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    EIGHTEEN


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


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    Sarien stood unsteadily and looked down at Viv''s still form. "Bring her. She’ll get a proper funeral."


    "What about him?" Emiril asked, nodding to all that remained of the Emperor’s man, an empty shell.


    "Leave him," Sarien said, opening a gateway that would take them back to the others. This one was more difficult than the last to open, and he exerted an overwhelming amount of his energy forcing it to obey his will.


    Rhinn guards broke through the door, but they were too late. Sarien and Emiril had left, the gateway winking out behind them. They’d retrieved what they came for, but at a terrible price.


    They said a few words over Viv’s grave and stood in silence for a moment to honor her sacrifice. Tears streamed down Myn’s face, and she threw herself into Sarien’s arms after speaking of how Viv had now joined her daughter in the afterlife. Sarien held her tight and let her cry into his chest. They could spare a few more minutes.


    Slowly, they drifted away and settled into a clearing in the forest. It was time to question the man he''d captured. Sarien brought out his obsidian dagger. There wasn’t much kindness in his heart when Sarien spoke into the void.


    Do you know where you are?


    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


    You are in a prison of my making. There are questions I need answered.


    WHAT IS THIS? I AM NOT TELLING YOU ANYTHING.


    The black flames around his dagger flared and Sarien listened to the man''s screams. He asked again.


    Why are you invading my home?


    Despite not being able to see the man trapped inside the dagger, Sarien could sense a sneer coming from within.


    YOU KNOW WHY. WE LIBERATE THE OPPRESSED MAGI AND THE CHILDREN YOU SACRIFICE TO YOUR FALSE IDOLS.


    Stunned at the man''s answer, Sarien pressed a little harder, increasing the intensity of his black flame.


    Tell me the real reason.


    AAAAAAAAAAAAA. YOU THINK TORTURE WILL MAKE ME SPEW LIES? I GIVE MY LIFE GLADLY FOR THE CAUSE, MAY THE EMPEROR STRIKE YOU DOWN.


    Who is the Emperor?


    THE RHINN WHO WILL BRING YOU TO YOUR KNEES. A LEADER ABOVE ALL LEADERS. HE SITS IN YOUR FALLEN CAPITAL, DIRECTING THE FLOW OF WAR AS WE LIBERATE YOUR LAND.


    Sarien frowned. Capital?


    What capital?


    THE CAPITAL IN THE KINGDOM OF FIRE. BEYOND YOUR REACH.


    A cold settled into Sarien’s gut. Fyrie. Goslin would surely work toward reclaiming his city. This meant they didn’t have much time. Sarien needed to return and help his friends.


    What of your own dying world?


    RHINERIEN PROSPERS.


    Sarien shook his head in disbelief.


    "Well?" Haen asked.


    The group wanted answers, but he didn’t have many to give.


    "He’s a zealot, this Emperor’s man," Sarien said, holding up the dagger. "I don''t think he knows the real reason why they are invading Maydian."


    "What is he saying?" Freyn asked.


    Sarien sighed and put the dagger away. "He said they’re rescuing the pyromancers and that we sacrifice children to our god."


    Emiril clutched the sword he’d taken from their hostage. "Well, do you?"


    "What? No! Our gods are all dead. There are no sacrifices and mages aren’t enslaved."


    "What about that old man with the mark on his face?" Emiril asked, putting the sword back down.


    "A priest, I think," Sarien muttered. "He thanked us for killing the pyromancers and, from his perspective, the Emperor’s man. We have to learn more about this."


    Myn’s voice trembled, and she grabbed Sarien’s arm. "How?"


    "There is a resistance group here in Rhinerien. We find them or a priest to question. The problem is, we don’t have much time. The capital in my home has fallen."


    "Dire news," Haen agreed. He stood and helped Freyn from the ground. "Let’s go then."


    Sarien looked up, confused. "Go where?"


    "To the resistance. You said you met them here before."


    Sarien nodded. It was their only true option. "They were overrun, but perhaps we might find some clue as to where they went." Sarien stood with Myn.


    Sarien called on his white flame, savoring the sense of calm that came with it, then frowned at the strange resistance in the wayfaring. This was not the time to investigate it. Instead, he pushed back against the resistance and a gateway opened.


    On the other side was the shed where he''d met Mica, the leader of the resistance. He gestured for the others to enter. Daisy jumped through beside Sarien, wagging his tail like he was enjoying himself immensely. The dog hadn’t been happy to stay behind when they snuck into the rhinn camp, and had kept close ever since Sarien returned, like he was determined not to let Sarien out of his sight again.


