we are having a gathering about interlopers, and you bring another with you? The voice was unfamiliar to him, so he assumed it was from one of the males.


    Bellicose… Another unfamiliar voice tried to cut in, but was interrupted by the first.


    No, this is ridiculous…


    Bellicose!


    What?


    He’s listening.


    Rubbish, outsiders can’t…


    Um… Sorry. He sent before breaking off his concentration.


    You can do it too!? Troublefinder had gotten better at it over the last few days and no longer needed to stop to send his thoughts.


    I had wondered if you would be able to when we reached the Nexus, but I didn’t expect it to happen this soon, Relentless sent.


    You thought he’d be able to do this? Dauntless sounded a little hurt that she hadn’t shared her hunch with him.


    It was only a theory based on how he interacted with the beast. I believe if it weren’t for the fettering he wears he would have done so before now.


    Come, this is another issue for the gathering, the middle male who the boy thought must be Bellicose sent.


    Yes it is, Relentless sent. You know your people have only been able to see them for a few thousand years now.


    Indeed. At least, those of your people who weren’t members of what your people call the Newcomers.


    The boy has a block in his mind that is keeping all that made him this Victor locked away. Dauntless sent. There is hope that it can be broken down in time, but he is no longer the boy you knew.


    I wonder if she looks different to everyone?


    just a boy.”


    You have not been invited to this place, Ethereal. A strong female presence inserted itself into the conversation.


    Quiet, the voice Cypheria had identified as Sovereign sent out loudly.


    No, let him go. He heard as he ran up the amphitheater’s incline.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Victor! the boy awoke to Troublefinder’s voice ringing through his mind.


    Don’t call me that, the boy sent back along the connection that Troublefinder had established with his mind.


    Sorry! It is what the men kept calling you during the gathering. Why did you run off? Sovereign said you had a good reason but wouldn’t tell anyone. I think my parents know too but they won’t tell me either.


    I think they realized that, Dauntless sent. In fact, I think that was part of the problem, and why Sovereign decided she needed to call the gathering. Normally the events that transpire on the boundaries of the forest and beyond are considered sacrosanct. The sheer amount of Dracairei that dared to trespass into our territory, however, was a matter for all of the tribes.


    He’s right of course, Relentless chuffed. And that happens with about the same frequency as this type of incursion. She turned to the boy. The fact that you happened to be in the area at the same time was brought up on several occasions as well, and that Ethereal showing up didn’t help your case much with many.


    “Right, so the tribes in their infinite wisdom decided you were to be removed from their territory and are not allowed to return until you’ve managed to tame the beast, whatever that means,” Warren said.


    For now, Relentless sent.


    You are going to listen to that Ethereal, even after all that she has done to you? Relentless pawed the ground, sending up a cloud of debris behind her.


    Gods, phaw! Relentless sent and extended her claws. Anyone with enough power can claim to be a god. Those Ethereals are no more a god than you or I.


    Then you had better burn us all at the stake, Dauntless sent, his tongue hanging out of his mouth in mirth. We’ve been trying to tell your people this ever since you...


    The point being, Relentless sent, you shouldn’t trust everything they say. Not only do they enjoy being mysterious, but they are also constrained by their oaths, so there are things they aren’t able to say.


    Yes and no. Relentless sat down. It is the oaths that they took when they became guardians of this world. However, the being your people call the One God is not only not the only one of his kind, but he would also probably be appalled to hear that he is worshipped.


    My people have kept an oral history of this planet for years beyond counting. We were exiled here long ago, shortly after this world formed. The only sentient race that was here at that time was the Dragons, and they had their own tasks to accomplish. Dauntless disappeared into the surrounding foliage as Relentless continued to tell the story. Some enterprising explorers found the planet and because of the “aggressive local wildlife,” the planet was deemed inhospitable for colonization. Many years later, the government that had funded the exploration began to drop off a wide variety of life.


    Yes, there is no life on this planet that started here. Species that can likely not be found anywhere else in the universe now call this planet home, but none of them are native. The Ethereals came to this world shortly before the creator returned. The Dragons had continued to see to their task to his satisfaction, but he saw that all of the new races upon the world would eventually lead to destruction. To thwart this he charged the Ethereals with keeping the new races in check. The agreement benefited them greatly—even if it limited them in some ways—so they agreed. Ever since, they have been trying to skirt the rules while maintaining their personas.


    Energy. For each “follower” they have, they are allowed to siphon a tiny bit of energy.


    They are harvesting energy from people, Relentless said, as if the answer were obvious.


    It is going to take several days to reach the town, if we take the druid it could take twice that.


    We should go. The other denizens of the forest seem to think that spring has arrived. No reason to stand around and give them a free meal, Dauntless sent as he roamed back into the clearing.