《Whims of Kiraan》


 Chapter 1 - Morlavan

    Ithan¡¯s eyes lit up as the outlines of houses appeared on the horizon. After months of traveling, he was nearly at the end of his journey. Finally, he could sleep in a nice pile of hay and eat some real cooked food, even if it was technically garbage. His mouth began to water as he pondered the possibilities?¡ªday-old roast, dried-out bread, the good half of a half-rotten apple¡­ anything was better than poorly-scaled fish and potentially poisonous berries. It was a wonder he was still alive with how terrible he was at living in the wild.


    As he approached the village, some of its inhabitants began to come into view. Many of them stood well over six feet tall, with a few reaching as tall as eight. They were all covered in red scales, shining vibrantly in the light of the setting sun. Ithan had heard that Greenreach was inhabited by dragonkin, but he had never actually seen them with his own eyes. The colors of their scales alone filled him with a sense of awe.


    Since it was approaching dusk, Ithan found easy passage into the village square as most dragonkin had already retreated into their homes for the evening. The few dragonkin still walking the streets gave Ithan inquisitive looks and whispered amongst themselves as he passed them by. At the center of the square was a large fountain decorated with visages of noble dragonkin?¡ªone of them wore a crown upon his head. The ruler of the dragonkin empire, perhaps. The village¡¯s inn was just north of there, and Ithan breathed a sigh of relief as he began to walk toward it. The muffled shouting coming from inside as he approached concerned him, but it stopped when he opened the door. The eyes of nearly two dozen dragonkin were now on him, and he froze in place as the stench of liquor invaded his nostrils.


    ¡°What¡¯re you supposed to be?¡± the dragonkin behind the counter called.


    ¡°Um,¡± Ithan stuttered. He was used to people giving him strange looks, but dragon-people added a new level of terror to the experience. ¡°I¡¯m, um, looking for a place to sleep.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you in my inn,¡± the dragonkin said. ¡°You look like trouble.¡±


    ¡°Oh, um, I promise I?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Get out.¡± Two dragonkin from a table to Ithan¡¯s left stood up and began walking toward him. Before they could move far, Ithan backed up through the door behind him and closed it, his legs quaking.


    Back to plan ¡°A¡±, then.


    There was a pile of hay next to one of the nearby houses; Ithan walked over to it and settled in for the night. Just as he made himself comfortable enough to sleep, a shadow fell over him. Ithan looked up, groaning at the sight of the man now standing above him.


    The man¡¯s pointed ears protruded beyond his silver hair, which he wore in a half ponytail. His pale skin was almost as white as the snow. No doubt he was an elf, and he certainly had that air of superiority about him. He had two swords, one strapped on each hip.


    ¡°Leave me be, elf,¡± Ithan growled.


    ¡°What do you call yourself?¡± the elf asked, ignoring Ithan¡¯s command. He rolled his head back and forth as he spoke, following the movements of the owl perched on his shoulder. Ithan had little interest in the elf¡¯s apparent fascination.


    ¡°I am¡­ Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Ithan lied. Surely something as simple as ¡°little monster¡± would get the elf to leave. But no, it only seemed to spur his curiosity.


    ¡°Oh,¡± the elf muttered as he cocked his head again, his brow furrowed.


    ¡°What?¡± Ithan grunted. His patience wore thin.


    ¡°Certainly your parents didn¡¯t name you something so¡­ crude,¡± the elf replied.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Ithan said. ¡°It was an elf who gave me that name.¡± The elf¡¯s mouth hung open at Ithan¡¯s words.


    ¡°I¡­ I am sorry,¡± the elf stuttered. ¡°I can see you do not care for my kind.¡±


    ¡°Can you?¡± Ithan asked. ¡°Then why are you still standing here?¡± The elf opened his mouth again to say something, then looked away. He looked back at Ithan for a moment, then turned to leave, his head hung low.


    ¡°Well,¡± the elf said, his back still turned to Ithan, ¡°not that you asked, but I am Taer¡¯inar Volarei. It was good to meet you, friend.¡± After the elf had walked away and stepped into the inn, Ithan lay back down on the ground and closed his eyes, and soon he drifted off to sleep.


    ?????


    Ithan stands before a great chasm. The land around him has been ravaged by powerful storms. Strange creatures of many forms are gathered around him. They call him ¡°God-King¡±. Suddenly, the skies open, and beyond the clouds Ithan sees the sun. Its radiance fills the land, setting everything ablaze. The creatures flee, and Ithan¡¯s body begins to burn. As he disintegrates into nothing, he reaches for the sun, cursing its name.


    ?????


    ¡°Hello?¡± a woman¡¯s voice called as Ithan woke, shaken from his nightmare. When he opened his eyes, he nearly jumped out of his skin?¡ªa dragonkin girl had knelt down next to him and was leaning in a bit too close to his face. She smiled. ¡°Good morning!¡±


    Ithan scrambled out of his hay pile and stood up, trying to create some distance between him and the dragonkin. She stood up as well but did not try to move closer. She was not much taller than Ithan, but she was quite a bit shorter than many of the other dragonkin he had seen, and her deep green scales were in stark contrast to the others¡¯. She was an oddity among them, to be sure.


    ¡°What do you want with me?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°My name¡¯s Fenvyre,¡± she replied. ¡°What¡¯s yours?¡±


    ¡°¡­Mor¡¯lavan.¡±


    ¡°More¡­ Lava¡­ n?¡± she muttered. ¡°Do mind if I just call you ¡®Lava¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ sure.¡± A fake name deserves a fake nickname, I suppose.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you cold out here?¡± she asked. ¡°It¡¯s the middle of winter, and you¡¯re not wearing very warm clothes. You know there are rooms over in the tavern, right?¡±


    ¡°The innkeeper kicked me out as soon as he saw me,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t have any money.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that Briryn,¡± the dragonkin sighed. She suddenly reached out and grabbed Ithan¡¯s wrist, then started walking toward the tavern. Ithan¡¯s hooves dragged through the dirt for a moment before he realized what was happening.


    ¡°Hold on,¡± he protested, pulling away from her. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the tavern,¡± she said. ¡°Briryn won¡¯t kick you out if he sees you with me!¡±


    ¡°But why? We only just met. Why are you helping me?¡±


    ¡°Well, if you really need a reason, it¡¯s because you¡¯re a young¡­ deer-fox? ¡­with no warm clothes sleeping in the snow, and I¡¯m not okay with that.¡±


    As they crossed the square, Ithan noticed an ignan approaching the fountain. They had vibrant pink skin and wore flowing purple robes. Their horns were more like nubs, protruding ever so slightly from their forehead. They hummed to themselves as they walked. When they reached the fountain, they turned around, raised their hands above their head, and began to shout in an incredibly high-pitched voice.


    ¡°Come, friends, and listen to the teachings of Laht! Fortune favors those who follow Laht, and Laht favors fortune! Take a chance, and you will surely be rewarded!¡±


    The ignan¡¯s voice clashed against those coming from inside the tavern as Ithan and the dragonkin approached. The dragonkin opened the door to the tavern and the stench of alcohol once again invaded Ithan¡¯s nose. After a moment, the overwhelming smell became bearable as Ithan adjusted, and he followed the dragonkin inside. The tavern was already quite crowded, even this early in the morning.


    ¡°Hey, you!¡± the innkeeper shouted from behind the bar. ¡°I told you to get out!¡±


    ¡°Be nice, Briryn! He¡¯s my friend!¡± Fenvyre shouted back as she approached the bar. Ithan followed close behind, not wanting to get into any trouble with the other dragonkin. Some of them he recognized from the evening before, giving him that same threatening glare.


    ¡°Oh really?¡± Briryn questioned, eyeing Ithan with the same look as the other dragonkin. ¡°You think everyone¡¯s your friend, little Fenvyre.¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t be any trouble,¡± Fenvyre replied. ¡°Can he please have a room upstairs? He¡¯s been sleeping outside.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine?¡ª¡± Ithan started.


    ¡°Good morning, Fenvyre!¡± a familiar voice rang out from near the stairs. It was the elf from yesterday. Oh no.


    ¡°Hi Taer!¡± Fenvyre called. ¡°I found a friend!¡±


    ¡°Wonderf?¡ªOh. Hello again,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, crossing his arms as his eyes briefly met Ithan¡¯s before turning to Fenvyre. ¡°Fenvyre, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll need to keep looking.¡±


    ¡°Aw, but why?¡± Fenvyre whined.


    ¡°It just isn¡¯t going to work out. Trust me.¡± Taer¡¯inar glanced once more at Ithan, then walked past them and out of the tavern.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Ithan asked Fenvyre.


    ¡°Oh, we¡¯re going on an adventure!¡± Fenvyre shouted. ¡°There¡¯s tons of places in Averion that are unexplored, and I want to see them all!¡± Her excitement suddenly vanished. ¡°But it¡¯s dangerous out there. I¡¯ve been looking for friends to go with me. Taer said he¡¯d go, but we still need more friends.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Ithan pondered. ¡°We¡¯re friends, right?¡± Fenvyre gasped in excitement.


    ¡°Oh, oh! Will you come with us?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see why not,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°It should be fun.¡±


    ¡°You going out to the wilds too?¡± Briryn asked. He sighed, then reached into his pocket. ¡°Well, I guess if you¡¯re friendly with little Fenvyre, and you¡¯re helping her out¡­¡± He pulled a key out of his pocket. ¡°...I suppose the least I can do is offer you a room to stay in when you¡¯re not getting killed.¡±


    He stretched out his hand to give the key to Ithan, but before he let go, he grabbed Ithan¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you let anything happen to little Fenvyre. If she gets hurt out there, I¡¯ll take those antlers of yours and shove them up your?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Briryn!¡± Fenvyre shouted. Briryn let go of Ithan and the key. Fenvyre patted Ithan on the shoulder, then motioned toward the stairs.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ithan said shakily to Briryn as he walked away from the bar.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    As Ithan and Fenvyre ascended the stairs, Fenvyre started giggling.


    ¡°I¡¯m so excited!¡± she cried. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to see what¡¯s out past Sonys¡¯s house.¡±


    ¡°Sonys?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Oh yeah, she¡¯s my, uh¡­ Er, anyway, what¡¯s the number on your key?¡± Ithan held his key up to her.


    ¡°Room six.¡±


    ¡°Oh hey, that¡¯s next to mine!¡± She ran down the hall and stopped in front of the fourth door on the left. ¡°Here it is, room six!¡±


    She stepped out of the way so that Ithan could unlock and open the door. Inside was a mostly bare room?¡ªthe only furniture inside was a small bed on the right side. Even the window, which faced the village square, was left without curtain or shade. Ithan had not expected much, but he certainly expected¡­ just a bit more.


    ¡°Are they all like this?¡± he asked Fenvyre.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Fenvyre sighed. ¡°Briryn is very, very stingy with his money. He insists that guests furnish their own rooms.¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t he just buy a few things using guests¡¯ money? ¡­Wait, how am I paying for this?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not!¡± Fenvyre replied. ¡°Briryn doesn¡¯t charge people for rooms.¡±


    ¡°How¡­ does he make money then¡­?¡±


    ¡°Did you see how many drunk dragonkin were down there?¡± Fenvyre asked. She leaned her shoulder against the wall as Ithan walked over to the bed.


    ¡°Fair point,¡± Ithan said as he spread out onto the bed. It certainly wasn¡¯t made of hay, but it would do. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit underhanded to take advantage of people while they¡¯re drunk?¡±


    ¡°Ah, no, it¡¯s not like that,¡± Fenvyre said. ¡°Briryn uses the money he gets from running the tavern to give back to the village. He pays for all sorts of things on everyone¡¯s behalf?¡ªjust last week he paid for a new anvil to be brought in from Silvercrest for the blacksmith.¡±


    ¡°Huh,¡± Ithan said as he furrowed his brow. ¡°But he won¡¯t pay to furnish these rooms.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Fenvyre shrugged as she straightened herself up. ¡°Not a lot of people stay here usually, so maybe that¡¯s why. Anyway, I¡¯m right next door if you need me. My name¡¯s Fenvyre, by the way. Oh, I guess Briryn said that already, didn¡¯t he? Anyway, bye for now, Lava!¡±


    ¡°Bye, Fenvyre,¡± Ithan called as Fenvyre closed the door behind her.


    Finally alone again, Ithan let out a loud sigh. The noise from the dragonkin below in the tavern leaked through the floor, though it was not nearly as loud as when he was downstairs. The sun had fully risen by now, and unfortunately the window in Ithan¡¯s room faced the east, so sunlight had filled the room. It would surely be impossible to fall back asleep with both the light and the noise. And yet, as he lay there, his eyelids grew heavy, and soon he fell asleep again.


    ?????


    An elven king kneels before Ithan, begging for his life. Ithan sneers. He is thoroughly entertained that this once-proud noble grovels at his feet. He considers leaving the elf alive for the briefest moment, then shakes the thought away and thrusts his glaive through the disgraced king¡¯s chest. The elf grabs at the glaive, trying in vain to pull it from his body as he begins to choke on his blood. Then, after a few moments, he falls silent and collapses to the ground, blood staining the palace floor. Ithan pulls his glaive from the noble¡¯s corpse, tilts his head up, and roars.


    ?????


    A sudden noise jolted Ithan from his sleep. Irritated from having been woken from a terrific dream, he sat up and yelped?¡ªthere was a halfling standing next to his bed, looking down at him. People really need to stop doing that.


    The halfling had short brown hair and stood about three feet tall. He wore a black cloak that looked just barely too large for him.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Ithan growled, reaching for one of his daggers. Where his belt had been, though, there was nothing. He snarled and held his hand out toward the halfling. ¡°Give it back.¡±


    ¡°Give what back?¡± the halfling asked. Ithan hopped out of the bed, and the halfling ran over to the door. Before he could escape, Ithan summoned a dagger and threw it ahead of the halfling. As the halfling reeled from almost having been impaled, Ithan leapt forward and grabbed him by the ankle and lifted him up upside down. ¡°Hey, hey! Put me down!¡±


    The halfling struggled to get free as Ithan began to shake him and items began falling out of his pockets. Gems, coins, and various other small objects clanged against the floor as they fell. Ithan¡¯s belt hit the floor with a thud.


    ¡°You know, I hear halfling meat tastes pretty good,¡± Ithan said as he pulled the dagger out of the door. The halfling¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not!¡± he cried, thrashing about harder than before. ¡°It tastes gamey!¡±


    ¡°Only one way to find out,¡± Ithan replied, grinning. He made sure to show his teeth. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, followed by Fenvyre¡¯s muffled voice.


    ¡°Lava? Are you okay in there?¡± Fenvyre called.


    ¡°Fen!¡± the halfling cried. ¡°Help! He¡¯s trying to eat me!¡±


    Ithan rolled his eyes, then opened the door. Fenvyre¡¯s worried face quickly turned to one of annoyance when she saw the halfling.


    ¡°Does this belong to you?¡± he asked Fenvyre, holding the halfling out toward her. She held out her hands and grabbed him, flipped him right side up and set him on his feet.


    ¡°Is that my bracelet?¡± Fenvyre asked as she looked beyond Ithan into the bedroom. She looked back at the halfling. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for that for a week!¡±


    ¡°How do you know he didn¡¯t take it?¡± Ian asked as he looked up at Ithan. ¡°I heard animals like to put shiny things in their nests.¡±


    Ithan stomped his hoof, and Ian jumped about a foot in the air.


    ¡°He¡¯s a rambunctious little brat, isn¡¯t he?¡± Ithan joked. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me you had a kid.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m twenty-seven, you dingus,¡± Ian retorted.


    ¡°You sure don¡¯t act like it,¡± Fenvyre replied. ¡°Pick up your toys.¡±


    Ian scrambled past Ithan and began collecting his belongings. When he reached for Ithan¡¯s belt, Ithan threw his dagger down at it, pinning it to the floor.


    ¡°That one¡¯s mine,¡± Ithan growled.


    ¡°Aw, man,¡± Ian groaned.


    After clearing the rest of the floor, Ian walked back toward the doorway, only to be stopped by Fenvyre. She bent down and held out her hand expectantly. With a heavy sigh, Ian fumbled through his pockets and retrieved a silver bracelet and handed it to Fenvyre. She stood up and moved aside, and Ian scurried down the hall and down the stairs.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about that,¡± Fenvyre said to Ithan as Ian disappeared from view. ¡°He¡¯s really nice, when he¡¯s not stealing your stuff.¡± Her face tightened at the word ¡°nice¡±.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem too sure of that,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°He¡¯s not¡­ coming with us, is he?¡±


    ¡°Gods, no!¡± Fenvyre exclaimed. ¡°Can you imagine the kinds of trouble he¡¯d get us into?¡± She glanced down the hallway to see if Ian was still lurking nearby. She turned back to Ithan. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯ve been sleeping all day. Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡±


    ¡°I guess,¡± Ithan shrugged. With all the commotion he had not realized that the light outside had started to dim, and the sounds of the dragonkin downstairs had grown louder. He was certainly hungry; he had been sleeping so much lately to keep from expending what little energy he had.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, then,¡± Fenvyre said as she began to walk down the hallway. ¡°I¡¯ll make you something.¡±


    ?


    Ithan crammed half of a loaf of sweet bread into his mouth as he waited for Fenvyre to finish cooking. It was supposed to hold him over until then, but he had his doubts as his stomach churned with a ferocity befitting of his form.


    ¡°That ignan is going to drive me insane,¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s voice called from near the entrance to the tavern, followed by the sound of the door closing. ¡°Where¡¯s Fenvyre?¡±


    ¡°¡®Round back,¡± Briryn said. After a few moments, Taer¡¯inar appeared in the kitchen doorway.


    ¡°I found?¡ª¡± he started before seeing Ithan on the floor. He bit down and began to chew, then swallowed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind me,¡± Ithan said after his mouth was clear. Taer¡¯inar rolled his eyes, then looked back up at Fenvyre. Ithan continued taking huge bites out of his bread while observing the elf and the dragonkin.


    ¡°I found more potential companions.¡±


    ¡°Ooh!¡± Fenvyre exclaimed. ¡°Are any of them cool like Lava?¡± Taer¡¯inar stared blankly at her for a moment.


    ¡°Lava¡­? Who¡¯s that?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. Fenvyre pointed at Ithan. When Taer¡¯inar looked over at him, Ithan waved rapidly, then began to choke on his bread. Taer¡¯inar looked mildly concerned, while Fenvyre looked mortified. She took a step toward Ithan before he began coughing up his food.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine!¡± Ithan cried as he caught his breath. ¡°Continue.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, one is a minotaur, and the other is an auran.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I love minotaurs!¡± Fenvyre cried. ¡°But¡­ what¡¯s an auran?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s blue,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. Fenvyre¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°They want to set out at dawn.¡±


    ¡°Already?!¡± Fenvyre shouted. She hopped in place. ¡°Yes! Great! Perfect!¡±


    ¡°Where to?¡± Ithan asked. Taer¡¯inar quickly looked over at him, then back at Fenvyre.


    ¡°I thought I said no,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you like Lava?¡± Fenvyre asked. ¡°He¡¯s nice, and he wants to help us.¡±


    ¡°How am I supposed to work with someone who¡¯s made it very clear that he hates me?¡± Taer¡¯inar replied as he looked back over at Ithan.


    ¡°I don¡¯t hate you,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°Really?¡± he asked. ¡°But then, why did you?¡ª¡±


    ¡°I was trying to get you to leave me alone,¡± Ithan interrupted. ¡°I hadn¡¯t slept in two days when I got here, and I hadn¡¯t eaten for longer.¡±


    ¡°So that story you told was a lie?¡±


    ¡°No. But I figured you¡¯d leave faster if you thought I was going to bite you.¡± Ithan smiled. Taer¡¯inar did not look amused.


    ¡°So can he come with?¡± Fenvyre asked Taer¡¯inar. ¡°You know, since he¡¯s not going to bite you?¡±


    Taer¡¯inar let out a loud sigh.


    ¡°If I¡¯m going to be working with you,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he crossed his arms over his chest, ¡°can I at least call you something other than¡­ that?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with his name?¡± Fenvyre asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°Mor¡¯lavan¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Taer¡¯inar ¡°Why would you willingly use that name?¡±


    ¡°It suits me well enough,¡± Ithan said as he pulled himself up from the floor. ¡°But if you really have a problem with it, you can call me Lava.¡±


    Taer¡¯inar¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he muttered, holding out his hand. ¡°Welcome aboard¡­ Mor¡¯lavan.¡± Ithan stepped forward and shook Taer¡¯inar¡¯s hand. Taer¡¯inar held his grip for a moment after, gazing at Ithan as if studying him, then let go.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what that was all about,¡± Fenvyre said, ¡°but yay! Now let¡¯s go meet the others!¡±


    ¡°They each had their own business to attend to this evening,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. Fenvyre scowled. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to meet them in the morning.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just as well,¡± Ithan said as he began to walk toward the doorway. ¡°I think I ate too much. I need to sleep it off.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been sleeping all day!¡± Fenvyre exclaimed from behind him.


    ¡°Pleasant dreams,¡± Taer¡¯inar called as Ithan rounded the corner into the tavern proper. He pushed his way through the drunken dragonkin to the stairs and made his way to his room. After getting inside and closing the door behind him, he slumped to the ground and laughed.


    ¡°Pleasant dreams,¡± he says. After another moment of sitting on the floor, he picked himself up and made his way to his bed. Just before he lay down, he checked under the bed for errant halflings. When he found none, he collapsed onto the bed. With the muffled shouts of the dragonkin below, Ithan pondered the day¡¯s events. He thought about Fenvyre and Taer¡¯inar. He thought about the impending meeting of the minotaur and auran. He thought about the adventure on which he would soon embark. He did not know what to expect in the wilderness of Averion, but he hoped that he would find what he was looking for. As these thoughts raced, something began to tug at his mind. A sensation that he had not felt in months.


    How long have you been watching? Ithan thought as he closed his eyes.


    Since you arrived in this village, a voice boomed in his mind.


    The entire time?


    Indeed. Ithan grimaced. Your interactions with the elf seemed promising. I must say I had hoped for a bit more¡­ blood.


    You¡¯ll get your blood. There¡¯ll be plenty of it where I¡¯m going.


    Yes. You will find much in the wilds of Averion. But I am not interested in lesser creatures. An image of Greenreach began to form in Ithan¡¯s mind. Screams erupted as flames began to engulf the village. This is the edge of civilization. The perfect place to begin anew.


    We had a deal, Ithan retorted, wiping the gruesome scene from his mind. You help me kill Varian, and then you get to use me for whatever else you want. He turned his body on the bed, preparing himself to try to sleep.


    Fine, then, the voice replied angrily. Just remember, once your task is done, you are mine.


    I remember.


    Good. Sleep well, Mor¡¯lavan. The voice¡¯s presence faded, and Ithan breathed a sigh of relief. It took a lot of energy to keep up with the pressure that emanated from his master¡¯s presence. Of course, his presence also meant that he was interested in something here. Whatever it was, Ithan did not care?¡ªnot unless it would help him reach his goal. Besides, he was too tired to think about such things, and soon sleep took him once again.


    ?????


    The field is littered with corpses. Some are fresh, while others appear to have been present for decades. There is a shrine at the center of the field; Ithan walks up to it and kneels down next to it. He takes a knife from his satchel and cuts open his palm. He places his palm on the shrine, focusing all of his energy on his task. He takes a deep breath, knowing that this act will change his life forever. Closing his eyes, he remembers the words of the one that guided him here. The promise that he made to take vengeance on the man who killed his mother. Then, he opens his eyes and calls upon the being who would become both the source of his power and his master.


    Kiraan.

 Chapter 2 - The Gathering

    The sun began to rise from below the horizon just as Ithan finished his morning stretches. As the light peered into his room, he thought briefly about finding some fabric to cover the windows. Not important right now. He took his belt from next to the bed and counted his daggers as he put it on. One, two, three, four. As he turned to the door, he was startled by a sudden and firm thud.


    ¡°You had better not still be sleeping in there,¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s muffled voice called from behind the door as Ithan walked over and opened it. His new elf companion carried a pile of studded leather armor. The thud he had heard was likely Taer¡¯inar kicking the door with his foot, since he was carrying the armor with both of his hands underneath the pile.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Those clothes aren¡¯t going to do you any good out there,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied as he shoved the armor at Ithan. ¡°When we run into trouble, you¡¯d be the first to go down.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve gotten along just fine so far without armor,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°Just put it on,¡± Taer¡¯inar ordered. ¡°And meet us at the fountain.¡± He turned away and walked toward the stairs.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ithan called as Taer¡¯inar reached the stairs. Taer¡¯inar turned back to look at Ithan, his face contorted into one of both confusion and mild amusement. ¡°Let¡¯s put the past couple of days behind us, okay?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied, his face brightening. ¡°Now hurry up. The others are waiting.¡± He descended the stairs into the tavern below as Ithan retreated back into his room to redress.


    After some difficulty, Ithan managed to get into his new attire. As he inspected himself, he could not help but admire the quality of the armor he now wore. The armor felt almost like a part of Ithan¡¯s body as he wore it. It was not much heavier than the clothes he was wearing. It fit snugly yet allowed him his full range of movement. Whoever crafted it clearly took great pride in their work. He looked over to his bed, where he had placed the boots Taer¡¯inar had given him, then down at his hooves. Shame I can¡¯t wear those. He left them behind, stepping out of his room and closing the door. I should leave the door unlocked¡­ Wait, what? Ithan quickly shook his head as the strange thought dissipated, and he locked the door.


    ¡°Drat,¡± someone said behind him. As he turned around, the door to the room across the hall closed with a creak. Thinking little of it, he headed down to the tavern. As he came into view of Briryn, the dragonkin waved.


    ¡°Take care now,¡± he said as he picked up a mug and started cleaning it. ¡°Remember what I told you.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir,¡± Ithan replied as he walked toward the door. ¡°Fenvyre¡¯s in good hands.¡±


    ¡°I hope so, for your sake.¡± As Ithan closed the door behind him, Briryn shouted after him. ¡°And don¡¯t get yourself killed out there!¡±


    The square was near empty, save for the five people at the fountain. Three were people Ithan recognized: Taer¡¯inar, Fenvyre, and the ignan. The other two were, as Taer¡¯inar had said, a minotaur and an auran. The minotaur stood about as tall as many of the other dragonkin and wore chainmail over his large frame. His horns curved forward and ended in sharp points, perfect for impaling enemies. He held an axe in his right hand.


    The auran was closer to average elvenoid height. His skin was a deep shade of blue, and his hair was bright white. His pointed ears were feathered as if they had once been a bird¡¯s wings. He wore armor similar to Ithan¡¯s, and he carried a bow and quiver on his back.


    ¡°Oh good, it fits,¡± the minotaur said as Ithan approached the group.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Dhurik here crafted that armor,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°That¡¯s where he was last night.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Well, it¡¯s great. Feels great, too.¡± Ithan turned back to Dhurik. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°Are we all here?¡±


    ¡°This is it,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Shall we move out?¡±


    ¡°Hang on,¡± the auran chimed in, his eyes trained on Ithan. ¡°Who is this?¡±


    ¡°My name is Mor¡¯lavan.¡±


    ¡°And what are you?¡±


    ¡°Good question,¡± Taer¡¯inar said.


    ¡°Not important,¡± Dhurik grunted. ¡°Let¡¯s go already.¡± He started walking toward the western end of the square. The auran shrugged and followed, with Fenvyre and Taer¡¯inar close behind. When the rest of the party was a bit further away, the ignan walked around the fountain to Ithan.


    ¡°Are you interested in hearing the teachings of Laht?¡± the ignan asked in their high voice. ¡°The others did not seem the least bit interested, but you¡­ You have a certain air about you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time right now,¡± Ithan said as he turned away from the ignan. They walked around him to face him again.


    ¡°But you are interested?¡± The ignan smiled.


    ¡°Mor¡¯lavan!¡± Taer¡¯inar called. Ithan looked up to see most of his party glaring at him from across the square. Fenvyre looked worried.


    ¡°What a lovely name for a lovely creature,¡± the ignan said. Ithan was getting uncomfortable; his face was heating up and the ignan would not stop smiling at him.


    ¡°I really have to go,¡± Ithan told the ignan as he moved around them. As he turned away from the ignan, he let out a loud yip as a jolt of energy surged through him. He turned back to the ignan, who was still smiling.


    ¡°May Laht grant you good fortune on your journey,¡± they said before they walked back over to the other end of the fountain. When Ithan turned back around, Taer¡¯inar and the auran looked like they were trying very hard not to laugh; the corners of Taer¡¯inar¡¯s mouth twitched as he stood there. Dhurik still wore his menacing glare, but Fenvyre seemed to be delighted by what she had just witnessed.


    ¡°That was adorable!¡± Fenvyre cried as Ithan approached. His face was on fire now.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go already,¡± Ithan muttered as he tried to shake off his embarrassment.


    The few dragonkin that were out this early in the morning murmured amongst themselves as the party passed. They had plenty of reason to gossip; besides the strange assortment of creatures marching through Greenreach, rumor had already spread of them planning to explore the wilds of Averion.


    ¡°...poor Fen¡­¡±


    ¡°...insane¡­¡±


    ¡°...death-wish¡­¡±


    ¡°Do they always talk about you behind your back?¡± Ithan asked Fenvyre.


    ¡°Yeah, but it doesn¡¯t bother me,¡± Fenvyre shrugged. ¡°We just don¡¯t see eye-to-eye.¡± Her smile wavered ever so slightly. ¡°Besides, when we come back, they won¡¯t do that anymore!¡± she exclaimed. When the group approached the town¡¯s western gate, a dragonkin stationed there stepped out in front of them.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± the dragonkin grunted. He looked at Fenvyre as he spoke. ¡°I hear you lot plan to venture out into Averion.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. The dragonkin looked at the elf, then back at Fenvyre.


    ¡°I have a favor to ask of you while you all are out there.¡± The dragonkin turned and pointed toward the mountains in the distance. ¡°There¡¯s an old mining town up there, called Rockfall. It was taken over by kobolds many years ago, and we never managed to reclaim it.¡± He turned back to the group. ¡°If you can manage to get rid of them for us, we would be ever so grateful.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s in it for us?¡± Dhurik grunted.


    ¡°Well,¡± the dragonkin said, ¡°I personally can¡¯t promise anything.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a waste of time to me,¡± Dhurik said as he started marching off. The dragonkin stepped in front of him.


    ¡°B-but I¡¯m sure there are treasures within the mines that you can help yourselves to!¡± The minotaur and dragonkin stared at each other for a moment, and then Dhurik huffed.


    ¡°I guess it¡¯s worth looking into,¡± he said.


    ¡°Terrific!¡± the dragonkin shouted. Dhurik motioned for the party to follow him, and they continued on. After the party had walked a short distance from the dragonkin, they heard him shout, ¡°May Laht favor you on your journey!¡±


    ¡°Who is this ¡®Laht¡¯ they keep going on about?¡± Ithan asked as they walked along the dirt path outside of town.


    ¡°Some goddess that the ignan made up,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. He pressed a hand to his head. ¡°They¡¯ve been here a week and already they have a cult following.¡±


    ¡°I think they¡¯re trying to build a church,¡± the auran added. ¡°Or a casino. Or both.¡± He looked over at Ithan. ¡°So, are you going to tell me what you are now?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a deer-fox,¡± Fenvyre said. The auran¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen many different kinds of animus in my travels,¡± the auran said, ¡°but a ¡®deer-fox¡¯? Seems suspicious.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not important, blue man,¡± Dhurik interrupted. ¡°Just go with it.¡±


    ¡°My name is Storm,¡± the auran asserted.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Dhurik grunted. Storm grumbled under his breath, then carried on in silence.


    The party spent a few hours traversing the old path, with Dhurik leading the way. He stopped every so often to pick up fallen tree branches and bend them. He tossed aside those that broke and put those that survived in the bag that he carried on his back. When Fenvyre asked him what they were for, he simply grunted and continued onward. When they finally reached the trail that led into the mountains, Dhurik halted the party again and began investigating the ground.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked impatiently. ¡°There are no sticks around here.¡±


    ¡°Not sticks,¡± Dhurik muttered. ¡°Footprints.¡± He motioned for the party to look closer. There were many small tracks on the trail leading toward the mountains. They looked like miniature dragonkin footprints.


    ¡°Those look like kobold tracks to me,¡± Storm said. ¡°How many do you think there are?¡±


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    ¡°There had to have been many to overpower the dragonkin,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. He made a motion with one of his hands toward Fenvyre.


    ¡°Kobolds are crafty,¡± Fenvyre added. ¡°They don¡¯t need numbers. I¡¯d guess there are maybe ten or so.¡±


    ¡°Only ten?¡± Dhurik pulled the bag off his back and frowned. ¡°I have too many stakes.¡±


    ¡°You mean sticks?¡± Ithan questioned.


    ¡°Whichever,¡± Dhurik shrugged. Ithan shuddered. ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s keep going.¡± Dhurik continued along the trail, following the kobolds¡¯ footprints. Fenvyre and Taer¡¯inar followed behind, leaving Ithan and Storm at the rear in awkward silence. As they made their way into the mountains, they soon found a small camp. It appeared to be empty, yet Storm and Dhurik stayed on their guard. Storm slowly pulled an arrow from the quiver on his back as Dhurik raised his axe. Following their lead, Ithan quietly conjured up a glaive and made ready for an attack.


    ¡°Watch for traps,¡± Fenvyre whispered. Dhurik nodded, then strode forward. As he began to take a step into the open, Storm grabbed the back of his armor and pulled him back.


    ¡°What was that for?¡± Dhurik cried angrily before Fenvyre covered his mouth. Storm pointed to the ground. Where Dhurik would have stepped was a thin strand of string, pulled taut by unseen mechanisms. It was obvious that it was a trap, and Ithan did not wish to find out what it actually did. Storm and Fenvyre both let go of Dhurik, allowing him to walk again. He stepped over the thin wire and began to proceed forward but froze when the sounds of creatures nearby began to echo from the camp.


    ¡°Where are they?¡± Taer¡¯inar whispered, searching for signs of life. Storm pointed to a large tent at the far end of the camp. As Ithan focused in on the tent, he tried to make out what the creatures were saying. Unfortunately, they spoke in a language he did not know.


    ¡°Uh oh,¡± Fenvyre said as she leaned toward the sounds. ¡°They know we¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Dhurik replied. ¡°Hiding¡¯s no fun.¡± As he spoke, a creature exited the tent. It looked much like a dragonkin, though much smaller in stature. Its red scales glistened in the sunlight, and it looked very irritated. It glared directly at the group and hissed. Then, to Ithan¡¯s surprise, an arrow flew directly between the creature¡¯s eyes, and it fell to the ground. Ithan turned to see Storm had drawn his bow and had already begun preparing another arrow.


    ¡°That¡¯s a kobold, all right,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as angry sounds began to rise from the camp.


    ¡°Was,¡± Storm replied as he readied another arrow. He stepped out into the open with Dhurik, who swung his axe a few times to ready himself for battle. As the rest of the group followed, kobolds began to appear from all of the tents in the camp. Ithan counted fifteen of them, including the one that Storm had shot down. They all jabbered on in their strange language as they approached the group, knives and slings at the ready.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take ten of them,¡± Dhurik said, ¡°and you guys can have the other four.¡± Without another word, he then charged at one of the nearby kobolds. Most of them reacted in kind by running at him, while a few others ran toward the rest of the group. Storm shot one down, and Taer¡¯inar launched a firebolt at another. Ithan leapt forward at one of the kobolds and slashed at it with his glaive. By the time he looked back at Dhurik, he had already taken care of the rest.


    ¡°That was¡­ a lot easier than I thought it would be,¡± Taer¡¯inar said.


    ¡°It was barely even a warmup,¡± Dhurik muttered. He leaned over one of the kobolds, lifted his axe, and thrust it down. Ithan looked away before the axe met its mark, but the sickening snap sent a chill up his spine.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Ithan heard Fenvyre cry. Dhurik continued on in silence. Ithan looked over at Storm and Taer¡¯inar; they too were trying not to look at whatever Dhurik was doing. ¡°We already hurt them enough, why are you?¡ªwhat are you doing with?¡ªoh, gods?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just look away, Fenvyre,¡± Taer¡¯inar finally called. ¡°He¡¯s not going to listen to you.¡±


    ¡°Done,¡± Dhurik announced. Ithan hesitantly turned his head toward Dhurik?¡ªhe was now surrounded by the heads of the kobolds mounted on the sticks he had been collecting on their way up the mountain. This sight, surprisingly, did not bother him as much as the sounds of the creatures¡¯ heads being chopped off their bodies. When he looked over at Fenvyre, though, his stomach turned. She was shaking uncontrollably, and she looked like she was about to get sick.


    ¡°Wh-why?¡± Fenvyre stuttered as she moved her hand over her mouth. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have dealt with them in a less¡­ disgusting way?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Dhurik replied, rather bluntly. ¡°I¡¯m going to do what I¡¯m going to do. Not my fault you¡¯re a weak-stomached tree-hugger.¡±


    ¡°Dhurik!¡± Taer¡¯inar shouted. Dhurik huffed and turned away to admire his handiwork. Taer¡¯inar sighed and walked over to Fenvyre. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he muttered, ¡°I didn¡¯t know he was like this.¡±


    ¡°You had to have known we would be killing things out here,¡± Storm interrupted quietly.


    ¡°I did,¡± Fenvyre whimpered, ¡°and I was ready for it. I just wasn¡¯t ready for¡­ this.¡± She glanced at the disembodied heads for just a moment, then turned away. Ithan rested a hand on her shoulder, thinking that might provide her some comfort. She smiled and patted Ithan on the head. ¡°I¡¯ll be okay. I just have to¡­ not look at them.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll lead this time,¡± Ithan said, grabbing Fenvyre¡¯s wrist. She closed her eyes tight. He walked Fenvyre past the severed heads to the other side of the camp and behind the large tent. As he passed Dhurik, he gave the minotaur a stern glare. Dhurik shrugged and picked up his blood-stained axe, ready to follow.


    ¡°We¡¯re past the camp now, Fenvyre,¡± Taer¡¯inar said calmly as Ithan guided her further. She slowly, cautiously, opened her eyes again. When she saw no dismembered bodies, she breathed a sigh of relief. With a smile and without a word, she marched forward as Ithan let go of her. After just a few more minutes of walking, the group came across a cavern?¡ªtwo, actually, though one seemed to have caved in on itself. That one had a sign in front of it that read, ¡°The mines are closed.¡±


    ¡°Did the kobolds cause the cave-in?¡± Storm asked.


    ¡°No, I think Etris might have done that,¡± Fenvyre answered.


    ¡°The wind dragon?¡± Taer¡¯inar questioned as he gripped his swords. ¡°He nests this close to Greenreach?¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± Fenvyre reassured. ¡°We think his nest is further north. But the kobolds worshipped him, so maybe he¡­ flew by?¡± The rest of the group, including Dhurik, stared blankly at Fenvyre. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I think dragons have better things to do than cater to some kobolds,¡± Storm said. ¡°They can worship all they want, but they are likely beneath Etris¡¯s notice.¡±


    ¡°But the people who used to live here told us that they heard roars coming from the mines,¡± Fenvyre argued. ¡°They said they had to close them because it got too cold to work in there.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think a dragon could fit in the mines,¡± Ithan said. ¡°There¡¯s something else in there.¡± Taer¡¯inar nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m bored,¡± Dhurik interrupted. ¡°Can we get moving?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Storm added, ¡°there¡¯s more to explore here and we¡¯re just standing around.¡± He and Dhurik started walking into the other cavern. Taer¡¯inar followed, and after exchanging glances, Ithan and Fenvyre did as well.


    The light outside provided enough light inside the cavern to see several strange tunnels dug into the walls of the cave. They were roughly half his height and appeared to have been dug by creatures rather than by shovels or other mining tools. Other than these tunnels, the cavern appeared to be empty, except¡­ Is that¡­ a body?


    ¡°Someone¡¯s over there,¡± Ithan said to the group as he pointed to the body.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything,¡± Fenvyre said, squinting her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s too dark.¡±


    ¡°I see it,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Mor¡¯lavan, come help me.¡± He motioned for Ithan to follow him as he began walking into the darkness of the cave. Ithan looked back at the others, who were still trying to peer into the shadows to no avail. He followed Taer¡¯inar over to the far end of the cave, where he got a better look at the body. To his great surprise, the body that lay before him was made primarily of steel. In between the plates that covered its body were tangles of root-like cords. It had a strange sigil on its forehead, and its eyes were made of crystal.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Ithan asked aloud, moving toward its face to more closely inspect it.


    ¡°It looks to be one of the terrans that the Burning Scale Dynasty employed,¡± Taer¡¯inar answered. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s been here long, but it looks pretty damaged. I wonder what did this¡­¡± As if on cue, loud screeching began to echo throughout the cave.


    ¡°Griffon incoming,¡± said a voice that came from the terran, making Ithan jump. Its eyes lit up, its hinged jaw moving as it spoke in a low, monotone voice. ¡°Please evacuate the area.¡± It began to slowly rise from the ground, though it seemed to struggle a little. Taer¡¯inar helped the terran to its feet. ¡°Thank you. Now please evacuate the area.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s back there with you guys?¡± Dhurik called from the cavern¡¯s entrance. ¡°Can I beat it up?¡± Ithan and Taer¡¯inar assisted the terran to the mouth of the cave.


    ¡°What the heck is that thing?¡± Fenvyre asked. A griffon was standing in front of the group when Ithan emerged from the cave, its wings spread wide. The griffon had the body of a lion, but the head, forelegs, and wings of an eagle. Its talons were stained with blood, and its beak held the remains of a kobold.


    ¡°You have the right to remain silent,¡± the terran said to the creature. ¡°Anything you say will be held against you.¡± The griffon screeched in the terran¡¯s face, to which the terran responded with a quick uppercut to the creature¡¯s head. Ithan readied his glaive as the griffon reeled from the attack. Next to him, Dhurik gripped his axe and Taer¡¯inar unsheathed his swords. With another screech, the griffon charged the group.


    ¡°You guys, don¡¯t hurt it!¡± Fenvyre cried from behind as the griffon took a slash at the terran. Though the terran blocked the attack, it looked as though its armor was damaged.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have much of a choice,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, swinging his scimitars at the griffon¡¯s limbs. Though large, the griffon was surprisingly quick, and it evaded Taer¡¯inar¡¯s attacks.


    Dhurik let out a roar, and a wave of heat burst out from him. Ithan winced as fire singed his fur. The griffon let out a cry of pain as it, too, was hit by the flames. Seeing an opening, Ithan rushed forward and slashed at the griffon¡¯s side. He managed to connect, wounding the griffon and causing it to cry out again. It began flapping its wings, trying to escape, when Taer¡¯inar ran up to it and made two quick strikes with his swords. The griffon screeched and fell back to the ground, collapsing as it writhed in pain.


    ¡°Stop evading arrest,¡± the terran said as the creature tried to swipe at it. The terran¡¯s eyes lit up, and two beams of energy shot out from them and hit the griffon. The griffon went silent and lay motionless?¡ªdead. ¡°Threat eliminated.¡±


    ¡°It was so pretty,¡± Fenvyre said quietly. ¡°I wanted to make friends with it.¡±


    ¡°Fenvyre, not everyone is your friend,¡± Taer¡¯inar said slowly. ¡°We did what we needed to survive.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± she said, crossing her arms over her chest and turning away from the elf. ¡°I know¡­¡±


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he turned to the terran, ¡°I¡¯m glad to see that you are alive. What do we call you?¡±


    ¡°I am?¡ª¡± the terran started before twitching for a moment. ¡°I am Unit 17, on loan from the Burning Scale Dynasty.¡± Taer¡¯inar flashed a grin at Ithan. ¡°I was on patrol for kobolds and was ambushed. Thank you for your assistance.¡±


    ¡°You look pretty beat up,¡± Ithan chimed in as he looked over the terran in the sunlight. There was damaged armor in several places, and in one spot there was even a hole in the armor.


    ¡°I seem to have sustained significant injury,¡± the terran replied. ¡°I will need to refresh myself before continuing my patrol.¡± It sat down on the ground in front of the group.


    ¡°Here?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. ¡°Why don¡¯t we take you back to Greenreach?¡±


    ¡°I can refresh anywhere,¡± the terran said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you can,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued, ¡°but wouldn¡¯t it be safer to do so in a town? Maybe there are more kobolds out here. They could ambush you again.¡± The terran looked blankly at Taer¡¯inar for a moment.


    ¡°That is a possibility. Then I would not be able to continue my patrol.¡± The terran stood up. ¡°I will return to Greenreach for now.¡± It looked up toward the road leading back to the camp, then looked back at Taer¡¯inar. ¡°My memory seems to have been damaged, as well. I cannot recall how to return to Greenreach.¡± Taer¡¯inar sighed.


    ¡°Shall we call it a day?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked the rest of the group. ¡°We can escort this Unit 17 back to town and continue out again in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Some grand adventure this is turning out to be,¡± Storm muttered. Taer¡¯inar¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Actually,¡± Fenvyre interrupted. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to have to call this off.¡±


    ¡°What? Why?¡± Ithan asked, surprised by Fenvyre¡¯s sudden change in disposition. Her usual smile was replaced with a sorrowful look. It made Ithan want to do something spontaneous just to get her to smile again.


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t think I can keep watching creatures get chopped up by Dhurik.¡± Ithan and Taer¡¯inar turned to the minotaur, who had been sharpening his axe on a rock near the fallen griffon. ¡°I¡¯ll take Unit 17 back to Greenreach.¡±


    ¡°Fenvyre, the whole reason we set out in the first place was because of you,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to continue, then I will be happy to go with you back to Greenreach.¡±


    ¡°No, you guys keep going,¡± Fenvyre said, her smile returning. ¡°I¡¯ll keep your beds warm at home.¡± She turned to Unit 17. ¡°Um¡­ Mister Unit 17? Could you do me a favor?¡±


    ¡°What can I do for you, citizen?¡± Unit 17 responded. Fenvyre whispered something to the terran. ¡°I can comply. Thank you again, citizens.¡± It and Fenvyre turned away from the group, walking back toward the camp. Fenvyre quickly closed her eyes as they began walking in the direction of Dhurik¡¯s head stakes. After they passed the large tent, Ithan lost sight of them.


    ¡°Now that Tree-Hugger¡¯s gone¡­¡± Dhurik said, picking up his axe. He took one swing down on the neck of the griffon and decapitated it, blood splattering the ground around it. Dhurik lifted its head off the ground and began to impale it with a stake.


    ¡°You are¡­ quite barbaric, Dhurik,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered as he watched Dhurik drive the stake into the ground.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Dhurik huffed. ¡°Now what?¡±


    ¡°I guess we keep going,¡± Ithan said. He started walking over to the mine entrance. ¡°I¡¯m kind of curious about the mines.¡±


    ¡°How about we rest for now?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. ¡°We can camp out here for the night and tackle the mines in the morning.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s still daylight,¡± Dhurik groaned. ¡°I want to smash more things.¡±


    ¡°Then go find some more kobolds or something,¡± Ithan retorted. ¡°The sun won¡¯t matter if we go into the mines. Can you see in the dark?¡± Dhurik stomped his hoof. ¡°Didn¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Dhurik grunted. He looked over at the griffon body and smiled. ¡°Hey, you guys like griffon meat?¡±

 Chapter 3 - What Lies Beneath

    The sun had begun to set by the time Dhurik finished cooking the remains of the griffon. He had struggled a bit removing the fur and feathers from the beast while Ithan and Storm set up the campfire. Once he had it mounted, though, it was simply a matter of making sure the meat was properly cooked. When he began cutting into the griffon to hand out portions, Taer¡¯inar quickly declined and pulled out one of the rations that he had prepared in his pack.


    ¡°More for us, then,¡± Dhurik grunted as he handed Taer¡¯inar¡¯s portion to Ithan. Ithan examined the meat carefully. It was a bit burnt, but at least it looked thoroughly cooked. He bit into the meat hesitantly, expecting to have to spit it out immediately. Instead, just a moment later he was tearing voraciously into his meal. When he had consumed all of his portion, he let out a satisfied sigh. Taer¡¯inar and Storm gawked at him from across the campfire.


    ¡°What?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°The fox is definitely the dominant side,¡± Storm muttered to Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Remember when he yipped back in town?¡± Ithan¡¯s face started burning up.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Ithan cried.


    ¡°He barks, too,¡± Storm continued.


    ¡°Do you think he¡¯s house-trained?¡± Taer¡¯inar joked. Ithan stood up and glared at the elf. When he bared his teeth, he could not help but make a low, guttural sound. ¡°Uh-oh, I think we made him angry.¡±


    ¡°If he bites me, I¡¯m putting a muzzle on him,¡± Storm said.


    ¡°Leave Dogboy alone,¡± Dhurik chimed in. He had been sitting quietly eating his meal on the far side of the campfire. Taer¡¯inar and Storm looked at each other and burst into laughter. Ithan looked over at Dhurik and felt his face get warmer.


    ¡°You¡¯re not helping,¡± Ithan growled. Dhurik shrugged and continued eating. With a huff, Ithan sat back down and resumed glaring at Taer¡¯inar as he tried to regain his composure. ¡°Are you done yet?¡± he asked as the laughter settled down to an occasional snicker.


    ¡°Yes, I?¡ªI think so,¡± Taer¡¯inar managed to say while trying to hold in another outburst. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, he looked straight at Ithan. His facial expression now had become much more serious than moments ago. He appeared to be studying Ithan again. ¡°Tell me, Mor¡¯lavan. What are you, really?¡±


    ¡°This again?¡± Ithan asked incredulously. ¡°When will you learn to leave things be?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m also still curious,¡± Storm added.


    ¡°If I tell you, will you leave me alone?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said the elf and auran at once.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ithan groaned. He took a moment to think up a good story, then began regaling the group with his lie. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I am. Everyone from my village is a kitsune, but I was born like this. No one knew what to call me, so they all just called me a freak. About two years ago, when I was fifteen?¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re only seventeen?¡± Taer¡¯inar interrupted. ¡°I should have sent you back with Fenvyre.¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ve proven I can handle myself,¡± Ithan growled. ¡°¡­Anyway. When I was fifteen the villagers tried to kill me. So I ran away.¡±


    ¡°All the way from the far east?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. ¡°I suppose it is a good thing you grew up with hunters. I can¡¯t imagine how you would have survived for so long otherwise.¡±


    ¡°So why did you come here, to Averion?¡± Storm questioned.


    ¡°It¡¯s as far away from home as I could get,¡± Ithan replied.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you miss your family?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked, leaning closer. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see them again?¡± Ithan¡¯s chest ached. If only he knew¡­ he would indeed return home one day, but it would be far from a happy ending.


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± Ithan responded as he looked up at Taer¡¯inar. ¡°I just¡­ can¡¯t.¡± The group sat in silence for a few moments before Taer¡¯inar spoke again.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re a freak,¡± he said. ¡°Or a monster.¡±


    ¡°You are a bit strange,¡± Storm added. ¡°¡­In a good way.¡±


    ¡°Er¡­ thanks,¡± he said as he lay down on the ground near the fire and looked up at the sky. The stars were beginning to emerge as the shades of night drowned out the sun. ¡°How¡¯re we getting into the mines tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°I was thinking we should carefully remove the rocks that are in the way,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t want to accidentally cause a cave-in.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a plan,¡± Storm added. ¡°Do we have a light source?¡±


    ¡°I have some torches,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as Ithan closed his eyes. ¡°Enough for a few days, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Good enough for now,¡± Storm replied. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be in there for that long.¡±


    ¡°What about food?¡± Dhurik asked.


    ¡°I have plenty of that for the four of us, as well,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied, ¡°as long as Mor¡¯lavan doesn¡¯t get to it.¡±


    ¡°Shut up, already,¡± Ithan snapped. There was a brief silence, then some shifting in the dirt.


    ¡°Good night, then,¡± Taer¡¯inar grumbled. After a grunt from Dhurik, the only sounds Ithan heard from his companions were their breathing as they attempted to sleep. Ithan opened his eyes once more to see the stars in full view beyond the now dim light from the campfire. They shine so brightly here. By the time he fell asleep, the campfire had nearly died out.


    ?????


    Ithan gazes up at the stars from his bedroom window in awe as they twinkle in the night sky. The moon is full and bright, lighting up the city below. A woman¡¯s arms are draped around him tenderly.


    ¡°Make a wish, darling,¡± a voice whispers in his ear as a streak of light flashes across the sky. Ithan closes his eyes and thinks hard about his wish. After a moment, he knows what he wants.


    ¡°I wish?¡ª¡± he begins as he opens his eyes to a crimson sky. The stars have disappeared, and the moon is nowhere to be found. The city below is drenched in the blood that falls from the sky. Ithan tenses as he looks around to find that the woman has vanished. ¡°I wish you were still here.¡±


    ?????


    Taer¡¯inar and Storm were still bundled tightly in their bedrolls when Ithan woke the next morning. Dhurik had already left the camp.


    ¡°Wake up, you two,¡± Ithan called as he stood up to stretch. Storm sat upright almost instantly, while Taer¡¯inar lay motionless.


    ¡°Five more minutes,¡± Taer¡¯inar grumbled.


    ¡°Lazy elf,¡± Ithan muttered in Elvish.


    ¡°I am not!¡± Taer¡¯inar exclaimed as he opened his eyes and pulled himself up from the ground. ¡°Who said that?¡± Storm pointed at Ithan.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Ithan said as Taer¡¯inar walked over to him. Storm simply shrugged in response.


    ¡°I am not lazy,¡± Taer¡¯inar repeated. ¡°I¡¯m just tired. It¡¯s cold here and I didn¡¯t get much sleep.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°We can¡¯t really keep Dhurik waiting, though.¡±


    ¡°I swear I didn¡¯t think he was going to be this much trouble,¡± Taer¡¯inar sighed. He packed up his bedroll and prepared to move out.


    ¡°It would¡¯ve been nice for him to wake us up before he left,¡± Storm added. ¡°Oh well. Let¡¯s go.¡± Ithan nodded as he followed behind the pair, grateful that their sleep had not been interrupted in the night by other hostile creatures.


    Dhurik was already hard at work clearing away the rubble from the entrance to the mine when the three of them arrived. He turned his head toward the group for a moment as they approached and then grabbed another rock and tossed it aside.


    ¡°How long have you been over here?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked.


    ¡°Since daybreak,¡± Dhurik grunted as he lifted a larger rock and set it next to the entrance. ¡°There¡¯s more rocks here than I thought.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been doing this for two hours already?¡± Taer¡¯inar continued. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡±


    ¡°This? It¡¯s nothing,¡± Dhurik replied. ¡°Just a warmup.¡±


    ¡°I think your warmup¡¯s over,¡± Ithan said as he stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ll clear the rest.¡± He motioned for Dhurik to step away from the rubble that remained in front of the mines. When he was a reasonable distance away, Ithan muttered an incantation and held out his hand toward the rubble. Moments later, an incredibly loud, high-pitched sound began to emanate from the rocks, forcing Ithan¡¯s companions to cover their ears. The rocks began to break apart as the sound faded, revealing the mine entrance.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Dhurik muttered as he took his hands away from his ears. ¡°That¡¯s useful.¡± Ithan smiled at his handiwork.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t do that again,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he walked over to the entrance.


    ¡°No promises,¡± Ithan replied. As the party made their way inside, Taer¡¯inar pulled out two torches, lit them, and handed them to Dhurik and Storm. There were two corridors just inside of the mine: the corridor to the left appeared to have a room near the end, but the one on the right ended abruptly with a large hole in the floor. Near the hole were the remnants of a pulley system. The rope was missing and the lever that controlled the system was destroyed.


    ¡°It¡¯s no good,¡± Taer¡¯inar said after he approached the hole and peered into it. ¡°The platform is destroyed. Did anyone bring rope, by chance?¡±


    ¡°Maybe there¡¯s some in that room over there,¡± Ithan replied as he pointed down the other corridor. He and Storm walked briskly to the room at the end of the other corridor. It was a bit small, and there were broken crates filling much of the space within. It might have once been a storage room, but now most of the crates were empty. With Storm¡¯s torch lighting the room, Ithan searched through the remains of the crates until he found an old coil of rope.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Dogboy! Blue Man!¡± Dhurik shouted from outside. ¡°Get out here!¡± When Ithan turned back toward the room¡¯s entrance, two shadowy figures stood in his path. They slowly drifted forward toward him and Storm.


    ¡°It looks like we¡¯ve got our own problems in here,¡± Storm said as he dropped his torch to ready his bow. Ithan grabbed the coil of rope and summoned his glaive. Before he had a chance to attack, the figures moved in and swiped at him and Storm. Storm was able to dodge, but Ithan felt claws scratch his left arm before he jumped away. Irritated, he uttered a spell and aimed at the creature, firing a blast of energy at it. It dissipated, and the other one did soon after with Storm dispatching it. A blast of frigid air blew through the room as they approached the entrance.


    ¡°We could use some help out here!¡± Taer¡¯inar called. Storm picked up his torch and he and Ithan ran out into the main area. Small imp-like creatures covered in ice had surrounded Dhurik and Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°What are these things?¡± Dhurik cried as he swung at one of the creatures.


    ¡°Frost sprites, I think!¡± Taer¡¯inar replied as he tried to dodge one of the creatures¡¯ attacks. He was moving more slowly than he had when he was fighting the kobolds; his legs were covered in ice.


    ¡°Sorry Taer¡¯inar,¡± Ithan called as he held out his hand to the creatures, ¡°but I¡¯m going to have to do this again.¡± He began his incantation as the sprites continued their assault on his companions.


    ¡°Do what again?¡ª¡± Taer¡¯inar began as Ithan completed his spell. Another loud sound rang out in the cave, and the sprites exploded, firing shards of ice in every direction. Dhurik and Taer¡¯inar both were skewered by the shards, and after a moment Taer¡¯inar fell to the ground. Ithan¡¯s heart sank as a pool of blood began to form beneath the elf. He dropped his glaive and rushed over. He knelt in front of him and pulled his bag off his back, searching frantically for something to stop the bleeding. He pulled the spare clothes that he had packed out and began tearing them into strips of cloth. He began wrapping the cloth around the elf¡¯s torso, being careful not to move him too much as he did so.


    ¡°He¡¯s not dead yet,¡± Dhurik said as he picked shards of ice out of his arm. ¡°But he will be if we don¡¯t hurry up and stop that bleeding.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m working on it,¡± Ithan muttered through gritted teeth. He tightened the cloth just enough to make it taut around Taer¡¯inar¡¯s body, then waited. After a few minutes, he was relieved to see Taer¡¯inar open his eyes and look up at him. ¡°Thank the gods,¡± he sighed.


    ¡°You tried to kill me,¡± Taer¡¯inar grunted as he slowly sat up, clasping his chest. He took off his pack and pulled out a glass flask that contained liquid that looked much like the blood pooled around him. He pulled the cork out of the bottle and drank it.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t try to kill you,¡± Ithan snapped. ¡°How was I supposed to know they¡¯d do that?¡±


    ¡°I was only joking,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he stared blankly at Ithan. ¡°But next time, please think about what you¡¯re doing before you use magic recklessly like that.¡± He stood up and put his pack back on. ¡°Now, shall we continue?¡±


    ¡°Hang on!¡± Ithan cried. ¡°You¡¯re in no condition to keep going! We should get you back to Greenreach!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied, pulling the cloth that Ithan had wrapped around him off his body. The wounds, to Ithan¡¯s surprise, had closed marvelously quickly. ¡°This potion I got from town did wonders.¡±


    ¡°So, I tore up my clothes for nothing¡­?¡± Ithan muttered.


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy you new ones when we get back,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. He began walking over to the hole on the other end of the cavern, followed behind by Dhurik and Storm. Ithan walked behind them, taking the rope that he had found off his shoulder. Dhurik took the rope, found a good place to tie it off, and hurled the rest of it down the hole. Now that he was here, Ithan looked down the hole to find what might have once been a platform for the elevator broken into many pieces. There were shuffling sounds coming from just beyond the hole, deeper into the mine.


    ¡°So, who¡¯s first?¡± Dhurik said.


    ¡°There¡¯s something down there,¡± Ithan whispered as he looked back to the party. ¡°Hand me your torch, Storm,¡± he said, holding out his hand to the auran. Storm complied, and Ithan tossed the torch down the hole. Two elvenoid creatures were peering out of the opening below, but retreated as the torch hit the ground in front of them.


    ¡°Oh good,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, ¡°more heads for Dhurik.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Dhurik replied. ¡°Then I¡¯m going first.¡± He grabbed on to the rope and began to climb down. As loose rock fell to the ground from under Dhurik¡¯s hooves, the creatures appeared once again, grumbling incoherently. They each wore only loincloths, and they both carried large clubs.


    ¡°Careful, Dhurik,¡± Taer¡¯inar warned.


    ¡°He¡¯ll be fine,¡± Storm said as he readied his bow. He fired an arrow at one of the creatures, piercing it through the eye. It shrieked and backed away from the elevator shaft. ¡°Taer¡¯inar, you go down next,¡± he continued as he readied another arrow. Taer¡¯inar nodded and began climbing down behind Dhurik. After he had climbed down a good distance, Ithan followed. Storm stayed stationed at the top, continuing to fire arrows at the creatures as they approached the opening at the bottom of the hole. Ithan continued climbing down as Dhurik landed and began swinging his axe at the creatures. Storm had stopped firing arrows by the time Taer¡¯inar made it to the ground and had started climbing down behind Ithan. By the time Ithan¡¯s feet touched the floor of the ruined elevator, the creatures had already been slain.


    ¡°Have at it, Dhurik,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he sheathed his swords. Without hesitation, Dhurik began beheading the corpses with glee, seven in total.


    ¡°Whoops,¡± Dhurik muttered as he picked up the last head, ¡°now there¡¯s too many heads.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a shame,¡± Ithan said, shaking his head slowly. ¡°That poor head is going to have to go on without a stake.¡± Dhurik leered at Ithan, and in defiance he forced the last head through one of the stakes that he had already mounted. ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡±


    The room here was an antechamber of sorts; there was a passage at the other end leading into the mines proper. There was a minecart filled with rocks to the left of the passage, and dirt-covered rails led from the room through the passage.


    ¡°Let¡¯s rest here a moment,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he sat on the ground. He crossed his legs and closed his eyes. ¡°Try not to disturb me while we rest.¡±


    ¡°This whole stop-and-go business is starting to tick me off,¡± Dhurik huffed, leaning against the wall. ¡°I just want to smash things.¡±


    ¡°You can smash things after I finish scoping out the area,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Now please, I need some peace.¡± While they waited, Dhurik paced around the room and Storm examined his arrows. Ithan simply watched Taer¡¯inar curiously. When Taer¡¯inar finally opened his eyes, three black bats appeared before him in a puff of smoke. He whispered something to them, and they flew off into the passage, one going to the right and the other two to the left. After another moment, he began to speak again. ¡°The right passage is fairly short and ends in a rather strange area. There seems to be a pond and¡­ a door? A large door covered in some kind of writing. I can¡¯t quite make it out through the bat¡¯s vision. The left path leads to the mines. There are a fair few gems still in the walls, and?¡ªoh!¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Storm asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re gone,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°They said, ¡®It¡¯s cold,¡¯ and then I lost them.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s best we don¡¯t go that way, then,¡± Storm said. ¡°At least, not right now.¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Let¡¯s explore the other passage for now. I want to get a better look at that door.¡± He stood up and walked toward the passage.


    ¡°Are there things to fight down that way?¡± Dhurik asked as he, Storm, and Ithan followed behind Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°I did see something floating around over there, so possibly,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. Dhurik grinned. As the group moved through the passage, they found themselves at a fork. Taer¡¯inar ushered the group toward the path on the right. Frigid air flowed out from the other path?¡ªno, it was flowing into it, as if the warmth in the air here was being sucked away. Ithan tried to ignore it, though, following his friends. After a minute or so, the tunnel opened up into a large cavern. Before them was a large pool of water that appeared to be quite deep. Large stones lay across the pool and led to a platform on the other side. On that platform, there was a giant set of stone doors, elaborately decorated with carvings on the outer edge. There was something red on the door, but Ithan could not make out what it was from here. Two small lights danced in the air above the pool of water, and occasionally flickering out of sight.


    ¡°They¡¯re pretty,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°They¡¯re will-o¡¯-wisps,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°They eat souls.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Ithan lamented. He had imagined his soul being eaten many times, but not by such small and pretty things.


    ¡°Can I kill them?¡± Dhurik asked earnestly.


    ¡°I¡¯d leave them alone,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°They probably won¡¯t bother us if we don¡¯t bother them.¡± He took a step toward the pool and prepared to jump over to the nearest boulder. However, instead of jumping forward, he pulled out his swords and jumped backward. ¡°There¡¯s something in the water,¡± he announced to the others. At this, Ithan summoned his glaive and prepared himself, looking toward the pool where Taer¡¯inar had set his sights. The water started to move unnaturally, and a tendril burst from the pool, reaching out toward Taer¡¯inar. With a quick slash, Taer¡¯inar deflected the tendril of water and it retreated back into the pool.


    ¡°Can I kill that?¡± Dhurik asked impatiently.


    ¡°Yes, please do,¡± Taer¡¯inar said.


    ¡°I can¡¯t shoot what I can¡¯t see,¡± Storm muttered. He had his bow ready and aimed at the water. When the water began to stir again, he fired at it, then let out an irritated sigh. ¡°I can¡¯t tell if I hit it if my arrows just sink through it.¡± He drew another arrow and took aim again. Another tendril appeared from the water, this time lashing out at Ithan. It wrapped around his leg and yanked at it, making him fall to the ground as it pulled him toward the water. He tried to stab at the tendril, but it seemed to be ineffective. Dhurik reached out to grab Ithan but missed, and Ithan was dragged into the pool and underneath the surface.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hit Mor¡¯lavan!¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s garbled voice called as Ithan was pulled deeper into the pool. An arrow shot past his head, glowing brilliantly with an unusual light. The force pulling him down released him momentarily, and he began kicking frantically trying to swim back up to the surface. Alas, his hooves prevented him from gaining any distance. Only a few moments later, the force once again took hold of Ithan, this time wrapping around his waist. He was almost out of time. He kept kicking as arrows continued to fly through the water, and he even tried to grab at the entity to try to break away from it. By now, his companions¡¯ shouting voices seemed far way. The lights of the will-o¡¯-wisps still danced above, though very faintly. Am I going to die? He tried once more to break free from the force dragging him down, and everything faded to black.


    ?????


    Ithan is immersed in darkness. He can see his own form, but nothing beyond that. He thinks he is floating in water, but he cannot tell. There are faint murmurings from afar, as if someone is trying to speak to him. He recognizes the voices, but he cannot place where they are from. Then, another voice rings out clearly across the vast emptiness, as if someone is standing directly in front of him.


    ¡°Why have you come here?¡± the voice says. Ithan knows this voice, too, but again cannot place it. ¡°What is it you seek?¡±


    ¡°I came here for power,¡± Ithan replies. ¡°For vengeance.¡±


    ¡°Vengeance?¡± the voice questions. ¡°Against whom?¡±


    ¡°Varian Aranis. My father.¡± The words leave him with a feeling of disgust.


    ¡°What has he done to earn your ire?¡±


    ¡°He killed my mother. He took her life right in front of me.¡±


    ¡°I see. And so, you seek to avenge her.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Ithan looks around to search for the source of the voice. ¡°Where are you? Who are you?¡±


    ¡°I am a friend. I have heard your story, and I am prepared to assist you. But in exchange you must do something for me.¡±


    ¡°What do you want from me?¡±


    ¡°When the time comes, I shall tell you.¡± Ithan feels a sudden pulse of energy course through him, and the darkness begins to change to white light. ¡°For now, Ithan Aranis¡­ Live.¡±


    ?????


    ¡°Live!¡± a voice cried as a sudden force thrust into Ithan¡¯s chest, causing him to cough up the water that was in his lungs. ¡°Oh, thank the gods!¡± When Ithan opened his eyes, he was on the ground in the cavern, with Taer¡¯inar kneeling next to him and Dhurik and Storm standing above the two of them. The lights of the will-o¡¯-wisps had vanished, and only the light of Dhurik¡¯s torch remained in the cavern.


    ¡°I¡¯m alive?¡± Ithan asked weakly. He tried to sit up but did not have the strength.


    ¡°Only just,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Your soul was nearly taken. We had to kill off the will-o¡¯-wisps after Storm took care of the water elemental.¡±


    ¡°Almost lost you there, Dogboy,¡± Dhurik huffed. ¡°Can¡¯t have that.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ithan said. He struggled again to move, then looked back up at Dhurik. ¡°By any chance, could you carry me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± Dhurik grunted as he lifted Ithan off the ground and hung him over his shoulder. ¡°I would¡¯ve liked to keep fighting, but Birdbrain wants to go back.¡±


    ¡°¡®Birdbrain¡¯, huh?¡± Ithan laughed, grinning at Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me change my mind,¡± Taer¡¯inar grumbled. ¡°We can still leave you here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re bluffing,¡± Storm muttered. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare leave a comrade here. Least of all Mor¡¯lavan.¡±


    ¡°Wh-what are you implying?¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s face twisted. Storm shrugged and followed behind Dhurik as the minotaur began carrying Ithan out of the cavern through the passage.


