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    <h2 style="text-transform: uppercase"> </h2>


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    It took Sarien a few moments to collect himself before he noticed that something was wrong. The gateway fizzled closed behind him as he took in the empty field of grass that stretched far into the horizon. A large sun hung overhead, both alien yet familiar. Sweat trickled down the small of his back as he groaned inwardly. "We’re in Rhinerien."


    "What was that?" Myn asked. Lights of every color played around her outstretched hand.


    Emiril stood with his hand pressed against a tree, caressing the bark. "Black trees," he said with wonder.


    "This isn’t my world," Sarien said. "But there is a gateway close by that will lead to it."


    The rhinn war camp didn’t look as intimidating as it did the first time he’d emerged in this very same spot. Back then the camp was teeming with soldiers, some of whom had noticed his presence and were hurrying toward him. Now, the place looked nearly deserted, with just a few dots in the distance scurrying back and forth.


    Sarien didn’t like what that implied. "The army that camped here must have gone through to Maydian."


    "You brought us here to stop them?" Haen asked. His body was massively muscled before, but the compact man appeared even stronger now that he had full access to his powers.


    "No. I tried to bring us all back to Maydian,” Sarien said.


    Due to the frantic way they escaped Yelena''s dungeon, Sarien hadn''t clearly formed his home in his mind. Now, they were in Rhinerien, though at least they weren''t stuck here as he had been in Malac. But, ending up back in Rhinerien did give him an idea.


    "Just to be clear. Do you mean to keep your word and help me?"


    "Owe you that much," Haen said, immediately. Freyn nodded in agreement with her husband.


    Emiril glanced over his shoulder from where he was still stroking the tree. "Sure."


    "Of course," Myn said, making the lights dance in her long black hair. "Just tell us where to go!"


    Sarien pointed down to the camp. "First, we have to figure out why the rhinn are invading Maydian, then we stop them."


    He looked at each of them, except for Viv, who sat on the grass with her back to him. "At some point, I’ll have to confront the man you call Renheld, too, if he is the one possessing my friend."


    “Brave lad,” Haen said.


    The brawny man glanced over to Viv on the ground. Like in the dungeon, she was using her power to project the image of a girl running and laughing in a field. Sarien got down on one knee next to the old woman and saw that tears streaked down her cheeks.


    “Who is that?”


    She didn’t take her eyes off the image. "My daughter. Lost her long ago.” The words came out clipped and strained.


    “Haven’t been able to see her like this in so long. Thank you."


    Sarien grinned at the sincerity in her voice. "You’re welcome. That’s your power, then, to show images?"


    Viv scoffed. "You think I’m that useless, do you?"


    She let the image of the girl dissipate and stood, brushing off her gray dress before turning to face Sarien.


    "I can do this," she said, pointing to Emiril. A stream of light erupted from the tip of her finger.


    Viv''s magic swirled around Emiril, engulfing him, before settling over him in a hum. In an instant, he changed from an exhausted man into Yelena, complete the haughty arrogance marring her face.


    "Stop that," Emiril muttered. His voice was still his own, and it was peculiar to see Yelena’s mouth form the words.


    The light then fell away, revealing his true self.


    "Illusions," Viv said.


    A second later, the light formed into the strange creature that Sarien freed from Yelena''s imprisonment. Sarien''s breath caught. The thing waved at them and then disappeared.


    Myn let out a low whistle. "That''s useful."


    "Said I was a brightling, didn’t I?" Viv answered. The tone of her voice was gruff, but she couldn’t hide how pleased she was at their reaction.


    "Wonder if I can do that too," Myn said, looking at the lights now sitting at the end of each of her fingers.


    "Maybe now is not the best t—" Sarien began, but he was too late.


    The world turned a bright white as light obliterated everything in sight. For several long breaths, Sarien was blinded. He blinked wildly, only hearing the astonished gasps of the others around him. Then, little by little, his vision returned. White spots danced across his vision as blurred shapes began to sharpen until his vision fully restored itself.


    Everyone except Myn was rubbing at their eyes and blinking, dazed.


    "What did you do?" Sarien asked.


    "How would I know?" she asked. "Light flashed and then nothing."


    "Go easy with that one," Haen grumbled. "You’ve blinded me, girlie!"


    Her face fell. "Oh, sorry. I thought my power would be, I don''t know, less terrible."