    He approached the door, thought for a moment, trying to recall their last visit, then knocked in what he hoped was the same sequence Falfarel used. It was met only with silence, so Sarien tried the door. Unlocked. The hatch down into the underground passage gaped open and darkness waited beneath the ladder.


    "Hello?" he called into the dark, without getting a reply. He turned to the others. "They aren’t here."


    "Now what?" Emiril asked.


    Despair crept in and sunk its claws into Sarien, but he forced it down. "Any ideas?"


    "Find a village and ask?" Myn suggested.


    Freyn pointed into the forest. "There are a few mages in that direction."


    "It’s an outpost by the river,” Sarien said. "Don’t think we’ll find anyone who would talk to us there."


    Daisy barked and his wagging tail bumped against Emiril’s leg again and again. "What is it, dog?" Emiril asked.


    Daisy barked again, then ran for a few strides before stopping and turning. He barked again.


    Sarien shrugged. "We’ll see if he’s caught a scent. If not, perhaps it would be best to return to Maydian even if we don’t have enough information."


    The dog disappeared into the underbrush, and they lost sight of him almost immediately. Sarien relied on following Daisy''s excited barks. They came across a clear brook and filled their waterskins. The mood improved remarkably after that, and they ran after, laughing at the shaggy creature’s excitement.


    Freyn suddenly came to a stop. "Wait!"


    "What?" Sarien asked.


    "We’re closing in on a mage. Might be two."


    "Pyromancer or traveler?" Sarien asked.


    Her tongue ran over her lips, as if tasting the air. "Travelers, I’d say."


    Daisy waited for Sarien, who got down to sit on his heels until he was eye level with the dog. "How did you know where to go? Who is out there?"


    The dog tilted his head, let out a snort, then turned to continue running through the underbrush with no regard for what might await them.


    Sarien swore and hurried after. "Daisy! Be careful!"


    Trying to catch up to his animal companion, Sarien didn’t keep close enough attention to his surroundings. Four male rhinn appeared out of nowhere, bows pointed at his face.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Who are you?" one of them asked. He was a short, wide man with a receding hairline.


    Sarien stopped abruptly and raised his hands. He glanced at Daisy, who looked up at Sarien with the simple joy of a task done well.


    The others caught up and two of the archers aimed their arrows at them.


    "We come in peace," Sarien said. "I’m Sarien." He looked at the rhinn and then finally placed him. "Pontus!"


    He hadn’t recognized the man at first, because of the serious scowl on his face. The last time, he’d looked more jovial and friendly.


    Pontus nodded but didn’t lower his bow. "Yes, I remember. You brought soldiers and priests with you, and we had to flee."


    Sarien winced. "Sorry. That wasn''t intentional. Is Mica here?"


    "You know this man?" Emiril asked from behind a tree. His shadow had separated from him and stood ready with a dagger near Pontus''s throat. Pontus froze.


    "He’s a friend," Sarien said. "Don’t hurt him."


    Emiril nodded, withdrawing the shadow dagger slightly.


    Pontus narrowed his eyes, then sighed and lowered his weapon. "Mica is here. You better come along, then. No soldiers this time, I hope?"


    "None," Sarien promised.


    The sun was beginning to set when they emerged from the dense underbrush. Wooden stumps covered the ground where they’d felled trees to make room for a scattering of low buildings. Bushes to camouflage the makeshift buildings were propped against the walls.


    As soon as Sarien spotted the gathering crowd, he knew they’d stumbled upon a tense situation. No one was interested in them but were instead hurling insults at someone. Sarien saw Mica standing on one of the stumps, addressing the crowd. Sarien couldn''t tell if the man was trying to rile them up further or calm them down.


    "What are they doing?" Myn asked.


    Sarien peered anxiously into the thick mob. "I don’t know, but I’ve got a bad feeling about this."


    One man in the back held a thick branch in his hand, and Sarien spotted a few others holding weapons, either makeshift or real.


    "We have to get to that man," Sarien said, pointing at Mica.


    "Say no more," Haen said, walking straight into the crowd. He shoved his way through and the rhinn shouted out in surprise and anger. Sarien noticed that Haen took care not to hurt anyone, but he continued through as relentlessly as the coming tide.


    Seeing humans in their midst did little to ease tensions in the camp, but at least they fell silent. Everyone turned to look in amazement at Haen, and then Sarien, who followed close behind.