    ¡°Did you get to take a look at that door?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°What?¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Oh, that. We can come back later. For now, we¡¯re going back to Greenreach.¡± Ithan smiled again, grateful to his companions?¡ªhis friends?¡ªthat they would put a hold on their adventure to ensure that he could continue on with them.

 Chapter 4 - The Boisterous Braggart

    When the party approached the guard stationed at the western gate of Greenreach, he blocked their path and looked them over. By now Ithan was able to walk on his own, but Taer¡¯inar had wrapped him in an additional layer of clothing to keep him from freezing in the cold mountain air. Ithan had protested, of course, but as he shivered from his fur being drenched in water he eventually agreed.


    ¡°You lot look a bit worse for wear than when you left a couple of days ago,¡± the guard said as he eyed Taer¡¯inar. ¡°But at least you¡¯re not dead.¡±


    ¡°Did Fenvyre make it back okay?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked.


    ¡°Yes, she got back to town yesterday morning,¡± the dragonkin replied. ¡°She was with an enforcement unit. I figured he helped her get back after you all got killed.¡±


    ¡°The mines were too dangerous,¡± Taer¡¯inar explained, ¡°so we sent her back with him. I¡¯m glad to hear they are safe.¡±


    ¡°Oh, did you clear the mines, then?¡± the dragonkin asked expectantly.


    ¡°Er¡­ no,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered, lowering his head. The guard frowned. ¡°I want to know more about what¡¯s actually down there before going back.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s unfortunate,¡± the dragonkin replied. ¡°We were really hoping to be able to access those mines again by springtime.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s still plenty of time for that,¡± Storm said. ¡°We just need to prepare better next time.¡±


    ¡°If you say so. Well, I won¡¯t keep you any longer.¡± The guard looked at Ithan, who still shook every so often as he listened to the conversation. ¡°That one there looks like he¡¯s going to freeze over. Get him on over to someplace warm.¡± He stepped aside to allow the group passage, and as they passed, he smiled and said, ¡°Laht favor you.¡± Ithan heard this many more times among the other dragonkin as the party made their way through town, and when they arrived at the square, there was a small group of young dragonkin gathered around the ignan.


    ¡°Laht watches from above and grants favors to those she finds worthy,¡± the ignan¡¯s voice rang, ¡°and if she grants you a favor, you are quite fortuitous! But remember, children, you must earn her favor! Take risks! Seek adventure! Only then will she grant you her divine grace!¡± Then, as the ignan raised their hands above their head, the dragonkin scattered across the square.


    ¡°Laht favor you!¡± some of the children shouted as they rushed past the group. Ithan nodded as they passed, watching them retreat into their homes. Home. This¡­ could be home.


    ¡°Hello, friends!¡± the ignan called, breaking Ithan¡¯s train of thought. ¡°Have you returned to hear the teachings of Laht?¡± They approached the party slowly, their smile widening as their gaze met Ithan¡¯s.


    ¡°We¡¯re not interested in your false god,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. The aggravation in his voice was nearly palpable.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t the slightest idea what you mean, dear elf,¡± the ignan said, cocking their head to the side as they looked at Taer¡¯inar. ¡°Laht is just as real as any of us. I, Apostalite, have been given the humble task of spreading the good word of Laht across these lands.¡± They looked back at Ithan, their face beaming. ¡°It would seem you have already earned her favor, my lovely Mor¡¯lavan.¡±


    ¡°Wh-what?¡ª¡± Ithan stuttered as the ignan ran up to him. They grabbed his hands and warmth began to spread through his body from them.


    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s no mistaking it!¡± the ignan shouted with glee. ¡°You have been graced with Laht¡¯s presence! Tell me, how does it feel?¡±


    ¡°I feel like I almost died yesterday,¡± Ithan muttered as he pulled his hands away from the ignan.


    ¡°Ah, but you didn¡¯t!¡± the ignan continued. ¡°And why? Laht found you worthy, so you were saved by your friends!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough of this,¡± Taer¡¯inar grumbled. ¡°If you want to keep freezing out here, Mor¡¯lavan, be my guest.¡± He stomped past the ignan toward the inn.


    ¡°I should be going,¡± Ithan said to the ignan as Storm and Dhurik followed Taer¡¯inar. With a wave, he stepped away past the fountain, eyeing the ignan carefully as he walked. When he entered the inn, Taer¡¯inar and Storm were ascending the staircase and Dhurik was drinking at the bar.


    ¡°You!¡± Briryn shouted from behind the bar. ¡°Get your sorry-looking self over here!¡± Ithan shuddered. Maybe if he ran now he could avoid Briryn¡¯s wrath. Before he could act, though, two dragonkin at a nearby table grabbed him and brought him over to the bar. Briryn motioned for the pair to leave, then grabbed one of Ithan¡¯s antlers and yanked his head close. The pressure he felt on his skull was nearly unbearable. ¡°I told you to take care of little Fenvyre, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes,¡± Ithan managed to say through the pain.


    ¡°What did I say I¡¯d do if something happened to her?¡± Briryn continued as he pulled on Ithan¡¯s antler again.


    ¡°Y-you said you¡¯d¨D¡± Ithan cried. He looked over at Dhurik, who seemed to be oblivious to what was happening next to him.


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky that enforcement unit brought her back safe,¡± Briryn muttered as he let go of Ithan. ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll really do it. You understand?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes sir,¡± Ithan stuttered as he pressed a hand to his head.


    ¡°Now get upstairs and rest,¡± Briryn said. ¡°I¡¯ve got chores for you later.¡±


    ¡°Chores?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to break your antlers off because little Fenvyre¡¯s safe,¡± Briryn explained, ¡°but I am going to make you do chores for almost getting yourself killed.¡± He pointed behind him at the kitchen doorway. ¡°You¡¯re going to be in there cleaning tonight.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir,¡± Ithan repeated. It was the least he could do to repay Briryn for allowing him to sleep here. ¡°When should I start?¡±


    ¡°Get rested up now. I¡¯ll send someone up to get you when I need you,¡± Briryn replied. ¡°All right, big guy, don¡¯t drink yourself into a coma, now.¡± Dhurik gulped down the mug of beer that Briryn had set in front of him. Ithan shook his head and retreated away from the bar and up the stairs. The door to his room was slightly open. Expecting Ian to be inside, he quickly kicked it the rest of the way.


    ¡°Lava!¡± Fenvyre shouted from behind him as the door slammed against the wall. Before he could turn around, he was being squeezed tightly by the green dragonkin. ¡°I was wondering where you were!¡±


    ¡°I was having a nice chat with Briryn,¡± Ithan gasped. ¡°Could you let go of me, please?¡±


    ¡°Not yet!¡± Fenvyre protested. ¡°Your fur is so cold, I¡¯m trying to warm you up!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t breathe.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Sorry!¡± Fenvyre loosened her hold on Ithan, but kept her arms wrapped around him. ¡°How¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Better,¡± Ithan replied, ¡°but I really need to lie down.¡±


    ¡°Aw, not feeling good?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a rough couple of days,¡± Ithan said. ¡°I just need to relax before my chores.¡±


    ¡°Chores?!¡± Fenvyre cried, releasing Ithan and spinning him around to face her. ¡°Briryn¡¯s making you do chores?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t keep my word to him, so I owe him.¡± Ithan backed into his room. ¡°We can talk later, okay?¡± Fenvyre frowned.


    ¡°Fine, I guess,¡± she muttered. ¡°But don¡¯t let him push you around too much. See you later.¡± She stepped away from the doorway so that Ithan could close the door behind him. He locked the door, then took a look around his room. Ian did not seem to be hiding anywhere. He would not have found anything to steal anyway.


    Ithan took off his armor and the clothing that Taer¡¯inar had given him and set them in a pile next to his bed. He took the boots from his bed and set them and his bag next to the pile, then threw himself onto the bed and tried to make himself comfortable. He lay on his back for a while, his hands behind his head, before shifting to his side, his back facing the window. He closed his eyes and tried to think about something relaxing. A song came to his mind from long ago, a lullaby that his mother used to sing to him. It was in a language he did not know, but just remembering the melody gave him comfort as he rested.


    A few hours passed before Ithan¡¯s stomach began to growl. He reached over to his bag to search for food. When he found none, he got out of bed and started making his way down to the bar.


    ¡°Hi there, doggie!¡± Ian called from across the hall as Ithan opened his door. He grinned as he held up a stick about as long as he was tall. ¡°Wanna play?¡±


    ¡°Go away, runt,¡± Ithan snarled. He closed his door, locked it, and began walking down the hall.


    ¡°Aw, come on,¡± Ian said as he followed behind Ithan. ¡°Are you still mad at me from the other day?¡±


    ¡°No, I just don¡¯t like you,¡± Ithan grumbled.


    ¡°Harsh words from a mongrel.¡±


    ¡°Just thought you should know. You know, dogs are more likely to bite people they don¡¯t like.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t bite me,¡± Ian taunted. Ithan spun around on the stairs. He had already taken a few steps down, so he was at eye level with Ian. He let out a growl and bared his teeth. Instead of fleeing, Ian smacked the top of Ithan¡¯s head with the stick. Ithan yelped. ¡°Bad dog.¡± The halfling backed away as Ithan reached out for him, running back to his room and slammed the door shut.


    ¡°Brat,¡± Ithan muttered. He turned back and descended the stairs. The tavern area had become packed with dragonkin. Briryn was busy serving drinks to the ones at the bar, and Fenvyre was dancing around the crowded tables serving food. Ithan spotted Taer¡¯inar, Storm, and Dhurik eating at a table in the far corner of the room and began making his way through the sea of people over to them. A gnome was seated with them, waving his hands about as he talked.


    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be resting!¡± Fenvyre called as Ithan passed her on his way to the table.


    ¡°I got hungry,¡± Ithan shouted, trying to make sure she heard him over the people around them. ¡°Who¡¯s that with the others?¡± he asked as he pointed to his companions.


    ¡°I forget his name, but he¡¯s very loud,¡± Fenvyre replied. ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, go over and join them. We¡¯ll talk later.¡± She squeezed past Ithan toward the bar to grab another tray of food. Ithan pushed his way through to the table where his companions sat.


    ¡°There he is!¡± Taer¡¯inar yelled as he noticed Ithan approaching. His face was less pale and more light pink. He and Storm were surrounded by various bottles of liquor. ¡°Come, sit and eat with us!¡±


    ¡°Birdbrain and Blue Man tried out-drinking me,¡± Dhurik said as Ithan looked over at him. He took a seat between Dhurik and the gnome.


    ¡°Hello there!¡± the gnome shouted. ¡°I am Bimpnottin Bafflestone! And who might you be?¡±


    ¡°Er¡­ Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Ithan replied. The gnome¡¯s demeanor was quite similar to the ignan¡¯s.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°A pleasure!¡± Bimpnottin continued. ¡°I was just regaling these fine gentlemen here with some of my great achievements!¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Ithan feigned interest while Taer¡¯inar struggled to open another bottle of wine. ¡°Do tell.¡±


    ¡°Why, of course, my fine¡­ whatever you are!¡± Bimpnottin said as he looked Ithan over. ¡°You see, I am widely regarded as the greatest wizard of the time!¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s face scrunched up at this claim, which Ithan took to mean that he objected. ¡°I can perform magic unlike any you have ever seen!¡±


    ¡°Would you care to show me some of this magic?¡± Ithan asked. He had his doubts about Bimpnottin¡¯s claims, but he had to admit that he was just a bit interested in what the gnome could do. A powerful wizard could be a useful tool for fighting Varian.


    ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Bimpnottin replied. ¡°Shall we step outside for a moment, then?¡± He hopped out of his chair and began walking through the tavern toward the entrance. Ithan grabbed a piece of meat from the table, shoved it into his mouth, and ran through the crowd after the gnome, leaving the others to their drinking.


    Ithan was able to get a better look at the gnome outside in the sunlight. He stood just over half as tall as Ithan?¡ªperhaps a tad taller than Ian. His short red hair stuck out in all different directions. His beard, unlike the rest of his hair, was well-trimmed and ended in a point not far from his chin.


    ¡°Now then, let¡¯s begin!¡± Bimpnottin exclaimed as he waved his hands in the air. Before he could cast any spells, however, a scream echoed through the square. ¡°Well, that was quite disruptive, wasn¡¯t it? Now where was I? Oh, yes!¡± Ithan ran past Bimpnottin toward the source of the cry. ¡°Where are you going? Don¡¯t you want to be amazed by my powerful magic?¡± Ithan ignored him as he rushed past the fountain.


    ¡°¡­taken by spiders!¡± a young woman sobbed as he got closer to the western gate. When he rounded the corner, he found the guard comforting a young dragonkin near the gate.


    ¡°Are you sure? The Spider Forest?¡± the guard asked her.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the woman replied. ¡°The tracks lead right to the forest, through a hole in the webbing.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Ithan asked as he approached the pair.


    ¡°Sonys¡¯s family was abducted by giant spiders, she says,¡± the guard replied. ¡°Taken as food, no doubt.¡± The woman began to wail as he said this. Ithan scowled at the guard, who winced and shrunk back a bit. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sonys, I meant that¡­ um¡­¡±


    ¡°Where is this Spider Forest?¡± Ithan interrupted. The guard¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°I-it¡¯s to the south of the trail you took to get to Rockfall,¡± the guard stuttered.


    ¡°Easy enough. Miss Sonys?¡± Ithan knelt down to be at eye level with the woman.


    ¡°Y-yes?¡± Sonys cried.


    ¡°How many of your family were taken?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°M-my parents and m-my little brother and s-sister,¡± she replied. ¡°They were taken right from our home!¡±


    ¡°Her family lives on a small farm outside of town,¡± the guard explained. ¡°Her parents refuse to move within the city for better protection.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring them back,¡± Ithan declared. The guard¡¯s and Sonys¡¯s eyes went wide with shock.


    ¡°Are you mad?¡± the guard cried. ¡°There¡¯re countless spiders in that forest!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of a few spiders,¡± Ithan said. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ll have some help.¡± He held out his hand to Sonys. ¡°I can escort you over to the inn, if you¡¯d like.¡± Sonys slowly took Ithan¡¯s hand, rising with him as he stood up.


    ¡°Th-thank you,¡± Sonys sniffled as Ithan began walking with her back toward the square. She wiped the tears from her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re a lot nicer than you look.¡±


    ¡°I get that a lot,¡± Ithan chuckled. ¡°Say, you¡¯re friends with Fenvyre, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Sonys said. ¡°Well, I¡¯d say we¡¯re a bit more than friends¡­ Oh, that means you must be Mor¡¯lavan, right?¡±


    ¡°She told you about me,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°She tells me everything.¡± The dragonkin was calmer now, though still sniffling. At least he was able to lift her spirits just a little. By the time they reached the fountain, Bimpnottin was gone. The ignan was there instead, shouting their daily prayers to Laht.


    ¡°Oh my, what have we here?¡± the ignan asked as Ithan and Sonys passed. ¡°What ails you, dear child?¡±


    ¡°Not a good time,¡± Ithan said curtly.


    ¡°I was not speaking to you,¡± the ignan retorted. They turned to Sonys. ¡°Now, tell your friend Apostalite what is troubling you.¡±


    ¡°My family was taken by spiders,¡± Sonys replied. Tears began to form in her eyes again. Ithan narrowed his eyes at the ignan.


    ¡°Dear child, worry not,¡± the ignan said, smiling at Sonys. ¡°Laht smiles upon you.¡± Sonys sniffled and gave a light smile in return.


    ¡°Thank you, Apostalite,¡± Sonys said as she and Ithan continued on past the fountain and into the tavern.


    ¡°Sonys!¡± Briryn called as he saw her entering the tavern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Do you have a spare room?¡± Ithan asked as he brought Sonys closer to the bar. ¡°She needs somewhere to stay for a while.¡±


    ¡°I think so, but what¡¯s going on?¡± Briryn asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain in a minute,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°Can I get a key?¡± Briryn fumbled through his pockets for a moment before producing a key. ¡°Thanks.¡± He escorted Sonys up the stairs and to the corresponding room at the end of the hall. He unlocked the door for her and handed her the key.


    ¡°Thank you again,¡± Sonys said. ¡°Please be careful.¡±


    ¡°Leave everything to me,¡± Ithan replied. Sonys smiled and nodded. Ithan closed the door, leaving Sonys to herself, then rushed back down the stairs to the bar.


    ¡°Oi, what¡¯s going on?¡± Briryn yelled at Ithan.


    ¡°Sonys¡¯s family¡¯s been taken by giant spiders, and I need people to come with me to help them,¡± Ithan replied hastily. ¡°I¡¯m going to need to do those chores later.¡± Briryn stared at Ithan for a moment, then shook his head.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to the Spider Forest, then?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes sir,¡± Ithan said. ¡°And I¡¯m in a bit of a hurry, so I¡¯m not really asking for permission.¡± He walked away from the bar over toward his companions, who were still at the table in the corner.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to get yourself killed?¡± Briryn called after him.


    ¡°Hey, I need some help,¡± Ithan said to the group as he approached them. Dhurik and Bimpnottin looked up attentively. Taer¡¯inar and Storm, on the other hand, were hunched over each other and not paying attention at all. ¡°A family was taken by giant spiders, and I want to go help them. Dhurik, you¡¯d get to smash things?¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Dhurik interrupted.


    ¡°Great,¡± Ithan said. ¡°And Bimpnottin, I would really like your help as well.¡±


    ¡°Why of course!¡± Bimpnottin replied. ¡°I have killed many a giant spider in my day!¡± Ithan rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the others.


    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t think Taer¡¯inar and Storm are up for this,¡± Ithan muttered. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said to Dhurik and Bimpnottin. He led them out of the tavern into the square.


    ¡°Lava!¡± Fenvyre called as the group made their way to the fountain. She was carrying Ithan¡¯s armor. When she reached the group, she started putting it on him. ¡°Why do you have to go and be a hero?¡±


    ¡°What, should we just let them die?¡± Ithan retorted.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ You almost died yesterday and you¡¯re already going out again to somewhere else dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Who told you about that?¡±


    ¡°Taer is super drunk right now.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Fenvyre put her hands on her hips as she finished tightening Ithan¡¯s armor. ¡°I¡¯m coming with you, just in case.¡±


    ¡°No offense, Tree-Hugger,¡± Dhurik said, ¡°but last time we chopped something up you freaked out.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t stand living things being killed,¡± Fenvyre said. ¡°But Sonys¡¯s family is more important to me than spiders.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ithan asked. ¡°There might be a lot of killing.¡± Fenvyre¡¯s face tightened.


    ¡°I¡¯m just going to have to get over it,¡± she replied. ¡°I want to help Sonys, too.¡±


    ¡°Pardon me!¡± Apostalite called from the fountain. They stepped over and joined the group. ¡°Have I heard correctly that you are searching for that young girl¡¯s family?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Bimpnottin exclaimed. ¡°We are off to the Spider Forest!¡±


    ¡°I see!¡± Apostalite grinned. ¡°Then I shall accompany you!¡±


    ¡°¡­Why?¡± Ithan asked slowly.


    ¡°I have a wonderful feeling that Laht will favor us if I do!¡± they replied. ¡°Let us be off!¡±


    ¡°Indeed!¡± Bimpnottin added as he and Apostalite marched off toward the western gate. They were quite the pair. Ithan followed behind with Fenvyre and Dhurik. When they arrived at the western gate, the guard looked over the group and nodded at Ithan.


    ¡°Do you know where you¡¯re headed?¡± the guard asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m leading them to Sonys¡¯s family¡¯s farm to look around there,¡± Fenvyre answered. ¡°We¡¯ll be able to follow from there, I think.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d better hurry, then,¡± the guard said. ¡°Looks like it might snow soon. Wouldn¡¯t want those tracks getting covered up.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Fenvyre said, smiling at the guard. She walked ahead of Bimpnottin and Apostalite. ¡°The farm¡¯s not far from here. Let¡¯s go!¡± She turned and started running down the road. The group followed close behind, keeping easy pace with Fenvyre. Roughly two miles down the road, they came across a small house surrounded by fence posts.


    ¡°Is this it?¡± Dhurik asked, looking around for something to fight.


    ¡°Yep, this is Sonys¡¯s house,¡± Fenvyre replied. ¡°Not much to look at now, but they always have the best crops in the springtime.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a look around,¡± Ithan said as he walked up toward the house. He had to walk around the house to find the front door, which had been broken down. When he moved closer, he found black stains splattered over the walls and floor of the home. Most of the furniture was ruined, and some of the paintings that hung on the walls had been torn apart.


    ¡°Well, they didn¡¯t go without a fight,¡± Dhurik said from behind Ithan. He stepped into the house and went to examine the stains. ¡°This is blood.¡±


    ¡°Is it?¡± Fenvyre asked, trying hard not to look closely at it. ¡°It¡¯s black, though.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s probably spider blood,¡± Dhurik explained. ¡°It¡¯s still a little fresh, not dried out yet.¡± He pointed behind the group. ¡°There¡¯s still tracks in the snow. The spiders probably wrapped them up and dragged them away.¡±


    ¡°Well let¡¯s go help them, then!¡± Fenvyre shouted. The group followed the trail another mile until they came upon a forest densely covered in spider webs. The trail continued for another mile and eventually turned southward into the forest. Unfortunately, there did not seem to be an actual entrance to the forest, as the trail ended in a wall of webs. If there had been a hole in the webbing as Sonys had said, it was gone now.


    ¡°Oh dear, however will we get through?¡± Apostalite asked.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to cut our way through,¡± Ithan replied as he summoned his glaive. Dhurik took his axe off his back and assisted Ithan in hacking away the webs that blocked the group¡¯s passage. As they moved deeper into the forest, the light from the sun began to fade as the webbing on the trees got thicker. After some time, the webs on the forest floor became less dense as the group moved into a sort of clearing within the forest. Within this clearing was a small hut with smoke coming from the chimney.


    ¡°Could they be in there?¡± Fenvyre asked hopefully.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go see!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. ¡°With any luck, our mission is already done!¡± He walked eagerly toward the hut with Fenvyre.


    ¡°We should back them up, Dogboy,¡± Dhurik grunted. With a nod, Ithan followed Dhurik, with Apostalite following behind him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure,¡± Apostalite muttered, ¡°but this might not be the best of plans.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯d be foolish not to investigate,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°Dhurik, you¡¯re ready to fight if things go bad, right?¡± Dhurik huffed in response. They carefully approached the structure. The door to the hut was wide open, but the inside was pitch black.


    ¡°Anyone in there?¡± Fenvyre called. ¡°Hisashi? Nazita?¡± She took a step toward the door. ¡°Anyone?¡± Suddenly, a spray of silk shot out from within the hut, wrapping around Fenvyre¡¯s leg. She cried out as the silk tightened and pulled her off her feet. Then, as Dhurik cut away at the silk, another spray covered his face, causing him to swing wildly around him.


    ¡°Dhurik, careful!¡± Ithan cried as he tried to see what was attacking them. He could not get a good look inside the hut without being a target for their unknown assailant. So, he blindly channeled a blast of energy into the hut hoping to hit their attacker. Something inside uttered a strange cry, and a monstrous creature ran out of the hut. The creature stood around seven feet tall and had large, spider-like mandibles. Its hands and feet ended in two-toed claws, and its entire body was covered in a layer of short hair. It screeched at Ithan as it shot webs from its mouth. Ithan was able to dodge well now that he was able to see the creature, but he was unable to get close to it. He tried to fire another blast of energy, but he missed while moving out of the way of another web. The creature let out another screech, and giant spiders began to surround the group from the trees.


    ¡°That¡¯s a lot of spiders!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. He pointed at one of the spiders and fired a blast of energy at it.


    ¡°More things for me to smash!¡± Dhurik exclaimed, having finally gotten the webbing off his face. He leapt at one of the spiders and cleaved it in two. Apostalite fired their own blasts of magic to aid in the fight as Ithan tried to get Fenvyre free from the webs that the large creature had made. In his desperation, he did not see the creature approaching him and was knocked onto the ground a few feet away.


    ¡°Lava!¡± Fenvyre cried as the creature lifted her up and began carrying her away. She struggled to get free, but the webs were too tightly wrapped. The spiders continued to assault the rest of the group for a while, then retreated into the trees after the creature was out of sight. Ithan tried to run after the creature in the direction it had headed, but Bimpnottin stood in his way.


    ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous to go deeper!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. ¡°The spiders will eat us all!¡±


    ¡°What happened to the ¡®greatest wizard of the time?¡¯¡± Ithan asked. ¡°There¡¯s nothing great about you. And you¡¯re hardly a wizard.¡±


    ¡°I am so!¡± Bimpnottin argued. ¡°And I am great!¡±


    ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Ithan yelled as he ran past the gnome and out of the clearing.


    ¡°Oh dear,¡± Apostalite said as Ithan entered back into the web-covered trees, ¡°Laht needs to shine a little brighter to get through all these webs, it seems.¡± He turned his head for just a moment as he ran; Dhurik and Apostalite had caught up to him and were close behind. He ran through the trees for a while, cutting away at the webs as quickly as he could. He would not let Fenvyre get hurt. He would save her and everyone else.

 Chapter 5 - Spiders Lair

    ¡°Are you sure you know where you¡¯re going?¡± Dhurik asked as Ithan slashed through another net of webs.


    ¡°That thing went this way, I¡¯m sure of it,¡± Ithan replied. His breathing had become frantic as he led Apostalite and Dhurik through the forest. In his panic, he had more than once gotten himself caught in the many webs surrounding the group, and some of them still clung to his fur.


    ¡°Worry not, dear Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Apostalite said, ¡°we are sure to find Fenvyre so long as we have Laht¡¯s blessing.¡±


    ¡°Will you shut up about Laht for two seconds?¡± Ithan shouted as he stopped and turned to the ignan. ¡°Your so-called god hasn¡¯t ¡®blessed¡¯ me, and she certainly isn¡¯t helping us now.¡±


    ¡°Why of course she is!¡± Apostalite exclaimed, grinning as they pointed behind Ithan. ¡°Look there!¡± Ithan turned and squinted in that direction; there was a tower in the distance, beyond the thicket of webs.


    ¡°How about that,¡± Dhurik muttered. After cutting through more webbing, the group found themselves at the edge of another large clearing, with the tower at its center. It, too, was covered in webs. Underneath the webs, the stone walls of the tower were heavily eroded, and in some places near the top they had crumbled completely. A set of stairs leading up to a pair of wooden doors was guarded by two creatures similar to the one that had carried Fenvyre off. Their mandibles twitched as they stood on either side of the doors. ¡°This¡¯ll be easy,¡± Dhurik said as he readied his axe. Apostalite put out a hand in front of the minotaur.


    ¡°Surely there are not just the two,¡± Apostalite said. ¡°We would be wise not to charge in.¡± Dhurik huffed in frustration.


    ¡°If we take care of them quietly, we¡¯ll be fine,¡± Ithan said. He looked back at Apostalite. ¡°Can you use magic at long range?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course!¡± they replied. ¡°Which one shall I hit?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the left one. You can take the right.¡± Ithan took aim at the creature closest to him and fired a blast of energy at it. Apostalite simultaneously fired their own magic at the other creature, and both blasts hit their marks. Unfortunately, the creatures were sturdier than Ithan anticipated. Instead of falling dead to the ground, the creatures tilted up their heads and began to shriek.


    ¡°Nice job,¡± Dhurik grunted. ¡°No point in hiding now, is there?¡± He ran out into the clearing just as a group of giant spiders began climbing down from the top of the tower.


    ¡°I suppose not,¡± Apostalite said as they followed Dhurik. They fired another blast of magic at the creature they had targeted before as they ran. Ithan shook his head and followed suit, readying his glaive for combat. Dhurik rushed the creatures guarding the doors, slamming his axe into the one on his left. The creature shrieked again before collapsing on the ground. The other one tried to spit webs at Dhurik, but a blow from Apostalite¡¯s magic caused it to miss. As the spiders finished their descent and made their way to the group, the doors to the tower flew open, throwing Dhurik and the remaining spider-like creature off the stairs.


    ¡°Stupid spiders,¡± Dhurik muttered as he picked himself up from the ground. He ran around to the foot of the stairs.


    ¡°Who are you trespassers?¡± a raspy voice cried from just inside the tower. The inside of the tower was completely dark, and the sunlight above did not reach the source of the voice. ¡°Begone from here, or I will have you join the others.¡±


    ¡°Was it you who kidnapped the dragonkin?¡± Ithan called.


    ¡°They serve a greater purpose now,¡± the voice replied. ¡°I have less use for you, but I am sure I can find something.¡±


    ¡°We demand that you release them at once!¡± Apostalite shouted as they joined Dhurik. Ithan kept his distance but began attempting to cast a spell centered at the entrance of the tower. However, before he could finish the spell, all went silent around him. He tried to call out to Dhurik and Apostalite, but his voice was gone. A large creature exited the tower into the sunlight. It had the body of a spider, but where its head would have been, there was instead the upper body of a male elf. The elf¡¯s skin was a light gray, and his hair was long and black. He carried a staff made of twisted dark wood.


    ¡°I know that spell,¡± the creature said. ¡°I will not have such noisy magic near my home.¡±


    ¡°Shut up already,¡± Dhurik retorted. He ran up the stairs and swung his axe at the creature. The creature deflected the attack, then retreated back into the tower. The doors closed forcefully behind it before Dhurik could follow. ¡°Coward!¡± he shouted.


    ¡°You are too unsightly for my needs,¡± the creature called from inside the tower. ¡°You will serve as food instead.¡± The spiders that had descended from the tower and the remaining spider-like creature then began to move in on the group, spitting webs and trying to grab at them. Still unable to speak, Ithan slashed at the spiders attacking him. Dhurik made quick work of the other creature, cutting its head clean off and kicking at another spider. Apostalite continued firing magical blasts at the spiders surrounding the group, only once stopping to treat their wounds after a spider bit them. Eventually, the group managed to kill the spiders assaulting them, and they made their way up to the doors. Dhurik tried to pry them open but could not get them to budge. He then tried to break down the door, both with his axe and his own horns, but the door remained unscathed.


    ¡°He must have used magic to seal the door,¡± Apostalite said. ¡°We will not be able to get in if he does not open it for us.¡± Ithan¡¯s blood began to boil. He motioned for Apostalite and Dhurik to step away from the doors. He mouthed the words to the spell he had attempted earlier and held out his hand, and to his surprise, the doors opened once more.


    ¡°How did you do that?¡± Dhurik asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ithan replied as he turned to the minotaur. ¡°Oh! I can talk again!¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t,¡± a voice called from the foot of the stairs. Standing there, covered in webs, were Taer¡¯inar, Storm, and Bimpnottin. Taer¡¯inar¡¯s owl rested on his shoulder.


    ¡°It was I!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. ¡°You see? I am the greatest wizard?¡ª¡±


    ¡°You left us back in town, you know,¡± Taer¡¯inar interrupted.


    ¡°You were drunk,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°What use are a swordsman and an archer if they can¡¯t see straight?¡±


    ¡°That¡­ is entirely fair,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°But we are here now. Let us press on before something happens to Fenvyre.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what we¡¯re fighting?¡± Ithan asked. ¡°The creature we face is an elf but has a spider¡¯s body instead of legs. Taer¡¯inar lifted an eyebrow, his eyes glimmering with curiosity.


    ¡°There is another elf here?¡± he asked. ¡°Now this I must see.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not our goal here,¡± Storm sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s get Fenvyre and get out.¡± He ascended the staircase with Taer¡¯inar and Bimpnottin, and the group stepped inside. Other than a few bones scattered across the floor, the inside of the tower was completely bare. There were two sets of stairs on the far side of the room, one leading up and the other leading down.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send Nyctea up to see if there is anything up there,¡± Taer¡¯inar said quietly. The owl flew off of his shoulder, carefully avoiding the webs strewn around the room, and disappeared up the staircase. ¡°There is nothing in the room above us,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered, ¡°but I do see the elf on the third story. Oh my, so that¡¯s what they look like? How fascinating?¡ª¡±


    ¡°What about Fenvyre?¡± Ithan growled. ¡°And the other dragonkin?¡±


    ¡°I see a number of things wrapped in webs with the elf,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°They¡¯re roughly dragonkin-sized, but they¡¯re not moving.¡± Ithan rushed past Taer¡¯inar onto the staircase leading up to the second floor. It was as Taer¡¯inar said; the second floor was just as empty as the first. He started making his way to the third floor when he felt a hand grab his leg. Taer¡¯inar and Apostalite had followed him up, and Taer¡¯inar was now holding him back.


    ¡°We should think about this for a moment,¡± Apostalite whispered. ¡°Do we have a plan for dealing with this creature?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need a plan,¡± Ithan said. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s foolish,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°He can clearly use strong magic. Do you really think he¡¯ll let you walk up to him and kill him?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t give him a chance to fight back,¡± Ithan growled. ¡°Now let go of me.¡± He kicked at Taer¡¯inar, who released his grip on Ithan¡¯s leg just in time to avoid being hit in the face by his hoof. Ithan sprang up the stairs onto the third floor and was immediately met by a spray of web that stuck him to the wall.


    ¡°You¡¯re not very smart, are you?¡± the spider-elf croaked from the other side of the room. He stood behind what appeared to be an altar stained with blood. A dagger lay on top of the altar.


    ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Ithan grunted as he tried to break free. As he struggled, Taer¡¯inar and Apostalite silently crept up the stairs below him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe I need to explain myself to you,¡± the spider-elf replied. He tapped his staff on the floor twice. ¡°You¡¯ll all be dead soon, anyway.¡± A few moments passed, Ithan still struggling and Taer¡¯inar and Apostalite remaining out of the creature¡¯s sight, before Bimpnottin began shouting from below.


    ¡°Begone, foul creatures!¡± he cried. A loud boom sounded, and the tower began to shake.


    ¡°What are those pests doing to my home?!¡± the spider-elf yelled. He picked up the dagger and moved one of the dragonkin-sized webbed figures on top of the altar. Then, just as he was about to plunge the dagger down, Nyctea flew down from one of the rafters and begin attacking the spider-elf. ¡°Get out of my face, you disgusting vermin!¡± he cried, trying to swat at the owl with the dagger as it scratched at him with its talons. Now that he was distracted, Taer¡¯inar and Apostalite hurried up from the stairs and began a magical assault. Each of them fired their own magical energies at him, causing him to drop the dagger as he tried to deflect the blasts.


    ¡°Apostalite, keep him busy!¡± Taer¡¯inar shouted as he unsheathed his swords. As Apostalite continued their torrent of magical blasts, Taer¡¯inar widened his stance and held his swords out at his sides. For a moment as he stood there, a faint humming emanated from around him. Then, blades in hand, Taer¡¯inar dashed to the spider-elf unnaturally quickly and sliced into him before he could react. In a cry of agony, the creature fell to the ground, black blood spilling out of it onto the floor.


    ¡°H-have mercy,¡± he pleaded weakly. Taer¡¯inar wasted no time stabbing the creature through the chest. As it lay there, its legs twitching, Taer¡¯inar turned and walked back over to Ithan.


    ¡°To think one of my own would turn to such dark magic,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. The words stung Ithan like wasps. Taer¡¯inar then quickly cut Ithan free from the webs. ¡°You really are a piece of work. Think before you act.¡±


    ¡°Not really my strong suit,¡± Ithan replied as the tower shook again. ¡°Let¡¯s get these people out of here before the tower comes down on us.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s too many bodies here to carry out,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. As he said this, the body on the altar wiggled. ¡°Oh good, they¡¯re not all dead.¡± Ithan walked over to the altar and cut open the webbing around the body. Inside was a male dragonkin.


    ¡°Don¡¯t eat me!¡± the dragonkin cried as he looked at Ithan in terror. ¡°You¡¯ll get indigestion!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to eat you,¡± Ithan said as he continued cutting the webbing around the dragonkin. ¡°Do I look like a spider to you?¡±


    ¡°Well, no, I suppose not.¡± After enough webbing had been cut away from the dragonkin¡¯s scales, he was able to move around enough to sit up. ¡°So, you came to help me?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as began cutting the webbing around another of the bodies.


    ¡°Are you Sonys¡¯s father, by chance?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°You know Sonys?!¡± the dragonkin replied, grabbing Ithan¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Is she all right? Did she get away? What about the rest of my family?¡± His eyes were filled with panic.


    ¡°Please, sir, do settle down,¡± Apostalite interrupted. They smiled warmly at the dragonkin. ¡°Dear Sonys is safe in Greenreach, and we are helping the rest of your family now.¡± The dragonkin let out a sigh of relief and let go of Ithan.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°I found Fenvyre,¡± Taer¡¯inar called. Ithan looked quickly in his direction to see him standing over the unconscious Fenvyre. No, unconscious was not quite right; her eyes were wide open.


    ¡°Paralysis?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It should wear off soon,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. He finished clearing the webbing from around Fenvyre, then proceeded to do the same with the other bodies. Among them were another dragonkin woman and two smaller dragonkin.


    ¡°Oh, thank the gods!¡± the male dragonkin exclaimed.


    ¡°Hey, Birdbrain!¡± Dhurik called from below. ¡°How¡¯s it going up there?¡±


    ¡°We need some muscle up here!¡± Taer¡¯inar called back. ¡°Help us carry out these dragonkin!¡± Dhurik¡¯s hooves clopped against the stone, and soon he appeared from the stairs. ¡°Take Fenvyre out of here,¡± he said. Dhurik lifted her up over his shoulder and carried her down the stairs.


    ¡°I¡¯ll carry my wife out,¡± the dragonkin said. He took the woman into his arms. ¡°You look pretty sturdy,¡± he said to Ithan. ¡°Could you take my children for me, please?¡±


    ¡°Uh, sure,¡± Ithan replied. He made his glaive disappear, picked up one of the children in each arm, then carried them down behind the dragonkin. A number of spider creatures on the first floor had been dispatched by the rest of his companions as Taer¡¯inar and Apostalite fought the spider-elf. Ithan was useless; he had come to save these people, but all he had done was get caught in webs.


    Bimpnottin and Storm were waiting outside of the tower.


    ¡°Took you long enough,¡± Storm muttered. ¡°Are they all okay?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re all alive,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied from behind Ithan. ¡°Let¡¯s just get them back to Greenreach.¡±


    ¡°Huzzah!¡± Bimpnottin shouted, striking a triumphant pose. ¡°I have saved the day once again!¡± Ithan narrowed his eyes and shook his head.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything,¡± Storm argued as Ithan descended the stairs. ¡°You hid behind the stairs while Dhurik and I killed everything.¡±


    ¡°I was waiting for the opportune moment!¡± Bimpnottin continued. ¡°But alas, you were too quick for me!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s still not doing anything,¡± Storm grumbled. ¡°You didn¡¯t even go up to help the dragonkin escape.¡±


    ¡°My good friends there had everything covered!¡± Bimpnottin exclaimed, gesturing at Ithan and Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°Might I interject?¡± Apostalite asked as they exited the tower. They stepped past Ithan and Taer¡¯inar and walked up to Bimpnottin. ¡°I do believe our lovely friend here was the one who returned to Greenreach to fetch reinforcements. And so, without him, all surely would have been lost.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. ¡°It was I, the great Bimpnottin Bafflestone, who made all of this possible!¡±


    ¡°Ridiculous,¡± Ithan growled.


    ¡°They have a point, though,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. Ithan glared at the elf. ¡°What? If it had just been the three of you, do you really think you would have fared well?¡± Ithan hated to admit it, but Taer¡¯inar was right. The three of them could not possibly have handled all of those creatures by themselves after having battled the spiders outside.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ithan grumbled. He looked over at Bimpnottin. ¡°Thank you?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course!¡± Bimpnottin interrupted. ¡°Anything for someone in need! Now, let us be rid of this place before more spiders come along!¡± He turned to the hole in the webbing that the group had made earlier and ran toward it. Dhurik grasped his axe in his free hand and followed behind the gnome. The others followed soon after, conversing amongst themselves as they made their way back into the forest.


    ¡°My name is Alicrath, by the way,¡± the dragonkin said as they walked. ¡°My wife, Yariel,¡± he continued as he looked down at the dragonkin he carried.


    ¡°So, these are Hisashi and Nazita?¡± Ithan asked of the dragonkin he was carrying.


    ¡°Yes, those are my twins,¡± Alicrath replied. ¡°Hisashi¡¯s quite the fighter. He beat up one of those arachkin something fierce before we were taken.¡± He smiled warmly as he looked at the dragonkin in Ithan¡¯s left arm. ¡°He just wanted to protect his sisters.¡±


    ¡°There was quite a mess in your home when we went there to investigate,¡± Ithan said. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to help clean it up.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Alicrath exclaimed. ¡°You¡¯ve all done plenty already! Besides, I think it¡¯s time we moved into the city proper. Less risk of this happening again, you know.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, but what about your farm?¡± Apostalite asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s wintertime,¡± Alicrath shrugged. ¡°Now¡¯s as good a time as any to start over. I have a good month or so to get ready for planting new crops.¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s anything you need, just ask,¡± Ithan offered.


    ¡°I think you¡¯re better suited to fighting than farming, kid,¡± Alicrath said. ¡°I appreciate the offer, of course, but I¡¯m sure I can manage. We dragonkin are pretty durable.¡±


    ¡°Will you be staying at the inn until you have your affairs in order, then?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked.


    ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll have to chat with Briryn about that, won¡¯t I?¡± the dragonkin pondered. ¡°I don¡¯t know if he has the room with all of you staying there?¡ª¡±


    ¡°You can take my room,¡± Ithan interrupted. ¡°You and your wife, I mean. Sonys has a room already, so maybe Hisashi and Nazita can stay in there, too.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going to sleep, then?¡± Taer¡¯inar questioned. ¡°You¡¯re not much of an outside dog.¡± Ithan bared his teeth at the elf. ¡°You know you don¡¯t help your case when you do that, right?¡±


    ¡°If Sonys is already staying in a room, I can have the children all stay in there,¡± Alicrath thought out loud, ¡°but I¡¯ll talk with Briryn to see if he has one more spare room for the missus and me. I wouldn¡¯t want to see you without a bed.¡±


    The group continued on through the forest, making small conversation until they finally found themselves at the forest¡¯s edge, near the road once more. They followed it past Alicrath¡¯s farm toward Greenreach. When they drew near to the gate, the guard ran up to them in excitement.


    ¡°Alicrath!¡± he shouted. ¡°You¡¯re all okay! This is terrific! Oh, but what happened to them?¡± he asked as he took notice of the other unconscious dragonkin.


    ¡°They all just need some rest,¡± Alicrath explained. ¡°These fine folks have been a tremendous help.¡±


    ¡°I knew it, I knew it all along!¡± the guard exclaimed. He looked over at Ithan. ¡°You¡¯re a hero, Mor¡¯lavan! You and your friends!¡±


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t do much,¡± Ithan muttered, his face beginning to burn. ¡°In fact, I¡¯m pretty sure Briryn¡¯s going to have my head when he sees the state Fenvyre¡¯s in.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ Hm¡­¡± Taer¡¯inar said quietly as he heard Ithan speak.


    ¡°I am sure he will understand,¡± Alicrath said. ¡°He knows Fenvyre well. She gets herself into trouble all the time. The fact that she didn¡¯t get eaten should satisfy him.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± the guard said. ¡°Now go on, get them somewhere comfortable so they can rest!¡± He waved at the group as they walked past, exchanging hand gestures with Apostalite.


    The dragonkin the group passed along the way to the inn whispered amongst themselves.


    ¡°¡­survived the wilds twice¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­saved Alicrath from arachkin¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­looks cute carrying those kids¡­¡±


    Ithan¡¯s face grew ever warmer as the group approached the square.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be embarrassed, my dear,¡± Apostalite whispered to Ithan. ¡°They¡¯re complimenting you on a job well done!¡±


    ¡°I literally didn¡¯t do anything,¡± Ithan murmured back. ¡°I was stuck to a wall while you and Taer¡¯inar took care of the spider-elf.¡±


    ¡°Well, they don¡¯t know that,¡± Apostalite replied. ¡°And besides, if it weren¡¯t for you, we might not have gone to help in the first place.¡±


    ¡°I suppose¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t doubt yourself,¡± they said, stopping in front of the fountain. ¡°Laht shines upon you!¡± they exclaimed. They turned away from the group and began shouting to the dragonkin that walked about. ¡°Come, friends, and listen to the teachings of Laht!¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be,¡± Briryn said as the group entered the tavern. ¡°You all made it back alive.¡± His eyes narrowed when he saw Dhurik carrying Fenvyre. ¡°She better just be sleeping,¡± he grumbled at Ithan.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°She was exhausted, so Dhurik here carried her back. She must have fallen asleep on the way.¡± He looked at the minotaur. ¡°Could you carry her up to her room?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± Dhurik replied. ¡°Which room is hers?¡±


    ¡°Room four,¡± Ithan said. ¡°Oh wait, it might be locked¡­¡±


    ¡°Here,¡± Briryn said as he stepped out from behind the bar. ¡°I¡¯ll unlock it. Bring the others up, too.¡± Alicrath, Ithan, and Dhurik followed Briryn up the stairs. Briryn unlocked Fenvyre¡¯s room and walked down the hall to the room where Sonys was staying. Dhurik set Fenvyre down on her bed, then left the room and closed the door behind him. Briryn knocked on the door to Sonys¡¯s room gently.


    ¡°Sonys? Come on out,¡± Briryn called. ¡°She¡¯s been worried sick about all of you,¡± he said to Alicrath. ¡°Hasn¡¯t eaten all day.¡± After a moment, the lock of the door clicked, and the door swung open. Sonys appeared just beyond the door, her face beaming. She burst out of the room and threw herself at Alicrath.


    ¡°Papa!¡± she cried. ¡°I knew you¡¯d be okay! Mor¡¯lavan promised he¡¯d bring everyone back safe!¡±


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯re all just fine,¡± Alicrath said as he wrapped his free arm tenderly around his daughter. ¡°But Mama and your brother and sister need some rest. I could use some myself.¡±


    ¡°Oh! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Sonys exclaimed as she let go of Alicrath. ¡°Are we staying here for a while longer?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I think that would be best,¡± Alicrath replied. ¡°I¡¯ve decided that it¡¯s time to move closer to town.¡±


    ¡°You take as long as you need, Ali,¡± Briryn said. ¡°This room behind me¡¯s empty, so you and Yariel can sleep in there.¡±


    ¡°I was just about to ask about that,¡± Alicrath said as he smiled at Briryn. Briryn handed him a key and walked back toward the stairs. ¡°Thank you!¡± he called as Briryn walked down the stairs. He turned back to Sonys and Ithan. ¡°I¡¯m going to rest for a while. Why don¡¯t you take care of your siblings, Sonys?¡± He turned around, unlocked the room across from Sonys¡¯s, and entered the room, closing the door behind him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take them,¡± Sonys said to Ithan, who was left still holding the twins. He gently passed them over to her. ¡°Would you mind doing me one more favor?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ithan replied without much thought.


    ¡°Could you get some food from the kitchen for me? I haven¡¯t eaten all day.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can scrounge up.¡± Sonys smiled as she closed the door. Ithan headed downstairs to ask Briryn about food, but the dragonkin already had a plate ready and waiting.


    ¡°Take this upstairs, then get yourself cleaned up and come back down for yours,¡± he said. ¡°And don¡¯t worry about chores tonight, you¡¯ve done enough work for the day.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Ithan muttered. ¡°Well, thank you.¡± He took the plate and made his way back up the stairs. The food looked and smelled delicious. It looked to be a kind of meat pie, served with a side of cooked peas. His mouth watered with anticipation, but he restrained himself from eating the food that was meant for Sonys. When he knocked on Sonys¡¯s door, she opened it and took the plate with delight. Ithan peered into the room past her. The twin dragonkin were resting on the bed. Before he could say anything, Sonys grabbed him and hugged him tightly.


    ¡°Thank you so much, Mor¡¯lavan,¡± she whispered. When she pulled away, she brought some bits of webbing that still clung to Ithan¡¯s fur with her. ¡°I hope you stick around for a while,¡± she giggled. Ithan groaned internally but smiled at her as she closed the door again. He went to his own room to pick off the rest of the webs, then went back downstairs to enjoy his meal. Storm, Bimpnottin, Taer¡¯inar, and Dhurik were all seated at the same table as earlier that day; he joined them after taking his food from Briryn. They were having a lively conversation about the day¡¯s events.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t wait for me, could you?¡± he joked as he sat down between Taer¡¯inar and Dhurik.


    ¡°We figured you would be eating with that dragonkin girl,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied as he nudged Ithan with his elbow.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Ithan muttered.


    ¡°Let me tell you something about girls, Dogboy,¡± Dhurik said as he put his arm over Ithan¡¯s shoulders. ¡°They like boys.¡±


    ¡°And they like dogs,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued.


    ¡°And they like heroes!¡± Bimpnottin added enthusiastically.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Ithan shouted angrily as he pounded his fists into the table. The group went silent. Ithan let out a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°We were only joking, Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Taer¡¯inar said quietly. ¡°Don¡¯t take it so seriously. We were just having fun.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°You¡¯re a good sport, Dogboy,¡± Dhurik said, clapping Ithan on the back before going back to eating his food. Ithan picked up his fork and looked hungrily at his plate. He took a bite out of his food and smiled; it was a steak and kidney pie, like the ones his mother used to make. The crust of the pie was flaky and buttery, while the meaty filling was tender and savory. Ithan closed his eyes after that first bite and thought of home.


    ¡°You okay over there, Mor¡¯lavan?¡± Storm asked.


    ¡°Hm?¡± Ithan as he opened his eyes to look at Storm. ¡°Oh, yeah, I¡¯m fine. Just¡­ thinking.¡± As he dined with his friends, he continued to think about home. About how his mother taught him to cook all kinds of foods, and how they cooked together every evening before enjoying dinner.


    And then he thought about how long it had been since the last time they cooked together.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± he muttered as he stood up from the table. He took his plate over to Briryn, thanked him for the food, and walked up to his room. After locking his door and falling onto his bed, he let himself cry for a short while before Kiraan¡¯s voice rumbled in his mind.


    You will never get stronger if you continue on this path. You care too much for these simple creatures.


    I¡¯m not going to turn a blind eye to those in need. I thought you were going to show me how to get stronger without hurting innocents.


    I did say that. But you cannot limit yourself if you want true power. You will need to put others in harm¡¯s way to achieve your goals.


    Just tell me what I have to do.


    There is an ancient city to the far west of here. It is known now as the City of Living Trees. Go there and find the Crypt of Kings. There you will find an artifact of immense power. Claim it, and you will be that much closer to fighting Varian.


    The City of Living Trees¡­ That sounds elven.


    It was once an elven city, yes. But the elves abandoned it centuries ago, in the wake of the Gods¡¯ War.


    You¡¯ve mentioned this war before. Was it really so great that the whole of Averion was nearly destroyed?


    Indeed. The gods clashed for nearly a century here, leaving nothing behind but ruin and despair. It was a great war. It did not last nearly long enough.


    That¡¯s too bad.


    Oh, do not worry. I expect the next great war will begin very soon. It just needs the right spark.

 Chapter 6 - The Averion Company

    Rhogar grunted in frustration as he smashed his hammer into the ground. He had not yet landed a hit on Ithan, and his swings were becoming slower with each passing moment. Perhaps it was because Ithan was so much smaller than Rhogar that he could so easily avoid his attacks. Rhogar lifted his hammer up and prepared for another swing. As Ithan dashed toward him, instead of swinging the hammer, Rhogar threw it. Ithan narrowly dodged the weapon and jumped to the side just as Rhogar tried to punch him, then slashed at his arm just deep enough to draw blood.


    ¡°Hold still!¡± Rhogar yelled, punching at the air as Ithan continued to dance around him. He was nearly out of breath now, giving Ithan a perfect opportunity to strike. Using his glaive, Ithan pole vaulted and thrust his hooves into the dragonkin¡¯s chest. Rhogar crashed to the ground, and Ithan stood on top of him, aiming his glaive at the dragonkin¡¯s throat.


    ¡°The fight is over!¡± the overseer called. ¡°Victory goes to Mor¡¯lavan!¡± The crowd cheered as Ithan dismissed his glaive.


    ¡°Good fight,¡± Ithan said as he stepped off Rhogar¡¯s chest and held out his hand.


    ¡°You too,¡± Rhogar groaned as he reached for Ithan¡¯s hand. He pulled himself up from the ground with Ithan¡¯s help. He retrieved his hammer from the edge of the arena and lumbered back over to Ithan. ¡°You¡¯re tougher than you look,¡± he continued as the pair began walking toward the gate that led out of the arena. ¡°How long you been fightin¡¯ for?¡±


    ¡°Two-ish years,¡± Ithan replied. He looked around the arena as they walked. The dragonkin in the crowd whooped and whistled as the next fighters?¡ªDhurik and another large dragonkin?¡ªbegan entering the arena.


    ¡°Only that long?!¡± Rhogar cried in disbelief. ¡°There¡¯s no way. You¡¯re too good to be a greenhorn.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m used to fighting things bigger than me,¡± Ithan said. He looked up to meet Rhogar¡¯s eyes. The dragonkin easily stood taller than nine feet, and his shoulders stretched wider than Ithan was tall. ¡°And you¡¯re way bigger than me.¡±


    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll just have to move faster next time,¡± Rhogar shrugged. ¡°You drink any? I¡¯m headin¡¯ on over to Briryn¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°You go on ahead,¡± Ithan said, stopping at the gate. ¡°I¡¯m going to see how Dhurik does.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Rhogar said. Ithan turned to watch Dhurik as Rhogar headed to the tavern. As Dhurik and his opponent approached the center of the arena, the overseer joined them and the three had the usual conversation detailing the rules of arena combat. The overseer then stepped away from the contenders to his platform on the other side of the arena.


    ¡°It is time for the last match of the day!¡± the overseer shouted above the roaring crowds. ¡°Our final competitors are Dhurik the leatherworker and our very own Raskris!¡± The crowd¡¯s intensity surged at the name Raskris. Ithan had not faced him in the arena, but he had overheard from some of the dragonkin in the tavern that he was a strong fighter. Dhurik would certainly have a good time fighting him. The thought crossed Ithan¡¯s mind just as the overseer rang his bell.


    Immediately, Dhurik let loose a wave of fire and charged headfirst at his opponent. Raskris held his hands out in front of him and grabbed at Dhurik¡¯s horns before impact, only to be shoved back against the wall by the momentum. Horns still in each hand, Raskris threw Dhurik down to the ground and attempted to pin him there, but a kick to the shin from Dhurik sent him toppling to the ground himself. They rolled away from each other to regain their composure, then Dhurik charged Raskris again, this time ducking underneath the dragonkin¡¯s grasp and delivering a powerful blow to the gut, causing Raskris to crash into the wall again. Ithan could not help but let out a whoop as the cheers around him grew louder. When the dust settled around Raskris, the dragonkin stumbled out toward Dhurik before collapsing on the ground.


    ¡°And that is a knockout!¡± the overseer shouted. ¡°Victory goes to Dhurik!¡± A mixture of cheers and boos filled the stands as Dhurik flexed and posed in the center of the arena. ¡°Would the winners of today¡¯s matches please come to the center of the arena?¡± Ithan walked over to Dhurik along with two of the other fighters. One was another dragonkin, but the other was, to Ithan¡¯s surprise, a dwarf. She carried a hammer almost as big as she was. He did not manage to see her fight as he had run back to the tavern to check on Fenvyre.


    ¡°That was a quick one,¡± Ithan said to Dhurik as he approached the minotaur.


    ¡°Don¡¯t remind me,¡± Dhurik huffed. ¡°I hate short fights.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations, challengers!¡± the overseer called as he approached the group of combatants. ¡°You have made it through the preliminaries and the first round.¡± He pulled four small bags from his robe and held them out to the group. ¡°For your victories today, you have each earned fifty gold pieces.¡± He handed a bag to each of them. Ithan grinned as he shook his bag, the coins jingling inside.


    ¡°Very nice,¡± the dwarf muttered. Ithan looked up to see her smiling as she peeked inside her bag.


    ¡°We¡¯ll continue tomorrow at dawn,¡± the overseer continued. ¡°Until then, get some well-deserved rest.¡± He walked through the group toward the arena¡¯s exit. Ithan took his own leave shortly after, wanting to check back in with Fenvyre again.


    ¡°Hey!¡± the dwarf called before running over to Ithan¡¯s side. ¡°What¡¯s your hurry?¡± she asked as she walked alongside him.


    ¡°I¡¯m done here for now,¡± Ithan replied, trying not to pay much attention to the dwarf. ¡°I¡¯ve got other things to do.¡±


    ¡°Not even going to introduce yourself? Rude.¡± She stepped out in front of Ithan, blocking his path. ¡°Name¡¯s Brollynn.¡± She held up a hand to him, clearly expecting a handshake. ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn.¡±


    ¡°Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Ithan sighed. He shook Brollynn¡¯s hand half-heartedly, then tried to walk around her. She matched his steps, keeping him from passing.


    ¡°Sounds Elvish,¡± Brollynn said. She scanned Ithan up and down. ¡°You don¡¯t look like an elf to me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not, can you please?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why do you have an Elvish name if you¡¯re not an elf?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Ithan was starting to get frustrated with the dwarf.


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Just thought I¡¯d ask. Geez, you¡¯re really in a hurry, aren¡¯t you?¡± She stepped aside, allowing Ithan to walk past. ¡°Bye, Mor¡¯lavan! See you tomorrow!¡± she called as Ithan stomped out of the arena gates back toward the inn. By the time he reached the square, Dhurik had already caught up with him.


    ¡°Got a hot date tonight, Dogboy?¡± the minotaur teased.


    ¡°You know full well that I don¡¯t,¡± Ithan growled.


    ¡°I was just giving you a hard time,¡± Dhurik mumbled as the two of them entered the tavern. ¡°Tell Tree-Hugger I said hi,¡± he said as he walked up to the bar to ask Briryn for a drink. Ithan headed up the stairs and stood outside Fenvyre¡¯s room. He knocked gently on the door and was surprised to be greeted by Sonys instead of Fenvyre.


    ¡°Oh, hello there,¡± Sonys said. ¡°Are you looking for Fenvyre?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, is she okay?¡± Ithan asked, trying to peer into the room behind Sonys.


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s fine,¡± Sonys replied. ¡°We¡¯re having some girl time, though, so you¡¯re going to have to leave.¡±


    ¡°O-oh, I see,¡± Ithan stuttered. ¡°Well then, I suppose I¡¯ll see her later?¡ª¡± The door slammed shut in front of him. The sudden force made Ithan stumble backwards. Dragonkin are weird. He shrugged it off and headed back downstairs, where Briryn was waiting for him.


    ¡°Heard you did good today,¡± he said. ¡°Knocked Rhogar on his rear, did you?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir,¡± Ithan replied, not realizing until after the words left his mouth that Rhogar happened to be sitting within earshot. ¡°B-but he was a tough opponent to beat!¡± he cried as Rhogar looked over at him.


    ¡°Hey, greenhorn!¡± Rhogar called. Ithan winced, then looked back at the dragonkin. Rhogar smiled wide and held up his mug. Ithan waved nervously.


    ¡°Rhogar doesn¡¯t hold grudges,¡± Briryn muttered to Ithan. ¡°He said he offered you a drink, but you turned him down.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to watch Dhurik¡¯s fight,¡± Ithan explained.


    ¡°Oh? How¡¯d that go?¡± He poured a mug of beer and set it in front of Ithan.


    ¡°He knocked Raskris out pretty quickly,¡± Ithan replied.


    ¡°Nice,¡± Briryn smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve been saying Raskris needed to be taken down a few pegs.¡± He pushed the mug gently toward Ithan.


    ¡°Um,¡± Ithan mumbled as he looked at the mug. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s on the house,¡± Briryn said. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t drink!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m, uh¡­¡± Ithan replied sheepishly.


    ¡°Oh, I should have guessed, you¡¯re too young, aren¡¯t you?¡± Briryn laughed. ¡°Hang on, let me take a look at what else I¡¯ve got.¡± He ducked down behind the bar. ¡°I know I have that somewhere¡­¡± After some more shuffling beneath the bar, Briryn shot up with a glass and what appeared to be a very old bottle of wine.


    ¡°Er, isn¡¯t that¡­?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no alcohol in it,¡± Briryn said cheerily as he opened the bottle and poured some of its contents into the glass. The liquid was a deep red, almost the color of blood. Ithan took the glass in his hand and held it up to his nose. It smelled so familiar, but he could not place where he might have picked up that scent before. He sipped at the wine and, to his delight, tasted the bold sweetness of cherries.


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious,¡± Ithan said aloud as he set the glass down. He smiled at Briryn, who had been waiting for Ithan to take his first sip.


    ¡°Glad someone likes it,¡± Briryn said. ¡°I was afraid it might be too sweet for my regular crowd, so I kept it back here.¡± He put the bottle back under the bar. ¡°It¡¯ll be here if you want another.¡±


    ¡°Where did you get this?¡± Ithan asked after taking another sip. The flavor was no less wonderful with the second sip.


    ¡°Oh, a traveler gave it to me as a gift years ago,¡± Briryn replied. ¡°Said it was the finest in his homeland. Where¡¯d he say he was from again¡­?¡± He scratched his head. ¡°Ah well, one of those elven countries in the far east.¡± Ithan¡¯s stomach turned.


    ¡°Sol¡¯vara,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Yes¡­ yes, that¡¯s it!¡± Briryn exclaimed. ¡°I remember it now! He said there was a terrific vineyard near the palace there, and that was where all the finest wine of the kingdom was made.¡±


    ¡°A beautiful sight,¡± Ithan continued, staring deeply into the wine that remained in his glass.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve been all that way?¡± Briryn asked. Ithan did not answer. Instead, he lifted the glass up and gulped down the rest of his drink, set the glass down on the bar, and turned to leave.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said softly as he walked away and out of the tavern. Apostalite was standing at the fountain, as they usually did during the day. They were entertaining some of the dragonkin children with another one of their tales of Laht.


    ¡°¡­and so Laht granted the boy the ability to navigate through the dark cave, until he found his way through to the other side of the mountain.¡±


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Did the monster chase after him?¡± one of the children asked.


    ¡°Oh, it tried,¡± Apostalite replied. ¡°But by the time it could reach the boy, he had already stepped out of the cave into the sunlight beyond.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna be brave like the boy in the story!¡± another child announced. ¡°Then one day Laht will grant me a favor, too!¡± The other children shouted in agreement, then scattered across the square, Apostalite smiling at them as they went. The ignan then turned toward Ithan and smiled wider.


    ¡°Have you come to hear the teachings of Laht, my lovely Mor¡¯lavan?¡± they asked. Ithan pondered for a moment, then let out a sigh.


    ¡°Sure, why not?¡± he replied.


    ¡°Wonderful!¡± they cried. They sat down at the edge of the fountain and patted the stone next to them. ¡°Come, sit with me! I shall tell you a tale that should lift your spirits!¡± Ithan walked over to the ignan and sat down next to them, trying not to sit too close. ¡°Now then, the story goes like this¡­¡±


    ?????


    Ithan steps carefully over a pile of dust and bone. He does not want to give himself away before he reaches the cave¡¯s exit. After hours of wandering, he finally sees light and rushes toward it. As he passes through the mouth of the cave, he looks up and lets out a sigh of relief. The sun shines brightly here, bathing all it touches in beautiful sunlight. But as he gazes at the sky, he sees a great shadow cover the sun. He watches, horrified, as the light vanishes from the land, and as he turns to face the cave again, he is devoured by the monster within.


    ?????


    A knock on Ithan¡¯s door jolted him awake from another strange dream. They were so frequent now; perhaps it was because he was so close to this City of Living Trees. He rolled out of bed and meandered over to the door. Unit 17 stood there, stiff as stone.


    ¡°Oh, hello there,¡± Ithan said to the terran.


    ¡°Greetings, citizen,¡± Unit 17 droned. ¡°Your presence has been requested on the ground floor of this establishment.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Ithan yawned. He stretched his arms out wide, then stepped out and closed his door. He followed Unit 17 downstairs. The tavern was unusually empty. Storm and Dhurik were seated at a table near the center of the room. Bimpnottin sat at the bar, and Taer¡¯inar stood next to him.


    ¡°You look like death,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered as Ithan sat next to Bimpnottin.


    ¡°I suppose I do,¡± Ithan replied.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take too long,¡± Briryn said to Unit 17 as the terran walked up to him. ¡°I don¡¯t like to keep my customers waiting.¡± Unit 17 nodded and turned to the group.


    ¡°Greetings, citizens,¡± Unit 17 began. ¡°You have been gathered here for an important announcement. In light of recent events, the Seal of the Burning Scale Dynasty has decreed that any citizen without proper authority to pass through the western gate of Greenreach is to be placed under house arrest. This law is effective immediately.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Taer¡¯inar cried. ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°The recent disappearance of the Velthin family has caused concern over the dangers of Averion,¡± Unit 17 replied. ¡°The law serves to protect the dragonkin dwelling within the city of Greenreach.¡±


    ¡°But we saved that family,¡± Taer¡¯inar argued. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that count for anything?¡±


    ¡°The Seal has already considered your deeds in both Rockfall and the Spider Forest,¡± Unit 17 said. ¡°However, this law must be upheld. It has been deemed that in order to continue your excursions outside of Greenreach, you must register yourselves as a formal guild within the city.¡±


    ¡°What are the requirements for establishing a guild here?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. Unit 17 stood tall and began speaking more quickly.


    ¡°If a guild is to be formed under the Seal of the Burning Scale Dynasty, said guild must submit a guild charter for approval by a representative of the Seal. A clear contact or contacts must be established in the event that the Burning Scale Dynasty has need of the guild¡¯s services. A report must be sent to the Burning Scale Dynasty at the conclusion of each expedition detailing activities pursued.¡± The terran relaxed its posture, then spoke in its usual speed. ¡°As a representative of the Seal of the Burning Scale Dynasty, I am authorized to approve or reject formal documents.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s convenient,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°I can write something up within the next few hours.¡±


    ¡°I would strongly advise gathering any others who may wish to join this guild to sign the first draft of your charter,¡± Unit 17 continued. ¡°This will expedite the process of having those members recognized by the Seal.¡±


    ¡°I suppose we can ask around,¡± Storm said, ¡°but I don¡¯t think too many people here would be interested.¡±


    ¡°Please inform me when you have completed the charter,¡± Unit 17 said to Taer¡¯inar, ignoring Storm¡¯s comments. ¡°I have some investigative work to do in Averion, and I must obey protocol and join a guild.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Thank you for your information.¡±


    ¡°Affirmative. I shall take my leave.¡± Unit 17 stepped through the group and through the tavern door. Moments later, dragonkin began pouring into the tavern, demanding food and beverage from Briryn.


    ¡°Hey Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Briryn said. ¡°You mind getting some food started?¡± Ithan perked up at this request and hopped out of his seat, then ran around the bar into the kitchen. This was the first time Briryn had asked Ithan to help cook, and he was eager to show the dragonkin what he could do. When he reached the storage room, he was delighted to find an abundance of beef left over from the night before. He made quick work of cutting it up into edible chunks, then got to work chopping up vegetables. He threw everything into a large pot and filled it with water. Once he got the fire started, he quickly scanned the kitchen for anything that could satiate the dragonkin while his stew cooked. Disappointed at the lack of finger foods at his disposal, he ran over to the doorway and poked his head out into the tavern. He sighed in relief as he noticed that the dragonkin had already begun drinking and enjoying themselves and not complaining about the lack of food.


    ¡°Briryn, did the merchant already come by today?¡± Ithan asked as Briryn passed him with a few mugs of beer.


    ¡°He should be by any moment now,¡± Briryn replied. ¡°Get whatever you need.¡±


    ¡°Thanks!¡± Ithan called as he ran back into the kitchen. He peered over the top of the pot make sure it had not started boiling yet, then ran over to the back door. As he opened it, he was greeted by the merchant Shalin and his large cart. Unlike many of the other dragonkin, Shalin stood about equal height to Ithan and had a bit of a weaker frame.


    ¡°Well, howdy there, Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Shalin said. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you out here today. Briryn finally lettin¡¯ you in the kitchen?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir,¡± Ithan replied happily. He looked over Shalin¡¯s cart. It had all kinds of different foods, but Ithan spotted just a few things that he needed. ¡°I¡¯ll take six?¡ªno, eight dozen eggs, and¡­ what kind of cheese is that? Never mind, I¡¯ll take three pounds of it.¡±


    ¡°Is that all today?¡± Shalin asked curiously. ¡°Not running low on anything else?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to overstep,¡± Ithan said. ¡°I¡¯m just taking what I need for today.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course!¡± Shalin exclaimed. ¡°At any rate, that¡¯ll be twenty copper pieces.¡± Ithan fumbled through a pouch on his belt and took out three silver pieces. ¡°Oh no, you must¡¯ve misheard?¡ª¡±


    ¡°For your wife¡¯s medicine,¡± Ithan interrupted. ¡°I hope she gets well soon.¡± Shalin smiled warmly at Ithan.


    ¡°You¡¯re a good lad,¡± he said as he handed the goods Ithan had purchased over to him. ¡°I¡¯ll give the missus the good news tonight.¡± With a wave, he began pulling his cart away through the backstreets. When he was out of sight, Ithan carried the food back inside and began shredding the cheese and cooking the eggs with it. After some time, he had prepared enough omelets for all of the dragonkin in the tavern, plus some extra for his friends. He checked on the stew once more to see that the water had only just begun to boil. He began quickly taking the food out to the dragonkin, one plate in each hand to be safe.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Rhogar questioned as Ithan set a plate down in front of him.