    "Taking someone’s vision is plenty powerful," Emiril muttered.


    "From what you’ve showed me, Malac magic is based around light," Sarien said. "Is that right?"


    "That’s right," Freyn confirmed, stepping away from her husband. "From what we know, it can take on strange forms. Haen appears stronger now though I can''t see how that is related to light."


    Haen raised an arm and flexed. "My light shines bright from within!"


    "What about you, Freyn? Something about sensing magic?"


    "Yes. I have plenty of practice as my magic was useful to Yelena. But I haven''t found any other use for my abilities."


    "Can you sense anything in me?" Sarien asked, curiously.


    She focused, then frowned. "I can’t. It’s like you’re not a mage at all. Why is that?"


    "Maybe it’s because he’s not from Malac?" Myn suggested.


    Freyn shook her head and pointed down to the camp below. "No. I can sense magic users down there."


    "I don’t know," Sarien said. "Tom, a friend back home who’s a healer, couldn’t either."


    "And you can do more than travel between worlds," Emiril said, returning to the others.


    "Yes," Sarien said, pulling forth his white flame and his black, one in each hand. They tugged at him, wanting to come together.


    "Can’t sense them," Freyn added. "I felt something when you arrived. Must have been that monster you brought with you."


    "Are all wayfarers like this?" Myn asked.


    "I haven’t met any others," Sarien said. "But no, I think I’m the only one."


    Haen slapped Emiril’s back with enough force to make him stumble forward. "What about you, lad?"


    "Careful with that freakish strength," Emiril muttered, wincing. He straightened and shrugged. "I’m not sure what the use of it is, but looks like I can do this." His shadow moved on its own, waving its hand and then it gave a thumbs up.


    Haen cleared his throat. "Great. I’m sure it will come in useful."


    "What happens if you touch someone else’s shadow?" Myn asked.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Emiril''s brow furrowed in concentration. His shadow moved again, separated from him, and walked toward Haen''s shadow. The shadow shoved and Haen let out a scream as he flew through the air and landed hard against the grass.


    "It might be somewhat useful," Emiril allowed. Sarien saw Emiril suppressing a smile as Haen scrambled to his feet, a scowl on his face.


    "People are coming," Myn said. Rhinn were running toward them.


    "Do we fight?" Haen asked, cracking his knuckles.


    "The ones approaching us are not mages," Freyn said.


    "With them, we might not have a choice but to fight," Sarien said. "Are you all trained fighters?"


    "I’ve had some training," Emiril said. "But I don’t have a weapon."


    "A tavern brawl or two," Haen said, wilting under Freyn’s glare. "Only in self-defense, of course."


    Sarien noticed how the brawny man’s knuckles were covered in thin white scars. Not just a few fights, then.


    Freyn sighed with exasperation before turning away from her husband. "I’m no warrior," she said. Myn and Viv shook their heads.


    "Here they come," Myn said.


    A rhinn quickly approached them. Sarien smiled at his surprised expression. "Hello commander."


    The same rhinn soldiers who came for him and Tomford ran up to the group. The words on the commander’s lips fell away and his eyes widened. "Oh no."


    A short moment later, three of the four soldiers sprawled on the grass, unconscious. They were no match for Haen’s fists. It turned out that pure physical strength wasn’t the only component of his power. The rhinn soldiers couldn''t pierce Haen’s skin with their spears. In a few ways, the brawler reminded Sarien of both Hart and Tomford. The savagery of Hart’s fighting style, combined with Tomford''s hand-to-hand combat, made for a terrifying opponent. Haen moved without Tomford’s fluid grace and didn’t have his training or expertise, but, as he looked down at the sprawled rhinn at their feet, the end result was just as impressive.


    Emiril’s shadow hugged the rhinn commander’s shadow tight, binding the terrified commander in his place.


    "Why are you going to Maydian?" Sarien demanded.


    The commander struggled against the invisible bonds.


    "Tell me why you’re invading my world."


    "What makes you think I would know something like that?" the rhinn spat.


    "You’re a commander," Sarien said. "Why wouldn''t you know?"


    Myn frowned. "What’s going on?"


    "What do you mean?" Sarien asked.


    "Do you understand what this strange man is saying?" she asked, gesturing to the rhinn.


    "Of course. You don’t?"


    She shook her head. "It’s gibberish to me."


    "Can’t understand a word, can we?" Viv added.