    "Sarien!" Mica’s eyes widened in surprise when he caught sight of Sarien. He smiled. "Knew you’d return to us." There was more than surprise in Mica''s happy expression, and Sarien thought he could see plans shifting and falling into place in the resistance leader’s mind.


    "Look," Freyn whispered from behind Sarien.


    A male rhinn with a shaved head stood bound to the side of one of the makeshift abodes. His chest was bare, and every inch was covered in blood or bruises. His head lolled forward; his eyes shut. Without the ropes, he would surely have collapsed to the ground. Clearly, he was either dead or near enough to it.


    "I can see him," Sarien said to Freyn, keeping his voice low. "One of the travelers."


    Freyn shook her head, then whispered, "Not that one. Well, yes, that too. I’m talking about the one on the stump."


    "What is that strange language?" Mica asked, grinning widely.


    "Are you sure?" Sarien whispered back.


    "I’m sure."


    Sarien glanced at the rhinn surrounding them. Each face was twisted in distrust. He turned to Mica. "I think it would be best if we spoke in private."


    Mica spread his arms in a magnanimous gesture. "Of course!" He turned to the crowd. "These humans are my guests and I don’t want anything happening to them while they are staying with us. Remember that. And put those cudgels away. You’re through hurting our prisoner!"


    The men in the crowd muttered, but slowly dispersed. Sarien noticed that the women and children stood a little way off. They were either frightened enough to keep their distance or otherwise carried the wisdom to stay clear of the angry male rhinn.


    "Welcome to my humble accommodations," Mica said, indicating to the structure the prisoner was bound to. He disappeared into the doorway, followed by Pontus and another rhinn Sarien didn''t recognize. Ignoring the glares around him, Sarien reached up to touch the bound rhinn''s wrist and found a weak pulse. He nodded at Myn and entered.


    No one noticed the small black flame or the button in the palm of his hand when he touched the prisoner.


    The room they entered was simple. The only furniture was a few roughly built tables and equally plain stools. Since there were no lanterns, gloom was setting in with the coming dusk.


    Mica fell with a thud on one of the stools in the middle of the room and gestured for Sarien and his group to sit. They did and the small room suddenly felt cramped. "Welcome to the glorious resistance."


    Sarien eyed the two rhinn who’d followed Mica. "Do they know about your abilities?" he asked, nodding back the way they’d come to indicate their prisoner.


    "That I can travel? Of course, they know! It isn’t a secret."


    "Oh," Sarien said. "Just thought the travelers were your enemies."


    "They are the enemy, mostly," Mica said. "Are you hungry? We don’t have much, but we’re willing to share with our friends."


    "What is he saying?" Freyn asked.


    "You really don’t understand him?" Sarien said.


    "Not a word."


    "Emiril, did you understand the pyromancers back in that camp?"


    "I didn’t."


    So it wasn’t that he was human and not rhinn. The rhinn understood Tomford when he was in Rhinerien last time too. Why?


    Then it dawned on him. The gateways. That had to be it. Sarien himself was basically a walking gateway, so he understood everyone and they him, but that was the extent of it. With Maydian and Rhinerien connected through gateways, did that allow them to understand one another?


    "Hold on a moment," he said, walking over to the window. He looked up into the trees and concentrated. A gateway smaller than the nail on his little finger opened up between Rhinerien and Malac.


    "Try speaking now," he said to the others.


    "What did you do?" Myn asked.


    Mica’s eyes widened. "I can understand that one!"


    The rhinn and the group from Malac cast incredulous looks at one another. "What did you do?" Haen asked. "His words make sense now."


    "Created a connection between Malac and Rhinerien. A tiny one, you don’t have to worry about Yelena finding you."


    "A gateway?" Myn asked.


    Sarien sat back down. "That’s right."


    "I think we were talking about food?" Emiril asked, unimpressed.


    "Starving," Freyn said.


    Daisy barked in agreement.


    One of Mica''s companions disappeared. "A feast to celebrate our budding friendship!" Then he sobered. "About my traveling, there are several organizations in Rhinerien who use travelers."


    He held up a finger, counting, “Most of the priesthood,” a second, "The Emperor’s army," and a third, "The elites." He grinned, "Guess which one I was."


    "Priest?" Myn guessed.


    Mica pulled hair away from his forehead. "No tattoo, guess again!"


    "Elites?" Emiril asked.


    "Correct," Mica said. "I was part of the Swords of Wyndemir. It’s a subgroup of, well, elite warriors who specializes in combining weapon’s training with short distance traveling."


    "You defected?" Haen asked.