    ¡°Uh¡­ just some eggs and cheese,¡± Ithan answered. Rhogar glanced up at him, his brow furrowed. ¡°J-just something to hold you over! I¡¯ve got a nice stew cooking now.¡± Rhogar¡¯s look of skepticism changed to a wide grin. He turned back to try the eggs that Ithan had cooked as Ithan ran back into the kitchen to grab more plates. When he came back out, Rhogar¡¯s plate had already been emptied.


    ¡°That was pretty good,¡± Rhogar said to his friends. ¡°Kid¡¯s not half bad.¡± Ithan grinned as he set down two more plates and hurried back to the kitchen. The stew was boiling quite nicely now, and Ithan could smell it from the doorway. It would certainly be ready by the time he finished serving the appetizer. He continued serving plates to the dragonkin and collecting those that had been emptied. He served Fenvyre and Sonys¡¯s family when they came down, then he served his friends. Finally, after seeing that everyone had been given a plate of eggs, he dashed back into the kitchen to begin filling bowls with stew and bring them out, two by two, to the many guests in the tavern. As he walked through the room, a few dragonkin spoke about either the eggs, the stew, or both. How surprising it was that one of the top fighters in the arena could also cook a great meal. And there was barely any fur! Of course, there was a little in there, but the food was still excellent.


    ¡°Good job,¡± Briryn said as Ithan brought more emptied plates back into the kitchen. ¡°Now go eat. You can clear the rest later.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Ithan replied. He set the plates near the rest in the kitchen and grabbed his own plate and bowl, then carried them out and over to the table where his friends sat. He found a place between Taer¡¯inar and Storm, who were discussing the finer details of the charter that Taer¡¯inar was trying to write.


    ¡°So, this is mostly just formalities, right?¡± Storm asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied, ¡°but I¡¯ve still written it in a way that should be agreeable to everyone who signs it.¡± He pulled out a scroll of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Storm, who opened it and began reading. ¡°Oh, Mor¡¯lavan, have you any interest in joining this guild?¡±


    ¡°Well, I have things I need to do in Averion,¡± Ithan said. ¡°I don¡¯t really have much interest in forming a guild, but I don¡¯t feel like being kicked out of Greenreach just yet.¡±


    ¡°Good, then it¡¯s settled. Welcome to The Averion Company.¡±


    ¡°What kind of name is that?¡± Ithan laughed.


    ¡°No one else came up with anything,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied as Ithan took a bite out of his food. There was definitely fur in it, but he had eaten worse.


    ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Bimpnottin argued. ¡°I gave you three different suggestions!¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Taer¡¯inar groaned, ¡°no one else came up with anything good.¡± Bimpnottin threw up his hands for a moment, then continued eating in silence.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have a guildmaster here,¡± Storm interrupted, handing the scroll back to Taer¡¯inar. Taer¡¯inar took the scroll and set it next to Ithan. Ithan took another bite from his plate, then set his fork down and picked up the scroll to begin reading it. There were many lines of legal nonsense that Ithan could barely understand, but the document seemed to basically amount to the bare minimum of what Unit 17 had mentioned the Seal required. There was a provision for leadership, but Taer¡¯inar had left a large amount of space beneath it before beginning the provision for expeditions.


    ¡°Oh, that,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what to put there.¡±


    ¡°I nominate myself as guildmaster!¡± Bimpnottin shouted a bit too loudly. A few surrounding dragonkin glared at him before turning back to their tables. ¡°Are there any who oppose me? No? Then that¡¯s that?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hold up,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°I¡¯m not taking orders from someone who¡¯s taller sitting than he is standing.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s irrelevant!¡± Bimpnottin continued. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know I am a brilliant leader!¡±


    ¡°You certainly are loud enough to play the part,¡± Storm added. ¡°But I think that¡¯s all you¡¯ve got going for you right now.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been pretty quiet, Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Taer¡¯inar commented as he nudged Ithan, pulling him away from his reading. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to say?¡±


    ¡°Do we need a guildmaster?¡± Ithan asked. Everyone stopped their arguing and looked over at him.


    ¡°The guildmaster is typically the one in charge of handling guild operations,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I asked,¡± Ithan said. ¡°Why do we need one person in charge of doing all that? Why can¡¯t we all just do our fair share?¡±


    ¡°Someone has to be held accountable,¡± Storm muttered.


    ¡°So we hold each other accountable,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°It seems fair to me.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Bimpnottin cried. ¡°What¡¯s a guild without a guildmaster?¡±


    ¡°¡­A guild?¡± Dhurik huffed. ¡°I¡¯m with Dogboy here.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re a group of misfits in this place, Bimpnottin,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, smiling as he took the scroll from Ithan. ¡°It¡¯s fitting that this guild be a misfit among guilds.¡± Bimpnottin sank into his chair as Taer¡¯inar took out a pen and ink and began scribbling on the scroll.


    ¡°I still say I should be guildmaster,¡± Bimpnottin mumbled.


    ¡°That¡¯s nice,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he finished writing. He handed the parchment to Storm, who read it quickly and nodded. Storm passed it off to Ithan, and he read the fresh ink under the leadership provision.


    5.4 Leadership


    5.4.1 At this time the guild recognizes no formal leadership structure. All members shall be considered equal and full members.


    5.4.2 An expedition/contract group may appoint a recognized leader for the duration of the expedition, usually the person(s) who called for or organized the expedition. This leader shall have the final word on decisions as appropriate for the expedition.


    ¡°Looks good to me,¡± Ithan said as he handed the parchment to Dhurik. Dhurik immediately set the parchment in front of Bimpnottin, who picked it up and started reading.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to read it,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°Birdbrain knows what¡¯ll happen if he tries to be sneaky.¡± Taer¡¯inar shuddered next to Ithan.


    ¡°So, I get to be the leader sometimes?¡± Bimpnottin asked.


    ¡°Yes, I suppose,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. Bimpnottin peered over the paper with a wide smile.


    ¡°Give me your pen,¡± he said as he looked at Taer¡¯inar. The elf hesitantly obliged, and Bimpnottin snatched the pen and scribbled something at the bottom of the parchment. He turned the paper around and laughed triumphantly. ¡°Look here! I am the first to sign the charter!¡± Indeed, Bimpnottin¡¯s signature was now at the bottom of the charter in large bold letters, leaving hardly enough room for the others to sign. He passed the pen and paper back to Dhurik, who crudely signed his own name.


    When Dhurik handed the pen and charter to Ithan, he tried to scan the paper once more for any hidden items that Taer¡¯inar might have added, but his head started to hurt when he got into the reporting provision, so he left it be. He hesitated for a moment as he remembered not to sign his actual name and wrote ¡®Mor¡¯lavan¡¯ just underneath Dhurik¡¯s signature. He passed the paper to Storm, who signed it quickly and handed it back to Taer¡¯inar. After Taer¡¯inar signed the charter, he rolled it up and put it back in his sleeve.


    ¡°And thus, The Averion Company is formed,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, raising his glass to commemorate the occasion. The rest of the newly formed guild followed suit. For a moment, Kiraan chuckled in the recesses of Ithan¡¯s mind. At least he was keeping his master entertained, for the moment.

 Chapter 7 - Motivations

    Most of the rest of the evening was spent discussing the logistics of the newfound guild. Taer¡¯inar wanted to make sure that everyone involved remained compliant with the law, since a representative of the Seal would be overseeing the guild¡¯s affairs. Ithan had his reservations about Unit 17 observing his movements, but he kept them to himself. It¡¯s not like I have much say in the matter.


    ¡°Now on to the matter of expeditions,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Does anyone have anything particular in mind?¡± Ithan considered speaking out about the City of Living Trees, but he was curious about his new guildmates¡¯ interests.


    ¡°I would like to go south of the Spider Forest,¡± Storm replied, ¡°but I¡¯m not sure we¡¯re equipped for that just yet.¡±


    ¡°Speak for yourself,¡± Dhurik grunted. ¡°I¡¯ll crush anything that gets in my way.¡±


    ¡°What business do you have there?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked the minotaur. He turned to the elf and grinned.


    ¡°There¡¯s an axe in the desert far to the south,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the one you have good enough?¡± Storm questioned. Dhurik chuckled.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t just any old axe,¡± Dhurik continued. ¡°It belonged to a mighty minotaur from long ago.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°I have a similar interest in the north. Perhaps we could split up into two groups?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a terrible idea,¡± a voice called from beneath the table. Startled, Taer¡¯inar jumped away and placed a hand on one of his swords. Ian climbed out from underneath the table and stood on top of it.


    ¡°What do you want, pipsqueak?¡± Ithan grumbled. The halfling glared at him for a moment before turning to the rest of the table.


    ¡°The whole point of a guild is to do things together,¡± Ian said. ¡°If you all split up right away, you¡¯re all going to end up dead.¡±


    ¡°I concur!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. ¡°Though I would certainly do fine on my own, the rest of you should stick together!¡± He joined Ian on top of the table. ¡°And as your glorious guildmaster, I will gladly accompany you to ensure your safety!¡±


    ¡°Guildmaster my right hoof,¡± Dhurik snorted. ¡°We already decided we don¡¯t have one.¡± He shook the table, causing the halfling and the gnome to topple onto the ground.


    ¡°That was uncalled for!¡± Ian cried.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Dhurik huffed. Ian¡¯s face went red with anger. ¡°Go cry about it to Tree-Hugger, half-pint.¡± Ian crossed his arms and stomped his foot on the ground.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Taer¡¯inar interrupted, ¡°if we want to travel as a group, we¡¯ll need to decide where we¡¯ll want to go first. How many of us have interests in the north?¡± Bimpnottin¡¯s and Ian¡¯s hands shot up immediately. ¡°Well, that¡¯s three of six?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Actually, that makes four of seven,¡± Unit 17¡¯s voice droned from behind the elf. He had somehow escaped Ithan¡¯s notice when approaching the table. Taer¡¯inar shouted and stumbled into the table.


    ¡°Would you people please stop sneaking up on me?¡± the elf muttered. He turned around to face the terran. ¡°So, your investigative work is to the north, is it?¡±


    ¡°Affirmative,¡± Unit 17 replied. ¡°However, my target destination is beyond the Green Mountains. I must locate a path through the mountains before I may continue my work.¡±


    ¡°What about the rest of you?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked as he turned back to the table. ¡°How many of you would like to look for a path through the mountains?¡± Bimpnottin and Ian both raised their hands again. Storm looked to be uninterested.


    ¡°As long as I get to fight something I don¡¯t care,¡± Dhurik said.


    ¡°And you, Mor¡¯lavan?¡± Taer¡¯inar continued. The City of Living Trees was to the west, so moving through the mountains was not ideal. Yet Ithan was oddly compelled to explore the other regions of Averion. Perhaps he could find something more powerful than the artifact hidden in the Crypt of Kings. He figured the elven city?¡ªand Kiraan?¡ªcould wait a bit longer.


    ¡°Sure, why not?¡± he replied. ¡°When should we set out?¡±


    ¡°Well, I would like to leave as soon as possible,¡± Taer¡¯inar answered, ¡°but I know you and Dhurik have your tournament tomorrow. Shall we say tomorrow afternoon, after the tournament?¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a plan!¡± Ian shouted. Dhurik and Storm nodded silently in agreement.


    ¡°Then let us all get plenty of rest and prepare ourselves for our journey,¡± Unit 17 added. ¡°I will be stationed in one of the housing units on the second floor of this establishment. Please alert me if there are any disturbances.¡± He turned and left the table, marching up the stairs and out of sight.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll turn in as well,¡± Ithan said. He collected the dishes from the table and brought them into the kitchen. Fenvyre and Sonys were already there, washing mugs and other dishes from earlier in the evening.


    ¡°Hi, Lava!¡± Fenvyre shouted when she saw Ithan approach. ¡°Thanks for the food!¡±


    ¡°Not a problem,¡± Ithan replied as he set his dishes down next to the sink. ¡°Do you need help in here?¡±


    ¡°No, we¡¯re fine,¡± Sonys said. ¡°Go somewhere else. We¡¯re still having girl time.¡±


    ¡°How long does ¡®girl time¡¯ last?¡± Ithan joked.


    ¡°Until I say so,¡± Sonys snapped. ¡°Now run along.¡± Fenvyre lifted her head up from her task and turned it toward Ithan curiously. Frustrated, Ithan groaned and stomped out of the kitchen, listening to the girls laugh behind him. Everyone but Taer¡¯inar had left the table they had been sitting at. Dhurik had moved to the bar and was enjoying a mug of beer, but the others must have gone to their rooms for the evening. Ithan ascended the stairs and entered his room, locking the door behind him. After a deep breath, he summoned his glaive and made a few practice swings and lunges at the air. He had done well against Rhogar, but now he had to prepare himself to face Dhurik. The minotaur lived for battle; it would not be easy going up against him. Even if he did not face Dhurik during the first match, he would surely face him in the second.


    Why do you waste time with these trivialities? Kiraan questioned. You could easily overpower these creatures if you used the power I have already given you.


    I know you don¡¯t like to fight fair, Ithan replied, but I still have some semblance of pride.


    Pride! Kiraan laughed. Here you are, a deformed lesser creature allowing yourself to bend to the will of other lesser creatures, and you speak of pride!


    Yet I haven¡¯t bent to your will, have I?


    Don¡¯t push your luck.


    An intense pain began to radiate from Ithan¡¯s chest, and his body seized.


    I¡¯ve been very patient with you, Mor¡¯lavan. I¡¯ve allowed you to do as you please for almost two years now. You will go to the Crypt of Kings before winter¡¯s end.


    The pain made it difficult for Ithan to breathe. It was like he was being crushed in the grasp of a giant.


    Do you understand?


    ¡°Y-yes,¡± Ithan choked. The pressure subsided, and Ithan collapsed on the ground, coughing and gasping for air. This was the first time Kiraan had reacted violently to Ithan¡¯s defiance. Before now, he had assumed that Kiraan could only observe and communicate with him mentally. Having now been reprimanded physically left Ithan with a newfound fear of his patron.


    Good. You may proceed with your previous arrangements for now, but I expect you to make plans to travel west soon.


    After a few more moments laying on the ground, Ithan felt some of the strength return to his body. He lifted himself up from the floor and dragged himself to his bed, dismissing his glaive as he lay back down. Staring at the ceiling, he tried to calm himself down by humming some of his mother¡¯s lullaby. It seemed to be enough to allow him to breathe easier, and as he closed his eyes to try to sleep, he thought he heard someone else humming faintly nearby.


    ?????


    Screams echo through the village square as Ithan hides behind a tree. He peers cautiously around the trunk toward the square. His mother is standing there, facing the one man he hoped to never see again?¡ªVarian. The two of them are speaking, but Ithan cannot make out what they are saying. Suddenly, Varian draws his sword and impales Ithan¡¯s mother through the abdomen.


    ¡°No!¡± Ithan cries as he summons his glaive and leaps at Varian. Varian swiftly evades the attack and pierces through Ithan¡¯s body with his sword. Ithan drops his glaive and begins coughing up blood. ¡°M-monster,¡± he mutters as his vision begins to blur. Varian pulls the blade from Ithan¡¯s body and kicks him to the ground.


    ¡°Fool,¡± Varian replies. ¡°I am not the monster here.¡±


    ?????


    The arena was fairly empty when Ithan and Dhurik arrived. They were greeted by Brollynn and Shakul, the other dragonkin competitor. Shakul wielded a greatsword and was clad in heavy armor. He held the sword across his shoulders, and he held a helmet underneath his left arm.


    ¡°Let¡¯s all have a good time, eh?¡± Brollynn said as the overseer approached the four. Dhurik and Shakul both grunted in response.


    ¡°Good morning, combatants!¡± the overseer shouted. ¡°We still have a good amount of time before we begin, so let me go over the rules with you once again.¡±


    ¡°I think we¡¯re all well-versed in arena fighting by now,¡± Shakul argued. ¡°Can we skip the formalities and get to it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± the overseer replied. ¡°There is a representative of the Seal here with us today, and I don¡¯t feel like being arrested for not doing my job.¡± Ithan glanced around the arena, spying Unit 17 near the entrance. ¡°So, we¡¯re doing things by the book today.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Shakul said. ¡°Let¡¯s get on with it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± the overseer said. ¡°Now, as you all are aware, we are not barbarians?¡ªwe are not fighting to the death. Please fight to your fullest potential but do refrain from excessive violence for the sake of your fellow combatants. If you put your opponent or arena patrons in any life-threatening circumstances, you will be removed, arrested, and banned from future tournaments.¡±


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, right?¡± Dhurik asked.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s all there is,¡± the overseer sighed. ¡°Was that so difficult?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Dhurik and Shakul replied in unison. The overseer shook his head.


    ¡°And now for your matches. The first match will be Mor¡¯lavan against Brollynn.¡± The dwarf flashed a wide smile at Ithan. ¡°Then we¡¯ll have Dhurik and Shakul, and then we¡¯ll have the winners of those two matches face each other in the final match.¡± He clapped his hands together. ¡°We¡¯ll begin shortly. Have fun!¡± As he walked away from the group, Ithan looked back toward Unit 17; the terran had moved into the stands. Large groups of dragonkin were beginning to make their way into the stands, as well.


    ¡°We¡¯re up first, huh?¡± Brollynn asked as she walked up to Ithan. ¡°Get ready for a beating.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you eat those words,¡± Ithan replied as he smiled back at the dwarf. ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down.¡±


    ¡°My guard doesn¡¯t know the meaning of the word ¡®down¡¯,¡± Brollynn said.


    ¡°People of Greenreach!¡± the overseer called from his platform. Brollynn and Ithan exchanged waves and began walking away from each other to the edges of the arena. ¡°Our first semifinal match is about to begin! This match is between Brollynn, the little dwarf that packs a lot of punch, and our very own hero of Greenreach, Mor¡¯lavan!¡±


    ¡°Go Lava!¡± Fenvyre called from somewhere in the crowd. He looked up from his opponent and found her green amongst the crimson; she and Sonys had found seats near the overseer¡¯s platform. He waved at them, then summoned his glaive. He then turned his attention back to Brollynn, who was making a few practice swings with her hammer.


    ¡°Are our competitors ready?¡± the overseer asked. Ithan nodded as he tightened the grip on his glaive and widened his stance. Brollynn give a thumbs up to the overseer. Moments later, the overseer rang the bell, and Ithan dashed forward toward the dwarf. Brollynn dodged Ithan¡¯s first attack and swung her hammer at his side. It was only a glancing blow, but it was still powerful enough to knock Ithan aside and nearly make him lose his footing. A frontal assault would not work against Brollynn, so he tried instead to maneuver around her. To his surprise, she was able to dodge all of his attacks while carrying around her massive hammer. When she swung the hammer at him again, he leapt out of the way and lunged forward. Before he could get a hit on her, though, Brollynn swung once more, pressing it into Ithan¡¯s gut and launching him across the arena.


    ¡°Look at him go!¡± Brollynn shouted as Ithan flew through the air before slamming into the arena wall. Gasping for air, he tried to regain his footing as he held his free arm over his stomach. He did not expect to be put down so quickly. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re not dead, right?¡± Brollynn asked. He coughed in reply. ¡°Oh, good.¡±


    ¡°And in a stunning display of power, Brollynn takes the match!¡± the overseer shouted as Ithan was pulled to his feet. Brollynn had rushed over to him and held him up until he could regain his balance.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ithan grumbled, dismissing his glaive and brushing the dirt off of his armor.


    ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Brollynn said. ¡°The hammer does most of the work. I just swing it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re pretty agile, too,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t land a hit on you.¡±


    ¡°You were moving a lot slower than yesterday,¡± Brollynn said, following behind Ithan as he walked toward the arena entrance. It¡¯s because I didn¡¯t get enough sleep.


    ¡°I guess it was just an off day for me,¡± Ithan laughed. ¡°Sorry to have been a bad opponent.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to have a rematch sometime,¡± Brollynn said. ¡°Hey, did you wanna stick around for the rest?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to head back,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°Going out to the mountains later, and I want to rest a little.¡±


    ¡°Fair. Don¡¯t die before our rematch!¡± Ithan left Brollynn at the entrance and headed back to the tavern. Knocked out by a dwarf¡­ At least I didn¡¯t have to face Dhurik.


    When he reached the fountain, Apostalite was not in their usual spot. It seemed even the most devoted acolytes had to take breaks now and then. When he entered the tavern, though, he was surprised to find Apostalite and Taer¡¯inar conversing at the bar.


    ¡°So, you will be heading out to the mountains this afternoon?¡± Apostalite asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Will you be joining us?¡± He looked as though he was about to have a panic attack as he asked the question.


    ¡°I do have things to do beyond the mountains,¡± the ignan answered, ¡°but it is a bit too soon to venture out there, I think. Perhaps next time.¡±


    ¡°I see. May I ask what it is that interests you out there?¡±


    ¡°If you must know?¡ª¡± Apostalite stopped short when they noticed Ithan. ¡°Why hello there, my lovely Mor¡¯lavan!¡± Taer¡¯inar turned to face Ithan as well.


    ¡°This is why I wanted to go tomorrow,¡± Taer¡¯inar groaned. ¡°You went and got yourself beaten up.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ithan muttered. ¡°I just need a little bit of rest before we go.¡±


    ¡°Did you win, at least?¡± Briryn asked from behind the bar.


    ¡°¡­No.¡±


    ¡°I guess that¡¯s fair,¡± Briryn said. ¡°You were up against a tough crowd.¡± He pulled out the bottle of Aeviri from underneath the bar and a glass. ¡°You deserve a glass anyway.¡±


    ¡°Is that?¡ª¡± Taer¡¯inar shouted as he snatched the bottle from Briryn. He inspected the bottle for a moment, turning it around in his hands. ¡°Where did you get a bottle of Aeviri?!¡±


    ¡°A friend gave it to me a long time ago,¡± Briryn replied as he grabbed the bottle away from the elf and began pouring a glass.


    ¡°Are you kidding?! How much do you charge per glass?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Mor¡¯lavan¡¯s the only one that likes the stuff.¡± Taer¡¯inar glanced at Ithan with a look of utter disbelief, with a hint of longing.


    ¡°Let him have that glass,¡± Ithan said to Briryn. ¡°I really don¡¯t deserve it.¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s face lit up as he looked over at Briryn. Briryn pulled out a second glass and poured more wine into it, then set it in front of Taer¡¯inar. Ithan rolled his eyes and approached the bar. He took the glass that Briryn had poured him and took a sip from it.


    ¡°This is the most expensive stuff in Nylserine,¡± Taer¡¯inar said cheerily as he lifted his glass. ¡°For very good reason, I might add. How long ago did you get this?¡±


    ¡°Oh, almost fifteen years ago,¡± Briryn replied. ¡°He was a good elf. Always liked helping out around the city. He even helped us when there was a bad illness running through. Saved a lot of lives, that one.¡±


    ¡°What happened to him?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. Briryn shook his head.


    ¡°The poor guy went out into the wilds and never came back,¡± Briryn said. ¡°Said he was looking for something in some city made of trees.¡± Ithan¡¯s head perked up at hearing this.


    ¡°Do you know anything about that place?¡± Ithan interrupted.


    ¡°Nothing, just that it¡¯s in the west.¡± Briryn narrowed his eyes as he looked at Ithan. ¡°You¡¯re not planning on going out that way, are you?¡±


    ¡°¡­Maybe,¡± Ithan mumbled. ¡°Not now, but I want to go there before winter¡¯s end.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll add it to the list,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°An elf looking for something in a city that sounds very elven¡­ Sounds promising.¡± He drank the last of his glass, smiled at Briryn, and pulled out several gold coins from his pocket and put them in front of Briryn. ¡°That should cover my drink.¡±


    ¡°I said it was free,¡± Briryn muttered.


    ¡°Take it anyway,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°You deserve it for putting up with all of us.¡± Briryn laughed as Taer¡¯inar stepped away from the bar and toward the stairs.


    ¡°So Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Apostalite said as Taer¡¯inar ascended the stairs, ¡°I have a proposition for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± Ithan said between sips of his wine.


    ¡°Sometime soon, I would like to embark on a pilgrimage out into the place beyond the mountains. Would you care to join me when that time comes?¡±


    ¡°How soon is ¡®soon?¡¯¡±


    ¡°Perhaps not before winter¡¯s end, but not long after.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°I may not stick around for that long.¡±


    ¡°That would be quite disappointing,¡± Apostalite remarked. ¡°Well, think about it. You know where to find me.¡± They stood up and walked out of the tavern. Moments later, Dhurik entered with a bloodied arm and dirt on his face.


    ¡°Stupid cheating lizard-man,¡± Dhurik grumbled angrily as he sat down at the bar. ¡°Can I get a beer?¡± he asked Briryn.


    ¡°You say Shakul cheated?¡± Briryn questioned. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem the type.¡±


    ¡°He kicked dirt in my eyes,¡± the minotaur replied. ¡°Couldn¡¯t get a clean swing at him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not cheating,¡± Briryn laughed as he poured Dhurik a mug of beer. ¡°That¡¯s playing dirty.¡±


    ¡°Pretty much anything goes in there,¡± Ithan said. ¡°Next time don¡¯t let them kick dirt in your face.¡± Dhurik huffed and stomped a hoof on the ground. ¡°Are you going to fix up that arm before we head out?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Dhurik took the mug and gulped down his drink, slamming the mug back down on the bar. ¡°Another.¡± Briryn poured more beer into the mug and Dhurik drank it just as quickly as the first.


    ¡°Clean yourself up and I¡¯ll give you another,¡± Briryn said. Dhurik tilted his head back in annoyance and dragged himself away from the bar and up the stairs. ¡°And you,¡± he continued as he looked back at Ithan. ¡°You doing okay?¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Ithan replied.


    ¡°You sure?¡± the dragonkin asked. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting weird the past two days.¡± Ithan shook his head and smiled.


    ¡°I just have a lot going on,¡± he replied. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I promise.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Just make sure you come back in one piece.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Briryn? About the elf who gave you that wine. What was his name?¡±


    ¡°Again with the elf?¡± Briryn crossed his arms. ¡°His name was Elyan, er¡­ Let¡¯s see now¡­ I think it was¡­ Aranis?¡± Ithan nearly leapt out of his seat. Another Aranis had been this far west before him, looking for the City of Living Trees. Had this Elyan already taken the artifact Kiraan was seeking?


    ¡°You don¡¯t say,¡± he replied calmly despite his racing thoughts.


    ¡°Oh, you know him?¡± Briryn asked. Ithan shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s too bad. I think you two would have gotten along. You remind me of him.¡± Briryn took Dhurik¡¯s mug and brought it with him into the kitchen.


    ¡°Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Taer¡¯inar called. Ithan shook himself from his daze and looked over toward the tavern entrance. Taer¡¯inar was standing just inside, fully geared, with his owl resting on his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s almost time to head out. Are you ready to get going?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be right out,¡± Ithan replied. Taer¡¯inar nodded and left the tavern as Dhurik appeared coming back down the stairs. He walked back over to the bar. ¡°Sounds like we¡¯re leaving soon.¡±


    ¡°One or three more drinks,¡± Dhurik muttered. Ithan sighed as he got up and walked out of the tavern. Storm, Bimpnottin, and Taer¡¯inar waited at the fountain near Apostalite. From the direction of the arena, Unit 17 and Brollynn came into view walking toward the group. Brollynn was carrying a large bag in addition to her hammer.


    ¡°I won!¡± she shouted at Ithan, holding the bag up above her head.


    ¡°Congratulations,¡± Ithan replied as the dwarf drew nearer to the group. ¡°What will you do with your winnings?¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll take them back home in a few weeks,¡± Brollynn replied. ¡°I¡¯m going to get as much gold as I can to bring back into the mountains.¡±


    ¡°So, you do live up there,¡± Taer¡¯inar commented. ¡°Do you know of a good path through them?¡±


    ¡°Nope!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°There¡¯s no good paths up there. Had to fight my way through to Rockfall and then took that trail here.¡± She smiled wide and brandished her hammer. ¡°But if you guys find a nice path, me and my kin would be pretty interested to know about it!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll keep you informed, then,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. Brollynn gave a nod and walked past the group into the tavern. Dhurik appeared from it a moment after. ¡°Got yourself nice and drunk?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked the minotaur.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get drunk easily,¡± Dhurik grunted. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°We are short one halfling,¡± Unit 17 interrupted. Ithan had forgotten that Ian would be accompanying the group. This¡¯ll be a fun trip. He scanned the square and found the top of Ian¡¯s head on the other side of the fountain.


    ¡°Hey, shortstack!¡± Ithan called. Ian peered over the fountain at Ithan, then ran over to the group.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me punish you again,¡± Ian said to Ithan.


    ¡°Get over yourself,¡± Ithan taunted. ¡°You¡¯re an annoyance and nothing more.¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey!¡± Taer¡¯inar called. ¡°We need to all try to get along here, or we won¡¯t last long.¡±


    ¡°The elf is correct,¡± Unit 17 added. ¡°Fighting amongst ourselves will only weaken the group. We must be united in order to succeed.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ian mumbled. He held out his hand. ¡°Truce?¡±


    ¡°Truce,¡± Ithan replied, shaking Ian¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Good,¡± Storm said. ¡°Now let¡¯s get going.¡± He began marching off toward the western gate, and everyone else followed suit. As they walked, Taer¡¯inar caressed his owl, Dhurik sharpened his axe, and Ian and Bimpnottin took turns riding on Unit 17¡¯s shoulders. Passing dragonkin watched this incredibly strange group walk through the town, and some of them smiled and waved as they encountered the people who had saved the Velthin family.


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re starting to earn some respect around here,¡± Dhurik said.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Bimpnottin yelled. ¡°You are accompanied by the great Bimpnottin Bafflestone!¡± As the group continued through town and past the western gate, Ithan could not help but wonder what they might find in the mountains and beyond. Averion was mostly unexplored, yet Brollynn came from the mountains, and there was another city far to the west. Surely there were other civilizations out there that survived the ¡°Gods¡¯ War¡± Kiraan had talked about. Or, maybe they emerged from the aftermath. Will they all fall again when the next war comes?

 Chapter 8 - Forging the Path

    The journey to Rockfall went much the same as Ithan¡¯s first trip to the abandoned town. The group walked mostly in silence as Dhurik collected large sticks from the ground. As they began to hike up into the mountains, Taer¡¯inar sent his owl ahead to scope out the area. He placed a hand on Unit 17¡¯s shoulder as the group continued to walk.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see any more kobolds,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Ugh¡­ and the heads are still there. I¡¯m glad Fenvyre did not come with us.¡± Ithan had not said his farewells to Fenvyre or Sonys; he hoped that they would not be too angry with him. Then again, they had been acting strangely before he left, so perhaps this was for the best.


    ¡°Thank you for scouting the area,¡± Unit 17 said as Taer¡¯inar let go of his shoulder.


    ¡°There might be a path a bit further north,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued, ¡°but it seemed unstable. We¡¯ll need to approach with caution.¡± By the time the group made their way into Rockfall, Taer¡¯inar¡¯s owl had already made her way back to his shoulder. He caressed her gently as he observed the decaying remains of the kobolds left there from the last excursion.


    ¡°What a grisly sight!¡± Bimpnottin proclaimed. ¡°It reminds me of the time I had to battle my way through a horde of gnolls! There I was, in the middle of their fortress, when¡­¡± Ithan tuned out the gnome¡¯s monologue and looked around at the kobolds¡¯ camp. With no one to maintain them, the tents had been blown down by the wind flowing through the mountains. The bodies of the kobolds and the griffon were beginning to decay, but the cold mountain air made it a slow process. Past the camp, the entrance to the mine was still open. A shiver ran up Ithan¡¯s spine. He still wanted to know what was beyond that door, but not any time soon.


    ¡°Where did you say this path was, Taer¡¯inar?¡± Storm asked, snapping Ithan¡¯s attention back to the group.


    ¡°Follow me,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. He stepped ahead of the group and proceeded through the camp toward the mine. He led the group past the cave where they had found Unit 17 and further up the mountain. The path they walked now was not so much a path as it was just a slightly less difficult area to hike through. The terrain made traveling slow, but by noon the group had still made it a fair distance through the mountains. Taer¡¯inar stopped suddenly as the group reached the top of a hill.


    ¡°What gives, Birdbrain?¡± Dhurik asked. ¡°Why¡¯re we stopping?¡±


    ¡°Look in front of you,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. Ahead of them was a field of small loose stones along the slope of the mountain. The group would need to traverse the scree in order to move forward or go back and find another way through the mountain. ¡°I can try to find another way, but it may take a few more hours to travel,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he turned to his companions. ¡°If we go slowly, we should be able to navigate this just fine.¡±


    ¡°Proceed with caution,¡± Unit 17 added. He pulled out a coil of rope from one of his compartments. ¡°We can use this to assist in our travel.¡±


    ¡°Good thinking,¡± Storm said. ¡°If one of us can get to the other side, you and that person can hold the rope from each end.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± Dhurik said. He snatched one end of the rope and began making his way across. The minotaur must have become agitated with the slow-going of the group. He did move slowly over the rocks, feeling his way across the scree so as to not cause a rockslide, but he mumbled to himself along the way. When he managed to make it to the other side, he pulled the rope taut and motioned for others to follow. Bimpnottin and Ian went next, their small bodies easily making it across the field. Storm also made it across rather easily. Taer¡¯inar went ahead of Ithan, stepping effortlessly over the rocks, as if they were solid ground. It was difficult for Ithan to maintain his own footing, even with the assistance of the rope that Dhurik and Unit 17 held. Marveling at Taer¡¯inar¡¯s fluid motions as he crossed the scree, Ithan suddenly slipped and began sliding down the field.


    ¡°Mor¡¯lavan!¡± Taer¡¯inar shouted as Ithan frantically tried to stop his descent. Then, from nowhere, a net of webbing appeared beneath him, stopping his fall.


    ¡°Saved your life!¡± Ian shouted from above as he grinned at Ithan.


    ¡°Enemies incoming,¡± Unit 17 said abruptly. Ithan looked above him to see a flock of scaled bird-like creatures descending from the sky toward the group. They looked hungry, but Ithan did not plan to become their meal. He shot a blast of energy at one of the creatures¡¯ wings, but it did not seem to be effective. That creature flew toward Ithan as the rest descended upon the group above. Taer¡¯inar ducked past one of them and slashed at it from behind.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming down, Mor¡¯lavan!¡± Taer¡¯inar called. Ithan continued to fire magic at the creature approaching him, and as the creature landed between him and Taer¡¯inar, he summoned his glaive and slashed at it. As the two fought the creature, a thunderous sound rang out on the mountainside, followed by pained screeching from the other creatures above Ithan and Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°Look out below!¡± Ian shouted.


    ¡°What?¡ª¡± Ithan started before a large pile of rocks fell upon him and Taer¡¯inar, sending them and the creature back into the webs. Ithan shoved the creature off of him and prepared to slash at it again, but it was dead?¡ªthe impact of the rocks had killed it, and it would have killed them as well had the creature not been in the way. Unit 17 came down with the rope to pull Ithan and Taer¡¯inar out of the webs, leaving the dead creature behind. After he landed on stable ground, Ithan turned to glare at the slain creatures.


    ¡°Did you make those webs? How?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked Ian. The halfling nodded and his smile widened. Ian pulled a wand out of his pocket and waved it around.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got this doohickey here. Pretty handy, right?¡± the halfling replied. He put the wand away and held out his hand. ¡°Now, that¡¯ll be twenty gold for saving your life!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Ithan laughed. ¡°You didn¡¯t stop the rocks from falling on us. That¡¯s at least forty gold in damages, but I¡¯ll just say we¡¯re even.¡±


    ¡°No way you¡¯re worth forty gold,¡± Ian argued. ¡°I could buy a mutt like you for five, max!¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± Taer¡¯inar interrupted, glaring at Ithan like an angry parent. ¡°I thought we settled this back in town.¡±


    ¡°We were just having some fun,¡± Ithan replied, returning Taer¡¯inar¡¯s gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t get so mad about it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not mad, just disappointed,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. ¡°If you¡¯re going to keep fighting, we¡¯re going to leave you behind. I¡¯m not going to let your squabbling endanger the rest of us.¡±


    ¡°All right, all right,¡± Ian said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I have such a misbehaved mutt?¡ªow!¡± he cried as Ithan kicked a pebble from the ground at his head.


    ¡°You deserved that one,¡± Storm commented. He turned his attention to Taer¡¯inar. ¡°Are we sure this is the best path? How are we going to get back?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we¡¯ll find another path on our way back,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Shall we continue for now?¡± The group proceeded along the mountainside, stopping every so often to rest. Soon trees began to adorn the path, and after another hour the group came to a cliffside overlooking a sparse forest in a valley between the mountains. The group made its way down the mountain and into the forest, where Taer¡¯inar sent Nyctea off again to scout.


    ¡°When am I going to get to smash things?¡± Dhurik asked impatiently. He swung his axe around as he waited for Taer¡¯inar to finish his work. He apparently had not gotten to partake in the killing of the flying creatures earlier.


    ¡°Possibly quite soon,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied without looking at the minotaur. ¡°There are some creatures to the west of the forest. They appear to be lizardfolk. Let¡¯s stay in the forest for now to watch them.¡± He led the group toward the western edge of the forest, where they were able to observe the creatures that Taer¡¯inar mentioned. The slender creatures were a brilliant orange in color, and they stood roughly as tall as average dragonkin. But they looked much more like salamanders with their large eyes, slim tails and webbed appendages. They wielded weapons of all varieties?¡ªlongswords, scimitars and spears, among others. Every so often, some of the creatures would retreat into a cave in the mountainside, only for more to appear.


    ¡°Why, those are firenewts!¡± Bimpnottin announced quietly. ¡°But what are they doing over here?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ithan asked as one of the creatures sharpened its sword. He was fascinated by them?¡ªhow different they were from the dragonkin despite their shared traits.


    ¡°Firenewts are native to more volcanic regions,¡± Bimpnottin answered. ¡°Even in the summer, I can¡¯t imagine this place getting warm enough for them to enjoy it.¡±


    ¡°There seem to be some hot springs there,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, pointing toward the southern part of the firenewts¡¯ settlement. Indeed, there were a few spots through the trees where steam rose from the ground. ¡°Could that be enough for them?¡±


    ¡°It would appear so,¡± Bimpnottin replied. ¡°In any case, they¡¯re quite aggressive, so we should tread carefully.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s leave them be, then,¡± Ithan said. ¡°They don¡¯t seem to be bothering anyone. Let¡¯s see if there¡¯s anything up ahead.¡± He turned away and began walking northward. The rest of the group followed quietly behind, making sure not to cause a disturbance for the firenewts to investigate.


    ¡°You¡¯re no fun, Dogboy,¡± Dhurik muttered as they walked. Ithan ignored the minotaur, focusing his attention on the clearing ahead of them?¡ªthere was a strange circle of glowing mushrooms there. They glowed all kinds of brilliant colors, and around the outside of the circle, he could make out some writing on the ground.


    ¡°What a find!¡± Taer¡¯inar exclaimed. ¡°It¡¯s a faerie ring!¡± He ran up to the circle and began examining the writing while the others approached. ¡°It says, ¡®Fortune Favors the Bold.¡¯¡± Without a word, Ian leapt past Taer¡¯inar into the circle and held his arms out wide, his face beaming. The glowing intensified for just a moment as Taer¡¯inar yelled at Ian to get out of the circle, and then the mushrooms stopped glowing altogether. ¡°Are you an idiot?! It could have set you on fire for all we know!¡±


    ¡°But it didn¡¯t,¡± Ian replied shamelessly. He looked himself over and frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t feel any different. Stupid useless magic circle.¡±


    ¡°What did you expect?¡± Ithan asked. ¡°Did you think you¡¯d grow taller or something?¡± He laughed as Ian¡¯s face reddened. After ensuring that the circle had not caused any harm to the halfling, the group left the faerie ring behind and marched northward, back into the forest.


    ¡°So did that faerie ring really do nothing?¡± Storm asked as the group walked.


    ¡°The magic in that circle almost certainly did something,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied, ¡°but perhaps it was not potent enough to have an immediate effect.¡±


    ¡°Not fair,¡± Ian muttered. ¡°I was bold, so why didn¡¯t I get anything for it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Apostalite when we get back? I¡¯m sure they can tell you all about fortune¡¯s fickle nature.¡±


    ¡°Who goes there?¡± a voice called from the trees. The source revealed itself rather quickly?¡ªa dwarf stepped out from behind one of the taller trees and blocked the group¡¯s path.


    ¡°Who might you be?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked as the dwarf approached the group. He stood a bit over a foot taller than Ian and Bimpnottin, and his light brown skin was nearly the color of the earth that covered the lower mountains. His long black beard was carefully groomed, much like Bimpnottin¡¯s.


    ¡°The name¡¯s Balkam,¡± the dwarf replied. ¡°Y¡¯all are a strange bunch of critters, ain¡¯t ¡®cha?¡±


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°We get that a lot,¡± Storm said.


    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Balkam,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued. ¡°My name is Taer¡¯inar Volarei, and these are my companions. We¡¯ve come from Greenreach in search of a path through the mountains.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s this ¡®Greenreach¡¯ place yer talkin¡¯ about?¡± Balkam questioned. He eyed Ithan cautiously. ¡°And what in blazes are you supposed to be?¡±


    ¡°A very hungry dog,¡± Ithan snarled.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, placing a hand on Ithan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Greenreach is to the southeast, past the mountains.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that Greenreach!¡± Balkam exclaimed. ¡°Tell me, have ya seen a woman with a giant hammer?¡±


    ¡°Is that Brollynn¡­?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked Ithan.


    ¡°Aye!¡± Balkam smiled. ¡°How¡¯s the lass doin¡¯ these days?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s taken up fighting in the city¡¯s arena,¡± Ithan said. He clutched his stomach where Brollynn¡¯s hammer had connected; the aches were still there. ¡°She¡¯s pretty tough.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s ma cousin for ya,¡± Balkam said, his chest swelling with pride. ¡°Sense of adventure, that one has. Good to hear she¡¯s doin¡¯ well.¡±


    ¡°We would be happy to say hello for you if you could show us a safe way back,¡± Taer¡¯inar bargained. ¡°There¡¯s a nasty scree field on the path we used to get here.¡±


    ¡°Hm,¡± Balkam grunted. ¡°I¡¯ll make ya a deal, elf. If y¡¯all help us, we¡¯ll help you.¡±


    ¡°Go on,¡± Taer¡¯inar said.


    ¡°Did ya see the nest of orange lizards back that way?¡± Balkam asked, pointing southward. ¡°Those bastards invaded our land while we were away. So, me and a couple of my buddies were scoping out the area so we can kick ¡®em out, ya know? But the big salamander in the cave is too strong and he¡¯ll probably toast us if we go by ourselves.¡± He folded his arms over his chest. ¡°If ya help us take care of ¡®em, we¡¯ll let you use our tunnels.¡±


    ¡°Have you tried communicating with them?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Are ya nuts? They¡¯re firenewts!¡± Balkam shouted. ¡°They ain¡¯t much for talkin¡¯.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s a no,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°How long have you been underground?¡± Bimpnottin asked.


    ¡°¡®Bout a hundred years or so,¡± Balkam replied. ¡°Etris terrorized our people throughout the mountains, so we all went underground. Now that the dragon¡¯s settled further north, we¡¯re rarin¡¯ to reclaim our land.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not your land anymore,¡± Ithan argued. Balkam¡¯s eyes went wide with fury.


    ¡°Could you excuse us for a moment?¡± Taer¡¯inar interrupted, pulling Ithan away from the group. When the two were well away from the rest of the group, Taer¡¯inar stopped and turned to Ithan. ¡°What is your problem? We¡¯re being offered a safe way to get through the mountains in exchange for eliminating a few pests.¡±


    ¡°¡®Pests?!¡¯¡± Ithan cried. ¡°You don¡¯t even know them!¡±


    ¡°Fine, perhaps I worded that wrong. The point is, these firenewts are not willing to move off of the land that the dwarves once inhabited, so they need to be removed.¡±


    ¡°Says who? The dwarves?¡± Ithan looked back at Balkam. ¡°He said they didn¡¯t even try to communicate with the firenewts.¡±


    ¡°Bimpnottin said they¡¯re incredibly aggressive, so I don¡¯t blame them. Sometimes the only way to communicate is through force.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t do it,¡± Ithan growled. ¡°They¡¯re just trying to live their lives. Who are we to take that from them?¡± Taer¡¯inar sighed and placed his hand on Ithan¡¯s shoulder once more.


    ¡°How about we put it to a vote?¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°We can see if the guild wants to try for a more peaceful solution first. Is that fair?¡±


    ¡°I guess,¡± Ithan mumbled. He walked back to the group with Taer¡¯inar and glared at the dwarf.


    ¡°I would like to help if we can,¡± Taer¡¯inar said to Balkam, ¡°but perhaps we can find a less¡­ violent solution. Maybe these firenewts can be reasoned with, with the right liaison.¡±


    ¡°Impossible!¡± Balkam proclaimed. ¡°We¡¯ve gotta drive ¡®em out of our land or they¡¯ll just keep pesterin¡¯ us!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not?¡ª¡± Ithan started.


    ¡°I agree,¡± Bimpnottin interrupted. ¡°Regardless of their reasons for being here, they are dangerous creatures.¡±


    ¡°If it means I get to fight things, I¡¯m in,¡± Dhurik added. Storm and Ian did not comment, but both nodded to Dhurik¡¯s remark. Ithan looked around at his companions in anger and disbelief. How could they decide so easily?


    ¡°I suppose it is decided, then,¡± Taer¡¯inar said.


    ¡°Good!¡± Balkam shouted. ¡°Let¡¯s go tell my buddies.¡± He walked northward, and the group followed. As they neared the edge of the forest, they came across two more dwarves. ¡°This is Bromdrus and Bankuhm,¡± he said, gesturing at each dwarf as he introduced them. The two were remarkably similar to Balkam, though each had styled their beards differently and wore different armor.


    ¡°What¡¯s all this, then?¡± Bromdrus asked.


    ¡°These guys are gonna help us take care o¡¯ them firenewts,¡± Balkam replied. ¡°We¡¯ll talk strategy while I¡¯m walking ¡®em through the Rockfall tunnel.¡±


    ¡°Is that the tunnel Brollynn traveled through?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it dangerous?¡±


    ¡°Aye, but, if Brollynn made it through, you lot¡¯ll do just fine,¡± Bankuhm replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s the kobolds in Rockfall proper ya gotta look out for,¡± Bromdrus added.


    ¡°The kobolds have been eliminated,¡± Unit 17 said.


    ¡°Have they, now?¡± Balkam asked in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Maybe we¡¯ll start movin¡¯ back in there, as well.¡± He nodded to the other dwarves. ¡°Keep outta sight ¡®til I get back,¡± he said.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Bromdrus and Bankhum said at once. Balkam led the group out of the forest and back up the mountain a bit, then stopped in front of a large stone on the mountainside.


    ¡°Now listen up,¡± he said. ¡°Most of us haven¡¯t walked this tunnel since before we all went underground, so there might be some landsharks in there.¡±


    ¡°¡®Landsharks?¡¯¡± Taer¡¯inar asked.


    ¡°Aye. Nasty things. Big mouths, sharp claws, burrow through rock like it¡¯s nothin¡¯.¡± He eyed Ian. ¡°They¡¯ve got a particular liking for halflings.¡± Ian¡¯s face went white. Balkam chuckled, stepped forward, and walked through the stone, much to Ithan¡¯s surprise. A moment later, his face appeared in the stone. ¡°Well come on, then!¡± he shouted before disappearing again. Cautiously, Ithan stepped forward and reached out to the stone, but his hand passed through it like air. An illusion. He stepped through the ethereal stone, and now he was in a dark tunnel, with Balkam holding a torch just ahead of him.


    ¡°That¡¯s some quality magic there,¡± Taer¡¯inar commented as he stepped through the illusion. ¡°I should very much like to know how to replicate this.¡±


    ¡°Ancient dwarven secret,¡± Balkam said. ¡°It¡¯s so well-kept that none of us know how it works.¡± Taer¡¯inar groaned in frustration. ¡°Now be on yer guard. We¡¯re gonna be in here a while, and them landsharks could be anywhere.¡± The group traveled slowly, listening for movement in the ground and walls. After a couple of hours, they decided to rest in the tunnel.


    ¡°How much further is our destination?¡± Unit 17 queried.


    ¡°At the rate we¡¯re going, maybe another couple of hours,¡± Balkam replied. ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk about what we¡¯re gonna do with the firenewts.¡± Ithan shook his head and leaned against one of the walls of the tunnel. ¡°Let¡¯s say we meet back in the forest in a week¡¯s time.¡±


    ¡°That sounds fine,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°What is our plan of attack?¡±


    ¡°The source of their power comes from the salamander,¡± Balkam explained. ¡°Get rid of the biggun¡¯ and the rest will follow. But they keep it well-guarded.¡±


    ¡°What if we caused a commotion outside?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. ¡°If they have to send more firenewts out of the cave, some of us can sneak in and kill the salamander.¡±


    ¡°But who will be the bait?¡± Storm asked.


    ¡°I am not stealthy,¡± Unit 17 added.


    ¡°I think we should send Dhurik and Unit 17 in with you and the other scouts, Balkam,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°While you all are fighting the firenewts outside, Bimpnottin, Storm and I can take care of the salamander.¡±


    ¡°I like this plan,¡± Dhurik chuckled.


    The wall behind Ithan began to shudder.


    ¡°Something¡¯s coming,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°It¡¯s settled, then,¡± Balkam said. ¡°I¡¯ll let our forces know tonight. Expect three or four more to aid in the battle.¡± The tremors grew stronger, and Ithan put his hand against the wall. Something was moving through the wall toward them?¡ªspecifically, toward Balkam. As the group talked, the rumbling very rapidly grew to the point where Ithan thought the wall would collapse. He leapt at Balkam and pushed him aside, just before the wall behind the dwarf crumbled and a large creature forced its way through the tunnel.


    ¡°Enemy approaching,¡± Unit 17 said. He pulled out a mace and began attacking the creature. It roared and tunneled through the other side of the wall, leaving a pile of dirt and rock in its wake.


    ¡°Watch yerselves,¡± Balkam warned. ¡°It can come at us from anywhere.¡± The group spread out in the tunnel and readied themselves for another attack. Ithan summoned his glaive and held it in front of him. The tremors shifted to the ground beneath him and he braced himself for the landshark to surface. The creature burst forth, and he jumped away from it while slashing at it. Its body was incredibly tough; Ithan could hardly scratch its skin.


    ¡°Get away!¡± Ian cried as the beast lumbered toward him. Taer¡¯inar and Dhurik joined Ithan in attacking the creature while Ian ran away from it. Bimpnottin and Storm attacked it from a distance, Bimpnottin with his magic and Storm with his bow. The creature burrowed once more and very quickly crashed through another portion of the wall, this time catching Ithan and Taer¡¯inar underneath it. Its weight nearly crushed the two, and Ithan could not retaliate as it opened its maw and tilted its head forward toward them. At the last moment, the creature suddenly lurched backward and roared, allowing the pair to escape from underneath it. Ithan stabbed its underbelly, and with one final roar, the creature crashed to the ground dead. Ian stood triumphantly on the landshark¡¯s back; he had somehow gotten up there and had been stabbing it from behind.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Taer¡¯inar coughed. ¡°For a moment I was sure we were dead.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what it gets for trying to eat me!¡± Ian shouted as he jumped off the landshark. ¡°Now I¡¯m pretty sure that warrants some gold. I¡¯m going to say fifty each.¡± He held out his hand expectantly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay you when we get home,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Let¡¯s just get out of here, please.¡±


    ¡°Aye, let¡¯s keep goin¡¯,¡± Balkam said. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have any trouble with more landsharks. They¡¯re very territorial. But it¡¯s best to keep movin¡¯ along.¡± The party rested near the corpse for a short while to catch their breath, then Balkam led them further along the tunnel. As Balkam had mentioned, it only took another couple of hours for the group to find themselves near the mouth of the cave where they had found Unit 17.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t even realize there was more to this cave,¡± Taer¡¯inar mused. ¡°Very impressive.¡±


    ¡°Now y¡¯all remember, we meet back in the forest in one week,¡± Balkam said. He glanced at Ithan. ¡°Except you, I guess. But maybe it¡¯s better that way. I don¡¯t know if I trust you.¡± Ithan bared his teeth at the dwarf. ¡°Well, so long.¡± He disappeared behind the stone wall, and the group proceeded out of the cave into Rockfall, weary from the day¡¯s travels.


    ?


    ¡°You gonna eat that?¡± Dhurik asked Ithan as they sat at their usual table in the tavern. Ithan had hardly touched his meal, opting instead to gaze off at nothing while he listened to the shouts of the dragonkin there. He glanced down at his food, then pushed his plate over to Dhurik. ¡°Nice,¡± the minotaur said as he began devouring Ithan¡¯s food.


    ¡°Hey, there you guys are!¡± Brollyn called from behind Ithan. A hard clap on his back sent him reeling in pain. ¡°Whoops! Sorry, Mor¡¯lavan. Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d still be sore. So, what¡¯s everyone been up to?¡±


    ¡°We traveled up the mountains a bit,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Balkam says hello, by the way.¡±


    ¡°Oh? I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be above ground. What¡¯s he up to?¡±


    ¡°Apparently they¡¯re wanting to reclaim some territory from a firenewt settlement,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued. ¡°You didn¡¯t know anything about that?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t talk to Balkam that much,¡± Brollynn said. ¡°He and I have¡­ different opinions about the world.¡±


    ¡°He also showed us the tunnel you used to get here,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Though we had to agree to help him first.¡±


    ¡°That sounds like Balkam, all right,¡± Brollynn laughed. ¡°I would¡¯ve shown you the way free of charge. Well, with Dhurik and Mor¡¯lavan here, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll make quick work of those firenewts.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not helping them,¡± Ithan grumbled.


    ¡°Hm? Why not?¡± Brollynn asked.


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t think it¡¯s right,¡± Ithan replied.


    ¡°They invaded my people¡¯s land,¡± Brollynn said. ¡°What¡¯s right about that?¡±


    ¡°Your people abandoned that land,¡± Ithan snarled. ¡°It¡¯s been abandoned for a hundred years, and you all think it¡¯s fine to just get rid of whoever happens to be living there now?¡± He shook as he spoke, trying hard not to cause a scene in the tavern. ¡°They just want to live their lives,¡± he muttered. ¡°Who are we to take that from them?¡± He stood up and walked away from the table and up the stairs. As he approached his room, Fenvyre appeared from her room and wrapped their arms around him.


    ¡°Hi Lava!¡± she exclaimed, squeezing Ithan with less force than usual. She was beginning to figure out what the proper amount of pressure was for hugs. ¡°How was your trip?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it,¡± Ithan said. ¡°Aren¡¯t you mad that we left without saying goodbye?¡±


    ¡°Well, I was,¡± Fenvyre replied, ¡°but I knew you didn¡¯t do it on purpose. You¡¯re too kind for that.¡±


    ¡°¡®Too kind,¡¯ huh?¡± He broke free of Fenvyre¡¯s grasp and opened his door. ¡°I¡¯m going to go to bed. I¡¯ll talk to you tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Okay, then. Good night!¡± Ithan closed the door behind him and began removing his armor. He still struggled with getting his chestpiece over his head, with his antlers catching on the leather. He growled, twisting the armor until it finally came loose, and then he threw it at the ground. He was not as kind as Fenvyre and Sonys believed. He was planning the murder of a king, after all. But those firenewts had done nothing wrong; they deserved to live their lives. Just like I deserve to live mine.

 Chapter 9 - Apprehension

    Ithan spent most of the next week in the kitchen, cooking for the dragonkin who frequented the tavern. Fenvyre usually served the food, but occasionally he would do it himself to take a quick break from the heat of the kitchen. On one occasion, he stepped out to serve his companions, but his resentment forced him to retreat without so much as saying hello to them. They were going to slaughter a tribe of creatures with no clear ill will against anyone.


    On the night before the party planned to return to the mountains to meet Balkam, Ithan once again slunk into the kitchen. He was surprised to see Taer¡¯inar standing there, his arms folded across his chest as he leaned against one of the countertops. There was an aura about him that made Ithan want to flee the tavern. This presence¡­ it was reminiscent of his father¡¯s.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Ithan growled.


    ¡°I want you to dine with us, Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied.


    ¡°Is that a request or a demand?¡± Ithan scoffed.


    ¡°I won¡¯t force you,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he stood up. His voice belied the atmosphere around him. ¡°But it would really mean a lot to us if you did.¡± He stepped toward Ithan and placed a hand on his shoulder. There was a sadness in his eyes that matched his somber tone.


    ¡°I¡¯m not really in the mood to dine with a pack of bloodthirsty murderers,¡± Ithan snarled, brushing Taer¡¯inar¡¯s hand aside.


    ¡°We¡¯re not ¡®bloodthirsty,¡¯¡± Taer¡¯inar argued. ¡°We¡¯re just doing what needs to be done. Do you think I like killing people?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that crap,¡± Ithan retorted. ¡°You¡¯re a swordsman. You¡¯re prepared to kill at a moment¡¯s notice.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am. It doesn¡¯t mean I want to do it. But I¡¯m looking out for what¡¯s best for the guild.¡± Taer¡¯inar peered past Ithan into the tavern. ¡°Cooperating with the dwarves is our best option right now. We¡¯ll have access to their tunnels for easier travel, and they might have more information about what¡¯s beyond the mountains.¡± He stepped past Ithan and into the doorway leading into the tavern proper. ¡°We all have to make sacrifices for the benefit of the guild. That¡¯s what we all signed up for. If you weren¡¯t prepared for that, then I don¡¯t think we can make this work.¡± A strange pain crept into Ithan¡¯s chest as the elf disappeared from view. It was much different from what Kiraan had inflicted upon him, but he remembered the feeling from another time. It felt as though his heart was being ripped from his body.


    As the night went on, Ithan tried to distract himself by cooking and cleaning; he even went so far as to start cleaning the kitchen itself, which he normally left for the mornings when there were less guests. By the time most of the dragonkin had gone home for the evening, Ithan had made the kitchen nearly spotless, save for the few mugs and dishes left to clean.


    ¡°Hey, kid,¡± Briryn said as he poked his head into the doorway, ¡°go spend time with your friends.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not my friends,¡± Ithan muttered. The pain in his chest worsened, like his heart was being crushed.


    ¡°Who¡¯re you trying to fool?¡± He stomped over to the freezer to pull out some of the leftover meats and cheeses from earlier in the day. He arranged them on a platter as he talked. ¡°Now I know you don¡¯t like what they¡¯re doing, but if they mean anything to you?¡ªand I know they do?¡ªyou¡¯ll forgive them. What¡¯ll you do if they don¡¯t come back?¡± A lump began to form in Ithan¡¯s throat as Briryn put two loaves of bread in the middle of the platter and handed it to him. ¡°Don¡¯t let them leave here thinking you hate them because of what they¡¯re doing. It¡¯ll weigh more heavily on them than you think, and then it¡¯ll be that much harder for them to succeed.¡± He wiped the tears that were beginning to flow down Ithan¡¯s face, then put a hand on his head and ruffled his hair. ¡°Let them know you¡¯ll still be here when the fighting¡¯s done.¡± Ithan nodded, and Briryn grinned. He stood aside so that Ithan could pass through. As Ithan entered the doorway, he turned back to the dragonkin.


    ¡°Thanks, Briryn,¡± he said, returning Briryn¡¯s smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re a good kid, Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Briryn replied. ¡°Keep at it.¡±


    Ithan walked the food over to the table where his friends sat. Despite their differences, Briryn had convinced him that they were indeed people that he cared about. They were the first group of people to fully accept him since forming his pact, unlike so many others who had shunned or attacked him merely because of his strange appearance. Regardless of their convictions, they were his precious friends. He placed the platter on the table and seated himself between Ian and Bimpnottin.


    ¡°There he is!¡± Dhurik shouted, holding his half-empty mug in the air. ¡°Told you he¡¯d come around!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you changed your mind,¡± Taer¡¯inar added, smiling softly. The aura that he had exuded earlier in the evening was gone now, or at least hidden by the more cheerful atmosphere of the group. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have felt right celebrating without you.¡± He pulled a scroll from his robe and tossed it to Ithan. Confused, Ithan opened the scroll?¡ªit was a letter from the Seal.


    In an effort to establish improved relations with The Kingdom Below, the City of Greenreach under the Seal of the Burning Scale Dynasty has agreed to reopen the Rockfall Mine by the end of the year.


    The City of Greenreach wishes to contract The Averion Company to pacify the mine. The guild will receive five hundred gold pieces as payment if the mine is completely pacified before the summer solstice. The guild is free to remove anything that is not important to continued mine operation as part of the pacification process.


    The Seal of the Burning Scale Dynasty approves of this request and expects a full report from The Averion Company at the conclusion of the contract.


    ¡°What¡¯s ¡®The Kingdom Below?¡¯¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s the dwarves¡¯?¡ª¡± Bimpnottin blurted before Storm covered shoved a wedge of cheese into his mouth.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Ithan muttered, reading through the letter again with this new knowledge. He looked up at Taer¡¯inar, and he could tell that the elf was a nervous wreck beneath his smile. After a moment of gazing into those pleading eyes, he took a deep breath and forced a grin. ¡°Well, I guess this is cause for celebration, isn¡¯t it? We have our first real mission as a guild!¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s face lit up at Ithan¡¯s words, and his joy from seeing Taer¡¯inar¡¯s widening smile lessened the pains he still felt in his chest.


    ¡°And that¡¯s not all!¡± Taer¡¯inar continued excitedly as Ithan passed the scroll back to him. ¡°Briryn¡¯s agreed to sell us the inn!¡±


    ¡°Wait, why is he selling the inn?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t tell you?¡± Taer¡¯inar replied, his head tilting slightly. ¡°He¡¯s going traveling.¡± Ithan scrunched his face slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t be until the end of the summer.¡±


    ¡°I just wish he would have told me,¡± Ithan scowled.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t want to bother you,¡± Storm said. ¡°You¡¯ve been kind of moody lately?¡ªow!¡± Bimpnottin jabbed his elbow into the auran¡¯s side.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he was getting around to it,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued, ignoring the auran and gnome as they tussled next to Ithan. ¡°Don¡¯t hold it against him.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know¡­¡± Ithan grabbed a piece of cheese and tossed it into his mouth. He would need to ask Shalin where he had gotten this variety; it would go wonderfully with a glass of Aeviri.


    As the night went on, Ithan¡¯s discomfort slowly faded, giving way to a more cheerful atmosphere. He talked and laughed with his companions, and even found himself enjoying Ian¡¯s company. Yet, toward the end of the evening, when Briryn closed up the bar and the group began saying their goodnights, a bothersome thought began to press against Ithan¡¯s mind.


    ¡°What¡¯ll you do if they don¡¯t come back?¡± Briryn¡¯s voice echoed. His chest started to ache again. He had forgotten what it felt like to have friends, and now that he had them, it seemed like the gods conspired to tear them away. He did not want this to end. He did not want to be alone again.


    You are not alone, Kiraan prodded. You have your dear master.


    How comforting, Ithan replied without thinking. What would I do without you, milord?


    You should watch your tone. Have you forgotten your place so quickly?


    Sorry. Force of habit. Please forgive me.


    Never mind. You should not get too attached to these creatures, you know.


    I can¡¯t help it. I¡¯m only a lesser creature, after all.


    Instead of seeking companionship, you should be focusing on the Crypt of Kings.


    I¡¯m working on it. Please, just¡­ give me a little more time. I promise to obtain the artifact before the equinox.


    ¡­I will allow it. Play your little game for now. Just remember, the pain that you have suffered is nothing compared to what it could be. Ithan shuddered as Kiraan¡¯s presence faded. Kiraan¡¯s mood was near fluid in nature, and Ithan tried his best to gauge it whenever his master intruded upon his mind. It was difficult since Kiraan¡¯s monstrous voice made him sound like he was always angry, but this time there was an undertone of¡­ tedium? As if his master had grown bored of him. Ithan hoped so; perhaps he would be bothered less if Kiraan had less interest in him.


    ¡°Rest well,¡± Briryn said to the group as they passed by the bar. Ithan stopped and walked over to the dragonkin. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving,¡± Ithan muttered as he sat at the bar. Briryn put a hand on top of his head and scratched.


    ¡°Ah, I wanted to tell you after you¡¯d gotten out of your rut,¡± he said. ¡°It won¡¯t be ¡®til the solstice, but my job¡¯s just about done.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ithan asked, tilting his head.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re gonna think this is crazy,¡± Briryn replied, leaning in toward Ithan, ¡°but Elyan paid me to stick around for another fifteen years.¡± When Ithan scrunched his face in disbelief, Briryn laughed. ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe it myself. You know how much gold that is? Guy came from some serious money.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Ithan had become mildly intrigued by this Elyan. He had never heard of him growing up, and he seemed so unlike Varian. Yet they were certainly family; a distant relative, maybe, one that was beneath Varian¡¯s notice? That would explain the differences in their behaviors. But that still left the question of what Elyan was doing in Averion.


    ¡°But anyway, this year¡¯ll be fifteen. There were some rough times, but in the end I¡¯m glad I stuck around.¡± He grinned. ¡°Something interesting¡¯s gonna happen soon. I can feel it.¡±


    ¡°So, after the solstice you¡¯re leaving, just like that?¡±


    ¡°Just like that. I¡¯ve enjoyed my time here, but I want to get out and see more of the world.¡± Briryn picked up a mug and poured himself some beer. ¡°Greenreach is a speck of dust compared to the rest of the world. It¡¯d be a shame if that¡¯s all I ever knew.¡± Ithan understood Briryn¡¯s musings; he was fascinated with the idea of exploring the world when he was younger. He often heard travelers¡¯ tales as they passed through Sol¡¯vara.


    ¡°I hope you find what you¡¯re looking for, then,¡± Ithan said. ¡°And until then, I¡¯ll be happy to keep working for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± Briryn replied. ¡°Now go get some sleep. I¡¯ll need you bright and early tomorrow.¡± Ithan nodded and left Briryn to his drink.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ?????


    Ithan stands among his friends at the peak of a mountain. The trek was difficult, but at long last they have reached the summit. Ithan smiles as he looks up at the evening sky. He has come a long way with his friends, and he is glad they have stayed by his side.


    Then, the stars begin to vanish, and the moon turns a blood red. One by one, Ithan¡¯s friends begin to collapse as a ritual circle forms on the ground around them. In a panic, Ithan tries to help his friends, but he is trapped at the center of the circle. Taer¡¯inar is the last to fall, and as he looks to Ithan, his eyes go wide with horror before the light leaves them. Ithan drops to his knees, filled with anguish at the loss of his friends. As the ritual ends, he stares up at the blood-filled sky and screams in agony as the essences of his friends fade away.


    ?????


    Ithan woke that morning with tears in his eyes and a horrible pain in his chest. He pulled himself out of bed and headed down to meet Briryn, who was talking to Alicrath and Yariel.


    ¡°Thank you so much again for helping us out,¡± Yariel said to Briryn. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want anything for your trouble?¡±


    ¡°Please, I wasn¡¯t gonna let you guys be stuck in the cold,¡± Briryn replied. ¡°You were no trouble at all. In fact, it¡¯s been great having the kids around.¡± He frowned at Ithan when he noticed him descending the stairs. ¡°You¡¯re late! Get your butt in gear or you¡¯re gonna miss ¡®em!¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Ithan asked as he rubbed his eye.


    ¡°Your friends, idiot!¡± Ithan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He scrambled out of the tavern toward the western gate. He paid no mind to Apostalite when they waved at him, nor to the dragonkin he passed along the way. He had to catch his friends before they got too far out. He wanted to make sure they knew he was rooting for them, even if he did not agree with what they were doing. As he approached the gate, he saw his friends passing through it, and shouted out to get their attention. They stopped and waited for Ithan to join them and catch his breath.


    ¡°Are you here to say goodbye?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Ithan replied, still bent over and struggling to breathe. ¡°I came¡­ to tell you¡­¡± He took a deep breath and stood up straight to face his friends. ¡°Don¡¯t die.¡± Dhurik let out a hearty laugh before he beat his fist against his chest.


    ¡°We¡¯re gonna be fine!¡± the minotaur announced.


    ¡°If things get tough, we¡¯ll make a break for it,¡± Storm said.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Ian and Bimpnottin added.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be back,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, resting a hand on Ithan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You have my word.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that,¡± Ithan replied. The aura around the elf was similar to last night, but somehow Ithan did not fear it like before. Perhaps it was because he no longer saw Taer¡¯inar as a threat like he did when the group first agreed to help the dwarves. ¡°Laht favor you,¡± he muttered with a sly smile. Taer¡¯inar rolled his eyes before walking away with the group. Ithan waited for them to disappear from view before beginning to head back to the tavern. When he returned to the square, Apostalite waved at him again. He waved back as he approached.


    ¡°And how are you today, my lovely Mor¡¯lavan?¡± Apostalite asked. Hisashi and Nazita sat on either side of them on the fountain; they had been listening to another of their tales of Laht.