    Sarien turned in a half circle to get the reactions from the others. Each one of them looked puzzled.


    "That’s strange," he said, finally. "My friend could understand them when we were here last."


    Emiril sighed. "It doesn’t matter. As long as you speak Malac with us."


    "Malac?" Sarien asked. "I’m speaking Eldian."


    Freyn sat next to the unconscious rhinn soldiers. "You better hurry this up. These ones are stirring."


    "Right," Sarien said, turning back to the rhinn commander. "Who in your camp will know?"


    Emiril’s shadow squeezed tighter, and the rhinn choked out his reply. "The priests must know. Or the Emperor’s man."


    Sarien held up a hand to Emiril, who loosened his shadow''s hold. "Thank you. Who is the Emperor’s man?"


    The rhinn narrowed his eyes. "Are you going to kill me?"


    "If you don’t answer my questions," Sarien lied. He wasn’t sure what they were going to do with the rhinn commander, but he wasn’t going to kill anyone if he could help it.


    "Like I said, he’s the Emperor’s man. Part of his cabal and the ranking officer in the camp. What does it matter to you? There is no way you can get to him.”


    "Wouldn’t be so sure about that," Sarien said. He looked at Viv. "Can you make us look like rhinn?"


    Viv’s eyes glittered.


    While the others prepared, Sarien took out his mother''s book and read.


    <blockquote style="clear: both">


    It is soon time to strike. We have laid plans to the best of our abilities and have found ways to reach Ocea, Eld, and Anea. Taera remains elusive, but I am confident her people will aid us in our duty. No one stays a slave by choice. Traveling through gateways is not always safe around Halvgudar, so we will have to fight our way through their last lines of defense. We must save Eld for last, for his disciples, the pyromancers, are fervent in their worship and believe their power will fade away without their master. All peoples must join hands if we are to bring down these false gods and restore proper order.


    </blockquote>


    The text didn’t tell him much that he didn’t already know, except for the tidbit about traveling around powerful beings. That information, he tucked away.


    <blockquote style="clear: both">


    Ocea is broken. Killing her was beyond even us, but in her weakened state, Ein asserted enough of his void to slay her. He immediately fell unconscious, the poor man. Finally, the deed is done. These Halvgudar bicker and fight when they should join together to oppose us. They send their forces against us when they should strike themselves. Is it arrogance? No matter. Underestimating us will soon prove their downfall. Anea is next. We just have to wait for the slayer’s return to consciousness. Taera still eludes us, and the Kin will not give her up. Are they thralls under her influence, or do they truly speak from their hearts when they call her benevolent?


    I have been tending Ein’s wounds and have to say, the man is far more agreeable when sleeping.


    </blockquote>


    Sarien, Emiril, and Viv strode into the enemy camp behind the rhinn commander. Taking the unconscious soldiers’ clothes was easy enough, but that alone wouldn’t let them pass undetected. Unlike the camp in Tyralien, the guards seemed to know what they were doing, and there were plenty of lookouts. Thankfully, none of them saw through Viv’s illusions. Emiril’s shadow kept the rhinn commander bound like a puppet as he guided them through rows of tents and hastily constructed wooden buildings.


    Viv''s slow pace made their small group stand apart from the hurrying masses around them. Sarien hadn’t wanted to bring her, concerned about her fragility, but she explained the limitations of her power. Viv needed to see the place where she projected her illusions, and there was a range component as well. Sarien had no other option but to include her in the scheme.


    The rhinn commander led them to the gateway and Sarien fought down the urge to close it as he took in the long lines of waiting rhinn soldiers. Doing so would all but guarantee their capture. Freyn had reported the presence of several rhinn travelers in the camp, as well as pyromancers. She hadn’t known what they were but spoke of two different types of mages. They needed to be careful.


    The group approached a structure where the commander claimed the Emperor''s man was located. Two guards stood at the door. "Will they let us through?" Sarien asked the commander in a low tone.


    He shook his head. "This great man wouldn’t meet with a lowly commander."


    Guards hadn’t factored into Sarien’s plan. Showed how experience he was at this sort of thing. He glanced at Emiril and Viv. "Can you do something?"


    "Could probably kill them," Emiril offered. Along with the rhinn soldier’s clothes, they’d taken their weapons. Sarien took comfort in the steady weight of the spear in his hand. Viv used hers as a cane. They each had a knife in their belt.


