ''I''m sorry I could not keep in contact, I ran into difficulties at Chira.'' Cadaoir bowed in apology.


    ''A raid, I heard.'' Autumn walked out into the daylight, squinting at the intensity of it.


    ''I then had some issues with a local Captain-''


    ''Captain? Ah yes, you beat up that Kainda girl.'' The woman laughed.


    ''Beat her up?'' Cadaoir frowned. ''It... It was a trial by combat, I won. Innocent.''


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    ''The news was that you kicked the crap out of her!'' Autumn brushed dust off from her shoulders, then pointed at Cadaoir. ''The Spirit Temple has gotten word too, they''ve been pestering me to send you home. You have some explaining to do, starting trouble with Amaratsu.''


    ''I did not-''


    ''It doesn''t matter what you did or didn''t do, you''re to go home as soon as you leave here!'' Looking the Monk up and down, the Blacksmith shook her head in disapproval. ''You can''t go like that, you look like an orange. I''ll get you some new clothes, a new backpack too, that one''s looking a little overused.''


    ''Thank you, but I only came to re-establish contact, I''ll be moving on with my-''


    ''Your pilgrimage is over, Cadaoir. Return back to Spirit Island. No arguments.'' Autumn checked around her for prying ears, then spoke in low tones. ''Take it from me, there''s probably more going on than just a telling off for you.''


    Cadaoir had no fight in him at this point. He felt rather aimless too. ''I will return soon.'' He said. Maybe it will give me time to think, the long journey back to the island.


    ''“Soon” isn''t right away, is it?'' Autumn tutted and waved a hand. ''It''s your business, do what you like, I''m only the messenger.'' She walked back into her building. ''You just wait right there, I''ll find you some clothes. I''ve got some appropriate stuff laying around here somewhere. Been reorganising my stock, so give me a minute will you?'' Her voice trailed off into darkness.


    Cadaoir waited for more time than he expected. The sun moved across the sky and was soon hidden behind other buildings in the district. Horses and people passed him by, some Soldier''s too, patrolling the streets on security detail. Some time later a light skinned woman in green and brown leathers approached him. A long brown braid fell over one shoulder and a finely crafted bow was slung over the other. A full compliment of arrows were quivered at her hip. She stood several inches over Cadaoir.


    ''Excuse me, Sir!'' She was all smiles.


    ''Yes?'' Cadaoir answered.


    ''Is this Autumn''s place of business by any chance?'' She stopped outside of the big old doors.


    ''Who is asking?''


    ''Just someone in need of her help.'' She gave a short bow. ''Willow.''


    ''This is Autumn''s place. She should be out soon.'' Cadaoir turned his gaze away.


    ''Thanks.'' Willow bowed again.


    The two stood in silence until Autumn returned. She appeared out of the doors with her lit candle at hand and a fully packed canvas pack-sack in the other. Willow made to speak, Cadaoir noticed, but Autumn spoke over her immediately. ''Take this and then get rid of that mess you''re wearing now.''


    ''Thank you.'' Cadaoir took the bag in his hands. ''How much d-''


    ''It''s already covered. Just make your way home.'' Autumn brushed her hands together to remove dust. ''It''s a long trip, and I can''t see you taking a boat north, you''ll need to avoid Hattsu and Chira.'' Willow appeared to be ignoring the conversation, yet Autumn did not take any chances. She moved closer to Cadaoir and whispered. ''Pay for passage through the tunnel to the capital, I''ll have a horse and pack mule hired for you. Go north to Katsuo village and there''ll be a package waiting for you from me, it''ll get you the rest of the way to the Spirit Temple.''


    ''OK.'' Cadaoir nodded.


    ''Now go!'' She slapped the Monk on the back. ''No more disappearing acts!''


    ''I''ll-'' Cadaoir started, but he was already being spoken over by Autumn.


    The Blacksmith looked the tall woman up and down. ''You look like you''ve been through a wringer, all stretched out. What do you want? I don''t think I''ve got any dresses long enough for you.''


    Autumn was not the type to argue with, she was as stubborn as they came. All Cadaoir could do was head home to the Spirit Temple, he had nothing else to do, not while his mind was in such a mess.