    ¡°Lava!¡± Hisashi shouted. ¡°Did you hear? Mom and Dad got a new house!¡± He kicked his legs back and forth as he spoke. ¡°It¡¯s twice as big as our old one!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s awesome!¡± Ithan replied, smiling as he leaned down to Hisashi¡¯s eye level. ¡°Is that what they¡¯re talking about inside?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Hisashi said. ¡°Dad¡¯s asking if Uncle Briryn¡¯ll help move stuff from our old house.¡±


    ¡°Ew, it¡¯s probably all covered in webs,¡± Nazita added.


    ¡°They¡¯re gonna clean it first, dummy,¡± Hisashi said. He turned back to Ithan. ¡°Oh, and me and Nazita get our own rooms now!¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to miss sharing a room with your sister?¡± Ithan laughed.


    ¡°No!¡± Hisashi crossed his arms over his chest. ¡°She sleeptalks!¡±


    ¡°Do not!¡± Nazita cried. ¡°You¡¯re hearing things!¡±


    ¡°Not anymore,¡± Hisashi said. He leaned over Apostalite and pinched Nazita¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Now, now, you should be kinder to your sister,¡± Apostalite scolded. ¡°What would you do if she disappeared without you?¡± Ithan looked up at the ignan, his mouth agape. Hisashi frowned, stood up, and walked over to Nazita.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he muttered as he wrapped his arms around his sister. ¡°Don¡¯t go away.¡± Ithan stood up and stepped back from the group, holding a hand to his head.


    ¡°Is something the matter, Mor¡¯lavan?¡± Apostalite asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ithan mumbled before walking away toward the tavern. Alicrath and Briryn were still talking when he stepped inside.


    ¡°Didya catch ¡®em?¡± Briryn asked when he spotted Ithan.


    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Ithan stuttered, trying his best to hide his anxiety over the memories that the twins had stirred up.


    ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± Briryn continued. ¡°Listen, we¡¯re gonna be closed today. We¡¯re helping Ali out with salvaging what we can from his old place.¡±


    ¡°¡®We?¡¯¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Well, I just assumed¡­¡± Briryn trailed off as he scratched the back of his head. Ithan shook his head quickly.


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s fine,¡± Ithan said. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to help. Sorry, I¡¯m still waking up.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful!¡± Alicrath shouted. ¡°Shall we start, then?¡± He turned to Briryn, as if awaiting approval.


    ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± Briryn replied. ¡°Kid, there¡¯s a cart out back we can use for the heavier stuff. Grab it.¡± Ithan saluted Briryn and ran into the kitchen and through the back door. The cart was buried under a heap of discarded boxes and other trash, so he had to dig through the pile to clear a path for it. He imagined Storm or Taer¡¯inar joking about his situation if they had been here to see it. He pulled the cart around to the front of the tavern and waited for Briryn and Alicrath to appear.


    ¡°Are you helping too?¡± Nazita called from the fountain.


    ¡°Of course, he is,¡± Hisashi said. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t let Dad and Uncle Briryn do it by themselves.¡±


    ¡°Shall we?¡± Alicrath said from behind Ithan. Ithan nodded, turning to him and his brother. Briryn grabbed the cart and began pushing it through the square. Ithan waved at the twins, who were aggressively flailing their arms at Alicrath. Alicrath stuck his tongue out at them. ¡°Sonys is in charge while I¡¯m gone,¡± he said as they passed the fountain. Both twins groaned behind Ithan as he followed the dragonkin.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s Yariel up to today?¡± Briryn asked as the three walked through the town.


    ¡°Oh, you know her,¡± Alicrath replied. ¡°She¡¯s making sure everything¡¯s perfect at the new place. She¡¯ll probably tell us exactly where everything should go when we get there.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like Ren,¡± Ithan mumbled, not paying much attention to what he was saying. He looked up to see the two dragonkin giving him a strange look. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Ren?¡± Briryn asked. He began to grin as Ithan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Your girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± Ithan shouted. ¡°I¡¯m still waking up. Probably just nonsense.¡±


    ¡°The boy protests too much,¡± Alicrath laughed as he nudged Briryn. Ithan narrowed his eyes at the dragonkin. ¡°Oh, come on, tell us!¡± Ithan let out a sigh and looked at the ground as they continued to walk.


    ¡°Renwyn Eruthil,¡± Ithan muttered, his face already burning at the mention of her full name. ¡°I met her a few years ago. She took me in when no one else would.¡± He frowned as the memories continued to surface. ¡°She¡­ left me.¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Briryn asked.


    ¡°I did something terrible,¡± Ithan replied, ¡°and she had to leave because of it.¡±


    ¡°Then what¡¯re you doing out here?¡± Alicrath questioned. ¡°Why not chase after her? You love her, don¡¯t you?¡± Ren¡¯s golden hair and crystalline eyes used to consume Ithan¡¯s thoughts when he stayed with her. He had pushed those thoughts aside after she left; he knew he would never see her again. Yet now that he was thinking about her again, a feeling of euphoria washed over him, and the memories of her blossomed like the first flowers after a long winter. And then, there was the feeling of emptiness when he remembered the day she left.


    ¡°I wanted to,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°I wanted to follow her so badly. But I was too weak to go where she was headed.¡± He shuddered at the thought of returning to Sol¡¯vara back then.


    ¡°Is that why you came out here?¡± Briryn asked. ¡°To get stronger?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ithan replied. It was not technically a lie, though his reason for traveling to Averion did not involve Ren. He might have been able to return to her after accomplishing his goals, though, were his soul not forfeit.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re plenty strong already,¡± Briryn continued as the three approached Alicrath¡¯s farm. ¡°Wherever this place is must be absurdly dangerous.¡± You have no idea.


    The day went by rather quickly for Ithan. He worked hard recovering furniture and items of sentimental value and bringing them to Alicrath¡¯s new home near the center of town. Since no one else volunteered to assist and the guards did not wish to leave the safety of Greenreach, the three of them had to make sure that none of them were isolated in case of a spider attack. They made slow progress; by the time the group had made three trips it was already approaching noon. The three rested for a bit to enjoy a meal from Yariel before setting back out again to finish their work.


    As night began to fall, and the last of the recovered items were loaded onto the cart, Ithan looked to the west for his companions. He had hoped that by now the group would have finished their mission and were nearly back. He was disappointed when he saw no sign of them on the horizon.


    ¡°They¡¯re gonna be fine,¡± Briryn assured from behind, putting a hand between Ithan¡¯s antlers. ¡°They¡¯re plenty strong, too.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ithan muttered. He watched for a moment more as the sun sank below the trees in the distance, then helped the dragonkin push the cart back into town. They brought the cart to the new home and began unloading items into the house. Yariel directed them to simply put them in the corner of the main room.


    ¡°Thank you so much again, Briryn,¡± she said as she placed bowls of stew around the dining room table. ¡°And you too, Mor¡¯lavan. Could I ask one more favor?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°Could you fetch the children? Dinner¡¯s ready.¡± Ithan nodded, walked out the door, and headed back to the tavern. Apostalite had already gone by the time he approached the fountain, which meant that Hisashi and Nazita were already back inside. He stepped inside and was pleased to find Fenvyre and Sonys playing chase with the twins.


    ¡°Hi Lava!¡± they all shouted at once.


    ¡°Is this how we¡¯re greeting our guests now?¡± Ithan laughed. Before anyone could answer, he motioned toward the door. ¡°Are you guys ready to see your new house?¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Hisashi yelled. He grabbed Nazita¡¯s wrist and ran with her out the door. Sonys and Fenvyre followed behind, both smiling gingerly at Ithan. Ithan led the group back to the Velthins¡¯ new home and brought them inside. Yariel grabbed the twins before they could begin exploring the house.


    ¡°You can run around all you want after dinner,¡± she said when Hisashi groaned. They all sat down around the table and began to eat while Alicrath told a story of how he and Briryn were once top fighters in the pit. They used to have team battles, until Alicrath and Briryn destroyed the competition for three years straight.


    ¡°The great thing with teams,¡± Alicrath said as he chewed a piece of meat, ¡°is with the right team there¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t do. Me and Briryn were just too much for any other team to handle.¡±


    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t they just ban you two from fighting together?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what they did,¡± Briryn replied. ¡°But then there were two teams that were unbeatable. Three draws later they stopped team battles altogether.¡± He grinned at Alicrath. ¡°We¡¯ve always been evenly matched, right down to the tooth.¡±


    After dinner, Ithan helped Yariel clean the dishes while the twins explored and Alicrath and Briryn finished putting things in their places around the house. Sonys and Fenvyre headed back to the tavern to pick up Sonys¡¯s things.


    ¡°Sonys has taken a liking to you, I see,¡± Yariel said. ¡°I¡¯m glad she¡¯s starting to break out of her shell.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Oh, she was always the quiet type, never really had anyone she liked to talk to,¡± Yariel explained. ¡°Most of the other girls her age are always watching the fights over in the arena, but Sonys isn¡¯t interested in that. But then Fenvyre came along and started helping us around the farm, and Sonys finally had someone to talk to who didn¡¯t talk about boys all the time.¡± She smiled. ¡°Now she¡¯s more comfortable with herself because of Fenvyre, and she¡¯s made another friend.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad,¡± Ithan said, ¡°though it¡¯s probably just because I helped her before.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Yariel mumbled. ¡°I hope that¡¯s not all it is. I think she might just be trying to sort out her feelings. She has a bit of a crush on Fenvyre, you know.¡±


    ¡°Lava!¡± Nazita called suddenly from the main room. ¡°Fen¡¯s looking for you!¡±


    ¡°Go on, dear,¡± Yariel said to Ithan. ¡°And thank you again.¡±


    ¡°Let me know if you need anything else,¡± Ithan replied before heading out of the kitchen into the main room. Fenvyre was standing in the doorway. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d still be over here,¡± Fenvyre said. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be back at the tavern by now.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to help Yariel clean,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re done now, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why?¡ª¡± Ithan was interrupted by Fenvyre grabbing his wrist and dragging him through the streets. She pulled him in the direction of the tavern. ¡°Hang on! What¡¯s the hurry?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± Fenvyre replied, picking up speed. Ithan hastened his own pace to keep up with the dragonkin. Ithan had not realized how much time had passed; by now the moon was shining high above the trees.


    When Fenvyre pulled Ithan into the tavern, he was met with the scent and sight of blood all over the tavern floor. Pieces of bloodstained armor littered the floor and tables, and near the bar was an axe dripping with the red liquid. Ithan was horrified when he recognized the axe as Dhurik¡¯s. His heart stopped for a moment before he heard a shout coming from the corner of the room.


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s Dogboy!¡± Dhurik shouted. Ithan looked over to see his friends, safe and sound?¡ªalbeit scratched and bruised a bit?¡ªand enjoying themselves at their usual table. Ithan tilted his head toward the ceiling and let out a loud sigh.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that to me,¡± Ithan growled. His companions laughed.


    ¡°I told you we¡¯d be back,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, smiling wide at Ithan as he approached the table and sat down.


    ¡°You did,¡± Ithan recalled, ¡°and here you all are.¡± He returned Taer¡¯inar¡¯s smile and joined the group in celebrating their safe return to Greenreach. All the tension he had felt throughout the day finally vanished as Ithan assured himself that he was not dreaming, that his friends had not died as he feared they would. He savored the happiness that he felt with them, and in that moment, he realized nothing could make him happier than being with his friends.

 Chapter 10 - Price of Knowledge

    ¡°I think you missed a spot,¡± Ian joked as Ithan scrubbed the floor of the tavern. Somehow, he had been tasked with cleaning up after his friends while they rested from their battle. Ithan looked to where Ian was pointing to see a speckle of blood underneath the barstool where he sat.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you clean that?¡± Ithan growled, glaring up at the half-drunken halfing.


    ¡°I don¡¯t work here,¡± Ian scoffed. He took another drink from his mug and slammed it down, causing some of its contents to splash onto the bar. ¡°Oops,¡± he chuckled. Ithan stood up in rage.


    ¡°Clean it up,¡± Ithan ordered. Ian stuck out his tongue.


    ¡°Make me,¡± he taunted. Ithan attempted to grab Ian, intending to use his head as a floor mop, but the halfling hopped over the bar and hid amongst the liquor. ¡°Ooh, Aeviri!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch that!¡± Ithan snarled. He ran around the bar and grabbed Ian¡¯s cloak, dragging him out from underneath. He snatched the bottle away from Ian and put it back where it belonged before continuing to pull a thrashing Ian back to the other side of the bar. Fenvyre appeared in the kitchen doorway just as Ithan was about to put Ian to work.


    ¡°Drop it,¡± she scolded. Ithan glared angrily at her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a dog,¡± he asserted as he let go of Ian. Ian scrambled behind Fenvyre and eyed Ithan warily.


    ¡°You¡¯re not doing yourself any favors acting like that,¡± she replied, holding her hands to her hips. She turned around to face Ian. ¡°And you need to stop antagonizing him.¡±


    ¡°Okay, mom,¡± Ian teased. He stuck his tongue out again at Ithan and backed into the kitchen and out of sight. Fenvyre shook her head and walked around the bar, grabbing one of the rags that Ithan had been using to clean the floors. She knelt down and started quietly cleaning the patch of blood under the barstool. Her usual cheerful demeanor was not present, and it made Ithan uneasy.


    ¡°So¡­ how have you been?¡± Ithan asked timidly as he returned to his work. ¡°We haven¡¯t really¡­ talked much lately.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been really grumpy,¡± Fenvyre replied. She reached over to a nearby bucket and dipped the rag in the water, then continued scrubbing the floor. ¡°Ever since you came back from your last trip.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ithan said softly. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ going through some stuff right now?¡ª¡±


    ¡°And you don¡¯t want to talk about it. I get it.¡± Fenvyre straightened up and looked at Ithan. ¡°But¡­ friends are supposed to talk about it.¡±


    ¡°Best friends, maybe,¡± Ithan muttered, earning him a wide-eyed look from the dragonkin.


    ¡°We are best friends,¡± Fenvyre said as she stood up and dropped her rag into the bucket. ¡°You just don¡¯t know it yet. But when you figure it out, I¡¯ll be here.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Ithan replied, grabbing the bucket and standing up next to Fenvyre. He scanned the tavern for any other areas that needed cleaning, but all seemed to be within Briryn¡¯s standards. ¡°Well, that wasn¡¯t too bad. I was afraid it would stain, but it looks okay.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not the first time this place has been a bloody mess,¡± Fenvyre commented. ¡°This city¡¯s seen a lot of it.¡± She looked at Ithan and made a strange face. ¡°You¡­ should probably wash up before the lunch rush.¡± He was covered in a good amount of blood himself now.


    ¡°Good idea,¡± he said. Flashing a grin at Fenvyre, he retreated through the kitchen, catching Ian hiding in the corner as he passed, and through the back door. As he sat down to start washing the blood and dirt from the rags, Shalin rounded the corner with his cart.


    ¡°What in blazes happened to you?¡± Shalin shouted.


    ¡°Just the usual,¡± Ithan responded, awkwardly waving at the merchant. He waited for the dragonkin to get closer before talking more. ¡°How¡¯s Kelrinn doing?¡±


    ¡°Oh, she¡¯s finally out of bed,¡± Shalin said. ¡°The medicine has done everything we hoped it would. That¡¯s actually part of the reason I¡¯m out here today.¡± He took a small box off of his cart and presented it to Ithan. ¡°This is our thanks for all you¡¯ve done for us.¡± Ithan looked skeptically at Shalin, then slowly tore open the package. Inside was a silver chain necklace, accompanied by an intricately designed charm shaped as a dragon eating its tail. In the charm¡¯s center was a stylized carving of the sun. Ithan¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he looked over the charm, but he tried not to show his distress at the emblem of Sol¡¯vara.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ lovely,¡± Ithan said, feigning a smile.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it? Brought here from the east, it was. Elven.¡± Shalin looked off in the distance as he spoke. ¡°The man who gave it to us was a curious fellow. Said it was a good luck charm.¡± He smiled warmly. ¡°Kelrinn has done well thanks to him.¡±


    ¡°Why give this to me, then?¡± Ithan questioned. ¡°If what you say is true, giving this away could be bad for Kelrinn.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t worry,¡± Shalin said, his smile widening. ¡°As I said, that medicine did wonders.¡±


    ¡°What sort of medicine is this, exactly?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Elyan developed it while he was here,¡± Shalin replied. ¡°He and Aitos saved the city from a terrible disease with it. A miracle from the gods, we thought it was. But since he¡¯s been gone, Aitos can¡¯t gather the proper materials as quickly. So, naturally, the little medicine he can produce comes at an astronomically high price.¡±


    ¡°I assume Aitos runs the apothecary?¡±


    ¡°Yes, near the arena,¡± Shalin said. ¡°Another elf, but one we have been very grateful to have in our city.¡± He sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll never understand why the emperor dislikes them,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Many elves are callous and think themselves superior,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Shalin said, turning back to Ithan. ¡°And yet, I¡¯ve only ever met kind elves.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps they are kind,¡± Ithan pondered. ¡°But perhaps that is just a mask they wear to achieve their own ends.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Shalin said, his eyes glistening. Ithan knew that look?¡ªit was the same look that Taer¡¯inar so often wore when observing him. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve kept you long enough. Take care, Mor¡¯lavan.¡± With a smile and a wave, the dragonkin returned to his cart and began pulling it away.


    ¡°See you tomorrow!¡± Ithan called after Shalin. After Shalin was out of sight, Ithan looked down at the necklace again. What were you doing here? He set the necklace aside and returned to cleaning the bloodied rags. Even after giving them a thorough cleaning, the rags remained stained with firenewt blood. Displeased by the sight, he uttered a spell and brought fire to life in the nearby pit. He would buy new rags from Shalin tomorrow. As he tossed the rags into the fire, the scent of burning blood made him feel sick.


    ¡°What in the name of Elteus are you doing back here?¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s voice called suddenly from behind him. Ithan jumped from his seat, almost stumbling into the fire. Taer¡¯inar caught the back of his shirt and pulled him away.


    ¡°How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?¡± Ithan barked. He waved his hand at the fire, causing it to dissipate.


    ¡°Everyone in the inn can smell that!¡± Taer¡¯inar yelled. ¡°It¡¯s disgusting!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll go away soon enough,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°I hope so,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°And why are you covered in blood?¡±


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Ithan asked. ¡°You all left me to clean up the mess you made last night.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I¡­ Sorry about that.¡± Taer¡¯inar scratched the back of his head. ¡°You know I would have helped if you had asked.¡±


    ¡°Why should I have to ask for you to help me clean up your mess?¡±


    ¡°You should have just left it for us to clean, then,¡± Taer¡¯inar sighed. He spotted the necklace and walked toward it. ¡°Whose is this?¡±


    ¡°Mine now, I guess,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°Shalin gave it to me.¡±


    ¡°May I?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked, gesturing toward the necklace. Ithan nodded, and Taer¡¯inar picked it up to inspect it, mumbling to himself as he turned it around in his hands. ¡°The design is exquisite. Silver of the highest quality. The carvings are flawless¡­ Almost certainly of elven origin.¡±


    ¡°Shalin said Elyan gave it to him,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°I am quite intrigued by this Elyan character,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, passing the necklace back to Ithan. ¡°No doubt he was a noble, if he possessed such trinkets as this. I wonder how he found himself all the way out here¡­¡± He shook his head. ¡°Well, no time for pondering now. Wash up, we¡¯ll be leaving soon.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t even been back a day yet,¡± Ithan said. ¡°Where are you off to this time?¡±


    ¡°Storm is leading a party into the Lizard Marsh,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Perhaps we will find something there that will take care of¡­¡± He waved his hand around at Ithan. ¡°¡­this.¡±


    ¡°Glad to know you¡¯re still thinking of me,¡± Ithan joked. Taer¡¯inar rolled his eyes. ¡°I assume Storm is looking for something else, though.¡±


    ¡°Apparently the last group of adventurers to venture there had stolen an artifact from his homeland,¡± Taer¡¯inar explained. ¡°He means to reclaim it.¡± The elf spun around and withdrew into the tavern. Ithan quickly cleaned his bucket and followed inside after him. He made his way past the chef, who looked at him begrudgingly, and into the main room. Pushing his way past the dragonkin who were already flooding in for their afternoon grog, Ithan ascended the stairs and made it to his room. He threw on his armor and returned to the tavern below, where Briryn was waiting for him.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t think you were gonna slip by me, did you?¡± the dragonkin asked.


    ¡°No, sir,¡± Ithan responded. ¡°I was just about to let you know I was taking my leave.¡±


    ¡°I smelled something burning earlier.¡±


    ¡°The rags I used to clean up. They were ruined, unusable. I¡¯ll buy new ones tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°And what are you to use tonight?¡± Briryn asked. Ithan looked around quickly, realizing he would certainly have more mess to clean up when he returned.


    ¡°My¡­ shirt,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Your shirt.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir. I¡¯ll use my shirt.¡±


    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you resourceful?¡± Briryn laughed. ¡°Go on, then.¡± Ithan smiled and waved as he dashed through the tavern door. Storm, Dhurik, and Taer¡¯inar all awaited him outside.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t be bothered to clean up a bit first?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked as Storm and Dhurik began walking.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to a marsh,¡± Ithan replied as he and Taer¡¯inar followed behind Dhurik. ¡°I¡¯ll just wash up there.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°So, Storm, would you care to debrief Mor¡¯lavan here?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re looking for a bow,¡± Storm stated dryly.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Well, no, it¡¯s a special kind of bow, isn¡¯t it, Storm?¡± Taer¡¯inar prodded.


    ¡°Yes, yes, a special kind of bow.¡± Storm¡¯s voice had a faint air of annoyance. ¡°Of the magical variety, you might say.¡±


    ¡°What does it do?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°It is made of the purest crystal,¡± Storm replied. ¡°It can materialize crystalline arrows from nothing. It is said to have been used to slay many a great beast.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like my kind of weapon,¡± Dhurik muttered.


    ¡°Such an artifact could be useful for my own ends, as well,¡± Taer¡¯inar said.


    ¡°Its power is exactly why it was stolen from my homeland,¡± Storm growled.


    This sounds promising. Ithan shook his head, hoping by some miracle that the thought of claiming the bow for himself would leave him. Yet his master was persistent. Another powerful artifact to add to our collection.


    ¡°So why do you seek it?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. ¡°If its power is too great for anyone to wield, is it not better to leave it lost?¡±


    ¡°I would rather it be in my peoples¡¯ hands,¡± Storm replied. ¡°It was not an auran who stole the bow. Of that I am certain.¡±


    ?


    It took a few hours to travel far enough west past the Spider Forest for the party to begin traveling southward. Storm had insisted on avoiding the forest to ease their journey, even though it would double their time. A wall lay on the horizon ahead of them. At least, it looked like a wall. Ithan could only make out the shape: a black rectangular object stretching out across the land. Beyond it was a dense fog.


    ¡°The Black Gate, they call it,¡± Taer¡¯inar said suddenly. ¡°Fitting, is it not?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s past it?¡± Dhurik asked.


    ¡°That I do not know,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°I should very much like to find out.¡± He and Storm exchanged glances. ¡°We¡¯ll save that for another time, though.¡±


    Is that the only way through to the city? Ithan asked Kiraan.


    It is the fastest. So as far as you are concerned, yes.


    How am I supposed to find my way through there?


    I am sure you will manage. Especially if you bring the elf. But first, this bow intrigues me. Collect it from the auran. It may suit our purposes well.


    But?¡ª


    Do not fail. Kiraan¡¯s words sharpened as they echoed through Ithan¡¯s mind. Then, before Ithan could have any more say, his presence vanished.


    ¡°You all right?¡± Ithan heard Dhurik say suddenly. When he jerked his head up, all of his companions were staring at him. ¡°Spaced out there for a minute.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ithan replied, shaking his head. ¡°How much further, do you think?¡±


    ¡°If the old records Taer¡¯inar found are to be believed, it should be just another few hours or so.¡± Storm looked to the sky, placing his hand on his forehead to shield his eyes from the sun. ¡°We should make it there by nightfall.¡±


    ¡°Records?¡± Ithan asked as he turned to Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°Hm? Oh yes, those adventurers left some of their notes behind.¡± Taer¡¯inar pulled a scroll from a pouch on his hip and opened it as the group began moving south. It was stained yellow with age; how long ago were these adventurers in Greenreach? ¡°It seems they were looking for a cavern in the marsh. Something about completing a rune circle¡­? But what would this circle do? And why did they need to find this cave to complete it?¡± He groaned in frustration as he returned the scroll to his pouch.


    ¡°Where¡¯d you find that, anyway?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°It was in between the floorboards of my room,¡± Taer¡¯inar answered. ¡°I found it while I was cleaning my first night in Greenreach. Briryn probably has more of their belongings stashed somewhere.¡±


    ¡°You never asked him?¡± Ithan prodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m hoping he¡¯ll just let us have it when we purchase the inn. He can¡¯t have too much use for it, can he?¡±


    ¡°Depends on what¡¯s in there,¡± Dhurik grunted. ¡°Weapons? Yes. Prissy things like your tea set? Probably not.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that tea set is an artifact of the ancient elves?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Still a tea set. Who drinks tea nowadays anyway? Even Lucky drinks coffee.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about anything the ignan does,¡± Taer¡¯inar growled.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t understand your issue with them,¡± Ithan said. ¡°They¡¯re actually quite nice to talk to.¡±


    ¡°All they do all day is spout nonsense about Laht,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued. ¡°And their voice! It¡¯s like listening to a banshee!¡±


    ¡°So they have some¡­ quirks,¡± Ithan said. ¡°You don¡¯t need to berate them every chance you get.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t act all high and mighty now, Dogboy,¡± Dhurik chided. ¡°You did the same thing a few weeks ago.¡±


    ¡°I was stressed, there were spiders everywhere, and we were trying to save Fenvyre.¡±


    ¡°Excuses,¡± Dhurik muttered.


    ¡°Quiet,¡± Storm interrupted, stopping abruptly and holding his arms out in front of the group. The friends stopped their bickering and looked to the auran. ¡°Do you hear that?¡± A few moments passed, but only the sound of the wind blew through the area. ¡°It sounds like?¡ª¡± Before he could continue, a sudden tremor caused the four of them to fall to the ground, and moments later the ground caved in and Ithan and his friends began falling. In a panic, Ithan flailed around in the air, nearly kicking the nearby Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°Stop freaking out and hold your breath!¡± Taer¡¯inar shouted. Ithan did not have time to process Taer¡¯inar¡¯s order before hitting not ground, but water. He sank below the surface and struggled to find it again, but someone grabbed his arm and pulled him up. As he coughed out the water that had made its way into his lungs, the rescuer wrapped their arm around his torso.


    ¡°Hang on, Dogboy!¡± Dhurik yelled over the roar of the water around them. It flowed fast and chaotically, carrying the two away from the light peering through the hole above formed by the quake. Taer¡¯inar and Storm were nowhere to be found in the rapids, but there was a bank where Ithan and Dhurik could escape up ahead. Ithan put all his concentration into casting his spell, a surge of energy flowed through him and extended to Dhurik as he spoke in his master¡¯s tongue. As he spoke the last word of his spell, he and Dhurik were teleported to the bank of the river.


    ¡°Did you see the others?¡± Ithan asked Dhurik as they caught their breath.


    ¡°I saw them hit the water, but not after that,¡± Dhurik replied. ¡°I grabbed you because you were the closest to me.¡± Ithan looked out at the river again, searching for any sign of Taer¡¯inar or Storm. Alas, the darkness of the cavern made it near impossible for him to see beyond the raging water. Don¡¯t die on me now. As if in answer to his command, a familiar white owl appeared from the darkness, swooping down to meet Ithan.


    ¡°Nyctea!¡± Ithan exclaimed. ¡°Thank the gods!¡± By now Dhurik had produced a torch and had lit it, allowing the two of them to follow Nyctea through the cavern as she flew down the river. She perched every so often on a nearby rock to allow them to catch up to her, preening her feathers as she waited. After a good trek, she suddenly slowed her flight and veered right. When Ithan and Dhurik turned the corner, they found her perched on Taer¡¯inar¡¯s shoulder. He was resting along the wall next to a motionless Storm.


    ¡°Thank you, Nyctea,¡± Taer¡¯inar whispered as he stroked the owl¡¯s head. Nyctea closed her eyes and cooed affectionately before vanishing in a puff of smoke. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re both okay,¡± he said with a smile.


    ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen better days,¡± Ithan commented. He motioned at Storm. ¡°Is he¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s alive, just worn out,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°He exhausted all his energy dragging the both of us out of the river.¡± He looked over at Dhurik and pointed at his torch. ¡°Do you mind bringing that over here? I¡¯m freezing.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Dhurik huffed. He set the torch down in front of the two, and Taer¡¯inar immediately huddled closer to the flame. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll just rest here for a bit,¡± the minotaur grumbled.


    ¡°How far do you think the river took us?¡± Ithan asked, looking up toward the ceiling of the cave. The torch¡¯s light was too dim to reach all the way up, but it was able to illuminate the tips of the stalactites above.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied, ¡°but at least it¡¯s flowing in the direction we were heading.¡± He muttered something to Nyctea, then sent her back into the darkness. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s a way out up ahead.¡± He closed his eyes and straightened his posture, assuming the meditative position that Ithan every so often found him in around the inn. Ithan sat down across from him, waiting patiently while Dhurik paced across the floor.


    ¡°Will you just relax for two minutes?¡± Ithan mumbled.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting to fight something all day,¡± Dhurik scoffed. ¡°Birdbrain promised there¡¯d be things to fight when we got to the marsh. I just wanna get there already.¡±


    ¡°Well, I have some good news, then,¡± Taer¡¯inar interrupted. ¡°The river carried us further than I expected. Another hour or so and we¡¯ll be directly underneath the marsh.¡±


    ¡°Well let¡¯s get a move on, then!¡± Dhurik cried.


    ¡°Not while Storm¡¯s out,¡± Taer¡¯inar argued.


    ¡°I¡¯ll carry him out!¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡± Taer¡¯inar laid back against the wall once more. ¡°We could all use some rest before we move on. We¡¯ll go when Storm¡¯s awake.¡± Dhurik growled, then sat down in a huff, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. Ithan sprawled himself out on the ground and closed his eyes. The dim light from the torch shone through his eyelids, but it was not so bright as to keep him from drifting to sleep.


    ?????


    A blackened heart floats in a dark cavern. It beats in unison with Ithan¡¯s as black ichor drips onto the ground around it. The ichor spreads quickly, and soon it reaches Ithan as the heart beats faster with each passing moment. Hands begin to emerge from the ichor and grab Ithan. He struggles as he is pulled into the pool of inky darkness and dragged underneath its surface. As his heart continues to beat ever faster, he cries out, praying that someone will come to his aid.


    Alas, all that answers is darkness.


    ?????


    ¡°Ithan.¡± Ithan groaned as he opened his eyes. He sat up to see his friends, all packed up and ready to go. He breathed a sigh of relief; he had not succumbed to his nightmare.


    ¡°What?¡± Ithan asked, looking up at his friends. They gave each other confused looks before looking back at him.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t say anything,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. Ithan scowled at the elf.


    ¡°Very funny,¡± he said as he stood up and stretched. ¡°One of you called me.¡±


    ¡°No, I was just about to dunk your head in the river,¡± Dhurik grunted. ¡°Still might. It¡¯ll probably still be funny.¡±


    ¡°Ithan.¡± Ithan¡¯s chest tightened. This voice could not be his friends. It was much too quiet to be coming from someone standing so close to him and it did not even sound like them. Besides which, they did not even know his real name. He looked around, trying to find its source.


    ¡°Are¡­ we ready to get going?¡± Storm asked.


    ¡°Ithan.¡± The voice was coming from behind the wall. Ithan brushed past Storm and Taer¡¯inar and held his head against the wall. ¡°Ithan.¡± Louder now. Ithan was sure that whoever was calling him was just beyond the wall. He motioned for his friends to stand back, then muttered an incantation, intending to blow the wall apart. Within moments, the loud ringing sound that he produced caused the wall to crumble, allowing him to see what lay past it. A faint blue glow emanating from the inside this new cave.


    ¡°Are you insane?!¡± Taer¡¯inar scolded. ¡°You could have brought the whole cave down on us! What were you?¡ª¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s words were cut short as he stepped next to Ithan. ¡°By the gods¡­¡± He walked past Ithan in awe and into the cave, moving slowly as he looked around in astonishment. Storm and Dhurik edged past Ithan as well as he himself tried to make sense of the strange patterns that adorned the cave. They were etched into what looked like giant bones that lined the cave walls.


    ¡°What are these¡­?¡± Ithan asked slowly. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like them.¡±


    ¡°These are dragon runes,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied, still swiveling about the room. ¡°And those¡­¡± he muttered as he suddenly stopped moving, ¡°¡­are dead bodies.¡± There were, in fact, three decayed corpses lying at the far end of the cave.


    ¡°Could they be the adventurers we¡¯re looking for?¡± Storm asked. He began investigating the corpses almost immediately after the words left his lips.


    ¡°Almost certainly,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. He looked up again at the dragon runes. ¡°We¡¯re in a cave with runes literally everywhere.¡± He mumbled something to himself, and a scroll and quill appeared in his hands. He began scribbling on the scroll, looking back up at the runes every so often. ¡°Do they have the bow?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not here,¡± Storm grumbled. ¡°Where¡¯s the fourth? I thought you said there were four of them.¡±


    ¡°There were,¡± the elf said. ¡°Maybe the missing one escaped somehow.¡±


    ¡°Stop that for a second and look at this,¡± Storm said. Taer¡¯inar set down his scroll and walked over to the auran. Ithan continued to search the room for the source of the voice he had heard earlier, listening to their conversation as he traversed the room.


    ¡°Disgusting,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Why did you want to show me this?¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t normal decay,¡± Storm muttered. ¡°Whatever did this wasn¡¯t natural.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s some sort of fungus?¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Don¡¯t you have some sort of spell to help here?¡±


    ¡°I do, I suppose. Give me a moment.¡±


    ¡°Ithan.¡± The voice came now from near Storm and Taer¡¯inar. Taer¡¯inar was still concentrating on casting his spell. As Ithan walked toward them, Taer¡¯inar held out his arm and ushered him and Storm away from the bodies.


    ¡°We need to leave,¡± he said.


    ¡°What about the runes?¡± Storm asked.


    ¡°To oblivion with those,¡± Taer¡¯inar snapped. ¡°They¡¯re not worth whatever happened to these people.¡± He turned to leave the cave. ¡°We¡¯ll share their fate if we don¡¯t leave now.¡±


    ¡°Who said anything about leaving?¡±

 Chapter 11 - Mired in Misery

    Ithan gasped for breath as he collapsed against a wall in the darkness of the cavern. He peered out from behind it, trying to determine whether he was followed. He had fled from the uncovered grotto without his friends, fearful for his own life.


    That voice?¡ªit couldn¡¯t have been¡­


    He closed his eyes and pressed his head against the wall.


    There¡¯s no way?¡ª


    The clanging of iron sounded in the distance, and a shout from Taer¡¯inar caused Ithan to lurch forward and summon his glaive.


    If it is him¡­ This might be my only shot.


    He gulped, then began running back to where he had last seen his friends. Before he could get far, though, the clanging stopped.


    Am I too late? But if I can surprise him?¡ª


    ¡°Ithan,¡± a voice called from ahead, causing Ithan to stop dead in his tracks. He trembled as a figure stepped forward into his vision. An elf, a bit taller than Taer¡¯inar, leered at Ithan from the darkness. He wore beautifully adorned armor, and he held a longbow made of crystal. His long golden hair covered much of his face, but Ithan knew it all the same. ¡°How pitiful you look, son of mine. Barely recognizable.¡±


    ¡°Bastard king,¡± Ithan managed to mutter through gritted teeth. His legs were frozen in fear, yet he somehow possessed courage enough to throw insults at the man who killed his mother.


    ¡°I see you have lost your manners living in the wild,¡± Varian said. ¡°What would your mother say?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare speak of her!¡± Ithan snarled, raising his glaive to Varian. ¡°You have no right, you murderer!¡±


    ¡°She betrayed her kingdom,¡± Varian replied, readying his bow. A crystalline arrow materialized in Varian¡¯s hand as he took aim at Ithan. ¡°She betrayed me.¡± Ithan ducked down just as Varian released his arrow, and a stream of light shot through the cavern. Ithan lunged at Varian before he could fire another, forcing him to the ground. He smashed Varian¡¯s hand beneath his hoof, causing him to cry out in pain as he released his grip on his bow. He pressed his other hoof against Varian¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Was exile really not enough for you?¡± he growled. ¡°She left with me willingly, so why?¡ª¡±


    ¡°She birthed an abomination,¡± Varian gasped. ¡°She was just as unfit for this world as you.¡± In a rage, Ithan lifted his glaive up, then thrust it down with all his strength through the king¡¯s chest. As Varian began to grab at the blade, Ithan leaned down to meet his gaze.


    ¡°This ¡®abomination¡¯ shall see your kingdom ruined,¡± he whispered as Varian exhaled his final breath, his body going limp. ¡°Farewell, Varian of the Golden Dawn.¡± Ithan pulled the glaive from the dead king¡¯s chest and stepped back to regard his work.


    I suppose that¡¯s it, then. He looked up past Varian¡¯s body to see if there was any sign of his friends. He grimaced. Surely none of them were left alive, especially if Varian knew they were with him.


    Is this the part where you enslave me?


    That time has not yet come.


    What do you mean? He¡¯s dead. I killed him. It¡¯s over.


    I would not be so sure of that.


    ¡°What¡­¡± Ithan looked back at Varian and stumbled backwards as the dead king¡¯s armor lost its luster. Ithan fell to the ground, dropping his glaive as Varian¡¯s hair began to shorten. His armor was now nothing more than simple leather. The same leather that Ithan and his friends wore. Ithan slid back against the wall behind him, unable to process what was happening before him. As Varian¡¯s golden hair continued to shorten, its color started to fade. Ithan clutched his head in his hands and screamed as the fallen king¡¯s bronze skin darkened to a deep blue.


    ¡°Over here!¡± Ithan heard Taer¡¯inar shout. By the time he and Dhurik appeared, Ithan had already begun sobbing uncontrollably. ¡°What happened to Storm?!¡±


    ¡°I thought¡­ And then I¡­¡± Ithan could hardly speak through his tears. He looked up briefly and inhaled sharply at the blood pooling around the auran¡¯s body. He curled himself up tighter against the wall. ¡°I¡­ he¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°You killed your friend, oh what a shame,¡± Varian¡¯s voice taunted. ¡°Do not fret. You will join him all the same.¡±


    ¡°Stay alert,¡± Taer¡¯inar ordered. Dhurik grunted in reply. ¡°Mor¡¯lavan, you need to get up. We need to move.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡± Ithan trembled as he spoke. ¡°Leave me¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, for the love of Vast¡¯ira,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. ¡°Grab him and let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± he yelled as Dhurik lifted him up over his shoulder. ¡°I won¡¯t leave him!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s gone, Mor¡¯lavan!¡± Taer¡¯inar argued as he ran behind Dhurik. ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave him, either, but we can¡¯t carry both of you, and you¡¯re still alive!¡± His words were cold, but there was a deep sadness in Taer¡¯inar¡¯s eyes. Past him, a shadow hunched over Storm¡¯s body before it began to give chase.


    ¡°How much further?!¡± Dhurik shouted as he shifted Ithan¡¯s weight on his shoulder.


    ¡°Not far! There¡¯ll be a crack in the ceiling!¡± Taer¡¯inar turned to cast a spell against the shadow chasing them, but he missed his mark as he stumbled over a rock. He cursed in Elvish as he returned his attention to running. The shadow screeched, trying to swipe at Taer¡¯inar as it grew ever closer to the group. ¡°There!¡± he suddenly shouted, pointing up at the ceiling. He pulled out his swords and turned to face the shadow.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Ithan cried as he was enveloped by light?¡ªthe sun shone through a hole in the ceiling. When he looked back at Taer¡¯inar, the elf had already begun casting another spell. His blades glowed with a brilliant green flame, and he stabbed at the approaching shadow. It in turn continued to attempt to pierce Taer¡¯inar with its claws. As Taer¡¯inar evaded the shadow¡¯s attacks, Dhurik flung Ithan to the surface, and he landed in a field of grass beneath the setting sun. He scrambled back to the hole and helped Dhurik finish climbing out before extending his arm out to Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°Get outta there, Birdbrain!¡± Dhurik yelled. Taer¡¯inar looked up at Ithan for a split second before casting another spell, and just before the shadow could land a blow against him, he vanished. The shadow screeched and attempted to fly up to Ithan and Dhurik. It began to convulse as soon as it entered the sunlight, and quickly retreated into the darkness of the cavern.


    ¡°You escaped this time, that much is true,¡± it whispered, ¡°but sooner or later, the thirst will get the better of you.¡± With a final ghastly chuckle, it disappeared.


    ¡°Where¡­¡± Ithan mumbled as he searched the cavern for Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°Over here,¡± a voice called from behind him. He turned over onto his back to see the elf safe, albeit a bit bloodied. ¡°I would highly recommend getting away from that hole.¡± Ithan obliged, flipping onto his hands and knees and crawling toward Taer¡¯inar and Dhurik. He wrapped his arms tight around Taer¡¯inar¡¯s waist and began to sob again.


    ¡°Torvik¡¯s bane, you¡¯re a blubbering mess,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°Pull yourself together!¡±


    ¡°Dhurik¡­¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered before bending down to Ithan¡¯s eye level. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened down there. But it¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    ¡°But I¡­ and he¡­¡± Ithan had been prepared to kill his father. He was even prepared to kill anyone who stood in his way. But Storm was his friend. The cruel revelation that he had died by Ithan¡¯s hand shattered him.


    ¡°The shadow deceived you,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°It made you see something that wasn¡¯t there. You didn¡¯t do it of your own volition. You were afraid. Please, Mor¡¯lavan¡­ we need to keep moving.¡± He pulled Ithan up to his feet, and Ithan tried to stifle his tears.


    ¡°So where are we now?¡± Dhurik asked.


    ¡°The Lizard Marsh, it seems,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. He placed a hand on Ithan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We should leave while there¡¯s still daylight,¡± he said softly. Ithan stumbled behind Taer¡¯inar and Dhurik as they began their long journey home. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so, so sorry¡­


    ?


    By the time the sun had set, the group had managed to find their way out of the marsh and set up camp near a stray tree. Ithan had cleaned Storm¡¯s blood from his hands along the way, but they still quivered whenever he looked at them. The blood may physically have been gone now, but within his mind it could never be washed away.


    ¡°What happened in there?¡± Ithan asked quietly as he stared at the fire that Dhurik had started. ¡°Why did I see¡­ What made me see Storm as someone else?¡±


    ¡°The shadow you saw is a creature of dark magic,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°It plays tricks on the mind. It turns friends against each other by making them think they are enemies. Dhurik here very nearly chopped my head off.¡±


    ¡°So, the shouting I heard was you,¡± Ithan pondered. ¡°Was Storm affected¡­?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t be sure,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°I sent him away while I dealt with Dhurik. I suppose I may have been the only one who did not suffer any delusions.¡±


    ¡°He had the bow¡­¡± Ithan muttered as he thought painfully back to his encounter. ¡°The¡­ man that I saw.¡±


    ¡°Hm. Another illusion, perhaps. The fourth of that group had been a woman,¡± Taer¡¯inar responded. ¡°But it was only an illusion. Whoever that man was, he¡¯s been gone for a long time.¡±


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Ithan said. ¡°How did you manage to break Dhurik from its grip?¡±


    ¡°He bashed me on the head with a rock,¡± Dhurik grunted, rubbing his head. ¡°You¡¯re buying me a drink when we get back for that.¡±


    ¡°I would say we¡¯re even,¡± Taer¡¯inar said flatly. He whistled, and suddenly Nyctea appeared on his arm. He whispered something to her, then lifted her up into the air. She took flight ahead of the group, then began circling in a widening spiral around them. Then, after she was out of sight, Taer¡¯inar began casting a spell in Elvish. ¡°May we be unseen, unheard, and unharmed,¡± he chanted. After a few moments, the air around them grew considerably warm and still. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be disturbed in here,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he prepared to rest for the night. He inched closer to Ithan before settling on a spot near the fire that he seemed content with. ¡°I¡¯ll be right here if you need anything,¡± he said, taking his meditative stance.


    Ithan frowned as Dhurik lay down, his back to the fire across from him. He was left alone now, with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company. He stared blankly at the sky. It was a clear night; the stars were as brilliant as they had been when he had first ventured to Rockfall. Shades of blue and purple were strewn about, giving Ithan a pleasant view. Though the wind did not penetrate whatever magic Taer¡¯inar had set in place, Ithan could still hear it blowing softly through the grass around them as the campfire crackled. It was peaceful here.


    I suppose we are back to our original plan.


    Ithan scowled and clenched his fists as the pressure from his master¡¯s presence invaded his mind.


    Why didn¡¯t you do anything?


    I was clearly not needed. You seemed to have the situation under control.


    I was hallucinating. How is that ¡°under control?¡±


    You remain unharmed.


    I killed my friend!


    I warned you before about getting close to them. You chose not to listen. This is the consequence.


    You knew this would happen.


    I knew you would defy me if the bow had been found. The auran¡¯s death was insurance.


    But we didn¡¯t find it. Whoever has it is long gone.


    Ithan¡¯s eyes began to tear up again as he lashed out against his patron.


    Even more reason to get on with finding the Crypt, isn¡¯t it?


    The intensity of Kiraan¡¯s aura faded, leaving Ithan to cry silently in the night.


    When the campfire began to die out, he wiped the tears from his eyes and made his way over to the tree to look for more firewood. Nyctea roosted on one of the tree¡¯s lower branches after returning from her survey of the area. She watched him as he gathered what few sticks he could find, ruffling her feathers as he drew close to the tree. She knew what he had done. He leaned down to pick up a stick next to the tree, trying to keep eye contact with the owl. When he stood back up, though, she swooped down and clawed at Ithan¡¯s face, causing him to stumble backward onto the ground, sticks scattering as he fell.


    ¡°Stupid oversized pigeon!¡± he roared as he swatted at his assailant. Nyctea scratched up his face and arms as he attempted to shoo her away, only stopping when Taer¡¯inar whistled behind them. She flew over to him and perched on his shoulder, nuzzling up against the side of his head. Ithan glared at her as Taer¡¯inar stepped toward him. ¡°Keep that rat away from me.¡±


    ¡°Go on, then,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered in Elvish as he turned his head toward her. ¡°Say you¡¯re sorry.¡± Nyctea chirped nervously, then hopped along his arm toward Ithan. She stopped at his wrist, looking back at her master hesitantly. Taer¡¯inar nodded, and with another anxious chirp, she bounced onto Ithan¡¯s shoulder. She shook violently as she sat there, and Ithan fully expected her to begin pecking at his face again. Instead, she slowly pressed her head against the side of his, much like she often did with Taer¡¯inar. Bewildered, Ithan carefully reached his hand up to her and rubbed the area just above her eyes. Taer¡¯inar grinned. ¡°You see? He¡¯s still our friend. He¡¯s just having a hard time.¡± Nyctea¡¯s shivering slowed as Ithan scratched her head, and after a few more moments, she cooed softly.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to call you a stupid oversized pigeon,¡± Ithan laughed quietly. Nyctea cooed again in reply before hopping off Ithan¡¯s shoulder onto the ground. She collected a few of the sticks Ithan had dropped and presented them to him. ¡°Thank you,¡± Ithan said with a smile as he and Taer¡¯inar picked up the rest. She flew back up to her roost as Ithan and Taer¡¯inar returned to the campfire. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for causing trouble.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t your fault,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°She doesn¡¯t usually behave that way. I suppose the stress we¡¯re all feeling is affecting her, as well.¡± He frowned as he tossed his sticks into the fire. ¡°I truly am sorry for what you experienced back there. I¡­ know how difficult it is to overcome such trauma.¡±


    ¡°Have you¡­?¡± Ithan started. Taer¡¯inar sighed and looked up at the sky.


    ¡°In my youth, I was sent to explore some ruins around the eastern border of Nylserine. There were five of us: myself, Gyr¡¯ital, Sona¡¯rae, Mala¡¯nai, and my mentor Val¡¯themar. There had been rumors of a gnoll infestation there, and we were expected to eliminate any threats. What we found there¡­¡± Taer¡¯inar shook his head. ¡°They had sacrificed countless elves in the name of their foul god. And we unfortunate few had stumbled into their ritual grounds. The entire horde was there that day. An entire horde of gnolls against five of Nylserine¡¯s greatest warriors. We fought valiantly, but in the end¡­ Val¡¯themar ordered me to return to Nylserine to alert the council.¡± He stared intensely into the fire. ¡°I left them to die. My comrades¡­ my friends¡­ Slaughtered while I alone escaped.¡±


    ¡°But your kingdom was spared,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. ¡°They gave their lives for their kingdom. I do not blame myself for their deaths.¡± He looked straight at Ithan through the flames. ¡°And you should not blame yourself for Storm¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not the same. You didn¡¯t kill them with your own hands.¡± Ithan looked down at his own hands. The glow of the flames made it seem as if they were still stained with blood. ¡°It¡¯ll never wash away.¡±


    ¡°Mor¡¯lavan, please,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°It is only natural to grieve. We suffered a heavy loss, and we will all need time to recover. But if you put blame on yourself, you will only suffer more than you already have.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± Ithan sighed. ¡°¡­Thank you, Taer¡¯inar.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the elf replied. ¡°Now, please try to get some rest. We¡¯re not home just yet, remember.¡± He returned to his meditative state, closing his eyes and breathing steadily. Ithan lay back and watched the sky for a bit longer before finally falling asleep beneath the blanket of stars.


    ?????


    Ithan sinks into a pool of darkness as he desperately tries to reach for Storm. The shadows around him grab at his arms and legs, keeping him from saving his friend. Crystals begin to form on Storm¡¯s body, creeping across it until it is fully enveloped. Then, it shatters, leaving nothing of Storm behind.


    ¡°One down,¡± Varian¡¯s voice taunts. ¡°I wonder, who will be your next victim?¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Ithan growls. ¡°Give him back, you monster!¡±


    ¡°Oh, Ithan, you just never learn,¡± Varian laughs. ¡°Have you looked at yourself lately? Soon, everyone will see you for what you truly are.¡±


    ?????


    ¡°Welcome home!¡± Fenvyre called as the trio stepped through the doors of the tavern. Her voice seemed especially shrill to Ithan, but he managed to smile weakly at her. ¡°Lava, you look like a wreck!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a difficult couple of days,¡± Taer¡¯inar interjected. ¡°Why don¡¯t you let him be for now, hm?¡± Ithan trudged past them without a word and began ascending the staircase toward his room.


    ¡°All right,¡± Fenvyre replied. ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t Storm go with you guys?¡± Ithan winced at Storm¡¯s name, quickening his pace so that he could get away from hearing the rest of the conversation. He shambled down the hall and entered his room. When he collapsed on his bed, a grunt from beneath it made Ithan growl in frustration. He reached underneath and pulled Ian out by his leg.


    ¡°Get out,¡± Ithan grumbled.


    ¡°Hey, grumpy,¡± Ian said. ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡±


    ¡°My problem,¡± Ithan replied as he sat up in his bed, ¡°is that every time I come home from anywhere, I have an annoying little rat hiding under my bed.¡± He lurched forward and grabbed Ian¡¯s cloak, dragging him to the door and throwing him out against the door on the other side of the hall. ¡°I¡¯m not warning you again. Stay. Out.¡± Ian, with a look of awe and bewilderment on his face, stood up and scrambled away to his own room.


    As Ithan turned to resume his self-loathing, the door across the hall opened, revealing a woman dressed in white ceremonial robes gilded with intricate designs. Both her hair and eyes were a brilliant gold, her skin as pale as Taer¡¯inar¡¯s. She certainly could be mistaken for an elf were it not for her feathered ears. Like Storm¡¯s. Her gaze was unsettling, as if she was staring into his soul.


    ¡°Lady Irse?¡± a voice called from the stairway. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡±


    ¡°No, it is nothing,¡± the woman responded, her eyes still fixed on Ithan. She strode past him and to the other auran that now stood at the top of the stairs. He wore the same robes as this Lady Irse, and he held a ceremonial staff. He whispered something to the woman when she reached him, and she glanced back at Ithan once more before the pair descended the stairs. He slammed his door shut, cursing under his breath. Just leave me alone.


    ?


    Ithan spent most of his time in his room over the next several days. He barely slept, and the little food he ate was mere leftovers that he would scrounge from the trash in the dead of night. He refused to answer the door when anyone would knock; he even ignored Fenvyre¡¯s frequent check-ins. He spent hours on end staring at the ceiling, going over the events of that day in his mind. Storm would still be here if he weren¡¯t so weak. His mind had been so easily muddled by the shadow¡¯s influence, and his patron had not bothered to deflect it. If only he were stronger, like Taer¡¯inar¡­


    Of course, that was why he set out on this journey in the first place?¡ªto become stronger. Strong enough to take down Varian. Kiraan had promised him the power he needed, but Ithan was insistent on doing the deed himself. His pact was meant to protect him while he prepared himself for his eventual clash with Varian. Yet Kiraan seemed less interested in seeing Ithan complete his mission and more interested in torturing him along the way. He was nothing more than Kiraan¡¯s errand boy, and whatever disaster befell him was none of Kiraan¡¯s concern. The pangs of hunger gnawed at his stomach. He usually tried to wait until the tavern was emptied before seeking out food, but this time the pains came at midday, and he was not sure he could hold out until the evening. Reluctantly, he shuffled out of his room and down into the tavern below. The place was lively as ever; dragonkin lined the bar and filled up almost every table in sight. At the guild¡¯s usual table, Taer¡¯inar and Dhurik seemed to be having an argument of some kind, based on Dhurik¡¯s hand gestures. Ithan tried to avoid being seen by his friends and slink into the kitchen but was caught by Briryn before he could slide past.


    ¡°What¡¯s with all the sneaking around?¡± he asked, blocking Ithan¡¯s path.


    ¡°I just wanted to grab some food,¡± Ithan mumbled, refusing to make eye contact with the innkeeper.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll let you eat,¡± Briryn continued, ¡°right after you wipe that desolate look off your face.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ Storm¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know what happened,¡± Briryn said, putting a hand on Ithan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I know you¡¯ve been beating yourself up about it. But you can¡¯t keep going on like this. You¡¯re wasting away doing this to yourself.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s better that way.¡± Briryn dragged him through the kitchen and out the back door. He closed the door behind him and looked around to ensure they were alone.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare give up on yourself, boy,¡± Briryn asserted. ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot of people behind you. As impossible as it may seem right now, you have to pull yourself together and move forward.¡± He gripped Ithan¡¯s shoulders tightly as he spoke. ¡°Nothing good ever came from dwelling on the past.¡± Perhaps that was the reason for his seemingly ever-present misfortune. He was so focused on vengeance that he had hardly even lived for the past two years. And now that he had been in Greenreach for some time, he had begun to feel like he belonged here. But reality quickly set in?¡ªhis life was forfeit, doomed to be Kiraan¡¯s eternal puppet. It was his greatest torment, knowing that Kiraan would one day strip away all that he had grown to care for here in the edge of civilization. Maybe Briryn and Taer¡¯inar were right, but it was too late for him now.


    ¡°Nothing I do can change what¡¯s happened,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Briryn said quietly. ¡°That¡¯s why you shouldn¡¯t let it hold you back.¡± He let go of Ithan and turned to walk back inside. ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot of potential in you, kid. Don¡¯t let this be the rock that weighs you down.¡± Ithan followed him inside, and before he could walk much further than the door, Fenvyre grabbed him and wrapped her arms tight around him. Tears began to well up in his eyes as Bimpnottin, Taer¡¯inar, and even Dhurik joined in to surround him. He had people to support him through this. It would take time, but perhaps it was possible to pull himself out of this dark abyss after all, with their help.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got you,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as they huddled together around Ithan and Fenvyre. ¡°We¡¯re in this together. Until the end.¡±

 Chapter 12 - Divine Guidance

    The guild held a small ceremony for Storm in the cemetery near the edge of town. Taer¡¯inar had convinced Lady Irse to lead the proceedings after some lengthy conversation with her and her attendants. Storm¡¯s fellow aurans were dismayed to learn of his passing. Briryn and Alicrath purchased a plot and headstone from the church, and Fenvyre and Sonys decorated both with carefully picked wildflowers. Though some other dragonkin expressed their condolences, they all seemed to want to avoid extended contact with the group. Only Sonys¡¯s family and Apostalite came to pay their respects.


    ¡°He got what he deserved,¡± one dragonkin muttered as he and his wife passed by the entrance, peering out to see their kin performing their sacred duties. Ithan¡¯s ears burned with anger at the remark, but he forced himself to stay put, gritting his teeth as he listened to Lady Irse¡¯s eulogy.


    ¡°Orjin teaches us that courage is the greatest quality in all creatures,¡± she began, looking upon the small gathering as she spoke. ¡°Storm¡¯s courage pushed him to challenge the dangers of this land. He passes on from this world with that same courage in his heart.¡± Her fathomless eyes held sympathy, until she passed her gaze onto Ithan. Then they turned cold, as they had when she first looked upon him the week prior. She glanced at him for only a moment, but it was long enough to send a chill up Ithan¡¯s spine. ¡°May his deeds be remembered, and may his courage inspire others.¡± She bowed her head and closed her eyes. ¡°Orjin, look upon our fallen brother with pride, for he has braved the horrors that dwell beyond this city. Now he journeys on ahead of his companions, following your teachings even beyond death. His companions honor him now for his bravery, and they will continue to honor him in the days to come as they, too, go forth into the unknown.¡± With a deep breath, she looked up from her prayer and nodded at Taer¡¯inar before motioning for her attendants to take their leave. She followed close behind them, giving Ithan one last glare before she passed by him and exited through the cemetery gates.


    ¡°Why does she keep looking at you like that?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked as he and Ithan watched their friends offer their last words to Storm. Sonys and her family all stepped up together, offering Storm thanks for his part in saving them. ¡°Did you do something to upset her?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never said a word to her,¡± Ithan muttered as he shook his head. Dhurik, surprisingly, had some respect for more somber occasions such as this?¡ªhe took out a flask and poured out its contents over Storm¡¯s grave. ¡°I did meet her while I was tossing Ian out of my room, though.¡±


    ¡°Maybe she thinks you were harassing a kid,¡± Taer¡¯inar mused as Apostalite wished Storm good fortune in the afterlife. ¡°I¡¯ll have to clear that up before we set out again. I don¡¯t want any bad blood between any of our group.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s joining us?¡± Ithan¡¯s stomach turned. Bimpnottin took off his hat as he approached Storm¡¯s grave, exposing his short, spiky hair.


    ¡°She expressed a desire to seek out the bow in Storm¡¯s stead,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°She thinks it is still somewhere in Averion. With any luck, having her join us will mean we won¡¯t have to suffer another misfortune like this.¡±


    ¡°I suppose,¡± Ithan said. He hoped that the cleric would see him in a different light once they began their next venture. She seemed kind when she was not staring him down.


    ¡°Make sure to say your goodbyes before we leave,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. He stepped forward and kneeled in front of Storm¡¯s grave. He uttered a short prayer in Elvish, one that Ithan had only heard one other time, when Ren¡¯s grandfather passed away: ¡°May your eternal rest be peaceful.¡± Ithan repeated it to himself under his breath as Taer¡¯inar stood up and stepped past Ithan, joining the others near the entrance of the cemetery. Ithan himself did not approach Storm¡¯s grave, still ashamed of his part in the auran¡¯s death. Instead, he slowly followed behind Taer¡¯inar, trying hard not to allow the flashbacks he had of his deeds to break him down again.


    ¡°So how do we wanna do this?¡± Dhurik asked, breaking the silence as the group headed back toward the inn. ¡°We¡¯ve got, what, eight of us? Are only some of us leaving now, or what?¡±


    ¡°I think we should set out as a full group,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°If we¡¯re feeling confident as we travel, perhaps we¡¯ll decide to break off into smaller groups.¡±


    ¡°An excellent plan!¡± Apostalite announced, clapping their hands together as they walked.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Ian say we should stick together?¡± Ithan questioned.


    ¡°It can become difficult to travel in a large band in some areas,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued. ¡°The mines, for example. If we do split up, it would only be when necessary.¡± The mines¡­ Storm had tried to help Ithan escape the water elemental, and Ithan repaid him with a blade through his chest.


    The spring equinox was only a few days away now; Ithan would need to convince the group to travel to the City of Living Trees rather than head to Ashenmantle, as the dwarves apparently called their new territory.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± Unit 17 called as the group approached the tavern. The terran stood tall just to the side of the doorway, saluting them as they stopped in front of it. ¡°I have been informed that you will be embarking on a large-scale expedition.¡±


    ¡°That is correct!¡± Bimpnottin shouted.


    ¡°As it happens, I have orders to survey and document the western lands,¡± the terran continued. ¡°So, as a representative of the Seal of the Burning Scale Dynasty, I will accompany you on your journey.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful!¡± Apostalite exclaimed. Great. Another person breathing down my neck.


    ¡°That will bring us to nine, then,¡± Taer¡¯inar sighed. ¡°I suppose it can¡¯t be helped.¡± He sidled past Unit 17 and into the tavern, followed by the others, with Ithan trailing the pack. The tavern was unusually quiet today; Briryn was chatting with a few dragonkin sitting near the stairs instead of endlessly cleaning mugs as he usually did. He stopped and turned his attention to the group as they entered.


    ¡°The place¡¯ll feel pretty empty with you lot leaving,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll hold down the fort until y¡¯all come back.¡±


    ¡°What happened to wanting to see the world?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s still plenty of time for that,¡± Briryn replied with a grin. ¡°Besides, I intend to see my promise to Elyan through to the end. Just about three more months, now. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be back by then.¡± Ithan nodded and smiled half-heartedly. I¡¯ll be gone by then.


    He brushed past, heading up to his room to collect what few belongings he had. When he opened the door, Ian was bouncing on his bed.


    ¡°Hey, mutt!¡± he called as he reached the apex of a bounce. ¡°I heard you crying from my room last night! No one let you out, huh?¡± Ithan scowled at the halfling, but then he took a deep breath and began putting on his armor. ¡°Hey, you don¡¯t need your boots, right?¡±


    ¡°Take them,¡± Ithan muttered as he tightened the straps on his chestpiece. The bouncing stopped with a thud as Ian landed on the floor. He slipped the boots on, then kicked at the air, sending the boot on that foot to go flying across the room.


    ¡°Drat, too big,¡± he said. ¡°Hey, why aren¡¯t you trying to throw me around?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t know you liked that,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°Maybe when we get out into the wilds, I¡¯ll throw you into a nice pit.¡±


    ¡°No, I mean¡­¡± Ian sighed and hopped back onto Ithan¡¯s bed. ¡°Listen, I know you¡¯re upset about the blue guy?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Storm,¡± Ithan interrupted.


    ¡°Right. I know you¡¯re upset about Storm, but you gotta keep moving.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard this speech enough times already,¡± Ithan grumbled.


    ¡°Well, you obviously haven¡¯t been listening,¡± Ian scolded. ¡°It¡¯s gonna be rough, but you¡¯ve got lots of friends going through the same thing with you, right?¡± Ithan reflected on what Taer¡¯inar had told him the other day. Until the end, huh? ¡°I¡¯m not saying things will ever be the same, but we have to try to keep things as ¡®normal¡¯ as possible.¡±


    ¡°So, what are you suggesting?¡± he asked. Ian stood up on the bed and grinned wide, his eyes gleaming.


    ¡°Throw me,¡± he demanded. Ithan looked skeptically at him, but the halfling¡¯s eyes were filled with a strange seriousness. ¡°Come on, you know you want to!¡± he shouted as he threw his arms out to his sides and swayed back and forth. After another moment, Ithan let out a laugh.


    ¡°Maybe later,¡± he said, smiling back at Ian. I guess he¡¯s not so bad after all. He turned to leave the room, Ian shuffling behind him. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be getting ready?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Got everything I need right here!¡± Ian replied, spinning around as he walked to reveal a small knapsack.


    ¡°In that tiny thing?¡±


    ¡°Well, sure! I like to travel light. Gotta save some room for the good stuff, am I right?¡± Ithan stopped at the head of the stairs and turned to glare at Ian, who grinned devilishly up at him. ¡°I said the good stuff!¡± Ithan rolled his eyes and continued down the stairs and headed to the bar. Briryn¡¯s company had left by now, and he had returned to cleaning up the dirty mugs they left behind. Before Ithan could open his mouth to speak, the dragonkin reached under the counter and slammed the bottle of Aeviri onto the counter.


    ¡°For the road,¡± he grumbled. ¡°No sense in keeping it here if the only folks who ever drink it are off doing gods know what out there.¡± Ithan sheepishly reached for the bottle, but as his hand wrapped around it, Briryn yanked him forward by his antler until his eyes met the dragonkin¡¯s. They burned with a fierceness that Ithan knew all too well by now. This was the part where he said?¡ª ¡°Just stay safe out there.¡± The words took him by surprise. He was certain that Briryn would launch into a tirade about protecting Fenvyre or he would break some appendage of his. Briryn let go of Ithan and patted him on the head. ¡°Keep your head on straight. Keep moving, and don¡¯t let anything get in your way.¡±


    ¡°Th-thanks,¡± Ithan replied, drawing the bottle in toward his chest. ¡°For everything.¡± He and the dragonkin exchanged a smile before he awkwardly shuffled away toward the door, waving behind him and almost tripping over Ian as he walked.


    ¡°If you die out there, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Briryn shouted as Ithan stepped out of the tavern behind the halfling. His other companions had all already gathered at the fountain. Taer¡¯inar and Apostalite were leaned over the edge of the fountain, looking over a parchment that had been spread out across the stone.


    ¡°If this map is accurate,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he moved his finger over the parchment, ¡°it will take about the same amount of time if we move around the Black Gate.¡±


    ¡°Are you certain?¡± Apostalite asked. ¡°There seems to be a large difference in distance.¡±


    ¡°We would be traveling quite a distance more, but not through mountainous terrain.¡± Taer¡¯inar rolled up the parchment and tucked it into his robe. ¡°Besides, I really would like to take a good look at the gate before we journey too far.¡±


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


    ¡°Well, I suppose that is fine,¡± Apostalite replied. ¡°As long as we get there relatively quickly.¡± They stood upright and turned to greet Ithan and Ian. Ian zipped past the ignan, leaving Ithan to fend for himself. ¡°How good of you to come, my dear Mor¡¯lavan! Have you decided to join us on our pilgrimage?¡± Ithan, confused, looked beyond them at Taer¡¯inar, who simply raised up his hands and shrugged.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ithan said slowly, looking back to Apostalite.


    ¡°Fantastic!¡± they cried as they clapped their hands together. ¡°Laht truly smiles upon us! You will make an excellent addition to our troupe!¡± They turned and began walking away toward to west, only to stop and look back at the group as they trudged behind them. ¡°Well, come along, then! We mustn¡¯t keep Laht waiting!¡±


    ¡°I am not fast,¡± Unit 17 responded. Ian had climbed up onto his shoulders, only making it more difficult for the terran to walk. ¡°I am also not a ride.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your job to protect people, right?¡± Ian asked. ¡°Keep them safe, yeah?¡±


    ¡°That is correct,¡± the terran replied.


    ¡°Well, I feel very safe up here. Everyone else here is bigger than me. You wouldn¡¯t want me to get stepped on, would you?¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Unit 17 pondered. ¡°In that case, I will allow you to ride me until more suitable accommodations can be made.¡± Ian smirked in satisfaction, while Bimpnottin scowled at him from below.


    ¡°You¡¯ll get your turn,¡± Ian laughed. ¡°This guy¡¯s a total pushover?¡ªhey!¡± He thrashed as Fenvyre walked up and pulled the halfling off of the terran¡¯s back. ¡°No fair!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re perfectly capable of walking on your own,¡± Fenvyre scolded. ¡°Stop abusing his kindness.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t know any better,¡± Ian argued. Fenvyre scrunched her face and gave Ian a kick in the rear, prompting him to run ahead near Taer¡¯inar and Irse. They were conversing with Dhurik, but they were too far away for Ithan to hear.


    ¡°Are you doing okay?¡± Fenvyre asked him as they kept in stride with the rest of the group. She always seemed so concerned for him, even though they had only known each other for a couple of months. It made him uneasy, knowing that someone so na?ve was venturing with them.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be all right,¡± he said, putting his hands behind his head. ¡°I just have to keep moving.¡± Fenvyre smiled warmly and hugged him briefly from the side, then ran after Ian as she noticed him trying to climb onto Dhurik¡¯s back. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ll be gone soon, anyway.


    By midday the group had made their way past the Spider Forest. The snow had mostly melted now, and the grass beneath had begun to spring to life. Leaves had begun to sprout on the trees that made up the forest; it was far less desolate now than it had been earlier in the winter. With the arrival of springtime, though, the arachkin would become more active; Ithan hoped that the citizens of Greenreach were prepared for more frequent visits from the creatures.