    "I learned the truth and couldn’t stay. That’s why I joined those fighting against the Emperor."


    Mica’s forced cheer and overblown theatrics were getting on Sarien’s nerves, and he spoke with a little more irritation in his voice than intended. "And what was the truth?"


    The rhinn returned with steaming bowls of stew, and Mica waited for him to serve before speaking. "You already know part of it. Rhinerien isn’t invading Maydian to save the poor pyromancers or to stop you from sacrificing children. It’s a lie, a cause to rally the rhinn.”


    "Why are you really invading then?" Myn asked around a spoonful of stew.


    "Your world is dying," Sarien said.


    Mica waved his arms in a large arc, as if to encompass his entire world. "Correct. Our crops are failing, our animals dying. Nightmares roam the night, beasts that never called Rhinerien home before." He glanced out the window. "You’re safe here, of course."


    Haen let out a nervous chuckle. "Of course."


    "Why is this happening to your world?" Freyn asked.


    "We don’t know."


    "You must have some idea?" Emiril asked.


    Mica leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Afraid not. The priests are telling us that our god, Wyndemir, is coming to punish us for all these nonsensical indiscretions, but I don''t believe them."


    "No longer a believer?" Sarien asked.


    "No one is. Wyndemir was a nonentity up until a few years ago. There was no church of worship dedicated to his godliness, not until a few fanatics started tattooing their faces. The prisoner is a traveler close to the priesthood. We were hoping he''d tell us what is happening, but he refuses to cooperate."


    "We saw one of the priests," Sarien said, "in the command structure near the camp where Falfarel found me the first time."


    Daisy barked and Myn offered the dog the rest of her stew.


    "Good job getting in and out of there alive. They have pyromancers."


    "Not anymore," Emiril grunted.


    Mica gave him a nod of appreciation. "Quite the group you have here, Sarien. But no healer this time?"


    Sarien shook his head. "Not this time. So, tell me, what are you and the resistance trying to do? What is the goal here?"


    "That’s why I wanted you to stay. Sorry about that, by the way. Momentary lapse of judgement." Sarien waved the apology away and Mica continued, "We need you to send us to your home world so we can try and convince the rhinn to see sense. The Emperor and his priests must fall.”


    "How?"


    "Think about it. If they see rhinn fighting alongside you, they’ll start asking questions. We can sneak into their camps and speak the truth around their campfires."


    "And what truth is that?" Sarien asked.


    "The truth is that there is no need for war. Humans and rhinn can co-exist, can’t we?”


    Sarien sat back. Did this mean that Mica hoped that the rhinn could live alongside humans in Maydian? It was true that Maydian was still recovering from the heavy losses during the battle with the gods. The world''s population was low. A lot of rhinn could relocate to Maydian, perhaps spread across the different kingdoms, but all of them?


    "I’m sure we can find a solution that benefits both worlds," Sarien said. "But about these nightmare creatures. Where are they coming from? I''ve encountered a few in Maydian and I was certain they were coming from Rhinerien."


    Mica shrugged his shoulders. "Your guess is as good as mine. I’d rather not stick around and learn more about them, if it could be helped."


    The man appeared honest, and he couldn’t fault his logic. Their interests aligned and Mica proposed cooperation. Adding to the Maydian numbers wouldn’t hurt, that much was certain.


    "Let’s do it," Sarien said. "You want to leave now?"


    "Didn’t you want to know more about Rhinerien and the priests?" Haen asked.


    Sarien squeezed the obsidian button in his pocket. "I’ve learned enough. It’s time to go home."


    <blockquote style="clear: both">


    Ein woke up even stronger than before. That bastard. Wind whipped in our hair as Anea’s reign came to an end. My wayfaring and Ein’s slaying seemed to have a life of their own when we brought them both forth to face the self-proclaimed god of wind. It is a strange effect and one I’m not sure I like the implications of. Further study is needed, but that is a problem for another day.


    Ivan demanded to be let loose on the Kin and their god and will not relent. Juoko and Liv will move with him and hopefully stall the man long enough for us to deal with Eld and then join them. The pyromancers are burning the Eldians by the thousands and Eld is actively taking part in quelling the forces of those who oppose him. We thought to deal with him last, but it can wait no longer.


    The Gatekeepers have been strangely quiet lately and Ein has not been able to get in touch with the slayers. It grows difficult to see beyond the borders of Maydian, but I do not need the wayfaring to see that they are plotting something. Nice to see that some things never change.


    Ein brought me a flower today.


    </blockquote>