    "I can mask us in an illusion where we''d appear invisible," Viv whispered. “That way we could move past them without anyone noticing.”


    "Go ahead," Sarien said.


    "The disguises will slip," she warned.


    He sighed. "We’ll hurry inside. Won’t need them once we’re out of sight, I hope."


    The guards both stiffened when they vanished, and Viv waved for them to hurry. Sarien pushed the commander, who opened the door while looking wide-eyed at his frozen brethren.


    Once inside, they shut the door and barred it. Emiril smacked the back of the commander’s head with enough force to render the rhinn unconscious. Both Emiril and Viv were exhausted from the extended use of their powers.


    "Can you go on?" Sarien asked the two of them.


    Emiril sighed and hefted his spear. "Sure."


    "I’ll stay right behind you, won’t I?" Viv answered.


    Sarien led the others deeper into the building. He heard two voices arguing, and with nod to the others, he pushed open the door.


    Two pyromancers stood by a table laden with documents, arguing with a rhinn man with long flowing hair, and a bald rhinn man wearing a gray, billowing robe. The second rhinn bore a prominent tattoo on his forehead.


    Sarien immediately recognized one of the pyromancers, Hargul. He was the bully that Madge chased off back at the tower. The bald rhinn was also familiar. He was some sort of priest, with symbols stitched into his robes, much like those of the pyromancers. He realized with a start that it was the same rhinn who’d peered out of Sarien’s gateway back when he and Tomford escaped back to Maydian.


    "You!" Hargul shouted, thrusting his fist forward. Flames manifested, but Hargul stumbled back with a look of utter shock on his face.


    Emiril’s shadow had thrown its spear. The attack didn’t make a mark on Hargul, but the pyromancer crumpled to the ground, dead.


    "What is the meaning of this?" the long-haired rhinn barked.


    The priest narrowed his eyes, as if trying to place Sarien’s face.


    Sarien held up his hands to show he didn’t mean the others any harm. "I’m just looking for some information."


    The rhinn that Sarien suspected was the Emperor''s emissary said, "Is this man one of yours?"


    "He is not," the pyromancer said glaring at Sarien.


    Sweat trickled down Sarien’s chest. His body felt fevered, like he was ill. His eyes widened. "Heat mage! Kill him!" Sarien charged with the spear, black flames erupting along the length of its haft. He stabbed forward, pushing against the unbearable heat wrapping around him and burning every inch inside of his body.


    Sarien thrusted the spear into the heat mage, who crumpled to the ground next to his friend. Sarien collapsed beside him, panting for air as the heat slowly dissipated.


    "Guards! Guards!" the Emperor''s man shouted.


    Sarien struggled to his feet and grabbed at the man’s coat, calling his black flame to trap the rhinn in a void connected to the dagger he carried. The metal blackened into the expected color of obsidian as he turned to the priest.


    A gateway opened next to the rhinn, and he eyed the dagger clutched in Sarien''s hand. "Thank you for that little intervention. You should know that you are the subject of some debate in the priesthood. Most intriguing. Wyndemir would welcome one such as yourself. I am high priest Qieza. What is your name, human?"


    "Sarien," he replied, taking a step closer. "I’m not joining you, invader."


    "A pity," Qieza said. “Perhaps you’ll reconsider when you see what glory awaits us."


    He stepped through the gate. "I’m sure we’ll meet again." As the gate closed, Sarien saw the color of the rhinn''s large eyes turn a solid purple. A sense of dread crept into his chest. Something was wrong, but he didn''t know what. He sensed something approaching. Not to him, but closer to the world itself. They needed to leave Rhinerien immediately.


    "Sarien!" Emiril shouted.


    Sarien broke out of his daze and turned to see Viv sprawled on the floor. She wasn’t moving. Terrible burns covered her entire body. "Thank you," she murmured.


    "For what?" he asked, kneeling at her side. Rhinn soldiers banged on the door, but Sarien ignored them. "I shouldn’t have brought you into the camp."


    The old woman smiled, despite her dry cracked lips. "You wouldn’t have made it far without me." She took a deep breath despite the pain. "Thanks to you, I got to see my daughter again, didn’t I?"


    The image of the girl sprung forth in front of Viv’s face and she stared at it for as long as she could, until the image faded away and Sarien realized Viv was gone.