    ¡°We should be at the gate in another hour or so,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, unfurling the map once more. ¡°After that, we should be far enough past the mountains that we can simply travel north.¡±


    ¡°I will admit, we¡¯re making terrific time,¡± Bimpnottin commented. ¡°I doubt we would have even made it to Ashenmantle by this time had we gone that route.¡±


    ¡°Oh, curse it,¡± Taer¡¯inar groaned, ¡°I forgot to send word to Brollynn. Would you mind?¡± Bimpnottin nodded, waving his hands in front of him. ¡°Just say, ¡®Thanks for the offer, but we¡¯ve taken another path,¡¯ or something like that.¡±


    ¡°Done,¡± Bimpnottin replied. ¡°Say, couldn¡¯t you have sent Nyctea?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll call for her if we need her,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°She does not do well in large groups. Besides¡­¡± He looked warily over at Ian. ¡°Some people like to tease her.¡±


    As Taer¡¯inar had predicted, within the hour, the party drew near to the Black Gate. It stood higher than Ithan had expected?¡ªperhaps twenty feet tall, or more?¡ªand it stretched to the north and the south, with an opening along the road on which the group traveled. The dense fog beyond the gate seemed endless; it reached at least as far as the mountains on its northern side. Curiously, the colossal wall did not bear any markings or textures; it was as if someone had cast strips of black over a painted landscape. What was more, the wall did not cast a shadow, even as the sun began its descent to the west.


    ¡°It¡¯s not much to look at,¡± Bimpnottin said to Taer¡¯inar. ¡°Why did you want to come this way, again?¡±


    ¡°I heard some rumors from a few dragonkin,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°They say the Black Gate was made with powerful magic near the end of the Gods¡¯ War. I wanted to see if I could figure out where that magic originated.¡± He looked up and down the wall, his eyes wide with wonder. ¡°But now that we¡¯re here, I feel like I could spend decades here and never find an answer.¡±


    ¡°Briryn always said that people who cross the gate don¡¯t return,¡± Fenvyre said.


    ¡°How clich¨¦,¡± Taer¡¯inar chuckled, stepping up toward the opening. He turned around and smiled at Fenvyre. ¡°Are you going to let an old story keep you from seeking out the truth for yourself?¡± Fenvyre frowned, but after a moment stepped up next to Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°Do you still believe we will make good time walking through this fog?¡± Apostalite asked.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem so thick that we¡¯ll be stumbling through it,¡± Taer¡¯inar mused as he faced the mist. ¡°I would say this will add about another day or so to our travel time.¡± Apostalite tilted their head.


    ¡°Well, just to be sure¡­¡± They turned to Ithan. ¡°I have a request for you, Mor¡¯lavan.¡±


    ¡°Uh, sure,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°Would you care to lead us through?¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Ithan asked, surprised.


    ¡°Him?¡± Taer¡¯inar followed.


    ¡°I am certain that Laht has taken a particular interest in you,¡± Apostalite continued. They held out their hand to Ithan. ¡°Will you accept Laht¡¯s blessing and guide us through this obstacle?¡± Ithan was admittedly still skeptical of the ignan¡¯s so-called god, but there was no real reason to deny their request. He nodded slowly and grasped Apostalite¡¯s hand, and suddenly he was filled with a strange energy?¡ªthe same energy he felt the day he had first met the ignan. When Apostalite let go of him, he felt a tug at his mind, as though some unseen force wanted to pull him northward. It was an odd sensation, yet Ithan decided to let it take him. Without another word, he stepped past his allies and into the mist beyond the Black Gate. For a moment, he worried that his friends had not followed, but the thuds of footsteps and the clattering of clattering armor behind him washed away his fear.


    ¡°Are you sure you know where you¡¯re going?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. ¡°I can call for Nyctea if you would prefer.¡±


    ¡°Have a little faith,¡± Ithan mumbled, barely paying attention to the elf as he concentrated on the magic that drew him further into the mist.


    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Apostalite shouted. ¡°Laht will show us the way!¡± Before long, Ithan felt the pull wavering slightly every so often. It guided him around the larger holes and rocks that seemed to litter the landscape. Such a thoughtful god. He made sure not to move so quickly as to leave his friends behind, but with this magic he could easily beat Taer¡¯inar¡¯s estimates on his own.


    As dusk approached, Taer¡¯inar convinced the group to settle down and make camp for the night. He was sure that they would be out of the mist after another half a day¡¯s journey, and they had plenty of protective magic to keep them safe from whatever creatures might lurk beyond their vision. Though, from the lack of creatures the group had encountered thus far, Ithan did not think that would be a problem. With Bimpnottin¡¯s and Taer¡¯inar¡¯s combined magic, the two were able to form a shelter large enough to house all nine of them. They gathered around a campfire and shared food and stories, though Unit 17 abstained and simply watched the group from his position. As much as Ithan tried to enjoy the company, he could not keep the tug on his mind from distracting him. At one point, he simply stared off into the fog in the direction he was being beckoned toward.


    ¡°You should rest,¡± Taer¡¯inar said later into the night.


    ¡°I literally can¡¯t,¡± he growled. ¡°This is turning out to be less of a blessing and more a curse.¡±


    ¡°Well, I had hoped we would at least be out of this wretched mist by now,¡± Apostalite replied. ¡°I am afraid the blessing will not wear off until we have reached our destination.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Ithan grumbled. He lay down facing the fire, trying his best to ignore Laht¡¯s persistent pull. Unfortunately, even as his companions all turned in for the night, he was left awake, with Unit 17 his only other ally as he struggled to sleep. On occasion, the terran shifted, the metal on his body creaking just as Ithan thought he might finally fall asleep. Ithan watched him for a while as he moved about the camp, staring out into the haze outside of the magical barrier. When he turned toward Ithan, he looked down and tilted his head.


    ¡°You should recharge,¡± Unit 17 droned. ¡°I have enough reserves to keep watch for the next two night cycles.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m doing my best,¡± Ithan replied, pointing at his head. ¡°I have this¡­ thing pulling at my mind constantly.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± the terran said. ¡°I can¡­ relate to your predicament.¡± He turned back to watch the mist again, leaving Ithan to continue his efforts alone.


    At daybreak, Ithan forced himself off of the ground and rallied his friends to continue their journey. As with the previous day, Ithan found little issue traversing through the fields, though now of course he was exhausted from not having slept. Nonetheless, he navigated the group through the fog, and within a few hours, it started to thin out. He picked up his pace, relieved to be nearing the edge of this expanse of gray. In his haste, he tripped over a stone and fell hard onto the ground. He slowly picked himself up and held his hand to his head, rubbing the area that had impacted the ground. When he opened his eyes, there was nothing but darkness?¡ªan inky blackness that mirrored the Black Gate.


    ¡°I can¡¯t see,¡± he said, holding his hands out in front of him. No reply. ¡°Guys?¡± he called as he began wandering aimlessly, his arms still outstretched. He was not blinded?¡ªhe could still see his own hands. All was still; the wind in the grass, the wet air¡­ all gone. He was alone in this¡­ abyss. But then, just as he began to panic, he saw a figure in the darkness, standing with its back turned to him. As he stumbled toward it, he could make out some of the figure¡¯s details?¡ªwhite hair, blue skin, feathered ears¡­ No. It couldn¡¯t be?¡ª


    ¡°Why did you kill me?¡± the figure asked. It turned to face Ithan, and any doubt he had vanished. This was certainly the spirit of Storm, returned to make him suffer.


    ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± Ithan struggled to speak; after all, there was nothing he could say to his fallen comrade that could absolve him of his sin. As he stood in disbelief, a second figure appeared next to Storm. It was an elven woman, with long, umber hair and piercing green eyes.


    ¡°Mother¡­?¡± Ithan barely managed to utter the word. Seeing her here made him tremble. He reached his hand out to her, but she stepped away from him.


    ¡°You left me to die,¡± she whispered. Ithan¡¯s breath stifled, and his vision became blurred as tears began to well up in his eyes.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± he cried. ¡°I couldn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°You ran away,¡± his mother said. ¡°You let him kill me.¡±


    ¡°That makes you just as guilty,¡± Storm added. Ithan fell to his knees, staring up at the spirits as they tormented him.


    ¡°Your mistakes do not define you,¡± another voice called.


    ¡°Who¡­?¡± Ithan searched briefly for the source of this third presence.


    ¡°Put the shadows of your past to rest,¡± the voice continued. ¡°Do not let them consume you.¡±


    ¡°Murderer,¡± the spirits rebuked.


    ¡°Keep moving,¡± the voice beckoned. Suddenly, the spirits vanished, and the darkness began to fade. Ithan was once again surrounded by his comrades in the mist.


    ¡°Where¡­?¡± he thought aloud as he searched for his mother¡¯s face in the fog. Fenvyre stepped up to him and patted him on the back.


    ¡°You doing okay?¡± Dhurik asked. ¡°You just kind of¡­ fell over.¡±


    ¡°I saw¡­¡± Ithan mumbled. Did I, though? He looked around at his friends; they all had genuine looks of concern as they crowded around him. The spirits seemed so real in the moment, perhaps they were just another nightmare. A waking nightmare¡­ He needed real sleep soon.


    ¡°What now?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked, breaking Ithan¡¯s line of thought. Ithan shook his head as he pulled himself up from the ground.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± he said. ¡°I must just be tired.¡±


    ¡°I told you to recharge,¡± Unit 17 scolded. ¡°We should stop for a while longer.¡±


    ¡°No, no!¡± Apostalite cried. ¡°We mustn¡¯t stop now! We are so close!¡±


    ¡°I hate to break it to you,¡± Ithan said, ¡°but I think your ¡®blessing¡¯ wore off.¡± The strange sensation in his mind had vanished; they had to be close to the tower Apostalite sought. Ithan chuckled to himself at the absurdity of it all?¡ªhere he was, a slave to a powerful entity, leading a pilgrimage on behalf of another powerful entity he knew little about instead of fulfilling his own master¡¯s will. Although, Kiraan had not outright decried his decision to take this detour¡­ yet. Perhaps this was all according to plan.


    ¡°Even more reason to keep going!¡± Apostalite continued. ¡°That surely means the tower is near!¡± They ran on ahead into the fog alone, prompting a panicking Taer¡¯inar to chase after them.


    ¡°Stay together!¡± he cried as he, too, faded into the mist. Ithan groaned, and he joined the others in following the two until, finally, they stepped out into unabated sunlight. Ithan breathed a sigh of relief as he looked out over the fields beyond. They seemed to be just south of a valley in the mountains now. The melting snow from the mountains cascaded into rivers that flowed southward. Small animals ran through the grass and climbed through the trees that were scattered here. At the edge of the valley, perhaps a few miles more of travel, was a stone tower reaching above the trees.


    ¡°Behold!¡± Apostalite shouted. ¡°The Tower of Laht!¡±

 Chapter 13 - Fortunes Folly

    ¡°It is not a terribly impressive tower, is it?¡± Irse commented as the group made their way through the valley. ¡°This god of yours certainly has meager standards.¡± Ithan had to agree; there was not much to admire about the tower as he inspected it in the distance. From where he stood, it seemed to be just an ordinary tower, built with ordinary bricks, with ordinary stairs leading up to its ordinary entrance.


    ¡°One would do well not to judge by appearance,¡± Apostalite replied. They took a deep breath, then looked at the cleric. ¡°This valley is teeming with magic. Can you not feel it?¡±


    ¡°I feel hungry,¡± Dhurik grumbled, grasping his stomach. ¡°Who wants some lunch?¡± he asked as he eyed an elk grazing nearby.


    ¡°Mind your companions,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered as he glanced at Fenvyre. She seemed to have not been paying attention to Dhurik, opting instead to marvel at the scenery ahead of them. Ithan could not help but enjoy it himself; everything was so full of life here, as if winter never reached this part of the mountains. It made Ithan yearn for springtime to reclaim dominion over this land, so that he might witness the first cherry blossoms bloom. But he was far away from Sol¡¯vara, with no festival to celebrate the return of spring, no grand ceremony to welcome in the new year. At least I have some Aeviri. He figured he may as well share what remained of the bottle, at least with Taer¡¯inar. Of everyone Ithan had met since arriving in Greenreach, Taer¡¯inar was the only one he thought might understand Sol¡¯vara¡¯s traditions.


    For Fenvyre¡¯s sake, Taer¡¯inar convinced Dhurik to refrain from hunting the various creatures the group encountered. Instead, they settled on eating some of the rations of food that Taer¡¯inar had prepared before leaving Greenreach. He claimed that, though it may not be much, it would keep up everyone¡¯s strength for a while. Ithan laughed as his friends bemoaned the change in diet; for him, this was still a step up from his days digging through refuse for something to eat.


    Unlike their usual routine, the party did not set up camp to eat; Apostalite was insistent that they continue traveling so as to arrive at the tower more expediently. There was no need anyway, since they had nothing to cook nor was anyone weary from travel yet. As Dhurik munched on the remains of his lunch, he suddenly collided with a distracted Fenvyre.


    ¡°Watch it!¡± he bellowed, but his shouting was met with silence. Fenvyre remained motionless, staring off of the trail. There was a fawn watching the group from a distance.


    ¡°It¡¯s so cute!¡± Fenvyre squealed softly. She carefully approached the fawn, but it sprang up and away toward a nearby tree. Fenvyre¡¯s face scrunched as she balled up her fists, and she began to creep toward it again. The fawn watched the dragonkin from behind the tree, its head just barely peeking out. Fenvyre made a strange sound as she walked?¡ªalmost a bleating sound?¡ªas if she was trying to communicate with the fawn. It worked, evidently, as the fawn squeaked before cautiously stepping out from behind the tree. Fenvyre stopped moving but continued speaking with the fawn. Before long, it had started walking back toward her. Fenvyre put out her hand toward it, and it stepped up and sniffed at it before putting its head beneath her palm.


    ¡°By the gods,¡± Bimpnottin muttered next to Ithan. ¡°She¡¯s a druid.¡±


    ¡°Fenvyre?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. ¡°No, that can¡¯t be.¡±


    ¡°She must be,¡± Bimpnottin said. ¡°Only they could speak with animals with such ease.¡± Ithan marveled at the dragonkin. It was no wonder she was always trying to befriend any animal she happened across?¡ªit was in her blood.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to stay here with Lili,¡± Fenvyre called. ¡°She got separated from her parents and she¡¯s waiting for them to come find her.¡±


    ¡°All right,¡± Taer¡¯inar sighed. ¡°Unit 17, would you mind waiting out here with Fenvyre?¡±


    ¡°Affirmative,¡± the terran replied. ¡°I will secure the area.¡± He began scanning the group¡¯s immediate surroundings as Apostalite began walking toward the tower once more.


    ¡°Stay safe, you two,¡± Taer¡¯inar called back to Fenvyre and Unit 17. Fenvyre waved enthusiastically at the group as she danced with Lili. Unit 17 simply nodded.


    When the remaining group reached the doors, a strange tingling started in Ithan¡¯s chest. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and he could not tell whether it was anxiety or something else.


    ¡°You look unwell,¡± Irse said suddenly. Ithan shot her a scornful look, which was met with dismissal as she tilted her head up and slowly turned her gaze back to the tower. Ithan, too, returned his attention to the tower as Apostalite began to open the doors. As they opened, Ithan could just barely make out the outlines of figures within the tower. He made ready to summon his glaive, but Apostalite produced a magical light to brighten the chamber. They were only statues.


    ¡°Let us be on our way, then!¡± Apostalite exclaimed, clearly eager to continue their mission, whatever it might be. Ithan had not bothered to ask what the ignan planned to do after they found the tower, but now that he was here, he had to admit he was curious. Surely Kiraan could wait a bit longer. No sooner had that thought crossed his mind than the feeling in his chest intensified. A moment of clarity struck him, and he spun around to his companions just in time to be tackled to the ground by an unknown assailant.


    ¡°It¡¯s an ambush!¡± Taer¡¯inar cried, drawing his weapons and advancing toward Ithan¡¯s attacker. Before he could reach him, though, two large elvenoids leapt into view to block his path, each brandishing a halberd. Their red skin and pointed ears were new to Ithan; he thought that perhaps they were ignans, though he never knew them to be so vicious in nature. As he struggled against the one who attacked him, he caught Bimpnottin and Ian fleeing from another of the creatures while Bimpnottin sent blasts of energy at it. Even Dhurik seemed to be having a difficult time fending off his opponent?¡ªa larger creature than the others, nearly as tall as Dhurik himself. Apostalite, on the other hand, had run into the tower, and began to close the doors as the ambushers encroached upon the entrance.


    ¡°Apostalite!¡± Taer¡¯inar shouted furiously as the doors closed on the hobgoblins, refusing to open again even as they tried to smash through the stone with their weapons. The one who had attacked Ithan rose from the ground, but kept his boot on Ithan¡¯s head, pressing it hard against the stone.


    ¡°Drop your weapons,¡± he said, ¡°or I¡¯ll crush his skull.¡± Taer¡¯inar froze, a look of panic in his eyes as they darted frantically between Ithan and the others. With a sigh and a nod, he begrudgingly allowed his swords to fall to the ground. He was immediately restrained by one of the creatures that stood before him.


    ¡°Cursed hobgoblins,¡± he grunted as the creature bound his hands behind his back.


    ¡°Make sure they¡¯re tied up nice and tight,¡± the one on top of Ithan called. ¡°And you two stay here for the ignan!¡± He lifted his foot off of Ithan¡¯s head and grabbed him by an antler, dragging him to his feet. ¡°We¡¯re taking these ones to the chief,¡± he grumbled. He tied Ithan¡¯s hands to match his friends. They gathered the group together and began marching them away from the tower, back through the field where they had left Fenvyre and Unit 17.


    ¡°Traitorous ignan,¡± Taer¡¯inar grumbled after a while as they walked. ¡°Dragging us all the way out here just to get us captured by filthy hobgoblins.¡± He glanced over at Ithan. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll live,¡± he replied. ¡°Isn¡¯t this where we left Fenvyre and Unit 17?¡± His heart raced as he glanced around in search of the dragonkin.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯re fine,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°As despicable as these creatures are, they don¡¯t kill needlessly.¡± Ithan hoped not; the thought of such a kind spirit like Fenvyre being killed out here made his gut squirm. Why had she wanted to venture out here in the first place?


    ¡°Listen here, elf,¡± one of the hobgoblins said, ¡°you talk like that to the chief, and he¡¯ll have no problem chopping off your head.¡±


    ¡°My kind of people,¡± Dhurik chuckled as the group began moving toward the west. They traveled for another hour, finally coming to a small fort near a riverbank. Hobgoblins lined the walls of the fort, spaced out every three feet or so. The walls, made of mud and stone, were roughly twelve feet tall and featured bastions wherever there would have been a corner. Though the walls appeared to have been crudely built, the hobgoblins seemed to be organized well enough to make up for it.


    ¡°There has to be treasure here,¡± Ian whispered to Bimpnottin, who smiled and nodded at the halfling. They were low enough to the ground that the hobgoblin next to them did not hear. The group was brought inside the fort. Their defenses were no weaker from the inside, to Ithan¡¯s dismay. The interior was crammed with hobgoblins in tents and around campfires, all geared in the same armor as the ones who had captured him and his friends. They brought the group to a larger tent near the center of the encampment and led them inside. There, sitting behind a table looking over documents and what appeared to be a map of the area, was a massive hobgoblin wearing plate mail. His face had a scar stretching from just above his right eye to his left cheek.


    ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± he asked as he scanned the group. ¡°Trespassers?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Chief,¡± one of the soldiers replied. ¡°We found ¡®em sneaking about the mage tower. One of ¡®em managed to get inside. An ignan.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got someone stationed outside it, I hope,¡± the chief said.


    ¡°Yes, Chief, but the doors are sealed up tight again.¡±


    ¡°What interest do you have in this tower?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked, causing both the chief and the soldier to whip their heads in his direction.


    ¡°I could ask you the same, elf,¡± the chief retorted. ¡°What brings you to Zastraria?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re on an adventure!¡± Bimpnottin shouted.


    ¡°Oh, are you, now?¡± the chief laughed as stood up and stepped around the table. ¡°Quite the motley crew, aren¡¯t you?¡± He looked over the group again, stopping at Ithan. His face scrunched as he inspected Ithan more closely. ¡°Never seen one of you before.¡± He raised his hand up and motioned for Ithan to be brought closer. The soldier holding him pushed him forward onto his knees, and the chief reached out and grabbed his muzzle.


    ¡°Leave him alone,¡± Taer¡¯inar protested.


    ¡°For an elf, you¡¯re not too bright,¡± the chief said. ¡°You¡¯re in no position to be making demands. Now¡­¡± He looked back down at Ithan. ¡°What do you want with the mage tower?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t want anything with it,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°It was Apostalite?¡ªer, the ignan who wanted us to find the tower. They didn¡¯t tell us what they planned to do when they found it.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t ask?¡± the chief questioned. ¡°Pretty shortsighted for a group of adventurers. I think you¡¯re lying.¡±


    ¡°They abandoned us when your men found us!¡± Taer¡¯inar shouted. ¡°Ask them! They¡¯ll tell you that the ignan fled into the tower and left us to be captured!¡±


    ¡°A coward, to be sure,¡± the chief muttered, ¡°but how does that prove you didn¡¯t intend to join them?¡±


    ¡°Chief Advar!¡± another hobgoblin shouted from behind the group. The chief looked past Ithan with an irritated snarl. ¡°Gnolls to the north! A horde of ¡®em, and they¡¯re coming fast!¡±


    ¡°What about the mage tower?¡± Advar asked.


    ¡°Uh¡­ it¡¯s¡­ gone, Chief,¡± the soldier answered hesitantly. ¡°It crumbled a short while ago. The ignan¡¯s nowhere to be found.¡± Advar growled again and lowered his gaze back to Ithan.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Last chance,¡± the chief spat as he leaned in closer. His breath reeked of decay. ¡°What did the ignan want with the mage tower?¡± he asked, finally letting go of Ithan¡¯s muzzle.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ithan muttered, trying hard not to gag as he spoke. Advar pulled out a dagger and waved it in front of Ithan¡¯s face before holding it to his throat. His chest tightened as he and the hobgoblin chief glared at each other.


    ¡°Stop this!¡± Taer¡¯inar cried. ¡°He doesn¡¯t know! None of us know! If we did, we would have told you by now! Why would we protect someone who betrayed us?¡± Advar looked up toward Taer¡¯inar, then back down at Ithan. He lowered the dagger, then pushed Ithan back against the floor.


    ¡°Pick him up,¡± he ordered. ¡°Take them all to the pit.¡±


    ¡°Wait, Chief!¡± Bimpnottin interjected. ¡°I have a proposal for you!¡± Advar tilted his head, after a moment of thought, he nodded to the gnome. ¡°As a powerful wizard, I can aid you in dealing with these nasty gnolls! And my subordinates can help, too!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re volunteering us to fight against a horde of gnolls,¡± Taer¡¯inar grumbled. ¡°Why am I not surprised?¡±


    ¡°So, what¡¯s your proposal, then?¡± Advar questioned. ¡°Kill some gnolls and gain your freedom?¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± the gnome replied enthusiastically. ¡°We would need our equipment back, of course!¡± Advar grinned.


    ¡°I like you, gnome. What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°I am Bimpnottin Bafflestone! And these are my minions!¡±


    ¡°All right, Bimpnottin Bafflestone,¡± Advar said, stepping past Ithan and ¡°you¡¯ve got yourself a deal.¡± The two shook hands, and the soldiers began removing the shackles from the group.


    ¡°Not this one,¡± the chief said before Ithan¡¯s shackles could be removed.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Taer¡¯inar questioned. ¡°He¡¯s with us.¡±


    ¡°Insurance,¡± the chief sneered. Ithan looked quickly over to the elf in panic, but Taer¡¯inar bowed his head as he was escorted out with the rest of his friends. ¡°Hold him here,¡± he said to the guards as he stepped past to leave. ¡°Make sure he¡¯s properly restrained, then get to your posts.¡± After he was out of sight, the guards dragged Ithan to the central pillar and bound him to it with rope, tightening it to the point where Ithan could just barely breathe. When they seemed satisfied with their work, they left Ithan there, one of them spitting in his general direction on the way out.


    ¡°Godsbane,¡± he gasped as he wriggled beneath the rope. The guards had been thorough; he was bound tightly enough that he could barely twist his arm around underneath. The rope burned his skin as he struggled. After a few more moments, he gave up, thrusting his head back against the pillar. He could not cast any spells with his hands bound like this; even if he could summon his glaive, it would be difficult if not impossible to maneuver it to cut the ropes. As he contemplated his options, drums began to sound in the distance, beating louder and faster with each passing moment. Then a horn blared from just outside the tent; the chief signaling his troops, no doubt. The drums fell silent, and after a few seconds of silence, the roar of hobgoblin soldiers taking to battle flooded his ears.


    Are you having trouble? Kiraan whispered suddenly.


    I can handle it. He began writhing beneath the ropes again. I just need¡­ this arm¡­ free¡­ He gritted his teeth as splinters of wood sank deep into his skin. The resulting blood worked to his favor as he was able to more easily slide his arm through his restraints until it was free at last. He grimaced as he looked at his forearm, but only for a moment before summoning his glaive and cutting himself free. See? I can handle myself.


    The clock is ticking, Kiraan reminded him. You could have been there by now had you not indulged in your ignan friend¡¯s nonsense.


    They¡¯re not my friend. He growled at Apostalite¡¯s betrayal. But the rest of them are. I¡¯m going to help them. The fort was in a state of chaos. The hobgoblins did not seem to notice Ithan as he ran through it in search of his friends. They were too preoccupied with the battle happening just outside of their walls. Where are they? The sky had grown dark in the short time he had been tied up; storm clouds surged from the north, overtaking the peaceful blue sky that he had enjoyed earlier in the day.


    Leave them. They left you just as the ignan did.


    That wasn¡¯t their choice. He stopped; he was running back toward the entrance that they were brought through to the east. North. They said the gnolls were coming from the north. He turned to head in that direction, stumbling over crumpled tents and smoldering campfires. I¡¯ve still got time; I¡¯ll head straight there once this is over.


    I am holding you to that. This is your last warning. Ithan did not like Kiraan¡¯s tone; as soft as his whispers were now, they were laced with promises of the deepest agony. He reached the northern entrance, and there he saw not a field, but a battleground teeming with hobgoblins and gnolls?¡ªelvenoids with the features of hyenas and the size of minotaurs. Fearsome as they were, they seemed to have met their match with the hobgoblins; bodies fell on both sides in equal shares. Worried about his friends who were amidst the carnage, Ithan bolted through the field, slicing at any gnolls who got in his way. The moments between running and fighting he spent looking for any sign of his companions. As the sky grew ever darker, a flash of light sparked in the corner of his eye. Shortly after, when he had focused his attention there, there was a large explosion in the distance. It had to be Bimpnottin. Ithan picked up speed again toward the fire that now lit up the darkening battleground. He largely ignored the battle around him and raced to the scorched field, dodging around the warring parties as they stained the land with each other¡¯s blood. When he at last reached the smoldering remains of twenty or so gnolls, he searched frantically for the errant gnome.


    ¡°Mor¡¯lavan!¡± he heard Bimpnottin shouting from behind him. He quickly spun around, and he gasped in elation?¡ªTaer¡¯inar, Irse, and Dhurik were all gathered together with the gnome. Bimpnottin raised a hand and fired a beam of energy toward him. He flinched, but remained unharmed?¡ªthe blast had been aimed at a gnoll just behind him. ¡°The great Bimpnottin shall protect his minions!¡± Bimpnottin called. With a smirk and a shake of his head, Ithan ran to join his companions.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Ian?¡± he asked, though he was sure he already knew the answer.


    ¡°He ran off when the fighting started,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Considering how many dead there are, I don¡¯t blame him.¡±


    ¡°Chicken,¡± Dhurik grunted.


    ¡°What is our plan?¡± Irse asked. She looked down at Ithan¡¯s bloodied arm and shifted her stance. ¡°Let me see that.¡± Ithan recoiled, but she stepped toward him. ¡°It will get infected.¡± Hesitantly, Ithan held his glaive in his other hand and allowed the cleric to hold his arm, and she started casting a spell on it. The magic covered his arm in a warm light, and the splinters and rope burn began to vanish.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said. When she was done, he lowered his glaive to hold it in both hands. ¡°Now let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    ¡°Are you kidding?¡± Dhurik scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m having too much fun; we can¡¯t leave now!¡±


    ¡°I concur!¡± Bimpnottin added. ¡°I am a man of my word, after all! We must assist Chief Advar in eradicating these invaders!¡± He fired another ray of light into the nearby crowd, striking a gnoll in the head. ¡°Look at that! I¡¯d call that a ten out of ten!¡±


    ¡°I would give it an eight,¡± Irse commented. ¡°You missed the center of the forehead.¡± Bimpnottin threw his hands up in frustration.


    ¡°I¡¯m still not particularly fond of these creatures,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, ¡°but if we are to pass through this territory again, it would help to have allies.¡± Ithan frowned at the elf¡¯s response, but he understood. It seemed he would not be able to convince any of them so easily to leave while there was a battle to fight. They were not cowards like Apostalite or Ian. And neither was he.


    ¡°All right,¡± he said finally, ¡°Let¡¯s regroup when the fighting¡¯s done.¡± They exchanged well wishes and words of encouragement, then scattered to rejoin the hobgoblins in fighting the gnolls. Dhurik mowed down a cluster of the hyena-like creatures to his left before he joined in the bloodshed. At first, Ithan fought as if he were in the arena, only disarming and maiming his opponents. But he was not in the arena anymore. There are no rules here. Don¡¯t just disarm. Kill¡­ or be killed. The next attack he made against a large gnoll was a thrust of his glaive into its chest. It crumpled to the ground as he pulled the glaive back to him. A flash of recollection made him falter momentarily, causing him to nearly be mauled by another gnoll. This isn¡¯t the same. They¡¯re not your friends. They¡¯re not even would-be friends. With newfound resolve, he raised his left hand up to his new attacker and cast a spell, causing fire to erupt from his hand and incinerate the gnoll. He turned to his next opponent?¡ªa particularly large gnoll, perhaps nine feet tall?¡ªand braced himself for the creature¡¯s assault. Instead of attacking him, though, the gnoll stood in place, watching him, before it started to speak.


    ¡°You smell like O¡¯kinou,¡± it growled. The words did not match the movements of the gnoll¡¯s mouth. ¡°Why you fight gnolls? Gnolls and O¡¯kinou friends. Fight together.¡±


    ¡°O¡¯kinou?¡± Something about that word intrigued him. Before he could inquire further, however, Taer¡¯inar swooped in from his right and cut down the gnoll, severing its head from its body as he passed through, the faint humming of his swords just barely reaching Ithan¡¯s ears over the sounds of the battle around them.


    ¡°You all right?¡± the elf questioned. Ithan shook his head as he came out of his trance. ¡°That one looked like it was ready to eat you whole.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d have cut it to pieces from the inside,¡± Ithan laughed. ¡°We were just having a bit of a staring contest.¡±


    ¡°In the middle of a war zone,¡± Taer¡¯inar chided. ¡°Try to take this a little more seriously.¡± He ran off to the north to assist a group of hobgoblins, leaving Ithan to deal with a few more gnolls to the west. Flickers of light flashed all around the battlefield as he fought, and just once thunder rumbled further west of him. The bodies continued to pile up all around him, giving him little confidence that the hobgoblins would survive this incursion at all.


    ¡°Begone, you beasts!¡± Bimpnottin¡¯s voice called from nearby as a flash of greenish-yellow light appeared behind him. ¡°You cannot hope to best a wizard of my caliber!¡± the gnome laughed as Ithan turned toward him. More lights streaked across the field as Bimpnottin cast spells like a madman atop the corpse of a larger gnoll. Perhaps we have a chance after all. The hobgoblins¡¯ forces were dwindling, but so too were the gnolls¡¯, especially with the speed that his companions were dispatching them.


    Before Ithan had a chance himself to return to combat, the distant sound of drums began to echo through the field. The gnolls closest to Ithan stopped their attacks and began to head north toward the drums.


    ¡°They¡¯re retreating!¡± a hobgoblin announced. Not long after, the horns sounded again just as they had before the battle began. The remaining hobgoblins did what they could to take down the fleeing gnolls, but they were more concerned with tending to their wounded comrades. Instead of chasing down the gnolls that had run from him, Ithan assisted in bringing one of the hobgoblins back to the fort. The gnolls vacated the field rather quickly, leaving their own injured behind to be finished off by the surviving hobgoblins.


    By the time Ithan arrived inside the fort to bring the injured hobgoblin to receive medical attention, his companions had already gathered there to assist. Irse was treating the severely wounded with healing magic, while Bimpnottin and Taer¡¯inar aided in bandaging more minor injuries.


    ¡°You!¡± Advar bellowed as he trudged across the encampment toward the group. He grabbed one of Ithan¡¯s antlers and pulled upward, lifting him to the point where his hooves barely touched the ground. ¡°How did you get out?!¡± He shook with rage, saliva spewing out of his mouth as he shouted.


    ¡°Does it matter?¡± Taer¡¯inar yelled back. ¡°He fought against the gnolls just as we did.¡± The chief held his ground, still glaring at Ithan as he held him in place. ¡°We could have just left you to fend for yourselves, but we kept our word. We helped you achieve victory here.¡± Advar snarled at the elf, but reluctantly let go of Ithan and stomped away.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting tired of people doing that,¡± Ithan growled as he rubbed the sore spot on his head.


    ¡°I suppose it comes with the antlers,¡± Taer¡¯inar joked as he patted Ithan on the shoulder.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see Dhurik getting dragged around by his horns.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s two feet taller than you and more than twice your weight,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied.


    ¡°Fair enough.¡± Ithan dropped his hand and looked out across the horizon. The sky had darkened, the storm clouds rolling through the fields to the north. They seemed to linger there, rather than move naturally with the wind. ¡°I wonder where they came from.¡±


    ¡°Advar said there¡¯s a witch up there,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°She said if she caught anyone trying to enter the mage tower, she¡¯d obliterate his troops.¡± Ithan looked around at the bodies scattered across the landscape.


    ¡°She made good on her promise,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°They lost a good number of men, sure,¡± Taer¡¯inar mused, ¡°but not nearly as many as they could have.¡± He pulled at his lower lip as he watched the storm. ¡°I don¡¯t think she expected them to have help.¡±


    ¡°Chief!¡± a hobgoblin called suddenly. Ithan looked in the direction of the call to find the soldier pointing at something to the north. Concerned that a second wave of gnolls was approaching, Ithan prepared once more for battle. But the soldier was only pointing at a crow flying toward the fort. It was holding something in its talons; from here it looked to be a scrap of paper. The crow descended slowly from the sky, coming to rest on the ground next to Advar. The hobgoblin chief took the paper from its talons, and with a caw, it flew away.


    ¡°What does it say?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked.


    ¡°¡¯Consider this a warning,¡¯¡± Advar read. He crumpled up the scroll and tossed it to the ground. ¡°Cursed witch. She¡¯s toying with us.¡± He turned toward the group and stood up straight. ¡°A deal¡¯s a deal, Bimpnottin Bafflestone,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re all free to go.¡±


    ¡°Actually, Chief,¡± Bimpnottin replied, ¡°we are a tad weary from the day¡¯s battle. Would you permit us to rest with your troops before we go on our way?¡±


    ¡°Do what you want, just don¡¯t go starting any more trouble.¡± Advar took his leave, heading back to his tent with a few of his soldiers.


    ¡°Quite the eventful day,¡± Taer¡¯inar commented as Advar disappeared into the tent. ¡°Lucky they brought us here instead of killing us at the tower.¡±


    ¡°Lucky indeed,¡± Ithan mused. Perhaps, somehow, Apostalite had survived the mage tower¡¯s collapse. Despite the trouble the ignan had caused here, he hoped to meet them again someday.

 Chapter 14 - Graverobber

    ¡°I hope Fenvyre and Unit 17 are okay,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he sharpened one of his swords. ¡°Praad said they didn¡¯t see them when they were surveying the area around the tower.¡±


    ¡°Where could they have gone?¡± Ithan asked. He rubbed his eyes and tried to shake himself awake; Taer¡¯inar had insisted on leaving the fort at dawn, so naturally he had been woken up by the sound of scraping metal an hour before.


    ¡°Perhaps they headed back to Greenreach,¡± Taer¡¯inar mused. ¡°In any case, I want to do a survey of my own. I find it difficult to believe that a terran could evade such a coordinated effort.¡± He sheathed his sword and stood up, ready to depart. Ithan grinned as he followed Taer¡¯inar out of the tent. The elf¡¯s attitude toward the hobgoblins had shifted drastically overnight; perhaps it was because the elf had seen their skills in battle. ¡°Where¡¯s Bimpnottin?¡± he asked Dhurik and Irse as he and Ithan approached.


    ¡°He is speaking with Advar,¡± Irse replied, motioning toward the large tent where they had first met the hobgoblin chief.


    ¡°You guys go on ahead,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°I¡¯ll catch up with Captain when he¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°Captain?¡± Ithan questioned as Irse rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Advar gave him that title for his ¡®tremendous leadership,¡¯¡± Taer¡¯inar explained. ¡°Really now, Dhurik. Let¡¯s not encourage him.¡± The minotaur crossed his arms and huffed. Taer¡¯inar pulled out a couple of polished stones from his bag and handed one to Dhurik. ¡°If you speak into yours, we¡¯ll be able to hear you from ours.¡±


    ¡°Where were these when we left Fenvyre?¡± he growled.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°I should have given one to her or Unit 17. I did not anticipate getting separated from them like this.¡±


    ¡°Testing.¡± Dhurik¡¯s voice came from himself and through the stone in Taer¡¯inar¡¯s hand. The minotaur had put his stone up to his mouth as if about to take a bite out of it. Taer¡¯inar shuddered and cautiously pulled Dhurik¡¯s hand away.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to put it that close for it to work,¡± he said.


    ¡°Got it,¡± Dhurik said, his voice echoing again. He stashed the stone in his pocket and clapped Taer¡¯inar on the shoulder. ¡°Go on and find Tree-Hugger.¡± The elf nodded and motioned for Ithan and Irse to follow, leading them back through the eastern entrance to the fort, greeting and saluting various hobgoblin soldiers along the way.


    ¡°They are quick to move on,¡± Irse remarked as she observed the hobgoblins going about their business.


    ¡°There is little time for grief when you are at war,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°If they do plan to take on that witch, they¡¯ll need to stay focused.¡±


    By the time the group reached the valley, the sun had already risen past the mountains in the east. As Taer¡¯inar searched the ground for signs of their missing friends, Ithan looked to the north. Where the tower once stood there was now nothing more than a pile of rubble. Ithan grimaced; he wanted to have a more definitive answer as to Apostalite¡¯s fate, but he knew the others would not be willing to help investigate. After all, the ignan had left them to the hobgoblins, and although they ended up becoming allies, the act had surely left the rest of the group with feelings of contempt.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. How did they manage not to leave any tracks?¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. He followed the footprints again, mumbling to himself as he did so. When he stopped moving, he looked back up at the group. ¡°This is where we left him, right? He said he was going to secure the area from this spot.¡±


    ¡°Looks right to me,¡± Ithan commented. ¡°Why don¡¯t you use Nyctea to do an overhead search?¡±


    ¡°I considered that, but I don¡¯t know?¡ª¡± An odd sound interrupted Taer¡¯inar. He pulled out one of his swords, prepared for whatever enemy was coming their way. The sound came again, this time from a nearby tree. As Taer¡¯inar drew nearer to the tree, the sound grew louder, and something of a crude melody began to play. Ithan had heard this noise around the inn once or twice; it usually came from the far end of the hallway upstairs.


    ¡°Come on out, twerp,¡± Ithan called. Ian jumped out from behind the tree. He held a bagpipe in front of him, the blowpipe still held fast in his mouth as he played the instrument more fervently than before. The sound was unbearable; Ian had no sense of harmony or rhythm in his music-playing. When he was finished, he gave a bow to his audience and grinned snidely.


    ¡°A victory song for our heroes!¡± he exclaimed, looking rather proud of his work as the rest of the group exchanged glances of pain and annoyance.


    ¡°Where did you even get that?¡± Taer¡¯inar groaned.


    ¡°No respectable bard leaves home without his instrument!¡± Ian shouted. ¡°I keep it on me at all times!¡±


    ¡°You weren¡¯t carrying it yesterday,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued.


    ¡°He¡¯s always carrying more than it seems,¡± Ithan commented. ¡°Allow me to demonstrate.¡± He stepped toward the halfling, who immediately began to retreat back behind the tree.


    ¡°Forget it,¡± Taer¡¯inar grumbled, prompting Ithan to back off. ¡°You easily could have been back to Greenreach by now. Why linger here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for Fen, same as you,¡± Ian responded. Concern was something Ithan had never expected from the halfling. ¡°We didn¡¯t see her when the hobgoblins took us, so I wanted to make sure she was safe.¡±


    ¡°So, you left in the heat of battle to search for Fenvyre because you knew you would not be noticed,¡± Irse concluded.


    ¡°Well, that, and I didn¡¯t really feel like becoming someone¡¯s snack.¡± He looked warily at Ithan. Ithan chuckled to himself.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here for almost a day now,¡± Taer¡¯inar sighed. ¡°If you haven¡¯t found anything by now, I think our chances of finding them are?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Who said I haven¡¯t found anything?¡± Ian grinned. He pointed down at the ground near where he had been hiding. There were animal tracks leading back to the west, but still no sign of Fenvyre or Unit 17. ¡°Look here?¡ªthere¡¯s the fawn¡¯s prints, and the other two sets must be her parents¡¯. Fen¡¯s gotta be with them.¡±


    ¡°How can you be sure?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked skeptically. ¡°Her footprints don¡¯t lead in that direction.¡±


    ¡°Fen was my friend first,¡± Ian argued. ¡°I think I know her a little more than you.¡± He turned away from the group and started following the tracks. Ithan sighed and started to follow the halfling, briefly turning back to Taer¡¯inar and Irse.


    ¡°It¡¯s our best lead,¡± Ithan admitted before catching up to Ian. The tracks ran parallel to the path that they had taken to get to and from the hobgoblin fort, until they were a mile or so away from it. After that, the tracks veered to the south, into a forest just past the ever-present fog that the group had traveled through on their journey to the tower.


    ¡°If they were with Lili, how did they sneak past the hobgoblins?¡± Taer¡¯inar said as they walked. ¡°Unit 17 isn¡¯t exactly stealthy.¡± A small bleating sound came from the trees as they approached the edge of the forest. Moments later, a fawn stepped out into the field, jumping at the sight of the group. Instead of fleeing back into the forest, though, it pranced toward them and stopped a few feet away from them.


    ¡°What was the fawn¡¯s name again?¡± Ian asked as he looked up at Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°Lili,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied, to which the fawn responded with a short squeak. He leaned down until his eyes met hers. ¡°Can you take us to Fenvyre?¡± Lili hopped up and away, heading back into the forest. She turned around and made another sound, as if beckoning them to follow. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Taer¡¯inar said excitedly, rushing past Ian to catch up with the fawn. With an exchange of relieved glances, the rest of them followed Lili and Taer¡¯inar into the forest proper.


    Lili danced around the group as she led them through the trees. She was far less timid than when they had first found her in the valley just yesterday; perhaps it was because she remembered that they had been with Fenvyre. After traveling for a mile or so into the forest, something glimmered in the distance. There, beneath some rays of sunlight shining through the canopy, was the glint of Fenvyre¡¯s scales.


    ¡°Hey, everyone!¡± Fenvyre called as Lili pranced over to her. ¡°Glad you made it!¡±


    ¡°How did you get all the way out here?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked incredulously. ¡°And how did you get past the hobgoblins?¡±


    ¡°We took evasive maneuvers,¡± Unit 17 replied as he stepped out from behind a nearby tree.


    ¡°Lili¡¯s mom taught me a new spell!¡± Fenvyre exclaimed. ¡°We followed you all the way to the fort and no one noticed!¡±


    ¡°Elk know magic¡­?¡± Taer¡¯inar questioned. He looked more perplexed by the second. He shook his head. ¡°At any rate, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re both okay.¡±


    ¡°So, what happened there?¡± Fenvyre asked. ¡°Lili¡¯s parents led us away when the storm started.¡±


    ¡°Long story short, there was a lot of fighting,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°What about Apostalite?¡± she continued, making a worrisome face as she spoke their name. Ithan shrugged in reply, which was met with a more dejected look from the dragonkin. ¡°Laht favor them,¡± she whispered before looking back up at the party and smiling again. ¡°Come here, I want to show you Lili¡¯s home.¡±


    She and Lili began walking again, followed closely by Unit 17. The rest of the group trailed behind, and soon they came across a pair of elk standing in the distance. The bull bugled, and Lili pranced away from the group toward her parents, the doe nestling her head on hers. The three of them looked at the group for a moment more, then retreated into a small alcove between two large trees.


    ¡°We may as well find a place to camp for the time being,¡± Irse said as she observed the elk. It was difficult to tell through the canopy, but it was well past noon at this point. ¡°I would rather rest here than in the fort or the fog again.¡± She looked up and scanned the area before walking toward something that caught her attention. Among many of the larger trees in the forest, one of them had a sizeable hole about halfway up its trunk. The group followed Irse over to the tree, Fenvyre saying her goodbyes to Lili and her parents before joining.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a look,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. He climbed up and into the hollow, out of sight from the rest of the group.


    ¡°You all right up there?¡± Ithan called after a few moments, but he did not hear a response from the elf. Mildly concerned?¡ªand a bit curious himself?¡ªhe climbed into the hollow to join Taer¡¯inar. The hollow itself was roughly the size of his room at the inn. ¡°Don¡¯t you think this is a bit small?¡±


    ¡°We should be fine,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, his eyes darting about the room as he walked through it to the other end. As he placed his hand on the inner wall of the tree, a face appeared in it, and slowly a slim body began to form from the wall. Taer¡¯inar stumbled backwards, nearly crashing into Ithan as the figure emerged fully?¡ªit was a dryad woman. ¡°Pardon me! I did not realize anyone lived here.¡±


    ¡°Oh, an elf!¡± the dryad exclaimed. She floated over to Taer¡¯inar, circling him as she spoke. ¡°I have not seen one of your kind in over six hundred years! This city once belonged to the elves, you know. Their king was very friendly, always wanting to keep the peace between them and us. Such a shame that they had to leave.¡±


    ¡°Why would they ever want to leave this place?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked, his eyes glimmering.


    ¡°Oh, it is such a long and boring story,¡± the dryad replied as she glided back to view the party. ¡°But oh, how rude of me! I have not properly introduced myself!¡± She bowed slightly, her arms extending out to her sides. ¡°I am Eleana Aspen. It is an absolute pleasure to meet you.¡±


    ¡°I am Taer¡¯inar Volarei,¡± the elf began, ¡°and this is?¡ª¡±


    ¡°And just who might you be?¡± she asked as she peered at Ithan. Her wispy voice blew through him like a cold wind.


    ¡°Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Ithan replied curtly. Eleana made a sour face, but she did not prod further, opting instead to simply inspect him briefly.


    ¡°Well, it is a pleasure, all the same,¡± she said finally. ¡°What brings you to Myth Veri¡¯Shantar?¡± Ithan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The City of Living Trees. Finally.


    ¡°We were just passing through,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°We did not realize that this was even a city.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Eleana said joyfully. ¡°Well, then allow me to show you the sights!¡± She flew past the two of them and out of the tree into the sunlight, motioning for them to follow. ¡°Come, come! There is much to see!¡± They climbed out of the tree to meet back with their friends below, who introduced themselves to Eleana. She regarded each of them with kind eyes before beginning her tour of the city. Ithan followed behind the group, pondering his next move as he neared his objective.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Eleana hummed to herself as she led the party through the city. She floated just above the forest floor and drifted from side to side every so often, the trees around the dryad parting to allow passage.


    ¡°Here we have the library,¡± Eleana spoke as she motioned to her left to a large oak. ¡°The materials within are perfectly preserved thanks to the magic the ancient elves used.¡±


    ¡°Library¡­¡± Taer¡¯inar repeated as he wrote the word down on a scrap of paper. He seemed to be trying to map out the city for further exploration later.


    ¡°Over there was the home of the Lirae family,¡± she continued as she pointed ahead and to the right. Ithan tried to block out the dryad¡¯s talking. The crypt was near the center of the city. He had no choice but to bring his friends along. ¡°And here we have the teleportation circle?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Does it work?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked, pulling out another scrap of paper?¡ªit was one of the pages of notes Taer¡¯inar had found in his room.


    ¡°Sadly, the runes have worn away over time,¡± Eleana explained, ¡°and while we could restore the physical carvings, we do not possess the magic to infuse into them.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered with a frown. ¡°Perhaps we could work on that later.¡± Irse nodded slowly next to him, already inspecting the circular platform on which the faded runes rested.


    ¡°Could you guide us to the center of this city?¡± Ithan requested.


    ¡°Certainly,¡± the dryad said. She waved for the group to follow her and began to float through the trees once more. Ithan followed close behind, and the others followed suit.


    ¡°Why the center of the city?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked.


    ¡°I just want to get a better feel for the area,¡± Ithan lied as Eleana continued pointing out various landmarks along their path. Taer¡¯inar nodded in agreement, and Ithan¡¯s stomach turned.


    ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Eleana interrupted. In front of them stood a massive tree that rose higher than all around it. At its base was a stone monument, with two giant doors, engraved with what looked to be Elvish writing. ¡°This is the Crypt of Kings. It is home to many great kings of the old times. The elves used to come here to offer their prayers.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ithan said. He stepped up toward the doors, trying to read the engravings. They were certainly in Elvish, but they were so worn that they were impossible to read. He stepped closer still to the doors until he was within arm¡¯s reach, squinting his eyes at the markings.


    ¡°What prayer might you offer to the fallen kings?¡± Eleana asked gently from behind him. Ithan placed his palm on one of the doors and closed his eyes.


    ¡°Grant me the strength to do what must be done,¡± he muttered under his breath. After a moment, the sound of dragging stones alerted him that the doors were very slowly opening. Ithan took his hand off of the door as they opened out toward the group, revealing a large staircase leading underground. Ithan stood in surprise as he watched the doors slowly come to a stop.


    ¡°How did you?¡ª¡± Eleana asked from behind him. Without a word, Ithan bolted into the passage, leaving his companions behind. ¡°Oh dear.¡±


    ¡°Mor¡¯lavan!¡± Taer¡¯inar shouted as Ithan ran down the stairs into the crypt below. He did not know how the doors opened, but it did not matter to him; he was so close to his goal, and he was eager to finally be finished with his errand. As he descended the stairs, the lights followed as the footsteps of his companions echoed behind him.


    The walls of the passage were immaculate. It looked as though they were just built, even though they had to be thousands of years old. As they were underneath an enormous tree, Ithan expected the crypt to be covered in roots and vines, yet there was not so much as a weed within. As the stairs ended, Ithan entered a large area filled with stone sarcophagi. There were three other passages leading out of the room: one to the left, one to the right, and one straight ahead. Ithan stopped where the paths converged.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Taer¡¯inar yelled to Ithan. Ithan turned toward his friends as they caught up with him. Irse looked confused, and Fenvyre was holding the back of Ian¡¯s cloak as he tried to investigate a nearby sarcophagus.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your concern,¡± Ithan replied. He was growing tired of the pestering elf.


    ¡°It certainly is,¡± Irse chimed in. ¡°We are here with you, are we not? It is our right to know?¡ª¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to follow me in,¡± Ithan growled. His voice echoed through the chamber. He paused as his companions¡¯ faces unanimously shifted to ones of bewilderment. He took a deep breath to regain his composure. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to follow me you can wait outside.¡± He turned and began walking down the central path, leaving the others behind.


    After walking for a short while, Ithan came to another large chamber. Unlike the first, though, this room was filled to the brim with treasure. Ithan scanned the room for his objective, and it did not take long to find it; at the far end of the room stood a large statue of a woman draped in robes, her hands outstretched, with what appeared to be an urn resting between them.


    There it is, Kiraan called, making Ithan¡¯s hair stand on end. Before he could make another move, though, a rush of cold wind blew through him, and a shadow appeared atop the statue.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Ithan called. After a moment, the shadow disappeared, revealing a large creature with pale green skin and yellow eyes wearing a tattered black cloak. It carried a large glaive on its back.


    ¡°Welcome, welcome!¡± the creature shouted as it reached into its cloak. ¡°I must thank you for opening those doors, boy. Quite a handy trick, tricking the doors.¡±


    ¡°What business do you have here?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Oh, I just came by to collect my prize,¡± the creature replied. It smiled at Ithan. ¡°First come, first served, as they say. It reached for the urn resting between the statue¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch that!¡± Ithan shouted, his blood beginning to boil as he summoned his own glaive.


    ¡°Come and get it!¡± the creature taunted. It grabbed the urn and held it out in front of its chest. Ithan burst forward and leapt at the creature as it waved its free hand over the urn, malevolent energy filling the air around it. Ithan swung his glaive down, and it connected?¡ªnot with the creature, but with another blade that had materialized in front of it. The blade, though certainly solid, was semitransparent, and was held by an equally translucent elf wearing fine clothing and jewelry. The elf stared coldly at Ithan as he shoved him away.


    ¡°Lava!¡± Fenvyre called. Ithan looked back for just a moment?¡ªhis companions had followed him into the chamber, only to be beset by ethereal warriors.


    ¡°Time to die!¡± the creature sang. All at once, the summoned warriors near Ithan converged, ready to skewer him with their various weapons. Ithan managed to dodge two of the warriors, but a third sliced into his left arm. Ithan let out a pained yelp as he began to channel energy into a spell. Teleporting away from the creature and its minions, he looked back at his companions for a moment more. Taer¡¯inar and Unit 17 held off more warriors as best they could, while Irse prepared her own spell. Ian stabbed at the warriors¡¯ legs from underneath Fenvyre, who used her claws to swipe at the apparitions.


    ¡°Return to the grave!¡± Irse cried, holding her hands out in Ithan¡¯s direction. A sudden, painful ringing resonated from behind him, and a moment later the creature screamed. When he turned to look, the warriors were slowly disintegrating, and the creature was holding its head with its free hand. Ithan replicated Irse¡¯s spell at the warriors attacking the group, making sure not to center his focus near his allies. As the remaining warriors began to vanish, a sharp pain on his left side prompted Ithan to look down?¡ªa bloody blade was jutting out from his body.


    ¡°Mor¡¯lavan!¡± Ithan heard Taer¡¯inar shout frantically as the blade retracted. Freezing cold swept over him?¡ªcolder even than when he slept outside that first night in Greenreach. The cold permeated his skin and crept through his body. The blood dripping from his wound slowly began to solidify.


    ¡°Out of my way!¡± the creature yelled from behind Ithan. It smacked Ithan with enough force to send him crashing into the wall before falling on top of the gold beneath, splattering his blood over the elven treasure. As Ithan¡¯s vision faded, he watched the creature walk past him toward the others. Between the blood loss and the icy cold magic flowing through what blood remained, Ithan was certain that this was the end, that this was the last he would see of his friends. A weakling to the end.


    But then, an odd sensation began to flow through him. An energy that he had never felt before compelled him to move. At the thought, his right arm twitched. Survive. He could feel his arm again. Fight. He lifted his glaive and used it to pull himself up from the ground. Kill. With what little strength remained in his body, he held his hand out toward the creature and attempted to cast a spell, and to his surprise the creature was set ablaze. It screamed in agony as it burned, but it only lasted for a few moments as the flames?¡ªand the elven warriors?¡ªdissipated.


    What remained of the creature toppled to the ground and crumbled, leaving nothing but a pile of ash. Grasping his side, Ithan shambled over to the mound. He dropped his glaive and slowly leaned down to pick up the urn, spilling some more of his blood as he bent over. As he reached out for his prize, though, Taer¡¯inar thrust his sword down into it, shattering it with the force. Ithan held his hand there for a moment in disbelief.


    ¡°Why¡­?¡± he mumbled slowly as he dropped to his knees. He tried gathering the remains of the urn before glaring up angrily at Taer¡¯inar. ¡°Why did you do that?!¡±.


    ¡°Now no one else can steal it,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied solemnly. Somehow, in Ithan¡¯s panic and rage, he managed to pull himself up from the ground and lunge at Taer¡¯inar, forcing his hands around the elf¡¯s throat.


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± he roared, his vision beginning to fade again. The strength that had helped him stay conscious was very quickly leaving his body now. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ kill¡­¡±


    Your task is complete, Kiraan interrupted.


    What¡­? Ithan replied. It was even difficult for him to speak mentally now. But¡­ the urn¡­


    ¡°Lava!¡± Ithan heard Fenvyre call as he fell against Taer¡¯inar.


    You have done well. Rest now. Ithan¡¯s eyelids closed slowly, his vision continuing to lose focus until finally, everything went black.


    ?????


    Eldritch energy amasses around Ithan. Life is draining from everything around him. After a moment, the energy begins to flow into Ithan¡¯s body. The power he feels is almost overwhelming, but he embraces it. When he has absorbed the last of the energy, he unleashes a great wave of darkness. It spreads through the ground, tearing it asunder. The sky grows dark and fills with storm clouds. Lightning begins to strike all around him, leaving behind deafening thunder.


    ¡°Ithan?¡± a voice calls as Ithan relishes in his newfound power. He turns to the source of the voice?¡ªan elf, covered in cuts and bruises. The elf¡¯s pointed ears protrude beyond his silver hair. His pale skin is almost as white as the snow. He holds one sword in his right hand and has a second strapped to his hip. Ithan sneers.


    ¡°Your friend sleeps in the abyss.¡±


    ?????


    Ithan gasped as he woke in a cold sweat. He was now in the forest outside of the city, on the same trail that Fenvyre had led them down before. Irse and Unit 17 were settled on each side of him, but the others were nowhere in sight.


    ¡°Mor¡¯lavan?¡± a voice called as Ithan pondered. The voice sent chills down his spine, though he could not place exactly why. He looked up to see Taer¡¯inar carrying some logs over to him. ¡°Thank the gods.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°You blacked out,¡± Unit 17 replied.


    ¡°Obviously. I meant after that.¡±


    ¡°Ah, of course.¡± He arranged the logs as he spoke.


    ¡°Unit 17 carried you out of the crypt and then we left the city,¡± Taer¡¯inar elaborated. ¡°It was getting dark, so we decided to camp here for the night.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Ithan questioned as Taer¡¯inar began trying to set the logs on fire.


    ¡°Yes. Well¡­ there was also the matter of making sure you didn¡¯t bleed out.¡± Ithan looked down at his side; the wound was gone. ¡°It went clean through, so I thought there was nothing we could do. Even Irse couldn¡¯t revive you.¡±


    ¡°So how?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Eleana helped,¡± Taer¡¯inar sighed. ¡°I had to practically beg her to do it, though. She was furious.¡±


    ¡°You could have left me there,¡± Ithan growled.


    ¡°I would have,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. His voice had lost its playful tone. ¡°You¡¯re more trouble than you¡¯re worth.¡±


    ¡°I concur,¡± Irse added. ¡°Your actions almost cost all of us our lives.¡±


    ¡°We are now accessories to burglary,¡± Unit 17 commented.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care much about that bit,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Now, let us hear your reasons for nearly getting us all killed.¡±


    ¡°I wanted the urn?¡ª¡± he started.


    ¡°We gathered that much,¡± Taer¡¯inar interrupted, his eyes burning with a fury Ithan recognized from long ago.


    ¡°I thought it would help me¡­¡± Ithan muttered.


    ¡°Help you what?¡± Taer¡¯inar scolded through gritted teeth. ¡°You said you couldn¡¯t go home, but you never told us why. What was this urn supposed to do?¡±


    ¡°Could someone elaborate on this, please?¡± Irse interrupted.


    ¡°Mor¡¯lavan fled from his village because they tried to kill him,¡± Taer¡¯inar explained.


    ¡°So that is what he told you¡­ Clever.¡± As she stared at him with her cold eyes, Ithan¡¯s chest tightened as he realized?¡ªshe knew what he was. She had always known. He bared his teeth at her, and she raised her hands in front of her. Then, his body went numb. He fell to the ground, his glaive clattering on the ground next to him. My glaive¡­? When did I¡­?


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Taer¡¯inar cried as he leapt between her and Ithan, his arms outstretched as he faced her.


    ¡°Mor¡¯lavan is not as he seems,¡± Irse said, her hands now glowing with a radiance that, strangely, made Ithan want to flee. Alas, he was entirely paralyzed now, only able to watch and listen while the two standing in front of him spoke.


    ¡°What are you saying?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked as he dropped his arms and turned toward Ithan. ¡°What kind of magic is this?¡±


    ¡°It is meant to neutralize those corrupted by dark magic,¡± Irse answered. ¡°Demons.¡± Ithan bristled at the word, and Taer¡¯inar¡¯s face tightened. His eyes grew ever colder as he glared down at Ithan. Yet there was still a certain softness to them.


    ¡°Let him go,¡± he muttered finally. Irse¡¯s eyes flickered as they moved from Ithan to Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°Did you not hear me?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Trust me, Irse,¡± he said calmly. He kneeled down slowly in front of Ithan, maintaining eye contact as if he were attempting to calm a wild animal. He drew one of his swords and pointed it at Ithan. Behind him, Irse nodded, and the glowing energy engulfing her hands vanished. The feeling in Ithan¡¯s body slowly returned, but he dared not move with Taer¡¯inar threatening him. ¡°Stand up slowly, and back up against the tree behind you.¡± Ithan complied, his heart racing as the blade aimed at his chest moved with him. He slowly stepped backwards until he felt the rough bark of the tree on his back.


    ¡°Taer¡¯inar?¡ª¡± Ithan started.


    ¡°Quiet,¡± the elf spat. His eyes were brimming with anger now, the glimmer of softness snuffed out by rage. ¡°You lied to us. You put us all at risk with your secrets. Not anymore.¡± He pulled his sword back, ready to strike. Ithan winced, turning his head away and closing his eyes as Taer¡¯inar thrust the blade at him. But it never reached him. When he slowly opened his eyes again, Unit 17 was holding Taer¡¯inar back from plunging the blade into his chest.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Irse asked.


    ¡°You do not have the authority to execute a civilian,¡± Unit 17 responded. ¡°He is entitled to a fair trial.¡± He released Taer¡¯inar¡¯s arm, and Taer¡¯inar begrudgingly sheathed his sword and stepped away from Ithan, sitting on the opposite side of the campfire.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said finally, his eyes still shimmering with anger. ¡°Consider this his trial, then.¡±

 Chapter 15 - Pact of the Blade

    Ithan slumped down against the tree as his companions stared him down.


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know where t-to start,¡± he stuttered, still shaking as he tried to regain his composure.


    ¡°Start at the beginning.¡± Taer¡¯inar had crossed his legs as if he were meditating, but he was staring intently at Ithan. ¡°And take it slow. We have all night.¡± His voice was calm again; his emotions were as fluid as his swordplay. He mumbled something, and the air around them grew still and warm. It helped Ithan to relax, even if only a little. If he was going to open up to anyone, it might as well be Taer¡¯inar. But what would Kiraan do? It did not matter; whether he died here by Taer¡¯inar¡¯s hand or later by Kiraan¡¯s, his fate was sealed.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he mumbled. He took a deep breath, lifting his head up to view the stars beyond the forest canopy. ¡°You know of the kingdom of Sol¡¯vara, right?¡±


    ¡°I do. Its founding king was once a great warrior of Nylserine. Many of my organization strive to be like him.¡± The elf, too, had begun gazing up at the sky. ¡°To be honest, when I learned that one of his kin had passed through Greenreach, I hoped we might find him out here.¡±


    ¡°That is from where I hail. I¡¯m¡­¡± Ithan took a deep breath. ¡°I am Ithan Aranis, crown prince of Sol¡¯vara.¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s mouth hung open for a few moments.


    ¡°I almost skewered a¡­¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°It is an honor to know you. Especially so now that I know your true name. But why hide who you are?¡±


    ¡°Because I was being hunted,¡± Ithan said, frowning as he recounted the events of his past once again.


    ¡°By whom?¡± Irse asked.


    ¡°I was always scorned by the court,¡± Ithan explained. ¡°They didn¡¯t like that I was next in line for the throne.¡±


    ¡°So, they drove you away from the kingdom,¡± Taer¡¯inar speculated.


    ¡°My mother took me away shortly after my coronation,¡± Ithan remembered, closing his eyes. ¡°She said it wasn¡¯t safe for me there anymore. So, we fled for a village on the outskirts of the kingdom. We lived there for almost a year before¡­¡± Memories began flashing through his mind, and he opened his eyes again, his vision now blurred as he attempted to stifle his tears.


    ¡°You are expecting us to believe you are actually a prince?¡± Irse questioned, her eyes filled with skepticism.


    ¡°He must be,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered as he held a hand to his chin. ¡°Do you remember what Eleana said? Only those of the ancient bloodline could open the crypt. I always thought they had all perished during the Gods¡¯ War.¡± He shook his head and glanced at Irse. ¡°Anyway, I believe that he¡¯s telling the truth. Let him continue.¡± He and Irse both turned back to Ithan, silently waiting for him to proceed. Ithan took a deep breath, trying to recall the events that transpired as best he could. He had been shown some mercy today, even if only temporary; it was only fair to give his companions the real story.


    ??????


    Around the time of the summer solstice, Ithan had been helping some of the villagers to prepare for their annual festival. He and his mother had become an integral part of their community by now, actively participating in the village¡¯s affairs rather than sheltering themselves in the home they had been provided. Ithan had finally started making friends with the other children; although they knew him as their prince, they treated him as their equal, which made Ithan very happy.


    ¡°It¡¯s still crooked!¡± Naomi exclaimed, pointing at the pole that Ithan and Aedan were trying to erect. ¡°Aedan needs to push it just a little.¡± Ithan backed away as Aedan pushed, watching to make sure the pole did not topple over. ¡°Stop!¡± Naomi cried. ¡°Perfect!¡± Ithan and Aedan joined Naomi to view their work.


    ¡°You¡¯re gonna ask Ren to dance today, right?¡± Aedan asked Ithan as he patted him on the back. Ithan¡¯s face felt warm as he glared up at his friend. ¡°Oh, come on, Mister Prince, I know you¡¯ve got eyes for her.¡± He leaned in close to Ithan and started to whisper. ¡°If you ask her, I¡¯ll ask Naomi.¡± Ithan smirked as he thought of the two of them attempting to dance; Aedan had two left feet, and he was sure Naomi would try to take the lead.


    ¡°You¡¯re on,¡± he laughed, excited but also nervous about the prospect of dancing with Ren. She had been on his mind a lot lately; he often found himself daydreaming about this day, trying to shape it as perfectly as he could possibly imagine. He would smile and bow, hold out his hand, and?¡ª


    ¡°How¡¯s it coming?¡± a voice from behind Ithan called, causing him to jump in surprise. Aedan and Naomi started laughing along with this new voice, and when Ithan turned around in frustration, his face went numb. Ren was standing there, arms crossed and her head tilted to one side.


    ¡°Don¡¯t sneak up on me like that!¡± he cried.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t exactly ¡®sneaking,¡¯¡± Ren laughed. ¡°You were totally spaced out when I got here.¡± She looked past Ithan toward the pole he and Aedan had set up, and he managed to steal a glimpse of her eyes while she was not paying attention; her silver irises caught the sunlight just right from her position, enchanting Ithan with their luster. ¡°The pole¡¯s leaning a bit to the right,¡± she said, breaking Ithan¡¯s trance.


    ¡°See, this is why you should be the one in charge,¡± Aedan grumbled. ¡°Naomi told me to push it there.¡± He walked back over to the pole and pushed it back into position, and Ren gave him a salute of approval.


    Later in the day, as the villagers gathered around the village square, Ithan met with his mother to prepare for their role in the festivities. Despite his mother¡¯s protests, the villagers believed that they should honor their queen as was tradition for those fortunate enough to be visited by the royal family. She eventually came around, enlisting the aid of the local tailor to fashion clothes for her and Ithan for the occasion. Ithan never cared much for such formal clothes, but he did want to look his best today. Dressed up in the nicest garments that the tailor could make in such a short time?¡ªIthan¡¯s mother adored them all the same?¡ªthe two joined the villagers at the square to begin the festivities.


    ¡°The first dance shall be for our honored guests,¡± Ren¡¯s grandfather stated, ¡°our beloved Queen Nelairi and our dear Prince Ithan!¡± The villagers applauded as Ithan took his mother¡¯s hand and escorted her to the central square, and they shared the first dance of the evening as the musicians began to play.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± his mother asked as they danced.


    ¡°For what?¡± he replied.


    ¡°You are going to ask her, aren¡¯t you?¡± she smiled. The heat of embarrassment washed over Ithan¡¯s face?¡ªdespite his best efforts to hide it, his mother had known his feelings toward Ren for a long time. ¡°My son¡¯s first love. Don¡¯t be nervous now, darling. I can tell she¡¯s just waiting for you to ask.¡± His mother¡¯s encouragement did little to abate his anxiety; he still wanted to make the moment perfect.


    As they ended their dance and bowed to their audience, the square flooded with other couples who had been waiting patiently for their royal guests to finish. Ithan¡¯s mother kissed him on the cheek and stepped away to converse with some of the other villagers, leaving Ithan to try to complete his mission alone. With a gulp, he sidled past a few villagers and made his way toward Ren, catching a glimpse of Aedan and Naomi nearby. Aedan¡¯s mouth was wide in surprise as he watched Ithan slowly move across the square. Ithan nodded, and Aedan pointed him out to Naomi, who clapped excitedly. Since he had been distracted by his other friends, Ithan ended up stumbling into Ren, the both of them toppling over just outside of the square, causing a few of the villagers to laugh at the scene. He frantically helped Ren up and smiled awkwardly at her as he held out his hand.


    ¡°R-Ren,¡± he stuttered, already beating himself up internally over ruining his big moment, ¡°w-would you care t-to?¡ª¡± Idiot. There¡¯s no way she¡¯d?¡ª


    ¡°I¡¯d love to!¡± she exclaimed, grabbing Ithan¡¯s hand and pulling him over toward the fountain. His mother was smiling enthusiastically at him as he turned toward her direction, clapping along to the music. A wave of delight flooded over him as he returned his attention to Ren, and as they started to dance, they became the only two people in existence. The other dancers, his mother, even the music began to melt away as he enjoyed this moment.


    The moment ended when Ren stopped dancing.


    Her mouth hung open in awe, and Ithan turned his head toward the direction she was looking. On the other end of the square stood a troupe of soldiers bearing the seal of Sol¡¯vara, headed by?¡ªto Ithan¡¯s horror?¡ªhis father.


    ¡°King Varian,¡± Ren¡¯s grandfather spoke, ¡°it is a great honor to be graced by your presence?¡ª¡±


    Ithan¡¯s father held a hand in front of the old man¡¯s face.


    ¡°Clear the square,¡± he ordered. The villagers quickly dispersed, leaving only Ithan¡¯s mother behind to greet him. He stepped up to her and the two began to speak. Ithan could not hear what they were saying, but his father¡¯s fury was met only by his mother¡¯s unwavering serenity.


    After a few moments of conversing, his father suddenly pulled out his sword, ran it through his mother¡¯s torso and threw her to the ground. Ithan tried to cry out, but Ren covered his mouth and dragged him behind a nearby tree as panic ensued among the villagers.


    ¡°Come with me,¡± she whispered, pulling Ithan around the tree and toward her home, careful not to be seen by Varian as he stormed through the village. They scrambled around to the back of the house, and when they were inside Ren forced Ithan inside of the wardrobe in her room. Then, not long after, the sound of the front door crashing open made Ithan cringe.


    ¡°Where is he?¡± Varian shouted. It took all of his willpower not to leap out from his hiding place to confront his father. ¡°You were the one I saw with him.¡±


    ¡°He is not here, my lord,¡± Ren lied. ¡°He fled after you?¡ª¡± Ithan heard Ren gasp. ¡°I swear it, my lord!¡± Ithan¡¯s body tensed as he tried to hold himself in place. He was just about to give in to his baser instinct when, to his relief, the front door slammed shut and Ren opened the wardrobe. She draped his arms around him as the first tears finally fell.


    ¡°He killed her,¡± Ithan cried, tears flooding from his eyes. ¡°Why? Why did he do that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she whispered, still holding him firmly as he wept. ¡°But you¡¯re safe now, Ithan. I promise.¡±


    ??????


    ¡°The other villagers wanted to return me to him,¡± Ithan said. ¡°But Ren and her grandfather refused to give me up.¡±


    ¡°He killed his queen?¡± Taer¡¯inar mumbled, his eyes wide with shock. ¡°Why would he do that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ithan replied slowly. ¡°I probably never will.¡±


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°What did the villagers do, then?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked gently after a few moments. ¡°Clearly they did not go against the village elder¡¯s wishes.¡±


    ¡°They started treating me the same way the court always had,¡± Ithan said, shaking his head. ¡°Even Aedan and Naomi stopped talking to me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it wasn¡¯t their choice,¡± Taer¡¯inar assured.


    ¡°I know,¡± Ithan muttered. ¡°I just¡­ I was hurt. I needed support from my friends and they¡­¡±


    ¡°They left you to suffer,¡± Taer¡¯inar finished, making Ithan shudder. ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°I stayed with Ren for a while. She and her grandfather took such good care of me, and I was so grateful to them both. But¡­¡± His hands started shaking. ¡°But I betrayed them.¡±


    ??????


    Ren¡¯s grandfather had asked her to help him quell the villagers¡¯ fears that Varian might come back to punish them should he learn they were harboring Ithan. Ithan remained in their home, huddled against one wall of the room as he stared at the wall across from him. It had been three weeks now since he had witnessed his mother¡¯s murder. He barely ate or slept, consumed by the emotions that had festered inside. He scowled as Varian¡¯s sword pierced his mother¡¯s abdomen once more in his mind. If it¡¯s the last thing I do, I¡¯ll kill you.


    A sudden knocking broke him from his brooding, and he slid into the corner of the room to evade whoever was at the front door.


    ¡°Ithan,¡± a woman¡¯s voice called from the door as it creaked open. ¡°I am not here to hurt you.¡± Soft footsteps approached his room until, finally, they stopped in the doorway. Peering over into the corner in which he sat was an elderly elven woman, one who Ithan did not recognize from the village. Her dark brown hair was frazzled and tinged with streaks of gray, and her eyes were a gentle blue. She looked harmless enough to Ithan, but he remained in his place as she inspected him. ¡°You poor thing, having to witness such a tragedy.¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Do you hate him?¡± she responded, earning a look of surprise from Ithan. ¡°Do you want him to feel the pain that you felt?¡± After a moment, Ithan¡¯s anger bubbled over.


    ¡°I want to watch him suffer,¡± Ithan snarled through gritted teeth, ¡°and I want to be the one to end him.¡± She tilted her head to the side and smiled.


    ¡°I have a friend who can make that happen,¡± she said. The opportunity was too enticing for the grief-stricken Ithan.


    ¡°Take me to them.¡± The woman beckoned for him to follow her, and together they departed Ren¡¯s home and the village.


    The woman brought Ithan to a small clearing deep in the forest, where there rested a shrine engraved with words that Ithan did not understand. Dozens of corpses?¡ªsome old, some new?¡ªwere strewn across the clearing.


    ¡°What is this¡­?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°You need not concern yourself with them,¡± the woman said as she motioned toward the shrine. She led him past the corpses, and he tried his best not to look at them. Despite the blood staining the field, the shrine itself appeared to be left untainted.


    ¡°What do I do?¡± he asked the woman.


    ¡°You must call to him,¡± the woman replied, producing a dagger from her robes. Ithan backed up in panic, but the woman stood still. ¡°Do not fear, dear Ithan. Only a few drops of your blood will do.¡± She held the dagger out to him, and he slowly reached out to take it. ¡°Now, when I begin chanting, you will need to offer your blood to the shrine. Then, call out his name, and he will come.¡±


    ¡°What is his name?¡± Ithan asked slowly. The woman smiled again.


    ¡°Kiraan.¡±


    ??????


    ¡°You bonded your soul to another,¡± Irse muttered as she poked at the campfire with a stick. ¡°Such magic is forbidden.¡±


    ¡°So, he answered your call,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°What exactly was it that he offered you?¡±


    ¡°He promised me power in exchange for my soul.¡± Taer¡¯inar and Irse both scowled at his words. ¡°He gave me some time to make my decision, but I didn¡¯t need much. I had so much rage built up inside, and I wanted nothing more than to unleash it onto Varian. I gave it willingly.¡±


    ??????


    Fire. There was fire everywhere. The villagers fled as it burned through the trees and ravaged their homes. Ithan tried in vain to quell the chaos around him as he writhed in pain. His new master¡¯s magic coursed through him now, whispering so fervently that he could barely hear his own thoughts. Ren and Aedan were just ahead of him in the square. He started to run toward them, only to stumble to the ground as the bones in his legs began to shift with a sickly crack. He looked back in horror as his legs contorted into those of an elk, dark fur growing over them to conceal his pale skin. He felt the fur creeping up his body, and in his panic, he attempted to crawl toward Ren. His head began to throb with pain, pressure building to the point where he thought it would explode. Instead, the pressure was joined by two shooting pains at the top of his head, while he screamed out as his face began to stretch and reform itself. Teary-eyed, Ithan managed to drag himself the rest of the way to the square.


    ¡°Help¡­¡± Ithan said, though it did not quite come out the way he expected; it sounded more like an odd growling than an actual word.


    ¡°What in Torvik¡¯s name is that?!¡± Naomi yelled as her eyes met Ithan¡¯s. His heart sank as she backed away. He looked to Ren, still inching toward her in desperation, hoping that she would see past his horrid transformation.


    ¡°It hurts,¡± he sobbed quietly, looking up at his friends. ¡°Ren¡­ please?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Get away, monster!¡± Aedan shouted as he shoved Ithan¡¯s head away with his boot, forcing him onto his back. Naomi held Ren¡¯s shoulders, quickly escorting her away as they attempted to escape the spreading flames.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he cried as he lay there, unable to pick himself up from the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t go away.¡± They did not hear him; they had already left him behind to suffer alone.


    ??????


    ¡°Power, glory¡­ these are things that corrupt the mind and make people turn to the dark arts in their pursuits,¡± Irse said. ¡°And in turn, that magic reshapes them into twisted versions of the things they desire.¡± She looked at Ithan with a strange softness in her eyes. ¡°You had to become a monster to realize your vengeance.¡±


    ¡°If we break the bond, the corruption will fade, right?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked.


    ¡°It is not that simple,¡± Irse said with dismay. ¡°Their souls are weaved together now, making them nearly inseparable. It would take powerful magic to undo it.¡±


    ¡°And Kiraan would never allow that,¡± Taer¡¯inar commented, his face a picture of devastation. ¡°Who exactly is this Kiraan, anyway?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ithan said somberly. ¡°All I know is that he is my master¡­ until the end.¡±


    ¡°The end being when you kill Varian,¡± Taer¡¯inar clarified. Ithan nodded slowly. ¡°What did he want with the urn?¡±


    ¡°He only said it would help,¡± Ithan responded. ¡°He was never much for details.¡±


    ¡°What I¡¯m having trouble understanding,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued, leaning forward and pressing his elbows onto his knees, ¡°is why he had you come all the way out here for such a trivial thing when he could have just helped you kill Varian and be done with it.¡±


    ¡°The urn must have held some significance to him,¡± Irse speculated. ¡°If he is unable to move about on his own, he would of course use Ithan.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Taer¡¯inar mumbled. He sat back up and craned his head toward Unit 17, who had been silent throughout the interrogation. ¡°What do you think of all this?¡±


    ¡°Given the circumstances, I do not believe execution is a just punishment,¡± Unit 17 droned. ¡°However, Ithan Aranis cannot be allowed to roam free while he is under the influence of this corruption.¡±


    ¡°What are you suggesting?¡± Irse questioned.


    ¡°He will remain under my watch until we find a way to cleanse this affliction,¡± Unit 17 continued. The corner of Taer¡¯inar¡¯s mouth twitched as Irse sighed next to him.


    ¡°What will you do when we cannot reverse this?¡± she prodded. Ithan was bothered by the word ¡°when¡±.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied grimly. Irse nodded, stood up, and began walking away. Unit 17 followed close behind, but Taer¡¯inar stayed for a moment more. ¡°A promise is a promise.¡± He offered his hand to Ithan as he stepped toward him. His eyes had lost their cutthroat shimmer as he moved past the fire. Hesitantly, Ithan grabbed Taer¡¯inar¡¯s wrist and pulled himself up, then followed him away from the campfire as the elf doused it with a quick incantation.


    ¡°We will leave this between us for now,¡± Irse said. ¡°As far as the others are concerned, you are still Mor¡¯lavan.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Ithan said. He held his hand to his side again, trying to feel the spot where that creature had cut through him. Eleana had powerful magic indeed to repair such a wound so completely; he would have to thank her after she had calmed down.


    Soon the group came to another campfire beneath one of the taller trees. There, Ian sat atop a log on the far end of the fire.


    ¡°Hey, dingus!¡± Ian shouted as Ithan walked toward him. ¡°You owe me fifty gold!¡±


    ¡°What for?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°It was my potion that that faerie lady enchanted to save your sorry butt,¡± Ian replied.


    ¡°Dryad,¡± Taer¡¯inar corrected.


    ¡°Who cares,¡± Ian shrugged. He held his hand up to Ithan expectantly. ¡°Pay up.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have to pay you if I eat you,¡± Ithan joked as he stood over the halfling, making sure to show his teeth. He had to keep up appearances.


    ¡°I¡¯m not scared of you anymore,¡± Ian replied. A sudden silence fell over the group. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m still scared of you. But I know you won¡¯t eat me while Fen¡¯s around!¡± Before Ithan could respond, he felt someone grab him from behind.


    ¡°Thank the gods!¡± Fenvyre cried as she squeezed Ithan tight. ¡°I was so worried!¡± Ithan yelped in pain. Whatever Eleana did to revive him could not get rid of the soreness he felt from being bashed around the crypt. ¡°Sorry!¡± Fenvyre shouted as she loosened her hold on him. ¡°Is that better?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ithan replied. He was used to Fenvyre¡¯s hugging by now, and he had to admit it felt¡­ nice. He felt safe with the dragonkin¡¯s arms wrapped around him. It was a familiar feeling; one he had not felt for a couple of years now. He closed his eyes and smiled.


    ¡°Nice and warm,¡± Fenvyre said as she settled her head between Ithan¡¯s antlers.


    ¡°The fire or Mor¡¯lavan?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked jokingly.


    ¡°The fire,¡± Fenvyre replied without hesitation. ¡°Lava¡¯s ice cold. Don¡¯t you see him shivering?¡± Ithan had not noticed, but Fenvyre was right. His body trembled like the ground after a lightning strike.


    ¡°He lost a lot of blood,¡± Irse said. ¡°It is only natural that he is susceptible to the cold now. It will pass in a few days.¡±


    ¡°Well, maybe this will help some,¡± Fenvyre said.


    ¡°What is the status of our allies?¡± Unit 17 questioned.


    ¡°Dhurik said they decided to stay at the fort for the evening,¡± Taer¡¯inar explained. ¡°I want to take a look at the library in Myth Veri¡¯Shantar, but the rest of you should meet up with them in the morning.¡± Unit 17 nodded knowingly, turning his head slowly away from the elf.


    ¡°We will still have a sending stone between us, so that is acceptable,¡± the terran stated. ¡°I am afraid I cannot keep watch tonight. My reserves are running low.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Taer¡¯inar volunteered. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to get back to meditating more regularly.¡± He crossed his legs and sat up straight, taking a deep breath as he closed his eyes. The others started settling down in their own way; Unit 17 hunched over the fire as he began to recharge, Irse laid out a bedroll to sleep in for the night, and Ian climbed onto the exposed root of the tree the others sat under. As Fenvyre pulled Ithan down to lay on the ground, she huddled closer to him, her arms still wrapped around him as if he were her pet.


    ¡°I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re okay,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°Same,¡± he whispered back. ¡°I¡¯ll have a line of people waiting to kick my butt if anything happens to you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think Briryn would really do that,¡± she chuckled. ¡°He plays it tough, but he really does like you.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ithan sighed. He pictured the innkeeper in his mind, and he smiled as he remembered how supportive he had been throughout his time in Greenreach. They all had been?¡ªSonys, Hisashi and Nazita, Alicrath and Yariel, Shalin¡­ ¡°Do you miss them?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Fenvyre replied. ¡°I think about them every day. This¡¯ll sound silly, but I told Sonys I was going to find a nice place for us to live out here.¡±


    ¡°Any luck?¡±


    ¡°That old city seemed promising,¡± Fenvyre laughed, ¡°but it¡¯s so easy to get lost on the way.¡± She sighed deeply, and a moment of silence passed before she spoke again, more slowly than before, and Ithan knew she was falling asleep. ¡°I don¡¯t care what anyone back home says¡­ This adventure was¡­ totally worth it¡­¡± Ithan smiled at Fenvyre¡¯s always positive outlook.


    ¡°Good night, Fenvyre,¡± he mumbled as he felt his eyelids beginning to grow heavy.


    ¡°Night¡­ Lava¡­¡±


    So, it is all out in the open now, is it? Kiraan whispered, startling Ithan to full alertness once more.


    I had no choice, Ithan thought, panicking in his mind as he tried to keep his body still. They were going to kill me.


    You were going to let them kill you. Worry not, boy. Soon you will have what I promised you that day. And there is nothing they can do to stop it.

 Chapter 16 - The Broken City

    Morning came all too quickly for Ithan. His master¡¯s words lingered in his mind, leaving him with a sense of unease that he had never felt before. How soon is ¡°soon¡±? He sat up groggily and stretched his arms out to his sides, squeezing his eyes closed.


    ¡°Heads up!¡± he heard Ian shout suddenly just before something hard hit him in the face. He opened his eyes again and growled at the halfling, who was seated across from him on the other side of the small pit that had once been the group¡¯s campfire. Unit 17 sat to his left, still hunched over. ¡°Breakfast!¡± An apple, bruised from its impact with his face, lay on the ground in front of him. He rolled his eyes and picked up the fruit, brushing the dirt off and taking a bite.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good apple,¡± he said as the sweet flavor passed through his mouth. ¡°Nice and juicy. Where¡¯d you get this?¡±


    ¡°Fen and I picked ¡®em earlier,¡± the halfling replied. Ithan looked behind him; Fenvyre was still laid back against the tree. ¡°You two were awfully snuggly last night.¡± Ian cackled as Ithan growled at him again.


    ¡°How do you feel?¡± Fenvyre asked. Ithan sat there for a moment, gauging his condition. He was still a bit cold, but he attributed that to the morning air.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m going to make it,¡± he laughed as he looked over his shoulder at the dragonkin. She smiled lightly as Ithan scanned the area. ¡°Where are Irse and Taer¡¯inar?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re over behind that tree,¡± Ian replied, pointing his thumb over his shoulder toward one of the larger nearby trees. ¡°They¡¯re talking about you. They¡¯re gonna sell you off to the hobgoblins to pay me back the fifty gold you owe me?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, leave him alone,¡± Fenvyre scolded.


    ¡°Tell you what, half-pint,¡± Ithan said. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a hundred gold when we get back to Greenreach.¡±


    ¡°Five hundred,¡± Ian countered.


    ¡°Two-fifty. Final offer.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The halfling put a hand under his chin and squinted at Ithan. ¡°All right, sold.¡± As he spoke, Ithan saw Irse and Taer¡¯inar step out from behind the tree, each looking a bit frustrated. As they approached the group, Taer¡¯inar gave Unit 17 a quick pat on the back, spurring the terran to consciousness.


    ¡°What is our status?¡± he said nearly immediately as he sat up straight.


    ¡°Dhurik and Bimpnottin will meet you all at the fort,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°But¡­ it seems they have agreed to¡­ hunt down the witch.¡±


    ¡°Burn the witch!¡± Ian shouted as he jumped up and raised his fist into the air. After earning glares from both Irse and Taer¡¯inar, Ian sat down and crossed his arms in silent frustration.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued, ¡°if you decide to join them, please do try to be careful. She has proven herself to be a powerful adversary, conjuring great storms and commanding a large army of gnolls.¡±


    ¡°It is an absolutely awful idea,¡± Irse griped. ¡°We know so little about this witch and they want to just waltz into her lair to try to kill her.¡±


    ¡°Try to limit yourselves to reconnaissance, if you can,¡± Taer¡¯inar responded. ¡°If things get rough, just get out. I¡¯ll join you when I am able.¡±


    ¡°I hope you find what you are looking for,¡± Unit 17 said to the elf as he stood up. ¡°Please keep us updated.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. He waved to the group, his gaze lingering on Ithan for just a moment longer than the others, and turned to walk back toward Myth Veri¡¯Shantar. The rest of the group finished packing their things and headed north, back toward the hobgoblin fort. It did not take long for them to arrive, and as they entered the camp, they were greeted with enthusiastic shouts from the hobgoblin soldiers.


    ¡°Please direct us to Dhurik and Bimpnottin,¡± Unit 17 requested of one of the soldiers. She happily pointed to the chief¡¯s tent, and the group made their way inside. Dhurik and Advar were hunched over a map as Bimpnottin sat in a chair next to them.


    ¡°This chasm here?¡ª¡± Advar was saying before he noticed the group. ¡°The calvary has arrived! Here to help us take care of the witch, I wager.¡±


    ¡°We should do some scouting before we go headlong into such dangerous territory,¡± Irse stated.


    ¡°Sure, sure,¡± Advar said rather casually. ¡°And then we go in and kill her.¡± Dhurik nodded enthusiastically in agreement.


    ¡°I think we should assess whether we can do that after we scope out the area,¡± Irse continued. Advar growled dismissively, and Irse narrowed her eyes at him.


    ¡°Listen, lady,¡± Advar chided, ¡°I¡¯ve got fifty of my best men already on this. They¡¯re out there right now. They¡¯ll have already ¡®assessed¡¯ by the time you get there.¡± He refocused his attention on the map in front of him, pointing down at the spot he had been talking about before. ¡°We know she¡¯s in there,¡± he continued as the rest of the group began gathering around the table. ¡°That¡¯s where all her little pets come from.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite the pit,¡± Ithan noted as he inspected the map more closely; underneath Advar¡¯s fingertip was a large expanse of black stretching from east to west, nearly the length of the mapped-out trail between the camp and the Tower of Laht.


    ¡°It¡¯s grown over time,¡± Advar replied. ¡°We think she¡¯s been digging for ores down there.¡±


    ¡°Likely to fuel her spells,¡± Bimpnottin commented. ¡°Worry not, Chief!¡± he shouted as he saluted Advar. ¡°We¡¯ll take care of this nasty witch!¡±


    ¡°I expect great things, Captain Bimpnottin,¡± the hobgoblin chief said. ¡°Don¡¯t let us down.¡± Bimpnottin hopped out of his chair and marched out of the tent. The group followed him through the camp and to the northern entrance. The soldiers around them applauded as they passed, and Ithan felt a hint of pride as he observed their admiration.


    The ever-present storm clouds swirled in the sky as the group traveled. They seemed not to move naturally with the wind, and instead circled around a point in the distance; perhaps that was where the witch resided.


    ¡°Why are you so eager to fight this witch?¡± Ian asked.


    ¡°If it involves fighting, I¡¯m game for anything,¡± Dhurik responded. ¡°Fighting is what makes the world go ¡®round, you know?¡±


    ¡°You are not in it for the fight,¡± Irse rebuked. ¡°You just want to show everyone your strength.¡±


    ¡°Same thing,¡± Dhurik huffed. ¡°Torvik and Orjin aren¡¯t as different as you might think.¡± Irse tilted her head at the minotaur¡¯s unusually philosophical comment, but then nodded her head in acceptance as thunder roared through the sky.


    ¡°Here it is,¡± Bimpnottin muttered. The chasm stretched across the horizon to the east and west and even to the north at least a few miles. Ithan peered over the edge of the cliff into the darkness below; the dark clouds overhead made it impossible for him to see the bottom.


    ¡°Where are the soldiers Advar mentioned?¡± Irse wondered.


    ¡°Maybe they already went down,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°I don¡¯t blame ¡®em. Probably itching for payback.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a long way to climb down,¡± Ithan noted as he gazed into the abyss. ¡°Do you think they found a path down somewhere?¡± He looked across to the northern edge of the pit; there was no way for the group to easily travel down without risk of falling.


    ¡°I can make a web rope and climb down,¡± Ian suggested. He pulled his wand out from his cloak and began twirling it around, and soon a spiral of web began to form from one end. He handed the rope to Unit 17 to hold as he continued to create more, walking closer to the edge of the chasm while he did so. ¡°You¡¯re gonna pull me up when I tug on this, got it?¡±


    ¡°Affirmative,¡± Unit 17 responded. Nodding, Ian stepped up to the ledge and prepared to jump off.


    ¡°I would not do that if I were you,¡± an old woman¡¯s voice suddenly echoed from the pit. Ian leapt back in surprise and ducked behind Fenvyre. ¡°I do not much care for insects in my home.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯re you calling insects, you old hag?!¡± Ian shouted from behind Fenvyre.


    ¡°Watch your tongue,¡± the voice hissed, ¡°or I shall tear it from your mouth.¡±


    ¡°Come and get me!¡± Ian laughed. ¡°I bet you couldn¡¯t catch me even if I?¡ª¡±


    ¡°What in the world are you trying to do?!¡± Irse protested as she grabbed the back of Ian¡¯s cloak.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to get her to come out,¡± Ian replied.


    ¡°She is a witch, you fool,¡± Irse chided. ¡°She does not need to leave her home to deal with us.¡± As she spoke, the sound of scraping came up from the chasm. Ithan leaned over again to look for the source of the sound as it grew louder. It sounded like something scratching against the stone that made up the side of the pit, and it was moving fast.


    ¡°Something¡¯s coming,¡± he stated as he moved away from the pit and summoned his glaive. ¡°Something big.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Dhurik chuckled. ¡°I was getting bored.¡± He lifted his axe into the air, ready to strike at whatever came out of the chasm. Ithan admired Dhurik¡¯s tenacity, but something inside him was screaming to flee. As he wrestled with his flight-or-fight response, drums sounded faintly in the distance.


    ¡°It is a trap,¡± Irse said as the drums grew louder from both the east and west. ¡°We need to run.¡±


    ¡°Coward,¡± Dhurik muttered, holding his position.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid,¡± Ithan scolded. ¡°The seven of us against an army and whatever else is coming at us?¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Dhurik scowled as he lowered his axe. ¡°We can¡¯t lead them back to the fort, though.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll go west, then,¡± Ithan said. ¡°Make a hole in their ranks and run until we find safety.¡±


    ¡°It is a risky move,¡± Irse muttered, ¡°but it is our best chance at survival.¡±


    With Ithan in the lead and Dhurik and Unit 17 defending the rear, the group followed the edge of the pit toward the west, running as quickly as they could to make the most progress before their inevitable collision with the gnolls ahead. It was not long before gnolls began to appear on the horizon. In an attempt to make a preemptive strike, Ithan willed a ball of fire into existence and launched it at the army. The fireball exploded on impact, and a large group of gnolls vanished in the flames, their howls drowned out by the cries of their enraged comrades. Ithan had underestimated their numbers; the gnolls he had just killed were quickly replaced as they began their assault on the tiny group of adventurers.


    ¡°They¡¯re coming up from both sides!¡± Dhurik called. Another horde just as large as the one in front of him advanced on the group from behind. Dhurik and Unit 17 met them with vim and vigor, hacking away at the army as Bimpnottin and Irse fired at them from behind. Fenvyre cast her own spells, bringing the fury of nature to aid the group in battle?¡ªvines sprouted from the ground to hinder the gnolls¡¯ advance, and a flurry of conjured birds flew from the sky to distract them long enough for her allies to land killing blows. As the first wave of gnolls thinned, a screech echoed across the battlefield, and Ithan turned toward it?¡ªamong the gnolls to the rear was a monstrous creature resembling a large hyena, except it had large bony ridges along its spine and a giant stinger on its tail. It roared at the group as it charged at them, but Dhurik and Unit 17 kept it at bay while Irse and Bimpnottin began pummeling it with various spells. Ithan continued to deal with the gnolls surrounding them, slashing through them as quickly and decisively as possible so as to keep them from interfering with his allies¡¯ spellcasting. Then, in a moment¡¯s respite between gnolls, something pierced through his armor and into his back, causing him to curse the creature in rage. His back began to burn as he turned around to incinerate the creature. The sensation quickly intensified to the point where Ithan could hardly bear the searing pain. He gritted his teeth as he doubled over, trying hard not to yell out in his agony. He recognized this pain, but it had been quite some time since he had experienced it. After a few moments, the burning dissipated some, allowing Ithan to somewhat regain his composure. He heard a faint chuckle in his mind as he straightened his posture.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    What¡¯s so funny? he thought, irritated by his master¡¯s apparent amusement.


    It has been a while since you fought so fiercely on your own. I was merely savoring your rage.


    Gross. Ithan winced as he reached his arm behind him and touched his back. It was still tender from the pain, and it felt... different. Almost like he was wearing plated armor underneath his robe. What is that?


    ¡°You all right?¡± Bimpnottin interrupted. Ithan looked up in alarm as the gnome approached him. He had almost certainly seen Ithan bent over in pain moments ago.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he answered. ¡°Did I get it?¡±


    ¡°You fried it to a crisp,¡± Bimpnottin said, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Your back?¡ª¡±


    ¡°I said I¡¯m fine,¡± Ithan repeated, staring at the gnome. Bimpnottin¡¯s thoughtful expression quickly turned to one of dismissal.


    ¡°Okay, then,¡± the gnome said as he glared back down at the creature. The rest of the group joined them. ¡°These gnolls are becoming troublesome. What manner of beast is this?¡±


    ¡°It was perhaps a gnoll once, but dark magic has shaped it into¡­ this,¡± Irse replied. She glanced up briefly at Ithan.


    ¡°How many more of these things are we gonna have to kill?¡± Dhurik asked.


    ¡°We have no way of knowing how many of the gnolls have turned,¡± Irse said, ¡°but if this is the witch¡¯s doing, the answer is probably ¡®a lot.¡¯¡± Dhurik grinned at Irse¡¯s answer, while Bimpnottin looked more than a little concerned. More drums sounded as the group tried to quickly recover, and soon another wave of gnolls appeared on the horizon. ¡°This is going to be a long fight.¡±


    ¡°I have a brilliant idea!¡± Bimpnottin shouted as the group started moving again. ¡°Ian, give me some webbing!¡± Ian complied, handing the gnome some of the rope he had been unable to put to use earlier. With a quick incantation, Bimpnottin started to rise from the ground, floating ever higher into the air. He nearly pulled Ian into the air with him, but Unit 17 quickly snatched the halfling and held him on his shoulders, and instead Bimpnottin started to be tugged along with the group as he levitated. After he was about twenty feet into the air, he pulled on the rope, prompting Unit 17 to start pulling Bimpnottin back down from the sky. ¡°There is a fortress on the horizon,¡± he stated when he was safely back on the ground. ¡°If we can breach this next wave, we should be able to make it there.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s give it our all, then,¡± Ithan said. They had slowed their pace for the moment, but he was not keen on lingering for much longer as the gnolls behind them drew near. The wall of gnolls ahead of them was sparse, but he wanted to get past them as quickly as possible, so he prepared to create another fireball. Bimpnottin cast his own spell behind him, and the twin fireballs obliterated the field in front of them. The remaining gnolls attempted to stop the group as they passed through, but their numbers were too few now to slow them as they were mowed down.


    Beyond the fallen gnolls, the fortress Bimpnottin spoke of came into view. The walls seemed not to have any entrances to allow the group to seek shelter, but there was a stream flowing out from the side of the structure?¡ªa drainage system, perhaps. As much as Ithan did not enjoy the thought of shambling through waste, he alerted his companions to the potential means of obtaining shelter. The drums behind them were quieter now, and Ithan hoped that the gnolls had stopped pursuing them, but the group dared not stop to find out until they had reached the river.


    ¡°Why did they stop?¡± Irse questioned aloud.


    ¡°Who cares?¡± Fenvyre replied as she bent down and placed her palms on her knees. ¡°Gods, I¡¯ve never run for so long in my life.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve never used so much magic in one place before, either,¡± Ithan commented. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know you could until yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Eleana showed me how,¡± the dragonkin said. ¡°Cool, right?¡±


    ¡°Very,¡± Ithan smiled as he looked down at the water. It was crystal clear, relieving Ithan of his worry of trudging through sewage.


    ¡°Well, you should learn your limits,¡± Irse said. ¡°Magic takes energy just like everything else.¡± She quickly refocused her attention on the fortress, following the stream of water until she was next to the wall. ¡°There is a grate here, and the bars look to be far enough apart to swim through.¡± When the rest of the group joined her, she dove into the water and swam through to the other side. Ithan was the last to enter, examining the walls as his allies followed Irse inside. They were made of stone bricks, but the bricks were so perfectly placed that Ithan found no bumps or ridges as he ran his fingers along the wall. Pondering how anyone could have made the wall so perfectly smooth, he finally stepped into the river, sighing in relief as the water soothed his still-tender back. He dove under, swam through the gate, and began to swim back toward the surface. Strangely, the surface seemed to be much further away than it had been moments ago. He frantically continued trying to make it to the surface, and soon he was pulled out of the water onto the wall by Dhurik.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Ithan coughed, fighting the urge to shake the water off of his body and onto his allies.


    ¡°You¡¯re getting better,¡± the minotaur chuckled as Ithan stood up next to the others. The water level within the walls nearly reached the top of the fortress?¡ªit was almost entirely submerged save for a few of the taller structures within. There was a tower near the center of the sunken ruins, the topmost balcony peeking out from the surface of the water.


    ¡°Where is Unit 17 going?¡± Irse asked as Ithan continued scanning the area. Ithan looked back at her, then followed her gaze down into the water. Unit 17 was walking along the ground below, the water forcing him to move incredibly slowly. He seemed to be moving toward the tower.


    ¡°Are those¡­¡± Bimpnottin muttered as he squinted his eyes and craned his neck forward. ¡°I think those are terrans.¡± Ithan looked more closely at the tower?¡ªthere were two figures standing at the bottom, their metal bodies frozen in place. They looked remarkably similar to Unit 17.


    ¡°What¡¯re they doing all the way out here?¡± Fenvyre questioned. ¡°I don¡¯t remember the Seal sending them this far out.¡±


    ¡°Maybe this is an old outpost,¡± Ithan speculated. ¡°Let¡¯s try to catch up with him.¡± He dove back into the water and attempted to swim toward the nearest building. He flailed for a few moments before catching himself trying to frantically kick with his legs again. Use your arms, Ithan told himself in Dhurik¡¯s voice. And move your legs like a dog would?¡ªwell, another dog. Circular motions. There, that¡¯s it. Before long, he was keeping pace with the others, who had by now leapt after him and had swum ahead. He pulled himself out of the water this time when he made it to the building, and he caught Dhurik grinning at his fast progress.


    The terrans in front of the tower were covered in moss and rust. Unit 17 was nearly to them now, still walking in slow motion as he waded pushed against the water. The other terrans remained motionless as Unit 17 approached. He saluted them, but when they did not reciprocate, he stepped past them and attempted to pry open the tower door. When he could not, he started to scale the side of the tower, prompting the group to swim toward it to meet him at the top.


    ¡°They appear to be offline,¡± Unit 17 said as the group reached him on the balcony. ¡°We must find a way to reactivate them.¡±


    ¡°Do you know them?¡± Fenvyre asked.


    ¡°No,¡± the terran replied to everyone¡¯s surprise. ¡°I have never met these units.¡± He pointed to his forehead, which bore the emblem of the Burning Scale Dynasty. ¡°They are sentry units like me, but they do not serve the Seal. They appear to be unable to perform even basic functions. We should attempt to repair them.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯re we going to do that?¡± Ian questioned. ¡°They¡¯re all rusted up and thirty feet underwater.¡± Unit 17 turned toward the opening in the tower, scanning the interior.


    ¡°Perhaps there is something inside that can assist with that,¡± he droned. Irse and Bimpnottin produced magical lights as he stepped further in. The tower was bare, save for a few scattered pieces of paper on the floor. Unfortunately for Ithan, most of the scraps seemed to be filled with diagrams and formulas that he had no hope of understanding. There was one page that intrigued him; this one had a drawing of a sphere with the note, ¡°Where is the key?¡± written next to it. He pocketed that one, hoping it would be of some use to the group as they descended the stairs at the far end of the room.


    Even as the group went well below the water level, the interior was surprisingly dry. There was no sign of water damage on the walls, nor any puddles on the stairs. Even with such tightly packed bricks, Ithan thought it peculiar that the water outside had somehow not leaked through.


    ¡°Halt,¡± a voice called from below the group. Bimpnottin commanded his light toward the voice, and it came upon two terrans standing at the center of the floor below. ¡°State your business,¡± the terran on the left continued.


    ¡°Your station appears to be in disrepair,¡± Unit 17 stated as he stepped onto the floor to join the other terrans, ¡°and your associates outside are unresponsive.¡±


    ¡°That is to be expected,¡± the terran on the right replied. ¡°They are unable to perform with the water having flooded their systems.¡±


    ¡°How is it that this fortress became this way?¡± Irse questioned as the rest of the group joined Unit 17.


    ¡°The Lord closed the gates,¡± the first terran said, ¡°and then they lost the key.¡±


    ¡°This key?¡± Ithan asked, taking out the scrap of paper and showing it to the terrans.


    ¡°There are many like it,¡± the first terran continued, ¡°but the only one that can open the gate was lost.¡± The two terrans looked at each other briefly, then turned around to the wall behind them and began walking toward it. There was a series of indentations on the wall with strange symbols above each one. One terran pointed to the centermost indentation. ¡°This one controls the gate, but none of us have the proper authorization to open it.¡± It almost looked sad to Ithan as it stared unblinkingly up at the wall.


    ¡°Perhaps I can try,¡± Unit 17 said suddenly. As the others turned toward him, he pressed a hand to his chest, causing it to separate to reveal a cavity inside his body. Within was an orb, much like the one pictured in the note Ithan held. It glowed with a strange silvery light that seemed almost like a flame. Unit 17 took the orb from his chest and placed it in the indentation on the wall where the terran had pointed. Within a few moments, the faint sound of rumbling filled the room, and the ground trembled ever so slightly as the orb¡¯s light amplified. When the rumbling stopped, the orb fell gently back into Unit 17¡¯s hand, and he placed it back inside his chest.


    ¡°You have the key,¡± one terran said. ¡°Perhaps you can?¡ª¡±


    ¡°He is an outsider,¡± the other rebuked.


    ¡°That may be just what we need,¡± the first terran argued. ¡°The other docents no longer function the way they should. We are not one mind as we once were. The last Lord abandoned us.¡±


    ¡°Who is this ¡®Lord¡¯ you keep referring to?¡± Bimpnottin asked, causing both terrans to break from their debate.


    ¡°We were once of one mind,¡± the terran on the left explained. ¡°We functioned as many, but also as one, extensions of the will of the Lord of Zastraria. But many years ago, the last Lord severed himself from us, leaving us with a shattered mind, unable to appoint a new Lord.¡±


    ¡°But you have the key,¡± the terran on the right said. ¡°You can become our new Lord.¡±


    ¡°One must have more than simple credentials to be chosen,¡± the first terran argued again. ¡°One must first pass the Lord¡¯s Trial.¡± The terrans stared at each other, unmoving as they held fast to their views.


    ¡°I will take this trial,¡± Unit 17 announced. The terrans turned back to him. ¡°I cannot allow this disorder to continue.¡±


    ¡°Is that really a good idea?¡± Irse interrupted. ¡°Are you not a representative of the Seal?¡±


    ¡°I am, but¡­¡± Unit 17 gazed at the two terrans in front of him. ¡°Something is pulling at my mind. It is telling me that I must do this.¡± Ithan understood, then, what the terran had meant when they were traveling to the Tower of Laht. ¡°Take me to this trial. I will mend your fractured mind.¡± The terrans nodded to him, then to each other, before escorting the group to the doors at the front of the tower.


    ¡°Wait?¡ª¡± Bimpnottin shouted as the terrans began to open the doors. Ithan expected water to flood in and held his breath, but to his relief, only air greeted him. The water was almost entirely gone now, with just a few puddles here and there out on the road in front of them. The terrans strode out of the tower, passing by their derelict associates in their haste. They moved slightly as the group passed them, but the decay kept them held in place. What would this Lord¡¯s Trial do for the terrans in this state?


    Soon the group came to another large building and were beckoned inside. There, they encountered more terrans who appeared to be far less coherent than their escorts. One was constantly walking into a wall. Another seemed to be making a sweeping motion, but it held nothing in its hands. None of them paid any mind to the group as they entered.


    ¡°Worry not,¡± the terran on the left said, ¡°they will be whole again soon.¡± They took the group down a set of stairs, and on the floor below they found a platform with intricate engravings and a pedestal with an indentation in the center. ¡°Proceed to the Lord¡¯s Trial.¡±


    ¡°Hey, can we go in with him?¡± Dhurik asked. The terrans both looked straight forward, processing the question, before the one on the right spoke.


    ¡°It has never come up before, but I believe it is fine,¡± it responded. ¡°There is only one key, but the trial will choose who may possess it in the end.¡± Content with its answer, Dhurik stepped up next to Unit 17.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m going to wait out here,¡± Fenvyre said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to interfere.¡± Irse and Bimpnottin nodded next to her. She grabbed Ian as he tried to join the others. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t, either.¡±


    ¡°But I wanna be king!¡± Ian shouted.


    ¡°You¡¯d make a lousy king,¡± Ithan laughed. Although, an army of terrans is pretty enticing¡­ He began to wander over to Dhurik and Unit 17 as the terran placed the orb on the pedestal.


    ¡°Lava?¡± Fenvyre called. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Irse looked upon him with disdain as he vanished in a flash of light.

 Chapter 17 - Lord of Zastraria

    Ithan was alone in a small room, with Dhurik and Unit 17 nowhere to be seen. The room was bare, save for a panel in the wall in front of him. He stepped up to the panel and tried to open it, but it was too tightly fastened to the wall to do so with his bare hands. He summoned his glaive as he felt Kiraan enter into his mind.


    That was your chance to escape the terran, Kiraan spoke.


    I couldn¡¯t have escaped Irse, Ithan replied. Her magic is too strong.


    Perhaps for now. I must admit, I did not expect to encounter someone of her skill in Averion. He grew silent for a few moments as Ithan started to try and pry the panel open. What is it you seek here?


    I thought you would be interested in having an army of terrans at your disposal. Was I wrong?


    You intend to take the terran¡¯s place? Are you prepared for what you must do to succeed?


    Yes, Ithan grunted as the panel separated from the wall, revealing a darker room beyond. I¡¯ll show you I¡¯ve still got what it takes to do this.


    Good. Then take the terran¡¯s key and use it to be rid of him and that cleric. His presence faded, allowing Ithan to relax as he dropped his fa?ade. Of course, he did not truly plan to compete against Unit 17 in this trial, but instead keep his master entertained for as long as possible. The more time he gave Taer¡¯inar to do his research the better.


    The room in which Ithan now stood was much like the first, bare save for a plaque in its center and a door centered on each wall. Its pristine white walls bore no features except for the faintly glowing doors on each wall. The room was dimly lit, but Ithan was able to read the inscription on the plaque: ¡°Find the three pillars before thrice the bell tolls.¡± Ithan strode past the plaque to the door directly behind it. It had no handles, but as he reached out to touch it his hand phased through it as if it were air. Just like the dwarves¡¯ illusion. He stepped through the illusion and into a similar room to the last, except there was no plaque in the center. He proceeded through to the other side, passing once more through the door in front of him. The same room again; perhaps this was some kind of loop. He went through the door to his left instead of straight forward, but again he was in the empty room. Confused, he turned around and stepped through the way he came. But the empty room was replaced with the room with the plaque. Perhaps the rooms were shuffling as he walked between them.


    He started over, going again through the door behind the plaque. This time, though, before proceeding through the next door, he summoned his glaive and made a mark in the middle of the floor. When he passed through the next door, the mark was gone, confirming that while these rooms were identical, they were distinct. Yet it had certainly been some sort of spatial magic that sent Ithan back to the first room. He continued forward through the rooms, but he stopped at the toll of a bell. He had used up a third of his time and had found none of these pillars that the plaque spoke of.


    Frustrated, Ithan continued walking forward. The bell tolled again before he finally reached a room with a pillar in the center. To his dismay, there were no inscriptions nor additional clues as to where the other two pillars might be. He decided to continue on his original path until, finally, he heard the third bell. After passing through the next doorway, he was once more in the first room.


    Time seemed to stretch on into eternity as Ithan tried several different paths in his attempts to find these pillars, but he only ever found the one. He started keeping track of his routes by carving out a sort of map in the floor of the starting room using a knife. It was not until his sixteenth attempt?¡ªhe had started marking those as well?¡ªthat he made an important discovery. The bells did not toll at regular intervals?¡ªthey rang only after Ithan had passed through ten rooms. Whenever he passed through a room after the third bell tolled, he always returned to the starting room. If he went straight forward in any one direction, he could traverse through thirty rooms before ending up back at the beginning again. He knew by now that the first pillar was eleven rooms straight forward. That meant the other two rooms had to be within nineteen rooms of the first; the trial would have been impossible to complete otherwise.


    Ithan spent much time investigating the room in which the pillar stood, hoping to find some indication of where to go next. The dim light prolonged his search, but he had to figure out this puzzle. There was nothing on the pillar itself; it was as bare as the walls of the room?¡ªwait, was that¡­ A small circular marking, nearly imperceptible in this low light, was hidden above one of the doorways. At last, another clue. He passed through this doorway and searched for a similar marking above the doorways in the next room. There was another marking on the doorway to the right. Ithan grinned and continued on. After repeating this for five more rooms, he came across another pillar, and then two rooms after he heard the second bell toll, he found the third. He had found the three pillars, but nothing happened as he approached this one. He had stopped keeping track of the rooms as he passed through them, so he feared that he had stumbled upon the first pillar again. He sighed in disappointment as he stepped through another doorway, ready to begin again. But the room he stepped into now was entirely different?¡ªthe walls, while still a pristine white, were adorned with intricate etchings rather than being entirely bare. A small pyramid-like structure lay at the center, similar to the one in which Unit 17 had placed the key. On the pedestal was a green orb. Relieved, Ithan stepped up to the pedestal and grasped the orb, and a bright light once again washed over him as the room around him faded away, the pure white walls decaying to reveal a dark cavern around him.


    ¡°There he is!¡± Dhurik shouted as Ithan finished materializing in front of him and Unit 17. They were seated at a campfire to his right. ¡°We were starting to wonder if you¡¯d ever make it.¡±


    ¡°What was your trial?¡± Unit 17 questioned as Ithan sat down with them. ¡°Apparently it is different depending on the participant.¡± Ithan explained what he knew of the trial to his companions and was met with strange looks from both of them. ¡°I wonder why your trial was so difficult,¡± the terran thought aloud. ¡°You were very lucky to find even the first pillar in such a brief period of time.¡±


    ¡°Perseverance,¡± Dhurik grunted. ¡°Can¡¯t be a good leader if you don¡¯t have it.¡± Unit 17 pondered this for a moment, then nodded. Or the trial¡¯s rigged. He clearly would have been far behind the others by now had they not decided to wait for him. He stared into the orb he had retrieved as he pondered how he would fare in his next trial. ¡°How much time do you think we have, Rockhead?¡± the minotaur asked as he tossed his orb up into the air, its red hue accentuated by the campfire¡¯s flickering flames.


    ¡°The laws of time and space seem to be different here,¡± Unit 17 answered. ¡°I do not believe we need to rush to complete the trial.¡± He almost seemed to be frowning as he spoke. ¡°You did not need to come with me. If I am not meant to claim the title of Lord, it will be shown through my actions alone.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not here for you,¡± Ithan lied. ¡°I have my own ambitions.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Unit 17 responded softly. ¡°Then, may I ask why you are still sitting here with us?¡±


    ¡°You did me the courtesy of waiting for me,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°What kind of person would I be if I betrayed that kindness?¡± Unit 17 opened his mouth, but he did not speak. ¡°Besides, like you said, there¡¯s no need to rush.¡±


    ¡°That is fair,¡± the terran said finally. He took out his own orb from his chest, still glowing that otherworldly silver. Perhaps Ithan did not need to claim Unit 17¡¯s orb now that he had his own. Despite their obvious differences in appearance, there had to be some purpose for the trial bestowing these orbs onto him and Dhurik. ¡°I do not expect you to concede, but I do not intend to leave the fate of my kin to you.¡± His words were uncharacteristically pointed, but Ithan understood his concern. He was, as far as the terran knew, threatening to take control of the fortress in the name of his master.


    ¡°Good,¡± Dhurik laughed. ¡°Some nice, healthy competition.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Unit 17 said. ¡°Let the best terranoid win.¡±


    As the group rested around the campfire, Ithan continued to gaze into his orb, the colors swirling within as he tried to determine its purpose.


    What are you?


    I am you, a voice rang out suddenly in his head. It sounded much like his own voice, except it had a certain dull quality to it that he recognized from the way the terrans spoke?¡ªmonotonous and dry, as if speaking in their sleep. To be precise, I am a manifestation of your soul. Your kindness. Your loyalty. Your courage. Your perseverance. All that you are is held within me.


    What is your purpose?


    Should you emerge triumphant from the Lord¡¯s Trial, I shall be the template from which all of Zastraria follows. You and they shall become one mind, with yours being the supreme will.


    My will¡­ or Kiraan¡¯s¡­?


    All that you are is held within me, the voice repeated as wisps of black began to flicker in and out of the green light. Your malice. Your arrogance. Your envy. Your fear. Ithan¡¯s chest tightened as he heard his master¡¯s voice overlay his own. Wisps of blackness grew, overtaking the green light within the orb. He wanted to stop, but something would not allow him to do so. He gazed helplessly into the orb as yellow eyes appeared within it, glaring back at him with the same fierceness as the demon he and his friends had faced before arriving at the fortress.


    ¡°Dogboy,¡± Dhurik called, breaking Ithan from his trance as he snapped his head up to the minotaur. He glanced back down at the orb and breathed a heavy sigh of relief as it glowed its brilliant green light once more. ¡°You all right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ithan said quietly.


    ¡°Not liking what you¡¯re hearing?¡± the minotaur questioned as he nodded down at Ithan¡¯s orb. When Ithan looked back up at him confused, he simply smiled. ¡°Guess you gotta be one with yourself before you can be one with everyone else.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been awfully philosophical lately,¡± Ithan commented. ¡°What gives?¡± Dhurik jerked his head to each side, cracking his neck in the process.


    ¡°I know, it¡¯s weird for me, too,¡± he replied. ¡°But I gotta be more than just a tough guy that beats every living thing I see to a pulp, you know? ¡®Specially if I¡¯m gonna keep getting into messes like this and like with the hobgoblins.¡± He peered down at his own orb again and nodded. ¡°Talkin¡¯ to myself made me realize that more than before?¡ªI gotta be bigger than myself if I¡¯m gonna lead.¡±


    ¡°Strength is but one facet of a good leader,¡± Unit 17 droned. ¡°The very fact that you recognize this means that you are progressing.¡± He stood up and stamped out the campfire. ¡°Let us proceed,¡± he said as he began walking down into the cavern beyond. Ithan and Dhurik followed close behind, not wanting to be outrun by the terran.


    As they progressed, the cavern quickly grew darker and damper, eventually illuminated only by the orbs that the three of them carried. Ithan¡¯s natural ability to see in the dark gave him an advantage here, one he very nearly acted on as Unit 17 carefully maneuvered around the boulders scattered across the ground. However, something else caught his attention?¡ªthe sound of flowing water just ahead of the group?¡ªand he cast a spell to better illuminate the area to investigate. There, a few more feet in front of them, was a slow-moving stream of water flowing from further ahead in the cavern, splitting off into two smaller streams that ran to the left and right. Ithan beckoned his companions to follow him, and together they journeyed deeper into the cave until they came to a large open area. At the wall opposite the entrance to this area, water fell from the ceiling and into the stream, creating a foaming at the base and mist all around the area. The stream was shallow enough for Ithan to step into; he approached the waterfall until he could see his own reflection. There had to be a mirror or something behind it. But when he reached through it, his hand only met cold, rough stone.


    ¡°Lookin¡¯ good,¡± Dhurik said as he glanced at his own reflection. He made a few different poses, flexing his muscles as he admired his body. Ithan looked at his own reflection with disgust?¡ªit was the first time, in fact, that he had seen his own body in full since he bound himself to Kiraan. It was no wonder his friends had fled from him back then. Ren¡¯s horrified face as Naomi and Aedan took her away from their burning village¡­ Please don¡¯t go¡­


    ¡°You who would engage in the Lord¡¯s Trial,¡± a voice suddenly boomed throughout the cavern, ¡°present that which you earned as proof of your worth.¡± Startled, Ithan stepped away from the waterfall. Unit 17 produced his orb from his chest, and Dhurik followed suit. Ithan, shaking away his dark memories, took his own orb out of his pocket.


    ¡°Indeed, you are worthy; you have proved it to be so. Your souls glisten with the qualities of those destined to lead.¡±


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The orbs flew from their hands, depositing themselves within their reflections. Then, the reflections began moving of their own accord, stepping out of the waterfall until they stood on solid ground across from the trio.


    ¡°Indeed, you are worthy. But alas, even the greatest of leaders have their weaknesses.¡±


    The orbs pulsed, and inky blackness exuded out from them and covered the reflections in darkness, reshaping them as the tendrils wrapped around them. Dhurik¡¯s reflection shifted into something that looked very nearly like a hobgoblin, except it stood twice as tall and had twisted horns protruding from its head. It summoned a fiery blade nearly the length of its body. Unit 17¡¯s reflection contorted into what Ithan could only think of as a giant insect-like armadillo. And at last, to Ithan¡¯s horror, his own reflection glared back at him with sickly yellow eyes as it morphed into its own monstrosity?¡ªits antlers twisted as they grew to twice their length, its nails turned to claws and its teeth grew razor sharp, and monstrous wings burst out of its back?¡ªsneering at him as it summoned a shadowy version of his own glaive.


    ¡°Face your fears,¡± the voice echoed, ¡°ere they consume all that you hold dear.¡±


    At this, the blackened forms sprang forward and began to attack the trio. Ithan frantically summoned his glaive, not at all prepared to face his reflection as it rushed toward him. To his surprise, though, the shadows each quickly changed targets, with his glaive connecting instead with one of the giant insect¡¯s antennae. He slashed at the creature as it swiped back at him, but he could not seem to break through its carapace. Meanwhile, his own reflection relentlessly attacking Dhurik, who barely stood his ground against the assault as he tried to match the shadow¡¯s speed. Wanting to help him, Ithan took one final stab at the creature in front of him before sending a blast of magical energy at his reflection. It quickly flew backward to evade Ithan¡¯s attack and laughed?¡ªa hideous sound to match its hideous form?¡ªas it resumed its assault on Dhurik. The insectoid creature interrupted Ithan¡¯s next spell, gnawing at his leg with its mandible. He yelled out in pain, then stabbed and kicked it repeatedly until it released him. Then, before it could charge at him again, a pair of beams of energy hit it in the face, causing it to reel back and screech. Ithan glanced over at Unit 17, whose eyes slowly lost their glow as he deflected an attack from the large hobgoblin-like creature.


    ¡°Rust monster,¡± Unit 17 grunted.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Ithan said. He had never heard of such a beast before, but he understood why Unit 17 would be afraid of something that could very easily corrode his body and devour his remains. But the trial told them to face their fears. ¡°You need to finish it,¡± he called to Unit 17 as the monster finally resumed its attempts to eat him. He ran over to the large elvenoid and slashed at its leg, and it changed its focus to him from Unit 17 as the monster crawled toward the two of them. Ithan cast a spell as the monster approached, one that blinded both himself and the two enemies intent on killing them. While in the darkness, he relied on his hearing to evade the giant¡¯s wild swings. After more screeching from the rust monster, he dispelled the magical darkness. The creature¡¯s form was melting away now, leaving behind Unit 17¡¯s orb. Before Ithan could reach it, the giant flung him through the air into the wall behind him, his head slamming hard against the stone.


    ¡°Hang in there, Dogboy!¡± he heard Dhurik cry as he tried to steady himself. ¡°Rockhead, let¡¯s switch places!¡± As Ithan pulled himself up from the ground, Unit 17 started to fire more beams of energy at the giant to distract it as he ran toward Ithan¡¯s reflection. Dhurik changed his focus to the giant, swinging his axe wildly at the hulking form as it continued to try to take down Unit 17. Ithan¡¯s shadow had started muttering something as it continued to attack both of his allies?¡ªit was trying to cast a spell. Ithan frantically stumbled toward the shadow, his glaive outstretched. It collided with his shadow¡¯s just before it reached Dhurik¡¯s head, allowing the minotaur to fell the giant with a mighty swing upward. The shadow continued its incantation as it pushed Ithan away, grinning at his attempts to protect his friends. Suddenly, black tendrils began to rise from the ground, wrapping themselves around both Dhurik and Unit 17 and squeezing them tight.


    What are you waiting for? a voice?¡ªthe same amalgamation of his own and Kiraan¡¯s?¡ªcalled from within Ithan¡¯s mind. The shadow, not Kiraan himself, was speaking to him.


    How¡­?


    All that you are?¡ªand all that these terrans shall be?¡ªis held within me. But that cannot come to pass if you do not win. Finish it.


    Ithan gripped his glaive tightly again and aimed it at his reflection¡¯s chest. The shadow grinned again, waiting for Ithan to strike. He charged angrily at his reflection and ran his glaive through its chest. It gave a final laugh within his mind, and it exploded out in strands of smoke as the orb it contained fell to the ground. The tendrils that wrapped around Ithan¡¯s friends vanished, and Ithan picked up his orb as they recovered themselves. He sighed in relief now that his friends were safe, but the wisps of shadow that remained bore some final words:


    They will die by your hand all the same.


    ¡°What was that?!¡± Dhurik shouted as he and Unit 17 approached Ithan.


    ¡°It was me,¡± Ithan mumbled after a moment. ¡°Or rather, what I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll become.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re scared you¡¯re gonna sprout wings?¡± Dhurik asked. ¡°You got your head screwed on too tight or something? Those things looked incredible!¡± Ithan feigned a laugh but chose not to linger on the topic. Luckily for him, Dhurik seemed to be distracted by the waterfall beginning to part to reveal a passage behind it.


    ¡°We should rest here,¡± Unit 17 said as he tossed his sword aside. It was rusted now, unusable after having been touched by the rust monster. ¡°I am glad that neither of you are made of metal.¡±


    ¡°Would this trial have been the same had we not joined you?¡± Ithan asked. The terran shrugged.


    ¡°I do not know if I could have faced it without help,¡± he said. He turned his attention to Dhurik. ¡°Was that an ignan?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Dhurik grumbled. ¡°They¡¯ve been running my home into the ground since my granddad was a kid. They treat us like slaves, and I got sick of it.¡± He swung his axe around as he spoke. ¡°Felt nice to chop one¡¯s head off, even if it wasn¡¯t real.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t seem to want to chop Apostalite¡¯s head off,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°Oh sure, they¡¯re not all bad. Just the ones in my village.¡± Dhurik turned to Unit 17. ¡°I know what it¡¯s like to want to help your own kind, Rockhead. It¡¯s the reason I came to Averion in the first place.¡± His somber tone belied his usual ferocity. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna take that away from you.¡± he added.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Unit 17 said, turning to Ithan. ¡°Do you still intend to compete, Mor¡¯lavan?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You know I have to,¡± Ithan responded.


    ¡°I see.¡± The terran¡¯s head tilted to the side slightly. ¡°Then let us journey on.¡± He made way for the passage and stepped into it as Ithan and Dhurik followed close behind. The tunnel was cramped, forcing Ithan to crouch slightly so that his antlers did not scrape against the ceiling. Dhurik had to stoop down even further to navigate the passage. It was a bit claustrophobic, and with Dhurik behind him Ithan had no means of escape. Luckily, as the three of them moved through the tunnel, it opened up into another large area lit with large glowing crystals protruding out of the stone all around it. At the center of the area was another pyramid-like structure. There was no pedestal atop this structure, however; instead, there was a pool of metallic liquid. The liquid, much like the waterfall before, reflected the group¡¯s images as they gazed into it.


    ¡°You who would engage in the Lord¡¯s Trial,¡± the voice from earlier called again, ¡°only one may claim the title of Lord. Show your strength and let all that you are become one with Zastraria.¡± All that I am¡­ Ithan looked across at Unit 17. But what am I? Destined to lead? He had given any chance of that up when all of this started. He gripped his orb tightly as he thought about the ramifications of taking control of this city. It was wrong?¡ªhe knew that all along, of course?¡ªbut he could no longer stand to even pretend to be seriously trying to wrest Unit 17¡¯s ambitions away from him. In an act of defiance, he threw his orb as hard as he could at the wall behind him. It shattered on contact, its green light bursting out and refracting over the crystals.


    How disappointing.


    Ithan¡¯s chest swelled with pride. For the first time since he had formed his pact with Kiraan, he felt free. He smiled, reveling in this brief respite, as both Dhurik and Unit 17 stared at him in awe.


    ¡°I concede,¡± Ithan said, still smiling as he looked at the terran. He saw a flicker in Unit 17¡¯s eyes, and he knew then that he had done the right thing.


    ¡°Sacrifice,¡± Unit 17 droned. ¡°Another quality of a great leader.¡± He took his orb from his chest and held it out over the pool. He stopped there, though, refraining from dropping the orb into the pool. ¡°I do not know whether to say ¡®goodbye¡¯ here.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t goodbye,¡± Dhurik stated. ¡°We¡¯ll see you soon. Now get on with it.¡± With a final nod, Unit 17 dropped his orb into the pool, and as it touched the liquid, the light within it pulsed out over the surface of the substance. Then, after a moment, the liquid suddenly and very quickly began to form into tendrils that wrapped around Unit 17. Ithan cried out and tried to reach for the terran as the liquid engulfed him, but Dhurik held him back as Unit 17¡¯s body went limp, lifeless now as the day they had uncovered him in Rockfall. Then his body was pulled completely into the pool; the liquid began to bubble and the crystals around the room began to glow brighter. Soon the cavern began to tear away, and the light consumed Ithan once more.


    ?????


    Ithan is in an empty place, staring into a vast expanse of white. There is no sun, yet its warmth graces his face. It is lonely here, but it is better than the bleak darkness that he usually finds himself in.


    ¡°You are more than you let yourself be,¡± a voice calls from all around him. It is the same voice that called out to him and his friends in the trial.


    ¡°I¡¯m just Kiraan¡¯s pet,¡± Ithan scowls.


    ¡°He is not all that you are,¡± the voice says. ¡°He is but a fragment of what makes you you.¡± A faint image of his old self appears before him. He takes a moment to inspect it?¡ªhe had been so pale and thin back then, but now he was taller, stronger. As he thinks on this, his image shifts. It grows taller and stronger, and its face matures. It is what he might look like now had he not been bound to Kiraan?¡ªa seventeen-year-old elven prince, poised and elegant. The image smiles warmly at him and speaks.


    ¡°This is who you are,¡± his reflection says in his own voice, ¡°not the monster you believe yourself to be.¡±


    ?????


    The blinding light faded at last, and Ithan was now back in the room where he and his friends had first entered the Lord¡¯s Trial. Dhurik stood next to him, and Fenvyre, Bimpnottin, Ian, and Irse still stood across the room. To his dismay, Unit 17 had not returned with them.


    ¡°That was fast,¡± Bimpnottin commented. ¡°Where¡¯s Unit 17?¡±


    ¡°He passed the Lord¡¯s Trial,¡± Ithan answered. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened after that.¡±


    ¡°Fast?¡± Dhurik questioned. ¡°We were in there for hours!¡±


    ¡°You only left moments ago,¡± Irse said. As Unit 17 had guessed, time and space were warped within the Lord¡¯s Trial. They likely could have spent days, months even, within the trial and come back with not much real time having passed. Dhurik scratched his head.


    ¡°Is he going to be okay?¡± Fenvyre asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s fine,¡± Ithan said. One of the terrans that had escorted them here stood upright.


    ¡°Our Lord invites you to join him in his chambers,¡± the terran spoke. ¡°Please, follow me.¡± It gestured for the group to follow and led them up the stairs to the ground floor of the building. The terrans were no longer moving erratically, instead consciously avoiding obstacles?¡ªincluding other terrans?¡ªas they moved about the building. The terran they followed brought them all the way back to the tower, where they were greeted by a few other terrans attempting to remove the rust and moss from the sentries who were stationed in front. Another couple of terrans stepped in front of the group, carrying a table up the stairs. The group¡¯s guide led them up behind, until they were once again at the top. There Unit 17 stood among piles of furniture and books and other loose papers, reading through one of them as the group reached the landing. It took a moment before he glanced up from the paper and greeted them.


    ¡°Greetings, friends,¡± Unit 17 spoke. ¡°Thank you for your patience as I acquaint myself with my new role.¡±


    ¡°You do not waste time,¡± Irse said as she looked around the room.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± he responded. He stepped past a pile of books to be closer to the group. ¡°The memories of my kin are scattered, and I must work fast to put them back into place.¡± His eyes flickered for a moment. ¡°I am afraid I cannot afford to continue venturing with you.¡± Irse sighed, and Ithan knew exactly why?¡ªit now fell to her to watch him.


    ¡°I suppose not,¡± Irse muttered.


    ¡°I guess we lost our free ride,¡± Ian muttered to Bimpnottin.


    ¡°Were there any memories that you¡¯ve already put back together?¡± Fenvyre inquired.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the terran said. ¡°It seems that I was originally from here, and not from the Burning Scale Dynasty.¡± Ithan¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise. ¡°When they took me, they took my name, as well. My name is not Unit 17. It is Rham.¡± He glanced over at Dhurik. ¡°You can still call me Rockhead if you prefer.¡±


    ¡°How many of you did the Seal take?¡± Bimpnottin questioned.


    ¡°When I was a representative of the Seal, I was part of a squadron of thirty sentry units,¡± Rham said. ¡°However, records indicate that as many as one hundred terrans were taken from this city.¡±


    ¡°That many?!¡± Fenvyre shouted. ¡°What is wrong with them?!¡± Her frustration shook Ithan; he had never seen her this upset.


    ¡°The last Lord had a hand in this, as well,¡± Rham buzzed. ¡°Whatever their reason may have been, I will find it. And then, I will reclaim those lost terrans from the Seal. By force, if the Seal fails to comply.¡± Ithan shuddered at the words. The terran had always been so diplomatic, but now with these recollections, an emotion not unlike anger seemed to bubble beneath the terran¡¯s unassuming exterior. ¡°In the meantime, as we repair our city, please feel free to stay for as long as you need.¡±


    ¡°I think we outta get going,¡± Dhurik huffed. ¡°We should rendezvous with Birdbrain after everything that¡¯s been going on.¡±


    ¡°In that case, please feel free to return any time to recharge.¡± He and Dhurik shook hands, and the minotaur hurried out of the room, taking his sending stone out of his pocket as he disappeared from view. The others in the group each said their farewells before following Dhurik downstairs until finally, Ithan was left alone with Rham.


    ¡°I can no longer perform my duty of watching you,¡± Rham spoke, ¡°but after what you did today, I trust that you can handle yourself.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Rham,¡± Ithan said awkwardly as he held out his hand to the terran. Rham held Ithan¡¯s hand firmly and pulled him in close, wrapping him in his metallic arms.


    ¡°Thank you, Ithan Aranis,¡± Rham said quietly before letting go. With a final wave goodbye, Ithan joined the rest of his allies as they traveled out of the tower and headed to the western wall, guided by another terran. When they reached the wall, it split apart, revealing two perfectly cut doors as they opened outward. Giving thanks to the guide, they stepped out of the fortress and headed to the south, back toward Myth Veri¡¯Shantar.

 Chapter 18 - Catalyst of Corruption

    Evening fell before the group was able to reach the forest. They had to travel out of their way to evade small bands of gnolls along the way; they seemed to have spread across most of the plains of Zastraria by now. As the last of the sun¡¯s light vanished beneath the western horizon, the group settled down amidst some tall grass, hoping it would help mask their presence from any nighttime hunters.


    ¡°Perhaps it would have been best to wait until morning to continue,¡± Irse said. ¡°We could be ambushed in our sleep, and we no longer have Uni?¡ªer, Rham to keep watch for us.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll just have to do it in shifts,¡± Dhurik replied. ¡°I¡¯ll take first watch, Dogboy second, and you can take third.¡±


    ¡°Why am I being volunteered?¡± Ithan grumbled.


    ¡°There is no need,¡± Irse interrupted. ¡°I will keep watch through the night.¡±


    ¡°The whole night?¡± Fenvyre questioned. ¡°You¡¯re going to be exhausted by morning.¡±


    ¡°I will manage,¡± the cleric responded. She glanced warily at Ithan. He understood her suspicion of him well by now, but there was something different in her eyes now that he could not place. He nodded silently at her before laying back and allowing his head to rest on the ground. He sighed as he gazed up at the cloud-addled sky; flickers of static wove through them as they swirled ceaselessly about.


    ¡°I wonder how the hobgoblins are faring against the gnolls,¡± Bimpnottin commented.


    ¡°They¡¯re a tough crowd,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°They planned to move to one of their other forts, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I suppose that¡¯s true,¡± Bimpnottin continued. ¡°I will need to remember to send the chief a message in the morning.¡±


    ¡°You talk too much,¡± Irse interrupted from her post.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± the gnome and minotaur replied at once. They were silent after that, allowing Ithan to listen to the evening breeze whistle through the grass as he closed his eyes. He felt Irse¡¯s eyes on him as he tried to fall asleep; it was comforting in a way, yet terrifying in so many others. He recalled the days shortly after he first formed his pact with Kiraan, when he still scrounged for food within the kingdom¡¯s borders?¡ªhe had always slept with one eye open, afraid that Varian would find him before he was ready to face him. Strangely, he did not feel the same intent in Irse¡¯s actions as he had in his father¡¯s. The look in her eyes¡­ was it¡­ concern?


    Ithan awoke the next morning with a pit in his stomach and tears in his eyes. Despite his dreamless sleep, he felt a strange sense of dread. The sweat coating his body caused him to shiver as it chilled in the morning air.


    ¡°Hey, Lava!¡± Fenvyre called, the loudness of her voice making Ithan wince. ¡°Time to get up!¡± He tried to roll over to pull himself off of the ground, but his body would not react to his commands.


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡± he mumbled. Fenvyre walked up to him and leaned down, placing the back of her hand on his forehead.


    ¡°You¡¯re burning up,¡± she muttered as she stood upright again. ¡°Irse!¡± she cried, quickly getting the cleric¡¯s attention.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Irse asked as she and the rest of the group approached.


    ¡°He¡¯s sick,¡± Fenvyre replied. ¡°He¡¯s got a fever and he can¡¯t move.¡±


    ¡°Did you let your wound get infected?¡± Bimpnottin asked. ¡°He got stung by that demon yesterday,¡± he pointed out when Irse gave him a confused look. Unable to reach up to punch the dwarf, Ithan instead simply glared at him. Irse forced Ithan onto his stomach and pulled the back of his shirt up. She gasped sharply and then sighed.


    ¡°You should not have let it fester like that,¡± she said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take him back to Eleana,¡± Fenvyre suggested. ¡°She helped us before, right?¡±


    ¡°We do not have that kind of time,¡± Irse muttered. ¡°We are still at least half a day away from Myth Veri¡¯Shantar, and a demon¡¯s venom is fatal if left alone for too long. No, I will have to do what I can from here.¡±


    ¡°What can we do?¡± Fenvyre asked.


    ¡°Go look for a place nearby where we might be able to relocate,¡± Irse replied. ¡°If any gnolls happen upon us, we will need to move quickly. Take Ian with you.¡±


    ¡°Why me?¡± the halfling protested.


    ¡°Just come on,¡± Fenvyre said, nudging his back with a light kick. She and Ian departed into the tall grass, disappearing from Ithan¡¯s view.


    ¡°You two should watch for gnolls,¡± Irse said to Dhurik and Bimpnottin. Bimpnottin nodded and headed off without a word.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let Birdbrain know what¡¯s happening?¡ª¡± Dhurik started.


    ¡°Give me the sending stone,¡± Irse ordered. ¡°I will explain it to Taer¡¯inar as I work.¡± Dhurik grumbled, then handed the stone to the cleric and stomped off, joining Bimpnottin in the distance. Irse held the stone up to speak when the others were well out of earshot. ¡°Taer¡¯inar, are you there? Is this thing working?¡±


    ¡°Irse?¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s voice called back through the stone. It was remarkable to Ithan how clear his voice was; it was as if the elf was standing there with them. ¡°Where¡¯s Dhurik? He never reported back yesterday.¡±


    ¡°He is keeping watch,¡± Irse replied. ¡°Have you found anything yet?¡±


    ¡°The ancient elves kept surprisingly few records about demons. There are a few mentions here and there, but nothing particularly useful.¡±


    ¡°Do you have those records with you?¡± Irse questioned.


    ¡°Of course, but as I just said?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Look for anything that may be a remedy for demon venom,¡± Irse commanded.


    ¡°Venom?¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s voice shook. ¡°Why? What happened?¡±


    ¡°Ithan is sick,¡± Irse responded quietly. ¡°We encountered a demon when we were trying to confront the witch, and he was stung by it in the battle.¡±


    ¡°I told you to be careful!¡± Taer¡¯inar shouted. A loud thud echoed through the stone.


    ¡°Focus, Taer¡¯inar,¡± Irse said calmly. ¡°Now is not the time for lectures. Look for a remedy.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Silence followed, and Irse set the stone down on the ground as she began pulling vials and gauze and other medical supplies out of her satchel.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you¡­ a cleric¡­?¡± Ithan wheezed. ¡°Can¡¯t you use magic¡­?¡±


    ¡°We do not fully understand the effects of healing magic on demons,¡± Irse muttered. ¡°I do not wish to risk further harm to you.¡± He caught an unusual glimpse of sadness in her eyes as he peered up at her from the ground.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found something,¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s voice rang. Irse picked up the sending stone again. ¡°To a standard antitoxin blend add three drops of hyacinth nectar. Mix until the solution is a fine paste, then apply to the afflicted area.¡±


    ¡°That is surprisingly simple,¡± Irse commented. ¡°Are you certain there is nothing else?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all there is,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°I¡¯m going to come and meet you?¡ª¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Irse refuted. ¡°You have more research to do. We will be fine. I will take care of the venom here and we will come to you.¡±


    ¡°¡­Okay,¡± Taer¡¯inar said after a few moments. ¡°Hang in there, Ithan.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah,¡± Ithan replied before Irse set the sending stone down next to her. ¡°Irse¡­¡± he called.


    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked, her back still turned to him as she took inventory of her supplies.


    ¡°Why are¡­ you helping me¡­?¡±


    ¡°I know what you must think of me,¡± she muttered. ¡°After all, I am the one who wanted to dispose of you.¡± She took some herbs from her satchel and began grinding them as she spoke. ¡°So many people get caught up with their emotions when faced with those kinds of decisions. I acted in the group¡¯s best interest. But¡­ that does not mean that I do not care.¡± She approached him with the finished remedy and knelt down beside him. ¡°This will hurt,¡± she warned just before she pressed some of the paste into his wound. Ithan winced as Irse muttered an incantation, but the pain did not last long. ¡°That should take care of the venom, at least,¡± she sighed as she stood up again. Ithan gathered all the strength he could muster to pull himself up to a seated position, but then a wave of dizziness struck him and Irse laid him back down. Some time later, Fenvyre emerged from the tall grass.


    ¡°Is he going to be okay?¡± Fenvyre asked Irse.


    ¡°The demon¡¯s venom has taken its toll,¡± Irse said, ¡°but he should recover, with time.¡±


    ¡°Thank the gods,¡± she sighed.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been spotted!¡± Bimpnottin shouted from the distance. An explosion sounded shortly after, and smoke began to rise from the fields nearby.


    ¡°We gotta go,¡± Dhurik said as he ran through the grass toward the group. ¡°Gnolls are coming in fast. Captain¡¯s taking care of a few, but there¡¯s a lot more.¡±


    ¡°Grab Mor¡¯lavan,¡± Irse directed. Dhurik hoisted Ithan up over his shoulder. ¡°Leave the armor, we do not have time.¡± He tried to lift his head up to see where the gnolls were coming from, but he could not even do that much. All he could do now was wait until his friends brought him to safety so that he could have a chance to recover. Alas, from the sound of the gnolls¡¯ war drums and the growling all around the group, it would not be that easy.


    After a while, the group¡¯s movement slowed to a halt, and Dhurik laid Ithan on the ground as the rest of his friends gathered around him, backs to him as they took defensive positions. Gnolls had at last surrounded the group completely, their numbers overwhelming even Bimpnottin¡¯s attempts to make a path through them. Several more demons were among the gnolls.


    As the crash of battle began, Ithan¡¯s consciousness finally faded.


    ?


    Ithan was bound to a large post at the top of a hill when he awoke. The hill was littered with corpses, both gnoll and hobgoblin, as well as a series of large stones. Below him was a pile of corpses, including one of the demons he and his friends had faced. The stench was overpowering, and something about it made him feel weak. After a few moments, he noticed the small band of gnolls glaring up at him on the other side of the pile of corpses. In a panic, he tried to break free, fearing that the gnolls planned to make him into a meal. But he was still unable to move. The gnolls simply watched him struggle, a couple of them laughing at his feeble attempts.


    ¡°What is this¡­?¡± he muttered through his weariness.


    ¡°We meet again, little prince,¡± a voice called from behind the gnolls. They parted to reveal an old woman?¡ªan elf?¡ªstanding there smiling up at him. Her frazzled brown hair and soft blue eyes¡­ No¡­ It couldn¡¯t be¡­


    ¡°You¡­¡± Ithan mumbled.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Not so little anymore, I suppose,¡± the woman continued as she scanned Ithan; those same blue eyes that had made him feel safe with her before now terrified him. ¡°No, you have grown quite a bit in the past few years. And yet, you are still as helpless as the day we first met.¡±


    ¡°Why are you here¡­?¡± he questioned. ¡°Who are you¡­?¡± He glanced around quickly, realizing only then that he was alone against the gnolls and their surprise guest. ¡°Where?¡ª¡±


    ¡°They abandoned you,¡± she answered. ¡°Left you to die. Just as the others did.¡± Ithan¡¯s chest tightened. No, they wouldn¡¯t¡­ They had been trying to protect him. Even with all he had done, even with all the danger they faced with him.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying,¡± he asserted, a wave of rage pushing through his fatigue. ¡°What did you do with them?¡±


    ¡°Believe what you will,¡± she shrugged. ¡°They left you behind. It is as simple as that.¡± She raised a hand and snapped her fingers, and one of the larger gnolls stood up and stepped forward. ¡°I leave this to you.¡± She produced a dagger and handed it over to the gnoll. It sneered at Ithan as the woman turned and began walking away from the gathering of gnolls.


    ¡°Get back here!¡± Ithan shouted before the larger gnoll strode up to him and wrapped its hand around his muzzle. It held the knife close to his face, grinning as Ithan tried in vain to break free. Just before it cut into his cheek, though, the gnoll backed away, laughing wildly.


    ¡°Why you fear gnolls?¡± it asked as it quieted down. ¡°You God-King! Gnolls should fear you!¡±


    ¡°God-King¡­?¡± Ithan muttered. He had been called that before, but he could not remember where, or by whom.


    ¡°She say you need power,¡± the gnoll said, ¡°but she tell us how to fix.¡± The smaller gnolls backed away from the pile of corpses as the larger one began walking toward it. It tore open the dead demon¡¯s chest and pulled out its heart. ¡°You eat dead demon. Make you strong again.¡± It held the heart up to Ithan¡¯s face. Disgusted, he tried moving his head away before the gnoll grabbed his muzzle again. ¡°Eat now,¡± it growled as it forced Ithan¡¯s mouth open and shoved the organ in. It was like eating spicy mud. He tried to spit it out, but the gnoll held his mouth shut until he swallowed. It was only then that the gnoll cut his restraints and allowed him to fall to the ground next to the demon. As he gasped for breath, a surge of energy rushed through him. He had strength now to pull himself up from the ground. The stench of rotting flesh, horrendous before, now awakened a deep hunger. His senses dulled as he got up onto his hands and knees and crawled slowly toward it. His stomach churned expectantly, and without another thought, he began tearing ravenously into the demon¡¯s corpse like a primal beast. He ignored the presence that chuckled in the back of his mind, digging through the creature¡¯s chest and devouring the remaining organs within. He no longer cared about how it tasted or how it felt making its way into his stomach; he only cared about satiating his unending hunger. When he had finished his meal, he had a moment of clarity as he caught a glimpse of a minotaur running toward him. It was not alone?¡ªa gnome rode on his back, and a dragonkin and auran followed close behind. What did I just do?


    They are too late, Ithan heard his master laugh.


    What?¡ª A sudden pain shot through his back, causing him fall back onto his hands as he gasped for breath.


    ¡°Bow before God-King!¡± the larger gnoll proclaimed.


    Stop¡­ please¡­ I don¡¯t want to?¡ª


    I am not giving you a choice.


    Ithan lurched forward again in pain as the bones in his back continued to crack and contort. He dug his forehead into the blood-soaked ground as he tried to bear the pain. It shifted to the area between his shoulder blades, and he bowed his back as he felt something trying to burst through the hardened flesh there.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening to him?¡± the dragonkin cried. He managed to stumble to his feet through the pain, a reddish tint beginning to cloud his vision.


    You and your ¡°friends¡± have tried to undermine my will ever since you arrived in that dragonkin village.


    ¡°Dogboy! Stay with us!¡± the minotaur shouted. Pressure continued to build as he struggled to breathe, struggled to think.


    But as much as you may wish it were not so, you are still mine.


    ¡°Get away!¡± Ithan roared. With a final violent burst, the pressure in his back suddenly vanished as something finally broke through. He stayed hunched over for a few moments more, panting as he tried to gather himself, but he still found it difficult to collect his thoughts. His master¡¯s call superseded all else, even his own will. He stood upright, and he felt new weight on his back shifting as he did so. If he focused, he could move it willfully. He gazed emptily at the creatures gathered around him, each of their faces displaying various looks of awe and horror.


    ¡°He has turned,¡± the cleric said.


    Kill me, Ithan pleaded silently before his mind began to slip away. He spread his wings?¡ªhe was able to do it so naturally?¡ªand began to fly away.


    ¡°Lava!¡± the dragonkin girl cried as he soared over their heads. The minotaur began running after him, but before long he was out of reach as a second wave of gnolls converged on the group of creatures he had journeyed with.


    Farewell. He soared ever higher into the sky, focusing his attention on his new objective?¡ªthe ruins of Zyr¡¯kal.


    ?????


    Ithan opens his eyes to inky darkness. His body is constrained by shadowy tendrils, sinking slowly into the abyss. This is not the first time he has been in this place; Taer¡¯inar had saved him then. But now, he hopes the elf will not come for him.


    ¡°Let me fade away,¡± he says, praying that somehow Taer¡¯inar will hear his plea.


    ¡°Soon, Ithan Aranis,¡± Kiraan calls from all around him. ¡°Your soul shall perish, and your body shall be my vessel. And then, finally, I shall take my place as God-King.¡±


    ?????


    Taer¡¯inar leaned back in his chair and sighed as he looked to the ceiling of the library. He had spent hours poring through the pages of the thousands of books there, hoping to find some clue as to how to delay or even reverse Ithan¡¯s affliction. Unfortunately, most of the materials he found were simple historical records and severely outdated spellbooks and maps. In one book he found a reference to a powerful demon who once threatened the city, but it was sealed away by the king of that time. He had only heard of the power to seal souls in stories as a child.


    ¡°Birdbrain!¡± Dhurik shouted suddenly through the stone. He sounded out of breath, which was unusual for the minotaur. Taer¡¯inar pulled the stone out from his pocket to listen to Dhurik more clearly. What came next made his heart sink. ¡°Dogboy¡¯s gone,¡± he panted. Taer¡¯inar¡¯s thoughts raced as Dhurik relayed the events that had occurred in Zastraria. ¡°We got ambushed. There were more of those monsters, and they took him away. By the time we got to him they¡¯d already?¡ª¡±


    ¡°The gnolls forced him to consume a demon,¡± Irse interrupted. ¡°It was part of some kind of ritual to hasten the corruption.¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s breath stilled. Kiraan is in league with the gnolls? Is the witch his servant, as well? He tried his best to remain calm even as his heart pounded in his chest.


    ¡°H-how are the others?¡± he asked.


    ¡°We¡¯re taking care of a few more gnolls and then getting out,¡± Dhurik replied. ¡°We¡¯re going after Dogboy?¡ª¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Taer¡¯inar said forcefully. ¡°Head to Myth Veri¡¯Shantar.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We need to regroup.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine,¡± the minotaur groaned. ¡°He was headed southwest from here, by the way.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Taer¡¯inar responded. When he was sure Dhurik had nothing else to say, he dropped the sending stone onto the table and leaned forward, placing his head between his hands as he stared blankly down at it. He shook uncontrollably as he continued to try to calm himself. He still had no idea how to help his friend, and now he was caught between the promises he had made to both Ithan and Irse. Despair took him for only a moment before he shot up out of his seat, grabbed the sending stone, and marched out of the library toward the home of Eleana. She must know some way to fix this. This cannot be his fate.


    ?????


    Shrouded in shadows, Ithan sighs sadly as he stares into the emptiness of the void in which he resides. A fitting place to meet his end, lost to the darkness of his own soul.


    ¡°There is nothing left for me,¡± he whimpers.


    ¡°After all that, you¡¯re giving up?¡± a voice scolds. An image?¡ªthe version of himself that appeared in the Lord¡¯s Trial?¡ªforms before him. ¡°They¡¯ll come for you, you know,¡± it says.


    ¡°I wish they wouldn¡¯t,¡± Ithan growls. ¡°I¡¯m not worth it.¡±


    ¡°Taer¡¯inar thinks you are,¡± his reflection replies. ¡°Why else would he look at you the way he does?¡± Indeed, the softness of Taer¡¯inar¡¯s eyes when they last spoke had given him comfort despite the mounting dread he felt from Kiraan¡¯s presence. ¡°He cares for you too deeply to let it end this way.¡±


    Early on in his adventures, when Taer¡¯inar saved him from drowning in a lake deep beneath the surface of Rockfall, Storm had said something?¡ª


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare leave a comrade here. Least of all Mor¡¯lavan.¡±


    Ithan understands now what Storm had known then?¡ªthe bond he shares with Taer¡¯inar runs deeper than he can even begin to comprehend. It is like it has been written in the stars, a sort of kinship that could transcend lifetimes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to say goodbye,¡± he admits. His reflection smiles.


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡±


    ?????


    Eleana was meditating on the floor when Taer¡¯inar climbed inside her hollow, her eyes closed and her hands pressed together in front of her. In any other circumstance, he would have left and returned later, but he had no time for such courtesies now.


    ¡°Eleana,¡± he muttered, hoping the dryad was not too deep into her own mind to hear him. Thankfully, she quickly opened her eyes and looked up to him; her gaze was softer than the last time they had met.


    ¡°What brings you into my home, Taer¡¯inar Volarei?¡± she whispered, extending her hand out and motioning for him to sit. He did so, crossing his legs and taking a deep breath.


    ¡°What do you know of the being named Kiraan?¡± he asked. Eleana¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    ¡°How do you know that name?¡± she questioned.


    ¡°It is the name of the being who brought Ithan here,¡± he responded.


    ¡°That is impossible,¡± Eleana asserted.


    ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°Kiraan was sealed away long ago by the last king of this land,¡± she explained.


    ¡°Tell me more about that,¡± Taer¡¯inar demanded. ¡°There were precious few details in the books that I read.¡±


    ¡°Kiraan was a powerful demon who once very nearly destroyed this city,¡± she continued. ¡°He was a despicable creature, an entity of pure corruption. Try as they might, the ancient elves could not kill him. So, the last king sacrificed his own life to seal him away instead.¡±


    ¡°They sealed him in some sort of container, correct? Tell me?¡ªwas it an obsidian urn?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked, his eyes wide, his chest tightening as he awaited confirmation of his fear. Eleana¡¯s own eyes told him all that he needed to know. ¡°I¡­ destroyed it,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°Destroyed it?¡± Eleana repeated. ¡°You really are a foolish elf.¡± She stood up and glided over to the other end of the room. ¡°You must seal him away again at once.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have that kind of magic,¡± Taer¡¯inar protested.


    ¡°Well, of course you do not,¡± Eleana said. ¡°However, if your friend is truly of the royal bloodline, then he may possess that power himself.¡±


    ¡°You think so?¡± Taer¡¯inar questioned. He had always considered magic to be a learned skill; he never thought that some forms could be passed down by blood.


    ¡°He would need¡­¡± Eleana spoke softly and slowly, as if trying to process what she was saying in her own mind as she said it. ¡°He would need to seal himself away.¡±


    ¡°There has to be another way,¡± Taer¡¯inar spat. ¡°I promised I¡¯d help him.¡±


    ¡°That may be the best way to do so,¡± Eleana continued. ¡°Taer¡¯inar, listen well. Kiraan has made himself a part of the young prince. They are too closely connected now for you to merely extract the corruption from his body.¡± She sighed as Taer¡¯inar began trembling with rage. ¡°You need to let him go,¡± she whispered. Taer¡¯inar clenched his fists as he thought on Eleana¡¯s words. To seal Ithan away was better than the alternative, but still he cursed himself for not being able to do more for his friend. With a heavy heart, he took a deep breath and looked Eleana in the eye.


    ¡°What do I need to do?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You have little time,¡± Eleana replied, ¡°but Kiraan has only just reemerged. He may have the strength to overpower the young prince, but he will still need time to return fully.¡± She floated back toward Taer¡¯inar and waved her hand over the floor. Carvings began to appear, outlining what Taer¡¯inar quickly determined to be a map of Averion. As the magic ceased, Eleana pointed to a region far to the west of what appeared to be Myth Veri¡¯Shantar. ¡°He will be here.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that?¡± Taer¡¯inar questioned.


    ¡°He will be drawn to places of intense corruption in order to refuel himself,¡± Eleana replied. ¡°This place¡­ was once the domain of the goddess Laht.¡±


    ¡°Laht¡­?¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. ¡°She¡¯s real?¡±


    ¡°As real as any of the others,¡± Eleana said. A somber expression appeared on her face. ¡°Much of the world forgot about her after her passing. But that is not important right now. Gather your allies and make way for Laht¡¯s domain. Do whatever it takes to bring the prince to his senses long enough to complete the ritual.¡±


    ¡°But we don¡¯t have a vessel,¡± Taer¡¯inar realized.


    ¡°Ah, the vessel,¡± Eleana repeated. She sighed as she hovered over to pour another cup of tea. ¡°The dwarves would know how to make a new one, but there might not be enough time¡­¡± She tapped her spoon against the rim of her cup a few times as she pondered, her face scrunching up. ¡°But even then, they would not be able to replicate the magic that the runes held¡­ Perhaps¡­¡± The dryad turned to him slowly, and he could almost see her thoughts racing through her eyes.


    ¡°What?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked.


    ¡°Well, the prince is already a sort of vessel for Kiraan, is he not?¡± she said. ¡°Perhaps he could¡­ yes, that might work.¡±


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    ¡°Seal a piece of himself away?¡ªthe piece that is bound to Kiraan,¡± Eleana said finally. ¡°Lock it away within his own soul, as one would repress a painful memory.¡±


    ¡°Is that possible?¡± The feat sounded far too simple.


    ¡°It would not be a permanent solution,¡± Eleana continued, ¡°but it can be done. I am certain of it.¡± Somehow, Taer¡¯inar knew that her words were without fault, as if she had divined these events as they spoke. His chest swelled with newfound resolve, and he stood up and made ready to leave.


    ¡°Thank you, for everything,¡± he said. He strode toward the entrance of her home, leaving the dryad to her tea.


    ¡°Taer¡¯inar,¡± he heard Eleana say. He turned back to her, her eyes still gleaming. ¡°You will have one chance at this. Make it count.¡± Taer¡¯inar nodded back at her before stepping out and climbing down from her home before pulling out the sending stone from his pocket.


    ¡°Meet me at the library,¡± he spoke. ¡°We have preparations to make.¡±

 Chapter 19 - The God-Kings Domain

    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Irse asserted as she crossed her arms across from Taer¡¯inar. Her eyes sent a chill through Taer¡¯inar¡¯s body. ¡°I know you want to help him, but this is too much. He is lost, Taer¡¯inar. We need to accept that and move on.¡±


    ¡°This is about more than just Ithan,¡± Taer¡¯inar argued. ¡°Kiraan is a dangerous entity. We can¡¯t let him do as he pleases.¡±


    ¡°Those ruins are host to demons even more malevolent than the ones we have already faced,¡± Irse continued. ¡°How do you expect us to overcome such creatures?¡±


    ¡°Show some backbone,¡± Dhurik commented. Taer¡¯inar and Irse both looked at the minotaur, who had been silently listening to the two of them quarrel as Taer¡¯inar attempted to explain the situation. ¡°I thought your god championed bravery.¡±


    ¡°This is different,¡± Irse muttered. ¡°To go there would be foolish and utterly useless. We would certainly die before we could even locate Ithan.¡±


    ¡°Dogboy¡¯s our ally,¡± Dhurik huffed. ¡°If he¡¯s in trouble, I¡¯m gonna go after him. And I¡¯ll take down anything that gets in my way.¡±


    ¡°Stubborn fool,¡± Irse mumbled. ¡°Your ego is bigger than your head.¡±


    ¡°Stop it!¡± Fenvyre cried, surprising Taer¡¯inar. ¡°Lava needs our help. If you don¡¯t want to help us, that¡¯s fine. But don¡¯t tell us we¡¯re fools for wanting to help our friend.¡± Irse shrunk back at the admonishment from the usually gentle dragonkin.


    ¡°I suppose I should accompany you,¡± Irse mumbled. ¡°My magic might prove useful in your endeavor. Besides¡­ you are right. We cannot allow Kiraan to have his way.¡± Taer¡¯inar smiled gratefully at her.


    ¡°You should stay here,¡± Taer¡¯inar said gently to Fenvyre. Before she could protest, he held up a hand. ¡°There is a chance that we fail, that we end up having to¡­¡± He trailed off as he watched Fenvyre¡¯s eyes fill with fear. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to have to see that.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not fair,¡± Fenvyre muttered. ¡°He was in so much pain. I don¡¯t want that to be the last I see of him.¡± She shook her head and glared angrily at Taer¡¯inar. ¡°You¡¯d better bring him back, or I¡¯ll never forgive you.¡± Taer¡¯inar was a bit surprised that she submitted to his request so easily, but he knew she could not bear to witness Ithan¡¯s death?¡ªshould it come to that.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring him home,¡± Taer¡¯inar promised. He turned back to Dhurik and Bimpnottin. ¡°Are we ready?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been ready since yesterday,¡± Dhurik grumbled. ¡°You¡¯re the one making us wait.¡±


    ¡°We must make haste!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. ¡°Evil does not sleep!¡± He hopped onto Dhurik¡¯s back, and the minotaur growled. ¡°What? You are much faster that I am!¡± Dhurik shook his head, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward. Taer¡¯inar gathered up the few books that pertained to demons that he had managed to find, put them in his pack, then led the group out of the library. After saying their farewells to Fenvyre, they proceeded to the west, making way for the location that Taer¡¯inar had committed to memory after speaking to Eleana.


    It did not take long after exiting the forest for the sickening aura radiating from the west to reach the group. Ahead of them, the plant life began to twist unnaturally?¡ªtree branches gradually became more angular, sometimes pointing straight down into the ground; the grass withered and its color shifted to a crimson red; and the ground itself began to feel as though they were stepping on flesh rather than dirt and mud. Even the light from the sun seemed to dim as they ventured forth, a reddish hue beginning to set in.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Irse muttered. ¡°The corruption here is strong. It may make even the earth our enemy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll crush whatever comes our way,¡± Dhurik assured. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna let a little dirt?¡ªwoah!¡± The minotaur¡¯s sudden shout caught Taer¡¯inar¡¯s attention, and he turned around. A vine from a nearby tree was wrapped around Dhurik¡¯s neck. ¡°Get?¡ªack?¡ªoff!¡± he yelled as the vine began to lift him into the air. He began trying frantically to rip the vine away as he struggled to breathe.


    ¡°Dhurik?¡ª!¡± Taer¡¯inar cried as more vines began to encroach on the group. He swiftly pulled out his swords, hacking away at the vines trying to ensnare him with one and hurling the other at the one strangling Dhurik. The blade cut clean through, spraying Dhurik with a black blood-like substance as he fell to the ground coughing. A few blasts of energy from Bimpnottin kept the vines surrounding him at bay while he recovered and stood to fight.


    ¡°Thanks for the save,¡± he said to Taer¡¯inar. ¡°Now what?¡±


    ¡°Do what you do best,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied with a nervous smirk. Dhurik grinned wide, then began flailing his axe at every vine in sight. Irse began casting warding magic while Taer¡¯inar and Bimpnottin joined the offensive, faint flickers of light beginning to appear around each of them as barriers took shape. Before long the vines retreated, leaving the group in relative peace for the time being. ¡°That¡¯s handy,¡± Taer¡¯inar noted as Irse concentrated on maintaining her spell.


    ¡°It will not do much good against more intelligent foes, I am afraid,¡± Irse said. ¡°This is only the beginning of our struggles.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. He closed his eyes, trying to picture the map that Eleana had drawn. The place where she had indicated Ithan would be was at least another day¡¯s travel, so the group would need to somehow find a place to rest when the sun set. A difficult task, to be sure, but one that Taer¡¯inar would take great care to accomplish.


    On their way, the group encountered all manner of monsters?¡ªsome Taer¡¯inar recognized as twisted forms of ordinary creatures such as rats and wolves, but others seemed to be from a different realm entirely. Luckily, even the most dangerous of these ended up being nothing compared to the demon that the witch had sent after them. Perhaps Kiraan had already devoured the stronger ones. He shuddered as an image of Ithan tearing into a pile of demon corpses flashed through his mind. Please, Ithan¡­ keep fighting.


    The sun hung low in the sky before the group began to search for a place to set up camp for the night. They wanted to find a spot where they would not be beset by carnivorous plants or wolves with lashing tentacles or giant flying eyes. They were unable to find any small caves, given that the land on which they traveled was relatively flat. With great hesitation, Taer¡¯inar and Irse agreed that the group would need to simply forgo any natural barriers and double up on magical ones. After the sun had begun to set, the group gathered themselves in a relatively open area, and Taer¡¯inar and Irse cast their respective spells beneath the blood-soaked sky?¡ªIrse put up warding barriers, and Taer¡¯inar created his protective dome. He modified it such that, ideally, anything outside of the dome would be unable to detect them. He volunteered for the first watch, just to ensure that both his and Irse¡¯s spells held.


    ¡°How much further, do you think?¡± Irse asked as the group sat around the campfire later that evening.


    ¡°We should be there by midday tomorrow,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°At our current pace, that is.¡±


    ¡°We could¡¯ve been there tonight,¡± Dhurik muttered, ¡°but you all are scared of the dark.¡±


    ¡°Dhurik, you can¡¯t even see in the dark,¡± Bimpnottin rebuked. ¡°Besides, the dark¡¯s nothing to be afraid of?¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s what¡¯s in the dark that worries me,¡± Taer¡¯inar finished as he stared out past his barrier. With a huff, Dhurik crashed down to the ground and turned onto his side to sleep. Bimpnottin and Irse each lay down on their own sides of the area, leaving Taer¡¯inar alone with the dying flames of the campfire. When he was sure his companions were asleep, he muttered a spell, calling forth his beloved Nyctea, who appeared in a cloud of smoke on his forearm. He pressed his face against hers, smiling at the warmth of her feathers. ¡°Go find Ithan,¡± he whispered to her before sending her on her way. She soared out of the barrier and into the night sky, and soon she was out of sight. Taer¡¯inar closed his eyes and began to meditate, and soon an aerial view of the twisted landscape formed in his mind. The trees began to thin further west, giving way to barren plains. There were a few chasms as well as a river that traveled north to south that would need to be traversed.


    He pushed for Nyctea to fly even further west. Soon the plains were spackled with dark stone and rotten wood. Structures that might have once been houses were scattered among the rubble?¡ªNyctea now flew over the ruins of Zyr¡¯kal. At the center of the ruins lay a great stone pyramid, stairs leading up from all sides to its apex. He could not make out much of the details of the structure, but he did see a figure moving atop the platform.


    Found you.


    The figure stopped, and Taer¡¯inar¡¯s sight through Nyctea began to wane. A horrible chuckling echoed in his mind.


    Come to me, Taer¡¯inar Volarei.


    He broke his mental connection to his owl, fearing that Kiraan would somehow invade his mind through her. An hour later, when it was nearly time for Irse to take her shift, Nyctea arrived back at the camp in one piece, and Taer¡¯inar sent her away to her private sanctum. He returned to his meditation once Irse was awake, but not before warning her that Kiraan knew they were coming.


    ¡°I doubt we had the element of surprise in the first place,¡± Irse shrugged as Taer¡¯inar fell back into his trance.


    ?????


    The monstrous form of Kiraan looms over Taer¡¯inar and his comrades. Black ichor oozes from his body and spreads across the landscape, lashing out at the group as they attempt to defeat him. Amidst the fighting, Taer¡¯inar spies a flicker of light deep within the demon¡¯s chest, penetrating the inky blackness.


    ¡°Ithan!¡± he screams, slashing away at Kiraan¡¯s tendrils of corruption. The light flickers again, and for a moment the shadows recede, revealing beneath the silhouette of an elf, shining against the blackness of Kiraan¡¯s body. It struggles to break free before it is engulfed once more by the darkness. ¡°Come back!¡± Taer¡¯inar cries as he frantically begins running toward Kiraan, only to be forced back by a wave of force.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Keep fighting, Jast¡¯ira,¡± a voice calls to him. ¡°Stand by his side always, as you did mine.¡±


    ?????


    Taer¡¯inar broke free from his trance with a jolt, startling his nearby companions. It had been a long time since he last dreamed while he meditated, and this one was the clearest of them all. Jast¡¯ira?¡ªthe goddess of water?¡ªhad been involved somehow in the last confrontation with Kiraan. Another fragment of information that he could add to the puzzle of his past visions. But that was not important now. He knew that Ithan was still fighting, and as long as that was true, Taer¡¯inar would never give up. He would always remain by Ithan¡¯s side.


    ¡°Trouble sleeping?¡± Bimpnottin questioned next to him.


    ¡°Just a dream,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. He looked up at the sky; the sun had just begun to breach the eastern horizon, which meant it was just about time to set out again. ¡°Looks like the barriers held.¡±


    ¡°I felt something while I was keeping watch,¡± Irse noted. ¡°We should be ready to fight once we drop the barrier.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. On his signal, he and Irse each dispelled their respective protections, and to his great lack of surprise, three gnolls leapt out of them from the trees ahead of them.


    ¡°God-King is still recovering,¡± one of the gnolls growled as it advanced toward the group. ¡°You no interfere.¡±


    ¡°Try and stop us,¡± Dhurik laughed. He swung his axe out toward the leading gnoll, narrowly missing its shoulder as it skidded backward. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. I¡¯ve dealt with you lot plenty of times before. You¡¯re nothing but a bunch of cowards.¡± The gnolls all snarled at Dhurik, but they did not move forward.


    ¡°We not cowards,¡± the lead gnoll said. ¡°We fight for God-King.¡±


    ¡°Is that what the witch calls him?¡± Taer¡¯inar inquired. ¡°What does she want with Kiraan?¡±


    ¡°She say God-King make Averion belong to gnolls,¡± the gnoll sneered.


    ¡°I highly doubt that,¡± Irse mumbled. ¡°She is just using you as her slaves.¡±


    ¡°We not slaves!¡± another gnoll shouted. ¡°We warriors! We show you!¡± At this, all of the gnolls raised their weapons and charged at the group. Bimpnottin quickly blasted two of them away with his magic, while Taer¡¯inar and Dhurik felled the leader.


    ¡°Real great warriors,¡± Dhurik spat. ¡°Now you¡¯re dead.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky,¡± Taer¡¯inar chided. ¡°There are certain to be more dangers ahead.¡± As he spoke, though, he wondered why there were so few gnolls here?¡ªif the witch conspired with Kiraan, it would only make sense to send the entire horde to defend his dwelling while he recovered. What was more, they had yet to encounter a single demon. Hehoughed he should count his blessings; the less monsters they faced now, the better prepared they would be to face Kiraan.


    After a few hours of travel, the group came across the series of chasms that Taer¡¯inar had scoped out the night before. The group might have been able to traverse around them, but it would take much longer to make it to their destination. The group ultimately decided that the best course of action would be to cross the chasms using a combination of ropes and magic. Bimpnottin would cross the chasm using his levitation magic, ferrying the rope across. Then, when he reached the other side, he and Taer¡¯inar would tie the rope off to any sturdy rock they could find on either side. The others would need to climb across, a feat Taer¡¯inar was sure he and Dhurik could accomplish but was less certain about Irse.


    ¡°Do not underestimate me,¡± the cleric scolded as Taer¡¯inar voiced his concern. With the plan set, Taer¡¯inar handed one end of a rope to Bimpnottin and sent him on his way while he tied off the other end to a jagged rock just beneath the group. For safe measure, he used a bit of magic to keep the stone around the rope from crumbling when they started to climb across. When the gnome reached the other end of the chasm, he floated gently down to the ground and found a good strong hold to tie his end of the rope around and waited.


    Irse, the lightest between the three of them, went first?¡ªshe moved slowly at first, but soon she grew acclimated to the motions as she climbed across the rope. The speed at which she traversed the chasm impressed Taer¡¯inar, and when she made it across, he laughed as she took a bow. Dhurik went next with equal speed and ease, leaving Taer¡¯inar for last. When he had made it roughly a third of the way over the chasm, though, screeching echoes out from the chasm below. Out from it poured a flurry of giant bats, their flight path directed at him. He quickly pulled himself up to a standing position atop the rope, using all of his restraint to keep his balance in the face of certain death. The bats were almost upon him now. Steady¡­ Now! He leapt up and forward across the rope just as the bats would have collided with him, grabbing the rope tight on his way down. At that very moment, he commanded the stone around the end of the rope to recede, and he began falling down toward the opposite wall of the chasm while Bimpnottin and Irse cast spells to take care of the bats above. Despite his best effort to connect with the wall with proper technique, the force from doing so sent a wave of numbness up from his feet through to the rest of his body. He managed to hold on to the rope, houghh, and he began quickly climbing up it, only stopping when he saw Dhurik reach his hand over the cliffside to pull him up.


    ¡°That was an ordeal,¡± he gasped as he shook his arms, trying to alleviate the lingering numbness. ¡°Are we ready to go again?¡±


    ¡°It worked quite well until the last part,¡± Irse replied. ¡°How many more chasms did you say we needed to cross?¡±


    ¡°Two,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°And then we¡¯ll need to cross a river.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Irse sighed. ¡°Who knows what waits for us in there.¡±


    ¡°No time for worrying about that now,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued. ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡± Bimpnottin untied the rope from the rock and gathered it up before joining the group.


    ¡°Waste not!¡± he exclaimed, holding the pile of rope above his head like a trophy.


    Crossing the other two chasms did not end up being as treacherous as the first. Taer¡¯inar was cautiously optimistic that they would be able to ford the river with relative ease. Alas, the river was much wider and deeper than he had anticipated. The murky waters could be hiding any number of things below, but that could not dissuade him from his mission. The river¡¯s flow was gentle, at least.


    ¡°Shall we?¡± he said as he began to wade into the water. The riverbank dropped off much faster than he expected, and he dropped beneath the surface without warning. He brought himself back up and gasped for breath before turning around toward his companions.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to teach you how to swim now, do I?¡± Dhurik groaned. Taer¡¯inar splashed some of the water at the minotaur, who then leapt into the river ahead of him and submerged him once more. Bimpnottin and Irse followed behind the two of them, carefully making their way through the dark waters. Things seemed to be going well, until Taer¡¯inar felt a tug at his leg. He kicked at it, hoping it was just a bit of harmless plant life that had inexplicably become wrapped around his boot, but then he was pulled once more underwater. He quickly unsheathed one of his swords, trying to cut into whatever it was that was pulling him down without cutting himself. He thrashed around beneath the surface to alert his friends to his location, and soon something else began pulling him upward. Whatever gripped his leg held tightly, though, threatening to rip it from his body with the force. A blast of heat narrowly passed his leg?¡ªaccompanied by garbled shouting from Bimpnottin?¡ªand then he was thrust upward toward the surface, free of whatever held him there. He swam hurriedly back toward the riverbank with his companions, and when they reached the shore and escaped the water, he turned back to face the river just as a large tentacled aberration emerged from its depths.


    ¡°My master bids you welcome,¡± a voice echoed in Taer¡¯inar¡¯s mind. ¡°How fortuitous for you that you get to witness his great revival.¡±


    ¡°Who is that?¡± Dhurik questioned, jerking his head around to search for the voice¡¯s source.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s that thing,¡± Bimpnottin responded as he pointed at the creature. ¡°Let¡¯s kill it!¡±


    ¡°Quite the rambunctious little speck,¡± the voice boomed.


    ¡°Speck?!¡± Bimpnottin leapt into the air at the word. ¡°I¡¯ll show you a speck, you¡­ you¡­!¡±


    ¡°Let us pass, monster,¡± Taer¡¯inar interrupted, ¡°or face death.¡±


    ¡°You think you can threaten me? You will pay for your insolence.¡± It lashed out a tentacle at Taer¡¯inar, grabbing his leg once more and pulling him back toward the river. His skin burned?¡ªsomething foul was beginning to manifest beneath the tentacle¡¯s tightening grip.


    ¡°Away with you, fishface!¡± Bimpnottin cried as he fired a blast at the monster¡¯s head. It shook it off and continued pulling Taer¡¯inar toward its gaping maw. Taer¡¯inar hacked desperately at the tough scaly exterior of the tentacle to no avail. He was in no position to concentrate on his magic, either. Luckily, Dhurik¡¯s axe crashed down and severed the tentacle just before it could drag Taer¡¯inar beneath the surface of the river. A roar of anguish crashed through his mind as the creature tried to assail Dhurik with another tentacle, only to lose that one, as well.


    ¡°Despicable mortals,¡± the creature bellowed, ¡°my master shall reward me well for your demise.¡± Dhurik¡¯s body froze, still holding his axe above his head, ready to strike. Then, to Taer¡¯inar¡¯s horror, the minotaur turned and finished his swing, now at Taer¡¯inar instead of the creature. Taer¡¯inar rolled out of the way, but it was all he could do before the creature¡¯s tentacles came for him again. ¡°Die, die!¡± the monster laughed.


    ¡°Dhurik, what are you doing?!¡± Taer¡¯inar shouted. ¡°Snap out of it!¡± The minotaur stopped his advance on Taer¡¯inar now that he was secured again and went after Irse. He heard her cry out just as he was pulled once again beneath the surface of the river. In a desperate attempt to free himself and save his friends, he stabbed furiously and blindly into the water. Another scream in his mind. His sword began to sink into something?¡ªhe had hit his mark. He forced the sword deeper into the monster¡¯s flesh, and the tentacles around him loosened their grip as the screaming faded. Taer¡¯inar rejoiced as he swam back up to the surface of the water. Irse and Bimpnottin had managed to fend Dhurik off long enough for the creature¡¯s mind control to dissipate.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Dhurik muttered as Taer¡¯inar pulled himself out of the water, ¡°I don¡¯t know what came over me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Taer¡¯inar assured. ¡°We¡¯re all okay?¡ª¡± He bowed down in pain as his skin began to burn again. He raised his hand in front of him; to his horror, it was starting to become translucent, his bones and veins showing beneath. ¡°What?¡ª¡± he gasped. He could no longer breathe.


    ¡°Get him back in the water,¡± Irse commanded as Taer¡¯inar writhed on the ground. Dhurik quickly picked him up and tossed him into the water with the deceased aberration, and he was able to breathe again. His entire body had become translucent and slimy, transformed by the creature¡¯s foul touch, no doubt.


    ¡°Ew, you¡¯re all¡­ veiny,¡± Bimpnottin stated when Taer¡¯inar returned to the surface.


    ¡°How long is this going to last?¡± Taer¡¯inar questioned.


    ¡°Not long,¡± Irse replied. ¡°You happen to know a good cleric.¡± She chanted something, then touched Taer¡¯inar on the shoulder. Within moments, the slime on his skin dissolved and his skin returned to its natural opaque paleness. He jumped out of the water once more and took a deep breath of air, happy to not be trapped as a slimy water-breathing monstrosity for the rest of his days.


    ¡°You know we¡¯re still on the wrong side of the river, right?¡± Bimpnottin commented. Taer¡¯inar groaned just before Dhurik pushed him back into the water, and the four of them crossed the river without any further issue.


    ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± Dhurik asked as the group began traveling west past the river. Taer¡¯inar looked out over the horizon and saw structures in the distance; the ruins of Zyr¡¯kal were close now.


    ¡°First, we get to that city,¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he pointed out toward the ruins. ¡°Then, we get to the pyramid and save Ithan.¡±


    ?


    Kiraan sneered as he listened to the whisperings of his servants. The noble heroes had destroyed his aberration. They rejoiced as they made their way through their trials with few injuries. They were formidable, that much Kiraan would admit. But still, they were fools for coming here. Fools for believing they could make any difference in this cruel world.


    ¡°Keep believing,¡± he snickered. ¡°Let your belief drive you ever closer.¡± He snapped his fingers, and his shadows began to do their work, carving intricate designs into the stone platform on which he stood. ¡°Your demise shall be my ultimate triumph, Taer¡¯inar Volarei.¡±

 Chapter 20 - Radiant Soul

    It had taken another couple of hours for the group to reach the abandoned city. Taer¡¯inar¡¯s fevered determination kept him moving forward, marching down the desolate streets toward his objective. The city was entirely deserted?¡ªno demons, no gnolls, no people?¡ªwhich made his mission all the easier. When at last they reached the steps of the great stone pyramid at the center of the city, he glared up at its peak, his fists balled up in anticipation for the coming battle.


    ¡°He¡¯s up there,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered as Irse stepped up beside him.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± she asked. Taer¡¯inar nodded slowly, his gaze remaining fixed on the apex. He had faith that they would succeed, that he would not have to fulfill the cruel promise he made to Irse. ¡°Laht favor us,¡± he heard her say quietly, causing him to look at her with bewilderment. ¡°What? We need all the help we can get.¡± He chuckled to himself; Apostalite would certainly have been here to help had they not met such an untimely end. He himself silently prayed to Laht, hoping that they would forgive his doubt of them in his time of need. Then, he strode forward, beginning the long climb up the side of the pyramid, his friends quickly joining him. It did not take long before he broke into a sprint, his anxiety pushing him forward.


    He reached the top before his friends, giving him a clear view of the apex. Intricate carvings littered the ground, and a sort of ritual circle appeared to be etched into the center of the platform. Large gems hovered above pillars that stood at each corner of the platform, their luster lost from long ago. At the other end of the platform stood a giant throne made of dull steel. The back had been completely broken off, revealing behind it a sort of oval structure. And there, seated in the throne itself, was the form of a creature that after a few moments he recognized as Ithan, grinning at him with a maliciousness that made him squirm.


    The antlers on Ithan¡¯s head had grown large enough to rival a stag¡¯s. His ears, too, had grown since the last time Taer¡¯inar had seen him, stretching to more than twice their old length. The wings on his back spread roughly twelve feet wide and were covered in bony plates. His eyes were bloodshot now, his pupils slitted and his irises?¡ªthose deep pools of emerald green?¡ªturned a repulsive yellow. Taer¡¯inar grimaced at the sight, frustrated that he had allowed his friend to be reduced to such a monstrous form. But it was not Ithan who was in control now.


    ¡°You came,¡± Kiraan said in Ithan¡¯s voice as the others arrived at the platform. ¡°I am so grateful to have such good friends.¡±


    ¡°You can drop the act,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, eliciting a sneer from Kiraan. He drew his swords and pointed them toward the demon. ¡°I will only say this once. Let him go.¡±


    ¡°You are hardly in the position to be making demands,¡± Kiraan said, shifting his weight to one side of the throne. ¡°This really is all your fault, you know. You had so many chances to end this. Especially while I was still recovering.¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s hand twitched. Back then, he had so nearly struck Ithan through the heart. Since then, he had been determined to save Ithan from his fate, but had he done the deed then, they would not be here now.


    ¡°Do it now, Irse,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, being careful not to turn away from Kiraan. Irse quickly chanted behind him, light emanating from her hands and branching out toward Kiraan and forming a barrier around him. Still grinning, Kiraan extended his hand and released a pulse of magic, and the barrier quickly shattered. Taer¡¯inar grimaced as the light faded.


    ¡°Her magic is not strong enough to hold me anymore,¡± Kiraan laughed. He summoned Ithan¡¯s glaive as he stood up from his broken throne and advanced toward the group. ¡°I had hoped you would bring the dragonkin girl, but I suppose you four will do nicely.¡± With a snap of his fingers, shadowy forms began to emerge all around the group.


    ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± Bimpnottin asked as he made a ball of fire appear in his hand.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try to knock some sense into him,¡± Taer¡¯inar answered. ¡°Try to figure out a spell that will work on Kiraan,¡± he said to Irse. The minotaur grinned and tightened the grip on his axe. With a nod, Taer¡¯inar closed his eyes briefly, calling on the magic of his ancestors to aid him in this battle, and soon humming emanated from all around him. The hum of battle. The roar of the ocean. Readying himself, he took a deep breath and charged at one of the shadows, slashing into it with both blades. Dhurik followed suit, cleaving another shadow in two as he barreled toward Kiraan.


    ¡°Evil begone!¡± Irse cried behind Taer¡¯inar. Flickers of light once more drifted around him and Dhurik, deflecting the attacks from the shadows surrounding them. At the same time, blasts of fire shot out ahead of them, destroying some of the shadows closer to Kiraan.


    ¡°Piece of cake!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. Kiraan growled and raised his hand toward the gnome, tendrils of darkness emanating out toward him. ¡°Uh oh.¡± The darkness lashed out at Bimpnottin like vipers, threatening to eviscerate him. Taer¡¯inar stared helplessly out at him, unable to cast a spell to deflect Kiraan¡¯s attack without being overcome by his minions. As he stood there, though, Dhurik charged through the creatures and leapt in front of Kiraan. The shadows stabbed through his body as they passed, vanishing now that they had found their mark.


    ¡°Dhurik!¡± Irse called. The minotaur stood motionless for a moment before collapsing on the ground, a pool of blood quickly forming around him. With a fury Taer¡¯inar had never before witnessed from the cleric, she began to glow a brilliant white light, and Taer¡¯inar swore for a moment that she had wings. The light radiated out across the battleground, disintegrating Kiraan¡¯s minions and forcing him to shield his eyes until it passed. When the light faded, she stumbled to her knees. ¡°I am sorry,¡± she gasped. ¡°That was¡­ the best I could do¡­¡± Now that Taer¡¯inar¡¯s opponents were vanquished, he turned his attention to Kiraan, but to his dismay, he had already recovered. He had stepped forward, hovering over Dhurik¡¯s body.


    ¡°One down,¡± he sneered as he raised his glaive, ready to pierce the minotaur¡¯s chest. Taer¡¯inar muttered an incantation, attempting to slow Kiraan down long enough to reach him. But as Kiraan thrust his glaive down toward Dhurik¡¯s chest, Taer¡¯inar knew?¡ªhe was too late.


    ?????


    ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± Ithan¡¯s reflection states. ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ithan replies. ¡°Tell me what I need to do.¡±


    ¡°Break free,¡± his reflection says. Ithan struggles against the tendrils that ensnare him, but he is unable to tear himself away.


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± he cries. ¡°It¡¯s too strong.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t give up.¡± Images of Ithan¡¯s friends flash before him. ¡°You have to break free. They need you.¡± Another image forms?¡ªone of his own twisted body looming over Dhurik as he lay unconscious on the ground.


    ¡°No,¡± he says as he again attempts to break free. ¡°Stop this.¡±


    The image of him sneers as it raises its glaive, ready to pierce the minotaur¡¯s chest. As the panic rises in Ithan¡¯s chest, he begins to thrash about, desperately trying to break free.


    ¡°I won¡¯t!¡± he cries. An overlay of Storm¡¯s body briefly passes over Dhurik¡¯s. ¡°Not again!¡± The sight gives Ithan newfound determination, and he at last forces himself free of the darkness, lunging at the image just as it begins to thrust the glaive down.


    ?????


    Taer¡¯inar stared in awe as Ithan stood panting over Dhurik¡¯s body. He had so nearly slain the fallen minotaur, but as if by some invisible force, his glaive met the ground rather than Dhurik¡¯s chest.


    ¡°I won¡¯t¡­¡± Ithan muttered. ¡°Not again¡­¡± He fell to his knees, still clinging to his glaive as he began to shake violently. After a few moments, his glaive vanished, leaving him to collapse onto the ground next to Dhurik.


    ¡°Ithan!¡± Taer¡¯inar shouted again, running up to his friends as Irse joined him. Irse and Bimpnottin dragged Dhurik away as Taer¡¯inar turned Ithan over onto his back. He was still breathing, if only barely, and to Taer¡¯inar¡¯s relief, he managed to open his eyes.


    ¡°Why did¡­ you come here¡­?¡± Ithan gasped, his voice wavering as he struggled to breathe.


    ¡°Why else? We came for you,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied, kneeling to comfort his friend.


    ¡°You could¡­ have died¡­¡± Ithan wheezed. ¡°You could¡­ still¡­¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Do you really have that little faith in us?¡± Taer¡¯inar laughed. ¡°I told you before, didn¡¯t I? We¡¯re in this together?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Until the end¡­¡± Ithan finished, gazing up at him, tears welling in his eyes. ¡°Thank you¡­ for not¡­ giving up¡­ on me¡­¡± Taer¡¯inar smiled warmly, and stood to turn to Irse, who was tending to Dhurik¡¯s wounds. ¡°How is he¡­?¡± Ithan asked weakly, too quietly for her to hear.


    ¡°Is Dhurik all right?¡± Taer¡¯inar called.


    ¡°Yes, he is just unconscious,¡± Irse replied, her hands still glowing from her healing magic as she waved them over the minotaur¡¯s chest.


    ¡°We can¡¯t move both of them ourselves,¡± Taer¡¯inar pondered. ¡°Dhurik¡¯s too heavy for just one of us to carry.¡±


    ¡°I suppose we will just have to do this here,¡± Irse muttered.


    ¡°Listen to me, Ithan,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°You need to try to hold him back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying¡­¡± Ithan grunted as he winced in pain. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ too strong¡­ Just¡­ end it¡­ while I¡¯m still¡­ me¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to do that,¡± Taer¡¯inar continued. ¡°You can do it, Ithan. I have faith.¡± He grasped Ithan¡¯s hand in his own. ¡°Your ancestor did it, and you can, too. Seal him away.¡±


    ¡°Seal him¡­?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a piece of your soul that¡¯s connected to him,¡± Taer¡¯inar explained. ¡°But that¡¯s only part of who you are. You can seal that part of you away, and Kiraan will be sealed with it.¡±


    ¡°But how¡­?¡±


    ¡°You have to concentrate,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Focus all of your energy on containing him. We¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­ I¡¯ll try¡­¡± Ithan¡¯s hand tightened around his, and a pit formed in his stomach as he looked at his friend¡¯s frightened face.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got you,¡± he assured. Ithan nodded slowly, and then closed his eyes. Moments later, Ithan¡¯s chest heaved as he cried out in pain. Irse pulled Taer¡¯inar away and began chanting, and a wall of light formed around Ithan, intensifying in brightness until Taer¡¯inar could hardly see without shielding his eyes. Then, Ithan¡¯s cries of pain became howls of rage.


    Ithan writhed on the ground, screaming as the light burned his flesh. He began shouting in some guttural, beast-like language that Taer¡¯inar could not identify. Then, he rose from the ground and began slamming his fists against the wall of light, rage burning in his eyes. This primal fury¡­ it was Kiraan, not Ithan, who had nearly choked the life out of him in that ancient elven crypt. Please, don¡¯t leave us.


    He felt utterly defeated. he had risked everything to do whatever he could to help Ithan, and it was all for naught. He cursed under his breath as he dropped to his knees, angry at the gods who he had believed would always be there for those in need for having turned their backs on one of his own.


    ?????


    Kiraan growls as Ithan stumbles to his feet. Kiraan¡¯s monstrous visage appears before him, his dark power threatening to destroy him completely. Ithan is fading away, but he cannot give up now. He must seal Kiraan away.


    ¡°You took me by surprise,¡± Kiraan says. ¡°But now it is time to end this.¡±


    ¡°This is it,¡± Ithan¡¯s reflection says. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to become who you are meant to be.¡± Before his eyes, Ithan¡¯s reflection shatters, the resulting light flowing into him. All at once, his determination succumbs his fear, and as he looks upon his foe, something else within him stirs.


    ¡°I am Ithan Aranis,¡± Ithan says proudly, barely recognizing his own voice, ¡°crown prince of Sol¡¯vara, and descendant of the last king of Averion.¡± The words flow from him so naturally, the surge of confidence allowing him to speak with the force of a born leader. ¡°I may be your vessel, Kiraan, but I will no longer be your prisoner.¡± At this, a sword made of pure light appears before him. Ithan takes the sword in his hand, and his body is enveloped by the light. Ithan gladly embraces its warmth and is lost in it for just a moment.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Kiraan bellows as he lunges at Ithan, thrusting his glaive out ahead of him. Ithan parries Kiraan¡¯s attack, knocking his master back in the process. Newfound strength courses through him?¡ªno, this is his own strength. That which was taken from him by Kiraan, reclaimed by the light of his own soul. He charges Kiraan, aiming his blade at his opponent¡¯s chest. Kiraan rebounds, and the two continue to clash until finally, in a burst of might, Ithan slashes through the demon¡¯s chest. Kiraan yells out in pain as light begins to radiate from his wound. ¡°Why do you not vanish?!¡± He summons a barrage of fireballs, forcing Ithan to jump back and evade them while Kiraan prepares another attack.


    Ithan begins to move ever faster, invigorated by his own will to defeat his foe. He strikes at Kiraan¡¯s back, causing another flash of light to begin emanating from him. He leaps away before Kiraan can react, and the light begins to spread past the demon¡¯s wounds.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lose to you,¡± Ithan asserts, standing tall as Kiraan¡¯s breathing becomes ragged. Kiraan roars in reply, sending a massive wave of magic through the ground toward Ithan, black tendrils grasping at his limbs trying to contain him once more. Ithan charges once again at Kiraan, cutting through the darkness surrounding him and forcing his blade through Kiraan¡¯s chest even as he attempts to deflect the blow. After a moment, Kiraan exhales as his form begins to dissolve in the spreading light, a look of utter disbelief on his face. After Kiraan has vanished completely, Ithan closes his eyes and allows the light to take him completely, satisfied now that he is free at last.


    ?????


    ¡°Do not despair just yet,¡± Irse said, as if answering Taer¡¯inar¡¯s thoughts. He looked quickly back up toward Ithan, and his breath stifled as he stood up. Ithan¡¯s thrashing had slowed; he still had his hands pressed against the barrier, but the hatred in his eyes had faded. The color, too, had changed; the yellow had become less intense, flecks of that beautiful emerald green shimmering in the light. ¡°It seems he has some fight left in him after all.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t¡­ lose¡­¡± Ithan croaked, tears welling up in his eyes. Some escaped from Taer¡¯inar, too, as his friend struggled to regain himself. The light intensified again, and Ithan bowed in pain. He shook violently as he tried to withstand it, and Taer¡¯inar could not help but admire his resilience. But then, Ithan¡¯s scorched flesh began to peel away, revealing clear skin beneath it. The corruption was melting away from Ithan¡¯s body. With each flash of light, more and more of his body reverted to his original self. His hooves became bare feet. The wings that he had sprouted just days ago sizzled away as specks of dust. His antlers disintegrated into nothing. His muzzle compressed, reshaping itself until it no longer resembled a fox, leaving behind a youthful, regal elven face.


    With a final flash, the light faded, and the containment ring disappeared. Ithan collapsed on the ground, and Taer¡¯inar ran to his side. He lay motionless, his eyes closed. All the pain Ithan had endured must have been too much?¡ªit must have siphoned away the little life he still had left in him. The tears in Taer¡¯inar¡¯s eyes began to overflow, streaming down his face and onto Ithan¡¯s.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he sobbed. ¡°I¡¯m so, so sorry.¡±


    ¡°Stop crying on me,¡± Ithan groaned suddenly. Taer¡¯inar leapt back in surprise as Ithan opened his eyes. Ithan grinned wide when he saw Taer¡¯inar standing there, and elation flooded Taer¡¯inar¡¯s heart at his friend¡¯s beautiful smile.


    ¡°H-hey,¡± he stuttered, frantically trying to regain his composure. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°My head hurts,¡± Ithan mumbled as he wiped Taer¡¯inar¡¯s fallen tears from his own face. ¡°Where are we¡­?¡± He stared at his hand for a moment before returning his attention to Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°Eleana said this place was once home to Laht,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied as Ithan pulled himself up to a seated position. ¡°Kiraan came here to feed on the corruption so that he could?¡ª¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Kiraan?¡± Ithan questioned.


    ¡°He¡¯s¡­ uh, well¡­¡±


    ¡°He was one of the demons who attacked us,¡± Irse interrupted. ¡°He brought you here to lure us into a trap.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like a demon¡­¡± Ithan pondered. ¡°They¡¯re usually not that smart, right?¡±


    ¡°Not all demons are as mindless as the ones the witch commands,¡± Irse continued. ¡°In fact, she probably saved this one for us after we outmaneuvered her last time.¡± Ithan nodded slowly, but Taer¡¯inar could still see the wheels turning in his mind. He himself gave a subtle nod to Irse, who smiled gently before turning back to continue her work on Dhurik.


    ¡°What happened to him?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Kiraan knocked him out!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. ¡°But I, the brilliant Bimpnottin Bafflestone, managed to strike him down before he could land the final blow to our good friend!¡± Taer¡¯inar was glad that the gnome caught on to the act, but he wished he would tone down the theatrics, if only just this once. Regardless, Ithan seemed to be buying it.


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Ithan sighed. ¡°I¡¯m glad he¡¯s okay.¡± He pressed a hand to his head and closed his eyes.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Dhurik grumbled. Relieved, Taer¡¯inar turned to the minotaur, who had already sat up after Irse had finished administering her healing magic. ¡°Did we win? Where¡¯s Dogboy?¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s chest seized. He¡¯s going to blow our cover.


    ¡°Hey, Dhurik,¡± Ithan called, surprising Taer¡¯inar. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve had better days.¡± The minotaur¡¯s brow furrowed, but after a moment of staring at Ithan, he burst into a hearty laugh.


    ¡°I could say the same to you!¡± he declared. ¡°Have you looked at yourself lately?!¡± Ithan tilted his head, his face twisting in confusion, before looking down at his body. Whenever Ithan looked at himself, he seemed to be mystified by his own body. Even though his memories had been rewritten, the echoes of his time as a demon were etched on his soul. It would surely take some time for the strangeness he felt to dissipate.


    ¡°You are rather pale,¡± Irse commented. ¡°Let me see if I can at least get you standing again.¡± She cast a healing spell on Ithan, and though his complexion did not change, Taer¡¯inar could tell that he already was in much better shape. He pulled his friend up from the ground and wrapped his arms around him tight.


    ¡°I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re all right,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Ithan stammered. He wriggled himself free from Taer¡¯inar¡¯s grasp, a slight shade of red beginning to form on his cheeks. Taer¡¯inar could not help but laugh, and the redness grew brighter. ¡°Can we get out of here? This place is kind of creepy.¡±


    ¡°I concur,¡± Bimpnottin said. ¡°Where to next, my minions?¡±


    ¡°We should probably regroup with Fenvyre, at the very least,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯s worried about all of us.¡± He stepped away from Ithan toward the stairs, expecting the others to follow. When they did not, he turned around?¡ªIthan had stumbled back onto the ground.


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡± he mumbled as he struggled to pick himself back up. Dhurik walked over and hoisted the elf onto his back, and the five of them retreated from the ruins of Laht¡¯s domain together.

 Chapter 21 - Ithan

    ¡°It really is quite remarkable,¡± Eleana said after Taer¡¯inar had finished describing the events of their rescue of Ithan from the ruins of Zyr¡¯kal. ¡°You are very fortunate that the Dawn¡¯s Mark manifested in him when it did.¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡± Taer¡¯inar questioned.


    ¡°It is the gift given to the royal bloodline by Elteus the Disciplined,¡± Eleana replied. ¡°The same gift that enabled the last king of Averion?¡ªand the prince?¡ªto seal Kiraan away. It is what gives the Aranis line their power, and it is through it that they may wield the light of Elteus himself.¡± She sat in silence for a few moments before speaking again. ¡°Without Kiraan¡¯s influence, his innate magical talent will begin to flourish. He may not be able to control all of it yet, but with guidance he can refine and master it.¡±


    ¡°Is it the Dawn¡¯s Mark that caused him to lose his memory?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked.


    ¡°In times of great peril, the Dawn¡¯s Mark acts on its own, protecting its host. It could be that the means to protect Ithan from Kiraan lies in his memories. The death of his mother, his quest for vengeance, all that he has done in Kiraan¡¯s name¡­¡±


    ¡°All sealed away with Kiraan himself,¡± Taer¡¯inar finished.


    ¡°Indeed. Triggering any of these memories may lead to a chain reaction, and the seal will break. You and your friends must not allow him to remember who he was.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t do that forever,¡± Taer¡¯inar argued.


    ¡°I know. But, for the time being, all of you must guard Ithan¡¯s past with your lives.¡± She took a sip from her tea. ¡°When the last king of Averion came of age, he went on a pilgrimage to a temple high in the mountains. It was there where he fully awakened his power. If the young prince goes there?¡ªif he is able to use all of the magic bestowed upon him by the Mark?¡ªperhaps then he will be able to withstand Kiraan¡¯s influence long enough to transfer him to a more permanent vessel.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. ¡°Then we¡¯ll make ready to travel there. Do you know of any safe passages to this temple?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Eleana chuckled. She waved her hand over the floor, and once more a map of Averion appeared. She then traced with her finger a path from Myth Veri¡¯Shantar to a tall mountain near the center of the range to the northwest. ¡°This is the path that the Aranis line has taken for generations. At the tallest peak stands the temple of Meriterre.¡± She tapped the spot a few times with her finger before looking up at Taer¡¯inar. ¡°You might discover something for yourself up there.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Eleana smiled wryly at him.


    ¡°I am sure you will understand very soon.¡±


    ¡°This path?¡ªis it safe from the witch?¡±


    ¡°She is more than a mere witch,¡± Eleana muttered. ¡°She commands the gnolls and demons, and from what you have told me, I can guess that she was the one to send them after the young prince.¡±


    ¡°She was the one to set him on his path,¡± Taer¡¯inar pondered aloud. ¡°Do you think she¡¯ll come after him again?¡±


    ¡°Certainly,¡± Eleana said. ¡°She seems to have put much investment in Kiraan¡¯s return. I am sure that she is not too happy about your interference.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to be careful, then,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Thank you, as always.¡±


    ¡°It is my pleasure.¡± Eleana stood up and floated toward the entrance. ¡°Now, that is all the time I have for you today. I do have other customers, you know.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Taer¡¯inar grumbled. He stepped out of her home and brushing past the various forest creatures that had lined up in front of it, apologizing in Elvish as he passed through. The city had livened up rather quickly once spring was in full swing, and luckily for the group, all of its inhabitants seemed to be rather friendly. They never did find out where the monster that attacked them in the crypt had come from, or why it had been after Kiraan¡¯s vessel. Perhaps it had been sent by the witch, lying in wait until the crypt was opened.


    ¡°Hey, Taer!¡± Fenvyre called, breaking Taer¡¯inar¡¯s concentration. The dragonkin was running toward him, narrowly avoiding stepping on a passing squirrel. ¡°Sorry!¡± she called to it as she continued running. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± she asked when she reached him.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just¡­¡± He scratched his head as they began walking toward the direction of the teleportation circle. ¡°This is all so much more work than I thought it would be.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be okay,¡± Fenvyre replied. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ what do we tell everyone back home?¡± Taer¡¯inar shared Fenvyre¡¯s concern. So many of the dragonkin in Greenreach had cared for the one they knew as Mor¡¯lavan, and now¡­ No one could know the truth. Not yet.


    Along the way to the circle, Taer¡¯inar and Fenvyre happened upon Ithan and Dhurik sparring in a makeshift arena, with Irse observing close by. Ithan wielded a stick in one hand as if it were a longsword, rather than a glaive.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go on ahead and check on Bimpnottin?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked Fenvyre. ¡°I need to discuss something with Irse.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Fenvyre said. She continued toward the circle while Taer¡¯inar turned and met up with Irse.


    ¡°What did Eleana have to say?¡± Irse muttered as the two of them watched Ithan and Dhurik spar.


    ¡°We can¡¯t let Ithan remember anything or the seal could break,¡± Taer¡¯inar explained. ¡°At least until we find another way to keep Kiraan sealed away, no one can know what has happened here.¡±


    ¡°That makes things complicated,¡± Irse sighed, ¡°but at least we know what we¡¯re working with.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a temple in the mountains, called Meriterre,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°I think it would be good for you to travel there with us.¡±


    ¡°Give me some time to think about it,¡± Irse said. Ithan stumbled back, falling onto the ground after deflecting one of Dhurik¡¯s attacks.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing good,¡± Dhurik said to Ithan. ¡°Gotta keep your balance, though.¡±


    ¡°I must be having an off day,¡± Ithan replied as he flourished his makeshift sword. ¡°This feels¡­ unnatural.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll debrief everyone else,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered to Irse before he strode over to Ithan and Dhurik, picking up another couple of sticks from the ground on the way. He nodded to the minotaur, who backed away from the arena. ¡°You¡¯re flailing your weapon around recklessly. You need to maintain control. Make it natural to your own movements.¡± He dashed toward Ithan, who leapt out of the way just in time to dodge his sudden attack.


    ¡°Hey, come on!¡± Ithan protested. ¡°Give me a break, will you?!¡± He deflected Taer¡¯inar¡¯s next attack, but the force of the blow knocked the stick out of his hand. He rolled away, reaching out for the stick as Taer¡¯inar pursued him.


    ¡°The enemy¡¯s not going to give you any time to rest. You have to find a way to overcome them, even when you¡¯re at a severe disadvantage.¡± Taer¡¯inar swung his weapon down at Ithan again, but to his surprise, the young prince vanished in a flash of light. When it faded, an unseen force knocked him to the ground, and he was now staring up at the forest canopy. He had barely processed what had just happened before Ithan¡¯s concerned face came into view. ¡°When did you learn to do that?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ Just now.¡± Taer¡¯inar turned his head toward Dhurik, who shrugged slightly. Taer¡¯inar picked himself up and brushed the dirt off of his armor.


    ¡°Well, fair¡¯s fair,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. ¡°I guess we can stop for the day.¡± He gazed off toward the north through the trees. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on Bimpnottin.¡± He motioned for Dhurik to follow him, and they started making his way toward the old teleportation circle.


    ¡°Where do you think you are going?¡± Irse called. Taer¡¯inar turned in surprise?¡ªhe had just said where he was going, after all?¡ªbut it was not he who Irse addressed. Ithan was following him like a lost pup.


    ¡°I was going to go with Taer?¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, you need to stay here,¡± Irse asserted. ¡°I still need to work on your back wound.¡± Ithan grumbled, but to Taer¡¯inar¡¯s relief he turned back and shuffled to Irse.


    After everything, he¡¯s still just a kid.


    ?


    ¡°And it¡¯s finished!¡± Bimpnottin rejoiced, leaping up from his kneeled position. He had spent the better part of the last several days poring over the books in the library, trying to make sense of the runes that adorned the teleportation circle. He knew quite a bit of magic, but that which seemed to flow through Myth Veri¡¯Shantar was far different from anything he had ever experienced. It was a struggle to find the right runes, but he managed all the same. He was the most powerful wizard in the world, after all. Yet, when he tried to activate the circle, nothing happened.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t work,¡± Fenvyre said. She had arrived a few minutes ago and was now sitting on a large stone near the circle watching him work.


    ¡°Blasted bloodline magic,¡± he grumbled to himself. Stretching his arms to his sides, he spun around and sauntered toward one end to wait for his minions. After a few minutes, he caught Dhurik and Taer¡¯inar approaching. ¡°Comrades! It¡¯s finished!¡±


    ¡°Fantastic!¡± Taer¡¯inar called eagerly. When he and Dhurik reached the circle, though, Taer¡¯inar¡¯s smile faded. ¡°It¡¯s not activated.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well, you see¡­¡± Bimpnottin shuffled his feet. ¡°As it turns out, only the royal elven bloodline can activate it.¡± He was embarrassed that he could not complete such a simple task, and he hung his head low in shame.


    ¡°Oh, well that shouldn¡¯t be too much of an issue,¡± Taer¡¯inar commented. ¡°I suppose even the great Bimpnottin Bafflestone has his limits, eh?¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Why, the audacity!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, if I had been given complete autonomy, I could have made three teleportation circles this size!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Taer¡¯inar laughed. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll go and gather everyone up.¡±


    ¡°What are we telling the folks back in Greenreach?¡± Dhurik questioned.


    ¡°We can¡¯t tell them what happened here,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied as he crossed his arms over his chest. ¡°If Ithan remembers who he was, Kiraan could be freed. For all intents and purposes, ¡®Mor¡¯lavan¡¯ is dead. Do with that what you will.¡±


    ¡°But they deserve to know,¡± Fenvyre argued. ¡°You know how much everyone cared about him.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t risk more people knowing about this,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°It will only make it more difficult to protect Ithan.¡± Fenvyre frowned. ¡°We won¡¯t be staying there long anyhow. I¡¯m taking Ithan to the northern mountains.¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey!¡± Dhurik shouted. ¡°I didn¡¯t sign up for any more mountain-climbing.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to come with us,¡± Taer¡¯inar retorted. ¡°It¡¯d be a shame if you lost your investment, though.¡±


    ¡°What?¡ª You?¡ª All right, fine,¡± the minotaur grumbled.


    ¡°The north?!¡± Bimpnottin exclaimed. ¡°Whatever for? And after I put all this effort into repairing this blasted thing!¡± He stomped on one of the runes he had so carefully inlaid into the stone.


    ¡°Your efforts have not been wasted,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°We will return to Greenreach to gather more supplies first.¡± Bimpnottin threw his hands up in frustration, but he did not argue with the elf. After all, the magic of the Aranis line had caught his attention, and he wanted to be the one to carefully curate Ithan¡¯s talents and watch them bloom.


    ¡°Fine, fine!¡± he shouted. ¡°You¡¯ll be needing my magic to blast those gnolls to bits, anyhow.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go, too,¡± Fenvyre added. ¡°I want to keep helping in any way I can.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the dragonkin replied. ¡°I do miss everyone back home, but I don¡¯t want to miss out on anything.¡± Bimpnottin admired the dragonkin, braving all of these dangers while only just discovering her own abilities. She reminded him of himself, in his younger years.


    She will make a fine pupil as well.


    ?


    Ithan let out a loud sigh as he lay on his stomach waiting for Irse to finish applying her magic to his back. He had really wanted to talk to Eleana before the afternoon crowd of critters swarmed around her tree. He had a strange feeling that things were not quite the way they should be, and he hoped that the dryad would have some insight. From the time that he found himself atop that strange pyramid, he felt as though he were dreaming. Irse had assured him that these feelings would pass as the last of the demon venom¡¯s effects dissipated, but he had his doubts.


    ¡°Irse,¡± he said as he lay there, ¡°what¡¯s an ¡®O¡¯kinou¡¯?¡± The word lingered in his mind, like a stubborn crumb between his teeth.


    ¡°Where did you hear that word from?¡± Irse replied as she set a warm rag over Ithan¡¯s wound.


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember,¡± Ithan said. ¡°Is it another word for ¡®demon¡¯?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± She muttered something, and Ithan felt a slight sting in his back. ¡°It is a name given to those who have betrayed the gods.¡±


    ¡°Is the witch an O¡¯kinou?¡± Ithan asked. For a few moments, only the wind in the trees filled the silence between them.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Irse said finally. She took off the rag and tapped Ithan on the shoulder, signaling that he was free to sit up. He did so and threw on his shirt?¡ªFenvyre had taken great pains to mend it after they had returned?¡ªbefore hopping up to join the cleric as they walked toward the teleportation circle. By the time they reached it, all of the rest of their group had already gathered.


    ¡°Took you long enough,¡± Dhurik grunted. ¡°Are we ready to go or what?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve had a minor change in plans,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°We¡¯ll only be staying in Greenreach a short while before returning here.¡±


    ¡°When did we decide this?¡± Ithan questioned.


    ¡°Just now,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Eleana told me about a temple there that will help you with your magic.¡± Ithan scowled, but he understood; he had managed to survive with the help of his friends, but awakening his own magic would help him stand on his own. Perhaps it would also help him to regain his memory. Taer¡¯inar stepped down to him and set a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°The rest of you have already decided, it seems,¡± Irse sighed. ¡°Well, far be it from me to be the one to break up our little group.¡± She smiled, a rare sight for Ithan. ¡°I shall join you.¡±


    ¡°Well, now that we¡¯ve got all that sorted out,¡± Bimpnottin said, ¡°I require your assistance in activating this circle, Ithan.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Ithan questioned. ¡°But I don¡¯t?¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re more connected to this place than the rest of us,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, releasing his grip on Ithan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Have a little faith.¡± Ithan laughed as he recalled saying the very same thing to Taer¡¯inar when they embarked on their quest to find Apostalite¡¯s mage tower. When was that, exactly¡­? His memories were like a shattered mirror, and every time he tried to fit the pieces together it was like he had cut himself on the shards.


    ¡°Now, stand here,¡± Bimpnottin said, ¡°and command the circle to activate.¡±


    ¡°It¡­ can¡¯t be that simple,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°Oh, but it is!¡± Bimpnottin replied. ¡°Exert your will over the circle, and it will obey!¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ activate?¡± Nothing happened. ¡°Turn on. Start. Go.¡±


    ¡°The runes are like a lock,¡± Bimpnottin said, ¡°and you are the key. Imagine yourself unlocking a door.¡±


    ¡°Where would this door lead?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°It can take you anywhere you want,¡± Bimpnottin said. ¡°To the mountains, to the desert, to a far-off city¡­¡± Ithan was always intrigued by Fenvyre¡¯s vivid descriptions of her dragonkin village. It sounded like it was very different from Myth Veri¡¯Shantar. He wanted to see that place?¡ªthe cobblestone streets and brick houses and the dragonkin with crimson scales.


    ¡°Open the way,¡± he said in Elvish. The runes then finally came to life, glowing bright in a variety of colors.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done it!¡± Bimpnottin shouted as he stepped past Ithan and into the circle. ¡°Excellent work, my pupil. And now, to Greenreach!¡± The gnome instantly vanished in a flash of light. Dhurik and Irse followed, each declaring their destination, and Ithan worried that he might not see them again.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Fenvyre said as she grabbed Ithan¡¯s wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± The two of them and Taer¡¯inar stepped up to the circle


    ¡°Greenreach,¡± Ithan said in unison with his friends, and the world melted away around him into the light.


    ?


    When the light faded and Taer¡¯inar was able to open his eyes, he was standing amongst his friends in a cellar lined with shelves filled with barrels. The room was mostly dark save for the residual light from the teleportation circle at their feet. Bimpnottin was already at work inspecting the runes, but he cursed as the last of the light faded, the runes disappearing with them.


    ¡°Blasted invisible teleportation circle,¡± the gnome muttered.


    ¡°We know it is there, at least,¡± Irse said. She turned her attention toward the stairwell at the far end of the room; someone was coming down. Taer¡¯inar held an arm out in front of Ithan, ready to defend him should that someone be an enemy. But when the crimson scales of a dragonkin came into view hauling a barrel beneath each arm, he sighed in relief.


    They were home.


    ¡°Briryn!¡± Fenvyre shouted. She ran past the group and leapt at the dragonkin, who had dropped the barrels as soon as he saw the group huddled in the back of his cellar. She wrapped her arms tight around his waist.


    ¡°What in blazes?¡ª How did you?¡ª¡± He shook his head and sighed, reaching an arm around Fenvyre. ¡°Well, welcome back, anyhow.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good to be back,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied.


    ¡°Did you know you had a teleportation circle in the basement?¡± Bimpnottin asked.


    ¡°I had no idea,¡± Briryn said. His searching gaze left a pit in Taer¡¯inar¡¯s stomach. ¡°Where¡¯s, uh¡­ where¡¯s Mor¡¯lavan?¡±


    ¡°He¡­¡± Taer¡¯inar wanted to tell him everything. He wanted to cry out and tell him that Ithan was the one he once knew as Mor¡¯lavan. But he had to hold to his oath. No one could know. ¡°¡­He¡¯s gone.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I¡­ I see.¡± Taer¡¯inar¡¯s heart shattered as the dragonkin¡¯s voice wavered. ¡°I¡­ I really thought he was strong enough¡­¡± He shook his head again. ¡°And, uh¡­ the others?¡±


    ¡°Gone as well, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied, his own voice breaking from the guilt.


    ¡°They are not dead,¡± Irse added, surprising Taer¡¯inar. ¡°They have simply chosen not to return with us.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ Well, I¡¯m glad some of you made it back, at least.¡± The dragonkin¡¯s eyes still had that glint of sadness, but it had lessened with Irse¡¯s fib. He strode up to the group and turned his head down toward Ithan. ¡°And who¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Um, I¡¯m Ithan. It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Likewise.¡± Briryn reached out a hand and shook Ithan¡¯s. ¡°You look a little young to be wandering around in the wilds. Where¡¯re you from?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­¡± Ithan craned his head toward Taer¡¯inar. ¡°I think¡­ Myth Veri¡¯Shantar?¡±


    ¡°You think?¡± Briryn said.


    ¡°He¡¯s had some memory loss,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°That¡¯s where we found him, though?¡ªan old elven city.¡±


    ¡°Well, welcome to Greenreach, Ithan,¡± Briryn said. ¡°All right now, let¡¯s get out of here and celebrate. Drinks are on me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I like to hear,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°Haven¡¯t had a good ale in days.¡±


    The group followed Briryn out of the cellar, climbing the stairs into the kitchen and out into the dining area of the tavern. Taer¡¯inar could not help but grin as the dragonkin all raised their mugs and cheered at their return. Some of them got up from their table and offered it to the group, joining other tables and continuing to cheer. Briryn brought out drinks for everyone?¡ªa strong beer for Dhurik, a double shot of whiskey for Bimpnottin, and wine for Taer¡¯inar and Irse. For Fenvyre and Ithan, Briryn produced a drink made from lemon and honey.


    Throughout the night, the dragonkin asked questions about the group¡¯s adventures in the wilds of Averion. They asked questions about Ian and Unit 17 and even Apostalite, but by far the most questions came up about Mor¡¯lavan. Taer¡¯inar never realized just how much love Ithan had garnered from the people here, and every time someone asked about him, his heart sank just a bit more. When he had a moment to himself, he slunk into a corner of the tavern and found Fenvyre there.


    ¡°It¡¯s not as easy as you thought, is it?¡± Fenvyre asked. ¡°We¡¯ll¡­ we¡¯ll be able to tell them eventually, right¡­?¡±


    ¡°I hope so,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied, grasping at his chest. The pain had lessened with Irse¡¯s intervention, but it was still there all the same. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll find answers at Meriterre.¡±


    ?


    Ithan clapped along to the music as he watched the dragonkin dance about the tavern. He wore a wide grin, despite the growing headache. This place already felt more like home than Myth Veri¡¯Shantar, but he did not understand why. He had no memories here, yet everything felt so¡­ familiar. Perhaps he was trying to fit the fragments of someone else¡¯s shattered mirror with his own.


    Taer¡¯inar kept telling Ithan not to worry, that his memories would come back to him eventually. Maybe even when they got to Meriterre. But he wondered if he could even wait that long. And what if they did not return? What would he do then? No, this was supposed to be a happy occasion?¡ªbest not to dwell on such things. Taer¡¯inar and Fenvyre were talking in the corner; Ithan decided to join them. He excused himself from the table?¡ªIrse nodded, but Dhurik and Bimpnottin were too far drunk to notice?¡ªand maneuvered his way through the dancing dragonkin until he had reached the two.


    ¡°¡­Maybe we¡¯ll find answers at Meriterre,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, gripping his chest. His face lightened up when Ithan approached him. ¡°Everything all right there, Ithan?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to head out,¡± Fenvyre said. ¡°I should have gone to see Sonys as soon as we got back, but I kind of got swept up in all the excitement. Bye for now.¡± She hugged Taer¡¯inar, then Ithan, then began to wade through the sea of dragonkin toward the entrance of the tavern.


    ¡°When are we going to Meriterre?¡± Ithan asked as he turned back to Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°We¡¯ll spend a few more days here, rest up, gather more supplies, and then be on our way.¡± Taer¡¯inar rested a hand on Ithan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°If that¡¯s okay with you, that is.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I guess it is.¡± Ithan smiled at Taer¡¯inar as the two of them stood together, laughing and clapping with the music once more. Meriterre could wait a bit longer. For now, he wanted nothing more than to enjoy this moment with his friends?¡ªboth old and new. After all, the time he spent here would be etched on his heart forever.

 Book 2: Chapter 1 - Tension and Torsion

    Ithan waved cheerily at a few dragonkin that passed him by as he waited at the fountain outside of Briryn¡¯s tavern. He had only been in Greenreach a few days, and though the first day in the city was almost overwhelming for Ithan, he quickly grew comfortable walking the streets and mingling with the dragonkin. Briryn treated him especially well, and in return Ithan helped him out around the tavern. But every so often the innkeeper would step outside of the tavern and gaze out toward the west.


    The stories Ithan had heard about Mor¡¯lavan were marvelous¡ªa deer-fox whose ruthlessness in battle was matched only by his kindness everywhere else. The people of Greenreach loved him, and his absence was difficult for many to bear. It was especially so for Briryn, it seemed¡ªthe sorrow in the innkeeper¡¯s eyes when Taer¡¯inar told him Mor¡¯lavan was gone had nearly crushed Ithan¡¯s heart. Since then, Briryn had kept Mor¡¯lavan¡¯s room locked with the hope that he would return one day.


    ¡°I really did like that kid,¡± Briryn said once to Taer¡¯inar. ¡°I know I was rough on him when he first came here, but he really grew on me. I wanted him to know he always has a place here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he knows,¡± Taer¡¯inar had said. ¡°And I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll see him again.¡±


    Ithan hoped that was true, for Briryn¡¯s sake.


    Today, after resting and resupplying for the past few days, Ithan and his friends would finally set out on their long journey to Meriterre. Though Taer¡¯inar said the route was safe in centuries past, Ithan had no doubt it was now teeming with gnolls and other malevolent creatures. Eleana herself had warned that the gnolls would be hunting them¡ªIthan was of great interest to the gnolls¡¯ leader, after all, if she had sent such a powerful demon as Kiraan after him. The name alone made Ithan shudder, even though he could not even recall the demon¡¯s face; he only knew it was no more thanks to his friends.


    Taer¡¯inar waited beside Ithan at the fountain outside of Briryn¡¯s tavern for the rest of their group, his silver hair catching the morning sun. The others all had their own preparations to make before returning to Myth Veri¡¯Shantar. As they waited, Taer¡¯inar regaled Ithan with stories about his homeland of Nylserine and of his adventures as he journeyed here to Greenreach. By now he had recounted many of his exploits in his younger years and had begun to speak of his first few weeks in Greenreach.


    ¡°Apostalite would stand at this fountain every day and preach about Laht,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°For the longest time I thought they were trying to start a cult.¡±


    Ithan laughed. He could picture Apostalite standing there next to them as Taer¡¯inar spoke, shouting out to all who could hear about the teachings of Laht. Vague apparitions of the ignan and some dragonkin children filled the space in his mind¡ªApostalite was telling the children a story. The story of a boy trapped in a dark cave, trying to escape from a horrible monster. Had they told him that story on their journey to the mage tower? The apparitions faded away as Ithan shook away the disorientation that came with his scattered memories.


    Soon Dhurik emerged from the tavern. He carried some light leather under one arm and a large satchel under the other. He brought everything over to the fountain and rested it on the stone edge. The minotaur towered over Ithan by nearly two feet, a wall of powerful muscle, fur, and¡ªsometimes¡ªfire.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t have much left in the way of leather,¡± Dhurik said, ¡°but I managed to cobble something together.¡±


    He lifted up the chest piece and held it before Ithan. Dhurik claimed himself to be a master leatherworker, but for some reason he had only made part of the left half of the armor and then fastened straps to it.


    ¡°How is this meant to protect me?¡± Ithan asked as he took the chest piece and inspected it, running his fingers along the stitching and the metal bits.


    ¡°Better than nothing,¡± Dhurik grunted. ¡°I¡¯ll get you into something sturdier when I get my hands on more materials.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t we get them here?¡± Ithan started to put the armor on, tucking his arm through the sleeve and wrapping the leather across his torso.


    ¡°The stuff they¡¯ve got around here isn¡¯t meant for armor,¡± Dhurik replied. ¡°Best I can do with it is another shirt. Not very useful.¡±


    ¡°I guess not,¡± Ithan muttered.


    He tightened and secured the straps on his lower right side. The chest piece was quite comfortable, with a surprising amount of padding on the interior. Ithan thought the padding would make the armor bulky, but it was wonderfully light and hugged his form. He could easily wear another layer of clothing over it without it looking too obvious. He stood tall and grinned at Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°It looks good on you,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Still, I think you¡¯re missing something.¡±


    ¡°The rest of the armor,¡± Ithan joked.


    ¡°Besides that,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied flatly. He detached the scabbard on his left hip containing one of his scimitars and presented it to Ithan. ¡°You need a weapon.¡±


    ¡°But you always fight with two swords,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°I can get by with only one for now,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°It might not be ideal, but you need to be able to defend yourself.¡±


    Ithan grinned with glee as Taer¡¯inar placed the sheathed sword in his hands. Taer¡¯inar¡¯s twin blades were things of beauty, augmented by the warrior¡¯s elegant movements in battle. Ithan was honored to have been bestowed with one of them. He fastened the scabbard to his hip in the same fashion as Taer¡¯inar and walked a bit away from the fountain. There he unsheathed the scimitar and began practicing strikes against the air with the blade. An arcing swing here, a thrust there¡ªhe pictured each of his enemies falling before him as he cut them down.


    ¡°Perhaps you would like to spar against a real opponent?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. He stepped toward Ithan, pulled out his other scimitar and flourished it.


    ¡°Sure¡ª¡±


    A surge of alarm jolted through Ithan as Taer''inar pointed his blade toward him, and he stumbled backward, falling to the ground.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked as he pulled Ithan up with his free hand. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah, I¡¯m okay,¡± Ithan said, brushing the dirt off his clothes. ¡°I¡­ I just lost my balance. I¡¯m ready.¡±


    Taer¡¯inar hesitated, observing Ithan with a curious look of concern.


    ¡°What?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡±


    The two sparred for a few minutes, and it was quickly apparent to Ithan that dueling with a real weapon was far different from using tree branches. The weight of the sword had more control of Ithan¡¯s movement than he anticipated, and so he found he needed to put more of his strength into each strike to match Taer¡¯inar¡¯s speed.


    ¡°Focus on the preciseness of your strikes,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°Raw power means nothing if you cannot hit your target.¡±


    ¡°Should¡¯ve gone with a bigger weapon!¡± Dhurik laughed.


    After some time, Ithan backed away from Taer¡¯inar, holding out his free hand in surrender.


    ¡°This still feels off,¡± he said. ¡°Like I should be doing something with my other hand.¡±


    ¡°You can hold your sword with both hands to put more power into your attacks,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, ¡°or you can carry a shield for added protection. You may also find it useful to have a free hand to cast magic. You just have to find a style that works for you.¡±


    ¡°Magic¡­ right,¡± Ithan muttered. Since coming to Greenreach, he had made frustratingly slow progress on his magical abilities, struggling to reproduce the simplest spells. His first breakthrough had been while sparring with Taer¡¯inar only a few days ago, when he teleported behind his friend in a flash of light and caught him off guard. Try as he might, Ithan could not figure out how he had achieved that feat, even under Bimpnottin¡¯s tutelage.


    ¡°It¡¯ll come to you,¡± Taer¡¯inar said.


    Ithan¡¯s other friends soon began to emerge from the inn. First came Irse, her golden hair glowing in the sunlight. Bimpnottin joined them soon thereafter, his oversized hat shielding his pallid skin from the bright morning sun. Fenvyre would be along any moment now; she had been running errands for Briryn since early in the morning, and the group could not leave for Meriterre without her.


    ¡°Taer¡¯inar Volarei?¡± a gruff voice called. Ithan turned to follow the voice; three dragonkin soldiers had emerged from one of the side streets approaching the group. The middle one¡ªa tall dragonkin woman standing head and shoulders above the other two, scars etched across her face and a few missing scales¡ªglared down at Taer¡¯inar. Her companions stood on either side of her with stern expressions. One glanced at Ithan, and he quickly sheathed his sword and returned to the group.


    ¡°Yes, that would be me,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied.


    ¡°You are the listed contact for the guild known as The Averion Company.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I am General Esthu,¡± she said. ¡°I will get straight to the point: your return to Greenreach was not reported by my guards. How is it that you have returned without passing through the western gate? It is the only passage between Greenreach and the wilds.¡±


    ¡°Oh. That¡­¡± Taer¡¯inar bit his lower lip.


    ¡°There is a teleportation circle in the basement of the tavern,¡± Irse said. Taer¡¯inar gawked at her, but she continued on. ¡°We found another circle in the wilds that brought us here.¡±


    ¡°That circle still works?¡± Esthu questioned. ¡°Show me.¡±


    ¡°Certainly,¡± Irse said. ¡°We will be departing again soon. Perhaps you would like to see it in action.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps I would,¡± Esthu said. ¡°And where is the enforcement unit that set out with you?¡±


    ¡°Unit 17 was slain in the wilds,¡± Irse said. ¡°Past the Black Gate in the region of Zastraria.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Esthu said. ¡°And why did you fail to report this upon your return to Greenreach?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve been recovering,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°I hadn¡¯t had time¡ª¡±


    ¡°And you were about to set out into the wilds again,¡± Esthu said. ¡°Evading the authorities?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not!¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he waved his hands in front of him. ¡°It truly did just slip my mind. I would of course be happy to complete the report right away.¡±


    ¡°I will need a full report of the events leading up to Unit 17¡¯s demise,¡± Esthu said. She snapped her fingers, and the dragonkin to her left produced a quill and parchment and handed it to her.


    ¡°Oh. Here? Right now?¡± The dragonkin simply nodded as she wrote, and Taer¡¯inar turned his head toward the group briefly. Dhurik huffed and sat on the edge of the fountain, hunched over and rested his head on one hand. ¡°Well then. We set out on an escort request from the ignan Apostalite. They sought a tower located in the region of Zastraria. We traversed past the Black Gate and through the mist beyond and found the tower, but we were beset by hobgoblins. Some of us were captured and that is where Unit 17 was slain.¡±


    ¡°So the hobgoblins are responsible for Unit 17¡¯s death,¡± Esthu said, looking up from her notes. ¡°How did you escape?¡±


    ¡°We negotiated our freedom with the hobgoblins.¡±


    Esthu narrowed her eyes at the elf.


    ¡°Hobgoblins are not known for their diplomacy,¡± she said.


    ¡°No,¡± Taer¡¯inar said, ¡°but our own Bimpnottin Bafflestone¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s me!¡± Bimpnottin shouted.


    Taer¡¯inar and Esthu both glared at the gnome.


    ¡°¡­Bimpnottin was able to persuade them to free us in exchange for our services dealing with a horde of gnolls. We did so and returned to the tower. It had collapsed during our fight against the gnolls, but Apostalite was nowhere to be found. We laid Unit 17 to rest properly there.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°You had the opportunity to retrieve the body but did not,¡± Esthu said. ¡°That is all I need to know on that subject for now.¡±


    She turned to Ithan; her stature was intimidating enough, but to have her gaze on him¡­ it made him want to flee.


    ¡°You were not listed in the guild charter.¡±


    ¡°We found him in the wilds,¡± Irse said. ¡°In a forest beyond the mist.¡±


    ¡°You did not mention a forest,¡± Esthu growled, her eyes still trained on Ithan.


    ¡°Oh, I was quite sure I had,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied. ¡°I truly am sorry for that. Yes, we found Ithan here in the forest beyond the mist, and from there we traveled to the tower.¡±


    The dragonkin glared at Ithan for a moment more before she grunted and rolled up her parchment.


    ¡°I have recorded the reason for the enforcement unit¡¯s disappearance,¡± she said, ¡°but I still expect a complete formal written report, including the whereabouts of the halfling Ian Wheathill and the¡­¡±


    ¡°Deer-fox,¡± one of her underlings said.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said. ¡°The whereabouts of the halfling Ian Wheathill and the deer-fox Mor¡¯lavan.¡±


    ¡°I suppose I could provide that within a couple of hours,¡± Taer¡¯inar said.


    ¡°In addition, you are expected to fulfill your obligation to The Kingdom Below before any further excursions in the wilds.¡±


    Taer¡¯inar squinted at Esthu.


    ¡°We do have other obligations,¡± he argued.


    ¡°As a guild under the authority of the Seal, your obligations to the empire are of the highest priority,¡± Esthu growled. ¡°Should you abandon your obligation, you will be treated as traitors to the empire.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite extreme!¡± Bimpnottin said.


    ¡°That is the emperor¡¯s will,¡± Esthu replied. ¡°Now then, you will need an escort. Excuse us a moment.¡±


    She gestured at her subordinates and the three of them stepped away from the group. Esthu muttered to them out of earshot, and Ithan and his friends began to do the same.


    ¡°I suppose we will be here for a while longer,¡± Irse said to Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°I should have guessed this would happen,¡± Taer¡¯inar groaned. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ithan.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°I like it here.¡±


    Taer¡¯inar smiled warmly at him.


    ¡°What are we listening to her for, anyway?¡± Dhurik muttered. ¡°We¡¯ve got that teleportation circle thing, right?¡±


    ¡°It would only cause problems for us later if we just leave,¡± Taer¡¯inar said.


    ¡°Briryn may also be caught up in things,¡± Irse added. ¡°I do not wish for him to be punished for our insubordination.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Dhurik huffed.


    Esthu approached the group again with only one of her soldiers. It was hard for Ithan to tell, but the soldier seemed to be quite a bit younger than Esthu, perhaps around Fenvyre¡¯s age.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down,¡± Esthu said to Huzen as she leered at Ithan and Taer¡¯inar. ¡°Especially around those ones. Elves are tricky creatures.¡±


    ¡°Understood, General,¡± the soldier said.


    ¡°Huzen here will accompany you to the mines in Unit 17¡¯s stead,¡± Esthu said to the group. ¡°I expect a full report upon your return, and it had better be consistent with Huzen¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°I assure you we will leave nothing out,¡± Irse replied. With that, Esthu marched away with the other soldier back toward the east.


    ¡°Do you have a title or¡­?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked Huzen.


    ¡°Just Huzen¡¯s fine. Never cared much for rank. I¡¯m just doing my duty.¡±


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s get on with it,¡± Dhurik said as he began to saunter away.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we wait for Fen?¡± Ithan asked.


    The minotaur lifted his head up and let out a loud groan but stopped and turned to face Ithan.


    ¡°She¡¯s not gonna want to go,¡± he said. ¡°Trust me.¡±


    ¡°I would wait anyway,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°I will stay here and write the report on our previous activities. Just be careful. You remember what happened last time.¡±


    Dhurik nodded at the elf, who clapped a hand on Ithan¡¯s shoulder before walking away and disappearing back into the tavern.


    ¡°Excellent!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. ¡°Everything is in place! Now we await the return of¡ªah, there she is!¡±


    Ithan turned around to see Fenvyre jogging past a few other nearby dragonkin, her emerald scales clashing against their crimson.


    ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late,¡± Fenvyre said as she reached the group. ¡°Oh, hi, Huzen! I didn¡¯t know you were back in town.¡±


    ¡°Got transferred,¡± Huzen grinned. ¡°I¡¯m acting as General Esthu¡¯s¡­ well, we¡¯ll say I¡¯m her liaison for now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! I¡¯ll have to show you Sonys¡¯s new place.¡± She looked around the group. ¡°Hey, where¡¯s Taer?¡±


    ¡°He got chewed him out for not following the rules,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°He¡¯s writing a report. We¡¯re going to Rockfall.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Fenvyre¡¯s smile wavered.


    ¡°You gonna stay behind again?¡± Dhurik asked.


    Fenvyre tensed up and held her arms across her chest. Her demeanor had quickly shifted from cheerful to anxious.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go. I have to practice.¡±


    ¡°Excellent!¡± Bimpnottin said. ¡°Then let us embark! Lead the way, Dhurik!¡±


    The minotaur obliged, stepping past the group and marching toward the western gate.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Ithan asked Fenvyre as they began to follow Dhurik.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Fenvyre replied. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    The group soon reached the western gate of Greenreach. After a brief salute from Huzen to the guards stationed there, they continued behind Dhurik along the dirt path that led into the wilds.


    ¡°The general, she¡¯s got some¡­ opinions,¡± Huzen said as the group journeyed on.


    ¡°That¡¯s putting it lightly,¡± Ithan said suddenly, jolting at his own voice as the words reached Huzen. He was certain the soldier would punish him for speaking ill of his superior. But to his relief, Huzen simply chuckled.


    ¡°Heh. Yeah, I guess it is. Sorry about that. For what it¡¯s worth, I don¡¯t think elves are all that bad. Not any worse than dragonkin, anyway. We¡¯ve all got our faults.¡±


    ¡°Your wisdom belies your age,¡± Irse said.


    ¡°Thanks. I like to keep an open mind.¡±


    After a while, Dhurik turned off the path and led the group into the mountains. Soon they came to what looked to be the remains of a camp; fallen tents and cookware littered the area. Dragonkin soldiers were stationed at various points throughout the camp; some stood by conversing with each other while others walked through the camp cleaning up the mess left behind by whoever lived here last.


    ¡°Hey, who took down my stakes?¡± Dhurik growled.


    ¡°Those were yours?¡± one of the soldiers said. ¡°We thought they¡¯d done it to their own. At any rate, we can¡¯t have those unsightly things littering the path.¡±


    ¡°Well, what did you do with them?¡± Dhurik asked.


    ¡°We disposed of them,¡± the soldier said.


    ¡°Disposed of them where? I worked hard to put those things up, you know.¡±


    ¡°Just get over it,¡± Fenvyre said, marching away further down the path.


    ¡°You¡ªah, whatever,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°I¡¯ll just put up more later.¡±


    The group followed Dhurik past the camp and further into the lower mountains. By now the sun was high in the sky, but it was just beginning its descent. Ithan was invigorated by its warmth; there were few trees to obscure the sunlight here. Soon the group arrived at the entrance to the mines, guarded by two more soldiers.


    ¡°Afternoon, Huzen,¡± one said. ¡°These the folks the general told us about?¡±


    ¡°Yes they are,¡± Huzen repleid. ¡°I think I¡¯ll join them inside, if that¡¯s all right with you.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good,¡± the other soldier said. ¡°Tano and her squad have secured the areas previously reported as safe. Just call for backup if you need it.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Huzen said. He nodded at Dhurik, and the minotaur led them inside. It took a few moments for Ithan¡¯s eyes to adjust from the sunlight to the darkness of the cave, but when they had, he was greeted with a dried pool of blood in the center of the cave where they now stood.


    ¡°Whose is that¡­?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Birdbrain¡¯s,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°Frost sprites got ¡®im. Exploded into a hundred ice knives and cut him right open¡ª¡±


    ¡°You can save the vivid description,¡± Irse groaned. ¡°I think we have heard enough.¡±


    The minotaur grumbled but did not speak again. He instead motioned for the group to travel down the corridor to a hole in the floor. There was a rope hanging down into the hole; Dhurik dropped his torch down, and when it reached the bottom, he began to descend the rope. The others followed one by one, with Ithan going just before Huzen.


    Now they were in another open area, with two tunnels on the far side. The soldiers here were hard at work moving one of the several headless corpses that were strewn about. The corpses¡¯ heads, to Ithan¡¯s dismay, were mounted on stakes nearby. One of the stakes had two heads mounted on it.


    ¡°Hey there, Tano. Have you had any trouble down here?¡± Huzen asked the taller soldier.


    ¡°Nothing we can¡¯t handle,¡± she replied. ¡°The reports said the tunnels ahead might still be hazardous, though, so we haven¡¯t gone any further. We¡¯ll wait for the all-clear from you.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Huzen said. He nodded again to Dhurik.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch my stakes,¡± Dhurik grumbled at Tano as he strode past. The soldiers looked at each other, then at Huzen. Huzen simply shrugged.


    Dhurik made it to the other end and looked down both tunnels¡ªfirst to the right, then to the left.


    ¡°Nothin¡¯ in here, so let¡¯s keep going.¡±


    He walked into the tunnel on the left, and the group hurried to follow him. Cold air filled the tunnel, being sucked further in to the mines. The tunnel went on for a while until it opened up into a cavernous area. Rails lay on the ground and split off in several places into more tunnels.


    ¡°We¡¯ll want to do a full search,¡± Huzen said. ¡°Let¡¯s spread out to cover more ground, but give a shout the moment you run into any trouble.¡±


    ¡°There is nothing here,¡± Irse said. ¡°It is just cold.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what Birdbrain said before,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°But there¡¯s gotta be something here to chop up.¡±


    Splotches of brown covered the walls of the mine in some places. Ithan moved closer to investigate one as his friends continued their search for any creatures lurking in the tunnels. The temperature dropped as he approached the clump, and just as he leaned forward to get a better look at it, spores suddenly erupted out of it. Ithan reeled back in surprise and gasped, inhaling the spores in the process. He fell to the ground, coughing and wheezing as Huzen helped him up and away from the cloud of spores.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Huzen asked.


    ¡°The brown spots,¡± Ithan coughed. ¡°Don¡¯t go near them.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Fenvyre craned her neck, trying to inspect the growth through the lingering spores without getting too close. ¡°It kind of looks like what Briryn uses to keep things cold in the pantry. It¡¯s a kind of fungus, I think.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s mold in the tavern?¡± Huzen asked. ¡°That¡¯s highly unsanitary.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not harmful in small amounts and if handled carefully,¡± Fenvyre said. ¡°But if left unchecked¡­¡±


    ¡°It could result in disastrous consequences,¡± Bimpnottin said. ¡°We need to keep away from this mold until we can figure out how to be rid of it.¡±


    ¡°I know how to get rid of it,¡± Dhurik grunted. He strode forward into the cloud of spores again.


    ¡°Dhurik, don¡¯t¡ª¡± Fenvyre cried.


    Her warning came too late. Dhurik unleashed a wave of heat, bringing a brief relief to the biting cold. But it just as quickly dissipated, the mold absorbing it and leaving the area frigid once more. Worse, the mold began to spread rapidly, growing over the walls and floors around it. Dhurik sped out of the spores before the mold could reach him, and the group retreated closer to the entrance of the mine.


    ¡°Well, that didn¡¯t work,¡± Dhurik coughed.


    ¡°It feeds on warmth,¡± Fenvyre said. ¡°Any kind of heat you throw at it will just make it grow faster.¡±


    Dhurik growled in frustration. Ithan, meanwhile, had an idea¡ªif this fungus needed warmth to survive, then surely exposing it to cold would have the opposite effect. But there was cold air all around them; how was it able to survive in the mines under such conditions? Maybe a cold environment was not enough.


    ¡°Do you know any freezing spells, Bimpnottin?¡± Ithan asked through another coughing fit.


    ¡°Why of course, my boy!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. ¡°I am the greatest wizard in the world, after all! But why would you want to make it any colder in here?¡±


    ¡°Not for us,¡± Ithan said. ¡°Cast it at the mold.¡±


    The gnome tilted his head to one side and squinted his eyes at Ithan, but a moment later he perked his head up.


    ¡°Genius!¡± Bimpnottin said, throwing his hands up in the air. ¡°I think some of my brilliance has begun to rub off on you!¡±


    ¡°Just get on with it,¡± Irse scowled.


    Bimpnottin obliged, reciting an incantation and conjuring a shard of ice in the air. He then thrust his hand forward toward one of the enlarged growths, and the shard flew past the group and pierced through it. Moments later, the fungus shriveled and turned to dust.


    ¡°It worked!¡± Fenvyre shouted. ¡°Good thinking, Ithan.¡±


    ¡°I think the general mistakes ¡®tricky¡¯ for clever,¡± Huzen said, grinning at Ithan. ¡°Nice work.¡±


    ¡°Bah,¡± Bimpnottin grunted. ¡°I could have thought of it.¡±


    ¡°Sure you could¡¯ve, Captain,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°Dogboy just beat you to it.¡±


    Bimpnottin scowled, but only briefly. Ithan smiled, proud that he had bested the great wizard Bimpnottin Bafflestone.


    ¡°This may take a while,¡± Bimpnottin said as he looked about the cavern. ¡°I am the only one among us who can cast such magic. Incredible as I am, there is only one of me.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we get these guys checked out?¡± Huzen asked as he inspected Ithan.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m okay now,¡± Ithan said. ¡°I¡¯m not coughing anymore, and Dhurik breathed in less than me.¡±


    ¡°They should be fine as long as they don¡¯t go near the mold again,¡± Fenvyre said.


    ¡°All right then,¡± Huzen said, ¡°but I really think we should have Aitos take a look at them when we get back.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Irse said.


    ¡°You take care of the mold, Captain,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of anything else that shows up.¡±


    ¡°A fine arrangement,¡± Bimpnottin said as he conjured another ice shard and hurled it at another cluster of mold.


    It was indeed a slow process; Bimpnottin needed to ensure that he had eliminated every speck of mold before the group could proceed further into the mine. The only thing Ithan and his other companions could do was point out spots that the wizard had missed. Even Irse, a practiced mage herself, could not produce ice with her magic. Alas for Dhurik, the group encountered no hostile creatures here. No creatures of any sort, really¡ªthe mold must have made this place entirely inhospitable.


    The caverns grew warmer¡ªrelatively speaking, at least¡ªas Bimpnottin continued clearing out the mold, and the feeling of air being sucked away slowly dissipated. The mold seemed to have been mostly concentrated in the main area, but the group took great pains to carefully inspect each of the branches of the mines. They were not extensive, luckily; Huzen mentioned that the dragonkin and dwarves had not been here terribly long before they had to evacuate. Finally, after a few hours, Bimpnottin stood tall in triumph as the last of the mold froze and disintegrated.


    ¡°The deed is done!¡± Bimpnottin said. ¡°Rockfall is clear of all hazards thanks to me, the great Bimpnottin Bafflestone!¡±


    ¡°Settle down,¡± Huzen said. ¡°We¡¯ve still got the other end to deal with.¡±


    ¡°We already took care of that last time we were here,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°Just a pond with some rocks in it. Nothing exciting.¡±


    ¡°We should check on it anyway,¡± Huzen said. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you last came here, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Dhurik huffed.


    ¡°I think Huzen¡¯s right,¡± Ithan said. ¡°Our job¡¯s not done until we¡¯ve looked over everything, right?¡±


    Huzen nodded.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t feel right sending folks back here without checking it out,¡± the soldier added.


    Dhurik groaned and led the group back out of the mines proper and through to the other tunnel. It opened into another cavern. As Dhurik had said, there was a pool of water here, littered with large stones that one could hop across to the other side. At the far end was a set of intricately carved stone doors. Ithan¡¯s head swirled as he gazed at them, echoing their golden trim. Flickers of light danced above the group, but they vanished when Ithan tried to look directly at them. They did not reflect in the water, either. There was something down there, moving, waiting.


    ¡°Stay here,¡± Irse said.


    She hopped over the stones across the water and to the other side. For a while she inspected the doors while Ithan and the others waited for her. Ithan¡¯s heart raced as he watched the water ripple. Then he was suddenly yanked away from the pool by Dhurik¡ªhe had been unknowingly inching toward it, and Dhurik had kept him from falling in.


    ¡°Almost lost you there, Dogboy,¡± Dhurik said. ¡°Can¡¯t have that.¡±


    His mouth did not move when he spoke. Ithan¡¯s head began to throb. This place was playing tricks on him; or perhaps it was the spores from the mold.


    ¡°It is a ward,¡± Irse called. ¡°Nothing should be able to get through it without divine magic.¡±


    ¡°Like yours,¡± Huzen said. ¡°Go on and open them.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Irse said. ¡°Whatever lies beyond is not to be trifled with.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to make sure the mines are safe, right?¡± Huzen asked. ¡°That includes whatever¡¯s behind those doors. So do it.¡±


    Irse¡¯s eyes went cold as she glared past Ithan at the dragonkin.


    ¡°I will not.¡±


    Huzen sighed.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want it to come to this.¡±


    Ithan was pulled backward again, hardly able to process what was happening as Huzen wrapped one arm tight around him.


    ¡°What¡ª¡±


    Ithan¡¯s breath caught in his throat as something cold pressed up against it.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Fenvyre cried.


    ¡°Open the doors,¡± Huzen snarled. ¡°Now.¡±

 Book 2: Chapter 2 - All That Remains

    Dhurik tightened his grip on his axe and took a step toward Huzen and Ithan.


    ¡°Knew there was something off about you,¡± he huffed.


    ¡°Stop!¡± Irse said, frantically waving a hand at the minotaur. Dhurik scowled at Huzen but stepped no closer.


    The object pressed harder against Ithan¡¯s skin, and he felt a warmth beginning to dribble down his neck. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to comprehend his situation, how this seemingly kind soldier had within seconds become so vicious that he would put a dagger to someone¡¯s throat.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing personal,¡± Huzen muttered. ¡°It¡¯s just orders.¡±


    ¡°What orders?!¡± Bimpnottin shouted. ¡°Our mission was to clear the mines!¡±


    ¡°Your mission,¡± Huzen said. ¡°My mission was to make you complied. By any means necessary.¡±


    ¡°Esthu authorized this?¡± Irse asked. ¡°She would have us executed even if we conveyed the danger of this task?¡±


    ¡°Those who defy the Seal are traitors to the empire,¡± Huzen replied solemnly.


    Everyone stood in place for a while longer, as if time had frozen them all in this horrific scenario. Ithan¡¯s heart pounded as he stared at Irse, and she in turn offered an empathetic gaze.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Irse muttered, breaking the silence. ¡°Dhurik, join me over here. Bimpnottin and Fenvyre, prepare your magic. Be ready to strike against anything that attacks us.¡±


    After a sigh and another glare at Huzen, Dhurik retreated across the rocks to the other side of the pool of water. Once there, Irse looked back at the remaining group and nodded. Fenvyre and Bimpnottin each took defensive stances, and Dhurik stood primed for battle as Irse placed her hands on the doors and began to chant.


    The doors glowed as Irse spoke, the intricate designs etched upon them shining a brilliant gold. Mere moments passed before the doors slowly began to grind against the cavern floor, the harsh noise echoing through the tunnel. The lake quivered in reply, reflecting Ithan¡¯s fear as he stood there with Huzen. If he could escape Huzen¡¯s grasp, he and his friends could leave this place. He closed his eyes and tried to recall how he had managed to best Taer¡¯inar that day in the forest, how he had been able to teleport himself in that flash of radiance.


    Then the tightness around his chest¡ªas well as the pressure of the dagger on his neck¡ªvanished. Ithan opened his eyes, and he grinned as he found himself standing out of Huzen¡¯s grasp at the edge of the lake. Huzen¡¯s own look of bewilderment quickly shifted to anger before he charged forward at Ithan.


    Ithan leapt backward out of Huzen¡¯s reach, and as he fell into the cold water, that strange feeling of familiarity emerged once again. He had been in this situation before¡ªno, this time was different. Something had dragged him beneath the water last time¡­ Where was that? He had no time to ponder as Huzen dove into the lake and began swimming aggressively toward him. When Huzen reached out to try to grab Ithan, he swatted the dragonkin¡¯s hand away and turned to swim toward the light from Irse¡¯s magic. Something ripped him out of the water as he neared the surface.


    ¡°Nice job,¡± Dhurik said as he set Ithan on his feet. A swell of pride surged through Ithan¡ªhe was not entirely helpless after all.


    Huzen surfaced shortly after, twisting his head around until his eyes locked onto Ithan once more. He growled, then swam over to one of the platforms in the water and pulled himself out, still clutching his dagger.


    ¡°It is over,¡± Irse said. ¡°You have lost your hostage, and you are surrounded.¡±


    Huzen roared and flung his dagger at Irse. She produced a barrier of light, and the dagger ricocheted off it into the water. Bimpnottin and Fenvyre each began reciting spells behind Huzen and took aim.


    ¡°Just let it go,¡± Irse said.


    The soldier ignored her, however, lunging toward the ledge where the three of them stood as snaring vines and bitter frost struck the rocks behind him. Dhurik attempted to grab Huzen to keep him from moving closer, but Huzen evaded and kicked the minotaur away. Dhurik, caught off guard by the soldier¡¯s mobility, stumbled and fell into the water as Huzen drew another dagger. Irse, too, was unable to dispatch him before he knocked her into the wall, her staff clattering to the ground beside her.


    ¡°You¡¯re not getting away,¡± Huzen said as he returned his gaze to Ithan.


    The other dragonkin soldiers¡ªlikely alerted by Huzen¡¯s outburst¡ªhad begun to make their way into the chamber, quickly surrounding Bimpnottin and Fenvyre. Dhurik had not surfaced from his fall yet, and Irse struggled to stand as blood dripped from the side of her head. Ithan had to buy his friends time to recover. So, he did the only thing he could think of: he turned and ran headlong into the darkness of the previously sealed cave.


    ¡°Do not go in there¡ª!¡± Irse called as he fled, Huzen¡¯s heavy footsteps close behind. Even as the light from the entrance to the tunnel quickly faded as Ithan ran, he could still make out the shapes of the rocks inside the tunnel, allowing him to avoid them and continue to outrun the pursuing dragonkin. Huzen¡¯s footsteps grew quieter the further he ran, though they continued to echo off the tunnel walls.


    Ithan knew he could not run forever, though. He may have been able to outpace Huzen in the short term, but now he was running out of breath; surely the soldier had more endurance. What was more, the deeper Ithan went into this tunnel, the more likely it was that he would run into whatever had been sealed down here. There had been no sign of any kind of creature thus far, but Ithan thought perhaps he should not push his luck further, so he stopped and spun around.


    A glimpse of dim light broke the darkness ahead of him; Huzen must have needed to light a torch to continue his pursuit. As the light drew nearer, Ithan unsheathed Taer¡¯inar¡¯s sword and prepared to defend himself. When Huzen was close enough to catch Ithan in the torchlight, the dragonkin stopped and leaned one arm against the tunnel wall as he caught his breath.


    ¡°The general was right,¡± Huzen said between breaths. ¡°You elves are tricky.¡±


    ¡°You mean clever,¡± Ithan replied. He could not help but smirk a little at his own remark. Huzen grinned back, his teeth glinting against the light. His smile faded quickly, though, as he peered past Ithan into the darkness beyond.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Huzen said, a strange trembling in his voice. He held his torch out in front of him, and his eyes grew wide.


    Ithan, nervous now with Huzen¡¯s sudden change in demeanor, hesitantly turned his head to look behind him. He could not tell that anything was there at first, but as his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he noticed something moving on the walls. Wriggling. He took a step towards Huzen and whirled around to get a better view, and his stomach turned¡ªthe whole tunnel beyond where he had just been standing was covered in fleshy, writhing worms.


    ¡°Godsbane,¡± Huzen muttered as he stepped up next to Ithan, his torch illuminating more of the horrid scene as he approached. The tunnel seemed to end not much farther away, but all the surfaces of that last bit of cavern were completely infested with the worms.


    ¡°What is this¡­?¡± Ithan mumbled.


    ¡°There was a plague that ran through Greenreach when I was little,¡± Huzen said. ¡°They said the plague was caused by an infestation of worms. I thought they¡¯d gotten rid of them all¡­¡±


    A mass of worms rose up from the ground, some of them falling to reveal bone and rotten flesh underneath. It was an elvenoid of some kind, but it was far too decayed to tell much beyond that. The creature took notice of the two of them, twisting around with sickening snaps and gurgles.


    ¡°A walking corpse,¡± Huzen scowled.


    ¡°Wel¡­ come¡­¡± it croaked, worms seeping from what Ithan could only assume was its mouth. The worms of the cavern now all began to move in their direction.


    ¡°We have to go,¡± Huzen said. He grabbed the back of Ithan¡¯s shirt and began pulling him away.


    ¡°Stay¡­¡± the creature said. It reached out toward them as worms dripped from its arm, and for a moment wisps of color weaved through the air around the three of them, coalescing in impossibly intricate patterns¡ªbeautiful, yet somehow nauseating. In that moment, Ithan¡¯s senses dulled as the cavern around him warped, and he nearly collapsed from the disorientation. A clack on the ground behind him¡ªfollowed by a thud¡ªsnapped him out of his daze.


    ¡°Huzen?¡± Ithan said, looking back at the dragonkin. Huzen had fallen to the ground in a stupor, his torch resting beside him, its flame still flickering and casting shadows against the walls of the tunnel. Ithan dropped Taer¡¯inar¡¯s sword in a panic and scrambled to the ground to try to shake Huzen awake. The soldier remained motionless, but Ithan could feel the warmth of his breath.


    He¡¯s still breathing, at least.


    Still, they needed to escape. Ithan tried to drag Huzen¡¯s body away, but he struggled against the dragonkin¡¯s weight, only able to pull him a few feet away before the worms reached Huzen and started to crawl onto him.


    ¡°Do not¡­ resist¡­¡±


    The creature itself began to move closer as it spoke. Ithan¡¯s mind raced as he dropped to his knees and started to sweep the worms off Huzen with his arms, shuddering briefly at their cold and slimy touch. He was too weak to pull Huzen to safety, and the worms were far too numerous to keep this up for long. He could still escape if he abandoned Huzen¡ªthe dragonkin had threatened him, after all.


    It wasn¡¯t his fault.


    Huzen was also a victim in all this. Just a glance from Esthu had inspired terror in Ithan; he could only imagine how much worse it was for Huzen and his fellow soldiers, who had to endure her ruthlessness every day. And fear, it seemed, was a powerful motivator. It crept into Ithan¡¯s heart as the worms crept across Huzen¡¯s chest. Some that Ithan had removed from Huzen¡¯s body still clung to his arms even as he tried to shake them loose, and more still inched up both of their bodies now. If help did not come soon, they would both be lost.


    ¡°What are you¡­?¡± Ithan managed to say as the panic began to set in. At this, the creature raised its arms out to its sides.


    ¡°We are¡­ what¡­ remains¡­¡±


    ¡°Heads up!¡± Dhurik shouted. Before Ithan could make another move, an intense wave of heat washed over him as a globe of fire soared over their heads. It connected with the creature and exploded in an inferno, the force of the blast powerful enough to knock Ithan to the ground. Its screams of agony were brief; by the time Ithan was able to look back, it had already been reduced to ash along with the worms and most everything else that might have been in that alcove. All that remained now was dust and embers and the sickening scent of burnt flesh.


    Ithan stood up and turned his head to look back toward the fireball¡¯s origin, expecting Bimpnottin to be there about to proclaim victory. Instead, he found Taer¡¯inar, his sword drawn and his eyes glaring down at the grim scene he had created.


    ¡°How did you get here so fast?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°Quickening magic,¡± Taer¡¯inar replied as the rest of their friends appeared out of the darkness behind him. ¡°I am an experienced wizard, you know. Are you all right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I think¡ª¡± Ithan was unable to get more than a few words out before he lost his breath. It felt like there was an impossibly cold, heavy stone on his chest. Irse quickly ran to him and helped him stay on his feet as he began to cough violently for air.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Taer¡¯inar shouted.


    ¡°The spores in his system must have been activated by the heat from your spell,¡± Irse replied.


    ¡°Spores?!¡± Taer¡¯inar repeated.


    ¡°I can try to relieve the cough, but we will need Aitos to inspect him,¡± Irse continued. She took the satchel off her back and began rummaging through it, retrieving some ingredients and swiftly mixing them into a potion. She held the potion to Ithan¡¯s lips, and he drank its contents quickly. It went down smoothly, and it had a sort of minty aftertaste. He shuddered as another burst of cold ran through him, but then it began to subside. His chest relaxed, and he was able to breathe again, though he found he did need to take deeper breaths.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said to Irse. ¡°I think I¡¯m okay now.¡±


    ¡°I still want to have Aitos take a look,¡± Irse said. ¡°That kind of adverse reaction is not to be ignored.¡±


    ¡°Was it really that bad?¡± Ithan asked.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Considering that Dhurik is practically made of fire and he does not seem to have been affected at all, I would say so.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± the minotaur asked. When he saw the remains of the worms smoldering just ahead of him, he clapped Taer¡¯inar on the back. ¡°Nice work, but you didn¡¯t leave anything to mount.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll consider that for next time,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered. He turned his attention to Huzen. ¡°Is he¡­?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s alive,¡± Ithan replied. ¡°That thing cast some kind of spell on us, and it knocked him out.¡±


    Irse pressed a hand to Huzen¡¯s head and chanted briefly. Huzen¡¯s pupils constricted a moment later, and he began to move again. He sat up quickly, his head darting around at Ithan and his friends before he finally took a deep breath and relaxed.


    ¡°Care to explain yourself?¡± Taer¡¯inar said as he leered down at the soldier.


    Huzen carefully eyed the elf¡¯s sword as he shuffled forward.


    ¡°I assume they¡¯ve told you what happened,¡± he said.


    ¡°They told me enough to get me to come running. Now I want to hear what you have to say.¡±


    ¡°It was my duty to ensure this task was completed.¡±


    ¡°You had a dagger to Ithan¡¯s throat,¡± Irse scowled. Taer¡¯inar¡¯s jaw clenched.


    Huzen hung his head low as he looked toward Ithan.


    ¡°What I did to you was cruel,¡± he said. ¡°I am truly sorry.¡±


    ¡°Why go as far as you did?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°General Esthu demands absolute loyalty,¡± Huzen explained. ¡°To defy her is to defy the empire and is punishable by death.¡±


    ¡°Fear is not loyalty,¡± Taer¡¯inar said.


    ¡°It makes no difference to her as long as she gets results.¡± Huzen¡¯s words hung in the air for a moment as he bowed his head again. ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to forgive me.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t really blame you for wanting to protect yourself,¡± Ithan said finally. ¡°I¡­ might have done the same thing.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just about me,¡± Huzen said, ¡°but thank you for your sympathy.¡±


    Ithan smiled at the dragonkin, but it quickly faded as the room seemed to quiver around him. He held a hand to his head as it started to throb with pain.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s just my head¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get you out of here and over to Aitos,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. Slowly they retreated through the tunnel back toward the underground lake. Ithan could still walk, but he held on to Taer¡¯inar¡¯s arm just in case. He closed his eyes as they walked, trying to filter out the echoes of his friends¡¯ footsteps as his headache worsened. Pulses turned to vibrations, getting stronger with every sound, the pressure building until it felt like his head was about to burst.


    ¡°Look out!¡± Irse called out.


    Ithan opened his eyes, the vibrations reaching a climax as he looked toward Irse. Dust and small rocks had begun to fall from the ceiling of the cavern.


    A moment later, he was on the ground beneath Huzen.


    ¡°We have to move,¡± Huzen said as he pulled Ithan back up from the ground. There was a large chunk of rock where the two of them had been standing moments ago.


    The group ran the rest of the way back to the underground lake. Fenvyre and Bimpnottin were nowhere in sight, and the soldiers were already vacating the area. One shouted something as he saw the group emerging from the tunnel. Ithan hesitated when his friends began traversing the stones back to the other side, but Huzen hoisted him over his shoulder before leaping across to the nearest stone. He wasted no time in crossing the lake, and at the last moment he dove forward, thrusting Ithan ahead of him before the cave came crumbling down behind them.


    Ithan could see nothing through the dust following the chaos, and for a moment he feared his friends were lost in the collapse. He breathed a sigh of relief when light flooded out of Irse¡¯s hand to reveal they had all made it safely. He turned around quickly and was glad to see even Huzen had managed to avoid being crushed as he rose from the ground in silence.


    ¡°Is everyone all right?¡± Huzen asked.


    ¡°All good here,¡± Dhurik grunted.


    ¡°Ithan?¡± Taer¡¯inar said.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ithan replied as he picked himself up from the ground. ¡°Where are Fen and Bimpnottin?¡±


    ¡°They had to have gotten out with Tano and the others,¡± Huzen said.


    The group quickly made their way out of the tunnel back into the larger chamber outside of the mines proper. The soldiers had abandoned their work there in the evacuation, leaving the corpses they had been moving in a pile. They proceeded, climbing up to the next chamber and finally walking out of the mines into the sunlight, where Tano and the other soldiers were waiting for them. Fenvyre and Bimpnottin sat back-to-back between two of the soldiers, their arms tied with rope behind them.


    ¡°You made it!¡± Fenvyre said.


    ¡°Excellent!¡± Bimpnottin added. ¡°Just what I would expect from my minions! Now come free your captain!¡±


    ¡°Release them,¡± Huzen said to Tano. She crossed her arms in front of her chest.


    ¡°First explain what happened,¡± Tano said. ¡°It sounded like they attacked you¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Fenvyre shouted. ¡°He¡¯s the one who¡ª¡±


    ¡°I provoked them,¡± Huzen said. ¡°The general wanted something done, so I did what I had to to get it done.¡±


    Tano raised her head up, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Her nostrils flared as she loudly exhaled. She stood there with her head still pointed to the sky for a few more moments.


    ¡°Let ¡®em go,¡± Tano said. The soldiers cut Fenvyre and Bimpnottin loose. Bimpnottin stood up and dusted off his hat and robe, and Fenvyre walked over to Ithan and hugged him tight. It was no tighter than normal, but with Ithan¡¯s constricted breathing it felt more like Dhurik was trying to crush him.


    ¡°Fen¡ª¡± Ithan gasped. She let go immediately.


    ¡°He had a reaction to the spores,¡± Irse said. ¡°He is having difficulty breathing.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Fenvyre said. ¡°Aitos will be able to help. Think you¡¯ll be okay until then?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine for now,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°So what now?¡± Tano asked Huzen.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take them back to Greenreach and tell the general that the mines are unstable,¡± Huzen said. ¡°Do what you can out here, but don¡¯t do anything else in the mines until you hear back from me. Don¡¯t want any more accidents.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Tano said. She left the group to speak to some of the other soldiers while Huzen escorted them to one of the tents nearby.


    Irse tended to the cuts and bruises the others had sustained while they rested. She assessed each person¡¯s injuries carefully and applied ointments and bandages when needed, though she did so sparingly. Ithan felt fine now, other than the aches from being shoved to the ground and tossed across the cavern. It could certainly have been worse; that large chunk of rock would have crushed him had Huzen not intervened.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made a complete mess of things,¡± Huzen muttered.


    ¡°This would not have happened had you listened to what we had to say,¡± Irse said as she applied an ointment to a cut on Huzen¡¯s arm. His eyes twitched as it made contact.


    ¡°I know. I was desperate to get the job done no matter what, and I almost got you all killed.¡±


    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s what Esthu was counting on,¡± Taer¡¯inar mused. A chill ran down Ithan¡¯s spine at the words.


    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡± Huzen shook his head and sighed. ¡°Maybe. I want to believe that isn¡¯t the case, but¡­¡±


    ¡°We should keep our suspicions to ourselves for now,¡± Irse said. ¡°Accusations will likely only get us into more trouble at this point.¡±


    ¡°So what exactly was that thing?¡± Ithan asked.


    ¡°What thing?¡± Fenvyre said. ¡°There was something down there with you guys?¡±


    ¡°I, uh¡­¡± Huzen mumbled as he glanced over at Fenvyre. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s best not to talk about it right now.¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Ithan said. ¡°You said something about a plague¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡­Oh,¡± she muttered. Her eyes flickered. ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯ll just¡­¡±


    ¡°Fen?¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°Sorry, I just¡­ I need a minute,¡± Fenvyre said. ¡°My¡­ My parents died from the plague.¡±


    A lump formed in Ithan¡¯s throat.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ithan said.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know. It¡¯s just¡­ been a long time since anyone¡¯s talked about those days. A lot of bad memories.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m okay. I¡¯ll tell them.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Huzen said. Fenvyre nodded.


    ¡°People would start out just getting a little sick, but they¡¯d always just keep getting worse until they passed away. And then they¡¯d come back, except¡­ they weren¡¯t them. They were still dead, but the worms had taken over their bodies. And that¡¯s how it would spread. But when Aitos and his friend were able to find a cure, the plague died out. Well¡­ that¡¯s what they said, anyway¡­¡±


    ¡°If that creature had something to do with the plague, then we can¡¯t afford to wait here any longer,¡± Taer¡¯inar said. ¡°We need to bring Ithan to Aitos as soon as possible.¡±


    There was that overprotectiveness again. Ithan found it strange that Taer¡¯inar always seemed to be more concerned for his well-being than the others. They were both elves, perhaps that was it¡ªthe desire to be with and protect one¡¯s own kind seemed to be a common trait in people. The dragonkin empire was proof enough of that. Still, that should not have made him any more deserving of Taer¡¯inar¡¯s concern than anyone else.


    After ensuring everyone was cleaned up and ready to go, the group made their way back out of Rockfall. Ithan¡¯s headache started to fade on its own, but his breathing remained shallow.


    ¡°I daresay you¡¯d make a mighty fine addition to our crew,¡± Bimpnottin said to Huzen. ¡°Why not join us on our journey to the mountains?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a soldier, not an adventurer,¡± Huzen replied. ¡°Besides, Esthu would have my head if I joined up with you lot.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a jerk,¡± Fenvyre said. ¡°Why do you work for her?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my job,¡± Huzen said. ¡°I just want to help people.¡±


    ¡°Ironic after what you just pulled,¡± Taer¡¯inar muttered.


    ¡°Enough,¡± Irse said before turning her attention back to Huzen. ¡°You do not need to be a soldier to help people.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Huzen sighed. ¡°We¡¯re supposed to be the first line of defense against enemy nations. That¡¯s where I want to be¡ªprotecting people before they even know they¡¯re being protected.¡±


    ¡°An ambitious goal,¡± Bimpnottin said. ¡°I was not much different in my youth.¡±


    Ithan smiled; perhaps he was not meant to be a soldier like Huzen, but he hoped one day he would be able to protect people in his own way, instead of always needing to be protected himself.


    It was nearly sunset by the time the group returned to the western gate of Greenreach. Esthu, along with half a dozen soldiers, stood in their way as they approached. Huzen strode forward and saluted the general.


    ¡°The Averion Company has completely pacified the Rockfall mine as contracted,¡± he reported.


    ¡°Good,¡± Esthu said, her eyes darting between each of Ithan¡¯s friends. ¡°And what of the seal?¡±


    ¡°The seal was lifted,¡± Huzen said, ¡°but unfortunately, that branch of the mines collapsed soon after. There were some minor injuries but no casualties.¡±


    ¡°Collapsed how?¡± Esthu asked.


    ¡°Well¡­¡±


    ¡°General,¡± a voice called from the growing crowd.


    Esthu turned around, and Ithan peered past the dragonkin. The voice came from another elf, like him and Taer¡¯inar. His blonde hair¡ªadorned with a streak of blue¡ªreached down to his shoulders in the back yet was kept short on the sides. He wore a beautifully adorned silver robe, with various belts wrapped around him carrying all manner of vials and bottles. Dark blue markings to match his eyes¡ªdeep oceans they seemed to Ithan¡ªpeeked out from the top of his robe.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Aitos!¡± Fenvyre said.


    ¡°Hello there, Miss Fenvyre,¡± the elf said. His voice had a soft, soothing quality to it that draped over Esthu¡¯s harsh tone, dulling the anxiety at the scene.


    ¡°Aitos,¡± Esthu grumbled. ¡°Back so soon from the capital?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, I am,¡± the elf replied. ¡°And just in time, it seems. Tell me, why did you have the seal in the mines broken?¡±


    ¡°It was part of their contract with the dwarves,¡± Esthu said. ¡°They were tasked with pacifying the mines.¡±


    ¡°The dwarves knew of the seal,¡± Aitos said. ¡°They agreed it was not to be disturbed.¡±


    ¡°What would you know of any of this?¡± Esthu snapped. ¡°You¡¯re nothing more than an apothecary.¡±


    ¡°I was here when that cursed plague ran through this city.¡± Aitos¡¯s voice stayed calm, but his smile faded as he spoke. ¡°We did much research into that illness and its origins, and Elyan created that seal to quarantine the source of the plague.¡±


    ¡°Why not purge the source to begin with?¡± Esthu argued. ¡°I have simply done what Elyan should have done fifteen years ago.¡±


    ¡°Information,¡± Aitos replied. ¡°The source had a wealth of knowledge that we had yet to tap into. Its destruction is a detriment to our research.¡±


    ¡°You kept it alive for research?¡± Taer¡¯inar asked. ¡°What could you possibly want with the information it had?¡±


    Aitos peered past Esthu at Taer¡¯inar.


    ¡°You are an adventurer,¡± he said. ¡°Surely you know the phrase, ¡®know one¡¯s enemy.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Enough of this,¡± Esthu spat. ¡°You knowingly aided in harboring a dangerous entity. I should have you executed.¡±


    She unsheathed her sword and held the blade to Aitos¡¯s neck.


    ¡°That should hardly be the focus of your concerns at the moment, Esthu,¡± Aitos said as blood trickled down the dragonkin¡¯s blade.


    ¡°General.¡±


    The elf¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°These people have been exposed to the source of a deadly plague. They must be inspected at once. You would not want another epidemic on your hands, would you?¡±


    ¡°They can join you in the pyre.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡± Fenvyre said. ¡°Not without a trial!¡±


    ¡°Traitors are afforded no such luxuries.¡± Esthu¡¯s claws glistened with murderous intent. Ithan gritted his teeth.


    ¡°I would reconsider your intended course of action,¡± Aitos said.


    ¡°And why would I do that?¡± Esthu snarled.


    ¡°Well, you have made quite a scene,¡± Aitos remarked. Indeed, by now a large crowd of dragonkin had gathered around to watch Esthu in her rage. ¡°I do not suppose you will be able to silence all of Greenreach.¡±


    The dragonkin bared her teeth at the elf and growled, but she pulled the blade away from Aitos¡¯s neck and sheathed it once more.


    ¡°Report to me immediately after your examination,¡± Esthu said to Huzen. She beckoned her soldiers to follow her as she stormed through the crowd toward the eastern gate. The crowd cheered as they departed, and the dragonkin dispersed shortly after.


    ¡°Dramatic as always,¡± Aitos sighed as he held two fingers to the cut on his neck. They glowed for a moment, and when he pulled them away again his wound was gone.


    ¡°Oh, Dhurik and Ithan inhaled some cryomycete spores,¡± Fenvyre said.


    ¡°That can be taken care of after I confirm none of you are infected,¡± Aitos said. ¡°Now then, let us move quickly. Treatment is most effective in the larval stage.¡±


    ¡°The what?¡± Taer¡¯inar said as his eyes widened.


    ¡°Come along, now,¡± Irse said as she followed swiftly behind Aitos. Taer¡¯inar glanced at Ithan in his confusion, but all Ithan could do was shrug before joining Irse and the rest of his friends as Aitos led them through the streets of Greenreach.

 [Update] Slight schedule shift

    Hi there readers,


    Unfortunately, the chapter that I planned to release today is no longer in a state that I would consider "ready to go." I had a bit of a meltdown and decimated my backlog with revisions that left it a bit all over the place, especially the next couple of chapters. That being said, I intend to have it all fixed up by next Thursday, so the schedule is just going to shift back a week.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    I am so sorry to anyone who was looking forward to continuing on Ithan''s journey this week. I just need a little more time to restore what was lost.


    I appreciate you!